District News

Abernethy

Auld Abernethy Association The last meeting of this session will take place in the Museum of Abernethy on Wednesday, April 5, at 7.30pm. The annual general meeting will be followed by a talk on The Red Duchess by Catherine, Duchess of Atholl, Scotland’s first female MP. All welcome. Abernethy Horticultural Society The April meeting of the Society will take the form of a talk by Hamish Martin, from Edinburgh, who will speak about the secret herb garden under the intriguing title of ‘Moon and Weeds’, which sees plants put into the ground by the phases of the moon to promote strong growth and deter weeds. The meeting will take place in the Mason’s Hall, Main Street, Abernethy on April 12, at 7.30pm. Entrance costs £2.50 including refreshments, free to members.

Aberuthven

Aberuthven Church The service in the church on Sunday will be conducted by the Rev Sandy Gunn at 11am. A warm welcome is extended to all. The Easter edition of A & D News is now available. A huge thank you to the army of volunteers who delivered 850 copies to homes in the parish.

Almondbank

Village lunch The last village lunch, before the club take a break over the sumer months, will be held in the village hall on Monday, April 3. Numbers have been falling away, so why not introduce a friend to this sociable event. Everyone is welcome to come along to the hall between 12 noon and 1.30pm and enjoy soup and a roll with friends and neighbours. Thanks go to the volunteers, cooks, servers, etc for their support us over the last few months. The lunches will return in the autumn. St Serf’s Church The service in the church on Sunday of last week was conducted by Mr Stephen Miller, from Auchterarder, assisted by Sandra Miller. His sermon was When Love and Sorrow Met. The scripture readings were read by Irene Hutchison, the organist was Alison Hooper and the flowers were kindly gifted by Margaret and Mary Jamieson. Anyone who requires the pastoral services of a minister during the vacancy, should contact Michael Archibald on 01738 840995. People are reminded that the Almondbank Flood Protection Scheme access to Almondbank, will either be by the A85 via Dalcrue or the A9. The service on Sunday will be conducted by Mr Archibald at the usual time, and everyone is very welcome.

Alyth

Alyth Church Morning worship in the church on Sunday of last week was conducted by Reverend Mike Erskine. The service on Sunday will begin in Airlie Street Hall at 11am, while the church is undergoing maintenance and will be immediately followed by the annual stated meeting. During term time the Sunday school welcomes children to the front pews of the church each Sunday morning. A creche for under-threes is available during Sunday morning services. The prayer group meets in Burnside Court lounge on Thursdays at 10.30am and choir rehearsal is held every Friday at 6.45pm. New members welcome. The church website at www.alythparishchurch.org.uk is updated weekly. Family History Project Alyth Family History Project will be closed until Easter Sunday. Enquiries are welcome via fhp@alythparishchurch.org. uk or via Facebook. Pipe band Alyth and District Pipe Band practise on Wednesday evenings in Alyth Town Hall from 6pm. For more information, contact Elaine Sturrock on 01828 640312 or email elaine@alythpipeband.org.

Bankfoot

Bankfoot Church The service in the church on Sunday will be at the usual time of 11.15am and will be conducted by the minister. All welcome. Guild concert The Barber Shop Singers will be giving a concert in the Church Centre on Thursday, April 6, at 7.30pm. There will a small charge of £5 (including refreshments) for Guild funds. Do come along and enjoy a musical evening. Spring fayre A spring fayre will be held in the Church Centre on Saturday, April 8, from 11am to 3pm. Stalls will have something for everyone including plants, bric-abrac, spring clean, glass, fabrics, knitting, handbags, cards, chocolates and a recycling stall. There will also be a tombola stall or bring children along for face paining with Heather. Lunches, snacks and ample free parking will also be on offer. Come along for a great day out. Bankfoot Community Centre As a result of the recent appeal to help with ongoing running costs of the centre, an amazing amount of £11,000 was raised. Thanks go to all who contributed so generously.

Bendochy

Bendochy Church The service on Sunday of last week was conducted by Rev Andy Graham and the readings were by Margaret Davidson. The service on Sunday will be led by Rev Tom Tait. There will be a retiring collection for next Sunday, in aid of Christian Aid’s humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan. A Good Friday service will take place on April 14 from 7pm. The Easter Sunday service on April 16, takes place from 10am. Bowling Club Darts and dominoes winners this week were: darts - Dorothy Nelson, Meryl McKenzie, booby prize Mary Fotheringham; dominoes - Jim McKenzie, Sandy Hay. There will be a prize bingo and supper on April 5; entry £1, eyes down at 7.30pm. All welcome. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Henry Anderson, SNP representative for Almond and Earn, will be available for consultation appointments either at home or at the Council buildings, 2 High Street, Perth. To make arrangements, email handerson@pkc.gov.uk or contact 01738 475039 during office hours. Brig in Bloom Club The winners of the March 200 Club draw were: A Scott £50, J Ashton £30, Edna Brown and J Blair £10. The winning numbers were 135, 169, 77, 78. The AGM will be held in the Institute, Bridge of Earn on Tuesday, April 18, at 7pm. All welcome. Tea@Two This group supports carers and older people in the community. Their next meeting will be held in the church hall today (Friday, March 31) at 2pm. Come along and enjoy reminiscing and a chat over a cup of tea and cake. For more information, contact Sheila on 812884. Dunbarney and Forgandenny Church Services on Sunday will be at the usual times of 9.30am in Dunbarney Church and 11am at Forgandenny Church. Worship will be led by Rev Gillian Munro. There will be a baptism at the Dunbarney service. All welcome. Easter services begin on Good Friday, April 14, with a service in Forgandenny Church at 2.30pm. Rev Sandy Gunn will lead the worship. All welcome. The Earn Singers with soloists Allan Kelman (tenor) and Alistair Allan (bass) will be performing John Stainer’s The Crucifixion in Dunbarney Church on Good Friday, at 6.30pm. It will be a very meaningful way to commence the Easter reflections. Come along and support this event. Easter Sunday, April 16, will begin with a daybreak service in Dunbarney Church gardens at 7.30am. The service will be conducted Rev Gillian Munro, followed with breakfast in the hall. The 9.30am service at Dunbarney Church will be an all-ages service and will be conducted by Rev Iain Paton. The 11am service at Forgandenny Church will also be led by Rev Iain Paton. All welcome. Cystic Fibrosis Society The collection from the recent lunch, in aid of the University of Dundee Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Fund, raised £300. Thanks to everyone for their generosity for this worthwhile cause. Soup lunches The next monthly soup lunch will be held in the church hall on Wednesday, April 5, from noon to 1.30pm. Come along and enjoy lunch, chat and fellowship. It is open to all and everyone will be made welcome. Chatterbox Club is now on holiday and starts back on Thursday, April 20. Coffee morning The 14th Perthshire Scout Group would like to thank everyone who supported their coffee morning held last Saturday, which raised £837 for group funds.

Burrelton

Burrelton Church Morning worship in the church on Sunday of last week was led by Rev Stevie Thomson, assisted by Lynne Thomson. Readings were from One Samuel chapter 16, verses 1-13 and from the Gospel of John chapter 9, verses 1-41. Office bearers on duty were John Baxter, Ishbel Chambers and Jim Mackay. Ladies of the congregation were given a rose by the children of the Sunday club, which was led by Susan Christie and Jean MacDiarmid. The organist was Lynne Mitchell. Flowers were provided by Sheena McNaughton and tea and coffee was served by Sandy Duthie and Donna Lamont.

Caputh

Spittalfield Bowling Club President John Tait welcomed seven teams to the quiz held in the clubhouse on Friday, March 24, with D Ramsay quiz master. The winning team were: S Tait, B Tait and A Donaldson. Trophies won during the bowling season were presented by Kari McLeod as follows: championship, handicap, Riemore cup and Shaw cup - Brian Tait. Millhole cup - D Tait. Men’s singles - A Donaldson, club pairs - B Tait and D Miller. Nomination pairs - B Tait and W Petrie. Ann Miller trophy - W Rintoul and A Baird. Triples - A Donaldson, D Tait and W Rintoul. Ballantine cup - A Baird. The president thanked all for their support throughout the year and the greenkeeper for his dedication. The green will open for play on Saturday, May 6, when all interested in the sport are invited to come along. Community council Spittalfield and District community council will meet in Caputh Church session room on Wednesday, April 19, at 7pm. The AGM will precede the public meeting. As the secretary has decided to retire after 11 years in office, a new representative is required for the Caputh area and Spittalfield/Glendelvine due to one moving away from the area. Anyone interested in representing any of these areas is urged to put their name forward. Church news Rev Peggy Ewart Roberts conducted the service in Caputh

Church on Sunday morning of last week, with Henry Neil organist and Martin Bristow reader. The ladies in the congregation received a small heart shaped token for Mother’s Day. Morning service will be held in Clunie Church this Sunday, at the usual time of 11.15am. The Guild meet in the Caputh session room on Wednesday, April 12, at 7pm when the AGM will be followed by a talk from a member of the Perth branch of the Salvation Army. Open to all. The Guild are also organising a coffee morning in the church on Saturday, April 22, from 10am to 12 noon. All welcome. The monthly lunch will be available in the session room on Tuesday, April 11, at 12.30pm. Please advise Gill if you will be unable to attend on that day.

Coupar Angus

Abbey Church The service in the church on Sunday will be led by Rev Tom Tait. There will be a retiring collection for next Sunday’s Christian Aid appeal, in aid of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan. There will be no prayer meeting or Bible study this week, but these will resume on April 5. Prayer group will meet at 2pm and Bible study group at 7.15pm, and will look at John chapter 12, verses 20-36. All welcome. Coffee morning Coupar Angus and District Action Group for the Scottish Bible Society is holding a coffee morning in St Anne’s Church Hall on Saturday, April 8, from 10am to noon; entry £2.50. The Maundy Thursday communion service takes place on April 13, from 7pm. The family Easter Sunday service will begin on April 16, at 11.15am.

Dunning

Church news The service in the church on Sunday will be conducted by the Rev James Aitchison at 11am. Messy Church meets in the church hall at 4.30pm. A warm welcome is extended to all. The Easter edition of the A & D News is available for collection. A huge thank you to all who help to produce this newsletter and to the army of volunteers who are responsible for the delivery of 850 copies through doors in the parish. Daffodil Tea A Daffodil Tea organised by Dunning Flower Show committee and in aid of the horticultural show will take place in Dunning Village Hall on Saturday from 2-4pm.