District News
Rainy day fails to mar market \Alyth \Bendochy
Coupar Angus community market returned to the Cross on Saturday.
Despite the dreich weather, organisers were pleased with the success of the day.
There was a range of stalls at the market selling a variety of local produce including plants and vegetables. Regulars including butchers Ann Davidson, Myreside Organics and the Versatile Vegetable Church Morning worship on Sunday was conducted by Rev Mike Erskine in Alyth Parish Church. On Sunday this week, morning worship begins at 11am. A coffee morning will be held on Saturday, May 27, from 10amnoon in Airlie Street Hall to raise funds for the hall. 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 every Sunday morning service. The prayer group meets on Thursdays in Burnside Court lounge at 10.30am. Choir rehearsal meets every Friday at 6.45pm. New members are welcome. The church website at www.alythparishchurch.org.uk is updated weekly. Family history project Alyth Family History Project is open at Alyth Parish Church on Sundays from 2-4pm. The archive includes thousands of photographs of people, events, school, businesses, weddings, bairns, views, etc. Admission is free. Genealogy enquiries are always welcome via fhp@alythparishchurch.org.uk or Facebook. Pipe band Alyth and District Pipe Band practice on Wednesday evenings from 6pm in Alyth Town Hall. For more information contact Elaine Sturrock on 01828 640312 or email elaine@alythpipeband.org
\Balbeggie
Charity sale An animal welfare sale in aid of cats and other animals in need will take place in St Martin’s Public Hall, Balbeggie, from 10am-4pm on Friday, June 2, and 10am-noon the following day. Stalls include bric-a-brac, ‘good as new’, books, CDs, toys, jewellery and plants. There will also be a Brownies’ stall, tombola, raffle and refreshments. All welcome. were all at the market, and new for this month was Flourish, a Blairgowrie-based grower and supplier of perennials and shurbs.
Representatives from Coupar Angus and Bendochy Community Council also had a stall at the event enabling members of the public to raise various issues with them.
The next community market will take place on Saturday, June 10. Church Sunday’s service was conducted by Rev Robert Sloan. For service details, see the Coupar Angus section.
\Coupar Angus
Abbey Church Sunday’s service was conducted by Rev Robert Sloan. The choir’s introit reminded those gathered that ‘God is good’. Bible readings, read by Jeff Brewer, were from Peter ch 3, v 13 to 22 and John ch 14, v 15-21. Afterwards, Mr Sloan demonstrated that he still had much to learn as a mind-reader as he told the congregation that Jesus had understood the unspoken fears and confusion of his disciples when he had informed them that he was leaving them. Jesus promised that they would never be on their own, that he would receive a new helper, “the spirit of truth”, who would stay with them forever. This promise was not only for the disciples but has been there for everyone else over the centuries who love Jesus. Mr Sloan said: “It came to my mind that as many of us delve into our family histories, the ‘who do we think we are’, does it cross our minds that the ancestors we would like to know better all had this same promise and many probably made good use of it.” In the first bible reading, the congregation learned that they should journey out and make faith credible to others, whereas the Gospel reading focused on the journey into the life and deeds of the church. Love also featured a lot in Sunday’s service. Those gathered were told they should turn away from that obsession with themselves and love those around them, inside and outside the church. God reached out to people, and they are loved unconditionally. Peter was described as an amazing am- bassador for Jesus Christ – people should always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope that we have, they should share our storey of God’s love and care with others. The service concluded with singing the repeated chorus of ‘Walk in the light of the Lord’. Before the refreshments, organist Austin Wilkie concluded his contribution to our worship with more wonderful organ music. His renditions were Minuet from ‘Berenice’ by G F Handel and March in D Major from ‘Scipio’ by G. F. Handel. Afternoon tea and coffee sessions are held in the Abbey Church on the first Friday of each month from 1.30-3pm, beginning in June. The Pride of Place Plant sale is on Saturday, May 27, from 10am-noon. The spring coffee morning recently held by the Bendochy Ladies Group raised £410.51. Prayer meetings are held at the Abbey Church every Wednesday at 2pm. All welcome. The Bible study group will meet on Wednesday at 7.15pm. Football club Coupar Angus JFC’s AGM will be held in the Red House Hotel on Monday, June 19, at 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to lend a hand at matches in the club’s 2017/18 campaign is welcome.
\Kirkmichael
Session house An illustrated talk entitled ‘A Spin Along the Ericht’ by Meg Luckins will be held in the Session House on Wednesday, May 31, from 7.30pm. The talk will look at the role the mills played in Blairgowrie’s past and focus on what it used to be like when there were up to 14 spinning mills along the Ericht and what is left today, when a walk along the leafy riverbank provides a fascinating glimpse of this once vibrant early industrial landscape. £2 donation at the door in aid of Session House funds. Refreshments available.