District News
ALYTH GARDEN TRAIL
Balhary Walled Garden near Alyth is opening to members of the public for the first time this month as part of the new Angus and Dundee Garden Trail, run by Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.
Balhary is a restored walled garden featuring 75 varieties of fruit trees, a large herbaceous border, lavender hedges and heritage and new variety vegetables are grown extensively to supply ‘foodies.’
The cottage garden comes into its own with lighting, living flame, Zen, formal planting and a fairy garden with red squirrels.
Entry is £5 per person, children go free. It is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm. For more details or to book tickets online, visit https:// scotlandsgardens.org/angus-dundeegarden-trail/
BALBEGGIE
ST MARTINS PUBLIC HALL
The AGM for St Martins Public Hall for years 2019/20 and 2020/21 will be held at 7pm on Monday, June 21 in the hall, Main Street, Balbeggie.
Social distancing will be complied with and masks must be worn.
All welcome, numbers may however be restricted due to current regulations.
BENDOCHY CHURCH
The next service at Bendochy will be on Sunday, June 20.
See the Abbey Church Coupar Angus section for further details.
BURRELTON CARGILL/BURRELTON CHURCH
Psalm 30 was the theme for morning
Donations worship on Sunday, led by Rev Stevie Thomson and with Lynne Mitchell as organist.
Office-bearers on duty were Sheena McNaughton and Aileen and Ian Riches.
Those wishing to attend worship should contact Sheena McNaughton on 01828 627773 in advance as places are limited owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
The church will be running a charity shop in Coupar Angus from July 24-31.
Members of the community are encouraged to start collecting items.
CAPUTH AND SPITTALFIELD CAPUTH AND CLUNIE CHURCH
Sunday morning worship in Caputh Church has resumed at the usual time of 11.15am.
All recommended rules regarding the Covid pandemic are adhered to. All welcome.
WALK-IN CAFE
The Spittalfield cafe is open on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10am and 3.30pm in accordance with distancing regulations.
COUPAR ANGUS ABBEY CHURCH
The services at both churches were conducted by Rev Andy Graham, who welcomed the congregation and read the lessons from 1 Samuel ch 8, vv 1-9, and Mark ch 3, vv 20-34.
Samuel was a judge and, as he grew older, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
Sadly, his sons were corrupt so the people asked Samuel to find them a king to lead them.
However, God was their leader though the people rejected the concept, instead wanting a human king as the example in other nations.
But Israel was different from other nations as they were the chosen people led by the one, true God.
Their apparent need for a king was perhaps borne out of fear of being different from other nations.
Mr Graham said people are sometimes distracted from following a path they know to be correct.
They have leaders to govern them but God is the ultimate leader, offering them a greater degree of freedom through faith.
The fear experienced by the Israelites is commonplace, even today.
Fear can be an important emotion and in the reading from Mark’s Gospel Jesus’s popularity was seen as a threat to the established power of the religious leaders of the day. Through their fear they tried to smear Jesus by stating that His power came from the Devil, and not God.
Indeed, Jesus’ own family were afraid for Him.
But consistently, Jesus chose faith over fear because faith through the Holy Spirit can lead to freedom.
People are free to choose their own path through life but God offers them a greater degree of freedom through faith in Him and adherence to the teachings of the Son of God.
At times life can seem like an endless climb up a hill. People may reach the summit only to discover another hill to climb.
However, Jesus is there to help take the strain and overcome life’s obstacles.
People may be tempted to put their faith and trust in others, to adopt a freedom to do “their own thing” and, in the process become isolated from the love of God. Continuing to walk with Jesus takes them on a different path with a different degree of freedom and the added comfort of knowing that He is always a companion on the journey.
God allows them the freedom to choose but, as pointed out in the passage from Samuel, they should be aware of the consequences arising from their choice.
Music was provided by Esther Jack and Jenny Whyte.
The Abbey Church Kirk Session will meet on Wednesday, June 23, at 7pm.
KETTINS GIG ON A TRUCK
Singer-songwriter Calum Campbell is to perform two sets outside Kettins Community Hub on Saturday, July 10, as part of a ‘Gig on a Truck’ tour being organised by Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre.
Performances are due to take place at 2pm and 5pm.
Tickets are free but need to be booked in advance.
See www.horsecross.co.uk for details.
KINCLAVEN CHURCH
Rev Peggy Ewart-Roberts conducted the service on Sunday and was assisted by Rev Bill Ewart.
The Scripture readings were taken from Corinthians and John, and were read by Mike Service.
The organist was Janet Coyle.
As the region is now in level one of Covid-19 restrictions, it is now possible to sing the hymns with masks on.
Services are held each Sunday at 9.45am.
All are welcome, subject to Covid regulations.
KIRKMICHAEL SESSION HOUSE
Jean McPherson Richardson has thanked the people of Kirkmichael, Cally Crafters and St Ninian’s church in Alyth for all their donations to Cornton Vale Women’s Prison near Stirling as they supported the Mothers’ Union programme to help prisoners.
In total, 40 pairs of pants, 50 towels, 81 bags, eight shoppers, two rucksacks, assorted purses and other related items will be dropped off.
MEIGLE GARDEN TRAIL
The Doo’cot garden near Meigle is opening for the first time this month as part of the new Angus and Dundee Garden Trail.
Entry is £5 per person, children go free. Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm.
For more details, see www. scotlandsgardens.org