HCehaudrcehr hNerwes
Due to work being done in Rattray Hall Community Hub, the church met at Rattray Bowling Club on Sunday.
Pastor Derek Johnston welcomed all those in attendance.
Prayer followed before the singing of ‘Behold Our God’ and ‘Lord I Lift Your Name On High’.
Mr Johnston then spoke to the children about the World Cup in Qatar.
He spoke about the selection of the squads and the disappointment players must feel who don’t get called up.
One such player is Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, who was not selected for the Brazil squad.
Mr Johnston explained that the forward’s response has been one of dignity and faith.
He wished his compatriots the best, was grateful for the success he had already enjoyed while stating his trust in God and saying that Jesus was enough for him.
Mr Johnston said the player’s response set a great example and should be an encouragement to people when they miss out on being selected for a team.
The congregation then sang ‘O Lord Our God’ before Solomon ch 1, vv 1-17, was read.
Further prayer followed before the singing of ‘Only A Holy God’.
Ian Shaw then spoke on the passage from Solomon.
He said: “Many people find it difficult to read the poetry of the book.
“But it is one of the 66 books of the Bible to be read and understood.
“It’s a story about the relationship between the church and God.
“It can’t be understood without reference to Jesus.
“It oozes the love of God towards his people in a language we understand – the language of love between a lover and the beloved.
“The beauty of the woman is symbolic of the beauty of the church in the sight of God. Which is something we struggle to grasp, both individually and corporately, but should promote within us a desire for a closer relationship with God.”
The service closed in prayer following the singing of ‘In Christ Alone’.
The service this Sunday is to take place as usual in Rattray Hall Community Hub. All are welcome to attend.
• See the website www.bechurch.co.uk for more information.
BLAIRGOWRIE PARISH CHURCH
David Howat welcomed all those to Sunday’s service and introduced Sheila Watkins, who is organising the collection of toys for Christmas on behalf of the council’s social work department.
Donations of unwrapped toys for local children of all ages will be gladly received at the church on Sunday, December 4.
Monetary donations will also be welcome.
Mr Howat also made a plea for Christmas food donations for local families in need.
A sheet is displayed in the Lower Hall listing specific items required.
Worship began with the hymn ‘O Worship the King,’ followed by a prayer of adoration, confession and the Lord’s Prayer.
Mr Howat then encouraged the children present to reflect on the fact that the country now has two kings – Charles and Jesus.
He said the latter is known by more than 50 different names and titles in the Bible, such as the Good Shepherd and Christ the Carpenter.
This led into the second hymn, ‘The
King of Love My Shepherd Is’.
Bruce Dow read the morning’s lessons from Jeramiah ch 23 and Luke ch 1.
The congregation then sang ‘Hail to the Lord’s Anointed’.
Mr Howat’s sermon theme, ‘Christ the King’, was based on the above readings and from a Biblical commentary which studied how the peoples of Israel viewed Jesus’s arrival on Earth.
He told those gathered: “Zechariah was said to be so relieved that Jesus would prove to be a true leader and a source of help and inspiration for all on Earth.
“He would provide help for anyone in need of compassion and love.
“He would provide the impetus to change the wrongful ways of the world; people would then be encouraged to reject selfish desires and relationships and turn towards a Christian life focusing on the needs of others.
“We need to pray to Jesus to help us achieve such goals.”
While the offering was collected, organist Lex Dunlop played the prelude on the psalm tune ‘French’ and ‘I To The Hills’ by Colin Hand.
Following the prayer of dedication, thanksgiving, and intercession, Mr Howat closed the service with ‘Crown Him With Many Crowns’ followed by the benediction.
Mr Dunlop’s prelude was ‘Idyll’ by Norman Warren and the postlude was ‘Prelude in Classical Style’ by Gordon Young.
The church is seeking to boost its audiovisual fund by collecting broken silver or gold jewellery.
Contributions are welcome in the Sunday offering plate.
Church collection boxes are now available in the Lower Hall.
Members of the Guild are holding a
Christmas coffee morning in the hall on Saturday, November 26.
On December 4 there will be a gift collection for local children.
There will be Christmas-themed services on the evenings of Thursday, December 22, and Saturday, December 24 – which will take the form of a Christingle service – and on the morning of December 25.
The Social Club meets on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings in the hall for badminton and on Friday mornings for carpet bowls.
Members of the Bible Study group are maintaining contact with each other through an email prayer letter.
Anyone wishing to join is asked to contact David Howat via david@ thehowats.net.
The church hopes to run a Holiday Club for primary-aged children from 2pm to 4pm on April 4, 5 and 6.
Anyone wishing to help in this venture is asked to attend a meeting in the church committee room from 2pm on Monday, December 5.
On that same day, the contents of the church boxes will be counted at 7pm.
Volunteer counters would be most welcome in the church hall.
Full details of church events are available along with the pastoral letter and a prayer diary on the Blairgowrie Parish Church website.
• See www.blairgowrieparishchurch. org.uk for more information.
NETHERTON CHURCH
A Christmas concert is to take place at Netherton Church from 6.30pm on Monday, December 19.
It will feature an hour of carol singing and recitals and all are welcome to attend.
Refreshments will be available afterwards.
Donations collected will be shared equally between Netherton Church and the charity Music in Hospitals and Care.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to email Ricky Wilson via rppwilson@ btinternet.com in advance to help to determine numbers.
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Coupar Angus recently hosted a Service of Light and Hope to show solidarity with Ukrainian people who have settled in the area having fled the war in their homeland.
The service was preceded by an afternoon tea and the making of small LED lanterns designed to represent the light.
The short service, devised by Rector Rev Kim Lafferty, involved recorded singing, in Ukrainian, of a Ukrainian prayer and an Order of Service with the English text translated into Ukrainian.
Rev David Cameron said afterwards: “St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Coupar Angus has been concerned about the situation in the Ukraine and the people in Scotland who are refugees from the war.
“The service was arranged to show solidarity with those in the area.
“We were able to meet and share with some young Ukrainians who live in the area and it was easy to see what a turmoil the war has caused for them.”
Sunday services have now reverted back to their normal times.
Services start from 9.30am at St Catharine’s in Blairgowrie, 11.15am at St Anne’s in Coupar Angus and 11.15am at St Ninian’s in Alyth.
• See www.abcsaints.co.uk for more information.