Dear friends,
On Sunday 25th November we had as guest speaker at the Sunday service the Rev. Richard Higginbottom. Mr. Higginbottom who is an ordained Church of England clergyman works for The Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) which originated in the Church of England in the early eighteenth century and was the vision of several prominent Christians including Lord Shaftesbury. The aim of CPAS was to work alongside parish churches to assist them in reaching out to their parishes with the gospel. It was set up during the Industrial Revolution - a time of rapid social change in Britain, when urban populations were expanding at an enormous rate, presenting churches in towns and cities with the challenge of how to reach the new parish population with the gospel. The aim of CPAS was encapsulated in the sentiment that "the gospel should be taken to every man's door". CPAS do not now confine their efforts to the Church of England or Episcopal churches but will work with congregations of any denomination. The Kirk Session have agreed to establishing what is called a Church Consultancy with Richard who will help us to consider how we might maximise our effectiveness in outreach to our parish. This will last about six months. Although I have been aware of the existence of CPAS for a good few years now, I only met Richard very briefly last year and only relatively recently discovered that he lives in Bankfoot the home of our prayer partner congregation Auchtergaven and Moneydie - an amazing co-incidence. Richard's involvement with us will be similar to that of David Geddes a few years ago but perhaps with more emphasis on outreach and less on structure. Currently a questionnaire is being completed which will be analysed in order to give Richard some objective detailed information about the congregation. An important week-end will be held on 2nd and 3rd February. On the Saturday night there will be a meeting between Richard and the Outreach Committee and then on the Sunday a shorter than usual service followed by a congregational gathering where Richard will discuss with us the questionnaire followed by a congregational meal. Another such week-end will be held on 26th/27th April when Richard will discuss his findings with us. In order to ensure that we receive maximum benefit from the input of CPAS it is essential that we all take seriously any insights given to us regarding our needs as a congregation and suggested ways forward.
2008 could be the best year yet for Dalserf Church if we are all willing to pull together in the same direction - forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. . . press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called (us) heavenward. (Phil. 3:14).
May you have a happy and prosperous New Year.
D. Cameron McPherson
Life and Work 2008
Although the annual subscription is due in January, I have been very slow to chase people for money. I now have the list up to date and will catch up with those who still have to pay. I do apologise for this and can only explain it as due to the stress of being a newly wed!!!!
Ann Price
Newsletter
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Articles for February, newsletter are due on January 13th.
Sunday Pathfinders
I wish to express my grateful thanks to Cameron and all of the Congregation for my beautiful gift and vouchers on the occasion of my retirement as Superintendent of Dalserf Sunday Pathfinders.
I have greatly enjoyed my years teaching Sunday Pathfinders and look forward to more enjoyable years as your Session Clerk.
My thanks to you all and God’s Blessing.
Joan Pollok
Thanks
I would like to express my thanks to all who distributed Christmas leaflets in the parish especially those who knocked on doors. Even if no-one came to church as a result of this, the message is conveyed to the parish that we are here and we will welcome anyone who will come.
I would also like to thank the staff of Sunday Pathfinders and the Big Bible Breakfast Club for organizing and leading the Christmas Gift service and the children and young folk who took part - well done everyone!
Thanks also to my dear friends at Focus aided and abetted by my aunt Elsie for arranging a premature birthday party for me.
The Rorison Renovation Project
It is expected that the Rorison project will be completed by the earlier part of 2008. Remaining work to be done:- new heating system (gas fired radiators) in the 2 halls; floor coverings in the halls the corridor and the vestibule; new windows in the small hall and new secondary glazing in the large hall; refurbishment of the sliding partition; new lighting in the large hall; and erection of wrought iron fencing at the side and possibly front of the building. Malfunctioning of the underfloor heating in the sanctuary is being attended to. We hope to do as much as possible during the Christmas holiday period to minimise disruption to the organizations. Fortunately funds are available for these items.
A Word Of Appreciation
I have been attending Dalserf Church for quite a while now and would like to say how much I appreciate the warmth and friendliness I have experienced, it has helped me through a difficult period in my life.
A regular attender.
Fridge Magnets
A range of fridge magnets some with texts and one featuring the memorial window in Rorison sanctuary are now available at £1 from Helen Knox.
Girls’ Brigade
As it was expected that our numbers would be down in September we carried out two outreach events with very good results.
Firstly, I visited both primary schools, met with the children and gave out leaflets about Girls Brigade. We then held a ‘Come and Try Day’ in the grounds of Dalserf School to allow girls to appreciate what actually happens at GB. Although attendance at this was not as good as expected, the girls that came along almost had as much fun as the adults. As a result of this we now have 8 Explorers instead of the 1 we expected, and a few old faces have returned further up the company.
We attended National competitions in Perth and in December attended the National Carol service in Edinburgh during which some of our Brigaders joined others from the division to perform signed singing to a few Carols which was lovely to watch. After this the girls had a period of skating in Princes Street Gardens. When we came out of the Church it was very heavy rain, however by the time the girls had got their skating boots on it had started to snow. Although this was a very nice Christmassy sight the girls had a few falls and continuing sleety rain pounding down on them led to 9 very cold and wet girls coming off the ice.
After having some hot chocolate and a warm burger we took refuge in the Waverley shopping centre where we could assess the full extent of the wetness, which was such that we purchased woolly tights and socks and had to change all the girls on the bus on the way home with some girls so wet they went home in tights, officers sweatshirts, scarves and jackets with a bag of wet washing to accompany. Did this experience put the Girls Off? No chance. Already they are planning for when we go back next Christmas!!!
Ann Price
Prayer for New Year
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”. And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to thee better than a light and safer than a known way”.
Let us pray-
We step into the first month of this New Year like children making the first footprints on a snow covered path. New beginnings are fun, challenging, exhilarating. Help us Lord, to learn from the mistakes and disappointments of last year. The slate is clean now, and everything is new—new opportunities, new experiences to colour our lives. True, the former things have passed away and nothing that has happened in the past can be altered. So now, Lord, let us be born again to enthusiasm and hope, committing our lives into the hands of Jesus who was with us yesterday, is with us today and will be with us through all time to come.
Amen
Thank-You
A belated thank you to everyone who gave cards and gifts to John on the celebration of his 80th birthday in October. Your kind thoughts were really appreciated.
Betty Grove
Stall at Rosebank Coffee Shop
The magnificent sum of £1,014 was realised for church funds at our stall the Rosebank Coffee Shop and I sincerely thank everyone who helped in any way to make this figure possible, with a special thank you to Thomson, Helen Forrest and family for their kindness, hospitality and most generous donations.
Margaret Letham
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