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August 2002 Newsletter of
Monikie and Newbigging Church

    This version of the Church Magazine was supplied to the webmaster in 'native' format, and remains substantially unchanged.

The Manse,
Monikie.

Harvest 2002

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Life and growth are all around us. Even in this summer with its lack of sunshine the crops are beginning to ripen. As the saying goes, “There’s always a harvest”.

Sometimes we call the Church the Body of Christ. The Church is not just a building but people. It too is living and growing especially in other parts of the world. We in Western Europe are the exception. Jesus is no longer with us on earth so his body is the Church. It tries to do his work begun all those years ago. In the words of the Hymn-

“ We’ll work by our prayers,
By the offerings we bring,
By small self - denials;
The least little thing
May work for our Lord in his harvest ”

A happy harvest to you all!

Yours sincerely,
Gordon Mackenzie

SERVICES

All Services at 10.30am

• August                        25^th      Monikie
• September      1^st        Newbigging      with coffee
•                         8^th        Monikie
•                         15^th      Newbigging
•                         22^nd      Monikie
•                         29^th      Newbigging
• October           6^th        Newbigging      with coffee
•                         13^th      Monikie
•                         20^th      Newbigging
•                         27^th      Monikie            Service of Thanksgiving

Guild Service

To celebrate the years the Guild has had a branch in Monikie and Newbigging Churches we were involved in the service in Newbigging Church on Sunday 7th July. Mrs. Mackenzie led the worship, Mrs. Young read from the old Testament in the Book of Ruth and Mrs. Gray told us a little bit about Catherine Charteris the first Guild President. We sang the Guild Centenary Hymn 'Worship we our Lord and Father as we gather as we sing', an old Guild favourite 'Bind us together Lord', and 'Spirit of God unseen as the wind', which is sung to the tune of the Sky boat song.

Mrs. Mackenzie sang 'Be still for the presence of the Lord' during the uplifting of the collection. At the end of the service we had refreshments and cake. This branch of the Guild has now been disbanded but hopefully will recommence in the future.

Rae Gray

Harvest Flower Festival

We are to celebrate Mr Mackenzie’s 25 years in the Ministry by holding a Flower Festival cum Harvest Home in Monikie Kirk on Friday 25^th and Saturday 26^th October followed by a special Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday 27^th October.

Further details will follow nearer the time.

CHARITY SHOP

A shop in the Hilltown is to be rented from 2^nd to 9^th September to raise funds for the Church. Good bric-a-brac and items of clothing would be very welcome. Volunteers are needed to help in the shop. Those who are available or require information can obtain further details from: -

Mrs. Riddick     - 01382 370...    Mrs. Ritchie - 01382 370...     Mrs. Sim - 01382 370...

SPONSORED WALK ON THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY

Partly for my own enjoyment and partly to raise funds to help offset some of the cost to allow a Broughty Ferry athlete to compete in the special Olympics in Dublin in June 2003 I walked the West Highland Way between the 23^rd and the 27^th of May.

On Wednesday the 22^nd of May I travelled by train to Glasgow and stayed overnight with my sister. In the morning we set out for Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow, which is at the start of the Way. The weather was overcast and threatening rain. We walked from there to Drymen with several stops either to put on our waterproofs or to take them off. The rain at this stage was occasional showers. This part is fairly easy walking going round the end of the Campsie hills. At Drymen I bade farewell to my sister who returned by bus to her car at Milngavie (this was always intended). I continued on over Conic Hill with a lovely view of Loch Lomond and stayed in a B&B at Balmaha overnight. Approximate distance 20 miles.

Friday and the weather deteriorated into long, long showers of heavy rain. The clouds were however still high so the views of Loch Lomond were not hindered. They say that every cloud has a silver lining – I had two – firstly there was no sign of the dreaded midges and secondly the water coming off the hills formed magnificent waterfalls. Inversnaid was passed and night two was spent in a caravan at Inverarnan. Another 20 miles accomplished.

Saturday and for the whole day the rain only stopped for about 15 minutes (still enjoying the walk). Passed through Glen Falloch and then through Strath Fillan to Tyndrum. (Mud, mud, glorious mud.) By this time a lot of the paths and tracks were running streams but the scenery was improving all the time as I headed north. The night was spent in a bunkhouse beside the Bridge of Orchy hotel. 20 more miles completed.

Sunday – surprise, surprise the rain stopped and the sun came out intermittently. Made my way over Rannoch Moor into Glen Coe and then up the Devil’s Staircase out of Glen Coe and on over the hills to Kinlochleven. Rested in a B&B. 80 miles now completed.

Monday and the showers returned. Headed over the hills to Fort William with Ben Nevis appearing from a long way off. Arrived at Fort William after 14 miles at 12.15p.m. so decided to go up the 4400 feet of Ben Nevis. Three hours later I was at the top and it was snowing! Two hours later I was back down. Night spent in a hostel before returning home on the Tuesday.

The total raised towards the £850 required to send an athlete to the Special Olympics was £335.70 of which £60 came from church members. Please accept my sincere thanks for the support I received.

Clive Ross

NEWSPAPERS

Recently the newspapers that we have been collecting were taken away for recycling, resulting in £95 going to Church Funds. Therefore it seems an appropriate time to remind everyone that bundles of old newspapers should put in the hearse house at Monikie Church. Please remember the papers should be tied with string, no plastic bags and no magazines (because of the staples).

THE QUEEN’S JUBILEE

Reverend Douglas Chisholm was interested to see that I had reprinted his item in the last newsletter from the Silver Jubilee and has sent me a copy of the sermon he preached at a United Service in St. Andrew’s Church, Chinnor, Oxfordshire in England on the 2^nd June, the Golden Jubilee weekend.

When Princess Elizabeth came to the throne on the death of her Father in 1952, I was a Parish Minister in Glasgow. That Sunday I preached from the 45^th Psalm: “The King’s daughter is all glorious within”. A year later came the Coronation. Like most people then, we did not have a television, so we went down the street to a radio shop and watched it there.

Now, in that ancient Service in Westminster Abbey, every word, every bar of music, every movement had a symbolic meaning. Let me describe several of the highlights of the Service. Essentially, it was a Divine Drama in which God was doing something.

There was the young Queen processing into the Abbey, in a crimson robe: reminding us of the sacrificial blood of Christ on the Cross: Sacrifice. She is sacrificing herself to the nation. Later comes the anointing, introduced by the hymn “Come Holy Ghost”. The Queen is disrobed and found to be wearing a plain white tunic, humility. The Servant Queen. Under a canopy, the Archbishop anoints her hands, her breast and her head with a special oil. The Consecration. Did you know the word Christ means the anointed one?

The next highlight I would mention would be the Crowning. By this time she is wearing the Robe Royal and Stole, like a Priest’s vestments and richly ornamented, with the emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Archbishop blesses the Crown and places it on her head “God crown you”, he prays “with a crown of Glory and Righteousness”. The people shout “God save the Queen”. The trumpets sound. The Hebrew Old Testament word for trumpet horn is jubal from which our word Jubilee comes. Jubilee is a time for trumpets. After Holy Communion, she retires to make the final change of garment.

There she appears, resplendent in her Royal Robe of purple, on her head the Crown, in her right hand the Sceptre, in her left hand the Golden Orb or world globe, also with a cross, reminding us that it is Christ who has the whole world in his hands and under whom Elizabeth reigns. On her finger the ruby wedding ring of England, with the figure of St. George, the marriage of the Sovereign and her people. Elizabeth Regina. “The King’s daughter is all glorious within”. Basically, the Coronation Service was a sacramental act through which God was working. God through His Holy Spirit Anointed, Consecrated and Crowned Elizabeth as Queen. In his mercy he accepted her vows and her Communion and blessed the people over whom He set her. Various contrasting ideas intermingle. On one hand, Majesty, Authority, Power. On the other, Sacrifice, Humility, Service.

Now in these 50 years society has radically changed but these fundamental principles must remain, whatever changes may come in the future. In this secular age the spiritual dimensions of the monarchy must not be lost. They present a paradox. This is not surprising because Christ, the Anointed One presents a paradox: King of Kings and Lord of Lords to whom is ascribed Majesty, Authority and Power. He is also: helpless Child of Mary, the Master washing the Disciple’s feet, the Crucified, the Sacrificial Lamb of God; Sacrifice, Humility, Service. Christ is the Servant King. This weekend, amid all the frivolity and jollity, the Queen is asking her people to join her in acknowledging Christ as the Anointed King of kings. She is asking us all to join her in dedicating her life to the sacrificial, humble service of the whole nation. “The King’s daughter is all glorious within”.

Douglas Chisholm

PARISH REGISTER

Baptism (Acts 2: 39)

• JULY
• 7^th Owen Angus, son of Mr and Mrs Campbell Baxter,
• East Skichen, Carmyllie.

Funeral (John 12:24)

• JUNE
• 15^th Helga Ramsay, formerly 3 Denfind Cottages, Monikie

IN MEMORIAM

Helga Ramsay

Originally having come from Germany to Dundee Helga came with Bert, her late husband, to Monikie before returning to Dundee. Helga was a quiet but well-known lady during her 15 years in Monikie. Mrs Ramsay always had a friendly wave for all whom she met.

LOVE IS LOVE’S OWN REWARD

"I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine," God said,

            "For you to cherish while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.

            It may be six or seven years or only two or three,

But will you, till I call him home, look after him for me?

            He'll bring his love to gladden you and should his stay be brief,

You'll have a host of memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return,

            But there are lessons taught below I want this child to learn.

            I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true,

            And from the throng that crowds life's land at last I've chosen you.

            Now will you give him all your love nor think your labour in vain,

            And turn against me when I come to take him back again."

M.G

The Kirk Walk

On Saturday 15^th June a bus left Newbigging/Monikie with some 27 members and friends looking forward to yet another Kirk Walk - or were we? Heavy rain was ‘stotting’ off the roads and there was to say the least, an undercurrent of concern that we had ’backed a loser. Oh we of little faith!

Our destination was Blair Atholl and as we approached Perth, the clouds were thinning out with a fair promise of some sunshine.

By the time we reached the start point at the West Lodge gate of Blair Castle the sun was out and we took to the Whim Plantation woods feeling much happier on our way to join the Minigaig Pass which runs from Blair Atholl to Kingussie - we did not plan to cover all of the 26 miles!

Our first planned break, apart from intermittent breathers was at a bothy some 5 miles up the track - a milestone actually quotes 5&3/4 miles - which has been adopted by the Scottish Bothies Association. Here we had our ‘lunch-stop’ prior to setting off over rough country on the return leg to cross the Bruar Water at an early Hydro installation. We then joined a track leading down the side of the Bruar Water and finally past the Falls of Bruar to rejoin the bus at the House of Bruar car park.

Rain? - a short-lived Scotch mist and hardly worth donning the waterproofs!

We rounded off another enjoyable Kirk Walk in the Atholl Arms Hotel whence, suitably restored, we enjoyed the return home.

With a variety of clashing events our numbers were down this year but we look forward to a full complement next year!

Sandy McKay

Prayers from the Glasgow Churches Together Website – www.glasgowchurches.org.uk

Prayer for August

God of All Ages,
praying, in oneness,
with all my/our Christian sisters and brothers in this area,
I/we bring before you now
all of our young people.
As they develop in mind, body and spirit
may they come to fulfillment
conscious of the deep personal love
you have for each of them.
Let this prayer echo throughout my/our day.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer for September

God of All Creation,
praying, in oneness,
with all my/our Christian sisters and brothers in this area,
I/we thank you
for the abundant fruits of the earth
and for the fruits of all good people
whose productive lives
spread the love of God and neighbour.
Let this prayer echo throughout my/our day.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer for October

God of Hope,
praying, in oneness,
with all my/our Christian sisters and brothers in this area,
I/we celebrate
the growing sense of unity
among the followers of Jesus in our time.
May all that we are
and all that we do together
flourish, as we strive to obey your Word
and to praise your Name.
Let this prayer echo throughout my/our day.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

D.B., Editor.

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