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Spring 2001 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
Spring 2002

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Another year in the life and work of our church has passed bringing its different fortunes to us all.  The recent gales have left their mark too!  In Jesus’ parable the foolish builder built his house on the sand. When problems arose, such as flooding and gales, his house fell and great was the fall of it.  When the gales of change and of misfortune arrive the real test finally devolves round what lies at the centre and foundation of things.  In the parable Jesus compared the person who listened to and acted upon his Gospel with the wise builder who built his house on a solid foundation.  Therefore, when floods, gales and tempests came that house weathered it.

The solid foundation gave stability, endurance and safety.  The person who hears my teaching and acts upon it said Jesus is the person who built a solid foundation that can weather any change or any storm, and can come out of it unscathed.  St. Paul amplified this by saying, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ".

A joyful Spring to you all,

Gordon Mackenzie

SERVICES

February

• 17^th      Newbigging      Thinking Day Service

• 24^th      Monikie

March

• 3^rd        Newbigging      Annual Stated Meeting

• 10^th      Monikie            Mothering Sunday

• 17^th      Newbigging

• 24^th      Monikie            Palm Sunday

• 31^st      Newbigging      Easter Sunday    CLOCKS 1 hour forward

April

• 7^th        Newbigging

• 14^th      Monikie

• 21^st      Newbigging

• 28^th      Monikie 10.30am.         Newbigging 6.30pm.     Communion

World Day Of Prayer

The World Day Of Prayer service will be held on Friday the 1st of March in St. Rules Church, Monifieth, at 7.30 pm.

The theme for this year is 'Challenged to reconcile' written by Christian Women of Romania.  More details about the guest speaker will be given nearer the time. If you would like to go or need transport please contact Sheila Mackenzie at the manse.

Christmas Services

Many enjoyed the Christmas Family Service, which was held in Newbigging Church on 16th December.  The congregation was increased by visitors for a baptism and also by the presence of Monikie School Choir who entertained us with their singing.  Newbigging School drew some pictures of ‘What makes us happy’ which were displayed on the walls.

The participation of all these children added greatly to our worship.

The Christmas Eve Carol Service was also well attended. Mr. John Cheyne was the organist and choirmaster for this service.  Mr. John Henderson who was the soloist sang ‘A Star Was His Candle’.  This carol was often sung early last century by the late John McCormick.  We also appreciated the company of all the visitors who augmented the choir and congregation.

Annual Business Meeting

The Annual stated Meeting is to be held following the service in Newbigging Church on Sunday 3rd March.  The Accounts for the year ending December 2001 will be presented by the treasurer to the congregation.  There is an opportunity at this meeting to elect new members to serve on the Congregational Board.

CONGREGATIONAL BOARD NEWS

Mr. Angus Nicoll has been appointed Property Convenor.  He replaces Tom Gray, whom we thank for all the hard work he did over the past few years.

GUILD NEWS

• Wednesday April 3rd A.G.M.

Wednesday 1st May we will be welcoming a speaker from Rachel House.  If anyone would like to attend this meeting please let one of the Guild members know so that we can arrange a cup of tea for you.

If you would like some information about the Guild contact Rae Gray 370504 or any Guild member.

Just a Thought  (From an email correspondent)

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World.  Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student hadn't turned in her paper yet.  So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.  The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."   The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."  The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. To touch

2. To taste

3. To see

4. To hear.

She hesitated a little, and then added

1. To feel

2. To laugh

3. And to love

The room was so full of silence you could have heard a pin drop.  Those things we overlook as simple and "ordinary" are truly wondrous.  A gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot be bought, built, or constructed with our hands.

MISSIONARY PARTNER CORRESPONDENT 

There has been a complete change in regards to our Missionary Partner, Lesley has completed her tour of duty and we are awaiting notification of our new Missionary Partner.  Mrs. Jean Young is to be our new correspondent, this position having been vacant since the death last year of our previous correspondent Mrs. Ailene Eisler.  We are indebted for the work Mrs. Eisler did as correspondent with our missionary partner and her other contributions to Monikie & Newbigging Church and also to her husband Joseph, who was an elder for many years.  As a tribute to Mrs. Eisler, their friend Don Smith has written the following appreciation.

'Ailene was an independent spirit.  Brought up in the country alongside a brother, she was involved in boyish pranks and adventures.  This independence was carried on into adult life. She married a handsome young Polish officer.  There are two sons to this marriage, both showing independent traits, the elder settled in South Africa and the younger in Argyll.  The young Scottish grandson and granddaughter have also inherited this spirit.  Ailene trained as a teacher and taught in the local primary schools of Monikie and Tealing.  I have no doubt that she was strict, but fair and could appreciate the foibles of the lively but not unruly pupils.  I am sure that many of her young pupils owe their advancement in later life to the grounding they received in her classroom.

We of her generation have appreciated her friendship, generosity and understanding.  My wife and I have shared motoring excursions in this country, visiting historic monuments and many lovely rural sites. The picnic treats she provided were always thoroughly enjoyed.

At home she was engaged in an annual duty of collecting for the 'Red Cross' in the Monikie area, where she was well known to many of those folk she and my wife visited.

Her marriage and the departure from home of her sons gave her and Joseph wonderful opportunities for foreign travel. With him she visited his native Poland. Together, they went to Michael's home in South Africa and enjoyed the special delights of visiting the Kruger National Park along with the excitement of being in that more distant part of the world.  Together they spent many happy visits to Argyll to enjoy the development of the young grandchildren, both bright sparks that any grandparents could be proud of.

Ailene was an avid reader.  My recent memories are of our regular visit to Wellbank on the 1st Sunday of the month when we attended the Newbigging Church and met old friends over a cup of coffee after the service.  Back at Wellbank, a low table would be covered with the open pages of the Sunday Papers and the crossword generally completed.  I was of little help in filling in any of the remaining gaps, despite my interest in crosswords.

In an interest shared with Joseph, she kept the garden tidy, with colourful borders and well-trimmed lawn.'

  Don Smith

PARISH REGISTER

Baptism (Acts 2:39)

• 2001

• December 16 Kyle Scott McDonald, son of Scott McDonald and Angela Thomas, Kildare Cottage, 47 Pitairlie Road, Newbigging.

Funeral (John 12: 24)

• 2002

• January 3  Patrick Sim, Newlandhead Farm, Monikie

IN MEMORIAM

Pat Sim

Pat was a farmer but had many other interests including a love of flying.  Pat, an easy- going man with a kindly manner was an elder for almost 30 years giving quiet and unassuming service to Session and congregation, he could ever be relied upon to give a helping hand wherever it was needed.  His passing was sudden and a great loss to us all.

SCROLL OF PAST MINISTERS 

At the first service in the New Year at Newbigging on Sunday 6th January a scroll of past ministers of Monifieth North & Newbigging Church was dedicated.  The preparation of this scroll had been done by Rev W Douglas Chisholm who presented it to our congregation.

CELEBRATING SCOTTISH ANCESTORS 

Recently, one of our American friends from Memphis, Tennessee sent over the order of service and details of their  ‘Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan Service’ which they held in September.

The church, which she attends, is Evergreen Presbyterian Church. The following extract explains the reason for this service, which was incorporated in a weekend of Scottish activities.  D. Booth

KIRKIN' O' THE TARTAN 

In 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish forces were defeated by the English in the Battle of Culloden on Drummossie moor in northern Scotland.  To enforce English rule, tartans and the playing of bagpipes were banned.  Wearing or displaying the tartan was punishable by death.  Legend has it that Scots took to secretly wearing swatches of tartan, concealed within their clothing.  When they gathered at the Kirk (church), there would be a secretive time for blessing of the clans and tartans, as members clutched their small swatches of fabric.

The first recognized "Kirkin' o' the Tartans," in the USA however, was held by the St. Andrew's Society of Washington D.C. in 1941.  The service took place at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, and was led by Dr. Peter Marshall.  Over the years, the Kirkin' has been adapted in a variety of ways, and is now celebrated in many Presbyterian Churches and by Scottish societies throughout the United States and Canada.  It has become a festive and colourful occasion to celebrate Scottish and Presbyterian heritage, the value family and homeland connections, and the faith traditions of Celtic and Scottish peoples.  There is not a standard liturgy for Kirkin' o' the Tartans, but services often include a creative blend of music, hymns and prayers from Scottish traditions.  The heart of the tradition is the presentation of tartans by representative clans, accompanied by the sound of the bagpipes.

The Kirkin' o' the Tartans was first celebrated at Evergreen Presbyterian Church on 19th September 1999, as part of the first Clanjamfry Scottish Festival.  The Kirkin' at Evergreen is a service of worship, giving thanks for God's creative, redeeming and sustaining Spirit that weaves us together across generations and across land and sea.  The service celebrates Scottish and Presbyterian heritage with the tradition of clans and tartans, and with music, prayers, and poetry inspired by Scottish and Celtic Christian traditions.  But beyond the particular heritage of Scotland and its people, Evergreen's Kirkin' is intended to encourage all participants to reflect with thanksgiving on their own family and ethnic heritage, and to celebrate God's grace which is poured out for all generations in all lands.

This year's service also provides an opportunity for us to be honest with God about our pain in the aftermath of this week of horror in our nation, in our world, and in innumerable devastated homes.

Extract from Order of Service, Evergreen Church, September 2001.

DUNDEE MAGIC CIRCLE - MAGIC SHOW

To be held on Friday 18th March 2002 at 7.30pm., Monikie War Memorial Hall

Tickets - Adults £4.00 - Children £2.00 

This show is to be held in aid of Church Funds.  Refreshments will be available at the interval and tickets for these will be on sale before the show.  There will also be a sweet stall and contributions for this would be welcome, as it proved very popular at the last Magic Show.  For any further information on the Magic Show, please contact Gordon Millar.

RESOURCE CENTRE

The Presbytery of Dundee Resource Centre is at Meadowside St. Paul’s Church, Nethergate, Dundee.  The Resource Centre is open on Wednesdays from 6pm. - 8.30pm. and Saturdays from 10am. - 12.30pm.

For further information Tel: 07905 687903 or www.geocities.com/dundeepresbytery/resource.html

Board of Parish Education. Presbytery of Dundee

There will be a workshop in Craigiebank Church on Sunday 12th May to make banners for Pentecost which is the following Sunday.  This event is for seven to twelve year olds.  If you know a child who would like to attend this workshop please let me know.  There will be an event for younger children later on in the year.

Rae Gray 01382 370504

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

The Church of Scotland is looking for gifted and committed people to serve future needs -

ENQUIRERS’ CONFERENCE to be held at KELVIN CONFERENCE CENTRE, GLASGOW - 22nd - 23rd March 2002

To register please contact - Liz Chalmers or Martin Scott, Board of Ministry, Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN

email lchalmers@cofscotland.org.uk OR mscott@cofscotland.org.uk 

SPACES ARE LIMITED - BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL
(CLOSING DATE - 1ST MARCH - EARLY BOOKING RECOMMENDED)

The following article is from the series of articles written by Rev. W. Douglas Chisholm entitled ‘Journey Down The Ages’.  Many of you will be familiar with these articles but hopefully you will agree they are worth reprinting and are also of interest to newer members.  Mr. Chisholm has given permission for these articles to be re-published on the Monikie Website, where you can read further essays at www.monikie.org.uk   Slight changes may have been made to the originals to aid a worldwide audience.

(There is no point in reproducing the article/s here.  The first page of several DTA articles is at JOURNEY DOWN THE AGES THROUGH THE MONIKIE PARISH and the particular one re-printed in this edition of Two-in-One is (24) THE 1848 SCARLET FEVER EPIDEMIC - webmaster)

Contributions for Two-in-One are welcome. The deadline for the next edition is Sunday 5th May 2002.

(This webpage is subject to some very minor alterations for publishing purposes by the Webmaster.)