This version of the Church Magazine was supplied to the webmaster in 'native' format, and remains substantially unchanged.
The Manse
Monikie
Summer 2003
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
I’m sure that there are many rewards from the general day to day, month to month work of ploughing, sowing, cultivating and crop spraying and so forth. However, without the harvest, the whole process is robbed of its meaning. A great deal of patience and informed timing go into the completion of a crop and there are few immediate rewards in the work of nature. Despite the very best efforts on the part of the farmer or gardener, the outcome is determined by forces that are greater.
In the same way all of us live not for today but for the harvest ahead. While we patiently wait for the harvest we have a responsibility right now for the care, for the stewardship and for the nurture of the church and of the world into which God has set us. In the end it is God who will give the increase.
A happy summer to you all.
Yours sincerely,
Gordon Mackenzie
SERVICES
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
CONGREGATIONAL BOARD NEWS
The Stated Annual Meeting was held at Newbigging Church following the Service on Sunday 30th March. Since the meeting last year some changes had taken place within the Board. Mrs Mabel Kettles had retired as she had moved from the area and Mrs Catherine Ross had joined. Mrs Elizabeth Scott has retired and new Board members Ms Sandra Steel, Mrs Dorothy Blacklaws and Mrs Elizabeth Cameron were elected.
Mr Charles Pilditch has retired as Treasurer and is thanked for his work as treasurer since summer 1999. One of the tasks he completed during his tenure was to computerise the accounts.
Mrs Elaine Yeaman has been appointed as Treasurer.
FIDDLERS CONCERT
A concert was held in Monikie Kirk on Friday 11th April where a large audience were entertained by the Angus Strathspey and Reel Society. The sum of £625 was raised for Kirk funds. Thanks go to Les Riddick for organising the concert. The Church was beautifully decorated with flowers arranged by Doris Ritchie and Jean Fairlie. Thanks also go to all who helped with refreshments for the orchestra.
Flowers
Do you enjoy flower arranging? A willing volunteer is required to organise flowers for Newbigging Church. If you would like to help please contact Mrs Janet Sim.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2003
(11th - 18th May)
THE BELIEFS AND VIEWS OF CHRISTIAN AID
Life before Death
At Christian Aid we try to see life from the viewpoint of the majority of the
world's people. And the majority of people are poor.
In fact, many are desperately poor. More than one person in five has to get by
each day on just sixty pence - less than many of us spend on mobile phone calls.
Being born in the UK or Ireland is quite a break compared to being born in many
countries. A child born here will consume and pollute more in a lifetime than 50
children born in developing nations.
At Christian Aid, we think that global economics needs a rethink. That the
planet needs a little tilt on its axis.
In favour of the majority.
Christian Aid, one of the UK's leading development agencies, represents a
movement of people who believe in 'life before death'. We believe that life
should be fairer for the majority. After decades of working with poor
communities worldwide, we've found that poor people themselves are best placed
to come up with solutions to problems they face.
That's why we strike partnerships - from Harrow to Haiti, Dublin to Delhi -
aimed at promoting long-term development and at challenging economic systems
which banish the poor to the margins of existence.
And the secret to our partnerships is the commitment in time, energy and ideas
of hundreds of local heroes. Whether it's a farmers' union in Ghana, a women's
cooperative in India or a school in Huddersfield, we help people work together
to tilt the balance of history in favour of the majority.
Development
Instead of setting up expensive offices or sending teams of expatriates to major
emergencies, we choose instead to work with local people and local
organisations. In 2002, we worked with almost 600 local partners. On the ground,
on the spot in a crisis, these local groups understand better than anyone what
the real needs of their communities are. We support them with funding and with
expertise from our London office to help local communities become
self-sufficient, have healthier environments and live together peacefully.
Further information on the work of Christian Aid may be found on their website:- www.christian-aid.org.uk
DESERT RAT
Now that the Gulf War has ended may I be allowed to tell you a little bit about another Desert Rat so called. My late husband was 20 years old on the 26th May 1939, which made him one of the militiamen. Being a farm worker he had a bargain with the farmer from the May term (28th) to the November term (28th). He was called up but got a deferment until his work bargain was finished. He was off to Chesterfield to begin his military career on the 1st December. After his initial training he was sent to France and was there at the time of Dunkirk. Round about the time of his 21st birthday he was sent off on a mission one morning, on his return his unit had gone in a great hurry. Days before he had received a birthday cake from my mother but had to leave it after having only one slice, so someone else got the good of it. He managed to tag along with other military men who were making for the coast to get a ship to take them home to Britain. They arrived at Saint-Nazaire, only to find the Lancastria was full up which was lucky for them as a bomb went down the funnel as a result of which, there was a great loss of life. I cannot recall the name of the ship he sailed home on.
After some time he got embarkation leave before setting sail for the Middle East where he was stationed for quite a long time in the desert. It was very hot during the day and very cold at night and there were the flies and the awful dust storms, of course there was more to worry about that those discomforts.
Before D Day he was sent back to Sicily and Italy and as the war progressed, into Germany where his lot were the first to arrive at the gates of Belsen. They were not allowed to go into the camp but there to deliver supplies. He made many good friends while in the army. Latterly he had the letter Y sewn onto the sleeve of his tunic and we used to rag him and say that it stood for Younger's (beer)!
Annie Todd
PARISH REGISTER
BAPTISMS ( ACTS 2 : 39)
FEBRUARY
MARCH
MAY
FIRST COMMUNICANTS (Admitted 6.4.03)
FUNERALS( John 12:24)
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
In Memoriam
Peter Allan
Like his late mother Meg, Peter had a sociable nature. He worked at Dundee College as an information technology lecturer. Peter loved life and was fond of animals, plants and gardening. His passing was sudden and premature.
Joseph Eisler
Joseph came from Buczacz, a part of Poland, now in the Ukraine. In the Second World War he was wounded and met his late wife Ailene in hospital in Glasgow. Joseph was by nature quiet but stood up for his principles. He was an elder in the congregation.
Georgina Thirkell
Ina came from Lochee and during the war worked in Birmingham where she met her husband. Mrs Thirkell was skilled in baking, cooking and knitting. She also loved plants and enjoyed watching birds in her garden.
Ann Sanderson
Doctor Sanderson published numerous papers in Biology, Cytology and on Parthenogenesis. She was a practical person with the motto “ Be gainfully employed!”. Always involved in supporting local and other projects she will be missed. Dr Ann was a great character.
Alexander Ferguson
Alex, until retirement, worked with the D.P. and L. Shipping Company where he was trusted and respected. He was a dignified man but with a sense of humour. In all he did Alex was methodical and was good with his hands.
HILLOCK CHURCH MEMORIES
My brothers and I went to Sunday school at Monifieth North Church, known to everyone as the Hillock Church. The church was situated at the end of the back road to our farm. When the service was at the Hillock we would go with our parents, on Sundays when the church service was at Newbigging we went on our own to Sunday School walking over the farm road. Our fellow members came from the farms in that area and from houses along Drumsturdy Road. We probably ran to Sunday School as we were usually late but we dawdled coming home climbing the hill and playing games as we went. On at least one occasion we travelled to Church by pony and trap. The pony was tied to the fence during Sunday School.
We were pleased when the Christmas Service was at the Hillock as we felt secure in that location and a bit frightened when it was at Newbigging. The Sunday School was bigger there, but we were really scared of Mrs Barron, the Minister’s wife who was organising us all at practices. Church was the only time my brothers and I had contact with her unlike many of the others from the Hillock who went to Newbigging School, where she was a teacher.
The Beadle for the Church stoked the boiler for the heating and opened up the Church and rang the bell for services. He also escorted the minister into and out of the church. On two sides, trees and shrubs surrounded the Church. After the service one summer he got out a ladder to get some fruit similar to cherries from a tree for us all.
When he retired the elders took over his tasks and we would accompany our father when it was his turn to go in on the Saturday to light the boiler. While he was busy shovelling coal we would wander around the Church exploring the pulpit and the vestry where there was an old pedal organ on which we would try to play a tune. On the Sunday we would plead to have a turn pulling the rope for the bell. During the services in wintertime we would sit right along the seat so that we could put our feet onto the hot pipe.
In later years when the heating no longer worked services were only held in the Hillock during the summer months. My mother would take a travelling rug, which we spread across our knees.
I was married one November in a redecorated church which my family had donated in memory of my father who had died earlier that year (hence the plaque which is now in Newbigging Church), and despite several gas heaters it was extremely cold, our guests felt it more than me, my bridesmaids and I had lacy woolly vests on under our dresses! In contrast my cousin Janette’s wedding at the Hillock was one of the hottest in June, 5 years later.
The Hillock Church began life 160 years ago as Monifieth Free Church following the Disruption of the Established Church of Scotland, which took place in May 1843. It was united with Newbigging in 1920 and linked with Monikie in 1967.
In 1982 Mr Chisholm handed me an extract of the minutes of the Kirk Session. This was the announcement of the closure of Monifieth North - no vote. Although several members, who considered themselves like me ‘Hillock members’, were not very pleased and considered that Mr Chisholm was ‘tidying things up’ for his forthcoming retirement, I realised that with the lack of heating and with other likely costs, it was a sensible decision. The final summer of services at the Hillock were some of the most enjoyable I remember. One committee met with Mr Chisholm to plan some special services. Another committee discussed what was to happen to the furnishings. There was always plenty of social chat outside the Hillock Church and Fiona Wallace and I decided to encourage this fellowship by providing with the help of many others, coffee and tea following the services. We were lucky that we had many fine Sundays and these refreshments were often served outside. On the wet days we were able to use the hall. Many people who had been baptized at the Hillock came to a Cradle Roll Service - the written cradle roll which was begun in 1953 is in Newbigging Church, included in the frame is a photo taken that day of Andrew Reid, the first name written in1953 and Fiona Mackie, the last baby to be baptized in Monifieth North.
The final Service was well planned by Mr Chisholm finishing with the
congregation filing out of the Church followed by the Minister who ceremoniously
closed the door. I was sad when the Hillock Church closed but it looks fairly
good these days. It is even sadder that the building and the area around it are
no longer even within the boundaries of Monikie & Newbigging Church.
D Booth
Copies are available of 'A Compilation' - Writings by Rev W D Chisholm about Newbigging and the Hillock Churches reproduced by the Webmaster. Further information is available on (t)his website
www.monikie.org.uk/monikie.htmIDEAS FOR PRAYERS
From Glasgow Churches Together
Taking time to pray quietly
Make yourself comfortable, say sitting in your favourite armchair or strolling in the park. Look at the suggested theme and relax yourself into a mood for prayer.
When you are ready, read the short Scripture passage. Then think about it for a few moments. Think especially of how the theme and the passage might speak to you, to your family and friends, to your cares and joys, and to the wider world.
Each month we have suggested a visual symbol that you might use to help you concentrate on the theme.
May
Theme: Preparing for Pentecost
Suggested Symbol: Telephone
Scripture: Acts 2:4-6
4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other
languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. 5 There were Jews living in
Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. 6 When
they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because
each one of them heard the believers speaking in his or her own language.
(Translation: The Good News Bible)
June
Theme: Praise
Suggested Symbol: Flower
Scripture: Psalm 113:1-3
1 Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the
LORD.
2Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is
to be praised.
(Translation: New International Version)
July
Theme: Refreshment
Suggested Symbol: Glass of Water
Scripture: John 7:37-38
37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing
there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the
one who believes in me drink.
(Translation: New Revised Standard Version)
August
Theme: Stillness
Suggested Symbol: Music
Scripture: Psalm 46:10
10 Be still, and know that I am God.
(Translation: The New International Version)
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MAGAZINE EDITOR
Would YOU like to edit the newsletter for Monikie & Newbigging Church?
I cannot spend a lot of time trying to think of an inspirational advertisement as I am as usual rushing to get this edited and printed. It’s easy when others provide articles, and I am very grateful to those who have contributed over the past five years. At times I have struggled, changed what I’ve written, put in, taken out - printed in the wrong order - but it has been an interesting experience.
If you are interested in the challenge, please speak to Rev Gordon Mackenzie or Mrs Janet Sim. Phone numbers on the cover.
(Webmaster's note - The New Editor is requested to contact me when 'in post' to make arrangements for the continuation of the magazine on the Internet, Thank You.)
(This webpage is subject to some minor alterations by the Webmaster for publishing purposes .)
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