kiltarlity and wardlaw churches · festive greetings to all our readers and thank you for all your...

Festive greetings to all our readers and thank you for all your support throughout 2011

www.kiltarlityandkirkhill.org.uk

The Parishioner Newsletter Issue 46 - December 2011 of 22

Dear Folks Another year is over and everybody – believers and even non-believers - are preparing themselves for the Christmas season. The Christmas lights in our city are hung and lit. The shops are stacked with everything under the sun for everybody, but they do not stock what all people on earth need for real life and joy. The shopping spree is in full swing under the Christmas lights and the money is rolling. The excitement grows day by day. Christmas is a time of generosity, love, happiness and joy for most people, but it is also a time of darkness and depression for millions of people around the world who have lost hope in life. The first Christmas was a bit of an anti-climax because the world was not prepared for the coming of the Messiah. There was no place for the King to be born (Luke 2:7) except a stinking stable. He was humbly born without fanfare and shouts of jubilation. Most of the Jews still believe the Messiah is to come, that is why the apostle John wrote: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in

the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him”

( 1 : 9-11 ). Will there be a place in this manmade world under all the Christmas lights and festivals for King Jesus in all his glory in 2011 ? If not it will be another hollow Christmas season with temporary joy and more financial burdens. Let us pray that the world will realise this Christmas season that the Word ( Jesus Christ ) has become flesh and has “made his dwelling among us…. full of grace and truth” ( John 1:14 ) and that only He can bring us real joy and life. We wish you all a very blessed Christmas season. May you experience the peace and joy of which the angels sang that night on the fields when He was born. We are very much looking forward to being with our family and friends in South Africa for the whole month of January. Kind regards from the Manse

Kobus and Louisa

Kiltarlity and Wardlaw Churches




BIND US TOGETHER

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.”

.......... is the text on the wall hanging which is being created to commemorate

the refurbishment of Wardlaw Church. When it is hung it will hopefully

encourage all who see it to consider the source of our blessings and to be

thankful. The wall hanging is intended to be a beautiful piece of work which will

enhance our worship but from the outset it was always the plan that it would

promote fellowship through the process of creating it. So far , it has definitely

achieved the latter aim in that it is now well on the way to being finished on

time as a result of the design input of lots of ladies, the stitching of even more

ladies and the encouragement and advice from many more in the congregation

and community.

The last bits of hand stitching to secure the backing will need to be completed

on Thursday, 8th

December at Flora and Doug Morrison’s ( Apartment 2,

Lentran House from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. ). All those who have already worked on

this are invited to come along as well as anyone else who would still like to do a

little bit of stitching. All are welcome. Please feel free to bring a friend. If you

need directions please phone Flora on 831 373

Donations to help purchase the materials for the hanging would be still most welcomed.

Please mark these “For the Wall Hanging” and give to any of the team,

or to Iain Mortimer.

Flora Morrison

Copies of the December / January / February booklet “Our

Daily Bread” are now available at the entrance to the Wardlaw

Church. Please take one to read daily.

There are also a few extra copies of the Introductory Version if

you feel you would like to introduce a friend, a neighbour, or a

relative to this booklet.

If you find this devotional helpful, you can use the form in the

middle of the booklet to arrange to have future issues posted

direct to you at home.




Tomnacross Church –“Raise the Roof” Kiltarlity Church needs to replace its roof, at a cost of approximately £50,000. We have set ourselves an

ambitious target of raising £20,000 and Mrs Ann Gloag has very generously offered to match, pound for

pound, all money that we raise. Together with a grant from the Church of Scotland General Trustees, this

should take us to the total of £50,000.

We are therefore embarking on a programme of events between October 2011 and October 2012, with

the aim of involving as many people in the community as possible. Fundraising should be fun !

Progress towards Target - as of 22 November 2011 :

£2k £4k £6k £8k £10k £12k £14k £16k £18k £20k

Calendar of Events

Date Time Event Location Details

4th

November

2011 Ceilidh Raised £540.

19th

November

2011

School

Christmas Fayre Raised £444

Throughout

December Christmas Quiz

Quiz sheets will be available for

£1 per sheet at the start of

December. Enjoy puzzling over

the questions and submit your

answers before 10th

January.

Prizes available!

Friday 24th

February 2012 7pm – 9pm Quiz Night

Kiltarlity Village

Hall

£20 per team of 4.

BYOB

Friday,

11th

May 2012 7pm start

Car Treasure

Hunt £25 per car, including BBQ

Early June

mid-week Silent Auction tbc

Tickets £5

including a glass of wine

tbc Sponsored Walk

/ Cycle

3 / 4th

August

2012 Belladrum Look out for us at Belladrum !

There are a number of other on-going opportunities to participate in our fundraising efforts:

Buy a slate: Please ‘buy’ a slate for £3 or a nail for £1, and receive an attractive ownership

certificate - contact Louise Watson.

Christmas Wreaths: Purchase a high quality hand-made wreath for Christmas. The cost is £10 per

wreath. Contact Sheila Moir ( 741 618 ) for more information.

Tea Towels and

Canvas Bags:

These commemorative items, decorated with a line drawing of the Church, can be

purchased at the Tomnacross Church for £6 per tea towel ( or 2 for £10 ) and

£3 per bag. Updated as at 22 November 2011

Organisers of the Ceilidh wish to express their thanks to all the Kirkhill and Kiltarlity folk for their support at our fund

raising Ceilidh it really was appreciated. We also have some Kenyan craft jewellery to sell and any of the money

raised from that goes to our Raise the Roof funds – Hamish and Margo MacLennan.

Margo MacLennan has packs of Christmas Cards for Ann Gloag's Kenyan children's charities. They come in packs of 10

for £3.50 so if you still need to buy some cards please give Margo a ring on 741 312. The profits from the sale of the

cards go to the children's charities.




The Advent Wreath

Advent wreaths are used by millions of Christians worldwide to mark the season of Advent which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The first Sunday in Advent this year is Sunday, 27th November. Advent from the Latin adventus means “arrival or coming.” Like many Christmas traditions in the Christian faith, the Advent wreath is thought to be pagan in origin. Christians borrowed the ancient custom and incorporated it into the celebration of Christmas. The wreath or garland with its greenery is said to represent Eternity. Set in the greenery are four candles : three purple ones and one pink one. In the centre of the wreath sits a white candle. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit.

This candle is said to represent Hope.

On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit.

This candle typically represents Love.

On the third Sunday of Advent, the third pink coloured or rose candle is lit.

This candle represents Joy.

On the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, the last purple candle is lit. This is sometimes

called the “Angels’ Candle” and represents Peace.

On Christmas Eve, the white centre candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the

“Christ Candle” and the colour white represents Purity. The Advent wreath symbolises the many ideas and hopes present in the celebration of the birth of Christ. They vary depending on the Christian denomination but the symbolism and intent of the candles on the Advent wreath remain the same.

Marie Harvey

A screening of last year’s BBC film about the Nativity is planned to be shown in Wardlaw Church on Wednesday, 21 December 2011 starting at 7:30 p.m. No admission fee, but a donation to refurbishment fund most welcome. This is an opportunity for you to watch this story in one sitting which lasts 2 hours. There will be a short intermission at the mid-point for tea / coffee and biscuits to be served. Everyone from both parishes and communities is most welcome to come along to this film show.




Guild News

The second meeting of our new Guild season was held on Tuesday, 1 November at Kiltarlity Church, which was still in the throes of serious roofing work. Many thanks to Kiltarlity Church for accommodating us. Elizabeth MacRae opened the meeting with a well-chosen reading from Ecclesiastes, and a short prayer. Carol Grant reported on business items – the upcoming visit to Beauly Guild, our duties as hostesses at the Guild Presbyterial Council meeting. The Salvation Army have given advance notice of their Carol Service on Tuesday, 13 December at 7.30 p.m. Our guest speaker on this occasion was Danny Muschate, Head of Fundraising for Blythswood Care. Danny gave a thoughtful – and indeed thought-provoking - presentation on the varied work of Blythswood Care. He used short DVD episodes and general discussion to illustrate the issues they face. We were surprised to learn that there are about 130 food banks operating in the UK, though not all run by Blythswood! However, Blythswood’s Highland Food Bank was the busiest in the UK last year, feeding over 4000 people. Blythswood’s activities also stretch across Europe and into Asia. Danny’s DVD coverage of clothes being recycled will make us think hard before consigning old clothes to the dustbin, and the footage showing the overjoyed recipients of Christmas shoeboxes was very moving. Our offering was given to Blythswood as a donation, and totalled £70 – for which we have received both a verbal and written thank you from Danny. Guild members from Kirkhill and Kiltarlity were guests at the meeting of Beauly Guild on the evening of 7 November. We were made very welcome, along with members from Muir of Ord Guild. A team of four went to act as tea hostesses at the meeting of the Guild Presbyterial Council at Ness Bank Church Halls on 15 November – bearing a generous amount of home baking contributed by Guild supporters. That evening included a presentation by Eileen Robertson of Friends of Tabeetha School, with a PowerPoint display of beautiful photographs of the Holy Land. On 29 November, a team of four ( Carol, Elizabeth, Margaret and Rosemary ) will represent our Guild at a Guild Quiz Night at Trinity Church. A total of 14 teams have registered so far – so wish us luck ! Our next meeting is somewhat different. It will be on the second Tuesday of December – 13 December at 2.30 p.m. We will start at Kirkhill Primary School, where by kind permission of Head Teacher Cris Ford, and by invitation of the Open the Book team from Wardlaw Church, we will be in the audience for the Christmas Open the Book dramatisation. This will be followed by a special Christmas afternoon tea at the Old North Inn, to which Guild folk, Open the Book folk, and church folk in general are very welcome. The charge for the afternoon tea is £5.95 per person, payable on the day to Rosemary. However, please note that we need to give numbers to the Old North Inn in advance, so places must be booked in advance with Rosemary, by Sunday, 4 December at the latest. Transport between the school and the hotel and back again will be available – please give your name to Rosemary, Elizabeth or Carol if you need a lift. Please note that there will be no Guild meeting in January or February – our season of meetings and guest speakers will resume in March 2012, when we look forward to seeing you !

Rosemary Mortimer

High quality hand-made wreaths available at £10 each.

Do not delay, ring Sheila Moir now on 741 618 to order yours.

All profits to the Tomnacross Raise the Roof appeal.




WARDLAW CHURCH REFURBISHMENT UPDATE

We will unfortunately not be able to hold our first service in the Church on Sunday, 4 December 2011 as we had planned. This is mainly due to a late hitch with giving the painters and electricians high level access in the Sanctuary area. The Church is due to be handed back to us by Morrison Construction on Friday, 2nd December. We have then to arrange for the carpet tiles and chancel / pulpit carpet to be laid, new chairs delivered, and the items returned from storage at Muir of Ord – see below. Following discussions, with a good cross section of the congregation, the interior walls of all the rooms in the Church – Guild Room, Sanctuary, Vestry, and both entrances – have been painted Blossom White. The Sanctuary ceiling is a blue colour called First Dawn, and the exterior doors are also a blue colour called Atlantic Surf 1. The Guild Room ceiling has been painted brilliant white. These colours will give all the rooms a light and airy feel. All the colours can be found in the Dulux range. The wood panelling around the Sanctuary remains the same colour as previous.

Calum MacDonald of Caldon Carpets is booked to lay the carpet tiles and carpet on Tuesday, 6th and Wednesday, 7th December. The chairs are due to arrive on Thursday, 8th December and we are planning to return all items from the Muir of Ord storage container on this day also. We need all hands to the pumps on Thursday, 8th December to assist with these tasks, and many hands make light work. We had a great turnout on Monday, 3rd October at the start of this project and a similar response will really help with these tasks. If you are able to assist on this morning, please speak to Iain Mortimer, or just turn up on the day. If all volunteers could report to the Church for 9:00 a.m. or later, then we will organise a “gang” to go to Muir of Ord storage container and bring the first load back to the Church. With the chairs also arriving during Thursday, we will need help to unload, unwrap and position them in the Sanctuary, so any volunteers who can stay on to help will be really valued. We shall also be seeking volunteers to clean the Church and all the items that have been in storage on Friday, 9th December, with Saturday afternoon being a “final clean” if needed. Again, please let Iain Mortimer know if you are able to spare a couple of hours to tackle this aspect of moving back in to the Church.

The first service at the newly refurbished building will be Sunday, 11 December 2011 starting at 10:30 a.m.

Iain J. Mortimer

Keep the home fires burning

The old floor boards from Wardlaw Church that did not have dry rot have been kept by the west side of the Church. Over the past two weeks, Graham Elkin has spent many hours with his chain saw cutting the boards into lengths suitable for putting on an open fire, or a wood burning stove.

Graham is back to sea from 28 November for a month. Upon his return he would like to deliver bags of wood to any member of the Wardlaw Church congregation who would benefit from this source of heat. If you

or if you know of a neighbour living in Kirkhill and Bunchrew who would benefit from this heat source, please give your name and address to either Maris Elkin or Iain Mortimer during

December for delivery in January 2012 ( weather permitting ).




Tomnacross Church,

Kiltarlity

Buy a slate for Christmas for your family and friends. £3 will buy you a new slate for the Church Roof and you will receive an attractive ownership certificate to put in their Christmas stocking.

Contact Louise Watson ( 741 876 ) without delay or simply add your name, collect a certificate, and drop your money in the box at Tomnacross Church !

BURNS NIGHT SUPPER – Saturday, 28 January 2012

SAVE THE DATE !

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” is a comment usually attributed to Mark

Twain. However, it now also applies to the Kirkhill and Kiltarlity Burns Supper. We are

pleased to announce that the Burns Supper is ON, and will take place at Brockies Lodge on

the evening of Saturday, 28 January 2012. More details will be available soon. Margo

Maclennan and Ellenor Thomas are putting together the evening’s entertainment

programme, with bookings being taken by Rosemary Mortimer. See you there !

Memory verse – Luke 2 : 11 “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”




Church of Scotland Safeguarding Service

Harm or abuse of children and adults at risk can happen anywhere – even in church

communities. We have a duty to Ensure a Safe Church for All. This means protecting

children and ‘adults at risk’.

The Church’s safeguarding structures aim to minimise the risk of harm occurring. If harm or

abuse does occur, with appropriate support and training, it will be recognised and

reported. Appropriate and timely action will be taken and this includes working with the

Police and Social Work services where appropriate.

Training for volunteer workers and co-ordinators

The Safeguarding Service arranges training events throughout the year for both volunteer

workers and safeguarding co-ordinators. All training meetings and events are open only

to Church of Scotland staff, office bearers and those in the ministries.

A training course was held at Wardlaw Church on 17th June, and the following persons

from the Kiltarlity and Kirkhill parishes satisfactorily completed the Safeguarding Training for

Volunteers in Congregations course : Linda MacKenzie, Ellenor Thomas, Margaret Third,

Eileen Morrison, Alasdair Morrison, Margaret Birkbeck, Mary Bell, Maris Elkin and John

Angus MacDonald.

Well done to all the above named as they give so freely of their time and energy to allow

children a safer environment in which to worship, and Children’s Ministry, in all forms, to

continue.

The Safeguarding Co-ordinator for Kiltarlity is Ian Morrison and for Kirkhill is Mary Bell




THE FOURTEENTH EVEREST MARATHON - NOVEMBER 2011

Hamish MacDonald, a member of the congregation at Wardlaw Church, is taking part in this race for the second time. Hamish completed this race in 2007 and gave an excellent illustrated talk of his experience in the Kirkhill Community Centre in 2008. Hamish departed London Heathrow on 13 November 2011, and is due to return to London Heathrow on 7 December 2011. Hamish has already funded his own costs of nearly £3,000 to take part in the race, and he will be raising funds for the Everest Marathon Fund. The Marathon Fund supports some vital charities, particularly those involving health and education initiatives in Nepal. If you wish to make a donation, please speak to John Angus MacDonald or Iain Mortimer. Or, as an alternative, there is an online fundraising page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/hamish

/ Contd.




The story so far from our own correspondent / participant in the Everest Marathon 2011, Hamish MacDonald

I left Aberdeen on the morning of Sunday, 13 November and flew to London Heathrow to join my fellow runners. Later that day we boarded a flight to Abu Dhabi, and changed planes there to fly to Kathmandu arriving in the afternoon of Monday, 14th November. There are 9 runners from New Zealand this year. No doubt they will be performing a haka before the start of the race ! I have renewed friendships with many fellow runners who ran the race with me in 2007. Kathmandu seemed busier than ever, the pace of life increasing fast. The Everest Marathon participants enjoyed the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple, Durbar Square and Thamel on the first day, amazed by the colour, variety and cultural diversity of this amazing sprawling city at the foot of the Himalayas There were no flights to or from Lukla for 6 days last week and up to 3,500 trekkers were stranded in the mountains. I bet the helicopter companies turned a handy profit from the panic and impatience of the Westerners ! But the backlog has now been cleared and the long range weather forecast is good. Our departure from Kathmandu was delayed a day by bad weather in Lukla so everyone was very pleased to finally get the early morning flight ( after 2 mornings up at 4am! ). At last on trek the mountains opened up on our first day trekking from Lukla to Phakding where the numerous tea houses, lodges and shops sold their produce and hospitality. The fields are full of ripening crops, potatoes, cabbage, leeks, beans, corn and pak choy and lettuce. The trail was busy, people escaping from the mountains after 5 days stuck in and around Lukla after bad weather and snow. The trails of dzopkios ( cross between a yak and cow ) carrying the bags, a few horses, dogs and small children with big smiles made the trail all the more interesting leaving behind the busy city sounds - a different type of traffic here. We reached the first night’s lodge by crossing a large metal swing bridge at the same time as a dzopkio train and decided wisely to let them pass. A porter carrying 5 lengths of wood 5 metres long (weighing 100 kilos) then passed with amazing care over the 200m long bridge before settling gratefully at the other side. We were shown to small basic rooms followed by dinner, lovely vegetable soup followed by chicken stew and rice with veg and lots of helpings. Dessert of fruit cocktail was excellent topping up on our vitamin count. November 20th finds me sitting, taking in the sunshine, in Namche Bazaar with the sound of yak bells and sherpas whistling along the main street. It’s a hard life. The journey has taken us from Kathmandu to Namche in the last 5 days. The following day a fun run from the temple at the summit of Nagarjun above Kathamandu, was a spectacle of the funny, obscure and the colourful, with people dressing up as a hospital patient, horse, leopard, tiger, yogi, viking, pirates and many exotic costumes. The bus journey up was as memorable as the run downhill and it proved tougher than people imagined on the rough track. The surprise of seeing a tiger chasing a yogi at the finish encaptured the moment. The trek to Namche Bazaar is always a tough day. The trail had dried out and the dzopkios moved past slowly until they saw some mules which roused their tempers, causing a mini stampede. All hell broke loose as people dived off the track and the herders temporarily lost control. The diversity of people on pilgrimage, excursion or simply taking in the scenery was amazing: Japanese, Russians, Brits, Kiwis, Nepalese and Tibetans. It was market day in Namche with hordes of people bartering and selling their produce on large tarpaulins, everything you can imagine, socks, shoes, veg, meat, batteries, plastic bottles and rocks. Everyone arrived safely and bedded into our lodges, Tamserku, Khumbu and Sherpaland. Tomorrow it’s a reconnaissance of the Thamo loop, the last 6 hilly miles of the race.

/ Contd.




On Monday, 21st November the competitors in the Everest Marathon ran around the Thamo Loop from Namche Bazaar today in glorious sunshine. Spirits were high after two nights in Namche and views of Tamserku and Ama Dablam greeted us as we stopped at the heli pad to take in the view of the village perched high on the mountainside. Athletes from 19 countries covered the loop to Thamo school and the mani wall, the turnaround point within a few hours, many

walking to avoid adverse reactions to the high altitude. Yak trains commonly use this route and some beautiful white yaks seemed to want to join in with the runners. Only 11 days to the race ! We end the day at Khumjung at 3,780m, which is 12,401 feet or more than 3 times the height of Ben Nevis. Over the next two days we have trekked to Mong La (3,962m), Phortse Tenga, Dale (4,084m) finally arriving at Machermo at 4,465m which is 14,649 feet on Wednesday, 23rd November. After a day’s rest to acclimatise, we will leave Machermo tomorrow Friday, 25th November to trek to Gokyo at 4,791m ( 15,719 feet ). In five days we have trekked ( and run ) from 3,446m (11,306 feet) to 4,791m, a height difference of 1,345m or 4,413 feet. The race is now just over a week away on Friday, 2nd December. We are all hoping that we pass the final medical checks a week today so that we can race on the Friday. The race starts at 6:30 a.m. at Gorak Shep ( 5,184m ) which is just 180m below the Everest base camp. The race finishes at Namche Bazaar ( 3,446m ) and has to finish before nightfall at 6:00 p.m.

Update from Hamish MacDonald at Machermo on Thursday, 24 November 2011

If you wish to make a donation, please speak to John Angus MacDonald or Iain Mortimer. Or, as an alternative, there is an online fundraising page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/hamish




How Father Christmas got where he is today

One person you are bound to run into this Christmas season is Father Christmas. These

days he seems to frequent shopping malls and garden centres. If he looks tired, just

remember that he has been around a long time, and gone through a lot of

transformations.

Father Christmas wasn’t always the red-suited, white-bearded star of the retail trade that

he is today. He began life as Nicholas, born way back about AD260 in Patara, an

important port on the southern coast of what is now Turkey. When his parents died and

left him a fortune, Nicholas gave it away to the poor. He became a bishop of the nearby

city of Myra, where he almost certainly suffered persecution and imprisonment at the

hand of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Nicholas was a serious theologian: he was a participant at the First Council of Nicaea,

which formulated the Creed which we still say today. He even, reportedly, slapped

another bishop in a squabble over the exact nature of the Trinity.

Nicholas died in Myra about AD343, but the stories of his generosity and kindness were just

beginning. One enduring tale tells of the three girls whom he rescued from certain

prostitution by giving them gold for their dowries. When the father confronted him to

thank him, Nicholas said he should thank God alone. Another story is as Christmas

approached one year, he wanted to help a poor family whom he knew, but he did not

want them to know it was him. So he climbed up on their roof on Christmas Eve and

dropped some coins down the chimney. The next morning the coins, to the great surprise

of the family, were found in the stockings of the ladies, who had hung them to dry by the

fire the night before. Every year after that, they put their stockings out, in the hope that

some more money would fall into them. They told the story of this amazing appearance

to their friends and neighbours, and the custom caught on.

In the UK, Nicholas became the basis for Father Christmas, who emerged in Victorian

times as a jolly-faced bearded character. Meanwhile, Dutch and German settlers had

taken him to America with them as Sinter Klaas and Sankt Nicklas.

It was in America that Nicholas received his final two great breaks into real stardom. The

first was when the Rev Clement C Moore, a New York Episcopal minister, turned from his

life-work of writing a Hebrew / English lexicon, to write a fun poem for his children one

Christmas. His ‘The Visit of St Nicholas’ is now universally known by its first line: ‘T’was the

Night before Christmas’.

From Clement Moore we discovered that St Nicholas is round and pink-cheeked and

white-bearded, and that he travels at night with sleigh, reindeer and a sack of toys on his

back. It was Clement Moore who also revealed that St Nicholas enters houses down

chimneys and fills children’s stockings with toys and sweets.

So how did we find out that Father Christmas wears red ? That was the US Coca-Cola

advertising campaign of 1931, who finally released the latest, up-to-date pictures of

Father Christmas: wearing a bright red, fur-trimmed coat and a large belt.

These days, it is good that Father Christmas uses reindeer and doesn’t have to pay for

petrol. In order to get round all the children in the world on Christmas Eve, he will have to

travel 221 million miles at an average speed of 1,279 miles a second, 6,395 times the

speed of sound. For all those of us who are exhausted just rushing around getting ready

for Christmas that is a sobering thought.

Memory verse – Luke 2 : 11

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”




♥ The Sunday worship service at Wardlaw Church on 4 December 2011 will take place in the

Kirkhill Community Centre, starting at 10:30 a.m.

♥ Kirkhill Deacons’ Court and Kirk Session meet at Wardlaw Church at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,

7 December 2011.

♥ The Celestial Choir will be able to hold their Saturday morning 10 December practice at

Wardlaw Church as the organ is due to be back in the Church on Thursday, 8 December.

♥ The first service in the newly refurbished Wardlaw Church will take place on Sunday, 11

December 2011. Revd. Dr. Kobus Smit will be leading this service. Everyone is invited to come

along to this service and witness the lighting of the third candle in the Advent season. This

candle represents “Joy” and is very appropriate for our first service back in the Church.

♥ The planned pulpit exchange for the 11 December with Revd. Edgar Ogston of Kilmorack and

Erchless parish will now take place in the New Year.

♥ Cris Ford and the pupils of Kirkhill Primary School will hold their annual Carol Service on the

evening of Sunday, 11 December 2011, starting at 6:30 p.m., at Wardlaw Church.

♥ Louise Watson from Kiltarlity Church has enrolled the Kiltarlity Church in the Rag Bag Scheme.

Look on http://www.rag-bag.co.uk/textile_recycling_the_rag_bag_scheme.html to find out

the details of the scheme. Rag Bags can be picked up from Kiltarlity Church, or from Louise

(741 876). They should be returned to the Kiltarlity Church on either 4th or 11th December. The

Rag Bags can be filled with all types of unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, curtains, towels and

bed linen. Louise will then arrange for them to be collected, and once they have been sorted

and weighed, Kiltarlity Church will receive a cheque.

♥ A Men’s Social evening will be held on Friday, 16 December at the Old North Inn starting at

7:00 p.m. All men from both Churches and communities are most welcome to come along

and enjoy the fellowship over a drink and a meal. For further details, and to confirm your

place, contact Alasdair Morrison ( 831 185 ).

♥ There will be a Family Service led by the Sunday School and TCC at Kiltarlity Church on

Sunday, 18 December starting at 12 noon.

♥ A Candle and Carol service will be held at Wardlaw Church in the evening on Sunday, 18

December 2011 starting at 6:30 p.m. Revd. Dr. Kobus Smit has asked Revd. Dr. Willis Jones to

assist him at this service. The Celestial Choir, under the leadership of Mary Robb, will be taking

part in this service. Refreshments will be served after the service. Please invite all your

neighbours, friends and family to witness this very joyous service.

♥ A screening of the BBC’s film Nativity will be shown in Wardlaw Church on Wednesday, 21

December, starting at 7:30 p.m. This film was originally shown on the BBC in the week leading

upto Christmas last year spread over a four day period of 30 minute episodes. We will have a

refreshment break halfway through the film.

♥ The Tomnacross School Carol service will taken place on Thursday, 22 December at Kiltarlity

Church starting at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is most welcome to come along.

♥ Watchnight services will be held in both Churches on Christmas Eve starting at 11:30 p.m.

Revd. Dr. Kobus Smit will lead the service at Kiltarlity, and the Elders will lead the service at

Wardlaw Church.

♥ Kobus and Louisa are returning to South Africa for a family visit in the whole month of January

2012. Kobus has arranged for Revd. Alistair Younger, Revd. Stewart Jeffrey and Revd. Bart

Buell to cover the five Sunday services he will be missing for in January.

PARISH NOTICE BOARD




A similar letter from

Lorna Dempster has

been received by

Margaret Birkbeck for

the donation of

137kgs of food that

Wardlaw Church

contributed to the

Harvest 2011 appeal.

Both Elizabeth and

Margaret are willing

to ensure any

donations – see

below - to the

Highland Foodbank

made outwith of any

specific appeal will

be delivered to the

correct depot

throughout the year.

Please leave any

donations, or

monetary donations,

at the Church

entrances, or speak

to Elizabeth and

Margaret direct on

how you can make a

difference.

These donations benefit people in the Inverness locality and with Christmas

approaching fast, and the current financial uncertainty, the Highland Foodbank

will be under even more pressure to ensure that all the demands made of them

are met over the festive period and into the New Year.

The Highland Foodbank accept any of the following items :

Breakfast Cereal Rice / Pasta 1kg Potatoes ( Tinned or Instant )

Oatcakes / Crackers Tinned Vegetables Tinned Tomatoes

Tinned Fruit Sugar Tinned Soup

Tinned Cream Soup Cup-a-Soup Tinned Ham / Corned Beef

Tinned Tuna / Salmon Tinned Mince / Stew UHT Milk

Tinned Custard / Rice Pudding Tea Bags / Coffee

Fruit Juice ( Long Life or Dilute )




WEDNESDAY EVENING PRAYER and BIBLE DISCUSSION MEETINGS

The Kirkhill Evening Prayer meetings for December will take place on 7th and 21st

December. The prayer meeting on the 7th will be held in the Manse, and the 21st meeting will be in the new refurbished Guild Room in the Church. The short service

begins at 7:00 p.m. and finishes by 7:30 p.m. Prayers are both free and fixed. Pray

for individuals and their needs, the church, world issues, and whatever is on the

minds and hearts of those present. Everyone is most welcome to join us for this time

of prayer.

All and everybody are welcome from the parish to come along to the Bible discussion meetings. Both groups normally meet every two weeks at Wardlaw Manse. If the

Kirkhill Wednesday evening group does not suit your diary, then you are welcome to

join the Kiltarlity group on a Thursday evening or vice versa.

The Kirkhill group will not meet in December, due to the clashing of other events on

the normal dates, but you are most welcome to join the Kiltarlity group on their

December dates.

The Kiltarlity group meets on a Thursday evening at the Wardlaw Manse, starting at

7:30 p.m.

The December dates for the Kiltarlity group are 1st and 15th.

Please note the 15th December will be the last Bible Discussion group meeting in 2011.

They will re-commence in February 2012.

STILL LOOKING FOR A USEFUL CHRISTMAS

PRESENT ?

!!! LOOK NO FURTHER !!!

TEA TOWELS AND CANVAS BAGS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM TOMNACROSS CHURCH

Simply pick up a tea towel, or bag, from the table in the Tomnacross Church entrance and drop your money into the

box, or contact David Garvie on 741 038

TEA TOWELS are £6 each, or 2 for £10

CANVAS BAGS are £3 each





Winter Solstice – 21st

December

A Midwinter festival has been a part of life since pre-Christian times. When the hours of daylight are

fewest, the warmth of the sun weakest, and life itself seemingly at a standstill, our ancestors, the pagan

peoples of Europe and Western Asia, kept festival by lighting bonfires and decorating their buildings with

evergreens.

Perhaps they believed that the dying sun could be enheartened by fire, and the life of the buried seed

assured by the presence of evergreen branches.

With the advent of Christianity, the Spring gods became identified with Christ, and the birthday of the sun

with the birthday of the Light of the World.

The early church father Tertullian did not approve of Christmas decorations. “Let those who have no light

in themselves light candles!... You are the light of the world, you are the tree ever green....” But by the

time of St Gregory and St Augustine, four centuries later, this had changed. Pope Gregory instructed

Augustine not to worry about harmless outward customs, as long as the right God is worshipped through

them. And so many Anglo-Saxon customs were never discarded, but simply endowed with a new

significance.

By 1598 one John Stow of London wrote how: “Against the feast of Christmas, every man’s house, as also

their parish churches, were decked with holme, ivie, bayes, and whatsoever the season of the yeare

afforded to be greene.”

Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Programme.

Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust have been awarded Scottish Government Climate Challenge Funding to run a year-long energy efficiency and low carbon programme. The programme aims to raise awareness about making our homes more energy efficient and generating our own renewable energy. At the end of October we held our renewable energy fair at Kirkhill Primary School. Representatives from a number of organisations and businesses were on hand to explain the different renewable energy technologies we can install in our homes. If you are interested in renewable energy for your home, it is possible to get an independent and free home visit from a Government trained advisor. They will give you impartial advice on the best system for your circumstances. To help raise awareness of renewable energy systems, we have prepared a number of community case studies that explain how local residents have installed renewable energy systems in their homes. These can be accessed through the Kirkhill and Bunchrew web site http://kirkhillandbunchrew.org.uk/ With winter almost on us, now is a good time to give your home an energy efficiency and insulation MOT. Loft and wall insulation are the best ways to minimise heat loss from our homes. Depending on circumstances, you may qualify for free insulation top ups in your home. To find out if you qualify call the local Energy Saving Trust office. They can provide a wealth of independent advice, home energy checks and can arrange for a renewable energy expert to visit and chat about appropriate renewable energy systems for your home. If you have any questions or concerns about energy use over the winters months, give the local office a call on 0800 512 012. Finally, I hope you have a happy and warm winter and New Year.

Archie Prentice




Thank Dickens for Christmas as you know it! Ever wonder where many of our Christmas traditions come from ? A surprising amount can be traced back to the well-loved story of ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens. When you read ‘A Christmas Carol’, you discover almost a template of the ‘ideal Christmas’ which we still hold dear today. Dickens seems to have selected the best of the Christmas celebrations of his day ( he ignored some of the odd excesses ) and packaged them in such a way as to give us traditions that we could accommodate and treasure – more than a century later. So, for instance, in A Christmas Carol, Christmas is a family day, with a family-centred feast. In a home decorated with holly and candles the characters enjoy a roast turkey, followed by Christmas pudding. They give their loved ones presents. Scrooge even gives donations to charity. And all the while outside, there is snow and frost, while church bells ring, and carol singers sing, and hope for mulled wine. In ‘A Christmas Carol’ there is even a Father Christmas – in the shape of Christmas Present. Only the Christmas tree itself came later, when Prince Albert imported ‘a pretty German toy’ that won the heart of the English court, and hence the rest of Victorian society.


“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Missing the guest of honour "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews ?" ( Matthew 2:2 )

There's a story that runs like this: there was a mayor of a small town who had brought in so many improvements to local life that over several years he had transformed the town. And so the community decided it was high time to pay him tribute.

The party was held at the local town hall, and all agreed it was a great celebration. The decorations were superb, the music was loud, the room crowded and noisy. The food was delicious, and the wine flowed. It was the best party the town had ever had.

Over coffee the next morning in the local cafe, someone wondered aloud if the mayor had enjoyed it. No one knew. In fact, as the day wore on, people began to realise that actually, no one had even seen the mayor there that night. Later they discovered that the mayor had been waiting at home all evening, waiting for the lift that he had been promised into town. But people were so busy preparing for the party, that no one had remembered him. And so he had missed the party in his honour. Apparently no one had even noticed his absence.

It sounds a lot like Christmas. People get together to celebrate, the food is great, the music warms the heart - but has anyone seen the guest of honour ? We sing about him, we act out nativity plays about him, but in reality, the season has become about US. Our menus, our travel plans, our presents, our decorations. At what point in the proceedings do we give ourselves time to notice whether he is among us, or not ?




As for Christmas itself, let Matthew tell it his way ( Matthew 2: 1 – 11 )

Christmas – according to the Gospel of St Matthew

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Christmas and St Luke’s Gospel

It is to St Luke’s wonderful gospel that many Christians turn as the year draws to a close

and Christmas approaches, for it is to St Luke that we owe the fullest account of the

nativity.

Luke alone tells us the story of Mary and the angel’s visit to her, and has thus given the

Church the wonderful Magnificat of Mary.

Luke alone tells us the story of how the angels appeared to the shepherds and how the

shepherds then visited the infant Jesus. So – imagine Christmas cards and nativity scenes

every year without the shepherds arriving to visit baby Jesus. Imagine school nativity

plays without our children dressed as shepherds or sheep. So – thank you, Luke !

What makes it so amazing is that Luke was not a Jew ! The man who wrote the fullest

nativity story, and indeed more of the New Testament than any other single person, was

a Gentile !




What is fraud ?

Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. There are many words used to describe fraud.

Scam, con, swindle, extortion, sham, double-cross, hoax, cheat, ploy, ruse, hoodwink, confidence trick.

These are just a few words you might hear in relation to fraud.

Fraud can be committed against individuals or businesses. Protect yourself from fraud.

Although fraud comes in many forms, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself from the crime.

1. Do not give any personal information (name, address, bank details, and email or phone number) to organisations or people before verifying their credentials.

2. Many frauds start with an email. Remember that banks and financial institutions will not send you an

email asking you to click on a link and confirm your bank details. Do not trust such emails, even if they look genuine. You can always call your bank using the phone number on a genuine piece of correspondence, website (typed directly into the address bar) or the phone book to check if you’re not sure.

3. Destroy and preferably shred receipts with your card details on and post with your name and address

on. Identity fraudsters don’t need much information in order to be able to clone your identity. 4. Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed. Ensure your

browser is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring. 5. Sign-up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code whenever you are given the option while

shopping online. This involves you registering a password with your card company and adds an additional layer of security to online transactions with signed-up retailers.

6. If you receive bills, invoices or receipts for things you haven’t bought, or financial institutions you

don’t normally deal with contact you about outstanding debts, take action. Your identity may have been stolen.

7. You should regularly get a copy of your credit file and check it for entries you do not recognise.

Callcredit, Equifax and Experian can all provide your credit file. An identity protection service such as ProtectMyID monitors your Experian credit report and alerts you by email or SMS to potential fraudulent activity. If it is fraud, a dedicated caseworker will help you resolve everything.

8. Be extremely wary of post, phone calls or emails offering you business deals out of the blue. If an

offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always question it. 9. If you have been a victim of fraud, be aware of fraud recovery fraud. This is when fraudsters pretend

to be a lawyer or a law enforcement officer and tell you they can help you recover the money you have already lost.

10. If you need advice about fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 ( available 24 hours a day ) to

discuss your situation with one of their specialist fraud advisers. To report a fraud, you can either use their online fraud reporting form or make your report by calling 0300 123 2040.

11. Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud reporting centre. They provide a central point of contact for

information about fraud. People are scammed, ripped off or conned every day and they want this to stop. They believe that we can beat fraud if we talk about it. The service is run by the National Fraud Authority – the government agency that helps to co-ordinate the fight against fraud in the UK. Reports taken are passed to the police who may contact you for further information. Action Fraud does not investigate the cases and cannot advise you on the progress of a case.




Clever signs In a Podiatrist's office :

Time wounds all heels

On a Septic Tank Wagon :

Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

On a Plumber's van :

We repair what your husband

fixed

On a Church's notice board :

7 days without God

makes one weak

In a Non-smoking Area :

If we see smoke, we will assume

you are on fire and take

appropriate action

On a Maternity Room door :

Push Push Push

In a Vets waiting room :

Be back in 5 minutes – Sit ! Stay !

Radiator repair shop :

Best place in town to take a leak

In a Restaurant window :

Don't stand there and be hungry;

come on in and get fed up

On a Fence :

Salesmen welcome !

Dog food is expensive !

Urgent request – can you help please ?

The Open the Book team are looking for

a doll to use as Baby Jesus in the

Christmas stories we will be telling at

Kirkhill Primary School

from 6th December.

Would you be able to donate or lend

something suitable ?

Please phone Flora – 831 373 – as

soon as possible if you can help.


“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is

Christ the Lord.”

A Christmas Quiz will be available throughout

December at both Churches.

Enjoy puzzling over the questions and

submit your answers before 10th

January.

Prizes available !

Contact Ellenor Thomas – 741 330 - for more

details.





Rev. Dr. Kobus Smit 831 662 E-mail: [email protected] Maris Elkin 831 590 David Garvie 741 038

Kirkhill Sunday School – Margaret Birkbeck 831 518 / Flora Morrison 831 373

Kiltarlity Sunday School – Linda MacKenzie 741 313 / Anneliese Garvie 741 038 The Parishioner – Iain and Rosemary Mortimer 782 648

E-mail – [email protected]

Diary dates for DECEMBER 2011

1 December Kiltarlity Bible discussion group at Wardlaw Manse at 7:30 p.m.

4 December Worship at WARDLAW at 10:30 a.m. and KILTARLITY at 12 noon.

The service for Wardlaw will be held at Kirkhill Community Centre on 4th

7 December Prayer meeting at Wardlaw Manse at 7:00 p.m.

7 December Kirkhill Deacons’ Court and Kirk Session at Wardlaw Church at 7:30 p.m.

8 December Volunteers are needed at Wardlaw Church to assist with returning storage

items from Muir of Ord and the delivery of the new chairs from 9:00 a.m.

9 December Volunteers are needed at Wardlaw Church for cleaning duties.

11 December Worship at WARDLAW at 10:30 a.m. and KILTARLITY at 12 noon.

This service for Wardlaw will be in the new refurbished Church on 11th

11 December Kirkhill Primary School Carol Service at Wardlaw Church at 6:30 p.m.

13 December Guild meeting at Kirkhill Primary School at 2:30 p.m. followed by a

Christmas afternoon tea at the Old North Inn.

15 December Kiltarlity Bible discussion group at Wardlaw Manse at 7:30 p.m.

16 December Men’s Social Christmas meal at the Old North Inn at 7:00 p.m.

18 December Worship at WARDLAW at 10:30 a.m. and a Family Service

led by the Sunday School and TCC at KILTARLITY at 12 noon. 18 December Candle and Carol Service at Wardlaw Church at 6:30 p.m.

21 December Prayer meeting at Wardlaw Church at 7:00 p.m.

21 December Nativity film at Wardlaw Church at 7:30 p.m.

22 December Tomnacross School Carol Service at Kiltarlity Church at 1:30 p.m.

24 December Watchnight Services at Wardlaw and Kiltarlity at 11:30 p.m.

25 December Christmas Day worship at WARDLAW at 10:30 a.m.

and KILTARLITY at 12 noon

Memory Verse

The January 2012 issue of The Parishioner will be published on Sunday, 1 January 2012

kiltarlity and wardlaw churches · festive greetings to all our readers and thank you for all your...

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