Kinross Parish Church of Scotland September – November 2013

Sunday 1 September INVITATION

to the Celebration of Holy Communion

in Kinross Parish Church

at 10.30am and at 6.30pm Retiral collection in support of CrossReach

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KINROSS CHURCH FAMILY Baptisms 7 July Faye Sophia, daughter of Christopher and Megan

Davies 11 August Iona Beitris, daughter of Cameron and Lynsey

Ewen New Member Mrs. Grace Grant Argyll Road, Kinross Marriages 1 June Katie Whatmore and Jonathan Bacon 6 July Donna Stuart and Thomas Lochtie 3 August Susan Prentice and Tom Marshall Funerals 10 May Georgina Ferrier, Bandrum Nursing Home, Saline 23 May Margaret Logan, Whyte Court, Kinross 3 June William Bruce, Muirfield Grove, Kinross 21 June Christina Renton, High Street, Kinross 9 July Patrick Salter, Whyte Court, Kinross 12 July Wilhelmina Bewick, Alexander Drive, Kinross

This issue’s cover shows the Faith In Action Stewardship logo. More information can be found in articles throughout the magazine.

Recordings of Services: CDs are available of Sunday services; these are in the church vestibule. If you would like a copy, or know of anyone who would, please speak with Ewan Cathcart (862039).

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FROM THE MANSE Dear Friends,

“Look forward in faith, all time is in God's hands.” So says hymn-writer Andrew Scobie, formerly minister of Cardross in Dunbartonshire. His words bear some reflection. If you are anything like me, there will be times when you are insanely busy and really not able to get through everything you are supposed to be doing; and there will be times when you don't seem to have anything useful to do. What does our faith have to say about the way we live in the present and look into the future? The Kirk Session has decided that this year's Faith in Action stewardship focus should be on the theme of 'Time', and with the help of the Time diary inserted in the centre of this magazine, I hope that during the course of the autumn you will enter into a journey of reflection about the way you presently use the time that God has given you each day, each week, and about the way you might more fruitfully live your life in the future. All time is in God's hands. Sure, but we don't always consciously use time in a way that acknowledges it belongs to God and we are only stewards of it. Having already given the diary a go myself, I found it a really useful experience to keep a record of how I actually spent a week rather than how I thought I used my time. Plenty of food for thought and ideally a prompt to improve your quality of life. It is for nobody's eyes but your own, but the fact that the whole congregation is being encouraged to do it at the same time should give us all the incentive we need to take part. A hymn-writer of a previous century, William Lloyd, gives us a prayer that we might well take on our lips as we enter into this Stewardship Season:

“My times are in Thy hand; my God, I wish them there; My life, my friends, my soul I leave entirely to Thy care.”

Let us all entrust ourselves into God's hands this autumn, open to the possibility that He might lead us along new paths and ready to commit ourselves in faith to whatever He may be calling us to, for your times are truly in God's hands.

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Yours in the service of the King, Alan Rev. A.D. Reid

JUNIOR CHURCH After a sunny summer holiday , Junior Church returns to offer our young congregation a time to listen to God’s message through Bible readings, songs, crafts, and games. At the time of writing the programme has still to be finalised but will include all of the above.

The Prayer below was given out at the end of session in June. It was written by Catriona, Brandon, Kirsty, and Robbie.

F ather God in heaven, A lways, you are by our side. T hank you for creating the world and everything in it. H elp us to be like Jesus. E ncourage everyone to believe in you. R ight us when we do wrong. G ive us all that we need. O ur God, we are always grateful for you D ying for us.

Amen

If you would like more information, or would be able to offer help, please let me know.

Until next time, Lynn Caldwell

NATIVITY COSTUMES We will be making new Nativity costumes for Junior Church this autumn - any donations of suitable fabric, for example, stripy sheets, white material, and so on, would be most appreciated! Please contact Evelyn Cairns (863990) if you can help.

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PRAM SERVICE If you are a mum, dad, grandparent or carer with an under 5 please come along and join us at the church on Tuesday mornings in term-time at 10.00am for fun and faith.

We have a short (but energetic and musical!) service followed by craft and a snack – plus a cuppa and chat for the adults.

All welcome!

Evelyn Cairns (863990)

FAMILY WEEK 2013 This annual youth summer event commenced on Monday, 29 July, and continued extremely successfully through to Friday, 2 August.

This year’s theme was set to boldly take leaders and children where no man has gone before; for this week and this week only, Kinross Parish Church posed as the launch pad of Space Academy Kinross.

With an average turn out of 110 children, ages three to 15 years, almost every inch of the church carpet was occupied by bodies. As dancing and singing commences on the first morning, children are slightly timid and shy as they take in the transformation around them. Fantastic stage sets and colourful decorations completely alter the interior aesthetic of the church and wholly convince everyone that they are in fact sitting in the cockpit of the Star Ship Kinross. As the days pass, jokes are told, songs are sung, dances are danced, crafts and games are enjoyed, biscuits are eaten, and dramas are performed. The most important part of the week and the reason for all of the endless preparations, however, remains of most prominence throughout. God is present in all activities and in all of the children as they enjoy the week and learn about the life of Daniel and the wholehearted trust he has in God.

Each day that passes brings a new chapter of Daniel’s story to the children and as questions flow from young mouths, it becomes evident that seeds have been sown.

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Family Week is an extremely worthwhile event and is one that should definitely be kept in the Kinross Parish Church calendar.

I have attended Family Week every year for the past twelve years, and I cannot remember any time when I did not enjoy myself. The things I learned are still with me, and after participating as a young leader this week, I was able see the same happening to the children who sat before me. It is lovely to think that some of the children who attended this fabulous event will be doing the same in a decade.

Family Week is run through hard work and patience; with this year’s plentiful supply of both, all leaders made Family Week 2013 a complete success.

Mairi Mulhern

KINROSS BB Thirty five boys, girls, and staff members of the 1st Kinross BB and Scouts held an outdoor adventure summer camp at Kenmore, taking

in a variety of outdoor activities in the natural beauty of rural Perthshire.

With almost perfect summer weather, the shore of Loch Tay was the ideal place for the youngsters to cool off on the Sunday afternoon after attending the local church service at Kenmore in the morning. The evening activity was inter-tent cricket which was won by tent three led by N.C.O.s Joshua Roe and Tina Webster. Every evening following the inter-tent competitions and supper, evening prayers were held which included a Bible reading and praise item.

Monday saw the first day of activities with the party being divided into three groups, each group taking part in two of the three activities - hill walking, mountain biking and kayaking. The inter-tent volleyball which followed the evening meal was won by tent three.

Tuesday's activities again saw the three groups taking part in outdoor adventure activities with tent three again proving unbeatable in the inter-tent football competition.

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Wednesday morning was more relaxed with the focus on individual competitions in darts, French boules, Connect 4, chess, and dominoes. Wednesday afternoon saw the inter-tent sports competition with traditional sports of egg and spoon, sack race, wheelbarrow, and relay races supplemented by tug of war and a "Chris Hoy" cycle race. Alan Reid paid a visit to the camp and enjoyed the fun being had by all the competitors. Tent three proved championship material coming out on top once again.

Thursday morning's rain did nothing to dampen spirits as everyone was looking forward to white water rafting from Aberfeldy to Grandtully through the rapids. A visit to the Grandtully Chocolatier was called for once everyone had dried out. Thursday evening saw a full mini-bus and car travel to McDiarmid Park to witness St. Johnstone progress to the next round of the Europa Cup competition with a 1-1 draw against Norwegian side Rosenburg.

Friday saw the return of the sunshine and more hill walking, mountain biking and kayaking.

Friday evening saw the "traditional" camp concert with each tent providing entertainment with guests in attendance from the Kenmore Sports' Association, followed by the staff "camp song" - a parody of "She'll be coming round the mountains when she comes."

Following the camp concert the awards and trophies were presented:

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• Darts - Euan Thomson • French Boules - Mark Cathro • Indoor Games - Mark Cathro • Camp Parrot - Joshua Roe • Get a Life - Mark Cathro • Culinary Expert - George Milne • Horizontal Award - Mitchell Brown • Pain in the Butt Award - Robbie Mackessack • Best Tent Overall (Inspections) - Tent four: Billie McGregor,

Lewis McKenzie, George Milne, Liam Slater, Andrew Beveridge, Fraser Barbour.

David Munro, BB Captain

FAITH IN ACTION: STEWARDSHIP OF TIME This time last year, Kinross Parish Church embarked on its ‘Faith in Action’ stewardship campaign focusing on Talents. We received many, many offers of help from people volunteering their talents to do God’s work, and all that you do is much appreciated. Family Week is a wonderful example of people working together to share God’s word with young people in our community.

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This year’s Stewardship Season focuses on the Stewardship of Time. Rather than asking the congregation for support, we wish to support the congregation. Time is a gift from God. Consideration of the Stewardship of Time takes us beyond the life of the Church to the whole of life: this is to be welcomed, as Christian stewardship and discipleship are concerned with the whole of life.

The initiative will look at Time for God, Time for friends and family, Time for work, Time for rest and recreation, and Time for the Church. We encourage you to complete the Time diary in this magazine and explore how you spend your week. You may be surprised by what it reveals. You may decide that too much time is spent in meetings and not enough time with friends and family; you may decide to seize the day and do something you have been meaning to do for ages and never quite got round to doing (meeting up with an old friend, taking up a new hobby, joining a house group).

Much is written about the importance of the work–life balance and as Christians we should consider this balance. It is all too easy to perceive achievement by how very busy we are (succinctly put by Ian McEwan in Black Dogs, “A furious expense of nervous energy we mistook for efficiency”), but sometimes it is the importance of not doing something, of pausing and reflecting, that is the most important thing that we can do. Only then do we listen for and hear God’s word.

Ewan Cathcart’s sermon at the Elder-led service encouraged us to reflect on how we use our time for ourselves and challenge ourselves to use our God-given gift of Time. I hope you will find this Stewardship season of Time exciting and refreshing.

Jaffrey Weir, Session Clerk

“SECOND SUNDAY” SERIES OF CONCERTS Young professionals coming from Glasgow will fill KPC with music for an hour at 3.00 pm on the second Sundays of September,

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October, and November. Stay afterwards to meet them and have afternoon tea! Tickets are on sale for £10 from the Church Office, Alex Cant, or the Milnathort Post Office. Further details to come.

Alex Cant

MUSIC IN WORSHIP The Kirk Session Worship Group is in the process of consulting with the congregation as we seek the right direction to take with regard to music in worship over the coming years. If you have not already completed one of the questionnaires that were available in church over the summer, please contact the Church office for a copy and return it by the beginning of September.

Alan Reid

FIRE ESCAPE PLAN FOR THE SANCTUARY To comply with current Health and Safety regulations, Kinross Parish Church has had to implement the following plan to evacuate the Sanctuary in the event of fire:

Ground Floor – Unless it is dangerous to do so, members sitting on the South (left) side of the Sanctuary should leave by the emergency exit by the organ.

Members on the North (right) should exit by the emergency exit on that side.

Both exits are clearly signed. ON NO ACCOUNT should members leave by the main door, unless the other exits are unusable.

Gallery – Members in the gallery will exit by the stairs and thence though the main door. The Fire Assembly Point is designated as the garden, by the front gate.

Members are requested to familiarise themselves with these arrangements.

Gordon McFarlane

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SEPTEMBER COMMUNION RETIRING OFFERING: CROSSREACH (Charity number SC011353)

Did you know that the Church of Scotland is one of the largest providers of social care for vulnerable groups in Scotland? It does this through CrossReach, the Social Care arm of the Church of Scotland. CrossReach employs 2000 people, has an annual expenditure of £51 million, operates in over 70 locations, and has the

remit “to offer services in Christ's name to people in need as part of the Church's mission.”

While most of the funding comes from local authorities, CrossReach also relies on donations. The Kirk Session has therefore decided to give the congregation the opportunity to support CrossReach through the Retiring Collection at the Communion Services on 1 September, in recognition of its amazing work and to help link us to this wider outreach of the national church.

CrossReach was launched in June 2005 and was previously known as the Church of Scotland Board of Social Responsibility. It continues a long tradition of social care in the Church of Scotland, starting back in 1869 and is involved in a wide range of specialist areas of social care, managed under three main sections: Adult Care Services; Children and Family Services, and Services to Older People - all caring in Christ’s name, many 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

One of our elders, Brenda Fraser, works for CrossReach and the new Convener of the Church’s Social Care Council which runs CrossReach is Dr. Sally Bonnar, an elder in Perth North Church in this Presbytery.

Through our retiring collections, we support a balance of charities between those which work locally, nationally, and abroad. Our last collection, for example, was for the local Kinross-shire Volunteer Group and our previous collection for MAF, the international Christian charity which we are supporting in a number of ways this year. CrossReach, as a Scotland-wide organisation, fits neatly in the middle.

Gordon McFarlane

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MANSE APPEAL UPDATE With income, largely from standing order donations and Gift Aid tax, accruing at around £750 per month (£9,000 p.a.), we continue to make half-yearly repayments of capital and interest towards the remaining £30,000 of General Trustees’ loan and are well on course to redeem the loan fully during 2016, that is, within schedule. Our thanks go to all those who continue to honour their pledges.

Single donations are still most welcome; the faster we repay the loan, the less interest will be incurred. If you wish to make a donation please speak to either of the undernamed.

Jim Marshall, Treasurer and Robin Webster, Finance Convener

THE GUILD: 2013 AUTUMN PROGRAMME Nine members from our local Guild will be attending the Annual Meeting of the Church of Scotland Guild in Dundee on 7 September when members from all over Scotland and beyond come together. The Annual Meeting is always a good start to the new season. With this year’s theme, “A Fellowship to Build,” I am sure that the scene will be set for the 2000 delegates by the speakers and through the rousing worship.

Although last year saw the 125th Anniversary of The Church of Scotland Guild, this year sees the 125th birthday of the Guild here in Kinross. A special celebration is being organised for this anniversary by the Worship group of the Kirk Session. It will take the form of a Service of Dedication and Celebration during the morning worship on 27 October with invited guests, followed by a lunch.

For over 60 of these years, Mrs. Chris Renton was a member of the Guild in Kinross, and it was with great sadness we learnt of her death in June.

Last season our membership rose to its highest ever level, with 50 members. Currently, our members are all women, but we would love to welcome male members – one year there were three men on our roll! We hope our programme will be of interest to both sexes. If anyone wishes to attend just the occasional meeting, they will be

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very welcome. Our meetings are fortnightly starting at 7.15pm unless otherwise stated. Membership of £8 is paid annually by each individual Guild member, and this money goes to support the work of the Church of Scotland Guild at a national level.

Upcoming Meetings

17 September For Old Time’s Sake

1 October Rev. Alan Reid, “John Knox” (Bring and Buy Table)

15 October Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance

27 October Dedication and Celebration of 125 years of Kinross Guild at 10.30am morning service

29 October Dr. Martin Hepworth, “An evening with Laurel and Hardy”

12 November Magdalene Sacranie, “Tales from Malawi written in aid of Malawi Children’s Fund”

26 November Amanda James, “Making a Holly Wreath (demonstration)”

10 December Christmas party, 6pm for 6.30pm

For everyone Please note we are having a Sunday afternoon concert at 2.30pm in aid of Guild funds on Sunday, 8 December given by Cantamus. This concert will have a Music Hall and Christmas flavour. Look out for more details nearer the time. We know it will be popular so we recommend booking your ticket early! The price will be £6 (school children free).

Helena Cant, Convener

A NEW MINISTRY In the Church of Scotland, the Office of Reader dates back to the Reformation when there was a dire shortage of ordained ministers and a need for qualified people to be set apart to lead services in churches where there was no minister. Initially they literally 'read' sermons which had been written by ministers, but over the years, the office developed and people gifted as preachers in their own right were called to serve in this way and given appropriate training. More recently, rather than just providing occasional pulpit supply during

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vacancies or for holiday cover, some Readers have been attached to a congregation and have taken part in other aspects of ministry, such as funerals and pastoral visiting. For many years Margaret Michie has faithfully and fruitfully served in Kinross Parish Church as an attached Reader.

In May 2011, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland established a new form of ministry - Ordained Local Ministry - for those who felt a call to serve in a part-time, non-stipendiary capacity as ministers (to do all that Readers do but also to conduct weddings and to celebrate the sacraments). This is being taken up by some who are in employment and some who are retired or not working. Quite a number of Readers are transferring to become OLMs after a selection process, further academic study, and a probationary placement.

In November 2011, Margaret Michie was accepted as a candidate for Ordained Local Ministry. She has completed a course in sacramental theology at Aberdeen University, a course in Church Law, and a practical placement here in Kinross under the formal supervision of the Rev. Graham McWilliams from Comrie Parish Church. She has been involved in baptismal visits and marriage preparation and has shared with the Rev. Alan Reid and other ministers in the conduct of baptisms, weddings, and communion. By June 2013, she had completed all the requirements of the course set for her, and the Presbytery of Perth appointed Wednesday 14 August as the date for a service of ordination.

The Rev. Margaret Michie has been appointed as Ordained Local Minister in Kinross Parish but also across the neighbouring parishes of Orwell & Portmoak, Cleish, and Fossoway. This will not only support the full-time ministers but will help to forge still closer relationships amongst the Kinross-shire churches. As a congregation we wish Margaret well in this new avenue of service.

Alan Reid

AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST Many international students come to Scotland to study at our universities. Will they make contact with people and life beyond the academic environment? What will they do for a homely break if

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home is too far away? For 26 years, national charity HOST has been linking students with volunteer hosts, who invite a student to spend a day, a weekend, Christmas or New Year in their home. Chatting; eating together; playing games; seeing the area; joining in with the local community; making friends – a HOST visit lays down wonderful memories to be re-lived in China, India, the USA and many other parts of the world. And hosts learn from their guests too. If you could make a student welcome, please contact HOST through www.hostuk.org or call HOST’s voluntary regional organiser for Scotland, Alan Robson, on 01946 825170. Thank you.

TRAIDCRAFT Please have a look at the new Autumn/Winter catalogue.

Thank you so much to all the people who have bought from the stall and ordered from previous catalogues – it all contributes to the amazing total for last year of £8,850.86!

We can take orders for crafts or foodstuffs at any time, and if there is something see you for which you would like to buy only one packet rather than 6 or 8 packets, that is fine! Please remember to have a look for wedding gifts or birthday presents as well as ordering early

for Christmas!

If you would like a catalogue please see us at the stall on a Sunday.

We are also hoping to stock some new items from the Malawi Kitchen range, including brown rice. Have a look at the website www.justtradingscotland.co.uk, and let us know if you have any requests.

Karena Jarvie, Isobel Watt, Margaret Sikora, Kathleen Weir, Flora Caldwell, and Hannah Miller

THE THURSDAY GROUP We meet once a month September through May in the Lower Hall of the Church Centre at 7.30pm. We have a variety of speakers and demonstrations, ending the evening with a cuppa and chat.

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We begin our new session on 5 September with our President, Angela, giving a demo on how to make clothes shopping easier.

On 3 October, we will have a talk on SENSE SCOTLAND and on 7 November, Susan Malcolm will help us prepare for Christmas.

At present, we have a membership of 30 but would love to have some new members.

Molly Dobson (secretary, 863421)

SATURDAY MORNING BOOKS AND COFFEE/ TEA BAR We can be found most Saturdays after 8.00am at the Church Centre on the High Street. The Book Sale is at present set out at the foyer, and our books are probably the least expensive in town. Our friend and helpmate Rev. James Galbraith is sadly missed. We could not manage without Lynda and Jean in the coffee bar, especially due to Jean’s home baking! Do feel free to come and browse and enjoy what’s on offer.

Jim Henry

COMMON GROUNDS (Charity number SC 031582) Summer holidays can be a quiet time for us – just as well after I hosted a lunch in celebration of reaching our target of £100,000 given to projects, mostly in Africa. The “star of the event” was our guest speaker, Alexander McCall Smith, no less. He kept us enthralled with snippets of his journalistic endeavours. We could have listened to him all afternoon. Our thanks to our friends at Kinross Parish Church who attended. Our rent at the Guide Hall is up for review and is proving difficult. We ask for your prayers.

Jim Henry (http://www.spanglefish.com/commongroundscharitycafe/)

IN CONVERSATION WITH…OUR YOUTH September signals yet another turning of the season as summer becomes autumn. Once more, the thoughts of young people turn reluctantly to books, studying, and the imposition upon their time

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known as “school”. Rather than conversing with a single member of KPC, I thought it would be fitting to focus this installment of “In Conversation With…” on several of the university-aged folks within the church community.

As you may appreciate, talking about highly personal issues such as faith is not always comfortable, regardless of one’s age. Therefore, I have kept all contributors anonymous, but I can share with you that I spoke with five folks ranging in age from 18 to 21. The three girls and two boys are all associated with KPC – some growing up in the church family.

All of those interviewed had very fond memories of KPC, with themes of Family Week and Crossfire being predominant. At least four of the five have come back to KPC to help with Family Week in one way or another in recent years. Most – although not all – still attend KPC when they are in Kinross.

When asked to describe their belief in Christianity, the answers were varied and interesting. All professed to be Christians, but there were also themes of finding difficulty with faith or feeling that they were “not as committed as they should be” and they “often find it hard to accept many of the things that Christianity has to say.” Several respondents also noted that Christianity can be confusing for a young person, but that they felt they understood more as they got older. More than one mentioned that Christianity is not so much about attending church on a Sunday but about “day to day interactions and thought processes” and “a way of life throughout every day.” Interestingly, one commented that “since going to university, I have learned to widen my gaze a little and not to be so narrow-minded….these days my faith in God has grown stronger after learning to appreciate new ideas more.”

Several of the young people indicated that their time away from Kinross and family has impacted their faith. On the one hand, one of the respondents specifically looked for a younger church community and this impacted what type of friends he made. Another pushed her faith to one side a bit in the first year, as she was “more focused on making friends and fitting in.” Another stated, “[Being at university] has helped me to appreciate the way in which I have been brought up and the set of values which I have.” Several have

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attended churches in their university city/town. Yes, they may still question their faith, but as one said, “I began to realise just how important it was to be a Christian and be able to share it among other believers. I have been challenged in my faith through the Bible studies, preaching, and discussions with friends.”

Many have discussions about Christianity, religion, and associated life-style choices with their friends: “One of the most enjoyable aspects of university for me is the constant intelligent debate that you have access to, that challenges you and your belief system in every field, and faith and religion are by no means an exception.” For some, being open about discussing Christianity, especially with non-believers, has been a transition during their time at university. As they have grown in their faith, so too have they grown in their confidence to make their beliefs known to those who want to ask questions about that faith. One boy aptly noted, “The benefit to questioning one’s belief is that it helps you to define it better.”

Perhaps predictably, most felt the biggest difficulty that young Christians have today is peer pressure; even finding other young Christians can be difficult and being stereotyped as “boring” and a “goody goody” is certainly no fun! Several noted that being Christian is no longer the norm – and being in a minority is difficult, as “people try to conform to the majority in order to fit in.” One girl commented on today’s youth culture of “drinking in excess,” saying, “where [that] is seen as being the thing to do, it can be difficult for young Christians to say no and stand up for what they believe in and how they want to act.”

On the flip side, all five individuals felt that there were benefits to being a Christian as well (and this is encouraging given the difficulties that they expressed!) They felt that there was a support network and role models to look up to. As one noted, “there are always going to be churches welcoming newcomers.” Christianity was also seen as being integral in providing a good moral compass, and most Christians were perceived within this group as being friendly and welcoming – traits that are important when beginning a new chapter of one’s life. Interestingly, one of the boys pointed out that one of the advantages to being a Christian now is the broad access to Bible study materials. He often uses a free scriptures

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study guide for his iPad! Another individual noted that his religious friends tended to be less-stressed during exams and theorised that they drew strength from their faith when things were overwhelming.

A key takeaway from several of those interviewed was to find a group of Christians one’s own age, via a church, university Christian unions, or the Alpha Course. Many felt that exploring one’s own faith with other like-minded people was important. One of my favourite quotes around the benefit of getting involved with other Christians was “I could easily have seen myself religiously going to church every day for the rest of my life without really understanding Christianity.”

I found the candour, thoughtfulness, and openness that the group expressed very encouraging and want to thank them for their willingness to participate. It is comforting to know that there are those in the next generation ready to pick up the banner of Christianity and carry it forward. As one unequivocally stated, “Some people think that religion becomes more important later in life, but I believe that it is much better [to] explore it as much as possible and as young as you can!”

Ann Marie Neave

SCOTS’ CAMP – DEBRECEN, HUNGARY “I thank God every time I remember you…..being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1: 3,6

Having laid in faith a foundation of prayer and practical preparation, the group of 11 from Kinross Parish Church met up in the city of Debrecen in eastern Hungary to take part in the “Scots’ Camp” run by the Nagytemplom (Great Church) congregation. Our first day, Monday 15 July, was a day of lesson preparation with an afternoon visit to the Hortobagy National Park. This ended in an exciting horse-drawn dash fleeing a fast-approaching storm. As the sky darkened into a pillar of black cloud and the wind rose alarmingly, cries of “Tornado!” bulleted us forward towards a safe refuge under cover (It wasn’t actually a tornado, but Brandon was hoping…!)

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From Tuesday to Saturday, the programme ran with Morning Devotions, two English lessons, lunch taken together with all the students, a Bible Study following the story of Daniel, “Activity Time”, and End-of-Day Devotions. Our group was responsible for everything except the Morning Devotions and the Activity Time. The students were ranged from 10–20 years of age, and we quickly realised that in each group the main need in the English lessons was for oral practice, either in conversation, description, discussion, and persuasion, or through drama, games, and role-playing. During this time, good relationships were formed between visitors, students, and helpers. The youngest members of our group (yes, you know who you are, Davidsons!) were particularly adept at lighting up any conversation with their warm-hearted, affectionate, and totally zany sense of humour - which won over each and every one of our hosts.

Some highlights of the week: the Scottish and Hungarian dancing; the final-day productions by each group using the English they had learned; the Sunday morning service to which most of the students came to sing a couple of the songs they had learned during the week; the strong bonds of affection formed between hosts, students, and visitors.

We were shown much kindness and thoughtfulness by our Hungarian hosts, who have invited us back to take part in the Camp next year. They also asked us to consider how we can strengthen the link between our congregations and in what ways we can share the practices and experiences of our walk with Jesus Christ. This life of faith we endeavoured to speak about to the students through the story of Daniel, calling them to trust their lives to the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father, just as Daniel did. Now, in prayer, we continue to ask God who has begun this work in the young hearts and minds of our Hungarian friends to “carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” And may His Name be praised.

Ewan Cathcart

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HARVEST OFFERING TEARFUND (Charity number SC037624)

Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service is on Sunday 29 September and this year’s Harvest Offering will support Tearfund, an international development organisation working particularly in Africa, Asia, and South America but also across Eastern Europe and the UK. Tearfund believes that the local church is a powerful force for transformation in communities living in every kind of poverty. Inspired by the example and teaching of Jesus, Tearfund recognises that people have deeply interconnected material and spiritual needs and works through local church partners full of dedicated, resourceful people who want to make a long-term difference. Right now, Tearfund are focusing on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Find out more at http://www.tearfund.org.

MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP EXHIBITION KPC is supporting the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Fuel for Life campaign. To that end, we are sponsoring a photographic exhibition at the Loch Leven Community Campus on Saturday 21 September. MAF is a Christian charity which operates 130 light aircraft in 30 developing countries in support of some 1500 missionary organisations, aid agencies, churches, and NGOs to take the gospel, spiritual hope, and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in remote locations. We have been doing this for over 60 years and have some amazing stories to tell. The exhibition will also feature perspectives from local school pupils.

Alisdair Stewart

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FROM THE EDITOR’S LAPTOP Hi y’all—

You will have read about the Stewardship of Time already in this issue. At the timing of printing, I have just finished a week of sharing my time – along with many other volunteers – to ensure that Family Week 2013 was a rousing success. One thing that strikes me every year is the enthusiasm and dedication that the many young leaders bring to the team. By investing our time in the youth of Kinross, we at KPC plant the seeds for an amazing array of spiritual talent – and it is something we see brought to fruition every summer when those youth come back to Family Week time and again.

Jaffrey also points out that it is important to have a balance between time we spend on others, time we spend on ourselves, time we spend on our families, and time we spend doing Christ’s work. My husband may argue that the time I spent on him during Family Week dipped a bit low, but my two girls thoroughly enjoyed having “Momma” visibly involved! Although it was full-on, I found myself more energised than tired at the end of the week, so in giving time to God, I essentially also gave time back to myself.

Have a look at the Time diary in this issue to track your own use of time - what can you do to bring things into better balance?

As always, if there are any suggestions or thoughts you have on the content, format, or any other aspect of the magazine, please feel free to contact me.

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TIME FOR PRAYER A Monthly Prayer Diary is produced for personal use. These are available at church, from the Church Office, or via the website.

• Silent Meditation: half an hour of guided stillness on the first Monday of the month at 8am (2 September, 7 October, 4 November).

• A Prayer Breakfast is held on the second Saturday of the month at 8.30am (14 September, 12 October, 9 November). A breakfast of rolls and coffee will be followed by a short time of prayer. Names in advance please, for catering purposes, to the Church Office 862570.

• Compline is a short, reflective service of readings and prayers, the perfect way to end the day. It lasts just 20 minutes and takes place on the third Thursday of each month at 9pm (19 September, 17 October, 21 November).

• There will be a Bible Study and Prayer Meeting either in the Church Meeting Room or Church Centre Garden Room as announced at 8pm (24 September, 29 October, 26 November).

BIBLES If you would like to use a Bible during Sunday worship, just ask a member of the Welcome Team who can fetch one from the cupboard in the vestibule. Bibles are no longer on seats as they were becoming damaged, but there are plenty available for all who would like to use one.

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DIARY OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS Note: For Guild meetings, see the table on page 14.

Date Event Contact

September

Monday 2, 7.30pm

Kirk Session Meeting, Church Church Office 862570

Thursday 5, 7.30pm

Thursday Group, Church Centre Molly Dobson 863421

Saturday 7 Annual Meeting – Church of Scotland Guild

Helena Cant 862923

Sunday 8 3.00pm

Second Sunday Series (concert) Alex Cant 862923

Saturday 21 10am-2pm

MAF exhibition, Community Campus

Alisdair Stewart

Thursday 26, 7.30pm

Congregational Board Meeting, Church

Church Office 862570

October

Thursday 3, 7.30pm

Thursday Group, Church Centre Molly Dobson 863421

Sunday 13, 3.00pm

Second Sunday Series (concert) Alex Cant 862923

November

Thursday 7, 7.30pm

Thursday Group, Church Centre Molly Dobson 863421

Sunday 10, 3.00pm

Second Sunday Series (concert) Alex Cant 862923

Thursday 28, 7.30pm

Congregational Board Meeting, Church

Church Office 862570

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SUNDAY SERVICES September – November 2013. Morning services at 10.30am.

During the course of the autumn, there will be a number of services with a special focus. We will also be looking at the beginning of the life of the Prophet Samuel, at some sayings of Jesus and at Paul’s Second Letter to the Church at Thessalonica, as well as our Stewardship focus on Time. 1 Sept Quarterly Communion.

10.30am ‘Dedication and Sacrifice’

1 Sam. 1:9-28 Communion led by Rev. Alan Reid

6.30pm Communion led by Rev. Margaret Michie Common and individual cup

8 Sept ‘Serving or Sinning?’ 1 Sam. 2:12-26 15 Sept ‘The Call of Samuel’ 1 Sam. 3:1-21 22 Sept Mission Aviation Fellowship – Fuel for Life 29 Sept 10.30am Harvest Thanksgiving Retiral offering in support of

Tearfund 6.30pm Tearfund Focus Informal evening service 6 Oct ‘Words of Jesus: Faith

and Duty’ Luke 17:5-10. Informal communion at close of service

13 Oct ‘Words of Jesus: Gratitude’

Luke 17:11-19

20 Oct ‘Words of Jesus: Persistent Prayer’

Luke 18:1-8

27 Oct 10.30am ‘Whose I am and

Whom I serve’ Acts 27:13-26. Guild 125th Anniversary Service

6.30pm ‘The Turning of the Year’

Informal evening service

3 Nov ‘Suffering and Relief’ Stewardship of Time

2 Thess. 1:1-12. Informal communion at close of service

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10 Nov Remembrance Sunday 10.00am Uniformed Organisations Service 10.55am Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial 11.15am ‘Good and Evil’ 2 Thess. 2:1-17. Remembrance 17 Nov ‘Labour and Laziness’ 2 Thess. 3:1-18. All-age Brigade

Service 24 Nov

10.30am Jesus is Lord! Stewardship of Time

Luke 23:33-43.

6.30pm Stillness Informal evening service

CONTACTS Minister: Rev. Alan Reid (862952) or kinrossmanse@tiscali.co.uk Ordained Local Minister: Rev. Margaret Michie (01592 840602) or margaretmichie@btinternet.com Session Clerk: Jaffrey Weir (865780) or jaffreyweir@gmail.com Church website: www.kinrossparishchurch.org. Church Office: 862570 (open 10am–12 noon weekdays) or office@kinrossparishchurch.org Booking of Church Centre or Church: contact Church Office Kirk Session: next meeting Monday 2 September, 7.30pm Magazine editor: Ann Marie Neave (862271) or amkcnonsuit@yahoo.com Deadline for next issue of quarterly magazine: Tuesday 5 November

Kinross Parish Church of Scotland: Charity No SC 012555