The Great Day finally arrived when all the hopes, dreams, plans, discussions, sad disappointments and unexpected joys all came together in a final fulfilment. There was a good crowd of people, despite it being a dull day. God has a way of shading us on important days so we know that those who come aren’t fair-weather friends! 

The turn-out from church and community was virtually equally balanced. It was a sight to see: the marquees kindly lent by our neighbours and friends George and Carol Masson gave a professional look to everything. There were yummy cakes and jams and all sorts of food and artefacts and busy, busy helpers all having fun.

Fiona – with watchers on both sides of the blue cord!  She sang - beautifully.

[Photographs: Pete Thorne]

Barbecues added to the food frolics and there was an enormous queue for teas, so much so that, when our guest, Fiona Kennedy, came to do the opening ceremony, it was joked that those at tea might not come out and risk losing their seats!  In fact, however, they did come out, which occasioned the slightly-bizarre anomaly (which only increased the crush and fun, that folk were on both sides of the cord!

 Rev. Hugh Conkey, Moderator, commended the building and, as Moderator of the Presbytery of Kincardine and Deeside, prayed for its use.  He was presented with a basket of Fair Trade goods by Mrs Joyce Mackintosh, our Session Clerk. Fiona Kennedy had just flown back in from London, and arrived in a striking pink coat with slanted pockets and occasional floral spray pattern that had a dash of ‘Mary Quant’ style about it. She projected herself with characteristic affability, sincerity and warmth, and sang with admirable grace in English and Gaelic. As she is no stranger among us, Fiona expressed pleasure at seeing the extension completed for  church and community. She was presented with flowers by Mrs Mackintosh. A welcome visit was made at the end of the day by Sir Robert Smith, MP. Apologies for absence, with good wishes, were received from Sandy Wallace, Councillor. A total of over £1,000 was raised! Grateful thanks are due to all who made the day.

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Recipe: Irish Tea Loaf…

Ingredients:

4oz (125g) sugar                   12oz (375g) mixed fruit

8oz (250g) self-raising flour                                        1 egg 

Method:

Youth Café:  We have benefited again from donations! We now have £400 in the kitty! We bought new sports equipment, including a proper baseball bat and ball, new darts etc., to replace the stuff that wore out or got lost. We have over twenty young people regularly in the Youth Café, and a growing sense of identity. We enjoy activities and chillin’, but we also hope to give money to worthwhile causes.

“Remember your Creator, while you are still young.” [Eccles. 12:1]

The Guild has ‘been to Africa’! Mrs Judith Walker, of Banchory West Guild, came with an African outfit and head-dress and a slide presentation that made the Guild feel as if they’d been there! Sheila Bisset, our President keeps us up-to-date with national trends and achievements and there is the occasional male! All welcome!  If you want to know about the Guild Program, call Sheila: 01569 731708.

 Fair Trade: Thanks to the leadership of Mrs Aileen Uwins, and the willing participation of other ladies in the congregation, the sale of Fair Trade products continues to be a flourishing regular feature of our kirk.. To this, Aileen adds skills and awareness as our World Church Coordinator so that we have a global perspective in our own little parish. We are, after all, part of the World Church and the sight of a huddle at the Fair Trade tables each week warms the heart. As St. James has been teaching weekly: “Faith without works is dead.” 

HOUSE GROUPS: Banchory Devenick & Maryculter.

The House Groups had a successful launch.  In our first two meetings, we read and discussed part of the first chapter of Mark's gospel (with ‘visits’ to other parts of the Bible when the questions came up that we could answer best by reading more widely). We meet in the Brittens’ house (for BD) and Anne Massie’s house (MC) on 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.  Pot Luck Suppers will then be held on any fifth Mondays in the Upper Room in Maryculter Church Hall (e.g. Oct 30). This will give us a quarterly ‘plenary’ (i.e. ‘full’) session, so Bruce can answer specialised questions we throw at him! It’s a rule of House Groups that the Minister rarely attend them. This leads groups to seek answers from the Lord, often through other members of the group. A leader writes: “We have had some great discussion so far, and we are all learning from each other (and from the Holy Spirit).  It would be great to see our groups grow.”  All are welcome to this non-threatening fun way to discuss the Bible and release inhibitions about it. You can say the ‘unthinkable’ and no-one reacts. You can ask that question you were afraid to ask before because you thought someone would laugh. We won’t.

Joan Thorne (BD) and Christine Gardner (MC)

 “The whole body grows and builds itself up through love.” Ephesians 4:15

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As far as great examples go, Granny Kennedy was brilliant. She would not have thought so herself, but that was typical of her quiet modesty. Johanna Kennedy was the loveliest lady, and I remember vividly our regular visits to see her at my Aunt Sophie and Uncle Boyd’s house in Duntocher, outside Glasgow, when I was a little girl. She always gave us the warmest hugs, had a wonderful ready smile (with teeth that did not always seem to fit!) and there were many complimentary Gaelic exclamations about how big I was getting - and so grown up!  Granny always wore black and if we were going out for afternoon tea to Glasgow, she had an amazing array of black hats to choose from. The focal point, for me, of her immaculate bedroom was the well-thumbed leather Bible on her bedside table. She quoted from the Book in an easy way, which to me was pretty impressive. How could she remember all that? And what did it really mean anyway? It was in Gaelic, of course.

 One day she asked my father to take her to see an old friend from the islands who was visiting relatives in Glasgow. They set off in the car, and by way of natural conversation my Dad, Calum Kennedy, asked, as they approached the area, what the actual address was.

Granny didn’t know. She simply said, “She’s in Govan.”

“But what’s the address Mother?” he asked “I don’t know”, she replied. “Just Govan. Have faith: the Lord will show us the way.”

Dad couldn’t believe it, “Mother, you will need more than faith to find your friend somewhere in Govan … thousands and thousands of people live here. We need the address!” “Have faith: the Lord will show us the way,” she said again.

They drove around the streets for quite a while aimlessly until Granny randomly said , “Stop here I’ll go and ask somebody.”

Father was getting impatient. Granny disappeared along a tenement close, up a stair, and knocked on a door. A woman came to the door.

“I wonder if you can tell me where Katy Macleod lives?” Granny asked. “Och, you’ve got the wrong flat,” the lady said. “She lives across the hall.”

 My Dad had greater faith after that!

*****

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” [Prov. 3:5]

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Bible Fun Facts: Did you know…?

Psalms 117, 118 & 119 are at the centre of the King James Bible?

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm;

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm.

Psalm 118, verses 8-9 are the mathematical centre of that Bible:

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

*

At the heart of the Bible, the message is found:

Look up to the Heaven, and not to the ground.

Look up to your God. Trust Jesus, His Son.

Be part of His Kingdom. Let’s serve Him as one!

 

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Not long before Finney’s death, a stranger called to see him, who professed what are called ‘liberal views’, and expressed his interest in Mr. Finney's teachings and his general approval of them. "But," said he, "there is one point in which I don't agree with you; I don't believe in a personal devil."  "You don't!?" said Mr. Finney; "You don't believe in a personal devil!? Well, you resist him awhile and you will believe in him."

 Roll Review, and what it means: Some Helpful Advice.

Despite recent encouragements, we’ve become increasingly concerned about the people on our Roll who not only do not come often (if at all) to worship, but who even neglect opportunities to support the local church financially when it asks for fairly modest commitments. We must look into their situations, in case there is a reason for this: e.g., lack of communication. Defaults cannot be left unresolved. 

I think we all understand that any who are unable to come can still contribute, and those who cannot come or contribute, and explain it to us (or have someone else explain it for them) will never be turned away. Nor will anyone who is vulnerable be removed.  Yet, the sad fact is many defaulters are not in that position. They are people whose hearts have gradually hardened to the point that they care little, and we have a responsibility to awaken their consciences in loving realism. Sadly, in the first place, those who do not qualify for the Roll - having no excuse, and living outside the parish - must be removed. There is no requirement for a Parish Church to serve those outside its bounds who aren’t regular members of the congregation.  

Defaulters who live in the parish are not removed but moved to the Supplementary Roll.  They will be unable to take communion, vote or be able (being in default) to transfer elsewhere. They will have access to Bruce’s services, including funerals, as long as Bruce is Parish Minister. The door will be open to return, but privileges of membership once lost can bring negative spiritual results. Defaulting members are asked to settle any problems amicably and join us in the work. The Lord Jesus Christ taught us a consistent public profession: "Those who declare publicly they belong to me, I will do that for them before my Father in heaven. But those who reject me publicly, I will reject them before my Father in heaven.” It is painful to see folk moved or removed but membership of Christ’s Church means something.

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Sunday School Report: Maryculter – Helen Anderson

Sunday school resumed amid much excitement as we moved into the "Happy Room" where the Sunday school cupboard is – all we need do now is find packed-away materials!  We’re exploring the Old Testament this term after finishing ‘Creation’ and ‘Joseph’.

A Soup and Sweet lunch after Harvest Thanksgiving was in aid of Sunday school funds as will the Soup and Cheese lunch planned for Sun., 12th November (Remembrance Sunday) - these lunches are very enjoyable and in terms of funds raised and fellowship shared are very successful - do please come and join us.  With some of the monies raised we hope to buy and plant bulbs in the wood, we can then admire them from the "Happy Room" window in Springtime - a reminder of all God's blessings.

Any children in the parish (or visiting church) are very welcome to join us as are adult helpers.  The more helpers we have, the greater scope  we can have, perhaps even running a Bible class for the older children (10-14yrs), but we do need more help for it all to become a weekly reality in Maryculter Church. Helen.

Sunday School Report: Banchory Devenick – Jane Ah-See 

 ’From Darkness to Light’: Joyce Douglas. 

My Mum took me and my sister to the Church of Scotland, sometimes with Dad. Mum was Greek Orthodox. Dad had been raised Plymouth Brethren but sickened of it through bad experiences. I enjoyed Sunday school, the Churches’ stained glass windows with vibrant colours and the picnics and Brownies. I was in church but the church wasn’t in me! After Brownies, l didn't go back. Other activities enticed me - ballet, horse-riding, swimming, hair, clothes, money, boys. Mum and Dad became born again Christians 20 years later and did a work with the Christian mission ship, Anastasis. I liked hearing of its travels - taking bicycles from Holland to South America for instance. I noticed a change in both of them and they would minister to me, but it didn't really impact: their words made little sense. l believed in Christian ethics and I thought myself a 'good' person. In pleasing mode, l would occasionally accompany them to prayer groups, and sit in when the minister visited. When Dad drowned at sea, on holiday in Greece, Mum relayed the news saying, ''Joyce, your father’s in heaven''. My immediate response was, ''What's he doing there? Just wait till l see him.'' Mum was a widow for 15 years and often said her faith was her rock and salvation. I was pleased she had this comfort but I didn't grasp the depth of meaning. 

 When my Mum died from cancer, l missed her hugely. In ignorance, l then began to dabble in Spiritual things, in a subliminal attempt to connect with her again. I was pleased with my perceived ‘success’. l did various stuff over the last ten years: Reiki, fortune telling, transcendence and talking to the spirit world, to name but a few.  Five years ago, l had an aneurism in my brain and was not expected to live. I’d been to theatre at ARI and sent back to Intensive Care as they couldn't do anything more for me. Then the Doctors thought to send me to Dr Sellers, a pioneering neurosurgeon with a new treatment: ‘platinum coiling’. This is a procedure whereby platinum wires are inserted in the aneurism via the groin as a catalyst for clotting. Dr Sellers had treated patients with 4 coils. The most he had done was 7. l’ve got 16! As far as l know, this is a record! During recovery, while in the high dependency unit l had an out-of-the-body experience.I didn't want to come back .l was failing; the machines showed it: then l saw my love crying by my bedside saying, ''Joycie, don't leave me.” Thud! l dropped down, like a stone falling from 13 storeys, to join him. My recovery took two years.  

Two years after my aneurism operation, my cousin Athol, persuaded me to go to an Alpha course at the Manse, run by Bruce. I made lots of excuses but I am pleased Athol supported me in my committing to the first step: it changed my life completely. Thank you Athol. Bruce talked to me at a level l could understand, l enjoyed fellowship, food and Nicky Gumbel on Alpha videos. Little bits of knowledge encouraged me, like the meaning of Amen – ‘It’s decided’, and Hallelujah – ‘Praise the Lord!’. I was reading the Bible again. Through prayer, words took on new meaning. For the first time the words made increasing sense. I was very struck by the Lord’s Prayer...Our Father - wow! It meant l had countless brothers and sisters in Christ, and some of these were in our church! The more l prayed, the less awkward l felt. The Holy Spirit weekend was an excellent experience, thanks to Bruce and the Lord, l really felt the Holy Spirit in my body. All l had to do was ask. l felt extreme love and peacefulness…and happiness.  Some time later, l was baptised at Maryculter Parish Church, giving my testimony without notes or stuttering - quite a result! It took me a further year to commit to become a full member. Looking back, habitual things (but no longer dark ones) gradually took up space again. l realised l had to make time for God. 

Now l look forward to going to church, l am hungry for knowledge, l enjoy reading the bible. The Holy Spirit lives in me, so it is difficult for me to do wrong knowingly. I am only a human being with a sinful nature. Now I have the voice of discernment in me, always there to give guidance and answers. I have conversations with God: He is with me when l seek him - and even when l don't! As l grow in faith l have a happiness, a surety that l didn't have before - fear is replaced with love, openness, boldness. I find myself talking about God to others as opportunities arise. Its comforting to know brothers and sisters in Christ, with the power of the Holy Spirit they are kindred, and dependable. It gives me joy to know that by practising patience along with faith, l will again be with my parents amongst others. l will claim my place in heaven through Jesus Christ who is our Saviour. What a gift. Now l am getting married to my love: we have lived together for 7 years but I now want to be married; it just doesn't ‘feel right’ to live together anymore. With the grace of God, this has been arranged in just 5 weeks. The Bible advises us on countless aspects of life, appropriate for a new century. God is timeless, boundless, limitless – I’m still working on my smoking habit!  Now I am in the Church - and the Church is in me.  

God was with me all the time, but l didn't notice. Now, everything is falling into place. My love will also by God’s grace make it. Hallelujah! J.C. rocks! 

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A DESERT PSALM

David hid from Saul in the Judean Desert, not too far from where the photograph below was taken. This is the desert view from below David’s hideout at Ein Gedi.

[See1st Samuel 24:1] 

O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.  Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are.

 Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you. I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer.  My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.

 As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help.  In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. 

I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe.       [Psalm 63:108]

MIRACLE: A RAINBOW OVER THE DEAD SEA DESERT: November, 2005

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Last Issue, we wrote: “[W]e’ll face the issues in a Da Vinci Code Night, with a DVD and powerpoint presentation on the Code and Bible…. It will be advertised for a Wednesday at 7.30pm, in MC.” 

So we intended, in all good faith, but Bill Anderson, a Reader from Aberdeen got to it first on a Sunday in May and did such a good job in revealing the myths and bogusness of the book - not as a thriller, (in which it is fairly good as thrillers go), but as a source of reliable ‘truth’ - that another evening seemed fairly unnecessary. However, to save anyone being disappointed, the Minister, Bruce Gardner, has acquired books on the Code and a DVD of a Biblical approach to it.

 If anybody wants to borrow these alternatives for personal research, contact Bruce on 01224 735776. He is also willing to talk DVC over with anyone who may be interested There is little appetite among us for anything on Wednesdays at 7.30pm except reliably-pure Biblical Truth but we don’t duck real issues - we’d always rather face them.

 Bible Study and Prayer Meeting – Weds. 7.30pm, Upper Room.V

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HAVE YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH MEMORY?

Check your church facts at: www.bdmc-parish.org.uk

[ALSO DOWNLOAD A COLOUR VERSION OF THIS MAG!]

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B.D.M.C. – A CHURCH FOR ALL SEASONS:

MONDAYS: 

*The Guild meets the first Monday of the month from September-November and Feb-May.   Come along and enjoy good fellowship, great talks, chats and a cuppa.

New Guild members always welcome.   Contact Sheila Bisset on 01569 731708.

 *Congregational Board (Fabric) & Kirk Session (spiritual matters) meet on the third Monday of alternate months, to conduct the business of the congregation. 

House Groups meet 2nd and4th Mondays at 7.30pm, with pot luck suppers on 5th Mondays. [Pot Lucks (Upper Room) are for open questions: next one - Oct. 30^th!] Joan 01224 783834 for Banchory Devenick; Maryculter: Christine 01224 735776.

 TUESDAYS:

 *Christianity Explored (10-week introductions to the Faith) in The Happy Room (downstairs lounge).  A Christianity Explored course is meeting now in the Happy Room on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. Courses will continue next year.  Contact Bruce 01224-735776. Also, Leadership Training in the Hall. It meets by arrangement.

 WEDNESDAYS:

 *Bible Study and Prayer Group: Wednesdays, 7.30pm-9.30pm in the Upper Room. The Group is studying the Shorter Catechism, which is a traditional Q and A (i.e., for computer-minded folks, FAQ’s) on the Bible. Surprisingly, it’s fun and very informative, leading us back time and time again into God’s Amazing Bible.

 THURSDAYS:

 *Babies and Toddlers: for young Mums who like to talk to adults too! We meet for coffee & chat from 9.30-11.30am. Contact: Jill Greenlees at 01224 739235.

*The Youth Café meets Thursdays from 7.00pm-9.00pm, also the Glebe Field.

All young people from P7 to S6 are invited to join in the indoor and outdoor fun.

 FRIDAYS:

Friday events take place throughout the parish as advertised. The Burns Supper is in the Corbie Hall, Maryculter, Friday, 26^th January, at 7.30pm. Details later.

  

 A.M.E.D.: The Association for Management, Education and Development is a group founded in the 1960’s to promote ethics in management and good relations in business. It meets, by arrangement, on different days in the week, in order to make it easier for folks to attend. For details, call David McAra at 01224 735101. 

 

 Men! Are you in a Mad Weekly Whirl? Are weekends the same?

STOP!!  Health Warning!!

You just shouldn’t be too busy to – - just sit  down   & chat !

The Men’s Breakfast Gathering:    Saturdays in the Happy Room, Hall Extension. 8.00-9.30am. Tea/coffee and rolls!

Men’s Breakfast Gathering:   Time just for You.

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A Resurrection of Cookney Kirk Furniture.

 The closure of Cookney Church was a solemn moment, but also painful, as we are not in the business of closing kirks, but of founding them. Closures - except where demographic change and redundant buildings require them for the advance of the real church - are signs of rejection and failure. We cannot ‘celebrate’ our closures.

 Cookney Church is really, of course, the loyal folk in Cookney and Netherley who worship God and support His work.  That Cookney Church keeps going.  And the artefacts of the Church have meaning too: you can’t just throw away the furniture of God’s House. So, the Cookney furniture remained in a garage, in Maryculter.

 This year, there was an adult baptism required in Maryculter Hall, and the font in the kirk was immobile. So Cookney font was taken up, and used for the first time in years. It was a celebratory moment. Then the new extension was built, and with the font now inside, it seemed logical to liberate the rest of the furniture. Thus, the font, inscribed to James Milne Jnr., of Craighill, in 1948, the splendid Minister’s seat, and the communion table, with Alpha and Omega signs and Crusader cross, sit upstairs in the extension’s Upper Room, a little resurrection of Cookney Kirk.

 Most gratifyingly of all, those faithful Cookney folk who continued to worship the Lord faithfully, despite the sad loss of their beloved building, and still frequent the evening service at 6.30pm on Sundays, can sit and recall some precious memories, not least when we celebrate Evening Communion at 6.30pm on Nov. 5th. If at any time you would like to join us, services last an hour & we always have tea/coffee and biscuits in the Hall after. We’re a friendly bunch, and you are most welcome.

Worship the LORD.

The end of another Newsletter but not the last.  Look out for the next instalment of THE BDMC NEWSLETTER