KIRK OF KEITH ST. RUFUS,
BOTRIPHNIE AND GRANGE
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Issue No 37____________________________December 2003
RANALD'S BITTIE
I asked Kay what she wanted for Christmas, and she replied, "I don't know;
why don't you just surprise me?" l'm really looking forward to surprising
her on Christmas Day. Because at 4am I'm going to leap up and shout
"Boo!"
More seriously, though, the message of the very first Christmas Day is certainly
surprising- the message of a God who loved the world so much that he became
human so as to live our lives, shouldor our grife&, die our deaths, but then
to rise again, his return to life being the promise to us also of eternal life.
Which must be the biggest surprise of all! Kay joins me in wishing you all a
blessed and happy Christmas. May all your surprises be delightful ones! .
STERLING SERVICE
This year has seen many of our serving elders notch up over 30 years of active
duty and they have been presented with long service certificates. Those who
received the certificates, with their length of service m brackets, are as
follows:
Jimmy Park (46), Sandy Reid (43), Gilbert Harrower (41), Jim Rutherford (41),
Ian Green (41), Sandy Mitchell (40), Bill Sclater, (40), Frank McLean (38),
Charlie Stewart (36), James Mark (36), Jockie Watt (35), Norman Anderson (35),
Sandy Christie (32), Billy Riach (32), Grant Munro (31), Ian McWilliam (31),
Matthew Morrison (31) and Sammy Stuart (31).
These elders have been good servants of the church and many of them continue to
fulfil their roles with great enthusiasm and insight and all are excellent role
models for the younger, less experienced elders.
Over the last few months much of the repair work has been completed but there
are still some areas to be covered. The congregation has been wonderful in its
support of all the fundraising efforts and it is hoped that we will soon have
raised enough to pay for all of the work that has to be carried out by
tradesmen. The total sum required has been reduced by the hard work of the
Property Committee who have carried out a lot of tasks rather than paying
tradesmen to do it You would think that we could sit back and forget about
property for a while but I am afraid that's not the case. Before the end of 2004
we have to modify our
buildings to make than accessible to disabled people. The main areas requiring
attention are the sound system and the toilets but it is hoped that the cost of
most of these items can be met from central funds and therefore hopefully not
too much fundraising will be required.
We are finding that many of you who used to give by Deed of Covenant have
decided not to renew even although you are still tax payers. We would ask you to
reconsider your method of giving and sign up for Gift Aid as this aHows us to
reclaim the tax you have paid on that donation. For every pound you give the
church, it benefits by £1.28, providing we have your signature on a Gift Aid
form.
Charlie Cameron, Session Clerk.
23 YEAR RECORD COMES TO AN END
I caught the flu on Tuesday, November 18 and by the Sunday I thought I would
have recovered sufficiently to attend church. However, Sunday morning came and I
had to phone the Manse and admiit defeat. I would like to give a special thanks
to the Revs Ranald and Dr Kay Gauld for their phone calls, visits and flowers. I
would also like to thank members for cards and enquiries. I got a surprise visit
during my recuperation. After having something to eat and drink, I put my head
down for a sleep. I woke up to find Frank McLean at the back of the settee
whispering., "5ft 6" by 20" and 18" deep. " I thought -
"Jimmy get a grip of yourself."
I never died a winter yet. (For those who don't know him, Frank is our local
Undertaker!)
Jimmy Christie, Church Officer.
ST. RUFUS, BOTRIPHNIE AND GRANGE GUILD
The Guild held a successful quiz night in November when 13 teams took part.
December is their party month and the New Year starts with Scout Travels when
two Venture Scours tell of their foreign trips. January also has the Scots Night
and the annual coffee morning at St Rufus Hall is on February 14. The Guild
welcomes new members (both meo and women) and if you would like to know more
about meetings, contact Isobel Mowat on 882274, Mary Sinclair on 887314 or any
Guild member.
FLOWER FUND
The St. Rufus Church Flower Fund has a new convener, with Mrs Norma Gray
taking over the role from January. Anyone interested m donating or arranging
church flowers should contact Mrs Gray on Keith 882019. I would like to thank
all donors and arrangers for their assistance and support over the past year.
Esther Green.
SUNDAY CLUB
By the time this readies you, our Christmas parties will be over, having
taken place on the 6th and 8th of December.
We are very busy every Sunday with rehearsals for our 'Grease' Christmas which
will take place on Sunday, 21st December at the 10.15am service at Rufus Church.
All is going very well with Charlotte Henderson teaching us the songs - well
done Charlotte.
Also a thank you to our helpers Michelle Inglis and Heather Winton, and to
Michael Edwards and Loma Edward who have also come to help-well done.
At the Rotary Club carol service on 21st December at 7pm the youth group will be
joining the children - and thank you to Rev Dr Kay Gauld for her hard work. Last
but not least I would like to thank all the leaders of the Sunday Club for all
their help over the last year. I do appreciate all their efforts. We wish
everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Doreen Blackstock
ST.
RUFUS SOCIAL GROUP
The ladies of the Social Group have enjoyed so far this session a talk on
'collectables' by Mr Hamsom, Dufftown; a talk on her sponsored bike ride to Peru
by Mrs Sharp, Keith; slides and a commentary on their holiday to Newfoundland,
Nova Scotia and Labrador by Mrs Murray and Mrs Smith from Portessie and a
'hands-on' demonstration in making boxes from old Christmas cards by Mrs Davina
Gray, Drummuir.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Wednesday, December 24:-
6.30pm - Christingle at Botriphnie
8.30pm - Christingle at Grange
11.30pm- Candle-lit Watchnight at StRufus
Hope to see you at one (or more!) of these.
CHURCH REGISTER FROM SEPTEMBER 25 to
DECEMBER 3,2003
BAPTISMS
WEDDINGS
"Let the children come to me; do not hinder them
"
"And the two shall become one... "
October - Hugh Charles
Grant
October - Amanda Murray and Mark Cowie
FUNERALS
"I am the Resurrection and the Life "
October - Mrs Madge Cruickshank,
latterly Dufftown
Mr Willie Dick, Union Street
Mr Ed Milne, Den Crescent
Mrs Annetta 'Granny' Anderson, Newmill, Edithfield Cottages, latterly Weston
House
Mr Wullie Kidd, Drummuir, latterly Taylor Court
November - Mrs Margaret Ewan, Mar Court
Mr AlanPaterson, latterly Weston House
Mrs Annie Christie, Edintore, Clerkseat, latterly Weston House
Mrs Nancy Root, latterly Western House
Mrs Tibby Whitecross, latterly Glenisla
Mrs Jeannie Smith, Nelson Terrace, latterly Glenisla
December - Mr lan Gordon, Mar Court
Mr Robert Lalley, USA, latterly Grange
CHURCH SERVICES FOR 2004:-
There is a service of worship at St Rufus every Sunday at 10.15am. The
services at Botriphnie and Grange are at 11.45am on alternate Sundays. A warm
welcome awaits you at all 3 churches. As an aide memoire for the first few
months of 2004, the relevant dates are:
SERVICES AT BOTRIPHNIE CHURCH
on:
SERVICES AT GRANGE CHURCH on:
January 4th and
18th
January 11th and 25th
February 1st,15th and
29th
February 8th and 22nd
March 14th and
28th
March 7th and 21st (Mothering Sunday)
April 11th (Easter Day) and 25th (Holy
Communion)
April 4th (Palm Sunday) and 18th
May 2nd (Holy Communion), 16th and 30th (Pentecost)
CHURCH HEATING UPDATE
Grange Church: The rewiring work at Grange Church is now coming to an end.
This work was necessary as the wiring had long exceeded its life span. It was
not until a survey was done that the extent of the deterioration was apparent. I
am pleased to report that the work is nearing completion and the benefits are
now being seen. The lighting has been upgraded, and the heating system, both
upstairs and downstairs, is now working at full capacity. Additional work done
at the time was the installation of emergency exit lighting which will soon
become mandatory.
I would like to thank the congregation for their patience during the rewiring
work. Any upset, which was unavoidable, was kept to a minimum. The electrical
installation is now up to modem standards and should not need replacement for at
least 30 years or longer.
St Rufus: The installation of radiators and boiler is slowly reaching a
close. This has been quite a difficult installation. The disruption was meant to
be kept to a minimum but events decided to be different. Work went well at first
and went ahead with little visual impact. As time progressed the work activities
became evident. Problems arose when the old boiler died the week before the new
boiler was to be installed. This resulted in temporary heating having to be
arranged on the Saturday night.
All work was necessary to increase the efficiency of the heating system and
provide a more cost-effective method of heating the church, with the
installation of a gas supply and a modem highly efficient boiler. The last
boiler was put in around 1970 and was not giving out the heat which it should
have for the amount of oil it was consuming. Additional radiators have been
installed to try and raise the temperature of the church as quickly as possible,
as the quicker the church is warmed up the less time the heating needs to be on
and the less fuel is required.
I would again like to thank the congregation for its patience during the
disruption. The heating system is now hopefully as good as we can make it and
any major work should not be necessary for at least 30 years.
W. Blackstock