St Mark’s Messenger

Summer 2012

A Congrega�on of the Aberdeen City Centre Grouping The Kirk of St Nicholas Uni�ng Queen Street Church St Mark's Church Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a registered Sco�sh charity No SC015451

2

Index to the Summer 2012 Issue

Le&er from the Manse 3 Guild of Friendship 12

Duty Rotas 4 Projects / Coffee Shops 12

Kid’s Korner Compe��on 5 A Note from the Treasurer 13

Talents and Smar�es 6 ‘My Son’ 14

St Mark’s Ramblers 7 Quiz Answers / O.A.K. 16

Holiday Quiz 8 Standing Order Mandate 17

Circle of Care / The Strollers 9 Amended Standing Order 18

St Mark’s Worship Calendar 10 Gi> Aid Form 19

Deadline / Roll Changes 11 St Mark’s Contact Details 20

Rev Diane Hobson

Most of you will know by now that Diane hasn’t been too well

recently and that in mid-April she was ‘signed off’ for four

weeks.

This has required the appointment of an Interim Moderator by

Presbytery and we are pleased to welcome back Rev Mark

Rodgers who filled that same role during the vacancy before

Diane joined us. Mark is a full �me hospital chaplain and so will

not be able to take services every week during his tenure,

however we will be able to call upon Rev Andrew Chris�e as well

as others of our Office Bearers to cover for Diane.

Please pray for Diane’s recovery during this �me.

3

Le%er from the Manse

Dear Friends,

It is amazing how much we talk about the weather

and why not? We have a vast amount of different

clima�c condi�ons in one day; it's a constant surprise

what will be next. So cast aside those guilty pangs and let's talk

about the weather any�me we want! A>er all, despite what

humanity as a whole has done to disturb the weather systems,

sunshine, rain etc are gi>s from God!

Flowers and trees are gi>s from God too. As many of you know I do

love gardening and what a giveaway it is if I have slipped out and

dead-headed a few flowers here and there which can lead to…. Put

two plant lovers or gardeners together in a beau�ful garden and the

joy they get comparing, sharing wisdom, adoring and laughing is an

educa�on!

Ar�s�c skills and talent are something we all have in varying degrees.

We can all generally draw s�ck people! It’s a gi> from God. Walk

around an Art Gallery with people who love art (provided it's not a

genre they dislike) the way they share joy, wisdom and apprecia�on

is all par for the course.

Talking of which we are entering into another major spor�ng season

with the Olympics fast approaching. The ability to do some form of

sport and or to enjoy sport is a gi> from God. No doubt when two or

more people, who enjoy a par�cular sport, come together the results

will be pleasure, joy, laughter as well as wisdom for the referees/lines

people and judges etc.

Yes in all of these areas of life there are disappointments and we will

probably discuss them too. If we've made the mistakes, well we can

learn from the past and move on. There are absolutely no reasons

(Con�nued on page 4)

4

why we would want to keep focusing on them because they make us

miserable!

We have been given many gi>s by God to enjoy and to share with

God. We have amazing good news to share with others and in doing

so use our gi>s. Those gi>s can be so varied, listening skills,

compu�ng, serving others, whatever. Many of St Mark's Church

family use their gi>s in so many different ways and know the joy of

sharing and the enjoyment that this brings into their lives and those

of others. For that I thank you.

If you have an idea on how to help people share the fun, love and

good news of Jesus and at the same �me use your gi>s and skills,

well why not give it a whirl! So as the weather hopefully improves

(it's cool and sunny today) I prayerfully wish you all a good summer.

God Bless You

Diane Diane Diane Diane

Duty Rotas

All of the Duty Rotas for 2012 are available on the website or

displayed in Church. Copies are also available in the ves�bule or

Deacons’ Room. They are not included in the Messenger.

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of

The Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a

person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding,

what would you do?" A thoughRul li&le girl broke the

hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

5

Hi there!

It’s competition time again and everyone should be able to

do this one, perhaps with a bit of help. With Easter still

fresh in your mind and all the chocolate eggs finished, this is

your chance to win a scrummy treat. Just complete the

wordsearch below (©BibleQuizzes.org.uk and Craiglockhart

Church) and when you have found all the answers the

remaining letters will spell out a Bible verse. Send that

information to me via the website or the Sunday School by

the Sunday of the Promotion Service.

This time around I think it would be OK to

get help from parents etc because I have

done it to get the answer and it’s tricky!

6

Talents and Smar�es

In the Easter magazine you will have read David Yacamini’s item from

the Stewardship Commi&ee as well as the Moderator of the Church

of Scotland’s le&er about the Na�onal Stewardship Campaign. Now

it’s �me to read more about ‘Talents 2012’

A number of years ago we did run a very successful Talents effort

when members offered their various talents, as a way of fundraising.

I remember ’buying’ the home decora�ng talents of one member and

the gardening skills of another. People baked cakes, kni&ed, gave

haircuts etc etc. Well now its �me to try again as part of a Na�onal

effort by the Church of Scotland to improve income levels to meet

the ever increasing costs of local and world-wide ministry.

There will be a ‘Talents’ table at every Summer Coffee shop where

you can sell your wares, or offer your services. For those of you who

are less able why not arrange something at home, or in your

sheltered housing complex, arrange an a>ernoon tea for friends and

neighbours, sell �ckets (which the magazine editor will provide as

required,) or arrange a Bingo game, the opportuni�es are limitless.

There will be a ‘Smar�es’ tube event running during the Summer.

Tubes will be delivered by your Elder with this magazine. Eat the

sweets then fill up the tube with coins and let your Elder have the

tube back when he next visits, or return to the Treasurer. He’ll even

count the cash for you. Or ask him for £5.00 to start off your Talents

effort, double, triple etc your money and give him the whole lot back

- it can be real fun with everyone joining in - who makes the best

pancakes, toffee, lemon curd, jam? Grow tomatoes on your window

sill, then sell them at the Talents table.

Every one of us has a Talent, let’s use them for the benefit of St

Mark’s and have some fun at the same �me. You’ll be surprised how

easy it can be and how much you will enjoy it. Let’s see those Talents

on display!

7

The St Mark’s Rambling and

Hill Walking Group

Since the last magazine the ramblers have

been enjoying themselves and undertaking

some interes�ng walks.

On Wednesday 14th March we took the bus to Milton of Crathes and

con�nued up to the Castle and had a wander around the estate

before heading back along the old railway line to Drumoak for the

bus home.

Tuesday 10th April started reasonably dry for the walk to Clachnaben

however as the summit was reached the rain was very heavy and

thick mist hung around. The walkers all agreed that it had been a

great day with plenty to laugh about even though some had got very

wet.

The planned walk for Wednesday 18th April to the Royal Cairns on

the Balmoral Estate had to be changed for various reasons, so a late

subs�tu�on was made and this comprised of a few hills within the

town. The seven walkers met at Castle Street and walked up

Castlehill and then down towards Fi�e where we had a short coffee

break. We con�nued along the prom to the Broadhill and then made

our way to King Street and to Schoolhill via Mounthooly. A stop for

coffee in Union Terrace Gardens was abandoned due to the weather.

Future walks for the summer are

Wednesday 6 June Bennachie - Hill walk

Friday 15 June Ballater - Seven bridges

Tuesday 26 June Newburgh to Collieston

Friday 20 July Portsoy to Cullen

More walks and informa�on on the next page.

8

The Ramblers (cont’d)

Other walks may be arranged or changes made at short no�ce.

Contact Ian Lord on 321882 or 07929 720846 if you would like to be

contacted or want more informa�on about these or any other walks.

??????????? Cryp�c Holiday Des�na�ons ???????????

1. Sounds like a place in which to wander.

2. And here you must take �me to marvel.

3. A novice on a Sco�sh river.

4. Are open-necked shirts banned here?

5. You will see tulips here in a Spring�me holiday.

6. And this place is associated with the Christmas holiday.

7. Rhymes with a well known magician.

8. Going here for your shopping?

9. An angry Aberdonian does this to a naughty quine.

10. Having a ball here? No! - a tea party!

Answers are on page 20 - Enjoy your ‘holiday’ trip.

During these serious and troubled �mes, people of all faiths

should remember these four great religious truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's Chosen People.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the

Chris�an world.

4. Bap�sts do not recognize each other at the off-licence.

Tuesday 31 July Loch Lee and Falls of Damff

Monday 13 August Aden Country Park and PiRour Observatory

9

Circle of Care

In April, not one but two couples in the Circle of Care

celebrated their Golden Wedding. Congratula�ons and

best wished to them for more happy years together.

In April too we had a very enjoyable �me together with some visitors

from Crown Terrace Methodist Church at the OAK tea, following the

Sacrament of Communion. Again our thanks go to all who helped to

make this such a memorable occasion.

There will be a similar event on 10 June and we hope there will again

be a good a&endance.

Margaret Donald (Convenor)

The Strollers

Poor weather has restricted the number of ou�ngs these

past few months but we were able to make our annual

excursion to Crathes Castle to see the Snowdrop

Fes�val. We hope to have more visits to the ‘Shire on our Summer

Saturday mee�ngs. The dates are as follows:-

DID NOAH FISH?

A Sunday school teacher asked, "Jamie, do you think Noah did

a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?" "No," replied Jamie.

"How could he, with just two worms."

June July August September October

Tuesdays 5 26 17 7 28 18 9 30

Saturdays 16 7 28 18 8 29 20

10

St Mark’s Church Worship Calendar

Please note that all Sunday morning services at St Mark’s

normally start at 11.00am. Any changes will be in�mated

in the Pew Leaflet.

Further details of the services will be available

on the Church website or Pew Leaflet.

www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/stmarks-worship.htm

At the �me of preparing this edi�on of the “Messenger” Diane has

been ‘signed off’ and I have not asked her to prepare the usual two/

three month Worship Calendar which normally appears in the

magazine. You will however be able to get news of future services on

the website (see above) and in the weekly Pew Leaflets.

27 May 11.00am Morning Worship

Service led by Ian & Marjorie Lord & David & Jean Yacamini

3 June 11.00am Morning Worship

10 June 11.00am Service of Holy Communion

2.00pm Circle of Care Communion & Tea

6.30pm OAK Evening Service

Crown Terrace Methodist Church

17 June 11.00am Morning Worship

24 June 11.00am Morning Worship

1 July 11.00am Morning Worship

8 July 11.00am Morning Worship

6.30pm OAK Evening Service

Crown Terrace Methodist Church

11

Messenger Deadline

The closing date for submissions for the Autumn

Messenger is Sunday 2 September 2012. This edi�on will

be available to Elders and Office Bearers on Sunday 23 September,

three weeks before our Autumn Communion Services

Roll Changes

Change of Address

Mrs M Ferrier from Hilton

to Stockethill - Sheltered Housing

Disjunc�on

Mrs Gillian Lamberton

to St Machar’s Cathedral

Deaths

6 February Mr Gordon Walker, Albury

16 February Miss Eliza Chris�e, Middlefield

26 March Mr Ronald Warren, Rosemount

He will surround you with love on that Golden Day

Owing to Data Protec�on issues full address details are no longer

provided in rela�on to Roll Changes. Further details are available to

members from the office.

BEING THANKFUL

A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother

says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable.

What does she say?" The li&le boy replied, "Thank God he's

in bed!"

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Guild of Friendship

We closed our current session by having High Tea at the

Sta�on Hotel on 11 June. My personal thanks to the

commi&ee and our Session delegates who have helped throughout

the year.

We will re-start the 2012/2013 session on Monday 1 October and I

am preparing the syllabus at present - there will be something for

everyone. We hope for a sunny Summer and look forward to seeing

our familiar faces and perhaps some ‘new’ faces in October.

Any informa�on can be had by telephoning me on (01224) 642293.

Pat Skene

Projects Commi%ee

The ‘Grianan Garden Party’ will once again be held (weather

permi�ng) in its usual outdoor venue in Alex’s garden on Sunday 15

July from 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

If the weather isn’t kind to us then we will simply transport

everything to the Church Hall and hold the event there, as we did

very successfully last year.

Anne Donaldson

Summer Coffee Shops

The Coffee Shops will commence on Saturday

2nd

June and then each Saturday un�l the beginning of September.

Please come along and bring your friends. Your support is what

makes these events successful and as always your dona�ons of Home

Baking and Raffle Prizes will be gratefully received.

13

A Note from the Treasurer

I told you in the last Messenger that my New

Year Resolu�on was to be more posi�ve in my

magazine ar�cles about our Church finances.

That is a difficult thing to do and in my formal report to the

Congrega�onal Board in April the best thing I could say was that the

year was s�ll young and that there were s�ll three quarters of the

year to go. We all remember the poor start of the year weather-wise

and that did impact on givings so as the year progresses, things (as

the song says) can only get be&er!

I don’t like the rain either but I can s�ll make it to St Mark’s when the

weather is bad, but I fully understand there are members who cannot

do so and I do know that many of you are very faithful in ensuring

that your offerings are made for Sundays you are not in church. No-

one has a perfect memory however and we all forget things so why

not give your offering by Standing Order?

You can complete the form on Page 17 and send it back to me, and

while you are at it, if you pay tax on your wages or salaries or

pensions etc why not complete the Gi> Aid form on Page 19 and

send that to me as well. Giving through Gi> Aid is easy and painless

and allows St Mark’s to claim back from the Chancellor an amount

equal to 25% of your offering.

If you already give by Standing Order there is an opportunity to

review your giving on Page 18. This form can be sent straight to your

Bank.

Let’s hope that in the next Messenger I can give you the good news

of an increase in giving through Standing Order and an increase in our

ability to claim back more of our tax through the Gi> Aid Scheme.

You’ll help me keep my New Year Resolu�on!

14

My Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had

everything in their collec�on, from Picasso to Raphael. They would o>en sit

together and admire the great works of art.

When conflict broke out in the Middle East, the son went to war. He was

very courageous and died in ba&le while rescuing another soldier. The

father was no�fied and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month

later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man

stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son

gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety

when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He o>en talked

about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I

know this isn't much. I'm not really a great ar�st, but I think your son

would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the

young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the

personality of his son in the pain�ng. The father was so drawn to the eyes

that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and

offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what

your son did for me. It's a gi>.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every �me visitors came to

his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed

them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died some �me later. There was to be a great auc�on of his

pain�ngs. Many influen�al people gathered, excited over seeing the great

pain�ngs and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collec�on.

On the plaRorm sat the pain�ng of the son. The auc�oneer pounded his

gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid

for this picture?' There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous

pain�ngs. Skip this one.' But the auc�oneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid

15

for this pain�ng? Who will start the bidding? £100, £200?'

Another voice said angrily, 'We didn't come to see this pain�ng. We came

to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!' But s�ll

the auc�oneer con�nued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-�me

gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give £10 for the pain�ng.' Being a poor

man, it was all he could afford.

'We have £10, who will bid £20?'

'Give it to him for £10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collec�ons. The

auc�oneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for £10!'

A man si�ng on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the

collec�on!' The auc�oneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auc�on is

over.'

'What about the pain�ngs?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auc�on, I was told of a secret

s�pula�on in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that s�pula�on un�l this

�me. Only the pain�ng of the son would be auc�oned. Whoever bought

that pain�ng would inherit the en�re estate, including the pain�ngs.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the

auc�oneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO

SO EVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. THAT'S LOVE.

16

Quiz Answers (From Page 8)

1. Rome, 2. Copenhagen, 3. London, 4. Thailand 5. Amsterdam

6. Turkey, 7. Berlin, 8. Iceland, 9. Ballater, 10.Boston

The O.A.K. Report

O.A.K. has been very busy with all our usual lunches as

well as a Special Lunch in April, in aid of Mental Health,

Aberdeen and FRIENDS, a group who meet weekly at the

O.A.K. Café, when we had a very happy �me. We are now looking

forward to our next Special Lunch on 7th June which is in aid of the

Cogwheel Trust. O.A.K. has been sponsoring two children at a �me

through the work of the trust for many years. We are now helping

our third pair of children.

As we all think of going on summer holidays O.A.K. reminds us that

when we come back Christmas will be just round the corner, so we

would like to ask for your help to keep the shoebox appeal going.

We know some of our friends are already busy with the kni�ng

needles and we will have a closing date of 1st November for

dona�ons.

Our Evening Services con�nue at Crown Terrace Methodist Church

and a warm welcome (and a cup of tea) awaits you all.

We hope you all have a good summer break and find the sun and we

also look forward to seeing you at the Café.

Be%y & Malcolm Steel.

Love is:-

‘Like a li&le old man and a li&le old woman who are s�ll

friends even a>er they know each other so well.’ (Tommy age 6)

17

Bank Standing Order Mandate

To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . .

Please pay by Standing Order (payment details) Amount £ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled. (*please delete as appropriate) Quoting Reference . . . . . . . . . . . (To be completed by the church)

Pay to St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363

Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . Please note that Banks may decline to accept instructions to charge Standing Orders

to certain types of accounts other than Current accounts.

Please return to the Treasurer, St Mark's Church in the first instance.

18

Bank Standing Order Mandate Amended Instruction

To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . .

Please amend my Standing Order payable to:-

St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363

To Amount £ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled quoting the existing reference number.

(*Please delete as appropriate)

Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above. Please note this supersedes my previous instruction relating to St Mark's Church.

Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . .

Please send this form directly to your Bank.

19

Gi> Aid Declara�on

Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland

(Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a registered Sco�sh charity No. SC015451)

Donor's Full Name in Capitals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Donor's Title Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Rev/Dr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Donor's Address in Capitals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code

I am a UK taxpayer and I want the congrega�on to treat all dona�ons I

have made for the four years prior to this year and all dona�ons I

make from the date of this declara�on un�l I no�fy you otherwise, as

Gi> Aid Dona�ons.

Signature of donor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date of signing: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes

1. You may cancel this declara�on at any �me by no�fying the Treasurer.

2. You must pay an amount of tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax

that the Congrega�on reclaims on your dona�ons in the tax year.

(20p in the £1)

3. Please no�fy the Treasurer if you change your address.

20

St Mark's Church

Minister Rev Diane Hobson

65 Mile End Avenue

641758

Session

Clerk

Mr Ian and Mrs Marjorie Lord

27 Hazelhead Road

321882

Clerk to

The Board

Mrs Helen McKenzie

28 Blackhills Court, Westhill

740776

Treasurer Mr Alex McConochie

21 Woodcroft Road

703200

FWO

Treasurer

Miss Dianne Morrison

45 Bonnymuir Place

630161

Gift Aid

Convener

Mrs Lynn Low

6 St John’s Walk, Newtonhill

01569

731389

Organist Mrs Kathleen Anderson

15 Countesswells Terrace

321584

Church

Secretary

Mrs Elspeth Mogendorff

St Mark's Church

Rosemount Viaduct AB25 1JY

640672

Church Office Down steps between the Church and Library.

Open 9.00 am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday. Answering

machine operates when the office is closed. Leave name,

message and contact number.

Editor Alex McConochie: stmarksmessenger@btinternet.com

www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk