Joint Service 5th September Strathdon
On Sunday 5th September there will be a joint servcie with the area group in Strathdon. This will be an outdoor service starting at 11.00am. Transport is being arranged and if you want to go and would like a lift please contact the Manse or your elder. The servcie will be led by music from the Kemnay and Howe Trinity praise bands. There will be activities for children, teenagers and adults. If wet the servcie will be held in Strathdon church.
Photographs
There is a new collection of Church photographs on the website under the newsletter section. This is a shared collection with Cluny and though there may not be many photographs of Monymusk church events on it, the reason for this is that many of them include chidlren and we do not want to put children's pictures on the website.
Summer Services
The usual pattern of Susmmers ervices began on the first week in July and runs through to the end of August. In July we worship with our neighbours from Cluny in Monymusk Church and in August we worship in Cluny Church. All servcies begin at 10.00am
Presentation to Sunday Club and Sunday School
Sunday 20th June also saw the end of session presentations to the children of the Sunday School and Sunday Clubs. This marked the end of a busy year for both groups. Sadly the Sunday School also said farewell to Judith who after 8 years is giving up her work as a teacher. The Sunday School presented her with a framed copy of the picture they made about the history of Monymusk, and the church presented her with a bunch of flowers. Susan from the Sunday school was also presented with flowers from the Sunday School. The Minister expressed his thanks to the teachers and parents and to the young people who come to either Sunday School and Sunday Club before presenting them with gifts from the church.
Presentation to Harold Urquhart
Sunday 20th June saw a sad day in the life of the congregation when it said a formal goodbye to our Session Clerk Harold Urquhart who retired after 19 years service. Mr Urquhart was presented with a gift from the congregation of the quich and a cheque. Mrs Urquhart was given a bunch of flowers. After the servcie a fine celebration was held in the hall with home bakes and Coffee. Mr Urquhart wrote to the minister asking him to pass on his thanks to the congregation for their support and for their kind gifts
Village Clean Up & Disco
On Friday 28th May over 40 kids and their parents attended a disco organised by the Sunday School to raise money for the purchase of Mosquito nets for Africa and to help wildlife especially Orangutans. Over £100 was raised and the kids and adults enjoyed a disco led by Bill who always does such a good job for us.
On Sunday 30th May the church families faced a damp after church tidy up of the village picking up littericnad other rubbish left around the place. Some fmailies decided to wait ntil the following day to tidy up because of the inclement weather but we are glad to reportt hat they did clean up thir part of the village and parish. It is sad that so much rubbish is left for others to tid up!
Holy Communion
This year the Kirk Session has decided to dispense with Communion Cards and instead replace them with invitations. Each household from the membership of the church should receive an invitation to attend Communion. If you have not received one please contact the Minister who has organised the communion duties this year as acting Clerk. Communion will be celebrated the second Sunday in May and the last Sunday in October. We share monthly communions on the second Sunday of each month at the close of the normal service.
Session Clerk
After 18 years devoted service our Session Clerk Mr Harold Urquhart has decided to retire. We are sorry to see him go but delighted that he has indicated that he will remain an active elder as long as he is able. Harold has led us with quite humility and unparalleled dedication. He has been well supported by his wife Elsie and the two of them have offered great support to the minister and manse family. We hope to appoint a new Clerk before the summer.
Pentecost Service
There will be a joint service of praise in the church on Sunday 23rd May at 10.00am. This will be a short family service . There will be no breakfast this year. Pentecost is the day we celebrate the birth of the church, and we may well have a birthday cake!
Bible Study Group
A new bible study group has begun and meets on the first Wednesday of each month in the Manse. At 7.30pm. This is open to all. The first meeting looked at what is the bible and future meetings will discuss prayer, church life and worship and a number of topical issues. The meeting will also include a time of prayer and fellowship over a cup of tea..
Sunday School
The Sunday school has decided that its main fund raising event this year will be to raise funds to buy mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of disease in Africa. To do this they hope to arrange a disco, of which more details later. The Sunday school will say farewell to Judith after the Summer holidays as she has decide that the time is right to give up teaching after 8 years wonderful service. We shall miss her.
Church Redecoration
As part of the rolling plan of maintenance the doors, windows, gutters and downpipes are being repainted in the spring. This will make our church look good on the outside and the inside and hopefully will prevent any major work being required for a number of years. If you can think of any work that is required either for appearance of comfort sake please let any elder or the minister know.
Murder Mystery Event
The Congregations of Cluny and Monymusk held a very succesful Murder Mystery event in Millbank Hall in March. The grateful thanks of the congregations were expressed by a confused minister at the end of the event to the Cluny Players for all their effoirts in entertaining us. Thanks were also expressed to the team of caterers and servers from both congregations who worked so well together. The end result was that the congregations each benefitted by just over £800 for church funds.
In both of these events the children of the church and the adults too learn what it means to help others and this is surely one of the main teachings of Jesus