Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping
"Commentary on the Basis of Grouping of Aberdeen City Centre Churches"
The aim and purpose of the Parish Grouping is to enable the neighbouring churches (Queen Street , St Mark's, The Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting) to work together in order to be more effective in developing their common ministry and mission to the communities which they are called to serve. By agreeing a 'Basis of Parish Grouping' the congregations do not lose their separate identities but do agree to work collaboratively in agreed areas such as youth work, pastoral concern, mission, staffing, or whatever areas are appropriate in the particular area of the parish grouping."
This Grouping page will provide general news about our activities, social events etc. The Magazine Page will contain contributions submitted by each congregation for publication as a current supplement to our individual Parish Magazines. The Archive Page will hold copies of previous magazine supplements. Ian is devoted to material provided by our Parish Development and Outreach Worker Ian McIver. Triskeles is an on-line version of the Grouping magazine Triskeles News, Abigail brings news of Grouping involvement with the charity, Abigail Ministries, mainly through Kathleen Innes of Queen Street and Abigail 2 provides an on-line copy of the Abigail News.
The new (January 2012) Prayer Diary is available here
The Indoor Garden Party
On 2 July 2011 we held a further social event as a fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Some brave souls agreed to participate in a "It's a Knockout" style competition and everyone joined in with both individual and team quizzes. We also held a "Most Beautiful Hat" contest but some may think the winning hat was far from beautiful - since it was a dressed chicken - not a real one thankfully. But after all the plan for the afternoon was to have fun and fun we had! As well as strawberies and ice cream (and cream), not to mention tea, coffee, juice, sandwiches, cakes, shortbread and crisps! If you were there you will have your own memories of the day and even if you were you can have another look
here
.
It's not all parties but just a week after the Marie Curie Fundraiser we held another get-together. This time it was for Volunteers and Vendors of our Big Issue initiative to celebrate our 3rd "Birthday". You can see the afternoon here .
The Kenyan "Jambo"
In support of Abigail Ministries we held a Fundraising evening on 12 November 2010 in St Mark's. This event will be remembered not so much for the "Mr & Mrs" competition which proved how little our contestant couples did actually know about each other but rather how Ian McIver's "Yes No " game showed just how little he knew about defeating Margaret Donald, who more than beat his timekeeper Kate Fraser with her carefully thought out answers to the questions. You can recall the
evening
here
.
Summer 2010 from the St Mark's "Messenger"
Ian McIver, the Grouping Development and Outreach Worker, was formally welcomed into our joint church family on 21 February 2010 by Maureen Simpson, the Presbytery Moderator’s representative. Ian however had been in post for some time before that and has been seen all around the Grouping Parish and elsewhere meeting groups and individuals we will be working with as the Grouping develops.
Spring 2010 from the "St Mark's Messenger"
A well attended joint service of the City Centre Grouping churches was held in St Mark’s on Sunday 21 February 2010. This was followed by refreshments in the hall, with donations made for soup being given to the Girls’ Brigade, and a Fair Trade stall to mark the start of Fair Trade Fortnight.
During the service, Maureen Simpson, representing the Moderator gave a formal welcome, on behalf of Presbytery, to Ian McIver, our new Community Development and Outreach Worker. Ian also spoke down in the hall and Marjorie Lord presented Ian’s wife Donna with a bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion. The Editor hopes that Ian will provide some details of his work within the Grouping churches for a future edition of the Messenger.
Regrettably, due to logistical difficulties there is no Grouping Supplement in this quarter’s magazine but it is hoped this will be addressed in time for the Summer edition.
Valentine Social
Great fun was had by all on Saturday 13 February 2010 at the social event which replaced the abortive arrangements planned for November last year to co-incide with the City's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The usual photographic record was taken and you can see that
here
.