Summer 2008 Messenger Letter from the Manse As most of you will know by now, as from 6th May I will be Moderator of the Presbytery of Aberdeen. While I am a little in awe of the position given to me I am at the same time honoured to serve God in this way, and promise to do my best in the year that lies ahead of me. It means an extra workload in an already busy schedule, but others have done it and done it very well and now with God’s help I will do the same. I would ask you to give me your prayers during the year as I carry out my duties. At our Annual General Meeting in March our Session Clerk David intimated that he will be laying down the mantle as from next June (2009) and that means that we are now in the position of looking for a successor to David. The sooner we have someone, the better, for it means that he or she can work alongside David and see the things that are required of a Session Clerk. David has done a marvellous job in the last 15 years and I personally have been so fortunate in knowing that he was holding the reins in this way. The new Session Clerk will get 100% support from all members of the congregation, and especially from the office bearers, so if you are reading this letter and God is speaking to you, perhaps you might be St Mark’s new man or woman. The Kirk Session will be looking at making the position of Session Clerk a contractual one of say 5 years so that new blood can be brought into the position from time to time. As the summer nights approach and they get lighter and hopefully warmer, thoughts turn to holidays. Where will we go this year? How much money do we have to spend? How far can I travel? Holidays are not about how far you can go or how much they cost, they are about giving you new insights, giving you rest from what you do most of the year round, of filling you with energies so that when the winter returns you are filled to the brim with ideas and suggestions to take our congregation forward. I always feel that the sign of a good holiday is wanting to get back into the midst of things; at least that is the view I take. Jesus Himself needed time to rest and recoup Himself, and He spent holidays with His closest friends. He knew that when He was with them He would be well looked after and would be given the rest and the time for reflection that He needed. We can take a lesson from that. In fact we can take many lessons from Jesus’ way of doing things. Can I say that I wish all of you a pleasant summer break, and that I look forward to worshipping with you through that break and on into the new session in September of 2008. God bless you all. Your friend and Minister John Session Clerk’s Annual Report - 9 March 2008 Another year come and gone and St Mark’s is still at the forefront of City Centre worship. Our grouping arrangements with our friends in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting and Queen Street continue to grow in strength. It was good news to hear that a minister, Rev Graham Deans, had been appointed to Queen Street after a considerable length of time. As City Centre Mission and Outreach is a priority for the grouping, the three Kirk Sessions agreed to endorse the proposed Big Issue distribution and presently volunteers are being sought to staff the distribution centres in our churches. We have committed to this project and ask that you put your name forward to help. Please see Margaret Donald for more details. Several joint services have been held over the year. A successful Grouping Burns Supper was held and 141 people attended. There will be further social events arranged in the future. The Grouping Committee is hoping for further training in Area Team Ministry later in the year. The Congregational Records for 2007 have been attested. Session and Congregational Board Minutes, Communion Roll, Supplementary Roll, Baptismal Register, Treasurer’s Books and Congregational Register of Personnel working with Children and Young People were all examined. We were commended for the meticulous presentation, especially the Session and Board Minutes. Thanks are due for this to Elspeth, Elaine and Dianne. As usual, many activities take place in St Mark’s. Too many to list, but special mention should be made of the Crèche, Sunday School and Youth Fellowship where our teachers and helpers do wonderful work to involve the young folk in our congregation. St Mark’s, as usual, offers a wealth of clubs and activities in which people can participate. The Guild, Men’s Club, Guild of Friendship, Drama Club, Country Dancing, Old Time Dances, Summer Coffee Shops, Girls' Brigade and the Choir have all been successful. New members are always welcome. The Circle of Care continues to thrive and our “older” members enjoyed two Communion Services and Afternoon Teas in June and October. It means so much to them and a great deal of thanks is due to Margaret Donald and all her willing helpers. OAK continues to go from strength to strength under Betty and Malcolm Steel’s direction. There is a large band of volunteers and more are always required. Many Charities and countries have benefited financially over the year. £6,800 was disbursed to various good causes. A marvellous effort. Recently 33 volunteers enjoyed a sociable evening at the Summerhill Indoor Bowling Club. Thanks, also, to all who run committees and organisations within the Church as these provide a very valuable link, not only to our own church members, but also to the Community. How can you as members play your part? As you have heard there are many activities available to you at St Mark’s. It is not just coming along on a Sunday morning or to Communion. Get involved, come along and make use of the facilities St Mark’s has to offer. Volunteer and help in various ways e.g. OAK, Coffee shops, Clubs etc. and revisit your financial giving. The Minister and St Mark’s need your continued help and support. I have now been Session Clerk at St. Mark’s for 15 years and have decided to demit office in June 2009. The job has been rewarding and many people have given me tremendous support. As the deadline is June 2009, this will give Session 15 months to appoint a new Clerk. I will be very happy to let the new Clerk “shadow” me over the next year. Lastly, but most importantly, we commend again the Rev John Watson for all his hard work and vision. He is highly regarded in St Mark’s and in the Presbytery of Aberdeen and this has been acknowledged by his nomination as Moderator to Aberdeen Presbytery from June 2008. A great honour and a good deal more work! He is well supported by Jennifer and his family and we are indeed fortunate to have such a good man at the helm. Continue to support him in all he does and keep St. Mark’s at the forefront of City Centre Mission. Thank You!
David Yacamini A Note from the Treasurer First of all I want to thank all those members who have undertaken to give their Freewill Offering by Standing Order. Not only does this method of contributing assure regular income to St Mark's but it also makes my job as Treasurer much easier from a practical standpoint and it eases the burden for those office bearers on door duty each Sunday who are required to count the offering. At the last Congregational Board meeting I presented my first annual budget as Treasurer. I wrote in the previous magazine that 2008 would not be easy for us and my budget reflected this position. Despite having closed 2007 with a surplus of just over £4,200 I have forecast a year end deficit of around £1,300. Although this might appear to be small it reflects not only the loss of £8,000 income from the long term let to VSA and some savings in expenditure but assumes members will increase givings during 2008. I hope this will happen. It's up to you! At the same Board meeting I also presented the actual out-turn for the first quarter of the year and although I estimate a small deficit by the year end the current deficit is £6,694. Our expenditure for the first quarter was about £1,000 below my estimate so it doesn't take a financial wizard to see that our first quarter's income is the problem. It is fair to say however that some income (eg Coffee Shops) will come in later in the year. I expect the second quarter to show a similar pattern to the first but I am anticipating that the second half of the year will be better. I certainly hope so. I make no apology for repeating what is fast becoming my mantra. Please give regularly, even when absent. Give by Standing Order - Think about it. From the Stewardship Convenor Again as the Minster, but also the Stewardship Convener, I have been asked to bring to your attention the need to revisit your givings on a regular basis. Everyone who is in employment looks for usually at least a cost of living rise each year in their pay packet. In fact this year we are finding that some of our service industries are looking for rises of up to 15%. That is because in the last year we have been hit by price rises far and away above inflation. The church is not exempt from this and we have to meet price increases in supplies, gas and electricity, which at the end of the day have to be paid for by the congregation. In that context I would appeal to all members, if you can, to add a cost of living rise to your weekly offering. To give an example; if you are paying the church £5 per week then you might consider making that £5.25p. That would help the church balance the books at the end of this year. Again it makes all the difference if your offering is regular. If you haven’t handed in your Gift Aid or your Standing Order form yet to the Treasurer, please can you do so as soon as possible Rev John M Watson
Stewardship Convener. |
