Projects Committee
Diary Dates
We now have three dates for your diary for the summer months. Unfortunately, owing to family events, Lynn and Colin are unable to hold their Garden Party this year. However, Alex has very kindly offered to host “The Grianan Garden Gathering” in his garden on Sunday July 20th. This will take a similar form to the usual Garden Party, but there will be some differences! Alex assures me this is a one off so please tell Lynn and Colin all the family happy events should be during the winter months! We have been allocated the week beginning 11th August for the Charity Shop, so all good quality bric-a-brac will be gratefully received. Lynne and Garry will hold a Car Treasure Hunt on Saturday 6th September, again starting from Newtonhill and finishing at their home for refreshments. Coffee Shops The Summer Coffee Shops commence on Saturday 7th June, please come along and support them, a lot of work is undertaken by those on duty. They continue through to 13th September. Anne Donaldson 01224 575663 The Strollers Once again the Strollers are setting their sights beyond the city boundaries and are planning to go by bus into the countryside on Saturday afternoons. On Tuesday mornings they will remain in the town. If you would like to join them on one or more of their outings you will be made most welcome on any of the dates below. | | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | | Tuesday | 3 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 26 | 16 | 7 | 28 | | Saturday | 14 | 5 | 26 | 16 | 6 | 27 | 18 |
Circle of Care The Summer Circle of Care Communion and Afternoon Tea is being held on June 8 at 2.00pm when we hope for the usual good attendance, largely made possible by the willing volunteers who provide the transport. We are most grateful to them and to those who provide the "goodies" for the afternoon tea. CrossReach - providing a caring future - gives support to many people in need and covers several areas of social work. These include Children and Families, Counselling, Criminal Justice, Homelessness, Learning Disability, Mental Health, Older People and Substance Misuse. It is planned in future issues of the St Mark's Messenger, to highlight each of these in turn. In the meantime there is a pamphlet in the vestibule for your inspection if you wish further information.
Margaret Donald
01224 591942 The Guild Of Friendship Due to my recent operation, I have not been able to attend any meetings this year. My grateful thanks go to Babs and Ivy and others who stepped in to keep things going smoothly. I would now like to make an APPEAL— unfortunately our numbers have been somewhat depleted over the past couple of years and although the ladies are loyal in attending, we really would love to have a few more members. I am sure there are ladies reading this (I hope you do read this!) who are ‘free’ on a Monday afternoon. So why not come along and give us a try. The syllabus will be made up soon for 2008/9 but most afternoons we have entertainment ie choir, solo singer(s), slide show, etc. You will be most warmly welcomed - bring a friend if you wish (no need to be a St Mark’s member). We start on Monday, 6th October 2008 at 2.15pm in the Church Hall and meet every Monday thereafter. Further details can be had by phoning me. I do hope we shall see some ‘new faces’.
Pat Skene 01224 642293 Scottish Country Dancing We now have come to the end of our dancing year. Our party was on Wednesday 30 April and was well attended. A very enjoyable evening was had by all. My sincere thanks to Nora, Anne and June for arranging the supper and to the ladies who provided the "goodies". Thanks to Babs who diligently looks after the "pennies" and to all our members who so loyally support our class. We will resume in September 2008 and hope to see some new faces. If you don't like to come on your own, do bring a friend. During the summer, socials are held weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Boys' Brigade Headquarters Hall in Crimon Place. You will be made most welcome there too. Have a lovely summer,
God Bless.
Margaret Brown New Moderator (Minister) of Mpachika
I have just returned from a private visit to Blantyre, Malawi where I spent 2 weeks with friends I had met on previous visits. I was lucky enough to meet up with the new Moderator/Minister of our twinned church Mpachika Rev. Master Jumbe. In the past Mpachika has had to share a minister with other churches including Soche Church but now it has its own minister and looks forward to building the partnership and making it stronger along with the Rev Jumbe and the Mpachika congregation.
Rosalyn Rennie
Update on Mpachika Women’s Guild and the Kitchen
We have covered quite a lot this year in praying for the sick, visiting the hospitals, normally every week and encouraging those who are growing weary in faith. Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing for us, the Women’s Guild at Mpachika; the money you gave us to build a kitchen and buy kitchenware. As of now the kitchen is being built and it’s promising to be nice when completed. It will be named Margaret’s Hall to honour you, dear Margaret (Margaret Donald).
Helen Store
Women’s Guild Chairlady
Mpachika Main Choir
There are several copies of CDs by Mpachika Main Choir for sale either at Church or at Coffee mornings. They have been brought especially from Malawi to sell to the people of St Mark’s and other Aberdeen congregations. The CDs have been professionally produced and are an attempt by the choir to raise funds for attendance at musical festivals, buying music and uniforms etc. The choir is one of 10 choirs at Mpachika and has 35 members; 21 members are featured on this CD. The CDs are being sold at a modest £5.00 each and are well worth the money so please purchase from Rosalyn at Church or at one of the forthcoming coffee mornings.
Malawi Containers
Mrs Beatrice Chiwaya reports that the educational material donated by members of St. Mark’s and other congregations in Aberdeen and which was contained in the most recent container delivered to Malawi has arrived safely in Blantyre and that her school (near Mpachika Church) benefited from books, pencils etc; she said that the headmaster and teachers are most grateful for the donations and they were all very excited to open the boxes and distribute them around the class. Gentle Wish I wish I had a lot of money
To help poor people
So I could give each a pound
To those who came around
It would be of great poverty
Yet I don’t have a single tambala
To feed even my single belly
If all our wishes were true
Our eyes would be blue M Nyozani |
