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2 Advent - a time of

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b Advent and Christmas Services Theme: Who Is This Child? m

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Sunday 11th December c 11.00am Service of Words and Music for Christmas an d the

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Sunday 18th December 11.00am “The Angry Hotel Man” - a presentation of t he

Christmas Story by the children and the Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle

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11am - Celebration of Christ’s Birth. Please bring along a gift which you have received h

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n Saunday 29th Januray - Communion - 11.00am

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www.grantonparish.org.uk G 16 1 Granton Parish Church DECEMBER ISSUE OF What really Minister LIFE & WORK Norman A Smith Hall Convener matters about 551 2159 Irene MacPherson Music of the season [email protected] 552 4543 Christmas? Parish Assistant [email protected] Music critic Michael Tumelty Marilynn Steele Gift Aid Convener examines the enduring qualities of Some years ago, when a Bishop’s 01875 811 497 Stewart Greig Christmas music and why it continues doubts about the virgin birth of Jesus hit [email protected] 552 4427 to touch the soul. The Rev Douglas the headlines, a clergyman was Session Clerk Church Flowers Galbraith highlights some old and new interviewed on the BBC's ‘Breakfast Lesley Webster Ilean Greig carols which have been included in Time’ about what it all meant. 539 5033 552 4427 the recently published CH4. [email protected] Magazine and Website Editor The interviewer had one great objection Clerk to the Board Charles Macintosh Try and try again to what the Bishop was saying. He put it Alan Summers 552 2240 Fame Academy finalist Lemar travels in the form of a question to the 551 3176 [email protected] to Ethiopia with Christian Aid and tells clergyman: "If Jesus wasn't born to the [email protected] fax: 07092 158687 John McKie about the impact of the virgin Mary does that mean we'll have to Organist emotional trip. stop sending Christmas cards and giving Sharon Parkin Kirk 4 Kidz presents?" 551 3096 Stuart Mitchell The day the earth shook [email protected] 552 6046 John Hayward reports on the effects For this BBC presenter, as for many Treasurer [email protected] of the recent earthquake in Pakistan. others in Britain today, what really David Duncan A consultant development worker he matters about Christmas is the cards 552 1546 Church phone is also the Liaison Officer for a group and the presents. If Jesus wasn't really [email protected] 552 3033 of organisations including the Church born as the Bible says, that would be a of Scotland working with the Church nuisance - but only because it would of Pakistan. take away the justification for the ways in which we celebrate his birth! It might “Sharing the love and knowledge of God Desert Padre even mean one or two bank holidays to create a better and fairer world for all“ The Rev Louis Kinsey, a Territorial less. The Mission Statement of Granton Parish Church Army chaplain, describes his deployment with British troops serving In fact if Jesus hadn't been born as the in Iraq. Bible says the implications would be Website- www.grantonparish.org.uk much more serious. It would mean that Eldership The on-line version of Kirk Outlook has web-links to many God has not come into this world to put This month’s page for elders includes right what we have spoilt. It would mean related sites, providing an opportunity to find out more an account of how a Glasgow church that we have no way of getting to know about articles. Remember to pass on our web address to began an after-school club. Sheilah God. anyone that you know who has moved away from the Steven, national organiser of elder area. New material, including many news items, added training, writes about young people It would mean that we have no chance of regularly so if you haven’t visited for a while why not have and how they may be more integrated anything but judgment and a look. into the life of the local congregation. condemnation when we die.

Kirk Outlook AND LOTS MORE…LIVELY Christmas is worth celebrating, not as an Articles and information for inclusion in Kirk Outlook should be passed to the LETTERS, BOOK REVIEWS, excuse for cards or presents or holidays, editor, Chas Macintosh at 8 Fraser Crescent, telephoned to 552-2240, emailed TRAVEL, CROSSWORDS AND but because Christmas assures us that to [email protected] or faxed to 07092 158687 - deadline for March COMMENT…ALL FOR £1.50 God hasn't written us off - that he loves issue is Sunday 13 February out on Sunday 27 February us and has a plan for us.

2 15 Here at Granton Parish Church we offer a Parish Register range of social and spiritual groups covering all ages where Funerals 4th May 2005 you can mix, enjoy Jenny Pace In Brief 2nd March 2005 147/1 Lower Granton fellowship and grow Robert Russell Road within our community. 217/3 West Granton Road 4th August 2005 Please feel welcome to 6th May 2005 Peter Hildersley join us at any of our 3rd March 2005 Mary McGovern 8/3 Wardieburn Terrace groups. Unless stated Kenneth Mackenzie otherwise these groups 3/1 Wardieburn place 7th August 2005 meet in the church/ South 17th May 2005 Margaret Steer George Shanks 39/4 Granton Place halls. 3rd March 2005 Ferryfield Nursing Home December Agnes Ness 12th August 2005 18 Granton Mains Avenue 1st July 2005 George Carstairs Sunday 11th Service of Words and Music for Christmas 11.00am Hugh King 50/2 Granton Crescent 3rd March 2005 22 Wardie Cres Elizabeth Shaw 26th August 2005 Traidcraft After the 28 Pilton Place 6th July 2005 David Kerr Lawrie service Agnes Liston Muirhouse Way Wednesday Traidcraft at Lunch Club 12 noon 21st March 2005 9/3 Royston Mains Place 14th Catherine Duff 23rd September 2005 16 Wardieburn Place 14th July 2005 Robina Bird Friday 16th K4K Outing to the Panto West Brian Ainslie 39 Boswall Terrace 24 Granton View Saturday 17th K4K Party 22nd March 2005 23rd September 2005 Helen Dignan 15th July 2005 Ruth Walker Sunday 18th Nativity - “The Angry Hotel Man” 11.00am 3 Granton View Mary Smith 30 Grierson Crescent 148 Granton Road 26th March 2005 13th October 2005 Wednesday Lunch Club Christmas Lunch 12 noon Andrina Cox 23rd July 2005 William Campbell 21st 67 Pilton Avenue William Webster 50 Boswall Parkway Saturday 24th Making Christingles in the hall 10.00 94 Boswall Parkway 9th April 2005 20th October 2005 Christingle Service 6.30pm Robert Macdonald 2nd August 2005 John Kerr 21 Lennox Row Jane Williamson 6/1 Wardieburn Street Bonnington Nursing Home East Watchnight Service 11.30pm Kirsty’s Coffee Quiet Time Sunday 25th Celebration of Christ’s Birth! 11.00am Every 2nd week at 9.45 - 10.15 on January (Alpha Course starting this month) Morning Thursdays. This is a chance to take some time out during the day and spend Saturday 21st Burns Night Every Thursday from 10.00 – 11.30 some time reflecting on life the universe and everything! Sunday 29th Communion 11.00am 14 3 of Science at America’s Westmont College wrote a The Boys’ Brigade is cur- Challenging? Seniors are also working book called Science rently in the middle of a The Company Section towards this Award. Speaks. In a section called review of the Awards Pro- Awards are currently still “The Christ of Prophecy”, gramme for all Sections, so under review, but while we Stripped for Action! he looks at the Biblical new material has been have not yet changed any Our Company Football evidence for Jesus using rolled out for us to use this of our Badges, there has strips desperately needed scientific methods. At one Session. been a new ‘Seniors Chal- replaced this year. With point he calculates the lenge’ award introduced. the help of the Congrega- chance of 48 of those 300 New Juniors Programme Therefore you may have tion, we had a successful prophecies being fulfilled in The new Junior Pro- seen Boys performing Coffee Morning in October one man as 10 to the gramme has been com- Magic Tricks, gargling the that raised over £240, power of 157. pleted and we have National Anthem or de- which helped tremen- introduced it this Session signing their own Pizza. dously towards these new Notes from the Minister To illustrate, take an for all new Boys in the P4 Meanwhile, the younger strips. While the team now electron, a small Age Group. However, the particle inside an Boys in both P5 and P6 will atom. If you lay continue to work on the Boys Brigade them end on end at ‘Going for Gold’ awards. Preparations the rate of 250 a While both schemes culmi- minute, it would nate with a Gold Badge, take 190,000,000 the new Programme has Dear friends, which take place for years to make a line one only 4 Badges, beginning inch long. At the same with a Target Badge then Brigade Christmas. No sooner is one rate, a cubic inch of Bronze, Silver and Gold. Christmas over than Yet these preparations electrons would take We are using the ‘Activity another arrives. It doesn’t pale in comparison to Zone’ material covering seem that long ago since those God made so there Body, Mind, Spirit, Com- we were all hustling and would actually be a munity and Creativity to Christmas. Right back to give the Boys a wider Bugle bustling down the street for that one last present, one Abraham God was why don’t choice of activities. last bargain. Nor I bet have arranging things so Christ Alan Summers - Company Captain you forgotten the parking would come. He chose we We have started the Ses- nightmares in Edinburgh of Isaac the youngest son, sion with two Groups Boys were finding out looks very smart, we will the long Autoteller queues not Ishmael the oldest. actually (Polar Bears and Lions) about Citizenship and have to work on their foot- for money. Christmas Then Jacob, once again and the Boys will be taking Health & Fitness for their ball skills as we have lost these days is a large the youngest, not Esau. celebrate part in competitions Interests Badge. our first two games in the operation. Later on he chose David, throughout the year to- Open (Seniors) 7’s league. Solomon and so on right Jesus as wards the prize of Best Presidents Badge Did you know that shops up till Mary the mother of Group. Presentation All that remains is for me to order their Christmas Christ. On top of that there opposed to Having presented Mitchell thank the congregation for cards in January based on were over 300 other Rennie with his President’s their continued support the previous December’s prophecies which Company Section – Badge in May, we were and interest in the Com- spending? Or that many someone would have to celebrating delighted to be able to also pany and to wish you all a stores get their Christmas fulfil to be the Messiah, If you know of any boy present Darren Jempson Merry Christmas. wares in during the 300 which Jesus did fulfil Christmas? wishing to join, or if you with his President’s Badge summer months? We in his time on earth. have a skill or interest that at our Annual Enrolment would be amazed if we you would like to share Parade in November, after knew all the preparations In 1958 Dr Peter W. with the boys, please he had completed his Stoner, Professor Emeritus contact Alan on 0131-551 Leadership Options. Other BB 3176 4 13 We are slowly hut surely This "first half" will finish 190,00,00 x 190,000,000 x 190,000,000 Jesus as opposed to celebrating moving towards the end of with the Christmas Social - years to count. Professor Stoner said Christmas? the first half of the always an enjoyable that if we took all those electrons and Session, (doesn't time evening, with the promise marked one of them, then jumbled them Shortly we are all going to have the fly!!) of the festive season to all up and asked a blindfolded man to chance of celebrating another year come. find the one we had marked, that that since Jesus came. As part of that we Following our Opening was the same chance as one man will be giving people who have perhaps Social, with music from fulfilling only 48 of the 300 biblical drifted away from the church over the the Senior Southern Light Ladies Fellowship prophecies concerning Jesus. years a chance to come back again. I Singers, Dr. Russell Barr along with the Session and others hope brought much mirth with Now considering Jesus did fulfil all 300 you will take this opportunity. his amusing story of his prophecies how is that for preparations! early years in the ministry. First Half It makes all we do for Christmas pale in Have a Happy Christmas comparison. It also begs the question Because of a cancellation that if God went to so much trouble to Your Minister & Friend we had a "do it yourself” make sure Jesus did all that he had to evening to which Report! do, why don’t we actually celebrate Norman. members contributed - very much enjoyed. Fellowship Secretary Jessie Macdonald A Note from the the old favourites. Please come along We hadn't known a great Choir and join in on the 11 th December at deal about the Mansfield 11am for the Service of 9 Lessons and Murals until Mrs Kate Love We'll restart on 10 th Carols. brought us up to date to January., when our date with the work which speaker will be Elsie Moir, We've had It was great to welcome some of the is being done to restore who will share with us the church’s newest members to the choir; I this building and its story of life in West Pilton. a "Fun hope they have fun and make many artwork – very near to friends. We’re also delighted that one or home and therefore easy Lots more interesting Night", two of our former members have agreed to visit. subjects to come in the to help out and share their experience new year. As always, a followed with the younger members. This will be One of our church warm welcome to any one of tremendous benefit and we look members - Derek Young - who hasn't yet joined us - by a visit forward to a boosted male section this reassured us as to the Tuesday evenings at 7.30 year. treatment we would pm in the West Hall. from our receive should we have to As always, anyone who enjoys singing is call an ambulance. welcome to join us. You don’t have to be Minister, able to read music, so there’s nothing to We've had a "Fun Night", stop you coming along, making a great followed by a visit from our Norman sound and having fun. Minister, Norman, and are As I write, we have only just begun our looking forward to hearing With best wishes for Christmas and the rehearsals for this year’s Christmas about Christmas in other New Year services. lands, then a visit from Sharon Rev. Douglas Nicol, If you would like to It was a bit surreal listening to O Come recently our Interim know more about the All Ye Faithful just as the last fireworks Moderator. Ladies Fellowship speak were dying down! Already things are to Jessie on 552 2200 coming together nicely and we look forward to singing some lesser known Carols as well as joining with you in all 12 5 Worship the 'king' was the diarrhoeal diseases etc....often many of stick in the ground and sleep outside. At order of the day - that is if these illnesses are running concurrently night there is a 'mist' that hangs over the you are a fan (which which obviously can make it more difficult tukuls alongside the airstrip. It looks like a incidentally) I am not. to treat successfully. However a lot of beautiful mist that hangs low in the valleys patients go home in the UK on a fresh morning! It is smoke My thoughts wander to better after treatment which obviously is from the fires where they cook.... Like I another King - Jesus, He is great. said, it is all a bit surreal at the moment. the King you and I and So much to take in both culturally and millions of others around Life is very basic. The 'wards' are mud work wise but it is amazing. Man alive!!!! the world worship and feel huts and the beds are a plastic sheet on close to. The King whose the ground with a blanket on the top. At Lots of love Viv xxxx birth we shall soon be night the in patients attach a mosi net to a celebrating, and who is not just a memory, but is with us here and now.

My next stop was GRANTON PARISH CHURCH Notes from our Parish Assistant Nashville - "Music City" as it is known - and is the CONGREGATIONAL BOARD home of "The Grand Ole Oprey" We visited the BURNS SUPPER Ryman Centre, which, was BURNS SUPPER Holiday in originally a Methodist

America I hope you Our Parish Assistant, Marilynn Steele will all have reflects on a wonderful holiday a joyful and peaceful The last time I wrote for with a trip to Memphis in Kirk Outlook I was Tennessee and one can't Christmas. preparing and looking go to visit Memphis without forward to my holidays in going to Gracelands - that But please America. I have been and was the home of Elvis remember gone as they say!!! My Presley. If you are or were ON SATURDAY 21st JANUARY holiday is now just a an Elvis fan then it is the in your distant memory. But I place for you, his music 2006 AT 7.30pm would like to share with and memorabilia is all prayers you some of those around you. Looking TICKETS £6 memories and thoughts I around at the many people those who have of the trip. who were in awe of the FROM SANDRA SUMMERS surroundings I heard many This year we did quite lot comment on how close will have PHONE 551 3176 of traveling and they felt to 'king'. sightseeing- beginning neither.

6 11 Church. Every Saturday families would again of God's wonderful world and of Email from Africa gather bringing their supper with them His creations, and there were many. and sing and worship God. It was the Yes! We did go to Disney World - or Vivienne Monaghan worshipped with us over the summer place where Country and Western music Magic Kingdom to give it its correct title. months and is now off to Africa with Medecins Sans started and still is performed. Many Great as it was, it was not a patch on Frontieres. She has been assigned to a mission in famous entertainers began their singing Sea World, for me there is nothing to southern Sudan, initially on the project for 9 months. careers there. Although it is no longer beat God's creation. used as church it has not changed its She is a nurse in a mobile team, which consists of herself original features. As we are fast approaching that time of and another English nurse, providing healthcare to the rural year which some of us dread and other population in eastern upper Nile. The majority of the nine months will be spent living Then we went to Florida and no I didn't get excited about, I hope you will all in a tent whilst "accepting" the snakes, scorpions, frogs, mosquitos and flies! encounter any Hurricane's - in fact we have a joyful and peaceful Christmas. left before Wilma arrived!!! We visited But please remember in your prayers Viv will be sending back regular reports to us - here is the first..... Sea World and that was fabulous - the those who will have neither. Dolphins and the Killer Whales to. I arrived on a small plane yesterday to November 16 2005 demonstrating their gifts and talents and Take care of yourselves be greeted by an inquisitive crowd and Pieri - Suthern Sudan their wonderful relationship with humans God Bless some cheery MSF staff in their MSF tshirts! was a sight to behold. Marilynn Well, what can I say?...."Oh my word!!". The MSF team that I have met so far are One week ago I was in autumnal Scotland Also seeing so many different species of great and they gave me a lovely welcome. wrapped up warm, and in a couple of fish and sea creatures reminded me days I was transported to what feels like a We celebrated with cheese sauce fresh completely different world! vegetables and sangria last night!

I have already attended security briefing I have my own mud hut 'tukul' with a CHRISTMAS LUNCH meetings at the UN and a large staff mossie net to keep away the scorpions, LUNCH Lunch Club Christmas Lunch is on meeting at the hospital where I was mossies and snakes etc! Spent last night Wednesday 21 st December at 12 noon – introduced and applauded! I thought 'hang listening to the african drums in the after which the club is closed until 11 th on a minute pet, you haven't seen if I am distance and awoke early to the myriad of CLUB January 2006. going to be useful yet'! birdsong. Chuffing amazing. Elizabeth Hansen At the moment I am sitting in a mud hut This morning I spent some time in the swatting at the flies whilst attempting to hospital seeing patients with a condition All going well and noisily at lunchtime on write this email. I am now in a small called kala azar (spread by a sandfly) that a Wednesday. We have welcomed some community called had come for their daily review. I then new faces both young and old with open Pieri (one of my 'base' sites ) which is in spent some time with Ness (the hospital arms during the last couple of months. At the Eastern part of the upper Nile. My job nurse) and Dr Andrew! I have seen this point we are preparing for our as an outreach nurse is to travel to patients already with many things that I Christmas lunch where a first class meal outlying villages and supervise the running have only ever seen in text books. It is will be served for £6 per head, including a of basic health care clinics which we have unreal. At the moment I feel like I am welcome sherry, a mince pie and an After set up. Myself and my wandering around on the edges it is all so Eight to finish. colleague will walk or fly to these villages surreal. A lot of people here are very sick dependent on distance and season. The with malaria, TB, kala azar, pneumonia, We are missing one of our main helpers tribe that live in this area are called the (and our scribe!) at the moment. Evelyn Nuer tribe. They are very tall and thin and Stewart has been unwell for some weeks appear to be very friendly. They constantly and we are missing her very much.. Our call out greetings and it can take quite a love and get well wishes are sent from all while to walk from the compound to the staff and our customers. hospital as there are a great deal of hands to shake and greetings to call and answer

10 7 There will be an extra opportunity to Christmas shop for Kirk 4 Kidz Fair Trade goods On Sunday 11th Santa's helpers are December after the K4K News - Stuart Mitchell K4K co-ordinator morning service and subordinate clauses on Wednesday 15th December at the Kirk 4 Kidz has been busy since the distractions. That said, we are as ever Lunch club. restart after the Summer, working on always keen to welcome even more Kidz activities and producing artwork relating and look forward to doing so as we move to the theme of each individual service. towards Christmas and beyond. The artwork produced is excellent and will be displayed in Church from time to CHRISTMAS STUFF Love is what's in the room time – please take time to have a look as Talking of Christmas, we will as ever be with you at Christmas if Burns Night the Kidz really do appreciate the producing a “Nativity Presentation” and Saturday 21st congregation taking an interest in what this year the Kidz will be performing “The you stop opening presents they do. At this point I would like to Angry Hotel Man” which proved to be a for a minute and look January thank all the K4K teachers and additional hit when we first performed it a few years Details on page 11 helpers for all their efforts during my ago. We will also have our Christmas around. Anon recent long holiday. party for the under 7’s and a trip to the EPT pantomime for the over 7’s. Details We hope after Christmas to restart our are still to be sorted out but likely dates use of the stage room facilities for the are Friday 16 th for the Panto and Christmas older Kidz – this is important as it will Saturday 17 th (afternoon) for the party. play allow us to undertake a different range of At a work and activities with them. Each That’s all our news for now. Sunday we will start and finish worship rehearsal for together and move as in the past into Until next time – take care a Sunday different age groups for the teaching and school activity based part of the programme. God Bless. Christmas This will mean calling on (on an ad-hoc basis), members of the congregation, tableau, the who have completed child protection teacher training to help in a supervisory capacity. carefully If you are interested in helping, please lined up four little ‘cherubs’. Each speak to myself or Norman, we’d love to hear from you. Child protection training carried a huge cut-out letter. As can be arranged for anyone who wishes they to undertake it. The angry stood side by side, the letters would spell out “STAR”. A slight It is pleasing to note that numbers have mix-up remained very healthy throughout the Hotel year. This is very encouraging and I occurred, and those present in the would like to thank all the teachers for church auditorium nearly fell out their hard work in making this the case. I Man of their would also like to thank the parents who pews as the four little performers bring their children along in the face of an ever growing list of possible took their places – in reverse.

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