Church News Series 3 Issue 124 - July 2018
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Scottish Episcopal Churches of Wigtownshire St. John the Evangelist, Stranraer Church News Series 3 Issue 124 - July 2018 What’s On St. John’s, Stranraer. Sunday Service 11-00am….Holy Communion 1982 Scottish Liturgy. During our interregnum Canon Nigel will be presiding on the second Sunday in the month. Thursday Service 11-00am….Holy Communion. Dates for your Diary July. 8th…. Sea Sunday. 10th….Meeting to elect a small group interested in promoting and advertising St John's. 10.30am. All invited. 12th….The Dean and Bishop are to meet the WEC Vestries on the 12th July at 4pm 18th….FELLOWSHIP SUMMER OUTING - Bus leaves church at 10-45hrs. 22nd…Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration with Jim and Margaret Pratt. August. 20th…..Vestry Meeting at 7-00pm Jim and Margaret Pratt invite all members and friends to join them after the service on Sunday 22nd July to celebrate their golden wedding. We were married by Rev Dan F. Wrench on Saturday 20th July in St. John's, London Rd, Stranraer and we are both looking forward to sharing this special occasion with our friends at St. John's. Margaret Pratt Prayer for July O God, who is always near to anyone who calls on you; Who sent your Son into the world not only that we might have life, but that we might have it to the full; Send your blessing upon us, your children, when we look to you for help. In every hour of weakness and in every moment of pain, help us to be conscious of your presence and your love, That we may feel surrounded with that peace of God that passes all understanding. Hazel. 2 WORSHIP LEADER’S TRAINING COURSE Following the course held in Glasgow earlier this year, there will be a further opportunity for those seeking training as authorised Lay Worship Leaders to do so later this year. The new course will take place in the Galloway Region over 5 sessions and is a requirement if the individual is to be licensed by the Bishop for this role. It may also be beneficial as a refresher course to those already licensed. Bishop Gregor and Revd Canon Gordon B. Fyfe will offer this training. The sessions will take place in the church hall of St Ninian's, Castle Douglas each Monday from 7.00pm - 9.00pm on the following dates: Session 1: Monday 6th August Session 2: Monday 13th August Session 3: Monday 20th August Session 4: Monday 27th August Session 5: Monday 3rd September Candidates should have the support of their Rector and the Vestry and those interested in attending should register with the Diocesan Centre by 30th July. Canon Nigel will support any and all who feel that they want to participate in the course. The Diocesan Centre can be reached on Tel: 0141 221 5720 or by email on [email protected] Sheila Carnall – died on 25th June at Thornycroft Care Home. Her Service of Thanksgiving will be held in St. John’s on Monday 2nd July at 11.30 a.m. and afterwards the Committal in Roucan Loch Crematorium, which is private. Our thoughts are with Andrew and Nancy. May her Soul rest in Peace and Rise in Glory. Fellowship Summer Outing Wednesday 18th July to Newton Stewart Bus will leave Church at 10:45. Details of trip available in Church , or contact Hazel direct. 3 A Greek Orthodox Christening. Rania Saviidi – a dentist in Stranraer – and who many of you may have heard singing amazing solos with the Ladies Choir – invited myself and six others of her Scottish friends to her little son`s christening in Greece. She and her husband – also from Greece - decided to have Alexandros christened in the beautiful monastery on the small island of Symi close to the island of Rhodes and not far from the coast of Turkey. We were warmly welcomed by Rania`s family and friends and joined them on the ferry for the one hour sail to Symi. The service in the monastery was much longer than we are used to in this country and involved three total immersions of the baby who was then covered entirely with holy oil that the priest had blessed . This special event was a very moving experience and was of great importance and relevance to this very devout Greek Orthodox family. Thereafter we were entertained to traditional food and drink in the local taverna along with dancing and music - including a few Scottish songs rendered by the Scottish contingent! It was a great privilege for me to share in this special day for Rania and her family. Jean Ross. Diocesan Trivia of the Day: The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway has a church further east than the cathedral in Edinburgh, churches that are further north than a cathedral in Argyll and The Isles, a church that is further south than the cathedral in Carlisle and churches further west than Plymouth cathedral. 4 New Bishops Elected On Saturday 2 June two new bishops were elected in the Scottish Episcopal Church: The Rev Canon Ian Paton was elected as the new Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane, and The Very Rev Andrew Swift was elected as the new Bishop of Brechin. The Very Rev Andrew Swift is the son in law of our member Pat Calvert. The Very Rev Andrew Swift DL has been Dean of Argyll and The Isles since 2012, Rector of Dunoon and Rothesay in that diocese since 2010 and a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church General Synod from 2011. He has been a Depute Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute since 2016. He previously served in the Diocese of Gloucester, following a career as a shipbuilding executive, Civil Service research engineer and a junior officer in the RAF. He was born 1968 in Aberdeen and grew up in Dunblane. He studied at the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Oxford. The Very Rev Andrew Swift is married to Mary, a native of Stranraer, and they have three children - Frances (16), Peter (19) and Eleanor (21). For leisure, the family enjoy narrow-boating on the Scottish canals with their Collie, Molly. On hearing the news of his election the Very Rev Andrew Swift said “It is a wonderful and humbling honour to be elected as the next Bishop of Brechin. I would like to thank the electoral synod for their trust in me, and look forward very much to working with all the Scottish Episcopal Churches of Brechin to help them build up their confidence, witness and mission in Dundee, Angus, the Mearns and Carse of Gowrie. I am also praying for my fellow candidates in the election - thanks and blessings for them all.” The services of consecration will take place – dates yet to be confirmed— in St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee (for the Bishop of Brechin) and St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth (for the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane). 5 Stranraer Music For All On Wednesday 20th June, Donald and I attended a performance in our church called ‘Summer Songs......and some are not!’ About fifty people attended and it was a fantastic night. There were two ladies and two men, all opera singers. The first half were excerpts from operas, which were all familiar even to opera dunces like us. The second half were songs from the shows - such as Some Enchanted Evening. They have decided to have all their future concerts in St John's which is good news. I can thoroughly recommend these concerts even though I previously thought they were a bit 'highbrow'. I shall certainly be attending more. Janet Peers. Mission Action Plan ‘signing off’ service - Sunday 24th June Canon Nigel, Anne McWilliam, Donald Peers, Linda Rayner. www.stjohnsstranraer.co.uk and www.wechurches.org.uk Have you visited our web sites yet? Latest news of What’s on, links to the Scottish Episcopal Church Diocesan site and includes the other charges in Wigtownshire. Various publications including past issues of the ‘Church News’, and lots more. Now Inspires online at www.pisky.scot Please feel free to contact me if you would like to contribute a piece for the Church News or any comments regarding contents of previous issues. Contact details can be found on the back page. Ian Taylor. Editor. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. 6 Readers July 2018 Date Old & New Testament Gospel Prayers Welcomer Projectionist July 1st Pat Janet Hazel Ian Clarke Chris Trinity 6 2 Samuel 1 v 1, 17-27 Mark 5 2 Corinthians 8 v 7 - 15 v 21 - 43 (R.S.) July 8th Anne Nigel Hazel Chris David Trinity 7 Sea Sunday Canon Nigel July 15th Pat Anne Janet Ian Clarke Donald Trinity 8 2 Samuel 6 v 1 - 5,12 - 19 Mark 6 (R.S.) Ephesians1 v 3 - 14 v 14 - 29 July 22nd Margaret Jill Anne Hazel Chris Trinity 9 2 Samuel 7 v 1 - 14 Mark 6 (R.S.) Ephesians 2 v 11 - 22 v 30 - 34,53 - 56 July 29th Pat Anne Eileen Margaret David Trinity 10 2 Samuel 11 v 1 - 15 John 6 (R.S.) Ephesians 3 v 14 - 21 v 1 - 21 August 5th Kay Annabel Margaret Derek Donald Trinity 11 2 Samuel 11 v 26 - 12.13 John 6 (R.S.) Ephesians 4 v 1- 16 v 24 - 35 Thank you for your Ministry. Please change with someone else if you are unable to fulfil your slot. Welcomers are reminded that their presence is most important and if they can not attend, they must find someone to take their place.