www.kiltarlityandkirkhill.org.uk Kiltarlity and Wardlaw Churches A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM MODERATOR Dear Friends As you will probably know by now, I was appointed Interim Moderator by the Presbytery of Inverness on 7th February following the resignation of Revd. Dr. Kobus Smit. From Presbytery’s point of view this was not an outcome we had anticipated and we are now taking time to assess the situation. Representatives of Presbytery’s Parish Reappraisal Committee will be coming shortly to meet with both Kirk Sessions. This is standard practice and the first stage in a process which will involve consultation with Ministries Council in Edinburgh and will probably take some months to complete. In the meantime it is business as usual. I have already met with the Deacons’ Courts and Kirk Sessions of both congregations and I am gradually getting a picture of the life of the churches at Kiltarlity and Kirkhill. It is already plain that there is excellent leadership in both congregations to keep the life and ministry of both churches moving forward at this time. Both churches have, of course, just completed major refurbishment work which is very significant for the future. My contact details are given below if you need to get in touch with me. I am responsible for arranging for people to come to conduct the services of worship and I will come periodically myself. I will also look after marriages, baptisms and funerals possibly delegating where necessary. I will also try to cover people in hospital. However you will appreciate that this is all a balancing act with my existing commitments at Kilmorack and Erchless. I look forward to getting to know you better in the months ahead. With best wishes Edgar Ogston Roselynn, Croyard Road, Beauly, IV4 7DJ 01463 782 260 edgar.ogston@macfish,com The Parishioner Newsletter Issue 49 - March 2012 Page 1 of 22 www.kiltarlityandkirkhill.org.uk Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Programme. This is the final update on the Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust’s year-long energy efficiency and low carbon programme. This time last year we were applying for funding for the Programme. We were in the depths of a 2nd bitter winter. Heating systems were working flat out to keep our homes warm and energy prices were on the rise. A year on, what have we achieved ? Our community volunteers received energy meters to help learn about saving energy in their homes. This has helped identify high energy lighting, learn about the energy costs of different appliances like washing machines, fridges and freezers and even wee items like computers and kettles. Our renewable energy fair helped raise awareness of different systems for a number of local families. And we have an excellent information resource on the community web site with information about assistance and support, “how to” guides and local renewable energy case studies. And we have raised awareness of the impartial, free advice and support available from the local Energy Saving Trust office on 0800 512 012. So if you find yourself struggling with high energy bills or not sure how to reduce your energy use, visit the web site at http://kirkhillandbunchrew.org.uk or call the local Energy Saving Trust office – see above - for impartial and free advice. Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from Comic Relief, in association with BBC Sport, which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world's poorest countries. At the heart of the campaign is the Sport Relief Mile. With hundreds of Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile events all over the UK on Sunday th 25 March, you can join in the fun right on your doorstep with friends and family and help change lives too. Enter by 6:00 a.m. on 1st March for a chance of winning JLS Sport Relief concert tickets. The Fortrose Mile The Black Isle Leisure Centre are organising a Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile and they want you to take part ! Bring along your friends and family to be part of the most northerly Mile on mainland Scotland. Then kick back and enjoy all the entertainment on offer. Snap up your place at The Fortrose Mile now ! Enter the Fortrose Mile by going to http://my.sportrelief.com/search/event and enter your postcode in the box. The cost of entering is an absolute bargain, just £6 for adults, £3 for children and £15 for a family of four ( two adults and two children ). Not bad for a whole day of Sport Relief fun ! The Parishioner Newsletter Issue 49 - March 2012 Page 2 of 22 www.kiltarlityandkirkhill.org.uk GUILD NEWS Thanks to Avril Marr for the photograph On 13 December last year, the Guild met up at Kirkhill Primary School, to join Primary 1, 2 and 3 for the last “Open the Book” presentation before Christmas. Avril has let us have the picture shown above, which shows a young Mary and Joseph joined by Guild members who had battled through atrocious weather conditions to attend. This may go some way towards explaining the waterproof jackets etc ! Thanks to Avril who managed to take this photo whilst playing the part of one of the Magi travelling on a seemingly unruly camel. After a break for what we hope has been the worst of the winter weather, Guild meetings resume on the 1st Tuesday in March at 2.30 p.m. when our guest speaker will be Bill Stone from Childline / NSPCC. We will be meeting in the refurbished Guild Room at Wardlaw Church. This is now a much more welcoming environment for our meetings. Like the main church, the Guild Room has been given a new floor ( no more fighting over who sits on the sloping bit ! ), new wall-mounted heaters, new upholstered chairs and newly painted walls. We look forward to welcoming all-comers, as well as Guild regulars. Rosemary Mortimer A very grateful thank you to Keith and Mary McClelland for taking the photographs and making a video of the newly refurbished Wardlaw Church. They very kindly came to visit me in the Highland Hospice and showed me the video of the Church in late January. I am still harbouring thoughts of being in the new Church soon, but I am presently bed ridden at home, and not steady on my feet when I get out of bed. I would also like to thank the Deacons and Elders for the framed photograph of the new Church, which Jock has hung on my bedroom wall so I can look at my Church every day. Nancy Paterson Quotes The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. anon People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are. Anon The Parishioner Newsletter Issue 49 - March 2012 Page 3 of 22 www.kiltarlityandkirkhill.org.uk PARISH NOTICE BOARD Revd. Edgar Ogston has been on holiday for the last week, and is due back in the manse in Beauly on Tuesday, 28 February 2012. Kiltarlity Communion service will be held on Sunday, 4 March 2012 at 12 noon at Tomnacross Church. The Communion Preparatory Service planned for Thursday, 1 March will not take place due to no pulpit supply being available at short notice. Kiltarlity Free Church’s First Sunday Praise evening is on Sunday, 4 March 2012, starting at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is most welcome to come along to this service. Tea and home baking is served after the service. Ruth MacKenzie and Neil Watson will be ordained as Kiltarlity Deacons for Tomnacross Church on Sunday, 11th March 2012. The Kiltarlity Church Annual General Meeting will take place after the Tomnacross Church service (about 1:00 p.m.) on Sunday, 11th March 2012. All members of the Kiltarlity congregation are invited to attend and take part in this meeting. There will be a joint meeting of the Kirk Sessions of Kiltarlity and Kirkhill on Tuesday, 13 March 2012 at Wardlaw Church starting at 7:30 p.m. Revd. Alistair Murray, Convener of the Inverness Presbytery’s Parish Reappraisal Committee will be attendance as indicated in Revd. Edgar Ogston’s letter on the front cover of this edition. The Kirkhill Church Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday, 22 March 2012, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Wardlaw Church. All members of the Kirkhill congregation are invited to attend and take part in this meeting. A Men’s Social evening will be held on Friday, 30 March at the Bog Roy Inn, starting at 7:00 p.m. All men from both Churches and communities are most welcome to come along and enjoy the fellowship over a drink and a meal - the cost is £15. For further details, and to confirm your place, contact Alasdair Morrison - 831 185. Wardlaw Church will be holding a “Snack Sunday” service on Sunday, 6 May 2012. This will be an Elder led service with the help from other members of the congregation. The service will be followed by a light sandwich lunch and a lovely time of fellowship in the Church. Donations to the Church of Scotland HIV programme would be appreciated. Intimations for Wardlaw Church should be made known to Iain Mortimer before 3:00 p.m. on the Saturday before the Sunday service. Contact can be either a telephone call to 782 648, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Intimations for Tomnacross Church should be made known to David Garvie before 3:00 p.m.