St Mark’s Messenger Easter 2013
A Congrega on of the Aberdeen City Centre Grouping The Kirk of St Nicholas Uni ng Queen Street Church St Mark's Church Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a registered Sco sh charity No SC015451
Index to the Easter 2013 Issue Le&er from the Manse
3 Duty Rotas
14
OAK Report
5 Roll Changes
15
Word Square / Strollers
6 Befriending
16
Circle of Care / Men’s Club
7 Long Service Awards
17
SCD Class/ Guild of Friendship
8 Kid’s Korner
18
Ramblers
9 Guild/Coffee Mornings
21
Malawi Commi&e
10 Standing Order Form
22
Duty Rotas
11 Amended Standing Order
23
Worship Calendar
12 St Mark’s Contact List
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Thank You I am sure that you will join me in thanking Rev Mark Rodgers and Rev Dr Brian Sheret for their work to support St Mark's and Diane. We have publicly thanked Brian and we are organising a thank you service for Mark.
Duty Rotas Once again there is a pull-out supplement in the middle pages with details of the various Duty Rotas. If you cannot do an allocated date please contact someone on the list to swap or cover for you.
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Le&er from the Manse Dear Friends, It is good to be back and as long as I pace my ac vi es and take the appropriate breaks and rest all will be well. It has been a sunny mild day today. The increased mildness of the temperature, albeit interspersed with cold wintry weather, has no ceably raised people's spirits. A generous friend gave me a lovely bouquet of Snowdrops this week which definitely has raised my hopes that Spring is on the way. I love Spring and Easter! Easter reminds us of the firm founda ons, that God has given us. We are affirmed by that first Easter in the truths that :A) the Cross is a very personal message, from God, that we are loved totally as we are, not as we should be, B) there is no limit to God's love, C) whatever happens we always have God with us and through Jesus we are guaranteed the resources to solve a problem or live through some of life's struggles, D) Jesus's resurrec on is a message to us that there is life aGer death, E) God will not always do as we expect or want, aGer all God is not tame! U&erly loving and most definitely not tame! Who would have expected God the source of life to humbly in love allow Himself to be placed on the Cross. Easter tells us that God is on our side. Recently we have been exploring the need for us, as a Church family, to build our future on the solid founda on of prayer. Why? Because we need to know what God wants us to be/do in the future. Please join in prayer for God's Will to be known to us. Over the last few months we have, as a Church family, experienced sadness at the death of dear friends. It is in our belief in the Lord Jesus and the fellowship of St Mark's that we have been able to find comfort, support and strength and we con nue to pray for their grieving families and friends.
Congratula ons go to all the families who have celebrated the birth of a baby. Isn't it wonderful that we are able to share in the wonder and joy of each others’ happiness. We look forward to hearing more good news as we celebrate people taking an extra step of commitment to God and His Church on Palm Sunday. 3
Just to update you on my family, Isaac our grandson is now walking and he keeps Rebecca and Richard on their toes. He gives David and myself great delight. David is certainly enjoying this new phase in his life! How awesome is the God we have who gives us so much in His Church family St Mark's. So as you enter the season of Easter may you know the wonderful nature of God's love, merciful kindness, and strength with you and all my prayerful best wishes for a Happy Easter. God Bless You In fellowship
Diane Taking that Extra Step of Commitment In the past this would have been known as the new communicants’ class. Taking that extra step of commitment means learning about why we celebrate Holy Communion and deciding to iden fy with God and His people, in this case St Mark's and the Church of Scotland. It means commi ng to take an ac ve part in the life of St Mark's Church family through me, talents and financial support as far as people are able. It is with this thoroughly explained that some people have expressed their desire to do so on Palm Sunday. A fi ng day when we celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem. If you wish to take that extra step of commitment or have any queries on this step then please contact Diane.
Blessed is the man who has nothing to say, and cannot be persuaded to say it.
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O.A.K. Report O.A.K. would like to thank all our customers and staff for the wonderful support we had last year. In difficult financial mes we received enough Christmas goodies to fill 80 shoeboxes which were sent to Eastern Europe in me to bring Christmas hope and show that we are thinking of them. We had very successful Christmas Lunches with Carols and a visit from Santa. Our lunch in aid of CLAN was also well a&ended. We were saddened by the sudden death of Mrs Pat Mitchell who had been a very loyal member of staff for many years, and had made many friends with our customers and staff. Pat will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Eddie and their family. We look forward to hos ng the Circle Of Care Communion on Palm Sunday and the Special Lunches in April and June. The O.A.K. evening services con nue in Crown Terrace Methodist Church at 6.30pm on the second Sunday evening of each month. A warm welcome is assured to all who come along. We wish you all a Blessed Easter and look forward to seeing you at the Café or one of the services. Be&y & Malcolm Steel.
God some mes puts us in the dark for us to see the light.
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Word Square - just for fun M O
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Barabbas Caiaphas Herod John Joseph Judas Martha Mary Peter Pilate
The Strollers There was only one Saturday aGernoon ou ng in January and because of poor weather, this was a walk from Union Street, down Bridge Street to the Tivoli Theatre. There we viewed an exhibi on of pain ngs by Eric Auld and saw how the refurbishment of the theatre was being progressed. There were also two short ďŹ lms of former mes. It was an interes ng aGernoon. Later Saturdays have had to be cancelled because of other commitments but we hope to meet on the following dates:March Tuesday 10.00am
12
Saturday 2.00pm
22
April 2
May
23 13 6
14 4
June 4
25
25 15
Circle of Care There will be an aGernoon Communion Service at 2.00pm on Sunday 24th March to be followed by an aGernoon tea provided by the OAK CafĂŠ volunteers to whom we are most grateful. We are also grateful to the drivers who provide transport, to Diane for conduc ng the service and to Kathleen Anderson, our pianist. Thanks to each and every one. We wish you all many Easter Blessings.
By the me you are reading this the Men’s club mee ngs will have ďŹ nished for the summer break. A big thank you to all who have a&ended the mee ngs and especially to the Ladies of the Guild who have made us very welcome when we had been invited to hear some of the guest speakers that they had arranged. Have a lovely summer holiday. We will be restar ng in October and a warm welcome will be extended to all to join us then.
Bachelors Not all men are fools, Some are bachelors. A bachelor is one who hesitates before all is lost. A bachelor is a man who has failed to embrace his opportuni es.
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St Mark’s Church Sco3sh Country Dance Class The class con nues to meet fortnightly on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Church Hall. Our next class will be on 6th March 2013 and then:20th March 3rd April 17th April - Party Night. Come along, bring a friend, check us out. You will be made most welcome.
Guild of Friendship Due to unforeseen circumstances we were late in star ng our 2013 session. At the me of wri ng we have had only two mee ngs, a Beetle Drive and a Slide Show. However we s ll have many musical aGernoons of entertainment to look forward to before we hold our Closing Day on 25th March.
Projects - The Garden Party As Alex is away on holiday for most of July he has decided to host the Grianan Garden Gathering on Sunday 23rd June from 2.00 - 4.00pm. We hope the change of month might give us a ‘Sunny Sunday’. 8
The St Mark’s Rambling and Hill Walking Group We got off to a good start on Wednesday 16th January when five walkers enjoyed a bracing walk along Market Street to the South breakwater where we had our coffee stop. We then con nued around the Bay of Nigg to Downies farm where we had a lunch stop. AGer lunch, back to town via Balnagask and the Suspension Bridge and South College Street. A couple of planned walks have had to be cancelled recently but the following are future walking dates. Tuesday 19th March
Walk in Banchory
Tuesday 2nd April
Stonehaven and Duno&ar
Saturday 13th April
Glen Tanar
Wednesday 8th May
Walk venue s ll to be arranged
Friday 17th May
Walk venue s ll to be arranged
At the me of preparing this for the magazine the final arrangements have s ll to be decided for some of the above walks, other walks may be undertaken at short no ce. For more informa on contact Ian Lord at 02114 321882 or mobile 07929 720846 or e mail:ian@the-lords.freeserve.co.uk
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
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Malawi Commi&ee The planned Malawi Pot Luck Lunch took place on 18th November in aid of the Lifestraws Project which provides special drinking straws for accessing pure water in areas of Malawi. Following this event, the sum of ÂŁ600 was given to the Partnership Commi&ee for the project. To date, the sum of ÂŁ11,475.87 has been raised with more monies s ll being raised and collected. Nego a ons are being made to transfer this money direct to the clinic in Malawi which will beneďŹ t from the straws and it is hoped that the party from Aberdeen will be able to take photos of the straws in use during their visit in September. It was with great sadness that we recently heard about the death of Grace Kandiero from Mpachika Church. Many of you may remember Brian and Grace from their visit to Aberdeen in October 2008. Margaret Donald, John Watson and myself all had the pleasure of being hosted by Brian and Grace during our visits to Malawi and they both made us feel very welcome and a part of their family. More recently, Diane stayed with Grace and family during her visit to Malawi and it was great she had the chance to meet her and the family aGer all our tales. Grace was a very quiet-spoken, gentle, kind person and she will be very much missed by all her family and friends here in Aberdeen. Our thoughts are with all her family at this sad me. The Commi&ee is due to meet up again soon and we will be discussing our next steps as regards Malawi. Another quiz night arranged by Bethany Hogg will be taking place on 14th March. Watch out for ckets soon. Rosalyn Rennie (Rosalyn is a member of the Malawi Commi&ee and our contact person for Mpachika) 10
Door Duty Rota - March - June 2013
Pull-out Supplement
03/03/2013 10/03/2013
Gail Hogg Dianne Morison
Malcolm Steel Be&y Steel
17/03/2013 24/03/2013
Carol Main Alan Brown
Bill Forbes Joyce Forbes
31/03/2013 07/04/2013
Bill McDonald Elaine Macdonald
David Yacamini Jean Yacamini
14/04/2013 21/04/2013
Jean Black Elsa Black
Anne Donaldson Lewis Donaldson
28/04/2013 05/05/2013
Gary Watson Rosalyn Rennie
Douglas Craighead Sheila Main
12/05/2013 19/05/2013
Helen Burr Sandra Andrew
Sylvia Strachan Helen McKenzie
26/05/2013 02/06/2013
Margaret Brown Graeme Low Maurice McFarlane Lynn Low
Sarah Low* *(Communion Sunday)
Beadle Duty Rota - March June 2013
Readers Rota
03/03/2013 10/03/2013 17/03/2013 24/03/2013 31/03/2013 07/04/2013 14/04/2013 21/04/2013 28/04/2013 05/05/2013 12/05/2013 19/05/2013 26/05/2013 02/06/2013
Margaret Donald Sheila Main Gail Hogg Jean Yacamini Alex McConochie David Yacamini Milton Montgomery Malcolm Steel Anne Donaldson Kay Montgomery Sheena Henry Elsa Black Jean Black Margaret Donald
Ron Irwin Alan Brown Gail Hogg Lewis Donaldson Garry Watson Dianne Morrison Helen McKenzie Lewis Duthie Sarah Low Alan Brown Derek Caie Graeme Low Bill Forbes Jean Black
Alice OďŹƒcer Carol Main Alex McConochie Anne Donaldson Rosalyn Rennie Maurice McFarlane Ian Beagrie Helen Burr Ian Lord Jacqueline Hepburn Mary Caie Lynn Low Joyce Forbes Elsa Black 11
The St Mark’s Worship Calendar Lent, Holy Week and Easter Services Lent Services: Sunday services at 11o’clock, when we are considering the journey Jesus took to Jerusalem, the Cross and the Resurrec on and how His journey influences the way we live our faith in this World. Palm Sunday: This will be held at St Mark’s at 11o'clock when we will be celebra ng the extra step of commitment that some people have decided to make to God and God's people. Holy Week Services: These are joint services held with Queen Street Church and St Nicholas Uni ng. This year they will be conducted every evening, Monday to Friday at 7pm at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uni ng. On Thursday the Eucharist for Maundy Thursday will be celebrated. Easter Sunday: We start with a 9 o’clock early morning service by the Well of Spa, followed by breakfast at 9.30 in the Church Hall. Easter Family Celebra on Service shared with the Church for the Deaf at 11o’clock, followed by a short Holy Communion Service. 3 March
Third Sunday in Lent. Preparing for Easter
Service led by Alex McConochie
10 March
Fourth Sunday in Lent. Mothering Sunday
Service led by Alex McConochie
17 March
FiGh Sunday in Lent. Service led by Rev Diane Hobson “God’s too extravagant”
24 March
Palm Sunday. Service led by Rev Diane Hobson Taking that extra step of commitment “Entry into Jerusalem”
31 March
Easter Sunday. See the details above. 12
Services led by Rev Diane Hobson
All Easter de and Pentecost services start at 11.00am and will be conducted by Rev Diane Hobson. Further details of the services will be available on the Church website or Pew Leaflet. www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk/stmarks-worship.htm 7 April
Easter de “Risen confidence”
14 April
Easter de “Restora on and peace”
21 April
Easter de “GiGs from God”
28 April
Easter de “First for God”
5 May
Easter de “Sharing 4 U”
12 May
Easter de “That’s it?”
19 May
Pentecost “Alive and living here and now”
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
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Date
Flower Supply
Flower Distribu on
03/03/2013 Mr A Sim 10/03/2013 Mrs S Kessack
Mrs M Brown
17/03/2013 Miss J Davie
Mrs Cunningham
24/03/2013 31/03/2013 07/04/2013 Mrs C Laurie
Misses Black
14/04/2013 Miss J Davie
Mrs Sutherland
21/04/2013 Mrs Beagrie
Mrs Beagrie
28/04/2013 Miss J Webster
Mrs Chris e
05/05/2013 12/05/2013 Mrs A Donaldson
Mrs Donaldson
19/05/2013 Mrs H Burr
Mrs McDonald
26/05/2013 Mrs J Yacamini
Mrs J Yacamini
We s ll have a number of gaps in the list, par cularly in rela on to distribu on of the flowers aGer worship. These are taken to housebound or hospitalised members or following bereavement and are always very appreciated by the recipients. Please help the St Mark’s family in this mission to those less fortunate than yourself. Babs Coull deals with the distribu on of the weekly flowers and would welcome hearing from you.
Don't hurry, don't worry and don't forget to smell the flowers.
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Roll Changes Change of Address Mrs Alice McGregor from Nazareth House to Residen al Care Miss Helen Duncan from Thorngrove to Residen al Care Deaths He will surround you with love on that Golden Day November 10 December 29 December 2013 9 January 1 February 2 February 4 February 17 February
Mrs Gladys Watson, AnnďŹ eld Mrs Edith McKenzie, Loch Court Mr James Lewis, Fairview Miss Moira Murray, Residen al Care Mr Norman Mutch, Residen al Care Mrs Rosalind Ross, MiddleďŹ eld, in Roxburghe House Mrs Barbara Ballantyne, Residen al Care Miss Janie Morgan, Residen al Care
Owing to Data Protec on issues full address details are no longer provided in rela on to Roll Changes.
There’s a miracle called - Friendship - that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started, but you know the special liG it always brings you. You realize that friendship is God's most precious giG! Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
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Befriending A new befriending partnership has been launched in Aberdeen, aimed at ‘older people’ (55+yrs). The Bri sh Red Cross, Parish Nursing Ministries UK, Sue Ryder, Bethany Chris an Trust and the Living Well Project have combined their resources to cover the en re city. Befriending involves two or more people coming together with the aim of establishing an informal and social rela onship, either informally (e.g. by you visi ng your neighbour) or formally. The rela onship built between the befriender and client can help to reduce isola on and promote wellbeing through the provision of friendship and support. Recent studies have indicated that lonely people are four mes more likely to suffer a heart a&ack, with loneliness being linked to high blood pressure and other health risks in older people. The new scheme, co-ordinated by the Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Services, aims to:♦ provide a regular visit or telephone call for the person receiving the service; ♦ build confidence in order to encourage the client to join a club or network; ♦ offer the support required to establish other social contacts.
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A partnership spokesman said: “We want to provide our ageing popula on in Aberdeen with opportuni es to engage with others in the local community and have access to the right care and support to improve their overall health and happiness.” There are two ways in which members of the Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping can get involved:1) By volunteering to become befrienders. If we can come up with, say, two volunteers from each of the three churches, Bethany Befriending Facilitator Brian Harrison will provide training. Bethany will also pay for your PVG disclosure through their Passing the Baton for Older People project. Please contact Ian McIver on 07890 932677, email ianmci@hotmail.co.uk 2) If you know of an older person who could benefit from companionship and support, get in touch with Ian, or contact the befriending partnership direct on 01224 896339, MondayFriday, 9am-5pm. For more informa on you can visit their website on:www.befriendingaberdeen.org.uk
Long Service
On Friday evening 8th February at Northfield Parish Church Margaret Brown and Milton Montgomery are pictured here receiving their 30 years Long Service Cer ficates from the Moderator, Right Reverend Albert Bogle BD MTh. 17
Well, soon it will be Easter with its egg-rolling, egg colouring and of course chocolate eggs. But it’s important to remember what Easter is all about, when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead three days later. The St Mark’s family will celebrate the good news about the risen Jesus on Easter Sunday and you might be able to have a personal celebration if you win a prize in the Easter Competition. All you have to do is answer 20 questions about Easter, they are all on Page 20. Answers please by Palm Sunday. (Hand in to Sunday School or visit Kids Korner on the website. And you could always try the colouring-in competition which is on the next page. Same closing date etc The minister’s wee girl was saying her prayers and he heard her finish by saying, “And all girls”. He heard this several mes over succeeding evenings and he finally asked her about it. “Well daddy it’s because everybody else I hear praying always finishes by saying, ‘All men’!” 18
Colouring Competition
Remember There’s a Prize for the best entry. 19
QUIZ 1.What spice was NOT used in the burial preparation? (John 19:39) 2. Who helped Joseph prepare the body for burial? (John 19:39). 3. When Jesus died, what miracle occurred? 4. What was Jesus' next-to-last utterance from the cross? 5. How long did the darkness last? 6. Who did Pontius Pilate release just before sentencing Jesus to death? 7. What prayer did Jesus say in the garden? (Matt. 26:39). 8. Who drew his sword to protect Jesus? (John 18:10). 9. How many times did Jesus say that Peter would deny him? 10. For how much money did Judas betray Jesus? (Matt. 27:3; 26:15). 11. What did Judas do when he realized that Jesus was going to die? 12. What did the priests do with the money that Judas returned to them? 13. What did Pilate say about Jesus? 14. What did Jesus say to king Herod at his trial? 15. Who warned Pilate to have nothing to do with Jesus? 16. Who carried Jesus’ cross for him? 17. What did Pilate have placed over Jesus’ cross? 18. What did the centurion say about Jesus after he died? 19. What did the soldiers do to Jesus body after he died? 20. Who sat in front of the tomb after Jesus was buried? 21. How long did Jesus appear to his disciples after the resurrection? 20
St Mark’s Guild By the me you read your magazine we will have come to the end of the Guild Session. We enjoyed a very varied programme, with the Men's’ Club joining us for some of our mee ngs. The Commi&ee hope we all have a very relaxing sunny summer and look forward to seeing you all in October. For any further informa on please contact our President, Mrs Helen McKenzie on 740924.
Summer Coffee Mornings The Summer Coffee Mornings will commence on Saturday 1st June and be held every Saturday un l 14th September. We really do need more people to help, so when the lists go on the No ce Board please add your name, or speak to me. Dona ons of baking and raffle prizes are always gratefully received. Please come along and bring your friends. Your support is what makes these events successful - and the Treasurer happy! Anne Donaldson
A bell isn't a bell ' ll it's rung, A song isn't a song ' ll it's sung. Love isn't put in your heart to stay, Love isn't love ' ll it's given away. 21
Bank Standing Order Mandate To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . Please pay by Standing Order (payment details) Amount ÂŁ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled. (*please delete as appropriate) Quoting Reference . . . . . . . . . . . (To be completed by the church) Pay to St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363 Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above
Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . Please note that Banks may decline to accept instructions to charge Standing Orders to certain types of accounts other than Current accounts.
Please return to the Treasurer, St Mark's Church in the first instance. 22
Bank Standing Order Mandate Amended Instruction To the Manager Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Name of your Bank) Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Name of your Branch) Branch Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . Please amend my Standing Order payable to:St Mark's Church of Scotland at Bank of Scotland 1 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5JL. Sort Code 80 - 05 - 19 Account No. 06000363 To Amount ÂŁ . . . . . . . (and in words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commencing on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date) and weekly/monthly* thereafter, until cancelled quoting the existing reference number. (*Please delete as appropriate) Pay from (your details) Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please pay the Standing Order as detailed above. Please note this supersedes my previous instruction relating to St Mark's Church. Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . Please send this form directly to your Bank.
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St Mark's Church
Minister
Rev Diane Hobson 65 Mile End Avenue
641758
Session Clerk
Mr Ian and Mrs Marjorie Lord 27 Hazelhead Road
321882
Clerk to The Board
Mrs Helen McKenzie 28 Blackhills Court, Westhill
740776
Treasurer
Mr Alex McConochie 21 Woodcroft Road
703200
FWO Treasurer
Miss Dianne Morrison 45 Bonnymuir Place
630161
Gift Aid Convener
Mrs Lynn Low 6 St John’s Walk, Newtonhill
01569 731389
Organist
Mrs Kathleen Anderson 15 Countesswells Terrace
321584
Church Secretary
Mrs Elspeth Mogendorff St Mark's Church Rosemount Viaduct AB25 1JY
640672
Church Office Down steps between the Church and Library. Open 9.00 am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday. Answering machine operates when the office is closed. Leave name, message and contact number. Editor
Alex McConochie: stmarksmessenger@btinternet.com
www.stmarksaberdeen.org.uk 24