February 2010

Minister's Message
Clear the Clutter

By the time this 'Outlook' reaches you we will be well into the Season of Lent with Easter fast approaching

Lent is a time that calls us to stop, when we can take stock, take time to look at our priorities, give our faith a health check, reflect, ask questions in effect clear the clutter.

Lent, the forty days leading up to Easter comes at a time when the season is changing, you could say when spring is springing. There is new growth in our gardens as not just Snowdrops but Crocuses are now in bloom. Similarly the long leaves of Daffodils and Tulips are sprouting through the ground pushing their way through the decaying autumn leaves fighting for their place against weeds beginning to grow and the spread of last years growth.

Those of you who are gardeners will be beginning to clear space, clear the path for the new shoots, prepare the greenhouse for the season ahead, remove the cobwebs, clear out any mess, get the tubs ready. checkout, clean and sharpen tools.

Those of us who are not gardeners know we really ought to get out there to give the plants the best chance to grow and blossom.

The Season of Lent is a time for us to grow that we may blossom in our Christian faith. It's a time to draw closer to God, weed out anything that hinders us from hearing his voice, to sow into our routines new ways of building on our relationship with Him that each day we may grow, more and deeper, in faith

Jesus had his forty days in the desert, Moses forty days on Mount Sinai, Elijah forty days travelling to Mount Horeb - all signify times of new revelation new beginnings. We have the forty days of Lent - let this be such a time for you.

I look forward to journeying through this Season with you and to welcoming you to our services through Holy Week and beyond.

COMMUNION SERVICE

7 March 2010

11.15AM

There is also a Communion Service at Gullane at 6.30pm. If anyone wishes to attend they are most welcome

PARISH REGISTER

Weddings

5th December 2009 Samantha Gilmour and Adrian Spalding, Armadale

Funerals

11th November 2009 Georgina (Georgie) Pitcairn, Glassel Park Road, Longniddry

15th December 2009 Karen Selby, School Road, Aberlady

17th December 2009 Angela Urquhart, Main Street, Aberlady

22nd January 2010 Betsie (Betty) McWatt, Main Street, Aberlady

22nd January 2010 Thomas (Tommy) Cowe, Luffness Court, Aberlady

2nd February 2010 David Currie, Neidpath Court, Longniddry

6th February 2010 Barbara Campbell, Kemps End, Tranent

10th February 2010 John Taylor, Luffness Court, Aberlady

We offer our sympathy to all families who have recently
been bereaved and commend them to the love and mercy of
our Risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

ELDER'S DUTY ROTA

7.2.10 L Goudie, H Phisatory, K Macaskill, N Mumford,
14.2.10 J Thomas, J Rodger, C Scott, F Giffen
21.2.10 G Anderson, K White, B White, A Weatherhead
28.2.10 P Casely, D Chalmers, R Binnie, J Davie

7.3.10 Communion Sunday. B White, J Thomas, L Goudie, G Cockburn, C Scott, N Mumford, P Casely, J Rodger
14.3.10 K Macaskill, J Thomas, K White, A Weatherhead
21.3.10 G Anderson, H Phisatory, D Chalmers, R Binnie
28.3.10 J Davie, G Davie, D Duncan, F Giffen

4.4.10 Easter Sunday. B White, J Rodger, C Scott, J Thomas
11.4.10 K White, H Phisatory, A Weatherhead, G Anderson
18.4.10 P Casely, D Chalmers, G Cockburn, R Binnie
25.4.10 G Davie, D Duncan, J Davie, L Goudie

2.5.10 J Rodger, K Macaskill, N Mumford, H Phisatory
9.5.10 A Weatherhead, C Scott, J Thomas, K White
16.5.10 B White, G Cockburn, G Anderson, P Casely
23.5.10 R Binnie, F Giffen, L Goudie, D Duncan
30.5.10 K Macaskill, N Mumford, H Phisatory, J Rodger

KIRK TREASURER

Paul Casely stood down from the post of Kirk Treasurer at the end of 2009. Our grateful thanks to Paul for his diligence and dedication over many years.

We are very pleased to report that Raymond Binnie took over as Kirk Treasurer on 1 January. Please give Raymond your full support as he picks up the reins from Paul.

CHURCH OFFICE - KIRK STABLES

A small group from Gullane and Aberlady Kirk Sessions, together with the Minister and our new Secretary, Paula Aitken, have been reviewing the requirements of the Church Office and how it should best serve the Minister and both congregations. It was concluded that we really needed a fresh makeover of the office both in terms of bringing it up to date with modern communication equipment (photocopying, internet and email provision etc) as well as general improvement of the fabric and furnishings.

The review concluded that it would be best to relocate the office to one of the small rooms downstairs, at the same time, converting the existing office into a meeting room.

Work is well underway with this change now and we expect to complete everything with the next few days.

HALL KEEPER

So far, the Kirk Session has been unsuccessful in the quest to find a Hall Keeper for the Kirk Stables. The job does not entail cleaning of the Stables but does require commitment to open/make ready and to close the Stables for the various organisations who use the facilities. The role does not need to be the exclusive task of one person. Perhaps a husband/wife partnership could share the responsibility or any other small group of people for that matter.

If you have some spare time and think you could help out please contact the Session Clerk.

Barry White
Session Clerk
Tel 01875 853137

SUNDAY CLUB

New members are always welcome. For further information regarding the Sunday Club please do not hesitate to contact Val or Wendy.

Val Morrison 870633 Wendy Isaac 870146

CONFIRMATION

There will be a session run in the first half of the year for those enquiring about Church Membership. If you are interested in coming along please contact the Minister.

LENT STUDY GROUP

There will be a Lent Study group at The Manse on Wednesday evenings 7.30 - 9pm on 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th March Further details contact the Minister.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Palm Sunday 28th March,
11.15am Aberlady, All age Service followed by Light Lunch in the Kirk Stables

Monday 29 March
7.30pm St Baldred's, North Berwick,

Tuesday 30 March
7.30pm Gullane Parish Church,

Wednesday 31 March
7.30pm Our Lady Star of the Sea, North Berwick,

Maundy Thursday 1 April
7.30pm Gullane Parish Church,

Good Friday 2 April
7.30pm Aberlady Parish Church,

Easter Sunday 4 April
8.00am Sea Green, Aberlady followed by light breakfast in the Kirk Stables

11.15am Service Aberlady Parish Church

CHOIR

Choir started up again on Sunday 31 January in Gullane Church Centre from 5.30-6.30pm. All interested from Aberlady and Gullane are welcome to come along and join in. As well as practicing new hymns we will in particular be focusing on the music for the Palm Sunday Service.

Rehearsal dates - 31 January, 28 February. 7th,14th and 21 March.

Junior Choir for those in -
Primary 1-5 meets in Gullane Church Centre on Tuesdays from 3.30-4.15pm
Primary 6-7 - meet on Wednesdays at the same time

All interested from Aberlady and Gullane are welcome to come along. As well as practicing songs to sing on Sundays the choirs will be focusing on songs from the musical Oliver which they will perform at Gullane Day Centre and Muirfield Care Home.

Family Band will resume rehearsals in March - musicians of all ages are welcome from Aberlady and Gullane

For further information contact -
Janet Anderson 01620 842822

M'n'Ms - music and mates is for those in Senior 1-4 from Aberlady and Gullane. It meets once a month in Gullane Church Centre on Sunday Evenings 7.00pm-8.30ish. A wide variety of topics is up for discussion on issues of life and faith accompanied by pizza, baking and music on the I-pod.

For further information contact -
Alison Frostwick 01620 842629
Carol Murray 01620 843465

COSY Café 16 plus

Cosy Café is a new meeting place for young people aged 16 and over. The place to be once a month to meet and chat with friends over a hot drink.

If anyone is interested in coming along or knows a young person who may be, it will be running at Gullane
Church Centre on the first Sunday of each month at 7.00pm where a welcome will be found.

CHURCH FLOWERS

7 February          Mrs Tunnock
14 February Wedding
21 February Mr Falconer
28 February
7 March          Wedding
14 March
21 March
28 March          Mrs Birnie
4 April
11 April
18 April Mrs Herd & Miss Hutton
25 April
2 May Wedding
9 May Wedding
16 May
23 May Wedding
30 May Wedding

If anyone would like to put in flowers on a particular Sunday (or have flowers put in for them) please contact Mrs Sheena Casely - tel. 01875 870352. We still have several blank Sundays (Remember you do not have to arrange the flowers yourself!)

In addition if anyone would like join the Flower Team and assist with arranging the flowers please contact Sheena.   

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Lite Lunches - will be served in the Kirk Stables after the Service on -

7 February - Souper Sunday
Proceeds from this lunch will go to the Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS project

28 March - Palm Sunday

Plant Sale - will be held on Saturday 8 May in the Community Hall.

ABERLADY FRIENDLY CLUB

This Club meets in the Kirk Stables on alternate Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm from January 20th until April 14th. Friendship and food are on offer to all. New members will be made very welcome.

For more information please contact Doris Duncan on 01875 870596.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

This year the World Day of Prayer Service will be held in Gullane Parish Church Parish Church on Friday 5th March at 2.30pm

The theme for this year's Service is -

"Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God".

A warm welcome is extended to all.

POPPY SCOTLAND

The sum of £680, which included £160 from a Church collection, was raised in Aberlady in November last year.

ABERLADY GALA

Note for this year's diary -

The Gala Day for 2010 is one week later than usual and will take place on 12th June with Kirkin Sunday being 20th June

CHURCH CONTACTS

Minister Rev Christine M Clark BA,BD,MTh
Tel 01620 843192

Session Clerk Barry White
Tel 01875 853137

Secretary Paula Aitken
Tel 01870 870777
Email - kirkstables@btconnect.com

Treasurer Raymond Binnie
Tel 07710513620
email - raymond@spinfinder.com

Gift Aid Hazel Phisatory
Treasurer Tel 01875 870460

Beadle Gordon McVinnie
Tel 01620 842551

Sunday Club Val Morrison
Tel 01875 870633
Wendy Isaac
Tel 01875 870146

Flower Mrs Sheena Casely
Convener Tel 01875 870352

News50/February2010