Newsletter Items
INTRODUCING REV ALAN GIBBON IN ADVANCE OF HIS INDUCTION TO OUR MINISTRY
ON THURSDAY 30TH MAY 2024 AT 7P.M.
LIVING IN A TIME OF CHANGE
It is a great pleasure for me to be writing for the newsletter for the first time. As I get to know people within the church, it is feeling more like home to me every time I am with you, and I am looking forward to that feeling beginning to grow the more often I am here. It is an exciting time for me to be changing from a time in chaplaincy back to my original calling, pastoral ministry. I live in a time of change.
I also realise that as I join you in ministry, I follow in a long and distinguished line of ministers who have served in this place over centuries. With that, I feel a great sense of responsibility to the legacy and history of this church. You live in a time of change. With change there are all kinds of feelings that come with it, excitement, trepidation, fear are all legitimate reactions to change. But........so is Hope.
A hope that is much more than keeping your fingers crossed or praying that your numbers will come up on a Saturday night, but a hope grounded in a community with a story to share, of a love to give, built out of over 200 years of serving in this place. I come to be with you in ministry with a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, a belief that together we can build on all that has gone before to plan a new tomorrow. We live in a time of change.
Your friend (and soon to be Minister)
Alan
SING A NEW SONG
As I join with you more regularly on a Sunday morning, I would love to get to know the hymns that you like to sing. Can I ask that you take a moment to jot these hymns down and give them to me when you see me on a Sunday morning, and I will begin to incorporate them in our worship.
Alan
NEW CORRESPONDENT
This is advance notice that a new correspondent will be joining the newsletter in June. Dexy (the family dog) will be bringing you tales of his (mis)adventures and the view of the world through the eyes of man's best friend.
(We are delighted that Alan has written this charming article for us and look forward to many more in his time ahead in our church – thank you from all of us) EMC
INDUCTION OF REV ALAN GIBBON
Thursday 30th May 2024 at 7p.m.
On Thursday 30th May 2024 at 7p.m. we will celebrate, with an evening of thanks the formal Induction of Rev Alan Gibbon to the part-time ministry of Dundee Congregational Church. This very welcome occasion with members of our congregation, friends and guests will be led by our dear friend Rev Gordon Campbell of Perth Congregational Church, with light refreshments being served for all those present to complete this memorable day. Rev Alan will finally retire from his post with NHS Tayside at the end of July but will be able to take a number of our Sunday services before that, and after May month he will be in a position to commence pastoral visitations prior to taking his first Sacrament of Holy Communion with us on Sunday 4th August.
EASTER WEEK-END IN DCC
Our Good Friday Service on 29th March was charmingly conducted by Rev Bob Wightman for an appreciative congregation of 16 good friends sitting comfortably in our warm and dry church hall. This created the perfect atmosphere to give honour to our special worship at this hallowed time in the Christian calendar.
On Easter Sunday 31st March it was with delight and appreciation that our congregation of around 21 friends were greeted with the very beautifully dressed Chancel and interior of the church, and the added blessing of the sun`s rays at last appearing to shine on our celebration of Christ`s Easter Message to us all. This heart-warming service was conducted with respect and affection by Rev Bob and Mary and with Brian`s meaningful bible reading ensured that we all were very glad to be present. The success of this day of celebration was without question the result of the invisible team ensuring a wonderful and unforgettable day. Our organist, Professor Norman Beedie, not only blessed the congregation present with his superb organ music – and so kindly gifting many dozens of daffodils for us to take home – but was able to encourage our own Brian Flynn to sing hauntingly on his own from above us in the gallery. Where would we be I wonder without the many skills of Jessie Tarbet who master-minded, as always, the dressing of the church and the power point presentations, and also the preparation of the refreshments to finish the morning. It was so appropriate that Jessie and Graeme were due to leave on Monday for a few days of holidaying in Pitlochry so I hope they enjoy the most restful period possible as it is so deserved.
Although not organised by us the church hosted a superb gathering of around 30 members of the Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Angus & Mearns to celebrate their annual Divine Service at 4.30p.m. Some of our Easter decorations were left to enhance their special occasion and these were appreciated by the Rt. Hon. Lord Lyon the Very Revd Canon Joseph Morrow who conducted their service and all those present. Their refreshments were supplied by themselves but the Lodge greatly appreciates the dignity and atmosphere of Dundee Congregation Church and I report this to acknowledge this important element which honours their annual presence in our church building. The evening sun was still shining through our windows until the last person had left homeward bound. Quite a busy week-end by anyone`s standards.
(Along with Jessie we thank Carol, her mother Margo, Brian, Lindsay and Marguerite for their unsung input as well. We had some happy times behind the scenes did we not!)
EMC
THE GUILD
Our Church Guild is for all church members, along with any friends you might like to bring, and is a lovely time to socialise and be entertained. It is held every fortnight, but check the syllabus for actual dates. You can have your own copy for one pound or look on the notice board in the hall for all the upcoming events.
Most important is our Church Outing which is to be held on Tuesday 7th May. It is to Glen Esk Folk Museum. We will go by coach. There will be a chance to look at the Folk Museum, have a go at making your own butter, or just watch it being made, and finishing up with refreshments. No payment is needed as the outing costs are being covered by a past member’s donation. I hope you can all come along and enjoy our Church Outing. Give your names to Marguerite as soon as possible as we need to know numbers.
Our first Guild meeting of the year was held on 13th February in our church hall. It had been a frosty morning but ten members and Irene’s delightful grandchildren braved the cold and arrived ready to warm up with some seated exercises. Firstly, we exercised our lungs by blowing up, with the help of a straw, some large rubber exercise balls. The exercises were set to music. We swung our arms and legs and wriggled our bodies to the tunes from seated marching with “Amarillo’” and “500 miles”, waving our arms to “Delilah”, vigorous foot tapping to “Marie’s Wedding” and moving to the delights of “Donald Whar’s Yer Troosers”. Not forgetting the unusual interpretations of “YMCA” to the amusement of Brian and a visitor who were passing through the hall to look at some repair work. We had a little fun using the exercise balls, especially when it came to throwing them about the hall and finished up with relaxing music. The liveliness didn’t stop there as we used the energy from the exercises to spread and consume lovely pancakes accompanied with a warming cuppa and some healthy fruit.
Our Guild meeting on the 27th February was held in the church where Gordon Campbell delighted us with a slide show on the big screens and a talk all about the Shetland Islands. There is so much more to these Islands than the crime drama “Shetland” and the famous “Up Helly Aa” Viking fire festival, where women took part this year for the first time. We were given a tour of all that Shetland has to offer from its tourism to its oil and gas, harnessing the wind and tides for green energy, fisheries and now as a space station. Only 16 of about 100 islands are inhabited and the islands have not always been part of Scotland but belonged to Norway. A dowry for Margaret of Norway who married James 111 of Scotland in 1469 was never paid and so, in its place, the Shetland Islands were given to Scotland. The pictures shown on the big screen were wonderful and we learned so much about these beautiful islands. After the talk we gathered in the hall for fruit loaf, fruit and a cuppa with much to discuss. I think someone mentioned that a trip to the Shetland Islands could be next year’s Guild outing. Now I wonder who suggested that?
Marguerite
__________
GUILD continued
At our meeting on 13 March 2024 we welcomed The Alison Bishop Singers who provided a very entertaining afternoon of songs and a monologue. The programme included a medley of songs from ‘Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady’. ‘Songs of the Sea’ and a modern selection. The programme also included ‘Look at the World, You raise me up’ and ending with ‘Thank you for the music’. A hearty vote of thanks was expressed by the members.
Our guests and members enjoyed tea bread, sweet nibbles and a selection of fruit.
The next meeting will held be on TUESDAY 26th March at 2p.m. when James Lochhead will give a talk on `Tartan Tales` which promises to be an amusing afternoon judging by his previous welcome visits to us.
The following meeting will be on WEDNESDAY 10 April at 2pm when The Dee Ukes (A Ukelele Band) will entertain our members. We look forward very much to their return visit.
Our Gift Day on TUESDAY April 23rd is described as “Something Exciting” which is to be confirmed!
Graeme T.
(The 4 dates for your diaries are therefore: 26th March, 10th April, 23rd April and 7th May)
HAPPY DAYS AHEAD
World Day of Prayer Service - 2024
The World Day of Prayer Service was held in Lochee Parish Church on Friday 1st March 2024.
This years Service was written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Palestine and, as we are all very aware of the devastating conflicts going on in that part of the world at the moment, making it a very poignant and soul searching Service.
We had around 60 in the congregation both ladies and gentlemen and a representation of members of different denominations took part in the readings and prayers. An additional special prayer, which was recently written by the Palestine Committee, was added to the end of the Service. The collection amounted to £360.00 which will be sent to Scottish Committee to be distributed wherever most needed.
After the Service we were invited to join in Fellowship and friendship in the hall where the ladies of the Church laid on a lovely spread. I think we were all very aware of how fortunate we were to be able to enjoy this time together when we thought of the Country we had been praying for earlier.
We had our AGM on Friday 8th March where we discussed the way ahead for the Dundee Committee. Sadly we are down to only having one Service held in Dundee whereas we used to have one in every different area. There was also one held in Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Carnoustie and Muirhead.
A few years ago we wrote to every Church in every denomination in Dundee inviting them to send a representative from their Church to join our Committee and unfortunately we only had one new lady. After a great deal of thought and discussion about the number of Churches that have closed or amalgamated, we are considering taking this approach once again in order to find out if there is, indeed, any interest in World Day of Prayer or anyone to join the Committee.
I think World Day Prayer needs our prayers.
Mary Wightman, Chair
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