The Scottish Episcopal Church

The Parish Magazine of St John the Evangelist Forres

Charity Number SC010346

This edition of the Eagle is available in full colour on St John’s Website

Trinity 24 to Sunday after Christmas The Eagle

October 2016

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NOTICES

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS—please note that the St John’s email address has changed to:-clergystjohnsforres@gmail.com

OUR PRIEST IN CHARGE—during the interregnum is the Very Rev. Alison Simpson. Her

contact details are given on the back page. Please use the Clergy and Rectory Contact details for all matters ex-cept urgent personal matters. Alison is Dean and Rector of St. Columba’s Church, Nairn.

CHURCH CLEANING–more volunteers are needed. Please contact Barbara Westie (email Barba-ra@outlawell.plus.com). Even better if you can come as a pair.

USE of the PARISH ROOM–if you would like to use the Parish Room please con-tact Tina on 01309 676936 or email secretarystjohnsforres@gmail.com

HARVEST FESTIVAL – a very big thank you to everyone who decorated the church for our Harvest Festival and also for those who contributed the wonder-ful food at the Harvest Lunch.

BOOK CLUB—on Tuesday 1st November at 7.00pm at 2 Woodside Drive, when the book being discussed will be Daughter of Catalonia by Jane Mackenzie

1935. Luis, a charismatic Spaniard, elopes with Elise and they move to a small village in Catalonia. But little do they know that war will soon rip them apart. Some twenty years later, stifled by her life in England, their daughter Madeleine sets off to learn the truth about her father's death in the French Resistance - re-turning to the village she once called home. Under the heat of the Catalan sun, she soon finds herself confronting her past, facing the shocking secrets of war, and opening her heart to her own love story.

ST. DROSTAN REGIONAL SYNOD–Saturday 5th November at Holy Trinity, Elgin starting with a Eucharist at 9.30am. See article on page 26 and poster on page 27 for details of the agenda etc.

CHRISTIAN AID COFFEE MORNING – Saturday 5th November at St Leonard’s Church Hall from 10.00am to Noon. Contributions of bottles (quantity needed, please, so cheaper, smaller items would be ideal) and any Fair-trade goods, (not just expensive wine and chocolate) which will be made into small Fair

St JOHNS NOTICES

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Trade hampers as the raffle prizes, will be very welcome. There will also be cake, bric-a-brac and book stalls plus a Fair Trade sales table. Offers See pages 16 and 17 for further details or contact June Airey on 01309 673667

VESTRY MEETING – Monday 7th November in the Parish Room 7.00 pm.

MOTHERS’ UNION MEETING – Tuesday 8th November in the Parish Room at 2.00pm

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP – Saturday 12th November from 1.00pm to 4.00pm with Barbara Fleming – £20 to include the finished wreath. Limited numbers – please give your names to Liz Nelson.

KINLOSS MILITARY WIVES CHOIR – Saturday 19th November at St John’s. Entry £5 (including refreshments). Tickets available from R & R Urquhart, 121 High Street, Forres or from Kirsteen Mitcalfe or on the door.

STIR UP SUNDAY—Sunday 20th November – St John’s Famous Christmas Pud-ding will be on sale after the 10am Eucharist. Made to order only at a very modest charge of £2 per lb. Please sign up on the list in church asking for dona-tions towards the mix. Christmas Cakes and mince pies will also be made to order.

COFFEE MORNING—Saturday 26th November in St Leonard’s Church Hall from 10am to Noon. The stalls will include Chocolate Tombola, Raffle, Bottles, Christ-mas Gifts, Cakes and Books (no bric-a-brac please). Tickets £2 sold in advance, please collect your tickets in church. Please bring donations, no matter how small, to church on Sundays when Tina will collect them from you. Many thanks for your kind donations and support.

HIGHLAND REGIONAL PLENARY ~ Iona Calling – transforming lives to change the world—Saturday 26th November from 11am to 3.30pm at Hilton Parish Church, 4 Tomatin Road, Inverness IV2 4UA. Please bring your own sandwiches for lunch, hot and cold drinks, cakes and fruit will be provided. For further de-tails and/or to arrange a lift please contact Barry Clarke on 01309 676062.

BAKE OFF MINCE PIES—Sunday 27th November – a relaxing and fun competi-tion in St John’s Church Hall after the 10.00am Eucharist, with tea and coffee available. Bring six mince pies on a plate and they will be judged anonymously by the consumers. Donations welcome.

ADVENT—watch out for prayer stations in church during Advent and there will be an Advent evening service of meditation, details nearer the time will be in the pewsheet. Thanks to the Bible Study Group.

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VESTRY MEETING–Monday 5th December in the Parish Room 7.00 pm.

MUSICK FYNE CONCERT – This will now take place on Wednesday 7th Decem-ber at St John’s – the concert is likely to start at 8pm and tickets will probably cost £10 with mulled wine and mince pies included.

CAROL SERVICE – our annual carol service will be held on Sunday 18th Decem-ber at 6pm. Wine and mince pies will be served after the service and there will be a collection for a worthy charity.

CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY SERVICES – There will be a Midnight Eucharist on Christ-mas Eve (Saturday 24th December) and only one Eucharist at 11am on Christ-mas Day (Sunday 25th December).

FUND RAISING MEETING – Monday 16th January 2017 in the Parish Room at 2.00pm

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – Wednesday 18th January to the 25th January 2017 – full details to follow, but please make a note of this week in your 2017 diaries or calendars. The theme of this week of prayer will be Cross-ing Barriers based around the verses 2 Corinthians 5:14-20.

BURNS CEILIDH – Saturday 28th January 2017 in the Church Hall – details tba.

AUCTION AND PANCAKE PARTY – Shrove Tuesday, the 28th February 2017 in the Church Hall – details to be advised.

YOUR NEXT EDITION OF EAGLE— will be in church from Christmas Day, Sunday 25th December. Your editor and webmaster is Michael Ellison, who can be con-tacted as follows:-

St. Crispin’s, 9 South Street, Forres IV36 1DE Email michael56101@gmail.com Telephone 07932 000398

Eagle is produced on a two monthly basis, with Eagle arriving in church for the last Sunday in February, April, June, August, October and December. Please submit articles for publication in Eagle by the second Sunday of each of these months.

{The editor would like to thank all the members of our congregation who have contributed articles for this Edition and also thank all for your kind words of support and encouragement for the previous edition)

Many Thanks Michael

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Vestry meetings are now being scheduled monthly - lots of discussions, lots of deci-sions needed, lots of work to be done. Recording the minutiae of the minutes, meeting by meeting, is probably not the best way, at the moment, of keeping you all abreast of what is happening. I will try to extract the essence and report on the major decisions.

Firstly, the membership of the Vestry has changed. Prior to our ACM we had six con-stituent members (elected from the congregation) plus the usual Lay Representative and Alternate and the appointed ex officio Secretary and Treasurer. Our Bishop sug-gested that, for the period of the interregnum, we suspend new elections and stick with the Vestry Membership we had.

However, our Constitution does not permit that and the three members (John Guthrie, Gareth Whymant and Sally Ross Mowat) due to retire duly did so with three new members (Julie Wrightson, Pat Ellison and Peter Airey) being elected in their place. However, our Constitution permits up to eight constituent members; so at the first meeting after the ACM, the Vestry agreed to increase membership to eight for the period of the interregnum. This created two vacancies, which in accordance with our Constitution, were filled by the Vestry co-opting Gareth Whymant and Sally Ross Mowat. During the interregnum, Deacon Anthony has been invited to attend meetings (without voting rights). In addition, there is an open invitation to Bishop Mark and the Dean Simpson to attend any Vestry meeting that they can manage to attend.

This has achieved the aim of maintaining stability and continuity as advised by the Bishop but without contravening the rules. When the interregnum is over, the mem-bership will revert to six (plus the usual extras). Not surprisingly, the Vestry appointed Tina Coffey as Secretary and myself as Treasurer; it seems no-one else volunteered for either post.

The technicalities out of the way, what’s been done? Much of the day-to-day running of the Church has been successfully transferred to a host of volunteers - pew sheets, locum priests, organists, rosters, psalm sheets, magazine and so on. There are still some glitches (it took an hour to set the boiler timer in the Church so we do not freeze as winter approaches). The Vestry are pleased with the arrangements.

As for everything else, there has been a lot of undoing but not much redoing. So far, there has been preparatory work such as clearing out lofts and basements, rough cleaning, cataloguing work, assessing the garden, removing rubbish, obtaining esti-mates and so on; and it will be a while yet before the Vestry can start putting together a detailed plan (and budget) for all that needs to be done. Nevertheless, some in prin-cipal decisions have been made.

For example, having carefully considered the condition of the carpets in the Rectory, the decision has been taken to replace all carpets and underlay. What type of carpet,

Vestry Seconds

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what colour, what quality, who will provide it? All these decisions have still to be made - but the in principal decision allows the Vestry to move forward and obtain competi-tive quotes.

Other decisions include how we re-instate the downstairs study by rebuilding the par-tition wall between the front study area and the rear sitting room and also refurbish the ensuite bathroom. We also want to replace the cabled telephone system with a wireless digital system (removing about 300 yards of redundant telephone cable) and remove the satellite dishes, broken aerials and associated wiring from the roof and around the outside of the Rectory. It has been decided NOT to rewire the whole Recto-ry as professional advice is that we do not need to. The Rectory will be repainted throughout in Magnolia; leaving a future occupant to redecorate as desired.

Vestry have replaced the set of drawers in the Sacristy with a more suitable linen press (which is a beautiful piece of furniture). Please make the effort to go into the Sacristy and see what a difference Deacon Anthony and Barbara Westie have made sorting the place out.

Perhaps more important, though, is for everyone to understand WHY we are doing what we are doing:-

Why not sell the Rectory and buy something smaller and easier to maintain?

Why not split it and rent out some of it?

Why not paint it ourselves?

Why bother getting the satellite dishes removed?

There are four constraints under which we have to work:-

1. As a member of the Scottish Episcopalian Church, we are constrained by the rules of our Province and also in the rules of the Diocese and our Bishop.

2. Our Rectory is a Grade C Listed Building and we are constrained by applicable government regulations and planning permissions.

3. We are an employer landlord offering tied accommodation to an employee tenant and are constrained by health and safety rules and building regula-tions.

4. The fourth is that the Vestry are Trustees of our charity and have the respon-sibility to ensure that they are not negligent in any way.

So, why not sell the Rectory?

The Rectory, as a base for a resident priest, is vital to the mission plans of the Diocese. The Deeds of the Rectory are held by the Diocesan Trustees. The Bishop would never give us permission to sell the Rectory - end of story.

Why not split it and rent some of it out?

The Scottish Episcopalian Church (our province) has issued a document regarding the minimum standards for clergy housing which states:-

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housing for principal clergy should not be less than three principal rooms com-prising: a lounge, a dining room, a study, four bedrooms, a bathroom with bath/shower, two separate flush toilets, kitchen and utility room/area.

That is pretty well what we have - and all we have. Splitting the Rectory is not an op-tion. Indeed it is this rule that rather compels us to reinstate the separate study and living room even though that might seem unnecessary.

Why not paint it ourselves?

If we employ professionals, they will be covered by their own work related insurance. If we do it ourselves and someone falls off a ladder, then the Vestry could be deemed negligent in letting an unqualified person work at heights. You might be willing to have a go; the Vestry are not willing to take the risk.

...and the satellite dishes?

Well, it seems no-one knew that you need planning permission to erect such things on a Grade C Listed Building. Grant Swain

Money Matters. The Financial Year 2015-16

The 2016 Annual Congregational Meeting marked a full year of my being your Treasur-er and saw my first presentation of accounts. Whilst I do not propose to repeat all that I said by at the meeting, I thought a summary of the salient points might be of interest to those unable to attend.

A cursory glance at the accounts shows that our total funds brought forward into 2015/16 were £78,849 whilst the total funds carried forward into 2016/17 were £73,609 - a decrease in wealth over the year of £5,240.

This is the annual deficit that shows on our formal accounts. However, whilst it may be a true reflection of our finances it is NOT a true reflection of our financial activities. The reality is obscured by our investments.

We have invested in what are called accumulation units. This means that any bonuses or dividends are not paid as cash, nor are they paid as additional units - they are paid by merely increasing the value of the units we hold. However, our gains and losses have to be declared as if they were cash - so our accounts show that we were paid £3,000 in dividends AND that the value of the units we hold increased by 1.6% over the year. This gives the impression of a win-win scenario - but the truth is that, if the mar-kets had remained flat, the £3,000 in dividends would have increased the value of our units by 4.6%. That the unit value only rose by 1.6% means we actually made a loss on our investments of 3%.

Elsewhere in the accounts our total income in 2015/16 is shown as £63,362 and our total expenditure as £66,124. That gives an excess of expenditure over income of just £2,762 and it is THAT figure that truly reflects our financial activities.

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The rest of the deficit was due to the vagaries of the stock market and was NOT within our control. A 6% increase in congregational giving would clear our deficit!!

The Future

Our investments are not really investments in the usual sense of the word. They do not bring us any dependable significant income. They are more like an (almost) instant access savings account. So, why do we have them ? Well, because it is always prudent to set money aside for a rainy day. Before we can advertise for a new priest, we have to bring the Rectory up to the minimum standard specified by the Province. We also have to ensure that we meet all our obligations as landlords to our future tenant (our new priest).

For a variety of reasons, little has been done maintenance-wise within the Rectory for many years and so we are faced with some quite hefty bills bringing the Rectory up to spec. Our rainy day has arrived; the good news is that the money is there to do the necessary work on the Rectory.

There will be those that baulk at the idea of having to dip into our savings - but what else are they there for ? Do you set money aside to buy an umbrella only to refuse to spend the money and get soaking wet instead ? No - you buy the umbrella that you set the money aside for.

We are even more fortunate in that we will be making a monthly saving by not having a stipendiary priest of circa £2,700 per month which will go a long way to meet the bills - our need to dip into savings reduces with every day the interregnum lasts.

On the other hand, please trust your Vestry. Have no fear of profligate spending. Every requirement, every estimate, every cost will be carefully assessed, discussed and, yes, argued over, until we reach a prudent consensus.

Where we MUST do things to meet regulations and health & safety requirements, we will do them. Where we SHOULD do things to maintain our Grade C Listed Rectory as an attractive home for our new priest we will, if we can. Where we COULD do things - well, we will think about them long and hard. If we have managed to reduce costs on the necessaries, then we might find a way to do them too.

Will we cut corners to save a few shillings? No. To do so only moves the problems on a few years and probably makes them more expensive to fix in the long run.

Will we always pick the cheapest estimate? No. The quality of work and materials al-ways trumps costs.

Will we do it ourselves? Well, we are not exactly a congregation in our do-it-yourself prime. Where we can; like in clearing and cleaning the Rectory, taking stuff to the tip, fixing the garden; we will (or I should say YOU will !). Where we cannot; like painting high ceilings on rickety ladders, removing carpets and rotted underlay (which is a health hazard because of the dust from the decayed foam backing), skilfully making good damaged woodwork, replacing a 30 year-old bathroom suite; we will not - we will

employ professionals. Grant Swain

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Amuge Ketty lives in Teso, a district of north east Uganda. Part of her education is being sponsored by a group from St Johns. She is 17 years old and nearing the end of her second year in secondary school.

Both her parents have died from AIDS and she lives with her grandmother. Her older sisters and a brother are mar-ried and a younger brother is at primary school. They live by subsistence farming, growing crops such as ground-nuts, beans, maize and millet.

She is working hard at school and has made a marked im-provement in her position in the class. She is extremely grateful that her school fees are being paid, and hopes in the future to become a nurse.

The little box on the table at coffee after church, raises a few pounds each week and that, with the occasional gen-erous donation, is proving enough to pay her school fees. Letters are exchanged three times a year, with her report and exam results. Many thanks to everyone who is help-ing. Sponsoring a student doesn't just help the individual but the whole family and, in some cases, her village as well. I will put the latest newsletter from the Teso Education Support Services on the notice board. Helen Barrett

Amuge Ketty.

The new fiver is here

On a recent expedition to check Hadrian’s Wall, your editor received his first new plastic Bank of England £5 note. The new note has apparently a collectors value, with some being put on sale on eBay for four figure sums! If you do get one, check the serial number on the back; if it starts with AA or AK37 or AK47, then you may have come into an unexpected windfall.

No doubt Grant would be grateful to receive any such notes in the plate!

PS the old Bank of England fivers featuring Eliz-abeth Fry will cease to be legal tender and will no longer be accepted by shops on 5th May 2017.

PPS The editor thought at first the new note was something from a Child’s Shop or Post Office Set.

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Christian Aid says: "For the love of our brothers and sisters around the world already affected by climate change, we need to cut back on our consumption, change our ex-pectations of what makes up a ‘good life’, and look for ways to reduce our use of the fossil fuels that are contributing to increasing climate change so that all of us may have a life. Sometimes, it is easy to feel disorientated and overwhelmed by the challenge that we face, but God encourages us to see this exile as a time of revelation, as an op-portunity to rediscover the essential elements that make up a whole life – the cultiva-tion of the earth for sustenance, the discovery of the joy of human relationship. We’re invited to start again in this strange and difficult place with a good heart and a confi-dence that God is present with us when we take care and look for these things first and live in thankfulness.”

“What can we do? We need to work together as the Church, with a prophetic imagina-tion, to live differently, to tread more lightly and lead in our wider community, show-ing love for all our neighbours. The big shift towards clean energy is already in flow, and with some prophetic imagination and hopeful action, we can get there at a scale and a speed in line with the science and the world that we pray for. By making the big shift towards clean, renewable energy, we can help restore the earth and bring bal-ance to God’s creation. The shift we need isn’t only about money or machines. It is about the hearts and minds of our communities and ensuring that those who repre-sent us – our local politicians – hear us.

The Pope (through Laudato Si), and other religious leaders such as the Dalai Lama, are calling on us to reflect on the world around us, and to respond to the signs of the times, rejecting the throw-away culture, whilst opening our eyes to God's presence throughout creation.. Jo Fry invited members of all churches in Forres to meet in St Margaret’s RC Church in Forres for a series of three meetings, starting on the 27th Sep-tember to discuss Climate Change, the 4th October to discuss the Environment and on the 18th October to discuss the Universal Family. The meetings have been well attend-ed with a number of members of the congregation of St. John’s taking part in the wide ranging discussions. Whilst the problems are large, it is hoped that change can be made by even the smallest of groups. It has been likened to throwing a small pebble into a calm sea and watching the ripples spread out.

The first meeting empowered Jo to write to both constituent & regional MSP’s ahead of the Holyrood Debate on Climate Change, requesting more help for those in poverty towards attaining ‘C’ rated Home Energy Performance Certificates by 2025, as well as for a 50% renewable all-energy target in the forthcoming energy strategy for Scotland. Subsequent meetings hope to start a scheme for local churches to recycle plastic bottle tops and welcomed the environmental improvement brought about by the plastic bag tax as well as more awareness on recycling waste. The group will continue meeting at 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays in the Month at St Margaret’s Church. Come Along and join in the debate. Opposite is the prayer said at the end of the meetings.

Climate Change Ecumenical Group

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A Prayer for our Earth By Pope Francis

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives,

that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

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The term came as quite a shock, when Bishop Mark used it whilst talking to us at a Vestry meeting in May, after he had received Canon Cliff’s notice of im-pending retirement.

It was resolved that the vestry of St. John’s would maintain three Eucharists per week. However, we could not always have the services of a visiting priest

for the 8am Sunday service, and we would be on our own for the 10am service on Thursdays. We would have to do what several of the far north and west coast parishes do regularly, and rely on our Eucharistic Ministers to take ser-vices, distributing from the Reserved Sacrament.

In the past we have tended to use the term Lay Minister of the Sacrament, whose main function was to administer the Chalice at the 10am Eucharist on a Sunday.

I knew from the terms of the Licence given to me by the previous Bishop John in 2001, that we were permitted to take sick communion to people unable to attend church, but in my memory we were never called on to do this. In fact assisting with the chalice had been the limit of my experience before and after moving to Forres, until this Interregnum. I had been licenced to do this by the Bishop of Chester in the early 1990s.

The shock turned to nervousness when as a team we were trained in our new duties, by Deacon Anthony after Canon Cliff had left, and this grew as we ap-proached the first service on the 28th August, when I was to take the lead with Alison Manson, for the 8am service, using the Reserved Sacrament. We had decided at the training session that we would work in pairs, and alternate the lead, to give each other support. The leader would conduct the service, while the supporter would give the readings of the Epistle and Gospel, and adminis-ter the chalice.

Alison and I then swapped roles, and she took the lead the next time on the

Eucharistic Ministers

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25th September. This seemed to work well, and we were complimented by members of the congregation who seemed very happy with our efforts. In the meantime John Guthrie and Tina Coffey have taken their first service, and John was due to be joined by George Latham at the 8am on Sunday 16th October.

Another piece of good fortune came our way with Pat Ellison, who had experi-ence as a Eucharistic Minister and a Registered Parish Assistant in her previous Diocese of the Church of England. Pat has been leading the Bible Study Group after the Thursday service and was duly licenced by Bishop Mark as a Eucharis-tic Minister. The allows her to take the Thursday 10am Eucharist from the Re-served Sacrament, as well as the Bible Study Group’s session afterwards.

By these means, we are able to maintain all three services, as Vestry had in-tended. We also of course, owe a big debt of gratitude to Deacon Anthony who has covered at least two services a month, as well as doing a lot of additional work for St. Johns especially in the sacristy.

I started this on a personal note, and am glad to report that I have overcome some of the nervousness I felt at the first service I led. The kindness and com-pliments of the congregation helped a great deal in that. While I have carried out many and various duties in the churches Sally and I have worshipped in over the last fifty plus years, none of these compare to the great privilege of leading the Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. I hope and pray all the team of Eucharistic Ministers will have your continued support throughout the Interregnum.

October 2016 Derek Bedford. The carvings are two of the cloister columns at Iona Abbey, de-picting the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine. Photos by Pat Ellison, Oct 2009

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SUNDAY EUCHARIST PRESIDENTS, READERS and INTERCESSORS ROTA

DATE Eucharistic President OLD TESTAMENT PSALM NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL Reader and Intercessor

30 October All Saints

8am * 10am Rev Martin Roff

Daniel 7. 1-3,15-18 149 Ephesians 1. 11-23 Luke 6. 20-31

Reader Wiz Latham Int’csr Patrick Thompson

6 November 3rd before advent

8am Bishop Mark 10am Bishop Mark

Job 19. 23-27a 17 1-9

2 Thessalonians 2. 1-5,13-17

Luke 20. 27-38

Reader Sheila Biggs Int’csr June Airey

13 November Remembrance Sun.

8am * 10am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Micah 4. 1-5 90 1 Corinthians 15. 51-57

John 6. 37-40 Reader George Latham Int’csr Derek Bedford

20 November Christ the King

8am * 10am Rev Canon Robin Forrest

Jeremiah 23. 1-6 46 Colossians 1. 11-20 Luke 23. 33-43

Reader Barbara Westie Int’csr Pat Ellison

27November Advent Sunday START of YEAR A

8am * 10am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Isaiah 2. 1-5 122 Romans 13. 11-14 Matthew 24. 36-44

Reader June Airey Int’csr John Guthrie

4 December 2nd Sun of Advent

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 11. 1-10 72 1-7, 18-19

Romans 15. 4-13 Matthew 3. 1-12

Reader John Horrocks Int’csr Wiz Latham

11 December 3rd Sun of Advent

8am * 10am Rev

Isaiah 35. 1-10 146 4-9

James 5. 7-10 Matthew 11. 2-11

Reader Jenny Swain Int’csr Deacon Anthony

18 December 4th Sun of Advent

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 7. 10-16 80 1-7, 16-18

Romans 1. 1-7 Matthew 1. 18-25

Reader Michael Thompson Int’csr Julian Rudd

24 December Christmas Eve

Midnight Rev Canon Robin Forrest

Isiah 52. 7-10 98 Hebrews 1. 1-4 [5-12]

John 1. 1-14 Reader Int’csr

25 December Christmas Day

11am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Isaiah 9. 2-7 96 Titus 2. 11-14 Luke 2. 1-14 [15-20]

Reader John Guthrie Int’csr Glenda Thompson

1 January 2017 Naming & Circumcision of Jesus

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Numbers 6. 22-end 8 Galatians 4. 4-7 Luke 2. 15-21

Reader Alison Manson Int’csr June Airey

8 January 2016 Epiphany Sunday

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 60. 1-6 72 [1-9] 10-15

Ephesians 3. 1-12 Matthew 2. 1-12

Reader Pat Ellison Int’csr Derek Bedford

Priest in Charge:- The Very Rev. Alison Simpson The Rectory, Victoria Road, Forres, IV36 3BN Clergy Email clergystjohnsforres@gmail.com Phone: 01309 672856 * The gaps for the Sunday 8am Eucharist will be filled by Deacon Anthony and our team of Eucharistic Ministers, (our Chalice Team)

St John’s website: Diocesan website:

Provincial website:

www.stjohnsforres.wordpress.com www.moray.anglican.org www.scotland.anglican.org

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SUNDAY EUCHARIST PRESIDENTS, READERS and INTERCESSORS ROTA

DATE Eucharistic President OLD TESTAMENT PSALM NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL Reader and Intercessor

30 October All Saints

8am * 10am Rev Martin Roff

Daniel 7. 1-3,15-18 149 Ephesians 1. 11-23 Luke 6. 20-31

Reader Wiz Latham Int’csr Patrick Thompson

6 November 3rd before advent

8am Bishop Mark 10am Bishop Mark

Job 19. 23-27a 17 1-9

2 Thessalonians 2. 1-5,13-17

Luke 20. 27-38

Reader Sheila Biggs Int’csr June Airey

13 November Remembrance Sun.

8am * 10am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Micah 4. 1-5 90 1 Corinthians 15. 51-57

John 6. 37-40 Reader George Latham Int’csr Derek Bedford

20 November Christ the King

8am * 10am Rev Canon Robin Forrest

Jeremiah 23. 1-6 46 Colossians 1. 11-20 Luke 23. 33-43

Reader Barbara Westie Int’csr Pat Ellison

27November Advent Sunday START of YEAR A

8am * 10am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Isaiah 2. 1-5 122 Romans 13. 11-14 Matthew 24. 36-44

Reader June Airey Int’csr John Guthrie

4 December 2nd Sun of Advent

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 11. 1-10 72 1-7, 18-19

Romans 15. 4-13 Matthew 3. 1-12

Reader John Horrocks Int’csr Wiz Latham

11 December 3rd Sun of Advent

8am * 10am Rev

Isaiah 35. 1-10 146 4-9

James 5. 7-10 Matthew 11. 2-11

Reader Jenny Swain Int’csr Deacon Anthony

18 December 4th Sun of Advent

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 7. 10-16 80 1-7, 16-18

Romans 1. 1-7 Matthew 1. 18-25

Reader Michael Thompson Int’csr Julian Rudd

24 December Christmas Eve

Midnight Rev Canon Robin Forrest

Isiah 52. 7-10 98 Hebrews 1. 1-4 [5-12]

John 1. 1-14 Reader Int’csr

25 December Christmas Day

11am Rev Canon Patrick Thompson

Isaiah 9. 2-7 96 Titus 2. 11-14 Luke 2. 1-14 [15-20]

Reader John Guthrie Int’csr Glenda Thompson

1 January 2017 Naming & Circumcision of Jesus

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Numbers 6. 22-end 8 Galatians 4. 4-7 Luke 2. 15-21

Reader Alison Manson Int’csr June Airey

8 January 2016 Epiphany Sunday

8am * 10am to be confirmed

Isaiah 60. 1-6 72 [1-9] 10-15

Ephesians 3. 1-12 Matthew 2. 1-12

Reader Pat Ellison Int’csr Derek Bedford

Priest in Charge:- The Very Rev. Alison Simpson The Rectory, Victoria Road, Forres, IV36 3BN Clergy Email clergystjohnsforres@gmail.com Phone: 01309 672856 * The gaps for the Sunday 8am Eucharist will be filled by Deacon Anthony and our team of Eucharistic Ministers, (our Chalice Team)

St John’s website: Diocesan website:

Provincial website:

www.stjohnsforres.wordpress.com www.moray.anglican.org www.scotland.anglican.org

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June Airey advises wearing her Christian Aid Committee hat:-

I've avoided promoting Christian Aid coffee mornings too hard in the past, when they have sometimes been only a week apart from St John’s own events. Our congregation has fewer active members and most of them already have many tasks. Peter and I will as usual be working at both, but since there are 3 weeks this time to recover, we hope others will at least be able to attend on 5th as customers!

The Forres Christian Aid committee is an ecumenical undertaking, except when it comes to allocating tasks at a coffee morning! All church reps are asking for help. Some persons prefer to take one fixed task and we don't want to tread on toes. Hence my policy of asking you for donations and to attend as customers, with an eye to possibly filling in any gaps in the serving/stalls team

Please support this event and help our local committee respond to Christian Aid's ap-peal for the thousands of our neighbours currently affected by disaster and war . See http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies. As Derek Bedford has remarked, we'd value chiefly yourselves, as customers at the event but it would be especially useful if you could come with an eye to filling in if there are any gaps in the number of helpers.

It is very difficult to allocate firm tasks when several church congregations are involved. Contributions of bottles (quantity needed, please, so cheaper, smaller items would be ideal) and any Fair-Trade goods, which will be made into small Fair Trade hampers as the raffle prizes, would be very welcome. There will also be cake, bric-a-brac and book stalls plus a Fair Trade sales table. If you would like a lift to attend, or arrange for the collection of items, please contact June Airey on 01309 673667.

Some of the current Emergencies being helped by Christian Aid include:-

Hurricane Matthew in Haiti—The southwest of the country has been hit hardest, with flooding there described as truly catastrophic.

Prospery Raymond, their country manager for Haiti and Dominican Republic, said peo-ple will need a lot of support to recover. They'll need essential items such as hygiene kits and blankets, cash and materials to rebuild their homes, as well as seeds and live-stock.

The main bridge linking the southern peninsula to the capital has been destroyed, ham-pering efforts to reach affected communities. But CA staff in Haiti are determined to assess the damage there and find out what people’s needs are.

Thanks to your donations CA is providing urgently needed shelter, clean drinking water and supplies. Through our local partner KORAL, we are distributing 500 hygiene kits, 500 shelter kits, 500 food kits and roofing materials to 62 families.

Christian Aid Coffee Morning Saturday, 5th November -

St Leonard's Church Hall - 10am to 12noon

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Refugee Crisis—After enduring years of conflict and with no hope of peace, people continue to make exhausting and dangerous journeys to Europe in search of sanctuary. With borders across Europe now closed, thousands of refugees are stranded. They ur-gently need your help.

Christian Aid is helping refugees in Greece and Serbia, and continuing to work in the Middle East to support displaced Syrians and Iraqis. They are providing essentials such as beds, mattresses and hygiene kits, to refugees stranded on the Greek Islands. In Ath-ens, we’re providing legal protection services to unaccompanied children, and they are providing housing support to some of the most vulnerable refugees. In Serbia their lo-cal partner is providing humanitarian support to refugees who are unable to continue their journeys through Europe, and who are determined not to return to the countries from which they escaped.

Frightened people continue to flee Syria, Iraq and other places of conflict around the world.

Please help Christian Aid reach many more vulnerable families with their support.

Apologies for Absence

Anne Docherty write to explain her recent absences from Church!

Apart from a few weeks' holiday I have been quite busy with my running recently and have 3 pieces of news

I ran the Baxters’ Loch Ness Marathon on 25th September. I was the first lady over 70 to complete the marathon in a time of 4h 19m and was first lady over 70. I also ran the British Masters Athletics Federation Half Marathon at Kirkintilloch on 8th October and won a gold medal finishing first lady over 70 in 1h 57m.

For the future I've been selected to represent Scotland in the British Masters Cross Country which takes place in Glasgow this year in November.

I would like to thank all the congregation members for their support of my ven-tures.

Thanks to Anne for the pictures, the up-per shows her with her finisher's medal for Loch Ness Marathon (plus rainbow!) and the lower shows her finishing the BMAF Championships half marathon.

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The Real Advent Calendar is a fun way for parents, grandpar-ents and Godparents to share the Christmas story. The calen-dar comes with a free 28-page Christmas story activity book designed to be used every day in Advent. This year, the book is illustrated by award winning artist, Alida Massari.

Behind each of the 24 windows there is a festive Fairtrade chocolate made from our new and improved Fairtrade blend. The Real Advent Calendar is de-signed to share and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas so that Christ is not written out of Christmas. As well as celebrating the true meaning of Christ-mas, the calendar makes a charity donation of a minimum of 10p per calendar, from every sale, to Traidcraft Exchange and the Funzi & Bodo Trust.

The Real Advent Calendar is available directly from the Real; Advent Company’s our on-line shop http://realadvent.com/shop/ with free delivery if you order by the 1st November. The calendar is also available from larger Tesco stores and select retailers. Supplies are limited so buy early. The recommended retail price is £3.99.

The picture on the cover is a beautiful illustration of traditional Nativity scene, featuring all of the main characters from the Christmas story. It reminds us that the birth of Jesus is at the heart of Christmas. The accompanying book has a page for every day of advent which illustrates the story as well as providing a range of challenges and activities throughout Advent.

They would love you to help someone celebrate the real meaning of Christmas this year by giving them a Real Advent Calendar.

Product information

Made, designed and produced in the UK Made from 85g of high-quality Fairtrade milk chocolate. Plastic tray can be recycled. Card can be recycled. Palm Oil Free.

A Real Advent Calendar

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The early Fathers suggested that we're born with a God-shaped hole in our hearts and over the centuries people have experienced an inner emptiness. It's a space for God alone.

Until we recognise what it is, we try to fill it up by stuffing earthly things into it—possessions, activities, self-importance. It's like trying to force the wrong piece of a jigsaw puzzle into a space not meant for it. We don't know why we're not satisfied, so we search for novelty in the things we cram into the hole.

It doesn't work. Nothing but God will fit the God-shaped hole.

Advent is our time to unclog that hole, to clear out all the litter. What obstructions are blocking the space we give to God in our lives? Are we offering him a temporary park-ing place until Christmas, or a permanent dwelling?

If we're faithful to this season year after year, something wonderful happens. We want to give God more and more room. The feeling lasts longer and longer after Christmas. The God-shaped hole enlarges! Each year it widens. Like a dilated pupil in the eye, peo-ple see more and more of God in us and less and less of our own wilfulness. We're able to say with John the Baptist and the great saints, "He must increase and I must de-crease."

One day we suddenly realize that when Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord," the God-shaped hole in her heart was the largest of all. Not only could people see God in her life, they could see him magnified, enlarged! The following reflections for each week of Advent which this year begins on 27th November, might help you find your God-Shaped hole and to fill it with the incarnate God!

First Week of Advent—Pause and watch

The Gospel message asks us to wake up and tune in. This first week of Advent is the time to stop our normal routine and listen for the signs around and within us. The Sunday readings proclaim that the Day of the Lord is coming. How will you prepare yourself?

Lord, help me carve out time to spend in silence with you.

Second week of Advent—Listen and prepare

The promise of the Lord's goodness is all around us—we have only to listen. Prepare the Lord's way, we hear John the Baptist proclaim. We prepare by repenting, turning towards God. One way to turn is to listen to God's word, to listen to our neighbour, to listen to the world around us. Listening is an important part of preparing the Lord's way.

Teach me, Lord, to be a better listener.

The God Shaped Hole

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Third week of Advent—Seek Christ in our midst

We are moving ever closer to our heart's desire, the presence of the Lord Jesus. Yet there already are signs of Christ in our midst. The Gospel repeatedly tells us of some of those signs that point to the One who is coming. Where is healing in our lives? Where are signs of charity and justice? John the Baptist pointed out the signs of God's reign—each of us is challenged to do the same.

Open my eyes to see you in all things, Lord.

Fourth week of Advent—Gaze on God's Glory

Christmas Day reminds us that the real Christmas is the day of God's glory becoming manifest. God's messengers, the angels, are breaking into people's everyday lives, bringing the Good News of Christ's arrival. What else could anyone be besides awestruck? God's glory revealed always leaves us in a state of prayer. We realize, in every bone of our being, that God is great and we are small. Let all things be done ac-cording to God's will. Rejoice!

Teach me humility, my Lord who modelled it so well

Be ready. God never comes into our life twice in the same way. The space we offer him is different each time. This year it's wider than last year. If you're faithful, next

year it'll be wider still. And the year after that, and the year after that....

Maranatha!

Come, Lord Jesus!

This was written by the Rector of Pat’s and Michael’s previous church in Yarm, The Rev Canon John Ford and is reprinted in Eagle as an aide to help in personal reflection dur-ing the forthcoming Advent season.

Funerals since last All Souls Day

We remember with love all those whom we have placed in your hands ~

Peggy Bayliss,

Freda Milne,

Geraldine Hopkins,

Amy Grime

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The nicht was caul; the oor was late; The shepherds huddled roon Their watch-fire on the darklin hills Abeen the little toun.

The moon had set; the silent stars Were shinin hard an clear When aa the sky was lichted up; The shepherds turned in fear.

An awesome and a wondrous sicht, Siclike they'd. never seen: An angel , shinin like the sun; The brichtness hurt their een.

“Ye needna fear; I bring good news,” They heard the angel say. "In David's toun, in Bethlehem, Is born to you this day”

"A Saviour which is Christ the Lord; Born till a humble maid, Ye'll find him wrapped in swaddlin claes And in a manger laid.”

The splendid licht shone brichter still; It shone aa roon the hills An turned the darkness into day; A mighty music swelled

The air was filled wi shinin forms. "Glory to God on high, !n peace on earth," the angels sang; Their voices filled the sky.

At length the vision died awa; The shepherds stood themsels; The nicht grew black; the win blew chill Upon the lonely hills.

The Shepherds and the Angels

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But in their herts there burned a flame, A peace, a shinin hope; They pondered what the angel said An lookit doon the slope.

The lichts o' Bethlehem shone clear Below the darklin hills. "A wondrous thing's been wrocht this nicht; Let's see it for wirsels."

The shepherds went to Bethlehem: They ran near aa the way; And in a stable by the inn They heard a bairnie cry.

They chappit at the stable door An Joseph let them in; They saw the bairnie lyin there, An fell an worshipped Him.

As read in The Doric by George Latham at Cliff’s leaving party. Stamp illustrations from Editor’s Collection

A Christmas Story

A Scottish farmer did not believe in the Christmas story. The idea that God would become a man was absurd. His wife, however, was a devout believer and had raised their children in faith. The farmer sometimes gave her a hard time, mocking her belief in the incarnation of God in the Baby at Bethlehem. “It’s all nonsense”, he said, “why would God lower himself to become a human like us? It is such a silly story”

One Sunday evening, just before Christmas, his wife to the children to Church while the farmer relaxed at home. Then the Weather deteriorated into a blind-ing snow storm driven by a freezing north wind. He heard a loud thump on the window. Then another! He ventured out to see a flock of grey geese, disorien-tated by the storm, that had landed in his farmyard.

The farmer had compassion on them. He wanted to help and realised they needed the shelter of his barn. He opened the barn doors and hung up a lamp but they would not go in. He tried to shoo them in, all to no avail. Nothing he could do to get them into the warmth and shelter of the barn.

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Utterly frustrated, he exclaimed, “Why don’t they follow me? Can’t they see this is the only way to survive the storm? Then he thought, “How could I get them to follow me? They will not follow a man. If only I could become like one of them, then I could save them.”

At that moment he stopped and realised what he had said. The words reverberated in his head, “If only I could become like one of them, then I could save them.” At last he understood God’s heart towards mankind. He fell on his knees in the snow and worshipped Him. When he looked up, to his amaze-ment, he saw the grey geese entering the barn, and a white goose was leading them.

The white goose is a Celtic symbol of the Holy Spirit

With thanks to Wiz Latham for this lovely example/story of how Jesus came into our world.

The Mothers’ Union Retreat 2016

ANNUAL PROVINCIAL RETREAT 19th to 21st April 2016

At The Conforti Institute, Coatbridge

Having been offered a lift by friends from Elgin MU I decided that attending the retreat was a must; a new adventure for me as a newcomer to Scotland.

I was not to be disappointed as the retreat, led by the Rev Paul Watson was quite an experience, being silent after supper on the first day until after the last service on the last day. Each day varied but incorporated Morning Prayer, Eu-charist, Evening prayer and Compline along with sermons and four talks, all tak-ing place in the beautiful, peaceful chapel.

The theme was A Celebration of Faith; living with God in the everyday. Each of Paul’s talks gave us encouragement in our everyday Christian lives, the titles

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being, Faithfulness, Prayer, Worship and Fellowship. After the last talk we were divided into small groups to share our personal concerns. We went away promising to pray for each other for a month.

MU members volunteered to do read-ings and intercessions and this be-came very special on the last day as we learned that two members had just become new grandparents. There was great rejoicing and the 'silence' rule was, understandably, broken.

Our accommodation and meals were excellent at the Institute, opposite which was a large park where we walked and enjoyed the sunshine and the company.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was grateful for all the thought and hard work that had made it into a memorable time for me.

Daphne Dann, St John’s MU

The St. John’s Mothers’ Union meet regularly on the second Tuesday of the month at 2pm in the Parish Room.

Saturday 25th March 2017 at 2pm

Lady Day Service at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness, preceded by Annu-al Council Meeting at 11am in the Old Boys’ School

Tuesday 25th -Thursday 27th April 2017

Provincial Retreat 2017 at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull Perth, please arrive between 2 and 2.30pm on the Tuesday. This is in the week following Easter Week. Although it is a silent retreat, there is some flexibility to allow people to catch up with each other at either end of the retreat. the silence is maintained in the building from around 8pm on Tuesday to around 12 noon on Thursday, though there will be areas reserved for those who want to talk during these times. Wednesday afternoon is free time to explore the area or use as you wish. There will also be an opportunity to talk to the leader on a one to one basis dur-ing this time.

For more details please see http://www.muscotland.org.uk/Retreat.htm

Forthcoming MU Events

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The birds in your garden

I’m sure most of you have noticed more Wrens in your garden this year than for quite a while, perhaps not an unex-

pected result of several winters without long frosty spells. To confirm this observation, some new BTO research has revealed that Wrens vary in their resilience to winter weather, depending on where in Britain they live. Maybe not too surprisingly they have found that Scottish Wrens are larger than those living in southern Britain, and as a result are more able to survive hard winter frosts.

Perhaps the most extreme UK example is the St Kilda Wren, which is a sub-species of our inland Wren and has only been found on Hirta, Dun, Soay and Boreray islands which lie some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. It is both larger and has a more heavily barred appear-ance than its mainland cousin.

Altogether there are only a few hundred pairs, mak-ing it a great rarity and specimens of the adult birds and their eggs used to be highly prized. The St Kildans themselves even used to gather eggs to sell to collectors. Nowadays they are, of course, fully protected.

Wrens are amongst the UK's smallest songbirds, and their populations can de-cline following periods of cold winter weather, due both to the cold itself and to difficulties in finding sufficient insect prey. This new research, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, shows that Wrens living in regions where winters are more severe have adapted to improve their chances of surviving.

The study used information collected by volunteers participating in the Breeding Bird Survey to show how susceptible Wren populations were to severe winter weather; measured in terms of the number of days with a ground frost. Northern populations were found to be able to cope with winters having

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up to 70% more frosty days than their southern cousins, showing quite a degree of lo-cal adaptation. The results demonstrate how closely adapted Wren populations are to their local climate.

Using information collected by bird ringers, the study also found that Wren body mass was approximately 5% higher in the coldest (eastern Scotland) region than in the warm-est (south-western) region. Larger individuals are likely to be favoured in colder parts due to the thermal advantage of larger size and their ability to store more body fat, something that has also been observed in other species of both birds and animals.

The findings of this study add to our understanding of how birds and other species re-spond to climate change. The work done shows that Wren populations should be able adapt to at least some change in average temperature, and indeed, being short-lived birds they can probably adapt more rapidly than most other species. Ultimately, the ability of any species to cope with climate change will depend upon whether the future rate of warming exceeds their ability to adapt.

Yet again we see that nature can adapt, it always has, but the worry is that the rate of change predicted is so rapid that many, especially longer lived species, simply will not be able to adapt fast enough.

If you find the lives of our garden birds to be of interest, and would like to join in and count the feathered occupants of your garden, please contact me or visit the BTO Gar-den BirdWatch website (www.bto.org/gbw).

With thanks to Mike Gray (mikegbw@btinternet.com) for the article and Jill Packenham for the photograph.

General Synod 2016 has approved, at a first reading, the removal of the doctri-nal statement at the beginning of Canon 31 that states, amongst other things, that marriage is between a man and a woman. It paves the way for allowing same-sex marriages to be performed in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The start of Canon 31 would be replaced by a statement that begins "Recognising the differing views of marriage ….." and continues with provisions to allow priests to decline to officiate at same-sex marriages

The proposed alteration to Canon 31 is now being put to Diocesan Synods for feedback, such comments being made available to General Synod 2017 before a second reading - after which the change will be put into effect (assuming a vote in favour). Those with views on the subject that they wish to express are encouraged to attend a Regional Synod at which the issue will be discussed.

Grant Swain

Canon 31 a brief explanation

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Our Priest in Charge’s contact details are:- The Very Rev. Alison Simpson The Rectory, Victoria Road, Forres, IV36 3BN Telephone 01309 672856 Email clergystjohnsforres@gmail.com for personal matters only please use:

The New Rectory, 3 Queen Street, Nairn IV12 4AA Telephone 01667 452458 Mobile 07548 230745 Email revalison433@btinternet.com

Cliff and Sue’s new contact details are:- 17 Craig Crescent, Tain, Ross Shire, IV19 1JW Telephone 01862 892593 Email cliffpiper@hotmail.co.uk sue-piper@hotmail.co.uk

The Rector Retires as performed by the choir and Hazel at Cliff’s Leaving Party

Speed, bonnie bike like a true Golden Wing, 'Onward' the Rector cries. Carry me northwards, retirement awaits Over the bridge to Tain

In 1993 ordination found him At Invergordon and Tain Later made Priest-in-Charge of the same, Plus two mission churches out West

Chorus

A canon of Inverness Cathedral And Dean of the Diocese Rector of Forres, Provincial Rep, [short pause] This list sounds like G & S

Chorus

Now what awaits CW as northwards he heads? Leisure - less grass - but more jobs? Whatever he finds, may life be of the best We wish him and Sue happiness