The Parish Grouping was established in December 2004 and comprises the

Kirk of St. Nicholas Uniting, Queen Street Church and St. Mark’s Church.

The Grouping’s emblem is the Triskeles which you see above.

Through co-operation and mutual support, the Grouping seeks to:-

• respond to human need by loving Christian service

• transform unjust structures of society

• overcome separation between Church and community

• fulfil human potential and affirm God’s creation

• proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.

The “homelessness” theme adopted by the Grouping in 2008 as its main

outreach led to the establishment of the North-east of Scotland Big Issue

distribution office in the Queen Street chapel. Over the last three years

around 40 people from the three congregations have volunteered to staff

the office on a rota basis, building up relationships with each other and,

more importantly, with the Big Issue vendors by providing a place of

welcome and showing the love of Christ through practical help offered in

a non-judgmental way.

The Grouping also holds regular joint social events, as well as joint

services and pulpit exchanges involving the three ministers – Rev. Dr.

Graham Deans, Queen Street; Rev. Diane Hobson, St. Mark’s, and Rev.

Stephen Taylor, Kirk of St. Nicholas Uniting.

In addition, the Grouping has been exploring the concept of Team

Ministry as a way of using the gifts and talents of its people to promote

mission by reaching out to the people of the three parishes.

Ian McIver

Community Outreach Worker 07890 932677

ianmci@hotmail.co.uk

Page 2 Grouping Supplement Easter 2012

NEWS FROM ST MARK’S

As we approach the Easter Season I’ve had just a flavour of

what it means to be a Parish Minister. Our own minister,

Diane has been away in Malawi on Presbytery business in her

role as Chair of the Presbytery Malawi Twinning Committee, leaving the

pulpit temporarily empty.

Having led worship on a few past occasions (including a sermon at a joint

Grouping Service) I volunteered to ‘keep the pulpit warm’ in Diane’s

absence. I agreed to stick to the themes Diane had already planned for

the run up to Lent, so at least I had my sermon titles. However apart from

the odd note Diane keeps on her own list of forthcoming services that are

advertised in our weekly Pew Leaflet and on our website, the Bible

readings and the hymns chosen by our organist, I was on my own.

Some ministers, I suppose have the benefit of years of previous sermons,

possibly in faraway churches so preparation might be as simple as an

update and re-write, some have a steely organisation that sees them work

away late on a Saturday or even early on a Sunday. I have none of these

things. My previous sermons are not old enough to be re-worked and

leaving things to the last minute just wouldn’t work. And on top of that I

had agreed to speak on topics which the congregation knew were coming

up.

So preparation being the key I started in advance. I read the Bible verses

and those before and after the listed readings. I prayed and concentrated

on what the title might actually mean in light of the Bible readings and

about a week in advance of each preaching date I had the makings of a

service. I did however still end up the night before adding the finishing

touches and I think they were well received.

Planning and preparation, that’s the key to many things, so I hope

everyone is already prepared Easter.

Alex McConochie

Page 3 Grouping Supplement Easter 2012

NEWS FROM THE KIRK OF ST NICHOLAS UNITING

Easter Greetings from all at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting.

This is an important time of year for all Christians. The

Easter Gospel message really is the most wonderful Good News!

I was reflecting on the first of the Grouping Lenten Studies led by Rev Phil

Lightbody about Mission Shaped Church and Fresh Expressions of Church.

I enjoyed sharing with other attendees our different experiences of

Church. I particularly liked a new definition of mission: - “Mission is seeing

what God is doing and joining in”. I look forward to the remaining

sessions during Lent.

During that initial session, Phil also played the theme music for the

TV/film series “Mission Impossible” and if I understand correctly, the point

was that WITH GOD mission is most definitely possible, and we should

have a positive attitude towards mission. I reflected that it had be some

time since we had an active Sunday School at St Nicholas, and some of us

began to think it would be a long time until this was possible again. I am

pleased to report that since early December, thanks to the redecoration

and furnishing of our Choir Vestry (to provide a space for the children),

and more importantly the willingness of volunteer teachers, we now have

a small but regular group of children learning more about God’s love, and

the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please support this work

through your prayers, and I hope that all 3 churches continue to ensure

that our young people are able to share and understand the good news

that we celebrate at Easter.

I hope you enjoyed the “Croon for a Cuppa” event and I trust that this

fellowship will grow over future social events and joint services.

God’s Blessings to you all.

Bill Ross

Page 4 Grouping Supplement Easter 2012

Greetings from all at Queen Street

to all our friends in the Parish Grouping.

I’m sure we’re all grateful for the kind (if cold) weather

so far that has enabled our various organisations to

meet regularly and carry out their activities

uninterrupted.

Our Guild conducted morning worship on Sunday 27th November in our

minister’s absence on holiday and were able to tell the congregation about this

year’s theme “Called to walk humbly with God”.

In December, 31 of our Guild members enjoyed a Christmas Party at the Inn at

The Park and raised over £100 for the Blue Horizon Charity, working with youth

and families in Kincorth. The Guild are holding its usual coffee morning on

Saturday 10th March. Aberdeen Street Pastors held a coffee morning in our

main hall and raised an incredible £1723.35. A coffee morning was held on

Saturday 4th February in support of Abigail Ministries and again, a creditable

sum of over £1,350 was raised.

We are grateful to all those helped and supported these fund raising events.

On Saturday 17th March at 6.00 p.m. our organist has arranged a presentation of

Stainer’s Crucifixion and other works and we hope to see lots of you there.

Holy Week services this year will all be held at Queen Street between Monday

2nd and Friday 6th April with Communion on Thursday 5th April.

I close with a few words from our Sunday Club’s presentation on 11th December

“those who missed the Lord’s arrival that Christmas night, missed it not

because of evil acts or malice. No they missed it because they were not

looking for Him. What about us?”

N J Haggart

(Session Clerk)