news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
April 2008

From the Manse

Spring has sprung the grass is ris', I wonder where my mower is? April is a great month for showers, Spring flowers and longer hours of daylight. New life is seen all round us with 'the trees of the field clapping their hands' and of course with Easter being that bit earlier this year, Election Fever is in the air!

No, I'm not referring to super Tuesday or Washing-ton Wednesday ! Nor has it anything to do with the much debated and irregular elections in Zimbabwe - though do continue to pray that this once prosperous Christian nation may soon rise out from the depths of a despotic political regime.

The election that comes to mind is much older. From the words of the apostle Peter in fact, to what had now become a somewhat larger group of disciples. Take a look at Acts 1.15-26. The time had come to elect a replacement for the leadership team following the death of Judas Iscariot. So in the time honoured fashion, two candidates were proposed, Joseph Barsabbas and Mathias. The disciples prayed, then cast lots (ballot) and so Mathias, having won this stage, was duly elected to join the eleven apostles.

Your Kirk Session has recently been engaged on a similar quest since we need to find replacements for those Elders who, although still members of Session, are taking a less active part as 'senior statesmen'. Naturally, this process requires much tact, diplomacy, and at this stage anonymity, but please pray for and support those who may be called to this important role within our church community.

- God bless, yours aye, Duncan.

Parish Register

We extend our sincere condolences to family members :

3rd March Mr Robert Cormie, Lossiemouth (formerly Burghead)
13th March Mr J R Eckford, Grant Street, Burghead
22nd March Mrs Hughina Telford (late of Arbroath)
28th March Mr John Scott, Ivy Cottage, Coltfield, Alves

Communion Service

A joint Communion Service will be held at Burghead on Sunday, 20th April

Guild News

Burghead Saturday, 19th April - Coffee Morning - 10.00 to 12 noon in the Church Hall.

The Kantus Choir from the Hungarian Reformed Church College, Debrecan, Hungary is singing in St Andrews-Lhanbryde & Urquhart Parish Church on Wednesday, 23rd April at 7.30 pm. Admission £ 4 at the door.

Moray Fresh Start are asking for spare items such as tea towels, linens, lampshades, curtains, pots and pans, cutlery, pictures, ornaments; in fact anything that could help make a house into a home. If you have anything, phone Marjory on 01343 830276. (See also Church and Guild notice boards.)

The next collection for Malawi is 22nd April. The appeal is for toiletries for men and women going in hospital, for surgical gloves and, as always, for all sizes of children's jumpers and small teddies. Please leave your gifts, clearly marked MALAWI in the Church Hall by Sunday, 20th April.

Blythswood

The monthly collection will be on Tuesday, 22nd April.

Sunday Services - Scripture Readings

A NEW list of Bible Readings for each of the services for the next three months is on the Notice Board at the church entrance. Anyone who would like to read a lesson during the service, please append your name to the sheet.

The Annals of Alves

All is dark in the story of Alves, until we come to the first mention in record of the Kirk of parish in the first decade of the 13th century.

It occurs in the grand charter of Bricius, Bishop of Moray, who founded between 1208 and 1215 a chapter of eight canons and gave to the Cathedral a constitution based on the usage of Lincoln. Of these canons one was the Precentor or Cantor, whose job was to organise the singing. He was given the churches of Alves and Lhanbryde for his prebend.

Another of the canons had territory in the vicinity. He was the Succentor and in 1329 the Bishop of Moray settled a dispute between him and the Cantor by defining the boundaries of Alves and Rafford.

The Precentor's duties were set forth in a document of 1489 which laid it down that he was to have regulation of the singers and the teaching and training of the boys in the choir in his charge. He had also to conduct "Sang Schules" within the Cathedral college and to appoint a man fit to teach singing.

With these tasks to keep him busy in Elgin he probably did not pay very much attention to his kirk in Alves, but left a vicar to look after it. We learn the name of the last pre-Reformation vicar of Alves, James Spence, when he witnessed a charter by James Thornton, Precentor of of Moray, granting portions of the kirk lands of Alves. (to be continued next month)