news

This is the
churches' news-sheet
for
August 2008

From the Manse

Beijingo! It will soon be upon us and in the Manse we're limbering up for the Marathon. Mind you, I'm aye a candidate for the High Jump and should be fit for it after 28 years of training! Best be careful now, for I'm sailing close to the wind!

If you havn't guessed what I'm on about, the Olympic Torch is about to be lit in China. Not without controversy, the Games have been marred by Tibetan uprising, earthquake and flood as well as the smog that rises from ever increasing industry and an outsize carbon footprint! Somehow, the background of Mount Olympus in Ancient Greece, where it all started, seems so very attractive. Perhaps a return both to the original location, thus not requiring new Stadia to be constructed every 4 years, and to the pure and natural spirit of sportsmanship, would provide a far more interesting and competitive event? The Games have been around since 776 BC if not earlier.

Mention of them is made in Psalm 19 and Proverbs. Certainly St Paul knew of them and used the example of an athlete's strict training for those seeking to better their Christian faith and witness. So do please keep on with your spiritual exercises for, as Paul says, 'Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…Therefore honour God with your body' - Now just where did I leave my gumshoes?

God Bless.

Yours aye, Duncan

Parish Register

We extend our condolences to members of the family.
15th July Mrs E Whyte, 2 Moray Avenue, Alves.
19th July Mrs Irene Wilkins, Arncott, Cummingston

12th July Craig McLeod and Emily Parker 22 Dunbar Street, Burghead at Spynie Palace

19th July Alex Coll and Amanda Joyce 19 Forteath Street at the Fort Burghead

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

There are some fascinating entries in Alves Kirk session records.

Slander had short shrift in Alves. In 1651 Isobel McKeane was appointed to stand in sackcloth before the congregation, for saying to Katherine Watson: "There Carline, you and your bairns lives by thiefrie."

Playing football on Sunday, buying fish on Sunday and drinking in time of sermon were put down with a heavy hand while in 1652 Alexander Smith in Windyhills was deposed from the eldershlp "for resorting to ane brewster house in East Grange on the Lord's Day after both sermons."

Looking into parish histories one is often faced with the tragedy of good men who suffered by finding themselves on the wrong side of the political or religious fence quite suddenly. Such a man was the Rev. Beroald Innes, minister of Alves from 1676 to 1693. In the latter year he was deposed by the Privy Council for not praying for William and Mary. He retired to Inchstellie, where he continued to preach to Episcopalians and died In March 1722.

Electricity

A quotation for electricity supply to both manse and church was obtained at the end of 1948.

There was no Capital Contribution, only a Minimum Annual Guarantee of £ 20.00.

The three tier tariff for the manse was made up as follows:-
The first 78 units per quarter at 5.5 d per unit
The next 702 units per quarter at 1 d per unit
All excess units per quarter at 0.75 d per unit.

To meet the quarterly guarantee, 898 units had to be used.

The agreement for electricity supply to the manse was finally signed in June 1950.

Blythswood

The monthly collection will be on Tuesday, 26th August.
Please ensure that no bags are left until the day or the night before the collection.