congregations to strengthen ties with neighbours in reach-out programme
North-east ministers to ring the changes in pulpit exchange
Published:
Ministers across the north-east will be ringing the changes on Sunday, exchanging their pulpits as part of a know-your-neighbours initiative.
The scheme will involve six scattered rural congregations swapping services, from Upper Donside, down the course of the River Don, to worshippers in the centuries-old kirks of Monymusk and Cluny. The reach-out programme will continue over coming months.
Monymusk and Cluny minister and moderator of Gordon Presbytery, the Rev Euan Glen, said yesterday: “The pattern of pulpit swaps happens two or three times per year, until all the ministers have preached in all the congregations.”
Also involved in the preaching pilgrimage will be the Rev Margaret Garden, of Cushnie and Tough; the Rev John Cook at Alford’s Howe Trinity Church; the Rev John Renton, of Kemnay, and the Rev Brian Dingwall in Upper Donside.
Mr Glen said that different parish groups throughout the presbytery were developing co-operation across the rural area, and the pulpit exchange project was being enthusiastically supported by the Donside ministers as a means of establishing links between the widely scattered kirks and congregations.
Meanwhile, the Inverurie and District Churches Together ecumenical initiative will see nine congregations welcoming newcomers to their weekend services as part of an inaugural Back to Church Sunday event.
This Sunday churchgoers throughout the UK and in other parts of the world will be inviting a friend to church, building on a successful outreach scheme started in Manchester four years ago.
Everyone will be welcome at Back to Church Sunday services at 10am at Daviot Church and 11.30am in Rayne Church; 9.30am worship at Blairdaff Kirk and 11am morning service in neighbouring Chapel of Garioch Church; 10am in Garioch Church at Inverurie’s Garioch Sports Centre; 10.30am in the Roman Catholic Church hall, Inverurie; 10am harvest thanksgiving and 7pm songs of praise services at Kintore Parish Church; 10.30am-12.30pm session in Inverurie’s Harlaw Centre community church; 8am communion and 11am harvest thanksgiving at the town’s St Mary’s Episcopal Church; 11am morning worship in Inverurie West Parish Church and a 10am harvest thanksgiving with holy communion to include soloist, choirs and trumpet performances in St Andrew’s, the Auld Kirk of Inverurie.
