Mearns Coastal Parish was formed by the union of the parishes of Garvock/St Cyrus and Benholm and Johnshaven on the induction on 13 February 1998 of the Rev George Hastie who preached his last sermon on February 22 2009, exactly 11 years to the day w
hen he delivered his first. The Nominating Committee were appointed a week earlier and have been successful in finding his potential successor in a relatively short period of time.
The Rev Colin Dempster, who is presently the minister at Tayport Parish Church in the Presbytery of St Andrews, North East Fife and is married with two sons, will preach at a service for the whole parish in St Cyrus Church on Sunday December 20 at 11.30 a.m. after which the congregation will vote on whether they wish him to become their new minister. In order that as many church members as possible are present to participate in the election the Nominating Committee, through the Church newsletter, are asking that any member from Benholm and Johnshaven requiring transport to the service should contact Mr Jim Mathers on 01561 361458 who will be happy to make an appropriate arrangement.
After the formalities are over there is to be a lunch in the Guide and Scout Hall to celebrate long-serving elder, Mr John Gavin's 80th birthday.
The newsletter also reports that at long last the scaffolding has been taken down from St Cyrus Church and that the contractors are in the final phase of the work which should be completed by Christmas. Mearns Coastal originally had very ambitious plans for the renovation , refurbishment and modernisation of the church but financial constraints meant that it was possible only to re-slate the roof and to carry out other essential external repairs. Last year the National Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £115,500 towards the projected £246,000 cost and the project got going early this year. It had been hoped that it would be completed by the summer but, although the church itself was restored to good health by that time, problems with louvre windows in the tower resulted in it being shrouded in timber and steel for too long.
This year the Blytheswood Shoe Box Appeal resulted in 136 shoe boxes being loaded on to the charity's lorry for delivery to countries of Eastern Europe in time for Christmas and Heather Jenkins, the local co-ordinator, wishes to express her appreciation to all who helped with the appeal.
Thanks have also gone to the Guild for their contribution to Church funds of £650, raised from a number of events, including a silent auction and stalls at various village events. As a result of another donation, Johnshaven Church will have an electric piano in place for the start of the new year.
This Sunday's services will be held at the usual times of 10 a.m. in Johnshaven Church and 11.30 a.m. in St Cyrus Church. This year the Christmas Eve service will be held in St Cyrus Church at 7 p.m. while Johnshaven Church will be the venue for the Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.
In 2010 the timing of the regular Sunday morning services reverse with that at St Cyrus taking place at 10 a.m. and Johnshaven at 11.30 a.m
Success for Standby
In a packed Assembly Hall at Mackie Academy's talent show last Thursday night Johnshaven's "Standby" were judged to be the "Best Group" in the competition. Comprising Tieje Brannan (lead guitar), Eilidh MacKenzie (bass guitar), Liam Beedie (drums) and vocalist Laura Towsend, the youngsters performed Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" so well that they finished ahead of groups older and more experienced than themselves.
SHARK
On a wet and absolutely miserable Saturday morning 10 members of SHARK planted 100 trees at the compost site in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in an hour in multiple locations. The volunteers' target was 100 trees which they successfully reached in only 40 minutes. Wouldn't have been the prospect of a warm cup of tea and a rowie which spurred them on would it?
Artists and Makers
The freshly renovated Lifeboat House proved an ideal venue for the 12 artists and makers who exhibited their works over the week-end. Friday's preview night was a sociable and lively affair and it was a lovely touch to have classical guitarists, Bob Dunsire and Rory Comerford, playing from the gallery.
The weather could not have been much worse on Saturday and Sunday but, despite that, each of the days attracted just over 100 visitors and one of the group said that they were all delighted at how the event had gone. "We met new people, had lots of fun and sold some pictures into the bargain."
New Year's Dance
For many, many years attendance at the New Year's Concert and Dance was almost mandatory and while the final curtain had been called on the concerts as far back as the 1950s the dances continued until the last waltz was played in 1999.
Now, though, a New Year's Ceilidh is to be held in the Village Hall on Saturday, 2 January from 7.30 until 11.30 p.m. The Tangle Ha' Ceilidh Band will be providing the music; admission is by ticket only, the price of a ticket being £10 which includes stovies. Those attending, however, might like to take along their own bottle and nibbles.
Christmas Fayre
Just a reminder of the Christmas Fayre being held tomorrow, Saturday, at the Mill of Benholm from 2 until 5 p.m. A visit from Santa Claus, model railway, stalls, carol singing. Refreshments in the Tearoom at the Mill. Admission free. All welcome.
Memories
Twenty five years ago Benholm Church was filled with a congregation of almost 500 for Lathallan Preparatory School's end-of –term carol service. In a departure from precedent the school had moved out of its own premises and invited members of Benholm and Johnshaven Church as well as the pupils' parents and friends. The programme was prepared and conducted by Mr Brian Hirst, music master at the school whose brass, wind and string ensemble accompanied the choir and the organist was Miss Elizabeth Fountain. Headmaster, Mr Peter de Jongh said that he was absolutely delighted with the response to the change of venue.
Earlier that week the Woman's Guild held their Christmas dinner in the Ship Hotel and enjoyed an evening's entertainment of songs, solos, recitations and "physical jerks" the latter being conducted by a respectable office-bearer in a pink leotard, apparently giving more than a passable impression of the "Green Goddess!"
Maybe some happenings are best forgotten, though!
