MARCH 2011

The Church was very pleased to bring Fischy Music to Abernethy Primary School on a morning in January. Fischy Music is a charity which promotes emotional, social, spiritual health and wellbeing in children through songs.

Some of the children had a workshop in the first part of the morning and then all of the school including nursery children joined in for a concert. It was a very enjoyable and different Monday morning for all !


Regular Activities

Dates for your diary  

Contacts:-         

Rev. Alec Wark  01738 850607

Session Clerk, Alex Johnston 01577 830776

Work with children and young people: we have seen encouraging signs of progress in Abernethy. We have tried things, made mistakes, and learned lessons. Overall, this is a challenging and exciting part of our Church life. The need now is for more adults to give time to help with Sunday Club, Youth Clubs, and Holiday Clubs. We have the children but it is difficult to plan ahead with few helpers. Unfortunately the summer holiday clubs had to be postponed because some of the few committed volunteers had unexpected family health problems which they had to give time to.

Holiday club: we hope to have a holiday club in the October break for P2’s- P7’s Thursday 20thth - Saturday 22ndnd in the Williamson Hall (except Saturday, venue to be arranged) , ending with a celebration in Church on the 23rd.

Stewardship Campaign: This is not just about money. The Minister’s other word for stewardship is commitment. This year in September we will be looking at how we can use our skills, talents, and time as Christians to benefit the local community, or parish, not just the church (see above, and below about a community meeting). ‘Many hands make light work’, according to the Bible (joke). We have to keep a realistic eye on money too, so this year we will think about giving more effectively. So how committed are we to our church and parish? Can we be more effective?

Fischy Music

In June Local Earn Valley Churches Together sponsored a visit from Fischy Music at Dunbarney Church on a Sunday afternoon. Fischy Music work with children, churches and communities to promote emotional, social, spiritual health and wellbeing in children through songs. (you may remember we sponsored a visit by them to Abernethy and Arngask Primary in January.) It was, for those who attended, a happy, exciting, all age, informal act of worship. The Fischy Music leaders were delighted by the congregation's response and found it very encouraging. We shall consider having them back next Pentecost.

2011 is a special year for the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible- 400 years since publication People around the globe are celebrating the most famous and widely used version of the Bible in all of history. Some of the local churches in this area are joining together to celebrate this and other versions of the Bible by sponsoring a visit from the Bibleworld mobile.

The Bibleworld Mobile : will be coming to Dunbarney Church car park, Bridge of Earn from 19th -23rdrd September 2011. We are working with the local schools’ staff to transport the children there. There will also be an open evening for adults and other children on Thursday evening of the 22nd September.

It is an interactive trailer that travels around Scotland. Linked strongly to the Curriculum for Excellence framework, the Bibleworld programme is for school and community groups alike. It has excited both children and teachers!

Why Dunbarney car park? After a scout round by folk from Bibleworld it was decided this was

The Mobile is a 45ft, 14-ton expanding classroom divided into six activity zones – aeroplane, spaceship, music, museum, library and quiz zone, each one helping to bring the Bible and its message to life in an exciting way. It offers P5-S1 pupils a lively and stimulating introduction to the Bible and aspects of the story of Christianity and can take up to 13 classes each week, with a maximum of 36 pupils in any one classroom session. Throughout the 70 minutes they are on the trailer, pupils will engage in lively, engaging, educational activities ranging from computer-driven quizzes to cuneiform writing in "The Museum."

Back to Church Sunday is on September 25th for this year. If you were thinking of coming to see what Church today is like and what you might contribute, or if you have not been to church for some time, that might be a good day to start. Look out for notices

After School Club With the closure of the After School Club in the Williamson Hall, we are considering having a club in the Church Session House. This would necessarily be smaller scale, at least in the beginning.

What we need now is an indication of demand to see if it would be feasible. Please contact Enid Gebbett (850977) if you are interested.

Open community meeting

The Minister is considering having an open community meeting to discuss matters relating to the village, for example coping with extreme winter weather, looking after the elderly. A similar meeting was held last October in Glenfarg which led to a number of simple and practical things being done by the church for the community. Keep an eye open for news or notices.

Regular Activities

Sunday worship services at Abernethy, 11am. Tea/coffee and chat after most services

Children’s Sunday club in the church hall during Sunday worship, except during school holidays

Open Doors; 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month from 10 -11.30 am. Get together for tea, coffee and a chat in the Church hall – at the east side of the Church.

Teen Café (S2-S6) we intend to start in the new term on Thursday, 1st September, Church hall, 7.30 to 9.00 p.m., cost £2.

Youth Club (P7-S1) now meets on Monday nights from 7.30-9.00 p.m. at the Williamson Hall, cost £2.

Contacts: Minister Rev Alec Wark: 01738 850 607

Session Clerk, Alex Johnson: 01577 830 776

December 2011

The Bibleworld Mobile came to Dunbarney Church car park in September, sponsored by the local churches.  It excited both children and teachers! Those of us who were there to help set it up at 8am in the morning were both fascinated and technically challenged by its ingenious design. It was impressive that a young lady, Hannah was solely responsible for getting the ‘show on the road’ – apart from the driving

The Mobile is a 45ft, 14-ton expanding ‘classroom’ divided into six activity zones – aeroplane, spaceship, music, museum, library and quiz zone, each one helping to bring the Bible and its message to life in an exciting way.  One boy said at the end of the 70 minutes, “Some of my mates said we would just be sitting listening but this is awesome. I can’t believe what it’s like; all the things there are to do!” 89 Pupils from Abernethy Primary School attended.

Here’s what others wrote in letters afterwards,…

Dear Rev Wark,

Thank you for letting us come to Bibleworld. We enjoyed it so much we would love to go again.

It was a very good idea having a trallier of fun. We loved the museum especially the first letters of our names. It was a fabtastic time we all had thank you again for everything.

Yours sincerely

Primary 7 and Primary 6 girls.

Mrs Hodgkinson, Deputy Head, sent this email to Bibleworld:-

We have just returned from a visit to mobile Bibleworld at Dunbarney Parish Church and I would like to congratulate you on an excellent resource. Hannah was a superb coordinator and explained everything very well. The children learnt so much through interactive activities and the use of technology. I was also very impressed with the way the activities could cater for a wide range of academic abilities. Thank you so much.

The Minister adds:-

The Bibleworld experience gave pupils the opportunity to research, discover, work as a team, and problem solve. Working in ‘The Library’ I was able to introduce children to problems of translation.

Holiday club:  Apologies to any who were looking to this event. We unfortunately did not manage to clear enough people through the new safeguarding process in time. We shall not let this happen again.

Stewardship Campaign: This is not just about money. The Minister’s other word for stewardship is commitment. In 2012 we will be looking at how we can use our skills, talents, and time as Christians to benefit the local community, or parish, not just the church. We have to keep a realistic eye on money too, so next year we will be thinking about giving more effectively. How committed are we to our church and parish?

Back to Church Sunday: Thanks to all those who came and celebrated Harvest thanksgiving and have returned since. We hope you feel welcome in the church and could also contribute something too.

Regular Activities

Sunday worship services at Abernethy, 11am. ( 9.30am in 2012) Tea/ coffee and chat after most services

Children’s Sunday club in the church hall during Sunday worship, except during school holidays

Open Doors; 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month from 10 -11.30 am. Get together for tea, coffee and a chat in the Church hall – at the east side of the Church.

Teen Café (S2-S6) has started and had about 12 young people who mainly want to ‘chill’on Thursdays in the Church hall, 7.30 to 9.00 p.m., cost £1. They always seem to make something to eat, however.

Youth Club (P7-S1) has reverted to meeting on Friday nights from 7.30-9.00 p.m. at the Williamson Hall, cost £2

Christmas Services

Christmas Day 11.00 a.m.* (Sunday)

Christmas Eve 7.00 p.m. *

* to be confirmed.


Carol singing round the village (see other article)

If anyone would like a copy of the weekly church notices by email please request from sandra.gourlay158@btinternet.com


Church contacts: Minister Rev Alec Wark: 01738 850 607

                 Session Clerk, Alex Johnson: 01577 830 776