St Marys Parish Church

ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH

Relaxation of Covid Regulations – Start Monday 4^th April 2022

After receipt of a Presbytery communication and Scottish Government direction on Wednesday 30^th March 2022, please find updated COVID information for our Congregation. I verbally communicated this to the Congregation on Sunday 3^rd April.

These relaxations will become operational from Monday 4^th April 2022

It will still be recommended to take a Lateral Flow Test before attending the Church. Of course, a negative result should be shown after completion of test. This will be revisited soon when payment for the aforementioned test is required.
As of Sunday 2^ndApril 2022 there will be no register kept of attendance. Neither will there be a need to contact anyone if you become infected after attending the Church. Test and Trace will become a thing of the past as we head for some ‘normality’.
Face Coverings will no longer be, legally, required in places of worship. This does not detract from the fact that many in our congregation will still want to wear a face covering, in fact our church will still ‘recommend’ that will still be the case, as it continues to protect those who’s health is compromised and more susceptible to catch the Virus.
Please feel free to utilise a higher level of personal Covid protection if you so wish. As we move into a phase of ‘personal responsibility’ from a more legal status we still must remember that the virus is still with us. I want everyone attending any Service at the Church to feel both safe and confident and that may mean sitting, using more of a physical distance. Personal choice in this matter should not be discouraged or frowned upon.
When singing in Church, again, personal choice will be yours but you may want to return to face covering when song/hymn is finished.
My view is that tea/coffees can start soon. I would suggest we utilise polystyrene cups away from the plastic holders, and cups can be discarded without the need to wash/disinfect holders. The Session agreed that teas and coffees to start on Sunday 1^stMay 2022.
Lastly, I feel the sharing of Hymn Books and Collection Plate process should be held in obeyance, for a time yet. This requires a greater degree of ‘possible’ transmission between our people and should be discouraged meantime.

I’m hoping this will bring a little more current clarity to the matter and as always, please put any questions to the Co Session Clerks or any member of the reopening Team. All the above was agreed by our Session Meeting on Tuesday 5^thApril 2022.

Regards and love to all,

Garry Burnett – Co Session Clerk.

Ukraine Crisis

The Presbytery is working with Aberdeen City Council to welcome Ukrainian refugees, initially this will be 20 families. To start they are looking for help to clean and set up flats and gather equipment: mops and buckets to TVs (electrical devices must be new). Once the families arrive they will need ongoing support with their daily lives as they settle in. Sheila Ogden is coordinating this for St Mary's and will update everyone as more information as it comes in. If you want more information or wish to help with the flat set ups, equipment provision or ongoing support please let Sheila know. Sheila Ogden 07967566081, sheila@sheilapayne.info

Words from Rev. Susan Brown – convenor of the Faith Impact Forum (Church of Scotland)

Today as I write to you it is with a heavy heart, hearing the news (and speaking directly to partners in Ukraine) about the dreadful situation there. It would be easy to feel powerless but there are several things we can do to help. We have been in touch with partners in the region, and with the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and others to ascertain the best way to offer help.

The Rev. Balázs Ódor, Ecumenical Officer for the Reformed Church in Hungary, has been in direct contact with us and we have been able to contact the Bishop’s Office in the Reformed Church in Carpathian Ukraine, and some congregations in Ukraine. It is good to take just a little time to do this so that the right kind of help is given in a way in which it can be used on the ground where it is needed most.

From these contacts, we suggest that you might share through Presbytery networks and with congregations the opportunity to give, via the Church of Scotland, to Reformed Church in Hungary Aid (RCHA), which is run by our partner, the Reformed Church of Hungary. The RCHA has access to the Reformed church in Ukraine who are using their buildings to support the people moving from east to west as they seek safety and sanctuary. They also are working in the border areas of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania using the Reformed Church contacts and buildings there.

They are providing daily updates and you can see more Information here: https://reformatus.hu/english/news/emergency-response-for-ukraine/

Though RCHA you can support those fleeing from the east and coming to the west of Ukraine where they can be helped through the churches there; those in the west already who don’t have access to their money when the banks run out and who will need food/help; and those who cross the borders into Hungary, Slovakia or Romania.

Your donations can be directed to the following account:

Royal Bank of Scotland

Church of Scotland No 1 Account

Account no 00134859

Sort code 83 06 08

Reference RCHA donation

Please gift aid this if possible.

ST MARY’S HAS LONG BEEN A SUPPORTER OF CHRISTIAN AID BUT DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS WE ARE UNABLE TO FUNDRAISE AS NORMAL. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN HAND IN YOUR “SMALL CHANGE – BIG DIFFERENCE” COLLECTION BOXES AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HAND THEM IN AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE COLLECTED FROM YOU PLEASE CALL THE MINISTER (01224 633778) OR IAIN MCDONALD (01224 704143).

_________

A warm welcome from Rev. Elsie J Fortune

In the early 1930’s Aberdeen, like many other cities, built new housing schemes to house the families transported from the densely populated city centre areas, to the then perimeter areas of Torry, Kaimhill, Hilton, Middlefield, Pittodrie and Seaton.

As part of the Church Extension initiative Aberdeen Presbytery were advised in 1935 that a site for the Pittodrie Church at the corner of King Street and Regent Walk had been bought for £1600, and that Messrs A. Marshall MacKenzie, Architects, had been appointed to draw up plans for the new granite built Church. It was later reported that the estimated cost would be £10143.18/8d.

On the 19th October 1938 the Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery Rev J.K.Wilkin opened and dedicated the Pittodrie Church Halls. Then on the 6th January 1939 came the highlight when the Presbytery Moderator returned to open and dedicate the new Pittodrie Church.

On the 5th of November 1950 a Union of Pittodrie and Gallowgate Churches took place. This was as a result of the Gallowgate Church being bombed during the Second World War and subsequently demolished, the congregation worshipped in temporary premises till in 1950 a vacancy arose at Pittodrie, a union was agreed and the Minister of Gallowate, Rev Inglis Miller became Minister of the United Churches. A few years later the Pittodrie Gallowgate name was dropped and it became known as St Mary’s Parish Church.

1950 – 1954 Rev W. Inglis Miller (Union of Pittodrie Church and Gallowgate Church)


	Welcome To St Mary’s Parish Church

CONTACT DETAILS FACILITIES AVAILABLE DATA PROTECTION SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE USEFUL LINKS	ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH Relaxation of Covid Regulations – Start Monday 4^th April 2022 After receipt of a Presbytery communication and Scottish Government direction on Wednesday 30^th March 2022, please find updated COVID information for our Congregation. I verbally communicated this to the Congregation on Sunday 3^rd April. These relaxations will become operational from Monday 4^th April 2022 It will still be recommended to take a Lateral Flow Test before attending the Church. Of course, a negative result should be shown after completion of test. This will be revisited soon when payment for the aforementioned test is required. As of Sunday 2^ndApril 2022 there will be no register kept of attendance. Neither will there be a need to contact anyone if you become infected after attending the Church. Test and Trace will become a thing of the past as we head for some ‘normality’. Face Coverings will no longer be, legally, required in places of worship. This does not detract from the fact that many in our congregation will still want to wear a face covering, in fact our church will still ‘recommend’ that will still be the case, as it continues to protect those who’s health is compromised and more susceptible to catch the Virus. Please feel free to utilise a higher level of personal Covid protection if you so wish. As we move into a phase of ‘personal responsibility’ from a more legal status we still must remember that the virus is still with us. I want everyone attending any Service at the Church to feel both safe and confident and that may mean sitting, using more of a physical distance. Personal choice in this matter should not be discouraged or frowned upon. When singing in Church, again, personal choice will be yours but you may want to return to face covering when song/hymn is finished. My view is that tea/coffees can start soon. I would suggest we utilise polystyrene cups away from the plastic holders, and cups can be discarded without the need to wash/disinfect holders. The Session agreed that teas and coffees to start on Sunday 1^stMay 2022. Lastly, I feel the sharing of Hymn Books and Collection Plate process should be held in obeyance, for a time yet. This requires a greater degree of ‘possible’ transmission between our people and should be discouraged meantime. I’m hoping this will bring a little more current clarity to the matter and as always, please put any questions to the Co Session Clerks or any member of the reopening Team. All the above was agreed by our Session Meeting on Tuesday 5^thApril 2022. Regards and love to all, Garry Burnett – Co Session Clerk. Ukraine Crisis The Presbytery is working with Aberdeen City Council to welcome Ukrainian refugees, initially this will be 20 families. To start they are looking for help to clean and set up flats and gather equipment: mops and buckets to TVs (electrical devices must be new). Once the families arrive they will need ongoing support with their daily lives as they settle in. Sheila Ogden is coordinating this for St Mary's and will update everyone as more information as it comes in. If you want more information or wish to help with the flat set ups, equipment provision or ongoing support please let Sheila know. Sheila Ogden 07967566081, sheila@sheilapayne.info Words from Rev. Susan Brown – convenor of the Faith Impact Forum (Church of Scotland) Today as I write to you it is with a heavy heart, hearing the news (and speaking directly to partners in Ukraine) about the dreadful situation there. It would be easy to feel powerless but there are several things we can do to help. We have been in touch with partners in the region, and with the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and others to ascertain the best way to offer help. The Rev. Balázs Ódor, Ecumenical Officer for the Reformed Church in Hungary, has been in direct contact with us and we have been able to contact the Bishop’s Office in the Reformed Church in Carpathian Ukraine, and some congregations in Ukraine. It is good to take just a little time to do this so that the right kind of help is given in a way in which it can be used on the ground where it is needed most. From these contacts, we suggest that you might share through Presbytery networks and with congregations the opportunity to give, via the Church of Scotland, to Reformed Church in Hungary Aid (RCHA), which is run by our partner, the Reformed Church of Hungary. The RCHA has access to the Reformed church in Ukraine who are using their buildings to support the people moving from east to west as they seek safety and sanctuary. They also are working in the border areas of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania using the Reformed Church contacts and buildings there. They are providing daily updates and you can see more Information here: https://reformatus.hu/english/news/emergency-response-for-ukraine/ Though RCHA you can support those fleeing from the east and coming to the west of Ukraine where they can be helped through the churches there; those in the west already who don’t have access to their money when the banks run out and who will need food/help; and those who cross the borders into Hungary, Slovakia or Romania. Your donations can be directed to the following account: Royal Bank of Scotland Church of Scotland No 1 Account Account no 00134859 Sort code 83 06 08 Reference RCHA donation Please gift aid this if possible. ST MARY’S HAS LONG BEEN A SUPPORTER OF CHRISTIAN AID BUT DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS WE ARE UNABLE TO FUNDRAISE AS NORMAL. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN HAND IN YOUR “SMALL CHANGE – BIG DIFFERENCE” COLLECTION BOXES AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HAND THEM IN AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE COLLECTED FROM YOU PLEASE CALL THE MINISTER (01224 633778) OR IAIN MCDONALD (01224 704143). _________ A warm welcome from Rev. Elsie J Fortune Our History Our Buildings In the early 1930’s Aberdeen, like many other cities, built new housing schemes to house the families transported from the densely populated city centre areas, to the then perimeter areas of Torry, Kaimhill, Hilton, Middlefield, Pittodrie and Seaton. As part of the Church Extension initiative Aberdeen Presbytery were advised in 1935 that a site for the Pittodrie Church at the corner of King Street and Regent Walk had been bought for £1600, and that Messrs A. Marshall MacKenzie, Architects, had been appointed to draw up plans for the new granite built Church. It was later reported that the estimated cost would be £10143.18/8d. On the 19th October 1938 the Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery Rev J.K.Wilkin opened and dedicated the Pittodrie Church Halls. Then on the 6th January 1939 came the highlight when the Presbytery Moderator returned to open and dedicate the new Pittodrie Church. On the 5th of November 1950 a Union of Pittodrie and Gallowgate Churches took place. This was as a result of the Gallowgate Church being bombed during the Second World War and subsequently demolished, the congregation worshipped in temporary premises till in 1950 a vacancy arose at Pittodrie, a union was agreed and the Minister of Gallowate, Rev Inglis Miller became Minister of the United Churches. A few years later the Pittodrie Gallowgate name was dropped and it became known as St Mary’s Parish Church. Our Ministers down through the years 1939 – 1942 Rev Ian M. Macalister (Pittodrie Church) 1944 – 1950 Rev Roderick MacKinnon (Pittodrie Church) 1950 – 1954 Rev W. Inglis Miller (Union of Pittodrie Church and Gallowgate Church) 1954 – 1967 Rev Nigel A. M. MacKenzie (St Mary’s) 1967 – 2002 Rev Michael S. M. Crawford (St Mary’s) 2003 – Rev Elsie J. Fortune (St Mary’s)

Welcome To St Mary’s Parish Church

ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH

A warm welcome from Rev. Elsie J Fortune