28 November 9.30am Morning Worship & Advent Sunday 05 December 9.30am Morning Worship & Toy Gift Service Toys unwrapped for Angus Women’s Aid 7.00pm Bereavement Service – Carnoustie Church 08 December 10.00am Worship Leaders in Manse 12 December 9.30am Morning Worship 19 December 9.30am Morning Worship & Family Nativity 22 December 2.00pm Midweek Service in Philip Hall 24 December 6.30pm Christingle Service – Barry Church Collection for Barry Defibrillator 11.30pm Watchnight Service – Carnoustie Church Collection for Scottish Bible Society 25 December 10.30am Joint Christmas Day Service in Carnoustie Church 26 December 10.30am Joint Boxing Day Service in Barry Parish Church 02 January 10.30am Joint Family Service in Carnoustie Church 09 January 9.30am Morning Worship 10 January 7.00pm Barry Kirk Session Meeting 16 January 9.30am Morning Worship 19 January 2.00pm Midweek Service in Philip Hall 23 January 9.30am Morning Worship & The Lord’s Supper 30 January 9.30am Morning Worship 06 February 9.30am Morning Worship 13 February 9.30am Morning Worship 20 February 9.30am Morning Worship 27 February 9.30am Morning Worship Who’s who in Barry Parish Church? Minister Rev Michael Goss 410194 Session Clerk Mrs Jan Scott 852884 Treasurer Mr Malcolm Sim 852564 FWO and Gift Aid Organiser Mr Malcolm Sim 852564 Roll Keeper Mrs Jan Scott 852884 Organist Sunday School Superintendent Rev Michael Goss 410194 Property Convenor Mr Edwin Hughes 550593 Mission Partner Correspondent Mr Graham Suttie Church Officer Flower Organiser Mrs Shirley Murison 410062 Child Protection Contact Evelyn Baker Life and Work Organiser Mrs Rosemary Docherty Newsletter Editor Mr Malcolm Sim 852564 malcolm.sim@talktalk.net Guild Contact Mrs Shirley Murison 410062 Prayer Focus We offer these thoughts to add to your own prayers: 1. Advent and Christmas Services – Pray for the opportunities to share good cheer and the Good News with our community through the various services and events of the coming weeks. 2. Residential Homes and Home Carers – Remember residents and staff at Braehill Lodge, Balhousie Willowbank & Brookfield, the Kinloch Care Centre, and providing care for people in their own homes; pray for their continued health and well-being in these times. 3. Afghanistan – Pray for this desperately straightened country and its peoples with millions facing potential famine alongside the continuing struggle for peace there. Congregational Register Funerals “Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Nov 1 Mrs Fay Brown A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Barry Parish Church. GOOD NEIGHBOURS DROP-IN CAFE Unfortunately our twice-monthly Good Neighbours Drop-In Cafe remains closed at present, but in keeping with our support of Fairtrade we continue to offer the full range of Traidcraft products which have proved popular with cafe regulars over the years. Special offers currently available include: Breakfast Blend Teabags (80 bags) £2 Organic Milk Chocolate with Praline (100g bar) £2 Organic Orange Marmalade (340g) £2 Organic Strawberry Jam (340g) £2 Recycled Toilet Tissue (4 rolls) £2 Freeze Dried Coffee (100g) £3 Rich Iced Fruit Slab Cake (470g) £3 To arrange purchases, contact 01241 852614 or email graham.suttie@btinternet.com All proceeds from sales will go to church funds. Thank you for your support. KNITTING FOR OTHERS Hello Ladies, Thank you for continuing to knit at home during the pandemic. I appreciate everything that is coming in. Over the winter, we intend to meet in person once a month to hand goods in. It would be the first Monday of each month from 2 to 2.30pm, except January. Next dates will be December 6, February 7 and March 7. Meanwhile, if you need any wool, just come and collect it from 21 Barry Road. Thanks to a number of generous donations I have plenty in stock at present. Thank you again for knitting at home. I am sure the people in Malawi appreciate all your efforts. Our latest consignment of knitted goods was delivered to the Bananabox Trust in late October. In all, there were nine boxes, comprising mainly blankets, cardigans, vests and hats. All were packed aboard the container which left the Dundee depot on Monday 1st November bound for Grangemouth and is expected to arrive at its destination in Malawi towards the end of January. Someone asked recently why it takes so long for a container to be delivered and here is the reply given by the Bananabox Trust: "It goes from Grangemouth to Antwerp, where it sits until a big boat comes!! Then it bounces its way along the top of Europe, down Portugal, then down Africa to South Africa where it comes off. Then another smaller boat to Beira. Onto a lorry for Lilongwe where unloaded to clear customs, then another lorry to Ekwendeni. We've done it in 8 weeks but 12 is the norm." Pauline Suttie, telephone 07599 182418. Barry Church Website "Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96: 3 (NIV) To make sure you don't miss out on any breaking news from Barry Church visit our website www.barryparish.org.uk which is updated daily. Click on 'News' for reports and other information about all the latest happenings within the Church locally, nationally and worldwide, and scroll through the 'Calendar' page for details of upcoming services, meetings, social events, fundraisers, etc. Choose 'Church Magazine' to view this newsletter online and among the site's other features is a daily Bible verse with an additional option of listening to a reading of the full chapter for that day. Praise God! Our website continues to prove a valuable means of outreach to the parish area and beyond. From January 1 to November 7 this year a total of 790,888 page views were registered. Have YOU joined our online community yet? Midweek Focus Bible Study Our 10-week study series on the New Testament book of 2 Peter is scheduled to conclude on December 15. There will then be a short break over the Christmas and New Year period before group meetings resume on Wednesday 12th January when our attention will turn to a small book that few have stopped to read, which hides in the folds of the Old Testament, namely Lamentations. This book is the prophet Jeremiah’s heartbroken lament after God judged the Jews for their unrepentant sin. On pages stained with tears, the weeping prophet described in graphic detail the devastation after Jerusalem’s fall to the Babylonians. Jeremiah’s journal of woes stands as a sober testimonial that sin, despite its allurement, carries with it the heavy weights of sorrow, grief, misery, barrenness, and pain. It is Jeremiah’s grim, bold declaration that a holy God will not remain silent forever when His people disobey Him. Lamentations is also a book of hope. From the rubble of Jerusalem’s judgment, the promise of restoration rises like the morning sun over the eastern hills. God’s mercies shine new every morning. Great is His faithfulness toward those who cry out to Him in their lament and seek Him through their sorrows. A warm welcome awaits all interested in sharing in these times of midweek fellowship. Meetings are held on Wednesdays from 7 to 8.30 pm. Study notes for the current and previous series can be found on the Midweek Focus page of the church website. For further information, including venue details, contact Graham Suttie on 01241 852614 or email graham.suttie@btinternet.com Stamps This year the Church of Scotland World Mission Stamp Project proceeds will benefit The Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy, Sri Lanka which runs a project to support women and girls who have been victims of rape and sexual violence. The WDC gives these women somewhere to stay, and supports them in caring for their children, helps them return to education if they wish, and trains them in skills they can use to make a living when they leave. The WDC has a social enterprise and café where the women can work and sell their hand-made products. The team at WDC care for and heal girls who are vulnerable and often discarded by their families. It is impossible not to be moved by what they do. Help support them by collecting used stamps which are then sold on. How to contribute You can give your stamps to Graham Suttie or leave them at the Church door once services resume. Thank you for all the used stamps received recently. Guild News Contact Person: Shirley Murison (01241 410062) Unless otherwise stated all meetings start at 2.00pm. Diary of events not to be missed Thursday 2 December – Christmas Decoration workshop & Christmas Music Quiz Thuesday 3 Februaury – We will welcome Dr Daniel Spencer Shirley and all Guild members wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Financial Statement Balance on 31 December 2020 £3,036.25 Income £20,192.32 £23,228.57 Expenditure £21,427.91 Balance on 01 November 2021 £1,800.66 Many thanks to everyone who have managed to continue with their contributions during these strange times. Barry Parish Church and the Church of Scotland in general still have commitments to meet and every payment is valued. Anyone who has not been able to return to church for whatever reason but would still like to contribute or have envelopes to be collected, please contact the treasurer, Malcolm Sim, who will arrange to collect (socially distanced of course). God bless you all, and together we can see out 2021 and move into 2022 on a sound financial footing. Coming Up Prayer Meetings Mondays 10 - 11 am in the Manse Mon 22nd Nov 7.30 pm Carnoustie Kirk Session Sun 28th Nov 11 am Communion – Carnoustie Sun 5th Dec 7 pm Bereavement Service: Carnoustie Church Wed 8th Dec 10 am Worship Leaders in Manse Wed 22nd Dec 2 pm Midweek service in Philip Hall Mon 10th Jan 7 pm Barry Kirk Session Mon 17th Jan 7.30 pm Mission & Outreach Team Wed 19th Jan 2 pm Midweek service in Philip Hall Wed 19th Jan 7.30 pm Church Life & Worship Team Tues 25th Jan 7.30 pm Path of Renewal Team Sun 23rd Jan 9.30 am The Lord’s Supper – Barry Parish Church Sun 23rd Jan 11 am The Lord’s Supper – Carnoustie Church Mon 24th Jan 7.30 pm Carnoustie Kirk Session Mon 14th Feb 7 pm Barry Kirk Session tbc Barry Defibrillator As part of our current community iniative we intend to site a defibrillator at the church to cover the area including Barry village and the west end of Carnoustie. In this newsletter you will find a brown envelope which we hope you will fill generously to help us achieve this goal. Please return your envelope to the church plate on a Sunday in December or alternatively hand to your elder. You can also contact Malcolm Sim, Treasurer on 01241 852564 or 07794081285 who will arrange to collect. Make it a Merry Christmas for the people of Barry and the West End. ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2021 Online Services – see Carnoustie Church Facebook page for details Sunday 28th November – Advent Sunday 9.30 am Barry Parish Church 11 am Carnoustie Church 1 pm Town Christmas Stalls in Kinloch School area 5.30 pm Town Christmas Tree Lights’ switch on Sunday 5th December 9.30 am Toy Gift Service – Barry Parish Church – bring a Christmas gift for Angus Women’s Aid 11 am Carnoustie Church 7 pm Bereavement Service – Carnoustie Church Sunday 12th December 9.30 am Barry Parish Church 11 am Carnoustie Church Sunday 19th December - Family Nativity Services 9.30 am Barry Parish Church 11 am Carnoustie Church - retiring offerings for Carnoustie Community Helpline 7 pm Christmas Musicale in Carnoustie Church Friday 24th December (Christmas Eve) 6.30 pm Christingle Service - retiring Offering for Barry Church Defibrillator 11.30 pm Watchnight Service – Offering for Scottish Bible Society Saturday 25th December (Christmas Day) 10.30 am Family Celebration – Joint service in Carnoustie Church Sunday 26th December 2021 10.30 am Family Service – Joint service in Barry Parish Church Sunday 2nd January 2022 10.30 am Family Service – Joint service in Carnoustie Church Sunday 9th January 2022 9.30 am Services resume in Barry Parish Church 11 am Services resume in Carnoustie Church From the Minister’s Desk ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.” Isaiah 9: 2,6 Dear Friends, Following on from our consultation, the Kirk Sessions agreed to change our service times back to the standard times. So from the middle of October we resumed services at 9.30 am in Barry Parish Church and 11 am in Carnoustie, with online services initially being broadcast live from the Manse at 7 pm. To be honest, I’m not sure where we’ll go with the online services. During Advent and Christmas we’ll have various other events occurring during some evenings (see later in Contact for details). We may have some shorter reflective services put out in the afternoons, and we’ll continue to experiment with the format. One particular new service is planned for Sunday 5th December, when we will have a reflective service open to everyone but particularly for all those who have been bereaved in the last 18 months or so. It will provide opportunities for quiet prayer, some music and some readings. You may know someone who might like to come along – we expect folk from the community and from the congregation. Meanwhile we are all muddling through the changing regulations and trying to keep each other safe, while ultimately trusting in the Lord for His guiding hand for what lies ahead. I continue to be hugely grateful for the continuing support of so many of our members through their giving and through various forms of service given to the Church. And in this season, we are reminded that our Saviour came into the chaos of this world, in all its confusion and sorrows, to bring light and life to the nations. He came as a child; He will return as King, and there will be no more sorrow, or mourning, or pain, for the old order will have passed away. Yours in the Grace and Peace of our crucified and risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mike Goss Future Planning The Future Planning Working Group held an Open Meeting in the church on Thursday 21.10.21. The project was introduced and small group discussions took place. In summary: 1. Our Mission and Faith activities will continue. There will be some temporary disruption whilst the work is being done and we will work around this. 2. The key aspects of this project are currently: a) further feasibility studies to provide evidence of community support for the alterations to go ahead and b) obtaining funding - supported by evidence from community input. Local fund raising will be needed. Financial support from hiring/letting the Small Hall, which can host some events now and is available now, will contribute to this. We aim to having submitted initial funding applications before the end of March 2022. 3. Planning the Works The Working Group is committed to the project and meets regularly. We are aware of the need to work within the funding we can secure. The Church of Scotland and Angus Council are supporting us on managing the project and identifying potential funding sources. Funding needs to be in place for the main works before we can start the alterations. We have quotes for some of the work and are aware that costs may rise. Advice about the work and the order is being sought. e.g. from Environmental Health. We need to re-site the kitchen before we can upgrade the toilets. 4. Other considerations: The planned changes will allow us more flexibility in hosting events safely. We aim to keep hire costs competitive and we review charges annually. More parking spaces will make this venue more inviting and we will look at options for doing this. Further works e.g. putting in a wooden floor for dance events can be considered at a later stage. We are awaiting the outcome of a planning application to Angus Council by a developer at the Former West Hall site in Barry. If the application is successful and we sell the land, funds will be available to contribute to the costs of this project. The outcomes from the discussions will be reported on the church website – go to https://barryparish.org.uk and click on the Future Planning page. Barry Parish Church: Hire or Let of Small Hall Our Small Hall is available for hire or let now, for meetings and a range of group activities, with capacity for up to 20 adults at 1metre social distancing. Use of tables and chairs, single toilet and heating is included. Small Hall hire or let is £12/hour or part thereof. Kitchen hire is available at £2/hour or part thereof. Charges are reviewed annually. Users need to have in place a written Covid 19 Risk Assessment and adequate Insurance to cover the activities. For more details or to arrange a viewing, please contact Sessionclerk.barry@virginmedia.com or Jan Scott on 01241 852884