FROM THE LOCUM MINISTER

Dear Friends

As this is my first letter to the ‘Village Crier’ I should write a few words about myself.

I was appointed as “Locum minister” at Abernethy, Dron and Arngask Church by the Kirk Session on 17 April 2012 to serve the parishes two days a week plus Sunday services until a minister is found to replace Rev Alec Wark.

I retired from the parishes of Dunbarney and Forgandenny over six years ago and have lived in Kinross since then. We have one son Angus who is married to Rosie and they have two teenage daughters, Katie and Hannah.

My interests are quite simple: walking, the occasional cycle run round Loch Leven, curling (that is trying to curl), reading and last but certainly not least, family. With regards to ministry I have an open approach to people whether they are “church people” or not. The fact that some people do not share my Christian faith is up to them. We all share the same humanity and we all have our views on the best way to live. I also believe strongly that the Church lives within the community to serve the community. However “serving” is a two way process. The community needs to keep supporting the local church if there is to be a church to serve the people.

Over the next few months I expect to get to know the congregation and wider community through the various activities and events which occur in what I know to be a lively community. There will also be different individual pastoral occasions when I hope I may be of some help.

If you see a bespectacled 70+ man looking lost in Abernethy either on foot or in a grey Skoda Octavia estate car, that man will be me. I hope you won’t mind being asked to point me in the right direction. I look forward to meeting you as the months unfold.

God Bless

December 2012

March 2013