Ministries

Compiled by Faith Nurture

DEATHS

Rev James PR Drysdale formerly of Brechin Gardner Memorial on June 12

RETIRED

Rev Ian Wells from Ratho on 4 June Rev Gillean Maclean from Scots Kirk Lausanne on June 30

DEMISSIONS

Rev Gavin Boswell from Largo on January 31

TRANSLATIONS

Rev Marjory McPherson to Chaplain to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on June 1

INDUCTIONS

Rev Everisto Musedza to Cowal Kirk on June 14

DEACONS

Death Agnes Tait DSC, formerly of East Kilbride Greenhills on 20 April 2022

READERS

Death Mr Alex McEwan of Milngavie on May 1

Set Apart Mr Martin Cunningham of St Andrew’s on June 1

Eldership

Dundee Lochee:

Ordained: Fergus Milne Admitted: Alex Black, Brenda Duncan and Wilma Duncan

London St Columba’s:

Ordained: Wendy Betts, Roderick Cameron, Isobel Carter, Vashtee Nadia Dalsingh, Ruth Kattumuri, Neil MacDonald, Colin John MacKinnon, Andrew Smith, Alan Thackrey and Pamela Thackrey.

Long service

Carnoustie Panbride: Elders: Stan Beattie (34), Dorothy Booth (31), Joyce Brown (32), David Crawford (34), Alex Forrester (34), Phyllis Guild (30), Archie Leiper (43), Linda Nicoll (34), John Porter (43), Willie Porter (50), Walter Ruark (30), Pat Taylor (32). Organist: Marjorie Rennie (over 30). Sunday School Teacher: Alison Stuart (25)

Cupar Old and St Michael of Tarvit: Elders: Iain Anderson (50), David Cleland (50), James Hanson (40), Sheila Lee (30), Hilary Webb (30). Organist: Douglas Clerk (over 50)

Langside Parish Church: Rhoda Brash (30), Alice Carson (40), Bill Dickson (50), Peter Donaldson (50), Colin Fisher (30), Margaret Greene (41), Alex Jack (32), Margaret Jack (32), Beverly Kay (30), Mary Norrie (30), Margaret Sweeting (30)

Milngavie St Pauls: Roy Cameron (50), Joyce Clark (30), Gordon Hamilton (50), Ken MacIver (30), Douglas Muirhead (30), Linda Muirhead (30)

Norrieston: Margaret Black (30), Gavin Burnett (30)

Stair: Thomas McCaig (41), George McTurk (43), James Nisbet (35)

Tarff & Twynholm: Ivy Stanley (30)

Obituary

The Rev Alasdair MacLennan

Born in March 1937 in Inverness, Alasdair was raised within a faithful home – his father an elder of the Kirk – and he came to his own personal faith as a young man. Alasdair’s working life began with the Hydro, and he resisted an early sense of call to ministry. National Service, however, began to change things for Alasdair, as he began to preach for Army services, the Army even sending him to Bagshot for chaplaincy-related training.

Subsequently, Alasdair served the Kirk as a Youth Organiser for the Highlands and Islands, based in Dingwall, and it is there, through his assistant, Fraser, that Alasdair met his future wife Betty – then Matron for the boarding pupils at Dingwall Academy.

He trained for ministry at Aberdeen and accepted a call to the church at Brora and then a wider call – to become an Organiser for Church Mission in the Highlands. His passion was always the gospel, and he enjoyed this task hugely. Unfortunately, he took very ill after seven years, and it was even uncertain for a while whether he would be able to continue in ministry.

However, after some time off, Alasdair was able to accept a call to Resolis and Urquhart, and he was back in the parish, and back to a regular pulpit from which to preach and teach – something at which Alastair excelled.

When Alasdair retired, he did not move far – taking over and re-building Betty’s parents’ place a couple of doors down from the Church, in Muir of Ord. And so Alasdair and Betty made their home among us a number of years ago, and we have been blessed by that presence, while always recognising and delighting in the continued blessing they have been all round the area as Alasdair preached from so many pulpits in retirement.

The Rev Monika Redman