Weekly Update, 21st March 2025

1. Sunday 23 March
Services at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). The passage is Mark 7:1-23 and I John 1:5-10. The theme is Soul Cleansing.

2. Bert Porter
Bert Porter died this week. He was part of the 9.30 congregation until declining health necessitated a move into Fidra Nursing Home. A service of thanksgiving will be held in the church after Easter. We extend our prayers and sympathy to Heather and the family.

3. Accounts 2024
The Kirk Session approved the accounts for 2024 this week. The General Account (= day to day running of the congregation) finished with a positive balance of £781 on a turnover of £216,000. That is great news. A huge thank you to everyone who has given so generously. Please join me in thanking God for his provision. More details on request. And a fuller report will be given at the ASM.

4. Please could you review your offerings
An increase of £10,000 in income will be required this year in order to cover costs. £8,000 of that amount is to meet the increased allocation required by the Church of Scotland. While the Kirk Session has no control over this figure it accepts this requirement willingly. That’s because Jesus said, Fromm everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48). God has given lots of resources to St Andrew Blackadder. It is only right that this congregation gives generously to the rest of the Church of Scotland.

Since most of the congregation’s income comes from your offerings, please can I ask you to review your giving. Most people received an increase in salary/pension in the last 12 months to take account of inflation. That may have been 2%, 3%, 5% or more. Whatever that figure is, would you be able to change your standing order by that amount? If every regular giver did this, the £10,000 of additional income would soon come in.

5. Keith Murdoch
A huge thank you to Keith, the congregation’s treasurer. The church accounts are very complicated. In addition to the General Account, there was the Hall Project and Gift Day. The volume and complexity of financial management Keith does takes many hours and is a huge responsibility. Keith expresses his faith in Jesus by taking care of this efficiently and willingly. The congregation is indebted to him.

6. Holiday Club 2025
The flier has been printed – see below.
At this stage the focus remains on recruiting a team. While there has been a good initial response many more hands are needed. If you are able to spare either mornings, afternoons or evenings for even part of the week 21-25th July, please get in touch with Lesli Lawrie. Her contact details are in the Church Directory. Or you can get them from the church office.

7. Prayer Gatherings
Every Sunday in Prayer Room between 10 and 10.20 am
Every Monday in Room 1 between 10 and 11 am.
Every Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88152470672?pwd=WHpUOVdWN3NpSTBCUjF3aDRhcE1Ldz09
Please contact the office for log on details.

Neil

Rev Dr Neil Dougall