At the meeting we heard the good news that work on replacing the faulty
drain outside the church will be done and will be paid for by the insurance
company, much to everyone’s relief. (Ed. – no pun intended Mrs Secretary)!
Not that floods in the toilets can be completely ruled out in the future. As we
left the meeting the Rev. Lesley-ann was wielding a mop in the disabled toilet
to remove water caused by a tap having been left full-on in the ladies’ toilet.
Human error or just plain stupidity can’t be accounted for!
The other good news at the meeting was that we would be getting funding
from the Scottish Government for a Development Officer to examine the
feasibility of having a Men’s Shed in the area at the back of the church, as
mentioned in last month’s Vestry Notes. He would be working until March
2017. The shed itself is unlikely to be built before 2018.
We heard a bit more about the purpose of Men’s Sheds. A “Men’s Shed
Association” already operates in England and is now starting work in
Scotland. The idea is to provide facilities for men with learning disabilities to
have companionship and to learn new skills in a safe environment. The
Government is keen to support this work.
We also hear that an application is being made to the Diocesan Property
Committee for plans to be drawn up for a new kitchen, a stair lift to enable
disabled people to get from church to the vestry and the refurbishment of the
vestries. On the subject of the vestries, it was decided to have a working
party on November 14th to have a general clear-out of the cupboards in the
vestries. If enough space is cleared perhaps room could be found for the
large box of church files currently sitting on the floor of the spare
bedroom/study in which I am writing this?!
Paula Fleetwood.
Some Saints Commemorated In December & January
6 December St Nicolas (Fourth century)
T
here is a lot more tradition than history attached to the original Father
Christmas. What is certain is that he was Bishop of Myra, now in
Turkey. He also was imprisoned in the persecutions under Diocletian
(around 303) and was present at the Council of Nicaea in 325, where he
argued strongly against Arius and his heresy. He was a great champion for
justice and intervened even with Constantine for prisoners who had been
unjustly condemned.
He died in Myra and was buried there. When the Saracens conquered Myra,
his relics were taken to Venice and then Bari in Apulia, only in recent years
claimed back by Myra . Among the legends attached to him was the one of
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