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HOMECOMING 2009
COME AS YOU ARE
Friday 18 September
to Sunday 20 September
Introduction
Interview with our
Minister in
the Blairgowrie Advertiser
Report of Homecoming
Service
Description of the Exhibits
Introduction
“Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates
the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. We’re also celebrating some of
Scotland’s great contributions to the world: golf, whisky, great minds and
innovations and Scotland’s rich ancestry and culture.” We read this on the
Homecoming Scotland 2009
website. Yet the role of the Church in Scottish life is equally, if not more
important.
The
Church of Scotland website puts it like this: “As a Christian you may
not feel particularly drawn to what is clearly a tourism marketing
initiative, but take a moment to reflect on the creative spiritual
possibilities of Homecoming as a theme : The Church of Scotland - in company
with the other Scottish Churches - have entered this partnership, because
they see its potential as a stimulating call to witness and welcome in 2009.
It's a great opportunity for us to take stock of who we are and what we do
as Christian communities. It's a great opportunity to offer a warm Christian
welcome to neighbours and strangers through special events, for thereby "we
entertain angels unawares".”
Blairgowrie Parish Church has enthusiastically embraced the Homecoming in
its own way.
The Homecoming event was held between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th September
and was a celebration of a coming together of the congregation, and also a
coming together of all the churches that make up Blairgowrie Parish Church.
The church and halls were open for all to explore with the opportunity to
see round places that are not normally open to the public. The focus of the
weekend was the special service on the Sunday morning, when the family of
the church came together to celebrate the Coming Home, coming home to our
church building and coming home to God. “This service is for people coming
back to church, whether they are returning after one week, one month, one
year, or one decade."
Many people felt after the service that they had indeed come home.
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Church members
invite friends and neighbours to join in Homecoming Sunday service
Sep 10 2009 Blairgowrie Advertiser
ACROSS Scotland this month, churches are celebrating Homecoming.
The celebration will take the form of a special service when church members
are inviting friends and neighbours to accompany them to church on a Sunday
which has been set aside for Back to Church Sunday.
The Rev. Harry Mowbray said this week that in Blairgowrie Parish Church the
celebration will be over a whole weekend from Friday to Sunday, September 18
to 20.
“Over this Open Weekend, on Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday morning
and afternoon, and Sunday afternoon, the church and halls in James Street
will be open for a browse around to see what goes on,” he continued. “There
will be displays by the church organisations of their activities around a
central display which will tell the history of how the church got here.
“Displays will give details of what the Church of Scotland is doing for
people outside Blairgowrie and Rattray and outside Scotland.
“On the Sunday morning there will be a special service in the church when
the whole family of the church will be celebrating Coming Home, coming home
to our church building and coming home to God. “This service is for people
coming back to church, whether they are returning after one week, one month,
one year, or one decade.
“If you have not been to church for some time, this service is one way for
you to come back and see what goes on--you may be pleasantly surprised!
“Blairgowrie Parish Church invites all members and friends to be part of
this Homecoming celebration--the Back to Church Weekend.”
Mr Mowbray extended an invitation to:
v
Come and have a look round our church building and halls
v
Come and enjoy finding out about the history of our church
v
Come and see what the church is doing in Blairgowrie and
elsewhere
v
Come and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in good company
v
Come and have a soup lunch on Saturday
On Sunday morning join in the fellowship of worship.
“Come as you are, and if you know someone else who may enjoy the weekend’s
activities, invite them to come with you,” he concluded.
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Homecoming
Service (Report from the Blairgowrie Advertiser)
MORNING worship at Blairgowrie Parish
Church on Sunday (September 20) commenced with the choir's unaccompanied
singing of the hymn, Come, Let Us To The Lord Our God With Contrite Hearts
Return, to the tune Kedron.
In this special Homecoming: Come As You Are service, the Rev. Harry Mowbray
gave a warm welcome to the congregation, especially to all visitors who
included two previous ministers of the church, the Rev. Stuart Young and his
wife Elma, now living in Stanley, and the Rev. Donald Macleod and his wife
Elspeth, now living in Lenzie.
The minister thanked all who had contributed to the displays throughout the
church and halls and to the committee and helpers who had worked hard in
organising teas and lunches and music in order to make this a memorable
weekend.
The hymns Glory Be To God The Father and God Is Love, were separated by
prayers of approach and confession.
Mr Archie MacLauchlan read scriptures from Ruth ch. 1 vv. 6-18 and St Luke
ch. 19 vv. 1-10, followed by the hymn Courage, Brother, Do Not Stumble.
In his sermon, titled Home, Mr Mowbray spoke of how families enjoy returning
to their home town and are able to pick up from where they left off and are
also able to accept each other for what they are.
Our journey of Homecoming began last August when plans for this special
weekend were put into action and we were there to celebrate the history of
the Church that brought us together.
We value the past that shaped us and we were in church to make our home with
God, who also makes His home with us because He created and loves us. Our
lives are changed when God comes into our hearts.
After the uplifting of the offering, prayers of thanksgiving and
intercession were said and the hymn Jesus Puts This Song Into Our Hearts was
sung.
In his children’s address Mr Mowbray reminded them of things Jesus said, I
am the bread of Life, I am the Light, and I am the good shepherd. He
produced three sheep from his bag and asked the children to search in the
church for three other sheep. When they were found the minister said that
all the sheep were different but Jesus said that the shepherd knows all his
sheep. Jesus knows us too and when we go astray he comes to look for us.
The service was closed with the hymn Lord, The Light Of Your Love Is Shining
and the benediction.
Musical offerings by organist Lex Dunlop included Holsworthy Church Bells
and variations by S. S. Wesley; Hymn Prelude on Dundee (French, I to the
hills will lift mine eyes), by Colin Hand; and Sonata No. 4 Final Movement
by Mendelssohn.
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Description of
the Exhibits
On entering the church, in the vestibule, on permanent display are the war
memorials from various churches. In the meeting room off the hall was a
history display with articles and photographs of all the churches that are
connected to Blairgowrie Parish Church through unions and closures. There
were items from the Established Church, The Burgher Church, The Antiburger
Church, The First Free Church, The South Free Church, The United
Presbyterian Church, St. Mary’s Church and the history of the name changes
and a chart showing them all.
There were also displays by groups associated with the Church. The
Craft Group had a display of its expertise in
the vestibule. In the transept was a picture display by the Blairgowrie Art
Club.
Around the window ledges, were displays by The
Social Club, the Crèche, a Christening scene, the work of
Traidcraft, and
the wider work of the church. In the Side Chapel were interactive displays
by the Bible Study and Prayer Group, emphasising the importance of being in
touch with God through reading the Bible and prayer. To demonstrate this
were times for readings and prayers. The Kirk Session and Congregational
Board had at the chapel communion table, a display of communion ware,
tokens, flagons, goblets and plates used in the past from the various
churches. Over on the chancel were displays by the Choir and Flower Group
and the communion table there was set with the communion ware used at
present. The choirs’ display showed the importance of Scottish music in the
Church’s hymnody.
In the Lower Hall were displays by The Guild,
Christian Aid, Knitting for Malawi, and also
Churches Together and EPACTS
(The East Perthshire section). In the Large Hall were displays by The
Boys Brigade, Blairgowrie Parish Church, the
Sunday School which included, two
large Sunday School Flags, one from the First Free Church and one from the
Parish Church (The Hill), and the Youth Forum.
On the Friday evening was a Songs of Praise where a large crowd enjoyed
singing requested favourite hymns. "Back
to Church Sunday" was a service of celebration which was well attended
by the congregation and friends, responding to the invitation to come home
to our church building and come home to God.
.
The Events Committee served a Soup Lunch on the Saturday and teas and
coffees over the three days. Our minister. Harry, was there throughout for
anyone needing pastoral support or a chat.
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