A Christmas Message from Brian 2024

This time of year gives us lots of opportunities to join in carol singing. There are many that people love to sing, such as Away in a Manger , Still the Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem. Another great favourite is Good King Wenceslas, a carol which tells of a King who helps his page boy to help a poor person when that page was struggling to go on.

The tune is nice and lovely to sing but the reason it has always been such a favourite might well be because there are so many levels of meaning in this carol.

Sometimes people feel, like the young servant, they can go on no longer. Life, like the snow, might overwhelm. Wenceslas points to what we should do if someone we know is in that place; that we should help them to find the way forward on life’s journey.

Perhaps too, when the Revd. John Neale, the Church of England Vicar who wrote the carol, writes, “ In his Master’s steps he trod.” He was thinking that we too should try to follow in the footsteps of our Master Jesus who was born that first Christmas. Like the page, we will have difficult times, but we have someone to follow, wherever we are in life.

May God bless you and all those you love this Christmas.

Brian

A Christmas Prayer

Father of us all, we come to You this Christmas, to the always open door of Your Kingdom and the welcome of Your love. May the message of He who was the Child in the Manger be blessed to us this Christmas. May its warmth melt cold hearts; may those who seek find faith; may those who live in fear find comfort and may the lost and lonely find a star to follow as the wise men did.

May we hear the angels’ song and gather round the stable with childlike awe and wonder. We pray that peace, care and love may reign in our hearts; and may those we love be blessed with the joy of Christmas.
In Jesus’ name.

Amen

Aberlemno Parish Church

This small country parish church has a long history. A church here was dedicated by Bishop David de Bernham in 1242, but the site's history may be substantially longer.

There is documentary evidence to suggest that Aberlemno Kirk was originally called Egglespether, a Pictish church of around 710AD by King Nechtan, although this is not agreed by some scholars. On the register of churches belonging to Restenneth in 1161/2 Egglespether is mentioned but by 1230 it had become known as Aberlemno.

The building today largely dates to 1722 when the church was more or less completely rebuilt, although a ridge of possibly earlier stonework survives at the base of the church's walls. It has a T-shape plan, with a later porch and rear extension. The church is built in coursed sandstone rubble, with ashlar surrounds and has a slate roof. It is surrounded by a small graveyard and the manse stands to the east.

The church is surrounded by a graveyard with many 19th century stones. It is famous for its Pictish stone however, which stands near the west gable of the church. It dates to the 8th century and commemorates the battle of Nechtansmere.

In 1983 the Church was linked to the neighbouring parish of Guthrie and Rescobie.

Although it is a very historic Church, it still has a very active congregation with weekly services.

A few photos taken when putting up the Christmas decorations in the Church:

Aberlemno Church Coffee Morning
5th November 2022

Click here to download an annotated PDF copy of the above photos.

Did you know there is the Aberlemno book club based in Aberlemno Church? The idea is that you can go along to the ‘library” to pick up a book. You may also take one you have read and no longer need in to the library as a swap. If you simply take a book the charge is £2. However, if you take along a book to exchange the charge is only £1.

The books are in the Church at the back of the west pews so can be accessed at any time during the day whilst the church is open. Please do feel free to browse the selection or add to the books on offer.

Memorial Stone

During the first lockdown I was asked to find a gravestone at Aberlemno for a gentleman trying to trace his ancestors. Whilst researching this I discovered that there was an area at the West of the Kirkyard which had been set aside for the burial of infants and still-born babies. As there was nothing to mark this area, we decided we should put a Memorial stone on the wall where these little ones were laid to rest. I contacted David McGovern of Monikie Rock Art who, when he heard what the memorial was for, very kindly donated the stone which he created. Raymond and Kelly prepared the area beside the stone and we were able to dedicate it on Sunday 25th of April not only to remember those little ones and their heart-broken families but also those today who go through the same tragic loss.

B.R.