Minister’s Message 19 April
Dear Friends
Firstly, my thanks to Kathy D who will be leading worship in Kinross this Sunday. For those of you who do not (yet!) know Kathy she has recently retired as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of the USA and has moved back to Kinross where she spent just over a year with us in the difficult days of 2020-21 on a familiarisation placement. Although she returned to the USA in 2021, the lure of Scotland has pulled her back here again and we are glad to have her among us again.
Last week I began to outline something of the Mission Action Plan recently agreed by the Kirk Session. This reaffirmed our mission statement - Kinross-shire Parish Church: Worshipping
God, Following Christ, Serving the Community and highlighted our chief priorities at this stage in the life of the united parish: focussing firstly on a youth and family ministry strategy, establishing an effective structure both for the united parish and for the local worship centres and developing good communication both within the church and with the wider community.
Although aspects of our previous ministry and mission as a congregation have been sustained, we have struggled since the union to develop our work and to initiate new enterprises to meet the challenges we face. However, with priorities now identified and Alex appointed as Team Minister, we want to start rebuilding the Teams who will take things forward, by engaging
volunteers in each of the different areas of work and corners of the parish.
Hitting the ground running, Alex is going to take responsibility for establishing the Outreach & Community Team. With the task of overseeing the process of establishing the united parish now behind me, I will convene the Worship & Discipleship Team. Alex and I will both be supporting the Youth & Families Team (which is convened by Lynn C) since the development of strategy in this area is one of our key objectives. Anne M is co-ordinating the work of the Pastoral & Fellowship Team and Alice G is leading the Administration & Communication Team.
Having steered the Finance Team through the challenges of the transition from four previous charities into one, George H (convenor) and Linda S (treasurer) are both stepping down this year and while the Finance Team is looking imaginatively at how to oversee the different areas of work and reducing the workload carried by individuals, a new team leader and a new treasurer are urgently sought. Jaffrey W has been co-ordinating the work of the Property Team (with responsibility for 10 different buildings) but since he is also serving as Session Clerk we are looking for someone to take the lead with the enthusiastic body of volunteers in each corner of the parish who make up the Property Team.
With this in view, we will be organising a focus on the Stewardship of Talents in the autumn but it is not too soon to be asking every single one of you to identify with at least one area of the
church's work in which you can develop a particular interest and support with your prayers and practical service. We will need people to serve on committees and we will also need people
who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get involved.
Over the next few weeks I will share something of the vision of each of the Teams and my prayer is that over the coming months we will begin to see new shoots of growth after what has been something of a 'winter' season in the life of the church.
Yours because His
Alan
Rev A D Reid