Scone and St Martins Parish Church is this week celebrating Advent Sunday All services last approx. 25 mins. Note the service times: 9.30am in St Martins, 10.45am and 12noon in Scone Old/ Burnside. Note the Order of Service for this week at the top of the page. We give thanks for the Advent Hope. The first candle of Advent will be lit by Karen Donaldson and Gaynor Hood who have organised “Light up our Community, Light up our Lives”. As we light the Advent Candle we give thanks for the Hope we know in and through Jesus Christ. The Lighting of the Advent Candle will mark the lighting of the first candle to be lit in Scone and St Martin’s this season.
At 9.30am in St Martin’s and at 12 noon in Scone Old Kirk/Burnside, we welcome all who have lost loved ones this year and in past years. We give thanks for the lives of our loved ones and the blessing they have contributed to our lives. We give thanks for the Hope, Love and Peace ever known. Though we have the same service at 10.45am, we have recommended 12noon to many of our friends as numbers are limited to 50 at each service. If we reach 50 at both be assured no one will be turned away, another service will follow.
We realise not everyone can be with us and we send our love and our prayers. You will be receiving much news this week. The Church Magazine for December and January is now out. Destiny, the Community Newspaper, will be in the shops this week, and expect our Lockdown Recipe Book, hot off the press to be selling at £7.50. This is an amazing book thanks to all the people who have contributed! It is excellent value! A lovely little gift for friends, whether you gift at Christmas or are looking to wish a Happy New Year, it has super recipes, and a few other happy surprises! Buy fast!
Much planning has been accomplished and is ongoing, all of course subject to Covid Regulations and National Church advice.
In addition to decorating your window sills we are inviting all able to theme their Gardens on a Christmas Carol. A farmer’s wife out of town phoned to say she thought the idea inspirational and had chosen “Once in Royal David’s City”. Many are the Carols you might choose! The Church bells will lead off the ringing of community bells and you might all like to commence the singing of Christmas Carols on your door steps. Christ is Christmas is a story to be shared!
Here is a first look at our Calendar from Advent through to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the Sunday following Christmas. You might like to book in advance so we will publish the booking number. This will help us plan and cater for all interested in attending, always remembering that we can accommodate 50 at each service. All events are subject of course to Government and Church Regulations at the time.
This Sunday, Advent Sunday: 9.30am St Martins and 12noon Scone Old Kirk. Invitation is extended to those who have lost loved ones. Bring a battery night light or torch with you.
6th December: Advent 2: the Christmas Gift Service. Children’s gifts go to the Salvation Army Appeal. 9.30am St Martins 10.45am and 12noon in December Scone New/Balformo Rd.
13th December: Advent 3 – the Christmas Communion. Those taking Communion are asked to bring a small portion of bread and wine or grape juice with them. 9.30am St Martins. 10.45am and 12noon Scone New/ Balformo Road
20th December: Advent 4: Christmas Family Service. 9.30am St Martins. 10.45am and 12noon Scone New/ Balformo Road.
24th December: 7pm is the Children’s Service with young people assisting with the leading of worship. Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child and an old man in a red cloak and with a white beard will be there. Scone Old Kirk/Burnside. We will continue the theme of Ringing the Christmas Bells, so bring a small bell with you! *** All our Church Bells will lead off the Community bell ringing on Christmas Eve at 6pm!
24th December: 11.30pm Christmas Eve/Midnight Service Scone New/Balformo Rd. Offerings on Christmas Eve to Christian Aid.
25th December: 10.30am Christmas Day – All welcome. Scone New/Balformo Rd.
27th December: Carols and Readings at 9.30 am St Martins. 10.45am and 12noon. Scone New/ Balformo Road.
In January, we are in St Martins at 9.30am and Scone Old Burnside for the New Year Service at 10.45am and 12noon, and for services in January including Epiphany.
We are seeing members and friends returning to worship as they feel able and we are happy to be welcoming new friends too. There are no barriers here and a warm inclusive welcome is offered everyone. So far as adherence to Government Regulations and our Church’s Regulations is concerned no safer place can you be, as many have mentioned. Whether in Church or at home, in residential or nursing home, in hospice, in hospital, or wherever, we remember you. Our Prayer Group has visited and prayed beside every street in Scone, and in every part of the parish, in Balbeggie, Guildtown, Wolfhill, Stormontfield, St Martins, you and your loved ones are remembered, as are our neighbours and parishes in the Presbytery and much further afield.
Wishing you blessing throughout these difficult times. Maudeen.
The Bible Study Group continues to meet on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in CR1 at Balformo Road. All are welcome.
Balformo Road, Scone 
Every First Thursday at Burnside Hall
Every Third Thursday at Balformo Hall