web analytics

Another friend gone

So another friend passed into Gods presence earlier this week. Ann has been a good friend for so many years. She would regularly join us for Sunday lunch – it was usually Ann, Mary and me and occassionally some members of our family – we all enjoyed those times. We would “put the world to right” and after lunch Mary and Ann would continue their conversation at the dining room table. Often Ann would have a need for some tech support and needed some advice about using her mobile phone or iPad etc…. Ann was a good friend but also like a close family member.

She was a remarkable lady as she worked to serve the local community as a Brownie Leader and Brown Owl but also in the context of the church which was a large part of her life. See served as an Elder for so many years and was the Kemnay Kirk Presbytery Elder and represented the church by attending the Assembly in Edinburgh for many years. She was also instrumental in getting the Loaves and Fishes Cafe established – she was the manager doing that in a voluntary capacity for many years. She always had time to chat to customers and give them a warm welcome which which people often spoke about.

She also lead the catering group for various events at the church including providing Funeral Teas, Weddings meals and of course was the driving force learing a small team of ladies who provided meals for the Mens Group each time that group met. Those meals were amazing and enjoyed by all pressent. She also co-orginised the shared lunchs that we ofter had back in the day.

I remember not long after we started coming to Kemnay parish church that I ended up playing guitar for the Sunday school. I think it was Ann that invited me to get involved here. There was also the Summer Missions which the church ran – again she was involved, always in the background providing support and also probably doing a bit of catering. Ann was always a provider of hospitality at every opportunity and a great organiser. See always led by example – a hard worker and initiator. I recall the two Pentcost in the Park events which the church ran at Bogbeth Park 2000 and 2010 again she was working hard to do her bit.

I recall also the annual Kemnay Fireworks display where she managed the burger stall for many years – alway pulling in volunteers cook or serve on the stall.

Mary and I organised an annual Hogmany Party at our home. For many years Ann came and joined us and of course would provide some food ;-). We/I have so many good memories of those parties and the fun we had as we said goodbye to the year past and welcomed the year to come. There was also the Kemnay Kirk Late Late christmas parties which again Ann would be involved in organising.

She also supported Gospel4Grampian – a Christian online radio station which is based in Aberdeen. Not only was she a member but attended the AGMs and organised and supported fund raising events.


I remember so many events when Ann was involved – the Easter Garden service on Easter Sunday morning when she was there with her team cooking bacon and suassages – an annual tradition that carries on even today. She was always the first person to arrive and last person to leave.
There were so many things that Ann did in her time to serve the church – I recall her ironing the strips of cloth for the Chistmas Eve Clothing the Cradle service and also obtaining the oranges, candles and sweets etc for the Cristingle service – all the kids present made one. She did all this quietly without ever seeking noteriety for herself.

She had a great nack of getting people involved. I recall the time she decided that the church should develop/make and poppy curtain which is draped either side of the war memorial in church. She had that vision and then got many ladies to make wool poppies – I cannot recall the number but there are many hundreds – these were contributed by many people and then attached to a net so that the tribute could used on an annual basis.

The photo below was taken when it was first set in place, as you can see there was group of helpers there to attach the woolen poppies and hang the curtain in place. She was very proud of the end product.

I have one more photo I want to share as I bring this tribute post to a close.

I will miss her contribution to church life and will also miss the times we spent together and the many discussions and laughs we had.

The photo below was take a few years ago – pre-COVID when Ann came on holiday stay with my daughter Linda in Inverness for a few days. We were at the Foyers Campsite with our caravan and decided to take a Sunday afternoon run around Loch Ness – we stopped at Fort Agustus at the bottom end of the loch for a lunch break. We spent some time watching various boats traversing the locks – Ann was fascinated by this – something she had never seen before and was clearly excited by having the chance to be there and take it all in. It was hard to get her to move on she was so absorbed by the whole spectical. The weather was perfect and it really seemed to be a totally enjoyable time for Ann. This is a special memory I have of seeing her enjoyment of being there on that occassion.


In church on Sunday we listened to a sermon based on the passage Matthew Ch 25 Vs 31 – 46. No time to tell the whole story here but it is a parable about the sheep and the goats where in verse 40 we read


40 โ€œThe King will reply, โ€˜Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.โ€™

I am certain that – this is basically saying that our conduct on this earth will have some impact our eternal destiny. I know that Ann gave so much of herself to serving the community, church and ultimately in doing so, honouring her Lord and Saviour. When she meets her Lord He will say to her “well done thy good and faithful servant”.

I look forward to that great reunion after the resurrecton when we will all be together again in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Then we will be made perfect with no more disease and no more sin to bring us down.

Mizpah

Old friends – 2010

First Saturday of November 2010 – this is the time when we have a reunion meal involving a group of people who originally became friends in the 60/70’s back in the “Broch” ( Fraserburgh in the north east of Scotland ). As the years have past we have all developed our own lives, had families and careers etc. but this reunion event gives us all an opportunity come togather annually and catch up on news and developments of the previous 12 months.

I reflected at the dinner table that we do not seem to be looking any older as a group! In reality we are of course older, but with age comes experience too – so I hope that we are now also much wiser than we were back in the early days. It always engourages me how we are able to refect on so many good times! As a group we have had so many “good times” and it is remarkable to see how our friendship has lasted so many years. This has not been to the exclusion of developing new friendship of course ๐Ÿ˜‰

There are also less happy things to recall of course – this is life ;-( .

Never far from my mind are the members of this group who are not able to present for one reason or another! For those who are otherwise detained I look forward to seeing them next year – for those who have “gone on before” we look forward to a much greater reunion when we all meet our Lord and Saviour!

It seems to me that friends are priceless and we should cherish these relationships and continue to hold on to them as time passes. Life will certainly consist of focus shifts as we move from one context to another but there are certain things which are consistent – I consider this group to be an example of this and I think for that reason we should continue our regular meetings.

Here are couple of photos of the group after the meal this year.



I have also provided an album of additional photos through facebook click the following link to view if you have a facebook account ( you need to be my friend if facebook to have access rights to see this album )

http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=244866&id=627696038

I did write a post about this group when we met back in 2007 – you can read about this here http://ruachonline.blogspot.com/2007/11/reunion-november-2007.html