About twenty of us, young and old, travelled across to St Serf’s church, Comrie for a day together at the end of the school holidays. Our plans for a picnic outside were looking a little uncertain due to the weather but on arrival we found that Kate Sainsbury, St Serf’s Lay Reader, had thoughtfully rearranged the furniture so that we could picnic inside the church building. She showed us key points of interest in the building and told us a little about the activities that take place there.

After an informal time of fellowship over lunch Kate suggested that we walk the prayer labyrinth that is maintained in the glebe land next to their church and gave us leaflets about the history and purpose of labyrinths. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path which leads both into the centre and out again: there are no dead ends. Some people walk the labyrinth as an aid to contemplative prayer or reflection; others enjoy the physical experience of tracing the path as it twists and turns. Walking it as group also offers the experience of unexpected encounters as the path brings people close together for a moment before they move apart again. In many ways this experience mirrors life!

Taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine, Kate then guided many of us along the Lednock Millenium Footpath, a level all-ability path which leads alongside the River Lednock below Comrie Golf Course with informative panels on the area’s history and heritage. After pausing by a small dam where children and dogs were enjoying the water, we successfully negotiated steep steps to a viewpoint where we paused to enjoy the view before following a more gentle gradient back.

We all appreciated the opportunity to see a little of life in the diocese outside our own boundaries and all enjoyed our day out. We expressed our gratitude in a letter to Kate enclosing a small contribution to St Serf’s church funds.

The Vestry unanimously agreed to offer the vacant Rector’s post to the Rev Canon Graham Taylor from Aberdeen and he has kindly accepted our offer. He is currently Rector of St Mary’s Church, Carden Place, Aberdeen, a post he has occupied since 2005.

Graham worked in commerce from 1987 to 2001 and during this period he studied at  the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church between 1998  and 2001. He became Curate at St Mary’s on the Rock, Ellon, and St James’, Cruden Bay, with special responsibility for St Peter’s, Peterhead in 2001. In 2004 he became Priest in Charge of these churches prior to taking up his present post.

He is currently Diocesan Director of Ordinands for the Aberdeen Diocese and in 2008 was made Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. Graham occupies a number of Provincial roles within the SEC including being a member of the Provincial Panel for Selection for Ministry and membership of the Provincial Home Mission Committee. He also serves as a Pastoral Selector for Ministry in the Church of England.

We look forward greatly to working with Graham over the next three months or so ensuring that his move to Perth to join us at St John’s goes smoothly. His date of Institution will be announced once this is agreed but in the meantime please hold Graham in your prayers.

Elijah, son of Andrew Kingsley-Rowe and Dee Desouza, was baptised in the Alive for Christ service on Sunday 1 June 2014. His godparents are Emma DeSouza, Fraser Carmichael, Isabelle Beyers, Dawn Leckie, and Becky Nunn.

We welcome Elijah into the life of the church!

Elijah’s parents and godparents make their promises at Elijah’s baptism

Elijah at his baptism, with a proud grandad

Applications for our new Rector have now closed. We have received applications from several strong candidates and the Vestry will be considering them over the next few weeks. We would appreciate your prayers as we work out who is the best person to help us follow God’s call.

On Ascension Day we held a festival service to give thanks for the successful renovation of the church and to rededicate the building and ourselves to the mission of Christ. Bishop David preached and presided at the Eucharist. In his address he reminded us that he had written of a church building as a place of warmth and welcome, and added that it also needs to be a place where we can feel a sense of God’s presence, a flexible space for worship, and a base from which we move out into the world to bring Christ’s love to those around us. As with the disciples at the Ascension, we are at the end of one part of our journey and the start of another – one which might take us into unexpected places. We must be open to hear God’s voice and follow where he leads.

Following Patrick’s sad retirement on grounds of ill health, we are now seeking a new Rector.

St John’s serves a congregation drawn not only from the city of Perth itself but also from the surrounding country. St John’s has just undergone an extensive programme of re-ordering and refurbishment. We are seeking a pastor who will build on what has been achieved and take the Church forward, expanding its witness as a significant Christian community within the city and county.

Closing date for applications: 31st May 2014

Strathearn Stone and Timber, who worked on our restoration project, have commissioned some stunning photographs from Kevin McCollum Photography. Here are a few of them.

The boards on the main floor are solid oak with an acoustic membrane underneath, while the sanctuary has been refloored in stone quarried from near Bethlehem. The naked stone on the east and west walls has been touched up, and stone elsewhere has been repainted.

I think we can all agree they’ve done a marvellous job. The new floor gives the church a lovely warm rich colour, and also makes the space much more resonant, making us all sound even better when we sing!