730 AND COUNTING 

2 July 2026
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Church News, Minister's Blog

If you have been in church recently, or watching on line, you will be aware that I have been in a reflective mood of late.  Think that is because of the anniversary on my induction, and two years feels like a reflective space for me.   

Reflections and images are funny things.  They play a big part in life, in stories, from Hitchcock and Agatha Christie stories to Sleeping Beauty.  Mirrors and reflections all play a big part in our understandings, and how we see ourselves. 

In the world of the ‘selfie’ it’s a whole other realm as it’s like a picture and reflection at the same time.  Very strange indeed.  

How we see ourselves and how we are two completely different perspectives.  For example, recently I had to renew my passport, and I was shocked to see the picture that came back, I was really surprised that the old man in the passport was actually me!!!  Or when I was in Edinburgh recently and my friend took a ‘selfie’ I was really surprised to see that I was grey haired.  News to me, I can tell you!! 

So why don’t I notice these things when I look in a mirror?  What does a camera see that my eyes don’t…with or without glasses. 

Sometimes it’s about perspective, isn’t it?  When I look in the mirror, I can choose the angle, how to have my chin, how to tilt my head towards the last patch of less dark grey that I pretend is still the black hair of my youth.  Whereas the camera sometimes chooses the angle for you….and you have nowhere to hide…. 

So, two years in, or 730 days, you know what I am like now regardless of what angle you are looking at me.  I hope you have a feel for the style of ministry I feel called to give here as we set a direction for the future. 

We can look back in the past with fond memories, but we are all changed, as church, and as people, and changing all the time.   

So, let’s take a moment to reflect, and have an honest look down the lens.  

We are not the church of 20 or 30 years ago, but…. we are a growing church, new people are coming, younger people are coming people are joining, we have connections with new projects, new connections with schools…. 

We’ve done a lot together in 730 days…. lets be ready to do much much more.  Hope you are up for a challenge 

Your friend and minister 

Alan 

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 13 – The Guild Outing 

2 July 2026
Dexy
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Categories: Church News, Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

So on Wednesday I was given a shower, that a bit unusual, especially as I know I am going to the groomer next week.  But I’m told I must be smelling nice and looking my best because I have an outing to go on!! 

Not, I’m not sure what an ‘outing is’ but there you go, my bag was packed and off we went to the church.  Was a bit disappointed when we arrived.  We were first there.  None of my fans were there, so, no treats for me…. disappointing……..thankfully, that was rectified a short while later as people started to appear.  Then we were off on the bus…. 

There was only one seat left on the bus when I got on, so I got up and settled.  I did wonder where dad was going to sit.  The cheek on him, he took my seat and there I was on his knee!! It was cozy to say the least.  On dads’ knee, Ken on my left and Brian on my right.  The three of them yapped away like old fish wives about this, that and the next thing.  Ken seemed a bit of a doggie person, so, I gave him the odd doggie kiss on the cheek.  Not sure whether he liked it or not, but…there you go…. I was just being friendly.   

We arrived in Ceres and off we headed to the park to play with the ball….my favourite past time.  That was fun…. but we got caught in the rain and had to head to the cafe…. I got some treats and dad had a coffee and a scone….but……this is a strange thing…. before everyone else came in he got the lady to take his plate and cup away and tell to pretend he’d had nothing.  Strange behaviour, if you ask me.   

Everyone else came in we had afternoon tea; my dad managed another scone and a cake no less!!  Not that I’m judging but, I often hear ‘Dexy’s had enough treats.’ 

On the bus back, there was a bit of a swap, Brian on my left and Ken on my right.  Brian nearly got lost on the bus…under a pile of bags as my dad, when getting me on his knee threw everything, he was carrying over Brian……they thought it was pretty funny…. 

The moral of this tail is……….. Sometimes, you can’t choose your companions on a journey…you just have to sit where you sit.  But, make new friends, chat, speak with someone new…..you never know, you might make a new friend along the way. 

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 12 – Digging for ??? 

12 April 2026
Dexy
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Categories: Church News, Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

So, after an eventful visit to the ‘guild’ with my dad.  It’s eventful cause there is so much going on there.  My dad is busy handing out treats for people to give them to me, for which I am very grateful, but I can also hear a rustle a mile away.   Once they have started I home in on that sound, and they are getting ready to give me a treat, but they are also trying to do it on the sly so that my dad doesn’t catch them giving me too many and get them into trouble…..so I am watching too….just to try and help them, and when I think dad isn’t looking I will paw at their leg to let them know the coast is clear.  It’s all very cloak and dagger stuff.  But……rewarding……. 

Then, if was off on my holidays as they were away…yes…again…. but I love going to see Jim and Jackie, they look after me so well and there are lots of pals to play with.  This time, when out on my walks I became a bit obsessed with digging a hole beside a log.   

Jackie would often say to me, ‘are you trying to get to Australia to see your mum and dad?’  To be fair I have no idea what Australia is, but I would be very surprised if it was under this log!!   

I was just digging for the roots…there is something quite tasty about freshly dug roots.  What a treat!!!  Mum and dad made it safely back from holiday, which was all good, and I am back at home with the ‘cat.’  I was ‘treated’ very well on both outings.    

The moral of this tail is……….. Sometimes, the good things in life come easy, and that is great, treats just keep coming, sometimes from the most unexpected places.  You can’t beat a bit of dropped ham or cheese….. other times…. well…. you need to be doing a bit of digging to get there.  Sometimes, even in all the mud and dirt some good stuff can be found.  In these times, you can’t give up, you just gotta keep digging.     

How to find hope in the dark days

12 April 2026
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Church News, Minister's Blog

As you know we were away on holiday during much of February and March to a long-anticipated trip to Australia.  It was really a most unbelievable experience, especially in terms of the wildlife that we saw.  There is something quite magical about seeing kangaroos and koalas in the wild and not forgetting a life affirming visit to watch baby loggerhead turtles make their way to shore.  It truly was the trip of a lifetime, and the memories will stay with me for a very long time.  

We were about 12 days into our holiday when we heard the news filter through of the outbreak in hostilities in the middle east.  A flurry of messages of concern from family and friends followed wondering about our journey home, as that was supposed to be through Dubai.  Thankfully we were well looked after by our travel company, and we were rerouted for our journey home.  

We did think about all those who were affected in so many ways, not only by the terrible war, in which so many innocent people were caught up with the fear of bombs and drones falling on their homes, but who were caught up in the travel chaos that has followed with many being stuck for days and weeks, unsure of how they are getting home, and unsure of who is paying.        

We watch all this from afar on our TV screens and we find ourselves asking, ‘where does the world go from here.’ I don’t pretend to have an answer for this, but we must never lose hope of a better day.   

If we lose hope, then darkness has truly won.  But if we hope for better days.  If we hope for peace.  If we hope for compassion and compromise. If we have hope, then darkness has not won. 

This newsletter will come out in amongst Easter, a true time of hope and new beginnings.  Not without its betrayal, pain, and lose and suffering.  But through all this there was hope.  Hope that love would win.   

A sacrifice paid……..a life laid down…….a promise of new life…….. 

I do not believe that our prayers will be in vain.  I do hope for a brighter tomorrow, in which peace will reign. 

This will be my Easter Prayer 

Your Friend and Minister 

Alan   

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 11 – New Pals 

16 March 2026
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

So, the move is now well past, and I am ‘expected’ to be settled and should be back in my own bed.  That’s an ongoing discussion……I will let you know how that ends up.   

There have been loads of new walks and I am spending a lot of time in a new place called Castle Huntly….  Well, the grounds, not the actual castle.  Love going there and love playing with the ball whilst I am there.  Great place for it.  And….extra bonus…. puddles…. puddles galore.  Love it!!  Although sometimes I spend too much time in them and must experience the dreaded ‘shower’ when I get home.     

Another plus side is new pals, there have been loads, Lily, Barney, Pheobe, Cory, Harley, (truth be told, my humans are better at remembering dogs names than human names, although my dad thought Pheobe was Archie!!) to name but a few, loved getting to know them and play with them…… although there are a couple of ball stealers out there and I need to be careful not to lose mine to them, thankfully their humans tend to bring them back to me.   

But, in the main my new pals are very welcoming to me and seem pleased to see me when we bump into one and other, love it.  I am going to like it here.   

The moral of this tail is……….. when someone new comes along, you must take the time to get to know them, in my case it’s a good sniff, for you humans, it’s finding out names, where they come from and a bit about them.  Take the time with new people, make them feel welcome, have a chat.  It does help.  Remember humans, a chat!  Leave the sniffing to us dogs.   

ITS THE GROWING SEASON 

16 March 2026
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

You will be glad to know that we are well settled in at our new house, and it really feels like we are in the country. (see picture)  

We are having to get used to so many sights and sounds, not to forgetting the odd, rather horrendous smells, that sometime waft our way as muck is spread on the numerous fields in our locality.   

There are moments of unpredictability too.  We can be out walking one day, and the fields are fine, then the next, there will be hundreds of sheep appear in the field, seemingly out of nowhere and overnight.  Therefore, Dexy will have to be on a lead the whole time.  Don’t even get me started about the signs that appear saying danger bull in field! That sign can make you feel very alert. 

This seems to be a time of year of being prepared, will lots of spreading, ploughing, and I assume, soon enough planting. And it never seems to stop, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, there were farmers and workers out and about tending to animals, they all need fed.   

It seems that there is an order to all of this, and each step needs to be undertaken to ensure the success of the next.   

As we move forward in faith, both personally and as a church, we should maybe take a leaf out of the farmer’s books.  

Are we doing the necessary groundwork as we make our plans for personal and church growth?  Are we doing the hard work before we plant something new? 

For all the new things that we want to achieve, we must ensure that they have the best chance to take root, to grow into something healthy and strong. 

Yes, that might take some hard work, maybe to sacrifice some things, and even put up with a few things that challenge us and make us feel a bit uncomfortable (back to the smells above).  But the results will be worth it. 

I am hoping that 2026 will be a year of further growth for our church, but we also need to ensure that we are doing the groundwork to ensure that everything we do has the best possible chance to grow. 

God bless 

Your friend and minister 

Alan  

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 10 – The move

29 December 2025
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

Well now, we have moved house…….I wasn’t expecting that.  I saw the boxes being filled, some furniture going away, but when I went off to Jim and Jackie for a trip, I didn’t expect to be coming back to a different house.  I am used to going on holiday with my humans, so, used to different houses, but a whole new house, with all my stuff moved, and the cat there too!   

Wasn’t expecting that!! 

But, on the upside, there is a whole new set of smells to get used to, and there are these birds called ‘pheasants’ that roam the fields nearby…they are very entertaining. (The picture is of me trying to see the pheasants past the Christmas Tree, which is in the way!) 

I have just about got over the shock of moving; I have just about settled in and enjoying it.  Although, empty carboard boxes can be a little scary, in my opinion, that made the kitchen a no go area until they were gone.   

All things considered, this has been a good move….and because I have been ‘unsettled’ as they think, I have had more treats than usual, and got to sleep on their bed when I have wanted to….I think I will be ‘unsettled’ for a while longer yet to see where that gets me! 

Anyway, thanks to all those who read this, and the nice comments you give to my humans.  I hope you all have a good Christmas and New Year 

The moral of this tail is………..a move is sometimes a good thing, you can get a fresh perspective on your life and surroundings, and you can get a different view.  So, don’t be put off by something new, have a good sniff, change is sometimes a bit scary (like cardboard boxes) but the new place it takes you to is worth it.    

P.S. A shout out to Freya, thank you so much for writing to me in the last newsletter. Perhaps we can meet when my human brings me to the guild early next year? 

WILL SANTA FIND ME, I WONDER…

29 December 2025
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

So, as most of you will know, we have recently move house and are now living a bit outside Dundee in the country.  It’s quiet and Dexy is loving the walks. 

As friends have been coming to visit, we have been giving directions, often finishing with the phrase ‘you can’t miss it’.  Turns out, that’s not true as a few have already and we have had to be on the phone to them to give them further directions.   

Question is, it’s that time of year and, will Santa know where I am?  Well, that got me thinking about directions…so 

It seems like hardly anytime at all since I started here, but here we are, 2nd Christmas, and it’s got me reflecting about how far we have come as a church in such a short space of time.   

When I arrived, people were quick to tell me that we were a small, aging congregation and that we couldn’t do much….. 

Well, I beg to differ…..2025, to me, is a year to look back and celebrate a whole string of successes. We have hosted and achieved so much as a church, from weekly openings, to concerts, lunches, and choirs. 

We have opened our doors and let the community in, and it is making a difference.   

So…..back to the question, Will Santa know where I am! 

Thing is, if you believe you are on the good list, then he’s sure to find you.  But for good things to come your way, you must believe that they are possible first. 

As we enter a new year, and the calendar turns to 2026, do we believe that we have set a new direction for our church?  Are we going somewhere new. 

I believe we have and have the potential to do more, lets encourage each other, let us involve the new faces that at are coming.   

Let’s break new ground and give people the directions that they need to find us.   

God bless you all as we enter 2026 

Your friend and minister 

Alan  

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 9 – The woods 

3 November 2025
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

Now, my human’s, as you have guessed by now, need a lot of looking after. It’s not always easy you know. 

Anyway, we have recently been down to one of their favourite places for a few days down in Galloway.  Whist we were there we went on all our usual walks.  This time though, the humans reached the normal fork in the road and decided to head right instead of left for a change….. what could go wrong they asked…. I’ve been out with them before, and I have a list!!  They never asked, so off we went. 

After an hour or so without consulting a map, they decided to stop and take stock.  By this time, they had no clue where they were! 

So, to add to my list of things that can go wrong on a walk with my humans is ‘if you go too far, you will have to cancel your dinner reservation.’ 

So, off we traipsed back, if they had tails, they would be between their legs.  Thankfully when they got back to the village, they were able to get a meal deal out of the local shop as they were too late for any food anywhere.  Lesson learned…. until the next time…. 

The moral of this tail is………..If you think you are lost, you probably are.  Take time to look at a map and change direction before it’s too late…. you might miss more than your dinner.