LOOKING UP

3 November 2025
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

Nowadays when walking through town, or on a bus, or a train you see so many people staring at their phones, looking through Facebook or whatever and the world trundles past them and they don’t even notice 

Do you ever take a minute to take in your surroundings? I mean, when we are looking at something famous, a landmark, or scenery, we can all step back and give it the full attention it deserves. But how many times do we do that on a daily basis, with the every day steps we take.   

Now, I am not advocating that we don’t watch where we put our feet, we need to be careful out there……but….. 

The reason for saying this is that Dundee has a whole selection of wonderful building dotted throughout the city centre and beyond, that we are in danger of passing by without seeing the full beauty of it. 

bove is a picture that I took of a church roof in Cologne when we were there in June.  It was a nice building tucked away behind some houses, but the real beauty was found in the roof as you will see from the picture.  This got me to be thinking about how often we stop to take a moment just to take it all in. 

Just take a moment….pause……have a look at your surroundings…..look up…. 

You may just be inspired 

God bless 

Your friend and minister 

Alan  

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 8 – On my holidays

4 August 2025
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

I’ve heard plenty humans ask my humans ‘when you go on holiday, where does Dexy go, the kennels?’ If I could talk (I type well, but talking is a bit beyond me for now) I would certainly have something to say to that!  I tried the kennels twice, I’m afraid that doesn’t work for a dog like me.  Home comforts!  You might think I sound spoiled?  You would be correct!!  I do not complain or apologise for that.   

So, what does happen to me when they go off.  I have tried to look sad and give them the ‘why are you abandoning me look’ but to be honest I love it, I go on my holidays too.   

Off I go, across the bridge to this house, when I get there, I must start to bark because I get so so excited. I trot up the road at speed and look forward to a couple of weeks with my holiday humans daily long walks with my pals, what feels like endless supply of treats, a nice settee to sleep on and cuddles and belly rubs to my heart’s content. I love all this 

This last time, I got to go for an extra walk with my holiday human’s mum’s dog and after we went to a place called McDonalds and I got a thing called a chicken nugget!!  Who knew such things existed.  A whole new world opens for me. 

But, when my holiday come to an end, my humans come and get me. I can tell they are excited to see me, and if truth be told, I love to see them too, it’s nice to know my humans look out for me and make sure I am safe and looked after when they are away.    

The moral of this tail is………..When you get to spend time with the people you love, friends or family, or the people who look after you, make the most of it, enjoy it, its precious times.  It’s love.  You might experience something new, like a chicken nugget. 

LIVING IN A HEATWAVE

4 August 2025
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

What a summer we are having.  Seems day after day of blue skies and hot houses. Our house is a new build only a few years old and by jings it is well insulated.  In weather like this we are always trying to think of ways to create a draught without letting the cat out the house.  That’s a whole other story as why he is confined to barracks!! 

And the garden, and the grass….I think I could easily apply for a job as a greenkeeper I am out watering grass that often. 

But, as hot and bothered I can get with the weather, I know this is just a season, and like others it was pass into autumn and the cooler days will come. 

We live in very close reach of the countryside here and at this time of year, when the roads are quiet, we can hear the drone of the combine harvesters out in the fields bringing in the harvest.  We can see the lights as they work the fields, often late at night, making sure they make use of every available dry hour of the day.  They knuckle down, because I suppose they never know when the rain will come.  There is a window of opportunity, and they take it.   

So, this is a season for making the most of things.  Whether it is the weather, the gardens or the harvest. We want to make the most of the season, because one day it will be gone.   

Last newsletter I spoke about accepting the challenge, being up for a challenge.  I believe that in the church we are in a season of opportunity.   

Opportunity for growth, opportunity to reach out, opportunity to be involved in the community to build on our legacy, or history and our future. 

We are changing, things are happening people are coming to use our church, from the Bingo Tea, The Cadets, the Tuesday openings we have new people who have been in and had fellowship, and some have been on a Sunday too. Opportunities!! 

We have different events lined between now and the end of the year, some will help raise some funds for the church, but more importantly, we can invite people along to be part of things here.  Who are you inviting? Opportunities!! 

A few weeks ago in a sermon, I talked about a quote from a film. “The church is not the past.  It is what we do next” 

We are in a good season, lets us embrace opportunities and make our church live the question of what we do next!  

Your friend and minister 

Alan  

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 7 – Edinburgh 

23 June 2025
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

I’m a very trusting dog, you know.  So, when my humans suggest something, I assume they are sensible and know what they are doing! 

Well, off to Edinburgh on the train we went.  Now, when I am on a bus, I like to sit in the isle or as near to it as possible, because I like to see out the window and watch where I am going. But, on a big train, seemingly sitting in the middle of the isle wasn’t an option!!  Apparently, I was ‘in the way’, I mean really, there was more than one door!  

We arrived and seemingly we were there for a treasure hunt kind of thing. So, off we went up and down a place called the Royal Mile, it didn’t look very Royal, then to the Grassmarket.  Thing is, when you get there, there is no grass!!  Not one blade!  

Then the rain started, and it came down like a shower, and I hate showers, I’ve told you that before. 

So, we then spent an hour dodging the rain trying to work out the clues. We spent so long wandering round Greyfriars Kirkyard, it was evident they had no clue at all! 

So, thankfully they called it quits, and we headed for a place of warmth and out of the rain in something called a ‘dog friendly pub.’ I was lying thinking to myself, thank goodness that is over and done with.  But, no, I heard them planning to come back again and finish it.  Oh, woe is me, you have no idea how many naps I missed out on that day.  

The moral of this tail is………..When the rain is pouring all around you, make sure you have a place of refuge, then you can regroup and face it all another day, there is no point in getting washed away.   The sun always comes out again 

PREPARING IN ADVANCE

23 June 2025
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

I’m sitting writing this (5th of May) ahead of time as I am about to go on my holidays.   

Holidays in our house are prepared with military precision, we are researched and itinerated well in advance, there is never the opportunity for us to pitch up on a holiday and not know what we are doing the next day! So, as part of that planning, here I am writing the newsletter article in advance. 

When we are away, it will be over the time of my first anniversary here in the church.  As I was saying at the May communion, it’s been a quick, or long year…depending on how you look at it.   

For me, it seems a very quick year, and a great year at that.  I have loved being part of the church and getting to know everyone.  I have loved the challenge that being part of the church is about as we find our way into the community around us.  In a short space of time, I think we have done well in reestablishing ourselves. 

People are beginning to know we are here, and we are beginning to be more visible in the community.  

So, I suppose I am sitting here contemplating the next steps.  We have had a lot of visitors over the last year, a few coming along more than once, we are making connections, but as I said in the last newsletter, and although we remain in hope, how do we get them to stay a little longer. 

So, tough questions for a church, as we seek to move forward, what are the important things to take with us, and what might be some of the things that hold us back.  

Sometimes, we feel that these conversations are difficult, and I think that every generation of church goers have the same dilemmas about change and how to do it.  

But the biggest obstacle to church growth is when we stop having these conversations and just accept things as they are. We are part of a movement, and the challenge of any move is apparent for us all. But we need to have this discussion over the next few months, and ongoing over the next few years too. 

When I was in the Boys Brigade the motto had ‘the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom in it’ for my Queens Badge Essay, I asked the question of what happens when we don’t advance at the same pace as Christ’s Kingdom, then we will be left behind. 

Let’s accept the challenge to catch up 

Your friend and minster 

Alan  

News from the Church Guild

14 April 2025
Web Editor
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Categories: Church News

Our meetings resumed on the 11th February with our own minister Rev. Alan Gibbon who brought along Dexy, his companion. Dexy once again, delighted us, accepting treats and pats from an admiring audience. Graeme started our meeting with a prayer, a reading and a hymn. To warm us up we had seated exercises to some fine Scottish music, finishing with, ‘Donald whar’s yer troosers’. The minister pointed out, in humorous tone, that with the lifting of the kilt and the drinking of the whisky for ‘Campelltown Loch’ it was becoming a bit risque for the kirk. For those who were not there, never fear, they were all just moves to give our arms exercise and no kilts or whisky were involved.

Alan gave us an interesting look into the city of Ephesus showing slides taken from his visit. The city was first built by the ancient Greeks and then taken over by the Roman Empire It was made famous for its nearby Temple of Artemis. Ephesus has been designated one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus was an important centre for Early Christians and the apostle Paul lived there for three years. Later Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome. As we have been looking at Ephesians in our church services over the last few weeks and learning of how Paul worked there among the people as a missionary, seeing the slides and learning of the history of Ephesus helps to bring the bible to life. It is certainly on my bucket list for a visit.

Our next meeting on the 25th February was with Ann Taylor who came to talk to us about the work of the Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden. I don’t think many of us realised how big the garden is and how much work the volunteers are involved in the work and planning. The first recipient of the Green Flag Award in Dundee in 2007, the Barnhill Rock Garden is a public park extending to more than two hectares, owned and maintained by Dundee City Council and supported by the Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden. It is situated on part of a former nine-hole golf course which was laid out when the Dundee to Aberdeen railway line was built. It brings great pleasure to young and old throughout the year. Ann had a lovely selection of slides which helped to bring the garden to life in our hall.

Gill Murray was our next speaker on the 11th March. Gill is the pharmacist for Davidsons Clepington Road Pharmacy and is a friendly face for a few of our members and much praised. We certainly learned a lot and we had a lively discussion on the role of the pharmacy which are far more numerous than most of us knew. We learned that there are also many medicines which can be given over the counter without payment through the Minor Ailment Service. Gill explained how the role of the pharmacist has changed over the years to encompass so much more, and how, for the public, we do not always have to go to a doctor. If you have a minor illness you can go to the pharmacy in the first place for advice. It is good to know that there is another pair of safe hands when we have health issues. How the NHS has changed since its inception and perhaps we should all appreciate more what we usually take for granted. Gill, unfortunately, had to rush back to work while we tucked into our welcome refreshments at the end of another enjoyable and informative meeting.

Remember the Church Guild meets every 2nd week and all are welcome in friendship.

“When the word is so complicated, the simple gift of friendship is within all our hands.” – Maria Shriver.

Marguerite Ruffle, Guild Secretary

My Life on a Kibbutz – Chapter 5

14 April 2025
Web Editor
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Categories: From the Newsletter

Dear readers I have been thinking it would be a good time to delve into a little of the history of Kibbutz Metzer where I was staying, especially in the light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. I must admit I was a little unclear of its story. I didn’t think about it much when I was there and the little I did know has been somewhat lost in my memory. Now I do not understand why I neglected to learn more when I was there. Life there was full of sunshine and laughter and, with the energy and enthusiasm of youth, life was for living in the moment. (Just a quick aside, I still feel I am the same person, though some may disagree but, perhaps it’s the world that is no longer so kind.) So now a little learning for all of us on the formation of Kibbutz Metzer.

Kibbutz Metzer is located in the north of Israel. I am now chuckling because of the next piece of information. In turns out that the Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball team is sponsored by SP Metzer – an acronym for “Super Pipe” made by the super successful pipe factory at the kibbutz. You will recall my outrage at being asked to roll pipes around a huge spool and the laughter by the workers that followed. Perhaps my attempts made them realise how much better they could be and spurred them on to make their factory such an industrial success. Just think, I could have been the impetus to improve, perhaps! . By the way, the factory started out as a pillow factory (yes, pillows) called “Kermetz”. It’s not really clear how pillows turned into pipes, but apparently they just needed a comfortable pillow to lay their head on and dream.

Metzer was built in the heart of an Arab population. Founded in 1953 by young pioneers from Argentina. Over the years the Kibbutz maintained friendly relations with its Arab neighbours and with a continued desire for peaceful coexistence. This co-operation went both ways. When the kibbutz could not locate a viable source of water, the nearby Arab village of Meiser connected Metzer to its own small well. The two communities worked together over the decades, dousing a threatened bush fire together, shared sports activities and even formed a soccer team that competed in the regional league. In 2002 the kibbutz board had protested Israel’s plan to build a security fence through their area because it would cut through the olive groves belonging to the West Bank Arab village of Kefin and would deprive the farmers of 60% of their fields. Then came a murderous attack. An Arab man from another area entered the Kibbutz and killed 3 adults and 2 children. But the long history of coexistence between the kibbutz and the neighbouring villages prevailed, despite the crises. In 2004, when the security fence was constructed, the kibbutz offered to construct a tunnel under the wall to receive sewage and to pump water back to their neighbours for irrigation. Contrast this with what was going on in the West Bank and in Gaza at that time, a walled prison containing more than a million people and now today it is worse than one can ever have imagined. Let us hope that, like the Jews of Metzer and their Arab neighbours after the attack in 2002 that in the darkest hours, humans are capable of drawing from their common well of humanity.

Well, dear readers, this has been educational for us but I am sorry to end on such a note although with a tinge of hope. I wonder how the Kibbutz is fairing now? I had planned to regale you with some of my travels and move on to other travels and adventures I have experienced but, once again, I leave you all in anticipation of the next chapter. How about lying in the Dead Sea reading a book or the desert in a sand storm. I will leave you with these pictures in your mind. Until the next time.

Marguerite Ruffle

Is It Spring?

14 April 2025
Rev Alan Gibbon
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Categories: Minister's Blog

I suppose we can never be sure if it is actually spring or not, as I write this (18th March), it felt like spring was coming a few weeks ago, and now we are back with a cold spell. 

Spring is a time, I feel for getting ready, the garden, a spring clean, whatever it is, it’s all about getting ready. 

I was nearly tempted to go out in the garden and start there, but the cold spell has sent me in backdoors again to watch and wait. 

As I am watching the garden from the comfort of the office, I can see my bird house (see front cover). 

I got it a few years ago as a gift and have set it up on the fence, and I watch the garden for birds (again, see the picture on the front cover), I quite enjoy them coming and going. But the bird house, well, that remains empty.  Plenty of visitors round about, but nobody has set up residence…… yet…. 

But, for the first time this year, we have had visitors, a pair of birds have been in and out a few times.  Not sure if they have officially set up shop, but it’s the first time it’s been this close.  We watch and we wait… 

It’s a mixture of patience and perseverance, there is nothing I can do to entice them,  

I hope, and I wait. 

I have faith you see, faith that with patience and perseverance, that change will come, and that someone will come and visit, and stay! 

We are going through Lent at this time, and that takes patience, and perseverance as we journey our way to Easter.  Some days might seem hard, some days we want to give up, but we must look on each small step hopefully because we know we are going in the right direction. 

Over the last few weeks, we have had a few different visitors to the church, some have come back, we don’t know if any of them will stay for the long term, but we must hope they do.  

At the end of the day, plenty birds can ignore the bird house and fly by, but if any show an interest, that lifts my heart, give me hope, and I know that someday some will take residence, because the shelter is provided. 

We are a shelter for so many, when people come to visit, let us look on in hope, a hope that with the right welcome and the right encouragement, some will stay. 

Spring is in the air.  Remain in hope! 

Your Friend and Minister 

Alan 

DEXY’S (MIS) ADVENTURES – Chapter 6 – St. Valentine’s Day Walk 

14 April 2025
Dexy
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Categories: Dexy's Mis(Adventures)

Well, it appears it was a special day, and I was invited along, cause, I’m a Good Boy, or so I’m often told.   

It was going to be a nice early tea, so I was getting a walk too.  Must have been a really special day as they both got dressed up nice for the occasion.   

I was getting taken to Glamis Castle for my walk, but not through the main gates this time.  My humans went that way before and got a telling off for not buying a ticket, but that might be a story for another day.  So, off we went down the other path to the grounds, along past the river. 

Really a nice walk, they had the ball, all good, so a nice run, play lollup about.  All in all a class walk.  Until we got to coming back…… 

Well, by this time I needed a drink.  So, I thought the burn looked quite appealing.  So, I thought a wee drink wouldn’t do any harm….so, I slithered in, I was quite surprised they shouted my name quite so loud!!   

The water was a little deeper than imagined, but I was good with that, what were they getting all excited about! 

Then I looked up. 

The bank was must higher from the bottom than it looked from the top. That’s when the trouble started.  I couldn’t get out, that meant dad had to clamber down.  Jacket? Dirty.  Trousers? Dirty.  Then to haul me out and pass me to mum. Now he was wet and dirty. 

Then, how did he get out? I couldn’t get a good view as I was tied to a tree by this time, but mum had to get down on her knees and haul him out, that will be her all dirty too. 

I don’t hear much Good Boy for a while after. The seemed more concerned about getting to the restaurant all covered in mud! 

The moral of this tail is………..Be careful what you get yourself into, it might look appealing, refreshing, inviting, it might well be more trouble than it’s worth.