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Bennochy Rainbows, Brownies & Guides are holding their annual fundraiser for parents, family and friends on Wednesday 7th December, starting at 6 p.m. Tea and coffee will be available, along with some stalls. All welcome.

Messy Church in the Mercat - Messy Nativity is on Saturday 3rd December from 11.00am - 3.00pm. It will take place in a unit near to Miss Maude's. Come along and join in the fun with other Messy Churches as they explore the real meaning of Christmas through messy crafts, activities and stories.

Bennochy and Abbotshall Churches present a Messy Christmas on Sunday 11th December, from 3.30pm - 5.30pm, at Bennochy Church. Come along and search for the elusive star, join in with fun and games and glitter too, and stay for some festive food!

You may have noticed that an orchard has been planted at the front of the church. This was planted last week with the help of pupils from Dunnikier Primary school. Our next project is to do some bulb art with other pupils from Dunnikier Primary on Thursday 24th November.

I am presently trying to resource some bulb planters and wondered if anyone had one in their shed or at the back of their cupboard, which they could let us borrow for this one off event. We are expecting a class of about 30 pupils and feel that purchasing 15 bulb planters to be left in a cupboard all year, would be uneconomical. If you do have a bulb planter which we could borrow, please label it, in order that we can return it to you. Planters can be left in the storage cupboard in the Methven Hall or handed in at the Olive Branch Café next Thursday morning.

Rev McAlpine and myself will be planting with the children from 1.30-2.45pm in the garden. If you are available and able to help us, as a one off, you will be made most welcome. Please contact either myself or Rev McAlpine. Dobbies Garden Centre, Dunfermline have donated boxes of daffodils and crocuses for the project. It will be exciting in the Spring as the flowers appear to the children's design!

If you wish to have a poinsettia(s) in the Church for a friend or in memory of a loved one, please put your name on the list in the vestibule by Sunday 4th December. These plants will decorate the church on Sundays 11 & 18 December. After the service on the 18th you can take the plants home. The cost is £6 for a large plant and payment should be made to Senga Booth.

The Flower List for 2017 is now available in the vestibule of the Church. If you wish to donate flowers, please put your name on the list against the appropriate date or speak to Senga Booth.

A very big thank you to everyone who filled a shoebox or gave a donation. One hundred and five boxes were filled by the congregation of Bennochy Church and fifty one boxes were filled by the children of Dunnikier School. What a fantastic amount!

The practical gifts inside the shoeboxes bring joy, comfort and dignity to people in need and show that someone cares. After being checked our boxes will be going on their way to Hungary where they will be distributed to the poorest families whose only gift at Christmas will be a Shoebox filled by you and will give hope to someone in need. There will be smiles on many children's faces and thank you for being part of it.

Come along to our next Messy Church at Bennochy on Sunday 6th November from 3.30–5.30 pm. Enjoy an afternoon of family time with fun, games, activities, crafts, Celebration and a meal. Everyone is welcome, though children must be accompanied by an adult.

If you can’t make November’s Messy Church, our December Messy Church is on Sunday 11th December when we shall be getting messy with glitter and all things Christmas.

The Messy Team are looking to expand. We are now hosting families with links to Abbotshall Church as well as additional families from our community. Should you feel that God is calling you to volunteer with Messy Church, please contact myself, Louisa Turner, Development Worker any time on 01383 729526 or speak with Rev McAlpine.

The collection on Harvest Sunday for Jenny Featherstone in Zambia raised £401. This has been sent on to her. Thanks to everyone for their generosity. Margaret Simpson has been in touch with Jenny informing her of this and has received the following reply -

Thank you Margaret, That is wonderful news and will help us subsidise our students next year. We are now in the run up to the exams and graduation process, always a busy time (I am attempting to make cake for 250 people in my spare time!!). It is very hot here just now - 37º/38ºC and getting humid so I am hoping the rains are round the corner, Please give my good wishes to everyone, Jenny

A letter has also been received from the Kirkcaldy Branch of the Salvation Army, thanking all our members for their generous donations of harvest produce, which are being distributed to the needy in the district.

Ron Steedman has received an email from Louise Stuart of EMMS International thanking everyone for their sponsorship of the recent bike and hike, (£347 raised), which this year will go towards the emergency food crisis in Malawi and rehabilitation projects in Nepal following the devastating earthquake last year.

Lorraine Fairful has kindly offered to give another demonstration on defibrillation on Sunday 6th November after the service. If you are interested please let George Drummond, Session Clerk, or Lorraine know in advance.

She is also free afternoons & nights for individual or group coaching but would need to know what day and time suits, so please indicate a preference. Cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart stops working suddenly and unexpectedly. It can happen to anyone of any age anywhere at any time - at home, work, play and at rest. It is also proven that early assistance with defibrillation will save lives and is easy to use once shown. Come along and give life a chance !

The annual Womens Group Family Quiz Night will be held on Saturday 22nd October at 6.30pm. Tickets for this popular event are available from Womens Group members. Come along and enjoy some lively competition. Teams of four please. Tickets are £5 Adults and £2 Juniors, which includes a delicious savoury buffet supper.

The September 2016 newsletter is now available from our missionary partner Jenny Featherstone in Zambia.

You can read her latest news by clicking here ...

What does it mean to be a Christian in the 21st century? How do we live a life of faith in a secular society? Just a couple of the questions people might ask themselves when considering what it means to be part of the church.

If you want to have a chat about these questions and lots of others, whether already a member of the church or not, and without any pressure of 'joining' the church, you are invited to join our minister, Robin, at The Steadings for a drink (of your choice!) on Thursday evening the 3rd of November at 7 pm. If you would like to come along, but this date is not suitable, please let Robin know.

If you know of anyone who might be considering church membership or just wants to know more about the Christian faith, please pass this invitation onto them. The more the better!

On Saturday 29 October the Kirkcaldy Branch of the RNLI is holding a Fish Supper Concert at Bennochy Church. During October all over the country the RNLI is having a Fish Supper Event.

The Kirkcaldy Branch Fish Supper is at 7pm followed with a Concert by the Fife Ukulele Orchestra. There will be music from all eras and audience participation. They are a group of about 30 people who have played at many venues in Fife and beyond.

Tickets are priced £10 and include your Fish Supper. These can be had from Senga Booth (Tel 890972). Please come along if you can and support the RNLI, who do very worthwhile voluntary work saving lives around our coasts. RNLI Christmas cards and other festive items will also be on sale.

Our Trustees Conference is on Sunday 23rd October to start at approx 1.00 pm in the St Andrews Hall.

Sandra Holt, our Stewardship Advisor from 121 George Street, has agreed to attend our Communion Service to launch our Stewardship Season. She will then do a brief presentation at the Conference.

It is the intention to have a soup & sandwich lunch directly after the service, then the Conference which will finish at 3.00 pm prompt. Sandra and her expertise during our Stewardship season is a welcome addition to our Campaign and our support towards the Campaign and Conference is key to our Church’s development within the community.

Can I ask that all Trustees attend where possible, and indicate your intent of attendance to George Drummond, Session Clerk.

Covered boxes will be available today and next Sunday. If you require one after that then please speak to Angela Stewart. Please bring your filled shoebox to church on Sunday, 30th October as they are being uplifted from the church on Thursday, 3rd November. Thank you to all those who have already taken a box.

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 2nd October leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We will park at Townhill Country Park. The walk is roughly 5 miles mainly on good paths and tracks. There is a small bit of rough walking over longer grass and a couple of stiles so sturdy footwear and walking poles are recommended. Refreshments will taken at the Lochside cafe. Look forward to seeing you all then.

Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service is on Sunday 9th October and will be led by Mrs Nancy Gilmartin. Donations of non perishable food will be collected for the work of the Salvation Army and there will be an offering taken for the work of Jenny Featherstone. This donation will be sent on to Jenny to help with the excellent work she does out in Zambia. Please remember her in your prayers and be as generous as you can in your giving.

Our next Messy Church is planned for Sunday 2nd October from 3.30pm – 5.30pm, when we shall be having fun learning about the Fruits of the Spirit. We shall be making things and getting messy with paints, explosions and a chocolate fountain! We welcome members from Abbotshall Church, who are going to be joining in with the fun, hope you can join us and stay for some tea too! If you can’t make it in October, we hope to see you on the 6th November or the 11th December 2016.

Volunteers are needed to help serve tea/coffee at the annual Fun & Find Out Day from 1 – 5pm on Saturday 24th September. If you can help for all or part of the time please contact: Louisa Turner, Development Worker, tel. 01383 729526, email – rascal.turner@btinternet.com or speak to a member of the Open Door Team – Dianne Waddell, Christine Low, Alison Hamilton or Phil Reeves. Thank you.

The shoe boxes are covered and ready for use earlier this year to give you the opportunity to make use of the sales that are on in the shops and also to give you longer to fill your box! The boxes will be uplifted at the beginning of November - date to be confirmed - and are available today in the vestibule and in the Methven Hall. Thanks to Mary Stark and Margaret Docherty who helped to cover the boxes and made the job so much easier.

A Bennochy Church Car Treasure Hunt is being organised for Saturday 3rd September. This is intended as a family fun event. Arrangements are still to be confirmed, but we expect that this will start around 6 p.m. returning to the church after about 1½ hours in time for some supper. In order to help with planning (plus refreshment ordering etc) we will need to know in advance roughly how many will be coming. Booking slips are available now.

As the school term draws to close for another academic year and people are looking out their summer clothes for their holidays, Bennochy Messy Church team continue to plan sessions for families who are not going away this summer. However, a decision has been made not to hold our proposed Messy Church on Sunday 3rd July. Some of the team are on holiday and some are working.

The team is proposing to hold a ‘Messy Church, Picnic in the Park’ on Sunday 14th August. It has been suggested that we meet in Beveridge Park rather than the church hall due to the hall and toilets being out of commission during the summer.

As this will be a slightly different format from what we normally do, it may be an opportunity to invite friends along, to join in with the fun. Please can you let Louisa Turner, Development Worker, know if you are available and may attend such an event. This is purely for numbers and logistics. Thank you.

Wishing you all a relaxing and safe holiday this summer.

Update: Sunday, 14th August, 3 – 5.30 p.m. Meet at the white gazebo in the Peace Garden in the Beveridge Park at 3 p.m. for an afternoon of games and a picnic. For more information contact Louisa Turner, Development Worker, Telephone: 01383 729526

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 3rd July leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We will head to Letham, parking at the village hall and head out for a lovely circular walk which will include Monimail. As there are no coffee stops in the immediate area I'm suggesting we maybe pack a flask and stop for our refreshments during the walk. Length of walk is aproximately 4.5 miles.

We have received the following picture and news from our missionary partner, Jenny Featherstone.

Jane Racheal and some of the team / coaches after their win in Lusaka

The Guild are having a fish supper night on Tuesday 21st June at 6.30pm in the Elgin Hall can you please let Wilma know beforehand what you would like so it can pre-ordered.

We are pleased to report that we have had another good response to our Christian Aid Week efforts. The door to door collection raised £2785.41, the Soup and Sweet Lunch £534.50 and the retiral collection £160.60. With tax recoverable from Gift Aid of £172.37, the total achieved is £3652.88.

We convey our most sincere thanks to everyone who contributed and especially to our members who have distributed and collected envelopes once more. It is satisfying to know that our final contribution will go some way to bringing some light and hope into the lives of those who are finding it most difficult to survive from day to day.

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 5th June leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We will be walking from Dysart to West Wemyss and return which is a nice wee stretch of the legs, about 4 miles in total. Our refreshment stop will be at the Walk Inn Wemyss, community cafe, half way through the walk.

The June newsletter is now available. You can read all the latest news by clicking here. This issue covers the following topics:

• News from the 'Manse'
• Christian Aid 2016
• Mission partner: Jenny Featherstone, Zambia
• Europe
• An update from Louisa Turner, Development worker with Bennochy Church
• Olive Branch Café
• Bennochy Women’s Group
• Sunday School News

A new session of fitness classes is starting on Tuesdays in the Methven Hall for both adults and children. If you want to get fit for the summer visit the Zest - Fitness with a Twist page.

The Kirkcaldy Branch of the RNLI is having a Concert in Bennochy Church on Saturday 14 May at 7.3Opm with the Fife Strathspey and Reel Society. Tickets costing £5 are available from Senga Booth.

Update: The Kirkcaldy Branch of the RNLI wish to thank Bennochy Church for supporting the Fiddlers' Rally on Saturday 14 May. After meeting all expenses, £750 was raised for the May Day Appeal.

Come and join us at the Sequence Dance Club for an afternoon of music, dance and fun on Friday 6th May at 2.00pm in the Methven Hall. Come by yourself or with a friend. 17 people attended the last dance and we look forward to meeting new people. Beginners welcome.

Our annual bereavement service will take place on Sunday 15th May, in the church at 3 pm, inviting all family and friends connected with Bennochy Church, our parish or whose funeral has been conducted by our minister over the past year. All members of the congregation are welcome to attend. For details speak to Robin.

Saturday 7th May, from 2-4pm is a big day for the Bennochy Community Garden Project team, as not only is it the time for our family Welly Planting Event it also coincides with our fundraiser! We will be hosting a Craft/Art Fair in the Methven Hall, to which everyone is invited. The Project team are presently compiling a list of crafters/artists, and if you yourself is a crafter or artist and would like to book a table, please contact Louisa Turner, Development Worker, telephone: 01383 729526

Join us for more celebrations and fun at Easter Messy Church this Sunday 10th April from 3.30pm – 5.30pm. Bring the whole family to this free afternoon. Come and find out what we will be doing with nails, hammers, eggs, and jelly beans! Stay for some sandwiches and cake.

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 10th April leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We will be heading to West Wemyss, parking at the harbour and walking to East Wemyss. There is quite a steep climb from the shore to the castle but a lovely countryside walk follows. The walk will be roughly 6 miles and our usual coffee stop will round off what promises to be a lovely walk of coast and countryside.

You and your family are invited to join Bennochy Community Garden Project's Welly Planting Day. As well as planting seeds we will also have other fun activities. Meet in the garden on Saturday, 7th May at 2pm. We will finish about 4pm.

Bring along any old wellies!

Any donations of seedlings would also be gratefully received. Children must be accompanied with an adult.

The ladies of the Womens Group invite you to their Bunny Drive on Tuesday 5th April at 6.30 pm. Tickets - adults £4 and children £2 - available from Group members. Come along and enjoy an evening of fun and excitement for all ages with light supper, prizes and raffle.

Update: The members of the Women's Group wish to thank everyone who came along to their Bunny Drive on 5th April. Special thanks to all who donated raffle prizes. We had a very exciting and enjoyable evening. The sum of £288.00 was raised.

A new Sequence Dance Club has now started in the Methven hall on the first friday of each month.

The very first Sequence Dance at Bennochy was held on Friday 4th March. We danced, and occasionally sang!, to tunes such as 'Edelweiss', 'The Dark Island' and 'On the Street Where You Live'. Dances ranged from beautiful waltzes to the more energetic cha cha. There was a short break at 3pm when tea/coffee and biscuits were served.

Sequence dancing is fun and suitable for all ages. It's is a great way to meet socially and make new friends. The health benefits associated with dancing are not just physical but emotional too. It's good for the memory as well!

Don't worry if you're a beginner. You'll get hints and tips from regular dancers and you will see yourself progress as time goes by. Please note that having a partner is not essential. Dances include the waltz, tango, rumba, blues, foxtrot, mambo, quickstep and more. You will find that there's always something to talk about...from the music played to the steps of the dances etc. Come along and join us! You will receive a warm welcome. All for just £2.00!

For more details contact Anne McIntyre on (01592) 265830. The next dance will be Friday 1st April at 2pm.

The March newsletter is now available. You can read all the latest news by clicking here. This issue covers the following topics:

• News from the 'Manse'
• Holy week services
• Mission Partner in Zambia
• Christian Aid Week
• Kirkcaldy Foodbank
• Community Garden
• Stated Annual Meeting
• Blythswood Care Collections
• Bennochy Bowlers
• War Memorials…The Hughes Brothers
• Sunday School News
• Get Together
• Bruce Davies/Seonaid Aitken Concert
• RNLI SOS Fundraising Afternoon

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 13th March leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We will revisit a walk we did in 2011 - Birnie and Gaddon Lochs and Collessie. There are good paths but they can still be a bit muddy. Refreshments will be provided at the Lomond Hills Hotel, Freuchie.

Our next Messy Church will be held in the Methven Hall from 3.30pm – 5.30pm on Sunday 28th February where we will join in with the “Frozen” theme followed by a celebration meal.

Everyone is welcome to this free afternoon, although children must be accompanied with an adult. For more information contact Louisa Turner, Development Worker, telephone: 01383 729526.

This year's Holy Week services are as follows, all beginning at 7pm:

Our Easter Service will be held on Sunday 27th March and includes Communion.

The Bennochy Church Community Garden Project, need to recruit volunteers for the Community Garden Project. Do you have a time to spare, enjoy meeting people and the outdoors, this project maybe for you.

If this is something which you would be interested in (you don’t need to be a gardener) then come along to an open meeting to meet other interested parties.

A meeting for all those interested in coming on board with the project has been scheduled for Thursday 25th February at 1.45pm in the St Andrews Hall at Bennochy Church. You are most welcome to join us for lunch earlier in the Olive Branch Café which is open every Thursday from 11am – 2pm.

There will be representatives from the church, community and local organisations at the meeting. A wide spread of ages coming together with a common cause. Intergenerational working; aids all generations with the sharing of experiences, skills and knowledge as well as helping with mental health and well-being. The outcome of the meeting is to establish working groups on specific days, with undertaking specific tasks, agreed mutually at the meeting. To determine the design, planning planting and harvesting of the Community Garden, thus enabling all individuals and organisations to have a personal vested interest.

The Open Door Team look forward to welcoming you on Thursday 25th February.

Please let me know if you are interested but unable to attend. Louisa Turner, Development Worker – rascal.turner@btinternet.com.

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 21st February leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. We'll drive to Balbirnie Park and walk via Markinch to the Braes Loan Circular Trail. This is a lovely walk but has a steepish incline at the start and as you would expect a bit muddy, so walking poles are recommended. It's roughly 3.5 miles but we can add a bit to it by walking through Balbirnie Park on our return if wished. Our coffee and cake stop will be at Banners House.

The Brownies are collecting the Sainsburys Active Kids vouchers this year and would be grateful for any spare ones the church members may have. These can be left in the bag on the Brownies’ notice board.

Senga Booth, again with lots of help from friends in Bennochy Church, is holding the Annual Tea Afternoon – Sponges or Scones – in the Methven Hall from 2-4pm on Friday 26th February for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution SOS Day.

The RNLI receives no government funding and lifeboats are crewed by volunteers who do a great job rescuing people around the coast of Britain. The work is usually done in treacherous conditions. The waters around the Firth of Forth are always busy.

Please come along and sample our scones and sponges (SOS). We will be delighted to see you. There will also be a Cake and Candy stall. Tickets, price £4, are now available from Senga and friends. All proceeds go to the Kirkcaldy branch of the RNLI.

Update: The Kirkcaldy branch of the RNLI would like to thank everybody who helped and supported the SOS Fundraising day. The sum raised was £1,580 – a magnificent sum. Many thanks. Senga Booth, Treasurer, RNLI, Kirkcaldy.

On Sunday 14th February we will be taking part in ‘The Great KART Bake Off’. Could all keen bakers please bring their best bakes to sell after the church service at coffee time? We require donations of cake and candy for our support of this project on 14th February to be held during the teas after the service.

All proceeds from the cake sale will be donated to KART to help support the work of Chris Beattie as he works in our local schools and community. On your marks, get set, BAKE!!.

The town centre churches are coming together during Lent to look at The Psalms – Prayers for Today’s Church. For maximum flexibility there will be 3 venues to attend at 3 different times of the week – you are not tied to a time or venue – whatever suits you best that week.

During Lent, many Christians think about the time that Jesus spent in the desert without anything to eat or drink. Lots of them give up something they enjoy or they reflect on the things they have and remember people who don’t have as much. Lent is a good time to take actions that make a difference for people all over the world. Christian Aid have supplied the following two factsheets for you to download:

• Count Your Blessings for Adults
• Count Your Blessings for Children

The study will begin week beginning 13th February on the following dates:

• Saturday 13th February: St Bryce Kirk @ 10 am
• Sunday 14th February: Abbotshall Church @ 7 pm
• Monday 15th February: Bennochy Church prayer room @ 2 pm

The Walkers next walk is on Sunday 24th January leaving from the Church at 12.45pm. This time we travel to northern Kirkcaldy leaving from the Asda car park, walking through Dunnikier Park round the golf course, through the industrial estate down to the garden centre for tea and cake, then back along to the cars. Just over 4 miles, all on good paths.

Happy New Year to you all!

Our next Messy Church will be held in the Methven Hall from 3.30pm – 5.30pm on Sunday 17th January where we will be having fun activities and games with water and colour as we learn about Noah and the Great Flood followed by a celebration meal.

Everyone is welcome to this free afternoon, although children must be accompanied with an adult. For more information contact Louisa Turner, Development Worker, telephone: 01383 729526.