Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday (24 March 2024) we enjoyed a wonderful ecumenical procession around Newport, stopping at its churches for prayer, before the blessing of the palms and the Palm Sunday service with a dramatized reading of the Passion.
Mothering Sunday
On Mothering Sunday we were delighted to welcome and hear from Betty Martin, who has been working tirelessly in the local community for many years. It was an inspiration to hear about all her work!
14 October 2023
On 14 October, there was an organ recital with Mark Spalding, with pieces by J. S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Elgar and Nielsen. The recital was in celebration of William Lamb, who sculpted the figures on the rood screen.
Pet Blessing 8 October 2023
The Season of Creation closed with a blessing of pets on St Francis’ Day, remembering his blessings of animals – despite the dreary wet weather! The children enjoyed hearing the story of St Francis and the wolf read out during the service.
The Season of Creation is a time when the Church reflects on our duties towards God’s creation, and everything in it, especially in our time of climate emergency.
Sunday 27 August 2023
“All things living he doth feed, /His full hand supplies their need:/ Let us with a gladsome mind, Praise the Lord for he is kind.”
On 27 August we celebrated our Harvest Festival. The church was bedecked with sunflowers and purple globe artichoke flowers as we sang the well-known harvest hymns and heard the readings about the goodness of God’s provision.
At the end of the service, Russell Brown gave an informal, but informative, talk over coffee about issues in farming today in Fife and Scotland, looking back over changes in the past decades, present challenges, and farming for the future.
Russell farms in partnership with his wife Hilary and their two sons Robbie and Stephen. They farm mainly in NE Fife but have a farm in Perthshire. The partnership started in 1997 when they came to Inverdovat Farm on a contract farm arrangement with Mr & Mrs William Berry. That arrangement still continues to this day. They have slowly expanded and they now farm over a 1000 ha of arable land which is a mixture of owned (380ha) and the rest contract farm arrangements with a number of local land owners.
They grow 440 ha winter wheat, 60 ha rye for AD plant, 110 ha spring barley, 160 ha winter and spring oats, 150 ha potatoes as well as calabrese, vining peas and energy beet.
Russell has been the Chairman of the NFUS potato working group. At present he is the Chairman of the Scottish Potato Co-op, a group of 16 potato growers who have set up the co-op to market 70,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes.
Patronal Festival
On 13 August, we celebrated our patronal festival, a special service honouring our patron saint, the Virgin Mary. This year we celebrated 140 years of worshipping together in Newport.
The service emphasized coming together in faith, worship and mission. Revd Amos Chewachong of Newport’s Church of Scotland church gave the sermon, and celebrated the holy eucharist together with our own Revd Kathy Barrable. We were delighted to welcome among the congregation a representative of Tayport and Leuchars Church of Scotland churches, and members of our sister church, St Margaret’s in Tayport.
James Hutchinson provided a musical moment of reflection, singing ‘Ave Maria’ (Gounod) (picture below).
Here’s to another 140 years!
Christening
On 30 July, we celebrated the baptism of one of our younger members, George, aged 2. It was a happy occasion, with friends and family, many of whom had travelled to take part, and cakes and coffee afterwards in the church. All went smoothly (apart from George trying to take the plug out of the font!) More seriously, the service emphasized the corporate nature of faith, as several members of the congregation were anointed with the holy oil blessed for the baptism. The family wish to express their thanks for such a warm and friendly welcome, and for a service which was ‘a breath of fresh air’.
Garden Event
On 23 July 2023, members of St Mary’s were hosted at a ‘garden event’ in the beautifully maintained garden of two members of the congregation. It was a real treat for everyone who attended, with plenty of good food, a chance to chat and socialize, and even a spot of football for some!
St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church 