Kirk of Keith: St Rufus, Botriphnie and Grange

About Kirk of Keith: St Rufus, Botriphnie and Grange

The manse is located opposite St Rufus Church while our church hall is a short distance away in the town’s Turner Street.

SERVICES AND WORSHIP
Services take place at St. Rufus Church at 10.15am on Sundays with services being held at Botriphnie and Grange Churches on alternate Sundays at 11.45am.

United Services are followed by teas, coffees and homebakes served in church, a family lunch is enjoyed after prize giving and Christmas services, local schools use St Rufus for end of term services, music for hymns is played on the organ by our self-employed organist, Iain Carr, and we have a choir. Communion services are held twice a year, in April and October. Baptisms, marriages and funerals are that of a normal parish church of this size.

KIRK SESSION AND CONGREGATIONAL BOARD
Our Kirk Session has 58 elders and our Congregational Board has 47 members and both meet five or six times a year.

SUNDAY CLUB
Sunday Club has activities, crafts and games – and is always fun. We have around 15 children and a committed band of leaders. Sunday Club observes the events of the Christian calendar, and uses activities, crafts, games, music and dance to explore and express parables and stories from the Bible. The children make posters to decorate the church including Easter, Harvest Thanksgiving and Remembrance. They bring cheer to hospital patients with an annual visit on Remembrance when they present gifts and cards and sing songs. They take centre stage with their performance of the Nativity Story at our Christmas service.

YOUTH GROUP
A dozen kids aged between 13-18 meet fortnightly for games, talks and activities. Youth Group is led by youth worker Michael Newlands, assisted by volunteers. They take an active part in church and community life, helping out at fund-raising events, assisting at Fun Week and raising funds for their residential weekend and for charities and good causes. The youth group is open to all young people in our community.

FUN WEEK
In the school summer holidays, four fun-packed days of arts, crafts, games, drama, dance attracts between 35 and 50 children daily, supported by youth group and adult leaders. The fun week fosters Christian messages and culminates in children and leaders giving a final instalment of their drama at morning worship .

GUILD
We have a faithful band of Guild members meeting fortnightly, following the Church of Scotland Guild themes and supporting Guild projects – in addition to our own church projects and good causes. Quizzes, musical evenings, talks and outings are enjoyed by members.

BIBLE STUDY
Members read, analyse and interpret Scripture to gain a deeper theological and spiritual understanding. A great chance to meet up in an informal atmosphere, have a chat and get to know each other in the spirit of fellowship.

FLY AND FRIENDSHIP
This club meets every Thursday afternoon. It is open to anyone regardless of religion or age. It has a membership of 75 aged from 51 to 96 years old and a programme that is varied with a good mix of activities. Guest speakers and entertainers of all ages are invited along and there’s also bingo and quizzes and a good sing-a-long. The club has visited three local schools to be entertained and enjoy a Christmas meal out. According to members the best parts are the variety each week, the friendship and of course the blether over a cup of tea and ‘fancy piece’.

CHRISTIAN AID AND HELPING OTHERS
We support Christian Aid through quizzes, a coffee morning and pledges. We assist the local Foodbank and have a collection box for donations in church.

PRAYER GROUP
This group meets outside regular services to use the power of the prayer for the benefit of the community, the nation and the world.

PASTORAL CARE
Visitations are made to the aged and infirm members of the congregation and to the two care homes in Keith, also to the local hospital. Three elders look after the pastoral care of the Minister.

ECUMENICAL CONNECTIONS
We enjoy excellent relations with all churches in Keith – Keith North, Newmill, Boharm and Rothiemay (CofS); St Thomas’ (RC) and Holy Trinity (Scottish Episcopal). Joint services involving clergy from each of the churches are held from time to time, including during Holy Week and summer holidays.

CHURCH HALL
There is a separate hall which is centrally heated and has a kitchen, toilets and stage. It is used for many church activities and is well used by external bodies. Our main fund-raising events are held in a public hall where the accommodation is suitable for the larger numbers attending from the wider community.

KEEP UP TO DATE
If you would like more information or to keep up to date on what is happening please visit our website www.strufus.org as well as our Facebook page where you’ll find lots of details of our latest news and events.

CHURCH LOCATIONS
St Rufus Church, Church Road, Keith, AB55 5BR
Botriphnie Church, Drummuir, Keith, AB55 5JE
Grange Church, Grange, Keith, AB55