There are many opportunities for people to become involved in the life of the Cathedral in addition to worship. If you can help with any of the following, contact the Secretary, the Session Clerk, the appropriate committee convener, your own elder, or the Minister. But don't hide your light under a bushel!

THE FABRIC OF THE BUILDING. Skilled tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts are particularly welcome, or it may just be that you can apply a coat of paint

The Fabrics Committee - Convener, Alan Wilson - attends to the maintenance of Cathedral and Manse. The budget is small (remember, it's the congregation which has to care for this ancient building, not the State or the National Trust) so members take pride in doing as much as they can themselves. One member routinely checks electrical appliances, and painting and joinery work have also been carried out by members. If you are willing and able to do anything of this sort, mention it to an appropriate person..

MUSIC. The Cathedral Choir is always delighted to welcome new members, especially men. You need to be able to sing in tune, and, ideally, sight read. The choir rehearses on Friday evenings. Contact Michael Thomson, or any member of the choir.

It may be that you can't make the commitment to rehearse and sing most Sundays but would be happy to join the choir when extras are needed for particular occasions. Let someone know!

WORKING WITH CHILDREN

Two adults are required in the creche each Sunday. Again, the more volunteers, the less often each person is required. Training is provided by the Church of Scotland as part of its commitment to Health and Safety (usually a Saturday or a couple of evening sessions somewhere in the city).

The Sunday School caters for children of school age. The staff would warmly welcome potential new teachers, either full time or willing to cover for occasional absence. Talk to Judith Norton.

WORKING WITH OLDER PEOPLE

Older members sometimes need a lift to church. If you can help from time to time, speak to the Church Secretary.

WELCOMING VISITORS

The Cathedral Shop and Traidcraft Stall are staffed during the. day from April to September. Morning / afternoon sessions or all day. There's a rota. Talk to Janice Milton and Alexis Darg.

A short tour of the Cathedral is offered on Sundays after morning service. Training will be given to anyone joining the team of guides. Speak to Walter Duncan.

On Sunday afternoons members of the congregation enable the Beadle to have a break by staffing the Cathedral from 2-5. Volunteers work in pairs to chat to visitors and take care of the shop. 

Kate Mason convenes a group - the West End Committee - which provides coffee and cake after morning service on the first and third Sundays of each month and for musicians rehearsing for Music at Six. If you can join the rota, or bake for the occasional service, talk to Kate.

FLOWERS. Flowers, and the skill to arrange them, are needed each week. Talk to Marjorie Falconer if you can help. There is a Flower Fund to which you might want to contribute, particularly to mark a significant occasion or anniversary for your family. Pat also offers a service to wedding couples and would welcome help with this.

COMMUNICATIONS. Before Easter and Christmas, St Machar News is delivered to the parish. If you can deliver to a street or two, speak to Judith Norton.

CHRISTIAN AID. House-to-house collections take place throughout Scotland each May to finance support to the neediest across the world. These collections are organised on a parish basis. See Charles Morton if you can spare a couple of evenings.

The WORLD MISSION TEAM maintains contact with our Mission Partner, in Jerusalem; maintains our support for Ekwendeni Hospital in Malawi and runs the Traidcraft stall. These are just some of their activities. They need knitting wool and more knitters, and can also make use of used, stamps. Deliver these to the West End. If you can do more, speak to Alexis Darg.

THE SOUND SYSTEM. Volunteers are needed to operate this, as part of a Sunday morning rota or for particular occasions. As with any rota, the more people involved, the less often any one person is on duty. Ian Munro will give training and support.

PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE

This committee’s remit is to support the minister and Kirk Session in the pastoral care of the congregation and parish.

This means that the committee acts a conduit for ensuring that Christian love, compassion or practical help is offered where required.

The committee oversees the work of the Lichtoun Guild which organises visits to housebound members of the congregation, monitors and supports the activities of the Donside Christian Partnership and receives regular reports from the World Church representative.

Committee members are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that newcomers to the congregation are made to feel welcome - without being smothered!. The committee communicates with members who, on the one hand are ill or bereaved or on the other hand, have cause for celebration.

One very important task undertaken by the committee is an appeal to the congregation to provide emergency food supplies for needy people. This is an ecumenical exercise as the St Machar’s gifts are passed on to the St Vincent de Paul charity which regularly distributes food from St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Huntly Street. The committee also shares in the organisation the Cathedral’s Harvest Thanksgiving celebration.

Some members of the committee provide escort duty for wheelchair patients attending Sunday worship at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

In conjunction with the University of Aberdeen Chaplaincy Centre, the committee has taken action to ensure that overseas post graduates are given practical help and advice to enable them to settle in to their accommodation. During Freshers’ Week the committee ensures that new students are made aware of what St Machar’s has to offer.

The Pastoral Care Committee relies on elders, members of the congregation and others to identify areas where the committee may be able to offer assistance. If you have something you would like to bring to the attention of the committee please contact the Cathedral secretary, the committee convenor, Alexis Darg (Tel: 01224-708191) or any member of the committee

Cathedral Office Hours

Monday to Friday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please contact the Church Secretary to make an appointment to see the Minister.