Come and enjoy Dornoch at night from a height. Cathedral Tower Open Monday 30 December From 6.30pm to 8pm with £5 adults, £3 Secondary age children, primary children free but ratio of 1 adult per 2 children for safety regulations.
The Junior Band have learnt a couple of new tunes and thoughts are now turning towards learning some carols. Join us at the concert in the Cathedral Christmas cheer!
The concert will have local artists and musicians plus other performers from near and far and music for all tastes, from pop to classical.. If you were lucky enough to attend last year this is a date not to miss.
What better way to welcome in the New Year than by a celebration of music in the Dornoch’s atmospheric cathedral.
Doors open at 6.15pm with entry by donation. Hope to see you there!
Graham McCarthy
Dear friends,
I don’t know about you but I haven’t taken well this year to the shorter days that come with winter.
Usually I enjoy the stay-at-home cosiness of it all. I mean, if you ask me, it’s never too early for jammies at the best of times! And so what if hibernation mode leads to an extra pound or three on the hips, there’s good reason those jammies are elasticated!
But… the season isn’t, this year, for me, the contented sigh it so often is. And hunkering in just doesn’t feel to be an option. Maybe because the world itself feels sometimes to be pressing in. Too much uncertainty. Too much violence. Too little trust and tenderness to pull us through.
If you feel like me, navigating Christmas could be even trickier. And getting in the Christmas spirit a bit of a tall order… if, I guess, what we mean by that is jollying ourselves up and getting on board with making of Christmas opportunity to up the consumer ante.
But what if getting in the Christmas spirit is actually to expect to find such elusive things as trust and tenderness. Because isn’t that how God came to us that first Christmas. Leaving behind power and knowledge such as we can only imagine. Entering the world the same way we all do, in the womb of a woman, trusting her to nurture and protect and grow God in tenderness.
There is the wonder of it, the mystery, the beauty.
I pray, as Christmas nears, we all might find a little of this wonder and mystery and beauty settle in our soul, opening us to trust and tenderness, making of us a shelter for God who comes to us still. And real joy and deep peace will surely become us all.
Go gently, friends, venture well. And a truly happy Christmas to you when it comes,
Carol Anne
The photo shows the Theatre Group youngsters holding a “pose” at the end of their “signature dance” “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.”
You can see “The Rumble” live as part of “The Revolting Cinderella“, coming to the West Church Hall on Saturday 14th December.
King Foolhardy and Prince Love-a-lot plan to hold a disco where Love-a-lot will choose a bride from any of the women there-and live happily ever after …they imagine! Not realising times have changed, Foolhardy and Love-a-lot are in for a rude awakening!
Entry is by donation and we are looking forward to two packed houses! Hope to see you there!
Performances will be at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Get Saturday 14th December in your diary.
Graham McCarthy
Tuesday 24th December 11.00 for 11.30pm: Watchnight Service – Cathedral
Sunday 29th December 11.00am: Family Service in West Church Hall
Monday 30th December Tower open 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Tuesday 31st December – Labyrinth in Dornoch Cathedral 4.0pm to 6.00pm
Wednesday 1st January – DORNOCH HOGMANAY STREET PARTY in The SQUARE
Thursday 2nd January – 7.00pm Concert with local talent in the Dornoch Cathedral.
Sunday 5th January 2025 11.00am: Family Service in West Church Hall
Find five minutes to come and meet Dotty the Donkey and follow the Christmas Trail. This is perfect for little ones and parents and grandparents to come together to find out what Christmas is all about. As you follow the trail, you’ll find things, draw, give yourself a hug – or hug each other – and more besides. And, at the end, there’ll be a treat and a special invitation, just for you.
Once again, this year the Dornoch Firth Parish Womens Group are staging their “No Tree Christmas Trees Exhibition in Dornoch Cathedral. Designed by local businesses and organisations, both young and old, displays can be viewed from Saturday 7th to Sunday 20th December.
Be sure and visit and enjoy the wonderful imaginative creations.
Here’s a picture of one of the Christmas 2023 ‘no tree’ trees in the Cathedral.
Christmas 2023 example
Roddy MacLean, Dornoch Parish Organist and Golspie Choral Choirmaster will have a busy December.
The Service to mark the closing of Kincardine Church had a full Church on Sunday 13th October. The local school, Gledfield Primary, had their own special Service on Friday before the pupils broke up for their October holidays. This was very fitting as the school was used for Services while the current Church was being built in 1909.
Regular Services were conducted until the end of December 2023 when Kincardine, Croick and Edderton and Creich Church and Dornoch Cathedral were united in a new Union, the Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland on, 1st January 2024.
The Service was be led by Interim Moderator for the Dornoch Firth Parish, Rev. Alistair Drummond, and supported by Rev. Carol Anne Porter, Locum Minister for the Parish, the Rev Mary Stobo, and Amanda Anderson, Highland & Islands Presbytery Support Officer, read the official closing statement at the end of the Service before Rev. Drummond gave the final blessing in Kincardine Church.
It was a historic and emotional occasion with some in attendance who were married, some were baptised and many whose parents had gifted various items to the Church. There was time after the service where the sizeable congregation shared memories with a display of photos as they enjoyed refreshments and the usual quality spread of goodies that Kincardine are noted for.
The Choir performed a concert in the wonderful acoustic and gorgeous setting of Dornoch Cathedral. They performed a range of contemporary choral music, as well as some choral classics.
Entry to the concert was free, donations welcomed.
University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir to perform in Dornoch Cathedral
The University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir comprising students and recent alumni of the University of Aberdeen. Conducted by Sam Paul, an alumnus of the University, the Choir specialises in contemporary choral music and also works with young composers and conductors.