Fernhill and Cathkin Church of Scotland

Transcription

1 Fernhill and Cathkin Church of Scotland Church News November 2016

2 INTERIM MODERATOR Rev. Dr. Leslie Milton 74 Stewarton Drive, Cambuslang, G72 8DG Tel: LOCUM Rev. Stewart Smith Tel: SESSION CLERK Fred Abercrombie 8 Fennsbank Avenue, High Burnside, Rutherglen, G73 5LR Tel: CLERK TO CONGREGATIONAL BOARD Karen Watts 26 Lochbrae Drive, High Burnside, Rutherglen, G73 5QL Tel: TREASURER Janette Forsyth 12 Lochaber Drive, Springhall, Rutherglen, G73 5HZ Tel: ROLL KEEPER Archie Paterson 3 St. Stephens Avenue, High Burnside, Rutherglen, G73 5LS Tel: Our mission is: To offer worship to the glory of God, to work in partnership with our communities and to welcome, in friendly and practical ways, those who seek a better understanding of God. Fernhill and Cathkin Church of Scotland, 115 Fernhill Road, Rutherglen, G73 4HP Scottish Charity No SCO Church of Scotland Congregation Reference Page No. 1

3 Dear Friends, I m writing this before the last Sunday in October, when the clocks will go back one hour. Did you remember to put your clocks back? I know I will, because it means an extra hour in bed, and to me, that seems like a good idea, well worth remembering. Well worth remembering too, but on a quite different level of importance, is Remembrance Sunday. This year, it falls on Sunday 13th, when our morning service will start half an hour earlier, at 10.45am. This is to enable us to hold the time of Silence as close to 11am as possible, commemorating the moment when the guns fell silent on the Western Front, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and the First World War came to an end. We are well aware, of course, that that was not the end of war. Remembrance Sunday now includes the Second World War, and all other conflicts since, in which men and women of the Armed Forces have been involved. This is a time to remember, to give support through the Poppy Appeal to all the work that s being done to help injured ex-service men and women. And to pray and work for peace. I hope we will all want to join in that special service. At the end of the month, we have another service, with remembrance at its heart. Sunday 27th November is Communion Sunday, at which we hear again Jesus words Do this in remembrance of me. I very much hope that we will all want to join in that service too. One of the important aspects of our Presbyterian celebration of Communion is that we each of us serve one another with the Bread and the Wine, the symbols of Christ s own body and blood. This in turn strengthens our sense of being in communion with each other, through our Communion with Jesus. That reality of the Church as a community has always been central to the Church s life. I m sure it has been true here since Fernhill and Cathkin Church was established over 50 years ago; I m equally sure that it will continue to be central in the years to come. So please do come to that Communion service, to share again the Love that holds us all together. That last Sunday in November is also Advent Sunday, when the Church begins to look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas. So this coming month promises to be very special. May we all continue to know God s blessing in all that it holds for us. With every good wish Yours Sincerely Stewart Page No. 2

4 Dear Friends I always find that November is a special month for me. The month begins with All Saints Day, and in the Church s year this begins a season when we have a special time of remembrance for those who have died. There is sadness in this, particularly for those who still feel deeply the loss of their closest loved ones. But there is also Christian affirmation the belief that the love of God is not broken by the power of death. The confident faith of Easter finds its fulfilment in this season of All Saints. The love of God could not be defeated, Jesus who died on the cross could not be contained in the tomb. The power of death which confronted the love of God as Jesus was crucified was never the conqueror. Our Christian affirmation is this: just as Jesus died and was raised from the dead, so the love of God is not defeated by the power of death. In the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, the apostle speaks of Jesus as the first fruit of those who sleep. Christian faith is faith in resurrection. In this remembering month we are encouraged to remember, to tell the stories of the people we have loved. For those of us who have lost loved ones we can perhaps speak differently about those we have lost than we once did, in the shock of an initial bereavement. We can remember, and celebrate, and maintain our closeness to the people from whom we are separated. And we can know that in a special sense they live on, because we have become the people that we are because our lives were changed by them. It is my prayer that in this month of November all of us will find a time to remember and to celebrate the people who have been special to us. Christian faith is not about denying the sadness that we feel, but about knowing that our pain is not the only story that we tell. We tell stories of how love is kept real through remembering. We tell stories that are about the hope that in our time well will find our union with those we have loved in the love of God. May God richly bless you, and keep you firm in hope. Leslie Milton Interim Moderator Page No. 3

5 Funerals Mr James Morton 62 Fernbrae Avenue died 28 th September Mrs Sheila McKay 3 Craignure Road died 9 th October Mr James Marshall 10 Bredalbane Gardens died 22 nd October Mr Jim Russell funeral 31 st October Door Duty & Offering Rota Nov 6 3 H. Flesher, A. Borland, J. McGregor, D. Hastie Nov 13 1 D. McLeod, S. Stewart, D. Hastie, F. Abercrombie Nov 20 2 B. McGarrie, B. Kelly, E. McGowan, J. McIntyre Nov 27 3 H. Flesher, A. Borland, J. McGregor, D. Hastie Dec 4 1 D. McLeod, S. Stewart, D. Hastie, F. Abercrombie Dec 11 2 B. McGarrie, B. Kelly, E. McGowan, J. McIntyre Reader & Flower Rota Readers Flowers Nov 6 Scott Wilson Mrs McGeachie & Mr E. Phillips Nov 13 Youth Leaders Mrs Adams Nov 20 Donald McLeod Mr MacRae Nov 27 Archie Paterson Mrs Wills & Mrs Murdoch Dec 4 Fred Abercrombie Mr & Mrs McGarrie & Mrs N. McDougall Dec 11 Scott Wilson Mrs N Russell What s On Nov 13 Nov 26 Nov 27 Remembrance Sunday Service at 10:45am Christmas Fayre Communion Page No. 4

6 Creche Rota 6 November Grace Robb Jean Wills 13 November Ellen McGowan Bridie Kelly 20 November Eleanor Wylie Karen Watts 27 November Kirsteen Johnston Jean Wills 4 December Joan McMillan Emma Blair Thank You Thank you to my church family for the lovely flowers I received after a short stay in hospital. God bless. May Blakeman To our church family and Stewart. On behalf of the family we would like to thank everyone for their support and cards and flowers during my father s illness and his sad passing away. Also Stewart for taking the service on the day of the funeral also thereafter at the Linn Crematorium. Also I would like to thank my niece Kellianne for bringing to life my father s memories, also my daughter Jayde for her well spoken bible reading. Thanks from Eileen, Janice, Carol, Irene and the rest of our family Page No. 5

7 Vacancy Update This month I have some news for you regarding the vacancy. First we collected the keys to the new manse on 28 th October (2 weeks later than originally planned but it was worth the wait). Second At the service on 6 th November I was able to read two edicts relating to the search for our next Minister. These edicts stated that the Nominating Committee have now unanimously agreed on a person we think may lead us forward here at Fernhill and Cathkin and intimated that Miss Aquila Ruth Singh will preach as sole nominee to the congregation on 20 th November. Immediately following that service everyone on the electoral roll will be given the opportunity to vote for or against Miss Singh becoming our Minister. The vote will be private (so no pressure on anyone) and the result will be given at the same meeting. I know you will have lots of questions but please don t pester the members of the Nominating Committee as we feel it is better if you form your own opinion of Miss Singh on the day and not be swayed by the committee. Please try to attend worship that day and plan to stay on for a short while for the voting and counting process to occur. It is an important day in the life of our congregation. Fred Abercrombie Session Clerk Coffee Morning On Saturday 15 th October we held a coffee morning in aid of church funds and, while it was not particularly busy, it benefitted from some very generous donations. Thank you to all who came along on the day and to those who couldn t make it but donated anyway. Thanks, also, to the myriad of bakers who donated delicious cakes etc (I know because I sampled everything in the interests of quality control, of course). Special thanks to Margaret and Liz who ran the kitchen aided by Grace and James. We raised the fantastic sum of 450. Fred Abercrombie Page No. 6

8 Christmas Fayre Saturday 26th November am till 2pm Our Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 26th November in the Large Hall from 10am. We will have the usual stalls. Do you have any unwanted Christmas gifts for our stalls? (They must be in pristine condition and UNUSED). Sorry but we are unable to accept any second hand items, and no cupboard clearouts please! Please hand in any items any Sunday morning and these will be gratefully received. Teas and Coffees and filled rolls will be served all day, and a lunchtime menu will be available. So why don t you make a note in your diary now, come along and bring a friend? We look forward to seeing you on the day! P.S. If you are able to help on the Friday evening and on the Saturday we would be delighted to see you. Archie Paterson Ways & Means Convener Scripture Union Primary and Secondary Lanarkshire Weekends Bookings are now open for the Scripture Union Lanarkshire Weekends. The Secondary event takes place from Friday 18 November to Sunday 20 November The primary weekend is set for Friday 17 February to Sunday 19 February Both events are taking place at Lendrick Muir and cost 60 per child. Bookings for both these weekends are now open on the SU Holidays website - Page No. 7

9 Cambuslang & Rutherglen Reachout Trust All Inclusive Training, 8th November, 7:30pm, Flemington Hallside Church Practical tips, ideas and strategies for working with children or young people in your group with additional or support needs. Reachout will be hosting this essential seminar in partnership with Urban Saints for all parents, teachers, church leaders, youth and children s leaders who work with children and young people with special or additional needs. Tickets are 3 each or 5 for two booking is essential. Please contact Ross or Gillian on to book your place or alternatively office@crrt.org.uk Drivers Wanted Would you be prepared to become a volunteer driver for the Food bank? We urgently need people to help us by picking up donations from contributors and taking them to the Warehouse at St Columbkille s. This is mainly done during weekdays in the morning or afternoon. However we also have pick ups at Supermarkets which can be done at weekends. I should warn you that the donations are usually pretty heavy. If you are able to help please contact me at or or by at smeats@smeats.plus.com Thank you, Maidie Smeaton The next CHURCH NEWS will be published on the first Sunday in DECEMBER and cover December and January.. Contributions for that edition of CHURCH NEWS should be given to Fred Abercrombie at any time but before THURSDAY 24th November at the latest. Contributions should be written or typed or can be ed to Fred Abercrombie at fred.abercrombie@btinternet.com Page No. 8