In Summary Location Worship Pastoral Care Youth and Young Families Music and Art The Guild Christian Aid Rainbows, Brownies and Guides The Community and Jordanhill School Ecumenical Relations and Overseas Links Governance Communication Stewardship and Finance The Church The Manse Presbytery Plan Some Statistics Church Staff Our Next Minister
Location Jordanhill Parish Church is situated in the west end of Glasgow, north of the Clyde Tunnel, close to Anniesland Cross (see map). The original church building in 1858 was in Knightswood Road, but by the turn of the century the Kirk Session had decided to move nearer to most of the congregation, and in 1902 the present location was chosen for the new building, on the corner of Woodend Drive and Munro Road. The service of dedication was on 8 June 1905. Currently (1 December 2014) there are 400 members on the congregational roll, of whom 17 are adherents. So far this year we have had 5 baptisms, and 9 funerals. There have been no weddings. Worship Sunday worship is held at 10.30 a.m. each Sunday. A family service is also held at 9.30 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month, and every week throughout the summer holidays. The service is led by a rota of volunteers from the congregation. The focus of the service is young families, and includes short prayers, bible stories and fun practical activities. In addition, Worship on a Wednesday is a short half-hour service, at 10.00 a.m., to which members of the congregation regularly contribute. On the second Sunday of each month, a service of prayers for healing is held following the 10.30 a.m. service. A monthly service also takes place at Jordanhill House (a care home within the parish) to which members of the congregation contribute. The Worship Workshop is a group of about half a dozen members who meet with the Minister around four times a year, to discuss plans for future services, or raise issues relating to worship. Sometimes the minister may ask for assistance from one or more members with readings, prayers or reflections for a particular service. Occasionally the Worship Workshop will take responsibility for a whole Sunday service, and will also contribute to evening services on each evening of Holy Week. We use the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and CH 4. We have a Page 2
modest library from which members may borrow books, and a bookstall once a month. Pastoral Care Pastoral care is considered to be of crucial importance in the life of the congregation. It takes several forms, ranging from visits to the elderly housebound members, to those who are unwell whether at home or in hospital, and to providing audio copies on CDs of the regular Sunday morning services. This service is greatly appreciated, and its value cannot be underestimated. There is also an induction loop system in the church. Home communions are arranged from time to time as and when requested. The Flower Committee arrange flowers in the sanctuary week by week. Following the Sunday service these are delivered to those who are ill, housebound, or bereaved, and this is a very tangible way of showing that they are remembered when they are not able to attend church. The Committee also decorate the sanctuary for Easter, Harvest and Christmas. A Committee which makes a key contribution to pastoral care is the Church and Community Committee. Its functions include the organisation of a car rota which brings members to Sunday morning services who would otherwise not be able to attend. The Committee also produces Christmas and Easter Cards which are delivered throughout the parish. Youth and young families For many years the nurture of faith and provision of Christian education for the children and teenage members of our church family has been central to the spiritual life of our congregation. This ranges across several groups and activities including the provision of a crèche each Sunday during the 10.30 a.m. service and three Sunday morning Junior Church groups for children from approximately five years of age up to teenagers in Senior Secondary School. The church has had a Youth Worker for many years and this position is vacant following the recent departure of the last incumbent to a permanent position in Dundee. The Youth Worker fulfils a broad range of Youth Ministries including regular evening year-based youth groups aiming to cater for secondary school pupils within the parish. Currently, we have a group of eight young people - and two leaders - who are fundraising to go the Botleng township in South Africa in July 2015. Whilst there, they will build two houses, run youth groups within the township, and visit a local orphanage. This is the third project of this nature which has taken place in Jordanhill Parish Church; previous expeditions have widened these young people's horizons, developed their confidence, and helped them understand the world a bit better. Page 3
Efforts are made to welcome young families into the congregation, via the early services on Sunday mornings. (See reference to early morning services above.) Music and Art Music is integral to the life of Jordanhill Parish Church in many ways, facilitating an inclusive culture in which all are encouraged to give of their best. The musical activities provided by the Church also impact significantly upon the wider community, specifically through Jordanhill Community Choir, Jordanhill Liturgical Choir (an ecumenical initiative), and Jordanhill Parish Church Handbell Ringers, as well as singing activities for young children with the Jordanhill Sparklers group. The rich and varied programme of music is overseen by the Director of Music, Alan Tavener, ensuring that the musical dimension of Sunday services has a central role in our worship. The Church Handbell Ringers were formed in 1990 with a legacy to the Church. They now have three octaves of bells and three octaves of Malmark handchimes. Their music ranges across a broad spectrum, from classical to folk, popular hymn tunes and music specially composed for bells. From time to time, the Handbell Ringers take part in church services, notably the Christmas Eve services. They give concerts to many different types of groups and have also raised considerable sums of money for a wide variety of charities. Music is not the only creative art catered for in Jordanhill; we also have an Art Group and a Craft Club. The former, which meets fortnightly from September to April, is a small group for anyone interested in painting or drawing. Work is done in several different media, with a constant exchange of tips, hints and ideas. The Craft Club, which also meets fortnightly, is a community group and is attended by ladies from across the city. They quilt, embroider, knit and exchange ideas. Page 4
The Guild Jordanhill Guild is a branch member of the Church of Scotland National Guild. Meetings are held on alternate Tuesday evenings, beginning at 7.30 p.m. A short period of worship is usually followed by invited speakers who bring news of current Guild-supported projects or of the local and national work of the Church of Scotland. Some meetings are led by Guild or Congregation members who have something interesting to say about their travels, hobbies or involvement with organizations, people or events of general interest. In-house evenings often find Guild members getting hands on experience of craftwork, flower arranging, cookery (making and tasting) and other practical activities. The Guild Committee aims to plan a varied, interesting and enjoyable programme for the session with ample time being allowed towards the end of each meeting to allow members to catch up with each other socially, a hugely important part of the Guild s reason for being. Christian Aid Jordanhill plays a full part together with neighbouring congregations, in Broomhill, Balshagray Victoria Park, All Saints Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic congregation of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in supporting the work of Christian Aid. In addition to the main fund raising week held in May, two coffee mornings also take place throughout the year. Rainbows, Brownies and Guides The 55 th Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet in the church halls, and have their annual Thinking Day service in the church. links with the community and Jordanhill School The church s Wednesday Café began with a tentative six-week trial in 1998, and now has a very special place in the weekly calendar. The menu of soup, toasties, filled rolls, fresh fruit and home-baking is greatly enjoyed by many church members, friends, and families within the community, including Primary 7 and some Secondary pupils from Jordanhill School. There Page 5
is time to chat over coffee after the midweek service, and then there is a real buzz at lunchtime. All of this is catered for by the kind volunteers of the Café team who also provide and serve the food. Jordanhill Parish Church enjoys a particularly positive relationship with Jordanhill School, at both Primary and Secondary levels. The minister is the School Chaplain, and school services are held at Christmas, Easter and at the end of the school year in June. The church provides accommodation for Jordanhill Out of School Service (JOSS). This service caters for the childcare needs of some 160 families in the Jordanhill area. JOSS currently has just over 200 children registered to use the service. The service is open from 7.45 a.m. till 9 a.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. during termtime. JOSS is a charity and employs 10 people. On weekdays, the church also provides accommodation for a Nursery and for a Toddlers Group. Another group accommodated in the church is the local Kelvin Probus group which meets fortnightly in the Memorial Hall. Accommodation is also provided for the monthly surgery of the local councillor, and the monthly meeting of the local Community Council. On the sporting side, badminton and karate clubs meet in the Memorial Hall. Charities which are supported by the Church include the Lodging House Mission, the Whiteinch Foodbank, and Starter Packs. Ecumenical Relations and overseas links For many years, Jordanhill Parish Church has enjoyed a strong relationship with All Saints Episcopal Church, our near neighbours in Woodend Drive, as well as with the congregation of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, in Mitre Road - also within our parish. A close and particularly rewarding link has existed for a number of years with the Carmelite Sisters in Kirkintilloch. Overseas links over the years have been particularly strong, ranging from students from Duke University in the USA who joined us as Assistant Ministers, to ministers from Sri Lanka and South Africa. In addition, during the previous minister s spell as Convener of the Board of World Mission, we learned much about life in Egypt, Malawi, the Middle East and the Indian Sub-Continent, and as a result were able to support a range of projects. Page 6
Governance The Kirk Session and the Congregational Board are the two main courts which manage the church s business. Both are supported by various sub-committees. The Worship Workshop referred to above and the Youth Committee report to the Session, while the Finance and Property Committees are sub-committees of the Board. The Social Committee provides the catering support, via tea and coffee accompanied by biscuits after the service each Sunday morning, soup and sandwiches lunches, and on special occasions such as 100 th birthday celebrations which we have been fortunate enough to enjoy in recent years. The Audio-Visual Committee is responsible for the sound system in the sanctuary which includes an induction loop system, and the recording of Sunday morning services. The Committee also takes care of equipment to help with Powerpoint presentations at Guild and other meetings. Communication A monthly bulletin LINK is produced and delivered to all members within the parish. This contains a message from the minister, and information on events and functions in and around the church (Guild meetings, Christian Aid, and many more). Also included with the Order of Service each Sunday is information on events in the life of the congregation. The Church website supplements the printed word circulated around the parish; the address is given in the Contacts section at the end of the profile. Stewardship and Finance At Jordanhill the Treasurer, who is also Finance Convener, reports to Congregational Board and Kirk Session meetings, to ensure that all Trustees are kept informed on financial matters. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 our income was 233k, 219k and 209k respectively. Expenditure was 212k, 214k and 209k respectively. The principal source of income is contributions from members, of which 85% are made under the Gift Aid scheme. At 31 December 2013 net assets amounted to 65k, of which 64k was held in Unrestricted Funds. The respective values of the church and manse are not included in these figures. It is some years since we held a stewardship campaign. However, we have had a very successful appeal for our Fabric Fund in 2014, raising from members and some others more than 200k, which will enable us to carry out much-needed restoration work on the church building. In addition, Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund have promised us 130k towards the work required. Page 7
The Church Our church building has been classified by Glasgow Presbytery as an essential building, and a start was made to a number of improvements as well as necessary maintenance work in the summer of 2014. Major maintenance work on the stonework of the church building will be undertaken in 2015 as part of this programme of improvements which have been identified as necessary. The Manse The church has recently bought a new manse, at 12 Priorwood Gardens, in Academy Park, a new development just outside the parish boundary. It is a modern house, built about 11 years ago, with three public rooms and five bedrooms. Presbytery Plan Jordanhill Parish Church has been designated as an essential building in the Presbytery Building Plan. The Presbytery Plan proposes that when the current minister in Balshagray Victoria Park retires or demits office the two churches should be involved in a linkage leading to a union. The plan also makes provision for an additional paid post to lead outreach to young people and young families within the linked charges. Page 8
Some statistics Taken from the Church of Scotland Statistics for Mission Group Religious affiliation within the parish Church of Scotland Other Christian No religion Roman Catholic All other Religion not stated Of a total population of 3,916 in Jordanhill: 33% would say they belonged to the Church of Scotland. 8% attend Primary School, and 8% attend a secondary school. 21% are aged between 25 and 44. 17% claim their pension. 84% own their own homes, and 15% live in rented accommodation. (The remaining 1% live rent-free.) Church Staff We have five members of staff. These are our church administrator (the church office is open from Tuesday to Friday during office hours); the Director of Music; the Church Officer; a Youth Worker (as noted above this position is currently vacant); and a cleaner. Page 9
Contacts Interim Moderator Rev. David Keddie, Telephone: 0141 942 5173 Email: revkeddie@gmail.com Convener of Nominating Committee Mrs. Jean Mackay Telephone: 0141 950 2268 Email: jclauder90@gmail.com Secretary to Nominating Committee David Moir Telephone: 0141 950 2161 Mobile: 0778 626 8083. Email: david-moir@sky.com Jordanhill Parish Church Office Telephone: 0141 959 2496 Email: jordchurch@btconnect.com www.jordanhillparishchurch.org.uk Page 10
Our next minister We hope that a reading of our parish profile will have made it clear that there are three areas which we believe are crucial to our Christian witness here in Jordanhill, namely pastoral care, the nurture of and engagement with youngsters and young families, and the role which music plays in our worship. Equally important is that we are looking for a preacher of the highest quality, who will also be an effective communicator with members of all ages, through contacts such as the Wednesday Café, home visits and the School Chaplaincy. In addition to this, the future of the congregation in terms of the Presbytery Plan is of key importance, and our next minister will need to be aware of the relationship with our neighbours in Balshagray Victoria Park, and the probable move towards a linkage or union in due course. Jordanhill Parish Church of Scotland, Glasgow, SC015683 Page 11