No.124 7th Oct

Hi,

Hope this finds you well.

Busy magazine this week - some notices of events you will have seen before but there are new things too. In fact, it seems that mentioning Christmas last week has opened the Festive flood gates and so take a look and fill your diary. Curries, Quizzes, Ceilidhs and Choirs - it's going to be a busy end to the year.
... the notices don't come in any particular order in the mag and being near the top often just depends on a mixture of petty favouritism and bribery.

Make sure you take time to read Scott's article as it lays out a summary of the Presbytery Plan as things stands at present.

And take a note of the eco challenge for Sunday mornings - bring your own cup for tea or coffee after the service. Although this week it can be used at the Church Lunch following Jacob's commissioning...hope you can stay around for that.

Without further ado...enjoy the mag!

Commissioning Service

for JACOB INGLESON

Everyone is welcome to morning worship on Sunday 9th October when we will be formally launching Jacob’s ministry amongst us.
Please note the date and plan to stay on afterwards as we enjoy a delicious lunch and time of fellowship in the Maxwell hall.

From the Manse

scott and anita Dear Congregation,
I sent out an email to the congregation last Monday detailing the most recent information regarding the Presbytery Plan.

Now that a draft plan has been created for our cluster, our Kirk Session has agreed it with Presbytery and the other congregations are in the process of doing like-wise.
The short summary of what we have agreed to is that;
…Maxwell Mearns Castle Church will not have a union or linkage during these plan years (this is the same for Eaglesham).
…Broom, Mearns Kirk and Newton Mearns are to become one congregation during the plan years.

The Plan is meant to be agreed by the end of 2022 and made effective by end of 2027 – if the Lord has not returned with His different eternal plan for all His people!

For those of you who would like a little more insight into what is happening, see below!

Presbytery Meeting

The draft Plan is being presented to Presbytery this Saturday (8th October) in a marathon day of business which begins at 10am. You are welcome to attend as we have been “cited” to attend because we are affected by the business. Zone 4, in which our little cluster of five congregations resides, is to be discussed at 3.40pm onwards.

You can see the whole Plan for Glasgow Presbytery on the front page of the Presbytery website (click here) and the front page of our own website - with additional information.

Buildings

The draft Plan identifies all buildings in the Presbytery with one of two letters, A or B.

“A” = “those to be retained for the next five years” (by 2027).
“B” = “those to be disposed of/repurposed” during the next five years.

Currently, there are 130 buildings in Glasgow Presbytery. Seventy-six of these buildings have been given a status “A”. Eighteen have been given a firm “B” status.

However, there is a provisional “B” category for those buildings in areas where decisions have not yet been made. Thirty-six buildings fall into this category – including all our buildings (Broom, Eaglesham, Maxwell, Mearns Kirk, Newton Mearns). This provisional B status is meant to give flexibility in decision making.

Ministry Allocations

We know that "The Plan" reduces the number of ministry positions in our cluster from five to three. These three positions are called “Full Time Equivalents”. That is what I am: a “Full Time Equivalent”!

As we try to work down to that number there are some interesting local factors.

“Unrestricted Tenure”: Rev Jade Ableitner (Eaglesham) and myself have been called to minister in our congregations on what is called “unrestricted tenure”. This means that by ordinary circumstances there is no time limit on how long we might minister amongst congregations. Rev Joe Kavanagh and Rev Jim Boag are also on this same status.

Regarding this status, “The Presbytery Mission Plan Act” (which governs how The Plan is implemented) says;

8.1 No Basis of Union or Linking shall be distributed by Presbytery to the office bearers or members of a congregation where the minister has been inducted on the basis of unrestricted tenure without the consent of that minister.

This means that Presbytery cannot enforce change on a minister who is called on the basis of unrestricted tenure. Change has to be with the minister’s agreement.
Reviewable Charge: Rev Stuart Crawford was appointed to Newton Mearns Parish Church with it being a 5-year reviewable charge. Stuart is in the last year of that period. Rules affecting this type of charge are designed to bring flexibility to the planning process (which unrestricted tenure potentially blocks).
Retirement: The Process of reducing the number of ministers in a cluster can be managed through the ordinary process of retirement. Should any ministers in a cluster choose to retire during the plan-period, the details of the Plan would take effect in that vacancy. This may become relevant in our cluster.

Assuming the Plan is passed at Presbytery on Saturday 8th or soon after, discussions between our five local congregations will have to resume to deal with the outstanding issues of buildings and ministry allocation. Let me ask for your prayers in this regard as these will not be easy conversations.

I hope the above brings a little bit of clarity. You are always welcome to email me questions or comments. This is best done by my own email address rather than the office one; skirkland@churchofscotland.org.uk

Warmest Regards,
Scott

Ladybird Book of Maxwell

Grace, Tara and Chiara hope you can keep the date free and join them for what will be a really enjoyable and fun event.
Speak with Kirsty Bell if you need more info just now.

Maxwell Christmas Choir

- starts 11th Oct

IT’S OFFICIAL – CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE! So said Marks and Spencer in a recent advert! Well, here in Maxwell, Christmas may not be ‘here’ but we are starting to prepare for it.

Free yourself up from whatever you were doing for Tuesday 11th October, 7.30pm in the church.
This will be the first rehearsal and information night! All are welcome, whatever your ability of singing (men and women).

We would like to form a choir to sing Christmas songs for a musical evening in December and possibly at the Christmas Eve service. This is a click here for a link to an audio file of one of the songs planned for the choir. Even if you can only one of these nights because of other plans - that is ok, you will be welcomed for whatever night you can make it.
If you are interested in singing in the choir, please let Ian Gillis know by emailing him on gillisian44@gmail.com and/or by coming to the first choir practice. Other practices will be arranged at that first meeting.
We look forward to seeing you and hearing you!

Ceilidh - for your diary!

MMCC celidh

BLYTHSWOOD BOXES

Denise and Lesley busy in the basement last year....hopefully no masks needed this year!

We plan on starting checking Blythswood Shoeboxes at the end of October and all through November.
As Blythswood no longer have a permanent warehouse in Glasgow things may be a little different.
It is hoped checking will continue as normal and as soon as I have a firm date for starting I will let you know.
Denise Lowson

Jesus Has Left The Building

From Scott:
I am aware that a number of us receive regular communications from "The Gospel Coalition". The Gospel Coalition is an American based "fellowship of evangelical churches in the Reformed tradition deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures".

They have circulated an article (3rd October) "Jesus Has Left The Building" (click here for link). It focuses on a particular congregation taking over a redundant Church of Scotland building in Aberdeen. Their minister Rev Dr David Gibson has invited Rev Dr Sinclair Ferguson to assist him in this new ministry. A video presents their prayerful aspirations. However, the article below the video offers a brief reflection on the recent history of the Church in Scotland and particularly the Church of Scotland. It is a sobering (re:sad) read. However, there is also great encouragement from the emergence of a congregation like Trinity Church. The article includes a link to a longer interview with Sinclair Ferguson which is something of his own testimony with personal insights into the Church In Scotland. You will find the podcast here.

We are planning to have a Christmas Family Funday on Saturday 26th November.
Our Funday has been a huge success over the past years and is an ideal opportunity to bring together families within our community. We plan on having various stalls : bouncy castle, lunch, illusionist show, nativity story, Christmas crafts, competitions, home baking, and any other ideas you may suggest! If you would be able to help with this event either planning, supporting through prayer or on the day helping with stalls etc please get in touch with Fiona 07795361752.
We would also be grateful for any donations towards various stalls and competitions:

Nearly New Toy Stall - please hand in any toys in good condition you wish to donate and we will store them until the event.
Home Baking - all donations will be greatly appreciated and will give you a date nearer the time for donations to be handed in.
Various Prizes - any unwanted gifts you may have received but will not use eg toiletries, chocolates, sweets etc

This will be our first Christmas Playgroup Family Funday (we previously planned it around Easter) and look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to our event.
Fiona Waugh

Richard and Carrie Gamble

We had the blessing of Richard Gamble's ministry among us (2014-2015) when Richard was studying at Cornhill and had been put on placement with us. Richard is now a pastor in Bothwell at the church formerly known as "Bothwell Evangelical Church" and has been renamed "Grace Church, Bothwell". Richard has ministered there for two years. Let's pray for Richard and Carrie in this ministry.
Scott

Prayer points from Richard

- Give thanks that we have been able to move as a family into Bothwell recently which has been a significant but very positive move for us. Kids now at Bothwell Primary School. Carrie is teaching two days a week at Melville-Knox a Christian school in Glasgow. Family all doing well.
- Give thanks for a sense of momentum within the life of the church. We have new members & families joining with us and also we have recently refreshed the name of the church (see above).
- Pray that we would be faithful in holding out the word of life and that it would bear fruit here in Bothwell.
- Pray for wisdom, patience and endurance for myself. There is much that is encouraging but naturally challenges as well.

Best wishes to all at Maxwell and thank you for your prayerful support.
Richard

Lodging House Mission are looking for volunteers to serve food during the week.
If you are able to volunteer, please contact

E-mail: enquiries@lhm-glasgow.org.uk
Tel: 0141 552 0285
They are located at
35 East Campbell Street
Glasgow G1 5DT
.....and are open Monday to Friday.

Support for those returning home in Ukraine

Thank you to those who have dug out wonderful winter wear and have been crocheting for my previous appeal. It will travel to Ukraine over the next couple of weeks.
There has been an additional request for any foodstuffs that can be quick cooked with boiling water as in many cases, that is all that is available. Cup soups, pasta, instant hot drinks and the like would be appreciated. The other urgent need is for dissolvable sachets of cold and flu medication - it seems to get through customs more easily than the tablet form. Many people are already struggling with colds and flu symptoms and the medication is not available in those areas. Many of these folks are "camping" in their gardens as there houses are gone.
Happy to accept at home.
blessings
Sue

Our Church is a member of Eco-Congregation Scotland
(see details in last week's magazine here.)

Maxwell Eco Challenge

Bring your own cup!
I think it would be better for the environment if each individual bought our own reusable cup (I recognise some of you already do this) which we could bring to church and take home every week. This is one practical way we could all contribute to reduce our Carbon Footprint as a Church. In addition to the reduction in wastage, with the ever increasing cost of the recyclable cups, this would also help our church finances!

Graeme Lipsett

Fighting for the Family

Conversion Therapy - Assisted Suicide - Education
The Christian Institute Scotland are touring Scotland to help Christians understand these topics better - 'the need to fight for the family has never been greater'
More information will be in future magazines but note the Glasgow dates are Mon 7th and Wed 9th Nov.
https://www.christian.org.uk/scotlandtour/

The weekly prayer meeting is now on a Thursday!
7.15pm - 8.30pm
All welcome.

Are you on the Pray Now WhatsApp Group?

If you want to be added to the group to receive prayer news then simply ask Margaret and she will add your number to the list.

If you have a matter that you would like to be prayed about in this way, you can contact Margaret Boyd or Scott and they will organise for news to be sent out.