Welcome

This week there's lots going on and we are ALL needed to play our part at Maxwell.
Although we have people in place to cover many of the tasks required to run a busy church this is in reality only a skeleton staff. It is good governance to have more than one person to cover each role. That allows folk to take a break  or even be ill without everything falling to pieces.
Several people have multiple roles and that is leaving little time for home and family.

We need people for food/ hygiene coordination - this is so we can offer food and drinks to the children at the holiday club but will also mean food can be prepared for future church functions. Please ask yourself if you could step into this role?
For now the Holiday Club is postponed until we have all the relevant paperwork in place.

There is a request for people to help serve at Communion - it's only a few times a year and with a  number of people on the register you may only be called upon once or twice per year.

The A/V team, Tea and Coffee rota, the Sunday Music Group could all do with a few more people. This will allow the teams to have a break/ holiday or even have time off occasionally.

We really need a team of people to deal with various aspects of the finance and not leave it to just one person.

The Facebook page, church magazine, management of the halls, managing  the church emails are all dealt with by single people and it is good practice for at least one other person to be involved in these aspects of church life.

We are fortunate to have the people who have stepped up and it's been amazing that the team have got the manse into a good enough condition so it can be let out bringing in much needed income to Maxwell. I'm sure we are all grateful to these folk who have used their practical gifts and given up their time.
Thanks to Shona and Lorna who have taken over organising the tea and coffee rota.

Although we have hit several bumps recently and it may feel like we are back at square one we must have faith that God has brought us here for a reason. It's all in His time and it's part of His plan. 

If I had a penny for every time I heard "but I can't do that or I don't have any gifts," ....
We all have gifts. Some gifts are for things we enjoy other gifts are for serving others.

" God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given the glory in everything through Jesus Christ.." 1 Peter: 10-11.

Please read the magazine and ask yourself where can you serve? We don't do it on our own but through God who works through us.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7: 7-8.

Denise 

Mike's Word of the Week

We can only give away what we already have. It’s no use offering somebody something they need if we don’t have anything to give. That is so obvious it is hardly worth stating!
 
But when it comes to being of real help and comfort to others, people can find themselves with an empty tank and nothing to give from the heart. They may go through the motions of doing the right thing, but somehow or other the most important ingredient is missing.
 
There isn’t one of us who hasn’t gone through tough times and faced difficult problems, and in this verse Paul is encouraging us to learn how to draw our deepest level of comfort from the Lord himself, who is described here by Paul as the God of ALL comfort. He is the one who understands our deepest sorrows, our most severe rejection, our most painful bereavement. He knows from experience what it is to suffer such powerful pain and trauma. He went through all of this for us.
 
So Paul encourages those of us who are seeking to be mature in Christ, to draw on the love that heaven offers, and be personally comforted by God. In that way our resources of love will be full, and we will have and overflowing resource to give to those who may not yet be in the same very blessed situation of knowing the Lord well enough to draw directly from Him. If we have been filled with His comfort, we will always have plenty to be able to give to others.
 
Prayer – Help me Lord, to do draw on Your love that my heart will always be comforted by Your presence with me. Please help me to keep my eyes open for those in need of Your comfort so that I can share the blessing with them. Amen

Minister's Absence Cover

Our locum minister, Mike, is on holiday from 6 May - 19 May (incl.)
Rev Alasdair McMillan (from Cathcart Trinity Church) is covering pastoral emergencies
in Mike's absence.
Contact details are 0141 391 9103 or 07745 313778.

Mike's Holiday

I am on holiday for two weeks and Rev Alister Bull will lead our services on the 12th and 19th of May.
I return on the 20th of May but Rev Dave Sutherland (Interim Moderator) and I are doing a pulpit swap on the 26th of May, Dave will be at Maxwell to meet you and I will be leading the service at Dave's church which is Hillington Park.
I look forward to being back with you for our communion service on the 2nd of June. 

MUSICAL NOTES                                                  

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that your Sunday music group very much enjoys leading the congregation with the songs and hymns.  We love to hear the congregation in full voice – and you don’t let us down.
However – it would be great if we could add to our numbers.
At this time I would love to be able to  welcome another two people to join the singing group. I know you will enjoy it.  This will enable us to set up a wee bit of a rota so that folk can have a holiday now and then.  Please think about it and let me know if you can help us.
Looking further ahead – watch out for some exciting musical news about Christmas –  Ok I know we still have the summer to look forward to but -  yes, we do plan ahead!!
 
Ian G

Blythswood Care 

As a church we have supported Blythswood Care through the annual Christmas shoebox appeal. A group of us fill shoeboxes throughout the year so there is a pile ready for collection in November. We fill these boxes with donations or things we have collected from friends, family or by bartering. There will be jars of home made jam at the back of the church on Sunday. Yours in exchange for a donation. This allows us to go and buy things to put in the shoeboxes. There is also a box at the back for you to place anything you think would add a nice touch to the shoeboxes.

If you would like any information please speak to Lesley or Denise

Inspiration Orchestra 

Ian White, Christian singer/songwriter and known to many for his albums of Psalms, works with the Inspiration Orchestra, a project aimed at enabling disabled people to play beautiful music. 

Ian organised the festival which ran last year for the first time and was a huge success.

Please check out the website and plan a time in the day to come along and enjoy what's on offer at Pitmeadow Farm while supporting this fantastic project.

Leaflets available at the church on Sunday.
 

Maxwell Mearns Castle Church Prayer Meeting

Be joyful in hope
Patient in affliction
Faithful in prayer.

Romans 12 verse 12

Food Hygiene Coordinator/s

We are looking for one or two people to be Coordinator/s for Food Hygiene.
There will be a great deal of support from Church of Scotland and Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.
This will include good practices and training for everyone who handles food.

Please contact office@maxwellmearns.org

Communion    

We are looking for people who are willing to assist in the serving
of communion.
Having a bank of people to call upon would be the ideal.
If you are able to help with this ministry

Please contact the office@maxwellmearns.org
 

Holiday Club

We had hoped to have a holiday club for Primary age children during the summer holidays but time was against us.

It is the length of time it will take to get us all checked for safeguarding that made us realise it would be too tight a time line.
So for now this event has been postponed.

Watch this space for further news.

Audio Visual

Each Sunday a few of us are up in the balcony making sure you can hear the Minister and band, operating the computer to show the slides and recording the service to upload to our website and YouTube. We really could do with a few more helpers so we can get some kind of rota organised and provide cover when people are ill or on holiday. 


Everyone joining is given training and will just watch for a few weeks to see how it is done before being let loose with the equipment, at that point they will be guided by someone and not left on their own until they feel ready.

If you are interested please speak to Stuart

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Advance Notice for Session/Board Meeting

The next Session and Congregational Board meeting will be
Monday 10 June in the West Room at 7.30 pm

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Tea / Coffee Rota

5th May - Lesley Y, Seona K, Ruth B
12th May -Shona L, Anne M, Karen M

There are spaces on the rota so please consider putting your name down for the rota as the more folk help, the less frequently you will be called upon.

We are really trying to become greener and it really helps if people bring their own cups/mugs.

Thank you
Shona L and Lorna Mc N.
 

Castle Cafe

The next meeting of the Castle Cafe will take place on
Thursday 9th May at 2pm. in the West Room. 
It's a great way to get to know members of our Church family and to strengthen relationships.

We will have plenty of chat with tea/coffee and sweet treats.
Denise will be speaking about the work of Blythswood Care.
                                       Everyone welcome

Bible Study

Maxwell Pray Now Group Pray Now is a WhatsApp group for Maxwell members

This group sends out occasional requests for prayer. In particular those which might be regarding things more acute or immediate. At present there are 17 of us who, when we receive a request for prayer, stop what we are doing and pray for whatever has been asked.

Are you on the Pray Now WhatsApp Group? If you want to be added to the group to receive prayer news then simply ask Denise 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 Denise  and she will organise for news to be sent out.

Getting To Church

Should anyone require a lift to Maxwell Mearns Castle Church or to the Castle Cafe, then please do let us know. If you are willing and able to offer a lift please speak to Norman or Denise or
Please email: office@maxwellmearns.org

Safeguarding At Maxwell Mearns

Safeguarding – Ensuring a Safe Church for All 

If you suspect or witness harm or abuse, or it is reported to you, you must immediately report it to one of the Safeguarding Coordinators:

May Taggart, Rev. Dave Sutherland.