Hi,
Hope this finds you well.
3 Questions for you...
Have you worked out who is in your bubble for Christmas yet? It's all a bit wearing isn't it? But at least we are back to 50 in the church on a Sunday morning. I heard good things from those who watched the service on the TV last week through the wonder of YouTube. Scott thinks he is now eligible to go head to head with Ant and Dec in the National Television Awards next year - don't forget to vote for him when that comes around.
And have you read your 'Playlist' Book yet? It's really good...you can read it over a couple of days, and then pass on to a friend or neighbour. It's makes all the difference if you can say something like, 'I've just read this - it was really good... it's the best news I've ever read and I definitely don't want you to miss out.'. I actually practice what I'm going to say to someone before giving out something like that because it gives more more chance of actually doing it.
Have you sent in your Christmas Greeting to Sue yet? Not just to Sue of course, although I'm sure she would appreciate it. Details below but we want everyone to join in. Send in asap.
Lastly, the worst thing I heard on the radio this week (and surprisingly it wasn't on the Jeremy Vine Show) was a life coach reminding everyone that happiness is to be our goal in every aspect of life. For instance in relationships you need to make sure that
'they are serving you well'. And what if they are not? Move on, ditch that person, look for someone else to 'serve you well?? What godless rot. But like most things when you hear things like that doesn't it make you see how brilliant it is to know Jesus and His Gospel. There is someone who came not to be served but to serve. Such good news! And here's the thing. He knows what we are like at our worst. He knows we are failures, and serve him very poorly indeed. He knows it all, and He loves us all the same. Forever. Not until He gets fed up with us, or if we buck up our ideas. Here is Jesus talking about 'Christmas' and what it means for us: "
Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:37,38)
Enjoy the mag.
MB
Magazine No.36 (13th December)
Special Christmas Services BOOK NOW!
Eventbrite is now open for registration for places in the Sanctuary for the remaining Sundays in December, as well as our additional Christmas Services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Please do book for these services - Don’t worry if your plans change as Lorna can cancel your registration if you text or phone on 07723 420564. To ensure we fill any cancelled places, please keep an eye on your phones on Sunday mornings. Also, please do not attend unless you receive a second Eventbrite email which confirms your places (the first initial Eventbrite email just confirms the registration of your places).
A Gift!
With Covid restrictions you may not receive as many gifts this Christmas. We want to make sure you receive at least one!
The book will be given out in worship and for those unable to attend worship, your elder will ensure you receive one.
Have you got your copy yet - do let Sue know if you haven't and we will get one to you.
The book is not a long read so when you have finished, if you know someone who would benefit from it, gift it on.
Scott
Earlier this month at the PULSE prayer meeting we heard from Lis Mullick, who with her husband Shubhro heads up the work at a rural Indian hospital in Hiranpur.
Many of you will already know about their work there and it was great to be able to support them earlier this year and the monies given by Maxwell people has helped raise enough for an ambulance.
What was most surprising perhaps of all the things Lis shared was that due to the fact that they have been 'stuck' in Scotland since coming back at the start of lock down in India the ability to reach more people in the area around the hospital has actually increased. Remarkably, using WhatsApp (and with other doctors around the world supporting) they are dealing with more cases than would have been possible had they been in India. Having said that there are currently no doctors actually in St. Luke's and they are waiting to for the opportunity to go back when possible.
There is lots more news in their recent newsletter (Autumn 2020) which you can access here along with other news from St.Luke's. (The photo shows Joni who until earlier this year was working with Shubhro and Lis - her moving on has been a blow to them and staffing of Doctors continues to be an issue- lots to pray for!)
There is a newsletter from the Alexanders available - a really interesting update as the family move from their time in Zambia with OM and Andrew takes up a new role as Director of Development with OM in Canada. Read about it here.
The Home Groups will start again in January.
If you are not in a group don't miss out - they run at different times during the week. Let Scott know if you would like to be involved.
We shall be using a booklet called 'These Truths Alone' studying the 5 'Solas' of the reformation:
Christ Alone, Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, To God's Glory Alone.
Look out for more information coming out soon.
The Big Switch Over
Just a quick reminder that we have moved the streaming of services over from Facebook to YouTube.
Go to YouTube and search for Maxwell Mearns Castle Church.
YouTube is also available via your TV
We need your help!
With the absence of the pigeon holes to drop off Christmas cards at Maxwell this year, we want to give you the opportunity to send greetings to your MMCC friends a bit differently.
Send in names and photos appearing on the screen at a church service during December. Send to maxwellmearns@hotmail.com. Or just call Sue and she will sort you out.
You can simply send in a line or two i.e. 'Wishing everyone at Maxwell Happy Christmas - love from Paul, Barnabas and Mark.'.
The other thing you can do is send a photo along with your greeting - (best Christmas jumpers on?)
Or better yet, you can send in a photo with the text you want printed on the photo. (See the attached pdf with a simple way of doing this).
We hope as many people as possible will take part in this and it would be especially good if you could send a photo too.
Please send in by Wednesday 15th.
You are warmly invited to an 8-week course that creates a space online, where people can have an exciting conversation about faith, life and God.
Alpha is a place to ask the big questions of life. Connect with others online to watch a series of episodes and explore the Christian faith together. The course runs for 8 weeks and registering is easy.
You will hear more about the course in the next few weeks but NOW is the time to start to pray and plan about which of your friends or family you could ask to be involved. It starts on 31st January 7-8.15pm each evening.
The Session has been encouraging all of us to take the opportunity to speak to people about our faith and have suggested the Word 121 material (details at the bottom of this page) as a means for getting friends and families to open the Bible and to discover who Jesus was.
Often getting into discussions like this can lead to some deep questions and questions we might refer to as 'Hot Potatoes'. You know the type of thing: Are you saying Jesus is the only way to be right with God?; Is Hell a real place? What does the Bible say about sex and sexuality?; Isn't the Bible old fashioned and sexist and full of fairy stories? All the types of questions which might just make you a bit nervous about answering.
The nervous bit is natural - you just have to get on with it...it's too important not too.. As for having a reasonable answer there is really nothing you can do to overcome this other than preparing. Yes, its okay to say, 'Let me have a think and come back to you with an answer on that.' ( and then go and have a good think and ask for some help) but having some thinking in place already makes such a difference. Why not take the time to read a short book to make sure you are as wise and knowledgeable as possible.
The books I'm suggeting here are all very accessible. Confronting Christianity is probably the most demanding (but it's not really) and I think is the best apologetic book I have read. All of them cover the most common questions you will get asked in a straightforward way, and give you good ways of answering your friends and defending Christianity.
If you are not sure which might be best for you take a look at reviews on line (10ofthose.com, goodbook.co.uk are good places to look) or ask me if you want more information.
Martin B
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
A sample of the special edition Ladybird book of Christmas at Maxwell
Plan to make space in your busy week for joining with Maxwell folk on Wednesday at 7.15pm for prayer and fellowship.
The virtual doors open at around 7.05pm if you want to mingle beforehand.
“Immanuel” means the ideal has become real, the absolute has become a particular, and the invisible has become visible.
The incarnation is the
universe-sundering,
history-altering,
life-transforming,
paradigm-shattering event of history.
Tim Keller
The Kirk Session has been encouraging us to build into our lives a desire to share the Gospel in a simple way with friends and family. To this end, we are being encouraged to use “The Word One To One” material.
Let’s all try and find one person to open John’s Gospel with. Remember to share online by zoom or by some other platform, you can download the exact same booklet. Simply go to our website; www.maxwellmearns.org and press the “Church Life” tab > then press the “Reaching Out” tab and scroll to the bottom of the page. You see all 11 booklets listed and available for download.
Speak to Margo McN if you would like to see a copy of a booklet.