Hi,
Hope this finds you well.
I hope you all have a good weekend ahead as restrictions lift somewhat. We also have communion to look forward to and Scott outlines that below. Some of us have been reading Sinclair Ferguson's book about church life. He writes: 'Communion, Reconciliation, Benediction, Proclamation, Consecration, Anticipation - these words sum up the meaning of the Supper for us. Think of it in terms of any single one of them, or any combination of them, and its meaning will become clearer to you. And as you focus on how Christ makes himself known to you in these ways, coming to the Lord's Table will mean more and more to you.'
It's good to read of the Coffee Club looking ahead to when they can meet again, and those at the PULSE prayer meeting on Wednesday this week heard from Pauline about how things are beginning to start again with the children. From young to old, let's keep praying that things keep heading in the right direction and we can have some sense of normality soon. I for one am getting my vaccination this weekend...yes, they've started doing the young ones now.
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
From the Manse
Dear Congregation,
Every Sunday worship service is a time to look forward to!
What opportunity to gather with others to give God the praise He deserves. What delight to anticipate that the creator of the heavens and the earth might address each of us in our need (and as a congregation)!
This Sunday (18th April) we can especially look forward to being uplifted by His spoken Word and “visible word”. We aim to share in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper together on the premises. We have not celebrated the Lord’s Supper together since last September! While fifty will have booked to be on the premises, we invite those of you who have professed faith in the Lord Jesus to prepare elements of bread and wine at home, so that you might also share in the Sacrament with those on the premises.
During the service I will address those of us at home in the service and I will encourage us to eat the bread and drink the wine together (home and in the Church premises). Though separated by distance and perhaps a wavering WIFI signal, by the Spirit of God, it will be “Communion”; communing with the Lord and also with one another!
If it is your habit to join in worship using the recording at a later time, perhaps this Sunday you will consider worshipping with us “live”. I will be advising that no-one should attempt to participate in Communion from home if watching later on the recording. Sharing the Lord’s Supper “online” already takes our theological understanding of Communion to the edges. Partaking the bread and wine later at time when the congregation are not joining with you I think undermines the corporate nature of the Sacrament and the act of remembering together. We begin worship at 10.30am.
Fifty +?
I have news that the limit of fifty worshippers will be removed from Sunday 25th April. This is great news and we would anticipate being able to accommodate more than fifty. However, we will still be restricted by the size of our sanctuary floor space as there is the need for two metre distancing. This becomes slightly more complex as we group couples and families together.
Though the number may increase, we shall still have to register with Eventbrite so that we can work out seating and also keep a record for track and trace.
Hizkidz? We are hoping to initiate outdoor Hizkidz activities during worship and we are aiming also for the 25th April. Legislation is changing fast and the details are still emerging of what is and what is not permitted. Watch this space!
Bob Perry
It was with sadness we heard this week of the death of Bob Perry, one of our long-standing members.
Bob expressed wishes that the service would be a simple graveside service at the cemetery in Tillicoultry where Cathy is also buried. Because of Bob’s wishes and COVID restrictions, the funeral will be by invitation only.
Our prayers are with the extended Perry family at this time and especially Bob’s children; Keith, Campbell and Ruth. The funeral will be held on 26th April at 2pm.
(The photo shows Bob with a donation of threads for Angelic Threads who made masks for the first lockdown in 2020)
HRH Prince Philip
A friend of mine shared with me a letter written for his church fellowship in light of the passing of HRH Prince Philip.
"We feel - as thankfully do so many in our nation tonight - as a family in mourning. This morning, our daily prayers for the Queen's Consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, were spoken for the last time. We now know that 'the lot is cast in the lap, and the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord'.
Throughout his life he gave recognition to his baptism into the Greek Orthodox Church, which includes many of the Lord's faithful people, and then to his Confirmation into the Church of England, conform with our Constitutional law. His ventures in Christian thinking took many turnings, but in his discussions and his writings he asserted his belief in God as Creator and sustainer of all life and the need for the Christian call for justice and salvation.
Beyond that, I for one, cannot say. But I know this. On my last visit to his Church at Crathie - not very long ago with my cycling group - his Church Officer told me that he never missed a service. He and the Queen entered the Church by separate doors and sat in separate pews. This demonstrated that they were there to worship GOD, and that neither the bond of 'family' or 'celebrity' could be allowed to undermine that, even for the Royal Family. (No 'family church', whatever that usually divisive statement is supposed to mean, but the Church of God.) In their worship they were faithful and humble.
The Duke lived in marriage with the Queen for 73 years faithfully by her side (what a testimony in this generation!), accepting subservience to her God-given rule over his own personal ambitions, and he lived daily and hourly with one who said to her whole British subjects that if they would receive Christ as their personal Saviour he would give them 'power to be called the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name'. Did her Consort not hear that faithful plea?
One of my lifelong friends from the age of 12, a faithful Christian who stood shoulder to shoulder with me in the daily revival prayer meeting we organised at my school, Hutchesons', became the Royal Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen Mother at the Castle of May. There he faithfully spoke the whole counsel of God with a welcome hearing, to herself and to her family. Were they without faithful words? Only the Lord knows the outcome. But this we can say with assurance. Today we have lost more than we can ever conceive, and in such a time as this, we lament that we may never see his like again."
Tommy Mackay, Dumbarton Free Church
Coffee Club
The Castle Coffee Club was the first church activity to close last year as a result of Covid-19. Since we closed in March 2020 some of the volunteers have been keeping in contact by phone with the guests. We have also been able to make up gift bags at Christmas and Easter which were delivered to each of the guests.
As our guests are on the whole in the most vulnerable group we haven’t been able to have any face to face meetings, even when things were a bit more open last summer. We have thought long and hard about how we can get together and recently had our first Coffee Club Zoom meeting!
It was a delight to see 5 of our guests taking part along with some of the volunteers. It was joy tinged with sadness as we had just learned of the death of Bob Perry. Bob was an enthusiastic advocate for the Coffee Club and is remembered for his bright smile and sparkling conversation! On one occasion he brought the Maxwell Message when he spoke about his favourite hymn.
Meeting on Zoom has its limitations as not all guests can access the technology! However those who were able to take part enjoyed the occasion although we all missed the home baking especially Priscilla’s meringues!
Elizabeth Smith
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
Where does your comfort lie?
A remarkable piece of writing from John Calvin showing us that all the Christian’s comfort and hope rests in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
“It follows that every good thing we could think or desire is to be found in this same Jesus Christ alone.
For, he was sold, to buy us back; captive, to deliver us; condemned, to absolve us;
He was made a curse for our blessing, sin offering for our righteousness; marred that we may be made fair;
He died for our life; so that by Him fury is made gentle, wrath appeased, darkness turned into light, fear reassured, despisal despised, debt cancelled, labour lightened, sadness made merry, misfortune made fortunate, difficulty easy, disorder ordered, division united, ignominy ennobled, rebellion subjected, intimidation intimidated, ambush uncovered, assaults assailed, force forced back, combat combated, war warred against, vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned, the abyss sunk into the abyss, hell transfixed, death dead, mortality made immortal.
In short, mercy has swallowed up all misery, and goodness all misfortune.
If you were thinking about making a donation to Glasgow City Mission anytime soon, this may be the time!
Those taking part in the Virtual Kiltwalk will see all donations augmented by a HUGE 50% from the Tom Hunter Foundation.
If this interests you please follow the link to one of our volunteer's pages - and donate HERE
If you have any questions please contact Jack Geddes 07714 983075.
Registering for Worship in April
There are spaces for the Sunday services in April. (If services are oversubscribed, places will be allocated as fairly as possible on a rota basis, and you do not need to worry that you are taking a place away from someone else.)
The cut-off for registering for places on Eventbrite for Sunday worship each week is 11pm on the Thursday before
If there is space for you to attend in person, you will receive an email from Eventbrite on the Friday morning immediately prior to the Sunday (this is in addition to the original Eventbrite confirmation email that you have registered for places).
Please do not attend if you have not received this second email.
The services will continue to be live-streamed - click here for the church page on YouTube.
If you have any difficulties with the booking process or have any questions, please contact Lorna Hamilton on 07736 420564 or the Church office.
Wednesday at 7.15pm - 8.30pm
Look out for the Zoom link in your email inbox for this meeting.