Hi,
It's been another great week of weather in Glasgow (my software checked that last sentence for spelling, grammar and then it ran a live fact-checking tool) and hopefully you have been able to enjoy some of that. It's good (and easier) to thank God for the weather when the days are sunny and bright and I think over the last 18 months with so much requiring to be outside or with windows open the Lord has been extra gracious to us in that regard. Really good to see that the Youth were able to get away for a weekend too...there is a photo below. One of these images that sums up the weird times we live in - I'm assured they were all definitely smiling behind their masks...although there is a rumour that John McNicol was sticking his tongue out.
As ever, the magazine walks the line between, what is often termed 'the sublime to the ridiculous' - all you need to do is to fathom which is which.
Enjoy the mag!
MB
It's amazing what you can find in a church building!
If Jungle Adventures weren't enough Pauline has been exploring some of the parts that people rarely see at Maxwell (No, not the prayer meeting ...)
Pauline writes...
Just been doing a clear out in the room off the garage at church. We found these three things!
Underneath a pile of small slabs we discovered this British Locomotive sign dating from 1921! (see above.) Does anyone know anything about it?
We also discovered a large spirit level which possibly pre-dates 1938 from a Birmingham based tool maker John Rabone and Sons.
And finally, did this hymn board come from the original Maxwell church or were they up in our current building?
Get in touch with Pauline if you have the answers to these questions, or if you want her to come round with Colin and the kids to clean your garage.
HAVE YOU ORDERED YOURS YET? Copies are £6 each - order now from office.
This book will be a great encouragement to our individual and congregational prayer-life.
Email the office to have your copy on standby (maxwellmearns@hotmail.com).
Reading Plan: This link takes you to a reading plan to read in bite size chunks (with others?). Download and print off or ask Margaret Boyd for a copy.
Maxwell - Post Covid?
"A lot of people aren’t coming back to church. Let that sink in a minute. Real people—souls, names, faces, and life stories who you know and love—are most likely not going to return to regular church gatherings in a post-pandemic world.
The reasons will vary. Some simply got out of the routine over the past year and now prefer time on their boat on the weekends. Others, with their ‘free pass’ to skip church this past year, have come to realize that they don’t really know why they went in the first place. Others may still take a Sunday hit of spirituality from a live-streamed church service, but will have no qualms about ‘doing church’ on their phone. It may be that some families with only one believing parent have now formed a new weekend routine, and the believing parent simply won’t have the will and endurance to steer the family ship back to church."
This is an excerpt from the beginning of a short article from the Good Book Company. What are we to think about church life as it appears just now?
A very interesting and sobering blog entitled 'The Great Winnowing'. Read it here.
Youth Weekend Away
We had a fantastic weekend at SU Gowanbank house in Darvel last week. God was good on all fronts as everything ran smoothly and the young people were all amazing. Despite having to wear masks, we were able to return to what felt like a relatively normal youth residential.
We studied the book of Esther in which our youth leaders Ian and Rachel also lead us for two of our sessions. John led the leaders each morning in the Bible and turned his hand to every task. Entertainment was not in short supply with ‘just dance’, campfires, and local sports halls all adding to the experience.
Last but not least our cooks (Anna and Sandra) were amazing and kept us fed and watered in style. We have so much to give thanks for and we thank the congregation for their prayers and also the fantastic response to our request for baking. We trust God was working in the hearts and minds of our youth to draw them closer to Himself.
Daniel
St.Luke's, Hiranpur news
It's been a tumultuous time for St.Luke's Hospital and for Lis and Shubhro Mullick. The latest news is now available on their website. Naturally, after the experiences of the pandemic they have been asked.
'What of the future for St Luke’s Hospital?'
Here is their answer...
On 1st August part of our daily Bible reading included these verses from 1st Chronicles
“Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.”
Throughout the world, and especially in more remote places, the greatest need to sustain any hospital is human resource, and for a mission hospital these will be men and women whom God has chosen. From the world's viewpoint what does a mission hospital have to offer ?
A good salary ? Access to good education for staff children ? Guaranteed time off duty to enjoy with family and friends ?
No - from the world’s viewpoint, anyone choosing to work in a mission hospital is foolish, and some may even say irresponsible.
So, when anyone gets that heartfelt desire to work in the mission hospital, it is God alone who has put it there.
We keep on persevering asking Him to send men and women to help at St Luke’s Hospital
Please hold Lis and Shubhro in your prayers. This link takes you to their latest newsletter with updates from the hospital and the surrounding area as they seek to cope with Covid in India.
Funeral Cover
Scott will be on holiday from 16th August and will return on 30th August. In Scott's absence the Rev Seoras Mackenzie will be available to lead any funerals . Seoras will be living at the manse and can therefore be contacted on the usual manse number, 0141 560 5603. You could also contact Seoras through Sue at our office 0141 639 5169.
Prayer Meeting – The Pulse:
Wednesday evening at 7.15-8.30pm.
We hope you can make it!
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
Sunday Morning
Since we are no longer registering for Sunday morning services we're introducing the use of a smartphone to scan our own new “QR code” for track and trace purposes. The QR code will be displayed at the entrance and inside the sanctuary so as not to have to queue. You can complete the registration inside.
The process is simple. Select the camera app on your phone.
When you hover over the QR code image with the camera app, an invitation pops up on your phone.
Select that invitation and it takes you to a web page where you can input your contact details.
This is a free Government service. The door team will help until we get familiar with this system.
We shall also be prepared to manually record the presence of those who do not have smartphones with them or feel this would be an easier process for them.
Service of Profession of Faith
We are beginning to plan for a service of profession of faith (and baptism if required). If this is something you would like to know more about, or have already been thinking and praying about this, please contact Scott or Daniel.
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.
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.
Harvest Appeal
The Harvest Appeal letter is available by clicking the link below...Here is a snapshot:
Harvest time will soon be upon us and a number of you have been asking for our Harvest List to help the congregation bring specific items of food that we require to help feed our visitors each day.
We appreciate that many churches are not back to pre-Covid numbers and that it may be more difficult than normal to provide the fantastic support you have given for many years. We are very grateful for any donation which you are able to give.
Your contribution has meant that we are still able to provide free breakfast and lunches to our Service Users. We require around 100 harvests to enable us to provide all these meals over a 12 month period.
We will be able to accept harvest donations any weekday during our opening times, 8am till 3pm. We have not yet commenced our weekend service but by arrangement we can open on a Sunday to allow you to bring food directly from your church service. (Phone Helen on 0141 552 0285.)
The Harvest list is here and it's important that we stick to this list of Required and Not Required for reasons outlined in the Appeal Letter - which you can read in full here.
If you would like a printed copy, please call Helen (0141 552 0285) or email enquiries@lhm-glasgow.org.uk.
St Andrew's First Aid Course
Saturday 4th Sept (9am-4pm or earlier) at Maxwell Mearns Castle Church
Emergency First Aid (certificated Emergency First Aid)
This course is designed for anyone who wishes to gain a basic insight into First Aid. (Bring a pack-lunch)
Course content includes:
· Managing an incident
· Priorities of First Aid
· CPR
· Disorders of the airway
· Disorders of circulation
· Control of bleeding
· Burns and scalds
· Miscellaneous conditions e.g. injuries to bones and soft tissue, poisons, hypothermia
The certificate for successful completion of this course is valid for three years.
There are places available at a cost of £55 per person (payable in advance via bank transfer).
Please contact Fiona Waugh (07795361752) or Sue at the office (0141 639 5169) to book your place. Places are limited (maximum of 12) so please book early.
Fiona Waugh