Hi,
Hope you have had a good week.
Last week Church was busier than it has been for ages and it was encouraging to see folks coming back to worship in person. More and more events are opening up - Margaret and I had the opportunity to get to the 'Hiding Place Revisited' production this week - it was really excellent and very moving. Adapted from Corrie Ten Boom's writings (Corrie, worked with her father, Casper, and other family members to help many Jewish people escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II) it was a story of forgiveness (both forgiving those who had acted so wickedly and being able to accept God's forgiveness.) Last week, there was an article about how we find our place in Maxwell, how we serve, what role we can play. Not everyone will be called to the sort of service Corrie was faced with, and we won't have our stories told decades later...in fact, much of what we do will be in the background and never even noticed by the majority of people. But our Heavenly Father sees us. With that in mind there is significant article below from the Board which we should consider.
Enjoy the mag!
MB
From the Manse
Dear Congregation,
Church Premises Closed: No In-Person Worship This Sunday (26th September)!
I am so sorry we cannot gather for worship on the church premises this coming Sunday. Unfortunately, this means our youth cannot meet on the premises either.
A water leak under the ground has stopped all water from coming to the halls and sanctuary. We therefore have no toilet facilities.
Although we have looked at various solutions none are easy. In fact, Presbytery has actually required us to remain closed because of hygiene risks they have raised with us.
Please join us in worship from home on our YouTube channel. You can access this coming Sunday’s worship from this
link.
I will keep you informed as things develop.
Scott
Let’s Join Together In Seizing A Great Opportunity:
“National Giving Day”!
As Minister at Maxwell Mearns Castle Church, I cannot overemphasize how much I value the ministries of Pauline (as our Family & Children’s worker) and Daniel (as our Youth Worker). I see up-close how passionate and hard-working they are and vitally, how gifted.
Though I have always been appreciative of them, through the ups and downs of lockdown and various COVID restrictions they have been amazing! They have both developed creative ways to minister outdoor, under gazeboes, in gardens, in car parks, online, delivering ministry packs … taking every opportunity possible. Both have worked tirelessly for our Maxwell children and those of the community.
The Board and Session are in wholehearted agreement with me on this. In fact, I know many of you are also as you have made sure to express your gratitude for them to me!
So, having said this, we have an amazing opportunity before us!
Though somewhat mis-named, the Church of Scotland is giving congregations an opportunity to make offerings up to the 31st October which will not attract the usual 50% + payment to Church of Scotland HQ. (Any offering marked with these words/letters “National Giving Day or NGD” remains 100% with Maxwell!).
Quite a number of you have told me previously that you are very happy to give to the work of Maxwell but you do not give wholeheartedly because you do not want 50+% diverted to central HQ. Here is an opportunity to give not just to the work of Maxwell generally, but specifically to our children’s and youth work!
The Session and Board think this is a huge opportunity for us to concentrate additional giving for these roles of Family and Children’s Worker and Youth Worker.
We believe that if a good number of us catch this vision, we can secure these ministry positions for maybe up to even the next 2-3 years!
The Board and Session would like us to prayerfully consider how we might contribute financially. It occurs to us that for most of us who do not have sizeable monthly income, this giving may have to be done through prayerfully looking at our savings.
Let me stress, we know that a number of us are struggling to make ends meet each month and certainly do not have savings!
We want to emphasize that we are not laying any burden on those whose lives are already financially difficult. We ask that you hear this clearly. If you are weighed down by financial concerns, we are certainly not adding to them! In fact, we had a frank conversation about this at the Board and recognized that even within the Board, where to a man and woman we are passionate about supporting these ministries, the finances of some just do not permit additional offerings over that already being given!
However, that is not the case for all of us and some are in a stronger financial situation.
We want to encourage each of us who are in this situation to be prayerful; to seek the Lord for what we may be able to cheerfully and freely give. We want you to share with us before the Lord how exciting a prospect this is!
As we reflected on the potential for securing these ministries, we noted that there are currently about 160 homes/families attached to our congregation. We wondered that maybe only half the households might be in a position to contribute to these extra offerings. If this is the case, then about 80 households would be able to financially contribute to this vision.
However, what we also recognized was that within these 80 households there is likely to be a great disparity of wealth. What for some would be an impossible amount of money to give, is for others, very possible. We were excited at the great potential here even if only half of us can contribute.
With some insight into the trends of giving in the past, we are prayerful that our giving might exceed something like this: From 80 households;
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2 might be able to give say, £5000 = £10,000
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5 might be able to give £2000 = £10,000
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10 might be able to give £1000 = £10,000
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20 might be able to give £500 = £10,000
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10 might be able to give £200 = £2000
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10 might be able to give £100 = £1000
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20 might be able to give a smaller amount
= in excess of £43,000
If we are able to add Gift Aid to all of that = £10,750
Total = £53,750
This is what excites the Board and Session as this would go a long way to securing these roles for these immediate coming years! What an encouragement that would be not only to Daniel and Pauline but to us as a whole congregation!
In advance of writing this letter, I shared our vision with a household. This household has the equivalent income of one mature primary school teacher. They immediately decided to gift £1000 (plus Gift Aid) from their savings. That money has already reached our bank account!
Another person in our congregation, on a pension, is eager to secure our ministry to the young of Maxwell and the community and will also gift £1000 from savings (and add Gift Aid).
What a great start!
That is already two of our "hoped-for " ten contributors of £1000!
We really pray that with them, you will catch this vision we believe the Lord has given us for this moment.
How to give up to 31st October:
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You can give by cash (the cash should be in an envelope and marked "NGD").
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You can give by cheque. Please put on the back of the cheque "NGD" and maybe even submit in an envelope marked "NGD" also.
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You can contribute by bank transfer. This would be our preferred option because of COVID. However, please remember to put on the reference for the transfer “NGD".
Church Bank Details
Account Name:
Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church
Sort code:
82 68 32
Account Number:
20050219
If you are already a Gift Aid giver and we can identify your offering, we shall claim Gift Aid on your behalf. If you are not a regular giver, and want to give Gift Aid, please help us identify you so we can claim this back for you.
Two key things to remember.
We must receive these additional offerings before 31st October
They must be clearly marked NGD or National Giving Day. We may not all be able to give financially at this time but we can all be involved by praying for these ministries and this unique opportunity!
Scott, on behalf of the Board and Session
"The Lord's My Shepherd!"
We are looking at Psalm 23 this Sunday.
What is your favourite version/tune when it comes to singing this most popular of all the Psalms? Crimmond? Stuart Townend's version? Well, the correct answer is actually Orlington...well done if you said that. You can listen to the Scottish Philharmonic Singers' rendition is here.
However, if you feel the magazine might not be correct and want a second opinion this article (with links to the songs) takes you through 10 of the most well known hymns based around the Psalm.
Scott tells us that he has never selected the tune "Crimmond" for Sunday worship out of concern that it will take some of us to that sore place, so often is this tune associated with the loss of those we love. However, he has broken his rule and on Sunday we shall sing Psalm 23 to this most famous tune Crimmond.
Thanksgiving Service
for the life of Elaine Brown
There will be a service of thanksgiving for Elaine Brown's life at Maxwell, at 11 am next Saturday, the 2nd of October.
All are welcome to share with the family in this time of thanksgiving.
Let's continue to take Douglas, Louise, David and the extended family before the Lord in our prayers at this time of sadness.
Scott
In this house we believe...
Even if you haven't seen signs like these on front garden across Newton Mearns you will have heard the slogans - what is your reaction to them? Attempting to distil complex issues into 'neat' statements can end up just being simplistic and trite. But they are nevertheless a secular creed for many and if you want to speak to people about Jesus, and your faith, it helps if you understand a bit about what is colouring their thinking.
This article below by Brett McCracken attempts to help us find a way to engage with our neighbours, colleagues and family in a helpful way. (If you are keen to read more then, Rebecca McLaughlin's short book 'Secular Creed', is an excellent place to start.)
Brett writes...
"Recently I’ve noticed a 2.0 version of this sign popping up on residential yards. This one makes the “secular religion” motif of progressivism even more explicit, as it begins with creed-like language: “In this house, we believe . . .” There are various versions, but the one I’ve seen most often (in at least a dozen yards in my Southern California neighborhood) goes like this:
In this house, we believe:
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Black lives matter
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Women’s rights are human rights
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No human is illegal
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Science is real
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Love is love
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Kindness is everything
You might not share the politics of the people proudly displaying these yard signs, but don’t dismiss their importance. They should be illuminating and convicting for Christians—ultimately a cause to connect rather than argue with your progressive neighbour...
Post-Christian Creed
What’s illuminating about the sign’s language is how each statement—as much as it signals particular politics with various unhelpful baggage—at root reflects or distorts biblical truth. Let’s take each creedal statement one by one."
Click here for the rest of Brett's article.
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
We have resumed our in-person prayer meeting on a Wednesday night at 7.15pm.
For this short term we shall meet in the Main Hall. We hope you can make it!
Service of Profession of Faith
We shall have a service of Profession of Faith (and baptism) on the 24th of October. If you have not already spoken to Scott or Daniel and would like to be involved in this service, please do so as soon as possible. If you would like to transfer your membership from another church to MMCC please speak to Scott also as soon as possible, so that we can endeavour to include you in this service also.
Saturday 30th October
WTTB will be coming to Maxwell on 30th October 2021 to walk us through the Old Testament.
Everyone of all age groups are welcome and more information will be provided closer to the time.
For now just get the date in the diary and block it off. This event is invaluable for everyone to understand the OT timeline, it's message and be taught how to communicate that to our friends and family in a really clear and helpful manner.
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.
BOOK IN A DAY
BOOK IN A DAY is a new initiative for this year.
We are opening up the Cornhill classroom to others who would like to join in for the day as we focus in on one book.
The first of these events is on 21st October, at 25 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HW. William Philip will be helping us get a handle on Matthew.
This would be a great opportunity for people thinking about doing Cornhill, Bible teachers wanting to be sharpened in their understanding or others who would like help understanding God’s Word for themselves. Please do come and join us and do bring others. To book follow the link below.
Prices are £20 per person, £10 for students and there are group discounts available as well. BOOK HERE