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No.76 - 8th October

Hi,

Hope you have had a good week and are well.

A really varied magazine this week - much of it Maxwell related of course and I hope you will consider what you can be involved in or or support. Not long until the Walk Thru the Old Testament event - I've attended this before and it's really good. I'm planning to go again. Would be great to see a lot of Maxwell folk there, spending time together - something we haven't been able to do for so long. I think because of its timing it's offering much more than just the opportunity for digging around in the Old Testament, it's a great chance for fellowship too.

Enjoy the mag!

From the Manse

Dear Congregation, scott

Water

It has been a hard and frustrating week on the church grounds trying to find our leak. We did discover a number of things:
We discovered there is an unusual pipe arrangement at the top of the driveway where the water meter connects: the pipe from the top of driveway down is plastic and was presumably replaced around 2001: the pipe does not lie anywhere near where our plans say it should: we know lots of places where the pipe does not lie: we discovered that there is a second “toby” near the halls which was not on the plans: while the pipe to the play area is plastic, the pipe from the play area up the grass to the church is cast iron: we discovered that it was in this cast iron section that the leak was finally found! The cast iron pipe will be replaced with a new plastic one and the job finished by Friday night! Let's literally thank the Lord in prayer. (This is a late edit on Friday night. They could not finish which means that while we have water in the halls we have to access the sanctuary from the midlanding of the halls. We cannot drive up the driveway to the church or walk up there safely. Unfortunately, we have to go through the ground floor of the halls and up the stairs. The saga continues a bit longer!)

digging

We are indebted to Sandy Halliday who was outside in all kinds of weather watching over the job!
Water is now back in the premises and we are working on back-filling the holes.
A shortage of supplies is preventing us from completing the reconfiguring of the piping at the meter. The trench which has been dug in anticipation of this rectification will have to remain until the parts can be secured. The trench is barricaded, but please be careful driving past it as the driveway necessarily narrows at that part.

Areas that were previously tarmac will be tarmac once again but only after the earthwork has had time to settle.
Please be patient with us till we finally return everything to normal, and please pray for the resumption of full use of the premises.
Many thanks to the elders who oversaw the availability of water to the toilets during the last few weeks!

National Giving Day Facebook b

As we have been hearing over the last few weeks. The Church of Scotland will let Maxwell Mearns Castle keep 100% of the offerings on or before 31st October if marked “National Giving Day” or “NGD”.

As minister, I have personally soaked this matter in prayer since I first heard of this opportunity and have become convinced this is an opportunity to secure the role of Family And Children’s Worker and Youth Worker for the coming period. The Board and Session are committed to these two roles and our prayer is that you share in that enthusiasm for this form of young people’s work!
Last week, I referred us to 2 Corinthians 8-10. It is a lovely passage about giving because a particular need prompted the church in Corinth to want to give to help shore up where that need existed.
This is a lovely passage because it makes clear that in the apostolic gospel, freedom, cheerfulness and personal desire to give lies behind Christian giving.
There is an old Scottish anecdote apparently drawn allegedly from the conversation between two “old biddies” in a congregation where there was a desire to fund some kind of ministry opportunity. One of the old biddies turns to the other and says, “the kirk’s aye wantin”.
We genuinely do not want anyone to be feeling that at Maxwell!

However, if any of us do feel anything like that, then please, we would encourage you not to give at this time. We want you to be completely free to give or not! We would want our hearts to be akin to those of Paul’s counsel to the Corinthians. I am personally excited about the potential here and would love all who join in this invitation to share that joyful potential. Our passion in this project is to serve our young people as best as we are able at this time. We believe that this includes the roles of Family and Children's Worker and Youth Worker.

Thank you for the inventive ways you found during lockdown and worship restrictions to send in offerings. In regard to this project because they have to be marked clearly “NGD” or “National Giving Day” we think these three options might be the simplest to participate through.

By cash (please place in an envelope marked “NGD” or “National Giving Day”) and that can be placed in the offering plate on a Sunday or given to an elder.
By cheque (please ensure that you have marked the back “NGD” or “National Giving Day”)
By bank transfer (with the reference space marked “NGD” or “National Giving Day”)Church Bank Details

Account Name: Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church
Sort code: 82 68 32
Account Number: 20050219

With warmest regards,

Scott

CHURCH OFFICER'S FLAT

We require a Project Manager to oversee the decoration of the church officer's flat.

This is not a huge job but will entail a survey, creating action points and then coordinating work to be done.
The flat is generally in good order and no major works are required.

If you have the time to commit to this please email Jack Geddes at jgeddes0802@gmail.com. Thank you.

Artist's impression of the inside of church flat.

Praise Event

There is a Praise event planned for 21st of October. 7pm-8pm Put it in the diary!!

It's led by Ian Hailstones - look out for the zoom link which will be sent out soon.

When Good really means Essential

“It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” Heb. 13:9

Lord Jesus, talk about understatements. Saying it’s “good” for us to have grace-strengthened hearts is like saying it’s “good” to breath air every minute, drink water several times a day, and get some sleep every night. This time, “good” means essential.

The more our hearts are strengthened by your grace, the more they’ll beat for your glory and worship you with wonder. We won’t worry, vex, and blame as much, but will love, trust, and serve you more. We’ll be more curious than judgmental, and more likely to overlook “stuff,” than keep a record of wrongs.

We will repent quicker, forgive deeper, and laugh louder. Gospel-parties will show up on our schedules more often than pity-parties. We won’t take “slights” and “disses” as personally; but will take the Gospel way more seriously and joyfully, and deeper into our hearts.

Finding our place in your Story will supplant giving you bit-parts in ours. We’ll be more generous with our time, talents, and treasures; and hoard fewer resentments, grudges, and irritations. Giving people the benefits of grace will override our desire to give them a “piece of our mind.”

So, Jesus, lead us to the gym, training table, sauna, spa, and regimens that will cause our hearts to grow stronger and stronger in your grace. So very Amen we pray, in your awesome and caring name.

Scotty Smith

You can subscribe to receive the link to Scotty Smith' daily prayer here.

Ladybird Book of Maxwell

Christianity in Public Office

There can't be many more difficult jobs to have when it comes to being able to speak clearly about your Christian faith than to be in politics.
Kate Forbes is the second most senior politician in Scotland after Nicola Sturgeon and is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy. The link below takes you to a podcast where Tim Fallon asks her how she copes with being a Christian in the public eye and answering difficult questions and how the SNP holds together militant secularists and committed Christians. Tim also shares his view that the fuel shortage is highlighting, once again, how humans are not as in control as we think.
Listen here.

Saturday 30th October at Maxwell

10am - 4pm

It is now time to get signed up for our Walk Through The Bible event.
You have all hopefully kept the date free and should now get your name down and secure your spot on this unique and exciting event.

BOOK ONLINE HERE

Learn the depth of the Old Testament.
Understand the OT's purpose and significance.
See how it points to Jesus and listen to some invaluable guidance on how to explain what the Old Testament is all about to a friend, family member or colleague in just 3 minutes.

"Relax and enjoy the journey as an experience guide encourages you to see God's Word through the Big Picture. The FUN and MEMORABLE sessions will help you learn with such CLARITY you'll be able to retell the whole STORYLINE to a friend. We will also do our best to INSPIRE and EQUIP you to keep digging deeper. "

The cost is £14 per ticket, but well worth it for a full day of instruction, learning and interactive Bible Exploration, and includes a work book.

Bring a packed lunch - tea and coffee provided.

For all Adults over school age. Sign Up NOW!
Daniel

ERGoodCauses

Last week we had an article on East Ren Good Causes.
Russell made the mistake of sending in the following photo...we asked for some photo caption suggestions...

"Police are offering basic Cycle Proficiency Courses and Russell now knows which way up the bike goes."

"Russell had gone 3 times round the block before realising that it wasn't an exercise bike Yvonne had bought"

"Russell is caught stealing air from the tyres of bike chained up outside Police Station...'Macmiilan (25) later claimed, 'I was going to put it back in later'.

Why Is “Be True to Yourself” a Bad Philosophy?

This sort of statement and others like them ('You do you', 'as long as your happy' etc) are so much part of our culture these days, especially for young people, that it seems strange to challenge it - and yet the Gospel at the very least asks us to be careful with thinking like that, and it may even be giving us a clear warning about what is underlying this thinking.

Here are 3 very short answers to the question to reflect on. Click on each one for the 1-2 min videos.
Answer 1 Answer 2 Answer 3

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.

Blythswood Boxes

We are planning on checking Christmas Boxes for Blythswood again this year.

Changes have been made so we comply with distancing and covid regulations but this is so everyone will feel safe.
We will have to limit volunteers to 8 at any one time.

Everyone will have to wear a mask.
Hand sanitiser, masks and gloves will be provided.
All helpers should be fully vaccinated
Perspex screens will be used.
Tea and Coffee will be provided in disposable cups - or even better bring your own cup.

The garage is now clean and clutter free ready for the first delivery of boxes.
We plan on checking boxes for the month of November but may be ready to start a couple of days earlier.
Firm dates will be conveyed as soon as we have them.
If you would like to fill a box, covered boxes and leaflets are available in the vestibule of the Church.

Denise.

Carpets and Rugs

As you know we are about to start sorting Blythswood boxes. We have recently had a huge clearout of the garage area, and following a mouse infestation, have also tossed the floor coverings.
Please can you look in your lofts or garages for any large carpet offcuts etc you may have to help us cover the floor to make life a bit warmer for the Blythswood sorting team. We are not looking for brand new carpets, but extra large rugs, old carpet off cuts etc would be gratefully received.
Speak to Sue if you can help.

Christians Against Poverty

CAP is adapting and growing and this means we have a number of roles available that we would like to fill with top-quality, skilled people who love Jesus. Many of these roles are flexible and could be done remotely or hybrid.

Find out all about CAP here.
And there is an excellent little overview leaflet here.

In last week's magazine there was a number of roles available in this ministry - take a look back to last week to see the full list.
"Maybe one of these roles is the perfect opportunity for someone in your church! We know that the UK Church is full of talented people who are passionate about helping others. Can you help us reach those people, by sharing the video below with your church? By getting the message out on your church website, social media, and perhaps in the church bulletin, you could be helping someone find their next dream job!"

We are back in the church hall for Prayer this week.
Wednesday night at 7.15pm.
For this short term we shall meet in the Main Hall. We hope you can make it!

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.