No.140.    3rd February

Hi,

Hope this finds you well.

Was thinking of how easy it is to pass things on these days... probably because my bike is getting fixed and being on the bus this week I'm wondering about the type of germs that were being passed around. But online it's just so simple, and in fact the buttons are there expecting us to 'share' and 'retweet' or let people see what we 'like'.
Now, I admit that I'm as likely as anyone to see a funny quote, or a succinct political comment, a great goal, or a small child falling headlong into wet cement and want to get others involved. I want them to like what I like, I want them to 'get it' the way I did. 

But the challenge for me is what do I, along with these other things, send round about Jesus, and the Good News?  Thankfully there is no shortage of things which, without any hesitation we would want others to 'get' too. Scott's recent encouragement to access Sinclair Ferguson's daily 5 min podcast for instance was a great 'forwarding'.  Then earlier this week Elizabeth sent to our Home Group a link to some great talks on 1 Peter, as we study that this session.

There is so much online which is described well in  Eph. 4:31-32 and we have to make sure we don't buy into it:  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander... instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”   We can redeem our online behaviour by taking the time to send on encouragements that will be an encouragement and help to others. So, with that in mind, here is one I read today...a prayer: "Lord, Thank you for never grating on the inside or becoming “huffy” on the outside. You don’t roll your eyes in disgust, weaponize being hurt, or withdraw into condescending silence. Jesus, I am so glad you’re not capable of the things of which I am competent."

Enjoy the Mag.

MB

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Thanks!

Thanks to all who helped in various ways at the Ian White concert, esp Robert and Eilidh who made it all sound so great.
A really good number filled the hall, with groups from various churches across Glasgow and beyond joining the Maxwell folk, and people took Scott at his word and did 'linger' for the tea and coffee and home baking - thanks to those who were serving too.

Ian's song 'The Cross is Still There' was sung and he gave some of the background to the song - here he is singing at the Billy Graham Rally at Parkhead in 1991.
 

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From the Manse

Dear Congregation,
I met briefly with Rev Dr Sinclair Ferguson this week. I told him we were listening to his podcast on “Things Unseen”. He seemed surprised. I don’t know why, because his insights are excellent for living the Christian life. Let me remind you, you can find this series on Spotify if you use that app or you can track it down at the Ligonier Website (link).



I met Sinclair at the funeral of our mutual friend and Minister, Rev Eric Alexander. When Mr Alexander’s son spoke of his father’s life he concluded with words that were so fitting of his life. He said by way of summary that his dad was “in Christ”, “for Christ” and now “with Christ”. Those of us who knew Mr Alexander would have thought this a most suitable summary (not least because there were three points!).

Mr Eric Alexander was most certainly “in Christ”.
That means he had come into union with Jesus Christ through faith in Christ. Being “in Christ” is an expression used frequently by the apostle Paul. You see this especially in the letter he writes to the Ephesians. It may be a surprising to some of us if we undertook a little exercise. If we were to read Ephesians chapters one and two and underline in our bibles how many times the Apostle speaks of the Christian being “in Christ” or “in him”. (You can underline in pencil if that is an uncomfortable idea for you!) Even the first verse of the first chapter speaks of the letter being addressed to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful, in Christ.
Paul saw his own identity and that of all other Christian believers as fundamentally being, “in Christ”. As someone once put it, for all who are “in Christ”, His grace, His sufficiency, and the riches of His mercy are now available to that believer. All who have submitted in faith to the Lord Jesus are actually brought into this incredible union with Him. So, while this was undoubtedly true for Eric Alexander, it is actually true for every one of us also who believe in Jesus, you and me. What an amazing reality and grace to us.
The second point was that Mr Alexander therefore lived “for Christ”.
That should be such a natural result of being “in Christ”. It was said at the funeral that he was a great preacher (and I don’t know anyone who would disagree with that). But it was added that he was a great preacher because he lived his life for his great Saviour. In Mr Alexander's living for Christ, Christ was evident that his entire life was now lived for Christ, by the power of Christ. The life of Christ "oozed" from all Mr Alexander did, not least from the pulpit.
The third point as seen on the order of service above, was that he was “now with Christ”.
While that is actually true of every Christian believer in life, it takes a new meaning in death. At death, the believer goes straight to the Lord and meets with him in a more direct and immediate way than when alive. Wonderfully, there is therefore no fear in death. It is all “gain” for the believer (Philippians 1.21).
With many others, we gave thanks for a man who we believe God had gifted to us.
Mr Alexander was a man who was, in Christ, for Christ and now with gratitude to God we know is “with Christ”.

A Hong Konger Welcome Last Week:

Last Saturday were part of a HKUK welcome team accommodated at Newton Mearns Baptist Church. This was not a church event and not just for Newton Mearns but the whole Glasgow area. However, both the Baptist church and ourselves were permitted a welcome table. Because it is the season of Lunar New Year, we had a New Year theme with appropriate food, crafts and decorations. Five hundred people were signed up for the two sessions (11am-1pm and 1pm-3pm) and it felt like most came!

There were some from Newton Mearns, however, I also met some from as far North as Torrance and as far south as Irvine. It was a super day. We had a team of "face-painters" from our church and some general helpers from Maxwell also. Pauline, Anita and I (sometimes!) “manned” our church stall. Many thanks to all for representing our congregation so well. Adrienne (from the Baptist Church) has also thanked us for our participation.


Before anyone arrived, Anita and I made sure we had a shot on the bouncy-helter-skelter! (Actually Anita had more than one shot!)

On a different matter…

Some time ago we received a grant from the Church of Scotland (nearly £20,000) for various improvements to our buildings. Chiefly, we needed to undertake renovations in “The Basement” below the halls. We began work on it some time ago because we planned children’s activities in that space. However, in order to do this, the Care Commission said we had to replace the toilet facilities, change the kitchen and provide better ventilation. It has been a slow process firstly because of Covid and then because we had difficulty securing tradesmen. The kitchen has now been completed, the toilets are almost ready and the windows have been delivered and we trust will be installed shortly. We hope to complete the work soon (I will then include pictures in the magazine). We have plans for a new youth ministry in the basement and of course it is an excellent extra space for various activities.
With warmest regards
Scott

 

  Sunday 5th February 2023

     Rev Scott Kirkland
     Bible passage: (from) Isaiah 66:1-24
     

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Christy's New Album Release

 

Christy's new album "To the Beach" was released this week.

LINK TO THE ALBUM HERE.

Christy has written an introduction to the album...

About To the Beach

I want to begin with the news that my husband and I are expecting a baby
in June. In reaction to this a lot of experienced parents have been
telling me “it will go by so quickly”, “you’ll wonder where the years
went”, “enjoy the moment before it’s passed”. So how do we savour these
moments that never come back?

I’m not sure I have answers. But I do see song writing as a way of
capturing moments and pin-pointing feelings. Songs are photographs, and
an album is a chapter.

For me personally this album captures my journey from single to married,
grappling with what it means to be a woman, missing home and learning to
be content where I am. I honestly can’t put a beginning or an end to
where God is a part of these songs. He is much more than a theme, but a
writer, mentor, the author of my life and of changes that happen inside.

I had considered calling the album Gone and Fallen, not just because I
had fallen in love, but because many of the songs are about falling head
first into life. I Do says yes to Jesus´ love. I Can Feel says, I may be
uncomfortable, I may not know where I am going, but I can feel so much,
and isn’t that amazing! But I chose To the Beach because it felt like a
place to arrive at.

I would like to comment especially on the final track My First Winter
which is dedicated to my late singing teacher, Dr. Nell Drew. Nell
proudly called it her song. Nell not only helped me recover my vocal
health, but discover my true and natural soprano voice. Nell was
wheelchair bound and did a lot of teaching over Skype as she shielded
from Covid. She was a woman whose beauty shone through suffering.
Nothing could diminish the joy she experienced from music and singing.
She helped me believe in myself when I lost faith in my voice. So this
album is also a testament to her work, and My First Winter reminds me
that beauty is much deeper than being young and glamorous.

I hope you enjoy the album and find your own ways of savouring your
moments.

Christy

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David Cameron’s Retirement

It was a joy and a privilege to attend David’s last service this past Sunday and share in the final send off!  - Sue AB

Lesley writes:
Hard to believe that the time has come for David to retire from parish ministry after 30 years!
Our churches gave him (and me) amazing send-offs and there is no doubt that this is a man well loved and respected by hundreds.
Through the years at Newton Mearns and South Queensferry, he has been with people at their lowest points and their highest joys.  He served the communities with enthusiasm, while being a part of the Presbyteries and all that was involved in that, and in the National Church adventures! We have loved, lost, laughed, cried, learned and grown as people amidst wonderful communities - Queensferry, Dalmeny, and Maxwell Mearns - with so much accomplished and so much gratitude.
Honestly, such a good and faithful servant.

 (David was Minister at Maxwell for 16 years)

It’s now time to put the dog collar in the drawer and we will be sad to leave here - but friendships will remain although buildings will change.
So on to the new and we’ll have time to play now!! Golf/ read/ walk/ family/ cook/ travel/ explore/ grandchildren/ and I’m sure another kind of ministry will emerge- just different.
Time to pack!! ??  

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Wednesdays 7.15pm - 8.15pm

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ER Good Causes

The Southsider magazine with 30,000 circulation in local area has flagged up the excellent work which Russell MacMillan started and which he and the ERGC team have been able to accomplish.

Really great that they have had this recognition and we pray that God gets the glory through it all.
You can read the article here.  

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Ladybird Book of Maxwell

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DATE FOR THE DIARY IN FEBRUARY

Dear Prayer Partners,
You are invited to spend a special evening at home with Bogi Kozma, our missionary in Budapest...

Take the opportunity to join Bogi in her home via Zoom for a first-hand, personal insight into her mission work and all that is going on in the lives of the Jewish people she is reaching. 
There will be time to interact with Bogi, as well as the opportunity for questions and answers about the gospel work she is engaged with among Budapest's thriving Jewish community. There will also be time to pray together for Bogi's ministry and her Jewish contacts.   

We would love to see you there! Please invite your friends, family, church members - and anyone else who may be interested - to join you.
Date: Monday 6th February 2023 from 8-9pm UK time (waiting room will be open from 7.50pm)
How to join: Register using the button HERE and Zoom meeting details will be sent a week prior to the meeting
If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact us at info@imjp.org or on 01865 887830

 

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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.

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.   

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Car Parking

Can you help?
If you are able, please can you to start using the school car park again as we did pre-lockdown?
Numbers attending services are encouragingly high and it would be really helpful if those that are able could leave spaces in the main car park for those who have greater need.