Thanks to all who helped lead and look after worship last week in my absence, especially given our ongoing water difficulties and disrupted pathways.
Anita and I were in Edinburgh for the wedding celebration of our daughter Sarah and her husband Calum. They were married one year ago after several disappointing COVID cancellations and then with only 20 witnesses. Last weekend, Sarah and Calum invited one hundred and fifty guests to join them in celebrating the end of their first year of marriage! It was a fitting celebration of God's gift of this covenant relationship. It was lovely for them to do this surrounded by so many friends and family. It was especially wonderful to have seven of Anita's family join us from the USA!
Water and Trenches Again!
We have water in the halls and the sanctuary so all is back to normal!
This means no more need for the elders to flush toilets with buckets of water or the need to sanitize our hands with special wipes!
I don’t know if it is due to Brexit, lack of lorry drivers, a scarcity of CO2, the price of gas or the backup of containers in the Felixstowe Container Port but we have not been able to get the required parts to complete our underground pipework.
The unavailability of these parts has hindered the completion of the work near the castle at our grassy slope and also at the entrance to the driveway at Waterfoot Road. However, thankfully, with care, all cars should be able to drive from Waterfoot Road down to our car park. Please be careful at the entrance where the driveway narrows with barriers.
On a more positive note, we believe the work near the castle will be completed by next week.
Regrettably, this means we will still have to grapple with access to worship for another Sunday. We have created a path alongside the trench so that all can access worship via the path up to the church. There remain some open excavations, but we believe there is now sufficient space for all to walk safely past and for wheelchair access where necessary. A car can drive some of the length up the slope for drop-off but it will then have to reverse back down to the car park. (Cars cannot yet reach the church door and turn as we normally would.) Please pray that this will be the last Sunday with this inconvenience.
In regard to the trench at the top of the driveway at Waterfoot Road, you may be able to make out from the picture above the need for improvement. The white part in the picture is the water meter and this is linked to an unusual arrangement of pipes that (a) firstly reduces the size of the mains in-pipe to a tiny pipe, and bizarrely (b) reverses the direction of the water flow before turning back again and expanding the pipe to the original size.
This unusual fabrication has provided an adequate supply of water for all our church needs for the last 20 years or so! However, we are concerned that it may not provide enough pressure to operate effectively the fire hydrant located near the castle – which thankfully has never been put to real test!
Having already undertaken considerable excavations and uncovered this potential risk we think it best to seize the moment and reconfigure the pipes through the meter.
Unfortunately, we have no date for the arrival of the parts and so we shall have to endure the narrowing of the entrance for an undetermined period of time. Sorry to all for the inconvenience.
National Giving Day – Exciting Opportunity
I am writing this on Wednesday 13th October as I prepare for Sunday worship when our theme will be Harvest Thanksgiving. I have just finished a conversation with Pauline and she will be encouraging the children to share with others the blessing they have already received from the Lord.
It strikes me that as I reflect again on the “National Giving Day” (NGD) opportunity there is something of a parallel.
I am prayerfully reflecting on what the Lord has already given our household and asking how we can use this towards the ministry with our young people. We are so eager to continue seeing the Lord’s harvest amongst them.
MMCC has a long-standing emphasis on young people’s work. In fact, I suspect it is one of the most prayed for ministries at our Wednesday night prayer meeting. For the last three years we have been blessed to be able to resource both a part-time Family and Children’s worker and a full-time youth worker. These roles are currently filled wonderfully by Pauline Forster and Daniel Clarke.
The Kirk Session and Board believe these are hugely significant ministries and see this NGD as a great opportunity to help financially secure these ministries for the coming few years. We have resolved that all offerings gifted under this scheme will be allocated to these roles.
It is my prayer that if we have already received financial blessing from the Lord that we might know the joy of sharing that blessing in our work with young people. As you keep these ministries in our prayers perhaps we can pray for that joy also?
Much of what Pauline and Daniel do is out of sight from the majority of us but they are tireless in the way they use their gifts amongst our young and they have huge passion for their ministries.
I appreciate that some of us may be reading about this “National Giving Day” for the first time so let me explain:
The Church of Scotland normally takes over 50% of our offerings for the wider work of the denomination.
However, all offerings marked specifically “National Giving Day” or “NGD”, up to 31st October, will remain 100% at Maxwell!
I am so happy to report that as I write this on Wednesday 13th October, twenty-six households have already gifted over sixteen thousand pounds. As a snap shot, with eighteen days still to go, that is so encouraging and signals not only a passion for the ministries in the future but recognition of the Lord’s past financial blessing. Anita and I have already given to this initiative and we are praying that our own offering will be used by the Lord to bring future harvests.
For us, it was convenient to use a bank transfer. Using the bank details below, we also typed into the reference box “National Giving Day”. Our church treasurer confirmed that he could see clearly both the transfer in our name and this important reference.
If you would like to contribute to these ministries, you can use bank transfer, cheque or cash.
If using cash or cheque please write “National Giving Day” on the envelope containing the cheque or cash (it would be good to write this on the back of the cheque also).
There are now offering plates in the sanctuary and the envelopes can be placed there on a Sunday. Alternatively, you can mail cheques to the church or pass them to an office-bearer. Several of you have found it simplest to hand these envelopes into the manse/put through the door. Please use whatever method best suits your own situation. (If you pay tax, the “Gift Aid” system can add a further 25%.)
Church Bank Details
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Account Name: Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church
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Sort code: 82 68 32
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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.
(Above - artist's impression of flat - its a lot bigger inside that it might appear from outside.)
Home Groups Return
Home Groups are starting again - if you haven't been involved before there is a group for you!
There is no being put on the spot, everyone can take part as they see fit and a leader is on hand to guide you through the material.
We are using a booklet by Mark Dever (see above) and it is full of good information and probing questions to help us understand 1 Corinthians that little bit better and to see what God is saying to us today through this letter.
They run fortnightly, in homes, church premises and on zoom
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Sunday 24th October 7pm-8.30pm (3 groups)
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Monday 25th October (for women) 1.30-3pm
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Tuesday 26th October 7.30-9pm
Speak to Scott for more information about the groups and to see how you can join in.
Castle Coffee Club is back...
We’re delighted to announce that the Castle Coffee Club is back on track to restart on Tuesday 19th October.
We will meet at 1.30pm in the Maxwell Hall and are looking forward to welcoming back all our guests and hopefully welcoming some new guests too!
If you haven’t been before and would like to find out more please give me a call.
Elizabeth Smith Mob: 07761114987
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.
Sometimes there are songs in our lives which can make us feel happy, make our feet tap, make us feel melancholy, romantic, wistful etc.
Do you listen to praise music much during the week? It can make such a difference and can lift your mood and reset your perspective and bring you inline with God's Word.
This from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is amazing and has been on the playlist of the editor's office for the last week... It's from Psalm 34. wonderful stuff. Click here.
If you have any song suggestions which you want to share with others send in to maxwellmearns@hotmail.com
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
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
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Learn the depth of the Old Testament.
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Understand the OT's purpose and significance.
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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
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.
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Everyone will have to wear a mask.
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Hand sanitiser, masks and gloves will be provided.
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All helpers should be fully vaccinated
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Perspex screens will be used.
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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.
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.