Hope this finds you well.
Lots in the magazine this week as things start to move again for 2022. Take a look and don't miss out on being involved.
Enjoy the mag.
MB
Sunday Service - 9th January
Call To Worship
Praise: All people that on earth do dwell
Prayer of adoration and confession
Praise: Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Talk with kids 'God doesn’t have a birthday'
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Reading: John 14:15-27
Praise: Come, set Your rule and reign
Sermon - 'Who / What is the Holy Spirit?'
Praise: Holy Spirit living Breath of God
(Please note services are live streamed and available on YouTube)
We begin part 3 of the New City Catechism this Sunday.
Each week there is a Question to consider and an answer to memorise.
More information about the catechism and a link to the free App is here.
You can also get a devotional book which follows through the catechism, with a comment and prayer for each question. Here is an excerpt from Sam Storm looking at Q36:
The Holy Spirit delights above all else in serving as a spotlight, standing behind us (although certainly dwelling within us) to focus our thoughts and meditation on the beauty of Christ and all that God is for us in and through him. As we prayerfully meditate on the person and work of the Spirit and give thanks for his powerful presence in our lives, we would do well to consider the words of Thomas Torrance, who reminds us that “the Spirit is not just something divine or something akin to God emanating from him, not some sort of action at a distance or some kind of gift detachable from himself, for in the Holy Spirit God acts directly upon us himself, and in giving us his Holy Spirit God gives us nothing less than himself.”
From the Manse
Dear Congregation,
Many thanks for all the Christmas cards which festooned the Manse over Christmas and New Year. Thank you also for the gifts – most of which are now evidenced in my expanded waistline!
As I write this first letter of the New Year I am tempted to fall into the cultural pattern of “wishing you a Happy New Year”.
However, I am not going to do that. It is better I think for me to turn that “wishing” into prayer. And, rather than pray you have a “Happy” New Year, I will pray that you might all have a “blessed” year - whatever circumstances you find are affecting your emotions. (Remember in the beatitudes Jesus said even those who mourn can be “blessed”.)
Perhaps you can take time to pray also for the congregation at the start of this New Year? Pray for blessing? However, perhaps if our own hearts are so disposed towards MMCC we can pray more specifically Colossians 1.9-13 for each other as we enter this New Year.
Worship Over Christmas/New Year
It was great to see many of you out for in-person worship over the Christmas and New Year. We had a bumper congregation on Christmas Eve and good congregations at the other services. It was great to gather together in praise of our Saviour. For those of us who were not able to be with us physically, I do hope the online facility proved helpful as you gathered with us in worship from a distance.
I am pretty sure many of us in Maxwell are unaware of how many are involved in leading our worship services.
What a blessing to have so many who can lead us in prayer and talks upfront. However, I have found it especially helpful recently while we all wear masks to have singers lead us from the front as we sing God's praise. And, what gifted musicians we have!
However, for singers and musicians there is an unseen preparation which involves securing the right music and preparation of words. Then of course there is time taken to practice in advance. What a wonderful blessing they all are to us.
In addition to all of that, PowerPoints then have to be prepared in advance. On the Sunday the Audio-Visual team turn all of that into the images we see on the screen in church as they also help us hear those who speak, sing with balanced sound coming from all the instruments. They then somehow manage to make all of that seen and heard at home on our TVs/tablets!
Almost unnoticed are those who welcome us, register our presence and generally look after all who come through our doors for worship. Poor Charles has had quite a challenge to keep us warm in a cost-effective way as he devotes time to heating the sanctuary.
This all happens every week!
However, over the Christmas period you can imagine how much additional “work” went on behind the scenes for all the extra services/activities. It could be described as “work” because it takes considerable effort and time.
However, I would love all those who are involved to see their participation as “ministry”. Ministry for our Lord, ministry to one another to build up Christ’s church. All these different folk are ministering to us through the time and talents God has given them. I suspect most of the above happens with the rest of unaware.
But whether we are aware or not, they do it all so amazingly well because of their commitment; commitment to the Lord; commitment to you MMCC . Thank you all.
Thank you also Daniel and Anna for arranging Christmas in The Dark and all who willingly took up various roles.
Thanks to Pauline for MessyChurch@Christmas and many thanks to Heather Russell who continues to carefully place flowers on the communion table.
Worship in-person, is wonderful.
As we go into a New Year let me repeat a list of ways we can continue to worship in-person and help keep each other safe.
Lateral Flow Tests: We would encourage you to take a lateral flow test before coming to worship. Clearly, a negative result is the green light for “go” to worship!
Feeling Unwell: As the High Way Code tells us about the green light on a traffic light, it actually only means “go” if safe to do so. While we would love all to join us in the praising of our Lord Jesus, please do not come to worship if you are feeling in any way unwell. (I know it is a poor substitute for in-person worship, but we will live-stream the services for those who are not able to come in-person.)
Masks: Please do continue to make sure you are wearing your mask at all times while on the premises indoor.
Sanitize: Please sanitize your hands on entry and exit of our buildings.
Bunching: Please try to avoid coming too close to another person or group. This is especially important when entering and exiting the premises. The vestibule is small. Our door team will try to help manage the flow through the vestibule into the sanctuary. I regret this might mean you having to be kept outside momentarily as the vestibule is cleared.
Use Two Inner Doors: When moving from the vestibule to the sanctuary please use either of the two inner doors. This will help us vacate the vestibule more swiftly and let you be more easily seated on either side of the church.
Registration: If you have a “smart phone” please go straight inside the sanctuary where you can use one of the QR codes on the wall to register your presence. Please make sure your presence is registered. (The door team register you manually if the QR code is not for you!)
One Way: For exiting the sanctuary at the end of worship, please use only the door to the vestibule on the pulpit side of the sanctuary. Although this one-way will be slower, I believe it will help us not bunch up in the vestibule. Take your time and keep back from the person in front of you in the line. Please keep moving till outside and clear of the church door.
Seating: Please leave at least one seat between yourself and the person/group beside you.
If Late!: We understand that sometimes we just can’t get to worship on time. We are still loving to see you of course. However, please allow our door team to steward you to an area they know you can be seated – it may be near the front!Ten ways help one another worship in this New Year!
With warmest regards,
Scott
This Sunday, 9th January 6.30 pm
I have been part of a group of local churches planning a shared time together around the initiative called “A Passion for Life” (we have been focussing on this material recently at our own Sunday evening gatherings).
We have agreed to go ahead this Sunday (9th January) at Harvest Church (167 Ashkirk Dr, Bellahouston, Glasgow G52 1LA) at 6.30pm. It would be great if a number of us could make this.
While we might normally car share, perhaps it better with COVID we take our own cars. We could gather at Harvest Church outside for about 6.20pm/6.25? (Don’t want to be too early as that would be so “un-Maxwell”!)
Scott
ALPHA on Sundays
Alpha is running on Sunday afternoons from 30th January - are you coming along? Are you bringing a friend?
The link is
here for booking a place.
Speak with Margo or Scott if you want some more information about the 8 week course.
Home Groups - recommence
Home Groups recommence on Sunday 16th January 7pm, Monday 17th 1.30pm and Tuesday 18th at 7.30pm as normal.
We shall resume our studies in 1 Corinthians at section 5 of the Study Guide.
Scott
Funeral Irene McDonald at Maxwell Mearns Castle Church
We shall have a funeral service for Irene McDonald on the church premises, Tuesday 11th January at 1.45pm. Irene joined Maxwell while living in Homeshaw House. Though Irene became an enthusiastic participant of the Castle Coffee Club, her need for care latterly has limited her ability to be with us in person.
Our prayers are extended to Irene’s children (Moyra, Sandy and John). If possible, let’s join with the family to give God thanks for Irene’s life.
The Well
At the Christmas Eve service we had an offering for The Well - the ministry down in Crosshill where they give hope to ethnic minority communities in South East Glasgow. Many are faced with poverty, racism, social isolation, limited English language skills, cultural differences, and simply not knowing ‘how things work’ in the UK.
The good news is we were able to pass on £915 to Rhoda, the centre manager who was very appreciative.
A reminder of what The Well are involved in can be found at their web page.
Cranfield Quoted
Last week Scott preached from Romans 11 and was pointing us towards the power and character of God, who not alone is omnipotent in all His works, but ever loving and gracious in His ways. Scott quoted (in summary) from the theologian Charles Cranfield towards the end of the sermon and here is a reminder of those words:
Paul has certainly not provided neat answers to the baffling questions which arise …He has certainly not swept away all the difficulties... But …his doxology in joyful confidence that the deep mystery which surrounds us is neither a nightmare mystery of meaninglessness nor a dark mystery of arbitrary omnipotence but the mystery …of the altogether good and merciful and faithful God.
(Charles Cranfield, ICC: Romans, p. 592)
Castle Coffee Club
We’ve all been impacted and continue to be impacted by Covid-19, and it was with regret that we took the decision to cancel the Christmas Coffee Club.
However all the guests were hand delivered a Christmas gift which included a hat or shawl. Our thanks go to Janet Brown who lovingly knitted all 18 items and to Marlene and Andrew Smith who delivered them.
The Coffee Club has always been a team effort and it was with sadness that we heard of the death of John Foote. John and Evelyn have been faithful volunteers and supporters of the Coffee Club since it started and John will be missed. We were also sad to hear of the death of Irene MacDonald who had been a regular attendee from the start. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families.
When will we start up again? Watch this space! We are continually monitoring the situation and will be starting up again as soon as we consider it safe for our guests and volunteers to do so. Please pray for us for wisdom in the timing and also for our guests, some of whom are quite isolated and really miss the fellowship of the Coffee Club
The Coffee Club Team
Wee Scoops for the New Year
Did you know Sandra McNicol was not just on the violin on a Sunday morning but occasionally also fiddles around in the blogsphere.
Her blog page 'Wee Scoops' is on this
link and her musing are always worth a look.
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
THE CHURCH FAMILY DIRECTORY!
If you ordered a hard copy of the directory, please collect it on Sunday morning or ask an elder or a neighbour to pick it up for you. I have printed one out automatically for all people who are not on email. Elders, please have a think as to which folk you might need to look out for.
Please advise me of any errors in your listing. It is too late for this current hard copy, but I will issue an email version again in the new year reflecting any changes.
Kind regards
Sue
Hizkidz - crèche
On Sunday the West Room on the mid floor will be available for parents/grandparents and younger children to use.
The livestream of the service will (hopefully!) be playing on the TV and there are toys available too.
Speak to Pauline on Sunday who can show you which room to go into when the children leave for Hizkidz.