Hope this finds you well. We continue to pray for the situation in Ukraine of course - let's pray in particular for our fellow believers out there that they will be salt and light in their communities in such awful times. All this should make us aware of how blessed we are in the security and safety we enjoy in Scotland.
Some news of events coming soon ...some immediate, others in a few weeks time, but take a note just now and register if you need to.
Enjoy the mag.
MB
Sunday Morning Service - 6th March
New City Catechism -Q.44 What is Baptism
Call To Worship: Psalm 108
Praise: Who breaks the power...
Praise: Jesus, lover of my soul
Prayer of adoration and confession
Talk with kids: Song - I reach up high...
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Reading: Matthew 28
Praise: Speak the Word
Sermon - Rev John Martindale
Praise: And Can it be
More information about the New City catechism and a link to the free App is here.
Pray for Ukraine -Sunday 6th
Newton Mearns Baptist offer an open invitation to all our Christian neighbours in Newton Mearns to join with them on Sunday 6 March at 7pm to pray for the crisis in Ukraine.
The building will be open for an hour to raise our voices to the Lord together and we are welcome to come along and take part with no prior registration required.
BLYTHSWOOD CARE UKRAINE CRISIS APPEAL
On Tue 1 March Blythswood Care sent £8,000 to aid workers in Romania and Moldova to help refugees fleeing from the war in Ukraine. They were also able to send £2,000 today to a partner in Ukraine working with orphans.
The charity is appealing to its supporters to help them do more in the days ahead and has a target of £100,000. “Our partners are already caring for a growing number of people from Ukraine,” says Blythswood’s chief executive James Campbell. “They are providing food, water, toiletries, medicines, first aid, shelter and warm bedding and blankets.
“At present all necessary supplies are readily available in these countries. It is more efficient and effective to send funding than to send goods from the UK.”
The Highland-based organisation has 30 years’ experience of providing humanitarian aid and of running educational and community projects in that part of Europe. Blythswood’s contacts are already helping refugees at two locations in Moldova, and at four in Romania which has a lengthy border with Ukraine.
James Campbell said: “The number of people requiring assistance is going to rise rapidly. We are grateful to our supporters who enabled us to send this initial help today and we are making this appeal to the public now. People fleeing from this terrible situation need our help today.”
Donations to Blythswood’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal can be made by calling 01349 830777 or at any time online - click here.
The donation page is now live on our website and all donations received will go direct to this urgent appeal.
Please pray that we can see the income we are looking for as we seek to help as many people as possible and need to send more funds ASAP.
Book now for the...
Saturday 26th March 2022 - 10am - 4.30pm
At Maxwell we hosted the Old Testament Walk Through a few months ago!
All are now welcome to come and learn the big picture of the New Testament in one day at Newton Mearns Baptist Church
Paul Keys is presenting the whole day - some of you may remember Paul having led a day a number of years ago - he is first class at taking us on the journey.
Ticket price £14.00
Book online or call the NMBC office. Bring a packed lunch - tea and coffee provided. It will be a memorable day!
Any questions get in touch with coordinator, Andrea Young 0141 616 2362
Check this short video out to whet the appetite.
Bible on the Screen
You may have noticed that sometimes on a Sunday morning when it comes to the Bible reading the words on the screen are sometimes slightly different from what is being read by the person at the front.
You may be thinking, 'Why is that?' Or more likely 'Why can't they just get it right?' . Or more likely yet, 'Who is to blame for the sheer incompetence?' All good questions...kind of.
But what is going on? Simply put, the readings from the front are normally from the pew Bible (before Covid made them the 'cupboard Bibles'). The Bible is an NIV version. However, when text is grabbed from online Bible web sites for using on the screen there are now a number of versions of the NIV - updates, tweaks, anglicised etc. Often the phrases in a verse may just be in a different order, and of course sometimes the publishers have decided that a word from Hebrew or Greek would make more sense or read better if it was translated a different way to best convey what the original writer was getting at. For instance if the person putting the ppt together was called a complete 'nugget' - and you wanted to convey that truth to someone not used to that vernacular you would be careful to translate with a word like dumb or stupid - rather than anything to do with chicken nuggets or golden nuggets. It's that kind of thing. However, sometimes versions go beyond that and when it has said 'men' it would translate it 'people' as it wants the modern reader not to feel that women are being slighted. So it all becomes a bit tricky or controversial, because they are adding their own opinions alongside their translation skills.
Anyway... that's a big topic....but for now here is a great little summary which touches on these matters. Click HERE for...
9 Things You Should Know About the Bible
SU Primary weekend - report
Last weekend Blain, Archie, Jessica, Molly and Cara were campers at an SU Primary weekend at Gowanbank alongside 24 other P5-7s from across East Ren. Myself, Colin, Sandra, Grace and Sarah were on the team and Andrew got to come along and join in the fun too!
We had a great weekend and want to thank you for all of your prayers. Everyone signed up was able to attend, it was dry the whole weekend, the team worked well together, the leaders kids were super and the campers were amazing!
Throughout the weekend we studied the Bible through four face to face encounters with Jesus - Thomas, Zacchaeus, Pilate and Peter and used a simplified version of the Swedish method of Bible Study to explore some of these stories.
But enough from me, here are what some of the campers said:
-
'I enjoyed the baking, tree climbing and hide and seek in the dark! I loved our dorm too - this is the best weekend I've ever had! The thing that stuck with me was the song from the Bible all about God's love'
-
'I enjoyed everything, I had the BEST time ever! I am sooo happy I got to come. The thing that stuck with me was the last Bible talk.'
-
'The thing I learnt from the Bible was that God is good and is perfect and that we are lost without him'
-
'I learnt that Jesus is always with me'
-
'Meeting new people and chatting and playing with them. Learning about how Jesus said to Peter 'feed my lambs' and learning what it meant.'
-
'I loved the tree climbing and making new friends. I learned that we are very loud in the morning'
Pauline
Finally and Totally Justified
Last Sunday Scott took us through Romans 5 - the devastating news that we are ungodly, sinners and enemies of God was more than matched with the good news that Jesus took our place under God's wrath which we deserved. We now have peace are justified before God.
That's great news and if it wasn't enough in this short comment John Piper takes it another stage further ...
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)
Paul could have said here, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” and then answered, “No one! We are justified.” That’s true. But that is not what he said. His answer instead is, “God is the one who justifies.”
The emphasis is not on the act but on the Actor.
Why? Because in the world of courts and laws where this language comes from, the acquittal of a judge might be overturned by a higher one.
So what, if a local judge acquits you, when you are guilty, if a governor has the right to bring a charge against you? So what, if a governor acquits you, when you are guilty, if the emperor can bring a charge against you?
Here’s the point: Above God, there are no higher courts. If God is the one who acquits you — declares you righteous in his sight — no one can appeal; no one can claim a technicality; no one can call for a mistrial; no one can look for other counts against you. God’s sentence is final and total.
Hear this, all you who believe on Jesus, and become united to Christ, and show yourself among the elect: God is the one who justifies you. Not a human judge. Not a great prophet. Not an archangel from heaven. But God, the Creator of the world and Owner of all things and Ruler of the universe and every molecule and person in it, God is the one who justifies you.
The point: unshakable security in the face of tremendous suffering. If God is for us, no one can successfully be against us. If God gave his Son for us, he will give us everything that is good for us. If God is the one who justifies us, no charge against us can stand.
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
Praise Gathering - register today!
Many people in Maxwell have been involved in Praise Gathering over the years, and lots more have enjoyed attending the concerts.
Registration for the Praise Gathering 2022 Choir is now OPEN,
Secretary, Dave McLaren writes... We are already hearing of people who have invited friends to sing with them, so we are opening registration to everyone from today. We would therefore encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible.
Full details, including the rehearsal schedule for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and via live stream are given on the registration pages, which can be accessed by clicking here.
No longer will we take singing together for granted and we look forward to being back together again very soon.
Getting involved is easy - follow the link to book in.
Bible Water Quiz
We are into thinking about Baptisms these weeks in the New City Catechism - so here are some questions on water in the Bible. Answers at the bottom of page
-
What’s the first verse to mention water in the Bible?
-
Moses was left in basket in the Nile…but who waited to see what would happen to him?
-
In the book of Judges, during a battle, Sisera (who had been oppressing the Israelites) went to tent and asked Jael for a drink of water. She gave him milk and what else less welcome?
-
Once when King David was hiding in a cave from enemies he said how much he desired a drink of water from Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men took him seriously and battled through to get him that water. But what did David do?
-
When John was baptising he talked about One who was to come - What did he say he would be unworthy to do for this person?
-
Jesus told two disciples to go into the city and they would find a man carrying two jars of Water…but what was the man going to organise for them.
-
How many jars of water did Jesus turn into wine? And what did the master of the ceremony exclaim at the end of the account?
-
In Acts 8 there is an unnamed man from Africa baptised. What country was he from, which book of the Bible was he reading from and who did the baptising?
-
James 3 has these words -“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”? What is James referring to?
-
Peter says that the account of the ark in the flood symbolises Baptism. How many people does Peter remind us were saved in the Ark?
For the next few weeks the Pulse prayer meeting on Wednesdays are on Zoom.
Usual time - 7.15 - 8.30pm.
Look out for the email from the church office with the Zoom code.
'Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer.' — Charles Finney
Are you on the Pray Now WhatsApp Group? Perhaps the start of the year is a good time to join in.
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.
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.
Bible Quiz -ANSWERS
What’s the first verse to mention water in the Bible? Gen 1:2
Moses was left in basket in the Nile…but who waited to see what would happen to him? His sister, Miriam
In the book of Judges, during a battle, Sisera (who had been oppressing the Israelites) went to tent and asked Jael for a drink of water. She gave him milk and what else less welcome? A tent peg hammered into his head.
Once when King David was hiding in a cave from enemies he said how much he desired a drink of water from Bethlehem. 3 of his mighty men took him seriously and battled through to get him that water. But what did David do? He refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. “Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
When John was baptising he talked about One who was to come - What did he say he would be unworthy to do for this person? To carry or tie his sandals.
Jesus told two disciples to go into the city and they would find a man carrying two jars of Water…but what was the man going to organise for them. The upper room to celebrate Passover.
How many jars of water did Jesus turn into wine? And what did the master of the ceremony exclaim? Six… "You’ve kept the best to last."
In Acts 8 there is an unnamed man from Africa baptised. What country was he from, which book of the Bible was he reading from and who did the baptising? Ethiopia. Isaiah, Phillip
James 3 has these words -“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”? What is James referring to? How unacceptable it is for that same mouth to be full of praises for God and yet speak to badly about people who are made in his image.
Peter says that the account of the ark in the flood symbolises Baptism. How many people does Peter remind us were saved in the Ark? Eight
Please note our Sunday morning services* are live streamed and subsequently available on YouTube.
Filming is only from the rear in the balcony. If attending in person you may wish to select your seats bearing in mind that rows at the rear in the Sanctuary are not in view of the camera.
(* occasionally other services)