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No.106 13th May 2022

Hi,
This Sunday sees us looking at the final Catechism - No.52. Personally, I'm still enjoying last week's sermon on the question: Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension?
Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. In particular when Scott reminded as that as the accusations rain in from Satan or the voices in your head (that might just be me) as to why we are not worthy to be called Christian, to be accepted by God or loved by God, Jesus is sitting at God's right hand having completed a work of atonement for those trusting in his sacrifice. Scott reminded us that Jesus' wounds are declaring astonishingly 'good news' about us: 'Clean', 'Pure'. And what God thinks of us is what counts. Reminded me of Bob Dylan's track 'Property of Jesus'. What a Gospel we have.
I think it's been a great series and we should be grateful to God for Scott's faithful and helpful preaching throughout.

There is plenty going on around the church again, and indeed across the city with various Christian events...take a look at what is on - some are on this weekend!! All these events are a good sign of the return to some sort of normality. Talking of 'some sort of normality', at some point we have all asked the question 'What on earth is David Merriman doing now?'. Well, this week we will at least have an answer in part to that.

Enjoy the mag.

MB

New City Catechism
Passion for Life - Recital
The Scottish Reformed Conference
LICC
Coffee Morning
Home Groups
Feathered Fiends
Ladybird Book of Maxwell
Summer Club

Sunday Morning Service - 15th May

Call To Worship: Psalm 25.4-6
Praise :The Promise of the ages (God’s Saints)
Praise : I will offer up my life
Prayer of adoration and confession
Children's Talk and Praise: Jesus is the King
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Bible Reading: Revelation 21.1-8
Praise: There is a day
Sermon
Praise: Rejoice the Lord is King
Benediction
Leaving Praise: There is a Day

Letter from the Manse

Dear Congregation, scott

Just a quick update on the discussions with local congregations and Presbytery about “The Presbytery Plan”. The short version is that we are no further forward.

The longer version is that two elders from the Session and myself have been given the task of meeting with elders and ministers from the four other local congregations (Broom, Mearns Kirk, Newton Mearns and Eaglesham). We have met once already. There was an airing of aspirations and concerns.

However, the reason there has been no substantive forward movement is because the fundamental details from Presbytery concerning the cuts to be imposed on the Mearns / Eaglesham congregations have not been disclosed.

We do not know how many ministry posts we will be reduced to, or what buildings they might suggest we close (if any). Decisions that were to be made at the last full meeting of Presbytery were scrapped and the relevant Presbytery committee is currently revising its proposals. The deadline for decision making was meant to be the end of June but that is likely now to be slipped back to the end of July.

As with all “clusters”, a facilitator from Presbytery has been appointed. We met without him at our first meeting as he had contracted COVID. Our cluster therefore still has the opportunity to meet with this facilitator six times to help us create agreement on how to go forward (the maximum number of meetings with the facilitator decided by Presbytery). The next cluster meeting with this facilitator is planned for the evening of the 6th June. Please pray for this meeting.

It is quite ambitious to think that the three representatives from each of the five congregations will be able to meet six times in such a short space of time, come to an agreement which meets the plan requirements (as yet unknown), is acceptable to the relevant Kirk Session and can be presented to a whole congregation for approval, all by the end of July! Quite a thought!
Much prayer is needed for the cluster and the part of Maxwell Mearns Castle Church in these conversations.

On a different matter…I will be a commissioner at the General Assembly this year.
I shall therefore be fully engaged in the business of the Assembly from 21st May to 26th and not engaged in congregational activity during that time (except Sunday 22nd as I will lead worship at Maxwell and work around the congregation that day).
The pleasant outcome for us is that Rev Sandy Roger (one of our former ministers) has agreed to come and preach on 29th May. I know many of you will look forward to welcoming Sandy back. A number of you have shared with me how significant Sandy’s ministry was to you as the Lord brought you to faith or grew your faith during his time with us.

With warmest regards and prayers,
Scott

New City Catechism

This weekend sees us at the end of our services based around the New City Catechism.

You can revisit them at anytime by going to the website here...here is a little comment on the what they are seeking to achieve...and a nice story from Tim Keller

Catechisms were written with at least three purposes. The first was to set forth a comprehensive exposition of the gospel—not only in order to explain clearly what the gospel is, but also to lay out the building blocks on which the gospel is based, such as the biblical doctrines of God, of human nature, of sin, and so forth. The second purpose was to do this exposition in such a way that the heresies, errors, and false beliefs of the time and culture were addressed and counteracted. The third and more pastoral purpose was to form a distinct people, a counterculture that reflected the likeness of Christ not only in individual character but also in the church’s communal life.

A Biblical Practice

In his letter to the Galatians Paul writes, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches” (Gal. 6:6). The Greek word for “the one who is taught” is katechoumenos, one who is catechized. In other words, Paul is talking about a body of Christian doctrine (catechism) that was taught to them by an instructor (here the word catechizer). The words “all good things” probably mean financial support as well. In this light, the word koinoneo—which means “to share” or “to have fellowship”—becomes even richer. The salary of a Christian teacher is not to be seen simply as a payment but a “fellowship.” Catechesis is not just one more service to be paid for, but is a rich fellowship and mutual sharing of the gifts of God.

When my son Jonathan was a young child, my wife, Kathy, and I started teaching him a children’s catechism. In the beginning we worked on just the first three questions:

Question 1. Who made you? Answer. God
Question 2. What else did God make? Answer. God made all things.
Question 3. Why did God make you and all things? Answer. For his own glory.

One day Kathy dropped Jonathan off at a babysitter’s. At one point the babysitter discovered Jonathan looking out the window. “What are you thinking about?” she asked him. “God,” he said. Surprised, she responded, “What are you thinking about God?” He looked at her and replied, “How he made all things for his own glory.” She thought she had a spiritual giant on her hands! A little boy looking out the window, contemplating the glory of God in creation!

What had actually happened, obviously, was that her question had triggered the question/answer response in him. He answered with the catechism. He certainly did not have the slightest idea what the “glory of God” meant. But the concept was in his mind and heart, waiting to be connected with new insights, teaching, and experiences.

Such instruction, Princeton theologian Archibald Alexander said, is like firewood in a fireplace. Without the fire—the Spirit of God—firewood will not in itself produce a warming flame. But without fuel there can be no fire either, and that is what catechetical instruction is.

Home Groups

Home Groups meet this week.
The suggestion that we might follow idols in this day and age might seem strange - and yet the passage this week warns us to 'Flee idolatry'.
Tim Keller has written and spoken a lot about the idols which can be in our lives - this link take us to a talk he gave - good homework for those going to Home Group- or even if you are not.

Feathered Fiends

When men get to a certain stage in life, many will take up gardening - some, more active, may play bowls or golf. Perhaps a game of Bridge or two. David and Chisolm shovel up bird excrement.
David explains: "Following a mysterious incursion into the Castle by those pesky birds, the Maxwell Mearns Avian Team leapt into action to restore order."

The Scottish Reformed Conference

Saturday 14th May

Gathering believers of all ages and denominations there will be the blessing of ministry of the highest calibre as well as the delight of warm, Christian fellowship.

This year’s conference will take place on Saturday 14th May 2022 and the speaker will be Joel Beeke and Rupert Bentley-Taylor.

The venue is Hamilton College, Bothwell Rd, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML3 0AY
More details here. You can register at here

Concert this weekend!

Saturday 14th May - 7.30pm

FREE
Tron Church Kelvingrove
(Former home of Royal Scottish National Orchestra)

A Passion for Life event .This will be a good evening to take a friend or family member along to - some great classical music alongside Gospel presentations.

PLANT SALE & COFFEE MORNING

TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN AID
MEARNS KIRK CHURCH
This Saturday, 14 May, from 10 till 12 noon

Really good quality plants of different kinds supplied by McLaren’s Nurseries.

London Institute of Contemporary Christianity

The LICC 40 cities tour hits Glasgow on 19 May (7.30 pm)
at St George’s Tron, 163 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 2JX

Scott and Anita are planning on going - why not grab a couple of friends and come along as a group?
Get more tickets here.
Free but registration necessary.

Pulse logo
Wednesday at 7.15 - 8.30pm

Please note that we are meeting in person again - in the West Room. See you there!

Often we find ourselves praying for Ukraine and Russia these days...but what to pray? And is God as concerned as we are?

This blog from Andrew Bunt is helpful:

Praying in Response to Evil

There are some passages in the Bible that can leave us feeling a little uncomfortable. Often these are passages are about God’s judgement. ‘Does God really act like that?’, we think. ‘Is that really fair?’, we ask. But then sometimes things happen in our own lives or in the world around us and we see something of the full horror of sin and evil. Our heart response in those situations gives us a little flavour of God’s just hatred of evil. And in the midst of that experience, those uncomfortable Bible passages can start to make a little more sense.

I think Nahum 1 could be one of those passages for us at the moment....

Read the rest of the blog here.

Ladybird Book of Maxwell

Holiday Club 2022

Monday 8th-Friday 12th August

Maxwell Holiday Club will be back this summer! Save the Date for families and team members!
Everyone in our church can be involved in this outreach in some way.
Speak to Pauline, Colin, Sandra or Scott to find out more.

pray now

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.

**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)