max mag summer

No.116    12th August


Hi,
Hope this finds you well and you have been able to enjoy some of this terrific weather.

As one activity stops there are others already planned...we will hear lots about how the Holiday Club has gone and then we start looking forward to other activities...Eg. You can read about the new Hope Explored course starting soon. I've been reading about Hope as Paul the Apostle understood it... we tend to mix up 'hope' with 'optimism' - they are not the same thing!  The optimist looks at the world and feels good about the way it’s going. "Everything is going to be all right!" But Hope (for Paul - and us?) could be, and often was, a dogged and deliberate. choice when the world seemed dark. It depended not on a feeling about the way things were or the way they were moving, but on faith in the God who made the world. This God had called Israel to be his people, and in faithfulness to His promises sent the true King. The scriptures have made it clear that this God can be trusted to sort things out in the end, to be true to his promises, even if it had to be on the other side of difficulty and even suffering. Tom Wright writes: “Hope” in this sense is not a feeling. It is a virtue. You have to practice it, like a difficult piece on the violin or a tricky shot at tennis. You practice the virtue of hope through worship and prayer, through invoking the One God, through reading and re-imagining the scriptural story, and through consciously holding the unknown future within the unshakable divine promises." Paul learned this, we need to learn this.
So, with that in mind,  below there's a reminder of our book for the Summer - Liturgy of the Ordinary - this will help us get into this 'practicing' we need to do. Or with a different metaphor, perhaps you need to apply a cream each day  - let's not ask why! - but it's for our good. Similarly, we need to apply Gospel thinking daily to battle against the very real infections and avoid the pain of thoughts surrounding regret, shame, pride, bitterness, self-centredness etc.

Enjoy the mag.

MB


From the Manse

Dear Congregation,scott
We had a super Summer Club (see below).
A huge thanks to Pauline and Colin for leading the team. We had numerous leaders behind the scenes, but each morning engaging with the children, I counted about 13 “adults” and 20 youth! What a huge help the youth were. Let’s pray the club will have sown some fertile seeds in both children and the youth. 
In addition to normal morning Holiday Club activities we invited all the parents for lunch on Wednesday (another great team prepared this and baked and served and cleaned up!). On Thursday afternoon we went to the Barassie beach for games and a BBQ with the youth team. The weather was amazing and we had a fantastic time. A Fun Night is now arranged for all for Friday evening (it has not yet happened as I type this early Friday).
On Sunday we shall have a concluding Holiday Club service (please welcome any guests who come) and a BBQ after church for all the congregation. Please stay if you can!
 
New Youth Workerjacob jess
We were delighted to welcome Jacob last Sunday and throw him into our Holiday Club week. Jacob slotted in wonderfully!
 
Douglas Campbell
We shall gather in thanksgiving for Douglas Campbell’s life on Thursday 18th August at 1.30pm in the sanctuary. There will be a committal service thereafter at Mearns Cemetery.
 
Prayer Meeting
I am aiming to move the Prayer meeting to a Thursday evening at 7.15pm-8.30pm. All are welcome and I will continue to try and issue zoom codes for those who cannot attend personally. We shall begin on Thursday 18th August.
 
Sunday 21st – Mearns House
For your diary, we shall be leading worship on 21st of August again in Mearns House. All are welcome to join us.
We gather outside at 2.20pm (2.30-3pm service).
 
Presbytery Plan
Three of our elders met with the other congregations in the cluster on Thursday 11th. They found it the most helpful meeting so far. It was meeting number 6. However, there is nothing definitive for me to report to you! Watch this space...again!
 
Warmest Regards
Scott
news crew logo
 

HOLIDAY CLUB

8th-12th August

It's been great to hear about (and can see on Youtube by going here) all that has been going on at the church this week - well done to the Holiday Club team for organising a fantastic week for the children - on Sunday morning we will catch a flavour of it in the church service as they lead things.

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Hope-explored-yellow banner

What's the best future you could imagine? 

There are few emotions more powerful than hope. But these days, hope often feels hard to come by. Where can we find a hope that won’t disappoint us?
Come along on 3 Sunday afternoons to discuss
where we can find hope today.
What does Christianity have to say about...
    HOPE?            PEACE?         PURPOSE?

Who can you bring along to these three Sunday afternoon events? 
18th Sept    |   25th Sept    |   2nd Oct
3.30pm till 5pm
TO REGISTER: email maxwellexplore@gmail.com



Ladybird Book of Maxwell 

    Ladybird book of Hol Club dram

Liturgy of the Ordinary 

 

liturgy of the ordinary

Let me ask you an awkward question - how are you getting on with Maxwell's book for the summer?

Perhaps it was started and then other things got in the way...or never started? 
If that is the case can I encourage you to give it (another) go and enjoy how Warren encourages us to move away from a faith which is based around G77 5RE once a week, to a daily recognition and embracing of the truth that our relationship with our Heavenly Father can touch each and every aspect of our lives. 

It's not a difficult read and Warren writes so well... can you set yourself the goal to finish by end of August.

If you have read the book and want to send in a review that would be great!


WhatsApp Image 2022-08-06 at 7


Evangelism Conference 2022

mere evangelism

Insights from C S Lewis into Gospel Outreach today.

Saturday 8th October - Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh

Glen Scrivener - Rico Tice - Randy Newman
Given the quality of speakers it may be well worth the trip to Edinburgh!
If you would like to go you will have to book yourself in - there is a cost (£20early bird -£25)
We may be able to share transport or go together on train /bus.
Scott
More info and booking  here.


what a church sings


The Most Important Part of Every Prayer

 prayer

Sometimes custom causes us to neglect beauty. Sometimes we are so used to doing or saying something that we forget the sheer wonder of it. Such may be the case when we end our prayers with the words, “for Christ’s sake” or “for Jesus’ sake.” Don’t miss what De Witt Talmage has to say about these simple words.

The most important part of every prayer is the last three or four words of it—” For Christ’s sake.” Do not rattle off those words as though they were merely the finishing stroke of the prayer. They are the most important part of the prayer.

When in earnestness you go before God, and say—” For Christ’s sake,” it rolls in, as it were, upon God’s mind all the memories of Bethlehem and Golgotha.

When you say before God— “For Christ’s sake,” you hold before God’s mind every groan, every tear, every crimson drop of His only begotten Son.

If there is anything in all the universe that will move God to an act of royal benefaction, it is to say—”For Christ’s sake.”

If a little child should kneel behind God’s throne and should say—” For Christ’s sake,” the great Jehovah would turn around on His throne to look at her and listen. No prayer ever gets to Heaven but for Christ’s sake. No soul is ever comforted but for Christ’s sake. The world was never redeemed, but for Christ’s sake.

Our name, however illustrious it may be among men, before God stands only for inconsistency and sin; but there is a name, a potent name, a blessed name, a glorious name an everlasting name, that we may put upon our lips as a sacrament, and upon our forehead as a crown, and that is the name of Jesus…

Tim Challies


Home Groups

home
HOME GROUPS ARE STARTING AGAIN

Week beginning Sunday 28th, Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th August- meeting fortnightly.
Continuing our studies in 1 Corinthians.
Get in touch with Scott if you are not already involved in a Home Group.  

Vacancy 

GCM

The Mission wish to appoint a full-time Administrator to join our dynamic team in our Head Office in Glasgow city centre.
Click HERE for full details. 
Jack Geddes
www.glasgowcitymission.com


pray now

Are you on the Pray Now WhatsApp Group? 

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.