No.118 26th August

Hi,
Hope you have had a good week.
This week's mag has some new bits and pieces in it but the magazine is also good for keeping on the radar a number of events coming up - some you need to get a wriggle on and book up for, and others you just need reminded about. Quite a few musical events too - Praise in the Park at Rouken Glen is this weekend...make sure you take note of the ones below and don't miss out.

Talking of music let me flag up one song which comes up on my playlist quite often -Hillsong's 'What a Beautiful Name'. It's great for getting a proper perspective on life. Our days and news are always filled with people competing for top spot - who's voice are we going to listen to, who will we follow online, who will be Prime minister and then there's the Champions League - rivalries and competition to be the best. Above all this, and putting all these things in proper place, the Christian message from the very earliest days announced Jesus as Lord - not Caesar, not the gods in the temples - no one else.
You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God, You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

Watch the song performed here.

Enjoy the mag!

MB

Castle Toddlers Return!

We are looking forward to our new toddlers sessions beginning and pleased to be able to return to our old drop-in style format rather than having to book in advance. Both Monday and Tuesday sessions are open to any parent/grandparent/carer with a child not yet at school. Please share with friends and neighbours! Contact Pauline at mmcastlefmaily@gmail.com for more information.

Castle Toddlers baking rota

Pre-covid the home baking at toddlers was very much enjoyed by those who came along. We would love to be able to provide this again and so we'd like to create a baking rota with lots of people on it so that people only have to bake occasionally. Baking would be able to be dropped off in the church kitchen on Sunday mornings. If you can help with this extremely important ministry please get in touch with Pauline. Thank you!

Thinking about Fellowship

When we wonder what most strongly motivated Paul, we must put near the centre the fact that at a deeply human level he was sustained and nourished by what he came to call koinōnia....the normal translation of koinōnia is “fellowship,” but that coin has worn smooth with long use. It can mean “business partnership” too; that is part of it, but again it doesn’t get to the heart. And the heart is what matters.
When our words run out, we need images: the look of delight when a dear friend pays an unexpected visit, the glance of understanding between musicians as together they say something utterly beautiful, the long squeeze of a hand by a hospital bed, the contentment and gratitude that accompany shared worship and prayer—all this and more. The other Greek word for which Paul would reach is of course agapē, “love,” but once again our English term is so over-used that we can easily fail to recognize it as it walks nearby, like a short-sighted lover failing to recognize the beloved; what we so often miss is that it means the world, and more than the world. “The son of God loved me,” Paul had written to the Galatians, “and gave himself for me.”
(Tom Wright - Biography of Paul)

Have you signed up yet?

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?

Watch the Trailer here and send on to a friend...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

Load of Rubbish

Since rubbish has been on the news recently...actual news about rubbish, not just usual stuff (and only the most petty of Glaswegians can have been enjoying seeing the mess on the streets of Edinburgh - btw I can get you 10/8 glossies of this photo for those who want one) it led me to think about this verse...

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.
Philippians 3:7

Paul has made it clear in this chapter - Don’t put your confidence in a ritual, your race, your rank, your tradition, your morality, your zeal, obedience to the law. Paul calls his religious accomplishments “filth” or “rubbish” or “dung” compared to knowing Christ. .. and what a relief that is, to be off the treadmill of our own achievements and resting in Christ's work for us. What a gift.

"Paul had once thought he was a spiritual millionaire. He had thought he was advancing in holiness. Then one day it all changed. In one journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, Paul came to realize he was spiritually bankrupt—that he wasn’t even on the path of holiness.
What gave Paul hope? On that same journey, he met the risen, crucified Jesus (Acts 9:1-19), and he grasped the doctrine of justification: that God declares the sinner to be righteous on the basis of His Son’s finished work." - Alastair Begg. Read his full comment on this passage here.

Local churches are coming together to host 'Praise in the Park' Family Fun Day at Rouken Glen Park on Saturday 27th August!

Hello all
I hope you don’t mind this appeal to you for support for a charitable cause.
I have the opportunity to help raise funds for a local charity in my home town of Glasgow.

The Glasgow City Mission are involved in:

helping people in Glasgow affected by homelessness and poverty
providing overnight accommodation for people who would otherwise sleep rough
helping children and parents in Govan district in Glasgow to fulfil their potential

The charity has organised a fund raising event that will take place on Saturday 17 September 2022.
My challenge is to complete a road cycle circuit of the Isle of Arran, comprising a journey of 57 miles (92 km). I’m training hard but this will be a fair test at my age and condition, and in uncertain Scottish weather!

I realise that home budgets are under pressure at the moment with rising costs of living, so any contribution at all that you can make, even the smallest amount, will make a huge difference to those that the charity can help.

A link to my JustGiving page is below, along with a link to the charity website, with details of the event and the work of the charity.
I hope you might consider supporting if you can and many thanks for taking the time to read my appeal.
Thanks and regards,

Click here for Just Giving page.
Glasgow City Mission web page is here.

Ken Taggart

An inspiring night at the musicals featuring singers from London's West End.
At NMBC. FRIDAY 30th SEPTEMBER, 7.30pm

Amazing performers will bring you songs from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and The Greatest Showman.
The singers will give an insight into life in the West End, their careers and their Faith.

£6 per ticket, group tickets for 4 people for the price of 3 available too.
GET TICKETS NOW - CLICK HERE

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.