maxwell mag header advent 4
No.135            23rd December

Hi,

Hope this finds you well and warm.

It's a good time to take stock of things isn't it...lots to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for...His kindness, patience, grace, mercy and unfailing love and much more. And the remarkable thing which then happens is when those who have simply believed, and to whom He has gifted His Spirit  begin to show the same fruit in various ways (if only in a small and stuttering ways until the 2nd Advent of Jesus is seen!  We know that a way to make sure we know God best is to be regularly in His Word... do you have a time each day to get into the Bible? There are really good helps for what is often a time which is squeezed out by busyness and distractions. See below for some ideas.

No holiday would be complete without a break from the Mag for a couple of weeks, but please do send in things for the magazine - always much better to have others inputting (Margaret often points out).

Enjoy the Magazine,

MB

From the Manse

Dear Congregation,

Let me begin by making mention again of the sad news of the death of Robin Russell. 
Our prayers continue to be with Heather and the family.
We will mark Robin's substantial contribution to the life of Maxwell properly with an obituary in the new year as we rejoice in the hope of the Gospel and Christ's resurrection.

 

Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol?

I have two. One is “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley. It has a great melody by Felix Mendelssohn‎. However, it is the lyrics that grab me most. They give a good account of the biblical story of Christmas, are so theologically rich yet beautifully crafted. Has there ever been a better lyric written than “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel”.
Wesley has the angels rightly singing, “Glory to the new-born King!”

My second favourite is “O Come All Ye Faithful”.
Like “Hark The Herald Angels Sing”, the melody is magnificent and the theology is equally rich; “Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing”. This draws directly on the amazing truth of John’s Gospel Chapter 1.1,14
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
Throughout the hymn it calls us to an appropriate response
“O come, let us adore Him”

The second stanza is most interesting because it stresses the nature of the Christ who was born: “Very God, Begotten, not created”. These expressions are drawn from the Nicene Creed of the 4th century. The Nicene Creed is famous for its strong commitment to the deity of the eternal Son of God who became incarnate at Christmas (in the flesh). In regard to this word “begotten”, the creed is not speaking of the begetting at Bethlehem but the begetting of the Son of God’s in His eternal existence. 
The Nicene Creed declares the orthodox faith of the Church on this matter:
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father… The Nicene Creed is correcting the priest called Arius who argued that there was a time when the Son did not exist. 
CS Lewis, in his usual pithy way, helps us understand the significance in the word “begotten” (I am quoting from “Mere Christianity” p242)
“When you beget, you beget something of the same kind as yourself,” Lewis explains.
“A man begets human babies, a beaver begets little beavers and a bird begets eggs which turn into little birds. But when you make, you make something of a different kind from yourself.
A bird makes a nest, a beaver builds a dam, a man makes a wireless set—or he may make something more like himself than a wireless set: say, a statue. If he is a clever enough carver he may make a statue which is very like a man indeed. But, of course, it is not a real man; it only looks like one. It cannot breathe or think. It is not alive.”

The One who was incarnate at that first Christmas was no less than the eternal Son of God.

Do you agree that these two carols are immense? They declare boldly the simplicity but profundity of the Christmas Gospel. I love them.

On a different matter…as I type, the presenters are getting themselves ready for an evening of “Sports Personality of the Year Award”. There are lots of categories and some worthy champions. However, I can’t remember who won any of them last year, can you? It is fun to watch, but forgettable.
The Gospel Coalition have done us a great service and reviewed numerous books which have been published during 2022. They also have decided on “winners” under different categories.
There are so many categories at least one will be right for you!
Why not have a look through them and buy for yourself a Christmas present from one of these winners? Or, decide to make your way through several of the winners over the new-year?
I am not encouraging extravagance but rather a way for you to grow in your faith as you walk with the Lord and engage with our world. I trust they will be memorable reads! You will find the winners at this link.
www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tgc-book-awards-2022/

scott christmas jumper
On two further matters…this is likely to be the last magazine before the New Year. Let me offer my own personal thanks to all contributed throughout 2022. We are hugely indebted to Martin Boyd sharing his gifts to make this Magazine happen every week (135 times), and so creatively!

I will be on holiday from 3rd January – 10th January. Rev Stuart Crawford of Newton Mearns Parish Church has kindly agreed to assist with any funerals that may arise during my absence. You can contact Stuart on;
Mobile: 07912534280               Manse: 0141 239 2140.
Email: scrawford@churchofscotland.org.uk.


Have a wonderful celebration of our Saviour Jesus.
Warmest regards,
Scott


Road to Recovery

hoep for glasgow

As you know we are supporting Hope for Glasgow at our 7pm service on Christmas Eve.
We shall have a special offering for Road To Recovery - the programme run by Hope for Glasgow. 
We shall have a plate into which you can put cash/cheques and there will be envelopes provided at the door if you would like to use one of these. (These can be completed for Gift Aid.)
There will be opportunity to use a QR code on the night with your phone. This will take you to the Hope for Glasgow giving page. 
Please put a reference that you are giving from Maxwell Mearns Castle Church (that will allow us to report back how much we donated).
Scott

The R2R programme (Road to Recovery) links individuals breaking free from addiction into local Church groups. There are women's groups which have started and there is hope to expand the ministry with a new addiction worker in January. 

To give directly through a bank transfer; 
Sort Code 08-92-99  
Acc 65815722.
(Remember to note it is from Maxwell Mearns Castle Church.)


Who cares if you’re a boy or a girl?

10 questions

This week's Scottish parliament debate over the Transgender issues can lead many to wonder what is the best response to give when we want to be faithful to Biblical teaching and be caring and helpful to those with different views, confused views and especially for those who is directly affects.

Rebecca McLaughlin has written so well and clearly on a number of issues (Her book 'Confronting Christianity is well worth getting) but she recently brought out a helpful book for leading young people to think Biblically in a generation who have largely given up on the truths which were once just accepted as being true and valuable.
This article is a 10 min read but well worth considering and reflecting both for ourselves and how we might help our young people know how to answer these hot topics.
Read the article here.  Extract below:

Who cares if you’re a boy or a girl?
Helping teens think through hard questions about Christianity

First, we know that Jesus cares a lot about our feelings. He knows us from the inside out. He knows what we love and what makes us scared or sad. He knows when we feel like we don’t fit in and when we wish we could be different. 
Second, the Bible tells us that God created everything through Jesus (John 1:3). Jesus made you. If you were born a boy, he meant for you to be a boy. If you were born a girl, he meant for you to be a girl. This doesn’t mean that it will always be easy
Following Jesus always means trusting him with our desires, even if it’s really hard. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25). But Jesus doesn’t ask us to do this alone. He gives us his Spirit, and he gives us his body (other Christians) for help. 

If you’re a Christian and some of your classmates identify as transgender or non-binary, your job is not to avoid them or make fun of them. Your job is to tell them about Jesus and show them his love—just as you would to others. Loving people doesn’t mean agreeing with all their decisions. My non-Christian friends make all sorts of decisions I disagree with. They’re not working from the same road-map. But I can still love them and listen to them.

If you wanted to go deeper and but still have an accessible, understanding of these issues, Carl Truman’s Strange New World really gets to the heart of things, i.e why has there been such a seismic shift in thinking in our culture.
You can watch Trueman being interviewed about this topic here.
Here is a review of the book:  To that end, Trueman considers the thinkers and leaders who led the way from the former world into the current one. Before he can do that, though, he must introduce some key concepts such as self, a term that has taken on new and inordinate meaning in the past few decades so that “the modern self assumes the authority of inner feelings and sees authenticity as defined by the ability to give social expression to the same. The modern self also assumes that society at large will recognize and affirm this behaviour.
Full review here


Thank You  

musical evening

A big thank you to all who took part in a busy Sunday last week.
The Hizkidz and YF led the Nativity Service and then in the evening we had a Choir led by Ian GIllis, with the band leading praise at our Very Musical Christmas evening.
You can watch the evening service again here.


Ladybird book of Christmas cho

If you read it every day...

it will help you on your way...the best book to read is the Bible!
(Shows your age if you sang those lines, but it's lasting truth.)

bible devotional
 
Some Daily devotionals to use in 2023:
Available from various Christian book sellers - try 10of those, Eden, Good book co if you can.
(Also available on Kindle)

TRUTH FOR LIFE - Alastair Begg
Start each day with the Gospel with this one-year devotional & Bible reading plan from renowned Bible teacher, Alistair Begg

BETWEEN THE LINES - Glen Scrivener
"I love this book! Glen has a knack for looking at familiar biblical texts from unfamiliar angles, and he's done it again here. Pithy yet profound, easy to read yet deeply challenging, Reading Between the Lines uncovers a multitude of surprising ways in which the Scriptures speak about Jesus." 

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD- Don Carson
"Focuses on the gospel, the cross and Jesus the saviour, great devotional to deepen your faith in the Lord in everyday life."

GOD'S WISDOM FOR NAVIGATING LIFE  A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs - Timothy and Kathy Keller
“Superb . . . we should be grateful to Keller for his wisdom, scholarship, and humility.”
(Also available focussing on the Psalms)

WhatsApp Image 2022-12-16 at 1

This amazing photo was sent in by Jack G (very much a friend of the magazine) reminding us of a Great God who creates, sustains, saves and keeps us.

And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
“Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?

And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.

 “And have you ever ordered Morning, ‘Get up!’
told Dawn, ‘Get to work!’
“Do you know where Light comes from
and where Darkness lives
So you can take them by the hand
and lead them home when they get lost?
“Have you ever traveled to where snow is made,
seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness
for times of trouble and battle and war?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched,
or to the place from which the wind blows?
Who do you suppose carves canyons
for the downpours of rain, and charts
    the route of thunderstorms

And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
the mother of ice and frost?
You don’t for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?
Job 38 (The Message)

 


Car Parking

carpark

Can you help?
If you are able, please can you to start using the school car park again as we did pre-lockdown?
Numbers attending services are encouragingly high and it would be really helpful if those that are able could leave spaces in the main car park who have greater need.
 

Date for your Diary - 2023

WhatsApp Image 2022-12-15 at 1
AN EVENING WITH IAN WHITE. 

Maxwell Mearns Castle Church 

7.30pm - Friday 3rd February

A great night of music followed by refreshments 

in support of the Inspiration Orchestra. Free entry with a collection taken on the night

Come and bring your friends! 

www.theinspirationorchestra.com


Tweet+of+the+Week+blog+pic+(1)  

tweet of the week 11
 
 Safeguarding at Maxwell Mearns 

Safeguarding – Ensuring a Safe Church for All 

If you suspect or witness harm or abuse, or it is reported to you, you must immediately report it to one of the Safeguarding Coordinators:
Sue Anderson – 07970 261429 
Stewart Martin – 07766437216 
Elaine Taggart - 07746876280 


Pulse logo
The weekly prayer meeting will meet again in the New Year - look out for details
Wednesdays 
7.15pm - 8.15pm

All welcome.
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.