No.151.   21st April

Hi,
Hope this finds you well.

Watching The Thief on the Cross'  drama  last weekend reminded me of the question that can sometimes arise in people's minds  'Have we done enough for God to be a proper Christian, let us into heaven etc?'
Of course, the simple answer is 'Nope - you haven't done enough so get that thought out of your head - you haven't, you won't, you can't.' 
We're not looking at the 'Last day' and hoping we have done enough for God. But Jesus has. He fulfilled the Law completely. 
Luther has a great line- When the law comes accusing you of not having kept it, bid it go to Christ and say, 'There’s the man who kept it! To him I cling , he fulfilled it for me…and gave his fulfilment to me'  Thus the law is silenced. 
Great stuff to hold on to.

On more mundane matters, but probably keeping people awake at night, there were was a debate at Sunday's Fellowship Lunch as to whether or not the Tomato or the Carrot & Coriander was best - speak to Jess to get the final score on that one...or get the recipe even!

Enjoy the mag.

MB
 

Sunday 23rd April

       Rev Scott Kirkland
     Bible passage: 1Peter ch4 v1-6
 

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From the Manse

Dear Congregation,
We had a super evening last Sunday night. About seventy of us watched a dramatization of the story of the criminal who died beside Jesus on the cross.
We have a number of books of the story left over. Please take some on Sunday to read and/or give away.

The story of the criminals is found in the Gospels. Luke’s Gospel chapter 23.32-43 brings great comfort to all who wonder if they have left it too late to receive the saving grace of Jesus. The answer found in the experience of the criminal beside Jesus is that if we have breath in our bodies, there is still opportunity for us. However, it would be dangerous to delay turning to Jesus in repentance and faith because we never know when our last breath will come!

I had some super conversations about the Gospel after the film. One comment was unusual and got me thinking.
I was told that the name of the thief on the cross was known. That piqued my interest because none of the Gospels name the thieves. After a little research I discovered that in the Roman Catholic tradition, the name Gestus/Gesmas is given to the “impenitent thief” and the name Dismas/Dysmas is given to the “penitent thief”. By the Roman Catholic reckoning of “Sainthood”, Dismas was appointed to be a “Saint”.
It is interesting that these names gained traction amongst some Christian traditions. The names are not in the bible but found in two books which refer to New Testament times; The Acts of Pilate and The Gospel of Nicodemus. However, neither of these books are part of what is called the “Apocrypha”.
The Roman Catholic Church and some protestant groups have varying respect for Apocryphal books. But these Apocryphal books are related to the Old Testament not the New. The Catholic News Agency writes; “The Catholic Old Testament Canon includes - Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, I and II Maccabees - plus sections of Esther and Daniel which are absent from the Protestant OT. Protestant Christians do not accept these Writings as inspired by God and refer to them as the "Apocrypha".”

This comment at the end of the paragraph is correct. Regarding the significance the Apocrypha, the Westminster Confession of Faith (“The Subordinate Standard” of most Presbyterian churches) states; “The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the Canon of Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings."
So, although they have no infallibility and authority as the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments have, they may still be read with some profit in the same way any non-Scriptural book may benefit us. 
As the Confession states well “The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture”.

Whether we know the name of the man beside Jesus or not, is in some sense, inconsequential. However, that we can trust the conversation he had with Jesus and the outcome of that conversation, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”, is vital. We need to know which books are entirely reliable, trustworthy and God given. That authoritative certainty is found in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, the bible.
You may find the six articles and videos I have listed below interesting. They delve into how our bibles came to be recognised as the Word of God.

• Tyndale House    (short article here)                
• The Biblical Canon (short article here)
• Ligonier Q&A       (3 minute video here)           
• Ligonier Q&A       (26 minute video here)
• The Bible Project 1 (cartoon video here)          
• The Bible Project 2 (cartoon video here)

On a different matter…I will be on holiday from 25th April through to the 2nd May inclusive. Rev Joe Kavanagh (Tel 0141 384 2218 or 07508047388) has kindly agreed to provide assistance should we need to arrange a funeral in my absence. If this sad requirement does arise, please keep Sue Amery Behr at our office informed of details so that the congregation can be made aware.

Warmest regards
Scott

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Exam Time

Let's pray for the young people of Scotland taking exams from Monday (and especially our own young people).
This prayer was circulated by Glasgow Presbytery. 
Lord, we pray Please keep the young people in our midst free from anxiety, and stress. Grant them peace and enable each to do the best they can. Lord, may each know that your love for them is not based on success but on grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

This link has the day to day exam list.
Scott

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Thanks!

 

SU Fundraising Lunch

Thank you to everyone who joined together on Sunday 16th at the SU fundraising lunch. It was wonderful to see so many of us gathering to learn about and support such a good cause. We raised £439.50 towards the work of SU Scotland and their international partners. Thank you so much for your generous support.
I’d also like to thank Jess and my father-in-law Andrew for their excellent soup making skill which we all enjoyed. Here are some photos of the event.
Jacob






Really good to see every seat taken in the hall too - this picture shows Sandy offering to pick up the lunch bill. (I think.)

Jacob gave a short talk on SU Scotland's involvement with other SU organisations on the international front. In the Ukraine SU is known as Open Bible and we were able to give to support that work -later in the week it was nice to receive this email from SU Scotland.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support!
I write to thank you for your gift in support of SU Scotland’s ministry with children and young people.
We have allocated this donation to support our partner organisation in Ukraine as you requested. The war in Ukraine has brought terrible instability and we are seeking to stand with them, providing practical support and encouragement in the middle of huge disruption for our Open Bible partners.
If you do not receive our quarterly International Prayer Update, we can send it to you by post or email. Please contact Gail McLay at gail.mclay@suscotland.org.uk, or by phone on 0141 352 7645, if you would like to receive it.
Thank you again for your support of Open Bible ministry in Ukraine.
Wishing you every blessing,
John Mowat
Support Development Manager
 

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Thanks - again!

It appears that the unofficial Maxwell volunteer's uniform involves stripes this season!

Thanks to all who helped out at the Film Night last Sunday evening.

There were volunteers in various duties through the evening.
Here is Sheila, Pamela and Margaret getting ready to be busy - which seems to include checking the tea is okay before serving  it.

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Plant Sale & Strawberry Tea

In Mearns Kirk Church Hall
Saturday 13th May, 10am - 12 noon
Tea ticket £5

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Book To Read

"A Theology Of Suffering"

On Sunday coming,  I will reference briefly in my sermon, Bryson Arthur's book on suffering .
I hope to have a number of these books available at the back of the church (they will be £10).
Bryson's book, "A Theology of Suffering" is an extensive study of suffering from the perspective of faith. Our Church of Scotland friend and colleague, Rev Professor Andrew McGowan, describes the book as "...an intense and insightful reflection on some of the weighty issues in Christian theology" but he adds, "...it does so in ways which are accessible."
 
In the first part of the book, Bryson engages in the primary question as to the nature of suffering. This section offers theological and philosophical insights.  The second part of the book examines the suffering of biblical characters (including Jesus and the possibility of the suffering of God Himself). Bryson concludes this part with the persecuted Church and how Christians should respond to the suffering of persecution. The final part of the book includes three chapters culminating in the triumph of faith and glory. 

I would describe this book is a serious interaction about a very serious subject which touches us all.
Scott

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Home Groups - Spring/Summer

The new dates for our next session are now available and your Home Group Leader should have sent them to you.
We are looking at 2 Peter this time (following on from 1 Peter  - seems reasonable to me!!)
Not been involved before? Ask Scott if you can be slipped into one of the groups which meet on Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays fortnightly.

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Evacuation Chair

A Cleaning Project - Evacuation Chair
We have an evacuation chair in the church which has not done well in COVID isolation!
We would like someone to take it away and see if can be restored before we commit to buying a new one. It will need a good clean and wheels oiled etc.
Speak with Scott if you can take this on.

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Chairs Available - Free!
 

Would you like some light-weight wooden chairs?
We have about 35 needing a new home. They stack nicely.
Useful for garden parties?
(Or wood for an outdoor firepit?)
Speak to Scott if interested.

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Ladybird Book of Maxwell

 

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10 Words

Continuing four series of 10 Biblical Words...these words have the ability to point us to the truth and provide a path to live life to the fullest. Yet there are many words that can be confusing to the average reader. Understanding a little more about these 10 words will undoubtedly unlock deeper meaning as we seek to listen to God’s Word.

9. Covenant

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’” (Luke 22:20).
A covenant can best be understood as a legally binding contract. It cannot be broken without dire consequences, so when God initiates a covenant, we can be certain that it is secure. There are several important covenants recorded in the Bible, and it is important to understand that our relationship with God is built entirely upon these covenants.
Trusting that we find salvation through Jesus and not from our own works (Eph. 2:8-9) is rather a big risk. What if that’s wrong, and we do have to earn salvation? We are assured that God’s Word on this is certainly true and reliable, based on the fact that it is part of God’s covenant with humanity. The covenant that Jesus made through the Last Supper was confirmed through his crucifixion and resurrection, which validates the truth of it. His covenant is unbreakable, and we find peace and security in it.

10. Fear

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
This word can be confusing to many. Is God a friend who is ‘closer than a brother’ that we are invited to know, or is he someone we are supposed to be afraid of? The fear of the Lord that leads to wisdom is a deep respect, awe, and reverence for who he is and how he leads us to live. One who says he believes in God but does nothing to show reverence or respect for the teachings God has given is desperately lacking in fear of him.
We fear God because he is unfathomable to us; the creator of space, time, and matter, who holds the universe in his hands. Yet he chose to become as one of us, walking among us, teaching us, and continuing to dwell among us through the Holy Spirit. Fear does not mean he is scary, but rather that his ways are right and he has chosen to show us love, grace, and mercy instead of destruction.
Understanding these words can change how we study Scripture, and will hopefully draw us deeper into relationship with this God who loves us so dearly.

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Praying With The Christian Institute - May 3rd

We shall unite our Wednesday night prayer meeting on 3rd May with the gathering at Newton Mearns Baptist Church.
 
Wednesday 3 May,
7.30pm – 8.45pm
Where? Newton Mearns Baptist Church
2 Greenfarm Road, Newton Mearns,

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Pray Now  is a WhatsApp group for Maxwell members

It sends out occasional requests for prayer. In particular those which might be regarding things more acute or immediate.
Speak with Margaret Boyd is you would like to be added to this important ministry at MMCC, or just to find out more.

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Car Parking

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 for those who have greater need.

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 Safeguarding at Maxwell Mearns