No.153.   5th May

Hi,

Special Coronation Edition of the magazine this week. Hands up if you can remember the last coronation!
I'm sure if we went through the Maxwell congregation there would be a whole range of feelings about the Coronation; and plenty of comments, debates and eye rolling when discussing whether or not we should swear allegience to our King. 
Better than Saturday's event is Sunday's ... every week we can publicly testify to following the King of Kings...But most remarkably of all is God's commitment to us!! That should stop us in our tracks each day. And not if we come up to scratch - but in spite of knowing we never will, our Heavenly Father draws near to us.  And whereas we know that our faithfulness and obedience is far from what it should be, God's faithful promises to us, in His Son Jesus can be relied on. 
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23

Let's lift our voices in praise this Sunday!

There is lots going on around the country - and much of it happening on the 13th of May it would seem - have a look through and see what you can support.

Enjoy the mag!

MB
 

Sunday 6th May

       Rev Scott Kirkland
     Bible passage: 1 Peter  4:1-11
Children's talk Acts 9 -Tabitha

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Coronation of King Charles III

 

Saturday 6th May, 2023

During the Coronation, the  Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will present a Bible and say these words: Sir, to keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.  

Below is a suggested prayer by the Dean of the Chapel Royal, but we would do well to frame our prayers of thanksgiving around this part of the service involving the Archbishop and the King:
Archbishop of Canterbury will say: Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?

The King: All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised I will perform and keep. So help me God.

Archbishop of Canterbury: Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe and declare to the statutory Accession Declaration Oath?

The King: I am willing.
The King: I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law. 

The full liturgy of the Coronation is here.
 

A prayer for Coronation Day

By Rev Professor David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland

Almighty and everlasting God,
exalted above all nations and peoples,
today we seek your blessing upon Charles, our King.

Anoint him with the gifts of your Holy Spirit
as he seeks to fulfil his calling amongst us.
Strengthen him with wisdom and justice
to serve the people of this land
to the honour and glory of your name.

We ask you to bless Camilla, our Queen,
William, Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales,
and all the generations of the Royal Family.
Grant to them joy and peace on this day,
and inspire them by your Spirit in their work.

Ever living God,
you bring us together in our households,
our families, and our communities,
and you teach us to love one another as Christ has loved us.
In these days of celebration,
support us in the service of our neighbours,
and in pursuit of the common good of our nation.
May your will be done in us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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From the Manse

Dear Congregation,  

We mourned the death of our Queen on 8th September last year and marked the appointment of our new King, King Charles III at that time also. Prior to the death of his mother, Charles was known only as Prince Charles, or the Prince of Wales. Now, he has a new title (King) and a new region of rule and responsibility (all of the UK and Commonwealth). 

This weekend is special for the nation as king Charles is formally crowned in a special ceremony marking his accession to the throne of the United Kingdom and symbolically as “sovereign” over fifty-six commonwealth nations. When he was born, it was known that one day this would likely be his destiny. 

When Jesus was born, he was declared to be the King immediately and His kingship a certainty!
The Magi immediately asked, “where is the child born king of the Jews...for we have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2.2. There has never been a day when the Christ-child, born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth was not “King Jesus”. Even at the point of Crucifixion with ironic truthfulness, Pilate had penned over His head, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. (John 19.21) 

There was huge significance in the event that occurred forty days after that first Easter weekend. In the book of Hebrews (2.7-8), quoting Psalm 8 the writer says, “You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour…”.  
 

A unique coronation took place in heaven when Jesus ascended back to the Father.

Without TV cameras necessary, we are given a peek into this event and its consequence in the book of Revelation. Revelation 12:5 says, "She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne." 

In His earthly ministry, through His victorious sin-less life and His victorious sin-bearing death, King Jesus battled sin, death and the devil and conquered all. That battle is now won. His ascension and coronation, as a redemptive historical act, declares the end of that part of His powerful reign. In His ascension and coronation, His resplendent heavenly ministry began.  

It is important we acknowledge his Ascension (His return to glory) because it is in that redemptive moment His own coronation occurred. Many of us like to acknowledge His birth at Christmas, His supreme battle over death and sin at Easter but in His Ascension it is right we celebrate His crowning and glorious legitimacy to the throne room of God!  

This Ascension (and coronation) of King Jesus is so important that Luke ends his gospel with it and then also begins his second volume, the book of Acts, with it also. Jesus now reigns from His position of absolute power. From there He sends his ambassadors into the world (His Church), resourced by the Holy Spirit, to “preach the kingdom of God” (Acts 28:31).  

Many of us know well the Jesus of the manger, the Jesus of the cross and empty tomb. We know the Jesus who is meek and mild and in knocking at the door of our lives invites us to fellowship with him by His grace. But we must be so equally aware that He is gloriously and powerfully resident on His throne with a sceptre – a symbol of power and majesty! Our Lord and Saviour, King Jesus, reigns eternally.  

We bow in awe.

I mean no disrespect to king Charles III, but however wonderful the spectacle appears on Saturday, it marks the accession to the throne of a man who will wield no real power, make no significant impact on the world stage beyond his years and will one day like his mother and the rest of us, die. As the events of Westminster Abbey unfold this Saturday before our eyes let us lift these same eyes to the King of Kings, enthroned in eternal majesty who by grace offers us to enter His presence and Kingdom. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12.28).  

And as we marvel at the world’s best attempt at human “pomp”, let the words of the Apostle Paul ring in our ears about King Jesus; 
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1.17) 

Warmest regards 
Scott 

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Coffee Club

We hope that we will have plenty of guests at our Coffee Club Coronation Special this week.

There will be tea, coffee and, as ever, lovely baking. The club meets from 1.30pm to 3pm on Tuesday.
Transport can be arranged, if that would help you or your relative join in with all the company and conversation.
Every time the coffee club meets, it is a special occasion. What better way to round off the Coronation weekend than to come along, make friends and hear the Maxwell Message?

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Thanks to Sandy McD for setting up a new banner for the top of the lane to the church.
Let's pray that something as simple as this, with God's Word, can attract people to our services and activities.

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New Getty Album.

There is a new album from the Getty's available online 

“Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” — the Gettys’ first major collection of new hymns released in seven years.
Showcasing ten new songs centered around the focus track “Rejoice” with Rend Collective, this album is a joy-filled celebration of the eternal hope and confidence we find in Christ.
Available on Spotify (and other places.)

The Getty Girls 

The Getty girls also have a great new hymn out - this video from YouTube includes the lyrics.
Based around the New City Catechism -  Question 1
What is our only hope in life and death?
That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Watch it - and share it here.

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Ladybird Book of Maxwell

 

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Men at Work!

Trying To Stop Water In Church Entrance

We are grateful to Calum McP and Sandy McD for their inventiveness in trying to prevent water entering the sanctuary vestibule. Many thanks for their hard work. Now we await the rain to see how successful the “fix” is.
However, 10/10 for ingenuity, whatever the result.

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Christian Institute: Conversion Therapy

Scott writes…A number of us from Maxwell joined with over one hundred other believers from across Glasgow at Newton Mearns Baptist Church to hear from The Christian Institute. The significance of what was presented cannot be in any way over exaggerated. It was scary. But it was not scaremongering because we have the evidence in black and white.
Well worth reading Scott's full report -  click here (including links to the Govt Expert Advisory Group).

There is lots of information on the Let Us Pray webpage here. 

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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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Inspiration Orchestra Festival

Sat 13th May  - Pitmeadow Farm, nr Dunning, Perthshire

Ian White was at Maxwell a few weeks ago promoting the Inspiration Orchestra - now he is inviting us to a FESTIVAL

The first Inspiration Orchestra One Day Festival!

Ian writes...Loads of planning going on right now. almost all 30 Orchestra members will be there with their carers and families.
In our big concert barn, there will be 4 different short concerts, each with 8 different players, AND different songs, and some very special musical guests.
In between concerts we have fantastic food tents, a Car Display paddock with some lovely sports cars to drool over, a petting Zoo with baby lambs to hold, and a face painting tent!

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Open Doors Event

Standing Strong Scotland

Sat, 13 May 2023 10:00 - 2.30pm
46 York Pl 46 York Place Edinburgh EH1 3HP

You're invited to gather with Christians across the UK and Ireland to worship and pray with those risking everything for Christ.
Join us to find out how your prayers and gifts are making a difference and celebrate what God is doing in some of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian.
Instead of one event this year, Standing Strong will be hosted in person in regions all over the UK and Ireland.

Our Scotland event will be held at Ps& Gs church in Edinburgh

We will be joined by Hea Woo* from North Korea where she was imprisoned for many years. But she did not give up her faith, leading other women in the prison to Jesus. She was eventually released and escaped to South Korea. "I cried out to God to use me to tell my story to people outside the prison camp, and now I travel and share the love of God to believers all around the word." she says.

Reserve a spot with this link.

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Greenview Celebrations

Our friends down in Greenview Evangelical Church are celebrating 150 years with an evening of praise - hymns and songs from across the decades -  choir, solos and community singing.

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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