No. 198 7th June 2024
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Sunday
7th June 2024
10.30am Morning Service with Rev. Michael Gargrave
Scripture Reading: Acts 1516: 1-15 & 40 Reader - Christine P.. |
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Welcome
Sometimes we are very busy and then just as things appear to have been sorted something happens and everything has to start again.
It has happened to us here at Maxwell in a number of of ways and it can be disheartening. We wonder what we can do and the answer is always - pray. We can't see a way forward but if we pray together I believe God will bless his people
I've been dipping into Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life again and so much of what is written rings true with me.
"Love should be your top priority, primary objective and greatest ambition. Love is not a good part of your life; it's the most important part. The Bible says 'Let love be your greatest aim.'
It's not enough to say one of the things I want in life is to be loving. Life without love is really worthless. Paul says - 'No matter what I say, what I believe and what I do ; I'm bankrupt without love.'
Often we act as if relationships are something to be squeezed into our schedule. We talk about making time for people. Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with work and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not . The point of life is learning to love - God and people. Life minus love equals zero."
Some years ago Mark Virkler ran a course in New York. He made an outrageous statement that every negative thing and thought is always of the enemy and every positive, life-giving, up- building thought is always of the Holy Spirit. The enemy is always negative and the Holy Spirit is always positive.
So we should try and find the positive in things and that is not always easy. We should aim to be gracious and not critical. We should aim to love in all situations - what a different place the world would be if everyone adopted this philosophy.
Further on in this newsletter is news about a time of fellowship. It is good that we come together as a church family to enjoy time getting to know each other better.
It would be great if as many as possible could get together before we go off on our summer break.
The magazine will be taking a summer break at the end of June so if you have a comment or an article please pass it on to me.
Denise
Mike's Word for the Week
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
Job: 38:4-5
Mary and I were in Rome recently and we visited the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum. Our guide was telling us the dates of some of the buildings that still existed, and they were over two thousand years old. As I walked around the mix of buildings and ruins, it occurred to me that I was walking the same streets that the Apostles Peter and Paul would have walked.
I was struck by the skills of the workers who built these amazing structures by hand, without the help of mechanical machines. I found myself thinking of how our Creator God called such a complex world into being. Psalm 8 contrasts the awesomeness of the universe with the apparent smallness of mankind, only to remind us that God considers us to be greater than all he has made. The foundations of the world are small when compared to the great foundational qualities of mankind.
We are made in the image of God, the universe is not said to be so. We are given the capacity to love and be loved, not so the earth. We are intended for glory, not for eventual dissolution. We are personally redeemed through the precious blood of the Son of God, so different from the general restoration of the created order.
All this exists in every human being, however hidden it may be to the casual observer, and should give us hope when confronted with even the most difficult situations or people. How often we question God’s wisdom when we deny others such foundational potential. As God challenged Job regarding his own assessment of God’s creative abilities, so maybe we are to reflect on our own tendency to know better than God when it comes to our regard for others?
Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for making us is such a wonderful way, with so much of Your character in our foundations. Help us to regard other people as having that amazing potential within them, rather than dismissing them through our own judgements of their shortcomings. Help us to trust you and save us from judgementalism. In Your name; Amen
Fellowship, Fun and Football
We are having a social evening on Wednesday 19 June for the congregation, family and friends.
For those of you who wish to watch Scotland play Switzerland the match starts at 8 pm.
Alternatively if you are not interested in football, you can make bracelets for the Blythswood shoe box appeal. Full instructions will be given.
Maybe you just want to come for the chat.
The choice is yours.
There will be tea & coffee, light nibbles & pizza.
We shall meet in the flat.
Feel free to turn up from 7.15 pm onwards and let's make this a night to remember in more ways than one.
Hope to see you there.
Donald
Session and Board Meeting
Please note that the next Session and Congregational Board meeting due to be held this
Monday 10 June at 7.30 pm. in the West Room has been postponed.
The Session and Board will meet on Monday 17 June at 7.30 pm. in the West Room
Prayer for Maxwell
Hello everyone
During the month of June the Sanctuary will be open twice a week from 11.00 until 12.00 for us to pray. Every Tuesday and Thursday beginning Tuesday the 4th of June.
We can pray in groups or alone; spoken or in silence and come and go as you please for the full hour or 20 minutes. Come as often as you like.
We each can have aspirations as to our future in Maxwell and beyond but we above all else seek God’s will in all things.
The prayer group continues every second Thursday evening 7.30 in West Room please come.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Norman
Food Hygiene Coordinator/s
Isobel, Gloria and Shona L. have volunteered to take the food hygiene course. Looking forward we would hope to host various fellowship gatherings and ideally all people working with food would be qualified in food hygiene.
There will be a great deal of support from Church of Scotland and Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.
This will include good practices and training for everyone who handles food.
Please consider if you are able to help in this area of church life.
MUSICAL NOTES 
Your Sunday music group very much enjoys leading the congregation with the songs and hymns. We love to hear the congregation in full voice – and you don’t let us down.
However – it would be great if we could add to our numbers.
At this time I would love to be able to welcome another two people to join the singing group. I know you will enjoy it. This will enable us to set up a wee bit of a rota so that folk can have a holiday now and then. Please think about it and let me know if you can help us.
Looking further ahead – watch out for some exciting musical news about Christmas – Ok I know we still have the summer to look forward to but - yes, we do plan ahead!!
Ian G
For the Glory of God March. Saturday 15th June. Alex McGarrity has contacted all Christiaan churches about an exciting event called 'For the glory of God march', that will be taking place on Saturday 15th June in Glasgow city centre at 2.00 pm.
He says "as the purpose of our lives is to glorify God, and to spread the Gospel, I am urging as many Christians as possible to join with us in a public proclamation of faith, with the will and intention to gain more worshippers for God." We shall march together from Glasgow Green, through the city centre, and then end at Kelvingrove Park. There will then be guest speakers and hymn singing, all for the glorification of God.
Meeting at Glasgow Green at 2.00pm (At the Nelson monument).
If unable to walk, meet inside the main gated entrance to Kelvingrove Park at 3.00pm. Guest speakers and hymns. Please bring a cross with you.
Planters
The planters are now full of geraniums that should last through the summer, giving us bright beautiful colours as we approach the church. Thank you to the folk
who donated plants and their time.
Isobel and Billy
Tea / Coffee Rota
9th June - Jeanette F, Gloria and Sandy L
16th June - Shona L, Lesley Y, Dave McL.
The rota has lots of spaces so please consider putting your name down
We are really trying to become greener and it really helps if people bring their own cups/mugs.
Thank you
Shona and Lorna
Castle Cafe
Castle Cafe is closed for the summer but will be back next session.
Looking forward to seeing everyone then.
Bible Study
A group of us studied Acts to complement the Minister's preaching schedule.
We met at the Leonards on Tuesdays.
We will start up again after the summer break.
Gloria
Maxwell Pray Now Group
Pray Now is a WhatsApp group for Maxwell members |
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This group sends out occasional requests for prayer. In particular those which might be regarding things more acute or immediate. At present there are 17 of us who, when we receive a request for prayer, stop what we are doing and pray for whatever has been asked.
Are you on the Pray Now WhatsApp Group? If you want to be added to the group to receive prayer news then simply ask Denise 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 Denise and she will organise for news to be sent out.
Getting To Church
Should anyone require a lift to Maxwell Mearns Castle Church or to the Castle Cafe, then please do let us know. If you are willing and able to offer a lift please speak to Norman or Denise or
Please email:
office@maxwellmearns.org
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:
Rev. Dave Sutherland
email:
dsutherland@churchofscotland.org.uk
May Walker
email: safeguarding@maxwellmearns.org