Welcome

I hope this finds you well.
Another chapter begins in life at Maxwell.
Last Wednesday the Session and Board met our new Interim Moderator Rev, James (Jim) Gemmell as he chaired his first meeting with us. It does feel a little like Groundhog Day as a new IM gets to know us here at Maxwell. We are excited and hopeful that Jim will help us move along.
We seem to have been muddling along for some time now but I believe we will get there - in God's time. So many people answer calls for help but it's difficult without a physical leader. We believe that God is leading us through these difficult times. We all get frustrated at what seems to be a lack of progress and like all families have our differences. Our differences could be seen as our gifts. But we cannot sit back and wait for it all to magically happen we all have to make an effort if we are to succeed here at Maxwell and it will take us out of our comfort zones.

When faced with a difficult situation I believe the first thing I do is to pray. Prayer is powerful.

In the Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren says:

We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige and position. If you can demand service from others you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.
Jesus measured greatness in terms of service not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. This is so contrary to the world's idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. 
God shaped us for service but we may be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt ourselves from meeting some needs.
God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're not shaped. If you see someone fall God expects you to help not say "I don't have the gift of mercy or service" While you may not be gifted for a particular task you may be called to do it if no one gifted at it is around.
Real servants make themselves available to serve. servants don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability.

There's much more about serving others and the book will be on the table at the back should you wish to read it.

Finally after my mother in law died I found a scrap of paper cut out from a magazine and I recently came across it again. It says

Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and shaking hand:
Blessed are they who know my ears today
Must strain to catch the things they say:
Blessed are they who seem to know
My eyes are dim, my mind is slow.
Blessed are they with cheery smile
Who stop to chat for a little while:
Blessed are they who make it known, I'm loved, respected and not alone

Enjoy the magazine
Denise

Food Hygiene 

I have a few names for the food hygiene course.

I hope to reschedule this meeting as soon as possible.
If you are interested in joining the food hygiene on line course please let me know. I will be setting up a What’s App group for this soon.

Isobel

Church Facebook - Help Required 

I am looking for a volunteer to post onto the Church Facebook page just to cover me when we are away in November, I will show you how easy it Is to do this, and I will also write out step by step instructions. It would only be two posts to go onto the Church Facebook page. I am unsure what internet connections will be available when we are away in November.

Isobel

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Audio / Visual Help 

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the AV in the balcony.
I will be typing out a new rota for Sept and Oct, so please think about joining for the new rota starting in Nov/Dec.

Full training will be given.

When holidays or illness strikes unexpectedly that's when we realise that we are definitely under manned. It’s really just for cover in emergencies.

Isobel

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Service Song Words

A few folks have advised us that they are having difficulty seeing the words for the songs that appear on the screen during the services. The AV team are listening and will take the following action:
 

1. Words will now be White on Black only (no background images)
2. Words will be as large as possible, but this is limited by the length of the lines in the song. Where necessary, the line will be wrapped to 2 lines so that the text can be made bigger. 
3. Verses will be split over two pages if required to keep the largest text
4. There is a limit to how big the text can be made and still be sensible to follow for most people

If, regardless of the changes we will make above, you still find difficulty reading the words, then we can provide large print paper copies of the words. To do this, there are 2 options:

1. Print your own copy (we will email you the words)
2. We provide you with a printed copy

If you want to print your own copy, you can set the text size that works for you. In order to save paper, we will only make printouts available to those that request a large print copy of the words.

Please send an email to office@maxwellmearns.org with the subject "Large Print Words" and state whether you want a copy of the words sent to you, or a printout to be collected at the church on Sunday morning.

Stuart

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Blythswood Care 

Next month we will begin checking shoeboxes from all over our area.
Yes it's that time again!
We don't have an exact date for starting but it's usually after the October half term / last week of October.

Thank you for the donations that have been left at the back of the church. Many of these are already in boxes awaiting collection. 
This year the shoeboxes we have made up and those we check will be going to Ukraine where there is a great need. 
We are often asked what is needed and the items that are in short supply change depending on what we get in. We always need shampoo/ shower gel and deodorant. Each box has a pack of sweets but there are restrictions for these. We are unable to send chocolate and packs of sweets must be dated March 2025 or later. 

The beautiful knitted scarves, hats and gloves that have been donated have been much admired - thank you to those who made these.


At the back of the church there are jars of homemade jam and there are some new flavour combinations.
If you would like to try a pot or take one to pass on just leave a donation in the plastic container. All funds are used to buy items for the shoeboxes.

Thank you

Denise and Lesley

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Castle Cafe 

The next meeting will be held on

Thursday 19 September at 2.00 pm. in the West Room.

It's a great way to get to know members of our Church family and to strengthen relationships.

We will also be entertained by Ken W.

Everyone is welcome so please come along and enjoy the chat and a cuppa

Jackie and Norman

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Prayer Group 

The prayer group next meets on
Thursday 26 September at 7.30 pm. in the West Room   and  all are welcome.
You may pray aloud or in silence.

"Where two or three gather in my name there am I with them" Matthew 18:20

"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

Tea and Coffee Rota

15 Sept - Alison and Raymond M. Ann M. 
22 Sept - Dave McL. Myra S. Margaret C.

Many thanks to those of you who answered the call last Sunday and filled in the rota.
Don't worry if you missed that opportunity because you can still fill in any spaces again on any Sunday.

Now we’re all refreshed from summer breaks, we would love to welcome/see new names added, as well as the ones already on the list, please  pop your  name down against  dates (dates on A4 paper at tea/coffee tables) anyone can commit to help out on Sundays, the more we have volunteering the longer the rotation will be.
Always remember, should something crop up, we can arrange swaps or I’m sure someone will be happy to do it for you.
To everyone who has helped out, we are extremely grateful, as we all know the tea and coffee after the service is very much enjoyed by all.

If the rota is filled up it makes it so much easier both for those organising the rota and for the reminders in the magazine.

We are really trying to become greener so thank you to the people bring their own cups/mugs.

Thank you
Shona L and Lorna McN

Maxwell Pray Now Group Pray Now is a WhatsApp group for Maxwell members

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. James Gemmell
email: jgemmell@churchofscotland.org.uk

May Walker
email: safeguarding@maxwellmearns.org