No.14 20th September, 2024
Hi,
Hope this finds you well.
Usual wide range of notices and updates in the magazine this week.
Remember there will be an opportunity to leave your HARVEST offering for LHM this Sunday - see list below for the range of foods that LHM would appreciate being donated.
Read together - Meet together -look out for Stewart in the hall and get your copy of the book we are reading together - and chatting about...and acting upon? That means throughout the autumn and into December there will be Sunday evening events both in the hall together and of course in the Home Groups too - make sure you take note of those, and yes, it may mean you will need to record Antiques Roadshow and watch at another time, but you are just part of the worldwide church which through the centuries has had to make personal sacrifices.
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Sunday 22nd September, 10.30am
Scripture - Genesis 1, 2
Rev Scott Kirkland
Wednesday 11th - 7.15pm
PULSE prayer meeting at McDougall's
LARGE PRINT - SONG WORDS
If you find viewing the song-words on the screen in Sunday worship a problem, we currently print a limited number of large-print song sheets for specific people.
We don't want to print unnecessary copies so please speak with the door team and we will begin to make these available for you each week.
LIFTS TO CHURCH
If you require a regular lift to church, please let us know by emailing the office: office@mearnsfree.org
If you are able to offer to be on the rota for giving a lift please speak with Sandy McDougal.
Letter from the Manse
Dear Congregation,
We are delighted that Mearns Free Church is now a formally recognised OSCR charity (we had NMNC registration with OSCR previously). As a result, we have now opened a bank account in the name of Mearns Free Church. NMNC has very healthy monthly offerings and our treasurer Sandy McDougall has included an important article below in how we hope to handle these offerings going forward (see below). Sandy will say a brief word about this on Sunday also.
With the resignation of Jacob from the role of youth worker/Ministry Associate, the Kirk Session has spent time praying and reviewing the future of this role. The elders have concluded that the role is important to the future of Mearns Free Church. We see the emphasis at this time being much more “Ministry Associate” than simply “youth worker”. The new Ministry Associate will have an enhanced role assisting fully in all aspects of ministry which I currently undertake as minister (except the administration of the sacraments).
The Kirk Session has agreed concrete steps forward and a small team has been set apart to progress this appointment. We will be seeking a Ministry Associate with theological qualifications, formal ministry training and good practical experience.
Please keep this process in your ongoing prayers as we seek God’s will on what the elders believe will be a very significant appointment for our future as MFC. We are now actively engaged in this process. However, we do not think the appointment will be imminent.
Jacob’s departure has left gaps in the ministry at MFC. We are delighted that a number of the congregation have begun to fill these. Please do consider assisting where possible and pray that we can continue our current ministries.
As part of the “Stater For 10” suggestions, we have established an Outreach Core Group. This team has met a couple of times and is currently working on various ways to help grow “outreach” as part of the Mearns Free Church DNA. “How To Talk About Jesus” is a book we would love everyone to read. Stewart Anderson will have a number of these at the back of the church on Sundays. We also want to talk about the book and encourage ways for us to put it into practice. We are scheduling 4-evenings starting in October, for this purpose.
We are also engaging with a team who write on this subject of outreach and encourage congregations to put it into practice (Dan Strange/Crosslands). We are trying to arrange suitable dates for a series in the New Year.
In the shorter term, we are scheduling outreach events for between now and Christmas. We hope these will interest younger, older and all ages in between. Please pray about these and how you can become involved. We would love you to embrace these initiatives as part of your own calling and ministry. Pray about your part in all of this and participate where possible by inviting friends, neighbours, family, and colleagues at every opportunity. I have heard so many people “second guess” what they think God might or might not use to impact the lives of their acquaintances. Seize every opportunity. It’s exciting to think God may graciously use us to bless others and build His Kingdom.
Let’s get praying and participating!
With warmest regards,
Scott
"How To Talk About Jesus" -
...for Reading and Practicing
Sam Chan has written a very helpful and practical book called "How to Talk About Jesus".
We are eager to read this book as a congregation. It would be great if over time, as a congregation we increasingly became comfortable simply speaking about Jesus to our family, friends and neighbours.
Stewart Anderson will have the books at the back of the church (£12).
About the book it says,
"...recent studies confirm that the majority of Christians rarely evangelize, worried they might offend their family or lose their friends. In How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being That Guy), author Sam Chan equips everyday Christians who are reluctant and nervous to tell their friends about Jesus with practical, tested ways of sharing their faith in the least awkward ways possible."
Sunday Evenings. We shall hold four evenings at Belmont to discuss the book.
We hope this will help us understand the book's theme very clearly, but also, encourage one another on how we might put the book into practice in these coming days as Mearns Free Church.
Sundays 6th Oct, 27th Oct ,10th Nov, 24th Nov
at 7.15pm-8.15pm
There will be refreshments served at each of these evening events.
More details will be distributed about each evening closer to the day.
Outreach Core Team
New Bank Account
Mearns Free Church now has a bank account (with Charities Aid Foundation Bank “CAF Bank”).
We would like to move all regular givings and donations to Mearns Free Church to this new account. The sort code is the same but the account name and number are different. We would invite you to please swap your existing Standing Order by taking the steps below:
-
Create a new Standing Order for Mearns Free Church (use the bank details from the box below)
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Delete your old Standing Order.
-
Our Treasurer, Sandy McDougall, will be distributing new Gift Aid Declaration forms for givings to Mearns Free Church after worship on Sunday
Bank: CAF Bank
Sort Code: 83-91-46
Account: 00401660
Name: Mearns Free Church
As ever, please contact Sandy if you have any questions.
Welcome Isaac!
It was great to hear from Calum and Lynda McPhail about the birth of their grandchild this week.
Isaac Alexander Young was born to their daughter Kirsten and son-in-law Craig Young.
Which means there are two sets of Great Grandparents in our church to be congratulated!!-
Sandy and Margaret Cooper and Tom and Janette McPhail.
And of course, Super-Aunt Cara
Hizkidz and YOU!
Story 3: From Bad to Worse
Bible passage: Genesis chapter 3-4
Big Truth: Sin was everywhere and in everyone.
Memory Verse: Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin,
and so death spread to all men because all sinned. Romans 5:12
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free
Harvest Thanksgiving
Sunday 22nd September
We shall have part of our service on 22nd September given to thanking God for the harvest - indeed all the way he provides for us.
We have traditionally supported the work of the Lodging House Mission on Harvest Thanksgiving by bringing in food stuffs.
Find out more about LHM here and read about their aims and wider work.
Hizkidz, PrimeTime, Youth, in fact all of us whatever age are invited to bring supplies for the LHM.
Please see this list of items required (and even those not required below and on their webpage) - Scott
Cereal
Corn Flakes/Crunchy Nuts, Weetabix, Rice Crispies
Sugar Puffs, Frosties, Coco Pops, Cheerios
Jars/Pastes
Pasta bake sauces, Curry Sauce/paste, Tomato paste
Dried Goods
Mixed herbs, Garlic powder, Ground turmeric
Chilli powder, Crushed chillies, Ground coriander
Pasta, Long grain rice, Salt
Toiletries (all types)
Tinned Fruit (URGENT!)
Peaches, Pears, Pineapples
Mandarins, Fruit Cocktail
Rice Pudding, Custard
Other
Full Fat UHT milk, Coconut Milk
Small juice cartons, Diluting/fresh juice
Coffee, Biscuits, Crisps
Kettle Foods
Pot Noodles, Cuppa Soups, Tinned Potatoes,
Sachets dried mash potato
Ring Pull Ham tins, Breakfast bars, Cereal Bars
Individual packets sweets
Tinned Food
Tuna/Salmon, Corned beef, Ham
Baked Beans, Spaghetti in sauce
Tinned Soups – tomato, vegetable, chicken, lentil, scotch broth, minestrone,
pea & ham, chicken noodle
Other
Brown Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Vinegar
Porridge oats, Dried peas
Lentils / Broth mix, Olive oil, Vegetable oil
Bisto, Veg Stock cubes/ bullion
Jelly, Sugar, Jam
Scottish Thanksgiving Evening | Friday 4 October l 7.30pm
Trinity Possil & Henry Drummond Church, Glasgow G22 6SR
Andrew Millar our main mission speaker will share about the mission work he and his wife Rachel are doing in the west of Ireland.
Catherine, associate mission partner currently in Scotland, involved in supporting the Spanish church in its engagement with people from a different faith background, will share an update.
Rev. Richard Buckley will share a Bible epilogue.
With refreshments. We look forward to seeing you!
Contact: scotland@ufm.org.uk
SAVE THE DATE
Scottish Prayer Day
Sat 9 Nov
10am to 12.30pm
11 Newton Place
Glasgow G3 7PR
Join us for a day of focused prayer for mission partners serving around the world.
Refreshments provided.
All welcome.
PRAYER LETTER FROM
DAVID SWAN'S writes...
Dear Friends
It is always a bit scary to see how time passes so quickly – it is January since my last letter.
A lot has happened since then, but the major things in terms of work have been quiet challenging. Kathy has taken on the ops role for the whole of Junction 42, but still has oversight in Scotland – with no other worker or funding we cannot deliver WorkOut, and so my role is now faith engagement with Alpha in prison, Connect and through the gate mentoring. My role as a prison chaplain has been challenging too, as our full-time chaplain in Edinburgh has been off since April and it does not look like he is returning anytime soon. You would think all of this has stretched things beyond limits, but in actual fact it has forced me to be more focused and realistic about what can be done...
Click
here to read the rest of David's most recent prayer letter.
BOOKS
Karen Keeley, Evelyn Footes daughter has books that anyone is welcome to have if they would like. Take a look and speak to Scott.
Covenant Church are pleased to host the Searchlight Theatre Company, performing
Friday, 11 October 2024. 7:30pm - 9:30pm Morton Hall, Newmilns
CLICK
HERE
Set in Paris, during the Olympic Games of 1924, we see the struggles Eric Liddell faces around him in staying true to his principles. When given the chance to become the fastest man in the world, will his convictions buckle? Should he stay true to his beliefs? And can he bring home a medal for King and country?
All tickets £5
The show lasts a little over one hour, and will be followed by refreshments and a Q&A with the actors.
For more information, email EL@covenantchurch.scot
One Saturday a month, from September through to April, three lectures are delivered by visiting speakers.
These lectures, which are also available to access online, are specially designed to stretch the Christian mind and deepen an understanding of God’s word. The course content covers Biblical Studies, Practical Theology, Christian Discipleship and Christian Doctrine.
These are for people in the pews and from all denominations. You can see a short video about them here.
Fuller details can be found
here.
Scott
Owners?
These were left in Belmont after Community Week- owners please collect on Sunday.
JUST A REMINDER TO BUDGE UP...
Last week the magazine reminded people to avoid leaving gaps.
Each week, when putting out chairs for the Sunday service, we use over 100 chairs in the gym cupboard - we set these out and then need to go and get more from the classrooms.
It is great that we need to do that of course - it means more people are joining us at worship.
You might have noticed some rushing about between 10.28am - 10.34am as the Door Team realise that not everyone has a seat.
However, it often the case that there ARE seats in the hall just not being taken - gaps are being left.
The team are happy to get more seats if they are needed however, it is upstairs and a bit of hassle...and then need put back again - so they only want to get more if needed.
Please can you help by not leaving unnecessary gaps!
Yes, you might actually sit next to someone you haven't spoken to before - counselling will be available after the service!!
Please Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel
You can do this by going to the channel here, and simply pressing the tab with the bell that says “Subscribe”.
There is no cost. You will find all videos produced by Mearns Free Church at this location. There are today, 120 subscribers. Let's see if we can boost that number significantly.
If you "Subscribe", when we post new videos on the channel, you may get a notification.
This will help you stay in touch with all our news/worship. Since we rarely post videos more than once a week, you will not get inundated with notifications! The more subscribers we have on the channel the greater potential online visibility we shall have.
You will also notice that below each of our videos, there is a little tab with a "thumbs up". if you appreciate being in worship at Mearns Free Church each Sunday or participating in worship through the YouTube Channel, please press the “thumbs-up” icon. This also helps encourage online visibility.
Safeguarding in Mearns Free Church
Our safeguarding team is here to help ensure Mearns Free Church is a safe place for all. However, this ambition must be embraced by all of us if it is to be successful.
Let's get our PVGs in place, get ourselves trained and put safe practice into place week by week.
Free Church’s Safeguarding Training
Our Safeguarding Team (including Sue Anderson, Ian Forgie, Marlene Smith and Sue Amery-Behr) have so far processed the safeguarding paperwork for 63 folk in our congregation;
Disclosure Scotland have issued PVG certificates for just over half so far and we expect their task to be completed soon.
All who have applied for PVG certification need also to engage in the Free Church’s safeguarding training. This is currently provided online from the comfort of your own homes, and takes a couple of hours.
The next training session for congregations is Thursday 31st October at 19.30.
You can sign up for the training sessions through this link to the registration page: Safeguarding Training Booking – Free Church of Scotland
Office Bearers can sign up for their training on Tuesday 24th September.
Thank you for embracing safeguarding.
Doing so is essential to ensure that Mearns Free Church is a safe environment for all who worship with us and for all who engage in our ministries to children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Alastair McLellan
Mearns Free Church has a What's App Group for Prayer
Purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.
How to connect: Speak to Margaret Boyd if you would like to be added to this group or email Margaret at: mandmboyd@hotmail.co.uk
What tech do I need?: You need to have a Smart Phone with WhatsApp to get set up.
Email Addresses For Mearns Free Church
Please make sure you change your email address list now we are part of the Free Church.
Tom Brown (Office): office@mearnsfree.org
Scott Kirkland (Minister): minister@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org