No.17 11th October, 2024
Hi,
Hope this finds you well...and warm! It's been a bit chilly. Now someone has probably also said to you 'the nights are fair drawing in' already this week and as accurate as that may or may not be don't let it put you off from coming out in the evenings. Sunday evenings in particular have plenty going on at Mearns Free. Read more about that below.
This weekend we are looking forward to Scott Hamilton visiting from St Andrews Free Church - Scott knows us well as he is originally from Clarkston.
Let's make him feel really welcome by filling up the front row of the church...and that will also make Scott think 'What the matter with me?'😊
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Sunday 13th October, 10.30am
Scripture - Psalm
Scott Hamilton - St Andrews Free Church
SUNDAY EVENING
CMJ evening with General Director, Rev Aaron Eime
at 7.00pm-8.00pm
There will be refreshments served
Wednesday 11th - 7.15pm
PULSE prayer meeting
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.
From the Manse
Dear Congregation,
On Sunday night we shall have CMJ with us from 7pm-8pm. CMJ stands for “The Church's Ministry Among Jewish People”. Aaron Eime, the UK Director will be present and will speak. We may have an opportunity to ask questions. I think this is a great opportunity to hear about their work
Most weeks in Sunday worship and certainly at our mid-week prayer meeting, we pray the Gospel might impact the whole world. We pray that the love, kindness and mercy of Jesus might be heard and responded to
from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5.9).
I want to be very clear, the invitation that we have extended to CMJ is part of that same prayerful desire.
We want to hear first-hand how their mission brings the Good News of Jesus Christ to Jewish communities.
Because the Jewish people have a unique connection to the Christian church (root to branch), when speaking of the Gospel of Jesus, the apostle Paul says in a very pointed way
(Romans 10:9-13);
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
We are looking forward to hearing about “beautiful feet” that bring the good news of Jesus.
We have been praying for the people of Israel, Gaza and more recently Lebanon. As a Christian ministry, I am sure CMJ, like us, will be agonizing in prayer over all aspects of this current conflict in the Middle East. However, with members of their team living in Israel and so many working in Jewish communities, I am sure they are feeling the impact of the current war, directly.
My hope is that while we learn a lot, Sunday night will drive us to prayer.
Join with us, this Sunday, 7pm-8pm.
With warmest regards,
Scott
We would like to invite you to consider joining a new prayer initiative.
A prayer triplet is a group of 3 people who will meet regularly (perhaps weekly) to pray together.
A team of three is suggested because it is non-threatening. People are not so nervous about saying the wrong thing in a small group of friends who are learning to trust God and each other together.
You can join as a group of 3 or you can join as an individual to be matched up with 2 others. Groups will be male/female/mixed according to preference.
It is a great opportunity to form closer, prayerful relationships within our church family.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.
Please speak to Sue Amery-Behr or Catherine MacKay if you would like to find out more.
Celtic Worship
Ian Hailstones was telling me that he and others were at St Luke's this week - formerly a church in more recent years it has become merely a venue for secular gigs.
However this week Celtic Worship old the place out! Ian commented on the encouragement it was to see a sold-out Christian gig in the heart of Glasgow, as the venue was almost 'reclaimed' as a house of worship for that short evening.
Celtic Worship is an authentic expression of sung worship deeply rooted in the sound and traditions of Scottish music. As a collective of some of Scotland’s finest contemporary musicians, they share a deep desire to use their skills and giftings to praise and make known Jesus Christ.
A very apposite Tweet this week, fitting in well with Scott's sermon from last week.
We considered the person of Jesus as Creator and, who alone as a man stands in our place as second Adam, to become our Redeemer.
Maker and Re-maker!!-
We received this note of thanks for Claire Herbert, the Chaplain at the Lodging House Mission for our gifts at Harvest Time.
Free Church’s
Safeguarding & Training
The Safeguarding Team is now following up those who have applied but who don’t yet have PVGs in place. We will be in touch with those in that position. We are here to help those who need assistance with the online parts of the application process – the ‘self-declaration form’ and the final form in the process that needs to be completed for Disclosure Scotland.
Please be aware that 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
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
Sam Chan has written a very helpful and practical book called "How to Talk About Jesus".
We held the first of four meetings last week to discuss some of the issues raised by the topic of talking about our faith and introducing Jesus into the conversation.
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.
if you didnt make the first one don't worry it's easy to get involved - the next one is 27th Oct. 7.15pm
Outreach Core Team
Hizkidz and YOU!
6: The Father of Nations
Bible passage: Genesis chapter 11-13
Big Truth: God promises to bless the nations through Abraham.
Memory Verse: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free
Save The Date!
2nd November – MFC Coffee Morning
Please do two things:
One: Mark off on your calendar the morning of Saturday 2nd November.
Two: Start praying and inviting family and friends to our first Mearns Free Church Coffee Morning.
I am sure we will have our usual array of delicious cakes interrupted only by enjoyable conversation! The focus of the Coffee Morning will be on the work of Glasgow City Mission. We will invite financial donations for their work. This is an easy way for you to invite guests to come and get to know us at MFC and support the good work of GCM. A Glasgow City Mission representative will be present with us.
Scott
New from London Institute of Contemporary Christianity
We've launched a YouTube series!
Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say about swearing, vaping, holidaying with your significant other before you're married, or social media detoxes – the topics everyone's got an opinion on but aren't explicitly addressed in the Bible? If that's you, our new YouTube series, Unscripted, is for you!
Take a look - who could you pass this link onto? All the details here
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.
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