No.34 21st February 2025
Hi,
Sunday morning will be busy - good, but busy. We have the opportunity to celebrate Communion and then have lunch together.
And don't forget to pick up your copy of LISTEN UP if you didn't do so last Sunday. The booklet is about how to listen to sermons. One of the encouragements in the book is to look ahead to Sunday and read the passage that is going to be preached on. Over the year I've had very few comments about the content of the magazine (which I can print here!) but someone did ask if I could include the passage Scott was going to be preaching from that week so they could get a 'head start'.
This week for instance it's Genesis ch5 - what do you think Scott will focus on?
Last week. Pauline reminded the children that God speaks in lots of different ways (family trees, historical accounts, prophecies etc) but the purpose is clear, ie "
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Timothy ch3 v16,17
Some Bible passages are harder to understand than others of course but there is no shortage of help to understand things alongside being at church and hearing Scott explain things.
See below for a couple of examples of this.
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Sunday 23rd February
Morning service- 10.30am
with Communion
Rev Dr Scott Kirkland - Genesis ch5
If you normally watch the service live from home (or know someone who does) be aware there are issues with Youtube at the moment. If we can't stream live at 10.30am it will be recorded and available straight after the service. Sorry for inconvenience.
Joint Evening Service at NMBC - 6.30 for 7pm
Studies in Galatians
....................................
Wednesday - PULSE Prayer Meeting
7.15pm - at the Merriman's
Letter from the Manse
Dear Congregation,
Two things are happening in this coming week which I want to highlight.
On Sunday we are delighted that Jenny Hamill will be with us from SU.
We hope all of us will be able to stay after worship for a sandwich lunch to hear about the work of SU. We shall receive donations for SU as they continue their work among young people. We aim to finish by 1pm.
Also this week, we were arranging an evening of 10-Pin Bowling at the Quay (Thursday 27th). We are hoping this will be a fun evening but also one that gives you opportunity to invite family and friends into our own church family life. We need to finalize plans. Can you contact Fiona if planning to come please (see details below).
Hope Explored …begins next Sunday 2nd March with afternoon tea and will meet for three Sundays (2nd, 9th and 16th).
All are invited, however, it will be especially helpful for those exploring the Christian faith or thinking of professing faith publicly at MFC. This is for all ages but may be most suitable for adults (and perhaps 5th year at high school and up). Please email the office to sign up (office@mearnsfree.org). Leaflets are at the door as a reminder for yourself or to give to a friend or family member. Details are on the website also.
“MFC-Connections"
…is a new initiative which we are launching to try and ensure we have good consistent connection with one another as we go through life together as a church.
I am personally very enthusiastic about this and I hope you will come to share in that enthusiasm also. Please so have a read at the details here.
On a very different matter…
We are planning an Annual General Meeting for Mearns Free Church on the evening of Friday the 21st March, 7pm-8pm at Belmont. Please put this in your diary.
I know that an AGM is not the most exciting entertainment for a Friday night. However, this AGM is very important as it will be our first at Mearns Free Church. We need to hear how we can pray MFC forward into a second year. It is important because we will appoint members to the Finance Committee for the new-year. And, while these meetings always review our finances, it is really important we all understand the relationship Mearns Free Church has to our former church entity, now called NMNC Trust Limited and the finances of both.
I am giving notice of the AGM for Mearns Free Church, however, NMNC Trust Limited will also make their accounts available to us on the same night so that we can see the full financial picture for both entities. The relationship between these two entities (Mearns Free Church and NMNC Trust Limited) is of importance presently for how we employ and pay ministry assistance (our Family and Children Worker and future Associate Minister). It is also important for future ownership of property. Please put in the diary.
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
With Warmest Regards
Scott
Stay for Lunch - THIS SUNDAY!
We will be supporting work of Scripture Union Scotland as they work in East Renfrewshire and beyond including their weekends away and holiday programmes. The different ways that you can contribute financially will be made clear on Sunday.
See details in Scott's letter.
This Sunday the free booklet called “Listen Up” that Scott is promoting will be available again.
Scott writes...
Perhaps oddly you will think, it is a practical guide on how to listen to a sermon! I believe it is so helpful it even has a closing chapter on how to listen to a “bad sermon”!
One reviewer said,
“The Director of the Cornhill Training Course in London, England, Christopher Ash has done congregations and preachers a great service...Each of the seven sections starts by introducing us to two different listeners and their approach to listening and why one profits from the sermon and why the other doesn’t. Each of the seven concludes with practical steps to take. In between is very good advice on listening. This advice is also good for the preacher to remember as he prepares his sermon.
Ash’s counsel is solidly based on the belief that the Bible is the Word of God. “However, when the Bible is faithfully opened up, we are to listen to the preacher’s voice as the voice of God Himself. The preacher stands in the great tradition of prophets and apostles who spoke the word of God” (p 4). He makes it clear that the preacher’s authority is borrowed and it is only as the preacher sticks to the truth of the text that he should be taken seriously. He advises the listeners to constantly ask themselves “where did the preacher get that from?” (p 10). He insightfully spells out why sermons should be listened to in person at church. He cautions against a steady diet of “celebrity preachers” (p 18).…Both preacher and listener will benefit from this booklet.”
Typology in the Bible
One of the amazing ways to get more out of reading the Bible is to see how the Old Testament is always looking forward to One true Israelite, Saviour, King, Redeemer who was to come.
Sometimes that is easier to see than other times. The Old Testament has 'types' of Jesus which point in in beautiful and remarkable and eye opening ways to who this Saviour will be, and what He is going to achieve.
For example in looking at Genesis we have thought recently about the blood of Abel being spilt. Then the New Testament (Hebrews ch12:24) picks up on this and tells us something about Jesus through it. The Book of Hebrews in particular has lots of 'types' which the writer brings out. People and the things they did, places, objects etc...the short video from the Bible Project below helps us to see some of these.
And the other clip is Sinclair Ferguson answering a question about 'typology' - it's just a short clip but very helpful
Bible Project -Hebrews
link
Sinclair Ferguson -
link
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
'The Man Who Calmed The Sea'
This week in the morning service we going to sing 'The Man Who Calmed The Sea' by Stuart Townend.
It's a great song which helps us not only to sing about the amazing accounts of Jesus in the Gospel but to worship Him as we consider his words and actions in those deeds.
Stuart tells the story of how the song came to be written in
this short video and this
link has the words and song itself.
27th February
Hollywood Bowl, Springfield Quay.
Cost? 2 games plus 1 drink £12.50 per person
(no discount at night for under 16)
Time? to be confirmed.
If interested please get in touch with numbers of places by 20th February.
Can pay either by cash or bank transfer to Fiona Waugh.(Games need to be paid for when booking)
If anyone requires transport we can arrange lifts from Belmont School.
Contact Fiona Waugh
07795361752 with number of places wanting to book…
DATE FOR DIARY
Saturday 22nd March
Make sure you keep this space free in your diary - proceeds are going to the work of The Haven in Kilmalcolm.
More details to follow in next couple of weeks.
Speak to Margo for info.
What does Christianity have to say about
HOPE? PEACE? PURPOSE?
Why not make March special?
3 Sunday events to explore where we can find real, lasting hope.
Look out for details and invites to explore with others at Mearns Free Church in an informal setting and Afternoon Tea.
Speak with Margo for more information
Each Wednesday we meet to pray for the church- local, national and worldwide.
you should try and get along - 1 hour flies by and it's such a important time of fellowship too.
7.15-8.15pm
We've been looking at this book on prayer for the past few weeks - Don Carson helps us see what Paul prioritised in his prayers, and encourages us to shape our prayer lives thoughtfully.
Last week we looked at how we understand prayer better as we consider the character of God as our Father, as that colours how we understand his love for us even if we are left in the dark about understanding all his 'ways'. Taking a break from Carson's book this week, this short reflection helps us ponder this truth further...
Quality Time
People of all faiths pray. Some pray to gods, some to ancestors, some to nature, and some to the universe, but all speak out words, all utter desires, all hope to be heard. But Christians pray differently and Christians pray confidently, for we pray to a Father. We alone “have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15).
Jesus taught us to begin our prayers with the precious words “Our Father.”
This changes everything about the way we pray, for we are not appealing to an impersonal universe or a powerless rock.
We are not appealing to an ancestor who has already lived and died and returned to the dust. We are not appealing to a deity who is cold and indifferent to us. We are not appealing to a god who has no interest and no time. Rather, we are spending quality time with a Father—a gracious Father who “in love… predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
As H.B. Charles reminds us, “Prayer is not a scheduled appointment with a busy executive. It is quality time with a loving Father.”
Last week we considered ways to focus our prayers - did you get a chance to look at the suggestions below?
How An App Revitalized My Prayer Life
Don Carson's strategy was before the time of digital apps
-however, here is how someone uses an app on their phone to help them
"I say it without hyperbole: PrayerMate revitalized my prayer life. It has been at least a couple of years since I made the move from organizing my prayers in a book to organizing my prayers in an app, and, at least for now, I don’t ever see myself going back. I know that praying from an app is not for everyone, but for me it has made all the difference. Let me tell you how I use it."
Read the 2 min article here
And see the videos about PrayerMate App here for intro and here for walkthru
Praying for One Another
The Free Church page on prayer is found here
It includes the Praying for One Another
Each week we send out a prayer calendar, via email, with prayer points for the week ahead.:
"We pray for the church locally, nationally and globally. It is a real encouragement to see all that God is doing in our communities.
What a privilege we have in prayer! We can approach the throne of grace with utmost confidence that we are coming before a God who knows us perfectly and loves us endlessly.
Click on the link to sign up for weekly updates.
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.
Mearns Free Church has a What's App Group for Prayer -The "PRAY NOW" Group
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.
Emailing The Minister
Please be careful when emailing Scott that you are using the correct current email address minister@mearnsfree.org. A number of emails continue to be sent to accounts no longer in use. Please be doubly careful when sending from a device that is not your normal communication device (like a phone) or if you use “reply to all”.
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