December 2007
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December 2007 EAGLESHAM PARISH CHURCH Contacts Minister Magazine editor Rev Lynn McChlery BA BD Doug Lamont The Manse, Cheapside Street 22 Bonnyton Drive Eaglesham G76 0NS Eaglesham G76 0LU tel 01355 302768 fax 01355 302368 Session Clerk email [email protected] Craig Wishart 75 Brackenrig Crescent, Waterfoot Church Officer Eaglesham G76 0HF Elizabeth MacLachlan Finance Convener Church Office Secretary Linda Paterson Matt McInnes 8 Ballantrae Drive tel/fax 01355 302087 Newton Mearns email [email protected] Glasgow G77 5TB Office open Wednesday & Friday 10.00am – 12.00 noon Treasurer Marlyn McInnes 38 Alexander Avenue Eaglesham G76 0DW Announcements Freewill Offering Convener Wedding Ronald McIntyre Lesley Hall to Cameron Forsyth (25 Nov) 64 Brackenrig Crescent, Waterfoot Eaglesham G76 0HF Funerals Church Builders Superintendent Robert Howatson, Polbae Crescent (12 Oct) Beverly Millar Gordon Carrick, Polnoon Street (24 Oct) 19 Kittochside Road, Kathleen Phillip, Bonnyton Drive (16 Nov) Carmunock G76 9ES Fabric Convener Jim Alexander Services over Christmas 284 Glasgow Road, Waterfoot Eaglesham G76 0EW Sunday 9th December, 7pm in the Church ‘Second Sitting Christmas’ - a contemporary and Halls Convener informal Christmas celebration for all ages, with music Maureen Hunter from the Orchestra and drama, readings and other 11 Polbae Crescent contributions by the young people. Eaglesham G76 0LL Sunday 16th December, 11am in the Church Child Protection Co-ordinator Gift Service - all age worship with contributions from Shelagh McHugh the children. Gifts brought to this service are donated 48 Hill Drive to a children’s charity. Eaglesham G76 0AL Sunday 23rd December, 11am in the Church Nine Lessons & Carols - the traditional service, led by the Choir, with coffee and mince pies afterwards. (This service is less suitable for young children - a creche is available.) Christmas Eve, 11.30pm in the Church (carol singing from 11.15pm) Watchnight Service - traditional carols, readings and quiet reflection in a candlelit Church. Christmas Day, 10.30 in the Church A short (40 minute) Family Christmas celebration for children of all ages! The cover picture is a Christmas greetings card made by the disabled workers at the Nuru Centre Tanzania and sent by them and the Nuru Team to the congregation of Eaglesham Parish Church. Musings from the Manse n a recent visit of the Queen too much instead of God’s gift to to America, the Americans, a needy world; commercialised Owith their love-hate gifts instead of free self-giving; the relationship with our monarchy, adoration of Jesus instead of manic delighted in spelling out the logistics business that drives us away from involved. She took 4000lbs of worship. Ironically, Christmas today luggage, including 2 outfits for every can almost militate against our occasion, a mourning outfit in case finding Christ in it. someone died, 40 pints of plasma (in But not quite. It can still be the most case of accidents), and white, kid- special of times: five minutes each leather toilet seat-covers (in case of evening to pray beside an Advent what, we wonder?) She took her own candle, making a gift or gesture to hairdresser, two valets, and a host show our appreciation for a friend, of other attendants. A brief visit of reading the ancient Gospel accounts royalty to a foreign country can easily of the first Christmas, sharing a meal cost its taxpayers over £100,000. with the whole family. For me, the I wonder how that compares with heart of it is the Watchnight service, other kinds of ‘royalty’ in the popular perhaps my favourite service in the media – David & Victoria Beckham, whole year, which has a hush and Robbie Williams – and how much fuss wonder about it that all the tinsel there is about their entourage! can’t destroy. Maybe if Jesus had come with that May all of us know, in the midst of it kind of fanfare, He’d have been all, the silent and very real coming of more believable, or been taken more Christ again into our lives, and may seriously. Instead, He came with no we make time and space to welcome witnesses, minimum fuss and virtually Him. no safeguards. As Christian writer Philip Yancey points out, ‘a mule Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas could have stepped on him’. It strikes me that much of our Christmas celebration is an attempt to foist the ‘celebrity’ trappings of our culture on a God who finds them worthless and perhaps even offensive. Our Christmas is often the opposite of what His coming was about: noise and crowds instead of the solitude of the manger; forced giving to people who already have Kirk Session or several months now our Kirk and to those beyond our immediate FSession has focused its energies on horizons who struggle to survive. Duncan restructuring itself to be more effective and his team seek to strengthen existing in helping our Minister lead us into the bonds and form new ones. future. Fellowship We have formed seven separate teams Fellowship and Outreach are closely consisting of both elders and non-elders linked but they have two distinct to deal specifically with areas of key functions. Fellowship is led by Margaret importance. Most of you will already Pitcairn and the team’s purpose is to be aware of these changes, perhaps explore opportunities for bringing us wondering why we felt it necessary to together informally. We already do much alter the status quo. Let me first describe where groups meet on informal and briefly what each of the teams will do formal occasions and strong links exist and then I’ll explain the rationale for the with our friends at St. Bridget’s. The change in the way our Kirk Session works. Fellowship team will encourage us to do Over the next four issues of the magazine more of this and produce further ideas each of the convenors will write a short for us to consider where we can come article as an introduction to the remit of together in faith, friendship and fun. their team and the issues that they will Adult Education address. They start this issue with Adult This team has already renamed itself Education and Outreach (see over-Ed) the Faith Development Team and Stuart Worship MacGill is the Convener. The Kirk Session This new team is called Music and has felt for some time that it should be Worship because the two are closely placing more emphasis on this area of linked. Wendy Armstrong is the Convener Church life. The activities of the Monday and the group is assisting Lynn formulate Group, following the success of the fresh ideas and consider new and Alpha course, have proved invaluable more inclusive forms of worship. Peter and Faith Development will build on that Howard and the Choir will apply their success while exploring new ways to bring specialist knowledge to help maximise knowledge of the Gospel to those who the contribution of the musical element. seek to know more. Lynn’s series of study Lynn is a member of the team and she, groups last Easter sparked a latent desire as Minister, is the final arbiter of how in many people for further debate and worship should be conducted. knowledge and the Faith Development team have an exciting future. Outreach Duncan McIntyre has been appointed Youth Strategy Convener of this important team. Many This team has been formed from the people find it difficult to come to us basis of a group conceived a couple of so we need to stretch out our hand years ago and which has already made of welcome to everyone in our own a significant contribution to the life of congregation, to those who live beside the congregation in the establishment us as neighbours in our parish, to those of Second Sitting. Under Alistair McBride who live difficult and troubled lives only as Convener, the Youth Team seeks to a few miles away in Glasgow, to those interact with young people, provide the Church cares for throughout Scotland Christian spirituality in a youth friendly ambience without debasing its core Why then has it been necessary to message and provide activities which restructure our Kirk Session and are both challenging and enjoyable for Congregational Board in this way? those taking part. The Youth team’s Basically, while large bodies such as the success is of vital importance to the whole Session and Board are totally democratic congregation and they deserve all the and once functioned well they were not support we can muster. structured efficiently enough to meet the challenges of the future. Small, dedicated Pastoral Care teams get things done more efficiently. An aspect of congregational life that They are more focused on the essential the Kirk Session probably felt much was business in hand. We have already seen already being done well. However, the fresh ideas being conceived, taking shape Pastoral Care Team under Tom Mann’s and some are already up and running. leadership have already identified The Kirk Session and teams seek your further ways in which our congregation prayers and support but also your direct can provide support individuals and involvement. If you feel you would like families who might need it. The team has to join a team, even for a short time and been blessed with the addition of some feel you can make a contribution to its members, including those from the Kirk thinking or effectiveness, please speak to Carers, who have brought insight and the convener or to the Minister or myself. professional knowledge to this dedicated We would love to have your help. group. The Kirk Session is confident that the Pastoral Care team will provide the Advent and the joy of Christmas are compassionate and caring face of our just round the corner with wonderful Church to the congregation and village Services planned and the happiness that community in the times ahead.