Govan and Linthouse Parish Church Magazine

September 2014

Mag Sept 2014

Sidelines

Only the other day, someone I know posted on Facebook a film about the arrival of one of the Mercy Ships in the Congo.

The Mercy Ships, as you know, travel around the world, a kind of sea-going mobile clinic, and taking the best of new equipment, as well as full teams of medical staff, from place to place. This allows people who would not normally be in receipt of such levels of care to access the best health care.

I was stunned to see the people beginning to line up along the dockside. As the ship was tied up, and officials went on board to start the paperwork, queues were forming, waiting to be seen by the first doctors on duty.

The queues were massive. Some people waited all day. Many had small, sick children, or perhaps worse, fully, energetic children with sick parents. No- one complained about the wait.

Because of the huge levels of demand, cases are assessed on an urgency basis, with those less urgent being left until a later visit.

The team performed literally hundreds of operations and procedures. The scale of the operations, the disabilities and illnesses with which some people had to contend, would have been massively daunting to most of us. But before the ship left for the next place, they filmed short clips of all the children playing and running around, where before they had faced serious illness or disfiguring handicaps. What an incredible blessing these ships are, and all the medical staff who give their time to work on them.

It so happens, that I had reason lately to assess our own health care access.

Perhaps it is not perfect and sometimes mistakes are made, but I have never had to queue for an entire day in the heat, only to be told my very uncomfortable symptoms were just not urgent enough for this trip, this year.

Sometimes I think we, as a society, have lost out sense of proportion – and gratitude. Moyna

A couple of years ago I came across an organisation called The Living Room who work in Tenerife. This is one of my favourite holiday destinations so I was interested in what they do and was keen to visit next time I was on the island. This year we went to Tenerife on holiday so we were very keen to go and have a look at this place and hear more of what they do.

The Living Room is located across from an area called 'the strip' in Las Americas. The strip is a row of night clubs, and as you approach the strip you are greeted by hordes of young people all trying to tempt you in to the bar they work for with the promise of two for one drinks and so on. These are people who are usually aged late teens/early twenties and they have come to Tenerife to work, mostly for very low pay. Money is earned by getting people into the bar. They are young people who have gone chasing a dream, or who have gone to escape home. The Living Room exists to offer them a place to go before they start work and is open from 4 - 7 pm. They can play pool, use the internet, have a coffee and chat to the staff. It is staffed by Rachel who is team leader, and her volunteers.

We had hired bikes for a day and used the opportunity to go past and see if there was anyone in. Fortunately there was and we met Rachel for the first time. She did look a bit bemused as we approached, because after all, with the best will in the world we don't look like young people! After we introduced ourselves we got chatting and Rachel shared some of the concerns she has for the project and for the young people. She told us some stories that remind you that even your darkest days are not that dark compared to what others go through. Many young people go over with a dream and it becomes a nightmare. An example of the kind of folk they are meeting would be the two girls who were caught up in the drugs scene in Ibiza, now known as 'The Peru 2'. They are seduced by a lifestyle they will never achieve and it is only when they get there that they realise that and find themselves trapped. The staff at The Living Room are there to offer support, a listening ear, they speak to them about Jesus, and sometimes they are able to arrange a place in a rehab on the island. They told us though, that what they want to do is to arrange rehab in the UK for people so that they can be reunited with their families - if appropriate - or simply because they have a greater chance of changing their lives if they are at home.

One of the things they said they would love to have is a network of people across the UK who could be on standby to pick people up from the airport if they manage to arrange rehab here. They are able to pay for flights and take them to the airport in Tenerife but they can't guarantee that they will get off the plane and go to where they are supposed to. This network of people would be on call to get a phone call or email to say when a young person is arriving and be there to greet them and take them to whatever place has been arranged. That would be the minimum requirement, but of course there would also be an opportunity to stay in touch with the young person and offer support here. I have asked Rachel to let me know exactly what it is she needs and I would hope to be able to circulate it among colleagues within the staff of the Church of Scotland and possibly set up a network of people who would be willing to do this for them. It may be that the call never comes, but it may be that it does and this simple act has the potential to literally save a life.

Many of us think of Tenerife as simply a sunshine holiday island, we rarely think of it being a trap for people who find themselves caught up in desperate situations. But the reality is that the social problems affecting us in Scotland are also affecting people there. It's just a bit warmer! I applaud the work they are doing there and would ask you to keep them in your prayers. It is difficult work they are involved in, frontline work challenging but rewarding. I should have said that The Living Room is directly above a lap dancing club too. If ever there was a contrast this is it, yet they have a good relationship with the club. There is no judgement to be found here, no condemnation, just sympathy, empathy and life changing ministry.

Paul

Hi folks,

Hope you are all well.

One of the things I do outside Govan , and it may be of interest, is that I work part-time as a Workplace Chaplain at the East Kilbride factory of Rolls Royce, unfortunately there is no car with the job!!!!

Appointed by Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland. I have been in situ for 3 years now and find the work varied challenging and exciting. Every visit entails visiting the factory floor and sharing time with the workers, all 600 of them- of all faiths and mostly none. Subject matters vary widely, mostly Rangers FC and occasionally God. I am always keen to talk of their lives outside and inside RR and place great importance in showing a lively interest in their individuality, increasingly aware that the chaplain by his or hers neutral stance is probably unique in doing so. There is no religious agenda hidden or otherwise.

The East Kilbride factory is due to close in 2015 with all workers and equipment to be transferred to new premises at Inchinnan- some staff are already there now and more will follow in the coming months. It is a time of change and readjustment.

Could I finish by saying to you good Govan folk that during Moyna's absence if I can be of any help to any of you, don't hesitate to contact me.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Moyna, Brian and their family in the coming days.

Your pastoral assistant and friend

Andrew

Buildings Update.

While Moyna is absent, matters related to the main property refurbishment at Govan Cross will be looked after by Tony Ireland, former property convener for Glasgow Presbytery.

Tony may be contacted at [email protected]

As things stand, our Phase 2 application for the funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland will be considered by the funders before the end of August.

Tenders have been received for the next stage of repair, which is the church sanctuary roof.

Collections

It has been decided by session that our second collection for our September communion will be for the church Restoration Fund and the overseas portion of our harvest donations will go to WaterAid.

34th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade

We had a successful Display on 16th May and would like to thank everyone who came along to support us. A week after the Display we had a bag pack in Asda which went well thanks to everyone who came along and helped on the day. We do appreciate very much the people who support the Company at these events. We start back on Wednesday 3rd September at 6.30 p.m. in the Church Hall at Govan Cross. Sandra MacDonald

The Guild

We are well into August and thoughts are to the Guild starting its new session in October. We have a long summer break from the end of May until 13th October. We, on the committee have had our planning meeting and we are in the process of contacting a wide variety of people who will be glad to visit us and share their talents and experiences with all our members.

Our last few meetings in April and May were very enjoyable, our night of Karaoke hymns was well received and we have booked John for this year’s syllabus. Theatre South returned and shared with us their great music and song and our usual cream tea and AGM went off well.

A big occasion in the Guild calendar is our ‘outing’, this year we went to Dundee, stopping at Dobbies in Stirling for our usual morning coffee and some good retail therapy. We had a great day in Dundee with High Tea at the Queens. No mishaps + plenty of good Fellowship = a great day out. This was the ending to our session of the Guild.

A note for the diary: Our Guild service will be held in church on Sunday 16th November, the beginning of the Guild week.

May I extend a warm welcome to anyone, male or female of any age, to come and join us in October and enjoy what the Guild has to offer.

With Every Blessing

Elspeth

Guild President

God’s Gang

Since our last magazine article, God’s Gang have been busy as usual. As well as doing our stories and crafts we had our prize giving service which included the Wedding at Cana puppet show. The service had a wonderful atmosphere and the children really enjoyed taking part in the Wedding. After the service we managed to eat 10 pizzas, with a little help from friends. We then watched another puppet show about a flea circus! It was an enjoyable day for everyone. During the summer we have been meeting to play games especially with the parachute. The great news is that we are back in the big hall which means we have space to use the parachute again. Everyone is delighted. The children all noticed the fresh paint on the walls, except for one who thought we had new lights fitted! Obviously because the hall is so bright and has an airy feeling. We wish all our children well as they start back at school. Especially our new P1’s – Mairi, Abby and Holly. Also Michael who moves to high school.

We are starting back with our new session on Sunday 24th August. All children welcome to come and join us.

A Prayer for our children as they return to school.

Dear God, Help me remember that you’re always by my side at school and all day long. Help me be the best student I can be, using all the gifts and talents you’ve given me. Help me finish all my homework – on time. Help me listen to my teachers and helpers. Help me play fair and play safely, Help me always tell the truth. Help me be kind to everyone at school. Help me make good friends and help me be a good friend to others. Help me know how I can help others and to ask for help when I need it myself. Help me love and respect, trust and appreciate my parents - and to be honest with them. Help me remember that you’re with me always, Lord, and that you’ll never leave my side.

Amen.

The Games

On 22nd July the Queens Baton was brought to Govan where it was taken over the Clyde on the Govan Ferry and back again. As with anything that happens in Govan, this event was very well supported by the community and the streets were lined with well wishers.

Member of the church Flora Pagen had a hold of the Baton as you will see from the picture below. Thomas Rankin was playing the Bagpipes with a group of youngsters who have all been learning via Govan Schools Pipe Band set up by the Govan Weavers.

I hope you like the pictures taken on the day.

MARY’S MEALS

Well the commonwealth games are over and we were treated to a wonderful show from all the athletes from around the world, the medals were handed out and Glasgow beamed with pride in the limelight...but the greatest event that took place here was not a race, not a high or long jump, but the brilliant addition of the charity appeal for unicef, well done Glasgow for adding that to their programme, the first time it has ever been done.

Now we ourselves had our own achievement when we broke through the £4,000.00 barrier in our donations....So you all deserve a medal too, but all I can do is to thank you from myself and from all at the charity. I hope most of you managed to read the booklets I handed out it showed what marvellous results Mary’s Meals was achieving, so once again thank you all and god bless

Love Rose.

ACTION AID

The summer is nearly over and the dark nights will be with us soon, but most of us thank God, don’t need to worry as we are cosy in our own wee homes. The winter times however must make us feel sorry for those not as fortunate.

Action Aid works so hard to help as many people in difficulty as they can, not only in foreign countries but here in our own country too. Lately they have been active in Gaza, trying to bring hope to so many people whose lives have been destroyed in the terrible bombings there. I received a letter in early August from the charity and was amazed to realize that the report was coming from inside Gaza, these brave workers were there helping regardless of their own safety...but that is exactly what this great charity stands for and I pray that the troubles will stop soon, and a lasting peace can be achieved once and for all.

So thanks to all my loyal supporters who year in and year out donate, that allows this help to reach the people who need it...... God bless and thanks Rose

ST. ANDREWS WEEKEND

Twenty three of us set off for St. Andrews on Friday 1st August. We arrived to a nice bright day and went down to the harbour for a breath of fresh air before going for dinner in St. Andrews. Unfortunately Saturday was not so nice but we managed to pass the day going to Anstruther in the afternoon and returning to St. Andrews to a nice new fish restaurant for dinner. On Sunday we woke up to a lovely morning. After breakfast we headed to the golf course and beach some doing a further walk than others. Some paddled in the water while some walked back along the beach. It was a lovely day. On our return we called back in to the lovely tearoom at Kincardine Bridge which rounded off a good weekend with nice company. FLOWER CALENDAR

I hope you have all enjoyed the lovely display of flowers each week in the church, they not only brighten the place up, but bring many a smile to the ones who receive them, they make you feel better when you are ill or sad, as it’s nice to know your church is thinking of you, but also lovely to receive when you are celebrating a happy occasion. If you would like to remember a special date in your life by putting flowers in the church that week, please don’t hesitate to mark it up in the church flower diary or tell Jean Mcfarlane your date. This would be a great help to the church too.

A big thanks to all who already help in this way.

Thanks Jean

BAPTISM’S

Jack John Smith – 18th May 2014 Son of John Smith and Michelle Watt

Zac Andrew Charlie McMillan 25th May 2014 Son Mark McMillan and Diane Flynn

Marnie Margaret Sweeney – 20th July 2014 Daughter of Laura and Robert Sweeney

Arran John Ross Maurice Stoddart – 20th July 2014 Son of John and Kirsten Stoddart

One of our very professional Elders (Hahaha)

Rose was meeting Jean at the cross a few weeks ago, as she came along she saw her sitting on this big throne wearing a medal, when Jean spotted Rose she nearly flipped trying to get off it but Rose, like a true friend, ran like mad and got beside her just to make sure they took her picture, her medal is called the Gallus Games medal....don’t think they could have found a better person to wear it!! Thanks to Jean for being a good sport (she will flip when she sees her picture) and thanks to Rose for capturing this moment.

Rangers Football

We have a signed Rangers Football to raffle for Church funds. If you are interested then please see Jean (the crazy one above) or Rose for tickets. They will be sold at £1 per strip. Thank you in advance.

I KNOW

I know that my Saviour loves me I know He will love me forever On days when I’m down He will lift me on high Those times when I’m sad all my tears he will dry I know that He’s there by my side The warmth of His love is around me And when life gets hard and my troubles hard to bear More than ever I know He is there

I know if I lean on His arm He’ll guide me and keep me from danger I tell him my fears in my prayers every night I know in the morning that I’ll feel alright He walks close by me every day To help me along if I stumble And when through life’s journey I can no longer roam Arms wide open He’ll welcome me home.

By Moira Yarwood

Loom Bands

Gemma McIlreavy (God’s Gang Member) raised a total of £133 selling the loom bands for the renovation funds. Not to be out shone her brother Grant has been making Hama Bead coasters and has so far raised £35. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased either a loom band or a Hama bead coaster, your support is very much appreciated.

Some News from Judith

Moyna had an e-mail from Judith with the attached photos, as you can see they are all looking really well and Raphael has grown so much. He has grown so much that his mum and dad have decided to make him a big brother!! All going well Judith is due her baby in January. I’m sure you are all, as I am, delighted for them all and wish them all the best  

Safe in His Arms

Former Member David Johnston – 3rd July 2015

David Johnston

I would like to thank Graham and Paul for asking me to be a pall bearer and to speak of their dad at his funeral today.

I first met David 52 years ago at the age of 14 when I moved from Anderson to Govan having been in the 227th Boys Brigade in Partick.

My late friend Les McKeown had taken me to Fairfield church and the 105 B.B. where David was Captain. The B.B.Companies in these days were a lot bigger and we must have had 40/50 boys with a thriving pipe band. There probably was about 20 Companies in Govan alone, and now there are barely 50 in Glasgow.

David Johnston was totally different from my previous captains as he acted as though he was still a boy himself. He joined in with most of the activities and seemed to relish the KICK-IN as he ran around demanding the ball. “Give me the ball “he would shout at the top of his voice as he charged around the gym.

B.B. camps were legendary to far flung places such as St. Annes, St. Andrews, Portrush and Millport to name a few. David made them a family affair with Margaret his wife and Paul and Graham in tow.

Margaret was Brown Owl in Fairfield church as former members may remember. They were staunch members of the church and worked tirelessly for the young people in the church.

Portrush was a favourite camp with the boys for one main reason – the Talent at the Arcadia Ballroom. I remember David saying as we queued up for our late pass “if you can’t get a lumber at the Arcadia there must be something wrong with you” and then he added “don’t bring them back here”

David had a great voice and loved to sing and he would be in full voice with Will your Anchor hold at many a B.B.Church Parade. He also sang at charity events, old folks’ Homes and church events over many years.

David encouraged me to take over as captain of the 105 Company but my biggest worry was him- how could I be captain with him as lieutenant? – total role reversal- but I need not have worried as he was so helpful and supportive with sound advice along the way, especially in dealing with our minister Mr. Stewart who still attended camps in his eighties.

The Boys’ Brigade transcends continents as my son David, who lives in Sydney, Australia, has a large picture of the 105B.B.football team on his living room wall and he only played about 2/3 games for the team to please me at the time. I kept in touch with David Johnston over the years and I recall using him and his voice to entertain the residents at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and he was accompanied by Sandy Black on the piano.

In the last few years Archie Andrews and I have visited David in hospital and Cardonald Care home. We would sing the old songs – I love a lassie, Roaming in the Gloaming and David and Morag would join in along with most of the residents. The last visit we had was a few weeks ago and as usual we gave Morag and David a sweetie. A few minutes later Morag said “That sweetie’s very juicy isn’t David. David replied with a cheeky grin “Aye it’s that juicy I don’t know if I’m getting another one.”

He never lost his sense of humour or that twinkle in his eyes.

Finally, I would like to leave you with two comments:

My abiding memory of David Johnston will be as always when I hear “Will your anchor hold” being sung- Davids’ voice will be in my mind.

David’s’ legacy will simply be: GIVE ME THE BOY and I WILL MAKE HIM THE MAN

He certainly did that for me and I thank him for it.

John Reid

New Members

We were delighted to welcome two new members into our congregation, David McGilvray and Christine Brunton joined the church on 1st June 2014.

‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13

Kids’ Corner

Well then kids (and adults if you just can’t resist a wee puzzle or two) here’s a wee something different for you: I have given you some clues below; you have to find the words in the bible, and then complete the quote. I’ve use the Good News version and there’s plenty in the church so don’t be stuck. The first one who gets the answers to me wins a bar of chocolate  You can either phone the office or e-mail me the answer. Good Luck.

______Hebrews 10: 7 2nd Word

______John 5: 19 6th Word

______1 Samuel 23: 1 4th Word

______Luke 11: 30 4th Word

______Matthew 6: 22 1st Word

______1 Corinthians 12: 1 19th Word

______Luke 14: 26 19th Word

______1 Corinthians 10: 18 2nd Word

______Genesis 2: 7 20th Word

The completed quote is:

The Apostles’ Creed G and L 29th June 2014

In Robert Browning’s poem, ‘A Death in the Desert’, Browning, following the tradition that John was the last of the apostles, asks a poignant question. What will it be like when the last apostolic witness has left the scene, and the church can no longer depend on the testimony of those who saw with their own eyes?

‘When my ashes scatter, says John, there is left on earth No one alive who knew (consider this!) -Saw with his own eyes and handled with his hands That which was from the first, the Word of Life. How will it be when none more say, ‘I saw’.

Each of the regional churches, in Antioch, in Alexandria, in Rome, Jerusalem and Ephesus, developed its own leadership and understanding of the events of Jesus’ life and witness. That is not to say there was no unity, even in the diverse experiences of each of the churches. Whilst there is no suggestion that Jesus had worked out a plan, and that the apostles rigidly followed this, a theory of divine inspiration which seems to override individuals or the politics of each city and state, it is also true that no group broke away from the others. They didn’t break fellowship with one another but maintained a sense of unity even if their understanding of Jesus’ life and witness was a developing one.

But by the end of the first century, with the death of the apostles, there were disagreements breaking out among the churches related to growing perceptions about Jesus and the community that preserved his name. Some of these disagreements were quite vehement and contradictory, and the second century of the church’s life looks like a struggle to determine which of the pictures of Jesus best preserved the apostolic teaching.

That is why you sometimes get Jehovah’s Witnesses at your door, who tell you that such and such a creed wasn’t original, didn’t appear for hundreds of years after Jesus, and has distorted the Gospel message. That is not really true, or at least in terms of the time gap it is partly true, but there were good reasons for that. The creeds were an attempt to put into words what the church did believe at its core, at its heart, about the one who came as God’s Son. So they were changing, as the church grappled with the issue of who Jesus was. Our picture of Jesus Christ was an emerging picture. The creeds were changing and developing, and that is no bad thing. It is a good thing for the church to reflect on what we believe, and the very fact that the churches of the time all used the creeds as prayers, once they were formulated, suggests that they were all in agreement about the core things that they knew and understood about Jesus.

The word Creed comes from the Latin ‘Credo’ meaning I believe. The creeds were a statement of belief, said together by the churches, part of the formal liturgies of the churches. In our study of the formal prayers of Christianity, last week we talked about the Lord’s Prayer as a community prayer, we are going to look at two of the creeds: the Apostle’s Creed, and the Nicene Creed, in some ways quite similar and in others quite different, from each other. This week we examine the Apostles’ Creed which always appeared in the catechism, the teaching manual of the church, and nowadays is always included in the Church of Scotland hymnbook.

The first mention we have of the Apostles’ Creed is in a letter, dated in 390 AD, from a synod, a meeting of the church in Milan. It was not the first creed of the church, the oldest we know of is the Old Roman Creed, which was formulated even earlier. But because they were early, there is no mention of the Christ as part of God, as God, or of the Holy Spirit as God, which is why the church continued to develop creeds to address the key beliefs that were not included in the earlier creeds.

The Apostles’ Creed, then, gives us the earliest facts about Jesus’ life and witness: that he came from Almighty God, the creator, that he was the only Son of God; that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but born of an earthly mother; that under the governorship of Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator, he was crucified and died; and that on the third day after his death, he rose from the dead. Later he rose to heaven where he sits at God’s right hand, and from that position he will judge both living and dead, together with the Holy Spirit, he will also create the church; all the community of the churches ( the communion of saints). He will preside over the forgiveness of sins, and bring into being the general resurrection when we will all be raised to be part of that communion of saints for eternity.

It is quite a statement of faith. And you can see from this that certain things are implied which may not have been written down in this early creed. Jesus, as the only Son of God, that is as God’s Son in a special sense, is part of the judgement of the created world and the church. So too is the Holy Spirit. That would not have happened had Jesus and the Holy Spirit not been part of God, so later creeds made these beliefs more explicit. It was not, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses imply, that these things were made up later, but that they had always been believed but weren’t written down in any formal way. They appeared as gaps in the formal prayers. A great deal has been written down about the use of the creeds. Nowadays, in the Church of Scotland, we tend to use them only with Holy Communion, or with the ordination of a minster, but the most likely use was at the point of baptism, the point when someone had been instructed in the ways of the church, in what it meant to be a baptised member of the community Jesus founded, and then, before the water was sprinkled over them, they would say the creed. The United Methodist Church still uses questions based on the Apostles’ Creed as part of the baptismal service.

The creeds are used today in each of the western churches. They are said by Catholic and Protestant alike – all the Reformed churches retained the creeds. Nonetheless, it would not be true to say that in our 21st century world, every Christian today believes every article of the creeds, just as they were written. The church has continued to ask questions about Jesus, his life and witness, his role in heaven and the role of the church which grew up in his name. And to some extent, we are still asking those questions – a modern day creed might look quite different and there have been attempts to write new creeds, even one in the Church of Scotland in the 1970s, and another in the Uniting Churches of Australia and Canada.

But it is good for us to say the creeds together, from time to time, as part of our continuity with the earliest churches, as a statement of the core beliefs of the church from which we have developed and from which we express our shared life. The public declaration of a creed reminds us of those fundamental aspects of faith in Jesus Christ, which brought us into being and which unite us across the denominations and across time, in spite of all our differences.

Let us pray, Lord, We no longer formulate faith in the same way. Members, even of churches, do not believe the same things about you, or your life. We are less uniform than we once were in our thinking. But help us to understand that your church is founded in time, but still timeless, and that the statements made about you are what we have believed throughout the ages, and which will prove true at the last, when we see and know. Amen.

Contacts:

Rev Dr Moyna McGlynn Minister 0141 419 0308 07908860997 [email protected]

Paul Cathcart Youth & Children's Outreach & Development Worker 01355 243970 07708396074 [email protected]

Rev Andrew Thomson Pastoral Assistant 0141 641 2936 07772502774 [email protected]

Elsie Donald Session Clerk 0141 883 0995 [email protected]

Frank Brown Treasurer 0141 892 0283 [email protected]

Gillian McIlreavy Communication Co-ordinator 07811332632 Church Office Tel: 0141 445 2010 [email protected]

Please visit our website at: www.govanlinthouseparish.org If you have any feedback on the site we would be delighted to hear from you.