Maxwelltown West Church Dumfries Parish Profile February 2020 MAXWELLTOWN WEST CHURCH - Our Mission - Maxwelltown West Church seeks to be a place of welcome to all in our parish; a centre of Christian worship and fellowship. We seek to provide a framework for family life and a place where young people may be nurtured in Christian values. SUNDAY SERVICES – 11 am CONTACTS During the Vacancy: Interim Moderator: Rev. Sally Russell (01556 503645) E: [email protected] Locum: David B Matheson (01387 252042) E: [email protected] Website: www.maxwelltownwest.org.uk #MaxWestChurch Tel: 01387 255900 Scottish Charity Reference: SC 015925; CCLI: 1194718 - CONTENTS - § Maxwelltown West Church: This is us § At the heart of our church : Our Values § What are we looking for? What are you looking for? § More of us § Our strengths and our weaknesses Statement from the Kirk Session § An active church § Let’s hear it from the congregation! § Our Parish § Dumfries & the wider area - MAXWELLTOWN WEST: THIS IS US - A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH Our congregation began in 1843 as Maxwelltown Free Church, formed by ministers and members who left the parish churches in support of the principle of freedom to call a minister without the influence of a Patron. The first meeting of Maxwelltown Free Church was in the open air at the barnyard of Nithside. Such was the enthusiasm of the congregation that within six months a church had been built at North Laurieknowe. Part of that building stands today. On 8th July 1865, the foundation stone of the present building, to the design of Mr. James Barbour, was laid. The church was built at a cost of £2,190 and was opened in November 1866. The union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church in 1900 brought a change of name to Maxwelltown United Free Church. In the 1920’s the manse at 11, Laurieknowe was purchased, a detached sandstone Victorian nine- apartment house with large garden, occupying an elevated position 50 yards from the church In 1929 came the re-union of the Churches when the United Free Church and the Church of Scotland were united and our congregation became Maxwelltown West Church of Scotland. Today, Max. West, as it is affectionately known, is the 4th largest of the 40 congregations in the Presbytery of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. A Centenary Hall was added in 1966 to the design of Bill Dickie. The Millennium was marked by the transfer of the War Memorial Gates from the former Laurieknowe Church to Max West, the gates being rededicated on Remembrance Sunday 1999. A sandstone cross was erected to the new frontage in 2016 for the 150th anniversary and to the memory of Rev. Gordon M.A. Savage, minister at Maxwelltown West from 1984 to 2012. Further information may be obtained from Scotland’s Churches Trust www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk - AT THE HEART OF MAXWELLTOWN WEST - Here at Maxwelltown West, we hope and pray:- to keep our church alive and growing in the community to bring the Gospel to life in worship and everyday living to care and share with others to be a welcoming church and remember that the church is not only our buildings to be true to our values as a congregation - OUR VALUES - R E S P E C T UNDERPINS OUR VALUES R - RESPECT E - ENCOURAGEMENT S - SUPPORT P - PARTNERSHIP E - EMPATHY C - COURTESY T - TOLERANCE - WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? - Maxwelltown West Church is seeking a minister who will lead us through a time of change within the Church of Scotland: someone who is patient, a good communicator and a good listener. Someone who has the ability to encourage others, with an enthusiasm for pastoral care, and who fits well with our values as a congregation. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? and ARE YOU WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR? - STATEMENT FROM THE KIRK SESSION - After discussion and prayerful consideration, the Kirk Session of Maxwelltown West Church has decided that all applicants for our current vacancy will be considered, including ministers who are in a civil partnership or a same-sex marriage. - MORE OF US - MAXWELLTOWN WEST CHURCH HAS : A Deacons’ Court of 32 members meeting six times a year A Kirk Session of 27 active members meeting ten times a year 333 Members plus 10 adherents, and a Supplementary Roll of 200 The average attendance at Sunday worship is 60 We have always met our financial commitments in full In 2019 there were 5 baptisms, 2 weddings and 6 funerals Worship style is traditional, with a printed order of service, using CH4 A new audio-visual system and screen were installed in 2019 A modern Makin digital organ is played by our highly-qualified and enthusiastic organist Our Worship Team and Praise Group are involved in services Tea and coffee after Sunday worship - OUR STRENGTHS - Although we had the challenge of our previous minister leaving us after two and a half years, the congregation has worked together with an Interim Minister, our Interim Moderator and our Locum, and has emerged a stronger, united church. We are a warm, friendly and welcoming church, with a strong feeling of church “family”. Our office bearers are committed and hard-working. - OUR WEAKNESSES - We don’t always do change well, and we know that we need to. The average age of our congregation is increasing and some Elders have become inactive. The number of young people and families attending church services or being involved in the life of the church has reduced, although the youth organisations using church premises are flourishing. We need a minister to lead and encourage us with this change. We have long-established roots here in Maxwelltown and we want to move to the next part of our journey. There is a real challenge here for our new minister. Could it be you? Thank you for your interest in our vacancy We welcome informal enquiries and further information may be obtained from: Interim Moderator Rev. Sally Russell [01556 503645] [email protected] Convenor of the Nominating Committee: David Johnson [01387 261627] [email protected] Clerk to the Nominating Committee: Faye Dickie [email protected] - MAX WEST IS AN ACTIVE CHURCH - As well as Sunday worship : AFTER EIGHTS BIBLE EXPLORERS BADMINTON CLUB - BIBLE STUDY CARE HOME SING-ALONG CHRISTIAN AID CHURCH YOUTH POLICY GROUP [CHYPs] DUMFRIES CHRISTIAN NETWORK www.dumfrieschurches.org.uk BROWNIES (75 Years) PILGRIMAGE WALKS MAXWEST ‘CONTACT’ MAGAZINE CUBS, SCOUTS & GUIDES MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENT PARISH VISITORS FOOD BANK COLLECTIONS SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY GOOD COMPANIONS - THE GUILD SOCIAL GROUP HMP DUMFRIES INITIATIVE WORLD CHURCH TEAM FLOWER MINISTRY [Faithshare partnership, Mathia, Kenya] MAXWEST MOVIES MESSY CHURCH - LET’S HEAR IT FROM OUR CONGREGATION! - Some responses to our survey: “A warm, caring church family” “Please find a minister who will lead us forward in faith and relate to the needs of the congregation” “Caring, compassionate, joyful and reflective” “Max West, a place of worship, welcome, activities and lovely people – God’s place of worship for all” “Regular visits to the housebound and those not able to come to church” “We pray for a minister to lead us forward on our journey with Christ” “The deep faith of our members has given us the resilience to face adversity and keep our fire burning” “Tradition is very important to me: the church should provide guidance – in the world, not of the world. Radical change does not necessarily mean becoming like the world in order to attract worshippers. Jesus shows us what we need.” - OUR PARISH - MAXWELLTOWN WEST - Google Earth imagery A socio-economically mixed parish; the A75 Dumfries by-pass forms the northern boundary, while the River Nith at the heart of the town, marks the eastern limit. Dumfries was the home of Robert Burns from 1791 to his death in 1796. The town has a wealth of Burns’ connections. To the south and west of our Parish lies open countryside, with the new Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, opened in 2018, located at the western end of the by-pass. People in work also commute via rail and bus to Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 3 primary and 3 secondary schools are within a one-mile radius of the Manse. The Dumfries Campus at The Crichton is part of the University of Glasgow. Sports facilities include golf, curling, bowls, squash, tennis, athletics, rugby, cricket and swimming; DG1 Leisure Centre. Palmerston Park, home to Queen of the South FC the only professional football team mentioned in the Bible [Luke 11 v.31 and Matthew 12 v. 42] is located in our parish. The Manse, situated at 11, Laurieknowe. Dumfries and Galloway Region stretches from Portpatrick in DUMFRIES & the west to Gretna in the east, a THE WIDER AREA distance of 110 miles, with the A75, the EuroRoute its main artery. We have easy access to the M74. From Kirkconnel in the north of Kirkconnel the Region to Kirkcudbright on the Solway is a distance of 60 miles. Dumfries Gretna Portpatrick Kirkcudbright Google Earth imagery The first thing you’ll notice is just how beautiful this largely forgotten gem of lowland Scotland is - its rocky coastline and sandy beaches, remote and wild hills, and acres of forests and green spaces. CHRISTIAN HERITAGE & HISTORY SEEKERS ADVENTURE SEEKERS NATURE LOVERS ARTS & CULTURE ENTHUSIASTS STARGAZERS Dumfries & Galloway is the Much more information perfect place! can be found on: www.visitscotland/dumfries-galloway.com www.visitsouthwestscotland.com.