EAGLESHAM PARISH CHURCH December 2010 Services at Christmas Dates and times inside photo: Alasdair Lamont 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 Session Clerk email [email protected] Craig Wishart 75 Brackenrig Crescent, Waterfoot Youth Ministry Student Eaglesham G76 0HF Russell Shields c/o Eaglesham Church Office Treasurer Carswell Hall, Montgomery Street Marlyn McInnes Eaglesham G76 0AS 38 Alexander Avenue Eaglesham G76 0DW Church Officer Elizabeth MacLachlan Gift Aid Convenor Bryan McHugh Church Office Secretary 48 Hill Drive Vicki Steven Eaglesham G76 0AL tel/fax 01355 302087 Freewill Offering Convener email [email protected] Ronald McIntyre Office open Wednesday & Friday 64 Brackenrig Crescent, Waterfoot 9.30am – 11.30am Eaglesham G76 0HF Church Builders Superintendent Beverly Millar Announcements… 19 Kittochside Road, Carmunock G76 9ES Baptisms Fabric Convener Rhona Steven, (Robert & Vicki Steven) Jim Alexander Nethercraig Farm, 7 Nov 284 Glasgow Road, Waterfoot Naomi Ogbu (Charles & Carol Ogbu), Riverside Eaglesham G76 0EW Road, 5 Dec Halls Convener Eve Wilkinson (Greg & Laura Wilkinson) Maureen Hunter Bonnyton Drive, 5 Dec 11 Polbae Crescent Funerals Eaglesham G76 0LL Margaret Mackie, 28 Park Crescent 10 Sept Child Protection Co-ordinator Grace Mackay, Whitehills Nursing Home 19 Oct Shelagh McHugh 48 Hill Drive Donald McIndoer, Polnoon Street 26 Oct Eaglesham G76 0AL Colin Mackenzie, Bartlands Place, 4 Nov Nan Nicholson, Montgomery Court, 26 Nov Marriages Lauren Brown to Steven Robinson, 10 September Suzie McGuire to Derek Mitchell, 30 October Parish News is published by Eaglesham Parish Church, Scottish Charity Number SC006377, © EPC2010 Musings from the Manse… One Christmas an elderly grandmother, once made me a birthday “cake” of a feeling the limitations of mobility and pyramid of their home-made scones, memory, was finding buying presents for served with cream & jam – made for family and friends a bit much. Instead, sharing!) she wrote cheques for all of them to put in their Christmas cards, with the So, if the cheque wasn’t in the post, what message, “Buy your own present”, would you give to those you love – and and sent them off. A few days after even those you don’t? What about giving Christmas she some money-free was aghast to gifts this Christmas? discover, sitting Mend a quarrel, visit neatly in the or call someone, listen sideboard drawer, attentively, affirm or a pile of cheques. encourage efforts, Everyone she loved pray for someone, had received a be alert to where Christmas card help is needed, write from her saying a thoughtful note. “Buy your own Maybe the best gift present”, but of all is to give your she’d forgotten time and undivided to enclose the attention to someone, cheques! even (maybe especially!) those who live in the same As the world embarks on its annual house and are taken for granted. spree of manic spending on expensive gifts, most not needed and many not Let’s give as God gave to us in Jesus: wanted, it made me think again. What generously without measure, without are the gifts that have meant most to ostentation or obligation, of His very self. me? Nearly always they are not the most And let’s receive again from Him all that costly, but those given with thought and we could never buy for ourselves. originality and more than a bit of fun. (My godchildren, knowing I like scones, Christmas blessings to you all 1 Kirk Session… Our seven Kirk Session Teams are proving to established through Ian’s insight and energy. be a real success story, due, substantially, to Crawford’s leadership will take us forward into the enthusiasm and ability of the members the creation of new initiatives and challenges who comprise them, all of whom have shown which, assuredly, lie ahead. Ian continues to commitment and imagination in their work. labour on behalf of our congregation as Roll Our Teams have been led inspirationally for Keeper, a job he fulfils with characteristic the past three years, since their inception, and thoroughness, and we are indebted to him for following this introductory period, three of our his past and continuing service. Team Leaders have decided to hand over their The work of our Kirk Session Teams becomes responsibility to others willing to continue the ever more interesting and challenging and valuable work they have begun. Alistair McBride we need the input of ordinary members of has passed the leadership of the Youth Strategy the congregation to support and widen its Team to Stuart McChlery, while remaining as a influence and effect. The Teams are not the team member, Margaret Pitcairn has handed exclusive domain of your elders but are open responsibility for the Fellowship Team to Shelagh and welcoming to anyone who feels he or she McHugh and Ian Gray will relinquish the has a special interest in their remit. Please don’t leadership rôle of the Administration Team at wait to be asked to join but let it be known the end of December this year with Maureen that you want to participate. Your interest and Hunter taking over this part of his duties and involvement will be hugely appreciated. Crawford McLean assuming Ian’s long-standing Plans are being made, as I write this, for Advent position of Finance Convener at the same time. and the Christmas Services which are always While all three Team Leaders deserve our a joy. I look forward to this special time in our wholehearted thanks for the work they have Christian tradition with anticipation for the done on our behalf, Ian Gray’s retirement pleasure which it brings. On behalf of all your as Administration Team Leader and Finance elders may I wish everyone in our congregation Convener marks a period of considerable and a very happy and peaceful Christmas. dedicated service to our congregation which needs to be specially acknowledged. Ian became Craig Wishart Finance Convener in 1989 and he has guided Session Clerk and managed our congregation’s financial resources for those 21 yearsl. In recent years as our congregation’s income continues to decline The Guild… in real terms, Ian’s financial skill and knowledge of Church matters have enabled us to continue At the first meeting of the Session to honour our annual commitment to the the Guild ladies were entertained national Church and Glasgow Presbytery while by the Cambus Singers who sang a still managing to find the resources necessary wide selection of songs. This was a to meet the challenging, relentless demands lovely evening and was an excellent of the disintegrating fabric of our ageing and start to our Wednesday nights. We tired buildings. His direction during his tenure have also enjoyed a varied and interesting choice has helped our congregation continue its work of speakers. Our Christmas Cracker Coffee and witness in Eaglesham and the wider Church Morning will have been held by the time you and he can look back with pride and satisfaction read this bulletin and we shall be finishing off on a job well done. He hands over now to this year with our usual Christmas Celebration. Maureen, who will oversee the essential work We start back on Wednesday 12th January with of an Administration Team responsible for the another musical night, the ‘Close Shave’ Barber day to day upkeep, security and comfort of our Shop Group, and again look forward to our buildings; and to Crawford, who will assume further visiting speakers the considerable responsibility for managing our finances and for building on the foundation Fiona Hamilton - Secretary 2 Your Givings… Fabric… The end of December is both the end of our The clocks have changed and summer has calendar year, and also the Church’s financial gone. On the Fabric team we can reflect on year. As that date approaches, may we take jobs well done and consider many that have this opportunity to thank all those members still to be done. Time beat us to finish work using WFO and Banker’s Order for their at the manse, but we will pick up where contributions, and to remind them to catch we left off when light nights return. The up on any missed weeks, if they would like to upheaval in the church is over. Timbers and do so. flooring in the gallery have been replaced No doubt, we will hear in due course from and treated, and some pews have had to our Treasurer that, during the year, it has been be removed and others have been repaired. very hard to meet our ongoing expenses, and All that remains is for the team to restore so, at this time, every penny counts. Using the decor where necessary. This has cost WFO envelopes is a very important means of over £6K that we had not budgeted for, but giving, as is Bankers Order. Additionally, Gift maybe next year we will get back to the list Aid allows the Church to recover an extra of priorities. We are still having problems with 22p from the Revenue for every pound given, the camera, but we are looking at ways of providing the giver or their husband or wife, improving it. is a tax payer. A single signature is all that is Our minds are now turning to Christmas and required, for the Church to benefit from this all the joys of fixing trees and fairy lights! very valuable additional income. As our Finance/Admin convenor retires we If you would like to know more about WFO, in the Fabric thank him for his skills, humour Banker’s Order, or Gift Aid, please do not and time that he has brought to the job, and hesitate to contact us.