february 2015 newsletter

page

NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER february 2015

What’s inside?

Alasdair’s letter Ordination & induction Alasdair instruction manual Toilet twinning Cd review REMEMBERING MARY SLESSOR The well Prayer letter Big questions Love your church (part 6)

page 2

One of the things my training to be a minister did not prepare me for was this moment - my first “Minister’s Letter”. No-one ever tells you just how much your heart will want to share with your new Church family. No-one ever tells you you’ll want to express feelings that go beyond the words you can normally find in a dictionary. So what I write, is but the tip of the ice-berg. By God’s grace there will be plenty of time to share more and (if necessary) to discover new words.

As I sit here in the freshly painted manse study, looking up at all the cards I’ve been sent, I can’t help but feel grateful for both God’s goodness to me and for all that you, as a congregation, have done to welcome me to Cathcart. Moving from Edinburgh and life in my family’s home, to Glasgow, life in a manse on my own, an ordination and induction service, a new job and a new title (Rev.) were scary thoughts during December. However, the way that you have all welcomed me into your Church family has made it far, far better and easier than I could possibly have imagined. Thank you all for your kindness towards me – for the things I know about and for the things that you’ve done silently that are known only to you, God and perhaps a few others – I am very grateful.

It is going to take me a while to get the chance to speak to you all personally. It’s going to take even longer for me to get your names right! However, I am going to try my best to get to know each of you, the congregation and the parish as quickly as I can.

Every new minister, whether they mean to be or not, represents a change to what has been in the past. This can be scary and disconcerting and I apologise if you feeling like this already. And while I don’t want there to be teething issues, as I get to know you and my role as your minister, there will be some teething issues. Hopefully not too many, but they are inevitable. So, I ask for your prayers. Please pray for me as I get to know the Church and for patience for both me and for each of you as we come to terms with our new shared reality and each other. We’re in this together.

I’d also appreciate prayer for the future. I don’t know what God’s got in store for us as a congregation, however I believe He’s brought us all here and He knows what He’s doing. During the course of the final stage of Probation at Granton Church the verses below came to play a major part in my prayer life. I share it, hoping we can take it up in prayer as a Church.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Alasdair

Dear Friends

Would Elders who do Would Elders who do not receive their papers not receive their papers electronically please electronically please uplift the papers that are uplift the papers that are in the boxes today.in the boxes today.

Kirk SessionKirk Session

Monday 26Monday 26thth JanuaryJanuaryTrustees MeetingTrustees Meeting

Monday 2 March 2015Monday 2 March 2015

The Trustees of Cathcart The Trustees of Cathcart Trinity Church will meet in Trinity Church will meet in the Sanctuary at 7.00pm on the Sanctuary at 7.00pm on Monday 2 March 2015. At Monday 2 March 2015. At this meeting the accounts this meeting the accounts for 2014 will be presented for 2014 will be presented for approval.for approval.

The annual stated meeting of the congregation of Cathcart Trinity Church will be held in the Sanctuary at 7.00pm on Monday 9 March 2015. Following the meeting we will adjourn to the halls complex for refreshments and entertainment. All are invited to come along and take the opportunity to meet with our new minister, Alasdair, in an informal setting.

ANNUAL STATED MEETING MONDAY 9 MARCH

REMEMBERING MARY SLESSOR by Bill Seaman

Have you ever heard people criticising Christian missionaries for going to other countries to “impose Christianity” on the people and asking, “What right do they have to interfere with other people's beliefs and customs?” There are many good answers to this question. One of the best would be to tell them about Mary Slessor.

There have been several references in the media to her recently, as January saw the centenary of her death. A Newsletter article is not the place to tell her story; that would require volumes. We can only look very briefly at why she has such a revered place in the story of Christian Mission.

After years of training in the tough “school” of factory life in Dundee, she sailed in 1876 to join the Scottish Mission in Calabar, Nigeria. She showed great aptitude for learning the language and understanding and befr iending the people, including local chiefs. Her pioneering spirit made her determined to go further and further up country, where she encountered practices and beliefs which horrified her. When a chief died, his wives and slaves would be killed to “accompany” him. Trial by ordeal was common. After a sudden death, the witchdoctor would select several “accused” who had to drink poison. Only the guilty were supposed to die! Rich men had harems, into which girls were put to be virtually force fed to put on weight, as that was regarded as the greatest form of beauty. Perhaps most repugnant of all to Mary was the murder of twins. When twins were born, it was assumed that one was the “proper” baby, while the other one was a demon. As they couldn't tell which was which, both were killed and the mother was exiled to the bush, often after being attacked and injured.

That was the situation Mary stepped into – sometimes literally. She once stood between two tribes about to fight and wouldn't move until they had laid down their weapons and agreed to talk. Several times when the witchdoctor's victims were lying chained to go through trial by ordeal, she stood over them, refusing to move until the chief gave in and ordered their release. Whenever she heard that twins had been born, she set off running (she never wore shoes or stockings) to try to save them, often taking them into her own home and bed while angry men prowled outside. She would often adopt them and so her “family” grew, supported out of her own small salary.

She succeeded in winning over chief after chief, some of whom became Christians, while even those who didn't, still respected her. So wise was she, and widely respected, that the British authorities appointed her as a magistrate, and people were very happy to have her hearing their case as they knew she would act w i s e l y a n d w i t h f u l l understanding of their situation.

Leading such a demanding life took its toll. She was plagued with malaria, dysentery and eventually heart problems, but she kept pushing on further and further inland. Towards the end of her life she wrote to a friend in Scotland telling her that she was “the happiest and most grateful woman in the world.” When she received a letter from an admirer in Scotland addressing her as “Dear Madam”, she replied, “Don't call me Madam. I'm just a insignificant wee auld wifey.”

At the General Assembly a few years ago, we were deeply moved when a Church leader from Nigeria was invited to speak. He said, “Thank you for sending Mary Slessor to Nigeria. If she hadn't come, I wouldn't be here today. My mother was a twin.”

We have twinned all the church toilets since our Harvest service – many thanks to everyone who has helped. Look out for the details of our ‘twinnings’ when you visit our facilities!

Money is still being collected and further twinnings are possible. Maybe we could twin the manse toilets, or even raise enough to twin a school toilet block (£240).

A number of people have twinned their toilets at home or in their workplace - hopefully this will inspire others to consider doing the same. Some people have given a gift of a twinned toilet as a present for birthday, wedding or wedding anniversary.

Thank you to everyone who has helped in this important work. Toilet twinning collection boxes and twinning application forms are available at the front door of the church for anyone who wants them.

TOILET TWINNING - GOOD NEWS! by Wilma Pearson

My husband Alex Gowans, will be 90 in February and by then will have been an elder for over 68 years.

He was ordained in 1946 in Queens Cross Church. He later joined St James Church in Pollok and after his marriage he joined Cathcart South Church now Cathcart Trinity. Throughout his long life he has taken an active part in many aspects of church life and is still a practising elder. He led the Sunday School for many years. He attends church twice every Sunday and is involved in our sofa groups. He has always been deeply involved with Christian Healing and is totally committed to the power of prayer.

The church and his strong faith have always been central to his life.

Sheila Gowans

A fter a vacancy of 27 months, 2015 brought a new start for our congregations with the ordination and induction of

Cathcart Trinity’s new minister, Alasdair MacMillan, on the evening of Thursday 15th January.

Although the induction marked the end of a long search of over a year, that experience was an enjoyable and stimulating one for those of us on the nomination committee. We had the chance to meet with, and experience a flavour of the ministry of, some very interesting people. More significantly we soon felt that it was as if we had enrolled on a rigorous practical training course with modules such as “God’s Timescales, not Ours” and “Discerning God’s Will”.

I’m sure all the committee had memories like these in their minds as 7pm approached on 15 January. Despite rather wild weather outside, the building was filling up fast, upstairs and downstairs, well ahead of the start time. At about 6.45pm, Bill Hewitt, Clerk to Glasgow Presbytery, came to the

microphone to say - not as some may have thought, that a car was inconsiderately parked in Bowling Green Road - but that, as Glasgow Presbytery was “in session” elsewhere in the building that anyone who had objections as to Alasdair’s life or doctrine should make that known to them now. He didn’t add “or forever hold their peace”, but we got the message … and unsurprisingly no-one stirred!

As is usual, the evening was in three parts beginning with the more formal Presbytery-led service, with its elements of worship songs, prayer, encouraging biblical messages and solemn vows.

Tom Nelson, minister at the neighbouring Netherlee Parish, spoke movingly from Ephesians 3 on the “limitless riches of Christ”, “the multi-faceted wisdom and almost incomprehensible love of God”, and “God’s power to do more than we can ask or imagine”.

Stuart Smith, Presbytery Moderator, spoke particularly to Alasdair and to the congregation, speaking frankly of the spiritual battle we are all called to take our full part in.

This first half was followed by a huge spread of home baking and savoury snacks in both the Large and Kent Halls, and a huge buzz of fellowship as old and new friends met.

ALASDAIR’S ORDINATION & INDUCTION THURSDAY 15 JANUARY by Dougie Paton

Finally, there was the “Social” which was a bit like a wedding reception with moving speeches, warm tributes and gift presentations, to Alasdair from each of the congregations, and to the retiring moderator, Willie Black, and to Katie. This part was topped and tailed with rousing praise items, and Alasdair gave a benediction before we headed home, some to distant parts (Edinburgh in many cases, but also Peterhead, in the case of Alasdair’s grandparents!).

Each person who was there will have their own highlights of the evening. Alasdair himself has said that both sets of vows, his own and also when both congregations stood up to promise encouragement, support, and co-working with him, were personally very significant. When his ministry colleagues and friends from Granton, Norman Smith and Kirsty Harper, spoke during the Social, he felt a real sense of Granton Church letting him go and passing him on to Trinity. This they did with humour (Kirsty’s operating manual for your new “Alasdair”) and obvious love, care and deep respect for their former probationer.

Finally, for those who missed those essential operating instructions, Alasdair has helpfully agreed to summarise them as follows:

Do not feed me cow’s milk products. In fact, for my health, don’t offer me

any food on pastoral visits. Make sure I take my day off, to rest and

seek refreshment from God In fact, encourage me to seek

refreshment from God every single day!

I’m sure I speak for all our readers in feeling very blessed that we now have our very own brand new “Alasdair”!

Congratulations on your purchase of a newly ordained minister!

We at Granton Parish Church are very proud of this product, and are confident that you at Cathcart Trinity will enjoy many years of preaching, support and encouragement from him. In order to get the most out of the Alasdair Macmillan model of newly ordained minister, please listen carefully...

The Alasdair Macmillan comes with many features:

FEATURES

The product comes with great public speaking skills but is also suitable for smaller gatherings- he features modes such as, Bible study, Women’s Guild talk and “engaging with the youth”. But do not worry, your Alasdair Macmillan has a sensor and can automatically select the correct mode.

Your newly ordained minister is also surprisingly creative. He has currently added upholstery to his skill set, can produce lactose free cake and beaded keychains- which is useful in youthwork. It is a surprisingly useful feature. It may also come as a surprise that he likes watching football- but fortunately for his own safety, it’s not a Glasgow team.

GRANTON PARISH CHURCH

INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR YOUR NEWLY PURCHASED

ALASDAIR MacMILLAN

During our time as developers, the Alasdair Macmillan was upgraded to driver and a new car was added to the package. Also ‘trendy pastor’ glasses were installed on the front of the product.

Alasdair also comes with his very own social media stream, which features his trademark humour and his hashtag- #that awkward moment.

Alasdair has great attention to detail which is very useful- particularly in situations such as weddings where Alasdair checks with the groom whether he brought the mP3s of the hymns as he had promised he would. Alasdair’s compatibility with technology meant that he was able to use the groom’s phone to download Youtube hymns and play them through the hotel’s soundsystem. Problem solved!

TROUBLESHOOTING

If your Alasdair Macmillan is stuck in Portuguese language mode- this is because he is over tired and his processors need to be rebooted. Return him to his Manse with a sci-fi DVD boxset for best results. Leave at least a day before trying to use him again. A hobby such as joining a choir should also ensure his systems don’t become too overloaded with church.

We are not quite sure if his understanding Glasweigian language mode has been fully installed yet but are confident that should this setting fail, Alasdair Macmillan will automatically switch into charm mode.

WARNING: do not feed milk or ‘milk based products’ to your newly ordained minister as we cannot be held responsible for the consequences. This surprisingly includes Jelly Babies as they contain lactic acid.

Your newly ordained minister is not really designed for outdoor use and simply does not ‘do’ camping. Even when he played hockey, it was indoor hockey.

If it appears that your Alasdair Macmillan has turned into a Norman Smith - get him to shave and all will be well!

But we are confident that if you take good care of your Alasdair, he will enrich your life with joy, spiritual insights, giggles, profoundity, and creativity. He has brought all of that to us, and we are already missing him greatly.

Kirsty Harper Parish Assistant at Granton Parish Church

THE GUILD The second half of our session started with our ever-popular Holy Beetle Drive when a large turn-out enjoyed fast and furious fun and laughter as we attempted to complete our Holy Beetles. Jean McIntyre was our eventual winner. January continued with a fascinating talk about Pollok House by Wilma Morrison, one of the volunteer guides. Patently we miss a lot by just wandering around the house ourselves, and I think a lot of us have resolved to take a guided tour the next time we head to Pollok. Aileen McConnell gave a most interesting talk about Yorkhill Children’s Charity on January 20th and told of the many benefits, both medical and recreational, that our support of the charity provides for the youngsters from birth to 16 years of age who are nursed and cared for at Yorkhill. She has promised a return visit to tell us about the relocation to the Southern General which hopefully will go very smoothly.

Our programme for February is:

3rd Glasgow Trams – Mr. S. Little 10th Colours - Ms. D. Winton 17th The Frankincense Trail – Ms. L. Mullen 24th In My Father’s House – Rev. W. Ferguson

As always a very warm welcome is extended to anyone who would like to join us for any or all of the above. ‘Glasgow Trams’ seems to be generating some special interest and we believe we may have quite a few visitors for that talk – all will be made very welcome.’

by Margaret Brough

THANK YOU I would like to say thanks to all the ladies involved in collating the

newsletter over the years who sadly (for me!) now feel it's time to

put down their tools and enjoy a time of retirement.

They've been a committed lot, worked hard and even developed new

skills with the recent introduction of stapling! But it wasn’t all about

the job - lots of chat and, in true Church style, always started the task

with food and cake - a good few strawberry tarts devoured over the

years I’m sure!

The team was led by Margaret Brough and included Agnes Brown,

Mary Davidson, Margaret Simpson and Isobel Trainer. Aileen Reid

was also a very willing and helpful reserve. Many others worked in

the Team in the days of the Courier and were an invaluable help to

David McMillan and Anita McLachlan and a big thanks also goes to

them.

Happy retirement ladies!! Lauren Docherty

Communication Team

While I work in the Church and it’s quiet I like to play my praise music. One of my friends gave me Martin Smith’s God’s Great Dance Floor to listen to, so I thought I’d share my thoughts on it after buying my own copy after it being recommended. Firstly the title would have likely put me off as it sounds like rave or disco. Anyway I played it a couple of times at first before I started to like it. It has an 80’s music feel about it and one of the tracks sounds a bit like the start of the Buggles “Video Kills the Radio Star”, but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. It starts good with “You are my salvation” and gets stronger with tracks like Emmanuel which has strong drumming and a good rock sound. Also there are nice ballad tracks like Song of Solomon and Angel. But my favourite track is aptly named Grace. It’s a beautiful song and near the end you can hear Church bells ringing through it. It is certainly worth a listen to. The CD is Martin Smith “God’s Great Dance Floor - Step. Because I enjoyed it I decided to get Step 1 and although there are a few good tracks, it is not as good as Step 2 - but everyone’s taste in music is different.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC REVIEW by Stuart McCloy

“THE LORD WILL LIFT UP A STANDARD (SHIELD OF DEFENSE)” Isaiah 59:19 .

Notice what Solomon prayed for at the dedication of the temple. ‘If there is famine in the land…if Your people’s enemies are in the land…whatever disaster or disease there is…hear from heaven…Then they will fear You and walk in Your ways as long as they live’ (2 Chronicles 6:28-31 NLT). When you’re functioning in your rightful place in church you can: 1) Pray with confidence in times of economic difficulty. One of the names by which Israel knew God was ‘Jehovah Jireh’, which means ‘The Lord will provide’. Your security isn’t in Paternoster Square, Threadneedle Street or any other street! It’s in God’s unfailing goodness (Psalms 23:6). 2) Pray with confidence in times of sickness. God’s promise to you is this: ‘Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up’ (James 5:14-15 NKJV). 3) Pray with confidence when you’re facing disaster. ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust”’ (Psalms 91:1-2 NKJV) 4)Pray with confidence when the devil is attacking you. ‘When the enemy comes

in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard [shield of defence] against him’ (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV) As a redeemed member of Christ’s church, these are your ‘rights’, so exercise them!

Reproduced with permission

UCB Word for Today, Westport Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 4JF

Free issues of UCB daily devotional are available for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

REFLECTION TIME LOVE YOUR CHURCH - JESUS DOES (PART6)

There are many ways to be part of the prayer life of our church. Willie and Wilma have been encouraging us all to come along to the prayer breakfasts and the monthly mid-week prayer meetings.

Another way has been to use the monthly prayer letter to guide personal prayer times. For some years now, the prayer letter has been distributed electronically to those who have requested it, with paper copies available in the vestibule at the front of the church for anyone to pick up.

To encourage wider use of the prayer letter, it has been decided to include this in the monthly newsletter. We hope that it will be a helpful tool in praying for specific people and situations both within our churches in Cathcart, in our nation and for the whole world.

The prayer letter could be removed from the newsletter and kept somewhere where it can be easily referred to throughout the month eg at a bedside, on a coffee table, at a desk. If you think some item could be usefully added to a prayer letter, please let us know via [email protected]

PRAYER LETTER by Fiona Paton

The Church of Scotland is committed to ensuring that safeguarding of vulnerable

groups – children, young people and vulnerable adults – is a priority. We all have a

responsibility to each other to support safety and wellbeing.

I am the Safeguarding Co-ordinator at Cathcart Trinity. If there is any safeguarding

matter you want to discuss - a concern or an issue about policy/practice, please

contact me.

Linda Burke

There is safeguarding training available for those working within the Church of

Scotland. Please contact me if you want to register for this.

Tuesday 3 February St James’, Pollok 7pm - 9.30pm

Tuesday 28 April Ruchill Kelvinside 7pm - 9.30pm

SAFEGUARDING by Linda Burke

It is a joy to serve God in this way surrounded by a great bunch of people all with different ability's but with one thing in common a love of serving Jesus Christ and showing those we come into contact with that the Lord is alive in our life. I have been volunteering for about 2 years & have found that my life has definitely benefitted because of what I have learnt by being a part of the Well family , although for the past 6 months I have been employed by The Well as a sessional worker for 5 hours a week I still usually volunteer the same time again. Please speak to me or come along to find out more.

VOLUNTEERING AT THE WELL by Jan McCloy

Do you ever wonder what the children and young people do when they go for their own

time on a Sunday morning?

There is chat, playing, games, friendship, hot chocolate, craft....... and lots more! All of

that is important, but most importantly is that we are doing all these things so that our

children and young people continue on their faith journey – learning, praising, praying,

worshipping our Father God, focussing on Jesus as our Saviour and accepting the Holy

Spirit as our guide, comforter and strength!

As a staff team, we plan and talk together to support one another and to make sure

we are doing our best for our children and young people. We try to give experiences

and themes which support spiritual growth and exploration of faith.

So, at that moment the children are considering a series of big questions – very big

questions!!!

BIG QUESTIONS AT SUNDAY CLUB & PATHFINDERS by Linda Burke

And the Pathfinders are on the exciting adventure of junior Alpha which also considers

these kind of questions and their application to life. Our young people have time and

a good environment to talk, ask, listen and build faith together.

What can you do? Maybe think about our questions and pray for our children and

young people; pray for their faith journey, pray for their families, pray for their strength

to speak about Jesus outwith church. And give thanks for all of the children and young

people within our church family. Pray, too, for our staff team: that they are energised

to share faith.

Who is God? Why did Jesus come to earth?

Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? Who is the Holy Spirit?

How do we read the

bible and pray?

How do I become

a Christian?

CONTACT DOUGIE PATON SOON IF YOU’RE INTERESTED OR IF YOU’D LIKE

TO KNOW MORE. MORE INFO ALSO AT:

WWW.CHRISTIANMENTOGETHER.COM

THE COMMISSION MEN’S CONFERENCE SATURDAY 7 MARCH by Dougie Paton

How would you like to be part of the Trinity/UF contingent at this conference? This annual event is always a well-organised and uplifting day, with excellent worship slots and practical biblical teaching, along with great opportunities for fellowship and a host of interesting exhibition displays.

I’ll be very happy to make a block booking and take your money on the day. I will also be delighted to arrange car shares.

Show me Show me

The Way, the Truth and the LifeThe Way, the Truth and the Life

SATURDAY SOFA GROUP CHRISTMAS SELFIE! #Christmas 2014 #fun@the patons

SELFIE OF THE MONTH!

february WORSHIP SERVICES

Scottish Charity No SCO 33802

To contact churchoffice bearers, please EMAIL

[email protected]

Or phone the church office on 0141 637 6557

Key contacts

february 2015 newsletter

Documents