Welcome

As we move into March and look forward to Spring we are also looking forward to the Golden Anniversary of Worship in our Sanctuary. Plans are afoot and we have had several intimations that folks who previously worshipped and those who led worship are planning on being with us on Palm Sunday. 
There's plenty of content this week and I hope you enjoy reading the articles.
Denise 

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Mike's Word for the Week 1st March 2024

Failure means not meeting a standard, whether in appearance, ability or behaviour. However, the question of success or failure in our lives is very dependent on who is setting the standard. The criteria for success are very different in God’s Kingdom as compared with those in the world. Income, appearance, celebrity, intellect, status, title, property and power are daily promoted in the media as important goals for a successful life.
 
Jesus stepped into the world presenting a radically different measure of success found in a divine Kingdom which could be entered into now. Success in the world demands that I promote my strengths and hide my weaknesses. Success in God’s Kingdom asks that I surrender all my strengths and weaknesses to the service of the King.
 
One day this King met a woman at a well (John 4). She was an inferior person by all the standards of Jewish Society at the time. She was a Samaritan, unmarried but living with a man, carrying a very dubious history of relationships and, not least, a woman rather than a man. The disciples were astonished that Jesus would spend quality time with such a person.      
 
However, this woman had opened her heart to Jesus and He had shown her complete acceptance. He had explained to her, possibly more fully that with any other of His followers, some of the profound ways of His Kingdom, and in this Kingdom her truthful response to Him made her valuable and successful. As learn the ways of Jesus, the mistakes of the past do not need to define us as a failure. A toddler only learns to walk through many falls.
 
 
Prayer: Thank you Father that you are always ready to release us from the mistakes, sins and failures of the past, which have been aggravated by the condemning hold of the enemy. Bring us anew into the security of being successful citizens in the wonderful Kingdom of your Son. Amen  

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50th Anniversary Service and Celebration
Sunday 24th March 2024 at 10.30am

 

All are welcome to our Thanksgiving Service for the 50th year since the opening of the Sanctuary at Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church.

The Service will be followed by a Celebratory Buffet Lunch of sandwiches and goodies in the Sanctuary.

Would each member of the congregation please contact people they know, including those with past connections to Maxwell, who may be interested in joining us for this Thanksgiving Service?

Looking forward to seeing you all there on such a significant and happy day!

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Easter Services

Sunday, 24th March - Palm Sunday: 50th Anniversary Service at 10.30am

Tuesday, 26th March at 10.30am - Playgroup Service in the Sanctuary: All are welcome!

Maundy Thursday, 28th March at 7.00pm - Maundy Thursday Communion Service (Joint service with Newton Mearns Churches)

Good Friday, 29th March - Walk of Witness starting at Mearnskirk going to Newton Mearns Parish Church followed by a short service of worship. Meet at Mearnskirk car park at 11.15am to leave at 11.30am.

Good Friday, 29th March at 7.00pm - Good Friday service hosted by Newton Mearns Parish Church.

Easter Sunday, 31st March at 10.30am - Easter Morning all age service. Please bring your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and any other children you know. There will be an Easter egg hunt at the end of the service for children of all ages.
 

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Broomburn Steps

Help Required!                                                      

The steps and path behind the Church leading to
Broomburn Drive need to be cleared weekly.
It is a public right of way.
The area gets into such a mess
mainly down to local school kids.

It takes about an hour for two people to lift litter and sweep steps.
The more people (in pairs) who can help with this the better as it means your turn would be less frequent, every four to six weeks on a rotation basis.

When doing this we have had many conversations with locals and they all are very appreciative of what we are doing.

If you feel able to help please contact Norman

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Letter from our Flat 

Dear Friends
 
One of my most challenging tasks when I was a full-time minister down in Thornliebank, was preparing the Letter from the Manse every three months for our church magazine. I could never think of anything new or exciting to say that I hadn’t included in previous letters.
 
Now that I have retired, I no longer have a spacious manse with 4 bedrooms (two en-suite), 3 public rooms, 4 WCs, a walk-in wardrobe, a large study, kitchen with utility room and front and back garden. Now Mary and I are living in a smallish flat in Muirend with an open plan living room / dining area / kitchen with two bedrooms (one en-suite). Which is why this letter is headed Letter from the Flat.
 
We have settled into semi-retirement, and we love our wee flat. Our address is 0/1, 6 Cartbank Grove, G44 3JD and please drop in if you are in the area. We have also settled into Maxwell Mearns Church and we’re in the process of moving our ‘lines’ to Maxwell. You have no idea how much I detest the term ‘moving our lines’ but you know what I mean by that…we’re joining Maxwell.
 
It was always our plan to retire in stages and I committed to Maxwell as your Locum minister for six months. Mary has a part time job with the Diaconate which takes up 5 hours of her time each week. My plan is to step down as Locum at the end of June and Adam (Interim Moderator) is aware of this. Then I will become an active member of Maxwell and I will happily lead services on occasion as part of my giving at Maxwell. So, although I won’t be Locum after June, we will both be around doing our part in the church.
Among the reasons we feel so much at home in Maxwell is because we have found a church family where everyone supports each other and shares their faith in an encouraging way. On Mary’s first visit to Maxwell, she was delighted to hear people talk openly about their faith, and this doesn’t happen in every church! I know that your recent past has been difficult, but I am convinced that Maxwell will flourish, and that God has plans for your and our future. Mary and I wouldn’t book a passage on a sinking ship! I’m sire you know what I mean by this.     
 
Both Mary and I have been deeply touched by the warm welcome and acceptance we have received at Maxwell, and we are making new friends which is nice. We sincerely thank each of you for your friendship and encouragement that we’ve received over the past two months.
 

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Session and Board Meeting

The next Session and Board meeting will take place on :
Tuesday 5th March at 7.30 in the West Room.

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Church Flowers             

Thank you to everyone who has added their name to the flower rota. 
There are still dates available from June to December if anyone would like
to mark a special occasion.

There are spare vases in the chapel (at the side of the chancel if you need them) in addition to
the vase on the chancel table.   
Remember - you don't have to be a florist !!  Just put the flowers in a vase on the table. 
After the service - take them away to give to a friend or neighbour who may need cheering up.  There is some wrapping paper if required in the chapel.

Liz Gillis

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Tea / Coffee Rota

3   March - Alison Mills, Anne Mair, Sheila McGowan
10 March - Gloria and Sandy Leonard, Ruth Bull, Sheona Kyle

There are spaces on the rota so please consider putting your name down for the rota as the more folk help, the less frequently you will be called upon.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of people bringing their own mugs/cups - as well as helping the carbon footprint it also helps church finances.

Thank you
Jackie and Norman

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Castle Cafe

The next meeting of the Castle Cafe will take place on 7 March in
the West Room. 

Ian Gillis will be our speaker.


 

Bible Study

Safeguarding – Ensuring a Safe Church for All 
If you suspect or witness harm or abuse, or it is reported to you, you must immediately report it to one of the Safeguarding Coordinators:

Rev. Adam Dillon
Mobile: 07841673642  email: adillon@churchofscotland.org.uk