Pastor's Letter...
Dear Friends and New Family
Arriving in the month of May to begin a ministry amongst the people of St. John's was difficult as well as enjoyable. Let me explain. It was difficult as many of the ongoing organisations and regular meetings and events had ended for the summer recess. When a minister arrives in a church they generally want to dive right in at the deep end and be fully involved in everything that is happening. In this way, it is hoped to catch the heartbeat of the church.
On the other hand, because everything was in recess, it has meant that both Christine and I have had an easier time to allow us to get to know people in a more relaxed atmosphere. We have met many of you already in your own homes. Simply due to the fact that we could not rely on meeting people at what would be the more regular events of church life, we have sought to do so in other ways. That has been enjoyable, and we hope that as everything gets a little busier, we will still be able to come and visit you where you live.
One of the events that I prompted to happen during the summer weeks was a kind of 'think tank' evening. I had three separate meetings with three separate groups of people representing the church, inviting them into table groups to discuss a few questions.
These questions ranged from , “What do you believe God has been doing or speaking into the life of St. John's Church?” to “What do you believe has been missing in Church Life?” to questions about our Future as a Church, about our Worship, about Visiting Guests including suggestions about what we should be offering this Autumn to encourage people in their life as a Christian either as a fairly new disciple or a seasoned believer. There will be one final meeting with all the participants, at which time I will present the summary of all the information that was gathered on those evenings, and make some suggestions for the future.
When I made application to join the Church of Scotland my communication was with the department known as the Ministries Council at 121, George Street in Edinburgh. It was made clear to me throughout all these negotiations leading up to my induction here, that there would be a requirement that I would have to fulfil of special courses and seminars that I would have to attend. The first of those at the end of August in St. Andrews was on the topic of Safeguarding Training of the Young under Pastoral Care. Two other lectures that I have to attend, are, one in September and October, both at 121, George Street in Edinburgh on the topic, Church Law Lectures. I guess we are never too old to learn !
Both Christine and I look forward to deepening our life with you all, as we enter into the season which for 30 years we have known as “The Fall ” For me personally, the Autumn has always been a season of reflection. An opportunity to look back and decide what changes spiritually and sometimes, physically and relationally we need to undertake to make us better Christians, better people . It has also been for me a season of tranquillity when we afresh allow the love of God and the peace of God to surround us like the fresh morning mists we see so often in this lovely season.
May you know every blessing the Lord desires to give
Pastor Roy
..... and of course.......Christine
Youth Church
The Youth Church new session began on our return to St John's on Sunday, 19th August, 2007. All children and young people are welcome to join in and participate in the Youth Church activities. The Youth Church is organized by age group as outlined below:
| CRECHE: 0-3 years |
| BUBBLES: 3-5 years |
| SPLASHZONE: 5-8 years |
| XSTREAM: 8-12 years |
| LINK 1: Secondary 1-3 |
| LINK 2: Secondary 4 and upwards |
The Crèche, Bubbles, Splashzone and Xstream all meet during the service from about 11:15 am until the end of the service, which usually ends a little after 12:00. Parents should bring their children along and complete a brief registration/consent form after the service. We look forward to seeing you then.
We have just about enough leaders to cover the groups, with the exception of LINK 1. Some new leaders have agreed to join us this session, but we still need some more! LINK 1 usually meets at 10:00 am before the service and the young people are encouraged to stay for the first part of the sermon. At present, we have no leaders for this group and I would appeal to anyone with an interest in the spiritual and moral development of young people and in having fun to come forward to assist the Youth Church. It may be possible to arrange another meeting time if this would suit the persons agreeing to lead the group. The more volunteers, including men, who would like to work in Youth Church, then the more flexibility there is to share the care of our young folk!
This is a time of change for Youth Church. Thank you to all the leaders, who are leaving. Your dedication and commitment has been superb. Thank you to all leaders, who are staying, and welcome to the new leaders. Let's hope we can work together to the benefit of the children and young people of St John's!
The Guild
The Guild starts on Wednesday 3rd October at 1:15 pm, with the Dedication service on Sunday 7 October at the 11:00 am service.
We have a varied and enjoyable syllabus, why not come along and join us?
Syllabus 2007
| October |
| 3 Time together |
| 10 Disability Resource Centre |
| 17 Rev R Cowieson |
| 24 Project Linus |
| 31 Touching the untouchable |
| November |
| 7 Kind Hearts |
| 14 State Hospital |
| 21 Bible Try and Buy |
| 28 Disbursement of Funds |
| December |
| 5 Pantomime - Outing |
| 12 Christmas Address |
See also the Parish Grouping report on the Guild's Annual meeting in Dundee later in this issue.
Young Women's Group
Hi everyone
We are looking forward to a new start. We didn't know if we would be able to continue as our numbers are so few so we are desperate for new blood . We meet on a Tuesday in small hall between 1:30 pm and 2:45 pm
We are very friendly people and everyone is welcome. We have various speakers and some weeks we just catch up with everyone's news.
Why not come along? If you have wee people bring them to as we have lovely aunties that would take care of them.
We start back on Tuesday 4 September and this will be a coffee and a blether so feel free to come along.
Church Register
Baptisms
The promise is to you and your childrenAug 10 Amanda Newton,
Wedding
What God has joined together, man must not separateAug 11 Ben Burrows to Gail Brown
Funerals
I am the Resurrection and the LifeJun 13 Ian McLean
Jul 5 Donald Mackay
Jul 28 Margaret McPhail
Aug 9 Alexander Linton
Clydesdale Child Minding Group
The group meets every Thursday morning at Kirkton Church Hall. It is a wonderful opportunity for the children to play together and for the child minders to share ideas, discuss any issues and chill out together. Child minding could be such a lonely profession without such groups! We have many resources available to us including SPELL who come in to run special 'play' sessions, South Lanarkshire Council, who last year brought along a bouncy castle and ball pit, various themed parties throughout the year and of course, our very own Santa comes to visit with a present for each child at Christmas! Once a year we hold a fundraiser. Last year we held a bazaar with games for the children, who did a sponsored walk to the market, where they released balloons to mark the occasion. This helps us to raise the profile of child minding and its importance.
As a group we have access to equipment and a fantastic toy library too. We are all very grateful to Kirkton Church for allowing us to meet and use their excellent facilities.
If you are interested in a career in Childminding or indeed, are looking for a child minder, please visit www.childcarelink.gov.uk for up to date information of all the child minders in this area.
Christian Aid News
Two years ago, we were thrilled to tell you that for the first time ever, we reached the £10,000 figure with our Christian Aid fundraising. Last year we were delighted to sustain that position and raise £10,500. This year we can't wait to tell you that all our expectations were surpassed when we topped the £11,000 mark, and sent to Christian Aid H.Q. the amazing sum of £11,200! This is a great testimony to the Churches in Carluke working together to improve the lives of thousands of people in poor countries. By the way, nearly £15million was raised nationally throughout the U.K.
So it's onwards and upwards as the Christian Aid committee, with your prayers and support, embark once more on another year of fundraising. The committee, with representatives from St Athanasius and U.R.C. comprise the following people:
| St Andrew's - Ann Alexander & Mary Barclay |
| St John's - Mary McGillivray, Iris Nelson & Sandra Peat |
| Kirkton - Lorraine Callan, Margo Callan, Keith Pollock and Rhona Scott |
So if you have any new and inspiring ideas for raising funds throughout the year, speak to your representative. We shall certainly be grocery packing again and thinking about taking part in Tea Time event for Christian Aid. Further details will be publicised in the United Churches' Bulletin.
Joint Churches Holiday Club 2007
This summer the Joint Churches Holiday Club at Crawforddyke Primary School enjoyed a week of fun, games, aerobics, crafts and learning about the story of Joseph. Four adults and 10 young people from Kirkton Church were part of the leading team. Here are some of the enthusiastic young people’s comments:
I have really enjoyed helping here at Pyramid Rock. I’ve enjoyed working with the children and meeting new friends.
I have enjoyed working and helping with the children, I would do it again.
I have enjoyed the time here at Pyramid Rock. I’ve enjoyed doing the different activities in the group with the children.
I have really enjoyed my week at Pyramid Rock. I enjoyed helping the children and taking part in all the different activities with them.’
I have enjoyed my week here very much. I liked working with the kids, talking to them and doing all the crafts with them. I also enjoyed the various activities and learning about Joseph and his story.
I have loved all the crafts we have been doing as it gave us time to get to know the kids. I have also enjoyed all the activities we have done together like dancing and singing.
I have enjoyed everything this week. It was a good experience that I wish to repeat. The activity I enjoyed most was the frieze because ours was the best!
I have enjoyed everything and have had a lot of fun. I am sure I’ll come back next
I enjoyed the week and meeting the children. The crafts were good and Roy and Captain Ketchup did great!
A BIG thank you to all who helped to make it such a successful, enjoyable week.
A Proper Religion...??
What are we - we Scottish Presbyterians, that is, along with all the other so-called non-denominational, self-professing Christians - to make of the new Pope’s recent pronouncement that "Roman Catholicism is the only proper religion"?
Proper? — Implying all others to be improper?
Why - if, that is, I quote the Pope with reasonable accuracy - are we not hearing choruses of rejection of his claims from the leaders of all the other Christian Churches which happen not to be Roman Catholic?
And what, come to think of it, are the implications of such claims for the ideals of Ecumenism?
Let us leave the Pope’s orthodoxy aside for a moment. Let us look instead at some of the existing - the long-prevailing - realities of the sectarian divides among Christians, irrespective of the present Pope. The inter-church limitations among Christians on the sharing in the celebration of what we Presbyterians call the Sacrament of Holy Communion are all the criterion we need.
As it happens, I have, recently, put this question of such Sectarian Divide to a minister of the United Reformed Church, (in the village where my daughter lives), with whom I have come to enjoy a pleasant acquaintance: what was his own experience over such difficulties, as between, say, his own Church and the Anglican Church of St. Andrew’s close by?
"None whatsoever" was the reply. As if in confirmation, at the following (Sunday) service, I noticed a few rather breathless arrivals taking their seats; they were out of puff from having had to run across from St. Andrew’s at the last minute following the completion of the peeling of the bells, for which they were part of the team of ringers! So, no division there.
My minister friend went on to deal with the specific question: how would the vicar regard a non-Anglican who sought to participate in the Eucharist? To that, his reply was that it would be a "hard" vicar who would debar any such aspirant, these days. Yet - and here he became serious — he himself had never known of such accommodation on the part of the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, his friend of a lifetime, from the time they had been students together at Oxford, was now a bishop of his Roman Catholic diocese and still his closest friend, but they had never even discussed let alone participated in the celebration of the supreme Sacrament, whether in Anglican or Roman Catholic Church.
(Nearer home, I myself enjoy and value a similar relationship and experience but would not wish to speak of it at length for fear of causing embarrassment.)
I suppose, if we were asked our reasons, it would come down to the fact that we each regard our own style of celebrating the Sacrament as being the only proper manner.
And we are not alone in our Sacramental Divide: we hear, anecdotally, of "Open Brethren" and "Closed Brethren", of "Wee Frees" as opposed to all such other "Frees" as exist; we know Baptists to be exclusive (I am not sure if that’s the right word) in their view and practice of baptism; likewise, Unitarians, Quakers and all others who follow their own denominational path - all have this one thing in common: their mutual exclusivenesses.
The rigour of that exclusiveness may not be uniform - I myself, certainly, would not dare to assess the degree of strictness. What I do know is that we Presbyterians are used to hearing our minister, as he leads us into the celebration of Communion, extend a welcome to all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to join us at the Sacramental Table.
I have lately learned of one other Church - there must be many such - that does offer this same welcome: The Coptic Church. (Copt, by the way, is simply the Greek for "Egypt".) Indeed, if memory serves, I have actually seen an order of service which read "The Coptic (? "parish of the") Church of Scotland!"
I have learned further: that the Copts were the earliest group of followers of Jesus and were visited, in the time of Nero, by Mark the earliest of the apostles; that the Greek Orthodox Church grew out of the Coptic Church - grew, indeed, to the point where it itself will have nothing to do with its "founding fathers", far less, as I understand it, share in the celebration of their KoinJnia.
My one comfort - my great source of reassurance - in all of this was a call I got just as I was going on holiday. It was from an old lady of 97 - and that, after I had thought I’d taken my last, sad, farewell of her, so frail and weak she had sounded over the phone, only a few days before. But this was the same old fluent, lucid voice I’d known so well. (She had thought "a failing heart was part- and-parcel of being 97 - until her daughter had had her taken into hospital, with this astonishing result!") Here, now, to my involuntary expressions of wonder and delight, was my same old one-time colleague, a Cambridge graduate in her day, the widow of a Methodist minister, who herself could fill any pulpit at the drop of a hat, who never failed to speak out with clarity and conviction about all the ineffabilities of Faith — here she was, and summing it all up for me "off the top of her head": she "had always thought of herself as, quite simply, following a Way of Life - a Way first mapped out by Jesus - the Way we Christians are all travelling in the name of Jesus, together."
TD
The Scottish Bible Society
Diary Date: 14th Nov at 7.30 sees the return of the Stonehouse Male Voice Choir performing in Kirkton Church on behalf of the Carluke Action Group of the SBS.
The Action Group would like to thank, once again, all who have worked so hard and participated so generously, in our fund raising activities of which the concert was the climax. But it was not just the music which was being talked about in the High St. the next day - yes really, - it was the welcome and the atmosphere. We hope that this year even more people will be able to come and share.
The bible lies at the heart of Christianity, and Scots, at one time, were known as "people of the book." But what are we now?
Word at Work, the SBS magazine throws out a challenge. Where is our hunger for the bible? Do we read it, study it, know where in its pages to find help in times of trouble?
The Scottish Bible Society wants to make a personal difference to you as well as explaining its world wide work.
Among the leaflets available from the SBS is a Bible resource catalogue detailing all kinds of bibles and study books for children and adults. One of the many topics discussed is "a defence of the bible in answers to commonly asked questions."
Information also comes in DVD and CD-ROM format and there is even an i-pocket bible for an iPod!
Among the leaflets are "Where to look in the Bible" to find messages to meet our needs as we face the challenges, problems and joys of life.
Worldwide, churches are appealing for bibles in their own languages, and the United Bible Societies are involved in some 550 translation projects.
In Egypt a Christian lady gave up reading the high brow Arabic Bible she could not understand, praying that God would not be angry with her for this. Four months later her son received a Children's Bible from the local Bible Society's schools project. This they could share.
In India, the closure of the Kolar Gold Fields brought poverty to a population the size of Aberdeen. There was no money for the bibles which were the hearts desire of the church congregation - until the Bible Society responded to the Pastor's appeal.
In Mexico City, Antonio is one of 130,000 street children. He is one of the lucky ones cared for in a Christian orphanage where the Bible society provides scripture based educational material. He says he feels loved, his life is so different from outside, he learns about God.
But what of Scotland?
In Edinburgh the Bibleworld Experience (Using computers and hand on activities) has brought the Easter story to Princes St Gardens, put on special Fringe events, and is preparing Christmas events for groups of all ages.
Bibleworld SBS Studios is a mobile trailer designed with all the best of today's technology to explain the old, old story to any church, school, or group who issue an invitation from any part of Scotland.
We have the eternal Good News. Let that knowledge change our lives.
The SBS can be found at 7 Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh, EHI2 5XU Tel. 0131 3379701, or visit www.scottishbiblesociety.org
The Guild Annual Meeting, Dundee 2007
These words welcomed over 2000 Guild members both women and men to the Caird Hall Dundee, the venue for the annual meeting of the Church of Scotland Guild on Saturday 25th August. Members from across the country converged on Dundee for a day of Fellowship and the launch of the movement's new theme: Think on These Things, under the strategy, Let's Live: body, mind and soul. A small band of members from Carluke and surrounding towns and villages left early for the meeting and as we approached Perth on route for Dundee the sun came out and highlighted the beauty of the countryside.
Chaired by National Convener, Ann Bowie from Moray, the day was a moving testimony to the work of the Guild. Current Moderator, the Rt Rev Sheilagh Kesting spoke of her belief that we should not be afraid to use our intellect and ask spiritual questions. The Moderator was followed by keynote speaker, Janey Lee Grace, noted Christian writer and broadcaster, who spoke of the environmental concerns of Christians. We heard of 'Soapods' the eco-friendly way to wash your clothes.
It was a true delight to be led in praise by Stuart Muir, Dundee City organist and also joyful and moving to join in praise with over 2000 voices. Emerging from the Caird Hall at lunchtime we joined many of the members to enjoy packed lunches in the square and again in warm sunshine!
During the afternoon session we were treated to a feast of interesting and varied topics: Alison Twaddle, General Secretary of the Guild reported on her trip to India, Ann Bowie and Janet Whyte recounted their trip to Malawi. Fiona Punton, Information Officer asked to be advised of the special events being organised for Guild Week, 18-25 November. She recounted some of the special events Guilds have arranged in past years, coffee afternoons, themed lunches, outings etc. To celebrate the start of Guild Week here in Carluke, Esme Duncan, National Vice Convener will speak at St Andrew's Church service on Sunday morning 18th November at 11:OO am.
Closing Worship was led by Esme and as we sang the hymn '0 for a thousand tongues to sing' we reflected on the day, the speakers, the hymns, the friends we met, our journey home and the forthcoming year of our Guild.
