ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

OUTLOOK – FEBRUARY 2002

Minister:                                                                                    Session Clerk:

Rev Ian G. Wotherspoon                                                            Mr Alex McKee

77 Eglinton Street                                                               34 Woodlands Drive

Coatbridge                                                                                     Coatbridge

Tel: 437271                                                                                    Tel: 421191

St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385

 

Dear Friends

In a very full edition, I have only a few lines for my letter.  Thank you for responding to things recently.  You responded to the appeal for Afghanistan.  Eight of you responded to the call to be elders.  Two examples of a constant willingness to respond, not to just to the needs of your church and the needs of the wider world but deeper than that a willingness to respond to the Gospel and to our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the year 2002 I have no doubt there will be challenges we will all have to face, but your support will see us through.

The Annual Stated Meeting will be on the 17th March after the morning service with a new format which will be shorter than in the past.  This is the day when we see the result of your response and set out what your response must be in the year ahead if we are to balance our books!  To help balance the books there will be a silent auction in April – so start looking out the treasures you no longer need!

With thanks and good wishes,

Yours sincerely

Ian G. Wotherspoon

 

PARISH REGISTER

 

BAPTISM

24.  12.  01            Mary Hamilton, 21 Swinton Crescent, Coatbridge

 

ORDINATION OF ELDERS

27.  1.  02            John Armour, 30 Redbridge Court, Coatbridge

                        Tom Ferguson, 29 Kelso Quadrant, Coatbridge

                        Sheena Finnigan, 2 Chassels Street, Coatbridge                       

Ann Garry, 13 Chisholm Street, Coatbridge

                        Fiona Marwick, 9 Dunbeth Avenue, Coatbridge

                        Joyce McClelland, 79 Blair Road, Coatbridge

                        Marion Stone, 94 Alexander Street, Coatbridge

                        Anna Tweedie, 80D Sunnyside Road, Coatbridge

 

FUNERALS

28.  11.  01            Mr Richard Beaton, Deanston House, Lefroy Street, Coatbridge

11.  12.  01            Mrs Agnes Murray, 7 Blackness Street, Coatbridge

12.  12.  01            Mrs Catherine Aitken, late of Orlington Court, Coatbridge

15.  12.  01            Mr Thomas Reid, 45D Alexander Street, Coatbridge

27.  12.  01            Mr James Murphy, 65 Lloyd Street, Coatbridge

28.  12.  01            Mr Robert MacDonald, 64 Deveron Street

31.  12.  01            Mr Robert Angus, 53 Dunbeth Road, Coatbridge

5.  1.  02            Mr George McIntosh, 11 Crichton Street, Coatbridge

5.  1.  02            Mr John Watson, Chestnut Nursing Home, Birmingham

18. 1.  02            Mr Norman Anderson, 9B Blairhill Street, Coatbridge

 

THOMAS REID

Tommy Reid, one of our senior elders, died peacefully at the age of 88 in the Monklands Hospital on Saturday the 15th December 2001 after a long illness which he bore  with courage and quiet faith..

Tommy was a Gartsherrie man and when Gartsherrie closed he was lucky to obtain employment with Reid the Box Maker.

Tommy had many interests in life.  He was a keen bowler and enjoyed the fellowship and challenge of the Bowling Green.  He was a gardener and took great pride in his garden which was greatly admired.  He was a Free Mason and enjoyed the fellowship of the Lodge, but it was the Eastern Star which gave him a great avenue for service.  He was Worthy Patron and a well known speaker in many parts of the country, a speaker who was known for his ability not only to speak but to lead the company in prayer.  He was also known as one who was willing to pass on his knowledge and experience and to encourage others.

Today we remember Tommy as an elder, ordained in Maxwell Church in 1973, he served the congregation and session faithfully and well, not only as an elder but as Church Officer.

At the time of the union Tommy ceased active duty as an elder but was still devoted to St Andrew’s Church and until the last few weeks before his death he was usually first to take his seat on a Sunday morning.

Just a few days before he died, the least effort made him extremely breathless but Tommy was still full of interest in the world around him and the fortunes of his church.  Not grumbling about illness but calm in the knowledge that life’s pilgrimage was drawing to a close.  The peace and sure hope of Christ gave him the strength of faith which was with him to the end.

We give thanks for a life of faith and for a life of service to Christ and his church. 

 

COLLECTIONS

                                                     WFO                                    Open Plate     Total

December 2001 5 wks                        £6,216.23                   £348.82            £6,565.05

January 2002                                    £4,734.90                   £169.25            £4,904.15

 

The sum raised for Christian Aid in Afghanistan at the Christmas Eve service, together with donations received before and after Christmas amounted to £905.20.  We thank the congregation and friends for their unfailing generosity.  A letter of thanks has also been received from Christian Aid.

 

SUNDAY TEAS

A cup of tea or coffee, some goodies and a chat with friends is a lovely way to complete a church service, so why not come along to the Church Hall after the service each Sunday.  This year a donation of £900 has been given to the Church, due to the hard work of the volunteers and the support of the congregation.  Many thanks to you all. Jean Macdonald

 

CHURCH FLOWERS

The new Flower Card for 2002 is in the hall for anyone who wishes to enter their name for any special Sunday.  There are many spare Sundays available if you wish to add your name to the list.  If you prefer you can hand a donation to myself, Etta Alexander, or the minister.  There is also a flower box at the Church door.

I would also like to thank all the ladies who arrange the flowers each week in the Church and also those who deliver them to the sick and housebound.

If you know of anyone who is ill or in need of flowers please let the minister know.

Thank you all.  Jean Reid

 

BOY'S BRIGADE

The Anchor boy session has consisted of games, crafts, stories, 2 church parades and a visit to the adventure zone.  The officers and boys continue to work hard and are now preparing a recruitment poster.  There is still room for boys between the ages of 5yrs, and the end of P.4.  We meet on Wednesday’s from 6 p.m. till 7.30 p.m.

The Junior section have continued where they left off last session entering all the competitions and doing very well, including 3rd place in the P.A.  They have also taken part in Top Team Quiz, swimming, & 5 asides losing out on a semi-final place on goal difference.  The boys are now working towards bible knowledge & figure marching competitions and with continued work for badges a busy time lies ahead for the boys and the staff.  More boys aged for P5 -P7 will be made welcome on Wednesdays from 6-30 p.m. till 8 p.m.

Both the above sections went to the pantomime at Coatbridge college at Christmas although this followed a very disappointing turn out at the battalion carol service .

The company section have had a busy start to the session with participation in top team quiz 6th place, squad drill 8th place.  At the swimming gala all the boys swam very well with many boys, including our relay team, reaching finals but our only medal went to Jonathon Mathieson who won bronze in breast stroke.

The highlight of the session so far was the battalion cross country where our boys won the junior team trophy when the first 3 boys to finish were 2nd place Callum Davidson, 6th  place Jordan Fairbairn, 10th  place Lyle Scougall.

Thinking we had done well the intermediate team then equalled the achievement with 3rd place Kris Moore, 7th  place Scott Hannah, 22nd place Martin Frew.

This meant overall victory in the x- country, the first trophy our Company Section has won.

At Christmas we paid a visit to the 10 pin bowling and we are now working towards the P.T. and scripture knowledge competitions along with 11 aside football.

Our parents’ night is on Friday April 19th at 7p.m.  further details to follow.

Our parents committee is holding another dance on Friday 29th March tickets available shortly.  Jim Elliot, Captain

 

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

After an enjoyable Christmas break, the social nights will continue on the first Saturdays of the month until April.  The first one was held on 2nd February and the next will be on 2nd March.  Whist starts at 7.15p.m.  and Beetle at 7.45p.m.  All our usual members and any new ones will be made most welcome.  Admission is £1 payable on the night.

 

INDOOR BOWLING

The return match against the Bellshill Churches is on Saturday 9th February at 10a.m.  when we hope to play as well as last time when we won by a record number of shots.  We have the cup but no doubt they will be hoping to take it from us this time ..... but not if we can help it!

Our own afternoon game is arranged for Saturday 13th April at 4.p.m. and slips will be given out as usual.  J Ferguson, Convenor

 

OVERSEAS LINK

Our mission partners wrote in December 2001, explaining that it was the time of year when the great heat of the Cairo summer has left the city, making the desert climate very pleasant and comfortable.  It is also the time of year when many people, dependent upon tourism in the region, hope to earn a living.  This year, however, there are no visitors and airports and hotels lie empty.  War headlines have crippled business throughout the Middle East and western institutions have been less ready to view with sympathy the plight of the poor in the Arab world.  The Coptic Evangelical Organisation faces a tough battle to fund programmes for the poor whom it is dedicated to serve.

December is also the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when a radical change in the tempo of Cairo is noticeable.  A drummer walks the streets calling the faithful to eat at 3a.m. before prayers.  In the early afternoon, the frenzy of the traffic lessens and a quiet attends the evening.

Members of Michael and Margaret's own family visited them in October and they could scarcely believe how much the grandchildren had grown since their last meeting.

In Cairo, our mission partners find the work of the Church a jolly and creative activity among lively, laughing people and would urge others to contact World Mission and consider sharing the experience.  Irene Milligan

 

MARCH EDITION OF OUTLOOK

All material for the March edition of Outlook should be placed in the box marked "Outlook" on the table at the front door of the Church on or before 24 February.