FEBRUARY 2004                                                                                                     Page 1.

 

ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

 

OUTLOOK – FEBRUARY 2004

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

www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org

Dear Friends,

There is very little space for me to write this month so very simply let me wish you all the best, at this late date, for 2004.

I am looking forward to our Burns Supper on 7th February.  It is a few years since we had one but I am sure this one will live up to expectations – all the entertainment being provided ‘in house’.

Social gatherings of one kind or another are important for the church.  We call ourselves the family of Christ and any opportunity we have to gather together emphasizes the closeness of that family and compliments both our worship and service.

I am delighted to say that we have a new Hall Keeper, she is Mrs Georgie Gillespie and I am sure we all thank her for taking on this task and wish her well in this demanding job.  I will thank Barbara Goldie for her ten and more years of service at the Annual Congregational Meeting in March, but in the meantime let me say a very sincere ‘thank you’ to Barbara for all she has done in caring for our halls since the union.

Yours sincerely,

 

Ian G. Wotherspoon

 

PARISH REGISTER

BAPTISMS

14.  12.  03      Lewis Baillie Coburn, (D of B 22. 9. 03) 3 Banff Avenue, Airdrie

28.  12.  03      Oliver Raymond McLure Minnis (D of B 23. 3. 03) 3 Fairhaven Avenue, Airdrie

 

FUNERALS

10.  12.  03      Mr Ian Anderson, 45 McKenna Drive, Airdrie

22.  12.  03      Baby Colin Arbuckle, 54 Viewfield, Airdrie

24.  12.  03      Mr James Reid, 6 Cairnhill Crescent, Coatbridge

27.  12.  03      Mr Thomas Skedd, 5 Ryefield Avenue, Coatbridge

30.  12.  03      Mrs Mary Horn, 76 Thomson Drive, Airdrie

18.  01.  04      Mr David Watson, 86A Corsewall Street, Coatbridge

18.  01.  04      Mr William Fulton, 6 St Denis Way, Coatbridge

19.  01.  04      Mrs Margaret Crichton, Wester Moffat (late of Lavelle Drive, Coatbridge)

23.  01.  04      Mrs Sarah Barrie, Lochview (late of Laurel Bank, Coatbridge)

 

COLLECTIONS        FWO               Open Plate                  Total

December 2003           £5,559.20        £324.18                       £5,883.38

January 2004 3 wks     £4,174.30        £107.60                       £4,281.90

 

 

FEBRUARY 2004                                                                                                     Page 2.

 

The collection at Harvest Thanksgiving raised £200 for Helping Hands, a local group who provide a soup kitchen for the homeless and £382.65 for Christian Aid’s work in Liberia.

Our retiring collection at the December communion raised £301.15 for work with Aids victims in Africa, and The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland received £544 from our collection at the Christmas Eve service.  Part of their letter of thanks is printed below.

Many thanks to all the congregation for their continued generosity.

Part of the letter received from CHAS.  Debbie Traynor, West of Scotland Fundraiser thanks the congregation for their support and writes” 2004 will be a challenging and exciting time for everybody involved with CHAS.  Construction of Robin House, Scotland’s second children’s hospice is well underway and we are looking forward with great enthusiasm to opening the doors to families in late autumn.

Our teenagers who use Rachel House are particularly excited as Robin House will have a special area where they can have more space to themselves.

Robin House will allow CHAS to continue to provide support to families with a child or children with a life-limiting condition.” 

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday School are holding a Coffee Morning in the Church Hall on Saturday 7 February from 10am to 12 noon.  Tickets price £1.50 for adults and 50p for children are available from any teacher.  I hope you will come along and enjoy the fellowship and fun we always have at this event.

George McCall

6TH COATBRIDGE GIRLS’ BRIGADE

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

We ended our session with the explorers taking part in a nativity competition called “on the road to Bethlehem” unfortunately we did not win but as we thought the girls did extremely well we decided to perform this in front of the parents of  the explorers and also Mr. & Mrs. Wotherspoon.   The girls all did very well and my thanks go to Mrs. Janette McGill (Headteacher, Victoria Primary) for all her help.

We also went to Ebenezer Church, Broomknoll St, Airdrie to see the panto “Cinders”.   This was a brilliant evening which gives us thought for Christmas 2004.

Unfortunately we are not able to enter competitions from January to April 2004 due to lack of help  -  so if there are any talented people out there who would like to help us it would be appreciated.  

We will keep you posted with events within girls’ brigade.

Many thanks.

Irene Krebs (Captain)

BOYS’ BRIGADE, GIRLS’ BRIGADE & GIRL GUIDES

The above three Uniformed Organisations are holding a Ceilidh on Friday 6th March 2004 in the Sir John Wilson Town Hall, Airdrie, from 7.30 p.m. till 12.30 a.m.  Tickets are priced £6.00 per person and are available from any leader of any of the organisations and will be sold on a ‘first come first served’ bases.

Wearing tartan is optional and you are asked to bring your own refreshments.  Any donations for our raffle would be greatly appreciated.

A good night is promised!

Contacts Jim 605470, Irene 435611 & Alexis 755222

THE BOYS BRIGADE

The anchor boys had a party at Christmas which included a visit from Santa.  Along with the  junior section they attended the pantomime at Coatbridge college and a good night was had by all.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2004                                                                                              Page 3.

 

The junior swimming team took part in the gala and the boys are now preparing for their bible knowledge competition and figure marching . The football season will start with the 5 aside tournament, followed by the resumption of the league which will see the introduction of our new strips sponsored by Spec-Savers.

The company section took part in the battalion x-country on a cold wet and miserable morning.  Our team did us proud with William Rodger finishing 4th in the senior event and Jonathon Mathieson winning the intermediate race . Both these young men have been selected to run in the national races in March. The boys have also taken part in the swimming gala and the scripture knowledge and are now preparing for the P.T. and badminton competitions.  The boys opted to go to the snooker for their outing at Christmas and enjoyed watching the officers beat them.

Our 5 older boys recently completed a weekend at Carronvale where they were involved in a leadership course which is part of their Queens badge.

We also have 4 people preparing to go on youth leader training which will increase our number of staff.  Jim Elliot, Captain

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The social evenings resumed again on 31st January when we welcomed back our friends after an enjoyable Xmas break.  The next one will take place on first Saturday of March and again in April – whist at 7.15p.m. and Beetle at 7.45 p.m.  All would be made most welcome.

INDOOR BOWLING

The return match against the team from the Bellshill churches is on Saturday 14th February at 10 a.m. with a Bowlers Lunch as usual.  Now then, bowlers, we were narrowly beaten last time … this time we must try and bring the cup back to St Andrews but the main thing is the friendly and sportsmanlike manner in which these matches are played.  Slips will be given out as usual.

Our own afternoon church game is on Saturday 17th April at 4p.m. – so make a note in your diary and slips will be given out later.  J Ferguson, Convener