Interim Moderator: Session Clerk:
Rev Bill McKaig Mr Alex McKee
53e Blairhill Street
Coatbridge
Tel: 421191
St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385
www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org
February 2005
Dear Friends at St Andrew’s,
My mind was exercised
by an ad on TV last week for a breakfast cereal. Do you remember
‘Shreddies’? Wee latticed squares of
wheat – and that was it. Then, not too
long ago, came ‘Frosted Shreddies’ – wee latticed squares of wheat coated in
sugar.
Well there it was last
week – the ad. ‘Frosted Shreddies’ -
now with less sugar!!!
And while I’m in this
mode – what’s happening at ‘KitKat’?
Remember when it was a 2 or 4 fingered wafer biscuit covered in milk chocolate? Not any more --! Chunky, orange flavoured, dark chocolate, mint flavoured, special
edition, white chocolate – when is this list going to stop?!
‘and where is this
article going?’, you may ask.
Well, it seems to me
that the good folks at ‘Shreddies’ and ‘KitKat’ have lost sight of the one fact
that made them the companies they’d become – namely that their core product was
good, and that people wanted it. All
attempts at ‘jazzing them up’ only diverted from the central theme.
Ian Wotherspoon, Hugh
Wyllie, Anne Cleminson and Bill McKaig (like dark chocolate, extra sugar,
different flavours and so on) all have different ways of preaching and
communicating the central core message that is that
‘GOD LOVES US AND THROUGH JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH
AND RESURRECTION, HAS SHOWN US THAT HE WANTS US TO LIVE IN LOVE WITH HIM’.
It’s as simple as that
– however we coat it, disguise it, add to or detract from it, GOD LOVES YOU AND
ME!
As we enter this
Season of Lent nothing changes in what is central – long may we know and
celebrate that,
Yours in Christ’s
service,
Bill McKaig, Interim
Moderator
PARISH REGISTER
FUNERALS
Jesus said, “I am the
Resurrection and the Life …..”
14th
December 2004 Agnes Black, Arran
House, Airdrie
15th
December 2004 Archie Kennedy, 67 Burleigh
Street
16th
December 2004 Rachel Mossom, 54 West
George Street
13th January 2005 Isa McDougall, Rawyards House, Airdrie
27th
January 2005 Annie Parker, West George Street
COLLECTIONS F.W.O. Open
Plate Total
December £4,677.30 £225.55 £4,902.85
January 05 £6,016.30 £159.09 £6,175.39
The Christmas Eve
collection for Christian Aid raised the sum of £445, while the retiring
collection for the Poppy Appeal raised £331, but by far the most impressive sum
was raised for the Asian disaster appeal – an amazing £2,161. Our congregation have, as usual, given very
generously to all. Thank you very much.
The Christmas Eve
monies will go to help the youth and young people of Lima, the capital of
Peru. The Asian disaster fund will be
used in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia – the areas most badly affected by the
tsunami and earthquake. Christian Aid
will work in the region long term – working with partner organisations to
rebuild for the future.
Copies of the
Christian Aid letters are posted on the notice board in the Hall.
STATED ANNUAL
MEETING
The Stated Annual
Meeting will be held immediately after the morning service on Sunday 13th
March 2005. It is hoped that many
members of the congregation will stay for this meeting.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our annual Coffee
Morning on the 5th February was as usual very well attended and a
lovely friendly time was had by all.
The sum raised will be in next month’s Outlook.
George and the
teachers were very proud when the Bible Class decided to donate the cost of
their Christmas Pantomime outing to the Church collection for the tsunami
appeal. Well done to our young people.
The Sunday School trip
is going to Leven this year on Saturday 11th June. Any of the congregation or friends wishing to go please give your name to Joyce
McClelland who will be operating a savings bank if required.
The anchor boys are back after a nice Christmas
break and are as keen as ever. One of the Anchor boy leaders has taken a break
due to pregnancy. So we would like to wish Janice Scougall and her husband Alan
best of luck on their approaching happy event.
The Junior section are practicing at the moment
for the bible knowledge competition and the marching competition. On
the 7th of January the junior section took part in the swimming gala where
all boys swam well although we didn't win. Thanks to all boys who swam. We
would like to send the junior section’s best wishes to Jim Moore one of our
officers who has had a spell in hospital recently but appears to be on the
mend. The juniors took part in the 5 asides winning one game and losing two.
The Company section have just entered the
scripture knowledge, doing really well especially when one boy had to pull
out due to injury. They are also preparing for the P.T.competition. The company
section also entered the swimming gala with A.Bruin, J.Scougall, J.Mathieson
and the relay team all reaching the final, well done boys and thanks to all who
swam. They also took part in the x-country with the intermediate team of
A.Bruin,J.Mathieson and L.Scougall gaining a bronze medal. Thanks to all boys
who ran.
As you can see we are two officers down at the
moment and anyone who could help us out on a Wednesday night would be much
appreciated.
Finally, we are having a Ceilidh with the Guides
and Girls Brigade in Airdrie Town Hall on Saturday 19th February. Anyone who would like a ticket contact any
of the organisations.
GUIDES
Our Guide Guider, Alexis Crichton, recently won
the prestigious Community Champion award at a ceremony organised by Supercounty
in the Bellshill Hilton Hotel.
For the past 31 years
Alexis has spent the majority of her spare time in the guiding movement. Apart from our own 6th Coatbridge
Guides, she has been Divisional Commissioner, District Commissioner and is
currently Chairperson to Guiding Development for North Lanarkshire.
The script of the presentation ceremony is
posted on the notice board in the Hall.
We tend to take our organisation leaders for
granted, this script will perhaps make
us appreciate how much time and effort all our leaders expend.
SUNDAY TEAS
The ladies will host a soup, crusty bread, biscuit, tea or coffee
for £1 on Sunday 6th March at 12noon. Tickets are now on sale from the Team Leaders. The money raised will be for our Church
funds. All welcome. Jean MacDonald
SILENT AUCTION
The date for the Silent Auction has been set for Saturday 7th
May, just in time for looking out articles during the spring cleaning. If you think it will sell, almost anything
is acceptable except clothing.
The next meeting of anyone interested in helping at the auction is
on Tuesday 22nd February at 7p.m. in the Hall.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
A Whist and Beetle drive was held on Saturday 5th
February but as it is not possible to continue these social evenings, the
Social Committee has reluctantly decided to discontinue them forthwith. There will be no more Whist/Beetle Drives in
the immediate future, and the Committee would like to thank all those who have
supported our efforts over a good number of years. It is just a case of “Time marching on!”
INDOOR BOWLING
The return match against the Bellshill Churches is arranged for
Saturday 19th February at 10a.m. and slips will be given out as
usual. We had a good victory last time
and we would like to retain the cup …. So best foot forward. J Ferguson, Social Convener
MARCH EDITION OF OUTLOOK
All items for the
March issue should be placed in the box at the Church door or handed in before
Sunday 27 February 2005.