ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

 

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

OUTLOOK – MARCH 2004

Dear Friends,

 

On Sunday 21st March we are holding the Annual Stated Meeting or A.G.M. of the congregation in church after the morning service.  It is a meeting we are bound to hold by the law of the Church of Scotland and so we sometimes thing of it as a ‘bit of a bind’.  However it should be seen as an important opportunity to hear how the congregation is getting on – how well we are managing our books and how well our office-bearers are taking care of things.

In the past few years we have tried our best to keep the meeting reasonably short and to make it as interesting as possible and this has worked very well and we will stick to this formula this year.

I hope that many of you will come to the service and wait on afterwards to hear the story of what your church has been doing and what it is planning  in the days ahead.  I will also be taking this opportunity to thank Barbara and David Goldie for all their service to the congregation since the union.

On 22nd February we celebrated Guide Thinking Day and as usual there was a large turn out, not only of Guides but of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades too.  I must compliment our young people and their leaders not just for the attendance, but for their exemplary behaviour throughout the service.  They were attentive and when required you could hear a pin drop – well done!

MARCH 2004                                                                                                                       Page 4.

 

On Thinking Day two long service badges were presented,  one for twenty years service to Leslie Harrison and another for thirty years service to Alexis Crichton.  They are small badges but that in no way detracts from their value as a sign of the loyal and devoted service they stand for.  In turn wethank both Leslie and Alexis for their long years of dedication and service and congratulate them both.

This serves as a valuable reminder of the quality of service which all our leaders give week in week out.  Without their willingness to give of their time and abilities in the service, not just of the organisations but of the congregation we would not have such thriving organisations catering for a very large number of young people.  It is worth noting that for many of the members of our youth organisations they see St Andrew’s as their church and we must rejoice in that.

 

With best wishes

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Ian G. Wotherspoon

 

CONGREGATIONAL ANNUAL STATED MEETING

This meeting will be held after the morning service on Sunday 21st March.  The Accounts will be available on the preceding two Sundays.

 

PARISH REGISTER

BAPTISMS

15.  02.  04      Heather Carol MacDougall (D of B 6.  12.  03) 72 Cherrybank Walk, Airdrie

22.  02.  04      Douglas Gordon Mackay, (Dof B 30. 10. 03) 5 Elmwood Gardens, Lenzie

 

FUNERALS

4.   02.  04       Mr John McManus, 43 Portree Avenue, Coatbridge

21. 02.  04       Mrs Norah Laughlin, 279b Bank Street, Coatbridge

27. 02.  04       Mr Samuel McCammont, Highgate Care Home, Uddingston

 

COLLECTIONS       FWO               Open Plate                 Total

1 wk January 2004       £877.10           £36.60                         £913.70

5 wks February 2004   £6042.62         £301.65                       £6344.27

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday School trip is going to Perth on Saturday 5th June.  Anyone (you don’t need to be connected to the Sunday School), wishing to go, should give their name to Joyce McClelland or any Sunday School Teacher.  The price of the tickets is £10 for adults, Sunday School children go free and non Sunday School children pay £4.  Joyce is running a bank for anyone wishing to save for this event. 

 

BOYS BRIGADE

The Anchor boys are at the moment preparing for parents night and have been involved in making their own family tree.

The Junior Section has taken part in the bible knowledge competition when they came 5th. The football league has restarted with 1 win 1 defeat so far.

 

MARCH/APRIL 2004                                                                                             Page 5.

 

The company section took part in the P.T. competition and started their badminton competition. We recently had four people attend youth leader training so congratulations to Jim Findlay, Janice Wilson, Pamela Mcmillan and Lisa Elliot who can now be put forward to be officers.

William Rodgers and Jonathon Mathieson continue to train for the National x-country races at Drumpellier Parks on 20 March. Good Luck to these young men. 

Jim Elliot, Captain

FUNDRAISING

The Burns Supper which was held in the Hall on Saturday 7 February was a very successful evening.  The generosity of the congregation and friends of the congregation, who gave donations of goods, money and time, was very much appreciated.  The artists were all very well received by the audience and all had a lovely night.  The sum raised was £381. 

 

THE GUILD

The Closing Social of the Guild is on Wednesday 17th March at 7.45 p.m.  The evening will take place in the Large Hall.  We will be entertained by some members of the Monklands Light Opera.

This should be an enjoyable evening to which everyone is welcome.  Tickets cost £1-50 and can be obtained form any member of the committee.  This social evening will close what has been a very enjoyable session.

Rosemary Wotherspoon

ST ANDREW’S HOSPICE

The Hospice is holding its spring Fayre on 24th April.  Once again we are taking part in the Tombola Stall.  Donations for this will be greatly appreciated.  A box will be placed in the Hall for donations. With thanks for your support Elizabeth Russell Tel: 754763

 

CHRISTIAN AID SCOTLAND

Losing Ground – a one day conference looking at some of the issues affecting people living in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Saturday 13th March 10.30 – 4.00 p.m. Queen’s Park Baptist Church, 20 Balvicar Drive , Glasgow

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The social evenings continued on Saturday 6th March, and the next one will be on Saturday 3rd April – whist at the usual time of 7.15p.m. and Beetle at 7.45p.m.  Everyone will be made most welcome.

INDOOR BOWLING

The match against the Bellshill Churches was very enjoyable, but sad to say we lost by just three shots.  The game had very close scoring all through, with the result in doubt right up to the last bowl, and it took a “lucky wick” from the opposition to settle the result in their favour.  However these friendly games are very popular and we hope to resume them next season.

As already intimated, our own church afternoon game is on Saturday 17 April at 4p.m. and slips will be given out as usual. Mrs J Ferguson, Convener.