ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

OUTLOOK  MAY 2007

 

Minister:                                                                            Session Clerk

Rev Fiona M Nicolson                                                      Mr Alex McKee

77 Eglinton Street                                                              53e Blairhill Street

Coatbridge                                                                         Coatbridge

Tel: 437271                                                                       Tel: 421191

 

St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385

www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org

    May 2007

Dear Friends

I hope you all had a good Easter. We certainly had a good Easter at the Church. The services all went well – the breakfast was a success and there was a real and positive sense of fellowship. That is exactly how Easter should be – for it is a time of celebration and thanksgiving. A time to come together and to enjoy ourselves. So thanks to everyone who made this Easter so very special Thank you too for all the lovely cards I received – I did so appreciate them.

Now we are rapidly approaching Pentecost – a time when the followers were energised and given the power to get out there and to spread good news. A time to bring people in and to share with them the joy and the expectation which we ourselves know. Pentecost reminds us of the fact that God can enable us to do all manner of things for Him. So I hope that as we go through this special season together, we too will know God’s power, and be encouraged to do fantastic things for Him and His Church. Cos that’s what it’s all about surely. It’s about being the Church – showing God’s love and encouraging others in their faith. We need to be positive and focussed and look forward with real expectation.

I hope that together we can all make new and exciting discoveries about our amazing God in the future which lies ahead of us – and that together we can build up the Church and make it a source of comfort, help and strength to our community

I look forward to the task which lies ahead and to us doing it together!!!

May you know God’s enabling power and strength in your own lives as you live them out day by day.

 

With love and prayers as always

Fiona N 

 

PS By the way – as a general rule I tend to ignore rumour and gossip – but I need to address one that is going around at the moment. It is being said that I am leaving Coatbridge. Please be assured that this is NOT true and that I am here to stay!!!! FN  xxx

 

CHURCH REGISTER

Baptisms

29th April               Kyle Sedgeworth

 

Funerals

17th April                May Hepburn     44 Dunbeth Ave

26th April                Tommy Smith     13 Dunbeth Ave

                            Helen Thomson   49a Alexander Street

1st May                    Ellen Sutherland   64 Kelso Quadrant

 

As the Minister mentions in her letter, the Easter Services were very well received by our congregation and members of other churches alike.  Fiona worked very hard to provide different, thought provoking material which was appreciated by everyone who attended.  An offering was taken at the Maundy Thursday communion service and £135 was sent to St Andrew’s Hospice.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday School trip is going to Largs on Saturday 2nd June, leaving the Church at 10.a.m.  Members of the Congregation are very welcome to come along.  If you wish to go, please give your name to Joyce McClelland or any Sunday School teacher as soon as possible.

George McCall

 

6th Coatbridge Girls' Brigade

The Girls' Brigade will unfortunately not be having a display this session but will hold prize giving on Sunday 6th May in St. Andrew's Church during the morning service.   The session will end with a day trip to Palacerigg Country Park on Saturday 19th May.  The bus will leave from the Church at 10.00 a.m. on 19th May.

 

Marion, Linzi and I would like to thank Jane Armour and her friends for organising a very successfull prize bingo night.   Jane donated the sum of £803 to the Girls Brigade.   Our thanks to everyone who helped with the preparation and who helped on the night.

 

 

The new session will start the first Tuesday in September and we look forward to seeing all the girls again and any new girls.     Next session we will have Linzi and Jenni as Young Leaders, this will help Marion and I but the Company still needs at least another 4 people to help on a weekly basis to allow us to continue with the growing number of girls that we have.    Kindly contact me if you are able to become involved

(tel. 01236 435611). Enjoy the summer break.  Irene Krebs (Captain)

 

BOYS’ BRIGADE

The Boys Brigade recently held our annual parents night - here are the major awards

Captains Medal Reiss MacEwan

Junior section Best recruit Blair McWhinnie

Junior Section Best Boy Daniel Glendinning

Company Section Best Recruit Stewart Gillespie

Company Section Best Boy William Armour

Congratulations to the boys in all three sections for another successful session in the life of our Company.

We would like to thank our Inspecting officer Tom Gillespie and wife Georgia for coming along and for their help and support throughout the session. We would also like to thank the minister for her continued support and Mrs Cunningham for coming along to play the piano for us. A big thank you to the Tea Ladies for their hard work.

 

The Anchor boy fun day is on 12th May in St Patrick's primary and this will complete their session.

 

The Junior section recently lost in the semi final of the summer football cup to the eventual winners. They still have the sports and the 7asides to complete their session.

 

Congratulations to Jonathon Mathieson who has just completed his Queens Badge. A fantastic achievement and all his own work so well done Jocky.

 

Finally a big thanks to all who have supported the Company in any way this session it is much appreciated. A special word of thanks to all the officers in the Company for their work and dedication throughout the session.

We are already looking forward to next session which will see us hosting the Battalion Officers communion service and will also see us celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Boys Brigade. Jim Elliot Captain

 

CHURCH FUNDRAISING

Our Easter Breakfast before the Service on Easter Sunday was a lovely event, when over 50 of the congregation sat down together and enjoyed breakfast provided by the Senior Guides and Guiders.

As a bonus £87 was raised for Church Funds.

 

The Quiz on Saturday 28th April was a fun night, when participants of all ages competed to answer the questions set by the very able questionmasters.  We have been requested to hold more of these quizzes so this request will be put to the fundraising committee.  Keep your eye on the diary to see if the committee can fit one in!  There is also a quiz available to buy and try for £1.  Get one from members of the fundraising committee.  The Quiz night raised £310 which will increase with the sale of the ‘take home’ quizzes.  Jean MacDonald, Chairperson 425301

 

The next event planned by the fundraising committee is the Sponsored Walk on Sunday 20 May after the service.

Drinks will be supplied in the Hall, bring you own packed lunch, then we will all go to Drumpellier Loch to begin our walk.   Anyone wishing to go straight to the Loch should meet us there at 1.00p.m.  There will be a short service in the Church immediately after the walk.  Sponsor sheets are available now (one per household) .  Let’s hope the weather is kind and we have a great time.

 

Further fundraising events planned

16 June            Summer Fete in Church grounds.  This will take the same form as past Christmas Fayre’s but in miniature, with stalls set up outside.

15 September  Table Top sale.  Take a table – sell whatever you want and donate the proceeds to the Church.

1 December     Christmas Coffee Day with Christmas stalls