ST ANDREW’S
OUTLOOK
– NOVEMBER 2005
Minister : Session Clerk
Rev Fiona M Nicolson Mr Alex McKee
Coatbridge
Tel: 437271 Tel: 421191
St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385
www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org
November 2005
Dear
Friends,
Well
that’s another month gone by – doesn’t time fly when you are having fun!! I must admit to having really enjoyed the
past few weeks. Getting to know people
and finding out more about the Church and the community. I know I still have a lot to learn and
experience – but so far its been great.
One
thing which I particularly enjoy is getting out and about and visiting
people. This is because I believe that
it is important to get to know my congregation as individuals – to know what
bothers them, what makes them happy and how we as a Church can be there for
each other. So don’t be surprised if I
just turn up at your door!!
The
big problem for me at the moment is knowing where to
start. I have had some help via the
hospital book and elders telling me about people in their district, but I’m happy
to hear from anyone who would like a visit or feel that others may benefit from
a visit. So I’ll always be pleased to
hear from you.
Since
I last wrote I have started a Vestry Hour – which sometimes is very quiet and
at other times has been quite busy. It’s
on Thursday 7-8pm if you ever need to call round.
I
was reading an article recently which described Jesus as a “people person” for
he didn’t just teach and preach but liked to spend time with people, getting to
know them and trying to understand them.
What a fantastic example to us all!
I
look forward to getting to know more about you all over the months and years
which lie ahead.
God
be with you all. With love and prayers
Fiona
OFFERINGS F.W.O. Open
Plate Total
4 wks October £4,592.70 £296.48 £4,889.18
Approximate figures from the retiring collection
for the
Letters of thanks are on the notice board in the
hall from Erskine and Christian Aid
PARISH REGISTER
BAPTISM
16th October Kara
Elizabeth Richmond,
FUNERAL
12th September Mrs Mary Biggart,
DIARY
DATES
13th November Remembrance Sunday Service 10.45a.m. -Retiring Collection
14th November Kirk Session Meeting 7.30p.m.
19th November Christmas
Fayre
20th November Evening Service 6.30p.m.
4th December Communion
GUILD
Programme for November
16th
November The
Hadeel Shop – Fair Trade
20-27 November Guild Week
30th
November Scottish
Night - Guild
Look forward to seeing
you. Senga Weir (sec)
FUNDRAISING
Can you believe that the Christmas Fayre
is this month? Saturday
19th November from 12.30 – 3.00p.m. in
The Church Hall will
be open on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th from 2-3p.m. and
7-9p.m. to receive items for sale.
Perishable goods can be brought to the High School after 9.30a.m. on the morning of the Fayre.
Please come along and
enjoy the fun, in fact, why not volunteer to help, which is always great fun.
CHOIR
As you will have seen, the choir has over the last
year or so, for various reasons been depleted in numbers. Although the current members are doing a fine
job in keeping music alive we are really in need of new members, especially
men. The choir meets on a Thursday
evening for music and fellowship from 7.30pm till around 9.30pm. It would be good if we could enlarge the
choir for the special services of the Christmas season. It is not essential to be able to read
music. Please help us by coming along on
a Thursday evening – you will be made most welcome.
BOYS
BRIGADE
The Anchor boys are continuing to work on their
competition entry, a poster on healthy eating. They have also held their
Halloween party and a good time was had by all.
The Junior section went
on a ghost walk instead of having a party. The juniors have also been in
training for the forthcoming football season which has been delayed due to a
lack of teams but we are hopeful the league will start shortly. The boys did
take part in a friendly which they lost 5-2 although the boys claim they were
the victims of a dodgy referee. Three boys, Stewart Gillespie, Daniel Glendinning, & Christopher Addie took part in Top Team Quiz
and were unlucky to lose in the semi finals to the eventual winners but a good
effort by the boys none the less. The boys are now preparing for the P.A
competition.
The Company Section recently attended the
All sections are taking part in the Battalion
Fun Run on Saturday 5th November at Drumpellier loch. The funds raised from
this event will go towards our annual capitation fees. If anyone would like to
make a contribution please see any boy or officer who will allow you to do so
on a RED sponsored form only. This is to stop anyone photocopying the forms and
gaining money by going door to door.
We are holding a fund raising dance in the Gartsherrie club on Friday 18th November from 7.30 till
11.30 Tickets priced £4 are now available and can be obtained from any officer.
Proceeds will go towards BB funds and to assist with the Christmas outings.
We recently had our Dedication service and
Founders day parade both to our church and I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all the boys and officers for turning up for the two very good
services.
Jim Elliot, Captain
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
The Social Committee
wish to thank all who supported their Coffee Morning on 1st October
when the proceeds amounted to £275 which enables us to meet our commitments for
this year.
INDOOR BOWLING
The match against the
Bellshill Churches took place on Saturday 29th October when the
usual keen competitive game was enjoyed by all.
This time we were the winners … WELL DONE .. and the cup is back with us in St. Andrew’s – till the next
time!
Our own Afternoon Game
will be on Thursday 29th December at 4.00p.m. with
High Tea as usual. Please note the date
and day. It is necessary to have a weekday booking because of the two holiday
weekends over Christmas and New Year.
(Just forget your Ne’erday cleaning and enjoy
your afternoon at the Indoor). Slips
will be given out as usual.
LANARKSHIRE SOCIETY OF ORGANISTS
On Saturday afternoon 3rd December at 2.30p.m. three members of the Society will be playing a
selection of music for the organ in the church.
It is always interesting to hear someone else at the console of our fine
Willis organ and you are most cordially invited to come along and support this
event. The programme will last around 1
to 1 and quarter hours after which refreshments will be served. I look forward to seeing you there. There is no charge for admission. Stewart
Alston
A new book with the
above title was recently published. It
has been written and illustrated by Professor John Hume, formerly Chief
Inspector for Historic Scotland and the current Convenor of the Church of
Scotland’s Committee on Church Art and Architecture. To our delight he has included our church as
one of the 184 best churches in
6TH
Our
new session is well under way with numbers steadily rising within the first few
weeks.
All
sections have started their badge work and are busy learning new crafts,
skills, games and songs. Brigaders will be attending Leadership Training in
November.
We
have tickets available for the Christmas Fayre which will be held in
We
will be having a Ladies Fashion Show/Sale on Tuesday 22nd November
2005 at 7.30 p.m in the Church Hall. Tickets are priced at £2
each and includes tea. Come along
and help support our fund raiser.
We
look forward to a full and busy programme up until Christmas.
Any
girls who would like to join Girls’ Brigade (aged 5 to 18 yrs) will be made
very welcome. Irene Krebs Captain
BAKE
FOR BIBLES
On behalf of the Scottish Bible Society, I would
like to thank everyone who gave of their precious time to bake, everyone who
gave donations and all our willing helpers who sold the baking. A warm thanks to all who came along last
Sunday and supported us and raised the wonderful total of £237. I am very grateful for your kind generosity
and continued support. Best wishes and
thanks again. Jessie Rock
LIFE
AND WORK
The price of Life and Work will increase to £1.60
from January 2006. Would visitors please
let me have all monies due before Sunday 18th December. Elizabeth
Russell
PRESBYTERY
WORLD MISSION CONFERENCE
Saturday 19th
November 10.00am – 12.30pm Dalziel St Andrew’s
Church, Motherwell.
Topics to be covered:
G8 and the Trade Justice Movement (Eildon Dyer)
HIV/Aids (Carol Finlay)
Anyone wishing to attend, please give your name to Irene Milligan by Saturday 12th November. There is a blue coloured poster on the church notice board with all details.