ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

OUTLOOK  NOVEMBER 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

Scottish Charity Number SC013521

Dear Friends                                                                     November 2007

Well here we are into November and the winter is now upon us.  As I look out of my study window it is dark grey and a bit dismal looking. However as I was just remarking to a friend the other day, it’s important to stay positive. Ah yes she replied that’s easy for you to say – you are always happy!!!! That then led on to a discussion as to whether it is really easy to be positive. Certainly we concluded that it is a state of mind and that sometimes we have to actually make ourselves think positive in difficult situations in order to get through them. That we have to try to see beyond the here and now to when things will be better.

At this season of Remembrance we are reminded how men and women fought to make a better future for our country. How they saw beyond the here and now to what lay ahead. They had a positive vision for the future and they paid dearly for that.

Surely that is a positive example for us all to keep going even when things around us seem dark and negative.  The Guild theme this year is “Think on these things” and is taken from Paul’s exhortation to the people to think on what is good. To fill our minds with good, positive and happy thoughts. This would then help us and those around us to catch that same emotion and feeling. As the old song goes “accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative” Something which is not always easy to do I know, especially when things are difficult.  Please remember that if you are going through difficult times and you need someone to speak to you should give me a call. (I’m always available to listen and to help)

So anyway I do hope that all is well with you all. If it is not please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. May God be with us all and bless us in each and every situation of our lives

With love and prayers

Fiona N

 

CHURCH REGISTER

 

Funerals

19th October      Betty McLure      Rawyards Nursing Home

 

OFFERINGS              F.W.O             Open Plate      Total

October                                    £4,733.48        £415.34                       £5.148.82

 

The retiring offering after the Harvest service raised £391.35 for the Children’s Hospice Association in Scotland (CHAS)

Groceries collected by the Sunday School on Harvest Sunday were delivered to Helping Hands Soup Kitchen in Whifflet.

 

BIBLE SUNDAY RETIRING OFFERING – On behalf of the Scottish Bible Society, I would like to thank you all for your generous donations.  I am overwhelmed with the staggering total of £480.  Thank you all very much again for your continued support.  Well done. Jessie Rock

 

6TH COATBRIDGE GIRLS’ BRIGADE

This is a quick update on the progress of our Company.    

Thank you to all the girls who attended our joint Re-dedication Youth Service on 7th October.   The turn out was less than expected and I appreciate the attendance of the girls who did come.  

The Junior section entered the Division “Design a Mug” competition on Thursday 25th October in Broomknoll Church, Airdrie.    There were 9 Companies from the Division who each entered a team of 4 girls.   The girls had to choose a theme and 6th Coatbridge chose “Seasons”.    The girls were delighted to hear that they were Runners-up in this competition and I would like to thank the girls and their parents for bringing them along to take part.    Our Halloween party will be on Tuesday 30th October from 6.30 p.m. till 8.00 p.m.   The Explorer section are practising towards their Marching competition at the end of November and I have every confidence in the smallest girls we have being brilliant – good luck to all the Explorers. We’re off to a good start so long may it continue.

Thanks again. Irene Krebs,Captain (01236 435611),(Mobile: 07731 342 570)

(E-mail: krebsi@btinternet.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOY’S BRIGADE

All our sections are taking part in the Battalion fun run on Saturday 3rd November. Anyone wishing to contribute to our major fundraiser of the session can contact any boy or officer. This will contribute to our annual fees which work out about £18 per boy.

Our junior Section have taken part in their top team quiz and are now working towards their P.A. competition. The football team has started off their season well, winning their first two games.

The company section have also taken part in their top team competition and are looking forward to their vaulting.

We would like to thank all those who assisted at the Battalion Communion and dedication service. We would like to thank Fiona for her uplifting service.

The Remembrance day service will see our Juniors and coy sect on parade. Our coy sect will be a bit light in number as three of our boys will be attending a leadership course that day. Jim Elliot, Captain

 

THURSDAY CLUB                                                  

The programme for November is as follows:-

1st Nov             Mrs Isobel Preston & Friend

8th Nov                        Mr E Donaldson & Friends

15th Nov          Autumn outing to Gretna Green shopping outlet

22nd Nov        Charity afternoon on behalf of CHAS

29th Nov          Mrs Irene Wright – Christmas Decorations

Please come and join us and share an afternoon of friendship and entertainment.  Netta Stoddart

 

INDOOR BOWLING

The first match of the season against the team from the Bellshill Churches is on SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER AT 10a.m.  Slips will be given out as usual.  At present the cup is with them, so let’s try and win it back for St.Andrews.

 

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – Our own afternoon game is on SATURDAY 29TH DECEMBER AT 4.p.m.  Hope we will have our usual enjoyable Festive game.

 

 

LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES

At a very moving Service on the 24th June the Sunday School children received their Awards for 2006/2007 and then

Church of Scotland Long Service Certificates (a minimum of 25 years in organisations and 30 years on the Session or Board) were presented by the Moderator to:

George McCall for Service to the Sunday School,

Jean MacDonald for 30 years Service as an Elder,

Alexis Crichton, Morag McNay and Lesley Harrison for Service to The Guides,

Jim Elliot and Karen Elliot for Service to The Boys’ Brigade.

St Andrew’s Church Long Service Certificates were then presented  by the Moderator to:

John Llewellyn – an Elder for more than 50 years and to

Melville Scott – a Member of the Congregational Board for more than 50 years.

May Kerr, Mattie Kerr, Pearl Sylvester, Beth Baxter,

Jean Reid, Moira Kyle, Betty Baird, Elizabeth Russell,

Nessie Shaw, Margot Ferguson, Jean Grummett,

Margaret Shaw, Elizabeth Campbell, Alison Ogilvie, Nan Cook and Susan McDougall for Membership of The Guild.

Anna Colvin and Mary Gray for Membership of The Thursday Club and Chrissie Donald for Service to The Guild and The Thursday Club.

The Moderator then presented the Session Clerk with a Certificate marking more than 30 years in the post.

Also certificates were presented to Stewart Alston, Dorothy Dunlop, Nan Chester, John Gordon, Fiona Marwick, Robin Marwick, Marjory Morrison, Margaret Scott, Melville Scott and Pat Price for Service to the Choir

A certificate was presented at Kirk Session posthumously for John Ferguson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAINED GLASS IN CHURCHES

 Stained glass in churches has played an important part in worship over the centuries. It is a fascinating subject and to this end the Lanarkshire Society of Organists has invited Dr. Iain Galbraith, organist of Kelvinside Hillhead Church in Glasgow and an authority on this subject to give an illustrated talk about it.  This talk will take place on Saturday, 27th October at 2.30pm in the Small Hall. The  meeting is open to all and anyone who would like to learn more about stained glass is most welcome to attend. There is no charge and refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the talk. StewartAlston                                                                 

Christmas Coffee Day and Christmas Stalls-

This event will be held on Saturday 1st December from 1pm until 3pm and will take the form of a Coffee Afternoon with some Christmas stalls.  Items suitable for Christmas Stalls can be left in a box at the Sunday Tea  Break table, or bring to the hall on Thursday afternoon 29th November 2-3 pm or Thursday/Friday evenings 29th /30th November 7-9pm. Donations of home baking for the Tea Room and Cake and Candy Stall will be gratefully accepted on Saturday morning.  Tickets price £1.50 are now available.  The next fundraising group meeting will be on 10th December at 8.00p.m.

 

Prayer Meeting - there will be a joint prayer initiative between St Andrew's and Clifton to pray for issues relating to the 2 churches and for the proposed union. The first meeting will take place on 12th Nov at Clifton in the Hall of Welcome and on the 10th December at St Andrew's in the Memorial Chapel. 7-8pm.  A time for prayer and fellowship so please try to come along.

 

DECEMBER OUTLOOK

All material for the December edition of Outlook should be placed in the box or handed in before Sunday 25 November 2007.

 

Diary

5th November   Kirk Session 7.30p.m

11th November Remembrance Sunday 10.45a.m. Retiring offering for Earl Haig Fund

12th November Joint Prayer Meeting in Hall of Welcome, Clifton Church

7-8p.m.

18th November Evening Service 6.30p.m.

1st December   Christmas Coffee afternoon with stalls 1-3p.m. Church Halls

2nd December   Communion 11a.m. and 3p.m.

3rd December   Congregational Board 8p.m.

9th December   Choir Service

10th December Joint Prayer Meeting in Memorial Chapel, St Andrews

7-8p.m.

15th December Sunday School parties

16th December Nativity Service

16th December Joint Carol Service with St.Patrick’s in St Andrew’s at 7.30p.m.

24th December Christmas Eve Service 11.30p.m.

30th December      Family Service