ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

OUTLOOK  OCTOBER 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

October 2007

Dear Friends

As I sit and write this letter we have as a Church just been celebrating Harvest. A lovely time of year when we remember the importance of sharing what we have with those who have not. I think that sometimes it is all too easy to get cynical about peoples circumstances and possibly a bit hard hearted to the plight of others. But Harvest comes along and again we are reminded of God’s very real goodness to us and how it is important in giving thanks for that to also share it with others

Now we look forward to the Autumn and all that that lovely season has in store for us. I particularly enjoy watching the changing colours of this season and am always amazed at how spectacular a colour palette there is around us in nature. Such incredible beauty and all part of God’s marvellous creation. It’s great isn’t it?!!!

Of course the down side to this time of year is that we have to tidy our gardens in readiness for the winter and there are always the inevitable leaves to clear. This is most especially evident at the Church where every year we have the responsibility of clearing the leaves. Last year we couldn’t get enough helpers for this which was quite disappointing. So if you are able, and can help us out please do watch out for information on when this important task will be taking place. If as many people help as possible it’ll be done much quicker!!!

Anyway I hope that all is well with you. Take good care of yourselves and God be with you

 

With love and prayers

Fiona

 

OFFERINGS             F.W.O             Open Plate     Total

September                   £6,580.71        £334.00           £6,914.71

 

CHURCH REGISTER

Weddings

8th September   Lorraine Kennedy and Thomas Hartie

Funerals

7th September                  Jeanie Tippin  40 Melrose Place

13th September     William Cummings 8 Jackson Court

15th September     Frank Hunter  3 Whifflet Court

20th September    Margaret Brownlie, 23 Laurelbank

 

6TH COATBRIDGE GIRLS’ BRIGADE

Our new session is well underway and we now have a register of 56 girls between the age of 5 and 18 years.    The girls are already working towards competitions that the Division are holding.  Explorers will be marching, Juniors are designing a mug, Brigaders are Salsa dancing and there are other team games organised throughout the session.    We will have 5 Brigaders attending Leadership Training in October and 2 Warrant Officer/Helpers who will attend Basic Officers Training in February 2008.  

 

The Company bag packed in Asda on Saturday 29th September along with 7th Coatbridge Girl Guides (All Saints & Holy Trinity Church) and the magnificent amount of £1200 was raised.

Thanks to all the girls and leaders who helped on the day.

 

We will keep you up to date with our competition entries throughout the session.

 

We also have a number of Parent Helpers who have kindly offered to help with the girls and we can now organise a rota on a four weekly/monthly basis.   This will enable us to continue working with the girls and remain within Child Protection guidelines.

Captain:                                                Mrs. Irene Krebs

Lieutenant:                           Mrs. Marion Espie

Auxiliary Helper:                 Miss Linzi Munro

Warrant Officer:                  Miss Jenni Krebs

Helper:                                   Miss Yvonne Espie

Helper:                                   Miss Vicky Glen

Parent Helper:                      Mrs. Thomson

Parent Helper:                      Mrs. A. McDougall

If you are able to come along and help with the girls, kindly contact me.  

Many thanks, Irene Krebs,Captain (01236 435611),(Mobile: 07731 342 570)

(E-mail: krebsi@btinternet.com)

 

GUIDES, BROWNIES AND RAINBOWS

All sections have now re-started after the summer break.  The guide camp this year was to Fordell Firs in August for a week. All guides enjoyed the camp specially the activities and the weather was great.

 

The County International selection day was held on Saturday 15th September. This is the day the county pick representatives to go forward for selection to represent Scotland at International camps.

 

The county pick a guide plus a reserve and also a young leader plus reserve and I am pleased that all 4 girls picked to go forward are all from our own units.

 

Laura Stewart was the guide chosen and Gabrielle Clark was the reserve.  The young leader was Kirsty Muir with the reserve Clare Gallagher.  The girls move forward to the next stage when girls from all over Scotland have a weekend at Netherurd.  Alexis Crichton, Guide Guider

 

BOY’S BRIGADE

The new session is well under way and we are now into the busy time for the Boys.

Our Anchor boys have picked their new group names for the session and will be beginning their competition shortly.

Our junior section have been practising for their upcoming competitions the first of which will be P.A and the top team quiz.

The company section have had their introduction to the vaulting they are now working hard towards the competition in November. The coy sect top team quiz is the last Saturday in October.

We recently went to weekend camp at Fordell Firs where the boys took part in various activities including Quad bikes, caving abseiling, bungee trampoline and grass sledging. Many thanks to all the officers for their help and to John and Lyle for their hard work over the weekend.

Our dedication service is on the 7th October where we will also get the opportunity to present Jonathon Mathieson with his Queens badge. On this day we are also hoping to take a full Company photo after the service. Later in the evening we have the honour of hosting the Battalion officer’s communion and rededication service. We would like to thank Fiona for agreeing to conduct this service for us as this is the first time our company has ever hosted this event.

Upcoming events for the whole Company include the Battalion church parade to St Andrews on the 28th October and the Battalion fun run on Saturday 2nd November. Sponsor sheets for the fun run are now available if you wish to contribute please see any boy or officer.

Finally our Junior section have been training for the new football season and this paid off handsomely when they defeated the Coy Sect 9-1 in a recent friendly with no assistance from the ref.  Jim Elliot

           

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        

 

Fund Raising- Christmas Coffee Day and Christmas Stalls-

This event will be held on Saturday 1st December from 12 noon until 3pm . Items for the stalls can be left in box at the Sunday Tea  Break table, or Thursday afternoon 29th November 2-3 pm or Thursday/Friday evenings 29th /30th November 7-9pm. All Perishable items on Saturday am. Door Entrance 50p.  A Cafe will be open for tea, coffee and home baking.

The next Fund Raising Group meeting will be held on  30th October at 7.30p.m. in the Memorial Chapel. A member of each organisation is asked to attend.

Anyone  wishing to take a stall please also  come along and join us.

 

African Children's Choir.-Thank you all so much for your time and effort which made this event such a success. We only had 6 weeks to organise advertisments, posters, tickets, food and accommodation for our 32 visitors and WOW what a worthwhile event. What a marvelous response from our own and all local churches, families and friends here in the Monklands and surrounding areas.  Special thank you to Dorothy Dunlop and our Minister. (I know this concert  was important to you personally Fiona and I trust we here in St. Andrew's carried out all our duties to your satisfaction) The amount raised was £3,600 all of which was for the children's education on their return to Uganda. THANK YOU !  Jean MacDonald chairperson.

 (Please inform all your family and friends our grateful thanks) 

 

St Andrew’s Hospice Fayre

This will be held in Airdrie Town Hall on Saturday 3rd November 2007.  Once again we are taking part in the Tombola Stall.  Donations for this will be greatly appreciated and a box will be in the hall during the month of October or can be given to me at any time.Thank you, Elizabeth Russell

 

Diary

8th October            Congregational Board 8.00p.m.

21st October          Evening Service 6.30p.m.

28th October          Bible Sunday (Speaker & Retiring Collection)

4th November        Informal Communion 12 noon

5th November        Kirk Session 7.30p.m

11th November     Remembrance Sunday 10.45a.m.