Govan and Linthouse

Parish Church

Magazine

March

2011

G and l Mag Mar 11

Sidelines

In Hunan province in China, there is a range of mountains, the Tinamen Mountains. To

get there you have to go on the ‘Highway to Heaven’ which is a snaking road, coiling

itself up the mountain and rising from 200- 1300 feet from base to summit. If you go by

bus or car, you have to stop for the last hundred metres or so, and get out and climb 999

steps, the heavenly ladder. If you survive that, and get to the top, there is a modern

Buddhist temple, and an eroded cave entrance, where all that is left is this massive,

natural arch in the rock. It is so large, that they have occasionally had air displays where

the planes fly through the arch and above the heads of the daily visitors. This arch, the

locals believe, is the gateway to heaven. Apparently (I have never been) the views at the

top are breathtaking, and people feel that they have a heaven’s-eye view on the rest of

the world.

Wouldn’t it be good if we could have a heaven’s-eye view on our parish, our efforts, the

glaring gaps for which we are responsible, the people we hardly notice, the way in

which our church world impacts upon the non-church world - if it does at all.

What would it look like? Would there be a view of those things we do well? Could we

see where we have been negligent or careless? What would be the heaven’s-eye view of

our church in its parish context?

Our Presbytery, indeed the whole church, is going through another organisational

convulsion. By the year 2014, we need to have reduced the numbers of ministers and

parish workers (like the team here in Govan) to 1000 over the whole of Scotland. We

cannot afford to pay for more. There are ministers who have retired in the last few

years, who can remember when there were 3,500 ministers, not that long ago. In the

Presbytery there will be 30 something fewer posts. This does not necessarily mean that

another 30 churches will close, but some undoubtedly will.

Over the next months or so, we have to know and understand that heaven’s-eye view. It

will be important when we come to discuss our parish with the committees. It is even

more important for us. Like the road in China, that may involve us in many sharp turns

and steep ascents, but we have to know what we are doing and what we are trying to

achieve. We have to know where we could do better, and we have to commit ourselves,

those who are still fit, to doing it.

Some of you, I know, would do more if you could. Some of you are already giving all

your time and we are grateful that you do so much. But the time has come to begin a

new phase. May God Bless each of you as we look together for the heaven’s-eye view.

Moyna

Dear friends

I hope you all had a blessed start to the New Year. As I mentioned in one of my recent

sermons, the origin of the word “January” comes from the Roman mythological figure

Janus, the god of beginnings and endings. Most often he is depicted as having two heads,

facing opposite directions; one head looks back at the last year while the other looks

forward to the New Year. Janus’ simultaneous look into the future and the past inspired

the structure of this letter. I would like to write a few words about some of the

highlights of 2010 and then I will glimpse into the future of 2011.

I started my job as Associate minister in Govan and Linthouse Parish during the Holy

Week in April 2010 - soon I will celebrate my one-year anniversary here. It was such a

special time to be introduced to the congregation - I will never forget the kind welcome I

received from people and the creative Easter services, such as the Good Friday service

when we could throw dried flower petals into the shrine. As a team we’ve already begun

to plan the theme for this year’s Easter services around a very good film: “the Jesus de

Montréal“.

Throughout the summer months of 2010 Moyna and I developed four new liturgies for

the daily services, each one for a period of three months. In January 2011 we began to

use the first liturgy and I am very pleased that everybody seems to enjoy the new

format. I think the two different Scripture readings (which always include a gospel

passage) enrich the worship at Morning Prayer. My favourite aspects of the new

services are the spaces for silence and reflection including the music piece. In my

experience the space for silence and reflection is one of the most crucial parts of a

Morning Prayer. I encourage everybody to take this time and not to rush through the

precious time of devotion, which prepares us for the day and challenges ahead.

In autumn 2010 I went to the Godly Play conference. Since then I have made the

material for three of the stories and told two of them in context of services. On

Christmas Eve I told the nativity story with big figures in Linthouse and last Sunday I

told the Parable of the grain of Mustard seed. I used the story of the baptism as part of

home visit in order to prepare the family for the sacrament of baptism. In spring 2011 I

am organising a Discovery Day where all the leaders of the Youth Organisations and

Sunday school leaders can come together and learn more about the Godly Play story

telling approach. It might be a model that will help us to enrich and develop the content

of our work with young people.

May our God of the past, present and future guide us as a Church and servants of Christ

through the New Year. May the Father, Son and Holy Spirit surround you with hope,

faith and love.

Kind regards, Judith

I would like to say a huge thanks to all those who helped in any way at the school

Christmas services. Both were a huge success and the feedback from the schools has

been good.

Pirie Park came to Linthouse for their service and did a version of the angry innkeeper

which was well done by the pupils. The innkeeper came in his pyjamas (the comments

about me not having mine on the Sunday are noted!), and the children did the voice

over’s themselves. The children sang well and really enjoyed being part of the service.

Prior to the service, the team had gone in and spent a day in the school making

Christingles with the children and these were a lovely, bright, addition which lit up the

church with their colour. We decided to light only a few though for fear of having the

Fire Brigade called out! Some parents stayed after for tea, coffee, and mince pies which

was great.

A few days later, Govan High came to Govan Cross for their service with around 30

pupils coming. This may not seem a lot but given the attendance on the last day of term,

and that the young people had the choice of whether to come or not, it was a good

attendance. Again, they seemed to enjoy being part of the service, and took part in

singing. The school band accompanied the carols and one young girl gave us a lovely

recorder solo. Well done to her because it's not easy to stand in front of people,

especially your peers, and do this. After the service the pupils were given lunch

provided by the school, and thanks to church folk for being on hand to help serve them

this and tea and juice. Before the service, some of the young people had arrived early. As

I chatted with them, one girl asked if she could go and see the baby in the manger.

Within a few minutes, the group were giving an impromptu nativity! It was great to be

part of their telling of the Christmas story and led to a good discussion.

These services are wonderful opportunities for young people to engage with church life,

as are the visits to Govan Old. They allow us to let the young people see a bit of what our

life together is like and to provide a sense of welcome for them into that life. They also

allow us to let the young people know that we value them and see our church as firmly

part of their heritage.

The young people of Govan and Linthouse parish are very accepting of church as an

important part of their community, and they are genuinely interested in what we do and

offer. Working with them, growing with them, is a privilege, and as we continue to stand

alongside them, we pray we can help them find their voice, and their way in life. As a

team, we are grateful for the welcome we get from schools, and for the faith they have in

us to provide valuable support to them.

I know the staff in all our schools in Govan are very committed to the children under

their care and in some ways it is a risk for them to bring us in. But we are fortunate to

have a good relationship with the schools, and an open invitation to pop in whenever.

As we work with the staff and pupils at the schools, and as we help young people grow -

indeed, they help us grow too - the prayer is that our parish and community benefits

from confident, and well informed young people taking their rightful place in society.

For that to happen, we need to encourage, value, teach, and love each one of the young

people we encounter, so that they feel equipped to contribute, and that

their contribution has worth. God is blessing our church and our schools, and for that

we thank and praise him.

Paul

Hi All,

Just a wee note from me to say thanks to everyone for your continued support of my

new role in the office. I have settled in nicely and am working with a great team.

As you may have noticed, we have been making a few changes and really would like

your feedback on them, if you like or dislike things or if there are things you would like

to see happening let us know so we can consider all options. You may also wish to alert

us to someone you know needing a Pastoral visit at home or in hospital.

Please also remember I’m in the office Monday to Friday from 10am-2pm and the

number is 4452010 if you can’t call during these times then leave a message and contact

details and I can call you back. There is a full list of contact details and e-mail addresses

at the back of the magazine so you have a choice of ways in which to send in your

feedback.

Also please remember we have a fantastic new website up and running, which we are

updating regularly, but if there is something you would like to see that’s not yet on it, let

us know; and a huge thanks to the people who are already feeding things back about the

site, it’s really invaluable to get your opinion and know how it’s looking.

The web address is www.govanlinthouseparish.org

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Gillian

Safe in His Arm’s

Member - Mrs Sheila Shearer 12th December 2010 Dalmeny Court

In November I was able to take some Study Leave to go to Manchester and visit the

Message Trust, which is an organisation which does great work with the city's young

people. I came across their website earlier in the year and was excited at the work they

did, so wanted to find out more, and thought that a visit to see them would be the best

way to do that.

I travelled down to Manchester with one really exciting thing on my mind. The Message

Trust run two double decker buses around the city, which have been turned into mobile

youth centres. These buses have been kitted out with computers, tables and chairs,

games and craft equipment and are a way of taking provision out to the community. The

way it works is that local churches get together to form a group. They get in touch with

the Message Trust to ask if they will come with their bus one night per week, and the

local churches provide volunteers to staff it. The bus then goes to that area on the same

evening each week to attract local young people. The aim is to bring the churches and

the young people together so that on other nights, as well as on Sunday's, the young

people will find their way to a church near them.

On the night I went out on the bus, it was being driven by the Canon of a local Church of

England congregation. The area we went to was an area similar to Govan, not as big as

Govan, but with many of the same issues. This was an area near Stockport on the

outskirts of Manchester, and the local council had identified that of the top six least

desirable streets in the city, four of them were in this area, so that gives you an idea of

the difficulties the area faced right away. The local people were a proud people though

and wanted to highlight the vast amount of work being done by ordinary people to

change perceptions and rebuild the area. The young people who came to the bus

enjoyed it and readily spoke to the adults on it, and good connections were obviously

being made through this work. As well as the staff and volunteers from the churches,

there was a community Police Officer allocated to go out with the bus. The young people

were not put off by his presence there and he was able to talk and laugh with them, even

allowing the kids to make jokes at his expense. It was a wonderful experience to be able

to have that evening sharing in what is obviously an important work which is going

down well with all involved in it. Prior to going out on the bus, I had met with Julie who

is the bus manager. She told me how the project started, and how they were bringing

local churches closer to local young people through the work. She said there were two

buses in operation so they could cover a lot of areas each week. As well as the staff from

the Message Trust, and the local church volunteers, Message run a training programme

and there were a couple of girls from this programme on the bus too. Julie said that the

bus project cost around £180,000 per year to run and that they depended largely on

grants and donations. Message is fortunate to have a generous benefactor and the Police

actually contribute a significant amount to the project because they see the value in it.

I went back to the place I was staying that night, enthused by what I had been part of.

The following day I went back to the Message Trust offices and had a tour. I spoke to

Paul who is Eden Project director and he explained the wider work going on. The Trust

was started by a man called Andy Hawthorne (who wrote the Message translation of the

bible). Andy had organised an event for young people at Manchester Apollo which went

so well he organised another. Very soon he had established what was to become the

Worldwide Message Tribe, now the Message Trust. The project has built up over 15

years into a major outreach with prison ministry, schools ministry through drama and

dance workshops, and bands, and through what they call Eden teams. These are people

who have chosen to come and live in a local community to be 'salt and light'. Eden

advertises for people to leave the place they live in, come to a local area of need to live

and work, and they speak to local housing associations about providing

rented accommodation. Paul and his wife were people who did just that. They left their

home and set up home in an area of Manchester with a lot of need. They did so because

they felt called to become part of that community to be positive role models to young

people. Eden teams are groups of 2 or 3 people who live in a flat or house in the area,

become part of the local church and give their lives to the young people they come into

contact with by organising activities in the local church, and often by opening their

homes for small group work or just to chat. In one area there will be around 12 people

in a team living in different parts of the community in pairs or three's. As I listened to

this I was aware that I saw this as something which excited me as much as the bus idea,

and I went away feeling challenged and uplifted.

On the way home I reflected on all I had seen and heard, and the question which came to

me was; if they can do this in a whole city, what is to stop us doing something in Govan?

We are in a different position because we are not a trust, we are the local church. But

that actually puts us in a better position because we know the local area; we know the

needs and the people. We can't just take what the Message Trust are doing and do it in

Govan, but we can adapt it to suit our needs. In the days to come, this study leave will

not have been in vain. I know there is much we can do in our area to be a blessing to the

good people of Govan/Linthouse/Drumoyne/Shieldhall. I also know that God is calling

this congregation to do great things. Let this be the year when these great things begin

to happen.

Paul

To All Our Family, Friends and Govan & Linthouse Church Family

We wanted to express our gratitude to you all for the turnout on Christmas Eve to

celebrate Kyle’s Christening. In light of bad weather and flu virus’s we were so pleased

to see everyone and help make a special evening for us all.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave Kyle beautiful cards and gifts. Needless to say

Kyle thought Santa came to visit our house twice.

Special thanks to Moyna and team and also to the ladies who made the supper

afterwards. It was great, and very much appreciated.

It was lovely to chat to everyone after the service. To see everyone together in the hall

was wonderful on such a special night for a great boy. Most of you know Kyle’s difficult

start, therefore it was especially memorable for us.

Thanks once again.

Kirsty, David & Kyle

Xx

Baptisms

Eddy Lissah Christopher – 19th December 2010

Parents – Marium Dionese & Eddy John Christopher, Sister – Rose Eddy Christopher

Kyle Thomson – 24th December 2010

Parents – Kirsty & David Thomson

Report On Christian Communities In Minority Situations

I recently received a copy of this report by the World Mission Council. I have to tell you

that it makes for difficult and disturbing reading. One of the things it asks Kirk Sessions

to do, however, is to educate church members about persecution and discrimination

endured by their fellow Christians and ensure that these situations are remembered in

prayer. I have therefore made a summary of the report. Part of this summary is printed

below. A handout summarising the situation in specific countries will follow shortly. I

ask you to read them both – and pray.

Elsie Donald

Session Clerk

Christian Communities in Minority Situations

An important responsibility of the World Mission Council is to listen to its partners

throughout the world and to inform the Church of Scotland what they are saying. This

report is in response to instruction from the General Assembly.

… it is thought that more Christians died violent deaths in the 20th century than in all of

previous Christian history. This pressure has not eased in the first decade of the 21st

century: based on current statistical trends, it is estimated that around 176,000

Christians may have died for their faith in 2009.

It is recognised that Christians have also been among the oppressors and persecutors.

The brutality of the Crusades is remembered throughout much of the Middle East, and

the complicity of professing Christians in any genocide, including the Jewish Holocaust,

cannot be forgotten. Christians have tortured and even burned their fellow Christians in

the Inquisition, the religious wars throughout Europe and the treatment of witches in

Scotland. Any report on the persecution of Christians must be made in a spirit of deep

humility.

The World Mission Council also acknowledges that persecution of Christians is not new.

However, there is widespread acceptance that the level of persecution of Christians,

whether by discrimination or direct violence, has been greater in the last century than

in any other period in the history of the Christian Church. The impact of this is already

being reported by many of the Church of Scotland’s overseas partners.

In the Middle East, Asia and parts of Africa, many Christian people live as a minority

faith community. Some have lived this way for many generations, others are newer

communities. Often they live in harmony with neighbours from all faith communities,

but at other times can be ostracised and marginalised, facing outright persecution or

education and economic discrimination.

Those who live in places where Sharia law and, in particular, apostasy law are exercised,

can be exposed to extreme pressure. The position of women in such places is a major

cause of concern.

For these people, being salt and light requires obedience and courage and involves

considerable risk. Nevertheless, rather than being demoralised by such experiences,

many Christians in such difficult circumstances demonstrate a degree of vitality and

dynamism in their faith which suggests they may often be closer to New Testament

experience than those who live in more comfortable and secure situations.

Response: What does the Lord require of us?

Reference has already been made to the vitality and authenticity of faith often found in

Christians who face discrimination and persecution. However, the plea from the Church

of Scotland’s partners who live in challenging and even dangerous circumstances is for

an active solidarity that “weeps with those who weep”. They call upon the Church of

Scotland to highlight the prevalence of persecution and to campaign, as appropriate, on

their behalf for the due observation of religious freedom for all.

The Church of Scotland is “saying it” with people (Mission Partners), through the media

and with financial assistance.

One of the things all church members are asked to do is to pray. The largest organised

prayer effort is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which

happens worldwide each November. It focuses above all on intercessory prayer and

practical action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith, and also

encourages prayer for the oppressors, the nations that promote oppression, and those

who ignore it.

It is imperative that alongside any advocacy on behalf of Christians who face

discrimination and persecution there is a corresponding respect for the religious

traditions of other people. Many partner churches in minority situations are convinced

that one of the greatest needs of the 21st century is for growing, constructive dialogue

with the Muslim Community. Churches in the Middle East speak of the need for

understanding and respect between all three Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity

and Islam.

Ill-considered advocacy that, often inadvertently, brands all members of a given faith

community as persecutors can contribute to the polarisation which is part of the wider

problem.

It is important to eschew any appearance of a partisan approach which is concerned

only for fellow-Christians and unmoved by discrimination or persecution being

experienced by other religious communities. To stand clearly on the side of justice, it is

necessary to advocate religious freedom for all. It is the furtherance of this principle

which is the best weapon with which to fight the discrimination and persecution

currently being experienced by minority Christian communities.

In prayerful and practical solidarity with those of the Body of Christ that suffer most, the

whole Church will be strengthened, the world will be better served, and God will be

glorified.

Sunday School

Since Our last magazine article the children have been busy.

On Sunday 19th Dec it was The Nativity Service – ‘The Angry Innkeeper’. Paul had the

task of playing the angry innkeeper. He played the role well and the children loved

being part of the service. As always, they loved getting dressed up. We hope you enjoyed

‘The Angry Innkeeper’ too.

Unfortunately, owing to weather conditions, we had to postpone our December trip to

Funworld in Greenock, but, on Saturday 5th Feb we made it to Funworld. We arrived at

10.30am for 2 hours of fun on slides, ball pits and cars. The adults even managed to

relax, for a few minutes, with a coffee and cake. On leaving Funworld one of the

children asked if we going again next Saturday! A big thank you to all the drivers. We

couldn’t manage without your help.

Our topics this year have been The Boy Samuel and the Miracles of Jesus. We, also,

covered Valentine’s Day by making cards.

We have 26 children on our register, which is great, but we have plenty of space for

more children. If you know of any children who might to join us we would be delighted

to see them on a Sunday morning.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who supports the Sunday School.

Karen Stevely

Dear God,

Please help me to listen to you wherever I am, whatever I do. Amen.

Saturday Tearoom

Back in harness after our winter break the usual volunteers would be delighted to

welcome any new faces who would like to join us. No need to be tied to working all day,

even a few hours in the morning or the afternoon would be a great help. Good company

guaranteed with lots of laughs. Anyone interested in joining us please speak to any of

the usual Tea Room “Girls”!!!! Many thanks from The Saturday Tea Room Team

10th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade 1910 – 2010

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year and didn’t suffer too badly with the

bad weather. We are all glad it’s over for now and that the first signs of Spring are upon

us.

The Company closed the year by performing a Christmas play for parents and friends on

Wednesday 9th December which was extremely well supported despite the bad weather.

The Explorers and Juniors were delighted when Father Christmas joined us too.

The Brigaders saw John Barrowman in Aladdin at the SECC on 15th December.

Everyone had a fantastic evening and the 3D effects were superb; we were all ducking

and diving at the bats and spiders flying out at us, and had some thrills on the magic

carpet. We enjoyed it so much we’ve already planned our 2011 outing.

Planning for our Centenary weekend celebrations are coming along nicely and for those

who missed it in the previous issue; we plan to celebrate over the weekend of the 20-22

May 2011. Our Display will be on Friday 20th May in the McLeod Hall, Pearce Institute,

a past members reunion on Saturday 21st May in the Pearce Institute and a Church

Parade on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd May in Govan Old Parish Church. Save the dates

and look out for your formal invitation nearer the time.

If you or your friends or family were in 2nd Girls’ Guildry or 10th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade

then make sure we have your details; either give us a ring or drop us an e mail with your

details and we’ll ensure you are included. Telephone Margaret Grieve, Captain on 0141

956 4771 or email us at magsgrieve@aol.com. You can also find us on Facebook.

We’d also appreciate any stories and/or photographs which we can use over our

Centenary weekend. (Photographs will be returned if you include a return address).

Margaret Grieve

Captain 10th Glasgow Company

34th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade

The Christmas Tearoom and Fayre seems a long time ago but they were a great success

and we would like to thank everyone who helped us on the day and all of those who

came along to support us.

Unfortunately the carol singing on the train had to be cancelled due to the bad weather.

Our Display this year is on Friday 6th May at 7.30 p.m. in the Govan Campus (this is the

school next to the Fire Station on Govan Road).

This year we are having a change of scenery, we are going to Abernethy Trust Barcaple

Outdoor Centre near Castle Douglas in the Borders instead of Glenshee. There will be

similar activities and I am sure the children will enjoy their weekend.

As you will see on the previous page there is a copy of a Certificate of Achievement

received from Blythswood Care as a thank you for filling 180 shoeboxes for their appeal.

The original is up on the notice board in the church hall and we again thank everyone

who donated, helped, packed and wrapped the shoeboxes. Your help is and was very

much appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support of the 34th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade Company.

Sandra MacDonald

Boys Brigade

Hi there,

On Monday 7th February I attend as a guest the Govan High School 100 anniversary

event - Hall of Fame - when six distinguished men were enrolled, Sir Alex Ferguson, the

song writer Bill Martin, an amazing man who has written scores of hit songs including

Puppet on String and Congratulations, Danny Whitehead self made man of Neptune

Fabrications, Professor Frank Sharp, Sir Robert Easton, and William Jones, head chef

with all sorts of food awards and now the head chef at the great Gleneagles Hotel.

All extremely successful men in their own field, but it turned out as each man took the

rostrum to respond to their award that they were all born and brought up within a mile

of Govan Cross in the immediate years after the war, went to the local primary schools

and of course Govan High. As they praised their background from working class

families, what the school did for them, it transpired as one after the other, six in a row

without any collation they had all been brought up in the local churches and been long

time members of the Boys Brigade. All of them names their church, the company and

how they now realise that the paths of their life’s had been directed sometimes

unconsciously by the values that had been set before them by the officers of the Boys

Brigade at football, camps and even for a Professor of medicine his first award---a First

Aid certificate and Badge. I stood beside two other gentlemen including the deputy

head, who had been captains of Boys Brigade Company’s and felt a sence of fulfilment.

After such a successful year last year, this year, for a number of reasons, has been a

struggle, in that other youth organisations in Linthouse are offering, with no costs or a

uniform, a better programme of events with paid leaders, and transport. Generally

attendance has been patchy Friday by Friday as events clash. Individuals have had

success at badminton and the football team is in the semi-final of the cup and are top of

the league.

We would thank all who purchased our fund raising sweet packs, our plans for selling at

events were hit by their cancellation due to the weather before Christmas but we have

now sold our allocation. Our fund raising ‘Grow a thousand Leeks’ is under pressure

from the cold December and some are looking sadly weak in the gardens, but I am

promised spring will come and create life into them.

Regards

Jim McGowan

Friends and Heroes

Our Friends and Heroes club has been going really well, and our numbers are growing.

The children have been playing games, watching short DVD clips and have been

involved in lots of crafts. In December we took the children to Kirk Care home where

the children helped the residents make Christingles and sang some Christmas Carols.

Everyone had a great time and we were made to feel very welcome by residents and

staff. They had even provided juice and sweets for the children, which was very

thoughtful. When we returned to the Church, much to the children’s delight, we

discovered that Santa had been and had left a present for each of them. We had a short

break over Christmas and New Year and club resumed on 18th January. If you know any

children who are at primary school and would like to come along and join in the fun

please let them know where we are. We meet in Govan Cross building at 5.45pm and

finish at 7pm. We also have tea and coffee facilities for parents if they would rather stay

instead of going home. We hope you can come and join us.

Church Flower Diary

Flower Diary for this year is available in the Vestibule of the Church for anyone who

would like to place flowers in the Church – if you have a special occasion, anniversary or

a loved one you would like to remember, please consult the Diary, and if someone else

already has their name down for that particular date why not think about asking them if

they would like to share the date with you. Many thanks to all the members who give

regularly to the Church Flowers. Jean McFarlane

Retiring Collection on Communion Sunday

This was raised at the recent Session meeting and it was decided to re-instate this

collection on Communion Sundays starting on Sunday 6th March 2011. The money

raised on 6th March will go to the current Homelessness project we have been

supporting.

Urgent Appeal for Volunteer Drivers

We are looking for help to enable some of our members to come to Church for Sunday

Morning Worship. If you have any spare seats in your car and could help in any way

please let us know and your help will be very much appreciated. Speak to any of the

Ministry Team or Elders who will pass on the information. Many thanks.

Thank You

Big thanks to Carol for your help with getting the Church Flower Vases to and from the

Florist Shop - your help is very much appreciated.

Cathie Sutherland – 100 Years

The Lord Lieutenant for Renfrewshire came to deliver a birthday card from the Queen

to Cathie at her birthday tea on 22nd January.

The following is a message from Cathie –

I would like to convey my very sincere thanks to the Rev. Moyna McGlynn, the Session

and the entire congregation for the lovely bouquet of flowers and many good wishes

expressed on my special day. It was a very enjoyable and unforgettable day. Many

thanks to all.

The Guild

Christmas now seems a long way off, but it’s good to remember the good and happy

times we enjoyed as a Guild. Before we reached Christmas we celebrated the Annual

Guild week in November and the Guild Service which brought us together to worship

and re-dedicate ourselves to Christ and His Church. We also had a great Scottish Night

and welcomed Helen Adam (who visits us yearly). The Christmas Dinner could have

been a disaster because of the dreadful weather. It was unfortunate that many of our

members were unable to come because of the heavy snow. We managed however to

have around 40 of us to make short work of the excellent food. For our final evening we

joined in an evening of carols and readings, which was a fitting start to Christmas. Our

carol service at the Presbyterial Council did not take place, again because of the

weather, but everything was delivered to Hospitals and Homes as usual. May I take this

opportunity of thanking everyone in the congregation who gave so generously to this

Annual appeal. It was much appreciated.

The Guild will resume on Monday 7th March. We have a full programme between March

and May. May I again invite anyone who would like to pay a visit to come, you will be

most welcome.

Every blessing to you all,

Elspeth

Ladies' Group

The Festive Season seems so long ago now but this year, instead of having our usual

Christmas Party, the ladies decided to go to the King's Theatre to see Snow-White and

the Seven Dwarfs. It was a very good show and a good night was had by all.

To begin our 2011 session, we decided to have a Burns' Night on 31st January in the

Steven Chapel. With tartan decorated tables and candle lights on the window sills, the

chapel looked very homely and inviting.

It was a busy programme, which began with Alastair MacDonald piping in the haggis,

which was carried by Paul, our Youth and Children's Outreach Worker, followed by

Brian, our Student Minister, who addressed the haggis. Paul then said the Selkirk

Grace, which was followed by a tasty meal, including haggis, neeps and tatties. After

this, the evening's entertainment began chaired by Robert Melvin.

First, we had communal singing of Ye Banks and Braes, accompanied by Lorraine

MacDonald on the accordion, followed by Andrew, our Pastoral Minister, who delivered

his humorous version of the Immortal Memory. Next, we had an excellent recitation of

'Is there tae honest poverty' by Elizabeth McFarlane, followed by a charming Toast to

the Lassies by Brian McGlynn, who later played his guitar and sang the beautiful 'Ae

Fond Kiss'. Bill Grieve gave a very good recitation of 'Tae a Mouse', and this was

followed by Moyna's witty reply to Brian's toast to the Lassies. Betty and Jack Haggerty

sang the popular song 'My love is like a red, red rose', after which Elsie Donald gave a

recitation of the poem 'The Mouse tae the Plooman'. The music continued with a

selection on the pipes by Iain and Douglas MacDonald, and Elspeth Millen then made

her toast 'Tae Scotland'.

At this point, there was a presentation to Margaret Grieve for her dedication and hard

work throughout the years, as Captain of the Glasgow 10th Girls' Brigade Company,

which celebrates its Centenary this year. The Ladies' Group would like to congratulate

Margaret, her Officers and girls, on such a wonderful achievement, and send their best

wishes for a happy, successful, and memorable Centenary Year.

The Burns' Night drew to a close with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne, accompanied

by Iain on the pipes. The ladies, therefore, would like to thank everyone for making the

evening such a happy, special occasion.....Thanks everyone!

The next meeting of the Ladies' Group will be held on Monday, 7th March, at 7.30 p.m.

in Govan Old. All are welcome!

Betty Grieve.

Marie Curie Cancer

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me in my fund raising in

aid of Cancer. I was able to hand in a cheque to Marie Curie for £1000. This money was

collected by sponsored walks, stalls in the church hall and raffles. Your support is much

appreciated.

Ann McIlreavy

Mary’s Meals

In December I sent in £400 bringing our total so far to £1975 and in the last few weeks I

have had a fantastic response from you all.

Thank you all for your much appreciated support, and I have a few boxes at hand if

anyone would like one.

Rose McLoughlin

Action Aid – The Gambia

Here we are involved in what is known as the ‘Next Step’ which basically means that the

main issues have been settled and now the local people, with Action Aid support are

running small businesses and growing all their own food through co-operative farms.

This has been very successful for them and they have also started a local radio station

which gives out great information on health, family planning etc. Also many are

becoming involved in politics so they can improve their future.

What a great achievement for them and a beacon of hope for the other countries who

have not yet reached that stage.

Action Aid – Sierra Leone

I received two reports recently from Sierra Leone and Gambia. I have put them on the

notice board in the church hall for you all to see them. They are full of their great

achievements, and grateful thanks. I find them very uplifting.

Sierra Leone has emerged from a horrendous civil war but now with Action Aids

support, they have pressurised the government to supply free Healthcare for children

under 5, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. This is great news for them.

Some more great news is that Action Aid has built a new school and provided all the

equipment needed, while also running mobile health clinics. It is amazing what can be

done when ‘PEACE’ breaks out.

Thank you to all my supporters

Rose

Reflection

Mark 4.30-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed G and L 4th February 2011 11.30am

A woman went to a local nursery and bought a small tree in a pot, took it home and

planted it in the garden. After a few weeks she noticed it was looking very bedraggled,

and she gathered up some of the fallen leaves and went back to the nursery to complain.

Having accused the manager of being a charlatan and a cheat, she put a pile of leaves on

the counter. The manager said, ‘I know what is wrong with your tree’. ‘Do you,’ the

woman replied, ’what is it suffering from?’’ Autumn’, the manager answered.

It has been a strange week; watching the struggles of Egypt to oust a tyrant; watching

one of the worst storms ever recorded hurtling towards the Queensland coast,

thankfully doing less damage than it might have done; watching our own skies blacken,

and winds rise to gale force, and rain that soaks to the skin. It has been a dark week

where even the daily joys of life seem to be hidden under clouds of anxiety. And yet, this

week in the park, wondering what the dark spots were around the base of a tree, I

realised they were the tips of violet crocuses just peeking through the earth, grasses and

dead leaves, and some of the trees have tiny buds appearing on their sodden, spindly

branches . Spring is coming inexorably, and we can see it and sense it by changes in the

earth and the trees.

We think of trees as being neutral in all the dilemmas that assail us as people, well that

is unless you are a character in Lord of the Rings, where the trees, the Ents, join in the

battle against the dark forces. But I wonder if they are neutral? Their strong sense of

colonisation, determined growth, and resistant survival are what made our planet

habitable and may be the key to its environmental recovery, if the climatologists are to

be believed. Trees are living things, made of the same chemical and mineral components

as we are. Isn’t that one of the wonders of creation?

As well as being living things, they are political. Witness the huge row in the press

recently over the government’s idea to privatise all the woodland in England and Wales,

and to break up the Forestry Commission. Think of all you have heard over the last

decades about the shrinking amount of rain forests, the lungs of the earth, and possibly

the most important element of climate change awareness. Whether we have our

woodlands managed by the Forestry Commission, not faultless by any means but

acknowledging their mistakes, or whether we agree at climate conferences to limit

international logging, these are political decisions. In the Old Testament, trees were

used for political satire, such as the passage in the Book of Judges where the trees meet

to choose a king. When all the useful trees: the olive, the fig, the vine, refuse to be king,

they are forced to elect a thorn bush, which provides neither shade nor protection, but

is made powerful enough to destroy even the great cedar trees of the Lebanon. The

satire is on King Abimelech, one of the Kings of Israel, who took money from the temple

of baal-berith and paid ‘worthless and reckless fellows’ to assassinate his brothers and

to make himself king. It has a curiously current ring, when you think of the accusations

this week about Mubarak’s supporters being paid or coerced to go onto the streets and

break up the demonstration, worthless and reckless fellows.

It is political too, when Solomon, the master builder, receives timber from the Lebanon

for the construction of his great Temple. The enormous cedars are pressed into the

service of God on the instruction of God’s chosen king. No other king has such a right to

command the resources of the earth,

‘Therefore command that the cedars of the Lebanon be cut for me’ he wrote to King

Hiram of Tyre, and Hiram replied ‘I will fulfil all your needs in the matter of cedar and

cypress timber’. It was a political act, as much as a religious one, that the walls and roof

of the temple were lined with cedar, and the Holy of Holies, the place where God was

present, was lined with cedar and covered with gold. In Solomon’s case, the cutting of

the trees was a mark of his wisdom -and represented the permanent nature of God’s

relationship with his people. There was nothing neutral about it.

In the Book of Sirach, which we used to call Ecclesiasticus, there is a description of the

Holy Spirit flowing among God’s people.

‘I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,

And like a cypress on the heights of Hermon,

I grew tall like a palm tree in Engedi,

And like rosebushes in Jericho:

Like a fair olive tree in the field,

And like a plane tree beside water, I grew tall.

Like cassia and camel-thorn I gave forth perfume,

And like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,---

Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,

And my branches are glorious and graceful,

Like a vine I bud forth delights,

And my blossoms become abundant fruit.

The passage in Sirach goes on to say that the memory of the Spirit is sweeter than

honey, and that those who eat their fill of its goodness will never hunger or thirst again.

It is this absolute commitment to life and goodness that Jesus is speaking of in his

parable of the mustard seed. He isn’t neutral either. Even the tiniest speck of goodness,

grows, in God’s kingdom, into something tall, strong and beautiful. Even the tiniest

speck, under God’s touch, has the ability to feed and nourish and provide protective

shade.

“With what shall we compare the kingdom of God?” Jesus asks. And the answer is that it

is a kingdom based on expansion, on flowering, on fruit. This is one of the parables

about yield, as a farmer expects a yield from all his sowing and ploughing. And the yield

here is so much more than you would have expected- the seed is so small, surely it will

only grow a small bush, but it becomes the greatest of all the shrubs, with long life-

stretching branches, and all the birds of the air, calling in it, delighting in its shade.

We may have to fight for our trees, against renegade logging companies, against

privatisation and commercial exploitation, against leisure parks, against sickness and

the swift spread of damaging diseases, against wind and flood. And we may have to fight

for the kingdom too, against the church politicians and draconian cuts, against

perceptions of success which have no spirit flowing through them, against the disease of

backbiting and stubborn failure. These are the parables of yield, the flourishing of the

hidden voice of Christ and conscience and sanctuary. We are in the growth business, or

we are in no business.

Let us pray,

Lord who gives life to seed, seedling, shoot, plant, to the warmth of the sun and gentle

rain, grow in us your Spirit’s holiness, so that in storm and wind, we are rooted in you,

our lives embedded in you, looking only for the kingdom to flower in the unpromising

bare earth. Amen.

Contacts: Rev Moyna McGlynn Minister 0141 419 0308 07532412496 moyna_mcglynn@hotmail.com Rev Judith Breakey Associate Minister 07858507282 Rev.judith.breakey@gmail.com Paul Cathcart Youth & Children's Outreach & Development Worker 01355 243970 07708396074 paulcathcart@msn.com Rev Andrew Thomson Pastoral Assistant 0141 641 2936 thethomsons@hotmail.co.uk Elsie Donald Session Clerk 0141 883 0995 e_donald@ewkd.freeserve.co.uk Frank Brown Treasurer 0141 892 0283 frankbrown697@btinternet.com Gillian McIlreavy Communication Co-ordinator 07811332632 Church Office Tel: 0141 445 2010 glpcglasgow@googlemail.com