St Vs Newsletter June 2009

Newsletter June 2009 3 Branklyn Place Glasgow G13 1GH ST VINCENT ST.-MILTON FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

Dear All, The second question of our Shorter Catechism asks us, “What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?” In other words, if we accept that our highest purpose in life is to glorify God, and our highest joy in life is to see Him glorified in us and through us, how can we go about doing that? Is it something that we can work out for ourselves? No, God sets down limits as to what glorifies Him and what doesn’t. God gives us guidelines to maximise our enjoyment of His glory. What is this rule? Our fathers answered, “The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.” God speaks, and His word is our rule and limit. We are not at liberty to dictate to God what is acceptable to Him. Rather, He tells us what glorifies Him and how we may enjoy Him. His word is the Bible.

Inside this issue: Psalms for a Summer Evening The Savannah Connection News From David & Olwen Ford

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Building Update Congregational Finances Pray for the Persecuted Church

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Meet Aidan!

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The Grace of Giving Page 3

The word ‘contained’ used here is a controversial. Some theologians have suggested that the word of God is contained in the Bible, but the whole Bible is not the word of God. So Genesis 1 isn’t the word of God, but Matthew 27 is. Jesus speaks God’s word, but Paul doesn’t. But that is certainly not the sense in which the Westminster fathers used the word ‘contained’. They simply meant that the Bible is the word of God and the word of God is the Bible. The two occupy the same space for they are the same. Now you might think that this is fairly esoteric stuff for a pastoral letter. But you see, if we grasp what the Bible really is – the very Word of God – then that has to change our whole outlook on everything. The Bible then becomes God’s letter to us as to how we may find true purpose and enjoyment in life. The Bible becomes our worldview. It becomes to us more precious than gold and sweeter than honey to our taste. Some people may question – perhaps you do too – why we spend so much time in the Free Church studying the Bible. Why are we so boringly intellectual? Well, I would hope we aren’t boring, but I make no apologies for putting the word of God at the centre of our congregational life. Without the Bible, you’ll never know how to glorify God or to really enjoy Him. Your happiness will be superficial and you’ll be living a dream filled fantasy. And so we will insist that the Bible – whole and undiluted – is put at the heart of our life as a church. And we will insist that the Bible is at the heart of our family lives. And we will insist that the Bible is at the heart of our individual lives. And we will pray – and pray hard – that one day soon, the Bible will be back at the heart of our national life.

Colin

Psalms for a Summer Evening Everyone is welcome to come and join in an evening of praise at Greenock Free Church, Friday 12th June at 7.30 pm.

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The Grace of Giving On Sunday 31st May 2009, our congregational treasurer, Campbell Brown, delivered a presentation on the Grace of Giving. This was in response to concern over the congregation’s givings in the last year. Here is a summary of the main points of his presentation. The Issue • Congregational Givings a concern •

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Down by over 20% in the 1st Quarter of 2009 from the same period in 2008

Indications that •

Givings not sacrificial

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Irregular and intermittent giving

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Not giving at all/ceasing to give

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Reduction from previous levels of giving

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Lack of response to previous initiatives

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A Spiritual problem requiring a spiritual solution

Paul’s Motivational Response to Corinthian Church (2 Corinthians chapter 8) •

Lacked the grace of giving

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The Example of the Macedonians

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Persecuted

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Poor

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Generous – gave themselves first, followed by financial gifts

Christ’s Example •

Made Himself nothing

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Became a servant

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So our spiritual needs could be abundantly supplied

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Lessons for Us We should

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First give ourselves (2 Corinthians 8:5)

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Give willingly/voluntarily (2 Corinthians 8:8) •

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true charity cannot be commanded

Give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 1-15) Minimum standard of the Tithe i.e. a tenth (Genesis 28:22/ Leviticus 27:30)

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Sacrificially (Luke 21:1-4)

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According to our means (I Corinthians 16:2)

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In accordance with our income not our expenditure Giving is for everyone (1 Corinthians 16:2)

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Give regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2)

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Blessing will come if we give this way (2 Corinthians 2:8-11)

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Impact of not giving liberally

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If we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6)

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Robbing God (Malachi 3:8)

Practical Guidance • Use FWO envelopes and/or Standing Orders • •

Promotes regularity in our giving

Leave distribution of income to the Deacons’ Court •

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They have a full understanding of the congregational/ denominational needs which many members of the congregation will not have Avoid ‘directed’ givings

If you have any questions about giving or congregational finances, please speak to Campbell.

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Congregational News •

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We are sorry that Flora Kennedy hasn’t been so well and is currently in Ward 19, Royal Infirmary. It has been good to see that John Davidson has been well enough to get back out to church after several years’ absence. To do so, it requires someone to go to Sherbrooke Lodge Nursing Home in Pollokshields and accompany him to and from church in a taxi and sit with him during the service. It would be good if we could get a team of volunteers to take it in turns to do this each week. If you can help, please speak to Colin Dow or Donald Macrae. Iain Macrae has taken up a post of Deputy Chief Technician at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. We wish him well in his new job. A recent meeting of the Ministry Group made progress on updating the congregation’s website.

The Savannah Connection Some of our young people are currently in Savannah, Georgia working at IPC Savannah’s Day Camp at Point Pleasant. John Kennedy, Suzi Maclean, Michael Sutherland, Fiona Crichton, Matthew Hebditch (Dowanvale) and Cairine Maclean are all spending time working at camp and staying with families in the IPC congregation. Roddy Mackay is also visiting friends there although not working at camp. Please pray that they would all be kept safe in their travel and work, and that they would enjoy their time of fellowship and fun with our friends across the Atlantic! Later in June, Joe and Mary van Puffelen hope to visit Scotland and plan to worship with us, God willing, over two weekends.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY •

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated on the 14th June with Dr Dow officiating. The preparatory service on Wednesday 10th will be conducted by Rev. Alex Cowie. Any wishing to join the congregation at this time, either by disjunction certificate or on profession of faith, should speak to Dr Dow.

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There will be a Family Service on Sunday 21st June, followed by the Sunday School Prizegiving.

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Once the Congregational Accounts have been signed off by the auditors, it will be possible to arrange a congregational meeting, hopefully, before the end of the month.

News from David & Olwen Ford We have two starting times in our house. At 5 am my day kicks off with stretches followed by jogging (slow) or weights (junior). At 6 am Olwen staggers into the sitting room wanting to know what time it is and looking for a cup of tea and her Bible. I´m unable to appreciate why she won´t join me earlier on. I guess she´s sussed that over-straining yourself doesn't equal godliness. Today was slightly different. Having just finished her first cup of tea, the phone went. It was Gonzalo the maintenance man, wanting to know where she was. The work had begun: walls were being knocked down and electrics were to be measured. Zero Stress sewing room was expanding to twice its floor space. The surprising thing is that the growth comes not because of more impoverished students' wives but from the commitment of the impoverished world outside. It means workshops, mini enterprises and clothing repairs; even helping people save the money they´ve earned. It´s like a Trustee Savings Bank built on cotton and thread with a lot of love. Classes finish on Friday. Brilliant, I´m exhausted. And I keep telling her it´s not the exercising. love David Page 6

Assembly Passes Petition •

The Petition from our Deacons’ Court to the General Assembly to gain access to moneys accruing from the sale of the site of the former Milton church was “received”, i.e., was granted. This means that the congregation will have the capacity to fund congregational pastoral assistants, an administrator and the renovation of part of the undercroft and church flat.

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We are considering the employment of an administrator. This position will provide specific and general administrative support to all activities within the overall scope of the Minister, the Kirk session and the Deacons’ Court. If you are interested, then please speak to Ross Macaskill and he will provide you with a job description.

BUILDING UPDATES Works at the church are substantially complete and the contractor is well on with reinstatement of the sanctuary and the Large Hall, etc and currently expects to be clear of the church by 26 June 2009. As noted in last month’s Newsletter, the Building and Equipment Group is currently scheduling up a list of refurbishment works such that halls, kitchen, meeting rooms, etc are nicer and better equipped when we return to the building. We have a reasonable cross-section of the congregation represented on the group such that we can pick up the needs of the different groups who use the building, but if you have any specific points you want to make sure are included in the works please contact any of the members of the group (see below). We have recently appointed a Project Manager to complete the specification of the works, run the tender process to get competitive prices and oversee the implementation of the works on site. The current plan is not to return to the building till early/mid September 2009 by which stage the works will (hopefully) be complete. Building & Equipment Group: John Kennedy, John Macleod, Ross Macaskill, Norman Morland, Donald Morrison, Peter Morrison, Sandra Ross and Neil White, plus some interior design experts we can call on as required.

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June Rotas Welcome 3rdand 7th June: Donald Macrae, Norman Morland, Irene and Elias Moroke, Neil and Marianna White 10th and 14th: Colin and Helen MacKay, Pauline Forsyth, Ross and Fiona Macaskill 17th and 21st: Donald and Helen Morrison, Angus and Margaret MacDonald, John and Marieanne Macleod 24th and 28th: Walter and Anne Matheson, Derek and Anne Eadie, Andy Tamata 1st and 5th July: Campbell and Ruth Brown, Sine Murdoch, Joe and Barbara Sieczkowski Tea and Coffee 7th June: Millie and Esther 14th: Donald and Helen 21st: Kirsteen and Laura 28th: ??? 5th July: Elias and Irene Creche 7th June: Sine Murdoch and Barbara Sieczkowski 14th: Fiona MacKinnon and Anne Eadie 21st: Gary Stephen and Kirsteen Buchanan 28th: Sheena Campbell and Marion Morrison Sound and Projector 7th June: John Kennedy and Roddy Mackay 14th: John Macleod and Walter Matheson 21st: Ross Mackaskill and John MacPhail 28th: John Kennedy and Andy Tamata 5th July: John Macleod and Roddy Mackay Precenting 3rd: - -

7th: Evan (am) and Rachel (pm)

10th: David

14th: Finlay (am) and Evan (pm)

17th: Andy

21st: Donald (am) and Andy (pm)

24th: - -

28th: David (am) and Evan (pm)

1st July: Evan

5th: Evan (am) and Evan (pm)

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Congregational Finances Summary Jan-April 2009 Income Dividends Bank Interest

£1,798.21 £3.89

FWO Church Door Other Donations Tax Recovery Other Income

£24,155.40 £4,287.51

TOTAL

£30,662.76

Surplus/ Deficit

£208.00 £0.00 £209.75

Expenditure General Treasurer Extra Denom Church Rent, Rates, Tel & Insurance Church Heat & Light Church Repairs Minister's Expenses Manse Expenses Pulpit & Speaker Assembly & Presbytery Publications, Stat, Advert Other Expenses

£15,200.00 £0.00 £3,593.93 £0.00 £184.97 £3,456.18 £1,341.73 £280.00 £2,098.00 £1,922.74 £670.95 £28,748.50

£1,914.26

Minister’s Stipend (Unadjusted) Target Actual Shortfall on Target

£21,105.15 £15,200.00

£5,905.15

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Shockwave—Pray for the Persecuted Church An edition of Free magazine earlier this year contained an article on Shockwave, which is a movement to involve young people in leading their church groups in focusing on the plight of the persecuted church. On Sunday 15th March , the Bible Class group were given time to get their message across. Having considered how best to do this in the most appropriate and effective way given a limited time with limited resources, we decided on a brief sketch with some of the shocking scenarios read out. This was followed by a long list of countries where, in some areas at least, persecution is very much part of the daily lives of Christians. There were almost 40 countries named on that list, which brought home to them, and hopefully to the wider congregation, the scale of the problem. We were grateful to Neil White for concluding the session with prayer. The aim of the session was to highlight an issue in a different way but also to encourage the young people to take the initiative and be involved in the work of the church. We hope that we met both aims and that young and old we continue to remember the persecuted church in our prayers.

Christmas Post 2008! Yes. I know it’s late—and yes, I know we’re almost halfway to next Christmas---how scary is that?—but just to let everyone know that the Bible Class Christmas Post last year raised £90 in total. This was donated to the Leprosy Mission (the young people having learned a little about leprosy in a series of lessons looking at people Jesus met). Thanks to everyone who supported this venture Annette MacKay

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Meet...Aidan Dow! When is your birthday, Aidan? 29th November. What’s your favourite sport? Swimming Do you have a favourite Bible story? Exodus At school, what is your favourite subject? Golden time – when you get to choose an activity as a reward for being good! What has been your favourite holiday ever? Savannah! What’s your favourite food? Pasta with butter. Who is your favourite cartoon character? Ben 10, Pokemon and Power Rangers What kind of things do you like to do at the weekend? Collect Pokemon cards and Super Strikes Which football team do you support? Partick Thistle. Favourite colour? Green. Do you have a favourite book? Traction Man

CAN YOU HELP? Do you have an old wireless router which you no longer need? Simon Wamaitha is looking for one to practise his wireless network skills for his uni course. If you can help please speak to Simon or phone him on: 07950350202. Thank you!

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ST VINCENT ST. - MILTON FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

SUNDAY SERVICES: 11.00 am and 6.30 pm in Anderston Primary School Crèche, Sunday School and Bible Class at 11.00 am PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY: Wednesdays at 7.45 pm in St Vincent Street MINISTER: Rev. Dr Colin Dow, 3 Branklyn Place, Knightswood, Glasgow, G13 1GH Tel.: 0141 959 0413 Mob.: 07749 504541 Email: [email protected] ASSOCIATE MINISTER (Service to Overseas Students): Rev. Finlay H. Mackenzie M.A. B.D. 51 Rowallan Gardens, Glasgow, G11 7LH. Tel.: 0141-563 5276 Email: [email protected] SESSION CLERK: Evan Macdonald 38 Essex Drive, Glasgow, G14 9 NA. Tel.: 0141-959 2385 Email: [email protected] DEACONS’ COURT CLERK: Norman Morland 24 Stamperland Hill, Clarkston, G76 8AF. Tel.: 0141-644 4258 Email: [email protected] NEWSLETTER EDITOR: EDITOR Sarah Crichton Flat 3/2, 634 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 3BT. Tel: 0141-554 8103 Email: [email protected]

The Last Word “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.” - Soren Kierkegaard