No.50 13 June 2025
Hi, hope this finds you well.
The magazine is celebrating it's Golden Anniversary! Thanks to those who contribute...always happy to have more suggestions.
I'm regularly surprised on a Friday at just how many items there are in the magazine in terms of things to attend, or ways to serve. We get out of the blocks quickly with the
Monthly prayer meeting on Saturday morning!
Don't forget to take a look at the events coming up - some need a response, eg the Community week involvement, or the Golf Day planning.
I hope you are looking forward to Sunday as much as I am - not just hearing profession of faith, and seeing friends committing themselves to Mearns Free Church and joining the fellowship formally, but we are looking at Mark chapter 2 - what a remarkable account of how Jesus interacts with people and what his priorities are. Have a read before you come along.
Enjoy the Mag
M
Saturday 14th June
9am at the Smiths in Eaglesham for prayer.
PRAISE GATHERING is this weekend.
Glasgow concert times:
Saturday 3pm-
sold out Still Sunday, 7pm available
info at
www.praisegathering.org.uk
Sunday 15th June
Morning service - 10.30am
Rev Scott Kirkland
Mark ch2: 1-17
Welcoming new members to Mearns Free Church
> > > MIND THE GAP < < <
We may be busier than usual on Sunday morning and the school also have their stage in place in the hall.
Please do not leave gaps in rows as we already have to bring down a number of chairs from classrooms. Often people cannot see that there are in fact still seats available in the rows and end up standing or sitting on benches.
HOME GROUPS ARE ON SUNDAY AND THROUGH THE WEEK!
Letter from the Manse
Dear Congregation,
We are greatly looking forward to this Sunday's worship, and this week we have a special reason: we will be welcoming some new members to our congregation! While most of us transitioned into formal membership from NMNC to MFC as part of a process a year ago, since then, nine people have joined us from other congregations, some local, some from further afield. This Sunday is our wonderful opportunity to extend a congregational welcome to them all. Please make an effort to seek each one out and greet them personally.
It is with particular delight that in addition to those mentioned above, we will also hear how the Lord brought Danny to faith in recent months; he has been with us for over a year now. Danny will formally join us by "Profession of Faith”. Let's pray that the Lord will protect and guide our church as we continue in this early stage of our life together, and especially those who are young faith.
Additionally, let’s pray for these new individuals, that they might not only find MFC their worshipping home, but also the place where they can become increasingly equipped for serving the Lord. As the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:11-12:
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
With this Scripture in mind, a big thank you to all who have already come forward to help with the Community Week. We now have the basis of a strong team! However, we would still love for you to assist if you haven't yet spoken with Pauline. All gifts and skills can be used during that week. Most roles will require a PVG check. However, there are one or two background tasks that are not “regulated”, and for these, we could certainly use your help. Please speak with Pauline if you are able to get involved.
This coming Sunday, the hall arrangement will be a little different from normal. Belmont School is planning a show and has already erected their large stage, which will remain in place over the weekend.
Finally, please note that I will be on holiday from next Tuesday (17th) for a week. If you have any pastoral emergencies, please contact our senior elder, David Merriman, in the first instance (or the office). David's contact details are available in the church directory.
Warmest Regards,
Scott
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
Sunday 22nd June (x 2)
#1. We will mark the end of another school year for our Mearns Free Kids.
This will be an all age service and an opportunity to hear about what we've been up to over the last year and to support and pray for the youngest members of our church family.
#2. All-Church Outing
After this we plan to head to Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock for a B.Y.O. picnic and fellowship and there will be the opportunity to choose from activities such as games, play park, woodland walk, exploring the castle, going to the cafe or simply sitting and chatting. Everyone is welcome to join us!
Speak to Pauline if you would like to come but need transport or would like to car share.
If the weather is horrific then we will bring the fun to Belmont instead!
Holiday Club bookings are live!
Children (who will be in P2-P7 after the summer) can now be registered for our Tale of Two Kings holiday club!
Click this
LINK to register
Please share with anyone you know with children of primary school age in our area.
If you are a facebook or instagram user then please also share the church posts about holiday club.
Paper flyers will also be available for distribution.
Wednesday - 7.15pm - 8.15pm
@ the McDougalls'.
The Pulse Prayer meeting on Wednesday and THIS SATURDAY's Monthly Prayer meeting are key times for church - not been along before? Why not plan to get along before the Summer - it's an informal time with people you already know...and in the article below you will see that being together in prayer is something which is we shouldn't miss out on.
We Neglect it at Our Peril
Tim Challies
We know that prayer is a crucial discipline for the individual believer, but how often do we consider that it is also a crucial discipline for the assembled church? The Bible prescribes only a few elements for local church worship, but among them is prayer.
While giving instructions to Pastor Timothy, Paul says, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling” (1 Timothy 2:8). Yet despite that insistence, perhaps no element of New Testament worship has fallen on harder times than congregational prayer. Though corporate prayer is commonly commanded and modeled in the pages of Scripture, it is often ignored.
We neglect it at our peril, for God means to accomplish something through our corporate prayers. God means to bring unity to his people, for as prayer unites us in a common cause, it reminds us of our common Saviour. It reminds us, as Megan Hill says, that “the church is not merely a roster of individuals who pray privately; it is a congregation that ought to pray together.” It reminds us that we are members of one body, and that as such, we must pray to the one who is the head of the body, his church.
Property Meeting
It was good to see so many waiting after the service to listen to update from the Property Committee. Thanks to Graham, Rosalie and Sandy who were very clear with their presentations.
Earlier this week church members will have received the notes and powerpoint slides from the meeting - if you didn't receive these or have questions then please speak with Scott. Please take time to read through the documents and seriously consider how each of us might personally contribute to this future. This future seems only possible if the Lord moves us as a whole congregation to embrace it.
All members of the Property Team – Rosalie, Graham, Sandy, Murray, and Charles – are willing to answer questions you may have.
With regard to the Pledge Form and the practical mechanics of financial giving, please speak directly with Sandy McDougall, our treasurer.
Above is one of the unofficial slides demonstrating that Charles and Sandy are prepared to consider options with a smaller financial burden.
Last Sunday at the Joint Evening Service with NMBC we heard from the team who had led the Bible Alive teaching times in schools this session.
Keep praying (see ideas on the screen above) for Pauline, Lynne, David and Adrienne as they plan for more teaching slots, God willing, next school term, and for those opportunities to be 'protected'. And also give thanks for the many seeds sown in the minds of young people as they learned together that God has one wonderful plan for His Creation and His people through Jesus.
Invitation
Glasgow City Mission are inviting people to their end of season breakfast to hear about their Winter Project.
There are 2 spaces given to Mearns Free Church - would YOU like to go?
Please see last week's magazine for more details of the Winter Project and
speak with Scott if you are interested in going to the Prayer Breakfast.
Date: Wednesday 25th June
Time: 9am-10:30am
Venue: Glasgow City Mission, 20 Crimea Street, G2 8PW
We are planning a MFC church golf day in September.
This is an invite to everyone, men and women regardless if you have a handicap or not. It is a great way to invite a friend, family member to join us.
The plan is a Saturday on one of the Troon courses which are flat & playable with wide fairways.
The cost will be around £40 to include some refreshments.
Ian or I will be happy to chat to anyone interested.
In order to judge interest and numbers I have created a link to a poll to help with planning.
If you are interested please click the link
HERE
Many thanks
Val Forgie
'Where to find a Happy Place'
This week's tea break suggestion can be read or you can listen along.
It's called 'Where to find a Happy Place' by Andrew Wilson, who is an excellent author. Read anything of his you can find.
It starts with this line
'One of the most meaningful things we can do with our lives is to search for the place where all the joy comes from.'
I hope that is intriguing enough for you. Find it
here.
The summer holidays are going to be upon us in the blink of an eye.
We are still looking for some people to lead one (or more) of our summer sessions to give our regular Kids leaders a break. You will need to have a PVG with Mearns Free Church (this can be arranged through Alastair MacLellan or Sue Anderson and is a relatively painless procedure) and there will need to be two adults aged 18+ at each session. We will be focusing on Nehemiah this summer and full teaching materials and resources will be provided for each week.
Speak to Pauline if you can help on any of the following dates:
29th June, 6th July, 13th July, 20th July, 27th July, 4th August.
LARGE PRINT - SONG WORDS
If you find viewing the song-words on the screen in Sunday worship a problem, we currently print a limited number of large-print song sheets for specific people.
We don't want to print unnecessary copies so please speak with the door team and we will begin to make these available for you each week.
Mearns Free Church has a What's App Group for Prayer -The "PRAY NOW" Group
Purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.
How to connect: Speak to Margaret Boyd if you would like to be added to this group or email Margaret at: mandmboyd@hotmail.co.uk
What tech do I need?: You need to have a Smart Phone with WhatsApp to get set up.
Emailing The Minister
Please be careful when emailing Scott that you are using the correct current email address minister@mearnsfree.org. A number of emails continue to be sent to accounts no longer in use. Please be doubly careful when sending from a device that is not your normal communication device (like a phone) or if you use “reply to all”.
Email Addresses For Mearns Free Church
Please make sure you change your email address list now we are part of the Free Church.
Tom Brown (Office): office@mearnsfree.org
Scott Kirkland (Minister): minister@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org