No.62    17th October 2025

 

Hi, hope this finds you well.

Last week I mentioned that it's good to see a range of articles and news which confirms that we are a Family Church - the Bible encourages us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn and that is part of our church experience again this week. And that is only the news we are aware of, as we know that there are families and individuals who will have battles and issues to face which are private but painful and upsetting (and often longterm) which we won't know about. Scott K picks up on this in a more formal sense in terms of what it is to be part of the church family...beyond our own family's experience, and the Mearns Free family, every Christian is part of what someone called the worldwide eternity long family of God. That is why we feel an attachment to Christians whether here or abroad.  So there are details about how we can interact and bring ourselves up to speed on what is going on in the worldwide chuch below and the Coffee Break highlights two distinctively different ways to consider this too.

Are you remembering to note in your diaries the events we've highlighted below (some online, or at Belmont or SU related etc)- eg. Have you booked your place for Christmas Wreath making?

Enjoy the Mag.
MB

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Sunday 19th October

 

Morning service - 10.30am
Rev Scott Hamilton
Mark ch7

 

This week is  Session 4 and the topic is The Spirit and the Son.
The passage we look at this week has some remarkable words from Jesus - we might think of the troubles and hassles we face (some of it because we are Christians, or just part of living in a messed up world) and these disciples certainly were upset as Jesus makes it clear that he isn't going to be with them. Then he says 'It's for your advantage if I go away!'  You can imagine the disciples response to that!!! - but Jesus makes it clear he has something better than staying with them...and we get that 'better' too.
Make sure you are part of a group to discover this week's remarkable truths which Jesus wants to underpin our lives with.
Not part of a group - speak to Scott K, Scott H or one of the elders to get slipped into a Home Group.

 Wednesday...

We meet on Wednesdays at 7.15pm for one hour.
For all Wednesdays in October, we meet at the Merriman's
Speak to Scott about being added to the 'Signal' app for getting PULSE messages.'

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From The Manse
Dear Congregation,
We have been developing an informal link with Govan Free Church since we joined the Free Church. It has been super hearing how they are developing their ministry into the Govan area. One way they minister to the needs of the community is with a foodbank.
We shall mark "Harvest Thanksgiving" this Sunday by asking that we share the abundance we have with the Food Bank at Govan. If you would like to participate in this thanksgiving, please see the details above for the kind of food items and dry products they especially appreciate.
The minister at Govan, Rev David McPherson will be on holiday for two weeks. This Sunday I shall lead worship at Govan and on the 26th October, Scott Hamilton will lead worship there also.  It is our prayer that in a variety of ways, we can be a blessing to Govan Free Church and through them, the people of Govan.

On the matter of elders and their "congregational districts".
As most of you know, each formal member of the congregation is linked with an elder. Your elder will likely be in contact with you from time to time at church or at home. Please do allow your elder to develop a prayerful relationship with you. You are welcome to contact them at any time. We have been revising some of these districts. This means it is timely for your elder to contact you to ensure you know who your elder is. For the majority of you, there will be no change in elder. However, for some of you, this will mean a new elder making themselves known to you.   

Robert Priestly
On a different and sadder matter…as many of us know, although Robert Priestly ensured he was in worship with us regularly (and looked so well) he was in fact living with a terminal cancer. Robert's health deteriorated over the summer and it is with sadness I now report Robert's death last Tuesday morning.
Let's bring Christine and the family before the Lord at this time of grief. We grieve with her, but with the hope that Jesus brings for all who die with faith in Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul reminds us;
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1st Thessalonians 4.13-14)
I will conduct Robert's funeral at the Hurlet Crematorium on 27th October at 3pm.

With warmest regards
Scott K

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Commissioning Cake Off!

It was great to see so many people waiting behind to enjoy fellowship - and cake - after the Service last Sunday as we also recognised Scott H's Commissioning as our Associate Minister.

A big thanks to Sue for the two amazing three tier cakes and of course for Alastair and the Bake off team for once again ensuring standards were maintained.

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Politics and Policy survey

What do evangelicals think?
Let the Evangelical Alliance know your views on a variety of important policy issues...

EA are inviting Christians to take part in a survey to gauge evangelicals’ views across a range of political/policy issues.
Click here to go to their page to find out more and to give them your views.
"We want to gain a clear and accurate understanding the political views of evangelicals in the UK.
This will allow us to advocate for you with clarity when we engage with politicians and those in power – as well as develop resources to equip evangelicals to engage in the public square.
The survey will take about 10 – 15 minutes to complete. Thank you for helping us understand and represent evangelicals better."

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Love is all around

Love is all around as they say, and we continue to celebrate those at either end of the love time-scale - whether it be impressive wedding anniversaries or those preparing for marriage...and of coure we pray in particular at this time for any husbands who have forgotten their wedding anniversary that they will find wisdom to know the true cost of their slip up.

1. Diamond Anniversary

Congratulations to Sandy and Margaret Cooper who celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on Monday.
They were married on 20th October 1965, in Alloway Parish Church with a reception in The Burns Monument Hotel, Alloway.

2. Engaged!

Congratulations also to Cathy and Finlay on their Engagement
We want to wish them the best, and pray for them as they make plans for the wedding and beyond!

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Each week Scott has been using the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) as a framework for prayer - helping us to pray through the great truths contained there... you can read the others by looking back at previous magazines. 
This week is "Of God's Covenant With Man"
"Lord God Almighty, Creator of the heavens and the earth, 
We recognise from your word that in the beginning the distance between you as creator and the first couple as your creatures was so great, that although they were given intelligence and decision making capability, they could never have truly understood their relationship with you their God and the reward you granted them, except that you made this known to them...
Read the whole prayer here.

(The Free Church of Scotland recognize the WCF as a 'standard', not as important as Scripture but secondarily authoritative for defining theology.)

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Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church

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World Wide Church

Last week there were a number of items around understanding the persecuted church better and having the tools to be informed when pray for these churches.
Do you ever feel that you know there are things going on in the church across the world that you should be praying for but really don't know where to start - Lausanne Movement has put together a short overview for each week - you can subscribe and the news and a short overview is sent to you. 
 Praying for the World, a free weekly prayer guide to inspire and inform the whole church to pray for the whole world you can be up to date and be clear about what you are praying for across the globe.
Simply go to lausanne.org/pray to subscribe and the weekly update will be sent to you.

 

PREPARE TO STAND

Andrew Brunson is speaking about his experiences in Turkey being under arrest for his faith  and he and his wife's dramatic release.
Harper church on Tues 25th November.
See last week's magazine HERE for details 
 

OPEN DOORS

Open Doors has asked us to 'stand in the gap for the persecuted church' through taking part in 3 upcoming events
All the details  of each of the events below are in last week's magazine here.

• Arise Africa Online Webinar- 7.30pm on 22nd October
• International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) - 2nd November
• IDOP Prayer Vigil - Saturday 15th November

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The Coffee Afternoon has the double benefit of being able to support the work of Blythswood AND to let visitors and guests see where we meet on a Sunday morning. 
There are events over Christmas that will be particularly good for inviting friends and families too and this informal setting is a good starting point. The image above will be available to WhatsApp people and there will be some paper flyers too.

Sunday Evening 14th December, 7pm

Christmas Musical Evening

Hear the events of the first Christmas explained and celebrated through traditional and modern music and readings.
Followed by Tea/Coffee and Mince Pies.
More details and ways of inviting friends will be in the magazine over the next few weeks, but this is a good time to start thinking about who you could invite.

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1. We are used to having headline news from Israel and Palestine, and from Ukraine. But what is clear is that news outlets can be picky in what they focus on. US Celebrity Show Host Bill Maher brought up the news of the thousands of Christians being killed in Nigeria - Maher is an athiest and certainly not with Christian leanings, but he could see how bizarre it was that the news from Nigeria was virtually unspoken about.  Here is the Sky news report on his comments and an interview with the  director of a Christian charity working in Nigeria.

2. The Things Unseen Podcast focussed on the Church Family this week - how we should play our part and importantly not miss out on the blessings of being part of the church family? It's a five minute listen. Here is the link for Monday or on Youtube here
(Things Unseen are short (4-5min) reflections each day - you can subscribe and listen to them each day.) 

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SU SCOTLAND
Local Hubs

SU Scotland’s vision is to see every child and young person in Scotland exploring the Bible and responding to the significance of Jesus.
There are 705,000 children and young people in 2,500 schools. These are big numbers, but there are 360 high school clusters with associated primaries, sometimes with a local independent or special school.

SU Scotland’s aim is to have a local ministry hub at the heart of every high school cluster. A local ministry hub will be local Christians coming together so that each school in the cluster is prayed for regularly. Local knowledge will be shared cultivating community and opportunities to serve the schools and share the Gospel will be explored. SU Scotland's Director of Local Minstries - Zonya Bewick shares her passion for this in this video



Due to the overlapping nature of the schools and ministries in our area we have created a 'Super-Hub' currently covering the High Schools of Eastwood, Mearns Castle, Williamwood and Woodfarm and their associated primaries.
We are gathering on Monday 27th October, 7.30pm in Cartsbridge Church and would love any parents, grandparents, teachers and those who want to support our local schools to come along. 
Pauline
Regional Worker, Renfrewshire & Inverclyde
E: Pauline.Forster@suscotland.org.uk  

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Fire Exits

Did you know there are three different ways of exiting the school building in an emergency? Where do you normally sit? Take a note of the exits below for each of the three areas.