No.69      5th December

 

Hi, hope this finds you well and warm.

The magazine has a number of items which refer to events coming up in the next few weeks...in fact for the Origin Scotland concert it is this weekend - tickets still available. Take a look below at who is performing this year. And there are other music events too to take note of.

As we come to the end of the year there are updates and letters of Thanks for the organisations we support in various ways - these are included below.

Coming back to the subject of music and singing, and we will have our share of music at Mearns events and services and there is a short article below that arrived in my inbox this week reminding us that, even when these Carols are well known, we sing them not just because we always just sing them at this time...or as space fillers!! They are a key part of our worship together - and having stood the test of time so many of these Carols are full of such helpful truths we can bring to the Lord in praise and worship. eg. we will be singing these appropriate words on Sunday, God willing:
With sorrow brought by sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
And since the angels sang, have passed
Two thousand years of wrong;
For man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, you men of strife
And hear the angels sing!

...have a read and reflect as we head into the Carol Singing season.

Enjoy the Mag.
MB

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Sunday 7th December

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT   
Morning service - 10.30am
Luke 1:57-79
"The Way of Peace"
 

Wednesday

We meet on Wednesdays at 7.15pm for one hour.
For the first two Wednesdays in December at the Cooper's.
Speak to Scott about being added to the 'Signal' app for getting PULSE messages.'

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Singing is not a time filler!

While it may be rare to find a church that dedicates a substantial portion of the service to prayers and Scripture reading, it would be rare to find a church that fails to dedicate a substantial portion of the service to singing. Christians love to sing, and we have always regarded it as an essential component of our worship.

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians he says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (3:16). Singing is to be corporate so that the whole congregation joins their voices together as one. And that singing is meant to be both horizontal—a means to encourage and strengthen one another-and vertical—a means to express our thanks and praise to God.

Matt Boswell says it well: “A church’s songs are not a mere preamble to the sermon. Singing is not filler time to warm up a congregation. Singing is a holy practice. We sing because God has commanded us, and our songs should fill our hearts with delight.” This being the case, our songs must be meaty, for they need to teach and admonish our brothers and sisters while also communicating gratitude to the Lord. We sing from the Word, for one another, and to the Lord.
Tim Challies 

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December...
Below are the dates for the service and events we have over December around the church. (Other events are further down the magazine.)
You can copy and paste this image into WhatsApp messages for sending to friends and family and let them know what is on over the Advent season.
If you are inviting people to our Special Musical event on the 14th December you can use the image below to do that. Speak with Scott H, Debbie or Elizabeth S for more info about this evening.

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From The Manse

Dear Congregation,
When you arrive for worship on Sunday please be aware that our worshipping space will be arranged a little differently this Sunday.
The school has erected its stage at one end of the hall in preparation for their upcoming Christmas activities. We have worked with this arrangement over the last two Christmases and know that we can still worship freely with this altered lay-out. Don't be surprised when entering the premises!

This is the Second Sunday of Advent and as we walk a path towards Christmas, we shall have the Advent theme of "The Way of Peace". In addition, we will be delighted to include the Sacrament of Baptism and the welcoming of new members into our congregation.
We will rejoice in witnessing the Profession of Faith of Liam, Adriana, and Javier. In addition, we will welcome, by resolution of our elders, several new members transferring from other congregations. I spoke about this at greater length in my letter last week. What a joy this will all be! We may have some guests with us; please ensure they receive a very warm welcome.

Outreach and Prayer Request…
Please pray for our Wreath Making outreach event tomorrow afternoon. All slots are filled, and Val Forgie will be leading our guests in how to make a beautiful Christmas wreath. This event presents an important opportunity to share the good news of Christmas and invite the guests to further services.
Upcoming Christmas Services…We have additional services throughout December.

• We have our special evening gathering on the 14th of December. Please join us and, if possible, bring a friend.
• We will also be gathering with the Baptists on the 21st December at the Baptist Church for a joint carol service.
• Additionally, we shall worship on Christmas Eve at Belmont (7pm) and again on Christmas Morning (10.30).

Please put all these important dates in your diaries. These services at Belmont are wonderful opportunities to bring family and friends who do not normally attend church. Please do reach out with invitations.

Property Pledges…
I believe the property team has been delighted at the pledges made so far towards a property fund. (see below).Sandy McDougall will make a brief announcement about these pledges this Sunday and how we can now begin to turn these pledges into financial contributions. . (Those of us who have yet to pledge and would like to, feel free to speak with Sandy McDougall about this.)
Warmest Regards,
Scott

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 'Welcome Freddie'

Congratulations to Sean and Priscilla (and to grandparents Scott and Anita) on the safe arrival of Freddie, a wee brother for Theo.

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Property Acquisition Fund

The recent Finance Committee meeting considered the amount we have pledged so far towards the Property Acquisition Fund in our NMNC Trust, and is pleased to report that we have now reached a level where we can invite those pledging to start actioning their commitments.   
Sandy McDougall, our Treasurer, will be in contact individually with those who have made pledges to confirm bank details and run through any questions we may have. 
There is still time for anyone considering helping financially with this important step in the development of Mearns Free, and so please speak to Sandy or any member of the Finance Committee if you would like to discuss further.

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Mearns Free wants to support the Food Bank ministry which is run by Govan Free Church.
I was there on Thursday and it was great to see so many firstly enjoying a coffee and a warm welcome (some taking the opportuhnity to look at the second hand clothes) before walking round the tables of fruit, veg, tea/coffee, soups etc.  This photo shows Rev David McPherson giving a short talk - using the Lion Rampant  - before praying and inviting the 'Food bank clients' to come and fill their bags.

We want to support  them and can do so by offering food for the bank each week. Speak with me for more information.
When I showed David this photo he was keen to tell me that the chap in the background had spoken to David about coming along to church this weekend. 
Want to know more?...or want to hand something in or do you have 2nd hand clothes we can take down...speak to me on Sunday or get in touch. 
Martin B

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.Ladybird Book of Mearns Free

 

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Anchored in Christ —  4Corners magazine

This issue of 4Corners

• Feature: 'Chips for Ships', a look at how technology can equip workers in maritime Christian ministries
• Mission report: Fruit at long last in Ireland
• Church resources: How to invite and accept invitations from Muslims.

This month’s 4Corners charts a course through stories of renewal, from a new building reaching the broken, to quiet miracles in the Middle East, seeds sown over tea, and long-awaited fruit in Ireland. Don’t miss “Chips for Ships” and our focus on Spain.
Download your issue of 4Corners here
 
Prayer Calendar: December 2025 — February 2026
We are so thankful for each of you who faithfully pray for the work of UFM across the world. What an encouragement to know that the Lord hears the prayers of His people and is powerfully at work, both in those who go and those who send. As we look through the prayer calendar, we are regularly reminded of God’s goodness and many answered prayers.
Download your prayer calendar here

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At our Coffee Afternoon in November to support Blythswood, Paul Algeo their Church Engagement Officer shared something both of his own faith story, alongside Blythswood's current focus. Scott K received a letter from Paul to the church earlier this week...
Thank you again for organising the event recently in aid of our work.
As an example of how far £475.50 will go we can feed 7 children for the WHOLE year whilst they are at school. We've been involved in Kenya for a number of years providing meals for around 500 kids each day between two schools, helping to change lives for good.
Some of these kids have to walk up to 2 hours to get there and prior to our involvement they weren't receiving any meals whilst at school.

I'm sure you will agree that this alone is a good enough reason to help them, but as both these schools are Christian schools, the children learn about the Bible, as well as the normal lessons you would expect. This is also in line with our vision to see lives changed forever as we support the advancement of the gospel and trust the Lord will use it in whatever way he pleases!
Thank you so much for the invite to speak at your meeting, I would be delighted to come along and share more with you all.

Every blessing to you all.
Paul

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OPEN DOORS

Dear Scott
Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year


And from the team in Scotland, thanks for your engagement and support in 2025; looking forward to working with you in 2026.
Love and blessings
Chris Greenhalgh 
Church Relations Lead Scotland 
Open Doors UK & Ireland 

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Each week Scott K 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's prayer gets at something so central to being a Christian, could it become something we are blase about?! The focus is on having Faith, and it includes a reminder that - just in case we should somehow imagine that we had the insight, intellect, presence of mind or whatever,  to realise that we should trust in Jesus - even our faith is something which is a gift...
"We seek your forgiveness when we are tempted to credit our own wisdom or spiritual insight for believing in Jesus. We acknowledge that your Word teaches us something profoundly different."
You can read the prayer here.