No.82 14th March, 2026
Hi,
Hope this finds you well.
This is an important week for the church - alongside our usual weekly services we have the AGM at the end of the week.
Kevin de Young writes about what it means to be a member of a church in his excellent book on doctrine - here is a wee extract:
"For some Christians membership sounds stiff and unncessary, something you have at your bank or the country club but too formal for the church. Why is local church such a big deal?
1. Our God is a keeper of lists and names. The Bible is full of membership rolls...there is even a book called Numbers that contains an authorised census of God's people.
2. Membership is a bibilical category. The church did not steal the idea from the guild or the country club. 'For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ' (1 Cor 12;12) In joining a church you make visible your commitment to Christ and his people...its in the visible church that God expects you to live out your faith.
3. In joining a church...you state before God and others that you are part of this local body of believers...Real fellowship is hard work, because most people are a lot like us - selfish, petty and proud. But that's the body God calls you to.
4. Church membership keeps us accountable...we are offering ourselves to one another to be encouraged, rebuked, corrected and served...
Scott's prayer from the Westminster Confession this week picks this theme up so well too.
The services for Easter Week are noted below (these are in the week after our Easter Fun Day and the Evidence for Easter Event) If you want to have an image you can easily email or
Whatsapp to friends and family to invite them to these services and events speak to me or Margo.
There is a lot of set up and background work involved in the Fun Day so please look at what is being asked for.
Enjoy the mag.
MB
Sunday 15th March
Morning service - 10.30am
Mark ch12:13-27
HOME GROUPS are on this week.
A new session of Home Groups will start after Easter .
Not been involved yet? speak with Scott K or Scott H for more details
Many of us will have enjoyed this Easter presentation last year when we hosted the Lamps at Belmont .
This Sunday at 7pm they are at NMBC at Greenfarm Road- details and tickets are here.
NMBC have made a kind offer that if you buy a ticket for the Passion play on Sunday night you will get one free to bring a non-Christian friend/family member.
We hosted this performance last year and it was
You can get more details and buy tickets at this link..
The Wednesday mid week prayer meeting
7.15-8.15pm
This week we are at the McNicols' in Eaglesham
Letter from the Manse
Dear Church Family,
Please save the date for our AGM this coming Friday 20th March. This will be a brief but significant meeting as we reflect on 2025. We have much to be grateful for, particularly our healthy financial position, and we will be electing six members to the Finance Committee for the 2026/2027 term (details below).
Additionally, please join us in prayer regarding the "Assisted Dying Bill" coming before Holyrood this Wednesday. You will find details below on how we can unite in prayer with the wider Free Church, led by the Moderator.
We are entering a season which reminds us of the Hope of the Gospel
I am sure we all share the desire to see the Lord build His Church through Mearns Free and bring glory to His Name. Please pray for the unique opportunities that Easter brings. It remains a "cultural moment" that opens doors to invite friends and family to church. You never know, this might be the year the Lord brings them to a true, repentant faith in Jesus.
Historical Evidence of the Resurrection: On the evening of 29th March, Scott Hamilton will lead us in exploring the historical evidence of the Resurrection. This is a fantastic opportunity to ground our faith in the facts of history and prepare our hearts for the Easter season.
Community Fun Day: Saturday, 28th March Our aim is simple: to let the people of Newton Mearns know that Mearns Free Church is here. We have a fantastic day planned with not least, a pony, a fire engine, and a bouncy castle. While we hope for conversations about Jesus during the day, we are praying specifically for the "downstream" gospel opportunities that will flow from this day of fun.
Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) Friday, 20th March | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Location: Belmont
Please join us as we gather to look back on the past year of ministry at Mearns Free Church. This is an important time to review our 2025 accounts, discuss our shared life as a congregation and as we thank the Lord for 2025, commit to prayer 2026.
Election of the Finance Committee. During the meeting, we will elect six members to the Finance Committee for the 2026/2027 term. These individuals will also serve as our OSCR Trustees.
The following current members have expressed their willingness to stand for re-election:
Catherine MacKay, Daniel Clarke, Lawrence Renn, Lorna Hamilton, Margo McNicol, Tom Brown
Additional Nominations Welcome. We welcome additional nominations from the congregation. If you nominate someone, before submitting their name please ensure they have agreed to stand. There will be an election and six with the most votes will be elected.
Please send all nominations to Scott K at minister@mearnsfree.org no later than lunchtime on Friday, 20th March, so that the election process can be finalized.
Letter from the Manse Weekend Away
Hey church family,
I’m sending this at midnight having just managed to finally get the teenage boys to go to bed and lie silently. Whether or not they remain in such a condition remains to be seen.
I’m away with Pauline Forster and seven or eight of our Youth at the Scripture Union regional weekend away.
These weekends are often such an encouragement for teenagers who are at churches and schools where there aren’t many young believers at their age and stage. Seeing your Christian friends only once a year at a summer camp can make one feel isolated, even if they’re only a message away.
These weekends are also often such an encouragement for teenagers who are regularly at church on a Sunday with many a friend. We’re able to take around half of our Youth away with us, as they spend the whole weekend together, having fun with one another, hearing more about what God has done for them and what sort of response the gospel demands on their hearts.
You can build up a trust and a conversation with a young person over a weekend such as this that you can’t do on a week-by-week basis. We get to see each other eating lunch, playing board games, and singing God’s praises. These residentials relax and strengthen the bonds between the Youth, but also between them and us as leaders. This is crucial for us going forwards if we plan to disciple them well as young believers.
I won’t be there on Sunday, but please keep on praying for this weekend.
Pauline has already done a talk on Noah and has made it very clear to the teenagers that God is not a harsh Taskmaster (the TV show is our theme for the weekend!) but a God who responds to our sin with a judgment that is fair and good. He is also a God who has sent His Son to take the judgment upon Himself that we deserve to bear.
My talk is on Sunday morning, when I’ll be speaking from Ephesians chapter two, telling these teens that they cannot earn their way into heaven, but it’s only by God’s grace that we stand righteous before Jesus. It’ll be great to press upon them that it’s not just by being a “good” person, or by going to church, that we are saved from our sins, but only by God’s grace, through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone!
The teenage boys are still asleep. I might be able to nod off myself now. See you soon!
Scott H
Peacemakers
David Powlison's daily devotional 'Take Heart' had a prayer for the Peacemakers this week.
Apropriate of course, as we watch the news headlines, but he rightly makes sure that WE are looking to be peacemakers in our own lives as well as wanting others to seek it:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” —Matthew 5:9
A Prayer for Us to Become Peacemakers
Our God and Father, we thank you that you have given to us Christ Jesus, fully God, fully a man.
Thank you for his honest suffering, sweat, and blood, his entering our plight, being genuinely tempted, facing death itself, not recoiling in the face of horrors. A man of faith, a pioneer and perfector of our faith. And we beseech you that you will enable us to awaken, to see, to hear the Prince of Peace. Lord, we know that you have said that peacemakers are blessed, and you yourself are the peacemaker.
We are war-makers so easily, or we are peace lovers who duck necessary conflict. And we beseech you that you would make us men and women who are agents of peace in our world at war, who repent quickly when we are feisty or when we are fearful, who learn to go forward with our heads held high and to love people, who enter into difficult situations, recognizing that this is a world that needs redemption and that means stepping into hard places.
Help us not be lovers of comfort, protectors of reputation, wanting life to be on our terms, trying to create some little private paradise, a kingdom of peace and our own control. Let us live freely within the real world, the one that cries out for peacemakers. Lord, thank you that this is exactly what you are doing in our lives, one and all. Give us your own wisdom. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, who is the agent of a peaceable wisdom.
Amen.
"The happy meal that kept on going..."
...is the title of the P1-P7 kids session on 22nd March.
We'd like to invite our P1-P7 group and their families to stay for lunch after church on Sunday 22nd March to share a McDonalds Happy Meal lunch together and to chat about family, church and faith.
Let Pauline know by Thursday 19th March via WhatsApp or email children@mearnsfree.org.
Scottish Day Conference 2026
DATE FOR THE DIARY
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Date: Saturday 18 April
Time: 10am – 2.30pm
Venue: Sandyford Henderson Church
Join us for a day of worship, fellowship, and mission-focused teaching.
We’re privileged to welcome Andy (Eastern Europe), Paul Daniel (Indian diaspora) and Jess Merkle (Scotland)—as we seek to respond to the glorious reality that, despite all the chaos we see in the world, our God still reigns, and that his reign is being extended through the gospel.
All the usual details and booking details can be found by having a chat with Catherine A or by looking at this link.
It's great to see people supporting Govan Free Church's Food Bank.
Thanks to those who brought items along last week.
We are really keen to have more Coffee and Cereal - remember any size of jar/box will be divvied up into smaller bags - can you help?
There will be a bag at the door of the gym on Sunday morning.
If you have any questions about the Food Bank speak with Sue A or Martin B
Put this Easter outreach event in your diary -
who could you bring along to hear about the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
It's on Palm Sunday evening at Belmont School.
Speak with Scott H for more info.
50 Reasons for the Cross
As we head towards Easter there are a number of daily devotional books available to focus our minds on the meaning of what Jesus would accomplish in His death.
John Piper's book 50 Reasons for the Cross is available as a FREE download which you can access easily here. Each 'reason' is only 2 pages long- Read one each day?:
Last Sunday morning Scott H reminded us from Mark 12 that Jesus did not misjudge the situation and some how ended up in the hands of the authorities ... his plan to go to Jerusalem and then on to the cross was something he had been in control of from the start. In this 'Reason' from John Piper's book the control and sovereignty of God in His plan for our salvation is made clear.
To Show That the Worst Evil Is Meant by God for Good
In this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus . . . both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Acts 4:27-28
The most profound thing we can say about suffering and evil is that, in Jesus Christ, God entered into it and turned it for good. The origin of evil is shrouded in mystery. The Bible does not take us as far as we might like to go. Rather it says, “The secret things belong to . . . God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). The heart of the Bible is not an explanation of where evil came from, but a demonstration of how God enters into it and turns it for the very opposite—everlasting righteousness and joy. There were pointers in the Scriptures all along the way that it would be like this for the Messiah. Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into slavery in Egypt. He seemed abandoned for seventeen years. But God was in it and made him ruler in Egypt, so that in a great famine he could save the very ones who sold him.
The story is summed up in a word from Joseph to his brothers: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). A foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, forsaken in order to save. Or consider Christ’s ancestry. Once God was the only king in Israel. But the people rebelled and asked for a human king: “No! But there shall be a king over us” (1 Samuel 8:19). Later they confessed, “We have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king” (1 Samuel 12:19).
But God was in it. From the line of these kings he brought Christ into the world. The sinless Saviour had his earthly origin in sin as he came to save sinners. But the most astonishing thing is that evil and suffering were Christ’s appointed way of victory over evil and suffering. Every act of treachery and brutality against Jesus was sinful and evil. But God was in it. The Bible says, “Jesus [was] delivered up [to death] according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). The lash on his back, the thorns on his head, the spit on his cheek, the bruises on his face, the nails in his hands, the spear in his side, the scorn of rulers, the betrayal of his friend, the desertion by his disciples—these were all the result of sin, and all designed by God to destroy the power of sin. “Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [did] whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:27-28). There is no greater sin than to hate and kill the Son of God. There was no greater suffering nor any greater innocence than the suffering and innocence of Christ. Yet God was in it all. “It was the will of the Lord to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10). His aim, through evil and suffering, was to destroy evil and suffering. “With his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This is why Jesus came to die. God meant to show the world that there is no sin and no evil too great that God cannot bring from it everlasting righteousness and joy. The very suffering that we caused became the hope of our salvation. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
TUESDAYS 2 - 3.30pm
in Newton Mearns Baptist Church
A great opportunity to meet friends, and enjoy some tea, coffee and home baking.
This is an actual photo and NOT generated by A.I. using a prompt to Chat GPT asking it to give me a photo showing why there is a significant increase in type 2 diabetes amongst the elderly in the Newton Mearns area.
This week the prayer Scott K has written (using the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) as a framework) has a title 'Communion of the Saints' which might not seem to be 'grounded' in week by week interaction with one another and how we do church but it certainly is, and it's timely that as Scott works through the WCF we land here in the same week as the AGM.
Part of the prayer reads, 'Gracious God, strengthen our commitment to the fellowship of believers' and that is a great sentence to pray as we look to see how we can serve and worship together over the busy Easter period and beyond. Read the prayer here.
David MacPherson, the minister at Govan Free Church is taking part in the Kiltwalk to raise funds for the church's foodbank that we support with food donations and two volunteers - Sue A and Martin B.
David is walking on Saturday 26 April starting at 10:30. He is taking part in the Big Stroll which is 14.6 miles long from Clydebank to Balloch, check out the details
HERE.
Do you fancy signing up to walk with David and support Govan Free Church? It would be fantastic if Mearns Free Church had a presence. We as a church are supporting this fundraising by being the nominated charity that you would select when registering to walk.
To sign up click
HERE and when asked which charity you're walking for enter "Mearns Free Church". After registering you will be prompted to set up an online fundraising page at JustGiving.
Again, you nominate Mearns Free Church as your charity.
If you have any questions about the process please talk to Jack Geddes (
077143 983075).
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
Our Easter family funday is an ideal opportunity to bring together friends and families within our community.
You can see on the flyer a selection of what will be going on.
If you would be able to help with this event please get in touch with Fiona Waugh on 07795361752.
We would also be grateful for any donations towards various stalls and competitions:
Pre-loved Toy Stall. At the Easter Extravaganza on Saturday 28th March we will be having a pre-loved toy stall. This is your chance to clear out and de-clutter! We are looking for toy donations in very good condition and with all the relevant parts present. We will accept your donations by bringing them to Belmont school on Sunday 15th March and Sunday 22nd March. Please get in touch with Susan Little, if you have any questions. Thank you!
Home Baking - all donations will be greatly appreciated - speak with Sue Anderson about this.
Various Prizes - any unwanted gifts you may have received but will not use eg. toiletries, chocolates, sweets etc There will be a bag at the hall entrance on Sundays for any donations.
DO YOU HAVE ANY GIFT BAGS WE COULD HAVE - we would like to be able to put the prizes in nice bags.
Kevin de young's chapter on Church Membership which is mentioned can be read in full here - grab a moment to read and think through the implications. Click here.
11 different Easter SU Holidays are running, representing hundreds of young people and team members in different locations, including the Ski Holiday in Austria.
Volunteers will be serving as Team Leaders, Group Leaders, Cooks, Assistant Cooks, Travel Leaders and Trainee Leaders. Those of us at home can still be involved, doing the vital job of covering them and their events in prayer; they are partners with us in sharing the word of God with children and young people, and are on the spiritual front line!
Can you join the prayer support team - or do you know someone who would love to do this?
Register the weeks you are available and you will be send prayer letters and urgent prayer requests during the weeks you are available. Click HERE for details.
Thank you!
‘Left to Their Own Devices’
- A Care for the Family Meeting
Parenting support event to Glasgow on the 19 May,
Newton Mearns Baptist Church at 7.30pm.
great event for parents of children aged 8+
Mearns Free Church also has a What's App Group for Prayer.The "PRAY NOW" Group's purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.How to connect: Speak to or whatsapp Margaret Boyd if you would like to be added to this WhatsApp group.
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.
Protecting children & vulnerable adults is a priority at Mearns Free Church.
If you have concerns in relation to the safeguarding of children or of vulnerable adults, report these concerns to the Safeguarding Team - Sue Anderson or Ian Forgie or Alastair McLellan.
Everyone who has PVG certification through Mearns Free Church must undergo safeguarding training (or refresher training) every 3 years. Some have still to undertake this training. The Free Church provides excellent online safeguarding training (places can be booked through the following link: Safeguarding Training Booking – Free Church of Scotland).
The next training sessions are on:
Thursday 26th March – 19.30
Tuesday 28th April – 19.30
Monday 25th May – 19.30
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
Scott Hamilton (Associate Minister): associate@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org
Alastair McLellan (Session Clerk): alastair.mclellan@ntlworld.com
Reporting any concerns
If you want to raise any concerns about your experience in Mearns Free Church please speak to either the Minister Scott Kirkland, the Associate Minister Scott Hamilton or the Session Cerk Alastair McLellan.
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.