No.100    14th August

Hi, 
Hope this finds you well.

Conferences and Events - details of various activities going on around the central belt in the next few weeks are in the magazine - quite a range of things from music to lectures. There was even one this week for Left Handed Christians which you may have missed which you can read about. (It was International Lefthanded Day on the 13th - what do you mean you've even less interest in this than the eclipse of the sun?!) 

However, making our own church's weekly activities a priority is an obvious thing to do and alongside the Food for Thought event in early September the programme for Sunday nights is starting next week. The joint services with NMBC and the Home Groups can be part of your Sunday worship. The Mearns Youth programme will start next week too. 

Enjoy the commemorative centennial mag,
MB

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Sunday 16th August

Sunday Morning 
Rev Scott Kirkland
Ecclesiastes 6.9-7.29

Sunday Evening

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Our weekly prayer meeting  on Wednesdays has started again -   7:15 PM to 8:15 PM.
During August we will gather at Sandra and John McNicol's home in Eaglesham. Again, all are welcome, and the address is available from the office.

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Community Weekend!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to what was a very busy weekend - the team who were looking after the childrens' activities, the team in the kitchen, those who had baked, those who were serving teas and coffees etc etc.


There was a great team at the Cafe Connect Summer special - both front and back of house.










Priscilla was pretty angry with the missing meringues and made it clear that her letter to the Session would be naming names.


This was part of a game at the ceilidh and not a new version of the Dashing White Sergeant


Ashyln and Scott relived their first dance  - this was ignored by everyone because the chip butties had just arrived.

We're afraid that the photo above does not show the band in all their glory - but they were really excellent and made such a difference to the evening. Big thanks to them!

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Everyone is welcome to our Food for Thought Event at the Eglinton Arms at 7pm on Thursday 3rd September.  

Our speaker , David Nixon, has himself come from a polarised society divided by religion and politics so it is a subject he has wrestled with a lot on his journey. 

The idea is that if you are a church member you invite a guest or guests - you can register them HERE on our Eventbrite link so we can keep a track on numbers , then pay for the dinner by transferring the money to Sandy McDougall our church treasurer. 
It is £25 per person for a two course fork buffet. Don’t let cost be a barrier to coming. A number of places can be funded by the church. Again speak to Sandy McDougall about this.  

David Nixon is particularly keen on expanding on the question and answer session that was so popular last year. So tell your guests to ask anything! Looking forward to a great night 
You could click and copy the image above and send to the person you want to invite along so they have the details to hand.
If you have any questions about the event speak with Margo, Sandy McD or one of the Scotts.
 

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Letter from the Manse

Dear Church Family,
I had a lovely time leading worship last Sunday at Campbeltown Free Church. The congregation gave Anita and me a warm welcome and I passed on your greetings to them. It was great to see such enthusiasm to glorify the Lord in the Campbeltown community.
As we returned home through Argyll, we also extended your greetings and kindest regards to Ken, Elaine and Jamie Taggart (in Ardfern) and then Lynda and Calum McPhail (in Furnace).
Let’s continue to pray for Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Tarbert, and other more remote congregations throughout Scotland. Worshipping the Lord in these places brings challenges we just don’t experience here in the suburbs.
…Back here at Mearns Free Church, let me thank everyone who was involved in our Community Weekend. Many took part one way or another. However, let us all now pray for the fruitfulness of the weekend.
…Many parts of our normal church life recommence at this time of year (The Pulse, Home Groups, Joint Services with NMBC, Youth, Hizkidz, PrimeTime, etc.). We would love you to be involved. Please speak with me or Scott Hamilton to see how you can attend and/or help at some of these.

I would also like to draw your attention to two specific and related needs we have:
1. Camera and Laptop Equipment Ministry: We are extremely blessed and so grateful to God for our access to Belmont House School for worship. However, one limitation is that we cannot store any equipment on site.
Unknown to most, several of you store boxes of items needed for our Sunday ministries. I thank you on behalf of the congregation.  
For the last two years, Barrie Clark has been storing three boxes of camera and laptop equipment in his home. Barrie has also delivered these boxes to Belmont on Friday evenings so that they can be made ready for Sunday. We are so grateful to him and Janet for this unseen ministry.
It is now time for them to step back. This means we have an urgent need to store the equipment in a home (not a garage) and we also need someone to deliver the equipment on Friday nights (usually arriving by 6:00 PM). We are very grateful to those who have stepped in on occasion to assist when Barrie was not available. It would be good for others to become involved.
The person who stores the equipment can of course be the person who then transports it to Belmont, as Barrie did. However, this could become two distinct roles (one person stores and another delivers).
The equipment is not heavy and does not take up much space in the house. The boxes can be stacked if desired; they take up a floor space of 60 cm by 40 cm with a height of 90 cm (see left picture).
What we take for granted on a Sunday morning in worship is dependent on this background activity. We may also be unaware that the service is recorded and posted on YouTube. While the number of “views” varies most weeks, there are regularly something like 70–100 views. The service on 7/12/25 was viewed 281 time and 16/6/24 had 287 views. Storing and delivering the boxes is a vital ministry.
Can we create a rota of drivers? Can you help with either storage or driving? Please contact me at minister@mearnsfree.org.

2. Sound Equipment Ministry. On a similar theme, for the last two years, we have been so grateful to Tom and Janette McPhail for storing the sound equipment in their garage next to Mearns Castle High School. They are happy to continue doing this.
However, it has been my job to deliver this each Friday evening to Belmont (usually arriving by 6:00 PM). These items are also vital for Sunday worship.
It is timely to involve others in this task. Picking up the kit and then dropping it off takes less than 30 minutes. It is bulkier and heavier than the equipment mentioned above (see the picture on right).
I am hoping that if several of us volunteer, each person may only need to be involved about once a month (or less?). If car space is a problem, we may find solutions to this. Please contact me to explore this further (minister@mearnsfree.org).

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday,
With warmest regards in Christ,
Scott K

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This session the Youth on a Sunday night will be looking at Exodus.
Look out for Eilidh telling jokes like: Egyptologists have discovered a hidden tomb where a mummy was encased in chocolate. They believe its the lost tomb of Pharoah Roche

• 23rd Aug - Exodus 1-2
• 30th Aug - Exodus 3
• 6th Sept - Gowanbank Weekend Away
• 13th Sept - Exodus 4
• 27th Sept - Exodus 5
• 4th Oct - Exodus 7-10
• 11th & 18th Oct - School Hols

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There are still copies available of the book we have been encouraged to read together.
Get a copy from Stewart Anderson on Sunday  - just £7

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J John's recent article in the Sunday Times has made people reflect on where they will find peace - copies of the article have been pinging over Whats app and Facebook - if you use the link you can read and reflect on his short piece here...below is an extract.
"Previous generations worried about famine, plague and war. We worry about these too. The difference is that now we can monitor them around the clock. We carry devices with more computing power than 1960s space rockets, yet many of us cannot get through a Monday without feeling overwhelmed...
Jesus points us towards something that seems almost revolutionary: trust. Not optimism. Trust.
The opposite of anxiety is not certainty. It is trust. That insight may be one reason Jesus continues to attract attention 20 centuries later."

DO YOU PRAY OUT LOUD?

The question of praying out loud when you are by yourself was something that was mentioned at PULSE on Wednesday. We thought about how individuals can have a real, verbal connection with the LORD God.  Below is an excerpt from David Powlison's book TAKE HEART which reflects on this question and considers how we can best have a straight talk with God rather than being 'tempted to perform.'

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. —Psalm 57:2
It’s fair to say that having a “quiet time” is a misnomer. We should more properly have a “noisy time”! By talking out loud you live the reality that you are talking with another person, not simply talking to yourself inside your own head. Of course silent prayers are not wrong (1 Samuel 1:13; Nehemiah 2:4) but they are the exception. Even in such silent prayers, the essentially verbal nature of prayer is still operative, though the speaking is subvocal. Words could be spoken out loud if the situation warranted or the state of mind allowed. In Jesus’s teaching and example, a praying individual seeks privacy so he or she can talk out loud with God. “Go to your room and shut the door” (Matthew 6:6).
That’s so you can talk straight, rather than being tempted to perform.
Jesus “would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16). Why? He was talking out loud. And when Jesus walked off into the olive grove that Thursday night in order to pray, his disciples could overhear his fervent, pointed words (Matthew 26:36–44). You can do the same sort of thing. Close the door, take a walk, get in the car—and speak up. Of course, in group contexts throughout the Bible, in public gatherings, God’s people naturally pray and sing aloud, just as they hear the Bible aloud. We naturally do the same in corporate worship, whether in liturgy, in led prayers, or in small-group prayer. And even moments of silent confession and intercession, though subvocal, remain essentially verbal in character and content. Prayer is verbal because it is relational. It is a verbal connection with someone you know, need and love.

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Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church

 

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Inaugural 'Left Handed Christians' Conference

As you will almost certainly have been aware, yesterday (13th) was International Left Handed Day. David Merriman had hoped to gather a number of lefthanders from across the Glasgow Churches but may have over estimated interest in the series of seminars and 'left handed fun' activities that he had organised.
Instead of running the seminars on 'Were people left handed before the Fall?' and 'Can you be left handed and still serve on Session?' and a workshop on transitioning to lefthandedness, David just sat quietly and read Judges chapter 3.

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Starting 23rd August

One of the key elements of church life  is now the Joint Evening service with Newton Mearns Baptist.
We meet on 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at NBMC at 7pm (6.30pm for tea/coffee)
Make sure you prioritise these dates - the evening services will focus on 2nd Corinthians.

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Women for Mission Conference

Saturday 12th September
When Strivings Cease: Learning to pause in a world of unrest.
The WfM Conference will be held at Smithton Free Church on Saturday 12th September, 9:30am-3:30pm. Our main speakers on the topic of rest are Cathy Steed and Mairi Smith. Throughout the day, we'll hear from our main speakers as well as a Q&A, lunch and craft stalls and a bookstall hosted by Christian Focus Publishing. Booking details are available here.
Alongside the bookstall, we're facilitating a number of craft stalls to sell goods at the event. In previous years, these have August 2026 Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 2LS T: 0131 226 5286 E: offices@freechurch.org included handcrafted decorations, cards, artwork, knitwear and jams - we'd love to have a variety of things on offer. contact@womenformission.org.



Saturday 26th September
Scotland’s most urgent need in 2026 is for the gospel.
That gospel needs to be heard, believed and followed all across our nation. But for the gospel to be heard, it needs to be offered.   
This year’s ETS Conference focuses on the Free Offer of the Gospel – a subject that has been a source of controversy and tension in the history of the Scottish Church and which today remains an urgent priority as we seek to meet the deepest needs of our nation. 
Join us as we explore the rich theological history and discuss the immediate contemporary relevance of this profound and priceless topic.
See details including ticket info here


Thursday 1st October
A Night of Worship and Prayer for Scotland: The Revival 2026
An evening of worship and prayer will take place at the SEC in Glasgow on Thursday 1st October. The Revival 2026 will feature worship led by Michael W. Smith and Celtic Worship, with a message from Nicky Gumbel. Doors open at 6pm, for a 6.30pm start. For more details and how to book your tickets, go to: The Revival 2026 page here or the SEC page here


Thursday 17th December
Celtic Worship
Experience an uplifting night of traditional Scottish folk and contemporary praise as Celtic Worship head to the O2 Academy Glasgow this December alongside the incredible Zerua Music!
Go to Celtic Worship webpage here or see ticket details here. 

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It's been great to see people supporting Govan Free Church's Food Bank.
Thanks to those who brought items in recent weeks.
Look out for the Green Box at the back!

Coffee, Teabags, Cereal, pasta / pasta sauce - all these are welcome- remember any size of jar/box will be divvied up into smaller bags - can you help?
If you have any questions about the Food Bank speak with Sue A, Mary R or Martin B

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COFFEE AND TREATS AFTER CHURCH

BAKING  - it's great that so many people are on the baking rota - this means that it is around every 7-8 weeks that they are called on. Can you join this group - or know someone in your family who is a great baker, who could make something which you can pass off as your own work? Speak with Margaret Boyd
CUPS - already a lot of people bring their own cup along - this does save on costs for paper cups so if you can bring your along that would be great,  and the team will almost certainly speak about you behind your back less than they currently do!