No.108     9th October

Hi, 
Hope this finds you well. 
You can see from the start of the magazine there is plenty going on in and around the church over this weekend.
Even tomorrow (Saturday) has a quick start with the Monthly Prayer Meeting, and then Murray and Margo would be happy for Mearns Free folk to join them at the wedding of their daughter Rachel to Daniel.  And we are back at the Baptist church on Sunday evening when Scott K is continuing our series looking at 2nd Corinthians. Remember Scott K in your prayers as he preaches three times over the weekend and he is feeling a bit croaky at the moment - you can read his letter below. Scott H has a letter for us too - he is across in the far east at Scoughall for a SU weekend, so pray for him too.

And with all that busyness in mind (and as the October Week starts and schools are off , which means a break from putting chairs and equipment away this week 🥳) we have a blog from Sandra helping us think about our rest and work balance.

Enjoy the mag,
MB

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Saturday 10th October, 9am - 10am

at the Smiths, Eaglesham

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Sunday 11th October

Sunday Morning - 10.30am
Rev Scott Kirkland
John ch16

Sunday Evening

7pm (6.30pm for refreshments)
Continuing our studies in 2nd Corinthians

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This weekend four young people from our church - Angie, Lucy, Molly and Zara will be attending the GO CONFERENCE and Pauline is there as a leader.
GO Conference, one of SU Scotland’s events for S4-S6 young people from across Scotland. They are looking forward to welcoming 116 young people to Lendrick Muir from 9th-12th October, travelling from areas including the Highlands, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and the Borders. Please pray that this would be a significant and life-changing weekend as they gather to learn more about Jesus and grow in their faith. The speaker is Al MacInnes - Minister at Dornoch Free Church.
Read more about the weekend and the prayer points here.

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For some time now (no-one prepared to admit how long) Sandra has been writing Wee Scoops on a whole range of topics.
Over the Summer as we walked through Ecclesiastes on Sunday mornings, she also reflected on 'The Preacher' (ie Eccl ch1:1 not just Scott K or Scott H).
These reflections can be found on her webpage Wee Scoops and with her permission we will serialise some in the magazine. It was so helpful to grab a proper perspective on life and as we head into the end of 2026 it will do no harm to look back and remember what we considered about understanding the world God has given us.
Since we are about to head into an October holiday week (for some) we start with Sandra's reflection on a work and holiday balance while she herself is lying out 'under the sun'.
Below is an extract - read the whole piece is HERE

Welcome to the Pleasuredome #Ecclesiastes2

Reading Ecclesiastes 2, on a sunbed, in a lovely hotel, in the sun, felt kind of apt...
The Preacher was running a kind of experiment in hedonism – testing out pleasure. He was trying to figure out “what was good for the children to man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.”

On the upside, he enjoyed the building projects: “…my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was the reward for all my toil.” On the downside, such pleasure was fleeting: “…all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
And there was I, literally under the sun. Not that I was trying to gain anything. (Although I was fully expecting to be gaining at least a kg at the buffet over the week; I have conflicted relationships with hotel buffets.) The resort was clearly designed for pleasure, relaxation and enjoyment. For a break. And it works well for a lot of people. There are many people in work in a wide range of hospitality jobs, many people making a profit (I would imagine), many people getting a break from whatever their regular life is. A chance to read books, swim, eat, drink, look at Turkey, watch the World Cup…but a week is enough. One can only take so much floating around achieving nebulous relaxation goals. 

But then, what is the point of a holiday?

I overheard an intense conversation on a flight once about getting “your two weeks”. A man pent up with pre-holiday anxiety was going on and on about how great it was going to be to get “your two weeks”. The point of the other 50 weeks appeared to be simply to fund “your two weeks”. I felt that it was unlikely that the two weeks he was about to have would meet his expectation and make the other 50 weeks worth it…

Continue reading here.

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Cafe Connect

As you can see the guests coming to the Cafe Connect are spoiled rotten by a great team of bakers - this is just some of them!  A huge thanks to all.
This photo was taken as the Merrimans were handing in baking - and since it was David's birthday he was delighted (in a distinctly overly-needy way) to have the extra attention.  It would have been nice to say that people were too polite to ask David's age, but looking at the photo you'll know that didn't happen.
REMEMBER NO CAFE THIS WEEK! (13th)

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Wednesday, 7th October
Our weekly prayer meeting  on Wednesdays is at 7.15pm
Meeting in the Merrimans' throughout October.

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Service of Profession of Faith

Sunday 25th October
We shall have a service of Profession of Faith and receiving of new members on 25th October.
Is this something you should be praying about and considering for yourself?
Please do pray for others. If you have repentant faith in Jesus or worshipping regularly with us but not a member, speak with Scott H or myself.
Scott K.

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Letter from the Manse

Dear Church Family,
This is a wonderful weekend for us as a church family as we witness Rachel McNicol and Daniel O’Brian committing themselves to one another in marriage. Praise God! Let us pray for them as they enter this new chapter of life together.
Please pray for me. I am typing this letter on the morning of Friday the 9th, and though I will be conducting the wedding tomorrow (Saturday the 10th) and preaching both Sunday morning and Sunday evening, I have presently lost my voice (due to a cold). Please pray for sufficient voice to speak God’s word in these services.

I grew up in the West End of Glasgow with a saying; "Firhill For Thrills". (Partick Thistle play football at Firhill.) If you look in this magazine below, for all who love the Lord Jesus, there is a great thrill to see what God is doing at Firhill - and it's nothing to do with the football.  

As you know, I am Interim Moderator at Lochgilphead and Tarbert. We have been delighted to bring a retired U.S. Army chaplain to preach for several weeks. Harry Huey, known as “Chip,” has just retired as a Colonel after thirty years of service. He is a Presbyterian minister.
As I researched Chip, I read an old article which was about army chaplaincy in general but mentioned Chip by name. The article noted that chaplains are “non-combatants.” However, the article used a phrase that stood out to me: “Instead of weapons, chaplains carry their faith when they deploy.” This is true. When Christ lovingly draws us to Himself, He equips us with faith. Perhaps I was taking the implication too literally, but I read this to mean that faith, like a weapon, might be something you carry when in a battle zone and then lay down when not. But the chaplain’s faith is not a temporary appendix; it is for a lifelong deployment. This is true not just of army chaplains, but of all who profess the name of Jesus.

Hearing more about Chip’s life, I was amazed to learn that over the years he and his wife, Kristin, have adopted six children from around the world. Two of their adopted boys are with them in Scotland. Sam, who is about twenty-five, was adopted when young and is wheelchair-bound with Spina Bifida. He was originally from Lithuania. Jonah, who is about seventeen, was adopted two years ago from Poland.

It made me wonder if there is a parable of the gospel here. Jesus invites people of all ages, with all sorts of different life backgrounds and challenges, from all parts of His world to be adopted into His family. No back-history can itself disqualify us.

When we accept this invitation by faith, we are welcomed into a new home with God as a Heavenly Father, we receive His family name, and learn (and are empowered to live by) His kingdom values. These values include love, grace, and forgiveness, all true to God the Father’s character.

It strikes me that Chip carries this faith not only when deployed as a chaplain overseas, but wonderfully in every part of his “home assignment” also. Chip and Kristin will be “deployed” at Lochgilphead and Tarbert until the 13th of December. May I encourage us to pray for their ministry among the congregations and communities?

Please also remember in prayer Scott Hamilton and Ashlyn this week as they are at the SU camp (Scoughall). Scott will lead many of the talks. Pray also for Pauline as she attends the SU camp ("GO" at Lendrick Muir) with four of our MFC teenage girls.
With warmest regards,
Scott K

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Letter from the Other Manse

Reading someone’s CV gives you a better understanding of their abilities and achievements. You get a sense of what they have done and what they could do for you or for your company.

In John’s gospel, as we study the upper room discourse on a Sunday morning, we’ve heard Jesus build up the CV of the Holy Spirit, to help His people understand who the Holy Spirit is, and how He might help us.

John 14:16 tells us that Jesus “will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever”. God will be present with us, dwelling in us forever, by His Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 tells us that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”. God’s Holy Spirit will help the apostles bring to memory all that Jesus has taught them. This means that the gospels and the New Testament epistles carry the same divine authority as God the Son and God the Spirit, who helped the apostles to remember. John 16:13 says the same thing.
John 15:26 tells us that “when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning”. The Spirit will bear witness about Jesus, and He will do it through the witness-bearing words of the apostles.

In God’s Holy Spirit, we have His presence, His precise Word, and His power as we proclaim the gospel to the world. This is exactly what we see unfold in Acts and beyond, into history, as God never leaves His people abandoned or confused in their mission. 
This is what the Holy Spirit can do for the church today! Pray to God that His Spirit will be at work in our lives, as He dwells in us, bringing Jesus’ Words to mind and teaching them to all who have ears to hear!
See you on Sunday
Scott H.

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Thursday 22 October

Prosecuting Parents and Pastors

How you can help protect family life and the ordinary work of churches from plans to ban ‘conversion therapy’

The Joint Committee scrutinising the Westminster Government’s draft conversion practices Bill will meet for the first time in private next Monday (12 October).
The membership of the Committee is weighted against us. Several Committee members have already publicly backed the draft Bill and former Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey, who wrote the legislation, has been appointed to the Committee to effectively mark her own homework.
This makes it all the more important that we speak out. As part of the scrutiny process, the Committee will shortly issue a call for evidence. This is a crucial opportunity to demonstrate our opposition to the plans.
To help you to do that, we’re holding a lunchtime webinar with The Christian Institute, Greater Love and the Evangelical Times on Thursday 22 October from 12.30pm – 1.15pm.
To join the webinar, click here or go to christian.org.uk/ct
Read HERE to read more,

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Ladybird Book of Mearns Free

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Put this date into your diary as we host a Fundraising Afternoon Cafe Event for the Preshal Trust.
Who could you bring along to support this afternoon, and introduce them to where we enjoy church each Sunday.

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Even if you are not a fan of great football you might find what is happening at Firhill of interest. (Of course, some would say if you are not interested in great football then Firhill is the perfect place, but that would just be a Southsider talking...)

Forget Rangers and Celtic, the most religious club in Glasgow is in Firhill

The Bell is a Glasgow website which reports on all sorts of happenings across the City - this article features someone many of us know, the minister from Christ Church, Jonathan de Groot:
"The Rev’, as De Groot is known to the squad, has been Partick Thistle’s chaplain for the last eight seasons. Initially, he walked into a totally disinterested environment; “In those first few seasons I turned up to training once a week and a lot of the time I thought to myself ‘what am I doing here?’ ‘Am I just a spare part or here to be a ballboy?’” 

But, over the seasons, he’s become integral to the team...
The rest of the remarkable story is here.

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NEWS  (x 2)

We are excited to launch our very first Online Art Auction, with every piece generously donated by artists who want to support the work of SU Scotland in the Scottish Borders and beyond.
By participating in the online auction, you are not just taking home a beautiful piece of artwork — you are also making a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and young people that we serve.
Every piece auctioned funds real, on the ground work in The Scottish Borders and across Scotland—from Bible engagement groups to pastoral support and volunteer training.
Take a look HERE, place your bid and spread the word! 

SU Scotland are looking for more people to train as cooks for residential weekends and week long events.
There is a one day training course coming up for anyone who may be interested. It provides training in the practical aspects of the role such as planning menus, budgeting, leading a kitchen team, communicating with Team Leaders, sourcing ingredients, and more.
Saturday 14 November | 9.15am – 4.30pm | Glasgow
Sign up HERE - or email volunteers@suscotland.org.uk for more information

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Govan Free Church

Jack Geddes writes:
Mearns Free Church has developed a really positive relationship with Govan Free Church. Our main area of cooperation is their foodbank every Thursday when we have four members of our congregation involved – Sue A, Martin B, Mary R and Jack C. Govan Free are delighted with our support and our folks are enjoying this practical ministry.
After a suggestion from our team, and further to discussion with their minister, David MacPherson, we are now looking at the possibility of a small number of us attending worship at Govan at 11am on a Sunday from time-to-time. Depending on interest from you, our members, we anticipate this would be on an ad hoc basis with no strict or prescriptive attendance.
Interested? If so, please email me at jgeddes0802@gmail.com and I will be happy to coordinate the visits so that two or three of us can go along together.

FOOD BANK

It's always great to be able to take some groceries with us down to the FoodBank - 
Things like sugar, coffee, teabags, pasta can be split into smaller bags for families so don't worry about bringing large bags.
Speak with Sue A, Mary R or Martin B for more info.

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2027 Moderator-Designate Announced

The Commission of Assembly has announced Rev. David Court as the Moderator Designate for the 2027 General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
Rev Lachie Macdonald, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly, said: “David will be an excellent Moderator due to his long ministry in the Church of Scotland and now in the Free Church of Scotland. His breadth of ministry experience and pastoral care will be of great benefit.”
Read more on the Free Church of Scotland webpage here

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CAN YOU HELP?!

If you are on Facebook or Instagram please engage with the Mearns Free pages.
One of the ways we would like to raise the profile of Mearns Free is by using social media. We have been highlighting our services and the teaching on Ecclesiastes recently on social media, above is an example from Facebook a few weeks ago (we did the same for the Easter day earlier this year and the Community Weekend).
However, we really need YOU (if you use social media) to like, comment or forward etc these posts in order for as many people in the area to notice them. Can you help!?

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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 own along that would be great,  and the team will almost certainly speak about you behind your back less than they currently do!

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