No.110     23rd October

Hi, 
Hope this finds you well. 

We are looking forward to Sunday morning, and in particular we can be praying for Calum as he will be professing his faith at the service.
We've been enjoying hearing from the Upper Room teaching that Jesus knows he is dealing with, and praying for disciples who (like you and me) are far from perfect, will be confused, weak in faith, distracted and under pressure to not keep obeying and following Christ. He calls us to follow nevertheless and as we celebrate Communion this weekend we recognise again that we come empty-handed, completely devoid of a list of reasons why ‘this time' we have done enough to take the elements. There is a short piece and video on this below to help our thinking as we come with confidence to the Communion Table on Sunday.

Enjoy the mag,
MB



Some of you will almost certainly forget that the clocks go back this weekend - so it might be good to prepare what you will say when you turn up at 9.30am  - eg 'I felt led to come early to see if I could help set out the chairs, and put the flag up'; 'I wanted to come and see what is involved in helping with the AV as I was thinking about being on the rota.'

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Sunday 25th October

Sunday Morning - 10.30am
Rev Scott Kirkland
Philippians 4:1 –9
PROFESSION OF FAITH - Calum Veitch

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Sunday Evening - 7pm

Studies in 2 Corinthians
6.30pm for refreshments
Service 7pm - 8pm

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Letter from the Other Manse

This coming Thursday evening, our Young Adults Bible study (affectionately known amongst us as YABS) meets at the Clarkes’ house to continue our series in Romans.

We always eat together before we do our Bible study, which is something that we enjoy doing. This is a chance for us to catch up with one another and see how our days and weeks have been. Meals beforehand help us to form relationships that we trust will be a blessing to us and to others around a church family. Meals help create the discipleship opportunities that we want to see on a Thursday night as we gather together. We’ve found that, as a result of eating together, the studies are a lot livelier as we listen to Paul excite the church in Rome for mission.

Some of our young adults have been going to Bible studies our whole lives. For others, these studies are the first time they’ve ever sat in a group and discussed a passage with other believers. We’re already seeing the fruits of our time spent together, in fellowship, but even more importantly as we are collectively transformed by the Word of God, motivated for mission and discipleship by the gospel in the same way that the apostle Paul is.

Please pray for us in our studies as we meet fortnightly on a Thursday evening. Not all of us can make every study, but we pray that by meeting fortnightly and by making it a more frequent occurrence that this new ministry will serve as a real avenue for the gospel to sink deep into our hearts as a group of young adults, which we pray in turn will be a real blessing to the wider church family as we love and serve you all and are loved and served by you all.

See you on Sunday, 
Scott H

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Preparation

We will celebrate Communion on Sunday morning. 
The Bible makes it clear that this is only to be participated by those trusting in Jesus...AND then those who ARE believers are also told to examine themselves because we should be taking seriously what it means to eat and drink these symbols.
We read about those in Corinth who would be better not taking it as their motives and attitudes to the Lord and to one another were so awry - in fact, if we have something against someone that is being allowed to fester then we should go to them first rather than the table, ie. religious duties are secondary to genuine reconciliation and love for others.

Being ready for Communion (the Lord’s Supper)is something which has been written about throughout Church history - for example, rather than a casual ritual, the Puritans viewed the sacrament as a powerful spiritual banquet that required deep internal preparation to ensure a person did not take part "unworthily" - with that in mind the writer Thomas Watson provided a comprehensive "readiness checklist" for believers to evaluate their hearts...he stated that a believer must arrive with:
A Self-Examining Heart: actively searching one's own life, rather than relying on what others think of us.
An Intelligent Heart: having a competent measure of knowledge -  an understanding of sin, and repentance, and how the Cross has satisfied God's requirements in order to justify the believer.
A Longing Heart: fostering a spiritual appetite. "If God prepares a feast, we must get an appetite."
A Believing heart which regretted sin: Approaching with genuine sorrow for sin alongside an anchor of faith.

Now, all this might sound like 'barriers' placed before people to stop them from taking Communion. But it's a common misconception that Puritans demanded absolute perfection before coming to the table. In reality, when these 'preparation manuals' are looked at they are explicitly designed to stave off despair and doubt...they were to give comfort.
The Comfort: Sincerity over Perfection
The Puritans taught that perfect faith was not required; sincere faith was. As Edward Taylor famously wrote: “It's not the faith of assurance that is necessary to this ordinance, but of affiance [alliance] and trust.” If a person searched their heart and found even a weak, imperfect faith, they were warmly invited to the table to have that faith strengthened.


So, keep that quote above in mind and take a moment to listen to Alastair Begg outlining where our confidence should truly be placed - and it's not our 'faith'!! Our position in Christ doesn't ebb and flow, even though the enjoyment and experience of being a believer may. It's a very good 5min watch. I hope you can access the Facebook clip - below is short transcript extract:
"Some time ago I came across a book that was written by the first principal of the London Bible College, a fellow called Ernest Kevin.... I found this quote, “Faith is never the ground of justification, but only the means of it.” The sinner's acceptance by God is based not on his or her faith, but on the merits of Christ, which faith appropriates. And that distinction is fundamentally important because in the minds of certain people, the idea is you can't be saved by works that you do, but you can be saved by your faith. But we're never saved by our faith. Because faith simply reaches out the empty hand to receive what God has provided in the work of Jesus.
...Spurgeon puts it so wonderfully well. It is always the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus. But Satan's work is just the opposite. He's constantly trying to make us look at ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, your sins are too great for pardon. You have no faith. You do not repent enough. You will never be able to continue to the end. You do not have the joy of his children. You have such a wavering hold on Jesus. All these are thoughts about self. And we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self. He tells us that we are nothing, but that Christ is everything. Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you. It is Christ. It is not your joy in Christ that saves you. It is Christ. It is not even faith in Christ. Although that is the instrument. It is Christ's blood and merits. Therefore, do not look so much to your hand with which you're grasping Christ as to Christ. Do not look to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope. Do not look to your faith, but to Jesus, the founder and perfector of your faith. 

So that when we think about the things that press in upon us, our disappointments, our failures, we're tempted, at least I think I'm sometimes tempted to say, well, I had a pretty bad day. Maybe I could have a good one tomorrow. And then I could, you know, counterbalance it as if somehow or another, my position in grace, in Christ, ebbed and flowed. My enjoyment of it, my experience of it, yes. In much the same way that if you're disobedient to your parents, then the atmosphere at the breakfast table in the morning is somewhat frosty or probably should be. The relationship is absolutely intact. The enjoyment of that relationship has been impaired by disobedience. 

We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our deeds, or our feelings. It is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we are to overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by looking to Jesus. Keep your eyes simply on Him."

A Begg.

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Cafe Calorie Counters

A few weeks ago Alastair and Lorna were using the official Mearns Free clicker to note the attendance on a Sunday.
In this photo they are seen using it again, this time to note the cake and calorie intake by the guests. The figures, still to be released, are said to be quite large. (the figures on the clicker that is!)

This week the cafe was busy and we were delighted to have Jaan giving a talk on 'Harvest' and leading us in a couple of hymns...one of which was 'We plough the fields and scatter' which includes these great truths:
He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star.
The wind and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.
 

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Thanks again...and again!

I felt this recent photo sums things up quite well for a handful of people each weekend  - I wanted to use it to express, on the church's behalf, a big 'Thank You' to those who are involved in the shifting backwards and forwards of all the kit...and then there are those who set up the AV and Coffee...and those who allow us to store various boxes and bags at their homes each week.
There have been a couple of new people added to the rota in recent weeks - good to share the load (literally!) and if you feel you can help in any way speak with Scott K.

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The end is in sight for the Arise Africa global petition. ​

Stop the violence.
Start the healing.

On average, 12 Christians are killed for their faith every day in sub-Saharan Africa. Nobody is talking about it. Today, you can. Will you sign and share the global Arise Africa petition, help reach 1,000,000 signatures?
There's still time to add your name and call for protection, justice and restoration for Christians in sub-Saharan Africa - millions of whom risk displacement, attack and even murder, every day. Help us reach a million voices.
The deadline is 2 November. 
Clck here:  Arise Africa petition - Open Doors UK & Ireland

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Sandra has been writing Wee Scoops on a whole range of topics and over the Summer, as she listened on Sunday mornings, she turned her mind to Ecclesiastes (and in this particular Scoop to the book of James too) ... below is  just an extract and you should click the link at the bottom to continue reading.

A little bird told me about the fly in the ointment #Ecclesiastes10

In the first “Die Hard” movie, John McClane is “Just a fly in the ointment..." to Hans Gruber, who is looking to identify his “mystery party crasher” at the Nakatomi Plaza. Who knew that Bruce Willis was quoting Ecclesiastes? My version (ESV) says “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.”
My annual watch of “Die Hard” on Christmas Eve has probably coloured my understanding of the “fly in the ointment” thing. I would have used that phrase about an irritant – probably more like a grain of sand in an oyster, or a stone in a shoe – but the biblical original is different: it’s a picture of what just a little bit of foolishness can do – and that is to bring down all the benefits of wisdom.
Again, with Ecclesiastes, I find myself thinking “ain’t that the truth” again.

This chapter of Ecclesiastes stands out from the rest, visually. It is set out as poetry and reads as a collection of pithy life-hacks, rather than in the flow of the Preacher’s philosophical musings about the meaning of life. This chapter is very practical and ends with another expression that has made it into common usage:
“Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.”
So, this is where the little bird that told me came from. It is funny to think that three millennia before secret filming and bugging devices were invented, people were still caught out saying what they shouldn’t have said, and things said between four walls or between you, me and the gatepost were always liable to get out.
There is nothing new under the sun.

Read the article in full here.

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Jamie Taggart has started at Abernethy Centre (near Aviemore) and it would be good to keep him in our prayers.
Just a short note from Jamie below and we hope to hear more over the coming months - you can see more of the work he is now part of at their website on these links: Schools and Groups and activity details

Can you please pray for schools and groups visiting this week, and weeks gone by, that the leader's faith would be shared at every opportunity. That there would be listening ears and for the instruction and activities.
Jamie

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Ladybird Book of Mearns

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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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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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Govan Free Church

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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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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This is a good quote to consider alongside the Scripture passage for Sunday - Philippians ch1.
Paul's outlook on life, or his happiness, is not based on circumstances he faces...his focus is on the growth of Gospel opportunities for him and others, and unity of believers in that endeavour.

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COFFEE CUPS!

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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