ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH
COATBRIDGE
OUTLOOK – DECEMBER 2002
Minister: Session Clerk:
Rev Ian G. Wotherspoon Mr
Alex McKee
77 Eglinton Street 34
Woodlands Drive
Coatbridge Coatbridge
Tel: 437271 Tel: 421191
St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385
Dear Friends,
Christmas is getting all too close and we are looking forward to the usual Christmas services. On Sunday 15th December our choir will be singing at the morning service. This is always a nice occasion and I hope will be well attended to support Mr Alston and the choir recognising the work and effort which goes into this service and to leading our praise throughout the year. At 7.30 p.m. on the 15th there will be a United Carol Service in our Church for Christian Aid when our own choir will be joined by the choir from St Patrick’s Church and the Music Group from Rosehall High School. It is two years since we held this service and I am sure that this year will be every bit as enjoyable an evening as the last occasion.
On Sunday 22nd December the Sunday School will be presenting their own Christmas Story and I know there are some surprises as usual!
On Christmas Eve we will hold our Watchnight Service with community carol singing from 11.00 p.m. onward and the service will begin at 11.30 p.m.
It is easy to get so caught up in the business of the season that we have no time to remember the lovely story which lies at its heart, a story of God’s love for humankind. It is good to remember that this is an unconditional love for humanity all its faults and failings. At its heart is a person, Jesus, who is the gentle light that even the darkest sins of the world have never manage to defeat. Jesus is not only our example of humility and goodness, but also our hope and strength.
Yours sincerely,
Ian G. Wotherspoon
BAPTISMS
3.
11. 02 Bethany
Griffith-Jones (d of b 13. 1. 94), David Griffith-Jones (d of b 5. 10. 96),
Christopher Griffith-Jones (d of b 11. 5. 99) all of 136C Sunnyside Road,
Coatbridge
7.
11. 02 Mr Brian Lansdowne,
49 Buller Crescent, Blantyre
2.
11. 02 Mr John Henning,
23 Atholl Place, Coatbridge
5.
11. 02 Mrs Agnes McGraw,
48 Coltswood Road, Coatbridge
7.
11. 02 Mrs Elizabeth
Beveridge, Dunbeth Lodge, Coatbridge
10. 11. 02 Mr Thomas Morton, Centenary House, Coatbridge
November 2002 £4563.47 £290.86 £4854.33
GIVINGS
I am always surprised and delighted by the generosity of our congregation, the Christmas Fayre is just another outstanding example of that. The way you respond to the special appeals from time to time invariably exceeds our wildest expectations. In the light of this is seems dreadful to say that we need to increase our weekly givings, but I am afraid we do. For a few years now our offerings have remained static and have only just enabled us to balance our books, however, inflation is constantly pushing our costs up and so we need a modest increase to pay our bills in 2003. I hope you will try to give just a little extra week by week to give us the income which we so much need.
Ian G. Wotherspoon
The Christmas Party will be held on
Saturday 21st December at 2pm with the Crèche party beginning at 3pm
and we hope Santa will manage to come along at about 4pm. The children will take part in the family
service on Sunday 22nd December. George
McCall
BOYS BRIGADE
The Anchor Boys recently completed their entry for the competition. “Pinocchio” is a 3D anchor boy which the boys made from scratch. The winning entry will be on display in John Orr’s window in Airdrie. The Halloween party was a great success and the boys are now looking forward to going to the pantomime and their Christmas party. PS. Our 3D entry came second and is in Orr’s window. Well done boys!
The Junior section have been involved in football on a Saturday morning and although the results have been disappointing, performances have been improving. Our boys were beaten by 1 point in the P.A. competition but never-the-less a great performance by our team. The Halloween party was changed this year to a “ghost” walk round Drumpellier loch and with the addition of fog an eerie night was had by all.
Company section boys finished in their highest ever position in the vaulting competition coming an excellent 3rd. Before the end of the year we still have the x-country, football, swimming and squad drill.
All sections recently took part in the battalion “FUN RUN.” At this time we still don’t know how much we have raised but it’s not too late to make a donation.
Many thanks to all parents and friends who came to our dance. All £560 raised from this will go towards our capitation fees.
Finally, Please come along to the anchor boy and junior section carol service which we are hosting in our church on Sunday 8th December at 6.30pm. Jim Elliot, Captain
The recently held Christmas Fayre was a
great success, both financially and for the fellowship and fun everyone
involved had. We raised £3,200 after
expenses and donations are still coming in.
We would like to thank the Congregation and Friends for their help and
for providing donations to the stalls and to the Tea Room. We also thank everyone who came along to
spend their money and enjoy some tea and a chat. Incidentally, we should
mention that a few items which were handed in for the bric-a-brac stall were
kept back to be used for a future Silent Auction.
By the time you receive this Outlook the
Musical Evening hosted by Bellshill Salvation Army Band will have taken place,
and I’m sure the concert will have been very well supported with everyone
enjoying a first class evening.
The 10th Anniversary of the
Union will soon be upon us (yes 10 years).
Our Committee hope to organise a finger Buffet and Concert to celebrate
this event. More details on this later.
God bless you all, and a Merry Christmas
and happy and prosperous 2003 from all our group.
Jean
MacDonald, Chairperson
The winners of the various competitions
at the Fayre were
Aimee Harvey – Hamper Jubilee Raffle - Jean
Shand – Tea Set
Nan Miller – Cake Nessie Hall - Wine
Paige Beattie – Doll’s name Kath Thomson - Chocolates
Irene Milligan – Santa Muriel Peacock - Flowers
Sheena
McKay – Hair Dryer
The social evenings of Whist and Beetle
have continued successfully this session with our members and friends enjoying
the friendship on these evenings. The
last one for 2002 will be held on Saturday 7th December at the usual hour and
all will be made welcome. It is hoped
to continue the social evenings in February, March and April.
Recently we had a very competitive but
most enjoyable match against the team from the Bellshill Churches. The cup seems to go one way and then the
other and this time we have regained it … well done! The return match will be sometime in the spring.
Our own afternoon game is on Saturday 28th
December at 4pm with High Tea as usual.
As we will still be in the festive season, let’s make it a Christmas
Special with tinsel etc. Slips will be
given out as usual, but in view of the busy time of the year and as I have
reserve players waiting on a game, all entries MUST be paid by Sunday 15th
December at the very latest.
The Social Committee would like to thank
all who have supported their efforts this past year and I would say a personal
THANK YOU to the members of the committee and friends for their hard work and
assistance.
Best Wishes to all for a Happy Christmas
and Prosperous New Year. J Ferguson
The Fayre held recently raised the “Grand
Total” of £7,000. Sincere thanks is
extended to all who contributed in any way.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Elizabeth Russell
R.N.L.I.
Used Stamp Collection
With the heavy Christmas
Mail looming on the horizon the local branch of the RNLI would
like to remind you that there is always a box in the Church vestibule for the
gathering of used postage stamps. This
collection can raise worthwhile sums for the RNLI and last year the amount
obtained form used stamps was £21.
Please help us to continue to fund this
lifesaving service by cutting the used stamps from your regular and especially
your Christmas mail. Thank you.
Please note that there will be no edition of Outlook in January 2003.
FEBRUARY OUTLOOK
All items for the February
edition of Outlook should be put in the box marked Magazine at the front door
of the Church before Sunday 26 January 2003.