Interim Moderator: Session Clerk:
Rev Bill McKaig Mr Alex McKee
53e Blairhill Street
Coatbridge
Tel: 421191
St Andrew’s Church Tel: 431385
www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org
Advent 2004
Dear Friends at St Andrew’s,
This is my favourite
time of year!
For right now it’s the
Season for getting ready. Every day
we’ll be busy writing cards and forgetting somebody; shopping for that special
gift for that special someone – the rest can have socks; planning the big meal;
going to meaningless functions we don’t really want to be at.
That paragraph hardly
sounds like the recipe for anybody’s favourite anything…but this is my
favourite time of the year! And I hope its yours too.
For it is the Season
for getting ready. Getting ready by
putting things down instead of getting our lives cluttered. Putting down the burdens; putting down the
conflicts; putting down the old stale ways of doing things. Getting ready by putting yourselves in
someone else’s shoes and travelling on a new path. DON’T BE AFRAID!
It’s the Season for
getting ready not to be afraid anymore.
To let change into your heart, mind and soul; to let change refocus your
priorities.
For by the light flickering in the Bethlehem stable, lighting up the baby flickering into life for us, God has shown that His priority is love – for you and me. Into this world of 2004 where the whole world seems locked into one conflict or another, the child of Bethlehem brings Peace.
Yes, this is my
favourite time of the year! The time to
get ready to start again. May you and
yours start again this Christmas.
Happy Christmas
Bill McKaig, Interim
Moderator
PARISH REGISTER
MARRIAGES
20.11.04
Lorraine Smith, 14
Garden Square Walk, Airdrie to
David
McDonald
27.11.04 Sharon Mulholland, 13 Parkend Cresent, Shieldhall,
Falkirk to Alan Martin
FUNERALS
Jesus said, “I am the
Resurrection and the Life …..”
06.11.04
Margaret Ferguson, 25 Exeter Street
11.11.04 Agnes Scott, 11 Hamilton Drive
22.11.04
Thomas Couse, 17 Clyde Street
22.11.05
John Stewart, 125 West George Street
29.11.04
Mary Chisholm, Highgate Home, Uddingston
COLLECTIONS F.W.O. Open
Plate Total
November £4,615.14 £206.10 £4,821.24
CHRISTMAS
SERVICES
12 December Christmas music from the Choir
19 December Sunday School tell the Christmas
Story
24
December Christmas Eve
service at 11.30p.m with carol singing from 11p.m. Tea in hall after service.
Retirement
Collection for Rev Ian Wotherspoon
Several people have
asked how much we collected for Mr Wotherspoon. The total was £2000 plus
the cost of the barometer which we gave him. Thank you to all those who
made donations.
In the past a vacancy was often a time for a congregation to build up its finances as a result of not having to pay for a minister, but that is no longer the case. We now pay most of our ministry costs whether or not we have a
Minister, under new rules introduced recently by
the Church of Scotland. We do get a small monthly reduction but more than
half of it is used up paying for the minister preaching each Sunday. Once
we have paid such expenses as heating the manse, our costs will probably be
only £100 per month lower than when we had a full-time minister. We also
have to continue to meet our Mission and Wider Work payments.
In order for us to continue to meet our costs it
is important that we realise that a vacancy is not a cheap time for the
congregation.
Hugh McKee - Finance Convener
The Sunday School party will be held on Saturday 18 December at 2p.m. with Santa arriving about 4p.m. On behalf of the teachers and children I thank the congregation for their support throughout the session and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. George McCall
THE BOY’S BRIGADE
The session continues with our Anchor Boys' who
entered the battalion competition to construct a garbage gobbler. Our entry
came 5th but more importantly the boys appeared to enjoy taking part. The boys
are now looking forward to their Christmas party and pantomime.
The Junior Section were also involved in
competitions. In the top team we were knocked out in the quarter final but the
p.a. team did well to come second. The football team has started the league
season well by winning 1 and losing 2 matches but again the boys who take part
appear to be enjoying it. The boys are looking forward to the swimming gala in
January and also their video night and Christmas pantomime.
The company section have taken part in the top
team quiz where they came 7th and the vaulting where they came 4th. We are now
preparing for the squad drill, swimming gala and cross country. The boys will
be having a snooker night at Christmas.
The company would like to thank everyone who
supported our recent battalion fun run. And lastly the company would like to
wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jim Elliot Captain
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
The Christmas Fayre was again a great success because everyone
pulled together to make it so. We had
lots of fun along with lots of hard work and made approximately £3000. The winner of the raffle was Jane
McLenaghan. Jean MacDonald Convener
SUNDAY TEAS
Many thanks to all the teams who prepare and serve the teas
after the service each Sunday. This
provides a lovely meeting point where friends can sit and chat over a cup of
tea or coffee, or new members can mix and be welcomed into our
Congregation. Thanks also to everyone
who supports us Sunday by Sunday. We wish
you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jean MacDonald
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
The last Social Evening for 2004 was held on Saturday 3rd
December when members and friends enjoyed the evening of Whist and Beetle. It is hoped to resume them on the first
Saturday of February.
INDOOR BOWLING
Our match against the team from the Bellshill Churches proved very
enjoyable – even more so because on this occasion we were the victors by quite
a large number of shots. Well done – I
knew we could do it … now the cup is with us till the return match in February
when we again meet our friends from Bellshill.
As we approach the festive season, may I thank all who have
supported our social efforts during the past year, with a special personal
THANK YOU to the members of the Social Committee for all their hard work and
assistance. Best Wishes to all for a
Happy Xmas and a Bright and Prosperous New Year. J Ferguson, Social Convener
ORDER OF SERVICE
It would be helpful if intimations for the printed Order of
Service sheet could be telephoned by a Wednesday to Alex McKee – 421191 or
Moira McCall 764065.