ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

 

OUTLOOK – MARCH 2003

 

 

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

www.saintandrewscoatbridge.org

 

Dear friends,

If you are like me you will find the present confrontation with Iraq a great concern.  Perhaps I am concerned like many in the church because it has to do with one of the most difficult moral questions, it is about right and wrong.

You will have heard people talk about a just war, as if war was a kind of pure crusade, a fight between good and evil.  Perhaps the Second World War came near to that and I certainly believe that Churchill and the Allies were on the ‘moral high ground’ as they faced the evils of the Nazis.  As with all wars, however, there was terrible loss of life, destruction of countries and communities which fifty years later we find hard to comprehend.

Since then our world has changed, most nations have weapons of fearful power, capable of inflicting the most appalling injuries and given names like ‘Daisy Cutter’ to lull us into unquestioning acquiescence.  There is enough ‘fire power’ now to destroy our world several times over.  So perhaps the idea of a ‘Just War’ is no longer relevant.

I am sure we all hope that Iraq will comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution and destroy its chemical and biological weapons which it has so that war may be avoided. [There is no serious evidence that it has nuclear weapons]

This is not simply a matter for the politicians it is a matter of great concern to us as Christians in our modern world.  It is to our faith that we turn to find the guidelines which will help us to decide where right is in this situation.

The stark question which hangs over us is what is the right thing, the good thing to do?  Another way of putting this would be to ask what harm our actions might do.

If we go to war it is naive to think that there will be little or no loss of life.  In the Gulf war few allied lives were lost, but 100,000 Iraqi soldiers, many of them young conscripts and 150,000 Iraqi civilians were killed.  In the kind of bombardment that is planned it is difficult to see how this war, if it happens will produce fewer casualties.

We must balance this with the threat which Saddam Hussein poses.  What weapons does he have? What is the likelihood of an attack on one of his neighbours? [he does not have weapons which can reach our shores] What does the future hold for the ordinary Iraqi citizen if he is let in place?

I feel that ministers should keep their political views to themselves and I always try to do so, but as I see this to be a question of morality, I confess to agreeing with those who plead for the arms inspectors to have more time, as long as their work continues the risk is reduced and this evil man is weakened.  Like all evil men, I believe that Saddam Hussein will meet his just reward in the end.

I believe war should only be a last resort and I believe it our duty to pray for peace and to pray for those who have almost impossible decisions to make.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Ian G. Wotherspoon

PARISH REGISTER

BAPTISMS

2.  2.  03            Adam Robert McRae (d of b 14.  10.  02)

Russell William McRae (d of B 14. 10. 02) both of 29 Sutherland Drive, Airdrie

9.  2.  03            Liam Michael Grace (d of b  23. 1. 00)

9 Kilgarth Street, Coatbridge

Jacqueline Spence ( d of b 10. 3. 02)

Blair Christopher Spence ( d of b 15. 9. 02)

Both of 1 Morven Street, Coatbridge

 

FUNERALS

7. 2. 03            Mrs Sarah Jane Ogilvie, 65 Coltswood Road, Coatbridge

14. 2. 03          Mr William Coffield, 35 Chassels Street, Coatbridge

 

COLLECTIONS            F.W.O.           Open Plate               Total

February 3 weeks            £4126.91            £204.96                £4331.87

 

THE GUILD

The Guild A.G.M. will be held next Wednesday 5th March in the Small Hall, after the business the minister will speak to the Guild.

Our Closing social is on 19th March at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Hall.  We are fortunate in being able to book Alastair McDonald for this occasion. Mr McDonald is a very well known Television personality and Scottish entertainer and we are sure that this will be a first class evening which everyone will enjoy.  The tickets are £5.00 and can be obtained form any committee member or from the manse.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday School enjoyed an excellent annual Coffee Morning on Saturday 1 February. The sum raised was £265.  Many thanks to everyone who contributed in any way.

The Sunday School trip this year will be going to Leven on Saturday 31 May, leaving the hall at 10am and returning about 7.30pm.  The price of the ticket is £8 for adults and £3 for children not in the Sunday School.  As usual our Sunday School children go free of charge.  Anyone wishing to go should contact any Sunday School teacher as soon as possible. All members and friends of the congregation, with or without children, will be very welcome.  All tickets should be paid by 4th May. 

George McCall

 

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Usual social evenings of Whist and Beetle will be held on Saturday 8th March and again on 5th April.  All are welcome.

INDOOR BOWLING

The match against Bellshill Churches will take place on Saturday 15th March at 10a.m. Players have been contacted so let us have a good win this time and retain the cup.

The usual church game is on SATURDAY 12th APRIL at 4p.m. and slips will be given out as before.  Enjoy your bowling.    Mrs J Ferguson, Social Convener.

 

APRIL EDITION OF OUTLOOK

All items for the April edition of Outlook should be put in the box marked ‘Magazine’ at the front door of the Church before Sunday 30th March.