ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH

COATBRIDGE

 

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

OUTLOOK – SEPTEMBER 2004

Dear friends,

September is here again, always an exciting time of year for the congregation as the organisations start to get into gear again for another session.

It also signals the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.  What a summer it has been with record rainfalls, landslides and floods.  Who knows what has caused it but it looks increasingly likely that it is a symptom of global warming and the human activity has some part to play in it.

How do we see this world of ours, as a play thing which we can treat any way we please, no matter what the result, or a precious gift from God?  If we see God as creator then we have a duty to care for his creation and to treat this amazing gift as a precious heritage which we will try to pass on undamaged to our children and our children’s children.

Looking forward to October, we will have a very busy service on the 3rd which will combine Harvest Thanksgiving, the Dedication of the Brigades, the Sacrament of Baptism and the monthly Communion after the service.  On a personal note this will be my last celebration of Baptism and Communion as Minister of St Andrew’s, though there will be a celebration of Communion on Monday 4th October for elders and office bearers as part of the Session meeting.

There is a temptation to be sad at the thought of doing things in St Andrew’s for the last time, but I am so delighted that I am fit enough to be back at work again that I can only be very thankful.  I went to the Southern General Hospital on the 18th August and the

 

SEPTEMBER 2004                                                                                      Page 15.

consultant told me I could get back to work again but recovery would take up to 18 months, so I still do not have great reserves of energy. 

The last few months have been trying, more for Rosemary and the family than for me, but we will never forget the kindness, help and support which you gave us all.

With thanks and every blessing

Yours sincerely

Ian G. Wotherspoon

 

PARISH REGISTER

BAPTISMS

8. 08. 04          Joshua James Alexander Harvie, (D of B 11. 05. 04)

10 Barcloy Place  Chapelhall

22. 08. 04        George William Duigan (D of B 6. 07. 04)

135 West George Street, Coatbridge

29. 08. 04        Heather MacKinnon (D of B 22. 06. 04) 39 Auldhame Street, Coatbridge

MARRIAGE

11. 08. 04        Elizabeth McKee, 34 Woodlands Drive, Coatbridge, to James Bertram

FUNERALS

05/08/04        Isobel Hunter, Blair House

13/08/04        Helen Simpson, Coathill Hospital

17/08/04        Leona Murphy, 46 Redbridge Court

 

COLLECTIONS       F.W.O.                        Open Plate                 Total

July 4 weeks               £4,334.50       £215.22                                    £4,549.72

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Silent Auction – Postponed until 23 April 2005

Harvest Thanksgiving – 3 October

Minister’s retiral Dinner & Presentation  - 8 October –  tickets on sale in hall on Sunday mornings

Minister’s last service – 10 October

Christmas Fayre – Saturday 20 November

 

HARVEST THANKSGIVING

Harvest Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday 3rd October and, as usual, we would like to be able to send flowers to our members in residential and nursing homes. The Church will be open on Saturday morning 2nd October to receive any donations of flowers.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The new session of the Sunday School has now started and all children will be made very welcome.   George McCall,

 

THE GUILD

The new session of the Guild starts on Wednesday 13th October at 7.45pm with the Hamilton Guild Entertainers for our opening social.  All ladies and gentlemen are welcome at any or all our meetings. Tickets will be available soon at price £1.50.  S Weir

 

GIRLS’ BRIGADE

The new session for Girls’ Brigade will start on Tuesday 7th September 2004 at 6.30p.m.  Our first night will be an enrolment and games night.  Girls from the age of 5 years to 18 years will be made very welcome and we look forward to seeing both old and new members. Irene Krebbs, Captain

 

1st COATBRIDGE BOYS BRIGADE

The boys brigade has now started a new session. Details as follows:

Anchor Boys                            Age 5 – Primary 4             Wednesday from 6pm – 7.30pm

Junior section                            Primary 5 – Primary 7      Wednesday from 6.30pm – 8pm

Company Section                     High School                      Friday from 7pm – 9.30pm

All new boys will be made most welcome.   Jim Elliot  Captain

 

RAINBOWS, BROWNIES AND GUIDES

The Guides who went to the Poacher 2004 camp in Lincoln, during what seems to have been the best week of the summer, all enjoyed themselves.  In October the guides are going to the ‘Big Gig’ which is being held in Manchester this year.  This is a pop concert for guides only.

After our summer break we will start back as follows.

The Guides and Brownies will restart on Monday 6th September.

Brownies for girls aged 7 to 10 meet between 6.30 and 8.00pm.

Guides for girls aged 10 to 15 meet between 7.00 and 9.00pm.

The senior section of the guides for girls over 15 will also start on Monday 6th September and meet between 7.00 and 9.00pm.

Rainbows start on Friday 10th September for girls aged 5 to 7 and meet between 6.15 and 7.15pm.

All girls will be made very welcome.  Alexis Crichton, Guide Guider

 

SILENT AUCTION

Please note that the silent auction due to be held in September has been postponed until 23 April 2005.  If you have been collecting goods for sale and are unable to keep them, we will be happy to have them uplifted and stored until April.  Please contact Alex McKee 421191 or Matt Sprott 423588 to make arrangements for an uplift.

 

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

The Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 20 November 2004 in Coatbridge High School.  All the usual stalls, and perhaps a few more! Jean MacDonald 425301

 

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Just a reminder that our usual Whist and Beetle social evening will be held on the first Saturday of October, November and December.  These are always very enjoyable and new people would be made very welcome.

 

INDOOR BOWLING

The first church game is programmed for Saturday 11th September at 4p.m. with High Tea to follow.  Slips have been given out as usual and it is most important you contact me as soon as possible to enable arrangements to be made.  Anyone interested in joining the bowlers is invited to get in touch. Mrs J Ferguson, Social Convener

 

BUPA GREAT  NORTH RUN

On Sunday 26 September 2004 Sam Finnigan will run 13.1 miles for the Charity ‘Get Kids Going’.  Sponsor sheets will be available at the Church or in the Hall until 26 September.   Any donations will be gratefully accepted.

 

CHRISTIAN AID

The Christian Aid house-to-house collection in Coatbridge raised the grand sum of £7,712.92.  This, together with the proceeds of the Flag Day, gave an overall sum of £8,577.96.  Many thanks to the congregation for their continued support and generosity.  Nessie and Sandra

 

SCOTTISH BIBLE SOCIETY

On behalf of the Scottish Bible Society I would like to thank everyone who gave of their precious time to bake, everyone who gave donations and helped to sell the baking recently.  A warm thanks to all who came along and supported us and helped us to raised the grand total of £191.  We are very grateful for your kind generosity and continued support.  If you look at the notice board in the Hall you will see a lovely certificate saying thank you to St Andrews Church.  Best wishes to you all. Jessie Rock