OUTLOOK - OCTOBER 2001

Minister: Session Clerk:
Rev Ian G. Wotherspoon Mr Alex McKee
77 Eglinton Street 34 Woodlands Drive
Coatbridge, ML5 3JF Coatbridge, ML5
Tel: 437271 Tel: 421191
Mobile Tel: 07711 706634
St Andrew's Church Tel: 431385

Dear friends,

Last Sunday we had our Harvest Thanksgiving Service.  The format seems to be
well established now that we give flowers and fruit to our members in homes
and hospitals and have a collection for some worthwhile cause.
On Sunday we had such a generous response that we had enough flowers to
deliver to some of our 'shut in' members.  [I am sorry if anyone was left
out] 

Our collection was for the new Children's Hospice Appeal,

which is for funds to build a very much needed
addition to the Hospice movement in Scotland.  I was delighted but not
surprised by the generous response to this appeal which raised £696-40, with
more money still coming in.  It demonstrates once again the willingness of
our congregation to look beyond its own needs and to respond with open hands
to the needs of others.  

The Sunday School had their own Harvest Thanksgiving, the teachers decided to
ask the children to bring food for the homeless here in Coatbridge and their
response was again extremely generous.  It is good to teach our children that
it is important to care for others.

To change the subject, at Presbytery last night we were told of three
impending vacancies in Coatbridge.  Mr Thorn is retiring form Clifton, Mr
Scott is leaving Calder to go to New Monklands and Greengairs and Mr Hood is
leaving Townhead to go to Merrylea in Glasgow.  So in November three of our
seven churches will be vacant.  I hope you will remember them in your prayers.

With best wishes and every blessing

Yours sincerely


Ian G. Wotherspoon

PARISH REGISTER
BAPTISMS
9. 9. 01    Jack George Marshall [d of b 4. 3. 99] 30 Douglas View, Coatbridge
Georgia Ann Marshall [d of b 10. 7. 01] 30 Douglas View, Coatbridge

FUNERALS
3.  9. 01   Mrs Margaret Robinson, Rawyards Nursing Home, Airdrie
8.  9. 01   Mr John McLachlan, Pentland View Nursing Home, Thurso
15. 9. 01   Mr James Ramapru, 1 Laurelbank, Coatbridge
16. 9. 01   Mr David Walker, 46 Newlands Street, Coatbridge
23. 9. 01   Mrs Agnes Gifford, 5 McGregor Path, Glenboig
24. 9. 01   Mr Samuel Smith, 12 Kirkstyle Place, Glenmavis
26. 9 01    Miss Helen Ballingall, Abbeyfield House, Coatbridge

COLLECTIONS
                 WFO            Open Plate         Total
September 2001      £5,413.36       £214.61        £5,627.97

FUND RAISING COMMITTEE
CHRISTMAS FAYRE - 17th November
Plans are well on now for our annual Christmas Fayre which will be in the
High School on Saturday 17th November from 12.30 - 3.30 p.m.  We will have
all the usual stalls and that means we will need plenty of help and donations
for the stalls if the Fayre is to be as successful as usual.  If anyone has
any new ideas or suggestions for improvements to the normal arrangements
please let us know


SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Sunday School have been allocated the stationery stall at the forthcoming
Christmas Fayre in November.  All donations will be gratefully accepted and
can be stored.

George McCall Superintendent

GUIDES
The Rainbows, Brownies and Guides are holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday 27
October from 10a.m. to 12 noon.  Tickets costing £1.00 can be obtained from
any guide or guider.  We are once again doing Webb Ivory this year and anyone
wishing a catalogue should contact any guide or guider. 

Alexis Crichton

6th COATBRIDGE GIRLS' BRIGADE
The Captain and Officers would like to thank everyone who helped throughout
the last session.  I would also like to thank all the girls who worked very
hard for Parents Night.  The following prizes were awarded:
Best Girl Awards
Explorer: Rebecca Fisher    Junior: Jennie Krebs    Brigader: Linzi Munro
Divisional Competitions
Swimming Gala, overall winners:
Juniors: Caroline Brown, Louise Ross, Jennie Krebs, Katherine Docherty
Brigaders: Linzi Munro, Lindsay Lamont, Ashleigh Young, Lynsay McLachlan
Mgt Hendrie Memorial Trophy [Face Painting - runners up]
Lynsay McLachlan, Yvonne Espie
Badminton
S4 - S6 Singles winner: Aine O'Byrne
S4 - S6 Doubles Winners: Aine O'Byrne, Yvonne Espie
Netball
Brigaders Runners up: Ashleigh Young, Yvonne Espie, Aine O'Bryne, Lindsay
Lamont, Lynsay McLachlan, Alison and Vicki
Decorate an Egg - Noddie and Big Ears
Winners: Aine O'Bryne, Lynsay McLachlan
Spiritual Trophy: Book of Ruth Winner: Aine O'Bryne

BIBLE SOCIETY
We will welcome a speaker from the Scottish Bible Society to our service on
Sunday 28th October and this will be followed by our annual 'Bake for Bibles'
in the Church Hall after the service.  Donations of baking would be very much
appreciated.  I hope you will come along and support this worthwhile cause.
Jessie Rock

MACMILLAN CANCER RELIEF
The World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday 28th September in our Church
Hall raised a total of £130.  Sincere thanks is extended to all who helped in
any way.

Elizabeth Russell

SOCIAL COMMITTEE
By the time you read this our first Whist and Beetle Drive for the winter
will have taken place.  The next one will be on Saturday 3 November at the
usual times, and all would be made welcome.  Admission is priced £1 and is
payable at the door.

LINE DANCING
This continues to do well on a Tuesday night and is now held at the winter
time of 8.15p.m.  If you are interested, just come along and enjoy this way
of relaxation.

INDOOR BOWLING
Our return match with Bellshill Churches takes place on Saturday 27 October
at 10a.m. - 12 noon, with Bowler's Lunch.  Last time we lost out by a few
shots, so this time we want to regain the trophy in what is always a most
enjoyable friendly match. 
J Ferguson, Convener

QUEENS GUIDES
The Guide Association established the Queens Guide Award in 1947 as the
ultimate award for members.  It remains the highest award a young woman can
achieve.

The Association would like to trace all our Queens Guides, wherever they may
now live, and are particularly keen to find any in the Coatbridge area.  As
many will now be living in different areas from when they gained their Award
and others will have changed their surname, the task of bringing together
Queens Guides from 1947 to 2001 is a challenging one.  But we know we can do
it!

If anyone is a Queens Guide or knows of someone who is, it would be great to
hear from them - they can contact us on e-mail at QueensGuide@guides.org.uk
or the Queens Guide team on 020 7834 6242 or our freephone number 0800 169
5901.
Morag McNay

OVERSEAS LINK
In their August letter from Cairo our mission partners inform us that the
temperature there is over 40 degrees in the shade, and that despite the
sweltering heat, the work of the church among the poor continues.  If the
cooling systems and the water supply are steady, then all is well.  If not,
Cairo can be uncomfortable and many people may leave the city for cooler
places (then the pace is a little calmer than usual).

Margaret and Michael found it a pleasure to welcome the Rev. Ian Alexander
from 121 last month when he discussed the work in hand and plans for the
future with senior managers.  Next month, visitors from Dennistoun Central
Church will be a further reminder that the Church of Scotland has been active
in Egypt for nearly two centuries.

The most common question for the mission partners is "What is it really
like"?    Their experience is that they are the odd ones out and try to blend
in with the local people if they are to be of positive assistance.  But they
also feel that in mission work there is more laughter than misery, more food
than famine and much more hope than despair.  Misunderstandings can easily
arise, but the mission partners are generally trusted, as they have useful
skills to offer, with humility, and with no agenda for unwanted change.  And
there's the rub, writes Michael - because we all want to change the world for
the better. 

I Milligan