December 2016 Volume 19 Issue 3 Christmas Tidings from ... · Come and celebrate with us ! Christmas Services and Events Sat 3 Dec 7.30pm A Celebration of Robert Burns (Killearn Kirk)

Come and celebrate with us !Christmas Services and Events

Sat 3 Dec 7.30pm A Celebration of Robert Burns (Killearn Kirk) - details on back pageSun 4 Dec 10.30am Communion Services (Killearn Kirk) - note no evening serviceTue 6 Dec 7.30pm The Guild: “Antarctica” (Killearn Kirk Hall) - see Guild article insideSat 10 Dec 10.00am The Guild Christmas Coffee Morning (Killearn Kirk Hall) - see Guild article insideSun 11 Dec 10.30am Christmas Gift & Family Nativity Service, the children of the Church will be performing a Nativity Play followed by tea/coffee & mince pies. Rev Ian Boa preaching. All villagers are invited to come to this festive occasion (Killearn Kirk)Thu 15 Dec 1.00pm The Guild Christmas Lunch with Thursday Club (Killearn Kirk Hall)Sun 18 Dec 10.30am Morning ServiceSat 24 Dec Christmas Eve 11.00pm Carol Singing followed by Christmas Eve Watchnight Service 11.30pm (Killearn Kirk)Sun 25 Dec Christmas Day 10.00am Informal Christmas Day Family Service. (Killearn Kirk) Children are invited to bring one of their presents to show the Minister

December 2016 Volume 19 Issue 3

Christmas Tidings from Killearn Kirk

We wish everyone a happy Christmas. If you are not a regular Church-goer we extend a special

welcome to you to come along to one of our informal services,joining in the celebrations of the message of Christmas.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed, the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Page 2 Christmas Tidings from Killearn Kirk

Personalia

Killearn Kirk is a Charity Registered in Scotland No SC012140Killearn Kirk Tidings is edited by:

Scott Macintosh (tel 550794) - [email protected] printed by The Macintosh Partnership

Visit us online at www.killearnkirk.org.uk or visit our Facebook page:www.facebook.com/pages/Killearn-Kirk/116334885136784

Wedding:Dr Robert Fordham and Stephanie Field.We are saddened to report the passing of the following, who were members of Killearn Kirk or whose funeral was taken by our minister. Obituaries can be found in the Killearn Courier: www.kcfc.co.uk/courier.html.Elizabeth MarshallPatricia Stewart

Leprosy MissionStamps and Foreign Coins

On behalf of the Leprosy Mission, thank you again for your contributions of used stamps, foreign coins and stamped postcards. We’ve had a good year, more and more folks are donating to this worthwhile cause. Thanks also to Amanda at Drymen Church for their contribution. Keep them coming and help leprosy sufferers. You can drop off any of the above to me at 43 Buchanan Road Killearn or pop them into the boxes at the front door of the Kirk and I will pass them on. Jim Fallas

EditorialAn early Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year from the Editor. The next edition of Killearn Kirk Tidings will be published in time for Easter and will have details of the Easter services.

As always articles on any aspect of our church are encouraged, and our readers tell me they like to see plenty of photos of church life so keep snapping. No need to be an expert photographer or have an expensive camera, better to catch an interesting moment on your smartphone! Please eMail contributions to the editor in plenty of time. Text should if possible be a Word document attached to an eMail. Pictures & graphics should also be separately attached, please do not embed pictures and graphics within documents or eMails, it can be difficult or impossible to extract them. If in doubt contact the editor beforehand. Thank you.

Ordination of an ElderOn Sunday, 2nd October 2016 Doreen Snadden was ordained an elder of Killearn Kirk.

Gift of a Union FlagJim Fallas has kindly donated a Union Flag to Killearn Kirk. Jim wanted to donate the flag to ensure that the Union Flag was present during the Service of Remembrance held in November. Jim is aware that the number of young people attending the Remembrance Service has been falling over the past few years and that the village was reaching the stage where each youth organisation was unable to provide a colour party. This year the youth organisations joined together to have one colour party represent all the organisations. The Union Flagdonated by Jim was carried by the colour party. Killearn Kirk acknowledge it’s thanks for this donation.

Killearn Kirk People Minister Rev. Lee Messeder 2 The Oaks 550045 [email protected] Worker Yvonne Bauwens [email protected] Clerk Carole Young Killearn Home Farm 550994 [email protected] Bob Ballantyne Kilmorie Cottage 550310 Roll Keeper & Safeguarding Co-ordinator Kirsty Smith 26 New Endrick Road 550654Hall bookings Sue Beck 550485

From the Session ClerkAt Christmastime, we can often be overly concerned about the gifts we give and receive. Is it right for the person that we are giving it to or have we spent enough money on them. The small things tend to be the ones most appreciated but that doesn’t stop us pondering. Give a young child a present and he/she will more than likely play with the box! Maybe something to think about.

Sometimes in all the hustle and bustle we do have to remember to picture Baby Jesus in the manger to remind ourselves the reason for the celebrations. The message is not about the worldly gifts but about the richness we have in our hearts when sharing time with our family and friends. Take time to ponder of the love that Jesus has for us and be thankful that He came so that we might live.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Carole YoungSession Clerk

Christmas Tidings from Killearn Kirk Page 3

Coffee & CakeWhat a sight on Remembrance Sunday. It was great to see so many at the War Memorial and then in the Kirk. Over 60 came through to the halls afterwards to have coffee and biscuit or cake whilst meet ing others on th is particular Sunday.

Coffee and tea and juice are available after the morning Sunday service for all who wish to join us. Usually there are about 30 or so who come through but everyone is welcome.The support over the last 2 years has been such that £900 has been donated to Traidcraft and the valuable work that is done to support those less well off in other countries to develop skills to earn an income. Traidcraft has a mission statement “To fight poverty through trade, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help people in developing countries to transform their lives.” Your contribution helps Traidcraft to pursue their mission statement. Thank you for your support. Thanks also to all who help each Sunday on a rota to give us the opportunity to enjoy the fellowship.

Sue Beck

FairTrade StallIt’s in the hall foyer every Sunday after the morning service of course, but this is a good time to remind you as there is a selection of Christmas products including cards, candles and calendars (advent). If you’re stuck for a gift for Auntie Mabel who’s got everything, you may find inspiration here. There are catalogues you can take away and browse at your leisure.

‘Peace on earth and goodwill to all people’Letter from the Minister

Recently we commemorated ‘Remembrance Day’ where we met to remember the many who had fallen in the different campaigns that Britain has been involved in. We understand the necessity to stand up against oppression and oppressors who seek to deny and take away the freedom of the many. And yet, we are sadden by war and conflict as it is often seen as the only way by which freedom can be achieved. However, it would seem that many a conflict, which has involved the armed forces from this country has sometimes been hastily entered into. John Keegan in his book, ‘The First World War’ says in the first paragraph of the first chapter, ‘A European Tragedy’, that ‘The First World War was a tragic and unnecessary conflict. Unnecessary because the train of events that led to its outbreak might have been broken at any point during the first five weeks.’ A war which he then goes to say, cost ‘the lives of ten million beings’.

Unnecessary is a difficult word to hear when so many died. This word has such an impact because we value the life of one person, let alone ten million, and it fills us with sadness because the majority who fought on both sides of the conflict were doing so, because they were seeking to fulfil their duty to their country. Unnecessary also fills us with despair, because young lives, which had never reached their potential were taken away violently in a hellish nightmare that had become all to real. Since this conflict there have been so many other occasions where British personnel have died in their pursuit of service to Queen and country.

If we are minded to criticise those who led our country into such conflicts, we need to pause and consider, that conflict is something, which we all have to deal with and it is not just something that is faced on the battlegrounds of the world. All of us find it difficult to deal with situations that cause us to face differences, which we might have with someone or some organisation. Children on a playground will cry out ‘that is just not fair’ when they feel hard done by, and yet we as adults still persist in believing that we are right, no matter what the evidence says. Whatever the cause of the conflict, and no matter how strongly our case might be, that justice is on our side, the differences still have to be dealt with somehow.

Armed conflict is the extreme answer in attempting to solve such differences. The bullet and bomb might silence the opposition for a while, but the ongoing pain and a sense of injustice continues for those who are left. At this time of Christmas, we are reminded in a very simple story, that God takes a human form and comes as the ‘prince of peace’. The apostle Paul reflecting on this event, says that ‘(Jesus) made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…’. I am not saying that we should never stand up to evil and oppressive regimes but perhaps we need to hold lightly at times, what we consider to be ‘our right’ before we embark upon a course, which leads to more pain and violence. May this Christmas be for us all, a time when we are able to hold our differences without it destroying our compassion. After all, I am never wrong!

Lee MessederKillearn Kirk


The possibility of setting up a Friendship Group which could provide a monthly social afternoon for dementia sufferers is currently being explored with the support of Town Break Dementia Support Services, a charitable organisation who operate in Stirling.

The proposal is to establish a rural hub in Killearn Village Hall where this group could meet and enjoy some social activities and have tea and cakes. Participants would come from Killearn and the surrounding villages; volunteers would be on hand to provide a welcoming atmosphere, to serve the tea and to engage in conversation.

The GuildWe started this session with a very successful Coffee Morning on Oct. 1st which raised over £500, and thanks go to all those who helped make this such a happy, friendly morning. We have had Hannah Rankin talking about Care for the Family, Ann Roy giving an interesting and amusing talk on her Travels in China. Paul Copeland spoke to us about the Barnabas Fund.

Dec 6th Open evening “Antarctica” with Kevin Clarke (bring and buy)Dec 10th Christmas Coffee MorningDec 15th Christmas Lunch with the Thursday ClubJan 4th Our first meeting in the new year will be with Joyce BeggFeb 9th (2pm) Joint with the Thursday Club, entertainment by the B Flats.March 7th Open Evening with Lynn Phillips talking about Tales of a Registrar There will also be a Bring and Buy stall.March 18th Coffee Morning in the Church HallMarch 28th A.G.M. followed by an evening meal catering by Table 13

Our meetings are open to everyone and we meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in the Church Hall unless otherwise stated. This year we have had two meetings on a Thursday afternoon with the Thursday Club. We are a very friendly bunch of just over 40 cheerful – young in spirit – ladies and you will be very warmly welcomed.

THE GUILD RALLY

On Saturday 3rd September Doreen Snadden and I found ourselves getting on a bus at 8.10am in Bearsden and on our way to Dundee. (I’m usually just thinking about breakfast then). The bus was full of Guild members chatting and laughing happily on our way to the Annual Guild Rally in the Caird Hall, Dundee. There were 2,000 Guild members and special guests gathered to hear the various speakers, hear reports on what had been happening around the country, news about the various projects, news and intimations from the General Secretary, Iain Whyte (yes we do have men). To hear 2000 people singing Rejoice the Lord is King is wonderful, I last sung that in a crowd as large as that at the National Youth Assembly in 19…….

The Rev Dr. Russell Barr gave a talk on ‘Moderator’s Reflections’, he is not only a very interesting speaker but also extremely entertaining and his tales had the hall ringing with laughter.

After Lunch the Guest speaker was Sally Magnusson who gave a very interesting and informative talk about her charity ‘Playlist for Life’. Her mother suffered from Altzheimers disease and Sally’s family discovered that when they played her mother’s favorite songs that she used to sing all through her life, it helped her memory and Sally advised everyone to make their own playlist. We had Music from the ‘Heart and Soul Swing Band’, who play Christian Music which is very upbeat and at the end of the meeting the members were definity dancing in the aisles and we have the pictures to prove it. Don’t ever let it be said that the Guild are ‘staid’ or ‘dour’. We all had a very uplifting day, making new friends and meeting old friends.

Our theme is ‘Be Bold, Be Strong’ – Go In Joy, and the Rally in Dundee certainly inspired the Guild to do just that.Elizabeth Matheson

Friendship GroupTown Break has been thriving in Stirling for a number of years and will support and encourage the development of a similar group to serve the rural communities in our part of the Stirling Council area. Would you be interested in joining us to learn more about how our community can become involved in this very worthwhile service to dementia sufferers in our area? To find out more, please contact: Brenda Pell, Tel: 550328 (email: [email protected]) or Carole Young, Tel: 550994 (email: [email protected] )


Killearn Kirk received many donations of dried food and tins at the annual Harvest Thanksgiving service in October. These gifts were donated to Glasgow City Mission. They were used to assist with providing for the weekly foodbanks. Together we can bring God's love to men, women and families who are marginalised or experiencing poverty, and enable people to fulfil their God-given potential. We are blessed to have a great number of committed and generous supporters. Fresh vegetables and flowers were distributed within the village. Thank you to everyone who donated these gifts of food.

St Rollox Church of ScotlandSt Rollox continues to offer support and services to residents, Asylum Seekers and Refugees in North Glasgow. Killearn Kirk has supported St Rollox for many years and continues to do so. The gifts of toys, books, etc, donated at the annual Gift service to be held on Sunday, 11th December will see gifts being delivered to St Rollox where they will be distributed amongst those in need. If you are donating then we would please ask that you do not wrap the presents so that volunteers at St Rollox can see what is being given and hand out to the appropriate person/s. It would be appreciated if Christmas wrapping paper could be supplied. Thank you in advance for the gifts to be shared with others and for the lives that will have been touched by these small actions.

[Christmas] Greetings with a little help from Hawaii! In these final days before Christmas we are exposed to a barrage of greetings, mostly welcome but some perhaps less so. Whilst “Happy Christmas” is an encouragement and reminder of the gift of Jesus at Bethlehem, others are less meaningful. For example, “Season’s Greetings” (meaningless); “Happy Xmas” (Lazy); “Happy White Christmas” (advert from a colourless clothing shop) to the dismally PC “Happy Holidays”. There is a still a need to keep seeing the coming of Christ at Christmas for ourselves.

Some lateral thinking led me to reflect how people greet each other generally worldwide and whether their salutation has any underlying meaning. In this social media age, Hey; Hi; Yo; Wazzup are (apparently) appropriate but hardly meaningful. Others are similar to our “Hello” – “Ni Hao” in China or "¡Hola!" in Spanish. In contrast, some cultures greetings a bodily message of respect – In Thailand the Wai - (placing palms together on the chest and bow so your fingertips reach your forehead) or the Maori Hongi (press noses and foreheads together gently). In others the apparent availability of time demands protracted, respectful (and occasionally inconvenient) rituals. I worked for a time in a Mission Hospital in Botswana where long greetings in Setswana were the norm. When you met someone for the first time that day - “Hello Sir (or Madam)”,“How did you get up this morning?” - - “I got up well! -- And you, how did you get up this morning?” ¬- -“ I (also) got up well!” Then if relative status demanded there was a complex three stage handshake before you could commence any proper conversation. ( Picture the scene as the young doctor rushes to deal with some urgent medical matter when he meets a group of village elders on the way!) Throughout the Scriptures, spoken greetings and farewells are much more than just “hello”. They frequently identify a relationship and seek something good for those greeted. e.g. Just then Boaz (a wealthy farmer) arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!”--- “The LORD bless you!” they answered. Ruth 2 And topically - The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:47. Jesus always greeted everyone with a word of peace or blessing and reminded us to greet friend or stranger equally: "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” Matthew 5:47. Where does that leave us this Christmas 2016? Can You & I leave the cynicism about commercial greetings behind and greet everyone in the name of Jesus? Those like me who have visited and loved the people and islands of Hawaii, will know the greeting “Aloha”. Whilst also over commercialised, Aloha is used as a sincere welcome, or a word of farewell but contains also a much deeper expression of love, compassion, regret or sympathy in times of trouble, mutual regard and affection. In Aloha there are traits of character that express the warmth of Hawaii’s people as a whole and it is spoken at the deepest level as a natural gift from the Creator.

There are many translations of the word but I like this one. Separating Aloha into three syllables: a – loh – ha, “a” is the first letter of the alphabet representing God’s place at the beginning of everything. The “I am” of the Bible, Creator and Ruler of all is honoured. Loh can be loosely translated as “came down”, just as we celebrate the coming down to humankind of God in the form of the baby Jesus. Finally, if we say “ha” quietly a few times we can understand its translation as “breathing into”. Thus a one-word greeting Aloha reminds us of Love & Hope for all in a troubled world. God, at the beginning and end of everything, came down to earth in bodily form as the baby of Bethlehem, breathing new life into us in our creation in His image, as a way back to Him in a failed world but also filling us with His Spiritual strength to live for Him. From that amazing gift flows all the characteristics of Love, Respect, Mutual Regard and Care which could change us and would change a selfish world greatly for the better.

So if “Happy Christmas” seems a little less meaningful this year, may I wish you “Happy Christmas and Live Aloha” as a novel replacement.

Dr Andrew Weir


Messy Play . . . what’s it all about?Despite only being two or three years old, some children have already mastered the art of making a mess, and I’m sure every parent will be able to recall a cringeworthy/funny moment when their child(ren) ‘helped’ decorate in a very special way! I must confess that although my date of birth reminds me I’m no longer a child, I still haven’t managed to ‘grow out’ of my love for making a wonderful mess! But who says I have to? Messy Play continues to be one of our best attended groups with both returning friends and new faces alike. My trusty team of fellow ‘mess makes’ aim to provide a space where you and your little people can feel not only safe but encouraged to try out new activities in an environment specifically geared towards 0-5 year olds. The pop-up sessions are loosely themed with relevant and current topics. These have included:

Going for Gold with our very own Olympics Inspired by the sheer skill and mesmerizing performances gracing our screens, we, too, tried our hand at some sporty events! A strip of masking tape on the floor became the marker to see who could jump the furthest; we threw bean bags into the bucket and decorated medals with all kinds of sparkly glitter and materials! An activity recommended by a friend which proved to be of the most popular was taking an old shoe box, a toy hammer and a selection of 2 inch golf tees. How many tees can you hammer into a box? Complete with ‘Bob the Builder’s hard hat’; we had both children and adults alike enjoying whacking the ‘nails’! Can you draw the Brazilian flag? Learning about colours is extra fun when you can draw a flag at the same time! We decorated both the Union flag and the Brazilian flag.Beach Bash Have you ever tried flip-flop fishing? Keen to keep costs low, I am always on the look out for affordable ways to have fun. Sometimes you kind people donate goodies while other times, I find bargains in the charity shops! With several pairs of flip-flops purchased in the end of summer sales, a piece of string tied around the little hanger shoes are bought on, we made a terrific fishing game! Tricky, yet reveals those with the most perseverance! We designed our own sunglasses! My, have a look at some of those ideas! Oakley, you’ve got competition! One of our kind donations was that of an inflatable paddling pool! When the weather was warm enough, we had wonderful water play in the garden!Musical Madness Reloaded This topic proved very popular before so with some more instruments including a roll-out piano, our guitars made from shoeboxes and elastic bands, and rice-filled bottles as shakers, we indeed made a joyful noise!Harvest Celebration Perhaps you have been trying your hand at painting an autumn picture. How about trying the same but using your toes to paint? At Messy Play, we break the rules and experiment with all kinds of learning! The Harvest Celebration session saw us studying the details of the beautiful coloured leaves and copying them for our own pictures, devouring scrummy freshly-picked brambles, and decorating a large tree mural with all kinds of brightly coloured designs!Fireworks Extravaganza! Tackling topics which can sometimes frighten children such as the loud bangs of fireworks can be made into fun and safe activities. In one of November’s sessions, we made the sounds of the different fireworks by swishing our hands together, clapping and even stamping our feet to replicate the loud sounds we heard! We took time to looking at how glow sticks worked, and drew Catherine wheels and rockets with chalk.

What can you expect when you come along? Every session begins with a warm welcome to each child and their parent/carer. Not only as an opportunity for me to learn all your names but for your child(ren) to feel special by having their time to introduce themselves. If words aren’t yet a confident option, we use Makaton signs, too. Early birds can enjoy a singing session with live music. I usually play guitar, mandolin or drum and between the musicians big and small, we make a wonderful choir! With an hour or so to explore all the different activities on offer, you have a chance to meet people from all over the area. If you little one is much younger, we have a dedicated space with large floor pillows and soft furnishings to encourage tummy time and sensory exploration. The main hall has different stations with activities and crafts at the tables, messier activities on the floor and our famous giant foam Lego bricks for the budding architects!

A healthy snack is provided for all. Gluten free and other intolerance options are also available. While your hungry monkeys tuck in to their snack, you can enjoy a hot mug of tea or coffee and a biscuit!

To round off the sessions, depending on the children’s ages that day, there will either be a story, another opportunity to raise the roof with our singing or sometimes we have a surprise visitor! In the past, with so much musical talent in this area I have invited musical parents to join me in demonstrating their abilities! Not only great fun to hear a live performance but for many children who have never seen nor heard of some instruments, they are mesmerized! For some, this is how seeds of inspiration are planted! “What’s a cello bow made of?” “Where do you put the batteries?(!)” “Can I try?” So much opportunity for learning!


Kirk KidsOver the past few months, our ‘Who am I?’ theme has been encouraging the children to have a closer look at the different characters of the Bible. Some names are well known, some not so. Some stories are quite funny and, when we put ourselves in their shoes, we have the opportunity to think about how we might react in their situations!

For example, how would you feel if you had to fight a humungous soldier…alone? David, who was just a little lad in comparison, should have had knees knocking as much as mine, but he wasn’t afraid! Why? Because he knew that God was even bigger than Big G! With just a small stone and a sling (and a rather good aim), David defeated Goliath with God’s help, sending this not-so-jolly-giant crashing to the ground! How about Daniel? He was soon to be eaten by some hungry lions. Nice! Instead of stopping what he had been told was a ‘crime’ – praying openly every day – Daniel took little notice and continued to spend time talking with God. Why? He also knew that God was stronger than any lion, even a hungry one! God didn’t prevent Daniel from spending a night in the lions’ den, He went a step further to show D that He is all-powerful and can extinguish the hunger in those lions’ tummies! Daniel spent the night in Hotel Lion and woke, much to the surprise of the soldiers, completely unharmed!

These are just a few of the incredible stories of incredible people! Actually, many of these characters were just like you and I. Some were teachers, some were shepherds, and some were even just children when God used them for great purposes! During our Kirk Kids sessions, we learn that God can do anything! We’ve just got to give Him the thumbs up! A fun reminder comes in the lyrics of this favourite song:

God can do anything, anything at all. God can do anything, anything at all! Nothing is too big for Him and nothing is too small, Don’t put Him in a box, don’t shove Him in a corner, Don’t you limit what He can do! God can do anything, anything at all. God can do anything, anything at all! Nothing is too big for Him and nothing is too small, God can do anything, anything at all! We don’t have to have amazing talents! We just have to be willing to serve and be a tool in God’s toolbox! And, tools, as we all know, come in all shapes and sizes, and with different purposes! God wants you to be His friend, and some of the best friendships are ignited as children.

Kirk Kids is for children aged 4 – 12 years and takes place during the Sunday morning service. After a special children’s story, we sneak out and have our own session of crafts, activities, singing and stories! A crèche is also available at the same time for children aged 0-3 years.

Hope you can join us soon! For more info, don’t hesitate to contact me: [email protected]

Watch this space !P4 to P7s, coming soon will be a club run by Killearn Kirk of fabulous activities from games, quizzes, a chance to learn the basics of an instrument – or improve existing skills – attend workshops on book-folding, card making, crafts of all kinds, painting, photography skills and much more!

Make sure you don’t miss out! Details coming soon on Killearn Kirk Youth and Family Facebook Page, killearnkirk.org.uk, and info around the village!

When: 9.30 -11.30am 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month Where: Killearn Kirk HallsWho: Everyone is welcome! Ages 0-5 during term time. (5-7 year olds also welcome during holidays)Cost: Messy Play is FREE, or a donation if you’d likeContact: Yvonne Bauwens on [email protected]: We have page ‘Killearn Kirk Messy Play’ with dates & ideas! Website: Details can be found at killearnkirk.org.uk

Looking forward to having you join us at our next sessions! Thursdays: 26 January; 9 February; 23 February; 9 March; 23 March; 13 April; 27 April; 25 May; 8 June; 22 June


Youth GroupEarlier in the year, Killearn Kirk’s youth group, The Squash, wanted to do something more to help those who have nothing. Nothing but the clothes they sit in and perhaps a thin sleeping bag. With pocket money, these youngsters purchased two backpacks from charity shops, and either donated or bought hats, gloves, scarves, thick socks, a warm coat or fleece, basic but necessary toiletries and a mug or flask in which soup or tea could be given. We asked for your help and over those few weeks, were inundated with your kind donations from sleeping bags to some brand new garments you were prepared to donate!

What were they for? Each time I venture into Glasgow, homeless people sit begging for small change to buy a hot drink or something to eat, possibly the only meal they’ll have that day. In the past I’ve spent a few minutes sitting with these people asking them about themselves and why they’re homeless. For most, it has been just one step which has led to a wrong decision causing a snow-ball effect. Some of these people had ‘normal’ lives but that one situation meant they were evicted from their homes or in losing a job, and found themselves sleeping rough on the streets. It was an eye-opener, and very moving, and in those few minutes of sitting on the freezing pavement that cold day, I was already going numb.

Our two rucksacks we filled, along with your donations which amounted to two additional hold-all bags, were taken to the Lodge House Mission in the Barras where homeless people from all over Glasgow can go to not only have a hot meal but meet new people, receive clothing donations, like ours, and find out where they can get more help.

The idea of being able to restore a little taste of normality and dignity to a stranger's life proved greatly inspiring as the youth went a step further and recorded a 'Thought for the Day' style podcast. Each person prepared a short message sharing their favourite Bible verse and why it is so, selected a passage of encouragement/interest from a book, or read their favourite poem. Initially recorded with a Dictaphone, the audio was then edited using my recording equipment (Audacity and Cubase SE for anyone interested) and mixed down to produce a high-quality podcast, which was then put on three MP3 players with headphones and given to homeless people in Glasgow. Why the MP3s? For some, the only human interaction they may have in their day is a 'no' to their plea for 'any spare change, please?' Can you imagine over days, weeks, months and even years how stifling and detrimental to one's self-esteem this would be? To never hear the words 'I love you', or 'good morning! It's lovely to see you today!' or receive a simple smile just for you...I can't bare the thought! To hear words of encouragement, something funny or hope-filled in a message just for you can bring life, and that was our intention and prayer. We may only be small in number, and young in age, but that doesn’t stop us planting seeds of hope in this world!

There’s a Bible verse found in the New Testament in the writings of Paul to a young man called Timothy, which reads: Don’t let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12 Contemporary English Version (CEV).

Living in this area, there aren't too many homeless people on the streets. Step a bit further a field and you'd be surprised by how many people find themselves sleeping rough sometimes due to circumstances completely out with their control. The Squash youth group hasn’t just been about enjoying ourselves in a fun and friendly environment, it's about using the talents and interests to reach out to others in any way we can! Although taking on a different form, we aim to have another youth group up and running in the new year, so keep your ear to the ground, your newsfeed sharing the Killearn Kirk Youth and Family page on Facebook, and your eyes open for more info coming soon! Activities will be of all kinds, so come along and we can have fun together and find more ways of reaching out and helping others!

In the meantime, how about taking with you a book the next time you’re in town and sitting with a homeless person. Find out about them and, if they’d like to, read a chapter of hope and encouragement to them. Having done similar, I can tell you that you won't leave with a dry eye, and nor will they. 'They' being human beings with names, loved ones - somewhere - hopes for a better future, memories of good times, misunderstood feelings, and absolutely a yearning to be independent and self-supporting. People. Strangers. Friends.

We would like to continue making rucksacks of hope and so if you have any garments as mentioned above that you no longer use (including a backpack), I would be delighted to collect them! Contact me for more details!

Thank you for all your words of encouragement and support with this in the past, and in general! Together we CAN make a difference!

Yvonne Bauwens (youth and family worker). [email protected]


Ken Allen’s Malawi TripI visited Malawi in September/October this year and drove with my friend, Kondwani Chidziwisano from Blantyre to Mzuzu, over 350miles. We stayed in Jamieson House, built with money donated by the Jamieson sisters. It is a base for volunteers who go out to Malawi to give their skills to help the local communities. Members of the Raven Trust were in residence when we were there, working on a number of projects, and it is often used by visiting dentists, eye specialists and other volunteers.

I attended the English church service of St Andrews CCAP in Mzuzu as a guest of the Rev Levi Nyondo, recently re-elected as the General Secretary of the Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP, who has visited Killearn on a number of occasions. The service, from 7.30am to 10.00am was very lively and was attended by 1500 people, including 7 choirs, one of which was visiting from Zambia.

I introduced myself when visitors to the church were invited to speak, but I was asked to remain when the others sat down. Rev Levi then spoke of the long association between Killearn Kirk and Livingstonia Synod. He mentioned a number of churches which had been financed by Killearn Kirk, and people responded with applause. I hope that this is heartening, to know that the contribution Killearn Kirk has made is remembered and still appreciated.

I have to admit that I was surprised to find that I was representing Killearn and even more so when a presentation was made to me of a Malawian shirt! I was very touched by the gesture and the warmth of the welcome. I was later a guest of Levi and his wife, Ruth, for lunch.

If you have wondered what happens to the clothes and other things which are donated and gathered in Killearn Kirk, I saw the distribution of bundles recently arrived in a container from Scotland, to orphans and their carers. While in the area, I visited Ekwendeni Mission, which had been established at the end of the 19thCentury by the Rev Walter Elmslie, as an offshoot of Livingstonia Mission, and is now run by the CCAP. There is a major general hospital there, a School of Nursing, and a College of Theology.

My visit to Mzuzu, and to Malawi as a whole was very interesting and enjoyable, and it was inspiring to meet the many people, both Malawians and others, who are working to improve the lives of these most friendly people.

Kirk PropertyThe results of our quinquennial survey were received in the Spring of this year highlighting a number of areas that required work to be done to bring the building up to the surveyors requirements. One of the main areas was the vestibule and balcony walls showing a lot of damp with the paint tending to be flaking off in a number of the corners. This has been investigated and hopefully resolved. It is a watching brief waiting for the dampness to lower to a level so that the flaking paint can be replaced with new paint. We have dealt with some of the other problems in that area ourselves such as cracks. Another area was blocked rainwater pipes which were cleared by members of the property committee. Also highlighted was the state of the tiling in the Gents toilet in the halls. The loose tiles there and elsewhere in the halls have been replaced. The manse was also part of the quinquennial survey last year and the two areas that required immediate attention were completed earlier in the year. There are less urgent items on the surveys which we are able to complete over a five year period rather than a two year period for the urgent category. The Property Committee continue to do work as necessary in order to reduce the cost to the Kirk including, at this time of year, trying to keep on top of the leaf fall. We do ensure that all the necessary checks and servicing for electrics, gas and fire equipment are up to date. I would like to thank those on the Property Committee and others in the Kirk who have given up their time to help maintain the Kirk property.Sue Beck


Have you ever lost something and, there, right in front of you, the missing treasure stares you in the face? Well, not so much ‘in front of my nose’ but in front of my toes was where I found my inspiration for this article! Although I enjoy writing, inspiration, which arrives in different forms, was taking its time. The deadline was creeping up and I was still searching for a good topic. As I opened the gates of Killearn Kirk one day, there, on the pavement, the council had spray-painted the word ‘renew’. Voila! How very apt!

That patch of pavement does need renewing and it’s not the only part of the village that could do with some TLC! But I don’t intend writing about the state of the roads or the renewal of them, instead more of a personal form of renewal. While working in an Early Years Education environment, when preparing for a lesson, I would create a lesson plan. Not only was much time spent before the lesson, but afterwards too when I critically evaluated both the activity and my role, and how to improve for the next time. Having my birthday in December and with the closing of the calendar year, I also take time to reflect upon the months which have passed. Remembering the great times, the challenging moments; experiences of all kinds, I take the opportunity to both thank God for each and self-evaluate how I have grown or could grow from life’s journey thus far, making a list of the top moments of my year!

According to Biblegateway.com, a portal website for all translations of the Bible, the top three searched-for verses last year were:

# 1: John 3.16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (New International Version /NIV)

One of the most quoted and famous verses in the whole Bible, John 3.16 is often dubbed the ‘Gospel in a nutshell’. It starts with God, ends in a promise of love and includes everyone, whoever wants to be included, in the middle. That’s you. That’s me. That’s the guy who hasn’t even heard of God. This promise is for everyone, regardless of who you are, your background, colour of skin, language, anything. If you choose to accept the gift of God’s love, the word ‘whoever’ is replaced with your name, and this promise is yours to keep forever. Loads of books have been written about this verse. John 3.16 is a promise for yesteryear, our today and tomorrow, and the future that we cannot see.

# 2: Psalms 23:‘The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my

enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’ (NIV)

Having been able to recite this verse by heart since childhood, it is easy to stop thinking about its meaning. This year however, it became something more to me, and all because of one word. I tend to notice words and, in this verse, I did just that. It’s a very visual passage and as a visual learner, I

love to picture myself in that tranquil meadow. I’m sure God knows the grounding technique of putting oneself in a place of calm, and Psalms 23 certainly provides that mental place of peace for me.

Read the first few lines again, though. It begins in third person with ‘the Lord’. Then it changes to ‘He’; God has become more familiar. The part which stopped me in my tracks was where it reads, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ It has changed now to 2nd person. What’s so special about that? During the most difficult times in our lives, God isn’t distant and uninterested in your turmoil; He’s there in the midst of it all. ‘He’ has become ‘you’. You and I can be in a conversation with God having a rant, a heart to heart and probably a good cry in the middle of the night, trying to fathom circumstances which might leave us feeling low. This verse promises us that God will never leave us. In fact, He will walk with you through the toughest times, and during a particularly challenging time in my own life this year, the words of Psalms 23 were very real and poignant.

# 3: Jeremiah 29.11:‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (NIV)

This is also a very special verse for me! As a teenager, an unknown medical condition brought much insecurity and feelings of exclusion as I often wondered what my future could possibly include. My ‘party trick’ of going from tallest pupil at Balfron High to the shortest in a 2 second ‘timber moment’ was not a very helpful trick. How, when what stood between me and a ‘normal’ future was a condition which caused my muscles to go weak causing me to collapse, could I share the same hopes and aspirations as many of my peers? What career could I have? I had already been banned from learning to drive. The wheels I relied on were those of wheelchair! Would I be able to live independently and support myself? Would I be a burden to my parents? My future seemed bleak. This verse brought great hope and comfort when, although I could not see a positive future, I trusted that God had a plan for my life because I had chosen to dedicate it to Him. As a 15 year old this was a special verse and now, as a 27 year old, it remains so but in many more wonderful ways!

Hope for the Future!


Jumble Sale attracts Christmas BuyersThe Church Jumble Sale was held on Saturday 12 November and was well supported with total takings of £1,234.50 including some generous donations. This annual event has become part of the calendar and is always a busy meeting place for bargain hunters searching for the ideal present. It’s worth pointing out what happens to the surplus goods at the end of the day. At the appointed time a van from Starter Packs with a

team of helpers arrives to clear all the Jumble left overs which are then either sold in their retail shop in Govan or given to people setting up home. Housing Associations supply referrals for needy people requiring help and Starter Packs provide a “pack” of essentials for starting their own home: see www.starterpacks.org.uk. A big thank you to the community for donating goods and to so many willing helpers. Come and buy next year!

Some people envisage being a Christian as having a ‘get out of jail free card’ for life. Everything will be squeaky clean and pain-free. Nope! What Jeremiah 29.11 refers to is God’s promise of hope that one day, whoever accepts the everlasting words of John 3.16 will live in Psalms 23’s place of peace, where there will be no more pain, suffering or sadness, but where safety and love will prevail. Being a Christian is about walking the path of life knowing that God is with you always, and having a community of support from fellow believers. The Bible offers guidelines for your life, comfort through words of others who have been there too, and promises to keep you strong and hopeful for a better future. God didn’t just give us the Bible, He gave us Jesus to walk amongst us, be that Friend and Confident in whom you and I can connect, and through His exemplary life and sacrifice, the words of John 3.16 remain a promise until Jesus Christ returns.

Reflecting upon 2016, what a year it has been! There have been too many things to list but yes, there have been decisions made which have left us wondering about the future. There are names of famous people who did incredible things and also perhaps those we are sick of hearing about in the media! There are names of people who are no longer with us along with names of people born in this year. As 2016’s page will close and the New Year welcomed, what names will you remember most?

In the words of Morris Venden: ‘We are living in a time when centuries are compressed into a few short years. Names of great men appear on the horizon, flicker for a moment and then are lost in a sea of forgetfulness, but there is one name that grows brighter with every passing year. And that is the name of Jesus.’

Dear friends, as another year draws to a close, do take a few moments to self-evaluate. You might be surprised by how much you’ve accomplished, obstacles you didn’t think you could overcome, experiences which have taught you great lessons and those moments which might have seemed insignificant but have actually had a profound impact on your life.

Don’t worry about the names which dominate our headlines. They will flicker for a while and then fade. The name you might consider knowing more is that of Jesus. Those top 3 verses aren’t just words in a Book. They have brought hope on so many levels to millions of lives in years gone by and will continue to do so.

Thank you, Stirling Council, for the free ‘advertising’ outside the Kirk! Worth a thought? God’s gates of love and hope are open for you to renew your life with Christ. You are welcome, and always. And that’s a promise!

Yvonne Bauwens


STUART COCHRANE,Main Speaker, Burns expertand Curator of Ellisland Farm,Home of Robert Burns

SHEILA HALL (guitar)of the Twa Dogs sings Burns

READINGS: A selection ofcolourful verse and prose

KILLEARN KIRKSATURDAY 3 DECEMBER7.30–9.30pm

TICKETS: £15 (under 16’s free)From Richard 01360 [email protected],Anne 01360 550605

In aid of Killearn Kirk andFriends of Ellisland Farm

Tea, wine and a taste of haggisKillearn Kirk Charity No. SCO12140

AnEvEning

withRobERtbuRns

Documents

December 2016 Volume 19 Issue 3 Christmas Tidings from ... · Come and celebrate with us ! Christmas Services and Events Sat 3 Dec 7.30pm A Celebration of Robert Burns (Killearn Kirk)