A CHURCH OF SCOTLAND PARISH CHURCH Page 1

December 2012

CROSSTALK

Congregation No. 161054

Scottish Charity No. SCO15579

Christmas Musings from the manse.

The words that keep coming back to me just now are: “ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 Seldom has there been such an obvious need for peace in the world. The economic downturn has really begun to take hold in the UK, with people losing their jobs, and cutbacks in all local services, including schools and hospitals. Cuts in welfare

entitlements also seem to affect the most vulnerable the worst – those unemployed or with disabilities or mental health issues. Charities working with the homeless and the poor, report alarming rises in the people who need their services. On the international scene, the recent violence between Israel and Palestine illustrates the worst about human nature. People seem more likely to throw bombs or rockets, than try to actually listen and talk, and find a new way forward. The tensions and disputes in the Holy Land are ancient, and we continue to pray for healing and reconciliation and justice. As a result, economic and political unrest and instability, alongside storms and flooding, have created an atmosphere of restlessness and cynicism. And for all of us there are consequences – uncertainty and anxiety about job security, financial concerns, family worries.

Against this backdrop, what meaning does Christmas have? If it means buying things we don’t need and can’t afford, drinking too much and rushing round in

(Continued on page 2)

Page 2 www.tachurch.org.uk

circles, it means very little. But the beauty of the Christmas story is that it is about the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the One who was born to Mary and Joseph into a crazy mixed up world, yet brought hope and love and peace. His circumstances were not ideal – his parents didn’t know each other that well, they were travelling far from their home, they had no where to stay. Jesus was born round the back of an inn, with the animals. Yet He was the one long prophesied about, the Messiah who was to bring good news to the poor, to set the people free, and bring recovery of sight for the blind. When we spend time with Jesus Christ, we see the things that really matter – love, forgiveness, grace, understanding, hope – the very qualities of the kingdom of God. The words of the prophet Isaiah sum it up:

“ For to us a child is born, To us a Son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7. This is worth celebrating – hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness, peace in the midst of chaos and change. May you all know the hope, light

and love of the Prince of Peace this Christmas season,

Fiona Gardner FIOP.

Over recent months, we have been talking with an organisation called Faith In Older People, to look at how we can better identify, and respond to the spiritual needs of older people. In the spring, we hope to have two meetings run by FIOP to be open to people in the congregation. The topics are going to be related to how we can best engage with people, by using different resources eg using music, and thinking of dementia and end of life issues. When we have the dates worked out, we will let you know.

Dry rot.

As many of you will be aware, there is an outbreak of dry rot in the church at this time, and it means that the sanctuary has been closed for 6 weeks, while this work has been carried out. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to be flexible in the midst of worship being in the hall, and so many things being disrupted. Thanks especially to Robert and the fabric team for co-ordinating things, to the

(Continued on page 3)

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 3

Communication team, the Welcome team, the Thursday morning service teams, and our church officer Evelyn Greechan for the tremendous amount of extra work they have all had to accommodate in recent weeks. All being well, we hope to be back in the sanctuary before Christmas. Please keep praying.

(Continued from page 2)

LETTERS

I would like to thank our minister, Rev Fiona, and the members of Temple-Anniesland congregation who have supported me and continue to support me with their good wishes and prayers during my prolonged spell of ill-health. Each gesture, card, ‘phone call, visits and flowers have meant so much to me and have been so up-lifting.

Special thanks to Fiona for her visits and phone calls and also to John Edgar for all his visits in hospital and at home.

May the Lord bless you all.

Margaret T Campbell

Molly, Caroline, Karen and Family would like to thank our minister, Fiona, for her visits, support and prayers following the very sudden death of Henry, a much loved son and brother, and for the moving service she conducted in the church and at the graveside.

Special thanks must also go to Irene and Ian Dickson, Stewart Henderson and John Brown for organising the music Henry himself had chosen, both in the church and at the graveside. We would also like to thank Evelyn Greechan, Elisabeth Robertson and all who were on duty at the door.

We have been overwhelmed with the cards received, flowers, gifts, visits, telephone calls and the large attendance at Henry’s funeral. Everyone’s support and love has sustained us throughout this very difficult time and shows what a caring church family we have at Temple-Anniesland.

Special thanks again, Fiona, for all the time you have spent with me.

Every blessing,

Molly Begg and Family

Page 4 www.tachurch.org.uk

Treasurer’s Report In the last magazine I was trying to decide whether I just put in figures or if I waffled and just put in a couple of figures. A few of the congregation have said to me that they didn’t really bother with my report when it was just figures but now that I waffled they read the articles and picked up the few figures by accident. Therefore waffling will continue. I am always amazed at all the jobs that go on behind the schemes so to speak in the church that we just take for granted. For example the church flowers just appear on a Sunday. The faulty light bulbs just get changed. Life and Work magazine ap-pears in your pew every month. We regularly get new pulpit and lectern falls. We enjoy tea after the morning service especially the tray, which is brought through to the team doing the count. Then there’s the intimation sheet and order of service every Sunday, the overhead projection of the hymns, the W F O envelopes, the minutes for the Session and Board Meetings. Better not forget the magazine – ed-iting, production, collating and contributors. I am sure that there are others, which escape me at the moment, but you will agree it takes a lot of people to ensure that the aforementioned happens. So when the Stewardship Committee were making up the Reponse – sorry, Response - Card all these jobs were taken into considera-tion to try to find new helpers and we had, in most cases, good responses. I also had over 40 of the congregation who said they would review their giving. Mind you I am always asking the congregation to review their giving on at least an annual basis as well as my normal plug in every magazine for the last ten years. If you pay tax and have not yet signed a tax gift aid form please contact Elisabeth Robertson (Tel No. 959 0498) and she will be delighted to give you one. The Harvest Sunday collection for Tearfund was a superb figure of £708.58. As usu-al we received a letter of thanks from Tearfund of which the following are extracts: “Thank you so much for your gift of £708.58 in response to our harvest appeal. Your generosi-ty will mean fewer like George going to bed hungry in poor communities across the world. We have just heard that training sessions have taken place in the Apac District in Uganda, the area. where George is from. The churches there are working with the community to help them realise the poten-tial they have within themselves and the resources already available to them; changing minds, hearts and lives. In, our work, we are often reminded of the words of Psalm 10:14, this being espe-cially poignant for George and his siblings: But you God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 5

Thank you again for helping make change pos-sible for communities like Wigweng and for families like George’s .” The September Communion retiring collection for Blythswood Care was £177.81. In total so far this year we have given over £4,000 to charity. The anonymous donors have been in action again with £9,000 being donated to the New Toilet Fund and from another anonymous source £2,200 was donated to the Printing and Publica-tion Fund. The congregation’s givings are slightly up on last year but the difference in the General Account Income this year is hall rental which to date has brought in £7,300. This has ensured that the General Account will finish the year with a sur-plus. We were also very grateful to receive a legacy of £1,736 from the estate of Bob McDonald. That is the good income news. Now for the bad news …. The dry rot in the church will cost over £30,000 to eradicate. We have an insurance claim pending which may cover some of the cost but if this does not come to fruition then we are fortunate that we have reserves to fully cover it. Well this has been a pretty serious article; purely accidental, I might add. Anyway I’d better stop now as I will have to pack my things for my golfing holiday in Florida. I just go to make up the numbers - well that is what I tell her indoors. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR GIVINGS AND PLEASE KEEP

UP THE GOOD WORK. Fergus

Treasurer’s Report—continued

PARISH REGISTER

Deaths

Mr James McCartney Knightswood Court (18) Sir Mathew Goodwin Kelvin Court (20) Mr Henry Begg Munro Place New Member Mrs Eleanor Pollock Kessington Road (09) Transfers & Disjunctions Mrs Maureen Reith Hutton (07)

(Continued on page 7)

Page 6 www.tachurch.org.uk

Thank you to everyone who came along to “ The Big Event” – our

stewardship exhibition and presentations and buffets! It was brilliant to see so many people come along at the end of September, and enjoy just thinking about what our faith is all about, and the need to give thanks for God’s goodness. Many people also filled in response cards, pledging to review their giving, or to volunteer in a new area of the life of the church. (Although you can review your giving, even if you didn’t fill in a card!) We have people who have volunteered for drama, making tea and coffee, helping with youth work and gardening, as well as many other activities. We hope and pray that the life of the church will be enriched by all that we are all doing. I am very grateful to our stewardship team - : Chairperson Fergus Platt, Phil Brien, Jeanette Greenlees, Evelyn Greechan, Elisabeth Robertson, Stuart Sangster, Jessica Smyrl and Jim Stewart who worked together in an inspired and organised manner. Stuart Sangster is one of the stewardship promoters from the national church, and he was very helpful in keeping us right! Thanks also to all the visitors for their work, and to our organisations who participated. It reminds us of the nature of the whole church family, and challenges us as to how to get to know and cherish each other better. If you have any questions about any aspect of the stewardship campaign , please do get in touch. Thank you everyone for your support, in seeking to make our church a more healthy place to be, and where people demonstrate their faith in God in practical ways. PS We hope to start a monthly youth club in the new year, on the first Sunday evening of the month, after the response of people to be leaders! Please pray for this, and let me know if you know a young person who would like to come along.

Fiona Gardner

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 7

Change of address Mrs Betty McNab From: Bearsden Road (13) To: Dunvegan, Skye (Postal) Mrs McIntee From: Crow Road (06) To: Castlebank Gardens (02) Mrs Margaret Mee From: Ascot Court (07) To: Clarence Court Nursing Home (22) Mrs Margaret Gillan From: Chamberland Road (23) To: Almond View Care Home (24A) Mr Bill Allison From: Essendale Avenue (24A) To: Inchfad Crescent (24A) Miss Sheena Kennedy From: Essendale Avenue (24A) To: Inchfad Crescent (24A) Mrs Claire Smith From: Inchlaggan Place (24A) To: Reelick Quadrant (Postal) Mrs Anne McDougall From: Crow Road (19) To: Cumbrae Care Home (Postal) Mrs Catherine Kennedy From: Lincoln Avenue (18) To: Largs (Postal)

Supplementary Roll

Mrs T McFarlane Great Western Road (18) Mrs Mundy Lincoln Avenue (18) Mr James O'[Neill Kestrel Road (18)

Mrs Dorothy Smart Kestrel Road (18) Mrs E McGrady Knightscliffe Avenue (15) Mrs S Whyte Caravel Close, Essex (Postal) Mrs M McDonald Waterside Nursing Home (Postal)

PARISH REGISTER (Continued from page 5)

Fabric News

This is a few words to keep you informed on the progress of the dry rot eradica-

tion. The extent of the rot was greater than expected by any of the potential con-

tractors but we have now discovered the full extent of it and treated it all.

All the walls have been re-instated and the plasterwork has now been done.

The paint work has started and we expect, at the moment, to be back in the main

church for the Christmas services. We hope you will all be happy with the final re-

sults. On behalf of the fabric team and all the contractors I thank you for your pa-

tience and co-operation during this difficult time. Robert Dallas.

Page 8 www.tachurch.org.uk

Join us on our journey to hope this Christmas. ADVENT Our journey begins with Advent, a time for us to wait, prepare and reflect on the coming birth of the Christ child. We do this over the four Sundays before Christmas and examine the long road, through scripture reading, prayer and meditations. We are waiting and working towards God’s purpose for us. This is never time wasted, for during this period God is moulding us into effective instruments to serve. As we journey through Advent we begin to tease out the detail that makes this so believable, so human a story, that draws us closer to the light. Within the bible passages that are read, we get a real flavour of what life was like at that time, so fragile an existence. Through the meditations and prayers, we draw closer to God and become aware of our failings, for we are so imperfect. Our world has still not found lasting peace. The weight of expectation can be daunting; we must not falter for the long journey is nearly over. Now the time has arrived and hopefully everything is in order and we are prepared. In this oh so busy world, time seems to evaporate and even more so during the Christmas season. Time is a valuable commodity and giving some of your time to help somebody is a unique and personal gift. Jesus gave this gift generously, to anyone in need. This is even more amazing considering how short his lifespan in human form was. Contrast this with our lifestyle. “I’m busy doing nothing, going nowhere fast!” We must slow down and learn to appreciate all that the Lord provides for us.

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 9

CHRISTMAS EVE The light of the world will pierce the darkness and can light up our souls. Oh, come Emmanuel! The Nativity scene links Jesus to our humanity as nothing else can. I have always felt as if we are intruding into a very intimate and touching human experience yet I am always drawn to it. This was and is the start of a new and closer relationship with God. Christmas reminds us of a God who sent Jesus, his son, to live with us and teach us a better way to live by showing love and respect for one another and offering a deep and personal relationship with him to help us to do so. And this is the crux of it, the reality of it, the real Christmas present— here again we are being given a clear, present and very personal sign of hope for a change in the future direction of our lives and of the our world, a hope that looks beyond despair, starting and continuing work now. We are being offered real hope for lasting peace on all continents, a hope celebrating our common values, respecting cultural diversity, a hope for meaningful dialogue to sort our differences, and a hope which reminds us that it’s the little things which build trust, show you care and really make a difference. That hope for peace brings with it a quietness in the soul, a new vision and opens our eyes to the good things given to us; neighbours, friends and the total environment around us that God provides. All this is so that we can have and, with His help, bring to others the freedom to grow and flourish under God’s love and , in doing so, look forward to being part of something so much better than anything we could make for ourselves. This sort of Christmas is something we can all celebrate. John Brown

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is

laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-

ful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

(You could read more in Isaiah Chapter 9 and explore further in Isaiah)

Page 10 www.tachurch.org.uk

201st Glasgow Guides

The 201st Glasgow Guides have been

working hard all term. They have com-

pleted their animal lovers badge which

included a fantastic trip to Edinburgh Zoo and are now working towards their film

lovers badge.

Following a visit from a former senior sound supervisor at the BBC, the guides are

now writing, directing and staring in their own 5 minute films. They will be show-

casing these on our last night of term which is the 18th December. All friends and

family are invited to attend from 8pm in the main hall, when the Guides will also

be displaying and talking about some of their other activities from the year.

Angela Gardner

1st Kelvinside Rainbows

We have 6 very lively girls at the moment but we are limited with what we can do with so few girls so if you know of any girls aged between 5 and 7 or who are in primary 1 or 2 at school and love to play games, making crafts and making new friends. We meet in the old hall on Monday evenings from 6.15 to 7.15. We have started working on the one of the Roundabouts as we learn about Rain-bow theme of Look, Learn Love & Listen. Rainbows celebrated 25years by having a county Birthday party at the Glasgow Art Galleries in May and two of our Rainbows have been asked to speak at the Annual Review of Glasgow Guiding at the City Chambers on 21st November.

Fiona MacIntyre Unit Guider

Æ Ligatures and diphthongs—a reason to pray...

A ligature is a unique pairing of two (or three) letters that became one glyph or grapheme for no other reason than it made print design easier and more beautiful and a way of expressing something

unique. A diphthong is the pairing of two vowels in any spoken language that form

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 11

Working with our young people—the Youth Development Team

Many of you will have had the chance to come along to the recent Christmas Fair event run by the Youth Development Team. It was a great success and very well supported, shown by the total of £700 or so raised for work with our young people. If you have your ear to the ground you may also have heard of our Boys Brigade company raising over £1000 on a bag-packing day at Morrisons. These are just some of the signs of the work being put in by the youth leaders and the Youth Development Team to support work with young people in the church. Guides, Boys Brigade, Brownies, Rainbows, Mothers and Toddlers and Crèche, there are many areas of potential in the church’s work with young people that need support and development and the YDT is beginning to address many of these. Behind the scenes there are regular meetings chaired by our hard-working Minister, meetings full of laughter and creative thinking as well as serious discus-sion on organisation and child safety. The newly refurbished youth room, the Holi-day Club in the summer and the Christmas fun day this month are part of an effort to make the church a place where young people can feel at home. There is of course much more to do , with a renewed focus coming on our Sunday Club and provision for the youngest children in our community being part of the agenda for next year. The Team has been working hard to ensure that financial support for YDT activities by the church is being matched by their own efforts. However what is more important than anything is your active support for young people and their parents in our church by your acceptance and encouragement of their place in our church community. Your prayers, your attendance at their events, active help, your talking about what is being achieved and thinking about what more could be done will create a lively environment for our young people to thrive in. [from the editor]

a new sound. For me it is wonderful that pairings are often greater than the sum of the whole. So often best friends, groups and couples are exponentially better together than ever they were individually. It amazes me that God thinks the same thing about my relationship with Him. How much better life is when we are together than apart! [Edited—from the Internet]

Page 12 www.tachurch.org.uk

THE GUILD

I expect that by the time you are reading this article we will

have had our Concert in aid of the Guild Project, COMFORT

RWANDA – Building a Better Rwanda. The Concert, by the

High School of Glasgow was held in the High School itself,

we were very privileged that the School offered to “host”

the Concert at the School for, as you all know, we had the

problem with the Dry Rot in the church and therefore could

not have the Concert here at Temple-Anniesland. We are

indeed indebted to the School for all the kindness they have

shown to us, we will not forget this!

We have had a successful “first half” session with lots of

different items on the Syllabus and I attach a copy of the Syllabus for January to

March next Year. I am quite sure there will be one or two items which may be of

interest to you so please do come along and join us, we really are a nice bunch of

people.

Yours in His Spirit, Fay Platt- President

Jan 8 New Year Message – Rev Fiona Gardner

15 Street Pastors

22 Burns Lunch

29 Guild Project

Feb 5 Drama by Guild Committee

12 The Anderson Singers

19 Session Clerk & Treasurer – Jim & Fergus

26 Preparation for the World Day of Prayer

Mar 5 Stained Glass Windows – Mr Ian Galbraith

12 To be Arranged

19 A.G.M.

26 Daffodil Tea - Stewart & Friends

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 13

Blythswood Shoe Boxes The appeal this year went far beyond our expectations and this will hopefully give

you just a flavour of how much has happened.

· £177.81 was collected as a retiring offering at the September communion

to pay for the carriage for the shoeboxes and Fergus sent it away.

Blythswood ask for £2.50 a box if possible.

· 4 fully filled boxes with £2.50 carriage

on each were handed in to us.

· The Job Centre kindly donated a list of

goodies, especially toys and £20 for

postage.

· Another £22.50 was given to me for

postage

Sub total: £230.31 plus boxes and toys.

I prayed for more money to be given and

within 10 days I received £110 and a friend in another church gave me £70 worth of

men’s hats, scarves and gloves! I had already received another £30 in donations.

Sub total for this: £140 plus the hats, etc. bringing the total to £370.31

Then from all of you in the church we received shoeboxes, knitting, toiletries, etc.

Thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtfulness. Special thanks go to

Marion and Margaret Strathdee who covered about 150 shoeboxes between them!

From all of this we were able to fill and send away over 200 shoeboxes, which will

bring joy to people in Pakistan and Eastern Europe. Blythswood Care sent 119, 283

shoeboxes last year from all over the UK. For just one church I think we have done

really well. Thank you very much.

Alison Gray

Page 14 www.tachurch.org.uk

Our Christmas and New Year programme 9th December 11am Second Sunday in Advent

Speaker: Eileen Robertson on Israel/Palestine update. 15th December 11-1pm Children’s Christmas activity morning! 16th December 11am Third Sunday in Advent Family service.

6.30pm Evening service Prayers for healing 23rd December 11am Fourth Sunday in Advent

3pm Christmas Choral service, led by the Choir. 24th December 7pm Christingle service

11.30pm Watchnight service Offering - Lodging House Mission

25th December 11am Christmas Day service. 30th December 11am Worship 6th January 11am Worship and informal communion. 13th January 11am Worship

6.30pm Evening service. Dates for the New year – 2013. 20th January 11am “ Back to church” Sunday. 20th January KFC service at St Ninian’s Roman Catholic church. 17th February KFC Blawarthill Parish church. 24th March KFC Knightswood Congregational church 31st March Easter Sunday 19th May KFC St David’s Parish church. KFC = Knightswood Fellowship of Churches. Christian Solidarity Worldwide meetings at Findlay Memorial church—15th Feb, 18th April 2013

Hope for Christmas and light for the New Year Our relationship with God

Isaiah 30:19-21 How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon

as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord

gives you the bread of adversity and the water of afflic-

tion, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the

right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.

www.tachurch.org.uk Page 15

Prayer

At Temple-Anniesland

some of us have been

meeting to pray together

from 7-7:30 pm on the

2nd and 4th Wednesday of

each month. 5 or 6 peo-

ple attend.

In Egypt, a Christian

church will hold a prayer

meeting from 7 pm to

midnight each Thursday.

30,000 people will pack the church and 50,000 more are outside praying. That is

despite persecution and police standing outside the church. Those attending realise

the importance of prayer and understand the vital need for it in their own lives.

If you would like to come and pray, to support all of our church and find out how

important prayer is both for us individuals and as a church, and Wednesday even-

ing doesn’t suit you, please let me know. I would like to arrange an additional time,

possibly during the day that will work better for you.

Alison Gray Tel: 339-1601

Old Christmas Cards

Once again this year I will be collecting old Christmas cards to send to a friend who

trains teachers in Nepal. She uses them to make into jigsaws. I would really appre-

ciate it if you would bring along suitable unwanted cards to the church after Christ-

mas and I will collect them from you and pass them on.

The cards should be a normal size (small ones aren’t very suitable). For cultural rea-

sons please do NOT include any with Santa Claus or drinking scenes. If possible,

please cut the backs off and if you are able to contribute 50p towards postage, that

would be much appreciated. The cost is £8.11 a kilo and I try to send around 8 kilos

Thank you, Alison Gray

Page 16 www.tachurch.org.uk

SUSAN CLARK Our Mission Partner

Susan as , you may know, is working in Pakistan

on a project supporting women and children.

She is still having to work very hard to learn Ur-

du which is not an easy language. Conditions

continue to be a challenge with lack of water for

washing – a real problem in such a hot country.

Please pray for her to find encouragement and

remain safe. She would also value prayer for her

family especially her elderly mother. Alison

Getting out and about remains the challenge.

Although I have made visits there is not a regu-

lar schedule organised. One Saturday morning I met two women whose children

are adults and a young woman about to be married. Through the manager’s trans-

lation we were able to hold a limited conversation. I learnt something about their

lives and concerns. These are very similar to our own; their children’s future and

employment, as well as financial constraints. What of course is different is that

there is no welfare state; schools have to be paid for as do all health services. Both

of the women had suffered some hardship. One had been widowed young and had

a child who died, the other had a teenage son who had left school and was in a

dead end factory job that hired on a daily basis. This was not the future she had

hoped and prayed her son would have. When I asked them, both said the Church

had only been a little helpful. I am sure there have been prayers and thoughts but

people still want practical help. The women all welcomed the opportunity to attend

the rehabilitation centre and talk about their problems. I found I could understand

more than I could say but it will be a while before I do not require an interpreter.

Thank you, for your prayers and encouragement. I appreciate all the emails and

letters. It is not easy to reply to letters, as I have to get to the post office for stamps

and to post. The good news is that I’ve bought a printer so you will not have to try

and decipher my writing!

Please continue to pray for the work here, for all the staff, all those who are train-

ing or participating. Include in your prayers during advent the gifts of food and

warm clothes to be given to those without. Susan