October 2024
The Church of Scotland
Bearsden Cross Church
Bearsden Cross Church – Scottish Charity No: SC009082 – Congregation No: 1811
Minister: Rev. Dr Graeme R. Wilson GWilson@churchofscotland.org.uk 61 Drymen Road, Bearsden, G61 2SU | 942 0507
Minister’s Secretary: Anne Reid
Office: 942 0507 | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30-12.30am
The Secretary may also be contacted by email secretary@bearsdencross.org
Session Clerk: SessionClerk@bearsdencross.org
Editor: Peter Grant MagazineEditor@bearsdencross.org Cover picture: Mugdock Castle in Autumn ©Peter H Grant Content for the November edition of Word from the Cross should be sent to the editor no later than Friday 18 October 2024.
Dear Friends,
Parish Letter
I heard the story the other day about a 98 year old Mother Superior from Ireland was dying, so the nuns gathered around her bed, trying to make her last earthly journey comfortable.
They gave her some warm milk to drink, but she refused. Finally, one of the nuns took the glass back to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of Jamieson’s Irish whiskey received as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened the bottle, and poured a generous amount into the warm milk.
Back at Mother Superior's bed, she held the glass to her lips. Mother drank a little, then a little more, and before they knew it, she had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop. "Mother Superior," the nuns asked with great earnestness. "Please share your wisdom before you die." She raised herself up in bed and said, "Don't sell that cow!"
It also reminds me of the story of the long-winded Minister who said that he was going to preach on the “milk of human kindness”. To which one long-suffering farmer in the
congregation responded, “Can we have condensed milk, please?!”
Perhaps Paul was thinking of the “milk of human kindness” when he wrote to the Colossians telling them that that they were to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Virtues that may not always fit us comfortably as we go through life with all its challenges.
But, we are called to show these characteristics, to wear these clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience – not only when it is convenient and when it feels good but also when it feels as if the clothes don’t fit well at all.
Kindness and compassion is easy to offer to those who appreciate it but how much more difficult is it to be kind to those who don’t. Is this a garment we can easily wear?
The compassion Paul, and indeed Jesus, asks of us goes beyond helping those who we think deserve help. We are to reach out to those whom we might find it difficult to accept, to love or to understand. Jesus broke down barriers and crossed boundaries to help others. He reached out to the marginalised of his society despite the conventions of his day and the disapproval of those in authority. He healed the man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9), he told the ‘woman who was living an immoral life in the town.’ that her “sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:36-50). This was the garment of love, justice and acceptance that Jesus wore.
Our call as God’s people, as the church of Jesus Christ in this place, is to be clothed in that same compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ... to show the love of God to our community and to all those we met along the way.
May God give us grace that the clothes might fit!
Shalom, Graeme
“Who do you say I am?”
We compiled all the answers given to this question on Sunday 18th August and created a poster. The poster is on display in the Assembly Area, but I have included it here (see opposite page) in the magazine for your information.
Graeme
Home Communion
I know that for some of you, getting to church can be difficult or even close to impossible. If that is the case, then the church can come to you!
The Minister is always willing to bring communion to your home if you wish. He would be accompanied by your Elder, or another, to celebrate the sacrament together with you and this is a way in which to remain connected to the church and its life, even when you are less physically able to do so.
If you would like to arrange for Home Communion to be brought to you then please contact the Minister on 0141 942 0507 or email him at gwilson@churchofscotland.org.uk,or contact your Elder.
Graeme
The Minister’s Communion ware – from the shores of the Sea of Galilee
Pulpit Swap – October 2024
Many of you will recall the Pulpit Swap we enjoyed last summer when the Rev Dr Greg Jones of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware, and his wife Camilla, came to Bearsden, and Julie and I went the other way to Wilmington.
Greg and I have been in regular contact since last year and we have agreed to do another Pulpit Swap, this time for two weeks at the beginning of October. Greg will lead worship on Sundays 6th and 13th October here in Bearsden, and I will lead in Wilmington on the same days.
I’m sure you will give Greg and Camilla the same, warm welcome you gave them last year and I know that they are looking forward to being among you once again … and enjoying all that Scotland has to offer.
Graeme
Greg & Camilla and Graeme & Julie, Wilmington, August 2023
Bible Basics – Exploring the New Testament
In response to feedback about potential subjects for ‘Bible Basics’ we will be ’Exploring the Old Testament’ in the coming months.
The Old Testament can be a fairly daunting subject to try to grasp (even for the Minister!) due to the wide nature of the people, places and subjects covered. The writing styles range from the poetic to apocalyptic, and from the historical to the farcical (Jonah). The Old Testament can perhaps be best understood as a ‘library’ of books ... with some quite obscure titles! What is Deuteronomy? Why Numbers? Who was Jeremiah, and why and what was he ‘lamenting’?
Unlike most books we might pick up, there doesn’t seem to be any kind of a clue as to how we might read the Old Testament. What is it, actually, all about? Why was it written? Who wrote it? Is there some key to the order of the books? In ‘Bible Basics’ this year we will try to explore some of these wider questions as well as looking at some of the books and key passages in a bit more detail.
‘Bible Basics’ is intended to be a fairly gentle and non-threatening entry into Bible Study and is aimed at those curious to find out some of the basic stories and themes of the Bible. ‘Bible Basics’ will take place on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am in the Guild Room and will last around 60 – 90 minutes. I will provide all of the relevant materials.
We will initially meet on the following dates:-
Date
Tuesday 22nd October
Topic
Beginnings. The founding of the Nation Tuesday 5th November Egypt, Exodus, & the Promised Land
Graeme
Funday Friday (and Sunday!)
Funday Friday is back after the summer break and we will meet on 4th and 25th October - we are off for the October break on 11th and 18th October. We have been looking at the stories of Pentecost - using questions of How, Why etc - all the children have enjoyed the activities and in particular our life sized super heroes - 2 are on the wall in the hall.
We are also collecting for East Dunbartonshire food bank as part of the celebration of Harvest - any donations, tins, dried fruit, pasta etc, will be gratefully received. Donations can be left in the boxes in the assembly area up to and including Harvest Sunday, 6th October.
Activities will also be available on Sunday 6th October (the third Sunday is during the October week)
Anne and Lesley
TMC
TMC continues to meet on the last Monday of the month in Massimo's for food and friendship (7:00 for 7:30). We sent £60 to the Neurological Unit at QEUH in July and £30 to Lomond Mountain Rescue in August. Over the next 2 months we will be collecting for our Annual donation to the East Dunbartonshire Women's Aid appeal to buy Christmas gifts for women and children who have to flee from domestic violence.
On 10 October a group of ladies are going to the King's Theatre to see "Murder on the Orient Express", preceded by dinner in The Griffin .
New members are always welcome to our social evenings and to join our WhatsApp group. Just send your mobile number to Gwen or to me and we'll do the rest
Anne E Henderson
In July, the members of TMC visited Whitewin House and Gardens, hosted by our Organist, Graeme Finnie, and his sister, renowned International Mezzo Soprano Linda Finnie. Linda sent the following note of thanks:
“It gives me great pleasure on behalf of Scotlands Garden Scheme Edinburgh, to thank the Ladies’ of BCC TMC, and the two gentlemen who visited Whitewin House Garden Girvan during July. The lovely day, allowed everyone to experience the Gardens’ unique ambience and location, before enjoying afternoon tea in the dining room and conservatory.
The TMC visit, contributed £ 150 towards Scotlands Garden Scheme Beneficiaries... Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, The Queens’s Nursing Institute of Scotland, The Gardens Fund of the National Trust for Scotland and Perennial.
It was a great privilege, for Whitewin House Gardens to have been selected by a More 4 TV Researcher, to apply for More 4 Garden of the Year Award 2022.
Thanks to All
Linda Finnie [Renowned International Mezzo-soprano].”
Someone suggested to me a while back that it might be good to have a Men’s Group –something along the lines of TMC where men can get together for conversation and company.
The Kirk Session were agreeable to this idea and so I have arranged for an initial gathering at the Ashoka restaurant, New Kirk Road on Thursday 17th October at 7pm.
I realise that curry might not be everyone’s favourite and it may well be that we might go elsewhere in future, but we have to start somewhere! Please let me know if you are interested in coming along so that I can book a suitable size table. Please also just turn up on the night.
I have no pre-conceived ideas of how often the group might meet, or where, or indeed of a more imaginative name!
Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday 17th October.
Graeme
The Guild
The Guild meetings start again on Monday 30 September at 2:00pm with an informal afternoon tea party allowing us an opportunity to catch up with all our friends.
Subsequent meetings will then take place on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. The syllabus for the season will be available at the opening tea party. All meetings start at 2:00pm.
As mentioned elsewhere in this magazine, Graeme has agreed to another Pulpit swap with the Rev. Dr Greg Jones in Wilmington, Delaware during the first fortnight in October. Our meeting on Monday October 14 will therefore be taken by Rev. Roddie Hamilton from New Kilpatrick Church.
I do hope that you will manage to come to our meetings and please bring a friend if you can.
All will be made most welcome.
June Macdonald
Phoenix Circle
Our meetings in October are as follows:
October 7th. Glasgow gathering of Quilters suitcase collection will be demonstrated by Maisie McCrae.
October 21st. Karen Jenkins will coach us on Well Being.
Our meetings are held in the Church hall & start at 7.30.
Everyone is welcome.
Jo Moody, Secretary.
THE FRIEND I NEVER MET
A few weeks back I had an email telling me that an old friend had died, at the good age of 97. A few days later, on the Sunday early morning programme on BBC4 there was a tribute to him.
Timothy Dudley Smith was an Anglican Bishop with an honorary doctorate, a writer (of my favourite book – ‘Someone who beckons’), a poet and known to many in the church as a hymn writer. There are eight in our own hymn book, the best known being ’Lord for the years’ (159) which, I think, we have once sung. This hymn was written to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Scripture Union, a Christian, mainly children’s, organisation with a strong Scottish base.
I never met Timothy Dudley Smith. How then is he my friend? The friendship commenced when I had a letter from him to ask what I remembered of a London University mission which the Rev Dr John Stott led in 1954. I had written, years after the event, to John thanking him for introducing me to Christ. This letter was in his files. Timothy was at that time writing John Stott’s biography, subsequently published in 1999.
Years later, when taking the church services on the Isle of Colonsay, I sent Timothy a postcard of the hills which could be seen from the church and telling him that we had often sung a hymn of his which fitted so well with the island – ‘I lift my eyes to the quiet hills’and which we called ‘our Colonsay hymn’. This postcard reignited a long correspondence with TDS by post and by phone – ‘hello Jim, this is Timothy’. Of all the phone conversations we had the one I remember most included his comment that ‘it, is so good to make a new friend in our later years’.
I never met TDS and he never came to Scotland but I did once see him. He was the preacher (very powerful) at the SU Centenary celebrations in London which was shown live on TV. A certain well- known lady came in as the service began and sat quietly at the rear of the church. No fuss. Few realised she was there. This was the late Queen Elizabeth, a strong supporter of SU. I think someone must have known she was coming! I am privileged to have been a friend of Timothy and this led me to think about friendship in general. But especially with someone whom I also have never seen in the flesh but who has also called me His friend. I think you will know who I mean. To quote another hymn writer ‘I’ve found a friend, O such a friend – He died, he bled to save me’. Or this – ‘He loved me ere I knew Him, for I am His and He is mine for ever’. So, what can we learn from this about human friendship? Real friends are few and far between. It is much more than acquaintance. First, someone needs to initiate that friendship, just as TDS did with me all those years ago. Then, it needs to be maintained, for me with TDS by phone, postcards and letters in the ‘slow post’. Not for him email or online text ‘messaging’.
Friends are there for you. And you for them. More difficult, real friends need to be honest with you. In my fifties, when I already chaired a university department, several people suggested to me that I should train for the church ministry. This I did. With all this completed a friend and colleague came to have lunch with me. He said ‘Jim, you should
not enter the ministry’. Honest, albeit quite blunt! Then he explained why. It was soon after that the opportunities came to travel in communist Europe with interesting and unique opportunities to share my Christian faith in the workplace, something no church minister could do.
I think Jesus is that kind of friend. It is He who initiates the friendship and wants to maintain it. He is always there for us – for Him there is no going back - and loves us so much that He can be honest with us. Sometimes telling us things we may not want to hear about ourselves.
PS: A very small prize for anyone who discovers where the above quote comes from! A clue is to be found in Matthew 31:31. Answers on a post card please! Or by word of mouth.
’The sun goeth down’ On the life of a dear friend.
Jim Parratt
Church Flowers
“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners , the fatherless and the widow,“
Deuteronomy 24 : 19
September 2024
Provided by : Arranged by:
1st. Mrs. A. Reid. Kate Edmond 8th. Mrs P. Parratt. Helen Hutchison 15th. Mrs. J. Wilson. Mags.Paterson / Julie Wilson 22nd. Mrs. C. Sommerville. Eleanor Sinclair 29th. Anonymous. Gwen Stokes
With thanks to all for your continuing support.
Christine Taggart.
Mugdock Trail ©Peter H Grant
CROSSREACH CHRISTMAS CARDS
This article for the magazine seems to come around more quickly each year. The envelope containing the sample Christmas cards arrived yesterday and I have identified 3 dates when they will be on sale to be ordered. These dates are Sundays 13 October and 3 November in the Assembly area before and after morning worship, also Monday 14 October at the Guild.
Please pay as you order. The cards look very nice and most are priced at £3.85 for a pack of 10; a very competitive cost compared to other charity cards I buy.
I know the cost of postage is worrying charities as the income from the sale of Christmas goods is so important to fund the very valuable work they do. Let's hope that our church will be as generous as always to Crossreach. I know our contributions are much valued and appreciated.
If you go online you will get a sneak preview of the cards but if you order from me delivery is free. I have a very limited number of catalogues.
Anne E Henderson Crossreach Congregational Contact
Glasgow City Mission
“Hey, Ka-tie, I saw your mountain and I waved at it and shouted ‘Hello, Ka-tie!’”
“Did you, S- ? So you got to the top of Tinto, then, did you?”
“Yes, they all did, and the view was wonderful, wasn’t it, guys? And Dumgoyne was standing out bright and clear, just as you expected.” (That from the leader of the trip.) This discussion took place recently, after one of the summer trips a couple of the staff organise for some of the guests. Usually, they go by minibus and then walk, cycle or climb. I usually ask as they assemble where they are going and that day I told them to watch out for Dumgoyne as it is very near my home and sometimes visible from Tinto.
S-‘s reaction was amusing and very heartening. He helps in the kitchen so I know him quite well. He is very keen but, to be honest, he’s chaos impersonated – but he enjoys making me a cup of coffee and reaching up for things on shelves that I can’t reach.
And yet, he has had serious mental and addiction problems and not long ago was up in court, in danger of going to prison. One of the GCM staff went with him and, thanks to her advocacy, he was given a lesser sentence and the Mission undertook to continue mentoring and supporting him. He had been on the GCM prayer list for months before I actually met him. It was lovely to see him going off to enjoy an excursion with a group of friends, and it’s been great to see him making such progress in his recovery, but the staff in charge of him know that that can change drastically and they may be back to Square 1 without notice. Multiply S- by a few dozens and you’ve got an idea of one of the jobs the trained staff do, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, sometimes with endless ups and downs. Like the swan’s feet under water, the work they do is not really visible and the rest of us can only support it with prayer.
Well, not quite “only”. I have been asked to let church friends know that if they would like to donate gifts for the guests the following would be especially welcome: Toiletries: Deodorant, Shaving Foam, Shower Gel, Razors; New men’s underwear and socks. To that, I would add the knitted hats, scarves and gloves that our Stitch and Knit group make. Please put all items in the marked box in the Assembly Area. We shall also soon need a team to help with the Overnight Welcome Centre though it’s not definite yet what form that will take. Pray for fruitful discussions between GCM and Glasgow Council and the Scottish Government. If you would like to volunteer for that or in some other way, see the GCM website www.glasgowcitymission.com or its magazine, Connect, which is on the Assembly Area table. Any questions, let me know. Cash donations, if you can spare them, would be greatly appreciated, and, as always, your prayers. Many thanks.
Katie Thomson
Almost a year ago, Christian Aid made a special appeal for the Middle East Crisis, which covered both Israel and Palestine. It has in the last fortnight issued a new emergency appeal, specifically for Gaza, and asks all churches to contribute to it.
Accordingly, there are emergency Christian Aid envelopes in the pews and if you wish to contribute that way, please put them in the offering containers in the vestibule or beside the pulpit. If you would rather donate online, visit https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/gaza-appeal Thank you.
In connection with this appeal, Christian Aid has produced a booklet called Just Peace, which gives the background to the current problems, detailed descriptions of what is actually happening and a challenging discussion of what we ordinary people in Britain can do to stop the bloodshed and enable peace. This document, which is well worth reading, can be accessed at https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-04/justpeace-church-resource-a5-booklet.pdf. It finishes with this prayer:-
Prayer of the Peacemaker
God of Justice and Peace, Make us peacemakers.
Give us courage to bear witness to uncomfortable truths, Help us when our eyes want to look away from destruction and death. Give us courage to speak where there is silence, To name complicity, injustice and poverty.
Make us dissatisfied by shrugging off the ‘complicated’, Keep us curious to listen and understand. Help us hold together Palestinian and Israeli, As we stand in solidarity against oppression.
Plant in us persistence in seeking a just peace, Let us not grow weary in our petition and our prayer. Give strength and wisdom to all who strive for peace, on both sides of the checkpoints and blockade.
God of Justice and Peace, Make us peacemakers.
Amen.
EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR GAZA
In the space of a year, civilians in Gaza have seen death and destruction on a scale of unimaginable proportions.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of those children. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced, forced to face extreme hunger and disease in overcrowded shelters.
With fuel for generators all but depleted, hospitals are ceasing to function. Virtually all water and sanitation services have collapsed.
Christian Aid’s established partners on the ground in Gaza are working tirelessly, under intense and dangerous conditions, to deliver life-saving medical care, food and shelter.
Please donate via the envelopes available in the pews, or online at the Christian Aid website (there is a “donate” button on the Christian Aid home page) https://www.ChristianAid.org.uk
©Christian Aid/Al-Quattaa
Bearsden & Milngavie Macular Support Group.
Here we are, about to start a new session.
We are a friendly Group of people who meet once a month in the large hall of Bearsden Cross Church. We all have vision problems but get support from each other. Membership is not confined to church members. People join us from Drymen, Helensburgh and the West End in addition to our core from Bearsden and Milngavie.
We provide advice, information and social interaction. Anyone with macular degeneration or any other sight problem is welcome to join the Group. A family member or friend is also welcome to accompany you.
We meet on the LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH (with the exception of July, August and December.) We meet in Bearsden Cross Church Halls. The doors open at 12.30 when you are welcomed with a coffee / tea and a biscuit. The meeting starts at 1.00 pm and finishes at 2.30 pm.
Our speakers have ranged from a police officer giving us safety advice, a provider of equipment to help us see more easily to a University Professor deeply involved in research into the causes of macular disease.
If you would like to know more about attending the Bearsden and Milngavie Support Group please get in touch with; Aoife Mooney on, 07586 168803 or aoife.mooney@macularsociety.org
….or JUST TURN UP !
Dr Joyce B Deans.
DIFFICULTY READING LOCAL NEWS?
The Bearsden and Milngavie Talking Newspaper Association – BEAM-was started in 1990 by the then Bearsden South Church with support from other churches in the area and continues to operate with support coming from the communities of Milngavie, Bearsden and beyond.
The blind and visually impaired in the local communities of Bearsden, Milngavie and beyond, are sent recordings each week of the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald and extracts from the Community News all of which helps to keep them in touch with what is going on in the local community. Stories from the likes of the Scottish Book Trust are added to give a bit of light-hearted interest to BEAM’s recordings.
Free easy to use boom boxes are supplied to help our listeners access our recordings and the Post Office’s free postal service for the blind allows BEAM to provide this service to all our listeners at no cost to them.
BEAM NEEDS YOUR HELP to reach those members of the community including your family, friends or neighbours who might be interested in having BEAM’s service. There is no need for anyone to be registered blind or visually impaired to have our service. Think about anyone you know and have a chat with them about this opportunity. If they would like to try BEAM’s service for a few weeks that would be great, just let us know on: 07597 519 791 or BEAMrecordings@outlook.com
Many thanks
Alisdair Meldrum BEAM Chair
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER SCO15177
The Kirk Session has been looking to establish a free ‘Taxi Service’ to enable people to come to church who might not otherwise be able to do so due to a lack of transport. The scheme will operate as follows: -
1. Those interested in using the taxi service should contact the Church Office on 0141 942 0507 to register with Church, and your name(s) will then be passed to Station Taxis.
2. Once registered you can then phone Station Taxis on 0141 942 4555 for a taxi to church. This can be pre-booked the previous day, or up until 10am on the Sunday.
3. Return taxis can also be booked for after the service.
4. If there are a couple of folk nearby each other then perhaps taxi sharing might be considered when booking.
5. The scheme will be reviewed after 6 months, or sooner if need be.
6. There will be no charge for this service. The cost will be borne by the Session Fund, which exists for purposes such as this.
I hope that this service will enable people to get to church who might not otherwise be able to do so, and I look forward to seeing you on a Sunday morning once again when you are able!
Graeme
Church Register
Funerals
16.08.24 Mrs Louise Junner
19.09.24 Mr Barrie Couper
Changes of Address
Mr Alistair and Dr Morag Allan
Miss Fiona McLean
Mrs Jacqui Clark
Forbes Graham, Sponsored cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Douglas and Fiona Graham would like to thank all the kind people who recently sponsored their son, Forbes Graham, when he cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in aid of ‘My Name’s Doddie Foundation’, MND charity. The journey took 9 days, and the participants covered a total of 980 miles. Forbes raised a personal total of £2,593 and is very grateful for the wonderful support.
Recordings of the Services
An audio recording of each morning service is made, and circulated weekly to those who have expressed an interest in listening, To be added to the distribution, please email secretary@bearsdencross.org.
If you do not have email, we can let you have the recording in any way which suits you, please speak to the Minister or Session Clerk.
Anne Reid
Submissions to the Magazine
Contributions to the November 2024 edition of the magazine should be with the editor no later than Friday 18 October. Contributions reflecting all aspects of the life of the Church and congregation are welcome, including photographs! It would assist editing if contributions could be prepared in Calibri font, size 14.
Also, please only send photographs that are of sufficient resolution to print clearly. Do not send multiple photographs asking the editor to choose (select those you would like included and send only those).
All contributions should be sent to: MagazineEditor@bearsdencross.org
Mugdock Loch ©Peter H Grant