1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

S†onelaw Parish
Church
Magazine
November 2014 Fifth Series 126
www.stonelawchurch.org
And that was true even, and perhaps
especially even, of Christians.
Letter from the Minister...
I was looking recently at a research paper
published in the “Clinical Psychology
Review”. No, it’s not my usual bedtime
reading, but an article called “Gratitude and
wellbeing” caught my attention. It outlined a
controlled experiment, where a group of
people were asked to record each week five
simple things for which they were grateful (a
sunset, a kindness observed, a new thing
learned etc.). The research demonstrated
that those who did this became more
optimistic, happier, more content (and more
motivated to exercise) than those who
didn’t. They also got to sleep quicker, slept
longer, and awoke more refreshed. The
paper also noted that these results were
corroborated by their (I presume grateful)
spouses. The conclusion: if you want to
sleep easier, don’t count sheep, count
blessings.
This may well all be obvious, and yet it is
easily missed. Our society deals so much in
discontent and dissatisfaction. We always
want more. We are always aware of what
we are missing or denied. Not than ambition
is necessarily bad, but it does appear that
our values are often neither spiritually nor
psychologically healthy. My own
observation from my time in Ethiopia, was
that in that land, where people had so much
less than in prosperous Scotland, they were
generally much more content. Grins and not
girns abounded.
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Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice
always, pray without ceasing, give thanks
in all circumstances; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you.” It’s good
advice. And that psychologists find it to
be healthy is not surprising. As with any
good science, the research simply
uncovers the truth of how God made his
world and his creatures to be. We are
made for praise, for thanksgiving, and to
understand and feel valued by all that we
receive in grace. That is health.
November is, for our American cousins,
the month of Thanksgiving (we mark it to
a lesser extent in October’s harvest
service.) What about us using this month
to practice an attitude of gratitude?
With thanks to God for all of you.
Alistair
Contents
Church Diary…………………………….2
Church News……………..……………..3
Lenny Shepard………………………….4
News from Therese…………………..5
News from Old Parish……………….5
Activities……………………………...…..6
Where There’s a Will….…….............7
Rotas….…...……………………………….7
Greater Love Hath No Man…..……8
Accounts/Managers Report………9
Contact Information…....................10
Church Diary
Morning Service at 10:30 am, conducted by Rev Alistair May unless otherwise stated.
Sunday, 2nd November
Sunday, 23rd November
10:30 am
10:30 am
6:00 pm
Holy Communion
(Proverbs)
Alternative Evening Service
(Toy Story)
6:30 pm
Morning Service
(Proverbs)
Evening Service
(Ephesians)
Sunday, 9th November
Sunday, 30th November
10:45 am
6:30 pm
10:30 am
Service of Remembrance
Evening Service
(Ephesians)
6:00 pm
Advent Sunday
Morning Service
Evening Service
(Ephesians)
Sunday, 16th November
Sunday, 7th December
10:30 am
6:30 pm
Morning Service
(Proverbs)
Evening Service
(Ephesians)
10:30 am
6:00 pm
Advent2
Morning Service
Frozen Service (Alternative)
Alternative Evening Services
The first Sunday of each month will be an alternative evening service (6pm-7pm at latest).
These are suitable for all. Some will be in the Meeting Place with child-friendly communion;
some will be in the hall – allowing for a little more relaxed interactivity. All will have a movie
theme this year. October will feature The Lego Service – and for December we’re planning
a Frozen Service!
Remembrance Sunday
The service will start at 10:45 AM to better fit with the silence at 11:00 AM.
Midweek Meetings
In addition to our Sunday services we set aside Thursday evenings for growing, learning
and sharing together as Christians. Throughout the year, our 7.30pm Thursday programme
will offer a variety of different topics and formats.
Missed a Sunday Morning?
Recordings can be downloaded from www.stonelawchurch.org.
E-Mail Copy of the Magazine
If you would like to receive your copy of the magazine by e-mail please contact Isobel
Wilson on [email protected]
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Church News
Christmas Party
We are organising a Church Christmas Party for Saturday 13th December. There will be
Games, Dancing and Food! Everyone is invited, so look out for more information in the
weeks to come. I will be looking for volunteers who have good ideas about games, and also
folk who like to bake, or anything else that makes a party fun. Put your thinking caps on
then and talk to me.
Jane Paulsen.
Carpenter & May Concert
Alan and Louise would like to thank everyone who helped and supported in the
arrangements and organisation for the Carpenter and May Band concert on Thursday 25th
September. The show was a great success and everyone, including our musician friends
from the USA, had a great time. Profits from the concert were donated to the church funds.
Church Register
Additions
Mrs Mavis Morrison by certificate of transference 02 September 14.
Removals
Mrs Margaret Ward, Stonelaw Court, Johnstone Drive, died 23 September 14.
Life and Work
Many thanks to all who deliver the church magazine and Life and Work. Please can
distributors find out if there is any change in the number wanting Life and Work
in 2015. The cost will be £22.00 per year. Numbers must be in by mid-Nov. Money can
be given to your distributor or to myself on Sunday morning.
Isobel Wilson
Thanks
Thanks
Mrs Ruby Ferguson, now living in
Templeton House, Abbeyfield, would like to
thank her many friends in Stonelaw for their
continuing visits, flowers, cards and
especially their prayers. She greatly
appreciates them all.
Alan and Louise Mairs and family would like
to express their sincere thanks to all who
sent kind words, condolences, cards, love
and prayers following the death on 22nd
September of Alan's mother, Pearl Mairs.
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Special Tribute
Lenny Sheppard
Noo, as many o you’ll ken, we are awfy fond o oor Len
An a widnae mind if you would excuse ma run away pen!
He’s come o’er here tae join us, oot ae his wee den
Is that right Len?
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed!
So as we come together, wae oor cups n saucers
We’ll celebrate the time we had wae oor church officer
It’s been 19 yrs, we’ve been privy tae your good cheer
Noo dry your eyes, n wait til ye hear!!
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed!
Noo a fair ken, that when you’ve been ben,
In that church hoose there’s been a few times,
You’d want tae let yir tongue loose
A tale or two, that wid scare a moose!!
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed!
You’ve telt me the tale, or rather Regailt!
When a wumman who was teeny, checked you out rather keenly
I am Church Offcer, Leonard Sheppard, quite supremely
Oh! She said really, just wit we’re in needae –
A good Sheppard, yes indeedy!!
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed!
Noo, ma man’s yer pal – that’ll be Big Al!
Oor weddin wiz yir first, which nearly saw ye fall,
When ye said tae ma faither, who wiz in a bit o a lather
Dinnae fash fir al hae a dram fir ye efter
The Rev Alistair Morrice had a look that wid melt ye!!
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed
A said tae wan or two – whit does Lenny mean tae you?
“He’s always pleased tae see ya, and greet ye with a smile”
“He’d go the extra mile, tae git ye through the turnstile”
“N Gee ye a sweet, that wid jist go doon a treat!”
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we’ve been much bless-ed
As you begin, your retire-ment, you’ll be glad I’m ending this indictment
Load’s o time way Jackie n Tay you’ll spend
When yir no listening fir your doves’ lament
But we waant tae leave you way this sentiment –
Your time here has been well spent,
N we awe love that you’re well kent.
Oh! Lenny Sheppard, we really have been much bless-ed!!
Joanne Jenkins
31 August 2014
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News from Therese
Foodbank Update
Who are the hardest people for us to love, and what does it mean that God loves them
anyway?
In the foodbank one of the most difficult decisions to make is the decision to refuse
someone food because they have an addiction to either alcohol or drugs. Foodbanks have
not been set up to support these lifestyle choices or create yet another dependency however what would Jesus do?
A huge thank you to all who responded to my appeal for help at our latest food collection at
Morrison's Store in Cambuslang and the subsequent food sort at St Columbkille's. We
gathered 3.8 tonnes of food.
Glasgow Soup Kitchen
This humble quiet ministry of compassion is carried out by various groups, one of which
originates from Stonelaw Church. The Stonelaw team go out onto Cadogan Street in
Glasgow every Sunday night, hail, rain or snow, to offer hope in Jesus' name. Could I
please encourage you to continue to support this ministry, by bringing along a can of soup,
beans, pot noodles, tea bags or a packet biscuits? Thank you for your continued support.
Blessings,
Therese x
News from Rutherglen Old Parish Church
Very many thanks to everyone who has been knitting “wee jumpers” and hats. Glasgow
Caring City Charity now has a stock of these items. They would be most grateful for
“Beanie” type hats for adults, and long scarves, and they still need the blankets. I would
personally like to express my appreciation of all the love and work which has been put into
the many thousand garments which have been supplied by Stonelaw Church and friends at
home and abroad. God works through so many people and in so many ways.
Best wishes to all from
5
Marjory Greig
Activities
Tuesday Chat
Acoustic nights
@ The Meeting Place
Thanks to everyone who came to the
October meetings.
By the time you all read this we will have had
the Table Top Sale. Look out for any news in
the December Magazine.
Our 1st meeting in November is on Tuesday
11th at Faith Mission (in Glasgow) from 79pm. It is a good way to spend a couple of
hours. First you can buy Christmas cards etc
and browse round the shop. Then we can get
together for Tea/Coffee and Cake and have
time to Chat. All welcome. The cost is £5.50.
If anyone wishes to come please give your
name to Jill Rennie ASAP. We can also
provide transport. We have done this for a
few years now and it is always a good
evening.
We will have a meeting in the Meeting Place
on the 25th Nov. We will only have one
meeting in December on the 9th. This will be
our Christmas Celebrations with Secret
Santa. Anyone wishing to come, please bring
a secret gift value £5. We usually have
Mulled Fruit Wine and Christmas pies. Do
come along and join in our fun!!!
Alison McCartan
The Wednesday Ladies
Another successful meeting took place in
October and we are looking forward to
getting together again on 19th November at 2
p.m. A minor difficulty we are encountering
is the logistics of travel as few of the ladies
attending have access to transport and
relying on those who do is placing a strain on
goodwill. To delete one 'o' from the last word
of the preceding sentence and prove its truth,
two or three volunteer drivers on the one day
per month for the five monthly meetings
would be a tremendous help to maintain
attendances at this fellowship. Anyone willing
to help out? Please 'phone Myra Howitt at
0141 6475228.
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On 28th November
7.30pm The
Meeting Place
presents Scotland's
foremost exponents
of traditional ballads
and contemporary
folk music – Pete &
Heather Haywood.
Not to be missed!
See you there!
Alan and Louise Mairs
6th Rutherglen Girls’ Brigade
The Juniors are continuing to work their way
through the Ten Commandments as well as
having a lot of fun with Team Games. They are
also going to explore well known bible stories
through drama (hopefully they won’t suffer from
stage fright).
The Explorers have been continuing to think
about journeys and having made their passports
are now heading for France on the first stop on
their trip round the world. They very much
enjoyed the night that we spent playing team
games with the Juniors.
Please feel free to have a look at what we have
been doing by visiting the Girls Brigade board
which can be found in the main hall of the Church.
Please continue to pray for the girls and the team.
Fiona Benson (Captain)
Sundries
Where there’s a will……..
Going through some of dad’s many memoirs, mum and I came across this story which I
thought I would share with you this remembrance season. It is a story from the Second
World War and is of a British soldier who had been killed. His comrades asked the parish
priest if he could be buried in the catholic churchyard. The priest was very apologetic,
explaining that he wasn’t allowed to bury him in the churchyard as he wasn’t of the catholic
faith. Instead, he would have to be buried outside the churchyard fence. The next morning,
a group of soldiers gathered to stand by the grave outside the fence. But they couldn’t find
it. There wasn’t a grave to be seen. Then they discovered that, during the night, the priest
had uprooted the wooden fence around the churchyard and had re-routed it so that the
soldier’s grave was now inside!
He’d solved the problem without breaking the rules - where there’s a will there’s always a
way……
May you know His peace at this time of remembrance.
Margaret A. Borland
Rotas
Door Duty
DATE
09/11/14
16/11/14
23/11/14
30/11/14
07/12/14
NORTH AISLE
M. Moore
G. Morrison
C. Baillie
B. Stewart
R. Taylor
DRYBURGH
M. Galt
M. Morrison
A. Stewart
E. McDonald
J. Baird
7
SOUTH AISLE
B. Shields
J. Shaw
P. Howitt
B. Stark
M. Baird
FLOATER
J. Paulsen
M. Shaw
M. Ewing
T. Finlayson
I. Wilson
Sundries
Greater Love Hath No Man
These words can be attributed to Jane Haining, a committed Christian, who gave her life for the
Jewish girls in her care. Jane was born on 6 June 1897 in Lochanhead Farm, Dunscore, near
Dumfries. She was 5 when her mother died and from an early age Jane showed maternal feelings
towards her younger siblings. A pupil in Dunscore primary, she won a scholarship to Dumfries
Academy in 1909, where she received 41 prizes in total and won the Dux Medal in 1915.
After completing a business course at the Atheneum in Glasgow, Jane began a 10-year spell as a
secretary with J and P Coats in Paisley. She found digs in Pollokshields and attended Queens Park
West United Free Church, where she heard a talk about work with Jews in Central and Eastern
Europe. Shocked to hear about the murder of Hungarian Jews following a Communist uprising, Jane
told friends she had found her life’s work. In 1931 she answered an advert in Life and Work for a
Matron at the Scottish Mission School in Vǒrǒsmarty utca (street) 51, Budapest, Hungary. Most of
the 400 pupils were Jewish, sent there by their parents for safety.
Jane began a Diploma course at the Domestic Science College in Glasgow, attending German
language classes in the evening. She paid her fees from her savings, passing with distinction, and
took up her post in 1932. Popular with both staff and pupils, Jane soon became fluent in Hungarian.
When war was declared, Jane and her fellow staff member Margit Prėm were on holiday in England.
They left immediately for Budapest. In 1940 Jane was advised by the church authorities to return to
Scotland and safety but she insisted that her girls needed her. She disregarded two further warnings
and when the Nazis invaded Hungary in March 1944 she still resolutely refused to abandon her
charges. All Jews were herded into ghettos and this included the mission on Vǒrǒsmarty utca.
Jane was arrested in April on the charges of helping Jews, listening to the BBC and spying. She
admitted to the first two ‘offences’ but not the latter. It is possible that her betrayer was the
housekeeper’s son-in-law, a member of the Nazi party.
Jane spent time in Futca prison and was interrogated by the Gestapo on two occasions. After time
spent in a holding camp in Kistarcsa, she was transported to Auschwitz on 15 May. Her last letter to
Margit Prém was dated 15 July and postmarked Auschwitz 21 July, by which time Jane is believed
to have been dead.
In 1948 two stained glass memorial windows were placed in Queen’s Park Church and in 1984 the
Jewish community in Budapest erected a marble plaque in the Scottish Mission. She is also
remembered at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and in 2005 people in Dunscore erected a cairn in her
memory. A Foundation was started in her name and a stone from Lochanhead Farm was gifted to the
Budapest synagogue. Jane’s ex-pupils, now aged 80s and 90s, describe her as a kind and caring
Matron. A solid silver ‘British Heroes of the Holocaust’ medal is housed in Dunscore church.
Reverend Aaron Stevens from Jane’s old church, St Columba’s on Vǒrǒsmarty utca, found treasure
in an old safe in the church; a bible presented to Jane in 1931 by her fellow Sunday school teachers
in Glasgow and a book on plants, a school prize from Dumfries Academy in 1910. These are now in
the Foundation’s safekeeping.
The school in Budapest is now run by the State and The Jane Haining Foundation brings the three
top students and one of their teachers each summer to visit Dunscore. Accommodation and
hospitality is provided by church members. Pamela Mitchell, one of the team leaders involved in
running the Foundation and an elder of Dunscore Church, has welcomed many teachers and students
over the years.
Irene Lebeter
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Treasurer's Report
Cash Summary Sep 2014
Income
Free will offering
Tax recovery
Donations and other income
Total Income
Month
Actual
£
8,570
0
11,382
19,952
Year to Date
Actual
Budget
£
£
77,994
84,510
17,733
18,890
18,550
6,725
114,277 110,125
Surplus /
(Shortfall)
£
(6,516)
(1,157)
11,825
4,152
Note
4%
Expenditure
Ministry, mission & wider work
Local staffing costs
Building costs
Rates, water, insurances
Power
Repair costs
Other local costs
Reachout Trust
Printing and stationery
Organ & piano
Other
Total Expenditure
8,204
1,643
67,158
15,934
70,209
17,260
3,051
1,326
1,172
1,460
140
8,451
7,076
8,423
8,743
7,392
4,440
292
316
(3,983)
0
621
0
289
13,528
0
2,068
402
2,835
112,347
0
1,847
350
3,184
113,425
0
(221)
(52)
349
1,078
6,424
1,930
(3,300)
5,230
1%
Income less Expenditure
Surplus / (shortfall)
Figures relating to the Development Worker Fund are excluded.
Other income includes VAT reclaim for Project Wall.
NOTES FROM THE MANAGERS
A request to all hall users......
As winter approaches and the church heating is now firmly ON, could you please advise
the Hall Convenor, Vetinia Gorman, if your organisation is not using the hall on a day that it
has previously booked, eg holiday, an outing, etc? This will allow the heating to be
altered accordingly, which will save energy by not heating an empty space and also save
money on our fuel bills. Thank you for your help with this.
Would you like to join us?
Have you ever considered becoming a church manager? We are looking for people to join
the Managers’ Court to help in the smooth running of the church. You don’t need to be an
expert in electrical maintenance, masonry, or plumbing (we get people in to do that!), we
just ask that you have enthusiasm and an interest in keeping the church ticking over. If you
think you would like to join us, or even just to find out more, please speak to Stuart Menzies
or any of the other managers.
Helen McKechnie
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Contact Information: www.stonelawchurch.org
Rev Dr. Alistair May
80 Blairbeth Road, Burnside, Rutherglen G73 4JA 583 0157
(Day off Monday - urgent calls only) [email protected]
Outreach Development Worker
Therese Reid
07 508 213 099 (Day off Monday - urgent calls only) [email protected]
Organist
Alan Jenkins, B.Ed 16 Eden Grove, Mossneuk, East Kilbride
Church Officer
Jackie Sheppard, Church House 647 5113 (Day off Monday)
Session Clerk
William K Liggat, 148 Langlea Avenue, Cambuslang. 562 0966
[email protected]
Rollkeeper
Morag Moore, 26 Buchanan Drive 647 2130 [email protected]
Preses
Stuart Menzies, 46 Milburn Avenue 647 4664 [email protected]
Clerk to the Managers
Helen McKechnie, 21 Cragwell Park, Carmunnock. 644 3618 [email protected]
Treasurer (inc. FWO)
Iain Morrison, Flat G/L, 5 Parkhill Drive 569 3609 [email protected]
Weekly Announcement Sheet
Vetinia Gorman, 12 Calderwood Road 647 2488 [email protected]
Church Flower Requests:
Cathie Baillie, 583 5591
Margaret Stark, 258 8750
Halls Booking Officer (inc. Meeting Place)
Vetinia Gorman, 12 Calderwood Road 647 2488 [email protected]
Church Magazine Editorial Team
Stuart Willins, 42 Kingsburn Grove 613 0858
Irene Lebeter [email protected]
MAGAZINE DEADLINE
Items for the December issue of the Church Magazine to be delivered to the
editorial team no later than: Sunday 23rd November. It may not be possible to
include items submitted after that date. Note the change of e-mail address.
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