Pastoral Letter

Dear friends,
As mentioned in last months Pastoral letter the details of the parish mission being planned for the last week of October, Monday 25 to Sunday 31 are as follows.  Preparation will consist of a prayer walk on the Saturday and a Prayer Breakfast on the Sunday prior to the mission.  The programme will be circulated in a leaflet throughout the parish.  If you would be willing to help with the  distribution  even if it is just agreeing to deliver leaflets in your own street we would be most grateful.  If you are able to help could you let me know as soon as possible.  In addition to the publicised events  there will be a men’s Breakfast primarily for men within our own congregation on Saturday 30 at 9.15 in Hamilton Hall. If our own men would like to bring someone else that is fine just let Sheena Archibald know for catering purposes.  The speaker will be Ryan Morton from the Bristol area who has seen a great response to his evangelistic efforts in prisons. He is a weight lifter and will be using his weight lifting expertise as an evangelistic tool when he speaks to the Boys Brigade on the Thursday night.

On the Monday night the Girls’ Brigade will have a special night with Brian Lowrie.  The first event will be an “Alpha Taster Night” led by Michael Philip. This event which will be like a normal Alpha night will allow people who are curious about the Alpha Course but are not sure for whatever reason about a commitment over a few months, to see what a typical Alpha evening is like.

The speaker at the Ladies Dinner will be Cindy Mackenzie a minister’s wife who wrote the book “Angel Encounters” a couple of years ago. The Curry night is being held in a neutral venue – Dalserf Bowling Club.  The speaker at that event is an evangelist Alex Bedford  based at Glasgow’s St Georges Tron Church of Scotland. Alex was a professional motorcycle racer and was  125cc British Champion in 1988. There will be alternative fare for anyone who doesn’t like curry! On Thursday instead of Focus there will be a Senior Citizens Lunch in Rorison.  Music will be provided by the Christian Group “Ministry in Song”.

On Thursday evening the BB will have a reunion night where former BB boys will be invited back. On Friday there will be a Youth night in Rorison led by Gary Brotherston who spent 11 years in prison for murder but became a christian through Prison Fellowship  and now as a Christian singer and songwriter spreads the gospel.  Ryan Morton will also be involved in the Youth Night. It is hoped that young folk from other local churches will join young folk from our parish for this event.

On the Saturday morning there will be a Men’s Breakfast primarily for the men of the congregation although if you can bring others with you please do. The service on Sunday 31 will be a Guest service which we trust  some  people involved in the other events will come along to.  As well as Ryan Morton we hope to have one of the actors in a popular TV soap opera but this is still to be confirmed.

An important feature of the mission is coffee mornings afternoons and evenings in several members  homes.  Thanks to those who have agreed to host these meetings. The speakers at these will be - Dr Sandy Roger formerly principal of the Faith Mission College now minister at Middle Church Coatbridge, David Geddes formerly Parish Development officer for the Presbytery of Hamilton now working at Rutherglen Baptist Church, Peter Hodge from Lenzie and our own Michael Philip.

I would appeal to you the congregation to help to maximise the effectiveness of the mission by doing two things. Firstly, pray that it will be a success in that the hearts of people who need to hear the message of the gospel will be touched by the grace of God.  Secondly, think of people particularly within our parish you could invite to one or more of the mission events. Individual leaflets are available for some of the events.

Yours faithfully

Cameron McPherson