Our Mothering Sunday service this week was led by Rev Alan Gibson this is the fourth Sunday in Lent and throughout this period we are focusing on Christ’s last words on the cross this week we focused on Mary the mother of Jesus.
Intimations –
Our Annual stated meeting will be held on Sunday April 6 directly after worship this is an open meeting to everyone who has any interest in our congregational life the day to day running and the finances of the congregation, this is your chance to ask some questions if you wish. There are copies of the statement of accounts in the café area if you want any good bed time reading.
PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE OF TIME - Our next Lenten Lunch and Services will be this Wednesday at 1pm. We hold a short reflective service at midday which will be followed by a soup and sandwich lunch in the Café Area the price is £6 so why not come along and listen to something a little different for 15mins and enjoy fellowship over lunch, Everyone is welcome. All proceeds of these lunches are being donated to the Scottish Air ambulance Service.
It is with sadness we have to announce the death of one the oldest members of our Church Family Cathy Hillock. Cathy died last week and would have been 105 come July; we remember fondly her 100th birthday which was celebrated at the manse. Cathy’s funeral will take place in the Sanctuary on Friday April 11 at 2.30pm and thereafter at Holytown Crematorium. Please keep Cathy’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
We also have to announce the death of one of our extended family, Alison Mackie from our walking group lost her mum at the weekend, Alison’s mum stayed in Adele Street and latterly at Beachwood Nursing Care, Please keep Alison in your thoughts and prayers.
Alan’s children’s talk pitted the adults against the children and surprise the adults won this week, it was all about how different we all are but despite this we are all part of one family the Church family.
The readings this week were read by Marilyn Inglis and Alan as they read passages which all related to Mary the mother of Jesus from, the Christmas story up to the crucifixion and beyond.
Alan’s Sermon – focused on Mary the mother of Jesus, and recounted some of the events, and prophecies Mary received during the lifetime of Jesus.
When presenting the baby Jesus to Simeon in the temple in Luke chapter 2 he stated that a sword would pierce her heart, and for years she wondered what the old man meant and dismissed it, now cowering in the dust looking up at Jesus on the cross her heart was pierced and she realized the truth in the prophecy about her son.
The Magi brought, Gold for a King, Frankincense for a high priest and Myrrh, but why Myrrh used to anoint the bodies of the dead? Maybe the gifts were not a representation of her son’s life after all, but now cowering in the dust she realises that the Magi gave her a prophecy of her son’s life and death.
As Jesus looks down from the cross he sees his mother and the disciple he loved John and says “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the John, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
And we learn from Acts chapter 1 that Mary appears at the very first Church with John, the story goes on, not in the bible but in legend that John travelled to Ephesus in Turkey and took Mary with him. And even today you can visit the site claimed to be the home of Mary.
In the Church Alan showed us a picture of the Church family taken 8 years ago and asked us to look around us, the chances are that you are not sitting with the same people you were then.
There are 49 in the picture that are no longer with us the vast majority are saints who are dearly departed and have been taken into glory. People come and go but the point that I’m trying to make is that Jesus brings people together at the foot of the cross, if you are new to Church then Behold your Mother, Behold Your Father, Behold Your Sister, Behold your brother, Behold your family Amen.
Thanks this week –
Mary Gray would like to thank everyone at Motherwell South for the beautiful flowers she received following her recent hip operation, she also appreciated the visits she received from Alan and Moira and hopes to be back at church soon.
Joe Wright would like to thank his church family for the beautiful flowers, and for thinking about him after his recent fall, Joe is now recovering and hopes to be back in Church very soon.
A very generous and kind member of our Church family has very kindly gifted books to Lighthouse and Klimb. Thank you so much, both groups have been learning about generosity and kindness in the season of Lent, thank you very much.
Congratulations to Isobel and Martin Ross who recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary xx.-
If you have any announcements, you wish to make to the church community this can be done by contacting David Macrae using the following methods by phone on 07464164093 or by email at dkmacrae@live.co.uk
May the blessing of God almighty be with you this day and for evermore. Amen