I’m writing this letter on the Wednesday after our annual Remembrance Service on Sunday 14th November. As a congregation and community we joined with many thousands around the world at 11am in remembering those who paid the ultimate price for the many freedoms we enjoy in this country.
As Christian believers we do a lot of remembering. Four times a year, on the first Sundays of March, June, September and December, we have our Communion services. At those services we always read our mandate, the words of institution, which the apostle Paul records in I Corinthians 11:23-30. He writes that our Lord Jesus Christ said we were to eat bread and drink wine, “in remembrance of” Him. In our Sunday services we read the Scriptures to remind ourselves as a congregation what God has done for His people through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. In our homes we read the Bible daily to remember what God has done for us as individuals. When we remember, then we will have cause to praise and worship and serve God.
The word remember occurs 166 times in the Bible. The word is used to encourage us to remember our Creator when we are young, Ecclesiastes 12:1. In another place God reminds us that He will remember the covenant He has made with His people, Genesis 9:15. Elsewhere God tells us that He will not remember our sin which has been dealt with by Christ on the cross, Jeremiah 31:34.
Two huge reminders to us of the love which God has for the world are Christmas and Easter. Sadly many do not heed these reminders, thinking of the first as a glorious time for shopping and gift-getting; and the second as a holiday for chocolate egg and bunny eating. However, Christian believers remember at Christmas time that Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost”, Luke 19:10. And it is good for us to be reminded of the real reason for this celebration.
The Company would like to thank everyone who donated to our BB Week appeal last month. We are always well supported in this annual fund raiser and everyone’s generosity is greatly appreciated.
The Company is especially grateful to all who attended our Brunch on 28th November. All monies raised will go towards paying our annual Capitation Fees to Boys’ Brigade HQ.
The Company will take part along with some of the other youth organisations in a Christmas Service to be held on Sunday, 12th December. We look forward to what should be a nice time of fellowship and celebration of the Nativity.
Finally, we will not meet for 3 weeks over the Christmas holiday period; resuming after the New Year on 6th/7th January.
September saw us starting with a bang! 17 Explorers, 26 Juniors and 14 Brigaders. We recruited 18 new girls and we are delighted that all but one of our Brigaders from last session are back with us. We are also delighted that Rachel Tedeschi, who received her Brigader Brooch last session, has returned to help with the Explorers.
Badgework has started with Explorers learning Bible stories, Juniors looking at Water for Spiritual Section (with a visit from Rev MacLeod-Mair on Baptism, we even had a “wean” called Millie Flathead), and games for Physical.
Brigaders started with Games (they wanted to do same as Juniors Games) and they also started Educational Section with Addiction with a visit from our local “Bobby”, Constable Borthwick.
On Saturday 2nd October, Juniors and Brigaders joined with the whole of Scotland to try and walk the length of the Forth and Clyde Canal (fortunately, for us, it was only a 5 mile section from Bishopbriggs to Kirkintilloch Marina) for the National Appeal to upgrade our National Campsite at Guay, near Dunkeld in Perthshire. 26 Girls and 6 Officers plodded on and we did it. We treated the girls to their lunch at Kaldi’s and the good news is that we have raised £1350 in sponsorship. Well done to each of you who took part and all of you who supported the girls financially.
Sunday 3rd October was our Re-Dedication Service and we were delighted with the turn-out. On the same day, four or our Brigaders went to Leadership 1 Training - well done to Deanna Barrie, Colleen Coyle, Gillian Kennedy and Nicole McIntyre.
At the end of October, was our Fancy Dress Party for all sections, and it is always a good night to dress up (Officers as well, well some!!) and have fun.
We have decided to return to Dalguise in Perthshire for another Outdoor Activity weekend in March next year – (mental note – look out the thermals!!!)
In November we joined with the other Youth Organisations for the Annual Service of Remembrance.
We have 4 girls, Deanna Barrie, Zoe Lamont, Emily McKechnie and Amy Parker who auditioned and are taking part in Greater Glasgow Division Panto “Search for Santa” which was held in Partick Burgh Halls on 20th November. Well done to all of them.
December is always a very busy month for us.
District Explorer Fun Day on Sunday, 5th December at St Andrews Cambuslang with a very special visit from “You Know Who”.
Sunday 12th December, we join with other Youth Organisations for Church Carol Service at Baillieston St Andrews Church at 11am and we have been requested again to sing at Swintonhill Care Home at 2pm with Juniors and Brigaders.
Our visit to McScrooge for Juniors and Brigaders in on Tuesday, 14th December and Party time for Explorers in on Tuesday, 21st December, again with a visit from “You Know Who”
We are also Bag Packing at Morrison’s on Saturday, 18th December from 10am-4pm for Company funds. Spare a thought for us when we are helping customers with a BIG Christmas shop!
The Officers are having a wee night out at Crickelwood and are looking forward to a sit down and a blether!
We would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
St Andrew’s Guild were hosts for the N. E. Council’s Autumn meeting on 21st October, when there was a ver5y good representation from all the Branches in the area. Rev. Sandi McGill gave an excellent talk about ‘A place of hope’ – one of the Guild projects. It was disturbing to hear of so many congregations & communities where there is conflict of some kind, and we can understand why the Ministries Council of the Church of Scotland are seeking to provide training for mediators and a centre where resources in mediation and reconciliation can be accessed.
The following week we took part in a Bible Quiz organised by Jean King. Congratulations to the winning team!
Saturday 30th was our Coffee morning with stalls when, despite a rather poor attendance, we were delighted to make £653. Thank you to those who supported us.
On 4th November the ladies enjoyed a most interesting talk by Mr David Campbell who is a ‘Macer’ at the High Court in Glasgow. David described the varied duties which he performs besides carrying the Mace into court. Members enjoyed examining a mace & also robes worn by a judge.
Mr Chris Bond, General Manager of Caledonian Travel, was our speaker on 11th November. He told us something of the background of the firm and how it operated before showing us some of there customers favourite destinations and described some new ventures which appear in the latest brochures. The ladies enjoyed his talk 7 had the opportunity to ask questions. Mr Bond later sent a letter offering members special reductions on their choice of holiday!
The Guild will be holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday 29th January, 2011. Hot and cold filled rolls, soup and home baking being among what will be on sale. Please come along and support this venture which will help keep the continuity of the Saturday Morning Café continuing without having to miss a day.
Once again our Memorial Tree will be in the Church during the month of December. Tags will be available for anyone wishing to leave a message.
This year any money donated will be going to Yorkhill Hospital.
You will find your sock for 2011 attached to the back page of your magazine.
Thanks to all who continue to contribute in this way. I am pleased to let you know that we have raised the sum of £10,874.51p since we started in the year 2000. That little bit extra certainly adds up.
Please don’t throw away the sock if you don’t want to use it. Please return it. There are 350 magazines issued so I need 350 socks at least each year. It requires a lot of time and a lot of material to do this.
Returned unwanted socks will be gladly received. As usual the Sock Box will be out each Sunday in December.
Thanks to ALL who have helped make such a success of providing an opportunity for a short time of fellowship, by serving Teas and Coffees (not forgetting the biscuits) most Sunday mornings throughout 2010. The fellowship is enjoyed by an increasing number of our members. But it really would be nice if more could stay behind, giving us all more opportunity to chat and get to know each other. Many thanks to those who have donated biscuits and cakes over the year, especially when there was something special to celebrate.
The Tea-Rota for the first two months of 2011 is pinned on the notice board in the Church Vestibule. Currently, the allocations have been made to avoid clashes with known Door duties, but if any date doesn’t suit could you please swap your allocated date with another team and pencil the change in the Rota on the notice board.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas and New Year.
Marion E. Armitage
All articles for the February 2011 issue of the Church magazine should be handed to the Editor no later than the morning of Friday 21st January 2011.
Thank You