Church of Scotland. 2016 Townhead Parish Church PARISH...

Church of Scot land. Townhead Parish Church

Greetings to you all.

There are times in life when

you are reminded of certain

things. Often, these times

come with seasons – Re-

membrance Day/Sunday

brings memories of war,

friends and family members

lost in the battles of yester-

day. Christmas and Easter

bring to mind the arrival and

triumphant victory of Christ

our Lord. Anniversaries of

marriages, births and deaths

bring reminders of people

and places, those precious

moments which we share

together.

But there are also times in

life when we are reminded of

truths which we keep re-

membering all the time.

I am in the midst of one of

these times, where I am

reminding myself what a

great opportunity to go on

the Battlefield tour to Bel-

gium with the Army Cadets.

We travelled by a luxury

coach on Saturday, 15th Oc-

tober and took the ferry from

Hull and arrived in Zeebrug-

ge on Saturday, 16th October

in the morning. We disem-

barked and arrived in Ypres

at 9:15am. During our bat-

tlefield tour, we visited war

cemeteries, memorials, bun-

kers, Passchendale Museum

Ypres and Flanders Fields

Museum. We also took part

in the Last Post Ceremony

and had a full day guided

tour of the Somme. As a

Padre/Army Chaplain I had

the opportunity to lead the

one minute of silence at the

Menin Gate and said a pray-

er and more importantly, I

was photographed at Charles

Mackay’s headstone and left

a poppy cross in memory of

him. Charles Mackay was in

the Highland Light Infantry

Regiment, 9th Glasgow High-

landers Battalion. He was

awarded the Allied Victor

Medal. The memory of the

battlefield tour to Belgium

will remain with me. The

memory of being a Minister

amongst you all will remain

with me too. GOD calls us

to dream about tomorrow

and to show caring love.

This is an exciting time for

our Church Family. Let’s

seize every opportunity that

GOD offers us.

With my love,

Ecilo

2016

M I N I ST ER ’S ME SSAG E

Autumn / Winter

Church of Scotland. Townhead Par ish Church Magazine

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Minister’s Message 1

MED 2

Boy’s Brigade 2

Facebook 2

Church Roll 5

Finance 6

Church Diary 8

P A R I S H N E W S !

G E T I N V O L V E D

Do you have time and talents

to help with the many tasks

within the Church such as:

The Congregational Board

Painting

Cleaning

Children’s Address

Gardening

General maintenance

Fundraising

New Connections

Please speak to one of the

Elders for more information

about the many opportuni-

ties to volunteer your skills

and talents, all offers of as-

sistance will be greatly ap-

preciated.

As many of you know I am

serving on our presbytery's

MED committee which is the

Church of Scotland three

letter acronyms for mission,

education and discipleship

committee.

I have been on the commit-

tee for two years now and it

has taught me so much

about the church. The most

prominent thing I have

learned is just how much

work goes on behind the

scenes that we don't see

with our visit to church on

Sunday.

My committee has dealt with

a huge chunk of issue rang-

ing from training events to

employing staff members.

There are so many things

going on it's hard to keep

track sometimes.

Things that I have been

working on recently are the

presbytery Facebook page,

facilitating the 17-25 year

olds in the presbytery and an

event for congregations with

little to no children.

The Facebook page is up and

running now and you can

keep up to date with all the

latest happening at presby-

tery and other churches in

the area as well as some

useful resources and advent

content that we have been

working on.

I have set up the Church of

Scotland youth group for

the 17-25 year olds called

COSY Hamilton and we will

be meeting up and having

events run by ourselves as

a way of keeping in touch

with likeminded Christians

close by to us as well as

bringing more people clos-

er to God. So far the group

has 53 members and our

first event will have been

held on 23rd of November.

There is also a Facebook

page for that too that you

can see what we get up to.

If you know anyone who

might be interested,

please speak to me at

some point.

live videos from every church

service zooming in on our

wonderful choir’s solo piec-

es. So, if you’ve missed a

service and want to see the

order of service (it’s there

too) or need to know what’s

coming up or just want to

hear your favourite hymn

over and over again,

SEARCH COATBRIDGE

TOWNHEAD PARISH CHURCH

and don’t forget to LIKE OUR

PAGE so you get updates

forever more!

Peter McClurg and Aaron

Johnstone are responsible

for the new FACEBOOK pag-

es for the church.

To access these pages,

Search Coatbridge Town-

head Parish Church in Face-

book.

So far we’ve had hundreds of

likes AND OVER 2,000 VISI-

TORS to the Facebook pag-

es in just over 3 months.

The Facebook pages include

1 0 T H C OA T B R I D G E B O Y ’ S B R I G A D E D O N A L D I N N E S , C A P T A I N

Mission, Education and Discipleship Committee Aaron Johnstone

T OW N H E A D PA R I S H C H U R C H O N FA C E B O O K ( P E T E R M C C L U R G & A A R O N J O H N S T O N E )

Following this 3 boys

took part in the battalion

Top Team Quiz and did very

well finishing in second place

the best we have achieved

for some time.

The Company Section took

part in two competitions the

Top Team Quiz and PT and

performed very well without

winning. Our badminton

team played our first ever

match in the competition

and won.

Officers and Boys wish every-

one a Happy Christmas and

a Good New Year.

The Boys Brigade resumed in

September with 12 boys

enrolling in Junior Section

and 16 boys enrolling in

Company Section. The Jun-

ior Section took part in a

Giant Sleepover in the Glas-

gow Science Centre on Fri-

day 10th November

alongside 400 boys from all

over Scotland although not

much sleep happened.

The Anchor Boys

and Junior Section

will finish for the

holidays on

Thursday 15th of

December and the

Company Section

finishing on Friday

16th December.

Hamilton Presbytery

2016

Townhead Parish Church on Facebook

Presbytery Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/hamiltonpresbytery

COSY Hamilton Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/cosyhamilton

http://www.facebook.com/hamiltonpresbytery

http://www.facebook.com/cosyhamilton

Parish News !

The Club continued through-

out the year meeting on

Mondays with between 25

and 30 members attending

regularily

Two outings took place since

June, the first was a trip to

Loch Katrine with a sail on

the Loch followed by dinner

in Callander.

This was followed in Septem-

ber with a shopping trip to

Gretna and Christmas Lunch

has been arranged in De-

cember at the Georgian

Hotel. The club will continue

to run over the holidays and

we wish everyone a

Happy Christmas and a Good

New Year.

Come along every Monday

from 1pm to 3pm and

enjoy:

Crafts

Card Making

Armchair Aerobics

Games

Knitting

Meeting new friends

Outings

I hope you enjoy the Autumn/Winter edi-

tion of our magazine.

I am always interested to hear what has

been going on in and around our church

family and would welcome your ideas for

future magazine features so please get in

touch with your comments.

5 T H C O A T B R I D G E G I R L S ’ B R I G A D E ( R H O N A M E L R O S E , C A P T A I N )

FR I E N D S O F TOW NH EA D ( JE A N IN NE S )

M A G A Z I N E ( A I L E E N M C L E N A G H A N )

gaders challenge. We had

our annual fancy dress party

in October when the Junior

section organised two pyja-

ma parties, well done to the

girls and officers for a great

night. Our swimming compe-

tition has been postponed

due to renovation work being

carried out at the John Smith

pool. We are now looking

forward to our Christmas

party and a well earned rest

before returning in January

to continue badgework and

prepare for more competi-

tions.

On behalf of officers and

girls I would like to take this

opportunity to wish you all a

very Merry Christmas and a

happy New Year

The Girls Brigade are back

for the new session with a

few new faces including two

new officers. Badge work is

well under way and the girls

have already taken part in a

few competitions, Explorers

had to design fairy wings,

Juniors designed canvas

bags and Brigaders have

been busy organising after-

noon tea for three and Bri-

Friends of Townhead Christmas Party

The Baby and Toddler Group

is running wonderfully. We

have around 20 children

each week from the local

area. The feedback we have

had from the parents/carers

has been great all commend-

ing the running of the

group. Parents often tell us

how much they enjoy being

able to socialise with each

other and how much the

children enjoy coming along

and look forward to doing

so. There is such a lovely

atmosphere among every-

one, it’s heartwarming. Each

week we have free play time,

craft table, snack and sign-

ing time. We would love to

welcome more children, if

anyone has young children in

the family please tell them

about our Group, we would

love to see more join

us. Group takes place every

Wednesday morning form

9.30-11.30.

For more information speak

to Moira Cooper or Christine

Chalmers

Craft Club

The Craft Club is still proving to be popular

with ladies in the local community. Sewing,

knitting and crocheting takes place most

weeks with the ladies happy to help begin-

ners. A favourite is patchwork quilts of

which there have been many produced. We

have been looking now to some Christmas

crafts as the Festive Season comes upon

us. For something a little different we en-

joyed a shopping day at Livingstone a few

weeks back which was nice for the ladies to

get out and about

together - a good day was had by all. We

are always looking for new ideas, if you have

a craft you could share with us please come

along some Monday morning and demon-

strate. The Club runs every Monday morning

from 9.30 - 12.00. New members most wel-

come, come along join the crafting or just for

a natter and a cuppa.

For more information speak to Moira Cooper

or Christine Chalmers

P R AY E R

BA BY & TOD D L ER GRO UP (Moira Cooper)

C R A F T G R O U P

Let’s keep praying for:

Pupils and Staff in our local Schools.

Staff and Residents in our local Care Homes.

The bereaved in our Church Family and Parish.

Those who are ill and those who are housebound within in our Church Family.

“O God, please be with those whose lives are difficult and filled with pain and sadness. Please

minister in personal and mighty ways to every believer with a crushed spirit. Dear Father, please

rekindle the hope of every discouraged Christian. Empower them as they hold on to their faith.

Pour out your Spirit with power, strengthening each weary and burdened heart. Help each one of

your children hold onto his or her faith, finding a renewed sense of hope in your presence. In

Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”

2016

Parent & Toddler

Group

9:30 to 11:30

Wednesdays in Church

Hall

Craft Group

9:30 to 12:00

Mondays in Church

Hall

Parish News !

M A R R I A G E S

CHURCH FAMILY & PARISH (RE V . EC I LO SEL EM A N I )

W E G I V E T H A N K S F O R T H E L I V E S

Kimberly & Derek, married on 26th September, 2015

Carly & Matthew, married on 29th October, 2016.

Mason Mooney McCrone baptised on 21St February, 2016.

George Mooney McCrone baptised on 21st February, 2016.

Callum Mooney Gaffney baptised on 24th April, 2016.

Calvin McBride baptised on 29th May, 2016.

Lily Rose Greenock baptised on 28th August, 2016.

Robert Lammie, died on 3rd May, 2016 (Church Service: 01. 05. 2016)

Alexander McInnes, died on 3rd August, 2016 (Interment: 22. 10. 2016)

James Miller, died on 13th October, 2016 (Cremation Service: 21. 10. 2016)

B A P T I S M

Fund Raising

This year, there have been

various fund raising activities

held by the Church ie Spring

and Summer Fayres, Jim’s

Munro Walk, Bingo Night,

1953 Club, Cash for Clothes

etc. So far this has raised an

additional £3,700 for Church

funds. Please support any

events throughout the re-

mainder of 2016 and 2017

as best as you can.

A huge thanks to Jim for his

recent Munro Walk which

has raised £600 for Church

funds, and also to June

Mooney who raised £660 for

the Church with her Prize

Bingo Night.

Weekly Envelopes

The new envelopes for 2017

will shortly be distributed by

your Elder. If you do not

receive these by end of De-

cember and would like a set,

please see myself.

Annual Accounts

The Church’s Annual Ac-

counts for 2015 were ap-

proved by Presbytery, and

were thereafter submitted to

the Office of the Scottish

Charity Regulator (OSCR) for

filing as required of all chari-

ties. If anyone has any ques-

tions about the annual ac-

counts or any other financial

issue, please speak to me at

any time.

Standing Orders

An option available to con-

gregation members is to set

up a Standing Order with

your bank to donate your

offerings direct from your

bank account. This benefits

the Church and yourself by

ensuring regular giving even

ble comparison.

Do you pay UK income tax?

If so, then the Church could

claim Gift Aid on any dona-

tions/offerings that you

make to the Church. For

every £1 that you donate,

then the Church can claim

an additional 25p in Gift Aid

thereby boosting your dona-

tion by 25%. It’s very simple

and easy to set up so if you

have not already signed up

for Gift Aid, please see me

If you are current a Gift Aid

payee, please check that you

are continuing to pay tax to

HMRC equal to or more than

the amount that the Church

is claiming on your dona-

tions, following the rise in the

personal allowance. If this is

not the case, the individual

may be liable for the differ-

ence. If in any doubt, please

speak to myself in confi-

dence and I can update on

the Gift Aid reclaimed on

individual donations to ena-

for a Declaration Form and/or

further information.

M I N I S T R I E S & M I S S I O N S C O N T R I B U T I O N S

F I NA N C E (Ryan McNamee)

G I F T A I D ( R YA N M C N A M E E )

for our congregation. For

2017, the church will apply

for similar support as contri-

butions are based on 3 year

averages so the full impact

of recent income is not yet

fully accounted for in the

calculations nationally.

It was confirmed by Church

of Scotland HQ of Hamilton

Presbytery’s award of relief

to our central contributions

for 2016. Our successful

application resulted in our

contributions again being

reduced by £10,000, which

is in effect a 38% reduction.

This is obviously great news

Do you pay UK income

tax? If so, then the Church

could claim Gift Aid on

any donations/offerings that

you make to the Church.

For every £1 that you

donate, then the Church can

claim an additional 25p in

Gift Aid thereby boosting

your donation by 25%.

2016

Parish News !

1953 Club:

Named after the year the

church was built this new

venture will appeal to ladies

who lunch and boys who

munch; save pounds on your

waistline, instead of a cake

why not choose a healthier

and cheaper snack and

pocket the difference to-

wards church funds. Please

pass your donations to Mar-

jorie Gilroy or David Melrose.

Well done to contributors

and organisers.

£1 per Week Fund Raising

Venture:

George Johnstone is availa-

ble each Sunday from 11am

in the crèche for anyone

wishing to join or contribute

to this worthwhile venture.

Many Thanks to all who sup-

port this worthwhile venture .

Clothes for Cash: David Mel-

rose will be supporting this

venture on behalf of the

church and has advised that

clothing donations can be

brought to the church every

week and stored on the

church hall stage. Please

see David Melrose for further

information.

Summer Fete: The summer

fete held on 17th September

2016 raised £1087 for

church funds with the event

being a huge success and a

day enjoyed by all, young and

old.

Prize Bingo: Organised by Jim

McKenzie, June Mooney &

Joan Elwood raised £660

towards Church Funds.

Many thanks to the organis-

ers and to all who supported

this event

Moira Anderson Foundation:

The Kirk Session have agreed

that our Congregation will com-

mit spiritual and financial sup-

port to this local charity. A col-

lection box will be available in

the foyer every Sunday for those

who would like to make a dona-

tion.

E A S Y F U N D R A I S I N G

F U N DRA I SIN G

Amazon, John Lewis, eBay

and Tesco will donate a

small percentage of what

you spend to Coatbridge

Townhead Parish Church to

say thank you for shopping

with them. It's a really sim-

ple process, all you have to

do is: Register at easyfund-

raising.org.uk When you’re

asked to choose your cause,

select Coatbridge Townhead

Parish Church. Get shopping

- it couldn’t be easier!

Easy Fundraising: An easy

way to raise funds. Turn your

online shopping into dona-

tions for Coatbridge Town-

head Parish Church! Do you

shop online? Did you know

that every time you buy

something you could be rais-

ing money for Coatbridge

Townhead Parish Church?

That's right, over 2,700 well

known retailers, including

Girls’ Brigade

Christmas Carol

Service & Craft

Sale on Tuesday

8th December at

7pm.

Tickets will be on sale,

£2.50 for adults and

£1 for children, this

includes tea and

mincemeat pies.

St Andrews Day Soup Lunch

This year’s soup lunch will take place on Sunday 29th November 2015, tickets cost £2.00.

U P C O M I N G F U N D R A I S I N G E V E N T S

Rev. Ecilo Selemani

Crinan Crescent,

Coatbridge,

ML5 2LH

Church of Scot land. Townhead Parish Church

Phone: 01236 702914

Fax:

E-mail:

[email protected]

Church of Scotland

A War m Welcome Awaits Al l !

Advent & Christmas Church Services:

Advent 1: 27th November 2016 11:30am

Advent 2: 4th December 2016 11:30am


Comfort Service: 14th December 2016 at 7: 00pm


Christmas Eve/Watch Night Service: 24th December 2016 at 11: 00pm

Christmas Day Service: 25th December 2016 at 11: 00am

C H U R C H D I A RY

Church of Scotland. 2016 Townhead Parish Church PARISH...

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Transcript of Church of Scotland. 2016 Townhead Parish Church PARISH...