Ministers message September 2021

Dear friends,

There is a well-known saying ‘the nights are fair drawing in’, and after my last letter to you back in June, I am sure you will have noticed that they are certainly doing this as the year rolls on.

But whilst September means the nights getting darker earlier, it also means that many of the organisations are back that have been off over the summer, or because of Covid perhaps a lot longer.

So I would like to welcome all the groups back for a new session, whether they are returning for another year, or perhaps this is their first session using one of our rooms, you are most welcome and I hope to pop in and see as many of you as I can over the next session.

September also sees the beginning of the process to reduce the number of ministerial posts and buildings across the country announced at this year’s General Assembly. And we here in Newton Mearns, like churches throughout Glasgow Presbytery have completed the questionnaire sent out by Presbytery to assist them in their job of how they go about reducing the number of posts across the Presbytery in line with the limits set by the national church.

This process is perhaps the most serious shake up in the history of the Church of Scotland since 1843 and it is no exaggeration when we say it will affect every single church.

We therefore need everyone to play their part to ensure the church here is in as good shape as it can be, because the future of the church is not down to one, two or even ten people. It is the responsibility of everyone who considers themselves a member of the church here.

And just as Lord Kitchener once said, ‘Your Country needs You’, people of Newton Mearns ‘Your Church needs You’.

I would ask each of you to get involved in the life of the church where you can, however you can. And even if you still aren’t in a position to return to the church, you can pray for the future of the church, not just here in Newton Mearns but across the whole Presbytery. The church will always have a presence across Glasgow, we may not know how it will look, but let us pray for the continuing presence of God’s church in as many places as is possible.

Your friend in Christ
Stuart