June 2014 - Wellington Church

June 2014
Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Ave, Glasgow G12 8LE
David
Sinclair writes:
www.wellingtonchurch.co.uk
Church Copyright Licence 1899714 Music Reproduction Licence 1899721
SC 000289 Wellington Church of Scotland registered charity
Wellington Office :
Tel: 0141 339 0454
[email protected]
Rev Dr David Sinclair
Tel: 0141 334 2343
[email protected]
Prayer for a summer day
Long warm days...
The pace of life slows...
A time for picnics and rest in the shade...
Lord, help me to rest awhile
in the cooling shade of your presence.
Slow down my restless heart and fill me
with gentle compassion for all your people.
Welcome
Love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12)
We welcome into the life and worship of our congregation people of every race, gender, background, age,
sexual orientation, mental or physical ability.
We affirm our diversity and the dignity of each person.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)
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Contents:
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David Sinclair writes
Roger Sturrock introduces himself
Hope College visit
International Club
Wheel Trust Update
Wellington News
Wellington and the West End Festival
Imagining Scotland’s Future
News from Kelvinside Hillhead and its West End Festival
Lodging House Mission
Extracts from the Herald
Newsletter and Church Ladies with Typewriters
Sunday Duties
David Sinclair writes
Pastoral Letter May 2014
Dear Friends,
I find myself reflecting at the moment.
The annual visit from the students of Hope College, Michigan has just happened – so
I’m thinking about the relationship that has been forged over the last four years with that
college, and how we are now part of the way they think of Scotland, and the way they
think of introducing their students to our country, our history, and our ways. And I think
of the ways in which every year we bring complete strangers in to our family, and in a
few short days make them our friends.
The ceilidh that happens when they are here is now part of the folklore for our visitors. I
remarked that I thought the visitors threw themselves a little more quickly this year into
the dancing – and the answer was that stories are passed down within the college:
stories of how fantastic the occasion is, and how much those new to it will enjoy it. This
means they are ready for what’s coming – eager to enter into the experience.
The other part of the event which is picked up on and discussed by our visitors every
year is the inter-generational aspect of the ceilidh. This year the age-range was from
pre-school to folk in their eighties, with every decade between represented. It is both a
tribute to those who involve themselves, and a model of the family of God that we
attempt to be – spanning all ages, and cultures, and nationalities. It’s a model that
needs to remain in our consciousness as we move forward in our life together.
I am also reflecting on my year as Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow, which is
now entering its last few weeks – and comes to an end on 17th June. It has been a
busy year! I have presided at 9 meetings of Presbytery, conducted one service of union
and three of linkage, ordained five people, inducted seven others, set apart a reader,
dedicated a church hall, celebrated The Well’s anniversary, and attended all sorts of
events run by uniformed organisations, the Guild, the City Council, Glasgow Churches
Together, and others.
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One of the aspects of what a Moderator does is to go to churches (and I’ve been to
about 30) which are full to overflowing for special events. What becomes clear,
however, is that churches don’t normally look like that – and, when the members of the
congregation concerned are asked to stand, the number can look quite small. We can
support one another, and do, for special occasions – so maybe we need to continue to
look at how we support one another on a continuing basis.
My last two services as Moderator will be very special. One will be the ordination of our
new Ordained Local Minister, at 7pm on 4th June, in Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church.
Our choirs will be getting together for the occasion – and I very much hope that large
numbers of people from Wellington will be there that evening. It will be a joy for me to
be able to preside at the ordination.
And finally, there will be the Presbytery communion service immediately preceding the
Presbytery meeting on 17th June; the Communion will be at 6.30pm in Govan and
Linthouse Parish Church, at Govan Cross. Please feel free to come if you would like to
be there.
And finally, finally, a quick look forward. I am delighted to be able to report that, during
my study leave in the autumn, cover will be provided by the Rev Dr Norman Shanks, as
Interim Moderator, and by the Very Rev David Lunan, as Locum (Sunday plus one day
per week). Wellington is very lucky and hugely privileged to have these two looking
after them (plus Roger Sturrock, of course), and I only hope my return at the beginning
of January will not seem too much like a come down!
Yours in Christ,
David Sinclair
Roger Sturrock writes:
Dear All
May I introduce myself! I am a retired medic and previously worked at Glasgow
University and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, specialising in Rheumatology. I was born in
Dundee but emigrated to Australia as part of the family at the age of 3 years as one of
the “ten pound Poms.” We eventually returned to South Wales (I am half Welsh on my
mother’s side) and lived in Wales and then England. I trained as a medic in London.
I am married to Helen and have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren. Helen and I are
currently members of Ruchill Kelvinside Parish church where I have been session clerk.
I was set apart as a Reader in the Church of Scotland 7 years ago and completed my
BD at the University of Glasgow and have served the Maryhill Parish grouping as part of
the ministry team. Some Readers applied to move to Ordained Local Ministry (OLM)
training and I was privileged to be selected. I spent my probationary OLM training at
Glasgow Cathedral for 9 months - a truly enriching experience for me!
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Presbytery have allocated me to be the OLM at Wellington and Kelvinside Hillhead
supporting the work of your minister and that of Rev. Dr. Doug Gay at Kelvinside
Hillhead. This is a new post and I am counting on your support and guidance to keep
me right as we partner in this new venture!
I am conscious that God is a God of new beginnings and look forward with excitement
to working with you all in the near future.
Every blessing
Roger Sturrock
Visit of Students and Staff of Hope College, Holland, Michigan
Wellington households have once again played host to
students and staff from Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
This is the third year that students have begun their trip to
Scotland with us. Indeed their leader, Dede Johnston told
us in church on Sunday, that we are their first experience
of Scottish hospitality. We made the first contact on Iona when a group of us stayed for
the same week as Dede and her students. We were struck by their young, fresh and
enthusiastic attitude then, and that has applied to each group since. It has been really
good to make friends with them and we are still in touch with some of them three or four
years later. After their four day stay with us they left for Edinburgh, then they are
travelling to the Highlands, then crossing over to Iona to stay in the Abbey, and then
they will visit Belfast and Dublin before returning to the USA.
Many thanks go to all the people who hosted - for
providing accommodation, meals, travel and of course
friendship. And especial thanks go to the Murray family
who organised the ceilidh on Saturday night. The
students had a whale of the time, and so did we!
Silly games at the Ceilidh!
International Welcome Club
Summer is shaping up to be an exciting and expanding one for
the Church’s International Welcome Club.
First – there was the launch of the summer Awaydays
programme*: Covering lots of things from Church lunches to
ceilidhs, from FORK Gala to walking around Loch Ard and along
the canal to Kirkintilloch (not on the same day, of course!); from
promoting Laura Murray’s fundraising for Peru to supporting
Lizanne McKerrell’s hospitality drive for the Scottish International
Piano Competition. Everyone is welcome to come along on any of our Awaydays.
People are especially welcome at the three ceilidhs -Saturday 21 June, Saturday 26
July and Saturday 30 August.
Then we had success via the Conversation Cafè. One of the hosts enabled two of her
table guests to secure a National Insurance number. This allows a person to do paid
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work. Within a week, one had found a job! The Conversation Cafè resumes on
Wednesday 4 June at 3pm till 4.45pm. If you are a native English speaker and can
spare even one Wednesday afternoon a month, please join** our pool of Hosts as we’re
drafting the rota for June, July and August now. There is no English language teaching
involved. You only need to engage your table Guests in conversation – they should do
most of the talking! The Club gives ideas, topics and games for Hosts to use.
An Open Information Day will run from 12 noon till 6pm on Wednesday 4 June with the
Conversation Cafè as an integral part of it. People with expertise on housing, health,
sports, culture and other subjects will be around on the day to provide information to the
groups of new arrivals we expect to drop in. The day is being run in conjunction with
Youai, the Chinese charity group which developed from the Club and has lots of lovely
second hand goods to sell. So consider dropping in, yourself, to the Crypt Café on that
Wednesday to see what’s happening.
We have two urgent requests from former International Welcome Club Members:
An Indian Associate Professor of Community Medicine needs just over one month’s
accommodation in Glasgow as he’s returning for his PhD viva due on Friday 6 June.
Ideally he’d like a bedroom in a shared flat.
And: An American graduate in Anthropology is looking for paid-for work from midJuly/early September when she finishes a full-time volunteer stint with AmeriCorps.
She’s longing to return to Scotland and Glasgow where she enjoyed the Club and found
it helpful to her.
Our Football Team hopes to access some training from the SFA (Scottish Football
Association) in June, thanks to Maryhill Integration Network. Anyone wanting to be
trained as a Football Team coach (male or female) should get in touch fast***. Every
day more people want to play, so an International League in this part of Glasgow is
looking highly likely.
The Football Team with Frank’s Locals’
manager (Frank) on extreme right. He gave
Wellington team their first games.
Wellington Church can be proud of its support for its own International Welcome Club.
The three official helpers - Adah and Shawn for the Club and Mandy for the
Conversation Café and the Football Team - are an invaluable part of the team which
comprises dedicated volunteers - Christine Scott, Isabel Macmillan, Liz Davidson and
myself. We hope to help Shawn celebrate when he and his bride-to-be Di, fix their
wedding date this summer.
The new logo for the club was designed by a Club member.
Anyone reading this and interested in becoming involved in any aspect of the Club’s
activities, will be warmly welcomed. Please email Grace Franklin for more information.
 *Want a copy of the programme? ** Want to be a Host at the Conversation Café:
*** Want to be a Football coach?
Email: [email protected]
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Wheel Trust Update – May 2014
School involvement planning – Please pray for the
discussions taking place over coming weeks with Hillhead
Primary School regarding the involvement of the Wheel trust in
the RME curriculum there; and also for Hyndland Secondary
where staff are reviewing how we might be involved in the RME
programme as it changes to reflect the introduction of National
5&6 exams.
Summer camp at Lendrick Muir (12-19 July) – Bookings for the summer camp
continue (now at 27 with 15 places remaining: find out more at
http://www.suholidays.org.uk/), and we pray that there will be yet more to come. Thank
God that we have a complete team, and pray for the development of the programme.
Examinations – Please pray for our young folk as many of them face exams this
month. This can bring great anxiety, and we pray that they will keep on trusting God for
what lies ahead, and for each exam as it comes!
School SU Groups – Please pray that this term these groups will thrive, and that
preparations will be made so that they can restart immediately in the new academic
year, and the young people will be enthusiastic about returning.
Karen Campbell is the temporary Youth Ministry Team Co-ordinator with The Wheel Trust - an organisation with a
vision to reach young people in the West End of Glasgow and enable them to explore and experience the Christian
faith. [Email contact: [email protected], Office Tel: 0141 337 1499]
Wellington News
Wellington Church Ladies Coffee Group
The Group has now been meeting for a year. Normally around 10-15
people gather on a monthly basis for chat and exchange of news. A
donation is made to charity only if so desired. Feedback from those
who have attended has been very positive and those who come have
agreed we enjoy this time together. In the last year we have been
supporting the Manila Street Kids and a cheque for £1000 was
recently forwarded to the charity. The contribution was boosted
considerably by the generosity of Priscilla Lawrie who voluntarily
made beads and sold them on behalf of the fund.
This year we have decided to support a home charity the Princess Royal Trust Glasgow
West Carers.
All ladies of the congregation are very welcome. I am sorry we cannot invite gentlemen
but space does not allow! The next coffee morning is on Wednesday 11 thJune .
Anyone interested should contact Ruth Beattie on 0141- 956-1522 or
email:[email protected]
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West End Festival in Wellington
You should all speak proper Tuesday 03 Jun 1:00pm; Tuesday 10
Jun 1:00pm; Tuesday 17 Jun 6:00pm; Tuesday 24 Jun 6:00pm
“He hasnae came yet” “Youse no getting they wans!” Heritage voices,
or ignorant drivel? Does correct speech matter? Let local linguist Derek
Rogers and leading luminaries Tommy Fowler, Paul Kerswill and Helen Ross engage
you in vigorous debate, with full participation from the floor. No-one leaves without
expressing an opinion!
Strange Power of Music
Saturday 7 June - 7.30 pm - Wellington Church Crypt
Don’t be misled by the mistake in the West End Festival brochure on p57. We changed
the date of this event to Saturday 7th June, and while they put in a correct entry for the
right day, they failed to remove the wrong one. The entry on p19 is correct. Once
again are holding an informal poetry evening in this year’s West End Festival. So we
are looking for original contributions from any who dabble, however occasionally, in
writing verse. But, if you just wish to read your favourite poem, that’s fine too. Please
contact Robin Green 0141 357 5570, email [email protected] to book a slot.
As the event is again to be in support of WWF, any poetic contributions on a wildlife
theme are particularly welcome. This year the additional entertainment will be the
sympathetic playing of the recently formed Camas String Quartet - hence the title of
the evening. Among the pieces that they will play will be Haydn’s String Quartet Opus
33 No 3 “The Bird”. The evening is a free event with donations to WWF. Fair trade
wine and soft drinks and local cheese will be served. Help with preparing and serving
these would be very welcome.
Japanese Matsuri 14 June 1 to 2.30pm
Now in its 14th year, Japanese Matsuri provides a Japanese Cultural Experience from
1 to 2.30pm where visitors can put on kimono, write their names in Japanese, try
origami, colour in pictures and sample Japanese sweets. From 2.30pm - 3.30pm there
will be a Performance area with Taiko Japanese drumming and Japanese songs. A
festival for all, regardless of backgrounds.
Big Hymn Sing
Sunday 15th June at 7.30pm
Preparations are well in hand for this festival of favourite hymns, old and new. It will be
directed by eminent choral conductor Ian McCrorie , and will take the form of a Come &
Sing. Those who have previously sung under his direction will have experienced the
enthusiasm and energy which he imparts.
Alan Kitchen will accompany on the organ, along with a professional brass and
percussion ensemble. There will also be some instrumental brass and organ music in
order to allow your voices to recover between hymns!
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The choice of hymns will include established favourites (All people that on earth do
dwell, Love divine, all loves excelling, etc) and some more contemporary hymns (Look
forward in faith, Christ is our light, etc). Many of the accompaniments are being
arranged for organ, brass, percussion, (and congregation, of course!) especially for this
event.
It is important to stress that it is not a choral concert. All who enjoy singing hymns are
invited to take part. However, there will be an optional rehearsal on Thursday 12 th June
at 7.30 in the Church for an ad hoc choir to lead the proceedings, but the Sunday
evening is completely participatory for all, with no requirement to attend the rehearsal. It
is a community event, and it is hoped to attract a large number of singers from far and
wide. Please spread the word and encourage anyone whom you think might be
interested to come along to what I hope will be a memorable feast of hymn singing.
Further details from Alan Kitchen.
1st Steps to Music
Saturday 28 Jun 10:00am £5 per child, Grown-ups free Prebooking essential from [email protected] or 07870 975 071
www.firststepstomusic.co.uk Join Katie and her puppet friends for a fun-filled session of
songs, circle games, percussion and live violin music at the First Steps to Music
summer party! We'll have you rocking, marching, swaying and tapping to the beat in no
time. Created for wee ones aged 0-5 years and their families by mum and musician
Katie Dick. Five sessions. 10am Ages 18 months to 3 years; 10.50am Ages 6mths to 18
mths; 11.40am Ages 3 to 5 years; 1pm ages 18mths to 3 yrs; 1.50pm babies up to 12
months.
View for more details: http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/events
Looking Towards the September Referendum on Scottish Independence –
Imagining Scotland’s Future
You are invited to an open meeting to be held at Hillhead Baptist Church, Cresswell
Street on Sunday 22 June from 2-3.45pm. This event, organised by the West End
Churches Parish Grouping Council, is a follow-up to the successful meeting in
November. It will provide a further opportunity, using resources from the Church and
Society Council, to discuss and reflect on social values, aspirations and priorities in
advance of the September Referendum. While it will build on the earlier discussion, it is
a ‘stand-alone’ occasion which, it is hoped, will be interesting and helpful both to those
who attended the earlier discussion and those who were unable to do so.
All Welcome.
Those interested may also wish to have advance notice of the intention to arrange a
‘hustings’ in the west end, probably to be held at Wellington on the evening of Sunday 7
September, at which there will be short addresses by representatives and supporters of
‘Better Together’ and ‘Yes for Scotland’ and an opportunity for questions and
discussion.
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News from Kelvinside Hillhead (with thanks to Ainslie McIntyre):
Hospices of Hope Charity Concert Sunday 25th May 2014, 3 p.m.
Cello and Piano duets performed by Quintin and Ancuta Doyle
Hospices of Hope is the leading palliative care charity in South Eastern Europe, begun
by an Englishman, Graham Perolls, who is very involved in the Hospice movement in
Britain, and having travelled frequently to Romania where people still die in pain without
being offered the physical, spiritual or emotional support they deserve, established this
charity to try to improve life for the terminally ill.
The charity is dedicated to raising funds and providing volunteers like Quintin and
Ancuta who will spend the summer in Romania as they did last year, assisting in this
important work. This concert is intended to help to finance their visit.
They have designed an interesting and varied programme of works by Beethoven,
Bruch, Marcello, Pärt and Saint-Saëns, so please come and enjoy an afternoon of
lovely music in our beautiful sanctuary – and support a worthy cause.
Tickets cost £8 (£5 concession) and will be available on the door.
We are fully involved in the West End Festival and our events include a festival version
of “Music for Sunday Afternoon” on 1 June and our drama group’s production of “The
Senate Investigation” (producer Leslie McNulty) on 13 and 19 June. The Church will be
open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon during the Festival.
31 May 1400 Fischy Music
01 June 1500 Festival Music for Sunday Afternoon
08 June 1200 Pentecost birthday BBQ (hosted by Young Church)
08 June 1600 Glasgow Cathedral Choral Society
13 June 1930 The Senate Investigation
17 June 1930 Cathures concert
18 June 1800 Church and Community Barbecue
19 June 1930 The Senate Investigation
26 June 1930 Zoetrope
27 June 1930 Mary Ann Kennedy
29 June 1800 The Long Light
Lodging House Mission News
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act (ESV) Psalm 37:5
Numbers attending the day centre at present average 100 which is encouraging. Some
new faces have appeared on the scene along with some old ones returning. LHM
continues to offer support and help to anyone in need.
The weekly church services continue to go well with good numbers attending. During
the Easter week, service users were provoked and stimulated watching a DVD provided
by Wendy (ICC Student) entitled 'The Easter Experience'.
A group of service users (4 women and 2 men) along with 2 volunteers had an
excellent time away together at Iona (despite the weather).
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The LHM Chaplain was encouraged to have been asked to provide a chaplaincy service
to Link-Up and Clyde Place - two residential centres providing support for people with
addictions and mental health issues. There is a possibility of offering a chaplaincy
service to other services working with people who have addictions.
Plans are progressing well for LHM's big fundraising event - the annual LHM Cycle Run
which will take place on Saturday 14 June and as many supporters as possible are
urged to take part. For Application forms please contact Helen on 0141 552 0285 or go
to the web-site at www.lhm-glasgow.org.uk and register on line.
Gus McKay
Chaplain
2 Extracts from the Glasgow Herald
New hymn books
You may have noticed that last month Wellington took delivery of 30 words-only copies
of CH4 which is obviously smaller and easier to handle. Apropos of this:
Excerpt from the Herald:
“150 Years Ago: Every Church-goer has, at some time or other, had his Bible jerked
awkwardly, and perhaps angrily, by those in the pew before him, or has had his own
back tortured by the sharp edges of the Bibles in the pew behind. In order to obviate
such casualties, our indefatigable Bible publisher, Mr McPhun, of this city, has just
produced a Bible, short and broad, so as not to project above the book-board.”
from Anthea Cameron
Belmont Church
I don’t know how many readers of The Herald noticed a brief paragraph in the From the
Archives section of the edition of 4th April, under “100 YEARS AGO”, which briefly
described the attempt, on 3rd April 1914, to blow up Belmont Church in Great George
Street. The attempt signally failed, and no serious damage was done to what the paper
described as “a handsome red sandstone building situated in the Hillhead district”. I had
heard of this occurrence but did not know the date. No direct mention was made of who
was responsible, but it is widely believed that it was done by suffragettes, and because
of this presumed connection it merited a brief mention in the New York Times, which
those interested can track down on the Internet.
As one of the last surviving Belmontians this reminiscence evoked two very different
thoughts:
1. Does anyone know for sure what the plans, if any, are for this once “handsome”
building, which is now in a rather sorry state? For many years after closure as a place of
worship it did noble service as a school hall successively for Laurel Bank, Laurel Park
and Hutchie Junior. Church closures, we should always remind ourselves, remove
control of the buildings from the ecclesiastical authorities, and that may hold a salutary
lesson for us.
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2. Where the suffragettes failed by violence, others could conceivably succeed by more
subtle means. An old adage comes to mind, which I shall elitistly give in cod-Latin, not
too difficult to translate even for the non-classicist: Libertatis pretium est vigilantia
aeterna.
from Ainslie McIntyre
(Editor: according to the internet the abandoned church was sold to developers in 2006,
who then gained planning permission for the development of 15 self-contained
apartments).
Newsletter
There have been some nice comments about the newsletter and the move to include A5
copies in the print-run, but any constructive comments are very welcome. Meanwhile
here are some quotes from other churches’ newsletters (with thanks to Isabel
MacMillan):
Church Ladies with Typewriters
Sermons
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching
for Jesus.'
‘Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help’.
Choir
 Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can
get.
 At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come
early and listen to our choir practice.
 This evening at 7 pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the
Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Hospitality
 The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious
hostility.
 Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 pm - prayer and medication to follow.
Church Groups
 Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 pm. Please use the
back door.
 We already have the corner-stone – Jesus Christ. And since dreaming is free
and prayer is powerful, it would be good if we all prayed for guidance to discover
how the Lord wants us to go from here. That way, we could have our own,
heaven-sent, blueprint.
Deadline for next Newsletter: Wednesday 2 nd July. This will include information
about Wellington’s activities during the Commonwealth Games.
Please send in any contributions in Arial font size 12.
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Sunday Duties at Wellington
01 June 2014
Side Door Bearer Joyce Allison
Side Door Plate Ann Wilson
Sound
08 June 2014
Side Door Bearer Jackie Murray
Side Door Plate Sheila Craik
Sound
15 June 2014
22 June 2014
Front Door Bearer Arthur Allison
Front Door Plate Norman Shanks
Niall Hardie
Front Door Bearer Alison Ainslie
Front Door Plate Christine Scott
Donald Murray
Side Door Bearer John F Anderson
Front Door Bearer Ruth Beattie
Side Door Plate Heather Walton
Sound
Front Door Plate Caroline Jennings
Claire McDiarmid
Side Door Bearer Kate Fyfe
Front Door Bearer Sally Beaumont
Side Door Plate Catherine Shaw Dunn
Front Door Plate Alasdair Aitken
Sound
Robin Green
29 June 2014
Side Door Bearer Linda Brown
Front Door Bearer Lizanne McKerrell
Side Door Plate Isabel Macmillan
Front Door Plate Grace Franklin
Sound
Ken Fyfe
06 July 2014
Side Door Bearer Jackie Murray
Side Door Plate Ann Wilson
Sound
13 July 2014
Side Door Bearer Arthur Allison
Side Door Plate Sheila Craik
Sound
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Front Door Bearer Alison Ainslie
Front Door Plate Olivia Scott
David Blackhurst
Front Door Bearer Joyce Allison
Front Door Plate Christine Scott
Donald Murray