Bonkle Church of Scotland Magazine

June 2008

Scottish Charity Number SC006540

Website - www.bonkle.org.uk

Next issue – September 2008.

Closing date for material – 24^st August 2008

From the manse…

Last Sunday we used one of my favourite songs in worship as a meditation, it’s a song by Brian Doerksen called Creation Calls. It’s a song which poses the question

“How could I say there is no God?

When all around creation calls!!

A singing bird, a mighty tree.

The vast expanse of open sea…”

Sadly the reality is that for many today that although the creation speaks volumes of the creator, it is the creation itself which is worshipped. Perhaps we should not be surprised by this. John Calvin, suggests that although we were created in God’s image, to know Him and to love Him, the result of our fallen nature is that we have lost the ability to see God in creation. But yet those who know the Lord and who love Him, to those who have eyes to see, find that creation speaks volumes of His majesty, His power, His glory, His creativity and His ordering of all things. In Psalm 19, the psalmist writes,

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world.

As you embark upon some well earned rest this holiday time may you find your heart touched by God’s goodness and love. Wherever you find yourself worshipping God, Bonkle or Coltness Memorial or perhaps further afield my prayer is that you know His love and peace.

Yours in His name

Graham Raeburn

1^st Bonkle Guides

In this session we finally managed after a long absence to reinstate the colour party at the Thinking Day Parade in February. On the day the  colours were carried by Louise Cunningham and Sarah-Jane Smith with  their escorts Lauren Anderson and Catriona Gardner. Many thanks go to 
Marie Williams and Anice Pringle for getting this project up and running and making the day a success.
	The four girls making up the colour party (see cover photo) have also just completed their Baden Powell badge which they will have presented to them at the District AGM on the 18th May. Thanks to Jacqueline Brown who again helped our Baden Powell Guides gain this prestigious award.
With the help of Mr Glen some guides have begun the long process of  becoming our next lot of Baden Powell Guides by learning how to use a 
compass and making a route map.
	At the District AGM Bonkle Guides have been chosen to take part in  the service singing our compilation of war songs. We learned these songs with the help of Shona Stirling and first performed them along with some Christmas songs for the residents of Morningside Nursing Home in December.
	We will again this year take part in the Gala Day Parade where our theme this year will be Country and Western.

Recipe for Life

Plant a garden that will ensure success!

. Three rows of peas: Peace of mined; heart and soul.

. Four rows of squash: Squash gossip; indifference; grumbling and selfishness.

. Four rows of lettuce: Let us be faithful; kind; patient and love one another.

. A few turnips: turn up for meetings; service and to help one another.

. Thyme: Time for each other; family and friends.

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

There will be much fruit in your garden because you will reap what you sow.

Taken from St. :Mary's Church magazine(Motherwell)

Sunday School

The helpers at the Sunday school are pleased at how many children we have regularly attending every week. The children always show interest in what they learn and are keen to take part in the arts and crafts activities, games and songs that we do.

Easter was a great success for the children,when as well as learning about the death and resurrection of Jesus they took part in our annual Easter Egg hunt, decorated hard boiled eggs and did lots of fun Easter activities.

Recently three of our children come of age to receive their very own bibles as a gift from the Sunday School. Lauren Watson, Blair Caldwell and Scott Reid (all 6 years old) will be presented with their new bibles.

Summer Sunday School will begin on 29^th June and will run through to the end of July. There will be no Summer Sunday School at Bonkle during August due to the closure of the church but will start back again on Sunday 7^th September.

We hope and pray that after the holidays we will be able to welcome back our children and that many more children and young people will join us .

Crèche - birth to 3 years,juniors 3 to 8 years, seniors 8 to 10 and bible class 11 upwards

The Guild

This photo was given to me by Mrs Turner showing her mother at what she thought might be the guild, or possibly the choir, circa 1930. As you can see, there are a number of men in the photo so one could hardly call it the “Woman's Guild”! If it was the choir, what is a spinning wheel doing in the photo?

Perhaps the solution can be found in the church history.

Around 1920 the Young Men's Guild was formed. Later young women joined it to form the Social Guild. The women formed a work party within this organisation. On the union of the churches in 1929 this became the Woman's Guild which affiliated to the Church of Scotland Guild in 1932.

Could the photo be of the Social Guild and slightly earlier than 1930?

Perhaps your mum, dad or grandma/grandpa is in the photo.

Let's have your comments.

Sermon on the Mount Valley

"Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and gathering them round him taught them saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Blessed are the meek

Blessed are they who mourn

Blessed are the merciful

Blessed are they who thirst for justice

Blessed are all the concerned

Blessed are you when persecuted

Blessed are you when you suffer

Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven, try to remember what I am telling you' .

Then Simon Peter said, 'Will this count for continuous assessment?'

And Andrew said, 'Will we have a test on it?'

And James said 'When do we have to know it for?'

And Philip said 'How many words?'

And Bartholomew said 'Will we have to stand up and say it in front of the others?'

And John said 'The other disciples didn't have to learn it by heart'

And Judas said 'What is it worth?'

And the other disciples likewise.

Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see Jesus' aims and objectives, and his list of priorities, and inquired of Jesus his profile components, his attainment tasks and his personal record of achievement.

And Jesus wept."

Sing and Sizzle.

The Local Area Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland is holding a 'Sing and Sizzle' on Sunday 8^th June between 2 and 5pm, on the grass in front of Cambusnethan Old Church. There will be games for young people as well as a chance to sing some of your favourite hymns and enjoy a summer afternoon.

Burgers & hot dogs, with tea, coffee or juice, and all for £1!! Free entry. All welcome.

Pastoral Care Group

As the 2007-08 session draws to a close it is good to be able to report on the continued success of the groups' work among the people of our congregation. On behalf of those who have received visits during the past year, I have to pass on thanks to all our visitors who, sustained by the prayers of the support group, have been consistently active as each month passed. Your visits and phone calls are appreciated. I thank you also for your attendance at our monthly meetings which help to give visitors encouragement and support to continue the work they are doing.

The next meeting of these groups will be on Wednesday 18^th June at 7 pm in Bonkle Church Halls. I look forward to seeing you then. Edwina

Walking Group

The Photo shows the walking group at the Bentley Hotel, Motherwell for lunch after their January walk.

We have walks planned on Tuesdays and Sunday throughout the summer. Contact Margaret Glen for the list or look at noticeboard in small hall.

Natural Disasters

Recently we seem to have witnessed a series of disasters – hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, tsunami's, earthquakes, floods. It seems nature and the very earth is never still.

Our prayers go to the victims and their families of the two most recent ones – the flooding in Burma and the earthquake in China.

The various aid agencies, including Christian Aid , has been willing to help. Unfortunately, the rulers in Burma have not been very willing to let aid agencies in and many are dying as a result. Pray for a change of heart by the leaders in this country and for the victims and families.

The pictures coming back from China show an unbelievable amount of destruction. The country have mobilised their forces in every effort to save life. China has only been too willing to accept aid from the rest of the world. We thank God for their efforts and their cooperation with aid agencies to save life.

.

An Everyday Prayer

Inspiration

Picasso: 'For me creation first starts by contemplation, and I need long idle hours of meditation. It is then that I work most. I look at flies, at flowers, at leaves and trees around me. I let my mind drift at ease, just like a boat in the current. Sooner or later it is caught by something. It gets precise. It takes shape... my next painting motif is decided.'

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

Exasperation

A woman was exasperated with her younger sister, who bought an unreliable car and called for a ride every time it broke down. One day when out running errands, she received yet another call.

“What happened this time?” she asked.

“My brakes failed,” her sister said. “Can you come and get me?”

“Where are you”

“I'm in the chemist's”

“And where's the car?”

“It's in here with me.”

Summer Services

^{PS 133:1} How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

² It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.

³ It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

(Ps 133 NIV)

A suggestion has been made that only one morning service be held during the months of July and August.

Can I outline the reasons for this suggestion?

Firstly I would like to say what is NOT being suggested.

This is categorically not the first stage in a closure of either worship centre

It is not about the members of this linked charge being denied the opportunity to worship God; rather it is an opportunity to encounter God TOGETHER

It is not an excuse for the members of either church to have a month off

It is not being done to make life easier for the minister and office bearers

Why then is this being suggested?

* Firstly and most importantly this is being suggested for the good of the congregations.

* Weekly worship will continue to be conducted every week, by the minister when he is not on holiday, and mostly by David Shaw when the minister is on holiday

* If you can cast your minds back to the previous two summers you will recall that attendances at both churches dipped significantly during the summer months as members took their holidays. This had a negative effect upon the services, sung worship was not as good as normal, as people were inhibited from singing for fear of their voices being heard – this then had a cumulative effect. Lack of people attending worship also had a negative effect upon those who did attend.

* The feeling is that a larger group of people together, worshipping God, would prove to be a more uplifting and encouraging experience than worshipping in a church which is sparsely populated.

* The summer months are often the only time that Sunday School teachers have a chance to rest and recharge their batteries – often it is difficult to cover the Summer Sunday Schools with other people to allow this to happen.

How can we alleviate any burdens that people may experience?

* Whenever there is a joint service in either church transport is made available – sadly it is not always utilised. We would again seek to ensure that anyone who requires transport to church will receive it.

* Concerns have also been raised about finance. Firstly we would encourage all who give by FWO envelopes to continue to do so. Most regular givers continue to fill their envelopes when they are on holiday – we would hope to see this continue. We would also ensure that the open plate offerings are retained by the church holding the service. There may be a slight drop in income – it is impossible to tell at this stage what will happen – however, there will also be a drop in expenditure on heating and lighting when the particular building is not hosting a worship service.

All of us, whether or not we would like to admit it are creatures of habit; we like things to be done in the same way that they always have been done. But yet it is often when we are out of our comfort zone that we experience God in a deeper and more profound way. It is our sincere belief that as we worship together over the summer, that each of us will find our lives enriched. As old children’s hymn puts it :-

The church is wherever God’s people are praising.

Singing their thanks for joy on this day

The church is wherever disciples of Jesus

Remember his story and walk in his way

The church is wherever God’s people are helping.

Caring for neighbours in sickness and need

The church is wherever God’s people are sharing.

The words of the bible in gift and in deed

(Carol Rose Ikeler, CH3 Hymn 427)

I thank you for your loyalty to God’s church, and would ask that you continue to show that loyalty by supporting us with your presence during the combined services. We as Kirk Sessions firmly believe that God will bless our coming together, as we share the best of both congregations, that together our worship will be a positive experience for all of us.

Baptism 2008

Date Name Church

06.04.08 Donald McArthur Coltness Memorial

13.04.08 Jacob Dylan Jukes Bonkle

04.05.08 Amy Moffat Coltness Memorial

Weddings 2008

Date Bride & Groom Venue

10.05.08 Laura Marshall & John Lawrie Bonkle

13.06.08 Kay McGinty & Thomas Keane Bonkle

19.07.08 Darren Brunton & Cheryl Hutchison Bonkle

05.07.08 Darren Campbell & Laurence Flament Le Touquet, France

26.07.08 Service of blessing CM

08.08.08 Victoria Lawson & Christopher South Bonkle

09.08.08 Louise Neilson & David Kells Shawlands Hotel 30.08.08 Laura Fulton & Jordan McKellar Bonkle

11.10.08 Kevin MacKay & Tracey MacGowan Bonkle

14.11.08 Louise Davie & Gary Millar CM

Funerals 2008

31.01.08 Mr Daniel Kelly 242 North Dryburgh Rd, Wishaw

06.03.08 Mr William Kay 6 Meadowfield Place, Bonkle

10.03.08 Mr George Grant Morningside Nursing Home

31.03.08 Mr Ian Reid formerly 118 Braedale Cres,

09.04.08 Mr Joseph Borthwick 1 Shiel Terrace, Newmains

23.04.08 Mrs Isabel Gardiner 6 Princes Square, Newmains CM

06.05.08 Mrs Jemima Terry 4 Alcath Road, Newmains

15.05.08 Mr James Findlay 2 Bonkle Road, Newmains

For your Diary

Services July – August start at 11.00 am

July – Bonkle August – Coltness Memorial