THE MAGAZINE OF BOTHWELL PARISH CHURCH ‘SCOTLAND’S OLDEST COLLEGIATE CHURCH’
Registered Scottish Charity No: SC0 9819
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer
2015
World Faith Service of Unity P1
Brighter Bothwell P1
Red Sea/Noah’s Ark Donation P2
Church Register P2
From the President P2
Choir Recruiting P2
Statement of Purpose P2
‘A Pilgrimage to Turkey’ P3
Used Stamps Appeal P3
Living the Questions P3
Sunday Rotas Page P4
From the Minister P5
Family Garden Party P5
Summer Car Treasure Hunt P5
Restoration News P5
Autumn issue Deadline P5
Living the Questions P5
World Mission -Used Stamps P5
MESSY Church P6
‘A Little Help …’ Grace Whitton P6
Minister: The Revd. J. M. Gibson, TD.
The Manse of Bothwell, 4 Manse Avenue, Bothwell, G71 8PQ
Tel: 01698 853189. Email: [email protected]
Church Office Tel: 01698 854903 (Tuesday — Friday 9am-1pm)
Email: [email protected]
Church Website: www.bothwellparishchurch.org.uk
Church Centre: 854987 Chapterhouse Café: 858566
GOOD
LUCK
to
ALL
local
Volunteers! …. as they
prepare to
defend and, if possible, improve their
current status as justly proud winners
of last year’s ‘Best Small Town’ in
the annual Beautiful Scotland Awards.
Judging is due to take place around
Bothwell on July 29th. Whatever the
result, our thanks to them all for
working so hard to make our
community such a pleasant place in
which to live. Let’s hope everything
comes right for them.
Scottish Representatives of World Faiths
meet at Bothwell.
On Sunday 14 June, leading representatives of World Faiths in Scotland gathered
together at Bothwell to lend support for an initiative taken by our Minister and
Mushtaq Ahmad OBE, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire.
This influential gathering held a unique Service of Unity, prepared by Mr
Gibson, as a response to recent acts of inhumanity carried out by extreme
fundamentalist Islamic groups in the Middle East and elsewhere in the name of
religion; and, also, to continuing sectarianism and bigotry here in Scotland.
During the Service, each representative denounced violence as an acceptable
means to an end. Acknowledging differences of opinion concerning religious
belief, the representatives declared our common dependence on the earth as our
home and how the value of human worth is found through justice withy peace,
love in our relationships and the willingness to serve one another, even when
sacrifice is demanded.
Our photograph (by N. McPherson) shows representatives of the Baha’i,
Buddhist, Christian (Church of Scotland, Episcopalian & Roman Catholic
Churches), Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith communities along with
Al Ker our sitar player.
At the end of the Service, each representative agreed to meet annually here at
Bothwell to further strengthen bonds of unity between our religious traditions in
Scotland.
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Baptisms:
April 26th. Claudia Isabella Peterkin, daughter of Emma Peterkin and
the late William Peterkin, 5 Old Bothwell Road, Bothwell.
William Cole Peterkin, son of Emma Peterkin and the late
William Peterkin, 5 Old Bothwell Road, Bothwell.
June 6th. Alexa Grace Allan, daughter of Perry and Emma Allan, 39
Smithycroft, Hamilton.
Marriages:
March 7th. Laura McConachy and Campbell Connor, 67 Reddeer Rd,
Cambuslang. G72 6QA.
May 9th. Rebecca Gilmour and Luke Scott, 54 The Fairways,
Bothwell. G71 8PA.
29th. ` Ashley Millar and Anthony Kelly, 132 Butler Crescent,
Blantyre.G72 9JH.
June 12th. Hayley Bowman and Robert McDonald, 79 Cochrane Street,
The Aim of the Guild
is to invite and encourage
men and women to commit their lives to
Jesus Christ
and enable them to express their faith in
worship, prayer and action.
Statement of Purpose
Bothwell Parish is a congregation of the Church of Scotland and is part of the
worldwide family of people belonging to the Christian Faith, worshipping God
through Jesus Christ. In to the love of God for all, we seek to serve our
community through worship, friendship, care and education; and to promote
Christian values of concern for others, forgiveness, healing and justice
RED SEA
&
NOAH’S
ARK
SUNDAY
CLUBS
Thanks to the generosity of parents,
friends and our congregation we
raised £333 at our Nativity Play last
December. This was sent to our
former Assistant Reader Mrs Monica
MacDonald who remains our
Scottish link with the Place of
Restoration an orphanage for
Children near Durban in South
Africa. As a result, along with Will
Hepburn and his mum Aileen, I
travelled through to meet Monica
and two ladies from the orphanage
visiting Scotland.
We heard an update of their work
and how children are eventually
fostered and adopted by families in
the local community.
On behalf of our Sunday Clubs, Will
received the gift of special
bookmarks and pin badges which
were made at the orphanage. Will
happened to be the only child present
in a group of forty adults and proved
himself the perfect representative of
our church. Well done, Will !
Though this information is coming as
we head into summer, we would still
like to say a special thank you to
everyone who kindly contributed
towards our fundraising at Christmas
from the Guild President
Hello Everyone and, I mean, Everyone
I am privileged to be the President of the Church of Scotland Guild at Bothwell.
Indeed, I have been a member of the Guild for more years than I now care to
remember and so have been able to see for myself the good work the Guild can do
both locally, nationally and internationally. How about joining us. Our
organisation is now open to both men and women and we would be delighted to
welcome interested new members.
We meet in our church Centre every second Monday evening, 7.00pm for our start
at 7.30pm. Each session, we have varied and interesting programme. We always
begin a new session with a Dedication Service held in the church and conducted by
our minister. Last session, we welcomed speakers whose themes were as diverse as
Glasgow Street Pastors, the Fighting Men of Bothwell and all about Beekeeping.
Come November we enjoy an Open Evening and what would Christmas be without a
wee Night Out ! Summer warmth entices us further afield with our annual Day
Trip. So, you see, we believe in enjoying our fellowship together.
By the way, did I mention our members make a great cup of tea and cake for us all
to devour come the close of our meetings ?
So, why not come along and swell our ranks ? Whether you are a member of our
congregation or not, male or female; if you would like to help us fulfil our aim and
object as a Guild, you will be most welcome.
Our new session begins on Monday, 5 October 2015. See you then, I hope!
Someone
is
missing
from
our church Choir.
Could it be
Church Register
For details
on the current activities
being held within the
church Centre please see
the noticeboard
or
look up:
bothwellparishchurch.org.uk
If you know of anyone
requiring
a home visit from the Minister,
or
if you have a change of details,
please
complete the
‘WELCOME CARD’
placed on each pew and hand
it in to the Church Office.
Ever since the first announcement was
made that a new discussion group was
going to be formed called Living the
Questions, uptake for places in the
various groups held has been almost
immediate.
In the early Autumn the present group
will meet again to take their discussions
further.
Perhaps over the coming weeks you
may hear about it from those taking
part. The course is repeated at different
times of the year and, so, if you hear
favourable comments and think it
might be the sort of thing for you in the
future, just let the Minister know or
contact the church Office to book a
place!
Thank you for saving your used stamps
and donating them in such quantities to
boost the Stamp Appeal of the Church of
Scotland’s World Mission Council.
Last year, the Appeal reached its target
raising £4,500, all because kind folks like
you placed your used stamps in our
special World Mission Post Box in the
Narthex of the church. Your old,used and
unwanted stamps are now being recycled
to make a world of difference to some of
the world’s most needy souls.
Though it will cost you nothing, by
giving these stamps, this year you can help
women and men suffering from HIV and
AIDS related illnesses. There is still no
vaccine against HIV and while
retroviral treatment is available for those
lucky enough to be able to access it, there
is still no cure. Each year 1.5 million
people die without that treatment, while
another 2 million new infections are
recorded.
It’s so easy for us to be like the Good Sa-
maritan. Just keep putting those used
stamps in the church’s Appeal Box on a
Sunday morning.
A PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY - a personal view.
Nowadays, it is normal practice when planning a trip away to do quite a bit of
research—perusing travel books and brochures, talking to friends and family
and spending time on the internet with special reference to that oracle for any
traveller, ‘Trip Advisor’. It was therefore quite strange when very little of this
process was required when we signed up to join the group from Bothwell
Church on their pilgrimage to ‘Turkey:Istanbul and the Seven Churches of
Asia’. My husband, Campbell, and I had heard such wonderful reports about
the previous pilgrimage to the Holy Land; and, after reading the blurb from
the tour organiser, McCabe Travel, we were sure that this was for us and so
signed up immediately.
Of course, as the trip drew closer, we did some reading on the places we
would be visiting, but nothing could have prepared us for the totally magical
experience we were to enjoy. From day one in Istanbul we were immersed in
another time and culture and on many occasions were lost for words at the
wonderful sights we saw and amazed at the skill and ingenuity of the ancient
builders and architects.
It is really hard to pick out favourites from the many places we visited.
However, there are two aspects that I will never forget. One was the peace
and total tranquillity that I felt at Sardis; and the incredibility when walking
the marble Acadian Way in Ephesus—picturing life that way it was when St
Paul lived and taught there 2000 years ago. That particular day my post on
Facebook read ‘This actual road was the one used by St Paul when he arrived
at Ephesus. Can’t describe the feeling properly.’ Indeed, huge thoughts of a
very personal and spiritual nature!
The one element, however, that made our pilgrimage totally complete,
memorable and so enjoyable was the other seventeen people who made up the
group from Bothwell. The welcome extended to Campbell and myself was
exceptional as each and every one reached out to us in Christian friendship
and fellowship. As members of a c hurch across the border in North
Lanarkshire, we felt very much part of this small satellite congregation from
Bothwell and enjoyed both spiritual and social times together. In our own
church on the first
Sunday back after the trip, one line in Hymn 622 particularly jumped out:
‘Come pilgrim love, livee in our hearts today.’ The love we were shown on
this pilgrimage by the members of Bothwell church will live in our hearts for
ever.
On the first evening our waiter told us that the Turkish word for cheers was
‘serefe’. So to all the wonderful people we met, to the members of Bothwell
Parish Church and to the Reverend Jim who brought the whole spiritual part
together in his own wonderful and insightful way, Campbell and I would like
to say thank you—and a gigantic SEREFE! Barbara Sefton.
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4
Church Flowers
Chancel War Memorial July 5 Mrs J Campbell Mrs E French 12 Ms Marilyn Jack Mrs M Mitchell 19 Mrs L Horn Mrs M McArthur 26 Mrs M Chalmers Mrs Una Morris
August 2 Mrs J Neely Mrs J Marsh 9 Mrs N Robertson Mrs E Barr 16 Mrs C Jack Mrs S Greenshields 23 Mrs I Greenhalgh Mrs P Brown 30 Mrs L Leckie Mrs M Cunningham
September 6 Mrs E Forrest Mrs M Jaap 13 Mrs S Crichton Mrs E Buttery 20 Mrs S R-Young Mrs M Maillie 27 Mrs Irene Glen Mrs G Whitton
October 4 Harvest Mrs J Provan Mrs P McAulay 11 Mrs B Peacock Mr J Dalziel 18 Mrs G Ormiston Mrs F Lorimer 25 Mrs F McOmish Mrs J Young
Sunday Welcome / Duty Rota Office bearers should please arrive at Church for duty by 10am. Anyone unable to fulfil their duty should please arrange cover.
Please note that only two of the office bearers will be required to assist with counting the collection after the service.
Sunday Coffee Rota As usual, volunteers are asked to please swap any inconvenient dates with each other.
New volunteers are most welcome to join the list and should please contact Marilyn Jack—tel 852138.
Sunday Crèche
July—NO CRECHE AUGUST 2nd NO CRECHE 9th NO CRECHE 16th Hazel Gilmour Jaynie Craig 23rd Janette Provan Pat Maxwell 30th Julie Wilson G illian Ormiston SEPTEMBER 6th Suzanne Smith Elaine Easton 13th Aileen Hepburn Eleanor Barr 20th Eleanor Terrace Elizabeth French 27th Shirley Frew Nan Carson
JULY
5 J Hart, I Henderson, J Henry, D Hepburn 12 L Horn, M Hutchison, M Jack, D Lee 19 H Marsh, J Marsh, G Moore, C McQueen 26 G Ormiston, R Parsons, J Provan, Dr Ritch
SEPTEMBER
6 J Gilmour, S Greenshields, K Hamilton, J Hart 13 I Henderson, J Henry, D Hepburn, L Horn, 20 M Hutchison, M Jack, D Lee, G Moore 27 H Marsh, J Marsh, C McQueen, R Parsons
OCTOBER
4 Boys’ Brigade Company 11 G Ormiston, J Provan, Dr Ritch, B Sharp, 18 E Sommerville, E Terrace, Dr Thomson, A Watt, 25 G Whitton, A Wilson, E Barr, E Buttery
AUGUST
2 B Sharp, E Somerville, E Terrace, Dr Thomson, 9 A Watt, G Whitton, A Wilson, E Barr 16 E Buttery, J Carson, N Carson, S Cook 23 D Craig, J Crichton, S Crichton, J Cumming 30 J Dalziel, E Dempsey, V Gibson, B Gillespie
JULY 5 Mrs Nan Carson AUGUST 2 Mrs Carol-Ann Cahill 12 The Ormiston Family 9 Mrs Jayne Craig 19 Mrs Ellen Buttery 16 Mrs Sara Crichton 26 Mrs Eleanor Dempsey 23 Frew and Hepburn Families 30 Mrs Jean Hamilton SEPTEMBER 6 Parson and Wilson Families OCTOBER 4 Boys’ Brigade Company 13 Mrs Arleen Thomson 11 Mrs Ellen Buttery 20 Mrs Nan Carson 18 Mrs Eleanor Dempsey 27 Ormiston Family 25 Mrs Carol-Ann Cahill
RESTORATION NEWS
Over the past month,
progress by the contractors
has become visibly quite
dramatic. After weeks of
very careful preparation,
hidden from view by the
large temporary canvas
covering, the ancient stone
slabs that have covered the
Quire roof for
over 600 years
have, literally,
been brought
down to earth.
This removes a
tremendous
weight from
bearing down on the walls and enables
drilling to take place horizontally
into the stonework of the walls.
Thereafter, steel rods will be
inserted and once the walls have been
‘tied’ together, hopefully, never to move
again, the roof slabs will be replaced.
While every effort is being made to do
this work without damage to the ancient
slabs, sadly their antiquity has meant
that some cannot be reused.
Replacements have to be specially
quarried in Ayrshire and the south of
England and then cut by stone-masons
so that, once finished, the roof will look
as near as possible to how it has done
throughout past centuries.
Meantime, further repair work has had to
be carried out on the structure of the
tower. Windows have been replaced and
the floor on the very top of the tower
completely renewed. The ironwork
securing the church bells has
dangerously rusted causing it to weaken
and will be replaced and a new flagpole
erected.
The Great East Window (Burne-Jones)
is also receiving refurbishment and
repair and will be reinstalled using more
modern techniques to safeguard its
longevity.
Because of the technical complexities of
the project, work is roughly six weeks
behind schedule. However, it is surely
better for the work to be carried out well
and safely than for it to be hurried and
damage occurs. Roll on the end of the
year when we hope completion will be
in sight!
A Pause for Thought from the Minister
Recently, I read this which I hope you
might find of some interest and cause for
thought:
“We have imagined that Christianity is a
religion of virtue. But, no. Desmond Tutu
reminds us, ‘Christianity is not a religion of
virtue; it is a religion of grace.’ And there’s
a huge difference. A religion of
virtue says, ‘If you are good, then God will
love you.’ Whereas, as religion of grace
says, ‘God love you!’ In other words, God
loves you despite your foibles and failures,
not because you are so good but as some-
one who falls-short in need of mercy. God
loves you: live then as one who is be-
loved, who has been forgiven.”
From Anthony Robinson
ALLOVUS extends
a warm welcome
to EVERYONE
who might wish to join
their lunchtime activities !
Now in their sixth year,
the ALLOVUS team are excited
about their programme for the
coming session,
offering:
lots of laughter and fun
outside visits
interesting speakers
films and music
good food & friendships to enjoy
and a whole lot more!
ALLOVUS
meets on the
FIRST and THIRD Thursdays
of most months
at 11.30am
SUMMER
CAR TREASURE
HUNT Yes, folks, the time is almost here for
us to enjoy some of the best fun the
summer has to offer!
SUNDAY
6th SEPTEMBER
is the date EVERYONE should have
marked in their diary and on their
calendar.
NO excuses, now!
John and Hazel Gilmour have risen to
the challenge of organising this
year’s event. So, make sure you
don’t miss out.
The church Centre is the place.
2.00pm the time.
Tickets
£10 per car
SUMMER
GARDEN PARTY
FOR
EVERYONE
TO ENJOY !
Sunday
23rd August
2.00—4.00pm
Manse Garden
(4 Manse Avenue)
Lots of fun
Laughter & chat
Burgers from the BBQ
Activities (for the young)
Relaxation (for the not so young)
Tickets £3
On sale NOW from church Office
(Wine £1per glass )
Another little Thought
“Something to learn
is that
there is a lot to unlearn.”
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AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE
OF THE LANTERN
Please submit all news, events,
articles, rotas & photos
for the next edition by
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
You can email the office: [email protected]
A Little Help Goes A Long Way by Grace Whitton
Most of February this year was spent in New Zealand. I was there for the Blind
and Partially Sighted (VI’s) and Physically Disabled (PD’s) World Bowls,
representing Scotland. I am a Scottish coach for bowlers with visual impairment.
We were a small squad consisting of four bowlers, plus their coaches for the VI’s
along with 9 PD’s, plus our head coach and his assistant.
In all, we won 5 gold medals and 2 silver medals. I am pleased to report that my
bowler and I were recipients of a gold medal.
As you would expect, the journey was long and tiring, leaving Glasgow late one
Wednesday afternoon and arriving in New Zealand on the Saturday—thirteen
hours ahead of GMT. However, our eventual success meant the journey was well
worth it.
For the past eight years, I have been coach for a totally blind bowler, George
Gourlay. Unfortunately, George was unavailable for NZ but, in that time, we have
enjoyed some significant achievements. Among them being:
The UK Championship—indoor
The UK Championship—outdoor
The Scottish Championship 4 times and Runner Up 3 times
George was selected for the World Bowls in South Africa
Won the Elizabeth Taggart Cup—singles competiton
Won the Scottish Triples
Won the Scottish Rinks
Won the Scottish Invitation Outdoor Rink.
Earlier in my life, I lost my sight for thirteen months and when, eventually, I
watched visually impaired bowlers playing I felt here4 was a job I could do (even
though I have sight in only one eye).
A bling bowler has to rely on voice connections between them and their coach.
The very first thing one has to do is to lead your pupil to the green itself. Its quite
a feat of trust asking someone to step down some 10 inches from pavement to
grass. Thereafter, the pupil may be guided by allowing them to hold your elbow
or shoulder. It is imperative the coach knows exactly how much of an impairment
the bowler has. Just as it is so important for each to enjoy a good rapport with the
other. Confidence in each other is essential.
A bowling green is approximately 31 to 40 metres long. The coach walks with the
player up the green counting the paces they take to the half way point. This allows
us to judge distance for the jack as well as the bowl. A string is placed down the
centre of the rink. The jack i9s always set on the string and helps the player place
his/her mat. Advise is then offered through reference to the hands of a clock. The
top would be 12 o’clock, to the right would be 3 o’clock and so on.
When delivering the jack, the player feels the string and sends the jack up the
green as near to the string as possible. In starting the game, the coach stands with
their feet slightly apart, about three yards in front of the bowler and talks to the
bowler so that he/she knows in which direction to play. The bowler will swing
their arm a few times to get their weight, then lets the bowl go hopefully between
their coach’s feet and on towards the jack. The ‘Caller’ will then shout down the
rink where the bowl has stopped, ie one yard at 4 o’clock.
Visually-impaired bowlers are classified according to the amount of vision they
have. Each classification ha sits own league and championship. Winners can be
put forward for international competitions similar to sighted bowlers.
Our next competition is in Israel in May 2016, dependent on funding.
I think it one of the most satisfying feelings one can enjoy to know that you are
helping someone less fortunate achieve high standards in their chosen sport. I am
very fortunate in being able to do so.
Please
save used stamps.
Post
them in the box
in church narthex
and help save a life !
With a good, solid beginning to our very
own MESSY CHURCH at Bothwell
we look forward to building on the
groundwork laid by so many enthusiastic
helpers. It was really encouraging seeing
some forty children with parents/adults—
members and non-members of the congrega-
tion— coming along to take part in our
launch. After sharing a simple meal made in
our own kitchen everyone went to the main
hall where various activities were waiting to
be enjoyed. The evening was brought to a
close with a brief explanation of the
evening’s Biblical theme.
MESSY CHURCH participants next
meet on MONDAY, 24 AUGUST at
6.00pm when, if weather permits, a BBQ
is planned!
Got kids ? Then come along and join the
fun ! No obligation. No charge!