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To acknowledge that you were wrong yesterday is simply

to let the world know that you are wiser today than you

were then. (Dean Swift)

St Margaret of Scotland, Newlands

Service details

Sundays

9.00am Said Eucharist 10.30am Sung Eucharist,

Crèche, Sunday School & Youth Group

Tuesdays 10.00 am Holy Communion

Morning and Evening Prayer Mon, Wed, Thu and Fri 9.00am and 5.30pm

For other services not listed please see Diary inside Church Website address: www.episcopalnewlands.org.uk

Scottish Charity No SC 008953

Next issue 27 March 2016

Copy deadline Sunday 13 March 6pm

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St Margaret’s

Scottish Episcopal Church

Magazine

50p

March 2016

“Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12.21)

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THE CHURCH OFFICE

353/355 Kilmarnock Road, Newlands, Glasgow G43 2DS Open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1.30pm Tel:0141 636 1131

Church administrator: Juliet Mugwanda

CLERGY

Rector: Reverend Canon Dr Scott Robertson BD MA PhD 22 Monreith Road, Newlands, Glasgow G43 2NY

Tel: 0141 632 3292 Email: revscottrobertson@gmail.com

Assistant Priest: Reverend Canon Dr Charlotte Methuen 2/1, 34 Keir Street, Glasgow G41 2NW

Tel: 0141 429 4716 Email: charlotte.methuen@glasgow.ac.uk

Assistant Priest: Reverend Maggie McTernan Flat 0/1, 9 Kennoway Drive, Glasgow G11 7 UA

Tel: 0141 337 2604 Email: maggsmct@googlemail.com

A warm welcome to

St Margaret’s Should you wish to speak to the

Rector, he is regularly available at

the Church on Wednesdays

between 6 and 7pm (if the church

does not appear to be open, please

ring the bell at the left side of the

small door to the left of the main

West door). Otherwise he can be

contacted on 0141 632 3292.

St Margaret’s on the internet: www.episcopalnewlands.org.uk

email: stmargaretsnewlands@btinternet.com

Diocesan website: www.scotland.anglican.org/diocese/glasgow

Magazine submissions to stmargaretsnewlands@btinternet.com,

or maidagibson@hotmail.com, marked “Magazine”,

or in the drawer marked “Magazine Editor” at the back of the church

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St Aidan’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Clarkston

THE 2016 ST AIDAN’S LECTURES

SCIENCE & RELIGION

WHERE NOW?

Dr Michael Fuller

University of Edinburgh

Saturday, 23 April, 10.30 – 16.00

Further Information:

www.staidansclarkston.org.uk/lectures

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Index

Pastoral letter Page 4 Eco corner Page 17 Around St Margaret’s Page 6 Jesus in the Snow Page 18 Calendar and Rotas Page 12 Lent Appeal Page 19 Mariopolis Page 14 Intercessions Page 20 Living with Parkinson’s Page 16 Science and Religion Page 22

Easter Lilies - don’t delay! If you would like to donate a lily in memory of a loved one, and help to beautify the church at Easter, please complete the form enclosed with this magazine. Please return the form, with your remittance, as soon as possible and by Sunday 13 March at the latest, so that the lilies may be ordered.

Magazine renewals Thank you to everyone who has sent in their magazine renewal form enclosed with last month’s issue; if you have not got round to sending it in please do so soon! A number of readers receive the magazine by email; please do not hesitate to ask if you wish to avail yourself of this facility. The magazine can also be accessed through the church website.

Clocks go forward! Don’t forget that clocks go forward on Easter Sunday morning March 27th! Don’t be late!

Lent Boxes - Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation Bishop Gregor writes about this year’s Appeal on page 19.

The Lent Boxes are at the back of the church and should be returned by Easter Sunday 27 March. Please give generously.

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Scott writes…...

Lent is a time of the 3 r’s. Not, of course, reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic, but reflection, repentance and refreshment. There is, though, enough of a connection between the two to make it useful to think about as we move through this season of the church calendar. As we reflect, we metaphorically read ourselves. We examine our lives and attempt to see where we are in this particular chapter of our lives. We look between the lines to discern if we are on the right page and we try to mark those significant parts of the story that have made a difference to us. Reading ourselves and reading the world is a fundamental part of what it means to grow as a human being. This way of reading is what the mystic and philosopher, Simone Weil called ‘the art of paying attention’. Being awake, reading the signs of the times, as Jesus put it, is the default position for those who claim to be spiritual. And like the Israelites we are to write the words of God on the tablet of our hearts (Proverbs 7:3). The act of repentance is first of an act of will. In the same way that the writer has to take up his or her pen and face the challenge of that blank piece of paper, so we have to face the challenge of our own weaknesses with honesty and integrity, and in so facing, we are to act. Repentance, in this sense is not just feeling sorry. It is actively acting or reacting to the way we have read ourselves, and have been read by God. Repentance, then is like love. It isn’t simply an emotion, but is a determination. It is not simply to be a show of repentance, but must go all the way down. As the prophet Joel puts it: ‘Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.’ (Joel 2: 13) And, as we read ourselves and write the words of God in our hearts, we discover that we are able to count all the good things that God has been and done for us. We are able to see the world in a way that allows us to live less calculating and more contented lives. Because we have been prepared to count the cost, we are more ready to spend ourselves in the

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Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. Show compassion, Lord, on all who suffer through sickness in mind, body or spirit. Comfort the carers and bring patience and perseverance to the professional services. Lord, hear us , Lord, graciously hear us. Lord of life, give peace and the promise of eternal life to those who have died and are now in your kingdom. Put your loving arms round those who mourn and miss their loved ones. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Naomi Brown (7 February) (with acknowledgements to Rupert Bristow’s ‘Sunday Intercessions ‘)

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Let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Col 3.15)

If we open the shutters in the morning the light will pour in. We do not need to beseech it to pour in. It will pour in if we let it. If we open the sluice in the floodtime the water will flow through. We do not plead with it to flow. It will flow if we will let it.

It is so with the peace of God. It will rule in our hearts if only we will let it. If a heart that is disturbed about anything will “let the peace of God rule” (instead of its own desires), that heart may this very day prove this truth:

Let not your heart be troubled:

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.

(Amy Carmichael of Dhonavur)

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Intercessions

God of hope and salvation, we give thanks for the wonder and glory of the transfiguration. You set your seal on your covenant with humanity through the gift of your beloved Son. Create in us a true appreciation of your generosity, a recognition of your trust. Help us to trust in return. Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. Deepen the contacts and strengthen the bonds between the churches, locally and across the world. May the vision of your Church as one allow for variety and contrast, so that its relevance can be seen and accepted by all nations. Help the Church to lead the way in dialogue and debate with other faiths, so that common spiritual and social values can be explored and differences explained and understood. Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. We give thanks for the glories of your creation and for entrusting us with the stewardship of our world. Give us grace and foresight to care for what we look after, study what we cannot influence, and stand in awe of the beauty and complexity of it all. Help us to give priority to exploration over exploitation. Bring a proper sense of responsibility in decisions over energy creation and management. Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. In our own community we pray for the development of our 2020 vision. May we hear your voice and take action to serve according to your will.

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service of the one who loved us and gave himself for us. In other words, in all of this, our lives are refreshed and renewed. It is too simplistic to see the season of Lent as a time of abnegation, or of sorrow – a time that is simply burdensome. In reality Lent offers us a focussed opportunity to read our lives, write our wrongs and count the blessings that we have been given. May this, indeed, be a precious time for you as you reflect and repent, and may you see that, if there is any burden, it is the burden that Jesus, himself, offers:

‘Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11: 28ff)

Love,

Scott

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Easter services

Maundy Thursday 24 March 7.30pm

Good Friday 25 March 2pm and Ecumenical service at Newlands South 7.30pm

Easter Vigil Saturday 26 March 8pm

Easter Day 7am in Newlands Park followed by breakfast at St Margaret’s; 9am Said Eucharist, and 10.30am Sung Eucharist

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We saw a stranger yesterday; we put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place and with the sacred name of the triune God he blessed our house, our cattle, our dear ones. As the lark says in her song: often, often, often goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise. Celtic rune of hospitality

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Around St Margaret’s March 2016

Second Sunday concerts The audience on the cold and sunny afternoon of 14 February thoroughly enjoyed a bright and varied programme of music by clarinettist Calum Robertson, making a welcome return to St Margaret’s. Accompanied by Michael Bawtree he played pieces by, amongst others, Luigi Bassi (themes from Rigoletto), Debussy, Mozart (adagio for clarinet, most effectively played with organ accompaniment) and Edward Gregson (musical tributes to famous clarinettists). The next concert is on 13 March, at which the Glasgow Chamber Choir will perform Sir James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados and Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater. …and there will be an extra series of concerts, starting on Easter Sunday, at 3.30pm. Edward Paling (former leader of the RSNO) will return to St Margaret’s to give a special concert, supported by Michael on the organ, including music by Kenneth Leighton, Vaughan Williams, Kreisler and Rheinberger. Tickets £5 each. The subsequent concerts will be on Sunday 24 April and a Sunday in May at 6.30pm. Details to follow. Morning and Evening Prayer “It is good to give thanks to the Lord in the morning and in the evening praise his holy name.” Worship, Prayer and spirituality are part of our chosen strands in the Diocesan Growth Strategy. We have Morning Prayer at 9am and Evening Prayer at 5.30pm every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you are not able to join us in church you may like to use the St Margaret’s Prayer guide, copies of which are available on the magazine table at the back of the church. A number of people (not just those in the congregation) are starting to ask for prayer requests and we are pleased to include them in our prayers.

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down when the hall was rebuilt. Jane Ross, the Rector there, says, “It is a wonderful picture and unfortunately I have not been able to locate it; it is such a great talking point”.

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Lent Appeal Bishop Gregor writes about the 2016 Lent Appeal.

The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation began life in 1960 in an old house in Bethlehem. It was originally a Leonard Cheshire home and provided care for a few physically disabled children. After it was handed over to the Bethlehem Arab Society in 1975, the work grew and, in 1990, the Society's dream came true when land on nearby Beit Jala hill became available and the present hospital building was constructed.

Today, BASR is a non-profit non-government organization that is nationally recognized for the comprehensive medical and rehabilitation services it gives to beneficiaries from all over Palestine. The hospital is open to all, regardless of gender, age, religion or social class and is committed to enhancing the overall quality of a patient’s life. The hospital has a holistic approach to treatment with specialist departments in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and also surgery. Integration into community life is a key objective.

Pilgrims from the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway visited the hospital in 2013 and 2015 and were highly impressed by the quality of care and the financial needs it has. Generous donations will indeed change lives.

For more information visit http://www.basr.org/en/

There will be a presentation at Diocesan Synod and I commend it warmly to the generosity of the diocese.

Yours +Gregor

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Jesus in the Snow

An explanation of the image on this month’s front cover.

This image above has circulated in Britain since the late 1950s (and the Editor remembers seeing it as a wall poster in student rooms in the ‘70s!). It contains a face of Christ, but not everyone can see it straight away. The story that goes with it says it was taken by a Chinese photographer who was riding home one day through the snow. According to the story… His soul was troubled. He had been witnessing a great movement towards Christianity among his friends since the Japanese invasion. He longed to know the truth of what he had been hearing from Christian missionaries. As he rode along he said, “Lord, if I could only see your face, I would believe.” Instantly a voice spoke to his heart, “Take a picture. Take a picture.” He looked out at the melting snow forming pools of water and revealing here and there the black earth. It was an unattractive scene. Nevertheless, being thus strangely compelled, the man descended and focused his

camera on the snowy roadway. Curious to know the outcome of the incident, he developed the film at once upon returning to his home. Out from the black and white areas of the snow scene a face looked at him, full of tenderness and love - the face of Christ. He became a Christian as a result of this experience. The Episcopal Church of St Ninian’s in Prestwick, Ayrshire, was given a copy of the image by a retired Bishop of Singapore in the 1980s, and had it displayed outside their church hall for a number of years, but it was taken

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Lent Reflections Each Tuesday evening at 7pm from 16 February to 22 March; a time to come apart, to watch and pray, and prepare for Easter.

Lent Study Group - Mission Shaped Church Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm from 17 February to 16 March, in the Upper Room (or the church if numbers are large enough). Our 2020 Vision is not just an idea dreamed up in a vacuum; it is undergirded by a theological response to topics such as finance, resources, stewardship, humanity, community and responsibility. The study groups will allow an opportunity to explore these issues. At the first meeting we were asked to think of words which we might use to describe what happens in church (such as God, service, fellowship) and also words which outsiders might use (such as irrelevant, nice building, not for the likes of me) and then think about descriptions of church drawn from the Bible, the 39 Articles and Rowan Williams’ preface to the book “Mission Shaped Church”. We then thought about the “4 dimensional church” holy, one, catholic and apostolic (upward, inward, part of, and outward) and what all that says to what we do and might do at St Margaret’s. A lively start, and a challenging one; come along to the rest of the series! Words and Music for Lent The choir led us in words and music on 21 February as we continued our journey on the road to Easter. We heard a selection of Scripture readings and sonnets by Malcolm Guite based round Jesus’ temptation, interspersed with a variety of anthems from the choir, sung from different parts of the chancel. It was a reflective and uplifting service.

Our friends in the South….. South Regional Council The Regional Council met on 9 February and heard reports from the churches in our region. The Church of the Good Shepherd is struggling but has now received permission to have the rectory repaired. The congregation consists mainly of the members of Vestry who are all working hard to maintain the church. The Diocesan Council had approved the refurbishment of the Rectory; until this had been agreed the Vestry could

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not proceed with its search for a new Rector. The Choir is going strong having recently been asked to sing at a funeral and a wedding in the community. St Oswald’s is growing in spirit and number under Lesley Ann Craddock’s leadership and is hoping to start a “Men’s Shed” project soon. They too are planning to replace their kitchen. St Aidan’s are having a slide show on Tuesday 8 March at 7.30pm, at which Nicholas Taylor will give a talk with slides about his recent sabbatical in the Holy Land. This year’s St Aidan’s lectures will take place on Saturday 23 April.; see the advert on page 22 for details. St Ninian’s continues to work with their partner charity “GoFunHill” to help children and families, especially those from Eastern Europe.

The Ascension Day service will take place on Thursday 5 May 2016 at St Margaret’s at 7.30pm. This year’s joint regional service will take place at St Ninian’s on Sunday 4 September 2016 at 10.15am.

There has been a consultation within the diocese as to the future of the regions, as the structure within our diocese is apparently the most complex within the Province! Opinions vary across the spectrum, with some thinking that the regions serve a good purpose and others that they are a waste of time, so we await the results of the consultation in due course! Chris Zochowski the Diocesan secretary is now collating the many and varied responses for presentation at Diocesan Synod on 5 March.

Prayer Table Don’t forget to look at the Prayer Table as you come in to church. Each month the display changes (thank you Eileen!) and gives us an opportunity to reflect and to make specific prayer requests. These prayers are then offered at morning and evening prayer.

The Leprosy Mission - rebuilding Nepal As mentioned in last month’s magazine this year’s Leprosy Sunday collection has been particularly targeted towards the Nepal Earthquake. Last April’s Nepal earthquake may no longer be headline news but the Leprosy Mission hospital was one to which many people flocked after the earthquake because other hospitals had been destroyed or badly damaged. Thank you to all who have already contributed; I have already sent £260, and I am still taking donations up to Easter. Thank you everyone.

Mattie Davidson

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them I’ve had no hesitation in telling family and friends that I suffer from Parkinson’s and am liable to fumble with small objects, show little facial expression, and totter backwards if I have to stand up suddenly. I always take a trekking pole when I go out but rarely need to use it. Handwriting has shrunk to the point where I can’t read it myself and even signing my name is a challenge. An afternoon nap is the norm and multi-tasking is out (was it ever in?!). I’ve been passed as fit for driving by the DVLA but only drive locally as I find it takes too much concentrated effort. Otherwise it’s “Keep active, don’t lose your physical skills!” as my physio keeps reminding me. Living with Parkinson’s has been a journey of discovery. I can’t guess how many decades it might last, but with the support I’ve received from family, friends and the NHS it is certainly going well. Arthur Sanderson

***************** Eco corner CoP 21 (ie Climate Change Conference): What next? Monday 14 March 2016 7.30pm Renfield St Stephen's Church 260 Bath Street, Glasgow.

Jan MacDonald writes: Our first Glasgow group meeting will kick off this year with a talk and discussion following up on the CoP21 Conference held in Paris last December. Many of you will have kept up as best you could as we all prepared for Christmas, and no doubt caught a bit more here and there, but not had much chance to really get a sense of what it all means, for us as congregations. Well here's a great opportunity to hear from experts on the subject, who were there and who have great commitment to environmental issues and Christian faith. Join us for a talk and discussion led by Dr Sheena Wurthmann 7.30pm at Renfield St Stephen's Church, 260 Bath Street, G2 4JP.

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Living with Parkinson’s

Arthur Sanderson recently paid a brief return visit to St Margaret’s, bringing greetings from himself and Issy in Poppleton. He has written an article for his own local church magazine about the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease, and is pleased to share it with us.

It was the knees that bothered me. I felt I was tottering. Years of jogging and hill-walking to blame? Visits to my GP to plead for an arthroscopy would meet with the response “they’re not swollen or painful so surgery isn’t possible”. Then I began to complain of tiredness behind the eyes “flowing up from the knees” I said. And I was beginning to stoop as family and friends kept, annoyingly, pointing out! Eventually I was referred to a neurologist and diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition which in simple terms means that lack of dopamine in the nerve cells of the brain interferes with the brain’s capacity to control movement. It’s not infectious. Although there’s no known cure, medication can help to slow its advance. “We’re talking decades”, said the consultant. Since diagnosis, NHS treatment has been fantastic. Every 6 months I see either the consultant or a dedicated Parkinson’s nurse. I’ve had numerous sessions of physiotherapy to maintain muscular tone. Problems with speech brought a referral to a therapist who recommended inhaling steam and reading aloud – declaiming, if you like. This has been great fun as I practise my rusty French, rudimentary German, Portuguese, Latin and Greek as well as reading chunks of “War and Peace” – the battle scenes certainly waken up the vocal chords! I’ve even had home visits from an occupational therapist who advised on trip hazards and arranged for an extra step to be built at our front door. Parkinson’s takes many forms and is said to affect 1 in 500 of the population. I can’t praise the charity Parkinson’s UK too highly. They publish advice leaflets on how to cope with different aspects of the disease, organise support networks and provide a free confidential helpline. “Change attitudes, find a cure, join us” is their motto. Thanks to

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Annual Lunch at Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club This is now fixed for Thursday, 17th March, and I am now taking names of those who wish to join us. Prue Clark.

Early in the morning…our song shall rise to thee Scott has been involved in recording 4 services for BBC Scotland. These are being transmitted at 6.30am on Sundays 13, 20, 27 March and Sunday 3 April.

News from the Diocese We are sad to report that Jean Graham, who worked as the Diocesan office administrator for many years, died on 12 February. She will be sorely missed. A memorial service is to be held at Eastertide.

The appointment has been announced of the Revd Audrey O'Brien Stewart as Canon Missioner for the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway.

Audrey comes from the Episcopal Church in the United States and is currently the Interim Priest for St Dunstan's Church in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Bishop Gregor is looking forward to Audrey's ministry amongst us. She brings new skills and new experiences into the diocese and we are delighted that she has accepted this role. As Canon Missioner, Audrey will also have a role at St Mary's Cathedral. The Provost is delighted that this appointment has been made and hopes that it will lead to increasingly rich connections between the cathedral and the churches of the diocese.

Audrey will be moving to Glasgow in the early summer and is expected to be taking up her post in August. She will be coming to the Diocesan Synod in March.

Alas poor tree One of the lime trees on Kilmarnock Road has had to be felled because it was diseased. It will be replaced in due course.

Mrs Barbara Mortimer Margaret Macnae has been contacted by Barbara Mortimer’s niece to ask that we let people at St Margaret’s know that Mrs Mortimer died in January in a nursing home in Helensburgh at the age of 93. Barbara was a member of St Margaret’s for many years and took part in many activities including singing in the choir, where she met her husband Tom. When the church silver cross and candlesticks were stolen some

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years ago, Mrs Mortimer was instrumental in having them replaced with our present ones.

Kirsty heading for Thailand Kirsty Fraser writes: I thought I'd give you all a quick update including all the information about my next fundraising event which will be an open mic night. I now only have roughly £400 to raise, so this will be the final push!

The event will take place on Saturday 19 March in the church hall, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm. Tickets will be available to buy beforehand at the price of £7 each and will also be available to purchase at the door. However, if you plan on purchasing at the door please let either myself or one of my parents know, as we have limited space and will need to know how many to reserve. There will be a hot meal provided at the event and please feel free to bring your own bottle of alcohol. There will also be a raffle and the tickets will be available to buy on the night. If anyone has any raffle prizes (no matter how small) they could donate towards this, I would greatly appreciate your help.

In order for this event to run successfully I'll need people who are willing to get up and perform a song or two! This does not have to be singing. If anyone plays an instrument of any kind I would love it if you could participate and play a piece. However, I don't want anyone to feel as though they have to perform - performing is optional! I'd love it if you could come even if you would rather remain a part of the audience.

All in all I'm hoping the event will be an opportunity to enjoy a fun evening of music, chatting and relaxing. I'll also be able to provide more information about my trip overseas. As always, if anyone has any questions then please let me know! Thanks for all your continuous support.

If you wish to make an online donation, this is the link to my virgin money

giving page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KirstyFraser98

Fairtrade Fortnight - The “Big Brew” Fairtrade fortnight is now upon us (29 February to 13 March) and I will be holding my usual Big Brew at my house (267 Nithsdale Road) on Saturday 12 March from 10am to 12 noon. This is when we try to bring friends and family and introduce them to the Fairtrade way of buying. We also have a very enjoyable and sociable couple of hours as well as raising money for a

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It opened up my heart to the love and kindness of the Lord Almighty, for I saw the Gospel in action. We had a number of people of different faiths, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. In the Focolare Movement Acceptance and not merely Tolerance of other religions is very important, for God is one and loves everybody and is in everybody. I remember when we had gathered in the Chapel for our first meeting; only one thing was asked of us, and that was to put aside all our troubles and worries and live in mutual love. From that moment I felt different. I asked myself, “Am I able to do this?”. This was a challenge.

One of the guest speakers gave a very inspiring talk about Religion, Love and Unity. He said, “We are like a drop of water. One drop has very little impact, however when many drops are put together they can form an ocean”. In other words, let us work together in unity and love and we shall bring about a change in the world we live in.

To sum it up, through hope and dialogue we can achieve unity where there is disunity, we can bring hope where there is no hope. I would like to add that I got to learn more Kiely dance moves. I am still rusty but there you go; I gave it a shot. I arrived at the Mariapolis like a house in need of renovation and I left the Mariapolis renovated with a renewed energy, but most of all with a challenge to listen to what the Lord wants me to do. The next Mariapolis will be held sometime this year during the summer. If you need more information about it, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you for giving me this opportunity of sharing with you. David Kamugasa

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Mariapolis - strengthening faith

A summer holiday with a difference

Towards the end of last year, I was talking to Jim about my summer holiday experience at Liverpool Hope University, and he asked me if I could write something about it. Well, here are a few highlights. I had the opportunity to attend a fantastic retreat (referred to as a Mariapolis) at Liverpool Hope University which was organised by the Focolare Movement in the United Kingdom. It is one of the newer spiritualties in the church today that strengthen spiritual life and help people to translate faith into action in the family, workplace, parish or sphere of interest. There is a Mariapolis every year and this was the first one my family and I attended. Mariapolis means “City of Mary” and happens every year. It tries to create a temporary town where the message of love contained in the Gospel is put into practice in the great and small things happening throughout the day. It is a holiday with a difference, open to everyone, with talks, moments of reflection, outings, workshops and programmes for children of all ages. Last year’s Summer Mariapolis was under the theme of Hope and Dialogue and how we can use this to make a difference. I am not sure if many of you are familiar with the Focolare Movement. I will give you a brief history. The movement was founded by Chiara Lubich in 1943 during the second world war. She and many young women joined hands and prayed for unity and supported one another during that very difficult time. The

Movement's name comes from the Italian word for "hearth" or "family fireside". The first Mariapolis was born in 1949 when Chiara and her companions went together on holiday in the summer of 1949. Little by little many other people started to join in and over the past decades the number of people who attend the Mariapolis world over has increased. Last summer I got the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful experience.

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very good cause.

The tagline for Fairtrade Fortnight this year is “Sit down for breakfast, stand up for farmers!” and this year’s special campaign is entitled “Let it Grow” aiming to provide farmers and artisans with everything they need to escape from poverty and cultivate a better future. The target is to raise £500,000.

Liz Bryce

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Grasping the Nettle Transforming the public understanding of science and faith.

Grasping the Nettle is a movement formed by church leaders in Scotland to promote dialogue within the church and society at large about belief in God, especially in relation to science. The question of God's existence is a matter of absolute truth: either he exists or he does not. Yet neither is it a matter of absolute proof; we must put our faith in where the balance of evidence points.

If there is no substantial evidence for God's existence, it is the Church that has most reason to panic. But with growing conviction that science provides strong evidence for a creator, church leaders in Scotland are joining together in an unprecedented way to invite the whole nation to take an objective look at the evidence. Increasingly there is a tendency to assume that God and science are in conflict. Aptly described as 'Grasping the Nettle' this movement aims to transform the public understanding of the issues at the heart of the Science/God debate.

To explore these themes there will be a weekend conference event on 18/19 March (Friday 7pm to 9.30pm; Saturday 9.30am to 4.30pm) at Woodhill Evangelical Church, Bishopbriggs, under the title of Challenging Atheism… Defending and Declaring Faith, with:

Professor John Lennox (University of Oxford), Professor David Fergusson, (University of Edinburgh), Bishop John Keenan (Diocese of Paisley), Professor Eric Priest (University of St Andrews).

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March Diary of events

Tues 1st Holy Communion 10am

Lent Reflection 7pm in the church

Wed 2nd Lent Study Group - Mission Shaped Church 7.30pm

Sun 6th Lent 4

Tues 8th Holy Communion 10am

Lent Reflection 7pm in the church

Wed 9th Lent Study Group - Mission Shaped Church 7.30pm

Sun 13th Lent 5

Second Sunday concert in the church 3.30pm

Glasgow Chamber Choir

Tues 15th Holy Communion 10am

Lent Reflection in the church 7pm

Wed 16th Rector’s Hour at the church 6pm

Lent Study Group - Mission Shaped Church 7.30pm

Sun 20th Palm Sunday

Tues 22nd Holy Communion 10am

Lent Reflection in the church 7pm Wed 23rd Rector’s Hour at the church 6pm Thu 24th Maundy Thursday service 7.30pm Fri 25th Good Friday Service 2pm Ecumenical Service at Newlands South Church 7.30pm Sat 26th Easter Vigil 8pm

Tue 29th Holy Communion 10am

Sun 27th Easter Day Dawn Service Newlands Park 7am (followed by breakfast at St Margaret’s) Easter Day Services at 9am and 10.30am

Easter Day Organ Concert 3.30pm

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Readings for March

6 March Joshua 5: 9-12 Lent 4 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21

Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 13 March Isaiah 43: 16-21 Lent 5 Philippians 3: 4b-14

John 12: 1-8

20 March Isaiah 50: 4-9a Palm Sunday Philippians 2: 5-11

Reading of The Passion 27 March Isaiah 65: 17-25 Easter Sunday Acts 10: 34-43

Luke 24: 1-12