Easter 2013
The Power of the Cross
An Invitation
orrance Church
To the Easter Services in T m Sunday 24 March 10:15a 0pm 6:3 Friday 29 March
7:30pm
Palm Sunday Service Palm Sunday Evening Service Good Friday Communion
n Sunrise Service – Sunday 31 March Daw Meet at Schoenstatt Centre, k bac Milton of Campsie (at the of the chapel) for the service m Easter Family Service Sunday 31 March 10:15a
Oh, to see the dawn Of the darkest day: Christ on the road to Calvary. Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then nailed to a cross of wood. This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us; Took the blame, bore the wrath— we stand forgiven at the cross. Oh, to see the pain written on Your face, bearing the awesome weight of sin. Every bitter thought, every evil deed crowning Your bloodstained brow. This, the power of the cross: Son of God—slain for us. What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.
Torrance Parish Church Services unless otherwise advertised are at 10:15am and 6:30pm every Sunday A crèche is available for under 3’s and JUNIOR CHURCH for 3 years to S2.
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Torrance Church | 01360 620 970 | office@tpc.org.uk Torrance Parish Church of Scotland is a Scottish Charity No. SC016058
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VILLAGER
Easter 2013
Church News for the Village Issue 24 . Easter 2013
The Journey One Monday night I heard that a friend in USA was running a course called ‘Hearing the Word’, which was devised by our Minister, Nigel. We recently had the workbooks professionally printed, and they were sitting in my house. Only problem: the course began that Friday, and I had no idea how to send them in time. After a steep learning curve, we found a courier, and a container for 75 copies. The van driver checked the open box held nothing dangerous, gave it a barcode and took it away at 11.24am on Tuesday. The journey had begun. To my amazement, I could follow all 22 steps of that journey on-line, minutes after they happened: Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Heathrow, New York, Cincinnati, Seattle, Portland. I saw the box was delivered at 12.14 local time on Thursday, signed for by someone called R Anderson. Over 4,600 miles in under 49 hours! My friend emailed to say the books had arrived safely, and looked ‘stunning. I am amazed at the graphics, layout … Just really, really pleased.’ Isn’t technology amazing?! But not half as amazing as God. 3,000 years ago someone wrote:
inside this issue:
‘ O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord’ (Psalm 139:1-4) God knows our thoughts and movements! Isn’t that amazing? The trouble is, when he looks in the ‘box’ of our minds, he sees all sorts of hazardous things, like greed, selfishness, impatience, bad language. Since he loves us, he wants to remove the sin, guilt and habits that make us a danger to ourselves or others. He’d rather replace them with goodness and love, which benefit everyone. In Holy Week this year, 24-31 March 2013, ask God to show you the lengths he went to, so that people like you and me could start and then progress on their vital journey. Check with him about your destination, and the steps he has taken to get you there. You may find it a steep learning curve to visit your local church (details on back page) but we’d love to help you on your journey. We’ve discovered God is with us all the way. His love is amazing. It’s been signed for by someone called Jesus.
Phil Malloch (Interim Moderator)
God can use a twit like me • Leaving a Legacy • Easter Events
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Easter 2013 closest to me who have been caught in the whirlwind, with all the pain and anxiety that brings.
A frozen loch
People ask how I’m doing in recovery from the stroke and I struggle to give a response. There are three pictures, which have been impressed on my mind:
A whirlwind
At the centre it is quite quiet. However the wind travels fastest close to the centre. In the midst of this episode, being at the centre I have felt quiet and at peace. At a time when I have been unable to pray, I have felt the nearness of God. However, it is those
Previously I have been skating across the loch. However due to a sudden and unexpected thaw I have fallen through the ice and amazingly have been pulled out alive. Following this, as I have dried out, the loch has been freezing again. The question is ‘Is the centre of the ice weight-bearing again?’ Courage and wisdom is needed in equal measure as I approach the crossing of it again.
A grindstone
In the past my nose has been close to it (a good thing you might say in my case!!) Previously I have been thinking of the next few weeks or at the most the next few years. Everything has
seemed so important. The forced layoff has allowed me to step back and see things through a perspective of 20, 40 or even 100 years. It is said that ‘with the Lord a thousand years is as a day’ (2 Peter 3:8). He will accomplish His Will in history and nothing or no one will thwart Him. In the midst of this, I have been humbled before God. How insignificant I am outwith His purpose, and yet how amazingly significant each life is within the will of God. With this in mind I do not believe the Lord has forgotten you or me and the small church in Torrance. He is willing to achieve much more for the Glory of His name’s sake through us if we let Him! Your friend
Nigel
Glasgow’s first fair-trade deli? They now support East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid, Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse (FARE) and other youth projects in Scotland, plus hospitals, schools and water aid in Africa and Asia.
Just along the road from Torrance sits the Balmore Coach House, the visible face of Balmore Trust. Volunteers (some from Torrance) staff the shop and café, selling fairly traded goods. That way, smallholder farmers and producers in developing countries get a fair price for their work. Even better, the profits then go to Balmore Trust, which supports projects here and in the developing world. It all began in the winter of 1979/80. Fifteen friends from a Bible Study in Baldernock Parish met to plan the shop and the Trust. They never dreamt that 33 years later they’d be celebrating £1 million of grants! The first donations were for a Glasgow holiday scheme and some ponies for doctors in Lesotho.
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Projects supported always start with a local link. NW Burma is very poor and remote. A Burmese student at Glasgow University wanted to set up a school there. The Trust funded the start of the school in 1985 and still helps. Since 2008 it has a brand new building and an exciting new farm, working to restore the depleted local ecology. Not bad under a military dictatorship! The Coach House started a sister company, Just Trading Scotland. Their warehouse is in Paisley. They import jams and sauces from Swaziland and wonderful Kilombero rice and lentils from Malawi. They have now sold their first 100 tonnes of rice.
(See http://www. justtradingscotland.co.uk/)
(Top left) Balmore Coach House shop and (left) Chin Hills School in Burma, built with money from the Balmore Trust
For 2013, the refurbished shop has a muchenlarged range of fair-trade and speciality foods, plus kitchen and tableware. The café offers homemade soups, baking, and a chance to try out some of the exciting new products in the shop downstairs. Please go along to The Coach House, Balmore Road (the crescent opposite Baldernock Church Hall) to see the new layout and produce. Why not shop there regularly for your food needs? This is a tangible way to say ‘No’ to poverty, to give the maximum amount back to deprived farmers and communities and to cut out the unfair world trade structure. PS The Coach House also stock the Real Easter Eggs (each egg has a free activity pack in the box which includes the Easter story, activity poster, free itune download and a sticker set!
Easter 2013
“God can use a twit like me” In autumn 2011, God challenged me to go to India to help the poor particularly the Dalits who are regarded as untouchable in their society. “Go tell the Dalits that I love them and they’re not garbage.” I said “no way, I’m no going to India, Lord you can forget it…” God would not leave it there and every time I read his word it challenged me to take a risk and go proclaim his love for the Dalits no matter how inadequate I felt for the task. 2 Timothy 3 v 17 says.. ‘a person dedicated to God’s work is prepared and equipped for the task…’ How could I argue against that, I had been feeling my asthma and my being too fat would keep me from serving God in a way like this but Jesus was having none of ma excuses!
beads with slum women
So I booked a two week mission trip to India for November 2012, and prayed to God that I hadeny made a huge mistake, after all I’m no one special, how can he use me? I used to hang about Torrance as a teenager getting into all sorts of sin, I had a misspent youth. OK, now I’m a believer, but had he chosen the village Ned to take the gospel into India to a people who were unloved and forgotten? You bet he had! He uses all sorts, and in his grace decided to call me for this task that I never would have thought I could do in a million years. So the trip is planned and now I’m panicking... “em Jesus what have I to do in India? I’m no a nurse or teacher so how can I help...?” God reveals that through my art work and my jewelry making skills I have to go into slums and befriend the Dalits by doing beadwork with them, and then do craftwork with the kids in school. When I was there somehow Jesus took all my fears away and gave me his peace about being in India…even though
kids in school
they drive like mad men and the seat belts don’t work….and they don’t bother about food hygiene when cooking your dinner… and my room was like a prison cell…and there was rubbish left all over the streets…and the plug sockets sparked every time I plugged my appliances in them…God helped me to see past all the hazards and really love the people. I had times of tears when I saw the living conditions of the poor in the slums (pictured below), and I experienced great joy as I saw God’s people responding to their needs...they had built a clinic for them and a school to educate their children as they try to lift the next generation out of poverty. There were centres in the slums where they were trying to teach the women how to make and mend their own clothes.
make and mend their own clothes
What’s on?
Torrance Church Coffee Shop
Why not pop in on a wednesday? RELAX AND CHAT!
Enjoy Tea, Coffee and Scones from 9 – 12pm (during school term)
DO YOU LIKE TO READ?
You can browse through books/digital audio books, which are all on free loan, courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Leisure + Culture Trust Available from 10 – 12pm.
NEED ADVICE? I had the experience of a lifetime when I let God show me how he can use a big lassie from a wee village in Scotland to show folks in India how much he loves them. I pray that if you do not know this Jesus you will ask him to reveal himself to you as he cares so much for you and wants to be included in your life. Look at what joy, courage, peace and meaning Jesus has brought in my life. Being a Christian is so much better than getting drunk every Saturday night. Jesus has taught me living for yourself and doing only what pleases you never really fulfills you... only living for him, King Jesus, completes you and fills that hole in the soul.
The Community Police, who cover the local area, are available on the 2nd Wed. of each month 10:15 – 11:15am approx. to offer general advice or you can speak personally, if you have a particular concern.
TIME FOR PRAYER?
The Prayer Clinic is available in the Vestry from 10:30 – 12pm on Wednesday and Friday for anyone seeking prayer for themselves or others. Discreet and Confidential
Lunch out on a Friday! Serving soup, sandwiches, toasties Teas, Coffee and Cake 9 – 2pm (during school term) A warm welcome awaits you!
PLEASE NOTE: The Monday Coffee Shop is closed until further notice.
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Easter 2013
Leaving a Legacy David Livingstone was born 200 years ago. The name is familiar, but how much do we know about the man? Every Zambian schoolchild is taught about him. They say he was a man of God and their country is a Christian country because of him. They know he was born in Blantyre, Scotland in 1813, went to Africa in 1841, married Mary Moffat in 1845, was the first European to see the Victoria Falls, and he campaigned against slavery. If you visit the David Livingstone Memorial Centre in Blantyre, Lanarkshire today you will see the tenement shared by 23 families. Here his parents raised five children in a single room with its two box beds. He began working in the local cotton mill when he was just 10 years old, with school lessons in the evenings. In 1836, he began studying medicine and theology in Glasgow and decided to become a missionary doctor.
Robert Moffat
His wife was a remarkable woman. Mary was the first white woman to cross the Kalahari Desert – twice and pregnant each time! She was the eldest
“What struck me first on the long hot journey from Lusaka to the farm was how lush and green everything was! My very vague memories from 35 years ago were of dust, dust and more dust! The rains however had arrived, and what had been dry and arid had become green and fertile. As we headed further away from the big city, the country became “bush” - trees, bushes and scrub, with small settlements dotted around - thatched houses grouped together, with smoke from charcoal fires drifting upwards. Electricity was not in evidence here. Children stood by the side of the tar road, holding out their produce - tomatoes, mangoes, potatoes and maize - hoping car or lorry drivers would stop to buy from them. The farm where my uncle lives (and where Chengelo School is situated) is an oasis in the middle of the bush. This view from the top of Chimia Hill shows how remote the area is, and how the farms in the
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daughter of Robert and Mary Moffat who had gone to Africa in 1816. In 1840, he met David Livingstone and asked him to consider going to Africa. Robert Moffat, a Scotsman, was the most famous missionary of his era. He was based in Kuruman, south east of the Kalahari Desert for 43 years. He translated the whole Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress into the Tswana language. His original training as a gardener came in useful. He introduced better methods of agriculture and irrigation and so improved standards of living. The Moffat legacy is still evident in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia today. Moffats are active and influential in public service, philanthropy, medicine, agriculture and politics. Their great-great-great- great nieces and nephews live in Torrance today! Jen Barge’s mother is another Mary Moffat. The family were all in Zambia in January to visit daughter Ruth at Chengelo School. They gave us some impressions of the place and the legacy:
district have been carved out of thick bush. Often as we travelled around, and particularly when we stayed in a very remote place, with no electricity, and no other human habitation for miles around, I reflected on what Mary Moffat Livingstone had to endure in the second half of the 19th century, as she followed her husband David into deepest, remotest Africa. I was scared of snakes and spiders, not even letting myself think about lions and leopards, and we had guards and jeeps at the ready! Mary constantly travelled through hostile territory, set up home in the most inhospitable places, gave birth in the Kalahari Desert, was left on her own with small children while her husband pushed further into the interior of uncharted Africa. She must have been an amazing lady, with a pioneering spirit of her own, and a deep, personal faith in the Lord Jesus” Jen
Easter 2013
urs! It was ini bus for 5 ho m a in as w a bi ur down! sion of Zam in started to po ra e th “My first impres en th d Within half an t of the way an n to get better. hot and dry mos ga be y dl pi ra gs ol, and was y thin mped into the po ju After the journe d ha I s, bu e out of th hour of getting Ruth! ce” 3 hours swimming with ildness experien “w a to en iv dr e ly the best we wer This was probab y. it ic The next morning tr ec el no im, e spot with y agenda was sw m e, er th away in a remot ys da ! For the few bit of the holiday n filled swim, swim! e farm, then a fu th at ys da ng xi d some rela range After that, we ha e, driving quads, cl un t ea gr y m one with ting! rovers, and shoo . It was t our Family Tree ou ab l al d ar he ily in We also t my gran’s fam ou ab ar he to g interestin Zambia. ly the mbia was probab Za in e m ti y m Overall, p of my life!” Phili best two weeks
“I think the best part of Zambia was find ing out about my family history. It was interesting to be known as a Moffat instead of a Barge! It was great to learn the imp act my family had had in Zambia, and to see the farm where my granny grew up, and my great uncle still lives. We visited the family graveyard at Kalw a Farm, where my greatgrandparents and their parents are buri ed, and it made me realise just how many of my roots are planted in Zambian soil!” Sam for a slightly fore Zambia was be t en m te ci ex y a tan! “M y family. I wanted m om fr on as re t differen sforming the sun and it tran I imagined lying in ul deep sultry skin into a beautif te hi w ky al ch y m hen the sun disappointment w y m e in ag Im n. brow at it does elf out in Africa th revealed less of its here in Scotland! d elf was amazing an its e nc rie pe ex e th Anyway, great to learn helped this. It was s ap rh pe at he e th arket place d see Ruth. The m an y or st hi ily m fa fiancé, our myself an African d un fo I – g in ify was terr at both people t sure he knew th although I am no ke place! I the marriage to ta r fo e re ag to ve impress ha ans were keen to ric Af w ho ed ris rp was su oval. us or win our appr go ld definitely like to ou w d an a bi m Za I loved back.” Rachel
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Easter 2013
Youth of Today One way we show young people are a key part of our church is through putting on a regular event entitled First Sunday which has a very different feel to our other services. For a start, the music is way louder! The Band is made up of our own young people, all in their teens. (Even the sound guy is in his teens – maybe that explains why the volume is at a higher level!) Each month, we look at what the Bible has to say on a burning issue and there’s often a chance to grill guest speakers anonymously by text message. YouTube clips, interviews and lively discussion make for an interactive, engaging event. And then it’s out to the café area for pizza or muffins before the older young people head up the road to the Carrot Cake Club to continue the socialising and chat in a more relaxed setting. Everyone is totally welcome at these First Sunday events*, whatever your age! *6.30pm in church n first Sunday of the month in term time.
The first recorded Burns’ Supper was held in Alloway, Ayrshire in 1801. Crossover continued this tradition last month.
Gemma and friend with young boys Gemma who sings with the Band returned to Torrance last summer after a seven years’ spell with her family in USA. She was in Nicaragua for a week recently with a Christian group from South Carolina. They held free medical clinics for desperately poor people, providing medical and dental attention, giving free medicines and hundreds of pairs of reading glasses. They visited homes of widows and orphans with some food and a Bible, a hug and a prayer and the message that Jesus loves them. Hundreds of children came to special activities organised for them. They also got a hot meal before they went home.
First Sunday – The Youth Band
FROGS in Torrance? No, not the green, hopping kind! These ones are lively youngsters discovering how to be Fully Reliant On God.
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Crossover Burns’ Supper
Gemma said, “I absolutely loved going on a trip to serve. It gives you opportunities to learn, without the ‘noise’ of a normal day. It feels God meets you and he always teaches you something. I hope if you feel a nudge for a trip you will knock on the door to see if it opens. There’s something for everyone, young and not so young.”
“Games, food, drink and learning about God is all included in Frog, it’s great fun, you get to learn and enjoy it.” “Frog is great because you get to meet with God and your friends – and have nice treats” “I like FROG because all the people are super nice which makes it super fun. Every day we meet we get to play a game and get food and drink! The leaders are super duper nice and you can ask them anything.” “Lots of friendly faces, lots of activities, tons of people, awesome leaders.”
The haggis was piped in by Lewis Kerr (Above) and addressed by David Stewart in the time-honoured way:
“Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin’-race! …” Around 20 youngsters from P7 through to S3 then enjoyed a wonderful meal of haggis, turnip and mash superbly cooked by Sarah Murray and Allison Lunan (Below). Crossover will meet again on first Saturdays of April, May and June. Come and join them! They meet every Sunday at 10.15, starting with the church family and then moving to their own groups. Come and join them; they would love to see you! Many of those in S1 upwards also meet during the week in small groups – some at 7.30 in the morning! “It’s a good way to get together and learn about God. It’s also really good as there’s only a few of us so we can ask questions without feeling pressurised and our friendships with each other and God grow stronger each week. The food is also amazing!” “Ally who leads my group is amazing and really makes you be able to say and ask whatever you want.” “Bacon, blether and the Bible – great!”
Easter 2013
Poetry and friendship Torrance Primary School brought the Scottish Poetry prizewinners to the February Friendship Lunch. The talented youngsters amused guests with their expressive gestures and facial expressions as well as the funny words! There was special applause for Robyn Taylor. Robyn has won the competition at every stage in her school career, so this year she was presented with a special award - the Margaret Neill Shield for excellence.
THE REAL EASTER EGG Did you know that over 80 million chocolate Easter Eggs will be sold this year and not one of them mentions Jesus on the box? Until now that is!
PS If you are retired you are most welcome at the Friendship Lunch at 1pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Come and enjoy delicious food, chat and something of interest.
Read any good books recently?
The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fair-Trade chocolate Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the box and now in its third year of production there have been more than 200,000 Real Easter Eggs sold! You can find The Real Easter Egg at the Balmore Coach House, Morrison’s and the Co-op, so why not give it a try and buy one….. or two! Not only does it tell the story of Jesus and the reason for Easter but it also has a FREE activity pack which includes the Easter Story, activity poster, free itune download and a sticker set!
Win a Real Easter Egg! If you are in Primary School, answer the questions below – all of the answers can be found in this issue of The Villager – Send them to Torrance Parish Church Office, School Road, Torrance or pop the envelope in the letterbox at the white door of the Church Hall by 29 March. The first correct entry opened on that date will receive the prize. 1 Who visited the Dalits last November? _______________________________________ 2 How many books went to Portland, Oregon?
_______________________________________
3 Who wrote “Waiting for Anya”?
_______________________________________
4 Where did Gemma go?
_______________________________________
6 What days are Coffee Shop open”
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7 Who was the first white woman to cross the Kalahari Desert? _________________________ 8 Who played the bagpipes at the Crossover Burns Supper? ____________________________ 9 Who wrote “The Power of the Cross”?
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10 How much rice has been sold by Balmore Coach House? ____________________________ Name ___________________________________________________ Tel.No._______________________ Address ___________________________________________________ Class ________________
Serenna (aged 10) recommends “Waiting for Anya” by one of her favourite authors, Michael Morpurgo: “It is an exciting yet very sad story set in France during the Second World War. It is about a Jewish man called Benjamin who smuggles Jewish children to safety over the French border into Spain. His mission is made much more difficult when German soldiers come to patrol the border. Through the book Murpurgo explores the themes of war, friendship and the risks people are willing to take.”
SUMMER PICNIC Please come and join us on Sunday 9 June at Mugdock Country Park in Milngavie from 1pm. All you have to do is bring your own lunch and be ready to join in the fun! See church website for more details nearer the time.
Help choose a film to show at Torrance Cinema Club. e-mail cinema@torrance.org.uk with any ideas and we will see what we can do.
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