Annual Gift Service

Cumbernauld Old Parish Church will be holding our annual Gift Service on Sunday 13th December. In recent years we have asked for donations of toys, etc. which have been distributed through our local food bank, but this year – not surprisingly – will be different.

Firstly, the worship service itself will be pre-recorded and available to view online. We’ll post the link later in the week. Donations of Christmas gifts can be left at the Manse front door up to and including the 13th December. They will be then taken up to Cornerstone for distribution.

However, the organisers, Bethlehem House of Bread, have said that whilst they are happy to receive gifts, they have requested monetary donations this year where possible to limit the handling of items. You can either donate directly by on-line banking (details can be obtained from Elspeth) or if you bring it to the Manse in a sealed envelope we will ensure your donation gets passed on.

Thank you.

Praying Together

Around 11.45am on most Sunday mornings we’d be saying the Lord’s Prayer together in church, at the end of our Prayer of Thanks and our Prayers for Others. While it may not now be possible to be together in church for a while, we can still be church together. In fact, we still are church together, wherever we are.

So here’s a wee suggestion. Let’s come together, wherever we are, at 11.45 this and every Sunday morning (or even any other morning if you wish) to say, as one, the prayer that Jesus taught his followers to pray. A communal act of worship in which we can all share. Together.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever.
Amen

Harvest Thanksgiving

Next Sunday, 6th October, marks the annual Harvest Thanksgiving service at Cumbernauld Old Parish Church.

We are inviting those attending the service to bring a gift of some tinned food or dried foodstuffs, such as rice or pasta, which will be passed on to the local foodbank co-ordinated by our friends and partners at Cornerstone House. Thank-you!

Sunday’s worship will also incorporate the annual Dedication Service for the 1st Cumbernauld Boys’ Brigade Company, and we look forward to welcoming the Boys, officers and helpers, as well as parents, friends and supporters of the Company to our service.

Our morning worship service starts at 11.00am and everyone is very welcome.

Cornerstone Food Bank update

Cumbernauld Old Parish Church were delighted to receive the following letter from the Food Bank team at Cornerstone House recently:

Thank you all once again for your partnership and fantastic Christmas donations of food, gifts and money in December and throughout 2017.

We received over 1700 referrals between our two Food Banks in 2017, and put out over 130 extraordinary food hampers, gifts and toys in the Christmas week alone.

It is a blessing to us all in seeing what can be achieved in our own communities when the people of God work together.

Thank you for all the effort everyone puts in to make this ministry work. We look forward to what the Lord is going to do in 2018.

God bless, Norma Cowan

April 2018 will mark the third anniversary of the opening of the Village Food Bank at the Parish Church and we are delighted have forged such close links with the Bethlehem House of Bread, which operates out of Cornerstone House. The Food Bank in the Village is open each Friday from 11am – 12.30pm.

Easter at Cumbernauld Old

Thanks to everyone who brought along chocolate Easter Eggs to our services over the weekend of Palm Sunday. These will be distributed by the Social Work Department based in Glasgow to children and families who otherwise wouldn’t have one.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated on Thursday 2nd April (Maundy Thursday) at 7.30pm in the Parish Church.

The Good Friday Walk of Witness, arranged by Cumbernauld Churches Together, will be on Friday 3rd April, starting at 11am from Sacred Heart Church (please be there at 10.45am). We plan to take our usual route through the Town Centre via Kildrum Parish Church, Church of the Holy Name, Cornerstone Church and finishing at Cumbernauld United Reformed Church, where there will be a cup of tea or coffee around 1.00pm.

The Parish Church will also be open for our Good Friday Vigil between 12 noon and 3.00pm. This a time for quiet prayer and reflection in the Church, with a reading, meditation and prayer given on the hour and half-hour. You are welcome to come and stay as long as you wish during the above times.

On Sunday 5th April we celebrate Easter Day at morning worship in the Parish Church at 10.15am and in the Forge Community Centre, Balloch at 11.45am. Note that the J Team are now on holiday until 26th April, although the Sunday School at Balloch are still meeting as usual.

The Hamilton Window

In August this year, a new stained glass window was installed in the gallery above the east aisle of the Parish Church.

Designed by the artist Colin Stevenson and donated by Mr & Mrs Hamilton of Dullatur in celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, the window takes its inspiration from the ‘Rainbow Window’ in the church vestibule and represents the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. A colourful, powerful and welcome addition to our church, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Watch the birdie!

Our services on Sunday 23 November were led by Rev Alan Gibson, Head of Stewardship for the Church of Scotland. After the services he asked if he could take a photo of the congregation to post on his Facebook page. Here he is, then, taking a photo of us after worship at the Parish Church in the Village.

Messy Church returns!

Next Sunday afternoon (14th September) sees the return of Messy Church at the Forge Centre, Balloch after our summer break. The fun starts at 3pm and this month we’ll be looking at part of the story of Moses – the baby in the bullrushes – and there will be songs, stories, crafts, activities and finishing with a meal together. Messy Church is for everyone and we look forward to seeing you there.