Nan Tannahill, a long-time resident at Eastwoodhill Care Home, celebrated her 100th Birthday in style on Saturday 7th January. Though not a member of Giffnock South, Nan attended regularly until fairly recently and Catherine Beattie joined the well-wishers. She is a feisty old lady and thoroughly enjoyed the party held in her honour surrounded by her family, friends and staff at Eastwoodhill.

Magazine of Giffnock South Parish Church

FEBRUARY

2012

Volume 50 No 2

BORN BEFORE THE CHURCH IN GIFFNOCK WAS FOUNDED

Oh! It’s from The Queen!

Just watch me cut this cake!

NEW THIS

MONTH

VIEW FROM THE PEW SEE PAGE 3

PLUS LOTS MORE

PHOTOS FROM THE

NATIVITY PLAY

See pages 7

and egap

Innkeeper! Service! A room required at once!

What I’m hearing doesn’t appear on this script.

See the Rainbows in

all their red finery

on page 7

If you've heard a squeal, a giggle or even, once, a belch coming from the transept - it wasn't me. It was my nine-month old son, Finlay, I promise! We've been coming with my husband Rod regularly since August, although he and I were infrequent visitors before then. We wanted Finlay to be christened and I guess we could have gate-crashed the party and asked his nana to present him as she was already a member... But I'm glad we didn't. Catherine was a big part of our decision. From the moment she pulled out her iPhone 4 I knew we were going to get on. To me, the church should be about support, understanding and, in the 21st century, flexibility. At Giffnock South it is. I don't know if many ministers will baptise people away from the font, I don't know if many ministers will come to your house to personally explain to you what it means to become a member, but Catherine did and we feel very welcome. We come as often as we can, Finlay-permitting, and it's the one hour in my crazy working week when I can just relax and remember someone else is taking care of things. And no, I don't mean Catherine! I also really love sharing Finlay. His big smile and cute wee giggle make people happy and everyone is always so pleased to see him. He's a great ice-breaker; I've spoken to lots of members thanks to him, and I always leave with a smile on my face. K M

Page 2

Contributions for the MARCH edition of the Sentinel should be sent to the

office or emailed to alpark@talktalk.net by 12th February please.

It’s amazing to think that Nan Tannahill, whose 100th Birthday was

celebrated on Saturday 7th January, (see front page) was born before

a church even existed in Giffnock since it was on 28th October 1912

that a public meeting was held in the Maverton Hall to propose the formation of a Church of Scotland in the area. A petition was then presented to Eastwood Kirk Session whose approval was granted on 19

th November of that year and Giffnock became a mission under

their patronage.

The first services were held in the Maverton Hall with 170 adults and 70 children in the Sunday School. The forerunner of the Guild, called ‘The Ladies’ Work Party’, was formed with the object of raising money for a building fund. Thus Giffnock South’s Guild celebrates its centenary this year as well.

One object of the nascent congregation was to construct a place of worship and the commanding site at Eastwood Toll was considered suitable. On 1

st April 1913 a Building Committee was formed to oversee the

erection of a Hall Church and, with no time wasted, a contract was drawn up to construct a building in white Auchenheath stone at a final cost of £2,996. Now the Eglinton Hall, it was opened and dedicated on Sunday 19

th

September 1914 (after the start of the First World War).

This new Hall Church accommodated 400 worshippers with rooms for the Ladies’ Work Party and a Church Officer was appointed at a salary of £18 per annum.

I’m all dusty from delving into the archives and rooting around in dark corners and forgotten niches to bring to light the long-lost history of your church—hope you find it as interesting as I did. Boris

Here’s the first of many, we hope, of a new series airing the views of members of the congregation. So come on, folks, don’t be shy, join Kim in giving us your tuppenceworth. Hand in or send your contribution to the office or email it to alpark@talktalk.net by 12th February, please, for the March issue.

The Kirk Session are planning to revamp and expand

the groups who try, behind the scenes, to energise

church life here in Giffnock. The groups are Family,

Outreach, Fabric, Worship, Pollokshaws, Pastoral and

possibly Events. It is not intended that these Groups

meet every week or maybe not even every month but it is intended that

the groups be “all age” and should draw on folk who are outwith the

Session and Board. We have already some genuine volunteers but not

nearly enough to give the groups the new blood that we are seeking to

increase the fellowship we share and to broaden our thinking in these key

areas of church life. Speak to Catherine or Tony Ireland.

The building in Fenwick Road where the congregation first worshipped. The Maverton Hall was below the shops (Man’s World etc) and is now used by them for storage.

The Centenary -The Early Days

Information gleaned from Ian L Cormack’s excellent booklet.

A VIEW FROM THE PEW

My dear friends,

A couple of weeks ago in church we heard the sound of an

electric guitar as Robert played the tune to Bob Dylan’s

‘Forever Young’ and I said the words as a blessing at Ab-

by Lamont’s Baptism. It was something new and a wee bit

different for us in Giffnock South and, as I thought

about it, I remembered a quote from Bob Dylan

saying that when he first heard the music of Elvis

Presley it was “like busting out of jail”.

Now maybe Elvis isn’t your cup of tea - he’s not

really mine either - but I think what Dylan meant was that

he’d been liberated, he had heard music like no other he

had heard before. It had opened his mind to something new, offered him new ide-

as, given him a musical freedom he’d never known before.

You know it’s often easy to react to new things with a closed mind. To condemn

without thinking, to seal ourselves off from all that makes life different. It’s much

safer that way. We don’t need to take risks, but life is much less interesting!

I believe that faith should liberate us, free us from our hang-ups and fears, it

should give us something positive to live with. Sadly in the kirk we so often try to

protect our faith by closing ourselves to new ideas. We pull that security blanket

of what we know around us and refuse to hear.

There’s a story told of an old Aborigine gentleman seeing a new church building

and asking, “If God loves everyone why do we build walls?” I am the last person

to suggest we don’t need buildings but that old man’s observation makes me think:

surely instead of sheltering inside the walls we build – whether they are brick or

just those we build in our own minds –we should be out in the world with every-

one else.

Perhaps now in 2012, a hundred years after our congregation formed a church in

Giffnock, is the time to take some risks, to be exposed to some things we’ve never

heard or seen before, and my prayer is that, if we do so, we will find there is some-

thing new, something to gain, something worth having. After all our scriptures tell

us

…and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2.Corinthians 3:17)

Wishing you all every blessing, Catherine.

Pollokshaws wishes all in Giffnock South a happy and healthy 2012.

As usual, three of our elders joined your session meeting recently and it was interesting to note that, when the apologies were given for non-attenders, the number would just about have equalled our entire session! You are lucky to have so many serving elders.

I got to know two more of you over the holiday period – Elspeth who introduced herself to me in Giffnock Morrison’s and (he’ll hate this! ) Elspeth’s husband whom I met in the chippie one Saturday evening. Sorry I didn’t get your name, Elspeth’s husband!

Archie Robertson took all of our Christmas services, keeping the Christmas Day one short as he expected that we all needed to rush off to get things done. He then stood at the door on his own for ages as we were all chatting and in no hurry at all!

Both churches, along with all Glasgow churches, are now awaiting our Presbytery ‘score’ which is supposed to let us know how well (or otherwise) we are doing in our respective communities. I have very little faith in this ‘score’ as how can you give a mark out of 80 for what churches do? It reminds me of waiting for months to get a university History essay returned, graded. I was chosen as spokesperson and duly went to see the tutor.

“Name?” he asked. I told him. He riffled through a pile on his desk, selected mine (about eight foolscap pages), scanned through it very perfunctorily , scribbled 58 in the top corner and dismissed me. I had absolutely no faith in that mark!

No news really at this stage of the year but Alistair wouldn’t let me off writing my article – such a bully!!! Think I’ll

set Boris onto him! (Huh! Just try! Ed) Frances Macarthur

Page 3

NEWS FROM POLLOKSHAWS

TEXT OF THE MONTH

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4 v 32(NIV)

The

Minister’s

CHURCH

OFFICE HOURS

The church office is now open in the afternoons from Monday to Friday—

2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Tel:- 638 2599. Email:

giffnocksouth@btconnect.com

Session Clerk: Tony Ireland

CHURCH DIRECTORY

The Minister: Rev Catherine Beattie BDMin

0141 258 7804 or 07709 086767 catherinejbeat@aol.com

Church Officer: Mr Graham Morton

638 3594

0141 639 6532 Home

07831525513 Mobile

01563 522137 Work mornings

CHURCH WEBSITE:

www.giffnocksouth.co.uk

Scottish Charity:SCO007807

See your Sentinel online in full

colour. Go to the church website and

click on ‘Sentinel’.

POLLOKSHAWS NEARLY NEW SHOP OPENS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8th, AT 10AM

The Guild

Our lunchtime service is on Wednesdays

at 11.30am with ‘Lunchbite’ at 12.15pm.

Leisure and Learning has resumed on Wednesdays at 2pm.

Please join us for tea, coffee and a chat on Thursday 26th January at 2pm in the lounge (and each fortnight thereafter).

The Saturday Sales are every week at 10am.

You are invited to a Burns Supper in Park Church on Saturday 4th February at 7pm for

7.30pm with the cost being £12.

Page 4

GIFFNOCK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NEWS

Dates for your Diary from the

Family Group

Sat 18th February - Family Ten Pin Bowling. Meet at the Bowling Arena Braehead at 3 pm -

take part in a family friendly competition - show off your

skills - have a laugh - no previous experience required - stay

as long as you want.

All are welcome. Names to Colin Devon by 5th February so

lanes can be booked.

Sat 24th March– Charity Puppet Show by Acting Up Puppeteers ( East Kilbride) - Winton Hall - 2pm start - Bring along your kids and their friends. All ages are

welcome. Refreshments will be provided .

Entry by ticket - Tickets £4 adult and £2 children from

members of the Family Group.

Sat 9th June - ARRAN AWAY DAY - BY POPULAR

DEMAND

Friday 30th Nov - Centenary Ceilidh - Carmichael Hall As always contact group members for more details.

KELVINGROVE ORGAN Alan Gillon will be playing the majestic Kelvingrove Art Gallery organ on Monday 30th January at 7.30pm. On Wednesday 15th February (again at 7.30pm), that Pavarotti of the organ, Carlo Curley, is giving an Organ Spectacular Concert at St Mary’s Parish Church Motherwell (Alan’s Church). Tickets are £10 and can be obtained from Alan Gillon—0141 637 3218

FEBRUARY DATES AT A GLANCE Wed 1st 7.30pm: The Guild - Mr Ian Quin Sat 4th 7pm: Burns Supper at Park Church Sun 5th 11am & 2pm: Communion Wed 8th 7.30pm: Board Meeting Sat 11th 10am: Kwenderana Sale at Busby Church Wed 15th 2pm: The Guild—Mr Gary Killingsworth Wed 15th 7.30pm: Organ Recital at St Mary’s Sat 18th 3pm: Ten Pin Bowling at Braehead Tue 21st 6.30pm: Service at Eastwood Court Wed 22nd 1.30pm: The Guild Bridge Drive

MARCH DATES Wed 14th 7.30pm: Joint Session & Board Meeting Sat 24th 2pm: Charity Puppet Show in Winton Hall Wed 28th 7.30: Church AGM How do the birds know when you’ve just cleaned your car?

125 YEARS YOUNG - THE GUILD

It was back in May 1887 that the General Assembly approved the suggestion by Rev Dr Archibald Charteris (who became Moderator of the General Assembly in 1892) that women’s work in the Church should be better organised and thus the Woman’s

Guild was formed.

The Guild meets on Wednesday 1st February at 7.30pm when Mr Ian Quin will give us an illustrated talk on ‘Clyde Steamers’. He is a most entertaining speaker and his superb pictures will stir our memories and enthuse us for a trip ‘Doon the Water’. Gentlemen, here is your chance to enjoy a visit to the Guild. On February 15th at 2pm, Mr Gary Killingsworth, a ‘Street Pastor’, will tell us about the work of the dedicated church folk who are on hand to help rather helpless revellers on Friday and Saturday nights. Our visiting minister on 8th January, a Street Pastor himself, whetted our appetites to hear more, so come along, all members of the congregation – the Guild likes a full hall! Wednesday 22nd February at 1.30pm is a new fund-raising venture for the Guild – a Bridge Drive. We have a few tickets left so if anyone can raise a table of four, please ‘phone Secretary Pat Connell on 638 1352 and book a place. For £24 a table you will enjoy a game of Bridge, a raffle, a delicious afternoon tea and good company.

Eastwood Court

The February Service at Eastwood Court takes place on Tuesday 21st at 6.30pm, exactly a week after St Val-entine’s Day, but we will still celebrate the patron saint of lovers. Our act of worship consists of singing favourite hymns, a short reading, a recitation on the theme, music and song from choir members – all very informal and packed into 30 minutes. Members of our congregation are always welcome to join in.

The Latest on the Mod Ring

A sentence of 180 hours of community service was handed down to a John McKeown who pled guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to the reset of the Moderator’s ring and other items though he was unable to say who had anonymously sent the stone from the ring to the Church of Scotland recently (see December ‘Sentinel’).

The amethyst from the ring which was returned, originally belonged to a Dr James Robertson Mitford Mitchell who was Moderator of the 1907 General Assembly and wore it during his term of office. At the 1908 General Assembly he took it off and passed it to his successor thus commencing the annual ritual of the Mod Ring.

Team groups to visit Lodging House Mission on 5th February are - Dr. Bill Steven, Mrs. Morag Steven, Mrs. Anne Smith and Mrs. Sandra Barry. For 4th

March the team is - Mr. James Harrow, Mrs. Violet Moir, Ms. Ann Provan and Mrs. Kathy Rice.

Page 5

After church, a woman was embarrassed meeting the minister at the door. “I hope you didn’t take it personally when my husband walked out during your sermon”. “I did find it rather disconcerting,” the minister admitted. ‘It’s not a reflection on you at all” she assured him. “Ralph has been walking in his sleep since he was a child!”

Thanks to KM

Money Matters Jackie Macadam finds out how churches and charities are helping people manage their

money.

A group from Glasgow learn financial lessons from an Indian model.

Dr Murdo Macdonald reflects on our relationship with money.

The church’s Director of Stewardship introduces the new national stewardship

programme.

The Big Question: What’s the best piece of financial advice you have received?

Justice for the Poor Jo Mummery explains the importance of Tearfund’s One Voice week of prayer and

highlights how congregations can be involved.

Plus, the campaign to have Scotland recognised as a Fair Trade Nation.

A Manse Family Lifeline The work of the Glasgow Society of the Sons and Daughters of Ministers of the

Church of Scotland.

A Common Thread Thomas Baldwin meets an Imam and a Rabbi with striking similarities in their view of

the world.

Changing Church A project reaching out to young people in Glenrothes.

An Estate Church John R Hume visits Thornhill Church in Dumfriesshire.

The Shepherd Boy King The Very Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan examines the life of David, the forebear of

Jesus.

Month in a Life Ida and Keith Waddell, Church of Scotland mission partners in

Zambia.

FEB

RU

AR

Y I

SS

UE

OU

T N

OW

ORDER YOUR COPY FROM

ALAN GRAY: Ph. 639 1401

The committee of the Kwenderana Partnership Group is planning to hold a Table Top Sale featuring local crafts' people and a Coffee Morning on Saturday 11th

February, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 12 noon in Busby Church Hall in order to raise funds to go towards building a classroom for the school at Ekwendeni, Malawi. Please make a diary entry for this event and tell your friends so that they can come too. This is also a great chance to meet with members of the four other Churches who have a like mind in helping the charity and have recently also been involved in the visit last September of Violet and Maggie to our area.

Our Committee has been impressed at how detailed is the knowledge of the Ekwendeni committee about distribution of the gifts we send: the needs and names of each of the recipients and the very items are known. A first tranche of £5,000 is to be sent shortly to allow procurement of materials to be made ahead of brick making and building work commencing in late Spring once the rainy season is over.

The Committee Chairman, our Dr. Bill Steven, has expressed gratitude for the valuable financial support that has been given by Members of the four churches to fundraising for this worthwhile project in Ekwendeni. The annual education of one child can also be helped with donations of only £50 which will cover purchase of books etc and transport, if needed, to school. Gifts for this purpose can be given to Dr. Bill Steven, Dr. Denis Pitkeathly, Gavin Bodie, Jim N. Scott or May Robertson, all committee members, who will pass them on to the Treasurer.

Kwenderana report

Resulting from the severe storms of the 2/3 January the

property has suffered some damage.

One of the clerestory windows in the Winton Hall was blown out, caused by suction on the corner of the build-ing. This has had a temporary repair by boarding up. The permanent repair will be carried out in due course.

A number of trees have been blown down, two small ones to the rear of the property, with no significant dam-age, except that there may be a problem with the gutter and down pipe to the rear of the west transept.

Two of the Scots Pine trees alongside Mains Avenue have been split. The Planning Dept of the Council are involved as a result of the Tree Preservation Order, and they have agreed that these trees may be felled in the interests of safety, without the need for replacement by young trees.

The estimated cost of the tree felling and the window repair is of the order of £1200, which is the subject of a negotiated claim on the insurance company.

There has also been minor damage to ridge tiles on the manse roof which has already been repaired.

John Brierley Fabric Convener

REPORT ON STORM DAMAGE- 11 January

Page 6 Parish Register

Deaths of Members

Baptisms

Duties

Young People’s Attendance at Church It has been gratifying to see so many of our young people at divine worship

during the month of October. The average attendance has been fairly good. But still more might attend, not

occasionally but regularly. It is a habit, a good habit some dare to think, and it will grow upon the young people with

practice and perseverance. It is better to attend service (even supposing the motive is merely to obtain the mark for

the day) than to stay at home with no motive whatever!

Flashbacks from an early edition of the Church magazine— Issue no 5, November 1915

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!" So I went forth and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East. Minnie Louise Haskins 1875-1957

Name Address Dis.

Mr & Mrs J Hardie 10 Dolphin Road, Pollokshields 49

Members Leaving

Change of Address

Name Previous Address Dis. New Address Dis.

Kirsty Gardner

Name Address Date of Funeral

Nan McKelvie 23rd

December 2011

Nancy Mackay 27th January 2012

Name Address Date of Baptism

Abby Courtenay Lamont 15th January 2012

Date Feb 5

Feb 12

Feb 19

Feb 26

Office Bearers Communion Team 1 Team 2 Team 3

Creche Rozi Clarke Grace Bodie

Alison Campbell Elaine Clarke

Helen Black Hannah Beattie

Laura Amner Caroline Black

Tape Recording Bill Spalding Alastair Campbell Tony Ireland Charlie Hunter

Café Rota Grace Bodie Ena Campbell

Bett Coutts Sylvia Miller Liz Burns Janet Winsor

FAVOURITE LINES

Flower Rota Communion Sheila Dunbar Ann Gilchrist Elspeth Turnbull

This new book explains the complex topic of the Covenanters for children of ten+. In words and pictures the book tells of the struggles of the Covenanters, their beliefs, their battles and the aftermath. 48 pages including 8-page activity section. Illustrations and photographs throughout. £5.99 from bookshops. Find out…. About the riot at St Giles Cathedral Who won the battle of Bothwell Brig Which Covenanter wore a mask About the ‘Killing Time’ What the ‘Maiden’ was used for..etc.

The Covenanters A new ‘Scotties’ book for children

Ian Mathers (Baptism Notice, January Issue) Correct address is: 6A Addison Grove Thornliebank. Not Wisner Court. We apologise for this error.

Correction

Page 7

The Rainbows started off their Christmas festivities with a visit to Eastwood Theatre to see Sleeping Beauty.

Everyone had a great time (including the leaders).

Some of the stars of the Nativity Play “The Three Kings”

MORE MEMORIES OF THE NATIVITY PLAY

We are indebted to Archie

Robertson, Colin Devon and Bill

Steven for the photographs