Game on for God!

Holy Week

It's been a busy week at church this week.  Church has been open every day and we've been preparing for the Good Friday service tomorrow at which I am preaching.  The kids have been most helpful in preparing some artwork and banners - they've done a great job.  

Football on Saturday - playing at Netherpollock against Kilbirnie, depending on ref availability, out for dinner with friends on Saturday night, followed by the Easter service on Sunday.   Hopefully some R & R next week!!

Positive Development

I have recieved some great news today - funding for the football team which is going to be used to install some gym equipment for the local community to use plus the football team.  It also means that we can develop some indoor training for the team.  The hope is that this will bring in some of the local community to use the equipment and help us to get to know them better.  Which will then mean that if we introduce another service they will be comfortable coming to it.  Sounds like a plan and hopefully God will bless it and we will see more people coming into the building who are open to what God wants to do with them and their lives.

Barack Obama has become president of the USA.  Not sure if it is a good thing or bad.  Not sure where he stands on anything.  What I have heard is that he is the HOPE for America and that America is finally free of its 'original sin' I think this is a reference to slavery and segregation.  For a country that has parts that are deeply religious to pin all its 'hope' on one person is a bit extreme!  I think it is also a hope that he cannot deliver although on the surface it will seem good but, underneath he will only be able to gloss over the cracks.  Lets wait and see what develops and how after the honeymoon period is done what America thinks then.

I have heard from the boy Cuthbert today and am looking forward to seeing him in a couple of weeks to catch up on what has been happening.  I will also be catching up with Olly and hear what has been happening to him in Aberdeen.  My good friend Russell is of to Nigeria tonight for his brothers wedding - it is a flying visit as I think he leaves tonight and arrives back on Monday.  He will be missed at the football on Saturday.  I pray that God gives him a safe journey both there and back.  I will look forward to catching up with him when he gets back.

Week 3

Started my third week and I have been truly blessed throughout this week.  Leading the bible study Monday night with some very godly mature women.  This was really good and they had lots to input to it.  It was good to share with them some of what God has done and is doing in my life to date.

Tuesday was spent trying to get my new printer to work which eventually loaded onto my computer at 5.00pm which made me 2 hours late getting home but had a good meeting with Chris who is a real encouragement to me and the work which is starting to get done.  Spent the evening with the family which was great.  Didn't watch any football last night but did catch Chelsea playing.

Today taking barbed wire of the roof, trying to get in  touch with a couple of pastors in the area to try and form a network for prayer and activities but proving very difficult at the moment.  Transferring some players from St. Andrew's to other teams in their local areas always a sad moment but it is good that they are going to other church teams.

Football Saturday was a wash out probably the best pitch we never got to play on.  The council cancelled the game at 8.45am Saturday morning as you may be aware I wasn't very impressed nor were the other team!!

This Saturday to avoid it happening again we are playing at Scotstoun on astro turf (brillo pad).  The game kicks off at 10.00am and the opponents are Trinity Possill hopefully it will be a good game and we will have a full team out.

Painting and planning

Second week in my new job is going well so far.  It was busy last week with church council meetings, introductions to new people, and preparing for the weekend.  So far this week I've been painting, buying equipment, setting up my office and updating communications.  I've been given a mobile broadband connection, laptop and phone to use (which the wife is really jealous of now that I am more up to date with technology than she is, not to mention having a big office!).  We are currently going through a small refurbishment programme at St. Andrew's, including painting the inside and the whole of the outside.  The church has an excellent layout but we want to make it feel as warm and welcoming as possible.  The welcome I have had into the church has been absolutely fantastic.  I am looking forward to working with Chris and the rest of the team in Milton.  Once the refurbishment has been completed we are looking to have a drop in combined with some food etc.  The football team will meet in Milton once per month for food and fellowship.

The meeting Friday for Graham's farewell (although he doesn't leave until next week) went well with both myself and Graham giving a message for the boys to think about.  It was great to see some of our St. Silas friends there and hopefully we will see them in Milton for more fellowship.

The game on Saturday was another draw.  The good thing is that we don't have to travel to the Ayrshire region for another year unless we draw either of the 2 Ayrshire teams in the cup.  It was a good game and both teams were well disciplined and played some good football but, alas, another 2 points thrown away. 

This weeks game is against E K Claremont who beat us in the cup final 2 seasons ago.  They also did the double last season in Division 3.  It should be a tough game with St. Andrew's sitting 11th and EK sitting 3rd in Div 2.  Hopefully it will be a first win for St. Andrew's.

Family are all doing well and have been warmly welcomed into the church at Milton including the boy who heckled his way through the commissioning service at Woodlands Sunday evening.  It has been a great first few weeks and I am looking forward to many more.