Church News for January 8

There is a crèche for babies and young children if they do not wish to stay in the church during the service. The Junior Church meets at 10.45 on Sunday mornings, coming into the church towards the close of the service.

Our service this week at 11am will feature the Junior Church. On Tuesday 24th December, a Family Service will be held at 7pm and on Christmas Morning there will be a Communion Service at 10am. We hope many of you will join us for these Christmas celebrations.

Our Wednesday morning services will not be held over the next two Wednesdays, although as mentioned above, there will be a service in the church on Christmas Day.

St Andrew’s Guild will resume its meetings in January.

The K.I.D.S. Club meets on Tuesday evenings in the Ralston Road Building between 6.30 and 8pm. Children from P1 to P4 should come along for games, stories, crafts and fun.

1st Barrhead Boys’ Brigade meets on Thursday evenings in the Ralston Road Building. The various sections cater for boys from P1 to S6. Recruitment leaflets are available at the church; contact the Captain, Jim Glen, for further details (07504234290). The BB will be on holiday on 26th December and 2nd January.

7th Barrhead Guides and Brownies meet in the Main Street Building on Tuesday evenings from 7.15pm. Girls aged 10-14 are welcome to join the Guides; a senior section has now been formed for older girls. The Brownies currently have a waiting list but more details are available at 7thbarrheadbrownies@gmail.com.

St Andrew’s Church is a collection point for the ER Foodbank; non-perishable foodstuffs will be welcomed.

Information about all the church activities is on the church website www.barrhead-standrewschurch.org.uk and on the Facebook site.

At this time, all at St Andrew’s Church wish you all every blessing for Christmas and for 2014.

METHODIST CHURCH: Reverend ELIZABETH ADAM On Sunday, morning worship begins at 11am and will be led by Rev. C. Van Staden. All welcome. Tea will be served in the hall after the service. Please come along and join in our worship. On Christmas Day we will have our family worship service at 11.30am and hope that you can join us.

The church hall is open every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm for a drop-in coffee, cake and chat (except Christmas Day and 2nd January). A warm welcome will be given to everyone who drops in.

CALDWELL PARISH: David Donaldson A family worship service will be held at 10am this Sunday and will be conducted by our minister Rev Dr David Donaldson. All welcome. GOSPEL HALL: JIM McLATCHIE The good news will be made known this Sunday in the Gospel Hall, Chappell Street, Barrhead between 6.30pm and 7.15pm.Visitors are welcome. The Kids Club in the Auchenback Resource Centre, Aurs Drive meets at 6.15pm each Monday evening.

BARRHEAD EVANGELICAL CHURCH: Pastor Eric Wilkinson Our Sunday Services are as usual at 11am and 6.30pm with a time of fellowship at the end of the evening service with tea and biscuits.

The Wednesday afternoon meeting (not on Christmas Day or 2nd January) at 1.30pm is open to all and is an informal one with a cup of tea.

The bible study and prayer meetings are held on Thursdays (not Boxing Day or 3rd January) at 7pm and the last Thursday of each month is a Faith Mission Prayer Union. A warm welcome is extended to friends and visitors to any of our meetings.

NEILSTON PARISH CHURCH: Rev Fiona Maxwell On Saturday from 10am till approximately 10.30am members and friends of Neilston Parish Church will be gathering around the tree in Pig Square to sing Christmas carols and songs accompanied by members of Renfrew Burgh band. It is hoped that many of the villagers of Neilston will come along and join in the celebration. Please come and lend your voice.

This Sunday at 11am our worship will be led by our Sunday School who will present their Nativity. Everyone is welcome to come and join this wonderful event.

On Christmas Eve we shall have a service for all the family at 6.30pm and the Watchnight Service at 11.15pm. On Christmas Day there will be a short family service at 10am. As ever, all will be made welcome at these services.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: Bishop ERIC MCKECHNIE Services begin at 10am this Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Glenburn Road, Paisley with classes for Relief Society (women), Priesthood (men), Young Men, Young Women and Primary for the children all starting at 10am. All Sunday school classes begin at 11am with the adult class continuing its year-long study of Doctrine and Covenants. A family worship service will include the Nativity and will begin at 11.50am and be conducted by Alasdair Gilmour. An invitation is extended to all members and friends to join us for worship this Sunday where you will be made most welcome.

Youth organisations, continue each Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Church in Glenburn Road preceded by Seminary class at 6.45pm Christmas Missionary Concert: a special evening of Christmas music and messages featuring musicians and a choir of Scotland Ireland missionaries, followed by refreshments will be held this evening (Wednesday) at 7pm in the Church in Glenburn Road. This is an occasion to which to invite friends. All welcome.

The Family History Centre, located within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Glenburn Road, Paisley is open to the public free of charge each Tuesday between 9.30am and 3.30pm and on Wednesdays between 10am and 1pm but will close for the duration of the school Christmas holiday period. The website www.familysearch.org may prove helpful to those researching their family history. Find out more about the church on www.mormon.org.uk We take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH: A warm welcome to Holy Trinity & St Barnabas’ Church, opposite the Sheriff Court and across from the Gilmour Street Rail Station. We are a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

This Sunday our service begins at 10:30am and all are welcome to worship with us. Godly Play for children 3 to 13 will be offered during the Sunday worship service - all children are welcome to attend. Please visit our website at www.episcopalpaisley.org.uk SPIRIT OF LIFE CHURCH: Pastor Ken Trench You are welcome to any of our gatherings! We have an informal, friendly atmosphere, relevant, encouraging teaching, contemporary worship style and regular prayer ministry.

We meet on Sundays at the Auchenback Resource Centre, 64 Aurs Drive, Barrhead. SOL cafe open from 10.20am -10.50am gives you the opportunity to chat, catch up and meet old and new friends. Prayer room is also open before service - Services start at 11am.

We also have a weeknight event at different locations each week of the month including Equipping Nights, Family Fun Night, Life Groups and Sanctuary - a special evening with other churches with worship and prayer ministry.

Check out our website at: www.spiritoflifechurch.webs.com or our Facebook page for more info.

ST. JOHN’S RC CHURCH: Father Paul Brady LITURGICAL SERVICES HOLY MASS: Daily at 10am; Saturday Vigil for Sunday at 4:30pm; Sunday at 10am, 12noon and 6:30pm.

SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION: Saturday after 10am Mass, between 4pm and 4:25pm, and after the Vigil Mass.

ROSARY: Daily in the Church at 9:40am; Friday between 3pm and 4pm in the Oratory.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: From 10:30am to 10pm each weekday in the Oratory.

The Oratory will be closed for the Christmas holidays from 10pm this Friday and will re-open after the New Year.

Christmas Confessions and Masses as follows: Parish Reconciliation Service Wednesday 18th 7pm, Tuesday 24th December 9.30am - 9.55am and 10.30-11.00am ( allowing for funerals) Please use this time for Christmas confessions. There will be fewer possibilities for confessions this year due to there being only 1 priest. Christmas Masses as follows: On Christmas Eve, 24th December: Carol Service at 6.30pm, Vigil Mass of Christmas at 7pm, Carol Service at 11.30pm, Midnight Mass 12midnight. Christmas Day Holy Mass at 10am and 12noon.

Many people begin Christmas shopping this weekend and may perhaps be using Amazon. If you shop with them via the parish website the parish is given at least 5% of your purchase price at no cost to you. It’s very easy and quick to do. Just follow the instructions below. Last month, the parish earned £101.93. Three quick steps are: 1. Go to http://www.stjohns-barrhead.org/ 2. Click on amazon banner; 3. Continue shopping or browsing as normal.

This year the Advent Jesse Tree will be for the Street Children of Medellin, “Let the Children Live” – Fr Peter’s charity needs £50,000 per month to keep feeding and looking after the welfare of the 500 or so children in their care.

Please complete one of the green sheets to sponsor the parish bell for a day in memory of a loved one, a birthday or special anniversary. A certificate will be given to commemorate the sponsorship. The cost this year will be £10 since there will be no calendar this year.

To access East Renfrewshire Foodbank speak to Fr Paul or the SSVP. Please donate non-perishable goods, in particular tinned vegetables as well as toiletries such as soap or shampoo by placing in the yellow bucket.

Thank you to Maple joiners for building the crib superstructure and to Pat for setting up the electrics.

Today (Wednesday) children from the three schools will be present for the blessing of the crib and placing of the Baby Jesus in the Crib.

Mary’s Meals Backpacks: Caritas pupils are collecting items to send to children in a backpack. They are looking for sharpeners, rulers and toothpaste. There is a box provided in the Foyer for items.

A selection of Christmas cards and gifts are now on sale in the piety stall. Please feel free to have a look inside the stall at the new items on sale. ‘KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS LABELS’ will be sold again this year by Margaret Campbell. Cost £1.50 for a bundle. Call 01415715419.

The Children’s Liturgy group will once again be telling the Christmas story before the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve.

Girls interested in joining 1st Barrhead Rainbows and Guides should register online via the Girl Guiding Join Us website. For further information contact patsycarlin@internet.com Our email address is stjohnsbarrhead@gmail.com ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Rev. Wesley Hands Everyone will be welcome this Sunday at the Church of the Nazarene, Gordon Street, Paisley, when we meet at 11am. We will be continuing our Advent programme of thought provoking meetings in the run up to Christmas as we consider the way commercialism intrudes on or even overwhelms our focus on the real meaning of Christmas- that Christmas begins with Christ. This week our theme will be “What If..?” You are welcome to join us to take a short break from the busy and expensive shops to consider how to celebrate the season in a special way. A crèche room is available and sausage rolls will be served in the hall afterwards. At 6.30pm we will be having a “Sing-along a carol” so come and join in. Tea, coffee and treats will be served in the church hall after both services.

On Thursday the over 55’s lunch club --the Silver Liners will meet at 12.30pm at The Watermill Hotel for a special Christmas meal.

This Saturday the church hall will be open between 10am and 12noon for a coffee morning. Why not take a break from the hectic preparations and relax for a while?

The church is open on Mondays between 9.15 and 12 noon for anyone who would like a quiet place to pray.

You are welcome to our very popular Christmas Eve service for the whole family as we begin Christmas with Christ. We invite you to come to the church for 7.15pm to visit our Christmas corridor where the message of Christmas can be experienced using all your senses. The service then begins at 7.30 pm and lasts approximately an hour. An offering will be taken for the Paisley Accord Hospice.

We look forward to welcoming you to any of these events.

The church members wish you and the people of Barrhead and Paisley a very happy Christmas.

If you would like to know more about our church or receive a visit from the church, please let us know at any of our services. More about the church is available at www.paisleynazarene.co.uk BOUROCK PARISH CHURCH: Christmas Worship at Bourock as follows: Come and join the Celebration.

This Sunday - 11am All Age Worship led by the Rev. Margaret Whyte.

Christmas Eve - 7pm Junior Church Nativity; 10.30pm Informal Communion Service; 11pm Carol Singing; 11.30pm Watchnight Service.

Christmas Day - 10.30am Worship for Christmas Day.

Sunday 29th December - 11am Service of lessons and carols. The Advent Bible Studies will be held in the Ferguson Chapel led by the Worship Leaders . These will start at 6.30pm and last for one hour. Let’s take time out of our busy lives in Advent to consider the true meaning of Christmas.

The church is open every Tuesday from 10am until 12 noon if you wish to come in for a time of prayer or meditation. There will be a short Service each Thursday at 10am followed by the coffee club.

Christmas Greetings 2013: Thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Greetings leaflet. So far over £657 has been raised for Kibera. This money will go towards the cost of sponsoring pupils in Silanga High School. The leaflet will be available on the website.

Most of the organisations will be taking a break over the Christmas period but will resume week beginning 6th January.

The Minister and Kirk Session wish you all “Peace and Joy this Christmas”.

For more information look at the church website www.bourock.co.uk or see us on Facebook.

CHURCH OF GOD: This Sunday, communion service will be held in the Levern Hall, Arthurlie Avenue at 10am. On Sunday night at 6pm at the Church of God in Levern Hall there is a time for worship. There is a biblical message and time for tea and chat. On Friday night the church run a youth club in the hall between 6.45pm and 8.30pm for ages seven plus. We also run week-long and week-end activities organised for the children by our Auchenfoyle campsite.

BETHEL FELLOWSHIP: The Bethel Fellowship will meet this Sunday at 11am in the Preshal Building, Linthouse, Govan.

SALVATION ARMY: George McNeilly Christmas Carol Services are this Sunday - Traditional 10am and Community Family style service at 11.30am. Open invitation to either or both.

Our Christmas Day Service is at 11am followed by Christmas Dinner for those on their own on Christmas Day. The meal is open to any age group, if a parent is going to be alone on Christmas day with their child then they too will be very welcome, however they will need to be responsible for their child whilst on the premises. The day is free to anyone wishing to join us, but people will need to book by calling Major Pamela Johnson on 0141 881 2125, (Bookings can be made right up to Christmas Eve). Transport is provided for those unable to get in on their own, however, this is provided by the Barrhead Rotary and volunteers using cars, so anyone requiring transport must be able to get in and out of a car.

The services at the Salvation Army are on Sundays at 10am, for a traditional service, and at 11.30am for the family service, this is a relaxed and informal messy church service where families and children are very welcome. Come along, bring the kids and see what we are all about. Services are open to everyone – do you want to explore the Christian way of life? Come visit and learn more about the Bible and the Christian way of life.

In addition to Sunday worship, on Monday and Wednesday at 9.30am there is the mothers and toddlers; Monday evening 6.30pm is Bible Study; Tuesday at 1.45pm the Cameo Club meets (men and women’s mid-week fellowship); Wednesday 5pm - 7pm KIDS Club (5-14yrs). Each Tuesday and Thursday our Lunch Club meets at 12noon - for the more mature citizens.

Children’s’ Community Singing Group, open to any primary school aged children, Thursdays 5-6pm in the Salvation Army Hall, Main Street, Barrhead. Singing all different kinds of songs with a Christian theme The singing group will be out Christmas Carolling around the town and on 7 and 21 December at Tesco, Silverburn. For more information on the Singing Group: Contact: Raksha Woods 01412397094 or e-mail: rakshawoods@yahoo.co.uk UNITED REFORMED CHURCH: Rev Connie Bonner This Sunday we continue to share worship in St Andrew’s Church, Ralston Road at 9.30am and 11am. There is an opportunity for fellowship after worship which we hope you will stay to enjoy. Our cafe has now closed for the festive season and re-opens on Wednesday 8th January reverting to the normal three days of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Friendship Club and Tweenies will also re-open on that date. The Peace and Stillness service led by our Minister in the Church in Arthurlie Street on Wednesday at 10am has also ended until Wednesday 8th January.

There will be a Watchnight Service in the URC in Arthurlie Street on Christmas Eve. The service will open at 11.15pm for ‘Pick your own Carols’ and the Watchnight Service will begin at 11.30pm until about ten past midnight. All are welcome to come along and join us on this occasion.

Anyone needing to make pastoral contact midweek, please phone Rev. Connie Bonner at 876 1549 or Myra Rose at 840 1208.

CHURCH NEWS: Please email Church News to Douglas Yates on dayates@ntlworld.com no later than 4pm on the Sunday before publication.