Belated New Year Greetings to you all! I do hope you all enjoyed Christmas and welcomed
in 2020.
Writing this on a cold stormy winter’s day seems so far from the springtime which will be
soon with us. Indeed it is a joy to see spring bulbs sprouting their green shoots up through
the cold wet ground.
So it is for us as “Church”. For out of the depths of cold despair of 2016 has come a real
sense of hope springing up for the future of Maxwelltown West Parish Church. The
Nomination Committee have been very busy praying, thinking and writing our Parish Profile.
And I for one promise my PRAYERS for God to call the right Minister to lead you forward on
your Christian Journey.
Elders and Deacons have once again a spring in their step and thoughts: those who were in
Church on Sunday 22 nd Dec all with one accord felt something move amongst them. The
Nativity play rekindled our Christmas message so powerfully and yet so beautifully scripted
and performed by all. A truly memorable service!
Now that is true worship where many participated in the service and all felt were truly
uplifted, and had worshipped and praised God for the greatest Gift of His only Son, baby
Jesus. This was followed by a gloriously festive feast of soup, sandwiches, mince pies, cake
and refreshments for charity.
Seven of us thoroughly enjoyed Advent Bible study, again using material from Embrace,
who help others in Christ’s Name in Middle East countries, including Bethlehem itself.
It was a real pleasure once again to welcome on your behalf, Laurieknowe School to Max
West on Friday 20 th December. Wow! The children really were superb. P2 and P7 led the
Readings and reflected upon the familiar Christmas Bible texts as well as what Christmas
meant to them personally. Again some of the youngsters did that by drawing pictures, and
some were stunning. They put their souls into singing carols and other festive songs.
What was also great was to see our gallery well filled with parents and relatives as well as
members of our Church. This I am sure encourages the children as well as Head Teacher
Mrs McLellan and her staff.
Christmas Eve saw a good attendance, and once again we welcomed Anna Pearcey and
Declan McGarva to display their musical talents. They very deservedly received a rousing
round of applause.
As we approach the season of Lent we will once again be offering Lenten Bible Study on
Thursday evenings at 7pm from 27 th February through to 2 nd April. These evenings last
around two hours and time seems to fly by. I again invite you to come along to any or all of
these evenings. Please do not feel you lack Bible knowledge and unable to come
along. It’s a very rewarding experience, and it’s through discussion and prayer that God
reveals new ideas, and opens up His Gospel to us.
My thanks to all who have welcomed me to their bedside in hospital, nursing home or at
home. I leave these visits feeling blessed and so often re-energized.

May I appeal to those who have not recently attended Our Lord’s Sacrament of Holy
Communion, to join Rev. Sally and your fellow Christian friends at 11am on 1 st March
in Church.
I hope that many of you will come along and join with us on Palm Sunday 5 th April and Easter
Sunday 12 th April. Remember Easter is the most important time in our Christian
calendar, when we remember the supreme sacrifice Jesus paid on the Cross for us, and His
glorious resurrection up from the cold tomb on Easter Sunday.
Halleluiah! JESUS IS RISEN! May the LORD bless you and keep you:
May God make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
May God lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God Bless you and all those whom you Love,
Your Brother in Christ,
David Matheson