February
28   Clydebank Morison Memorial
On 18 November 1886, Clydebank became an official burgh of Glasgow.  During the growth, of course, houses of worship began to spring up throughout the area.
By 1892, three shipyard staff and the future Manager of Clydebank’s Co-operative Society having sympathies towards the faith and practice of the Evangelical Union of Scotland (begun in 1843 by Secession church preacher James Morison, known as “the Scottish Charles Finney”), decided to organise an E.U. congregation in the new town.  However, by the time the present and only building was finished in 1896, James Morison had died in 1895 and the Evangelical Union was in the process of merging with the Congregation Union of Scotland, formally completed in 1897.
During the Clydebank Blitz on the nights of 13 and 14 March 1941, though the church roof was badly damaged and repaired by the local fire brigade, the late-Victorian Gothic structure in which we worship now stands as the oldest surviving building in the town, now situated between the Town Hall and Library.

Approach
Lord God as we come together to worship today
We are certain in our faith that you are here with us
 We come here as your family to be as one with you
In company with our Savior, Lord and friend your Beloved Son Jesus

Whose life gave his life that we may be set free
From the sins of this world and given your Glory
To live our lives as your chosen people

With your light and grace shining from us in our lives
That all who we meet may who we are and whom we serve
Lord God we humbly ask this as we come together to say the words Jesus taught us
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be they name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
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 and ever
Amen                                                    

March

7    Synod Meeting (13th March)
The word “Synod” comes from two Greek words: “sun”, which means “together” and “hodos”, which means “a road” or “a journey”. A “Synod” therefore means “people who are journeying together”. It is, I believe, a good definition of what we are meant to be as members of the United Reformed Church in Scotland.
 
Prayer:
Almighty Father, your Son Jesus Christ called men and women to travel with him along the road, into a future which was, for them, unknown. By your Spirit, men and women were empowered to travel throughout the world, sharing the Gospel message, calling others to put their trust in Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, enable us also to travel together as your people, following our Lord Jesus Christ into the future which you have prepared for us, sharing with others the Good News of the Kingdom. We ask it in his name and for his sake. Amen.  

14  Coaltown on Balgonie
As we think about emerging into a post-lockdown/shielding world Coaltown have a number of challenging decisions to make. Our numbers are small, some are elderly and our sanctuary has become unusable due to the ceiling partly falling down and the rest being dangerous. It is possible to repair but as a congregation we question approaching the Synod to ask to do so due to the cost and also the consideration that the monies could be better used elsewhere. But we are not despondent we have hope of a way forward and will look to progress that once travel is possible. We look to a future where we can meet together to share bread and wine weekly and share conversation afterwards. Despite our challenges we thank God for what has been and what will be in the future.
 
Prayer
God of all people we give thanks for our life as a community together and for many communities like us across your church. We do not despair but accept that we are where we are and look forward with hope to a time when we can meet together once more to share in all the good youhave for us. For other congregations like us who must discern their future we ask that you fill them with the hope you have filled us with and guide all to the future you wish for your church.
 
21  Coatbridge

28  Cumbernauld

• Aside from the normal round of reports from our churches we asked Sarah Moore to work as Interim Moderator for both Fraserburgh and the URC in Aberdeen.
• We noted that the three new NSM4 ordinands at the Scottish College will produce a Daily Devotion service this year which will help raise the profile of this important new ministry.  
• We will contact all relevant ministers in the Synod to remind them of the new requirement to have pastoral supervision; this must start within two years.
• We received, with thanks, the ecumencial review of Grahamston United Church in Falkirk, had an update on the URC in Aberdeen as they start to plan for a new future now the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting has been dissolved, and resolved to work with the Presbytery of Edinburgh, through our Ecumenical and Interfaith Task force, regarding their clustering plans as far as these impact on churches involved in LEPs.
• Following the series of deployment consultations last year, a small working party made up of the Paul Whittle, Ewen Harley, Sarah Moore and Andy Braunston presented a deployment strategy which will be taken to the March Synod meeting for discussion.  Feedback from Synod, and possibly from more Synod wide consultation will lead to its eventual presentation for adoption.  
• The Committee thanked Fiona Bennett, John Sanderson and Derek McDonald for undertaking a review of the Church Related Community Worker post at Priesthill and Shawlands and asked a small group to work on their recommendations before the paperwork is sent off to the Assembly Accreditation Sub Committee.  It is very much hoped that this project will be renewed for a further five years.  
• Sarah Moore and Paul Whittle will work with the four north of Clyde churches to form a cluster.
• We meet next in late March.