Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church of Scotland
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BLACKBRAES AND SHIELDHILL PARISH
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
LINKED WITH
MUIRAVONSIDE PARISH CHURCH
OF SCOTLAND
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
Rev.Louise J.E.McClements BD (Hons)
Firstly a big thank you for all who have supported and continue to support our website and also to Drew our webmaster for all his hard work. We know that viewers enjoy finding out what's happening in our churches, reading our quarterly magazine, looking at the baptismal records and enjoying the photographs. We are thrilled to discover that many people from overseas enjoy browsing through our website and we pass on our good wishes to you.'
If you are ever on holiday in Scotland, and find yourself in the Falkirk area then please join us for worship. I can assure you that you will be met by a very warm welcome indeed and if you are from this area, you may even meet some ‘well kent faces.'
Finally if anyone has any queries about our churches, or would like to enquire about membership, baptism or marriage within the Church of Scotland, then please feel free to phone me on: 01324 717757 or e-mail me on the address below:
louise.mcclements@virgin.net
Every Blessing,
Louise
Easter message from the Minister
‘Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.' Luke Ch24, v12.
Dear friends,
A week past Sunday, as I arrived at Muiravonside Parish Church to conduct the service, I noticed to my joy and delight, countless sprigs of snowdrops, newly burst through the ground, their buds still tight, scattered throughout the ancient graveyard with surrounds the church.
I normally treat myself to a bunch each week when they are in bloom. Placing them in my small, posy vase, I always pause to wonder at their simplistic beauty, the calming colours of green and pure white, their fragility. They only last a few days, their life being just for a brief moment, but for two or three days, they grace my fireplace, and make it more beautiful, more peaceful, and more tranquil.
When I was first ordained over four years ago now, I remember one afternoon walking around the graveyard at Muiravonside Church and taking time to look at the carvings on the stones and reading the names and dates of the deceased. One stone was erected in memory of a 12 year old girl. At the time my daughters were not much older than that and I felt a deep sadness at the tragedy of this loss but at the same time was aware of the love and joy that this child had brought to her family, which had resulted in them having daisies hand-carved so delicately and precisely into her headstone.
Life is beautiful yet fragile like the snowdrops which surround Muiravonside Parish Church . Life is a gift, each day is precious, each moment is sacred, each season has its own unique blessings. Life is also a mystery. We do not fully understand the Universe, the human mind, and even what exactly happens when we die. Faith is not about certainties, if it was then it could not be called faith. Faith is believing when we're not really sure, faith is having many more questions than answers, faith is trusting that whatever happens - somehow all will be well, and that in death - we will be held safe in loving arms, which will not let us go.
Faith cannot be proved - because it is experiential. Like the love that we feel for family and friends, faith is very much something which we experience, yet we cannot prove its existence. But like love, faith can be shown in our words and actions. In the way that we treat others, in our care for the planet.
Faith is like the little bunches of snowdrops which surround Muiravonside Parish Church . Fragile, vulnerable, even at times appearing insignificant. But our world would be deeply impoverished without their presence. For the appearance of snowdrops bring hope, and so too our faith brings hope. And without hope, life is futile and meaningless.
As so as we approach Easter, we celebrate the hope of our faith, the hope of new birth and new life, the hope of resurrection. A hope so beautifully manifested in the appearance of the snowdrops which surround Muiravonside Parish Church at this time of year. A hope so perfectly manifested in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May you sense in a new and special way the hope of our faith this Eastertime,
Your minister and friend,
Louise
The Minister now has a Blog.
Please click on the button below to view regular
thoughts/meditations/prayers
from our Minister.
Please click on the buttons above to view a map and directions to the respective Churches.
Latest News:
06/05/12
Baptism and Admission to Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church of
Mr Bobby Weir
Please click on the image below to view the photos
Blackbraes and Shieldhill Easter Family Service 2012. In this service the children interacted with the congregation during the service as they explained the symbols relating to the Passion Stations.
Please click on the image below to view the photos
08/04/12
Photos added to Muiravonside Gallery of various recent events including, the visit of Rev Gavin Boswell, Moderator of Falkirk Presbytery, The Christingle Service 2011, the Choral Society Christmas Concert and Remembrance Sunday 2011.
Please click on the picture below to go to Muiravonside Gallery, where you will be able to view each album
11/03/12
The Spring edition of Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church linked with Muiravonside Parish Church Magazine is now available for viewing.
Please note that page 13 now shows the correct venues regarding the Holy Week Services for 2nd and 3rd April.
Monday 2nd April: venue will be Redding and Westquarter Parish Church.
Tuesday 3rd April: venue will be Brightons Parish Church.
All other venues are correct and unchanged.
Please click on the magazine cover below to view.
04/03/12
Various exciting events happening over the next few weeks at both Blackbraes Shieldhill and Muiravonside Churches. To view these events please click on the buttons below and you will be taken to the respective churches "What's On" pages.
29/02/12
Blackbraes and Shieldhill Guild held their Scottish Night which was greatly enjoyed by all who attended.
Please click on the photo below to view the highlights
14/12/11
Blackbraes and Shieldhill Guild held their annual Christmas Party which was enjoyed by all. We even had a visit from Santa Claus who dropped in with some presents before continuing with his preparations for Christmas Eve!
Please click on the photo below to view the festivities.
23/11/11
The Winter edition of Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church linked with Muiravonside Parish Church Magazine is now available for viewing.
Please click on the magazine cover below to view.
For other archived news such as Baptismal Records and the Magazines, please visit the individual churches' homepages.
©2009/2012 Blackbraes Shieldhill and Muiravonside Parish Church of Scotland
Registered Charity
Blackbraes and Shieldhill SC 002512
Muiravonside SC 007571
Muiravonside Parish Church of Scotland
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