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Easter…
…just a shadow
of its former self?
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Welcome…
What do you associate
with the word “Easter”?
• Rolling brightly decorated eggs down the nearest hill;
• The bleating of spring lambs in the fields;
• Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate; or
• A vague shadowy story of the death
of Jesus.
Scott considers this in more detail in his
Easter message, which concludes that the
power of Easter is not a shadow of its former
self but the life changing reality it has always been.
To hear more about Easter, please come and join us at one of our
Easter services. You’ll find details below and a warm welcome
awaiting you. Lorna Hamilton
9 April
13 April
14 April
16 April
10.30 am
Maxwell Mearns • Palm Sunday
“A powerful King for people”
7.30 pm
Mearns Kirk • Maundy Thursday
“Power in being a servant of people ”
11.00 am
Mearns Kirk (car park)
Walk of Witness to Newton Mearns Parish
7.30 pm
Maxwell Mearns • Good Friday
“Giving up power for people”
6.30 am
Broom Church (car park)
Dawn Worship, walk to the trig point
and breakfast at Maxwell Mearns
10.30 am
Maxwell Mearns • Easter Sunday
“New life for people”
www.maxwellmearns.org.uk
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“Easter”. It is an odd word isn’t it? It is like a shadow cast from a
past era. It is even odder when we realise it relates to an ancient
goddess of fertility (Eostre)! Perhaps this is why our minds
associate Easter with bunnies, chicks, lambs
(and chocolate?!). Easter becomes a
synonym for “spring”.
However, Spring-goddesses apart, the
word Easter does take us to a spring-time
event 2000 years ago – Jesus was executed
on a Cross. Under the brutal squeeze of Roman
occupation, crucifixion was both the local mechanism
for state execution and slow torture! It efficiently eliminated those opposed
to Roman power and deterred others even thinking of it. Rome’s power inflicted
pain. Our claims of moral advancement seem misplaced today as power is still used
to hurt; in the public-square and the private-sphere.
When Jesus died on that Cross it was like the worlds’ devilishness and sin attached
itself to him – and he took it with its guilt before God! He took it so that one day, a
future day there will be freedom from its pain and judgment. But that also affects today.
The faith in Christ that brings forgiveness and freedom from judgment for the future is
life-giving today! It is to us, what the spring-time light is to a plant in photosynthesis.
God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ is life changing. It brings peace; peace with God; peace
with one another; peace within ourselves! There is a new freedom to stop hurting others. Being
forgiven by God liberates us and empowers us to forgive others. Have you ever been forgiven for
something by a person you’ve hurt? You know what that is like. You sleep again, you can lift your
head from the pillow and look at life.
The bible opens our eyes to see God at work even in that brutal
Easter event. Jesus, powerful enough to control the wildest
ravages of nature, to heal the sick, raise the
dead, expel demons and arouse faith in even the
most hard, calloused heart laid down his power
for others! Christ brought hope before the
biggest bully, death! Christ used power to
create peace, not pain.
The bible speaks of Jesus this way, the
punishment that brought us peace
was upon him…for he bore the
sins of many.
“Easter” is not just some
shadow from the past,
but a word that speaks of light
and life in the present!
Rev Dr Scott Kirkland
Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church
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Sunday Services and Weekly Timetable
Sunday
Morning Worship (with Creche, Hizkidz & Youth)
10.30am
Evening Worship (alternate Sundays) August-June
7.00pm
Housegroups (alternating with Evening Worship Sundays/Mondays)
Youth meetings in evenings for Secondary aged pupils ...details from office
Monday
*Toddler group
10.00am
Tuesday
*Toddler group
10.00am
*Playgroup (age 2+)
9.30 – 11.25am
*Castle Coffee Club (older adults)
1.30 – 3pm
Wednesday
*Toddler group
10.00am
*Playgroup (age 2+)
9.30 – 11.25am
*High School Lunch Club
*Rainbows, Brownies & Guides
12.20 – 1pm
For details, contact Pauline Forster on 07764 741978
The Pulse (prayer meeting)
7.15 – 8.30pm
Thursday
*Toddler group
10.00am
*Playgroup (age 2+)
9.30 – 11.25am
*Basement Club (S1-S6)
7.00pm
Friday
*Playgroup (age 2+)
9.30 – 11.25am
Tom’s Club (monthly) (Adults needing additional adult support)
7.30 – 9pm
*During School Terms
Maxwell Mearns Castle
Parish Church
Waterfoot Road, Newton Mearns
Glasgow G77 5RE
phone 0141 639 5169 (Church Office)
email office@maxwell mearns.org.uk
web www.maxwellmearns.org.uk
Minister, Rev. Dr. Scott Kirkland
www.maxwellmearns.org.uk
Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church