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BOOKBUG

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 10.00am we meet on zoom for a story and sing along to nursery rhymes

Rhona the minister has been writing our very own stories about Tron the dog, come along to find out about Tron’s next adventure.

To join us you email or call and this information can be found on the contact us page

Every Thursday join us at 3.00pm for our Cannae Sing Choir group via zoom

It is great fun singing lots of golden oldies and also nice to see everyone and have a catch up

If you are interested again please email or call

Our youth group meets on Zoom every Thursday evening from 5.45pm

During this time we do crafts, jokes, riddles, dance, play games and share what we have been up to

The session if for primary aged children and is open to all children

28/05/20

Hi there,
I sit here at the study today, and think, its been ten weeks since I saw the kids from the Youth club at Tron St Mary’s, and my gosh, am I missing them.
On a Thursday, the team at TSM host two sessions for primary school kids in the church halls. Its mental, they come in all excited, hyper, and create havoc. I often, and know the others do too, go home knackered.
We try to do activities at the Youth club that kids will enjoy, the things about North East Glasgow kids, they tell you pretty quickly that what you had planned was mince!
I read an article about two years ago about being the excited person when you see kids, and I try to do that. My 12 year old step daughter is utterly embarrassed, but gives me a great big cuddle when her friends aren’t looking.
And that’s the ethos I have with all kids, even the grumpy high school kids, though when I go into Springburn, I let them come to me, and act a bit cooler (if that’s even possible!!) At Balornock primary, I can be my geeky self, and the kids seem to respond, but who would not feel happy, when someone is so excited to see you. In life, we should not just keep that for kids, we should do that for all.
Life is a precious gift, and COVID-19 might be forcing us to take that wee step back, and review it. But lets be excited to see each other when the time comes.

Proverbs 27:9 New International Version (NIV)
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

God, hear our prayers this day, our excitedness for others, and our prayers for those in our lives.
We pray for the kids who miss their pals at school, who miss the teachers, and the fun play times. We pray for the kids who miss their clubs, and groups, but give thanks that one day, they will meet again. God for us al, we give our prayers, amen

29/05/20

Good morning friends
Be still and know that I am god is the words to a hymn I have roaming around my head. I don’t know why. Normally at the end of March I am looking around garden centres to get bedding plants to fill the tubs in my garden. But alas not this year so I’ve been thinking my garden will look so colourless and empty. I have bushes in tbw front and back with just green leaves then one day I noticed a bud opening on our rhododendron tree then another and soon the whole tree is all covered the apple blossom appeared. Other bushes have pink,orange and red flowers. My garden is in glorious colour. God has been in charge we sometimes worry needlessly when really god has our plan already in place. So don’t worry if things don’t go the way you thought. Be still and know God has a plan for each of us.

Father God thank you for the good things we like up us to remember you have plans for each of us. We don’t always see it at first. If we have worries help us to be still and know that you are our God that gives us what we need and learn to trust you more. Bless us as some of the restrictions are lifted but we remain to to stay safe and give thanks that are helping in whatever way they can in your name we pray Amen
Marion Dunn

30/05/20

23/3/2020 is a date i will not forget. It’s the day a tiny virus changed my way if life certainly for the foreseeable future but possibly for a long time to come. It has challenged my lifestyle,made me look at things differently and taught me to appreciate what i have in family,friends and the freedom to choose my steps through life.
It is the last one that has hit my house hardest. Like everyone we have had our ups and downs but by far the biggest challenge has been accepting that someone in authority has the power to direct our life and actions. However,through it all I,like most people, have given that power over to to the government. This leaves me feeling reliant and vulnerable.
It is that thought i want to look at today. We glorify a much higher power than any government figure. We have God. All too often though we don’t allow God to direct our lives but we try to take charge. This weakens our relationship with our loving Father. My hope from all this is would be that each of us learns to accept that God has plans for each of our lives that would give us the best possible relationship with Him if we would only trust in Him.
2 Cirinthians 12 v9 says ” My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness si that Christ’s power may rest on me”
My understanding if this is that God stands waiting, ready for us to admit our weakness and vulnerabiliites. This will allow Him to fill us with His grace and strenth. By doung this we can truly glorify Him who strengthens us.
God please teach us to become weak in your presence so that your strength will shine through us. Please teach us to give all our doubts and fears to you so that you can fill us with your love, strength and grace. Please teach us to show that love, strength and grace to everyone you place in our lives. Amen

Yvonne Gorman, member of Tron St Mary’s

01/06/20

Good Morning everybody, I hope you have had a wonderful weekend and its been great we have been blessed with the weather again. So perhaps you got to meet up with family or friends you haven’t seen for a a while. It was great to see lots of pictures on social media of people seeing each other face to face for the first time in 10 weeks it was lovely hearing stories but glad they were all keeping safe and and socially distance still.
But it upsets me to see the ones that have gathered in large crowds basically flouting the rules and that some places have been so busy. And its scares me how easy it could be to be put in lockdown again what’s that going to do for peoples mental wellbeing.
Lets just take baby steps be sensible. Take it a step at a time until we are sure we are in a safe place. Lets do this for each other and for all the NHS and care workers that are dealing with this on a daily basis. Then we can all meet up as our church family x God Bless
Dear Father God as we celebrate Pentecost the birthday of your church may we know that the Holy spirit is among us and it is guiding us day by day. Lets give thanks for all the families and friends who have been reunited and connected again.
Lord as another week please be with all the decision makers in the Government that they make the right ones pray for the school staff that have to look at the way forward for them and the children. Pray For Rhona and all the Elders and our members and the project staff as we continue our work in caring and supporting each other. And pray for those either grieving or in need today In your name we pray Amen
Louise

Now that we are restricted by movement thankfully, we are not as restricted in or around our gardens.

As many of yous may know here at Tron St Mary’s be have many gardening and home growing initiatives at the project thanks to Climate Challenge Fund

Here are some garden tips to help us keep busy over the weeks to come as it can also provide exercise without having to go far.

Giving the soil a turnover with a fork or even a hoe will take away that soil compaction that builds up as a result of winter weather and lack of maintenance.
Cutting the grass should be done in stages.
Your lawnmower may only have one setting but if it doesn’t don’t try and cut it down in one go as this will leave your grass going a yellowy /white colour due to the shock of exposing the lower sheltered sheaths. It will however, recover but never looks good for a while and more likely to allows weeds to grow.

Fibrous rooted herbaceous perennials such as lilies Hosta’s crocosmia heuchera begena can be split and moved to another part of the garden this just means putting a spade down through the plant down to the spade depth lifting the section out and replanting as is
Iris’s can be split but are best left till after flowering in June/July.

It is also time to look at your old strawberries if you haven’t already gotten rid of old brown leaves get rid of them to prevent them rotting on your plant
If runners from last year’s plants are rooted, they are probably best left where they are now as disturbing them could set them back and result in reduced crop. If they are in pots and have a strong established root ball you can plant them into the ground grow bag larger pot or planter, 2nd year strawberry planted plants are always the best

Vegetable growing season is now also now starting Ensure your bed is weed free dig out all those weeds that will restrict the growth of seeds.
Organic Manure can be added but not always available to be dug into the soil, but at this time some fertilisers should be added to the soil especially if this has been your regular veg patch.

Most supermarkets have plenty on the shelf’s – miracle grow products etc that ensures a balance of nitrogen phosphorus and potash is always best.
For root vegetables a higher level of phosphorus is needed but don’t get too hung up
The most important thing is the soil, ensuring plenty of light (Don’t plant under a tree next to hedge etc) and water
If you have no vegetable seeds and not going out for essential shopping where seed packets and fertiliser are in supermarkets you could order them online.
With all deliveries and when out in the garden always remember to wash your hands before and after.

If you don’t think you can order in any seeds any old potatoes that have lay in the back of a cupboard will quickly start developing shoots and can be planted in the ground ,in containers or large bags outside make sure the depth of your total soil is about 12 inches and plant them half way down 5-6 inches and about 8-10 inches apart and they will grow just the same.

Don’t panic yet as this is still preparation time the best planting times in the highly situated Springburn area is towards the end of the April beginning of May and most seeds will produce good sized vegetables being sown outdoors right up to sowing in early to mid-June. Anything after that apart from salad leaves and radish will run out of light and ground heat.
Come on give it a go and grow your own

Keep safe
More later

Hi folks
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and this week is the our Holy week, its also the week that Lent will come to an end on Thursday evening.
This week, there are bible reading that I will share, telling the story of Jesus last week, what he got up to, how his life came to an end, and all the bits in between. Todays reading, is John 12:1-11, and is a secret favourite of mine, as I think we can all relate to Mary and Martha as different points in our life, or even during a day! Mary is busy serving the dinner, and Martha is busy using her expensive perfume to clean that feet of Jesus. Both are helping. Matthew talked yesterday to us about looking out for the helpers the now, and that is where we must look, we have the Mary’s out there physically doing work to help us, and the Martha’s, who are isolating, but calling and caring for us with words. Both, are of value, both give us hope

Good News Translation:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. 2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. 3 Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. 4 One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins[a] and the money given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.
7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”
The Plot against Lazarus
9 A large number of people heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too, 11 because on his account many Jews were rejecting them and believing in Jesus.

God, Hear our prayer, with the wind hitting the window, but the quietness of now cars going pass, hear our silence, our thoughts , hear our words.
We pray for and with those who now have to plan a funeral for a loved one, who have to plan a service that feels strange and quiet, but in the midst of small numbers, you are there, the Mary helping the family lie the funeral directors, the grave teams, the crematorium staff, you are the Martha of our friends who call, of the words said at the grave side or crème, you are there, and this we give our prayers, Amen

Good Morning, Today is Palm Sunday, and our friend Matthew has prepared our thought for the day, and prayer

Reading – Matthew 21: 1-11 (New International Version)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

This is the passage from the lectionary this week. It’s one that is familiar to many people, but I think it takes on a completely new meaning in our lives right now. In verse 8 we see the community coming together to show hospitality and appreciation for someone they may never have met.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
One of my favourite quotes comes from a public children’s television host named Mr. Rogers. He once said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’”
I continue to be amazed with how communities stand together and help one another in difficult times. How have you seen the ‘helpers’? And how have you seen or been a part of ‘laying down your cloak’ for someone else?

Prayer:
Gracious God, we are unsure.
We don’t know how long this will be the new normal. Our lives are in turmoil and many of us feel alone. Some of us are feeling stir-crazy from being inside all day and some of us are even starting to miss school. We miss our friends, our relatives, and our neighbours.
Please help us to see the helpers. Whether they are the staff in the hospitals, the neighbours who offer to get the groceries, the friends who call to check in, the organizers who try to create fun things on zoom, or those sharing activity and recipe ideas help us to see them as your message of hope.
Help us to be mindful of the way in which we interact with others. We are all stressed and tired. Please help us to love one another even as they are driving us crazy.
Please be with first responders and medical staff. Help them to see the good they are doing and the appreciation we feel for them. Please help them stay encouraged.
Please help us all to feel some measure of your presence with us and comfort knowing that this too will pass.
And now we join to say the prayer you gave us:
Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial. And deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory. Are yours now and forever. Amen

Currently with the advice from the Government and NHS our church is closed for all activities including worship. We are however, continuing to look out for the welfare of the community, helping to tackle the isolation and loneliness many are facing.

We are keeping in regular contact with our service users and congregation through emails and phone calls. If you or someone you know is feeling lonely or down please do not hesitate to contact us on 07912086600 We are here to help in anyway we can.

If you require food parcels please also get in touch and we can signpost you in the right direction or make referrals for you.

As our nurseries and schools are now closed is can be very daunting and worrying heading into the unknown. There will be many stresses and concerns on how to keep our children occupied. We hope this page brings some fun and interactive activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Please remember there is no pressure to re-create school at home – reading, creating, playing, singing and talking is more than enough for the children.

Helpful links

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/travel-trivia/stuck-at-home-these-12-famous-museums-offer-virtual-tours-you-can-take-on-your-couch-video/ar-BB119nm6?li=BBnbfcL&fbclid=IwAR0_OBJH7lSyTN3ug_MsOeFnNgB1orTa9OBgilKJ7dhnwlVvHEsptuKkj1c
• https://www.holidaypirates.com/travel-magazine/13-zoos-that-offer-live-streams-see-giraffes-koalas-pandas-tigers-penguins-more_35765?sc_src=email_1781336&sc_lid=131849624&sc_uid=E9XMkMdAJd&sc_llid=79845&sc_eh=90c96067707bdfbc1&utm_campaign=UK_2020_12_We_newsletter_all_all_20200318&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+more&fbclid=IwAR3EgYhD2iYvf_y41olvDxLKPvm06qDkwIM8OQeQGePtwiAlB9jX99mplfk
• https://literacytrust.org.uk/
• bbc.co.uk/bitesize
• http://www.communication4all.co.uk/
• https://www.barefootcomputing.org/
• https://www.ictgames.com/
• https://www.bigactivities.com/
• https://www.twinkl.co.uk/
• https://sciencebob.com/

The Dancing Dolans

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Our Kids February school holiday club took place on Wednesday 12th February. We began the session with lunch provided for the kids, closely followed up by interactive floor games and slime making!

The session was well attended and the children thoroughly enjoyed their home made slime. Big thanks to Highballs low and also Glasgow City Council for providing our lunch!

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