A welcome from our Minister, the Rev. Alan Gibbon M.Th. Hello, thanks for visiting our website. I would like you to have a look around and get a feel for what we are like as a church. I would love the chance to hear your comments or answer any questions you may have. On a Sunday we have a contemporary style of worship, where we try and hold on to the best of the tradition of church down the ages, whilst trying new ideas and style that are more relevant to today. In my ministry I am encouraged by the writings or Rob Bell, Brian McLaren and John Otberg to name but three. These are people with something worthwhile to say. As a Church, we journey with the community that lives and works around us. We are home to several community groups and our buildings have played host to events as varied as drama productions and the Sri Lankan new year celebrations. We try to be here to serve. We want to invite you to be on that journey, and be part of a new conversation. At Knightswood Congregational Church, you will find all kinds of people who are at different stages of their faith journey and we try and create an atmosphere of acceptance where people can ask questions and together we can try and find an answer. Why not join us on Facebook, or Twitter, or come along on a Sunday? Be part of something new and join in. Contact Alan on (0141) 334 1351 / 07982261640 or e-mail him. Deacons The Church is also served by deacons. Deacons are nominated and recognised by the Church members. The Deacons support the Minister in spiritual oversight of the Church. Knightswood Congregational Church is affiliated to the Congregational Federation and the Congregational Federation in Scotland .

Letters from Alan

June / July 2010

Isn’t it funny how a word like that, which looks like a spelling mistake, can suddenly become one of the most talked about places on earth?

We have heard the stories about people stranded all over the world unable to get back and the struggles, we have even heard all the jokes about the place, although some people thought it better to wait until the dust settled (insert groan here...)

But, for years we have talked about the world being a smaller place with people able to get around quite easily from place to place in a matter of hours. Now we realise that the simplest of journeys are not always easy to complete or even be guaranteed.

I was listening on the radio about a man who found himself stranded in Dubai and realised that he wasn’t just round the corner, that he was stuck in a place far removed from where he was. In language, in culture, he was a bit lost.

Earlier this week I was speaking in Bankhead about notable Christians and decided to speak on Mary Slessor. I was surprised that no one in the class had heard anything of her at all.

But her journey from the lower classes of Dundee life, to having a portrait on a £10 note, was a long and arduous one. One which took her half way over the world and she became one of the most notable Christians in history. But why?

She was inspired.

She was inspired by the likes of David Livingstone to go half way across the world on a journey that took weeks: no aeroplanes back then!

She was inspired to go and live among people who were of a different culture and language. But she went on to make a difference.

This year the press are again talking about ‘stay-cations’ where we can’t get abroad, and we stick where we are. The same goes for mission. We need to learn to speak to our neighbours, our communities, to reach out a hand to people.

We might think that the younger generation speak a different language, or people with addiction problems live in a different culture, but we need to overcome our fears and reach out.

Let’s be inspired by the heros of our faith once more. Not just the heros of the bible, but people like Mary Slessor, David Livingstone and others - ordinary people who made a difference.

Have a good summer.

Your friend and minister,