feb 06c

1st Holytown Girls Brigade

The Kirk Session has decided to advertise internally the post of Captain. Applications should reach Mr Stewart McNeil, Session Clerk, by Sunday 26th February at the latest.

David Grier: 1918-2006

On 10th January our elder and friend David Grier died in Monklands District Hospital, Airdrie. Davie had been in poor health for quite some time but still struggled to do as much for himself as he possibly could.

Davie became an elder twenty years ago and served faithfully in the Kirk Session. For many years he could be found polishing the brasses, sweeping the floor, dusting and a host of other jobs in the church. He enjoyed serving in this way. He was happy to wash the minister's car and to convey the manse children up and down the road to school when required.

Davie had a pawky sense of humour and could also be quite outspoken. He was always his own man. He was a kindly man and was always ready and willing to help in whatever way he could. We shall all miss his ready smile and greeting.

The Guild

The programme for the next few weeks is:

February 8th Mr B Hannah
February 15th Clem Charity
February 22nd Rev J Allerdyce
March 1st AGM

Who am I?

Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell's confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing
my throat, yearning for colours, for flowers,
for the voices of birds,
thirsting for words of kindness, for neighbourliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation,
tossing in expectation of great events,
powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine.

Written by D Bonhoeffer while imprisoned for his faith.