What’s On Page
Minister: Rev. Raheel Arif
Tel: 01324 819149
Moving forward together
As we move forward into Spring, we are beginning to explore more ways to work together with our friends at Denny Old Church. This joint magazine is an example of this cooperative working, trying to make all events and activities in both churches accessible and open to everyone through a shared calendar and articles of interest to both congregations.
We have enjoyed the fellowship and sense of Christian purpose that were experienced at our joint services at Denny Old and Haggs during the months of January and February and we look forward to the forthcoming shared worship during Holy Week.
These forms of joint worship will continue to grow in the future as we move towards establishing unions between churches in our area and the loss of some buildings. Although it is necessary to be pragmatic about the state of the Church of Scotland, acknowledging the need to reduce buildings due to falling congregational numbers, increasing costs and the shortage of trained ministers, it is also important to remember the hurt and distress that these changes will bring to some of our members. We pray that these unions can proceed with care and thoughtfulness and not be rushed and forced within short timescales.
As we look forward to the future in our church it is also important to look back with gratitude to all the dedicated service and work that Elders and Youth Organization leaders have given for more than 25 years of mission in the Haggs area. Thirteen Elders and Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Officers are to receive Long-service certificates presented by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland at a special celebrational service on March 14th in Hamilton St John’s Church.
These are the loyal servants of the Lord:-
Marion Campbell, Lorna Duncan, Ernest Firth, Ruth Gallacher (died 23/02/2024), Ernest Martin, Moira Martin, Jean McCheyne, Jean Proffit, Sue Storrar, Nan Young, Liz Heeps,
Morag Wales and John Fenney. We hope and trust that if able, they will use their dedication and experience to take forward mission work in our area into the future.
The hope and challenge for future mission is that Haggs and Denny Old churches become more welcoming, transforming and nurturing to the peo-ple in our communities, so we can stand in solidarity with the poor, mar-ginalized and challenge violence and injustice and work together for peace.
God Bless you all at this Easter time,
Sue Storrar
(Session Clerk at Haggs Parish Church)
Link Magazine: March 2024 now available to download from this link
April 2024
Sunday 7th April 2024 - Service Haggs Church - at 9.45am
The service can be viewed on the following Facebook page, Minister Denny Old and Haggs at 11.15 am
A facebook account is required to access.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/815604555526629.
Sunday 14th April 2024 - Service Haggs Church - at at 9.45am
The service can be viewed on the following Facebook page, Minister Denny Old and Haggs at 11.15 am
A facebook account is required to access.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/815604555526629.
Sunday 21st April 2024 - Service Haggs Church - at at 9.45am
The service can be viewed on the following Facebook page, Minister Denny Old and Haggs at 11.15 am
A facebook account is required to access.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/815604555526629.
Sunday 28th April 2024 - Service Haggs Church - at at 9.45am
The service can be viewed on the following Facebook page, Minister Denny Old and Haggs at 11.15 am
A facebook account is required to access.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/815604555526629.
United Services 2024
Friday 01/03/24 - World Day of Prayer - Dunipace - 7pm
Sunday 03/03/24 - World Day of Prayer - Dunipace - 10:30am
Sunday 19/05/24 - Pentecost - Bonnybridge -10:30 am
Sunday 18/08/24 - New Beginnings - DennyWestpark - 10:30 am
Sunday 06/10/24 - Harvest Thanksgiving - Denny Old - 10:30 am
Sunday 01/12/24 - 1st Advent Sunday - Haggs - 10:30 am
Shoebox Appeal
45 Shoe boxes were handed in by Haggs Church on Sunday 29th October.
Once again Haggs Church is asking for your support with the Shoebox appeal.
To bring a smile to the faces of children in Eastern Europe who have very little to smile about
is one way of showing our Christian love.
These boxes are delivered to Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, Kosovo and Moldova.
Join together with friends and relations to make up a box.
Leaflets are available to show you the items that perhaps can fill your shoebox.
Shampoo, shower gel, a notebook and pencil and a pair of socks
given to someone who has nothing is like a dream come true.
The Shoebox should be at Haggs Church by the end of October.
Yoga 4 All
Yoga Sessions have restarted on 24th August 2023 after the summer break on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8.15pm in Haggs Church Hall.
The classes are led by Sue Storrar, a qualified and registered yoga teacher with ‘Yoga Scotland’, who has over 20 years of yoga teaching experience.
Yoga aims to exercise the body, still the breath and lift the spirit. If you would like to come along for some gentle exercise with a friendly, non-judgmental group then contact Sue for more details and to book a place.
Phone or text: 0770 9263588.
The Sunday Club
The Sunday Club will be starting on Sunday 10th September 2023
we will welcome all young people to join us.
We will have stories, crafts and a monthly games feature.
Moira Martin
The Snowdrop Cafe
Meets every Monday in Haggs Church Hall at 1.00pm
All are welcome.
1st Haggs Boys Brigade
Anchor Boys (Primary 1 – Primary 3) Tuesday between 6 – 7 p.m.
Junior Section (Primary 4 – Primary 6) and Company Section (Primary 7 – Secondary 6) Friday 6.30 – 8.30 p.m.
All in Haggs Parish Church Hall. If you have a boy or girl who wants to come to the Boys Brigade and would like more information,
please contact myself phone 01786 470817 or 07799145121 or email johnfenney72@outlook.com.
We are looking for more helpers/Officers. If you are interested, please contact me.
John Fenney, Captain 1st Haggs Boys Brigade
Food Bank – Basket in Church
Your generosity in giving donations to the Food Bank is to be commended. Without your contributions there would be a marked difference to the help the Food Bank can give. Please keep giving it is much appreciated.
Zumba Classes
There are two classes which meet in the Church Hall – Monday evenings at 6 p.m. and Zumba Gold on Fridays at 11 a.m.
Please come along – you will be made most welcome. For further information contact Liz Heeps.
Driving Force - reminder
I am sure most people are aware of the service from Driving Force for cancer patients appointments. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this service please ask them to be in touch with their GP to make arrangements with Driving Force, who relieve the strain and worry of getting to appointments and parking.
School Visits
Over the past two years primary school visits have been stopped. Jean Duff from Denny Old and myself representing Haggs in conjunction with our Minister, Raheel, have maintained a relationship with the head teachers of the three schools by sending PowerPoint presentations to be used alongside the school curriculum.
The latest one is entitled “Starting again” In the first slides we talk about learning to do something. Perhaps its learning to swim or ride a bike. We may have to go over and over it, getting annoyed at our lack of ability but practice helps.
We often have to start again from the very beginning, whether it’s in our personal life, relationships with friends or in a game of Jenga.
We can learn from our mistakes so not to make the same ones the next time.
Then we go on to tell the story of Noah.
When the ark finally came to rest on dry land, Noah and his family had to start again. They had to rebuild their lives but the first thing that they did was thank God for their safe deliverance.
We need to “start again” and bring the good news to as many people as we can, because God has called us to follow him.
Moira Martin
DONATIONS TO CHARITIES IN 2022
CHRISTIAN AID…………………………………………........£1,386.00
POPPY SUNDAY………………………………………..…….£103.00
FALKIRK FOOD BANK………............................……......£78.00 and FOOD
MACMILLAN CANCER CARE…………….....……………...£571.00
BLYTHSWOOD CARE………………………...............…....SHOE BOXES
UNICEF……………………………………………………….....£180.00
CROSSREACH………………………………………………....£1,410.00
FALKIRK SOCIAL WORK DEPT….................................CHRISTMAS PARCELS
TOTAL DONATIONS FOR 2021…………........………….....£5,052.00
THANK YOU EVERONE FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS GENEROSITY AGAIN IN 2022
TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
Message from your Treasurer
On behalf of the Kirk Session may I thank you for your continued support to Haggs Parish Church.
Can I just remind you of the different ways in which you can make your offering?
By Weekly Freewill Offering envelopes. Please see the Treasurer if you wish to have envelopes or ask your elder.
If you pay Income Tax please Gift Aid your offering – this allows Haggs Church to claim back the tax which you have already paid (approx. 20% more – at no extra cost to you). Please see Marion Campbell for a form to complete (this does not tie you to a fixed amount or a fixed term but allows the Church to claim back tax on however much you give) or again ask your elder. On average over the last few years we have recovered between £5000.00 and £6000.00 per year from Gift Aid. Without this money would not have been able to pay all our bills…………..so please – the more we can claim in Gift Aid the more money we can get back.
Either of the above methods can be made by Standing Order directly from your bank account to the Church’s bank account. Saves the number of WFO envelopes we have to buy and saves you remembering to make up the Sundays you have missed for whatever reason. It is really important to Haggs Church that you do make up the weeks you have not managed to get to Church so that we have a more accurate assessment of what monies are coming in to be able to budget for the expenditure.
We are most grateful for your generosity to all the charities we support – for a small congregation you do give very willingly to others – so thank you.
Thanks for all your loyalty and support and PLEASE ………don’t change!
Marion