FEBRUARY 2021 EDITION 592 - East Kilbride Old Parish ...
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FEBRUARY 2021 EDITION 592
EDITOR
After the publishing of last month’s EKO, quite
a few people asked me what was the signifi-
cance of the graphic on the front page. Well,
last month ‘topic’ was Epiphany and the
graphic was supposed to represent the more
‘Eastern’ approach to epiphany which is the baptism of Jesus. The graphic
held the water for baptism and a heart-shape, formed by the two hands, for
love.
This month’s front page is Daniel B. Holeman’s representation of
‘purification’.
In the Roman calendar, the second month was Februarius, coming from the
Latin ‘Februum’ meaning ‘purification’. So, for many, the month of February
is a time for purification. I suppose that this year it is more appropriate than
in almost any year in the past.
February also holds the time of Candlemas. So, if you see graphics of candles
in this magazine you will know why!
- Editor
2
This is Where We Came In……….
Like many other readers I’m old enough to remember
when your timing for going to the cinema or “the pic-
tures” was dictated by bus timetables rather than by
the showing times. It was very common then to come
in part-way through a film, watch it to the end, then
the “wee” picture, then the Pearl & Dean adverts and then the start of the
“big” picture. At some point you realised you were watching some action
you’d already seen and someone with you would say…
”This is where we came in…”
Now well into the new year and yet another time of restrictions on everyday
life, I’m reminded of those early experiences of having been here before. In
addition to the re-imposition of closures of restaurants, hairdressers and oth-
ers, this time the rules have even affected the delivery of this magazine which
has been delivered by post rather than by our Helping Hands.
All this though doesn’t stop us looking ahead, and the Kirk Session has al-
ready begun to look at ways in which some of the adaptations and innova-
tions of the past year in our communications with members and the wider
community, and the ways we engage with our young people might continue
post-Covid. Our Zoom Sunday School in particular has been very successful in
engaging whole families and we need to find ways of retaining these links.
For most of us, our focus over the next few weeks and months will probably
be on the vaccination programme and its impact on the pandemic, so it’s
probably difficult to think about something happening in the far distance of
2024. We will though have a major milestone in the life of our congregation
to celebrate in that year with the 250th Anniversary of the construction of our
church building. If we just think for a moment about some the trials and tribu-
lations of the congregation, the splits and reconciliations over all those years,
perhaps others before us have also at times thought:
“This is where we came in…” Session Clerk
3
PASTORAL LETTER
During February, we begin the season of Lent. Lent was originally estab-
lished for new Christians, who were to spend forty days and forty nights pre-
paring for their baptism. If at the end they still wanted to follow Jesus, then
on Easter Eve they would be baptized as the sun was rising in the east, signal-
ling the new day, inaugurated because of the Resurrection. But later the
Church used the forty days as a time of renewal for those who were already
Christians, because at a certain point everyone in the empire became a Chris-
tian, and everyone was baptized as infants. So, the time of Lent was used as a
time of renewal and recommitment to the Christian life, examining our lives
in light of the one we are supposed to follow.
Traditionally Lent has been seen as a time of “giving things up” but quite hon-
estly, who among us in these difficult times wants to give up their chocolate
or their glass of wine? Not me, that’s for sure! So, what can Lent bring us as
we journey towards Easter 2021?
I think it can bring us a time to focus our thoughts positively on the future.
We have all struggled in this past year, and although none of us knows of a
timescale, there are so many positive signs that things might return slowly to
life as we used to know it. Maybe during Lent we should make a conscious
decision to give up on negativity and take up positivity instead. More and
more people are receiving the vaccine, so give thanks for that and don’t
grumble about where your invitation is. (I’m as desperate for my vaccine as
you are, but trust that they’ll get round to you!)
Here’s another thought for Lent. The early Christians used Lent as a time for
renewal and recommitment to the Christian life. Maybe we can use this sea-
son to prepare ourselves for rethinking our commitment to the Christian life.
What does being a member of East Kilbride Old look like for you as we pre-
pare to meet together in person again?
4
We are fortunate that Lent unfolds for us in early Spring. All through the
dark days of winter, plants have been dormant, but now they are beginning
to show new shoots. I think we can also see new shoots of recovery from
this pandemic, so let’s all use this Lenten season to be patient, be positive,
and prepare ourselves for that day when we can all worship together
again.
Yours in love,
LENT BIBLE STUDY
It has been the usual practice during Lent for us in the Old Parish to join to-
gether with our fellow Christians in the village area in a bible study. Obvious-
ly, this year we will not be able to do that in person, however I have pre-
pared some material which we will use by joining together in a Zoom video
call. I have been in touch with the other churches in the village area and
they will pass on the information to their folks.
The material will be adapted from the book, “At home in Lent” by Gordon
Giles, and will focus on the everyday objects we have around our house, and
since we’re all spending such a lot of time at home, this seems very appropri-
ate. Each week will stand alone, so people can come to whichever session
suits. We will begin on Friday 19th February at 11am and meet each Friday
until our final session on Friday 26th March. If you are interested in joining
us, please email me your contact details or phone me and I can forward the
material to you and give you the details for joining. Details of how to join
will also be on the website, and remember, you don’t need internet connec-
tions to join, you can join by your telephone.
apaton@churchofscotland.org.uk
07912 295940
5
Notes to Total Incomes Years 2018-2020
FINANCE
1 Total Incomes reduced from £125,889 in 2019 to £106,603 in 2020
A reduction of £19,286 from previous year made up of:-
a Plate, WFO and Donations reduced by £5,267
b Gift Aid reduced by £3,910
c Income Tax Recovered reduced by £7,008
d Other Incomes reduced by £3,101
Total £19,286
a Understandably there have been fewer WFO and Open Plate
donations as our Church has been more or less shut from Mar 20.
Fortunately, donations by way of cheques has kept the reduction
to a manageable minimum.
b Gift Aid has been reduced by a small amount due mainly to
fewer Gift Aid envelopes received at Church door as Church closed.
This has been once more minimised by Gift Aid donations received
by cheques during the lockdown period.
c Income Tax recovery has been reduced due in some small part by
the overall reduction in normal Gift Aid donations as stated above
but also by the significant reduction of Income Tax recoveries on
Gift Aid Small Donations which in past years has allowed Tax recoveries
on small Plate donations each week up to a total of £6000 in any one
year. Thus we have not been able to claim such Tax recoveries as there
have been no small Plate donations this year due to closure.
Unfortunately Tax could also not be recovered on small donations by
Cheque.
d Obviously other Incomes including Hall lets, Weddings, Coffee clubs,
Line Dancing and other premises related Incomes have been reduced
6
due to Church and Hall closures. Overall, though there has been a signifi-
cant reduction in incomes due to the very exceptional and understandable
circumstances prevailing in this very difficult year. It is worth noting however,
that due to the very generous and thoughtful donations received by cheque
from congregation members maintaining their level of givings and topping
up when they could and by way of additional exceptional expenses, we
have indeed managed to keep our incomes to a reasonable level.
Not withstanding this however, given our normal and necessary levels of ex-
penditure, our costs of maintaining premises, our expenses involved in main-
taining our communication and help to those in need in the community and
fulfilment of our commitment to the Church nationally, we will show a sub-
stantial deficit on our General Fund at the end of Dec 20.
We have some very difficult months ahead and I would urge members to
continue with their very grateful support and urge others to re-look at their
givings where possible.
Once more I would ask that anyone wishing to contribute and support our
church by way of Gift Aid Donations or by cheque donation or Bank trans-
fer or Bank Standing Order to please contact me :
Finance Convener and Gift Aid Co-ordinator, East Kilbride Old Parish Church
Mob: 07402192610
Home Tel 01698422638
Email Address: deslaverty@googlemail.com
Address
36 Bourtree Road
Earnock
Hamilton
ML3 8PT
7
FINAL GRAPH
East Kilbride Old Parish Church - Incomes Year ended 31st Dec
2020 2019 2018
Plate.WFO and Donations £21,380 £26,647 £28,895
Gift Aid £65,003 £68,913 £67,858
Tax Recovery £13,061 £20,069 £18,797
Other Incomes £7,159 £10,260 £8,892
TOTALS £106,603 £125,889 £124,442
`
East Kilbride Old Parish Church
140000
Total Incomes per Year
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
Plate.WFO and Gift Aid Tax Recovery Other Incomes TOTALS
Donations
2020 2019 2018
8
UPDATE FROM IAIN SHAW
Defining what family ministry is today is not without its challenges. No single
succinct definition exists that effectively describes how, what or when, this
work takes places across churches and communities. There are simply hun-
dreds of definitions out there.
But for me, in my simple way of looking at things, it means building, trusting,
loving and meaningful relationships which last the test of time and these re-
lationships are with the whole family and not just the children and young
people.
Whilst out for a walk in Strathaven recently, all on the one day I bumped into
several adults all of whom were previously members of the Sunday School
and Youth group I led. It must be 15 - 20 years ago since I had taught each
of them in a Sunday School setting and yet in some ways it still feels like yes-
terday. Each person has always stopped to speak and to share their news
and it is always great to hear how they were getting on. I am so grateful for
the many relationships that have continued and been built up over the years
and the friendships that have developed as a result. This includes the young
people and their families and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside know-
ing that even though there is no longer such regular contact the friendships
remain strong.
These most recent catch-ups of their news, resulted in me feeling like a minis-
ter dealing with “hatches, matches and dispatches” – one of them had re-
cently become a father, another had just lost her mum, another whose wed-
ding we were at 2 years ago announced she and her husband were expect-
ing their first child. It was great to be able to congratulate, console, and en-
courage each of them in their journey.
I hope that as we journey together at EKOPC, long-lasting relationships and
friendships will develop and grow for all our church families. I will always be
willing to congratulate, console and encourage everyone as we continue
growing as a Church family.
I was delighted to share at a morning worship recently a brief update on
9
what we have being doing with the children, young people and families
over the last few months I hope this was useful and you were encouraged to
learn of the new initiatives which have been developed during these strange
times.
Events and activities:
• Our weekly virtual Sunday School meets every Sunday morning at
9.30am
• Our next monthly family quiz night is scheduled for Saturday 13th Febru-
ary at 7pm
• Our new midweek group meets on a Wednesday at 2pm. The group is
called FLING and is for children and young people while the schools are
closed. It provides the youngsters with the opportunity to meet their
friends and have some chill time away from the daily home schooling –
it also doubles up to provide the parents with a wee break so they too
can have some time to themselves. Please spread the word to any fami-
lies you know and if they are interested please encourage them to join
the fun.
In closing I thank you all for your continued prayers, support & encourage-
ment and I pray you, will all continue to stay safe, keep healthy and look af-
ter one another.
(Youth & Families
Worker) mobile 07912
295943 / email iain-
shaw18@gmail.com
10East Kilbride Old Parish Church
Midweek FLING : (Fun, Learning,
Interactive, New skills & Games) :
Every Wednesday @ 2pm (during school closure)
For further information speak to or call Iain Shaw
Join us for our Virtual Valentine’s Family
Quiz Night on Sat 13th Feb @ 7pm.
For further information call or text
Iain Shaw.
=
You are all welcome to join our
Virtual Sunday School / Messy Church
every Sunday morning @ 9.30am
for further information call or text Iain Shaw
The joining code is 852 4169 8517 (658984)
=
11PRAYER DIARY
We at the prayer group continue to take your prayer requests to our Heaven-
ly Father. Text your requests to 07443503142 or
email marionleddie@gmail.com
‘Use every opening God gives you to grow, starting today.’
1st. Pray for members of councils, committees and presbyteries of our church
who in this time of covid 19 are faced with big responsibilities, that they
may be uplifted and guided by God's grace in all their decision-making.
2nd.We thank you that your love has no exceptions Lord.
3rd. We pray for the children who are not in school, that they stay well and
manage to keep their time occupied.
4th. Father, thank you for the love and self control you have given us.
5th. Thank you Lord, for scriptures that comfort and remind us of your promis-
es, plan and provision.
6th. Let our light shine.
7th. Father guide us with your wisdom, peace and love.
8th. We pray for President Joe Biden as he takes over the presidency of the
USA. Guide him in this new challenge and give him wisdom to re-
establish unity in his country.
9th. “Fear not for I am with you.” says the Lord our God.
10th.We give thanks Father, that the vaccine is being delivered and ask that it
is rolled out smoothly.
11th.We pray Lord, that today's young folk will remain optimistic and secure
in their future.
12th.We pray Lord, that all people of faith may soon be able to gather in
church to give thanks for your care during the pandemic.
13th.Please guide my words, thoughts and actions Lord throughout this day
and always.
1214th.Thanks to everyone involved in supplying others in whatever capacity.
15th.We pray Lord, that everyone would follow lock down rules to enable us
to get control of the virus.
16th."Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth, from despair to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace, let peace fill our lives, world
and universe.
17th.Guide me Lord and help me to be the person you want me to be.
18th.Father, we pray that all communication platforms would cease to display
false information about our well being.
19th.Lord, we thank you that even in these hard times, every day has bless-
ings.
20th.Father, help us to keep our eyes on you and live a life that proclaims you.
21st.Father God, thank you that you look beyond our faults and love us un-
conditionally.
22nd.We pray that the vaccine will be shared around the world especially in
poorer nations.
23rd.Grant me your peace wisdom and love as I go about my day.
24th.Give thanks for the Fairtrade Movement and pray that it may continue to
widen and grow, so that more farmers and growers across the world,
both man and women may receive a fair wage for their efforts and their
skills.
25th.Thank you Lord, for this new day that you have given me and help me
to live in faith and love.
26th.Father, help us to look after your beautiful world and everything in it
properly.
27th.We thank you again Lord, for the technology that keeps us in touch with
one another.
28th.Help us to face every storm with confidence, knowing that you are in
control.
13THE DASH BY LINDA ELLIS.
I read of a man who stood to speak And be less quick to anger
At the funeral of his friend. And show appreciation more
He referred to the dates on his gravestone And love the people in our lives
From the beginning--------------to the end Like we’ve never loved before.
He noted that the first came the date of his If we treat each other with respect
birth And more often wear a smile
And spoke of the following date with tears. Remembering that this special dash
But he said what mattered most of all Might only last a little while.
Was the dash between those years.
So when your eulogy is being read
For the dash represents all the time With life’s actions to rehash
That he spent alive on our earth, Would you be proud of the things they say
And now only those who loved him About how you spent your DASH.
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own
The car----the house----the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard,
Are there things you’d like to change?
For we never know how much time is left.
We could all be at dash mid-range.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand Submitted by
The way other people feel.
1417th EK GUIDES
At the end of last term, the Leaders hand-delivered the badges the girls had
earned during the year, all 150 of them! There were lots of interest badges,
World Book Day & Girlguiding Scotland’s Tri sports Individual challenge
badges, 4 skill builder badges, and our first ever theme award! A huge ‘well
done’ to all our girls!
The Guides continue to embrace our weekly Zoom meetings and are full of
enthusiasm and ideas. They decided to start our session and new year by
completing another one of our six theme awards - “Know Myself” and have
given us a long list of activities they would like to try.
We welcome 8 new Guides: Ailish, Zoe, Caityln, Scarlett, Isla, Kelsey, Niamh
and Jenna who have joined us from Moncrieff church Brownies & from our
own Brownie unit.
We had a great time learning about coding & creating our own retro arcade
games during our virtual meeting with Microsoft. The Microsoft facilitators
were on hand to help, and they empowered the girls to fix their own games
to make things work the way they wanted them to!
Keep safe and well.
15KIRK LIFE
Owing to the current situation, the Kirk Life Team has been unable to hold
any functions but would like to try and arrange some sort of event probably
on Zoom, for members of the congregation who are missing meeting with
other members.
The problem is the Kirk Life Team doesn’t have the skills to do this. We would
like suggestions for possible events and offers of assistance from people
with the skills to help run this.
If you wish to offer your services or have any good suggestions then please
contact the church office via email: ekopc.office@btconnect.com or phone
and leave a message on: 01355 279004. The office email and church phone
are monitored all the time and someone will get back to you.
Get those ‘thinking-caps’ on, please!
- Kirk Life Convener.
ERSKINE
“Despite Covid 19, our donation to Erskine this year amounted to.
A marvellous six hundred and fifty pounds.
Well done and thanks to all!
16LEPROSY MISSION DONATIONS
Following on from the service for World Leprosy Day on the last Sunday in
January, our normal pattern would have been to invite people to return
their gift envelopes on any Sunday in February. Things are different this year,
as we well know.
Instead, donations can be sent by cheque to Des Laverty at 36 Bourtree
Road, Hamilton ML3 8PT. Cheques should be made out to “East Kilbride Old
Parish Church”, and on the back, please write “Leprosy Mission”. If anyone
would prefer to donate via bank transfer, please phone Des on
07402192610, and he will give you the necessary details.
It’s worth noting that since Des is our Gift Aid Convener, he is able to reclaim
tax on the donations we make to the Church, which he is then able to pass
on to the Leprosy Mission. By this means, Des has already increased our to-
tal for the Harvest Offering for Christian Aid and Loaves and Fishes.
It may be that people have already been making these donations, for which
many thanks. If, like me, you still have that to do, it would be good if all gifts
could be made by the end of February.
17WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER –FRIDAY 5TH MARCH
Because of the COVID restrictions, the usual three services in areas of East
Kilbride will not take place.
Instead, there will a ZOOM Service for the whole of Scotland at 2pm on Fri-
day 5th March. The ID code is 895 9398 3883, and the Pass code is 901656.
People can also join in by landline on 0131 460 1196.
Starting on Tuesday 23rd February, there will be Ten Days of Prayer on the
World Day of Prayer Facebook page and website.
National leaders of 10 denominations will share a Thought for the Day, fo-
cussing on the country which has produced this year’s worship material –
Vanuatu.
There are lots of details on the website – www. wdpscotland.org.uk, includ-
ing the opportunity to make a donation.
In East Kilbride, we hope to be able to use the Order of Service from the
women of Vanuatu later in the year, when we can meet again.
18FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 2021– 22ND February – 7th March
The main thing we can do this Fairtrade Fortnight is keep on buying
Fairtrade products, and encourage other people to do the same. For obvi-
ous reasons our usual Coffee Morning and Poster Competition won’t take
place.
COVID-19 is making things very much worse for the farmers and growers
and workers in poorer parts of globe, but the big worry is climate change.
Countries like Kenya or Ethiopia, for example, who have done next to noth-
ing to cause climate change are now suffering the most from it.
So this year, the theme for Fairtrade Fortnight is “Choose the World You
Want through Fairtrade”. There is a variety of products carrying the Fairtrade
Mark in shops in East Kilbride – bananas, coffee both instant and ground,
chocolate, ice cream, wines, snacks, tea and more.
Take tea, for example. Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water.
It is estimated that 70,000 cups of tea are drunk every second. Yet the peo-
ple who grow the tea and work on the plantations struggle to get a fair deal.
Our choices make a difference.
The Fairtrade Foundation will be mounting a major on-line Festival during
the fortnight. Check it out on their website: www.fairtrade.org.uk The Fes-
tival will include a section for young people between the ages of 5 and 25.
Also worth looking at is the Scottish Fairtrade Forum:
www.scottishfairtradeforum.org.uk. It contains links to a number of shops
across Scotland which sell Fairtrade and ethically sourced products. One of
these listed is Gavin’s Mill, in Milngavie, and another is the One World Shop
in Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Another important link is to Traidcraft. It’s through Traidcraft that two elders
in the West Kirk – Hellen and Moira – supply us with the products which we
sell after the Church service on a Sunday once a month. They supply goods
also for the West Kirk, for Moncrieff Church along with the Old Parish and
they have been able to send money to support the work of Traidcraft Ex-
change.
Hellen and Moira are members of the East Kilbride Fairtrade Group.
19The Chairperson of the Group is Dr Pip Slorach and in St Bride’s she too has
been able to send money to Traidcraft through the sale of goods and cards
at Christmas. So there has been some financial support sent, despite the lock
-down for most of the year. Check out the website for further information:
www.traidcraftshop.co.uk. Along with the on-line shop, Traidcraft Exchange
is a development charity working with poor producers in Africa and Asia. If
anyone fancies a raffle, go to www.traidcraftexchange.org/raffle. You can
buy tickets online and find out about prizes.
Buying Fairtrade products is everyday activism and one of the simplest ways
to help change the world for the better. Through Fairtrade, farmers, grow-
ers and workers – especially women – can earn enough to feed their fami-
lies, send their children to school and build a future for their communities. So
please keep on making good choices!
20MAGAZINE COSTS
Are you able to go online?
Before the Pandemic we sent 35 magazines out by email.
When lockdown came we realised we could no longer go to Church /Coffee
mornings as before. Our usual distributors then would not be able to collect
their magazine folders as we were accustomed and a new plan was devised.
Thanks to Ian Shaw and the “helping hands volunteers”, magazines were
then delivered to our members’ homes.
This was not possible for all and we had a group of around 70 for whom it
was necessary to deliver by Royal Mail.
We also appealed for those who were able to go online to make contact.
A further 65 people did so and we thank them. We now send out 100 maga-
zines by email each month. This reduces the number of homes each of our
volunteers needs to deliver.
It also reduces the printing costs. Prior to the pandemic we were printing
about 500 Magazines, we have now reduced this to 350 each month.
Due to it now being a legal requirement to stay at home our “helping hands
group “is no longer able to be part of the delivery process.
This month and probably next month we have to deliver all hard copy by
Royal Mail. This will add a about further £181.50 expense to the Church. The
total cost to the church of posting all magazines will be about £225.00 each
month.
If after reading this you decide you could change to email please contact me
at
isobelgray@blueyonder.co.uk
Thank you for giving this your consideration.
21HELLO!
Hello my name is Sophie Parry and I am part of the Sunday School.
I love doing arts and crafts (when I’m not doing school work of course !).
One of my favourite crafts is painting on pebbles so here is how I do it
Step 1 : Research ideas online
Step 2 : Clean the rock with a wet wipe if needed
Step 3 : Sketch out my design with a pencil
Step 4 : Now I get to add colour (my favourite part) I use special art pens
which really help. I would also use acrylic paint it I want.
Step 5 : Lastly, I use a sealer to put on at the end with a sponge so no colours
smudge and the rock is now weatherproof.
Now the best part….you can give it away as a thoughtful gift or keep it for
yourself as a lovely piece of décor !!
Hope you enjoyed this piece and have a nice day. �
Pictures on the following page.
2223
17th EK BROWNIES
Last week at Brownies we asked the girls to come with 2 stars and a wish.
2 stars - two positives things that happened in 2020
1 wish - what do they wish for 2021, here goes:-
Stars -
• getting back to school
• going swimming
• going horse riding
• I got a new little cousin called Loga
• my gran and grandad didn't get Covid
• getting Chase a rescue dog
• going to the caravan
• zooming with the Brownies
• getting a mobile so I can speak to my friends
• learning to dive and flipping under
Wishes
• everyone who needs the vaccine gets it
• no more Covid
• get back to school and Brownie
• I want to have a sleepover with my Gran
• to bake more
• move up a level at swimming
• everyone to be healthy and happy
• move up a garage at Tae Kwon Do
• get back training with my football team
Millie, in addition to her wishes and stars, also drew this
picture, it made me and all the leaders smile and that smile
is passed onto our church family.
Keep safe and well, from 17th EK Brownies
24Spanish Flu April 1918 to March 1920
Over a century ago so called “Spanish Flu” was a pandemic which infected all countries
around the world.
It did not originate in Spain as the name implies but was called this because Spanish
Newspapers were the first to give it widespread publicity. Britain, Germany, USA and oth-
ers were at war. There was strict censorship of the media in all countries involved in the
First World War to prevent lowering the morale of the citizenship. This allowed Neutral
Spain to give it maximum publicity.
This pandemic came in at least 3 waves the second being the most deadly.
From the onset of symptoms, death for many, occurred very rapidly. The age group most
affected were healthy 20-30 year olds. The age group with the strongest immune system.
In a small community in Alaska, called Brevig Mission, of the 80 inhabitants 72 died. They
were buried in a mass grave on a hillside marked with small white crosses. This was cov-
ered in permafrost and left untouched till 1997 when scientists gained permission to
study samples from this grave. Much was learned from this research.
It was thought that the hundreds of demobbed troops landing at crowded ports and sta-
tions was a big factor in its spread around Europe, UK and USA and onward to the rest
of the world.
Although countries like Britain, Germany, USA and others had mastered clean water sup-
plies and better sanitation systems many countries did not have these advances allowing
other diseases to run rife further accelerating deaths after a short spell of flu illness.
During the Spanish flu pandemic closing schools, theatres and banning public gather-
ings were instituted in many countries. Sound familiar??
This was not done in any countrywide way but by individual communities, towns and
states.
In 1918 a San Francisco health official shot three people when one refused to wear a
mandatory face covering! Compliance seems to be an age old problem.
In 1918, studies have shown, that flattening the curve occurred when social distancing
measures were put in place.
Today, we have continuing medical advances like antibiotics, antivirals, intensive care
units, hospitals with piped oxygen to each bed, the ability to measure our blood oxygen
and quickly treat those whose levels fall below what is safe.
We lead much more healthy lifestyles. Especially we know about the dangers of smoking.
During the Spanish flu season it was a common belief that smoking would kill off the flu!
Most important of all we have immunisation which can be given worldwide to help pre-
vent further loss of life.
Tragic as Covid 19 is for us today we are so much better equipped to deal with a pan-
demic due to many Scientific and Medical advances and our much better state of health.
We really do have to give prayerful thanks for our own healthcare system.
25Colour the picture.
26PASTORAL REGISTER
EKO SUBMISSION DATE
David Kent -
27EAST KILBRIDE OLD PARISH CHURCH
In case of illness and bereavement, would the family please
contact the minister immediately and directly.
Rev. Anne Paton will be available for consultation in the vestry
after Sunday morning worship. Please arrange such consulta-
tion with the door duty team.
East Kilbride Old Parish Church, Church of Scotland, Scottish Charity—SC000609
Minister Rev. Anne Paton BA BD Tel. 01355 220732
40 Maxwell Drive. G74 4HJ Mobile 07912295940
E-mail address: apaton@churchofscotland.org.uk
Pastoral Assistants: Rev. Stewart Smith MA BD
and Miss Sheena Bell
Youth & Iain Shaw
Families Worker E-mail: iainshaw18@gmail.com
Session Clerk Mr Alistair Walker
Treasurer Mr Ronnie Niven
Roll Keeper Mr Robert Cossar
Gift Aid Mr Des Laverty
Church Secretary Louise Reilly (Hall Letting)
Church Halls, 3—5 Montgomery St. Tel. 279004
Glebe Street Hall
Church Office E-mail Address: ekopc.office@btconnect.com
Organist Mr Colin Thomas
Publications
Convenor Janice Gourlay
Magazine Editor David Kent, 18 Glen Lyon G74 2JJ
davidkent28@virginmedia.com
E-mail copies of February’s EKO magazine are available from:-
ekopcmagazine@gmail.com
Visit the East Kilbride Old Parish Church Website at: www.ekopc.org.uk
OR Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EKOLDPC
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