We are streaming our Sunday Services via YouTube 

A Church of Scotland congregation, we are based in Greenbank Parish Church which is situated on the southern outskirts of Glasgow. As well as Sunday Services we have a large number of activities in the church and halls throughout the week.

On these pages you will find a list of organisations, and some of the services we offer. We invite you to join us if you’re in Clarkston at any time.

How are we to understand this story? I am always drawn to the telling of the story of the first Easter morning as it is recorded in the Gospel of John (20: 1-18). In that telling of the story, Mary Magdalene journeys to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning whilst it is still dark. The darkness tells the story well, for Mary comes, not in celebration, but, in sadness. She comes, not in the light, but, in the shadows of darkness. She comes because the Lord she has loved is no more. She comes to the tomb and sees that it is empty, but does not yet believe. She runs back to the other disciples of Jesus and they also see, but do not yet believe.

In the midst of this seemingly tragic scene, we find Mary alone until she is joined by someone she does not recognize. The Gospel tells us that she sees Jesus, but that she ‘did not realise that it was Jesus’. She sees, but does not yet believe.

Into that moment of seeming incomprehension, Jesus speaks the name of Mary. He calls her by her name and, in so doing, she believes. She believes and so she sees. She believes in the Risen Lord and so, by faith, she sees him as he truly is.

As we await the Easter morning, may God grant us faith to believe in order that we might make this story our own and see the Lord who is risen for us and for our salvation.

Rev Dr John L McPake
Interim Moderator
Greenbank Parish Church