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Staines Methodist Church Newsletter October 2018 Flipbook PDF
Staines Methodist Church Newsletter October 2018
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STAINES METHODIST CHURCH
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2018 1
Minister: Rev. A. Reed Tel: Ashford (01784) 252559 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School: 10:30 a.m.
From the Minister
Dear Friends, Returning to Church after the break that a Sabbatical affords is a rather strange thing. Pat and I have discovered that much has happened here at Staines over the summer and we are still finding out new things as time goes by. By all accounts the “Holiday at Home” was a really good event and was enjoyed by the people who attended. I have already been to a meeting that is looking at the plans we have for the next few months and these are all very exciting. I hope that we will be blessed by the opportunities that they will provide. The summer was particularly special for us as a family. You will know Chanel who has been attending Church with us for over a year, what you may not have known is that the Local Authority plans for her were that she be adopted by our daughter Emma and her husband, John. In July we had the news that this had received the necessary permission and Chanel has now moved to be with them. She is settling well at her new school and she has started to call us Grandma and Grandad. Pat and I are so grateful for the support you have given us and we cannot stress how valuable your prayers for us as a family have been even though we were not able to let everyone know what was about to take place. You may already have met Noah who is staying with us for a while. We used some of the money that you gave us to go on holiday with him to the Isle of Wight which we all thoroughly enjoyed. It was a very kind gift and the balance was spent on the purchasing of some books related to my studies. The Sabbatical was an opportunity to think and to reflect and to take some time out. I have to tell you that none of the three projects that I had planned were completed; not even the work on the Minor Prophets. The model of the Mary Rose has got to the stage where the hull is almost complete and the model railway has all the track laid, the points are wired up and some of the signals are in place. So far as the Minor Prophets are concerned I am using the material that I have developed in evening Services at Staines and would welcome your comments about the material as I share it with you. One of the things we really did enjoy over the summer was being able to visit a number of churches to experience worship with other congregations. We picked up a number of ideas that we hope to share with you in due course.
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Finally, with all the sun that we enjoyed this year the giant sunflower seeds that Chanel planted were magnificent. Thank you once again for your prayers and support.
God bless. Andrew
Want to make a booking? After many years (even more than he spent managing the website and, I think, ever since we moved to this building thirty years ago) Chris Gardam has felt it necessary to give up his job as booking secretary. His work has resulted in the client base which we now have; which he, ably assisted by Joan, has built up over the years. Without Chris’s sterling efforts we would not have the satisfied hirers that we have, and he also was responsible for having the room usage displayed on the website. Thank you Chris, and Joan, for your work; it is one of the more demanding jobs, as you have to be available virtually all the time in case of problems. Matt Sendorek is now the person to direct any booking issues to, and we wish him every success in carrying on this very important work.
August Church Collections Here are the figures for August and from the beginning of the Methodist Financial Year that started on 1st September 2017. Last year to 31st August 2017 the total was £17,102·93 Average Weekly Collection last year (52 weeks) £328·90 Total this year from 1st September 2017 (52 weeks) £16,091·16 Average Weekly Collection from 1st September 2017 £309·45 August 2018 Total Collections (4 weeks) £1,311·14 Average August 2018 weekly collection £327·79 Note: There were no evening services during August John Bennett 3
Christmas is a-coming Here we are at the beginning of October again, and once more I am offering to bake Christmas Cakes — in fact I have already started! Just to remind you: the round and the square cakes have exactly the same quantity of ingredients in them. I do put ground almonds in, so if you want a nut-free cake will you please indicate. They are not decorated, and I am keeping the cost to £6, like last year, and all proceeds are going to Christian Aid. The list is up on the board in the entrance hall, and the last date for orders is November 25th. However, I would really appreciate it if you would sign up as soon as possible so that I don’t have to feel rushed at the last minute. Barbara Lownsbrough
Traidcraft On Wednesday 19th September I received an email from Traidcraft which began, “We are sorry to have to share some unpleasant news with you.” I thought perhaps that someone had died, and read on anxiously. By now a lot of you will have also heard the “unpleasant news”, which was released to the press and the media the following day. Although Traidcraft plc’s assets still remain greater than its liabilities, recent trading has been poor, despite enormous efforts by staff and volunteers alike, and the Board of Directors believe that it is prudent to close the current loss-making trading operations and consider new approaches. But fear not! This is not going to happen till the very end of the year, and the latest autumn craft collection is one of their best, alongside all the grocery items, chocolate, fashion accessories and, of course, Christmas cards. So ask to borrow the catalogue or look online at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk and let's make it the best autumn to Christmas season ever, for the sake of the producers around the world who have put their time and skills into the products which are at the moment waiting for us in the warehouse in Gateshead. Linda Marshall 4
Prayer Diary for the month of October 2018 “Come Holy Spirit” Please pray/give thanks for: 1st our Minister, Rev. Andrew Reed, his wife Pat, and their families. 2nd the United Kingdom and their talks with the European Union. 3rd Chaplain John Wasley and Mr. Paul Murphy; as they prepare to lead our worship on Sunday. 4th Venezuela: the people and the government in their economic difficulties. 5th teenagers and their parents. 6th the “Meals on Wheels” service. Sun Iraq, Palestine, and Israel. th 8 the Church Council as it meets tonight. 9th peace in the areas of the world where there is war. 10th Mr. Graham Wells and Rev. Juliet Ushewokunze; as they prepare to lead our worship on Sunday. 11th those affected by tornados, floods, fire, and earthquakes. May they receive the goods and help they need. 12th Messy Church as it meets tomorrow. 13th “World Hospice and Palliative Care Day”. Sun Our Harvest Festival. th st 15 -21 “National Adoption Week”: for the children and those seeking to adopt them. 16th the unemployed. 17th Mr. Jonathan Perkins and Rev. Andrew Reed as they prepare to lead our worship on Sunday. th 18 Anti Slavery Day. 19th those with a mental illness. 20th-27th the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia. Sun “One World Week” 40th anniversary: support among the nations for those in need. 22nd our Ministers, Local Preachers, and Worship Leaders. 23rd our families, friends, and neighbours. 24th United Nations Day. 25th Rev. Andrew Reed and Mr. Jonathan Perkins: as they prepare to lead our worship on Sunday. 26th new parents and grandparents. 5
27th those who are facing hardship, hunger, and disease. Sun Bible Sunday: Wycliffe Bible Translators, Gift and Kathryn Asiku. th 29 Christians who are persecuted for their faith. 30th Mr. Terry Lewis and Rev. David Priddy, as they prepare to lead our worship on Sunday. 31st children as they go “trick or treating”.
The Church Prayer Chain The Prayer Chain exists for the benefit of anyone in need of prayer. Michael & Barbara Bagg Jim Brodie Barbara Lownsbrough If you have a prayer request, please contact any one of the above.
Training at Offington Park For a number of years now Offington Park Methodist Church has run a Mental Health Awareness week which has grown from strength to strength. As part of this, Grass Roots will be offering First Aid Suicide prevention Training. (Safe Talk) Time: 10am – 1:30pm Date: Wednesday, 10th October 2018 Venue: Offington Park Methodist Church, South Park Road, Worthing, West Sussex. BN14 7TN The cost of attending the day will be £35 and will include a light lunch. To book your place please email [email protected] to reserve your place. It is possible you may pick up other information on the day from the many groups that will be exhibiting here. Wendy Cory, Chairman's PA & District Administrator 6
The “Green Thing”! Checking out at the supermarket, the young cashier suggested to an older lady that she should bring her own bag because plastic bags are not good for the environment. The woman apologised and said, “we didn’t have this “‘green thing”’ back in my earlier days.” The cashier responded, “that’s our problem today. Your generation didn’t care enough to save our environment for future generations.” The older lady said that she was right — we didn’t have the “green thing” in our day. Back then, we returned glass bottles to the shop, who sent them back to the bottling plant to be washed, sterilised and refilled. So they really were recycled. But no, we didn’t have the “green thing” back in our day. We used to have brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things, including covers for our school books, so that the books provided for our use by the school weren’t defaced by our scribblings when we “personalised” them. Too bad we didn't have the “green thing” back then. We walked upstairs because we didn’t have a lift in every building. We walked to the town rather than climbing into a four-litre machine every time we had to go two streets away. But she was right — we didn't have the “green thing” in our day. Back then we washed the baby’s nappies because we didn’t have the disposable kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine. Wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days! Kids got hand-me-downs from their older brothers or sisters, not always brand new clothing. But that young lady is right — we didn’t have the “green thing” back then. We only had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not one the size of a double-decker bus. In the kitchen we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we sent a fragile item in the post, we used to wrap it in old newspapers to cushion it, not plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn’t use electric or petrol engines just to cut the lawn — we used a push mower that ran on human power. We got our exercise by working, so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that consume yet more electricity. But she's right — we didn’t have the “green thing” back then. If we were thirsty, we drank from a water fountain instead of using 7
a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blade in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade wasn’t sharp any more. But we didn’t have the “green thing” back then. Back then, people took the bus and kids walked or rode their bikes to school instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service in the family’s people-carrier or SUV that cost the same as a whole house did before the “green thing”. We had one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find our way around. We used maps. But isn’t it sad that the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the “green thing” back then? We don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to really make us fed up…and to top it all, we knew how to work out the correct change without the help of the cash register! From the July/August edition of “Spotlight”, the magazine of Offington Park Methodist Church, Worthing; and reproduced with permission.
Notice in churches all over France: It’s possible that when you come into this church you will hear the call of God. However, it’s unlikely that he will contact you by phone. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONES If you want to speak to God, choose a quiet place. If you want to see him, just send him a text while you’re driving. This originated from Beatrice Coleman, who was a Member of this Church. The original was in French, but thankfully a translation was included.
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Services for the month of October 2018 Harvest
Bible } Sunday}
7th 10:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Chaplain J. Wasley Mr. P. Murphy
14th 10:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Mr. G. Wells Rev. J. Ushewokunze
21st 10:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Mr. J. Perkins Rev. A. Reed
28th 10:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Rev. A. Reed Mr. J. Perkins
[Communion] [Communion]
“Preparation in Worship” is now every week from 10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — a chance to take a few minutes to prepare ourselves for worship
Dates for your Diary Saturday 6th 7:15 p.m. Harvest Supper (p.10) Monday 8th 7:30 p.m. Church Council meeting Wednesday 10th 10:30-1:30 Training day at Offington Park (p.6) Saturday 13th 10:30-12:30 Messy Church Tues -Thurs 16-18th Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park. For details visit www.creonline.co.uk
Items for inclusion in the November Newsletter to David Price (Staines 462204 or [email protected]) by Sunday 21st October at the latest please 9
When was Harvest first celebrated? Did you know that some communities celebrated more than one Harvest Festival a year? Has Harvest always been celebrated in English churches in the way that we do now? Is there actually a recognised date on which we should celebrate Harvest? What did the traditional Harvest celebration look like at our own church fifty years ago? The answers to these and many other questions will all be revealed at our Harvest Histories evening on Saturday 6th October. We will be enjoying a traditional Harvest meal of bread and Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s Supper (but was this always the traditional Harvest Supper at Staines?) followed by home-made apple pie with cream or ice cream. There will be some songs chosen by members of our own congregation which remind them of Harvests they have known, memories will
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be shared, and maybe your own memory will be jogged too. Alongside all this, we will be experimenting with some traditional Harvest crafts. We invite everyone to come and to bring as many friends as you like. Children are most welcome and will certainly enjoy all that’s on offer. Tickets (price £7·50 for adults, £5 for children) are now on sale after all church services or by contacting me at [email protected] or by phone on 01784 459984. Roz Sendorek and the Events & Outreach Committee
A Harvest Memory The theme for this year’s Harvest celebrations is “Harvest Histories”, and this reminded me of an event that happened in the 1970s. We had a thriving youth club at the time and, being an “open” club (you did not have to attend church to join), we had a diverse selection of Members. Although the Members were not made to come to church, they were encouraged to at least attend a few events during the year like Youth Club Anniversary weekends; and several did, and took part in them. One boy who, along with his brother and friends, came from a local council estate had just left school and started work as a baker. When harvest-time approached he unexpectedly presented us with a lovely plaited loaf that he had made; and, if I remember rightly, was used as a centrepiece in the display of harvest gifts in the church. Continuing the “Harvest Histories” theme, I wonder how many of you recognise the cover that is on this Newsletter? I can think of several people who will definitely not; as it is from the September 1994 issue (yes 24 years ago), and they were not even born then! The reason that I will be using “recycled” covers more often is that “Embrace the Middle East” (previously “Biblelands” who produced this and most of the covers that we used), have reduced their range to virtually nothing, and CPO (another source) don’t produce as many “DIY printable” ones as they used to. As a matter of interest, a couple of things mentioned in that issue were the Circuit Sports at Kingscroft School, and Rev. Brian Hoare becoming President Designate of the Methodist Conference. 11
Dave Price