CORNER JULY-AUGUST 2016
S T O N E
MAGAZINE OF CENTRAL ST. ANDREWS AND VICTORIA PARK MINISTER IN PASTORAL CHARGE Tel: 01803 615480 REV GAVIN HANCOCKS email: minister@centralchurchtorquay.org 1
CHURCH CONTACTS - CENTRAL Secretary Treasurer Envelope & Gift Aid Secretary Organist & Choir Director Magazine Editors
Booking Secretary Publicity(Posters) Caretakers Website
Barbara Lawton 01803 296990 lawtonbarbara75@yahoo.co.uk Paul Sherriff 01803 298603 Paul Sherriff 01803 298603 Clive Bastin 01803 325142 Hazel Nightingale 01803 613345 Philip Kay 01803 323551 philipkay393@btinternet.com Hazel Nightingale 01803 613345 hazel_nightingale@hotmail.com Barbara Gissinger 01803 328407 Darrell Sanderson 07719 099901 Keith Read 07719 099901 www.centralchurchtorquay.org
CHURCH CONTACTS – ST ANDREWS. Church Secretary Senior Steward
Nicola Lindsay 01803 314292 nicola.lindsay@hotmail.com Margaret Freemantle 01803 400723 mfree166@hotmail.com
CHURCH CONTACTS – VICTORIA PARK Church Council Secretary Senior Steward
Myra Wise 01803 327145 myrawise456@btinternet.com Mavis Paul 01803 291895
Please Note - The articles in this magazine represent the opinions of the person submitting the article and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the editors or the churches
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THE MINISTER Dear Friends, I’m sitting to write this column in the middle of three funerals and a wedding! (There’s got to be a film title in there at least!) and the more astute of you will recognise, no, it’s not on time – the bane of Philip’s life just at the minute I am! Well, actually, in the middle of that mix we had a meeting with Ruth Whitehead, URC Moderator of our Synod, to discuss, along with the eight other churches in our corner of the Synod, how we might respond to the changes and challenges of shaping effective ministry in order to enable effective mission across the nine churches. Ruth highlighted what she saw as the significant challenge in it all – dealing with change. She used Luke’s account in chapter 8 of the Gospel of Jesus calming the storm to remind us of some inevitabilities regarding change. Primarily they were ‘Change comes – Jesus does not stop it’ and ‘Jesus is with us in the change’. We only have to go back to my opening line to recognise the first of those. Whilst it is good that we have been able to celebrate the lives of our fellow travelers in the Way, they are no longer with us and perhaps that speaks of the ultimate change we all must face. Along the way though, there are other challenges change brings and with them opportunities. Recently we considered such an opportunity and the resultant decision has given rise to whole different set of changes and opportunities. Personally, I had hoped that we would have embraced the opportunity the partnership with St Andrew’s was presenting us with. That was not to be. As I have considered that I believe that perhaps a fresh opportunity is what is needed for the church to go forward, one that would be good to have someone come on board to build it from the ground floor up. As a result, we have made our decision to leave a little earlier than expected. At present we are journeying through the URC Local Ministry & Mission Review process. This process helps us as a church to identify our mission 3
imperatives and type of ministry we believe would be appropriate to achieving them. The process involves you and on Saturday 23�� July we will be meeting at Central from 10am – 1pm to reflect together on what the opportunities and possibilities are. Please do put that date in your diary and make every effort to participate. The morning will be led by Steve Jones whose work it is to help churches reflect on these matters and we are looking forward to discovering that together with him. That brings me back to the second point I drew out of Ruth’s sharing – God is with us in the change. I continue to be overwhelmed by the expressions of support and even the sadness expressed regarding our decision to leave. Thank you so much for that. It was not an easy decision to come to and it is even less easy to implement. Nevertheless, God is with us and God will see us through. I begin my assemblies at Torre Primary with the refrain: ‘God is good’ to which the children reply ‘All the time’ to which I respond ‘All the time’ and they end with ‘God is good!’ I’m not exactly sure whether or not I’m doing that simply because it’s a fun thing to do or they need to learn that or maybe I need reminding! God is good – even in these difficult things and it is our prayer for you that out of this opportunity will emerge something good and new that will be a fresh expression of God’s love for this faith community that will cause it to continue to Grow in Grace and Share God’s love for another 40 years to come. Yours in the Gospel, Gavin QUOTES OF THE MONTH.(1) Prayer is the breath of faith. Prayer meetings are the lungs of the church. - C H Spurgeon Many of us cannot reach the mission fields on our feet, but we can reach them on our knees. - T J Bach
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FAMILY & FRIENDS Family News & Other Bits & Pieces CONGRATULATIONS TO · · · · · · · ·
Tom Dunlop who celebrates his 90�� Birthday on 17�� August Happy Birthday to Margaret Russell on the 1�� July. Happy Birthday to Connie Sims on the 1�� July Happy Birthday to Maureen Rippin on the 5�� July Happy Birthday to Roz Payne on the 15�� July Happy Birthday to Margaret Collins the 3�� August Happy Birthday to Amy Bartrip on the 6�� August Happy Birthday to Don Pugh on the 8�� August
SPECIAL THANKS. · Must go to Barbara Gissinger. With her ‘quirky quizzes' she has now, all on her own, raised £1,700 for church funds!!! Incredible! Thanks Barbara! RECEIVING THANKS · Kevin and Julie would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sent cards and good wishes for their recent wedding. Particular thanks to Gavin, Clive and Darrell and everyone who came to the ceremony. It was such a joyful day, thank you to everyone who helped make it so special. · Judith Holmwood and her nephew Ryan wish to express their deepest gratitude to all the members of Central who supported Ryan’s recent charity event for Prostate Cancer. The total he raised was an amazing £1,312.00
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MARJORIE WEST. 18th April 1931 - 18th April 2016 Marjorie was born in Brixham in 1931 weighing only 4 lb and the Dr told her Grandma she wouldn’t live, but she proved him wrong. Her Mum had a job to rear her, but clotted cream and Brixham air helped her to survive. She lived in London during the war and often spoke about how she used to sleep on Kings Cross station when the blitz over London was on. She left school in 1945, though her schooling was curtailed as the school shared with another that had been bombed. One week she went to school in the morning, and the next week in the afternoon, although she still spent a lot of time in the shelter. Marjorie started work in a garage as a telephonist, then at 16 she went to work for London Transport to be trained as a punch machine operator in the wages department. When she was 18 she was on holiday in Torquay when she met David down at the sea front, and he didn’t stand a chance! She came back the following year, and that was it, they were in love and became engaged by October and married the following May in 1951, having many happy years together. They started their family in 1956 when they had Philip and in 1959 they had Christine. Philip and Christine started Sunday School at Market Street and as a family they took part in the family life of the Church. She was very proud of the children when they took part in the concerts and church services. Both David and Marjorie became Church members and felt the church supported them during the difficult years when David lost his business and Marjorie had to go back to work full time. The rest of her working life was at GKN as a wages clerk, then Centrax as a telephonist, with many years working in the summer at the telephone exchange to supplement their income. Marjorie helped David with his magic and she was a member of the Devon Magic Circle in her own right. David had started to teach her how to fan 6
a pack of cards when they were on honeymoon! They enjoyed being in the Minstrel shows at Central and the Pantomimes. Marjorie enjoyed raising money for charity, including running the yearly Hot Cross Bun morning for Church funds. Every year she produced a cross stitch picture that people had to guess how long it had taken her to produce, or how many stitches there were. Marjorie was proud of her family, and enjoyed being a Grandma to her 5 Grandchildren, who gave her a new lease of life, especially after David died in 1998. She enjoyed going on holiday, travelling to lots of countries including the Holy Land and following in the steps of Paul in Greece. In recent years she had a lot of pleasure seeing her family grow and became GG to her 5 Great Grand children who lived in Mexico and Austria. Marjorie died on her 85th Birthday in a Nursing Home in Brixham, the town where she had been born.
READY MEALS NOW OK! Friends coming for supper, and you’re not sure what to serve? Well, the good news is that now you can reach for the ready meal and not disgrace yourself. According to a recent survey, it is now ‘socially okay’ to offer guests a ready meal when you are pushed for time. Apparently the only time it is still NOT okay to serve ready meals is when the people coming are your in-laws…. they still expect a home-cooked meal. The survey was conducted for Waitrose. What is your experience of serving ready food? What would YOUR in-laws think?
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FREDERICK GEORGE FRIEND. 1917 – 2016. How does one begin to write about Freddie (as he was always known) – 99 years well lived. Hard working, helping many people, always kind and generous. Freddie was born in Brixham – his father was a fisherman. Freddie went to school in Brixham, and when he was nine years old he developed meningitis. He said he had a wonderful doctor who told his mother not to let him go back to school for twelve months – he needed to play and enjoy fresh air. As he grew up he became very interested in rugby and played for Brixham, and became captain when only 18 years old! He later played for Torquay and eventually started the Old Boys Association. He joined the Devonshire Regiment in the second world war and served in various parts of the world – particularly Africa. For many years he produced a letter, copies of which were sent to veterans of the Devonshire Regiment – this he did until a few years ago, as by then very few soldiers were still alive. After the war, he returned to a life in horticulture, 34 years of which he spent at the Toorak Hotel where he was noted for the grounds and gardens. During this time he got to know the guests who returned year after year – he saw there were flowers in their rooms to greet them. It was only a few months ago that two ladies joined us at Central for coffee hoping to see Freddie. He loved to sing and was in our choir, but with his hearing problem he sadly came out of the choir – but he still enjoyed singing hymns a home. He got very involved in our church gardens, and what a great job he did. He certainly taught me a lot – although he told Trevor I couldn’t plant anything in straight rows! Several of the pots at the front are due to Freddie’s efforts. Gardens of course, were his great love. For some years he was President of the Fuschia Society and was a dahlia judge. He judged at many flower shows. Another annual event was being Father Christmas at the Templestowe Hotel. 8
When he was 90 the Rugby Club did a special evening for him – “This is Your Life Freddie.” John Lawrence was a guest and took part in this happy event. The Club arranged for Freddie to go to the Chelsea Flower Show that year, where he was met by Bob Sweet who was in charge of the Show – previously having worked in Torbay. Freddie was always pleased to see family and friends at his home and of course to take them up to his two greenhouses – always full of plants. Margaret, who was like a daughter, looked after him so well that he was able to stay in his own home where he was very happy. He died peacefully in hospital where he received the most wonderful care and kindness in Cheetham Hill Ward. Thank you Freddie for all you achieved in so many ways. We offer our sincere sympathy to Margaret and Lou, his nephews John and Michael, and the wider family in Brixham and beyond. Monica Lansley
HOLIDAY SOOTHIES (for those going on holiday) For dealing with motion sickness, ginger capsules are your new friend. Available from any health store, they do a wonderful job in calming upset tummies. For fever or frayed tempers, take some camomile tea bags with you. Camomile tea doesn’t just calm your nerves; cooled down, the tea also soothes sunburn. For banning mosquitoes & insomnia, take some essential oil of lavender. Mosquitoes hate the smell, so if you put a few drops around your pillow you can keep them at bay – and help yourself drift off to sleep.
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QUOTES OF THE MONTH (2) Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending His will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to His. - John R W Stott. Humility, after the first shock, is cheerful virture. C S Lewis If you can’t shine, at least twinkle! - Alistair Begg Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. - Anon People who cannot bear to be alone are the worst company. - A Guinon You are only what you are when no one is looking. - R C Edwards
!!! DEADLINE !!! The Editors would remind everyone the deadline for the magazine is, without fail, the 2nd Sunday in the month. Depending how the calendar falls, we often have only 8 days to have it ready for the printer. Of late, much copy has come in way after date, and caused problems. Please, please, be ready in time! Why wait for the deadline? You can write your article BEFORE then! If you are late we cannot guarantee inclusion. !!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!
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A PROFILE OF BARBARA LAWTON Barbara was born into a loving Christian family who were very involved in the local Methodist Church. Her father held various offices – her mother played the organ. Needless to say Barbara soon began attending Sunday School and she and her sister took part in Sunday School Anniversaries, pantomimes, and concerts. Later on Barbara became a Sunday School teacher and trained children for various events, especially the Dramatic Society. Her love of music saw her join the Junior Girls Choir who took part in the Eisteddfod. Later she joined the Choir and played the piano for various events. When she left school she began work at the Midland Bank (now part of HSBC). She worked there until 1962 and having married in 1959 she became a housewife. Frank attended the United Reformed Church, and Barbara became a member there, once again becoming involved in many of the activities. Her daughter Kathy arrived in 1963 and when Kathy joined the Brownies, Barbara volunteered to help, and this ended by her becoming Brown Owl for 15 years. Son John arrived in 1966 and their family was complete. Frank & Barbara moved to Torquay in 1998 with the intention of looking at various churches, but they had friends who attended Central when they holidayed in the area who suggested they came to Central – and there they stayed. Barbara says my first words to her were “do you play the piano?” The following Sunday John Lawrence was waiting to see her – he needed a pianist for the Minstrel Show and pantomimes. Barbara thought she had come to Torquay to retire! She did this until the two events ceased. Now she is one of the leaders of the Women’s Fellowship, plays with the Belleplates, is in the Choir, and is one of the Worship Leaders. She was a founder leader of Messy Church and stayed with that until it ended. She has always enjoyed sewing and knitting, and has made soft toys, and lampshades, upholstered chairs, and done a number of other works. She is now a member of the Linen League at the hospital, and is also part of the Chaplaincy Team. 12
Barbara has been our Church Secretary – a very demanding and time consuming office – for eight years, and we are very grateful for all the time and care she has given to this work. Thank you Barbara, and we wish you many blessings – I’m sure you’ll find other caring and helpful things to do! MML
SHARING IN WORSHIP 10th July 10.30am Revd Glyn Millington 7th August 10.30am Revd Vikki Bunce 2nd -4th Sep 10.30am Revd Paul Smith (Mission Weekend)
OTHER ANNIVERSARY EVENTS 2nd July
9.00am Men’s Breakfast – with guest speaker Kevin Foster MP and Kingsman Singer’s Barbershop Quartet. 10th July Re-union Lunch - Welcoming old friends 2nd - 4th Sept Church Mission weekend with Revd Paul Smith
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It’s cool I was at summer scout camp where the final service was to be taken by a bishop. It was a very hot, humid day and the clergy from local churches were slowly melting in their various heavy robes. Finally one snapped: ‘When is that flipping bishop going to turn up? ‘ Whereupon a man close by, dressed in Scouts shirt, tie and short trousers, said mildly: ‘I’m already here.’
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ST ANDREWS JUNIOR CHURCH NEWS. Happy birthday to Saul Porter who will be 4 on 29�� July and Martha Wilcox who will be 2 on 15�� July. Recently we have been exploring Luke’s gospel in Junior Church. One Sunday we heard the story of Jesus being asked to heal a Roman centurion’s servant. That morning we made soldiers helmets to wear and enjoyed building houses for the soldier and his servant using ‘Mega Bloks’. The following week we heard about the funeral procession Jesus met in the town of Nain. We found out that Jesus raised a dead man to life and that news of his miracle spread throughout the land. Some of our children talked about what makes us sad and what compassion is and how we can show it to others. We made helping hands bunting that morning after talking about the things we can do to help people. Members of Junior church found that Jesus forgives our sins and were surprised to learn about the woman who washed Jesus’ feet drying them with her long hair. We found this lady also poured a really expensive perfume on Jesus. This lady had done bad things but Jesus forgave her sins. We talked about the bad things we have done for which we have been forgiven. Some of our members made a book of vouchers to give to their families. This had helpful tasks written on them which the children could do to help the people who do so much for them. Things chosen by the children included washing up, spending less time on their i pads and taking the rubbish out. Rachel George Getting ready Two children watched their grandmother reading her Bible. ‘Why does she do that?’ whispered one. ‘I expect she’s studying for her final exams,’ came the reply. 15
MAYC LONDON WEEKENDS…….the last call Others have written about their memories of MAYC weekends. My memories go back to the 1950’s. I was working in London and lodged with the Revd Leonard Barnett and his family. Len was, at that time, at the Methodist Youth Department where his particular work was among Youth Clubs throughout the country, so he was away most weekends talking to young people. Of course the big event for clubs was the London Weekend with the show at the Royal Albert Hall on the Saturday, and service on Sunday morning. Youth Club members from all over the country descended on London and were hosted by clubs in London and the Home Counties. Each year on the Saturday evening a celebrity came to speak – I remember Norman Wisdom and Barbara Kelly being there on two occasions. Anyone remember them? In the early days at Central I went with a group from the Torbay Circuit which included a number from Central and I know how much it meant to them. Happy memories. Monica Lansley
ST ANDREWS MISSIONS. Our coffee money for May went towards toilettwinning.org. Thanks to some generous donations, cake and marmalade and a little help from Toddlers, we raised £120, which means we can twin two of our toilets and provide two latrines to help poor families in other countries gain access to better sanitation. Thank you everyone who spent a penny in my toilet! Sue Masheder
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JEAN BAKER. We have received a note from Jean’s son Iain, who tells us that Jean has now settled into Bromley Park where she is well cared for. Jean is able to go out with, and to, her nearby family. You may remember she was to receive the BEM award the day after her stroke. We are delighted to learn that she has now been able to receive it – presented at the Tower of London! She has changed quite a bit, but whilst generally in good health, her memory continues to deteriorate. Iain tells us the sale of her house is nearing completion so her final ties to the Bay are slowing ending - very sad for all concerned.
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JAVAD’S STORY. For the past year and a half, Javad has been living with Terry (Lesley Hewitt’s daughter) and her husband Stuart. Javad is a shy young man in his early 20s. He was a child when he entered the UK and was placed into social services care. As far as his awareness of social relationships and how to relate to the world, he comes across as about 14. He has lived here now for 9 years and has nothing but bad memories of the 2003 earthquake which killed his parents and probably his wider family in Bam, Iran. He speaks of identifying his parent's bodies by photographs, of being put into an orphanage where he was forced to learn to fight and to follow the more extreme religious teachings. He ran away because he didn’t agree with these teachings, and because he refused to join the army. Having run away, Javad lived and worked underground making sandals and saving money to escape. However, life was to be harder for him than most immigrants. Javad is autistic. He was completely unprepared for what would happen when the Home Office thought he'd turned 18. He is not allowed to claim any benefits, not allowed to work, not allowed ID.... For the last 3 years he has been completely reliant on the charity of others. He now faces deportation. He has lived in the UK 9 years now and yet it's only since he has been living with Terry & Stuart that anyone has cared enough to get some support for what is obviously a very troubled young man. Terry says “17 months ago, we took the unusual step of taking this 'feral' child into our home. We have been rewarded by seeing him learn to trust, smile, make eye contact, try to communicate and turn into a shy young man. We feel this is no longer an immigration issue but a human 18
rights issue. He has the chance of a family life here with us. We are the first close bond he has made in the 9 years he has been here. He doesn't need to be institutionalised, he just needs someone to love him and teach him the skills his own parents are unable to. If this was your child in another country and something happened to you, what would you hope would happen?� You can read more about Javad in this article http://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/campaigns/help-localfamily-save-javad-from-deportation
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SUNDAY SERVICES FOR JULY/AUGUST 2016. (HC) = Sacrament of Holy Communion (WG) = Worship Group CENTRAL Date JULY 3��** 10��** 17��** 24��** 31�� AUG 7��**
Morning 10.30am
Evening 6.30pm
Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC) Revd Glyn Millington Revd John Haley Mr David Welsh Revd Gavin Hancocks
Mrs Margaret Newman Revd Gavin Hancocks (WG) Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC) Revd Gavin Hancocks (WG) Revd Gavin Hancocks
Revd Vikki Bunce Revd Gavin Hancocks. 14��** Revd Graham Shaw 21��** Mrs Irene Cochran 28��** Mrs Margaret Newman
Revd Valerie Price 4pm @ Brixham Revd Adrian Phippen Mrs Vicki Bryan (WG)
Dates marked ** indicate Rise and Shine All Age worship at 9.15am.
Notices that didn’t quite ‘make it’… The preacher for Sunday next will be found hanging on the notice board in the porch. Churchyard maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult, so it will be appreciated if parishioners cut the grass around their own graves.
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CALENDAR FOR JULY/AUGUST 2016 ST ANDREWS CENTRAL VICTORIA PARK JULY Friday
Saturday
Sunday Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday Sunday
1st
10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 2nd 9.00 Men's Breakfast 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 2.00 URC Summer Rally at Dartmouth 3rd See separate pages for services-all churches 4th 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup 5th 9.30 Midweek Prayers 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 7.00 New Life Housegroup 6th 9.30 Toddler Group 6.00 Beavers 7th 9.30 Central Tots 6.00 Cubs 6.30 Contact Centre Meeting 8th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 9th 9.30 Contact Centre 2.30 Tea Dance 10th See separate pages for services-all churches Re-union Lunch 21
Monday
11th
Tuesday
12th
Wednesday
13th
Thursday
14th
Friday
15th
Saturday
16th
Sunday Monday
17th 18th
Tuesday
19th
Wednesday
20th
Thursday
21st
2.30 Tea Party in aid of LiNX 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 9.30 Midweek Service - Michael Mann 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Stewards Meeting 2.30 Healing Team 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Bible Study 6.00 Beavers 9.30 Central Tots 6.00 Cubs 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 10.00 Quiet Day at Bovey Tracey See separate page for Services all Churches 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup 9.30 Midweek Prayers 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 2.00 Beetle Drive & home-made cake £2.50 arr. by Stephanie 7.00 New Life Housegroup 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Bible Study 7.30 Moors Housegroup 22
Friday
Saturday
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday Sunday AUGUST Monday Tuesday
Wednesday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Friday
22nd 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 23rd 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 LMMR Meeting 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 24th See separate pages for services-all churches 25th 6.30 Flexercise Fun 26th 9.30 Midweek Communion 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 27th 10.00 Bible Study 28th 7.00 Church Meeting AGM 29th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 30th 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 31st See separate pages for services-all churches 1st
6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup 2nd 9.30 Midweek Prayers 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 7.00 New Life Housegroup 3rd 10.00 Bible Study 5th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 7.00 Choir Practice 6th 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 7th See separate pages for services-all churches 8th 6.30 Flexercise Fun 9th 9.30 Midweek Service-Margaret Newman 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 12th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 23
Saturday
13th
Sunday Monday
14th 15th
Tuesday
16th
Thursday Friday
18th 19th
Saturday
20th
Sunday Tuesday
21st 23rd
Friday
26th
Saturday
27th
Sunday Tuesday
28th 30th
9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Special Coffee Morning-Church funds See separate pages for services-all churches 2.30 Women's Fellowship AGM 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup 9.30 Midweek Prayers 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Busy Bees 7.00 New Life Housegroup 7.30 Council Meeting 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee See separate pages for services-all churches 9.30 Midweek Communion-Rev Val Price 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 7.00 Choir Practice 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Special Coffee Morning in aid of Wilsons Disease, arr.by Sylvia Penny See separate pages for services-all churches 9.30 Midweek Prayers 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Busy Bees
Baptism The vicar announced that an additional font would soon be placed in the church, so that babies could be baptised at both ends.
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SUNDAY SERVICES FOR JULY/AUGUST 2016. (HC) = Sacrament of Holy Communion (WG) = Worship Group ST ANDREWS Date JULY 3�� 10�� 17�� 24�� 31�� AUG 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��
Morning 10.30am Mrs Barbara Vond Revd Gavin Hancocks Revd Adrian Phippen (HC) Mrs Irene Cochran Revd Mike Newell Mr David Welsh Major Denise Brine Revd Adrian Phippen(HC) Mrs Vicki Bryan VICTORIA PARK
Date JULY 3�� 10�� 17�� 24�� 31�� AUG 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��
Morning 10.30am Deacon Jane Verrall Mrs Irene Cochran Mrs Margaret Newman Revd Gavin Hancocks(HC) Mrs Vicki Bryan Mrs Irene Cochran Revd Peter Williamson Mr David Welsh Revd Gerald Morris
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VICTORIA PARK JULY / AUGUST DATE JULY 3rd 10th 24th 31st AUG 7th 14th 21st 28th
DATE JULY 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st AUG 7th 14th 21st 28th
DOOR STEWARDS Betty & Margaret Connie & John 17th Pat & Pam Stephanie& & Sylvia Margaret & Betty Connie & John Pat & Pam Betty & Margaret Stephanie & Sylvia
NAMES
Pam Cloke Roz Payne
VP FLOWER ROTA IN MEMORY OF
Her Aunt Mrs James
Stephanie Withers Sylvia Penny Pat Hawes
Her Parents Norman & Win Cooksley
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VP PRAYER BOARD This is where we remember in prayer those friends who are not well, and those friends who are not able to attend Church. Audrey Avery. Amy Bartrip. Jean Barrett. Iris Kaey. Margery Vaughan. Don & Barbara Pugh. Carl Murphy. Barry. Virginia. Torbay Winter Night Shelter. Youth Genesis.
CENTRAL’S WELCOME ROTA DATE 10.30 AM JULY 3�� Sue & John Coatham 10�� Sarah Ayres & Hazel Nightingale 17�� Monica Lansley & Philip Kay 24�� Judith Holmwood & Yvonne Thorne 31�� Susan & Richard Mason AUG 7�� Christine & Paul Sherriff 14�� Mary Fradley & Cynthia Arscott 21�� Joy & Gerald Morris 28th Judith Holmwood & Hye-ok Wells
6.30 PM Sue Coatham & Paul Sherriff Monica Lansley & Philip Kay Barbara Gissinger & Margaret Newman Monica Lansley & Philip Kay Celia & David Bolt Monica Lansley & Philip Kay Barbara Gissinger & Margaret Newman Celia & David Bolt Monica Lansley & Philip Kay
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GLORIOUS BRITAIN Year 2016 What a wonderful year it has been for the people of Britain An opportunity to celebrate, as history continues to be written, People rejoicing, enjoying fellowship , sharing and receiving, Many Strangers together caught in the emotion of feeling, For their beloved Queen was still the centre of their lives, Ensuring for all that the ‘British Way of Life’ still survives. Street Parties arranged to celebrate with Her Majesty the Queen, To give Thanks for Her 90�� Birthday and the Servant she has been . The longest reigning Sovereign to Rule the people of the UK, The whole Country was able to wish her a very Happy Birthday People turned out in their hundreds of thousands to line The Mall, They wanted Her to know their Love was from them all. J.H.D. Lawrence
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP A big thank you to all those who supported the 'Tea Party' on 13th June. As a result of your generosity £235.00 was raised for our local League of Friends at Torbay Hospital. We invite you to join us again on Monday 11th July when we will be raising funds for LiNX, a Christian Youth Trust working with Young People here in Torbay. LiNX has been the chosen charity to support for the last twelve months by the Women's Fellowship. Barbara Lawton
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AROUND THE FAMILY AT ST ANDREWS. It is good to welcome a recently new worshipper, Christine Johnson, to our Church and also to wish her a Very Happy Birthday on July 6��. Best Birthday Wishes also to Geoff Dunbar on July 6��, Margaret Freemantle - July 9�� and Rachel George on July 15��. Remember our Lunch Club where you may partake of Soup or a Toasted Sandwich for £1. More importantly you will be able to enjoy the friendship of other diners and – if you wish – take part in a board game or two. It’s a happy time and well worth a visit. The next occasion will be on Wednesday, July 20��. A joyful surprise came on June 3�� when Hilary and Mick Hodgson came to our Service. Also they brought news of Hilary’s mother, Irene Denham, at home in Berkshire and her aunt, Sheila Denham, who they had been visiting at Dartmouth Hospital where she still needs care. It seems, sadly, that Sheila will be unable to join us for a while yet, though she may return to Torbay for further treatment. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Sue Jarvis had to spend some days in Torbay Hospital at the beginning of June but has now left and, as we go to press, should be enjoying a holiday in the New Forest. Here at St Andrew’s we have been collecting for WaterAid by giving Coffee donations to it. Jessica Harbor took part in the Water Aid Mountain Challenge in aid of that charity on June 11�� and raised over £1.000. What a wonderful effort. Well done, Jess! The preachers who inspired us and brought us together in prayer and worship recently were Mr David Welsh, Mrs Margaret Newman, Mr Brian Hart – a welcome, and heroic, visitor from just across the Tamar on a day when the A38 was closed, Mrs Irene Cochran and Rev. Gavin Hancocks who also administered Holy Communion. We are grateful to them all. 30
Thanks also this month go to two people who in different ways show great commitment to our church - to Geoff Hayman, our Treasurer, and to Bill Freemantle who does such sterling work in the grounds around the building. We salute you. Another member who has been of great help for many years in so many ways is Jean Vincent. Her work in helping to keep Toddlers a thriving concern has been invaluable. You are appreciated, Jean! Holiday time is on us and schools will soon begin the long summer holidays. It is to be hoped that we shall be able to enjoy a happy time of recreation. Diana George No worries A 102 year-old lady was asked if she had any worries about the future, and replied: “Not since I got my eldest son into an old people’s home.’
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GRADUATION? There were so many graduates waiting to receive their degrees that day, that speed was of the essence. Presenting their diplomas, therefore, the Chancellor simply smiled and said: “Congratulations, keep moving.” It’s actually good advice for all of life, and for your Christian life as well. If you’ve discovered the reality of God’s love for yourself, you deserve congratulations, for in a very real sense, you have arrived...but keep moving! - there is so much more that God has in store for you! Paul in 2 Timothy says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day....” So, wherever you have reached in your own faith pilgrimage, congratulations, but keep moving!
CROSSWORD SOLUTION FROM JUNE 2016 CORNERSTONE
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THE CHRISTIAN FAITH OF THE FASTEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce is simply the fastest woman in the world! She won gold in the 100 metres in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and also came top in the 100 metres World Championships in 2009, 2013 and 2015. She said of her London Olympic win: "It's completely different to Beijing because there I was inexperienced. I was young and I never believed I could win. This time I was a bit nervous but I believed in God and I trusted Him to carry me through." Despite her amazing achievements, Shelly-Ann never seems to get the recognition she deserves. Asked if she is recognised when she goes out she replied “I go to the supermarket and people recognize me” before adding “and they want to ask me about Usain Bolt!” She has had a faith most of her life but in her own words, “went away from the church” in her teens but is now back in the fold. She is clear about the difference her faith makes: “ Believing in the God I believe in has worked miracles in my life. I know God for myself so I am able to say ‘Thank God’ because I know who He is and I know what He has done in me and through me. So my faith is very important and at the forefront of everything I do. I believe that everything I have, every gift I have is from Him and He has given it to me for a reason. The purpose He has given me has shown me how to live and how to experience life differently. It motivates me and directs my life”. To deal with her nerves while waiting for the starter to call her to her blocks, she repeats Bible verses. She confesses to being a bit afraid before big races so she repeats to herself 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Another favourite verse is: 1 John 4:4 “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”. She says it reminds her that if God is in control, then she has no reason to be afraid. Shelly will be in Rio, trying to win an incredible third consecutive 100 metres title. The Olympics run from 5-21 August. 33
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ALL IN THE MONTH OF JULY………..it was 150 years ago: on 28th July 1866 that Beatrix Potter was born. This children’s writer and illustrator created enduring animal characters including Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck. 100 years ago: from 1st July to 18th November 1916 that the WW1’s Battle of the Somme took place. The slaughter was epic, the result inconclusive. It was the first battle to use tanks. 70 years ago: on 21st July 1946 that bread and flour rationing were introduced in Britain as the country’s wheat crop had been ruined by continual rain. 60 years ago: on 2nd July 1956 that Elvis Presley recorded the song Hound Dog. Critics nicknamed him ‘Elvis the Pelvis’. 50 years ago: on 30th July 1966 that the 1966 FIFA World Cup final was played in London. England beat Germany 4-2. (This remains England’s only World Cup win.) Also 40 years ago: on 18th July 1976 that Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, became the first female to score a perfect 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. 30 years ago:- on 23rd July 1986 that Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in Westminster Abbey, and they became the Duke and Duchess of York. 20 years ago:- on 5th July 1996 that Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned animal, was born. 10 years ago:- on 15th July 2006 that Twitter, the online micro-blogging service, was publicly launched. 35
WORDSEARCH 10�� July brings us Sea Sunday, the day when Christian churches remember, pray and give thanks for the more than 1.5 million merchant seafarers worldwide. If seafarers seem irrelevant to your daily life, think again: 90 per cent of everything you buy in the shops comes to you by sea. Merchant seafarers quite literally keep our global economy afloat. Yet it is a tough life, far from loved ones. Merchant ships are harsh working environments, never mind the threat of piracy or even shipwreck. To help the seafarers, a worldwide network of port chaplains has sprung up. They offer hospitality and friendship, as well as practical, emotional and spiritual support, providing almost a ‘home from home’ in hundreds of ports, in more than 50 countries. You might wish to support one of these three well-known societies: The Mission to Seafarers (Anglican), The Apostolate of the Sea (Roman Catholic), and The Sailors’ Society (inter-denominational).
Afloat Chaplains Daily Economy Environments Friendship Give global Harsh Hospitality Hundreds July Merchant Piracy Port practical Pray Remember Shops
Sea Sunday
Seafarers Thanks 36
Shipwreck Working
SAINT OF THE MONTH: ST MARY MAGDELENE Patron Saint of Repentant Sinners It is easy to understand the popularity of Mary Magdalene over the centuries: she is the patron saint both of repentant sinners and of the contemplative life. Jesus drove seven demons from Mary, who came from near Tiberius in Galilee. She became his follower to the bitter end. She followed him to Jerusalem and was present during the crucifixion, standing heartbroken at the foot of the cross. Her love for Jesus did not end there, for she went to the tomb to anoint his body on the Sunday morning. Such faithful, humble devotion was richly repaid: it gave her a unique privilege among all mankind: she was the first person to whom the Risen Lord appeared on Easter Sunday morning. She thought he was the gardener at first. Mary Magdalene has sometimes been identified with the woman who anointed Christ’s feet in the house of Simon (Luke 7:37). Over the centuries many artists have painted this scene. Mary Magdalene’s feast has been kept in the West since the 8th century. England has 187 ancient churches dedicated to her, as well as a College in both Oxford and Cambridge. QUOTES OF THE MONTH (3) You must not always expect the wind to be at your back all the way to heaven. - William Tiptaft Age: the only thing that comes to us without effort. - Anon If you will be cherished when you are old, be courteous while you are young. - John Lyly 37
A REFLECTION FROM CENTRAL. On 10�� July we are having our 40�� Anniversary Re-union. We shall be meeting up with friends who used to be members here, or who were in our Sunday School or Youth Club. As it happens, we shall also be welcoming Glyn to be our morning preacher. He was our minister earlier this century (that sounds ages ago doesn’t it!!). It will be lovely to reminisce, and to renew acquaintances. Friends mean such a lot to us don’t they? Cast your mind back to your Primary School days -- mine were in the 40’s, but I can still remember some of those children, and you will be able to do so as well. Then there are our older friends from Secondary School days, from College or University. Is this making you think of someone you haven’t thought about for years? Some women remember who they were in Maternity Units with, and have kept in touch with them. Many of us have moved towns and cities as we have got older, and so have friends that have meant a lot to us from those days. Friends mean so much to us. We can spend holidays with some; we can have a coffee occasionally with others; we can chat on the telephone. We can confide in them. BUT, What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer. Can we find a Friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness: Take it to the Lord in prayer. We must cherish our friends, and not take them for granted. But, Jesus, our Greatest Friend is the One who loves us, and never ever forgets us. He will be our Companion all our lives, and will be there for us through thick and thin. Let’s walk closer to Him every day. Enjoy July and August, and we will chat again in September. But don’t forget we can chat to Jesus anytime. Margaret Newman. 38
TIME CHOICES (Luke 10:38-42) Martha is distracted, too busy preparing for the needs of the day. Not enough time‌ not enough time. Mary is focused, taking time to meet the needs of the heart. Sitting still, seeing through the paraphernalia of every day with a new clarity that changes her world. Mary listens to Jesus. She chooses life. There is time‌there is time. We all have our life time. What will we choose? By Daphne Kitching
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NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD. The story behind the hymn by Martin Rinkart The joy and serenity of this hymn are staggering, when you learn the circumstances in which is was written. Martin Rinkart was a pastor at Eilenberg, Saxony, during the terrible Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). As a walled city, Eilenberg offered some protection to the inhabitants. No wonder that political and military refugees of all sorts poured into the city, making it dangerously overcrowded. Soon the water supply was fouled, the sanitation overwhelmed, and the food ran out – leaving people famished and diseased. In 1637 a terrible pestilence swept through the city, killing some 8,000 people, including Rinkart’s beloved wife. By that time Rinkart was the only minister left in Eilenberg, because the others had either died or fled for their lives. Rinkart alone conducted the burial services for 4480 people, sometimes taking as many as 40 to 50 funerals a day! Eilenberge was besieged and overrun three times – once by the Austrian army and twice by the Swedes. When a Swedish general demanded the town pay him 30,000 thalers. Martin Rinkart pleaded that the impoverished city could never meet such a levy, but the general scorned him. At that, Rinkart turned to his companions and said: ‘Come, my children, we can find no mercy with man; let us take refuge with God.’ On his knees there and then, Rinkart led his friends in a fervent prayer and in the singing of a hymn. The Swedish commander was so moved that he decided that the levy be not 30,000 thalers, but instead 1,350 thalers. Somehow, out of the hell of the Thirty Years War came this lovely hymn of peace and total trust in God. Martin Rinkart had had to dig deep into his faith to survive, and the result was utter, serene dependence on God – despite chaos and destruction all around.
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IRAQI PRIEST: ‘THERE’S A STRUGGLE HAPPENING IN THE WHOLE WORLD Until about two years ago, many Christian priests in Iraq would urge their congregations to stand firm in the face of increasing pressure, and to maintain their churches in that country. After all, the Christians had been there for 2000 years. No more. Since the violent arrival of Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil) extremists, more and more priests have changed their mind. Now, as Fr. Martin, an Assyrian priest explains: “I tell them one thing. If you are thinking about leaving, go now, do not wait.” Christian leaders in Iraq reckon that the population of Chaldean Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, and members of the eastern Assyrian church and others has dropped from 1.3 million people 20 years ago to less than 400,000. In the past two years Isil has displaced more than 200,000 Christians from the northern region of Nineveh. Many are now in refugee camps in Baghdad. Fr. Martin goes on to point out that the Christians in Iraq feel caught in the confrontation between Islamic extremism and the West. “When newspapers published cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad, it was in Europe, but gangs tried to assault Christians here. (If) something happened in Belgium or in Holland, I paid here. There’s a struggle happening in the whole world and we will be burned in this fire in the future.” Source: Daily Telegraph 16 May.
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CROSSWORD
Across 1 Relating to the Jewish day of rest (10) 7 Point of view (Matthew 22:17) (7) 8 20th-century Brethren philanthropist whose construction company became one of the UK’s biggest, Sir John — (5) 10 Girl’s name (4) 11 Peter was accused of being one in the courtyard of the high priest’s house (Luke 22:59) (8) 13 The fifth of the ‘seven churches’ (Revelation 3:1–6) (6) 15 ‘Now the famine was — in Samaria’ (1 Kings 18:2) (6) 17 Banned by the seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) (8) 18 Insect most closely associated with itching (1 Samuel 24:14) (4) 21 Bantu tribe which gives its name to tiny landlocked country in southern Africa (5) 22 Familiar material in churches that use an overhead projector (7) 23 Last book of the Bible (10) 42
Down 1 The young David’s favourite weapon (1 Samuel 17:40) (5) 2 ‘Your vats will — over with new wine’ (Proverbs 3:10) (4) 3 Once yearly (Exodus 30:10) (6) 4 Milled it (anag.) (3-5) 5 Region north of Damascus of which Lysanias was tetrarch (Luke 3:1) (7) 6 Comes between Philippians and 1 Thessalonians (10) 9 Lake where the first disciples were called (Luke 5:1–11) (10) 12 Abusive outburst (8) 14 Are loud (anag.) (7) 16 Printing errors (6) 19 ‘Take my yoke upon you and — from me’ (Matthew 11:29) (5) 20 Jacob’s third son (Genesis 29:34) (4) SOLUTION IN SEPTEMBER CORNERSTONE
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