Cornerstone June 2015

CORNER JUNE 2015

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 Treasurers Envelope & Gift Aid Secretary Organist & Choir Director Magazine Editors

Booking Secretary Publicity(Posters) Caretakers Website

Barbara Lawton 01803 296990 lawtonbarbara75@yahoo.co.uk John Coatham 01803 323212 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

Sue Jarvis

01803 325501 wheezy1@sky.com Sue Masheder 01803 873258 sue@masheder1.freeserve.co.uk

CHURCH CONTACTS – VICTORIA PARK Lay Pastoral Assistant Church Council Secretary Senior Steward

Irene Cochran 01803 842542 leeathookhills@aol.com Myra Wise 01803 327145 myrawise456@btinternet.com Mavis Paul 01803 291895

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THE MINISTER Dear Friends, I am busy preparing three new members, two here at Central and one for Victoria Park, to join the ranks of the faithful. We are using a brand new 8 week course prepared by the Methodist Discipleship Department called Compass and together we’ve been exploring a number of issues relating to our discipleship today. Just this past week we considered ‘Our Life Together’ as we looked at the Church. This quote from John Wesley appeared: ‘Such a [Methodist] Society is no other than a company of [people], having the form, and seeking the power, of godliness; united, in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation’¹ It certainly challenged us to think about the Church as more than simply something that we attended on a Sunday.

We found ourselves, especially as the quote was linked to Acts 2:42-47, thinking about the Church in a far more dynamic way than perhaps we have become accustomed to. Perhaps our focus on a Sunday as the ‘main event’ has left us a little short in terms of the possibilities and the opportunities belonging to the Church is meant to bring into our lives.

As we read about the early Church’s invigorating fellowship we pondered what part we might be able to play in empowering each other’s discipleship of Jesus today and we recognised that if we were to do that we needed to go beyond just an hour on a Sunday!

What really enthused us though, was, that just maybe the Church was meant to be a fellowship of people who had discovered the joy of sharing the bounteous resources God had placed in their own hands because then they truly reflected the face of God. Gavin _____________________ ¹ Rules of the Society 1743, CPD Vol1 3

FAMILY & FRIENDS Family News & other Bits & Pieces

CONGRATULATIONS · To Edna Schofield who was 90 on 13�� May · Happy Birthday to Margery Vaughan on the 5�� June · Happy Birthday to Mary Jakes on the 30�� June · To John Coatham who will be 70 on 2ⁿ� June

EASTER OFFERINGS AT CENTRAL I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported Easter Offerings, by returning the envelopes. £188 was raised.

Enia Dunn

AROUND THE FAMILY AT ST ANDREWS. Hugh George Diana and Rachel and all the George family wish to thank our friends at St Andrew’s for their loving support during the long months of Hugh’s final illness. For the Memorial Service our immense gratitude goes to Clive Bastin for playing the organ, to the friends who provided the beautiful floral arrangements, assisted as stewards and undertook the hard work of dealing with the catering afterwards, and to all who attended.

A very special thank you to Gavin and Angela for coming to Mullion for the funeral, and to Gavin for officiating at that service and the service at St Andrew’s.

Sheila Denham 4

BIRTHDAY SOCIALS AT CENTRAL A little while ago the Caring Team talked about reviving the old House Socials. Some folk might remember these from the past and, when mentioned at the Church Meeting, there was a good deal of support.

When we started looking into basing the plan around Birthday months we realised we didn't have everyone's detail. If you think we may not be holding your birth month but would like to be involved in this idea, or perhaps you would like to be invited with a friend who does not share your month, please let me have the details (preferably in writing as I cannot guarantee remembering a 'quiet word'!)

The Caring Team will be getting together on June 12th and will be putting some meat on the bones of this idea and we would hope to start sending out invitations as soon as we can.

We have high hopes for this socialising and look forward to some Birthday Mirth!

Tessa Goodwin and the Caring Team.

Descriptions Dust: mud with the juice squeezed out.

Inflation: cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

Raisin: grape with a sunburn.

Mosquito: an insect that makes you like flies better.

Beauty salon: where women curl up and dye.

Cannibal: one who is fed up with people Committee: a body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

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DAVID MANLEY The second of an occasional series profiling members of Central David is a Devonian born in Berrynarbour (do you know where that is?), where his parents ran a small holding. The family moved to Ilfracombe where David began his schooling at a Convent. He later went to college where he took his O and A levels. He left when the college closed – in fact he was the last pupil – and he was then 17.

His working life began with the Electricity Board and lasted for 30 years – eventually becoming a Senior Business Sales Executive. While living and working in Ilfracombe he met Pat – they were running a Youth Club at the church – and there they were married. David took early retirement, but then began a new career working for an auction house where he was involved with antiques, fine art, railway and engineering sales. During this time he met a number of personalities, and was twice on Bargain Hunt!

In 2006 David and Pat went to live in a fruit growing region of Spain which they greatly enjoyed, but returned to England when the economic situation in Spain became difficult.

David and Pat were blessed with five children, and now have ten grandchildren. One daughter lives in Australia, and they have had two long visits there. We at Central are always pleased to see two grandchildren, Abbie and Charlie, at Sunday Club.

Two of David’s passions have been playing tennis and enjoying steam railways. He was a choirboy at the age of eight, and was head choir boy when he was thirteen. He was a member of his Church Council for five years and he ran a Church Youth Football Team, which did a great deal to foster Inter-Church Fellowship.

David and Pat came to Torquay in 2012, and a week after moving came to our Christmas Fair, which was how Pat became a ‘Busy Bee’ and they 6

decided to join Central. Soon they were both members of Central’s Choir – so good to have another male voice! David keeps busy – he is often seen working in the Church gardens, and he takes the minutes at Church Meetings – not an easy job!

We are certainly blessed to have David and Pat in the life and work of Central MML

Keep it short The minister stood up and said: “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. You’ll be glad to know that when I asked my secretary to type this sermon out for me I asked her to eliminate any thing that was dull or confusing. So in conclusion….”

VERNA STUCKEY – VICTORIA PARK. It is with regret that we heard that Verna Stuckey had passed away on the 5�� May after a short illness. Verna will be sadly missed, for she was not only a Door Steward, but she was our Flower Secretary. She was constantly aware that flowers were placed on the Communion Table each week by those folk whose names were ‘on the list.’ Verna would be the last member of the Chapple/Stuckey family to have connections with Victoria Park, as their families go back many generations. Her funeral was held on 22ⁿ� May. 7

The Women’s Fellowship are holding an afternoon tea party at Central on Monday June 8th. 2p.m. – 4p.m. in aid of Marie Curie cancer Care.

Please come and join us, everyone welcome [that includes gentlemen] There will be a selection of sandwiches, crumpets, cream scone, teacake, fancy cake, and of course a “cuppa” tea all for the price just £4.

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM SHEILA LAWRENCE

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WHO ARE THE HEROES? ‘Hero’ has become a familiar word in modern life – much more so than I can remember from 20 or 30 years ago. We are all familiar with the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity, supporting our military personnel who have been injured and the families of those who have been killed serving their country. That one’s simple. ‘Hero’ seems entirely fitting. But then some football fans have insisted on a new category of ‘hero’ – a highly paid footballer who sacrificially decides to stay with a club and stagger along on a mere £50,000 (or more) a week. Banners in the stands proclaim such ‘heroes’! It really is quite difficult to regard the two examples as similar in any serious way.

I’m also impressed, however, with another kind of ‘hero’, one that can be recognised in every community. These are the heroes (or heroines, to be pedantic) who make it their duty and joy to serve and care for others. I’m thinking of the vast army of ‘carers’, people who week in and week out dedicate their lives to someone who without their help would live a very diminished life. Such carers do it for love, not money. They may be supporting a seriously handicapped child who needs constant loving attention, or an older person with dementia who is physically well but incredibly demanding in terms of acceptance and emotional care.

The carer-heroes also include many who are paid to do it, the home helps. So many love the job and are loved by the people they visit day by day. Often they are not a clock-watchers, but seem to become like a friend who pops in to see how people are.

The dictionary defines a hero as ‘a person who is admired for their outstanding achievements’. By that definition our men and women in Afghanistan qualify. So do the military medics who recently risked fatal infection to fight ebola in West Africa. And so do all those unsung carers.

But not, for me, a well-paid footballer.

Extracted from an article by David Winter

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ALL IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.....................it was 800 years ago:- on 15th June 1215 that King John signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede in England.

125 years ago:- on 16th June 1890 that Stan Laurel, the British comedy film actor, was born. (Laurel and Hardy) 80 years ago:- on 1st June 1935 that driving tests became compulsory for all new drivers in Britain.

75 years ago that many dramatic things happened in WW 2. Events included: 4th June: Evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk was completed. 18th June: Winston Churchill gave his ‘Finest Hour’ speech to House of Commons.

60 years ago:- on 11th June 1955 that the Le Mans 24 Hours race disaster took place when a car spun off the track, killing the driver and 83 spectators, and injuring more than 100. It was the greatest loss of life in the history of motorsport.

50 years ago:- on 11th June 1965 that the Beatles were awarded MBEs by the Queen.

40 years ago:- on 5th June 1975 that the first UK-wide referendum was held. Voters decided that Britain should remain in the European Economic Community by 67%.

Also 40 years ago:- on 7th June (to 21st) that the first Cricket World Cup was held in England.

15 years ago:- on 10th June 2000 that the Millennium Bridge in London was opened. It closed two days later when it was found to sway when people walked in step. (Reopened Feb 2002)

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THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE Friday 26th June 2015 At Central Church 4.00pm – 6.00pm

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REFLECTION FROM CENTRAL On 2ⁿ� June, 1953 our Queen was crowned Queen Elizabeth II, at the young age of 25. Of course, she actually became our Queen on 6�� February the year before, when King George VI died. She is now 89, so she has reigned for 64 years.

On 9�� September she will have reigned longer than Queen Victoria (her great great grandmother), and will be the longest reigning monarch in British history. And, at the time of writing this, it looks as if she will make it. Her health seems to be holding out.

That is quite an achievement isn’t it. And she is still carrying out many engagements now, at that great age. From my point of view, I believe she has been a very good Queen, and represented Great Britain very well.

So, well done, Ma-am!

We are destined to have a King in the fullness of time. Be it King Charles or King William, we will definitely have a king. King Charles will certainly not reign as long as his mother, and who knows how long King William will reign.

Our King of kings has reigned supreme for thousands of years. He is King of Heaven, and King of ALL the earth -- not just Great Britain.

He is our Lord, who God gave us to be our Saviour.

Our Queen, although we are one of her subjects, does not know us at all.

But the King of kings knows us completely and intimately. We cannot ring up our Queen for a chat, but we can talk to the King of kings whenever we like. We cannot go and live in Buckingham Palace with our earthly Queen or King, but we shall go and live with the King of kings one day.

However good our Queen is, there is no way that she will out-shine the King of kings.

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So, God save our Gracious Queen, Long live our glorious Queen. But, “ Praise my soul the King of Heaven, to His feet thy tribute bring”. And, “Him serve with mirth, His praise forth-tell, Come ye before Him and rejoice”.

Speak to you again next month.

Margaret Newman.

Mother-in-law Young man asked to describe his mother-in-law: “Generally speaking, she’s generally speaking.”

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JEAN BAKER. A letter from her sons Iain & Andrew to Barbara, Gavin, the Council members & the Central Congregation, Many thanks for your letter last month; it is heart warming to know that Mum is still in your thoughts and prayers.

There does not yet appear to be any positive signs of improvement in her health and well being, but at least the decline, which was quite marked over the Christmas & New Year period, appears to have been stopped.

As I am sure you are aware Mum is now in Belle Vue Nursing Home in Paignton and after a difficult initial period she appears to have come to terms with her surroundings a little better in the last few weeks.

Please send our heart felt thanks to all those who continue to visit her under what we are well aware are trying circumstances.

When people visit Mum is more alive and alert, the impact however is fleeting as her memory remains completely fractured and as those who have experienced it will no doubt confirm, she has limited attention span.

It is all very sad.

Both Andrew & I are regular visitors, but have not found time to thank all her well wishers, for which I apologise.

As the situation unfolds over the next few months we will try to keep you up-to-date with any progress or major events.

Best Wishes & Thanks Iain & Andrew

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THOUGHTS FOR JUNE · · · · · ·

Pray for a good harvest – but keep on hoeing.

One way to be angry and not sin, is to be angry at nothing but sin.

Earth changes, but thy soul and God stand sure. (Browning).

It is possible to have a low purpose in desiring a high place.

Righteousness in the heart will produce beauty in the character.

You can’t put your sins behind you until you are willing to face them.

9.00am – 12.00pm Tables @ £5.00

Customers 20p

In aid of Central Church Funds

Refreshments will be on sale.

Please call Barbara G on 07773 987670 to reserve a table.

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SUNDAY SERVICES FOR JUNE 2015.

(HC) = Sacrament of Holy Communion (WG) = Worship Group CENTRAL Date JUNE 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��

Date JUNE 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��

Morning 10.30am

Evening 6.30pm

Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC) Revd Gavin Hancocks Deacon Jane Verrall Revd M Parsons

Mrs Barbara Vond Revd Gavin Hancocks (WG) Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC) Mrs Helen Barrett (WG)

Morning 10.30am

ST ANDREWS Evening 6.00pm

Revd D Bament Mr Adam Hills AA Revd G Hancocks. CA.HC Deacon Jane Verrall

Revd Gavin Hancocks (CP)

Revd Gavin Hancocks (BS)

VICTORIA PARK Date JUNE 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��

Morning 10.30am Mrs Irene Cochran Mr David Welsh Mrs Irene Cochran Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC)

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CALENDAR FOR JUNE 2015.

ST ANDREWS CENTRAL VICTORIA PARK Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

1st

6.00 6.30 7.30 7.30 2nd 9.30 9.30 10.00 10.00 3rd 9.30 2.30 6.00 7.30

Thursday

4th

Friday

5th

Saturday

6th

Sunday Monday

7th 8th

Brownies Flexercise Fun Guides Lydwell Park Housegroup Midweek Prayers Toddler Group Coffee & Fellowship Busy Bees Toddler Group Healing Group Beavers Ladies Club: Janet Cottey on the Arctic Circle 9.30 Central Tots 5.15 St Johns Badgers 6.00 Cubs 7.15 St Johns Cadets 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Catering Meeting 11.00 Belleplates 6.00 Choir AGM 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Table Top Sale 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee See separate pages for services - all churches 2.00 Women's Fellowship Tea Party 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 17

Tuesday

9th

Wednesday

10th

Thursday

11th

Friday

12th

Saturday

13th

Sunday

14th

Monday

15th

Tuesday

16th

9.30 9.30 10.00 10.00 7.00 9.30 6.00 7.30

Midweek Service-Margaret Newman Toddler Group Coffee & Fellowship Busy Bees New Life Housegroup Toddler Group Beavers Bon Marche Fashion Show Last day for items for Cornerstone & our own Newsletter for July & August to Myra 7.30 Ladies Club: Bridget Hill – McMillan Cancer Support 9.30 Central Tots 10.00 Church Council AGM 5.15 St Johns Badgers 6.00 Cubs 7.15 St Johns Cadets 7.30 Worship Mission Meeting 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Special Coffee Morning -church funds See separate pages for services - all churches Last day for Cornerstone 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 10.00 Busy Bees 18

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday Sunday Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

17th

Babbacombe Fair on the Downs 9.30 Toddler Group 6.00 Beavers 7.30 Ladies Club: Quiz Night 7.30 Quiz Evening 18th 9.30 Central Tots 7.00 Cubs 7.30 Moors Housegroup 19th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 20th 9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee 21st See separate pages for services - all churches 22nd 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 23rd 9.30 Midweek Communion 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 10.00 Busy Bees 7.00 New Life Housegroup 24th 9.30 Toddler Group 6.00 Beavers 7.30 Ladies Club: AGM 25th 9.30 Central Tots 5.15 St Johns Badgers 6.00 Cubs 7.15 St Johns Cadets 7.30 Pastoral Visitors Meeting 26th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 11.00 Belleplates 4.00 Messy Church 7.00 Choir Practice 7.00 Scouts 19

Saturday

27th

Sunday Monday

28th 29th

Tuesday

30th

9.30 Contact Centre 10.00 Pop in for a Coffee Pier - Pier Sponsored Walk See separate pages for services - all churches 6.00 Brownies 6.30 Flexercise Fun 7.30 Guides 9.30 Midweek Prayers 9.30 Toddler Group 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship 7.30 Finance/Property Meeting

VICTORIA PARK NEWSLETTER. These are now printed at the Church, and will carry a fee of 50p please, which I hope you will think is worth it! This will go towards the cost of the ink and paper.

Myra Wise

The 11th Torquay warmly invite you join them at a

COFFEE MORNING on Saturday 20th June 10.00am – 12 noon There will be various stalls and a raffle.

Coffee & cake £1.50 In aid of Rowcroft Hospice & Guide Funds 20

VICTORIA PARK JUNE ROTA DATE JUNE 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��

DOOR STEWARDS Betty Peachey & Margaret Collings Sylvia Penny & to be arranged Betty Peachey & Margaret Collings Sylvia Penny & to be arranged

VP FLOWER ROTA DATE JUNE 7�� 14�� 21�� 28��

NAMES

IN MEMORY OF

Pat Hawes & Carolyn Balouza Myra Wise Venna Milsom Margaret Russell

Their Wedding Anniversaries Her Parents

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.

Hannah who has Bells Palsy, Carl, Clive Murphy, and Jonathan. Also Amy Bartrip, Audrey Avery, Doreen and Bram Moore. Barbara and Don Pugh, Jean Barret, Julie Pugh, Louise Bishop and Sylvia Diamond.

The Open Book Group – going into schools, our Minister Gavin, and Lay Pastor Irene and her husband Lee.

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CENTRAL’S WELCOME ROTA. DATE 10.30am JUNE 7�� Sarah Ayres & Hazel Nightingale 14�� Sue & Richard Mason 21�� Sheila & John Lawrence 28�� Barbara Gissinger & Judith Holmwood

6.30pm Monica Lansley & Paul Sherriff Barbara Gissinger & Philip Kay Celia & David Bolt Monica Lansley & Philip Kay

CENTRAL’S PICTURE UIZ no 35 April 2015 ‘Easter!’

This one seemed to be a subject that you knew a lot about!! There were 18 completed entries and 11 of them were correct.

The winning name picked ‘out of the hat’ is another regular supporter of the quiz, who often gets them all right, but hasn’t been lucky enough to win until now! Well done Jeanne Sherington.

Here are the answers to the Easter quiz …..

1. EASTER 2. GARDENER 3. CROSS 4. ALIVE 5. BUNNY / RABBIT 6. SUNDAY 7.TOMB 8. EMPTY 9. RISE 10. STONE 11. CHOCS 12. JESUS 13. EGGS 14. DISCIPLES 15. THE 3RD DAY 16. UPPER ROOM 17. ANGEL 18. FLOWERS 19. CAKE 20. MARY 21. BONNET 22. SPRING 23. BASKET 24. JOY 25. APRIL 22

REFLECTION FROM VICTORIA PARK Dear Friends, Last month I wrote about the Spiritual gifts and how The Spirit gives us gifts to enable us to serve others in a special way.

This month I would like to take a look at how we can be a Community Building Church.

Ephesians 2:19-22 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners, You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone. Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord.

And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.

Paul never ceased to be amazed at the miracle of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Those who were enemies of God and dead to divine life, dead to their own destiny as people made in God's image and those who were intractable enemies of one another (the Jews and the Gentiles) had all been united as the people of God. Paul even dared to say that the Gentiles are part of the 'temple' along with the Jews. The Temple was the most important place on earth for it was the place where heaven intersected with earth, being a symbol (perhaps we should say sacrament) of the place where God resides and makes His presence available. Paul knew the Gentiles were an integral part of God's new 'temple' because the Spirit of God lived among them too and there is only one Spirit.

This has moral and personal consequences. The Spirit of God is able to change the kinds of people we are and the ways we think and act.

However, this only happens as we allow God's Spirit to operate in us. So Paul writes, 'Try your best to let God's Spirit'. And 'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking'. It takes effort to be humble, gentle and patient, it requires discipline to stop cursing and swearing and stealing, if these have been our normal ways of living. However with God's Spirit nothing is impossible. Indeed we have the life of Jesus as our focus and stimulus.

God Bless.

Irene.

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ST ANDREWS JUNIOR CHURCH NEWS Happy birthday to Callum who will be 10 on 28�� June.

Cleopas was telling the eleven disciples and their friends about the traveller he had met on the road to Emmaus when Jesus suddenly appeared in the room with them. Our Junior Church members heard this passage from the bible. Our younger members decorated fish on paper plates when they found out the disciples gave Jesus fish to eat. Our older members were roving reporters and made up their own newspaper accounts of the event as if they had been there.

On another Sunday we heard that Jesus is like the Vine and we are the branches. If we abide in Jesus and stay close to him we will grow well.

Jesus will give us all the nourishment we need and we will produce wonderful fruit like love, kindness and helpfulness.

On that Sunday we made and decorated a vine to display on our board in the hall.

Advice A minister’s advice to a deacon about to be ordained: “Remember: the longer the spoke the greater the tyre.”

ST ANDREWS MISSIONS Thank you to everyone who gave money in the envelopes through Easter Offering. A total of £82 was raised and will go to help many people throughout our globe via the World Mission Fund.

Rachel George April Sunday morning coffee raised £10.58 for Water Aid. Jean Jarvis 24

CREATION....as seen by the Revd Ron Wood In the beginning, God created the light, clear and white, filling all that was, dazzling and pure. And he said, dance and shimmer, sparkle or steadily shineshow me in all my ways.

And from the white light God took the blue, and made the clear blue of the heavens and the deep blue of the oceans. And he said, give yourself to the eyes of men and the faces of flowers, that those who cannot see the sky or the sea may yet know me.

And from the white light God took the green, of all growing things that cover the ground. And he said, aspire to the heavens, lowly moss and tallest tree, feed my creation, that all things may grow to me.

And from the white light God took the orange, of sunrise and sunset, and said, I am in all beginnings and all endings. Nothing is without me, and without me nothing shall cease to be.

And from the white light God took the yellow, of ripeness, perfection and maturity, and said, Only in me shall all things be complete.

And from the white light God took the red, the life of all that breathes. And he said, let red run hidden in all living creatures, and be not spilt without respect and regret.

And from the white light God took the purple, deep purple of the abyss, and of space, and he said, in the deepest places, I am, and in the furthest places I am also.

And from the white light, God took the indigo, neither blue nor purple, a sign of all that is between this world and the realm of heaven. And God said, not all that is shall be known. Below read, and beyond purple, and in my understanding alone.

And the white light of God was complete in these, and God said, All who turn to the light will see me, but in the colours also I may be seen by those who have eyes to search me out.

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FRIENDSHIP CROSSES

Send bags of love and friendship, and Gods blessings to your friends and family And add your own special prayer Put in a card or a letter, or add to a bunch of flowers, Add to a gift label, or put in your pocket or purse.

Bags are £1 Or threaded from 75p - £1.00 (minimum donation) A single cross is 50p, 18 for £5 or 40 for £10 _________________

All monies received in aid of Central Church Funds

Techie trouble The vicar at our local church experienced some technical problems with the sound system one Sunday. Instead of starting the service as usual with ‘The Lord be with you’, he said: “There’s something wrong with the microphone.”

Not hearing this, the congregation responded: “And also with you.”

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CHRISTIANITY TODAY. “Once upon a time”: does this sound like the start of a Story?

Churches were full of people, singing hymns to God’s Glory.

We live in a fast altering world and the scene has notably changed.

Sunday Worship is now a fringe benefit, secular activities are arranged Churches are no longer fashionable, few people bother to attend.

People prefer to go Sunday Shopping and have a jolly good spend.

What has caused the decline of congregations in our recent years?

Apathy; and a lack of spiritual teaching during a child’s early years.

Christians built Churches as a Sanctuary, to help find God in prayer, There is something very special sitting quietly, asking God to share, It is in these moments, when briefly, ‘Time’ becomes almost still, Your listening to your Heavenly Father to carry out His Will.

J.H.D. Lawrence

THE GARDENS. The gardeners are grateful to Doreen Blackler and family for the generous donation to the Garden fund. Five evergreen flowering shrubs “the Red Robin” and Photinias have been purchased and planted behind the seat in the grassed area of the garden, in memory of David Blackler.

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FATHER’S DAY (21�� JUNE) In the UK, USA and Canada, the third Sunday in June is Father's Day. It’s a good time for sons and daughters to take their father to his favourite restaurant, or to watch a favoured sport, or whatever else he enjoys doing.

How will you celebrate it this year? If your own father cannot be with you, is there a ‘spare’ father somewhere in your church or your circle of friends whose children cannot be with him, and who would welcome some special treat on the day?

How do these special days ever get started, anyway? Well, Father’s Day began because way back in 1909 there was a woman in Spokane, Washington, named Sonora Louise Smart Dodd. That year she heard a church sermon about the merits of setting aside a day to honour one's mother. Mother's Day was just beginning to gather widespread attention in the United States at this time. But Sonora Louise Smart Dodd knew that it was her father who had selflessly raised herself and her five siblings by himself after their mother had died in childbirth.

So the sermon on mothers gave Sonora Louise the idea to petition for a day to honour fathers, and in particular, her own father, William Jackson Smart.

Sonora Louise soon set about planning the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane in 1910. With support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, her efforts paid off, and a ‘Father’s Day’ was appointed. Sonora Louise had wanted Father’s Day to be on the first Sunday in June (since that was her father's birthday), but the city council didn't have time to approve it until later in the month. And so on June 19, 1910, the first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane.

Gradually, other people in other cities caught on and started celebrating their fathers, too. The rose was selected as the official Father's Day flower. Some people began to wear a white rose to honour a father who was dead, and a red one to honour a father who was living. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day - a permanent, national holiday.

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Central will be holding a

on Wednesday 10th June at 7.00pm.

Refreshments will be provided, and garments etc can be purchased at 10% discount!

Tickets @ ÂŁ5.00 from Hazel, Sarah or Barbara G

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SAINT OF THE MONTH. ERASMUS a good saint for when you’re all at sea!

Do you like messing about in boats? If so, then you’ll have heard of St Elmo’s Fire. It is the light that is sometimes seen on mastheads of boats after storms at sea.

St Elmo is another name for St Erasmus, a fourth century Syrian bishop who was not afraid of violent storms.

Legend has it that one day when Erasmus was preaching outside, a thunderbolt hit the ground right beside him.

That might have distracted many modern bishops, but not Erasmus – he just kept on preaching. His courage won him the respect of sailors, who also had to brave the elements of nature in their daily work.

But when Erasmus was made the patron saint of sailors, it led to a curious confusion. His emblem became the windlass, a kind of hoist used by many sailors at sea. So far so good, but many medieval Christians, seeing the windlass emblem, assumed it was some sort of torture instrument. They knew that Erasmus had died in the persecution of Diocletian, and concluded that a windlass had been used to hoist out his intestines (which it hadn’t).

But no matter - Erasmus was still adopted by another set of suffering people. Not only did sailors remember the thunderbolt, and look to him, but soon, anyone with gut ache as well!

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OPEN DOORS The church building is an island in a sea of tents. Seven hundred families are living in a refugee camp in the grounds of the church in Erbil, in Kurdish-controlled Iraq. They are refugees from Christian communities on the Nineveh Plain, evicted from their homes by the brutal Islamist militia known as ISIS. ‘Father Daniel’ is a trainee pastor and looks after the children in the camp, many of whom are deeply traumatised.

With the help of open Doors Daniel set up colourful tent in the middle of the camp where they are able to be a child again.

Prayer: Lord. I thank you that you know each one of us by name.

Strengthen and equip those who work with refugees. Be with those around the world who have lost homes for following you. May they know that you are their shelter in the storm.

Taken from Open Doors ‘The Step of Yes’

TEARFUND TEARFUND’S self-help groups began in 2002 in Ethiopia with just five groups; today there are more than 13,000. They haven’t spread just in Ethiopia; Tearfund has also helped introduce them in Cambodia, Kenya, Somaliland, Tanzania, Rwanda and Malawi. This month lets pray for their continued success See the Summer Tearfund Prayer diary for more information on Child Trafficking, conditions in Iraq and much more.

Taken from TearFund June Prayer Handbook

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THE BIBLE IN FIFTY WORDS God made

Adam bit

Noah arked

Abraham split

Joseph ruled

Jacob fooled

Bush talked

Moses balked

Pharaoh plagued

People walked

Sea divided

Tablets guided

Promise landed

Saul freaked

David peaked

Prophets warned

Jesus born

God walked

Love talked

Anger crucified

Hope died

Love rose

Spirit flamed

Word spread

God remained.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION FROM MAY CORNERSTONE

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THE UNITED NATIONS....bring on the mediators I wonder what you think of the United Nations? The best hope for a peaceful world? Or an expensive but ineffective talking shop?

It was 70 years ago this month that delegates from 54 countries who had been meeting in San Francisco drew up a ‘Charter’ for a new world-wide inter-governmental organisation to replace the ineffective ‘League of Nations’. They wanted to ensure that the two devastating world wars which had marked the first half of the 20th century would never happen again.

In October 1945 this Charter was adopted by 51 nations and the ‘United Nations’ came into being. The title was an aspiration rather than an accomplishment, of course, but their vision of a world body, eventually to encompass every nation and wielding immense moral if not legal authority over the entire planet, was taking shape Quite a lot of people are sceptical about the real value of the UN. They note its inability to influence several of the world’s notorious flash-points.

On the other hand, it is easy to forget the contribution of UN peacekeeping forces in many potentially fraught situations over the years: Cyprus, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Sudan. The world has got used to the blue-helmeted UN soldiers, usually drawn from a number of nations, standing between opposing factions and countries, as genuine ‘peacekeepers’. The UN has also often had a role as peace-maker (which is altogether more tricky), its mediators working to enable dialogue and negotiation .

Mediator: what a lovely word for a lovely human function! A mediator is a go-between, a healer and reconciler. Christianity has its great Mediator, of course. ‘There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, Himself human’, writes St Paul. That’s what makes the perfect mediator – someone who can perfectly inhabit either side of the division (in this case, both human and divine) and bring them together again. The Divine Mediator, ‘Himself human’, gladly undertook that costly task. But I don’t think He ever wore a blue helmet.

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CROSSWORD

Solution in July/August Cornerstone 34

Advice to young clergy on preaching ‘Consider the postage stamp. Its usefulness consists in its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.’

Love They say he married her because her aunt left her a fortune. He hotly denies it, saying that he would have married her whomever left her the fortune.

Request A clergyman phoned his rural dean. “I regret to have to inform you that my wife has just died. Could you please send me a substitute for the weekend?”

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Central Church members and friends..

On Saturday 27th June ‌. there will be a sponsored walk from‌

to

It will be a fun day for everyone and will end with a family picnic on Paignton Green.

More details will be available at a later date, but mark the date in your diary, and start looking for sponsors, or offer to be one!!

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