Refresh Magazine Issue 7 Summer 2023

Summer 2023 Issue 7

The magazine of the Congregational Federation

WINDSWEPT 2023 Assembly reports & President Oliver Kinchin presents this year’s theme PAGES 9-13 & 17

PROPHETIC IMAGINATION

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

HERO OF THE FAITH

Chris Bond explains how his church is hearing from God

More churches supporting the needy through food banks

Tribute to the founder of OM – George Verwer

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“…looking forward to being refreshed by your company.

God’s peace be with all of you” (Romans 15:33, The Message)

Kingdom come Just as for millions of others across the country, the crowning of Charles III in May was the first time a coronation had taken place in my lifetime. Truly a historic moment, but what is its significance in modern Britain? Will it make any difference?

Although the monarch’s power is today little more than rubber-stamping the Acts of Parliament, the monarch does still wield enormous influence – and our royal family has a global following.

The recent fallout between the Sussexes and the rest of the family has negatively impacted that influence, but the words and actions of the ‘working royals’ continue to be publicised so much that they will have an influence – one way or another.

Our long-serving Queen Elizabeth II’s influence was undoubtedly positive. She set an example in many ways, including her service of others and her faith in Christ. If Charles’s legacy is half as good we will be grateful.

In our new series on evangelism beginning in this issue, Rev Dr Graham Adams looks at another kingdom – the kingdom of God. He shows how evangelism is wider than just bringing people to Christ, but leading them to influence the world for good – in God’s great plan for his kingdom to come and his will to be done ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.

Our mission in life is to help bring about God’s kingdom on earth, fulfilling the Lord’s Prayer. This includes not just people coming to know God but his compassion, peace and justice being spread through the world, as God’s people become agents for change.

Jesus had a lot to say about the kingdom of God or heaven. The term occurs 53 times in Matthew, 17 times in Mark, 41 times in Luke, and twice in John.

So what’s our role in God’s kingdom? Sharing the Gospel undoubtedly, but also being ‘salt and light’ to

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Refresh Magazine, ISSN 2634-2987, is published by: The Congregational Federation, Congregational Centre, 8 Castle Gate, Nottingham NG1 7AS Tel: 0115 911 1460 www.congregational.org.uk Registered charity 264839 Editor: Andrew Halloway.

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All Bible quotes are from either the NLT or NIV unless otherwise stated.

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influence our world, to see King Jesus’ rule on earth spread through love and service.

And Jesus promises us in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, “all these things will be given to you as well”. What was he talking about? What we eat, drink and wear (verse 31). He will meet all our needs if we bend our knee to the King of kings and Lords of lords, if we have enthroned him in our hearts and are serving him above all else.

So being a citizen of this kingdom is not just about ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but ‘meat (or a plantbased alternative!) on the plate while you wait’. His kingdom is about God’s ‘shalom’ for the whole of life – spiritual and physical. The full Gospel.

And one day, the King will return to bring the whole world under God’s rule.

Andrew Halloway, Editor a.halloway@ntlworld.com

CONTENTS

1 From the General Secretary LOCAL CHURCH NEWS 2 Feeding the hungry 4 Two new churches 5 MP visit and anniversaries 6 Bible book club CORONATIONS 7 On the Mall in 1953 & 2023 FEDERATION NEWS 9 National Assembly in Taunton 14 Serving the Community Awards 16 President’s Reflection 17 New President & President Elect 18 Introducing Catherine Booton 20 Safeguarding in your church 21 Vacancies & Tips for life online EVANGELISM 22 New series by Graham Adams MISSION 24 House of Joshua project 26 Ten days in Mumbai INSPIRATION 27 Prophetic Prayer by Chris Bond 29 Heroes of the Faith – George Verwer PLUS… 31 Breaktime 32 Book Reviews 33 Prayer Diary & puzzle solutions

From the General Secretary We’re all going on a summer holiday!

Yes, it’s nearly that time to start thinking holidays.

Poppy and I have been invited to camp at a Christian festival called New Wine in August. We’ve never been camping before and we’ve never been to a Christian festival so it will be an exciting time. If you are going to a festival we would love to hear your experience, and if you are going to New Wine let me know.

Poppy and I were also invited to be at the 50th Anniversary thanksgiving service for the United Reformed Church in London. We had a great day and it was a privilege to be asked to do one of the Bible readings. Thanks to Alan Kennedy and Jim and Jan Lyon, as well as a few others from the Congregational Federation, who were there.

The Congregational Federation is a member church of the Council for World Mission (CWM). In early spring Neil Chappell, Joy Howell and I were invited to be part of the European members’ mission forum in Amsterdam.

The keynote speech was presented by a university which is leading on a major international research project into the legacies of slavery, and part of the meeting was a tour of the city with this focus. The General Secretary of CWM, Jooseop Keum, shared an update on the Onesimus project – which is not just about reparations and apologies but also about empowerment, education and transformation.

We as a member church need to ponder and pray about how we should respond, which may be in partnership with another member church.

Our training course already has a core module called Multi-cultural Ministry, and it was great to see Richard Reddie, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’s Director of Justice and Inclusion, deliver a session for the ethics module at the April training weekend.

We will be looking into some webinars later this year on anti-racism but if you would like more information or want to read more go to www.cwmission.org. You also might like to read Anthony Reddie’s ‘Is God colour blind?’ and Richard Reddie’s ‘Race for Justice’.

The Ministry Matters webinars this year have covered topics such as trauma, relationships, an online retreat, and later in June two sessions on how to be safe online.

We are producing a book on good practice in church relationships, and leaflets on treasurers and secretaries are also available to help support and encourage those in and those considering these roles. There is also a £300 grant available for all accredited ministers for continued ministry development, maybe for books, retreats or training.

If your church hasn’t got a Safeguarding Certificate please phone me and let me help you with the process by the end of this year.

I have lots of church visits planned over the summer and I am especially looking forward to seeing the new church building on the Isle of Wight!

Enjoy the summer months; may God bless you with rest and revival.

CWM General Secretary Jooseop Keum at the forum

Yvonne Campbell Some of the attendees at the CWM European members’ mission forum in Amsterdam

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LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Feeding the hungry A taste of what many Congregational churches are doing to help put food on the table during the cost of living crisis By the Editor All over the country, our churches are doing their best to ensure no one goes hungry in their community. Here’s a snapshot of some of the initiatives…

In Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, Newcastle Congregational Church hosts the Newcastle Foodbank Centre, which is part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks. Open on Thursday afternoons, it provides three days’ of food for people in crisis. The church says: “We provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us.”

The chair of the Foodbank, Hilary Biggin, told Refresh that there has been a huge rise in demand over the last year, and explained how she got involved and how the Centre is run today: “In 2013 I was approached by the then chair of trustees, one of the local Anglican vicars, to become a trustee.

“After speaking to the church meeting it was decided that I would become a trustee with the prayers and backing of the church. I had no idea that within a few months of joining I would be asked to become the chair – a position which I found both challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

“Our church became more engaged with the foodbank, and when the premises which they were using as one of their distribution centres proved insufficient we decided to offer our premises to them, obviously at no charge. As a small, ageing congregation we did not have the manpower to physically run a foodbank but in this way we were still able to help. So in April 2016 the Newcastle Foodbank Centre moved to our premises.

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One of the teams running Newcastle Foodbank’s distribution centre.

Third from left is Phil Simpson, the Volunteer Foodbank Lead for the centre

“We provide the premises and storage spaces and the Foodbank enlists volunteers to run it. It is part of a network of six distribution centres for Newcastle Staffs Foodbank, with centres open Tuesday to Friday every week.

“We further help by having a donation box in the foyer of our church for food, and several members make personal financial donations. We also use times like harvest to support the foodbank through the whole church, usually financially. The foodbank lead is aware of our prayerful support and should they have someone who requests prayer or spiritual help they can also refer them to our pastoral team.

“The foodbank does a great service to local people who are dealing with a multitude of issues in their lives, not least at this time the current economic crisis

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS with rising costs all round. Everyone visiting our foodbank is met with empathy and treated equally, no matter what their circumstances. We offer a warm drink and a friendly face whilst their food parcels are being made up, signposting to other agencies which may be able to help them, and more recently Citizens Advice is on hand to help with in-person advice and ongoing support.

“The Trussell Trust would dearly like to see an end to the need for foodbanks but unfortunately at the moment we are seeing a huge increase in demand.

Newcastle Staffs Foodbank has fed over 4,900 people in the six months to February 2023. This is a 70 per cent increase on the same period in the previous year, and of those 4,900, a total of 916 received parcels from the Centre here at our church, including 286 children.

“I, along with our church, still continue to support the work of the foodbank and I currently act as the volunteer church liaison for the 20 member churches.

“Does your church have a Trussell Trust foodbank close by? Do you have space to offer for a distribution centre or storage should this be needed? Ever thought of popping along and seeing if you can offer any help? Remember it doesn’t always need to be physical help. Why not see how you can make a difference to someone who is struggling to afford the essentials?”

Another of our churches that hosts and runs a food bank with the support of other local churches is South Chingford Congregational Church in Essex.

They provide emergency food and support to anybody within the E4 postcode area experiencing crisis. The foodbank operates under the umbrella of the Eat or Heat charity.

The church says: “Many people referred to us find themselves in difficulty because of debt, changes or delays to benefit payments, unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence, sickness, the added pressures during school holidays, etc. Care professionals such as GPs, health visitors, schools, social workers and church ministers complete a referral and send it to us.”

Each referral allows an individual or family to receive support from the foodbank for up to four weeks. If continued support is needed, they can seek another referral (there’s a maximum of three referrals for any individual within a six-month period).

The foodbank receives no support from local or national government and relies completely on donations of food and financial support from individuals, schools, churches, etc. The church says there has been “an enormous rise in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are currently providing emergency supplies for over 40 local households in crisis each week.”

Members of Coatdyke Congregational Church in Airdrie regularly donate items to the foodbank basket at the entrance to the church. Each Sunday morning, Jimmy Shaw (our senior citizen resident volunteer) delivers the items in the basket to the Airdrie Foodbank. The minister set a challenge recently for two of the children (Lily and Leah).

They were given £5 each to see what goods they came back with! Both did an excellent job, with bags filled with a variety of goods. Lily also had her mum take up the challenge with her own £5.

Newport Congregational Church on the Isle of Wight runs a Food Share project where church members and friends collect food that would otherwise go to waste from the local Morrisons, Aldi and Co-op supermarkets. The food is freely available on a table in the foyer every day, with no vouchers needed. People are simply asked to only take what they need.

Kentish Town Congregational Church in London runs a Trussell Trust foodbank in conjunction with Chalk Farm Baptist Church and Revelation Church. Kentish Town CC operates the Distribution Centre for clients on Thursdays, the warehouse is run by the Baptist church and the office is based at the Revelation Church.

Market Harborough Congregational Church in Leicestershire set out to support people in food poverty in 2012. It started with a few food parcels each month. The Jubilee Foodbank now receives around 100 referrals from individuals and families every month. Their website gives a regular update on the food donations needed.

Steeple Bumpstead Congregational Church in Suffolk supports Haverhill Foodbank, which provides emergency food supplies to local people in crisis. Food donations can be dropped off at various supermarkets and stores, and the church has a local donation point at a shop in Steeple Bumpstead.

Blaby Congregational Church near Leicester continues to support Lutterworth and Villages Foodbank. Foodbank representative Susan Preston-Hough reports that “the congregation are very generous with their donations and these are taken to Countesthorpe Methodist Church at the end of each month. Typical donations amount to between 16 and 24 kilos. The Church will also be holding a coffee morning to raise money for the Foodbank.”

The Newport church often uses Facebook to show the food that is available in their foyer at any particular time

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LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Two churches join the Congregational Federation General Secretrary Yvonne Campbell introduces Wellcome Congregational Church and Ridgewell Congregational Church

Pilgrim Fathers USA tour planned A trip to New England in 2024 to enable UK Congregationalists to visit the historic sites associated with the Pilgrim Fathers and learn more about the beginnings of Congregationalism in the States is being organised.

Warm welcome to Wellcome

Re-launch of Ridgewell

What a delight it has been getting to know Wellcome CC in Orsett. The day I went to worship with them will stay with me for a long time. It was informal yet powerful as the Holy Spirit moved among us. We sang, we prayed, we read Scripture just as we were guided, and it was joyful.

Before worship began I was introduced to Andrew and Jan Blakey, husband and wife and leaders of the church. Andrew used to be the head of an FE college, so with my teaching background we connected straight away.

Eric Fenwick, the Minister overseeing Orsett, had been looking for another church to come into the building at Orsett, as there were only a couple of members left at the time. Eric heard about Andrew and Jan’s church and invited them to use the building.

Wellcome church worked with Eric and gradually Eric pulled back and handed over in January, when our President Mark Taylor was able to make them officially members of the Federation.

The day I visited, a small group had just returned from their annual trip to Kosovo. They had had a wonderful time supporting and encouraging so many people. It was so inspiring and moved me to tears.

It was fantastic to see six of the fellowship join us at Assembly, not just on the Saturday but all weekend.

Wellcome are going to bring so much to the Congregational Federation and I am looking forward to working with them.

There has been a Congregational church in Ridgewell for a very long time but unfortunately it closed after the older members died and others moved away.

However, the nearby growing Congregational church in Stambourne had a vision and wanted to invest their time in looking to re-launch and re-open the church. It is therefore fantastic that after many years of meetings and prayers and visits that the church is reopened and welcomed as a new Congregational church this year.

Adrian Burr and Jill Holmes with a small group from Stambourne have been faithful in coming alongside the community to find out what they would like from a church, and have developed lots of mission work. They have had many conversations with those who live in the village and a small fellowship of new members have come together to re-start the church.

Services are held every month and include interactive activities. There is a coffee morning twice a month on a Wednesday and monthly church meetings too. They also hold a regular Messy Church and have welcomed a lot of new families.

They are also planning a holiday club for children aged 5-11 in August and bookings are being taken.

Please keep praying for this growing church.

Flights and accommodation will be the responsibility of the participants.

To register your interest, please contact Rev Alan Kennedy (who is leading the tour with Rev Mike Fales of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches in the USA) at: alanrk1690@gmail.com or tel 07733153203.

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Left: The members of Wellcome CC Above: Adrian Burr, who had the vision for Ridgewell as a thriving church, enjoys chatting at their regular coffee mornings

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Blantyre celebrates 145th anniversary Blantyre Congregational Church was consecrated in 1877 so decided they would celebrate their 145th anniversary in 2022. However, things didn’t quite go to plan!

Jean Orr, Secretary at Blantyre CC, explains: “Unfortunately, our first planned event (a Burns Supper) which was scheduled for January 2022 had to be cancelled as there was another Covid outbreak.

“Instead, a thanksgiving service was held in June where local clergy, dignitaries and past ministers

joined the congregation to celebrate this milestone date. An afternoon of fellowship followed, with the opportunity for friends to catch up.

“A gala ball was also held in a local restaurant, with over 70 people.

Entertainment was provided by a Deacon of the church. The events were rounded off in March this year with a very successful fish tea and quiz in the church hall.”

Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry talking to people at Union Chapel Credit: Archie Powell

MP visits church charity The Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP visited The Margins Project in March at the Union Chapel, a Congregational Federation church in London.

The Margins Project is a drop-in service that offers hot meals for over 70 people experiencing homelessness or living in precarious housing conditions, as well as crisis support, advice, engagement and training.

Michael Chandler, Chief Executive of Union Chapel Project, said: “We were delighted to have the Rt Hon Emily Thornberry visiting the Union Chapel. We are a centre of creativity, a venue of outstanding reputation and a community hub committed to addressing social justice issues in the heart of Islington…

“During the pandemic, and almost overnight, Union Chapel Project, the parent charity of the Margins Project, lost 80 per cent of its income but nonetheless remained in the heart of the response to the coronavirus… The Margins Project now serves over 5,400 nutritious hot meals a year.”

Impressive 145th anniversary cake

Parkhead celebrates 150th anniversary CF church member Lorna Cammock attended the anniversary at this church in the East End of Glasgow. She reports: “We celebrated in style at this vibrant church, with about 200 attending, every seat occupied, and a wide age range. It was a look back over the years and into the future with God. The first meetings of the Scottish CF took place in Parkhead.

“Africans with their bright colours and enthusiasm are now a big part of the church family.

Jack Graham, church and community minister, has been there for a lifetime.

“The other remarkably long ministry was that of Rev Dr Nelson Gray, who also wrote a column in a Glasgow newspaper. When he left the church he went to work for Scottish Television’s religion desk. He and my father, Rev Charles Cammock, ran a seaside mission at Portobello for years.

Joyce Gray, Nelson’s wife, was our rep. in Christian Women in Europe.

“There were displays of photos and writings by talented people of the past.

The oldest member cut the birthday cake and a tree has been planted in the nearby park.”

A display of hymn books and Bibles through the year

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LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Bible Book Club

By Mark Taylor

In the last two editions of Refresh, Mark has written about outreach activities that he leads at Newark Congregational Church. In this issue, he explains another activity he runs called the Bible Book Club, which is primarily for ‘card-carrying Christians’

What is Bible Book Club?

In many ways it’s like any other book club – the members read a book and meet monthly to talk about it. However, it differs in two ways: • The books we discuss are all Christian books.

They can vary very widely but all take it as a given that in reading the book you are somewhere on the spectrum of Christian believers • We don’t read a different book every month.

Generally there is so much to talk about in the books we find that we need several months to fully get to grips with it. Our plan is to discuss a chapter a month, so our current book is going to last us nine months.

What happens at a Bible Book Club session?

This is another event that, like our Film Club, started out as a physical meeting but migrated to online during the pandemic and has stayed there. So we meet via the ubiquitous Zoom on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 7.30 to 9pm.

I assume (sometimes optimistically) that everyone has read the section of the book that we have agreed.

In preparation, I will have read the passage myself and will have marked up passages of interest in the book that I may want to refer to in leading the discussion. I also make notes on the topics I think we might wish to discuss during our session and any supplementary information I might want to introduce (maps, Bible readings, images, etc.)

What do we discuss?

Some of the books discussed in Mark’s Bible Book Club

This, of course, is largely determined by the passage we have read. Some of the topics from our last discussion: • Why was Jesus baptised?

• The temptations in the wilderness and the nature of Satan • The statement in our current book that “Jesus had no time for the minutiae of religious observance.”

What shouldn’t happen at a Bible Book Club session?

The biggest potential problem lies with me as leader! I have to control any tendency I have to talk too much. We have people from a variety of Christian

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traditions (Anglican, Catholic and Methodist as well as Congregational) in the group and we learn more if everyone is given the chance to share their own views on the topics. Other members will be able to tell you whether I succeed in my attempt at self-control!

Some examples of books we have read One of our first titles was Nick Page’s ‘The Badly Behaved Bible’. It transformed how many of us read the Bible and understand what it is. It’s both scholarly and amusing and I would heartily recommend it to anyone.

Another favourite was Dave Tomlinson’s ‘The Bad Christian’s Manifesto’. We were so impressed by this book that the church at Newark has adopted Dave’s manifesto (nine principles) as our own ‘Mission Statement’. Dave joined in one of our online sessions and has since visited us at Newark to give a public talk.

Other titles have included ‘What if Jesus was Serious?’ by Skye Jethani (all about the Sermon on the Mount) and novelist Frances Spufford’s ‘Unapologetic’ (subtitled ‘Why, despite everything, Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense.’)

As a general principle we find that books need to be at the ‘accessible’ end of the publishing spectrum so that everyone can engage with them. A theological textbook might not be an appropriate choice.

Does this sound interesting?

If you’d like to know more then I’d be happy to talk to you. Email me at: newarkcongregational@ virginmedia.com and I’ll arrange a chat.

Of course another alternative is that you join Newark’s Bible Book Club. You’re only a mouse click away. Again – send me an email and I’ll send you details of our next session.

CORONATIONS

The King’s Coronation: we were there!

Members of Springhead Congregational Church in Oldham camped on The Mall to get the best views of the procession on 6 May. Joanie Thompson from Springhead tells their story…

Ingrid, Vanda, Mary, Rebecca, my grandson and I were travelling to London but it had been a funny build up to our trip to watch the coronation of King Charles. We had problems with our train tickets as we couldn’t book return tickets in case we were allocated concert tickets at Windsor, and there seemed to be incorrect information on the internet.

We were worried and had so many questions…

Would we get tickets for the concert? Would we get return train tickets? Would we get a good space on The Mall? We needn’t have worried, for a great story was to be told…

It all started with a knock on my front door from one of my daughter’s friends. She knew I was going to camp on The Mall to watch the coronation and she had brought me a gift.

I opened the box, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing: a full size crocheted copy of the King’s crown, lovingly and intricately decorated with jewels! It had obviously taken a long time to create this golden and purple masterpiece and I was overcome with gratitude and pride on receiving this precious gift.

I tried it on and it fitted perfectly; I was like a giddy schoolgirl not a 72-year-old granny!

We set off to Piccadilly Station with chairs, food, clothing and the necessities we needed to camp on the ground on The Mall, to enable us to get a bird’s eye view of the coronation the next day.

I was proudly wearing the crown, and as we waited for the train I saw my 20-year-old grandson in the distance – he was laughing! He had been apprehensive about the trip, but when he spotted the crown and everyone smiling and me pointing to it he realised it could only be his gran!

Various travellers stopped to ask if it would be OK to take a photo. The happiest day had begun and it was the crown bringing people together. We had the same reaction on the train and the taxi that took us to our viewing vista on The Mall. We set up camp and started to relax, but there was a constant drip feed of people from all different countries wanting a photo of the crown. Over the 36 hours camped on the street, I am sure that hundreds of people, mostly children, had their photo taken with it.

It was a catalyst of unity. One little girl from France was entering a competition where she had to read a newspaper in an unusual or exciting place, so she did it wearing the crown and her grandfather was convinced she would win! I was photographed by TV companies from Germany, America and Poland, all because of this humble crown. We sang and laughed as a big family.

When the royal procession started we were all awash with pride and happiness. But we had to listen

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the gold state coach on their return to Buckingham Palace after the coronation Credit: Katie Chan/Wikimedia

Joanie in her knitted crown cuts an equally impressive crown cake

Continued overleaf

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CORONATIONS to the ceremony itself on loud speakers, and I have to admit I missed being able to watch it as the service is such a colourful and visual event, and I felt the content was very hard to understand with sound only, as it’s a medieval and heavily traditional Church of England ritual.

When the King and Queen returned up The Mall with the magnificent bands, military and coaches with family it was mesmerising.

What a day to be thankful for our royal family. I can say in all honesty that all of the people I met, from many countries around the world, said how they envy what we have.

My grandson and I ran up The Mall to watch the royal family come out onto the balcony at the Palace and wave to the crowds. Our day was complete, and we returned home, tired, happy and fulfilled. The trip had exceeded our wildest dreams.

When I got home, I sat and watched it on TV, taking in every detail.

At our Sunday toddler group, I told a story to the children for the first time. I wanted to reflect on the coronation service and talk about the Christian elements. I took the crown out of its box and told them I had been to London and lots of people had tried it on and had their photo taken, as it made everyone smile.

I explained that when the crown was put onto King Charles’s head he promised to look after us. He had to protect us, guide us and lead us. Like the crown on the table, it doesn’t matter what country we come from, the colour of our skin, what church we go to or even what church we don’t go to – we have to be kind to one another and look after one another, and that is what the coronation of the King means to us.

Remembering 1953 Greta White, a member of Loddiswell Congregational Church, was an eyewitness to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. She shares her memories with us

Greta White today

Elizabeth II wearing the Imperial State Crown and holding the Sovereign’s Sceptre and Orb after her coronation in 1953 Credit: BiblioArchives/ LibraryArchives from Canada/Wikimedia Commons

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When the Queen acceded in 1952 I was in my fourth year at Exeter University doing a degree in French.

Being so soon after the War there were no schemes of exchange or gap years, but as future teachers we had been able go to France on short visits, staying with families or in a French boarding school.

In February 1952 I went on a two-week visit to Paris with students from other colleges. There I met a lad from London University who arranged for me and a friend to spend a few days with his aunt in London, sleeping on mattresses, so we could be there for the coronation.

The aunt had booked a couple of windows overlooking The Mall! All the time there was a

pervading buzz of excitement as we watched a seemingly never-ending parade of the armed forces, plus firemen, nurses and cadets, all immaculately dressed and drilled. From time to time there came a military band. The decorations across the road fluttered in the breeze. It was quite chilly and I was glad to be indoors.

Finally, something shiny appeared in the road in the far distance and a crescendo of cheers filled the air. It was the gold coronation coach – an almost blinding vision of gold, just like all the pictures one has seen, but many times more so. It jogged along rather clumsily.

From our first floor window we could hardly see the Queen’s face, but our perch gave us a good view of its roof and her gorgeous red velvet robes carefully spread inside the coach.

After the coach passed, people were milling about and we went down to street level.

On the same day, the conquest of Mount Everest was announced, and I noticed on one stall a newspaper with a big picture of Everest on the front instead of the abundant royal pictures on all others.

Ever since I’ve bitterly regretted not buying one.

When the ceremony was over and the canopies outside the Abbey had been removed, we had a look at the Queen’s beasts – a row of heraldic animals.

FEDERATION NEWS

Congregational Federation Assembly 2023 The best yet! General Secretary Yvonne Campbell reports on this year’s Congregational Federation Assembly in Taunton, 12-14 May When the alarm went at 6am on Saturday (13 May), my daughter Poppy and I were excited for the day ahead.

Andy from the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre welcomed us and we got to work unpacking the car. The volunteers from the South-West Area arrived early too and were an amazing team of volunteers. In fact, everyone seemed to arrive early, as by 9am we were all set up and people had gathered, so the centre started serving refreshments.

There was a great buzz all day, with conversations and people enjoying wandering round the stands and picking up information and leaflets. We welcomed Jonathan Clarke from Christian Aid, running a stand at Assembly for the first time, and Chris, David Edwards’ son, who brought all the welcome bags. Thanks also to go Premier for the free ‘Immerse’ bibles that everyone received.

We started formally at 10.25, including welcoming all those watching online. Thanks to Crystal Productions we were able to live stream the Assembly, so I hope all those who watched from home felt part of the day. The order ran smoothly through the morning, with uplifting reports from the Church Support team, and thanks to Tim Bateman for a great financial presentation. There was lively debate about the Council’s ‘one church one vote’ proposal, which as a result was taken back for reconsideration, and which helped us all to value the space that is Assembly.

We had an offering which raised nearly £600 to be split equally between the Christian Rebuild charity and the church in Grenada that Nigel Lindsay is currently serving.

We ended up finishing the morning session early, so we all had a long lunch with great conversations and catch-up.

Over ten children gathered in the morning for their fun-packed Assembly and over lunch a group of young people arrived to start their meeting. They both fed back during the afternoon session which was appreciated by all, including singing a song and teaching us a memory verse. We also learned about

‘KitKat prayers’ which I think we all wanted to try! Thank you to all our young people and those that led the sessions, especially Church Support Worker Luzia Watt for bringing it all together.

Oliver Kinchin was inducted as the new President and spoke about creating brave spaces in churches. Helen Keighley (Harden CC in Bingley) and Kathy Shaw (Padfield CC near Glossop) were accredited on the Roll of Ministries, and it was super to welcome Ridgewell CC in Halstead and Wellcome Church in Orsett as new affiliated churches. Six members of Wellcome joined us for the whole weekend from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. They were a joy to spend time with and I know they thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and every part of the weekend.

To hear so many people tell me it was the best Assembly they had attended was so wonderful, praise God. As Congregationalists we gather to share, we gather to worship, we gather to encourage, and we welcome the Holy Spirit to move and stir our hearts to encouraging joy, which was so evident.

Assembly isn’t just Saturday though. The Friday afternoon was inspirational. Alice Bond from Hope Chapel (Bristol) led us in biblical knowledge and fun with her resource Biblios. Find out more at www. bibliosadventure.com. On Friday evening we had a private tour of the Museum of Somerset which was very informative, and on Saturday evening North Street Congregational Church cooked a lovely dinner for us, and then Mark Taylor tested us on our Eurovision knowledge!

Worship on Sunday at our CF churches in Taunton was the icing on a wonderful weekend – in the morning at North Street and the afternoon at Stoke St Mary!

Thank you to everyone who was part of the weekend for making it so special. I know it’s a long journey and it’s the weekend, but there is something special and reinvigorating about coming together that makes it worth it!

Put the date in your diary for next year – Saturday 11th May – and let’s do it again in the Eastern Area!

The venue for the Assembly – the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton Credit: Andrew Halloway

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FEDERATION NEWS

ASSEMBLY GALLERY Assembly – an interactive online viewing experience!

Maddy Varley, the CF’s Learning and Development Administrator, enjoyed watching the Assembly on the internet. She says: “For various reasons I was unable to attend the Assembly in Taunton this year, so I was pleased that I was able to watch online. This turned out to be a much more interactive and enjoyable experience than I expected!

“It was great to be able to see so many colleagues and other familiar faces, both on stage and in the congregation. An added bonus was the ‘online chat’ facility, so that those of us watching remotely were able to interact with each other, as well as being able to show our appreciation with a virtual clap or thumbs up!

Both the visuals and sound were clear and I found it to be a great way to join in from a distance. The perfect way to be involved, if you are unable to travel!”

Accredited Minister David Lampard was unable to attend Assembly this year so he joined in online. He says: “I watched the livestream and was inspired by seeing everything that happened on the day. The quality of the presentation was outstanding – professionally produced with excellent sound and video footage. I was sad not to be able to meet up with everyone in the usual way but this was certainly the best online coverage of the Assembly I have seen. I may have been over 1,600 miles away in Romania but I almost felt as if I was there in Taunton with all my Congregational family. Thank you to CF and all who made this wonderful presentation possible.”

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General Secretary Yvonne Campbell opens the Assembly

Joining hands in unity

Outgoing President Mark Taylor addresses the Assembly

FEDERATION NEWS

Jim Lyon, Chair of Council, leads the business decisions Fellowship time

Catherine Booton, new Learning and Development Manager, reports on her role

Church Support Worker Luzia Watt reports on her year

South West Area representatives welcome attendees to the Assembly

Respectful debate

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FEDERATION NEWS

Feedback Merril Archer, Minister at Lapford CC, says: “National Assembly was excellent and has inspired the Lapford team with a new motto: we have decided that we are small but mighty, with God’s help and to God’s glory, of course. Thank you to all at National and our own South West Area, with particular thanks to Yvonne and Madeleine for all the planning, preparation and execution of the whole weekend.

“Top prize to the speakers who made what could have been an intolerably dry morning of reports and information interesting. I even managed to follow the financial report. Figures are not my strong point so it must have been the way it was put across that was the key to success.

We as members of this organisation really need to hear these reports to appreciate all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and to comprehend how far-reaching congregationalism is in our modern world.

“Luzia and her team have a fan in Cat Seymour’s son, who has demanded of his mum that she has to take him to the next Assembly – absolutely, definitely, wherever it is held!

“The best thing of all was the feeling of being part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christian fellowship. I met up with old friends, found new friends and puts lots of names to faces. God-willing, Lapford will be able to be there next year to be a part of this valuable, worthwhile and inspirational event.”

Clive Davies, a trustee from the Unaffiliated Congregational Churches and minister at Cedron Congregational Church in Wales, says: “We thought it was an amazing weekend and really felt the Holy Spirit moving in that place! We made new friends and everyone was really encouraging and friendly. Yvonne Campbell does an incredible job, and there are so many people with individual gifts! It was just a lovely experience.”

Ruth Wyatt at Highbury CC says: “My daughter Lauren (aged six) stood at the front of her class yesterday and sang the ‘Thank You For Sunshine’ song (learnt at Assembly) in front of everyone, with all the actions. She’s not usually that confident, so it obviously surprised me when she told me she’d asked to do that! Her class loved it and want to learn the actions. Thanks for giving her such a confidence-boosting experience!”

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ASSEMBLY GALLERY continued

The worship band for the day – including Oliver Kinchin (second from right)

The President introduces the President Elect – Elizabeth Sweeney-Smith

The President introduces the President Elect – Elizabeth Sweeney-Smith

Barbara Bridges, Chair of Accreditation Pastoral Care Coordination Group, is thanked by Yvonne Campbell

New President Oliver Kinchin introduces his theme for the year: ‘Windswept’

Chris Gilham, founder of Christian Rebuild, explains the charity’s work

Jason Boyd, Minister at Highbury Congregational Church in Cheltenham

FEDERATION NEWS

Fun at Children’s Assembly

Children join the main Assembly to perform one of their worship songs

Oliver Kinchin welcomes new church Ridgewell CC into the Federation

Oliver Kinchin (left) and Jim Lyons (right) welcome Wellcome CC into the Federation

Rev Kathy Shaw of Padfield Congregational Church Derbyshire, was unable to attend Assembly and receive her Certificate of Accreditation and CF Bible on the day. However, CF President Rev Oliver KInchin (left) and Rev Barbara Bridges (right) were able to present Kathy with both of these at the NW Area Assembly at Padfield on 20 May

Refresh Editor Andrew Halloway says: “It was great to run a stand for Refresh magazine and Good News evangelistic newspaper at the Assembly. Several people who didn’t know about either were happy to find out about these publications and chat with me, and others who knew both were complimentary about the magazine and the newspaper.

“I was also privileged to attend the sessions and hear about what has gone on in the past year. When there was debate over the voting system, it was encouraging to see Christians able to disagree agreeably and the unity in Christ was plain to see.

“One particularly moving moment for me was one of the worship songs led by Oliver Kinchin.

It was an adaptation of the Abba song ‘The Winner Takes It All’, renamed ‘The Saviour Takes Them All’. You might think that would turn out really corny, but in fact the lyrics, based around the forgiveness of our sins, worked well with the poignant music and made a powerful combination.”

Isabella Watt (Luzia Watt’s daughter), aged 12, says: “This is the third year that I have come along to the CF National Children’s Assembly with my mum. Every year I enjoy the sessions and always help my mum and the volunteers with some of the activities. However, this year I particularly liked it because besides the Children’s Assembly there was a Youth Assembly for young people aged 12 and over like me. I really enjoyed the prayer stations and dance games.

“My favourite activity was the prayer bracelets. I made my bracelet very colourful, and I added gummy bear beads to it and each bear bead in my bracelet represented a prayer for the people that I care for and love. I also loved the gift bags that we were given to take home, as inside each bag there was an emoji stress relieve ball, a stretchy person toy, sweets and a prayer book. I had a chance to take three bags to my school friends and they loved the toys, sweets and the prayer book too.

Thank you, CF.”

Assembly photos courtesy of Colin Ellis

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FEDERATION NEWS

SERVING THE COMMU N Birmingham and Leicester churches win for outstanding service to their communities

The Serving the Community Awards shine a light on churches that are going above and beyond in their communities – especially in current, challenging times.

Congregational Insurance, who sponsor the Awards, say: “This year, we’ve seen many deserving churches that are making a real difference to people’s lives but felt that Hay Mills and Markfield Congregational Churches deserved the special recognition and £2,000 cash prizes for the outreach, hope and lifelines, they have extended.”

The community awards programme was launched in 2011 to honour, recognise and reward Congregational Federation churches around the country that have been able to implement astounding changes in their communities, often with limited resources and relying on the commitment of their members and volunteers.

This year, churches are facing a cost of living crisis that has seen people unable to heat their homes and cope with rising costs on everyday essentials, all with the backdrop of communities divided by the pandemic, trying to reconnect. The winning churches have implemented initiatives that have tackled these issues head on with great success, and were celebrated at the Congregational Federation Assembly at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre on Saturday 13 May. Imran Laher, Head of Marketing at Congregational Insurance added: “Recovery from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing with vulnerable members of our community remaining isolated and struggling to integrate back

Above: The very popular community hub at Markfield CC Right: The leaders of Markfield receive their award at the CF Assembly, with CF President Oliver Kinchin (left) and Congregational Insurance CEO Martin Cox (right)

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into community groups. We now have to tackle this with added economic pressures being felt in those same communities, so it’s incredibly heartening to see the innovative ways churches are rising to this challenge to affect real and impactful change, bringing positivity and hope to people.”

Hay Mills Congregational Church, Birmingham Hay Mills have adopted a WILD approach (Welcoming, Inclusive, Loving and Diverse) to extend their programme of activities to their diverse communities – attracting and supporting people from all ages and backgrounds.

Through the dedication of their team of workers, volunteers funders and partners, they have been able to help the more isolated or disadvantaged members of their community with anything from a warm place and company to Care Parcels that include food and necessities, as well as clothes and toys for children.

The church has built connections that go even further than their local community with their “hybrid church” that embraces technology to deliver services to an online audience made up of members of the community that aren’t able to physically attend, and also attracts a global community of viewers including America, Taiwan, India and the Philippines.

Pastor Stephane Vickers said: “The various activities we provide are underpinned with prayer and a passionate desire to share God’s love with the community.”

A visitor to the church, Anna Lachowski, commented: “The atmosphere in this church is vibrant and they serve the diverse community of Hay Mills in so many ways. They are filled with life and enthusiasm, generosity and warmth; you can’t help but be inspired and be encouraged to start something new. They have exciting plans and a clear vision of how they can do more.”

Rachel Mitchell, one of the church’s Playgroup Workers and also Church Secretary, added: “On behalf of Hay Mills CC, I would like to say thank you for choosing our church for this award. I feel very pleased that the church has been recognised for all the work it does for the local community. The award money will help pay for improvements such as new storage racking for the Pop-Up shop and equipment for serving food and drinks in the community café.”

U NITY AWARDS 2023

The playgroup at Hay Mills CC Credit: Congregational Insurance

The leaders of Hay Mills received their award at the CF Assembly, with CF President Oliver Kinchin (second from right) and Congregational Insurance CEO Martin Cox (far right)

Markfield Congregational Church, Leicester Markfield was celebrated for creating a real accessible community hub with their ‘Brew About You’ initiative, which is a community café offering a range of activities and services to engage with the community in a more active and inclusive way.

There is no charge for food or drink at the café, or meals served in the warm space. People may leave a donation if they wish or are able, but the success of the café has attracted funding from the local authority, a local charity, and a generous local business offering a real tangible lifeline for vulnerable members of the community in the cost of living crisis.

It’s not just a café, it is a place to foster relationships and also get practical advice and help in the form of referrals from local authorities to help deal with issues of loneliness, bereavement, mental illness, disability, and social phobia. There is also a fortnightly surgery provided by homeless charity The Bridge, which helps attendees with debt and housing advice.

Revd Dr Rob Hunter says: “Our mission statement is ‘Loving and Serving God and Our Community’ – taking inspiration from Matthew 25:31-40. As

committed Christians we believe that our witness is best demonstrated by one of service. Not just to each other, but to the community in particular.”

“A warm welcome is given to everyone as they enter the premises… many new friendships have been formed,” said Margaret Slater, who visited to assess the church. “One family group around the children’s activities table – gran, mother and young daughter (the father of the child had taken his life) – told me of the support that the church had given them. The gran advised that she is now thinking about becoming a church member.”

Yvonne Campbell, General Secretary of the Congregational Federation, said of the Awards: “Churches have always been a place of hope and help to the communities that they serve and it’s wonderful to be able to have the opportunity to celebrate the hard-working teams that make these initiatives work and to congratulate them on the very real differences they are making to people’s lives.”

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FEDERATION NEWS

President’s reflection Mark Taylor, the CF President for 2022-2023 and Minister at our Newark church, looks back on his year in office and his theme of ‘Hope’ “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.”

My year as President of the Congregational Federation has come to an end. As I’ve said many times since I was given this immense honour, I’ve no idea why it happened – but I think I’ve made the most of it.

Some of the highlights for me were: • Attending the Churches Together in England President’s Dinner at Lambeth Palace, ending with the Archbishop of Canterbury leading a service of Vespers in the crypt • A wonderful weekend near Belfast with the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland • Representing the Federation in February at the Ecumenical Prayer Service for peace in Ukraine at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in London.

These were all experiences I wouldn’t have had but for being granted this office – things I will remember for ever. Thank you to the Federation for the opportunity and thank you to the amazing members at my church in Newark for giving me the time off to do it.

But enjoyable and memorable as these events were, the role has importantly given me a platform to talk about my theme for the year, which was Hope.

I’ve shared my thoughts about the future of the church with those Congregational churches around the country who have invited me to preach. I’ve without exception been greeted with warmth and hospitality.

People have made some kind comments about what I have had to say about inclusivity, about the need for reaching outside the doors of our buildings by taking the Gospel to where people are (both physically and spiritually), and about exploring new ways of ‘doing church’.

(If you haven’t heard my message but would like to, it’s on the Fairford Church website: fairfordunitedchurch.org.)

Having taken my message to a dozen or so of our churches, I’m convinced that there is 16

Mark Taylor speaking at the 2023 CF Assembly

the appetite to make the changes I think are necessary to reinvigorate the life of Federation churches, to enable us to reach out to the many, many people who are searching for meaning in their lives but aren’t finding it in churches. We just can’t keep doing the same things in the same way and expecting decline to turn into the growth we all hope for.

But even in a year, all I have been able to do is point out a broad direction of travel. If my hope is going to come to fruition it will need much more than a sermon from me. It will need people in our churches to find new ways of taking the message of Jesus to people where those people are. It will mean finding ways of communicating the Gospel that aren’t predicated on an hour’s worship in an old building on a Sunday morning. It will mean (in my view) thinking of ways to challenge some of the preconceptions that people have about what it is that Christians have to believe.

Now my Presidential year is over, I owe it to my church in Newark to spend more time with them. I’ll go back to them as a different person – more confident, more convinced that my vision of hope for the future can be made a reality and better equipped to play my part in bringing that about.

So I won’t be giving up on my dream of hope.

I want to carry on with the journey we’ve started.

Would you like to come with me?

FEDERATION NEWS

Feeling windswept New President Oliver Kinchin introduces his theme of ‘windswept’ for 2023/24 I am delighted to be the new President of the Federation for a year. In the twelve months since it was announced a lot has changed in the Kinchin household. Miles started school in September, and some of you will be aware of what an emotional rollercoaster that has been.

As I mentioned in my address to Assembly, my theme for this year is ‘windswept’. Let me explain what I mean by that…

Our faith is amazing; we have the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, closely followed by the darkness of Good Friday, and then the celebrations of Easter Sunday. The emotional rollercoaster which we journey through each year as we participate in acts of worship brings us a step closer to imagining the raw emotions which would have been experienced by those first disciples.

We also encounter our own raw emotions as we invite Christ to journey with us. We pick up our cross and follow him (Mark 8:34), and the stumbling blocks and setbacks are so important to our faith journeys. Society may knock us down, but Christ

gives us the strength to keep picking ourselves up each time.

Just like the tree in Psalm 1, we have planted ourselves by the waters of Scripture and whilst the wind may buffet and blow, we will not be “like straw blown by the wind” (Psalm 1:4, CEV). The world may seek to change us, and it might succeed in changing our outward appearances, as we show the signs of being weathered by society, yet we continue to produce fruit in our season.

I want to spend this year walking alongside you as we weather the storm of life. I want to celebrate with you how you have picked yourselves up and carried on, despite the challenges of the last few years. I want to shout out with joy as I visit you and see the works of faith in our communities. I want to encourage and support.

We have all been damaged by this world, yet with Christ as our example, we continue to show his love for all those in need. Let us feel the winds blowing around us, and together we can weather the storms of life.

Oliver Kinchin

Introducing the President Elect 2024/2025 Elisabeth Sweeney Smith, chosen as the new President Elect at the 2023 Assembly, tells us her story This spring month of May has been a time of new beginnings: for Charles an enthronement as King, Rev Oliver Kinchin becomes President of the Congregational Federation, and for myself it is humbling to hear that a majority of our churches voted for me as President Elect. All three positions are linked by service and I commit over the next 12 months to prayerfully ask God how best I can serve our 200-plus churches.

A big thank you to all congregations taking part in the election for President which, to be honest, if you do not know the candidates on the list, can seem like a stab in the dark. A handful of people do know me but, at the Assembly in Taunton as my name was announced, I was mindful of what Jesus said to Thomas: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

So, in the hope that from May 2024 we shall get better acquainted, here is a potted summary of who I am…

I was brought up in south Manchester, in a large Christian family where Bible reading was part of everyday life. My grandmother and an aunty were prayer warriors in the family, and I know they would have been delighted that all these years later their prayers are still bearing fruit.

In 1989, Bill Bentham conducted my wedding at Chinley Chapel (where I am currently a member), and to be invited a few years ago to lead a Pentecost service at Scunthorpe Congregational Church, where Bill and Betty continue to serve, was a privilege.

I am a widow now but along with my late husband I have lived in Surrey, in Sussex, in London and in Europe during a professional career that has also given me strong links to Scotland.

I will shortly be completing the CF Foundation Degree Training Course in Nottingham which has been a great opportunity to meet with members of various congregations from around the UK, and I look forward to broadening that experience when I formerly take up the mantle of service in 2024.

Elisabeth Sweeney Smith

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FEDERATION NEWS

Introducing our new Learning and Development Manager Catherine Booton, formerly the Minister at Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Newton Burgoland Congregational churches, was appointed in January. We asked Catherine to share a bit about herself and her new role Catherine Booton

Hello!

I have been in post as the Learning and Development Manager for a short while now, and have been offered the chance to take some space in Refresh to let you know a little something about myself and my hopes and dreams for the role.

I served as Minister at two CF churches for the past 17 years before taking up this position, and am, in fact, a product of the Integrated Training Course, being accredited to the Roll of Ministries in 2007. I joined the course to gain some more knowledge and serve my area as a lay preacher, but God had other plans and half-way through the course I felt God calling me into church ministry. With the support of the tutors, and Janet Wootton, the then Director of Studies, I was able to explore that calling more fully and this led to the amazing time I have had within church ministry.

I have been part of a Congregational church since the age of five and came to faith as a teenager through a local Sunday School and by attending CF Youth events. I have been involved in the Foundation Degree course for 12 years as a tutor, specialising in the Placement and Worship modules.

I like to think that I will bring a wide variety of experiences and ideas to the table, and I am keen to work with the students and tutors on the course and with churches around the Federation to enthuse and encourage them in their service of God and their communities. I am keen to develop new and exciting opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. With God’s help and leading, who knows what incredible things we can all do in his service!

The course we offer leads to an FdA (Foundation Degree of Arts) in Practical Theology which is validated by York St John University. It covers a wide range of subjects, including theology, biblical studies, mission, Congregational ecclesiology, practical skills and placements.

During the four years, students have a chance to look at modules with titles such as ‘Christian Leadership and Service’, ‘Contextual Mission’, ‘The Bible: Jesus and the People of God’; ‘History of Christian Life and Thought’, ‘Congregational History and Principles’, ‘To be a Pilgrim’, ‘Preparing for Preaching’ and many, many more! The course is designed to be relevant to all members of CF 18

Catherine leading a preaching workshop in Newark

churches, but members of other traditions are also able to apply to this course, which offers a nonconformist viewpoint.

But there is more to the Learning and Development Department than the FdA. We also offer the GIFT course, which can be run in local churches and areas – one day workshops on a wide variety of topics, with support and guidance for your own interests and much more!

So how do I see the role of learning and development? We are learning every day – it’s a natural process and so, surely, as Christians and churches, isn’t it a natural process to want to learn more about God’s love too? We will, of course, never be able to fully understand God, but we can equip ourselves to be the very best servants of God that we can be.

Learning helps us to know God more, serve him better and share his message with others more effectively. My hope is that by learning together we can be light and salt in our communities and share relevant, informed engagement with those around us.

I am keen to work with local churches to continue to offer opportunities to learn together. So if your church is interested in learning more about the prophets, or ethics, or the Bible or Congregational history, or there is a project you need equipping for or something else you would like to explore together, then let the Learning and Development team know and we will be delighted to work with you.

If you would like more information, please take a look at our section on the CF website: www.congregational.org.uk.

So… get in touch and let’s keep learning and developing together so that we can continue to serve our Lord in our churches and communities, to bring glory to him!

FEDERATION NEWS

These two pictures show the preparation of food parcels at the Bethlehem Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo and their distribution

Rebuilding Lives in Eastern Europe and the Middle East Half of the offering at the CF Assembly this year went to Christian Rebuild. This charity meets needs in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Founded to continue the work of the Congregational Federation’s one off appeals for Eastern Europe, it now involves more than one Congregational tradition. Chris Gillham, the charity’s CEO, tells Refresh how it began and what it is doing today He stood quietly while other people pushed and jostled, and politely thanked the harassed people serving from the back of the lorry when he was given his portion of stew. He took it back to his little sisters and tried to set it out like a civilised meal.

He was eleven or twelve years old and he was alone with the responsibility of his younger siblings.

It was 1998 and I have never forgotten the picture of that little boy’s dignity amidst the chaos of refugees fleeing the crisis in Kosovo. I pray that he and his sisters found their parents and now live contented lives in their homeland.

There, in Albania, I saw so many decent, honest, kindly people torn from their homes and normal lives, just like ours, and flung into flight, uncertainty and pain. It was from this that Christian Rebuild was born.

We are a little charity which cannot make the huge difference that the big players like Christian Aid and Tearfund make. But what a difference we can make to the lives of individuals and small churches and organisations.

A grant to a school in Lebanon means that one child who would have been left uneducated now learns. A grant to the parents of a desperately ill baby in the same country means that she received the medical treatment that has turned her into a happy and lively five-year-old. After the terrible explosion in Beirut, grants helped to put windows back into a theological college, rebuild a church and restore many homes.

In Albania, people who could not make ends meet have been fed by our partners in the Evangelical Church. Families who had put their children into orphanages because they could not afford to feed them have been enabled to bring them home.

Children and adults, who never otherwise would have done so, have enjoyed seaside church camps.

The island of Corfu is a holiday paradise, but it has its problems.

Our aid has helped the Evangelical Church to establish and maintain its ‘Lighthouse’ community centre, which provides company for the elderly and entertainment for youths who might otherwise be tempted into the drugs scene.

Aleppo, a wonderful, ancient city, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. First, it was devastated by war and now by an earthquake. We work closely with the Armenian Evangelical Church who offer education, clinics, food, clothing, monetary aid and, above all, spiritual help and friendship to a traumatised and hurting people.

Sometimes, where we do not have our own close working relationship with a local church, we give aid through fellow charities that do. This was how we rendered help to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova.

We are, indeed, a little charity but the difference that a little charity can make to the lives of ordinary people is quite remarkable.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us by saving coins and in many other ways, and please remember that, when the news media move on, the needs for rebuilding do not go away. Little people need our help just as much as ever and, who knows, the day could come when we are in desperate need of theirs. After all, are we not all brothers and sisters – children of the One Almighty God?

This is Rita (with her brother) – a little Lebanese girl whose medical treatment we helped when she was a very sick baby

In Eastern Europe and the Middle East, ‘Evangelical’ is the name for all Protestant Churches. Most of the churches with whom we have close relationships are Congregational in style, but we are happy to work with Christians of all denominations and to help people whether or not they are Christians.

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FEDERATION NEWS

Help! My church still hasn’t got a safeguarding certificate

By Yvonne Campbell, General Secretary

Port Talbot Congregational Church, Church Secretary Viv Evans, and Yvonne with some of the members she met

After the independent safeguarding reviews that have taken place it is mandatory that all religious organisations have a process for safeguarding.

That simply means that you have thought about how to keep everyone safe in your church as best you can.

It isn’t just about children, it is about everyone and it isn’t someone else’s responsibility, it is everyone’s.

Port Talbot is a small Congregational Church in Wales which has never thought about safeguarding until recently. Let me share their story with you.

They wrote to me and asked how they get a certificate because no one in the church uses email.

I rang up the church secretary and completed the safeguarding policy over the phone with him. You need church insurance details and information about the groups who may use your buildings.

We then agreed a date for myself and one of the Congregational Federation Safeguarding Checkers to come and visit the church. Sara Iles is the checker for Wales.

On the day of the visit we were both welcomed with tea and Welsh cakes and we prayed together.

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I explained about the policy, what is included, when to use it and what to do with it. Sara asked the members to run through a typical Sunday morning and offered some suggestions about how to make sure no one was left vulnerable.

Sara then walked round the building with the members and checked the electrical items for PAT tests and the dates on the fire alarm extinguishers, and made sure the fire exits are signed and exits clear. Unfortunately, one exit had chairs in front of it as another room was being decorated. This was noted and the chairs moved. The check recommends every church also plans a fire alarm practice for emergencies.

I wonder if you have ever done that?

We also talked about police checks and why they are important. Lisa Vickers, the Congregational Federation Safeguarding Officer will do this over the phone with anyone in the church with a significant role.

Sara as checker then completed a report and sent it to Lisa. Lisa will then issue a certificate when all the actions are completed.

The check can take about an hour and is meant to be supportive and encouraging; in fact, one of the members of Port Talbot said: “Thank you so much; this is such a weight off our mind.”

If you have never had a safeguarding certificate and you want to stay affiliated to the Congregational Federation, please just ring and we will get the process started.

FEDERATION NEWS

CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION OPPORTUNITIES Churches seeking ministers Full time:

Greenacres, Oldham – part-time considered (North West); Haverhill (Eastern); Southwick Christian Community Church (South East); Springhead, Oldham – part time considered (North West).

Part-time:

Non-stipendiary :

Dereham: Cowper Memorial (Eastern); Elstow Bunyan Christian Fellowship (East Midlands); North Nibley (South West Midlands); Shillington (East Midlands); Stalybridge (North West).

Frampton (South West Midlands); Oban Congregational Church (Scotland); Penrhys, Llanfair Uniting Church, (Wales); Ebenezer Independent Congregational Chapel, Tredegar, Gwent (Wales).

Tips for life online What is AI? And who really wrote this?

By Neil Chappell, Social Media & Website Officer, Congregational Federation

Neil

Mikemacmarketing/wikimedia

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or machine to mimic intelligent human behaviour.

AI research has been highly successful in developing effective techniques for solving a wide range of problems, from game playing to medical diagnosis.

AI is a powerful tool with the potential to change the world. As AI continues to develop, it is important to consider the ethical implications of this technology.

For example, it is important to ensure that AI is used in a way that is fair and does not discriminate against any group of people.

Overall, AI is a promising technology with the potential to improve our lives in many ways. It is important to continue to research and develop AI in a responsible way so that we can reap the benefits of this technology while avoiding any potential risks.

OK. Let me fess up. I didn’t write those first three paragraphs. I opened Bard (Google’s version of ChatGPT) and asked, “What is AI?” AI is in the news a lot these days, and it’s even making headlines in Christian circles. Sermons, Bible studies, magazine articles, communication briefs and much more are all being produced with the help of AI. Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Well, the jury is still out on that one as this is such a new concept for us to get our heads round. For church magazines I would say this is a good thing, because it’s always so hard to get your members to contribute articles and such like.

But like all tools at our disposal we need to use them very carefully. If you’re a leader and think you can pen your next sermon at the touch of a button then perhaps that is the wrong way of seeing the potential in this tool. Likewise, prayers are best

coming from the heart – either scripted carefully beforehand or said spontaneously.

For social media and other methods of communication, though, AI is really good. I’ve seen some wonderful examples of invitations (to church, to events, to film nights) that have been constructed in a matter of seconds and read very professionally.

There are some great uses for AI and it would be good to have a wider discussion on this and see how it can benefit churches. Have you used it? Are you confused by it all? Are you a supporter? Let us know.

Don’t forget you can contact me anytime to talk about your church’s website or social media presence.

Drop me a line.

Blessings, Neil neil.chappell@congregational.org.uk 21

EVANGELISM

The five marks of mission Rev Dr Graham Adams is one of the tutors on the Congregational Federation’s Practical Theology course and Tutor in Mission Studies, World Christianity and Religious Diversity at Luther King Centre for Theology and Ministry in Manchester. In this series, Graham explores the Bible’s five marks or aspects of mission: proclaiming the good news, nurturing new believers, caring for those in need, transforming injustice, and treasuring all creation.

Part 1: Proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom

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Proclaiming the kingdom: a stained glass image in the Holy Family Catholic Church, North Baltimore, Ohio Credit: Nheyob/ Wikimedia

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ecent issues of Refresh have given us lots of helpful guidance about evangelism, but I’d like to zoom out and look at a broader picture.

In 1991, a South African mission thinker, David Bosch, wrote a very significant book called Transforming Mission. In the first part of it, he shows how various episodes in Christian history have favoured different biblical verses as the basis for mission. For example, during the colonial period many sermons were preached on Acts 16:9 (“Come over to Macedonia and help us”), presuming that colonised lands were asking for help.

The focus on Matthew 28 (“Go and make disciples…”) is relatively recent. It came about when Western churches began to talk more intentionally about evangelism.

The point of noticing this is that it helps us to see that mission consists of different dimensions.

Back in 1984, the Anglican Communion identified a holistic way of talking about mission, called ‘the Five Marks of Mission’. They are, in short: proclaiming the good news; nurturing new believers; caring for those in need; transforming injustice; and treasuring all creation. Subsequently, various denominations have adopted these. They helpfully capture the spread of activities which all contribute to God’s comprehensive mission. They are not written in order of importance; each is a valid contribution to the whole picture.

While many churches are better at some aspects than others, ideally we should contribute to every mark of mission.

We begin, in this article, with the first – proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. This is evangelism, but notice how it is phrased: the good news of God’s kingdom.

This is what Jesus proclaimed, from the beginning of his ministry. The kingdom that is close at hand. It is among us. It is like “yeast that a woman took and mixed… all through the dough” (Luke 13:20-21), telling us it’s to be found in the mix of everyday life, showing that what we see as ‘unclean’ (yeast) can bring about transformation.

To enter the kingdom, we should become like children. The parables of the kingdom give us insights into this intriguing, vibrant reality which we are called to proclaim.

It cannot be viewed as only an ‘individual’ experience, a personal relationship with Jesus. After all, a kingdom is a realm, a social reality. It reminds us that the good news is a social vision – a new way not just for us as individuals, but for the whole world. A space where justice, peace and healing are enacted.

And the Greek word which we translate as ‘kingdom’ can also mean ‘empire’. So the gospels are making an important contrast – this new reality is not like the empire of Rome; it is different; it is God’s alternative empire, which is nothing like those other empires. In fact, it’s more like an anti-empire. Mustard seeds, yeast, children – they all tell us that it is different. It is not about imposing itself on others, nor about size or strength or brute force, but God’s valuing of all things small and their capacity to make such a huge difference.

So when we proclaim the kingdom of God, we are proclaiming a very different kind of reality, a very different kind of world. That’s why it is good news.

Notice something else. We are not called to proclaim the Church, but to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. Sometimes the Church makes the mistake of thinking we are the message or the goal, but we’re not; we are a sign of the kingdom – we help to point people towards it, but we’re not the destination. And the destination isn’t only about heaven after we die, because Jesus told us to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in

heaven”. So it is a future horizon which comes and takes root amongst us – and the Church is called to witness to it.

In other words, I think there are two tasks within evangelism or proclamation – first, to discern this kingdom, again and again. To proclaim it involves constantly working to identify it. And it’s not always obvious to us; it can be hidden, like yeast, or buried treasure. So we must be a community of learning, in which we are prepared to re-visit our calling, not take it for granted, but seek it out – ‘seek first the kingdom’.

This means remembering the church is not the goal; we are not the finished product, but a community of people learning to spot it, wherever it may be found – including in unlikely places, amongst unlikely people. That’s certainly where Jesus revealed it for us: not always amongst the most religious people, but amongst those regarded as impure or unclean. Jesus shows us the kingdom is amongst outsiders, who help us to rediscover what good news is.

So, first, we are called to discern it – with fresh hearts and minds, always prepared to be surprised, to rethink and question our assumptions. And secondly, to declare it – sharing our good news stories of wherever this new reality takes root. In Matthew 11, John’s disciples came to Jesus, asking if he was the one, and he pointed them to the evidence: good news amongst the poor, the lame healed, the captives set

free. These are marks of the kingdom. This is the good news we proclaim.

Wherever empires have taught us that there are no alternatives, or damage is done to the dignity of human beings and to the earth; wherever pain, poverty and powerlessness hold people in their place, these are not the end of the story, because the good news is that God’s kingdom is close at hand. A new reality is at work, in individuals but also through relationships and communities; wherever justice is being done and peace is being made, liberation and hope burst to life.

So can we keep our horizons wide, beyond the Church, by celebrating the sheer scope and depth of God’s anti-empire, which is the greatest possible good news for all creation?

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MISSION

Suffolk Congregational church plays vital role in street children’s charity in the Philippines For over a decade Steeple Bumpstead Congregational Church (SBCC) in Suffolk has supported a children’s home in the Philippines called House of Joshua. Sheila Burr, Deacon at SBCC, explains the work of House of Joshua and how the church got involved in the project.

In 2013, Mary’s parents talked to us about how much rice they need to buy for the children, and showed us how to eat rice with our fingers!

Summer BBQs with Pilots’ craft and entertainment are popular ways of raising money

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Our connection with the House been to school or had minimal education, but all of Joshua began with the visit were so happy to now have a home and belong to the House of Joshua family. One of the photos here shows to us of (once-local) Mary them eating with crockery and cutlery bought with Rendon in 2008. At the time Mary worked for Youth With A funds raised by Pilots and our church.

Mary’s parents have been to most of our special Mission’s street kids outreach events to help us understand, with graphic examples in the Philippines, and felt God was calling her to set up and photos, the life of Philippine street kids and what a new project to deal with the it means for the House of Joshua children to have care, education and a future. long-term needs of some of At an open evening at SBCC in 2011, Mary’s dad the children.

Andy invited our Pilots to see what it was like to be Mary spoke passionately street children trying to survive in the area of the about her vision to give street Philippines where the House of Joshua was being children long-term care and a future, and was seeking built. Some Pilots washed car ‘windscreens’ in the support from several churches. brief time before the traffic lights changed, others Inspired by Mary, SBCC decided to start raising looked through piles of rubbish for anything sellable money for the project, and so began our journey with or eatable, some cleaned shoes and another washed House of Joshua, helping with the building, and dirty clothes in a bowl of river water which looked supporting them during the years since. brown before he started! Two slept on flattened We now send regular donations and our children’s club, Pilots, has also raised money with special events, cardboard boxes.

In 2013, Andy talked about how much rice they such as a ‘Sponsored Kick for a Brick’, talent shows and need to buy, and showed us how to eat rice with our barbecues with sales of home-made items. fingers.

The home opened in January 2013 with eight boys, We have continued holding special events, and all transferred from jail, where they’d had to stay since 2014 have had annual money boxes made by because there was nowhere else for them to go. All had Pilots and used by the church family and other been abandoned, neglected or orphaned, had never friends to save up funds.

During the Covid pandemic in the Philippines, school children were in lock-down and home-taught for over two years, so the House of Joshua faced many challenges, continuing to educate 19 children and students of widely ranging ages. Our money box donation in 2020 was used to buy a desktop computer to help support their home-learning.

Mary Rendon explains more about House of Joshua and SBCC’s involvement: “SBCC has been with House of Joshua from the beginning of our ministry journey. As we pioneered and launched Lifenet Children’s Foundation Inc. in 2008 as a non-profit social welfare agency in Mindanao, the church was

Left: The annual money boxes made

by Pilots and used by the church family and other friends raising money Below: The first eight boys at the House of Joshua, eating with crockery and cutlery bought with funds raised by SBBC

part of our starter network and has remained one of our faithful support partners.

“It all began with a simple presentation to the congregation in 2008, sharing a dream to build a restoration centre for street children. As the ministry plans gradually unfolded into an actual building and staff team, House of Joshua began rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned, abandoned and neglected children in Cagayan de Oro City and surrounding provinces.

“The name Joshua means ‘God is my salvation’ and indicates our desire for this generation of lost and forgotten children to cross over from their wilderness into a new life with renewed hope and vision for the future. House of Joshua is more than an orphanage or institution; it is often the first place kids actually dare to call home, arriving from broken families with heart-breaking stories of abuse, exploitation, and survival.

“Over the years the work has developed to include a boys’ house, a girls’ home (called Shalam which means ‘restoration’), sponsorship programmes, crisis response teams for natural disasters such as typhoons and floods, livelihood skills training and community outreach programmes to local disadvantaged families.”

I asked Mary how the project is doing at the moment. She said: “House of Joshua residential care continues to ‘reach, restore, and resource’ children at risk with the founding vision: ‘To renew the lives of vulnerable children so they are equipped to positively impact their world.’

“But the ministry is currently facing significant challenges due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Many charities and ministries have struggled with reduced donations as we all adjust to rising prices and economic changes. The future of our residential care is unknown as we continually adapt to ongoing financial losses each month.

“We obviously want to continue offering a safe haven for street children’s restoration, but also recognise that we may have to make some difficult decisions over the next 12-18 months as it gradually becomes unsustainable to continue operating home-care.

“Although this is a challenging reality, Lifenet Children’s Foundation remains committed to supporting vulnerable children and families in need regardless of our limited resources or uncertain financial projections. We believe this is the time to invest our mustard seed faith, trusting that God is able to do more than we ask or imagine.

“These challenges are also an opportunity to grow in faith and creativity. We are all determined to do our best to serve those that have been entrusted to us.”

She ends by quoting Ephesians 3:20: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

25

MISSION

A view over Mumbai city, with wooden scaffolding around one of the buildings

MISSION TO MUMBAI Sofia Kamara, a young person at Chinley Independent Chapel (Derbyshire) where her dad is the minister, reports back on a ten-day trip to India with her college. The CF’s North West Area helped to fund her stay

Sofia

The children at the Garden School dressed in their traditional Indian outfits to dance and sing for the visitors from Aquinas college

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Recently I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to travel across the world to India.

I went with my college as a part of an initiative that has been running for years, where we support slum schools in Mumbai. We work with a charity called Prem Dan and spent most of our time in Mumbai in a school called the Garden School.

In the school we ran workshops with the kids, where we did crafts and games and dancing. We arrived at the school and the children were so excited to see us. They were all dressed up in their traditional clothes which were beautiful, and they did a performance for us with dancing and singing.

They gave us a tour of the school which was small but a really good environment. It was full of flowers and plants, and they had four or five teachers who have dedicated their lives to the school.

There were around 30 children, under the age of 7, whom the school fed breakfast and lunch. We spent three days with the children, using the school supplies we brought over with us to run sessions filled with arts and crafts and games.

The kids had so much fun, and even though they couldn’t speak English, it was easy to communicate and play with them. They were so well mannered and smiley, they were just delightful – it meant so much to us that we could create these memories with the kids.

The one that stuck with me was one afternoon when we were nearing the end of a session and I

made a paper plane for one of the kids. Not long afterwards, there was a massive queue of them all wanting their own paper aeroplanes, so I sat there and folded and folded until my hands were full of paper cuts and all the kids were running around, chasing after the planes. I’d never smiled so hard!

Being in Mumbai felt surreal. Mumbai is such a special place, like nowhere I’ve ever seen before.

There was construction of new buildings everywhere, with scaffolding made of wood rather than metal.

There was the constant sound of cars beeping their horns, which went on way into the night, as stray dogs, goats and cows just wandered into the roads.

However, unfortunately there was also poverty. The air was polluted, there were people and stray animals in desperate need of food. It really made me appreciate all the things we take for granted – clean water, clean air, food – because in many places they are not a given.

Leaving Mumbai and the school behind was so difficult. Everything was so bright and lively and extraordinary and we all loved the kids so much.

I missed it all as soon as we left.

What Mumbai taught me the most was to be grateful. We are all so lucky; the air we breathe doesn’t harm us, our houses are built of brick, not corrugated steel, even just our trains having doors.

I just want to thank all the people who made this possible for me: the members of my church, the people at the North West Area who funded me, my parents and my college. This experience has been so special to me and it wouldn’t have happened without you all.

INSPIRATION

Prophetic imagination

By Chris Bond, Pastor at Hope Community Church, Bristol On a recent Sunday morning David, Joseph and Claire, three members of Hope Chapel, spoke of their work for The Good Faith Partnership. This is an organisation that connects businesses, governments and charities to tackle major social problems. They used the term ‘prophetic imagination’ (from Walter Brueggeman) to describe examples of where God had given them some wonderful solutions for the areas that they were working on.

This reminded me of a very encouraging experience back in 2015. We were at a prayer and worship event and someone who has since become a good friend approached me and said they felt they had a message for me. The message was that God had gifted me with wisdom and strategies for overcoming problems and challenges. However, I wasn’t appreciating this as being a gift from God. Instead I was looking at other people and other types of gift and feeling my lack in those areas.

This message resonated with me. Often during times of sung worship I would be thinking through current challenges and ideas to resolve them. I found this frustrating as I thought it was an inability within me to focus on God during these moments. So I would try and shut down these thoughts that I considered to be distractions. This message of

encouragement, however, helped me realise that sometimes these thoughts are God speaking to me, responding to the prayers I’ve been praying.

I’ve since found that solutions and clarity will often come to me as I worship. I’ve seen this in the Bible too. King David and others would call for a musician when they were seeking God’s voice (see 1 Chronicles 25 and 2 Kings 3:15).

More recently, as part of pursuing a deeper prayer life, I went to visit a monk at the Egyptian Coptic Church in Bristol. This is a very different type of church to Hope in the way they worship. Where we tend to pray in a spontaneous, conversational way, they use lots of set prayers (liturgies).

The church was elaborately decorated in gold with paintings of the disciples on a big screen in front of the altar, and there was a strong smell of incense still lingering from their last service when I visited. I also spoke with Rafik, a member of the church, about his prayer life and how it worked for him to repeatedly pray through these written prayers. He described how, as he prays, Jesus often brings to mind specific people

Chris Bond

The Egyptian Coptic Church in Bristol where Chris found some surprising similarities with his own prayer experience

Continued overleaf

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INSPIRATION to hold before God in his prayers, and will give him ideas and solutions to problems!

I love how when we meet followers of Jesus from different parts of the world we have a shared connection through both knowing the same Jesus Christ. Rafik’s experience of God speaking, bringing people to mind, and giving him ideas and solutions to problems, is very similar to my own even though his style of worship is very different.

I’m also inspired by two stories from the Good Faith Partnership that I mentioned earlier.

One was around the cost of living crisis and the 2022/2023 winter. David was at a meeting in 2022 where Gordon Brown was speaking about the approaching winter and need for places where people could keep warm. Following this, David couldn’t sleep and got up as it seemed God was giving him a strategy for churches to be the providers of these warm spaces. In the middle of the night David bought the website address www.warmwelcome.uk, and made plans for how it would all work. I don’t know whether or not he went back to bed that night!

The Ukraine hub and its bouncy castle that was inspired by a ‘picture’ that came during prayer

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The Warm Welcome concept took off in Bristol and around the UK. There are 96 locations in Bristol and over 4,000 around the UK, mostly in churches.

The second story was from Joseph about welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Bristol. He’d heard of the idea of starting welcome hubs around the city and prayed into whether we should host one at Hope Chapel.

As he prayed he saw a picture in his mind of a children’s birthday party and thought it would be great to create a safe place and party atmosphere for Ukrainian parents and children each week. He shared this with the church and money was quickly given to buy a bouncy castle. The hub has been running for almost a year now. A lovely community has formed that feels very much at home at Hope Chapel.

We’ve been encouraged by these recent stories to go into times of prayer and worship with greater expectancy and attentiveness to God speaking to us, and giving us solutions for the challenges we are bringing in prayer.

INSPIRATION

HEROES OF THE FAITH A series on inspiring Christian lives by one of the UK’s leading evangelists, Canon J John

George Verwer George Verwer founded the international mission organisation Operation Mobilisation, which has spread the Gospel across the globe and influenced how the Church does mission. He died on Friday 14 April at the age of 84

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ith George Verwer’s passing the Church has lost a man who had an astonishing global influence on the way the Church carries out its vital task of sharing the good news of Jesus.

In Operation Mobilisation – known as OM – that George started and led for over 40 years, quite literally countless thousands of individuals have been brought to Christ and, no less significantly, an equally vast number of Christians have been equipped to share their faith with confidence and boldness.

Many church leaders that I know can say how formative their time – long or short – with OM has been for their lives and ministries.

It would take a very large book to do any kind of justice to the many extraordinary labours that George undertook for the Gospel, and here I can only give you the briefest outline of his life.

George was born in New Jersey in 1938 and, through the remarkable influence of a praying neighbour and a Gospel challenge from Billy Graham, came to faith at the age of 16.

George began his Christian life as he was to go on: totally committed to spreading the Gospel. He soon introduced many of his classmates to Jesus. Then, drawn to areas unreached by evangelism, he went on a mission trip to Mexico where he shared Christ and distributed Christian literature.

He studied at Moody Bible Institute where he instigated nights of prayer, organised evangelistic ventures and met and married Drena Knecht, who was to become his life-long partner, helper and encourager.

As his missionary ventures extended to Spain, the Communist bloc and the Muslim world, George, with his astonishing ability to motivate and lead others,

created Operation Mobilisation. His dynamic and compelling advocacy, and the fact that OM offered a variety of programmes of evangelism with few requirements, soon drew hundreds and then thousands. In 1964 George had the remarkable idea of using ships to visit countries, “sharing knowledge, help and hope”.

The result was many years of extraordinarily fruitful ministry with a succession of vessels, the most recent being Logos Hope. In 2003 George stepped back from leading OM to work on special projects.

Always radical, OM has had – and continues to have – a global impact. It’s no secret that in many of those countries where the Christian faith is forbidden

George Verwer on board OM’s ship Logos Hope Credit: OM

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INSPIRATIONAL and punished, there are men and women either from OM, or influenced by OM, who are building God’s Church at the risk of their lives.

Throughout his life, George was a popular conference speaker and preacher of extraordinary power and a remarkable authority. I’ve no doubt that as news of George’s passing spreads there are many people saying, “Oh, I heard him speak 40 years ago and I haven’t forgotten the impact that he made on my life.” George’s influence was spread even further by the punchy, no-holds-barred books that he wrote, and then by a presence on the internet.

I was privileged to know George and I have no hesitation in using the word unique to describe him. Like many great people, George held together what could have been opposing aspects of life. He was a pioneer missionary but also someone who found an astonishingly fruitful niche as the creator and leader of an organisation. He was a passionate radical but without the criticism so often associated with radicalism. He was a man who always looked heavenward in prayer but at the same time was intensely focused on what was happening on earth. Although he took his role as OM’s figurehead seriously, he had a compelling and sometimes outrageous honesty. I had George on one of my Facing the Canon interviews (https:// youtu.be/-7lRP3YnDVU) and I can honestly say it was one of the most unpredictable interviews I have ever had!

Above all, George was a man of mission and let me mention three areas that inspired me.

First, George modelled mission. He didn’t simply subscribe in some intellectual way to the need to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth; he gave everything he was, and had, to the task. If ever an

evangelist truly ‘walked the talk’ it was George. He was supremely committed to missions, to the extent of wearing clothes that almost everybody else would have consigned to the rubbish bin. He made a habit of turning up at conferences or preaching engagements wearing a flamboyant jacket displaying all the countries of the world. George set out a standard of discipleship and lived it.

Second, George was a motivator for mission. It was commonly held amongst Christian students and others that going to hear George Verwer speak on missions was a very risky business indeed. There was a very real danger that you would leave the meeting having signed up for serving on a ship or for distributing Christian literature in some country you couldn’t even place on a map.

Finally, George was a mobiliser for mission. He didn’t simply inspire people to become missionaries; he made it as easy as possible for that to happen. His choice of the phrase Operation Mobilisation for his organisation was utterly appropriate. Almost singlehandedly, he threw the door open for people to try mission. He offered various opportunities in different places for different lengths of time, and insisted on little more than a willingness to share the Gospel and to endure various inconveniences and risks. At a time when mission was becoming more and more ‘professionalised’, George somehow was able to throw open the doors for ordinary Christians.

There will be much said in praise of George Verwer and I have a suspicion it will almost all be merited.

Yet above it all, I hear George’s own voice, echoing that of Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV): “Follow my example, as I have followed the example of Christ.”

George Verwer – a hero of the faith and promoted to glory.

George speaking at a conference, wearing his global map jacket Credit: OM

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BREAK TIME

Train your brain or just take a relaxing time out with these puzzles.

The solutions are on the inside of the back cover (don’t cheat!).

Crossword Across 1. Refrain from (5) 4. Sister of Laban (Genesis 24) (7) 9. Absence of normal bodily hair (8) 10. Third son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4) (4) 11. Name of two Bible books (6) 12. Musical instrument (5) 13. Keen (4) 15. Bribe (3) 16. Area of London (4) 17. Type of dance (5) 19. Middle name of Samuel Coleridge, English poet (6) 21. ‘ ------ Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise’ (hymn) (4) 22. ‘Till my ------ at last I lay down’ (hymn) (8) 23. Coniferous tree (7) 24. Prose composition (5)

Wordsearch

Can you find 33 herbs and spices? Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally.

Down 2. Luxurious country house (5) 3. Seize legally (7) 5. The act of setting free (12) 6. Part of artist’s equipment (5) 7. Where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11) (7) 8. The Bible book beginning: ‘The words of the Teacher’ (12) 14. ‘And as He stands in ------ ‘ (hymn) (7) 16. Gardening or farming tools (7) 18. Lowest point (5) 20. ‘“I am the Alpha and the ------“, says the Lord God’ (Revelation 1) (5)

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9

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REVIEWS Hymns of Hope and Healing Edited by Jan Berry and Andrew Pratt Reviewer: Sara Iles, Accredited Minister A book of hymns to “refresh the church’s ministry of healing” is the subtitle of this beautiful collection of songs written by contemporary writers and composers which was published in 2017.

It was relevant then and it is certainly relevant now, in these turbulent and strange times. A ministry of healing and enabling our churches to be places of hope have never been more needed. This lovely book includes inspiring and comforting contributions from 25 writers from a broad variety of Christian traditions.

The hymns have been written through workshops and retreats and the range is thought

Created for Connection: the ‘Hold Me Tight’ Guide for Christian Couples

By Sue Johnson and Kenneth Sanderfer Reviewer: Philippa Hobden, a member at Tollesbury Congregational Church

With the divorce rate creeping up to nearly one in every two marriages, I think this indicates that as a Christian community we have a lot of room for improvement in establishing loving relationships.

The most frequent reason given for divorce is unreasonable behaviour. This book with a Christian perspective offers insight into how relationships deteriorate and how they can be rebuilt using an approach called Emotionally Focused Therapy.

The book is divided into three sections. Part 1: ‘What is love?’ discusses the research and theory of

Out of Control – Couples, Conflict and the Capacity for Change

By Natalie Collins Reviewer: Robyn Riggans, CEO of Worth Charity Domestic Abuse is a hard topic to talk about, let along write about. I read a lot of books surrounding domestic abuse and trauma and Natalie Collins’s book Out of Control is a book that stands out from the others. Finding the balance of talking about uncomfortable topics, triggering topics, within a Christian culture whilst also talking about the hope and the change that can and does happen. This is a hard read, she doesn’t try and ‘soften up’ the impact or statistics of abuse, nor should she, we cannot implement real change, we cannot address the real issues if we are skimming around them and not acknowledging them for what they truly are. However, 32

provoking and reassuring. It is a useful resource for those serving in churches and for our congregations as well as an excellent source of material for those involved in chaplaincy, particularly in healthcare settings.

I have found the book to be a helpful and comforting resource, at times in my own life where I have faced challenges, as well as a great wellspring of healing to share with others in my ministry. I commend this book to you, wherever you are on life’s journey, and pray that it will be a blessing to you and those you serve, in the name of Jesus.

A new anthology, First Flight Feathers: The Best of Worship Live, is due out on 15 June.

Published by Stainer & Bell, 2017. Paperback, £12.50.

Available from: stainer.co.uk/shop relationships. Part 2: ‘Seven Transforming Conversations’ takes you through the path of identifying the negative patterns in a relationship and how you can work through the attachment issues that have created these patterns. It also tells how by exploring your deepest longings you can begin to share these emotions with your partner, and build a positive loving relationship. Part 3: ‘The Power of Love’ explores how human love opens us up to the Divine.

This is an informative book packed with real life examples, activities, theory and guidance. But Sue Johnson describes herself as a seeker of faith and I felt that the Christian perspective was tacked onto the context of a secular approach.

As God created us in his image (Genesis 9:5), we are relational beings. We are created for connection.

Published by Little, Brown & Company, 2016. Hardback £22 at Waterstones or £15.99 at Amazon

she does write in a very natural, honest, friendly way, making sure you are sitting with the uncomfortableness in a safer way, incorporating self-care time and always bringing it back to God in prayer.

Natalie’s book will be a huge help to women affected by domestic abuse, (even if they are not sure what they are experiencing is abuse). It is also in my opinion a must read for everyone in the Church, it will unearth more questions and uncomfortable emotions, please don’t give up and finish the book.

You will become more aware, you will see the hope and the positive impact you can have, you will see how you can be a part of the change. Through knowledge and God’s guidance we can learn to better support women affected by domestic abuse and this book is a good place to start.

Published by SPCK, 2019. Paperback £13.99. Available from spckpublishing.co.uk

PRAYER DIARY 2023

Puzzle solutions Wordsearch

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:3, NLT

JULY

SEPTEMBER

Never stop praying.

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

1 Thessalonians 5:17, NLT

Joel 2:28, NLT

Pray for your Minister and all members of your church.

Pray for schools, colleges and universities and all those who work in them.

Pray they have a good rest planned.

Pray for children and young people who are starting a new school or moving home.

Pray for their protection and inspiration.

Pray for other Christians that they are encouraged and grow deeper in their relationship with God. Pray for the persecuted Church around the world.

Pray for rest and a good work/life balance for those who work long hours.

Pray for churches, that God would inspire them on how they can support teachers and students in their area.

Pray for mission activities in our churches, that they flourish and draw more people to church.

Pray at all times in the day; share your day with Jesus

Pray for Harvest celebrations and thank God for farmers and all the work they do.

AUGUST

OCTOBER

Encourage each other and build each other up.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT

Psalm 98:4, NLT

Pray for all those who work in the travel industry, at airports, holiday resorts or hotels.

Pray for all those who are still affected by the legacies of slavery.

Pray for the many Christian festivals that will take place, that faith is strengthened and many more people give their hearts to Jesus.

Pray for all those who are victims of racism.

Pray for refugees who have had to flee their homes and all those who support them.

Pray for all those who are oppressed or vulnerable.

Pray our churches are places of safety and welcome to all.

Anise Balm Basil Bay Betony Chilli Chive Clary Cloves Comfrey Cress Cumin Dill Endive Grass Hyssop Juniper

Liquorice Lovage Mace Marjoram Mint Myrrh Nutmeg Orpine Rosemary Rue Sage Senna Sesame Thyme Wintergreen Woad

Crossword

Sudoku

Pray for a change of attitude, compassion and understanding.

Pray for all those who work to stop modern slavery.

Pray that our churches can support and offer an amazing welcome to all.

Pray for a revival in our churches.

33

FEEDBACK

This photo is of Yvonne Campbell’s old Sunday school and family friend Eileen Lowe, reading Refresh in her care home. She said: “It’s fantastic!”

In our last issue we featured Eric Liddell in the Heroes of the Faith series. Lorna Cammock, a member of Oban Congregational Church, told us: “My father, Charlie Cammock, trained as a Congregational minister in the Scottish Congregational College in Edinburgh with Eric Liddell. His first year there was Eric Liddell’s last. They knew each other well. I was told Eric used to go out running with fellow students. He would keep pace with them for a while, and then shoot off and be sitting at breakfast when they came back panting!

“My dad wrote to Eric in 1934, asking him to describe his work as a science teacher in China for the young people in the Oban Congregational Church’s Bible class, where my dad was the minister. I have a copy of that letter and one is in the Eric Liddell Museum in Morningside, Edinburgh. I gave another copy to Eric’s daughter when she came to Edinburgh for the ‘unveiling’ of the window showing how Eric won races.”

Paul Davis, a CF personal member, writes: “I have just finished reading the Refresh magazine – from cover to cover! It is so attractive, colourful and readable. The articles are excellent and entertaining.

Well done!”

TO ORDER REFRESH An annual subscription for next year’s 3 issues, including the Yearbook, is £30 incl. p&p.

Email: admin@congregational.org.uk or tel: 0115 9111460 for details.