Horeb United Reformed Church

An update 2025.03

The continuing story of what goes on at Horeb Chapel, and how we are doing our best to move forward and ‘do our bit’ as life goes on in these increasingly challenging times.

When I begin to write this bimonthly piece it’s not long before I’m off again thinking back to my boyhood in the village in the early 1950s. It’s mid-March and spring is definitely beginning to show itself. I’ve moved outdoors; my dad has resumed his efforts to make a cricketer of me i.e. already several hours of batting practice on our driveway with wickets drawn on the garage door – and I’d got my bike out - it was cleaned, oiled, pumped up and ready to go.

I suppose it must have rained in those days but not in my memory – and cold – yes I can recall arriving home with my hands needing to be forced straight after a few hours of being wrapped around handlebars (only girls wore gloves) – but I don’t remember feeling cold or wrapping up in the number of layers that I seem to need these days and I was still in short trousers.

Yes, they were the good old days - but I must get on and provide as usual just a very brief summary of what we do /are doing / planning - just to let folk know that we're still alive and kicking.

Before I start on the more mundane stuff

Yet another very sad Event

As I wrote in the last edition, we are an aging congregation so it is only to be expected that we will lose members from time to time – but Colin I joined Horeb shortly after returning to the village some 11 years ago. I first met Colin, shortly after Joining when he was preaching on a Sunday Morning at Horeb. He had organised a ‘Café Church’ – and I was amazed to see one obviously so elderly try something so ‘new’. I was very impressed, and as I found my feet at Horeb and began to look for things to do – it seemed to make sense to volunteer to help Colin (and Elizabeth) running the ‘Food Co-op’ that they had set up some years before.

I just helped – setting up tables, sorting the vegetables ordered into bags but listening, watching and learning from Colin and Elizabeth – and having a lot of fun, whilst I hope, being useful. Happy days. Then along came COVID. Lots of things including the Food Co-op stopped; and when things began to get back to normal Colin decided that he could no longer continue to be actively involved in Food Co-op.

Many things changed during COVID. A number of the older members of Horeb died and even more reached an age where (I’m included in this…) tasks requiring physical strength / stamina / dexterity are often problematic at least and often are beyond us. So with bodies in short supply i.e. no one to take it on – Food Co-op was no more.

Over recent months I together with Pauline Wilson, another Elder and Food Co-op helper we have visited Colin regularly. He enjoyed our visits but it was hard watching the physical decline of a man whose mind was as bright as ever. He hated what was happening to him – and quite simply he wanted to go. When we heard Colin had died we were of course very sorry that we had lost him –but could not help but feel pleased that his suffering had ended and glad in the knowledge that he is in a better place.

Colin’s wish saw his body left to Medical Science, and his life celebrated with a wellattended, moving Memorial Service held at Highfield U.R.C. in Rock Ferry – Colin’s final Church as a Minister.

God bless him; an amazing man who lived a full life in the service of others – and will never be forgotten.

So now back to normal - What’s Going On!

Well Food Co-op might have ended but a group of people who met at Horeb when enjoying a cuppa provided by the Food-Co-op are still meeting every week as ‘Son of Food Co-op’ – Our Wednesday ‘Coffee Morning‘

If you have free time on a Wednesday – PLEASE JOIN US! This is not in any way a 'closed shop' - it is open to all on Wednesdays (10.00 to 12.00). Tea / coffee / biscuits / cakes (occasionally) are provided; the cost being covered whatever you feel like putting in the pot; … and if there is anything at all that warrants celebration invariably we will arrange something special – perhaps a Bacon Butty or Sausage Bap.

A relaxing time in good company with tea/coffee made to order and if it doesn't suit - we'll show you how the Lincat (Water Heater) works; where the tea/ coffee/crockery is kept provide a bit of training … … and you can make your own just as you like it.

Community Lunches - still up and running at Horeb on the second Tuesday of the month from 12.30 – all are welcome.

No need to book – (unless you’re bringing a coachful) and, if you’re running late, don’t worry you will be fed.

Please Note that from the April Community Lunch onwards the cost has been increased to £4.00 to cover Inflation and the hike in Fuel Prices

The menu for our lunches continues to be one that the small team of folk from Horeb (Some of the Elders plus a few friends / family) can manage i.e. a bowl of soup (usually a choice from 2 or three) with a bread roll and butter followed by pudding and a cup of tea/coffee or a soft drink.

In addition on Tuesdays during Lent Horeb and St Bridget’s will be hosting this year’s LENT lunches.

They are all at Horeb and are open to all: Lunch 2 Tues. 18th ; Lunch 3 Tues 25th ; Lunch 4 Tues. April 1st

Proceeds to Christian Aid

As he who is i.c. washing up, I can truthfully report that at every lunch thus far, all the dishes have been returned empty – and there have been no complaints either about the quantity of food or the choice of soups or puddings so again we must be doing something right. BUT we’re not full – so if you’re free…

So, what is now considered ‘Normal’ - I will repeat –

• Morning Worship: [Sundays (10.30 - 11.30) and a social time with tea/coffee and biscuits afterwards.

• The service is available 'live' to all on Zoom on a Sunday morning

DETAILS Zoom (meeting id 923 732 5176 password 3fHEG9)

Weekly, a summary of ‘What’s on at Horeb’ is circulated online to keep folk in touch with hard copies available at the Sunday morning Service. If anyone reading this update would like to receive ‘What’s On at Horeb’ - mail me on allandavidmorgan@gmail.com and I’ll willingly add you to my list.

The Horeb Web Site problem i.e. the website is no more – hopefully just like Arnie – we’ll be back - soon.

Danny, our neighbour spotted the problem and, as he knows what he is talking about unlike most of the Horeb Elders we have gratefully accepted his help and advice and are in the process of establishing a new simpler version which will contain a brief outline of what Horeb is about and how to contact us - we’re getting closer.

Horeb trying to be useful

1. Our link with Pengwern College in Rhuddlan – involved in some maintenance of Horeb ‘ground- works’ –Sadly, we have still been unable to speak to anyone at Pengwern.

2. Tŷ Golau For many year now, we have supported ‘The Night Shelter for the homeless in Rhyl’. Our members, when they do their weekly shopping purchase a few extra items, put them in a box in Horeb and they are delivered to Tŷ Golau every few weeks. The staff are grateful for the gifts and the support and the fact that we appreciate what the staff do for folk who are simply less fortunate than we – we just ‘do our bit’.

Finances - (always on the back of our minds)

The Hiring of Paterson Hall and other space in Horeb

This is a major source of income which, although there has been an upsurge in recent weeks, has still to return to a pre-COVID level –and with the increase in fuel costs it is increasingly difficult to balance what hirers can afford to pay and what we need to charge to cover our costs - let alone gain some 'income'.

BUT - if anyone needs to hire some space for a club or event The Paterson Hall, The Henry Gordon Room and the Sanctuary itself are available for Hiring for several hours during the week. Indeed, if anyone reading has a need or knows anyone who wishes to Hire a space, they should contact Barbara Tebbutt on 01745 570793 or me on 01745 570364.

Finally, as usual, you know where we are, you know we will be open for worship at 10.30 a.m. every Sunday, and if you are thinking about joining us for worship one Sunday, you will be very welcome.

So, I'll sign off wishing all peace, health and fulfilment as Spring approaches and it turns a little warmer.

Allan Morgan (A Horeb Elder)