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www.highburychurch.co.uk
News
Congregational Church
November 2013
Highbury
An Invitation ... ... for this month and next! It is not just that we support Christian Aid, we are part of Christian Aid: it is the aid agency of the various British denominations one of which is of course our own Congregational Federation.
the corner, on Friday 8th November, and we have agreed to look after the ‘lost children’ post, and also provide some fun things for children under 7 to do. It will be great to be very much part of our community - so come along and support! (See page 20.)
And next month our Christmas Café is going to be a little different, as we invite friends from the newly re-born Fairview Community Association to come and be part of what we hope will Highbury is in an area of town known be very much a community event. as Fairview, and recently the Fairview Community Association has been re- But for it to be a success we need as born. They are taking responsibility for many people as possible to support it the community Fireworks Party at the and bring along some friends too! th Cheltenham Cricket Ground just round That’s on Saturday 7 December - see page 21, and more details next month! So come along to the Christian Aid Christmas Fair at St Andrew’s Church on Saturday 2nd November - see more details on page 13.
Deadline for December Highbury News: Sunday 10th November
Highbury Congregational Church belongs to the Congregational Federation and is in partnership with the Council for World Mission and Churches Together
01242 522050 Minister@highburychurch.co.uk Secretary@highburychurch.co.uk
Highbury News
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November 2013
Minister’s Memo The prayers go on As our Sunday morning Harvest Celebration came to an end I found myself talking with our visitors for the weekend about praying for the Middle East. They had put out leaflets and booklets encouraging us to pray for the people of the Middle East and North Africa.
and so we will pray for peace and for justice in our world today. From one year to the next we keep that memory alive. And next year the Government has planned the start of four years commemorating that war’s centenary.
It is sobering to recall the historical context the leaflet suggests for our The previous evening after our Harvest prayers for the Middle East. Supper I had taken a couple of the There are, it suggests, three historical leaflets home with me and glanced eras that set that context: through them. Ottoman Empire ruled much of One in particular I found helpful. the region (and followed a Entitled, ‘How to Pray for the Middle number of previous empires) East and North Africa’ I found it a Western Colonial era post World helpful companion to the troubling War One; current nation states news broadcasts that so often come created by the West; most out of Syria and the whole of the countries are colonial constructs, Middle East. ruled either by a monarchy (e.g. I asked if we might reproduce the pamphlet in Highbury News, and so you can find it in the centre of this issue of Highbury News.
Jordan) or endured one or more coups leading to one-party dictatorships (e.g. Egypt, Iraq, Syria)
I looked up from the table of leaflets and my eye caught the war memorial framed on the wall.
This era is being ended (or is it?) by a clear call for the people’s involvement in their governance; it is unclear what will emerge.
And it struck me that there’s a connection. It is perhaps important for us to realise It’s a connection I don’t recall making that we are not the only ones who have kept the memory of the First before. In our Remembrance Sunday service World War and its outcome alive.
we will once again read the names of And that can be a troubling thought. those from our church who lost their It may just be in the Middle East and lives in the First World War. in North Africa that we are perceived We will honour their memory by not as potentially part of the solution recalling the way they longed for peace but rather part of the problem.
Highbury News
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November 2013
How we respond to that is complex and difficult. But for us as Christians there is another history that we are part of too. And that is the history of the Christian Church, the body of Christ. That draws us to pray not just as distant interested parties, but as the brothers and sisters in Christ of those who still belong to the churches where our faith originated. We join with them in praying for leadership and for ‘peace-makers to emerge’ We join with them in praying for the use of resources and ‘better education that is accessible to all’
We join with them in praying for the upholding of Human Rights for ‘equality before the law for all citizens and the clear rule of law’ We pray with them for the Church and for ‘Christians to address human need wherever they see it’ Do read through the leaflet and reflect on how to pray for the Middle East and North Africa. Look again at www.meconcern.org And as we share in Remembrance Sunday let’s pray for peace in a part of the world that still struggles with the legacy of the First World War. Every blessing, Richard
In Flanders Field In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD. Canadian Army It is believed that John McCrae was so moved by the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer (who had been killed by a shell burst) and inspired by the profusion of wild poppies he could see in the nearby cemetery, that he wrote this poem. Sadly he did not survive World War 1, and died whilst on active duty in 1918.
Highbury News
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November 2013
Sue’s News This day is the deadline for submission of articles for the next edition of Highbury News. We may be less than halfway through October, but I have just attended a morning service promoting Operation Christmas Child and encouraging people to book for the Christmas Dinner Outing. So, December and Christmas must be looming large! Shoe boxes due for submission on Sunday 3rd November really does seem soon. Without pursuing that thought, I look back to my late summer holiday break. Again, I missed Harvest Thanksgiving but it is inevitable that one will always miss something. I think I left U.S.A. just in time to miss the ‘government shutdown’ and a big fall of snow over Wyoming! I returned in time to attend the October Church Meeting, and I now wish to repeat my thanks (indeed, those of all of us) to Katherine Stanley. She has, for many years, alternated with Lorna White in taking the Minutes of the meetings. She has recently requested to step down from this role and we are grateful to her for her service, and to Helen Roberts who has offered to fill her seat. A big THANK YOU to both.
During Minister Richard’s summer break, one of the visiting preachers was Johnathan Hunter-Dunn, who has a long association with June Tremlett. If you wondered if there was any connection with Joan Hunter-Dunn, immortalised by John Betjeman, the answer is that she was his aunt, though poetic license was used. Some time ago, Highbury supported the charity, the Lilian Elizabeth Fund which was raising money to build a medical centre in the Gambia. The charity is run by my friend Jennifer Taylor in memory of her deceased sister. The exciting update is that in November 2013, Jennifer is travelling, for the last time, to the site to attend the official opening of the now completed project. She had said that she would devote five years of her life to this act of mission but it has taken fourteen years, with so many obstacles to overcome. Congratulations to her for her persistence, dedication and optimism to see it through. The next Highbury News edition will be that of December, Christmas and then we face a New Year!
Highbury Community Café Every Thursday 10:00am until 11:30am Coffee, Tea and Homemade Cake Bring your Friends and Neighbours
Highbury News
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November 2013
Chosen Charity for November: The Langley House Trust As a Christian Charity, our mission is to work with those who are at risk of offending, or have offended, establishing positive foundations so that they can lead crime-free lives and become contributors to society.
We also offer a floating support service which is able to support residents in their own accommodation after their stay at the project.
The Knole is committed to achieving equal opportunities for all. Religion, At Langley House Trust we believe all race, nationality, disability, age and people are: sexual orientation will not be part of the selection criteria. made in God’s image loved by Him regardless We will challenge any discriminatory called into community attitude within the house. offered redemption by His The staff provide each resident with a grace confidentiality policy through which promised His glory they seek to safeguard and keep Our Vision secure all confidential information The Trust will work towards the received regarding an individual. fulfillment of its vision of a crime-free With your support we can continue our society where no-one is unfairly work to help overcome the challenges disadvantaged or excluded because of faced by our residents, such as gaining their past. meaningful employment or voluntary The Knole in Cheltenham is a work, furthering education, and Registered Care Home, which provides enhancing social skills in order for accommodation for fourteen men them to rebuild their lives and become aged 30 years and over. part of the wider community. The Knole aims to enable and equip If you wish to find out more about our former offenders to address their valuable work please visit our website physical, emotional, mental and at www.langleyhousetrust.org or spiritual needs within a caring contact The Knole on 01242 526978. Christian environment. Mary Michael We aim to assist each person to progress towards more personal independence, learning life and social skills in order to live a fulfilling and crime-free life. Lord you have called us to love you and serve you; and we will. We pray that you will give us the wisdom to know what we should do; the courage to keep on loving; and the faith that will see us through.
Highbury News
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November 2013
The Power of a simple gift This Christmas why not pack a shoe box with gifts for a child in need?
If you would like to pack a shoe box please pick up a leaflet in Church. For more details, please speak to: Lorna White 01242 232915 Olga Slack 01242 529534 Please bring your filled shoe boxes to Highbury on Sunday 3rd November 2013 or hand to Lorna beforehand
Thank You Highbury News
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November 2013
Chosen Charities Communion offerings and money donated at coffee time after morning worship will go to our chosen charity for November which is the Langley House Trust. (see page 6). September communion and harvest collection shared between our own mission and Middle East Concern are currently (to 29:09:13) Harvest collection and harvest supper = ÂŁ2,306 Communion collection and coffee = ÂŁ165
Welcoming Team for November Sunday MORNING Sharon Wallington Sue Needs Trevor Needs
Sunday EVENING Mary Buchanan Alan Marshall Heather Tarling
Vestry Duty Sunday MORNING John Pickles
Sunday EVENING John Lewis
Evening Service Readers in November will be: 3rd November James Martin 10th November Rachel Jacques 17th November Stan Jones 24th November Felicity Cleaves If you would like to be included on this rota please let me know. Jonquil Harrison
01242 520522
Hy-Way We usually meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month in the Morton Brown Room at 2:00pm, and all are welcome to join us. We have a time for worship, and a variety of speakers or other activities, and we finish with tea, biscuits and a chat! Contact me to find out more. Jenny Bartlett
01242 231644 - jennybartlett20@hotmail.com
Highbury News
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November 2013
Prayer Focus - District 11 Charles and Ruth Adams Janette and Dorothy Broome Martin Evans Elisabeth Forbes Roger and Jean Gregory Gwen Hewinson (for URC) Christine Lodge (Brownie Guide Leader) James and Chris Martin5 4 3 7 Marion Taylor Maurice Wilce Tony and Karen Wilkes David and Vera Williams Mike Workman (St. Luke’s) Deacon: Jean Gregory Visitor: Philip Archer standing in for David Butcher, while he is visiting in New Zealand
Prayer Rota for Sundays in November Morning Sunday
3rd
Sunday
10th
November Felicity Cleaves November Karen Haden
Sunday 17th November Richard Cleaves Sunday 24th November Roger Gregory Evening Sunday
17th
November Mary Buchanan
S.W. Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation invites us to pray for ... Sunday 3rd November Long Itchington Sunday 10th November Remembrance Day Sunday 17th November Hawkeridge Sunday 24th November Fairford
Highbury News
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November 2013
News of the Church Family CONGRATULATIONS to - Felicity Cleaves who was recently honoured at a special lunch, given by the Blood Transfusion Service, for donating over 70 pints of blood - Mary Michael who has had the honour of being appointed as the Vice President of the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir - the Helpers and Chauffeurs of the Highbury Club (the new name for the club for people who are sight impaired) who have won the GAVCA (Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action) Best Volunteer Team Award for 2013; and to Chris Chapman, who organises the Highbury Club, and is founding a new club in Tewkesbury this month with 16/18 potential members and 12 new volunteers - Alan and Mary Frost who celebrated their Golden Wedding in October WE GIVE THANKS - that Richard Sharpe’s shoulder has healed sufficiently for him to play the organ again - for news of Jordan Price, who has spent a year travelling around Australia and has now found a job back in Auckland; he sends good wishes to all in Highbury OUR SYMPATHY to - the family of Daphne Murnaghan following her death on Monday 30th September, especially Jane, Jonathan and Adrian, and her sister-in-law Margaret Shipley - Darryl Mills and his family following the death of his great-aunt Jean PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS - all those mentioned above, and - David Rogers home from hospital, and his wife Shirley and brother Jim - Laura MacLeod's father Bill, his wife Jane and all in their family - Molly Sivyer in Nazareth House, and remembering her sisters too - Claire and Matt Gasside, and Claire’s Dad and Mum, Maitland and Gill Cook - Iain Wallington, Sharon, Tabi, Murray & Gus, as Iain continues his recovery - Ian and Hilare Pulford, and their 11 year old grandson in school in Canada - all our older people, not as strong or active as they were, and finding life more difficult day by day - Brenda and Raymond Clarke
- Vera and David Williams
- Caroline and Christopher Gregory
- Gill and Mike Downward
- Elaine and David Kinchin
- Ann and Stan Jones
- other friends known to us, with continuing health, employment, or personal concerns and worries
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November 2013
NEWS OF MARK AND DENISE EVANS Many of you will remember Mark from his years at Highbury, or from leading our weekend away at Brunel Manor. He and his wife Denise now live at Newport I.O.W. and Mark is Minister of the Congregational Church there. They are experiencing growth in the church, but it is slow and at times challenging for them, so please remember them in your prayers. There is also much to rejoice about. Denise is now co-ordinating the work of the Street Pastors on the Island, and the team has won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2013. The ceremony gives them a wonderful opportunity to host the presentation of this award at their church and show God’s love in their community. Mark is also enjoying being involved with youth work again with ‘ Revive’ and describes how it brings back happy memories of working with the Youthwork Team and Hy-Tec at Highbury. He is chair of this charity which works with young people in schools and socially, much the same as ‘Youth for Christ’ here. Mark and Denise would love to see you if you are on the Island on holiday. We have been privileged to send many young people out from Highbury to do great things in God’s service, and we ask for your continued prayer support for them all. PASTORAL CARE MEETING UP-DATE Thank you to everyone who attended the October Pastoral Care Meeting, and for your words of encouragement following it.
members and those in Nursing Homes and Care Homes.
During the meeting we announced the good news that Darryl Mills has agreed to be the new Family Visitor, which we are delighted to say was received with great joy, not least by the Mums present, and we feel sure the children will appreciate his visits too!
If you have any suggestions, our ears are open and attentive to all!
Those in the ‘middle’ age bracket will not be forgotten - please give us time!
Canon Mike Tucker spoke about a ‘Visiting and Befriending Course’ run by , which we plan to hold in the new year. It will run for three consecutive weeks, two hours each We have also received offers of help in session. If you are interested, please other areas, especially offers of let us know. (Contact details below.) additional help visiting our elderly CHURCH FAMILY NEWS AND VISITING REQUESTS contact: Lorraine Gasside Diana Adams
( 01242 239838 - mail@lmgasside.plus.com
( 01242 233663 - diana.adams@btconnect.com PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS contact:
Lorraine Gasside
Highbury News
( 01242 239838 - mail@lmgasside.plus.com
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November 2013
Good News People … This a gathering place for those who want to learn how to share their faith with others. Each gathering is an opportunity to … Meet with other people who are interested in sharing their faith Think through key issues on sharing your faith today Keep people up to date with what you are doing Learn about new resources for faith-sharing Pray together Time:
7-30 till 9-00pm
When:
2nd Monday of November - 11th November
Subject:
Changing the Conversation Dr Martin Robinson
Where:
St Matthew’s Church, Clarence Street, Cheltenham
about
God
-
For more information, visit the website at: www.goodnewspeople.org
Thursday
14th
Open the Book November from 7.30 - 9.00pm
Faith, Hope and Love The Kairos Palestine Document In 2009 the churches of Palestine and Israel invited the churches of the world to think through what is at the heart of the Christian faith and how that speaks into the current situation in Palestine and Israel. They take as the inspiration of their document 1 Corinthians 13:13 and focus on Faith, Hope and Love. In our Open the Book evenings we are taking a look at their statement and reflect on what it means for us and the response we can make. Thursday 14th November
Hope
Thursday 12th December
Love
Quiet time before morning worship The Morton Brown Room is open from 10.00am to 10.15am each Sunday morning for a time of quiet prayer. This is open to anyone who wishes to pray for the day’s worship and for the total life of the Church.
Highbury News
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November 2013
Autumn Fair Saturday 2nd November 10.00am to 1.30pm at St Andrew’s URC Montpellier Various Stalls, including cakes, toys and gifts Coffee Shop
Children’s activities
Hot and cold lunches (£4.50) will be available from 11.30am There will also be an Auction of Promises – have you anything to offer? Or come along and bid for something. Louise Middleton is running the Gift Stall – please let her have any new, unwanted gifts you might have – packaging and labels with them would be helpful, please. For more info please contact Louise Middleton or Laura MacLeod.
CCP County Community Project’s programme is an emergency food distribution service for people and families in times of crisis. There is a continual urgent need for all non-perishable food, in particular meat based products such as tinned curry, minced beef, tinned stew, Fray Bentos pies, corned beef, tinned ham etc.. Donations of staple foods such as rice, pasta and mash, cereals, packet and other tinned foods are also needed. If you would prefer to give financial donations, please could we ask you to pass these directly to us for safety, or put them on to the offering plate, suitably labelled for our treasurer. If you take your donations direct to CCP yourself, please note that the HQ is now in Royal Crescent instead of the One Stop in the lower High Street. Many thanks to everyone for your ongoing commitment to this cause, and not least the wonderful way in which you supported this programme with your donations of food over the Harvest weekend. Lorraine and Neil Gasside
Highbury News
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November 2013
Day
Meeting
Contact
Tel. Number
Sunday 10-30am
Morning Service
Richard Cleaves
Sunday 6-30pm
Evening Service
Richard Cleaves
Sunday 7-15pm
Hy-Tec
Adrian Blazey
Monday 6-45pm
Scouts
Andy Sargent
Tuesday 9-45am
Toddlers
Felicity Cleaves
Tuesday 5-45pm
Transformers
Carolyn Tennant
Wednesday 9-30 am
Prayer Group
Katherine Stanley
Wednesday 2-00pm
Hy-Way
Jenny Bartlett
Wednesday 6-15pm
Cubs
Felicity Cleaves
Wednesday 6-00pm
Brownies
Christine Lodge
Thursday 10 - 11.30
Community Café
Felicity Cleaves
Thursday 7-30pm
Church Meeting
Sue Cole
Deacons’ Meeting Open the Book
Richard Cleaves
Hope Group
David Butcher
Friday 7-00pm
Guides
Tania Ashdown
Friday 7-30pm
Choir
Mary Clifford
Saturday 10-00am
Beavers
Amanda Sargeant
1st Saturday 2-30pm
Friendship Group
Olga Slack
2nd Saturday 6.30pm
Hy-Speed
Adrian Blazey
Sunday 9-30 am
Hy-Spirit
Mary Buchanan
Highbury Lunch in November The next lunch will be held on Wednesday 13th November at 12.30pm when all will be welcome to come, and bring friends and neighbours too but just let the Cooking Team know you are coming, please!
Highbury News
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November 2013
Calendar for November Saturday 2nd
10.00am
Christian Aid Autumn Fair at St Andrew’s URC (see page 13)
SUNDAY 3rd
PLEASE BRING YOUR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD BOXES TODAY 10.30am
Thursday Friday
7th
8th
Morning Worship
6.30pm
Evening Prayers with Holy Communion
7.30pm
Deacons’ Meeting
5.30pm for 6.45pm Fairview Community Firework Party at Cheltenham Cricket Club, Victoria Ground, Princes Street (see page 24)
Saturday
9th
2.30pm
Friendship Group for those who live alone
6.30pm
Hy-Speed for younger members
8.30pm
Hy-Speed for older members
SUNDAY 10th
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 9.00am
Monday 11th
Sunday Special
10.30am
Morning Worship
6.30pm
Evening Prayers
7.30pm
Good News People at St Matthew’s (see page 12)
Wednesday 13th 12.30pm
Highbury Lunch (see page 14) followed by
2.00pm
Hy-Way (see page 8)
14th
7.30pm
Open the Book (see page 12)
SUNDAY 17th
10.30am
Thursday
6.30pm SUNDAY 24th Thursday 28th
10.30am
Morning Worship with Holy Communion Evening Prayers Morning Worship
6.30pm
Evening Prayers
7.30pm
HOPE Group
Highbury News
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November 2013
Daphne Jessica Murnaghan Daphne Shipley was born on Saturday 10th July 1926 in Clapham, South London and as a teenager lived in Garlands, Rookery Close, Fetcham in Surrey, where she attended Dorking County School.
Highbury, coming into membership in September 1984. She was a regular at church every Sunday, part of the Prayer Group, and a keen member and leader of what was then Highbury Guild (now Hy-Way).
She went on to study English at Southampton University, and then trained to be a teacher, qualifying in 1948.
Along with Probus Clubs Daphne was a lifelong supporter of the Women’s Institute with its interesting talks, its social justice campaigning, and of At Southampton she met Reg course its Jam and Jerusalem. Murnaghan and they married at Great It was not long after the Berlin wall Bookham Baptist Church on 14th came down that we were joined at August 1948 with a reception at home. Highbury by a young girl from East Daphne taught English at Bartly Germany doing a year’s voluntary Secondary School for a year, before service in Cheltenham. When her CSV moving to Chingford County placement collapsed and Highbury Secondary School where she taught stepped in to support her for the second half of her year, it was just the until 1952. kind of thing that Daphne felt church Jane and Jonathan arrived in that should be about. She was passionate decade and, after the family had about supporting younger people and moved to Surrey, Adrian was born. in service of other people. So, the Reg worked at the Coal Research following year, when Highbury Establishment which moved from decided to host a volunteer from this Leatherhead to Stoke Orchard in country, through the organisation Cheltenham in 1972. Daphne’s brother ’, Daphne offered David also worked for the CRE and so accommodation. It was not an easy David and Margaret moved with thing to do, and not the easiest of Daphne and Reg, together with years for Daphne, but Helen still Daphne’s mother. speaks very fondly of the hospitality Daphne and Reg moved into their she received in Daphne’s home during home in Cirencester Road, with a her placement with Highbury. lovely view at the rear of the property. In that home there were wonderful Daphne returned to teaching and had a post at Bournside School, at that time known as the Cheltenham Technical High School.
bookcases, and what can only be described as a ‘creative clutter’ as Daphne was always working on a piece of embroidery, a frame at the Daphne took great pride in her family, ready. She made wonderful samplers and became involved in the life of for each of the children and for the
Highbury News
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November 2013
grandchildren, including one in the form of a family tree. She helped to make a worship banner for St John’s Primary School, and also made a lovely cushion for Highbury.
Daphne had marked clearly with neat bookmarks a number of passages in her Bible, and one was Psalm 31 verses 1-5, a Psalm that celebrates the assurance of God’s presence with us Daphne was for many years a member come what may. of the Embroiderers Guild and would In the pages of Daphne’s Bible Adrian go to Stow-on-the-Wold for the found a slip of paper with three monthly meetings. hymns. They were sung at the th With help from her daughter-in-law, crematorium service on Monday 14 Liz, she finished her final piece of work October, including the Guild (Hy-Way) last year - a marvellous patch work Vesper Prayer: quilt of hexagons. Daphne had difficult times, especially in the early onset of her Alzheimer’s. But in the five years or so since moving into Whitebourne, in Frimley, she has had something of a new lease of life. One activity she and Adrian did involved putting together a freeformatted life story.
As we come to the end of the day In God’s house we no longer may stay But his word in your heart You may take as we part For your strength For your peace
For your joy Daphne could be very matter of fact – and spoke directly, so when she was asked questions like “What’s your May God’s blessing surround you each day favourite drink?” her replies were very concise and to the point … As you trust him and walk in His way Favourite drink – weak tea because it’s May his presence within warming and refreshing. Guard and keep you from sin Favourite sweet – chocolate. (A liking Go in peace she shared with sister-in-law Margaret Shipley who keeps a secret store of Go in joy chocolate in her room in Nazareth Go in love House!) Favourite colour – blue because it can We continue to remember Daphne’s be very varied for use in clothes. family and friends in our prayers, Daphne had her share of troubles especially Jane and Nick, Rebecca and through her life but through it all found Malcolm; Jonathan and Rita; Adrian solace and comfort, inspiration and and Liz, Peter, Sarah and Matthew; strengthening in the faith which she and of course her sister-in-law shared so often in the weekly Guild Margaret Shipley. meetings.
Highbury News
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November 2013
Rachel Jacques’ Tribute to her Dad Church Member and First Aid Trainer Rachel Jacques is making Gloucestershire a safer place, in memory of her late father, with the help of St John Ambulance. Rachel, who is currently working as a Nurse Practitioner, has purchased three portable Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) – life saving equipment that can shock the heart to restart it after a cardiac arrest – from the nation’s leading First Aid charity. Rachel’s Dad, Ron Jacques, passed away last year. He worked as an engineer with the County Fire Service and, throughout his life, was very supportive of Rachel’s work with St John Ambulance and Girlguiding. All three of the sites where the AEDs have been installed mean a lot to Rachel, and they meant a lot to her Dad too. Rachel has provided First Aid Training for Gloucestershire Guide Association for the past 30 years, and is now also providing training to make sure people are ready to use the defibrillators in an emergency. The AEDs have been placed in the Guiding Centre at Macaroni Woods near Fairford, at Girguiding Gloucestershire’s HQ and Activity Centre at Deer Park Cowley, and Rachel presented the third to Highbury in October. In each case, Rachel assessed the locations as being at risk: Macaroni Woods is very isolated, Deer Park is 7 miles from Cheltenham, and the church is a busy community resource which is used by many organisations including the Heart to Heart Exercise Group. Very many thanks, Rachel - but we hope there will never be a reason to use it!
If God should go on strike How is it that God above has never gone on strike Because he was not treated fair in things He didn't like. If only once He'd given up, and said, “That's it, I'm through! I’ve had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do; I'll give my orders to the sun - 'Cut off the heat supply!' And to the moon - 'Give no more light, and run the ocean dry.' Then just to make things really tough and put the pressures on, ‘Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone!'” You know, He would be justified if fairness was the game. For no one has been abused or met with more disdain Than God, any yet He carries on supplying you and me With all the favours of His grace and everything for free. Men say they want a better deal and so on strike they go. But what a deal we've given to God to whom all things we owe. We don’t care whom we hurt to gain the things we like. But what a mess we'd all be in if God should go on strike!!
Highbury News
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November 2013
Hope for Waleed this Christmas Last Christmas Christian Aid workers met a remarkable young boy with a hearing impairment, growing up in the West Bank – part of the occupied Palestinian territory. Earlier this year they returned to see Waleed and hear his heartwarming story of progress. One year on Waleed received a hearing aid from Christian Aid’s partner, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI). This gift began to change his experience of the world around him. Life in the West Bank is challenging, owing to conflict and instability. One of the daily challenges for people living under occupation is that it is difficult to access medical treatment. The gift of healing PHRI operate from mobile clinics using Israeli and Palestinian doctors and nurses who volunteer their time and skills to provide people like Waleed, affected by the occupation, with equal access to healthcare. They also work within Israel and internationally to raise awareness of these issues. Please donate to Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal in 2013.
Update on Moffat in prison in Zambia I don't have much in the way of recent of news of Moffat - but from what I have heard I do know that he is in great need of our prayers. Moffat has been suffering nightmares and hallucinations and has been seeing a psychiatrist. He thinks that things he has read may have caused this, but I wonder whether the relief from coming out of Death Row has also played a part. It must have been so terrible to have spent those years with the threat of execution - especially when he is innocent of the charges against him. He tells me, though, that reading his Bible and thinking about God gives him a sense of peace. Please pray that he may continue his trusting walk with God. Please also pray about his physical health - for relief from the symptoms of an enlarged heart, and the tummy upsets he suffers. Judi Marsh
Highbury News
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November 2013
FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HELPING TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE
The Fairview Community Association will be hosting the Annual Community Fireworks at Cheltenham Cricket Club on
8th
Friday November 2013 Gates open at 5:30 pm Fireworks promptly at 6:45 pm at
The Victoria Ground, Princes Street, Cheltenham, GL52 6BE What’s happening? Spectacular fireworks' display A selection of Hot Foods plus a Real Ale bar Indoor children’s area provided by Highbury Congregational Church Entrance: £5 per Adult Accompanied children free Pay on the gate Please walk to the venue as there is no parking at the Ground The event is organised and run by local volunteers and you will be invited to vote for allocation of the proceeds to future Fairview Community events and enhancements. Fairview Community Association Fireworks on Saturday 8th November As you will have read above, Highbury will be running the Lost Child facility and childcare provision for under 7s at this event. If you would like to help, please contact Felicity Cleaves
Highbury News
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November 2013
Christmas Café - Saturday 7th December 10:30am to 1:00pm This year’s Christmas Café will have some new features. Firstly there is a new time. Secondly we hope to have new stalls, and to enable this Hy-Speed will be having a mini-circuit in a side room. We are inviting people who live in the Fairview Community Association area to have a stall. Of course, if anyone at Church wants to have a stall that would be great too. These stalls might be charity fund-raisers or income-generating. There will still be the usual our regular weekly Community Café.
, based on
Come along:
Invite friends or neighbours:
Bake a cake:
Prepare the rooms (help needed from 9:15 am):
Display a poster:
Serve Coffee:
Help with craft or Christmas linked activity:
Host a stall:
Tidy up afterwards (help needed from 12:45pm) Please don’t hold back you are needed!
If you would like a stall please get in touch with me by e-mail me or drop me a note into a box I will put in the church porch by Sunday 10th November. If you can bake a cake, or are willing to help with the Café, or would like to help with craft, please e-mail me or drop me a note into the box by Sunday 17th November. Those offering to set up or tidy up please e-mail or drop me a note into the box by Sunday 24th November. Please make it clear what you are offering! Let’s make this a great Church and Community occasion. Felicity Cleaves - felicity.cleaves@highburychurch.co.uk
Cecilia and our Anthologies Thank you to those who have contributed to our anthologies. It will be lovely to see these in print with illustrations. Please look out for 'Poems, Prayers and Promises' and 'The Topsy-Turvy World of Cats' at the Christmas Café on Saturday 7th December. I hope by then to have news of the secondary school that Cecilia will attend. There aren't many secondary schools in Zambia so she will need to go to a boarding school. Judi Marsh
Highbury News
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November 2013
Exciting News about the future of
The trustees of are delighted to announce that they have agreed a partnership with Bible Society. Merging our strengths offers great potential for future development and outreach. This positive move will enable to sustain and expand its work more effectively. Through this arrangement will benefit from the Society’s wide range of expertise, facilities, resources, respected national profile and cross-denominational network. Likewise, Bible Society is very excited to be reaching into primary schools with such a successful programme as . This promising new relationship has been forged as a result of several months of prayerful reflection, careful consideration and constructive discussion. We have all been delighted to encounter a real similarity of purpose and practice between and Bible Society. A warm relationship and a remarkable degree of convergence in our aims, ethos and objectives have quickly emerged. trustees and the executive directors of Bible Society are in full agreement that will retain its essential character. has flourished because it is school-sensitive, child-friendly, volunteer-orientated, adheres to a
Highbury News
code of practice and focuses simply on Bible storytelling. So it is important that all the volunteer storytellers, supporting churches, schools and friends know that the unique character, content and identity of will not change. Rather, it will be enhanced. What will be new and exciting is that by being a project within Bible Society will benefit from its greater size and reach, its extensive professional services and staff resources. This will enable to enhance the service it provides and enable progressive expansion to many more children, schools and regions of the UK. The two National Coordinators, Dianne Brookes and Julie Jefferies, along with Val Ralston, will continue in their roles, joining Bible Society as members of their staff. An Advisory Group, made up of existing trustees with Bible Society officers, will be at the heart of things, ensuring continuity and growth. Why Bible Society? There is a close similarity between the vision and objective of with that of Bible Society, established in 1804 and to help both church and society engage with the Bible more effectively by promoting its
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November 2013
availability, accessibility and credibility in our culture. The Society’s Patron is the Queen and its president is the Bishop of London. It was Bible Society’s ‘The Open Book’ Millennium initiative that played a part in the initial vision for in Bedford. Since then, Bible Society – especially in the form of one of the Patrons, Canon Dr Ann Holt – has always been very supportive of the rapidly expanding project in a number of practical and financial ways. They are delighted that is moving to be an integral part of their work and have emphasised how highly they value and how much they intend to cherish in the days ahead.
The on-going prayer, support, financial commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers and churches will be even more vital in order to resource the expansion of within Bible Society. There are thousands of primary school children still to be reached. Over the next few months, further information about the new partnership will be made available on the website www.openthebook.net and will be communicated by email. Please contact us if we do not have your email address. Peter LeRoy (Chairman) on behalf of the Trustees of Submitted by Philip Arnold
Church Family Christmas Cards Some years ago many of us decided it would be better to give a donation to the Church Christmas Charity, instead of buying and exchanging charity Christmas cards with church friends who we see on a regular basis to exchange seasonal greetings. We have continued to do this, but we realise that newer people are not aware of this arrangement. Naturally there will be people who prefer to continue exchanging cards, but if you would like to take the option to change, there will be a system in place to write a greeting and display it in the porch, and someone will collect your donation in the weeks of Advent. Carolyn will be working on this with the children and exact details of how it will work will be explained later. Lorraine Gasside
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent
Highbury News
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November 2013
Council for World Mission (CWM) European Region Youth Programme CWM believes in equipping and enabling young people to participate in God’s mission. Within CWM Europe we believe that the Youth Programme is part of the equipping and enabling missional leaders in the broadest sense of the term ‘leadership’, and one element of that is … Mission House in Amsterdam - this is a 10 month volunteering project based in Amsterdam. A volunteer writes .... A week in the life of the Mission House A Mission House year, for me, consisted of 5 amazing projects, 5 house mates, a house leader and project leader, a caring foster Church and a wise mentor. My week started guiding in my foster Church. I help keep the church open for visitors and this brings a small amount of revenue for the church to further its mission. Tuesday is spent working in a homeless shelter taking on a number of different and challenging roles. After work I get the afternoon to think about "Blikveld" the youth brand of the Amsterdam Protestant Church. In the evening we have a zin moment which gives one person a week the chance to explore a subject of their choosing. No two evenings are the same and in my year we explored water, love and a mock terrorism exercise! Wednesday brings me to the after-school club. First we eat lunch together, play a few games then explore the Bible in a child friendly way. Wednesday reminds me of the importance of staying young at heart. Thursday I return to the same homeless shelter but for the afternoon which offers different tasks and challenges - never a dull moment! Friday brings me to a different homeless shelter which is run by Christian volunteers. It is a large, busy and caring environment. I was truly blessed to be able to work there. Finally Saturday comes around and it's time to spend the day with teenagers with learning difficulties. I walk, shop, cook and laugh with these wonderful people helping them to learn social skills that will enable them to live a more fulfilled life in their respective communities. Sunday brings Church and family time, a great relaxing and recharging day which prepares me for the week ahead. In between all these hours I find time to play badminton, socialise with youth in the church and hang out with the other Mission House volunteers. It may feel busy but honestly the weeks fly past and I always loved having my diary busy, as long as I left enough quiet time for me.
Highbury News
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November 2013
Geocache At a parade service earlier in the year we set up a Geocache. Geocaching is a game played by lots of people. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates and then attempt to find the Geocache (container) hidden at that location. Our Geocache is tucked away, not really hidden, on the edge of the church land so it is accessible from public land. Why should we set up a Geocache? Well it is good to be part of this new game which can be fun, but also because it will bring people to the Church who might not otherwise know we are here. Those of us who come regularly to Highbury know where it is and what we do here (at least we hope you know about all the things that happen here) but even people in neighbouring streets do not know we are here or what we do. Since our Geocache went live on the website less than a week ago, as I write we have had 8 visits in 4 days. This is what some of the visitors have said: “Popped along here after doing food shop this morning. Plenty of parking close by and no one about on a fairly miserable drizzly Saturday.“ “Early morning find in the fine drizzle - now off to play football in the downpour to come! AND YES - I did say a little prayer for Bishops Cleeve Colts girls during the find.” “Nice quick find when dropping off car at the garage. No idea that this was just off the way to work! Thanks.“ I don’t know who these people are, but at least next time they see something about Highbury they will go, “Oh I know where that is!” I think I will be trying to find some new and interesting places through Geocaching now. Felicity Cleaves
Highbury News
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November 2013
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Highbury News
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November 2013
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Highbury News
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November 2013
Highbury Congregational Church A place to share Christian friendship, explore Christian faith and enter into Christian mission with Christ at the centre, and open to all Sundays at 10.30am A time for all the Church family to share in worship groups for children and young people
Sundays at 6.30pm quiet, reflective evening prayers with a focus on Biblical teaching
Toddler Group / Transformers for school years 3-6 / Hy-Tec for 11s & over Choir/ Music, House and Prayer Groups / Alpha: exploring faith / Hy-Way / Friendship Group / Scouting / Guiding / etc. For a chat, or to find out more, ring Richard Cleaves on 01242 522050 Bright Shadows Rooms among rooftops have more than views They have echoes and shadows and memories. Out there, chimneys and aerials man the skies, in here a voice says ‘remember another upper Room, another gathering,’ that one remembered and thought on. In this one the sun has captured a corner, Across the way, in another room, children dancing. Here no bread and wine, no betrayal and sorrow, yet the room is here because of that. Brownies gather, learn, sing, pray, play With the joy of today and the hope of tomorrow. Judi Marsh in ‘Hope for Cecilia’ Highbury’s hall is home to our youngsters on Sunday mornings, Hy-Tec on Sunday evenings; and on weekdays it is home to Toddlers, Transformers, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Guides, many a children’s party ... and plans are being explored for the return of Brownies too!
Highbury News
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November 2013