FROM AN ELDER

This is the second From an Elder since Richard left us. Since Margaret's first in the last magazine we've had Easter celebrations with the Good Friday Forecourt service led by Christians Together in Lymington.

As usual the service was well attended but not a capacity crowd. The service was also available on line, live and on catch-up on U Tube, thanks to Steve Turberville.

Nationally we've had the King’s Coronation in early May. The service shows continuity in these ever changing times with many traditional parts mixed with some modern elements. It was a chance for our King, leader of the Church of England, to publicly demonstrate his allegiance to our eternal King. I was very pleased to see such prominent parts played by members of other faiths and for representatives of other faiths to greet the newly crowned King as he left the Abbey.

Things within Lymington URC are changing following the departure of Richard and Virginia. One of the questions being asked is when are we starting the process of calling another minister.

At the last elders meeting we had a visit from Mary Thomas and Peter Clark from the Synod Pastoral Care committee.

Discussions were had with an outcome that due to changes at both Synod and nationally we are not able to declare a vacancy at this time to start the process. This is due to an unequal distribution of ministers within the provinces with Wessex province having a higher percentage of ministers than many other provinces.

One positive is that we may be able to share a local minister on a 25% basis. Discussions and negotiation will be ongoing.

As this is being written preparations are underway for a forecourt service on Pentecost to be led by Paul O'Connor. Pentecost is a time seen by many as the Birthday of the Christian Church which we will celebrate.

May our lord be with us as we go forward into the territory of not having our own minister which we have been in before.

David Bywater

SECRETARY’S BITS AND PIECES FOR JUNE/JULY 2023

Here we are in June and half way through the year already. Do make the time to go and have a cup of coffee and slice of cake in our Garden Café and sit in our Church garden. It’s a beautiful haven of peace and quiet away from the busyness of the High Street. Thanks again to our hard working gardening team for creating such a beautiful oasis for us, and to all the café volunteers.

Easter was a very special time for us. In particular the Good Friday service on the forecourt, when so many people came along to join in worship. We must thank all those who led us in worship for these services.

Our service for Pentecost, a very special day in the Christian calendar, on Sunday May 28th, will also be out on the forecourt, weather permitting. This will be led by Rev Paul O’Connor and our very own URC music group will be playing for the hymn singing.

Our next Church meeting will take place on Tuesday evening, 18th July at 7.00pm and will be our Annual Church Meeting. Please do try to come along to this. David Bywater has kindly agreed once again to co-ordinate and circulate our reports. If you produced one last year, he’ll be contacting you shortly to send him one for this year. We will also be holding our elders’ election, details about this below.

Our fund raising team has got lots of exciting events planned for the coming months, so keep your ears and eyes open - you won’t want to miss any of them.

A reminder that our summer car boot sales will start on Saturday May 27th, so unfortunately, there will be no parking on the Church forecourt on Saturdays until further notice.

Our Saturday coffee mornings are up and running successfully again, thanks to the small band of volunteers. If you feel able to help at all with these or the daily Garden Café, please contact me – we are always grateful for additional help, especially during the summer months when some of our ‘regulars’ take holiday and it is difficult to find enough cover.

It is with sadness we record the deaths of Ann Longney, Merry Fay and Margaret Parker. All three have been part of our Church family for many years and will be sadly missed.

Enjoy the coming summer months in whatever you’re doing, although I think it’s a bit much to expect a repeat of the wonderful summer we experienced last year!

Elders Election

We will be holding an elders’ election at our ACM at our July Church meeting on Tuesday 18th July. We will elect elders to serve for the next three years. You are invited to nominate a Church member who you think would be suited to this ministry within the Church.

The full list of elders currently serving is:

Judith Baker

Chris Brown

David Bywater

Margaret Clark

Jenny Henderson

Richard Mallory

Barbara Waite

John Wiseman

Judith completes a three year term of office and Jenny a one year term and both are standing down. We thank them for all they have contributed to the elders’ team and wish them well.

Margaret and David have also completed a three year term and are willing, if nominated and elected, to serve a further term. We need FIVE new elders to return to our ideal number of nine elders. Please ask your nominee, obtain his/her consent and find two people to second your proposal. Only ONE form is required for each nominee. Nomination forms are available on the top of the cupboard in the ODC. Finally, please complete the form and give or send it to me by Sunday, 2nd July. Thanks.

Margaret

Lymington Urc Diary

COFFEE MORNINGS:

The Garden Café, hopefully every morning from 10 a.m.

WORSHIP:

Note: There will be no elders’ prayer time in the vestry at 10.15 on a Sunday. The Prayer Group meets on Wednesday at 10.00 at Church.

Closing Date For

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

DOOR': 17th JULY 2023

'OPEN

Free Wi Fi connection to the internet available in the Open Door Cafe, balcony, main hall and cottage meeting room areas. Just ask for the required passwords!

Recycling Of Ink Cartridges

We used to be able to drop ink cartridges for recycling into several shops in Lymington. Recently one of the charity shops told me they didn’t know of any local place now doing this.

Being an Open Sight Hampshire member since my sight difficulties, I approached them as they encourage recycling.

They have located a company that will recycle ink cartridges and Open Sight will receive a charity donation of up to £2 for each cartridge, depending on make. This is how you can do it:

1. You can drop off your cartridges to the Open Sight

Lymington Hub which meets on the fourth Wednesday in the month, from 10.00 am to 12 noon, at Lymington Library in North Close.

2. If you use this link: http://www.recycle4charity.co.uk/Register/C145358 you will be directed to a page where you can print a prepaid postage label and send off your ink cartridges.

Your effort will help raise funds for Open Sight which is a registered chariy that helps blind or partially sighted people like me.

Tony Clark

New Address

Reminder, from Ann Simmons comes notice that her address is now: Flat 3, Parish Court, Emsworth Road, Lymington SO41 9BS

Her telephone number remains 01590 670522