URC Magazine February 2024 by SBeaman

FEBRUARY 2024

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER February 2024 Dear friends in Christ, So, Christmas is over again for another year (at least, for 11 months!) and everything seems back to normal now. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who did so much to ensure the services taking place over Advent and Christmas season went so very well. It isn’t right to mention some names because this means not to mention others, but a big ‘thank you’ to our musicians and vocalists, readers of Bible verses and poems, leaders of prayer; those who organised the participants and took part in all the various services and other activities, not to forget those who decorated the church and put up all the candles, both at Braishfield and at Abbey URC’s. Particular highlights for me (and for so many other people) were, to begin Advent, our Advent Carol Service. Then the candlelight services, as different as these are in each of our two churches! We tried something new at Braishfield URC, holding this service at 3pm on the Sunday afternoon, and at Abbey URC, on the Saturday evening before Christmas - and both services went very well! A number of people have approached me in the local streets of Romsey to say how ‘wonderful’, how ‘magical’ the one at Abbey URC was. It was great to share in warm fruit punch before our midnight Communion, and it was also very heartening to see so many at the Christmas morning service at Braishfield and later at Abbey URC, where we welcomed several visitors. One last ‘thank you’ to everyone who produced so many crocheted and knitted angels for Christmas time! There were all placed on the church railings of Abbey URC for passers-by to take home with them and use as part of their Christmas decorations, sharing with them the good news of Jesus’ birth. Let us, through our life and witness – as individuals and as churches – continually strive to share the Light of Christ throughout the coming year, especially to those who find themselves experiencing dark times in their lives. In Christian love, Mike

“Without rain, nothing grows, learn to embrace the storms of your life.”

PRAYER FOR FEBRUARY ”God has sent the rain to soften the ground.” These words were whispered by a mother, eyes filled with tears, struggling to stand by a muddy graveside. We were gathered, a small number of us, to lay to rest and say the final farewells to a little one, taken away from the family so prematurely. I have never forgotten that rainy and cold January morning many years ago. I, as a chaplain, as a ’spiritual caregiver’, saw the huge loss and the grief; the rainy weather adding to the sadness of the occasion. The mother of the baby in her grief saw further. She saw God and the bigger picture, even the cold rain was a sign of God’s presence and blessing. During the cold winter months, we sometimes need to make more effort to motivate ourselves to keep on going. So much is happening around us, and in the world, which is difficult to accept and understand. In Luke’s Gospel , chapter 2 verse 19, we learn how Mary ’treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart’ after giving birth to her baby. I am sure she did not understand all that was happening. However, she trusted God, whose ways are always bigger than ours or our limited understanding. When we see the first spring flowers and snowdrops pushing their heads from the ground, we know that days are getting longer and spring is coming. In the book of Isaiah, 43.19 we read, ’See, I am making a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it! I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’ Let us pray that God, who sends the rain to soften the ground, would also soften our hearts and open our spiritual eyes to see the world like He sees it, so that we can continue this new year with renewed hope and strength. Leena

ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH OFFER MARRIAGE SERVICES TO SAME-SEX COUPLES In July 2016, the United Reformed Church General Assembly (the denomination’s central decision-making body) passed a resolution allowing individual congregations of local United Reformed churches to decide for themselves if they wished to register their buildings for the marriage of same-sex couples. After discussion and review, especially over the first few months of last year, the members of Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey, at their Church Meeting on 26 March 2023, voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of registering their church building for same-sex marriages. The minister, Revd Mike Perrott, said: “we believe that all couples in committed relationships who wish to solemnise their marriage vows before God, in our church, should have the right to do so.” The church elders are pleased to announce that they applied for registration to offer the marriage ceremony to same sex-couples in Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey and that this was granted on 11 January 2024. It will not take long for the church to register its Authorised Persons to officiate at same-sex marriages, after which we can proceed! Ceremonies for the blessing of civil partnerships, renewal of vows or thanksgiving services for special wedding anniversaries can also be held within the church for all couples. Should you wish to discuss the options for holding your marriage at Abbey United Reformed Church, please contact Revd Mike at revd.mike13@gmail.com . For further details of our fellowship and all our events and activities please visit www.abbeyurc.org.uk

MAGAZINE DEADLINE Material for March 2024 to be submitted by 2pm (latest) on Sunday, 25 February 2024 Please email to abbeyurcnews@gmail.com Alternatively, you could call Carole C, pop it in her letter box, or leave in the pigeon-hole at the back of the church. Thank you.

BALM Despite all the confusion about the correct date for our Christmas party, all went well. We had a lovely time eating too much, pulling crackers and enjoying each other’s company. We shared fond memories of past members who are no longer with us. Founder members Marion Sibley and Pam Cordall were missed at this get-together. It was lovely to catch up with everyone at our January meeting, see you in February! Christine T

REMINDER: NEXT OF KIN CONTACT FORMS A small wall safe is now installed for the next of kin contact forms to be used by the Duty Elder in the event of an incident at church. If you wish the contact details for your next of kin to be stored in the safe, blank forms are available at the back of church. Completed forms should be handed to an Elder who will then arrange for them to be stored securely.

FLOWER ROTA Each week our church has a reminder of God’s creation by the flower display in the font or on the Communion Table. We are grateful for the talented members who arrange these displays, especially for special occasions such as Christmas and Harvest. However, most weeks the display only needs to be a simple bunch of flowers tastefully arranged in a vase. Our small band of flower arrangers would appreciate additional volunteers to provide these flowers in church throughout the year. Do you have a special occasion you would like celebrate with the congregation in this way? If so, why not choose a week that is blank on the flower rota, located near the door leading to the kitchen, and arrange a simple vase arrangement for that date. (July to December is underneath January – June). Just put your name against your preferred date and provide the flowers for that Sunday. The church is open on Saturday mornings for you to assemble your arrangement in church. Thank you.

A WARM SPACE FOR ALL New year - new day and time! As the temperature drops, why not pop into the Lounge in Abbey Hall on Thursday mornings from 10am11.30am – it's open to all. We’re providing our fellowship and our Romsey community with a warm welcome and a warm space to be.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS We at Amber were so grateful to those at Abbey URC who so kindly and generously put together Christmas bags for women who work on the streets. We were able to give these out throughout December directly to women. The impact was that they immediately felt valued and cared for, as well as enjoying the goodies provided! We would love to thank you all for your support and kindness. Amber’s staff and volunteers give support to women involved in selling sex on the streets, to women working in massage parlours and those performing in strip-clubs in Southampton. We walk alongside women, meeting them where they are at and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing. For further information, please visit www.amberchaplains.org.uk and check out our social media platforms @amberchaplains. Debbie Andrew, Chaplaincy Assistant, Amber Image: Bag being given out on the street by one of our volunteer chaplains. *model used.

THINKING AHEAD Did you receive toiletries, gloves, hair accessories, etc at Christmas which are not suitable for you, or are gifted items during the year which are not your style/choice, why not put them aside ready to donate to Amber in December this year? The best way to re-use and recycle!

THURSDAY COMMUNION Our monthly Thursday Communion takes place at 10.30am on the fourth Thursday of the month. We join together for a 25-minute informal service during which we share communion, followed by chat over refreshments. Join us on 22 February. All are welcome!

OASIS APPEAL Look along Church Street in Romsey, past the approach to the Abbey, and there is a Tudor brick building, erected c1601 opposite the Council Offices. This is the home of the Oasis Christian Trust – proudly declaring itself as “Oasis – more than a bookshop”. Oasis is a unique resource for the local community. The Trust relies on volunteers to staff the shop and also to act as Trustees. We urgently need more volunteers and Trustees for our work to continue smoothly into the future - please contact Oasis if you wish to explore volunteering by visiting the shop or emailing Shop@oasisromsey.co.uk . If you wish to explore being a Trustee please contact John Pennells at j1pennells@hotmail.com Thank you.

WORK MORNINGS AT CHURCH DIY and other odd jobs around the church. Everyone is welcome to join. Saturday, 3 February 2024 from 9am–12 noon Contact Geoff Prestage for full work detail information

THANK YOU Just a thank you for the lovely roses Gwen delivered to us; they cheered us up as John was having a few health problems. They lasted a good 3 weeks, so thanks again. Ruby and John H Thank you for all the cards and messages I received following my knee replacement operation. It was very kind of you; I am pleased to say that after a slow start I am now making progress. Many thanks to Jill for delivering the lovely tête-à-tête plant, it is now in full flower and looking beautiful. Ruby A huge thank you for the generous gift to the Romsey Blind Club. The Club continues to help and support people with visual impairment but sadly can only meet once a month due to the lack of volunteers/drivers. Hopefully with a new appeal via the Romsey Advertiser and Echo we may be able to meet more often. Many thanks again. Romsey Blind Club Thank you to everyone who sent Christmas cards to the church fellowship. Some were on the ‘Olive Tree’ board, others on display tables. The greeting on one card ran as follows:“This is a heartfelt thank you from all of us in the Romsey Group of Amnesty International. We are so grateful to you for allowing us the use of your facilities. The work we do at our monthly meetings is increasingly important in these troubled times, so we are most appreciative of your kindness in enabling it to happen.” Fay Fleming (Chair) Please have a look through the box of cards on display at the back of church. £203 was raised for Olive Trees in Palestine – thank you. Jennifer P

Thank you to all who gave bags of coins to me for church funds. These amounted to just over £21. If you want to continue putting your small change to one side, we will be happy to accept it. An additional bonus is that we can claim Gift Aid on it, increasing its value even more. Carole We have received the cheque for £200 to the Mayor of Test Valley’s Charity Appeal – that’s most generous. I would like to thank everyone at Abbey URC for thinking of us for this donation. Cllr Philip Lashbrook, Mayor of Test Valley Thank you so much to everyone who supported the Christmas hamper raffle. We are pleased to announce the hamper was won by Jeannine and Roy. A total of £81 was raised for church funds. Sarah B

ASH WEDNESDAY It seems that as soon as our Advent and Christmas season is over, we need to look towards the beginning of Lent! There have been low numbers attending the Ash Wednesday service in recent years, therefore there will be no service at Abbey URC this year. Please do look out for other local churches holding this service to attend.

WANT TO STAY UP TO DATE? If you want to know the up-to-date information on what is happening at our church, upcoming events, time changes or thought for the week pop along to our website, Facebook or X (previously Twitter). Our website is regularly updated with news and information, so pop along to https://abbeyurc.org.uk/

LENT BIBLE STUDY We will be holding a weekly Sunday evening Zoom Bible Study at 6.30pm throughout Lent on the following dates: 18, 25 February and 3, 10, 17, 24 March, focusing upon the Gospel verses heard at our morning service at Abbey URC. All welcome!

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This year the World Day of Prayer Service will be held in the Methodist Church at 2pm on 1 March 2024. As usual, all the local churches will be represented in the presentation of the service which for 2024 has been prepared by an ecumenical group of Christian women from Palestine, compiled before the recent hostilities broke out. Their theme is “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on Ephesians 4:1-7. This program calls us to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression. The service shares stories of three Palestinian Christian women, who witness to the power of bearing together in love. Their stories illuminate the experiences of Palestinian women from three different generations. The symbol of an olive tree is used throughout the worship service. This represents the three generations through the trunk, branches, and leaves of the olive tree. The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray for peace, justice and freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Their prayers specifically call us to pray with women, refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and all who are sick, dying and grieving. They also call us to confess to our collective role in causing the climate crisis, and to commit to repairing what we have destroyed. Finally, they call us, the global church, to be united in treating all with justice and love.

TIME FOR PRAYER If you would like to take the opportunity to reflect upon God’s word and to pray for the needs of the world and the Church in your own time during the week, here are the Psalm and Gospel readings for February: February 4 Psalm 147:1-11; 20 11 Psalm 50:1-6 18 Psalm 25:1-10 25 Psalm 22:23-31

Mark 1:29-39 Mark 9:2-9 Mark 1:9-15 Mark 8:31-38

A HOST OF ANGELS TOOK OUR LOVE AND BLESSINGS OUT AT CHRISTMAS Our congregation and friends were busy during 2023 making angels, ready for the Advent season. On Sunday, 3 December Revd Mike blessed a whole host of angels at Abbey URC at our Advent carol service. They were put out on the railings, ready to find a new home. Passers-by were invited to pick their special angel and take them home for Christmas, with our love and prayers. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the angels, and helped to get them ready to send on their way. We really appreciate your help in making them. Sarah

CALENDAR January 27 28 31

10.30am12noon 10.30am 7.30pm

Join Kirsty for a social morning with refreshments and chat in Abbey Hall Lounge. Morning worship led by Revd Mike Churches Together in Romsey AGM at Abbey URC

February 1

10am-11.30am

9am-12noon

10am-12.30pm

10.30am

4 6 7

6.30pm 7.30pm 2.30pm

8 10

10am-11.30am 10am-12.30pm

10.30am

14 14

12.30pm

15 17

10am-11.30am 10am-12.30pm

10.30am

11.30pm

2.30pm

10.30am

23 24 24 24 25

12noon-1.30pm 10am-12.30pm 2pm-4pm 2.30pm 10.30am

Coffee time in Abbey Hall Lounge Working party around church for DIY and other odd jobs. Everyone welcome. Church open for personal meditation and prayer Morning worship including Holy Communion, led by Revd Mike Bible Study on Zoom 864 1780 6994 PW learning Youth Forum by Zoom 851 4528 3637 PW business Church table tennis in Abbey Hall Coffee time in Abbey Hall Lounge Church open for personal meditation and prayer Community Awareness Service led by Revd Mike with guest speaker Sarah Rowcliffe from Jane Scarth House Ash Wednesday Love at Lunchtime – romantic music for Valentine’s Day - with Kirsty Purves on vocals and piano. Free entry, donations welcomed towards church funds. Coffee time in Abbey Hall Lounge Church open for personal meditation and prayer Morning Worship - first Sunday in Lent led by Derek Hiscocks Church Meeting Church table tennis in Abbey Hall Mid-week Communion in Abbey Hall Lounge led by Revd Mike Lenten Lunch at Abbey URC Romsey Church open for personal meditation and prayer Special Elders Meeting in Abbey Hall Lounge Sunnenday Concert Morning worship led by Revd Mike

27 28 29

7.30pm 2.30pm 10am-11.30am

Elders Meeting in Abbey Hall Lounge Pastoral Meeting in Abbey Hall Lounge Coffee time in Abbey Hall Lounge

March 1

12noon-1.30pm

2pm

10am-12.30pm

7pm

10.30am

6.30pm

Lenten Lunch at Romsey Baptist Church World Day of Prayer Service at Romsey Methodist Church Church open for personal meditation and prayer The Orlando Singers present Tallis - Lamentations of Jeremiah, Tallis - Videte Miraclum and other sacred music. A chamber choir of approximately 25 singers performing a wide variety of sacred and secular choral works. Morning worship including Holy Communion, led by Revd Sarah Hall Bible Study on Zoom 864 1780 6994 PW learning

Braishfield United Reformed Church Minister:

Secretary: Treasurer: Serving Elders: February 4 9.30 am 11 10.00 am 18 10.00 am 25 10.00 am March 3 9.30 am 10 10.00 am 17 10.00 am

24 31

10.00 am 10.00 am

The Reverend Mike Perrott, MA e-mail: revd.mike13@gmail.com Day off: Mondays Shirley Smith Sharon Whitfield Shirley Smith Allison Symes

01794 512163

01794 368447 01794 521937 01794 368447 02380 262803

Holy Communion led by the Minister Family Worship led by Chris Noyce Family Worship led by the Minister Family Worship led by David Stone

Holy Communion led by Reverend Sarah Hall Family Worship led by Margaret Axford Family Worship led by the Minister. This will be a short service as it will be followed by the Annual General Meeting. All welcome to stay on for this. Family Worship led by David Childs Easter Day - Family Worship led by the Minister

Please note that the third Sunday of the month is the time to bring in tinned goods etc for the food bank collection.

News from Braishfield We are all delighted to hear that Alan Smith has received the ‘all clear’ having been receiving therapy for his brain tumour. We celebrate this great news with Shirley and Alan and family! Revd Mike It may be a tad late but on behalf of us all at Braishfield, may I wish you all a happy new year - even though it has already been with us for over a month by the time you receive this! The church looked lovely at Christmas time and we would like to say a huge thank you for all who contributed to this as there is always plenty going on behind the scenes here.

Thanks to Adrian for getting the Christmas tree (as it is no mean feat getting that in the back of my Honda Jazz!) and to Sharon and Warren for decorating the tree so beautifully. It looked superb. Thank you also to Maggie for the wonderful flower arrangements and for obtaining the wreaths and arranging the Nativity scene. The latter was made many years ago by Una Hardy and Rita Symes (Adrian’s Mum) and came to Braishfield URC when Eastleigh URC closed. Many thanks to Sharon for getting, arranging, lighting and extinguishing (at the right time!) the candles for the Carols by Candlelight service we held on the afternoon of 17 December. I am glad to say the church was full for this. The idea of turning this into an afternoon event worked very well and is certainly worth considering doing again. Thanks also go to Joan, Adrian and myself for organising the refreshments after this. We were in much need of tea, coffee, mince pies, and chocolate biscuits after such wonderful singing. We’d earned them too! It is traditional for us to give our Christmas Day service collection to Crisis, the homeless charity. This year’s collection for them came to £65.67 – an excellent effort. Many thanks, all. Turning to the new year, it was a pleasure to present the cheque for £921.78 for Mercy Ships to their representative, Ruth Croome, who joined us at our service on 21 January. It was good to hear something more about their work thanks to Ruth sharing a presentation via PowerPoint called The Work of Mercy Ships. Money raised for Mercy Ships included the following events:Carried forward from previous years: £516.99 The 2023 Flower festival: £69.15 HB donation £10 The 2023 Jars of Coins collection: £191.64 The 2023 Christmas Hamper Raffle: £75.00 The 2023 Carols by Candlelight collection: £39 Donation in January 2024: £20.00

On a sadder note, the church sends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Sharon, who lost her 21-years-old niece, Georgia, on 4 December. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Looking further ahead, can I ask you to note in your diaries that we will be having our Annual General Meeting after the Sunday service on 17 March. This is the first time to my knowledge we have held an AGM after the service (though we appreciate you good folk at Romsey are old hands at this one!). Again, we are trying this idea out to see if it makes it easier for Braishfield people to come to the AGM. We hope that will prove to be the case. Allison Symes

CHRISTIAN AID CHANGEMAKERS CONFERENCE Christian Aid invite you to join their annual supporter conference on Saturday, 2 March 2024 from 10.30am-1pm. This will give an update on their work, and share news about this year’s Christian Aid Week. Highlights will include: • Keynote address from Philip Galgallo, Country Manager for Christian Aid Burundi, and from Rev Felibien Ndintore, Director of our main Burundi partner, SADC. • Patrick Watt, Christian Aid’s CEO, gives our strategic priorities, opportunities, and challenges. • Introducing Christian Aid Week 2024 – get behind the story, watch the premiere of the video, hear about fundraising ideas and resources. • Celebrating the impact of the funds raised in Christian Aid Week 2023 • Updates on humanitarian emergencies and campaigns. •

There are 3 ways to join: • Join in person at the iconic St James’s church Piccadilly, meet overseas staff, get a personal insight into our work directly from key speakers, and enjoy a free networking lunch • Join an in-person Regional Watch Party, to see a live-stream of the London presentations in great company while enjoying a free networking lunch • If you can't make it in person, watch the streaming of the London event online from the comfort of their own home. •

Registration/further details are available from www.christianaid.org.uk

We are pleased to be able to promote the great work offered by the staff and volunteers at Jane Scarth House at our Community Awareness Service on Sunday 11 February 2024. Sarah Rowcliffe, from Jane Scarth House, will join us for the service to speak about its work and answer questions. Jane Scarth House provides a range of expert professional, confidential services and therapies to help people affected by cancer: from diagnosis through treatment, and beyond. Romsey Cancer Support Centre was established as an independent charity, specifically to support Jane Scarth House. They offer a walk-in centre located just off The Hundred, Romsey, believing that it is important these services are available locally, at a difficult time for sufferers and their families. All services are provided free of charge, for which no government funding is received. Local fundraising support is therefore essential to enable the charity to continue offering its services to people in Romsey and the surrounding area. Donations towards the work of Jane Scarth House can be made at the service or via their website, www.janescarthhouse.co.uk.

Annual General Meeting 7.30 pm Wednesday 31 January 2024 Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey Guest Speaker Nicky Porter, Amber Lead Chaplain, speaking about Amber, a project of City Life Church, Southampton offering a chaplaincy service for women in Southampton. This is an open meeting to which all are welcome. Nicky’s talk will be followed by the Annual General Meeting for Churches Together in Romsey.

IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING SKILLS Running a shopping centre for many years I increasingly realised so much was resolved by good listening. When we moved to the northwest, I set up a large retail chaplaincy which involved, amongst other things, a lot of volunteer training. Working with volunteers from many different denominations and faiths we learnt together that, if we give people space, we all grow in understanding, we give space for healing and people may find, for the first time, that they are heard. Currently I work as a trainer for a cancer support charity running in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, where all visitors are welcomed with a listening ear. Listening is a life skill that works wherever you find yourself and most of us are not good at it, especially in a culture that values noise over silence. Come and improve your listening skills, and enjoy a listening space, which allows for silence but also laughter and understanding. There are 2 opportunities • Saturday, 27 April at Collinwood Road URC, Oxford from 10.30am– 3.30pm. Book your place via RSVP on the Synod website https://www.urcwessex.org.uk/event/listening-day-n/ • Saturday, 18 May at Avenue St Andrew’s URC, Southampton from 10.30am–3.30pm. Book your place via RSVP on the Synod website https://www.urcwessex.org.uk/event/listening-day-s/ Wendy White I, personally, have attended a course on listening skills provided by Wendy and highly recommend this course. I thought I was quite a good listener; however, I learnt a lot from Wendy which has been helpful at work, at church and in my personal life. Sarah

EXLORE ABBEY URC In 2023 the outreach group suggested a walk-around leaflet for Abbey URC. At the start of this year this leaflet was completed, and can now be found in the entrance area at Abbey URC. Why not spend some time exploring your church and perhaps see it from a slightly different perspective.

2024 MAGAZINE CHARGES Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this year’s magazine. We hope you will find it informative, interesting – and entertaining! If you have not subscribed yet, the cost is £10 if you collect your edition of the magazine from church or if you have it delivered by hand. Please let Jill Girdlestone know and she will add your name to the list. You can pay via bank transfer or by post. If you wish to receive a hard copy by post, the cost will be £19.50 to cover the printing, envelopes and postage for 10 issues. Thank you again for your support.

INDUCTION OF NEW SYNOD MODERATOR The General Assembly of the United Reformed Church invites you to the induction of the Revd Dr Michael Hopkins as Moderator of the Wessex Synod at 3pm on Saturday, 23 March 2024 at London Street United Reformed Church, Basingstoke The service will be led by the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, and the preacher is the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, the Revd Dr John Bradbury.

RECYCLING POINTS UPDATE As we all try a little harder to reuse and recycle, did you know that the following venues offer recycling facilities: • • • •

• •

Old spectacles and contact lenses: Boots Opticians in The Hundred collect these Plastic coffee pods: Romsey Methodist Church have a dustbin down their side path Used Brita water filters: Hardware House and Waitrose Mixed plastic and cardboard containers: Romsey Bus Station offers a recycling bin. In addition to Tetra packs, you can use these bins to recycle any cardboard container with a metal base, eg Pringles tubes. Part used make-up: Superdrug or Boots Used toothpaste tubes/other empty hygiene containers: Boots, the bin is in the middle of the store.

JOIN THE URC PODCAST The Reform magazine team has launched a new series of the United Reformed Church podcast. Presented by Stephen Tomkins, Editor of Reform magazine, and Ann-Marie Nye, URC Communications Officer and Digest Editor, the podcast is available on Spotify, all major podcast streaming platforms, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the first episode of the new series, we ask "Will the Church Life Review change the URC?". Listen here.

GOD THE CREATOR... A FURTHER THOUGHT ON LIFE, FROM DOWN UNDER Having now lived in Australia for more than 16 months, and yet not travelled this vast land in any way, we have come to appreciate the wonder of God’s creation from the comfort of our church, the preachings from the bible, plus the travels of others. If you read Psalm 104, you will come to realise how God set the earth on its foundations, from which it cannot be moved. He covered it with the watery depths, the high mountains, and deep valleys. The splendour of God’s creation is very evident in the undisturbed coastline of Western Australia, some 7,800 miles of it, with only a relatively small number of coastal communities. In fact, Australia has almost 23,000 miles of coastline and it will take a considerable time to get to it all! The first nation here, the Aboriginal people, traditionally believe that they have been in their country since the time of creation. Prior to that, the continent was “a land before time”. There is archaeological evidence of the first peoples on the Australian continent, at least 65,000 years ago, but with new excavations and improved dating techniques the date of earliest occupation is constantly changing. Suffice to say, a genomic study has revealed that Aboriginal Australians are the oldest known civilisation on Earth, and remain so.

One Sunday in November, during the church service, we were treated to a true reflection of God the Creator. Our minister enthused about living rocks, called stromatolites, still functioning in the saline waters of Sharks Bay in Western Australia. He talked about quietly functioning replicas of the very first organic structures ever to appear on earth. The minister transported us back to the world as it was 3.5 billion years ago – more than three-quarter of the way back to the moment of terrestrial creation. Stromatolites are rather like corals, in that their life is on the surface most of what you are looking at is the dead mass of earlier generations. If you peer, you can sometimes see tiny bubbles of oxygen rising in streams from the formations. This is the stromatolites’ only visible trick and although it may not seem much, it is what made life as we know it possible. Each puff of oxygen may sound rather miniscule, but get enough stromatolites respiring away over a long enough period and you can change the world. For two billion years this was all the life there was on earth, but in that time the stromatolites raised the oxygen level in the atmosphere to 20%, enough to allow the development of more complex life forms: you and me, for instance, for which we should all be grateful. To think that we have moved to the other side of the world, literally thinking that we are at “the back of beyond”, only to discover that a few hundred kilometres away from here, we can experience, at first hand, the wonder of God’s mighty power and majesty. Margaret and Ian

LENT LUNCHES Romsey churches will again be hosting Lenten lunches this year throughout the season of Lent, with profits being donated to Christian Aid. In exchange for a suggested donation a £5 a simple lunch will be provided at the following venues from 12 noon to 1.30 pm. Please support these if you are able. If you are available to help prepare and serve at our hosting on 23 February, please let Andy know at andybevan1@btintenernet.com 23 1 8 15 22

February March March March March

Abbey URC Romsey Romsey Baptist Church Romsey Methodist Church Romsey Abbey Romsey Baptist Church

ROMSEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Romsey Chamber Music Festival have recently held two Winter Concerts in our church. These are fundraisers for their annual event which is being held in June, when they hold up to 7 concerts in our church and other venues in the town. Laura Rickard, its artistic director, told me how much they feel at home in our church as they have been using it as a venue for many years. At the concert on Friday, 19 January they were joined by some young musicians from Hampshire. There was a sizeable audience who greatly appreciated the quality of the music - and many were expecting to return on Sunday evening for the second concert. For more information and to find photographs and biographies of this year’s artists, visit their website https://www.romseychambermusic.com/ Why not talk to one of the elders at Abbey URC, there is an opportunity to train as stewards for concerts within the church and then you could enjoy it all for free!!!! Roving reporter

A WONDERFUL CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT We had an amazing evening when we held our carols by candlelight service. Thank you to everyone who took part, including Rod, Lesley, Nick, Ben (the saxophonist), the members of the Hampshire Teacher’s Choir and Martin, who stepped in at the last minute when Kirsty was unwell. We hope everyone who joined us enjoyed the service.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UPDATE Thank you for all the appreciative comments about the Amnesty display at the back of the church from October to December. It was a valuable opportunity to present to church members the humanity and human rights we are campaigning for. The two greetings cards, which were beneath the display, were signed by dozens of people and have been sent to the vulnerable individuals to give them hope. On 11 December, the Monday closest to Human Rights Day on 10 December, we had our special evening when we sent cards and messages of support to imprisoned or oppressed individuals and groups. John H

WALK N TALK 4 MENTAL HEALTH Walk N Talk 4 Mental Health’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health issues. They want to normalise conversations around mental health because, when we openly discuss mental health, it becomes easier for individuals to seek help without fear of judgment. It’s OK not to be OK. Every Tuesday they meet at the Sports Pavilion, Cutforth Way, Romsey SO51 0DS at 11.45am, to start the walk at midday. The Romsey walk is around Abbottswood and the nature reserve. The walks are free, and everyone is welcome, including children and dogs - if it makes it easier for individuals to come along. They offer support and advice for everyone affected by mental health issues whether their own, or their loved ones. If you need help, get in touch via email at contact@walkntalk4mentalhealth.org or just come along to one of the walks.