OCTOBER 2024
A MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER
Dear friends in Christ,
October 2024
As in previous years we will be holding our annual Memorial and Thanksgiving (All Souls) service where we will remember our loved ones and friends that have died, especially over this last year. This year we will hold this service on Sunday 3 November at Abbey URC at 4pm in the afternoon. Refreshments (including cake) will be available afterwards. There will be a similar service at Braishfield URC at 10am on the morning of 17 November.
During these services, as in past years, the names of our church members and friends, family members, friends from further afield, and those from the local community that I have conducted funerals for will be read out. I will be sending a letter and card to everyone who has experienced bereavement since the All Souls service last year inviting them to share in this service. If you have lost a loved one, and are reading this as a non-member of our church communities and would like your loved one or friend to be remembered by having their name read out, you are welcome to phone or email me.
As at previous All Souls services, there will be the opportunity for anyone in church to light a candle during a time of quiet contemplation. It is not so much in our Reformed tradition to light candles (except during Advent). The use of candles, at one time, was indeed scorned; but the symbolism of a flame, offering warmth and light, is a very important one in times of darkness and grief. The flame flickers in the breeze, mirroring how emotionally vulnerable we can sometimes feel. But we remember that Jesus, the Living Word who was with God in the beginning, is the Light: “in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:45). In Jesus we have a source of abiding hope in the Light that is permanent and unquenchable.
Please phone or email me with any names of people who have died over the past year, or longer ago, that you wish to be included in either the Abbey URC or the Braishfield URC service.
I share with you now the prayer that will be prayed as the candles are lit during our All Souls service, hoping it brings consolation and greater trust in our God of Life and Light, in Christ Jesus.
Living God, we light this candle to remember those we see no more. Your promise to us, through your Son Jesus is that, by your grace, they are with you. Hold them and us in your amazing love, lighting our lives with your comfort and peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen
In Christian love, Mike
MAGAZINE DEADLINE
Material for November 2024 to be submitted by 5pm (latest) on THURSDAY, 24 October 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.
MINISTER’S LEAVE
Please note that Revd Mike will be on a residential course from 14-17 October and on Study Leave from 21-27 October. During his absence please contact:
Braishfield Shirley Smith tel. 01794 368447 Romsey Andy Bevan tel. 07483 319618 email andybevan1@btinternet.com
MORNING 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 October:
6 Psalm 26
13 Psalm 22:1-15
20 Psalm 104:1-9; 24 and 35
27 Psalm 34:1-8; 19-22
Mark 10:2-16
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 10:35-45
Mark 10:46-52
As I explained during the service on 8 September, the month of September through to the 4 October has been designated “The season of Creation”.
This “season” originated from 1989 when the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios 1 proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation in the Orthodox Church, this being the start of their new year when traditionally they commemorated God’s creation of the world. Since then, the World Council of Churches has been instrumental in extending the special day to a month-long season, extending throughout September until 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.
Throughout this season each year, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians are encouraged to come together to care for our common home.
As the Season of Creation ends, we immediately follow this with our harvest weekend when we celebrate the wonders of God’s creation and give thanks for his goodness. It therefore seemed appropriate to offer again the Season of Creation prayer to you all.
Creator God, source of all life
You spoke, and the universe burst into being Abundant, full of wonder and life,
Everything expressing praise to You, God of wonders!
We add our voices to the praises of the created world. We pray that in our journey alongside you, we may serve you by our prayers for our world and the challenges we face in the warming climate.
Inspire us by your Holy Spirit to act faithfully to safeguard Creation in every way we are able, not thinking of ourselves, but loving our neighbours in all places so that in our Synod, as in our local churches, and the whole company of your Church, your Righteousness, Justice and Peace may flow in love to all.
Amen
BIBLE STUDY AND DISCUSSION GROUP
Our next Bible study and discussion group will take place on 6 October at 6.30pm on Zoom; ID 864 1780 6994 PC learning. We will look more deeply at the Gospel verses we hear at our morning service at Abbey URC. All welcome!
THURSDAY COMMUNION
Our monthly Thursday Communion continues to take place on the fourth Thursday of the month, at 10.30am. We join together for a 25-minute informal service followed by refreshments and an opportunity to chat, this time led by Revd Alan Green. All are welcome to join us on 24 October.
SUNDAY, 3 NOVEMBER
We will be holding our annual All Souls service at 4pm on Sunday, 3 November to which all are invited. The service offers an opportunity to remember and give thanks to God for all those who have now joined Him in His kingdom. Names of loved ones now in His care will be shared at the service and there will also be an opportunity to light a candle in their memory.
If you are unable to attend but would like someone special to be included in the people remembered during the service, please give their name to Revd Mike whose contact details can be found on the front inside cover.
Light refreshments will be served after the service to give time to share fond memories of loved ones.
Andy B
ABBEY URC CHURCH SALE
Abbey URC will be holding their next church sale on Saturday, 9 November in the Abbey Hall from 10am-12noon. I would be grateful for items to fill the Church Sale stalls, we are looking for:
Gifts or good bric-a-brac
Tombola
Books
Raffle
Christmas table
Cakes
We will be serving refreshments.
We would be grateful to receive any unwanted gifts or items which can be used as prizes for the raffle or tombola. Items are also needed for the Christmas table and home-made cakes would be gratefully received.
If anyone needs items to be collected, or you are willing to help in any way, please let me know. Thank you.
Gwen S
HARVEST AT ABBEY URC
Harvest Supper: 6pm Saturday, 5 October
Harvest Communion Service: 10.30am Sunday, 6 October
If you are reading this before 5 October and wish to join us for an evening of food and fun, it is not too late to book your place for our Harvest Supper. The supper will consist of a ploughman’s meal with the choice of ham or cheese, followed by dessert.
For the entertainment, we are hoping that you will be willing to sing for your supper and are asking for volunteers to offer to sing or lead us all in singing a song, read a poem or offer any act of suitable entertainment.
To book your place or offer your contribution for the entertainment just let Andy know you are coming, your special dietary requirements and any item of entertainment you are willing to offer, either by telephone or text 07483 319618 or email andybevan1@btinternet.com.
All profits from the evening, together with harvest goods donated at the Harvest Service will be donated to the Romsey Community Pantry. Danny from Romsey Community Pantry will be joining us at our Harvest service on Sunday, 6 October to tell us about its work.
CONCERT IN AID OF CHURCH FUNDS
On Friday, 11 October 2024 Marion Maxey’s choirs are holding a concert in aid of church funds at Abbey URC. Put the date in your diary, it promises to be a great evening! Please spread the word to family and friends ☺
VOTE FOR ABBEY URC AT MOVEMENT FOR GOOD
Are you able to nominate Abbey URC for an opportunity to obtain a grant of £1,000? There is one vote per person/email address, but every vote gives us one more opportunity of being the chosen charity. Head to https://movementforgood.com/#nominateACharity and choose: 1132706 - ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY. Thank you so much for your support, and please share with family and friends!
THANK YOU
Thank you to all who contributed to our grand-daughter Sarah's fundraising effort for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. There were online donations, and in addition Stella and Chris were able to send £150 from the congregation, bringing Sarah’s total raised to over £800 – which exceeded her original target of £350.
Stella and Chris
Thank you to 1391 Squadron who joined us to support Romsey RAF Association at their annual Battle of Britain service on 15 September 2024 at our church. As always, it was a pleasure to welcome you.
GREETINGS FROM SIDMOUTH URC
Stella and I have just enjoyed a short stay in Sidmouth We were able to go to the local URC, Primley United Reformed Church, and received a very warm welcome from the members. They were pleased to see us and sent their good wishes to all of us in Romsey.
Stella and Chris
HAVE YOU SOME TIME ON YOUR HANDS?
In the last few years we have enjoyed making angels to share with the community and getting them ready to send on their way, with our love and prayers. Their new families have enjoyed finding them on our railings in December and taking them home to decorate their homes at Christmas.
It would be lovely to do this again in December this year. If you have some time on your hands, would you be able to try your hand at crafting one or two angels to share?
All types of crafted angels are welcome so if you knit, craft or crochet please bring your completed angels to church and leave them at the back for Sarah B by the end of November. Thank you once again!
SKITTLES EVENING
As we approach Autumn and the shorter evenings, it is time to think about skittles! As in previous years we have booked the skittle alley at Wellow Golf Club. This event is well supported and allows for gentle exercise, food and fellowship.
This year it is taking place on 9 November at 6pm. The food choices are shown on the next page; the form will be at the back of the church from October onwards for you to order your food, or you can contact me with the details.
If you have not been before, then why not come along and enjoy the company of others for a fun evening. Regulars will tell you that the skittles is actually secondary to the food and the chat, and you don’t have to ‘skittle’ if you would rather not. If you require a lift, then please let me know.
The cost for the evening, is the cost of your meal and whatever you spend at the bar. There will be a raffle in aid of church funds. My email address is carole.cox@btinternet.com or call me on 07787 630297 for more information.
Carole
September
10am -12.30pm
CALENDAR
open for quiet reflection and prayer 29 10.30am
1.30pm
worship led by Sue Brown
Together in Romsey Harvest Hope Choir harvest hymn and song singing at Marie Louise House
2.30pm Churches Together in Romsey Harvest Hope Choir harvest hymn and song singing at Abbeyfield House SO51 8EW
10.30pm
10am-11.30am
6pm
Together in Romsey Harvest Hope Choir harvest hymn and song singing at Mottisfont Lodge SO51 8AG
morning in Abbey Hall Lounge, including Friends coffee morning, open to all
Supper
10.30am Morning worship including Harvest and Holy Communion, led by Revd Mike with guest speaker Daniella from Community Pantry
6.30pm Bible Study on Zoom ID 864 1780 6994 PW learning
19 10am -12.30pm Church open for quiet reflection and prayer
20 10.30am Morning worship led by Derek Hiscocks
20 To be confirmed Oasis 40th Anniversary Celebration service in Romsey Methodist Church
21-27
Revd Mike on study leave
22 7.30pm Elders Meeting in Abbey Hall Lounge
10.30am
Mid-week Communion in Abbey Hall Lounge led by Revd Alan Green
10am -12.30pm Church open for quiet reflection and prayer 27 Clocks go back one hour
Roles
10am-11.30am Warm welcome coffee morning in Abbey Hall Lounge – open to all
2 10am -12.30pm Church open for quiet reflection and prayer 2 1pm Marriage of Rebeka Harley and Kevin L S Tam 3 10.30am Morning worship including Holy Communion, led by Revd Sarah Hall 3 4pm All Souls Service led by Revd Mike, followed by light refreshments
Braishfield United Reformed Church
Minister
September
Please
Many thanks to all who helped decorate the church and made it look so beautiful for our Harvest Festival service in September. Also, thanks for all who helped undecorate the church again afterwards. As ever, the tinned and dried goods, etc, will go to the Romsey Food Bank. While on that topic, please bring in tinned and dried goods during the rest of the year too. We collect them on the third Sunday of each month and this ongoing support is much needed and appreciated. Thank you!
Our next church meeting will be on Sunday, 20 October after a short service. All are welcome - it is your chance to have your say.
We will be joining the village at the War Memorial on 10 November for the Remembrance Sunday service; Andy Bevan will be taking part in this service.
A list will go at the back of the church in due course for the Remembering Service to be held on 17 November. Please list the names of any loved ones you would like to be remembered in this service; it is always a lovely and touching way to remember people.
A good many of us at Braishfield were able to get to Peter Davies’ funeral at Abbey URC, Romsey. It was a wonderful tribute and testimony. Our continuing love, prayers and support go to Hazel and all the family and likewise for all of us who have known loss, whether recent or longer ago. I know people probably aren’t going to thank me for reminding you all Advent and Christmas will be with us before we know it. It will be, folks. It isn’t just me, honest. I’ve already seen the chocolate tubs out in the shops as I type this in September!
We will be holding our Carols by Candlelight service in the afternoon of Sunday, 22 December. It is always lovely to sing together and enjoy refreshments afterwards. So, you have plenty of time to get into good voice for this! We found having this in the afternoon worked so well, so naturally we’re doing this again. Everyone is welcome.
Allison Symes
Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, a much-loved hymn writer also known as TDS, died peacefully on 12 August 2024 aged 97.
In Rejoice and Sing there are five of his hymn texts. Writing her memories of him, his daughter recounts that he would make notes throughout each year. He would then sit on the beach during summer holidays in Cornwall and write up the new hymns.
We can choose from:
Tell out my Soul hymn number 740
I lift my eyes to the quiet hills hymn number 64 Spirit of God within me hymn number 304
Light of the minds that know him hymn number 529 Lord for the years your love has kept and guided hymn number 603
It is a rich legacy from which it is hard to choose a favourite.
Jennifer Prestage
OF UNITED REFORMED CHURCHES
Bitterne Outlook
Jill noted in the Message from an Elder, that it is a good time for our church as we have joined …. the Southern Fellowship of United Reformed Churches which hopefully will bring togetherness of the URCs in this area. When God is doing something new, it sometimes requires us to step into the unknown. We might be tempted to hold on to the life we know where everything is familiar. But we need to let go of the old, trust God and embrace what He is doing.
Bitterne URC will again support Link to Hope for the family and elderly shoeboxes and the Rotary Club for the children’s boxes. The final date for the Rotary boxes is 19 October.
Green Living Course
Following on from the Great Big Green Week a Green Living course is in the process of being organised. This is an 8-week course consisting of 1 introductory week asking people to identify their carbon footprints and following weekly themes will include water, food, transport, fuel etc. It finishes in the final week where you can see what a difference you have made to your carbon footprint and ultimately the environment. The Reverend Dr Sarah Hall is kindly bringing this all together.
Southampton Street Pastors
There is such joy in going into the heart of the city and suburbs and showing God's love to our communities through caring for others. Our work with the homeless has grown, particularly through our daytime patrols, and at weekends we are ever present around the night-time venues for those in difficulty and vulnerable. In the last 5 years, we have stopped predatory behaviour at night 335 times, ensuring the person’s safety. With every patrol we thank God for continually putting us in the right place at the right time, to be there for those who need us most. As a result of our continuing expansion, we are looking to recruit Street Pastors and Prayer Pastors for existing and new patrols. It is possible to come on an observation with a patrol, to take a look, and find out more.
Southampton Street Pastors is made up of almost 150 Christians from 64 churches in the city and the surrounding suburbs. Volunteers are Christians who find being a Street Pastor allows them to safely take their
faith out on the streets, and totake their church out of the building, directly reaching and caring for the lost and needy.
In October, we’ll be starting Street Pastor Autumn Training, so that we can equip more people to be sent out on the streets of Southampton to ‘Care, Listen and Help’ through Jesus.
Further details and news from Southampton Street Pastors can be found at https://streetpastors.org/locations/southampton/posts/
Autumn Training Programme 2024:
Dates:4-6 October, 18-20 October, 1-3 November.
Timings: Fridays 7:15pm-9:15pm, Saturdays and Sundays 9:30am4:30pm
Avenue St Andrews – Hope Herald
Amazing Art! Thanks to all who created, baked, helped or in any way were part of our wonderful art exhibition on August Bank Holiday Weekend - and a special thank you to Barbro (bottom pic) who coordinated our artists and OARA, our neighbours, who funded the event! And we still have our Prayer Tree - thanks to David McDiarmid who made it for us!
Dates from the Fellowship
Bitterne URC Wednesdays 10am-11.30am Community Café
Bitterne URC 2nd Wednesday (monthly) 10am-11.30am Jigsaw Drop In Bitterne URC Saturdays 10am-11.30am Community Café
Avenue St Andrews 30 November Christmas Mini-Fair
WOODSIDE SINGERS
AT ABBEY URC
We look forward to welcoming the Woodside Singers to our church on Saturday, 23 November 2024 when they will be presenting a programme called Celebrating Saint Cecilia, in honour of the patron Saint of Music and Musicians. The concert will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 and can be pre-reserved at woodsidesingers.co.uk or purchased with cash at the door on the night.
CHRISTIAN AID
Christian Aid has partnered with Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) which is one of the few agencies currently still operating in the north of the Gaza. It used to run 11 health centres in Gaza before October 7th. Now only one is still able to operate, in Gaza City. PMRS also delivers humanitarian aid including hygiene kits (comprising soap, period products, etc), first aid kits and food, when possible. With support from Christian Aid, PMRS has also provided mobile psychological care and medical support across Gaza.
Their medical teams are inundated with patients and treated up to 5,200 people a day in March. When al-Shifa hospital, Gaza City, was raided by the Israeli Defence Force, PMRS mobile teams continued to provide health services for people in need. Sometimes, when the security situation is too dangerous and the teams cannot move, they are forced to suspend their work. Christian Aid is appealing for donations to help in this work. If you would like to make a donation, please visit their web site at www.christianaid.org.uk where you can learn more about and donate to their work.
If you are asked for a church number please quote OR262969. Your donation will then be added to the Abbey URC total.
URC 2025 PRAYER HANDBOOK AND DIARY
Sample copies of the 2025 Prayer Handbook entitled 'Immersive Joy' and a 2025 URC diary are available to view at the back of church. If you would like to order a copy of either please sign the list by 31 October.
The Prayer Handbook costs £6.49 and the diary is available in either black or brown at a cost of £9.
Please remember to add an item or two to your weekly shopping list if you are able, to help support the Romsey Foodbank in their work.
They are particularly in need of pasta sauce, jam, peanut butter, marmite, sponge puddings, instant noodle, pasta pots, microwave rice, carrots, peas and UHT milk. However, they currently have plenty of pasta, porridge oats, incontinence pads, rice, baked beams and petfood. They are also not allowed to accept or offer razors.
If you are unable to leave your donation in the basket at the back of church, drop off points are also available at Romsey Abbey, Waitrose, Botley Road Co-op, Abbotswood Co-op, The Hundred Co-op, Ganger Farm, Henshaw Fox and Romsey Library.
Please note that donations in the basket at the back of church are shared between the Romsey Foodbank and Romsey Community Pantry.
If you would like to hear more about the work of Romsey Community Pantry why not come to our Harvest service on Sunday, 6 October where Danny, their manager, will be telling us about their work.
URC EVENTS TO HELP US IN OUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEYS
Thursday, 3 October at 7.30pm Grow in Faith:
Do you ever wonder how you can be comfortable sharing your faith with others? Are you worried you might be laughed at or dismissed or considered strange? Are you concerned you wouldn’t know what to say if someone did want to know more? Join others from Wessex Synod for the second FaithTalk, a light-hearted conversation exploring how we talk about our faith. To register or to find out more, email mission@urc.org.uk.
Saturday, 5 October, 1030-1600 “Organising a quiet day”:
URC Spirituality is organising an online event to help organise a quiet day. For more information and to book, go to urcspirituality.org.uk/urcsp_event/organising-a-quiet-day/. You will be sent a link shortly before the session.
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ROMSEY (CTIR)
OPEN MEETING WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2024
The next meeting of Churches Together in Romsey is 7.30pm on Wednesday, 16 October. The guest speaker is Lydia Baos, who will be sharing her vast experiences of working with the bereaved, including her work as a Bereavement Counsellor. There will also be an opportunity to ask Lydia any questions you may have on this subject.
The meeting is open to all and includes updates from all the Romsey churches about their recent events and planned future events, as individual churches, and combined events in the name of CTiR. For further information please contact Andy B.
IONA COMMUNITY LECTURE
Join the Iona Community on 25 October from 7.30–9pm for its annual lecture, this year themed 'Turning the tables'. The theme will explore how we can all play a part in building an economy that enables the flourishing of all life. The event will be both in person in Edinburgh and livestreamed, with a donation of £10 for those attending on site and a suggested donation of £5 for those viewing the lecture online. For full information https://iona.org.uk/iona-learn/?dm_i=2JB1,20RVB,AWACNF,7A478,1
