January 2025

Page 1


JANUARY

COURT HEY METHODIST CHURCH

Clement’s Chat

Christmas Gift

There is an old popular story of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson who went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine they bunked down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions upon millions of stars.”

“So what does that tell you?” asked Sherlock. Watson pondered for a minute. “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

“What does it tell you?”

Holmes was silent for a minute and then spoke. “It tells me someone has stolen our tent!”

The complexities of Christmas time bring a lot in our lives. There is the rush, hustle and jostling of Christmas shopping, preparing for family visits or preparing to take trips to visit family. There is always a desire not to omit anyone as you prepare Christmas cards. Christmas decorations remain a cumbersome and tedious work. It is from this background that one wonders how easy it is to miss the forest for the trees when we’re stuck in all this busyness of Christmas time.

As we take down Christmas decorations, let us not forget the actual meaning of Christmas. We may be weary and tired after a long busy month, but let us remember that all this was because of the Christmas gift ‘Jesus Christ’. Simeon says ‘Jesus Christ will be salvation for all’ Luke 2:34. What a gift! One which comes into our lives at the right time. Therefore, after everything about Christmas is said and done, let us not forget the ultimate Christmas gift- the baby in a manger… Jesus Christ.

Meet The Minister

Hi, my name is Clement and I’m a Minister here at Court Hey Methodist Church. I moved to the UK from Zimbabwe with my Family in 2020 to serve here at: Court Hey Methodist Church.

Reverend

Looking Back

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne?

So runs the first verse of that most famous song by Robert Burns, whose chorus is belted out at midnight on New Year’s Eve, in so many venues and is frequently sung at other times as well: graduations, stag parties, leaving events -any occasion when people gather together to mark a change in situation or status. As well as looking forward to the new, they’re moments of regret and farewell for past events, and a determination to hold on to the happy memories of former times.

I must admit to mixed feelings about looking back. I’m not a great one for dwelling on the past, preferring to look forward to an improved future rather than agonise over the mistakes again, we must reflect on events gone by and learn from them. Only then will the pain of wrong choices not have been in vain. Similarly, memories of happy times and joyful events will lift us up as we look towards an unknown future, keeping close those friends, wisdoms and experiences which help us maintain an optimistic outlook.

The Bible is not silent on the act of looking back - and as usual offers a wealth of different views on the subject. Looking back can be dangerous, even life-threatening, as Lot’s wife discovers. It can be an act of disobedience, demonstrating a lack of faith in God and disregard for his purposes. But it can also help us understand the reasons for our behaviours and actions, and root us in the tradition of God’s love and care for us, spreading back through generations, reinforced by covenant, demonstrated fully and finally by sending his Son.

So as we look to the future, ‘lying before us’, with its promise and possibilities, let us pause and look back, not just over the past year and beyond, but over our whole lives. Thus may we better perceive the golden thread of God’s love running richly through our lives, in order that it may guide us as we journey on.

What are the origins of the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) animals? HAPPY

A long time ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided that there should be a way to measure time. He told the animals they were to compete in a race. The first 12 animals would be rewarded by having a year named after them.

On the day of the race, all the animals lined up beside the river. The rat and the cat, who were good friends, were worried as they were not very good at swimming. They asked the ox if he would carry them across on his back.

The ox agreed and they jumped on his back. When the race started, the rat and the cat were very pleased that the ox took the lead. Just when they were about to reach the riverbank, the rat pushed the cat into the water! The rat jumped off the ox and landed on the other side - finishing first. “Well done!” said the Jade Emperor to the rat. “The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.”

The poor ox was tricked into second place, and so the second year of the zodiac was named after him. Shortly after, the exhausted tiger arrived at the riverbank. Swimming the river had been very difficult, as she had to fight strong currents.

The next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn’t swum across but hopped across on some stepping stones and then onto a floating log that carried him to the riverbank. “I shall name the fourth year after you,” the Jade Emperor said, cheerfully.

Taking fifth place was the dragon. “How come you didn’t win the race when you could fly across?” the Emperor asked. “I stopped to help some animals,” the smiling dragon explained.

Next, travelling quickly towards the finish line, was the horse. Just as the Jade Emperor thought the horse would cross, the snake wriggled around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that they jumped back, giving the snake a chance to slither forward and take sixth place. The horse made it to seventh place.

Not long after, a rather well-constructed raft made its way to the riverbank carrying the monkey, the rooster and the goat. They explained how they had worked as a team to get across. The Emperor was very pleased. He said the goat would be the eighth year, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.

Splashing happily onto the shore next was the dog. “What took you so long, when you’re such a good swimmer?” asked the Emperor. “The river was so lovely and fresh that I decided to have a bath along the way,” the dog explained. She was rewarded with the eleventh year.

There was one place left in the zodiac. The sun was setting, and the Emperor wondered who the last winner would be. All the animals and the Emperor had their eyes on the horizon, waiting for the last animal to appear... All of a sudden, everyone heard a scuffle, a squeak and an oink. The pig turned up! “You took a long time.

What happened?” the Emperor asked. “I was hungry and stopped to eat, then I fell asleep,” said the pig. And so, the twelfth year was given to the pig. As for the poor cat, he finally crawled out of the river, soaking wet and tired. But, he was too late to have a year named after him. The cat was very angry with the rat for pushing him into the water. Since then, cats have disliked water and have never been friends with rats!

What animals feature in the Lunar Year calendar?

Following this myth, there are 12 Chinese signs of the zodiac, represented by 12 animals for each Lunar New Year in a repeating 12-year cycle. The Chinese New Year animals have been used alongside the lunar calendar for well over 2,000 years. The Lunar New Year begins on the first new moon that appears between the 21st of January and the 20th of February. Each Lunar New Year animal has its own distinct attributes, which people use to predict and understand the events of the year as they unfold. What’s more, the Lunar New Year animals are also used to interpret people’s personal attributes. This is mainly based on what lunar year coincides with a person’s birth year, and then more detailed interpretations can be made based on this. This system has similarities to Western zodiac horoscopes.

Variations of the Chinese zodiac animal system are popular in Japan, South Korea and Thailand to name but a few, and these countries also celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is why we don’t just refer to it as Chinese New Year!

What are the characteristics of each Lunar New Year animal?

Rat, Shu) (1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020)

People born in the Year of the Rat are known to be very generous in spirit, sensitive and creative. Rats don’t seek out praise from others and are good at collecting and saving. They are also known, however, to be highly judgemental of situations and people around them.

Ox (niú) (1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

Ox people are characteristically patient, loyal friends, and hard workers. This means they often take the lead in their friendship groups, but can also mean that they are stubborn and inflexible to change.

Tiger (hú) (1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)

Is the Year of the Tiger your birth year? Tigers are often sensitive to emotions and are very passionate about their interests. Unfortunately, this means they can sometimes be seen as rebellious. They may be reckless, too, but will always get up after an obstacle and succeed.

Rabbit (tù) (1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)

Rabbits are kind-hearted, polite, and have a strong sense of responsibility and take work seriously. They are self-disciplined and determined. According to Chinese legend, the moon goddess Chang’e has a rabbit as her pet.

Dragon (lóng) (1988, 2000, 2012, 2024)

The dragon, a mythical creature in Chinese culture, is seen as a very lucky and powerful Chinese zodiac animal. They are ambitious dreamers and seek adventure throughout their lives. However, they are a bit unapproachable for they can be mysterious and short-tempered.

Snake (shé) (1989, 2001, 2013, 2025)

In Chinese culture, snakes are seen as small dragons and therefore carry similar mythical meanings. People born in the Year of the Snake are idealists and enthusiastic at heart. They are also very determined and seek to understand everything perfectly.

Horse (mǎ) (1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)

People born in the Year of the Horse are energetic and chase freedom. Their natural ability to build friendships makes them great to have around, but they can sometimes struggle to keep secrets! They never surrender and love to express themselves.

Goat (yáng) (1991, 2003, 2015, 2027)

Like the goat, these people are gentle and graceful. Being passive, however, they can sometimes fail to speak up if they disagree with someone. They are patient and kind, and mindful of others’ feelings.

Monkey (hóu) (1992, 2004, 2016, 2028)

Monkeys ask - does this interest me? If it doesn’t, they’ll do the task lazily. If it does interest them, then others will find it difficult to compete with how successful they are! People born in these years are seen as very intelligent. They have a zest for life, care for others, and have endless curiosity.

Rooster (1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029)

Roosters are great planners and think considerably about the future - mostly with accuracy. They are very empathetic and can sense what someone else is thinking, which makes them great friends and cunning enemies! Roosters are creatives.

Dog (góu) (1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030)

Just as we view human’s best friend, people born in the Year of the Dog are also loyal and have a strong sense of justice. They work hard and are valued. It might take a while to build trust and become good friends with them as they are cautious. However, once they feel happy in the relationship, they are sincere and reliable.

Pig (zhù) (1995, 2007, 2019, 2031)

Pigs are logical thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They may lose their temper quickly, but they’re kind and communicate well, making them wonderful friends.

FIFTY GREAT CHRISTIAN QUOTES ON PRAYER (Part 1)

& Origin of the Candy

Here are fifty powerful quotes about prayer from people who have walked closely with God. May our dependence on God grow through the inspiring truths they put into such eloquent prose. Let us know which quote below most impacts you.

1. Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between his will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit’s prayer. - Elisabeth Elliot.

2. Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden. - Corrie Ten Boom.

3. Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow. - Benjamin Franklin

4. Prayer must carry on our work as much as preaching; he preacheth not heartily to his people that will not pray for them. - Richard Baxter

5. Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused. - Spurgeon.

6. God warms his hands at man’s heart when he prays.

- John Masefield

7. If your day is hemmed in with prayer, it is less likely to come unravelled.

- Cynthia Lewis

8. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.

- Oswald Chambers

9. Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.

- Charles Finney

10. Leaders must be released from the idea that they must be great prayer warriors before they can begin to call others to prayer.

- David Bryant

11. In worship, God imparts himself to us

- C.S.Lewis

12. The amount of time we spend with Jesus - meditating on his Word and his majesty, seeking his face - establishes our fruitfulness in the kingdom.

- Charles Stanley

13. God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil. - E.M. Bounds

14. It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone. - Hudson Taylor

15. There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer. - D.A.T. Pierson

16. Worship and intercession must go together; the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. - Oswald Chambers

17. The great people of the earth today are the people who pray, not those who talk about prayer. - S.D.Gordon

18. An unschooled man who knows how to meditate upon the Lord has learned far more than the man with the highest education who does not know how to meditate. - Charles Stanley

19. Of all the things Christ wants for us, loving him and focusing our attention on him are the most important. - Charles Stanley

20. All vital praying makes a drain on a man’s vitality. True intercession is a sacrifice, a bleeding sacrifice. - J.H. Jowett

21. Work, work, from morning until late at night. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer. - Martin Luther

22. To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees. - Billy Graham

23. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. - Oswald Chambers

24. .Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that he will listen to mine. - Andrew Murray

25. .Prayer at its highest is a two-way conversation and for me the most important part is listening to God’s replies. - Frank C. Laubach

The Best Ruined Trips

Harry Vardon was golf’s first superstar. The British golfer had become a cornerstone of golf popularity in the United States after an American tour in 1900 that ended with him winning the U.S. Open. In 1912 he was planning a return tour to America after overcoming tuberculosis. He was to arrive to huge fanfare on the greatest vessel of his day. The voyage had to be cancelled when his disease came back. Harry was devastated thinking his comeback was over.

Jack Johnson was the world heavyweight boxing champion. At the peak of his fame, he too was planning to board the greatest vessel of his day on a trip. But it wasn’t an illness that keep him ashore, it was racism. The black fighter was refused passage on the vessel because of his colour. As tragic as these may seem, both men would later speak about how glad they were that they missed the boat, even with the terrible circumstances that caused it to happen. That’s because that boat was the HMS Titanic. As you probably know the maiden voyage would be its last.

Life can be strange that way. Things we think are tragic may actually be a benefit. Moments we praise can in turn be the start of our downfall. We live in moments not always able to see how those moments build up toward the future.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

That’s why in all the things we go through we need to trust in God. He can see what lies ahead, we cannot. He can understand the curves when it just feels like we are being tossed around. He knows when the voyage is safe and when it leads to the depths.

The Eagle

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching, long before the storm breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on winds that bring the storm.

When storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we too can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storms of life.

Remember, it is not burdens of life that weigh us down it is how we handle them.

The Bible says “Those who hope in Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”

Isaiah 40:31

A-Z of Knowledge Letter P

Parenting

When I was 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly bear him, but by the time I was 21 I was amazed to see how much he had learned in the last seven years. To bring up a child the way they should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.

Exasperated father: “When Winston Churchill was your age he worked hard and studied his books at night. Teenage son: “Yes and when he was your age he was Prime Minister”. Parenthood has two stages: when your children ask all the questions, and when they think they know all the answers.

Paths

Every path has a puddle.

People

People want the front of the bus, back of the church and centre of attention.

Perseverance

Victory belongs to the most persevering. It’s a long road from conception to completion.

Planning

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. God has no problems, only plans.

Potential

Life is like a 15- speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use. My mother said to me “If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general; if you become a monk, you’ll end up as a Pope.” Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Prayer

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. ‘Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.’ said his mother. ‘I don’t need to,’ the boy replied. ‘Of course, you do.’ his mother insisted. ‘We always say a prayer before eating at our house.’ ‘That’s at our house.’ Johnny explained. ‘But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!’

When we pray

The fewer the words, the better the prayer. I have lived to thank God that not all my prayers have been answered. Prayer does not change God, but it changes those who pray.

1. The love of God that wants the best for us.

2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.

3. The power of God that can accomplish it.

Purpose

There are only two kinds of people in the world: those that wake each morning and say “Good morning Lord” and those that who wake up in the morning and say “Good Lord it’s morning”

Push

When everything seems to go wrong just P.U.S.H!

When the job gets you down… just P.U.S.H!

When people don’t react the way you think they should just P.U.S.H!

When your money is gone and the bills are due just P.U.S.H!

When people just don’t understand you just P.U.S.H!

P = Pray

U = Until

S = Something H = Happens

What’s On:

Sunday

10.30am. Morning Worship Rev Clement Matarirano

0151 216 1170

Monday

9.45am Tai Chi Liz Lloyd 0151 489 8076

11.00am Line Dancing Margaret Sharp 07727 682 610

2.00pm Craft Group Contact Jenny Rayner 0151 428 0205

4.00pm AJM School of Dance & Drama. Alisha McGinn 07754 534 252

Tuesday

10.00am Sing and Sign Beth Kophemal 07841 446 247

5.30pm Rainbows www.girlguiding.org.uk 07599 431 195

6.30pm Brownies www.girlguiding.org.uk

6.30pm Guides www.girlguiding.org.uk

Wednesday

10.00am - 11.00am Qi Gong Barbara Shields 07944 662 109

1.30-3.30p.m. Tea Dance Margaret Diggle 0151 421 1794 07516 814 013

4.00pm AJM School of Dance & Drama. Alisha McGinn 07754 534 252

Thursday

9.30am Toddler Group Sue Canavan. 07746 407217

1.30p.m. Mamafit Rob Lunn Email rob.lunn@mamafituk.com

4.00pm AJM Alisha McGinn 07754 534 252

6.30pm Boys Brigade Liz Lloyd. 0151 489 8076

Friday

10.00am - 12.00 noon Place of Welcome Andy Sproston 0151 208 9518

1.00pm Wriggles + Giggles Alisha McGinn 07754 534 252

4.00pm AJM Alisha McGinn 07754 534 252

Fortnightly

Monday 2pm Philatelic Society

Duncan Crewe 0151 733 1291

Thursday

1-3pm Scottish Dancing

Sandra Piper 0151 724 4966

Monthly

Art Group (adult) 1st and 2nd Tuesday in Month

Paul Trubshaw

7pm - 9pm 07947 591 746

Saturday 1st & 2nd Saturday in Month

10am - 12pm Art4kids&co

Paul Trubshaw 07947 591 746

Third Saturday in Month

10.00am Table Sale

Joan Rutledge. 07984 894 597

Court Hey Church Room Hire

Looking for a Function Room in Liverpool for your Club or Society? A cost effective venue for a Business Meeting or Conference? Somewhere for a Children’s Party?

We have the ideal function room for you, conveniently located close to the end of the M62 with good public transport links and on site parking for 40+ cars. The majority of facilities including: Kitchen & Toilets are all fully wheelchair accessible.

To Enquire About Hiring A Rooms, Please Ring; 07453 358 157 or Use The Enquiry Form Upon Our Website: www.chmc.co.uk

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