Contact June 2009

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Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - June 2009 1

Contents Minister’s Letter Easter Eggs, Congratulations & One Liner What would you say you have read? & Cover Art Songs of Praise Songs of Praise II Midlands Hospital Choir Summer Concert & Rise Again!

Volunteers’ Week 1st - 7th June Working with children and adults with special needs Home from Hospital Help The National Trust Action for Children Sunday - 12th July & Quiz Night Charity Concert in aid of Action for Children & Harvest Quiz Kew Gardens & Be Happy Memories from school A History of Methodism in Kingsbury Children’s Pages . . . ME Judgement Revved-up Reverend - Christian Aid Week 2009 A Letter from Rev J Neil Adams Matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs Lost Property Thanks to Stewards & Soft Play Children’s Laureate London vicar to do things by halves The Village of Self-Sacrafice MRDF in Cameroon MRDF & AIDS Education Age Concern - Help the Aged The Helston Flora Dance A matter of give and take?

The Cracked Pot Methodist Homes for the Aged Sunday June 2009 Regular Meetings Weekly Church Activities 2

3 5 6 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 22 23 24 24 26 27 28 29 32 33 34 34 36 37 38 39 40

Minister’s Letter Dear Friends Early in July the Methodist Conference meets, this year in Wolverhampton.

The Conference is the governing body of Methodism, it makes many decisions which often affect us all, it speaks to government and wider society in our name and acts as a rallying point and inspiration for us. Many of its very public events are well worth attending – like the Sunday morning worship which is a mighty act of praise –and the rest of the week has some splendid debates which anyone can come and listen to (or follow on the web).

Of course, the Conference dates back to our founder, John Wesley, who realised very early on in the movement called “Methodist” that he needed to confer with his helpers and especially his preachers, who included some outstanding women. The Conference of Wesley’s day “stationed” the preachers all round the country (which still happens today as the very last act we do together before we adjourn till the next year. Each Chair of each District has to shout “Yes!” when the Secretary of the Conference asks if all their “stations” are filled i.e. have they got a minister for each circuit and church in their district? It’s always a moment of high tension in case someone shouts “No!”) Mr Wesley’s conferences sent the preachers to their stations and settled their pay, sorted out exactly what Christian teachings should be preached and how, and acted as a spiritual powerhouse to those who participated. And so it has been ever since, save that today we are part of a world-wide church and have developed a host of agencies to promote Christian mission and service to the world: homes for the elderly; action for the young; chaplaincies in factories, prisons, shopping centres and universities; relief agencies which can ship goods and people in emergencies and in long-term development planning; Methodist day schools, boarding schools and colleges; groups which confer with the government and other agencies; groups set aside to think and reflect on our theology and outreach – so we have commitments here, there and everywhere. These all need oversight, help and 3

encouragement and constantly asking themselves do we need to do this? Or is someone else doing it better, so we could share with them and learn from them?

The Methodist Conference moves to another part of the UK each year and invites members of the church overseas to join the debates thereby enrich our thinking, praying and reflecting. There are difficult, and often challenging reports about issues such as climate change (a catch phrase for many in the UK but a matter of life and death if you are a Pacific Islander); debates and heart-searching over whether the church can officially bless same-sex unions; whether each circuit could be encouraged to start a “fresh expression” to reach out to those who never come to church; how we are to produce and introduce new hymns and songs into the worship life of churches. (Do come to the meeting on Tuesday 11th August at 7.15 pm at Erdington Methodist church to hear the latest news about a new hymn book!); and this year, as for many groups, there is deep financial concern for the pension fund which has plummeted in value.

Conference tries to “confer” and sort out all these important matters, inviting each local church to think and pray too. Alongside this will be a time for sharing good news because God is stirring up all kinds of ideas in people and not all church life is full of problems! There is much to rejoice in, so there will be some laughter and cheering too. The Methodist Conference meets in the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton in the first week of July – please pray for it to be an experience not only of the God who is “with us” but who is always calling us onward into the future, always offering us promise and hope.

May you know Christ beside you and ahead of you, both comforting and challenging you.

With my prayers Nichola

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Easter Eggs Last evening at the House Group training we were challenged to consider what our church does to care for those in our local community. I was reminded that not only do we raise significant amounts of money to go to needy causes at Christmas but that on Good Friday this year we distributed in the locality 1000 donated chocolate Easter eggs, with an Easter message from our church.

I say we, but in fact I baulked at the initial suggestion to stand on a platform at Erdington Railway Station and opted quickly to ‘do the teas!’ In the event I was to feel quite differently as all those who braved the torrential rain and near empty streets came back into the warm for a drink before taking out yet another tray full of Easter eggs. One volunteer even boarded buses to hand out her eggs. On their return we heard of how many people had been pleased to receive an egg and heard heartfelt stories of bereavement and loss. The church was open for folk to come in to light a candle if they wished and we had one gentleman who shared our tea and stayed for the service.

It may not seem a lot but all the eggs were given in Christian love and as a church we will have touched 1,000 hearts. Thanks to Nichola and all those who took part.

Moya Farley

Congratulations Our congratulations to Tim Farley and Charlotte who are to marry in June and Lizzy Payne and Mark who are also getting married in June. May you have many happy years together and may God bless your lives together.

One Liner The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.Â

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What would you say you have read?

I was interested in this list of books and thought about which of them I had read. At least I knew all the titles! I hope we can all say we have read some of the Bible, and I have read ‘Dreams from my Father’ by Barack Obama, which is very interesting and readable. I haven’t read the others but could add to the list Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’ and ‘Brave New World’

by Aldous Huxley, both of which I read a long time ago. Please don’t give me a test on them though!

Books that I would strongly recommend are ‘The Thirteenth Tale’ by Diane Setterfield, a family saga with mystery and intrigue, ‘Sepulchre’ by Kate Mosse, which I enjoyed even more than ‘Labyrinth’, and ‘Mary Called Magdalene’ by Margaret George. It is a fictitious story of Mary Magdalene based on her appearances in the New Testament, her interaction with the disciples and love for Jesus. She has cleverly interwoven the facts, as we know them, of the ministry of Jesus with the life and family of the Mary of her imagination; a most enjoyable story. As to ‘Harry Potter’, well, I am still trying to overcome the trauma of no more books to anticipate!

Hilary Price

Cover Art Many of you will be aware of how lucky we are to have Don Rawson to draw our monthly magazine covers. He sent a few notes with this month’s and I thought they were worth sharing with you - ed The cover is based on the birth flowers for the month of June. There are 2 flowers - the rose and honeysuckle. The rose is a type called Grace. Top left are honeysuckle berries and top right is one of the many beautiful varieties of the flower. Bottom left is the ubiquitous dandelion, which can also flower in June while bottom right is good old grass - hay fever season is May /June.

Don Rawson

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Songs of Praise A little while ago a few of our members took part in a BBC Songs of Praise the magazine team asked two of them to tell us what it was like - ed It was cold. It was January. Was this going to daunt the stalwart members of the Erdington Methodist Choir from submitting themselves to trial by BBC in the dark and forbidding depths of the Town Hall Birmingham? ‘Never!’ they cried. Back packs were filled with the iron rations and reviving drinks necessary for the ordeal, making sure that no item was included that wasn’t necessary for the journey. Donning the summer clothes as ordered by the good lady from the BBC with some discretionary hidden extras that she need never know about, we set off.

We had already endured two evenings of Paul Leddington-Wright’s humour endured the humour but worked hard at the rehearsal in the preparation of the programme which celebrated Easter and then Whitsun. Having just recovered from a wondrous celebration of Christmas we now prepared to celebrate two more moving events of the Christian calendar. To celebrate Christmas, Easter and Pentecost in the space of three weeks is quite an intellectual challenge.

The result of part of our labours, you may all have witnessed on the 12th and 19th April, as you sat riveted to your Televisions watching Songs of Praise. The producers have been completely illogical in their selection of the visual content of course. The marvellous sound created by the ‘congregational’ choir was overlaid by the rude intrusion of soloists and stage choirs. Only a mere glimpse of the true stars of the show were actually broadcast, for instance there were ravishing shots of Christine Rankin and Hilary Price while they discussed the major issue of the day – lunch.

The two programmes that have already been broadcast took a whole day to record, so this involved quite a lot of hard singing especially as Paul Leddington-Wright’s humour extended to insisting that we sing the Hallelujah chorus without the score in our hands. We also got to hear the soloists several times over and since they all have marvellous voices that was quite a treat. The bass Jonathan Omalu (a Maori) was the most entertaining 7

since he had a most impressive voice, starting out as a boy treble much in the mould of our illustrious compere Aled Jones. He did rather tease Aled that some boy trebles do go on to be singers! He was also rather mischievous to the conductor making encouraging signals to the choir with his back to the conductor who happened to be treating us to rather less complimentary tirades. One day and that was Easter done. Tomorrow would be Whitsun.

We dragged our weary selves home, made our feverish preparation for the following day. Must have colourful clothes this time and different from each other – we will have no hint of choir uniforms! Sandwiches, drinks, clothes to sample the fresh (Fresh?) air outside the town hall in the brief intervals, were duly packed on the trusty sherpas and pack mules and we were off again.

We were soon to be treated to Paul’s outfit for the day - a black drape jacket with a red satin lining with a flames shooting into his armpits. The first of these programmes is to be broadcast on May the 31st but in the interest of good taste the BBC may spare you sight of it. We did make a stout stand against the might of the Jaguar Brass Band; we were quite determined that brass instruments would not defeat the might of a couple of hundred human voices. The results should be spectacular even if the sound balance engineers tone us down a bit. Watch out for the Swingle Singers, a group of a-cappella singers.

Two days of hard singing and four programmes in the bag for Auntie Beeb and we were exhausted. The celebrated members of Erdington Methodist Church Choir emerged battered but unbowed, muttering triumphantly ‘Never again’! Well never again until the next time anyway.

Michael Turner

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Songs of Praise II I was asked to write a piece about my experience of the recording of Songs of Praise at the Birmingham Town Hall. Four recordings were made during that week but I was only at the two celebrating Handel’s Messiah. It was thoroughly enjoyable as I expected. I am fascinated both by seeing the hidden side of television programmes and the performers ‘in the flesh’ so to speak. So this side of it gave me as much pleasure as the actual singing.

Early on the producer, Pamela Hossick, introduced herself and said a bit about procedures. That was the last we saw of her as she spent the rest of the two days closeted in a caravan, attached to the Town Hall by a mesh of cables. In this 21st. century I was amazed that the technology of wireless connections hadn’t moved on further!

Paul Leddington Wright was constantly receiving telephone calls at his music stand. No cordless phones or mobiles here. I wondered why his baton hadn’t been adapted to double up as a telephone receiver when necessary.

Then there were the cameras with long cables trailing from them all over the place; hasn’t the BBC heard of health and safety? Some of those cameras were enormous and we seemed to be right in the flight path of the largest one! We hoped that the cameraman wouldn’t press the wrong button and promptly behead us! I had great respect for those in the orchestra who carried on playing with aplomb, while a cameraman, with a large portable camera, knelt by their side inches away from their instruments. I wonder if any of them have ever had an eye gouged out by a violin bow.

I enjoyed all the retakes of Aled Jones’ interviews, finding it hard to understand how they made each successive one sound as if this was the first conversation that had taken place. What a big bloke Howard Goodall is, towering over Aled! Elin Manahan Thomas was lovely in every way. She was very pretty, has a beautiful voice and a great sense of humour.

Michael Turner mentions singing the Hallelujah Chorus from memory. We thought it was just going to be an amusing experiment. Needless to say we sang it several times and even mimed it once. I was never sure whether they showed that version or not! I have sung this very many times but was 9

nervous about doing it from memory. I cannot think how those who had never sung it before felt. I imagine that plenty of editing went on so we weren’t shown those shots where people just opened and shut their mouths hopefully. However it was a wonderful experience and came across very well when it was broadcast.

Having read Michael’s contribution I have to take issue with him on one point. Naturally you would all realise, at our moment of stardom, Christine, Marion and I were not discussing lunch, but the finer points of the alto parts in Messiah.

Hilary Price

The Midlands Hospitals Choir Summer Concert Saturday 4th July 2009 7.30pm St George’s Church, Edgbaston Those of you who enjoy the Christmas Concert might like to hear the choir singing a different range of music in their summer concert. The first half comprises excerpts from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, while the second half includes a ‘miscellany’ of items ranging from Mozart to Sondheim. Ticket details to follow.

Christine Rankin

Rise Again!

There once was a pious young priest Who lived almost wholly on yeast.

"For", he said, "It is plain We must all rise again And I want to get started at least".

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Volunteers’ Week 1st – 7th June Volunteers’ week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering which this year is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The week plays a huge role in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, while inspiring others to get involved too. Initially. it was run on a local level but over the years several volunteer development agencies have joined forces to shape the major themes for the week.

Volunteering is good for you – ICM research findings commissioned for the Community Service Volunteers found that 63% of 25 – 34 year olds and 62% of over 65’s say that volunteering helps them feel less stressed, some volunteering their professional skills say it helps combat depression and many conclude that it has improved their physical health and fitness and some say their alcohol intake and smoking habit have both reduced and several said they generally feel much happier and contented with life.

Whether you’re a Carer, a Doctor, Plumber or Gardener there’s a volunteer organisation that could use your skills to help other people, too many to list here but examples include: Sports Volunteering – There are virtually no sports clubs or organisations that do not rely on volunteers to help them in their activities. From refereeing to club administration to cutting the grass on a pitch, volunteers are at the heart of sports activities from rugby to running, and clubs know they depend on volunteers to keep them going.

Robert’s story –‘I got involved in a local football school as I just wanted to help out and I didn’t have much to do on a Sunday, so I thought ‘why not’. Its great helping people to develop their skills and seeing their progress is really fulfilling.’

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Education volunteering – Children’s years in education are the most important and formative years of their lives. From assisting in classrooms to helping on school visits, there are many and varied roles in which volunteers can not only help children develop to their full potential, but experience the satisfaction of being involved in children’s development.

Nacme’s story I love working with little ones and gaining experience in school settings. It has helped my English skills as English is my second language. As a volunteer I read with children and am teaching maths and grammar at St Mary’s School. I have been volunteering for 6 months, 2 days a week. My volunteering helps the teacher focus on children and I also prepare tasks for the children to do. Without volunteers teachers would be exhausted and also children have more people to ask questions and parents have more people to ask how their children are doing in school.

Emergency Services volunteering – From the Fire Services to lifeboats and assisting in the search for missing people, the emergency services rely on volunteers to help them service the public. Perhaps your previous experience lends itself to volunteering in this sector, or perhaps you are looking for a contrast to your current work, but volunteers are an essential part of the emergency services the public regularly calls on for help.

Robert’s story – Me & my wife Sue began volunteering with the Exeter branch of the Red Cross. We got involved to say thank you for everything the charity did to help us when our home burnt down. We have raised thousands of pounds for the Red Cross and even opened their newly rebuilt home to the public as a fundraiser. What was disaster at the time has been transformed into a proud moment for both of us.’

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The Magazine team also asked some of our members about their volunteering experiences - their reflections follow - ed

Working with children and adults with special needs I have been involved in Voluntary work for over 40 years, working with young children and adults with special needs. When I moved up to Birmingham I missed my friends and family more than I can say, so applied to the Bridge School which again was for youngsters with special needs.

I then moved on to the Kids Family Centre where they also helped not only children with tailored activities for their needs, but the whole family. After three years, no qualifications, but lots of experience I was offered a job as a Family Support Worker and was able to work doing what I loved best!

As a result of severe back trouble I could not carry on with the children as it involved a lot of lifting and carrying. This devastated me, as I felt that it was all that I was good at. After 3 months of bad depression I realised that the world was not going to knock on my door, it was up to me. I applied to the Volunteer Bureau in the City Centre who sent me to Age Concern, where I started visiting a lovely lady who had suffered a stroke, and had lost confidence in walking out alone and crossing the road. This was to last 6 months but three years later I still visit once a week.

I was then asked to help at the John Taylor Hospice, making and giving out the tea and cakes in the afternoon, I had a lot of reservations about this, thinking, quite wrongly, that it would be very morbid. This was not the case at all, I found it to be a very positive place where the staff make the last few weeks of a person’s life the best it can be. There are also patients who have long term conditions, who you get to know over time. I have been able to use my faith whilst talking to them, reading the bible to them, and also befriending patients.

I was also asked to help in a Creche in the city Centre, where the staff assured me that even though I had back problems, I could still be more than 13

useful to them, helping out with morning snacks and again reading, painting and playing various board games.

I have found the Voluntary work I have done has been so rewarding and fun, and a great way to make new friends. My time at the Hospice makes me realise that I have nothing to moan about in my life, and I plan to continue into old age!

Jenny Pender

Home from Hospital Help I recently retired from a long career working with the public. Having done some of the jobs that had been waiting for ages, and, not being overly fond of housework, I decided that I still wanted to be involved in the community in some way. I saw an article, by chance, in the local press about a charity called Home from Hospital Care, which recruits volunteers to support people who are being discharged from hospital for their first few weeks back in their own home. I remembered how much members of my own family had appreciated people popping in and helping out after treatment in hospital, and sadly there are many people who have no friends or family nearby and so feel very isolated.

After an informal interview and a Police Check, I began to visit people referred to me by a local coordinator. Now I spend one or two afternoons a week visiting, chatting [lots!], shopping, paying bills and getting pensions, or taking people out to shop or for other appointments. If necessary, I can also help them access statutory services.

Sometimes it’s really hard to say good bye and move on after a few weeks, but I really enjoy doing what I can, and I’ve met some fascinating people.

I’m continuing to learn new things myself, and I feel as if I’m helping people at a difficult time in their lives.

Terry Simmons (friend of Elizabeth Baizon)

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The National Trust In 1992 we became life members of the National Trust. We visited several NT properties but Baddesley Clinton became our favourite place where we were able to appreciate the work of the volunteers there.

One day on a visit it was suggested that we might become volunteers ourselves. So in 1996 we were interviewed by the Property Manager when we explained our background and experience and what we would like to do.

Freda chose the Second Hand Book Store while Colin decided to work in the grounds assisting the head gardener.

In 1998 the NT required all volunteers to attend the Welcome Host Scheme run by Heart of England Tourist Board followed by an exam. We passed.

We enjoyed all we did and all the visitors we met and we can recommend NT volunteering.

Freda & Colin Watts

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Action for Children Sunday – 12th July This is a very special year for the charity as we celebrate the 140th anniversary of the opening of the first children’s home by Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson. On Sunday 12th we shall be handing out gift envelopes for donations to Action for Children (formerly NCH).

Also during the service we welcome Nicki Phelps (Peel) who works for Action for Children in South Wales and she will be telling us a little about the work that she is involved in and how the money contributed is used.

Also on Saturday 11th the Coffee Morning will be in aid of Action for Children. Please come along and support, this is The Children’s Charity of the Methodist Church.

Christine Rankin

Quiz Night Saturday 6th June at 7.00 pm (£2.50 per person - 4 to 6 people per team) Nibbles & Soft drinks plus raffle prizes Kingsbury Methodist Church (Car park access at rear of Coop - Tamworth Road) Proceeds towards light-weight chairs for users of the building

Kingsbury Methodist Church Centenary Celebration 6th/7th February 2010

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Charity Concert in aid of Action for Children at Birmingham Town Hall Sunday 28th June 2009 7.00 pm Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man; A Mass for Peace Featuring Phoenix Singers/MAYC Orchestra & Singers /East of England Singers Tickets £17.50, £16 & £14

Harvest Quiz It is our intention that our Harvest Supper this year will take the form of a quiz - I will be setting as many visual clues as I can so that we can use our church audio visual equipment as I have in previous years.

Book the date in your diary now - Saturday 19th September starting at 7.00 pm.

All are welcome - teams of up to 6 please - further info to follow in future magazines

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Kew Gardens Summer is almost upon us and that means flowers. For almost 250 years the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew have been involved with flowers of all sorts as well as most of the other plants in the world. Kew started as a garden for Queen Elizabeth 1st who had a penchant for flowers in her palaces.

George II son Frederick and his wife Princess Augusta were in to gardening in a big way and Kew takes the date of its official 'birth' as 1759 the year that Princess Augusta appointed William Aiton to care for and expand the gardens at Kew. Since that time the role of Kew has changed significantly from being mainly ornamental to being at the centre of economic botany. Indeed by the early 1800s virtually no ship left India without some living or preserved specimens for the gardens. The most important botanical developments in which the garden was involved were the transfer of rubber plants from South America to India and Myanmar and the introduction of Liberian Coffee into Sri Lanka Today Kew continues in the same tradition researching how botany can contribute to the development of our nation. It is now the home of the Millennium Seed Collection, which has the objective of attempting to ensure that no potentially economically viable species of plant is lost due to extinction. This must be a wide enough remit to keep any Garden Director busy for the next 250 years.

Peter Farley

Be Happy Remember the five simple rules to be happy: Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Want for less.

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Memories from school When I went to school in the 30s I had to walk -fortunately my school was at the bottom of the road. The schools were connected to a church - Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day were holidays after attending church.

We also had to learn the Catechism.

First question was ‘What is your name? Answer ‘N’ or ‘M’ (don’t know why) We also had the cane or strap for bad work or talking. (Yes! I got the strap for talking - and I’m still talking!!)

The Senior School was the other side of the city - there were no school dinners. Lunch break was one and a half hours. We all had to go home which was a 20 minute to half hour walk each way - which left about half an hour to eat dinner.

The journey back to school wasn’t too bad because it was downhill and you could run part of the way.

I was happy at school and enjoyed going Jean Harris Now that we have heard from some of the more senior members of the congregation it would be great to hear from some young people. Come on you young ‘uns what do you like or dislike about school? - ed

A History of Methodism in Kingsbury Can you help us? Do you have any information / photos dating from 1890 2009? Photos will be scanned and returned promptly. Please contact Joyce Maxted 01827 50853 or mail jmaxted@gmail.com

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Children’s Pages . . . ME

discoveryeducation.com

There is no one in the world like me. No one has my smile.

No one has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands or my voice.

God made me to be ME. My name is _____________________________ I am ___________ years old.

I really like _________________________________________.

Some day I would like to be ___________________________.

I love to look at ________________________________.

If I could listen to anything in the world it would be ____________________________________________.

I think __________________________ smells delicious.

I don’t like touching ____________________________.

I like to wear _________________________________.

The thing that makes me happiest is ________________.

The thing that makes me maddest is_________________.

I think I am best at _____________________________.

I am special because ____________________________.

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The Outsider I'm handicapped and wheelchair bound Expected to sit and not make a sound Just to smile and let the World go by With Saintly patience and never sigh.

Inside my head thoughts come and go Ideas are born which long to flow Flow from my lips and link me with others But my words sound strange so no one bothers.

My tongue and lips do not as I ask I cannot perform the simplest task But I have a mind and I'm still there Don't lock me out in your ignorance there.

Talk, though I seem not to understand Touch me, include me, and hold my hand I am alive and I have time to give Let me share in the life I was given to live.

Author Unknown No one is better than another. Even if we are different, we are still special to GOD!

When you have filled in the spaces on the page telling us about yourself, perhaps you can cut it out and ask your Junior Church leader to pin it up on a notice board in church. Then we can all get to know you better.

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Judgement.

Who would have thought that the Freedom of Information Act would have had such far-reaching consequences? After a long and gruelling struggle the House of Commons finally agreed to publish details of MP’s expenses.

Slowly the party leaders’ agreed that something needed to be done to reform the system. Then just as we were beginning to anticipate the disclosure of the edited claims, less addresses and etc, for privacy purposes, we are being treated to the unexpurgated version of the accumulated receipts, courtesy of the Telegraph and some unknown mole in the palace of Westminster. And what an Aladdin’s cave this has turned out to be. Cash for this and claims for that, tax avoidance, property maintenance, cleaning, gardening and housekeeping and yes maybe even fraud, the list is seemly endless. All claimed according to the rules and ‘in good faith’.

It seems to me that what we have here is a wonderful example of the wellknown quotation from Baron John Acton “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” For me this is the one, overwhelming, advantage for democracy, which compensates for all of its weaknesses and failures. The reason why I believe that it is important to get out and vote.

Because voting is the only way to change the balance of power and such changes reveal corruption.

The Palace of Westminster set the rules for the payment of expenses 30 years ago when it was important for MPs to be seen to be exercising restraint over pay and they appear to have remained unchanged ever since. It is inevitable that over such a long period of time innumerable ‘Spanish Customs’ will have developed, flourished and changed again and again, just like the evolution of species. It is the same inevitability, which determines that at the end of the day in a fast food outlet any remaining food will be disposed of and not be taken home, because within a relatively short period of time custom and practice would ensure that the residual food would be feeding the entire neighbourhood.

So what do MPs needs to do? I think that the only thing that needs to be done after the rules have been reset is that every claim for expenses from the public purse needs to be available to view, with the appropriate receipt, by 22

anyone. The power of the constituency selection committee is, after all, considerable. But maybe this level of disclosure shouldn’t be restricted to MPs. How about BBC employees or teachers or doctors in fact anyone who receives money from the taxpayer.

Among the many threads that are woven together to form the Christian faith is the idea of judgment. 'Nothing is covered up', said Jesus, 'that will not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known. Whatever you have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.'

Who would have thought that the Freedom of Information Act and Christianity would be in cahoots to preserve the morals of our legislature?

I wonder what life would be like if we all lived our lives in a way which meant that everything that we do could safely be proclaimed from the housetops.

With thanks to ‘Thought for the Day’ on 12th May Peter Farley

Revved-up Reverend - Christian Aid Week 2009 While his parishioners readied themselves for their door-to-door collections, the Rev Will Adams from East Anglia kick started Christian Aid week on his Aprilla 750cc motorbike. The 61-year-old Brackley vicar joined more than 30 bikers, powering through 160 miles of British countryside in red and white Christian Aid bibs - stopping en route to rattle Christian Aid collecting boxes. The bikers also reached a deal with Barclaycard to double the total amount raised.

‘These bikers, who are aged from their early 20s to their 70s, would have been out that day or that same weekend riding for pleasure,' said the Rev Adams.

'But today they are riding both for pleasure and for Christian Aid.' 23

A Letter from Rev J Neil Adams for Sutton Park Methodist Circuit & Lichfield Road Methodist Church Dear Friends As you probably know the Lichfield Road Methodist Church has decided after recommendations from the Circuit meeting to cease to worship. There is much sadness at this decision, but also a sense that we want to recognise all that God has done in the lives of the members of Lichfield Road Methodist Church and our community in the past and present.

We want to mark that our gathered life as a worshipping community at Lichfield Road in Aston has come to an end and look forward to what the Sprit of God is continuing to do in and through us and our community.

So we would like to invite you to turn out in great numbers to celebrate with us and remember the ministry of the people of God at Lichfield Road in Aston at a Circuit Service on 21st June 2009 at 6.00 pm. There is a large church car park alongside the church which is adjacent to the Aston railway station.

We look forward to welcoming you Rev J Neil Adams

Matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs A recent visit to the Lowry Galleries in Manchester proved very interesting.

Salford Quays is undergoing extensive regeneration and is well worth a visit.

L.S.Lowry, the celebrated British artist from Salford, claimed “I’m a simple man, and I use simple materials” . . . and . . . “I just painted what I saw - or the way I saw it, and what I wanted to paint.” He was a shy man with a gentle impish sense of humour.

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This quiet, unassuming man was best known for his trademark ‘matchstick’ figures - (certainly a singular way to view people) - and also for his stylised industrial landscape paintings, full of life, colour and visual stimulus. Those of us of a certain age will readily recall the hit song, ‘Matchstick Men.’ Inspiration for Lowry’s industrial paintings came chiefly from the rather grim surroundings of the Manchester area where he lived.

Lowry was devoted to the music of Bellini and Donizetti. He found their music soothing. Once he said, “Music takes you to the other side.”

What a remarkably simple way of expressing something so profound.

Without doubt, Lowry did things his way.

Throughout his life he remained unaffected by outside influences. he declined an OBE and several other honours.

This final quote seems to me to typify the man: “I painted from childhood to childhood.”

‘And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs He left us kids on the corner of the street with sparking clogs Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs’ Barbara Rawson 25

Lost property It has been reported to the Property and Finance meeting that the following items have been mislaid. If by any chance you have borrowed them to use elsewhere or taken them home inadvertently we would appreciate their early return.

Baking roasting trays from the kitchen Guillotine from the office

Thanks to Stewards The Rev Nichola Jones and the current stewards would like to thank the recently retired stewards Marion Griffin and Sam Appiah for all their support and diligence over the last three years.

We would also like to take this opportunity welcome Sam Okyere into the team.

Soft Play It came as a surprise to me that the new soft play area in the church garden is vulnerable to damage in one particular way. It is not very resistant to sharp points or point loading such as stiletto heels or chair legs.

Please be aware of your foot ware when you go out onto the soft play area and also do not take out chairs for yourself or anyone else to sit on.

Apparently a repair kit for black areas costs about ÂŁ50 and the colours are even more expensive.

Peter Farley

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Children’s Laureate As part of the 10th anniversary of the creation of the post of Children’s Laureate the five past Laureates’ were asked to list their top seven children’s stories. Their choices included ‘Five go to Smugglers Top’, ‘Just William’ and ‘The Railway Children’. So what books, as a child, did I read and sometimes go back to, over and over again?

Unknown – this was the first real book that I ever read by myself. A story about a circus and it was leant to me by my teacher at Sir Josiah Mason Primary School. The only things that I can remember with any certainty are that this book was so big that it completely filled my school satchel and that it had a red cover. But in a light bulb moment it made me realise that I could read silently and alone and that gave me access to a very special place.

The Hidden City – Percy F Westerman. A tale of daring do in South America with natives and baddies, canoes and paralysing blow darts, jungle and deserts oh and a gyrocopter as well. My first encounter with this tale was my dad reading it to me when I was ill. I remember that I was much older before I was able to start reading it for myself.

Seven White Gates – Malcolm Saville (Lone Pine series). A children’s adventure, set in Stiperstone country, which I read over and over again. I also read as many of the others in the series as I could find in Bloomsbury library. A journey that I made by myself, on the bus, until we moved to Erdington in 1954.

Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransom. Another version on a children’s adventure and the first of a series. Most of these stories are set at composite locations in the Lake District. These though I only discovered when I was reading to my own children.

I suppose that I read all of the Secret Seven, Famous Five, Just William and Ladybird books. I still have many stashed away in the loft. But I have no recollection of any particular story, except Piggaly Plays Truant.

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Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe - a shipwrecked sailor makes good on a desert island and comes home with a servant and some treasure. My most read edition was a part picture book with an illustration on every page.

The Shape of the Aeroplane – James Hay Stevens. When I was 12 I won a prize for woodwork and this was my choice, against the advice of my parents. It set out to explain ‘why the aeroplane looks as it does’. I devoured this book over and over again. A foretaste of life as a scientist?

I suppose that as a child I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on and my mind around, often making two trips to Erdington library every week. As a teenager my transition to adult books came with the arrival at home of ‘The Cruel Sea’ by Nicholas Monsarrat. I remember that particularly because my father speculated about whether it was suitable. It was only when I read it again later that I even noticed the passages about which he was obviously expressing concern.

What books did you read as a child? Write them up for Contact.

Peter Farley

London vicar to do things by halves The Rev Roger Gayler from Barking & Dagenham has carried out all his Christian Aid Week activities with half his face shaved.

The 65-year-old vicar of St Mark's Church at Mark's Gate preached, met scouts and joined his local door-to-door collection - all with half a beard.

It's 42 years since the Rev Gayler was clean shaven. 'It's a bit of a shock when I look in the mirror,' he says.

He says his gesture is symbolic: 'half a beard is a reminder of how the other half lives.'

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The Village of Self-Sacrifice I recently stayed with my daughter Elizabeth and her family, who live in north Derbyshire. Derbyshire with its wooded river valleys, high peaks, open moors and higgledy-piggledy villages, with quaint stone cottages and stone roof tiles, looking as though they have erupted out of the hillsides rather than having been constructed by the hand of man. One village Elizabeth and I visited was Eyam, set in the north of the county.

As we walked down the main village street with its mixture of buildings, from grand houses to tiny cottages, its stocks on the village green and the Parish Church of St. Lawrence, we passed a small row of dwellings, some of which displayed green signs in their front gardens informing us that this was the home of (name) who died of the plague. Now I knew Eyam (pronounced eem) was a plague village, but I had never known the full tragic story of that place.

The date, August 1665. A parcel of cloth arrived from London at the home of the village tailor, George Viccars, who was keen to begin work on making clothes for the inhabitants of the village. As the cloth was damp, he hung it out in front of the fire to air. What he didn’t know was the cloth contained fleas which had bitten plague-infested rats in London. Within a few days George Viccars became the first plague victim. More deaths followed, and the villagers were gripped with fear as they read the symptoms. As the plague spread the church was closed and the band of believers met outside at the grassy Cucklett Delf among the limestone rocks to pray for God’s wisdom.

The rector William Mompesson was the strong leader needed for the crisis.

His fear was that the disease would spread to unaffected parts of Derbyshire, so he met with his nonconformist colleague, Thomas Stanley, and they called the villagers to a heroic act of self-sacrifice . . . . . to shut themselves up with the plague to prevent the epidemic spreading to neighbouring villages. The people agreed to what, for many, would be a death sentence. A stone circle was put around the village to mark the boundary. It was arranged that food would be left there at various points and at Mompesson’s Well, high above the village. Money to pay for it was put into running streams to purify it and 29

in Mompesson’s Well, to which they added vinegar to purify it. Donations of food and medical supplies were freely donated by the Earl of Devonshire who lived at Chatsworth, and by neighbouring villagers.

About half a mile from the village are the Riley graves, where farmer Elizabeth Hancock buried her husband and her six children herself, so as not to infect anyone else. All died within eight days.

Catherine Mompesson (28) wife of the rector, after sending her own children away from the village for safety, loyally stayed with her husband to tend the sick, only to become a victim herself.

The nursery rhyme ring a ring o’roses has been passed down from the time of the plague.

Ring a ring o’roses: - A rosy rash, one of the symptoms on the victim.

A pocket full of posies: - Nosegays were recommended as it was thought flowers would ward off the plague.

Atishoo-atishoo: -Sneezing, also a symptom.

We all fall down: -Death!

The plague raged in Eyam for 15 months, claiming the lives of at least 260 villagers out of 350, the names of whom are beautifully inscribed in the Parish Church.

By November 1666 it had claimed its last victim. Eyam’s selfless villagers, with their strong Christian convictions, had shown immense personal courage and self sacrifice. They had prevented the plague from spreading to other parishes, but many had paid the ultimate price for their commitment.

Almost 350 years later a remembrance service is still held every last Sunday in August (the nearest Sunday to the death of Catherine Mompresson) at Cucklett Delf.

The story is told with great sensitivity in the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Eyam, and it is a deeply moving experience to read the account.

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On leaving, a display of the Easter Garden with its empty tomb and its promise of Resurrection was a welcome and positive note. We emerged into warm, bright sunshine, the churchyard filled with the shrill piping song of blackbirds: it suddenly felt so good to be alive.

Ann Tomes

Riley Graves where Elizabeth Hancock Buried her family

Plague Cottages

Parish Church of St Lawrence

Annual Remembrance Service in Cucklett Delf

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MRDF in Cameroon Instead of getting ready for retirement, Bochong Mah David, like many elderly people in rural Cameroon, is still working hard.

Elderly people are the ones who farm and who care for the children in his village. The young have gone: many have found work in the towns or have died of HIV/AIDS, leaving children with elderly grandparents. Yet elderly people are often isolated, with few resources to improve their lives or care for their grandchildren.

David now belongs to a club, set up by MRDF partner Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance (CDVTA), which aims to break down poverty and isolation for elderly people. It provides simple things that improve people’s lives: blankets to keep out the cold and bush lamps for light, and gives training in productive ways to make a living, like making soap or keeping chickens.

David has also benefited from one of the small loans given to club members from a communal fund. However, the most important part of the club is building relationships and providing mutual support in difficult times.

"This project has helped me tremendously. The elderly [here] helped me to pay my grandson’s school fees; I have never seen solidarity like this before.

We are so happy to know that there are elders in the UK sending help, our brothers and sisters there. Tell them all they have sent is coming to us, tell them thank you."

Bochong Mah David, Cameroon

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MRDF & AIDS Education 40 million people worldwide have HIV/AIDS, and more than half of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa. This figure is only an estimate, as many people are too poor to have an AIDS test or are reluctant to be diagnosed, because of the stigma attached to being HIV positive.

There are many ways in which a rich country with high literacy and good infrastructure might be able to respond to an AIDS pandemic, but this is much more difficult for poor countries.

Poverty goes hand in hand with HIV/AIDS. Poor people are less likely to have access to preventative education or health services. They are also more vulnerable to infection, as a less nutritious diet means a weaker immune system.

Increasing levels of HIV/AIDS can cause greater poverty as the ill and their carers are often unable to work. This leaves families without an income and deprives a community of its teachers, health workers or farmers.

Some MRDF projects are directed specifically at tackling HIV/AIDS and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and dealing with the effects of the disease are built into many others.

SALAMA (which means "good health" in the local Emakua language) trains young people in Mozambique to use their creativity to combat the spread of HIV. Actors perform short, educational plays on trains or at football matches. Training in HIV prevention is not only given to community leaders and teachers, but also to young people, so that they can educate their peers.

Community Youth Mobilisation (CYM) supports young people like Precious Chanda in Kabwe District, Zambia. At 13 years old, she left school to get married. She has lost one child to an HIV/AIDS related illness and none of her surviving children are healthy. She cannot afford drugs, but receives counselling and care at a nearby clinic.

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"I'm very happy that Community Youth Mobilisation has come to discuss with us real issues without fear. This project will help my children live longer and to avoid being subjected to early marriages like me - I want other people to learn from my experience, so that they do not pass through what I have gone through."

Precious Chanda, aged 16, Zambia

Age Concern – Help the Aged Both of these organizations grew out of the National Old People’s Welfare Committee (NOPWC), which was created in 1944 as an umbrella organization working to improve older peoples welfare.

The NOPWC became fully independent of the Government in 1971. At that time it changed its name to the more user friendly Age Concern.

Help the Aged Refugees Appeal was set up in 1961 by businessman Cecil Jackson-Cole in response to the needs of older refugees in war torn countries such as Yugoslavia, Bangladesh and Rwanda. The first year’s appeal raised over £100,000. Almost immediately it became involved in supporting older people in the UK. It opened its first permanent gift shop in 1963 in Bexhill.

Care for elderly people now appears to have come full circle because on 1st April 2009, at the third attempt, Age Concern and Help the Aged have merged to become one organization focused on offering assistance to older people.

Peter Farley

The Helston Flora Dance Volunteers do lots of unusual things in our society. But those who organize the Helston Flora (or Furry) Dance must rank somewhere towards the top of any list. When we were in Cornwall recently we made it to Helston in time to see the mid-day dance. The first dance is at 7.00 am so not possible whilst on holiday. We sought local advice as to a good vantage point and 34

eventually the procession of dancers moved slowly past led by half of the Helston Town Band. The other half of the band was in the middle of the line. I can only assume that this was so that those at the rear of the procession would have some rhythm for their dance. It soon became evident that, inevitably, the two halves of the band were not playing together so which beat the dancers followed was probably down to chance. The sight, though, of seventy-four invited couples, born in Helston wearing long dresses or morning suits and top hats, sporting button holes of Lily of the Valley, dancing around the hilly streets of the town and through a selection of the houses and led by a specially chosen couple, certainly rewarded our effort of getting there for the occasion.

We arrived just as the children’s dance was finishing. All the children in the town (apparently about 1,500) dressed in white following the same route with the same band. At least I suppose it meant that everyone learned the music, words and the steps of the dance at a very early age. But the milliners in the town must do a roaring trade in individual white dresses. At least the lads could settle for cricket whites.

The origins of the dance have disappeared into the mists of antiquity. One of the songs, though, talks about Robin Hood and the Spaniards so that may give it some context. Many of the associated legends involve St Michael, the patron Saint of Cornwall fighting with the devil. One derivation of the name Helston arises from Hell’s stone; the stone guarding the mouth of hell, which the devil, in final desperation, threw at St Michael. Other suggestions are more prosaic and are associated with freedom from plague, a bit like well dressing. Either way the dance represented an expression of thanks by the local people for something in the past. Its origins probably predate Christianity and are another expression of the fertility celebrations around May Day to mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Unusual volunteers? I could understand the children’s bit, any excuse for a party and a gathering, but the sight of all of the grey top hats bouncing up and down and expensive frocks whirling round and round on a lot of exhausted bodies was indeed a sight to behold.

Peter Farley 35

A matter of give and take?

Two big issues seriously affect poor countries’ chances of beating poverty.

One is the amount of aid they get.

The other is the amount of debt they repay.

Debt Across the world, impoverished countries are being forced to repay debts far bigger than original loans, instead of spending precious cash on essentials like schools and hospitals.

Bangladesh, for example, has to make crippling debt repayments, when it desperately needs to use money to pay for better health care and education – especially for the 50 million Bangladeshis who survive on under a dollar a day.

Cancelling debt can make a real difference.

Since Zambia’s debt was cancelled in 2005, its government has been able to introduce free health care for people in the countryside – scrapping fees that once stopped millions getting care they needed.

And education got a boost too – extra funds made available by debt relief also paid for 4,500 badly-needed new teachers.

Aid Making sure developing countries get the aid money they need is just as important as cancelling their unpayable debts.

Because aid really works.

Millions of children in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Malawi are now going to school, thanks to a combination of debt relief and aid. And roads built in Ethiopia with foreign aid are now making it easier for children to get to school, people to reach hospital, and farmers to transport and sell their crops.

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But are we giving enough aid?

The short answer is ‘no’ – because rich countries pledged 0.7 per cent of their annual national incomes in foreign aid. And so far, just four nations – Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands – have reached the target.

Oxfam is working hard, encouraging governments and international organisations like the UN to meet their promises on aid, and spend it more effectively, by targeting people who most need help.

Campaign for real change – now Our Health and Education campaign demands that world leaders cancel poor countries’ debts, and increase foreign aid, to help people get good quality health services, schools, colleges, and adult education.

Rich nations made some progress on these issues at the G8 Summit held in 2005, which was targeted by the Make Poverty History campaign. They promised to cancel some of the debts of 42 countries, and give an extra £50 billion in aid by 2010 – half of it to Africa. But two years on, G8 leaders have yet to agree clear plans on how it will make good its promises. We’re pressing them to make sure they do. And soon. from the Oxfam Website

The Cracked Pot (Chinese wisdom!)

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One pot had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily with the woman bringing home only 1½ pots of water. Of course the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. ‘I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.’

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The old woman smiled, ‘Did you notice there are flowers on your side of the path but not on the other pot’s side? That is because I have always known about your flaw so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and everyday while we walk back you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are there would not be this beauty to grace the house.’

Each of us has our own unique flaw…but it is the cracks and flaws we each have which make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. We each need to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

(With acknowledgement to Malton Methodist Church News – Spring 2009) Submitted by Ann Tomes

Methodist Homes for the Aged Sunday This year to be held on the 14th June, Methodist Homes Sunday is an opportunity for: • Celebration of the work of MHA and the value of older people • Awareness of future needs and ways to respond • Fundraising to make a difference to the quality of life for older people • Volunteers to work together • Recognition of the Church in action for older people The Methodist Church has always been a major supporter of the work of MHA. Methodist Homes Sunday offers an annual opportunity for members to donate in support of this work. So - dig deep and support one of our ‘special’ charities.

If you would like more information or even a monthly magazine then please speak to Nick Riley who is Erdington’s MHA Representative.

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June 2009 Regular Meetings Coffee Mornings Every Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon

Women’s Hour Meetings Meetings on Mondays at 2.00 pm each month

Tuesday Club Every 4th Tuesday in the month at 2.00 pm

Sunday Worship All worship starts at 10.30 am unless stated otherwise below 7th

TRINITY SUNDAY - John McGinnigle

14th

METHODIST HOMES SUNDAY - Jean Evanson

21st

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Rev Nichola Jones LICHFIELD RD FINAL SERVICE - 6.00 pm

28th

Glynn Constantine

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Weekly Church Activities Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church (with crèche : Margaret Hillman)

7.30 pm

House Group : Hilary Price (3rd Sunday)

Monday

2.00 pm

Women’s Hour :

Tuesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.00 noon 2.30 pm

Stay and Play Pre-School : Karen Homer Tuesday Afternoon Meeting : Valerie Long (4th)

Wednesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.00 noon 12.30 pm

Stay and Play Pre-School : Karen Homer Luncheon Club - (1st and 3rd)

Thursday

9.30 - 12.00 noon

Pre-School : Karen Homer

Friday

5.00 - 6.15 pm 6.15 - 7.45 pm 7.45 - 9.15 pm 7.45 - 9.15 pm 5.30 - 6.30 pm 5.00 - 6.30 pm 7.30 - 9.00 pm

Beavers : Lynn Turner Cubs : Elizabeth Baizon Scouts : Lisa Porter Explorers : Caroline Joyce Rainbows : Louise Rawson Brownies : Lesley Carter Guides : Helen Rainsford

Saturday

10.00 - 12.00 noon Coffee Morning : Lesley Morgan 10.30 - 11.30 am Church open for prayer : Margaret Curzon

Please hand any items for the July/August CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Elizabeth Baizon, Peter Farley, Nichola Jones, Christine Rankin & Nick Riley) by 15th June 2009 at the latest please or alternatively email me on nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk 40