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Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church !

Station Road - December/January 2013 1

Contents

Minister’s Letter! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Another Book Group Recommendation! ! ! ! ! !

Family News!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Selling items for the Vision Project! ! ! ! ! ! !

Could you write a prayer for the Methodist !

Prayer Handbook?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

November Vision Report! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hymns now feature in Methodist Church’s App! ! ! !

Young Methodists change and challenge the Church! ! !

Unique Advent calendar opens window of opportunity for charities!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The Bible! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Dickens Quiz!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Help required for Christmas Lunches! ! ! ! ! !

Macmillan Coffee Morning Thanks! ! ! ! ! ! !

Children’s Pages! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

A Privilege! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Get your sleep! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

What the donkey saw! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Runs Over! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The Annual Property Review – Autumn 2013!! ! ! !

Prayer of Thanks at Christmas! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Bad Girls of the Bible!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Sir Robert Hunter?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Stronger!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Christmas Dates for your Diary!! ! ! ! ! ! !

Christmas Open Air Service! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

December Regular Meetings! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Weekly Church Activities! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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Minister’s Letter

" Dear friends!

‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ Thus wrote the writer of Ecclesiastes more than 2500 years ago. In December and January we measure out some of those times and seasons. We begin with Advent – a time of waiting. Many of us aren’t good at waiting. Encouraged by the shops, we begin Christmas way too early, filling in the Big Nothing of waiting. But stopping and waiting, especially that waiting which is a faithful waiting on God, is an important part of the rhythm of life. Without it, we rush headlong from one thing to another, never pausing to check what direction we’re travelling in.

We miss a wonderful gift and are diminished if we rush past Advent.!

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Then, of course, come Christmas and New Year. Times for celebration, wonder and joy, much needed in the winter gloom!

Also, however, they are difficult times for some: the homeless, the hungry, the bereaved . . . The Christmas story gathers them all up as we reflect on the birth of Jesus (hooray!) who came not to live a charmed life in a twee shire but entered into the depths of human life and experience to redeem us. His birth was such a worlddefining event that everything is either ‘Before Christ’ or in the ‘Year of the Lord’ (Anno Domini).!

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New Year is, for most of us I guess, a mixture of the above! ‘I’ll be glad when this year is over,’ someone said to me last week, looking forward to January as a new start. The great forces of nature and mortality roll on regardless, ignoring that we’ve turned the calendar and started a new diary. What we can do, however, is to 3

draw on the strength and inspiration we have gained through Advent and Christmas, and venture into the unknown times ahead with our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, carefully determining what pleases the Lord.!

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The received wisdom for ministers beginning appointments is to watch, listen and learn for the first year. It’s good advice!

However, it is already clear that there are opportunities to be seized, issues to be tackled and initiatives to be taken. With the future in mind, let’s use Advent, Christmas and New Year as opportunities to wait patiently on God, to rejoice in his presence with us, and to move forward with him.!

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Your friend and minister!

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Rev Paul!

" Another Book Group Recommendation

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family. The Thirteenth Tale is a book lover's book, with much of the action taking place in libraries and book stores; the line between fact and fiction constantly blurred. Who are the ‘ghosts’, what is the real identity of the central character and what is the ‘thirteenth tale’ ?

Drama, tragedy, romance and mystery – it is all there. The story has been dramatised for television, to be shown sometime over Christmas. I will certainly look out for that.! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Hilary Price!

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Family News

" We give a warm welcome to Gail Morgan, who is training at the Queen’s Foundation to be a deacon and who will be sharing in the life of our church - when lectures, assignments and placements permit! Gail writes:! !

I have lived for many years in a village in Lancashire and am excited that I have the opportunity to live and learn in a city.

Thank you for the warm welcome. I am really looking forward to being part of your church family and getting to know you all.!

I will be coming on a Friday evening to spend time with the uniformed groups and hopefully to have some conversations as I am told you have a small café area on a Friday evening. !

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Knowing nothing about Erdington I will be walking around so I am able to learn more about the community and hope you don’t mind me asking lots of questions.!

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Praying that our time together will be fruitful as we journey together in faith.!

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Praying that you know God’s love, joy and peace in your lives.!

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With every blessing!

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Gail Morgan!

Student Deacon!

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Selling items for the Vision Project

As you will be aware I have been selling items on Ebay (internet auction site) to raise money for our Vision Project. The past two months have been very successful and so far I have raised ÂŁ1500. I would personally like to thank Brian and Marjorie Barnett, Margaret Hillman and the members Trefoil Guild who have donated scout and guide memorabilia to our cause.!

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All sorts of items sell on Ebay. The buyer pays the postage or they will collect the item in person. If you think you may have something to sell please see myself, Lesley Carter or Anne Churcher.!

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Thank you!

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Lesley Carter (Brownie leader)!

NB Trefoil Guild are ladies who have an interest in guiding. They meet each month at our church.!

" Could you write a prayer the Methodist Prayer Handbook?

The 2014-2015 handbook 'Partners in Sacrifice' will look at our everyday sacrifices as God's people and how these are joined to God's permanent sacrifice on the cross. The title comes from the hymn 'The Church of Christ, in every age', by Fred Pratt Green (StF 415). Prayers should not exceed 120 words or 12 lines. Shorter prayers and prayers for specific themes or countries are more likely to be used.!

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November Vision Report

This will be a short, but very encouraging report. Not only have we got consent for the project from the Birmingham District, who have awarded us £24,500, and with other grants coming in our total in cash and pledges to £102,000! This is wonderful and thanks go to all of you for your support in cash and kind.!

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Recently we received a donation of £400 towards the disabled ramp, and last week we heard that there had been a successful application to the Fenton Arts Trust for £4500 towards the fused glass windows at the front. You will hear more of this later. Some of you will have met Rose Waits who was at our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 9th, with her attractive handmade glass. She completed her degree in this subject, last July, and was invited to show some of her work at the Business design Centre in London, where she won a prize. She has done several designs for us and is very excited about doing something for our church windows.!

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We will arrange an opportunity for everyone to see them as soon as possible.!

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We must not lose sight of the fact that there is another side to this project apart from finance. It is not all about a bright and attractive building, but about the people who will be welcomed through the doors.!

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The Christmas Fayre was financially successful certainly, but only due to the fact that a good number of people came in.

Those who ran stalls from outside, Lyn and Geoff, Jo and Rose, all commented how much they had enjoyed the morning, and what a lovely atmosphere there was. The Remembrance Day service was wonderful with a large congregation there too. !

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By the time you read this we will have had our next event, the Quiz Night on the 16th. Many of the tickets have been sold, ensuring, not only a healthy profit, but another buzz of people in the building. 2014 should be an exciting year!!

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" " Hymns now feature on

Methodist Church's app

Hilary Price!

The hymn website Singing the Faith plus (StF+) is now fully integrated into the Methodist Church’s app, so if you already have that on your phone or iPad there’s no need to download anything new.

On the app’s home screen you will find a link to the lectionary suggestions. From here you can call up the lectionary readings and all the information StF+ has for each hymn.!

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Young Methodists change and challenge the Church at 3Generate

About 250 Methodist young people aged between 8 and 25 gathered together last weekend (15-17 November) at the Pioneer Centre in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, for 3Generate 2013, the Methodist Youth Assembly. Together they made important decisions which will affect the life of the Church.!

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The theme was the call to love God, love yourself and love others (Matthew 22.34-40; Mark 12.28-31).!

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In different sessions they engaged with issues such as stress, conflict, bullying and self-esteem, as well as focusing on the Street Child World Cup, mental health and forgiveness. There was also a chance to speak out about issues relating to life, community, the world and the Church.!

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Alongside this there were acts of worship, diary room sessions, graffiti boards and animation to capture the young people's voices, as well as activities like archery, high wires and parachute games.!

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During the weekend Megan Thomas from Kerry, Powys in Wales was elected as the Methodist youth president for 2014-2015. She will represent children and young people within the Methodist Church and speak out on their behalf. About her role, Kerry said, "I want to help the Methodist Church use one of its greatest resources, which is the youth. I don't want any Methodist young person to feel that their age silences them."!

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from the Methodist Church News Service!

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Unique Advent calendar opens window of opportunity for charities

" The UK's only Fairtrade charity Advent calendar with a free copy of the Christmas story in the box is set to raise £25,000 for the Children's Society.!

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The Real Advent Calendar has a window for each day of December, behind which is a Belgian chocolate star and a line from the Christmas story.!

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The Advent calendar is the latest in a line of products from the Meaningful Chocolate Company, following the success of the Real Easter Egg, launched in 2011.

More than £100,000 has now been raised for charitable projects.!

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Tesco is the only supermarket stocking the calendar this year. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu said: “The Real Advent Calendar offers a unique way to share the Christmas story while supporting The Children’s Society and Fairtrade. I believe it will be widely welcomed by all.” He is urging people to buy a Real Advent calendar this year.!

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from the Parish Pump Website!

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The Bible

Don’t know your Bible as well as you would like? Do you struggle to see how the different parts all fit together? Help is coming via your TV! THE BIBLE is an epic 10-hour mini-series that will be broadcast this December on Channel 5. The series brings to life the dramatic tales of faith and courage in the most widely-read book of all time. Breath-taking in scope and scale it features powerful performances, exotic locations and cutting-edge visual effects to create a spectacular television event that will entertain and inspire the whole family. From Genesis to Revelation, THE BIBLE series features some of the most famous stories ever written and some of

the most iconic characters.!

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The Bible starts on Saturday 30th November at 9pm on Channel 5.!

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Dickens Quiz

These quotes are from books written by Charles Dickens. Can you name the titles and also the person who is speaking?!

" 1. “We are so very 'umble.” ! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 2. “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to all the world.” ! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 3. "I'll beat you with an iron rod, I'll scratch you with a rusty nail, I'll pinch your eyes, if you talk to me – I will."! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 4. “Come nearer. Let me look at you. Come close. Look at me. You aren't afraid of a woman who has never seen the sun since before you were born?”! ……………………………………………………………………...... !

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5. “Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.” ! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 6. "What do you watch me for? Why are you awake? What have you seen? Speak out, boy! Quick--quick! For your life." ! ……………………………………………………………………….. !

" 7. 'Something Will Turn Up'! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 8. “And I am bored to death with it. Bored to death with this place, bored to death with my life, bored to death with myself.”! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" 9. “If the young man comes to be a teacher here, let him understand, at once, that we don't want any foolery about the boys.

They have the brimstone and treacle, partly because if they hadn't something or other in the way of medicine they'd be always ailing and giving a world of trouble, and partly because it spoils their appetites and comes cheaper than breakfast and dinner.” ……………………………………………………………………….. !

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10. “It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done. It's a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.”! ………………………………………………………………………..!

" Answers on page 31! !

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Barbara Rawson!

" Help required for Christmas Lunches

To ensure that the work involved in providing lunches at Stockland Green Methodist goes ahead with an even distribution for those involved we need help with the following tasks on Christmas Day please:!

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Providing Car Lifts to bring people to the meal!

Making up meals onto plates!

Returning people home afterwards!

Waiters distributing meals to tables!

If you are able to assist with any of the above, please contact: ! !

Yvonne Huggins !

Email: yvonnehg123@hotmail.com!

Telephone: 07903 911683 or !

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Yvette Huggins !

Email: YHuggins1@aol.com !

Our most grateful thanks for any help you can give us. Macmillan !

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Coffee Morning Thanks

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A Privilege

I think that I have written before that one of the delights of being retired is the ability to listen to Radio 4 after 9.00am. The other day it happened to be Desert Island Discs. The castaway was Sir Ken Robinson, formerly an education adviser to Tony Blair. He recounted leading a working party of the great and the good, including Dawn French, Lenny Henry, Simon Rattle and Susan Greenfield, which suggested that creativity should be part of the national curriculum. Like you, I suspect, I had no recollection of this, which is indicative of its reception and how much impression it made upon the Government of the time.!

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It is possible, though, to draw one sobering result from this.

Creativity is what leads to innovation and invention and in the end, as a trading nation, it is what puts food on our tables. As a country we are not as good at this as we used to be. In 2010 people in the UK applied for approximately 42,000 patents and we ranked seventh in the world, behind Japan (more than 500,000), US, China, South Korea, Germany and France. Not bad you say, except that out of this group we were the only country where the overall number was decreasing. I suspect that this may be why the Government is getting slightly excited about encouraging girls into science and engineering.!

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However, to return to the desert island. During Ken’s discussions with Kirsty he talked about moving to America and still being very busy and he reminded everyone of the proverb ‘don’t regret getting old, it is a privilege denied to many’. This reminded me of an exchange I had occasionally with my mother, who spent much of the last couple of years of her life restricted in what she was able to do because of a problem with her heart. She used to say, ‘Don’t 18

ever get old’. I repeated this to my brother-in-law-in-law one day who responded with, ‘Yes, but best just get on with it, you’re a long time dead’. !

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Whilst I was musing, a moment from my youth returned. At the tender age of about 17 I was enamoured of a girl who was half Belgian. I forget what the other half was but I remember that she used to wax lyrical about the delights of living in Lebanon, a previous Belgian colony, walking on the beach in the morning and skiing in the mountains in the afternoon. I sometimes think of that when I hear about the violence there. I used to ride my bike round to her flat after school and get into trouble with her Mum because she expected me to stay outside the front door when there was no one else present. Her slightly younger sister was not an acceptable chaperone. How times have changed. But our friendship never came to anything because Mum went back to Belgium and took daughters with her. From the Youth Group we gave her a Bible.

Our minister at the time wrote inside the front cover, amongst other things ‘live each day as if it was your last’, a proverb which recently came to the fore because Steve Jobs the man from Apple used it.!

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It was the positive side of both these proverbs that stayed with me when I re-joined the real world after I turned off the radio. Others express it differently when they say ‘I still have lots that I want to achieve’. I always seem to have something to do, working, studying and writing. Moya says that it is my Non-conformist work ethic. !

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My Saturday radio treat is ‘Saturday Live’ and I like the Inheritance Tracks bit, where people talk about important moments in their 19

lives. I often think ‘what would I say?’ and I think that for me one of the important things is not to have regrets because regrets come back to haunt me. One year I had a place in the London Marathon.

I had trained as far as 16 miles and then a damaged my knee skiing, so the Marathon was off. Unfortunately, by the following year my hip wouldn’t allow me to run beyond a couple of miles and that regret is almost as sharp today as it was then. !

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Maybe that is what it is. When I come to the end I don’t want to have to look at myself in the mirror and think about the things that I might have done, but I didn’t because I was too busy playing Hearts on my computer.!

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Perhaps as a child I listened to too many sermons about God’s little black book! Thankfully theology, like standing at the flat doorway, has moved on since then. Now we talk about the Christian gift of living life in all its abundance and we can all contribute to that.!

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Peter Farley!

A good night’s sleep clears your mind - literally. A recent study has found that our brains use our sleep time to flush toxic material out of the brain’s cells. This is because the brain only has limited energy at its disposal, and must juggle its jobs a bit. Think of it like one of the Christmas parties you will attend this month: your hosts can either entertain you or clean up the plates and clutter, but they can’t really do both at the same time. The study was done at the University of Rochester in the USA.!

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WHAT THE DONKEY SAW

No room in the inn, of course, And not that much in the stable, What with the shepherds, Magi, Mary, Joseph, the heavenly host - Not to mention the baby Using our manger as a cot.

You couldn't have squeezed another cherub in For love nor money.

Still, in spite of the overcrowding, I did my best to make them feel wanted.

I could see the baby and I Would be going places together. !

U.A.Fanthorpe !

" Born 1929 in Kent, died at the age of 79 in 2009. U.A. Fanthorpe was Head of English at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and worked as a receptionist in a neurological hospital. In her mid-forties she opted out and became “a middle-aged drop-out in order to write.”

In 2001 she was awarded the CBE followed in 2003 by the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.! !

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Barbara Rawson!

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Runs over

A father gave his daughter a young puppy for Christmas. An hour later, he found her in the kitchen, looking sadly at a puddle in the centre of the floor. “Look Dad,” she said, “My pup runneth over!”!

" " The Annual Property Review - Autumn 2013

" Most of you will know that at each October meeting of the Church Council we have to formally report on the condition of our property and this report is then entered on line for consideration by, in the first instance, the Sutton Park Circuit and then the Birmingham District. We can now confirm that this has been completed for 2013.!

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Whilst the main, and it follows major, items of improvement currently fall within the Vision project the Finance and Property Committee were concerned that other, perhaps smaller but equally important, items of maintenance might be getting overlooked. A list of these items was then prepared and presented to the Finance and Property meeting in October.!

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The list is split into two parts – (A) items which require the services of external contractors and are part of our ongoing programme of maintenance and actioned when funds are available and (B) other items which simply ‘just need doing’! Some items have already been completed since the meeting. However the lists are NOT exhaustive and if you notice anything else that we might have forgotten please let me know (preferably in writing!)!

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LIST (A) – those items requiring external support!

Room and/or Location Car Park Fence Garden area

Suggested Action Needs replacing Review in due course

Emergency Route – Main Install emergency Hall to Car Park lighting Remove wooden gates Main Corridor Test clean or paint brickwork Disabled Toilet Resite and widen door Kitchen Replace faulty light fittings Worship Area Replace spotlights Replace ceiling lights Outer Fluorescent tubes Toilets behind the stage Replace Stage Create new storage cupboards at rear of the stage – for rent!

Main Hall Replace curtain track Repaint lower levels Floor – patch uneven sections Replace tables with smaller ‘gopaks’ Games Room Replace tables Landing corridor Repair floor

Status 7th November 2013 Noted on Schedule “A” Lesley is co-ordinating garden care with a group of people with disabilities Completed

Completed Completed Obtaining quote Review after Vision project See List (B)

After re-filling holes (List “B”)

Authorised by Church Council – 16th October

" LIST (B) – those items we believe we can complete ourselves!! on next page!

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Room and/ or Location Access road Car Park Patio by main hall Rear entrance Corridor

Gallery Room 4 Pram Room Stage

Main Hall

Suggested Action 7th

Status !

November 2013

Repaint the barrier Remove old sign from fence Clean Replace door mat Refit metal kick panel Review/tidy up Community Board Erect new Safeguarding board Remove old fire alarm Paint panels (over doors) Sort storage area Mural – finish or remove Sort crèche storage Table tennis tables Agree where to store church chairs Agree where to store the black staging Clear the rubbish!

Blue curtains – remove or vacuum and re-hang Maroon curtains – vacuum and re-hang Curtains – vacuum and rehang Clean windows Check emergency doors Re-fill holes in lower walls Upper walls – clean?

Check floor re. trolley movements

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Take advice re detergents Taped down as temporary measure

In hand

Discuss!

Do we still need them?

After curtain rail refitted Sticking?

It may well be that some of the items on list “B” are resolved as a matter of course but at the October Church Council it was agreed that in early Spring 2014 we would hold a couple of ‘maintenance days’ to complete any items that remain and I was asked to let you all know what needed to be done so you had some advance notice! Well, there’s the list and we will let you know the date(s) within the next couple of months. ! !

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Thanks in advance for your help.!

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Gerald Peel!

" Prayer of Thanks at Christmas

Loving God of Christmas, In this year when we have welcomed the birth of a baby, born to be King of this country for a generation, we thank you for the everlasting gift of your precious son, Jesus, King of all Kings, whose reign will last for ever and ever.!

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Thank you that he became one of us; that he lived and died and rose again so that we might be offered the gift of eternal life. Please open our eyes and ears and hearts this Christmas, by the power of your Holy Spirit. May we see, hear and experience the peace and joy, comfort and life, which is your Christmas present to us, wrapped up in the presence of Jesus. Emmanuel, God actually with us, today!!

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Thank you, thank you Lord. Amen.!

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By Daphne Kitching!

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Bad Girls of the Bible!

A series of studies for women looking at some ! shady ladies of scripture who have so much to teach us!

" " At Stockland Green Methodist Church! !

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Tuesday evenings 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm!

4th February 2014!

11th February 2014!

25th February 2014!

4th March 2014!

11th March 2014!

18th March 2014!

25th March 2014!

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Each study stands alone so if you can’t manage all the dates, ! then come along to those you are able to

" For ladies from Witton, Erdington and !

Stockland Green Methodist Churches !

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Sir Robert Hunter?

When someone comes to visit on a sunny afternoon and you want to go out for tea and a cake, where are you most likely to go? If you want to be a volunteer and do something worthwhile and unusual, what might you think about doing? If you were concerned about preserving something important, either dead or alive and were seeking helpful advice where might you turn for help? I think you will have guessed by now, The National Trust, the saviour of our countryside, the preserver of our coastline and the seller of millions of cups of tea. The heritage whose membership dwarfs our political parties and whose volunteers must exceed any other organisation; 12,000 room stewards, 120 firemen, 15 pilots, two bee keepers and a shepherd. It is almost unique across the world. There is no other organisation, which matches it range, success, membership or influence. Some might say it is too powerful. However there is always a need for someone to tell truth to power and on occasions the breadth and depth of this organisation is crucial to getting its message across.!

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The Trust was constituted on 12th January 1895.

The vision of three pioneers; Octavia Hill, the housing reformer, Sir Robert Hunter, solicitor of the Commons Preservation Society and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, a Lake District clergyman. The Trust was given the power to ‘promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the Nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty of historic 27

interest’. Others who were influential included John Ruskin and Beatrix Potter. The Trust’s first acquisition in 1895 was 4.5 acres of Welsh cliffs above Cardigan Bay (Dinas Oleu). Fannie Talbot donated it into the custody of some society that will never vulgarise it… I wish to avoid the abomination of asphalt paths and cast iron seats of serpentine design. How times have changed.

Interestingly it was a grandson of Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, Commander Rawnsley who played a leading role in the rejuvenation of the Trust in the 1960s and the instigation of Enterprise Neptune which aims to preserve as much of our shore line and cliff tops as possible.!

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Why am I reminding you of this? Well we have just past the centenary of the death of one of the National Trust founders, Sir Robert Hunter, the legal mind behind the original trust.

Unfortunately very little is known about this remarkable man.

There is no marker for his birthplace or his grave. It is however thanks to him that the National Trust is the organisation that it is and that London is now one of Europe’s greenest cities. !

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Spare a thought for him when you tuck into tea and carrot cake on a sunny afternoon next year.!

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Peter Farley!

Statistics prove we're all getting stronger. Fifty years ago you needed an estate car to hold £50 worth of Christmas presents.

Twenty years ago, it took two people to carry £20 worth of Christmas groceries - now a five-year-old can do it.!

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Christmas Dates for your Diary

" Sunday! 1st December!4.00 pm!!

Christingle Service!

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Saturday 14th December 11.00 am! Christmas Open Air Service! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Churches Together in !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Erdington!

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Sunday 15th December 10.30 am!

All Age Worship & Gift Service!

Friday 20th December 6.00 pm! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Uniformed Organisations !

Carol Service!

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Saturday 21st December 10.00 am! Carol Singing outside church ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! for Methodist Relief & ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Development Fund (MRDF)!

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Sunday 22nd December 4.00 pm!

Carol Service with Nativity!

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Tuesday 24th December 11.30 pm! Midnight Communion!

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Wednesday 25th December 10.00 am! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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Christmas Day Service led

by David Hewitt & !

Worship Group!

Sunday 19th January 2014 4.00 pm! Week of Prayer for Christian ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Unity Service - Churches ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Together in Erdington!

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Churches Together in Erdington!

Christmas!

Open Air Service!

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" Saturday 14th December!

11.00 am! outside the Co-op!

Erdington High Street!

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Coffee Mornings

Each Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon!

" Tuesday Club

Every 4th Tuesday in the month at 2.30 pm!

" Sunday Worship

All worship starts at 10.30 am unless stated otherwise below.

NB. Christmas Services are detailed on page 29.!

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December!

1st! !

HOLY COMMUNION - Rev Paul Dunstan!

8th! !

Pat Padley!

15th!!

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Rev Paul Dunstan!

22nd!

Jack McGinnigle!

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January!

5th! !

Sue Hall!

12th!!

COVENANT SERVICE - Rev Paul Dunstan!

19th!!

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Linda Crowe!

26th!!

HOMELESSNESS SUNDAY - Bob Dauncey!

"

Answers: Novels by Charles Dickens !

1. David Copperfield - Uriah Heep!!

7. David Copperfield - Wilkins Micawber !

2. A Christmas Carol - Scrooge !

8. Bleak House - Lady Dedlock!

!

3. The Old Curiosity Shop - Daniel Quilp!

9. Nicholas Nickleby – Mrs Squeers!

4. Great Expectations - Miss Havisham ! 10. A Tale of Two Cities – Sydney Carton !

5. Martin Chuzzlewit - Tigg !

6. Oliver Twist - Fagin!

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Weekly Church Activities

" Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church

Tuesday

9.30 - 12.30 pm 2.00 pm

Pre-School : Karen Homer Tuesday Afternoon Meeting : Ann Tomes (4th)

Wednesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.30 pm 12.30 pm

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

Thursday

9.30 - 12.30 pm

Pre-School : Karen Homer

Friday

9.30 - 12.30 pm 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

Pre-School : Karen Homer Beavers : Lynn Turner Cubs : Elizabeth Baizon Scouts : Lisa Porter Explorers : Caroline Joyce Rainbows : Debbie Barnett Brownies : Lesley Carter Guides : Helen Rainsford

Saturday

10.00 - 12.00 noon 10.30 - 11.30 am

Coffee Morning : Lesley Morgan Church open for prayer : Margaret Curzon

" Please hand any items for the February CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Peter Farley, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th January 2014 at the latest please or alternatively email me: nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk with the word ‘CONTACT’ in the title.

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