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Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - May 2016 1

Contents Minister’s Letter Coffee Mornings in May A Wonderful Concert St Chad’s Sanctuary Church Stewards An appetite to queue!

An invite from South Parade The silent sermon Our Vision My first Scout Camp, August 1955 Christian Aid Week - 15–21 May 2016 He gave us eyes to see them in Stained Glass windows May Regular Meetings Coffee Mornings Tuesday Club Sunday Worship Weekly Church Activities

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Minister’s Letter Dear friends Nearly two thousand years ago a movement burst onto world history. It set people free, healed them, revitalised them and, above all, made them spine-tinglingly aware of God. It became a people passionately concerned for each other and for the vulnerable and needy in the world. It opened up visions of a bright new future that made people dream and long for change. It was, of course, the Church.

In time it subverted the Roman Empire and provided education and health care for the masses, and many other things besides. It showed the world that there is no such thing as a helpless situation or a hopeless cause, that God turns our weaknesses into grace-filled opportunities. It was driven not by greed or a desire for power, but by love for God and for humanity.

Sadly, in some places, this movement has cooled and fossilised.

Where that happens, even making changes to the Church furniture can be controversial and difficult: one writer comments that many congregations sit on seventeenth century furniture and sing eighteenth century songs accompanied by a nineteenth century instrument, with the result that they’re not quite ready for the twentieth century let alone the twenty-first!

There may be many reasons why this fossilisation happens. In a sense the reasons don’t matter. There is only one person who can prevent or reverse it. That person swept into the Church on the day of Pentecost, like a wind and a fire. When people encountered 3

that person, in a mysterious way they encountered Jesus. Just as some welcomed Jesus and some rejected him, so they did with the Holy Spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us to do the work of Jesus Christ, who enables us to witness for Jesus in the world. Like living water, he brings refreshment and renewal. He enables us, in Jesus’ name, to dream dreams. And to do the things we dream of.

Will you allow God’s Holy Spirit to breathe in you, and through you? Will you seek and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to fill you with his presence? Will you live and bring life to others in Jesus’ name?

Your friend and minister Rev Paul

Coffee Mornings in May The following coffee mornings are being held in May: 7th May Jamie Chiari's Operation Fund 14th May Christian Aid 21st May Erdington Women's Institute 28th May CURRENTLY FREE -please fill in your name on the list in the corridor if you can cover this date June 4th is still also free and I would appreciate volunteers to do this date also.

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A Wonderful Concert Maintenance of a large building such as ours is ongoing, and budgeted for, but some items, such as the organ, choose their own times to fail. To have it repaired and brought up to standard would cost £55,000 which was out of the question, particularly as we were already in the middle of the Vision Project; in any case it may not have been money wisely spent.

Luckily we have Nick – a very accomplished and knowledgeable organist, among many other items of technology! He and Barbara went to see the digital organ installed in Lichfield Methodist Church and they were hooked. We know that it is sad to be losing our pipe organ but there is no choice.

Certainly on Saturday evening April 9th, at the first main fundraising effort, we could be forgiven for thinking that maybe there was some mistake! What a wonderful evening we had and what an incredible sound Nick brought forth from the organ close to its demise!

The evening was organised by Nick and Barbara, and the Organ Project got off to a flying start with a very suitable Flourish for an Occasion by Noel Rawsthorne. What a super programme followed!

Nick shared the evening with Catherine Mason, a professional soprano, and her choice of songs, accompanied by Barbara, complemented Nick’s organ recital beautifully, 5

In the first half Nick played pieces by Mendelssohn, Bizet, Sousa and this part finished with J.S. Bach’s Short Prelude and Fugue no 8.

Catherine gave us a chance to join in with songs from The Sound of Music and Novello’s We’ll Gather Lilacs in the Spring Again. She also sang one particularly demanding song by Roger Quilter entitled Weep You No More.

The second half danced off with a modern piece, Renaissance Rondel written by Andrew Fletcher. Most of you will recognise this as Nick has played it several times after a service. I am waiting for the time when Nick plays it again and the minister heads off in a Pavane out of the church, followed by the congregation! Great!

We were treated to the whole of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March which I am sure many of us haven’t heard in its entirety before.

After a few more songs from Catherine, Nick played his final organ solo - J.S. Bach’s Praeludium in G. I don’t apologise for giving Bach two mentions as I am a great Baroque fan!

Finally, the evening finished with these two great soloists performing a duet of Rutter’s – Clare Benediction; a lovely end to a superb evening.

Thank you to Nick, Catherine and Barbara. More thanks too to Nick who created an informative PowerPoint presentation and to Christine and Lindsay who helped to run the raffle and provide 6

welcome refreshments during the interval. The evening raised over £570 which was a great start and it was good to see so many people there.

Please look out for more musical treats – The Severn Trent Choir and some musical coffee mornings.

Hilary Price

St Chad’s Sanctuary Once again we are collecting items of clothing for St Chad’s Sanctuary, to help with their work amongst Asylum Seekers.

Please only donate items on this list

• • • •

Young style slim menswear Men’s trainers and socks size 7-10 Men’s t shirts New ladies underwear small/medium

Please give items to a Steward.

Thank You Anne Churcher

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Church Stewards The most obvious thing we see Church Stewards doing is welcoming the preacher and the congregation at the start of a service. But the Church Stewards have a far more important role in the life of the Church. They are ‘corporately responsible’ with the Minister ‘for giving leadership and help over the whole range of the church’s life and activity’, and to ‘uphold and act upon the decisions and policies of the Church Council’ (Standing Order 633, if you must know!).

Leadership is the key word. The Methodist Church defines leadership formally as: ‘the set of interactions through which • people are inspired to be imaginative and to participate in the development of new vision, and are empowered to share their ideas and act upon them…

• action is initiated and people encouraged to follow.’

Very soon we shall be electing our Church Stewards for the coming year, at the annual meeting on 8th May. All Church members are part of this. Please think and pray now and ask who in the life of our Church can inspire people with ideas and get them involved in the action. Then approach them and ask them to consider being nominated as a Church steward, and submit a nomination form by 24 April. Nomination forms are available at Church, from Gerald Peel or from the current Stewards.

Rev Paul 8

An appetite to queue!

After reading the article about queueing in the April edition of Contact I thought it might be 'quite interesting' for you to know that 'I queue' deliberately on a regular basis when training a guide dog puppy.

I understand the frustrations of the writer who observed the universal truth that no matter which checkout queue you find yourself in, the other queues move more quickly. However, I have become accustomed to seek out the longest, slowest queues in the supermarket as it helps to develop in the puppy the sort of behaviour it will be expected to have as a guide dog. It is important to be able to keep calm amidst the crowd and remain patient as you slowly progress to the cashier. There are many distractions to deal with as many of the fellow queuers want to stroke the dog or ask questions about the training process, or there may be several children crying; jumping; screaming or EATING! In each case it can be difficult to keep the dog under control.

Some of you will remember my first puppy, Polo, the lovely black lab/retriever cross. He found it very difficult to keep all four paws on the floor at the same time and I remember he was always determined to jump up as high as possible to glimpse the cashier.

Leon, my last puppy, was quite different. From the first time I took him in a supermarket he sat quietly, moving along, when asked, in a calm manner. He surprised many of the other shoppers who couldn't believe he was so young. One of my favourite places to queue is the Post Office in Erdington, particularly around 9

Christmas when the queue often lengthens to reach half way down the store in which it is situated. Magic!

You may also find it 'quite interesting' to know that Leon is currently advancing very well in his training in Harborne. He is now in his 8th week and his trainer says I shall be able to go to see him at work in a few weeks. She tells me that he is a joy to work with and she is delighted with his attitude and progress.

Thanks must go to all of you for helping to make this success possible.

Lesley Morgan

An invite from South Parade Hello fellow Circuiteers!

Just to say I hope we might see some of you at our annual quiz at South Parade on Saturday 7th May. I am setting the questions with a round all about Erdington (she lied!). I hope it will be fairly light hearted and not too taxing on the brain.

If you are interested in coming along, even if you haven't enough for a team, then please do as we can make up teams on the night.

All the best, Mandy "I ask the questions round here" Hume

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The silent sermon A member of a certain church, who had previously attended services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the minister decided to visit him. He found the man at home all alone, sitting by a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his minister's visit, the man welcomed him awkwardly, and led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The minister made himself at home, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. But now the minister chose this time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead bit of coal and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more, with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. With that, the minister smiled at his host, and quietly let himself out. from the Parish Pump Website

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Our Vision

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My first Scout Camp, August 1955 Just like today going to camp involved much preparation work for the leaders! The annual August camp in this particular year was to be a week at a farm in Kirk Michael in the Isle of Man so all the group equipment had to be sent in advance by rail and sea. All the heavy tents and poles were securely wrapped and labelled with the remaining equipment being packed into a number of tea chests and a very large wicker basket. The tea chests lids were nailed on and firm leather straps ensured the wicker basket did not open during the journey. Some four weeks before camp a maroon ‘British Railways’ flatbed truck came and off went our precious equipment.

Cubs moved to scouts on their eleventh birthday. I had been in a school cub pack where my mum was ‘Akela’. She was a retired teacher who ‘retired’ after twelve years to bring up the family (just ask Lindsay if you want to know how daunting that might have been for the cubs!). My birthday being at the end of June meant that I had only been in scouts five weeks when I went to camp for the first time. At that time my dad was Group scout Leader; Bill “Skipper” Sharp, who owned the local sweet shop, was the Scout Leader and John Dibb, known as “Taavi”, added youth to the leadership team.

In Central Yorkshire cubs were only allowed to go on indoor ‘pack holidays’ so there was a real thrill of anticipation about going to camp. I wore my new scout shirt and the blue and green neckerchief of the 9th Airedale with pride and carefully packed all 18

my kit (including a new, orange ‘Good Companions’ sleeping bag together with our own plates, mug and cutlery) into my new ‘Bergen’ rucksack. As all the kit had to be carried – by me – weight was kept to a minimum.

We all met on the platform of Leeds City station at about 4.00 pm on the Friday afternoon. Hissing steam trains increased the excitement. Would ours have a name and would it be one the train spotters amongst us had not seen before? Our kit was stowed in the guard’s van and off we went to Liverpool Lime Street. A short walk and we were in the docks ready to board the overnight ferry to Douglas.

Having been brought up as a good Methodist the crossing was . . . enlightening! Most of our fellow passengers were both rowdy and drunk but apparently that was normal for a Friday night. We arrived in the Isle of Man early on the Saturday morning when we were met by a coach that took us to our campsite.

The campsite was a large meadow behind the farm house. It was flat and had a large fresh water stream running along the bottom and woodland at either side. Agreeing the site layout was a major event for our two leaders who seemed to spend ages checking the wind direction. Although the camp fire was centrally located and the two patrol tents were pitched some way from the stream the reason for getting this correct soon became obvious - where to dig the latrines! This task seemed to take all day and I imagined it was similar to digging a grave. The fourteen scouts took it in turns to dig in shifts but eventually it was finished and building the seating structure began. This was entrusted to the patrol leaders who, at least in theory, were well practised in the art of tying square 19

lashings. Never had there been a greater need to do this correctly as a collapse at the wrong time would have had major consequences!

Camp started in earnest on the Sunday. One patrol was the ‘cook’ patrol and the other ‘general duties’. We got up at 6.30 am each morning. Cooks lit the fire and prepared breakfast, porridge (the real thing not instant) followed by a full cooked breakfast. We usually ate at about 9.00 am and then took turns to wash up.

Inspection at 10.30 am with tents fully brailled to air and all kit laid out to a specific plan – if it wasn’t all correct, start again and do it properly! Cook patrol then had to start lunch, another fully cooked meal followed by yet more washing up.

The main task of the ‘duty’ patrol was to gather wood for the fire and because we had no alternative cooking method other than a single primus stove, this was considered to be a most important task. It was so important that once you came back with some wood, no matter how much you had brought, you were immediately sent out to get some more as the fire must not go out.

(Does this sound similar to the Bear Grills ‘Mission Survive’ programme?).

There was the occasional break to help with the shopping and, of course, we had to go to the farm house every morning to get fresh milk and eggs. Surprisingly Taavi took a keen interest in accompanying us on this task and it was widely believed this was because he fancied Isabelle, the farmer’s daughter.

Our afternoons were taken up with scouting activities although one afternoon was spent hiking up Snaefell, the island’s only 20

‘mountain’, and another taking a trip on the Isle of Man narrow gauge railway when we visited the famous Laxey Wheel. Our evening meal could best be described as an informal afternoon tea – at least it did not involve much washing up!

The only change to the daily routine was on the day of the ‘christenings’. Being new to the scout group I had never heard of these celebrations held to welcome those scouts who were taking part in their first camp, but apparently numerous rumours circulated, particularly amongst the cubs, of stakeouts, being made to drink a pint of ‘royal broth’ followed by full immersion in whatever water was available on site. Today there was no morning washing up. The porridge dixie was carefully preserved, cold tea (complete with the leaves) was added together with cold custard from the day before and anything else the cooks could find. It was boiled and stirred for a good hour – presumably to kill the bacteria!

– and then left to cool until needed. At various times during the morning confidential planning conversations in small groups took place and of course the three of us who were to be ‘christened’ could take no part. That afternoon, with great pomp and under the careful eye of Skip the ceremony took place - one teaspoon full of the sieved liquid, a push into the stream and some water thrown over us. Like a holiday, sometimes the planning and expectation far outweighs the holiday itself.

The evenings were great! Free time or a wide game with a camp fire every night. The camp fires were less formal than today’s camp fires with chat round the fire singing the usual songs plus a few more of doubtful origin probably carried over from the second world war.

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Lights out were at 10.30 pm every night and all was peaceful until the following morning. That is, until all the scouts were woken up by the sound of fire at about 2.00 am. on the Thursday night / Friday morning. Our wicker basket which had been used as a table for the previous week, was all ablaze. It turned out that when we had gone to bed Skip and Taavi had gone to the farm to pay the farmer and had subsequently returned having sampled too much of the local ale. Then, whilst making a hot drink on the primus stove, they had accidentally set fire to the basket!

Now for the challenge! All the kit had to be packed up during the Friday as we had to leave very early on the Saturday morning and we had no large basket in which to pack. Probably feeling guilty the farmer came to the rescue and gave us some more tea chests.

Because of the early start, in addition to the leaders' tents and as it could be packed separately, we held back one of the patrol tents which all fourteen of us slept in (Akela please take note!). No breakfast that morning; the coach came on time to pick us up and we sailed back on an uneventful day crossing. We arrived back in Leeds late afternoon having had a great and memorable camp to be welcomed by our parents who, once more, were waiting on the station platform. I suspect that they had missed us far more than we had missed them!

Post script :- In addition to numerous weekend camps and activities, mainly in the Yorkshire Dales, I went on three more annual camps whilst in the scout section – one in Cardigan Bay, South Wales, one in Lochearnhead, Scotland and a two week camp in Oslo, Norway. Six years later I held my first scout camp as the leader. We had a fabulous beach site at Sarn Farm near Abersoch.

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All the kit was packed into a hired large parcel van and the scouts went by service bus from Bradford to Butlins, Pwhelli where they were ferried by the van to the campsite. We still had our two days out – one to climb Snowdon and the second a day out on the Blaenau Ffestiniog railway. Most of the remaining time was spent on the beach. Cereals replaced the porridge but we still cooked breakfast. Packed lunch became the norm and we ate our main meal in an evening. Also gone were the ‘christenings’ as these were the biggest single reason why cubs did not progress to scouts and hopefully, today’s cubs and scouts will remember their first camp as much as I did mine!

Gerald Peel

Christian Aid Week - 15–21 May 2016 Morsheda will never forget the day she nearly lost her baby son, Murshid.

As floodwaters poured into her home, he fell from his bed into the inky water. He could have drowned in moments. Luckily, Morsheda woke when she heard him fall and was able to save him. But she knows that the floods will come again. Her home has already been hit several times. Each time, Morsheda gathers her family and holds them close as they wait for the danger to pass.

‘I feel very scared of the river. I keep thinking “it is coming”.’

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Morsheda lives on low-lying islands in Bangladesh. She shares a single-room, corrugated-iron house with her four children.

She earns as little as 74p a day doing backbreaking manual labour.

She has no savings. And because floods are a terrifying part of everyday life, she doesn’t even have a safe place to call home.

Children in danger When the river levels rise, Morsheda worries that it might be like the worst time the floods hit. She remembers how desperate she was. How she hurried to build a makeshift raft for her frightened children. How they scrambled to safety as huge waves crashed against their house. How she prayed the raft wouldn’t capsize as it tipped and plunged on the swirling waters.

‘My children were so scared. My sister was holding them very tightly and we were panicking because my neighbour’s child was washed away.’

The floods are coming Morsheda and her children live a precarious life. They know that the floods will come again, and soon. But we can lift our neighbours like Morsheda to safety.

Just £250 is enough for a Christian Aid Home Safety Package.

It could flood-proof Morsheda’s home, raising it eight foot on an earth plinth, keeping her family safe at last. It could also buy a goat, seeds and a wormery to help produce compost, so Morsheda could keep livestock and grow crops on the small patch of land around her home.

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All of this will give her a long-term income and a solid foundation for a new life.

‘If I could raise my house then I would feel much safer living here with my children.’

Whether you host a Big Brekkie, hold a church collection or collect house-to-house, your actions this Christian Aid Week could change the life of our global neighbours like Morsheda.

Join us in the week we love every neighbour.

Thank you Christian Aid

He gave us eyes to see them in Stained Glass windows You may know the story of the little girl with her family during a guided tour around a cathedral. As the bright sun streamed through one of the windows, she asked the guide who were the people depicted there. "Those are the saints," he replied. Later that evening the girl told her mummy, “I know who the saints are."

“Do you, dear? Who are they?” the mother asked. The little girl replied: “They are the people who let the light shine through.”

When the summer sun rises, its light catches the east window of a church I look after. It shines through the figures and colours of the Annunciation scene to bathe the chancel in a warm glow. Later as 25

the sun sets, it shines once again through the west window showing Christ surrounded by angels, with the same wonderful effect. They are two stained glass windows by the Victorian designer, Kempe. But in St Mary’s Church, Fairford in Gloucestershire, there are an incredible 28 windows of medieval glass that have survived the centuries and continue to astonish the visitor.

As the sun catches this array of windows, the colours take on a new, vibrant life. We see scenes in the life of our Lord and our Lady, Old Testament prophets, New Testament apostles and the communion of saints.

The eye moves round and we reach the west window portraying Christ in majesty and the day of judgement.

This great work has been attributed to the royal glazier, Barnard Flower, who was influenced by the late medieval illuminated prayer books.

The windows are a living witness to his skill and faith.

George Herbert has a poem that calls us to shine out like the church windows. It is easy, he says, to be brittle crazy glass, but in God’s good grace we can become like a window where colours and light, belief and life can combine and mingle to radiate out into the world.

Rev Michael Burgess 26

May Regular Meetings 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.

1st

HOLY COMMUNION - Rev Paul Dunstan VISION CELEBRATION & CIRCUIT SERVICE - 6.00 pm

8th

Rev Gerald Hainsworth CIRCUIT SERVICE including Easter Offering Dedication at Stockland Green Church - 6.00 pm

15th

PENTECOST & CHRISTIAN AID WEEK ALL AGE WORSHIP - Rev Paul Dunstan

22nd

TRINITY & ALDERSGATE SUNDAY - Local Arrangement

29th

Bob Dauncey

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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 : Margaret Hillman (2nd)

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 : Lucy Porter 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 June CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Peter Farley, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th May 2016 at the latest please or alternatively email me: nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk with the word ‘CONTACT’ in the title.

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