Contact - November 2009

CONTACT

Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - November 2009 1

Contents Minister’s Letter Hobson’s Choice In CONTACT this month Pre-school Coffee Morning Guiding Centenary More amazing anagrams A Profile of . . . . Enid Denton - Part 1 Evangelism for a choir Harvest Celebrations?

British Methodists support disaster victims The way Anthony sees it, and the way I see it!

Predictions The way I don’t see it . . .

What a very odd way to see it !

Children’s Pages Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo Circuit Changes New Plan and Magazine for the Circuit New Circuit Steward Appointed Big Issue comes of age The things children write!

Memories of childhood The Bookworm has been busy again . . .

Christmas Charity Fair Fuji Update Christmas Dates The Berlin Wall Worthy Methodists win at the Blog Awards I am a Christian A Century New Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham Help us make Christmas special Word Search November 2009 Regular Meetings 2

3 6 7 8 8 8 9 11 13 14 16 17 17 18 20 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39

Minister’s Letter Dear Friends November is a month carrying many remembrances: All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance Day (on the 1st, 2nd and 11th).

At first it sounds a bit mournful especially as the clocks have gone back and the autumn leaves lie sadly on the grass. All Saints recalls the martyrs, those who died because they witnessed to the Christian faith in cruel and dangerous times and were killed for their belief; All Souls celebrates all faithful people, including the vast number who lived lives of honourable service and devotion and who are now part of the great church triumphant, rejoicing with God in heaven. And then there are those women and men who have died through war, including the many recent service personnel who have died on foreign fields of war like Afghanistan and Iraq. All around the world the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month holds a special time of recalling those who died to keep the UK a free country – we owe them much. A lot of remembering in November then.

To look back in thankfulness at all those lives – some known personally, others just names in history books and others never known except to God – to look back is thoroughly healthy, asking us to feel part of a great company.

And even more glad to be alive and able to play our continuing part in this country’s story and in God’s great kingdom.

Coming back last week with my mum and dad after our visit to Palestine and the West Bank meant bringing many memories and treasures with me. We stayed in Jerusalem and in Bethlehem and what memories! Almost every street of the Old City of Jerusalem carries powerful memories of our Lord – the famous Via Dolorosa (The Way of Tears) speaks even today of Jesus carrying his cross past shops and stalls, round twisty little corners and crowded streets following the 15 “Stations of the Cross”, leading to the site of the crucifixion and the traditional place marking the resurrection. One simply cannot walk along the road without being awed by the memories of 3

Jesus. And in Bethlehem there is The Church of the Holy Nativity, set back from the road and the wide Manger Square, brooding over the site of Jesus’ birth in the cave below – much as it was when the church was first built in 325AD. It was pulled down and rebuilt there 250 years later and may well be one of the oldest churches in the world.

Places are all very well but what often makes them special are the people who live there – and so it is for Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I shall not forget my mum struggling up the steep and slippery stairs where Jonny and Claire live, under the shadow of The Wall and the soldiers’ massive high pillboxes which now have cameras pointing into the children’s bedroom and the family bathroom. Claire looks awful, as if every day is a struggle to exist, which for her it is, explaining how the 28 foot solid concrete Wall shadows them on 3 sides of the house, darkening the sunlight and their hope, making it impossible to use the toilet without being watched, never mind the ridiculous idea of playing in the garden! It has affected the children badly for they are restless, tearful and don’t sleep for fear of the soldiers raiding their house again and bursting into their bedroom like last time. Claire shrugs, “But they are just children and all Palestinian children know this fear.” When we sing “O little town of Bethlehem” I think of Claire and Jonny with the four children, existing in that shell of a house. And it’s a hard memory to live with.

Sister Martha lives in the girls school based at Bethany (hence her adopted name as head of the school there, eloquent of a previous Martha who entertained Jesus). This Martha tells of her determination to give the girls good food, when there is so little, but she had a battle in the kitchen which seemed to be over-run with cockroaches. The reason was discovered when she decided to re-paint the kitchen with some donated paint and started moving cupboards: there behind the big cupboard was a huge hole leading to the sewers where an army of rather frisky cockroaches was racing into her kitchen. Lifting her long black dress, she raced around stamping on the thousands pouring across the floor and screaming at the top of her voice!

She tells the story with a self-deprecating smile and adds that her performance in the kitchen was nothing compared to the drama of when she screamed at the Israeli soldiers who held her at gunpoint at the checkpoint 4

nearest the school. Many parents heard her that day and her reputation grew as the story was repeated! When I sit down to a delicious meal with friends, my memory stirs, seeing Martha cooking rice and chicken in that nightmare of a kitchen – and my food tastes like ashes.

Samar was delighted to entertain us at the Lazarus Girls Home where we arrived dragging huge bags loaded with gifts from Erdington Guides: a handmade blue drawstring bag, individually embroidered and containing a notebook, pencil, pen, bookmark, packet of crayons, prayer card, hair bobble and slide, fairy wand(!) and super soft toy. The little girls were utterly thrilled to have something just for themselves and started swapping toys and playing games, more animated than I’ve seen them in a long while. The house mothers all looked on wistfully but there was enough for them each to have a bag of goodies and their joy was as infectious as the girls’. What brought tears to my eyes and choked me so I couldn’t speak was the sight of Nofa.

Nofa had been found in a chicken coop when she was only 3-4 years old, abandoned there with her baby sister and brother by her father, condemned to live like a wild creature and then miraculously rescued by Alice and brought to Lazarus Home. Every year her progress was remarkable, excelling at school and going to the Russian School for a better secondary education, learning 3 languages, reading voraciously and aiming to become a doctor to help other children like herself. When she was 13 years old, a distant relative turned up at the Home claiming she could provide for Nofa, insisting that her place was with her family and there were “legal implications” if she wasn’t handed over. There followed 6 months of shouting, raised voices, threats and bribes till eventually Nofa chose to go with the relative and find a place amongst her “family.” Once amongst this new family Nofa was “married” to an elderly “uncle” and only escaped after a horrendous 3 months, arriving back at Lazarus looking like a demented and tortured creature. She has never been the same, having terrible nightmares, screaming in her sleep and frightening the other little children.

Now Nofa is 20 and when she walked into the room I hardly knew the sedated, stumbling shadow of a girl. When she came close and recognised me, her face lit up and she put her arms round me, burying her face in my 5

shoulder. Another casualty in that land once called “holy” and a memory which is hard to forget.

The memories go on - with faces so clear you could touch them – and the lives of our sisters and brothers in Bethlehem and Jerusalem struggle on, with increasing poverty and hardship and all the horrors of occupation, with soldiers and checkpoints an everyday reality. They cannot be forgotten, any more than can President Obama’s declaration – that the Israeli settlements are illegal (as is the Occupation) and the Palestinians have the right to live in the land without fear of having their homes demolished and their children locked up or shot at. We pray for all the people living on that tiny patch of land – the size of Wales – whatever their religious faith, whether they are Christian, Jewish or Muslim. We pray that one day soon, their burdens will be lifted and the land and all its peoples rejoice, when justice and peace come.

Until that day dawns, together with the men and women from our Armed Forces, in the words of the Remembrance Day service, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them.”

With my prayers Nichola

Hobson’s Choice Did you know that this phrase meaning a choice of ‘take it or leave it’ originated in Cambridge? Thomas Hobson (1544-1631) ran a livery stable of about 40 horses, quite a significant operation for the time. To ensure that his horses were used in rotation his business practice was to say to potential horse hirers you can either have the horse nearest the door or no horse at all.

Hence ‘Hobson’s Choice’.

Peter Farley

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In CONTACT this month Welcome to our November edition of CONTACT. In this month’s magazine We hear about Nichola’s last trip to Palestine We read part one of Enid Denton’s remarkable life.

We catch up with news about the Methodist Church in other countries We find some different points of view !

We hear the story of ‘The Happy Prince’ Nichola tells us three important news items from the Sutton Park Circuit We have childhood memories Christmas dates for you diaries Some book reviews and a Word Search to while away the odd hour Hope you enjoy it.

Remember that we are always on the look out for material for our magazine - as long as it isn’t copyrighted. We would love to hear what you are doing in your church groups (or in groups who use our building). So if you suddenly feel an urge to write then why not contact us (see our contact details on the back page).

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Pre-school Coffee Morning Saturday November 28th November 10.00 am to 12.00 noon

Please come and support us

Guiding Centenary We met at Symphony Hall and we had to wait 10 to 15 minutes before the show started. It began with how Girl Guiding started 100 years ago. It was phenomenal!

Each group acted out a decade. The 1990s were the best because the Brownies and Guides performed Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The 80s had Fame with brightly coloured leg-warmers.

Dr Who also made an appearance a couple of times. At the end all 600 performers got together on the stage and the seats above. We gave them a huge cheer. Then hundreds of balloons fell from a net on the ceiling. As we left we all had some birthday cake.

by Gemma, Alison and Megan C (Brownie Guides) Submitted by Margaret Hillman

More amazing anagrams THE EYES: When you rearrange the letters THEY SEE THE MORSE CODE: When you rearrange the letters HERE COME DOTS 8

If you remember in last month’s magazine we suggested a series of articles on some of our more senior members (hope I phrased that OK - hate to offend - maybe ‘young at heart’ would be better) - well here’s our first and a cracking one it is too - ed

A Profile of . . . .

Enid Denton - Part 1 Enid met Barrie when he was Captain of the Boys Brigade. This meeting heralded the start of their amazing life together.

They married in 1956 when Barrie was 22 and Enid only 19. In September 1957 their first son, John, was born and then in December 1959 John had a very special Christmas present - his baby brother, Paul.

The 1960s saw the start of Enid’s vocational work with displaced children. She spotted an advert in the Guardian for a Housemother/Warden for children of displaced persons. To her surprise and delight she succeeded in getting the job so she and Barrie moved from Bradford to Birmingham to work for The Ockenden Venture.

Barrie continued his work as a Probation Officer. Ruth Cadbury offered half of ‘Westholme’, a large Cadbury House in Bournville, to the Ockenden Venture. This enabled Enid to look after boys aged between 11 and 18 from the displaced persons camps in Germany. At the time her two boys were only 3 and 5 years old. Overnight Enid’s family increased from two to fourteen. The objective was to provide a home and education for the boys.

Each one of the boys was sponsored by a British family and each one kept in touch with their respective families, returning home every year in the six weeks summer break. In the summer Enid and Barrie packed their boys in the car and visited the families in Germany to retain contact. Needless to say Enid is still in touch with some of those ‘boys’ (now in their late 50s and 9

early 60s). Some settled back in Germany while others remained in the UK. For Enid, this was one of the most fulfilling and exhausting times in her life.

After four years Enid and Barrie moved to Harrogate where Enid took on the position of Deputy Superintendent of Dr. Barnardo’s Residential Nursery. Then, in 1967, the family moved back to Birmingham where Enid worked as a Welfare Assistant at Birmingham Children’s Department. In the late sixties she became Probation Officer for Staffordshire Probation Service.

During the seventies Enid’s secondment in the Probation Service resulted in her taking on responsibility for prisoners in the Remand Wing of Winson Green Prison. Besides dealing with male sexual offenders and young offenders she developed a special interest in immigrants. Later, between 1990 -1994, Enid spent more time working in Winson Green Prison doing casework, seeing families in the Visitor Centre and also doing group work with 21-31 year olds for aggressive offences. She worked closely with a Probation colleague and a female Prison Officer; their combined efforts were recognised and rewarded when they received the prestigious ‘Butler Trust Award’ which was presented to them personally by Princess Anne.

The many challenges of working in the Remand Wing in the early 1970s led to Enid’s appointment as Liaison Officer to a Probation Hostel. Her dealings in previous probation work coupled with the difficulties that she faced on a daily basis at Winson Green had prepared her well for this new position.

Never one to stand still, Enid’s career continued to flourish. She became Senior Social Worker of Walsall Social Services department where she opened a Family Advice Centre in a socially deprived area of the town.

Sadly, this venture ceased due to lack of funding from the local authority.

Probation work became her focus once again and she became Probation Officer and Borstal Liaison Officer at West Midlands Probation and After Care Service. During these years Enid’s interest became ever more concentrated on the plight of refugees. For many years she and Barrie had 10

been volunteers in the Ockenden Venture, a Refugee Programme; finally they both made the huge decision to quit their jobs in order to concentrate all their efforts on helping refugees. So in 1978 a remarkable chapter in their lives opened.

To be continued in the December issue of Contact.

B.M.Rawson

Evangelism for a choir I wonder how many of you watched ‘The Choir’ programmes where the dynamic Gareth Malone created a choir from reluctant schoolboys in a large Leicester comprehensive school, where it was definitely not ‘cool’ to sing in a choir capable of reaching a standard fit for the Albert Hall. His latest venture led him to the unremarkable, run down town of South Oxhey in Hertfordshire — no, I had not heard of it before either. He was a man on a mission to create a town choir and it seemed that nothing would prevent him from achieving this goal. At first a few people showed some interest but mainly the reactions ranged from apathy to strong opposition.

People wouldn’t come to him so he went out to them. When enough people wanted to sing he met with small groups in their own homes building up their enthusiasm and confidence. In between times he was out on foot, alone in the town centre, speaking to as many individuals who paused to listen. Some scurried off quicker that he could catch them! He targeted any that he felt could influence others and relentlessly wore them down. He simply did not accept that they didn’t want to, or couldn’t, sing. I watched him over the weeks rejoicing over those who were supporting him and agonising over those who rejected him (or at least what he wanted from them).

I began to see a strong resemblance between Gareth, a young, dynamic, almost charismatic 34 year old, and someone else, also on a mission two thousand years ago. I wasn’t the only one, as I read with interest a letter in the Methodist Recorder calling the programme ‘A lesson in evangelism’. The writer said, ‘He encouraged them, challenged them, made musical demands 11

and they responded. He had the authority of one who believed in what he was doing and they trusted him.’ By the end of the programme he had the largest community choir in the country.

We don’t all have these kinds of gifts, of course, but what we all should have is an enthusiasm for our faith and the ability to promote it in our own way, both individually, and as part of a larger group. Of course Gareth Malone had something wonderful to offer to the people who accepted his challenge, which was the chance to sing in a big choir, feel that they were a part of a living community and make new friends. The people of South Oxhey said that their lives had changed because of him. The boys, too, in a follow up programme, spoke of the changed direction of their lives.

We cannot change the world or even the people of Erdington quickly or easily. It may well be an impossible task, certainly on our own, but as a small church community we could surely make an effort? What do we have to offer and how can we advertise who we are and what we stand for and make people want to be a part of this community too?

Some years ago we had a church open day, the idea behind it being to invite as many people as possible to come inside our doors and see what is on offer. Not only did all the branches of the church put on some sort of demonstration in one way or another (including renderings by the choir) but the outside organisations were invited to take part and were pleased to do so.

Now we have the added advantage of projection equipment to enhance this.

What about something like this as a church project, stewards? An extra bonus in any activity such as this --- and it would need hard work to make it worthwhile --- is the benefit of the fellowship in working together on such a project. Who knows what the results might be!

Hilary Price

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Harvest Celebrations?

Part of our harvest celebration this year was a collection of tinned food for the Birmingham City Mission Basic Bank Project. By way of explanation, during the service our minister Nichola Jones told us what the project did and what they needed to maintain their open door approach. With the support of 58 schools and over 100 churches in the last 12 months the City Mission have given out more than 5,000 parcels of food, to over 600 different individuals or families, using over £40,000 worth of food, a big increase over 2007. This increased demand is not only because more people are becoming desperate but also because some organisations have stopped issuing food. Such is the dearth of stock in hand that they have had to consider reducing the frequency with which claimants can go and collect a food parcel.

About a month ago I saw an item on the local news about ‘food parcels’.

The suggestion on the telly was that when people do their weekly shopping they should purchase a two for one offer if they feel able to do so and put one aside for a food parcel. Around the same time I heard Rabbi Lionel Blue on the Thought for the Day slot. During his throw away lines at the end he said words to this effect, ‘So I go into the late night shop buy a two for one offer on a cake, eat one myself and give the other to the first homeless person that I meet and that makes me feel better’. Both of these sound bites reappeared from my subconscious whilst Nichola was talking about the Birmingham City Mission (BCM). I would like to suggest that as a church we take up this as a project over the winter. I will raise it at the next Church Council meeting to gauge people’s response. In the meantime I will arrange for a box to be put into the Vestry for any contributions that you feel able to make and at a suitable time I will arrange for any donations to be taken to BCM. I have handbill from BCM setting out the items that they need and the list seems to me to be just about anything. These though are the items which disappear first: Coffee, tea, sugar, milk (UHT or powdered), tinned potatoes, packet pasta rice and noodles, pasta and cook-in sauces, tinned fruit and desserts, tinned rice pudding, cereals and biscuits. Oh and don’t forget the plastic carrier so that people can carry away their food parcel. On their web 13

pages www.birminghamcitymission.co.uk BCM comment that their aim is to issue a food parcel that contains as balanced a diet as possible, which takes us back to them accepting almost anything.

Please remember this when you next go to the supermarket. Meanwhile I will sit back and wait to see what turns up.

Successful shopping.

Peter Farley

British Methodists support disaster victims in Indonesia, Samoa and Tonga An appeal for prayer and funds for victims of the tsunami and earthquake tragedies has been launched by the Methodist Church in Britain.

The Church’s World Mission Fund has already sent £15,000 to aid the relief work of Partner Churches in the region. We are supporting this work through our donation over the last couple of weeks which is being sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) ed Samoa In 5 minutes, the tsunami claimed at least 140 lives in Samoa, many of them children. One couple lost all four of their children and there are eight babies being cared for in the local hospital who are motherless. With many people losing multiple members of their families, their support networks in times of grief and crisis have also been shattered as everyone on such a small island is connected in some way.

Five Methodist churches in the area were destroyed. Ministers, their families and their many of their congregations are not only homeless, but churchless too. However this did not stop them having worship in their tents on the first Sunday after the disaster struck.

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The main concern now is the health of those who have survived. Because they are camping out, clean water and sanitary issues are major problems and the health services are preparing for illnesses and diseases that will follow.

The priority is to try and build some temporary homes along with sanitary facilities. The Samoan Church has specifically asked us to help them rebuild their churches and homes for their ministers.

Steve Pearce, partnership coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, said, “It is clear that the Church will be heavily involved in the recovery both spiritually and pastorally in the weeks to come.”

Tonga A state of emergency was declared in Tonga for Niuatoputapu, the closest island to Samoa with a population of around 1,000 people. The islanders of Niuatoputapu have been badly hit by the tsunamis and earthquakes which have rocked the area. Food, clothing and kitchen utensils have been sent and the general secretary of the Free Wesleyan Church in Tonga has travelled to the area to make an assessment of the situation.

Indonesia In Indonesia, the main centre of the earthquake damage has been in Padang on the island of Sumatera. Shocks were felt over a great distance and the damage and loss of life has been frightening.

Steve continued, “We have heard news that the only Methodist church in Padang is completely destroyed. The cost of rebuilding is at least £14,000.

Can British Methodist Churches raise this? We have sent an initial solidarity grant and will respond further to our Partner Church as their need becomes clearer. I have assured the church and its members of our prayers and support.”

Members of the Churches have thanked the Methodist people in Britain for their support. In an email one said, “It is so good to know that so far, far away, people and friends are thinking and praying for you … All we ask is that you continue to pray for us. Thank you and God bless you.”

Further information is on the Methodist Church Website.

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In last month’s CONTACT I asked whether you saw the future in the same way that Anthony Griffin did. I’m delighted to say that some of you felt that you had to write in response to Anthony’s musings - and here are a few . . . - ed

The way Anthony sees it, and the way I see it!

I cannot let Anthony Griffin’s thought provoking article go unanswered and I suspect, and even hope, that there will be other contributions too.

Anticipating this reaction, and because I have already made one contribution, I shall try to keep this short.

Anthony has done his homework and searched out many facts and figures which paint a grim and depressing picture of life 100 years from now. He is good at playing devil’s advocate, but it is good to be challenged occasionally.

For my part it underpinned one reason why I do not read science fiction stories; they frighten me. After reading this article I wanted to climb back quickly into my comfort zone to the realism of everyday life now.

Of course we can visualise the directions where facts and figures can lead us, one thing leading to another, as it were. However trends can be bucked as have been proved many times in the past. The future is unpredictable and present day data cannot be accurate as to what will happen in 100 years time as there are too many uncertainties. The only certainty is that change will continue to take place as our lives have evolved from the beginning of time.

As Christians we can, and should, only heed the teachings of Jesus, as in Matthew ch 6 v34. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’ Christ brought a message of hope and we are letting Him down if our outlook is a pessimistic one.

Anthony ends his article asking what ‘churches are doing to halt their decline’. This is our task for ‘today’ and I have put my thought in my article about Gareth Malone. I hope we can all think about this and consider what we each have to offer.

Hilary Price 16

Predictions It’s almost commonplace that we hear or read of predictions covering all manner of topics, e.g. global warming, time travel, the end of the world, religion. Many of us wonder, from time to time, how the future will shape up but, of course, none of us can actually come up with reliable facts. After all, the future hasn’t happened yet. There is, however, one prediction that I most certainly believe - in 100 years from now, I shall not look the same as I do today!

Is it wise to take at face value predictions, whether from an expert in his/her own field or otherwise, claiming events of any kind will, or probably will come to pass? I think not! Predictions are based on current knowledge which in itself is incomplete, therefore we should view them with caution.

They can have the potential to cause unnecessary disquiet. No one other than God Himself has the vision to predict future happenings in the world.

Barbara Rawson

The way I don’t see it . . .

As I was putting the last issue of CONTACT to bed I took a little time to properly read the article that Anthony Griffin wrote. His vision of the future was pretty bleak for Christianity in the UK but I felt there were some flaws in his reasoning and two big omissions!

First of all Anthony started by marvelling at how the world has changed in 100 years and I have to agree that even in my short lifetime I have seen massive changes (and I’m only just reaching half of Anthony’s 100 years) Not that Anthony is 100 years old (you know what I mean!!)

I personally couldn’t have foreseen the rise of computers and the internet, man in space and on the moon, cures for major diseases, the fall of the Berlin Wall and many, many more. As a consequence I find Anthony’s assertions rather hard to believe. Though he wielded the statistician’s art with aplomb I felt that the way he extrapolated current trends 100 years into the future a little hard to agree with.

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Who knows what will happen in the next 100 years, after all change hasn’t stopped getting faster and faster - so what we think is almost magical now may be commonplace in 100 years.

I felt there were two big omissions in his article though. Not once does Anthony mention the power of God in all this. Our churches may be in decline . . . now! But what does God have in store for us? Perhaps the Methodist Church, as it is now, won’t exist in 100 years but perhaps something revitalised and very different will have taken its place.

The second omission is that God has a habit of, every now and then, raising up a quite remarkable christian who takes the church by the scruff of the neck and gives it a good shake.

Names that spring to mind are . . . John Wesley and William Booth. Who knows who God has waiting round the corner?

So . . . though, as a bit of a statistician myself, I can see why Anthony sees us living in a Muslim country in 100 years but I for one think that our country will continue to be as diverse as it is now. . . . . and don’t write-off us Christians just yet because God may have something exciting and new for us to do . . . maybe in my lifetime .

God can use me and you to do great things if only we are prepared to ‘trust and obey’ . . . . I can feel a chorus coming on . . . .

Nick Riley

What a very odd way to see it !

I am quite happy to accept as accurate some of the numerical facts given in Anthony’s article last month although some of them need further qualification. e.g. ‘the Muslim population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society’ is referring to what ? birth rate, immigration, combination of both or something else altogether ???

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As one who has spent all my life so far, more intimately than most, involved with the business of numbers (A levels , a Maths degree and 28 years teaching Maths) I must admit to cringing in horror at the misuse and misinterpretation of figures by many people. I believe that we have a duty to be very careful with figures, particularly on sensitive topics like religion and population movement, to make sure that what is said is both accurate, sensible and sensitive as opposed to being misleading and unnecessarily provocative.

So to consider the first of the ‘bald and bold predictions’ that within 100 years Britain will be a Muslim country if society continues to change as it has done over the past 20 years or so. It flies in the face of all common sense to assume that something so complex will continue in exactly the same way for 100 years.

All studies have shown that any immigrant influx to this country over the last 1000 years at least is in general a younger grouping than the host community, but that after a number of years the birth rate drops to mirror that of the host country and groups gradually assimilate. Some groupings will always remain more recognisable than others in retaining aspects of their original culture and one would imagine that our present culture contains the best of all the various groupings thrown into the melting pot over centuries.

Secondly on this point, if, to use the quoted figures the Muslim population grew by 0.5 million in 4 years to 2009, that would be to 12.5 million in 100 years. This is still well short of the 60 million of the current non- Muslim population assuming that it does not grow at all and this would only make the populations equal numerically. Now I can assure you that the mathematics about the ratios in my last sentence about the population growth are accurate but probably not very sensible because at least one important consideration is omitted. This shows how careful you must be !

John Price

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The Happy Prince - a wonderful story by Oscar Wilde The Happy Prince is a beautiful statue that stands on a tall column overlooking a city. He is "gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold," his eyes are "two bright sapphires" and "a large red ruby" is fixed on his sword-hilt.

A Swallow, who has delayed his migration to Egypt for the love of a reed, rests at the foot of the statue. He feels drops of rain falling on him but he quickly realises that the drops are teardrops falling from the eyes of the statue. The Prince is sad because he sees many people in the city living poor, miserable lives. The Prince asks the Swallow to remove the ruby from his sword, and give it to a poor seamstress with a sick child; the Swallow does so.

Over the next few weeks the Swallow stays with the Prince, taking the jewels and gold from his statue and giving them to the poor people living in the city. When the Prince is stripped of all his beautiful jewels, the Swallow realises he is dying from cold; the Prince asks the Swallow to kiss him on the lips. Then the Swallow dies and the Prince's lead heart breaks in two.

The next day, the Mayor of the city notices the statue looks very dull and shabby and orders it to be melted down. The Prince's heart does not melt in the furnace, and it is thrown on to the same dust-heap where the Swallow's body is lying: "Bring me the two most precious things in the city," said God to one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird. "You have rightly chosen," said God, "for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me."

Why does God call the Swallow and the Prince the two most precious things in the city?

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1. Why did the Happy Prince cry in the story? a) He had no friend. b) He felt very cold. c) He felt sad for the poor people in the city.

2. The Happy Prince gave his valuable jewels to people who a) asked him for the jewels. b) were poor and needed help. c) bought them from him.

3. Why did the Swallow decide to stay with the Prince? a) He loved the Happy Prince and didn’t want to leave him. b) The Happy Prince gave him a lot of valuable jewels. c) The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to stay with him forever.

4. The Swallow died at the end of the story because a) the weather was too cold for him. b) he was too tired after flying around in the city. c) the Prince asked him to do too much work.

The Happy Price helped the poor people in the city. If you had to give away one thing that is important to you, what would it be? ___________________________________________ Why is it important to you? __________________________ Why might you give it away to someone else? _____________ _______________________________________________ How do you think your gift would make that person feel? _______________________________________________ Now read the whole story yourself. (You might shed a tear) 21

Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo 6.00pm on Sunday 21st March Circuit service at Erdington Methodist Church

In 1970 Joseph Horovitz and Michael Flanders wrote this musical for young people. It has proved so popular, however, that its appeal has widened to include all age groups.

REHEARSALS These will be held between 7.30pm – 8.30pm on Wednesday evenings commencing 13th January 2010. All rehearsals will take place at Erdington Methodist Church.

During March rehearsals will change to Sunday afternoons. details of these times and dates will follow next month.

Full

Pauline Hall will be our pianist and a small group of instrumentalists will also take part in the performance. Nick Riley will play for most of the rehearsals. The singing will be led by Barbara Rawson.

COME ALONG AND ENJOY TAKING PART IN THIS DELIGHTFUL WORK 22

Circuit Changes Three items for report which affect everyone!

The next connexional year sees several key changes within this circuit. Next July we shall bid a sad farewell to our Superintendent the Revd John Ingyon who is retiring after a long and happy ministry and also to the Revd Gillian le Boutillier Scott who is moving to a new appointment after her years with us since she was fresh from college as a Probationer. We shall miss them both and wish them well in their new life stage.

The circuit will be looking for two new ministers to come and serve here in the Sutton Park Circuit. Across the country there is a dire shortage of ministers since 2010 onwards sees the retirement of not only the ministers who came into service in the 1960s (a bumper crop who offered 40 years!) but also those who entered when the age limit was increased and therefore came into ministry around 1990, after a career elsewhere, and offered the Church 20 years. This conflux is causing quite a situation with almost a third of ministers retiring in the next few years (and this circuit sees the reverend Graham Gee retiring in 2012).

It means that some hard thinking has had to happen, resulting in  a re-shuffle of Pastoral Charge (i.e. which Minister serves which churches in the circuit) and which churches will therefore be offered to the two new potential ministers.

The Church Council heard that the new configuration of pastoral charge offered to the two ministers will be Blackwood and Streetly churches to a Probationer and the section of Boldmere, Kings Road and Erdington for a new presbyter. Very sadly, this means that I shall no longer have pastoral care of Erdington. This decision has taken a lot of heart-searching but the circuit believes it will be the right way forward since I will be taking on the extra responsibilities of circuit Superintendent from next September and it gives three vibrant churches to "tempt" a new minister to come and serve in this circuit. This year will be my last at Erdington Methodist Church, although I'm not moving out of the circuit, which means I'll have served 23

here for seven years! Incredible but true. We'll have a good nine months before I hand over pastoral care and leadership to another minister!

Please pray for the people involved in all this process - the circuit stewards and the Chair of District (who is responsible for finding the new ministers), the church stewards who will show round the potential new minister in December or January, and those of us who are moving to new responsibilities who will miss the people we have been working with very much.

New Plan and Magazine for the Circuit The retirement of the editor of the Circuit Messenger has seen a new magazine arrive in the circuit  which will be "wrapped round" the Plan - that vital document which tells you who is preaching every Sunday. It is hoped that the new mag will help churches learn what their sisters and brothers are doing  and want to share those events. The Methodist Circuit is like a family in that individual churches can get so busy and involved in their own activities they overlook the fact that all the 12 local Methodist churches belong together, share finances and planning for supporting 5 ministers and work together to make decisions about outreach and growth and Christian mission. Hopefully the magazine will enable people to see what the rest of our Methodist family are doing locally and share and pray with them. Watch out for it in November.

New Circuit Steward Appointed At the September Circuit Meeting the present Circuit Team of Chris Shaw (Four Oaks section), Joyce Maxted (Kingsbury section), Jane Cudjoe (Nechells section) and Elena Innis (Stockland Green section) was strengthened by Peter Farley being proposed and voted for with great acclaim. We are delighted he will be on the team and bring his gifts and skills to the role (and that he can represent the proposed new section of Erdington, Kings Road and Boldmere). Please pray for Peter and all the Circuit Stewards as they lead our churches through a time of change and renewal.

Nichola 24

Big Issue comes of age

I need to begin at the beginning. The other day I bought a copy of The Big Issue (TBI) from a lady who stands outside Sainsbury’s in Wylde Green and the banner headline across the front page was ‘Big Issue comes of age’ and I thought now there is an expression from days gone by. This was followed closely by consideration of whether it means as much now as it used to do.

Coming of age, the transition from childhood to adulthood. Now like then though, in reality different privileges come at different ages, joining the army, legally going into a pub, sexual relations of any sort and inevitably the right to vote.

However the first issue of TBI was in September 1991 the brainchild of John Bird and Gordon Roddick, he of Body Shop fame, who aimed to provide people with the opportunity to earn a legitimate income as opposed to begging. Then, like now, to become a vendor a person must be homeless or vulnerably housed. Interestingly along the way TBI has resisted a challenge from the Government tax officials who tried to claim that the homeless people who sold TBI would have to have a registered address from which to make a tax claim.

The vendors have to pay up front for the magazines that they sell retaining half of the selling price. A subsidiary element in the production cost is a contribution to the Big Issue Foundation which is a Charity working to link vendors with the other services that they need to access if they are to return 25

to mainstream society. Initially it was a monthly magazine and was sold by ten vendors in London. It became a weekly publication in 1993 and is produced in five different regional variations with a total print run of 250,000.

A similar publication to TBI is now sold in at least eight countries worldwide Australia, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Japan, Namibia, Kenya, and Malawi with India and Pakistan scheduled for 2010.

John Bird is still zealous in his quest to reduce homelessness but is quoted as saying that much of it is inflicted by society. Thirteen million people (22% of the population) in the UK live in households below the low-income threshold and of these only one in five ever mange to extricate themselves from the resulting Benefit trap. All of this sheds an interesting light on the fact that research suggested only one in four transactions between a TBI vendor and a customer result in the transfer of the magazine! Have we just succeeded in introducing yet another euphemism into the English language?

When we give to a Big Issue vendor are they begging?

Peter Farley

The things children write!

• • • • • •

Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption Moses went up Mount Cyanide to get the ten Commandments Christians have only one spouse. This is called Monotony.

The seventh commandment is thou shall not admit adultery When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta Spotted in a Church Magazine by Maurice Sansome

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Memories of Childhood For those who haven't heard already, my family and I are looking to move back to Boldmere. This has brought back many memories of a happy childhood spent in and around the area. Most revolve around typical boyhood things such as being mischievous where parents wouldn't see us and generally having a good time. But one thing really sticks in my mind.

Those who know me will also know that I have inherited my father's distinctly "left-handed" sense of humour (as he would put it). As a child I remember making up silly poems, often assisted by mum when I was struggling to get to sleep - probably scared of dinosaurs coming up the stairs! Favourite among these were our parodies of nursery rhymes. To this day these still make me smile.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary how does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells and thumping great geraniums. ~~~ Baa, baa black sheep Have you any wool?

“Yes.” ~~~ Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair.

Said Simple Simon to the pieman, "What have you got there?"

"Pies."

Here's to happy memories and may our girls have many of their own in years to come!

Mike Rawson

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The Bookworm has been busy again . . .

The Shack

By Wm. Paul Young Pub. Hodder, ISBN 978-0-340-97949-5 You either will love this book or find you can’t get on with it, but one thing’s for certain . . . you won’t stop talking about it!

The story is relatively simple. Mack’s daughter Missy is abducted and her body is not found. The only thing which does turn up at an old shack in the backwoods is her blood-stained dress. This is the beginning of Mack’s Great Sadness, which gets between him and life and distorts his relationships with God and his family. Eventually, God decides to sort him out and invites him back to the shack for an unforgettable, miraculous weekend. He encounters Creator, Son and Holy Spirit and his life is turned round.

That’s the story, but packed into the middle chapters of the book is the most deep theology (don’t be put off – no big words) and meltingly beautiful moments. For the shack, and the people within it, are unlike anywhere on this earth. So is God unlike most people’s perceptions of Him . . or Her? This book can inspire people to begin the long journey back to a living relationship with their Father, to realise that God is “especially fond of them” and the depths to which that deep love took him. Mack’s life is healed and restored, and so are the lives of some who have encountered this book.

“It’s God, Jim, but not as we know him. . .”

The Senator and the Priest

By Andrew M. Greeley This novel is a very interesting depiction of the American political scene.

Imagine a Democratic candidate entering the Senate from Chicago, a practising Christian, seeking to run his campaign on wholly positive Christian principles. Sound familiar? Yet there the similarities with Obama end, as 28

Tommy Moran is an American-Irish Catholic. He fights well-funded “attack adverts” from his opponent, terrorist attacks and a largely negative press to become a popular Senator. All this is watched by his elder brother the priest, who doesn’t approve, but then he never approves of anything Tommy does.

He is supported by his faith, his larger-than-life wife Mary Margaret and three devoted daughters, who in the end find they have to fight battles on behalf of their father too.

I learned a lot about American politics and its media from this book – and I’m very glad I live in Britain!

Elisabeth Bibbings

Christmas Charity Fair 14th November 2009 10.00 am till 2.00 pm including hot lunch with delicious puds here at Erdington.

Run by stockland Green to raise funds for the

Growing for The Green Project and for The Disabled Club of Bethlehem Great stalls, charity Christmas cards and presents, prizes, gifts galore and well worth a visit!!

Bring a friend and find a bargain!

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Fiji update On 24 September nine leaders from the Methodist Church in Fiji returned to court in order to negotiate their bail conditions and seek greater religious freedom for their Church.

When they arrived they were informed that the director of public prosecutions is away and that they should return to court on 27 October.

The leaders, including the Church’s president, the Revd Ame Tugaue, and general secretary, the Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, originally appeared in court in August, pleading not guilty to charges of breaching public emergency regulations. They were released on bail, but prohibited from attending Church meetings, preaching or leading worship.

The Church, which includes more than a third of the population, has been outspoken in its criticism of Fiji’s military government, which is lead by Commodore Bainimarama. Bainimarama originally promised to return the country to democratic rule by April 2009, but is now saying this will not happen until 2014.

Steve Pearce, partnership coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, said, “Our communications with the Church in Fiji are being monitored and all Church activities and meetings are being scrutinised by government officials. This is intimidation and we applaud the Church in Fiji for its continuing attempts at dialogue rather than confrontation. The Methodist Church is the only faith group in Fiji to receive this treatment, but it remains committed to playing its necessary role in building a renewed and just society in Fiji.” from the Methodist Church News Service

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Christmas Dates I know that by the time you read this it will be about the time for bonfires and fireworks but, much as we’d rather not think about it, Christmas is only just around the corner - so, Christmas and New Year dates for your diaries - ed 28th November 2009 - Assembling Christingles for tomorrow’s service takes place during the Coffee Morning - please do your best to come and help.

29th November 2009 – Christingle Service including a collection for the Baby Clinic in Jerusalem. The service is at 4.30 pm followed by tea at 5.30 pm.

We hope to be carol singing in Tesco, New Oscott once again this year. The date is yet to be confirmed but will hopefully be at the beginning of Christmas Week itself. We are fund raising for ‘Help for Heroes.’ Watch the notices and December CONTACT for firm details.

After our successful efforts last year singing in Erdington Co-op, we hope to be doing the same on Saturday 19th December. Fund raising has traditionally been for the Methodist Relief and Development Fund and this year should be no different.

Our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service will be on Sunday 20th December at 6.00 pm. Worship is led by David Hewitt and the collection will be for Medecins Sans Frontiere There will be a Christmas Eve afternoon service principally for children at 5.00 pm. All families are invited to come along and have fun dressing up and re-enacting the Christmas story.

As is customary we end Christmas Eve and begin Christmas Day with our Christmas Eve Communion Service at which we will have a collection for the L’arche community whose motto is ‘Together for Life’ Our Christmas Day Service will be at 10.00 am and will include a collection for Action for Children.

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Following our Christmas Morning Worship why not stay for our Christmas Day Lunch at 12.30 pm. All are welcome and tickets will be available closer to the time.

Worship on Sunday 27th December will be at our church here at Station Road at 10.30 as usual and will be followed by a Bring & Share lunch. Please bring enough food for yourself and for others to share too.

Our annual Covenant Service is on 3rd January 2010 at Stockland Green Church and this will be followed by a hot meal. Details to follow.

The Berlin Wall During November 1989 the Berlin Wall came down signalling an end to communist Eastern Europe. Change had been in the air for a while. On 2nd May 1989 Hungary began to dismantle their 150 mile border fence with Austria, thus allowing East Germans who were fortunate enough to be holidaying in Hungary at the time to escape and make their way to West Germany. On the 19th August 900 were recorded as making that move.

Meanwhile back in East Germany things were also moving on. The Monday prayer meting in the centre of Leipzig grew until it became a de facto protest meeting. Such was the concern that on the 9th October the local Communist Party leadership were in discussion with the National leaders to ensue that that evening’s meeting did not become a rerun of Tiananmen Square massacre, which had happened only four months previously. There are conflicting reports as to whether the national leaders agreed that there would be no shooting or whether the calls requesting authorisation for shooting were just not returned. Whatever the outcome of those negotiations members of the Stasi were instructed that news of the outcome of this demonstration was not to be known by anyone else.

On the evening of the 9th of October 70,000 gathered outside the church for the ‘prayer meeting’ the nave having been filled in the afternoon by Stasi members. Whilst the minister Hans Jorgan Severs preached his message of peace, reconciliation and freedom he dreaded hearing the sounds of gunfire, which would indicate that their peaceful protest was peaceful no more.

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Unbeknown to everyone else except his wife he had given approval to Siegbert Schefka, a documentary filmmaker, to record from the tower of his church whatever transpired that evening, good or evil. When the filming was finished the recordings were smuggled out to West Germany hidden in the underpants of a very frightened diplomat, so that everyone else in East Germany and the world could know that the Government had allowed the protest to continue.

The rest as they say is History and on 9th November 1989 East German Guards stood by as men women and children attacked the wall with whatever tools they had to hand and the wall came tumbling down.

Peter Farley

Worthy!

I dreamt death came the other night And Heaven’s gate swung wide With kindly grace, an angel came And ushered me inside And there to my astonishment Stood folk I had known on earth Some I had judged quite unfit Or of very little worth Indignant words rose to my lips But never were set free For every face showed stunned surprise No one expected me!

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Methodists win at the Blog Awards Two Methodist blogs received awards at this year’s Christian Web and New Media Awards. A blog (a contraction of the term "weblog") is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order - ed The Revd David Perry Chair of the Lincoln and Grimsby District won the award for Best Christian Blog and the president and vice-president’s blog came runner-up in the Most Inspiring Leadership Blog category at a ceremony in London in late September.

David Perry’s blog combines his stunning photography with spiritual reflections. “Like the colourful flower, my images attract traffic to the blog which I might not otherwise get,” said David. “What I hope is true is that all leave with a little bit of incidental gospel pollen clinging to them. Even one tiny grain of grace, love and hope gathered here by chance in something seen or read might be a God-given gift to someone who needs it.”

The president and vice-president’s blog documents the travels and experiences of the president and vice-president of the Methodist Conference, as they spend a year visiting Methodists around the UK and much further afield.

Why not add these blogs to your favourites and keep up to date with what is happening in Methodism in cyberspace.

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I am a Christian When I say, "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting, "I’ve been saved!"

I'm whispering, "I get lost!

That's why I chose this way".

When I say, "I am a Christian" I don't speak with human pride I'm confessing that I stumble Needing God to be my guide When I say, "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong I'm professing that I'm weak And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian" I don't think I know it all I submit to my confusion Asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect My flaws are all too visible But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain I have my share of heartache, Which is why I seek His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian" I do not wish to judge I have no authority . . .

I only know I'm loved

Carol Wimmer 35

A Century Some may remember a year or two ago we had a series of study evenings organized and presented by Nichola and her father. At some time during one of these evenings Richard said something to the effect of ‘no one wants to live for ever’. I was obviously in a receptive mood at that moment because I have remembered his words. I sometimes ponder about my response to that statement and generally tend towards, ‘but not yet’.

His words came back to me recently with the publication in the Lancet of some epidemiological research, which pointed out that if current trends continue 50% of children born since the year 2000 would live to be 100.

The research also dismissed an apparent urban myth that I had picked up somewhere along life’s road with the confirmation that not only are we living longer but we are living better for longer. Average life expectancy is currently rising by three months every year. Danish scientists commented recently that our trend in living longer has been a straight line for about 160 years and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

Such changes have obvious implications for our pensions industry. One fact that I came across in a letter to the Independent newspaper, which I have not been able to confirm, is that when the pensionable age for men was reduced to 65 in 1925 on average the state pension was paid for a year. By the year 2000 this average had gone up to ten years and is obviously still rising. Given that, it is no wonder that David Cameron is suggesting that if they are returned to office at the next general election that he will fast track the rise in the qualifying age for state pension, which is currently set to rise to 68 for those born after 1980.

The country not surprisingly appears increasingly unwilling to continue to pay fit and able people to stay at home and do as they please. Such a change would obviously have a significant impact on the army of volunteers who man the plethora of ‘charity shops’ and charitable services that are almost ubiquitous in any parade of local shops. Unfortunately raising the age for compulsory retirement would also adversely impact upon the employment of school and university leavers, not helpful in the current climate.

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So another messy compromise for our politicians to sort out but if I had to continue to work would I still be so enthusiastic about living for ever?

Peter Farley

New Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham The Vatican has named Bishop Bernard Longley to be the new Archbishop of Birmingham the second most important office in English Catholicism.

Bishop Longley is being promoted from being the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. He is variously described in the media as being donnish, shy, a good listener, an encourager and a rememberer of details important for other people.

So we wait and see. Every new appointment is a risk because there is no certainty in how a person will perform with a new team in a new location.

However he is relatively young for such an important post. His first challenge will be assisting with the organization the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Peter Farley

Help us make Christmas special As always the Church Choir will shortly begin rehearsals for our Christmas Carol Service on 20th December. We are only a loyal few and would be delighted if a few more people would like to come and join us for half a dozen rehearsals and then for the service itself.

Please can you help - speak to Nick Riley (organist/steward) if you can.

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Wordsearch It struck me that the children have often had a Word Search to complete but the adults hadn’t so . . . even though this isn’t strictly for the adults (children can have a go too) here’s one to while away an odd hour. Solution in December’s magazine - ed

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

Tuesday Club An open meeting for men and women with a good speaker followed by tea and coffee - Every 4th Tuesday in the month at 2.00 pm

Sunday Worship All worship starts at 10.30 am unless stated otherwise below 1st

Rev Nichola Jones

8th

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - Mrs P J Hope

15th

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Rev Nichola Jones

22nd

Mrs Alison Gee

29th

ADVENT SUNDAY - Rev Richard Jones

Answers to ‘The Happy Prince’ 1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A

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Weekly Church Activities Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church (with crèche : Ruth Carlon)

7.30 pm

House Group : Hilary Price (3rd Sunday)

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 December CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Elizabeth Baizon, Peter Farley, Nichola Jones, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th November 2009 at the latest please or alternatively email me nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk

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