Contact - February 2013

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Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - February 2013 1

Contents Remembering Rosa Parks and the start of the Civil Rights movement Family News Daily Bread Lent Groups Lifts OneAcross Why I don’t go to sports events – or church Update on world polio I am what I am!

Mary Oliver I Ramble because . . .

Reconstruction and hope in Haiti Do you have faith in your family tree?

The Two Pots Children’s Pages The England I Would Show Americans by H.V. Morton Nursery rhymes Census response: Church is for life, not just Christmas White Hairs Mission Shaped Church Transformed - Circuit Retreat Day When the sermons clash with the music Summary of meeting of church members with Architect Larry Priest The richest songs in the world Teaching Christianity February Regular Meetings Weekly Church Activities

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Remembering Rosa Parks and the start of the Civil Rights movement On 1st December 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, a woman finished work and started her journey home. She caught a bus, paid her fare and found a seat. As more people got on the bus, it started to get crowded. The driver demanded that four black people give up their seats, so that the white passengers could sit down. One woman refused to give up a seat and was arrested. She later said, ‘I only knew that, as I was being arrested, that it was the very last time that I would ever ride in humiliation of this kind.’

The woman’s name was Rosa Parks, who was born 100 years ago this month, on 4th Feb 1913. At 42 years old, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, simply because she was black and the person wanting to sit down was white. This small act ignited the Civil Rights movement in the United States, which led to the end of the institutionalised segregation in the South.

Science talks about chaos theory, commonly referred to as the ‘butterfly effect’. It is said that when a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa, the wind generated ends up creating a hurricane in the Atlantic and destruction on the other side of the world. Small events can indeed cause big changes in the world! It was only a seat on the bus, but Rosa’s refusal to move started the Civil Rights movement.

The God whom we worship is one who specialises in taking small things and turning them into something big! A baby in a basket floating down a river became a leader who led his people out of slavery. A young shepherd placed a rock in a sling and slayed a giant. A quiet and talented girl named Esther bravely saved her race. Fishermen doing their jobs heard the call of a Rabbi and transformed the world. Six jars of ordinary water became an abundance of fine wine at a wedding.

All of this reminds us that no act is too insignificant for God to use and demonstrate his glory. Are we open to those moments which God can use to create change in our world and the lives of those we meet? Will we help that person on the side of the street or open our mouths when we feel God 3

stirring our hearts to speak? Like Rosa Parks, are we ready to make a stand?

Wherever we are? from the Parish Pump Website

Family News Pre - School Coffee Morning Thank you to everyone who supported our coffee morning in November.

We raised £172 . We used this money for our christmas party.

Best wishes All the Pre-school staff Thank you A HUGE Thank You to everyone who gave Handsworth Gang Show their Wish Tokens.

We came 2nd and have earned £958.58. It'll be a great bonus for the show.

Elizabeth Baizon

Daily Bread The Bible, to me has always been a source of guidance for my daily christian life. I have used different daily Bible reading guides over the years - now “Our Daily Bread”. I find the notes helpful. These notes are free (donations welcome of course). If you would like to try them for yourself I can give you an introductory copy.

For daily prayer guidance I use William Barclay’s ‘The Plain Man’s book of Prayers.” What do you use for daily help in your christian life?

Marjorie Barnett

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Lent Groups Week beginning 20th of February sees the start of the 2013 series of Lent Groups organised by Churches Together in Erdington. I was pleased to see that five people have signed up this year - but would love to see more.

The Lent Groups are a series of five meetings at a volunteer’s house where an ecumenical mix of people have the chance to study and talk about a particular theme (usually accompanied by a booklet and an audio track of luminaries discussing the theme).

I haven’t joined in with them every year - but I have tried to most years.

They are an interesting and rewarding exercise. It is interesting to see how other people, of other denominations, see their faith and the differences in our understandings. More importantly it is a chance for us to see what it is that unites us in our understanding of faith.

Sometimes it is a gentle ramble into people’s experiences and sometimes it is a heart-warming sharing of people of like-mind.

At the end of the meetings it is at the very least a chance to get to know people from other churches in Erdington and at it’s best a place where God was there with us - guiding us.

I recommend them to you - as I do each year - maybe next year we can get past half a dozen!

Nick Riley Churches Together Representative

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Lifts Tell honestly, if I were to say to you ‘lift’ what would you think of ? For me one of the thoughts would be nostalgia, of a man closing a sliding grill door and intoning ‘going up – fifth floor – toys, furniture and café’; the lift attendant in Lewis’s department store. Going with Mum and Dad up to the fifth floor to see the toys as a reward/bribe to ensure that I behaved during what seemed to me to be the frequent interminable shopping trip to town.

Alternatively there would be the Paternoster Lift at Aston University. A Paternoster is an endless loop of cubicles, for two people, which goes up and down (round and round) at about one foot per second. We had endless discussions about what happened if you forgot to get off at the top or the bottom, but I never met anyone who admitted to going round in the dark. I don’t think that any new ones have been installed for a while now because of the risk. Wikipedia suggests that an elderly man in Holland was killed accidentally falling down a Paternoster shaft in 2012 (not quite sure how you do this accidentally).

However lifts are more than this. How could you live on the 100th floor of a skyscraper without a very efficient lift system? In a Paternoster cabin it would take about 20mins. Maybe not a very efficient use of your time but probably faster then most of us could mange on foot. So there you have the nub of the problem no lift, no skyscraper.

Express lifts opened a 127m testing tower in Northampton in 1982.

However this building has had a chequered career. It was decommissioned in 1997 after the company was take over by Otis. The same year the tower was awarded Grade Two listed building status, the youngest building so rated at the time, probably in order to stop it being knocked down. Fortunately, as one of only two such towers in Europe, it is now up and running again as a test bed for the lift industry. There is one lift in the tower that travels at 10 metres per second. Achieving such speeds mean that there will be marked changes in air pressure within the cabin as it accelerates and decelerates, more swallowing? However, even at that rate it would take 40 seconds to climb a 400m building in one go. Think how long it would take if people wanted to get on and off at every floor.

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So what is the future for lifts if the height of a building is not to be constrained by its lift? Well how about double stacked cabins so that one does odd number and other does even number floors? Alternatively in a row of lifts you could negotiate and choose outside the cabin that this particular lift will go to the 99th floor, directly, so only those going there, or above would get in. Then the cabin could come down again much more quickly for the next negotiating group of passengers. Lastly and more scarily, apparently the ropes are one of the problems. 40 metres of steel rope weighs quite a lot and is therefore a constraint on tall lift shafts. So maybe the future is lifts with no ropes, and no counterweight, just a cabin with an electricity supply and a motor. Not sure that I would knowingly walk into such a cabin without a qualm.

I think I will stick to my two storey house.

Peter Farley Many years ago I visited New York and was lucky enough to visit the World Trade Centre Towers. I remember that there were numerous lifts which joined various floors but only one (very large) lift that went from the bottom to the top, 105 floors later. It fascinated me, partly because of it’s speed but also that floor numbers went up in 1s for the first few floors and then 10s to the top. Severn Trent’s head quarters in Coventry (where I work) has intelligent lifts and you push the floor you wish to go to rather than the ‘up’ button and a display then tells you which lift to go to. At busy times the lifts still sometimes visit most floors but at quieter times lifts seem to arrive almost immediately clever stuff! - ed

OneAcross If you are a crossword fanatic but get stuck on the odd word (and you have internet access) then have a look at oneacross.com Simply put in your clue, fill in the letters and bingo . . . it will come up with a list of suggestions Elizabeth Baizon 7

Why I don’t go to sports events – or church Take some of the most common excuses for not going to church and use them to stop attending sporting events and here’s what you get: ~ Every time I went, they asked me for money. ~ The people I had to sit by didn't seem very friendly. ~ The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all. ~ The coach / manager never came to call on me. ~ The referee made a decision with which I could not agree. ~ I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came only to see what others were wearing. ~ Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home. ~ The band played some numbers that I had never heard before. ~ The games are scheduled when I want to do other things. ~ My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up. ~ Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow. from the parish pump website

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Update on world polio On 3rd December Dr Hamid Jafari, Director of Polio Operations and Research at the World Health Organization (WHO) held an exclusive briefing on the latest status of Polio eradication efforts over the past year.

He recognised the progress made, with just four countries affected by Polio in 2012 compared with 16 the previous year, recognising several factors: The declaration of India as Polio-free proved the technical feasibility of Polio vaccination in such a large country, which led to the sharing of best practices between India and the remaining endemic countries.

The unprecedented deployment of WHO and UNICEF field staff, covering all 3 endemic countries will seek to take advantage of Polio’s “low season” over the next six months.

On 18th December six health workers taking part in the Polio vaccination drives in Pakistan were killed in Karachi and Peshawar on the 2nd day of the latest Sub-National Immunisation Day campaign, which aimed to reach millions of children. The WHO and UNICEF have condemned the attacks.

Due to the concern over the safety of health workers, the Pakistan Government has temporarily suspended the campaign in affected provinces.

The security situation in other areas is being evaluated. (I might add that in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria, governments and other pockets of resistance resent the presence of the western world interfering believing that the vaccination programme is aimed to sterilize its people).

The incident is an unspeakable tragedy and it reminds us of the courageous efforts of front-line health workers and volunteers who enter conflictaffected areas in order that all children may be recipients of vaccinations.

However, despite such tragedies, the vaccinators continue to make progress, reaching 25,000 children in the region of Khyber Pakthun-Khaw and local administrators continue to show a strong commitment to the programme even in areas of conflict.

The situation in Nigeria is also improving although there are still significant reservoirs to be reached, but the picture is improving.

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There are still risks facing the programme: • Shortages in financing which has led to cancelled programmes.

• The need to maintain commitment by the global community and Polioaffected countries.

• Continuing insecurity.

• Nigeria: Risk of transmission to other countries (via refugees fleeing across its borders).

• Pakistan: Reaching high-risk areas and maintaining strong political will through upcoming elections.

• Afghanistan: Maintaining progress through the withdrawal of international forces.

Another point raised at the briefing was that although the plans to address Polio vaccination is still a priority, it must not be forgotten that there are many, many Polio survivors suffering Post Polio Syndrome and at the end of the day, they too need help. There is still much to be done.

Despite the present challenges of conflict and insecurity, it can be done; these were the challenges in Somalia, Sudan, El Salvador and other countries where Polio has been defeated. With determination and commitment of the global community, success will end the curse of Polio.

(Compiled by Ann Tomes from an article by David Gold, Principal, Global Heath Strategies in the British Polio Fellowship’s magazine ‘The Bulletin’)

I am what I am!

I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be; but I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.’

John Newton, former slave trader

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Mary Oliver Born September 10, 1935 she was brought up in a small town in Ohio.

From childhood she has loved the fields, farms and woodlands and this love of the natural world has guided her whole life.

Barbara Rawson “I do not live happily or comfortably With the cleverness of our times.

The talk is all about computers, The news is all about bombs and blood.

This morning, in the fresh field, I came upon a hidden nest.

It held four warm, speckled eggs.

I touched them.

Then went away softly, Having felt something more wonderful Than all the electricity of New York City.”

Mary Oliver

I Ramble because . . .

To start off a new year with our magazine we are throwing open our proverbial doors to you to tell us what you do and why you do it. It doesn’t have to be a long piece. Variety is what keeps our magazine fresh and contributions have been a bit scarce of late, so why not put pen to paper and tell us why you do what you do! for instance: I ramble for many reasons, but the main ones are: It is good exercise; I get to see the glorious countryside that is literally on our doorsteps; I get to share time with lots of my friends; I get to talk with lots of different people; I meet other walkers who like to chat too; I get to take lots of photos of cool things and I get to enjoy a snooze afterwards!

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Reconstruction and hope in Haiti In January 2010 an earthquake devastated the Caribbean island of Haiti.

In the days, weeks, months and years since the Methodist Church has stood alongside the Haitian people with financial offerings, regular visits, prayers and ongoing support.

Reflecting on the last three years, the Revd Gesner Paul, president of the Methodist Church of Haiti, said, "By God's grace we have picked ourselves up and have been rebuilding ... We would especially like to thank [our Christian partners] for their solidarity, support and education to the Haitian case. We must face the challenge of working to raise Haiti from the ashes. We have been called to work in a difficult context, but as leaders, we must be the last ones to lose hopes. Yes, let us maintain this hope that helps us triumph and believe that rebirth is still possible."

Do you have faith in your family tree?

A new Methodist family history website - the second in a trio of online community archives - has been launched by Methodist heritage with the aim of encouraging people to share information related to every aspect of Methodist history. My Methodist History is inviting people across the world to contribute and help document Methodism's early development, nineteenth-century splits and sub-denominations, overseas missions and life post-1932 reunion.

The website is linked to the already popular My Primitive Methodist Ancestors. It will be linked with the forthcoming My Wesleyean Methodist Ancestors website, with a search facility to scan across the network.

The websites will feature at the Who do you think you are? live exhibition, at London Olympia, 22-24 February 2013. 13,000 visitors are with over 160 stands, including (for the first time) Methodist Heritage. Experts on Methodist history and records will also be on hand to introduce researchers to the My Methodist History network.

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The Two Pots I haven’t been able to establish the origins of this story but it’s worth telling - thanks to Ann Tomes for finding this one -ed An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, which she hung on the ends of a pole that she carried across her neck. Every day she would make the long walk to a stream to fetch water for her home. One of the pots was in perfect condition, and always delivered a full portion of water. The other pot had a crack in it, from which water leaked. As a result, by the time the woman returned home, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years the woman made her daily trek to the stream, each time returning with only one and a half pots of water.

The perfect pot was proud of its condition and of what it could do. The cracked pot, however, was ashamed of its imperfection and of the fact that it could do only half of what it had been made for. One day, the cracked pot, overwhelmed by what it perceived to be its bitter failure, spoke to the woman at the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The old woman smiled at the pot and replied, “Have you noticed that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?

I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day, on our walk home, you water them. For two years now I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace our home.”

Each of us has our own crack, our own unique flaw. It’s these cracks and flaws that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding, and it’s often these cracks and flaws that enable us to do good. Accept people for what they are; look for the good in them and the good that they do. And don’t miss the flowers on your side of the path.

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The England I Would Show Americans

by H.V. Morton Every Englishman has a duty to every American who visits this country. It is his duty to help him see England as she is and not as foreign nations imagine her to be. Every tourist is an unofficial ambassador of peace. The man who travels in a strange country returns home with certain definite impressions which he imparts to a hundred, perhaps two hundred friends; and if his impressions are wrong they infect public opinion to some extent, and help to build up that wall of national prejudice which makes war easier than it should be in a sane world.

We are notoriously bad hand-shakers. Americans, coming from a country in which heartiness is almost a vice, find themselves when in England, in the draughty atmosphere of a country house. Kind, but cold, perhaps describes it.

Thus wrote H.V. Morton during his time as a journalist in the 1920s/30s and this may be applicable today as then. But instead of thinking of the writing as being about the tourist visiting this country, think in terms of our church building and apply it to any who enter its doors. Do we welcome folk warmly enough or do we ignore them? Are we good ambassadors?

I ask this question because at the time of writing this article, I was feeling quite low in spirits and came to church needing to be uplifted and feel needed. But, on occasions, I have felt a stranger, where I was almost ignored, taken for granted, part of the fittings: I who have been part of its active life since its beginning. Now that may have been because of my low spirits, because I found it difficult to ‘make the going’, but none of us knows how we each feel when we enter the building, so it’s important we welcome each other and more importantly, we welcome strangers. This happened on more than one occasion. When you live alone, friendship is especially important.

As a result I have attended one or two services at Stockland Green where the welcome has been very warm and extended by numerous people, some of whom I know and some I don’t. I feel drawn towards that welcoming 16

church. Does the warmth of Erdington’s greetings draw people in so that they want to return again and again?

The reason for these thoughts is this: that it is one thing to spend a great deal of time and money on upgrading and updating our premises giving a new and welcoming impression, but unless we change the temperature of our welcome, not only to visitors but to each other, and this applies to all of us (including me) there will be no future, and our hard work in the planning and fundraising will be for nothing. I know we do not intend, or indeed want the ‘kind but cold atmosphere of a country house,’ and I wonder if this is the reason for so much absenteeism in recent months. Surely in the first instance we need to be present; a full church is a good advert, its warmth encourages people; and to be genuine in our warm heartedness, our kindness and our love for each other and for all attending.

Ann Tomes I must admit I found Ann’s perspective quite challenging when I first read it but read it through a few times before reacting - Another way of looking at it is that it is not just the duty of the welcome stewards to welcome new people or, indeed, encourage old friends - it is for all of us to encourage that warm heartedness that Ann speaks of. So next time you are at church make a point of speaking to someone new - ed

Nursery rhymes Nursery Rhymes have all manner of origins attributed to them and in the end you have to decide which is the most likely. The following are one or two examples of the folk law associated with well-known rhyme.

London Bridge is falling down Henry third gave his wife the bridge. So from 1269 to 1281 she had control of the revenue from the tolls. Unfortunately she diverted the income from maintenance to other things, nearer to her heart. As a result the maintenance suffered. However a similar rhyme is found in other languages so it may just have been transferred, at some point, to London 17

Humpty Dumpty One suggestion for the origins of this rhyme was that Humpty Dumpty was the name for a cannon on the walls of Gloucester, being defended by the King’s Men during the Civil War. A shot from a Parliamentarian cannon damaged the wall under Humpty Dumpty and it fell down.

The cannon was so large that all the King’s Horses and all the King’s Men couldn’t put it back again.

Little Jack Horner I like the suggestion that Thomas Horner was the steward of Richard Whiting the last Abbott of Glastonbury Abbey under Henry VIII. Prior to Henry’s destruction of the Abbey the abbot sent Horner to London with all of the deeds, which had over the years been assigned to the Abbey, to the baked into a pie. On the way he opened the pie and took out a ‘plum’ deed for himself.

Mary had a little lamb This poem was first published in 1830 and is supposed to be based on an actual event. Reputedly Mary Sawyer had a pet lamb and one day at the suggestion of her brother she took it to school. The rest as they say is history.

Other suggestions that are even more whimsical include Pop goes the weasel may be a tale about pawning goods after a night in the pub. The suggestion for Goosy, goosy gander is a Catholic priest wandering round a house trying to find some little room in which to secretly say his prayers.

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Census response: Church is for life, not just Christmas Did you know that each October the Stewards in each methodist church in the UK have to complete, what is historically known as, The Count. It was originally just a count of the congregation by age-group but this has expanded over recent years to become a census of Methodist Church life - here are some early thoughts on the results from The Methodist Church General Secretary - ed Today's census figures have been described as "challenging but not discouraging," by the Methodist General Secretary who says that the Church is there to serve others.

"These figures are a challenge to the Churches and reflect how British society has changed," said the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins. "Bu we are not discouraged. We are excited to be Christians in part of an increasingly diverse, multi-faith society and we believe that British society is enriched by this mix.

"It has always been clear to Methodists that the Church exists not only for those who say they belong to it, but those who don't. We rejoice when Churches are growing, but we also rejoice when we can share with others in transforming our world and our communities for good. The numbers of people that attend worship on Sundays and on special occasions like Christmas are important, but they only show a small part of the picture.

Churches remain committed to making a difference to many more people's lives through the wider activities of our communities, in church groups, fresh expressions, work in schools and places of community through volunteering, chaplaincies, being street pastors and good neighbours."

The Methodist Church's 7,471 outreach activities across Britain regularly serve more than 600,000 people, with elderly people, families and children under the age of thirteen as the primary beneficiaries. More than 1,000 Methodist 'fresh expressions' committed to new ways of being 'church' have emerged over the last few years, from coffee-shop chatter in Stafford to bread-making in Liverpool, from a children’s play-house inYorkshire to sacred space on the Greenwich Peninsula. 19

"The Census results mean we need to think and act smarter in seeking to be good witnesses to Jesus Christ today, and many Methodists will relish that opportunity. We believe God continues to be at work in Britain and elsewhere," added Martyn, "and we remain committed to working with God and being available to God for good."

White Hairs One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. Â She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?' Â Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.' Â The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Mummy, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?'

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... an introduction to new ways of being the church.

Mission shaped intro helps people to think about the communities they are called to serve and to be imaginative about the kind of church needed.

New world, new church? Our world and our lives change at an ever faster pace but are new ways of being church possible? If so, what might they look like?

Saturday 23rd February 2013 (9.30 am to 3.30 pm) at Four Oaks Methodist Church Agenda 9.30

Arrival and registration

10.00 11.30

Session 1 - Rediscovering Mission - what it means for a changing church in a changing world Break

11.45

Session 2 - Rediscovering Church - in community and in worship

1.15

Lunch

2.15

Session 3 - Rediscovering Church - discipleship and leadership

3.30

Tea & cake then home 21

Transformed - Circuit Retreat Day

Saturday 9th March 2013 9.30 am – 3.30 pm at Kingsbury Methodist Church This Lent, take up the challenge of going beyond traditional Bible study and, through a popular meditative approach, step into the shoes of well known Bible characters – so that you might be transformed, as they were, by the presence of Jesus.

Transformed by the Presence of Jesus by Liz Babbs is an opportunity to engage with Jesus through Scripture in a vibrant way by use of Bible meditation and studying together with photography, music, personal and group reflection and discussion.

Learn how to step inside the Bible and walk alongside characters like Mary Magdalene, Peter, Lazarus and The Woman at the Well and have lifechanging encounters with Jesus just as they did. Then allow Jesus to touch your life in fresh ways so you too can become an instrument of change and transformation.

Together we will explore the importance of: walking with Jesus; waiting for Jesus; being named by Jesus; being known by Jesus; faith and Jesus and obeying Jesus.

This will be a ticketed retreat and tickets are £10.00 each which includes a book to use on the day and a resource for future. For further details and 22

tickets please contact Deacon Linda on 0121 350 3967 or email: deaconlinda@live.co.uk Refreshments with a ‘Bring and share/faith’ lunch.

This will be an uplifting and reflective day and if you would like to know more about Liz Babbs please visit her website www.lizbabbs.com

When the sermons clash with the music There was a feud between the minister and the choir director of the church.

It seems the first hint of trouble came when the minister preached on ‘dedicating yourselves to service’ and the choir director chose to sing ‘I shall not be moved.’

Trying to believe it was a coincidence the minister put the incident behind him. The next Sunday he preached on ‘giving’. Afterwards, the choir squirmed as the director led them in the hymn ‘Jesus paid it all.’

By this time the minister was losing his patience. Sunday morning attendances swelled as the tension between the two built. A large crowd showed up the next week to hear his sermon on ‘the sins of gossiping,’ would you believe it, the choir director selected the song ‘I love to tell the story.’

By now there was no turning back. The following Sunday the minister told the congregation that unless something changed, he was considering resignation. The entire church gasped when the choir director led them in ‘why not tonight?’

Truthfully, no one was surprised when the minister resigned a week later, explaining that Jesus had led him there and Jesus was leading him away. The choir directed could not resist ‘what are friend we have in Jesus’ just shows that the last thing you want to do is upset your Choirmaster! - ed

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Summary of meeting of church members with Architect Larry Priest The meeting had been convened to receive and discuss initial thoughts and suggestions from Mr Larry Priest of Bryant Priest Newman, Architects, detailing how we might move forwards toward our aim of making our Church Centre both more visible and welcoming (the “Vision Project”) Revd Jones (“NJ”) introduced and welcomed Mr Priest (“LP”) who presented slides showing the outside of the building as seen through the eyes of a newcomer together with slides showing plans and mock-ups of possible changes and enhancements. These included: • Landscape and new perimeter wall with integrated notice board to the front elevation • New ramp access for those with disabilities and new access steps to the side • Stained glass windows to the front of the church with improved, clear signage • Re-alignment of the front door with feature double height glass effect entrance giving vision through to the worship area • Retain the external cross as a main feature • Opening up of the under gallery area combining it with the foyer (and kitchen) to form a cafe type area that would lead, on the one side, to the worship area and, on the other, to the other rooms in the building – this would require the removal of certain internal and external walls • Giving due consideration as to how to beautify the external ‘journey’ from/ to the (new) front door and the rear car park – this would require an evaluation of the effectiveness of the slip road including the possibility of its removal (discussed in more detail during the meeting) • The interior of the building is good and the worship area particularly attractive NJ thanked LP for his presentation and opened up the meeting for questions and general discussion.

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There were a lot of questions and suggestions and everyone was given a chance to share their comments and ideas which are detailed in the complete minutes which would take up too much space here. Minutes are available from the Church Stewards.

NJ then clarified the next steps and LP agreed to prepare a model (in about 3 to 4 weeks) as it would help to clarify everyone’s understanding and be helpful to those who could not attend the meeting. Gerald Peel suggested that a further open meeting could be convened 7 days before the next Church Council meeting (at which formal proposals might then be agreed) and that the model be on display during the interim period.

NJ then summed up God always deserves the best We will need a lot of prayer if we are to achieve We will also need a lot of hard work (referring to the display banner “Here I am, send me”) remembering “Here I am use me” so everyone should either get on board and do it or, if that is not the case, perhaps we should not start. If anyone is in doubt about what can be achieved take a look at St Barnabas. Remember that we are doing this for God’s glory and to serve the local community not doing it for ourselves.

The meeting expressed its thanks to Larry Priest and NJ closed the meeting with prayer and the Grace

The richest songs in the world On the Friday after Christmas, the house was mine and I spent the evening watching the sort of television that I enjoy. First a Horizon programme about meteors and then the third installment of the Royal Institute Christmas lectures. This was a programme about minerals and the search for the Philosophers stone, reputed to turn base metal into gold. It was full of pops, bangs and flashes as the realities of chemistry were explained to the early teenage audience.

Following on from this was a programme, which I wouldn’t normally have watched but as it was getting late and there was no one to talk to I ‘hopped’ 25

on to ‘The richest songs in the world’. This was a review of the songs, which according to the best estimates have achieved the ten highest total royalties.

It was a strange mix. I had heard and knew them all. However I wouldn’t and I doubt that any of you would have arrived at this list. Remember it was how much royalties each had generated. Royalties from sheet music, records, downloads, videos, adverts and film. So I think that I will ask the Editor either to withhold the list until next month or put it upside down on the back page. Then you can think or discuss with your friends what you think the list will be. Do let us know if you get anywhere near the BBC4 list.

I warn you it will not be the list you think it is!

Peter Farley List in next month’s magazine - ed

Teaching Christianity A recent YouGov poll commissioned by Oxford University's Department of Education has found widespread support in England for the teaching of Christianity as part of basic Education.

64% of adults agreed that children need to learn about Christianity in order to understand English history, and 57% agreed that it was needed to understand English culture and its way of life. Areas of Christianity considered important were the history of Christianity (58%), major Christian events and festivals (56%) and how Christianity distinguishes right from wrong (51%).

According to Oxford University Media News, it was found that teachers are often nervous about tackling issues related to Christianity, as they are worried that it could be considered as evangelising. from the parish pump website 26

February 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 3rd

WORSHIP GROUP - David Hewitt

10th

HOLY COMMUNION - Rev Jane Ashplant

17th

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Deacon Linda Kinchenton

24th

Rev Harold Stutely

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Weekly Church Activities Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church

Tuesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.30 pm 2.00 pm

Stay and Play 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 Coffee Morning : Lesley Morgan 10.30 - 11.30 am Church open for prayer : Margaret Curzon

Please hand any items for the March CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Peter Farley, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th February 2013 at the latest please or alternatively email me: nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk with the word ‘CONTACT’ in the title.

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