Contact Magazine - April 2018

CONTACT

Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - April 2018 GROWING GOD’S KINGDOM IN ERDINGTON, THROUGH WORSHIP, PRAYER, ACTION AND FRIENDSHIP 1

Contents From our Minister, Malcolm 3 Thank you everyone 5 Farming Stories 7 Polite 9 Music and Evangelism 10 On the first day of the week, in the evening 11 General Synod welcomes move towards communion with Methodist Church 14 The return of hope 16 Fifty years ago, today 17 Not many came 20 The precious gift 21 Calming the storm 21 April 2018 Regular Meetings 23 Tuesday Club 23 Sunday Worship 23 Weekly Church Activities 24

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From our Minister, Malcolm It remains a great joy and privilege to visit the various groups and activities that take place in and around Erdington, Stockland Green, Witton and St Chads. From Rainbows to Scouts… to Fellowship groups, Playgroup, Bible Studies, Stay and Play, Luncheon clubs, Youth Worship… I find so many glimpses of people outworking their love and commitment in a way that is truly humbling. A HUGE THANK YOU! May Joy, Love and Peace be yours this Easter Day… and Eastertide as we celebrate the risen Christ. It is rare that Easter Day coincides with what has traditionally been called April Fool’s day. Seemingly April Fools days has its origins in Chaucer's ‘The Canterbury Tales’ dating back to 1392. The first Easter Day was over 2000 years ago.

The last time Easter Day was on the 1st April was the year I was born.

In thinking about April Fools and Easter Day I am reminded of verses written by an early Christian called Paul: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (I Corinthians 1 v 21ff) The first Easter morning over 2000 years ago must to some may have seemed rather like the best April Fools style joke ever…

How could a cruelly crucified man be alive again after all the torture and degradation of the Roman Authorities, backed by the religious authorities?

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But what of those mourning the real death of Jesus… the women who went to the tomb, or the twelve apprentices of Jesus, or the two walking on the road to Emmaus? To them… a sick joke?

Words on Jesus’ lips must have come to mind… and now began to demand a verdict!: “Destroy this temple,” Jesus answered, “and in three days I will build it again!” (John 2v 19) or “The nation’s leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life.” (Mark 8 v 31) I do not want to try and define ‘Resurrection’… save to challenge those who use the word resurrection when they really mean ‘resuscitation’ or rejuvenation. I do wish however to say a little about the cosmic transformation that was taking place that first Easter Day… and it was no hoax or practical joke!

The first Easter Day has resulted, and will result, in billions of people committing to be ‘apprentices’ of Jesus. People whose lives have been transformed because of Jesus. Billions who wish to testify that the Crucified Jesus is the Resurrected and Glorified Christ who lives in us, enabling us to be apprentices that bear fruit, who testify to a transformation that has enabled them to become the people they were created to be!

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How far are you in your apprenticeship with Jesus? The Methodist Church encourages an apprenticeship journey through: Worship; Learning and Caring; Service and Evangelism. Please do get in touch with me… or one of the church leaders should you wish to explore your apprenticeship journey further.

Your Minister and Friend Malcolm

Please speak to Revd Malcolm (or one of the Stewards) if you would like to explore further committing to being an Apprentice of Jesus… and being Baptised, Confirmed and/or becoming a member of the Methodist Church.

Malcolm can be reached through his mobile 07957 252208 or malcolmoliver54@gmail.com.

Thank you everyone I’d like to thank everyone for praying, supporting and caring for Don and me. Sadly, his illness has progressed rapidly. Recently, he was admitted into a Nursing Home where he is showing some signs of settling.

Barbara Rawson

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Dare we be bold and venture outside our church walls to share the love of Jesus?

NEW DATE Due to ‘snow’ cancellation!

If these words make you feel slightly uneasy … please

don’t stop reading … this could help you!

Sharing our faith is sometimes difficult.

What do I say?

Will I feel silly?

Rev Trey Hall, our District Mission Advisor, is coming to

Erdington Methodist Church Thursday, 12th April at 7.30 pm to help us explore simple ways to share our faith and engage in mission outside our church walls.

For more information : pa.sutparkmeth@gmail.com 6

Farming Stories Saturday 3rd March 2018 Snow all over the country, schools closed yesterday, trains cancelled, vehicles stuck or abandoned, some people spending the night in their cars. But what is new about this? I am sure more senior people like me have seen it all before. When I was a boy at school in the 1940s and 50s children had a whale of a time making slides down the slope in the school playground, with snow and ice underfoot.

On the farm I can remember all the water pipes being frozen and having to get one pipe thawed to supply a large long trough and bringing 5 cows at a time to drink from it. This was a daylong job.

Another time we had a major problem when the snow froze on the overhead electric wires and the weight caused a large stretch of wires to break and fall to the ground, leaving Bodymoor Heath, Kingsbury and most of Tamworth with no electricity. What would you do if you had 150 cows to milk and being told that it would be days before the supply would be back on? Imagine milking 150 cows by hand. (It was off for a week). We all urgently needed to think what could be done. After much discussion in the Rogers household it was decided that a generator was needed urgently.

Our electrician said he could transfer the supply if we could get the generator. Audrey spent the morning phoning all over he country to get one. We eventually found one in Gloucester, but they said it had not been painted, which would take another 24 hours. We said forget the paint as we need it urgently. Our daughter had taken the 7

day off work to help so she and Audrey jumped into the farm van and drove to Gloucester to collect it. We had to work through the night to get it done. We were so pleased to have some power and so were the cows, who by now had become very uncomfortable with their udders desperately needing to be milked.

Another problem was the canal bridge by the chapel as no gritting was done at that time, and it was always difficult to get over in the frosty weather.

The chapel which stands at the foot of the bridge was built in 1844 and I can well imagine worshippers at that time walking there in the snow and kicking the snow off their boots when they arrived.

Saturday 3rd March 1962 There was a wedding at the chapel. When we got up that morning there was six inches of snow which a team, including me, cleared with barrows and shovels. We got it done and the wedding was a good occasion.

So what is new about this weather - we have seen it all before haven’t we?

Recently we cleared out the cattle yards, which we do every two or three weeks and carted it to a field. We have a contractor who comes and spreads the muck for us. It is good to do it while there is frost in the ground as we do not make ruts with the tractors.

This field had not been ploughed in autumn, like most of our fields, as it needs to be left until spring when it will be ploughed and sown with a spring crop of oats.

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At this time of year the cattle are all inside being fed with silage and a meal blend all mixed together and fed to them by a feeder wagon along the feed fence so they put their heads through to have their share. They all look very well, and are nearly all Aberdeen Angus cattle.

I hope you have found this of interest and soon the snow will go, to return who knows when. We cannot do anything about it except watch the snowflakes fall.

Gerald Rogers (Bodymoor Heath)

Polite A New York traffic expert says that some London taxi drivers are refreshingly different - and witty compared to those in New York. He tells the story of the London taxi driver who screeched to a halt when a tourist bolted into the road, headed one way, then headed the other way, and then stopped, looking around in confusion. Leaning out of the window the taxi driver asked very politely: "I say, sir, may I ask, what are your immediate plans?"

from the Parish Pump Website 9

Music and Evangelism Methodism was born in song. Early Methodists sang John Wesley’s theology through the poetry of his brother Charles, set to good tunes found all around them. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

‘God's people have always been singing.’ (Singing the Faith 21).

Brian Hoare’s hymn has it right, at least as far as the Methodist Church is concerned.

In fact, I know a good number of people who became Methodist Christians because they liked singing. Sometimes it took a while for them to discover for themselves the God behind the words of the hymns, but when they eventually discovered him (or rather he took hold of them), their experience of God was as authentic as any other way of becoming a Christian. They sang ‘Praise to God’ as they recognised that ‘Heaven and earth are full of his glory’, that ‘He is the one who has made us’ and that ‘we his image bear.’

The Methodist Hymn Book is truly a rich statement of our faith and it can be a tool to help us fulfil our mission.

‘Why don’t you come and join our singing group?’ Anyone can say that. It does not matter if what you have heard is not the voice of Joan Sutherland or Luciano Pavrotti. All that is necessary is that the one to whom the invitation has been made can make a reasonably ‘joyful noise’ which has the potential to become ‘unto the Lord’. It is important in this connection to think of young people before they reach the stage when the Sunday School no longer fulfils their need. They may well be glad to be introduced into an adult group. The same is true of their ability to play a musical instrument. ‘Why don’t you come and join our music group?’ is another way of keeping them significantly involved!

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The ministry of music, both singing and playing an instrument, must, of course, be exercised sensitively and enrich our worship.

It is not the opportunity to show off our versatility or parade our own skills. Its object should always be the glory of God and the advancement of his Kingdom.

John Taylor

On the first day of the week, in the evening

By Daphne Kitching Locked in, afraid, Uncertain, even after Mary's story, even after that behind closed doors seemed safest, on the first day of the week, in the evening.

And then, the world changed.

He was with us!

Suddenly and wonderfully with us.

Jesus, our Lord, alive and with us in a new and completing way, to bless us with His Peace, to send us out to witness in the power of His own Spirit breathed into us.

What a day!

The day of our risen Lord.

The first day of the week, In the evening, Hallelujah!

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General Synod welcomes move towards communion with Methodist Church The General Synod has recently welcomed a report containing proposals which could bring the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Great Britain into communion with each other.

Members backed a motion welcoming a joint report published last year, which sets out proposals on how clergy from each church could become eligible to serve in the other.

The report, 'Mission and Ministry in Covenant', which was cowritten by the two churches' faith and order bodies, also sets out how the Methodist Church could come to have bishops in the historic episcopate.

The motion acknowledges that there is further work to do to clarify a number of areas, including how the proposals would be worked out in practice. It also calls on the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission to update Synod at its next group of sessions in July of this year on this work.

But an amendment to the motion speaks of "confident hope" that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly. Speaking during the debate the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said: 'I want to support this motion very strongly indeed.

'It seems to me that in voting for it we respond to the word of God in the scriptures where there is a clear command to unity in 14

diversity and in responding to this paper positively we respond to the Spirit who is already working in both of our Churches bringing us together.'

The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Chair of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission, said the proposals would be a step towards 'healing a tragic division in the Church of England' when the two churches separated almost 200 years ago.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, told Synod: 'A mute button must be switched off for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the urgent need to re-connect our two Church traditions with England. All has to do with God's Mission.'

The report builds on the theological convergence established by 'An Anglican-Methodist Covenant', signed in 2003, and the subsequent work of the Covenant's Joint Implementation Commission.

In 2014 the General Synod of the Church of England and the Methodist Conference mandated the faith and order bodies to bring forward proposals that would enable the interchangeability of ordained ministries in the two churches. from the Parish Pump Website

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The return of hope This month starts with Easter, which is a lovely thought. Whatever else, Easter speaks of new life, of fresh starts and the return of hope.

The whole traditional story is about darkness defeated by a light which can never be extinguished. That's why, in our hemisphere, Easter seems to fit in well with the changing season. Fresh flowers in the graveyard match the Easter hymns inside the church: The Lord of life is risen today/ Bring flowers of song to strew his way'.

It's a strange fact that all through the long history of mankind, despite the evidence of our eyes, people have stubbornly refused to believe that death is the end. They buried their dead with food and implements they would need in the next life, whatever name they gave it - Valhalla, the Elysian Fields, Abraham's Bosom or Nirvana.

Jesus called it 'the kingdom of heaven' or 'eternal life'. The very idea of heaven is beyond our comprehension, because we can't image a life not lived in our familiar dimensions of space, time and physicality. But God lives beyond time and space, and Jesus said He is 'Spirit'.

It's good that there are some things to believe in which we cannot possibly understand now. Although one day, St Paul said, we shall.

Until then we trust, and Easter hymns and flowers are signs of the annual return of hope.

Canon David Winter

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Fifty years ago, today (Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play) One of the things that I bought for the flight to Canada, for my skiing trip, was a copy of the Observer. You need lots of distractions for a nine-hour flight. My colleague watched three films and I re-read a ‘Brother Cadfael’ story ‘Rose Rent’ which, reduced me to tears at the end.

In the paper there was an article about Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. This musical work has now been sung for 50 years. Apparently, it all started when Alan Doggett, the music teacher at Colet School asked the aspiring pair Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber to write something that the boys would enjoy singing. Following encouragement from Doggett one of the pair thought about Joseph’s coat. Apparently, the boys chose the 20 colours of the coat. It started out as a 20-minute cantata and the rest is history.

In the news recently has been Stephen Hawkins, he of Black Hole fame His PhD thesis was approved in 1966. A couple of years later there was another astronomical discovery. Graduate researcher, Jocelyn Burnell discovered ‘Pulsars’ a regular repetitive signal every 1.33 seconds, original called LGM-1 (for little green men) because she didn’t understand what was causing the effect.

On a more prosaic level the death penalty had recently been abolished except for ‘high treason’. We had also marked the death of Churchill, Rhodesian UDI, epidural analgesia for childbirth, heart transplants and Billy Jean King winning at Wimbledon.

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More nearly 50 years ago Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band album was released along with Daydream Believer. Then we had the introduction of decimal coins.

When I was researching the details for these events I came across an interesting web page which purports to compute comparisons of prices then and prices now. There were three items which caught my eye House prices are now, on average, twice as expensive as they were in 1968. No surprises there then.

The average cost of fuel is currently almost exactly the same as it was then.

Interestingly the cost of an average basket of groceries was 25% greater than today. These would have been world prices because at that time there was no EU. This calls into question one of the common claims of the ‘Brexiteers’. Once we are free from Europe, food will be cheaper because we will be able to shop around the world.

Then in 1969 we had the flights to the moon and Concorde.

But to return to the story of Joseph, which was the story in my Children’s Bible by Author Mee that I read most as a child.

Dreamcoat probably earns at least nine out of ten for sticking to the story. But with the song ‘Any Dream Will Do’, there is as problem.

God has a plan for each one of us and ‘any dream’ will not do.

Peter Farley

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Easter Day Circuit Service

Four Oaks Methodist Church 4.00 pm

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Not many came Anyone whose organises events for the church or community must sometimes scratch their heads and ask themselves what more they could do in order to better publicise them. You announce events, you advertise events, but after the event people still say, "If only I had known!"

Is it that no-one ever reads signs on noticeboards or pieces of paper attached to lampposts? Such a method is still worth trying, though please remember to take them down afterwards. Flyers delivered door to door are good and sometimes there are firms that do leaflet drops at quite reasonable prices. Handouts to specific groups work well such as children at school. (As long as the children pass them on to their parents!)

Free advertising on local radio or newspapers is a good idea. You need to make the announcement as newsworthy/interesting as possible. Facebook and village and other websites are the modern way and can be very effective. Sometimes local estate agents or other businesses will sponsor signs.

If all else fails, why not actually ask someone face to face? A personal Invitation is best. Your best chance is a combination of two or more things, for example ask someone to an event, and if they have already heard about it from a notice they are more likely to say yes. from the Parish Pump Website

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The precious gift The echoes of the angels' tears Ring deep within my soul; The music of celestial spheres Sweeps o'er me as they roll.

O loving Lord, I kneel and raise My song of worship deep; For melodies of love and praise And songs that make me weep.

For those who have Your precious gift To make, or play, or sing The songs that make my spirit lift O such a wondrous thing!

How glad am I, a mortal man To sing their songs of love; And, through their songs this mortal can Know more of God above!

By Nigel Beeton

Calming the storm I was telling my children the story of when Jesus and the disciples were in a boat, crossing the Sea of Galilee, and a storm came up and threatened to sink them. I went on: 'Meanwhile, Jesus had fallen asleep in the stern. So, the disciples, scared of drowning, went back and woke Jesus, hoping He could save them. Then Jesus woke up and said, "Be quiet‌"' To which my son interjected, 'because I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!' 21

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April 2018 Regular Meetings

Each Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon

Tuesday Club Every 2nd Tuesday in the month at 2.00 pm

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

1st

EASTER HOLY COMMUNION - Rev Malcolm Oliver at 8.00 am We join with with our friends at Stockland Green for our EASTER MORNING WORSHIP at 10.45 am Rev Malcolm Oliver

8th

CLUSTER SERVICE - Rev Malcolm Oliver

15th

Glyn Constantine

22nd

CELEBRATING GOD’S KINGDOM II at Bishop Walsh School at 11am

29th

Peter Cashmore 23

Weekly Church Activities Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church

Tuesday

2.00 pm

Tuesday Afternoon Meeting

Wednesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 12.30 pm

Stay and Play Luncheon Club - (1st and 3rd)

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 : Paul Harris Explorers : Lucy Porter Rainbows : Debbie Barnett Brownies : Lesley Carter Guides : Helen Rainsford

Saturday

10.00 - 12.00 noon 10.30 - 11.30 am

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

Please hand any items for the May 2018 CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Peter Farley, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th April 2018 at the latest please, or alternatively email me: nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk with the word ‘CONTACT’ in the title.

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