Picnic
&
Film Evening
SPOTLIGHT
The monthly magazine from
Offington Park Methodist Church
June
2015
In the heat of summer
why not join us
In this issue
Picnic and Film Evening
Ordinary or Precious? (James’ letter)
Page
2
3
Opmc and Circuit Changes
4
Family Fun Day
5
The Story of Mary
6
Methodist Homes
7
Focus on Kiddlywinks
for a
COOL feel-good film
suitable for all ages.
RUNNING on
Saturday 6th June
6:00pm
Offington Park Methodist Church
20
Bring your own picnic
Offington Park Methodist Church, South Farm Road, Worthing, BN14 7TN
*Email: [email protected] Website: www.offingtonpark.com
Car park entrance East end of Broomfield Road
2
Dear Friends,
CHANGES —announced at AGM
With the passage of Ascension Day, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday in May we
come to ‘Ordinary Time’ in June — a label which stands in stark contrast to
the words in Peter’s second letter: ‘To those who through the righteousness
of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have been given a faith as precious as
ours.’ (2 Peter 1:1). I wonder if we see all that we have received, and
continue to receive from God as precious. If we do then surely there is no
such thing as ‘ordinary time’.
At the Annual General Church Meeting on 26 April James announced that he has
communicated to Shelagh Morgan, Senior Circuit Steward, that he and his family will
not be seeking a further extension when their appointment concludes in 2016. In the
next few months additional work will be undertaken to put together a profile seeking
to appoint a new minister for OPMC with effect 1st September 2016.
James, on behalf of the members, thanked retiring stewards Mike Powell, John Carr
and Sue Head for their unfaltering support & organisation, their company and special
individual personal gifts. Ann Delbridge & Alison Wright were appointed Year 1
Church Stewards. Jackie Brown and Doug Sibley are now Year 2 Stewards and Year 3
Stewards: are June Martin, Dorothy Burgess, Hilary Colbourn & John Bishop.
It was also reported that a number of Circuit changes will impact on church life:
Deacon Joan’s retirement;
Andrew Reed taking on a superintendent’s appointment elsewhere. A feasible
match was not found during the stationing process;
Cornerstone discovered their roof is likely to need replacing at a sizable cost.
Cornerstone’s congregation has passed responsibility for their ongoing mission to the
Circuit Meeting for its consideration on 16th June. If agreed, Cornerstone will pause
in its ministry whilst a way forward is discerned.
For the following year a readjustment of Circuit responsibilities will take place i.e.:
Revd Ian Suttie – Superintendent with pastoral charge of Southwick & Steyning.
Oversight of Pathway management with Gill Powell leading Thursday & Saturday
afternoon activities (additional 5 hours). Bob Boyce will work alongside Ian on the
same hourly basis.
Revd Graham Locking: Pastoral charge of Goring and Storrington. Joint responsibility
for Cornerstone with Rev’d James Bamber. A new lay worker post will be created to
assist Graham at Goring (15hours).
Revd James Bamber: Pastoral charge of Offington Park, Lancing, and Shoreham.
Katherine Suttie to work with James at Shoreham and Lancing (20 hours per week)
and Gill Powell & Adam Cook to work with James at OPMC on the same hourly basis.
Romy Petts & Debbie Stanwell wish to relinquish their roles as Congregational
Representatives. The Chair thanked them both for their service in the past years.
Replacements to be: Pauline & Alan Dockree, and, Matthew Earl. .
Finance: Nick Skinner reported a small budgeted loss of £3-4k. Some of the reserves
had been spent on improvements e.g. replacement main doors, office photocopier,
new audio-visual equipment, totalling approx £15k. Offerings generally in line with
previous year. Gift Day receipts down by 14%, but Gift Aid up slightly. A 5yr Financial
Plan is in place with 6 months expenditure costs (approx £70k) held in reserve at all
times. We would be using £30k over next 5yrs to maintain staffing levels. Overall,
OPMC finances are on track.
Within the adventure of faith there is no space for taking God’s gifts for
granted, or undervaluing them. When we do the danger is that we lose our
focus and direction as reflected in the following story.
Many years ago a king had one beautiful daughter who couldn’t make up
her mind which offer of marriage to accept. She wanted to know who
would love her more than he loved anything else and so devised a
challenge.
A race was to be held and the winner of the race would receive the honour
of marrying the princess. The race would be open to every eligible man,
regardless of his position. On the chosen day many men gathered at the
starting line eager to complete the course in first position. Just before the
race began the king declared that, not wanting anyone to run the race in
vain, he had scattered some of his finest treasures along the course. Each
runner was welcome to take as much as he liked.
The race was begun and almost immediately the runners were confronted
with gems and gold. One by one, rich and poor turned aside to fill their
pockets, blinded by the immediate promise of wealth. They forgot about
the princess – all except one who pressed on ignoring mere trinkets in
comparison to the beauty of the princess.
As we journey through ‘ordinary time’ may we treasure what we have
received and press on with perseverance towards the goal which lies before
us, putting God first as we journey.
With love,
James
3
4
THE STORY OF MARY (Part 2 of 5)
We do not know a great deal about Mary’s future husband, Joseph, except that
he was a direct descendant of David. He kept the laws of Judaism and was a well
-respected and honourable man. He was a skilled carpenter, who taught Jesus
his trade as well as providing spiritual guidance. Joseph observed the Holy Days
and Hebrew Feasts with his family and went every year to Jerusalem for the
Passover festival. Joseph was, in all ways, a good role model and a loving father
to Jesus.
MESSY FAMILY AFTERNOON
We would love you to come along to Goring Gap
on Saturday 20th June
from 12.30pm until 4.30pm.
Bring a picnic and have some fun and games with our Messy
Church family
and members of Epsom Methodist Messy Church.
(If it's wet, we will meet at Church.)
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Offington Park Pre-school, one of our affiliated groups has been
rated by Ofsted as outstanding.
Congratulations to all the staff and management team.
The marriage contract between Mary and Joseph was worked out with their
families and Mary and Joseph would have become engaged, with a view to
marriage at a later date. Although Joseph knew he was not the father of Mary’s
baby, he was a kind and devout man who did not want Mary to suffer the
disgrace that his rejection of her would inevitably cause. God had spoken to
Joseph and told him about the child Mary was carrying and how he was to be
called Jesus. Joseph decided to marry Mary and the ceremony went ahead in the
usual way.
Elizabeth played a role in the lives of both Mary and Jesus. Elizabeth was
descended from a long line of priests as was her husband Zachariah, who was
himself a member of the Jewish priesthood. Elizabeth was older than Mary and
had been unable to have children, which, in those times, was not just a
misfortune but seen to be a disgrace. While at the Temple in Jerusalem
Zachariah received a message from God informing him he would have a son. This
son would be great in the sight of God, be filled with the Spirit from his
conception and his role would be to pave the way for the Messiah. Zachariah
expressed confusion and asked for a sign so that he could believe what was said
to him. When Zachariah came out of the temple he could not speak and
remained this way until the birth of John.
It was Elizabeth who gave shelter to Mary, while she herself was pregnant with
John. Mary was a relative and, as an unmarried pregnant woman, would have
needed somewhere to stay where she was safe and welcome. When they met,
both women recognised they and their babies would be part of God’s plan to
save humanity, although I’d doubt at this time they were aware exactly how this
would happen. They would have supported each other during this time together.
Please submit any items for the July/August issue
by 17th June
5
6
OFFERTORY
ENVELOPES
Although Mary was chosen to carry the son of God, this came at a price.
Firstly, she was disgraced by becoming pregnant before marriage. Then
she had to give birth, away from home and all those she knew, in a strange
place with only Joseph to help her. She would have been greatly puzzled at
the wise men and others who travelled to see her baby and would have
thought about the words God had spoken to her and what this might mean
for her son.
Sue Head
Part 3 will be in the next Edition of Spotlight
Just under sixty of our
members use the offertory
envelope system, and for the
tax year just ended, they gave a
total of £21,473. We say thank
you for their regular support.
The new envelope year starts in June, and envelopes will be ready for collection
in the Church Entrance Hall from Sunday, 17th May onwards.
Envelopes can be a helpful way of organising your Church giving, and if anyone
would like to start using this system, please contact Mary, the Stewards or me.
Mark Phillips, Envelope Secretary
METHODIST HOMES
M
ethodist Homes Sunday will be celebrated at Offington Park on 14th
June this year, and on this day, we will be distributing envelopes for
donations, to be returned as soon as possible either to me or the church
office please.
OFFERTORIES
MHA’s mission is “to improve the quality of life for older people, inspired
by Christian concern”. Although the work has changed a great deal since
the start in 1943, the need is as relevant today as it was then. Your gift will
help to ensure that MHA can continue to offer additional support and
alternative therapies. Newer services such as “Live at Home” schemes are
increasing, as well as growth in the residential homes, especially for people
living with dementia. The nearest Home to us is Greenways in Bognor
Regis. I commend this charity to you as fundraising really does make a
difference to the quality of life for our older folk.
April
26th
£
317.66
May
3rd
10th
17th
£
615.44
446.27
583.25
A total of £804.50 was collected for the DEC Appeal for Nepal
Please could those who hold Bungalow Collecting Boxes return them for
the annual count, again either to me or the office.
Please remember opportunities for Gift Aid if you are
a taxpayer
Thank you for all you give - both financially
and with service
Thank you to all those who continue to support this worthy cause.
Terry Atkinson
7
8
FAMILY NEWS
OFFINGTON PARK DIARY JUNE 2015
Dedication
Dylan Grant Stephen Hopkins, son of Grant Hopkins and
Abigail Withers
Mon
Tue
7:00 Offington Bells
2 10:00 Tuesday Chat
1
We welcome him into the family of God’s church - may he grow In
grace day by day
12:00 Tuesday Lunch & Social Club
1:30 Minibus Shopper
Wed
3
Congratulations
Thur
4 11:00 Bible Fellowship
To Sue and Mark Jacobs on the birth of a daughter, Phoebe Nerissa
on 20th May
Sat
6
6.00 Film & Picnic Evening
Sun
7
8:00 Rev James Bamber
Deaths
Driver: Martin King
Sign 7: John 11:17-46 - Joy
Holy Communion
10:30 Deacon Joan Cole
Michael Webb, Deirdre Williams, Beryl Newson, John Hale
6:00 Rev Ian Pruden
We give thanks for their life and send our thoughts and prayers to
their families and friends
Mon
Tue
7:00 Offington Bells
9 12:00 Tuesday Lunch & Social Club
8
Prayer Book
8:00 Tuesday Group
We have many friends unwell at this time – please check the Prayer Book for their
names and uphold these people in prayer.
The Prayer Book is kept in the Church foyer and you are welcome to add prayer
concerns at any time. Please ensure the people mentioned are happy for their
names to be added. Mainly speaking just a Christian name will suffice as we need to
be aware of how we use personal information. The prayer Book is then received in
Church each Sunday with our offerings.
Thur
11 11:00 Bible Fellowship
Fri
12
Sat
9:30 Minibus to RHS Wisley (fully
booked)
10:15 Oasis
Driver: Martin King
Members Evening
Meal 1: Luke 5: 27-32 - Bo
Driver: Martin King
Over to You
13 All day Worthing String Quartet Workshops
1:30 Open Garden - Jack & Ann Delbridge , 13 Broadview Gardens,
-5:00 High Salvington. Refreshments
62 years in Scouting
After 62 years in Scouting, Richard Taylor has retired from office as Group
Scout Leader.
In 1953 eight-year-old Richard became a Cub at Purley, where he passed
through Cub Scouts and Senior Scouts and eventually became Assistant
Scout until 1968, when he moved to Lancing and became Assistant Scout
Leader of 1st Lancing.
On moving to Worthing, Richard continued Scouting at Lancing until 1991
when he was asked by the District to start a new Group at Offington Park.
He formed the 10th Worthing Group as Group Scout Leader with Colin
Green as Cub Scout Leader. For 24 years he has worked tirelessly to bring
the 10th Worthing Group to the healthy position it is in today.
Driver: Martin King
9
Sun
14 10:30 Mrs Pam Frost &
Holy Communion
Rev Tim Ross
6:00 Rev James Bamber +
Taize
Worship Leader: Gill Powell
Mon
15
Tue
16 12.00 Tuesday Lunch & Social Club
10
7:00 Offington Bells
Drivers: David Barnes and Chris
Lance
Wed 17
10:30
Service of Midweek Communion
Thur 18
11:00
Bible Fellowship
2:00
Reflections
Meal 2: Luke 7:36-50 - Adam
Sat
20
10 - 12 Coffee Morning
Worthing Churches
Homeless Project
Sun
21
10:30
Rev John Jennings
Worship For All
6:00
Rev James Bamber +
Worship Leader: Caroline
Cooper
Holy Communion
CHURCH STEWARDS
June Martin 531743 Hilary Colbourn 211942 John Bishop 213649
Dorothy Burgess 214969 Douglas Sibley 202509
Jackie Brown 522669 Ann Delbidge 263818 Alison Wright 237668
CHURCH OFFICERS Church Treasurer Nick Skinner 767072
Church Council Secretary Michele Funnell 205268
Property Co-odinators Hilary Colbourn 211942 Jack Delbridge 263818
Sunday Worship at 10.30am & 6.00pm (unless other wise adver tised)
Early morning communion: First Sunday of month at 8.00
For details see The Diary on the centre pages
Mon
22
7:00
Offington Bells
Tue
23
12
Tuesday Lunch & Social Club Driver: Martin King
8:00
Tuesday Group
AGM
Thur 25
11:00
Bible Fellowship
Meal 3: Luke 10: 38-42 - Joy
Fri
10:15
Oasis
Memorable Quotes
7:30
Jubilate
All
Worthing Horticultural Society Summer Show
6:30
Quiz Evening
10:30
Mrs Joy Barnes
6:00
Mr Adam Cook
2:30
- 5:30
Open Garden - Betty Marris, 14 Rogate Close.
Refreshments
Sat
Sun
26
27
28
29
7:00
Offington Bells
Tue
30
12
Tuesday Lunch & Social Club Driver: Martin King
Uniformed Groups
2nd Worthing Brownies Mon 6.15 13th Worthing Brownies Thur 6.15
10th Worthing Scouts Mon 7.30 10th Worthing Beavers Thur 5.15
12th Worthing Brownies Tue 6.00 10th Worthing Cubs
Thur 6.45
12th Worthing Guides Tue 6.30 13th Worthing Guides Fri 6.30
Rainbow Guides
Wed 5.00 Fri 5.00
Other Regular Meetings
Offington Bells Mondays as arranged
Jubilate Choir Alternate Fridays 7.30
Oasis Discussion Group for women 2nd & 4th Friday of month 10.15
Tuesday Group 2nd and 4th Tuesday of month 8.00
Reflections 3rd Thursday of the month
2.00 - 3.00
Home Groups Details from Church Office
On the third Wednesday morning of each month there is a short Communion at
10.30 in the Quiet Room — all welcome
Messy Church Second Tuesday of month 5.00 - 6.00
For further details see The Diary on the centre pages
July 2015
Wed
1
1:30
Minibus Shopper
Thur
2
11:00
Bible Fellowship
Weekly Meetings
Getaway Club for Toddlers & Carers
Mon & Wed 10.15
Keep Fit
Tues 11.15
Lunch Club
Tues from 12
Bible Fellowship
Thur 11.00
Short Mat Bowls
Thur 2.00
Badminton
Fri
2.00
Youth Clubs Wednesday
7211 6.00
SYC 7.45
Thursday Kiddlywinks (4-6 year olds)
3.30
Healing Service
Mon
Minister Revd James Bamber 01903 260356
Church Office 01903 205722
Church Administrator Mrs Mary Pirie 01903 205722
Lay Worker Adam Cook 01903 217588
Youth and Children’s Worker Mrs Gill Powell 529664
Spotlight Editors Alan and Pauline Dockree 01903 502586
[email protected]
Meal 4: Luke 11: 37-53 - James
11
12
Helen Bush
OPEN GARDENS 2015
Helen’s longevity was a source of surprise to her as her mother died aged 60
of TB and her Father died aged 69.
Jo, a cousin now living in Cambridge, Southern Ontario, wrote: Morvyth, as
she was known in the family, liked to be in charge, and in her chosen
profession was able to do so naturally and with compassion. Indeed she
selected this venue for this service.
Interestingly Morvyth means
hardworking and Helen was certainly that.
Helen was an only child born on 30th September 1921, and was educated at
Methodist schools in Penzance and Bury St Edmunds. Her mother was one of
Jo’s father's older sisters, but distances were such that although the cousins
always knew of each other they did not see much of one another as they
were growing up. Morvyth was four years older than Jo who recalls how as
Helen progressed in her noteworthy nursing career many of her colleagues
became like family to her, especially those who during WW2 had been Army
Nurses as Helen had been.
Helen became a Nursing Tutor at Westminster and worked as well as in
Australia and Canada. She must have helped many nursing students with
their chosen career. She was commissioned as a Sister of the Queen
Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (1946 – 1951).
After Jo and her husband, Michael, emigrated to Galt, now Cambridge, in
Southern Ontario in 1956, they enjoyed many visits from Morvyth over the
years; for a number of years she did a lot of travelling. She enjoyed seeing
their three daughters grow up and get married, attending each girls' wedding,
and as years advanced with fewer relatives left, Helen often said to Jo that
they were the only family that she had. On our trips to England we were
happy to have short "catch up" visits with Morvyth.
Morvyth always enjoyed music, in particular she enjoyed singing in her
church choir as long as she was able to do so. As she passes on may there be
music to accompany her along the way.
Saturday 13th June
Ann and Jack Delbridge
13 Broadview Gardens
High Salvington
Tel O1903 263818
1.30pm - 5pm
Tea/Coffee/Cakes
Sunday 28th June
Betty Marris
14 Rogate Close
Worthing
(Tel: 01903 262074)
Please park in Rogate Road
2.30pm - 5.30pm
Refreshments
Sunday 5th July
John and Christine Bishop
35 Balcombe Avenue
Worthing
(Tel: 01903 213649)
Parking in Wiston Avenue
2.30pm - 5.30pm
Refreshments
In loving memory, Jo (Jocelyn).
ALL WELCOME!
13
14
Helen Bush
Plus news of events and Church family
When Helen retired from the choir at Offington Park Methodist
Church she was presented with a memento in the form of a picture
signed by the other choir members – it was something that meant a
lot to her.
Faith was Helen’s bedrock – she enjoyed hearing the Psalms read to
her – their raw faith perhaps something she could identify with. She
also valued receiving visits from the Home Communion team
whenever she was able. She was for many years a woman of
incredible resilience and strength who stood up for what was right,
who didn’t just talk about being a Christian but lived it. When she
finally moved from her home she donated a bed to a local man who
had been homeless and was being rehoused.
While at home she delighted in her many houseplants and flowers.
Sadly in later years Helen’s health deteriorated. She had a knee
replacement and breast cancer in 2007 and she moved to Rotary
Lodge in 2008. This was a stepping stone to Linfield NH for the extra
care she needed in 2010 due to sight loss and memory problems.
Helen knew who was ultimately in charge of her life – back to the
Psalms – the One who neither slumbers not sleeps – the One who
could be trusted no matter what, the One who notices each
person - precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful
servants, the One who has I believe already welcomed Helen home.
Because of her faith, though death brings sadness it does not bring
hopelessness (‘we know that we have passed out of death to life.’ 1
John 3:14).
I pray that we may be inspired and encouraged by her example to put
our faith into action and trust in the one who says, Do not be afraid –
with me you will arrive.
James
15
16
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18
UNCHARTED JOURNEY Interfaith stories
In his book, Uncharted Journey, Anglican missionary in India, Roger
Focus on
Hooker, relates how he had made friends with his Hindu and Moslem
neighbours and joined them at their places of worship. It is one of those
books which changes your attitude for life. Before reading it, Hinduism,
Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and the like had been for me just subjects you
studied if necessary and at arm’s length. Now I realised that befriending
people of other faiths was not something you did to rescue the perishing
from their misguided ignorance, but to recognise that we all have
important things to learn from each other.
I shared “Uncharted Journey” with my friends in the Sunday evening
fellowship group at the Bo Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. With 12
different nationalities and almost as many denominations they were
equally enthusiastic about it so we decided to invite some Moslems to join
us for dialogue. My friend Dr Chundrigar, arranged for his teacher friends
at the Ahmadiya secondary school to join us for the first of many evenings
of Christian - Moslem Dialogue, which continued every 3 months
alternating between the Ahmadiya School led by a Christian and at one of
our houses led by an Ahmadiyan. We learnt a lot about our own faith as
well as our new-found friends’ faith. Both groups acknowledged they
wanted to convert the others to their own faith but that was because their
faith was the most precious thing they possessed and they wanted to
share it with others. We also occasionally had Christian-Bahai dialogue
with a Sierra Leonean colleague of mine who had converted to the Bahai
faith while she was studying in Germany.
When I moved to the Methodist Church hospital at Segbwema, I
introduced the idea of Christian-Moslem dialogue to the Sunday evening
fellowship for student nurses led by my friend Patrick Kamara, our chief
nursing tutor. Both Christians and Moslems started the meetings with
prayer and I discovered that they were all equally fluent in the Lord’s
Prayer (in English) and the Al Fatah (its Moslem equivalent) in Arabic.
As one of the students was a Jehovah’s Witness we included a
Christian- Jehovah’s Witness dialogue on one occasion.
Back here the circuit Justice and Peace group is looking into inter-faith
dialogue in our circuit, with the blessing of the minister in charge of
inter-faith matters of the Methodist Church, see the Pentecost 2015
leaflet.
Jenny Gibson Circuit Justice and Peace Group.
Do you have a story
citing interfaith experience? We would love to hear from you.
The Kiddlywinks Club
The Kiddlywinks club is now 7 years old, having started
in the summer term of 2008. We currently have 13
names on our register and enquiries about 2 or 3 soon
to join. Our numbers did peak at 21 children at one point, but this was just
a little too many for the space available to us and we try to aim for up to 18
members as our maximum. As with so many children’s clubs, our numbers
do fluctuate, particularly since we say ‘goodbye’ to our older children when
they turn 7. However, many of our leavers do progress onto the 7 to 11s
youth club that meets on Wednesday evenings. Although we are
advertised as catering for children of 4, 5 and 6 years of age, we have also
welcomed a couple of 3 year olds who were so keen and ready to join, that
we simply couldn’t refuse!
Our meetings take a similar format each week beginning with ‘free-play’
activities from 3.30 – 4pm, followed by snack time and news, games, craft,
story and prayer to end at 5pm. Each term we focus on a particular theme
with a growing display to match. Last term we looked at many of the
parables of Jesus and collected God’s ‘treasure’ into a large treasure chest
each week. This term we are looking more closely at the character of Jesus
and building up the ‘Awesome Jesus’ cross on the display.
As far as leaders and helpers are concerned, we have a rota system with at
least 3 adults present each week to help share out the various tasks of
setting up, running games, serving snacks, washing up, supporting the
children and tidying up afterwards. We are also blessed at present with
two Worthing High students who are working towards their D of E
certificates and so assist us on a regular basis and are a great example to
the little ones.
We enjoy running the club every week of term and do get some lovely
feedback from parents and children alike: One parent recently told us that
their child cries in the holidays when Kiddlywinks is not on and that all the
crafts they have completed at the club are displayed proudly around the
house! As for the children, they have recently started pleading to say their
own prayers at the end of each session!
Thank you for your prayer support – it is much appreciated. If you would
like any further information please contact me via the church office
Tel: 205722.
Claire Bamber
19
20