Ruislip Manor Methodist Church
Torrington Road
www.rmmc.org.uk
Inspire
Wider Vision
‘O Lord we ask thee for a Governor who would rule in the fear of God;
who would defeat the ringleaders of corruption, enhance the prosperity
of the State, promote the happiness of the people - O Lord, what’s the use
of beating about the bush? Give us George W. Briggs for Governor!
Amen.’
(Father Taylor, a clergyman in America in the 1940s.)
I couldn’t be so confident in promoting any one
of the parliamentary candidates or parties
above the others! Underlying much of the
electioneering is the assumption that voters
are only interested in, ‘what’s in it for me (in
the short term)?’ We’re not expected to look much beyond our own
doorsteps. It’s as though we are oblivious to the huge needs
across the world. We are also thought to believe that what matters
are the personality and presentation skills of the party leaders
rather than the policies or the constituency candidates themselves.
Belief in God as creator & sustainer means that everything in life
matters to God. There is nothing real that is beyond his care. We
have a responsibility and opportunity to make a difference to the
lives of people across the world.
Christian Aid point out that poverty is the result of unequal access
to power and resources, usually as a consequence of political
decisions. They have produced an election manifesto that sets out
key steps that the next government should take in five different
areas with action points given in each of the following headings:
1. Global leadership & government wide commitment. Early in the
life of the next Government countries will commit to new agreements
for eradicating poverty, tackling climate change and strengthening
the global humanitarian system so the new government should
seize the opportunity to tackle the root causes of poverty.
2. Climate and sustainability.
3. Fair tax systems.
4. Gender equality.
5. Reform of the humanitarian system. In the past 20 years
disasters from natural hazards have affected 4.4 billion people,
claimed 1.3 million lives and caused $2 trillion in economic losses.
Christian Aid point out that the UK public continue to be among the
most generous in responding to emergency appeals and that they
also see the increasing need for governments not merely to respond
to disasters, but where possible to prevent them.
(see http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/Party-manifesto-leafletSeptember-2014.pdf for the manifesto in full)
So I hope that as Christians we will have a wider vision and
continue to use the opportunities we have to raise these issues still
higher on politicians’ agendas in line with God’s Kingdom.
Roger Dunlop
The next Church Council meeting takes place on Monday 15th June 8pm
in the Coffee Lounge.
This is an open meeting to which all are welcome.
Please could any items for the Agenda be give to Val Graham or Revd
Roger Dunlop by Sunday 7th June.
Some people
are more
involved
than others
in local
politics. But
the good
thing is that
we all have
a vote.
Here is
Graham Lee, our Church Treasurer, at the Hillingdon Interfaith
Network Hustings in Uxbridge, alongside Boris Johnson.
Will you become a
DEMENTIA FRIEND
And join the growing number of people helping to make our society
DEMENTIA AWARE ?
Come to Ruislip Manor Methodist Church
Thursday 14th May
8pm - 9pm followed by refreshments
For a User Friendly Information Session which will help in
understanding the many different signs and symptoms of Dementia.
Over 5000 people in Hillingdon & over 1 million people nationwide are
already helping to create Dementia Friendly communities. Will you help
to reach the target of 4 million by 2020?
For more information, please contact Janet Fairclough 07973 663831
Afraid, alone,
in pain
Be the answer to Loko’s prayer
this Christian Aid Week.
This Christian Aid Week, 10th -16th May you
can help transform the lives of women like
Loko.
During the week, churches the length and
breadth of Britain and Ireland will come
together to pray, campaign and raise money to
improve the lives of people like Loko.
Every year, 100,000 volunteers demonstrate
God’s love for the poor by taking part in houseto-house collections for Christian Aid. This
fantastic witness is a chance once again to
take the mission of the church into our
community in Ruislip Manor.
Loko’s choice in life is simple:‘If I can’t collect
firewood,my children will die.’
Four times a week, in a remote corner of Ethiopia, Loko makes a backbreaking eight-hour trip to gather wood. It’s a task she dreads, but she
steels herself to do it because if she doesn’t her children will starve.
She prays to God as she walks. ‘I ask him to change my life and lead
us out of this,’she says.
Just £5 could give Loko a loan to start her own business buying and
selling tea and coffee, freeing her from her
desperate task and allowing her to spend
more time caring for her family.
By collecting in one of the roads in Ruislip Manor
allocated to our church, you can make an
enormous difference to the many Loko’s of this
world. Please sign up on the road list in the
coffee lounge. Collecting in this way takes some
fortitude. But that is nothing compared with what
Loko has to do every single week.
Contact June Palmer on 01895 674093 if you need more information.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Coffee
Morning for
on 26th April & to those who
bought cakes
after the morning service. A
total of £249.50 was raised - a fantastic result!
Help Needed !
Torrington Toddlers are very short of help.
The group meets on Mondays & Fridays in
term time from 9.30am - 11.30am. Help is
needed in the following ways:
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Preparing the room and clearing away afterwards
Taking the money at the door
Refreshments
Singing songs
Craft Table.
If you can help in any way, even if it is only for a short time or
occasionally, please speak to June Palmer on 01895 674093.
After August, Val will no longer be producing this Inspire leaflet.
Would you like to take on this role?
Inspire does not have to be in
the same format, style or frequency - you can add your own
creative or I.T. skills to an alternative leaflet or magazine.
If you would like to find out more about what may be involved,
please speak to Val on 020 8845 4245.
On 12th April, Paige Louise Culham was baptised. It was
good to welcome all the family and friends who had come
to celebrate with Amy & Lee. Paige has
been coming to church since she was a
week old so is very much part of the church
family. It was especially fun to see how
happy she was chewing on Roger’s dog
collar!
On 26th April, Peter &
Hilary Eldrett were
confirmed into
membership of the
Methodist Church.
They explained during the
service, “We have been
attending this church since
1990 and made a joint
decision that, for our 25th anniversary, we would like to become
more involved with the everyday life of this church, and could think
of no better way to commit ourselves than by attending the
confirmation classes.”
We are grateful for Hilary & Peter’s involvement in the life of the
church and for their continued commitment.
At the Annual Church Meeting, the Stewards Team and Church
Council Members were appointed.
Nola Stammer is now Senior Steward. Cathy Smith, who has
stepped down as Senior Steward is staying on to support the
Stewards’ Team as a ‘job share’ with Adrian Buckland and
alongside Phil Mayes. Chris & Niki Cone were welcomed as
new Stewards (as a ‘job share’).
Gratitude was expressed to all the Stewards Team for their
continuing hard work and especially to Cathy for her role as
Senior Steward during the last year.
We were reminded at the meeting that there is no Christmas
Fair planned, as yet, for this year. If anyone is
willing
to co-ordinate this, Patsy would be happy to
explain
what is involved. Alternatively, ideas
would be welcome for other fundraising
events. Although we have money from
Dorothy Wood’s Bequest, it is important
that
we are not reliant on this. So, if you would
like
to
get together with some friends and organise a Quiz Night,
Christmas Coffee Morning Extravaganza, Talent Contest or
Bake Off, just let one of the Stewards know!
Diary Events
MAY
Sun 3
Sun 10
10.45am
3.30pm
9am
10.45am
6pm
Ms Helen Schoon
Friendship Teas
Communion Breakfast
Revd Roger Dunlop
All Age Worship
at North Harrow
To celebrate Dr Peter Briggs 40 yrs as Local Preacher
Tue 12
Thu 14
10am
8pm
8pm
Craft Group
Dementia Friends meeting
Journeys at Ruislip
Sun 17
10.45am
6.30pm
Local Arrangement
Wesley Chapel
Ordinands’Testimony Service
Diary Events
MAY continued
Mon 18
2.15pm
Thu 21
Sun 24
8pm
10.45am
Monday Fellowship Bring & Share Memories
Torrington Group - Discussion
Revd Roger Dunlop
Communion
Tue 26
Sun 31
Tue 31
10am
8pm
8pm
10.45am
8pm
Craft Group
Social Evening
Journeys
Ms Helen Schoon
Social Evening
JUNE
Sun 7
Tues 10
Thurs 11
Sun 14
Mon 15
Thurs 18
Sun 21
10.45am
Ms Catherine Wells
3.30pm
Friendship Teas
10am
Craft Group
8pm
Journeys at Ruislip
9am
Communion Breakfast
10.45am
Revd Roger Dunlop
Church Anniversary followed by lunch
8pm
Church Council
7pm
Torrington Group
Lido Walk & Meal. Meet in Lido car park
10.45am
Local Arrangement
6.30pm
Westminster Central Hall
Farewell service for District Chair Revd Dr Stuart Jordan
Mon 22
2.15pm
Tues 23
Sun 28
10am
8pm
10.45am
Tues 30
8pm
Monday Fellowship Age UK Talk
Craft Group
Journeys
Revd Roger Dunlop
Communion
Social Evening
To add your input to the July/August edition of Inspire, please
contact Val on 020 8845 4245 or [email protected]