SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 83 : October a 2014
FROM THE MODERATOR
The Moderator has written to all churches as follows:
I am writing to inform you that, in the interests of his health, Colin MacBean has stood
aside from the role of Wessex Synod Clerk with immediate effect. We wish Colin well,
are grateful for his work in this role, and look forward to working with him in other
capacities within the church. The Synod will reflect on the role of Synod Clerk and look to
move toward the appointment of Colin’s successor. In the interim communications for the
Synod Clerk should be directed to the Synod Office.
The Synod Clerk email address ([email protected]) is being redirected to the
Synod Office for the time being. We will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible,
but please bear with us, as your email may need to be forwarded to someone else for
action in the interim period. If there is anything that has been sent to the Clerk email
address that needs a response, could we ask you to please re-send it. If you have any
concerns arising from this message please direct them to [email protected]
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS and EVENTS
Avenue St Andrew's United Reformed Church The Avenue, Southampton SO17 7XQ
will be staging an Exhibition in the church to commemorate the First World War from
Wednesday 5th November to Wednesday 12th November, 10am to 2pm each day. This
will include the fallen from the ancestor churches as well as highlighting the fantastic
work done in the Avenue Hall for the soldiers encamped on the Common. The booklet
telling of this work has been copied and will be on sale at a non-profit cost of £5:00. Also
on display will be records of ancestors of the present congregation to show how the war
affected the church family. All welcome; admission free; refreshments will be available.
Further information can be obtained from the website www.asaurc.org.uk or the Church
Office 023 80 678787.
Woking United Reformed Church are offering digital piano for sale. Offers are invited. The
specifications are :Technics SX-PX66 (M) electronic digital piano
88 keys, (32 notes polyphonic)
Grand piano, upright piano, electric grand, 2 x electric piano, harpsichord, vibes, guitar,
strings and pipe organ sounds.
Mellow, normal & bright brilliance.
Sustain, Sostenuto & soft pedals.
Digital celeste.
Digital reverb.
Transpose feature.
Midi program change
Music stand
Dimensions: 142.4 cm wide, 83.8 cm high, 50.6 cm deep and 71 kg weight
Base stand dismantles for ease of transportation.
In good working order
Viewing welcome or photograph can be supplied.
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Please contact Andrew Gibb on 07876 503846
Buyer collects.
On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October 9.30am – 1pm Verwood United Reformed Church,
Manor Road is holding a Autumn Traidcraft event More than just with Autumn / Christmas
stalls and catalogue. Come and see fairly traded, handcrafted gifts for adults and children.
There will be Christmas cards, accessories, items for the home, etc plus a range of every day
and Christmas foods and snacks. Get a head start with fairly traded Christmas shopping and
make a real difference to the lives and communities of the producers. Further information
from Dorothy Macro – 01202 814270
Park United Reformed Church Reading, RG6 1DN is having an open afternoon on
Saturday 1st November to officially open their new kitchen and refurbished hall. The
Mayor of Reading, Moderator of Wessex Synod and local MP will all be there to
celebrate and we would love to see you at the event too. Refreshments will be available
from 2-5pm, the ribbon cutting will be at 3.15pm on 1st November. RSVP to
[email protected] further details www.parkurc.org.uk
St Andrews Walton-on-Thames: Johnston Simpson writes with news from Artpeace:
Stony Broke: In up market suburbs of Harare there is unbelievable wealth owned by the
few. Car parks are full of expensive vehicles ranging from Mercedes to black Hummers.
In other urban, rural areas and displacement camps out of sight and out of mind,
numerous people including ArtPeace live in prefabricated wooden cabins and plastic
shacks minus windows and sanitation where garbage rots in mounds along the roadside
and sewage flows on eroded pot holed roads. Most rural homes fail to produce enough
food to meet their needs. The World Food Programme (WFP) state that 72% of the
population lives below the national poverty line or less than US$1.25 a day (75p).
Water Crisis: ArtPeace have gone for years without running water and like many
desperate residents are reduced to drawing water from unprotected shallow wells or
streams (left) to use for cleaning toilets, washing or watering their vegetable patches.
Some artists who live in Mabvuku buy water from stores at 60 litres for $2. Others buy 3
buckets of drinking water for a dollar from merchants who call daily to collect money and
buckets which they return to their doorsteps. Water boreholes are running dry as the
water table is so low as there is competition for underground water.
Back to School! Farai the orphan mentioned in the September NL has returned to school
with our support.’ Isabel also an orphan, is supported by one of the congregation. As
well as annual fees we covered winter and summer uniforms, dresses, blazers, satchels,
shoes, socks and stationary. They are two of six orphans we now support, the others
being Fradreck and his sister Catherine, Jonah and his sister Alice. All the children
appear to be doing well at school and are so appreciative of being given the chance of
an education.
A Day to Remember: Some funds were sent late in August to cover an outing for lots of
orphans mentioned in past articles. Godwin took them to the big Agricultural Show
outside Harare where they had a whale of a time. This was probably their first ever
outing. They saw lots of interesting sights and enjoyed a large meal. It was great to see
all the photos showing the children enjoying themselves away from their normal
impoverished backgrounds.
A NEW URC NEWS UPDATE can be found at
http://us2.campaignarchive1.com/?u=24a8dfb8c5f7e1fbab2352e75&id=1d4e1ac653&e=5ff583e32d
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There are to be some REGULAR STUDY MATERIALS being provided to go with copies
of REFORM. This can be found at http://www.reform-magazine.co.uk/study-materials/
STEWARDSHIP RESOURCE – the latest copy of TRIO is available from the Wessex
Synod office (for short term loan) to any congregation in Wessex Synod. If you have used
this resource in the past then you will know the style – this is a much improved version
with CD of resources including leaflet templates and powerpoint shows.
Contact Ruth Heine on 023 8067 4513
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD is currently advertising for the position of Regional
Manager for the South and South West of England.
As there is an occupational requirement for this post to be held by a person who can support
the Christian ethos of our organisation,
Further details can be found on the website at www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/jobs
TRAINING EVENTS
CORE Skills Training in Reading, sessions once a month on Thursday evenings 7.30 –
9.30pm at Christ Church, Woodley. The United Reformed Church and the Methodist
Church are pleased to announce a CORE Skills training course to develop and extend
key skills in children’s ministry and aspects of youth ministry.
 Programme Planning
23 October 2014
 Working as a Team
27 November 2014
 Children & Community
22 January 2015
 Pastoral Awareness
26 February 2015
 The Bible and Prayer
26 March 2015
To book your place on this course, please contact Ruth Heine, Development
Team Administrator.
Email: [email protected] Tel: 023 8067 4513
Safeguarding Training on Saturday 6 December 2014 at Park United Reformed
Church, Reading.
Arrivals from 9.30am for 10am start. Finish approx 4pm. Refreshments will be provided,
please bring your own lunch.
A full days training for all individuals working with children and young people, and
important for Ministers and Elders of the Church.
The course covers: The Basics of Safeguarding; Good Practice Procedures; Duty of Care
and Pastoral Awareness; Reporting Structures; Exploring Case Studies; Planning the Way
Forward.
Certificates are presented to those completing this training course.
Bookings close on 28th November 2014. Please contact Ruth Heine, Development Team
Administrator. Email: [email protected] Tel: 023 8067 4513
ADVENTURES WITH STEPHEN THORNTON
Three adventures are planned for 2015 in which you are invited to share. If you would
like more details please ring the number given.
1. Pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine 'In the Footsteps of Jesus' February 17th - 26th 2015
2. Pilgrimage to Cappadocia, Eastern Turkey, to Tarsus and in the footsteps of Paul
and Peter and the early church, October 5th - 15th 2015 . For both or either ring Stephen
on 01252 409494.
3. Residential Lent Bible Study, exploring the foundations of the teaching of Jesus in
the three Isaiahs, March 23rd to 26th 2015, at a rural retreat near Fareham - ring Alison
on 01189 412869. You will be most welcome to join us. Go on - you'll not regret
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PILGRIMAGE
Istanbul, Gallipoli & Ephesus : 30th October - 7th November 2015
In conjunction with Silcoates School, Wakefield, Yorkshire Synod United Reformed
Church and Revds Janet Lees and Bob Warwicker. 2015 marks the 100 th Anniversary of
the Gallipoli Campaign in WW1. Come to remember and discover more as we trace the
journey taken by those 100 years ago. Cost: £1,560 per person. Travelling with McCabe
Pilgrimages. For more information, please contact Janet Lees:
[email protected] or tel: 01924 291614
EVENT
Bring and Sing Mozart Requiem
Saturday 1st November 2014 – 1pm-8pm at St John’s United Reformed Church
Northwood, London concluding with the Requiem’s performance in an act of worship for
reflection and commemoration of All Saints and All Souls.
This is an opportunity for musicians to come together to learn and perform the Mozart
Requiem in an afternoon. There is no audition to join the event, but good knowledge of
the Requiem – or the ability to sight-read and learn quickly – will be necessary.
There is a charge of £10 for singers (which includes use of a vocal score for the day).
Refreshments (including a soup lunch) will be available throughout the day at a small
charge. Worship – which is open to all – is taking place at 6.30pm
Further details about the day, a provisional timetable, and an online booking form, can
be found at www.bringandsing.wordpress.com
REMINDERS
October
A Thanksgiving Service For Zambia’s Golden Jubilee We have been invited to join
Zambians and friends of Zambia in Berkshire (Zam - Berks) to celebrate the Golden Jubilee
of Zambia’s independence, (24th October 1964 – 24th October 2014). It is being held at
Tyndale Baptist Church, 2 – 4 Cressingham Road. Reading, RG2 7JE on Saturday 18th
October 2014from 10.00am until 4pm. The speaker is the Revd John Young, retired
Methodist Minister and former missionary to Zambia. Further information from Ian
Simpson, Wessex Synod Global Partner Co-ordinator (Zambia); Tel: 01865 248962;
Email: [email protected]
Dorset Churches Together is holding a Mission Forum 2014 on Saturday 25th October
at St Nicholas Church Centre in Corfe Mullen. The Reverend Steve Chalke MBE will
lead the day reflecting on New Dimensions of Mission Together. More details are on the
website http://www.ctdorset.org.uk
November:
Cracking Ministry an inspiring day for children’s and youth workers. Wake up your
ministry with families, children and young people: ten cracking speakers with ten
cracking issues, each for ten minutes. Saturday 15 November 2014, at St. Paul’s Church,
Bursledon, SO31 8DT. Cost £8. Ruth White is involved in this joint venture and
encourages churches to attend. There are grants available from Children’s and Youth
Work Committee if required.Email: [email protected] to register
your interest in attending. Bookings close on Thursday 23 October 2014.
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Children’s & Youth Work Forum - Saturday 22 November 2014, 10am – 4pm, London
Street URC, Basingstoke.
With guest speaker/facilitator Tanya Rasmussen – Theme: Gifts and Calls
All churches are encouraged to send a team of children’s and youth workers. This event
is a chance to explore how we as a Synod and the local church encourage and enable
young people to explore what God is calling them to do. Please book your place by
contacting Ruth Heine, email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513.
Red Cross First Aid Courses
The Save a Life course covers basic first aid skills for dealing with an emergency (baby,
child or adult). First Aid is a valuable skill to have. These courses are free of charge and
open to anyone in the congregation, particularly children’s and youth leaders. Maximum
15 participants. If your church would like to host a first aid course, please get in touch
with Ruth Heine email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513.
Further Ahead
Joint Public Issues Team Conference Love your neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote, will be
held on 21st February 2015 at Coventry Central Hall. The key note speaker will be the
Archbishop of Canterbuy. For full details see the JPIT web site.
PRAYER CALENDAR for NOVEMBER
Week beginning:
2nd
Warsash; Walton on Thames; St Martin. West Moors;
th
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Synod Meeting; Cumnor; Westborough, Guildford;
16th
Lychett Minster; Church of the Holy Family ,Blackbird Leys, Oxford;
23rd Marsh Gibbon; Blandford Forum; St Peter’s Guildford;
30th
St Francis, Banbury; Normandy; Lymington
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL ROGERS
([email protected]) by 19th October 2014.
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