1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

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Calendar
November
Sat
Sun
2nd
3rd
Tues
Thur
5th
7th
Sat
Sun
9th
10th
7.30pm
10.30am
1.00pm
6.30pm
7.00pm
2.30pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
10.30am
4.30pm
Mon 11th
Wed 13th
Thur 14th
Fri
Sat
Sun
15th
16th
17th
Tues 19th
Thur 21st
Fri
Sun
22nd
24th
Mon 25th
Wed 27th
Thur 28th
6.30pm
7.00pm
7.30pm
7.00pm
2.30pm
7.30pm
9.00am
10.30am
6.30pm
10.45am
2.30pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
12.30pm
10:30am
6.30pm
2.45pm
2.30pm
7.30pm
Street Pastors 4th Anniversary Celebration
see page 7
Rev Don Macalister
Communion
Church AGM preceded by a ‘bring and share lunch’
Rejoice!
Worship Group
Ladies Fellowship
speaker - Brenda Prentice
Bible Study - Christ Church
Bible Fellowship at the home of Ken & Mary - Sticklepath
Lay Preachers’ Training Day - Rev Dr Stephen Dawes
Remembrance Sunday
Rev Marilyn Tricker
Café Church - Rev Don Macalister
(please note the service is moved from 6.30pm to 4.30pm)
Circuit Service at Sticklepath - Rev Linda Pearce
Property Meeting
Friendship Group
Flower demonstration - Maureen Body
Elders’ meeting
Ladies Fellowship
members’ sharing afternoon with Sylvia
Bible Study - Christ Church
Last day for copy for December
- 12.30pm Christmas Fayre
Rev Richard Martin
Rev Don Macalister
Communion
Prayer Meeting at Sticklepath - Rev Don Macalister
Ladies Fellowship
- Shoebox collection
Bible Study - Christ Church
Bible Fellowship at the home of Ken & Mary - Sticklepath
Lunch Club at Sticklepath - book with Sandy 325602
Rev Don Macalister
Rev David Wilson
Friendship Group
Christmas Lunch - to be arranged
Network Fellowship - Sticklepath
speaker - Mrs Margaret Bolt
Ladies Fellowship
speaker - Mary Fardon
Bible Study - Christ Church
Dates for your Diary
December
Friday 6th at 7.00pm Light up a Life Service
Saturday 7th at 7:00pm Carols by Candlelight
Monday 16th in the afternoon Yeo Valley School Carol Concert
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Minister’s Message
Dear Friends,
Isn‟t there a lot of weather in Devon!
Perhaps it‟s just my experience in the short time we‟ve been here but it
seems to me that there is no messing about here with days and days of still
greyness, or days and days of sunshine, or days and days of anything the
same.
Coming from Maldon in Essex (perhaps the driest part of Britain) to
Barnstaple in Devon (most definitely not the driest part of Britain) my wife,
Eddy, and I had braced ourselves for endless weeks of grey skies and almost
constant rain. Well, I know this isn‟t news to you but it is to me, the
constant changing from sunshine to rain, from mist to clear blue skies, is
wonderful! Both the sunshine and rain have their own beauty and
refreshment when the weather changes so rapidly and continually.
I have a little book in my study entitled “Rainbows through Clouds” produced
to raise funds for the Rainbow Trust Children‟s Charity. It is an anthology of
prose and poetry chosen to bring hope and even a smile to those who read it
and includes many well-known readings but I will offer a very short one to
reflect on this month. Apparently they are words written on a sundial at
Newton Valence and they read –
“Light and Shade by turn, but Love always.”
These words form a kind of bridge between what we British often do and
what I have just done, begin conversations talking about the weather, before
getting to more important, personal matters.
I was asked if I could introduce myself to you a little in my letter this month
and the words on that sundial reflect not only my life but my experience of
faith and my relationship with God through Christ.
“Light and Shade by turn, but Love always.”
I was born at the end of 1958 and for the first few years of my life I grew up
with my sister and parents in Stourbridge in the West Midlands before my
father moved us all to Leigh-on-sea in Essex. Every week we went to St
George‟s Presbyterian Church (soon to be United Reformed Church) where
my father was an Elder and the Minister was a Welshman, Rev Dewi Rhys,
who was the most inspiring preacher. Even as a young child I would listen to
every word of his long sermons.
It was at St George‟s that I met Eddy and we were married in 1981. Seven
years later Laura was born, and six years after that Heather.
In those thirteen years a huge amount happened. My career in what is now
known as IT but was then simply known as Computing had gone through
light and shade as I‟d moved from operating mainframe computers, to
designing and installing international networks, and on to programming and
finally systems analysis and design. After being made redundant twice I
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became self employed as a consultant and was enjoying my career.
But, as I‟d felt for a very long time, God was leading me in a very different
direction and while I loved the pure logic of designing systems my heart
loved people more.
I‟d felt a calling to Ministry at fourteen years old, standing at the top of a
hill on the island of Iona. It was a calling which, despite my best efforts,
failed to go away but grew stronger until finally in 1992 I began to explore
whether the United Reformed Church agreed, I was shocked to find they
did. And so I trained at Queen‟s College in Birmingham and after a year‟s
Internship at Grace Church Centre, Sutton Coldfield, I was Ordained and
Inducted as Minister of Weybridge United Reformed Church in Surrey.
After six years at Weybridge I was called back to Essex to Maldon and
Great Totham United Reformed Churches. I served there for eleven years
during which time both my parents died, Laura went off to study music at
Durham University and graduated in the Cathedral, and a week before our
move, Heather went off to study Accounts and Finance at Lincoln
University.
Exactly two weeks ago, as I write this, Eddy and I packed up our home and
moved here to Barnstaple on this next stage on the journey of life and
faith.
What I have written is the bare bones of a story which, as for all of us,
includes joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures, light and shade, but also,
always, God‟s loving presence.
“Light and Shade by turn, but Love always.”
As we journey together through the coming months and years let‟s pray for
one another, that we will know the blessings that come both through the
sunshine and the rain, that we will follow Christ‟s example and always hold
one another in love, and above all know that we ourselves are held within
God‟s love, always.
Grace and peace
NOVEMBER 2013 PRAYERS
3rd A personal prayer
Lord Jesus, you were so down to earth that you had to look up to see
Zacchaeus.
Help me to live in the present moment and to notice the people you are
calling to yourself.
Make me someone who brings your blessing to others this week.
Amen.
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10th A prayer of praise and thanksgiving
God of new beginnings, you call us to abundant life.
We praise you for your love for the world, greater than we could ever ask
or imagine.
Thank you that you breathe new life into us, calling us to think new
thoughts and make new choices; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
17th A gathering prayer
Lord, we are your people called by your name.
Together we place our trust in you and bring our lives to you:
our hopes and our joys, our worries and our fears,
for we know that we are safely held in the circle of your love. Amen.
24th A sending out prayer
May the meekness of Christ open our eyes,
the kindness of Christ open our hearts,
the faithfulness of Christ open our hands,
that we may live as his servants,
this day and always. Amen.
Elders Election & Annual Church Meeting,
The AGM is on Sunday November 3rd at 1pm, preceded by a bring and
share lunch.
John Robinson in consultation with Don Macalister, prior to the October
Elders meeting, suggested to us that, since the Annual Meeting was so
near the beginning of Don's ministry here, the election of Elders for
this year should take place at the January Church Meeting instead, and
this was agreed. This will give time for him to ask the Church Meeting
for nominations and for him to be able to visit any possible candidates
before the election. All the other Annual Meeting business will be, as
normal, at the Annual Meeting on November 3rd, at 1pm, following a
bring and share lunch. I do hope you will be able to attend this
important event in the life of our Church.
The Serving Elders who are willing to stand for re-election are:
Shirley Baxter and Eff Poole who have completed 6 years as Elders.
Anthea Coates and Tricia Kent who have completed three years and
Ian Allen to be formally elected after he agreed to be co-opted during
the year following Tom Smith standing down.
Chris Thomas has been standing in for almost a year in place of our
Elder Phyllis Clarke who died. He wishes to stand down at the end of
the year. He has also been the Minuting Secretary for the Church
Meetings for many years and wishes to relinquish this also. A new
Elder and a Minuting Secretary will need to be appointed in January.
Tricia Kent
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ROMANIA
After reporting the death of our good friend Nicu recently it is with sorrow
that we have to write that we have lost another brother. Nelu died a short
while ago. Nelu was a young Christian and was only baptised a short time
ago along with his mother and two friends. He was the leader, under Pastor
Daniel, of the Gipsy church in Celiste just a couple of miles from Carand. At
our last charity meeting we agreed again to send some money to cover the
Carand church's two Christmas parties. This will cover food and small
presents. We have also had delivered another six tons of food sent from
England and we have only had to make a donation towards transport. Some
of this will go towards extra for our Adopt-a-Friend scheme and the
remainder will be distributed to poor families in and around Carand. Roger,
our charity chairman, is probably in Carand at the time of writing (16th Oct).
An up to date newsletter will be issued on his return. Thank you to everyone
who supports us through Adopt-a-Friend or in any other way. Please pray
for Community Action Romania and its work and if you would like to know
more please speak to either of us.
God bless you all. Mike and Judith.
Simon's Tree.
Simon had travelled around the world and was on his way 'home' when
he was hit by a truck in Mali and killed. A friend with him planted a tree. For
those of you who know about our son Douglas's trip to Mali, we can report
that he and his friend, Max, found Simon's tree after 3800 miles in two
weeks and two days. They are now sight-seeing on their way home and
should arrive in Barnstaple in early November.
Written 16th October.
Mike and Judith.
2014 Church Directory
Would members and attenders please note that the sheets for the 2014
church directory will be on show for three Sundays commencing
10th November 2013. If you are in the current directory please ensure that
we have your correct details and make any necessary changes. If you are
not in the current directory and wish to be please enter your details
(Christian name, family name, address including post code, telephone
number and e-mail address) on the plain sheet. Everyone in the directory
finds it very useful. The new directory should be available on Sunday 5th
January 2014 but this year there will be a small charge of £1 per copy.
Thank you.
Mike Smith
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Short Mat Bowls Club News
We look forward to our AGM on Thursday November
7th and the general meeting which follows. The AGM
agenda is a short one containing reports and elections
but for our general meeting the agenda extends well
beyond the full page!!
We do have so many events apart from bowling and Mary, our secretary, has given us a feast of events to digest. Our service, Christmas
Fayre, dinner date, skittles night and our Christmas break, so be at the
meeting to input your views. I doubt if any of our fellow clubs have a
similar agenda, and includes our disabled group which has increased
over the past few weeks. They enjoy these activities as and where they
can. Even the preacher on Rev Don‟s induction night referred to three
retired local preachers and a worship leader included in our bowls club.
We are continuing our success in the league, all three teams playing
their part. Some members do not want to play in league or cup competitions and this is understood but the majority like to experience the cut
and thrust of the opposition and we have become known in the area as
keen competitors. To win the Les Oke Trophy at South Molton last week
was quite an achievement as we have been in that competition for some
years. The team of Hilary Iley, Mary Bierderman, Alan Davis and Gwen
Chambers are our foremost group and retain their individual trophies for
display at home.
We wish those members who are unwell a quick recovery to good health
with an ageing membership this is going to happen but as the saying
goes „Let us look on the bright side of life‟. The club is open to anyone
who would like to bowl on Mondays and with our disabled group on
Tuesday afternoons.
JVF
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Christmas shoe boxes – collection date reminder.
A very sincere „Thank you‟ to all those who are so conscientiously
participating in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal again this year!
May I remind you that all boxes should be completed and given to
me at the latest by Sunday 17th November.
There is a very warm invitation to everyone to join us on Thursday
21st November at 2:30pm, for an open afternoon when Mrs June
Redfern MBE and husband, Adrian, will be coming up from Exeter to
collect the boxes, knitted blankets, money donated etc. We will also
have the opportunity to see DVDs, ask questions and listen to June
as she talks to us about the tremendous work International Aid Trust
is doing to provide humanitarian aid to many thousands of people
here in the UK and across the world. And
of course we can all enjoy a cup of tea
together!!
Please contact me on 01271 346607 if
you need any information or help.
Last year many hands were needed to
load the car! It was brilliant!!
Hope to see you, thank you, Sylvia.
Greetings Cards
Did you know a variety of Greetings Cards are available through the
year? This idea was started to help Church Funds way back in 1996.
Now, as then, all proceeds from the sale of these cards go into
Church Funds.
At the moment cards are on sale at Hobnob, but if you would like
more information please see Vera or myself.
I am hoping to have an occasional stall after Church on a Sunday –
please see the weekly sheet for details.
Finally a big thank you to all who support me in this project.
Anne
PS Christmas Cards are now available.
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pics
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Report from the Churches Together Meeting
24th September 2013
Christians Against Poverty, CAP – There is now enough support for a
CAP Centre in Barnstaple. A centre manager will need to be appointed in
the near future.
Trinity is the main church which is involved in this venture, others include
Freedom, South Street Braunton & St Mary's. It is hoped that Christ
Church will consider joining in the new year.
Street Pastors – There is a need for more prayer and street pastors. A
service of thanksgiving celebrating 4 years of Barnstaple Street Pastors
will take place here at Christ Church on the 2nd November at 7:30.
Scripture Union – Jack Saunders from Roundswell Church has been
appointed Scripture Union area development officer in North Devon.
At our next meeting in November we will discuss the national venture,
Hope 2014, with its focus on mission.
Every blessing – Shirley B
Action for Children
On behalf of Action for Children, I should like to thank all the loyal and
generous supporters who have Action for Children lanterns for the
excellent sum of £283.97, which has been sent to them to help with
their work amongst vulnerable and neglected children and families who
are experiencing difficulties.
If anyone else feels they could help with this valuable work please
contact me and I will let you have a box for your contributions.
Many thanks.
Janet Andrew
Do you know of anyone who would like to
organise Christian Aid?
What I have always dreaded happened this year - me being ill.
Don‟t be afraid to offer - I could always give a hand and guidance for the first year or so if it was needed.
Vera
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Our family matters
Christ Church Family News
It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to Eleanor Paxton, whose
funeral took place on Tuesday 22nd October. Eleanor was a devoted
member of Christ Church for many years and we shall miss her.
As we pray we shall remember our sick, sad and housebound friends of
Christ Church, Gordon Banfield, Alec Hopper and Angela Turner.
We‟re pleased to report that Heather Bright and Bette Smith are both
home from hospital. May their recovery continue.
We pray for Maggie Horton on the death of her mother-in-law.
Also Kathleen Huxtable on the loss of her sister.
May God‟s blessing be with you all.
Harvest Souper
A very sincere Thank You to everyone
who contributed to the Harvest Souper
in any way. After expenses, £412.97
was passed in for the Church Charity, Mercy Ships.
E.S
The offertory at Rev Don Macalister‟s Induction Service raised £430.10
for Methodist District and United Reformed Church Training Funds.
Young Families Worker News
Sunday Club
It was good to see several children in Sunday Club at Rev Don‟s first service.
The refreshment team are always surprised at the number of teas that
Sunday Club order! We do enjoy the time we spend together after the service
in the Alan Finch room. There is a lovely atmosphere and the children do
enjoy each others company. The photo shows the children sharing a meal
together which is good to see as so many of the stories in the Bible are of
Jesus sharing a meal with friends.
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pics
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Café Church
Our last Café Church was a Harvest Festival service which was led by
Rev Marilyn and there was a wonderful display of harvest items. Please
take the time to look at our Café Church display board to see the photos
of this service. Our music group „Revelation‟ had a new instrument
called a „Boom Box‟ and you can see Carrie playing this in the photo.
For some children it was their very first experience of Church, and it
was really lovely to hear them excitedly tell us how much they liked
Church, and what a good time they were having! The activities are always creative and prepared well for our young families, and it was rather special to see the children gathered around Vera planting bulbs.
Our next Café Church is on Sunday 10th November at 4.30pm
and this service will be led by Rev Don. Please come along to
support our families and our new minister.
Open the Book
There is a photo in the Messenger of one of our assemblies at Yeo
Valley School which shows everyone taking part in the story, the
children and the staff! It is so good to be a part of this ministry and a
real privilege to be able to share the truths of Jesus and His love for us
all in this way.
Parents & Toddlers
It is a real pleasure to be involved in our Wednesday afternoons at
Toddlers group. We have such a lovely group of families and we all
enjoy our time together. The children really do love the singing time at
the end of the session and enjoy all the action songs and instruments.
Everyone joins in including the parents and they are all brilliant at doing
the actions especially „Little Peter Rabbit‟!! The photo shows you how
much fun we are having.
Holiday Club
Our Holiday Club will have hopefully been held on Thursday 31 st
October, which unfortunately is too late for the November Messenger.
So the news of our Holiday Club and photos may be in the December
Messenger.
All the above events and activities take place because of the
support and prayers that you all give – thank you!
– Young Families Worker
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Help Needed
There are 2 Christian events for those with Learning Difficulties
that need support. This includes help with transport, providing
music and leadership support.
Disabled Christian Fellowship
2nd Saturday in the month 2.30pm - 4.30pm
St John the Baptist Church Newport
Contact: Niggy Southey 01409 261763
Causeway Worship
1st Sunday in the month
3.15pm - 4.30pm
Instow Parish Hall
Contact: Gill Greenland 01271 860768
Tuesday coffee rota
Nov
Nov
Nov
Nov
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
05
12
19
26
03
10
17
24 &
Ena, George, Ivy and Jean
Andy and Joy
Sylvia, Pam and Gordon
Julie and Jess
Wendy, Pat and Anne
Celia, Tony and Lorna
Jess
31 No coffee mornings
Stall - Pat Penney
Stall - Pat Penney
Stall - Pat Penney
Stall - Pat Penney
Carols by Candlelight
Saturday 7th December 2013
at 7pm.
Donations of mince pies &
cream always welcome
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See Andy Morley for
information on contributions
to stalls or offers of help etc.
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17TH NOV
Ronnie Wilson
Vera Yeo
Tricia Kent
Anthea Coates
Ian Allen
Robert Wall
Evening
Chris Thomas
Andy Morley
Mike Smith
Jenny Newman
Robert Wall
Morning
Vestry Steward
Serving Communion
Evening third Sunday
Morning first Sunday
Gordon & Pam
Pearce
Jack Neville
David Wilson
Andy Morley
Projector
Preparing Communion
Peter & Vera
Yeo
Remembrance
Sunday
Sandra Westcott Elaine Stevens
10TH NOV
Mary Bale
Joy Morley
3RD NOV
Flowers
Coffee
SUNDAY ROTAS
Eff Poole
Mike Smith
Kathy Jeacock
Olive Everitt
Eileen Brewer
24TH NOV
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Tom Smith
Sylvia Jones
Robert Wall
Chris Thomas
Shirley Baxter
Ian Allen
Dot Jones
Evening
Reg Symons
Rosemary Cole
Mary Ruhleman
Shirley Baxter
Morning
Vestry Steward
Serving Communion
Evening third Sunday
Morning first Sunday
Gordon & Pam
Pearce
Andy Morley
Robert Wall
Jim Brewer
Projector
Preparing Communion
Christmas
Hilary Iley
Diana Snell
Muriel Symons
Nicola Wilkins
Betty cook
15TH DEC
8TH DEC
1ST DEC
Flowers
Coffee
SUNDAY ROTAS
Ronnie Wilson
Vera Yeo
Anthea Coates
Jack Neville
Christmas
Joy Morley
29TH DEC
Tricia Kent
David Wilson
Christmas
Gill Tucker
22ND DEC
Weekly Meetings
Monday
10.00am - 12.00 noon
2.30pm - 4.30pm
7.00pm - 9.00pm
7.30pm
Short Mat Bowling … contact Mary Biederman tel 373416
morning session
afternoon session
evening session
Friendship group
(2nd & 4th Mondays of each month)
Tuesday
9.00am - 12.00 noon
9.30am
10.30am
2.00pm - 4.00pm
5.30pm - 7.00pm
7.00pm - 8.30pm
Coffee morning
Prayer meeting … (except the last Tuesday of each month)
Holy Communion …
(last Tuesday of each month)
Disabled bowling … contact Mary Biederman tel 373416
Brownies …
contact Nicola Wilkins tel 377154
Guides ...
contact Eff Poole tel 373543
Wednesday
1.30pm
Parents & Toddlers ...
Thursday
2.30pm
7.30pm
Ladies Fellowship
Bible Study
Friday 10.00am - 1.00pm
Coffee plus Hobnob
contact Gail Wall tel 370865
All at Christ Church, Barnstaple are committed to the
following Safeguarding Principles:
 the care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children,
young people and adults.
 the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults.
 the establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving
environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
(Methodist Church Safeguarding Handbook 2010)
Offertory for September
September
Cash
Envelopes
1st
8th
15th
22nd
29th
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
An increasing number of people are donating money direct to the Church account by standing
order. Currently this offertory is £ per month. Not forgetting, of course, that if you are a tax
payer, you can gift aid your offering however it is given.
Hilary’s outreach coffee morning raised approximately £300 for the Newton St Petrock Choir.
The recent MHA envelope collection has raised £140.50 to date.
The ‘Harvest Souper’ has raised £412.97 for our church project - Mercy Ships.
The offertory at Rev Don Macalister’s Induction Service raised £430.10 for ministerial training.
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Christ Church, Barnstaple (Methodist/United Reformed)
seeks to be an ecumenical, town centre church, bearing
witness to the evangelical and social justice traditions of
the Christian faith in its expression of the love of Christ
for people of all ages. One church, one faith, one Lord.
If you are visiting Christ Church today we extend a warm welcome.
Please take a Messenger home with our good wishes.
Christ Church Minister
Rev Don Macalister
8 Kestrel Way,
Westacott
Barnstaple EX32 8QN
Young families worker
Gail Wall BA (Hons)
Available at Christ Church on
tel. 01271- 345313
[email protected]
-
E-mail
Elders
Patricia Kent (sec)
Anthea Coates
Vera Yeo
Eff Poole
Kathy Jeacock (treas)
tel. 01271-370865
Tuesday morning &
Wednesday afternoon
[email protected]
Dot Jones
Mike Smith
Robert Wall
Shirley Baxter
Sylvia Jones
Veronica Wilson
Ian Allen
Celia Huxtable
Telephone Directory (01271)
Church Secretary
324254 Church Treasurer
373555
Room Bookings
372287 Circuit Administrators
379116
Editors:
David Wilson
374020
[email protected]
Kathy Jeacock
373555
[email protected]
Website
www.christ-church-barnstaple.org.uk
Circuit website
www.ilfracombe-barnstaplecircuit.org.uk
Email contact to site
[email protected]
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