NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2015
Minister: Rev. J. Izzard Tel: Ashford (01784) 252559
Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School: 10:30 a.m.
From the Minister in Training
Dear Friends,
It is a great privilege to be asked to write the newsletter article this
month. Many of you reading this will know that Graham and I have
recently received great news with regard to our “stationing” and we will
be moving to the Basingstoke and Reading Circuit in the summer where
I will have pastoral charge of four churches from September 1st. We are
so grateful for your support, encouragement and prayers over the last
two-and-a-half years of my training; and in particular as we have been
waiting for news, and we continue to praise God and give thanks for his
faithfulness. What an awesome God we serve! We look forward with
hope and expectation to the next six months of shared fellowship and,
when we leave, we know that although we will be separated by
geography, we will continue to be united in his love.
Reflecting on our own imminent move however reminds me of a
wider challenge, for God does not call any of us to stand still on our
journeys of faith. Instead he calls us to move forward seeking his will for
our future direction as individuals and as a congregation. Some people
find this exciting and greet it with a sense of anticipation; others find
thinking about the future fills them with a sense of trepidation and
uncertainty.
Here then is when we must remind ourselves that God does not call
us to move forward and then abandon us to get on with it alone. He
promised “...I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew
chapter 28 verse 20 NIV). He goes ahead, alongside and behind, guiding,
accompanying and shielding us, as we live and move in the power of the
Holy Spirit.
This doesn't mean we can just sit back however! We need to do all
that we can to be equipped for the journey. God calls us not to stagnation,
but to spiritual growth as we come before him in prayer, as we read and
study his Word and as we come alongside one another, as those he has
called together to journey together in this place, at this time. As we meet
for worship and fellowship, may we encourage one another on our
2
journeys, offer support in times of challenge, rejoice with each other in
times of joy and look over one another in love. As we reflect his love in
our fellowship, may we also radiate that love beyond our church walls, to
our friends and families and into the communities where we live and work.
May God bless our journeying together and may we move forward,
placing our trust in Him for all that lies ahead. “Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs chapter 3
verses 5-6 NKJV)
Every blessing
Ruth
News of the Church Family
Congratulations to Julia Clarke and Chris Carling who got engaged on
25th January. The wedding will be later this year in Bath, where they live
and work.
Afternoon Tea – Sunday 22nd February at 4pm
On Sunday 22nd February at 4pm we shall be hosting an Afternoon Tea
in the Church at which we shall explore how the ideas and suggestions
raised at the Forward Together lunch in January can be implemented for
the future. The afternoon will conclude with a time of worship at 6:30 led
by John and will be the opportunity for committing our plans to God as
we move forward together. Please do sign up on the grey board in the
foyer to indicate your attendance. Many thanks.
the Stewards Team
Thursday Fellowship at Laleham
You will be assured of a very warm welcome at Laleham Methodist
Church. We start at 2:30pm followed by tea/coffee, biscuits and
sometimes cake.
February 5th
Desmond Egharevba, Kingdom Living Church
February 12th Rev. John Izzard
February 9th
Shepperton Wednesday Folk Dancers
February 6th
Mark Savage - “Thoughts about Lent”
March
5th
Roy Hewitt - The Eddystone Light
3
Marie Curie Cancer collection
I have volunteered to collect money for the above charity during the
month of February 2015. I have been given some envelopes for people to
make individual donations and will have these with me whenever I am at
Church on a Saturday, coffee morning on a Saturday or at choir practise.
I don't want to pester but if you would like to make a small donation to
this worthy cause, please ask me for an envelope.
I am going to donate all the donations received at the Saturday
morning coffee on 7th February to this cause, instead of Shooting Star
which is the usual charity of my choice. If anyone would like more
information about this particular charity, please chat to me.
Thank you, Christine Lindsay
Lindisfarne Pilgrimages
Jill Baker (who led the service for the Church and Choir Anniversary)
spoke on the theme of journeying and pilgrimage and showed pictures of
her pilgrimage to Lindisfarne. The Lindisfarne pilgrimages which she
organises are an ongoing venture, with two planned for this year (March
and August) and, hopefully more for 2016. March this year is full but
there are still spaces for August (17th - 23rd). The pilgrimages are just for
women, so if any are interested in finding out more, please email Jill on
[email protected] or visit www.mwib.org.uk or speak to
Marian Izzard on 01784 252559.
25% discount
I have been given two 25% discount vouchers for spectacle frames valid
for the £69 range at Specsavers between now and July 2015. If anyone
is thinking of changing their glasses and fancies to pay 25% less for the
frames, please let me know and I will give you one of the vouchers.
Christine Lindsay
4
Prayer Diary for the month of February 2015
“Come Holy Spirit”
Please pray for:
Sun
the Bible Society’s work in Vietnam.
nd
2 the Church Stewards as they meet tonight.
3rd Margaret Willis and Beale Griffin as they prepare their services
for next Sunday.
4th families and friends of those who died in the French terrorist
attack.
5th those suffering from Ebola, and the Doctors and Nurses treating
them.
6th the prison charity, Changing Tunes.
7th Local Doctors and Dentists.
Sun
the Passion Play team: director, actors, administrators and
support staff.
th
9 the Church Property and Finance Committee as they meet tonight.
10th Graham Wells and John Izzard as they prepare their services for
next Sunday.
11th politicians as they campaign towards a general election.
12th Care Homes, their clients and carers
13th university and college students.
14th the Events Committee as they organise our social events.
Sun
Canaan Christian Bookshop; for the manager, Andy Gilmour,
and his helpers.
th
16 Sheila Hassan and Paul Murphy as they prepare their services for
next Sunday.
th
17 Give thanks for Happy Anniversaries.
18th refugees and others suffering from the war in Iraq and Syria.
19th local hospitals: patients and staff.
20th East to West and their work with young people.
21st our neighbours: both next door and far away.
Sun
the Love of Christ to be seen in peoples lives.
23rd the Church Council as they meet tonight.
24th John Izzard and Linda Ashford as they prepare their services for
next Sunday.
th
25 our Fellowship and Bible Study Groups.
26th those who suffer from HIV/Aids.
5
27th our Circuit Stewards and Staff.
28th those suffering from terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria.
The Church Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain exists for the benefit of anyone in need of prayer.
Michael & Barbara Bagg
Jim Brodie
Barbara Lownsbrough
If you have a prayer request, please contact any one of the above.
6
December Church Collections
Here are the figures for December and from the beginning of the
Methodist Financial Year that started on 1st September 2014.
Last year to 31st August 2014 the total was
£15,595·34
Average Weekly Collection last year (53 weeks)
£294·25
Total from 1st September 2014 (17 weeks)
£5,579·31
Average Weekly Collection from 1st September 2014 £328·19
December 2014 Total Collections (4 weeks)
£1,358·56
Average December weekly collection
£339·64
Note: There were no evening services at Staines on 14th December
(performance of “A Christmas Carol”) and 28th December.
John Bennett
Thames Valley Quiet Day
Saturday 28th February 10 am – 3 pm
Open to any women from Staines Methodist Church and beyond!
To Be a Pilgrim
A day to reflect on:
&
where we are journeying in life
&
with whom we are travelling
&
what we are carrying
&
what makes us keep going
Led by Jill Baker at St Mark's Crescent Methodist Church, Maidenhead
Cost £5. Hot drinks and soup are provided, please bring a packed lunch.
Email [email protected] or contact Marian Izzard 01784 252559
7
WRAP UP TRIDENT
On Saturday 24th January I attended a very chilly but inspiring event in
London, designed to draw attention not only to the immorality of
replacing the Trident nuclear submarine but also to the long list of more
deserving causes that the £100bn could, and should, be spent on —
health, education, housing, social care, libraries, public parks,etc.
I started at St. Martin-in-the-Fields where Christian CND were
gathering for a short act of worship. We sang “This is the day that the
Lord has made”, but with extra verses along the lines of “This is the day
when we walk for peace”. I can't record the precise words, because there
was only one sheet between four or five people. They were expecting 20,
but about 100 people turned up. Afterwards, statements by the various
churches were read out from the steps overlooking Trafalgar Square.
There were quite a few, but here are three examples:
'
Replacing Trident flies in the face of commitments the UK
has made under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Baptist,
Methodist and URC church leaders)
'
The use of weapons of mass destruction would be a crime
against God and against humanity. (RC bishops of Scotland)
'
The Government must take a lead — cancelling Trident
would be a momentous step — Britain can lead the way.
(Church leaders’ letter to The Times, September 2014)
But why WRAP UP TRIDENT? Well, this was not a traditional CND
march. It involved a pink knitted scarf 9 miles long which had been
prepared in sections by knitters all over the world during the last couple
of years. Some were just pink, some striped, some decorated with
intricate patterns, some with words on such as “peace” in a variety of
languages; but my favourite was “Cast Off Not Blast Off”. The scarf was
gradually unwound and the 100 Christians joined some of the other two
thousand or so demonstrators to hold a section each and walk slowly
round the Ministry of Defence building till it was all wrapped up. (You
can see pictures at: http://www.demotix.com/news/6737574/wraptrident-protest-surrounds-defence-ministry-london)
After that there were speeches and songs, and we were urged to
spread the message of the £100bn that has been allocated to create an
updated nuclear arsenal to keep us safe' for the next thirty years. Perhaps
like me, you feel an election coming on.
As for the scarf, it is now being turned into blankets which are being
sent to displaced people in Syria.
8
Linda Marshall
Celebrating all things Welsh — Saturday 7th March 7:15 pm
Our “Lent Social” event will be marking the season of
Lent with a Welsh flavour (given it’s nearness to St.
David's Day) with: a quiz on Wales, traditional welsh
food, melodic sounds from our guest harpist, and some
welsh singing!
Tickets £7 Adults, £3 Children
Tickets available from 1st Feb after each Sunday morning service or call
01784 252559.
Venue: Staines Methodist Church. See flier enclosed in Newsletter, and
do feel free to invite other friends of family members along!
Marian Izzard
On a practical note to the above event:
As one of the emblems of Wales is a daffodil, it would be nice to
have a small vase of daffodils on each of the tables and for the tablecloths
to be either white, shades of yellow or shades of green to create a fresh
“Spring feel”. If anyone has any small, yet tall, flower vases suitable for
daffodils and/or tablecloths that they would be willing to lend, please
could they contact me, Christine Lindsay.
An Opportunity to Visit Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park—
F.O.C. and Get a Free Coffee!
When I was Centre Manager at the Village Centre I had a lovely assistant
manageress called Wendy. She is an artist and she paints the most
incredible paintings of exotic flowers onto silk.
She currently has her first exhibition being held at Cumberland
Lodge and it is open to the public on Saturdays 7th and 21st February
between 10am and 12:30pm.
Use the Bishops Gate entrance (you need to go very close to the
gates to get them to open) and then follow the signs for Cumberland
Lodge.
To find out more visit www.undazan-art.com
Lou
9
10
Services for the month of February 2015
1st 10:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Rev. J. Izzard
Dr. R. Midcalf
8th 10:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Mrs. M. Willis
Rev. B. Griffin
15th 10:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Mr. G. Wells
Rev. J. Izzard
25th 10:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Mrs. S. Hassan
Mr. P. Murphy
[Communion, pw]
[pw]
[Communion]
pw denotes “Praise in Worship” from 10:20a.m. – 10:30a.m.
— a chance to take a few minutes to prepare ourselves for worship
Dates for your Diary
Monday
Monday
Saturday
Saturday
9th 7:45 p.m. Finance and Property Committee
Meeting
23rd
Church Council Meeting
th
28 10am–3pm Thames Valley Quiet Day
at Maidenhead (p.7)
7th
7:15 pm Lent Social (p.9)
Items for inclusion in the March Newsletter to David Price
(Staines 462204 or [email protected])
by Sunday 22nd February at the latest please