april 2012 highbury news

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Highbury Congregational Church

Oxford Street. Cheltenham. GL52 6DUwww.highburychurch.co.uk

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Highbury News - 2 - April 2012

Deadline for May Highbury News: Sunday 8th April

... to a very special start for our HolyWeek and Easter celebrations.

On Saturday 31st March we are havingan Easter Café. Our café will be open,serving freshly brewed Fair Tradecoffee, tea, and homemade cakes.

Hy-Speed will be inviting people to joinin all the fun of Scalextric digital racing.

There will be a Fair Trade stall, and thechurch will be open as we once againtell the story of the Passion and ofEaster. Do join us, and invite friendsto come along as well!

On Palm Sunday evening the Choir willagain be leading our worship. OnMaundy Thursday evening at 19-30 weshall be sharing in our MaundyThursday communion. Join us atHighbury for a meditation at the footof the cross on Good Friday at 10-30,followed by coffee and hot cross buns,and then we will join with friends in awalk at 12-00 from Imperial Gardens.

After our sunrise service on Cleeve Hillat 6-30 on Easter Sunday we thencelebrate at our main Easter servicesat 10-30 and 18-30. A Happy Easter toeveryone!

An invitation ...

Highbury Congregational Church belongs tothe Congregational Federation and is in partnership with

the Council for World Mission and Churches Together

Highbury News costs £16 per annum or £19 by post

www.highburychurch.co.uk

[email protected]

01242 522050

Annual Reports - 3 - 2011

Easterin Prayer and WorshipIt’s what they did.And it’s what we do.Prayer and worship are at the heart ofour church life and very much at theheart of what we do through HolyWeek and Easter.There are moments through that GreatWeek and on into the Eastercelebration that stick in my mind,mean the world to me, and seem toshape what it is we seek to share allthe year round in our church.Something was dreadfully wrong withwhat was happening in the Temple.Jesus knew that it should be a houseof prayer ... but something hadhappened to make it a den of thieves.Church is most certainly not a building.Church is people. But we as the peopleof God meeting in this place atHighbury still treasure the place wherewe worship.It’s great that it is used in all sorts ofways. But there is something about theplace where we worship that capturesthat sense of God’s presence with usthat we so need in a world that isfraught with so many problems.It is good to treasure not just thewarmth of welcome in our church butthat sense of the presence which is soprecious too.The next moment, as Holy Weekunfolds, that I find precious is aroundthat table in the upper room whenJesus shares his Last Supper.

There’s no need for preaching in aMaundy Thursday eveningcommunion service.There is something so special aboutsimply coming together on the verynight when Jesus shared his lastsupper with the disciples, and doing ashe did long ago.In the breaking of the bread and thesharing of the cup there is a veryspecial sense of that presence of Godwith us that will never depart.And then those moments in the Gardenof Gethsemane. How Jesus plumbedthe depths of despair.How many today plumb those verysame depths. It is in prayer thatcomfort can be found. But even morein the knowledge that Christ has beenthere, he shares with us in thosemoments of deep darkness and he willnot let us go.That’s something to hang on to.There was not much sense of worshipin the sheer awfulness of the cross,and that barren hill top known simplyas the place of the skull.And yet.And yet there is, even there,something awesome. Maybe in thewords of forgiveness Jesus uttered,maybe simply in the manner of hisdying. The centurion felt it. Those whowitnessed the deep darkness thataccompanied it felt it.And as we gather on Good Firday, inchurch or walking through the town,there is a sense of the presence of Godwith us in the prayers we share.

Minister’s Memo


There is something very special aboutdawn ... or thereabouts. As we gatherat the Quarry Car Park beyond the GolfClub house at 6-30 on Easter morning,there is something new and fresh inthe air. And that hope of resurrectioncomes home in a very special way.All we share has to do with prayer andwith worship.When asked what was special aboutHighbury many people came up withwords and phrases that have to dowith the prayer and the worship thatwe share together.As Holy Week unfolds and Easterapproaches may I invite you to joinwith me in doing something special thisEaster.

Take time to sense the presence ofGod with us in prayer.Take time to feel the sheer awfulnessof the cross, and utter separation fromGod.And then in prayer and praise andworship rejoice in the resurrectionvictory of Christ, and know that it issomething special we can share.How good that at Highbury we canseek to grow in our prayer and in ourworship!

Every blessing for Easter,

Richard

TransformersThis term at Transformers we have been considering 'What is God like?'

Andrea Moses has written this prayer in response:

God is good, God is great, God is never in a state! God is Superman, But strictly sticks to plan. He’s not in a hurry, But never late, He gives us all pretty good faith. Now you’ve heard this rhyme, Praise him all the time! Amen.

Highbury Community CaféEvery Thursday 10:00am until 11:30am

Coffee, Tea and Homemade CakeBring your friends or neighbours


Wanted: Memories of HighburyLast year, Highbury ‘archives’ were sorted and lodged with Gloucestershire’sCounty Archive and now, sort of as a follow-on, a project has been launched toproduce an updated history of Highbury Congregational Church. The last waswritten in 1927, so there are 85 years to catch up on! If you have anything youthink might be of interest (written material, photos, unrecorded memories etc)please contact June Tremlett who is co-ordinating the project.

Sue’s NewsAnother Annual Church Meeting hastaken place and what a good meetingit was. It had a happy atmosphere witha good attendance (never before haveI had to produce extra voting papersduring the proceedings) andthoughtful informative displaysprepared by Deacons and helpers.Deacons’ elections were held and wewelcome back Shirley Fiddimore,Lorraine Gasside and Iain MacLeod (allexperienced former Deacons) andMary Buchanan and Jean Gregory whowere re-elected. The Treasurer andSecretary were also re-elected, albeitas an afterthought! Compliments wereexpressed on the readability of theAnnual Reports in the March HighburyNews, and that was gratifying for thosewho had spent time writing them.During that meeting and the theme ofthe following Sunday service and WordCafé, ‘welcoming’ was considered. Weseem to think we have a goodapproach but we should not becomplacent. Our attitude to visitorsand to each other is a reflection of ourattitude to our faith and Christianvalues.Friday 3rd March was Women’s WorldDay of Prayer and I attended theservice at St Michael’s Church. Wewere welcomed enthusiastically and a

good number of pupils from OakwoodSchool attended and participated.Their strange apparel wasdisconcerting until it was explainedthat their costumes were linked toWorld Book Day and their favouritebook characters!Now we reach April and Springtime.Easter at Highbury makes an earlystart on 31st March with the EasterCafé and Hy-Speed event, with time toexplore the Easter story in Church. Theevents of Holy Week are listed on page22, including the Good Friday Walk ofWitness through the town centre. Thisis a procession of like-minded Christianpeople who remember the reason forthe Day prior to indulging in hot crossbuns! Easter Sunday is, of course, ajoyous Day..... so where will you be atdaybreak?The end of the month, the Deaconsmeet together on Deacons’ Day tocommune and share ideas on theirroles in Highbury life and churchmission.Also, that time brings the Annual GiftDay, when we are asked to considerthe work of the church with its financialneeds, and to contribute in the specialenvelopes when we can. Pleaseremember TRIO, that ‘TheResponsibility Is Ours’.


Charity for April: Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre“Maggie's is about empowering peopleto live with, through and beyondcancer by bringing togetherprofessional help, communities ofsupport and building design to createexceptional centres for cancer care.Maggie’s Centres are for anyoneaffected by cancer. They are placeswhere people are welcome wheneverthey need us - from being diagnosed,undergoing treatment, or followingtreatment, to recurrence, end of life orin bereavement. We also welcomefamily and friends, as they are oftendeeply affected by cancer too. Weknow that those who love andlook after someone with cancer canfeel just as frightened, vulnerable anduncertain.”

Maggie's Caring Centre in Cheltenhamis a place to turn to for help with anyof the problems, small or large,associated with cancer.

Under the one roof you can accesshelp with information, benefits advice,psychological support both individuallyand in groups, courses such as Tai Chiand Creative Writing as well as stressreducing strategies. You don't have tomake an appointment or be referred,and everything we offer is free ofcharge. It is there for anybody whofeels the need for help, which includesthose who love and look aftersomeone with cancer, who often feel

as frightened and vulnerable as thosewho actually have the disease.

Due to advances in medical care, thenumber of people living with andbeyond cancer is increasing, so thesupport available to them becomesever more important. The CheltenhamMaggie's Centre is just minutes awayfrom the oncology unit at CheltenhamGeneral Hospital and was designed bySir Richard McCormac. It is a beautifulbuilding, sympathetic to the needs ofindividuals; plenty of light, beautifuloak and bright soft furnishings whichall make for an uplifting and homelyspace.The Centre serves the three countiesof Gloucestershire, Herefordshire andWorcestershire where 35,000 peoplelive with cancer."Many thanks for choosing to supportMaggie's. If any of your congregationwould like to come and see ourbeautiful centre in Cheltenham, pleasedo let me know.

Lisa RobinsonMaggie’s Cancer Caring CentreThe Lodge, College Baths Road

CheltenhamGL53 7QB

( 01242 250611

Jesus said, “I am going to my Father and your Father,to my God and your God; but I shall come back,and take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.”


WELCOME to- Vicki Paterson and Paul Harris who were received into Church Membership onSunday 18th MarchCONGRATULATIONS to- Jacqui Brown, on the happy announcement of her engagement to Jon- Sheelah and Fred Scott celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary onSunday 15th AprilBEST WISHES to- David Waters and Lisa on the occasion of their wedding in Cheshire onSaturday 14th April- Mark and Denise Evans on Mark’s Induction Service at the church in NewportI.O.W. on Saturday 14th AprilIT IS A PLEASURE TO RECORD that- Graham and Sheryl Adams’ little daughter Bethan, was baptised on Sunday19th February, at Lees Street Congregational Church, Manchester- Baby Jessica Noonan has had a second successful heart operation, and ishome again, to the understandable relief of parents Ruth and Matt,grandparents Angela and John Pickles, and great-grandmother Joan Peirce- Hilda Read has settled comfortably into Winstonian House- Eric Burton is home and recovering steadily after an operation- James Martin is active again after surgery to fix his broken armWE GIVE THANKS- for all that Philip Arnold has done during his years as Chairman of the PastoralCare Committee, and we welcome Diana Adams as the new Chair person- to our retiring Deacons Tom Archer and Diana Adams for their dedicationduring their terms of service, and ask God’s blessing on the members of our newDiaconate following the Church Annual Meeting on 1st March: Mary Buchanan,Shirley Fiddimore, Lorraine Gasside, Jean Gregory, Peter Harrison, IainMacLeod, Darryl Mills, John Pickles, June Tremlett and Sharon Wallington; ourHonorary Deacon John Lewis, Church Secretary Sue Cole, Treasurer RogerGregory, Children’s Worker Carolyn Tennant, and Minister Richard CleavesNEW ADDRESS We wish Clare Clucas well in her new home:

OUR SYMPATHY to- Martin and Elaine Shönbeck, Andrew, Philip, and Martin’s mother Janet, onthe sudden death of Martin’s father on Saturday 25th February

News of the Church Family


- John and Angela Pickles, Ruth and Heather, on the death of John’s mother ina nursing home the same weekend- Sharon and Iain Wallington, Tabi, Murray and Gus, on the death of Sharon’smother on Monday 5th March; also Sharon’s sister Lisa and their step-father MikePLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS all those mentioned above, and- Jonquil Harrison, following long awaited knee surgery, and Peter too- Maurice Wilce who is receiving regular hospital care- Shirley Fiddimore’s sister Gloria and brother-in-law David- Joan Barnes, in Dowty House, with her future unclear as yet- Joyce Moore, remembering Judi and David Marsh too- Lorraine Gasside’s Auntie Mary in Tewkesbury Hospital- Ivy Sadler, in Greville House - Ann and Stan Jones- Ray and Margaret Morgan - Raymond and Brenda Clarke- Vera and David Williams - Ron and Rachel Jacques- Ian and Hilare Pulford - Gwen Taylor

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS, AND VISITING REQUESTS please contact:

Joyce and Philip Arnold ( 01242 285705

David and Betty Butcher ( 01242 300581

PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS please contact:

Lorraine Gasside ( 01242 239838 - [email protected]

APPRECIATIONS

I wish to say ‘thank you’ to you all forthe Congregational FederationCertificate and the gardening giftvoucher which were presented to merecently.David Roberts has planted two lovelyshrubs in my garden. When I look atthem I will remember HighburyChurch, and will recollect many happymemories which I have experiencedduring my time of sharing PastoralCare duties with Olga and the ChurchVisitors.

Joan Lee

I would like thank everyone atHighbury for the beautiful flowers,cards, ’phone calls and visits John andI received on the occasion of ourDiamond Wedding. We had two lovelycelebrations, one on the day atTewkesbury Hospital and then a familymeal on the Sunday. We very muchenjoyed being together with the family.Sadly John died very suddenly soonafterwards, and once again I would liketo thank Richard and everyone for theirkindness and expressions of sympathyand support.

Joan Barnes


The Highbury Visiting Scheme hasserved wonderfully well for many years,and the dedication of the currentVisitors continues to be muchappreciated. However, increasing callsfor visits are proving a problem toprovide for, and some attention isrequired to make the scheme moresustainable. Three suggestions areoutlined below.If you are regularly attending churchand do not feel in need of a visit, andare agreeable to picking up your ownchurch magazine each month (from theappropriate District pile in the MortonBrown Room on the last Sunday of themonth) the suggestion is that yousimply let your Visitor know, so allowinghim or her more time for visiting.However, should the need arise, andyou would like your Visitor or Deacon tocall at any time, please ask them aseither would still be available.Where no visit is desired, and aninternet connection is available in thehome, it may be preferred to readHighbury News online, rather thansubscribe to a printed copy. Themagazines can be seen every month onthe church website, which is atwww.highburychurch.co.ukA really helpful initiative would be forfolk who feel able, to become a ‘GoodNeighbour’. Many people would like tohelp others, but are unable to take on

the responsibility of visiting a wholeDistrict. The idea here is that a personsimply ‘adopts’ one or two other folkwho live fairly close by, as a GoodNeighbour, and takes on the Visitor’srole for them. Some church folkprobably keep in touch like thisalready, and others do so bytelephone, both methods are awonderful way of caring amongst thefellowship of the church. In fact, thereis no reason why someone who finds ithard to get out cannot take part in thisway. Nor need the subjects beconfined to senior folk; families alsoneed visits, and ‘surrogategrandparents’ would be welcome inmany homes. If the suggestionappeals, please speak with the relevantVisitor, and then with one of thePastoral Care Co-ordinating Teamwhen the arrangement has beenagreed. Incidentally, being a ‘goodneighbour’ need not replace the Visitorcontinuing to visit – the two schemescan work in parallel - but in someDistricts the Visitor may well find theoffer to be a welcome easing of theirload.Further suggestions are welcome;please pass on your thoughts to thePastoral Care Co-ordinating Team:

Philip and Joyce ArnoldDavid and Betty Butcher

‘Good Neighbours’

Praise the Lord, for Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!This is a great moment when again we can declare that the love of Godis stronger than the sin of the world, and that nothing, in the heights or

depths can separate us from the love of God, alive in Christ Jesus.


The Power of PoetryThanks to the contacts that Judi Marsh has, and her love of poetry, there aretwo special events coming up in April that link us to Cheltenham’s Poetry Societyand the recently established Poetry Festival.I have long had a love for the poetry of George Herbert. And more recently,thanks to the inspiration of Frank Guppy and Richard Sharpe, I have developeda fascination for science.In a lecture I have been invited to give to the Poetry Society I am going to bringthose two passions together, and explore the way the poetry of George Herbertopens up new and exciting ways of exploring the relationship between scienceand religion.The wisdom of one of the great spiritual writers of all times has a great deal toshare with us today about the wonder of God’s world, the place of doubt andenquiry in that world, and the inspiration of the world of science.

Measuring Mountains

The Poetry Society Annual LectureTuesday 3rd April at 7-00

in the Pittville Room, The Municipal OfficesRichard Cleaves draws on the Poetry of George Herbertto explore the relationship between science and religion

Out of the Depths

Poems of challenge and encounterWednesday 18th April from 7-00 to 8-45 in Highbury

Highbury welcomes Poetry Festival-goers to an evening of poetry and musicpresented by the Poetry Society of Cheltenham. We will be invited to explorethemes of doubt and despair in the context of faith and the divine.Society members will read poems on these themes from the "great and thegood" - from John Donne (1572-1631), George Herbert (1593-1633) and HenryVaughan (1621-95) to Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889), R S Thomas(1913-2000) and Jane Kenyon (1947-1995).After a musical interlude, Society members will explore contemporary responsesto the same issues, as exemplified in their own poetry.This will be an evening of challenge, certainly ... and encounter, hopefully.


A Day in the Life ofa Cheltenham Street PastorIt started with a prayer!

Fully surrendered to Christ! In human-ness how is it possible to achieve this? Inshort, I become aware that my human endeavour alone falls short of what isrequired of a good and trusted servant. Therefore it is surrendering to Divineprovidence that saves and calls out; thus emptying all that is me and invitingGod to fill me is the choice each day that fulfils through faith, hope and love. Itis a daily struggle to let go of all linked with ego, status, reputation and territoryand in the stillness of prayer hear the call upon my heart.The ministry on our local streets in Cheltenham through the Street PastorsTeams came as a direct result of like-minded Christians working together inprayer and prayerful action. Now in the third year of consistent witness to God,each Friday and Saturday night I have been asked to share the experience ofwalking alongside people wherever they may find themselves.There is no doubt the centre of Cheltenham becomes a different town late atnight; when the evening social gatherings reach their natural conclusion andfriends depart for home, the night time economy begins attracting those lookingto ‘live the life’ offered by all the material attractions of this world. When it isbusy Cheltenham can attract thousands of people from the Midlands and SouthWest in the depths of the night.Street Pastors gather together in prayer at 9.30pm to start their duty shift;pastors come from twenty-five different Church families with one objective of‘listening, caring and offering practical help’ to those on the streets between10pm and 4am. When our Team Leader has briefed us on information receivedfrom the police and other agencies, and outlines the tactics for the shift, we takeour place alongside the revellers.Each team on patrol carries first aid and will have a team member trained inresuscitation techniques; plus rucksacks packed with bottled water, lollipops, flipflops and hats, space blankets and items to provide immediate warmth as thetemperature drops.Inevitably as a Christian group we will face occasional persecution for ourbeliefs, but we should not be surprised as Jesus tells us this will always be thecase when following Him. However, our unconditional presence on the streetshas swiftly earned respect from even the most sceptical of atheists and providesoutreach of example rather than a ministry of preaching. A typical shift willinvolve collecting 40+ abandoned bottles and glasses, the sweeping up of sixareas covered in broken glass, and each team carries equipment for the safedisposal of needles, syringes, etc... It is exceptional to find any of the debrisdirectly associated with illicit drug use, however we are trained and prepared.


The words accredited to St Francis of Assisi come to mind “Preach the Gospelevery day and when necessary use words.” The fact that our actions are soberand counter-cultural during the late night and early hours of a weekend iswitness to Jesus, and can lead to an interaction where we are invited to shareour faith.Good ministry is never easy, and I am reminded of one of the Church Leadersat the first Commissioning Service in December 2009 saying “It is on the quietnights when you do not have massive amounts to deal with, it is cold and wetand you would rather be home in front of the fire or tucked up in bed, that yourfaith and hope will be tested and you’ll need prayer for the grace of God to fillyour hearts to continue consistently as His servant on our streets.”For me, it is the consistent presence of Street Pastors that builds relationshipswith not only revelers but also door staff, taxi marshals and drivers, theemergency services and public transport operators, etc... I become increasinglyaware that it is in the ordinariness of every day/night that God ‘sows His seed’through our YES to HimAs our shift closes at 4am the team will record the relevant events of the nightin a report compiled by the Team Leader, and we close in prayer beforedispersing and travelling to our homes. My personal experience is that often ashift will end in physical weariness but with warmth in my heart for all we havemet, practically assisted and prayed for during our sojourn. Overall I know Ihave been obedient to the call on my heart saying “Here I am Lord, send me...”Each team will serve on duty once every four weeks on average.It is our duty to worship in our Church and build each other up as Christians.However, it is also our duty to take prayerful action in Christian Outreach, andone way of taking faith in God to others is Street Pastor ministry. I commend itto you if you are moved by the Holy Spirit to respond.It started with a prayer!

Graham LedgerCheltenham Street Pastors Media Liaison

Member of Ascension Trust UK Media and Communications GroupSee more at: www.cheltenham.streetpastors.org.uk

Highbury LunchThis month the lunch will be held on Wednesday 11th April at 12.30pm

All are welcome to come along,just let us know you are coming!

The Cooking Team


Day Meeting Contact Tel. Number

Sunday 10-30am Morning Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 6-30pm Evening Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 7-15pm Hy-Tec Adrian Blazey

Monday 6-45pm Scouts Andy Sargent

Tuesday 9-45am Toddlers Felicity Cleaves

Tuesday 5-45pm Transformers Carolyn Tennant

Wednesday 2-00pm Hy-Way Sue Cole

Wednesday 6-15pm Cubs Ian Miller

Wednesday 6-00pm Brownies Christine Lodge

3rd Wednesday 8pm House Group Sharon Wallington

Thursday 10 - 11.30 Community Café Felicity Cleaves

Thursday 7-30pm Church Meeting

Deacons’ Meeting

Open the Book

Sue Cole

Richard Cleaves

Friday 7-00pm Guides Tania Ashdown

Friday 7-30pm Choir Mary Clifford

Saturday 10-00am Beavers Amanda Sargent

1st Saturday 2-30pm Friendship Group Olga Slack

2nd Saturday 6.30pm Hy-Speed Peter Tennant

Sunday 9-30 am Hy-Spirit Mary Buchanan

Don't skip over this next paragraph just because it looks weird.Believe it or not, you can read it:

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. Thephaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olnyiprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset canbe a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae thehuamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.Amzanig!


Calendar for April 2012

SUNDAY 1st PALM SUNDAY10.30am Morning Worship

6.30pm Evening Prayers with Holy Communion led by the Choir

HOLY WEEKThursday 5th 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion

Friday 6th 10.30am Good Friday Worship, followed by 12 noon Walk of Witness from Imperial Gardens

Saturday 7th 2.30pm Friendship Group for those who live alone

SUNDAY 8th EASTER DAY 6.30am Sunrise Service on Cleeve Hill

followed by breakfast at the church10.30am Morning Worship

6.30pm Evening Prayers

Wednesday 11th 12.30pm Highbury Lunch

Saturday 14th 6.30pm Hy-Speed for younger members 8.30pm Hy-Speed for older members

SUNDAY 22nd 10.30am Morning Worship with Baptism 6.30pm Evening Prayers

Saturday 28th Deacons’ Day

SUNDAY 29th GIFT DAY10.30am Morning Worship with Baptism

6.30pm Evening Prayers

SUNDAY 15th 10.30am Morning Worship with Holy Communion 6.30pm Evening Prayers


Prayer Rota for Sundays in AprilMorning

Sunday 1st April Janet Partington Sunday 8th April Richard Cleaves Sunday 15th April Roger Gregory Sunday 22nd April Iain MacLeod Sunday 29th April Mary Buchanan

Evening Sunday 15th April Diana Adams

S.W. Midlands Area of the CF invites us to pray for …Sunday 1st April Wickwar

Sunday 8th April Easter Day Sunday 15th April Didmarton Sunday 22nd April Warmley Sunday 29th April St Mary’s Gloucester

Prayer Focus - District 4

Kevin and Jenny Elliott, Emma, Miles and SimeonChris and Claire Frank, Jake and Oliver

Simon and Karen HaydenJim and Celia Keegan

Rob and Andrea Lacey, Bethany, Abigail, and MeganDavid and Judi Marsh

Sandie MasonPhilip Paull

Peter and Hefina PetrieHeather Purvey

David and Helen Roberts, and NickBob and Nia Seymour, Helen, Ellis, Bethan and Sarah

Richard and Alison SharpeMargaret Shipley

Olga SlackKeith and Heather Tarling

Rosie Wallis and Eileen FarrIan and Lorna White, Matthew and Christian

Maureen Williams

Deacon: Mary BuchananVisitors: Betty Butcher, Joyce Arnold and Heather Tarling


Prayers for CheltenhamMonday to Friday12-30 to 12-45

St Mary’s Church in the Town CentrePeople from all the churches of Cheltenham are invited to join together inprayer for our town each weekday lunchtime from 12-30 to 12-45 in StMary’s, the parish church of Cheltenham.

Richard Cleaves

Church Watch at St Mary’s in the Town CentreThe purpose of the Church Watch team at St Mary's is to enable the buildingto be open and available during the week for the benefit of church membersand visitors alike. As Cheltenham's oldest building, St Mary's attracts around7,000 visitors each year. Many simply wish to enjoy its heritage, peace andbeauty, but a considerable number come with a spiritual need.The primary role of the Church Watch team is to welcome visitors. They openand lock the building, talk with visitors as appropriate, and assist withstewarding during the weekday lunchtime prayer service. Conversations withvisitors have proved for many a rewarding experience.Currently, St Mary’s is open during the week from 11am to 3pm Monday toFriday, and from 10am to 12noon on Saturday. Typically team members servefor a two-hour session (11am-1pm or 1pm-3pm) once a fortnight, althoughother arrangements can be, and are made to suit individuals’ availability. Theteam includes both men and women. Women always serve in pairs, while menusually serve alone. To ensure safety, an alarm system is in place, a mobile’phone is provided and normally a staff member from St Matthew's office iswithin easy reach. Training is given to everyone who joins the team.

Further information is available from Paul WagstaffPhone: 01242 228481 or email: [email protected]

Moreton-in-Marsh Congregational ChurchAn evening of Musical Entertainment by Ukebox Jury

(Swindon Ukelele Band)Saturday 28th April at 7.00pm in The Church, Oxford Street

in aid of the Church Window Refurbishment ProjectTickets £7 including light refreshments

from the church office on 01451 651946 or on 01451 650730Tickets also on the door


Easter Café and Hy-Speed EventSaturday 31st March from 10.00 am to 12 noon

A morning of digital Scalextric car racing, fresh coffee and home madecakes, Easter cards to make and buy, and the popular Fairtrade stall. Youmay spend some time exploring the Easter Story in church with things toread, watch, think about and make, for all ages. Whether you like thingsfast/slow, loud/quiet, crowded/spacious, (and everybody likes cakes!) wehope to offer you, your family and friends an enjoyable and meaningfulmorning when we can celebrate Easter together.

Chosen CharitiesCommunion offerings and money donated atcoffee time after morning worship will go to ourchosen charity for April, which is Maggie’sCancer Caring Centre (see page 6).The total raised by our communion offerings andby those who stayed for coffee after morningservices in February, for The PSP Associationamounted to £180.56

Hy-Way in AprilOur meetings continue every Wednesday afternoon

for a time to worship, a time to listen,and for our social time with refreshments and chatter,

from 2.00 to 3.30pm in the Morton Brown Room.All are invited - do come along - you will be assured of a warm welcome

Welcoming Team for April 2012Sunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGLorraine Gasside Darryl MillsKatherine Stanley Anne SaundersA N Other TBC Heather Tarling

Vestry DutySunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGJean Gregory Peter Harrison


Edward John BarnesJohn was born in Bournemouth on 20th

June 1926 and his family were poor.The second son of the late CharlesEdward Barnes, John had twobrothers, Jeff who has died and Jimliving in Bournemouth, and two sisters,Winnie and Audrey. When John wasnine or ten years old, his mother andtwo sisters died of Tuberculosis whichwas rampant in those days, mainly dueto malnutrition. These conditionswhich should have been avoided,turned John into a lifelong Socialist. Amember of the Labour Party since1945 he held quite a few positions inthe Trade Union Movement.When John left school he worked forBournemouth Council. He joined upduring the war, but was invalided outof the services and went back to workfor the Council.John met Joan when she was workingin a nursing home, and when he sawher in her white overalls he said he wasgoing to marry her … and he did! Theywere married in Richmond HillCongregational Church on 26th January1952. Both already belonged to thatbig church, which was so full on aSunday evening you had to be thereearly to find a seat. They would rushoff after the service to the WinterGardens over the road to theBournemouth Symphony Orchestraconcert. John had a life-long love ofmusic, at took great pride in thatparticular orchestra.John and Joan settled here inCheltenham, and for a while he wasAgent for the Labour Party, beforeworking for Rotol Ltd at Staverton, and

then when it was taken over by theDowty Group he remained there until1985.Going to work one day he witnessed anaccident and the person involved wasbleeding badly. John tried his best, butrealised that he needed to know moreabout first aid. So he joined the St JohnAmbulance Brigade, and would spendSaturday afternoons at football orrugby matches. He was also keen onteaching first aid to Scouts and Guides.He cycled everywhere, wobbling alongwith the dolls for teaching mouth tomouth resuscitation balanced on hishandlebars. He was a member of StJohn until 1985 when ill healthrequired him to leave.John and Joan would walk to Highburyfrom their flat in Leckhampton, andbecame involved with the Children’sChurch. They were part of a group thatwent to Warden Hill for some years toplant a church there during theministry of Lawrence Squires. Whenthey returned to Highbury, and to theirwork with the children, it was a timewhen children from Hallaton Housechildren’s home and a local Barnardo’shome came to the church, some ofwhom were very disturbed. John andJoan were linked up with one of themand would go to Hallaton House eachMonday evening to support theyoungsters. Later they became churchvisitors and valued immensely thefellowship here at Highbury.John was proud of their family andthought so much of their children,Chris and Deborah, their grandchildrenand great-grandchildren too.


Chris describes his father as “a goodman, a devoted husband and father,who was often very head strong (itwas his way and nothing else), he wasof a different generation, sometimeswe didn't always see eye to eye onthings but we always seem to findsome middle ground, and over theyears sort of accepted each other’sviews. When I was a kid, he nevercalled me Chris, always Christopher,Mum calls me Chris, but not Dad, Inever knew why and never asked him... I put it down to one of his littlequirks!”“Originally from Bournemouth, hehated the fact that the boundarieschanged and Bournemouth was then inDorset and not Hampshire. He had agreat love for cricket, and although hefollowed Gloucestershire his realpassion was obviously Hampshire. Hehad numerous books on cricket, hewas a great reader, and had all theDickey Birds books. He was a naturalworrier, and would worry over sillythings; when he didn't have anythingto worry about I think he would worryabout having nothing to worry about.”

On their 60th Wedding Anniversary inthe Day Room at Tewkesbury Hospital,just before the card of congratulationsarrived from the Queen, John and Joanrenewed their vows - a very specialoccasion for them both. A few dayslater they enjoyed sharing a meal withthe family that they loved around them.We each remember John in our ownways and give thanks for the privilegeof having known him.Joan describes him as “special - alwaysthe same, always cheerful, alwayslooked on the bright side, never well-endowed with money, always ready tohelp people, very proud of his children,and their children too.”John wrote in 2006 “the best thing Iever did was to marry Joan, who hasbeen an excellent wife, and mother toour two, a wonderful companion andgood friend in all ways.”A truly devoted couple.John’s pet philosophy was “I am mybrother’s keeper” and he wrote “if youbelieved that then you just had to dosomething about it, and Joan and Ihave spent a lifetime trying to do this.”

Update on Moffat on Death Row in ZambiaSince last month two letters have come from Moffat. He has received Cecilia'sschool results and is pleased with her progress and very appreciative of the helppeople give towards her education - both by prayer and financially. Since beingon medication for his enlarged heart Moffat is feeling much better in himself andthe tone of his letters is quite bright. He writes about his interests, such asfootball. (Any Arsenal fans out there?) He enjoyed football at school and was aSports Captain. He also told us about a recent Mass in prison - the readings andthe Priest's talk. Please continue to pray for him, his daughter Cecilia, and forGod's blessing on Penwork Ministries and Susan Carter who do so very much tohelp the prisoners and their families.

Judi Marsh


Christian Aid in Cheltenham raises a lot of money which is vital to Christian Aid'swork, and makes a real difference among the most deprived in the world. Inorder to continue to do this we need to share out the tasks between us, andideally to share the tasks among the different denominations. Christian Aid inits beginnings was the accepted arm of the British Council of Churches, and weachieve most if we are all working together across the denominations. InChristian Aid Cheltenham we have three main areas of organisation to make itall happen - the Committee, the Distributors, and those who organise the CarolSinging at the Supermarkets - and I try to hold it all together!THE COMMITTEE meets about three times a year, organises the Autumn Fairand generally keeps an eye on everything that is happening. The members atpresent are three Methodists, two Anglicans, and three others who haveresigned leaving three vacancies. There are no Baptists, no URC, noCongregationalists, and no Quakers on the committee! It would be ideal if threeor even four new members were one of each! I know we are not in an idealworld but I would be delighted if someone from Highbury would be willing tocome on to the committee.THERE ARE SIX DISTRIBUTORS - Baptist, URC, Anglican and Methodists,but one has resigned so we need a replacement! They meet once a year inFebruary, and look at the Christian Aid week order forms for that year, put inorders for their three or four churches, and then distribute the orders when theyarrive to the representatives of those churches.CAROL SINGING - these organisers write to the Supermarket to book our slot,take buckets etc on the day, pick them up afterwards, and write thanking thesupermarket with the total raised as soon as possible afterwards. We have proforma letters to make it easier.One Anglican organises the carol singing at Sainsbury Kingsditch, and anotherat Waitrose; a Methodist organises at Tesco, and another at Sainsbury Oakley,but has resigned; another at Morrison; and I usually try to encourage at leastone school to sing at Tesco.

To sum it up, we need three new members of committee, one distributor andone carol-singing-organiser, and I am looking for volunteers to fill the positions,none of which in themselves are particularly onerous.

PLEASE consider if you have a little time to spare for Christian Aid.Our committee meetings are in the evenings so people who work are notprecluded - and some men would be ideal as two people who want to come offthe committee are men!I look forward to hearing from you.

Joan Sampson - [email protected]

Christian Aid in Cheltenham


The two machines, working sometimestogether and sometimes apart, werelike two great prehistoric monstersfrom a horror film in theirdestructiveness and deliberatecrushing of their target. The bulldozerarmed with a drill destroyed all signsof the two water cisterns serving thetent village of Saadet Tha’Lah, onwhich their life as herders depends. Icringed as it slowly and deliberatelyswung its great head from side to sidefinding the best angle to come in forthe kill - the final rendering of thecisterns as useless, pounding andpounding the structures into smallpieces. The other bulldozer filled itsgreat bucket with sand and dumpedload upon load to fill up this preciouswater resource. We watched as thesand ran down, disappearing into thegreat depth of the well. Finally a hugerock was placed on each well to ensureno local inhabitant with his bare hands,or even working as a team, couldmanage to reopen the wells.Other scenes followed, the desperatewomen removing their few belongingsfrom a tent about to be demolished -the ancient worn leather sack for thegoats cheese - this took two of themas it was evidently full of curd cheese;a large bowl, bedding and a drum ofoil. Not much to remove, but all theyhad. Then the animal shelter - easilydestroyed by several great pushesfrom the huge metal bucket. It wasthis destruction of one animal shelterthat was most pitiful. Many lambs werekilled in the process, in retrospect that

explains the screams of the women.The bulldozer continued however,lowering its great destructive head,coming slowly, deliberately across therocky ground, opening its great jawsrevealing sharp metal teeth andattacked the low wall and compoundonly just cleared of livestock, lifting thefeeding troughs high into the air anddumping them on the ground outside.The women in their flimsy long skirts,climbed onto the low wall as thebulldozer was working nearby, pullingup the stakes and saving the chickenwire surrounding the fold - a sign ofhow poor they were that such simpleequipment had to be saved.Suddenly it was all over. Themachinery, the soldiers, the officials,the police, the journalists all left; thevans, the jeeps and armoured vehiclesleaving a stunned and wailing scene ofinhabitants behind, surveying thedamage. Unfortunately all this was anerror, an administrative ‘mistake’. Anentry by Rabbis for Human Rights thefollowing day explained the case of thisvillage was knowingly before thecourts and the demolition of anybuilding should not have taken place.This explained the sudden withdrawal.But what will happen now? Whatcompensation for the loss of the wells?Can they ever be reopened? And thevillagers - the loss of lambs, home,shelters? This is quite normalbehaviour here in this Area C of theWest Bank, where homes and wellsdeemed ‘illegal structures’ are beingdemolished with increasing frequency.

Further Reflections from Yatta, South Hebron Hillsby Rosamond Robertson … Dying For Water


’Since 2009, a total of 44 cisterns andrainwater collection structures in AreaC have been demolished, 20 of thembetween January and July 2011. Inaddition to the 13,602 people affectedby the demolition of 44 cisterns, 127people were displaced of whom 104were children. Having lost their accessto water, 27 communities have beendisplaced. Some of these cisterns wereconstructed as part of humanitarianaid projects. These villages aredisappearing because of lack of water;they are dying for want of water.As a volunteer with EAPPI I havewritten of what I have seen.I have been a witness of terribledestructiveness, but also of very great

courage and questioning of the systemby Israeli individuals and groups, manyof whom I have had the pleasure ofmeeting.Hanna Barag of Machsom Watch toldus she monitored the checkpoints so“they cannot say that this neverhappened. I do it so that in themorning I can look at myself in themirror.”Rather than washing our hands of thesituation we must help to bring abouta situation that allows the Palestinianvillagers to simply wash their hands.Please pray for peace in Israel-Palestine.

Rosamond Robertson

Easter Events and ServicesSaturday 31st March 10-00am to 12-00 noon

Easter Café with Hy-Speed, Fair Trade Stalls and the Easter Story

Sunday 1st April 10-30am Palm Sunday Service6-30pm Palm Sunday Service with the Choir

Maundy Thursday 7-30pm Communion

Good Friday 10-30am at the Foot of the CrossA meditation, with an Easter Garden for children to make

12-00 noon Imperial Gardens – a walk of prayer through the town

Easter Sunday6-30am Easter Service - meet at the Quarry Car Park

beyond the Golf Club House, Cleeve Hill -followed by breakfast at the Church

10-30am and 6-30pm Easter Services

Sunday 22nd April 10.30am we share in Baptism as Denise and John bring Zach to be baptised

Sunday 29th April 10.30am we share in Baptism


News from the Kürle Family in BrazilDear Friends,Now, since Carnival is over, Brazil isworking again. Thus we also re-entered normality in our daily routines.After nine long weeks of summerholidays the start of school was verywelcome for all of us (albeit for eachone of us for different reasons). Thekids have been looking forward togetting to know their new teachers andseeing their old friends; we parentslove the more quiet mornings and themore regular life. But these nine weekshave not just been holidays: Simeonand Marit learn German with theGerman correspondence school, andthus the free time served very well tocatch up on what they were missingwhen the days are already filled upwith the normal school life. Stefan wasvery busy writing his commentary onExodus (in a German lay series).Now we are already in the third weekof the semester. It almost seems quitenatural that in the last week beforeterm starts one is tested in terms offlexibility. There was a suddenrearrangement of three differentcourses, and so we had to quicklyexchange the syllabi and restructurethe course where necessary.Fortunately, Stefan ended up with theseminar on New Testament exegesis,which he had taught twice before. Thisspecific course is very interesting andgratifying mainly because one canobserve and assist the learningprogress of the students so well.For Stefan the end of the last semestermeant a bit of a shock, though for

entirely positive reasons. He waselected by graduating class to be their“Paraninfo”, which is something of anhonorary godfather for the class. So hehad the privilege of giving the very lastlecture – but not just in front of the 25graduates. It was the entire festivecongregation of 200+ people at the bigceremony. This was his first speech infront of a large audience. Of course heasked for the reasons of receiving thishonour – and this is something wewould like to share with you as ourfriends who stand behind us. You havea great share in this honour. Therewere basically two reasons: they see itas an example that someone leaves hisfamily and friends and takes it uponhimself to enter foreign culture. Stefanstressed, referring to you as ourfriends, that with this kind of moralsupport this type of venture is not toothreatening. The other reason was thatStefan was one of them, so to speak –a student, a learner. This wasespecially true for this class, as it waswith them that he taught a course forthe first time on his own. This, we feelis a great honour indeed – since we didnot come as the “omniscient” teacher,but as learners who want to helpothers to learn as well. It is because ofyour manifold support that it ispossible for us to be here, the honourof “Paraninfo” applies to you all as well.And here in Brazil it is an honourindeed, it is a culture that places greatemphasis on the outward expression ofhonour and esteem. The followingcelebration was very posh and all werevisibly proud to have successfully


finished these four years of studies. Formany of them it was an incredibleachievement, because everythingcontinued while studying: the normaljob, the family and the responsibility inthe various churches.As you know, Birgit enrolled on ateacher training course to later be ableto give language lessons. She has beenasked by the little school (in which shehelped out last year - replacing ateacher during her vacation) to take onfour classes. During the week she nowteaches English two afternoons andSaturday mornings and afternoons.She is getting to know variousinteresting people. Furthermore, shehas – rather irregularly – two studentswho are learning German. All this ofcourse helps very much for her owntraining, and also to fund it.What is now coming nearer is our timein Europe. We booked our flights andwill land in Frankfurt on 4th July. Thenwe have a couple of days for doingwhat is really important, like gettingregistered and have the requiredmedical exams. Then we will start tovisit some family and have some daysof vacation in Sweden. This will be awonderful opportunity because we cango together with another family (withchildren of the same age as ours). Itfeels a little weird disappearing fromGermany just after arriving, but nowwe are dependent on the schoolholidays and there will be little time to

have a family holiday later on.To come back to Germany will almostcertainly mean some sort of cultureshock for us, as both we and Germanyhave changed over the past four years.Maybe it is not such a bad idea to havea slower start back in our homecountry – but you will definitely needto be a little patient with us. In autumnwe are planning to be in Cheltenham(12/13 to 17/18 October) andafterwards in London and on the Isleof Wight (visiting our old friend MarkEvans). We really hope to be able tosee as many of you as possible – justhow realistic this will be, is anotherquestion.When we think about all this we sensea little unease, but of course there isalso the joy of anticipation. But rightnow we are still here and want to focuson what God gives us to do here.Until fairly soon, every blessing.

Stefan and Birgit KürlePlease pray:

for the current semester (twocourses in the Internetprogramme and a seminar inthe seminary, in addition to thesupervision of three Bachelortheses)for our preparations forGermany/Englandfor affordable housing inMarburg

Eternal God, we surrender ourselves and all that we count importantto your will and purpose.

In us and through us may your Spirit proclaim, Christ is risen.Hallelujah!


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Weekend Away at HomeFriday 28th to Sunday 30th September

A great opportunity to have the fellowship, fun and challenge of a weekendaway ... but at home. We plan to go to the 3C Church in the former DowtySports Club for a great weekend together. As it’s Harvest weekend we willstart with the fun and games of a party on the Friday evening, then have asleepover for the youngsters. On Saturday we will take up the thinking wehave been sharing on ‘what’s special about Highbury’ and ‘what it means tobe church at Highbury’, and see if we can come up with those words thatdescribe what we hope and pray Highbury can become. We will then meeton Sunday for our Harvest Celebrations. Look out for more news to follow.

This is the Good News, the grave is empty, Christ is risen. Hallelujah!This is the Good News - the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never put it out. Hallelujah!This is the Good News, once we were no people,

now we are God’s people. Hallelujah!


W.S. TrenhaileFuneral Directors

Private Chapels

of ReposeApostle House

175 London Road

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Mason & StokesFuneral Directors

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Help and Advice onPre-Arranged Funeral Plans

DJLMAINTENANCE

Danny James-Locke

All aspects of propertymaintenance

Telephone 01242 233921

Mobile 07901 852536

Evening Service Readers

The readers in April will be:1st April The Choir

8th April Mary Michael 15th April James Martin 22nd April Rachel Jacques 29th April Stan Jones

I am using the names I alreadyhave, but if there are otherswho would like to be includedon this rota please let me know.

Jonquil Harrison 01242 520522

Through our fear,through our doubt,through our confusionmay we continue Jesus’ workas we travel many roads,liberated and unitedby the love of the resurrected one.Amen.


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Toddler Group / Transformers for school years 3-6 / Hy-tec for 11s & overChoir/ Music, House and Prayer Groups / Alpha: exploring faith / Hy-Way /

Friendship Group / Scouting / Guiding / etc.For a chat, or to find out more, ring Richard Cleaves on 01242 522050

Sundays at 10.30amA time for all the Church family

to share in worship -groups for children and young people

Countdown to the Olympics in Prayer

Eternal God,giver of joy and source of all strength,we pray for thosewho prepare for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.For the competitors training for the Games and their loved ones,for the many thousands who will support them,and for the Churches and others who are organising special eventsand who will welcome many people from many nations.In a world where many are rejected and abused,we pray for a spiritof tolerance and acceptance, of humility and respectand for the health and safety of all.May we at the last be led towards the love of Christ who is more than gold,today and forever.Amen

A place to share Christian friendship,explore Christian faith andenter into Christian mission

Sundays at 6.30pmquiet, reflective evening prayers

with a focus onBiblical teaching

Highbury Congregational Church

april 2012 highbury news

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