1

Solihull Methodists Acting and Singing in Harmony

performed ‘The Vackees’ at the Dovehouse Theatre in March. This was a musical about the invasion of a Somerset village by child evacuees from London at the start of the Second World War. After ‘The Railway Children’ we were keen to identify a show which would offer a broad range of parts for

the talented group of children and young people that we have, and ‘The Vackees’ fitted the bill perfectly. Those of you who came to see it cannot fail to have been impressed by the singing and acting of the youngsters.

The subject matter of the Second World War and the Evacuation is something that is studied at school and so we felt that the show could only help in the understanding of this traumatic period of history. When we started work on the show, it was important for the cast to understand their characters and so the two gangs, the ‘Vackees’ and the ‘Darchetts’ spent time separately learning from some of the older members of SMASH about what it would have been like to have been evacuated or invaded by evacuees. Hopefully the audience could see the benefit of this hard work.

As usual the cast were supported by a strong backstage team, providing staging, costumes and props all aimed at establishing an authentic setting that would take the audience into the world of Britain during the war. In addition the music was orchestrated and provided by our talented group of musicians It was a really great show! James Coleman

In this issue

Church Family News

Mike’s Message

Julia’s Reflections

What do you know about

Germany?

Don Bryan’s Obituary

Church Council report

Annual Church Meeting

Development group

New circuit update

Green Tip

Christian Aid week

What’s on in May

Lyndon’s Bible relay

Scouts’ success

Running for NOTDEC

2

Congratulations also to Caz Hague and Deb Humphries on being selected to

train for the ministry – they went through a gruelling selection process at the end of March. Their training course will start in September.

Goodbye to Sarosh and Betsy Koshy

It has been a delight to get to know Sarosh during his time working in Solihull. It has been wonderful to also get to know Betsy and to share

in the joy of their engagement and wedding. We shall miss them both as they return to India but hold them in our

prayers as they journey back to India and readjust to life there together.

The Men’s Coffee group toasting George Burr on his 95

th birthday

Alpha Course We have had a wonderful

time with those who attended the Alpha course. We have enjoyed food for our bodies, minds and souls. Thank you to all those who have enabled this to happen; for those who have helped with setting up (tables and technology), cooking, washing up, speaking and hosting. Special thanks to Ann Polson who has prayed regularly for the group and ensured we have had a full team of helpers each week. Please continue to remember the group in your prayers as they continue their journey with God.

Lent Breakfasts It has been great to

share in Fellowship with friends from Churches Together as we have eaten breakfast and heard the testimony of our church leaders at the Lent breakfasts.

Our love and prayers are with those who are ill at home,

recuperating after stays in hospital and for those who have suffered bereavement in recent months as they come to terms with the loss of loved ones. We remember especially Bryan and Joyce Fitter after the sad death their grandson, Thomas

Congratulations to Mark Richmond who has been selected to represent

England in the Five Nations squash competition at Easter. He will be playing for the U13 Team. What an amazing privilege!

Special Birthdays Congratulations to Ian Sinclair who

celebrated his 75th

birthday, Ann Pardoe, her 80

th birthday and to George Burr

who celebrated his 95th

birthday last month.

3

Minister

Mike Crockett 705 5254

crockeym@gmail.com Available Sat to Thurs

Pastoral Worker

Deborah Humphries 01564 771686

pastoral@ solihull-methodist.org.uk

Youth Worker

Catherine Ralph 07957 473209 or 603 1132

youth @solihull-methodist.org.uk

Available Wed to Mon

Mike’s Message

April is now behind us, with its marvellous surge of life and colour, its sacred Easter moments and the grandeur and romance of a wonderful royal wedding. In very uncertain times it is good to know some traditions endure.

I am told on good authority that Twitter is now five years old. There are some 200 million users worldwide who between them generate 65 million messages – none longer than 140 characters – per day. Probably by the time I ever get to Tweet, it will have been replaced by some other new system of communication, though who can guess what might follow after cell phones, email, Facebook and YouTube.

Change is coming at us faster and faster. Ray Kurzweil, developer of the concept ‘exponential growth’ says that each time around, change is happening twice as fast. Someone from biblical times would have found most elements of life fairly familiar in 1800. I remember the wonderful arrival of our first radio/gramophone together with a selection of 78 rpm records. 78’s lasted 50 years before being replaced by the 33 rpm long players. These lasted 30 years, CD’s for 20, chip storage for another 10..............

At least I can still count on Summer following Spring – or can I?

My friend Jim Taylor made this observation. He says ”as the pace of change becomes a blur, we will begin to perceive an underlying ground swell that was simply too slow for us to recognize before.” In other words, don’t lose sight of the steady hand underneath it all.

In part, the challenge of change is being faced by a small team of our church members working prayerfully on a development plan for the future role our Church might be called upon to play. What will it mean in ten years time to ‘Link our Community to Christ”?

We dare not bank too much on tradition or nostalgia to get us beyond our own generation.

But we can bank on the enduring quality of love. It’s not just harsh and clinical out there. Every atom is mainly empty space. The Greek word for heaven is the same word for space. At the very fabric of life and existence there is the quality of life that only love can produce. And it is this gift of love that is needed to call out in us all the gifts and goodness that God has created us to use. In like manner we can bank on Faith and Hope.

Two thousand years ago Paul said it would be these three qualities that would endure. I wonder if, as you read this article, you can take a step out of the blur for a moment and link in to the slow and steady groundswell of Faith, Hope and Love.

What was the man Jesus really like? Join us on a journey of discovery during May and June as we study

Seven Portraits of Jesus.

See how Jesus overcame the negative balances of personality, demonstrating

Tolerance, Graciousness, Strength, Love, Passion, Fun

and Liberation. Join us each Sunday at 10.30 am at Solihull Methodist Church

4

Along with George Clooney and Barak Obama I will be 50 this year and therefore I find myself quite naturally tuning into all matters golden. One of them was a reminder by writer Maggie Dawn that Easter isn’t just about one day – Easter Sunday – rather it initiates 50 days of resurrection and new birth, starting with the weeks of resurrection appearances, the ascension and the waiting in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit. These are all essential parts of our Easter celebration. Recognising that Easter is 50 days long is important if somehow, via Lent, you’ve arrived at Easter morning and you don’t feel overjoyed and don’t feel much hope for the future. There are seasons in our lives when Lent is a more comfortable place to live, because it reflects our struggles, our questions, our doubts, even our pain.

There may be circumstances in your life that make you feel entirely out of step with the joy of Easter Sunday this year, but even if joy has not materialised for you yet, it’s still a promise of things to come that will unfold in time.

Easter is a promise that the absence of God has been penetrated with light, and the silence of the early morning is no longer hollow but hopeful, as if heaven is holding its breath, waiting for us to catch up. Even though we may still live with the frustration that all we can see, like Moses, is the back of God’s vanishing head, we know that we will one day look into his face

and know fully, even as we have been fully known.

We can never go back to where we were before, as Peter found out at that first breakfast on the beach after trying to return to work as normal, following Jesus’ death. Having met the risen Jesus he was so over blown with blessing that the catch could barely be hauled to the shore. We can never go back to the world, back to church, back to life as if nothing has happened. Every place we have been will now look different because we have now met Jesus.

Saga Magazine tells me that this year I will be “Quintastic!” a condition apparently meaning fully alive at 50 and oozing with new life and vitality. Though I initially read their article and scoffed perhaps Saga have hold of a deep spiritual truth that the resurrection life begins now and that like the 50 days of Easter we are offered a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows as we, like the disciples, journey to a new and deeper connection with God.

Rev Julia Monaghan Lyndon

Calling all Christmas Box

fillers

The local warehouse team from the Shoe Box appeal

are holding

CCrraafftt ddaayy

Friday 17th June

Earlswood Methodist Church,

Wood Lane/Rumbush Lane corner, Earlswood B94 5JH

Please bring any spare material, buttons, narrow

ribbon, knitting wool, wooden dolly pegs and

Christmas paper.

10.00am –3.00pm, or any part of this time

Contact Alison Exton on 0121 733 3139 or Suzanne

Walker on 01564 200486

5

Solihull Methodist Church

and Ruferkirche,

Frankfurt/Main-Höchst

First the background:- Many members will know that for some years we have had a link with our sister church in Höchst. This link started through town twinning and has been

continued through the hard work of Ian and Janet Sinclair together with their friend Cornelia in Höchst.

Groups of our church members have visited Höchst and they have visited us from time to time. Individual and family friendships have also been formed over several years. The members of Ruferkirche are keen to maintain this link and would like members of our church to visit them as soon as this can be arranged. Ian and Janet have been the key organisers for a long time and would like to pass on this role, so Judy and I have volunteered to take over as the ‘young pretenders’. Our friends Rainer and Sabine are also keen to maintain the link and will be our contacts in Höchst because Cornelia does not enjoy such good health.

Now the new stuff:- 1) Are you interested in visiting our sister church in Höchst? 2) Do you have friends or a ‘link’ family already? 3) Is some time this autumn or spring 2012 possible for you? 4) It would be good if we could encourage new members to get involved particularly our younger families. 5) We know that travel costs / holiday allowances / school terms etc are an issue but just let us know what you think.

No more detail – just contact us in church or by phone 708 2703 or at dclingard@tiscali.co.uk

1928 – 2011

Don had been a member of our church for so long that it is hard to realize that we can no longer share in worship with him on Sunday mornings.

Don was born 83 years ago in Heckmondwike in the West Riding of Yorkshire and was brought up in a Methodist family in Checkheaton. Inspired by his physics teacher at Whitcliffe Grammar School he developed a love for science and went on to graduate in chemistry at Manchester University.

In 1948 he began to work for Bakelite in Tyseley and eventually moved into production management, involving travel to India, Germany and the USA. He was elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Don worshipped at Acocks Green Methodist Church, a thriving fellowship with plenty of social activities, and it was there that he met and married Margaret. All three of their children Stephen, Jenny and Richard were baptised there. Don was highly respected in our Circuit where he held many positions including secretary of the circuit meeting, treasurer for six years and circuit steward. He was valued for his honesty and reliability and was a stickler for accuracy.

His interests were broad and numerous. He loved reading and classical musical, architecture and political history. He was keen on Rugby and cricket and especially loved walking and climbing in the hills and dales, in all weathers. He and Margaret enjoyed holidays in rural France, exploring by car and on foot.

Don and Margaret transferred their membership to Solihull Methodist Church in the 1980s and have been with us ever since. Don was a regular member of the Men's Meeting and, together with Margaret, of the Guild. He also enjoyed walking with the Rambling Group.

He was a thoughtful Christian, perceptive with his questions but deeply committed. He was also a family man, close to his children and to all seven grandchildren of whom he was very proud. They have wonderful tales to tell of the times they spent with him; of the jokes and games and special outings. He took a great interest in them all.

We are missing him and we offer our love to Margaret who misses him most of all, as well as to Stephen, Jenny and Richard and their families. It was a privilege to have known him.

Sylvia Bailey

Victorian Follies in Church Hall

Saturday 14th May

in aid of the Church project

6

CCChhhuuurrrccchhh CCCooouuunnnccciiilll RRReeepppooorrrttt fffrrrooommm ttthhheee

mmmeeeeeetttiiinnnggg hhheeelllddd ooonnn 444ttthhh AAAppprrriiilll

1. Plans now in hand for Church Hall 50th

Anniversary Celebration – Funfest: Saturday 17

th September

2011, 2.00 – 5.00 p.m. Activities will be outside and inside the church premises. Ideas and offers of help to Ruth Richmond please.

2. Lindors weekend (21 – 23 October) – 24 adults and 1 child registered.

3. This year’s ‘series’ of themes at morning worship had received a positive response - May/June plans for ‘Seven Portraits of Jesus – Our Model for Christian Living’.

4. During May/June Tim Flower will be joining SMC as an ‘intern’ from Queens College.

5. Alpha course successfully completed – attendance 10/12.

6. Need to support planned celebrations for merger of Elmdon Circuit and thanksgiving for the ministry of David and Julie Hulme, event at Symphony Hall to celebrate launch of new circuit.

7. ‘Messy Easter’ event now fully subscribed – need for volunteers to help (may bring their own children). Messy church continues to be well supported, Rock Solid to be restarted after Easter – need for volunteers to support.

8. Need for successor to lettings treasurer. Planned contribution to circuit next year maintained at level of this year. Proposed budget adopted.

9. Peter Richmond to replace Richard Burr as Chair of Premises Committee. Church hall: ladies toilets, rear room and crèche room to be refurbished/redecorated. Church lobby notice boards to be replaced and exterior to be repainted.

10. Interim report from Development Plan working group received with appreciation. Comments will be appreciated. Publicity in ‘Messenger’.

11. Church project 2011 – 12: Agreed to support ‘Remnants’ project at Saltley MC – outreach to ladies in the local community. Offers of support to Stella Staight.

12. The Council accepted with regret the resignation of Ann Pardoe as Choir Leader – her substantial service had been much appreciated.

Dates of Future Meetings:

4th

July 2011, 3rd

October 2011, 23rd

January 2012.

Cecil Knight

AAAnnnnnnuuuaaalll CCChhhuuurrrccchhh mmmeeeeeetttiiinnnggg hhheeelllddd ooonnn

SSSuuunnndddaaayyy 111000ttthhh AAAppprrriiilll

New Stewards were elected to join the stewards’ team. Marjorie Roper and David Grey have completed 4 years as stewards and they were replaced by Jackie Farmer and Richard Burr, who will do a 3 year term – following the restructuring of the stewards’ team.

Fiona Beadle has also stepped down so that she could concentrate on her local preaching. Margery Benson has replaced her for a year as a senior steward. Margery will work alongside Clive Saunders who will also be a senior steward from May.

Church Council representatives Caz Hague had completed her 6 years and Gillian Penny was re elected for another 3 year term. Marjorie Roper, David Grey, Sylvia Bailey and Jenni Kitson were elected to serve a 3 year term as church council representatives.

Reports were received from

Stewards by Marjorie Roper and David Grey

Tony Austin about this year’s accounts to date and the draft budget for the next financial year 2011/12

Contact - Frances Edwards. Contact is looking for new treasurer

Traidcraft – Linda Innes Solihull is now a Fairtrade borough

Christian Aid – John Innes – see Christian Aid article

Guild – Sylvia Bailey

JMA – Peter Handley on behalf of Edna. There are regular updates of money collected on the JMA notice board in the church hall

Richard Burr about the progress of work by the Property Committee

Peter Benson about the new Birmingham circuit proposals – see report on meeting on 6 April at Carrs Lane

Richard Balmer about Church Development Plan – progress is listed in a separate article.

Sue Balmer

7

The interim report which went to the Church Council on 4

th April made 31 recommendations. The main

ones are:

A weekday, daytime, presence in the hall so that someone is on hand for users of our premises and occasional callers. This will be Mike for 3 days of the week when he will be available for consultations in Room 4.

To bring the room behind the stage back into use.

To extend the remit of the Communications Committee to improve our external publicity and the visual impact of the information displayed in our hall entrance.

More importantly the report highlighted the many opportunities the church has - and this means church members - to encourage their non-church going friends, colleagues and neighbours to come to the many fellowship activities of the church and then over the church's threshold into what Mike calls the 'foyer'.

The Development Plan group is continuing its work. It has still to make recommendations for more ways for the children and young adults to find fellowship and grow in understanding of our Christian faith. It will also be considering in detail the several suggestions made to improve our premises, if funds become available, in co-operation with the Property Committee.

The group is very grateful for all the many suggestions received.

There is still time to offer more to any member of the group, Ann Polson, Bryan Fitter, Jenni Kitson, Marjorie Roper, Pete Richmond or Richard Balmer (email: richardbalmer162@btinternet.com).

The joint circuit meeting (on 6

th April) reported that

significant progress had been made to bring the 4 circuits with their 42 churches together on 1

st

September. An ambitious structure was approved, a draft budget presented and an embryo website introduced.

The new circuit's governing body will be the circuit assembly which will have about 200 members including 2 from all churches and 2 more for churches with more than 100 members. This will only meet twice a year so a circuit executive, meeting monthly, will be set up with about 20 members, some ex officio and others elected by the assembly, to be responsible for the day to day running of the circuit. The circuit executive will draw on the work of 4 forums:

service,

evangelism,

learning and caring,

resources

The 4 forums will have 21 working groups between them charged with specific responsibilities, for example world church mission, community outreach, training and development and manses.

The most powerful of these will be the resources forum under Helen Jobling, one of the 3 joint superintendents, which will control the budget There will be 4 paid administrators, a paid financial assistant who will do the donkey work for the circuit treasurer and, probably, a paid property consultant. The resources forum will have not just the most powerful role but the toughest job. The draft circuit budget for 2011/12 (of which Elmdon represents about one third) is showing a deficit of about 14% or some £124,000. The prospect is that there will be a freeze on staff replacements.

The next meeting will be in June. The opening celebration on 1st September in the Symphony Hall is looked forward to with enthusiasm.

Richard Balmer

Pay tax?

PPlleeaassee GGiifftt AAiidd 3 easy ways

Give collection by standing order

Join envelope scheme

Get a gift aid number from Sheila White and use the pew envelopes

Just 1 declaration means 25% more can be

received by the church

A reminder to all those budding musicians and singers out there - there is a chance for you to join a mass choir and music group at Symphony Hall on Thursday 1

st September for the launch of the new

Birmingham Circuit. See a steward for details.

8

.

Saturday Today I have been helping back stage at SMASH. I’ve had a great time getting to know all of the people involved in SMASH, and continuing relationships with all the young people who would normally come to Rock Solid but have been starring in The Vackees. My highlight was being able to watch the show last night and see what a talented bunch we have at Solihull. I am very proud of all of my young people. Hopefully I will consume less calories next week as I have been providing interval snacks for everyone back stage and can’t stop myself from eating them too! Time to start thinking about Rock Solid starting again and getting the few young people in SMASH currently not involved in church activities to come along – now there’s a challenge!

Sunday Oh my life there was a lot of them!! I’ve just come home from leading the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers at the St George’s Day service at St Alphege for the whole of the Solihull County Scouts representing Solihull Methodist Church. I didn’t think we would get everyone in as there were about 900 young people (the Beavers had to go next door to the school as they couldn’t fit in!) and I was a bit worried that the Mayor would have to have someone on his lap! I chose to lead the service based on values - what do we value and what does God value? I’m currently glowing with a little bit of kudos as some scouts were overheard saying that was the first time they weren’t bored in a St Georges Day Service.

Monday Back down to earth again today and no chance of having a big head for too long in Pushchair Club after doing some schools work for Lyndon. We had a really busy morning with 23 babies and their Mums, and three new families this afternoon. It’s so good to hear all the chatter, play and happy biscuit eating noises. There were lots of opportunities to talk to the parents about Messy Easter on the 18 April. Next week it is the Easter Hunt in church and we will be inviting everyone to the Easter Services.

Tuesday Today has been spent planning Messy Easter. I’ve been ordering material, copying consent forms and working out how many helpers we need. We are fully booked for the morning session, and only a few spaces left in the afternoon which is really exciting. We are going to be doing lots of crafts and activities which will help us lead worship at the end of the session, telling the Easter Story. I will need to brush up on my parachute games ready to lead that part of the session

and am looking forward to it, especially as I shall be doing it all over again at Acocks Green on Easter Saturday.

Wednesday Is it nearly the weekend yet?! I’ve been planning the Street Party we are having on the day before the Royal Wedding for preschool and primary age children. We will be decorating the hall in red, white and blue, having tea, games and as the children will be dressed as prince and princesses, a parade of costumes. We have had the offer of some students from Solihull College who need community experience for their course which is exciting. That link has come through a Mum in Pushchair Club. I wonder what they are like at putting up bunting……?

Thursday I’ve been unpacking the stacker boxes that have overtaken my house today from previous activities (I can now see a whole section of my lounge that I’d lost for a while!!) Each box has brought back memories of the different sessions and activities I have been involved in, including Messy Church. I’ve just unpacked and put away some salt dough fish we used to help illustrate the story of Jesus calling the disciples. I suppose now it will be time to start planning the next Messy Church, and I’m glad we already have the dates in my diary as I know the 19 May will come around very quickly.

Friday It’s my day off and an opportunity to recharge my batteries for the next week.

Catherine Ralph

Rock Solid

Especially for young people aged 10 – 14 plus

years

6.30 pm on Sunday evenings in the Church Hall

Contact Catherine 07957 473209 for more details

Messy Church

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Sunday 8th May

Commissioning Service

6.30pm St Augustines Vicky Hotchkiss, Gap Year student at the Birmingham

CA, will talk about her visit to CA partners in Cambodia.

Saturday 14th May

Coffee Morning and Ploughman's Lunch

in our own Church Hall

Door-to-Door Street Collection (15 – 21 May) The Week raises almost a quarter of Christian Aid's entire annual income which enables 500 Partners in nearly 50 countries world-wide to help poor people help themselves out of poverty. If you have not been a Collector before, how about giving it a go this year.

For the people of Jinotega, Nicaragua, coffee isn’t just a caffeine kick – it’s a means of transforming the lives of entire communities. By getting involved in Christian Aid Week, you can help to make this transformation possible.

Five years ago, Eladio Simeón Pineda’s community was a group of poor farm labourers. Then Christian Aid partner Soppexcca offered them credit to establish themselves as coffee farmers and supported them to work together as a cooperative.

Even though the coffee farmers of La Paz del Tuma have only been working with Soppexcca for a short time, their lives are already changing for the better. The credit which Soppexcca gave to Eladio and the other farmers has been vital in getting them started. The cooperative has a community fund that will be used to achieve the dreams which Eladio and his fellow farmers once thought were out of their reach.

For further info or to volunteer, please contact Marjorie Evans 705-4022, Martin Cooke 01564-774747 or John Innes 705-0600

GGRREEEENN TTIIPP FFOORR MMAAYY

WALK TO CHURCH/SHARE A

CAR SUNDAY

Sunday 29th May

The last Sunday in May, is to be another Walk to Church/Share a Car Sunday. Once again, anyone who walks, cycles, comes by bus or shares their car with someone from another household will be able to claim a prize! The aim is to encourage all church members to consider other options besides the easy one of jumping into the car and to create awareness that car use makes a big contribution to the problem of global warming. With petrol prices over £1.30 and diesel around £1.40 /litre we are probably thinking about this anyway. Car manufacturers are. Since we highlighted the need to consider frugal cars in December 2009 nearly all companies have put models emitting less than 100 grams CO2/kilometre (which means they pay no car tax) on the market.

There are the small SMART cars of course but 51 models in total, including versions of popular cars such as Ford Fiestas and Focuses and Polo and Golf VWs as well as petrol/electric hybrids made by Toyota and Lexus, now comply. Most are diesels, and though diesel is more expensive than petrol it does take you 50% further. A diesel emitting 100 gm/km can do about 75 miles/gallon, depending of course on the driver! I’m sure no church member cruises above the motorway speed limit but reducing from 80 to 70 mph can save over 20 % of one’s fuel and from 70 to 60 over 15%. Other forms of pollution besides CO2 are important. New cars are increasingly complying with the latest Euro standard 5 which tightens allowances of the so called ‘noxie’ gases and the particles emitted from diesels.

So, if you need a car, do consider those with low emissions (see http://carfueldata.direct.gov.uk) but, if you can, make Walk to Church/Share a Car Sunday the first of many.

Richard Balmer

10

Sunday 1st May 09.00 am Holy Communion - Rev Mike Crockett

10.30 am Morning Worship - Rev Mike Crockett

Tuesday 3rd 09.30 am Tuesday Holy Communion

Wednesday 4th 8.00 pm Contact: All Stitched Up - Shirley Aldridge and Joyce Knight

Sunday 8th 10.30 am Morning Worship with Holy Communion : Rev Mike Crockett

6.30 pm Christian Aid Service at St Augustines

Tuesday 10th 9.30 am Tuesday Holy Communion

Saturday 14th 10.30 am Christian Aid Coffee Morning and Ploughmans Lunch

7.30 pm Victorian Follies in aid of the church project

Sunday 15th 10.30 am Morning Worship : Mr Tim Flower

6.30 pm Evening Service with Holy Communion: Rev Mike Crockett

Tuesday 17th 09.30 am Tuesday Holy Communion

Wednesday 18th

8.00 pm Contact - Annual General Meeting and Contact Choir, Jennifer Wardman

Sunday 22nd 10.30 am Morning Worship & Steward's Dedication Service : Rev Mike Crockett

6.30 pm Evening Service: Deborah Humphries

Tuesday 24th 09.30 am Tuesday Holy Communion

Sunday 29th 10.30 am Morning Worship: Rev Mike Crockett

6.30 pm Evening Service: Rev Mike Crockett

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May

What’s on this month?

Church Family Weekend

21 – 23 October

Happy Families theme for the weekend

at Lindors, Wye Valley

See Bryan Fitter for a booking form

Church Office 0121 705 7367 office@solihull-methodist.org.uk

Lettings lettings@solihull-methodist.org.uk

11

To commemorate the 400

th anniversary of the King

James Bible Lyndon organised a mammoth Bible reading relay, reading the Bible from start to finish. It was kicked off on the Thursday by Solihull’s MP, Lorely Burt, reading on the phone from Westminster. There were 300 readers who got through the whole 66 books of the Bible by the Sunday morning’s service. Dimitri read the final section via the Internet from S Africa in the Lyndon morning service. The Men’s coffee group had a squad of seven on Thursday afternoon and they had to finish off Deuteronomy.

On the Friday the UnFitter house group also had a squad of seven. By then the masses of children reading from local schools had slowed things down so unexpectedly Nehemiah was their lot. In spite of the complicated lists of names they soon picked up the pace and were halfway through Job an hour later when they handed over. Both these sessions were amazing experiences with a real feeling of being part of something great and imaginative. Lawrie Rumens

The Solihull Scout County Night Hike is gaining popularity each year with 341 walkers in 52 teams taking part. The weather in March was kind to us this year and despite all the mud there were many smiling (and muddy) faces crossing the finishing line with the final team finishing just after 4am...

The scouts were dispatched into the Bentley Heath night at 5 minute intervals from 9:30 pm onwards. Each team had a leader from another scout troop, who would hopefully be able to help them if they looked totally lost. Simon Hague, Jim McMullan and Pete Austin were on 'walking leader' duty for the night, with all available leaders being called into action to ensure each scout team got the chance to compete.

Back at the riding centre - between about 1am-4am in the morning, the 11th Solihull scouts watched as the other teams returned, trying to work out if the later teams had beaten their times, and showing no inclination to sleep.

A 6 am wake up call (for those that did sleep) announced breakfast (sausage and bacon butties) and a rapid tidy up, ready to dump muddy clothes and sleeping bags onto bleary-eyed parents arriving to pick up their exhausted scouts.

County commissioner Bob Lane presented the trophies (the Boot in the picture) , and with the results being read out in reverse order, all three teams had to wait a while until they were called out. Our teams all did exceptionally well with 11

th Solihull coming first, sixth and eighth.

There is more information at http://www.solihullscouts.co.uk/county-night-hike-2. Pete Austin

12

The children of the Junior Church used their talents to experience what many Ugandan children have to do – carry containers of precious water which is needed for drinking, cooking and washing.

Jo Crockett showed how water buckets are carried on the head over long distances each day in many parts of Africa. Heather and Greg Jackman, who had visited NOTDEC in Uganda in January, described how now a lorry takes a pipe to the local river to draw up the water into tanks four times a day and transports it uphill to the orphanage. The water purifier is a piece of donated equipment essential for maintaining good health.

£146.57 was collected on Sunday 13

th March

and a further £70 was promised to one child in sponsorship. Many of the congregation said that they were moved by seeing the video of the two communities of children.

This was the first ‘social action’ event for the Junior church this year. It is hoped that they will attempt one each quarter as part of their

Bible-centred syllabus (Matthew 25, verses 31 – 46), to learn about issues similar to those raised by ‘fair world’ development and Christian Aid, as well as our current Church project. Few will ask for a donation of money but thank

you for encouraging everyone with your generosity on this occasion.

Penelope Hand

Printed by The Additional Curates Society