THE BEACON

November 2006

The Parish Magazine of

All Saints’ Sedgley & St Andrew’s The Straits

50p

July/August 2013

2

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow”

Albert Einstein For over 100 years you have been helping local people with sight loss

This year you helped Anne-Marie to ride a bike on her own for the first time, you helped Frank leave his house each week to meet his friends for a cup of tea and a chat and you helped William receive the care and support he needs every day.

Making a gift to us in your will can make a big difference for people like Anne-Marie, Frank, and William.

Make your last gift really count

Live for today but be their hope for tomorrow

Call Jo Ellis on 01902 880111 www.beacon4blind.co.uk/legacies

Charity Registration No 216092

3

ALL SAINTS’, SEDGLEY Sunday Services

8.00 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Parish Communion (First Sunday: All-Age Worship) 6.30 p.m. Evensong (BCP)

Weekday Services

Monday 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion Wednesday 7.30 p.m. Holy Communion (1st Wednesday: Healing Service)

ST ANDREW’S, THE STRAITS Sunday Service 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (1st Sunday: Morning Prayer)

Weekday Service

Wednesday 7.00 p.m. Holy Communion

THE STRAITS CHURCH

Sunday Services 9.30 a.m. Prayer & Communion

11.00 a.m. Family Service 6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer

(When there is a fifth Sunday in the month the three churches in the Team Ministry meet for a united service at either 9.30 a.m. or 10.30 a.m. depending on the venue.)

Baptisms & Weddings Arrangements for baptisms and weddings at All Saints’ and St Andrew’s can be made at the Vestry Hour at All Saints’, which is held on Wednesdays at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’.

Baptisms are generally held on the fourth Sunday of the month at 4.00 p.m. at All Saints’, and on the second Sunday of the month at 3.00 p.m. at St Andrew’s. Baptisms can also take place during the Sunday morning service at All Saints’

or St Andrew’s by arrangement.

4

WHO’S WHO AT ALL SAINTS’ & ST ANDREW’S

GORNAL & SEDGLEY TEAM MINISTRY

Team Rector The Revd Stephen Buckley 01902 883255

(Day off Friday) Team Vicar The Revd Andy Stand 883467 (Day off Monday) Asst Curate The Revd Rob Parker-McGee (Day off Friday) 01384 860525

Reader Jan Humphries 01902 661275

Authorised Lay Minister Suzanne Bradley 880055

PCC Secretary Chris Williams 672880

ALL SAINTS’

Parish Wardens Rob Lavender 01902 661325

Derrick Turner 895066 DCC Secretary Pam Hunt 670787 Treasurer Derrick Turner 895066 Electoral Roll Liz Williams 672880

Organist Mel Jones 0121 550 1604

Bell Ringers Keith Williams 01902 672585 Servers Len Millard 676339 Junior Church Barbara Price 676591 Youth Group Laura Price 678572

Noah’s Ark Parent

& Toddler Group Linda Edwards 672556

Hall Bookings The Vicarage 883255 Hall Caretaker Joan Moon 682902 Social Club John Dillworth 670156

Magazine Editor Christine Buckley 883255

Distribution Rob Lavender 661325 Advertising “ “ Cont. over page

5

All Saints’ cont. Mothers’ Union Liz Williams 672880 Ladies’ Society Geraldine Baker 674608

Men’s Society Roger Berry 881374

Uniformed Organisations Rainbows Liz Naylor 01902 885517 Brownies Heather Churm 07530 977090

ST ANDREW’S Church Warden Jan Humphries 01902 661275 DCC Secretary Rosemary Reed Treasurer Gordon Betteley 882777

Little Angels Mums & Toddlers Sarah Parker-McGee 01384 860525

THE STRAITS COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Maurice Powell 01902 885402

PARISH WEBSITE: www.gornalandsedgley.org.uk

CHURCH REGISTERS

BAPTISMS

All Saints’ 23 June Archie Thomas Capewell Emie Rose Asbury Isla Rose Joshua Lucas Jones

William Ron Hicklin St Andrew’s

WEDDINGS All Saints’

1 June Luke Elwiss & Elizabeth Hill

St Andrew’s 18 May Barry Cox & Tracy Hingley

6

PARISH FUNERALS 2 June Olive Irene Elwell, aged 94 3 June Mavis Kathleen Brentwell, aged 83

MAGAZINE MATERIAL

Articles for the September magazine should be sent to the Vicarage by Sunday

25 August. These may be sent by e-mail to srb55@talktalk.net

THE BEACON

If you are interested in having the magazine delivered to your home on a

regular basis please contact Rob Lavender: tel. 01902 661325. The Beacon is

published ten times a year and the cost for the year is £5.

FLOWERS IN JULY/AUGUST

7th July Bill & Barbara Baker

14th July Kathleen Cox & Pam Parton in memory of Lil

21st July Judy Clements in memory of Floss & George Edwards

28th July Mrs Holden

4th Aug Mr & Mrs Cox

11th Aug Noah’s Ark

18th Aug John & Cicely Thomas

25th Aug Rosemary Moss

CHURCH OPENING

Friday mornings from

10.30am to 12.30pm

The church is open for quiet prayer

& coffee and a chat.

We will be pleased to see you.

7

A LETTER FROM BISHOP DAVID

In the days before writing this letter, I’ve been thinking a lot about promises. It’s

the time of year when we are in the final stages of preparing those who are to be

ordained as deacons and priests in Worcester Cathedral. An important part of the

service will involve the candidates making promises to both the congregation and the

Bishop as to how they will fulfil the responsibilities that their new roles demand.

It’s also a busy season for a bishop, with many churches holding their Confirmation

Services. This is the moment when candidates are asked to repeat the promises

made at their baptism, which for most will have taken place back in their early

infancy. Within the Church of England, Confirmation is the point at which we

publicly take responsibility for our living of the Christian faith. And because it

is so important, the Bishop is there in person to lead the service. And then I

heard that the Girl Guide movement is changing the nature of the promises its

members make when they join, replacing an explicit promise to “love my God”

with one that says a Guide will “deepen her personal beliefs”.

I suppose you might expect that as a church leader I would be saddened by the

decision that the Guides have made, but I’m not. The first problem with the

promise in its old form was not that it said anything wrong, but that it was so

widely ignored by those who made it as to have lost any force. It had become

the very opposite of the vows I hear being made enthusiastically at ordinations

and confirmations. And the second problem was that in many Guiding groups,

though certainly not all, there was little effort on the part of the leaders to help

the girls keep the vows they had made.

Again, this is the very opposite of what happens at Confirmations and Ordinations,

where the congregations express loudly and clearly their support for the candidates

in their efforts to keep their vows. And where I know, as bishop, they will continue

to do all they can by way of support in the years that follow.

My hope then, for the Guiding movement, is that the new promise to deepen

personal beliefs is one that each Guide will take seriously as she makes it, and each

Guide leader will be committed to helping those in her charge to fulfil. Then the

vows will be more like the ones I hear at Confirmations and Ordinations. And my

challenge to each of you reading this letter is that you will reflect for a moment or

two today on the vows that you have made and pledge yourself to keep them, and

seek, where you need it, help from others to keep them.

8

MOTHERS’ UNION

Jan Humphries stepped in at the eleventh hour when Gwen Taylor was unable

to come and talk at our June meeting. She shared with us the difficult path she

took last year towards ordination. No one could doubt Jan’s faith, ability and

commitment, but without academic qualifications she was considered to be

incapable of studying to become a priest. After numerous knock- backs Jan

made the difficult decision not to continue on her journey to ordination. Jan

now believes that God has another path for her to follow. We were all moved

by her talk and the fact that she could share her experience with us. We are

very fortunate to have Jan within our team and we thank God for her ministry.

Last month I went with Frances Shepherd to the Mothers’ Union General

Meeting in Bath. An inspirational opening presentation by our World-wide

President, Lynne Tembey, reminded us that our membership is a gift that must

be shared. She reflected on her visit to Kenya. ‘Wherever you are in the world

members are reaching out to their communities in truly amazing ways.’ She

encouraged us that we need to have faith, hope and love as we move Mothers’

Union forward into the future. We were introduced to the new Trustee Board

and there was Question Time with our own David Dimbleby, in the guise of

Reg Bailey. The guest speaker was Adrian Plass who has written in Families

First. He entertained and challenged us all to think about how we work together

despite our differences. We had a most interesting and enjoyable day while our

husbands visited the Roman Baths and sampled the local Tea Rooms.

The Mary Sumner Day Service this year is on Thursday 8th August (the day

before Mary Sumner Day) at Holy Trinity, Amblecote. If any members need a

lift please let me know.

Our Deanery Quiet Day is on Wednesday 14th August at St Mary’s,

Kingswinford. ‘Stepping Stones’ will be led by Revd. Jane Arnold and will start at

10.00am with coffee and finish at 3.00pm. If you have not been to a Quiet Day

before I recommend it to you.

St James, Lower Gornal, Mothers’ Union will be joining us for the Wave of

Prayer Service on 2nd September. This will be our Joint Prayer Meeting and

the address will be given by Jan Humphries.

Congratulations to Margaret Marsh who will be celebrating her 90th Birthday

and to Jean and Bill Hale who will be celebrating their Diamond Wedding

Anniversary in July.

9

Dates

2nd July 2.30pm MU Rules the Waves, Jean Swift

(Bring & Buy)

15th July 10.00am Corporate Communion

16th July 7.30pm Letters from Canada, Mary Zielonka

8th Aug 7.30pm Mary Sumner Day Service, Holy Trinity, Amblecote

14th Aug Deanery Quiet Day, St Mary’s, Kingswinford

(Information above)

2nd Sept 2.30pm Wave of Prayer (Joint Prayer Meeting)

Liz Williams

LADIES’ SOCIETY

Anita Evans, a local lady, well qualified in the field of Floristry and Floral

Arrangements, presented a demonstration entitled ‘Baskets and Basics’. To a

mixed audience of flower arrangers and novices, Anita demonstrated the skills

needed to create a basic triangular arrangement in a large basket. She explained

the need for all foliage and flowers to have been ‘conditioned’ prior to

arrangement. This meant giving them a good drink of water with added flower

food for a few days.

Anita likened the arrangement to a piece of art in a picture frame, the foliage

being the frame, and the added flowers, the subject. She chatted away as she

worked, offering hints such as cutting carnation stems above a node, stripping

rose stems of thorns and most leaves, and boiling the ends of stems for a few

minutes. These actions help water to reach the flower heads. The triangular

shape was created using a variety of foliage of different textures and shades of

green, such as yew, box, weigela, hellebore and hosta.

Having achieved the desired shape, bright orange spray carnations were added

to the outer section followed with splashes of yellow chrysanthemums added at

different heights to fill the centre. Finally beautiful peach roses completed.

Freda Taylor was the lucky winner of this basket in the raffle draw. Thanks to Anita for

an interesting and informative demonstration. Our July meeting is to be a talk by Rev.

Heather Humphries, followed with a ‘Strawberries and Cream’ supper. Come and enjoy!

Anne Wakefield

ALL SAINTS’ SUMMER FETE

The amount raised at our Fete was £1730; thanks to all who ran stalls, and supported us

on the day. Special thanks to our local scout troop who contributed greatly to the

success of the occasion.

10

BISHOP’S MOVE

You may well have read by now that Bishop David has

been appointed the twelfth Bishop of Manchester. He

was made Bishop of Dudley in 2000, and we have of

course got to know him well through his visits to our

parish to conduct Confirmations and in 2012 to lead our

Holy Week Services. There will in due course be an

opportunity for us to show our appreciation of his

ministry in the diocese. We wish him and his wife Sue

well when they move to Manchester in October.

Bishop David writes:

“Whilst I am very excited about returning to my home city as Bishop, Sue and I will

also be sad to leave so many friends that we have made in the Diocese of Worcester.

I'm grateful for the many opportunities that I have been given both to support the

mission and ministry of the Church of England in Dudley and Worcestershire and to

contribute to the life of our villages, towns and communities.”

Commenting on the appointment Bishop John said: “Although I shall be very sorry

to lose a wonderful colleague from our diocese, I'm delighted that Bishop David

has been appointed as Bishop of Manchester. As anyone who knows him will be

aware, he is a person of great gifts, immense wisdom and deep personal holiness. I

have reason to be profoundly grateful to him - I could not have wished for a better

colleague during the last five years. The Diocese of Manchester is very fortunate,

as is the wider church and I shall be joining very many others to pray for God's rich

blessing upon David and Sue as they prepare to move and in their new life and

ministry.”

There will be a service to celebrate and give thanks for Bishop David's ministry in

Worcestershire and Dudley in Worcester Cathedral during October. The process to

appoint a new Bishop of Dudley will begin immediately.

ST MARY’S, HURST HILL

St Mary’s will be celebrating their Patronal Festival on Sunday 8th September. As

usual the Team Churches will join them for the 10.00 service on that day. Please

note that there will be no morning service at either All Saints’ or St Andrew’s.

11

AROUND THE PARISH

Birth congratulations to Rachel and Neal Brookes on the birth of their son

Jack William, born on Saturday 26th May 2013, weighing in at 7lb 7oz. Jack is

the first grandchild for Barbara and Bill Baker.

Happy Birthday to Maureen Matthews who celebrates her special day on

18th July. Hope she enjoys her day.

Silver Wedding congratulations to Kerry and Iain Watton who will be celebrating

25 years of married bliss on 16th July. They were married here at All Saints’. They

are flying off to a secret destination for a few days. We wish them a very happy

time together. The girls will be staying with Maureen and David.

News from Noah’s Ark Mums and Toddlers. Jackie, one of the helpers, won

the ticket for the trip to the Severn Valley Railway. The following week there

was a ticket raffled off for a trip to the Safari Park. To make sure all was above

board, two mums were elected to make the draw. A gentleman folded the

tickets, and the winners were Nash and Jetta, twins.

Lots of extra toys have been added, and there is now a dressing-up corner,

which is proving very popular. Last week Jackie made over forty little cakes

for the children to decorate. This is a busy table because the children can eat

their own works of art! The table for those who like to paint and make craft

items to take home is also busy. This wouldn’t be possible without the

dedication of all the staff. The staff in the kitchen also have a vital part to play.

At least sixty slices of bread are toasted each week, and tea and coffee haven’t

been counted. Seems like a hundred when we are washing up.

The End of Term party is on Tuesday 23rd July. There will be a finger buffet,

face-painting for the children, and – weather permitting – games outside. The

Autumn Term starts on 10th September.

Thank You message from me. A few weeks ago I tripped and hurt my foot. It

is slowly getting better but I’m unable to walk very far, so thank you to

everyone for cards, flowers and, most of all, my shopping.

Dorothy Inett

12

INTERCESSIONS FOR JULY

1st World Debt

2nd Community care nurses

3rd Thomas the Apostle

4th Ecumenical partnerships throughout the Diocese

5th John Fisher, bishop & martyr

6th Thomas More, scholar & martyr

7th Gornal & Sedgley Team & St Mary’s, Hurst Hill

8th Mothers’ Union worldwide

9th The Bible Society

10th Open the Book Team

11th Benedict, abbot

12th The Salvation Army

13th The Hospice movement

14th Kingswinford Deanery

15th Swithun, bishop

16th The work of the food bank

17th Torch Fellowship for the blind & partial sighted

18th The Red Cross

19th Gregory, bishop

20th Margaret of Antioch

21st Worcester Diocese

22nd Mary Magdalene

23rd Bridget, Abbess

24th The homeless

25th James the Apostle

26th Anne & Joachim parents of the BVM

27th Schools on summer holidays

28th World wide Anglican Community

29th Mary, Martha, & Lazarus, companies of our Lord

30th William Wilberforce, social reformer

31st Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

13

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The hall is available for hire by groups on a weekly basis, or for one-off events.

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For further information please contact: All Saints’ Vicarage Tel. 01902 883255

E mail: srb55@talktalk.net

14

Kevin Weston Decorating

Special rates for Senior Citizens

Local Authority approved

Advanced City & Guilds

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Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen

12 Himley Lane, Swindon DY3 4PW

01384 401859 07981 596109

R T KNIGHT OPTICIANS

Independent, Professional Eye care

Contact Lens Centre Glaucoma Screening

8 Dudley Street Sedgley Dudley

West Midlands DY3 1SB

Tel. 01902 883260

HADEN NEWSAGENTS

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

35 Dudley Street Sedgley

Tel. 01902 674200

Newspapers, Confection-ary,

Magazines, Tobacco,

Stationery, Greeting Cards,

Payzone/Mobile Top Up

Gas/Electricity payments

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE CONTACT ALL SAINTS’ VICARAGE

Tel 01902 883255 E mail: srb55@talktalk.net

Rates for 12 months

Quarter page £25 Half page £40 Full page £70

The magazine is distributed to 350 households in the

Sedgley area

15

Sarah Powell Foot Health Practitioner RGN Dip, CFHP, MPSP (FHP)

Friendly Home visiting services in this area

Foot health check

Nails trimmed

Corns and calluses treated

Problem nails treated

Foot massage to finish

After-care advice given

Discount given for initial treatment

For more information or to make an Appointment please ’phone 01902 671824

16

Arthur's Jewellery

Hand made gold & silver jewellery

Repairs, remounts

Antique jewellery repaired & restored

The Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyard

Tel: 01384 221567 Mob: 07856 898558

www.arthursjewellery.co.uk

FOR A GREAT DEAL CONSULT

INSURANCE SERVICES (MIDLANDS) LTD

BILSTON ST, SEDGLEY

For low cost motor insurance Household insurance Personal accident &

travel insurance

Payment by instalments available Written details on request For a free quotation call:

01902 880044

K G J

07837 767344

01902 881361

Ianhipkissdrivingschool@hotmail.co.uk

Block Booking Discounts Pass plus Tuition

Free Theory Test Guidance First Lesson: 2 hours for price of 1

17

JENNY’S

KITCHEN

Speciality Caterers

Evening & lunchtime

catering to suit

all occasions

Full waitress service

(Ask for details)

Tel: 01384 400733

www.jennyskitchen.co.uk

Dental

Surgery

Stephen L Rees B.D.S. U. Birm MFGDP (UK)

Tel:

01902 670080

The Surgery

Sedgley Hall Avenue

Sedgley

Dudley

DY3 3TA

Taylors

Independent Estate

Agents & Valuers

For a friendly &

personal service

2A Dudley Street

Sedgley

Dudley

West Midlands DY3 1SB

Tel. 01902 880888

Fax 01902 665075

www. Taylors– estateagents.co.uk

Sandyfields Home improvements

Andy Barnfield

Painting & Decorating

Flooring & Fencing

Jet Washing & Gardening

45 Sandyfields Road Sedgley Dudley

West Midlands DY3 3LB

Tel: 01902 884807 Mob: 07852 435060

18

Painting & Decorating Services

Papering - Painting

Property Maintenance

Houses - Shops - Offices

Residential & Commercial

Member of Dudley Age Concern Fix a Home Scheme

Worth Sides

Turf Specialist Quality Lawn Maintenance

Mowing & Edging Turf Installation

Hedge Trimming Light Hauling

Wood Chip Mulching

Pressure Washing

Mobile 07816 250387 Home 01902 881206

Phil Orton

For an estimate:

Tel: 01902 894830 Mob: 07974 281894

P & C ELECTRICAL &

PLUMBING SERVICES

FULLY QUALIFIED DOMESTIC INSTALLER

From changing a Light Fitting to a Consumer Board

From a Dripping Tap to a complete Bathroom Suite

No job too small No job too big

Call Phil: 01902 673 419 Mob. 07836 770135

Alderbrook Close, Sedgley

HARTILLS OF SEDGLEY MONUMENTAL MASONS

(BRAMM REGISTERED)

MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION

New Memorials Additional Inscriptions

Renovations

Unit 1D High Street, Sedgley

DY3 1RP

Tel/Fax 01902 882466

19

ANDREW NICHOLLS Heating & Plumbing

3 Northway, Sedgley Tel 01902 683586

(Gas Safe)

New to the area, but with 30 years’ experience

Central Heating Boilers

Water Heaters, Cookers, Fires

Full Installation Service Available

Annual Services

Landlord Safety Certificates

All Kinds of Plumbing Work

20

G L S ALARMS SECURITY SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS

Intruder Alarms, Maintenance Contracts

Repairs & Upgrades, Annual Service

Existing systems maintained & repaired

Est. 15 years - Insurance Approved

sahib registered installer

68 Longmeadow Drive, Sedgley DY3 3QR

Tel: 01902 883188

The Shaggy Dog Pet Grooming Centre for Dogs and Cats

For busy people we take bookings for Bank Holidays and Sundays

17 Bilston St, Sedgley DY3 1JA

Tel: 01902 661377

Evenings: 01902 677869

(As recommended by Maisie, the Vicarage Dog)

21

PHIL OLIVER SPECIALIST

CERAMIC TILER

Walls & Floors

In

Kitchens

Bathrooms

& Conservatories

12 Dudmaston Way Dudley DY1 GQ

Tel. 01384 234323 Mob. 07595 879267

L A J LOCKSMITH

For all your household needs Replacement locks/keys

Lockouts, Servicing Repairs & security upgrades

Motorcycle security, chains & padlocks Friendly service

(Don’t forget to add the tel. no. to your mobile, you never know when you might need to use it!!)

Tel: 07905882148 E-mail: lajlocksmith@live.co.uk

GLOVERS

For all your home & office stationery

supplies ring Richard, Maria,

or Mel Bates on:

01902 871682

ONLINE

www.gloversstationery.co.uk

22

RUSSELLS REMOVALS

House & Office Removals Fully Insured

Clearances & Storage Free Estimates

13 Robert Street Lower Gornal

Dudley DY3 2AZ

Tel. 01902 680081

SWEET TRADITIONS DUDLEY STREET

SEDGLEY

Old Fashioned & Traditional Sweets

Pick and Mix Gifts and More

Children’s Party Bags

Has Gareth Malone inspired you to sing?

Then come and join us!

We are

Coseley Male Voice Choir

And we want more men to join us. Tenors particularly welcome.

We practise on Monday evenings approximately 1 mile from Sedgley. If you are interested

please urgently call Gordon on 01902 658402.

We are also taking Concert Bookings for 2013 and if you would like the Choir to perform for you please speak to Sheila on 0121 520 0739.

23

SEDGLEY POWERWASH SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL DRIVEWAY &

PATIO CLEANING SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

SKYVAC A CAMERA GUIDED GUTTER CLEANING VACUUM

Prices start from £20

Call for a free no obligation quote Contact Pete on 07791 241952

www.sedgleypowerwash.co.uk email: pete–mason@live.co.uk

PENNY FARTHING COFFEE HOUSE Penny Farthing Arcade, High Street,

Sedgley, DY3 1RW

Telephone 07515 898038

Come in and try our scrumptious cakes,

our selections of delicious hot and cold drinks.

Fancy some food? Warming soups, hot meal of the day, create your

own fresh sandwich, panini, plus jacket potatoes and fillings.

You’re guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome every visit.

We look forward to seeing you.

Outside catering also available

24

JUST THOUGHTS

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and

grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keeping what

is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.

When we keep our lives tuned in to the beauty of the earth, life itself becomes

a joyous celebration of the senses.

With a little effort our lives can glow with optimism and beauty.

Everything that lives is holy, life delights in life.

Lets not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.

Live truth instead of just expressing it.

Let the beauty you love become the good you do.

What simple and small little things could you do today to bring a blessing to

someone else ?

Take a walk everyday for the purpose of smiling and talking to others.

Sometimes we have to remember to relax a little more, and to worry a little less.

If you have ever wondered where a certain road leads go take a look and find

out, if you don’t like the result just retrace your steps, but if you do like it what

a pleasure you will have discovered.

It is the security from being truly at home with one’s self that will give you the

courage and freedom to travel, to seek an adventure.

Learn your faith by acting in faith.

The world is round, so just remember the place which might seem like the end

may also be just the beginning.

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth will find reserves of strength

that will endure as long as life lasts.

The pains passes, but the beauty lasts.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for it that makes life worth living.

The best help we can give in human disasters is to offer help.

25

When peoples lives have gone adrift they don’t want platitudes and clichés but

friendship and support and they are blessed when they receive them.

Facing reality, however painful and distasteful, is far healthier and holy than

living an illusion.

Hate is not conquered by hate; hate is conquered by love. Those who realise

this settle their quarrels peacefully.

Wherever barriers are found, they need to be replaced by bridges. Bridges are

for walking across, for meeting and listening to one another. Hearing leads to

understanding, and understanding can lead to respect.

The potential for human good is amazing. It makes the impossible happen,

turns suffering into healing and despair into hope.

If in doubt use the Christian attitude of putting the rights of others before your own.

Tapping into real life still has the edge over a computer keyboard or Facebook.

No matter how fierce the opposition the light of true religion can never be

extinguished.

Our worship should not be confined to times and places; it should be the spirit

of our lives.

Compiled by David Melhuish

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY NEWS

Box Donations

The sum raised in the 2013 box collection from All Saints’ reached a quite

staggering total of: £ 889.96

This is a great tribute to the people who take collection boxes in that their

generosity is obviously not reducing even during difficult economic times. Our

thanks must of course go out to Kath Apperley who organises the distribution and

collection of the boxes – not to mention the task of counting all of those coins.

The Autumn Fayre - Saturday 19 October 2013

The annual Autumn Fayre will be held this year in mid-October and as usual in

All Saints’ Church Hall. The format will be pretty much the same as in

previous years which has been very successful due to the loyal support of so

many people. More details will appear in later issues of the Church Magazine.

Anne Hart

26

INTERCESSIONS FOR AUGUST

1st The Children's Society

2nd The unemployed

3rd Diocese of Morogoro

4th The Community of the Resurrection

5th Oswald, king & martyr

6th Transfiguration of our Lord

7th John Mason Neale, priest & hymn writer

8th Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers

9th Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union

10th Laurence, deacon& martyr

11th Florence Nightingale, nurse & social reformer

12th The Church Pastoral Aid Society

13th Jeremy Taylor, bishop & teacher of the faith

14th Maximilian Kolbe, priest & martyr

15th The Blessed Virgin Mary

16th The economy

17th Diocesan link with Peru

18th William & Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army

19th The Royal School of Church Music

20th Bernard, abbot & teacher of the faith

21st Work with young people in the parish

22nd The United Nations

23rd The persecuted church

24th Bartholomew the Apostle

25th Glasshampton Monastery

26th Guild of the servers of the sanctuary

27th Bereavement Counsellors

28th Augustine, bishop & teacher of the faith

29th Beheading of John the Baptist

30th John Bunyan spiritual writer

31st Aidan, bishop & missionary

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HERITAGE OPEN DAY

This year, the national Heritage Open Days, when many buildings not generally

available to the public will be open to visitors, will be held on the weekend of 13–

15 September. Lichfield, Worcester and Hereford dioceses have organised a

Festival of Churches to coincide with this, when we are likewise being encouraged

to open our doors, especially in places where those doors normally have to be kept

locked..

In Sedgley, it is hoped to open All Saints’ on Saturday 14 September, from 10.30

a.m. to 3.30 p.m. We would feature displays of local history, focusing on families

commemorated in windows and wall plaques, but including other topics. Members

of Sedgley History Society and the Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy

and Heraldry would be present, to answer questions and to encourage visitors to

research their own families, houses, and so on. In conjunction with our event, a

Craft Fair is planned in the church hall, and St Chad’s are also planning to open,

with displays on the remarkable history of the Roman Catholic church in Sedgley.

The response to the initial appeal for stewards to help in All Saints’ was somewhat

underwhelming, and we would struggle to ensure visitors’ safety (as well as the

church’s security). It would be a great pity if All Saints’ was not involved, but

without more people willing to act as stewards, our part of the event will probably

have to be cancelled. If you are able to help, if only for an hour, please contact me

or sign the list in church.

Christine Buckley

SANTIAGO OR BUST!

Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain has been for centuries a place of

pilgrimage, as tradition says that it is the burial place of the apostle St James.

There are a number of official routes, and I, along with three companions, will

be following the ‘Camino Portugueś’ from Porto, a distance of 150 miles. We

shall begin our pilgrimage on the 2nd September, and hope to reach Santiago on

the 19th. Modern technology allows us to keep in touch via our parish website,

gornalandsedgley.org, and I will be sending photos and a diary of our progress.

In addition to doing the pilgrimage for our own spiritual benefit we shall also be

raising money for the charity, “Embrace the Middle East”, formerly known as,

“Biblelands”. This is a charity which provides support for all ages through the

provision of schools, hospitals, orphanges etc, and each day the news shows us

how much their work is needed. Sponsorship forms will appear in the Team

churches in the near future, and I hope you will feel able to support us.

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Our Charity of the Month for July and August is Compton Hospice. I’m sure we all

know people who have been patients, and families who have befitted from the care

the Hospice provides, so I trust you will respond generously to this appeal. The

following is taken from the Compton Hospice website, where you can learn more

about their work, and how you might be involved as a volunteer.

Compton Hospice is proud to have provided nationally-renowned care to patients

across the Black Country for 30 years. Compton Hospice welcomed its first

patients in February 1982 and was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent on

November 9. Over the years it has continually reinvented itself to serve the needs

of a growing community. Staff levels have more than doubled, with 260 paid

employees and a further 630 volunteers now working within the organisation, and

extensions have added to hospice facilities.

Advancements in medical treatments have created changes in the way patients

are cared for through the hospice. More emphasis is placed on home care

nursing as well as in-patient care, making the treatment and support of more

than 600 people each day possible. Ward beds increased from16 to 22, then in

2011 a complete refurbishment transformed the in-patient unit - replacing the 2

and 4-bedded wards with 18 single en-suite rooms for patients. A day therapy

centre now provides respite care for 20 visitors each day and a unit dedicated to

the treatment of lymphoedema, helps thousands of people each year. We also

offer bereavement support to adults and children, helping relatives through the

difficult process of the loss of a loved one.

Social workers, physiotherapists and complementary therapists have increased

the services provided and holistic treatments such as reiki, aromatherapy and

massage helped more than 800 patients last year alone. Our expertise is now

helping to shape care provision of the future across the UK, through the

professional courses offered by our education department, training a range of

healthcare workers in all aspects of palliative care since 1983.

MERCY SHIPS

In May our Charity was ‘Mercy Ships’, for whom we raised £100. thanks once

again for your generosity.

Stephen Buckley

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DIARY DATES: JULY–AUGUST

Sunday and weekday services at All Saints’, St Andrew’s and The Straits Com-

munity Church are advertised on page 2 of this magazine. Any alteration to this

pattern is shown below.

All Saints’

Mon 1st July 7.30 pm Ladies Soc. meets in the church hall

Tues 2nd July 2.30 pm MU meets in the church hall

Tues 9th July 2.30 pm Study Group meets in the social club

“ “ 7.30 pm Baptism meeting in the social club

Thu 11th July MU Coach Trip

Sun 14th July 6.15 pm Revd Roger Hides’ Farewell Service at

St Andrew’s, Bilston St

Mon 15th July 7.45 pm Men’s Soc. meets in the social club

Tues 16th July 7.30 pm MU meets in church

Sat 20th July 3.00 pm Wedding

Tues 22nd July 2.30 pm Study Group meets in the social club

Tues 30th July 7.30 pm DCC meets in the social club

Sat 3rd Aug 1.00 pm Wedding

Thu 15th Aug 7.30 pm Baptism meeting in the social club

Fri 16th Aug 12.00 noon Wedding

Sat 17th Aug 1.00 pm Wedding

Sat 31st Aug 3.00 pm Wedding

‘Noah’s Ark’ Mums & Toddlers meets in the hall on Tuesdays at 9.30 am in

term time.

St Andrew’s

Tues 2nd July 10.45 am Joint Council meets in the church hall

Mon 29th July 7.30 pm DCC meets in the church hall

Sat 3rd Aug 1.00 pm Wedding

‘Little Angels’ Mums & Toddlers meets in the hall each Monday at 9.30 am in

term time.

St Andrew’s ‘Silver Threads’ (over 60s) meet each Wednesday from 10.30 am to

12.30 pm in the church hall.

Parish Meetings/Services

Sat 30th July 9.30 am ‘Dad’s Breakfast’ at All Saints’

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