Pip n Jay

Church Life February 2012

Stories of God’s love — transforming lives, inspiring mission

...but the greatest of these is love

Church Life Pip n Jay

Love, love, love…

John Lennon’s lyrics have echoed

through the decades and reflect an

expectation that love will make us

who we long to be. As is often the

case, this is the inaccessible half of

the truth. My world and yours is

inhabited by people like us, longing

for love. We will go to surprising

lengths to achieve it and we will go to

surprising places to gain it. However,

as incredible as it may seem, love is

not all you need; unless of course it is

miraculous.

Jesus’ words “For God so loved the

world that he gave his one and only

Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life”

reveal the surprising love of a Father.

Surprising in that the world he loves

is not dominated by peace, justice,

love and forgiveness; but by our

common experience of pain, suffering

and hostility towards our maker.

The wonderful

reality is that God

the Father sent God

the Son to rescue and

remake a broken

world, by restoring a

family to himself

through his suffering

and death in our

place. It is surprising that in the

crucifixion of Jesus the Messiah we

see the demonstration of God’s

incomparable love. God the Holy

Spirit transforms our lives as He

helps us define ourselves in terms of

the love of God displayed through

Jesus’ cross, rather than a love that

so often evades us.

Jesus’ words “Peace be with you! As

the Father has sent me, I am sending

you” define the lives of His disciples

in this world. We are those who bear

the message of peace established

through his death and resurrection.

We have experienced the Father’s

love. Filled with His Spirit we are sent

to live and speak of his forgiveness,

love and new life.

The Father’s love of this world and

the Father’s mission within this world

belong together.

To love a lovable person might be

obvious. But to love someone who is

challenging takes a miracle. To love

people who are hostile to us takes

divine intervention. To continue to

love, in the face of rejection and hurt,

is beyond us and would take an act of

God to witness in our own lives.

The news is out there that Jesus has

done this and continues to reveal the

Father’s love through the witness of

those he has sent on the Father’s

mission.

If you know this story you know this

love. It is our story now and it is ours to make known to the many people

around us that the Father loves.

Very few of us first experienced this

through someone preaching at us in a

hit and run incident. Most of us saw it

in the life of someone we noticed and

heard it from the mouth

of someone we

respected.

Who are the people in

our families, our

workplaces, our classes,

and communities that

the Father loves? How

might this love be shown and spoken?

To do and to say nothing would be

unloving and unkind.

This issue is full of stories of the Holy

Spirit at work as He has helped

people know the Father’s love in the

midst of a challenging time. How

might we obey the Father in his

mission as we enjoy the Father’s love

in our lives?

• We could ask someone in need if

there is a way we might serve them.

• We could offer to pray for someone

who tells us about a challenge they

are facing, or a celebration they are

enjoying.

• We could be honest about the love

that motivates us.

Love is not all you

need, unless of

course it is

miraculous

In this issue 3 Rich and Leah Wait

4 Phil Rendell

6 Dave and Pip Morton

and Meryl Widdecombe

7 Care Links and Soup Run

8 Prayer

on mission with Jesus growing disciples growing churches February 2012

Love is not all

you need

Revd Tim

Silk

Get in touch Email: churchlife@pipnjay.org

Editor: Bern Leckie

Production team: Mark Butt

and Ellen Haggan

facebook.com/pipnjay

@pipnjay

Next month

The MONEY Issue

Out Sunday 4 March

Story ideas and

contributions needed by

Sunday 26 February

What a difference a day makes... Leah and Rich Wait married at Pip n

Jay last November. They tell Church Life

about what the big day meant to them

and how life has changed.

Leah: I was really nervous that I would

be so worried about the how the day

went that I would be robbed of the joy

of it all, especially the service, which is

the most important part. I prayed to

the Holy Spirit that I really did not

want to miss out on this special time

because of my worry. As soon as I got

out the car at church, I felt such

amazing peace. There’s a lot of

expectation that it has to be the best

day of your life but I can honestly say I

absolutely loved it.

Rich: That was a real shared

experience. I was nervous – I had taken

time out 10 minutes before the service

to pray with John and Andy, my best

men – and when the service started I

was peaceful and confident it would go

OK.

L:L:L:L: It was never an option for us to get

married anywhere but Pip n Jay. It

wasn’t about the building so much

though, it was about making our vows

in front of the Lord and in front of

family and friends.

R: The vows you say as part of the

church service are substantial – ‘till

death us do part’, ‘all that I am I give to

you’ – and we were

both confident that

what we said we

meant.

L:L:L:L: My sister-in-law

described being

married like a ‘constant

sleepover’… it’s like

having a friend to stay

over but they never

have to leave.

R: Before we were

married we would spend time together

and it would be great, but you would

always reach that point in the evening

when one of us would have to get in

the car or on the bus and go home.

One unexpected challenge is that

previously my coping mechanism if I

was annoyed has been to retreat to a

quiet place alone and then deal with

the issue. Living together, there is

none of that space. There is someone

there all the time who will see you at

your best, your worst and everything

in between.

L: L: L: L: Lots of people say that you need to

live together before you get married

because otherwise how do you learn

about one another, and if their bad

habits will annoy you? But actually

most of these are minor and aren’t

really problems at all. We want to be a

witness of good, Godly

marriage.

R: Some of that has

happened already

through the way we

got together, which is a

completely different

order to how many

people do things.

Before we were

married, a few of the

guys at work had been

asking whether we’d

moved in together. From being an

example as a dating couple, we want to

be a witness as a married couple too.

L:L:L:L: Prayer points would be for boldness

at work. And patience in the

supermarket…I think going food

shopping together may be short lived!

We want to find a good rhythm of daily

Bible study and prayer.

How has

God’s love

changed

you?

Knowing that

God loves me

unconditionally means I

can go and do likewise. I

succeed and fail in equal

measure, but my heart for

others has been changed

for ever.

Rob Hook

Gareth Williams

From being an

example as a

dating couple, we

want to be a

witness as a

married couple

Rich and Leah stop for

wedding photos in

Castle Park

The Lord is a

strong archer

even when the storm is

mega stormy.

On January 18 last year,

Phil Rendell had a bike

accident that left him in

a coma in Frenchay

Hospital. Here he shares

about the challenges and

blessings of the last 12

months.

Interview by Mark Butt

What do you know about what

happened?

The front forks of my bike sheared off

as I was going about 20mph downhill

near Sainsbury's on the A4. It was rush

hour at the time. Fortunately there

were a couple of off-duty policemen

parked nearby who got me into a

comfortable position and phoned for

an ambulance.

Within minutes, an ambulance arrived

– an air ambulance arrived some time

later – and I'm told that paramedics

worked on me for about an hour to

stablise me before driving me up to

hospital. Apparently the queues went

from where I was all the way back to

Keynsham!

What are your first memories

following the accident?

My memory is very hazy – I don’t have

any clear memories until mid-

February. My mind pieces things

together, like Andy Mac coming to see

me and bringing a toy meercat dubbed

Phil that a group of Pip n Jayers had

taken skiing with them – I was meant

to go with them so they carried it

around in my place. Andy chatted to

me but I can’t remember what was

said. I think I thought we were on

holiday at a campsite in France.

My parents kept a diary for me of the

months following the accident, which

has helped me piece together what

happened during this time.

And what has your recovery been

like since then?

By mid-February, I was in the Brain

Injury Rehabilitation Unit at Frenchay

where I was seen by a team of physios,

psychologists, occupational therapists,

and speech and language therapists.

When I came out seven or eight weeks

later I was met by

the intermediate

care team more or

less every

weekday.

Now I’m being

looked after by

the Head Injury

Therapy Unit,

who I'm more or

less finished with

with the

exception of the key worker and OT.

Getting back to life has been slow and

gradual. You might try something and

if it tires you out you can either not to

do it again, spend

less time doing it

next time or simplify

it. A bit like playing

(ITV game show) The

Cube. The process

of going back to

work is ‘do what the

OT says’. She knows

best – although I’ve

had to force myself

to recognise that. I

don’t think patience is one of my

virtues. By the end of February I hope

to be at work for about 10 hours

spread across three days each week.

I had a steady

stream of people

coming to visit me in

hospital which

became the highlight

Celebrating life

A photo taken by Phil on his trip to Georgeham; inset: Phil the Meerkat

How are you doing now?

I am making good progress. In amongst

some physical aspects there are some

hidden things that I need prayer for –

particularly memory, processing speed

and stamina. Even a hard day away

from the office might involve going to a

café and reading a book. An hour is

enough to tire me out, although this is

improving.

How has being part of a church

family made a difference?

I’m still alive! The night of my accident,

a number of small groups cancelled

what they were doing and went to

church to pray and worship.

People were really good to my parents

– preparing meals and giving them

somewhere to stay in Bristol (Wells is

a long way to travel every day!). When

I moved into BIRU I had a steady

stream of people coming to visit which

became very much the highlight of my

day, as they gave me something to look

forward to in the evening after a hard

day.

How has your accident affected

your faith?

God has been amazing. There has been

a string of God-incidences, answers to

prayer and simply God reassuring me

of his love for me and desire to take

care of me. I spent four days at Paul’s

Place with Dave and Pip Morton in

Georgeham – that was paid for out of

Paul’s Fund. Without this free holiday I

wouldn’t have made time off from my

rehabilitation to go; it was perfect

timing as I was becoming worn out.

Then there are smaller, day-to-day

things. Because tiredness gets in the

way and I need to conserve my energy,

I might decide I can't do something,

pray about it and then things

sometimes fall into place so I can do

what I wanted after all. If anything, I’ve

grown in my faith. There were lots of

things that I used to find my identity in,

like cycling or work. When it all gets

taken away from you, you realise that

only one thing remains –Jesus.

Have there been any doubts or has

your accident made you question

your faith?

Not really! Being forced to take time

out means I can spend more time with

God. Knowing His presence has been a

big thing for me – He sustains me. I've

even got a passage from Isaiah as the

wallpaper on my phone (below).

When I’ve not spent time with him

each morning, or don’t trust him for

everything, sometimes I feel his

presence less, something's missing.

God knows my memory isn't as it was,

and I am more prone to getting lost in

the moment. Feeling Him less can

serve as a reminder to come back to

what's really important and spend time

and grow with Him. I remember that

after I’d had my first quiet time in BIRU

following the accident, it was like I had

stood under a gentle waterfall. I felt

refreshed.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I

am he, I am he who will sustain you. I

have made you and I will carry you. I

will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Isaiah 46:4

Celebration at The Bridge, exactly 12 months after Phil’s accident

Sharing the love and glory online

The picture on the left was taken by

Bern Leckie, who shared it via

Facebook. The people who added

comments included people who don’t

know anyone at Pip n Jay personally,

but God was glorified through the

story and thanks which were shared.

Fantastic

testimony to

what God can do -

congratulations Phil on your

determination and courage!

Jill Willoughby

Jo Wright

What a walking

talking testimony

to God's grace. All things work

together for good for those

who love the Lord. Hope you

bought the drinks Phil!

Sheila March

I praise God that

Phil is so well

after his bike

accident.

Mikey Rowlands

Don't know him but pleased to

hear that someone has

recovered from such life-

threatening injuries. Hope he

goes from strength to

strength.

Irene Knox

Remember the comments on a

Chill email about the accident

a year ago. Glad to hear of the

recovery a year on!

Steve Roberts

Go Phil! You're an inspiration

and walking proof of what God

can do.

Building and rebuilding Building and rebuilding

Last January, Dave and Pip Morton

left Pip n Jay after 30 years here to set

up The Old Bakery, a north Devon B&B

with an unusual extra caring role.

It is inspired by their son Paul, who was

diagnosed with a brain tumour in

February 2007 while an A level

student. Paul led an active and creative

life throughout his illness, sustained by

his faith in a loving God. He died in

November 2008, but he is remembered

for his love of life, family and friends,

and his sense of fun.

Dave and Pip had long considered

setting up hospitality for people

needing a break, and Paul’s experience

showed that there was a need to serve

older teenagers and young adults.

“We established a charitable trust with

the Charities Aid Foundation called

Paul’s Fund,” said Dave, ”that will pay

for young adults to have a break who have been bereaved or diagnosed with

a terminal or life threatening illness, or

who have a significant caring role for a

family member. The charity can pay for

their stay at The Old Bakery which in

this context we call Paul’s Place.”

Paul’s Fund has so far paid for three

sets of guests on this basis, including

Phil Rendell, helped by a busy summer

with lots of paying guests. “We reckon

about 60 friends from Pip n Jay have

visited, stayed or helped us decorate.

We are grateful to everyone. Every visit

was a blessing which we hope will

continue!” said Dave.

Close to a fabulous beach and the

countryside of Exmoor, guests can

enjoy some of the same activities Paul

did, like surfing and walking. This has

been a blessing and a challenge for

Dave. “Being in places Paul frequented

brought back good but difficult

memories .We have really appreciated

emotional support from close friends,

and practical help from students and

young adults.”

Balancing time for friendships and work

is vital. Dave and Pip need to grow The

Old Bakery business to the point where

income is sustainable, working

commercially in order to make the

charity side possible. As well as seeking

an increase in guests and small church

groups in the quieter autumn and

winter months, Dave and Pip are

praying they will see more people

applying to Paul’s Fund for a grant.

Dave and Pip are growing friendships in

their new area, but after a long time in

Bristol they have become aware of how

hard this can be. “People are very

friendly,” said Dave, “but moving from

friendliness to friendship takes time

and feels hard when we are also busy

looking after guests and running a

business. We have realised we can’t be

passive about this.”

Relationship with God has also been

difficult. “Lots of things are very

challenging about faith in God when

you have lost your son. All the theoretical questions about God’s love

come into very sharp focus – why does

God allow suffering and evil? These are

not easy issues. We have to rebuild and

rediscover what trust in God means. I

know others have asked the same

questions and left their faith

community. I know God is there and

that it is important to be part of

community, but establishing a new

relationship takes time. The chaplain to

the children’s hospice has helped - he is

an amazing, loving and caring person –

a real encouragement.”

In all of this, Dave maintains faith and a

strong sense of calling. “God led us

here, guiding us through the process.

Our sense of being in the right place

and doing the right thing is fundamental

and really important. Pip has a more

intimate sense of God’s presence, but

our general sense of direction in what

we are doing is high.”

Dave and Pip would like prayer for the

success of the business, an increasing

number of Paul’s Place guests, growing

relationships with charities and

friendships in their community, and for

their faith in God to grow.

To receive an occasional newsletter by

email, or be a prayer supporter, please phone Dave and Pip on 01271 891076,

or email dandpmorton@virginmedia.com

Charity website: www.pauls-fund.co.uk,

B&B: www.georgehambandb.co.uk

You can also talk to Alison Woodbridge-

Nash or Gill Haskett who administer

applications.

Coming out of the vacuum Meryl Widdecombe writes: Since Malcolm went to be with the

Lord 15 months ago I have felt I have

been in a vacuum, unable to say how I

feel and unable to commit to anything.

I was so aware of the support of family,

friends and the many saints who have

prayed for me that have kept me going.

I have been lonely, tired and constantly

asking God what he wanted me to do,

and how I could serve him even to the

point of nagging him. I have always

served the Lord more than requesting.

In the last few weeks I’ve had more of a

desire to praise the Lord for

everything he’s done, going back even

to my conversion on 3rd December

1962 when my life turned around. I

thanked God for calling me and helping

me respond positively, and for all that

he has done in the last nearly 50 years.

I was aware of what my life could have

been like without him. This started to

make me feel happier in myself, and I

started chatting to people more (if

that’s possible) while walking my dog.

Last weekend I was helping with the

catering on the students’ weekend

away. I felt blessed to be accepted and

join in the meeting with all these young

people who were passionate for the

Lord and wanted to know more. As I

praised and meditated I slowly felt my

life coming back to me.

(continued on back page)

A network of support Care Links is Pip n Jay’s support

network for people who need pastoral

care. It started in 2009 after one

person became very ill, and has grown

to serve a wide variety of people.

What is the vision for Carelinks?

Cilla Weir: When a time of crisis or

suffering falls on a part of the church

body, their need is not just practical

help, but someone to listen, pray and

help them work through the complex

theological questions they might have.

We want to respond as network of

support that embodies Jesus....

A prophetic picture of a spider’s web

shaped our understanding of Care

Links - they are invisible until they are

beautifully brought out by raindrops,

and spider’s silk is the equivalent

strength of steel. At the same time we

are reflecting God’s glory so it is right

that we should disappear into the

background once the rainfall is over.

Similarly, it is not one strand but the

interconnected whole – if any strand

was removed the web would fall apart.

So who is Care Links for?

Cilla: Jesus calls all of us to love the

people around us deeply and

unconditionally. But in a broken world,

and a large church, some people can

fall below the radar. Care Links is an

official contact point for those people

who are not receiving the pastoral care

they need, or for when a situation is

too big for those involved to handle.

Kirsty Ryninks: Female students, for

example, risk being isolated from the

rest of church. Some have quite

complex issues with relationships or

health problems, and I have been keen

to set up mentoring relationships,

matching them with older and wiser

women in the church. Care Links has

been fantastic in working that out.

How has Care Links changed you?

Cilla: We pray together so much more.

You become more aware of what is

going on - I find it difficult knowing

where to stop. Care Links members

support each other and have different

abilities; we function like a body as

Jesus told us to. The hardest thing is

encountering pain that’s out there.

Kirsty: I come away from our

meetings lifted by having prayed for

people. Often you can feel burdened

by an issue someone shares with you.

Care Links provides an environment

where you can give that responsibility

to God and share it with other people. I

know several of the students have

appreciated becoming more

integrated into the church through

having this network of support.

To contact Care Links or ask for support, see

any member of the team or call Cilla on

0117 924 7301.

Keith and Paula Williams oversee

Pip n Jay’s regular Friday contribution

to the soup run, where food is offered

free and unconditionally outside our

church and St Mary Redcliffe every

night.

The volunteers have a simple mission

– to feed the poor and give glory to

God. “I think the gospel is full of the

need to feed the poor,” said Keith.

“James is very clear that faith without

action is empty. It’s an important

demonstration of grace.”

A typical night on the soup run

involves an hour of preparing food to

give away – Paula buys non-perishable

food using money from the Bristol

Soup Run Trust, and the volunteers on

duty get fresh ingredients for

sandwiches, tea and coffee. Making

sure everyone gets something

requires a little order, usually lining

people up by the wall and serving as

quickly as possible so that there is also

time for people who want to chat.

“People share about their life, their

history, where they are staying.

Sometimes they will ask why we are

doing this. If we take an interest and

genuinely show love, it’s easy to get

into a conversation about God.

However, this is not the objective – we

are simply there to show love by

feeding the poor.”

One aspect of the soup run’s mission

is how relationships grow with people

who avoid church but want to help

out. “The Pip n Jay football team and

many of Paula’s work colleagues enjoy

soup run as a non-threatening,

practical way to help others – it’s all

about grace, not judgement. Paula

became well known as a Christian at

work because of her involvement.

“The hardest bit is just before we go

out. I’ve just finished a tough week and

haven’t seen Paula in a long time. But

we know there are times we’ve been

put there by God to meet someone.”

Keith would like more volunteers to

help, including someone to organise as

things develop. “We want to find a way

after each official soup run to offer

prayer for those who want it.”

New volunteers are placed with

experienced teams and can commit as

much or as little time as they like. To find

out more, email souprun@pipnjay.org

Love on the run

On the Pip n Jay Prayer Radar...On the Pip n Jay Prayer Radar...On the Pip n Jay Prayer Radar...

Prayer for the UK Every Tuesday evening from 8

to 9.30pm in the lounge there

is prayer for our nation. See

Sheila McKay for details.

John Harrison, HOTS and work John was part of a Pip n Jay team who first saw

Healing On The Streets (HOTS) in Coleraine,

Northern Ireland in 2008. On this mission trip, he

himself received healing which gave him confidence

to pray for others. John went on to lead Bristol’s

HOTS team which started nearly three years ago.

Speaking of the impact HOTS has had in Bristol so

far, John said, “Many people have met with God

through HOTS in ways which they have not

previously experienced - physical healing, receiving

peace, understanding more that there is a God who

loves them, or just that they are seeing Christians doing something good

when they might have only heard bad things about Christians and church.”

Answered prayers

There have been a few spectacular stories, such as the man the team met

who was born blind but received partial sight after HOTS prayer, and John

believes that up to ten people have given their lives to Christ on the street

sessions. However, John thinks that God has been doing much more than

the team can see. “Sometimes I give a flyer to someone who takes a couple

of steps then stops. It is as if God has stopped them in their tracks, but we

don’t know what happens next.”

Taking part in HOTS also has an effect on the team. “People have a greater

understanding and experience of how God can use healing and of ways to

seek God, and they become more confident in sharing their faith.”

Looking out for more

John would like prayer for wisdom about the future format of HOTS. The

team currently needs rebuilding to carry on as they have been doing, but

John’s attention has also been drawn to God’s influence on his work life.

“There have been instances at work when I have been aware of what God

has been doing, and I’ve been able to share things with non-Christians. But

this is not a regular thing – it’s bitty and patchy.”

John prays for greater expectancy of what God is going to do next in his

workplace. “In Acts we see believers added daily. Part of me believes this is

possible, part doesn’t. Working somewhere quite big, it could happen.

Where do I need to be more submitted to God to see the Gospel shared

with signs and wonders at work?”

A recent challenge

On February 1st the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ordered a

similar HOTS team in Bath to stop claiming that people could be healed of

medical conditions by receiving prayer from volunteers. ASA made the same

judgement against Nottingham HOTS last year. Prayer is needed for HOTS

groups to have wisdom in their responses to challenge, as well as integrity

and courage to share truth and love from God when questions are asked.

Prayer for church Wednesday 7 March, 8pm is

our next central prayer

meeting for the church. Please

put it in your diary and come!

Reaching out Across the church, individuals and

groups are responding to the challenge

of living life on mission with Jesus in the

communities where they spend time.

Please pray for these people and more:

Ruth & George Richardson recently

moved to a new area after 35 years in St

Andrews. They believe God has put a

conviction in their hearts to run Alpha in

their new home for neighbours, and

have sent invitation letters to people

they have started to get to know.

Jo & Matt Wright are running a Lent

course for colleagues and neighbours at

their home to look at Jesus through the

gospels, leading up to his death, and

watching The Passion at Easter. So far

at least one colleague is going to join in.

What are you praying for? You can share your prayer requests with others on our

Facebook group or in the next edition of Church Life—

email prayer@pipnjay.org

If you also have an urgent practical need, you can contact

the Care Links team via Cilla Weir on 0117 924 7301.

Coming out of the vacuum Meryl Widdecombe (continued from p6)

Last weekend Tim spoke on grumbling. I

wasn’t convicted of anything in

particular but I kept smiling through it.

Andy Stansbury reported how the

student weekend had gone and Tim

asked the students and any helpers to

come to the front and pray for people.

Kirsty and I were the only non-students,

but I felt I could go and pray for others

for the first time since Malcolm died.

At that point I felt myself coming out of

the vacuum and starting to feel more

liberated. After all, “It is for freedom

that Christ has set us free.”

Thank you everyone and, especially,

Jesus.