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Weoley Hill Church News February 2016
From the Interim Moderator—Thoughts from The Cottage
Dear Friends
I do not want the church to survive, neither do I want it to die. I
want it to flourish and grow, both numerically and in
discipleship, ie growing closer to Jesus. And I hope to see both
during my lifetime. How will it happen? Let me begin by sharing
some stories of hope, all of people I know or have met but I will
preserve their anonymity.
Firstly two ladies were waiting for a bus, they did not know each
other but they began talking. When the bus came they got on and
sat next to each other and continued talking. It transpired that
one was new to the area and so the other proceeded to tell her
about the area and mentioned the church she went to. She made
it sound so interesting that the newcomer decided, without
telling her friend, that it was time to stop travelling back to the
church where she used to live and try this local one. She turned
up one Sunday with her husband and both quickly became
involved in the church and made a significant contribution to its
life and witness until they moved away. A simple conversation
with significant results.
Secondly a minister of a church who as a young woman had had a
succession of short term relationships with men but began going
to a church which preached both the love of God that accepts
everyone and the need for discipleship in response to that love.
She soon came to realise that her lifestyle was not right and that
the only rightful place for sexual relations was within the
marriage of a man and woman. She changed her lifestyle
overnight, became a committed Christian and eventually trained
for ministry but she never married. This story is not unique and I
could tell similar stories where the background was drug or
alcohol addiction, crime, violence or other wrong lifestyles. In
every case the person was fortunate to come into contact with a
church that truly demonstrated God’s love for everyone and also
encouraged radical discipleship.
The third story is not of an individual but of a church, in fact
several churches. Even a church which gets the welcome and the
discipleship will not grow right unless the membership shares
together in prayer, support and sharing their testimony with
each other. I have seen churches where sharing their testimony
and praying with each other has given people the confidence to
do the same outside the church.
So back to the beginning. How will my hope for the church be
realised? Quite simply by being the best that we can be and that
is done by allowing God to work in our lives, encouraging,
challenging and changing us. It is my hope that through the
power of the Holy Spirit we give the best welcome, best
acceptance of everyone, offer the best worship and activities,
encourage the best radical discipleship and be the most
supportive we can be. It is my hope that we will not conform to
society but to God alone, ordering our life according to his will. It
is my hope that as we do this we will experience the joy of a
growing church as people are attracted by our lifestyle and by
our positive attitude to peace making, justice, fair trade, refugees
and the marginalised in our society. There is no doubt that
people are attracted to a church that is radically different to
society. Jesus said ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ (John 18:36),
Paul said ‘Be not conformed to the pattern of this world’
(Romans 12:2). This is my hope – transformation of individuals,
church & world.
Ian
Personalia Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris, Georgina,
Antony and Isabelle Mayhew, following Jessica’s sudden
death on 15 January.
Please remember Robert Cope, Deborah Moriaty, Gill Hitchin,
Samantha Evans and family, Alan’s father Roger, Mary
Fletcher and Ina and Peter Clason.
Deborah Moriaty and Gill Hitchin both report that they are
doing well. Mary Fletcher’s knee surgery was scheduled for 5
February. Peter Clason is now in Sellywood House, but is not
seeing visitors other than family.
Encountering God in...
From 12 to 15 July 2016, at the Windermere Centre, the URC
Retreat Group is offering a patchwork of retreat experiences,
where you will be guided in a range of ways to encounter God:
such as, lectio divina, creative arts, labyrinth walking, journaling,
walking with God, silence. Some may be familiar, but God might
be waiting to meet you in other ways.
Spending time intentionally seeking company with God can
refresh us on our faith journey and give spiritual energy for the
next stage.
If you have not been on a retreat before, this will offer a gentle
taster experience to help you choose the kind of retreat that will
restore you in future.
For more information email Kathryn Price.
Neighbourhood News News and events from other local churches:
Ash Wednesday service at Selly Oak Methodist, 7.30 PM on
10 February.
Birmingham City Mission’s Sponsored Sleepout
A Friday night in a cardboard box to raise funds for
Birmingham City Mission’s work with homeless people and a
chance to find out what it’s really like to sleep rough. Friday
26 February 2016
To get involved call 0121 766 6603 or
More details available at www.birminghamcitymission.co.uk
FISH AND CHIP SUPPER AND QUIZ
This next social event is on Saturday 19 March with the
usual ticket of £6 per person to include the meal—fish,
chips, peas, bread and butter, sauces and pickles with
hot drinks—and quiz entrance fee. Arrive around 6 PM
to find a table for a team of 6, then 6.30 for a prompt
start to eat around 7.30-8. There will be a raffle with all
profits raised going towards the church Benevolent
Fund. We should finish about 9 PM so no-one stays up
too late! LD
Lent, Holy Week & Easter Ash Wednesday service at Selly Oak Methodist Wednesday 10 at 7.30 PM:
Lent Study Groups, starting week of 15 February
Mondays at 11.00 AM: at Selly Oak Methodist
Tuesdays at 2.00 PM: at Weoley Hill, Lower Hall
Wednesdays at 7.30 PM: at St Mary's
Lent lunches, Saturdays 12-1.30 PM.
27 February at Weoley Hill
5 March at St Mary's
12 March at Selly Oak Methodist
Women's World Day of Prayer service here Friday 4 March, 10.30 AM
Mothering Sunday Communion 6 March at 10.30 AM
Palm Sunday Worship 20 March at 10.30 AM
Palm Sunday Choral Evensong at St Mary's 20 March at 6.30 PM
Maundy Thursday worship here Thursday 24 March at 7.30 PM
Good Friday worship 25 March at 7.30 PM
Easter Dawn service. Sunday 27 March at 7 AM, breakfast after. Easter Sunday Worship & Communion
March at 10.30 AM.
Dates for your March diary that didn’t fit in the main calendar
Tuesday 1 2.00 PM: Lent Group, Lower Hall
Wednesday
2
1.00 PM: Lunch Club. Names to Nancy Nicholls
7.30 PM: Lent Group at St Mary's
Friday 4
10.30 AM: Women's World Day of Prayer service
Saturday
5
10.30 AM: Community Garden Group
12-1.30 PM: Lent lunch at St Mary's
Sunday
6
10.30 AM: Mothering Sunday Communion Service led by the Revd Bill Dixon. Retiring collection for the Benevolent Fund. City Mission collection
Monday
7
11.00 AM: Lent Group at Selly Oak Methodist
7.30 PM: Prayer Group
Tuesday 8 2.00 PM: Lent Group, Lower Hall
Wednesday
9
2.30 PM: Friendship Group. Craft session.
7.30 PM: F&B meeting
7.30 PM: Lent Group at St Mary's
Friday 11 6.30 PM: Community Choir
Saturday 12 12-1.30 PM:
Lent lunch at Selly Oak Methodist
Sunday 13
10.30 AM: Worship led by Blair Kesseler. Traidcraft after worship.
A Shoeshop Parable
It is strange how often very little things from childhood stick in
the memory, acquiring much deeper meanings perhaps as we
grow older. One such incident in my own life revolves around
trips to our local market town, where there was a shoe shop in
the High Street.
A permanent feature of their window display was an advertising
placard for Start-rite shoes. The brand is still around, but I’m not
sure they use the same advert any longer. It showed two little
children, one smaller than the other, walking at the start of a
long, straight, tree-lined road stretching away into the far, far
distance, a bit like those poplar-girt ‘pave’ that you find in
Picardy.
The image stuck in my mind, the symbolism obvious. Later, after
I became a Christian it took on a new meaning which I’ve long
found of great comfort.
The road, of course, is ‘the road of life’, and the two children are
Jesus, the bigger of the two, and me, hand in hand as we walk
down it. It speaks tremendously to me of security and assurance,
particularly in the more troubled times of life. We are never
alone, our big brother is always there to guide and protect us; far
wiser, caring and compassionate. Thank God for that.
John Davies
ON THE EDGE 25-28 April 2016 A retreat at the Windermere Centre: God present or absent? Who or what is God anyway? ‘On the Edge’ is the fourth in a series of retreats exploring Christian faith in the contemporary world. In this new retreat of 2016 the planning group offers an opportunity to explore faith as we experience it individually, to learn from each other in the safe environment of small facilitated groups, and to share thoughts in the large group. The programme includes time for silent and corporate prayer, and the Eucharist. One of the many themes we may consider is the absence and presence of God, as expressed by R.S.Thomas in his poem The Absence: It is this great absence/ that is like a presence, that compels/ me to address it without hope/ of a reply . . . . John Robinson’s Honest to God was published to great fanfare more than fifty years ago, but its lessons have on the whole been but ill-digested by Christians. This retreat may also help unfold some of the themes of that book.
015394 44902 [email protected] http://windermere.urc.org.uk
Community Garden
Work on the Community Garden begins again on Saturday 5 March at10.30 AM. See Marilyn Raw for details.
FRIENDSHIP GROUP At our January meeting 14 members came together to
discuss future plans, (and have tea and cake!) giving
lots of suggestions for topics and speakers. From this
interesting meeting (with cake!), several things were
decided which will enable the group to continue.
The group will continue to meet every second
Wednesday of the month, 2.15 PM for a 2.30 PM
start.
We will meet in the John Kydd hall as this is
brighter and more spacious than the lower hall,
unless a speaker requires the screen and
darkened room for their presentation.
Members will be asked to give a donation of 50 p
each time if possible to cover costs of drinks,
craft and food items etc and speaker’s expenses,
but also for perhaps an extra donation of any
amount if there is a charity involved in some
way.
There will be practical activities as well as the
usual trips and occasional speakers but
sometimes just a chat (with cake!).
Whilst accepting members have prior
commitments, holiday plans, personal
appointments or sometimes just feeling poorly
and so cannot attend, if we are informed in time
we can arrange lifts to and from the meetings so
that numbers do not drop too low. Most months
are now arranged, or awaiting confirmation, so a
full programme is planned for 2016.
Thanks to Nancy and Gini for making the cakes, and
best wishes for a speedy recovery to Deborah Moriaty
who is still feeling ill and has missed our recent
meetings
Our next meeting is Wednesday 12 February when Lyn
Ankcorn will tell us about the work of the Birmingham
Crisis Centre, for whom we collected clothes last year,
(and we will also have pancakes with toppings as it is
Ash Wednesday!)
Lorraine 624 1247, Nancy 475 4980, Cheryl 475 6338—
Many Thanks.
The Leprosy Mission. Please continue your support of TLM’s excellent work.
Malvern Science and Faith Weekend 2016 4-6 March
Compassion The theme for the 2016 Weekend is Compassion. There are
practical aspects to the theme which are reflected in the different
sessions. These include Education, Science, Healthcare,
Economics and Faith perspectives. The speakers at the 2016
Malvern Science and Faith Weekend will address the topic of
Compassion from their own standpoints, and the accompanying
discussions and activities will allow participants to follow up
their own interests within this overall theme.
The art and science activity day for children is an essential part
of the Weekend. This year, it includes a cartoon workshop as well
as demonstrations and art activities.
There is no charge for entry to events at Malvern Science and
Faith Weekend, though, there are considerable expenses. As in
previous years, we will ask at each event for your donations
towards those costs.
Contact and booking details
Website: www.scienceandfaith.org.uk
Booking: msf2016.eventbrite.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/
malvernscienceandfaithweekend
Twitter: @MalvernSF
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01684 565708
A comedy by
Graham Linehan By special arrangement with StudioCanal
& Fiery Angel Ltd, London
Thursday 18 February 2016 at 7.30 PM
Friday 19 February 2016 at 7.30 PM
Saturday 20 February 2016 at 6.30 PM
Tickets cost £7 and are available from The Church at Carrs
Lane, telephone 0121 643 6151, from members of Carrs Lane
Players or request by email to [email protected]
Suppers will be served before the play at 6.00 PM on
Thursday and Friday priced at £5. Late afternoon tea at
5.00 PM on Saturday costs £4. There is limited space
available for meals, so you are advised to book early to
avoid disappointment
A donation to charity will be made from the proceeds
Carrs Lane Players
The Ladykillers
Drama
at
WEOLEY HILL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
PRAYER DIARY
“I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He
bends down and listens I will pray as long as I have breath!” Ps 116:1&2
Feb—March
Church members Local people, places & events
1-7 Feb The Mayhew family
Grace & Joy Carter
Kailash, Asha, Zim Roshni,
Reshma & Ranjana Chatry
Individuals that feel alone within our local area
WHURC outreach to our local community
8–14 Feb
Juliet Chideya and family
Jinsub Chung, Youngsun
Park, Edward & Grace
Chung
Peter and Ina Clason
URC Youth & Children’s Work
Local schools, especially Green Meadow & Northfield Manor Primary schools
Families within our local area
15–21 Feb
David and Joyce Cope
Susan Cope
Catherine Cope, Emily &
Victoria
Residents settling into the new Bournville Gardens development
The management, staff and residents of Bryony and Selly Wood House
22–28 Feb
Alan, Lydia, Jacob, Esther,
Levi and Joel Cotgreave
Roger and Val Cotgreave
Public services and public servants including staff based at Bournville Police Station and the doctors and health workers within our local area
29–6 Mar
Fred and Lorraine DaCosta
Ken and Maureen
Davenport
Gary Davenport
Sister Churches serving the local area, and the relationships between us all.