SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 83:October a 2014
FROM THE MODERATOR
The Moderator has written to all churches as follows:
I am writing to inform you that, in the interests of his health, Colin MacBean has stood aside from the role of Wessex Synod Clerk withimmediateeffect.We wish Colin well, are grateful for his work in this role, and look forward to working with him in other capacities within the church. The Synod will reflect on the role of Synod Clerk and look to move toward the appointment of Colin’s successor. In the interim communications for the Synod Clerk should be directed to the Synod Office.
The Synod Clerk email address () is being redirected to the Synod Office for the time being. We will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible, but please bear with us, as your email may need to be forwarded to someone else for action in the interim period.If there is anything that has been sent to the Clerk email address that needs a response, could we ask you to please re-send it.If you have any concerns arising from this message please direct them to
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS and EVENTS
Avenue St Andrew's United Reformed ChurchThe Avenue, Southampton SO17 7XQ will be staging an Exhibition in the church to commemorate the First World War fromWednesday 5th November toWednesday 12th November, 10am to 2pm each day. This will include the fallen from the ancestor churches as well as highlighting the fantastic work done in the Avenue Hall for the soldiers encamped on the Common. The booklet telling of this work has been copied and will be on sale at a non-profit cost of £5:00. Also on display will be records of ancestors of the present congregation to show how the war affected the church family.All welcome; admission free; refreshments will be available. Further information can be obtained from the website or the Church Office 023 80 678787.
Woking United Reformed Church are offering digital piano for sale. Offers are invited. The specifications are :Technics SX-PX66 (M) electronic digital piano
88 keys, (32 notes polyphonic)
Grand piano, upright piano, electric grand, 2 x electric piano, harpsichord, vibes, guitar, strings and pipe organ sounds.
Mellow, normal & bright brilliance.
Sustain, Sostenuto & soft pedals.
Digital celeste.
Digital reverb.
Transpose feature.
Midi program change
Music stand
Dimensions: 142.4 cm wide, 83.8 cm high, 50.6 cm deep and 71 kg weight
Base stand dismantles for ease of transportation.
In good working order
Viewing welcome or photograph can be supplied.
Please contact Andrew Gibb on 07876 503846
Buyer collects.
On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October 9.30am – 1pmVerwood United Reformed Church, Manor Roadis holding a Autumn Traidcraft event More than just with Autumn / Christmas stalls and catalogue. Come and see fairly traded, handcrafted gifts for adults and children. There will be Christmas cards, accessories, items for the home, etc plus a range of every day and Christmas foods and snacks. Get a head start with fairly traded Christmas shopping and make a real difference to the lives and communities of the producers. Further information from Dorothy Macro – 01202 814270
Park United Reformed Church Reading, RG6 1DN is having an open afternoon on Saturday 1st November to officially open their new kitchen and refurbished hall. The Mayor of Reading, Moderator of Wessex Synod and local MP will all be there to celebrate and we would love to see you at the event too. Refreshments will be available from 2-5pm, the ribbon cutting will be at 3.15pm on 1st November. RSVP to rther details
St Andrews Walton-on-Thames: Johnston Simpson writes with news from Artpeace:
Stony Broke: In up market suburbs of Harare there is unbelievable wealth owned by the few. Car parks are full of expensive vehicles ranging from Mercedes to black Hummers. In other urban, rural areas and displacement camps out of sight and out of mind, numerous people including ArtPeace live in prefabricated wooden cabins and plastic shacks minus windows and sanitation where garbage rots in mounds along the roadside and sewage flows on eroded pot holed roads. Most rural homes fail to produce enough food to meet their needs. The World Food Programme (WFP) state that 72% of the population lives below the national poverty line or less than US$1.25 a day (75p).
Water Crisis: ArtPeace have gone for years without running water and like many desperate residents are reduced to drawing water from unprotected shallow wells or streams (left) to use for cleaning toilets, washing or watering their vegetable patches. Some artists who live in Mabvuku buy water from stores at 60 litres for $2. Others buy 3 buckets of drinking water for a dollar from merchants who call daily to collect money and buckets which they return to their doorsteps. Water boreholes are running dry as the water table is so low as there is competition for underground water.
Back to School! Farai the orphan mentioned in the September NL has returned to school with our support.’ Isabel also an orphan, is supported by one of the congregation. As well as annual fees we covered winter and summer uniforms, dresses, blazers, satchels, shoes, socks and stationary. They are two of six orphans we now support, the others being Fradreck and his sister Catherine, Jonah and his sister Alice. All the children appear to be doing well at school and are so appreciative of being given the chance of an education.
A Day to Remember: Some funds were sent late in August to cover an outing for lots of orphans mentioned in past articles. Godwin took them to the big Agricultural Show outside Harare where they had a whale of a time. This was probably their first ever outing. They saw lots of interesting sights and enjoyed a large meal. It was great to see all the photos showing the children enjoying themselves away from their normal impoverished backgrounds.
A NEW URC NEWS UPDATE can be found at
There are to be some REGULAR STUDY MATERIALSbeing provided to go with copies of REFORM. This can be found at
STEWARDSHIP RESOURCE – the latest copy of TRIO is available from the Wessex Synod office (for short term loan) to any congregation in Wessex Synod. If you have used this resource in the past then you will know the style – this is a much improved version with CD of resources including leaflet templates and powerpoint shows.
Contact Ruth Heine on 023 8067 4513
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD is currently advertising for the position of Regional Manager for the South and South West of England.
As there is an occupational requirement for this post to be held by a person who can support the Christian ethos of our organisation,
Further details can be found on the website at
TRAINING EVENTS
CORE Skills Training in Reading, sessions once a month on Thursday evenings 7.30 – 9.30pm at Christ Church, Woodley. The United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church are pleased to announce a CORE Skills training course to develop and extend key skills in children’s ministry and aspects of youth ministry.
- Programme Planning23 October 2014
- Working as a Team27 November 2014
- Children & Community22 January 2015
- Pastoral Awareness26 February 2015
- The Bible and Prayer26 March 2015
To book your place on this course, please contact Ruth Heine, Development
Team Administrator.
Email:l: 023 8067 4513
Safeguarding Training on Saturday 6 December 2014 at Park United Reformed Church, Reading.
Arrivals from 9.30am for 10am start. Finish approx 4pm. Refreshments will be provided, please bring your own lunch.
A full days training for all individuals working with children and young people, and important for Ministers and Elders of the Church.
The course covers: The Basics of Safeguarding; Good Practice Procedures; Duty of Care and Pastoral Awareness; Reporting Structures; Exploring Case Studies; Planning the Way Forward.
Certificates are presented to those completing this training course.
Bookings close on 28th November 2014. Please contact Ruth Heine, Development Team Administrator. Email:l: 023 8067 4513
ADVENTURES WITH STEPHEN THORNTON
Three adventures are planned for 2015 in which you are invited to share. If you would like more details please ring the number given.
1. Pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine 'In the Footsteps of Jesus' February 17th - 26th 2015
2. Pilgrimage to Cappadocia, Eastern Turkey, to Tarsus and in the footsteps of Paul and Peter and the early church, October 5th - 15th 2015 . For both or either ring Stephen on 01252 409494.
3. Residential Lent Bible Study, exploring the foundations of the teaching of Jesus in the three Isaiahs, March 23rd to 26th 2015, at a rural retreat near Fareham - ring Alison on 01189 412869. You will be most welcome to join us. Go on - you'll not regret
PILGRIMAGE
Istanbul, Gallipoli & Ephesus : 30th October - 7th November 2015
In conjunction with Silcoates School, Wakefield, Yorkshire Synod United Reformed Church and Revds Janet Lees and Bob Warwicker.2015 marks the 100 thAnniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign in WW1. Come to remember and discover more as we trace the journey taken by those 100 years ago. Cost: £1,560 per person. Travelling with McCabe Pilgrimages. For more information, please contact Janet Lees:
or tel: 01924 291614
EVENT
Bring and Sing Mozart Requiem
Saturday 1st November 2014 – 1pm-8pm at St John’s United Reformed Church Northwood, London concluding with the Requiem’s performance in an act of worship for reflection and commemoration of All Saints and All Souls.
This is an opportunity for musicians to come together to learn and perform the Mozart Requiem in an afternoon. There is no audition to join the event, but good knowledge of the Requiem – or the ability to sight-read and learn quickly – will be necessary.
There is a charge of £10 for singers (which includes use of a vocal score for the day). Refreshments (including a soup lunch) will be available throughout the day at a small charge. Worship – which is open to all – is taking place at 6.30pm
Further details about the day, a provisional timetable, and an online booking form, can be found at
REMINDERS
October
A Thanksgiving Service For Zambia’s Golden JubileeWe have been invited tojoin Zambians and friends of Zambia in Berkshire (Zam - Berks) to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Zambia’s independence, (24th October 1964 – 24th October 2014). It is being held at Tyndale Baptist Church, 2 – 4 Cressingham Road. Reading, RG2 7JE on Saturday 18th October 2014from 10.00am until 4pm. The speaker is the Revd John Young, retired Methodist Minister and former missionary to Zambia. Further information from Ian Simpson, Wessex Synod Global Partner Co-ordinator (Zambia); Tel: 01865 248962; Email:
Dorset Churches Together is holding a Mission Forum 2014 on Saturday 25th October at St Nicholas Church Centre in Corfe Mullen. The Reverend Steve Chalke MBE will lead the day reflecting on New Dimensions of Mission Together. More details are on the website
November:
Cracking Ministry an inspiring day for children’s and youth workers. Wake up your ministry with families, children and young people: ten cracking speakers with ten cracking issues, each for ten minutes. Saturday 15 November 2014, at St. Paul’s Church, Bursledon, SO31 8DT. Cost £8.Ruth White is involved in this joint venture and encourages churches to attend. There are grants available from Children’s and Youth Work Committee if required.Email: to register your interest in attending. Bookings close on Thursday 23 October 2014.
Children’s & Youth Work Forum - Saturday 22 November 2014,10am – 4pm,London Street URC, Basingstoke.
With guest speaker/facilitator Tanya Rasmussen – Theme: Gifts and Calls
All churches are encouraged to send a team of children’s and youth workers. This event is a chance to explore how we as a Synod and the local church encourage and enable young people to explore what God is calling them to do. Please book your place by contacting Ruth Heine, email: l: 023 8067 4513.
Red Cross First Aid Courses
The Save a Life course covers basic first aid skills for dealing with an emergency (baby, child or adult). First Aid is a valuable skillto have. These courses are free of charge and open to anyone in the congregation, particularly children’s and youth leaders. Maximum 15 participants. If your church would like to host a first aid course, please get in touch with Ruth Heine email: l: 023 8067 4513.
Further Ahead
Joint Public Issues Team Conference Love your neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote, will be held on 21st February 2015 at Coventry Central Hall. The key note speaker will be the Archbishop of Canterbuy. For full details see the JPIT web site.
PRAYER CALENDAR for NOVEMBER
Week beginning:
2ndWarsash; Walton on Thames; St Martin. West Moors;
9thSynod Meeting; Cumnor; Westborough, Guildford;
16thLychett Minster; Church of the Holy Family ,Blackbird Leys, Oxford;
23rd Marsh Gibbon; Blandford Forum; St Peter’s Guildford;
30thSt Francis, Banbury; Normandy; Lymington
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THENEXTEDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL ROGERS () by 19th October 2014.
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