Open Door July August 2012

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Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed Church Church Church Church

JULY/AUGUST 2012JULY/AUGUST 2012JULY/AUGUST 2012JULY/AUGUST 2012

FROM OUR MINISTER

Dear friends, Over the weekend of 30

th June to 1

st July we have the privilege

of welcoming the Romans One Eleven Trust to Lymington. There is an evening event at 7pm on the Saturday, “Worlds Apart?”, which I hope many of you will be able to attend. The photographs that John Hall (director of the Trust) and I plan to show will certainly transport you to a very different world from that which we enjoy in Lymington. Then on Sunday morning John and Gwen will share the morning service with me, enabling us to hear more about the ongoing work. There will be African crafts for sale both days (bring your money!) and a retiring offering for the Trust on the Saturday evening. In the light of that it seems a good time to tell you more about the school we are now linked with and its director Julius Bigirwenkya. As I explained in March, I first met Julius on my initial visit to Uganda in 2006. I was helping to train student pastors and he was one of the students. When he discovered that I worked in a school, he came one afternoon to show me photos of his primary school in Kakumiro, a trading village about 30 kilometres out into the bush where most people are subsistence farmers or pastoralists. Those photographs touched me deeply and I returned to the Isle of Wight determined to try to help Julius and his school in some way.

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My impression at the time was that the school was built of wooden planks that were little more than driftwood and it was obvious that even by African standards there was much scope for improvement. My school agreed to form a link with Julius and his school, so we set about fundraising by holding mufti days, selling cakes, having a harvest offering etc. and with that, along with the good offices of Julius’ senior pastor Wilberforce, who made land available, it seemed no time until a totally new school comprising five classrooms was being constructed. Over an initial two and a half year period we raised about £2300 which also enabled the construction of a kitchen and pit latrines. Julius renamed this school Day Bright School:

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Julius was an inspiration to me, as he has a great capacity for caring for his pupils’ needs, driven by a very poor start in life and his firm Christian commitment. He was even growing cassava plants so that he could help to feed the orphans in his school (his own father had died of AIDS when Julius was nine years old). Thus far I have been telling a story of achievement and progress, which is what I hope we as a church will experience increasingly as we seek to witness to our Christian faith in Lymington and round about. It is far from being the end of Julius’ story however, which has been a real roller coaster and I shall tell you more, either at the Romans One Eleven event or

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through the pages of this magazine. I pray, however, that what you have heard thus far will be an inspiration to you, just as Julius was and is an inspiration to me, and that you will want us to do all we can to help Julius. I pray that these summer weeks, when we all hope to have the opportunity to relax a while and take stock before a busy autumn programme, will be a period of physical and spiritual renewal for us all. Enjoy any holidays or outings that you have planned. I hope too that you will continue to join in what we offer and seek to do as a fellowship of God’s people in Lymington.

God bless you all, Chris

SECRETARY'S NOTES JULY/AUGUST 2012 Hopefully, we'll be well into summer when this issue comes out. We think especially of our children and young people who'll be released from schools and colleges for their holidays. Those who've had the stress of exams will be mightily relieved. We hope you all have happy holidays, a relaxing a safe time, too. There's excitement in the air for 14th July when we hope the Olympic Torch will come down the High Street past our Church. Catherine, Judith and Jane will be putting on some activities - no doubt with an Olympics theme, and also to highlight what we do as a Church - for adults and children. It should be fun so do pop along around 11 a.m. We have our second evening Church Meeting on Tuesday, 17th July so please make every effort to come. If you need a lift please speak to your Pastoral Visitor.

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Thanks to Margaret Clark and Ann Longney we can, once again, offer Cream Teas on a Friday through August. Please come and bring along your friends and neighbours. The scones are really delicious!! Don't forget the B-B-Q with Catherine and Rob and family at their home in Lyndhurst, after worship on 5th August. Enjoy the summer!

Sandra

Vicar to Churchwarden, by email, 'What do you mean I

don't communicate? Only yesterday, I faxed a reply to

the message you left on my answerphone!'

BASICS BANK We progressed a little along the way to becoming a registered charity, but there's still a lot to do. We hope all the effort will be worthwhile! We are still sending out 15 to 20 parcels in a week. There have been some large families with 3 and 4 children and still several homeless young people who are 'sofa surfing' staying with a friend for a few days and able to use their cooking facilities etc.. Our homeless clients are finding life a bit easier with the better weather but are hoping to be housed before the autumn comes on. Thank you for your continuing support and interest. Lately we have met with the ladies of New Milton Townswomen's Guild and the 1st Milford on Sea Brownies collected some food for us during their work around the Jubilee. Thank you.

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LYMINGTON URC DIARY

EVERY WEDNESDAY the Prayer Group will meet in the Church from 9.15 a.m. until 10.00 a.m. Everyone welcome. COFFEE MORNINGS: EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, in the Open Door Café. Every Tuesday the Open Door Cafe proceeds support the Romans One Eleven Trust and local charities and groups. The Open Door Cafe will also open on Fridays and will be staffed by members of the Fellowship and Fundraising committee. EVERY SATURDAY, from 9.30 a.m.—11.30 a.m., in the hall. SUNDAY WORSHIP EVERY 2nd, 4th and 5th Sunday afternoons Lymington Salvation Army services. The 2nd Sunday will be a service in the Sanctuary and the 4th will be a Cafe service.

JULY 1st: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship, including Communion led by Rev'd. Chris Vivian with Rev'd. Dr. Jon and Mrs. Gwen Hall of Romans 1:11 8th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Sandra Jackson 15th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Chris Vivian

22nd: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

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10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Valerie Chapman 6.30 p.m. Solent Mead Service 29th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Clare Downing, Wessex Synod Moderator 6.30 p.m. CTLP Evening Service led by the Quakers at the Community Centre

AUGUST 5th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship including Communion led by Rev'd. Chris Vivian, followed by BBQ at the Bowell residence in Lyndhurst 12th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Sandra Jackson

19th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Chris Vivian 26th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Mrs Mary Ann Jardine 6.30 p.m. Solent Mead Service EVERY WEEK there will be Junior Church and coffee/tea after the service.

OTHER EVENTS EVERY FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, New Forest Disability Information Service Outreach Session in the Open Door Café, 10am to 12noon, with Jean Reece (not on Bank Holidays though).

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EVERY THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, Carers’ Café in the Open Door Café. EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, Cruse Bereavement New Forest outreach in the Open Door Cafe 10am to 12noon. Death is a part of life, and grieving a natural process. Cruse is committed to breaking the stigma around grief and ensuring that everyone, no matter how old or young, can access the highest quality support following a bereavement. Trained Cruse Bereavement volunteers will be on hand in the Open Door Cafe to offer help.

JULY Every Saturday, except, 14th July, 8 a.m. Car Boot Sale in the Forecourt Tue. 3rd 7.00 p.m. Elders' Meeting Fri. 6th 7.00 p.m. Evening Bible Study Group in the Open Door Cafe Sat. 7th 6.00 p.m Concert with the New Forest Children's Choir, organised by the Salvation Army. Tickets: £4 6th - 12th Minister at General Assembly Fri. 13th 2.30 p.m. Afternoon Bible Study Group in the Open Door Cafe Sat. 14th 11.00 a.m. Olympic Torch comes down the High Street. Activities for adults and children in the Forecourt

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Mon. 16th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in the Church led by URC Tue. 17th 7.00 p.m. Church Meeting in the Church Thu. 19th 7.00 p.m. Worship Group meeting at the Manse Fri. 20th 7.00 p.m. Evening Bible Study Group in the Open Door Cafe Fri. 27th 2.30 p.m. Afternoon Bible Study Group in the Open Door Café AUGUST Every Friday at 2.30 p.m., Cream Tea in the Open Door Cafe Every Saturday, at 8 a.m., Car Boot Sale in the Forecourt Fri. 3rd 7.00 p.m. Evening Bible Study Group in the Open Door Cafe Tue. 7th 7.00 p.m. Elders' Meeting (possibly social) Mon. 20th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in the Church led by the Methodists

CLOSING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER 'OPEN DOOR’: 12th

AUGUST

Free Wi Fi connection to the internet available in the Open Door Cafe, Balcony and Main Hall areas. Just ask for the required password!

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CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS Happy birthday wishes in July to: Carli Wildschut, 13, on the 1st Esther Bowell,16, on the 29th. We hope you have the perfect day.

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS Congratulations to Mary Ann and Stuart Jardine as they celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 28th July. Well done!! We hope all goes well with this family occasion. Love and best wishes from us all. Chris and three elders were very pleased to meet at the “Getting to Know You” event with six friends who may be interested in becoming church members at Lymington URC. This step gives people and the church the knowledge that they belong and are committed to the Body of Christ here in Lymington and also brings the privileges and responsibilities which membership entails, especially voting rights. There are known to be several other people who would have come along if they were not already committed elsewhere on the day and Chris will speak with them individually over the summer. If anyone else is interested in joining with this group of people in considering church membership please let Chris Vivian or Sandra Jackson know.

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CHURCH MEETING: 15 MAY The following matters were resolved: By a large majority, the meeting agreed to add our Westminster Training College to our list of charities and we would decide on our level of financial support in the near future. Following a secret vote by members present, Maureen Kerr, Catherine Bowell and Gerry Copperi were elected as elders for a period of three years.

ELDERS' NEWS Judith Baker stood down after serving six years as an Elder and was warmly thanked for all she'd contributed to the Elders' Team. Catherine Bowell, Gerry Copperi and Maureen Kerr were elected, at our May Church Meeting, to serve for three years on the Eldership. Gerry and Maureen were duly inducted at our June Communion Service. Sadly, Catherine was unable to attend because Rob was very ill in hospital. Thankfully, he is now on the mend.

A MESSAGE FROM ALAN AND BRENDA GREEN Your generous hospitality never ceases to amaze us. We would like to thank you for inviting us to share lunch with you after the service I have been asked to lead on 2nd September

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and we will look forward to that very much. I have decided to retire from all preaching engagements outside of Romsey after the end of this year so this will be the final service I will have the opportunity of conducting in Lymington. However, we will keep in touch and we hope that you will always feel free to visit us here. Just give us a ring on 01794 518032 and we will do our best to make you feel welcome. MAN WITH BLACK DOG (Inspired by a homeless man who was helped by our Basics Bank but sadly died; he spent time in a tent in the garden of our All Saints Church in Woodside.)

May his grief be safely buried: a release from his frenzied life. Now he has gone, why should we not wear black too? Christianity caressed his cloak but could not reach him. Now that he has gone, and our anger is distilled within, swear lightly the words he swore. Our comfortable carpet is his homeless grass. And we are the poorer for his loss for his loss is ours. An all-embracing God feeds him now.

Peter Haslett

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OUR 1000 YEAR CHURCH PEW! At a recent fundraising and fellowship strawberry tea event in aid of our Open Door Vision, 12 people got together to sit on a pew from the pre-refurbished Church - their combined ages totalled just over 1000 years of the URC in Lymington! With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in mind they also held Union flag bunting to celebrate Her Majesty's 60 year reign. Brilliant photo!!

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES (CFGC) SHOP - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012.

Our Cards for Good Causes shop is looking for volunteers.................if someone could spare some time please let me know. The shop dates and times are;

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Open Monday 05/11/12 and continues to Saturday 15/12/12 (inclusive). Days: Monday to Saturday. Times:10am to 4pm (subject to volunteers) split as 10am to 1pm & 1pm to 4pm if possible. Many thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from some willing hands!!

Helena.

NEW BIBLES At their meeting in June the Elders approved the purchase of new pew Bibles to replace the existing, increasingly tatty ones. 60 copies of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible have been ordered and have already been paid for by donations from some very generous members. The Elders also decided, in faith, to go ahead and purchase an NIV lectern Bible, even though this will cost £400. It was decided to ask members of the congregation if they would like to contribute to this purchase, so you can feel you have a stake, as it were, in the Word that is read at every service. If you would like to do this please put your contribution (in a separate envelope marked “Lectern Bible”) into the collection bags. If you are a tax payer and can Gift Aid that contribution please also add your name, so that the appropriate tax can be reclaimed.

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TIME TO SMILE

Steward to Visiting Preacher: 'Do speak up, Minister,

the agnostics in here are terrible!'

TIME TO GRIMACE!

Let's put the pensioners in jail and the

criminals in a nursing home.

This way the pensioners would have access to

showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental

and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd

receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they

could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed

assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all

clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and

bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that

purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room,

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spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid

would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise

outdoor yard, with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily

phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear

complaints, and the guards would have a code of

conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone

and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers

once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per

week and have no hope of ever getting out.

A THANK YOU TO THE CHURCH FROM THE U3A YOGA & RELAX CLASS!! The U3A Yoga Class has now finished for the Summer, but they will be back in September. As a thank you the class gave the Church a lovely fuchsia (which is in a pot and placed on the pathway leading to the main hall entrance) and thank you card. Here is a copy of the card for all to see - a kind and thoughtful gesture by the class!

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ROTAS FOR AUGUST COMMUNION SUNDAY: 5th August COMMUNION ELDERS: Catherine and Jenny DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 5th: Gerry Copperi Glenys Bradshaw

12th: Sandra Jackson Wyn Davies

19th: Margaret Clark Mary Ann Jardine

26th: Jenny Henderson Janice Perkins

STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM 5th Ron Parker and Gill Wiseman DB/DB

12th Janice Perkins and Jenny Henderson MS/GC

19th Peter and Shelagh Richardson MC/MC

26th Ann Longney and Kate Noon GC/GC

COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday 4th: Mary Ann Jardine 5

th: Kate Noon

11th: Judith Baker 12

th: Ann Longney

18th: The Salvation Army 19

th: Ann Webber

25th: June Copperi 26

th: June Copperi

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ROTAS FOR JULY COMMUNION SUNDAY: 1st July COMMUNION ELDERS: David and Mary Ann DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 1st: David Bywater Janice Perkins

8th: John Wiseman Glenys Bradshaw

15th: Mary Ann Jardine Jill Haslett

22nd: Catherine Bowell Alec Luxon

29th: Maureen Kerr Jenny Henderson

STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM 1st Margaret H Evans and Glenys Bradshaw MS/GC

8th Mike and Norma Bell MC/MC

15th Steve Turberville and Liz Griffiths GC/GC

22nd David and Ann Hooper PR/DB

29th Peter and Jill Haslett WD/MC

COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday 1

st: Junior Church

7th: Judith Baker 8

th: Shelagh Richardson

14th: The Salvation Army 15

th: Helena Carr

21st : June Copperi 22

nd: Jenny Henderson

28th: Ann Webber 29

th: Ann Hooper

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New Bible Study Groups

Please join us in the Open Door Café for one of our new

Bible Study groups, when you will have the opportunity to

learn and discuss relevant issues from Scripture.

An afternoon group

Starting on Friday 1st June, 2.30-4.00pm

Running every other week

An evening group

Starting on Friday 8th June, 7.00-8.30pm

Running every other week

Hope to see you there!

Ask Chris Vivian if you need further details

PAINTING AND DECORATING

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Call LEE ROBERTS

Mobile: 07801 525 130

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Full Hygiene & Nappy Waste Service For a free no obligation quote please contact

01425 613860 Email [email protected]

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OPEN DOOR FELLOWSHIP AND FUNDRAISING

Forthcoming events:

The Fellowship and Fundraising Committee has a pro-

gramme of events which we hope will receive your usual

enthusiastic support:

• New Forest Children's Choir, 7th July.

• BBQ at Cathy’s Sunday 5th August, after church,

• Cream teas Fridays throughout August

• September 2nd, lunch at church

• Anniversary Lunch 21st October with guest

speaker, Mr Alastair Read, Headmaster of Ballard

School.

• Christmas tree festival, week commencing

5th December.

We were sorry to have to cancel Ann’s beach BBQ,

but the weather proved our decision was right!! Bet-

ter luck next time.

PLEASE NOTE: This magazine is printed on paper from renewable sources out of our concern for the environment.

CONTACT DETAILS

Minister: Rev’d Chris Vivian. Tel 01590 675633 e-mail: [email protected] Church Secretary: Sandra Jackson. Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: [email protected] Magazine Editor: Wyn Davies. Tel 01425 616384 e-mail: [email protected] Church web site: http://www.lymurc.org.uk/ Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: [email protected] Other web sites that list the church: http://www.joinmychurch.com http://www.findachurch.co.uk

http://www.searchchurch.co.uk Centre Manager: Helena Carr. Tel 01590 676306 On site Monday-Friday 8.30am to 2pm. If the main hall doors are locked during these times there is a door bell located at the rear main hall fire exit door Basics Bank web site: http://www.basicsbank.org.uk/ Tel 01590 610008 e-mail: [email protected]

Open Door July August 2012

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Transcript of Open Door July August 2012