Xplore 6.30 p.m. - rugbyurc.org.uk 2012.pdf · Wimbledon men's semi‐final stage. As you read...

In the name of Jesus, Rugby United Reformed Church is committed to sharing the love of God in its fellowship,

in the local community and in the wider World

Sunday morning services ‐ 10.30 a.m.

Rugby Brinklow July 22 Revd Robert Maloney Margaret Marshall July 29 Kathleen Paxton Revd Yvonne Stone Aug 5 (communion) Simon Burne Kathleen Paxton Aug 12 Revd Michael Haighton Revd Bill Young Aug 19 Revd David Boulton Revd Dr David Spriggs Aug 26 Kathleen Paxton John Desmond Sept 2 (communion) Revd Robert Maloney Margaret Marshall Sept 9 Margaret Marshall Revd Robert Maloney Sept 16 Revd Robert Maloney Revd Dr David Spriggs Sept 23 Revd Robert Maloney Kathleen Paxton Sept 30 (harvest) Revd Robert Maloney Simon Burne Oct 7 (communion) Revd Robert Maloney Derek Pope Oct 14 Revd Bill Young Revd Robert Maloney Oct 21 Revd Robert Maloney Revd Roger Hall

Xplore 6.30 p.m.

Sept 9 Agape led by Simon Burne Sept 16 The Lords Prayer part 1 led by Kathleen and John Paxton Sept 23 The Lords Prayer part 2 led by Peter Featherstone Sept 30 Harvest and Back to Church Sunday Café Church Oct 7 The Lords Prayer part 3 led by Nigel Malka Oct 14 Revd Derek Hopkins Oct 21 Revd Robert Maloney

Rugby U R Celebration

Aspects Summer 2012

Rugby United Reformed Church 40 Hillmorton Road, Rugby, CV22 5AD

www.rugbyurc.org.uk 01788 535201

If you get the church answer phone please leave a clear message including your telephone number. Someone will phone you back as soon as possible.

Minister - Revd Robert Maloney 01788 819190

33 Long Furlong, Rugby, CV22 6QT [email protected]

Please Note try not to contact Robert on a Friday evening or a Saturday unless it is an emergency.

Church secretary - Ian Rose 01788 814110

[email protected] Worship at Rugby United Reformed Church

Sunday 10.30 a.m. - Family worship The 1st Sunday every month is a Communion Service

The following weekly events are having a break for the summer, but will start again in the autumn. Details will be in Newsweek

Xplore Sunday Evening worship - for more details 338401 or 544099 Ladies Fellowship meet on Tuesday at 8.00 p.m.. All ladies are welcome. Please speak to Allison Henderson for details of the programme 811682 Mid-week Experience meet on Wednesday between 2 .00 and 4.00 p.m.

Please speak to Cath Howard for more details 334580 Baby and Toddler Group Thursday afternoon from 1.30 to 3.00 p.m.

during term time. Please speak to Pam Davey for more details 819908 Community Lunch Friday at 12.30 p.m. Please speak to Noel Barratt for

more details 860281 Useful Contacts

Barbara Rose Pastoral Care 814110 Robert Payne Hall Bookings 537754 Carol Woodall Church Treasurer 331399 Diana Grain Aspects Editor 813513 Doreen Long Choir & Church Publicity 812802 Noel Barratt Newton 860281 Derek Coleman Brinklow 832564 Jenny Martin Guides & Rainbows 335876 David Norton Group Scout Leader 07720864098 Jan Meads Pre –school 537583

Diary Dates

Thurs 19 July Area meeting of Coventry & Warwickshire URC at Foleshill Road URC Sat 28 July Church Garden Party at 35 Long Furlong Sat 8 Sept Last Night at the Proms Fund Raiser for Rugby Youth

for Christ and Rugby Street Pastors Sat 22 Sept Walk with pauses for thought or meditation.

(Pilgrimage) in Derbyshire Wed 26 Sept Theatre visit to see Calendar Girls Sat 29 Sept Harvest Supper Sat 13 Oct Synod Meeting at Redditch URC Sat 20 Oct Games Evening with Ploughman’s Supper to

raise funds for Westminster College Sat 3 Nov Christmas Craft Fair 10am to 3pm Tue 13 Nov Area gathering at 7.30pm at Holyhead Road URC Church Meetings Dates 2012

Saturday 6th October at 10.30am

Further Details of all of these events will be in Newsweek and on the Website.

Newsweek

If you would like to receive Newsweek each week by email please contact Rachel Featherstone

Autumn Aspects Copy date—Thursday 11th October

Printing date– Thursday 18th October Issue date—Sunday 21st October

Guest Editor– You Theme—Your choice

Please contact Diana Grain [email protected] or 813513

28

The Gardener's Hymn

This poem was part of Roger Hall’s Sunday morning address on 8th July. It’s a sort of celebration of all those gardeners at the church who strive to produce flowers and vegetables under difficult condi‐tions.

Beryl Draper All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful the Lord God made them all. But what we never mention, though gardeners know is true, Is when he made the goodies, He made the baddies too.

All things spray and swattable, disasters great and small, All things paraquatable, the Lord God made them all. The green fly on the roses, the maggots in the peas, Manure that fills our noses: He gave us all of these.

The fungus on the goose‐gogs, the club root on the greens, The slugs that eat the lettuce, and chew the aubergines. The drought that kills the fuchsias, the frost that nips the buds, The rain that drowns the seedlings, the blight that hits the spuds.

The midges and mosquitoes, the nettles and the weeds, The pigeons in the green stuff, the sparrows and the seeds. The fly that eats the carrots, the wasp that eats the plums, How black the gardeners outlook, though green may be his thumbs.

But still we gardeners labour, midst vegetables and flowers, And pray what hits our neighbours, will somehow bypass ours!!! All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. But what we never mention, though gardeners know is true, Is when He made the goodies, He made the baddies too!

1

Editorial ‐ Celebrations

Welcome to this “Summer” edition of Aspects, as I write this the rain is coming through the roof and dripping into a bucket next to me, but somehow we still manage to celebrate in the rain. In the pages that follow you can read about the Olympic Torch, the Summer Fair, a recipe for a cake to make you smile, a quiz, as well as memories of an

earlier celebration and some to come, plus more news from Rugby, Brinklow and Newton. Our cover design by Elinor Davies combines the much‐waved symbol of national celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee with that of our faith.

We are a people with plenty to celebrate in our faith. Christ is a Celebrity, someone whose life and living legacy we celebrate. Despite his short period of celebrity activity and despite an apparently rapid end there was this strange and supernatural postscript so extraordinary that the effects are still active here and now. His message persists that God loves us whatever we do and that whenever 2 or 3 of us meet as believers then in some way Jesus is there with us.

Included in our worship is the celebration of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Perhaps we should more obviously make this a Celebration; too often this is a serious, silent, solemn occasion – doesn’t look much like a celebration. If anybody as much as smiles then we think they don’t know the proper way to behave. Perhaps I exaggerate, but next time you are in Church “celebrating” try smiling at the presiding minister and those distributing the bread and wine, move closer together, make eye contact with those sitting next to you. It would be wonderful to come away feeling that we knew what there is to celebrate and that we were doing it, happy and joyful, living life in all its wonderful fullness.

2

We hope that you enjoy this issue; a big thank‐you to everyone who has contributed. There may be items that inspire you to react or views with which you disagree, so get writing and the next editors will I’m sure be pleased to hear from you. Peter and Rachel Featherstone

Dear Friends,

As I write this, Andy Murray has successfully fought his way to the Wimbledon men's semi‐final stage. As you read this, his followers (including fair weather friends!) will have either celebrated or yet again commiserated over the tennis semi final or final outcome. Years of training and dedication to a specific cause.

Along with many others in Rugby we watched the Olympic torch bearer last Monday running along Dunchurch Road on its epic 72 day journey to the start of the Olympic Games on 27th July. Just over a fortnight of intense competition building on years of work and dedication by each competitor. Indeed for some their whole life has been focussed towards the goal of winning success in their chosen event. The difference between success and failure, victory and defeat, recognition or humiliation possibly being measured in fractions of a second ‐ and we know in advance that most of the competitors will not win.

Yet for all that I would hope there would be a sense of being part of a spectacle. A shared celebration of the Olympic ideals whatever the elusive or fleeting glory. There is a glory that is neither elusive nor fleeting if we apply something of that athletic training and discipline to our faith journey. The competition comes not from others on the journey but from other demands on our time and on our commitment.

Yet in this race there need be no losers only winners. A cause of celebration for the victory of right over wrong, good over evil, love over hate. Training may take many different forms individually or

27

opinion we should agree a set of clear guidelines so that future de‐cisions can be made objectively. What is the correct balance be‐tween outreach & welcome and preservation of the fabric? For ex‐ample, would we accept the hall being used for badminton or other such games requiring permanent white line markings? And to broaden the debate, which, if any, political groups, other religions or sects would be acceptable? What commercial ventures or enter‐tainments would we want to accept or decline if they ask to book a room?

Speak to your Elder or write to Aspects if you have an opinion.

Westminster College £7 million appeal

Westminster College is the URC training college in Cambridge. It has become very outdated and in urgent need of modernising to make it fit for the 21st century. The college has already raised over £2 million and General Assembly have offered £1 million. Each Synod is contributing to this appeal, which has gone out to all our churches. Church Meeting agreed to support this appeal. Three members have taken on the task of deciding our best way to raise money for this and they will report back to the January 2012 Church Meeting. For more details look on the website:

www.westminster.cam.ac.uk

Rugby URC has pledged to raise £5000 over 5 years. Our next fund raising social for this is Saturday 20 October.

This will be a Games Evening with Ploughman’s Supper.

Make sure the date is in

your diary.

26

Impressions of Church Meeting 2nd July 2012

I admit to having missed several Church Meetings so was inter‐ested to attend this one – these were my personal impressions – see John Paxton’s Notes for a fuller report.

First, so few people, just 16 in the ‘audience’ plus 3 on high table.

Where were we all? Would we come on a different day or time, for food, for what?

Two blind beggars in Matthew: don’t hesitate, seize the moment, keep trying even if your faith is imperfect, aim high, and give thanks.

No decisions of import were asked of the meeting, not a single show of hands – is this why we didn’t turn out?

Well done to Carol for her report and figures. Where will Westmin‐ster College find millions if we can’t raise a thousand?

The prospect of the Burne / Holloway musical Parable as a Revive project is exciting!

Another opportunity for worship some Sundays early – watch this space.

Back2Church Sunday – get your invitations ready.

The footfall result: ‐ Hall Floor 1:0 Line Dancers. Unclear what the rules were or will be in future.

Message from Africa and God Bless Jane and Barbara.

Peter Featherstone

… and in my opinion ‐ what’s your view?

We, through Elders’ and Church Meetings, have decided that some activities impose unacceptable levels of wear and tear on our premises or are incompatible with the needs of other users. In my

3

within groups, written or verbal, within the community or apart from the community. We all gain our experiences from a variety of situations and circumstances. In running the race for God we have the example of Jesus Christ's ministry to seek to follow in those experiences.

St Paul used the analogy of a race in a number of his letters. In Hebrews he encourages us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (12:1c), by "Forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize" Philippians (3:13) and in 2 Timothy he declares "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4:7).

Years of training, endurance and determination may or may not win a prize this year for Andy Murray or for any specific competitor in the Olympics.

We can be assured however of a prize beyond worth, and beyond our merit, when we strive to run for the human race based on love for God and love for one another which Jesus has run and won before us.

God bless you all this summer and may the summer suns finally start glowing!!

Robert

4

News of the Church Family

Summer suns are not entirely glowing at the moment and, as I write this, the Church Summer Fair is only three days away. Hopefully the day will be fine and lots of people will come and share a happy time together.

In our last edition of Aspects we recorded new members. Since then we have had two new members on Pentecost Sunday. They are Margaret Stapley and Colin Lewis. Neither of them are

strangers to us but we do welcome their commitment of membership having already served the church well over several years.

Sadly two of our long serving members died recently. John McMillan died on May 2nd after a short illness. He was a gentle man who went about his life in a quiet way. However, at his funeral, we learned that he had been a tyrant on the rugby field in his younger day.

Esther Arnold died on 1st June. Esther had not been able to come to church for a few years because of ill health but was always interested in what was going on. She was a serene lady and one who lived to help others. She was a volunteer at Oxfam and the Claremont Centre over the years and she will be missed by many who knew her.

Our thoughts and prayers continue with the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones.

On a happier note, we offer congratulations to Chris Whitelocks and David Turner who announced their engagement in May. They hope to be married in late September this year.

Jean Hunt has moved into Bilton House we hope that she soon settles into her new home.

25

The church anniversary gift day will take place in October this year. Rather than the contributions raised just going into general church funds, I invite church members and friends to make suggestions for how this money could be used. I am sure that property manager must have ideas, by letting me have your ideas by telephone, email or in an envelope or place in my pigeon hole in the church vestry.

Carol Woodall

Cream Teas at Brinklow Chapel

Every Sunday between July 15th and August

19th 3pm to 5pm

Everyone is welcome.

We hope some of our Rugby friends will be able to join us

for food and fellowship.

24

The Church Meeting is your opportunity to have your say about your church and how it is run. Don’t just leave it to the few. You have the right to be there; you have the responsibility to be there. I hope to see you on SATURDAY 6TH October at 10.30 am for an inspiring meeting. John Paxton

A word from our Treasurer who brings some good news

Our weekly or monthly offertory figure is on target so hopefully we should reach our target of £33,933. Our collections from free will envelopes are up and down each month compared to our standing orders. Can I suggest that we all try to give using standing order payments by the end December 2012. This would make our monthly income more predictable. For further information please contact Carol on 331399 or by email to [email protected].

We have had a tax refund from April 2011 to Dec 2011 of nearly £6000, and we are about to place another claim from Jan 2012 to June 2012, I can let you know how much that is at the next meeting.

Fund raising for church funds so far stands at £535, with Westminster College fund raising of £270 so far, with other organised events in the pipeline. Yet more good news is that our summer fair raised over £1,500 with still more donations to coming in. Last year figure was £1261, so well done to all for a big increase of approximately £300.

We have revised the church hall booking fees and this has brought a small increase in income.

Our expenditure is mainly spent on Ministry and Mission, repairs and maintenance of our premises, minister’s expenses, and our organist.

5

Congratulations to Rebecca Grant who completed her University course with a 2:2 Honours Degrees in Drama Studies and English Literature. Her graduation ceremony is on 20th July.

Congratulations also to Pam and Andy Davey on the birth of Jonathan William on Sunday 8th July . We are sure Olivia will be delighted with her baby brother.

And finally congratulations to Rachel and Peter Featherstone who will be celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary on 22nd July

Barbara Rose

Celebration! The Summer Fair????

Can you compare this one day event to scoring a goal in the European Football Championships where the scorer seems obliged to rip off his shirt and run like a maniac to display his well‐muscled torso to an admiring crowd. Well.............Not quite!

For the Summer Fair we set out by means of lots ‐ lots of preparation and hard work by members of the congregation to produce an event where we provided, in a friendly environment, the opportunity

to raise funds for the Church. We had lots of interesting stalls. There was excellent entertainment. The Zephyr Wind Band delivered a rousing and professional performance. The Street Cats Dance Company, with youthful vigour, enthusiasm and a high level of skill, brought noisy acclaim from the audience.

As planned, we created the right atmosphere, we were welcoming and friendly to all our clients, we made £1500 for Church funds, we had fun.

I think that is worth a little celebration! Do you not agree?

Robert Wearing, with thanks to all who contributed.

6

Celebration Times Two

29th May 2012. We travelled by car ferry to Belfast, then on to the Premier Inn overlooking the marina at Carrickfergus, and settled in.

From there we went to son Andrew’s house for my first sight of granddaughter Erin and to celebrate her safe arrival nine weeks previously.

Cath had flown across earlier for her baptism, conducted by her other grandfather, who was soon to retire as a Presbyterian Church of Ireland minister.

3rd June 2012. Andrew and family came to the Premier Inn and joined us for breakfast, followed by a gentle stroll up to Carrickfergus castle where large crowds were waiting to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame.

The exchange of torches happened right in front of us, and after it and the convoy had moved on a BBC reporter interviewed some of the crowd, including 8 year old grandson Owen.

Excitement all day as we waited for Owen’s big moment on the local evening news – disappointment when it was cut out in favour of two teenage girls plus Granny Cath and Grandpa Bill just behind them grinning at the camera.

Two different celebrations, but two we definitely enjoyed very much.

Bill Howard

23

The Minister reported that the activities of Revive were making a difference to lives through the Street Pastors, the Food Bank and Christian Aid while the Good Friday walk had attracted about 300 participants. The musical, ‘Parable’, by Simon Burne and Ian Holloway, is being offered to Revive in support of its work.

The floor in St Margaret’s Hall cannot be maintained in a satisfactory condition because of the scuffing associated with line dancing. Discussions have been held with the dancers and with floor experts but no satisfactory solution has been found and consequently the line dancers will cease to use our premises at the end of this year. Regret was expressed that we were forced to lose the line dancers.

On the worship front there will be 9.15 am services conducted by our Minister on 22nd July, 19th August and 16th September so that if you plan to go out for the day you can still start your day with worship. On these days there will also be 10.30 am services and it is hoped that the two congregations will mingle over refreshments served at 10.00 am. We will celebrate the Harvest Festival on 30th September and our gifts will go to the Food Bank. This day will also be observed as Back2Church Sunday when we hope to persuade those whose attendance at church has lapsed to come back and rejoin us. This approach has been used elsewhere with conspicuous success. At Christmas there will be a traditional carol service on 16th December while on Christmas Eve there will be a late afternoon service for the benefit of those who do not stay up late as well as the midnight service. There will also be the usual Christmas morning service.

A suggestion was put forward that a Church Away Day should be held to help develop our individual Christian faith and to bolster fellowship within the congregation. How would you feel about this? Talk to your friends, to your elder and to the minister. Have you been to an Away Day before? Would you like the opportunity to go (again)? Where do you think it should be held?

22

As we move into our holiday season let us be thankful and celebrate all the gifts that God has given us, but let us also be aware of those around us who may be troubled in some way. Let us be ready to do all that we can to help them through difficult times and to find peace with God, who is here for all of us all the time.

Frank Preston

Notes from the Church Meeting

The Church Meeting on 2nd July attracted an attendance of 19 members, while 12 members sent apologies for absence. Did the others simply not know about the meeting? It was decided that at the next Church Meeting (6th OCTOBER 2012) a discussion would be held about when the Church Meetings should be held (evenings, Saturday mornings or even after Sunday morning worship) and whether some different format might be appropriate. For example, a speaker might be invited to introduce some topic relevant to the life of the local or national church. You will be able to make your views known at that meeting.

On the financial front there was good news, in that our Summer Fair had raised £1500 and had attracted members of the local community; and our offertories were on target to meet our budget figure for the year. Carol Woodall, our treasurer, asked people to consider setting up standing orders for their offerings so that income would be more predictable and guaranteed. Other fundraising activities were, however, below budget and in an attempt to remedy this the Minister has been talking with other ministers about their experiences of fundraising . He hopes to be in a position to bring forward proposals soon. In the meantime remember the Garden Party at 35 Long Furlong on 26th July, the Harvest Supper on 29th September, the Games Evening for Westminster College on 20th October and the Craft Fair on 3rd November.

7

Fiftieth anniversary of Rugby URC

I have been recalling the celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of Rugby United Reformed Church. They took place from Saturday, September 24th, 2005 until Sunday, October 2nd. On the Friday evening there was a Quiz, followed on the Saturday by a historical display which I organised. The display was situated in the Choir Vestry and included photographs from the Archives, memorabilia and written contributions from members of the church. Another display in the church showed wedding dresses and bouquets in the changing fashions of the past decades with wedding photographs of members of the church. The celebrations concluded with a Communion Service on the Sunday led by Reverend Peter Hurter, to which former past ministers and members were invited. It was good to see these events well attended with several former church members from far away. A plaque has been placed on the side wall of the church to commemorate the golden anniversary.

I appreciate that our church does have to be forward thinking, but I think there is also a need for remember the past. In doing so, one can be proud of the church’s history and in particular the loyal support of many members over the years. It is because of their constancy that we are able to worship at Rugby URC today.

2015 is not that far off: shall we start thinking about our Diamond Jubilee celebrations now? It would seem be an appropriate time to do so!

Gill Keen

8

Celebration Concert

I am sure most people are familiar with the saying "if you want something doing ask a busy person", and early in the year I did just that. I was looking for a way to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of one of Rugby's own charities, The Hoskyn Centre. I thought that a celebration concert would be a very good way to raise the group's image, celebrate their achievements to date, and raise some money to help them to keep going. I knew that Andrew and Pamela Davey had recently moved house, that Andrew had just started a new job and that they were expecting a second baby, but I still took my courage in both hands and asked Andrew if he would take on the job. He considered my request, put out some feelers to see how many of his team were prepared to help, and then, to my great delight said yes.

The concert is planned for Saturday September 22nd in the church, and I invite all Church members and friends to make a note of the date and to join us for what I am sure will be a truly enjoyable evening. I myself am certainly looking forward to another evening with Renaissance Voices.

Myra Skinner

Celebrating The Lords Supper

When I read Rachel and Peters editorial I was reminded of Alan Lyne, this is part of my article about Alan in April 2011 Aspects

He wanted someone to look at him while he was serving communion and say ‘Praise the Lord.’ I don’t know whether anyone ever did, and I certainly didn’t. I am sure that Alan would have loved ‘The Peace’ when that was introduced into the alternative Communion Service.

Next time I receive the bread and wine I will try to follow Alan and Rachel and Peter’s wishes and treat it as a celebration.

Diana Grain 21

While many may find the apparently endless grey skies and rainfall somewhat depressing, we should cast our minds back to March when drought seemed a real threat, and in some areas a hose pipe ban came into force. Our personal attitude to rainfall is however a little different. We spent some happy years living and working in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana a particularly arid part of Africa. The national motto of Botswana is “Pula” which loosely translates as “Let there be rain”. Rain is seen as a blessing and celebration follows rain falling, so for example showers on a wedding day is seen as a double blessing!

While our current weather in many areas leads to flooding, damage, and hardship for many, the plain fact is that we cannot live without water. We need to learn to manage the excess rainfall and be thankful for it and continue to be relieved that our water tables are rising.

Many readers of Aspects will know Jean Hunt. She was for many years the Secretary and Caretaker of the Newton URC Chapel. Jean is now 92 years old and has recently moved from her “retirement” cottage in Clifton into Bilton House. Having lived alone for many years in small houses, Jean is adapting well to living with the company of many others and adjusting to the physical demands of the extensive premises at Bilton and trying not to feel lost. If you are visiting Bilton House please allow a little time to find Jean and have a chat for she will be pleased to see you. Everyone from the Good Shepherd Church wish you all happiness Jean for your new life and challenges and thank you for all you have done for us and the village over the years in Newton.

Please note that the Newton Autumn Show and Family Fun Day and Dog Show will be on Saturday September 8th from 2 .00pm. Please come to see us and enjoy another form of celebration on the Leys Field next to the Picnic Site and perhaps bring a little sunshine!

20

Our minister Robert has been leading a Bible study group meeting fortnightly on Tuesdays. The theme for the first series is 'Living conversations‐Crossing boundaries'

Jean Creighton is hosting a Quiet Day at her home at 10 Brays Close, Brinklow, on Friday July 27th, to be lead by Rev. Keith Green, a retired minister. With coffee at 10am, it starts at 10‐30am and ends at 3‐30pm, with a 'bring and share lunch' at midday. To confirm attendance or for further details please telephone Jean on 01788 833120.

Our six week Sunday 'Cream Tea Season' begins on July 15th and ends on August 19th. Teas will be served from 3pm to 5pm and everyone is welcome. We hope some of our Rugby friends will be able to join us for food and fellowship. It will be good to see you.

Best wishes to all our friends at Rugby URC.

Derek Coleman

Newton News

The report for this quarter covers the period of National Celebration of our Queen’s Jubilee. This coupled with anticipation of the Olympic Games has given the whole nation a spiritual uplift. Here in Newton a traditional street party was organised by the community. In spite of very wet weather people came, stayed, and celebrated. Our thanks are due to all who organised, laboured, cooked and made so many superb cakes to make the day such a huge success and help the community to grow together.

Noel’s garden party for Christian Aid on May 19th was also held in cold, damp weather, but here again people turned out to enjoy hospitality, admire a beautiful and interesting garden, a chance for chatter and friendship, and generously support Christian Aid. Our thanks to Noel and his band of wonderfully efficient helpers. A total of around £480 was raised in Newton. Thank you Noel.

9

Market Opportunity? During Xplore Worship on May 27th we discovered that nobody had received any Pentecost cards, so we made some cards and gave them to the church – perhaps you saw them in the vestibule. It is strange that this day, as important as Easter and arguably more important than Christmas, passes without even Christians sending celebratory greetings to their friends. This is big market opportunity for next year don’t you think?

You sent a lovely Christmas card with shepherds kings and all We hung it with a hundred more on strips of paper on the wall

Around the entrance hall

You sent a card in April, with love at Easter time A host of golden daffodils with blessings in a rhyme

A tiny little chocolate egg behind a rolling door It stood upon the mantle piece with half a dozen more

You didn’t send a card in May when Pentecost came by

We had no cards to mark this day of celebrations under way When came the Holy Spirit; the Church’s first birthday

Un‐marketed, Unmarked by cards.

Peter Featherstone

10

Here’s a puzzle from Jane Talbot –

The answer to each clue is a letter. When you have found them all you will have a collection of letters which form an anagram of a familiar 'topical' word.

What is it?______________________

1. The Queen's Christian name -------------------- 1st letter

2. The Queen's third son ---------------------------- 5th letter

3. The Queen's Christian name ------- penultimate letter

4. Prince Edward's wife -------------------------------- 1st letter

5. Prince Charles' elder son -------------------------- 5th letter

6. Christian name of the Heir to the Throne ----- 1st letter

7. Prince Andrew's 1st daughter -------------------- 1st letter

8. The Queen's daughter ------------------------------- 3rd letter

9. Prince Andrew's 2nd daughter ------------------- 1st letter

10. The Queen's 2nd son ------------------------------- 1st letter

11. Prince Edward's daughter ------------------------ 2nd letter

12. Christian name of the Queen's husband ----- 4th letter

19

Brinklow Briefings

Jean Creighton has hosted the Christian Aid coffee morning, on behalf of the 'Revel Churches Together', for a number of years now, but this year Helen Brittain invited us to hold it at her home 'The Old Rectory' in Brinklow. It was a lovely venue, and all the churches had contributed items for the various stalls. Our contribution was to provide the refreshments. A total of £250 was raised for Christian Aid.

On the Diamond Jubilee Sunday June 3rd we celebrated at chapel with a service lead by John Desmond from Coventry, and which included songs 'Jerusalem' and 'I vow to thee my country'. About thirty people then enjoyed a lovely roast beef lunch prepared by Joan Marshall and Janet Reeves. We were then entertained by our organist Pam Sampson, her daughter Caroline and three of their friends,(all dressed in period costumes) with songs from the time of Henry V111 up to the present day. We ended with a rousing chorus of 'Land of hope and glory', 'There'll always be an England' and the National Anthem.

Brinklow village celebrated the following evening with a procession up the village to 'The Tump', the Brinklow Castle site. Here about three hundred people enjoyed a fireworks display, the sending up of ten fire balloons and the lighting of a beacon.

On Sunday July 1st a twenty strong choir 'The Friday Singers' gave an afternoon concert in the chapel, singing old and new favourites, in a varied programme enjoyed by the sixty people in the audience. Our own Caroline Sampson played a great recorder solo, whilst her mum Pam sang in the choir. Brenda Coleman had prepared a delightful afternoon tea enjoyed by about eighty people, probably a record number to sit down for a meal in the hall. Brenda and the ladies who helped her earned our thanks for an excellent effort.

Our kitchen floor has had a makeover with a new vinyl surface being laid. Its looking good and is a lot easier to keep clean.

18

from a friend. What if you were that friend? Who would you invite? Back to Church Sunday has caught on because it is so simple. Nationally 77,000 people said "yes" last year. At its heart is the oldest idea of all, the one that made shepherds leave their flocks, fishermen leave their nets and tax collectors climb out of their trees ‐ someone invited them! We have invitation cards printed and waiting for you to invite someone you know who doesn't go to church to come on 30th September by your personal invitation ‐ or why not prove Christians can have fun as well (!) and invite them to the Harvest evening in addition.

Robert.

Get all your Christmas shopping

early

On Saturday 3rd November 2012 From 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Rugby United Reformed Church and Halls

40 Hillmorton Road,

Items on Offer Included: Christmas gifts~ Christmas Food~ Decorations

Ceramics~ Crafts and Cards ~ Accessories ~Jewellery Sweets and many, many more

You can then relax in

The Café Tea ~Coffee~ Cakes~ Lunches

11

Fund Raising and Social Events in the Church.

Since the last issue of Aspects there have been a number of Social Events organised as fund Raisers. First came the Curry Evening organised by Simon Burne to raise funds for the Westminster College Appeal. This raised £260 towards the Church target of £5000 over the next five years a very good start.

Next was a quiz evening for Wizz Kids again organised by Simon Burne. This raised £160. which Simon added to the £6620 he raised by running the London Marathon in April.

Then came the Scirocco Wind Ensemble concert organized by Rachel Grain. This was a very enjoyable evening which raised £250 for Bilton House. In addition to this an additional £250 will be donated to Bilton House by the National Grid. (National Grid has a scheme where they will match employees fund raising proceeds)

Robert Wearing has written about the Summer Fair.

We have cause to celebrate that we are able to raise funds for charities by getting together socially and enjoying fellowship together.

In the coming months there are a number of opportunities to enjoy fellowship and to raise money for good causes. Details of these events are detailed elsewhere in the magazine.

Diana Grain

Great South Run

Simon is celebrating his success in the London Marathon by running the Great South Run in

Portsmouth on October 28. This time to raise funds for Cola Life who distribute medicine

to the poorest areas in Zambia using the Coca Cola distribution network..

12

Celebration Chocolate Cake

I used this recipe for my Dad’s 94th birthday at the end of May. Everyone seemed to enjoy it! It turned out to be a bit of a delicious monster.

I used an 8 inch round deep tin, it needs to be well lined with the lining at least an inch above the rim!

Ingredients: Cake

340 gm self raising flour

3 tbsp good cocoa powder

1½ tsp bicarb of soda

225 gm caster sugar

340 gm golden syrup

½ pt semi milk

4 small eggs

½ pt sunflower oil

For the Ganache:

450gm plain chocolate

650 ml double cream

2 lge tblsp golden syrup

Method: Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl.

Then add the milk and golden syrup and beat until smooth.

Next beat the eggs and oil in a separate bowl and when mixed pour into the first mix slowly, and beat until everything is mixed.

Fill the prepared baking tin and bake at 180C/Gas Mk 4/ Fan 150 ‐160 for 1½ hrs. (Fan 1hr 10min approx)

Leave to cool.

17

Early Bird Services.

The elders held an "away day" in the Spring where we looked at aspects of worship in particular led by two URC ministers from other Synods. One of these ministers, Revd Jenny Mills, has been running an additional Early Bird service at her church in Newport Pagnell for some time now. I understand that this act of worship is for "all ages", is relatively informal and is aimed at

those people who would like to worship God on a Sunday in church and then go off and do "other things"(!!). I am going to experience that act of worship at Newport Pagnell on Sunday 8th July (beyond the copy date for this Aspects) and will then lead 3 such additional acts of worship here, to which all are welcome, starting at 9.15 am to 10 am, with coffee available afterwards, on Sundays 22nd July, 19th August and 16th September. I will not be developing the detail of the form of service until I have been to Newport Pagnell. The idea is that we can discuss the merits of this initiative at the October church meeting based on the experience of the services here. For the avoidance of doubt, the main service at 10.30 will, of course, still continue on every Sunday as will Xplore which recommences on 9th September after its summer break starting 22nd July. Robert.

Back to Church Weekend 29th / 30th September.

We are holding a Harvest evening celebration of food and entertainment on Saturday 29th September (details of which are to be confirmed) followed by our Harvest Sunday worship at 10.30 and 18.30 (cafe church). This year the "food harvest" will be dedicated to Rugby FoodBank from their shopping list and flowers will be distributed to our local "folk". This weekend coincides with the national interdenominational Back to Church Sunday. Millions of people who don't go to church would say "yes" to an invitation

16

Next came my nephew’s wedding. This was very different to the previous celebrations as it was a much larger event as two families come together to witness and celebrate the wedding. Many people were involved in the church service. As with most weddings there were the bridesmaids, the best man, the ushers. Music was provided by friends and family. For me there were three special contributions the first from my brother who did the address, and the second and third from the groom’s brother’s wife and the bride’s sister’s husband who led the prayers for the newly weds and their life together.

As I write this Rachel is planning yet another celebration. She is having a house warming party.

In September my parents will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary. My brother and I need to consider how we are going to mark this occasion.

Diana Grain Sunday Dates for the Future

Annual Summer Garden Party

Saturday 28th July 3pm

35 Long Furlong

More details in Newsweek

13

Make ganache: Stir and melt all ingredients in bowl over pan of barely simmering water.

Then leave to cool and set, cover in cling film, for few hours, in fridge if necessary. Can even be left overnight.

Make up cake: Cut in half and sandwich with ganache. Then cover top and sides with rest of ganache! And add decorations if you wish.

Mmmmm! Enjoy!

Rachel Featherstone

Last Night of The

Proms Saturday 8th September

at 7.30 in St Margaret’s Hall

We will be repeating last year’s very successful event. This year the proceeds will be shared between Rugby Youth for Christ and Rugby

Street Pastors.

The evening will follow the same pattern as last year , • Live entertainment from our younger members • A typical British two course supper • Live entertainment with some audience participation • We will join the promenaders at the Royal Albert Hall in time

for Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Dust off your flags from the Jubilee and come along and wave them to Rule Britannia and

Land of Hope and Glory

Make a note in your diary. Tickets price £8 will be available soon

14

Royalty in Church

We are celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and in such a royal year I reflect that we use a lot of royal language in our worship. I wonder what we actually mean by it.

The Bible contains the stories of many kings; usually flawed – even the good ones. Jesus’ hereditary line from King David, the greatest of the Old Testament kings, was of great importance to the gospel writers in convincing Jews of his status as the Messiah; every Christmas we sing of his birth in Royal David’s City . With the possible exception of Solomon, the kings that followed were (at best) a disappointment to the Jews and they longed for a return to David’s golden age. They were again disappointed with Jesus when they realised that his mission was not about kicking out the Romans but rather loving your enemies. Pilate sarcastically titled Him King of the Jews, which annoyed the priests and perhaps this is why he did it.

So why do we use so much royal language in our worship old and new? Is it helpful to our understanding of God and to helping others understand if we use words like King, Majesty, Kingdom and Reign so frequently? What sort of King is Jesus? Not a military one like David or Henry V for sure. Neither do I think of Jesus as a constitutional monarch like our present Queen, despite her faith, resilience and dedication. She has little power, has to make speeches written by politicians, and meets a tiny proportion of the population most of whom cannot ‘be themselves’ bowing to such a famous person with the paparazzi around. It is perhaps time to translate our worship into more appropriate language, not to be politically correct but for the sake of better communication.

It will be difficult; centuries of control by worldly monarchs over bible translation and the established church means we are too familiar in the Church with this quaintly feudalistic language that sounds very odd and outdated to those outside. We should have

15

the conversation to at least clarify what in heaven’s name we are talking about when we use such royalist metaphors. Letters the editor of Aspects for the next edition are invited.

Peter Featherstone

How and what do you celebrate.

2012 is a year of many significant events in our family and they are all being celebrated in different ways and some of them more than once..

The first celebration came on 16th June when we celebrated my father’s birthday. It wasn’t a particularly significant birthday but his 80th birthday celebration had not lived up to our expectations so we planned another surprise for him. As far as he knew he was coming to our house for a meal and then going to the show at Rugby theatre, he knew my aunt and uncle were coming as my uncle was the driver but he didn’t know anyone else would be there. When he arrived he was rather puzzled by the number of chairs we had set out. He was delighted when my brother and his wife, younger son and future daughter in law arrived, then two of my parent’s friends arrived from Sutton (unfortunately another two friends had cancelled at the last minute because of illness). The surprise was completed when my nephew and his wife arrived having come from Bristol for the occasion. Everyone had a very good time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The show at Rugby Theatre was enjoyed by all. My parents and aunt and uncle had already told me that La Cage Aux Folles was their favourite musical.

Our next celebration was a family holiday to Iceland. This was the celebration for four significant anniversaries totalling 150 years. Richard and I had previously been to Iceland for our 25th wedding anniversary and we wanted to show this wonderful country to Rachel and Matt. With its waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, lava field, canyons it is a landscape photographers heaven.