Secretary’s August/September Chat
Well, here we are—I blinked and it’s all over! All the planning, work, worry, anticipation, stress, expectation—and did I say stress? Our 60th Celebrations came and went. I really do pray you managed along to some of the activities that were organised. The footfall through the building was wonderful.
I would like to express my personal thanks to all who contributed in any way to making the weekend such a joyful and very much a full-on team effort occasion. There is a fuller report in the magazine from Elizabeth, who managed to keep up the momentum and crack the whip with a smile.
The flower displays looked and smelt gorgeous thanks to Ce and her assistant. A special thanks to our roving photographer Charlotte, who captured us enjoying ourselves. I understand she takes bribes to not show all the photos! Also, a big thank you to Jim who actually managed—well, nearly—all of us smiling and looking at the camera. This will be framed and hung on the wall. It is a lovely memory which will be cherished year after year. I have booked them for the 70th—put it in your diary!
The following weekend was our Summer Fair, but it was nearly a Winter Fair. We can’t expect two weekends of sunshine, can we? But the rain stayed off for the afternoon. Although not as busy as we have been in the past, a good time was had by all, especially a certain pink lady on the bouncy castle.
We are still without a minister, but we are being looked after by two wonderful Interim Moderators: Anthea and Alan Wickens. Many thanks to them for all they do. If you know of anyone who would like a visit, please let the Elders know and we can arrange this.
As I said, it has been a very busy few months, so now hopefully we can all take a little breather. The church building and gardens are looking bright, clean, spruced up and colourful. Now it’s the turn of each of us to reset and recuperate. If you have holidays planned, enjoy; if you are staying at home, rest.
Make the most of each day the Lord gives us.
God Bless you all.
Sheila
Hello, just wanted to (nag!!!! cos I am good at
it😂😂😂) and remind you to please, please, please,
remember the foodbank when you’re shopping to help those who are struggling to
get even the basics of food. It could be you, a loved one, or a neighbour who
is in this position. Just one extra item a week in your shop to donate would
help someone. I know things are difficult with the rising cost of just about
everything, but the need is rising too and any help you can give would be so
appreciated. I would be really grateful (and happy!) if the box could be filled
to top every week.
Please help where you can, it will mean a lot.
Drop it in the box outside 62 Barkhill Road.
Anything you can give in support and thank
you for all you do give, our community is fab 😊
Tinned meat/fish
Long life milk/juice
Tea/coffee
Tinned veg/potatoes
Instant mash
Desserts/custard/rice pudding
Sugar
Biscuits
Soups/cuppa soups
Toiletries/toilet rolls even!
Reflecting Faith: Saying Hello and Goodbye
How do you say ‘hello’ to the people you meet? We don’t use the same words, gestures and tone to each person, nor on each occasion.
When we meet a very senior person in our workplace; we tend to be deferential and formal. By the time we have worked together for some months, we will still hold them in high regard and with respect, but we are probably more relaxed in their presence.
As for members of our close family, there’s a time for huge hugs and explosions of laughter, such as at the arrivals desk of the airport, but such a greeting is probably not so appropriate when we meet them in a formal restaurant for lunch.
So, it is on a Sunday morning, when we meet with the members of our church in the setting of a church service.
By meeting together for worship, we have come deliberately into a consciousness of God’s presence. It’s not that He hasn’t been with us on the way there, but this is a specific and intentional thing.
So, when the person leading the service says ‘hello’ at the start of the service, they are not just welcoming you as an individual but rather acknowledging that we are meeting together in the presence of God, to worship Him.
This is special. This is amazing. This is huge.
When you next go to a church service take note of the leader’s opening words and your expected response to them. What is your acceptance to that wonderful invitation?
This time let’s consider how we say ‘goodbye’ at the end of the service.
For the leader of the service doesn’t just say something like, “Thanks for coming, lovely to see you - have a great week.” Rather, there’s a promise and a blessing for each of us as we take what we have ‘received’ from the service into the world.
So, the crunch question is: what do you get out of coming to a church service?
The ideal is: You have been met with a friendly welcome followed by music you love, played at the perfect speed with no squeaky singers in the congregation. Then, an inspiring sermon which gives you something to think about for the coming week. After that, prayers that speak of what is on your heart and what you have heard on the news that week. Finally, good fellowship and a cuppa after the service, where you can feel part of ‘them’, rather than ignored because you are only visiting.
Following all that good stuff, you go out of the church with a spring in your step!
Of course, in the real world not all those boxes get ticked.
But still we can go to church with hope, and ideally, we leave it in peace. The time that we spend together is the ‘easy’ bit. The real challenge begins when we go out the door and back into the daily round of home life and work. But we can be sure that we do not leave God at the church door. He always comes home with us, and He is there to help us throughout the coming week. That is why we can indeed ‘go in peace’.
When you next go to a church service take note of the leader’s closing words and your expected responses to them. How heartily can you agree with them? How do they make you feel?
It was 1,700 years ago, on 25th August 325 that the First Council of Nicaea ended with the adoption of the Nicene Creed. It summarised the Christian faith and established the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
250 years ago, on 5th August 1775 that the first Europeans entered San Francisco Bay.
Spanish explorer Juan de Ayala and his crew on the ship San Carlos explored and mapped the bay.
Also 250 years ago, on 23rd August 1775 that King George III issued the Proclamation of Rebellion. It stated that the American colonies were in a state of open rebellion, and must be suppressed.
150 years ago, on 4th August 1875 that Hans Christian Andersen, Danish writer, died. Best known for his fairy tales, such as The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, and many more.
125 years ago, on 25th August 1900 that Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and philologist, died. His work had a major impact on modern intellectual history. One of his most prominent concepts was the ‘will to power’, which he believed was the main driving force in humans.
100 years ago, on 5th August 1925 that the Welsh nationalist political party Plaid Cymru was founded. Today it holds four of the 32 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament, 12 of the 60 seats in the Senedd, and 202 of the 1,231 principal local authority councillors.
90 years ago, on 21st August 1935 that John Hartley, British tennis player, died. He was the only clergyman ever to win Wimbledon, and in fact he was world number 1 player in both 1879 and 1880 – winning Wimbledon both years.
80 years ago, on 6th August 1945 that the US Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. The centre of the city was totally destroyed, and about 80,000 people were killed immediately. A further 60,000 died by the end of the year, from injury or radiation. Hiroshima was the first city in history to be hit by a nuclear weapon.
Also 80 years ago, on 9th August, that the US Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 immediately and more than another 33,000 by the end of the year. It was (so far) the last nuclear bomb to ever be dropped.
75 years ago, on 15th August 1950 that Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was born.
70 years ago, on 28th August 1955 that Emmett Till, an African American teenager was mutilated and killed in Mississippi, after flirting with a white woman. His death was one of the key events to motivate the Civil Rights Movement.
65 years ago, in August 1960, the following countries gained independence: Central African Republic, Chad, Cyprus, Dahomey (Benin), Gabon, Ivory Coast, Niger, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Senegal, and Upper Volta (Burkina Faso),
Also 65 years ago, on 6th August 1960 that the Twist became a national sensation in the US, and triggered one of the biggest dance crazes, when singer Chubby Checker performed the song on the show American Bandstand.
60 years ago, on 6th August 1960 that the Beatles’ Album HELP! was released.
50 years ago, on 1st August 1975, that the Helsinki Accords were signed by 35 nations in an attempt to improve relations between the Communist Bloc and the West.
Also 50 years ago, on 20th August 1975 that NASA launched its Viking 1 space probe on a mission to Mars. It became the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars, and to complete its mission.
40 years ago, on 22nd August 1985 that the Manchester Air Disaster took place when a British Airtours Boeing 737 burst into flames after an engine caught fire and a fuel tank ruptured. 55 people were killed.
30 years ago, on 24th August 1995 that Microsoft released both Windows 95 operating systems and also Microsoft Office 95.
25 years ago, on 4th August 2000 that Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday. (She died in March 2002, aged 101).
20 years ago, on 22nd August 2005 that the last Israeli settlers left the Gaza strip, ending 38 years of occupation.
Also 20 years ago, from 23rd to 30th August 2005 that Hurricane Katrina hit the Bahamas, Cuba and several southern US states. The city of New Orleans was flooded by 80 per cent when the levee system was overwhelmed. More than 1,800 peopledied. It was the costliest natural disaster in US history.
15 years ago, on 5th August 2010 that the Copiapo Mining Accident in Chile took place. A cave-in at the San Jose copper and gold mine trapped 33 workers 700 metres underground, and an international rescue operation was launched. The workers were brought to the surface on 13th October, 69 days later. Around one billion people watched their rescue on TV.
10 years ago, on 1st August 2015 that Cilla Black, pop singer and TV presenter died. Known for her hit song Anyone who had a heart and for presenting Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.