Page 1 Front cover BEACH cornucopia Sept 2012

ST ANDREW’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, WALTON-ON-THAMES
NEWSLETTER
Volume 68
No 7
SEPTEMBER
2012
MINISTER
The Reverend Dr Romilly Micklem
10 Tudor Avenue
Hampton
TW12 2NA
CHURCH SECRETARY
Anna Crawford
‘Kerrera’
5 Wynton Grove
Walton-on-Thames
KT12 1LW
Tel :
020 8783 0045
E-mail: minister@micklems.madasafish.com
Tel:
01932 244466
E-mail: secretary@standrewsurc.org
Website: www.standrewsurc.org
‘He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea’
George Herbert
Dear Friends
Not that it was ever in any doubt, of course — but the
previous edition of this Newsletter gave me proof positive
that my regular “From the Minister” contribution does have a fairly wide
readership: I have been almost overwhelmed with comments about my exercise
habits. This has usually taken the form of a concern that I really shouldn’t
overdo it, though a couple of you have observed that you now know what I
spend all my time doing — said, I hasten to add, with a twinkle in the eye.
So before we go any further this month, let me put the record straight: it has
obviously taken me a great deal of time on my indoor rowing machine to do the
equivalent of all those millions of metres which I was foolish enough to mention
— but when you spread it out over the thirteen years that it’s taken me, it
works out on average at a rather less than staggering 42 minutes a week.
Certainly both the bathroom scales and the mirror tell me that I ought to be
doing more in my constant fight against flab, not less…
The fact is that it doesn’t take much to derail all my good intentions about
exercising: it needs quite a lot of will-power even to do those 42 minutes. And
it’s all too easy, at the end of yet another week of missed training sessions, to
promise myself that I’ll do better next time.
I guess the same goes for many of us with our spiritual training sessions, too,
when we miss out on reading our Bibles, or praying, or even getting to Sunday
morning worship. Just as with a physical exercise regime, it takes
determination and discipline to be true to our calling in Christ — but then, a
disciple is someone who has put themselves under discipline.
Let me leave you with another little glimpse of an overweight middle-aged man
on a rowing machine — and if that's not challenging enough, a small personal
challenge for each of you as well. One of the things I do to help me with the
discipline of exercise is to set myself the task of praying my way through the
congregation over a series of training sessions. That’s something that we could
each set ourselves to do every month. The indoor rowing is an optional extra!
Your minister,
page 2
SERVICES AND OTHER KEY DATES
SEPTEMBER 2012
Sunday 2 September
(Pentecost 14)
10.30 pm
HOLY COMMUNION
Monday 3 September
2.00 pm
Bridge Club Hersham Room
Note: The Elders’ Meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 September
Wednesday 5 September
10.3012 noon
Coffee Morning at the home of Nancy
Hampton in aid of our Sponsored
Children (see page 5)
Sunday 9 September
(Pentecost 15)
10.30 am
Sunday Worship conducted by the
Reverend Roy Bones
Tuesday 11 September
Wednesday 12 September
2.00 pm
8.00 pm
2.00 pm
Sunday 16 September
(Pentecost 16)
10.30 am
12 noon
Monday 17 September
2.00 pm
Ladies Guild, Hersham Room
Elders’ Meeting Hersham Room
Prayer Group Hersham Room
Sunday Worship
Church Meeting
Bridge Club Hersham Room
COPY DATE FOR OCTOBER ISSUE: WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER
ALL ITEMS TO THE EDITOR, NORMA REID,
3 GWALIOR ROAD, LONDON SW15 1NP
Email: aristocats.2000@talktalk.net
Sunday 23 September
(Pentecost 17)
10.30 am Sunday Worship conducted by the
Reverend Roy Bones
Tuesday 25 September
2.00 pm
Ladies Guild Hersham Room
Wednesday 26 September
2.00 pm
Prayer Group Hersham Room
Sunday 30 September
(Pentecost 18)
10.30 am Harvest ‘All-Age’ Service
followed by Harvest Lunch
Traidcraft stall after the Service on 23 September
page 3
Church Money – V: Looking to the Future
The previous instalment of this series on Church Money came out at the beginning of July,
which seems a long time ago; and Part I was in April’s newsletter, published getting on for
six months ago. So if your memory is anything like as bad as mine, it may help to have a very
brief reminder of Parts I to IV:
In Parts I and II we saw that our contribution to the Ministry and Mission (MAM)
fund accounted for half of our 2011 spending, with maintenance, cleaning, energy
bills and insurance making up most of the rest.
Parts III and IV showed that half of our 2011 income came from giving and
associated tax relief, with hall bookings and investment income being the bulk of the
other half.
As the Finance Committee pointed out when we agreed this year’s budget last December –
and again at the AGM in March – our MAM contribution for 2012 was based on the
assumption that St Andrew’s would only have 50% of a minister’s time. The result is that we
are likely to achieve a fairly comfortable surplus of income over expenditure this year
(excluding capital spending on our new audio-visual system).
However, this is simply a brief respite. It will become increasingly hard to balance our books
in the future, for a number of reasons. Some of these are as follows:
•
Next year our MAM contribution will be over 50% higher than this year, reflecting
the overall per-member increase in contribution which is being asked, as well as the
fact that St Andrew’s has continued to have full-time ministry for the time being.
•
As I pointed out in Parts III and IV, four out of every ten pounds of our giving income
in 2011 came from seven households. By the end of 2014, we anticipate that giving
from these households will have shrunk by at least £8,000 a year (including tax
relief), a significant element of which will result from people moving out of the area.
•
While our lettings income has grown dramatically in the last couple of years (thank
you, Jean!), it will inevitably be much harder to increase it year on year at the same
rate. There are only so many bookable slots available…
•
Energy and maintenance costs increase each year. Moreover, the minister’s housing
costs are currently borne by the Wessex Synod, as St Andrew’s is not using a
manse — and for a future ministry, the church is very likely to have at least a 50%
share of manse costs (insurance, council tax, maintenance and water).
As you know, St Andrew’s is blessed with a relatively large reserve of capital, but we should
not simply treat it as a substitute for income, to make up for shortfalls in covering our
running costs. So in order to continue to balance our books for week-by-week operating
costs (excluding capital spending), in budgeting for next year we will need to find ways of
both reducing routine expenditure and increasing income.
Romilly Micklem, on behalf of the Finance Committee
page 4
COFFEE MORNING
! ADVANCE NOTICE !
CHURCH LUNCH
Wednesday 3 October
12.15pm - St Andrew’s Church Hall
Wednesday 5 September
10.30 – 12 noon
Your hostess will be
Nancy Hampton
2 Cedar Lodge Way
Weybridge KT13 8HP
The proceeds and any donations will
go to our Sponsored Children
Everyone welcome!
Anna Crawford will give a flower arranging
demonstration
ZIMBABWE CRAFT SALE
Immediately prior to the Church Lunch in
the hall on 30 September, it is hoped that
enough crafts will arrive in time to hold a
sale of small pieces, jewellery and baskets
on behalf of Artpeace and the Skills
Department based at Silveira House
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
BRIDGE CLUB
Monday 3 and
Monday 17 September
2.00 pm
Hersham Room
LADIES GUILD
Beryl Brown
15a Albert Road
Addlestone
Surrey KT15 2PX
Tel: 01932 847637
Mobile: 07854738152
e-mail: bm.brown1@ntlworld.com
Michael Cockrean
Apartment 26 Windsor Lodge
Wellington Avenue
Princes Risborough
Bucks HP27 9EE
Tuesday 11 and
Tuesday 25 September
2.00 pm
Hersham Room
Please do come along (with or without
your knitting) and catch up with the chat!
PRAYER GROUP
Wednesday 12 and
Wednesday 26 September
2.00 pm
Hersham Room
CHECK IT OUT!
Romilly would like to point out very gently
that the correct details for contacting him
are to be found on the front cover of the
newsletter, and are as follows:
Phone: 020 8783 0045
email:
minister@micklems.madasafish.com
Please could you double-check that these
details are accurately recorded in your
address book, so as to ensure that
messages reach the minister’s desk rapidly
and unerringly!
page 5
FRIENDS REMEMBERED
We have heard of the recent deaths of several friends and former members of
St Andrew’s, to whose families we send our condolences at this sad time
Veronica Cockrean
Veronica, who, with her husband, Michael, lived in Oatlands Avenue, died in April.
For many years they were both faithful members of the evening congregation.
Margaret Ward
Katherine Leitch
Katherine Leitch died in Whiteley Village on 20 May. She and her late husband,
David, were very active participants in the Church Badminton Club, and often ran a
stall at the Annual Church Fair. There was a memorial service for Katherine at
Whiteley Village on 27 June and her son, David, has kindly provided the piece on the
following page, largely taken from his address on that occasion.
Margaret Ward
Dr Bill Tempest
We were saddened to hear of the sudden death on 9 July of Bill Tempest at his home
in Lytham St Annes. He was 79.
Bill and his late wife, Brenda, joined St Andrew's in the 1990s. Bill became an
Elder and both played a considerable part in the life of St Andrew’s for some years.
Bill, who was an acoustics engineer, trained at Manchester University. His work
took him to many countries. In 2010, due to Brenda's long sad illness, they
returned permanently to their previous home in Lytham St Annes, where Brenda has
since died.
Bill was a caring father to their three children and several grandchildren. He
gave loving and devoted care to Brenda, during her long illness. His final visit to
friends in Walton was at the end of April, when Bill was optimistically making plans
for the future, which, sadly, were not to be fulfilled.
Margaret Ward
Dr Robert Forbes Anderson
Dr Robert Forbes Anderson, a long-standing member of St Andrew’s, died peacefully
at his daughter's home in Sharjah, UAE on 11 August. He was 87. Forbes was a
dentist, practising locally. With his late wife, Ruby, he was active in the Church in
the last decades of the 20th Century. After retirement, they moved to Dorset,
returning to Weybridge a few years ago. They had two daughters and a son.
Margaret Ward
page 6
The following is a shortened version of the address given by David Leitch for
his mother, Katherine, at her Memorial Service held on 27 June 2012
Katherine Turner was born on 29 March 1923 at Rochford in Essex and lived with her
parents William and Lizzie and her older sister, Win. On leaving school, both girls worked for
their father in his local butcher’s shop. The family eventually moved to another shop in
Southend. As a young girl, Katherine played the piano and had reached Grade 6 by 1943.
When the Second World War broke out, unable to join the Forces because working with food
was classified as a reserved occupation, she later joined the ARP (Air Raid Precautions). At
the same time, my father, David, was living in St Andrews. In December 1941, after three
months’ training at Skegness as a Signalman, he was posted to HMS Leigh (a land-based
ship) at Southend as staff to the Convoy Commodore.
They met in January 1942 and David got to know Kitty, as she was known then, casually at
the dancing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at the Masonic Hall. By the end of
that month, David had been drafted to Combined Operations in Glasgow, and joined a Polish
ship the Sobieski, returning to Southend in 1944. A few months later, on 7 April 1945, he
spotted Kitty in the cinema when the interval lights went up, sitting with a girlfriend about
ten rows in front of him. She looked round and they acknowledged each other: the following
night they met again at the dancing. They continued to see each other during the next few
months, and got engaged on a trip to Edinburgh in the October, when they bought the ring.
After being demobbed, David and Kitty were married in Southend on 26 January 1946 with
Bill Croll, David’s pal in the Navy, as Best Man. After a honeymoon in Carnoustie in
Scotland, where they spent two weeks with Bill’s mother, they set up home in St Andrews
where they lived for six years and during which time both Denis and I were born.
In 1952 the family moved briefly to Cannock in Staffordshire before settling in Harrow in
1954. David joined Joe Lyons at Cadby Hall in London, while Kit, as David called her, a great
cook and wonderful mother, worked hard managing the family and bringing Denis and I
through our schooldays. In 1965 the family arrived in Sunbury.
Katherine worked full-time for insurance brokers Willis Corroon in their Personnel
Department and, finally, at Thames Television, Teddington Studios, as Secretary to the Scene
Master. After retiring, she was a member of the Towns Women’s Guild, Women’s Institute
and Sunbury Ladies Luncheon Club. My father was a member of Sunbury Probus and
Fulwell Golf Club. Together they were members and regular attenders of St Andrew’s URC
Walton-on-Thames, the Sunbury Music Club and Alan Freeman Trust. Both enjoyed playing
badminton (with and against, amongst others, Marigold Crampton, Chrissie Brooman and
Irene Pearson). Mum won a trophy sometime during the ‘80s. Both my parents also attended
many Burns Night Suppers at the Church with friends.
Holidays over the years from 1970 included overseas trips to Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
USA, and China, and a two- week Caribbean cruise, their last holiday abroad being Cyprus in
2001. They also made periodic visits to St Andrews for the Open Golf Championships.
In his last years David suffered from emphysema. This slowed him down, but did not
diminish his resolve to keep active, and they both managed Probus holidays to Cardiff,
Falmouth, Norwich, and the Isle of Wight, amongst others. He died on 16 October 2009 aged
88. They had been married for 63 years. Three months later, on 12 January 2010, Katherine
moved into Room 239, in Whiteley House. She immediately fitted in well and took part in the
many activities that were, and still are, organised for the Residents. She remained at
Whiteley House until her death on 20 May this year at the age of 89. The funeral on 6 June
was at Hanworth Crematorium, and afterwards at Sunbury Cricket Club. Katherine loved
David, her boys, her daughter-in-law Jeanne and her two grandsons Mark and James. She
and David are now reunited.
To all the Residents, Carers and Staff at Whiteley House, the family would like to thank you
for making the final two years of Katherine’s life enjoyable and comfortable.
David Leitch
page 7
Communications
A vital part of keeping everyone informed of
what is going to happen, what has and what
is happening
In St Andrew’s we have various means, Notice Boards, Newsletter, Weekly Sheet
and spoken announcements. Each is as important as each other; all have their part
to play, especially if they are used correctly.
We all need to be informed of the life and work of the church: there are the physical
ways, but the best way is by word of mouth. By talking to each other we all get to
know not just what is going on but how people feel.
•
Our Pastoral Co-ordinator, Barbara Rodgers, should be kept informed of the
pastoral care and needs of the congregation. Also home moves, new
phone numbers and e-mail addresses, as she keeps the Directory.
•
The weekly sheet carries those dates and information that are important, to
the week and close upcoming events. Items for this should be with Anne
Fitzgerald by Thursday evening for inclusion that week.
•
The Sunday morning announcements should be kept for the work of the
church that needs to be emphasised on the day. These should come to Anna
Crawford by Saturday evening.
•
The newsletter conveys a timely and seasonal letter from the Minister, past
events, items of interest, future dates, general news and snippets. Items
should be sent to the Editor, Norma Reid. Please remember there is always a
deadline which should only be missed in exceptional circumstances!
•
Notice Boards carry the general items of interest, concerts, events in our
church and other churches in Walton and Weybridge. Notices can be placed
and these will be monitored.
Anna Crawford
ELMBRIDGE MENCAP JUMBLE SALE
Sunday 23 September at 11.00 am
Burview Hall, Queen’s Road, Hersham/Weybridge
St Andrew’s very own Jean Rigden is organising this event and would welcome any
donations. If you would like to contribute, contact Jean on 01932 225747
page 8
SUMMER BARBECUE AT ST ANDREW’S
On a fine Sunday afternoon, one of the few sunny ones this year, the
residents of Hersham Road were surprised to see the evidence of a
barbecue in the front garden of St Andrew's.
Thanks to the efforts of Anne Fitzgerald and Sue Groves, some 45
people from the Church, together with friends and families, enjoyed a
social Sunday afternoon. The usual BBQ menu of cooked meats,
burgers and sausages, with salad, were followed by a lovely selection of
sweets, and cheese. Some people sat out in the sunshine, while the
more cautious and less adventurous sheltered in the Hall, trying to
identify photos of the many tourist places which Anne and family have
visited in their global travels.
It was particularly good that several teenagers and younger children attended, as well as
some older members. Anne's son, David, supervised the cooking.
Thanks to Anne and Sue for bringing together old and young for a happy time together.
Margaret Ward
Additional thanks go to Jan and Moira De Kok for giving us a beautiful Weber barbecue for
use at all future events, as well as to all who helped and contributed delicious food to make it
such a pleasant afternoon
Anne Fitzgerald
page 9
St Andrew’s URC (Walton on Thames) Artpeace Initiative
Inspiring Dreams
Johnston Simpson
I chance upon Zimbabweans from all walks of life and whilst Artpeace fight to survive, there
are many others only slightly better off who also struggle to make a living and aware of their
‘low standing’ in the world. One
example is 30 year old Petty
Chekerwa who assists me by
forwarding photos of and messages
from those in need. Petty was ‘The
Artist in Residence’ at The National
Gallery of Zimbabwe from 2007 to
2009 but currently works part time in
a herbal shop to support her artistic
dreams. She is also interested in
photography and makes a few dollars
from weddings, birthday parties and
events held in her parish at Silveira
House where her mother used to
work. Petty works in metal and other
mediums. When I questioned the
motivation behind ‘Reminiscence’
(left), one of three sculptures she
displayed at an exhibition with the
theme ‘Freedom Revisited’, she
replied: ‘Reminiscence’ depicts people
who are now free but recall how it used to be like under bondage. I try to express what I really
feel as a Zimbabwean living at this moment and time. It feels like we are carrying a yoke on our
shoulders, a heavy burden and we seriously need to revisit freedom. Personally, I’m
determined to lead an interesting life and to escape the boring existence of so many. And
besides this, I’m obsessed with the notion of accruing experience, of storing up impressions,
ideas and facts. I only have one life and want to make the most of it! I look out on a world of
inspiring dreams. Dreams are not
fashioned from desks, cubicles,
and counters; they embrace no
visions of companies, offices and
departments. Dreams spring
from rivers, sunsets, cities,
mountains, people, faraway
places, exotic scenes and exciting
events. But our situation here,
huh ........? We live for survival,
work for survival, just taking
what is dished out to us, you
have no choice .... I hate this kind
of existence! My hunger really is
to count not the days, but the
events of my life, to live not in one
place, but in many, to flourish not
in one season but in all, to see
those sunsets, cities, people,
rivers and mountains..... now do you understand what that sculpture portrays??? It’s a story of
our life here, and I don't think we have actually revisited freedom as yet ... we need to urgently.’
Petty epitomises the feelings and frustrations felt by most young Zimbabweans. The photo
above shows her working on a church mural titled ‘ I am determined to walk in the way
you will show me.’ Should anyone be interested in purchasing Petty’s art please let me
know, as I have other photograph examples of her work, some of which may be possible to
bring over via the next Artpeace courier.
No roof for the Kananji’s : Peter Kananji got a message to me a week ago vis: ‘I am very
unhappy today coz when I got back from Silveira House I
discovered that the plastic sheeting which forms my roof
had been destroyed by the heavy wind tearing everything
apart. My family are now seeing the sky in the house and
everybody passing through laughs at me. Mr Simpson,
my situation is urgent. Please help as it is very cold at
night with mist. This is what my family face each night
and it’s hard. Say hie to Susan.’ I sincerely hope we can
help Peter his wife and four little children with some of
the proceeds from our forthcoming Harvest Collection.
All six live in the small room (above) with no facilities,
unglazed windows and now minus a roof! However,
whilst away in Chinhoyi, Fr David Harold-Barry saw
Bishop Dieter Scholz and also chanced upon Angel Floro
Martínez, Bishop of Gokwe’s suffragan diocese in the city
of Gokwe (in the ecclesiastical province of Harare), who
would like to commission a sculpture of Mary, similar to
the one Peter did for Chinhoyi (Mariachitubu), the
Forgiveness and Reconciliation Centre (right). Could I get
hold of Peter and ask him to do a smaller 1.2 metres tall
version in Springstone with the words AMAI WORUGARE
meaning Mother of Peace clearly written on the base? It
will be displayed in a public shrine for the diocese and
thousands of people will go there to pray for peace. Peter is thrilled and hopes that the
proceeds from this job will help towards payment of a new roof for his home.
‘Life is hard for Themba’ said artist Godwin Nasho when he told me about his friend
Themba Ncube. He continued: ‘Themba is 61 years old and a
widower who supports his son Taurai Ncube aged 4 years. They live
at Caledonia Farm the displacement camp. When I took these
photos, Taurai was elsewhere as he cannot afford to attend school.
Themba`s wife died in 2010 and ever since he has been taking care
of his son alone. Every morning except Sunday he leaves his little
shack (left) to start work moulding bricks by hand. It is hard, back
breaking work in the baking sun. Sadly his bricks don`t sell well
because Themba only uses mud as he can`t afford to buy cement so
few people come to buy from him and sales are poor. He reads his
Bible every night and prays to God, hoping one day for a proper
home. Themba lives below the poverty datum line (in rural areas this
equates to £72 a month!) so cannot meet Taurai’s basic needs.
I sent photos of Olympic cycling scenes around Elmbridge to the artists who replied: ‘We
hope one day that we too will be able to travel and see such wonderful sights.’ Harare is only a
12 hour journey away but these poor people cannot even afford the bus fare into town. Their
abysmal quality of life is akin to Petty’s ‘Reminiscence’ but have they truly shaken off the old
chains of repression? Deep down I sense they smoulder with resentment at the unfairness of
their lives compared to the privileged few in their corrupt society and must feel trapped.
It is heartening to note that despite their own problems and health issues some artists still
make time to help others even more unfortunate. Coster Balakasi, famous for his elephant
carvings, uses his talents to help a group of disabled youngsters based in the nearby Harare
suburb of Mabvuku. Thanks to Coster, the group feel useful and enjoy their work together,
making crafts from scrap material which they try and sell to passing tourists.
The past few weeks have seen frantic activity as Artpeace took advantage of a rare UK visitor
to L’Arche, Harare, who offered to carry some pieces home necessitating another 6.30 am visit
to Heathrow. When I met this lady she looked crestfallen. It transpired her suitcase with
20kgs of stone pieces was stuck in Johannesburg and she lived in Liverpool! Getting enough
couriers is so difficult nowadays. However, she gave me eight baskets taken as hand luggage.
The Wessex URC Synod website now features our articles (under World Church) plus a
growing photo gallery of Artpeace sculptures and SH Skills Dept’s jewellery which can be
quickly accessed via: http://www.urcwessex.org.uk/world.php?id=za_gallery
Advance notice: The Rev Lynne Bowden of St Mary’s Oatlands enquired whether we would
be prepared to run a Zimbabwe craft stall at a Flower Festival (part of their 150 year
anniversary celebrations) from 5th to 7th October (details on notice board). This has
escalated into a display of larger sculptures including St Andrew’s pieces plus a few kindly
loaned by the congregation. The Weybridge Society have also agreed to loan their splendid
bird sculpture created by Godfrey William.
Another article has been put to bed so I can relax, enjoy a good meal with a glass of wine
and look forward to a pleasant day tomorrow. The
euphoria of the London 2012 Olympics barely
registered amongst our friends. Most were too
preoccupied with thoughts on how to get through
their tomorrow. They worry who will be the next to
go after the recent death of their colleague Andrew
Mabanji. Now Fortune, so cruelly tortured during
the 2008 election is very ill. The vast majority of
Zimbabweans are poorer now than ever before. Left:
photo of people scavenging for food amongst bags of
rubbish (Credit:Sokwanele Newsletter). At least they still have
their dreams and no one can take these away!
JUNIOR CHURCH – JULY AND AUGUST
At the end of July, we started a series of studies which, through the reading of
John's account of the feeding of the 5000 and his teaching about the bread of life,
we discovered what it means to be a disciple. At the All-Age Worship service, the
young people made their own plates of bread and fish and reflected that this great
miracle would not have happened if the little boy had not shared his lunch with
Jesus! We continued the theme of sharing, with the children making flower cards
that they could share with someone they love.
The following week, we likened the feeding of the five thousand to the Old
Testament story of the manna in the desert. The children made a list of the types of
bread they eat and then we considered how important this food is in almost every
country in the world. Just as the Israelites relied on manna, we rely in bread as a
staple part of our diet. We talked about Jesus being "the Bread of Life" whom God
sent to give life to the World. We also covered the story of the lady who touched
Jesus’ garment whilst he was on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter, and another
event when Jesus was caught up in a crowd. The children related well to the crowd
stories, having been involved in the crowds trying to get home after The Queen’s
Jubilee River Pageant. To help us to remember the story and to think about Jesus’
cloak, we sorted through different fabrics and chose our favourite scraps to weave
into mats.
At the August All-Age Service, the theme was the Armour of God. The young people
covered their soldiers in armour, representing what Christians need to do to protect
themselves when they stand up for God in the world.
Paula Walsh and Anne Fitzgerald
KIDSPEAK
Two little boys, aged 8 and 10, are excessively mischievous. They are always getting
into trouble and their parents know if any mischief occurs in their town, the two
boys are probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had
been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her
boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. The mother sent
the 8-year old in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the
afternoon. The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger
boy down and asked him sternly: "Do you know where God is?"
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed.
So, the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone: "Where is God?”
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even
more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed: "WHERE IS GOD??" The
boy screamed, bolted from the room, ran directly home and flew into his bedroom,
slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him he asked: "What happened?" The younger boy,
gasping for breath, replied: "We’re in BIG trouble this time! GOD is missing, and
they think WE did it!"
page 13
LATEST COURSES AT THE WINDERMERE URC CENTRE
Reimagining Faith 2012
(14-16 September 2012) with Howard Sharp
A lot of energy is being put into reimagining church with new
manifestations and fresh expressions emerging all the time; but
what about reimagining the faith of the church? Is it time to rethink
some of our beliefs? This weekend, influenced by the thinking of
people like Marcus Borg, Dominic Crossan, Brian McLaren and
Walter Brueggemann, will look at some of the challenges to rethink
our understanding of God, and to look again at what we mean by
God, sin, salvation, redemption and Christian ethics. The course
will be led by the Reverend Howard Sharp, Moderator of Mersey
Synod.
Cost: £130
Autumn Peaks 2012 (21-27 October 2012) with Peter Farrand & Nick Andrews
Walkers and climbers pour into the Lake District each season in
their thousands to spend time on the fells and mountains. This
is your opportunity to spend time in the Lake District with
experienced guides and perhaps attempt walks you might not be
confident of doing on your own. There are two walks offered
each day: a high level walk (up to 3,000ft of ascent and about 10
miles in distance) and a lower level walk (up to 1,200ft’ of ascent
and about 7 miles in distance). Evening activities include films
and lectures on mountain safety and similar topics. Choose your
length and time of stay during the period, or come for the whole
time.
Cost: £365, or £65 per day
New World, New Church? (22-25 October 2012) with Linda Rayner
Changing church for a changing world!
Our world and our lives change at an ever faster
pace, but how does 21st century church respond to
this change? Where do we start as we try to share the
Good News in a culture that has no knowledge of
Jesus, with generations that have grown up without
access to a Bible and who have never considered
stepping over the threshold of a church? Are new
ways of being church really possible? If so, what
might they look like? The Fresh Expressions ethos is
not to have all the answers, rather to learn from what
God is doing and join in, so this will be a time for
sharing ideas, thinking about what might be
happening locally and getting to grips with discerning
God’s mission in Britain, rediscovering mission and
what that means for the church of today. Linda
Rayner is the Fresh Expressions Co-ordinator for the NW Synod. Cost: £190
Susan Simpson
page 14
NEWS OF OLD FRIENDS
AURIOL BURROWS
We were very sorry to say Goodbye to Auriol Burrows at the end of May. Auriol has
moved from Hersham to Oxford to assist her sister and brother-in law, who are
both unwell.
Auriol joined St Andrew's in 1987, when she returned to live in England after
working as a secretary at the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva for 30
years. In her work as Minute Secretary she travelled all over the World, reporting
on meetings of various Committees. Her final post was with the Deputy General
Secretary, the Reverend Dr Alan Brash. Auriol introduced Dr Brash to St Andrew's
where many members will remember him taking services and giving an interesting
series of lectures in the 1990s. Dr Brash came from New Zealand and was a
former Director of Christian Aid before joining the WCC.
Auriol made many friends in several countries though her work. For several
winters, she made annual visits to New Zealand to visit Dr Brash and his family,
with whom she is still in touch today. Auriol had worked for Care in Walton and
Hersham, since its founding in the early 1990s. We wish her well in her new life in
Oxford, where she will still have a link with St Andrew's. Romilly's father was
a former minister of St Columba's Church, to which Auriol will be transferring.
Margaret Ward
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS
TO JANET AND JIM SOMMERVILLE
Our celebratory week-end at The Ship Inn, Chichester, was so special with all our
family with us. Iain and his
wife Ruth from America, Jane
and husband Chris, with Adam
and Rowan from Teddington,
Rhona and baby Miller from
New Zealand and our
bridesmaid, Marion, from
Edinburgh.
We would like to thank our
friends at St Andrews for their
Best Wishes and especially
Irene for lovely golden flowers
which she brought from
Church.
Janet and Jim Sommerville
page 15
FLOWER POWER
Katie Reardon writes:
“I was delighted to receive some lovely flowers from the Communion Table last Sunday,
delivered by Karen. It was very kind of St Andrew's to think of me and I enjoyed Karen's
visit very much. Thank you to all at St Andrew's."
(Katie received these flowers last May – many apologies for late inclusion, Katie. Ed)
Fiona Reardon says:
“What a lovely surprise to receive the flowers from the Communion Table last month. I
was very sorry to miss Elizabeth and Christine when they called to deliver them, but my
mother was on hand to look after the flowers until I returned home and she very much
enjoyed Elizabeth and Christine's visit. Thank you to all at St. Andrew's.”
Eleanor O'Dowd was thrilled to receive the beautiful flowers that had been donated by
Jean Rigden and delivered by Anne and Chrissie.
Tess and Ron Knight say:
“Ron having returned home following a short stay in hospital, we were cheered by the
arrival of Chrissie Brooman with a beautiful bunch of alliums and sweet peas from the
Communion Table. It gave us much pleasure to have her company with all the latest
news. Our sincere thanks for the flowers and thoughts from St Andrew’s.”
David and Mavis Netherwood express their thanks for the lovely arrangement of
peonies received early July.
“It was nice to be remembered by everyone at St Andrew's. Unhappily we missed seeing
Chrissie, being out when she called.”
Shona Luther thanks St Andrew’s for the exotic arrangement of flowers from the
Communion Table kindly delivered by Anne Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Edmiston on the
eve of her hip operation on 27 June. She was delighted to receive them.
Doris Hutson says:
“Thank you to Irene and Marigold who came and delivered the lovely flowers from the
Church. As always, we heard the latest news of our friends. It was a pleasure to have
a visit."
And a message from Netta Philip:
“Once again I have to say “Thank you” for the beautiful Church flowers brought by Irene
and Marigold on my return from hospital (again). Thank you also for all the “get well”
cards and Birthday cards cum get well cards. I’m costing you all a fortune –
sorry! Hope this is the last time.”
Susan Smith, who is in Sherwood House, thanks St Andrew’s for the lovely flowers she
has received from the Communion Table and for the kind thoughts that went with
them.
Anne Fitzgerald would like to thank Anna
for so beautifully arranging the flowers on her behalf
Thanks to Jonty Hunter for our tranquil cover picture of the beach at Nairn, Scotland