Newstand, June 2015 - St. Andrew`s United Reformed Church

St. Andrew’s URC
Monkseaton, Whitley Bay
Volume 81, Issue 6
June 2015
St. Andrew’s URC
@monkseatonurc
The votes were
counted and verified.
The call was given
and accepted. Our
new minister is...
NEWSTAND is the church magazine of
St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Eastfield Avenue,
Monkseaton, Whitley Bay. NE25 8LU
http://standrewsmonkseaton.urc.org.uk/
Church Payphone: 0191 297 1184
Features and Regulars in this issue of NEWSTAND
Extraordinary Church Meeting — précis of proceedings ........... 3
A haven in Windermere – for some quality time together ......... 4
The Wednesday Fellowship — final report .................................. 6
A first for St. Andrew’s — at least in the current building! ......... 7
My Autograph Book — Maurice and his merry organists ........... 8
100 Club results for February .................................................... 10
For Younger Readers ................................................ Centre pages
Sheila’s Selection ....................................................................... 15
Friday Friendship Club — Vision Aid Overseas support ............ 16
St. Andrew’s Film Club — Oranges and Sunshine .................... 17
Holiday Club — The Whole Year Round .................................... 18
Ecumenical Social Committee — Cheese and Wine evening ... 19
Date for the diary — next Church Meeting ............................... 19
Book of Remembrance — including an apology ....................... 20
Northern Synod Prayer Diary ..................................................... 21
Monthly & Weekly Duties and Newstand Dates ....................... 22
Church Calendar ............................................................ Back Page
If you would like NEWSTAND in larger print
please contact Carole Mallett or Tim Cooke.
You can also download it from the website.
2
 The meeting had been called to decide whether or not
to issue a call to Mr Matthew Prevett to become
Minister at St. Andrew's.
 Mr Kevin Ames and Mrs Jenny Hooper were appointed
as scrutineers for the ballot.
 The Revd John Durell invited members to address the
meeting.
 The Elders' Meeting had decided that in order to
constitute the basis for a call 70% of the votes cast be
cast in favour.
 The scrutineers reported as follows:
 The Interim Moderator, stating that the percentage in
favour could constitute a call sought the confirmation
of the Meeting, which was given with acclaim.
Post Meeting Note:
The Interim Moderator contacted Mr Prevett to inform him of
the outcome of the Meeting. Mr Prevett's response was that it
gave him great pleasure to accept the call.
Ray Hammond
Church Secretary
Given our Minister elected’s predilection for coffee,
here are some coffee related quotes
3
rd
Total votes cast 85, in favour 76, against 9,
89.41% in favour.
Extraordinary Church Meeting — 3 May 2015
C
opies of the Minutes are displayed on the
Notice Board in the vestibule of the Church.
In case you were not able to be present here is a
précis of the meeting.
A haven – for some quality time together
Y
ou may recall an article in Newstand a few
months ago following my attending a training
course at The Windermere Centre, where I not
only received some fantastic training but also where Lucy,
Andrew, Sophie and I experienced the full hospitality of
the staff at the centre, including that of Rebecca
Gudgeon, the centre’s marketing manager, and her two
sons, Thomas and Jay.
Thomas and Jay were so enthusiastic for another chance
to meet with Andrew and Sophie that Rebecca has
created a new venture for the centre in the form of a
family retreat.
This family retreat is an opportunity for families to share
the Windermere Centre space together: for parents to
relax (no cooking, washing up, mowing or cleaning to do!);
to spend time with other parents; for kids to meet other
kids and have fun; and for the whole family to spend
some quality time together, in the company of other
families, in a safe environment and beautiful
surroundings. Everyone is welcome, from babies to greatgrandparents.
There will be family-friendly morning and evening prayers,
and some organised activities throughout the week, with
the rest of the time being your chance to rest, or to get out
into the Lake District and explore. The event will be
hosted by Rebecca Gudgeon, along with Thomas and Jay,
aged 9 and 6 respectively, who know the Centre and the area
Science may never come up with a better office communication
system than the coffee break.
Earl Wilson
4
well and can help you find ways to spend your time together, if
you wish. We (the Cooke family) also hope to be taking an
active part in helping to run some of the activities, including
being hosts on the extra night indicated below.
The whole retreat is being offered on a pay-what-you-can basis
(as with all Windermere Centre courses and retreats now),
meaning it can be affordable for all families – however many
there are of you! Please take us seriously on this: we’d much
rather you came and joined us, and made use of the
Windermere Centre, even if you can’t pay much, than have you
miss out when a stay at the Windermere Centre would do you
good.
This is a chance to nourish your family as a whole, and
individual family members, with fellowship, prayer, play, good
food and good company.
Of course we must not forget the most important details —
when and where. The retreat will formally run from Monday
3rd to Saturday 8th August 2015 at the URC’s Windermere
Centre in the heart of the Lake District, with an optional night
on Saturday 8th to allow people to attend the service at Carver
church in Windermere on Sunday.
To get further details, including a draft agenda, or if you are
enthused enough to want to join us, please contact Lucy or me
(details inside the back cover). You can also get information
from the Windermere website at http://windermere.urc.org.uk.
Tim Cooke
Once you wake up and smell the coffee, it's hard to go back to sleep.
Fran Drescher
5
The Wednesday Fellowship
I
t falls to me to write these last magazine
notes for The Wednesday Fellowship and I do
so still unable to realise fully that we shall not
be gathering again in September.
Since January we have enjoyed a flower demonstration,
three interesting talks, held our AGM, have hosted the
Afternoon Easter Service, had “Lunch Out” and held our
final meeting at which John Gibbon, with the help of old
photographs, helped us to compare Newcastle of the
past with how it looks today. The meeting ended with
appreciation to Paul for the article printed in last
month’s magazine explaining the different origins and
purpose of the Wednesday and Friday afternoon
meetings, followed by some readings and prayers on the
theme of friendship and fellowship, before we ate a
delicious afternoon tea. It was a good afternoon.
Twenty one people attended this last gathering and
there were four apologies for absence, which
exacerbates the sadness felt that no new leadership has
been forthcoming to replace those prevented from
continuing by ill health and to keep the group together.
The resolution passed at our AGM was that The Wednesday
Fellowship, in its present form, be discontinued and any
remaining funds be transferred to the Church Treasurer.
As this meeting comes to an end we praise God for all the
“worship, fellowship, friendship and service to the church
and community” which has enriched the life of St. Andrew’s
over so many years and give thanks for all those who have
worked in the past.
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
T. S. Eliot
6
For many decades afternoon meetings have closed with the
following benediction, so I will use it now:
Lord, bless us with your presence,
Keep us in your way,
Make your face to shine with love upon us,
Guide us and grant us your peace,
Amen
Edith Corby
Treasurer
A first for St. Andrew’s church (with a small “c”)
W
e’re not about to give away any details of the
service just yet, but you may be interested to
know that the ordination of Matthew Prevett and his
induction as our minister will be the first ordination
to take place in the current church building and also
the first to take place here since the United
Reformed Church came in to being!
The last ordination of a minister at St. Andrew’s was
that of Revd H. Burns Jamieson, on Wednesday, 12th
September, 1934, at 3.30pm, when the church
building was located in what is now the Main Hall.
We will be bringing more information about
Matthew’s service nearer the time.
If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea,
please bring me some coffee.
Abraham Lincoln
7
My Autograph Book
I
n Victorian times everyone in the country
would know the name of the organist of
Westminster Abbey and of St. Paul’s
Cathedral. I am wondering who could tell me their
names today! When I was a young organist myself in
the 1940s I used to go around to the great cathedrals
and churches looking at the organs. Sometimes I had
the privilege of meeting the organist. I always had my
autograph book with me and used to collect their
signatures and I thought that today you might be
interested in whom I met.
The United Reformed Church is not noted for its great
organists but there was one of whom I am sure you all will
have heard. His name was Eric Thiman and his name
appears many times in Rejoice and Sing. When I met him it
was a terrifying occasion: he examined me in organ playing!
I think the occasion which has really left an indelible
impression upon me was just before the coronation when I
was introduced to the assistant organist of Westminster
Abbey. He took me up into the organ loft to meet the
organist Sir William McKie who arranged all the music for
the coronation and was later knighted for doing so. In
Westminster Abbey you might expect that the organ loft
would be very grand like the inside of the church but it is not;
I did not see there the usual cardboard boxes full of material
for the next jumble sale but it certainly contrasted with the
décor of the church!
I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time.
Steven Wright
8
On another occasion I was allowed to sit with the assistant
organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral for a service. At one point
he was improvising but his hand slipped and he played a
chord which was not intended. It sounded horrible. He said,
“Watch what I am going to do”. He then played the same
wrong chord a second time but with a louder stop.
Afterwards he explained that he did that so that the
congregation would think he intended to play that wrong
chord as “modern music”! Later I was introduced to Sir John
Dykes Bower, the organist.
Another autograph I have is that of Sir William Harris of St.
George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Sir William played the
organ and arranged the music for the funeral of King George
VI and many royal occasions.
I suppose the most famous organist of all whom I met was
Sir George Thalban-Ball. Sir George was organist of the
Temple Church in London which sadly was destroyed
completely during bombing in World War II. He made there
that famous recording entitled “O for the Wings of a Dove”
with the boy Ernest Lough. I remember once attending a
Promenade Concert in the Royal Albert Hall at which Sir
George played a Handel Organ concerto and, unusually for
those concerts, was called back by Sir Malcolm Sargent for
an encore. He composed a piece of organ music which has
become famous and is called Elegy. I often play it as an
introit before services.
(continued on page 10)
I never laugh until I’ve had my coffee.
Clark Gable
9
Two other organists whom I met were Sir David Wilcocks of
Kings College, Cambridge (where the service of Nine
Lessons and Carols comes from) and Sir Gerald Knight of
Canterbury Cathedral. I could go on and on about my
youthful admiration for great organists but I end by
mentioning that I myself was once organist of St. John’s
Church, Chichester. In Victorian times the organist of that
church was John Goss who composed many hymns such as
Praise my Soul the King of Heaven and See Amid the
Winter’s Snow as well as much other church music. He went
on to become organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral and was
knighted. I am of course any day now expecting myself to be
summoned to St. Paul’s Cathedral and to be knighted!
Maurice
ST. ANDREW’S 100 CLUB
April Draw
92 numbers went in to the draw on
25th April 2015 realising £460
The Winners were:
1st
No. 95
Dawn Rudd
£138.00
2nd No. 91
Robert Chambers
£69.00
3rd
Carol Turnbull
£23.00
No. 51
£230.00 was given to Church funds
Kathleen Hopper (2522345)
10
PRAYER
Jesus, we all belong together as part of your family. Help us
to remember that we are your brothers and sisters, and so
to think, before we act, about what you would like us to do.
Amen.
Help the person find a way through the maze to
become part of Jesus’ family.
Live in faith
Do an action to show that you are part of Jesus’ family,
e.g. help a neighbour, or visit someone who is unwell.
11
For Younger Readers
Reading
Mark 3:20-35
Jesus is accused of getting his power
from Satan, and teaches us a new
meaning of ‘family’.
Mark 4:26-34
12
Jesus, our Saviour and loving teacher, you told wonderful stories. Open our
ears to hear, our minds to think and our hearts to share the good news of your
kingdom. Amen.
Jesus said that God’s kingdom is like
growing seeds. They start out very small
and slowly grow into something big.
PRAYER
For Younger Readers
Reading
This resource is based on material from
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd 2002-2015.
Reading
Mark 4.35-41
Jesus calms a storm on Lake Galilee and
saves his disciples from drowning.
PRAYER
May God, who never sleeps, watch over us,
encourage us, and keep us safe,
now and for ever. Amen.
Draw the disciples’ faces: one to show how they felt
during the storm and the other one, afterwards.
Live in faith
Look out for people in your life that might be going
through a stormy time. Remember to pray for them,
and ask Jesus to be with them.
Check it out!
The Lego™ animation of Jesus calming the storm on YouTube™.
13
For Younger Readers
Reading
Mark 5.21-43
Jesus heals a sick woman
and brings a dead girl back to life.
PRAYER
Lord, hold us all gently in your hands, especially those who
are sick. Bring them healing and wholeness. Amen.
If you enjoy doing these activities and want to learn more
about Jesus’ teaching, why not join us in Junior Church
each Sunday, or Messy Church every other month. You’ll
have lots of fun and make new friends too!
14
Gardeners watch their roses, pink.
Birds leave the nest and try their wings
And songbirds learn just how to sing.
Brides have planned for the perfect day
When to their love their vows will say.
June is a month of graduations;
Proud parents give congratulations.
The birth of baby girls and boys
Makes us look at tiny toys.
First communions are realized;
Decisions taken to change lives.
Recitals seem to be everywhere;
Dancing and music is in the air.
June is the month to sing your joy the month of dreams for you to enjoy.
Joan Adams Burchell
If I asked for a cup of coffee, someone would search
for the double meaning.
Mae West
15
Sheila’s Selection
June is the month of dreams, I think;
Friday Friendship Club
F
ollowing on from my request for the
donation of spectacles some weeks
ago we had a visit at the Friendship Club
on 15th May from Mrs Georgie MacAdam, who was
delighted with the 210 pairs we handed over to her. Mrs
MacAdam is president of a Methodist Woman's
Organisation and this year made Vision Aid Oversees her
charity to work for.
Vision Aid Oversees was started some years ago by
Michael Offord, a local optician, who on a visit to Africa
was appalled by the plight of the people suffering from
blindness and severe eye problems.
On returning home he got together with other opticians
and the charity began. We were shown photographs of
adults and children who had had their sight restored and the
sheer pleasure on their faces said it all.
I would like to thank everyone who constantly filled my
collection box; not for one moment did I think I would receive
so many pairs of spectacles.
Christine Ridley
Treasurer
Vision Aid Overseas in an international development charity
dedicated to fighting poverty in developing countries by
transforming access to eye care and spectacles.
http://www.visionaidoverseas.org/
Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee
in your hand and you start to sneeze?
Jean Kerr
16
2.00 pm
Directed by Jim Loach,
the film tells the real-life story of
Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson),
a social worker from Nottingham,
who uncovered one of the most
significant social scandals in recent times:
the organised deportation of children in
care from the United Kingdom to Australia.
St. Andrew’s Film Club
Friday, 19th June
All profits from the Film Club are in aid of church funds
and charitable works.
Ann Hammond
I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.
Ronald Reagan
17
Holiday Club 2015
August 3rd — August 7th
10.00am — 11.45am
There will be a meeting for all our willing volunteers — new
and old — on Wednesday June 24th at 6.30pm at church.
We hope as many as possible can come to this initial
meeting armed with ideas and enthusiasm.
More details from Joan Blanchfield (2961931) or Margaret
Varley (2532237).
I gave up coffee. It's almost worse than giving up a lover.
Sandra Bullock
18
Ecumenical Social Committee
Annual Cheese and Wine Evening
Thursday, 25th June, 7.30 p.m.
at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church¸
Sandringham Drive, West Monkseaton
Entertainment by The Gardner Family.
This is always a very enjoyable evening and
provides an opportunity to meet friends from
other churches in our area. Tickets at £3 are
available from Ann Hammond or Sue Ames.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
The next Church Meeting is to be held on
Thursday 18th June at 7.30 p.m.
Refreshments will be served from 7.00 p.m.
I hope you will make every effort to attend.
Ray Hammond
Church Secretary
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.
Paul Erdos
19
Book of Remembrance
The names of those we remember this month are
Katherine Kay Quinn
Jean Bell
Hector Jewels
Tom Murphy
Jenny Murphy
Mildred Adamson
Kathleen Louise Fraser
Kenneth Walton
John Burnett-White
Sheila McFarlane
An Apology from the Newstand Team
We would like to offer our sincere apologies to the
family and friends of Frank Packer and John Blaney
Walton for any distress caused by the omission of their
names from the Book of Remembrance in the May
edition of Newstand.
Tim Cooke, Editor
A yawn is a silent scream for coffee.
Anon
20
The last Sunday of each month is set aside to pray for
ecumenical partners in our region and our partner
church, the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique (PCM).
7
Stockton; St Columba's, Billingham;
St Andrew's Mission, Thornaby; St George's,
Hartlepool; seeking ministry
14
Summer School at Windermere Centre this week;
Synod Executive Committee; Convenor Revd Lis
Mullen
21
South East Northumberland Ecumenical Area;
President Revd Ian Farnsworth; Secretary Mrs
Joyce Calcraft; Treasurer Mr Jeff Owen
28
PCM: The annual synod meeting in the coming
weeks; hosts and representatives attending; safe
journeys on perilous roads; Bishop of Durham Rt
Revd Paul Butler; Bishop of Jarrow Rt Revd Mark
Bryant
Northern Synod Prayer Diary
W
e remember week by week the churches
of the Synod, Synod officers, groups and
committees. Some significant dates in the year
are noted, and where possible churches are
placed near to their saint’s feast day.
Please see the Northern Synod website for further details
and to obtain a copy of the full year’s prayer diary:
http://urc-northernsynod.org/category/prayer-cycle/
Procaffeinating: To delay or postpone action;
put off doing something until you have had coffee!
21
Monthly Duties
Vestry Elder
K. Hopper
Vestibule Elders
L. Cooke, C. Mallett (07Jun)/C. Fenwick (14-28Jun)
Stewards
A. Cooke, D. King
Flowers
Margaret Varley and Joan Blanchfield
Weekly Duties
Sun 07-June-15
Readers: J. MacLennan, U. Ketteridge
Intercessions: J. Hooper
Organ: H. Storey
Tues 09-June-15
Prayers: S. Ames
Sun 14-June-15
Readers: G. Yarrow, A. Stembridge
Intercessions: A. Hammond
Organ: P. Hartley
Tues 16-June-15
Prayers: L. Cooke
Sun 21-June-15
Readers: R. Hammond, H. Hall
Intercessions: V. Taylor
Organ: J. Campbell
Tues 23-June-15
Prayers: R. Hammond
Sun 28-June-15
Readers: R. Hammond, U. Ketteridge
Intercessions: R. Hammond
Organ: P. Hartley
Tues 30-June-15
Prayers: C. Mallett
Newstand Dates
July edition published
Sunday 28 June 2015
Hardcopy contributions in editor’s box
Sunday 21 June 2015
Email copy to [email protected] Monday 22 June 2015
Earlier contributions are appreciated!
22
Church Contacts
Associate Minister
Secretary
The Revd Douglas McFarlane
4 Hamilton Way, Whitley Bay, NE26 1JN
Mr Raymond Hammond
3 Cauldwell Close, Whitley Bay, NE25 8LP
Mrs Ann Hammond
Assistant
Secretaries
3 Cauldwell Close, Whitley Bay, NE25 8LP
252 6925
252 3319
252 3319
Miss Carole Mallett
54 Brantwood Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE25 8NJ
252 1723
Mr John Cook
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
16 Hawthorn Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3PQ
Mrs Jenny Hooper
15 Brislee Ave, Tynemouth, NE30 2SQ
251 5086
—-
Mr Kevin Ames
Gift Aid Secretary
49 Haddington Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 9XE
251 3016
Community Elder & Mrs Lucy Cooke, email: [email protected]
Hall Letting
4, Kingfisher Way, Blyth, NE24 3QR
Secretary
01670
354834
Newstand Business Miss Carole Mallett
Manager and
54 Brantwood Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE25 8NJ
Distributor
252 1723
Newstand Editor Tim Cooke, [email protected]
and Online Communications Admin 4, Kingfisher Way, Blyth, NE24 3QR
01670
354834
Disclaimer: Details of events, contacts and other material were correct at time of
publication based on information received by the Newstand publishing team.
The views expressed are those of the individual contributors and may not
represent the view of the URC, St Andrew’s Church Meeting or its Elders.
23
Open Door Coffee Mornings
every Tuesday and Thursday
from 10am to Noon
CHURCH CALENDAR
June / July 2015
A short Act of Worship is
held in the Church Foyer
every Tuesday at 9.30am
Tuesday
2 Executive Team Meeting
10.00 am
Saturday
6 Fifty Eight Society outing to Preston Park
Museum and grounds
10.00 am
Sunday
7 Communion Service; Mrs Valerie Taylor
11.00 am
Monday
8 Way Forward Team
7.00 pm
Thursday
11 Elders' Meeting
7.30 pm
Friday
12 Friendship Club
2.00 pm
Sunday
14 Morning Worship; Mrs Lucy Cooke
Messy Church
Tuesday
11.00 am
3.30 pm
16 Finance Team Meeting
Development Management Team Meeting
Worship Group
10.00 am
11.30 am
7.30 pm
Thursday
18 Church Meeting
7.30 pm
Friday
19 Film Club - 'Oranges and Sunshine'
2.00 pm
Sunday
21 Communion Service; Mr Jim Farley
9.30 am
Morning Worship; Worship Group
11.00 am
Thursday
25 Ecumenical Wine & Cheese Evening at
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
7.30 pm
Friday
26 Friendship Club
2.00 pm
Sunday
28 Morning Worship; Revd Douglas McFarlane
11.00 am
JULY 2015
Sunday
5 Communion Service ; Revd John Durell
11.00 am
Monday
6 Activities Team
Tuesday
7 Executive Team Meeting
Thursday
9 Elders' Meeting
7.30 pm
Friday
10 Friendship Club
2.00 pm
Saturday
11 Stage School Presents 'The Little Mermaid'
2.00 pm
Sunday
12 Morning Worship; Mrs Valerie Taylor
2.00 pm
10.00 am
11.00 am