Drypool Echo - Drypool Parish

Drypool Echo
Aug/sep 2011
50p
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PARISH CLERGY
Team Rector, St.Columba
Rev Philip Goodey;
The Rectory; 139 Laburnum Ave; Hull HU8 8PA .
Tel 01482 786553
Email: [email protected]
Team Vicar, St.John
Rev Chris Grundy;
383 Southcoates Lane;Hull;
HU9 3UN. Tel 01482 781090
Email:[email protected]
Team Vicar, Victoria Dock
Rev Jason Taylor
22 Corinthian Way, Victoria Dock
Hull; HU9 1UF
.Tel 01482 216130: email:
[email protected]
Curate
Position Vacant
Parish Office
Open Tuesday 7:00– 8:00pm.. Friday 10.30am-12.00 noon
At Drypool Rectory. 139 Laburnum Ave. Tel:01482 786553
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.drypoolparish.org.uk
Parish Wardens:
Jean Clark [Tel:782537]
Richard Liversedge [Tel 588357]
Antoine Robinson
Darren Wilkinson
Parish Readers
Margaret Liversedge [Tel: 588357]
Liz Pacey [Tel:705723]
Graham Wragg (in training) (Tel: 223050)
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From the Editor’s Chair
July 24th and a lovely warm summers evening. I hope
this bodes well for the summer holidays ahead of you
dear readers. For all those who are going off on holiday enjoy your break and if you go to anywhere interesting let us all
know.
Not everyone will be going away I know so what ever you are doing
this summer the magazine team wish you well.
My wife and I have had several visitors staying with us over the last
few weeks and all who have come have told us how much they enjoyed
the visit to St.Columba’s. One visitor even wanted to take us all back to
her church! Recently Phil asked us all, what kind of church is St
Columba’s (and any church in the parish), what would we like it to be/
aspire to? I’m sure I could fill this magazine with people’s thoughts on
that one –(hmm perhaps that one to think over this summer break). We
are Christ’s ambassadors here on earth. You may have heard this before
but we might be the only Christian some people ever meet. Jesus commands us to “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another.” John 13 v 34
Our next issue will be out at the end of September ready for the new
term. If you have read a good book while on holiday then do let us
know. If you visit a church, bring a copy of the magazine back. Thanks
to everyone for all the hard work put into making this issue. You have
heard me say this many times but without your contributions this
magazine wouldn’t be where it is today.
Norman Pacey– editor
DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE
11th SEPTEMBER 2011
TO THE EDITOR PLEASE
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Streams in the Desert
The majority of us like to think we are open to change and pretty
flexible/adaptable. The reality is that you and I are creatures of habit. We
like to be in familiar environments with people we know where we can
be assured that we have an adequate supply of the essentials for everyday
life. All of us are happy to embrace change and innovation but usually
only on our terms!
God, on the other hand, is always on the move. I remember as a new
Christian being told by a friend, “as soon as you think you where God is
and what he’s doing, you’ll realise he’s moved on”; in that respect he is
truly elusive. Isaiah put it this way, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it
springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
God is always innovating - doing new things. Just like the Israelites during the exodus I have a tendency to look back at the “good old days” and
wonder when God will do that stuff again. I have been in services where
many people were healed in one evening, where people prophisied great
things over the church and individuals; I have seen people transformed
by the power of the Holy Spirit and I experienced the audible voice of
God. So sometimes I look around myself at the Church of England and
wonder, “God, when will you do those things again”. Behind my yearning though is the implicit expectation that if God does move in power
that he would do it a way with which I am familiar (and comfortable).
I realised sometime ago that I may never see the things I have seen in the
past again, or at least not in the same way, because God truly is a God
who does new things in new ways. “For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah
55:8)” If I’m honest it was like a bereavement because I had to let some
of my hopes and ideas die when faced with the reality of God. I had
spent years hoping that God would do a bit more of the same only to
realise that he may, or he may not, but only he would decide what he did,
where and when.
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Having passed through that particular desert I have arrived in a place of
fresh hope and expectation. After all, God can do anything he chooses –
nothing is impossible for him. I think it was George Carey who first
said ,“Find out what God is doing, and join in” and that is my new
quest. In the past, without realising it, I had been expecting God to join
in with what I was doing – not only is that back to front, it is probably a
sin.
There is great freedom in letting God take the initiative. I don’t have to
worry about impressive plans or anything else. My responsibility is to
be attentive to him and do the things I believe he asking me to do. It
actually takes a lot of the pressure many of us feel to ‘perform’ off.
When I sense the hand of God in a particular situation I can dive right
in knowing he’s there and knowing that his plan will be far better than
anything I would have come up with.
I believe we are about to see a powerful move of God in East Hull and
that God is indeed about to ‘spring up’ and do wonderful things in our
midst. I can’t say precisely why I feel this way but, as a friend of mine
used to say, “I know it in my knower”. It is partly to do with the arrival
of our new Team Rector (Phil), the academy moving to it’s new premises and the arrival of the Eden Team in the Autumn but it’s also about
more than that. I believe God has big plans for this area and that we are
about to reap a significant harvest but I also know that whatever God
does, it most likely won’t be what I’m expecting.
My prayer for all of us in Drypool Parish is that God will give us grace
to leave behind the things that, perhaps with very good intentions, we
have been clinging to but that were not part of his plan; that he will
open our (spiritual) eyes so that we can see where God is at work
among us and that we will have the courage to move forward in his
strength and not ours.
…Jason Taylor- team Vicar
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HEALING HANDS
by Lorna Featherstone ‚
I have been attending St. John’s Church for 2 † years now and I was
baptised by full emersion on 4th January 2009. Since then I have grown
stronger in my faith and I believe in the power of prayer.
I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my hands quite a
few years ago now and I have had 3 operations on my right hand to try to
correct the damage it caused to the nerves in my hand and wrist. At the time
I also developed cellulitis in my right hand and due to this added complication the surgery that I needed on my left hand never took place.
Over the years I have noticed that my hands have become gradually worse
leading up to the point of major pain and numbness in both of my hands in
November 2010.
I was referred back to my consultant who confirmed that surgery was definitely needed on my left hand and possible further surgery on my right hand.
In the meantime I was referred for a nerve ending test on both hands to
determine the extent of the damage.
Before this test took place I was offered the opportunity for healing through
prayer at St. John’s Church.
During this time of prayer, where various members of the church laid a hand
on me to pray and oil was dabbed onto my hands and wrists, I felt a definite
release of the pain in each of my hands. It was a wonderful experience and I
knew that God was at work within me.
I noticed a big change in both of my hands following this healing.
A few weeks later I had the nerve ending test at hospital and the results were
confirmed by my consultant.
He told me that the test showed big improvements in both of my hands and
surgery was no longer required, even though I have never had the surgery in
my left hand! It could not be medically explained why my hands had improved to such an extent.
I truly believe in the power of prayer and I know that God has healed my
hands in this way.
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Church School Day
During the week of 11th July 2011, on two separate days, Stoneferry Primary
School and Westcott Primary School came to visit our church building. The
children ranged from 5-9 years old, the older ones coming from Westcott
School. In they came, walking with their partners, and walked quietly down the
aisle to sit at the front of the nave. The look of amazement and awe on some of
their faces was a wonderful sight.
Each visit started with Philip welcoming them and introducing members of the
church and their role. Jean, Sandra and myself were there for the Stoneferry
visit and joining us for the Westcott visit were Joan Richardson, Joyce Parker
and Margaret Taylor from the Flower Guild and young Barney Oram. Introductions over, off to the activities – at the back, looking at the stained glass
window of St. Columba, then colouring in their own. The second group stayed
at the front with Jean and Philip, learning about the church furniture and artefacts.
Westcott came on Wednesday – older children 7-9 years old. Joyce and Margaret had two tables covered in flowers and daisies. Here, the children were to
make posies. I had a group at the back looking at the stained glass window.
They coloured theirs in and created their own picture. Joan and Barney sat colouring in theirs and talked to the children, such a valuable task. Sandra took
her group to the choir vestry and taught them a song. Before leaving the church
the children sang their song with Sandra. Philip talked to them about what
‘church’ is. He likened it to the fact they belonged to their respective schools.
At present the children were sitting in St. Columba church but they still belonged to their school. This was the same as church, the people come together
on a Sunday, to the building, to worship the Lord but if we visited their school
we would still be church, as ‘church’ is not a building, but the people. Both
visits finished with an action song. Philip joined in, doing the actions. It was a
Celtic blessing:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall softly on your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I hope the children from both schools remember their visit to St. Columba
Church and will want to come and visit it again, perhaps at our All Age Service.
• Christine Bruce
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Ten million face starvation across the Horn of Africa
Christian Aid has launched an emergency humanitarian appeal to help
people across the east and Horn of Africa after two failed rainy seasons have left ten million on the brink of starvation.
Drought and displacement combined with rising global food prices
have left Kenya and Ethiopia in particular facing severe food shortages, with UNOCHA reporting that the regional situation is the worst
food security crisis in the world today.
Some parts of the region are experiencing the driest conditions in 60
years, and Christian Aid emergency teams are continuously assessing
how best to help local populations.
“The crisis has been building for some time, especially in Kenya and
Ethiopia, and is fast escalating across the region,” warns Nick Guttmann, Christian Aid’s humanitarian director.
“People are desperate and if we don’t act now we could be looking at
one of the worst humanitarian situations the world has seen in a long
time.”
Funds are urgently needed for life saving measures such as: provision
of water for villages experiencing the worst of the drought conditions;
food for families, malnourished children, and pregnant women; animal feed to protect livestock that are so crucial to survival.
To make a donation to Christian Aid’s East Africa Food Crisis Appeal
call 08080004004 or visit www.christianaid.org.uk/east-africa-appeal
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PARISH NOTICE BOARD
This being our Summer issue the regular groups
have a break now till September. The only date I
have to hand is Knitwits which will meet on
24th August & 28th Sept
Mothers' Union
September 7th
Social afternoon
Led by Joan & Janet
Knitwits
1.30pm-3.30pm
St Columba’s Church
Ring Liz Pacey On 705723
For further details
St. Andrews Fellowship
Food, fellowship & worship
Every Wednesday
11.30am—1.30pm
In Balfour
Community Centre
PRAYER MEETINGS
Every 1st Sunday of the month
St.Columba’s:
6.30—7.30pm in the Church.
Victoria Dock:
7.00pm Village Hall
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Evening group.
It was an open meeting to which a few people ventured out. Karen Lee
Stow – a photographer – who has spoken to the group before came along.
With her was Francess from Sierra Leone. Francess was one of the ladies
who was given a camera when Karen first went out to Sierra Leone. Since
then she has developed a real passion for photography and has had a book
published. Francess talked us through some of the photos she has taken and
it was wonderful to hear her story.
They were both off to the USA the following week for a fortnight with one
of the photographers from the National Geographic magazine.
Afternoon group.
The afternoon group went on a planned outing to Barrow and Holy Trinity
Church, where Rev. John Girtchen is the vicar. It was an interesting time as
we learnt about the history of the church and the fact that there has been a
church building there for nearly 1000 years now. The church has changed
quite a lot since then. The organ had gone off for refurbishment and there
was an empty space there. The church warden gave us a very interesting
talk and then showed us some of the items they have. There are some lovely
bits including a sundial. Some did see it work after lunch. We were fed
well and it was a good time of fellowship together. It was great to see to see
John and Sue again as well.
I just have one more bit to add. I may not do much driving but I can say that
I know the way to the Humber Bridge and do not have to turn round or
reverse back along a road to get across the river Humber!
Roving reporter.
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Definition of Peace
Pain miraculously removed
Emptying out of cares and woes
Amazing sense of openness to God
Calm of body, mind and soul
Endless days of God’s own love.
Liz Pacey
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A History of St. John's being a Church in the Parish
of Drypoole. Part Five. "Some friends of ours...."
I have long held the belief that one William Wilberforce, Esq. played no small
part in my ending up at St. John's. Though I still do not know fully what God
has in mind by it. I certainly "see through a glass darkly" but at least it is
becoming steadily clearer. Imagine my surprise then, when I discovered that the
same Mr. Wilberforce played an equally active role in the life of our Reverend
Dykes. Not only in persuading him to remain in Hull, but in encouraging him to
build a church here also. The same church I now find myself attending.
It was at this point that Christine appeared, bearing a tray of coffees and ...oh
great, shortbread. "You look busy. Which deadline are you working to?"
"The next one!" I replied tartly, helping myself to a shortbread finger. I
munched it grumpily. "Are you only having the one biscuit?" she asked
"Diet!" I reminded her. In reply to this, Christine gave me a strange look and
then left the room.
I read through the letter again. It was written to a Mr. Scott of Nottingham, by
Rev. Dykes.
"I must tell you, not that my coming to Hull depended upon Mr. Wilberforce,
but that my continuing here was chiefly owing to him; and if he had not exerted his influence on my behalf, St. John's would never have been erected,
and what my destination would have been I cannot say."
A similar notion was evident in a eulogy of Wilberforce given by Mr. Scott.
"had St John's never been erected, and its venerated minister never settled
in Hull? Let us feel, the, how much we owe the subject of this day's commemoration."
It was wonderful stuff. The builder of my church was a friend of my Christian
hero, who had played a part in its construction. But there was more proof of the
friendship, and its links to the anti slavery movement St. John's at the forefront!
(Oops. Carried away a bit there! Bet the editor deletes it.) Also I have to confess to you, that Christine discovered the next letter.
It was addressed-William Wilberforce, Esq., to Mrs. Hannah More. Broomfield
August 2' 1798. "some friends of ours, Mr. and Mrs. Dykes, are travelling into
the west They are excellent people. He is the person who built the new church
at Hull about seven years ago I told them they must see all our operations. I
beseech you to receive them as brethren and sister, and consider them as
friends…” (As you know Hannah Moore was one of Wilberforce’s main allies
in the fight against the slave trade.)
I had all the proof I needed. God has put me into St.John’s Drypool for a reason. And he has used Wilberforce to guide me there.
• S C Blades
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Each to his own
Everyone needs rest and recreation – a break from the life of work and the
everyday jobs and chores that must be done. We all relax in different ways
and have different pastimes to that end. I fail to see the attraction of some
hobbies and so-called leisure activities but I am sure that others would feel
the same about my pursuits. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s
something of the participant’s choosing that is enjoyable to them. Such
recreation recharges one’s batteries and sometimes helps us to see things in
a new light. It can be a bonus if two people together share the same interests
and experience them together but it is also good to do things separately so
that there is something different brought to the conversation by each of them
at the end of the day.
Whilst on holiday recently, a day’s fishing was suggested. I am not a
fisherwoman.
‘It will be lovely for you to come – you will enjoy it – sitting there in the
sun reading or doing whatever you like.’
Well, I went along and as we arrived at the venue, it began to rain.This
happens if I go. People were fishing around the wooded edge of the lake
under large green umbrellas.
My secret for a successful day is always to go prepared with plenty to do. I
elected to stay in the car and I managed to write two lengthy letters and read
different magazines and articles. It was not an unpleasant spot and it was
quiet and peaceful. I got a lot done and he enjoyed his day’s fishing.
Make time to do your own thing – take a rest from the daily round. ‘A field
that has rested gives a bountiful crop.’ Ovid.
•Heather Clarke
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The Shiny Leather Case.
On my 60th birthday last year I received a lovely black leather case. At first
sight I thought it was too small but then I tried it out, a tight fit but it will do.
Every day care is taken as I unzip and zip it. No, I don’t pack and unpack a
suitcase every day, this case is for my Bible. It’s a treasured possession
given to me by a Christian friend nearly 30 years ago. This precious possession is battered, worn, in two pieces the outer cardboard cover has separated
from the pages. The sections that were bound together to make it into a
book are coming apart in places. One page, through 29 years of daily use
(Ephesians Ch 6), has sellotape round the edges as the paper is very thin,
discoloured, torn and worn. Most of the pages are also thin, worn, discoloured through a lot of handling and some are in a delicate condition. Often
when I picked it up the cardboard covers would remain in my hand, the rest
ended up on the floor. The leather case saved it, a very special birthday present it had received. You may ask if it’s in so bad a condition why not get a
new one. This had crossed my mind. At New Wine August 2010 the backstall had plenty to choose from, clean crisp pages, lovely shiny covers, perfect. I browsed through them. No I was not buying a new one. My copy,
despite its worn state, was precious – a familiar friend. I know my way
through it, if I want a particular verse I know where on the page to find it.
What would I do with it if I got a new one? Was it right getting a new one I already have four other translations, a pocket Bible for going away and a
study Bible. I thought about Christians in other parts of the world who
don’t even have access to one. No I would keep my battered treasured possession. I even looked at Bible cases but thought, No, what if it doesn’t fit.
I was thrilled to get the lovely shiny black leather case, with a cross on the
front, for it. I could keep my Bible, pick it up without it falling to pieces and
it has a handle so I can carry it.
My Bible is my daily bread. Whenever I open it and read from it I am fed.
A day does not seem to be right if I have not opened it and read the passage
for the day. Jesus said ‘I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will
never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John Ch
6, v35) and further on in chapter 6 we read ‘I am the Living Bread that came
down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread he will live forever. This
bread is my flesh which I give for the life of the world.’ (John Ch 6, v51).
God’s word is living, it feeds us, gives us sustenance. When I first became a
Christian I just kept ‘eating the word’. I was hungry for it, still am. A day
without reading it is empty. I need to read it regularly so I am sustained,
built up, encouraged, comforted and even disciplined. The more I read it the
more I come to know my loving, Heavenly Father. He speaks to me as I
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read His Word.
Thank you sister Susan for giving me (and my Bible) the lovely, smart,
shiny case with a handle and a cross on it. I can continue my daily reading
of the Word of God using a ‘familiar friend’.
• Christine Bruce
Treasured Possessions
I sit here, on Thursday 21st July. Lunchtime, and 3 days have apparently
risen and waned since my mum’s passing away. Just had the enormous
privilege of typing up Christine Bruce’s article on the Shiny Leather Case.
How wonderful. Something so battered and worn and old, yet Christine
treasures her Bible so much, that she couldn’t bare to disuse it.
Over the past few months, I have been blessed with the support of good
friends, inside and outside of my church family, as I witnessed the suffering
and then the death of my dear mother, Maureen. At this present time, the
funeral is yet to take place and you are reading this that I have written
maybe a month or so after the event. So I have a long road to travel down at
present, but amidst all the suffering, a hand is resting on my shoulder, giving love and support. Actually, I feel like my feet don’t touch the ground –
I am being carried by the Lord. Christine’s shiny leather case is like our
Lord Jesus. We are all His treasured possessions. He loves us all with a
vengeance. So much that He paid the ultimate price. How precious are we
then to our Father in heaven? So no matter what we have been through in
life, no matter what our past holds and regardless of where we are now, the
Lord LOVES US AS WE ARE. We are precious and He will never discard
of us.
God keeps reassuring me with this message - that I am not forgotten, I am
being held in the palm of His hand. Like Christine’s precious Bible, He
holds our weary, delicate, worn bodies – with its torn pages displaying
words of woe and joy, the story of our journeys – and He carries us gently
and lovingly through the days of our lives. We are lovingly wrapped in His
arms, safe and sound. Trust in the Lord. like the case, the Lord holds us
together, so we don’t fall apart. He gives us strength, like the case protecting
and shielding us
Ä Katie Brown
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Walking in the Light
1 John 1 v 5-7 says, ‘God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we
claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
love by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us
from all sin.’
The Editor asked for our favourite scriptures, and this became one of mine a
few years ago.
I was lodging at a friend’s home. It was situated in Hessle, close to where
my daughter Claire lived. She was waiting for a council house move to
Goole. After she moved I planned to rent a small house in that town also. In
the meantime I was contented at my friend’s home. The arrangement suited
us both, and was very amicable. I had a car, and could therefore still attend
St.Columba’s church, where I’d made friends and had great support spiritually. All in all, I was comfortable with how my plans were going. I felt sure
that when I moved to Goole, Claire and I would find a church there that
suited us both.
Then things took an unexpected turn. My son Martyn asked for my advice.
He wanted to move out of the house he was buying, as he was very unhappy
there. It was a small terraced house and his next door neighbours were very
noisy. He felt trapped, and knew that his house wouldn’t sell easily. He felt
the best option for him would be to rent.
I went with Martyn to discuss the problem with his bank manager, who advised Martyn to put the house on the market as it was the only way of him
being able to move. I helped Martyn to sort the house out, but he couldn’t
afford to move out while it was sold, and I couldn’t offer him accommodation. Martyn decided to get into debt, become bankrupt and get the house
repossessed. I didn’t know how to help him, but I prayed about it. One
morning I read those verses from 1 John, and they really ‘jumped out’ at me.
I knew I had to stop Martyn from getting into debt because it wasn’t
‘walking in the light’. I knew that no good would come of such dishonesty
and that I couldn’t be party to it. I realised that there was a solution. One that
I hadn’t considered because it would ‘mess up’ my plans. I would rent
Martyn’s house until it was sold, then he could continue to pay his mortgage, but also rent a place where he could be happy. And that’s what we
did!
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It wasn’t part of my plans, but God had a different one for me. Claire
moved to Goole, where she’s made friends, found a lovely church and is
very settled there. Martyn moved into a nice flat and is debt free. I lived in
his house for two years, and ‘inherited’ Martyn’s dog, who is great company. The next door neighbours noise reduced to a bearable limit after I
notified environmental health, and the house eventually sold. I now live in
a peaceful area of Garden Village, close to St Columba’s church. My
friend, whose house I shared, got a new lodger and the arrangement has
worked very well.
I’m so glad I read those verses. I needed to be reminded that I couldn’t
claim to be in fellowship with God, but be party to Martyn getting his
house repossessed in the wrong way. I’m so glad that the Holy Spirit
nudged me in the right direction, because God’s plans were far better than
mine – for all of us.
… Carole Harvey
Stoneferry News 3rd July.
Liz led the service, we were pleased to welcome two of her friends to
join us today. Liz said she should have been an exercise teacher as she
had spent the week pushing her cousin around in a wheelchair, and
needed to be a bit fitter. In her talk Liz talked about doubting Thomas
and how he needed proof of Jesus. We all have doubts at one time or
another, we need to have more faith. If you know some one who hasn't
taken the leap of faith yet, pray for them.
We were asked how we kept in touch with family and to discuss it with
the person next to us.
There's all sorts of ways to keep in touch, email, mobile phone, Facebook, webcam, Twitter and good old fashion letter.
Grace read our first reading, Tony did the second, and Julie read our
prayers. Ray Earl said a special prayer for our soldiers.
After the service Maureen provided us with refreshments.
Carol Green.
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DRYPOOL PARISH SUNDAY SERVICES: AUG 2011
1st Sun
Holy Communion
St Columba 10.30am
007/08/11
St John
Victoria
Dock
10.30am
Holy Communion
10.45am
Caf‚ Church
Stoneferry
9.15am
10.30am
NO SERVICE IN AUGUST
Holy Communion
2nd Sun
St Columba
14/08/11
10.30am
Morning Prayer
10.45am
Morning Prayer
3rd Sun
St John
Victoria
Dock
St Columba
10.30am
Holy Communion
21/08/11
St John
10.30am
Morning Prayer
Victoria
Dock
9.00am
10.45am
Holy Communion
Morning Prayer
St Columba
10.30am
12.30pm
Morning Prayer
Baptisms
St John
10.30am
Morning Prayer
Victoria
Dock
10.45am
Holy Communion
4th Sun
28/08/11
PLEASE CHECK NOTICE SHEET
FOR ANY CHANGES
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DRYPOOL PARISH SUNDAY SERVICES: SEPT 2011
1st Sun
Holy Communion
St Columba 10.30am
04/09/11
St John
Victoria
Dock
10.30am
Holy Communion
10.45am
Caf‚ Church
9.15am
10.30am
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
All Age Service
Stoneferry
2nd Sun
St Columba
11/09/11
10.30am
Morning Prayer
10.45am
Morning Prayer
3rd Sun
St John
Victoria
Dock
St Columba
10.30am
Holy Communion
18/09/11
St John
10.30am
Morning Prayer
Victoria
Dock
9.00am
10.45am
Holy Communion
Morning Prayer
St Columba
10.30am
12.30pm
Morning Prayer
Baptisms
St John
10.30am
Morning Prayer
Victoria
Dock
10.45am
Holy Communion
4th Sun
25/09/11
PLEASE CHECK NOTICE SHEET
FOR ANY CHANGES
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Epistles of Eustace…Press one for vicar, two for curate....12 for prayer....
The Rectory;St. James the Least of All
My dear Nephew Christopher
Now you have got your new telephone system in the parish, I shall not
be calling you again. I refuse to wait for ten minutes every time I ring to
have to listen to the cycle of “press 1 for the vicar, 2 for the curate, 3 for the
secretary”, until we end with “12 for requests for prayer”. I was tempted to
leave a message on 12 to ask that the wretched machine would break down,
but then realised I would have to call a second time to leave a message on 13
for making a confession.
And if I have to listen one more time to someone playing “Thine be the
glory” on one finger on an electric organ while I am “on hold” I will have
him excommunicated. At least you have the grace while I am waiting not to
ask me not to hang up, as my call is important to you. I would even warm to
your system if a voice occasionally said that they couldn’t care less whether
I hung up or not as my call was utterly irrelevant to them.
Those poor people who have to wait to reach 7 for leaving messages
regarding marriages might as well leave a second on 8 for baptisms and save
on a large phone bill in months to come; in fact, another on 9 for funerals
may well be necessary by the time that number comes up. Entire families
could be born, marry and die before they hear that 15 is specially reserved
for urgent calls.
My own answerphone tells people firmly that the machine is specially
designed not to accept incoming messages and that I only answer the thing
personally on Thursdays between 10am and 12 noon, provided nothing better has turned up. Alternatively, they could write me a letter which may be
answered at my convenience, or could be ignored if I disapprove of its contents.
For the few who have got hold of my mobile number, my response is to
tell them that I am just about to enter a tunnel and then to switch it off. Callers from other parts of the country now believe that the parish of St. James
the Least is honeycombed by mile-long tunnels, making communication allbut impossible.
You can now be assured that your new system means you will be contactable at any moment, wherever you happen to be. But don’t call me to
complain and expect to receive sympathy; I shall be just about to enter a
tunnel.
Your loving uncle,
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Amid Westminster's Calm.
Last week I had occasion to be in London on business. Considering I was driving there,
and that the meeting would finish at 15.15, it seemed silly not to spend a little of the evening sightseeing. I would be travelling in company with a colleague, so tiredness on the
return journey would be less of a problem. We could simply share the driving duties.
Once there the meeting went well, but it belongs to periodicals other than this one,
as does the travelogue. But whilst we were there, and admiring Westminster Abbey, we
noted that we were in time to attend Evensong. A great delight to me, as I am always
happy when I can seek and spend time with God, during my normal working week. So,
well dressed (still suited from business) we took our places in that illustrious building. We
had managed to attend the same service as one of the Commonwealth High Commissioners. So it allowed a somewhat cosmopolitan feel to the proceedings.
The service was pleasingly calm (amid London's bustle) and entirely inspiring. It is
always beneficial to draw nearer one's Creator, away from the chaos of the world.
There was, however, one note of disappointment sounded. Readers will know that
my Christian hero (Wilberforce) and, in some respects, mentor is buried in the Abbey. He
lies near to his close friend in life, William Pitt the Younger. It seemed an opportunity too
good to miss. I explained to my colleague that, following the service, I should like to visit
the grave and pay my respects. I intended to say a short prayer at the tomb itself.
I duly, and politely, enquired of the nearby official. I explained that we were visiting from the great man's home city. It was a little surprising, therefore, when my request
was met with a curt refusal and no explanation given. As I turned away, disappointed, I
felt like asking God to forgive the man his unkindness. But there may have been a good
reason, and I felt that I least of all was qualified to make a judgement. Suitably chastened,
a bright thought occurred to me. I could at least light a candle to dear William's memory.
This I did, and prayed the prayer there, standing and with head bowed.
A further thought reminded me that God hears all prayers and is pleased by them.
It matters not at all that I stand at a specific tomb or in a specific place for it to be relevant.
It matters simply that I say it. And so it was that early evening in London.
A Prayer for Wilberforce.
Dear God bless Wilberforce who strived to prove,
That man was meant for better on this earth;
Let not Thy mercy or Thy freedom be removed,
And let our lives remember his true worth.
Lines written at Westminster Abbey, whilst attending Evensong.
Ä S C Blades
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God speaks through Creation.
A break please Lord, I need to get away from everything, time to myself, get
away from the pressures of life. No distractions, no meals to prepare, no
washing up. Wydale here I come, a personal retreat. Descended Staxton
Hill in Little Vicki, (my car – a 1st for her), viewing the wonderful Vale of
Pickering, arriving in time for lunch. Guests were munching their lunch.
Sitting on my own table, overlooking the Dale, ate mine, wonderful. Coffee
time, enjoying my fresh coffee, sat on a comfortable settee. The other
guests enjoyed theirs but no one came to speak to me.
Up to my room, top floor overlooking the Dale. Unpacked, sat at table and
just stared out onto the Vale. Opened first two cards, I had two cards to
open each day. The words and verses were spot on, helping me to focus on
why I was there, to rest, relax and be refreshed by the Lord. Reading both
cards uplifted me. Each day the cards were a real blessing. Continuing to
look out of the window experiencing the stillness and silence, I found myself marvelling at God’s creation. Crows cawed, flying from the trees to the
grass, strutting around, the distinctive noise came from the pheasants, sheep
grazed on the hillside, tiny grey squirrels scurried across the grass.
During the next four days this became a daily habit just looking out of the
window soaking in the peace and quiet and observing the Lord’s creation,
through which He spoke to me. The day progressed, my despair grew worse
despite the great view, super food and verses. Would I feel different when I
went home? Don’t think so. I just sat and looked out onto my wonderful
view. Crows are nothing like eagles but as I watched them fly around I
started to think of eagles and Isaiah 40, v28-31, “He gives strength to the
weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and
weary and young men stumble and fall. BUT those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run
and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Wednesday’s card
had a picture of an eagle and this verse).
Six-thirty, evening meal – my own table again. Coffee, still no one spoke to
me. The despair seemed worse, things won’t change. Bedtime, great to
have en-suite and coffee making facilities. Snuggled into bed, DID NOT
OPEN WINDOW, the usual middle of night visit to the loo, back into bed.
“What’s that noise, something is moving in the room.” I hate things flying
around. There near the door was a ‘black thing’. What was it? Put the light
on. “Oh no!” A bat was flying backwards and forwards in my room. I
wanted Peace. Opened the door, it might fly out. Silly thing to do, closed it.
How had it got in? The window was closed. It must have been hiding
somewhere. It was 11.30pm, I had heard voices downstairs. “Go and get
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help.” Fleece over purple nightie and slippers plus bed socks. I must have
looked a sight. Boldly, down I went. There in the lounge were a group of
vicars, all deep, no doubt, in a theological discussion. In I walk oblivious of
what I looked like. I needed help. “Can anyone help me, I have a bat flying
around my room, don’t know how it got in, the window is closed.” Did they
all leap up and offer help. No! Possibly too shocked by the apparition!
Eventually help was at hand – one kind vicar (Chris) came to my rescue. Up
to my room, light on, window open, light off, we waited, light on, no sight
of bat, room checked, no bat to be seen. Thanked Chris, “It’s a protected
species, it won’t hurt you,” he reassured me.
Midnight, texted Gill to tell her of my adventure! Did I sleep, not much.
Where was this Peace? Awake early, realisation “What a sight I must have
looked. Dare I go down to breakfast. Gill had texted me back “That’s the
‘battiest thing’ I have heard. What did the vicars do, pray?” I started to
laugh. The Lord had used a bat to lift my despair. Like I was protected by
Him.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27 v1
(That had been Monday’s verse). I realised how fragile I was, I held onto
the fact that a bat can not shake me, it’s created by God and protected.
I’m protected by the Lord.
The Lord is good. Despair had been turned into laughter.
‚ Christine Bruce
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up and be counted
to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
To stand up for ourselves when it is needful to
do so.
Let us fear nothing more than we fear thee.
Let us love nothing more than we love thee,
for then we shall fear nothing also.
Let us have no other god before thee, whether nation or party or, state or church.
Let us seek no other peace but the peace which is thine,
And make us its instruments, opening our eyes and our
ears and our hearts, so that we should know always
what work of peace we should do for thee
Alan Peron(1903 - 1988)
Submitted by Sylvia Pendleton
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In Your Garden in
August
By Colin Dale, plant
buyer, Notcutts Garden
Centres
Purchase an autumn lawn feed for use later and note any areas that
will need reseeding or drainage work. Raise the height of the blades
on your mower and cut less often as the grass grows more slowly.
Spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips will be arriving at
your local garden centre towards the end of this month, so visit then
for inspiration and to snap up the most popular varieties before they
sell out.
Tidy up evergreen hedges now, with a light prune to sharpen the
edges. Once the pruning has been completed, use a granular feed scattered around the base of the hedge and water it in well. Complete the
job with a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost.
Herbaceous perennials such as Hemerocallis (Day Lilies) and early
Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers) will have finished flowering now and can
be divided if they have outgrown their allotted space.
Tender perennials such as penstemon and salvias are often in short
supply after a cold winter until later in the growing season. Take soft
wood cuttings of these valuable late flowering plants and once they
have ‘struck’, they can be potted up individually and overwintered in
a frost free greenhouse or conservatory.
In the vegetable garden, the hard work and planning of the spring
should be reaping rewards with plenty of produce for the table and
freezer. Towards the end of the month, bend over the tops of onions to
encourage the plants to start the drying process.
Tomatoes will be starting to ripen now, so remove the lower leaves to
let more light to the trusses. Pinch out the tops of the plants once four
to six trusses of fruit have set.
www.notcutts.co.uk
Ä 2011 Notcutts Garden Centres/Colin Dale
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Live a brighter, bolder life of faith
Matt Redman – the Grammy nominated songwriter, acclaimed worship
leader and successful author – is sharing insights and inviting readers to
dream of a brighter, bolder life of faith in a brand-new book.
Having taken readers on valuable journeys towards a more authentic, passionate practice of worship with the books The Unquenchable Worshipper
and Facedown, Matt quickly unpacks his central metaphor in his latest book
Mirror Ball, which has just been released.
Everyone, he reminds us, has the unique potential to radiate the goodness,
glory and power of God through our own lives. And, like the diminutive
mirror ball above a disco floor, we might not look particularly impressive on
our own, but once we allow the light of God to shine upon us, there’s no end
to the beauty that will shine.
Throughout Mirror Ball Matt weaves personal anecdote with spiritual insight, biblical analysis and inspirational wisdom from great thinkers. He also
covers themes that range from the importance of us enlarging our view of
God to the place of suffering and the importance of seeing worship as more
than the singing of songs, producing some memorable lines along the way:
“Singing is easy,” he writes in chapter 1, “The proof is always in the living.
Or even the dying.”
In chapter 3, Big God, Big Life, he writes: “When the majesty and mercy of
God really take hold inside us, worship explodes out in every possible direction.”
The chapter concludes: “God’s power + my weakness = anything is possible. You do the math.”
Just as Matt songs reveal so much of the character of God the Father and the
sacrifice of Jesus the Son, Mirror Ball has plenty to say about the nature of
God.
In chapter eight he writes: “God is at work. He is not distant, dormant or
docile. He never sleeps and never grows tired or weary. He is the powerful,
promise-keeping, and change-breathing God. The doors He opens no one
can close, and the doors He closes cannot be opened. His words never return
to Him empty. He is always at work in you and all around you.”
Concluding with an eight-part study guide that draws on the book’s content,
as well as new songs from Matt’s forthcoming album 10,000 Reasons, Mirror Ball aims to leave readers inspired and equipped to shine on.
Mirror Ball by Matt Redman is published by Kingsway, ˆ8.99. ISBN:
9780781405782.
… 2011 Thesheepdip.co.uk/Phil Creighton/respective authors
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TRISHA WICK’S NEWS FOR JULY 2011
UK NEWS
This news update is a little late as I have been busy visiting Link Churches
and have not had easy e mail access. I have nearly completed the visiting of
those of my Link Churches which I did not do while in UK last year. The
visits have gone very well and I have been encouraged by what I have found
in many churches, especially new initiatives to open up churches and reach
those outside. I am aware how busy so many of the clergy are, and the pressures upon them. Several parishes have new incumbents and I look forward
to building links with them. I am also delighted at the continuing faithful
support of most of the churches in prayer, interest and giving. From 18th –
21st July I will be at All Nations Christian College in Ware in Hertfordshire
on a Partners in Mission Conference with CMS (Church Mission Society).
On my way home I will be visiting a parish which is using my Following
Jesus Discipleship Training booklets. The first two weeks of August will be
a holiday with my parents – a week in Derbyshire, and a week in the Wye
Valley. I hope this will also include some horse riding. I leave to return to
Africa on 17th August.
NEWS FROM SUDAN
The Republic of South Sudan came into being on 9thJuly amid huge celebrations which lasted days. I was sorry to have missed all this. Because of my
travelling I had little news of how it all went, but text messages from Maridi
show how people are so thrilled to be free at last, and are optimistic about
the future, however this relies on there being a good relationship between
the North and South. This needs much prayer as issues to do with border
demarcation, citizenship, and sharing of oil are still outstanding. Reports
from Maridi are good, but more rain is needed. My cat gave birth to four
kittens at the end of June. My driver, Jackson, says I will see more changes
to Maridi Beach when I return, as the youth continue to develop it.
During August I will send a short update but it may not be till mid August
due to my holiday.
God bless.
Trisha Wick
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Geoff Howlett’s CD review of the
month
ANTOINE : At the Piano. (www.weddingpianist.co)
Well known for his “request” shows in the pubs of East Yorkshire,
Antoine Robinson is a multi talented guy. Predominantly released as
a promotional tool for his day job as a function pianist, ‘At the
Piano’ deserves a much wider audience. Containing a mixture of
sung and instrumental titles, it’s the sort of thing you can relax to at
any time of the day. From the start of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, you realise that you are listening to a very gifted pianist, as he
skilfully treats each note with equal polish. He also doesn’t lack confidence when it comes to singing and on both Billy Joel’s ‘Piano
Man’ and Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’, Antoine captures the essence
of each song. From a singing point of view, perhaps ‘Desperado’ is
his finest moment on the album. It’s a classic song, and this is a
classy version. Other instrumental tracks include ‘Wonderful
World’, ‘Chasing Cars’, and the timeless ‘Unchained Melody’. In
some respects, the album is a throwback to years gone by, when production was simple, and every spoken or played phrase could be
heard. How lovely it is to re-capture those moments again. 8/10
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Last months solution
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. Across
Down
1 In David’s battle with the
Arameans, 700 of these were killed (2
Samuel 10:18) (11)
9 ‘No — , impure or greedy person
has any inheritance in the kingdom of
God’ (Ephesians 5:5) (7)
10 City on the banks of the River Nile
(5)
11 Stamped addressed envelope
(1,1,1)
13 Taverns (4)
16 ‘Be on your guard; stand — in the
faith’ (1 Corinthians 16:13) (4)
17 ‘He will not always — , nor will he
harbour his anger for ever’ (Psalm
103:9) (6)
18 and 27 Down Where the magi
came from and what guided them
(Matthew 2:1–2) (4,4)
20 Ancient Celtic alphabet of 20 characters (4)
21 She married Esau when he was 40
years old (Genesis 26:34) (6)
22 A great-grandson of Noah (Genesis
10:7) (4)
23 Title accorded to certain Roman
Catholic clerics (abbrev.) (4)
25 ‘My house will be a house of
prayer; but you have made it a — of
robbers’ (Luke 19:46) (3)
28 Annie (anag.) (5)
29 Plead with (Zechariah 7:2) (7)
30 Tenth foundation of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20) (11)
2 ‘We have a building from God, an
eternal house in heaven, not built by
— hands’ (2 Corinthians 5:1) (5)
3 Uncommon excellence (Proverbs
20:15) (4)
4 ‘You have exalted my horn like that
of a wild ox; fine — have been poured
upon me’ (Psalm 92:10) (4)
5 — Homo (‘Behold the Man’) (4)
6 ‘He has given proof of this to all
men by — him from the dead’ (Acts
17:31) (7)
7 ‘Our — is in heaven’ (Philippians
3:20) (11)
8 ‘This is a day you are to —
’ (Exodus 12:14) (11)
12 Assault (Psalm 17:9) (6)
14 ‘Jesus found a young donkey and
— upon it’ (John 12:14) (3)
15 Liverpool dialect (6)
19 ‘Remember the — day by keeping
it holy’ (Exodus 20:8) (7)
20 Nineteenth-century German physicist after whom the unit of electrical
resistance is named (3)
24 Nazirites were not allowed to eat
this part of a grape (Numbers 6:4) (5)
25 ‘If anyone would come after me,
he must — himself and take up his
cross and follow me’ (Mark 8:34) (4)
26 Evil Roman emperor from AD54
to 68, responsible for condemning
hundreds of Christians to cruel deaths
(4)
27 See 18 Across
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Words can hurt; words can heal.
Words can make us cry with pain.
Words can make us cry with joy.
Words, once spoken cannot be taken back.
Words written can be kept and cherished.
Words can speak of love.
Words can speak comfort.
Words can destroy.
Words can bring encouragement
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great
boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The
tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is
itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being
tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It
is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse
men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth
come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both
fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers,
can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt
spring produce fresh water.
James 3 v 3-9
When we speak, let us engage brain before mouth
• Norman Pacey
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The Magazine Team
Editor: Norman A Pacey; 93 Wynburg St;Newbridge Rd;Hull. HU9 2PA
[Tel: 705723]
Email: [email protected]
St.Columba’s Reps:
Katie Brown ([email protected]) 321611
Carole Harvey 07733222727
St.John’s Rep
Shane Blades 07949040495
Victoria Dock Rep:
Elaine Galloway Tel:224959
[[email protected]]
Stoneferry Rep;
Carol Green
Advertising:
Contact Editor
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SERVICES FROM AROUND THE PARISH
JUNE 2011
Baptisms
St Columba’s
Nathaniel Eno-Obong Ikechukwu Babatope Obot
Reuben James Jubb Billy James Young
Brooke Lily Rose Murray
Thomas William Barton
Evan Andrew & Ethan James Slack
Victoria Dock
Joel William Davenport
- 34 -
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- 35 -
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01482 323510
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We’re here 24 hours a day.
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Views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and are
not necessarily shared by the editorial team or the parish staff.
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AUG/SEP 11 Ä The
Drypool
Parish MMXI