July August 2014 to print - Croydon Methodist Circuit

One of ‘Churches Together in Shirley’
1
Worship in July and August
6 JULY
10.30 AM
MRS PAULINE LITTLE
6.00 PM
13 JULY
10.00 AM
20 JULY
10.30 AM
6.00 PM
27 JULY
AT ADDINGTON
UNITED AT ST JOHNS
HOLY COMMUNION
REVD JANE CASSIDY
BENNIE HARMS
CAFE WORSHIP
10.30 AM
REVD JANE CASSIDY
MRS ANN ATKINS
6.00 PM
HOLY COMMUNION
REVD JANE CASSIDY
3 AUG
10.30 AM
HOLY COMMUNION
REVD JANE CASSIDY
10 AUG
10.30 AM
BENNIE HARMS
17 AUG
10.30 AM
REVD ELEANOR JACKSON
24 AUG
10.30 AM
MRS COMFORT CROFFIE
6.00 PM
31 AUG
HOLY COMMUNION
REVD JANE CASSIDY
REVD DR ANDY LYONS
10.30 AM
2
WORSHIPPING AT SHIRLEY:
The morning service starts with Gathering Time at 10.15 am:
organ/piano music, informal singing or recorded music.
A crèche is available in the Lounge staffed by two members of the
congregation. In addition, there are bags with small toys and books
available at the back of the church for any families to use.
Sunday Morning Club is held during the morning service and
provides young people with a chance to explore the Bible, and do a
wide range of activities.
NOTE ALSO:
Thursday 6.15 pm
Friday
7.30pm
Brownies (during term time)
Choir practice
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?????
All too often these days there seems
to be too much month and too little
money left over! And what is true for
our household finances is also sadly
true for our church. Our INCOME just
doesn’t match our OUTLAY! Your
editors have decided to publish the
church’s collection totals month by
month - together with some examples of our expenditure, so
that we can all get a clear picture of what we need to receive
in order to meet our bills! Last year our outgoings were
£105,671.48 and our income was £98,253.86.
An example: our UTILITIES BILL ALONE FOR LAST YEAR
averaged out at £1,200 a month.
FOR MAY the TOTAL received from our Offering
was £4,238.37
3
This month our Minister’s Letter is written by our Superintendent,
Revd Peter Clarke
Friday
6th
Saturday
7th
Sunday
8th
Croydon Circuit
Pilgrimage
June
2014
All
wel come
What a great event our Circuit ‘Pilgrimage’ proved to be! Every Church was
involved and it was great to travel from Church to Church and
find a very warm welcome everywhere: good hospitality with
great food, time to meet up with people in the Churches and an
opportunity to pray for each local Church and its work.
I want to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the
people in each of the churches who took the lead in getting things
ready and the many people who did all the hard work of preparation. Special thanks go to those who prepared food! It was wonderful to see so much good work being done.
I also want to thank the small team who organised things at Circuit
level. Bennie Harms, Eleanor Jackson and Lindsey Macfarlane did
a really good job for us and the event would not have been possible
without their persistence and organising energy. The Bible Studies
for use before the event and the liturgy used in each church as we
travelled from place to place were especially helpful. Thank you!
It was also good that our District Chair was able to be with us for
the whole of Saturday and Sunday. It was really good to see her
join in as ‘one of us’ and to receive her contribution to our journey.
Over the weekend we were able to catch a real sense of the range
and scope of our work as Churches in the Croydon Methodist
Circuit. Some people were able to visit Churches they had never
been to before, the exchange of visitors at the Sunday services
was really helpful and the lunch at West Croydon, followed by the
Others are asking ‘what can we do together next?’ With Churches
in Norbury, West Croydon, Thornton Heath, Addiscombe, Upper
and South Norwood, Shirley and Addington we are a range of
4
Christian communities seeking to serve our local communities in a
range of ways as we respond to the God who calls us, in Jesus, to
follow him. The Pilgrimage was a great way of focussing our thoughts
and prayers on how we ‘follow’ over the next few years.
Our Circuit Meeting on 24th June will continue the discussion on
developing Circuit policy up to the year 2020. Responses to the
discussion paper set out at the last Meeting suggest we need a fluid
and developing approach for the next few years. It will be interesting to see how discussion goes at our meeting. We know we have
challenges to face, but, as ever, God graciously invites us to journey
with him to the future that is God’s; how can we do anything but rise
to the challenge and put our trust in the God we glimpse in Jesus.
At the end of June, Revd Eleanor Jackson and I will be sharing in
the work of the annual Methodist Conference. It will be a privilege
to join over 300 Methodists from around the country, joined by
representatives from the wider world church, as we confer together at a Conference Centre in Birmingham.
Some of the head-line discussion will be about the changing nature
of Methodism in the UK. A further fall in membership over the past
three years is of real concern. There are proposals for new ways of
thinking about our ‘one mission’, embracing the many facets of
outreach and service. Proposals relating to the Methodist-Anglican
Covenant are to be debated.
There will also be a discussion on a report following changes to
marriage legislation in the UK and the churches response to it – this
is likely to illustrate the diverse but sincerely held views of people
within the Church as the issue is sensitively and pastorally explored.
For inspiration, keynote addresses from the new President and
Vice-President are usually highlights.
It will be a delight to receive new Presbyters and Deacons into Full
Connexion and to share in Ordination Services. It promises to be a
busy and demanding Conference. Please pray for its work and for our
Church in this nation as the annual Conference proceeds. Its work
5
will have a direct bearing on our life in the Circuit and in our local
churches.
You can get involved as the Conference is to be broadcast via the
internet. The link is:
http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/birmingham-2014/201407-03.
All the reports to Conference can also be downloaded from this
site if you want to find out more. I hope that all our Churches will
remember the work of the Conference during Sunday services on
29th June.
SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR
REVD DR KENNETH GREET
A service thanksgiving for the life and ministry of the
Revd Dr Kenneth Greet (former President and
Secretary of the Methodist Conference) will take
place on Saturday 6th September 2014 at 2:30pm in
Westminster Central Hall, Storey's Gate, London
SW1H 9NH. If you intend being present at this service please inform
[email protected] or Governance
Support, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London
NW1 5JR no later than Friday 22th August 2014.
If you are unable to confirm attendance by the 22nd August, you will
still be welcome to attend, and the family look forward to seeing you.
.
6
musical talents and favourite
hymns and songs during that time
of preparation for worship.
Family News
from Elizabeth Smart
The
church
family at Shirley
has
been
shocked
and
saddened
on
hearing
that
Margaret Walker has died so suddenly. Margaret gave so much of
her time and energy to the life of
the Church – she has been a
Church Steward, a Communion
Steward and a faithful member of
the choir. Her dedication to the
tasks that she undertook were
done prayerfully, carefully and
meticulously. As the Church Archivist she spent many hours recording
and
storing
the
documents that are so important
for future generations to read
and had recently been on a day
course to learn more about how
to be an archivist.
Margaret was a member of the
safeguarding team, the church
noticeboard was kept up to date
by Margaret, Church Notices
were also part of her duties and
during Gathering Time she would
carefully choose a CD that would
suit the theme of the service and
she encouraged a number of folk
to take part and share their
7
Margaret was very interested in
Churches together in Shirley and
encouraged everyone to get involved. She was a
member of
the Link Meetings with St John’s
and SMC. Her interest also extended to the Inter-faith meetings she attended and shared this
through our Church notices and
magazine whenever she could.
Margaret was a person who had
many interests, she loved her garden and spent many happy hours
working in it and loved to share
her knowledge (and cuttings and
seeds!) of the beautiful plants she
had nurtured. She also enjoyed
going to the theatre and to concerts with friends.
We will all have our individual
remembrances of Margaret and
we shall miss her quiet and gentle
presence in our church family in
so many ways and we give thanks
for her Christian witness.
We send congratulations to:
Richard Long and Natasha Clarke
who were married on 31st May –
Richard is Jennifer and Howard
Long’s son and Jean Cooper’s
grandson.
On 1st August
Helen Edwards
will be marrying
Joseph Elliott at
Shirley Methodist Church and
we wish them
every blessing on their wedding
day.
In June, Steve
and Alison
Hunt celebrated a special Pearl
Anniversary
(30 years) and also Bill and Elizabeth Smart celebrated their
Golden Wedding.
Later, on the 18th August, Brian
and Margaret Robins will be
celebrating their Blue Sapphire
(65th) Wedding Anniversary.
We continue to hold in our
prayers members of our church
family at this time:
Pearl Spittle, David Williams and
also Sandra, Irene Owens, Joy
Cane and also Tony. We also
continue to pray for Daniel Richardson and his wife Melissa
together with Harvey and Carol
and all the family.
We remember John and Margaret King, Joy and Derek Funnell,
8
Gwen Cole and her family, Lis
and Andrew Black, Alex and
Glenna Fullick, Helen Harvey,
Adele and Ron Sluce, Jose Riddiough, Verona Pendered, Sue
and Bill Gale, Essie Green and
Richard Dutton.
We also pray for those who are
unable to worship with us at this
time: Peggy Bridger, Kathleen
Brickwood, Jean Cooper, Anita
Graham, Margaret Lloyd, June
Main, Joan Miller, Brian Reed,
Dorothy Winter and Christopher
Land.
We hold in prayer the staff and
residents at Hall Grange during
this time of change.
Our young people are also in our
thoughts and prayers at this time.
We hope Lorna Beck will have a
wonderful trip to India with her
Guides and look forward to
hearing all about it on her return.
DIARY FOR July and August
WEDS 2 JULY: 7.30 pm: ?UP meeting at the
IKEA Restaurant - a new initiative for anyone over 16, to deepen fellowship
SAT 5 JULY : 10.30 – 12.30: Manse Coffee Morning @ 31 Southern Ave
SAT 5 JULY: 7.30 pm: John Ruskin Choral Society Summer Concert
@SMC
TUES 8 JULY:8.00 pm: Surrey Christians in Science event at Christ
Church, 861-863 Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2BN. A talk on
‘Climate & Conservation’. Speaker David Atkinson.
Light refreshments will be available and doors open at 6.00 pm.
SAT 12 JULY:10.30 am – 3.00 pm: Sight & Sound Workshop at Christ
Church, Addiscombe led by Bennie Harms and Adrian Pickett. Exploring Power Point etc. Speak to Bennie Harms if interested.(07900 890
384)
SAT 12 JULY:7.30 pm: Quiz Night fund raiser for Kick London at SMC
SUN 13 JULY:10.00 am: Patronal Festival at St John’s. Revd Jane
Cassidy will be leading the service. Combined choirs.
SUN 13 JULY:3.00 pm: Kick London Football Academy @ Spring Park
field when dry or Shirley Methodist Church in poor weather
SUN 13 JULY :4.30 pm: Sunday Afternoon Club @ Shirley Methodist
Church - teenage Bible discussion, all welcome
SUN 13 JULY:3.00 pm: Confused.com @ Shirley Methodist Church Over 18's Christian fellowship group
SUN 13 JULY ;12.30 pm: join us for a buffet lunch at Xin Chinese restaurant after morning service. Please sign up in the Welcome Area.
18 JULY – 2 AUG:Christ Church Holiday Club. Register with Gill
Haslam asap
SAT 19 JULY:11.00 am onwards: Kick London 5 a side Tournament - Oasis Shirley Park. Can you help??
SUN 20 JULY:6.00 pm: Cafe Worship @SMC.
THURS 24 JULY : Wesley's Chapel Visit - meet at East Croydon
Station at 11.00am or Wesley’s Chapel at 12.15pm. All ages welcome
(under 16’s please book by 13th July). Contact Lindsey on 020 8653
2424
WEDS 20 AUG:7.30pm: ?UP meeting at the IKEA Restaurant
9
DANGER ALERT!
THIS ADDICTION COULD CHANGE
YOUR LIFE
Most of you will be quite unaware that a
group of ADDICTS has been meeting for many
years in the innocent Lounge of this very
Church. On many a Wednesday morning you might observe a number of
respectable looking individuals entering these premises. They meet as part of
the unremarkable sounding Shirley Literature Class. But, Ladies and Gentlemen, they are ADDICTS, and believe it or not, they are not there to try to
break this addiction, they are proud of it and,encouraged by their charismatic
leader, a certain Christine Bett, they thrive on it.!!!
Our Class (yes dear Reader, I am one of them) which has been going for 30
years, is held over two terms each year, starting in the Autumn. The books
studied are based around a theme chosen after lively discussion led by
Christine. Last year our theme was ‘Sisters Under the Skin’ and we explored
in depth the relationship between the reader and the main characters such as
Madame Bovary and Becky Sharpe in Vanity Fair.
Come and join us and get the habit! Shirley Literature Class 2014/15
Tutor: Christine Bett M.A. Shirley Methodist Church Wednesdays 10 .00 am
- 12 .00. A 20 week course run over two terms ,starting 1st October. Course
fee £120 Phone our Secretary, Sybil on 0208771 9063 for further details.
The subject for this year’s studies will be: THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
Texts will include The Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald; Waterland - Graham Swift;
All My Sons - Miller; The Sense of an Ending - Barnes
Inspired by the ‘humour for lexophiles ‘entry in the June
magazine, David Crook suggested two more:
Feminism has a gender agenda.
When the preacher stood naked in the pulpit,
there was methodism in his madness.
Look for more ‘funnies’ later in the newsletter!!!
10
Christian Aid News
This year’s House to House collection exceeded our expectations and
raised an amazing £2,441, plus an additional £300 from Gift Aid. Many
thanks to our loyal band of collectors, counters and bankers - and last but not least - to the donors.
The London ‘Circle the City for Christian Aid’ Sponsored Walk on 18th
May was very much enjoyed by all who took part and our six church
members collected £1,755. Over £1,000 of this was raised y Richard
Dutton (see his report later). Thanks to all the generous sponsors.
We are grateful to the Brownies who made and sold their home-made
cakes after the Sunday service one morning. The cakes were delicious
and £37.10 was collected for Christian Aid.
Looking beyond the statistics, each House to House volunteer received
an attractive ‘Thank you’ card, showing photographs of a smiling seven
year old Sara and the words, “…thanks to your help we will be able to lift
more communities out of the devastation of War - so they can thrive,
free from fear.” This is what happened to Sarah’s family: Their house
was completely destroyed by bombs during Saddam Hussein’s regime in
Northern Iraq; her father could not even locate where it had once stood.
Now, thanks to Christian Aid and its local partners, a vibrant community
has ben built up. Where rubble once stood, there are greenhouses
bursting with vegetables, a reservoir teeming with fish and a house that
Sara’s family feels safe in. Soon there will be electricity in the power lines.
Christian Aid, with your help, rebuilds lives!
Thank you for your giving.
Jean Beecher, for the Christian Aid Committee
11
Your help would be much appreciated with refreshments and
administration at the next
Kick London 5-a-side Football Tournament
At Oasis Academy Shirley Park (Ashburton)
on 19th July 2014
Last year half a dozen Shirley Methodist volunteers made a huge
difference when over 40 teams turned up! They had some fun too!
This year – Could you bake some fairy cakes beforehand? Help
sell drinks and snacks on the day? Pick up litter
wards? Or register and welcome teams?
after-
Please speak to Kate or Graham Marsden,
or email [email protected] / phone 020 8653 242
the sooner the better please. Thank you
21st June - deadline for teams to apply
19th July - 11.00 -1200 – welcome & register
12.30 - tournament begins; 17.00 - tournament finals
2010:…17 teams…
2011:…26 teams…
2012:…35 teams…
2013:…47 teams…
2014:…?
Two teams from our Kick London Academy at Shirley will be
taking part- come and cheer them on - and maybe lend
a hand for a short time.
12
News from the Leprosy Mission
Breaking down the stigma of leprosy
The first definition I came across of stigma in the
dictionary is a sign of disgrace or discredit. We all
know this meaning, and even in our "developed"
world there are forms of ill-health such as mental
health that are seen to create a stigma.
For people with leprosy, the physical effects of the disease are very
visible and stigma is a huge issue. Take for example, the Nepalese
lady, Tsulimaya, who has no fingers and injured feet. She and other
people with leprosy were once outcast from their village of Okhpawr
in Nepal. They were even forbidden by fellow villagers from collecting
water from the common tap.
The Okhrpawr villagers affected by leprosy had been travelling to one
of the mission's outreach centres. Our staff encouraged them to set
up a self help group. This grew quickly to 18 people. We even brought
a doctor along to explain to the other villagers that these people,
despite their disabilities, were completely cured of leprosy and they
had nothing to be scared of.
The self-help group have set up their own strawberry growing business. Strawberry growing was an ideal trade as the plants are soft and
would cause no harm to people with numb hands as a result of
leprosy. The climate in the hilly region is ideal for strawberries, only
introduced from England 15 years ago and viewed as something of a
delicacy in the markets of nearby Kathmandu. Now the group are an
integral part of village life. The stigma and misunderstandings have
completely disappeared and they are valued members of the community. This is the result of The Leprosy Mission giving them a voice.
Please pray that wherever these people or groups affected by leprosy
encounter ignorance that the Lord will work to bring understanding
and support in their communities.
Harvey Beck
13
one-to-one sessions, enabling
people with dementia to express
themselves.
NEWS FROM MHA
Pam knows the power of music
therapy. "Music, especially in the
hands of a skilled music therapist,
can find the person in a way
which is so encouraging," she
MHA Patron Pam Rhodes says. "And I'm very glad to be able
regularly meets congregations to bring this message to people in
expressing their faith with the Radio 4 Appeal.
joyous song when she presents
BBC's Songs of Praise. And when "There are so many people with
she gives the Radio 4 Appeal on all sorts of talents and skills doing
Sunday 6 July, she will be remarkable work for MHA. As
imploring 2.4 million listeners to Patron, I can bring my backgive to MHA's Music Therapy ground in broadcasting to help all
Appeal, helping people with the others who do so much."
dementia to find their voices and
To find out more and to make a
themselves every day.
donation, please visit the MHA
Music Therapy Appeal's
"I've been presenting Songs of
JustGiving page .
Praise for about 27 years and
in all that time I've always been
aware of the power of music and
how it touches people on a level
that goes way beyond just
singing the words," Pam said.
"Music seems to unlock not just
the memory, but also the
personality…. and MHA recognises this."
Across MHA, trained Music
Therapists provide group and
14
Listen out for MHA’s Appeal on
BBC Radio 4
(FM 92.4 - 94.6, LW 198),
on Sunday 6 July at 7.55 am
and 9.26 pm,
or Thursday 10 July at 3.27pm.
One hundred years on!
‘The more things change, the more they stay the same ‘… and I was reminded of this when I saw Ella, my 8 year-old grand-daughter,
enrolled as a Brownie at the beginning of June! Ella is the
fourth generation of my family to be involved with the
Scout/Guide movement, following in the footsteps of her
father, her Grandmother and her Great Grandmother!
I felt so proud to see her in her uniform. But what a different set of clothes this is from what I wore as a Brownie –
and from what my mother wore before me! And how
sensible the new mix and match clothes are: you can
choose between different items of clothing, but they are all
suitable for the energetic activities Brownies enjoy!
When Brownies first started, 100 years ago this year,
they were called 'Rosebuds.' They didn't have to wear
a uniform, but girls usually wore a dark blue knitted
jersey, dark blue skirt and a tam (small hat). My
mother joined in 1917, just 3 years after the movement started. The uniform she wore was a brown
tunic dress with patch pockets, a brown belt, knitted
cap and brown tie. My mother used to say that you
couldn’t go and buy a uniform in
the shops when she joined and that
her mother had to make her a
brown overall – and knit her woolly cap! By the time I
became a Brownie, the uniform was like the picture on the
left.
The uniform may have changed, but I am happy to say that
the ethos remains the same. The Promise Ella made was
not so different from the one I made all those years ago:
I promise that I will do my best:To be true to myself and develop my
beliefs,To serve the Queen and my community,To help other people and
To keep the Brownie Guide Law.
Margaret Chan
15
A Letter from the Trenches
This is the second part of a letter belonging to Christina Lyon
Williams. Written to her Grandfather, Edgar George Waite by his
friend Ernest Morley at the end of 1914 from ‘Somewhere in
France’ (probably near Ypres). The first part was published in last
month’s newsletter. Edgar George Waite (also serving in France at
the time) was the father of Christina’s mother, Doreen Hurrell,
who was a member of Shirley Methodist Church for over 40 years,
along with her husband Jack. Ernest Morley died nine months later, killed by a shell when he was working clearing trenches of
debris.’ BELOW Portrait of Ernest Morley
29/ 12/ 1914
SOMEWHERE in FRANCE
… We are billeted in a
large cotton spinning factory and sleep on the
stone floors between the
looms. Have quite a comfortable bed on a heap of
flax or cotton threads.
Absolute luxury after the
trenches. This town is
about the first place we
have struck where one
can buy any luxuries in
the shape of food of any description. It is a large place and has
some magnificent shops and buildings, half of which are in ruins as
the Huns have subjected it to several severe bombardments. For
16
no reason whatever: there is no battery in it nor is it of any strategic
importance.
I went the other day and had a four course dinner at the Hotel de
France for two Francs. This afternoon three of us went to a barbers to
get a shave. (The second shave I have had since December 1st!!) It was
a scream!! The boy lathered us and a woman wielded the razor. And
by the way she scraped me I began to think she must be of German
origin – with evil designs! Anyroad I came off with only one cut and
three pimples off. Then I had a wash and then a shampoo at which
three persons – the woman, a man and a boy helped. Meanwhile the
other two fellows sat and roared. But my turn came when they sat in
the chair of torture! The cost of the whole lot came to 3½ d! Make an
English barber blush! It was very cheap but I think I shall give it a miss
in future.
While we are out “resting” we are making hay while the sun shines
and living on the fat of the land. I went today to an “estaminet” and
had omelette, coffee and pommes de terre frites, just to pass away
the time. We had eight eggs in the omelette – there were three of us
– which cost us 3d each apart from cooking so I suppose it is unnecessary to state that we have been paid.
I am writing this (letter) on a board stuck between two looms while I
sit on the floor so feel quite proud of such a long letter. The first day
we were here we made ourselves very comfortable with little fires in
empty tins etc. But the order has come out that no naked lights are to
be used. So we have no fires, are not allowed to smoke, I have had to
enclose the candle I am writing by in a glass chimney pinched off a
useless gas bracket, there being no gas on. I suppose they are afraid
of the ironwork of the machine or
the stone floor catching fire.
Will close now, wishing you the best
of luck and a decent time.
Till we meet again on the plank.
Your chum, Ernest
(Ernest Morley)
17
I arrived at St Mary-le-Bow church
very early as I was not too sure of how
the trains were running. Around 1.00
o’clock it was time for a short service
to start, led by the rector, Rev’d
George R Bush, followed by a talk by
a lady from Columbia speaking in her
native tongue with a translator. Then
it was off on the walk.
This year, there was the option of
doing the circuit in a clockwise or
anti-clockwise direction. I decided to
start in the anti-clockwise wise direction. At each church we visited, we
were given a gold star stamp on our
route guide booklet.
The first three churches on leaving St
Mary-le-Bow were Wren churches: St
Lawrence Jewry, St Margaret Lothbury, one of the smaller churches in
the city, and St James Garlickhythe.
Next came St Mary Woolnoth, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor,
whose most famous works are the
west towers of Westminster Abbey.
At All Hallows by the Tower, we
enjoyed coffee and tea and listened
to songs from musicals played on the
piano. The next church, my favourite,
was St Olave. The first woman to die
of the plague is buried here, along
with 365 others. Charles Dickens worshipped here and he said of it, “this is
my favourite churchyard, the grave
yard of St Ghastly Grim”. After that
came Bevis Marks Synagogue, which
18
has some very interesting internal
architecture dating back 300
years. A couple of other stops and
we arrived at St Giles Cripplegate,
where there was face painting, balloon modelling, paint a tee shirt and
tea and coffee.
Then a long trek to St Bartholomew
the Less, which is under the arch as
one enters St Bartholomew’s
hospital - and on to St Sepulchre,
one of the largest churches in the
city. Time was running out so I
dashed off to St Brides, another
Wren church, in Fleet Street. This
church was always known as the
printers’ church.
My last stop was at St Andrew by
the Wardrobe, which got its name
because in the days of King Edward
III, the royal robes were stored
nearby. Finally, it was back to St
Mary-le-Bow where we got our
final stamp and a certificate!
I am so very grateful to everyone
who sponsored me and helped me
exceed my target of £1000 .
Thank you very much.
Richard Dutton
STOP PRESS!!!!
!!Richard’s final total was £1130!!
Congratulations, Richard, on this
magnificent effort! (ed)
Brownies News
We went off to Cudham for the Big Brownie Birthday on Saturday,
June 21st. It is the first of many celebrations for our Centenary - this one was for the district so there were over
500 Brownies having a great time.
We met up with another pack to play rounders in June
and in July it is the swimming gala. Now we have a full
pack, we are hoping that we will do well and possibly win
the cup.
Our last meeting this summer will be on the 17th July
with our own end of term party.
Julie and Karen
St John’s School Governor needed
I am about to finish my term as a school governor at St John’s C of E
Primary School in Spring Park Road, Shirley. I have enjoyed the
experience and found it rewarding, getting to know the school, how it
works and being part of the Governing Body.
The rest of the governors at St John’s are members of Anglican
churches, and the Governing Body is very keen to maintain its link with
Shirley Methodist Church by recruiting another of its members.
If you are interested in or would like to know more about this worthwhile role, speak to me or contact the Chair of St John’s Governing
Body, John Phillipson on 020 8656 6500 or 07956 353196.
Jenny Crook
19
Talents Festival 2015
Look out for the Talents Festival
Syllabuses for next year’s Festival!
They will be available at the beginning of
July in the Welcome Area.
Whether you have taken part at previous Festivals as a competitor or
as a spectator, or if the Talents Festival is new to you, we hope you
will find some classes to try in this syllabus. Whatever your interests,
there is a wide range of creative and performing classes from which
to choose.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR ENTRIES:
ENTRY FORMS - Closing date for entry forms for all classes to be
given to your church’s Festival Co-ordinator: no later than Sunday
16th November 2014.
FINISHED ENTRIES – Creative Classes entries are due in to your
church’s Festival Co-ordinator: no later than Sunday 18th January
2015.
TALENTS FESTIVAL DAY: Saturday 7th March 2015
Jenny Crook (Shirley Methodist Talents Festival Co-ordinator)
John Ruskin Choral Society Summer 2014 Concert
Songs from Walt Disney, including music from
The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Songs of the
South, Jungle Book, Aladdin
and Mary Poppins
Anthony Goode – Piano
Adrian Connell – Conductor
Saturday 5th July at 7. 30 pm @Shirley Methodist Church,
£7/£6 students free
Tickets on the door or email: [email protected]
20
Musical Notes from Paul
Davies
Tau Wey's concerts both at Fairfield
and in the Church were very
successful, although the former was
worthy of a larger audience. As usual,
Tau performed a wonderfully balanced programme containing something for everyone (in fact I enjoyed
it so much that I went and heard him
perform the same programme at
Bromley Parish Church a couple of
weeks later!!). Later in the year Tau
will be performing Beethoven's Concerto No. 5 (The Emperor) in Notting
Hill; this is probably one of the most
demanding concertos in the concert
repertoire.
Over the past few months I have
attended one or two lunchtime and
Saturday morning concerts at
churches in the area and this has
made me realise how fortunate we
are to attract the audience numbers
that we regularly attain. Several of
those who have performed have remarked on how pleasant it is to enter
the church to generous applause
from a sizeable audience and we
shall do all that we can to keep the
interest alive in Shirley.
Having said that, our lunchtime concert on Thursday 4 September at
1.15pm will be a little different in
that it will be an organ programme to
include music by Bach, Bossi, Vierne
and Widor. I have spoken to Paul
Jeffery, the organist, and he tells me
21
that the Widor piece will be the famous Toccata, which a lot of people
process down the aisle to after being
married! Being the old traditionalist
that I am give me Mendelssohn any
day.!
Our relationship with Trinity School
seems to strengthen with each succeeding term and they have asked us
to host two extra concerts during
November. The first of these will be a
lunchtime event on Friday 14 November and the second will be an
evening event starting a 6.00 pm on
Thursday 20 November. Both of
these concerts will be given by soloists from the School.
Lastly, two forthcoming events which
might be of interest. On Monday 7
July Trinity School will be holding
their Summer Gala Concert in their
Concert Hall at 7.00 pm. This concert
which features students from every
level of ability culminates in a performance by the Mighty Orchestra
which comprises every student in the
School who is learning to play an instrument and is always a wondrous
cacophony!! On Saturday 19th July
at 1.00 pm Croydon Music and Arts
who are based at the Oasis Academy
will be presenting their End of Term
Concert. These students come from
all over the borough and from both
State and Independent schools. Both
their teachers and the students
themselves work and practise very
hard and will welcome anyone who
can spare the time to hear them.
Sunday Morning Club News
During our sessions in June we have started a
series about Mission as welcome, based on
sections from Matthew’s Gospel in Chapters 10-13.
It is wonderful to welcome a crowd of young people on Sunday
mornings, although quite a challenge to interest a range of ages,
from teens to five year olds.
With the summer holidays approaching, we have been discussing a
project to work on in Sunday Morning Club during August. We would
like to do a practical task to enhance church property and are
thinking of renovating some of the older small tables. We are
appealing to those with DIY interests to help direct the members of
Sunday Morning Club, as well as its teachers. Could you help? If you
could, please talk to Rosemary Jones.
Our Kick London Academy recently celebrated a financial boost and a
prestigious award to one of its members. The Jack Petchey Foundation gave Kick London Shirley Academy £200, which has gone towards buying players’ kit and replacing the goals. One of the players,
Patrick, received his award for being a loyal, reliable member of his
team, looking after younger players and showing leadership skills.
Patrick was presented with his award by Revd Jenny Impey, one of
the London District Chairs, during Café Worship at Shirley on the final
day of the Circuit Pilgrimage.
Our Kick London Shirley Academy Teams are now kitted out for the
Kick London 5-a-side Football Tournament, taking place at Oasis
Academy Shirley Park in Shirley Road, on Saturday 19th July, starting
at 12 noon. We shall be entering two teams. Our teams’ kit is a
distinctive red and black horizontal stripe. Do come to watch and
cheer for some or all of the afternoon!
Finally, on Saturday 12th July Kick London is organising a fund raising quiz night at Shirley Methodist, which starts at 7.30 pm, and
would welcome the support of church members.
22
Layworker’s Lorry
Continuing last month's
theme of journeying I
wanted to share some of
the success of the Circuit
Pilgrimage. A happy and
inspirational
weekend
was had by all. Tying in with Pentecost celebrations, young, old,
and inbetween-ers met, ate,
prayed, ate, shared, ate and returned to the 'four corners' full!
Some of the Circuit's young people helped lead Café Worship at
Shirley to
conclude the pilgrimage. Some
visited sister churches for Sunday
worship. Others created music to
welcome travellers on their journey. It was also heartening to see
a number of the Circuit's young
adults taking on roles of preparation and organisation for the activities and feasts which
encouraged
everyone on.
Plans are underway for a follow
up event next year. Continuation
of the Bible studies as groups or
individual devotions are also encouraged in an event which happily brought people together to
share fellowship and tell the
23
stories of God's love for all. If you
weren't able to take part a full
account will be available on the
London Methodist District website: www.methodistlondon.org .
Unfortunately, the weekend also
fell in the middle of the school
exam season, precluding some
from taking part. However, that
time is now over and young people experience that lull that occurs while they await results and
the unfolding of their future lives.
Please continue to remember
teachers and pupils in your
prayers that some of the immense pressure they are under
does not flatten them individually
or our society.
Thankfully, this season also offers
some chance for holiday and I will
be spending the beginning and
the end of August taking young
people away. Firstly, various
large vehicles will be crammed
full to take the Boys' & Girls'
Brigade to their annual camp on
the Isle of Wight and, secondly,
smaller vehicles will take a group
to the Greenbelt Christian Arts
Festival.
Pinewood
Explorer
Scouts will venture farther in airborne vehicles, revisiting Switzerland where they had a very
successful time a few years ago.
Christ Church will also hold their
summer Holiday Club.
We look forward to a continued
time of sharing fellowship and
faith and hope that the season will
also bring some pleasant weather,
particularly appreciated when
camping!
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Lindsey Macfarlane
Youth Development Officer
[email protected]
020 8653 2424
Going to church
doesn't make you
a Christian any
more than standing in a garage
makes you a car.
A clear conscience is usually
the sign of a bad memory.
Knowledge is knowing a
tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not
putting it in a fruit salad.
24
Quiz Night
raising funds for
7.30 pm Sat 12th July
@ Shirley Methodist Church
£5 each – Teams of up to 8
Tickets from Circuit Office
020 8654 8460
The sign below was spotted recently on a car in Addiscombe
High Street! …. Excuse the
American spelling!
IT’s ALL CHANGE AT SHIRLEY
METHODIST CHURCH!!
Like the buses, sometimes no changes seem to
come along - and then several come together!
Here at SMC we have relied for so many years on
Dave Bateson and Bill Smart who have quietly
and efficiently filled some of our most important roles. But nothing
stays the same for ever and we are now advertising for other people
to take over from them. After seeing our advertisement for a Jumble
Sale Organiser to take over from Dave, Julie Hawkins (better known to
our Brownies as Fluffy Owl!) has offered to take over organising the
autumn Sale. Now we need volunteers to take on the other two vital
roles Dave is giving up. Bill Smart, also, is giving up two of the positions
he has held at SMC for so many years and we need to find people to
take over from him, too.
The four jobs that require filling are:
From August 2014:
Senior Property Steward.
Property Secretary.
Anyone interested speak to David Bateson
or Bill Smart.
and
From May 2015 (or earlier):
Chair of Property Committee.
Lettings Secretary.
If interested speak to Bill Smart.
DON’T BE DAUNTED BY THESE ROLES!
Do speak to Dave or Bill for more information and to see just what
is involved. If time is an issue for you,
you might consider a ‘job share’ with another person!
25
SPOTLIGHT
on …..
Fundraising
for our Haiti
Project!
Downsview Methodist Church was
thrilled to welcome Haitian minister Rev Marcus Torchon to launch
the fundraising for Thomassin Vocational College. On Saturday
evening 14 June Downsview members, along with representatives
from Christchurch, Addington and
Norbury churches from the wider
Croydon Circuit listened in rapt attention to Rev Torchon as he told
them, "Yes you can!" sharing with
them the success story from his
own Wirral Circuit, which raised
£235,000 to rebuild the Lévèque
Methodist school in post earthquake Haiti "You can do it as well in
this part of London," said Marcus.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the evening,
with the Quiz, the wonderful
speakers and delicious Haitian
food,"
commented
Hania
Wisskirchen, a young church steward at Downsview.
Following the 2010 earthquake,
which devastated the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, Thomassin
Methodist Church has a vision to
help young people in their area develop skills in order to provide a
livelihood. Small satellite villages
like Thomassin have had to absorb
many of the people left behind following the devastation of the
earthquake.
"This is Our Haiti Project," said Anne
McConnell-Wisskirchen who has
been spearheading Downsview's efforts, along with Pearl Quartey, Tracy Ennis and Janet Powell to make this
dream a reality, "in response to the
call from the Haiti District of the
Methodist Church to Downsview –
please help us build a new and better
future for the young people of Haiti
with this vocational college and community centre which will also serve as
a Boys' Brigade regional hub."
Another special guest for the evening
was former missionary to Haiti, Rev
Dr Leslie Griffiths who commended
Downsview members for taking this,
"Step of faith," as, "an imaginative
way of helping Haiti, by focussing on
work outside the capital." Especially
as the project is with a sister church,
“the money that we give is to our
brothers and sisters in Christ and not
to objects of charity," continued Lord
Griffiths, who as President of BB UK is
particularly keen on the Boys' Brigade
(BB) link with the Thomassin project.
Marcus and Leslie left Downsview
with a challenge, "2017 will mark
200 years of Methodism in Haiti.
[Following the pioneering work of
British Methodist church planters,
James Catts and John Brown in
1817.] “What can British Methodists offer to celebrate the bicentenary in 2017?"
Answer: Thomassin Vocational
training College?
The college foundations have
been built, but money is needed
to continue the vision, the seed
has been sown at Downsview
Methodist Church, the building
work WILL go on!
(BELOW) Authentic Haitian cuisine was
provided by Haitian caterers, Bookman
Services Ltd. Photo Tracy Ennis
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18th
!!!!!! JUMBLE SALE !!!!!!
Some of you may be aware that
there is a vacancy for someone to
run the annual jumble sale. Dave
Bateson and I have discussed the
'What's What' for the forthcoming jumble and I have decided to
give it a go, and manage the
show!!!
I am hoping that those folk, who
have helped with the jumble sale
before, will be able to help again
this year- the date is Saturday
October 18th.
(BELOW) Downsview members with their
minister Rev Dr Andy Lyons and far right
guest speaker Rev Marcus Torchon. Foreground left: Girls' Brigade member Grace
Benson-Quarm holding a donations box
decorated by the girls for the Haiti
Project Launch! Photo Tracy Ennis
Dave has given me a list of helpers
and what they do but I am
particularly looking for help with
the Refreshments for Sale to the
public.
If you are interested or know of
anyone else who might be, please
ask them to get in touch with me.
I can be reached on 020 8777
9838 ([email protected]).
All help is appreciated. The helpers list will go on the notice board,
in the welcome area, during August.
Many Thanks
Julie Hawkins
A A HUGE THANK YOU, JULIE,
FROM SMC FOR TAKING ON
THIS ROLE! YOU CAN COUNT
ON OUR SUPPORT!
27
People
DO YOU KNOW
YOUR HYMNS?
Ÿ The Dentist's
Hymn..... Crown
Him with Many
Crowns
Ÿ The Weatherman's
Hymn.....Showers of Blessing
Leaving our Care Home
I travelled by car
To Peckham, near Dulwich –
Not very far.
A South Indian restaurant
Was our target that day;
Just recently opened
But we soon found our way.
The food was authentic,
The service was fine It may not be the last time
We’ll come here to dine!
But for me most surprising
In Peckham that day
Of all the folk I could see –
Dining, walking, shopping –
The only ‘Oldie’ was ME!!
by Ruth Anstey
28
Ÿ
The Contractor's Hymn.... The
Church’s One Foundation
Ÿ
The Golfer's Hymn.… There is a
Green Hill Far Away
Ÿ
The Politician's Hymn… Standing on the Promises!
Ÿ Optometrist's Hymn ...Open My
Eyes That I Might See
Ÿ The Tax Collectors’ Hymn... I
Surrender All
Ÿ The Gossip's Hymn......Pass It On
Ÿ The Electrician's Hymn…..Send
The Light
Ÿ The Shopper's Hymn.....Sweet
Bye and Bye
The Estate Agent's Hymn.….I've
Got a Mansion, Just Over the
Hill
Sign up for the Summer Reading
Challenge at Shirley Library!
The Summer Reading Challenge takes place
every year during the summer holidays. This year
it will be starting 12th July and will end 13th
September.It is aimed at children aged 4 to 11
although it is open to any child of all reading
abilities. Children can enrol onto the scheme at
Shirley Library, choose books from specially compiled lists and borrow them from the library to
read either at home or in the library. After they have read their books, they
will be asked very simple questions about the story or they may write a simple review in order to receive their awards. To complete the challenge they
must read six books, whereupon they will receive a certificate and a medal.
The Purpose of the Summer Reading Challenge is to encourage children to
enjoy reading lots of books over their summer holiday.
If you're aged between 13-24 and are interested in volunteering over the
Summer to help run the children's Summer Reading Challenge, please pop
into Shirley Library for more information and an application form.
ALSO OVER THE SUMMER: The following events are all free:
Dragon Crafts. 2.30 - 4.30 pm on Thursday 31st July. For age 3+.
Design your own Mythical Creature. 2.30 - 4.30pm on Tuesday 5th August.
For age 4+.
Stitch a Mermaid. 2.30 - 4.30pm on Thursday 14th August. For age 5+.
Mythical Maze Collage. 2.30 - 4.30pm on Thursday 21st August.For age 3+.
Make a felt mythical creature finger puppet. 2.30 - 4.30pm on Tuesday
August 26th. For age 5+.
Cupcake Decorating Workshop for 11-19 year olds. Monday 4th August
from 3.00 -5.00 pm. Please reserve your place for this event.
Regular Children’s and Adults’ activities and events: please note that there
are different arrangements during the summer holidays and check at the
Library.
29
Kate will be the editor of the September magazine.
Articles should be submitted by Thursday 21st August. This edition
will be available on Sunday 31st August.
Articles can be placed in the box in the Welcome
Area, or sent to: Margaret Chan 31 Ashburton Rd,
Addiscombe (8406 0088); [email protected]
or Kate Marsden 8 Edgewood Green, Shirley
(8654 0872); [email protected]
or Jenny Crook 29 Bingham Rd, Addiscombe
(8406 1342); [email protected]
The photos on our website are updated every now and then; if you
have any you would like included please let Kate Marsden know (see
contact details above). This monthly magazine can also be read via
the website - enabling those who have moved away to keep in touch
and save the cost of stamps! www.shirleymeth.org.uk
The magazine editors welcome contributions from readers. If you
visit an interesting place during the summer months ahead, perhaps
you would like to write an article about it and pass it to one of us - by
email or in the box.
Shirley Neighbourhood Care Shopping Bus to Tesco
Wednesdays: JULY 2, 16, 30 and AUGUST 13, 27
At present the TUESDAY bus is suspended due to
lack of take up but will run if there is sufficient
demand (minimum of 8 passengers).
RETURN FARE: £5.00
The bus will pick you up from your home and return
you there. A volunteer escort will be on hand, to help you on and off the
bus, and help carry shopping to your home.
The minibus is adapted for wheelchairs.
Please indicate your mobility when booking.
Early booking is recommended! Please call Shirley Neighbourhood
Care Office on 020 8662 9599 to book your seat.
30
31