June 08 web · 2017-12-14 · Tuesday 24th June “”Breaking up” tea party All meetings start at 2.30 in the Lower Schoolroom It is summer time - in England. Bound to be raining!

June 2008

Pastoral letter 2Services & Rotas 3What’s on? 4Commitment for Life 6

Church family & Life 5, 9Wider church 7-8, 10-13Prayer Page 14

All Scripture is inspired by God and is usefulfor teaching the truth, rebuking error,correcting faults, and giving instruction forright living, so that the person who servesGod may be fully qualified and equipped todo every kind of good deed.2 Timothy 3:16-17

Recorder - June 20082

Gwen Collins Minister

Dear Friends,

Bernie and I have two Ford Fiestas. They are sturdy little cars that have served us faithfully foryears. I’m afraid, though, that we do not polish them up as often as we should. As I look out ofthe window I can see the dark blue car covered in dust and with a bird having inconsiderately‘performed’ on the bodywork. Oh dear! But our cars are in for a treat in the next week or so. Theyoung people, That Lot and The Other Lot, are going to give them a thorough clean, inside andout, and raise money for Revive into the bargain.

Where do we turn when we really need help? The great consolation of faith is that we are ableto turn to God. How we do that is by reading His word in our bibles and through prayer. As adenomination we have come to realise that many of us in the United Reformed Church haveallowed our bible-use and our prayer-life to get a little bit like Bernie and my Fiestas. Needing agood polish!

The Vision4Life programme offers us the equivalent of a That Lot and The Other Lot carwash forour bible and prayer skills. It springs from the outgoing General Secretary, David Cornick, gettinga group of differing people together to explore Bible and Prayer together and share their faithstories. They found inspiration and strength as they did this. So, together with all URCcongregations, we are invited to dip our toes into the Vision4Life programme this summer andsee if we want to join in with it over the next 3 years. We are asked to have four ‘conversations’,one on the Bible, one on prayer, one on Evangelism and then one to consider our next steps.

Here at Trinity we are going to do that during morning worship on four Sundays. This month wefocus on the first two topics, Bible and Prayer, on the 8th and 29th respectively. We will talk abouthow we use the Bible and how prayer works for us in church and in daily living.

It’s my custom to read from an Old Testament book and a New Testament book near thebeginning of the day, whenever possible. At the moment I am reading Job and Luke. Jobchapters 6 and 7 plunge the depths of human suffering, and rage against God and against life.In chapter 1 Luke begins his account, taken from eyewitnesses, of God breaking into history withstupendous, saving love – starting with babies. It’s emotional stuff. It touches the deepest partsof life – pains and joys. How can we begin to measure such a treasure? Words are transformedinto spiritual fuel.

And that brings us back to cars! We can’t do much about rising petrol and diesel prices. We mayeven feel the need to drive less to make the money stretch. Spiritually we have no suchconstraints. The words of the Bible are beyond price because they convey to us the Living Word,yet we can have free access to them.

Do you have a favourite Bible story? What are you earliest memories of the Bible? Is the wholeBible helpful? What do you think?

Minister : Rev Dr Gwen Collins

e-mail: [email protected]

Church Secretary :Mrs Marian Mole,

e-mail: [email protected]

3Recorder - June 2008

Rotas for June

June Services

Sunday Morning Worship at 10:30am - led by the Minister unless otherwise stated

June 1 Holy CommunionJune 8 10.30 Morning worship: The Bible – Vision4Life

3.00 Songs of Praise with our sisters and brothers from the Polish LutheranCongregation and the Church of God Worldwide Mission

June 15 10.30 All age worship with infant baptism 5.30 Holy CommunionJune 22 Morning worship led by Revd Erna StevensonJune 29 Morning worship: Prayer – Vision4Life

Not included in this version


What’s on in June

June 9th Charity Presentation - Bucks Association for the Blind(Lower Schoolroom - all welcome)

June 23rd Summer Meal - The Crown, Penn (7.15 for 7.30)

WOMEN’S MEETINGTuesday 3rd June “In the beginning”Tuesday 10th June Favourite Bible passagesTuesday 17th June St AlbanTuesday 24th June “”Breaking up” tea party

All meetings start at 2.30 in the Lower Schoolroom

It is summer time - in England. Bound to be raining!Come and play Scrabble to rid yourself of the blues

13th and 27th June

at 2pm

Diary Dates

31 May 9.30am – 12pm The Fifth Brigade - Come & help us tidy/DIY, etc3 June 8pm Elders’ Meeting8 June Songs of Praise with Church of God & Polish Lutherans14 June 10.30am Coffee Morning15 June Church Picnic20-24 June Gwen away at Westminster College26 & 27 June Churches Together Barbecues28 June Coffee Morning1 July 8pm Elders’ Meeting4 & 5 July Faiths’ Fair at The Guildhall5 July That Lot & The Other Lot Sleepover12 July Coffee Morning15 July 8pm Church Meeting19 July 2pm Elders’ & Pastoral Assistants’ Quarterly Meeting26 July 10.30am Coffee Morning28 July – 1 Aug Lighthouse Week4 – 21 Aug Gwen on holiday22-25 Aug Greenbelt Festival30 Aug 9.30am-12pm Fifth Brigade


News of the Family

London Marathon 2008

I just wanted to say a huge thankyou to everyone who supported and sponsored me recently.The money is still coming in but it looks like I will have raised almost £700.

Thankyou all.

Not included in this version


Commitment for LifeAs readers will appreciate, this article was written a few weeks ago. Not a lot haschanged since then.Zimbabwe - Extracts from This state we're in

On the 29th of March 2008, the people of Zimbabwe voted in the election we prayed would usherin the change that would end the tyranny of Robert Mugabe’s regime. A change we so desper-ately needed to put an end to the economic crisis of the past 6 years. It has become apparent toanyone with half a brain and a fistful of $10 million dollar notes in their pocket that the regimewhich has held us in its grip for the past 28 years has failed. This election was the opportunity tolet our voices be heard. Weeks after the elections, the presidential results have yet to beannounced. For the first time in 28 years, ZANU is surprised and unprepared. The state hasrefused to release the final tally, realizing that their man is so far behind they can’t possibly pullthe wool over our eyes as they have done in the past. Robert Mugabe has become a symbol ofthe destructiveness of this nation and the people have spoken.

In the midst of this denial, this insult, our friendly neighbourhood Governor of the Reserve BankDr. Gideon Gono, releases new $25 million and $50 million dollar notes. We are stuck in thisbizarre paradox of domestic violence, optionless and complicit. The government raises its fist andstrikes the blow that denies us our election and then throws us pieces of candy to try and soothethe restless. “Here, take some more of this fake, worthless money we printed today”, they say. Iimagine Dr. G, in full swagger driving his Mercedes throwing cash at the TV screen like PuffDaddy. He’s living the good life, just like on MTV. Which is all fine except, people are dying. Thenation is on its knees and what we want is far more than a Mercedes Benz. We want our freedom.

No one is prepared for this tactic and ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) officials continueto prohibit the release of the election results. Last week they argued in court that it would bedangerous to do so and that anyway, it was ‘privileged information’. Indeed. Speculation is rifethat the state will simply insist on a run-off and do Election 2.0. This time, they’re adopting SuperRigging: guaranteed results or your money back. And the MDC? After 8 years of trying, the MDCface the prospect of being outmanoeuvred once again.

Zimbabwe’s greatest tragedy is that we fought for freedom only to have it wrested from us by ourliberators. The will of the people has long ceased to matter to our former liberators, nowoppressors. This election is merely an elaborate pretence. Backed into a corner, the state and itsallies fear-monger through the media. Lofty statements like, “The trouble with these elections, isthat they were free and fair” and “We are now going to go to war, peacefully” show an iron-claddetermination that this situation will not soon be resolved. ZANU PF open their mouths and hopethat bluster, grandiloquence and threats will cover up the gaping hole that is the government’srefusal to admit that they have lost. But they cannot hide their fear. In this crucial battle betweenthe fist and the open palm, will we have our truth?

As we brace ourselves, politicians continue to play their games. They hold meeting after meeting.Summits, even. Declarations are declared and strikes are stricken. They go to court and petition.They plead with our neighbours who turn a blind eye, aware that just as with domestic violence,it would be improper to intervene. Certainly it would be impossible to reprimand a man of suchhigh esteem and stature. But for Zimbabweans engaged in the daily hustle for survival, elections,politics and politicians mean nothing now. We are too busy erecting our elaborate yet crumblingfaçade of existence. In between the political charades, Zimbabweans continue the Harare hustleas prices sky rocket and pockets empty. A billionaire today but a few purchases later, you’re justa millionaire wondering where you’re going to get that next billion. If this isn’t a crisis then it’s acarefully orchestrated theatrical production where death is the final act. Forced onto the stage,Zimbabweans heart-breakingly act out their prescribed roles. Our eyes hollow, our smiles wideand empty, we limply animate ourselves, hoping for a new story, a new director, a chance at adifferent ending. But with each passing week this hope fades and we brace ourselves for theviolence.[credit Tawanda Mudzonga ]


THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, THAMES NORTH SYNOD DAYSaturday 21 ~ JUNE 2008

1.00pm to 7.00pmPlanned Programme:

Noon onwards picnics on the recreation ground opposite the church

1.00- 3.Oopm Eniov Broxboume with a choice of activities:River Walk: a casual, less-than-2--hour walk along the river led by John Morton andDon Wratten, easy grade, mostly flat - suitable for prams/wheelchairs.Woodland Walk: a casual walk, mostly on gravelled paths, with ups and downs. ledby Liz Cullen. Cars needed to get to the starting point.Time: both walks about 1¼ hours. (Cancelled if heavy rain)River Boat Trip 2 x 50 mm trips @ 1.00 and 2.00 pm, 50 people each trip, firstcome, first served (£3.50 per person, please book & pay)

Bicycles can be hired from the centre by the river(£2 first hour, £1.20 thereafter. £20 deposit — pay the centre on the day)

2.15 - 3.15 Tea and cake and a chance to chat with Roberta

3.30 - 4.50 Service and Presentation (in Parish Church across recreation ground)

5.00 — 6.00ish BBQ (Burger, hot dog & drink - vegetarian option available), and a chance to chat withRoberta. (£2.00 per head, please book & pay)

6.00ish - 7.00ish Roberta in Concert: well-loved music played by our well-loved Moderator (please indi-cate interest in concert)

Car parking available at nearby Broxbourne Primary School• NB: Children remain the responsibility of their parents/carers/leaders at all times!

Please detach and return with payment to Mrs Mandy Adams. Ipalo House, 32-34 Great Peter Street,SWIP 2DB, Tel: 0207 799 5000 EmaB modpaeugcfhomesnorfh.o~q.uk(cheques to be made out to: ‘URC Thames North Synod~)

PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY!

Name: Telephone number:Address: email address, if relevant:1. River Boat trip: person/people, @ £3.50 each, payment enclosed Yes/No2. BBQ: _______ person/people, © £2 each Vegetarian option required: Yes / No

payment enclosed Yes/No3. Roberta in Concert: _________ people would like to stay and listen.


Spring HarvestWhen I was asked to say a few words about what I had come away with from Spring Harvest,my first thought was sore feet and a sore throat. A sore throat from all the singing and sore feetfrom the miles we seemed to cover moving from venue to venue, next time I am going to takepedometer out of curiosity.

Many different words spring to mind when thinking about our few days there. There was laughterand friendship, we were inspired, challenged, motivated, disturbed, saddened, heard aboutinjustice and hope. Hope being this year’s theme.

How to describe Spring Harvest, in a few sentences, to someone who has never been before! Ithink, the best way is a “Giant Bible Study Holiday”.

You start the day with very lively family worship. Everyone then goes off to his or her chosenseminar/workshop activity. I followed the route of listening to a brilliant speaker for the first halfof the morning, then on to a bible study where the talk I had just heard was broken down anddigested. After lunch there were a few seminars/talks/ workshops that you could attend shouldyou wish to, I for example attended one on “Hope in Bereavement” but the afternoons weremainly holiday time. Everyone was free to use all the facilities that Butlins offer, the swimmingpool, venture park etc. There are many activities for the children including a football leaguecompetition. Us oldies spent the afternoons a little more sedately, like going to a nearby NationalTrust village for a cream tea. The day winds down with evening worship, again this can be verylively (2 hours of “happy clappy” in the big top) or as our group chose, a quieter more thoughtprovoking service of Readings and Reflections from the Celtic Saints.

The day ends with entertainment, either by bands, singers, talks from guest speakers, a theatregroup or this year a pair of resident comedians who were on every night. All these activities areopen to both young and old, but be warned, they start at 10.30pm, so it’s only for the strong orthose suffering from insomnia.

I have now been to Spring Harvest twice and experienced both Minehead and Skegness sitesand despite the wind, rain and sore feet I would go again. It is a very uplifting experience, it isalmost surreal, standing in a shop queue buying toilet roll surrounded by other Christians. Thisobviously is just a glimpse of Spring Harvest and everyone who goes will experience and bringback different thoughts and comments, but my cup was well and truly topped up, and I highlyrecommend the experience to everyone.

It is nearly time to book again, so if you think you might like to go, have a word with MargaretLewis (who does the bookings) or myself.

Enriching Church Life

Last November during one of our services everyone present was invited to completea very detailed questionnaire as part of a survey about what we thought of the life ofour church. Trinity was the first church in the UK to do this and we have now receivedthe profile with all the results from that questionnaire. It is summarised on the pageopposite and during the coming months we will be looking to how we can progress,with the Spirit’s guidance, as a worshipping community of Christians here in HighWycombe building on the Vision we have for Trinity in the 21st Century.


Where is Your Church Most Alive?

Based on your results, here are the Core Qualities for your church:Trinity United Reformed Church

NCLS Code: UKUR000001

Based on 15 years of research NCLS Research hasidentified 9 Core Qualities of healthy churches.

The Internal Core Qualities focus on the inner lifeof the community of faith.

The Inspirational Core Qualities are the majorcatalysts for churches to move forward.

The Outward Core Qualities are about howchurches focus beyond themselves.

Your church hasa Church LifeProfile with yourfull results fromyour LocalChurch LifeSurvey.


WycombeYouth for Christ

We would like to thank all of you for allyour support and encouragement of usand the work. It is because of yoursupport that we are able to continue withthe work – thank you.The Easter Eggs-plained Presentationsin partnership with The Pastures Church,for Downley and Disraeli Schools werevery warmly received. The feedbackfrom the schools has been excellent.Praise God!The Easter Presentations we supportedat St. Birinus & St. John’s Church withChiltern Gate School went very well.Both the children and teachers enjoyedthe sessions. These children are a joy towork with; full of enthusiasm and excite-ment.We are looking to work with a number ofschools, in partnership with churches,running ‘Moving Up’ sessions with theYear 6’s; the aim of these is to supportthe children in their transition to Second-ary School.Last term we had help from Rachel Park-er (Union Baptist Church); she came andspent some time with us working with,and helping in, the local Primary Schools.She was an asset to the team and bless-ed by her help and support.

Extracts from the Wycombe Youth for Christnewsletter - Primary section

WYFC Prayer Requests

We would be thankful and encouraged ifyou could pray for WYFC as a teamincluding the following:- Pray that God would continue to open

doors and create opportunities to workcloser with Schools and churches.

- Pray that God would grant wisdom,guidance and strength to our Trustees.

- Pray that we would continue to followGod’s leading in all that we do.

- Pray that God would provide for all ourneeds, including our finances.

LIGHTHOUSE HAZLEMERE & HIGH WY-COMBE

Monday 28th July – Friday 1st August

Over the Easter Holidays, we spent many hours col-lating the teaching, creating the worksheets and writ-ing the drama. God blessed our time, inspiration andthe work. The praise and glory for this are His.

There is still much work to do for everyone involved.There is also still a great need for more volunteers inmany capacities, from those working directly withchildren to help with the site. If you can help inanyway please contact the LH Office on HW 714012or visit:

INVITATION & DIARY DATE

We are encouraged and blessed that the Wycombe Prayer Team has had Wycombe YouthFor Christ on their hearts. So, in June a meeting is to be held at WYFC and part of the meetingwill be to pray for us and the work. As supporters we would like to invite you along to thismeeting. The meeting is being held on Saturday 7th June at 6.00-9.00am at KingfisherHouse, 109a West Wycombe Road, HP12 3AB.

You are all very welcome to come and join us. We hope and pray that this will be a time ofseeking God and hearing Him speak.


Extracts from the Wycombe Youth for Christnewsletter - Secondary section

Schools Work

The amount of schools work we are getting con-tinues to be low and doesn’t look like improving.

in all of our schools.

we run are still growing, with new people com-ing each week.

they would strengthen and we would seemore work there.

Lighthouse/fresh Café

The plans for Lighthouse and FreshCafé are well under way already. Wehave a big part to play in both Light-house and Fresh Café this year.

plan for the main stage of Light-house - that we would be opento God.

Fresh Café, as the team work tobring things together.

Lighthouse and Fresh Café.

ning of both events.

Synthesize

Synthesize, the after school drop in centre, will be openingagain this term. We are hoping that we will continue to seeyoung people coming along.

adapt the project.

and enjoy themselves.

Art of connecting

This is a 6 week course that helps the young people attendingto effectively share their faith with their friends and peers. Wewill be involved in running a course over the next half term.

ready in time.

be given a new desire to share.

Wyde/Cross Section

The work with this group contin-ues. We have lost one of our plan-ning team and we are looking toreplace this person. We have aCross Section events planned forJune 22nd.

proaching people to helpwith the planning of theseevents.

keep attending and thatthey will continue to bechallenged.

as they talk about theirdirection and the way togo next.


AREA DISABILITY ADVOCATE - Job Description

An Area Disability Advocate is:

A Representative- reporting the concerns of congregations to their Synod’s Area Committee meet-

ing with other Synod Area Advocates and the Synod’s Disability Coordinator

The Synod Executive recommends that the Area Disability Advocate should be co-optedonto their Synod Area Committee. The Advocate should liaise with their Area PastoralCommittee and the Synod Disability Coordinator in considering formal requests forsupport in providing facilities to remove barriers to inclusion

An Advisor- having a personal and pastoral concern for congregations who are actively working

to remove barriers to inclusion and offering help where any difficulty arises;

informing congregations about relevant training opportunities and other events,activities etc. and, where appropriate, arranging them;

encouraging ministers and churches to identify potential barriers to inclusion and totake steps to remove them

An Administrator-

maintaining records of congregations and their policies on inclusiveness

maintaining records of those who are willing to work to ensure all are included.

Synod Job Vacancy Details of one vacancy have already appeared in theRecorder. This is the other vacancy referred to at that time.

A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?'

The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children andso was all mankind made.'

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father an-swered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the humanrace evolved.'

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, 'Mum, how is it possiblethat you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they de-veloped from monkeys?'

The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my sideof the family and your father told you about his.'


Recorder Editor :e-mail : [email protected]

Church web site: http://www.trinity-urc.org.uk

The next edition of the Recorder will be published on 29th June.Closing date for contributions is Friday 20th June

This month we would like to wish

A Very Happy BirthdayWith love from all at Trinity.

With Best Wishes to

on celebrating their respective 70th and 60 th Birthdays


Dear God, it is so hard for us not to be anxious,we worry about work and money,about food and health,about weather and crops,about war and politics,about loving and being loved.Show us how perfect love casts out fear.Monica Furlong

Sunday for Gwen and Bernie CollinsMonday for the work of Amnesty InternationalTuesday pray for the work of Traidcraft – both for their commercial and fundraising operationsWednesday for all involved in preparing for ‘Lighthouse 2008’Thursday for Commitment for Life projects in Zimbabwe, Jamaica and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesFriday for people in the Wycombe area who are still homelessSaturday for Wycombe Churches Together as they prepare for the town barbeques this month

If I can do some good today,if I can serve along life’s way,if I can something helpful say,

Lord, show me how.

If I can right a human wrong,if I can help to make one strong,if I can cheer with smile or song,

Lord, show me how.

If I can aid one in distress,if I can make a burden less,

if I can spread more happiness,Lord, show me how.

Grenville Kleiser

Loving God,open our hearts,so that we may feel the breath and play of your Spirit.Unclench our handsso that we may reach out to one another,and touch and be healed.Open our lipsthat we may drink in the delight and wonder of life.Unclog our earsto hear your agony in our inhumanity.Open our eyes,so that we may see Christ in friend and stranger.Breathe your Spirit into us,and touch our lives with the life of Christ, Amen.AnonGod our Father,

you disarm our judgementwith your outrageous mercy;and the punishment we seekyou turn to celebration.Life our self-loathing,and embrace our stubbornness,that we too may show such fatheringto an embittered world,through Jesus Christ, Amen.Janet Morley

Documents

June 08 web · 2017-12-14 · Tuesday 24th June “”Breaking up” tea party All meetings start at 2.30 in the Lower Schoolroom It is summer time - in England. Bound to be raining!