THE OPEN DOOR

Myriad web

The Magazine of the

Lymington United Reformed Church

SEPTEMBER 2011

FROM AN ELDER The Lord said to Solomon, "If you obey all my laws and commands, I will do for you what I promised your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this Temple that you are building, and I will never abandon them. (1 Kings 6. 11-13) My Bible-reading notes this week have been about King Solomon and I was particularly struck by these verses. Solomon, the son and successor to the great King David, made a very good start to his reign, when he asked God for wisdom and discernment, rather than for a long life or riches. He did possess great wisdom and he built the magnificent Temple to the Lord, to worship God and to provide a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. However he did not always obey all the laws and commands of Almighty God. The riches and splendour of this world gradually took precedence over divine worship and, as a result of this disobedience; his kingdom became divided after his death into the insignificant states of Israel and Judah. I think that this is something that we must always bear in mind. Our church is now a beautiful place of worship and we do our best to make it an Open Door to our community. We hope to encourage others to come in and find the true and enduring love and peace that only belief and faith in God can bring. However it is not only our beautiful building that others notice when they enter our church, it is the welcome that they receive from us once they are inside. I am sure that God takes pleasure in the building that we have worked so hard over the years to bring to fruition; but a church without worshippers is just an empty space. God’s real interest is in us. Each one of us represents God’s Church here on earth and He is judged by how well we manage to live up to his ideals. We are responsible to God, as well as to our fellow men and women, in

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the way we live our lives, not only when we come to worship, but when we return home, when we are tired and out of sorts. It’s far from easy, as we all know, but if we do our utmost to follow his commands, then our reward is that we know that He will never abandon us. God is always with us, so long as we trust in him. As Jesus said to his followers "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8. 31-32)

Mary Ann

SECRETARY'S NOTES SEPTEMBER 2011 Exciting times!! Firstly, we're delighted to welcome Lymington Salvation Army . They will have started worshipping in our Church on Sunday afternoons. By the time this is published, we hope there will have been a very joyful, sunny, well-attended Songs of Praise in our Forecourt on 14th August. It's great to share with them and we hope they will feel at home, here. We pray that it will lead to more ways in which we can share activities and worship. Secondly, Rev'd. Chris Vivian, at present living on the Isle of Wight, would like to come and be our Minister. She has accepted our invitation to come and 'Preach with a View' on Sunday, 4th. A Church Family lunch will be provided after the Service and then there will be a "Question and Answer' Session chaired by our Interim Moderator, Eddie. Later in the week on Friday the 9th at 7.00 p.m. in church, we will meet together to talk over all the issues and take a vote. Only members attending this Meeting can vote. We hope that as many people as possible will come on the 4th AND the

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subsequent Meeting. Please make every effort!! Told you it was exciting times! Praise the Lord!

Sandra

BASICS BANK A couple of us had an outing in June. A Bournemouth charitable trust called Seedbed invited all the Food Banks in the area to a lunch in a very smart bistro/restaurant in Charminster Road. The aim was to get people of like minds together and encourage them to chat, share joys and concerns, seek and give advice, swap details of how we operate and enjoy each others company. We did just that and it was a delicious lunch, too! We met people from Poole, Bournemouth, Isle of Wight (just launched) and Christchurch (about to start). We realised that we are very small fry in the scheme of things. The number of parcels we give out in a month, say 60, they will issue in a week! We realised, also, how blessed we are having so many volunteers -bringing goods in, 'manning' the Basics Bank during the week and delivering parcels. Some can only call on a couple of people each morning they are open. It was a very useful occasion and we hope to maintain contacts. We are just about to start our 8th year. At the time of writing, we haven't got the full statistics but at the end of July we'd given out nearly 800 parcels to help almost 1600 people. There's been an increase in the number of families and homeless youngsters. We thank you for your support and hope you will continue to bring tinned, packet and dried food, toiletries, washing-up liquid and baby necessities. We really can't manage without you! We are incredibly grateful, too, to all our volunteers for their commitment and hard work and friendliness. There's a great atmosphere and many a laugh when we're working together.

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THANK YOU I would like to say thank you to all those who have sent cards, letters and messages of sympathy to me following the sudden death of my father last month. He was known to many of you, being a frequent visitor to Lymington and someone who delighted in playing our church organ. This always brought him great joy as he said it was a good quality instrument, far superior to the one he played for his own church in Keyworth. It is very difficult to come to terms with the loss of someone you love so much, particularly when you do not have the opportunity to say goodbye. Both Mum and I take great comfort in knowing he is in the safe hands of our Lord and for the promise we shall be reunited one day in God’s eternal resting place. Thank you for the continued love and fellowship.

Jane

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS We're sad to record the death of Bette Matthews in Whiterock Nursing Home on 15th July. We send our sympathy and love to all the family and especially to her husband, Jack, who has been very unwell for quite a while. Bette became a member of our Church in 1997 and served a term as an Elder. Rev'd. Alan Green conducted her funeral service and also, at Bette’s request, Bob Cook played the organ. This month we think of our young people returning to school, college and university. No doubt there'll be a few nervous

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tummies, especially, if they are going into new classes but we hope they will all settle in quickly, enjoy being with their friends again after the holidays and have a happy term. Learning can be fun as well as hard work!

LYMINGTON URC DIARY EVERY WEDNESDAY the Prayer Group will meet in the Church from 9.15 a.m. until 10.00 a.m. Everyone welcome.

COFFEE MORNINGS

EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, in the Open Door Café. On Tuesday 19th July and 16th August, Carers' Café. Every Tuesday the Open Door Cafe proceeds support the Good News Children's Home in Mombasa and local charities and groups

The Open Door Cafe will also open on Fridays during the summer and will be staffed by members of the Fellowship and Fundraising committee.

EVERY SATURDAY, from 9.30 a.m.—11.30 a.m., in the hall.

SUNDAY WORSHIP JULY 2011 EVERY 2nd and 4th Sunday afternoons Lymington Salvation Army services. The 2nd Sunday will be a service in the Sanctuary and the 4th will be a Cafe service. 4th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev’d Chris Vivian Followed by lunch and a question and answer session. 11th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship including Communion led by Sandra Jackson

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18th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Mr Roger Tucker (Methodist) followed by a BYO lunch and Church Meeting. 25th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Harvest Festival led by Junior Church 6.30 p.m. Solent Mead Service

EVERY WEEK there will be Junior Church and coffee/tea after the service.

OTHER EVENTS EVERY FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, New Forest Disability Information Service Outreach Session in the Open Door Café, 10am to 12noon, with Jean Reece (not on Bank Holidays though).

EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, Cruse Bereavement New Forest outreach in the Open Door Cafe 10am to 12noon. Death is a part of life, and grieving a natural process. Cruse is committed to breaking the stigma around grief and ensuring that everyone, no matter how old or young, can access the highest quality support following a bereavement. Trained Cruse Bereavement volunteers will be on hand in the Open Door Cafe to offer help. Free Wi Fi connection to the internet available in the Open Door Cafe, Balcony and Main Hall areas. Just ask for the required password! Sat. 3rd and 10th: Car Boot Sale in the Forecourt from 8 a.m. Tue. 6th 7.00 p.m. Elders’ Meeting. Fri. 9th 7.00 p.m. Church meeting and vote, at Church.

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Wed. 14th 7.30 p.m. CTLD meeting at St Mark’s or Roman Catholic Church. Mon. 19th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in the Church led by the Methodists. Sat. 24th a.m. Hardback Book Sale in the forecourt.

CLOSING DATE FOR OCTOBER 'OPEN DOOR’: 11th

SEPTEMBER

THANKS 2 Dear Friends We are really looking forward to coming to share your lovely premises. We are sure that our worship and fellowship will really be enhanced by this move. The Salvation Army in Lymington is quite a young fellowship only 9 years old but we love the Lord and we love supporting His Work and His people. We are sure that there will be many occasions that we can share together and support each other in our Christian lives. By the time you read this letter you will have noticed that our `Moving Sunday` was on the August 14th and we had the aim to hold a Songs of Praise on the forecourt with our Ringwood Band leading the singing making the High Street ring with praise. We hope that if you joined us on that day you had a wonderful time either on the forecourt (if the weather was kind to us!) or in the Sanctuary if the summer turned wet. We are so grateful to your Church Elders for making the move possible. We know of 2 other Salvation Army Centres that share premises with the URC and things work well for them.

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So God’s Blessing on the Future may we bear much fruit for His Kingdom. God Bless You All

Doug and Ruth Barlow and Lymington Salvation Army

UNSEEN WORK NUMBER FIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDING REPRESENTATIVE Health and Safety What does it mean? Most people imagine a huge amount of impractical policies and procedures. Yes, there is legislation which we have to follow, but mainly it is common sense. We are ALL responsible for ourselves and the safety of others using our facilities. Safe guarding children and adults What does this mean? Again, we are ALL responsible to be mindful of our children's and adults’ welfare. Please do not think that ‘someone else will do it’. If any one of us has a concern about someone who may be suffering abuse we must have the courage of our convictions and talk to somebody, always mindful of confidentiality and the effect on the child or adult for whom we are concerned. Please DO NOT tackle these issues on your own. Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries,

Janice Perkins TAKE CARE!

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DISASTER EMERGENCY COMMITTEE APPEAL FOR EAST AFRICA Many thanks to those who responded to the additional Christian Aid appeal in July. We are pleased to tell you we forwarded a total of £398.50 to Christian Aid, £325.00 of which was gift aided.

Shelagh and Peter Richardson

HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE Walking down life's highway Some months ago and more I saw a sign that clearly read * "Heaven's Grocery Store" I got a little closer and The door was opened wide And suddenly I found myself Standing there inside. I saw a host of ANGELS, ' Standing everywhere One handed me a basket saying "My child, go shop with care" Everything a human needed Was in that grocery store And if you couldn't carry it all You could come back next day for more First, I got some PATIENCE, And LOVE from the next row Further down was UNDERSTANDING You need that wherever you go I got a box of WISDOM, A bag or two of FAITH

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I couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST It was all over the place! I got some STRENGTH and COURAGE To help me run this race By then my basket was nearly full But I remembered GRACE I didn't forget SALVATION For this was offered free So I tried to get enough of that To save for you and me Then I went towards the counter To pay my grocery bill I thought I'd bought just everything To do the Master's will Then down the aisle I saw a PRAYER And had to put that in For I knew that when I stepped outside I would surely sin PEACE and JOY were plentiful, There on the last shelf SONG AND PRAISE were hanging near So I just helped myself At the till I asked the angel "Now, how much do I owe?" He smiled and said "My child, Jesus paid your bill A long, long time ago" From P&O Cruises as reported by Cllr. Paul Woods NFDC.

CHURCH UPDATES Christmas Tree Festival 2011 - News Update! The fact "Christmas" is even mentioned makes us all say

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"Oh No, it's only September!!" But for events such as a potential tree festival the arrangements and who will organise it have to be considered early on in the year. So....based on the latter considerations and that we do not have anyone who is available to lead a Christmas Tree Festival the Church Elders have decided not to host one in 2011. However, the Elders are looking at other events which the Church can be involved in and with over the Yuletide period and no doubt details will be advised as soon as possible.

THANKS 3 Thank you to the Bowell and Saqui families for the wonderful BBQ which was held in the grounds of Cathy and Rob’s new home in Lyndhurst. Everyone managed to get there despite the traffic and one lady was even heard to say “I would have put up with a longer wait and more traffic than that just to be here”! A wonderful atmosphere, filled with friendship and love, prevailed amongst the good food and sunshine, and the swimming pool was well used.

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PLEASE NOTE: This magazine is printed on paper from renewable sources out of our concern for the environment.

INVITATION For many years I have been greatly helped by daily bible readings following notes from Waverley Abbey - Every Day with Jesus and more recently Lucas on Life. I know that many people have their own favourite notes but I wonder if anyone would like to join me in reading the Sept/Oct EDWJ notes on prayer. It is not always easy to attend weekly bible study groups but I suggest a quiet daily reading of the bible passages and comments at home. We could then perhaps meet at the end of the month to share what we have found particularly helpful or challenging. These notes are usually available at the Ark bookshop at £2.75 and below is an outline of what is in-cluded in the Sept/Oct publication. Please let me know if you are interested and we'll fix a date to meet perhaps over a BYO lunch in the hall if con-venient.

Best wishes to all Lorna Barbour • what is worship? • the importance of thanksgiving and praise • how to listen to God • asking for things for ourselves and others and much

more. Come to see prayer not as a chore or a ritual, but as real and intimate expression between you and your loving heavenly Father.

OPEN DOOR FELLOWSHIP AND FUNDRAISING

Forthcoming events:

We have an outline calendar of events for the year as

follows:

• Hard back book table sale, September 24th,

• Anniversary lunch, October 23rd,

• Aires and Graces concert, November, tba.

• Christmas Fayre – Saturday 19th November

2011

We should be grateful for items to sell or for the tom-

bola at our table sale on the 24th.

*If anyone can spare 2 or 3 hours on a Friday to serve

coffee, please let a member of the Fellowship and Fund-

raising Committee know.

Minister: Vacancy Secretary: Sandra Jackson. Tel 01590 676306 Editorial Team: Wyn Davies. Tel 01425 616384 e-mail: WynBDavies@sky.com Church: Web site: http://www.lymurc.org.uk/ Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: adminurclym@btinternet.com Basics Bank web site: http://www.basicsbank.org.uk/ Tel 01590 610008 e-mail: info@lymurc.org.uk

ROTAS FOR SEPTEMBER COMMUNION SUNDAY: 11th COMMUNION ELDERS: John and David DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 4th: Sandra Jackson Helena Carr 11th: Margaret Clark Jenny Henderson 18th: Jenny Henderson David Hooper 25th: David Bywater Junior Church STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM 4th Ann Longney and Kate Noon Margaret Clark 11th Ann and David Hooper Gerry Copperi 18th Norma and Mike Bell Peter Richardson 24th Steve Turberville and Liz Griffiths Wyn Davies COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday 3rd Judith Baker 4th Junior Church 10th June Copperi 11th Helena Carr 17th Ann Webber 18th Jenny Henderson 24th Mary Ann Jardine 27th Ann Webber