Features

Advent - Whats it all about? 11

Traditions 19(Christmas around the world)

Unmasking the proofreader 25

Beyond 4oo 44

Regulars

Carolyn’s Kitchen 40

Reviews

From the library 43

Wayne’s World 33

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Meet the Students 39

From the Editor

Tradition. Th e age old ritual of ‘the way it is’. Th at’s what is ahead for most people this holiday season. Th ey’ve had the day planned since last year, maybe not willing to admit it, but in their head they know this year its Christmas at hers and Boxing Day will be at his. Th ey know that one small child will be present either in a visible or invisible form at all times, trying to catch out the man in the red suit, and that if they don’t ‘put away’ said man in red suit’s drink and biscuit - their other half will!!

For some this year will be all about breaking traditions. New circumstances have arrived with the changing of the year and ‘the way it is’ isn’t anymore.

For others, its a time to begin their own traditions. Th ere is the excitement of trying diff erent things until they settle on something they’ll look forward to all year.

Tradition. Its a stand alone word. Great to have as a back up, but sometimes worth breaking away from.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas, wherever, whatever and with whomever you choose to spend it with.

We hope as the New Year arrives that it will be awash with the rain of hope, burdened with pocketfulls of sunshine and littered with puddles of joy. May you forget your wellies and sing in the rain.

A very warm Merry Christmas and New Year to each and everyone of you, from all of us.

Melissa

The song playing in the background this month is by Isaac Myers. It is entitled ‘Anthem of Longing’.

A few change of addresses that you may want to take note of are:

Martin and Demelsa Healey39 Old Kennels LaneOlivers BatterySO22 4JR

Shel ley and Matthew Frape57 Buriton RaodWinchesterSO22 6JG

and new email addresses:ronald . sweetenham @ btinternet . comj . sweetenham @ btinternet . com

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mar

y... Th e term ‘icon’ comes from the Greek word

eikona, which simply means image. Th e icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church are fi lled with symbolism designed to convey information about the person or event depicted. Some more grand churches have their entire walls fi lled with such graphic images of symbolic representations of the biblical narrative. Even in the homes of most Orthodox believers there will be an area set aside for family prayer, usually an eastern facing wall, where are hung many icons. Icons have been part of Orthodox Christianity since the beginning of the church.

Protestantism has generally regarded such use of icons as suspicious, perhaps bordering on idolatry, which is something we are warned against in the Ten Commandments. However, the original purpose for using these icons in the Orthodox Church was to convey the message of God’s revelation to mankind, often to an illiterate community that would better grasp visual content over Latin verse. To that end, even in the highly visualised global village of our 21st century culture, could it be that perhaps ancient images like these have something to communicate to us about the message of the bible?

Th is image is from the Eastern Orthodox icon of the Nativity. It’s a sad fact that the over commercialised Christmas we have to endure today is so often sentimentalised and made sugary sweet, with cute angels and gurgling babies. As we examine the imagery of this ancient icon, with its unusual take on the Christmas story, perhaps it might cause us to take a fresh look at the story of Jesus’ birth.

If you’ve ever been on holiday to Greece and done the more cultured tourist thing of visiting one of the many beautiful Orthodox churches, you can’t help but have noticed how many of these churches have walls festooned with old images or icons similar to the one (BELOW).

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Th e Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Let’s consider her situation when confronted with the news that she would bear God’s Son through the virgin birth. What might this mean to her? Mary was probably about 16, perhaps even younger. She becomes pregnant. Given the societal norms of the time, she could have fully expected that she would be disgraced, that her fi ancée Jo-seph, who knew he wasn’t the father, would aban-don her, and that she would probably never marry. It’s also important to understand that Jewish society in the fi rst century took a real hard line on ‘blasphemy,’ as later accounts of Jesus’ ministry and death make clear. A young, single woman claim-ing that God had made her pregnant would have certainly encountered trouble.

Although we can try to imagine ourselves in Mary’s shoes, I don’t expect we can ever really grasp the enormity of her situation. Mary must have known there could be major diffi culties ahead. But rather than focusing on the size of her problems, she chose to trust in the size of her God. Luke reveals to us Mary’s response:

‘I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.’

In this image Mary is right at the centre of the Christmas story, which is why she’s at the centre of this picture. In the fi rst chapter of Luke’s gospel we read how the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and drops the following bombshell:

Tim

It was Mary’s ‘yes’ spoken to Gabriel, who told her she would give birth to Jesus which set the whole story in motion. It was her amazing belief that God could do what he promised that made it all possible. And it was she who gave birth and laid her son in a feeding trough for cattle, due to overcrowding in Bethlehem…

While they were there, in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her fi rstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In this icon we see Mary lying on a sort of long red cushion, it almost looks like a bean bag, with Jesus in his makeshift cot by her side. She is pulling her cloak around her for warmth, and maybe she’s trying to catch some sleep after the exhaustion of giving birth. Th e artist paints Mary like this to remind us that the birth of Jesus, like any birth, was hard work and that it was a human event; after all Jesus was fully a human baby and human being. Th e way Mary wraps herself in her cloak and turns to get some sleep suggests to us that this was the case. But Jesus was more than just a human being, as the words of the birth stories and the images in this picture tell us. Jesus was the son of Mary, but he was also the Son of God.

Here’s a prayer from the Eastern Orthodox Church in which Mary speaks to Jesus not just as her son, but as her God…

O sweetest child, how can I feed you, when you give food to all?How can I hold you, when you hold all things in your power?How can I wrap you in swaddling clothes, when you wrap the whole earth in clouds?

Th rough the history of Christianity, Jesus’ mother has been the subject of a great deal of religious thought, some of it unusual and venturing outside the sparse Biblical accounts of her life. Th eologies of Mary have long been one of the criteria Christians have used to diff erentiate themselves from one another. For Protestants, devotion to Mary is often characterized as a ‘Catholic thing.’Yet in Luke, Mary off ers one of the most powerful examples of a person submitting to God’s will, surrendering of self and setting aside fears about the future. It is a response that ultimately has little to do with Mary’s age, gender or marital status. Mary’s example of a life yielded to God’s purpose speaks powerfully to us today and its simplicity transcends 2,000 years of complex theology. God touches our lives often, in ways we almost never expect.

Maybe the challenge for all of us this Christmas is to refl ect on Mary’s ‘yes’ to God and her open-hearted faith in what the Lord was calling her to do and who he was asking her to be. Let us aspire to the kind of faith a then unknown young girl named Mary demonstrated 2000 years ago.

Yes, there is indeed, something about Mary!

Tim

It was Mary’s ‘yes’ spoken to Gabriel, who told her she would give birth to Jesus which set the whole story in motion. It was her amazing belief that God could do what he promised that made it all possible. And it was she who gave birth and laid her son in a feeding trough for cattle, due to overcrowding in Bethlehem…

While they were there, in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her fi rstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In this icon we see Mary lying on a sort of long red cushion, it almost looks like a bean bag, with Jesus in his makeshift cot by her side. She is pulling her cloak around her for warmth, and maybe she’s trying to catch some sleep after the exhaustion of giving birth. Th e artist paints Mary like this to remind us that the birth of Jesus, like any birth, was hard work and that it was a human event; after all Jesus was fully a human baby and human being. Th e way Mary wraps herself in her cloak and turns to get some sleep suggests to us that this was the case. But Jesus was more than just a human being, as the words of the birth stories and the images in this picture tell us. Jesus was the son of Mary, but he was also the Son of God.

Here’s a prayer from the Eastern Orthodox Church in which Mary speaks to Jesus not just as her son, but as her God…

O sweetest child, how can I feed you, when you give food to all?How can I hold you, when you hold all things in your power?How can I wrap you in swaddling clothes, when you wrap the whole earth in clouds?

Th rough the history of Christianity, Jesus’ mother has been the subject of a great deal of religious thought, some of it unusual and venturing outside the sparse Biblical accounts of her life. Th eologies of Mary have long been one of the criteria Christians have used to diff erentiate themselves from one another. For Protestants, devotion to Mary is often characterized as a ‘Catholic thing.’Yet in Luke, Mary off ers one of the most powerful examples of a person submitting to God’s will, surrendering of self and setting aside fears about the future. It is a response that ultimately has little to do with Mary’s age, gender or marital status. Mary’s example of a life yielded to God’s purpose speaks powerfully to us today and its simplicity transcends 2,000 years of complex theology. God touches our lives often, in ways we almost never expect.

Maybe the challenge for all of us this Christmas is to refl ect on Mary’s ‘yes’ to God and her open-hearted faith in what the Lord was calling her to do and who he was asking her to be. Let us aspire to the kind of faith a then unknown young girl named Mary demonstrated 2000 years ago.

Yes, there is indeed, something about Mary!

Vision cluster

2011Our

Cluster is called the Vision Cluster because the Lord has been opening our eyes to the mysteries of the ways He speaks to us through dreams, much like He communicated to some characters of the Bible.

Coming up to Christmas we read over and again how God spoke to Joseph in dreams, such as, “Joseph, you must marry Mary”, “Leave Bethlehem immediately and go to Egypt” and then again, “Return to Israel, its okay, Herod is now dead”. His dreams were clear instructions of what to do and where to go.

Th is year we have found that the ways of God do not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He speaks just as clearly now as ever before. Only a couple of weeks ago I was introduced to a member of the church, a new believer, who had been dreaming very clear dreams. Th e Lord showed her the way ahead, and has even given her instruction as to an event that needs to take place in her home. Her faith soared as we were able to help her unlock the mysteries of her dreams, and she discovered that God was leading her, and showing her what to do next. Th at is tremendously exciting.

Naturally we would love anyone who has interesting dreams to come along to our Cluster, but oft en they are already in another one, and that is perfectly okay. Some folk have come just for an evening to have their dream interpreted. At the church week-end away we spent many of our meal times discussing dreams with folk of all ages! We love to attempt to interpre dreams in a group as we fi nd that the Lord uses all of us to bring colour and meaning and scripture to the highly symbolic nature that some dreams have. On saying that, I have found that my work place is one in which I have been used time and time again to interpret dreams, of adults and of children. It astounds me how God speaks and directs so clearly to all of His children, whether or not they know

Him! I have one person who shares dreams with me, which give me obvious clues as to the strategy of prayer for work. Her dreams direct us to pray!! If I am honest many of the dreams we have interpreted in our Cluster have been prompts of God to pray in a certain way, or to press in for something specifi c. Th is is so helpful and so kind! It shows you that nobody gets any glory when they dream. God is the giver of the dream, and God is the interpreter of it too, so He gets the glory! We do need to honour the dreams He gives us though, which means we need to write them down before we forget them! Th en we need to have the courage to share them with others. Th is can be really embarrassing especially with some dreams! However we are all getting used to dream language now, and we know and love each other well enough to share the weird dreams without fear of being laughed at or freaking others out! Most evenings we try to pray about the dream the person has had, bring the matter before the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to fi nish the work He is doing in that person. It is a wonderful privilege to partner with the Lord in this way. It is like treasure hunting something we love to do as a family, especially at Christmas as some of you may know!Th ere are many kinds of dream categories, and we have seen the Lord use them all over this year. Calling dreams, where God is showing you what He has called you to do. Cleansing or healing dreams, correction dreams, spiritual warfare dreams, revelatory/prophetic dreams just to name a few.

My greatest desire is to do prophetic evangelism using dream interpretation. Now that we are better at it, I feel confi dent that we are ready for this, so if anyone fancies coming along to pray for us, please do!

Nicki Beaumont

You may (or may not!) be aware that part of your giving as a church in support of either Home Mission Fund (Baptist), Ministry and Mission Fund (United Reformed Church) or the Southampton Methodist District supports the ministry of a Chaplain at the University of Southampton. Since December 2011 I have occupied that position on behalf of the Free Churches.It is a very diff erent role to that of local church ministry. Th ere is little understanding amongst the 27000 or so people that form the University what a chaplain is or what he or she might do and there was no real job description waiting on my desk when I started on Day 1! It is very much a role that I can defi ne myself, but do so in conjunction with my colleagues, Sister Catherine Cruz (Roman Catholic), Revd Christine Day (Anglican) and Colleen Cockroft (our administrator).So who is the university chaplain and what does a university chaplain do? Th ree overarching roles come to mind – those of Pastor, Prophet and (dare I say it in good free church circles!?) Priest.We are enormously supported by the University of Southampton, in that they provide a house(41 University Road) that is a

base from which we can off er chaplaincy and the basic pastoral care that is very much part of the role. We seek to provide a “home from home” for students and staff alike. Downstairs is given over to communal space and upstairs there are offi ces and quieter spaces. It is in this house that we express a ministry of hospitality to all. Many of our students have left home for the fi rst time, and more than that, some 4500 have travelled from one of 130 diff erent countries to pursue their studies. Off ering a place and being people of welcome, hospitality and care is a key part of chaplaincy. We also seek to be pastors in the satellite campuses at Avenue Road, the National Oceanography Centre and Winchester School of Art.Th e prophetic role can also be understood as being a critical friend of the university. As chaplains we are in a unique place as part of and yet also independent of the university. We are also hugely in favour of what the university off ers to itsstudents, both educationally and in the formation of young women and men as they grow into adults. Th at said, we have the opportunity to contribute to discussions about some aspects of university policy and how the university develops. So for example, as chaplains, we

have contributed to deliberations on how faith and belief are catered for, critiqued policies relating to what happens when a member of the university community dies and on a national scale commented on the recent government white paper that will defi ne university life when it is enacted.As “priests”, we oversee a number of opportunities for worship on campus. Every weekday morning begins with prayer at 8:30am. On Wednesday lunchtimes we off er a communion service which is conducted in a number of diff erent styles; on Th ursday aft ernoons there is an opportunity for Christian meditation and on Sunday evenings a Catholic Mass is held.All of the above forms the staple diet of chaplaincy. Add to this Freshers Weeks, Retreats, supporting some of the faith-based Student Societies, attending training events and conferences and much more and you can see that the role of University Chaplain is full, rich and rewarding.Please do pray for us as chaplains as we seek to carry out this ministry and bring the kingdom of God near to this diverse exciting university community.

Rev James Neve

Autumn

An Autumn breeze stroked through her icy, grey hair like fi ngers, but the rest of the world seemed to be full of vibrant colours compared with her dark haunched fi gure.

Tall trees stood proud, displaying leaves in red, orange, brown and yellow, as if it was a competition to be brighter than the rest. Here and there a few stray green leaves poked out from the distant summer, sticking out like sor thumbs. Th e wind carried the voices of children, young children laughing and playing, the old woman’s mind was fi lled with memories. Happy memories. Memories from a far off time, of things that happened long ago, when her mind was still young and fresh. She’d nearly forgotten and lost all those images and a trickle of a tear ran down her wrinkled cheek. It made her sad to think of the things she’d done and that she might forget them one day made it worse.

A sweet smell of bonfi re rose into her nose and she could see the smoke rising from a cottage not far from her own. To anyone looking at the little, old lady, it might have seemed she was hobbling unhappily back into her dusty house, but she was planning something diff erent.

Inside the tiny cottage she started to make things look a little more lively. She gathered some of the fallen leaves and positioned them in a vase, their bright colours lighting up the place already. Th e beautiful fragrance settled in the nooks and crannies. Excitedly, she walked as fast as any old lady can, up the stairs and into her bedroom.

She pulled on some of her smartest clothes and went to knock on her next door neighbour’s door. A young woman, carrying a todler and holding the hand of a little girl, answered. For the fi rst time since she’d lived next door to her, the old lady asked her neighbour and her children into her house, for a cup of tea and a chat. Th e two adults soon built up a strong friendship and the lady who lived all alone was given the pleasure of telling the two excited children all of her memories, her stories from long ago. She thought they’d be safe forever in the hands of these children...safe forever.

Th is is a short story written by Marie-Louise as an off ering for the Harvest celebration.

Autumnʼs Here

Red, yellow, gold and green leaves upon the groundA kaleidoscope of colour as the west wind whips them

round,Children stamp upon them to hear their cornfl ake

sound,Autumn’s here.

Harvest mice strip the corn, seeking seeds to eat,Squirrels gather hazelnuts, a future winter treat.

Farmers ploughing fi elds, sow seeds for next year’s wheat,

Autumn’s here.

Wintry sun and misty morns greet us when we wakeBerries black and juicy, ripe for us to take,

For Mum to mix with apples, a luscious pie to bakeAutumn’s here.

Ripe wheat is gathered before rain beats it down,Workers trim the hedges, their wives go into town.

Buying harvest supper and a brand new gingham gown,Autumn’s here.

Churches fi lled with produce; dolls of corn are shown,Tradition calls for harvest hymns and everyone is

known.Again the earth has yielded and proved God’s on His

throneAutumn’s here.

Wendy Sturge

Th is poem was an off ering at the Harvest service.

Autumn

An Autumn breeze stroked through her icy, grey hair like fi ngers, but the rest of the world seemed to be full of vibrant colours compared with her dark haunched fi gure.

Tall trees stood proud, displaying leaves in red, orange, brown and yellow, as if it was a competition to be brighter than the rest. Here and there a few stray green leaves poked out from the distant summer, sticking out like sor thumbs. Th e wind carried the voices of children, young children laughing and playing, the old woman’s mind was fi lled with memories. Happy memories. Memories from a far off time, of things that happened long ago, when her mind was still young and fresh. She’d nearly forgotten and lost all those images and a trickle of a tear ran down her wrinkled cheek. It made her sad to think of the things she’d done and that she might forget them one day made it worse.

A sweet smell of bonfi re rose into her nose and she could see the smoke rising from a cottage not far from her own. To anyone looking at the little, old lady, it might have seemed she was hobbling unhappily back into her dusty house, but she was planning something diff erent.

Inside the tiny cottage she started to make things look a little more lively. She gathered some of the fallen leaves and positioned them in a vase, their bright colours lighting up the place already. Th e beautiful fragrance settled in the nooks and crannies. Excitedly, she walked as fast as any old lady can, up the stairs and into her bedroom.

She pulled on some of her smartest clothes and went to knock on her next door neighbour’s door. A young woman, carrying a todler and holding the hand of a little girl, answered. For the fi rst time since she’d lived next door to her, the old lady asked her neighbour and her children into her house, for a cup of tea and a chat. Th e two adults soon built up a strong friendship and the lady who lived all alone was given the pleasure of telling the two excited children all of her memories, her stories from long ago. She thought they’d be safe forever in the hands of these children...safe forever.

Th is is a short story written by Marie-Louise as an off ering for the Harvest celebration.

Autumnʼs Here

Red, yellow, gold and green leaves upon the groundA kaleidoscope of colour as the west wind whips them

round,Children stamp upon them to hear their cornfl ake

sound,Autumn’s here.

Harvest mice strip the corn, seeking seeds to eat,Squirrels gather hazelnuts, a future winter treat.

Farmers ploughing fi elds, sow seeds for next year’s wheat,

Autumn’s here.

Wintry sun and misty morns greet us when we wakeBerries black and juicy, ripe for us to take,

For Mum to mix with apples, a luscious pie to bakeAutumn’s here.

Ripe wheat is gathered before rain beats it down,Workers trim the hedges, their wives go into town.

Buying harvest supper and a brand new gingham gown,Autumn’s here.

Churches fi lled with produce; dolls of corn are shown,Tradition calls for harvest hymns and everyone is

known.Again the earth has yielded and proved God’s on His

throneAutumn’s here.

Wendy Sturge

Th is poem was an off ering at the Harvest service.

I have to admit that I struggle with this time of year in the

allotment and garden. While some people love the autumn colours, I don’t particularly enjoy watching everything shut down for the winter.However, every so often a task comes along that reminds me of the wonderful cycle of God’s nature. Bulb planting is one of those tasks. Generally speaking, spring bulbs can be planted anytime between October and December and so I was out planting some the other day. I adore these little pods of promise; some of them are so tiny and yet I know in just a matter of months they will announce the end of another winter and herald in, not only spring, but in some cases the start of summer.

My favorite bulbs are Alliums; particularly the larger ones like Allium Purple Sensation (relatively inexpensive) or Allium Christophii (quite expensive but with a stunning spherical head which can be up to 20cm in diameter and is composed of dozens of glossy, violet stars).No fl ower reminds me of the cycle of nature more than the Allium because, at the same time that I am planting bulbs for next summer, I am using this summer’s dried fl ower-heads to make Christmas decorations.Th ese fl ower-heads (once you have shaken the seeds out) are incredibly light and yet surprisingly robust. As a result, if you spray them silver and add some glitter they make really great Christmas decorations (make sure you leave enough of the stalk on the fl ower-head to tie to your tree or wreath).

Purple Sensation are a good size for unbreakable Christmas baubles and Christophii are stunning on top of the tree. As one friend said to me last year when I gave her one…‘Th at’s not a star it’s a galaxy’. Th ey are so light that they never cause the droop that shop-bought stars can cause to the top of the tree as it buckles under the weight of the decoration.As I look at them over the Christmas period I am not only reminded of the star in the Nativity Story but also of the fact that the shortest day has passed and we are, once again, heading towards spring.

I have to admit that I struggle with this time of year in the

allotment and garden. While some people love the autumn colours, I don’t particularly enjoy watching everything shut down for the winter.However, every so often a task comes along that reminds me of the wonderful cycle of God’s nature. Bulb planting is one of those tasks. Generally speaking, spring bulbs can be planted anytime between October and December and so I was out planting some the other day. I adore these little pods of promise; some of them are so tiny and yet I know in just a matter of months they will announce the end of another winter and herald in, not only spring, but in some cases the start of summer.

My favorite bulbs are Alliums; particularly the larger ones like Allium Purple Sensation (relatively inexpensive) or Allium Christophii (quite expensive but with a stunning spherical head which can be up to 20cm in diameter and is composed of dozens of glossy, violet stars).No fl ower reminds me of the cycle of nature more than the Allium because, at the same time that I am planting bulbs for next summer, I am using this summer’s dried fl ower-heads to make Christmas decorations.Th ese fl ower-heads (once you have shaken the seeds out) are incredibly light and yet surprisingly robust. As a result, if you spray them silver and add some glitter they make really great Christmas decorations (make sure you leave enough of the stalk on the fl ower-head to tie to your tree or wreath).

Purple Sensation are a good size for unbreakable Christmas baubles and Christophii are stunning on top of the tree. As one friend said to me last year when I gave her one…‘Th at’s not a star it’s a galaxy’. Th ey are so light that they never cause the droop that shop-bought stars can cause to the top of the tree as it buckles under the weight of the decoration.As I look at them over the Christmas period I am not only reminded of the star in the Nativity Story but also of the fact that the shortest day has passed and we are, once again, heading towards spring.

Nine years ago, my Christmas present from Antony reduced me to tears. Not tears of delight, but of

apprehension. Th e present? A mobile ‘phone! Antony’s well-chosen words of comfort that stemmed the tide of tears were, “Would it help if I told you it was the cheapest model in the shop?”

I never thought I would get to grips with the technology, let alone fi nd such a new-fangled gadget useful. In truth, I hated the thought of held to account for my every move, no longer able to go AWOL! Antony decided I needed tagging after I had spent a carefree afternoon Christmas shopping in West Quay, happily assuming that Antony and the children were ensconced at the cinema where I had dropped them. However, as the fi lm had been fully booked, he had needed to devise alternative entertainment with limited means, on a cold, wet day. As this was in the days before IKEA, Antony’s resourcefulness was inspirational: He managed to sell the idea of a toy museum instead of the fi lm so spent the entire afternoon trailing around Toys R Us until I turned up to take everyone home.

In the years that followed, I learned to tolerate having a mobile, even if I needed a rinky-tink tone in order to recognise the need to upturn my handbag in my haste to answer something that so rarely rang. On occasion, I found the ’phone useful, for example to ring the school when I was running late (again) to collect the children. My teenage god-daughter taught me how to text, which was invaluable when lost on our fi rst trip to IKEA, as I managed to text, “HELP” to Antony so he could ring to the rescue!In spite of my protestations, Antony and Roseanna decided it was time to replace my worn-out handset with a company spare about a year ago. I have grown to appreciate Antony’s thoughtful provision, indicative as ever that he has my best interests at heart. As I recharged it recently, I refl ected on my use of this newer mobile ‘phone: I nearly always remember to take it with me in my bag when I go out; I have added lots of new contacts to the address book; I’ve surprised myself by mastering texting, even if some friends don’t understand my abbreviations; I have even learned my ‘phone number off by heart!

Keeping in touch with friends and family via text is quick and convenient, but insuffi cient for intimate sharing, when only face-to-face friendship suffi ces in my opinion. Does my prayer life get curtailed by the busyness of life also, so that the quick “help”, “thanks” or “where are you?” are all the time I give to conversations with my best friend of all?

I still often forget to carry my ‘phone with me, or if I do, to keep it charged, switched on and topped up with credit. Am I the same with my faith? Do I forget to keep it fully charged and regularly topped-up? Do I switch off my spiritual connection when I am out and about or perhaps leave the ring-tone on silent, so I am not interrupted by a spiritual perspective? Do I remember to carry the closeness of the Holy Spirit’s presence with me, to protect, guide and encourage me into every situation I face?

I’ve grown more faithful at consciously inviting God into my workplace and I have seen how God can use me to bring truth and hope into diffi cult situations as a result. However, my ‘phone stays in my handbag when I am back at home or on holiday. What diff erence could God make to family life if I remember that Jesus has given me a ‘hotline to heaven’ which always has good reception?!

Th ese days, there are all kinds of free ‘apps’ for mobiles that claim to be essential for eff ective living. Th ere are also all kinds of features on my handset that I have yet to discover, such as a camera and Josh is convinced there are games to play if only I would let him press the buttons to fi nd out! What holds me back from making full use of what is, after all, a powerful tool? Similarly, there are truths to be discovered in the word of God, gifts to be freely received and greater joy to be experienced, if only I would take the risk to discover them. Why hold back? What is there to lose but my own limitations? Last month I changed from a pay-as-you-go tariff to a monthly contract. Do let me know of any spiritual parallels I could draw from this!

Caroline Feltham-King

mobileme

By the time you are reading this, the fi rst of our advent candles will have been lit. But

in a culture where advent means getting to eat a chocolate every morning for breakfast and the countdown to getting all the Christmas shopping done, as Christians what is advent really all about?

First of all let’s look at the word advent. What does it mean? Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming. As Christians the season of advent is a time where we look back to the promises foretold in the Bible and look forward to Jesus coming again.

When looking back we remember the patriarchs, we remember Abraham who is the father of our faith, who was promised that his decedents would be more than the grains of sand and we remember David, Israel’s greatest king fromwhose line Jesus was born. We can also spend time thinking about the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. Isaiah said these words that foretold of the coming of Jesus and the kind of man he was going to be. “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

Advent is also a time when we remember the love of Jesus. Th roughout His time on earth Jesus showed unconditional love to all diff erent kinds of people and He commands us to do the same. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35.

We then look forward to the hope and peace, a hope and peace that helps us to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. Jesus himself in John’s gospel talk of the peace that He brings, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27. Th is hope and peace also brings us great joy as we anticipate Jesus’ coming again.

But most of all advent is a time when we remember that Jesus came to be our salvation and bring us back to God. So in the busyness of this year’s advent take the time to look back at promises made, to remem-ber the love of Jesus and to look forward to the hope, peace and joy that we have in knowing that Jesus will come again. But most of all let us not forget that advent is a time when we remember God sent us His one and only son to earth to be our salvation.

Eli Stewart

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.{ {

For I was hungry and you gave something to eat,I was thirsty and you gave something to drink,I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me,I was sick and you looked after me,I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Matthew 25:35-36

I’m not always sure what Social Action is. It covers such a wide range of things, international campaigns like ‘Stop the Traffi k’ through to community litter picks and an awful lot in between. But I do know that Jesus valued people and saw it as a key evidence of being his disciple that we do too. I’m aware that there are many people at WBC who are involved in projects whether through work or as volunteers which fi t under the social action banner and I would love over the next year or so to be able to interview some of you;

A) To honour you for the way you extend the Kingdom of God.

B) To highlight the organisation which you are involved with.

C) To encourage and inspire others to get involved.

Th e Favour Cluster set out in the autumn of 2009 inspired by these words from Isaiah 61:

Th e Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners

Favour isn’t really ‘the gardening group’ though over the last two years that is a lot of what we’ve done and expect to continue to do. Th is winter however, a group of us a have committed to continue to support the Winchester Churches Night Shelter and its users.

We have off ered to collect hats, gloves, scarves and, blankets, items which they have run out of in the previous two very cold winters. So if you’re like me and have a drawer with far too many winter woollies than you wear in one go, please feel free to pass them on to me, old or new.

Please feel free to come and have a chat with me as I try and work out what it means to be the new Leadership team advocate for Mission and Social Action. I’d love to hear your thoughts and pearls of wisdom.

Joanne Meharg

Th is is a special time for Heather, completing as she does six years of service as a Deacon, fi rst holding the portfolio of advocate for children/youth, and then a period without portfolio, before taking on the Mission and Social Action portfolio.

For each God equipped her for service, but he also used her considerable gifts and her lovely quiet, dedicated character. She has weathered the rough and the smooth which is all part and parcel of church leadership, and borne many a painful experience in her work life, but has always clung to her faith during those times.

Her faithfulness is something which I so much admire about her, and her steadfastness in the face of adversity. She is also a wonderful friend, and I am glad to know her. She is a real and precious gift, and one which will be really missed on Leadership Team.

I rejoice that she was called by God to serve this church, and now she is hearing a new call to go and help August and Anita in Lesotho. With Barry, she will help in the administration and fundraising for the “Growing Nations” Project and hopes to help literally in enabling it to “Grow Nations”.

In recognising the call to follow Jesus in this new area of ministry, my prayer for Heather is that she will see God guiding and sustaining her again and again, and that God would bless her richly as she continues to glorify God in all that she does.

With love

THANK YOU

HEATHER MANN

{ }

Mission and Social Action

MISSIONCENTRAL

MISSIONCENTRAL

MISSIONCENTRAL

Carol Bailey

At this time of year (it is nearly the end of October), I often feel like a beaver, or a badger, on those rare sunny days, making last minute forays into the garden - cut this, trim that, get rid of that rubbish, visit the tip, tie that in, clean that fl ower bed of ground elder - slightly frantic, make-the-most-of-the-light-before-I-hibernate moments. Feel like that as winter approaches? One of my measures of a successful autumn is how big (and dry) the woodpile is for burning throughout the darker months. As I wrote once before, where we live there is no gas, TV signal, mobile phone reception, and there are no mains drains. THE woodpile is important. If the electricity goes off things get pretty chilly without a substantially fi lled log-store! I think it is deeply embedded in our fear-driven, anxious survival make-up to prepare for winter in this way and although we do it, we don’t actually enjoy the months from November to February. Apart from the temperature and associated bills, coughs, colds and sneezes we fi nd ourselves yearning for light. If we have snow, despite the inconveniences, the delays and digging our way out, everything is unexpectedly bathed in beauty. It no longer really matters that it is so cold, it is stunningly beautiful. Th e sight and light restore us. No matter how much snow I see I still fi nd it utterly awesome that the entire countryside is overnight carpeted and draped in such stunning splendour. I can feel a psalm coming on...

Th ose of you who have now read ‘Heaven is for Real’ (the book about the little boy, Colton, who went to Heaven) will recall the moment his father, Todd, the co-author, tried to catch out his four year old son. What did you do when it got dark? he asked him. His son, far from being caught out told his dad not to be ridiculous. It never gets dark, he had to explain patiently. Heaven is always bright, lit up by God and Jesus.

When I read that, I stopped. I knew it with ‘my knower’ but I suddenly found myself thinking ‘Wow! What does that feel like? Does the light stream from somewhere, a direction, or does it simply fi ll everywhere? Are there shadows in Heaven? I think not. About a page before the end of the Bible it says, “Th e city does not need the the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and Th e Lamb is its lamp”. Remember how you feel on a sunny summer’s day when you open the curtains and you are met with brilliant sunshine? As a child I recall those days, endless days of blissfully good

weather, days to play in the garden building camps and dens and imaginary boats to sail away in...the days were so-o-o long. It seemed quite unreasonable that evening should come and night close in. What’s going on here, I wonder? Could it be that we are built for something else, created for somewhere else? Could it be that we still hold in our deepest chemistry, the blueprint of Father’s pen? Th at in Heaven there will be no hibernation, no need to go to earth, no fear of darkness, no cold...no woodpile? Could it be in Heaven that the vegetable patch won’t get that soggy brown nearly-Bonfi re-Night-gloom, when the remains of runner bean plants hang like useless ribbons of damp raffi a waiting to be cut and gathered to the compost heap? Honestly, I do think so, yes.

We are all stirred by great beauty, a sunset, a sea shore, the light and dark of clouds speeding across the Downs; perhaps our spirits start to dance at those moments as we recognise the rich multicolour extravaganza of Father’s fl uorescent fl ourishes, responding to the scale of His majestic powers. Ah, my Father, how majestic is Your name in all the earth...Perhaps, deep down we recall from some profound echo in our genes, that we were made for Heaven

At this time of year (it is nearly the end of October), I often feel like a beaver, or a badger, on those rare sunny days, making last minute forays into the garden - cut this, trim that, get rid of that rubbish, visit the tip, tie that in, clean that fl ower bed of ground elder - slightly frantic, make-the-most-of-the-light-before-I-hibernate moments. Feel like that as winter approaches? One of my measures of a successful autumn is how big (and dry) the woodpile is for burning throughout the darker months. As I wrote once before, where we live there is no gas, TV signal, mobile phone reception, and there are no mains drains. THE woodpile is important. If the electricity goes off things get pretty chilly without a substantially fi lled log-store! I think it is deeply embedded in our fear-driven, anxious survival make-up to prepare for winter in this way and although we do it, we don’t actually enjoy the months from November to February. Apart from the temperature and associated bills, coughs, colds and sneezes we fi nd ourselves yearning for light. If we have snow, despite the inconveniences, the delays and digging our way out, everything is unexpectedly bathed in beauty. It no longer really matters that it is so cold, it is stunningly beautiful. Th e sight and light restore us. No matter how much snow I see I still fi nd it utterly awesome that the entire countryside is overnight carpeted and draped in such stunning splendour. I can feel a psalm coming on...

Th ose of you who have now read ‘Heaven is for Real’ (the book about the little boy, Colton, who went to Heaven) will recall the moment his father, Todd, the co-author, tried to catch out his four year old son. What did you do when it got dark? he asked him. His son, far from being caught out told his dad not to be ridiculous. It never gets dark, he had to explain patiently. Heaven is always bright, lit up by God and Jesus.

When I read that, I stopped. I knew it with ‘my knower’ but I suddenly found myself thinking ‘Wow! What does that feel like? Does the light stream from somewhere, a direction, or does it simply fi ll everywhere? Are there shadows in Heaven? I think not. About a page before the end of the Bible it says, “Th e city does not need the the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and Th e Lamb is its lamp”. Remember how you feel on a sunny summer’s day when you open the curtains and you are met with brilliant sunshine? As a child I recall those days, endless days of blissfully good

weather, days to play in the garden building camps and dens and imaginary boats to sail away in...the days were so-o-o long. It seemed quite unreasonable that evening should come and night close in. What’s going on here, I wonder? Could it be that we are built for something else, created for somewhere else? Could it be that we still hold in our deepest chemistry, the blueprint of Father’s pen? Th at in Heaven there will be no hibernation, no need to go to earth, no fear of darkness, no cold...no woodpile? Could it be in Heaven that the vegetable patch won’t get that soggy brown nearly-Bonfi re-Night-gloom, when the remains of runner bean plants hang like useless ribbons of damp raffi a waiting to be cut and gathered to the compost heap? Honestly, I do think so, yes.

We are all stirred by great beauty, a sunset, a sea shore, the light and dark of clouds speeding across the Downs; perhaps our spirits start to dance at those moments as we recognise the rich multicolour extravaganza of Father’s fl uorescent fl ourishes, responding to the scale of His majestic powers. Ah, my Father, how majestic is Your name in all the earth...Perhaps, deep down we recall from some profound echo in our genes, that we were made for Heaven

...for paradise... Created to stroll out into the garden, chatting animatedly and amicably with God our Heavenly Father, who chooses to live amongst His people, as we appreciatively pluck melons and pineapples and Son-ripe plums, and leaves and fruit for every season.

I am going to make it my business this winter, on those days, the gloomy days, to dream of diff erent days, seeking to imagine just one millionth of the splendour of Heaven (I can’t imagine more, though it’s fun to try) and, yes, I will look forward to spring when the light breaks through again rousing life in a burst of garden resurrection power... I love those days, but I know it is only a shadow of things to come.

Lord Jesus, High King of Heaven,You know where we have come from

And You know where we are going, one day. Fil l our hearts and minds with the joy of Son-drenched days and let us live like that a little now: Drawing down a deep knowing of Your G lory and Light For those who are gloom-bound by Winter’s dark days. Amen

So what did you notice fi rst? Did you only just notice that those supermarket checkouts are decorated with tinsel? Or was it on the fi rst of November when your local supermarket changed dramatically from Halloween costumes to large Christmas trees? Did anyone notice that as the Halloween items were being stocked on the shelves, on the opposite side of the aisle was a small selection of Christmas confectionary tempting the customers to the impending joys to follow?

Well actually the fi rst sign of Christmas for me was the two large cranberry sauce shippers which arrived (and were put out) in July! But do people notice those cardboard side stacks over the summer holidays?

Every year that I’ve worked for ASDA, I’ve always had a customer complaint about how soon our Christmas decorations have been put up, and it normally revolves around how the retailer is hiding the true story of Christmas.

However this year running the front end, I’m still planning 3 months on. 172 colleague fl exibility forms, everyone wanting family time, whilst still having enough colleagues to man those tills on the busiest day of the year! (December 22nd for those who wanted to know).

Due to the immense pressure on retail to get the most customers through the door, each supermarket will attempt to hook new customers, to get them to do their big Christmas shop at their stores. Morrison’s kicked off this year with save six receipts and save twenty quid off your last shop (but who saves all their till receipts?), Tesco have double your clubcard (that’s right people, 1% is doubled to 2% of your shopping!) and ASDA is currently spend £40 and get £5 off your next £40 shop (that’s right, you want to get in your car and head off to Asda now!)

“So I wanted to share with you my eight years of retailing knowledge, to give you fi ve top tips to beat the supermarkets.

“

Well for me I want to be celebrating Christmas as soon as I can. Because Christmas at ASDA (insert your local) may well last 3 months, but that is the best three months of fun, fi zz and evangelising. Everyone loves Christmas, and everyone loves a story.

But I’m racing ahead. At ASDA we call this festive period the Golden Quarter. October, November and December; we take more money in these three months than we take in the other nine! So if we land and deliver it right this can be a profi table time. So that’s why we plan. Our planning starts in September; there’s the General Store Manager’s conference dedicated to Christmas, which this year involved taking over a disused train station in Manchester and replicating a fake Christmas store, so our store managers could see what a good job looks like. And our rota planning starts at this time too. Last year I was running fresh in Basingstoke and it took me about 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon to plan for my 10 colleagues how long they would work.

TIPS

TO B

EAT TH

E S

UP

ER

MA

RK

ETS

DO

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P FIVE

How fresh is fresh?On Christmas eve supermarkets are mostly busy with customers buying fresh fruit and vegetables. But actually how fresh are those items? Whilst we pride ourselves on only holding fresh items for an average of 2.1 days, we go through pallets of potatoes, sprouts and carrots. We are closed for Christmas day (in previous years boxing day too) so on Christmas Eve we don’t get large deliveries- we need to sell out. And sell out fast. So my tip to you, my friends, is buy your fresh vegetables before Christmas Eve as they’ll still be fresh on Christmas day. Th is saves the disappointment of arriving at Tesco on the 24th and realising they have no standard carrots, so instead you’re buying “organic extra special dipped in honey carrots” at six times the price.

23

Have a Christmas Drawer / BoxSimple one, we don’t send any Christmas stock back to our depot. We just sell it; fi rstly we mark it half price, then seventy fi ve percent off , then down to two pence ( although at two pence, we just waste it and throw it in the compactor. Sorry, we do this. See my next article for more information.)So in January stock up for next year. It’s diffi cult to remember where you put those cards or wrapping paper, but think of it this way. Every year you remember where you put the Christmas tree. But also supermarkets will cut down on the basic stock, and put special Christmas lines in, which will also get markdowns, as well as toys and books. We actually have similar January sales as all those high street stores have!

All under one roof.For those of you who enjoy Christmas shopping, skip down to tip 5. For the rest of us (mostly gentlemen) I’ll let you in on a massive secret, all those high street gifts are available at your local supermarket at ridiculously cheaper prices. Look down at your feet, remember those socks your aunt brought you last year? Do you remember whether they were brought at Marks and Spencer or George at ASDA? Does it really matter? I guarantee they won’t complain. So for this tip, next time you’re in your supermarket (hopefully ASDA), go and have a good look at the gifts and clothes range and compare the quality and price.

45

Our PricesTh roughout November every supermarket will have Christmas items at reduced prices. Th is is another example of us trying to get you to change supermarket for your big Christmas shop. But please remember we are a business, we have to make money to pay my wages to keep me in my job. So in the last few weeks leading up to Christmas when everyone goes crazy, the prices creep back up. Th e tins of chocolates that have been reduced to £4 since October suddenly are full price £10! But you won’t notice because it’s Christmas and the songs are playing, we’re all wearing silly hats and you’re queuing at a checkout. A brilliant supermarket has guaranteed to remain 10% cheaper than its four competitors, but will raise its prices too. So my fi nal tip is to remain calm in the fi nal weeks and price things up sensibly and if you can, purchase before 16th December.

Hate queuing at checkouts?

So you’ve done your big Christmas shop, you have three large trolleys full of groceries and you exit the frozen aisle and discover the queues for the checkouts are half way up every aisle. Everyone knows it’ll be busy, and most customers will make a comment to the checkout operator about how long they’ve waited. I’ll be honest with you readers, Doris on till 3 doesn’t care if you’ve waited 1 or 3 hours. She’s more worried if she’s getting a loo break today. So my fi rst tip is a simple one, most supermarkets are 24 hour stores, and while we will fi ll the shelves over night most nights the delivery is worked by 4am, to allow the colleagues to face up the aisle (pull all the items to the front of the shelf, to trick you to thinking the shelves are full). So my tip is shop at 5 am, full availability of items but no queuing!

So how is this relevant? I’ve hopefully taken you on a journey to see what I see whilst working in retail. And I am sorry to those in the congregation that believe my company is profi ting from Christ or making it less about Jesus and more about presents. For me, God gave the biggest and best present on 25th December, He gave us Jesus and eternal life. I would never want this event to become a churches only event. Th is has to remind everyone, every year about an awesome event that took place and how they can learn more.

Working in retail gives me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. And having three months to exploit the word Christmas, and explain there is a reason behind the festivities. Every conversation I can, I will ask, “So what do you do for Christmas?” Normally this is replied with TV, turkey and presents. So people venture back- what do you do for Christmas Don? I go to town on nativity services, carol singing, churching, family prayers and three bird roast. It’s defi nitely a conversation starter. Last Christmas I blessed all those in ASDA at 7pm on Christmas eve, whilst announcing our closure over the tannoy. And this year I’m planing a nativity on our checkouts...

I’ll be cheeky and wish you all a very merry Christmas, enjoy whatever you do. I hope you fi nd the tips helpful and should you be shopping in ASDA Fareham and see me, ask me anything. I’ll be more than happy to help.

DON STEWART

AN

D N

UM

BER ON

E IS...

1

A shopper’s complaint atChristmas time is one of

long standing.

  Traditions –Whatever their roots, many form the basis of our cultures, our nationalities and to a greater or lesser degree, our whole lives. Yet, it is often reluctantly that we seek to discover their source – perhaps we’re afraid that they will lose their mysticism and sense of excitement and ‘magic’. Th e Christian calendar has many traditions associated with it, particularly with regards to Advent and Christmas. I wonder what comes to mind when you think about this time of year? – Carols, Father Christmas, Christmas trees, presents, parties, the children’s nativity service, Mary and Joseph, the wise men, last minute shopping, cooking, visitors… It’s true that many of us fi nd comfort in these things, particularly if they form part of our fondest childhood memories. But for others Christmas can be a time of sadness, stress and loneliness, and only painful memories are associated with it. But whatever our feelings and our memories are we willing to venture and look beyond the traditions - beyond the commonplace images of Christmas? * And what about those junctures in life where we have the opportunity to begin new traditions, or to let some go? I remember when Ben and I fi rst got married. It was Christmas morning and I was awake early and as excited as our 4 year old gets now! I was trying to get Ben out of bed to open the stockings and the big presents. And he couldn’t understand the rush! Th en I remembered, in his family they only opened ONE present, then would go to Church, come home, have snacks and drinks, more snacks, prepare the lunch and FINALLY sit round and pass one another gifts. I couldn’t believe the restraint! All our presents would be open by 7.00am at the latest with our parents looking dishevelled and tired in their dressing gowns!! I am pleased to say that our boys’ enthusiasm has let my traditional Christmas continue!! Th is obviously wasn’t a serious shift (predominantly as my traditional was upheld!!), but it reminded and showed me how entrenched we can become in our own values and traditions, and the real courage and sacrifi ce it can take to change them.

extract taken with permission from‘Ym Mrig y Morwydd’ by Mari Clifton

We love living in the mountains of Lesotho, but that has its draw backs. Tradition is not

high on our list of priorities. It is diffi cult to keep traditions of our own culture because we live in a totally diff erent world, but over the years we have established some of our own traditions for this time of the year.

Our celebrations are not something spectacular. It is simple and short. On the 24th, we will have a nice ‘braai’. A braai is a barbeque,we will have a springbok leg de-boned, baked potatoes, and a variety of salads. For dessert we will have baked fresh fruit and custard. We will sometimes go to the river and do all this as a picnic.

After supper, at home, we will read the story of Jesus’ birth. We pray, saying thanks for all the gifts God gave us this year, then we handout gifts.

On the 25th, we will listen to a sermon we downloaded from the internet, then attend the local church service. If Christmas falls on a weekday, the local service will be short, but if Christmas is on a Saturday or Sunday, the service is usually very long (three hours long or so), then we will have a light lunch and a big supper. If it does not rain, we spend Christmas Day at the river and have a picnic.Th e Basotho will have a big Sunday service on the Sunday closest to Christmas. It is usually a very long day, baptism, confi rmation, sermon and more. Some in all the homes. Some people will share their good

fortune with those that do not have. Basotho will exchange gifts but this does not happen fortune with those that do not have. Th e Basotho do not see Christmas as a Christian feast, but as a time to be together as a family.

All the children will gather at ‘Home’, where they celebrate being together. Most of the fathers and mothers work in the cities or bigger towns, so Easter and Christmas they travel to be together. Th e women folk will cook together and the men will sit and talk. Th e families will visit together until the day after New Year. Th en as quick as you can, back to your place of work. Some areas in Lesotho will have a soccer tournament for all young boys on Christmas Day, but this is not common for all Basotho.

Th is year the Bassons will celebrate Christmas with Grandpa August (81) and Grandma Anna (76) at their holiday cottage on the Southern Cape coast.

Anita

a middle eastern christmas

Here in the Middle East we don't live that far, relatively speaking, from where God became fl esh and made his dwelling amongst us.

We know shepherds that spend the nights on hillsides with their sheep, making sure they are safe and protecting them from wolves and other harm. Some nights it is calm and tranquil, but not every night. I've seen shepherd boys come in from the hills after a night of torrential rain and bitterly cold winds shivering as they sit by the fi re seeking to get some warmth back into their bodies.

I've roamed around the deserts that the Magi would have crossed to pay homage to the young Christ-child But of course, I did it in a four-wheel drive vehicle, not as a long and arduous journey on the back of a camel.

One of my most distinct memories was walking past a ram-shackled Bedouin tent on a cold and windy morning one winter. Th e ground was wet, the sheep and goats were huddling for warmth, and spilling into the tent, and as I passed by there was the unmistakable sound of a woman giving birth.

Th e region is one of turmoil, of occupation, of resistance; of people being forced to leave their homes, or choosing to do to seek sanctuary or a better life. A region in which people end up far from where their ancestors made their homes, and are now having to start a new life in a strange land.

And in the midst of this very kind of situation the stone which the builders rejected but which God made the capstone was born. God with us.

In many parts of the Middle East Christmas just passes by. A few countries grant it a public holiday - and where we are that is the case. Christmas can be granted a holiday because of course, Muslims believe that Jesus was born of Mary, so that is fi ne. Easter is a diff erent matter. To grant a public holiday there would be to acknowledge his death and resurrection, which in turn would risk acknowledging that the one who was born that night in Bethlehem was the Immanuel.

But whether or not it is a public holiday, most people have no idea what it is about. Even though the Christian community is so small, Christmas has still been aff ected by commercialization: some of our Muslim friends ask us if the coming festival is the 'tree festival' or the 'egg festival'. Another asked why we sacrifi ce Turkeys at Christmas.

In Sweden, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th, so we will celebrate twice this year, as we do every year: on both the 24th and the 25th. It would be rude not to really. And during the season we will seek to explain to our friends the reason for the celebration. Th at yes, it is about a tree, but a diff erent one, on which the new-born King would eventually hang, and that yes, it is ultimately about sacrifi ce too: but not of a turkey or any other animal, but rather of the one who was without sin.

In the Oct/Nov issue of Winbap Magazine there was a feature on HEAL Africa and Lyn Lusi’s nomination as one of the three fi nalists in the Opus Prize. As you may have heard since, Lyn was awarded fi rst prize: the sum of $1 million. She took time out from her chemotherapy treatment in Southampton to attend the prize giving on Los Angeles on 2nd November.

Do have a look at the excellent short video about the work of HEAL Africa which was made to support Lyn’s nomination for the Opus Prize: go to HYPERLINK "http : // www . opusprize . org /winners / 11 _ Lusi . cfm " http : //

www . opusprize . org / winners /

11 _ Lusi . cfm and click on Video Journey.

Th e prize money will be used to reinforce the Nehemiah Committees and the Wamama Simameni network in eastern D R Congo over the next two years at least.

Years ago, following devastating confl ict in Congo, HEAL Africa began to increasingly treat displaced rural refugees who would soon be returning home. It became evident that to send recovered patients back to the same situations was simply not

safe – particularly for orphans, widows and survivors of sexual violence.

Th e vulnerability of these people, compounded by national insecurity and economic instability, greatly concerned the HEAL Africa staff , and resulted in the Nehemiah Initiative.With this programme, HEAL Africa began to work with community and religious leaders to create a support structure for the most vulnerable in their communities. Th e goal was to sensitize and mobilize community leaders to care for their vulnerable by supporting foster family programmes and the reintegration of widows and victims of sexual violence, and by stimulating economic recovery through local agriculture and small animal husbandry.

Nehemiah Committees assist returning members of the community by helping them settle land ownership disputes, boundary disputes, confl icts between neighbours, and many other problems. As members of the same community, Nehemiah workers have a great desire to see a lasting peace in the areas where they live, work and raise their children. Th e Nehemiah

Committees are highly trusted because every tribe and religion is represented.  Today, there are more than 140 such committees found throughout the villages of rural Congo.

Th e Wamama Simameni (Women Stand Up Together) houses are safe houses for women which act as centres for HEAL Africa programmes, activities, and resources, particularly in combating rape and other sexual violence (the levels of which in eastern DRC are described as the worst in the world). Th ere are currently 31 houses that each belong to anywhere from 30 to 100 women.

At these safe houses, women can fi nd refuge and help when in crisis, and long-term support and resources as they work to build new communities in the aft ermath of the war. Th ey are managed by the women they serve, supported by the staff of HEAL Africa in Goma. Th ey function as the centre of a radiating network of initiatives that provide the framework of community; they build capacity among women through education, providing resources such as income-generating grants and micro-loans, teaching skills like sewing

and making bread or soap, and connecting women to vocational and agricultural opportunities. Trained counsellors seek out survivors of rape and other violence and refer them to the appropriate medical and counselling programmes. After treatment at the main HEAL Africa hospital or partner clinic, women are given a Fresh Start Kit that includes what they need to start a small business. On their way home, they connect with the safe house closest to their village where they receive support in building a new future for them and their family.

Th e day before she fl ew to Los Angeles Lyn attended a reception in London hosted by One World Action (an international development organisation focusing on promoting the rights of women), having been listed as one of their “One Hundred Women: Th e Unseen Powerful Women Who Change the World” – see HYPERLINK “http : // oneworldaction . wordpress . com / 100-unseen-powerful-women / public-service / lyn-lusi / ” http : //4one-worldaction . wordpress . com / 100-unseen-powerful-wom-en / public-service /lyn-lusi / .

photos taken byUnited States Government Work Jewish World Watch Jenbrea cnecpartners. . .

How long have you been working undercover as the WinBap Church magazine proof reader?I cannot honestly remember ! It must be in excess of 10 years.

Has the magazine changed over the years?Yes. For example, when Ed Jackson was editor, he always provoked discussion with his editorial which covered anything from world situations, parliamentary debates, or what was/ could be going on in our Church. Then children’s interest was awakened with puzzles and so on. Gradually pictures and photographs were added for interest as well as ‘thumbnail sketches’ of various members of our congregation. Then, of late, an A4 format was introduced allowing more freedom in layout, particularly when there was a pull-out section for children.

Where did you learn to dot your i’s and dash your t’s !?I have always been keen to “be correct” in English usage – probably stems from Primary Teaching days. But there is a difference, in that for Primary School children I did not correct everything because I was anxious to promote the wish to write and the skill of writing. Too many red pencil corrections are not conducive to wanting to write!. As for the Church magazine, I believe that, as far as is possible, it should be “correct” in spelling, sentence construction and knowing where a sentence begins and ends.

Do you have a ‘sub-proof reader’ to help you, or are they your superiors?No, I do not seek help from anyone else, usually because there is a tight deadline for printing. But I do make it clear to the Editor that some “corrections” may not be helpful, or perhaps are too pedantic!

What do you enjoy most about the task, apart from getting a sneak peak before anyone else!?I would hope that, like everyone, I enjoy and am humbled by how much goes on in our Church

And about you...

Where did you grow up?My Dad was in the army and my sister and I were both born in India, returning to the UK in 1933, from where we went over to Belfast, then on to Westminster, Aldershot and, finally to Winchester in March 1937. So most of my childhood was spent in Winchester.

Do you have any siblings (or cousins) to whom you were close?I have just one sister who is 20 months younger than I, for whom I have a great admiration for her Church work. She has been a deacon in Exmouth Baptist Church over the years, is the Missionary Secretary and, incidentally, has been their Magazine Editor for many, many years. She also produces and staples up the magazine by herself, as well as producing the weekly service sheet.

{Here is an extract from an interview with our proofreader, Paul Tipple, by Mari Clifton. We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Paul a very happy belated 80th birthday!

Where did you grow up?My Dad was in the army and my sister and I were both born in India, returning to the UK in 1933, from where we went over to Belfast, then on to Westminster, Aldershot and, finally to Winchester in March 1937. So most of my childhood was spent in Winchester.

Do you have any siblings (or cousins) to whom you were close?I have just one sister who is 20 months younger than I, for whom I have a great admiration for her Church work. She has been a deacon in Exmouth Baptist Church over the years, is the Missionary Secretary and, incidentally, has been their Magazine Editor for many, many years. She also produces and staples up the magazine by herself, as well as producing the weekly service sheet.

What was your favourite subject at school?I did, and still consider myself, a ‘jack of all trades’, so nothing stood out as a favourite. I certainly enjoyed art lessons and would have loved more music but, in those boys’ grammar school days, life was quite ‘spartan’ ! I enjoyed the Combined Cadet Force where I had the doubtful honour of resurrecting the bugle band and leading it for a couple of years!

Were you ever told off in school. If so, for what?While at Primary School, six of us were accused of “playing on the air raid shelters” in the school grounds during the war. We were NOT, but the headmistress believed a girl who had told her we had. Feeling very aggrieved we were hauled before the headmistress in her study where she refused to believe us and caned every one of us. Girls!!

What was your favourite childhood game?Much depends upon my age. Again lower down Primary School I seem to remember we liked cowboys and Indians. Also conkers was enjoyed at the appropriate season where usually the winners had soaked their conkers in vinegar or had stored some from the previous year.

What was your first job and on what did you spend your first pay cheque?After National Service and college I first taught in Hamble Junior School where I had done my final teaching practice which went well and the head offered me a job there the following autumn. I think that I spent part of my first pay cheque on a good pair of Veldshoen shoes.

How long have you been at WBC?Since March 1937.

When did you become a Christian?My parents were committed Christians and so it seemed natural from the start to believe and certainly not even to question. But following a BMS Summer Camp under canvas on the Isle of Wight in about 1947 several of us from WBC made the commitment by Believer’s baptism.

When did you meet Liz? And how did you propose?I first noticed Liz at Winchester Operatic Society’s rehearsals where I noticed this girl with long hair in a chignon arriving late every week – later to find out that she had rushed straight from ballet lessons on which she was very keen. She was also in the Dramatic Society and when they asked for 4 lads from the Operatic to sing a close harmony quartet in the pantomime,because she was also in the Operatic Society, she was asked to “look after them” - and she has been looking after me ever since!I proposed to her on the way home after a new years’ eve ball in the early hours of 1st January 1959. I was relieved and delighted that she said, “Yes.”

How would you describe WBC to a newcomer?Very friendly, LOUD Radio One type music for hymns/songs (!!!), many bubbling youth, all concerned with social ministry, out-going........

Here is an extract from an interview with our proofreader, Paul Tipple, by Mari Clifton. We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Paul a very happy belated 80th birthday! {

winbap youththe edge - fresh - friday club

NEWSAn update on City-wide Youth Alpha

The latest to take the plunge

Jars of Clay Album review by Charley

Things we love about God...

The Edge Elves knit for the nightshelter.

What we’re listening to in

the youth room this term...

Inside this issue

winbap youth Winbap Youth News September 2011 Page 2

Taking the plunge...Baptisms in the Edge this term

Jon’s thoughts before Baptism: Well first thoughts are I can’t wait, my spiritual walk with God has been so awesome over the last 2 years or so and this will be a good way to get me to share my faith more openly. I know what you’re thinking: “hes only interested in the food before the big dunk”. Well that’s half true and if you don’t know what to get me, my edge hoodie is a big clue! Oh and another thing, when I was at Charlie and Jessie’s baptism I went down to watch and as soon as I got about a metre away my teeth started chattering in crazy spiritual way! If that I’m like near the pool I can’t wait what to see what I’m like the pool!

Roseanna used this poem from ‘Rise’ by J & R Gardner as her powerful testimony. “I ac-cept your invitation to follow in your footsteps. In accepting your invitation, I chose to say ‘yes Lord!’ ‘yes’ to obeying you, ‘yes’ to following you, ‘yes’ to serving you. Thank you for giving up your life on the cross for me, for forgiving me and filling me up with your Holy Spirit. This is my turning point and this will be my story. From now on my life is no longer my own; I belong to you. My future is no longer my own; I am running after your hopes and dreams for me. Help me to be obedient to the greatest law: to love you with all my heart, soul and strength. Help me to follow where you lead me: to serve my family, my friends, my schools, my place of work, my community, your world. Help me to copy your example in loving the broken-hearted, befriending the excluded and speaking out for the voiceless. I believe that I am involved in the greatest adventure the world will ever know. Give me a bigger heart so that I can commit to the big things you ask of me, and the strength to be faithful in the small things you ask of me every day.”

Charlie: I decided to get baptised, because it was a demonstration and declaration of my faith. I was constantly waiting until I was good enough to get baptised, and

I realised after waiting a very long time, that it wasn’t going to happen. So I took a dunking, and it was the best decision of my life. It only confirmed how my life is in God’s hands, and how I’m living for him. There was a massive weight lifted from my shoulders,

a sense of relief and a fresh start. It was pretty terrifying, the concept of telling all of my friends about my faith, but as soon as I took that first step, I forgot all of my worries

and was at peace. I love Jesus, and that is why I got baptised.

Charlie

Roseanna

Nic

Jess

Charley

Jon

Luke

Others who have been baptised this term:

Before and After

We have just completed week 8 of our 9-week city-wide Youth Alpha course this week. We have been working together with the other churches

in the city, and with the Winchester YMCA to run this great evangelistic event for young people aged 11-19. We have had between 25-35 young

people regularly turning up for Dominoes pizza, the infamous Alpha talk and small groups, and of course the brilliant puddings donated by some of you at WBC! Some highlights so far have been; handing out bibles to young people who have never read one, and hearing them talk about reading it to their friends at school; praying with those who don’t yet know God, and hearing them talk about ‘feeling really peaceful, special and happy’

afterwards. Seeing God work in the lives of young people we have met through the Re;fresh café. It is so exciting to see the city working together on

this project, and it is a huge privilege to be a part of their journey towards a relationship with God. We have also seen many young Christians grow in

their relationship with God and start to question the faith they have grown up with and own it for themselves. We are celebrating the course with the young people and their friends on the 5th December with a full Christmas

roast dinner, and a chance to meet the other Christian young people in the city! There is so much more we could write, because God is still working his

purposes out, but for now…keep praying!

The Edge are invited to come down to St John’s House @ 7.30pm on the 5th to meet the alpha crew and pray for the people who have been on the

course this term - come and show your support!

Winbap Youth News September 2011 Page 3

The Edge elves knit (well, sew!) for the Nightshelter!

Charley reviews

Jars of Clay Album, 'Shelter’ Favourite Song?

Woah hard one, I love all these songs but I think my favourite is Eyes Wide Open.

Favourite Lyrics?“Where you lead us we will Follow..” on

song ‘We will follow’ I just love these lyrics.

What is this album good for? This Album is amazing to worship to and

I love listening to it to chill out, it’s great to sing along to and to dance to!

Who does this CD sound similar to?It sounds like a bit like The Script. But I think

this CD’s better!

An update on the City-wide Youth Alpha

Charley’s star rating:

I love this CD. It’s Awesome!

After a visit from one of the night shelter’s direc-tors, the Edge are hard at work making cards and stockings and filling them with gifts for the guests to receive on Christmas morning.

The Edge will be holding a cake sale after church on the 11th Dec in aid of this project! Please support them if you can...

A Christmas Day full of joy,a New Year Day full of excitement

and a year aheadfull of promise, peace and laughter.

MERRY CHRISTMASFROM

To all the youth, our amazine future,

We wish for you this Chrstmas

EDGE FRESH FRIDAY CLUB. .

It’s that time of year again - Christmas is almost upon us! I’m going to be looking

at some of the things that are going on in Winchester at this festive time. Winchester Christmas Market was inspired by German Christmas markets, and attracts around 350,000 visitors each year! It is also important to remember local charities that help the less well off in our city. As a church, I think it is important for us to remember the poor, and those who are part of a specifi c ministry to help them.

Winchester Christmas Market

Th e Winchester Christmas Market will run from 24th November until 21st December.

It off ers a wide variety of produce – (to name just a few): mince pies and mulled wine supplied by the Winchester Old Vine (a local pub), Christmas decorations at the Christmas Cottage, a variety of artwork, including paintings and Christmas Cards, jewellery, and even Moroccan lanterns! Th ere is also an ice rink, which is really popular with families and children.

Winchester celebratesChristmas

What about local charities?

Many of us are very well off , and it is important for us to remember, as we celebrate Christmas, those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Below, I’ve explained about some of the local charities that help the homeless and people experiencing other social problems.

Winchester Night Shelter

WBC has been supporting the Winchester Churches Nightshelter (WCNS) for several years. Th e WCNS helps those who have no home to go to, and is actually the only organisation in the city that off ers direct access accommodation. As well as providing people with basic needs such as shelter and food, the WCNS also helps homeless people to become re-established in mainstream society. For example, WCNS staff help their service users to make contact with prospective employers. However, there has been no reduction in the number of homeless people in recent years in Winchester, and there are very few places in the city that provide temporary accommodation for them. Th e WCNS is in need of our prayers!

Th e Salvation Army

Th e Salvation Army also has a presence in our city. Established in 1865 by William Booth, the Salvation Army was founded with a particular emphasis on helping the homeless and the poor. It is an international church with a presence in one hundred and twenty four countries worldwide. Th e Salvation Army also works to support people who have become separated from their families, through their Family Tracing Service. Th ey provide residential care for vulnerable families, including women who have experienced domestic violence. Th e Salvation Army also provide work for those who are unemployed, and they currently employ around 5,000 people. I myself worked for the Salvation Army Trading Company (the commercial arm of the Salvation Army), for six months last year.

As a Christian, I think the work of organisations such as the WCNS and the Salvation Army are really important. In Matthew 25, Jesus asserts that ‘the least that you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,, you did for me’ (Matthew 25, v. 40). Th is Christmas, let’s pray that organisations such as these will continue to make a diff erence to people’s lives.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, feel free to email me on:

HYPERLINKmailto:jimturn87 @ btinternet.

com

jimturn87 @btinternet . com

Have a very happy Christmas!

James Turner

Have you every stopped to think about the layer upon layer of tradition we build up within our families over the years.

Getting married makes you stop and think so much it hurts!

What Christian denomination are you part of and why? Where and how do you spend Christmas? How do you divide household responsibilities? How do you celebrate family birthdays? Who classifi es for presents, close or extended family? What presents are appropriate? How often do you visit your in-laws? How long do you spend with the in-laws? What activities are mandatory to take part in and what are optional? Do we have regular holiday dates and locations? Do you visit family apart or together?

When Clare and I got married in June 2010 our biggest decision to make was how to reconcile the Christian traditions we had grown up with, Clare predominantly from a C of E backgroundand myself from a Salvation Army heritage. Both our traditions held vital links to how we expressed our Christian faith.

Out came the straws and the list of Churches in the area and by the grace of God we ended up at Win Bap. Th ere were a whole host of traditions to get used to; no Salvation Army Uniforms on a Sunday, no brass bands, no mercy seat, Baptism, Communion, diff erent style of house groups, referring to the place of worship as church rather than corpse, just a diff erent way of doing things.

Th e next big decision was where to gobble our fi rst Christmas turkey as a couple. My family always gathered at my parents on Christmas Eve, my brother and I would go out and sing carols. Christmas day involved attending church in the morning, lunch followed cooked by my dad, then present opening, and an evening of board games.

Clare’s family also attended church on Christmas morning, ate lunch, and opened presents. Th e only diff erence being that Clare’s family go for a post turkey munching walk to burn of those drumsticks instead of deciding who is going to own Pall Mall and Mayfair.

We decided to spend our fi rst Christmas walking with Clare’s family. Th is year we are hosting my family for Christmas, I will be roasting the turkey. We are yet to decide if there will be a post lunch walk or board games.

We are now building our own traditions as we go without consciously knowing it throughout all aspects of our life. Some that incorporate aspects of our individual families and others that are uniquely are own.

Have you every stopped to think about the layer upon layer of tradition we build up within our families over the years.

Getting married makes you stop and think so much it hurts!

What Christian denomination are you part of and why? Where and how do you spend Christmas? How do you divide household responsibilities? How do you celebrate family birthdays? Who classifi es for presents, close or extended family? What presents are appropriate? How often do you visit your in-laws? How long do you spend with the in-laws? What activities are mandatory to take part in and what are optional? Do we have regular holiday dates and locations? Do you visit family apart or together?

When Clare and I got married in June 2010 our biggest decision to make was how to reconcile the Christian traditions we had grown up with, Clare predominantly from a C of E backgroundand myself from a Salvation Army heritage. Both our traditions held vital links to how we expressed our Christian faith.

Out came the straws and the list of Churches in the area and by the grace of God we ended up at Win Bap. Th ere were a whole host of traditions to get used to; no Salvation Army Uniforms on a Sunday, no brass bands, no mercy seat, Baptism, Communion, diff erent style of house groups, referring to the place of worship as church rather than corpse, just a diff erent way of doing things.

Th e next big decision was where to gobble our fi rst Christmas turkey as a couple. My family always gathered at my parents on Christmas Eve, my brother and I would go out and sing carols. Christmas day involved attending church in the morning, lunch followed cooked by my dad, then present opening, and an evening of board games.

Clare’s family also attended church on Christmas morning, ate lunch, and opened presents. Th e only diff erence being that Clare’s family go for a post turkey munching walk to burn of those drumsticks instead of deciding who is going to own Pall Mall and Mayfair.

We decided to spend our fi rst Christmas walking with Clare’s family. Th is year we are hosting my family for Christmas, I will be roasting the turkey. We are yet to decide if there will be a post lunch walk or board games.

We are now building our own traditions as we go without consciously knowing it throughout all aspects of our life. Some that incorporate aspects of our individual families and others that are uniquely are own.

Question: What do church lunches, hotdogs and hot chocolate mountains on Bonfi re night, church weekends away and welcoming people into our church services all have in common?

For six years, Carolyn has been the ‘Advocate for Building a Community’ for Winchester Baptist Church. Now, perhaps what Carolyn is most famous for is her fabulous cooking and baking skills which, don’t get me wrong, are out of this world (!!), but what perhaps goes slightly more un-noticed is her massive role in organising and co-ordinating many church events and also welcoming people into our Sunday services. Th is article is essentially here to recognise all of the work Carolyn has done for us over the past six years and to thank her for the blessing she has been and continues to be to Winchester Baptist Church. Personally, I have Carolyn to thank for helping me and my family to fi nd a Church when we fi rst moved to Winchester. At the time, she was very busy organising a Church group booking to New Wine (a Christian camping event run every year in the summer, for those of you who may not actually know what this is!!), and really encouraged my family to attend. It was through this that we got to know other members of Winchester Baptist Church and realised that it was defi nitely the place for us – Th anks Carolyn!! Th is is just a small example of how Carolyn has really worked to ‘build a community’ within our church and I am sure that many of you have had similar experiences!In addition to organising various bookings for New Wine, Carolyn has headed up and co-ordinated three fantastic Church weekends away to Chantemarle (x2!) and, earlier this year to Wokefi eld. Th is involved taking all the bookings from people (a hefty job in itself !), visiting the locations prior to the trips and also ensuring that the venues had suitable space for seminars and children’s activities – essentially what made the weekends as good as they were! I am sure all of you would agree that these weekends were full of fun, relaxation and were an ideal opportunity to spend time with each other and

that it was a real blessing to have Carolyn taking on the responsibility of organising this for everyone – after all, none of it would have happened by itself !

As part of the leadership team, Carolyn has played an important role in many of the key decisions made within our church and, on a practical level, is regularly seen welcoming people into our services. She has also played a massive role in helping to organise ‘Woman to Woman’ events, reaching out to women across our city. Finally, something of great importance to many of you I’m sure… delicious food! Yet another role Carolyn undertook in the last few years has been organising Church lunches and the ‘Hotdogs and Hot Chocolate Mountains’ event on Bonfi re night. Th ese two events alone take a lot of time and eff ort to co-ordinate both prior to the event (searching for and buying all the yummy ingredients!) and also on the day when all the food has to be prepared! Speaking from experience (as I would never pass up the opportunity of tasting Carolyn’s ‘Apple Flapjack’!), I know that both of these events are thoroughly enjoyable not only enhancing the community within our Church but also encouraging many of our other friends to meet and spend time with Christians. Carolyn is one of those people who doesn’t like the limelight but simply enjoys getting on with a job. Her least favourite job has been having to make announcements in church for the many events she has organised. I think I speak for us all when I say we have been truly blessed by Carolyn’s work as a church family, as individuals and as a community.

Th ank you Carolyn!

Rachel Jones

3

So, write a review about some Christmas music said the Editor. But, what to review? I mean there are albums of standard Christmas carols and that’s, well, boring really. So, I looked at children’s albums, generally by school or church choirs, and they were, well, boring!

Sufjan stevensSongs for Christmas

Then said Editor made a suggestion, a

recommendation from a friend (yes, she does have friends!). It’s a bit odd she thought - perfect, just the sort of thing I like!Sufj an Stevens is – well - unusual. He has produced an eclectic mix of oddball records and this is no exception. Originally in a package that came with (in 2006), with stickers, comics, sketches and a sing-a-long songbook the collection of 5 EP’s (42 songs!) contains standard carols as well some original, and very quirky work. He is a devoted Christian, and hence these songs are true to their original intent in all but their arrangements.Stevens is hard to categorise, mixing folk, electronic and classical elements in a minimalist way to great eff ect.Silent Night is a lovely arrangement of acoustic and electric guitars layered to form a simple beautiful version of the song, overlaid with Steven’s frail vocals. Th en we’re into a song featuring banjos, which are used extensively throughout. Th e fi rst of 2 versions of O Come O Come Emmanuel is a folk/roots arrangement of this carol, again with banjo, where the chorus is no longer the rousing call to action of the traditional version, but a beautifully understated interlude falling against an electric guitar line.

Amazing Grace is hardly a carol, but is equally at home here. Again driven by simple banjo, and some equally basic acoustic guitar over harmonising vocals it is a great lilting version. It’s almost childish in its simplicity but very eff ective.Once in Royal David’s City! With banjos! Joined by acoustic guitar, what sounds like some synthesiser, and then oboe in the chorus, what more could you want on this carol.O Holy Night – manic banjo strumming mixed under harmo-nising simple vocals, and then it takes off into a musical interlude with a xylophone and what sounds like a fairground organ. Th is is again a completely novel arrange-ment of a traditional carol and great fun.I Saw Th ree Ships – understated simple verses, driven by banjo, and then a musical bridge with beating snare drum, sleigh bells, clarinet and an oboe playing the melody underneath it all – brilliant!.If you want something diff erent this Christmas, try this. Th ere won’t be many albums where you can get traditional French and German 15thC carols, standard fare and a song called “Th at was the worse Christmas ever” on one album.

wayne’s world

Jingle BellsDashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute

kicking up the dust, esky in the boot.Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,

It’s summertime and I am in my singlet, shorts and *thongs.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!Oh what fun it is to ride ina rusty Holden Ute.

Engine’s getting hot, we dodge the kangaroos,The swaggie climbs aboard - he is welcome too.

All the family’s there, sitting by the pool,Christmas Day the Aussie way, by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle Bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

Come the aftenoon, Grandpa has a doze,The kids and Uncle Bruce are swimming in their clothes.The time comes ‘round to go; we take a family snap,

Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer’s day, hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

Aussiesung to the tune of Jingle Bells

Your guide to holiday Australian.

Ute = utility truck � ongs = fl ip fl ops

(so don’t panic)Swaggie = hitch hiker

HOLA! On the 18th of January, I will be leaving the UK and heading to Argentina with the organisation Latin Link, as a missionary and part of their STRIDE programme.

I will be living and working in a children’s home called “Nueva Esperanze” (New Hope), located in the town Professor Salvador Mazza, after spending a month studying intensive Spanish classes at the local university in Salta. Th is town lies on the Argentinean/Bolivian border. Th e children’s home is led by Luis and Ana Martinez, my host family and it is home to approximately 20 chilcren of various ages. Two of the children have special needs.

Th e idea is that I could help to care for the children through developing the activities in the home and off ering school support in the subjects of languages, mathematics and science. If I would like, there is also the possibility of teaching English in a school in the town which is run by the same directors as the home. I will get involved in the church with the young people’s group and by participating in the Sunday meetings.

I am still unsure as to how long God intends for me to serve Him in Argentina, however I am trusting He will give me guidance once I am there! Th e programme lasts between 6 months - 2 years, so who knows when I’ll be returning!!

On the 5th - 12th December I am doing a residential course at All Nations Bible College to prepare myself before fl ying to Buenos Aires on the 18th of January with another Strider who will be working in Salta.

P R AY E R P O I N T S

• That God blesses me in the final weeks and things don’t become too hectic.

• That I am able to make the most of my opportunity at All Nations Bible College and God equips me for the work ahead.

• Safety in travelling and once I am there.

• That I continue to grow daily in my walk with God and learn how to completely rely on God’s unfailing love.

Blessings y un abrazo

Emily ‘Millie’

Smith

Salta

• Th e population of Professor Salvador Mazza was recorded at 16, 068 onMarch 1st 2010.• Th e nearest airport is BYC - Yacuiba located 13.5km away• Languages spoken are Spanish (offi cial), English, Italian,

German and French.• Th e currency is the Peso which is paper money.• Time: -3 hours GMT• Climate is mostly temperate• Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20%

practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

We would both like to thank everyone who has pledged their support both prayerfully and fi nancially for our time with AIM and Growing Nations out in Lesotho. We are constantly amazed at the generosity of WBC and are truly grateful to you all and to God for his provision. Step by step God is revealing His plan for us and we are just so grateful that we have a loving and supportive church community to journey along this road with us. We will update you on our progress in the next magazine.May God richly bless you all, as you each serve Him, in your lives too.

Th anks once again.

Barry & Heather Mann

Lesotho

So it’s almost Christmas (well it has been since August according to the shops). It is a really busy time (for my wife who writes all our Christmas cards, sorts out the presents, makes sure we aren’t off ending any relatives by not visiting them or in some cases making sure we don’t off end them by visiting them). However amidst all the hustle and bustle of being reminded that I ‘never write the Christmas Cards but love to count how many we receive!’, I do make sure I fi nd time to ponder one of this Country’s great traditions – Christmas telly, and more pertinently - is there anything worth watching?!

I am writing this on the 12th November so to be honest I don’t know the answer to that question –they are remaining pretty tight lipped about the schedules. But based on Christmases past this is not an insurmountable problem due to the innumerable repeats that grace our screens! So with no preview tapes available I thought I’d do what most TV critics do, and give you my own comments and top choices based on previous years’ classics. So at least when the listings appear, you’ll know what to set the recorder for.

So here are the Clifton Top Tele Tips for

Christmas 2011:

Festive fi lm to warm the cockles

Where do you begin with so much choice? You don’t need to look much further than the yet to be called ‘classic’ Elf movie - one of those rare American family comedies that actually made me laugh out loud (once). Or for those afi cionados of the Christmas Flick, how about White

123

Christmas (personally I’ve I’ve never seen it so can’t comment which I know is not a strong starting point for reviewing TV, but hey you’re stuck with me). And I can’t forget such classics as Home Alone about a 10 year old taking on two would be burglars and winning.Yes, yes, all very good you might say, but really there is only one Christmas movie that warms the heart, gets you in the mood and leaves you feeling satisfi ed. Yes of course, it’s the obvious choice – Die Hard! My wife thinks I need counselling for suggesting this, but what more do you want – an Eighties classic set at Christmas time, and with Bruce Willis in top form bopping some terrorists (admittedly at this point it begins to digress from some of the other traditions associated with Christmas movies). Yes you can have your fake snow and Colin Firth dressed up in a jumper his mum knitted for him, but for real Christmas kicks look no further than Brucie (Willis, not Forsyth)!

Doctor, Doctor

What Christmas schedule is complete without a Doctor Who Christmas Special? In recent years we’ve had man eating sharks who could fl oat through mist, Kylie Minogue on the Titanic (but not as we know it Jim), and all manners of Alien invasions. So what breathless adventure can we expect this year? Well sadly I’m not a renowned TV magazine critic, so I’ve not been let in on the secret, but steel yourselves and try and contain your excitement as best you can.

Th at looks tasty!

If like me you love your food, you will still be agog that every year the Celebrity Chefs are telling us how to cook the perfect Turkey, boil a sprout and peel a spud. But I fi nd some of these programmes surprisingly addictive, perhaps it being almost a substitute for actually eating food. Anyway my pick of the Chefs is Hugh Fearnly-can’tspelltherestofhisname of River Cottage Fame. His recent series on cooking with vegetables even has this meat-eater licking his lips! His previous exploits include a medieval 15 bird roast (sounds like a fi ne tradition we should bring back) and all manner of delicious looking soups, chutneys and even edible presents!

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas

I’m sure there will be some great things on TV this Christmas no matter what you like (most houses now have access to over 900 channels, not to mention I-Player

and Catch Up services, so it would be some feat if there wasn’t anything decent on), but I would highly recommend getting a hold of, or watching again if repeated this year, the BBC production called Th e Nativity. A really well put together interpretation of the very human circumstances surrounding the birth of the Son of God. We see the struggles of Mary and her family – suddenly pregnant but unmarried; the anger of Joseph at her seeming unfaithfulness; and the humble but powerful depiction of the birth of Christ at fi rst surrounded by the poor but trusting shepherds and soon joined by the rich and mysterious visitors from the east. Watch it, you won’t regret this powerful reminder of the true blockbuster event, and in midst of all the available programmes it will bring home the real reason for our celebrations.

Happy Christmas!

Ben ‘Barry Norman’ Clifton

A Modern Christmas Nativity

Rebecca and Benjamin, a young couple, were touring the Holy Land over the Christmas holiday period and decided it would be very meaningful to them to spend Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus.

When they arrived they searched high and low all day for a room for that night. Finally Rebecca and Benjamin drove to the plush and rather expensive ‘Intercontinental Hotel’ in Bethlehem.

‘I’ll pop in and see what I can do,’ said Benjamin feigning confi dence for his, now exhausted, young wife.

Benjamin approached the desk and the receptionist told him there were no rooms in the hotel and probably no rooms in the whole of Bethlehem. ‘Sorry, sir. It’s Christmas Eve, it’s probably our busiest time.’

No matter how much Benjamin off ered to pay, the receptionist still replied that said he had no available rooms.

Finally, Benjamin said, ‘I bet if I told you my name was Joseph, that the woman waiting in the car was called Mary, and that she had a newborn infant, you’d fi nd us a room for the night.’

‘Er....well,’ stammered the receptionist, ‘I.....I suppose, in that case, I would.’

‘OK, then,’ said Benjamin determinedly. ‘I guarantee you, they’re not coming tonight, so we’ll take their room.’

MeettheStudents

transition cluster

Name, Age, and what you’re studying.

Lis Ford22 (when the mag goes out!)

BA Fine Art at WSA

Hometown: Bruton, Somerset.

At WinBap Since: Nov 2009

Top Bible Verses:

Romans 8:28Th e Message (MSG)26-28

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. Th at’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our

lives of love for God is worked into something good.

John 3:16Contemporary English Version (CEV)

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

Fav meal: I love a roast dinner!

If you were on a desert Island which three things would you have with you?

My phone so I could call for help! Also, having a couple of friends with me would be more fun!

Best Part of Uni: Living in Winchester, making new friends, and meeting loads of fab people.

Currently listening to: Th e Beatles

Lis Ford

Devon Turkey

Serves 6-8what you need:

what you need:

1lb cooking apples (+ sugar if required)4 oz oats2 oz brown sugar2 oz butter2tbs golden syrup

how you do it:

• Peel and slice apples into the dish.

• Add sugar if required and a small amount of water.

• Melt butter in the pan with brown sugar and syrup.

• Spoon oat mix on top of apple and level off .

• Cook at Gas Mark 3 for 30 minutes until the apple is cooked and the topping brown.

c a r o l y n ’ s k i t c h e n

All credit should go to Rachel Duffi n who gave me this recipe many years ago as this has become a real favourite in our house.

Apple Flapjack

Note

Best served with

custard.

Christmas is the time of year when we really have the opportunity to focus on the many gifts we have been given and on how we can bless others in small but important ways. As we think about the greatest gift of all – our Saviour Jesus Christ – let’s also take a moment to think of ways in which we can give to others and make this an extra special time for ourselves too. Th e greatest gifts that often make the biggest diff erence to people are not the expensive, beautifully wrapped presents we see in the retail world of Christmas, but the small, simple gifts that are invested with the time, thought and love of the giver.

Here are a few ideas of how we can remind ourselves and share with others the love of our Saviour in practical and personal ways, often without having to give anything other than a little of ourselves.

Cards – have a go at making your own. You don’t have to be artistically talented – the simplest ideas are often the best. Try to write a personal note in each one – a thank you or encouragement for the

recipient. It might take a little longer but could be just what that person needs to hear.

Holly – Go for a walk with family or friends to collect holly, ivy, pine cones and other natural decorations. – Just think of it as a chance to spend time together and walk off the calories before you

put them on!!

Read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. Look beyond the familiarity of the words to discover something new about the amazing birth of God on earth.

Invite someone to eat with you over the Christmas holiday – maybe family or friends you haven’t seen in a while, neighbours you never seem to catch up with or someone you know will be lonely or sad at

Christmas.

Sing carols – not just at a Carol Service but while you are doing the housework, washing the car or in the shower!! Everyone knows the tunes and words to loads of carols so sing like there’s no-one listening

and make the most of these fantastic hymns that lift our spirits and remind us of the reason behind our celebrations!

Tree – make or buy a new ornament for your tree each year and over the years each one will be a reminder of a particular time in yours or your family’s life to look back on and bring back memories.

Make small gifts, for example, home-made sweets, chutney, mince pies etc to give to people who are part of your everyday life such as your postman, refuse collector, milkman. Taking a moment to say thank

you can mean such a lot to someone.

Adopt a charity or cause for you and your family or friends to support by raising or donating money or by helping out in some practical way

Share your time, your food, your money, your home...and, most importantly, your chocolates (!!!) with others.

Christmas can all too easily become a stressful time when we get so wrapped up in everything that has to be done that we forget the important little things that can make such a diff erence. I’m not suggesting you try to take on all of these ideas but maybe choose one or two that you’ve not done before and see what a diff erence giving a little of your time, your energy and yourself can make to you and to others.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb –

If I were a wise man, I would do my part.Yet, what I can I give Him, give Him my heart.

Christmas is the time of year when we really have the opportunity to focus on the many gifts we have been given and on how we can bless others in small but important ways. As we think about the greatest gift of all - our Saviour Jesus Christ - let’s also take a moment to think of ways in which we can give to others and make this an extra special time for ourselves too. Th e greatest gifts that often make the diff erence to people are not the expensive, beautifully wrapped presents we see in the retail world of Christmas, but the small, simple gifts that are invested with the time, thought and love of the giver Here are a few ideas of how we can remind ourselves and share with others the love of our Saviour in practical and personal ways, often without having to give anything other than a little of ourselves.

From the library....REDEEMING LOVE9781590525135Francine Rivers

A friend recommended me this book which we have a copy in the library. I couldn’t put it down. One of those books that grip you from the beginning. It is a powerful retelling of the book Hosea, set in California’s Gold country in 1850 ‘ a time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.’ The story is about a very handsome, solid man who works his land and is a man of God. He believed God had someone for him, he just wasn’t expecting it to be a women from a brothel! He falls in love with her but without giving too much away it is not without trouble. He shows her unconditional, redemptive, all consuming love. Quote from Amy Grant, Singer / Songwriter in an interview with Ted Koppel, ABC News:

“The truth that ran through this story absolutely took me to my knees. And I was a changed person when I finished reading...”

Excerpt from Amber’s review April 25, 2011I honestly can say this book has delivered so much more than the title given. The author captures and wraps you up into this amazing story with such detail that you feel as if you were a written character and living Angel ’s life as you read. My heart just broke for Sarah. She was a young innocent little girl that was thrown into a life of unspeakable torture. I have been stung by the soul of this story and I don’t think I will be able to release it from my thoughts for quite some time. A beautifully, touching story that will be a timeless masterpiece.

Nicole’s review July 20, 2007This book is incredibly romantic, in that it is a story about a powerful love that brings about happiness in the lives of the couple. It is less romantic in that it is also the story about a couple who must deal with a damaged past, and a damaged soul, and the pain and destruction that that damage can still inflict. It is not the story of an easy love. It is also a story about God’s plan. Most Christian books are about people who are Christians. The main characters mostly do good things. This book, as with many of Francine Rivers’s books, is about characters who actually trust God and rely on God, not only in words, but in their actions. All in all, an incredible read

Reviews from Goodreads.com....

Clare Smith

KindleFrom the library...

THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY9781859995037Mark Greene

Who do we regard as missionaries? Is it just the people on the mission action board or does it include the plumber, the nurse, the teacher who take Christianity into their workplace and may have daily contact with dozens of non-Christians? Do we support and encourage one another in our workplaces suffi ciently? Do we regard the work we do as being a ministry, do we do it ‘as for the Lord?’ How do we treat our work mates, our boss, our employees and our clients/patients/students? All of this is really important to God and, whether we like it or not, we are all in full-time Christian work. Read this book to fi nd out more.

I am going to review two books by Mark Greene. Mark Greene writes in a really practical way about contemporary issues. Th e fi rst book is about ministry in the work place and is called ‘Th ank God it’s Monday’. Th e second is about relationships and community and it is called ‘Th e Best Idea in the World’. Both books are really easy to read but challenge modern assumptions about lifestyle, ethics and relationships.

THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD9780310290759Mark Greene

In an article earlier this year I quoted; ‘Th e success or failure of a given day is measured by the quality of our interest and compassion towards those around us’. Th is is borne out by this book which examines Jesus’ great commandment to love God and one another. Mark argues that this commandment is all we really need to get life

right. Often we are too busy, too self-interested or ambitious and too distracted to give priority to face to face relationships, even within the church. However, broken and shallow relationships lead to broken homes and marriages, poor educational attainment, poor work productivity not to mention a lot of lonely people. Mark looks at ways in which we can develop our relationships and explains how putting them fi rst transforms everything.

Ratings from Goodreads.com...

Ratings from Goodreads.com...

Lois Gravely

GOD HUNTING9781844276783Jo Swinney

Jo Swinney set herself a challenge: to trial one spiritual discipline per month.

Th is is her diary of discovery.She invites us to join in the hunt for God through…• Prayer • Fasting • Bible study• Worship• Solitude• Simplicity

Jo writes: ‘…if we search for God, he will be found by us, and then there’s no knowing what might happen.’

Th is title is available in Kindle format from Scripture Union for £6.99

From the library....REDEEMING LOVE9781590525135Francine Rivers

A friend recommended me this book which we have a copy in the library. I couldn’t put it down. One of those books that grip you from the beginning. It is a powerful retelling of the book Hosea, set in California’s Gold country in 1850 ‘ a time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.’ The story is about a very handsome, solid man who works his land and is a man of God. He believed God had someone for him, he just wasn’t expecting it to be a women from a brothel! He falls in love with her but without giving too much away it is not without trouble. He shows her unconditional, redemptive, all consuming love. Quote from Amy Grant, Singer / Songwriter in an interview with Ted Koppel, ABC News:

“The truth that ran through this story absolutely took me to my knees. And I was a changed person when I finished reading...”

Excerpt from Amber’s review April 25, 2011I honestly can say this book has delivered so much more than the title given. The author captures and wraps you up into this amazing story with such detail that you feel as if you were a written character and living Angel ’s life as you read. My heart just broke for Sarah. She was a young innocent little girl that was thrown into a life of unspeakable torture. I have been stung by the soul of this story and I don’t think I will be able to release it from my thoughts for quite some time. A beautifully, touching story that will be a timeless masterpiece.

Nicole’s review July 20, 2007This book is incredibly romantic, in that it is a story about a powerful love that brings about happiness in the lives of the couple. It is less romantic in that it is also the story about a couple who must deal with a damaged past, and a damaged soul, and the pain and destruction that that damage can still inflict. It is not the story of an easy love. It is also a story about God’s plan. Most Christian books are about people who are Christians. The main characters mostly do good things. This book, as with many of Francine Rivers’s books, is about characters who actually trust God and rely on God, not only in words, but in their actions. All in all, an incredible read

Reviews from Goodreads.com....

Clare Smith

KindleFrom the library...

THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY9781859995037Mark Greene

Who do we regard as missionaries? Is it just the people on the mission action board or does it include the plumber, the nurse, the teacher who take Christianity into their workplace and may have daily contact with dozens of non-Christians? Do we support and encourage one another in our workplaces suffi ciently? Do we regard the work we do as being a ministry, do we do it ‘as for the Lord?’ How do we treat our work mates, our boss, our employees and our clients/patients/students? All of this is really important to God and, whether we like it or not, we are all in full-time Christian work. Read this book to fi nd out more.

I am going to review two books by Mark Greene. Mark Greene writes in a really practical way about contemporary issues. Th e fi rst book is about ministry in the work place and is called ‘Th ank God it’s Monday’. Th e second is about relationships and community and it is called ‘Th e Best Idea in the World’. Both books are really easy to read but challenge modern assumptions about lifestyle, ethics and relationships.

THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD9780310290759Mark Greene

In an article earlier this year I quoted; ‘Th e success or failure of a given day is measured by the quality of our interest and compassion towards those around us’. Th is is borne out by this book which examines Jesus’ great commandment to love God and one another. Mark argues that this commandment is all we really need to get life

right. Often we are too busy, too self-interested or ambitious and too distracted to give priority to face to face relationships, even within the church. However, broken and shallow relationships lead to broken homes and marriages, poor educational attainment, poor work productivity not to mention a lot of lonely people. Mark looks at ways in which we can develop our relationships and explains how putting them fi rst transforms everything.

Ratings from Goodreads.com...

Ratings from Goodreads.com...

Lois Gravely

GOD HUNTING9781844276783Jo Swinney

Jo Swinney set herself a challenge: to trial one spiritual discipline per month.

Th is is her diary of discovery.She invites us to join in the hunt for God through…• Prayer • Fasting • Bible study• Worship• Solitude• Simplicity

Jo writes: ‘…if we search for God, he will be found by us, and then there’s no knowing what might happen.’

Th is title is available in Kindle format from Scripture Union for £6.99

Th is year we have been marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Next year sees the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the fi rst Baptist church on British soil. Th e annual Baptist Assembly, which in 2012 will be held at Central Hall in Westminster, will celebrate this milestone and explore what it means to be a Baptist in today’s world.

Th e Assembly will be held from the evening of Friday 4th May to late afternoon on Sun 6th May. On the Saturday there will be more than a dozen ‘Assembly day conferences’ in a variety of central London locations on themes which will include:

Dissenting descendents: 400 years on, what does it mean to be a dissenting people in contemporary society?

How can we be a prophetic people, engaging in the political processes in order to work for the coming Kingdom of God?

Revelling in the art of God: exploring the relationship between art and modern spiritualityFrom one generation to another: reaching young people with the Gospel using Biblically-based strategies

Lord of the rings: exploring the Olympic legacy - where can the church make a diff erence?

Th e rise of the entrepreneurial minister: new patterns of ministry in the 21st century

Whose big idea?: challenges and opportunities for churches in the ‘Big Society’

Are we really worth it?: a Christian critique of consumerism and capitalism

One Assembly event which you won’t want to miss is seeing Tim Williamson formally welcomed as a fully accredited Baptist Minister (see page 4 - probably on the Sunday, but date and time yet to be confi rmed. Let’s try to get a party of us together to go along to support him.

For more information about the 2012 Assembly see Ed Jackson, pick up one of the ‘Beyond 400’ leafl ets from the

back of the church sanctuary or go to

HYPERLINK “http: // www . baptistassembly . org . uk ” http ://www . baptistassembly . org . uk .

Baptist AssemblyLondon

4 - 6 May 2012baptistassembly . org . uk

Since the late 1920’s, the BMS Stamp Bureau has been raising money for BMS World Mission by gathering and selling used postage stamps and other collectibles. In 1928, this fi rst appeared in the BMS accounts as a contribution of £60; now it raises several thousands of pounds each year. All stamps, stamp collections/albums, stock books and stamp collecting equipment donated are sold to collectors and dealers.

Our Churches (WBC & NWCC) have been sending stamps for a good number of years now but more will always be appreciated, so, if you don’t already give your used stamps for BMS, may I encourage you to start.

Christmas is a good time to begin with all the Christmas mail that will be dropping through our letter boxes. Just tear round the stamps, leaving plenty of paper round them, and put them in the box at the back of the church. ‘Simple’.

Please don’t bin them, recycling is so much better and the money BMS raise will help so many people.

In addition to stamps they also welcome collectible items such as:Coins and notes – foreign and pre-decimal BritishMedals and badges – especially military, police or fi re servicePostcards – especially older ones but newer ones also requiredCigarette and tea cardsPre-1950 greetings cards – old Christmas or birthday cards but not recent ones

Margaret WheadonOn behalf of WBC & NWCC

If you are a collector and would like to purchase stamps or other items from BMS Stamp Bureau, please contact:

For British stamps and other items:Richard Camp3 Barnfi eld CrescentWellingtonTelfordTF1 2ESTelephone 01952 247783

For bulk British stamps:Malcolm EdgeBaptist HousePO Box 49129 BroadwayDidcotOX11 8XATelephone 01235 517700email: stamps @ bmsworldmission . org

For Foreign and Commonwealth stamps:Douglas Neilson4 Argyle StreetDundeeDD4 7ALTelephone 01382 451186

Margaret

Since the late 1920’s, the BMS Stamp Bureau has been raising money for BMS World Mission by gathering and selling used postage stamps and other collectibles. In 1928, this fi rst appeared in the BMS accounts as a contribution of £60; now it raises several thousands of pounds each year. All stamps, stamp collections/albums, stock books and stamp collecting equipment donated are sold to collectors and dealers.

Our Churches (WBC & NWCC) have been sending stamps for a good number of years now but more will always be appreciated, so, if you don’t already give your used stamps for BMS, may I encourage you to start.

Christmas is a good time to begin with all the Christmas mail that will be dropping through our letter boxes. Just tear round the stamps, leaving plenty of paper round them, and put them in the box at the back of the church. ‘Simple’.

Please don’t bin them, recycling is so much better and the money BMS raise will help so many people.

In addition to stamps they also welcome collectible items such as:Coins and notes – foreign and pre-decimal BritishMedals and badges – especially military, police or fi re servicePostcards – especially older ones but newer ones also requiredCigarette and tea cardsPre-1950 greetings cards – old Christmas or birthday cards but not recent ones

Margaret WheadonOn behalf of WBC & NWCC

If you are a collector and would like to purchase stamps or other items from BMS Stamp Bureau, please contact:

For British stamps and other items:Richard Camp3 Barnfi eld CrescentWellingtonTelfordTF1 2ESTelephone 01952 247783

For bulk British stamps:Malcolm EdgeBaptist HousePO Box 49129 BroadwayDidcotOX11 8XATelephone 01235 517700email: stamps @ bmsworldmission . org

For Foreign and Commonwealth stamps:Douglas Neilson4 Argyle StreetDundeeDD4 7ALTelephone 01382 451186

Margaret

resource (www.baptisttimes.co.uk) to be launched in the spring of 2012. Th is will be run by the Baptist Union’s Communications Department and the new site will provide news, opinion pieces, features and a downloadable weekly news digest for individuals and churches to print off . As well as off ering fresh news of interest to the Baptist family on a daily basis, the new resource will seek to maximise the use of social media alongside the online service to get discussions and comments going on a range of topics. Th e aim is to get people in churches excited and inspired about how Baptist people are engaging in mission and ministry across the UK and beyond.

Ed

WBC IN FIGURES Th e annual count of church attendance which we carried out in September for the Baptist Union showed that typical weekly attendance at our four congregations – the two Sunday Services, the Edge and the (monthly) Silver Service – again increased substantially compared with the previous year, as the following table shows.

However, you need to remember that we held baptism services on the morning and evening of the Sunday count, and visitors may account for some of the increase this year, particularly in the number of teenage girls. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the fi gures is that the number of males attending our services increased in nearly every age category between 2010 and 2011, and especially in the 31-50 age bracket. 68% of our church members were present for the count, compared with 83% in 2010.

We saw a net increase of 17 people (11%) in church membership over the year to 31st August and fi ve people were baptised over that same 12 month period – an annual fi gure maintained for almost every one of the past 13 years.

Th e number of children with whom the church has regular contact fell slightly over the year, by 7%, halting a slow increase over the past few years. Th e number of young adults in regular contact with the church dropped by 49%, from 73 in 2010 to 37 in 2011, continuing a decline from 109 in 2009. Much of this fall is probably attributable to a large number of them moving away for higher education or employment.

UP TO 11 12-18 19-30 31-50 51-65 OVER 65

AGE BREAKDOWN

M M M M M MF F F F F F

2009

2010

2011 13 22

9 16

21 18

17 30

18 11

17 11

10 14

9 11

9 18

35 37

26 30

29 39

23 30

22 39

14 25

20 51

18 58

9 36

MALE FEMALE TOTAL

2009

2010

2011 118 184 302

102 165 267

99 142 246Chu

rch

Secr

etar

y’s re

port

First, the usual summary of our

latest Church Meeting, which was held on 16th November.

Points to note were:

• It was agreed to make Clusters in the form we have trialled them over the past two years a permanent feature of the church; the Leadership Team will seek to address and review improvements which have been proposed

• A total of over £53,000 has been pledged to support Millie Smith, James Findlow and Barry & Heather Mann on the mission fi eld over the next two years; the meeting agreed to allocate up to a further £13,000 from general church funds, together with up to £2000 from the short-term missions budget.

• Th e off ering for the Fellowship Fund will now be taken on Sunday 11th December rather than at the Christmas morning service.

• Alan & Clare Gregory were accepted into church membership.

• Joanne Meharg and Ed Jackson were both elected onto the Leadership Team as Charity Trustees and Deacons, to serve as Advocate for Mission & Social Action and as Church Secretary respectively.

• Th ere will be a call for nominations at the beginning of January for two Leadership Team posts: a Church Treasurer and an Advocate for Building a Community; the elections will take place at the next Church Meeting, which has been postponed from 18th January to 1st February.

• A review of the way the Leadership Team operates has concluded that the present Elders/Deacons structure should be retained, with some slight adjustment of responsibilities.

• Th e work to remove the platform above the baptistry has been completed; quotes are being obtained to patch or replace the carpet.

• It has been decided not to install solar PV panels on the manse roof.

We have now reached the

fi nal two events to mark our church’s sesquicentennial anniversary. Firstly, Paul Tipple has done a fantastic piece of work bringing up to date the centenary history of the church which was written by Molly Cooper’s late husband in 1961. Copies have now been printed and there are

are suffi cient for each family to have one. If you have not already picked one up, they are available from the church offi ce. Additional copies are available for a small charge.

Second, an exhibition at the Hampshire Record Offi ce on the corner of Sussex Street and Station Hill opened on 14th November and will run until the end of the December. As well as the nine display panels which we used in the Discovery Centre and during the church Open Days earlier this year, there is a four-shelf display cabinet containing a number of historic items (including a copy of a 104-year old cartoon of the then Minister), along with features on our Clusters and on our involvement with other churches in social action in the city. Th ere’s also a video of worship, baptisms and seniors work running in the background.

Finally, you might like to know that the Baptist Times - the weekly newspaper reporting on the Baptist church in Britain - has announced that, due to falling circulation and diffi culties of selling advertising space, it is to cease publication of its print and digital editions at the end of the year. Th e last regular edition will be on 30th December 2011.  A special edition in January 2012 will celebrate its history and the contribution which the paper has made to the life of the Baptist denomination, and the wider Christian world, for the past 156 years. (Th e Baptist Times started life as Th e Freeman in 1855 and has been printed weekly ever since.)

However, the Baptist Times brand will live on as a new online

resource (www.baptisttimes.co.uk) to be launched in the spring of 2012. Th is will be run by the Baptist Union’s Communications Department and the new site will provide news, opinion pieces, features and a downloadable weekly news digest for individuals and churches to print off . As well as off ering fresh news of interest to the Baptist family on a daily basis, the new resource will seek to maximise the use of social media alongside the online service to get discussions and comments going on a range of topics. Th e aim is to get people in churches excited and inspired about how Baptist people are engaging in mission and ministry across the UK and beyond.

Ed

WBC IN FIGURES Th e annual count of church attendance which we carried out in September for the Baptist Union showed that typical weekly attendance at our four congregations – the two Sunday Services, the Edge and the (monthly) Silver Service – again increased substantially compared with the previous year, as the following table shows.

However, you need to remember that we held baptism services on the morning and evening of the Sunday count, and visitors may account for some of the increase this year, particularly in the number of teenage girls. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the fi gures is that the number of males attending our services increased in nearly every age category between 2010 and 2011, and especially in the 31-50 age bracket. 68% of our church members were present for the count, compared with 83% in 2010.

We saw a net increase of 17 people (11%) in church membership over the year to 31st August and fi ve people were baptised over that same 12 month period – an annual fi gure maintained for almost every one of the past 13 years.

Th e number of children with whom the church has regular contact fell slightly over the year, by 7%, halting a slow increase over the past few years. Th e number of young adults in regular contact with the church dropped by 49%, from 73 in 2010 to 37 in 2011, continuing a decline from 109 in 2009. Much of this fall is probably attributable to a large number of them moving away for higher education or employment.

UP TO 11 12-18 19-30 31-50 51-65 OVER 65

AGE BREAKDOWN

M M M M M MF F F F F F

2009

2010

2011 13 22

9 16

21 18

17 30

18 11

17 11

10 14

9 11

9 18

35 37

26 30

29 39

23 30

22 39

14 25

20 51

18 58

9 36

MALE FEMALE TOTAL

2009

2010

2011 118 184 302

102 165 267

99 142 246

Whats on.... Sunday

10am - Tea & coffee provided afterwards Creche - up to 3 yrs Sparklers - 3 to Yr R All Stars - Yr 1 - 3 Trailblazers - Yr 4 - 6 FRESH - Yr 7 upwards

6.30pm - Tea and coffee provided afterwards

Monday

Re:store - 10am creche provided Helen Revans

Tuesday

2.15pm - Tuesday Afternoon Women’s Fellowship alternate weeks - Jean Davis 8pm - Church Prayer Meeting (first Tuesday in the month) 8pm - Teg Down Small Group (Favour Cluster) Jo May 8pm - Location Cluster (2nd & 4th) David & Ann Hook 8pm - Sparkford Road Small Group (Favour Cluster) Nick Allenson 8pm - Kings Worthy Small Group (Connect Cluster) Ben Clifton

Wednesday

7-8am - Prayer Meeting in Tweedley Room 8pm - Chandler Ford Small Group (2nd & 4th - Favour Cluster) Carol and David Bailey 8pm - Stanmore Small Group Luke & Jo Meharg

Thursday

1.30pm - Silver Service (1st in the month) David & Hannah Strutt 7.30pm - The Edge (Yrs 9 and above) Becca Baxter 8pm - Badger Farm Small Group (Honour Cluster) Jean Sweetenham

Friday

10am - Friday Fun (2 ¹/2 - 5 year olds) Diana Wills

t

PastorRev Ewen Huffman 01962 868770ewen @ winbap . org . uk

Associate Pastor (Youth)Rev Tim Williamson 01962 868770tim @ winbap . org . uk

Mission to SeniorsHannah and David Strutt01962 868770hannahanddavid @ winbap . org . uk

Children’s Ministry WorkerEli Stewart 01962 868770eli @ winbap . org . uk

Associate Youth WorkerBecca Baxter 01962 868770 becca @ winbap . org . uk

EldersSheila McAulay 01962 868770Andy Marshall 01962 868770Carol Bailey 01962 858770SecretaryEd Jackson 01962 868770

TreasurerDavid Hook 01962 868770

Deacons

Small GroupsGareth Bartlett 01962 868770

Wayne Isaac 01962 868770MissionJoanne Meharg 01962 868770

Operations ManagerJudy Marshall 01962 868770opsmanager @ winbap . org . uk

Winchester Baptist ChurchSwan Lane

Winchester SO23 7AA01962 868770

DECEMBER ‘11SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

4 5 6 7 8 9

12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22

10

24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

D A T E S F O R Y O U R D I A R Y

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Silver Service

Friday Fun

Friday Fun

Th e Edge

Th e EdgePM Communion Service

AM Communion Service

Re:store -Ladies Group

Friday Club

1 2

Church Prayer Meeting 8pm

JANUARY ‘12SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

31

1 2

8

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Prayer Meeting 7-8am

Silver Service

Friday Fun

Friday Fun

Friday Fun

Th e Edge

Th e Edge

Th e Edge

PM Communion Service

AM Communion Service Tea and Toys

Re:store -Ladies Group

Re:store -Ladies Group

Church Prayer Meeting 8pm

9 10 11 12 13 14

3rd December- COGS Nativity fi lming

4th December - Eva Dodd’s Dedication service- Youth Led Service 6.30pm

8th December- Silver Service Christmas service 9th December - Friday Club Christmas Party

11th December- All Age Nativity service- Shampa Rice 6.30pm

16th December - Unite Ball

18th December- Carols by Candlelight service ‘Make famous this Christmas’

17th December- COGS Christmas crafts

24th December- Christmas Eve Midnight Communion service 11.30pm

25th December- All Age Family Christmas Day Celebration

31st December- Final chance to see the ‘Making a Splash’ exhibition

1st January- New Years Day Service at 3pm

14th January- Mark Stibbe Conference ‘Finding your true identity in the Father’s love.’

3

Re:store -Ladies Group

11

23

3 4 5 6 7

Re:store -Ladies Group

Women’s Tuesday afternoon fellowship.

Women’s Tuesday afternoon fellowship.

Women’s Tuesday afternoon fellowship.