2

‘By their fruit you will recognise them’ (Matthew 7:20).

This week at Brunswick has been a time for name dropping! Our caretaker,

Chrissie, has been on ‘first name terms’ with the film director, Ken Loach, who

is currently casting for his sequel to ‘I, Daniel Blake’ – her name may yet be up

in lights!! Then, Fiona and I were invited to the Silver Gallery in the Civic Centre

to share coffee and conversation with our current Mayor, Cllr. David Down, and

his wife, Barbara.

The Silver Gallery contains everything from

lamps originally used on a horse drawn carriage

which, in days gone by, would have been the

mayor’s usual mode of transport, to a musket

used (not to keep other councillors in check!) as

part of a long-standing ceremony to induct new

Freemen of the City which, we were pleased to

learn, can now include women!

On a more serious note we learned that the Mayor’s two sponsored charities

for his year in office are a mental health charity, ‘Going Forward’, based at

Seaton Burn and ‘Action Foundation’, known to us already of course in its work

supporting refugees.

We extended a warm invitation for David and Barbara to join us for our

Christmas Civic coffee morning in December, which they hope to do, and gave

them one of the lovely Brunswick cards (designed by Ken Medd) along with a

holding cross, as David is a committed Christian. We have assured him and

Barbara of our prayers over this year. We also shared about some of our

Methodist heritage in the city centre and about Brunswick’s current ministry

and mission.

As we were leaving David and Barbara gave us a gift, a bag of apples, aptly

called ‘Discovery’ apples as we had learned a lot from our visit! These apples

were from their garden back in Hazlerigg and we were able to share some of

the fruits of our visit with friends at ‘BFG’ later that day who found them very

tasty!

3

In 1st Century Palestine when it came to fruits it would have been grapes, figs

or oranges which were far more plentiful than apples. Sooner or later, says

Jesus in Matthew chapter seven, the fruit of a person’s life will be visible, and

we shall then see whether that person has been real and genuinely seeking to

live the Christ-centred life or whether they have been fooling themselves, and

others, all along.

Harvest is a season in which we would do well then to reflect upon what it

means to be fruitful. As Jesus suggests in John ch.15: ‘No branch can bear fruit

by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you

remain in me.’

The fruitfulness of Christians and of churches is dependent upon our remaining

or ‘abiding’ in the vine - in Christ himself. This requires us to look deeply into

how we structure the life of our churches and may ask us to ‘prune’ those

aspects of our life which are not helping us to grow our discipleship and to be

fruitful. It certainly asks us to prioritise relationships and so it is wonderful that

we can share together in our Harvest week as we join with our Salvationist

friends in a Ceilidh on Saturday 13th October at 6.30pm. Please do get your

ticket and join us!

‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, His love endures for ever!’ (Ps.136)

Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Brunswick and the Salvation Army are having a CEILIDH

On Saturday 13 October 2018

6.30—9.15 pm

Tickets are available in advance from Brunswick Church Office or Denise Murray and cost £5.00 per adult and £2.50 for children,

students and those who are unemployed. Ticket price includes pie and pea supper or sausages and beans for children.

Everyone is welcome!

Please come and join us for this fun-filled evening.

4

Ask 7:7 – a thank you from North East Youth for Christ (YFC).

“A fantastic city centre venue!” “A really flexible space”

“How good it has been to invite 200 young people into a church!”

These were some of the comments we received as we hosted a regional Christian youth event at Brunswick in mid-September. The image here captures something of the ‘feel’ created in our worship area as North East Youth for Christ ran their Ask 7:7 outreach event which included worship songs, dance, clips from the film ‘The Greatest Showman’, and a challenging message given by YFC’s Director, Jamie Daniels.

The evening ended with an invitation for any present to make a new or a further commitment to follow Jesus which a number did – praise God! YFC has the capability to put on a kind of event which an individual church would not be well placed to do or have enough young people to warrant it. A final word from Jamie: ‘Thank you so much for all you did on Saturday. It was so good of the church to host us!’

Photo – Simon Neil Scott

Young Pianist of the North International Piano Competition 21st

– 24th November 2018

Once again Brunswick Methodist Church will be hosting the Young Pianist of the North competition. Now in its 11th year the main goals of the competition are to encourage, educate and inspire young pianists, their tutors and families; to support young local piano students; to promote young outstanding international piano talent in the region.

Recognising the importance of the formative years on the future development of young musicians, YPN invites to its jury panel some of the world’s most recognised pianists and pedagogues.

Tickets will be available in advance or at the door and are usually available for individual performances or as a complete pass to attend the whole event. Please support this wonderful musical event and have the opportunity to listen to some stunning music played by wonderfully talented young people.

5

6

The Methodist Church

News release 6 September 2018

New Methodist Youth President promises a year of courageousness

Jasmine Yeboah was inducted as the new Youth President of the Methodist Church with a service at St Mark’s Methodist Church, Tottenham, London on Saturday 1 September.

Jasmine, herself from Tottenham and a member of St Mark’s, will represent thousands of young people across the UK in this important role in the life of the Church.

She has taken up the position of Youth President following an election at last November’s 3Generate, the Methodist Children and Youth Assembly and takes over from Michael Pryke.

In her inaugural address, Jasmine thanked Michael for his work over the past year before moving on to her own priorities and motivations for the year ahead.

Jasmine says: “My focus for the coming year is courageousness and courageous loving. To be loving of yourself, of others and, most importantly, of God. I want to challenge young people to do things differently, to try new things; from writing to your MP and campaigning for change, through to getting sponsored to do something exciting for a charity."

Outgoing Youth President Michael Pryke commented: “My year in office went

by in a flash, full of adventures and experiences. My advice to Jasmine, and to

all Youth Presidents, is to take time to take it all in and to focus on the goals

that will empower young people.”

Would you like to receive Brunswick News

electronically by email?

If so, please email the church office at

carolyn@brunswickmethodist.org.uk with your email.

7

Join us for Breakfast Church on Sunday 28th October at 9.15am, theme - Miracles of Jesus, and on Sunday 2nd December at 9.15am for Celebrating Advent Action for Children Once again a big thank you to you all for your continued support. During the last Church year we raised the marvellous sum of £2180.26. This includes a very generous donation sent on our behalf direct to Action for Children and also the £312 in our church sponsorship for David’s Great North Run in September 2017. Without our help AFC could not work directly with more than 300,000 children, young people, parent and carers each year. It also allows them to run more than 650 services across the UK. So thank you for your continuing interest and support which is greatly appreciated. Nancy Chapman A ‘thank you’ from one of our International students! “I feel so glad to be one of Brunswick’s church family! Thank you for having me and for all the ‘carings’ and encouragements. It has been a wonderful year for me in this church and it is not because of the building but the people. Goodbye for now, love Angeline x” Resource day for those leading Local Arrangement Services

13th October 10.00am to 12.30pm at Westerhope Methodist Church. The session will be led by District Evangelism Enabler, Rev Elaine Lindridge, in partnership with the District Local Preachers Team. It will cover worship ideas and resources, how to choose hymns and songs and compile orders of service, leading prayers, sharing stories, ideas for preparing and leading worship in your local church. To book your place contact Elaine, Tel: 0773 490 4475 Email: elaine@lindridge.org.uk

8

Second-hand book stall for Meth Care @ Moratumula Methodist Church Sri Lanka.

The second hand book stall in aid of

Meth Care has, once again, been a real

success. Thanks to all those who gave

books and to Jagath, Steven and

Adnan for helping on the six Saturday

mornings. In all over £890 has been

raised and will be sent to Moratumulla

Methodist Church, shortly.

There have been a lot of good

conversations with ‘customers’, many of

whom have returned a second, third or

fourth time to ‘bag a bargain’!

This is now one of our annual events to

support differently abled

children and continues our links with

Shan, Nipuni and Gabbi in Sri Lanka.

David Stabler

RACHMANINOV'S ALL-NIGHT VIGIL

Saturday, 24th November, 2018 St Cuthbert's Chapel, Ushaw College, Durham DH7 9RH Time: 7pm—8.30pm

Rachmaninov's All Night Vigil (also known as The Vespers) performed in full in the glorious acoustic of the Chapel of St Cuthbert at Ushaw College just outside

Durham City.

9

Well, Sunday 9th September dawned fine, the sun was out and five people from

Brunswick prepared themselves for the 2018 Great North Run - sun lotion was

the order of the day!

This year’s run was good, though as the temperature rose around mid-day it

did become a little warm. Most entrants were careful to take advantage of the

five water points but with 57,000 people the water bottles soon ran out at the

finish. Results:

Brunswick GNR position bib number time Split times

position 5k 10k 15k

Carl Johnson 1 7006 44994 1h57m03s 27m 54m 1h22m

Sam Willis 2 20036 34053 2h21m20s 31m 1h3m 1h36m

Georgia Harrison 3 29948 15130 2h24m33s 29m 1h5m 1h40m

Hena Mookerji 4 29742 41929 2h38m12s 33m 1h10m 1h50m

David Stabler 5 34552 32409 2h51m37s 34m 1h15m 1h58m

The gallery:

10

Anniversaries and Celebrations There have been several special anniversaries during August and September - for Bill and Betty a

diamond wedding anniversary and for Noreen and Eric, Sheila and Richard and Nancy and Howard golden wedding

anniversaries.

11

The baptism of Indigo Ions Sunday 16th September 2018

12

October Item-of-the-Month – Desserts

November Item-of-the-Month – Tea Bags

Please donate 'normal' sized food items -

the Food Bank staff are not allowed to

split packets of food, so 5kg bags of pasta are a challenge! Also, please feel free

to leave any unwanted plastic carrier bags beside the food bank box - they are

used to put the food in for the clients. If you would prefer to make a financial

contribution, you can make cheques payable to Newcastle West End Food Bank,

or you can transfer money directly to their bank account, or you can post your

donation to the treasurer’s address. There is an information sheet in the folder

attached to our Food Bank box in the worship area. For any further details,

please speak to Ruth, and thank you for your continued support!

13

Traidcraft faces end of 40 years’ trading

Ethical consumption is challenged in difficult economic climate Traidcraft plc, the Fairtrade pioneers whose church-based retailers have transformed shopping in the UK, subject to consultation, could cease trading by the end of 2018 unless a solution can be found in the coming month. The plc, which generates £10m in annual sales, was founded by six people in Newcastle in 1979. It’s now in formal consultation with staff and other stakeholders following recent poor trading figures. The business has experienced shocks caused by the decision to leave the EU, and along with other retailers, sales have been hit by economic uncertainty and stagnating wages. Chief Executive Robin Roth said: “We are the sort of business that pays up front – that’s in our nature as an ethical business. So when the pound fell after the Brexit referendum, we took a hit. We also stand by our published prices, so unlike other retailers we stood by our customers, absorbed a lot of the additional cost, and kept price rises to a minimum.” These factors, together with a disappointing online relaunch, contributed to the decision by the Traidcraft board to propose to cease trading at the end of the year unless a solution can be found. Traidcraft plc’s charity arm, Traidcraft Exchange, is a separate organisation and will continue its work with producers and in campaigning and lobbying for trade justice in the UK regardless of what happens to Traidcraft plc. Traidcraft’s 4,300 Fair Traders, 85% of whom are motivated by faith, account for about half of Traidcraft’s revenue. Their sales of tea, coffee, cards and crafts at church fetes and school fairs have even changed the buying decisions of major supermarkets. “Our wonderful, committed Fair Traders make a daily difference in the life of fledgling enterprises in hard-to-reach parts of the world”, says Robin. “Because of their love for the cause, Fairtrade got on the High Street, and a new generation is growing to understand justice as an everyday matter.” Fair Traders, customers, and supporters have been encouraged to continue supporting Traidcraft plc as a good autumn season is a pre-requisite if the company is to have a future model. Traidcraft are hoping for strong sales in the lead up to Christmas, so look on their website for lots of ideas for gifts and Christmas cards! https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/ Taken from the website of Traidcraft: http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/

14

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Order your Methodist Heritage calendar for 2019!

To celebrate ten years since the Methodist Church launched its first Heritage Strategy, we have produced an anniversary calendar. You can order this online via Methodist Publishing at http://bit.ly/mhcalendar2019 or by calling 0845 017 8220. Each costs £4.99 plus postage and packing.

15

Readers may remember that, four years ago, a special commemorative edition of Brunswick News was published to mark the centenary of the beginning of the Great War. On 11th November 2018, we mark the centenary of the end of that dreadful conflict. This section of the magazine is devoted to this anniversary.

Remembrance Sunday 11th November 2018

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today

John 15 v13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Collect for Remembrance Sunday

Eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of justice, and no strength known but the strength of love: guide and inspire all who seek your kingdom, that peoples and nations may find their security in the love which casts out fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Have you forgotten yet?… Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.

Excerpt from ‘Aftermath’ by Siegfried Sassoon

16

1918 - 2018 ARMISTICE CENTENARY

To mark the centenary of the Armistice which, in November 1918 brought to an end four years of bitter conflict, the Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project will present a week of public events at the Memorial Hall, 10 Frank Street, Wallsend, NE28 6RN. Illustrating the full scale of our project volunteers’ work over seven years - 2011 to 2018.

Monday 5th to Saturday 10th November, 10 am - 4 pm and Sunday 11th November 2018, 10 am - 12.30 pm.

Project Display and Exhibition:

A full review and exhibition of the work of the project from 2011 to 2018 with audio-visual presentations, online database, key publications, casualty map and printed materials, plus another chance to see the six large and five smaller exhibitions including: The Somme; Tyneside and the Battle of Jutland; Dominion Geordies; and Geordie Doughboys plus New Exhibition - Women in the war - Tyneside and the armaments industries.

Publications on sale and Tyneside Tommy Ale (off-sale only).

Saturday 10th November, 10 am - 4 pm

Information Day & Programme of Talks:

9.45 am - Introduction to the day - Professor John Derry.

10.00 am onwards. A full programme of short illustrated talks by well-known speakers on a wide range of subjects. A chance during the day to hear up to three talks from a range of speakers. See weapons and militaria display by The Time Bandits. Military and local history book fair, Keel Row Bookshop (North Shields); Tiffin Books (Darlington); Pinwell Books (Wooler) and Westwood Books (Cramlington).

Carville Primary School Choir - telling the story of John Collinson. Shipyard worker from Wallsend to grand opera singer via Australia, The Somme, casualty hospitals and the Royal Academy of Music (London). The first man to record Waltzing Matilda (Vocalian Records 1926).

http://northumbriaworldwarone.co.uk/

17

For Peace

I had a box of coloured paints

but it did not contain red

for the blood of the wounded

nor white

for the hands and faces of the dead,

neither did it contain yellow

for the burning sands of the desert.

Instead it had orange for dawn and dusk,

and sky blue for the new skies,

and pink for young dreams,

I sat and painted peace.

Prayer by a 10-year old boy from Brazil

Taken from The Methodist Church Prayer Handbook

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields”

Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. (1)

18

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

Sage Gateshead: That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly

The words of the poem were recreated in poppies in different parts of the UK and in Dunkirk in October 2017. These words were at the Sage Gateshead.

19

Sunday, 11th November, 2018 Sage Two, Sage Gateshead Time: 5pm Suitable for all the family. Tickets available from Sage Gateshead booking office Tel: 0191 443 4661.

A tribute to all those involved in the fighting, and those left at home. We Will Remember Them.

In this tribute, the journey starts when war is declared in 1914, with the enthusiasm and high humour of the soldiers, through the realities and unimaginable horrors of trench warfare, to the prospect of a better world to come, with the signing of the Armistice in 1918.

“ ‘…uplifting yet a very emotional experience‘…‘a brilliantly judged programme and excellent performances‘…‘This was a wonderful concert‘…very well-judged and performed and very thought-provoking‘…‘blown away by all the talent in the room’” (comments received following performance in Newcastle upon Tyne, March 2018)

In an evening of both laughter and tears, we will be honouring all those involved in this ‘War to end all Wars’, with well-known songs from the trenches, war stories from The Wipers Times and Punch magazine, and poems by such as Wilfred Owen, Cicely Fox Smith and Woodbine Willie. We will be including special songs of remembrance, both of the time and more recent.

Sung, played and spoken by members of Fenham Ensemble (director Simon Davies-Fidler), the Newcastle-based chamber choir, with special guests.

Produced and Devised by Rob Barnes

20

21

Forthcoming Dates for your Diaries: Brunswick Club for Men: Tuesdays - 10:30am – Noon

October 2 Venice and Verona, Shakespeare’s Italian Cities

Speaker: Peter Weighell

9 Gertrude Bell

Speaker: Anthony Atkinson

16 Vermeer

Speaker: Rob Cunningham

23 The Bohemian Corporal

Speaker: Prof. John Derry

30 The Musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein

Speaker: Brian Burr

November 6 Ancient Greek Medicine from Phlegm to Hemorrhoids

Speaker: Dr Peter Jones

13 Eddie Chapman – North East Double Agent

Speaker: Bernard Hope

20 Pompeii & Herculaneum – Roman Archeology at its Finest

Speaker: Barry Mead

27 Through My Lens 2

Speaker: Jeff Evans

December 4 How the Victorians Re-invented Christmas

Speaker: Jennifer Tindall

11 Men’s Christmas Service

22

Worship Leaders – October/November

October 9.15am / 10.45am 6.00pm

7 Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Harvest Festival & All Age Worship

Adam J Wilkinson

Harvest Festival

14 Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Holy Communion

Major Gotobed

21 Mr David Stabler Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Holy Communion

28 Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Breakfast Church 9.15am

Major Gotobed

Mr David Thornton 10.45am

November

4 Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe

Holy Communion

Rev Alison Wilkinson

11 Major Gotobed

United Service

Major Gotobed

Circuit Service at Trinity Gosforth

18 Rev Malcolm Newman Rev Gordon Wynne

Holy Communion

25 Rev Paul Cleever Thorpe

Pastoral Visitors’ Dedication

Major Gotobed

Café Style Worship

23

Student and Young Adults Bible Study – Tuesdays at 6.30pm

Brunswick Friendship Group (BFG) each Thursday at 4.30pm

Bible Study – First and Third Wednesday monthly at 2.00pm

Bible Study – Second and Fourth Thursday monthly at 2.00pm

The Over 60s Luncheon Club each Friday at 12noon

The ‘Gathering’ – Third Tuesday monthly at 1.30pm

Other events in October and beyond

14-21 October - Week of Prayer for World Peace - http://www.weekofprayerforworldpeace.com/

14 October - Freedom Sunday - https://www.stopthetraffik.org/

14-21 October - Prisons Week - www.prisonsweek.org

21-28 October - One World Week - https://www.oneworldweek.org

24 October - United Nations Day - http://www.un.org/en/events/unday/

11 November - Remembrance Sunday – https://ctbi.org.uk/remembrance-sunday/ 11-18 November - Interfaith Week - https://www.interfaithweek.org/about

Cliff College Certificate in Social Activism 12th – 16th November 2018. Designed for those interested in making the world a better place, this brand new Certificate in Social Activism is an exciting week-long course looking at this important and developing subject. For more details, contact Cliff College (Tel: 01246 584200; https://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/students/shortcourses/cliff-certificates/certificate-in-social-activism/)

18 November - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - www.roadpeace.org

1 December - World Aids Day - www.worldaidsday.org

10 December - Human Rights Day - http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/

24

Brunswick Methodist Church

Brunswick Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7BJ

Tel (0191) 232 1692

e-mail: admin@brunswickmethodist.org.uk

www.brunswickmethodist.org.uk

Ministerial Team: Rev Paul Cleever-Thorpe and Mrs Chris Carroll

Front cover image of commemorative stamp used with

permission and © Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (2014)

Submissions for the next edition (December - January) are welcomed

Please forward these to Ruth Colclough or the Church Office

by 18th November 2018

You should state clearly if the contribution is original

or indicate the source for copyright purposes

Due to limited space we cannot guarantee to include all submissions

All photographs used with permission