“where all are welcome – all the time” castle view...of christmas puts love in the air. love...

“Where all are welcome – all the time”

Castle ViewThe Christmas Issue

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9 & J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0

2 | The Christmas Issue

United prayer time is daily throughout the day. Unite by using the Notice Sheet for activities that need prayers and also this diary as a guide to the Church life also through using the Methodist Church Prayer Handbook

You are very welcome to participate in any activity within the life of the church. For more details see the weekly notice sheet.

All people of this church are a part of the ministry. The Reverend Alison Walker may be contacted by email: [email protected] or telephone on 01223 872862.

Join the conversation online:

twitter.com/CastleStChurch

facebook.com/CastleStreetMethodist

instagram.com/CastleStreetMethodist

www.castlestreet.org.uk

If you would like to subscribe to the electronic version of this diary in PDF format send a blank email [email protected]

In this issue-From the Minister

-Four weeks of Advent

-Grieving during Christmas

-Worlds AIDS day 2019

-December Diary

-December Rotas

-John Boocock’s Mentors

-January Diary

-January Rotas

-Castle View has a story too

-Charitable giving 2019

-Help wanted MCSC

-The Back Pew

-Help wanted

Get in touchHave an article, picture, notice, or just an idea you want us to feature in the next Castle View? You can contact us via email : [email protected] or [email protected]

Deadline for The Castle View February 2020: 22nd January 2020

Front cover image ©Maddie Larkin

mailto:[email protected]

twitter.com/CastleStChurch

instagram.com/CastleStreetMethodist

www.castlestreet.org.uk

mailto:castlestreet-diary-subscribe%40yahoogroups.com?subject=Subscribe

mailto:cassandra.morris.miet%40gmail.com?subject=

The Christmas Issue | 3

hope for justice and equity and yet everywhere we look in hope we may find signs of discouragement in the climate crisis, wars and negative political discourse.

God is the eternal optimist. Placing God’s own Son in the animals’ feeding trough and entrusting his safety to a newly married couple who are about to face the trauma of fleeing Joseph’s home-town, God takes a risk that Jesus will be able to grow into the Son of Man who seeks and saves the lost. Our hopes are truly met and fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. It is through his birth, life, death and resurrection that our hopes for love, peace, justice, life, are turned into reality, no matter how far-fetched they seem in our moments of fear.

God the eternal optimist is willing to take another great risk by entering our lives, drawing us into a deeper relationship with God, that transforms us more and more into His image. Or as the carol puts it “O holy Child of Bethlehem….Be born in us today!”

Dear Friends,“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!....The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”

How many times will you sing this carol in the Advent and Christmas season? The last line of the first verses “the hopes and fears” is intriguing. What fears meet in Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth? Herod’s fear that he will lose power to the infant King? Herod represents all authority figures who jealously and violently guard their power, so are all world rulers now afraid? Or perhaps is it our fears of being judged and rejected by God? Does the birth of Christ cause us to worry that we are not good enough and that Jesus the Light of the World will now shine on us and expose our dark thoughts?

I think such negative ideas about our anxieties about failing God don’t fit with the idea that it is hopes as well as fears that “meet” in Christ’s birth. I believe that Jesus is the answer to our fears, not the cause of them. All that

worries us, that sometimes overwhelms us, can be brought to Jesus’ crib and surrendered there. In place of fear, Jesus gives us love and peace, just as the angels sang. When are hearts and minds are filled with love and peace, then fear finds there is “no room” to stay. One of my favourite Bible verses is the reassuring “Perfect love casts out all fear” (1 JOHN 4:18)

Isn’t all this talk of hope overcoming fear, worry and anxiety a bit over-optimistic? The dark months may make us turn inward and ruminate too much, the desire to have the best Christmas may lead to stress to make it happen just as we imagine. We are called to bring our hopes to Jesus as well, but sometimes those hopes seem unrealisable to us. We hope for a better future for our families, we hope for peace in our world, we

From the minister’s desk

Words by revd alison Walker


Delayed gratification is certainly an art. Why wait for something we can have now? For that, our culture has invented microwaves, credit cards, and even Netflix adds entire seasons of a show at a time so we don’t have to wait from week to week to follow a story. But we reap a greater reward when we give something the time it deserves–a good marinade or a vacation for which we’ve been saving for years.

Advent is like the marinade of the Christmas season. It starts four weeks before Christmas to prepare our hearts for the true revelation of Christmas–a small child who came to

bring hope, peace, love, joy, and light to the world.

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus and literally means “coming.” During these four weeks, Advent reminds us to anticipate the coming of our great King. This anticipation is twofold: It prepares us for the first coming of the Christ child–a baby born

of a virgin, the promised Saviour. And it keeps us ready for his second coming–the moment when Christ returns to restore perfection and righteousness to our broken world. During the four weeks of advent we look at how hope, love, peace, and joy fit into our story.

Oh come, oh come,

Emmanuel

The four weeks of Advent

©Kirk Baillie


The first week of Advent leads us into a time of hope as we look forward to the coming King.

Hope is a curious thing because it’s something we all have. However, there is a difference between a temporary and an eternal hope, that difference being the object, idea, or person in which we place our hope.

When we were younger, we hoped for simpler things: “I hope the tooth fairy comes. I hope Santa knows what I want.” As we get older, we still cling to simple wishes, but gradually the deepest desires of our heart bleed into hope: “I hope I have a lasting marriage. I hope my children follow Jesus. I hope I am able to provide for my family. I hope my life has meaning. I hope I am not alone.”

The hope of Christ, however, is not just wishful thinking. The hope of Christ is permanent and it will never disappoint. In

times of failure, sadness, unmet expectations, and even in the depths of despair, it is the hope of Christ that gives us a glimpse of heaven.

It brings the promise of salvation. It sets our sights on the reality of the resurrection. It focuses our hearts on eternal life. Even when the world around us is falling apart, and we recognise that nothing in this life can bring us lasting hope, we cling desperately to the hope of Christ, our perspective turns heavenward and our present situation dissipates

A prayer for Advent

In this Advent of expectation draw us together in unity,that our praise and worship might echo in these walls and also through our lives.

In this Advent of expectation draw us together in mission,that the hope withinmight be the song we sing, and the melody of our lives.

In this Advent of expectation draw us together in service, that the path we follow might lead us from a stable to a glimpse of eternity.

“ “Behold, the days are coming, declares the

Lord, when I will fulfil the promise

I made to the house of Israel

J e r e m i a h 3 3 : 1 4

hope


This week of Advent we look forward to the coming Christ and the love he brings with him.

This time of year, people often go the extra mile to extend love to the people around them, even strangers -unless that stranger happens to take too long ordering their pumkin spice latte.

Generally people smile more, hold doors open, snap less. The anticipation of Christmas puts love in the air.

Love is even expressed in the popular stories we tell around Christmas. The story “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry tells of a young couple who only had two possessions between them: Della’s long, beautiful hair and Jim’s heirloom watch. Too poor to buy each other gifts, Della, unknown to Jim, sold her beautiful hair to buy her husband a chain for his watch, and Jim sold his watch to buy ornate combs for

his wife’s hair. Upon their realization, the reader discovers a picturesque model of true, sacrificial love.

someday when Jesus comes again, love will fill in the cracks where evil used to reign, and relationships will be unhindered by selfishness. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love. When Christ returns, faith and hope will be realized, but love will continue for the remainder of eternity.

“ “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in

honouring each other

r o m a n s 1 2 : 1 0

loveHave you ever seen those ads where parents surprise their children with a trip to Disney World? Those moments are filled with pure, unadulterated happiness. But happiness is different from joy. Happiness is fleeting. A wonderful feeling, but fleeting nonetheless.

Happiness may make our hearts beat faster, but joy is the underlying heartbeat of stable emotions.

The angels sang, “Do not be afraid. I bring you great news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

This week of Advent we look forward to a coming Christ who

joy


We live in a world that only seems to grow more chaotic, criminal, and dysfunctional. While we may be tempted to mourn the earth’s condition, on this week of Advent, we remember a Saviour who is the Prince of Peace. God longs to bring the world back to a place of rightness; with the coming of Jesus, the world welcomes the peace that reigns in the truth of the universe.

The angels appeared to the shepherds and announced, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth.” And everywhere Jesus went he brought peace: He calmed the storm; he brought peace to sick bodies; he spoke truth; and his blood brought peace to our relationship with a wrathful God.

This week of Advent we anticipate Jesus who came into the world to bring peace.But in this world, peace seems elusive, intangible,

impossible. Presently all of creation longs to be made right. Our souls long for perfect relationships with our fellow man, with God, with the earth, and even with ourselves. As we wait for Jesus to come again, we crave and yearn for peace.

We also look forward to a time when peace will reign eternally—a peace we may not see currently on the earth, but feel in our souls and expect for the future of the world, a peace that makes relationships right, makes wars to cease, makes calm the waters of this life and the next.

“ “he shall be great to the ends of

the earth. And he shall be their

peacem i c a h 5 : 4 - 5

peacebrings true and lasting joy. His joy permeates the foundations of our souls and offers us all of the acceptance, satisfaction, identity, purpose, and wealth that we need. Nothing before or since has delivered this lasting joy. So we anticipate the promise of a soul stabilized by the joy of Christ.And one day when he comes again, the line between joy and happiness will blur.

“ “when they saw the star, they rejoiced with

exceeding great joy

m a t t h e w 2 : 1 0


Light in the Darkness

chair, or say a few words of remembrance.

change the celebration. Go out to dinner instead of planning an elaborate meal at home. Or schedule a trip with friends.

express your needs. People who are grieving may find it hard to participate in all the festivities or may need to let go of unsatisfying traditions. It’s all right to tell people you just aren’t up to it right now or to change plans at the last minute.

help someone else.It may also help to volunteer through the church or a charity. Make a donation to a favourite cause in memory of the person who died.

Give yourself time. The grieving process doesn’t neatly conclude at the six-month or one-year mark. Depending on the strength of the bond that was broken, grief can be life-long. Nevertheless, grief does usually soften and change over time. With time, the holidays will become easier to handle.

Family and togetherness are key themes for the holidays. That can make the holidays difficult for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Although grief is nearly universal, it expresses itself in many different ways, and sometimes resembles major depression. Uncontrollable crying, depressed mood, sleep disturbances, and loss of appetite are common during the bereavement process.Grief is not a tidy, orderly process, and there is

no right way to grieve. Every person—and every family—does it differently. This can cause emotions to collide and overlap, especially during the holiday season when the emphasis is on rebirth and renewal.

Here are a couple of ways that may help you or someone you know who is grieving cope with the festive period:

start a new tradition. During a holiday dinner, light a candle on the dinner table, leave an empty

©Maddie Larkin

““If the grief is fresh, holiday

cheer can seem like an affront; celebrations may underscore

how alone people feel

D r m m i l l e r , f o r m e r e D i t o r o f h a r v a r D m e n t a l h e a l t h l e t t e r


World AIDS Day #rocktheribbon

Words by Worldaidsday.org

“Finding a friend with whom I can speak has helped me focus on the journey. HIV has made me more fearless. Now, I am ready to face anything else that is thrown my way.” John, 61

Will you join us in the fight this World AIDS Day? Will you stand with us in our mission to stop HIV-related stigma and end the loneliness and isolation many people living with HIV face? Of course you will!

There’s one simple thing you can do to show your support…#rocKtheriBBon

Rocking a red ribbon not only completes any outfit; it shows everyone – especially people living with HIV and their families – your support

Ribbons, bags, and brooches (or to make a donation) are available from www.nat.org.ukNational Aids Trust is a registered charity No 297977

World AIDS Day is on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

Last year 4,453 people in the UK were diagnosed with HIV. Not everybody is equipped with the facts on how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a life-changing reality for people living with HIV.

We know that 1 in 5 people living with HIV say that they have needed help with loneliness. Nobody should feel isolated or alone because of their HIV status. Peer support services must be made available across the UK so that people can access the help they need, when they need it, and wherever they are.

Three-quarters of people living with HIV who report

loneliness and isolation say they haven’t been able to find that help. We want to change that, and we know you do too.

That’s why we’re asking you to Rock the Ribbon Together in 2019 – to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV, raise awareness, challenge stigma, end loneliness and isolation, and insist peer support is available for anyone who needs it.

“

“

The stigma attached to

HIV needs to change, as people are

still incredibly naïve about

it. I certainly haven’t told

all my friends because I fear their reaction

K E L L Y , 3 1


daTe aCTiviTy

sun 1st Prayer Topic: For World aids day and the work of national aids Trust10:45 rev dr Peter graves18:30 United at Wesley

Mon 2nd CCHP at Castle street

Wed 4th 10:00-10:30 Time to be prayer and fellowship10:30-12:00 Coffee morning12:00-13:00 Strength & balance exercise classCCHP at Castle street

Thurs 5th 10:00-12:00 First friends baby & toddler group18:00-29:15 Open bible discussion group

sun 8th Prayer Topic: For the persecuted church10:45 Holy Communion service led by rev alison Walker18:30 John boocock

Mon 9th CCHP at Castle street


Thurs 12th 10:00-12:00 First friends baby & toddler group

sun 15th Prayer Topic: For the joy of advent10:45 All Age Worship Nativity Service led by Rev Alison Walker(Followed by mince pies with tea/coffee)***WANTED: Members of the congregation willing to take part in an instrumental group***19:00 iona service at st luke’s



Thurs 19th 10:15-11:45± I wonder holiday club (ages 3-10)

sun 22nd Prayer Topic: For the joy of Christmas10:45 Traditional carol service led by rev Colin smith***To take part in the choir see Brian***18:30 Church at Castle Carols for everyone at st luke’sCastle Street will be providing a theatrical item as part of the community carol service. We are looking for 28 participants to mime or read lines. See Alison ASAP regarding rehearsal dates prior to service.

Wed 25th 11:00 Christmas day Celebration ‘show and share the Joy’service led by rev alison Walker

sun 29th Prayer Topic: For light in the darkness10:30 Church at Castle service at st luke’sNo evening Service


Dates for your diary


1sT deC 8TH deC 15TH deC 22nd deC 29TH deC

Morning sTeWard Simon

Chris & Jessica

Edwin Yaa & YawAt St

Luke’s

WelCoMe TeaM

Kirk & John

Boocock

Bobby & Isaac

Simon Yaa & YawAt St

Luke’s

readers John Baker

ChrisAll age

nativityYaa & Yaw

At St Luke’s

CoFFee Sarah Buddle

Bobby ChrisJohn

BoocockAt St

Luke’s

evening sTeWard

United at Wesley

MikeIona at St

Luke’sCarols at St Luke’s

No service

8TH deCeMber

CoMMUnion sTeWard Eileen

4TH deC 11TH deC 18TH deC 25TH deC

Wednesday CoFFee Morning

John JoyceMake Do &

MendHoliday!

Interested in helping? Contact Chris Rayson or see the sign up sheets at the back of the church

Church rotas - December


“Telling your story” is the current Connexional theme. At a recent Storey’s Way house group, John Boocock was asked to share something of a few folk who had influenced his faith in earlier days. He started by acknowledging the care and concern of his parents - Ralph and Margaret - known to many present at the group.

However the first of his three selected major mentors was Dr Ivan Sharman (pictured right) - a rather shy man doing

research at the Dunn Nutritional Institute - who at the time attended St John’s Church in Hills Road and had started a Boys Brigade there This was convenient for John to attend as the family home was on Glebe Road nearby. This class later morphed into the Cherry Hinton Crusader Class (pictured above), meeting on Sunday afternoons with various

adventurous activities. Dr Sharman’s genius was to engage several

Christian Students or graduate to

become assistant leaders - they provided the role models which helped challenge and grow the faith of the many young boys who attended.

John was sure that Crusaders

was one key to becoming a ‘born-

again Christian’

John Boocock’s Story - Mentors

Words by Colin MoUle


The second mentor John selected was former Castle Street Minister Rev John D Jackson (pictured above). He was at Castle Street from 1950-1955, which coincided with John’s teenage years. An earlier church influence had been the Sunday school in the former Hills Road Methodist Church where Zillah Lean granddaughter of Gipsy Smith) had been his teacher. It was John Jackson’s quiet pastoral interest which nurtured John’s growing faith and sowed the seeds for his starting as a local

preacher around 1957. John Baker and others at Castle Street Youth Club also speak highly oh John Jackson’s influence in their lives.

For his third mentor, John returned to a family member; his paternal grandfather Rev Nathaniel Boocock (pictured below), who had been of most influence - even if retrospectively,

for Nathaniel died in 1944 when John was aged six. In referencing Nathaniel’s life and witness (five visits to West Africa as a pioneer Primitive Methodist

minister interspersed with stationing in 11 English circuits as an itinerant minister) John was grateful to inherit a collection of photos, records, and artefacts - a few of which were passed around the group - that spoke for themselves in depicting the flavour of a life well-lives and aspects of which to emulate.

All of us must have stories to tell by which we may encourage each other.

“ “There is a limit to the number of folk any of us can list as

having a major influence on

our growth in faith


daTe aCTiviTy

Wed 1st CCHP at Castle street

sun 5th Prayer Topic: For the hope of a new year10:45 Prof Morna Hooker-stacey18:30 Holy Communion service led by rev alison Walker


Wed 8th 10:00-10:30 Time to be prayer and fellowship10:30-12:00 Coffee morning12:00-13:00 Strength & balance exercise class


sun 12th Prayer Topic: For Health workers10:45 All Age Worship Led by Kimberley Rayson18:30 Local Arrangement TBC

Mon 13th CCHP at Castle streetWed 15th 10:00-10:30 Time to be prayer and fellowship

10:30-12:00 Coffee morning12:00-13:00 Strength & balance exercise classCCHP at Castle street

Thurs 16th 10:00-12:00 First friends baby & toddler groupsun 19th Prayer Topic: For a new start in our Covenant with god

10:45 simon levine baptism service led by rev alison Walker19:00 iona service at st luke’s

Mon 20th CCHP at Castle streetWed 22nd 10:00-10:30 Time to be prayer and fellowship

10:30-12:00 Coffee morning12:00-13:00 Strength & balance exercise class

Thurs 23rd 10:00-12:00 First friends baby & toddler groupsun 26th Pray Topic: For Christian Unity

10:45 Covenant service led by rev alison Walker18:30 Circuit service at Wesley

Mon 27th CCHP at Castle streetWed 29th 10:00-10:30 Time to be prayer and fellowship

10:30-12:00 Coffee morning12:00-13:00 Strength & balance exercise classCCHP at Castle street


Dates for your diary


5TH Jan 12TH Jan 19TH Jan 26TH Jan

Morning sTeWard Chris Edwin

Simon & Jessica

Yaa & Yaw

WelCoMe TeaM

Bobby & Isaac

Williams/Mensah

Sarah Buddle Yaa & Yaw

readers FabiolaAll age readers

Baptism Yaa & Yaw

CoFFee Mike & Joyce

BobbyJohn

BoocockLisa

evening sTeWard

John Boocock

MikeIona at St

Luke’sCircuit at

Wesley

5TH Jan

CoMMUnion sTeWard Eileen

1sT Jan 8TH Jan 15TH Jan 22nd Jan 29TH Jan

Wednesday CoFFee Morning

Holiday! PamMake Do & Mend

Mike John

Interested in helping? Contact Chris Rayson or see the sign up sheets at the back of the church

Church rotas - January


The Diary.

More than a generation ago, back in 1987, the Castle Street monthly Diary was a single folded sheet – much like our weekly notice sheet these days. It soon became two or more sheets but nearly always on a different colour of paper each month. During that year our minister changed from Hamer Savage to Arthur Harris. Then, as now, there was a letter from the minister and always a diary of the services and weekday events and list or rota of folk responsible for certain duties.

In the 1980s and ‘90s both the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades were active, as were three House-groups, the Women’s Own, Mothers and Toddlers, Young People’s Fellowship and a Choir. There was a range of announcements, reports and articles.

Your current writer is surprised to see in the november 1988 Diary a letter he sent, describing his work then in Western Sudan, as a message for our Overseas Missions Sunday at that time.

Thanks to the saving of Diaries made by

Colin and Joyce Major, Don and Pam Fisher and others we have an almost complete collection for the years 1987-2002 and again 2007- to date. There is hope that the missing four years will reveal themselves.

During the three years 1985-87 there was a quarterly publication, called News and Views, in addition to the monthly Diary. It was started and edited by Gladys Wilkin and contained longer articles, reports and a good sprinkling of humorous items. It was 2 to 4 sheets (= 8 to 16 A5 pages) in size.

Castle View - Issues Past, Present,

Words by JoHn booCoCk


However, when Gladys wanted to pass on the editorship, no one stepped forward. So, the decision was taken in 1988 to cease that publication but to merge it into the content of the monthly Diary.

In those days there were 11 issues per year – July-August being a combined one during the holiday season. It was not until December 1997 that the standard issues reduced to the ten we are used to today.

Up until 1992 it appears that the content was typed onto a waxed skin stencil and then copied

on a ‘Gestetner’ type duplicator. Thereafter an inkjet (later laser) printer and photocopier method was used. That also allowed the inclusion of an occasional illustration – perhaps a cartoon or a logo. It was not until 1998 that the front of each edition bore an illustration – in that year depicting the seasons. Thereafter, illustrations and icons gradually increase and begin to include a few small photos scanned in black and white.

News and Views.

Until mid-2007 the monthly was still called

& Future

the ‘Diary’. Then Colin Moule – a former editor of the Cambridge Weekly News – who had taken over from Mike Sharpe as editor of our monthly, decided on a new name and format. He had proposed four possibles and people chose “Castle View”, which it has remained ever since.

It was subtitled ‘Newsletter and Diary’ and had a new pen and ink drawing of the church by John Yambasu. That drawing appeared monthly until it was quietly replaced in april 2012 by one in which the railings replaced the


old brick wall on our car park frontage. That was penned by Jill Richardson, a colleague of Colin’s but now living in Devon. In february 2018 that sketch was displaced to inside the cover, leaving the outside for a new logo designed by Anna Williams together with a photo or picture relevant to the month’s edition.

A year later, when Anna began to hand over to Kirk Baillie, colour has begun to creep in – with a colour print replacing the former coloured sheet cover thanks to the help of Miriam Webb at the circuit office: an efficient printer of our Castle View.

Consistent Contents. In addition to diary, rotas and minister’s letter, common items included were from the ‘Buzz’, sharing successful innovations from other

churches and, a corner of puzzles for the youngest readers. There were occasional reports from our committees, especially on finances. In the twenty-year build-up to our refurbishment in 2010 there were many articles on those plans. Then, for the centenary of the present building in 2014 there were frequent references to the almost year-long celebrations.

Following that, was a plethora of historical articles on our memorials and related objects or people. Selections of these are

now being reprinted in appropriate groupings. Also, scattered over the years, have been ‘getting to know you’ accounts of both old and new-comers to the church – often in a format devised by Cassie Morris, who has assisted with editing.

Editors and Straplines.

In the earlier days, it was the senior steward who was responsible for assembling diary, rotas and articles. Some, like Colin Major, Derek Slaymaker and Ron Seaton were able to get secretarial assistance from their wives Joyce, Gillian and Audrey. Celia Summerfield took on the role around 1994 and yielded the helm to Mike Sharpe in 1999. In turn, Colin Moule took over in 2003 and after ten years was grateful to pass the baton to Anna Williams with her valued skills in digital production. As of april 2019 it was Kirk


Baillie who took up the challenge and whose inputs we are currently enjoying.

So, for the last 30 years and more we have been well-served by this dedicated list of voluntary editors and are all very grateful.A final word about ‘straplines’. For many years “Where you are a stranger only once” were the words on the front of our diaries. This was supplemented by “The members of this Church are invited to share fully in the ministry of the people of God”. By 2006, the top line had gone and the lower one modified to “The Ministers are all the people of this church assisted by The Rev’d Robert Dolman (or later whoever was our minister of the time)”. Then beneath that was “All are invited to share fully in the life of the church and to use their gifts in developing its ministry”. Finally, when

Alan Ashton became our minister in early 2012, that last phrase moved to inside the cover but on the outside was (and is) “Where all are welcome – all the time”.

The images shown depict a gradual change in appearance. The layout of contents within seen similar improvements.

Castle View, 2020 and beyond

It would be nice to see Castle View be more than just a church magazine; it would be good to see it reach people it can impact. I would like to include more stories and articles from our local community and have a better online presence to interact with.

Having looked back on over 30 years of Castle Street’s publications, it’s amazing to see how much the people of this church love to connect with one another and - no matter how the building and the world outside may have changed - the spirit of Castle Street remains as strong as ever.

K I R K B A I L L I E ( C u r r e n T ) E D I T O R

“Let us consider how we may spur one

another on toward love and good deeds”

H E B R E W S 1 0 : 2 4


Castle Street gave £6,900 to charities in the last Methodist year. This represented 9.3 per cent of our net income.Periodic snippets about specific items of charitable giving are made in Castle View during the year. a summary of our donations in excess of £100 during 2018/19 is given in the table above.

The money behind these donations comes from many sources; the major ones being the general Church Fund (£2,740), the

Wednesday Coffee Mornings (£1,800), Events (£1,410) and specific envelopes/collection boxes (£880) The charitable giving doesn’t include our weekly collections and monthly bank transfers (£19,450) which go towards general Church Funds and help to meet our Circuit Assessment (£30,600).

Most members of the congregation make regular donations to the Church using bank transfers of different kinds or specific Castle street envelopes. if

any member of the congregation who does not contribute in these ways would like to explore their use then please do have a word.

our annual income was boosted by a £4,750 tax rebate from the Government using the gift aid scheme. if anyone would like information about this magnificent scheme then, again, please have a word.

Thank you for your kindness in helping these worthy causes during the year.

Words by Mike sHarPe, TreasUrer

Our charitable giving 2019

Beneficiary Amount Beneficiary Amount

Indonesia Emergency Appeal £1060 Wintercomfort £200

Kenya Youth Project £630 Romsey Mill £200

Action for Children £600 Cyrenians £200

Castle Hill Open Day £500 Rotal Voluntry Service £200

Make Do & Mend £500 Arthur Rank Hospice £200

Lewry Body Society £370 Wesley House £200

All We Can £300 Fund for Human Need £200

Christian Blind Mission £280 Terrence Higgins Trust £190

World Mission Fund £280 Cambridge Food Bank £125

CCHP £250 Cherry Homes Trust £125

Methodist Property Fund £250 Yeolim Missionary support £100


THE METHODIST CHURCH

MINISTERIAL CANDIDATES SELECTION COMMITTEE (MCSC)

NOTE- TAKERS AT PANELS OF REFERENCE

MCSC runs panels in November and March, when the committee discerns vocation with Candidates for Ministry (March) and Ministers of Other Churches and Conferences (November and March).

Each candidates or applicant is interviewed in small groups, and with a panel and undertakes a group exercise. This is a 24 hour process. The final element is an interview with their full panel of 8 people. There are various circumstances that would lead a panel then to request that the candidate or applicant should see a small Panel of Reference, before the panel of 8 reach their final recommendation.

Panels of Reference comprise 3 people, and are chaired by one of the three Co-Chairs of MCSC.

At Panel of Reference interviews, a verbatim account is written of the conversation with the candidate or applicant, because this may be needed at a later stage, particularly if there is an appeal against the final decision. On occasions non-verbal communication also needs to be noted e.g. ‘[nods]’.

Three volunteers are sought to record these verbatim accounts.

In 2020 you would be needed from 10am to 2pm on 24, 25, 26 (and possibly also 27) March 2020 at Hallmark Hotel, Cambridge. You may then be asked to serve in this way again the following November 2020.

You would be allocated to one Panel of Reference and would write or type the verbatim accounts, and then produce these accounts for the office immediately afterwards. We never know how many candidates / applicants will need to go to a Panel of Reference.

You would be given refreshments, lunch and travel expenses.

Skills / experience which would be useful:

1. An understanding of Methodist terminology 2. An ability to type or write quickly and accurately 3. An ability to carry out very concentrated and focussed work 4. An ability to maintain complete confidentiality. These can be stressful interviews and

it is important that the note-taker remains calm and focussed. 5. Living near enough to Cambridge to be able to carry out this work without needing

overnight accommodation.

Help wanted -MCSC Notetakers


The Back PewFun for all ages... are you ready to come play?

Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, they started to say their prayers. The younger brother began praying at the top of his lungs: “ I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE...I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO...”His older brother leaned over, nudged him, and said “You don’t have to shout; God isn’t deaf!” to which the younger brother replied “No, but Grandma is!”

A Christmas Cracker!


TRUSTEES NEEDED

MICHAELHOUSE CENTRE IS A CHARITY GOVERNED BY TRUSTEES. EVERY YEAR THE LONGEST-SERVING THIRD

OF OUR TRUSTEES STEP DOWN AND WE LOOK FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN.

WE ARE NOW SEEKING 2 NEW TRUSTEES TO BEGIN IN 2020.

The Michaelhouse Centre is a hub for creativity and community, housed in an historic church in the centre of Cambridge. It is run by a charity, governed by trustees. Its function is to promote the Christian faith, particularly through the arts and education. It oversees the management of a successful café and venue and manages a busy events calendar in support of its aims.

We are currently searching for two new trustees. We are looking for people of any age who would like to be engaged in the work of the charity and are in sympathy with its aims.

In particular, we are looking for at least one new trustee who is from a Christian tradition other than the Church of England, and one who has experience of artistic endeavours. Knowledge of the operation of small charities would also be an advantage.

This is a voluntary activity – there is no remuneration.

The trustees meet four times a year, but trustees are encouraged to be engaged in the work of the centre in other ways as well. Further particulars are available on our website at: http://www.gsm.cam.ac.uk/michaelhouse/new-trustees/

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM?

If you’re interested, please get in touch with Dr Fiona Cornish ([email protected]) who would be happy to discuss this opportunity in greater depth and answer any questions you might have.

This opportunity closes on 31st December 2019.

MICHAELHOUSE CENTRE Hospitality in the Heart of the City

St. Michael's Church

Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1SU

Tel: 01223 309 167

email: [email protected] website: www.michaelhouse.org.uk

MICHAELHOUSE

Hospitality in the Heart of the City

Help wanted

“where all are welcome – all the time” castle view...of christmas puts love in the air. love...

Documents