CONNECT EASTER 2017

Caie Walk, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2PJ Tel: 01284 703705E:office@southgatechurch.org.uk www.southgatechurch.org.uk

Twitter@S0UTHGATECHURCH (please use a Zero instead of the letter O)

MinisterRevd Peter Gibson Tel: 01284 725577peter.gibson@southgatechurch.org.uk

Helen Moore:helen.moore@southgatechurch.org.ukLiz Huddlestone:liz.huddlestone@southgatechurch.org.uk

Family & Community WorkerAlison Burgess Tel:07940 247038alison.burgess@southgatechurch.org.uk

AdministratorJackie Tooley Tel: 01284 703705office@southgatechurch.org.uk

TreasurerPeter Maddock Tel: 01284 760085peter.maddock@southgatechurch.org.uk

SOUTHGATE CHURCH

REGULAR WEEKLY ACTIVITIESSunday 9.45am Prayer Meeting

10.30am Family Worship (Creche available)

Children’s Sunday Club

6.30pm Evening service (1st Sunday)

Monday 10.00am Coffee Stop

7.00pm Liquid (13-16s

Wednesday 9.00am SPOTS (Parents & Toddlers)

3.15pm Wednesday Gang (Primary School children)

7.30pm Prayer House (alternating with House Groups)

Thursday 9.15am Holy Communion Service

2.30pm Friendship Club (over 55’s 1st & 3rd Thursdays)

6.30pm Youth Club (Middle School children)

7.45pm Thursday Club (Ladies Group 2nd Thursday)Children’s mid-week groups run during term time only. See weekly notice sheet for details of allservices and activities.

Registered Charity No: 115737

Leadership Team

CONNECT The Magazine ofA Message from our Pastor.

Michelle, the resistance leader in ‘Allo Allo’ would have said . But I wonder if Mary Magdalene’s words on that first Easter day would have been so

measured.

The preceding days had been like a whirlwind. Jesus teachings and the teaching of the OldTestament prophets had happened. Jesus, the Messiah had been crucified and placed in a coldstone tomb, dead. It seemed as though his enemies had won by succeeding in crucifying him.

The scene burnt into all their minds was of a stone being rolled over the entrance to the tomband heavily guarded. The disciples couldn’t understand why Roman soldiers were there, or whowere going to steal the body of Jesus?

Silence reigned.

Where just hours earlier thousands of pilgrims had swelled Jerusalem to bursting point for thePassover, now there was silence. That's how things stood just before dawn. Sad, tragic. Somuch hope, so much promise. But now what was to happen now?

But after the storm, life must go on. Mary Magdalene had been one of the Nazarene's mostdevoted followers. She and some of the women have risen very early to honour the teacher'sbody and are headed for the garden tomb just outside the city walls.

She and others arrived to tend to Jesus lifeless body. Suddenly Mary looks up and shouts: "Thestone has been moved!" "Where is he?" she shrieks, and ducks inside.

The darkness of the tomb and the concrete-like odour of fresh-cut limestone must have beenstrong. She looked and there on the shelf inside the tomb were clothes, only grave clothes.Grave-robbers!?

Out in a flash, she begins to run back into the city. "I'll tell Peter and John."

Mary races back to town, she bangs on the door and cries out ‘Peter, Peter!’ Eventually Peteropens the door she blurts out, over and over again "Somebody has taken his body out of thetomb! We can't find him!" Peter tells John and both are now in panic mode.

They race towards the grave. Mary follows. Slowly now, head down, she walks and weeps,exhausted. By the time she arrives back at the tomb, Peter and John have come and gone. Theother women are nowhere to be seen.

She pauses by the door for a long moment, weeping uncontrollably. This time, the tomb seemslit. Two men in bright white, dressed in long robes that extend down to their feet, rise as sheenters. "Why are you crying?"

She sobs out her story over and over again. "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't knowwhere they have put him." She dissolves into tears. Turning round she sees, yet another man —the gardener? Perhaps he'll know.

"Why are you crying?" he asks quietly. "Who are you looking for?"

She begins her sad tale for a third time. "Mary!" The voice so familiar.

She looks up in sudden recognition. "Rabbi!" she cries and falls at his feet.

It is Jesus. It is the Lord. He is not dead. He is risen from the tomb. He is alive. He is resurrectedas he had said.

The storm has passed and the sun has broken through the clouds into a new day.

What does it mean? What did it mean to Mary?

One day Mary and all those early disciples would die. But they had all seen Jesus, the conquerorof death. They began to understand the total forgiveness and acceptance which Jesus had wonfor them on the cross.

There was good news, even great news to tell. Would she say this

Friends,

As mentioned at the recent members meeting and at Worship on some Sundays, Connect will nowclose in both its paper and on-line formats.

Fay has spent many years editing this magazine for our information and enjoyment, but feels sheneeds to close down this part of her ministry. Linda Lancaster who has been a faithful co-workerwith Fay is finding the time commitment far too heavy and could never offer to be the sole editor.Since no one has proffered their help to collect, collate and pass on to Jackie the finishedmagazine for printing, it is with sadness, but thanks that we now offer this edition as the finalone.

In the future, something different may rise up and we patiently pray and wait for this, foreverbeing grateful to Fay and Linda, to those who edited Connect before them and all who wrotearticles etc.

Your friend and pastor

Peter

NEWS FROM OUR FAMILY & COMMUNITY WORKERWhat a wonderful celebration of God’s love we had at our Hearty Party on 14th February!24 children came along and had a super fun morning of crafts, party games, and we evenmade our own sandwiches! A whole new experience for some! We also told the childrenabout that not very popular tax collector, Zacchaeus and how even when he wasn’t livingright, Jesus loved him anyway. That amazing love is true for us all and when we reallygrasp that, it makes us want to show that kind of love to others. Who knows...maybesomeone will experience God’s love through us showing love to them? Now that would beamazing!

We marked the start of Lent with our now ‘estate renowned’ Pancake Cafe! Big thanks toour chefs and helpers; Sally, Christine G, Audrey, Jackie T, Christine D and Doreen whoserved up an incredible 130 pancakes! There was a great atmosphere with lots of veryappreciative parents and some very full tummies J And we raised £78 for our Youth and

Children’s Work! Big thanks for your generous support J

We’re really excited to have the opportunity to run two lunchtime clubs for children atHardwick Primary School. Please pray as we make plans and get a team together. Wewould love some help preparing crafts for the clubs. Please have a word with Alison if thisis something you’d like to help with. I know we’ve lots of very creative people in ourchurch...and we need your help! J

Once again our church is taking part in the SCP Community Fun Day on Bank HolidayMonday 1st May. This is a great day to have fun with our local community, and a greatchance to get to know local families. Do put it in your diary and come along and enjoy all

that’s on offer J

A great quote I found really valuable at the Youth EvangelismConference...’

Thank you for being part of our church here at Southgate.

Love Alison

FINANCE REPORT

This report to the Church community covers the 11 months of this financial year andthe agreed budget for 2027/18.

Firstly, where we are this year - Our income is a bit higher and our expenditure is abit lower than anticipated. This means we are likely to overspend by around £15000rather than the £20000 we expected. So that is good. Thank you to all those peoplewho increased their giving either on a lump sum or regular basis. This means thatour general fund will not run out until June or July.

For the next financial year, we hope to reduce our overspend to around £12000, andabout £7000 in cash terms, by a combination of some economies and increased giving.

We will take stock halfway through the year, and particularly around December andJanuary to see how we are doing. Please, if you can give more to the Church, pleasedo so. We urgently need your support at this time.

It is important that we continue to communicate with everyone who is part of theSouthgate community. With Connect ceasing publication, we will find other ways ofdoing so.

Bob Jones - on behalf of the Finance team :

Peter Maddock, Terry Ball, Bob and Liz Huddlestone.

Visit from Jonathon VieraConcert in aid of Chaplain in the

WorkplaceSaturday 11th November 2017.

Watch out for more information!

Canon David Winter considers Good Friday

The way I see it: The Easter Paradox

This month - rather later than usual - we remember the events of Good Fridayand celebrate the glory of Easter. The injustice and cruelty of the former and thehope and assurance of the latter may help us to make sense of the conflicting andoften disturbing events taking place in our world.

On Good Friday the most honest, generous and open person who ever lived wascruelly executed. Around the cross, stood His mother, and a few close friends andfamily. Beyond them, a crowd jeered. The soldiers went about their grim task.Even the sky was dark.

Yet in the gloom there was hope. Jesus forgave those who were killing him: ‘theydon’t know what they’re doing’. He asked His best friend to look after his mother.A criminal who was being executed alongside Jesus had a change of heart andasked Him to ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom’ - and receivedthe most wonderful promise of paradise today. Even the Roman centurion, whohad stood watching the condemned man die, testified that ‘surely this man wasa son of God’.

In other words, at the darkest time there was light, a Light which blazed out onEaster morning. Isn’t that paradox – the truth that even in the worst momentthere are signs of hope – the deep message of Easter? We are made in God’simage. We are precious to God. But we are fallen, flawed, lost. Those two truthsare right there in the story of Good Friday and Easter. And which one wins? Noprizes for guessing.

Canon David Winter

Malawi -Faith in ActionThis is the time of year when we hold tight to prayer whilst askingour Lord for the wonderful gift of rain and sun  to provide aHarvest for the people of Plains in Malawi.    We remember that

2016 was another year when so much rain fell; people and crops were washedaway in such serious flooding.

Many of us are praying for sufficient and continuous weather so the peoplewill have food to eat.  April would be the normal time for the Harvest.

You may have seen in our weekly notices that this year’s new crop of maizehad an infestation called Army Worm.  We at Faith in Action have suppliedSprayers and Insecticide in the hope of dealing with the pest. As this is thefirst time we have come across the problem we are asking for the Sprayersto be retained for the future.

Please be in prayer for the wife of Danne Nkandwe, our Administrator inBlantyre. Marie has been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. We would normally relyon the local Hospital in Blantyre but Marie will take a day’s trip to Lilongwe forthe care of Specialists in Cancer.

Thank you so much for all your support.Frank Rumball.

PS: We have just heard that as Maria’s case wasurgent, the operation has been carried out andbeen successful. We now await biopsy reports.

Southgate Church Council & Leadership Team

Helen Moore’s term of office on the Leadership team ends this year but she iswilling to stand again.Bob Jones is stepping down from Church council having completed 15 yearsservice, including the roles of Treasurer and Trustee, and Christine Dutton isstepping down from Church Council after 6 years service .Barry Milner’s term of office is also coming to an end but he is willing to stand forre-election.

We do thank them for all the their committed service to the church over the years.

We will have vacancies including 2 for the Leadership team, 1 for trustee and 2for the Church Council.

Please do pray about these, and see further details aboutnominations on the Church notice board. Closing date fornominations are May 10th.

Reflections The Easter Story Creation - Fall - Redemption - Glory

Cut off from God, barred from His sightBut God foresaw that this would be,And so the Word, the Son of God

Would come to die for you and me.

His sacrifice on that cruel crossWas made to take away our sinThe gates of glory opened wide

So man once more could enter in.

By Megan Carter

The Lord God created all things goodAnd rested on the seventh dayHis last creation Adam and EveWas very good in every way.

How Satan loathed that God should loveA creature such as lowly man,He tempted them to disobeyAnd then the reign of sin began.

Church weekend at Sizewell Hall30th June - 2nd July 2017

This year sees our bi-annual weekend away at Sizewell Hall, a glorious hall onlyyards from the beach. This is a great opportunity to spend some quality timetogether as we learn, share meals and have fun together. Nothing on theweekend is compulsory so you can stay or go as you wish.

Andrew Buttress has agreed to come and do the teaching and I'm sure thatwhat he has to bring to us will be encouraging and challenging wherever westand in the Christian life. If you haven't been before please do consider it and,if you have been before, please come again.

The forms are available and, as before, we will not be charging a set fee, butwe do hope that you will make a donation to cover the costs. This way, we canclaim gift aid if you are a tax payer. We suggest the amounts of £65 for eachadult, £40.00 for young people (11-17) and £30 for children (3-10). Under 3'sgo free. There will be a few chores to do during the weekend for those who areable.Put the dates in your diary and sign up now.Further details from Roger and Doreen Whomes

Come to me, all you who are weary andburdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11 v 28

‘When you die, that’s it. Nothing. Out like a light.’That’s what the man in the pub said, and his mates all nodded, though the one whosemother had died the week before wasn’t really quite so certain.

Still, it seemed to make sense. After all, we know what ‘dead’ means: dead leaves, deadbatteries, dead fish, dead pets . . . and dead people, to be honest. While we recognise thatit’s all too easy to go from alive to dead, we’ve got serious doubts about the possibility ofany return journeys.

Which is why Christians have an uphill task at Easter.

Jesus was a great man, and people want to remember how He died. Fair enough. But itstarts getting complicated when Christians insist that Jesus died but didn’t stay dead - infact, that He’s alive now. That ‘return journey’ has happened, they say.

That’s the problem about Easter. Christians persisting in what sounds like a ridiculous belief.If they just dropped the resurrection bit, and concentrated on the wonderful teaching ofJesus and His example of generosity, compassion and love then everybody would findChristianity much more believable. Wouldn’t that make sense? And wouldn’t that fill thechurches again?Well it might (or, more likely, it might not). But in any case, the trouble is that it wouldn’tbe Christianity at all. The faith of Christians actually depends on the resurrection of Jesus,and always has done, right from the earliest days. After the crucifixion the body of Jesuswas taken down from the cross by some of His friends and put in a rock tomb with a heavystone. But after His death, His followers claimed that they had met Him, seen Him, talkedwith Him.So certain was their belief that nothing could make them recant it. They couldn’t do itbecause they were absolutely convinced that it had happened. Plenty of clever andpowerful people at the time had a vested interest in proving them wrong. It shouldn’t havebeen difficult to prove that a dead man had stayed dead, especially when you have at yourdisposal the resources of the greatest empire in history. Yet they didn’t do it, because itcouldn’t be done.Still today millions of people all over the world believe that Jesus did in fact rise from thedead; brilliant scientists and philosophers, as well as ‘ordinary’ men and women of all ages.They believe it because they respect the witness of those first Christians, and because inmany cases their own lives have been transformed by a relationship with Jesus - arelationship that wouldn’t make sense if He were dead!

Christians don’t put their faith in a dead hero from the past, but in someone who is aliveand active in their own lives and in the world. That, in a nutshell, is the real message ofEaster.Jonathon Green

The real message of Easter

WHO CARES? …very simply, a way for lots of churches to come together and share the gospel of JesusChrist with thousands of people.

Southgate Church is getting involved in ‘Who Cares?’ - involving churches across Suffolkasking one simple question.

What hurts the most?

Or, to put it another way, what about life do you find hardest to handle?

How would you answer? Doubtless something leapt to mind. Someone once said that theuniversal language of humanity is not love – it’s pain.  We may have never experiencedreal love, but we all understand what it is to be hurt.  And what do we do when that painreally bites?  A couple of years ago the BBC reported that 1 in 3 of all adults would say theyhave no-one to turn to in a crisis.

What if, when it feels like the world is against you (and it’s winning), there is hope for allthe hurt?  What if Jesus, the heart of the Christian message, really could bring the kind ofhope that will anchor you, whatever storms are shaking your world?

Whilst we would never claim to have all the answers, the church is certainly committed toresponding to what we hear.  If you’re asking, ‘Who Cares?, we want you to know that thechurch cares, and, more importantly, we believe that Jesus cares, too.

A number of us attended the launch event at St Mary’s in late Februaryto learn more about it. Apart from being informative, it was a splendidevening of praise and worship, with an inspirational address from SandyMillar, formerly of Holy Trinity Brompton.

Christian AidChristian Aid week Service

At St Leonard’s Church, Horringer May 14th at 6.30pm

The Robots are ComingEver since IBM’s computer beat the world chess champion twenty years ago,Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced at a phenomenal rate. Computers are alreadystarting to overtake doctors in the accuracy of some medical diagnoses. In the future, aswe learn more about the psychological and neurological processes of the human brain,robots with some level of awareness, learning and self-improvement are on the horizon.The robots are coming in an exciting wave that will impact every part of society.Naturally the scientific world is more focused on discovery and advancing capability thanon how to manage robots well. Yet as AI advances there are masses of unansweredquestions. How will we deal with issues like privacy and human dignity with care robots,as well as physical safety if systems fail or are hacked? Could we let loose something thatbites us? Professor Stephen Hawking has said he fears AI could threaten humanity, becausewe do not fully understand what it might do. Yet advances also hold out the tantalisingprospect of big improvements in medical treatment as well as many other helpful thingslike reducing traffic accidents.Will AI save or kill humanity? Neither in my view, but it will make a big difference. In thefirst chapter of Genesis we find God giving people the command to take charge of theearth – a delegated responsibility to steward creation for the good of human flourishing.That responsibility includes AI. How can we encourage the right direction of developmentof this amazing technology? How does AI impact identity and relationships? What are themoral issues and where do the moral boundaries need to be?Science Fiction writers have seen this coming. Isaac Asimov, in his 1942 short story

, famously invented three laws of robotics to protect people. Now fiction isturning to reality. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council hascommendably published five ethical principles for the design, build and use of robots. It'sa good start. But if Christians are going to exercise more thought leadership and influencein this complex area we will have to step up and engage with it. Stewarding AI for humanflourishing is challenging and vital.

Paul Valler - LICC

Safeguarding Training at SouthgateDo you work with children, young people or adults in Southgate?Are you a Trustee, a council member? If so a Safeguarding Course will be run byqualified trainers from the Eastern Baptist Association on Saturday 15th July from9.30 - 12.45pm at Southgate Community Centre.There are two Levels being offered; the basic being Level 2 which is the one wesuggest for the Southgate people to attend.These courses will be FREE to Southgate Church.

If you have received Safeguarding training in the past, or have had no training Iwould encourage you to attend. I feel it is necessary that we at Southgate Churchare brought up to date with all the changes that have taken place and made awareof the regulations governing those who work with children, young people orvulnerable adults.

Level 2 is the starting level for us all. If you wish to go on and complete level 3, itwill follow from 1.30pm- 4.30pm.Bring a packed lunch to eat between the sessions. It is designed for the minister,council members and trustees and those designated persons for safeguarding. Itgives further help with what to do if a disclosure is made, or if you discover thatabuse has or is taking place.You need to have completed Level 2 before covering Level 3. This course will alsobe FREE.

There are letters going out with anapplication form attached. If you have notreceived one and would like to attendplease let Alison or myself know.

Michael Jones -

We often talk about witnessing the Gospel message This poem which I found in my

mother’s bible, gives some food for thought. The author is unknown. - FJ

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and JohnAre read by more than a few

But the one that is most read and commented onIs the gospel according to you

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each dayBy the things that you do and the words that you say

Men read what you write whether faithless or trueSay, what is the gospel according to you?

Do men read His truth and His love in your lifeOr has yours been too full of malice and strife?Does your life speak of evil or does it ring true?

Say what is the gospel according to you?

To Make You SmileDialThey have Dial-a-Prayer for atheists now.You call up and it rings and rings but nobody answers

Five exercises you’d be better off avoiding this Spring….Jumping on the bandwagonWading through paperworkRunning around in circlesPushing your luckAdding fuel to the fire

HeavenSeen in a parish magazine: “We shall be meeting on Wednesday when thesubject will be ‘Heaven - how do we get there?’ Transport by bus is availableat 6.45pm opposite the King’s Arms.

Dates for your diary

SOUTHGATE'S GOT EASTER - Saturday 8th April 2-4pmOur annual Easter Community Event is in theCommunity Centre There'll be craft, games andactivities for the children, refreshments (including hotcross buns), an Easter Egg hunt and telling the EasterStory. Everything is free, so come along and join in, no

need to book.

COMMUNITY FUN DAY - Monday 1st MayWe'll be taking part once again in theCommunity Fun Day. We will have a stallon the Hardwick Primary School playingfield, so come along and meet the people who run our children's Sunday andmid-week groups. We'll also have some activities for the children. As in previousyears, we will be offering tea, coffee and a wide variety of home-made cakes.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK - Sunday 14th - Saturday 20th MayThe annual house-to-house collection takes place during this week, and is

celebrating it's sixtieth year. Volunteers will bedelivering envelopes at the beginning of that weekand returning within the week to collect them, shouldyou wish to make a donation to the work of ChristianAid. If you happen to miss the collector, you can drop

your envelope back to the Church and it will be passed on. The week beginswith a United Service at St Leonard's Church, Horringer on Sunday 14th May at6.30pm. Everyone Welcome.

Southgate Church Members Meeting - Wednesday 24th May at 7.30pm

Volunteer(s) for a New Editorial Team for Connect

Do you feel that you would like to be involved in continuing the work ofproducing our church’s magazine, Connect?

If so, please do talk to Peter, Fay or Linda.

Farewell from The Editorial Team Of Connect

It is with sadness that this is the last copy of Connect which will be publishedfor the foreseeable future. Both Linda and I are feeling the need of a breakfrom our roles on the editorial team. For nearly 10 years, I have been mainlyresponsible for collecting and editing the content of each edition and morerecently, Linda (and formally Jackie) have mainly worked on the lay-out of eachpublication. In many ways, it has been a very creative and rewarding experienceand I feel that I have learned a lot from doing it. I hope that it has helped tospread the Good News and faith which we share as a Christian family, bothlocally and further away. I believe that it has also helped us to connect togetheras a fellowship and with old and new friends. We have asked for volunteers totake on our role as the new editorial team but so far no one has come forward.I personally give thanks to Jackie and Linda for all their hard work and skillswhich they have used to produce each publication.

Fay Jones

Impossibility‘After arresting him, he put him in prison…to be guarded by four squads of four

soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover’.

Perhaps we all have impossible situations in our own lives. Maybe there is a lovedone battling with terminal illness, and no healing seems in sigh, despite many prayers.Or we can see a marriage that looks damaged beyond repair. Perhaps we are worryingconstantly about a child, who has abandoned God, church and maybe even family -so we no longer know about their whereabouts.

All these situations seem impossible. To hope for change is foolish, we think, andwill only set us up for bitter disappointment when it does not arrive. And so wesurrender to what seems inevitable.

Luke, with his characteristic eye for detail, wants us to know just how utterly hopelessPeter’s situation was. Not quite in Alcatraz, Peter might as well have been, becausehe is certainly a maximum security prisoner, guarded by four squads of four soldierseach. Not only is Luke building up the tension as he writes; he wants us to know thefull gravity and impossibility of Peter’s situation. And, with the days of the festivalpassing by, the clock was ticking. Luke lets us in on Herod’s plan to conduct a trialjust as soon as the festivities were completed. But the church kept praying. Perhapsthey argued with God, complained. cried, screamed. But they did not give up.

Let’s keep asking in the face of impossibility. Hope is the fuel of prayer. If you’velost hope, I’m praying that you will dare to hope again and ask God to step in, no

matter how desperate things might be. It was totally impossible for Peter toescape. And then an angel stopped by.

Prayer:

Lord, give me a mature faith to deal with impossible situations. Amen.

SATURDAY 8TH APRIL2-4pm