THE BEACON

November 2006

The Parish Magazine of

All Saints’ Sedgley & St Andrew’s The Straits

50p

April 2012

2

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow”

Albert Einstein For over 100 years you have been helping local people with sight loss

This year you helped Anne-Marie to ride a bike on her own for the first time, you helped Frank leave his house each week to meet his friends for a cup of tea and a chat and you helped William receive the care and support he needs every day.

Making a gift to us in your will can make a big difference for people like Anne-Marie, Frank, and William.

Make your last gift really count

Live for today but be their hope for tomorrow

Call Jo Ellis on 01902 880111 www.beacon4blind.co.uk/legacies

Charity Registration No 216092

3

ALL SAINTS’, SEDGLEY Sunday Services

8.00 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Parish Communion (First Sunday: All-Age Worship) 6.30 p.m. Evensong (BCP)

Weekday Services

Monday 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion Wednesday 7.30 p.m. Holy Communion (1st Wednesday: Healing Service)

ST ANDREW’S, THE STRAITS Sunday Service 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (1st Sunday: Morning Prayer)

Weekday Service

Wednesday 7.00 p.m. Holy Communion

THE STRAITS CHURCH Sunday Services 9.30 a.m. Prayer & Communion

11.00 a.m. Family Service 6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer

(When there is a fifth Sunday in the month the three churches in the Team Ministry meet for a united service at either 9.30 a.m. or 10.30 a.m. depending on the venue.)

Baptisms & Weddings Arrangements for baptisms and weddings at All Saints’ and St Andrew’s can be made at the Vestry Hour at All Saints’, which is held on Wednesdays at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’.

Baptisms are generally held on the fourth Sunday of the month at 4.00 p.m. at All Saints’, and on the second Sunday of the month at 3.00 p.m. at St Andrew’s. Baptisms can also take place during the Sunday morning service at All Saints’

or St Andrew’s by arrangement.

4

WHO’S WHO AT ALL SAINTS’ & ST ANDREW’S

GORNAL & SEDGLEY TEAM MINISTRY

Team Rector The Revd Stephen Buckley 01902 883255

(Day off Friday) Team Vicar The Revd Andy Stand 883467 (Day off Monday) Asst Curate The Revd Rob Parker-McGee (Day off Friday) 01384 860525

Reader Jan Humphries 01902 661275

Authorised Lay Minister Suzanne Bradley 880055

PCC Secretary Suzanne Bradley “

ALL SAINTS’

Parish Wardens Rob Lavender 01902 661325

Derrick Turner 895066 DCC Secretary Pam Hunt 670787 Treasurer Derrick Turner 895066 Electoral Roll Liz Williams 672880

Organist Mel Jones 0121 550 1604

Bell Ringers Keith Williams 01902 672585 Servers Len Millard 676339 Junior Church Barbara Price 676591 Youth Group Laura Price “

Noah’s Ark Parent

& Toddler Group Linda Edwards 672556

Hall Bookings The Vicarage 883255 Hall Caretaker Joan Moon 682902 Social Club John Dillworth 670156

Magazine Editor Christine Buckley 883255

Distribution Rob Lavender 661325 Advertising “ “ Cont. over page

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All Saints’ cont. Mothers’ Union Liz Williams 672880 Ladies’ Society Geraldine Baker 674608

Men’s Society Roger Berry 881374 Uniformed Organisations Rainbows Liz Naylor 01902 885517

Brownies Heather Churm 07530 977090

ST ANDREW’S Church Warden Margaret Probin 01902 883163 DCC Secretary Rosemary Reed Treasurer Gordon Betteley 882777

Sacristan May Smith

Little Angels Mums & Toddlers Sarah Parker-McGee 01384 860525

THE STRAITS COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Maurice Powell 01902 885402

PARISH WEBSITE: www.gornalandsedgley.org.uk

CHURCH REGISTERS BAPTISMS ALL SAINTS’

4 March Nancy Grace Thomas Izaak Stephen Norton Tabathe Mai Norton 25 March Alexander David Haddleton

Annabell Evelyn Cartwright Blessing of Civil Marriage 25 March Andrew Haddleton & Nikki-Dee Haddleton

Parish Funerals 1 March Kenneth Barry Hickman, aged 82 5 March John Preston, aged 90 6 March Douglas George Smith, aged 83

6

Parish Funerals cont. 13 March John Henry Elwell, aged 85 14 March Edna Allen, aged 95

15 March Thomas Roderick, aged 88 22 March John Francis Oliver, aged 74

MAGAZINE MATERIAL

Articles for the April magazine should be sent to the Vicarage by Sunday 28

April. These may be sent by e-mail to srb55@talktalk.net.

THE BEACON

If you are interested in having the magazine delivered to your home on a regu-

lar basis please contact Rob Lavender: tel. 01902 661325. The Beacon is pub-

lished ten times a year and the cost for the year is £5.

APRIL FLOWER ROTA

8 April Easter Flowers

15 April Vacant

22 April Bob Hill

29 April Pam Garrington

GRAND JUBILEE RAFFLE

In addition to our ‘God Save the Queen’ Flower Festival and ‘Sedgley

Diamond 60’ Exhibition we are having a ‘Grand Jubilee Raffle’ which

will be drawn on the final day of the Festival. The proceeds from the

Raffle will be shared between ‘Help for Heroes’ and All Saints’ Church

ministry. The tickets will be given out after Easter so please help us to support

these two causes by selling as many tickets as you can.

7

HOLY WEEK SERVICES LED BY THE RT REVD DAVID WALKER

All Saints’

Palm Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion

10.30 am Parish Communion & Distribution of Palms*

6.30 pm Evensong

Maundy Thu 7.30 pm Holy Communion & Stripping of Altars

Good Friday 10.00 am Outdoor Service at the Bullring

10.00 am Children’s Workshop in the church hall

7.30 pm “The Cross of Christ”

Easter Day 8.00 am Holy Communion

10.30 am Parish Communion

6.30 pm Evensong

St Andrew’s

Easter Day 9.30 am Parish Communion*

Team Services

Monday 7.30 pm Holy Communion at St Andrew’s*

Tuesday 7.30 pm Holy Communion at St Peter’s*

Wednesday 7.30 pm Holy Communion at All Saints’*

Good Friday 2.00 pm Good Friday meditation at All Saints’*

Saturday 8.00 pm Easter Ceremonies at St Peter’s*

(Services marked with an* will be led by Bishop David)

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‘SIR, I WISH TO SEE JESUS!’

The Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Passiontide began at John 12: 20.

Imagine this request echoing around Church bureaucracy – ‘Sir we wish to see

Jesus’. Phone lines ringing and being put on hold - line managers being

contacted. The call is diverted to Ministry Division, but they are too busy

figuring out how best to teach young trainees to fill out parish forms. The

response comes back, ‘That sounds a bit too theological for us, we don’t do

Jesus!’. The call is then moved on to the history departments, but they have

long since stopped speaking of Jesus as a real person in an attempt to fit in with

modern debates. And the Greeks are forced to wait whilst the Church tries to

figure out how to respond. ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus!’

This is such a simple and obvious request that it almost hurts to hear it. It hurts

because in our churches there should be no need to request it. ‘Sir, we wish to see

Jesus!’ But it stops us in our tracks. It is right that we should be faced with it at this

time of year: a time when we are thinking about Jesus death and Resurrection.

What about Jesus? Can we please get to see Him? How does our Church and

our Church structures force us to answer? What about Jesus? Can we please

get to see Him? ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus!’ Do we reveal Jesus to people or

obscure Him? How can we uncover Him to people?

I would like to suggest that we first have to learn to find Jesus ourselves in

creation, the symbols of our Church and our culture. Listen for the voice of

God in the world – in creation. Then, and only then, will we find the simple

language to speak to those around us in a way they may understand.

We are told in John 12: 28-30 that God’s voice can be as terrifying as thunder

and as gentle as angels - the crowd that witnessed it couldn’t be sure. Often we

believe we hear something of the voice of God in music and singing, in poetry

or nature, in our limited words as they try to describe His glory. Like the

crowd, if we think we hear Him, we likely do.

If we listen attentively enough we may hear the voice of God as the wind blows

through the cedar trees or the birds conduct their chorus at dawn. If we focus intently

enough, we might just see the face of Christ in the crowds of the bustling market

place or the congregation in the pews; in the laugh of the child or the tears of the

widow. If we set our minds to it, we soon begin to recognise Christ in the everyday

and then the request of the Greeks becomes less daunting to us, because we

ourselves know where to find Him. ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus!’

And it is now that the full weight of Hebrews 5 becomes clear and we

recognise the Jesus that Hebrews speaks of - that Jesus who is both King and

Priest. The Son of God who suffers. The magnificent Saviour who weeps and

dies, fully human. This is the Jesus who will lose his life only to be glorified for it.

9

This is the Jesus who is found in the everyday so that it may become holy,

sanctifying creation so that we may better enter into covenant with Him. In the

mundane and the pain, the beauty and the rain, Christ is present breathing his

creating spirit and reconciling all things to himself, writing his eternal law on

our hearts: because as Jeremiah 31 tells us, ‘He will be our God, and we shall

be His people.’

And so it was that the Greeks came to our Church door and said, ‘Sir, we

wish to see Jesus!’ A gentleman replied ‘Sure, no worries. He’s over here; let

me take you to him!’

Father Rob

MOTHERS’ UNION

Tony Hart gave us a talk entitled ‘Time’ at our afternoon meeting in March. It

was very interesting, covering the theories of Newton, Einstein, Stephen

Hawking and the ‘Big Bang’ theory about the creation of the universe. Tony’s

conclusion was that modern scientific thinking, far from disproving the

creation, actually supports it.

‘Cat and Dog Theology’ was the title of Phil Hall’s talk at our evening March

meeting. The question was are we a ‘Cat Christian’ or a ‘ Dog Christian’? The

God-given traits of cats, ‘You exist to serve me,’ and dogs ‘I exist to serve

you,’ are often similar to certain theological attitudes held by many Christians

in their view of God and their relationship to Him. Dogs have a master, in this

case God, whereas cats have servants – God. Is God our servant (cat theology)

or are we God’s earthly servants (dog theology)? Phil, who is a Reader, brought

her ‘Bournville chocolate’ springer collie, Peggy, who was an immediate hit

with all the members and possibly a rival for Maisie! We concluded at the end

of this most interesting talk that most of us are a mixture of ‘Dog’ and ‘Cat’

Christians.

On Sunday 15th April, two new members will be enrolled into our Branch

during the 10.30am service. We are delighted that Jan Humphries and Christine

Williams have decided to join the Mothers’ Union and I ask you to remember

them in your prayers and support them by being at the service.

Our Lent Project this year is to provide toiletries for the Women’s Refuge.

There will be a box in the narthex in which to place items during Lent. The

Coffee Morning and Collection is on Saturday 21st April, 10am – 12noon, in

the church hall.

10

Dates

15th April 10.30am MU Enrolment, in church

16th April 10.00am Corporate Communion

17th April 7.30pm Worcester to the Sea, Tony Page

18th April MU Council

21st April 10am – 12 noon

Women’s Refuge collection & Coffee Morning, in

the in the Church Hall

Liz Williams

LADIES’ SOCIETY

“Help for Heroes”: Mr Gerry Hobbs

What an inspirational talk this was! Mr Hobbs gave us such an insight into

what this Charity does, that I think that we were all left full of admiration.

The Charity began in 2007 when a stately home, Headly Court in Surrey,

was requisitioned and became a rehabilitation centre for injured soldiers

returning from Afghanistan. Some of these soldiers are as young as 18 and

come home with horrendous injuries, some having lost all their limbs, or blind

or deaf and some with dreadful head injuries. One of the early patients was so

grateful for the help that he had received he became one of the co-founders of

“Help for Heroes”. As the money began to come in, Help for Heroes expanded

and now has Centres all over the country – the latest one is in Glasgow.

“Battle Back” is the name given to a group of severely injured young men

who wanted to return to pursuits that they had previously enjoyed such as

Football, Rugby, Walking, Ski-ing and Mountaineering. Imagine playing

football with prosthetic limbs! This year, some of these brave young men have

entered for this year’s Paralympics. As well as helping with this, “Help for

Heroes” has helped fund “Tedworth House”, the first recovery unit for long

term cases, here they help all cases, especially with spiritual needs. Now there

is a “Band of Brothers”, a group formed to help “Help for Heroes” raise money

and to say “Thank you” to the servicemen.

Mr Hobbs told us many individual stories and at the end of his talk, reduced

all of us to the verge of tears by reciting a poem about a little girl who went to

school on “Father’s Day” when the children had been told to invite their fathers

to school. This little girl – on her own told everybody that her Daddy “Was by

her side always”. He had actually been killed in Afghanistan!

This charity does get some Government funding too. Since their beginning,

they have raised £127 million! Our society had a collection and we raised a

little over £280 which was topped up to £300 for our chosen 2012 Charity.

11

Well ladies, there is no meeting in April, apart from those going to Dormston

Theatre, The meeting on the 14th May is the walk at Baggeridge, I shall not be

joining you as I can’t walk very far these days. The June meeting is an

“evening meal out” – venue still to be arranged and in July we are back in the

Church Hall to hear Kenneth Hughes talk about Cadbury’s and Bournville, I

wonder if there will be any free samples? Anyway, See you soon!

Molly Taft

200 CLUB DINNER

The 200 Club Dinner was held on Saturday 3rd March in the Church Hall. As

usual it proved to be one of those warm social occasions that I have come to

associate with All Saints’ The meal, provided by Jenny’s Kitchen was very

good indeed and I shall now embarrass Roy Watkins by mentioning how much

everyone enjoyed the music he provided with his excellent keyboard playing.

Membership of the 200 Club has declined over the past 10 years or so

possibly because people do not know much about the organisation and what it

does. It costs only £15.00 per year to join and member s enjoy a regular prize

draw plus an invitation to the annual dinner (A bit of a supplement required for

this). All of the money raised goes to improve facilities in the Church Hall. It is

a good way of supporting the outreach of our Church. A dreary, cold, smelly

building says to people who use the Hall that nobody cares. The state of All

Saints’ Church say that we care !

So if you think that you would like to join the 200 club and support All

Saints’ in this way please see Derrick Turner, who with his wife Jean, does all

the work to keep it going. Derrick as you all know is a most amiable soul and

nothing is more likely to bring a beaming smile to his face and the dimples out

on his cheeks than an offer of a contribution!

Tony Hart

CHURCH OPENING

Friday mornings from

10.30am to 12.30pm

The church is open for quiet prayer

& coffee and a chat.

12

BARN DANCE

with

FOLK AND A JOKE

featuring

THE EVE EVANS EXPERIENCE

Sat May 19th in the Church Hall

7.30pm to 11.00pm

Fish & Chip Supper Included

Tickets £7

Available from

Roger Berry 01902 881374

or

John Howe 01902 678576

13

AROUND THE PARISH - APRIL 2012

Get well wishes to Keith Tomlinson, we hope it won’t be too long before he is

well again. Also to Kennedy Slater who is recovering from a hip operation;

he is missed from the choir stalls and it will be good to see and hear him again

soon. We also send get well wishes to George and Tina Harper uncle and

aunt of Pam Hunt.

Sad News: Tom Roderick died on the 22nd February. He was a sidesperson

for many years and a very friendly man liked and respected by all who knew

him. The funeral was on Thursday 15th March. We send our condolences to

Doris, sorry to hear she has been poorly, and all members of the family. May

they soon find peace and contentment. God be with them at this sad time.

Also Edna Allen died on February 25th after a long illness. Edna’s funeral

was on Wednesday 14th March. We send condolences to all members of her

family and hope in the fullness of time happy memories will help to ease the

sadness they are feeling now.

Noah’s Ark Mothers and Toddlers end of term is on 27th March. There will

be an Easter Bonnet Parade where the array of hats I am sure will once again

be most ingenious. The summer term begins on 24th April.

Women’s World Day of Prayer - a short history: It was begun in 1887 by

Mary Ellen James, wife of a Presbyterian minister in New York. She was aware

of the problems many women faced and decided to do something about it, so

called for a Day of Prayer to be held. At much the same time two Baptist

missionaries were also appalled at the deprivation of women in other parts of

the world, so also called for a Day of Prayer. Eventually these two groups

joined together in 1919.

In 1928 Mrs Grace Forgan heard about it and felt the women of Scotland

would want to be involved. The first Service was held inScotland in 1930;

England joined in 1932. Now it is held all over the world, always on the first

Friday in March. The format of the service itself is arranged by a different

country each year. Here in Sedgley we move around the churches in the parish

and have made many friends in the process.

Dorothy Inett

14

Kevin Weston Decorating

Special rates for Senior Citizens

Local Authority approved

Advanced City & Guilds

23 years’ experience

Free quotations

Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen

12 Himley Lane, Swindon DY3 4PW

01384 401859 07981 596109

R T KNIGHT OPTICIANS

Independent, Professional Eye care

Contact Lens Centre Glaucoma Screening

8 Dudley Street Sedgley Dudley

West Midlands DY3 1SB

Tel. 01902 883260

HADEN NEWSAGENTS

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

35 Dudley Street Sedgley

Tel. 01902 674200

Newspapers, Confection-ary,

Magazines, Tobacco,

Stationery, Greeting Cards,

Payzone/Mobile Top Up

Gas/Electricity payments

SPECIALIST TEACHER PIANOFORTE-THEORY-HARMONY

RECITALIST-ACCOMPANIST

GEOFFREY BINNS FLCM, L.MUS(LCM), LLCM(TD)

A.MUS(TCL), A.Cert.(CM)

9 Dumbleberry Avenue, Sedgley

Tel. 01902 662251

Adults-Beginners-Children Advanced Students Diploma teaching

15

Sarah Powell Foot Health Practitioner RGN Dip, CFHP, MPSP (FHP)

Friendly Home visiting services in this area

Foot health check

Nails trimmed

Corns and calluses treated

Problem nails treated

Foot massage to finish

After-care advice given

Discount given for initial treatment

For more information or to make an Appointment please ’phone 01902 671824

16

Arthur's Jewellery

Hand made gold & silver jewellery

Repairs, remounts

Antique jewellery repaired & restored

The Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyard

Tel: 01384 221567 Mob: 07856 898558

www.arthursjewellery.co.uk

FOR A GREAT DEAL CONSULT

INSURANCE SERVICES (MIDLANDS) LTD

BILSTON ST, SEDGLEY

For low cost motor insurance Household insurance Personal accident &

travel insurance

Payment by instalments available Written details on request For a free quotation call:

01902 880044

K G J

07837 767344

01902 881361

Ianhipkissdrivingschool@hotmail.co.uk

Block Booking Discounts Pass plus Tuition

Free Theory Test Guidance First Lesson: 2 hours for price of 1

17

JENNY’S

KITCHEN Speciality Caterers

Evening & lunchtime

catering to suit

all occasions

Full waitress service

(Ask for details)

Tel: 01384 400733

www.jennyskitchen.co.uk

Dental

Surgery

Stephen L Rees B.D.S. U. Birm MFGDP (UK)

Tel:

01902 670080

The Surgery

Sedgley Hall Avenue

Sedgley

Dudley

DY3 3TA

J & C FLOWERS

Flowers For All

Occasions

Concorde Centre

Sedgley

Tel: 01902 673003

Taylors

Independent Estate

Agents & Valuers

For a friendly &

personal service

2A Dudley Street

Sedgley

Dudley

West Midlands DY3 1SB

Tel. 01902 880888

Fax 01902 665075

www. Taylors– estateagents.co.uk

18

Painting & Decorating Services

Papering - Painting

Property Maintenance

Houses - Shops - Offices

Residential & Commercial

Member of Dudley Age Concern Fix a Home Scheme

Worth Sides

Turf Specialist Quality Lawn Maintenance

Mowing & Edging Turf Installation

Hedge Trimming Light Hauling

Wood Chip Mulching

Pressure Washing

Mobile 07816 250387 Home 01902 881206

Phil Orton

For an estimate:

Tel: 01902 894830 Mob: 07974 281894

P & C ELECTRICAL &

PLUMBING SERVICES

FULLY QUALIFIED DOMESTIC INSTALLER

From changing a Light Fitting to a Consumer Board

From a Dripping Tap to a complete Bathroom Suite

No job too small No job too big

Call Phil: 01902 673 419 Mob. 07836 770135

Alderbrook Close, Sedgley

HARTILLS OF SEDGLEY MONUMENTAL MASONS

(BRAMM REGISTERED)

MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION

New Memorials Additional Inscriptions

Renovations

Unit 1D High Street, Sedgley

DY3 1RP

Tel/Fax 01902 882466

19

ANDREW NICHOLLS Heating & Plumbing

3 Northway, Sedgley Tel 01902 683586

(Gas Safe)

New to the area, but with 30 years’ experience

Central Heating Boilers

Water Heaters, Cookers, Fires

Full Installation Service Available

Annual Services

Landlord Safety Certificates

All Kinds of Plumbing Work

20

G L S ALARMS SECURITY SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS

Intruder Alarms, Maintenance Contracts

Repairs & Upgrades, Annual Service

Existing systems maintained & repaired

Est. 15 years - Insurance Approved

sahib registered installer

68 Longmeadow Drive, Sedgley DY3 3QR

Tel: 01902 883188

The Shaggy Dog Pet Grooming Centre for Dogs and Cats

For busy people we take bookings for Bank Holidays and Sundays

17 Bilston St, Sedgley DY3 1JA

Tel: 01902 661377

Evenings: 01902 677869

(As recommended by Maisie, the Vicarage Dog)

21

PHIL OLIVER SPECIALIST

CERAMIC TILER

Walls & Floors

In

Kitchens

Bathrooms

& Conservatories

12 Dudmaston Way Dudley DY1 GQ

Tel. 01384 234323 Mob. 07595 879267

L A J LOCKSMITH

For all your household needs Replacement locks/keys

Lockouts, Servicing Repairs & security upgrades

Motorcycle security, chains & padlocks Friendly service

(Don’t forget to add the tel. no. to your mobile, you never know when you might need to use it!!)

Tel: 07905882148 E-mail: lajlocksmith@live.co.uk

GLOVERS

For all your home & office stationery

supplies ring Richard, Maria,

or Mel Bates on:

01902 871682

ONLINE

www.gloversstationery.co.uk

22

RUSSELLS REMOVALS

House & Office Removals Fully Insured

Clearances & Storage Free Estimates

13 Robert Street Lower Gornal

Dudley DY3 2AZ

Tel. 01902 680081

SWEET TRADITIONS DUDLEY STREET

SEDGLEY

Old Fashioned & Traditional Sweets

Pick and Mix Gifts and More

Home of the Wonka Bar

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE CONTACT ALL SAINTS’ VICARAGE

Tel 01902 883255 E mail: srb55@talktalk.net

Rates for 12 months

Quarter page £25 Half page £40

Full page £70

The magazine is distributed to 350 households in the

Sedgley area

PREMIER FINISH PLASTERING

Skimming - Plastering Dot & Dab - Re-boarding

Stud frame walls - Dry lining Patch & repair

Call Ben for a free quote 07527 478209

E-mail premierplastering@live.co.uk

City & Guilds Qualified

23

S e d g l e y P o w e r w a s h S e r v i c e s

Cleaning Specialists in:

Blocked Paved Driveways Pathways Patios Garden wall & Stone Ornaments Oil Stain Removal Camera Guided Gutter Cleaning

CONTACT PETE ON

07791 241952

24

PENNY FARTHING COFFEE HOUSE Penny Farthing Arcade, High Street,

Sedgley, DY3 1RW

Telephone 07515 898038

Come in and try our scrumptious cakes,

our selections of delicious hot and cold drinks.

Fancy some food? Warming soups, hot meal of the day, create your

own fresh sandwich, panini, plus jacket potatoes and fillings.

You’re guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome every visit.

We look forward to seeing you.

Outside catering also available

All Saints’ Church Hall

The hall is available for hire by groups on a weekly basis, or for one off events.

(No private parties)

For further information please contact: All Saints’ Vicarage Tel. 01902 883255

E mail: srb55@talktalk.net

25

Friday 1st June to Tuesday 5th June

All Saints’ Church, Sedgley

Admission: £3

DOOR ENGRAVING

The engraving of angels on the glass doors at All Saints’ has now been completed, and

will be dedicated by Bishop David on Palm Sunday. Our thanks to those who donated

the money for this project, and to our designer, Andrew Shingler.

Stephen Buckley

26

INTERCESSIONS FOR APRIL

1st Palm Sunday

2nd Monday in Holy Week

3rd Tuesday in Holy Week

4th Wednesday in Holy Week

5th Maundy Thursday

6th Good Friday

7th Easter Eve

8th Easter Day "Jesus Lives"

9th World Poverty

10th The Salvation Army

11th Chaplaincy work in our schools

12th Diocese of Morogoro

13th Mission Aviation Fellowship

14th Spiritual Directors

15th Archbishops Rowan & John

16th The Persecuted Church

17th The Homeless

18th National Health Service

19th Royal School of Church Music

20th Prison Chaplains

21st Fair Trade

22nd Bishops John & David

23rd George, Martyr & Patron of England

24th Black Country Food Bank

25th Mark the Evangelist

26th The Children's Society

27th Our Armed Forces

28th Israel/Palestine

29th Gornal & Sedgley Team

30th Enclosed Orders

27

JUST THOUGHTS

Be not careless in deeds, confused in thought, nor rambling in words.

Nothing is free except what comes from within you.

A friend is someone who is always afraid of letting you down, but never does.

If you have an unpleasant neighbour , the odds are that he has too !!

After all is said and done - there is more said than done.

Life is made up of getting and giving, forgetting and forgiving.

If you cannot be a sun, don’t be a cloud.

Never be ashamed of not knowing about a thing, but always be ashamed of not

wanting to know.

Worry is not a necessity, but a habit.

The only part of being a good sport is that you have to lose every now and

again to prove it.

Some so-called open minds should be closed for repairs.

The grass may be greener next door but it is just as hard to cut.

Honours come from diligence: riches spring from economies.

You are as old as you feel, but never as important.

No one ever became thoroughly bad all at once.

Many a false step is made by standing still.

Business is like a wheelbarrow - you have to push it to make it work.

Enthusiasm breakfasts on obstacles, lunches on objections and dines on competition.

Men who are said to have made their fortune, have not done so if they do not

know how to enjoy it.

Success is always temporary.

The best time to do something worthwhile is between yesterday and tomorrow.

People may doubt what you say, but they generally believe what they see you do.

The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer everybody else up.

Those who are inclined to get ahead are those who do more that necessary -

and keep on doing it.

It’s surprising how often people will agree with you if you know just when to

keep your mouth shut.

God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but He expects us to do the baking.

Compiled by David Melhuish

28

ALL SAINTS’ APRIL CHARITY “MERCY SHIPS”

The work of Mercy Ships began in 1978 when a team led by Don and Deyon

Stephens began the process of finding a suitable vessel to fulfil their dream of a

hospital ship that would reach out to the world's poorest people, and on the 7th

July 1978 this dream became a reality when the first Mercy Ship, a retired

ocean liner called Victoria, was purchased for £600,000.

Ongoing efforts over four years resulted in the transformation of the passenger

vessel into a hospital ship. With the addition of 3 operating theatres and a 40 bed

ward, the vessel became an 11,701 tonne floating hospital, carrying a volunteer

crew of 350 from all over the world. In 1982, the vessel sailed as the newly

christened Anastasis, the first Mercy Ship. Since then various ships in the Mercy

Ships fleet have served in more than 150 ports in developing nations around the

world, bringing lasting change to hundred of thousands of lives.

One of the projects in which Mercy Ships has been involved is World Sight

Day. Approximately eighty percent of all visual impairment can be prevented

or cured, according to the World Health Organization, and in 2011 Mercy

Ships eye surgeons gave the gift of sight to over 1,300 individuals in Sierra

Leone, one of the poorest countries in the world. The Mercy Vision Eye Care

Team also performed more than 7,500 eye evaluations and distributed 2,400

pairs of reading glasses. With approximately 90% of all visually impaired

people living in developing nations, the medical services provided by Mercy

Ships in West Africa are focused on the areas of greatest need.

Sidiatu was one of many young children who were brought to the Mercy Ships

eye screening clinic. Sidiatu’s mother, Fatmata, had taken her sixteen-month-old

daughter, who suffered from congenital cataracts, to two hospitals in Freetown

with no success in finding treatment. After surgery, Fatmata was moved to tears

when she saw her daughter take her very first look at the world.

The above story gives an insight into the important work done by Mercy Ships, and

I trust you will respond as a congregation with your customary generosity in

supporting them. If you have access to the Internet you can learn more about the

work of Mercy Ships by visiting their website: www.mercyships.org.uk or by typing

“Mercy Ships” into any search engine.

Stephen Buckley

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DIARY DATES: APRIL Sunday and weekday services at All Saints’, St Andrew’s and The Straits Community Church

are advertised on page 2 of this magazine. Any alteration to this pattern is shown below. Holy

Week services are shown on page 6.

All Saints’

Tues 3 Apr 2.30 pm MU meets in the church hall

Tues 10 Apr 2.30 pm Study Group meets in the social club

“ 7.30 pm Baptism meeting in the social club

Thu 12 Apr 12.00 noon Wedding

Sat 14 Apr 9.30 am Wedding Preparation in church

“ 1.00 pm Wedding

Mon 16 Apr 7.45 pm Men’s Society meets in the social club

“ 7.30 pm Licensing of the Revd Steve Martin at Brierley Hill

Tues 17 Apr 7.30 pm MU meets in church

Sat 21 Apr 12.00 noon Wedding

Mon 23 Apr 7.30 pm Housegroup meet s at 9a Turls Hill Rd

Tues 24 Apr 2.30 pm Study Group meets in the social club

Sat 28 Apr 3.00 pm Wedding

Sun 29 Apr 9.30 am Team Service at St Andrew’s

St Andrew’s

Tues 24 Apr 1.45 am Study Group meets in the church hall

‘Little Angels’ Mums & Toddlers meets in the hall each Monday at 9.30 am in

term time.

St Andrew’s ‘Silver Threads’ (over 60s) meet each Wednesday from 10.30 am to

12.30 pm in the church hall.

Diocesan, Deanery & Parish Events

Mon 16 Apr 7.30 pm Licensing of the Revd Steve Martin at Brierley Hill

Sun 29 Apr 11.00 am APCM at St Andrew’s

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