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Lymington United Lymington United Lymington United Lymington United Reformed Church Reformed Church Reformed Church Reformed Church

OCTOBER 2012OCTOBER 2012OCTOBER 2012OCTOBER 2012

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FROM OUR MINISTER

Dear friends, As I write this I am enjoying a return to sunny summer days but am aware that autumn is only just around the corner. It is a busy time and no less so for our church calendar. I look forward to sharing with you in well-established activities, as well as some new initiatives that we are considering. The first major event of the autumn is our Harvest Festival, being celebrated on the day that many of you will receive this magazine. This year it is being combined with Back to Church Sunday, a national event support by the URC, which does exactly as its name suggests and encourages people to return to church. I hope that our visitors on that day will have received a warm welcome and will have enjoyed the familiar harvest hymns, readings and the sights and smells of our harvest display. As a sign of our thanksgiving people have been invited to bring non-perishable items for the Basics Bank or monetary donations for our link school, Osborne Nursery and Primary School in Nkondo, Uganda. I have written in previous magazines about how the director Julius was enabled to buy this partly-built school after overcoming great difficulties to carry on with the vision God has given him to provide a good education to local children. He then set about establishing a plan to upgrade and extend the buildings, so that the site can be more fit for purpose. When I visited in October 2011 he had made a start by upgrading the kitchen and the latrines.

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Old kitchen New kitchen A great need, however, is to provide a boarding section for the school. Children in Uganda often walk many kilometres to and from school, often barefoot on murram (basically hardened mud and rock) roads and this is also the case for pupils at Julius’s school. There are others whose parents would like them to attend because of the school’s good reputation, but it is simply too far away. A boarding section on site, a common

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concept in Uganda, would overcome this difficulty and provide more income for the school (Julius has a long-term aim of becoming independent of overseas aid) but because of inflation in Uganda this will cost about £5000. Some bricks, which are made locally, are already available and a very generous donation to the Romans One Eleven Trust means that almost half of the money needed has been raised. Any funds given from our harvest appeal will go towards this project and will enable Julius to move closer to his goal of completing a boarding section on site. If you missed our Harvest service but would still like to give, it is not too late. Non-perishable items for the Basics Bank can be left in the box in the Open Door Café and monetary gifts for Uganda can be placed in a Romans 111 Trust Gift Aid envelope (in the Open Door Café) if you are a tax payer or in your own envelope marked “Harvest” if you are not. In the meantime I look forward to sharing with you in our varied programme of worship, fellowship and outreach through these autumn months.

God bless, Chris

SECRETARY'S NOTES OCTOBER 2012 It looks to be a busy month with lots of opportunities for fellowship, not only with other Christians, but also with other faiths. We start on the 7th when our worship will be a joint service with our Methodist friends. It will be good for us all to be together once again. It will be a great pleasure to receive at least 2 new members at the service, Colin and Sheila Urquhart.

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The URC is 40 years old at the beginning of the month but we also want to celebrate our own anniversary. We can do both by coming to our special lunch following the service on the 21st. I've had the privilege of hearing our guest speaker and he is excellent! So, please sign up as soon as you can to give Judith and the team an idea of numbers. Some of us will be risking indigestion as we dash down to the Hospital for the Hospital Sunday Service at 3 p.m. Again, a chance to hear a very good speaker who has worked in a field where many of us wouldn't have the courage to serve. Please come if you can and meet up with the other Churches in our Churches Together as well as some patients and staff. During the following week, the Quakers have booked the Forgiveness Exhibition. We hosted it about 8 years ago when it went under the title of The F-Word Exhibition which caused a bit of consternation, but it is a fascinating, moving display featuring people who have been through traumatic times at the hands of other people, yet they have come to the point where they have been able to forgive those who've caused them suffering. It is well worth seeing! It will be in the Hospital foyer. On the last Sunday afternoon the Quakers are arranging another interfaith gathering in Outpatients. An informal time where we can get to know people of other faiths and they can get to know a bit about us. Getting to know each other can help us to understand each other and, hopefully, dispel the ignorance that causes us to be unfriendly towards each other. Hope to see you at these events.

Sandra

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BASICS BANK When you read this we'll be in the middle of receiving all the Harvest Festival donations and trying to find places to stack it all. It's all good fun if you don't weaken!! Huge thanks to all the volunteers who will be in the Basics Bank surrounded by tins and packets and to those volunteer drivers who'll be called out to collect goods from schools etc.. We greatly appreciate all your time and effort. Some schools bring their own donations and the children who come with them are delightful. They enjoy the time off school...of course....but they also show great interest in looking round the Basics Bank. It's good to chat with them and help them to realise that some children and their parents do not have enough to eat. Our one frustration at this time is that we receive a lot of out-of-date goods, sometimes years out of date. We cannot use them and someone has the job of disposing of them. It really isn't fair that people clear out their cupboards. Some goods, too, are totally inappropriate.....cherries in cointreau rings a bell and all sorts of strange sauces, oils etc. Please don't. Please send us good, basic, ordinary tinned, packet and dried food...everyday things....that will feed single people and families. Some have very limited cooking facilities and are not into cordon bleu cookery. Others are rough sleeping and cannot cook anything. Small tins with ring pulls are ideal for them. We are grateful to those who support the Basics Bank. If you are new to our Church and don't know much about the work of the Basics Bank, please pop round and see us on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday morning. We're the wooden hut behind the hall. We'd be delighted to give you a conducted tour.

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CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS We wish a very happy birthday to Hazel Rose who will be 14 on the 29th. We hope you have an excellent day!

CHURCH INFORMATION UPDATED: Helena's 2012 holiday dates; • Bank Holidays

• Tuesday 30th October to Friday 2nd November inclusive and

• Monday 12th November.

LYMINGTON URC DIARY

EVERY WEDNESDAY the Prayer Group will meet in the Church from 9.15 a.m. until 10.00 a.m. Everyone welcome.

COFFEE MORNINGS: EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, in the Open Door Café. Every Tuesday the Open Door Cafe proceeds support the Romans One Eleven Trust and local charities and groups. The Open Door Cafe will also open on Fridays and will be staffed by members of the Fellowship and Fundraising committee. EVERY SATURDAY, from 9.30 a.m.—11.30 a.m., in the hall.

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SUNDAY WORSHIP EVERY 2nd, 4th and 5th Sunday afternoons Lymington Salvation Army services. The 2nd Sunday will be a service in the Sanctuary and the 4th will be a Cafe service. 7th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship including Communion and Reception of Members Joint Service with the Methodists led by Rev’d Chris Vivian with Rev’d Keith Beckingham 14th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Mrs. Brenda McCarron of Iford URC

21st: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev’d Chris Vivian followed by our Anniversary Lunch. Guest Speaker: Mr. Alistair Reid, Headmaster of Ballard School 3.00 p.m. Hospital Sunday Service in the Outpatients Dept. of Lymington Hospital A guest speaker from Médecins Sans Frontières 28th: 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry

10.30 a.m. Worship led by Sandra Jackson 3.00 p.m. Interfaith Gathering organised by the Quakers in the Outpatients Dept. of Lymington Hospital EVERY WEEK there will be Junior Church and coffee/tea after the service.

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OTHER EVENTS EVERY FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, New Forest Disability Information Service Outreach Session in the Open Door Café, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, with Jean Reece (not on Bank Holidays though).

EVERY THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, Carers’ Café in the Open Door Café.

EVERY 2ND SATURDAY ON A BI-MONTHLY BASIS, (started on the 22/09/12) Cruse Bereavement New Forest will have an Information Table in the Open Door Cafe 9.30am to 11.30am. Cruse is committed to breaking the stigma around grief and ensuring that everyone, no matter how old or young can access the highest quality support following a bereavement. Trained Cruse Bereavement volunteers will be on hand in the Open Door Cafe to offer information, help and advice.

The Forgiveness Exhibition will be on display in the foyer all week.

Tue 2nd 7.00 p.m. Elders' Meeting Fri 12th 12 noon Basics Bank Committee Meeting in the Basics Bank Sat 13th 2.00 p.m. Meeting with Rev. Peter Southcombe about evangelism, in the hall Mon 15th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in the hall led by the Methodists Tue 16th 7.00 p.m. Extra Elders' Meeting

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Tue 30th 7.00 p.m. Pastoral Visitors Meeting in the Open Door Café— please note time of meeting.

CLOSING DATE FOR NOVEMBER 'OPEN DOOR’: 14th

OCTOBER

Free Wi Fi connection to the internet available in the Open Door Cafe, Balcony and Main Hall areas. Just ask for the required password!

NEW SHOP OPENING DATE!! CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES (CFGC) SHOP -

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012.

Our Cards for Good Causes shop is looking for volunteers.................if someone could spare some time please let me know. The shop OPENING DATE HAS BEEN AMENDED BUT THE TIMES REMAIN UNCHANGED as follows; Set up/Stock delivery: Wed 7th & Thurs 8th November. Now opens: FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER and continues to Saturday 15/12/12 (inclusive). Days: Monday to Saturday. Times: 10am to 4pm (subject to volunteers) split as 10am to 1pm & 1pm to 4pm if possible. Many thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from some willing hands!!

Helena.

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CHURCH FAMILY NEWS Congratulations to our young people - Nicholas, Julia and Esther - on doing so well in your exams. We're proud of you! All good wishes to Nicholas as he goes off to Loughborough University. We wish you all well! We'll be delighted to welcome Colin and Sheila Urquhart into membership at our October Communion Service. They'll be transferring their membership from Milford Baptist Church and we are so pleased to have them join us.

BIBLE HEADLINES

On your marks: We live in the age of the sound bite and the eye-catching headline, offering us short, snappy pieces of clever wordplay that sum up a news story, a company's ethos or a firm's product. Have you ever wondered what some famous Bible stories might sound like reduced to such headlines or sound bites? This icebreaker puzzle of 'Bible Bites' is a guessing game based on characters and stories from the Old Testament and could be used to kick off a Bible-based event with the children and adults at your church. Get set: You will need to enlarge the Bible Bites below onto A4 or A3 card and then put them up around the room. Groups could work as teams with the pen and paper within a pre-arranged time to identify each hidden Bible character or story. Some may be a little obscure (and strained?) but hopefully fun, others are very obvious!

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Go! Explain the idea of the sound bite or catchy headline using some topical examples from the news or successful advertising. Can the groups work out which Old Testament Bible story or character the following refer to? 1. A seven-day wonder 2. The designer's ten-plates 3. Hair today, strong tomorrow 4. Sinai'ed, sea-led and delivered 5. One bite sinks all 6. Mane lion closures 7. Murder he wrote 8. Drop the dud, donkey 9. A dream come true 10. Walls, I scream at 11. Having a whale of a time! 12. Keep taking the tablets 13. We never clothe 14. No smoke with outer fire 15. Company afloat after liquidation A simpler approach to the same game is to have two or more sets of questions and answers copied and given to the teams to pair up correctly. Include a few false answers to confuse and test them!

Why not have a tie-breaker up your sleeve to occupy those teams that finish quickly - for example, can they think up some relevant New Testament sound bites about the life of the apostle Peter? The answers are on page 19. Downloaded from Barnabas in Churches ©BRF 2011.

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ROTAS FOR OCTOBER COMMUNION SUNDAY: 7th October COMMUNION ELDERS: David and John, plus 2 Methodists DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 7th: Gerry Copperi Jenny Henderson 14th: Sandra Jackson Norman Eason 21st: Margaret Clark Elizabeth Eason 28th: Jenny Henderson Maureen Kerr STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM 7th: Ron Parker and Gill Wiseman GC 14th: Janice Perkins and Jenny Henderson PR/DB 21st: Peter and Shelagh Richardson WD/MC 28th: Ann Longney and Kate Noon DB COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday 6th: Ann Webber 7th: Jenny Henderson 13th: Mary Ann Jardine 14th: Ann Hooper 20th: Judith Baker 21st: Kate Noon 27th: Salvation Army 28th: Ann Longney

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Christmas Tree Festival 2012

5th – 9

th December

Our church is hosting the Christmas Tree Festival this year and we are hoping for a successful festival culminating in a Carol Service with the Salvation Army on Sunday 9th Decem-ber at 3pm. A number of charities and local organisations are participating and there will be some musical performances going on while the public enjoy the festival of Christmas trees. Hosting the festival will mean that Lymington United Re-formed Church will be providing refreshments and stewarding as well as setting out the trees in the sanctuary. Volunteers are needed throughout the festival and on Monday 3rd December and Tuesday 4

th December for setting up.

If you can help, even for a couple of hours please let us know: Margaret Clark – 01590 610630 (for refreshments) Peter or Shelagh Richardson – 01590 676645 (for stewarding or setting up) Many thanks in anticipation of a positive response. MORE INFORMATION IN NEXT MONTH’S OPEN DOOR

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Compassion presents...

An Evening with Kendrick and Campolo

St Pauls Church Centre, Salisbury

19th October 2012 @ 19:30 Doors open at 19:00

In 2012 Compassion, once again invite you to join author and speaker Tony Campolo and singer/songwriter Graham Kendrick as they share their passion for social justice. This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the UK’s fore-most worship leaders in concert and hear from one of the most inspiring Christian speakers of our time. The evening will be sure to leave you entertained, challenged and changed. Tickets can be purchased on the door when they can no longer be bought online (subject to availability)

http://www.christiantickets.co.uk/kendrick-and-campolo-tour/salisbury-19-10-2012.php

Join Graham Kendrick and Tony Campolo as they come to Salisbury on Friday 19th October 2012. Tickets are just £10 inclusive of booking fees. Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start.

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Here are the answers to page 13:

1. Creation

2. The 10 Commandments

3. Samson's story

4. The Exodus story (in reverse!)

5. The Fall from Genesis 3

6. Daniel in the lion's den

7. The story of Cain and Abel

8. The story of Balaam and his ass

9. Joseph's story

10. Joshua and the walls of Jericho

11. Jonah's Story

12. The 10 Commandments (again!)

13. Adam and Eve in the Garden of

Eden

14. Moses and the burning bush

15. Noah and the Ark

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Garth Hewitt’s “Justice Like a River” tour is

coming to Christchurch.

Garth will be at High Cross Church in Somerford on Wednesday 17

th October 2012 at 7.30 pm as one of his

tour venues in the autumn.

Tickets for the evening, priced at £5, are available from the minister, Rev Mark Meatcher by calling 01425 274734 or

by e-mail at mark.meatcher@sky.com

The Justice Like a River tour aims to reflect in song the movement we should be - living out the way of Jesus -

peacemakers in action, building a community that makes a difference

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OPEN DOOR FELLOWSHIP AND FUNDRAISING

Forthcoming events:

The Fellowship and Fundraising Committee has a pro-

gramme of events which we hope will receive your usual

enthusiastic support:

• Anniversary Lunch 21st October with guest

speaker, Mr Alastair Reid, Headmaster of Ballard

School.

• Tea and Talk, Julia Saqui, 26th October (tbc)

• Saturday stalls throughout November.

• Christmas tree festival, week commencing

5th December.

Note: We are hoping to empty the cottage with our

table sale so we don’t hold up the renovation.

PLEASE NOTE: This magazine is printed on paper from renewable sources out of our concern for the environment.

CONTACT DETAILS

Minister: Rev’d Chris Vivian. Tel 01590 675633 e-mail: chrisvivian@btinternet.com Church Secretary: Sandra Jackson. Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: secretaryurclym@btinternet.com Magazine Editor: Wyn Davies. Tel 01425 616384 e-mail: WynBDavies@sky.com Church web site: http://www.lymurc.org.uk/ Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: adminurclym@btinternet.com Other web sites that list the church: http://www.joinmychurch.com http://www.findachurch.co.uk

http://www.searchchurch.co.uk Centre Manager: Helena Carr. Tel 01590 676306 On site Monday-Friday 8.30am to 2pm. If the main hall doors are locked during these times there is a door bell located at the rear main hall fire exit door Basics Bank web site: http://www.basicsbank.org.uk/ Tel 01590 610008 e-mail: info@lymurc.org.uk