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Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed Lymington United Reformed

Church Church Church Church

MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH 2012201220122012

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FROM OUR MINISTER Dear friends, It continues to be good to get to know more of you, both at our church events (services, Open Door, coffee mornings etc.) and as I make some progress visiting you in your homes. Please be patient with me and eventually I hope to visit virtually all of you. By the time you read this you may well be aware that I am turning the tables slightly and inviting as many of you as would like to visit me in the manse for an “At Home”. I am combining a house warming and birthday celebration during the afternoon of Saturday 3

rd March and would love to see you then. It will be open house

from 2pm to 6pm and you will be welcome at any time but to avoid congestion would prefer Lymington folk to come between 3.30pm and 5.00pm. The house is virtually straight now so I am turning my attention to the garden, which I hope to make more colourful and productive. If any of you have spare plants, or plants that you would be willing to split, please be in touch as I can probably find a home for a good number of offerings. Another way in which I have been getting to know more about the inner workings of the church has been at Church Meeting and I would like to mention two matters from the January gathering. Firstly we advertised our interest in running a “Cards for Good Causes” Christmas shop for at least six weeks from mid-October and our need for someone who could manage this for us. It is an organisation which arranges for voluntary outlets through the country to sell Christmas cards from many charities and would bring in 10% of sales made to the church. The idea is that the shop would run, probably at the back of the church, from 10am to 2pm each day for at least six weeks. We would need volunteers to staff it (could possibly be linked in part to the Open Door café) but

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most importantly we need someone who would take on the overall management. It would bring in a wider group of visitors to the church, which fits perfectly with our Open Door vision but before we go ahead we need to know that we have an organiser. The website is www.cardsforcharity.co.uk and if you might be interested please speak to me as soon as possible. Secondly I am delighted that Church Meeting agreed to support as its overseas charity the Romans One Eleven Trust and in particular to establish a link with Osborne Nursery and Primary School, Nkondo, Uganda. This will be for an initial period of four years. I am writing more about this project elsewhere in the magazine and a display will be going up in the Open Door Café, so please take the opportunity to find out more about this exciting link. As time goes by I hope that more of you from the congregation will consider becoming church members. The elders and I will be organising an event later in the year where you can get to know more about the United Reformed church in general and Lymington URC in particular but if, in the interim, any of you would like to talk more about church membership and what it entails, do please speak to me. My contact details are on the back page of the magazine and I am always happy to hear from you.

Your friend and minister,

Chris

SECRETARY'S NOTES MARCH 2012 Thank you to the folk who came along to the United Service at St. Thomas' in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 22nd January. It was an amazing experience and wonderful to see everyone from most of the Churches in Lymington and Pennington worshipping together. There were about 450 people and the queue to get in, at

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about 10.25 a.m., stretched right round the Church. It was an uplifting service and we all let rip as we sang the hymns and worship songs to the accompaniment of the organ (with all the stops out!) drums, guitars, keyboard and two young ladies leading the singing. It's a wonder the roof is still on!! Definitely something to do again!! At our January Church Meeting, the decision was made to stop supporting the Good News Children's Home in Mombasa. We have lost contact with them these last couple of years and feel it's time to move on. We will send them a final donation and wish them well. We decided to support a charity which is very close to our Minister's heart - The Romans One Eleven Trust and in particular Osborne Primary School and their head-teacher, Julius. We can begin by devoting half the Tuesday Coffee Morning takings to them and one or two fund-raising events. You can read more about the Trust in the magazine. We will be in the season of Lent when you receive this magazine and there are details of a Lent Course. Over the last few years the numbers of people attending the Lent Lunches and Services on Thursdays and people involved in the Lent House Groups has fallen considerably and the Churches Together Council decided to try something different. There will be a series of evening meetings on Thursdays at the Baptist Church (see the flyer in the magazine for times etc.) One of the Church Leaders each week will begin the proceedings with a general introduction to the theme from the course booklet “Handing on the Torch”, then everybody will go into smaller groups to discuss the questions set out in the booklet. At the end of the evening there will be a brief feedback session. The numbers of people wanting to attend should be with Phil Wiseman by the 20th February, but if you'd like to come and haven't signed up, there'll probably be spaces for you. We hope people will take this opportunity to explore various issues together, as we've been able to worship together.

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Our Annual Church Meeting comes round again on 11th. Please would all secretaries of committees and organisers prepare a report for the Meeting? We want to celebrate the past year and also take a look at what the future might hold. We hope for a good attendance. Please make every effort to come!

Sandra

BASICS BANK For a change, it might be interesting for people to know a little bit more about some of the volunteers. At the Basics Bank on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday there are people from five denominations, representing eight churches in Lymington, Pennington, Brockenhurst. We also have Gordon who has been doing a brilliant job on Fridays for well over a year. He came to us from The Hollies in New Milton who encourage their clients to get involved in volunteer work in the community. In some ways we are helping him and he is certainly helping us!! There's always a friendly atmosphere when we're all working together. It can be quite busy at times, not to say hectic, and a level of multi-tasking is required, which often leads to banter and laughter. When we do get to sit down for a coffee break, our conversations range far and wide, there have even been deep theological discussions and differences of opinion, but we've never come to blows and everyone stays friendly! There have been celebrations over the last few months. John Collins and Pauline Boullier celebrated their 80th birthdays in December and January; Janet Blizzard was presented with her first grand-daughter, Louisa, in January. Janet's other daughter was married last September and, in February, John was marrying Nikki. All events have been duly celebrated in the Basics Bank.

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Our heartfelt thanks go out to all of them for everything they do to enable us to continue helping people in need in our community.

CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS This month we wish the following young people a very happy birthday: Byron Smith, who will be 7 on the 11th Julia Saqui, who will be 17 on the 16th Matthew Turberville, who will be 10 on the 23rd. We hope you all have a wonderful day!!

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS We're sad to record the death of Don Henderson at Grey Gables on 17th January. We have all been fond of Don over the years and he will be much missed for his sense of fun and his story telling. He became a member of the Church in 1983 and served as an Elder in the late 90's. He loved working with the children and they loved him. He was a great help in Junior Church and at Arts Alive, our after-school club, making marmalade was a special enjoyment for him and the children. He also liked chatting to people as he collected the empties at the Saturday coffee mornings and was one of the first to welcome newcomers on a Sunday and try to make them feel at home. We send our love and prayers to Jenny and the family. We give thanks that Don is now at peace in the eternal presence of our Lord. He'll leave a huge space in the lives of those who love him but there are many joyful memories to hold on to during the sad times. Congratulations to John and Gill Wiseman on becoming a proud Grandpa and Nana with the safe arrival of grandson, James, on

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19th January, weighing in at 8lb. 3oz. Love and best wishes to his mummy and daddy, too. Congratulations, also, to Max and Joyce Keen who are celebrating their Golden Wedding on the 10th March. Well done!!

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. 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. 4th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship including Communion led by Rev'd Chris Vivian 11th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Chris Vivian Followed by BYO lunch and Annual Church Meeting (Elders nomination letters to go out)

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18th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship for Mothering Sunday led by Sandra Jackson 25th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Rev'd. Bill McCrea 6.30 p.m. Solent Mead Service EVERY WEEK there will be Junior Church and coffee/tea after the service.

OTHER EVENTS EVERY FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, New Forest Disability Information Service Outreach Session in the Open Door Café, 10am to 12noon, 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 THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, Cruse Bereavement New Forest outreach in the Open Door Cafe 10am to 12noon. Death is a part of life, and grieving a natural process. 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 help. Thur 1st 7.00 p.m. CTLP Lent Course at the Baptist Church

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Fri. 2nd 2.00 p.m. Women's World Day of Prayer Service at St. Thomas' led by Paula Hayward Speaker: Sue Lee Service prepared by the women of Malaysia: 'Let justice prevail'. Tue. 6th 7.00 p.m. Elders' Meeting Thur. 8th 7.00 p.m. CTLP Lent Course at the Baptist Church Tue. 13th 7.30 p.m. CTLP Council Meeting at St. Thomas' Thur. 15th 7.00 p.m. CTLP Lent Course at the Baptist Church Mon. 19th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in Church led by the Methodists Tue. 20th 2.00 p.m. Quakers meeting in the Open Door Cafe Thur. 22nd 7.00 p.m. CTLP Lent Course at the Baptist Church Thur. 29th 7.00 p.m. CTLP Lent Course at the Baptist Church

CLOSING DATE FOR APRIL 'OPEN DOOR’: 11th MARCH

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

ROMANS 111 The Romans One Eleven Trust (R111 for short!) is a small Christian charity operating primarily within the United Reformed Church in the UK and with sister denominations in Africa, currently mainly in Uganda and Zambia. It was founded 20 years ago by my

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good friend Rev. Dr. John Hall (who preached at my induction) and his wife Gwen, who are supported by 5 trustees. I have been its bookkeeper for the last 5 years: it has an annual turnover of up to about £100,000 and all money given for Africa is sent there. I also act as its child sponsorship co-ordinator and my four visits to Uganda have all been with R111. The Trust takes its name from Romans chapter 1, verses 11-12: “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” and its main aim is to provide mutual encouragement for churches in the UK and in African countries. This is achieved in various ways: By visits - small teams visit Uganda, Zambia and, about to happen in March, Congo to encourage churches, schools, orphanages and individuals. Visits are also facilitated by Ugandan and Zambian pastors to the UK to teach, preach and visit churches, schools etc By training – the Trust has helped to train Ugandan pastors who otherwise have no theological training. A pilot course written by John Hall has now been translated into 2 Ugandan languages Three Spiritual Life Centres have been built where these courses are delivered, and one school in the west doubles up to be used for training purposes in the school holidays By sponsorship - About 150 children, mainly orphans because of AIDs or violence from the Lord’s Resistance Army, are sponsored in 4 parts of the country by individuals or churches in the UK. In addition about 10 pastors, who would otherwise rely completely on subsistence farming (they receive no stipend from the church), are sponsored By school links – Four UK schools have links with Ugandan schools: they engage in fundraising and they exchange letters with the pupils (who are taught in English). Osborne Middle School, East Cowes (where I worked) supported

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Julius Bigirwenkya in his work of developing a school in the Ugandan bush but this ceased when the Isle of Wight Council closed all middle schools last summer. Julius also pastors a growing church and has started a small school for the children of his congregation, as otherwise they would have no education. He is also a trained secondary school teacher and a subsistence farmer as he struggles to raise funds for his vision of improving the lives of children in his care, which he does because he wants their lives to be better than his was while he grew up with a polygamist father. It is Julius and his work that Lymington URC Church Meeting agreed in January to support for an initial period of four years. I first met Julius on my first visit to Uganda in 2006 when I was helping John Hall with the theological training course and Julius was one of the student pastors. I have since visited his school and church on each of the further three visits I have made to Uganda and am immensely impressed by his vision, his integrity and his pastoral care. His ultimate aim is not to need international support but I judge that it will be a long time before he achieves that aim, which is why it is so good that we will be able to continue at least some of the support which Osborne Middle School offered. In future magazines and in events which I hope to host at church I will explain more of the journey which has brought Julius and his schools to the point they are at today but for now let it suffice to say that his “main” school was renamed Osborne Nursery and Primary School, Nkondo in honour of the help which Osborne Middle School gave, Nkondo being the name of the village where it is situated, about 40 kilometres into the bush along mud (marram) roads. I will leave you with a few photographs, to give you a taste of the schools and the area, and look forward to leading you forward as we begin this very valuable link with Julius and his ministry. There will also be a colour display going up in the Open Door Café.

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Osborne school site

School notice board and new uniform

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Entertainment for me in October 2011

The Year 7 class

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School kitchen

School water supply

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Julius at his church school

Julius and his fiancée Gloria with their part-built house

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DOES THE “GREAT EJECTION” MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU? A tiny notice in November’s Reform magazine caught our eyes. An ecumenical Anglican/URC service would be held on Feb 7

th in

Westminster Abbey. Apply for tickets. They came and in the dark with the snow in evidence on the grass, we approached through the North Door. The large Rose window had already delighted us, but light and colour greeted us inside – lofty arches of the building, the linen drapes in the chancel and the clothes the welcomers wore. We crossed the transept, looking up at the high altar, and over to the choir before taking our seats among other URC members, rec-ognising a few faces. The roots of this event lay in the mid-seventeenth century. Briefly this was a service of reconciliation, healing and mutual commit-ment, between the Anglican Church and the URC on the 350

th an-

niversary of the Great Ejection in 1662 and the formation of the URC 40 years ago. After the Commonwealth and Cromwell, King and Parliament had been restored, the Act of Uniformity passed, and all Dissenters unwilling to conform had been ejected from their livings (about one fifth of the clergy). Over the years a King and an Archbishop had been martyred; many ministers removed from their livings, first Anglicans then Dissenters, with their families. These Dissenters in time became the Presbyterian, Congrega-tional, Baptist and other non-conforming, reformed congregations and within a century had become denominations themselves. The service was to recognise the hurt, express penitence and seek reconciliation and healing to move forward towards greater unity as our Lord commanded. The scholarly address from the Archbishop of Canterbury was

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memorable (look up his website or the URC one to listen to the full 15 minutes). He acknowledged the major contribution of Richard Baxter, an 17

th century reconciling scholar honoured by both tradi-

tions; the service beginning with readings from his works “we must also be very studious of union and communion among ourselves R.. for the good of particular members of our flock and the further enlargement of the kingdom of Christ”. Reference was made to hymn writers and theologians of later cen-turies which next day sent us scuttling to our hymnbooks and Google to discover more of our heritage. The sermon text was Ephesians 4 vv1 –16, focussing on ”until all of us come to the unity of the faith R..to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of God”. Speakers from two united CoE/URC churches, in Liverpool and Cambridge, told us of their outreach. One is both URC minister and vicar. A memorable service honoured by the presence of both Archbish-ops: colour, grandeur, space, yet within all that great warmth, ap-preciation and friendliness. Interesting to note how many more women URC ministers spoke than Anglican priests, whose Synod had that day been discussing arrangements for women bishops. We came home with the determination to learn more of the history of our denomination (United Reformed Church Wikipedia is a good start), so with better understanding of where we’ve come from, we can move on together towards that maturity. A prayer of recommitment: We thank you for the traditions of prayer and learning, of worship, ministry and daily life, that we inhabit and which you bless. Give us grace to learn of you from one another and the generosity to share and receive our distinctive gifts, that we may know both your con-stancy and your originality and discern together the shape of faith-ful discipleship.

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Response: God, who travels with us, help us to journey to-gether. Apologies to those with no computers – these things are in print too.

Christine Luxon

MOTHER'S DAY

It's the stuff we don't say. The pauses.

The squeeze of the arm. The small hand finding the big one.

The half-hug.

Not many of us say 'it' to our Mums. We dutifully phone them every week.

We remember their birthdays. We care about them - but we don't actually tell them.

It's just something of a given. A glue that holds the world together.

But today is the day we come out with it. We tell our Mum how good she is.

We say 'I love you' without putting on a comedy accent.

It's the day of crinkly petrol station flowers, and last minute phone calls.

Homemade cards, chocolates and luke-warm tea from six year olds. It's the day we tell her that we care.

That we know how much she's done for us.

And that she can finish our sentences — just this once.

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But when all this is over. When the Sunday becomes the Monday.

When the carnations droop and only coffee creams remain. Our Mums will still be there. Waiting. Listening. Helping.

With the hands that hold it all together.

Shouldn't every day be Mother's Day?

From June Copperi

THANKS FROM JENNY My thanks to you all for your support, kindness and care to me since Don’s death. It was good to see so many at his Thanksgiving service which was so beautifully conducted by our Minister, Chris. Special thanks to Bob for playing the organ, to Gerry and Margaret for the sound, to Janet for the lovely flowers, to June for the won-derful tea and to Tony Clark who was able to make me a C.D re-cording. My family joins me in thanking you all.

MISSIONARY BOXES

Can you please bring your missionary boxes to church for Judith or Gill, by the end of February—it’s time for them to be emptied again!

Many thanks, Judith

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COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS – WITH CHRISTIAN AID Christian Aid have suggested we should all ‘Count our Blessings’ in various ways during Lent. Perhaps you would like to consider some of the following when you make your annual donation to Christian Aid week in May. 22-26 February Give 10p for every newspaper you have chosen to read this week Give 20p if you can see a tree from your window Give 50p if you have benefitted from a tax-funded service in the last year 27 Feb – 4 March Give 50p for every hour on the internet this week Give 50p if you have always lived in a property with running water Give 10p for every light in your home Give 10p for every doctor at your surgery 5 – 11 March Give 20p if you are not currently with a green energy supplier Pray for those who live with the effects of climate change Give 10p for every item you could not live without Give 50p if you have accepted a plastic bag in a shop this week Give 50p for every flight you have taken in the last 12 months 12 – 18 March Give 50p if your local hospital has a maternity ward Give thanks for the opportunities you have had to earn a living Give 5p for all the women in your family who went to secondary school Give 20p for every child you are related to

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Give thanks for mothers throughout the world 19 – 25 March Give 5p for every year in education you have had Give £1 if you have not been ill in the last month Give 5p for every immunisation you have had in the last 5 years Give 5p for every glass of water you have drunk today Give thanks for young people throughout the world 26 March – 1 April Give thanks for our government and police who look after us Give 20p for every house move you have chosen to make Pray for people living in conflict Give 20p if you have a passport and 10p for every trip out of Britain in the last 12 months 2 – 8 April Give 50p if your salary or pension is above 80p per day Give 20p if you started work over 16 years of age Give £1 if you are employed Give 10p for any fruit or veg bought not grown in Britain Give thanks for the generosity that has been shown and the work that has been accomplished through Christian Aid. .. and finally – please put Saturday 19

th May in your diary for a

supper and talk in aid of Christian Aid. Further details to follow. Many thanks from both Christian Aid and us.

Shelagh and Peter Richardson

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CTLP LENT COURSE 2012 'HANDING ON THE TORCH'

Where? Lymington Baptist Church, New Street, Lymington When ? Thursday evenings through March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th What time? 7.00 p.m. for coffee/tea 7.15 p.m. - 8.45 p.m.: a general introduction to the theme followed by group discussions and concluding with a brief feedback session Cost? £5 to cover the price of the booklet, essential for the Course

CHURCH MEETING 15 JANUARY 2012 The meeting agreed that we should change our financial support from the Good News Children's Home in Mombasa to the Romans 1.11 Trust. More specifically, the monies will be sent to support the Osborne Nursery and Primary School in the village of Nkondo in Uganda. However it was also agreed that a final payment of £250 should be made to the Good News Children's Home.

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OPEN DOOR FELLOWSHIP AND FUNDRAISING

Forthcoming events:

The Fellowship and Fundraising Committee had a rest in

the early part of the New Year, but has now come up

with a programme of events which we hope will receive

your usual enthusiastic support:

• Virtual skittles evening 31st March

(with Fish and Chips)

• Table sale in forecourt 21st April

• Strawberry Tea at Jane Saqui’s 25th May

• Beach BBQ 16th June, chez Ann Webber

• Moore Blatch garden party 15th July

• BBQ at Cathy’s 5th August

• Cream teas Fridays throughout August

• Anniversary Lunch 21st October with guest

speaker.

• Christmas tree festival, week commencing 5th De-

cember.

All the later events may be subject to change so

watch this space!

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

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ROTAS FOR MARCH COMMUNION SUNDAY: 4th COMMUNION ELDERS: Mary Ann and Catherine DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 4th Mary Ann Jardine Glenys Bradshaw 11th Jenny Henderson John Wiseman 18th David Bywater Jack Gordon 25th Catherine Bowell Wyn Davies STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM 4th Mike and Norma Bell PR 11th Steve Turberville and Liz Griffiths WD 18th David and Ann Hooper MS 25th Peter and Jill Haslett MC COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday

3rd Judith Baker 4th Kate Noon 10th June Copperi 11th Ann Longney 17th Ann Webber 18th Ann Webber 24th Mary Ann Jardine 25th June Copperi 31st Judith Baker

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

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