Church Magazine - 2010 November

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

            As I write this, it is a crisp Autumnal day.  It seems right for me to be writing about November.  November over here for me reveals one of the sharpest contrasts between the country of my birth and this country.  In the USA we have no "Guy Fawkes Day".  We set off fireworks on a warm late evening in July, rather than a bitter cold evening in November.  We celebrate Memorial Day in May to remember those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom rather than in November.  Instead of our Harvest celebration being in September, I grew up with "Thanksgiving Day" on the fourth Thursday in the month.  So for me growing up, November was all about Thanksgiving.  The American Football Games and the televised New York City's Macy's Parade were the events that we looked forward to as a part of our celebration.  At the end of the Parade, Santa Claus would ride through the streets of New York and we children knew Christmas was not far away.

            I spent a lot of Thanksgivings at my sister Betty's house with her family.  Betty's house was a haven of love, warmth and fantastic smells that still warm my heart to this very day.  Sadly, I lost my sister Betty to cancer before we moved over to the UK.  Her eldest daughter tried to hold the family together, but was unable to keep all the strands together as tightly as her mother had.  Some years before that my mother passed away and these trips to Betty's house seemed to cocoon us in the joys of previous years.  A few years after we moved to the UK, my sister Loretta passed away, which left my eldest sister Norma Jean and I as my mother's only remaining Children.  All my family are busy keeping their families together, which I am sure is a full time job.  Betty's children and grandchildren get together regularly and have started their own traditions, as have Norma Jean's children and grandchildren.  Loretta's two children live apart, but have their own traditions built up, I have no doubt, from the root of the same tree we all share: those happy, warm, and joyful celebrations of years past.

            At the ex-pat home of the Minister on Southborough Road, we try to keep the memory alive as well as make some new traditions.  We have a meal of Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pumpkin pies.  It is almost like being a kid again.  But for all of the trappings of the day and all the memories, one thing remains. Thanksgiving is a time to "give thanks". I know, the clue is in the name, but sometimes we can forget the joy and the peace that is found in giving thanks.  And if I am honest, I have a lot to be thankful for, not just in the past but in the present.  I need to spend more time counting my blessings, and not just store them up for one day in late November.

            You will see on other pages of this newsletter all of the very special worship services coming up in November, and I encourage you to come to all of them. (You can also see the special services by going to our website at www.christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk) I hope that when we come together for worship we will join together in thanksgiving to God.  I look forward to seeing you in worship.

In thanksgiving joy

Revd John

WORSHIP DURING NOVEMBER

In our prayers, let us remember our minister, the Rev’d john Cox, as he prepares and leads us in worship during this month of November.  Pray also for Christine Hodds who will be taking a lead role at our parade and Gift Service on Sunday, 21^st.  Pray also for Helen Poulter, David Pennicott and Peter Watchorn who continue to serve many of our churches in and around Chelmsford as worship leaders and preachers.

Sunday, November 7^th:  Super Sunday Club will meet at 10.15 am.  We will gather for morning Communion and an evening ‘All Saints’ service when we remember those of our church family and our loved ones who have died during the previous 12 months.  Please advise John, our minister, or me of those names you wish to have recorded.

Sunday, November 14^th:  Remembrance Sunday

Sunday, November 21^st:  This our annual Gift Service and parade and to this service we are invited to bring the remaining boxes for the ‘Shoe Box Appeal’, gifts of toys for ‘Homestart’ and gifts of children’s books for under 11s and other useful gifts for distribution to those who attend the Day Centre for Asylum Seekers in Peckham.  Evening Worship will include the celebration of Holy Communion.

Sunday, November 28^th:  First Sunday in Advent.

Regular weekday events:

					7.30 for 8pm

OUT AND ABOUT IN NOVEMBER

Monday, November 1st

The URC Chelmsford Area partnership (former District) is meeting at Christ Church, 7.00 for 7.30 pm.  This meeting is for all who wish to come.  The business side will be kept to a minimum so that there is sufficient time to share news of the United Reformed Churches nationwide, the Eastern Synod, events planned and what has been happening in local churches.  Please do come if you are free and able.

Wednesdays, November 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th and 24^th

The Keene Lectures: These will be held in Chelmsford Cathedral and will start at 8 pm.  Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection.  The overall theme is ‘Reinventing the Weal’ - Wealth and well-being after the Crunch.

Saturday, November 6^th

·               Christian Aid Autumn Fair at Christ Church (See Page 17 for details)

·               Essex Christian Healing Trust Day Conference – Hutton & Shenfield Union Church 9.30 am – 4 pm led by John Woolmer with the theme – ‘Spiritual Warfare’.

Wednesday, November 10^th

·               Churches Together in Chelmsford Open Meeting at Christ Church at 8pm (tea/coffee from 7.30 pm)  Paul Andrews and Tim Leeson will speak about the work of the YMCA in Chelmsford and Dr. Geoff Clarke will speak about the Essex Christian Healing Trust.  All Welcome

·               Christ Church Coggeshall has, over the course of this year, been celebrating the 300^th anniversary of their church building.  The Rev’d David Cornick, General Secretary of Churches Together in England and former General Secretary of the URC, has been invited to present the Stanley Prentice Memorial Lecture and will speak on ‘Dissenting Witness, Then and Now’.  David is a well-regarded author, his lectures are carefully worded, lyrical in style and demonstrate his great passion for this subject.

Saturday, November 20^th

URC Eastern Synod Retreat – Points of Light.  This retreat will provide a series of biblical reflections leading on to personal quiet space led by Mary Irish and Allen Morton with input from the Clare Priory Community.  The retreat will be held at the Clare priory in Suffolk and there is an opportunity to stay overnight on the 19^th.

Wednesday, December 1^st

Macmillan Cancer Supports – Christmas Carol Concert – Chelmsford Cathedral at 7.30 pm, featuring The Waltham Singers with conductor Andrew Fardell.  Please refer to the poster in the church vestibule.

Arrangements for Christmas Cards

If you wish to use our usual Christmas Card Collecting Service, please note that the posting box will be in the vestibule on 3 Sundays only – 28^th November, 5^th and 12^th December.  We thank Alan Rooke who has again agreed to be our sorting officer, and we are reminded that only cards addressed to members and friends who will be attending church on the Sundays leading up to Christmas can be handled.  Please include the full name of the addressee on the envelope.

John Tyler

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BIRTHDAYS IN NOVEBER

If you would like the date of your birthday to be shared with our Church Family and to be added to those whose names and birthdays are already recorded please advise John Tyler or Gill Stevens.

GOLDEN WEDDING

Ann and Ernie Kench would like to thank all their friends at Christ Church for the many good wishes received on their recent golden wedding anniversary.

Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled

Jill and Andy Loveridge would like to thank all those that supported the coffee morning in aid of Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled.

As a result of this event a cheque for £225 was donated to this worthy cause.

Holiday Club Helpers Party

For the past few years we have been blessed with "teenagers" who have been kind enough to help out at Holiday Clubs.  To thank them, we had a party on Friday 8 October 2010 and it was a good chance to catch up. There were seven "teenagers" present -Michael Archer, Becky Brewer, Julia Fazackerley, Michael Glassock, Alice Green, Chris Griffith and Ellena Johnson- along with Rev John and myself.  (I use the word teenagers loosely as the children's ages varied from 12 to 18).  Ellena, Julia and the two Michaels dazzled on the wii, and Alice tried to coerce others to show off some dance moves.  We ordered pizza (plain cheese and tomato seemed very popular) and settled down to watch Street Dance.  Many snacks and refreshments were provided throughout - for future reference, the group seemed to prefer diet coke, chocolate fingers and Magnum ice cream!  The teenagers staggered out at 8.30 pm, but that was probably due to the over-eating!  When we have all recovered, we may think about having another party around Christmas/New Year for our older young children...                                                 Po Shing

Flat 15, Viking Court

St. Stephen’s Close

Canterbury

Kent CT2 7HZ

Tel. 01227 781510

10^th October 2010

Dear Rev’d Cox and Congregation of Christ Church,

            First of all, we would like to apologise for our slowness in writing to you.  We have had a very difficult and eventful few weeks since mid-August.

            As you may know, my ex-wife decided to move from White Notley to Ashford in Kent and to send our daughter to a new school there.  This meant that we also had to move out of our flat in Chelmsford.  At the end of August we moved most of our belongings to Canterbury where we now live, trying our best to maintain regular contact with my daughter.  Our new address and telephone number appear above.

            We are still getting used to our new life and surroundings, which are full of challenges.  We have to re-learn or discover a lot of things almost every day.  We very much miss the whole community of Christ Church and the children’s group there.  After living in Chelmsford for a considerable length of time, it is hard to be uprooted so suddenly.  But we keep reminding ourselves that it is for Beatrix that we are doing what we are, and keep asking God to help her and us stay close to each other.

            We would like to thank you all for the warmth of Christian love and fellowship we received from you during the years, which we now miss very much.  It was thoroughly good and indeed a real privilege to be members of the Congregation, something which we shall always remember very fondly.

Canterbury is not very far from Chelmsford and we would like to invite you to visit us here.  It would be a great pleasure for us to see you all again.

            We do hope that you all are very well and that we shall soon have an opportunity to meet again.  We ask for God’s blessing for you and the whole Congregation.

With our very best wishes,

Csaba, Zsuzsu and Beatrix La’da

THANKS

I wish to express grateful thanks for prayers and love expressed in cards and flowers I received while in hospital.  I am now well on the way to a good recovery.

Yours in love.

Grace Pennicott.

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CHRIST CHURCH VOLUNTEER'S TRAINING and REFRESHER

If you are serving the church as a volunteer at any time, including at mid-day, there is a training session being arranged with Keith Carpenter.  This will cover the duty you have in the event of a fire in the building and answer any questions you may have about your time spent being available whilst the rooms are being used by outside hirers.

The date is 9th NOVEMBER at 10.00am, meeting in Room 4.

This meeting is for anyone interested in helping as well as those already involved.  Please feel free to come along for a short while and enjoy a cup of coffee afterwards in the Elders vestry.

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Our regular giving

For those of you who have been missing the chart of average weekly giving, month by month, here it is for the first nine months of 2010.  The wiggles may look less dramatic than last year but the story overall is that the total given in the two years is almost the same.  Thank you so much – I know for each of you it is a serious question how much to give, and whether you increase or decrease your giving or leave it the same, it all counts for God’s work.

At Church Meeting on Wednesday 1 December we will be considering the budget for 2011.  We need to find a way of funding the Ministry and Mission commitment of £46,200 while balancing our income to our expenditure.  Please give this your prayerful thought.

Jane Humphreys

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Traidcraft stalls will be at the Christian Aid fair on 6th November, and after the morning service on 14th and 28th November.

Advance notice - last stall before Christmas will be 19th December.  Please let Rachel have your orders in good time.

MARGARET CRAIG (nee McGibney)       29.6.1920 – 9.10. 2010

Born in Longford, Co. Longford, of a farming family, Margaret determined at an early age to become a nurse. She trained at the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin and gained her registered nurse certification in 1944

After moving to Chelmsford in 1953, Margaret took up a post at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital, where she soon became sister of F Ward. After taking additional training Margaret qualified as a Clinical Instructor and Teacher of Pupil Nurses in 1966, all this while bringing up her family of five children (and a dog).

There are many who remember Margaret’s skill and care, both in nursing and teaching, with warmth and affection.

Margaret, although brought up within the Church of Ireland, started to attend the old London Road Congregational Church in 1963 and later became a very active member of Christ Church.

In her time Margaret has been a member of the choir (the love of music has always played a major part in her life), an Elder, served on various committees and, in her later years, delighted in “riding shotgun” on the minibus.

Margaret only ceased to attend the church when Parkinson’s Disease curtailed her activities. Her final years were spent fighting the ravages of that most cruel of diseases.

Many of us will remember Margaret with affection and respect. We remember her courage, determination, her willingness to stand up and be counted, her readiness to help and, above all, her indomitable and frequently irreverent sense of humour. Oh yes, and let’s not forget her Black Forest trifles.

May she rest in peace.

The news of the sudden death of GILLIAN BOBBETT while on holiday in Canada came as a shock.  Gillian was a mathematician at Marconi's before training at New College for Ministry in the Congregational Church.  She became assistant minister to the Revd. A.E. Gould at London Road and then moved on to minister in Plymouth, Swindon, Stockton and finally in Swaledale where she retired.

Gillian worked quietly and hard and had long-held interests in the Guide and Scout movement, and in friendships with those who had physical disabilities, as well as in the church locally and nationally.  She fronted a Pathfinder annual camp at Woodlarks, Farnham for well over 100 campers and helpers for very many years.  She enjoyed walking in the Lake District and in the Yorkshire Dales and interested others in her activities.  Gillian always showed her faith in practical ways and not just in her preaching.  She will be much missed by many colleagues and friends throughout the country and further afield.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her brother and his family and also with the fellowships at Keld and Low Row (Swaledale) where her absence will be most keenly felt.  We thank God for her special place in all the lives of those who knew and loved her and who worked with her.

A memorial service took place in Kendal and a thanksgiving service in Keld late in October.

Sleeping Out or Sleeping Over For CHESS

Winter approaches and CHESS is struggling to fund its winter project.  Last winter they provided 8 extra beds for  “rough-sleepers” from November to March, around 1000 bed-nights, costing about £20 each.  They may not be able to offer as many this year.

There will be a sponsored sleep-out (probably at the Cathedral at the beginning of December) and I shall be digging out a sleeping bag (or two?), cardboard box, plastic bag, cuddly toy, etc.  Will you join me?  Or please sponsor me.

CHESS is also short of people willing to support the staff at the night-shelter by sleeping over.  It is just not as scary as you may imagine.  If you think you could do this please chat to me.

Please pick up a leaflet about CHESS.

Helen Poulter

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We know that many of you are busy filling shoeboxes, which this year will be sent to children as far afield as Haiti.

The local warehouse will open on Wednesday, 10^th November for the sorting, checking and dispatch of the shoeboxes.  We would therefore be grateful if you could bring your filled boxes to Christ Church on, or soon after, 7^th November so that we can deliver them promptly to the warehouse.

With thanks,

Rosemary and Janet

Harvest for the Hungry

Many thanks to everyone who gave goods and/or cash for Harvest for the Hungry this year.  With very welcome contributions from our friends at North Avenue URC we were able to deliver 32 boxes and £132 to the warehouse earlier this month.

The Revd Ann Mackenzie, the H4H Churches Coordinator, has sent us the following message:

“Please can you thank all the members of your congregation who have supported Harvest for the Hungry this year?  It has been a most successful “harvest” with 3,820 boxes of food aid loaded onto two Bulgarian lorries today (19^th October).  Tonnes of food, estimated to be worth £29,000 and £10,000 of cash donations have been made in the six weeks of the project.  In addition to the food aid we have been able to send out 92 sets of fire fighters’ safety uniforms and a good quantity of medical equipment and health supplies.  All of these gifts will be a great help to the people who receive them.

We had an excellent Celebration Service in the Meadows Shopping Centre on Sunday evening (17^th) and three primary school choirs sang the new Harvest for the Hungry song written by Ian Chamberlain.  This song will be recorded on Sunday November 7^th and copies will then be available in time for Christmas.  All proceeds will go to H4H.

Further details and photographs will be on the website soon, please take a look when you can.

God bless you and your fellowship

Ann Mackenzie

Churches Coordinator”

                                    Thanks again,

                                                                        Jean McAslan

KALAMOS 22          Bible readings:            Hebrews 11; 7 and

                                                                        Genesis 6: 5 – 8; 7: 1- 5.

The second of the amazing characters from the Old Testament we are looking at is NOAH.

We need to take special note of two verses:

·         Genesis 6:8 Noah, however, found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

·         Genesis 7:5 And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded             him.

It was by faith that Noah, after being warned about what was not seen, in reverence, started building.  The times in which Noah lived were terrible...Genesis 6: 5 describes the situation that God saw,yet it was Noah who pleased God.

When God made His startling announcement, only Noah believed Him.  It was his faith in what God said that prompted him to prepare the ark. Imagine the ridicule from those who were not on the same wave length to God, knowing nothing of the seeming impossibility of the flood, as they looked on at Noah's building programme that had the fullest of planning permission and construction details.

Reader, you may think this is an old story, and you are right, but it has an up to date message.  The prophecy of Christ concerning what would be happening just before His return are found in Matthew chapter 24, and is fascinating reading when placed against what is happening all around us today.  The people who lived in Noah's day were godless and not willing to hear of what was approaching.  They were, in fact, living for themselves alone...living for this life only.

Our Christian faith believes not only in the many blessings that our God showers on us daily, but also in the warnings that God's word provides. Just have a look at Genesis 6:3.  God has set a time limit to His being patient with mankind.  As Christians in 2010 we need to live our lives waiting for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. [not my words, but those found in Titus 2:13]

Many years ago Daniel W. Whittle wrote this hymn.

Our Lord is now rejected,

and by the world disowned;

by the many still neglected,

and by the few enthroned:

but soon He'll come in glory!

The hour is drawing nigh!

For the crowning day is coming

By and by.

Now a prayer.

Lord Jesus, help us today to live in such a way, that we would not be ashamed in Your presence when You come.  Keep us looking to You as the author and finisher of our faith.                    Amen.

Pilgrim.

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The Booktalk Group

William Hague’s biography of the great anti-slave trade campaigner, William Wilberforce, is the next choice for the Booktalk Group which will be meeting at 128 Vicarage Road on Friday 19th November at 7.30 p.m.

Copies of the book are available from Brian Frost (Phone 609187).

"The match-up of author, subject and timing could hardly be more opportune.... a fascinating, indeed uplifting, tale.  Hague writes with fluency, sometimes with grace and has that commendable gift of the professional politician; an unerring ability to retain the attention of his audience."

                                                            Sunday Telegraph.

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Careful!

There was a very gracious lady who was sending an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk.

The lady thought for a moment, and replied: "Only the Ten Commandments."

URC Mid Essex Area Partnership - Prayer Calendar 2010

Loveridge Life

Today Rooey and I were bitterly disappointed, when having lunch at a cafe’ well known and loved by us; we discovered a scone that had unacceptably fallen apart.  We shall no longer use that cafe’, they shall no longer find us seated there waiting for a waiter or waitress to take our order.  I expect we shall find another to replace it.  I do not have the willpower to refuse ice cream & sweets only fair-trade chocolate!  I made a silly suggestion that my weight would have dropped.  I’ll weigh myself on 30/10 and let you know! 

How horrible the temperature is for me - I have tried praying about being so very cold  - it could be that Iexpect my prayer to be answered too quickly.  I was always hopeful that my family, friends and God would never let me down.  They have not, I have!  I was not given a middle name; Patience would have been an ideal one!  Scott asked me why Loveridge life had been left out of church news, I told him that I hadn’t sent one in; Jill should be better (she will try!) 

Today Craig and Abby moved from our house into a property we have bought in Braintree for them to rent from us.  I shall miss having another female to chat to; she is such a lovely girl.  I pray to God to watch over them for me.  Chaotic Loveridge Life now, people moving out, re-arranging the house banging of doors, I can see an electric fan sitting on the lawn blowing the fan without having the plug in a socket - the wind is blowing the fan round and a very chilly windthrough the vent in the wall.  I think I shall move into the kitchen to make some tomato soup, and then I’ll be warm!

Soon it will be Guy Fawkes Night, no children to occupy with fireworks; I hope I will get through the week feeling confident and not a bad horse rider.  Today I was praised for my ability to control my horse I shook hands with Brian, a fantastic leader of Fergus - it took the two of us an hour to control him & steer him the right way!

Shopping with Rooey in Sainsbury’s today, I glimpsed a Santa chocolate lollipop - too soon I believe.  Christ Church Guild today was meeting with North Avenue fellowship.  A lady told us of much of her life happenings, which we were pleased to hear,another afternoon pleasantly spent out of the cold and rain with our close friends, thank you Christ Church for treating us well.

Today I set my bread maker to make dough then I had a sudden remembrance of making dough and creating a cottage loaf, so I knead the dough take a piece of dough to put on top, push down with fore finger of left hand then pick the loaf from the surface, put it on the tray for it to rise, job done.  30 minutes later, place it in the oven.  I wished my Mum were still alive, she would have giggled at my cottage loaf which looked as if it had jumped off of Melbourne flats head first!  I looked in a recipe book that my friend Heather had given to me; it said push a wooden spoon handle to join them (I felt like I had failed a cookery examination!)  I hope to do better with my grade 1 test in horse riding on Monday. I’ll see what happens Monday and let you know!

I am home from my riding with a massive smile, I PASSED.  They are not called grades now, aurals (possibly spelt wrong.)  Hopefully the grade 2 will be passable, I hope never to give my hobby up!