Forest Group Newsletter - May 2016

Dear friends,

Spring has sprung, even though as I write we still have frosty nights and cold winds during the day, and I thank God for a central heating. But outside the greens and blossoms are coming, and new life is happening everywhere around.

I can see it in our churches as well. New things are happening. Spirits are lifting. Well, to me of course, almost everything is still new anyway, as I’m still within my first year with you. But yet, I can see new things happening, new life coming.
 
For example:

Our joint Easter services were a joy. How wonderful to worship together! Smiles all around. It’s great to be a wider church family and visit each other. It lifts everyone’s spirit, and witnesses to the truth of the saying: “The more the merrier”!

Our first Weekday Group service, prepared by our newly formed Forest Worship Group, took place at Woodford on a Thursday evening in April. The Worship Group aims to prepare services in a different style of our usual Sunday morning worship, and wants to experiment a bit and find out what works well for us. This first one was in style of the services held by the Taize community in southern France. It felt like a good start into exploring different ways of worshipping together. The next one is June 23rd 7:30pm at Ray Lodge. Your presence there, if you can make it, will make all the difference!

Another sign of “Church Spring” is the monthly Coffee morning in the Woodford Manse and the conversations we have there. People from different churches come together to talk about a theme that was agreed the previous time. We feel free to talk controversially (we don’t often get that in church), and: people say it again and again how good it feels to share thoughts, ideas, time and stories with each other in this casual and light-hearted way. Our next one is May 3rd on the Easter theme of “Life after death”. Please do come and if you like bring a friend!

I am looking forward to all the other things that we’re planning together: The “Forest Pilgrimage” on June 12, ending in our garden with BBQ, the Discipleship Course which the Forest Council chose for all churches to embark on in autumn, and within the nearer future working out together where we want to set Mission priorities within our group, and pursuing them with joint effort.

May our gracious and faithful God give growth at least to some of our efforts, and may we grow deeper roots of faith as we journey on together and alongside each other.

Yours in Christ,

Ulrike 

SERVICES FOR MAY
(All services commence at 10.30 am unless otherwise stated)
 
Chingford                
1st          Morning Worship with Holy Communion and Prayers
For Healing led by Revd Ulrike Bell (Monthly Collection for
Christian Aid)
8th          Morning Worship led by Revd John Steele  
15th       FOREST GROUP SERVICE led by Revd Fiona Thomas
22nd     9.45 am Service of Holy Communion
Morning Worship led by Revd Richard Mortimer
29th     Morning Worship led by Grace Smith
5th        Morning Worship with Holy Communion and Prayers
For Healing led by Revd Jane Mortimer  
 
Highams Park
1st        Morning Worship led by (to be advised)
8th        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd Ulrike Bell      
15th       Forest Group Service at Chingford
22nd     Morning Worship led by (to be advised)
29th     Morning Worship led by Revd Richard Mortimer
5th          Morning Worship led by Trevor Cottrell   
 
Ray Lodge
1st        Morning Worship led by Revd Richard Mortimer
8th        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd Jane Mortimer
15th       Forest Group Service at Chingford
22nd     Morning Worship led by Trevor Cottrell
29th     Morning Worship led by Jeff Potter of the London City
            Mission
5th        Morning Worship led by Revd Richard Mortimer
 
St. James’
1st        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd Kevin Swaine
8th        Morning Worship led by Revd Richard Mortimer
15th       Forest Group Service at Chingford
22nd     Morning Worship led by Revd Peter Wortley
29th     Morning Worship led by Steven Neville
5th        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd June Colley
             
Woodford Green
1st        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd June Colley
8th        Morning Worship led by the Worship Group
15th       Forest Group Service at Chingford
22nd     Morning Worship led by Revd Ros Lyle
29th     Morning Worship led by Revd Ann Woodhurst
5th        Morning Worship with Holy Communion led by
            Revd Kevin Swaine
 
 
             
 
FOREST GROUP CALENDAR FOR
MAY
 
Tuesday 3rd   Woodford Manse 10.30am Forest Group
                        Coffee and Discussion
                        Woodford 8.00pm Elders Meeting
Thurs 5th        St. James’ 7.30pm Elders Meeting
Friday 6th       Chingford 11.00am Worship Group meeting Ray Lodge 2.00pm Knit & Natter Group
St. James’ 2:30pm  BHRS Celebratory Tea
in honour of Queen’s 90th Birthday
 
Sunday 8th    Woodford Gn 2.00pm Forest Group Council
Monday 9th    St. James’ 2- 3:30pm Craft/Prayer Group in
                        Church Room
Friday 13th     Ray Lodge 2.00pm Neighbours Club
 
Saturday 14th   FOREST GROUP STUDY DAY
at Ray Lodge led by Revd Fiona Thomas
 
Monday 16th  Ray Lodge 1.00pm Trefoil Guild
Thurs 19th      Chingford 8.00pm Elders Meeting
Friday 20th     Chingford 9.30am Christian Aid cake sale
                        Ray Lodge 2.00pm Knit & Natter Group
 
Sunday 22nd  Chingford 12noon Church Meeting with lunch
                        Chingford from 1.00pm Working Party
Friday 27th     Ray Lodge 2.00pm Neighbours Club –
                        Pictures of Arizona and the Grand Canyon
 (Janet Jackson)
 
June
 
Thurs 2nd       St. James’ 7.30pm Elders’ Meeting in
Church Room
Friday 3rd       Ray Lodge 2.00pm Knit & Natter Group
 
Monday  6th   St. James’ 2.00-3.30pm Craft/Prayer Group
in Church Room
Tuesday 7th   Woodford Manse 10.30am Forest Group
Coffee and Discussion
Woodford Gn 8.00pm Elders Meeting
Friday 10th     Ray Lodge 2.00pm Neighbours’ Club
 
Sunday 12th Forest Group Prayer Walk and barbecue
 
 
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
 
As I shall be on holiday at the end of May, would you please send any material for the June newsletter to Janet Wallace, whose email address is [email protected].  The deadline for material is Sunday 15th May.
                                                            Thanks, June.
 
 
For those who haven’t yet got the message, following my move my email address and telephone number remain the same.  My new address is 6 Brook Gardens, E4 9ER.
 
FOREST GROUP CONFERENCE
2016
This year our annual conference day will be held on Saturday 14th May at Ray Lodge URC in Woodford from 10.00am – 3.30pm.  If you haven’t been to our church at Ray Lodge, you will be pleasantly surprised by the lovely garden and modern facilities.  There is some parking in the car park, and in the surrounding streets.  It is a short walk from Woodford underground station and is on the 275 bus route.
You would have received a leaflet explaining the day, and I would urge you to respond as soon as possible, via your church secretary, so that Fiona Thomas, who is leading the day, can finalise her arrangements.  There will be separate activities for children during the day, and it is important to know how many will be attending, and their ages.
Instead of the buffet table we have had in the past, this year we are asking people to literally ‘bring and share’, i.e. bring your own lunch, plus enough for another person which you can share around.  Drinks will be provided throughout the day.
The theme for the day is to celebrate 70 years of Christian Aid, and to consider the impact the organisation has had on providing for the poorest of the world’s citizens, and how we as individuals and churches can support their continuing work.  Come and enjoy meeting with friends from the Forest Group and learning together about the work of Christian Aid.
MOVING STORIES
 
Builders of the Future
Palestinian children living in the Gaza Strip don’t have much of a childhood. They see and hear the violence between the Israelis and Palestinians on a daily basis. Many know other children who have been killed or injured in the conflict. As
a result, some suffer psychological problems; they have uncontrollable fears, panic attacks, nightmares; they wake up crying or screaming; they feel constant fear or sadness, or feel weak; they lack confidence and they suffer from
headaches.
 
The Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) was set up in 1992 to improve the lives of children who live in Khan Younis, one of the largest refugee camps in the Gaza Strip.
Today it runs community activities for children and young people, including the Sunrise and Hope Centre and the ‘Builders of the Future’ Teenagers’ Centre.
 
CFTA also offers expressive arts such as traditional Palestinian dancing and music, football, singing, art, and lots of interactive games which are used both as therapy and as play by the children. Its summer clubs give hope to young children and a safe environment in which to be expressive, creative and behave like children.
 
Yasmeen is nine years old. She says that she gets scared if she hears bombs and rockets nearby. Yasmeen goes to the Sunrise and Hope Centre.
Here children are able to feel safe and have fun. The ball pool is very popular. For children who have been holding all their feelings inside, playing is an important release. They are also able to have counselling. Talking to a trusted adult counsellor about their worries helps them to find peace and learn to cope with the difficult circumstances they live under.
 
Yasmeen says, ‘I love being here... When I come here I do drawing and art, I play… and I learn Palestinian debka dancing. I come here every single day now. I feel happy when I’m here.’
 
Ayat Sakka is 15 years old and comes across as calmly confident and mature. When she first started coming to CFTA’s ‘Builders of the Future’ Teenagers’ Centre, she was extremely shy and scared to leave her house, having grown up witnessing violence on a daily basis. Now, after counselling and support from a social worker at CFTA, she has grown in confidence. She helps to run summer camp programmes at the centre, and programmes for girls going through the same difficulties as she did. She says, ‘Now that
I’ve come here and run programmes, now I’ve done this, I feel brave to go and talk to anyone. Now I am helping others.’
 
Demolitions
In the past three months, the Israeli military has more than tripled its demolitions of Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank, United Nations' figures show, raising alarm among diplomats and human rights groups over what they regard as a sustained violation of international law. This has left more than 650 Palestinians homeless with more than half of them children. This is a part of the extensive campaign over the last seven years.

"It is a very marked and worrying increase," said Catherine Cook, an OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) official based in Jerusalem who closely monitors the demolitions, describing the situation as the worst since the U.N. body started collecting figures in 2009.
"The hardest hit are the Bedouin and Palestinian farming communities who are at risk of forcible transfer, which is a clear violation of international law." Israeli forces also demolished structures across the occupied West Bank in Nilin, Khirbet Tana, and Khan al-Ahmar at the beginning of April according to local sources and the United Nations. The EU has never asked for compensations nor has it held Israel accountable for demolitions of assistance it is funding. Last week, members of different European parliaments visited Al Hadidiya in the Jordan Valley, where EU-funded assistance was demolished last November by the Israeli authorities. In 2015, over 275,000 Euros worth of donor-funded materials were demolished by Israel.
 
Water Issues
Sufficient water is not being provided to meet people’s needs across the West Bank. Access to proper water and sanitation is a basic human right as found in the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
The Oslo Accords established the division of water between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as follows -  80% of water in the West bank pumped from the mountain aquifer, a joint Israel, Palestinian resource, would be allotted to Israel’s use and the remaining 20% to Palestinian use. This was seen as a temporary measure until the full accords were signed, which did not happen. Palestinians were being encouraged to develop independent water drilling projects but development failed, despite international aid. At present Palestinians must purchase water from Israel’s national water company.
 
Figures regarding water usage make the discrimination between the two obvious.  In the West bank the illegal settlement of Ro'i is connected to the main water network with people having 460 litres per person per day. Just a few dozen meters away, people in the Palestinian village of Al Hadidiya get 20 litres of water per person per day, one fifth of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended minimum standard. The WHO recommends at least 100 litres per person per day to provide for basic needs. This includes use by hospitals, schools, businesses etc. With Palestinians being allotted a set amount, water shortages occur. In summer it is especially difficult when the Palestinian Authority rotate water access. Villages therefore have to wait long periods before they have water again. All will have water tanks on the roof but these take a long time to fill because everyone is filling at the same time and pressure drops. This lack of water affects all areas of life.
 
Old, leaky pipes and little maintenance means that about 30% of the water piped into villages is lost. Repairs need the consent of the Israeli authorities and this is often a long and difficult process.
“The water crisis in Palestine cannot be solved until there is justice. Water and justice issues are intertwined in my community,” says Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
 
He sees the quest for justice as strongly in the interests of both peoples. The Bishop would like more investment in Palestine and tourists coming to stay in the West Bank during their Holy Land visits, so there can be economic growth. The World Council of Churches (WCC) worked with the Ecumenical Water Network on a series of reflections during Lent.  www.oikoumene.org/7-weeks-for-water.  
 
Embrace Annual London lecture.
History and Hope: What is the future for Palestinian Christians? St James's Piccadilly - London W1J 9LL, United Kingdom
Fr Jamal Khader, Professor of Theology and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Bethlehem University where he teaches Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Strategies. Tickets are free and must be booked in advance. Tuesday, 28 June 2016 from 18:30 to 20:00 http://www.embraceme.org/events/annual-lecture-2016
 
Synod News
Eastern, Thames North and Wessex Synods have passed resolutions about Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. To find the full text, plus amendments, visit our Synod’s web page.
 
CHINGFORD NEWS
 
Notes of Meetings at Chingford
 
Elders Meeting 17th March (Mona Shahbaz in the Chair)
Womens World Day of Prayer to be at our Church in 2017
Easter Service to including processing with a cross and candles
Four Joint Forest Group services on 14th April at 8pm at Woodford, 25th August in the Forest, 13th October, 24th November
23 expressions of interest in Youth Outreach worker post; closing date 8th April
Christian Aid service will be at St Anne’s Church
Policies on Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding agreed; Child Protection to be considered at next meeting.  Fire Safety Risk Assessment to be drawn up
Westminster College and Mona Shahbaz were very grateful to the Forest Group of churches for supporting Mona’s placement as a ministerial student
Documents available from Church Secretary
Accounts 2015                     SORP Charity Accounts 2015
Trustees Report 2015          Budget 2015/16       
Dates to June 2016             Pastoral list 2016
Church Life Review 2012              Mission Statement 2016    
Vision Statement 2016       Outreach Action Plan 2016           FG Equal Opportunities Policy            Safeguarding Policy
Child Protection Policy
 
Church Meeting 17th April
16 Members and 2 Questers present, Minister in Chair
Notes of two previous church meetings agreed
Fund Raising – Coffee morning/ sale on 5th March a success, next event Quiz on 11th June
Outreach – no further comments on suggestions at last meeting
Finance – Board of Management suggests that Church aims to maintain a reserve of £40,000 to £50,000
Forest Group Youth Outreach Worker update – no suitable applications received, FG committee to review the position, prayers requested for the committee
Working Party – list of cleaning and maintenance jobs to be publicised on a notice board and in the church news; individuals can sign up for jobs at any time and we also have two Sunday afternoons on 22nd May and 5th June for those jobs that need more than one person
Fire drill to be arranged during the service on 22nd May.  Arrangements need to be made for sounding an alarm, ensuring safety of children, special needs people and those with mobility difficulties and checking of toilets.  Elders to consider the arrangements in more detail
14/15 May Christian Aid study day with Fiona Thomas at Ray Lodge church on the Saturday and joint Forest Group all age service led by Fiona at Chingford on the Sunday
12th June Forest Group prayer walk between the churches finishing at the Woodford Manse for a Barbecue; a service will take place at Chingford
Problems with candle wax on the furniture and floor following the Easter service; we need to acquire some candle holders
Christian Aid cake stall on Friday 20th May at Coffee morning
Next Church Meeting on 22nd May to be a short meeting with lunch before the working party
 
NOTICE OF CLOSURE
 
After many years in Chingford, Help on Call ceased rendering its services on Friday 29th April 2016, at 11pm.
The reason for closure is because now there is ‘Dial a Ride’, taxi cards, chemists’ delivery service etc., the demand for HoC has declined.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27TH CHINGFORD SCOUT GROUP
 
Cubs.  During March the Cubs worked on Safety badges Fire, Home, Personal and Road, Team work activities which have resulted in 9 Teamworker Challenges and 3 Team Leader Challenges and we have reviewed progress on the World and Skills Challenges. The sixers ran the last meeting of term.  Chief Scout’s Awards have been presented to Ella Magen and Eddie Adams. In April we have evenings on the Navigator badge, a visit to the Cinema to see the new Jungle Book film, a charity fair to raise funds for greyhound rescue and a Backwoods Skills day for sixers and seconds.   We can now recruit new Cubs aged 8 to 10 from outside the Group to replace Cubs moving up to Scouts.
Scouts During March the Scouts had wide game, night hike, star spotting and creative and skills evenings. Three Skills and one World Challenges have been gained. Scouts have visited the local Oxfam shop to see what happens behind the scenes and taken part in a forest conservation project. In April we have evenings on camping and survival skills to prepare for a Survival camp at the end of April.
Leadership We still need section leaders in each section and the District have set a search party to find a new Group Scout Leader.
 
 
 
 

Buxton Road United Reformed Church
Saturday 11th June
6.45 for 7pm
Quizmasters:
Eileen & John Avis
£5 per head 
Please bring your own food and drink
(wine or soft)
 
Phone 020 8529 6776 to book  tickets


 
HIGHAMS PARK NEWS
 
Prayer Partners
Pam                       Ken                        Joyce     Margaret           
Francis  Bernice Helen                     Helen    
Valerie  Richard Lorraine               Kay       
 
Please speak to your prayer partner and see if there are any
specific things they would like to pray for. Or if possible, why
not arrange a time to pray together during the month.
Please also pray for past members and friends.
 
If you would like a Prayer Partner please let Helen know so that
you can be added to the list.
 
Happy Birthday greetings go to John on 27th and Kay on 28th May.
 

 
Dates for the diary
 
The Mothers’ Union at All Saints, Highams Park are inviting you to their 60th Anniversary Communion Service followed by tea at 2:30pm Saturday 14th May.
 
The Care Highams Park Commissioning Service will be held at Highams Park URC on Sunday 19th June at 6.00pm.  The service will be led by Revd Ulrike Bell.
 
Churches Together Highams Park Picnic will be held at Ridgeway Park on Sunday 26th June from 1pm onwards.
 
 
 
Have you ever put off doing something because it was too expensive, too far, too difficult, would take too long….?
 
Back when the Statue of Liberty was still in the design stage the builders ran out of money. So a publisher started a fund-raising drive. More than 120,000 people contributed – but most gave less than a dollar at a time.
 
Never be daunted by the size of your dream. Focus on that first little step. Then the next. A dollar at a time, you’ll get there.
 
Thanks to The Friendship Book of Francis Gay
 
LENT LUNCHES AT RAY LODGE URC
 
A big thank you to all those who supported the Lent Lunches this year at Ray Lodge, a good gathering was present on each of the four days the lunches were held at Ray Lodge.
 
In a slight change to previous years two of the Lent Lunches were held at St Barnabas church in the two weeks prior to those held at Ray Lodge and thanks must go to Father William for arranging that.
 
A special vote of thanks as well to all those who made soup, served and cleared up, without whom the Lunches could not have taken place.
 
Those of us involved with serving at Ray Lodge had fun wearing the ‘Forest Group’ T-shirts - thank you Ulrike for that idea.
 
A total of £215 was raised for Christian Aid from the Lunches at both venues.
 
STORIES FOR CHANGE
 
Bangladesh
A third of the country floods each year, affecting over 10 million people. 8 percent of girls under the age of 14 are forced into child labour. Around 3.3 million children remain out of school. In a country with one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, climate change is only making things worse by placing huge pressure on already poor families. The impact of extreme weather with its frequent, stronger cyclones and hurricanes is having the most devastating effect on those who live in extreme poverty. In 2014, 150,000 people’s homes were completely destroyed by flash floods.
Cases of violence against women are very high, especially rape and acid attacks. A lack of respect for workers’ rights results in disasters like the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013. The legal system does not do enough to protect workers and prevent violence, meaning all too often the suffering of women is ignored.
However Bangladesh has halved extreme poverty in the last two decades and created more jobs in the development and garment manufacture sector. There is still much to do before all workers are able to access their full human rights and live a fulfilled and secure life. Following a consultation with various groups, a new National Development Strategy was set up in 2015 to look at new ways to diversify its economy and  to create wealth and employment opportunities.
 
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
 
The London Inter Faith Centre Programme
 
Christian Zen           Thursdays 6.30pm- 8.00pm and
  Wednesdays 10.00-11.00am
The Book Group      Tuesdays    12.30pm – 2.00pm
 
Engaging with the Other - a Guide to inter faith engagement in the UK:
A ten week course on Monday evenings 7.30pm -9.30pm
 
London Spirituality Centre, Lombard Street, London EC3
 
All kinds of Praying led by Rosey Feuell
Monday evenings, 6.00-8.30pm
Part 2 -  6th, 13th, and 27th June
 
 
Cockfosters Centre for Spirituality, 29 Bramley Road, London N14 4HE
 
11th and 18th  May 7.30-9.30pm
The Book of Hebrews and its relevance for us today , with Revd. Alan Combes
4th June   10.00am- 4.00pm
Vessels in Scriptures – a creative workshop,  led by Sister Jo Chambers
To book a place: Telephone   02084496648
 
 
Westminster College, Cambridge
 
Friday 1st July – Sunday 3rd July.
 
Embracing Eldership:
Come and join Elders from around the URC, exploring what it means to exercise the ministry of Eldership today. Share experiences, learn new skills, and find resources for you and your church.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ST. JAMES’ PRAYER PARTNERS FOR MAY
    Val - Louise,  Margaret M. – Steven, Isabel- Marisa,                                                                      Diane – Graham ,  Kathleen T. – Eileen  
 
As the wet sands can hold the clouds and reflect the sun, so may my life reveal your beauty and reflect yoiur glory.
As the darkened earth takes on the light and is full of new radiance, so may the darkness of my life absorb your love and radiate your presence.
                                                                                                      David Adam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QUIET DAY 2016
 
Salt and Light      
I know I'm salty
but how salty am I?
I'm salty enough for me
but can others taste my saltiness?
What good is it if I have no salt to share
the taste of Christ with others.
 
I know I have the light
enough to light my own little world,
but I need a stronger lamp
that will cast my light
beyond my own needs,
to light the smouldering wicks,
the light of Christ, in others.
 
 
A Blessing of a day sharing Christ's salt and light together.
Thank you,
Dale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reflective thoughts during a time of relaxation


The sound of the kettle,
reminder of the storm
brewing in our lives.
From calm to rage;
subsiding to boil again.


Clock ticking;
the constant
of time passing.


A circle of friends
gathered.
Bound together in love.


Tulips bunched
in a purple vase;
the promise of spring.
Their cups beckon
the warmth of the sun.


To be filled.
Overflowing with faith
in the resurrection.
 
Eileen
 
 
 

 
Coffee morning in the Manse
127 Monkhams Avenue, Woodford Green
Every first Tuesday of the month (or so),
10:30 – 12:00am
For coffee/tea, a theme and a chat.
 
May 3 – What happens after death?
June 14 – the EU Referendum
 
It would be lovely to see you there!
 
 
 
  
            Westminster College
 
A DAY AT THE BEACH
  ‘following Jesus up the shoreline’
 
 
Saturday 13th August 2016
10am - 4pm
 
Activities include: drama, parachute games,
crafts and soft play zone
and much more! All ages welcome.
 
A packed lunch will be provided:
Food for infants can be brought along on the day
 but will need to be pre heated if required.
 
Prices: £10 per adult, £7 per child (12 years and under),
£30 family ticket (1 adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children),
Infants 2 years or under go free.
 
For more information contact:
Nicola Grieves (01223 830770)
Sam White (01223 330633)
To book contact: Abbie Lawson ([email protected])
 
Children remain the responsibility of their parent/designated carer at all times.