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Our March newsletter is now available to read.
Click here to download the newsletter as a PDF or contact Rev June Colley on rev@jcolley.plus.com for a paper version. Our September newsletter is now available to read. Click here to download the newsletter as a PDF or contact Rev June Colley on rev@jcolley.plus.com for a paper version. Our July/ August newsletter is now available to read. Click here to download the newsletter as a PDF or contact June Colley for a paper version.   It was with a mixture of joy and sadness that we met to say farewell to Richard and Jane, and their son Tim, at a lunch after the service on the 7th January.
Speeches were made and gifts given, including a handsome cheque from the Forest Group via a collection from members and churches. The following poem was written by Helen Tindall, formerly of Highams Park URC, and we are sure it is echoed by many members, who will remember our time with Richard and Jane very fondly. Dear Richard, you’re leaving, you’ve come to the end Of your journey in London – Farewell from your friends! And now a new highway is waiting for you - With hobbies and days out and nice things to do. The Forest Group thanks you for all of your work In Chingford and Woodford and ex-Highams Perk! You’ve shared all your wisdom and made us more good, Had more tea and biscuits than anyone should, You’ve put up with quiz nights and concerts and shows, And stood by our side through our highs and our lows. You’ll see no more babies that you have to Christen, No hymns sung so badly you can’t even listen, No more Messy Church with the children so sticky, And no more church politics – subjects so tricky. No more church meetings and watching the clock, For now this good shepherd is leaving his flock. Just throw your old dog collar up in the air, Dye your beard ginger and let down your hair! It’s time for retirement up in the Wirral, Where Laura and Jane can hang out with the squirrels. Walk into the sunset with Jane, hand-in-hand – We wish you good luck and we hope things are grand. It’s farewell now, Richard, your sentence is served And we wish you the happiness that you deserve! Dear friends, The year starts with some sad notes. First of all, we knew the Mortimers would go, but starting the new year without them does feel strange. It’ll take some time to get used to this and to somehow find new ways without them. Good to know though that they seem to have settled in well.  Secondly, Ray Lodge Church meeting decided on 21 January that they are too small to function as a church. There was no-one who could have taken over the roles of church secretary, hall manager, convener of the Toddler Group, pulpit supply, etc – all of these had been filled by Janet Jackson who in December retired to Shropshire, and Rev June Colley very kindly had stepped into the void that Janet had left, just for the time being. The members, with sadness, decided to seek to amalgamate with Woodford Green URC, and their last act of worship will be Palm Sunday at 3:00pm, with a worship celebrating the life of the church through the years and decades. I hope that many of you will be able to attend. And some exciting new things are happening, too, thank God!  The architects have been round to the Woodford Green church and will present their ideas on February 21st from 10.00am. Please do come if you can.
The presentation will be discussed at Woodford Green church meeting the Sunday after and at an open-to-all Forest Council meeting on March 4, 2pm at Woodford Green URC. Do come and help us discuss and discern this for our future. Also, Chingford URC have decided to run a Holiday Club in Half Term break with the Red Balloon Foundation. It’ll be great to see how that picks up and if we can interest some families for our all-age worship or Messy Church. May our Lord guide us and keep us and make us strong in focussing on joining into His work in our communities. May we walk the way with Jesus. May we be brave. May we continue to support each other and the people around us. May the Lord’s love for our broken world live in our hearts and guide our thoughts, words and deeds. The path that we walk on is never all straight and clear. Even so, may we walk in faith. May it be a blessed year of the Lord 2018! Yours in Christ, Ulrike Our November newsletter will be available in printed format in our churches throughout November or you can click on the link below to download a PDF version. Dear Friends,
Last week it was announced that Bob Dylan had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, because he had minted new forms of expression for the Great American Songbook. I am old enough to remember Dylan hailed as a prophet of the alternative society, and reports of some bitter rows in Portsmouth folk clubs when he went electric. But then I got to reflecting that the same sort of journey, from suspicion and “what does he know?” put-downs to laurels in maturity or in retrospect, happened to writers of books in the Bible. In the division between major prophets and minor prophets the major prophetic books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel (and Lamentations ). The beginning of the book of Jeremiah details his call and commission, which took place before he was born, and provokes a response of fear because of his youth. God replies, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you”, and “I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land – kings, princes, priests and people”. In other words, even though you are young, only a boy and even though everyone will be against you, I will be with you because what you have to say matters. Jeremiah lived through a time when everything got worse, when he was regarded as a pessimistic moaning miseryguts. But history showed him to be right. He bought a piece of land as a hope for the future, prophesied a new covenant and a new relationship, and defined the principle by which all exiles should live in chapter 29, verse 7 “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, that in its welfare you will find your welfare”. When I think of Dylan as a Nobel Laureate I find myself thinking of Jeremiah, and when I think of Jeremiah I take comfort in current political uncertainties. Every blessing, Richard  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 janetwallace441@gmail.com. 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 (all45@cam.ac.uk) Children remain the responsibility of their parent/designated carer at all times. Letter from the Minister
Dear Friends, I must begin this letter with a word of thanks. I am asked by the Revd. Neil Thorogood, Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge, to pass on the sincere and grateful thanks of the whole College to the members, friends, elders and ministers of the Forest Group for all their help in providing Memona Shahbaz with an excellent placement. I am delighted to tell you that Mona is now writing her personal profile so that she may seek a call. At the same time I am happy to be able to report that we have now had over twenty expressions of interest, asking for the application pack, in the re-advertised post for a Youth Outreach and Development Worker. Inevitably not all of these will lead to returned application forms, but, even so, I am hopeful of a positive outcome. Please pray for Mona, Shahbaz and family as she seeks to discern where God is calling her next. Please pray for all those pondering the Youth Outreach and Development Worker post, and for those who will be involved in shortlisting and interviewing. And, in the Easter spirit of new life, new hope and new possibilities, please pray for all those who seek to maintain our work and witness across all five churches, and who look for ways to take everything forward. May we take the inspiration of Easter with us, Richard SERVICES FOR APRIL (All services commence at 10:30 unless otherwise stated) Chingford URC
Highams Park URC
Ray Lodge URC
St. James’ URC, Buckhurst Hill
Woodford Green URC
FOREST GROUP CALENDAR FOR APRIL
May Sunday 1st Woodford Green 2.00pm Forest Group Council: light lunch from 1.00pm Tuesday 3rd Woodford Manse 10.30am Forest Group Coffee and Discussion Woodford 8.00pm Elders Meeting Thurs 5th St. James’ 7.30pm Elders Meeting in Church room Friday 6th Ray Lodge 2.00pm Knit & Natter Group Friday 6th St. James’ 2:30pm BHRS Celebratory Tea in honour of Queen’s 90th Birthday FOREST GROUP WORSHIP On 1st February representatives from each of the churches met together with the ministers to consider ways in which we could offer worship at times and in ways different from our current pattern. Ideas that came up included: - using different music: Taize chants, Iona, come with instruments, singing - using Bible readings in a different way: e.g. read a whole gospel or letter, or have one verse repeated by worshippers many times. - different settings: Sit in circle, use space creatively, have Holy Communion differently - have themes, e.g. “water” or “forgiveness” - have periods of silence - try new ways, see what we like, and then see how we can draw new people in -midweek service, evening, always in a different church (depending on the character of the service) It was agreed that the first service would be on Thursday April 14th, 8pm, a Taize-style service at Woodford Green. It would be held in the sanctuary and candlelit. There would be singing and instruments, Bible readings, and periods of silence. Afterwards there would be an opportunity to talk together in the Meeting Room with refreshments. The following dates were also agreed: Thursday June 23, 8pm Thursday August 25, 11am in Forest with picnic lunch Thursday October 13, 8pm Thursday November 24, 8pm Please put the dates in your diary and come along with your friends on the 14th April to experience something different. FORTHCOMING EVENTS The London Inter Faith Centre Programme Christian Zen Thursdays 6: 30pm- 8:00pm and Wednesdays 10-11am The Book Group Tuesdays 12:30pm – 2pm Texts to Live By: Attitudes to the Stranger Sunday 24th April, 6-7:30pm 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, 6-8:30pm Part 2 - 6th, 13th, and 27th June Cockfosters Centre for Spirituality, 29 Bramley Road, London N14 4HE 2nd April - Exploring the Pain and Beauty of Transformation with Mary Jo Radcliffe 16th April - The Power of Silence: The Role of Meditation in the World’s Religions, with Kim Nataraja 23rd April- John O’ Donohue - a talk and reflection on his writings with Kenneth Boyd Browne All events are from 10am - 4pm and cost £25. To book a place : Telephone 020 84496648 Embracing Eldership Friday 1st July - Sunday 3rd July, 2016 Come and join elders from around the URC exploring what it means to exercise the ministry of Eldership today. Enjoy the welcome and hospitality of Westminster College, the URC’s Resource Centre for Learning in the east. Share experiences, learn new skills, find resources for you and your church. Embracing Eldership is an event that enables URC Elders to come together for mutual encouragement, to share experiences and receive refreshment, whilst exploring pressing issues related to the realities of being an elder today. The theme of this year’s elders’ event is “Resourcing our Elders”. We will be considering what it is to be an elder drawing on the material recently designed for the United Reformed Church by Revd Peter Ball (Eastern Synod Mission Development Officer) and Ruth Whitehead (South Western Synod Moderator). There will also be focussed sessions giving guidance on the roles and responsibilities of elders. As always at Westminster, a key part of the event will be the opportunity to worship together, engage with the bible, and talk in a friendly atmosphere with fine food and relaxed company. It promises to be a lively and interesting time to meet others and offer your own insights and perspectives on this vital ministry within the URC today. 2015 prices frozen! Resident cost (full board, single room) = £120 Non-Resident participant cost*= £43 *Price includes a lunchtime meal, teas, coffees, materials, resources, etc. There are 3 double rooms and 11 single rooms still available Please contact Claudia Rees, Tutorial Assistant at Westminster College on cr526@cam.ac.uk or 01223 33 06 32 if you are interested. Lay Preachers and Worship Leaders Other Dates for your diary in 2016! 15th - 17th August 17th - 19th August 7th - 9th September 9th - 11th September All at Westminster College, Cambridge. crosses, Leo LECTURE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUALITY Monday 9th May 2016 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Indian YMCA - 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6AQ The Second Professor Peter Gilbert Memorial Lecture – organised by the National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum, re-imagining “mental illness”, "dementia" and other seriously misunderstood experiences. The lecture will focus on the significance of naming things properly. It will explore some of the ways in which we have come to misname the experiences that are associated with certain forms of mental health problem, causing many of us to misinterpret and respond negatively to such experiences. The lecture will offer a spiritual perspective that can effectively help us to re-name such experiences in ways which offer hope and new possibilities. The guest speaker is John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen. and honorary Professor of Nursing at the university's Centre for Advanced Studies in Ministry. For 16 years Professor Swinton worked as a registered nurse specialising in psychiatry and learning disabilities, before working as a community health chaplain. He has published widely in his major fields of interest. His publications include: Dementia: Living in the memories of God and Friendship and the care of people with mental health problems. THAMES NORTH SYNOD Saturday 12th March The Synod was held at Trinity URC, Upminster, and we were welcomed by Revd Ray Adams who was standing in for the Moderator, who was ill. The Opening Worship was led by four ministers from the Heath and Havering Group of Churches, comprising five URCs: Upminster, Heaton Way, Nelmes, Chadwell Heath and Romford. We heard about the history and mission of the Group. It had been formed in 2010 and now each church has two services each Sunday at 9:30am and 11:15am.They have joint activities including evening Communion services, Bible Studies and Elders’ Training Days, a joint website and a Facebook page. Their ministers are Revds. Dorothee Buurma, Jim Dalgleish, Martin Weedon and Ann Woodhurst. The Minutes of the previous Synod were scrutinised and after a few amendments were accepted by Synod and then we had reports from the three Committees which had been formed after the Moderator’s plan for ‘Revisioning the Synod’ had been accepted at the last Synod. Each committee had met twice. Jane Weedon said the Discipleship Committee were looking for ways to ‘Grow disciples for the Kingdom’. James Fields reported that the Pastoral Committee can see new Local Area Groups working together and supporting each other and John Wise, for the Resources Committee said there was encouraging dialogue across the Synod. He said churches need to confirm their contribution to the M&M Fund so finances can be kept on a regular basis. He also announced that there is now a single form for grants from Synod and applications can be done by email. We then had a group discussion about Local Area Groups and how well they are working. After a time of Prayer, Revd Shahbaz Javed and Revd Francis Ackroyd told us about The East London Group of Churches which has been newly formed. Three Local Area Groups were then recognised by Synod: The Forest Group, the Heath and Havering Group, and Lee Valley Area. After an almost unanimous vote they were all welcomed by Synod despite the Forest Group and Heath and Havering only comprising five churches each which is smaller than envisaged by Synod. The new Synod Treasurer, Anthony Obi, then gave the Finance Report saying that the accounts showed a loss for 2015. He then went over the budget for 2016. This was followed by a number of notices: • Revd David Skipp told us about an organisation called ‘Through The Roof’ which can give advice addressing issues concerning disabled people in church buildings and about a Gutter Maintenance Programme.Churches can apply to Synod for a grant for a survey of their gutters. Information about this is on the URC website. • John Campbell from the Urban Churches Network told us about the new hymnbook he has compiled, ‘Songs to Shake Us Up’ which contains 200 hymns which he has written to familiar tunes. Copies cost £29.99 and come with music and a CD. • Just One, an evangelistic event for Greater London, led by J. John, will take place at the Emirates Stadium on 8th July 2017. • Simon Fairnington, the Synod Clerk, reminded us about the new website for Thames North Synod. Good photographs of churches and church events are needed for it. • Pilots are celebrating their 80th birthday with a new badge and song and they will be holding a Synod event later this year. Two booklets, ‘Let Justice Flow’ and ‘Theology of Pilots’ have been produced recently. • Reform needs more local distributors within churches, we were told by Sue Russell. • Sandra Ackroyd informed us that the Churches Society Network now has 35 named people on its database and news from churches would be welcomed for the Whitsun Newsletter. • Simon Rudiger announced that there are still three places left on the Ministers’ Spring School which will take place at Pilgrims Place, East Sussex and there will be a Summer Youth Camp for 11-18year olds at the end of July. The Green Belt Festival is now in partnership with the URC so we were encouraged to attend. • Our attention was then drawn to a Past Case Review statement which had been agreed by Mission Council earlier in March. The afternoon session began with a Gathering Song followed by a Youth Assembly Report. The Assembly had taken place in January, at Whitemoor Lakes in Staffordshire and had been attended by 15 young people from Thames North Synod. The new Thames North Representative to Youth Executive, Rachel Southwood, then spoke about her role. Next, we had a TLS report from Revd. Francis Ackroyd. He told us that there are more students doing TLS courses in Thames North than in any other Synod. He informed Synod that the two year Foundation Course is being discontinued and the Gateway courses are being updated from September 2016. More tutors and mentors are needed and Francis asked us to encourage people from our groups to undertake TLS Lite courses. Applications for 2016-2017 courses need to be submitted by 31st May this year. A Resolution from West London Area Committee to close Queen’s Park URC on 20th March after 129 years of ministry was overwhelmingly carried by Synod, although expressions of regret were expressed for the closure of a church. The Synod Clerk then told us a HR Consultant was not yet needed by the Synod. However, within churches, Elders are regarded as employers of casual workers and regularisation of contracts is needed. Appointments of representatives to General Assembly which will be held in Southport in July this year, to Youth Executive and The Resources Committee were then accepted by Synod. After some discussion, a resolution from Welwyn Garden City URC about Israel-Palestine was accepted in part by Synod, and this will be brought to General Assembly. The Synod with Closing Worship It had been an interesting day and as always, good to meet up with old friends and people from other churches within the Synod. Isabel Bala MOVING STORIES Report from Ecumenical Accompaniment Team serving in Palestine It was only recently that movement to and from Ramallah, the political and economic centre of Palestine, was severely restricted after a shooting attack that wounded three Israeli soldiers. Checkpoints were shut down, preventing tens of thousands of Palestinians from entering or exiting the city. This is collective punishment, in clear violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and Article 50 of the Hague Regulations, and an unnecessary disruption of daily civilian life. When people are treated inhumanely and they feel so much trapped in ‘cages’ and surrounded by concrete walls, there is often that temptation to resort to violence. This is most recently borne by a reminder from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, when he said that: “History proves that people will always resist occupation.” Not all checkpoints, however, are places of physical conflict though a checkpoint by its very existence is a serious violation of international law, freedom of movement, human dignity and respect. Checkpoint 300 clearly demarcates Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Coach loads of Israeli and international tourists come and go on the main access road between these two historical cities without having to pass through the checkpoint, seemingly unaware of what life is actually like for countless Palestinians under occupation. The Israeli ‘Separation Barrier’ hampers the movement of thousands of Palestinians who used to move freely between Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank till about the early 2000s, the start of the second Palestinian uprising, or “Intifada”. In 2004, the International Court of Justice declared the path of the barrier – 80% of which has been built on Palestinian land – to be illegal. Yet it is relentlessly extended daily, cutting deep into Palestinian land in places such as the Bir-Ouna area of Beit Jala and Cremisan Valley (as widely reported in the past year) to the west of Bethlehem. Israel considers this annexed land part of what they call the Greater Jerusalem urban settler development. Monitoring of CP 300 is one of the Bethlehem Team’s regular duties. Enduring images are of the scramble at the main entrance, the surge (lots of intense pushing, shoving and bone-breaking squeezing!) into the Main Lane especially between 4:30 – 6:30 in the morning when men and women are trying to get to work, and the desperate cutting of queues by those worried about being late. During my time here, I have never seen the checkpoint’s Humanitarian Lane (for women and children, and older men usually above 60) open despite repeated phone-calls by EAs to the Israeli military hotline in the early hours. The Exit Lane effectively serves as the Humanitarian Lane, but only when a soldier with the authority to check IDs and permits is there; more often than not there is a long wait. It’s difficult to appreciate fully the indignity of checkpoint crossings unless you are there physically. Some foreign delegations have had such an experience guided by EAs on duty. Imagine the congestion when only two security metal detectors are operating and only 6 or 8 of the 12 ID booths are open. Imagine, too, what it’s like for a worker leaving his thumb impression at a security booth when it doesn’t register because rough manual work could over time erode one’s thumbprint, thereby making identification a little more difficult, time-consuming and queue building. Imagine also that it could take as long as an hour and 15 minutes (as I experienced once in January) to get through the entire checkpoint terminal on a very busy morning with only the Main Lane open. Imagine that at the busiest half-hour period as many as 1300 people could cross the first turnstile at the end of the 150-metre first stage of the Main Lane! Yet in the midst of all this humiliating experience, I have found the workers to be mostly good-natured and at times good-humoured. It demonstrates their resilience where, for five days a week, month after month, year after year, they have to endure such an unnecessary experience so as to cross ‘to the other side’ (meaning Israel) to maintain a livelihood for the sake of their families and themselves. Umm al-Hiran In January 2016, the Court rejected Christian Aid partner Adalah's motion for a second hearing on the case of Umm al-Hiran, an unrecognized Bedouin village in the Negev in southern Israel, which requested that the Court reconsider its decision to approve the state's plan to evict the village's 1,000 Arab Bedouin residents, who are citizens of Israel. Palestinians living in Area C of the West Bank, some 60% of the latter but, in accordance with the Oslo Accords, under Israeli civilian and security control are particularly vulnerable. Abu Nwar is one of the 46 Bedouin and herding communities threatened by the government of Israel’s suggested plan to relocate 7,000 Palestinians living in Area C, including in the contentious E1 Area around Jerusalem, in order to allow for the expansion of Israeli settlements in the central West Bank. The international community has repeatedly called on the government of Israel to cancel the ‘relocation’ plan as it would amount to individual and mass forcible transfers and would threaten the Bedouin communities’ culture and livelihoods. Christian Aid has requested that the UK Government seek assurances from Israel that it will not move communities against their will from their homes. In January, 26 Palestine refugees, among them 18 children, were displaced following the destruction of their homes. The Israeli authorities also confiscated eight donor-funded tents that had been provided to the families as post-demolition humanitarian response. The Balfour Project The Balfour Project has made a film to provide an educational resource that should allow audiences to reach their own conclusions about the rights and wrongs of this subject. The film can be seen via the website http://www.balfourproject.org/film-of-britain-in-palestine-1917-1948/ . They have produced a Companion Guide to expand on the points raised in the film. It is available for £10 + postage. EAST LONDON THREE FAITHS FORUM The Three Faiths Forum meeting at 8pm on Thursday 10th March was held at St. Anne Line RC Church in South Woodford. The topic for the evening was, The Spirituality of High Places and the main speaker was Rt. Revd. Alan Williams, the new RC Bishop of Brentwood. He began his talk by mentioning how important mountains are to him, as he spends quite a lot of his free time climbing in Scotland, mainly on the Isle of Skye. Mountain climbing of course is potentially dangerous and so you have to be well prepared for it with the right equipment. You also need encouragement and advice from other people and you have to put in considerable effort to reach the summit. The ascent to God can be compared to going up a mountain, just as Moses had to do when he ascended Mount Sinai. If we want to get near to God we have to prepare ourselves with spiritual exercises, and be in the right frame of mind to do it. We need guidance and encouragement from other more experienced people and as we go on our way, we need to pause and be at peace to see God, just as one does when climbing a mountain. When we reach the summit we might exclaim as the great walker, Alfred Wainwright did, ‘The hills are eternal!’ Mountains certainly have a mysterious quality. St. John of the Cross in The Ascent of Carmel said, ‘You find at the summit the honour and glory of God.’ What happens as you come down from the mountain? As 95% of accidents happen on the way down, you must hold on to God and rely totally on him and he will uphold you and strengthen you. Dr. Fahim, from South Woodford Mosque, then spoke about mountains and caves being mentioned in the Qur’an and how God created them to stabilise the earth and to make the world beautiful for our enjoyment. Many of God’s prophets went away to mountainous places to be near to God including the prophet Muhammad. Rabbi Hulbert, from Bet Tikvah Synagogue, then spoke about the number of times mountains are mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures: Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat and Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain. Moses ascended Mount Sinai and stayed at the top for forty days. While he was there he received the Torah, containing the Ten Commandments. Moses died on the top of a Mount Nebo, from where he could see The Promised Land. Elijah battled with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel and at the entrance to a cave on Mount Sinai God spoke to him in the soft whisper of a voice. King David built his capital city, Zion, now Jerusalem, on a high place, 3000 metres above sea level. In fact Jerusalem has many hills and the Jewish Temple was built on the highest point. Many Psalms mention looking up to the hills including Psalm 121. Rabbi Hulbert ended with the Prophet Isaiah’s message that at the end of days, ‘Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low.’ A question and answer time followed, exploring how people are unprepared to meet God. The many distractions of modern life were mentioned, with young people lacking good guides and sometimes lured into sects. The three speakers agreed we all need good spiritual guides and companions and it is the responsibility of mature believers to guide younger people. Perseverance is needed in the spiritual life and there are wolves around. People sometimes fall away from their faith, but by the Grace of God they can get up and carry on. The next meeting of the Forum will be at 8pm on Thursday 5th May at a synagogue when the topic will be: Preaching in worship – skills and pitfalls. Isabel Bala CHINGFORD NEWS Elders Meeting 25th February 2016 It was agreed that church notices and uniformed news should be kept as short as possible to avoid intruding on the service The new pastoral list is on the notice board at the back of the church and a copy will be circulated in the next church news for members and adherents. Mona Shahbaz will chair the next Chingford Elders meeting as part of her training A Forest Group Worship Group is being set up to plan additional services offering different ways of worshipping. It was suggested that the ministers should spend some time training church members to take church services – this could be done at the bi-monthly Chingford worship group meetings. Arrangements for Lent Groups and Easter services were noted Future Fund Raising dates: June 11th Quiz, July 16th Barbecue, October 1st Concert. 27th Chingford Scout Group – a search team is being set up to find a new Group Scout Leader. A review of the priorities and focus of the Forest Group will be considered at an Away Day. There will be a Forest Group Prayer Walk on Sunday 12th June (there will still be a worship service at Chingford). Applications from Forest and Heath and Havering to be Local Area Groups to be considered at Synod on March 12th. Treasurers and Administrators Meeting 30th January • We have already taken on board registration as a charity, elders acting as trustees, trustees report, annual return, filing of accounts, pension arrangements • Elders to consider at a future meeting policies on Safeguarding, safe recruitment, Child protection, disclosure and barring clearance procedure, equal opportunities • Board of Management to review policies on health and safety, fore risk assessment, PAT testing of equipment, electrical wiring testing, gas supply certificate, lightning protection, asbestos survey, risk assessment, property letting issues. • Manse garden works have been completed Church Meeting 13th February Open Discussion attended by 15 Members, 1 Adherent and 2 young people, Minister in the Chair Richard reported that there have been 13 expressions of interest for the FG Youth Outreach Worker position. The following suggestions were made at the meeting • Invite all the users of the premises to a social evening with a meal and a presentation from one of the organisations • Consider how to attract younger people to the church, those on the cradle roll could be followed up • Review how much the church needs to keep in reserves for maintenance issues and how much can be made available for charitable giving • Fund raising events not only raise money, but bring people into the church • Organise a special event such as flower festival, celebration of 90th anniversary of Scout group • Repeat the auction with a fish and chip supper • Consider whether to allow children’s parties for church members – referred to elders 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 . 27TH CHINGFORD SCOUT GROUP Cubs. At the half term badge workshop Cubs gained the following badges 2 Artist, 2 Book Reader, 3 Collector, 1 Digital Skills, 7 Hobbies, 1 Personal Challenge with some Animal Carer and Astronomer badges to follow. After half term we are doing Safety badges, Team work activities, an Environmental project and Skills evening We can now recruit new Cubs aged 8 to 10 from outside the Group as no Beavers will be coming up for at least a year. Scouts The Scouts are tackling the same parts of the Challenge badges as the Cubs. 3 Hobbies badges were completed at half term, and Chef, Digital and Sports badges will be completed later. After half term we have wide game, night hike, star spotting and creative and skills evenings. HIGHAMS PARK NEWS Prayer Partners Pam Kay Joyce Richard Francis Ken Helen Helen Valerie Bernice Lorraine Margaret 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. 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. Care Highams Park Commissioning Service Highams Park URC will host this on Sunday 19th June at 6pm. Revd Ulrike Bell will lead the service. Churches Together Highams Park Picnic This will be held at Ridgeway Park on Sunday 26th June from 1pm onwards. PERSEVERANCE Rosie was telling me about her nephew, who has just been appointed as a surgeon in a top hospital. “He always did well at school,” she told us, “which is why he found things hard when he first went to university” I looked puzzled, and she explained. “When you’ve never had to excel, it can be hard to discover that sometimes success doesn’t just fall into your lap. Luckily, after his initial shock, Tim soon realised that perseverance brings its own rewards.” That story made me think of some words of Joe Girard, a famously successful American salesman, who wisely pointed out, “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs….one step at a time.” Oh, well. It may take more puff, but we’ll have certainly earned that view from the top! Thanks to The Friendship Book of Francis Gay BANGLADESH Changing climate In Bangladesh, tackling poverty has become increasingly difficult due to the impact of climate change - increasing numbers of floods, cyclones and droughts are posing considerable challenges. Natural disasters are often accompanied by a heavy loss of life, property, income and household belongings. These events push vulnerable groups and communities further into a cycle of poverty. As warmer global temperatures melt ice caps and glaciers, sea-level rise is one of the clearest impacts of climate change, resulting in more water flowing into the oceans. About a third of Bangladesh’s land is in the low-lying coastal zone, which is inhabited by 35.1 million people. So even modest sea-level rise will cause significant challenges to people trying to make a living and support their families. One partner, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), is committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of marginalised people and communities. Because of rising sea levels, groundwater has become salinised, and this has an impact on local duck farmers whose local breeds often become ill and unproductive. CCDB provides people with a particular breed of duck, the Campbell, developed in England in the 19th century, which is more resistant to saline water and produces more eggs. Roban Biswas, a duck farmer from Mitradanga village in Gopalganj district, explains: 'Before CCDB’s support I reared local ducks, but they do not lay many eggs. Local ducks are getting diseases because of the salty water, and they die. They are not resilient to this. But now I have received training, and a different breed of duck. It is a Campbell duck, they lay more eggs and they have been vaccinated so they are less affected.' From CA website ST.JAMES’ CHURCH MEETING NOTES FEBRUARY 2016 Nineteen people attended this Church Meeting, which was chaired by Revd. Richard Mortimer. We began by exchanging news of the church family: Audrey Forrest, Joan Gowlett and June Nugent had been visited recently and they are all being well looked after. Roy Allen had been in hospital and is no longer able to attend church. Stuart Tanner has been selected for the Team GB World Championship Triathlon which will take place in Oklahoma on September 16th and Margaret and Peter Minolettti are looking forward to having another grandchild in August. One of the chimneys in the manse is to be removed due to recurring dampness in that area, and the old church tower is to undergo an inspection. We are soon to have new church notice boards and our church name will also be replaced at the front of the porch, which will be a big improvement. We heard from our Treasurer that we need to have Safeguarding and Health & Safety Policies in place to comply with new Synod regulations and we need to review our Church Constitution, so more work for the Elders to see to! The next Churches’ Together Meeting was due to take place at St. James’ on 29th February, when the pre-Easter Commuter Outreach at Buckhurst hill Station would be among the subjects for discussion. We heard about plans for a series of five Forest Group Services which will be held on Thursday evenings at different churches in the group, apart from one on Thursday 25th August which will be held at 11am. The first of these services will be a Taize Service held at Woodford Green UFC at 8pm on 14th April in candlelight. There is also to be a Forest Group Prayer Walk followed by a barbecue on Sunday 12th June, so let’s hope the weather holds out for that. We heard that Buckhurst Hill Residents’ Society are to have a Celebratory Tea on Friday 6th May at St. James’, in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday and that The Bible Society is producing a booklet also to celebrate her birthday entitled, ‘The Servant Queen And The King She Serves.’ It was suggested we could purchase some of these booklets and distribute them at the Residents’ event. We won’t be having a Church Meeting in March, as the fourth Sunday of the month is Easter Day when we will be worshipping at Chingford URC, so our next Meeting will be on April 24th and will be chaired by Mona Shahbaz as part of her placement training with the Forest Group. Mona will also be leading our Mothering Sunday Parade Service on March 6th so she is getting lots of different experiences as she prepares to become an ordained minister in the URC. It has been good to have her with us and to help with her training. Isabel Bala ST JAMES’ PRAYER PARTNERS Val - Louise, Margaret M. – Steven, Isabe l- Marisa, Diane – Graham , Kathleen T. – Eileen Someetimes faith comes hard. When I am tired or confused; sick at heart or in body; when my best efforts seem wasted; when it apears my prayers have not been heard. I look around and the whole world seems grey, no light, or dark, or purpose or meaning. My soul yearns for you- Where are you, Lord? God of all times, grant me faith to see that you are always there: near me, around me and within me, my source of strength and my hiding place. Praise be to you! Karen Campbell |
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