Highbury News December 2012

New

sFebru

ary 20

09

Highbury Congregational Church

Oxford Street. Cheltenham. GL52 6DUwww.highburychurch.co.uk

New

sD

ecember 2

01

2

Highbury News - 2 - December 2012

Deadline for January Highbury News: 9th December

... to a number of things overChristmas, whether with the family orat church.And I guess you invite other people tospecial things around Christmas timetoo!Personal invitations make such adifference!So why not make a point of selecting acouple of things from all our Christmasactivities, and invite someone to joinyou and come along to somethingspecial.There’s a different feel to Christmas atHighbury this year as we have broughtin some changes to give a fresh leaseof life to the way we celebrate

Christmas. So the challenge is to finda couple of events that you could invitesomeone to come along to.It might be a Candlelit Carol Servicewith mince pies café style in churchjust before Christmas, or our children’sNativity a week earlier than usual aswe meet together ‘in the inn’ only tofind there’s no more room for somelate arrivals!It might be to our messy Christingleservice when we welcome the PeaceLight, starting with refreshments and achance to put the Christingles together.It might be our Christmas Café or ourAdvent service with the choir.Whatever it is, why not invite someone!

You are invited ...

Highbury Congregational Church belongs tothe Congregational Federation and is in partnership with

the Council for World Mission and Churches Together

www.highburychurch.co.uk

[email protected]

01242 522050


Any room at the inn?They are adding an extra couple ofstoreys to the Star Hotel in Bethlehem!That means it will be even morestunning in the brand new restaurantwith its panoramic views over MangerSquare and on into the distant,menacing remains of Herod’s summerpalace, the Herodion.It was wonderful to stay in Bethlehem,and to have meals in the top floorrestaurant, morning and night, lookingout over the modern city of Bethlehem.As Christmas approaches our thoughtsand prayers naturally turn toBethlehem. Having visited I find itdifficult to sing that most wonderful ofChristmas carols, O Little Town ofBethlehem. Sad to say it is no longerpossible to say, ‘how still we see theelie’. Better to join Graham Adams andsing of the ‘‘troubled’ town ofBethlehem’.Bethlehem is surrounded on threesides by the Wall, the separationbarrier. Movement out of the town onthe remaining side is restricted bycheckpoints, and by a network ofroads, forbidden to Palestinians, thatlink the ever increasing number ofsmall and very big new towns beingbuilt in the once beautiful countryside,that are described as ‘settlements’.It was disturbing back in October towelcome Rosamond Robertson and herfather, former Minister at Highbury,101 year old Lawrence Squires. Mostdisturbing of all was the way shedescribed so much that happens in the

Palestinian territories that never makesit on to the news.Rosamond asked us to do somethingabout it. Take care not to buy producefrom those settlements on the WestBank - although within the Palestinianterritories most of the fertile land in theJordan valley is forbidden toPalestinians. Make your point of viewknown to the authorities - write to yourMP on issues you feel strongly about,Rosamond urged. If you visit the HolyLand make sure you go on a tour thatwill enable you to meet the people ofPalestine as well as of Israel. Read andsupport the call of the Palesinianchurches in the Kairos PalestineDocument (see pages 20/21).

There will be a chance to purchasegoods made in Bethlehem at ourChristmas Café. Joanne Moston is nowinviting people to join her on apilgrimage to the Holy Land next May.See Sue Cole for more details!As Christmas approaches and ourthoughts go to the people inBethlehem, my thoughts will also turnback to my visit to Berlin in August.For most of my life it seemed utterlyimpossible, inconceivable to think thatthe Berlin Wall would come down, andthe cold war come to an end.And yet the Berlin Wall came down.The cold war came to an end.Taking a photo of Stefan, standingagainst a stretch of the wall thatremains in the memorial gardens, itstruck me how small it was comparedwith the wall I had seen in Bethlehem.

Minister’s Memo


The Bethlehem wall is three times theheight of the Berlin wall.Going into that church of reconciliationin what had been the death zone of thewall, and seeing that sculpture ofJosefina de Vasconcellos called simply‘Reconciliation’ was very moving in allsorts of ways.Immoveable mountains can be moved.The seemingly impossible can happen.I found myself holding on to the hopethat the wall in Bethlehem will someday come down, the seeminglypermanent state of conflict in theMiddle East will come to an end.I felt I wanted to re-commit myself tothat work of peace and reconciliationthat so many in that part of the worldare committed to.For our Nativity service, our ChristingleService, and our Candlelit Carol Servicewe are going to imagine we are in ‘theinn’ at Bethlehem. A week earlier thanusual the children will help us to ‘thinkourselves into the Christmas service’ asthey present a traditional nativity withsome unexpected twists.It was great last year getting togetherto make up the christingles and enjoyrefreshments. This year we are goingto do that around the tables in churchas if we were in the modern day ‘Inn’at Bethlehem, the Star Hotel. We willdiscover some startling similarities, aswe welcome the Peace Light fromBethlehem.On the Sunday morning beforeChristmas we are going to have aChristmas Communion and meet‘around the table’. And on the Sundaynight before Christmas the idea is to

invite people to ‘host a table’ as if wewere in a ‘candle-lit’ restaurant - andthen each table will be able to choosefavourite carols for us all to sing!Advent is a time of preparation forChristmas and we are going to startthat preparation as the Choir lead us ina special service of readings and musicon Advent Sunday evening.On the second Wednesday ofDecember we are going to have ourChristmas lunch and then go intochurch to enjoy Pittville School’s Year7 Carol Service - something veryspecial to look forward to.All our preparations will come to aclimax on Christmas Day itself, whenwe will have a special service for all thefamily and an opportunity to exchangeChristmas greetings, and enjoy somenew Christmas presents with oldfriends and new.The Sunday after Christmas will bespecial too, as we all join together in acelebration of Baptism as Chris andJustine Hale and Evan bring littleWilliam to be baptised.Our Christmas collection this year willbe going to CHIKS, Children’s Homesin Kerala State (see page 7), as we startto develop our links with CHIKS and asM:Ocean supports their childsponsorship scheme.And Sunday by Sunday we will beinviting people to contribute to CCP’sfoodshare programme (see page 15).In all we do at Christmas one of thehighlights for me this year, even morethan usual, will be welcoming thePeace Light from Bethlehem.


As we receive that light in the darknessof our church I will be thinking ofJesus, the Light of the World ... of ahope that the seemingly impossible willhappen and Bethlehem’s wall comedown!My thoughts will also be much closer tohome. There are seeminglyimmoveable mountains in all our lives,circumstances we face at home or atwork, health issues we have toconfront, that seem to be immoveablemountains. At times there seems noway through. And it can be particularlyunbearable at Christmas.

How important it is to look again atthat light in the darkness, recall thelight of Christ and remember that faiththe size of the tiniest of mustard seedsis what it takes to begin to movemountains!

Every blessing for Christmas.

Richard

TIM PORTER SPEAKS ON“THE MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS”

Friday 7th December at 2.30pmin All Saints’ Church, All Saints’ Road, Cheltenham

It is time to reflect on the beauty and mystery of the festive season, and thevast body of music that has been written for it over the centuries. The aim ofthis talk is to introduce a few gems which perhaps you may not know, and toweave them together with ideas and speculations that may set you thinkingafresh. Bach will feature, along with Haydn and Mendelssohn – but they will bejoined by some of the lesser known, who could still turn out a perfect tune thatremains a joy for ever.Tim Porter is an itinerant lecturer. He trained originally in music and worked asa composer in touring theatre during the 1970’s and 80’s. His career movedgradually into adult education and he has been a WEA tutor for nearly thirtyyears. He is a guest lecturer at museums including the Ashmolean. For him,context is key – whether relating a mediaeval building to its underlyinglandscape, or linking a symphony to the social background of a great musician.Tim believes in the power of the wider picture, and those lively connectionswhich bring the subject to life.Everyone is welcome!

Organised by the Friends of All Saints’ ChurchMembers free - Visitors £4 (including refreshments)


Again, the deadline for the DecemberNewsletter falls on RemembranceSunday and Christmas seems so farahead, but Richard and Carolyn havealready drawn up the programme forAdvent to focus our minds and heartson the meaning of the season. Wehave despatched our boxes toOperation Christmas Child and will beinterested to hear where they weresent. On the subject of children inforeign parts, I was surprised andthrilled when Richard proposed at theNovember church meeting thatHighbury might contribute financiallyto Chiks charity this Christmas.Highbury supported them in 2010 so Iam pleased that the meeting acceptedhis suggestion to repeat this support. Ido know that all funds go to wherethey are most needed, and where theycan make the greatest difference tothe lives of needy children.That November church meeting alsoaired the Deacons’ response tothoughts raised at 2012 churchmeetings and at the Weekend @Home, regarding the organisation ofChurch management and thepossibility of restructuring. Any futurechanges or modifications would beintroduced gradually and with fullconsultation (see pages 12/13).

Did you have cake on your birthday? Ihad a Palestinian Supper on mine!When you reach a certain decade youdo not expect to meet an individualwho strongly influenced your formativeyears. One such person for me wasRev Lawrence Squires who alsoattended that supper with Rosamond,Ian and Heather. What a remarkablecharacter he still is!On the same occasion, Joanne Mostonwas inviting people to join in her next(final?) Holy Land Pilgrimage ... who isto join her this time? I can highlyrecommend the experience.The time for gifts may be upon us butone can have too much of a goodthing. Felicity started a book exchangebox in response to withdrawal oflibrary facilities at a residential home.This has led to generous, butunwarranted, donations of books by somany people so that the box is nowoverflowing creating an untidy andunmanageable jumble. So, Thank Youand PLEASE, NO MORE BOOKS untilfurther notice.At this special time, I take thisopportunity to wish everyone well, withan enjoyable and meaningfulChristmas season.

Sue’s News

Highbury LunchThis month the Christmas lunch will be held onWednesday 12th December at 12.00 noon.

All are welcome to come along,bring your friends and neighbours -

but just let the Cooking Team know you are coming!


Chosen Charity for December:CHIKS - Children’s Homes In Kerala State

There was a brief history and outlineof the work of the Chiks charity in theDecember 2010 Highbury News, andits founder and co-ordinator, RobinRadley addressed the Highburycongregation last June. A synopsis ofhis entertaining update was that, likemost charities, Chiks is struggling tomeet the needs of our friends in India.Donations from Britain have droppedand prices of even the most basicrequirements of life in India haveescalated. Demands for help have alsorisen, so a vicious circle is in place.Since 1999, through Chiks, oneChildren’s home, Karunanilayam, hasbeen established and two others havebeen given great support. All threehomes are in the state of Kerala,South India, a region also known as‘Gods Own Country’ for its beautifulscenery. Unfortunately, beauty doesnot always mean wealth.Karunanilayam, is run by Sister MaryMathew, and currently over 30children are resident. They are fed,clothed, educated and, most of all, arehappy. I’ve been associated with Chikssince 2002, and seen expansion of thehome from a single house to anextensive plot of multi-purposebuildings.Likewise, the two homes in themountain regions of Kerala, LittleFlower Mercy Home and, even moreremote, Carmel Matha Santhi Bavanhave much to thank Chiks for.Little Flower Mercy Home was startedover 20 years ago by Molly and

Mathew Manuel to shelter onehundred destitute and mentally-handicapped adults. Seeing a need forshelter for wandering children morerecently, their scope has widened.Again, purpose built buildings havebeen erected, but already they are fullto overflowing, partly because theIndian government has decreed thatboys and girls must not share thesame facilities.Carmel Matha Santhi Bavan, run byBrother Joy Daniel, houses boys of allages. The help of Chiks has also seenthat home rebuilt and extended; andsignificantly, a large area of farmlandpurchased with a view to self-sufficiency. The land was alreadyplanted with banana, coconut, coffeetrees and rice paddy.Those are the successes. Now, thedisappointments:-Each month there are worries that billswill be met and food available. Meathas become a treat rather than aregular part of the diet.At Karunanilayam, children havegrown up, and will leave school. Thenwhat? A training centre was plannedto teach sewing skills and I.T. to thegirls, also to be open to other girls inthe neighbourhood. That project isnow on hold, indefinitely.Little Flower had an adjacent largeplot of farmland on the market whichwould have been ideal for self-sufficiency. Chiks could not raise theasking price (which was hiked when


the seller realised European financewas involved). However, a generouslandowner has offered a smaller plotwhere a new boys’ home can now bebuilt.Carmel Matha Santhi Bavan farmlandneeds fencing to prevent theft ofproduce by needy neighbours. Again,insufficient funds are available.If you actually see for yourself thehappy faces of these childrencompared with the faces of thosebegging on the roadside, emotions aretouched.Some have horrific backgrounds ...death or illness of parents, desperatepoverty leading to alcoholism andsuicide. A boy saw his father step outin front of a train, another spent hisfirst years tied to a table then wasgiven away in exchange for a cookingpot. More recently, a boy raised insqualor with an idle drunken fathersaw his mother die in agony afterbeing beaten and poisoned by thefather. While the man is in prison theboy is now safe in one of the homes.

Children may be from unknownorigins, could be Christian, Hindu,Moslem or Buddhist. All join in dailyprayers to Jesus to give thanks fortheir blessings, for Chiks and forsupporters in the UK. All the Homesare sustained by an abundance oflove, faith and prayer. Need I say thatmore support is always needed.India has great wealth but, thus far,no welfare system. It could be decadesbefore cultural traditions, the castesystem and dowries (both of which aretechnically illegal) and responsibilityfor the destitute change.Meanwhile, children do not deserve tosuffer, and Chiks is doing all it can toensure that some don’t.The work goes on. Robin’s regular‘Letter from India’ is always cheerfuland optimistic, but so oftenfrustratingly disappointing that morecannot be achieved as fast as hisaspirations would wish!

Sue Cole

Christian Aid CarollingSaturday 22nd December - Carol Singing for Christian Aid

at Sainsburys Oakley - the LOCAL one!10.00 - 11.00am

Last year it was at the Tewkesbury Road store, butthis year we have secured a place at the localSainsburys which is easier for the singers.Highbury are ‘on’ between 10 and 11am to singtheir Christmas Carol hearts out!Warm clothing usually essential as it can bedraughty standing in the doorway!

Laura MacLeod


Children’s WorkerIt’s exciting to be making plans forChristmas and I’m looking forward tosome great events at Highbury.Recently I have been thinking how onething leads to another… Holiday Clubwas a lovely time where we had theopportunity to meet new families andto become reacquainted with otherswho join us for the club each year.Likewise, the Starlight Party was suchfun and brought 50 children, manychildren from St John’s School, into StLuke’s (see Bethany’s article below).Both these have brought newmembers to Transformers and in turnwe now have new families to invite toour Christmas events and celebrations.Some families are now joining us for afew regular activities: Toddlers, Hy-Speed etc. and it’s great to get to knowthem, and to share friendship andoutreach in this way.All these things happen because a fewpeople decided to discover and usetheir gifts, maybe to step out a bit witha personal challenge to grow and puttheir faith into practice and … onething leads to another!

Richard is putting together his ideas forour Nativity Service, on Sunday 16th

December, which will be based onsome interruptions that occurred in theChristmas story. We can all expectsome interruptions (some welcome,some not so!) as we make our ownseasonal preparations.At the Christmas Café, on Saturday 8th

December, there will be an opportunityto walk through the Christmas storyonce more, this time focusing on thecharacters and how their lives wereinterrupted, and how they in turninterrupted into each other’s lives.Maybe we will be able to look back onthis Christmas and see how the variousinterruptions we experienced haveenhanced our celebrations and workedfor the good of our faith and our lives.God made the ultimate interruptioninto history by being born as babyJesus. I hope He interrupts whateverwe are planning this year too!

Carolyn Tennant

The Starlight PartyAt the starlight party this year, we enjoyed a fun range ofactivities, including crafts, a treasure hunt and a disco. Ibrought my friend from St Luke’s church with me. Her nameis Gigi and she is my friend at school. My favourite part wasthe disco.

Bethany

Jesus spoke to the people, and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoeverfollows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12


Two local Police Officers were invited to visit Transformers on Tuesday 13th

November.This idea came from the ‘Redeeming our Communities’ meeting.The children prepared questions to ask the Officers, and also a prayer to readat the end.Their questions were:Lewis: What would it be like if there weren’t any police? What is the most dangerous thing you have done?Matthew: Why did you decide to be a police officer? Do you ever pick up injuries? How often are you called out? What are the differences between the American police & ours?Emi: Do you have other pets than dogs working with the police?

How many prisoners have you caught this year?Tabi: How long does it take to train to be a police officer? How do you arrest someone? What else do you do apart from arresting people?Mali: How often do you go out?Chloe: Why did you want to be a police officer?Grace: What is the best thing about being a police officer?Shared questions: What is the worst thing about being a police officer? Do you have a police dog?

So, when you speak to the children,remember to ask them what the answers were!

Prayer: Dear God,

We pray that the police will be kept safe and that the police animals will be protected.Help them try and stop crime and never give up trying.Help the police keep people safe from strangers.Help them to face their fears. Amen.

Transformers’ Police Visit


Is There Room?Celebrating Christmas at Highbury

Sunday 2nd December - Advent Sunday 6-30pmThe Choir leads a special service to mark the start of Advent

with readings and music, preparing the way for our celebrations

Saturday 8th December 10-00am to 12-00 - Christmas CaféHome made cakes and Nicaraguan Coffee at our special Café

together with all the fun of Hy-Speed’s scalextric racing,gifts to buy, fair trade stall, Palestinian crafts from Bethlehemand the Christmas story to share - with friends from St Luke’s

Wednesday 12th December 12-00pm Christmas Lunchfollowed by Pittville School Year 7 Carol Service

Sunday 16th December 10-30amNo room at the Inn -

a children’s Nativity service with an unexpected twist

Wednesday 19th December 6-00pmChristingle Service welcoming the Peace Light

We’ll be serving refreshments and making the Christinglesfrom 6-00pm, with the service beginning at approximately 6-45pm

Sunday 23rd December 10-30am - A Christmas Communion

Sunday 23rd December 6-30pm - Candlelit Carol ServiceHost a table, enjoy mince pies, and choose your favourite carols

Christmas Day 10-30amCome and join the celebration, meet old friends and new

and be sure to remember to bring something from your stocking!!

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!There is room in my heart for Thee.


It was great to come together at ourWeekend @ Home in September andidentify three things to focus on in thelife of the church, over the next sixmonths: Mission and Outreach,Personal Faith and Prayer, Renewaland Gifts.In all things, Christ is at the centre ofall we are as a church.Mission and Outreach is very muchat the heart of all we do – LorraineGasside is already taking bookings forthe next Church Weekend Away atBrunel Manor, Torquay, from 14th to16th June 2013.We are going to welcome JonathanRowe to join us that weekend and helpus think through what it means to havemission at the very heart of the life ofthe church. Jonathan has a passion formission, having worked with SAMS inMadrid for so long, and is now verymuch involved as Director of the Westof England training course in equippingchurches to be involved in mission.Book with Lorraine, and make itanother memorable weekend!How we deepen our Personal Faithand Prayer is something very muchmore personal but also key to the lifeof our church family. It’s something wewill be seeking to develop in ourSunday services in the new year.The group that reflected on Renewaland Gifts observed that growth oftendemands pruning! It is about sevenyears since we undertook a review ofthe way we organise our church life,

identifying an area of responsibility foreach of our twelve Deacons toundertake. Everyday tasks wereshared out with each Deacon takingresponsibility to see that the taskswithin their area of responsibility werecarried out.At first this worked well – the twelveareas of responsibility matched theDiaconate at the time.Over time this system has worked lesswell. One problem has been theexpectation that responsibilities areshared out among a group of electedDeacons.The Deacons have been consideringhow to ensure that things run moreeffectively, and have asked whetherwe need to tweak the currentarrangements or re-imagine thestructures of the church.When changes were introduced toCharity Legislation it was apparent thatsooner or later we would be expectedto register as a charity. We had set upa small group to look at adopting thenew model trust deed prepared by ourTrustee body, the CongregationalFederation Ltd, which would take intoaccount changes in charity law. Thatgroup had put together proposedalterations to that document, whichthey will review, as it might well havea bearing on the shape of any re-structuring.The group responsible for PastoralCare, David and Betty Butcher, Philand Joyce Arnold, Diana Adams, Kate

Highbury Congregational ChurchNow and the Future


Blazey and Richard Cleaves, had alsoidentified weaknesses in the PastoralVisiting scheme that had been set inplace 45 years ago, and which hascontinued more or less in the sameway all that time.Meeting after Highbury@Home, andputting these reflections together, theDeacons felt that the time was right forus to re-imagine the structures of thechurch, and not just tweak thearrangements that have been in placefor seven years.They felt the best way forward wouldbe to seek help from an ‘outsider’ whohad not been involved in, and was notaware of, Highbury; but they realisedthe importance of seeking someonewho had an understanding of ourCongregational way of being thechurch.A small group was set up to identifysuch a person and to take thingsforward: Sue Cole, Jean Gregory, IainMacLeod and Richard Cleaves.This group met on Tuesday 30th

October, and we had already soughtguidance from other churches thathave gone down a similar path, whenwe presented our ideas and aproposed time-scale to the NovemberChurch Meeting.We felt there was a need to takeenough time for people to be able tothink through any proposed changes,without taking up an undue amount oftime. If you have any thoughts, pleaselet one of the four people in this groupknow.We have already been in contact withAlisdair Longwill, Regional Minister for

the West of England BaptistAssociation, who lives near Stroud.The planning group met again onWednesday 14th November to takethings forward in the light of meetingwith this contact.The December Deacons’ meeting willreceive a report from the group.That means that by the ChurchMeeting on Thursday 3rd January weshould have a clearer picture of thekind of structures we are exploring,and also the launch of a focus on Giftsthat we will then explore further in ourSunday services.By the Annual Meeting on Thursday 5th

March we would hope to have anoutline of a proposed structure for usthen to put a shape to.We would hope to start implementinga process of change after Easter, andhave in place a new structure that’s upand running in time for the Deacons’elections process that starts at thebeginning of January 2014, and istherefore fully in place at the AnnualMeeting March 2014.This whole process needs to beunderpinned with quite specific prayerfor the future of our church.

Richard Cleaves


CONGRATULATIONS to- Bridgette Hyett, our Church Caretaker, who has become a grandmother again,with the arrival of Bobby and George, twin boys for Abigail, and brothers forToby and Carmen. Please remember all in the family at this joyful but busy time!- Lynda Ingram on passing her Driving TestBEST WISHES to- William Hale on the occasion of his Baptism on Sunday 30th December, andalso to his parents Chris and Justine, and big brother EvanOUR SYMPATHY to- Iain and Laura MacLeod, Eilidh and Ceitidh, Iain’s parents especially his Dad,and all in the family, following the death of Iain’s Grandma on Thursday 1st

November, aged 101. She has lived a wonderful long life on Stornaway, and diedvery peacefully in a nursing home where she had been for a short time andreceived excellent care- Darryl Mills and all in his family, following the unexpected death of his Gran,Eileen Mills, on Thursday 1st November in Cheltenham General Hospital after avery short illness- Chris and James Martin, and all in their family and their friends following thedeath of Chris's mother, Agnes, on Monday 12th November- Maurice Wilce, on the tragic deaths of his cousin Henry and wife Jane in amotor accident in FrancePLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS all those mentioned above, and- Elaine in Bosnia with the Christian Charity 'Prime' helping to provide clinics andeducation- Joan Lee - Neil Gasside- Joyce Moore - Ruth Adams- Roger Gregory’s mother in Exmouth- Maureen Williams, facing an eye operation- Margaret Morgan who has broken her ankle, and her husband Ray- many others with long-term health issues, or burdened in some way, in needof care and support; not forgetting those, so often overlooked, who provide careAPPRECIATIONSWe would like to extend our warmest thanks to everyone at Highbury for theirkind thoughts, prayers and visits which have sustained us during the past year.Thank you all so much, and we look forward to our early return to Highbury.

Margaret and Ray Morgan

News of the Church Family


CCP FoodshareCCP is an emergency food distribution service for people andfamilies in times of crisis, and at present their stocks are extremely low.The scheme provides food parcels to cover the immediate crisis, or to givesupport in the intervening period before statutory agencies can beginongoing longer term financial assistance.There is an urgent need for all non-perishable food, in particular meat basedproducts such as tinned curry, minced beef, tinned stew, Fray Bentos pies,corned beef, tinned ham etc..Donations of staple foods such as rice, pasta and mash, packet and othertinned foods are also needed.

Please remember that gifts for the foodshare box,located at the back of the church,

are needed every Sunday.Lorraine Gasside

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS, AND VISITING REQUESTS please contact:

Joyce and Philip Arnold ( 01242 285705

David and Betty Butcher ( 01242 300581

PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS please contact:

Lorraine Gasside ( 01242 239838 [email protected]

Ukebox Jury ConcertMany thanks to all those who attended the Ukebox Jury Concert, and toeveryone who helped by selling tickets and baking and donating cakes.The Concert raised £244 for church funds.As well as us enjoying hosting them, they very much enjoyed playing for us.They admired our church and would be keen to return. Comments on supportinga return visit would be welcome.

Lorraine and Neil Gasside, Tricia and John Stone

Highbury Community CaféOpen on Thursdays from 10.00am until 11.30am

EXCEPT THURSDAY 27th DECEMBERCoffee, Tea, and Homemade CakeBring your friends and neighbours!


Day Meeting Contact Tel. Number

Sunday 10-30am Morning Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 6-30pm Evening Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 7-15pm Hy-Tec Adrian Blazey

Monday 6-45pm Scouts Andy Sargent

Tuesday 9-45am Toddlers Felicity Cleaves

Tuesday 5-45pm Transformers Carolyn Tennant

Wednesday 9-30 am Prayer Group Katherine Stanley

Wednesday 2-00pm Hy-Way Jenny Bartlett

Wednesday 6-15pm Cubs Felicity Cleaves

Wednesday 6-00pm Brownies Christine Lodge

3rd Wednesday 8pm House Group Sharon Wallington

Thursday 10 - 11.30 Community Café Felicity Cleaves

Thursday 7-30pm Church Meeting

Deacons’ Meeting

Open the Book

Hope Group

Sue Cole

Richard Cleaves

David Butcher

Friday 7-00pm Guides Tania Ashdown

Friday 7-30pm Choir Mary Clifford

Saturday 10-00am Beavers Amanda Sargeant

1st Saturday 2-30pm Friendship Group Olga Slack

2nd Saturday 6.30pm Hy-Speed Peter Tennant

Sunday 9-30 am Hy-Spirit Mary Buchanan

Hy-WayWe meet on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays in the Morton Brown Room

from 2.00pm to 3.45pm and all are welcome to join us!Help is needed in a variety of ways. It’s a great group and fun to be with.

Please contact me to find out more.Jenny Bartlett( 01242 231644 - [email protected]


Calendar for December 2012

Saturday 1st 2.30pm Friendship Group for those who live alone

SUNDAY 9th 9.00am Sunday Special 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm Evening PrayersTuesday 11th 5.45pm TransformersWednesday 12th 12.00 noon Highbury Christmas Lunch – see page 6

followed by Pittville School Year 7 Carol ServiceThursday 13th 7.30pm Open the Book – see page 22

SUNDAY 16th 10.30am Nativity at The Inn 6.30pm Evening PrayersTuesday 18th 9.45am Toddlers’ Christmas PartyWednesday 19th 6.00pm Christingle Service welcoming the Peace Light from BethlehemSaturday 22nd 10.00am Carol Singing for Christian Aid – see page 8

SUNDAY 2nd ADVENT SUNDAY 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm Advent Service led by Highbury Choir with Holy CommunionTuesday 4th 8.00pm Christ in All Things – Belonging at Highbury

Thursday 6th 7.30pm Deacons’ MeetingSaturday 8th 10.00am Christmas Café with Hy-Speed

SUNDAY 23rd 10.30am Morning Worship & Christmas Communion 6.30pm Candlelit Carol Service – with mince pies!Tuesday 25th CHRISTMAS DAY 10.30am Christmas Day Celebration Worship

SUNDAY 30th 10.30am Morning Worship and the Sacrament of Baptism 6.30pm Evening Prayers


Prayer Rota for Sundays in DecemberMorning

Sunday 2nd December Sharon Wallington Sunday 9th December June Tremlett Sunday 16th December Children’s Nativity Sunday 23rd December Richard Cleaves Sunday 30th December Adrian / Kate Blazey

EveningSunday 2nd December Highbury Choir

S.W. Midlands Area of the Congregational Federationinvites us to pray for …

Sunday 2nd December North Nibley Sunday 9th December Kingswood, Wotton under Edge Sunday 16th December Those without a home Sunday 23rd December The expectation of Christ’s birth Sunday 30th December Refugees and Asylum seekers

Prayer Focus - District 12Tom and Nicky Archer, Eleanor, Harry and Poppy

Phil and Joyce ArnoldTania Ashdown (Guide Leader)

David and Betty ButcherRichard and Julie Gilpin, Ruby and Poppy

Christopher and Caroline Gregory Vera Januszczak Stan and Ann Jones Brenda Lamb Joan Lee Betty Littley Barbara Murrell Claire Mortimer-White, Megan, Esther and Dulcie Matt and Ruth Noonan and Jessica Mary Michael John and Angela Pickles Heather Pickles Edna Price Paula Rea Janet Rhodes Anne Saunders Diane Seabourne Cindy Thomas

Ron and Joan Wakeman, and MeganNeil and Elaine Williams, Aimee, Jessica and George

Deacon: John PicklesVisitors: Anne Saunders and Janet Rhodes


Following Rosamond Robertson’s inspirational and challenging talk and adelicious Palestinian meal on the Saturday evening, Rosamond spoke againduring Sunday morning worship, and continued to challenge us and reallymaking us ‘think’.Rosamond’s father, Lawrence Squires, a former minister of Highbury who is now101, thanked Highbury for the warm welcome he had received, and continuedto speak in a voice as strong as it was back in the 1950s and 1960s!He said: “I look back on my ministry at Highbury with affection.Though it is over 50 years since I was minister here I’m going to refer to asermon I preached then on ‘Relationships’ and our need to maintain ourrelationships with God in particular.But also with others, especially in the home as that is where so many oftoday’s problems start. The need (for example) for husbands and wives tokeep some of the habits and endearments they had enjoyed at the beginning oftheir life together.One Deacon, Mr Talvan Rees, whom some of you will remember, went homeand threw his arms around his wife, Elvie (who had not been at the service thatday) and gave her a smacking great big kiss! “What’s the matter with you?” shedemanded. “Mr Squires told me to come and do it,” was the reply!God threw his arms of love around us, in sending his Son to be our Saviour.Christ, in his turn, threw his arms of love around us when he gave us the cupand the bread. What do we do to show our love to him?The success of a church depends on its success in just that: helping people showtheir love for God. Highbury is more successful in doing this than many churchesI know. May it always be so, and may Richard continue to be blessed in helpingpeople show their love for God as long as they live.

Three things to pass on … So much we have received So much there is to pass on. Faith the size of a grain of mustard seed Faith to move mountains Faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour and Lord. Hope against hope Hope that cannot be vanquished Hope unseen and yet so real in the Spirit of God. Love for God and for neighbour Love for enemy too Love that is the very nature of the God who is love. Faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these is love.

Palestinian Weekend


Rosamond Robertson spoke passionately about

Kairos Palestine: The Iona Call 2012challenging Christians in Britain and Ireland to speak out for justice in

Palestine, and she has sent the following for inclusion in Highbury News

We, a group of Christians from manyparts of the UK and beyond, gatheredon the Isle of Iona in Pentecost week2012. Under the guidance of Rev. Dr.Naim Ateek(1) and Dr. MarkBraverman(2) we considered ourresponse to the Kairos Palestinedocument: “A Moment of Truth - aword of faith, hope, and love from theheart of Palestinian suffering” (2009).This is our kairos moment – ourmoment of truth. We are called torespond boldly to the deepeningsuffering of our sisters and brothers inPalestine under occupation by Israel.We stand in faithfulness and solidaritywith Palestinians and Israelis who areworking tirelessly for a peace based onjustice.We believe it is necessary to challengethe deafening silence of mostchurches in the face of the continuinginjustice of dispossession and denial ofbasic human and political rights. Weagree with the Kairos document thatthe occupation by Israel is “an evil anda sin.”Therefore:

We ask our churches andtheological institutions tochallenge how the Bible hasbeen used to justifyoppression and injustice. Weencourage the developmentand use of educationalresources to raise awareness,

enrich worship and challengemisperceptions and apathy.Palestinian Christians havecalled us to “come and see”.We urge Christians toparticipate only in thosepilgrimages which giveopportunity to listen to theexperiences of Palestiniansand engage with the harshrealities of occupation.We support Palestinians intheir non-violent resistance toIsraeli injustice andoppression. We endorse theircall for boycott, disinvestmentand sanctions (BDS) andother forms of non-violentdirect action.We call on Christians to putpressure on governments andthe European Union todemonstrate a commitmentto justice for Palestinians andsecurity for all people.

In pursuit of the above we intend toestablish a UK Kairos network, linkedto the Kairos Palestine globalmovement, to alert our churches tothe urgent situation in Palestine. Wechallenge Christians and churches toengage in prayerful study of the KairosPalestine document in openness towhat the spirit is now saying to thechurches (Revelation 2.7). We mustread the signs of the times and act inobedience to God's will (Matthew 16.3).


Difficult though this journey may be,we seize this kairos moment withconviction and hope. We recognise ourresponsibility as followers of JesusChrist to speak the prophetic word withcourage.We are called to respond to thequestion from Palestinian Christians:“Are you able to help us get ourfreedom back, for this is the only way

you can help the two peoples attainjustice, peace, security and love?”

(Kairos Palestine 6.1)

(1) Palestinian Christian Theologian,Founder and Director of Sabeel inJerusalem(2) Author: Fatal Embrace. Christians,Jews, and the search for peace in the HolyLand

Rosamond also recommends the following two websites ...Amos Trust which promotes justice and hope for forgotten

communities at www.amostrust.organd Kairos Palestine website at www.kairospalestine.org.uk

Prayer of a Reluctant Leader

Joe SeremaneLifelines/Christian Aid (adapted)

You asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose, I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them for the work was hard.You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice. I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.You asked for my life that you might work through me. I gave a small part that I might not get too involved.Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you only when it is c onvenient for me to do so, only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only in those who make it easy to do so.Lord, forgive me, renew me, heal me, nurture me, empower me, send me out as an instrument of your peace

that I might take seriously the meaning of servant-leadership.

Amen.


Open the BookWho is this Jesus?

Thursday 13th December 7-30 to 9-00At the heart of the Christian faith is not a creed or a statement of faith but aperson, Jesus Christ. I have become more and more convinced that whatmakes us distinct in our Christian faith is this Jesus Christ. But who is thisJesus?Having looked at a day in the life of Jesus, at some of the stories he told toexplain what the Kingdom of God is like, and at the conversation he had withhis disciples when he asked them who he was, we are now going to dip intothe opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel. As Christmas approaches they pointtowards the coming of one who would turn the world upside down!Do join us as we open the book and share together our insights into who thisJesus is.Thursday 13th December Luke 1 - 2 Who is this child to be born?

Church Weekend Away 2013We are going to Brunel Manor, near Torquay, Devon, from Friday 14th toSunday 16th June. Please give it some thought and booking will begin inNovember.For those who have not been before, we would love you to join us. Theweekend starts with dinner on Friday evening and finishes with a Sundaycarvery lunch, all meals are included.

Prices remain the same at £129 for Adults, £65 for age 13-18,£32 for age 6-12, free for under 5’s.

Please ask for a booking form to complete,and a deposit of £40 per adult will secure your booking.

Any queries please contact me:Lorraine Gasside – 01242 239838 - [email protected]

Brunel 2013 Planning MeetingThis will be on Wednesday 9th January at 8.00pm at Highbury.

It is an Open Meeting for anyone and everyone interested in helpingwith the planning for our Church Weekend Away 2013.You and all your ideas will be most welcome!

So, put the date in your new diary now, and come along!


Chosen CharitiesCommunion offerings and money donated at coffeetime after morning worship this month, and ourChristmas offering, will go to our chosen charity forDecember which is CHIKS - Children’s Homesin Kerala State - see page 7.

The total raised by our communion offerings and bythose who stayed for coffee after morning servicesin October for Listening Post amounted to£176.11

Welcoming Team for DecemberSunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGJean Gregory Darryl MillsJanet Rhodes Rachel JacquesTricia Stone

Vestry DutySunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGJohn Lewis John Pickles

An invitation to you allTuesday 1st January 2013

Please join us for a walk, then a bring and share lunch,and a lazy afternoon!

Meet at our house, 10 Albert Road,at 11.00am. The walk will not betoo strenuous, but stout shoes orboots, and warm / waterproofclothes are essential! Lunch will beat 1.00pm, non-walkers are verywelcome! For more informationplease ’phone us –

Jean and Roger Gregory 01242 526002


Christmas Present AppealGive a Gift

and Light up a Life!The Salvation Army needs your help to make Christmas special for children,families and others who have little or nothing under the tree at Christmas.

All new, unwrapped toys and gifts are welcomeand will be distributed in the community in time for Christmas.

The Salvation Army are keen for this to be an ecumenical appealso

Please bring your Christmas gifts of toys to:the Christmas Café on Saturday 8th December

Zambian UpdateIt looks as though we have now received all the letters Moffat had sent us -some of them seem to have been held up for a very long time. We have sentsome money to Moffat - via his Pastor - so that he can buy nourishing food, andhopefully there will be some money left over to pay his outstanding medical feesand/or the tests that he needs. Please pray for Moffat, for his healing, and alsofor a successful outcome to his appeal.Cecilia's headmistress has sent me her reports that cover the two years that shehas been at Chizya Christian School. (Cecilia had missed a couple of years ofschooling as her grandmother could not afford the fees. We are very grateful toour friends who are helping us with the fees.) Cecilia has been working hard andis making steady progress. She has done very well in English Language (86%)and Mathematics (72%). We have also received photographs of the school'sconcert in October to celebrate Zambia's 48th year of independence. They showthe children and teachers doing traditional dances and taking part in a worshipsession. I will bring them to Highbury to show you. Some worrying news aboutCecilia though. Her headmistress tells me that she is unwell and has beenabsent from school for three days. I don't know what's wrong. Susan Carter (ofPenwork Ministries) tells me that Cecilia may have to go into hospital. PenworkMinistries are blessing Cecilia by covering the cost of this. Please pray forCecilia's healing, and thank God for those who help provide for Cecilia and prayfor her and her father Moffat. Please also pray for good sales of the anthologyof poems and prayers 'HOPE -

Judi MarshPS. I have just heard that Cecilia is well again and back in school. She has hadmalaria, but has now finished her course of treatment.


“Do you get a good reception?”Listeners will know what I mean bythat. If you don’t get good reception,you find it hard to enjoy listening.“Do you give a good reception?” Thatis the question I’m asking this morning.To give a good reception is essentialto joyful living. In so many things weare intended to be at the receivingend.Hear again these words from theGospel: Jesus Christ … ‘came untohis own, and his own received himnot. But as many as received him,to them gave he the power (that isthe privilege, or right) to become thesons of God.’While we must ‘remember’ the wordsof the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It ismore blessed to give than to receive;’it is sometimes harder to be a receiverthan a giver. But the very nature ofGod the Creator is to provide, so weare primarily at the receiving end – notonly now as you listen to thisbroadcast, but in everything.The Apostle Paul asked the question,“What do you possess that was notgiven to you?” We might do well to goon asking that question ourselves.It’s a great thing to discover that realwealth lies in things that are given.

Having the grace to receivePart of our problem is that we so liketo be independent. But the

independence doesn’t spring fromcommon sense or Christian grace, andit deprives us of so much that isnecessary to life.Some people who are so grimly benton doing good might well heed the notentirely facetious question: “If you arein this world to help others, what are‘the others’ here for?”Or, as C S Lewis wrote: “There arepeople who live for others, you can tell‘the others’ by the hunted look in theireyes!”How much easier it can be to give aservice rather than to receive it! Askany invalid or physically disabledperson. Elizabeth Sheppard Jones, aparaplegic wheelchair user, makes thispoint about the grace of receiving, soeffectively in her book ‘I walk onwheels.’“I came to the conclusion a long timeago that it is a bad thing to bearresentment over being helped withanything. I don’t like being helpedwhen I can do a thing myself, but I trynot to resent it when help is offered,and when I really need it I accept itwillingly and, I hope, graciously, for Ihave found that it gives other peoplepleasure. I am quite able to post myown letters, for example, it is only amatter of taking a run at the kerb in mywheelchair and getting on to thepavement and pushing them into theletterbox. But as soon as I stop near a

From the Archives

Giving a Good ReceptionA sermon by Rev Eric J Burton, Broadcast during Family Church Worship

on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 16th July 1972


pillar box with letters in my hand I findI get so many offers to post them thatit would be selfish of me to refuse! Aman at Stoke Mandeville told me thatwhenever he went to post a pile ofletters (which, like me, he could doquite easily) he liked to spread a littlehappiness around by giving each letterto a different person to post! It is all,I suppose, a matter of pride, which initself is not a bad thing, but one doesneed to guard against it turning intothat most obnoxious of vices, falsepride. To give may be more blessedthan to receive, but to receive is moredifficult.”Those words apply just as much tothose of us who don’t live inwheelchairs. We can see from theGospels that Jesus didn’t despisereceiving. He accepted the hospitalityof the home of Mary and Martha, andthe costly oil from the alabaster box ofa prostitute who wanted forgiveness.He made good use of a boy’s picniclunch of loaves and fishes, andborrowed a fisherman’s boat. Heborrowed a penny, and was evenpleased to be given a donkey ride!Jesus began his earthly life in aborrowed stable, and ended part onein a borrowed grave.Jesus doesn’t ask us to beindependent. He come to those whohave a thirst for the spiritual, with theoffer “I am living water” yet hegraciously requests “Give me a drink”of a despised, foreign woman. Hecomes to those who are hungry for theonly way of life which is meaningful,saying “I am the bread of life” yetspeaks memorably about “When I washungry you gave me food”. The Gospel

record of Jesus oozes with the grace, ifwe may put it this way … ‘For what hehad received, the Lord was trulythankful.’Jesus gave a good and graciousreception. That is more than hereceived.‘He came unto his own, and his ownreceived him not.’ That text describeshis coming in a unique way. It is thecoming of a traveller expecting toreceive a good welcome as he comesto his rightful home. As we try to applythe text, the underlying question mustpersist: do we give a good reception?

ListeningTo turn your radio on is not enough.That won’t get you the best possiblereception. You have to turn it on to theright wave-band. And even that’s notenough, unless you are content just tohave a back ground noise. Somethingis required of you as well as your radio.To get the best reception you mustlisten.No less is required if we are to hear theWord of God. Jesus ends his parable ofthe sower with the words: ‘Listen then,if you have ears to hear with!’ Wehave to listen, and to listen intelligently.‘The Word became flesh’ in Jesus.Think of that - the Word of Godbecame animated. Sound and nowvision too, in Jesus!‘So the Word became flesh; he came todwell among us …’ and he got a badreception.Is it any better now? Are we giving Godin Jesus Christ a hearing? Giving agood reception requires listeningintently and intelligently.


OfferingThe text adds – ‘But as many asreceived him.’ That means anybodyand everybody. It includes us! TheChristian way of life is a gift God offersto us. The emphasis is not so much onour doing.This may be a point worth noting forthose who have almost given up thestrain and the struggle. The emphasisis rather on our accepting – giving agood reception to – what God in JesusChrist offers.A commoner cannot approach a kingwith the offer of friendship, it mustbegin with an approach from the king.It is so with God and us. You cannotachieve or earn salvation, howeverstrenuous your efforts.Sometimes we sing: ‘Not the labour ofmy hands can fulfil thy law’s demands;thou must save, and thou alone.’

ReceivingThere is the other side of the coin too– ‘As many as received him.’ Wemust take what God offers in ChristJesus if we are to possess it. Sobinding are the laws protecting therights and privileges of the privatecitizen in this country that not even theQueen may enter anybody else’s homeuninvited. Imagine Her Majesty waitingon your doorstep for a word ofwelcome! The Gospel situation is likethat.God’s gift awaits us. If anything is tohappen we must give a goodreception. Jesus breathed on thedisciples saying, ‘Receive the HolySpirit.’ That offer still holds now.

Paul, on his travels, found a number ofconverts of whom he asked, ‘Did youreceive the Holy Spirit when youbecame believers?’ That question stillholds now.They of old had to say, ‘No, we havenot even heard that there is a HolySpirit.’ But we have heard!Paul adds, ‘As many as are led by theSpirit of God, they are the sons of God… you have received the Spirit ofadoption.’In a home for deprived children a manand his wife had long since offered toopen their own home to little Jane. Thegreat day came when Jane was asked,“Would you like to come home with usand be our daughter? You can haveyour own bedroom, your own things…” Bewildered Jane asked, “But whatam I to do for all this?” “Nothing at all”came the reply, “Only accept us andlove us and be our child.”That is what is meant by the ‘Spirit ofAdoption.’ We are being called now togive a good reception to the love ofGod in Jesus Christ, and simply toacknowledge that we are his children.‘As many as received him, to them hegave the right to become the sons ofGod,’

BecomingOur listening – God’s offering – ourreceiving. The text names one thingmore – ‘Are you becoming …?Becoming one of the sons of God.’What does that mean? Surely we areall God’s children, everybody is? Werecognise that in Family ChurchWorship every time we pray ‘OurFather…’


Archbishop William Temple replied tothat question with the comment, “Thewriters of the New Testament … oftenimplied that God is the Father of allmen, but they do not speak of all menas his children; that expression isreserved for those who, by the graceof God, are enabled in some measureto reproduce his character.“The Christian Gospel speaks of twokinds of sons. There is the son whouses his home and all that it has tooffer, giving very little in return. Theson who ultimately, with no bond oflove or gratitude or desire for muchfurther relationship, leaves his father.Then there is the son who, all his life,realises something of what his fatherhas done for him; and as the yearspass the relationship between themgrows deeper. Both are sons ofcreation, but not of grace. Both areborn sons, but the second hasbecome a son too, by his recognisingand accepting the bond of love that hisfather offers.”If we become aware of God’s offeringand are in all sincerity ready to receive,we have the right to become

somebody – the ‘somebody’ God wantsus to be. That is what the text issaying. He will make us what we cannever make ourselves. You cannot livea complete life without giving a goodreception to Jesus Christ. Theimpression is sometimes given thatJesus comes to bring us to our knees.That is partially true. But he comes todo more than just that. It is no lesstrue that Jesus comes to stand us onour feet; to give us a new self-respect.A man very depressed by his past lifehad a neighbour who was an artist. Heworked for months on a portrait whichthe depressed man was finally invitedto see. He saw himself on the canvas,yet not himself, for the man in thepicture faced the world, head erect,shoulders back, hope and courage inhis eyes. “You think I am that?” heasked the artist. “You see that in me?Then that I will be.”Jesus ‘comes unto his own, and hisown receive him not. But as many asreceive him, to them he gives the rightto become the sons of God.’Nothing less than that!Give him a good reception now.

Quote of the Century“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, publicdebt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should betempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should becurtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to workinstead of living on public assistance.”

Cicero, 55 BC

So, evidently we’ve learned nothing in the past 2,067 years!

John Insoll


This yearDecember has5 Saturdays,

5 Sundays and5 Mondays.

Evidently thisonly happens

once every824 years.

Prayer Handbook 2013 - ‘Ordinary Time’ - £6 This Prayer Handbook prepares us for the ‘Journey of Life’

throughout the coming year.Being ‘faithful to God’ means learning how to Love, Live and Serve God

in all the ‘ordinary moments’ of life.If you would like a copy, please contact: Elsie Williams


W.S. TrenhaileFuneral Directors

Private Chapels

of ReposeApostle House

175 London Road

Charlton Kings

GL53 6HN

Tel: 01242 224897

Mason & StokesFuneral Directors

David MasonRichard Mason

Joy MasonA Family BusinessProviding a Caring

Day and Night Service

Tudor Lodge54 Hewlett Road

CheltenhamGL52 6AH

Tel: 01242 224877

Help and Advice onPre-Arranged Funeral Plans

DJLMAINTENANCE

Danny James-Locke

All aspects of propertymaintenance

Telephone 01242 233921

Mobile 07901 852536

Evening ServiceReaders’ Rota

The readers in December will be:

2nd December Highbury Choir 9th December Diana Adams16th December Martin Evans23rd December Candlelit Carols30th December Phil Arnold

I am using the names I alreadyhave, but if there are others whowould like to be included on thisrota please let me know.

Jonquil Harrison

Please support our advertisersand tell them you saw it here


A Sympathetic andUnderstanding ServiceWe’ll take care of all the arrangements

with care and sensitivityCall us 24 hours a day

Selim Smith & CoFuneral Directors

01242 52538374 Prestbury RoadCheltenham. GL52 2DJ

‘Helping Hands Catering’for all your catering needsSpecialists in funeral catering

Buffet tailored to suit all occasions

and dietary requirements

o Christenings o Wedding Anniversaries

o Birthday Parties o Celebrations

We can provide a full waitress service for your event,

including hire of crockery, cutlery, table linen

and flowers for tables,

either at your own home or chosen location.

Delivery only also available.

Contact: Julie Miller 01242 701127

mobile: 07909 917805

[email protected]

or Julia Howse 01242 861301

mobile: 07971 246431


Toddler Group / Transformers for school years 3-6 / Hy-Tec for 11s & overChoir/ Music, House & Prayer Groups / Christ in All Things - exploring faith

Hy-Way / Friendship Group / Scouting / Guiding / etc.For a chat, or to find out more, ring Richard Cleaves on 01242 522050

Sundays at 10.30amA time for all the Church family

to share in worship -groups for children and young people

The Olympics - the Last Word from Eric LiddellThe film has been re-released and made into a stage play that has run andrun (literally) in the West End. And every Medal Ceremony wasaccompanied by the beat of the theme tune. The Legacy of the Olympicsfor Eric Liddell was a lifetime of service of Jesus Christ which took him onmissionary service to China and to an early death in a Japanese internmentcamp. In his ‘Disciplines of the Christian Life’ he writes ...

The Christmas Story - The Christmas SpiritWe celebrate the birth of Jesus - God’s greatest gift to humanity. It’s aTime of Joy ... because of all he has meant to the world, and still meansto everyone who allows him into their hearts. Radiate that joy to others.Time for Unselfish Giving ... as God gave us his greatest gift this day, so wehave learned to give gifts to one anotherTime for being Thoughtful for Others ... this is the time when we can sharewith those who have heavy burdens to bear some of the material benefitsGod has given to us.Time for being Generous ... will you allow Jesus to become ruler of yourlife this Christmas, that the spirit of Christmas may dwell in your heart? Thespirit of Christmas is generous in outlook, kind in disposition, thoughtful forothers, sensitive to suffering, unselfish in giving. Happy are those who havethis spirit.

Sundays at 6.30pmquiet, reflective evening prayers

with a focus onBiblical teaching

Highbury Congregational Church

A place to share Christian friendship,explore Christian faith andenter into Christian mission

Highbury News December 2012

Documents

Transcript of Highbury News December 2012