Newsletter from the….

MIDHURST METHODIST

CHURCH

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October/November 2021

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SUNDAY SERVICES

10.00am – MORNING WORSHIP

For morning service with HOLY COMMUNION Please see Church Diary printed inside this Newsletter

Requests for BAPTISMS and WEDDINGS should be made to the Minister

The calling of

MIDHURST METHODIST CHURCH

is to

love God

and to

love our neighbours

* * * * *

We are committed to:

Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ As expressed in God’s word from the Bible

The worship of God at the centre of our lives

Demonstrating God’s love for everyone

Helping people grow in the Christian faith

Challenging injustices

Blessing the local community

From our minister…

Growing Vines As we pick our tomatoes – ripened on the vine – I am reminded of another kind of vine: the grape vine. In particular I think of Jesus’ comments in John 15 where he says, “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the gardener … I am the vine; you are the branches”. On the evening before he died Jesus is giving encouragement and challenge to his followers about how they will continue after he’s gone. There is much about loving one another, there is much about bearing fruit and there is also much about remaining connected with the vine. To point out the obvious - there is no difference between the vine and its branches. Without branches there is no vine. Without connection to one another, to stem and to roots, branches are simply twigs good for nothing but fire wood. In the Old Testament and therefore in Jesus’ mind and the minds of his followers, the vine – especially the true vine – stood for God’s people. As God’s people in Midhurst, we are called to be branches of the true vine and therefore to be identified as Christ in this place. That’s quite a challenge but it is also an encouragement – “if you remain in me you will bear much fruit.” Through worship, through regular reading and study of the Bible, through our prayer and through fellowship with one another where we can share our joys and sorrows and also our questions and insights, we remain connected with “the Vine”. This is not just an individual thing – we’re not on our own. We are connected to one another and there are regular opportunities for worship, prayer, reading, study of the Bible and fellowship together on Sundays, in small group study courses and in the new Café Church twice a month on Wednesday mornings. As Wesley said, “the New Testament knows nothing of solitary Christianity”. That is made real for us in the local church. As a connexional church our picture of the vine extends beyond the local church to the Circuit, District, Connexion and beyond. In Midhurst it is also made real for us by our relationship with congregations of other

denominations. As we begin to ‘get out more’ after lockdown we hope that these ecumenical opportunities will be resumed. The promise is that we will bear fruit if we remain connected with the Vine – in other words if we are a part of the vine, if we are Christ (Christians, ‘little Christs’), the vine in our own corner of the vineyard. Be encouraged, because by remaining faithful, by participating in worship, Bible reading and study, the groups and courses that give us opportunities as a local church, as a circuit or with other local congregations, we remain in the Vine and we will bear fruit. Principally we demonstrate that participation in the vine by our love for one another and those around us. The fruit we bear will be seen in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control – in us and in others. David

Café Church

This is a new mid-week fellowship which began on 1st September and will meet at 10.30am on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. There are readings, prayers and discussion but it

all starts with coffee and cakes etc. Please come along see what it is all about. And bring your friends!

Church Meeting

Our next Church Meeting is scheduled for 7th November at 11.30am

after morning worship. Please have any reports with Claire by 28th

October.

ALL WE CAN On Saturday 2nd October we have our Harvest supper when we hope to have a speaker from the Leprosy Mission. However, All We Can will still be the focus of our envelope collection at the Harvest Festival Service on Sunday 3rd October. The money from this will go to help communities in Zimbabwe take the necessary steps towards resilience and recovery from the devastating impact of Covid-19 and climate change on lives, livelihoods and local economies. A difficult challenge but, with our help, possible. This will be our only envelope collection for All We Can for the year to October 2022. Forms will also be available for any member of the congregation who wishes to make regular donations to support the work of this valuable overseas mission. Nearer Christmas the “Extraordinary Gifts” Catalogues will be available.

Dates for your Diary…

Christmas 2021

28th November – Advent Sunday service with Mrs Wendy Corney 12th December - Gift Service 12th December - Christmas Dinner 19th December - Carols at 4pm 25th December - Christmas Day celebration 26th December - no service in our Church 2nd January - normal services resume …assuming COVID allows

Harvest Festival 2021

Friday 1st October at 9.30am – decorating the Church. Saturday 2nd October at 6pm for 6.30 – Harvest Supper. There is no charge for the supper, but we ask for donations to cover expenses. Sunday 3rd October at 10am – Harvest Festival service, with Rev David Muskett. Our service will be broadcast live on YouTube as the Digital Service for the week. There will be the usual Harvest Envelope Collection for All We Can (see details elsewhere).

Donations of food will go to the Midhurst Food Bank.

If you are able to donate items from the list below would be

greatly appreciated, but all donations are very welcome.

Please make sure everything is in date and unopened.

Tins of:

Custard

Fish

Fruit

Meat

Potatoes

Rice Pudding

Soup

Vegetables

Long life juice

Squash

UHT Milk, including soya, oat etc

Sponge Puddings

Jam or spreads

Rice

Teabags

Deodorant

Shampoo

Shower gel/soap

Shaving foam

Cleaning products eg multipurpose cleaner

Washing powder

or gel

Washing up liquid

AUTUMN COURSE

York Courses

RECEIVING CHRIST

in five different ways

Monday evenings at 7.30pm online and

Wednesday afternoons at 2pm at Liphook Methodist Church Hall

Monday 20 Sept Receiving Christ: as Children of God Wednesday 22 Sept

Monday 27 Sept Receiving Christ: In the stranger and the

needy Wednesday 29 Sept

Monday 4 Oct Receiving Christ: In Holy Communion Wednesday 6 Oct

Monday 11 Oct Receiving Christ: Through prayer &

fellowship Wednesday 13 Oct

Monday 18 Oct Christ in you, the hope of glory Wednesday 20 Oct

Prayer Focus

In the last prayer focus we looked at the Lord’s Prayer as an example given by Christ of how we should pray. In our usual prayers we often devote a lot of time in prayers of petition for others. There is nothing wrong in praying for this but perhaps we could devote more time in praying for what God wants - that is the establishment of the Lord’s Kingdom here on earth. As the hymn-writer very simply put it, “Thy Kingdom come O Lord, Thy rule on earth begin. Break with Thine iron rod the tyranny of sin.” I do not know exactly what the coming of God’s Kingdom would mean for me or others, but I know that life would be better for all. For example the news, that constantly fills our papers and broadcasts, and fills our lives with despair, would change as men’s hearts are softened by love and compassion. This may seem a difficult situation to achieve but many revivals have occurred in the past as a result of concentrated prayer. We must have the conviction that our prayers will be answered though not always in the way we would want or expect. At the end of September or early October, we celebrate harvest when we thank God for the provision of food. In our prayer we give thanks for the food that is sufficient to meet our daily needs. This is to remind us that there is sufficient for all, provided we are fair and just in our distribution of God’s resources. Another factor in the production of food is the effect of climate change. Again we can do our part in the careful stewarding of God’s kingdom by living our lives with a minimal effect on climate change. When we look at the incidence of diseases among children, often fatal, we note these are in the deprived areas of the world. Let us pray for a fairer sharing of medicines, clean water and public health services, all of which goes towards a more just world society. Sunday 28th November is the first day of Advent. Pray that we may see this familiar story through clearer eyes, with a deeper understanding of the real message of Christmas

Finally pray for ourselves, our friends and families that we may all come to know God and what He wants for us, and that we may live our lives to be an inspiration to our community DS

Geoff Paffett

Geoff was a regular preacher at Midhurst, on Zoom

during the lockdowns, in the Digital Church and at Body

and Soul. He had become seriously unwell in the last few

months and passed away peacefully in The Rowans

Hospice on 14th August.

He was very involved in his local community in Havant

and Leigh Park including in the Havant Passion Play. His

funeral was at Havant Methodist Church on 9th

September and several of our members attended. There

were moving tributes from family members and the

Methodist fellowship.

We send our sincere condolences to Di and all the family.

FLOWERS FOR HARVEST

Our Harvest preparation will be on Friday 1st October and we would welcome anyone who would like to help to meet with us at 9.30 to decorate the church. Flowers and greenery would be very welcome. If you would like to bring your harvest gifts then we can place those too to help make the church look festive.

Gayle, Pat and Barbara

PACT Autumn Lecture Friday 15th October 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Petworth, GU28 0AD.

Petworth Area Churches Together (PACT) has invited James Mildred, Chief Communications Officer of CARE, to speak.

CARE stands for Christian Action Research & Education. His subject is ‘For Parliament and the Church’. CARE has done fantastic work over 40 years. It has been at the coal face helping Parliament make ethical and Christian decisions

about family, justice and life issues. Excellent canapés and wine afterwards. Loos at church. Free entry - All welcome. Ample free parking 6 minutes’ walk away. Organised by PACT - Petworth Area Churches Together Further details from Gerald 01798 342151 or Geraldgreshamcooke@gmail.com

A Busy Summer for the

Midhurst Foodbank

At the beginning of the summer holidays 254 free school lunch packs were delivered by Foodbank and Midhurst & Petworth Rotary Club volunteers. This fed 127 children as each child received two

boxes to cover the six weeks of the school holidays. On three lovely sunny mornings the 64 volunteers worked together, loading and transporting the boxes. This has become a regular task at the beginning of each school holiday, ensuring that no child goes hungry. A team of volunteers has now been trained to help signpost clients who might have needs other than a lack of food. We include a leaflet of useful telephone numbers of agencies that can help with such issues as debt, housing, mental health etc with each delivery. Throughout the autumn and winter months we shall continue to operate a delivery-only service. We are fortunate to have a good team of volunteers who are willing to do this. The system certainly benefits those living in the more rural areas, who would otherwise find it very difficult to come to the foodbank to collect food. Finally, we managed to meet as a group in the market square for an hour to chat over a drink. It was a very pleasant occasion and for many of the volunteers it was the first opportunity to meet with fellow-workers. Joanne Kondabeka and Sarah Adams joined us from Chichester as well as David Dixon from Selsey. We are always happy to welcome new volunteers into the team, so if you would like to be involved, please drop me an email, midhurstcoordinator@chichesterdistrict.foodbank.org.uk

Liz Willing Midhurst Foodbank Coordinator

During August I led a couple of guided walks around Midhurst Common as part of the MADhurst activities. Here is a description of the route: As we leave Carron Lane car park and walk through the cemetery we will see evidence of how treecreepers keep warm on the coldest winter nights From there we will see the Pesthouses, Allotments and an historic paddock surrounded by a bank to demarcate the area. The vegetation is different within the enclosure – in what way and why? On now to the sandpits where we will imagine what the landscape looked like pre-brickworks and consider why this is an area where a rare plant is growing Visit the ponds and consider the possibility of creating a habitat for sand martins and kingfishers We now walk along the old railway line towards Bepton Follow the Serpent Trail Northwards Pass a tree in which a woodpecker has nested Point out a historic Boundary Stone Up to the top of Sunset Hill to see the work the Friends of Midhurst Common Heath Team have been doing to maintain the heathland Back home, stopping at the new information board. If you would like to get a group of between 8 and 15 people together, I would be happy to repeat this guided walk for you. Email me dates and times you would like to do it and I will do my best to fit in. Andrew Mitchell – Chairman website:www.friendsofmidhurstcommon.co.uk email: friendsofmidhurstcommon@yahoo.co.uk

The changing face of the Bowling Green How this small corner of Midhurst Common got its name seems to be a mystery. However, it holds a lot of memories for many people. Many years ago, in the times of hunting, it was the meeting place for horses and hounds on Boxing Day. It was also the play area and events site for the Midhurst Primary School, which was then in Petersfield Road, opposite the Half Moon Public House.

Over the years, the vegetation has gradually encroached on the area, but it has remained the meeting place of several Rights of Way and an area for recreation. During the last 18 months, during the lockdowns, footfall in this area was limited and the vegetation crept in even more. Although it has been a grassy area it has always remained flattened through continual use, but the grass has now grown quite considerably and the gorse has also started to move in.

Since the end of lockdown, the volunteer group of Friends of Midhurst Common has been working on the Bowling Green and they have cut back the straggly and dead gorse and some of the spindlier trees. This has allowed in the light and has given the gorse the opportunity to regrow which will be more beneficial to the wildlife. The volunteers have recently cut back the bracken, which was also encroaching, in the hope that this will discourage too much growth next year.

It is an ideal place to sit and enjoy the quiet, listen to birdsong and watch those magical creatures flitting from tree to tree.

Entering the Common from Carron Lane car park, take the footpath on the right, which will lead you to this open area. Enjoy.

Jean Hicks

from the monthly newsletter of the Southern & Islands Region Learning Network…

Adopt a Bias for Action

Many congregations are experiencing a deep erosion of purpose and confidence, thinking that their best days are a long way behind them. However, the past does not have to determine the future. The resurrection affirms for us that even after years of malaise and apathy a church can be resurrected to competent and compelling ministry.

So how do we create energy and momentum in a culture that is experiencing neither of those things, and in the midst of 'we tried that before' and 'that would never work' comments? It begins with action. It is only change that changes things - a different action, a different approach or, quite possibly, a new way of thinking. The catalyst for that may well be a few small wins which point to the new future, generating momentum and energy. Momentum and energy can change the course of any organisation, and in time build enthusiasm, confidence and a new culture.

To get those wins we have to create a sense of urgency, particularly where churches have become comfortable in their decline and accepted it as their situation. Urgency begins with honesty about the current reality of the church. However current reality without future hope simply depresses people and fosters hopelessness. There needs to be a bias towards action.

Try something, almost anything, as the first step in introducing action and change. Necessary technical changes (maintenance, decoration, signage, heating, seating, compliance) may be the small wins you need to get things moving before changes to ministries, programmes and services. Even if the early actions are things which you need to do to motivate and drive yourself, remember that seeing change builds hope and energy energises.

Action involves risk, but what are the risks of inaction? Try the lot and see; if they fail, fail quickly and move on. Having a bias for action

thrives alongside clear communication and feedback that pilots the narrow path between a bull-in-a-china-shop and a leader. A leader is one who has co-leaders and collaborators. You cannot be effective without them. Leading and discipling people involves walking alongside to allow your energy and action to energise and inspire, so that they will learn to follow Jesus more closely.

Don't be held hostage by people not liking actions that need to be taken and don't be paralysed by a need for everyone to like you. True leaders move people to act, not because they have all the answers, or all the responsibility but because they are custodians and crafters of the culture. Crafting the culture begins with knowing your mission, understanding your vision, being able to articulate them and lead others into acting on them.

Without action, nothing happens. Without change, nothing new happens. Effectiveness requires a bias towards action, or as James (2 v14-20) says, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren?" Arian, Jon, James and Katie The Southern & Islands Region Learning Network

RUNNYMEDE Peter and I were both born near Runnymede which is by the River Thames at Egham and is where the Magna Carta was signed. Every spring the meadow was covered in millions of cowslips but now they are all gone. Whether that is because it is drier there now due to flood defences being built or because it is under the flight path from Heathrow, we don't know. The National Trust manages Runnymede nowadays and there is a circular walk you can do to visit the three monuments. On top of the hill overlooking Runnymede, just along from where we lived for twenty years, is the beautiful Air Force Memorial which was built just after the war to honour all those thousands of airmen whose bodies were never found. There is a wonderful view of the river Thames winding like a snake towards London. Then half way down the hill is a huge slab of stone which was placed there in memory of John F. Kennedy. In the middle of the meadow there is a memorial that looks like a Greek temple. The American Bar Association paid for it to be built to commemorate the birth of democracy in this country in 1215. King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta by the barons and bishops and after that he had to share power with them. It was the beginning of Parliament. Gradually other men who were landowners were able to have a say in electing Members of Parliament. Our Richard Cobden played a part in this in 1832 with the Reform Bill. In 1867 all male householders were allowed to vote. It took 700 years of "democracy" before women were given the vote. I am sure women would have liked to vote before 1918 if successive governments had listened to them. It was thanks to the Suffragettes led by Emmeline Pankhurst that the government of the day relented. Nowadays we see similar tactics being used by Extinction Rebellion people, who are mainly women, blocking streets and holding up traffic. Can you blame them when scientists tell us that the next ten

years will be crucial for the survival of the planet but governments all round the world say that they are phasing out their emissions by 2050! There is a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst at Westminster. It won't be in my lifetime, but I think there will be many statues of Greta Thunberg in the future.

AC

Ride and Stride Many thanks to everyone who helped steward the church for this event and also to those who sponsored Peter and I for our walk round Chichester. It was a lovely sunny day and there were lots of interesting buildings to see. We managed to visit 20 churches and chapels. The sum raised by this event was £225.00 – half goes to Sussex Historic Churches Trust and half to our own church. AC

Latest Information from Sanctuary in Chichester

Before the Taliban takeover, SiC had already welcomed, as part of the Government Resettlement Scheme for 5,000, Afghans who had been interpreters for the British armed forces. More were expected. Since the takeover and emergency expansion of the Scheme to 20,000 people, they haven’t received any information about how many more to expect in Chichester or when they might arrive – probably the Home Office isn’t sure yet. However, they are ready to welcome an influx at short notice. SiC has helped to resettle five new families which have arrived in the last five months (three in July) and of course the refugees arrive with virtually no belongings SiC has received many offers of clothes, toiletries, toys, furniture etc. They don’t have storage and have already supplied the new families with everything they need for now. As new people arrive SiC will work with local partners to meet specific needs. Donations can be taken to the Chichester Rotary Club (clothes and household items) or ‘Little Bundles’ www.facebook.com/littlebundleschichesterarun/ (pregnancy, baby items, and toys), or to a charity shop. What SiC is appealing for now is cash to buy any items that are not already in stock, and volunteers who can commit time regularly to their befriending scheme. The recent arrivals on the Afghan Resettlement Scheme were welcomed with a barbecue in Chichester. The food and music inspired Syrian and Afghan dancing. It was good to take the minds of the new arrivals off the worry over what is happening to loved-ones left behind.

Details for Sanctuary in Chichester:

email:sanctuaryinchichester@gmail.com website: https://sanctuaryinchichester.org Donations: please make Cheques payable to “Sanctuary in Chichester” and send to: Sanctuary in Chichester, PO Box 794, CHICHESTER, PO19 9UL; registered charity no. 1181855

StF 122 - God, whose farm is all creation

R U P C M A G D E N E P I R L X S E K R N X S U N A N D R A I N N C Y F O O Y Z L N I Y C O I R O A K A O I I F Q V T P P Z J I B L H X R M Z T X N D H E D A Y E E F A Q P P H A Q B S H R D H E N X S R G R P B E V U P M X A U D R P Q V P U L R R R U O B A L A T Z J I E F O O F C W F A R M R N G I M T S B E U P I F B J M O J N T R T N T G R G H T N D F F Y I H W K Q A C J A H W Z H E C W D F D Q F T I R V Y I G L S A S E S A S A D U A P G E N T R R M E T F R H P M W T I G H G C E P S O U H Y W E C M Z A D T N I A R G D N A T I U R F Z O J L V C P F X N U A C V I G T W H W

Calendar of Care Creation Farm Finest

Fruit and Grain Gratitude Harvest Labour

Ploughing Reaping Ripened Seeding

Sun and Rain They are our Prayer

Fundraising News

Your regular update on our charitable fundraising efforts

With the COVID restrictions lifted at last, August was a really busy time for our fundraising.

We were able to host our Strawberry Teas in aid of Methodist Homes (for the Aged) on 7th August. We usually try to have the teas in the Garden, but the weather was unfriendly so we made an early decision to move indoors. We had a good response and the Hall was very noisy as our customers enjoyed their first social event at the Church for a long time. This is a labour-intensive event and thanks must go to the bakers, the front-of-house waiters, the backstage tea-makers and washer-uppers and not to forget Pat who arranged the raffle. £450 was donated to MHA. Thank you to all who came and supported. Two weeks later we hosted ‘Oaken Harmony’, a vocal quartet, for their concert as part of MADhurst. During the interval we offered teas and home-made biscuits and asked for donations for Sanctuary in Chichester. We always get a good response for this charity, and we made £228 in half an hour! Thank you to Sian for organising the concert and of course to all the bakers for the wonderful array of biscuits.

The following week we had a Mini-Market and Coffee Morning. This was very quiet as there were a lot of other things going on in the town, but we managed to raise over £420 for Church funds. Thank you to the loyal band of helpers setting up, on the day and clearing away and all of you who came to support us.

Our next fundraising event will be Harvest on 2nd- 3rd October. We hope to have a speaker from the Leprosy Mission coming to the Harvest Supper. On the Sunday we will have our usual envelope collection for All We Can.

At the moment we assume we will be able to run our Autumn Fair on 20th November when hopefully this will be more like the pre-covid events we are used to. AG

COVID regulations permitting, please support our…

AUTUMN

FAIR in the HALL

Saturday, 20th November

10am until Noon

Homebakes…Toiletries…Toys…Books

Bric-a-Brac …Greeting Cards…Raffle

Refreshments & Bacon Sandwiches

Entrance £1 includes a cup of coffee

Supporting the work of the Methodist Church in Midhurst

Diary Dates

October

Fri 1st 9.30am Decorating the Church Mrs B Coote

Sat 2nd 6.00pm Harvest Supper Church Hall

Sun 3rd 10.00am Harvest Festival/

Communion Service Rev D Muskett

Mon 4th 7.30pm Autumn Course Zoom Wed 6th 10.30am Café Church Church

2.00pm Autumn Course Liphook

Thur 7th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 10th 10.00am Morning Service Dr J Powell

Mon 11th 7.30pm Autumn Course Zoom Wed 13th 2.00pm Autumn Course Liphook

Thur 14th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 17th 10.00am Morning Service Mr D Arnott

Mon 18th 7.30pm Autumn Course Zoom Wed 20th 10.30am Café Church Church

10.00am Fundraising Mtg Mrs A Griffiths

2.00pm Autumn Course Liphook

Thur 21st 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 24th 10.00am Morning Service Mr P Nicholls

Thurs 28th deadline for Church Meeting reports Mrs C Stemp

November

Wed 3rd 10.30am Café Church Church

Thur 4th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 7th 10.00am Holy Communion Rev D Muskett

Sun 7th 11.30am Church Meeting Church

Thur 11th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 14th 10.00am Remembrance Sunday

local arrangement

Wed 17th 10.30am Café Church Church

Thur 18th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sat 20th 10-12noon Autumn Fair Church Hall

Sun 21st 10.00am Morning Service Rev C Simpson

Copydate for December/January Newsletter

Thur 25th 10-11.30am Mischief Makers Church Hall

Sun 28th 10.00am Morning Service Mrs W Corney

Midhurst Methodist Church

North Street Midhurst

GU29 9DU

01730 816206

www.midhurstmethodist.com

www.facebook.com/midhurstmethodist email: midhurstmethodisttech@gmail.com

MINISTER:

Rev David Muskett Tel: 01730 233436

Email: superintendent@esanddcircuit.org.uk Ministers day off – Friday

Steward: Alison Griffiths Church Treasurer: Pauline Dey Hall Bookings: Di Ponting