Oct. 14th Encountering God Oct. 21st All Together Now: All ...€¦ · donors and the electorate...

Pastoral letter 2Services & Rotas 3What’s on? 4Commitment for Life 6

Church family & Life 5, 8, 9The Community 7, 10Prayer 2

Jesus stopped and called them. “What doyou want me to do for you?” he askedthem. [Matthew 20: 32]

Recorder - October 20072

Gwen Collins Minister

Minister : Rev Dr Gwen Collins75 Cressex RoadHigh WycombeHP12 4PS 01494 451847e-mail: [email protected]

Church Secretary :Mrs Marian Mole,21 Freemantle Road,

High Wycombe,HP13 7PQ 01494 528041

e-mail: [email protected]

Dear friends,

October looks like being a full and interesting month for all of us at Trinity. Read through theRecorder and you will find something to look forward to, I am sure. Enjoy the regular and familiaractivities, and why not also try something new?

Thousands of young people are embarking on a new phase of life this autumn as they beginuniversity. In church we have sent one of our young members, Katherine, on her way to universitywith our love and prayers, and a presentation Bible. Others of our youngsters have begun collegeand school for the first time. Perhaps you are one of them – or perhaps you have someone in yourfamily or amongst your neighbours who is doing that.

As university chaplain I meet many students in these early weeks of term – especially in ‘Freshers’Week’. This has been my 14th consecutive annual ‘Freshers’ Week’ – and I don’t feel as fresh as Iused to! But I know that for each student it is a unique, important venture into new things. It sounds,and is, exciting, but that does not mean that it is easy. New situations demand a great deal fromus. That is why doing something new is how we can keep developing and growing as humanbeings. New activities, new people, new places – these keep us on our toes and stop us fromstagnating.

With that in mind I would like to issue a challenge to every Recorder Reader:

Meet someone new this month.Don’t just meet them, though. Be interested in them. Stop a while and have a chat. Recognisethat they are a gift from God. Listen to their story. Enjoy the encounter.

If you are stuck for ideas of how and where to meet someone new this month, here are a few tohelp you.

Come to Sunday morning worship, and take the chance to speak to someone there who isnew to you, someone whom you have not spoken to before.

Talk to a stranger at our Autumn Fair on the 6th.

Come with Margaret and me to my husband Bernie’s church in Ickenham on 17th Oct. tomeet Dr Awale from the Church of North India.

If, like me, your daily life brings you into contact with many new people in the course of a month thischallenge is still for you. But the emphasis shifts on to the idea of truly ‘meeting’ these new people.An insight that has stuck with me from one of the theologians that I read whilst doing my PhD is thatif we label a person in our minds [e.g. client, student, Muslim] we make it difficult for ourselves toreally meet him or her as a unique individual. It is then harder to see “this person as a gift insteadof a threat.” We need a way of life that creates space for “genuine face-to-face encounters.” Thiswas Jesus’ way.

So let’s make October a ‘meeting someone new’ month, and, at the end of the month, I would loveto hear your story about meeting someone new. Please tell me.

3Recorder - October 2007

Rotas for October

October Services

Oct. 7th Stillness, Waiting & Self-Reflection: Holy CommunionOct. 14th Encountering GodOct. 21st All Together Now: All Age Worship in One World WeekOct. 21st (5.30pm) Holy Communion

Oct. 28th Celebrating Saints

Sunday Morning Worship at 10:30am - led by the Minister

Not included in this version


What’s on in October

Diary Dates

1 October 6-8pm Bible First2 October 8pm Elders’ Meeting6 October Autumn Fayre13 October Coffee Morning27 October Coffee Morning1 November 6-8pm Bible First6 November 8pm Elders’ Meeting10 November Coffee Morning18 November Church Parade18 November Moderator opens new west entrance in the afternoon20 November 8pm Church Meeting24 November Coffee Morning1 December 8.30-10.30am Bible First2 December 3pm Service For Healing & Wholeness4 December 8pm Elders’ Meeting8 December Coffee Morning16 December Gift Service led by Junior Church23 December 4.30pm Carol Service24 December 11.30pm Midnight Communion25 December 10.30am Family Worship

WOMEN’S MEETINGTuesday 2nd Oct QuizTuesday 9th Oct Down Memory LaneTuesday 16th Oct Harvest Festival at Priory Road at 1.15pm (lifts will be arranged)Tuesday 23rd Oct Joan Smith - A Holiday in ScarboroughTuesday 30th Oct Animals of the Bible: Sheep and Goats

All meetings start at 2.30 in the Friends Meeting House(unless otherwise stated)

Two sessions for you this month

5th and 19th October

at 2pm

Oct 8th Collectibles Evening (Hostess - Lesley B)

Oct 22nd China (Host - Andrew W)

OctoberS M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 31

Remember to put yourclocks BACK one hourwhen you go to bed onSaturday 27th October!


News of the Family

Not included in this version


Commitment for LifeZimbabwe

We are struggling in this part of the world. Food has become a very scarce commodity with basicslike mealie meal, beef, sugar, cooking oil, soap and many more now being very hard to come by.We already had problems in Zimbabwe but the recent price slash across the board has literallykilled the economy and hope for immediate recovery.

The current price fixing is now threatening firms, wholesalers, supermarkets and retailers withclosure. Owners are refusing to continue operating if the price war is threatening their own safetyand security. Most of these businesses were forced to sell their stocks at a loss and we are noteven able to replenish stocks. There are currently over 6 000 outstanding cases against businessmanagers in all fields on price control related issues. These are now facing prison.

In response to those unbearable conditions there has been a recent mass exodus of Zimbabwe-ans flooding into South Africa. The Zimbabwean newspaper claims that this is the biggest humanexodus ever experienced in Southern Africa - far bigger than during the liberation war in Rhodesiaand Mozambique or the anti-apartheid struggle. Six Zimbabweans were shot dead last weekattempting to cross the border into South Africa.

As if this is not enough, the government comes up with a controversial policy of banning foodimports. All this sounds like a dream.

CLASH OVER FOOD AID

In the past many Zimbabweans were saved from starvation by a number of foreign agencies andNGOs who went around distributing food. Now the local government Minister Ignatius Chomborecently directed all local councils NOT to distribute aid in rural constituencies but compelledthem to surrender the aid to the ZANU (PF) structures.

The move is timed for next year's election. It is a way of avoiding direct contact between thedonors and the electorate whilst the ruling party uses aid for campaign purposes. Donoragencies say they might consider pulling out rather than accept the terms.

FUEL SHORTAGES

For a month now Zimbabwe’s fuel situation has worsened. The government promised to supplyfuel at Z$ 60 000,00 per litre but in vain. The only fuel in the country now can be found at blackmarket where a 5 litre gallon is retailing for anything up to Z$2 million. The available fuel is onlyaccessed by those who can buy it in foreign currency and then convert it to the black market.

COUP ATTEMPTS

We do not know where all this is leading. A number of soldiers were arrested last month onallegation of an attempted coup. About 300 soldiers were reported dead linked to these coupattempts. An army service said more than 20 soldiers could have been executed but DefenceMinister Sydney Sekeramai said he was not aware of the reports on arrests or anything elseabout coup plans. However, a young man, whom I know, recently joined the army and wasarrested on the same charges even though he claims no knowledge or involvement in these coupattempts. Please pray for us. We need your prayers.

A Zimbabwean resident


THE VISION to start an emergency night shelter for three months during theseverest winter period. A number of churches and individuals are proposing to provideseven night-shelter nights, seven venues, seven teams and one goal! That goal beingto offer homeless members of our community shelter, food, friendship, encouragementand support for next steps. How many people? An estimated 8 - 10 a night. There willbe an overall Night Shelter Co-ordinator working full-time during the period of opera-tion.

Professional agencies and local authorities are strongly supporting this initiative,including the likely provision of specialist support workers by the county Drug andAlcohol Team. Police and Probation Service are pondering their potential roles too.

Scary? ………… Yes, and no. This kind of initiative has worked well in various Londonboroughs and in Watford, so we have other people’s experience to call on. If we worktogether and share the nights we will find it is surprisingly do-able and with veryappreciative clients.

Remember; each homeless person is just that: a person. And a surprisingnumber have backgrounds not so different to our own. Jesus taught that we should notjudge by external appearances, so be prepared to meet some interesting people

What now? ……..This is your chance to get involved and volunteer. Theinfrastructure is coming together. We now need people to volunteer and there are avariety of ways in which you might feel able to help.

Want to know more?

Information meetings for those interested in volunteering will be held atThe HUB, Union Baptist Church, Easton Street, High Wycombe HP11 1NJon Wednesday 10th October @ 7.45pm. & Saturday 13th @ 9.15 am.(use Easton Street multi-storey Car Park)

Questions? Email Sheena Dykes (UBC, [email protected]), Paul Willis (AllSaints, [email protected]) or Graham Storer ([email protected]).But if the matter is urgent, call Sheena on 01628 487183.


Reform Magazines 2008

I t is t ime once again for me to place our orders for the Reform Magazine.I ’m afraid for 2008 the price has increased more than in previous years.Please see below extracts from the URC’s letter sent to myself as a distr ibutor.

“For several year, Reform has incurred a loss. This has got worse year onyear. In 2005, the loss was more than £30,000; last year i t nearly doubled.In order to ensure Reform continues, we have reluctantly decided to withdrawthe reductions in price that subscribers have tradit ional ly enjoyed.

From 2008 we are asking everyone to pay the cover price of £1.70, making ayear’s subscript ion £18.70.

The cost of posting Reform to churches has also continued to increase but al lpost and packaging wil l remain free to subscribers for the t ime being.

Despite these changes, Reform is excel lent value for money; please continueto support the United Reformed Church’s own national journal”

As al l our present subscribers know the Reform magazine is a very good readwith news of what’s going on in the URC both national ly and in individualchurches, there are many interesting art ic les, letters, book reviews, a monthlycrossword and much more.

Would al l current subscribers and any other people who are interested inreceiving Reform during 2008 please note I wi l l be col lect ing monies for nextyear’s subscript ion after the del ivery of the October magazine. I would l iketo col lect al l monies by the end of October so I can send off our totalsubscript ions in plenty of t ime to guarantee no interruption to our del iveries.I wi l l be putt ing forms for current subscribers in the October magazine. Thisyear, not as in the past, please make any cheques payable to myself (Mrs K.Evans), as this year I wi l l be sending off the cheque personally not putt ingyour cheques through Trinity’s accounts.

Thank you.

Kay

Christian Aid Dates

Tuesday 2nd October Final Cut the Carbon Rally in London11am, walk the end of the march2pm, celebration service in St .Paul’s Cathedral – call 020 7523 2258 for tickets

Thursday 11th October A Taste of India with Dr.AwaleRadhuni Restaurant, Flackwell Heath. 7 for 7.30pm, Cost £9, English food also available

Wednesday 17th October Ickenham URC 7.45 pmAn evening with Dr Awale from the church of India and Dr Daleet Mukarji, Director of ChristianAid. Gwen is going and has a couple of spare seats in the car.


Fairtrade Fashion Show

Trinity is aiming to hold a Far Trade Fashion Show in Fairtrade Fortnight nextyear - 25 Feb to 9 March. We need to start planning now if this is going to be asuccess. I am hoping to have an exploratory meeting in October. If youare inter-ested in being part of this venture, please contact me as soon as possible. With-out support we can’t make it happen so be prepared!!

Contact Pat W

Autumn FayreSaturday 6th October

at

2pmin

Crendon Hall

Tombola Bric-a-brac JewelleryKnitwear Cards Refreshments

Guess the name of the doll

HARVEST GIFTS TO YMCA

Thank you to everyone who brought gifts of tinned food and toiletries to our Harvest Service inSeptember. On the Monday following I took it all to the YMCA at Cressex. The staff there weredelighted with our gifts.

The YMCA has bedsits for over 70 young people, aged between 16 and 30. People can stay forup to 3 years, although many residents do not stay that long. The manager told me that they have96% occupancy rate, which is unusually high for hostel accommodation. The premises are cleanand attractive and practical support is provided for those who need it. One example of this iscooking lessons – and some of our food gifts will be used for that purpose. The aim is to helpeveryone to become self-reliant.


TEARFUND 'TRANSFORM' PROJECTTearfund is running a project called Transform where volunteers can spend from 2 weeks to 4months with Tearfund in some of the world's poorest communities. They do tailor-made trips foryouth, student and church groups, and currently have applications still open for spaces ontheir 2008 4 Month programme.For more information, call Tearfund on 020 8943 7777, or email them [email protected] , or visit the website http://youth.tearfund.org/transformCLUSTER BOMBSThe United Reformed, Baptist and Methodist Churches are working together as a Joint PublicIssues Team to live out the gospel of Christ in church and society. One of their current issues isthat of cluster bombs that kill and maim civilians indiscriminately and go on killing long after thefighting has stopped.In 2008 we have the opportunity to ban cluster bombs forever and we have an opportunity NOWto make a difference!Meetings of the Oslo process will take place in Vienna in November 2007, in New Zealand Feb-ruary 2008 and in Dublin in Spring 2008. Governments will now be deciding on their positions. Itis vital that the UK Government is aware of the strength of feeling supporting the banning of allforms of cluster munitions.Will you give a message to the Government?• offering support for the UK's decision to withdraw two types of cluster munitions and asking theGovernment to participate fully in drawing up a new international treaty• stating that a new treaty must not allow exemptions for cluster munitions with a self-destructmechanism, and asking the UK Government to withdraw from service the M85 cluster munition.If you have two minutes......send an email to Foreign Secretary, David Milibandwww.landmineaction.org/support/email/If you have 10 minutes......write to your MP asking her or him to support a ban on landmines by signing Early Day Mo-tions 1663 and 1501, and asking them to write to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, to raiseyour concerns. To find out who your MP is call 020 7219 3000 or visitwww.upmystreet.com/commons/l/If you have 20 minutes......tell other people about cluster munitions and ask them to write to their MP, eg forward copiesof this leaflet to others, write a paragraph for your church notices, talk about the issue at achurch meeting.For more information contact Landmine Action, 2nd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE17TP Tel 020 7820 0222, email: [email protected] www.landmineaction.org

Our congratulations to Rose Cornwall who received a medal and certificate ofappreciation recently for her voluntary work with Age Concern. Rose respondedto an appeal for help from Age Concern a couple of years ago and ever since hasbeen regularly visiting the housebound elderly people allocated to her. Well doneRose. We are proud of you - and of all our number who give their time generouslyas volunteers.


Recorder Editor : e-mail : [email protected]

Church web site: http://www.trinity-urc.org.uk

The next edition of the Recorder will be published on 28th October.Closing date for contributions is Friday 19th October

This month we would like to wish

A Very Happy BirthdayWith love from all at Trinity.

With Best Wishes to

on celebrating her 70th BirthdayWith love from us all at Trinity


Weekly prayers through October:

Sunday For youth workers and leadersMonday For Gwen Collins, our minister, and her husband BernieTuesday For Café DaysWednesday For the Guides and BrowniesFriday For all who work at Thames North Synod officeSaturday For the YMCA

october

2007

To you before the end of day,Creator of the world, we pray:In love unfailing hear our prayer,Enfold us in your watchful care.

Keep all disturbing dreams away,And hold the evil foe at bay.Repose untroubled let us findFor soul and body, heart and mind.

Almighty Father, this accordThrough Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord:Who reigns with you eternallyIn your blest Spirit’s unity. Amen.From the Office of Compline

O God,you know us to be set

in the midst of so many and great dangers,that by reason of the frailty of our nature

we cannot always stand upright:grant to us such strength and protection

as may support us in all dangersand carry us through all temptations;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.From ‘The Christian Year: Collects and Post Communion

Prayers for Sundays and Festivals’

O divine master, grant that I maynot try to be comforted but to comfortnot try to be understood but to understandnot try to be loved, but to love.Because it is in giving that we are receivedit is in forgiving that we are forgiven,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Ascribed to St Francis of Assisi

Religious Liberty: Free ChurchesO God in whom along we are free, grant to your Church a continuing

concern for religious liberty and a passionate rejection of indifference.From Asking God by Oliver Tomkins

May the blessing of rain be on you;the soft sweet rain.May it fall upon your spiritso that little flowers may spring upand shed their sweetness on the air.

And may the blessing of the great rains beon you,to beat upon your spiritand wash it fair and clean;and leave there many a shining pool.Extract from an Irish Blessing

Oct. 14th Encountering God Oct. 21st All Together Now: All ...€¦ · donors and the electorate...

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