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October 2010 Page 16

From the Editor:

The November edition of Contact will appear on October 31st.. Copy, in

whatever format, should reach me by Sunday evening Sept19th.

Sylvia

Power in the WordPower in the WordPower in the WordPower in the Word

An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of

religious service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the

man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop” - Acts

2:38! ("..turn from your sin...").

The burglar stopped dead in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police

and explained what she had done.

As the officer led the man away, he asked him, "Why did you just stand

there? All she did was yell a scripture verse to you."

"Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an AXE and two 38's!"

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October 2010 Page 1

F rom our M inister F rom our M inister F rom our M inister F rom our M inister

Dear Friends,

Pope Benedict’s visit certainly caught the

Media’s attention this last week. His visit

came at a time when new findings based on a

‘Religious Trends Survey’ by Christian

Research shows that church attendance is

increasing, pointing to the fact that Britain is

not so much a “secular society” as some

might perceive it to be.

The Survey shows that Catholic Church attendance has been steady for

five years, Church of England attendance has evened out for almost a

decade, and congregations of Baptist churches have grown

considerably.

I believe all Christians have welcomed the Pope’s constant mention of

the challenge of secularisation to the role of religion in public life, in

all his speeches. In his speech in Westminster Hall, he said “I cannot

but voice my concern at the increasing marginalisation of religion,

particularly of Christianity." This to me, was undoubtedly referring to

the increase of Political Correctness invading our society, which makes

it difficult for ordinary people to show Christian love in the work

place. It was good to hear him say in Parliament, to our legislators, that

the Church “needs to be free to act in accordance with their own

principles and specific convictions based upon the faith and official

teaching of the Church."

Baroness Warsi, a Muslin and

Conservative Party Chairman, said in

response to the Pope’s speech, that the

new Government "understands faith and

wants religious groups to play a greater

and more prominent role in Britain.” Let’s

pray that the impact of the Pope’s words

lasts.

Ray

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October 2010 Page 2

July/August 2010

Income and Expenditure

Total Income received for July and August were £5,123.46 and £7,336.28 respectively. Included in these totals were Offertory Income of £3,510.37 for July and £3,860.82 for August.

The total shortfall in our offertory income to date amounts to £2,710.

This is a matter of some concern now

The breakdown of total income both months are detailed below in the table:

Source July August

Offertory £3,510.37 £3,860.82

BMS appeal £421.34 -

Minibus £30.00 £211.00

Gift to Church – In memory of Joan Hay - £151.43

Gift to Church – Tuesday Lunch Club - £300.00

Gift to Church – Whitley Methodist Church - £75.00

Gift to Church – Other £50.00 £50.00

Card Group £35.00 £50.00

Monthly sales (July) - £176.69

Youth camp donations £50.00 £445.00

Hire / Use of Premises £1,026.75 £1,118.25

Transfers from reserves - £793.08

Other income - £105.01

Total £5,123.46 £7,336.28

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October 2010 Page 15

How will you spell 2moro?

Traditional spellings could be killed off by the

internet within a few decades, as the advent

of blogs and chat rooms makes it possible to

print and widely distribute words which have

not been edited or proofread, one language

expert has warned.

Instead of keeping to the current spellings as standardised with the

advent of dictionaries, internet slang could have us writing 2moro

instead of tomorrow, or thx for thanks, or aibu for ‘am I being

unreasonable’ or u for you or srsly for seriously.

Simplified and phonetically spelt words are very likely to enter the

vocabulary. “What you may consider to be atrocious now may be

standard in 50 years,” one expert predicts. Taking the broader view,

spelling was only standardised in the 18th century – in Shakespeare’s

time you could spell more or less as you liked.

But in the meantime, young people needed to remember that for

now, “standard English spelling is an absolute criterion of an

educated background. You are not going to get certain types of job if

you don’t spell well.”

Some observations on our Christian faith

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply.

Never say never when it comes to what God can do.

Satan rocks the cradle when we sleep at our devotions. Joseph Hall

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October 2010 Page 14

Please pray for these friends who are in various kinds of need, or are making

big changes to their lives:

Jordan Nicholls reports to the army barracks in Yorkshire for the start of his

basic training in the infantry, as a store man, on October 10th. He has a

huge list of kit which he has to take with him. We wish him well in this big

new venture in his young life. Annabelle, Anthony and Abraham are

starting university. We promise them our prayer support as they adjust to a

new way of life and study.

Faith Wellsteed (Tuesday Fellowship) is due to have

surgery for tongue cancer on Tuesday Sept 28th.

Barbara Mortimer is settled into her new Nursing

Home, but she is very tired and weak. Joan Slater, at

the time of writing, is still in Wokingham Hospital

recovering from hip surgery. Hazel Wilson is

struggling with health problems and would value the

fellowship’s prayer support. Eric and Megan are

settled into a routine now, and are receiving good support from Care staff,

District Nurse and Social Services. Visitors are always welcome. Ina

Mutton—it has been lovely to welcome Ina back to our Sunday services.

She remains in a stable condition. Diana Collins needs our prayers. She has

found out that she has had a bad reaction to the metal-on-metal hip

implant she received two years ago (which has now been withdrawn world

wide) and needs a revision. She is obviously devastated that she has to go

through the whole thing again. Her operation is booked for October 22nd.

Ebenezer and Janet will be flying to Ghana in the middle of October for the

funeral of Ebenezer’s younger brother. This is a very sad and stressful

occasion for all the family.

Remember those of our friends who are feeling the pain of

bereavement on the anniversary of the death of loved ones. at this time of

year. Don’t forget our shut-ins: a ‘visit’ on the phone is always welcome.

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October 2010 Page 3

The Expenditure for July and August were £8,336.11 and £7,172.72 respectively. These included: � Monthly payroll of £3,539 � Monthly offertory donations to BMS & Home Mission of £278 � Monthly donations to The Beatons £50 � Monthly donation to First Steps of £60 � Monthly buildings/contents cover £119 � Youth camp expenses £710 (in July) � Annual minibus insurance £975 (in July) � Barn dance £250 (in August) � Repairs & maintenance £105 (July :£67) � Pulpit supply / Charitable donations £265 � British Gas (05/03/2010 – 7/06/2010) £1,014 � Southern Electric (13/5/2010 – 04/08/2010) £489 (in August) � Alarm system (upgrade & annual charge) £794 (in August) � BMS donation £421

Accounts Summary for the period

1 January – 31 August 2010

Total income to date £64,938

Total expenditure to date £65,808

Deficit £870

Bank balance at start of the year £597

Balance at end of August 2010 -£273

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October 2010 Page 4

All Hallows Eve—October 31

Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots

with the Celtic peoples of pre-Christian times.

In those long-ago days, on the last night of

October, the Celts celebrated the Festival of

Samhain, or ‘Summer’s End’. The priests, or Druids,

performed ceremonies to thank and honour the sun. For there was a very

dark side to all this: Samhain also signalled the onset of winter, a time when

it was feared that unfriendly ghosts, nature-spirits, and witches roamed the

earth, creating mischief. So the Druid priests lit great bonfires and

performed magic rites to ward off or appease these dark supernatural

powers.

Then the Romans arrived, and brought their Harvest Festival which

honoured the Goddess Pomona with gifts of apples and nuts. The two

festivals slowly merged.

When Christianity arrived still later, it began to replace the Roman

and Druid religions. 1 November - All Saints’ Day - was dedicated to all

Christian Martyrs and Saints who had died. It was called ‘All Hallows’

Day’. The evening before became an evening of prayer and preparation and

was called ‘All Hallows’ Eve’, The Holy Evening, later shortened to

‘Halloween’.

For many centuries, however, fear of the supernatural

remained strong. During the Middle Ages, animal

costumes and frightening masks were worn to ward off the

evil spirits of darkness on Halloween. Magic words and

charms were used to keep away bad luck, and everybody

believed that witches ride about on broomsticks. Fortune

telling was popular, and predicting the future by the use of

nuts and apples was so popular that Halloween is still sometimes known as

Nutcrack Night or Snap-Apple Night.

(Continued on Page5)

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October 2010 Page 13

Queuing up to be British?

The art of queuing – for

everything from sandwiches to

the bus - is a serious business in

Britain. So serious, that some

politicians have even advised

that it should be included in

any citizenship test for

immigrants to this country.

“The simple act of taking

one’s turn is one of the things that holds our country together,” according

to Phil Woolas, MP, former Immigration Minister for Labour.

While teaching a foreigner to queue may sound silly, it is a simple

fact that anyone who pushes other people out of the way to get something

first will create tension and hostility. And creating huge resentment will not

help any newcomer to fit in.

Debrett’s has some simple instructions on the proper way to queue,

which includes the following advice:

:- Be patient. Everyone is in the same boat,

so avoid displays of exasperation or

aggression.

:- Be aware of other people’s personal

space, and don’t stand too close to the

person in front of you.

:- Have all relevant documents to hand and

ensure you can locate your purse quickly to

avoid holding people up.

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October 2010 Page 12

Tiny tots

While visiting the Lake District, I walked through

a lovely park with a wide path where people

could jog, run their dogs or ride trail bikes. As I

descended a hill, I saw a woman coming toward

me, pushing a buggy with two toddlers in it.

"We're coming to a hill," the mother announced

to her children, "so you'll have to help me -- are

you ready?"

I wondered how the little ones could be of assis-

tance, but as I passed by I heard them earnestly repeating their encourage-

ment: "I think I can, I think I can..."

**

Say again?

Three elderly church ministers, all hard of hearing, were

playing golf one sunny spring morning. The Methodist

minister observed, “Windy, isn’t it?” “No,” the Baptist

pastor said, “it’s Thursday.” The Anglican vicar agreed:

“So am I! Let’s go get a pint.”

**

Apples

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school

for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. A nun had

posted a note on the apply tray, “Take only ONE. God is watching.” At the

other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cakes, next to

which, in a child’s handwriting, was a sign, “Take all you want. God is

watching the apples.”

**

Dinner

Interviewer: "If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who

would it be?"

Applicant: "The living one."

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October 2010 Page 5

(Continued from Page 4)

Today, Christians have learned to turn to prayer instead of charms to

overcome the powers of darkness. And the deeper, true meaning of All

Hallows’ Eve, should not be forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to

Christ when we remember and give thanks for our loved ones and for others

who have gone before us through the gates of death.

Forget good intentions

Is your head full of good things that you intend to do.... someday? What

about now? Live every day as if there were no tomorrow. Speak that kind

word, help that person now, pick up the phone and make the call, spend time

with your loved ones. Stop merely thinking about it, and DO it.

One malignant cell or one faulty heartbeat could change your priorities in an

instant. You get a better perspective of life at a funeral than you do at a

party. When you reach the end of your journey, what will you wish you had

done with your days and years - when you had the chance? Do you need to

give this some thought today?

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October 2010 Page 6

He can set you free today

‘Son, your sins are forgiven.... get up, take your mat

and go home.’ Mark 2:5,11

Is your life a mess? Do you need a miracle? Please

notice: two things happened when Jesus healed this

paralysed man.

First – although the man’s obvious problem was on

the outside, Jesus started on the inside! ‘Son, your

sins are forgiven...’ Jesus begins by healing you

where you’re hurting the most. God changes your

position before him – with forgiveness, he puts you ‘in Christ’ –

BEFORE he begins to deal with the next layer of stuff in your life:

your values, your relationships, your conduct. He has to heal you on

the inside first, otherwise, you’d destroy the new circumstances he

wants to create around you.

Next, God will enable you to rise above the

thing that’s held you down! ‘He got up, took

his mat and walked out...’ True deliverance is

having control over the things that once

controlled you. Your external problems may

remain, but they can’t control you any more,

because ‘greater is he that is in you, than he

that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4)

Thirdly – what next? God will very likely call you to minister to

someone in the very same condition as you once were. Because you

can say: ‘I once was just like you, but Jesus changed me, and he can do

the same for you today.’ What has God delivered you from? Who is he

calling you to help today?

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October 2010 Page 11

What are sermons for, anyway?

What are sermons for? Have you ever wondered that?

When last year the College of Preachers did a survey to

find out, they got a variety of answers. It seems that

17% of us have had a sermon actually change the way

we live our life. 62% of us find comfort, because

sermons give us a “sense of God’s love”. Just over half

of us (55%) have even learned something – we have found that our

knowledge of Jesus has improved.

If you come to church regularly and listen to sermons, what do you hope to

get from them? Let us know.

Some miscellaneous observations on life:

The road to success is always under construction.

He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping.

Isaac Walton Silence and modesty are very valuable qualities in the art of

conversation.

Montaigne

End of summer Time

Don’t forget to put your clocks BACK one

hour on October 31st.

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October 2010 Page 10

Youth Stuff - October 2010

It’s that time of year again, when

children move from primary school to

secondary school and when the older

members of Kidz Church move up to

Surfers (and others change groups),

and when the older members of

Surfers move up to... what?

Until this year that has always been a problem. There were not enough

to make an older group, so we have always encouraged them to take on

some responsibilities within the church, to stay involved. That has

worked well, but that has meant that it has been difficult to integrate

new people from that age group into the church. We still want to

encourage the older teenagers to take on responsibilities of course, just

as we also encourage the adults to get involved. But this year we have

also been able to launch a new group for 14s-18s on a Sunday

morning. In fact, because we have so many moving up to the new

group, it is actually larger than the 11-14s.

Both groups meet upstairs, in two different rooms, and both have been

taking on the Soul Survivor ‘Bible In One Year’ challenge. In October,

we will need serious prayer as we will be looking at Job and Leviticus

from the Old Testament - Not the easiest books to study. From the

New Testament, we will be finishing off Matthew’s Gospel and

starting on Mark’s.

Kidz Church continue to follow the Scripture Union Light syllabus. In

October, they will be looking at the challenge of following Jesus,

through Luke’s Gospel.

So, a time for new beginnings. But also a time when we say goodbye

(for a time) to some, as they go off to Uni, as Annabelle and Anthony

have done this year. We wish them well and will hold them in our

prayers.

Ray Ellis

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October 2010 Page 7

Autumn GladesAutumn GladesAutumn GladesAutumn Glades

We stroll through leafy autumn glades, An amber carpet ‘neath our shoes; As Nature’s summer beauty fades She clothes herself in golden hues.

The stillness of October days, The chillness of a frosty dawn,

Yet autumn sunshine’s slanting rays Caress us with their glowing warmth.

They also warm the southern breeze, Which comes upon us, as it may, Releasing crispy, ochre leaves To gently patter on our way.

Soon, soon comes winter’s icy grip, Of freezing wind and driving snow, But, just for now, we’ll gladly slip

Through gentle autumn’s golden glow.

By Nigel Beeton

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October 2010 Page 8

(Services will be conducted by our minister, the Revd Ray Coates,

unless otherwise indicated)

Oct 3 10.30am Family Service

“Jesus at Nazareth”

(Luke 4:16-19 and Isaiah 61:1,2)

Oct 10 10.30am Morning Worship

We continue our series in Philippians on ‘JOY’

“Joy in our attitudes” (Phil 2:1-11)

Oct 17 10.30am FAMILY COMMUNION SERVICE - the children join us after we have looked at

“Joy in your potential” (Phil 2:12– 18)

Oct 24 10.30am Worship Service - Ray will lead our worship and the Rev Sylvia Stevenson will

preach on “Joy in our Job” (Phil 3:19-30)

Oct 31 10.30am Worship Service - this week Ray leads us through Philippians 3:1-11 as we

consider “Joy in your Accomplishments”

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October 2010 Page 9

Regular Weekly events:

(see back cover) 2010

Tuesday Fellowship

2.15pm

There’s a space for you!

Oct 5 Members bring their own contributions

Oct 12 (No Luncheon Club - No Meeting)

Oct 19 John Ledger - Mission Aviation Fellowship

Oct 26 Rev Sylvia Stevenson

Statistic of the Month : Mid-week activities are popular!

Two churches in every five, 42%, have at least one mid-week activity. The most

popular activity is one for Parents and Toddlers, which two-thirds, 65%, of churches

provide. However, almost as many, 64%, have an activity for older people - a coffee

morning perhaps or even a luncheon club.

Not only are these activities popular with churches, but they also attract more

people on average than other mid-week activities. The average parents' and toddlers'

group reaches 30 people, and the average elderly activity 32 people.

Some churches even offer Alpha or Emmaus Courses, and then invite those who

come with their toddlers or to a coffee morning to participate in these other events.

Parents and toddlers may be the most popular mid-week activity for a church,

but research has found it is the least effective in helping people to join the church!

Having an elderly group (of whatever kind) is much more successful in

attracting folk into a service of some kind.

However, the most effective activity is doing something mid-week for young people.

Only a quarter, 27%, of churches have the leadership to run such, but over half of

those young people who come will often come to church on a Sunday morning.

© Dr Peter Brierley is a church consultant. Contact him at peter@brierleyres.com