August 2015 Monthly Newsletter of St Barnabas

Parish Church of Linthorpe and Ayresome

Outlook

Two recent visits to St Barnabas

Church from people working in

other countries described daily life

in those places. The Robinsons

spoke of the poverty and

destitution of the home lives of

many of the children who attend

their ‘Place of Grace’ in Bangkok.

They also told of the terrible

family situations many of them find

themselves in.

Hearing these harrowing stories

must have made us appreciate

even more all that we so easily

take for granted here in this

country. Family life is never

perfect, but most of us were

brought up in much better

Salt and light

circumstances than those faced by

the ‘Place of Grace’ children and

young people.

We may gripe about aspects of

our education and health services,

the price of a rail journey or the

congestion on some of our roads,

but the truth is we live in one of

the most advanced and privileged

civilisations ever enjoyed. Good

governance and institutions that

have developed and

m a t u r e d o v e r

centuries undergird

much o f those

advantages. (This is

something that is too

often missed by those

who have sought to

impose ‘Western’

values and ways on

countries that have

deve loped qu i t e

differently to ours.)

It is impossible to

measure how much

of what we enjoy is

the result of the

profound influence of

Christianity on our

nation over many

centuries. Historians

will argue over how

much it is down to

m a j o r c u l t u r a l

movements, such as

the Enlightenment;

and whether or not

the Enlightenment could have

happened were it not for the

influence of Christianity. The

debate no doubt will continue.

I think we cannot deny the

influence of Christianity on many

of the basic values that are held in

our country. I worked as a

shipbroker on the Baltic Exchange

in London. The motto of the

Exchange was, ‘Our word, our

Nor i s there room for

complacency. We still benefit

greatly from the legacy of the past,

but we cannot live off of spiritual

and moral capital forever.

It is for each new generation of

Christians to seek to stand firm in

the teaching of Christ, to

understand how it applies

particularly and practically in

today’s contexts and live out those

values, whatever cultural pressures

there may be to abandon them. It

is in this way that we will be the

salt and light that Jesus calls us to

be and so continue to see this

country influenced for good.

Erik

bond’. It was a motto that was

lived out in the day to day of

business transactions. Ship owners

and chartering agents from other

countries would chose to do

business through the London

market not just because of its

expertise, but also because of its

honesty and integrity. We are

not, thankfully, a nation where

bribery and corruption are rife.

Recent political and financial

scandals have dented our

reputation and damaged trust.

Not so long ago the BBC

announced that it would be

teaching its programme makers

about the importance of honesty

in producing current affairs

documentaries. This followed a

scandal about a programme on

dying. I was left asking what

happened to the basic integrity we

could expect from those in

positions of such influence. If you

have ever read a newspaper article

about something you know about

first hand you will possibly realise

just how inaccurate much of it

was.

We could probably multiply the

examples of ways in which

Christian values are being

challenged and eroded in 21st

Century Britain. There is,

however, no need for despair.

Shine Party 31st October- Sorry it seems too early

to be thinking about this, but by the time the

summer holidays are over we will need to get down

to organising this. The last few years have run a

similar pattern, but it feels right to try something

different to keep interest up.

Please consider whether you can help with any ideas

for fun, engaging activities for children and families, a

theme, publicity, preparing an activity or time on the night. It’s a great

opportunity to share God’s love and reach out with a more positive

message than the secular theme of Halloween.. Thanks. Please contact Fiona

Fletcher 590603.

Shine Party 2015

Shine Party 2014

We are very grateful to the flower team, responsible for the

beautiful flowers in church every Sunday. If you would like

to contribute towards the cost of flowers, there is a list of

dates in the porch. Choose the date you would like and

either sign or tick in the box. Some people like to remember a loved one or

a particular anniversary in this way. A couple of weeks before your chosen

week, put your gift in an envelope marked ‘flowers’ and put it in the offering

bag or give to one of the churchwardens.

Flowers

Recently the amount in the fund for the

Jachie Eye Clinic in Ghana got up to

£12,600, £4000 of which was money raised

at Craft Aid in November. Then I had a

request from Sister Abba for £12,000

towards the cost of a minibus.

Many people in Ghana will not have the means to travel to the Jachie Eye

Clinic, so an outreach service is vital. The new minibus will allow many

more people with eyesight problems to be helped. It is really good to

know that the money we raise is so well used.

Hugo Pollak

Minibus for Jachie

‘You are the salt of the earth. But

if the salt loses its saltiness, how

can it be made salty again?

Matthew 5:13

From the Registers

Wedding

11th July Alasdair Harry Imran McClenahan

and Meghan Rowan Graham

Funeral at the Crematorium

26th May Daphne Smith aged 91

Funeral at St Barnabas

23rd July Joan Mary Pay aged 91

Joan was a lovely presence at St Barnabas. She was always cheerful, easy in

conversation and interested in people. Joan often travelled on parish

holidays, to Bonskeid and Wydale Hall and was one of those people whose

personality lifted the atmosphere of a gathering. Joan spent most of her

career as a school secretary, bringing up her two daughters on her own.

She also served with the WRVS at James Cook hospital for 20 years. She

remained very much a central figure in her family and will be much missed

by them. Please continue to pray for Barbara and Carol and the wider

family.

Joan Pay

St Barnabas Church Office, 1A St Barnabas Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 6JR

Phone: 01642 812622 E-mail: office@st-barnabas.net Website: www.st-barnabas.net

Sunday 26th July Prayer Course begins, 6.30 p.m. in church

Monday 27th July Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Wednesday 29th July Wellbeing group meets, 7.30 p.m. in the Dales Vestry.

Friday 31st July Lydia group meets, 2 p.m. in the Reid Room

Sunday 2nd August Summer morning service patterns begins.;

9.30 a.m. Morning Praise

11.15 a.m. All Age Praise Together

Monday 3rd August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Monday 10th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Monday 17th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Sunday 23rd August 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion

11.15 a.m. Family Communion

Monday 24th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Wednesday 26th August Wellbeing group meets, 7.30 p.m. in the Dales Vestry.

Week beginning 30th August Life groups meet

Monday 31st August No Welcome Break

Sunday 6th September Normal service pattern resumes

Monday 7th September Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Week beginning 13th September Life groups meet

Monday 14th September Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex

Diary