sunday services radford road church leamington spa · 2017. 10. 28. · sunday services 10.30 am...
TRANSCRIPT
SUNDAY SERVICES
10.30 am THE SUNDAY SERVICE
Holy Communion - first Sunday of each month
(Please refer to Diary on page 8 for details of all Services as
arrangements may vary).
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
5.00 - 6.00pm
6.00 - 7.15pm
2.30 pm
7.00 - 8.30pm
10.30am
12.30pm
2.00pm
7.00 - 8.30pm
6.30 - 8.00pm
7.00 - 8.00pm
7.00 - 8.30pm
9.00 - 11.00am
10.00am
Rainbows (5-7 years) at Radford Road
Brownies (7-10 years) at Radford Road
Friendship Circle
Guides (10-15 years) at Radford Road
Coffee Morning
Wednesday Lunch alternating with Lunch
followed by Mid-Week Worship at 1.30 pm.
Film Club (monthly)
Scouts (10½-14 years) at the Scout Cabin,
Trinity Street
Cub Scouts (8-10½ years) at Radford Road
Beaver Scouts (6-8 years) at Radford Road
Explorer Scouts (14-18 years) at the
Scout Cabin, Trinity Street
The Big Breakfast (monthly on 2nd. Saturday)
Christians Together in Leamington
Ramblers (monthly)
WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES
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Radford Road Church web site: www.radfordroadchurch.org.uk
Radford Road Church
Leamington Spa CV31 1NF
November 2015November 2015November 2015
2 15
THE MINISTER’S LETTER
Dear friends,
As I wondered what to write about this month, as
always I looked at the Calendar to see what is coming
up in the month I’m writing for. And I thought, ‘Oh
dear, what can I write about Bonfire Night?’ But
almost immediately some not quite forgotten
memories of school history lessons prompted me to
think some more and then it all came flooding back to
me that the Church, or part of it, was at the heart of it
all.
In 1605, there was a conspiracy by a group of English Catholics who wanted to
assassinate Protestant King James I of England and replace him with a Catholic
head of state. After a tip-off though, Guy Fawkes was found guarding 36
barrels of explosives placed beneath the House of Lords and he and his co-
conspirators were captured, tried, then hung, drawn and quartered! Horrible!
A year later an Act of Parliament was passed stating that the anniversary of that
date should be celebrated with bonfires and compulsory attendance at Church as
a thanksgiving for God’s deliverance of the monarch. Who can say whether
God did intervene to save King James?
We do know, however, that God did intervene around 2,000 years ago because
our Bibles tell us so; and although there were no fireworks or bonfires to mark it
there was simply a bunch of angels to proclaim Jesus’ birth. On that occasion,
God could undoubtedly have caused an eruption of lights in the sky all over the
world, and had angelic trumpets blasting out the news. Instead he chose to come
into the world, and to change it forever, quietly and humbly amid the straw,
and, let’s face it, dung (!) of a stable.
More of that sort of reflection next month no doubt. But please, when you see a
rocket in the sky this month remember that that isn’t God’s way. But also
remember what is: quietly, faithfully, going about the business of changing the
world, by loving God and loving other people.
Every blessing to you,
Andy
MINISTER (Methodist)
MINISTER (URC)
ADMINISTRATOR
CHURCH TREASURER
ORGANISTS
MID-WEEK WORSHIP
WEDNESDAY LUNCH
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
RAINBOWS
BROWNIES
GUIDES
BEAVER SCOUTS
CUB SCOUTS
SCOUTS
EXPLORER SCOUTS
GROUP SCOUT LEADER
MAGAZINE EDITOR AND
WEBMASTER
CARETAKER
Rev. Andy Laird [email protected]
Rev. James Church [email protected]
Margaret Bull
Tina Wise
Margaret Height
Rosemary Moore
Jane Grunfeld
Veronica Brown
Margaret Height
Ruth Eyles
Ken Robertson
Bridget Halpin
Bridget Halpin
Rebecca Williams
Ian Davis
Janet Doody
Graham Robbins
Mark Reading
Graham Martin
Marjorie Carrier [email protected]
Pat Langley
Nov 1
Nov 8
Nov 15
Nov 22
Nov 29
Dec 6
Dec 13
Flowers to give
Bridget Halpin
Hazel Hobbs
Bridget Halpin
Sue Darlison &
Joan Bicknell
Diane Jones
Jessie Lawson
Valerie Douglas
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Coffee
Brenda & Alan
Watts
Veronica Brown &
Jean Young
Janice Dean &
Sally Cligg
Bridget Halpin &
Joyce Limmage
Jane Grunfeld &
Julia Morris
Ruth & John Eyles
Brenda & Alan
Watts
Arranger
Kath
Hazel
Margaret
Tony
Rosemary
Kath
Tony
Would the first person on the Coffee Rota please bring 2 pints of milk and the
second bring biscuits. Thank you! We thank all those who have promised flowers for the church and also thank the arrangers for using their time and talents in this way.
ROTAS FAMILY NEWS
We were pleased to welcome Margaret Clarke to morning
service on October 11th when she was visiting her family to
celebrate her granddaughter’s 18th birthday. Jane Grunfeld’s brother, Philip, had a severe stroke at the end of September on his 56th birthday. Jane is making long trips to her parents home in Wales to take them to
visit Philip who is in hospital in Bristol. Bridget Halpin was involved in a car accident recently but, thankfully, wasn’t
seriously hurt although there is extensive damage to her car. The emergency doctor had to be called to Kingsley Pilling recently and Kingsley has been referred for further neurological tests. It was good to see both Anne and Kingsley
in church recently. Margaret Height is having hip surgery and we trust that, after she recovers from the operation, her mobility will improve and she will be free from pain.
Revd. Andy Laird has undergone keyhole surgery to alleviate shoulder pain and we hope the treatment proves to be successful.
Congratulations to Andy and Anne’s son who is to be married at the end of November. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ann Blower whose husband is now in a Care
Home. We also remember Clarice Thompson, Joyce Hill, Jessie Lawson, Jean
Innis, Mary Coles and others who are finding life difficult at the moment. Hazel Hobbs
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Marjorie Carrier would welcome your contributions and suggestions for the
December/ January Magazine by Sunday Nov. 22nd at the latest, and
preferably earlier, please. Email: [email protected]
PRAYER LINE
If you have a prayer request call 07594526888 and leave a message on our answer machine. Alternatively you can email prayer requests to
[email protected] or speak with Jane Grunfeld or Hazel Hobbs. Our prayer group at the church will commit to praying for those requests.
Welcomer
Sue Darlison
Rosemary
Moore
Ann Blower
Julia Morris
Veronica
Brown
Joan Bicknell
Sue Darlison
NEW NORTH COVENTRY GROUP OF URC CHURCHES
The deployment of ordained URC Ministers in the City of Coventry, has recently been reviewed. A new “North Coventry Group” has been formed and comprises
Foleshill Road, Holyhead Road, Keresley and Potters Green churches. The Induction of Revd. Tim Lowe and Revd. Bill Young as the ministers of this Group took place on Saturday 24th October.
The preacher was our recently inducted Synod Moderator, the Revd. Steve Faber.
HOMEWOOD CHRISTMAS FAIR
is to be held at
Homewood, 40, Kenilworth Road, Leamington Spa
on Saturday November 28th from 12.30pm until 3.00pm.
Stalls and Refreshments
Everyone is invited.
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4
OUR COVER PICTURE
REMEMBRANCE 1914 to .…?
The call has come; they gather as one,
From mill and factory, from farm and home
Little they know of the years ahead,
Many will sadly soon be dead.
After the training the Channel is crossed,
Foreign soil is where most are lost.
The killing fields beckon; the enemy’s there,
Shells are dropping, noise everywhere.
They dive for cover and hit the ground,
Bullets fly, smoke all around.
On the attack - the brave lads try,
Many fall; so many die!
Remember them – yes, but learn from our history,
In countless conflicts, mad human misery.
When will the blood no longer be spilled,
When will the earth with peace be filled?
Remember and honour them; we’re their tomorrow.
Remember their sacrifice, where many will follow.
As we see it repeated more and more,
Remember and honour them, stop the war!
Alan Edward
Remembrance Sunday, which falls on
November 8th 2015, is a day for the
nation to remember and honour those
who have sacrificed themselves to
secure and protect our freedom.
THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH shares the
Trinitarian tradition and creeds of all the major Christian
denominations.
The Bible is taken to be the supreme authority for the
Church, together with certain historic statements of the
United Reformed Church.
The United Reformed Church was first formed in 1972 by a union of the
Presbyterian Church of England and the majority of churches in the
Congregational Church in England and Wales. It was joined later by the
Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ in 1981 and the
Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000.
The oldest churches have a history going back to the 17th century and the
Reformation. Other congregations were formed during the Evangelical
Revival in the eighteenth century or by denominational expansion in the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Respect for individual belief and a conviction that majorities are not always
right mean that the church is nor dogmatic and embraces a wide variety of
opinions.
The Church sets a high value on individual conscience and the ability of its
members to reach common understanding. Local congregations hold meetings
to govern their affairs, with a group of elected Elders having day to day
responsibility.
A General Assembly meets bi-annually (annually until 2008) and makes
policy decisions after consultation and debate. All these meetings are held in
the belief that the Holy Spirit guides members of the Church in their decision
making.
The formal leadership of the General Assembly is provided by two
Moderators who serve together for two years, in an honorary capacity. They
are elected by members of the Assembly. One Moderator is a lay person and
the other a Minister.
A permanent staff, led by the General Secretary, services the Assembly and
its committees. There are thirteen Synods, each having their own Synod
Moderator and staff to support the work of local churches. These are usually
grouped together under the pastoral care of a paid Minister, a man or woman,
although the church also ordains unpaid Ministers.
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VISIT OF CANON ANDREW WHITE aka The Bishop of Baghdad
Andrew White, the vicar of St. George’s in Baghdad,
has established a ministry of reconciliation in Iraq. He
will be speaking at St. Mary’s Church on Sunday
evening Nov.1st. And everyone is invited.
When the Anglican church told him his MS made him
too ill to minister, he devoted his life to peacemaking
in the Middle East and is one of only a small number
of people trusted by virtually every side.
Radford Road Church is A Local Ecumenical Project
between the Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church.
On this, and the following page, you can read very brief accounts of the histories
of the two denominations. The accounts are taken, with full permission, from the
web site ‘The Parish Window’ and are written by Brian Hatton.
The Methodist Church and the URC, together with several other denominations,
are known as non-conformists because they do not conform to the rules and
authority of the Church of England.
THE METHODIST CHURCH is the fourth largest
Christian Church in Britain, after the Anglican, the
Roman Catholic and the Church of Scotland. There are
Methodist churches in nearly every country in the world
and global membership numbers about 70 million people.
The founder of the Methodist Church was a Church of
England minister, John Wesley (1703-1791), who challenged the religious
assumptions of the day. He and others met regularly for Bible Study and prayer
and became known as ‘The Methodists’ because of the methodical way in
which they practiced their Christian faith.
In 1739 Wesley began preaching to crowds of working class men and women in
the outdoors. This ‘field preaching’ became a key feature of the Revival, when
thousands came to hear him preach as he travelled the country.
Preaching radical ideas took great courage in those days and his followers were
denounced in print and from pulpits, his meetings were disrupted and he was
even physically attacked. John Wesley always declared that his movement
should remain within the Anglican Church, but the Church of England was keen
to distance itself from him and his followers. In the end, the strength and impact
of Methodism made a separate Methodist Church inevitable. In 1795, four years
after Wesley’s death, Methodists in Britain became legally able to conduct
marriages and perform the sacraments.
In 1808 the Methodist lay preacher, Hugh Bourne, was expelled from the
movement. He and 200 followers became known as Primitive Methodists. They
differed from Wesleyan Methodists in several regards, including the
encouragement of women evangelists. Both Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist
communities grew rapidly during the nineteenth century. It was from among the
Primitives that many Trade Union leaders emerged towards the end of the
century.
The United Methodist Church, which formed from earlier mergers of smaller
Methodist groupings joined with the Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists in
1932 to form the present Methodist Church in Britain.
The Methodist Church
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN LEAMINGTON
Wednesday Nov. 11th
“Marketplace”
from 7.30pm to 8.45pm at Christchurch, Priory Terrace.
‘Come, Taste and See’ the Christian projects which are taking
place in Leamington including CAP, Street Pastors, The
Leamington Centre, The Food Bank, The Way Ahead Project,
Nightlight, Night Shelter, Mission, New Hope Christian
Counselling Centre, Leamington Poverty Forum, The Walking
Group and others.
Enjoy cheese and punch. At 8.30pm there will be a brief AGM.
CHURCHES TOGETHER RAMBLERS
“Warwick to Hatton Park” Saturday November 21st 9.45am for 10.00am
Meet at Cape of Good Hope Pub, Lower Cape, Warwick,
where lunch will be available at the end of the walk.
Leader: Julie Bacchus
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UNSUNG HEROES AT RADFORD ROAD CHURCH
The Ministers and Elders are at the forefront of our church ensuring that our
spiritual needs are cared for and giving Christian leadership, spiritual
guidance and teaching.
However, there are a lot of people not in the limelight who ensure that the
organisation of our church runs smoothly and that it is a welcoming place for
us to use. These people are our unsung heroes who go about their tasks
regularly and diligently without seeking attention.
Have you ever thought who is responsible for
The Communion preparation?
The tidiness of the car park and the planting of the flower troughs?
The cleaning of our buildings?
The arranging of flowers?
The preparation and printing of the Magazine and News Sheet?
The opening and locking of the premises?
The booking of rooms?
The rotas?
Our finances?
The leadership of the weekly organisations?
The shopping and planning for activities and events?
The music?
The catering?
The prayer line?
The power point projection?
The organisation of welcomers and coffee makers?
and the caring for those who are in need?
To all these people and to the ones who have not had a mention but who can
be relied on and whose input would be missed if they weren’t there, we say a
huge thank you.
FILM CLUB
The next Film Club will be on
Thursday November 26th at 2.00pm
when you can enjoy
“Miracle on 34th Street” Starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott and
Mara Wilson
A little girl discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. Six-year-old
Susan has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle - Santa Claus.
Her mother told her the "secret" about Santa a long time ago, so Susan doesn't
expect to receive the most important gifts on her Christmas list. But after
meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing,
Susan is given the most precious gift of all - something to believe in.
Tea and cakes will be served £2.00 per person
CHURCH KITCHEN
Although it is now Autumn, our
church kitchen has had a spring clean!
Rubbish which had accumulated in
drawers and cupboards has been
removed and everything is clean and
sparkling.
There is now a plastic container for
dirty tea towels (hopefully someone
will take these home to wash from
time to time)! A new container has
been provided for re-cyclable waste.
The Night Shelter has given us a good microwave oven which was surplus to
their requirements.
Everyone who uses the kitchen will be delighted with the cleanliness and
neatness of the area and out thanks go to Jane, Margaret and one or two helpers
for all their hard work.
CRAFT FAIR 2015
Many thanks to all who played a part in making the Craft Fair a success. Everyone worked so hard in moving furniture, organising stalls, serving
refreshments and clearing up afterwards. It was a magnificent team effort! The sum of £1221.76 was raised and this money is towards the running costs and maintenance of the church premises.
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PRAYING TOGETHER IN NOVEMBER
A monthly Prayer Diary has been created to encourage the Church family to focus prayers on a daily basis, together with the concerns raised in the weekly news sheet.
You are invited to take a stone from the basket on the Table of Remembrance, sit or
stand quietly and concentrate on your particular concern. Then hold or stroke your stone – feel your hurt, worry, loneliness, pain, guilt, unhappiness or anxiety flowing into your stone. Feel it warm in your hand. If you are praying for someone else, feel
your love and compassion flowing into your stone. When you are ready, leave your stone at the cross of Jesus. Leave it with your
concerns, so that Jesus can deal with it. Then go – knowing that Jesus loves and cares about you. There is also a Book of Prayer. Any situation entered in the book will be prayed for
at Friday Bible Study and included in the monthly Prayer Diary.
1st The House of Light and Hope 16 Mary Coles
2nd Jean Innes 17 Wendy
3rd Clive Fowle’s work 18 Revd. James Church
4th Revd. Andy Laird 19 Churches Together in Leamington
5th Hilda & Ken 20 Kingsley & Anne Pilling
6th Jessie Lawson 21 The Bible Study Group
7th Mid-Week Worship 22 The Film Club
8th Valerie 23 John Farringdon
9th The Uniformed Organisations 24 The Night Shelter
10th Big Breakfast 25 The Elders of the Church
11th Friendship Circle 26 Wednesday Lunch
12th Joyce Hill 27 The Food Bank
13th The Faith Forum 28 Gill & Derek Hubbard
14th Jane Grunfeld 29 Pat
15th Church AGM 30 Clarice
DEDICATION SERVICE
Thank you to all those who are knitting scarves, gloves and hats for the Night
Shelter and those who are filling boxes with goodies for Operation Christmas
Child. Wool and patterns are still available from Marjorie and pre-formed
boxes can be obtained from Veronica.
The knitted garments and Christmas gift boxes will be dedicated at the service
on November 15th. Please bring your knitted garments and boxes by Nov. 1st
so that displays can be set up.
Also, on this day, the 60 New International Version Bibles, given by the
Overing family in remembrance of Rita and the large print Bibles, given in
memory of Margaret Sheen, will be dedicated.
We will welcome members of the Overing and Sheen families who will be
joining us on this special occasion.
HOUSE GROUP
BIBLE STUDY
each Friday at
135, Leam Terrace
at 7.30pm
The House Group would be
delighted to
welcome others who would like to
share in the evening.
The Group will be studying the
Book of Esther.
Please see James for further details.
THE NEXT
BIG BREAKFAST
is on November 14th
at 9.00am
Come along and bring your friends
to our Big Breakfast.
Proceeds to our new Mission Project
“The House of Light and Hope”.
I WAS COLD I WAS HUNGRY WERE YOU THERE?
The recent retiring collection for the Christian Aid Emergency Appeal for
Syrian refugees realised £165.00.
A letter of thanks has been received for this donation and is on the church
notice board..
NOVEMBER DIARY 2015
8 9
Sun ` 1
Tues 3
Wed 4
Fri 6
Sun 8
Tues 10
Wed 11
Fri 13
Sun 15
Tues 17
Wed 18
Fri 20
Sun 22
Tues 24
Wed 25
Thurs 26
Fri 27
Sun 29
10.30am
2.30pm
10.30am
12.30pm
7.30pm
10.30am
2.30pm
10.30am
12.30pm
7.30pm
10.30am
2.30pm
10.30am
12.30pm
7.30pm
10.30am
2.30pm
10.30am
12.30pm
2.00pm
7.30pm
10.30am
The Sunday Service with Holy Communion led by the
Revd. Andy Laird
Friendship Circle - George Jones
Coffee Morning
Lunch followed by Mid-Week Worship led by
the Revd. Mike Grimsley
House Group at 135, Leam Terrace
The Remembrance Day Service led by
the Revd. James Church
The Friendship Circle - Remembrance - Bella Major
Coffee Morning
Wednesday Lunch followed by Remembrance Day
Songs of Praise from St. Mary’s Church, Warwick
House Group at 135, Leam Terrace
The Sunday Service led by the Revd. Andy Laird.
Dedication of gift boxes, knitted garments and new Bibles.
The service will be followed by the Congregational Annual
General Meeting, (See below).
The Friendship Circle - tba
Coffee Morning
Lunch followed by Mid-Week Worship with Communion led
by the Revd. Rachel Burgess
House Group at 135, Leam Terrace
The Sunday Service led by the Revd. James Church
The Friendship Circle - Revd. John Carrier
“Musings of a Sweet Pea Grower”
Coffee Morning
Wednesday Lunch followed by an opportunity for members to
read carols, poems or prose on the theme of Christmas
Film Club “Miracle on 34th Street”
House Group - venue to be arranged
The Advent Service led by Dr. Denys Hill
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
Our annual church Christmas card will be inserted into the December Church Magazine and
you are invited to give a small donation to Christian Aid when your greeting to your church friends is printed in the card. As in previous
years, donations will be used to buy gifts from the Christian Aid Present Aid catalogue and will help people in under-developed countries.
Please give your proposed greeting and donation to Marjorie Carrier by
Nov. 15th at the very latest.
A Double Bonus!
The UK government has again committed to doubling the Christian Aid
gifts by matching every pound given during the period 6th November - 5th
February. So, whatever you donate when you add your Christmas
greeting, the money will be matched by a donation from the Government.
The Post Box will also be available in the vestibule if you wish to send individual cards but, please remember, these cannot be delivered, so only use the box for people who come to church regularly and who can collect their
own cards.
DISTRICT VISION DAY
Sat. Nov. 14th 10.00am – 3.00pm at Dorridge Methodist Church,
Mill Lane, Bentley Heath, Solihull. B93 8NY
The Methodist District is holding a day to help everyone catch a vision and
start mapping a way forward for the churches in the district for the next ten
years. It will be led by the Revd. Stephen Poxon, former President of Conference
and Chair of the Lancashire District. He is experienced in helping churches,
circuits and Districts discover and work to God’s vision for their future. He is also an inspirational speaker and leader, as those who heard him at the
Spring Synod will remember.
The day is for all in church leadership in whatever way, and for all who care
about the future of the Methodist church.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held after morning service on
November 15th and all members and friends are urged and encouraged to
attend.
The meeting will start after coffee has been served and usually lasts about
30 minutes.