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Printed & published by The Free Church (United Reformed) St Ives, Market Hill, St Ives, Cambs. PE27 5AL E-mail office@stivesfreechurch.org Tel 01480 468535

Contacts

Minister Revd Dr. Catherine Ball 352058 Mobile: 07714 081930 Church Secretary Barbara Duffett 395308 Associate Church Secretary Andy Fleming 468055 Communications & Media Convenor Peter Davies 495835 Webmaster alan@stivesfreechurch.org Finance Convenor Peter German 352401 Freewill Offering Treasurer David Duffett 395308 Property Convenor Vacant Tookey’s Convenor Val Bush 469189 Manager Pat Clarke 468886 Resident Musician Brian Lodde 354647 Flower Convenor Margaret Cakebread 462726 Eco Group Convenor Mary Cox 300103 Chapel Prayer Coordinator Gerry Swain 468053 Just Sharing Manager Sue Billings 496570 Asst Manager Rosemarie Smith justsharing@stivesfreechurch.org Church Office 468535 office@stivesfreechurch.org Open 9am. - 1pm. Monday to Friday Room Bookings should be made

Free Church Worship Chapel Prayers Daily at 10am Mon—Sat

Sun 6th Sep

11:00 Revd Dr Catherine Ball - Holy Communion

Sun 13th Sep

11:00 Revd Roy Muttram - Battle of Britain

Sun 13th Sep

18:00 Joint Service at Fenstanton URC - Pauline Berry

Sun 20th Sep

11:00 Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Sun 27th Sep

11:00 Revd Dr C Ball & Revd E Caswell - Cafe Style Harvest

Sun 4th Oct

11:00 Revd Dr Catherine Ball - Holy Communion

Fenstanton Worship

Sun 6th Sep

9:30 Rev Peter Ball

Sun 13th Sep

9:30 6:00

Revd Dr Catherine Ball – Holy Communion Joint with St Ives - Pauline Berry

Sun 20th Sep

9:30 Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Sun 27th Sep

9:30 Revd Chris Baker

Sun 4th Oct

9:30 Revd Derek Newton - Harvest

For The Harvest

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies.

For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower Sun and moon, and stars of light:

Gracious God, to thee we raise, This our sacrifice of praise.

(F S Pierpoint (1835—1917)

THE NEWSLETTER OF

THE FREE CHURCH

(UNITED REFORMED)

SAINT IVES

I n

s p

i r

e

September 2015

www.stivesfreechurch.org

Inside September

Inspire

Inspire Editorial Team

September Editor Val Bush 469189 Keith Cakebread 462726 Mary Anthony 469530 Christine Curtis 350787

Copy preferably by email please to office@stivesfreechurch.org

Page 1 View from the Manse

Page 2 Baked Alaska

Page 3 Greenbelt Flower/Produce Show Page 4 Heritage Open Day Celts and Christians

Page 5 Green Christian Fellowship Walk

Page 6 Tapestry Concert Page 7 From the Secretary Little Gidding

Page 8 Samaritan’s Purse

Page 9 Westminster College

Page 10 For the Young

Page 11 Church/Community

Page 12 Contacts St Ives Worship Fenstanton Worship

Deadline for October Inspire

13th September

View from the Manse

Holidays are over, no more lazing about on sun lounges or building sand castles on the beach or holding evening BBQs – if you were able to catch a sunny day! Autumn is arriving and it’s time to get motivated and back to work, school and our many family and home responsibilities, including our Christian service. The cooler and cloudy weather we’ve been having encourages us indoors to do those jobs we may have put off over the summer.

This month at the Free Church is a busy one. Our regular meetings and Committees start up again in September and Just Sharing, our Fair trade shop and Churches Together in St Ives are having their AGMs. I will be away on a Faith & Order consultation and also our Eastern Synod Ministers’ Get-Together.

We have invited Elizabeth

Caswell, former Moderator of

Eastern Synod to join us for our

Harvest Service which will be

held on the 27th September and

will be a café style service.

People are invited to bring dried

goods to be brought forward

during the service to be given to

the St Ives Churches Together

Foodbank.

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Baked Alaska 23rd - 25th - 26th September 2015

Riding Lights Theatre Company - Time to change the Temperature 23rd September 2015 - St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk (IP33 1LS) 7pm

25th September 2015 - Chelmsford Cathedral, Essex - 8pm 26th September 2015 - Hertford URC, Hertfordshire 7.30pm

Baked Alaska has been commissioned by the Diocese of Lichfield, Christian Aid and Operation Noah, the show is presented by a solidarity of Christian organisations committed to raising a compassionate voice in the call to worldwide action. From the four corners of the earth come colourful, inter-connecting stories of humanity living with the wild, unpredictable effects of climate change. Scientists, farmers, oil magnates, climate warriors, prophets, mothers, journalists and others just like you and me – we’re all in the mix and hungry for a recipe of hope. In the struggle over power, some sound the warming bell, some blow hot and cold, while others make a pudding of the planet. Vivid, sharp and deliciously entertaining, BAKED ALASKA serves up the realities of climate change with flair and clarity about the temperatures involved. In the high-energy, ‘seriously funny’ style for which Riding Lights is well known, BAKED ALASKA is something we can all look forward to… unless we do something about it.

Tickets available from Cathedral: 01284 748720 or Box Office: 01904 61300

Website: Riding Lights Theatre Company

We give thanks to God for the rich bounty and variety of foods that we enjoy and the farmers and producers and retailers who provide them for us. We affirm our Ecology principles of buying local, organic, animal friendly, and fairly traded food as much as possible. And we remember those who have so little in comparison.

Ruth Wilson, our intern over the past year is getting ordained and inducted at Whittlesford URC on Thursday 3rd September – I hope many can go and support her.

May this be a productive and positive month

as we seek to show God’s grace and mercy

in all we do.

Love in Christ, Catherine

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Church Activities

Mondays 19:00 Bowls Club

Wednes-days

10:00 - 11:30

Tots & Carers

Wed 2nd Sep

19:45 Elders Meeting

Tue 8th Sep

14:30 Meditation led by John Williams at Fenstanton URC

Mon 14th Sep

09:00 Church in the Market Place

Sun 20th Sep

12:15 Church Meeting

Wed 30th Sep

19:45 Poetry Group

Sat 3rd Oct

19:15 Tapestry Concert

Wed 7th Oct

19:45 Elders Meeting

Community Activities

Mondays 10:00 CRUSE

Wednes-days

14:00 Senior Citizens Club

Thursdays 09:30 Sunny Steps

Tue 1st Sep 14:00 U3A Singing Group

Wed 2nd Sep

11:00 U3A Current Affairs

Thu 3rd Sep 19:30 WI

Sat 5th Sep 09:30 - 16:00

Saints Crafters Fair

Sun 6th Sep 15:00 Concert

Fri 11th Sep 11:00 COPE

Tue 15th Sep

09:30 Alzheimer's Society Drop In Cafe

Tue 15th Sep

11:00 U3A Singing Group

Wed 16th Sep

11:00 U3A Current Affairs

Wed 16th Sep

19:30 St Ives Gardening Club

Thu 17th Sep

09:00 U3A Plant Power

Fri 18th Sep 10:00 U3A Local History

Fri 18th Sep 19:30 St Ives Civic Society

Sat 19th Sep

19:30 RAFA Concert

Wed 30th Sep

19:30 RSPB

Thu 1st Oct 19:30 WI

Fri 2nd Oct 19:30 Concert

Sat 3rd Oct 09:30 - 16:00

Saints Crafters Fair

The Free Church

Bowls Club

Restarts for the

Winter Season

At

7.00pm

On

Monday 7th September

Why not come along and try your hand?

No experience necessary -

Just a pair of flat shoes or slippers.

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FOR THE YOUNG ONES!!

What is a Harvest Festival?

Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land.

Thanksgiving ceremonies and

celebrations for a successful

harvest are both worldwide and

very ancient. In Britain, we have

given thanks for successful

harvests since pagan times.

We celebrate this day by

singing, praying and decorating our

churches with baskets of fruit

and food in a festival known as

'Harvest Festival', usually

during the month of

September.

This is the time of year when all the crops have been harvested.

Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This

makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate. In schools and in

Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. After the

service, the food that has been put on display is usually made into parcels and

given to people in need.

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Where faith, arts and justice meet

Greenbelt is an arts, faith and justice festival with a long and rich history.

It’s been going since 1974, over 40 consecutive festivals. Without a break.

The festival is all-age and multi-disciplinary in its programming. The roots

are in the Christian tradition, and the approach is inclusive and wide-

reaching. Greenbelt is a festival like no other – both in terms of the

breadth and depth of its content and also its vibe.

The festival takes place each August Bank Holiday weekend. Both day

and weekend tickets are available.

For more information go to www.greenbelt.org.uk

ST IVES FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW CORN EXCHANGE ST IVES

SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2015 FLOWERS VEGETABLES FRUIT HERBS PLANTS PRESERVES PRODUCE BAKING BREWING

AND MUCH MORE

ADMISSION IS FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC VIEWING IS FROM 1PM

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Celts & Christianity

During the Church’s Weekend Retreat in mid-June this year (see July’s Inspire) three ‘workshops’ were run concurrently: Banner Making; Meditational Music; and Celts & Christianity. Many of the guests would have liked to attend two of these sessions—or all three. And so, in late July, John Williams repeated his session with Meditational Music in his own home; and similarly in August, Margaret Cakebread repeated her illustrated talk on Celts & Christianity which was interspersed with Celtic music and prayers.

This was a one-hour romp through the Celts’ history, culture and Christian faith. And it brought

out a number of fascinating points.

One is that the Celts trace their Christianity to around AD 37, making them one of the first Gentile groups to accept the Gospel.

Perhaps this is not so surprising when you learn that the people who lived in the Roman province of Galatia (in today’s western Turkey) were a Celtic tribe—hence the name, Galatia. oo ot Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, was written to a people of predominantly Celtic origin. It is also one of the earliest pastoral letters in the New Testament.

There is a general (albeit erroneous) belief that Christianity came to the British Isles via the papal mission in AD 596 led by ot Augustine. But the Celtic Church had been very active in the north and west of these islands for several centuries before that. For instance, ot Columba founded the Celtic monastery at Iona more than 30 years before ot Augustine’s arrival.

And finally, in this brief excerpt from Margaret’s talk, we thought about the Celtic cross. The Protestant cross is empty to emphasise that Jesus Christ is risen. The Celtic cross goes further. It includes a circle to indicate our eternal hope that we will all return to the innocence of humankind as it was before the Fall of Man.

Keith

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

11/12/13 SEPTEMBER 2015

A WEEKEND OF HISTORIC SITES IN ST IVES AND

EXHIBITIONS

In September every year the town opens its doors to some

historic and sometimes hidden places.

For the first time the Masonic Lodge on the corner of The

Quay and Wellington Street will be open.

Also to be visited are the Council Chamber, Holt Island

Nature Reserve, the Muslim Prayer & Education Centre in

the Broadway and the Mosque in Needingworth Road.

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Come and explore a day of prayer and reflection at the College and find God’s presence here. You will be given some guidance as to how to make best use of this personal time with God. These days are open to ministers, elders, members, indeed anyone who wishes to deepen their spiritual life.

Saturday 31st October 2015 - 10.00 am - 4.00 pm - Introductory offer £33.00 to include lunch, coffee and tea.

Westminster Quiet Days... What are they? Calvin expresses this invitation ‘It would be rashness itself to burst into God’s sight if he himself had not anticipated our coming by calling us.’

These are days set aside for you to enjoy Westminster College as a sacred space, to explore prayer and take time out from busy lives. Westminster Quiet Days aim to resource you and help you find a rhythm of prayer.

You will be introduced to different classic forms of prayer, including reformed spirituality. So take this as an invitation from God to relax with him and receive his grace.

The days will be resourced by Spiritual Directors and members of College staff. One-to-one taster sessions of spiritual direction can usually be arranged. You will have good food and a warm welcome from the College and can also make use of the prayer labyrinth, the chapel and the library.

Poetry Corner

September 1815

WHILE not a leaf seems faded; while

the fields,

With ripening harvest prodigally fair,

In brightest sunshine bask; this

nipping air,

Sent from some distant clime where

Winter wields

His icy scimitar, a foretaste yields

Of bitter change, and bids the flowers

beware;

And whispers to the silent birds,

'Prepare against the threatening foe

your trustiest shields.'

For me, who under kindlier laws

belong to Nature's tuneful quire, this

rustling dry

Through leaves yet green, and yon

crystalline sky,

Announce a season potent to renew,

'Mid frost and snow, the instinctive

joys of song,

And nobler cares than listless

summer knew.

(William

Wordsworth)

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DID YOU KNOW?

The Norris Museum is planned for closer for major refurbishment in January 2016 for a year or more.

There are many exhibits, walks and event still on this year. You can find further dates and details on www.norrismuseum.org.uk. Enjoy!!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX APPEAL You may well say, “Surely not yet, it’s too early!”. Indeed, this editor thinks you’re quite right but by planning now and having

a few weeks before 1st—18th November to put your goodies into its box and get in back to the church office. We may even send more than before. Here are just a few ideas to remind you what to collect for gifts. As well as the usual shoeboxes there is another opportunity to send a Go Box. Check out www.samaritan’s purse.org.uk SHOEBOX Get an empty medium sized shoebox for a girl or a boy wrapping the lid and box separately. Use our leaflet or download and print an appropriate boy/girl label. Mark the correct age category 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 and tape the label to the top of your box. For the 2015 campaign, we are be once again providing GO Boxes. Share them with your friends, family, work colleagues and church groups

TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls or stuffed toys (with CE label), toy trucks, harmonica, yo-yo, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps & ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks & paper, solar calculators, colouring & picture books etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush and toothpaste, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel.

OTHER ITEMS: Hat, cap, gloves or scarf, sunglasses, hair accessories, jewellery set, wind up torch, wrapped sweets (best-before-date must be at least March of the following year).

DO NOT INCLUDE: used or damaged items, war related items such as toy

guns, play soldiers or knives; chocolate or other food items; liquids or lotions of

any type including bubbles; medicines; hand-made or knitted stuffed toys;

anything of a political, racial or religious nature; playing cards (of the 4-suit

variety); sharp objects; glass containers, mirrors or fragile items; clothing other

than as listed above.

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Green Christian believes in a gospel for all creation. It is a community of ordinary Chris-tians who seek to:

Let loose hope in this damaged, exploited and unjust world.

Pioneer practical discipleship in shared prayer, struggle and action

Equip prophetic witness through our campaigns and resources Empower agents of change in churches and the green movement And who walk alongside those of faith and no faith. The Free Church Eco Group receives their monthly magazine and e-mail news and is grateful for the support they give to groups like us. Green Christian has initiated a Facebook Group especially for Christian parents interest-ed in ‘green’ issues and is very pleased that it has over 50 members in less than a week. It is hoped that ‘Growing Them Green’ will be a place for parents and carers to support and encourage each other in nurturing children to love and care for God's Creation. You can read more at http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/9322. Looking for earth-friendly recipes Green Christian is looking for great recipe ideas that don’t cost the earth. They might be healthy, cheap, quick, unusual… anything that makes eating earth-friendly easier! The Green Christian Food Campaign, LOAF, encourages people to choose food that is… L– Local O– Organic A– Animal Friendly F– Fairly Traded If you have any recipe ideas, please send them to The Xistence Team at www.greenchristian.org.uk (and send any pictures too).

FELLOWSHIP WALKING GROUP

Although a very hot day,

these brave, regular walkers went to

Fenstanton for the latest of The Fellowship Walks.

If you’d like to join one,

look out for the next dates to be published soon.

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An Evening with Tapestry

Looking for an evening of music, wine & song?

Tapestry Singers are putting on a concert to raise funds for the Church as a

way of saying Thank you for all the years of allowing us to call the Free

Church our Spiritual home.

The programme will be a wide selection form their repertoire, from

Spirituals….Deep River, Down by the Riverside, Folk…. Early one

morning, Dance to your Daddy ….Shows…..Bring him home, Michelle,

Ain’t no Sunshine……and many more.

On Saturday 3rd October 2015

7p.m. for 7.30.p.m.

Wine or soft drinks on arrival

Refreshments, raffle and chat at the interval

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FROM THE CHURCH SECRETARY

September is the time that church life swings fully back into action. Many thanks to all of those who have kept things going over the summer and we now come back refreshed.

Church members will shortly be receiving nomination papers for the Elders’ election. We will need to elect 5 Elders this year in November, to bring the Eldership up to full strength of 18. Please consider your nominations carefully and prayerfully. If you are nominated we would love you to stand for election if you feel it is right for you to serve in this way, as we continue our witness in this church and to our community.

Our harvest service is on Sunday 27th after which our gifts of dry goods will be donated to the food bank in St. Ives this year. If you are not sure what they

need please see the list in Tookeys by the box or speak to Lin Fleming. Tins of meat, canned vegetables and pasta sauces for example are always needed whereas they have lots of pasta and baked beans!

Tapestry will be doing a harvest concert raising funds for our church on Saturday 3rd October, do come along if you can.

We are very pleased to let you know that Ruth Wilson (our ordinand student this year) has been called to two Cambridgeshire churches for the next twelve months. Ruth will be working half time at both Whittlesford URC and St. Luke’s LEP in Cambridge. This suits Ruth very well enabling her daughter Megan to finish her schooling locally. All are welcome to her ordination and induction services (Whittlesford 3rd Sept at 7.30pm and St. Luke's 13th Sept at 10.30am). We send Ruth our congratulations and prayers for a successful ministry.

Barbara

QUIET DAY AT

LITTLE GIDDING Saturday 3rd October 2015 10am—5pm

Dear Friends, if you would like a QUIET DAY,

do come to Little Gidding.

The setting is beautiful and tranquil, the hospitality is kindly and generous and there are no demands!

All are so welcome. If you haven’t been before please think about it.

The cost is £26: transport can be arranged/shared and there is a maximum of 26 places. Please sign the list on the church landing

table.

For further queries, contact Gerry S, John W or Joey D.