trinity
DESCRIPTION
The bimonthly magazine of Holy Trinity Parish Church Sutton ColdfieldTRANSCRIPT
The magazine of Holy Trinity
Parish Church
Sutton Coldfield
Mar-Apr 2012
Page
Mavis Thatcher—see page 20
Marjorie Williams
Carole Young with Bishop David outside Birmingham Cathedral.
Carole became a licensed reader on 28 January—Congratulations
Carole!
From the Editors ...
...to Trinity
In this issue we remember and pay tribute to two faithful and long serving members of Holy Trinity, Mavis Thatcher and Marjorie Williams.
We are reminded, by the poem on page five, of the peace and calm offered by Psalm 23, which was one of the readings at Mavis Thatcher’s funeral.
The approaching Easter season may also bring us comfort, as we remember that thanks to Jesus’ victory on the cross, death has no hold on those who follow him.
A musical about the story of Easter will be performed in church on Sunday 15th April—see page 3 for further details. Something which I am sure Mavis would have relished!
Both Mavis and Marjorie will be very sadly missed and we give thanks to God for their lives.
Louise
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Contents:
John Routh writes 2
Jerusalem Joy 3
Through a glass darkly 4
Peace and calm in the 23rd Psalm 5
Youth Matters 6
Book Review - One Day 8
Marjorie Williams - A Tribute 9
Post Christmas Party 16
How do you heat your
greenhouse? 17
From the registers 19
Choir News 19
Tribute to Mavis Thatcher 20
Mavis—Stella’s memories 22
Youth Matters 2 23
Trinity & Bible verse 24
Stella 329 2101 [email protected]
Roger 308 1185
Louise 240 6366
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John Routh writes …. The Sutton Coldfield Group
What on earth is The Sutton Coldfield Group? Let me explain; but first a little background.
Over the last few years, Holy Trinity has been working closely with St Chad's & St Peter's in some areas of church life. The most obvious sign of that to many people will be the pulpit exchanges that Edwina, Mat-thew & I have done from time to time. But in fact, there's much more.
Sometimes we work together because it is more efficient than each of the three churches duplicating the same work. So, we run combined confirmation classes; we run a combined Lent course.
Sometimes we work together because none us could manage alone. We employ Susie, our Youth Worker, as a threesome because none of us could afford to do it alone. We run a combined youth group because none of us has enough young people to make it viable to go it alone.
Sometimes we work together simply to build relationships. The clergy meet most weeks for prayer, & every month or so to arrange work mat-ters. The congregations intermix when we've run joint house groups.
We've been working together effectively for long enough to think it's something we want to continue. So, at the end of 2011, the three churches entered into a legal agreement under which we are what the Church of England calls a 'group'. Each parish remains independent of the others; but we undertake to work together when appropriate. The agreement formalises what we were already doing!
During the coming year we will be establishing a Group Council. It will oversee the things we agree to do together, but it won't be able to tell the three PCC's what to do - it will have only the powers we all agree to delegate to it. As I said, each parish remains independent.
Anyway ... big drum-roll ... this is where The Sutton Coldfield Group comes in. It's the umbrella name we will occasionally use when we work with the other two churches.
We ministers are looking at other ways the parishes can work together. Here are a few new things coming our way in 2012 ...
We're running a combined marriage preparation day in March. We're look-ing at the possibility of having an Olympics linked event for children & young people. I imagine there will be other suggestions as the year un-folds ...
And finally (& maybe most exciting) we're having a full-time curate, Phil, come to the group. Matthew will be the training incumbent, so in the first year Phil will spend a lot of time at St Peter's whilst he finds his feet. But after that we'll be seeing him spreading his time more evenly across the whole group.
Anyway, here we are, one of the three members of The Sutton Coldfield Group. It's not taking away any of Holy Trinity's independence. I hope you can see that, instead, it's enabling us to use our resources better to do God's work. Please hold it (or rather, us) in your prayers.
John
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A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY...
JERUSALEM JOY a musical about the story of Easter, by Roger Jones, which
will be performed in church on Sunday 15th April at 6pm.
If anyone wishes to take part as a member of the choir, they should apply on a form from the Trinity Centre.
Further information from Stella Thebridge on 0121 329 2101 or [email protected]
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Through a Glass Darkly - The Big Picture
The readings set down for church services during March and April
begin with God’s covenant with Abraham and end with the Apostles
testifying to the story of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection and
what it means to humankind – the Big Picture.
There are other ways of reading scripture which give this sense of an
overall view. For example, reading through the history of the Jewish
people gives us a sense of God, who knows what is best for his
people, offering again and again guidance and a way forward.
Sometimes things go well, but often his people turn away and God
works through history to find a way to turn them back again .
Last month our thoughts turned to the accession of our queen sixty
years ago. It is generally recognised that she has done an excellent
job and yet she is only in the position that she is through a succession
of astonishing ‘chances’. She herself believes that she is queen by the
will of God and the history of the monarchy during the last 200 years
bears out her faith in an amazing way. Even her great ancestor
Victoria came to the throne as the only heir left after a series of
childless monarchs. Her long reign and intelligent re-modelling of the
monarchy with the help of her consort Albert endeared her to her
people but her son Edward VII was less well fitted to wear the crown
and his eldest son Eddy might have been equally unsuitable;
however, he died and was succeeded by George V who reigned for 26
years.
Of course, we cannot assume as we once did that all this was
engineered by God who took particular care of Britain but it is hard,
looking back, not to see his hand in the curiously similar stories of
George V and George VI, each brought to the throne following the
removal of unsuitable heirs. George V led us wisely through the First
World War and George VI inspired the country during the Second.
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Both were reluctant monarchs, both had strong and dutiful wives and
both did a great deal to preserve and reform the monarchy and en-
courage stability in the country.
It is when we look back at history, as when we look back over our
own lives, that we see how the hand of God continues to influence
the Big Picture.
May our Queen Elizabeth enjoy a wonderful Jubilee Year!
Jean Schneider.
There’s peace and calm in the Twenty-Third Psalm
With the Lord as your Shepherd
You have all that you need,
For if you follow in His footsteps,
Wherever He may lead,
He will guard and guide and keep you
In His loving watchful care
And, when travelling in dark valleys,
Your Shepherd will be there…
His goodness is unfailing,
His kindness knows no end,
For the Lord is the “Good Shepherd”
On whom you can depend…
So when your heart is troubled,
You’ll find quiet peace and calm
If you open up the Bible
And just read this treasured Psalm.
Submitted by Don Smith
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YOUTH MATTERS
As I write it is late on a Sunday afternoon, the daylight is fading and I have
yet to find the energy to move from my comfy place on the settee to turn the light on. The television is on quietly and in the background I can also hear
the hum of the central heating and the bubbling of the fish tank filter. I can also hear my little cat, Mia, snoring contentedly to herself as she sleeps
snuggled up in one of her two beds. Mary and Joseph are dozing too and it is
all very soporific. I do not relish the thought of having to go out again in a bit to church and to run CYG. Winter evening should be spent quietly in front of
a roaring fire; toasting feet and crumpets. Well in my dreams anyway!
Needless to say that as soon as I had finished typing the above into my computer the phone rang so I had to move, and my moving has woken Mia,
Mary and Joseph so now all the members of this household are up, bouncing around wanting food and to chat. So much for the reverie!
But that’s life! It plods along and all seems sweetness and light and it’s all
gentle and kind and then suddenly something happens which makes you jump up and snap to attention again. I have been describing very a low key
situation but the reality of life is that when you think everything is under
control and ‘good’ the chances are something will happen to shake us up and make us think and maybe struggle.
But that’s ok. We need struggles as well as easy times. It is the struggles
that make us grow and which form us as people. Think of babies: If all their needs were met and their environment kept steady and secure then they
would never grow up. There would be no need to.
I think a lot of people would quite like not to have to grow up! They seem to do all they can to get out of taking responsibility for their lives and would like
to stay wrapped up in cotton wool and protected from the big wide world.
Not what God wants for us though and not what the leaders want for our
youth club kids. We want them to grow up into strong, thinking, responsible adults and we want them to think about God and where he fits into their
lives.
Mia is now hassling me badly for food and demanding my attention so I will move off my comfy settee and actively opt back into my life. It’s good to rest
and just be, but to do that all the time is neither healthy or part of being a Christian.
Susie Walker
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Book review - One Day
I have just read a book by David Nicholls - title above - well recommended by a woman in the parish. It had topped the charts for over a year - I think - and by the time I read it it had been made into a film. I saw the film before I read the book and think this was a mistake. And I take my reading seriously enough to want to see the film again. Phew! Of course films don't stay around for long so I may be disappointed... The book was first published in 2009 and is still in the charts.
Now then: it is the story of two young people who graduated from Edin-burgh at the same time. He left with a two-two and she emerged with a first. They met at their graduation ceremony on 15th July (we are re-minded occasionally that that is St Swithin's Day but I don't remember why that is significant - I am not always wide awake...) and they vow to meet on St Swithin's Day for evermore. He is well -connected and she is from a working class Yorkshire Family. He has no clear objectives and she becomes a dedicated teacher. They keep to their promises - to meet annually on the date chosen. He travels the world before settling down to a career vaguely to do with television. There are interesting accounts of life in Paris and work in the Dodecanese Islands and of course the lovely city of Edinburgh is brought to life. And Soho too…
The book contains the author's opinions. He refers to The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat. I have read these but don't recall them: I'll watch out for them in the charity shops and see if they have aged - as your correspondent has...
I don't like giving advice - I remember Wilde's advice on this - but I would advise loyal readers to read the book and then see the film...
Derrig Ferguson
Editor’s note: Readers may recall that this book featured within one of John’s sermons when he gave away the ending - unfortunately I was reading the book at the time!
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Marjorie Williams—a tribute
The following is an abridged version of the tribute to Marjorie given at her funeral.
Marjorie was born in Handsworth on 30th March 1920, the apple of her par-
ents’ eye, surrounded by doting aunts, uncles and grandparents.
From her early years Marjorie refused to be excluded from any activity going
on. She stayed up on the weekly musical evening, witnessing aunts and un-cles singing round the piano, or playing instruments. That musical grounding
meant that later in life she was able to play popular tunes by ear.
She also longed to join in with household chores, such as ‘black leading the
grate’. Her mother grudgingly agreed only if Marjorie promised to ‘do it prop-erly‘- thus beginning a lifelong habit of perfectionism and believing in the
‘proper way’ of doing things. In those days, no-one sat idle; her mother and aunts would be knitting, crocheting or embroidering as they chatted, and in
that spirit Marjorie always had something on the go.
Her tendency to generosity and kindness manifested early when Marjorie
went to her first school in Rookery Road, Handsworth. She felt so sorry for her teacher Miss Henderson, who only had a silver watch, that she asked her
father to buy her a gold one, and was hurt by his refusal, explaining that it
might be ‘misunderstood’.
Also at that first school Marjorie learned the basics of housekeeping, cookery and laundry, under the eagle eye of Miss Ewings - frequently quoted as
Marjorie illustrated the ‘right way’ to iron shirts, tablecloths etc. That lovely
smell of steam and fresh air on clean linen is an enduring memory for Rosa-lind and Robert! (Much later one of Robert’s visiting school friends was heard
to shout, ‘Mrs Williams, whatever have you done to my shirt?’ She listened in trepidation as he continued, ‘It hasn't been like this since it came out of the
packet!’)
Clearly intelligent, Marjorie moved on to George Dixon’s Grammar School.
She often spoke of her favourite teacher, Miss Hemming, who instilled in her a love of poetry, languages and learning generally. She was frequently top in
English, French or Latin, but bottom in Maths. Always a rugged individualist it
was noted by her Headmistress that she could never be a prefect, because ‘she chose which rules she would obey and which she would not’!
Continued overleaf...
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In this period the family moved house many times and eventually came to
Sutton, where they took an interest in riding. As Maths was an essential in-gredient of the School Certificate, Marjorie left school at 15 to work with
horses; she became stable manager and taught riding. She had her own horse and loved hunting, although always came home in disgust if they ever
cornered a fox. In later life she fed her local fox every night.
She also learned to drive, sometimes driving cars back from Warren Street in London for her father’s garage. During the Second World War Marjorie
joined the army. Asked what she would like to drive she said ‘Anything but
ambulances’ – and so it was that she was trained as a driver mechanic in charge of an ambulance, eventually winning a prize for the best kept ambu-
lance in the whole of Western Command!
Her main posting was on the Isle of Man, where she spent her war as Corpo-ral in charge of a group of girls, and looked after them so well they all called
her ‘Mum’. Judging by her reminiscences it was the time of her life, as the girls joined in banter with the soldiers, and many dances and parties.
Demobbed in 1946 she returned to Sutton. Marjorie was a hit at parties play-
ing all the popular tunes and accompanying friends singing. One day some-
one said to her, ‘Do you know Bert Williams?’ because, of course, he was very musical. They were duly introduced, and he wooed her with Jean Sablon
records until over a whisky one night said, ‘Tell you what, let’s get married’ - which they did on 26th August 1947.
They lived in Walmley. Marjorie’s cooking skills in those days can’t have been
as good as they later became, for one of Bert’s first presents was Bee Nil-son’s ‘All about cookery’. Two years later Robert was born and in 1951 the
family moved to Beaconsfield Road, to be joined in 1957 by Rosalind.
Marjorie was always brilliant with young children, reading to them, teaching and providing activities to keep them amused and learning. She taught both
her children to read before going to school as well as the basics of counting.
Both parents shared the same values and believed in providing the best edu-cation and whenever an opportunity arose Marjorie always said ‘You go,
while you’ve got the chance!’
After her parents retired to Torquay, Marjorie went through a difficult time. It was at this period in her life that she joined the confirmation class at Holy
Trinity, and her continuing belief in God’s love for her always sustained her.
Continued from previous page
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Marjorie and Bertie were delighted by Robert’s marriage to Caroline and the
subsequent arrival of their three grandchildren, of whom they were immensely proud. When the boys were small and visited in the holidays, Granny would al-
ways make sure that the particular combination of bacon, sausage, scrambled, fried or poached egg was exactly as requested. It was a point of pride and a
way of showing her great love for them. Usually meals were served with an
apology for something that had apparently not gone quite right, but always tasted delicious!
Until her sight failed her she attended two painting classes at Mere Green,
which she loved, painting in water colours and joining their annual exhibitions.
One year she even had three people wanting to buy her ‘Bluebells’!
Her love of the arts was an enduring feature of her life. There were many happy sessions playing piano duets or singing and learning songs together. She always
enjoyed reading historical novels, going to theatre (being a season ticket holder
at Birmingham Rep) or watching cultural programmes on the TV, as well as all the sit-coms. After Bertie retired, many years before ‘Strictly’, they took up
dancing lessons, passing medal after medal in Latin American and Ballroom Dancing. In recent years she has taken a great interest in Cygnet Theatre in
Exeter, helping many young actors in their training.
Always a ‘doer’, Marjorie often volunteered to help other people, ‘cooking for
the elderly’ at Elderslie until she was older than many of the diners. She also joined the Four Oaks Ladies Gardening Club, where she made the tea for over
30 years, continuing to make a profit without raising the price!
She took on Church Cleaning, taking a particular interest in the brass; and, in-
spired by her daughter-in-law Caroline, she also took on keeping the Church linen beautifully starched and ironed: and woe betide any over-zealous flower-
arranger spilling water from the altar flowers!
Essentially a homemaker, family meant the most to Marjorie but that included
all the family friends as well and she was generous in giving to all. She looked after Bertie at home for as long as was possible during his final illness and after
he died she continued to pursue her activities with great verve until failing eye sight prevented her.
Gracious, stylish, generous and compassionate, with a strong sense of humour, Marjorie made the most of her long and happy life, and was always ready to
meet and take an interest in new friends. I can say without a hint of doubt that
all of us, her friends, are going to miss her greatly.
Continued from page 10
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Post Christmas Party
Our Christmas party was held on Saturday 21st January. It has become a recent tradition to hold it after Christmas, because throughout December the church calendar is rather full and we found that when you did find a date it, half the congregation had work or private parties or functions so couldn't make it.
It's funny, some of the congregation never come to a church function and don't ever socialise outside of the service, others come to everything. I'm not criticising because I know how difficult I used to find it. Do you go to a stuffy church do or go out with your friends? Well, now I bring my friends and family to the church functions (they are not stuffy and are surprisingly irreverent) and have a good time, I mean where else can you get a three course meal and entertainment for £5.00?
Anyway, I digress, we had tomato soup to start; followed by a choice between chilli-con-carne, chicken coriander served with rice or jacket potato with cheese and salad, or any combination thereof; followed by tiramisu or fresh fruit salad. This was followed by a musical interlude by Lesley and Michael Gainsford. Then we had a cryptic pop challenge between tables and an inter table drawing game (a version of Pictionary) and quite competitive. Lesley and Michael played while Alex Parker lead us in a sing-a-long with songs from the musicals. Then we came to the grand finale, ‘The Holy Trinity Thespians’ (or, those that I could cajole or bribe to take a part) in a performance of our version of the Russian folk story of Babushka. Considering we had only had two rehearsal sessions it all went very well. Jean Schneider gave a moving performance in the title role. Overall there was something for everyone and it was a lot of fun enjoyed by all that were there.
After costs we were also able to donate £125 to our nominated charity – the Birmingham Crisis Centre. So thanks to all those who came, all those who took part, all the members social committee, along with Karen Pears and Elaine Ingley (my sisters) who cooked the main course.
Colin Ingley For photos, please see inside back cover—Ed
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How do you heat your greenhouse? One of the many questions asked, when the Sutton Coldfield Ladies Gardening Club met with the Radio 4 panel of Gardeners' Question Time, in the Trinity Centre. We had written our questions to ask the experts, on the entrance tickets, and the most interesting were selected to include in two radio programmes. Having enjoyed a welcoming drink, we all found our seats in a crowded hall, and the members chosen to ask questions for the first of two programmes, were called to the front. There were some microphones on the experts' table and an assistant held one for the questioners. What followed was a lively and amusing evening, with Bob Flowerdew, Matthew Wilson, Ann Swithingbank and chairman, Eric Robson, giving advice and including some very entertaining stories. Questions varied from, what the panel would include in decorating the Church at Christmas, to growing vegetables and the advantages of rotation. One lady had problems with sycamore trees, and another asked on the best ways to compost in a large garden. One gentleman asked how he could grow better hydrangeas than his wife! This caused a lot of laughter as there were few men in the audience and Eric Robson asked why there were no men in the Gardening Club! One member gave a short history of the Club, founded by some ladies in 1923. The whole session was repeated, with a new group of questioners for the second radio programme. And the answer to heating the greenhouse? These varied from using a fan or paraffin heater, to the extremes of hooking up to the house heating system, or not heating at all. Bob Flowerdew heats up a pineapple pip and uses lots of bubble wrap! Vivien Chubb
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FROM THE REGISTERS ...
Baptisms
8th January - Gabriel Ben Gilbert, Jonathan Hogarth, Joshua Harris, Beau & Ava Gouldney.
We welcome these children into new life with God, as part of our church family
Funerals
9th December - William Bernard Rhodes 16th December - Robert Townsend 21st December - Alice Millson 4th January - Prabhat Das 13th January - Brian Hunter 19th January - Doris Eileen Taylor 20th January - Kathleen Edwards 20th January - Marjorie Iris Williams 27th January - Mavis Margaret Thatcher 7th February - June O'Connell 17th February - Leslie George Sergeant
We remember all who have died and ask for God’s comfort to sustain all who are bereaved.
CHOIR NEWS … Goodbye Heather!
The choir has recently seen the retirement of Heather Middleton after 30 years loyal service. We said thank you to Heather at our recent post Christmas choir meal, and Stella presented her with a certificate commemorating her 30 years. We still hope to see Heather at Thursday morning communion, and wish her a long and happy retirement!
Louise Chubb
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Mavis Thatcher
Mavis Thatcher, a lifelong member of Holy Trinity, sadly died on 31 December 2011. The following tribute was given by Reverend John Routh at her funeral.
Mavis was a Suttonian to the core, living here all of her life. She was born in Sta-tion Street, where her grandfather - a cabinet maker - had a shop.
She was the first female to be born in her father's side of the family for many generations. The statistics began to even out a little though; Mavis was the oldest of 4 children, 3 of whom were girls.
She was educated at the High School, where she had a scholarship. Then after school Mavis went to work in the Borough Treasurer's De-partment; & from there she moved to Sutton Library where she worked from 1951 up to 1974.
Later she worked at Combridge Jackson, a company specialising in library supplies. Her final job was with Birmingham Probation Service. She retired from there in the mid 1990's.
Away from work there were a number of interests in Mavis' life. She sang in the Birmingham Choral Union for many years. She was in-volved in NALGO too, acting as scorer at their cricket matches on Rec-tory Park.
She was a member of the Auxillary Air Force for quite a few years, based at Castle Bromwich. She'd often fly off for weekends spent at air stations around the country, or in Germany.
Mavis on her 80th birthday
For more photos of Mavis, please see the inside front cover
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Mavis was an enthusiastic folk dancer. She was involved in displays in Birmingham regularly and travelled all over Europe too - to France, Germany, Italy. And in her later years Mavis's love of travel continued - she was still going on coach trips regularly right up until last year.
She was always showing me documents from the past, but Malcolm told me a couple of things I hadn't picked up on. Mavis attended the Festival of Britain, & the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Here's something else I didn't know: Mavis was a great one for new gadgets.
Of course, Mavis also had a life-long connection with this church. Her parents married here and she was baptised here. She was the proud owner of a Sunday School Bible dating from 1944.
Moving on from the Youth Group she had a choice: should she join the bellringers or the choir. The choir won out, & she was a mem-ber ... well, for the rest of her days.
When the Jamboree happened in Sutton Park Mavis was a church tour guide - leading people up & down the tower. Over the years she was a member of the PCC, & in retirement she was our Parish Clerk until just 18 months ago.
Mavis lived in Sutton Coldfield throughout her life. Her parents moved away for a time, but even then she stayed - lodging with the verger's family in Church House across the road from here.
Her father died in 1970, & she stayed on living with her mother until the mid 1970's before branching out on her own. She spent a time at the top of Reddicap Hill before moving to the Alms houses in Walmley in her retirement years.
Sadly her health declined in recent months, and she died at Good Hope on New Year's Eve. But we will all remember Mavis: a vibrant person, full of life, interested in everything, someone who lived life to the full.
John Routh
The tribute to Mavis is continued overleaf
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Mavis Thatcher—Stella’s memories
Mavis not only sang in the church choir for over 60 years, she was also in the Birmingham Choral Union and Sutton Coldfield Choral Society for many years. These gave her the opportunity to sing bigger choral works and she en-joyed trips organised by the Birming-ham area of the Royal School of Church Music not only to our Cathedral but to places like Malvern Priory and Tewkes-bury Abbey to sing challenging music for choral evensong.
We had a memorable trip to Kilburn when Simon Lumby was Director of Mu-sic on a sweltering hot summer day, and for once we were glad not only to be in a cool church but to have the added bonus of a good acoustic. Mavis was one of only three Holy Trinity choir members whom Simon asked to sing in a per-formance of Handel's Messiah in our church in 1995.
She was known as the 'wardrobe mistress' for many years, making sure choristers had robes of the right size, and often cleaning cas-socks and washing surplices for others. She took pity on me once or twice when three of our family were in the choir and needed snow-white surplices for a special festival, returning them within a week newly washed and pressed. I first knew her through social occasions in the old hall of Church House where she would make sure everyone had had the opportunity to take up her offer of "A strip for £1", some-thing we are still hearing 25 years later!
I suspect Mavis is one of, if not the last, of our congregation to have spent her whole life as a member of Holy Trinity and we mourn her passing.
Stella Thebridge
Mavis in her choir
robes in 1947
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YOUTH MATTERS 2
A few weeks ago a friend of mine came to visit. She lives in another city so when she comes to see me she drives. On this occasion she was a little late and I was wondering where she had got to when the phone rang. When I answered I found it was my friend although I hardly recognised her voice as she was speaking in a very small voice and, I may add, at a somewhat higher pitch than usual. I was worried she had been in an acci-dent but no, that wasn’t the problem. She had stopped off in Mere Green to pop into a shop and when she put her goodies in the boot she also put her car keys in and so she was locked out! Really not fun: my nephew did it to my brother’s car once, whilst they were at my Dad’s here in Sutton. My brother was incandescent with rage and it meant spare keys being re-trieved from home in Selby and driven to Derby to be met by my Dad to bring them back here so my brother could get in his car and drive back to Selby from Sutton. So I had a lot of sympathy with my friend.
However, she would not have that luxury of getting the spare keys from home so we would just have to deal with it as best we could. I ordered her to a coffee shop to calm down whilst I walked up. I found out what we should do and got the contact number for her recovery service. By the time I got to her she had spoken to the service and all we had to do was wait for them to come. It was very cold and we stood waiting for over an hour. Nice bloke arrives and says it is a common problem, gets my friend to sign a disclaimer in case he smashes the window and then off to work he went, prising open a gap in the door and using a loop to try and unlock it. I don’t know if you believe in praying to Saints but by that time we were up for anything at all that might help! It seemed like ages but in the end, after many attempts the man finally succeeded and I had to stop my friend from throwing her arms round this total stranger! Then we all went on our way.
Mistakes, yes, well we all make them and the trick is to learn from them. But there are mistakes and mistakes and I suspect that locking one’s keys in the car is the sort of mistake you only make once in your life, which in a way is a bit funny because some of the mistakes we make really hurt other people badly yet we often carry on making those mistakes time and time again. I wonder whether that says anything about our priorities?!
Susie Walker
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Trinity
Arrangements for 2012
The cost per issue is 60p, and an annual subscription £3-50.
If you are a casual reader who would like to subscribe regularly or ad-vertise, or if you have any other queries relating to the magazine, please contact the Trinity Centre in the first instance on 321 1144 or [email protected]
Publication schedule
Cover date Copy deadline Publication date
Sep/Oct 2012 5th August 19th August
Nov/Dec 2012 7th October 21st October
Jul/Aug 2012 3rd June 17th June
May/Jun 2012 1st April 22nd April
Please submit material for the next issue by the deadline above to :
Roger Smallwood email: [email protected]
Written text: Please leave in the “Magazine” pigeon-hole in church OR in the Trinity Centre office.
Contributions on any topic or photographs are always welcome. A page contains about 400 words.
Bible verse for this issue
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 New International Version
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The Post Christmas Party / Old Time Music Hall Event
(see page 16 for further details).
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