woodhall lane & free church magazine: may 09
DESCRIPTION
Woodhall Lane & Welwyn Garden City Free Church Magazine May 2009TRANSCRIPT
Page 2
MONDAYS
Hatfield Tai Chi Chuan Club Tel Pat 01707 331526
6:30 to 10:00 pm Not in August
Chinese Health Exercise Classes
Puppy Training Classes Tel Gill Tel 07967 226 796
7:00 to 9:00 pm
TUESDAYS
* Dinky Dancers Tel Lorry 01438 831281
10:00 to 11:00 am Activity classes for children under 4
years.
Mind Drop In Coffee Morning Tel Rhoda 01707 654633
10:00 to 12 noon Drop in coffee morning for those with
mental health issues, but open to all.
*Pat Reid School of Scottish Dancing
Tel Pat 01707 338478
5:15 to 8:30 pm Scottish Dance classes ages 3½ & above.
WEDNESDAYS
NCT Bumps and Bundles Tel 01707 320422
2:00 to 4:00 pm Drop in sessions for pregnant mums and
babes in arms.
* Girls and Boys Brigade Tel Glenys 01707 336433
6:15 to 8:00 pm For children aged 4+
* Denotes term time only.
Page 3
THURSDAYS
*Chatter N Tots Tel Ann 01707 327277. 9:45 to 11:15 am Parent/ Carer and child group.
Play, arts and crafts, music and refreshments.
New Thursday Club Tel Rosemary 01707 330660
2:30 to 4:00 pm Alternate Thursdays but not in August.
Activities, Trips etc for the over 50’s.
The Cellar
4:15 to 6:30 pm Drop in centre for vulnerable people.
Providing snacks, tea and social contact.
English Country Dancers Tel Terry 01707 320299
8:00 to 10:00 pm Not in August Folk Dancing.
Trefoil Guild
8:00 to 10:00 pm 2nd Thursday in the month.
Not in August.
FRIDAYS
Welwyn Archaeological Society
Tel Daphne 01707 335729
7:00 to 10:00 pm Sept. to April. 2nd & 4th Friday in the
month. Talks, slide shows etc.
WGC Art Club Tel Bryan 01438 714528
8:00 to 10:00 pm September to May 3rd Friday in the
month
Meetings, Talks etc
* Denotes term time only.
Page 4
MINISTER
Rev Jane Weedon
01707 375133
Freechurch Woodhall Lane
CHURCH SECRETARY CHURCH SECRETARY
Mr John McKenzie TBA
01707 375024
email :- [email protected]
HON. TREASURER
John Meers 12 Brockswood Lane
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 7BG
Tel 01707 327277
e mail :- [email protected]
CONFIDENTIAL REGISTRAR
Mr Alan Tyler
23 Harmer Green Lane
Digswell
AL6 0AS
Youth Worker
Sara Taylor
102 Wellcroft Road
Office 01707 321270
Mobile 07903236458
email :[email protected]
Page 5
Letter from the Manse
We were walking Brad in Sherrards Wood last week. It was a
lovely evening, the bluebells were a picture and the birdsong was
lovely to hear. We were so busy looking around and peering into
the trees for the woodpecker we could hear nearby it wasn’t long
before we were not entirely sure which path we were on. There
had been a lot of trees felled where we were and it all looked
different. It took a few minutes of looking for a landmark and
eventually a signpost to confirm where we were and get us back
on the path we wanted to be on.
That walk seemed rather like life in church. We can be going along
nicely, enjoying the view or looking back where we had been
when we look up and find we are not exactly where we thought we
were. We need to take some time to look at the new landscape to
find some landmarks or a signpost to get us on to the path we
need.
Being a member of a church, being a Christian, is all about
journeying – pilgrimage we have called it this year. For us as
individuals and as a whole body we need to be on the move from
where we are, to be more like Jesus.
William Temple reminds us that ‘The church is the only
organisation that exists for those who are not members.’ We are to
continue the ministry of Jesus, reaching out to ‘the least of
these’ (Matthew 25:40)
We need to take the time to take stock and encourage each other
on the way. We need to look again at the purpose of the church –
to be the ‘leaven in the lump’, the ‘salt and light’ in our
community to bring the whole world into the kingdom – albeit one
person at a time.
Page 6
Scripture tells us that the Spirit blows where
it will, so as Pentecost approaches, when
you are looking
around for signs of
spring – or illusive
woodpeckers, look
too for signs of the
kingdom. They will probably be
springing up in unexpected places and
may well be the signpost we are looking
for, leading us to the path we need to be
on.
Every blessing
Jane
YMCA request
We at the YMCA are in the process of setting up a family room
as a step towards creating better facilities for parents to have
access to their children. We would love some donations of
children’s toys, DVD’s preferably educational ones. If you are
able to help could you please bring them to the Hostel on
Peartree Lane, WGC or if you would like more information
please contact Patrick on tel 01707 351400.
NOTICE TO ALL CAR PARK USERS PLEASE remember
to push down the button to lock the bollard after raising it every
time you leave the Car Park.
Page 7
Christian Aid Week Collection: 10-19 May
Christian Aid week is the week when 22,000 churches join
together in their wish to change life for the poorest people in the
world. 300,000 Christians go out into the roads of their local
community led by the Spirit to offer residents an opportunity to
bring hope to the most deprived adults and children on earth.
We have 30 roads to cover and so we need as many collectors as
possible to make this year as successful as last. Please sign up on
the notice board in the vestibule.
Any queries to Robert on 01707.322339
===============================
Remembrance Service : 24 May at 3.00 pm
You are warmly invited to our eighth annual Remembrance
Service in memory of those who have died. This is always a
wonderful and moving service.
It will take place on Sunday 24 May at 3.00 pm at the Free Church
and will be followed by tea and cake in the small hall.
Our annual service of remembrance is an opportunity to share in a
time of prayer and worship together as we remember loved ones
who are no longer with us. It is an opportunity to acknowledge our
loss and to feel again the hope which we find in the love of God
for each one of us. It is for those connected to the Free Church
and anyone else we would like to invite.
Do come and join us.
Page 8
Pilgrimage from a Biblical perspective! The very first person to go on ‘pilgrimage’ at Gods request was Abraham
and we can read his story beginning at Genesis 12. It was a journey with a
promise of blessing but the destination was unknown. ‘Leave your country
and your relatives and your fathers family and go to the land I will show
you.’
His family may well have thought him barking mad setting out to goodness
knows where, on the say-so of goodness knows who - at his age! Abraham
trusted in God’s promise and set out for an unknown destination to become
the father of a nation.
The story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt is equally well
known. They were being held in slavery that was so harsh Moses himself
has fled Egypt after killing a soldier for his bad treatment of a slave.
Pharaoh took some persuading but in the end they were allowed to go and
God parted the Sea of Reeds to let them safely pass. It wasn’t long though
before they began to complain and reminisce romantically about Egypt!
(Exodus 16 following). Their destination was also unknown – just like
Abraham it was a ‘Promised’ land.
It is really tough to set off without a destination but this is not an unusual
request when we read scripture. God wants people to let go of the things
they rely on, wealth, possessions, family, and homes to put our trust in him
for all we need and for our safety. Stories like the rich young ruler who
Jesus asked to give away all he had and follow him and how difficult it is
for one who is ‘rich’ to get into the kingdom. The point is not that we give
away all we have only what God asks of us because it is getting in the way
of our relationship with him.
So what does that mean for us as we go on ‘Pilgrimage’ together?
It means that our final destination is not completely clear. Gods promise is
always that it will be a place of Gods choosing, it will mean leaving behind
some of the things we are familiar with, some things that may hinder our
relationship with God to put our trust in him and step out in faith.
Jane
Page 9
Prayer for Pilgrims by John Johansen - Berg
Holy God,
You call people of every generation
to put their trust in you
and to venture forward in spiritual discovery.
We give you thanks
that you send us out as followers of Jesus Christ
to serve those in need and to proclaim the good news.
Give us your grace in our discipleship
and may we find peace in your service.
From Prayers for Pilgrims 1993 Darton Longman and Todd
==================================
Notice of an Additional Church Meeting
At the Church Meeting last Sunday we found ourselves with a
number of things to be discussed at least one of which needs
urgent attention once we have more details to inform our decision.
We decided to hold a special Church Meeting on Thursday May
28th at 7.30pm with the main item on the agenda being how we
fulfil our financial obligation to contribute half of the expenses
relating to our Youth Worker.
As we said last Sunday Sara and I had been talking with Simon
about her dedicating some hours to the Free Church alone to build
on the good work that has been done already within our church.
Please put the date in your diary and make every effort to attend.
This is an important decision in the life of our church.
Page 10
Free Church Secretary’s Notes
At the time of writing this article the AGM has not taken place, but
the reports for the past year have been printed and made available.
Copies will still be available at the back of the church for anyone
who did not attend the AGM or see the reports.
In 2008 it seems that we took time to reflect on who and where we
are, before we started to look forward. The production of a new
revision of the Church Directory was an opportunity for many
former members to finally break ties with the Free Church. Long
needed work on the windows was completed. Long talked about
problems concerning the car park were addressed by the
installation of the key operated barrier, albeit there are small issues
still being resolved. The various teams with their diminishing
number of helpers managed to perform the many tasks associated
with keeping the church operating. We used Faithworks material in
services to try to understand what we are called to do and what the
possibilities are. And as a result of this and discussion at the retreat
we are moving forward with the “Pilgrimage Year” for 2009. That
is not to say that nothing happened in 2008. One only has to look
at the success of the young people’s visit to Costa Rica and the
effort and support that went into that venture. Also the
establishment by the Inter Faith Group of the SPACE drop in
centre in the town centre which is supported by many from the
Free Church.
So in 2009 we are planning to step out in pilgrimage with all that
the word conjures up; seeking, discovering, sharing, supporting,
and many more. There will be events planned, including some
small pilgrimage journeys, as part of this theme. We need
everyone to think how they can be involved and how the Church
through them can move forward and make a difference for us and
for our community.
John McKenzie - Tel: 01707 375024
e-mail: [email protected]
Page 11
Observations of a Youth Worker…
Time continues to fly by at the speed of light, as we find May
approaching and the Easter holidays are just a distant memory of egg
hunts, visiting relatives that we only ever see once a year and small
chocolate handprints all over magnolia walls.
It amazes me how I spend most of my days, throughout the year,
desperately wishing that I could have more time at home with my
family. Then by day three of the holidays I am tearing my hair out,
wishing that the school would reopen and a Liverpool match will take
Wayne off to the pub so I can have an hour to myself!
This Easter was no different. The holidays began immediately on
Friday, as we collected Cameron from Coventry, ready for Spring
Harvest on Saturday. The worst place to be on a Friday night is the M1/
M6, especially when you have to make the journey twice in one
evening. It didn’t matter though, as we were going to Spring Harvest
the next day – as a family – for the first time! How fantastic!
Saturday we spent the morning on the A1, sorted out caravan
“confusions” for nearly 4 hours and then ended in Morrison’s buying
our shopping until 8.30 when the shop was actually closed and the staff
were giving us disapproving looks about keeping them behind. It didn’t
matter though because we were a family. How fantastic!!
On Sunday, we enjoyed the joys of Spring Harvest, with the big top,
swimming and the fair. I managed to spend time with my teenagers,
whilst also doing all my motherly duties and having time to have coffee
with my husband. Early starts, late nights, 4 muddy changes of clothes,
wet towels, teenage hormones, tears and tantrums, and cabin fever. It
didn’t matter though because I was with family!
Monday I started wonder if only children could get emancipated from
their families.
Joking aside, Spring Harvest was a really good experience. It was a
great time to mix work and family life. It brought fresh challenges but
opened new doors. It was exciting to observe Cameron in this Christian
environment full-time, and glorious to have Wayne away from the
pressures of the London commute.
Page 13
The teenagers were fantastic. They looked after themselves so well. We
had four youth caravans this year, three of which were totally youth
dependant. There were several other young people present who were
staying with their own family members, and I think the overall total
number of people in our group was 92. Everywhere you went, you would
see someone from Church. It was a lot of fun and a great time of
fellowship.
There are however, the spiritual challenges that Spring Harvest always
brings. We must remember how it is an artificial environment, set up to
offer three faith-based teaching sessions everyday. A fantastic display of
worship music, huge bands and flashing lights. Everyone caught up in the
passion, hungry to absorb everything they can. Then it ends, and we return
home to normality.
It is easy to think you must maintain this amount of daily reading, worship
and praise. This is probably the biggest challenge I have faced with the
young people each time we have been to Spring Harvest. The
disappointment they face when they get home and realise that they cannot
keep it up. I thank God that he does not call us to meet these demands
though! It is important to remind the young people (and probably some of
the adults) that God calls us to walk with him in all aspects of our life. It is
a great thing that God is omnipresent, and therefore we can take him with
us wherever we go – just like those polly pocket dolls J We need to carry
on living, working, going to school, and we should endeavour to take God
with us in our daily lives rather than stop doing everything to put ourselves
back into this artificial environment. That is how we get the privilege of
bringing Jesus to the people who do not yet know the great depths of His
love.
I hope you all had a great Easter.
Sara
Page 14
April Money
Free
Church Woodhall
Income £7,896 £1,340
Expense £4,857 £1,160
A legacy helped FC this month,
but still a vary good set of figures for both churches.
Late for Bible Class
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she
could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed,
"Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me
be late!"
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell,
getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed
herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again began
to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove
me either!"
Visit us on the web at:
www.freechurchwgc.org.uk
For updated and exciting content and the latest
information about the Free Church
Page 15
Mark McCahon-Gardener
All aspects of garden
maintenance and
planting design undertaken.
RHS and City and
Guilds
qualified.
Contact:
117 Upperfield Road
Welwyn Garden City
Herts
AL7 3LR
Mob: 07984659816
E-mail: markmccahon@
yahoo.co.uk
PC HOME HELPER
Computer health check
Full data backup service
Emergency call out
Home tutorials
New Computers
Old computer recycling
Broadband installation
Wireless networks
Internet security check
Your local friendly computer home help service!
01707 690468 / 07768 055906
Page 16
THE THURSDAY CLUB
We look forward to a good summer with better weather and an improvement in health for us all. This month we are having an outing on 14 May to Vanstone Park where we have been several times and have always had an enjoyable afternoon although the weather has been variable!
On 11 June we have a Garden party at 22 Elm Gardens, Welwyn Garden City. We have however agreed with Ann Meers to omit the party which she has so kindly hosted for us on several occasions as she and John are opening their garden to the church on the afternoon of Sunday 28 June and I am sure that you will all want to attend that one - it is bound to be a delightful event.
Rosemary Craig (330660)
========================
A date for your diaries
Everyone is invited to my garden At 12 Brockswood Lane On SUNDAY 28TH JUNE from 3 pm – 5 pm For a Church Garden Party with refreshments
Hope to see you then
Please pray for a fine day!!
Ann Meers
Page 17
THE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU AT SPACE
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) should have set up in the SPACE premises by the time you read this. It is going to be open on Wednesday mornings and will be staffed by 2 very experienced advisers. You are probably familiar with the work this charity does but here is an outline of the sort of help they can give the public and an idea of the wealth of expertise and knowledge to which they have access. 1 Benefits Not all of these are means tested and cover areas such as illness, disability, redundancy, unemployment, child benefit, pensions and others. The CAB can run a check for you and tell you if you are entitled to any benefits or if you are entitled to more than you are already getting. 2 Housing The CAB has a lot of information in this area. 3 Employment and Redundancy Appeals and redundancy problems , many other questions on employment law. 4 Debt and Money advice. 5 Marital and Divorce However these are by no means the only issues on which they advise. If you have any problems of any kind I would urge you to call in to SPACE and see if the CAB can help you - they will certainly give you a welcome and they never turn anyone away! Rosemary Craig
Page 18
Here is an excerpt from the annual Mustard Seed Charity’s
newsletter, which describes the work of the volunteers at the
warehouse in Hastings as all our “Love in a Box” shoeboxes
start to arrive. I have put the whole newsletter up on the
noticeboard for anyone who would like to see the rest of the
report.
I hope you will feel that this is an appeal worth supporting again
later on in the Autumn. Ann Meers
‘ONCE AGAIN, AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING, we start the
‘Love in a Box’ campaign at the end of October. The anticipation of
the boxes arriving is electric. The volunteers are as eager as ever to
spring into action. Over the next four weeks there are over 450
collections which have been meticulously arranged by Mike in the
office to be picked up from our fantastic supporters, schools, churches
and other organisations.
Over the first week the steady stream of incoming boxes turns from a
trickle to a torrent and once again we are wondering if we will have
enough room to stack the boxes for checking. Our great team of loyal
volunteers can sort, check and pack around 1000 boxes per day but
the vans were bringing in an average of two thousand per day so it did
not take long for the warehouse to become pretty full. The sight of the
boxes piling from floor to ceiling caused quite a stir this year. Meridian
News came to see the box mountain and did a great piece on our
charity which was shown on the news in December. Also BBC
Southern Counties radio wanted to come and see the spectacle and
report on this great sight.
Our band of volunteers ploughed on and before long the lorries were
ready to go and off the boxes went to either Moldova, Romania or the
Ukraine.
Towards the end of November the collections had finished and the wall
of boxes start to decline. By now all the volunteers, still all smiles,
sense the end of the road of this year’s campaign. At last, in mid-
December the last of the boxes are packed and the last lorry goes off to
the children of the Ukraine.
Wow .- it’s over — we can now all sleep with the knowledge we have
all helped towards creating 42.000 smiles and it feels great!!!!!
Page 19
FREE CHURCH May 2009
Dear Friends
On Sunday evening 10th May, 6.30 pm at Christchurch, 110 Parkway we are having
an evening celebration, with Rev David Coffey. Rev David Coffey, President of the
Baptist World Alliance is a well known speaker and preacher. Please let your church
know this date. We would love you to join us. There will be refreshments after the
service, providing an opportunity to have a coffee and catch up too.
We look forward to seeing you then.
God bless Fi Hibberts
Leadership Team
Christchurch Baptist Church
10:30 am Communion Sun 3rd May
10:30 am Morning worship led by Mr Sun 10th May
Thursday Club outing to Vanstone Park Thu 14 th May
10:30 am Morning worship - Sun 17th May
10:30 am All Age service led by Jane Sun 24th May
3pm Joint memorial service & tea, led by Sun 24th May
7:30pm Elders meeting Tue 26th May
10:30 am Joint service at the Free Church Sun 31st May
4pm Afternoon Communion led by Robert
Harvey
Sun 31st May
Page 20
Woodhall Lane Corner
WALK OF WITNESS
This was held on Good Friday in the Woodhall
area and it was good to see it was very well
supported this year.
Starting at the Methodist Church with prayer,
reading and a hymn and repeating this at The
Salvation Army, Our Lady's, Woodhall URC and
finally at St Mary's, Hollybush Lane who
supplied us all with Hot Cross buns and drinks
after the service.
Visit us on the web at
www.woodhalllaneurc.org.uk
For updated content and information about Woodhall Lane
If you have a problem or need to discuss something that
requires pastoral attention please contact one of the Elders
Page 21
Woodhall Lane May 2009
. PREACHERS
3 May Rev Brian Shenk (Communion)
10 May Fred Tucker
17 May Robert Harvey
24 May Les Simmons
31 May Joint service at the Freechurch
DOOR STEWARDS VESTRY
3 May Joyce/Grace Linda
10 May Joan Barbara
17 May Joyce/Grace Margaret
24 May Joan Linda
31 May Joint service at the Freechurch
FLOWER ROTA
3 May Margaret
10 May Barbara
17 May Carole
24 May Margaret
31 May Joint service at the Freechurch
BIBLE STUDY
Friday mornings 10 am at 114 Parkway
FELLOWSHIP CLUB - Alternate Thursdays 2 - 3.30 pm
14 May Dominoes/Bring and Buy
28 May Music
MINI MAY MARKET - Sat 9 May at 10 am - 12 am.
Plants, Books, White Elephant, Etc. Please come along
and support us. Event being organised by Joe Palacio.
Page 23
Inter Faith and Child Protection Matters
The open session on Easter and the Passover was judged
successful; it attracted new faces – some young Muslims who
belong to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK and who want
to remain involved with the IFG. We may organise some future
events on the festivals celebrated by other faiths. Preparations for
the next four events (see last magazine) continue. Further ahead,
we shall probably organise something for the first national Inter
Faith Week (15-21 November). The following week is Islam
Awareness Week.
Several members attended the East of England Faiths Council
meeting on 2 April. The main item discussed was the economic
situation, with questions being raised about ‘the god of growth’
and ‘structures of greed’ – similar to those in the Archbishop of
Canterbury’s Easter message. ‘Wealth’ means more than financial
wealth and it is spiritual wealth that is the true foundation of
happiness. So we should use the crisis to reflect deeply on what
changes are required in our society to generate real wealth – a call
for us all to think and pray about. People of faith, working
together, can help generate a climate of public of opinion that
obliges governments to do more to promote well-being and not
just prosperity. We are fortunate to live in a region that so far has
been relatively less affected by the crisis, according to ‘insighteast’
– www.insighteast.org.uk – whose Director gave a presentation.
Another EEFC presentation, by the Anglican Revd Graham
Hedger, was about the implications of the new safeguarding
legislation for faith groups. His advice, based on that put out by
the House of Bishops of the Established Church, contrasted in
some significant respects with advice that we have received from
the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service, to which the Free
Church and Woodhall Lane URC are subscribers.
Page 24
We have been following CCPAS advice as we review and revise
our policy and procedures. I am confident that we, as a non-
conformist church, are right to do so, and that it is in the interests
of both children, young people and vulnerable adults as well as the
wider membership. The group set up by the Elders to review and
revise our existing procedures, which go back to 2001 (with a few
subsequent amendments) in the light of the new legislation has all
but completed its work and the new policy and procedures are
expected to be in place very shortly. A copy will be placed at the
back of the church. The effects of the new legislation are not all
benign: one publication, Licensed to Hug, is about how child
protection policies are poisoning the relationship between the
generations and damaging the voluntary sector. We have to try to
mitigate these untoward effects, whilst always remaining within
the law. This is quite a challenge!
Bertie Everard
Page 25
Free Church Rotas for May 2009
Coffee
3rd May Mrs A & Miss K Onasile
10th May Mr & Mrs A Tyler
17th May Mrs S Chamberlin & Mrs K Muir
24th May Mrs M Sartin & Mrs L Perry
31st May Mrs J Marshall & Mrs J Spalding
Flowers
3rd May TBA
10th May Mrs Mary Dickenson
17th May TBA
24th May Janice and Melva Spalding
30th May TBA
Creche
It’s great if all the family can come to church
together. If your child is too young to attend
Junior Church, we have a warm, safe and
comfy room where parents can take their
babies and toddlers. Hey and there are loads
of toys!
Page 26
SPRING
Nothing is so beautiful as spring- When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightning's to hear him sing; The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning In Eden garden.-Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning, Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 - 1889)
Page 27
Deadline for May Magazine
Articles requiring typing Sunday 17th May
Articles sent via email Thursday 21st May
e-mail documents to [email protected] , hand your
articles to Chris Ewer the Magazine Secretary or leave them in the
magazine pigeon hole at the back of the church for the Freechurch or
hand to TBA for Woodhall Lane, and if they can be with us before or as
near to the deadline date as possible that will be much appreciated.
Please note that it is essential that these dates are
respected if the magazine is be printed on time.
Magazine will be printed for Sunday 31st May
Church MiceChurch MiceChurch MiceChurch Mice
Copyright 2003 Karl A. Zorowski. All rights reserved. Used with permission.