Dear Friends                      September 2010  

Talking generally at a BBQ the other day, the conversation turned to our new  church building. How was it going? Was it on schedule? Were we pleased etc.? Then someone said, ‘How long has it been since your old building was condemned?’ It was the next question that started me thinking. The question was, ‘How have you managed to stay together all this time?’

What would your answer have been to that question?

My first thought was, well why shouldn’t we? Then I started to think of all the trials, tribulations and disappointments we have had over the last 10 years, and it takes special people who are obviously friends to be so close and work so hard together. Along the way there have been disagreements and misunderstandings which have hopefully been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction and I think we have proved, if proof be needed, that we feel a Christian presence and community support is needed in this area. 

In God we trusted and we believe he has led us in the direction he has decided we should go. We just need to listen for his instruction for the next step. 

Remember as with every thing in life, if all else fails read the instructions.

              The Bible is full of them. 

Yours in His service

Brian Hirst 

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CHURCH NOTES - SEPTEMBER

If all goes to plan, the builders should be handing over our new building at the end of this month. So far, they are on target to do that and so we should be able to look forward to moving into our new home in a few weeks’ time.

 Those who were able to take the opportunity to look round the partially completed building in August have reacted favourably to what they saw and we hope everyone else will be equally pleased.

 Summer will soon be on the way out and before we know it, it will be autumn and that of course means Harvest.

 This year our Harvest Festival service will take place on September 26^th and worship will be led by the Group Minister, The Rev Shirley Knibbs.   Some years ago Church Meeting decided to alternate support between the Cathedral Archer Project and St Wilfrid’s Centre. This year it is the turn of St Wilfrid’s.

 Please bring your gifts of tinned and packet foods to church on the 26^th. The centre appreciates things like tinned foods such as soups, fish, vegetables, desserts, baked beans, stewed steak, meats, fruit, ravioli, tomatoes, meat balls and spaghetti.   Other foods such as rice, pasta, cereals, coffee, tea bags, sugar, biscuits, snacks, cuppa soups, pot noodles and orange juice are also most welcome.

 Next month’s Messenger will come complete with a voting form for those who are church members as three of the elders will stand down at the end of this year and we need to elect three more.  Full details will be available with next month’s Messenger.

 As has been our practice any members who are unwilling to serve as Elders should let me know as soon as possible.                                                                 Chris.

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PREACHERS IN SEPTEMBER

Sept 5th: The Rev Frank Elliot-Wright (Communion)

Sept 12th: Pete Clark

Sept 19th: Anne Dale

Sept 26th: The Rev Shirley Knibbs (Harvest)

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ELDERS' DUTIES - SEPTEMBER

Vestibule -- Margery Harding

Vestibule Lay Duty -- John Harding

Vestry -- Roger Peck

Visiting the organisations -- Julie Bee

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Elders’ Meeting: Wednesday September 15th at 7.30pm at 25 Longford Road, Bradway.

Elders' Vision 2020 Discussion: Thursday September 16th from 10.00am to 2.00p;m at 25 Longford Road, Bradway.

Group Council Meeting: Monday September 20th at 3.00pm at The Michael Church.

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General Assembly- report from Chris Reed 

This year’s General Assembly, the first since 2008 was held from July 2^nd to 5^th at Loughborough University. 

Each morning began with bible study by poet, author, evangelist and pastor, Gerard Kelly, who focussed on Acts and stressed that Acts 28 is not the end of the story.  It is ongoing and we are Chapter 29! Acts, he says, tells us three things:

           Trust the Father

            Receive the Spirit

           Tell the story of the Son 

He said it was a good idea if once in a while we stopped our talking and told the story of Jesus.  And this introduced the theme of this year’s Assembly which was “tell the story”. 

A major change this year is that we now have two Moderators who will serve together for two years until the next Assembly in Southport in 2012.  They are the Rev Kirsty Thorpe who is Minister in Pastoral charge at Wilmslow in Cheshire and Val Morrison from Doncaster who has preached several times at Meersbrook and many of you will know her as the former Synod Clerk for Yorkshire.  Val will be at Meersbrook representing the national church when we have our official opening of the new building on April 16^th next year. 

They spoke about church being an exciting place to be at the moment but also a time when people were looking for answers - what is our future story going to be?  What sort of church does God need us to be in the future? 

Running alongside Assembly was the Children’s Assembly with the children joining the main Assembly from time to time to contribute to debates.   They joined us for the session on Vision 2020 and asked “Where will we be in ten years’ time?”  In ten years we could make a difference but in ten years time will we have made a difference?  Our own Group Minister, The Rev Shirley Knibbs, was the chaplain to the Children’s Assembly. 

 Vision 2020 is not a programme - it is a framework for growth which encourages churches to identify a target for growth and inspire the local congregation to do something about it.

 Assembly also heard from the recently appointed director of Christian Aid, Loretta Minghella who stressed the importance of giving people a hand up not a handout.

 The General Secretary of the URC, The Rev Roberta Rominger, spoke about the “marketing campaign”. She said that if people knew we existed they would want to join us because of the way we worship and the welcome we offer.  We shall be hearing much more about the marketing campaign next year.

 Fifty newly ordained ministers were presented to Assembly on the Sunday and for the communion service that followed, the Children’s Assembly brought in picnic bags of bread and wine containing bread which they had baked themselves.

 There was a long debate on the resolution that Nestle should no longer be treated differently from other companies and eventually Assembly decided to instruct Mission Council to rescind the boycott of Nestle if the company obtains listing on the FTSE4Good index.

 Other matters addressed included the working week for ministers and behaviour guidelines were agreed for Ministers and Elders.

 The Assembly Moderators for 2012 to 2014 will be t he Rev Dr Michael Jagessar, a URC Minister and theology lecturer, and Mr Lawrence Moore who is the Director of the Windermere Centre.

 Finally to return to Gerard Kelly’s bible study, he asked us “how closely do we know the voice of God and what he is calling us to do?”  “May it be,” he said, “that when God speaks to us we know His voice.”

 He also said “We are never called to a place where God is not” and “You will never meet anyone who God does not know.”

Fundraising News

The Coffee Day at Jean and Roger's raised £185.50

Are you fed up of household chores?

Can you offer a service or will you pay for someone to provide a service for £5/hour? Become a slave or slave driver for the Building Fund. See Margery or John Harding for further details. Tel 2582924. £300 raised to date.

New Building Fund Events

Saturday 18 September: Barbeque at St. Paul's church, Norton Lees Lane at 6 pm. Tickets priced £5 adults & £3 children, including food, available from committee members.  

Rags Are Us Collection: A collection of clothing and textiles will take place in early October. Please see Jean or Roger Peck for further details. Please ensure your bags are tied securely.

Saturday 23^rd October:  Coffee Day at Val Bridgen’s - 9 Durvale Court, 10am - 2pm

Saturday 20th November: Coffee Day at Kath and Brian Hirst's - 1, Norton Lees Square or the new church if available.  10.00am - 2.00pm.

Friday 17th December: Carol Singing at Sainsbury's, 3.00pm to 5.00pm.

 Friday 5th November: Bonfire at Margery Harding's allotment at 6.30pm

NEW BUILDING FUND Balance May 1st 2010---------------£36,051 Donations---------------------------£172 Caretaker's house (YCU)------------£98,014 Manse Sale (YCU)-------------------£96,486 Church Urban Fund------------------£10,000 Norwood and Newton---------------£7.500 Churches-------------------------------£10 Judith Wallace Concert (balance)--£413 "Extra Mile"---------------------------£438 Total----------------------------£254,084 Payment to T & C Williams------£62,207 Balance ------------------------£191,877 Total received to date ---------£393,224 Total payments------------------£201,347 -o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o- “The Extra Mile” As mentioned in last month’s Messenger, ‘The Extra Mile’ is an on-going effort where small contributions to fundraising for our new church building can make a difference. Each week there is an opportunity to contribute towards items such as lighting, signage, paint, bricks etc. The amount raised by members and friends in 9 weeks, with Gift Aid (including pledges) is £1248!! What a fantastic achievement! Thank you so much for supporting this on-going effort. Brian and Kath -o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o- Church Family News Many thanks to all my dear friends for the lovely cards on my 90th Birthday. I know that all the messages on them, both written and printed, were truly meant. God has really blessed me, may He bless you all as well. Laurie. ----------------------------------------------- Shirley Child has recently had to have her phone number changed. It is now 0114 2507637 ----------------------------------------------- On the 16th July it will be a year since Derrick died. He was in the hospital for eleven and a half weeks and I had lots of lifts from friends for which I was very grateful. I would now like to say a big “Thank you” to the friends, who since Derrick’s death, have looked after me by inviting me to celebrations and anniversaries and birthdays. I would also like to thank the dear friends who have invited me to lunches and to dinner parties, and the ones who have let me phone them sometimes quite late at night just to have a chat. You all know who you are and I send you my love. God bless you, Anne. ----------------------------------------------- It is my turn also to say a big “Thank you” (to all the same friends who Anne has thanked, I suspect), for all the loving support to myself earlier in the year when I was not feeling very good. Also since then for the concern shown towards my mother by visits, cards, and good wishes while she has been in hospital. She is now in Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home and hopefully will settle well there. And since then our son-in-law Andrew has had a heart attack. Fortunately he received very prompt treatment, and was home within four days. He has to take it easy for a few weeks, but hopefully he will suffer no lasting problems. God bless, Jean. -o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o-o-o-o-o--o-o- Leprosy Mission. Thank you for your support. A cheque for £77-88 has been sent for the work of the Leprosy Mission. Wendy.

MESSENGER ITEMS FOR OCTOBER TO JEAN BY 19TH SEPTEMBER PLEASE