The Magazine

Here you will find some old magazines as they are published.

Due to technical reasons, advertisements from the magazines will not appear on-line.

APRIL 2008

AT ST BARNABAS……...

Many people have commented to me about how really inspiring the Church appeared for Easter Day. Thanks go to all involved, including those who put so much into the organisation behind the scenes (be that all the sacristy duties or doing things like weaving our 200 palm leaves into Palm Crosses, etc, etc).

The flowers and candle arrangements in the windows, the pedestals and displays on the pillars set the scene beautifully and the Easter Lilies, in memory of loved ones, set off the High Altar magnificently. Thanks, also, to those from Barney’s Bunch and our other young people for the Easter Egg Tree and Garden in front of the Nave Altar (and for the other one in the children’s corner, too).

Helen Lubin, our Reader, put together another amazing Easter Garden in the Lady Chapel. That always gets people thinking and reflecting deeply. She also found time to devise and lead the Stations of the Cross Services in Holy Week and the final Easter Praise Service, too. Others who put so much into things were all those leading the music and contributing in many other ways to the special services for the week.

Then there were those providing and serving the refreshments that meant there was such a warm welcome for anyone who came to Church for Easter, not forgetting those who came faithfully to worship throughout and so gave our Holy Week programme a real sense of continuity and of being accompanied by the crucified and risen Christ anew, as we explored the Easter mysteries once more.

& CHRIST CHURCH

The Saturday of the Easter Weekend saw the Tolly Centre “Eggstravaganza” in which Christ Church folk played a full part, by organising a cake stall, and thanks go to all those providing cakes of all kinds, and to those who manned the stall. I understand that this also made for very good refreshments after Sunday’s Easter Day service(!) which was, as ever, ably led by Jennie Hayward. The previous Saturday we had also held a very successful Easter Fun Morning on March 15^th, with more children than at any of our previous children’s events, who all seemed to enjoy both the craft activities and the games. Thanks go to Jennie, together with the two Sues (Martyr & Shacklock - together with various family members!) and Nancy Murray Peters.

W e are looking to continue to hold these regularly, with the next one probably being at the end of July. Thanks again to Sue Martyr, for leading the successful Christ Church Lent Course, and to all those who provided the excellent bread and soup lunches that were incorporated with them.

Ideas and suggestions from that, and the St Barnabas group, will be sent in to the Diocese, as requested. These responses, from all over the diocese, will be collated and published, and will also help guide the thinking for the forthcoming Diocesan Assembly in July. Like the course, this will focus on the issues of the six “Hallmarks of the Living Church” identified in the Taylor Report commissioned by Worcester Diocese last year. There will be more details of all this after the summer.

A Happy and Holy Easter-tide to you all,

Peter Haddleton

MINISTRY HERE: 12 MONTHS ON!

Incredible though it seems to me, Vanessa and I will have been here exactly a year by the time our Annual Parochial Church Meeting comes round on April 23^rd. From both perspectives, that makes this a time both to reflect on the last year and to look forward to what the future might bring for us all. The following is a set of snapshots which, taken together, give an overview of some of the current developments here and some of the plans that will, I am sure, make the next 12 months as stimulating and challenging as the last year has been…..

STEWARDSHIP

One vital element of being a “Living Church” is the responsible financial stewardship that must go alongside our individual contribution to Church and Community life.

Leaflets about our Parish Stewardship Programme will be available on Sunday 6^th April and John Dentith will be addressing the whole issue for our Annual Stewardship Service at 10 am on the following Sunday (the 13^th).

One new feature we will be including later this year, though, is a Thanksgiving Sunday in the autumn. This will be to highlight and spell out exactly what is achieved and enabled through our Church, by way of utilising and channelling the generosity, skills and commitment of those in the Church family. On into the future, the mission and ministry of the Church as a whole will be more and more directly provided by local leadership. One of the things I have been most impressed with is how fully developed that process is in this parish and it gives us so much to build on for the future.

These reflections link in with all that I have experienced here, over the last year, with the “Hallmarks” thinking already outlined in my editorial and also with the ideas behind another set of discussion groups, detailed on page 5.

APCM

This year’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in the church on Wednesday 23rd April at 7.00pm.

MAGDEBURG TRIP 2008

We are nearly ready to start our return visit to our friends in our partner parish in Magdeburg.

On Saturday, 5^th April we are having a meeting at 7.30 in the church hall to make some final arrangements. It will be a shared supper so bring along some nibbles to share, drinks are, as usual, provided.

The dates we are going are leaving Friday, 23^rd May at about 7 in the evening and returning Thursday, 29^th May in the afternoon on the coach. Some of our party are travelling by air and will be leaving on the Saturday and returning on the Thursday. We have plenty of space left in the coach so if you are thinking of coming please sign the notice at the back of church or come on Saturday, 5^th April. We need to start sending names and numbers for our hosts.

The planned itinerary for our visit is as follows:

Sat 24^th arriving from mid-day onwards, stay with hosts, evening service & welcome party in St. Joseph’s church and hall.

Sun 25^th: service in the new church – St. Lawrence’s – stay with hosts.

Mon 26^th: visit to Dresden, guided tour through Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady (rebuilt & opened in 2006 after bombing in 2^nd World War) and Hofkirche (Catholic church), steam ship sight seeing tour with lunch, free time.

Dresden was extensively bombed by the Allied forces in 1945 and many of the buildings have only recently been re-built.

Tues 27^th: coach tour to the glass blowing factory on the way to the Harz mountains to visit Goslar, a very old German town on north rim of Harz mountains.

Wed 28^th: shopping/sight seeing in Magdeburg. 6pm service in St. Lawrence’s, farewell party and travel blessing.

Also, some of our congregation are going to the re-dedication of St. Lawrence’s church on the 27^th April. Robin, Pippa, John and Sally will be representing all of us there and we want to send along a gift to mark this wonderful occasion. Has anyone got any ideas?

Lyn Crowther

MY FAITH STORY DISCUSSION GROUPS

We are looking to follow up the recent successful Lent Course with a five week series on Tuesday evenings starting at 7. 30 pm and held in St Barnabas Church Vestry. The related topics for these evenings will be as follows:

Tuesday April 22^nd – “Stories and Story Telling down the Ages”

Tuesday April 29^th – “Story in Scripture and Religion”

Tuesday May 6^th – “Telling our own Story”

Tuesday May 13^th – “God’s Story and Us”

Tuesday May 20^th – “Sharing that Story with Others”

More details will be available soon, and the series will be launched with a special service on Sunday 20th April at St Barnabas, but please make a note of the dates, now.

CONFIRMATION

Another reminder about the forthcoming Cluster Confirmation at St Nicholas on Sunday 15^th June at 4 pm.

Any Adults interested will be asked to join a short “Start Course” beforehand, exploring the basics of Christianity. This will be at a time to be arranged with all concerned, once we know all those who want to be involved. Everyone will also be encouraged to join in with the “My Faith Story” sessions on Tuesday evenings.

Any young people thinking of being confirmed will join the weekly 50 minute sessions based at The Barn next to St Nicholas Church on Thursday evenings. They start at 6.30pm.

Please speak with me further (or phone on 23785) if you are interested.

Peter

LEAVES OF LIFE

Do you remember that last year Barney’s Bunch organised a celebration for the Leaves of Life, an initiative from the Children’s Society which aims to actively engage children in worship and the life of the church through the preparation and presentation of prayer leaves.

Well, we are doing it again this year. We haven’t got a date yet as we don’t want to clash with Christian Aid week but it will be between Easter and Pentecost or as near as we can.

During the celebration Sunday we will be asking the congregation to fill in their prayer leaves to add to ours and jointly put them on the Easter cross which we will cover with ribbons again as we did last year. The aim of the prayer leaves is for children and adults to reflect what they’d like to thank God for and what they’d like to see changed in the community. It is part of the partnership with the Children’s Society and the Church of England, designed by a group of Children’s Work Advisors, the National Worship Development Officer for the Church of England and the Children’s Society.

We were among the first churches in the country to trial the resource. We received some very positive feedback on the way we had used the leaves and grateful thanks for our fund-raising.

This year a ‘my church’ postcard has been developed to gather children’s views on their experience of church. We hope to collate the feedback received here in our church and it will be used to support children’s leaders all doing our best to support the work of the Children’s Society with our fund-raising. After the celebration service we will be holding our sports events, and sell cakes and books.

If you are a member of an organisation and would like to be involved with this – we want to include as many as possible – please contact one of the Barney’s Bunch leaders for the resources. Please also remember we will need lots and lots of cakes and books to sell - watch the pew slip for the date!

Lyn Crowther

ST BARNABAS WIVES

This year St Barnabas Wives are celebrating their 60th birthday year and to mark the occasion we are having a party at the Masonic Hall.

We meet regularly in our church hall, second Thursday of each month and we are a great group of all ages. We have fun and food couple of meetings, couple of outings to the theatre, which we enjoy. We have a selection of speakers with slides or goodies to show us and they are very enthusiastic. We enjoy raising funds for charity each year with a car-boot, and each month a “charity table” where we bring our unneeded gifts and offer them for sale, funds going to our charity.

We are always on the lookout for new members, so if you would like to join us, you will always find a friendly welcome waiting for you.

Chris Chilton

PATRONAGE SCHEME

If you would like to mark a special date, maybe a birthday or anniversary, you could become a Patron of St Barnabas and pay towards the running costs of the church building for that day (cost £25). Patrons names are recorded in a special book kept at the front of the church by the piano.

Patrons for the next few months are:

April: Richard & Danielle Wysocki

June: Jean Kennedy

Douglas Cook

July: Michael & Angela Clarke

For more information on becoming a Patron ask a Church official or Jackie Campbell.

CHRISTIAN AID LUNCH

Saturday 10th May

in Church Hall

donations to Christian Aid

ST BARNABAS SOCIAL CLUB

This group meets every Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm (apart from school holidays) in the Church Hall.

The programme for the next two months is:

April 1: Meal out & mystery ip

April 8: Tea & cakes social

April 15: First Aid awareness (Red Cross training)

April 22: Talk/slide show on barn owls

April 29: Red Hill Choir with ld time songs

May 6: Bingo

May 13: Strawberries & Cream

May 20: Social afternoon

Everyone is most welcome to come and contributes £1.20 per session which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

4th March Tony Merry 53 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

2nd March Chloe Halsall

Kian John Hodgkinson

MARCH 2008

A JOURNEY OF FAITH FROM WYRE PIDDLE

When I take the bus from Wyre Piddle to Worcester the journey takes approximately 45 minutes. If I then walk to St Barnabas from the city centre, this takes a further 20 minutes. Total journey time 65 minutes.

If I go by car it takes me about 25 minutes from door to door. With this method of transport however, there is the parking problem and I usually have to park in the Rectory drive. Reversing out of the drive is the problem for me – I have already hit the gate and scratched the car “a little bit”!

Like any journey, you have to allow time to reach your destination. Although the car is convenient, sometimes I prefer making my journey by bus.

A couple of weeks ago I was waiting at the bus stop outside the pub in Wyre Piddle and started chatting to someone who lives in the village but I hadn’t met before. You might be surprised that, in our small community in Wyre Piddle, there are people I haven’t met, but in these days of busy lives and with no local shop or post office, the opportunity to meet is often reduced. Anyway, there we were at the bus stop and we had a really good chat. We learnt a lot about each other and because it was a beautiful, crisp, sunny morning we were able to admire and enjoy our surroundings. When I was on the bus, I was able to gaze out of the window and enjoy the scenery as we slowly made our way towards Worcester. There was much to enjoy. The frost was on the fields, the first signs of spring bulbs in the gardens and there was a clear blue sky. When I got to Worcester I decided to walk to St Barnabas rather than catch the No.35 bus. During that walk I noticed shops I didn’t even know existed, I saw an array of different sorts of houses and gardens and best of all, felt immense pleasure as people I passed said good morning and smiled at me.

My vocational journey is a bit like the journey I’ve just described. By taking the slower, gentler route I am able to

discover more about myself and others, see more clearly the gifts that God has given us in creation and see how God’s love can be seen in the smile of a stranger. If I tried to take the fast route I might miss some important spiritual messages and, rather like my accident with the car in Peter’s drive, come to a halt as I hit an obstacle.

St Barnabas and Christ Church have become very important steps for me on my journey. From the first day that I arrived at the doors of St Barnabas, the warmth and friendship that the church offered was clearly felt. I was welcomed immediately. As I’ve said, a ‘good morning and a smile’ is the best message of God’s love you can give to a stranger.

So, what else am I learning? Well, from Peter, your Rector, I am not only learning about the day to day role of the Parish priest (far busier than I could ever imagine), but also getting lots of encouragement. I also value his wisdom as he helps me in my spiritual development. From church members at St Barnabas and Christ Church I have found friendship. Friendship, that comes from our love of God and unites us all wherever we come from.

My placement with you is until Easter but, somehow I think I might stay a bit longer……..

Nancy Murray-Peters

EASTER

LILIES

Easter lilies in remembrance of a loved one are £3 each. If you would like one, please put money in envelope and write name on the front. Hand in to Sheila Bright by Palm Sunday, 16th March.

ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 2007

Would all groups please submit their reports for the Annual Reports booklet to jackiecampbell@talktalk.net or put in tray at the back of church as soon as possible.

Thankyou!

CAN YOU HELP AT LUNCH CLUB?

The Lunch Club is becoming so popular that we are now looking for more volunteers! You only have to give an hour or so once a month and all you need is smile. See the rota in church if you can help.

Also, if you or someone you know would like to attend this fortnightly club, please pick up a leaflet or speak to Sheila.

DR JOY TETLEY

The Archdeacon of Worcester, the Venerable Dr Joy Tetley, will end eight years of service to the diocese at the end of April this year. Her final participation in the main Sunday services at the Cathedral will be on Easter Day, 23 March 2008.

A service of farewell and thanksgiving for her ministry will take place in April. She is leaving to resume and develop a ministry involving theological research and writing, teaching and preaching and will be based in Oxford.

COUNTRYTASTIC

This event for children takes place at Three Counties Showground on 27th March. If you can offer help with this event, see noticeboard or speak to Lyn Crowther for more details

GREAT WITLEY OPERATIC SOCIETY Great Witley Operatic Society will perform Trial by Jury & The Sorcerer at the Swan from 8th to 12th April. Tickets are available at a discounted price—is anyone interested in making up a church group to go to this?

See noticeboard at back of church for more information.

APCM

This year’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in the church at 7.00pm.

DREAM COMES TRUE FOR PEOPLE OF OLVENSTEDT

Magnificent, friendly, fantastic—Olvenstedt’s no longer former baroque village church—the church of St Laurentius—shines out as beautifully as it did 300 years ago. For the people of Old Olvenstedt it is the realisation of a dream. After four years of work, the church community, the development committee and the builders celebrated the completion of the renovation recently.

For five years the towers of St Laurentius have been closed to visitors. The building inspectors banned entrance on safety grounds at the beginning of 2003 because death-watch beetle had eaten into the roof construction. The future of St Laurentius was uncertain.

In 2002 the development committee, founded with Kristine Bollman, (a member of the Magdeburg exchange group) was determined to rescue this symbol of the old village. What once seemed impossible was brought to a glorious conclusion with the official completion of the renovation. St Laurentius, restored from the foundations under its floor to the tops of its tower, shone out with more than just a new sparkle; in a mammoth project, this house of God has been lavishly restored in a manner that has recreated its former Baroque architecture.

Ochre and terracotta colour, decorations, and wooden carvings such as a baptismal angel distinguish the interior. Outside, care has not only been taken with the colouring of the façade, but also with the park, which has been laid out in its historical outline.

Young people in training programmes and the long-term unemployed in development projects organised through the Job Centres and the State Employment Agency have worked on this project in several stages since 2005. They have rebuilt the nave which had been destroyed in 1724 and the 800 year old military tower. “Without these projects it would have been impossible for the church community and the development group to have succeeded in the restoration,” said Kristine. The group raised about £40,000 and the parish a further £27,000.

Between 2004 and 2008 the restoration was overseen by Sina Stiebler, architect with Dr Ribbert & Saalman, together with the restorer Heinz-Peter Schmidt. The architect raves over her work, “It was a wonderful problem—to work with the builders to reconstruct a church following historical designs.” She was helped by the well restored community archives, for in the church there was scarcely a memory of the glory of former times. “Following the destruction of 1945, the church was bare and simple until 1953, rebuilt with the material available at that time,” said Kristine, “But now a dream has become reality.”

The dedication service will take place on 27th April and it is hoped that there will be a representation from St Barnabas. If you would like to go, please speak to Robin Sykes or Lyn or Clive Crowther.

MAGDEBURG TRIP

Our trip to Magdeburg this year takes place from Friday 23rd May (setting off in the evening) and leaving Magdeburg on Thursday 29th May.

If you haven’t been before, do consider joining us—its always such a wonderful experience and our hosts are so generous and friendly.

See Lyn or Clive Crowther or anyone else who has been before to give more info.

PANCAKE FUN!

On Sunday 3rd February we went to Mrs Chalmers house to make pancakes. Firstly we poured the mixture into the pan and then when they were cooked we tried to flip them. I dropped mine a couple of times but it was still ok. John made a face with chocolate fingers and a cream egg. It was really funny. The best pancake that I made with was chocolate, it was very very nice.

Afterwards we played games. I played yahtzee for the first time and I though it was great.

We made a bit of a mess in Mrs Chalmers kitchen but it was another great night for JAM.

Nicholas & Helen MacPherson

CALL MY BLUFF!

There was singing, fun and games (including Call my Bluff, pictured above) at the Praise B party at the beginning of January.

Praise B meets on the first and third Thursday of the month, at the home of John & Sally Dentith, to enjoy fellowship together in singing God’s praises.

It is not a choir and you don’t need to be able to sing well or read music, only to enjoy singing just for the joy of it.

New members are always warmly welcomed—speak to John or Sally and give it a try!

CYGNUS OLOR (MUTE SWAN)

Cygnus Olor arrayed in white,

In your beauty I delight,

Pleasing is your symmetry

So beguiling are you to me.

Myth and legend you create

Saintly seems to be your state,

Magic too, so I have heard

Are you really just a bird?

Maybe there is found in you

Something spiritual and true,

A peace that you convey

Amid the bustle of the day.

And so spirit all in white

Let me always at your sight,

Stare in wonder and in awe,

Bewitched by you forever more.

Brian Trussler

DID YOU KNOW?

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.

The diocese was founded in around 679 by St Theodore of Canterbury for the tribe of the Hwicce. Today the diocese has 190 parishes, 281 churches and 163 stipendiary clergy. The diocese is divided into two Archdeaconries, the Archdeaconry of Worcester and the Archdeaconry of Dudley.

The work of the Diocese of Worcester is directed through the Diocesan Synod and organised through its boards and committees. The Diocesan budget is £6.8 million, £4.5 million of this is raised by parishes.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

9th January John Carter 75 years

14th January Kenneth Harris 78 years

18th January Michelle Clayton 27 years

5th February Winifred Tetsell 84 years

5th February Irene Baldwin 88 years

8th February John Munslow 67 years

8th February Ray Milner 78 years

8th February Margaret Stoddart 75 years

18th February Richard Morgan 71 years

20th February Maureen Griffiths 60 years

27th February Desmond Cooper 73 years

29th February Baby Joseph Belmonte (stillborn)

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

3rd February Jessica Louise Key

Sophie May Key

Tony Roger Key

Jack John Gurney

Oliver James Gurney

Dale James May

Bobby-Jack May-Terry

FEBRUARY 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ST WULSTAN…1000 TODAY!

When you’re younger, one of the problems of having a birthday in early January is that you get people giving you joint Christmas and birthday presents. When you get to my age (born January 1953, so you work out the slightly depressing number) I’m lucky if I get a card.

However, this January there have been some dates we could all do to remember. 18^th – 25^th January marked 100 years of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Links with other churches is something to celebrate here. Links with Rainbow Hill Baptist have grown over the last couple of years – based on doing things together, like our joint Lunch Club that (co-incidentally) happened to be officially launched on my Birthday.

This year’s joint service for Christian Unity Week was at St Wulstan’s in Warndon, during their Patronal Festival Weekend, which is where the other notable date comes in – This year it is 1000 years since the birth of Wulstan, who was one of the most famous of Worcester’s bishops.

In the service, we looked at a number of the issues he saw it as his duty to be involved with. Alongside his commitment to reconciliation between Saxons (like himself) and Normans (this was the time of the battle of Hastings), he made sure the sacraments of the church were available to everyone and he had a deep concern for the poor and with issues of social justice like slavery. He embodied so many of the hallmarks of Christianity we need to be thinking about today.

And actually, on the eve of a new Bishop of Worcester being enthroned, that is exactly what the Diocese is asking us to do this year. There is a special Lent Course that has been written on the theme of the Hallmarks of a Living Church, to challenge us as to how far these fine ideals get put into action. They are themes that would have seemed most appropriate to Wulstan. They include unsurprisingly, worship of God, spreading the Gospel and bringing people to Christ, together with offering a welcome to all within the local community. But there is also a challenge to play a part – as did Wulstan - in the elimination of poverty from the world and care for the earth.

There are two groups meeting that people can come along to. One is on Wednesday Evenings in St Barnabas Church Vestry, starting at 7.30pm. The other is at Christ Church on a Monday lunchtime (12.30pm to about 2 pm) over a bread and soup lunch. Please have a word with me if you would like to know any more details.

One final thing. Of course you don’t have to be a Bishop (or a vicar) to show these hallmarks of a living faith. And by way of one small attempt to broaden the platform of sharing Christian vision, I will be sharing this column with others in the local church, who are committed to ministry, with me writing it every other time.

So, next month, it will be written by someone who is exploring the idea of being ordained in the Church and who is on placement in the parish until Easter, just experiencing what ministry is like in a more urban parish than Wyre Piddle, where she lives. So, next month the thoughts of Nancy Murray Peters – Nancy, over to you…

Peter Haddleton

LENT 2008

This year there will be two Lent Courses starting week of February 11th:

· Monday 12.30 at Christ Church with bread & soup lunch

· Wednesday 7.30pm in St Barnabas vestry.

You are welcome to come to all the sessions or just the odd one.

EASTER SERVICES

During Holy Week there will be the evening services each day —more details in the pew slip and next month’s magazine.

CHRISTMAS THANKS!

Just a quick word of thanks to everyone who contributed to such a memorable first Christmas for Vanessa and I here as part of the St Barnabas Church family.

Particular thanks to all those who helped decorate the church so beautifully (and to those who helped to take down all the decorations afterwards!), to everyone who helped organise or take part in any of our special services—especially Barney’s Bunch and all our young people.

There were other special moments like the carol singing round the Parish (and pubs!) which raised £150 for Maggs Day Centre, all the other contributions which brought that up to some £750 in cash and a good variety of Christmas foods which were able to be presented to Maggs for Christmas.

Then alongside all the other contributions there was the Carol singing at Tescos which drew over 20 congregations this year, helping to raise some £1300 for Christian Aid.

So thank you, whatever your contribution, for making it such a good Christmas and a real springboard for all we can do together in 2008.

Finally, on a more personal note, thank you to everyone who made us so welcome as a family, for the cards and gifts (most of them bottles, for some reason!)

Our love and prayers

Peter & Vanessa

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE

Stephen Agnew of Claines Church is leading a trip to the Holy Land next year from 24th March to 6th April. If you are at all interested in joining the group, please pick up details at the back of church and speak to Peter soon.

MAGDEBURG TRIP

Our trip to Magdeburg this year takes place from Friday 23rd May (setting off in the evening) and leaving Magdeburg on Thursday 29th May.

If you haven’t been before, do consider joining us—its always such a wonderful experience and our hosts are so generous and friendly.

See Lyn or Clive Crowther or anyone else who has been before to give more info.

CANDLEMASS MEAL

on Saturday 2nd February

7.30pmin Church Hall

(funds in aid of Magdeburg visit)

THANK YOU

Gwen would like to thank everyone who sent her a cards and good wishes over the Christmas period. She wasn’t feeling too good then and was unable to reply but is better now and up and about.

CONFIRMATION

The confirmation service on 9th December was a wonderful day for the church family. Bishop Christopher confirmed 12 candidates:

Alison Spratley (who was also baptised), Kirsty Broadbent, Debee Hack, Stephen Allard, Nick MacPherson, Chance Austin-Ricketts, John Hewitt, Grace Withers, Andy Lovelock, Noah Broadbent, Charlotte Hack and Sophie Duffy.

(see photo on centre pages)

LUNCH CLUB

The official opening of the Rainbow Centre Lunch Club took place earlier in January and guest of honour was Victoria Cooper who works for the WiNN Project which gave a grant to get started. The club has been running a couple of months now and is becoming very popular. There is a really friendly atmosphere and the chef and kitchen staff and all the volunteers are doing a great job!

If you or someone you know would like to attend the fortnightly club, please pick up a leaflet or speak to Sheila.

(see photos on centre pages)

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES

The Planned Giving envelopes for 2008 are now at the back of church—please collect yours. If you would like to start your regular giving using this method, please see Bill Chalmers.

GET CRAFTY AT FAIRFIELD

The Fairfield Centre has started a new community craft group on Wednesday evenings between 6.30-8.30pm. This group is an opportunity to both learn new crafts and share your skills with others.

The weekly cost is £1 (including refreshments) and everyone is welcome.

For more information phone The Fairfield Centre on 457577 (option 2).

SHOE BOXES FOR THE HOMELESS

At Christmas we sent off over 200 boxes for the homeless in Worcester. These were blessed at a short service following the Carol Singing at Tescos.

Thanks to everyone who contributed and especially to Mary James who did such a good job organising this annual event.

(see photo on centre pages)

CANADA POLAR BEAR ADVENTURE

Churchill Manitoba the Polar Bear capital of the World. We stayed here three nights, snow on the ground with more falling, and it was very cold.

Our first day on the tundra, a tundra buggy is a bus with very large wheels. Tour guide and naturalist (David Hatch) told us the dos and donts. Do keep your seats when buggy is moving, those in aisle seats put your foot out in the isle to save yourself from being thrown off your seat. Don’t make a sound when polar bears are near the buggy. A ride in a tundra buggy is very very bumpy!

Seeing our fist polar bear was very exciting even at some distance away. Then one came walking up to the buggy, a beautiful animal yellowish in colour with black eyes and nose. First day on the tundra was Remembrance Sunday at 11 o’clock we observed two minutes silence. During the day we sighted more bears, mothers with one cub some with two cubs.

To reach Churchill is by rail or air, population just over 1000. We toured the area around Churchill with its seaport where ships load up with the grain in summer. A bear trap to catch naughty bears, later we saw the polar bear jail where bears are kept until released back into wild. The jail was full, no visitors allowed. The area around Churchill is flat, as snow was on the ground no colour visible. Snow buntings and a white hare sitting under a tree not moving, Inuit sign post, a small church, ending the day at the Post Office to get cards stamped with Churchill Polar Bear Capital of the World.

Last day in Churchill we were back on the tundra, sighted more bears. Two were “play fighting” getting up on their hind legs. At one time during the day we saw seven bears which included mother with two cubs. Bears came up to the buggy and from the viewing platform we were very close up and got some good photos. The temperature was minus 15c. We were on the tundra for two days and we sighted more than 140 polar bears.

We left Churchill for Winnipeg staying overnight before flying to Toronto for three nights. A tour of the city, the trees in autumn colours. To the CN Tower and take the lift to the top. The view was wonderful, the glass floor that you can walk on and look down, I didn’t but did look down! Next day to the Niagara Falls, and took a helicopter ride over the falls, a very enjoyable experience. Then went down to the falls they are massive. The falls are very beautiful with the spray of water. Walking to our meeting place we saw black squirrels and an end to our holiday.

A wonderful Polar Bear Adventure I loved every minute.

Grace Woolley

(See photos on centre pages)

THE GRACEFUL SWAN

I love to watch the graceful swan

Majestic as he glides along.

A stately figure pure and white,

His feathers preened, a glorious sight.

And there beside him swims his pen

His chosen partner so that when

They mate for life a royal pair,

Their love and future both to share.

A show of love their necks entwine

A courtship ritual, as old as time.

Love on display for all to see

Happily contented just to be.

Brian Trussler

WESLEY’S COVENANT PRAYER

At the service on 20th January Revd Stephanie Moyes gave out this prayer for us to ponder:

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure & disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit,

you are mine, and I am yours.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen

BULLETIN BLOOPERS!

· Thursday night: Potluck Supper—prayer & medication to follow

· This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar

BE A GOOD VIRTUAL NEIGHBOUR THIS LENT

This Lent, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling on Christians to ‘be good neighbours’ with a range of suggestions from leaving a thankyou note for your postie to polishing someone else’s shoes – as part of an innovative Lent campaign.

Last year, more than 130,000 people joined in with Love Life Live Lent, launched by the Church of England to give inspiration for simple acts of service that can spread happiness in our communities. In the latest development of the campaign, the suggestions are being delivered not only through two colourful booklets, but also through a range of social networking sites such as Facebook and Flickr. It is hoped that these websites will help develop an online community of ‘Love Life Live Lenters’ who will share their experience of following the daily suggestions.

Most of the actions can be performed individually, while others require a group working together, and include:

· Spend a day trying to exist on just £1.40 – over half the world’s population only have that amount to spend each day

· Cook or eat cuisine you haven’t tried before

· Find out about volunteering in a prison or about supporting prisoners’ families

· Go a whole day without gossiping and praise someone behind their back instead

The Archbishops are commending the campaign, acknowledging in their joint foreword to the booklets: “For most of us, life is busy and pressured. It can be difficult to take time out to be with family and friends or to help to make our communities, local or global, clean and secure places of generosity. But Jesus calls us to love our neighbour as ourselves.”

The full colour pocketsized booklet comes in two versions – one for adults and ‘youth’, one for children – each packed with 50 suggested actions to encourage people to be good neighbours.

Love Life Live Lent is available as a fullcolour booklet for just £1 from Christian bookshops or on the web at:

www.chpublishing.co.uk

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

19th November John Rollins 77 years

29th November Albert Essex 88 years

12th December Nicola Bell 25 years

14th December Ronald Cale 77 years

28th December Jean Powell 73 years

7th January Jeannette Gandy 64 years

15th January Evelyn Coglan 77 years

15th January Doris Eva Fox 93 years

18th January Raymond Finch 77 years

21st January Linda Holmes 59 years

25th January Ernest Thomas Clarke 68 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

2nd December Isobel Izel Dugen

Imogen Elizabeth May

Sadie Marie Cambridge

Holly Elizabeth May Weston

9th December Alison Jane Spratley

6th January Shaydon Glenn La-Croix

Casey-Ann Evens

Liam Ashley Stock

DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008

IS THAT THE TIME ALREADY?

“Has St Barnabas School really been up twenty years? – Never !”

“I don’t know where this year has gone!” “Christmas will be here before you know it and I haven’t even begun thinking about ….” A familiar story? Do you wonder where the time has gone?

Vanessa and I have been here since Easter this year and suddenly Christmas in almost upon us. And next year, Easter is as early as it can be and Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent – is on February 6^th!

There’s so much to cram into such a short time this year. We have sent record numbers of Operation Christmas Child “shoe boxes” full of little gifts for youngsters abroad; by the time you read this, the Christ Church Patronal Service (and shared lunch) will be over and our “Christmas Cracker workshop” there is on Saturday December 1^st. The next day comes Advent Sunday with its theme of shedding new light on everything. On Sunday 9^th, at our 10am main service, we will be welcoming Bishop Christopher Mayfield for our Confirmation Service, with all that means for the 12 members of our Christian family – a mix of adults and young people. There, they will confirm for themselves their determination to try and follow the Christian way of life and take on their responsibilities to try and be an example to others of putting their faith into practice. And it’s great that it’s at the main service on that Sunday morning so that the congregation they are all part of will be celebrating all that with them.

At Christmas itself, there is so much crowded into a few days; Carol services with all the schools, Carol singing round the parish on the evening of Sunday 23^rd, before the traditional Crib & Carol Services on Christmas Eve at Both Churches, the Midnight service at St Barnabas and then suddenly, Christmas is actually here (and just as suddenly, gone!).

However, stay with me for a moment, this is a bumper two month edition of the magazine (So, I’m pleased to say, I won’t need to be racking my brains to meet a Christmas Day deadline for my next article!).

With the New Year comes the season of Epiphany, which builds on the Christmas message of being able to encounter God in a fresh and new way. It is when we think about the moments in which people were able to first glimpse God in the person of Jesus. The season is traditionally associated with three events which in different ways signalled the start of Jesus’ work and ministry. There is the visit of the Wise Men near his birth when he was presented with gifts symbolising his true Kingship (gold), his link with God (frankincense) and his sacrificial death (myrrh).

There is his baptism by John the Baptist that starts his public ministry when he was about thirty and the first miracle (or “sign” of his authority and identity) recorded in St John’s gospel, when he turned water into wine. In a way all these incidents had elements about them of being plunged headlong into something when the need became clear. And of course the three year ministry this kick-started was to be over all too soon with Good Friday (and of course Easter Day). The implications of the Easter event are what we need to reflect on in Lent and the Diocese has produced some excellent Lenten resources for next year giving local churches ideas for using our time and resources more effectively – because there is never enough of either for what we would like to do.

But all that’s for the next edition, so I’ll stop there. Believe me; it will be here before you know it.

Peter Haddleton

THANK YOU!

A big 'Thank You' to all of you that sponsored my attempt at the Great North Run. I had a fantastic weekend and managed to get round in 1hour 41 minutes (just a little behind Paula Radcliffe!) The total amount raised was £434 and Mentorlink are very grateful. Thank you again.

Sue Shacklock

(See photo on centre pages)

CHRISTMAS STARS

Instead of our usual pew ends in memory of loved ones, this Christmas we are having named stars on the lights of the Christmas tree. There will be a plan of the tree showing where individual stars are placed. If you would like a star, the cost is £3 which should be handed in by Sunday 16th December.

FIREWORKS TRIP

Nearly 20 people went along to Worcester Football ground for the fireworks display at the beginning of November. They all had a great time—thanks go to Ian and Alison Chambers for organising this trip.

MANY THANKS FROM BARNEY’S BUNCH

The children from Barney’s Bunch made up 51 boxes (a record number) packed with lots of goodies and Christmas wishes for Operation Christmas Child. After being blessed by Revd Stephanie Moyes, they were taken to St Paul’s Church last Sunday on the first leg of the journey to children in Kurdistan.

Thanks to everyone who helped and donated in any way.

See photos on centre pages

Christian Aid

SING FOR CHANGE

Carol Singing for Christian Aid

at Warndon Tesco

on Saturday 22nd December at 9am

PROCLAIM THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

HAVE A GOOD SING & CHEER UP HARASSED SHOPPERS

HELP OTHERS TO HELP THE WORLD’S POOREST PEOPLE BY GIVING TO CHRISTIAN AID

All welcome!

For more details see Helen Lubin (610580)

CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE YMCA

My first experience was in 2005 when I volunteered to help with the Christmas meal after reading a small notice at St Johns. The YMCA is housed in a huge old building, formerly an orphanage, in Henwick Road, St Johns.

I arrived about 11am and was taken to the kitchen to join our merry team of two men and four women. The chef had left a list of what needed doing, and at what time; all the vegetables (potatoes, parsnips, carrots, cauliflower) were prepared, standing in pans of cold water; cooked sliced turkey and beef, in gravy, was arranged in large trays in the fridge; containers of Christmas pudding and mince pies were ready to heat through in the microwave.

The first job was to make sandwiches for the 60 supper boxes; we used brown and white sliced bread with ham or cheese filling and wrapped double rounds for each box. Everyone also got a packet of crisps, bar of chocolate, portion of cake and fruit.

Next the dining room had to be prepared for the festive meal; we moved the tables together into a horseshoe shape and covered them with red paper table cloths and serviettes; each place was marked with a cracker and popper.

Going back to the kitchen we put the huge pans of vegetables on to boil and the trays of meat had to be juggled around on shelves in the ovens (a food thermometer is provided to ensure the correct temperature is reached). The saucepans are large and heavy, so it was really necessary for two people to carry them to the sink to drain.

Were there any problems?!!! - we forgot to cook the cabbage, we couldn’t find the matches to light the ovens, the custard was so thick that we cut it in slices. There wasn’t room for the chipolata sausages in the oven so they had to be hastily grilled in batches. The heated trolley did keep the food hot, but the plates were only tepid.

The first year the diners were mostly teenagers and not a very happy bunch. Last year, however the average age was 40+, and they were really appreciative of the special food.

A big smile is probably your most important “tool” for a very very worthwhile day. If you are interested I can tell you more—Janet 723556 or leave a message for Edwin Davidson, the Manager on 423197.

Janet Hastings

CHRISTMAS BOXES FOR THE HOMELESS IN WORCESTER

Once again we are making up these boxes and as usual, we aim to give one to each homeless person in the city, through the Maggs Day Centre and St. Paul’s hostel. We also hope to give boxes to women and children through the Women’s Refuge and ASHA centre, and the YMCA and elderly isolated people in our community. If you know of anyone who will not receive many Christmas gifts, please let me know.

There is a greater need for boxes for men than for women, and we shall need approx 10 boxes for children.

Please put an elastic band around the box and label it e.g “man” and bring them to Church by Friday 21st December. Before distribution, the boxes will be blessed on Saturday 22^nd December at 12 noon.

Thank you to all of you who make up boxes, or donate gifts.

Mary James 01905 455214

LUNCH CLUB:

Rainbow Hill Lunch Club cooked its first meal last week! This was a trial run to which all the volunteers were invited and all went well—even if it did mean a quick dash home for one of the helpers to find a potato masher! Also, far too much food was prepared, but it was a good opportunity to make sure that things will run smoothly once it opens up for business in December.

PARENT &TODDLER GROUP

CHRISTMAS PARTY

on Wednesday 19th December 1.30pm—2.45pm

with JO JINGLES dance & music

Children under 5 welcome with Mum/Dad

Tea, coffee, children’s drinks

£1 per family

PRAISE B CELEBRATES 400 HOURS OF SINGING AT DENTITH HOUSEHOLD!

The St. Barnabas singing fellowship group, Praise B, celebrates 400 hours of worship singing this coming January. For over 16 years members of St. Barnabas Church have been meeting at the home of John & Sally Dentith to sing God’s praises with joyful hearts and, sometimes, tuneful voices. At a recent meeting Sally calculated that since the first meeting in 1991 she had supplied over 63 gallons of tea and 15 kilograms of biscuits to happy but exhausted singers.

John Dentith devised the original concept for Praise B with help from his faithful sidekick, John Price (AKA Dentith & Price). He wanted to give church members an opportunity to sing worship songs of many different styles in a fun atmosphere. Every first and third Thursday in the month the group meets at 7:45 pm in John & Sally’s home.

The meeting always begins with prayer and then from 8.00 until 9.00 anyone can suggest a song to sing, which will be accompanied on piano by John and on guitar by John Price. No singing talent is required, only a heart that wants to praise all that God has done for us. There is lots of laughter, much good music and by 9 o’clock the singers are ready for one of Sally’s fine cups of tea (or, on special days, a tipple of wine!) and a bit of a natter.

Would YOU be interested in coming along one evening? Well, if you would maybe the following questions need answering:

John Price

Would I have to do an audition? NO!

Would I have to sing a solo? NO!

Would I be told off if I sang out of tune? NO! (Most of us don’t)

Would I be able to suggest a song? YES!

Would I be offered refreshments at 9 o’clock? YES!

Would people talk to me? YES!

Would I find people friendly and fun? Err…. Well come along and find out!

BIRTH SONG

Soon, soon,

the Saviour of the world will be born:

born into the arms of a strong woman,

born into the cupped hands of a carpenter.

Soon, soon,

the Saviour of the world will be born:

born lowly to raise the humble,

born vulnerable to feed the hungry,

born strong to scatter the proud,

born to raise the poor from the dust.

The night the star shines

the light of the world will be born,

The night the angels sing

the shepherd of the flock will be born:

the Trinity eternal,

the hungry breastling

without a home in the world.

God our Creator

is opening a door for us.

The mountains will rejoice

and the waves of the sea will sing for joy,

for there is no holy one like him.

Each day, each night,

O light of our lanterns,

we will praise and adore you.

Each day, each night,

we will prepare a home

in our heart for you.

Each day, each night,

may the world prepare a cradle of welcome for you.

Soon, soon,

the Saviour of the world

will be born.

from The Green Heart of the Snowdrop by Kate McIlhagga

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

ST BARNABAS

Christmas Eve 6.30pm Crib Service—collecting gifts of food for the needy

11.30pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day 8.00am Quiet Communion

10.00am Parish Communion

CHRIST CHURCH

Christmas Eve 4.00 pm Carol Service

Christmas Day 10.00am Communion

ALL WELCOME TO ALL SERVICES

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

2nd November Neville Ernest Cook 73

6th November Raymond Allen Rushton 73

21st November Patricia Anne Harcourt-Sanders

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

4th November Faye Marie Ratcliff

Rebeka Ann May Jordan

Harry George Keith Miles

NOVEMBER 2007

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Another series of this BBC programme, following a different personality each week as they research their family tree, has just finished with Matthew Pinsent, the Olympic rower, finding he can trace his ancestry back to King Edward 1^st. For practically everyone who has featured on the programme, even though they haven’t been descended from royalty, it has been a real turning point. Finding out about their forebears’ struggles and achievements has made them realise more about themselves and given them a real sense of identity.

Identity and roots are really vital today, and over the centuries the local Parish Church has been at the heart of all that, where people have gathered to mark special times in their life and through the seasons of the year. I feel St Barnabas is a particularly good example of a well loved Parish Church.

It was almost exactly a year ago, when Vanessa and I were first thinking about moving here from Hereford, that we walked into St Barnabas. I can still remember that moment vividly. There was no-one there, but there was a real warmth about the place and we both had a strong sense of feeling at home, straight away. I can see just why so many people, who have lived locally, see it as “their” Church. The local schools all come here, which is great. Sadly, of course, for some people it is associated mainly with funerals. But there are a good number of weddings and an increasing number of requests for couples to mark special anniversaries by renewing their wedding vows. And, most of all, it is used month by month for Christenings (or Baptisms as they are also known).

All these times are marking moments when we can look back and get a real picture of how our life is panning out, of who we are and what we hope to do and to be. For parents, there can be a sense of re-evaluating everything, looking to a new generation and it hitting home just what a set of responsibilities being a parent brings – it is both frightening and exhilarating. I think it is a real privilege that so many still turn to the Church to help express just what this all means to them.

One of the six hallmarks of being a Healthy Church, as identified by Worcester Diocese, is being an “inclusive community”; that is, making everyone feel welcome and part of the Church Family. Like the other five, which I won’t go into now, that is easier said than done! Some regulars can feel quite overwhelmed by the sudden influx of four “families-worth” of Christening Guests, at our regular monthly Baptisms. And, by the same token, it can also feel quite daunting or dis-orientating for those not used to Church to be plunged into a full Communion service, with a collection of books and service sheets to try and navigate your way around.

However, I think it’s worth all the hassle and effort to help welcome a new Christian into the wider Church Family and remind those who must help equip their child for life’s journey that they have real commitments and are making important promises – for all of us, being part of that family means playing your part in things and giving the same welcome to others as you, hopefully, get yourself.

I don’t think there is any such thing as a perfect policy on Baptisms. You have to find a workable way to balance all the different needs, views and priorities. There are ways we can fine-tune things here, but I think wholesale change would be wrong. There is, as the saying goes, a real danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, otherwise!

Over the next few months we will try and involve regulars in streamlining things and getting everyone’s suggestions for improvements but the basic process is, surely, as good as it gets.

Finally, going back to Matthew Pinsent; at the very end of the programme he was shown the family tree of Edward 1^st, tracing it back (via the divine right of kings) through Jesus, King David, Abraham and finally via Adam to God. Actually though, our invitation to be part of the church family, at Baptism and week by week, makes us all children of God; and I hope that’s who you think you are, feel welcome to the family home but will also play your part in family life, too.

Peter

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Once again Barney’s Bunch and the youth group are filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Please help us by bringing shoeboxes, wrapping paper and items for the boxes to church as soon as possible—the boxes

will be blessed on 18th November and taken to the drop off point to start their journey.

LUNCH CLUB:CAN YOU HELP?

Plans are going well for the fortnightly Tuesday Lunch Club at the Rainbow Hill Centre (an exciting joint venture with the Baptist Chapel). We plan to have a trial run in November and be ready for business in December!

If you can help at all on Tuesdays (even just once a month) or with shopping, etc on other days, please speak to Sheila Bright or Mary James.

WELL DONE SUE!

Congratulations to Sue Shacklock who has completed several marathons recently including the Great North Run, which she ran in aid of MentorLink.

PRE-SCHOOL GOOD

OFSTED recently carried out an inspection at the Pre-School. They were extremely positive with only a few minor recommendations, and awarded a GOOD rating. Healthy snacks and outdoor activities, plus the special needs facilities were especially praised. If you would like to see a copy of the report, contact the Pre-School.

CHRISTMAS STARS

WATERAID

Just a word of thanks to everyone who helped and contributed to the success of last week’s Harvest celebrations.

On Saturday 13th October a gallant band of helpers transformed the grounds around the church and also decorated the church beautifully with autumnal flower arrangements and Harvest produce.

The evening saw a very successful Harvest supper with excellent food and some quizzes and team games. It was great to see friends from both Christ Church and Rainbow Hill Baptists at that too. Thanks must go to everyone who got the hall ready, prepared and served the food and cleared everything away afterwards.

The Co-op kindly donated a Harvest fruit hamper which raised some £35 towards our Harvest Appeal for WaterAid. Further contributions from the supper profits, other donations and, of course, the line of pennies organised by Barney’s Bunch brought the total up to over £150 and Fairfield School (who had their Harvest Festival in church on Friday) also gave the proceeds of their Harvest collection—another line of pennies amounting to over £50—to WaterAid too.

Finally, congratulations to the Youth Group and Barney’s Bunch who devised the Harvest presentation about the work of WaterAid and the needs it helps meet, together with some thought provoking and moving prayers. Many commented on how well presented and inspiring it all was.

Well done everybody!

Peter

CHRISTMAS BOXES FOR THE HOMELESS IN WORCESTER

It is time again to start collecting gifts and filling shoeboxes. This time of year seems to come round quicker!

As usual, we aim to give a Christmas box to each homeless person in the city, through the Maggs Day Centre and St. Paul’s hostel. We also aim to give boxes to women and children through the Women’s Refuge and ASHA centre, and remaining boxes to the YMCA and elderly isolated people in our community. If you know of anyone who will not receive many Christmas gifts, please let me know.

Here is a reminder of what to do and some suggestions for contents:

· Cover an empty shoebox with Christmas paper.

· Decide who is to receive it and include appropriate gifts.

E.g. toiletries, comb, brush, toothpaste & brush, shampoo, handcream, hat, scarf, gloves, mirror, torch & batteries, pens, notebooks, writing sets (paper & envelopes), sweets, cracker, phone card etc.

· Also include a Christmas card.

There is a greater need for boxes for men than for women, and we shall need approx. 10 boxes for children.

Please put an elastic band around the box and label it e.g “man”. Please bring the boxes to St Barnabas Church by Friday 21st December. Before distribution, the boxes will be blessed on Saturday 22^nd December at 12 noon.

Thank you to all of you who make up boxes, or donate gifts.

Mary James 01905 455214

REPORT ON ST BARNABAS PCC AWAY DAY LED BY REVD PETER HADDLETON &

CANON KEN BOYCE RURAL DEAN

Opening Worship

What is the local Church for?

A questionnaire was given out and each member was asked to tick what they thought church was for. We then got into small groups to decide on the top three—when the group came back together we went on to agree our top 3 priorities overall:

1) The Church should help people to explore faith in God and increase our knowledge and understanding.

2) The Church should enable every member to use his/her gifts.

3) Support and outreach to the local community.

The Six marks of a Healthy Church: How do we achieve these?

What we do Development areas

WORSHIP GOD:

Regular services Study groups

Variety of worship Informal worship

Prayer Baptism education

Praise B Music

Music

RID THE WORLD OF POVERTY:

Mission giving/links More involvement in projects

Christmas Shoe Boxes Local poverty

Support of Maggs

Members working & supporting

Oxfam/Maggs/St Pauls

Displays/Campaigns

Christian Aid

SHARE THE GOSPEL:

Sunday School/Youth/Schools Make better use of our contacts & develop

Open air services/Patronal Festival new links

Palm Sunday procession Leafleting

Baptism Work place links

Magazine Special events

Carol singing

BUILD INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES:

Carol singing Look at make-up of congregation in

Use of Hall relation to Parish

Lunch Club Needs of over 70s

Mentoring Improve transport arrangements

Baptism

HELP PEOPLE TO FAITH:

Person to person support Social events in the Hall

Confirmation Alpha or similar course

Welcome/prayers Prayer

Open Church

Funeral & bereavement Ministry

CARE FOR THE EARTH:

Campaigning Sharing transport

Low energy light bulbs/Recycling Look for green suppliers for gas/

Traidcraft electricity

Preaching at harvest More campaigning

KEN BOYCE ON THE DEANERY PERSPECTIVE:

“MORE OF THE SAME BUT BETTER”

Sharing ministry twenty years ago was all behind the scenes—now it is valued in its own right. We must develop ways everyone in the church family can use their gifts and experiences and encourage people to do so.

Need a wider basis of training, sharing expertise and good practice. The challenge of fewer paid clergy is also an opportunity to develop a broader base of shared leadership and ministry.

CHRIST CHURCH: An important principle the Deanery has strongly supported is that the financial viability of posts is only one part of the equation. Ken felt ours is a mission parish and needs two professional ministry posts which might or might not both be in priestly ministry.

He congratulated the Parish on all they had achieved and looked forward to continued close and creative links across the Cluster and Deanery.

Reflection on the Parish Profile given to Peter before his interview and the vision Peter gave at interview—both seems to match up quite well.

STRENGTHS:

· Inclusive: welcoming, warmth

· Variety of services

· Presence (its there)

· Faithful, new—commitment

· Ownership/history

· Coherent vision in ministry

· Aspirational/Open/Alive/

Exciting

· Broad age range—Holy Spirit

Ken Boyce fully endorsed these, he felt he had learnt a lot from us during the Interregnum.

CHANGES:

Christ Church

· Numbers

· Is it open

· No music

· No officers or DCC

TO DO

· Support of Christ Church: a priority

· Look again at Church Hall extension plans

· Music— Musical Director (discuss role/prepare for appointment)

· Good permanent organist

· Review music provision

· Teaching - Creatively/Lent/Bible study/Starters/enquirers courses

· Map out a special events programme

· Maximise school links

· Bereavement visits/support

· Baptism—Inform & engage congregation & emphasise the

value/importance

· Look at frequency of Eucharist

· Local Ministry team principles

· Youth

· Build on Cluster & Deanery links (see Ken Boyce’s points)

SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE JOINT CORE STRATEGY

Worcester City, Malvern Hills and Wychavon are working on a strategic planning document for the area of South Worcestershire up to 2026.

That might seem a long way off now, but the first stage towards the Joint Core Strategy has already arrived with an Issues & Options Paper. The Paper will be the subject of public consultation from 2 November to 14 December 2007.

Growth is planned both nationally and regionally and South Worcestershire will need to take its share. The role of the Joint Core Strategy is to make up policies that aim to manage the growth.

So do you have an opinion on how Worcester and the surrounding towns and villages should grow, what the future of the Green Belt is, what infrastructure is required, how many jobs are needed and where they should go. What about the future for our open spaces, our villages, public transport and what are the implications of development on future flooding?

Register your views by filling in a questionnaire on the Issues & Options Report or go along to the local Public Event at St Stephens Church Hall on Wednesday 7th November 6.30-8.00pm.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

20th September Alan Crump

10th October Albert Sidney Peter Van Daal 77

22nd October Philip John Price 62

23rd October Arthur John (Jack) Roberts 79

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

7th October Tayler-Rose Spencer

Ellis Richard Hancocks

Abigail Molly Smith

Jonah Edmund Crompton

OCTOBER 2007

SEEDS OF TOMORROW'S HARVEST

I am writing this on what is technically the last day of Summer, not that we have had much of one this year! But it started me off thinking a bit about seasons, Nature’s four seasons and also the Seasons of the Church Year. One of the things that links the two most clearly is Harvest, which is coming up this month at both Christ Church (Sunday, 7^th October at 10 am) and St Barnabas Church (Sunday 14^th October at 10 am; with the Supper the evening before at 7.30pm). At St Barnabas, the Harvest theme is being brought together by our young people. They are looking to make sense of it in an urban setting and bringing in the wider picture of the global issues of stewardship of resources. The service will reflect some of the wider concerns of a world in need by having a “mile of pennies” for Water Aid and also the need to serve our locality, by having a collection of tinned and dried goods for the Maggs Centre.

Both the cycle of the seasons and the structure of the Church Year give us an overall framework for Church & community life, and a set of reference points against which to set the things we do. Some of them are things we look forward to all year and some are so regular we take them almost for granted. In my last two articles I’ve tried to chart some of this and promised there would be a wide ranging discussion about these things – beginning with a Day Conference for Church Council members which we had near the end of last month and I want to say a bit about that, now.

The day itself had its own rationale and progression and we were fortunate to have Ken Boyce, the Rural Dean of Worcester City (East) Deanery leading the day. We moved from thinking about our own individual top three Church Life priorities to reflecting on how the Parish exhibits the “6 Hallmarks of a Healthy Church” as set out recently by Worcester Diocese together with how we fit into our Deanery’s action plan (for the Worcester City parishes on this side of the river).

Then in the afternoon session where we looked at the Parish Profile that was agreed last summer and sent out to anyone applying for the post of Rector. Everyone also had a copy of my application form, in which I had set out why I was interested in coming here and what I thought I could offer the Parish. So we looked back together at what I had thought I was coming to and at the sort of person people thought they were getting – which was an interesting discussion, as you might

imagine! Actually, it was also very positive and productive.

All in all the day was very encouraging. There were lots of ideas and a real sense of direction. In summary you could perhaps say, it helped us appreciate the harvest of what has been achieved in the past and made us more committed to sowing some seeds for the harvest of the future. And those seeds are going to be spread far and wide as we share those ideas through whatever ways we can; this magazine, on Sunday mornings and other meetings over the coming weeks. It’s all part of growing together, season by season, isn’t it ?

Peter Haddleton

LUNCH CLUB:CAN YOU HELP?

In December we are starting up a fortnightly Tuesday Lunch Club at the Rainbow Hill Centre as an exciting joint venture with the Baptist Chapel. If you can help at all on Tuesdays (even just once a month) or shopping, etc on other days, please speak to Sheila Bright or Mary James.

PARTNERSHIP SUNDAY

To celebrate the recent Partnership Sunday and our links with Magdeburg there was a Supper in the Hall—several of our St Johns friends managed to attend (see photo on centre pages).

Kristine and Henning also marked the day by sending a photo (centre pages) and e-mail:

Dear friends,

Today you’re getting a picture of the apple tree we got from you last time in Magdeburg. This year it has borne 3 apples. They were very tasty. The apple tree is standing in our garden because the churchyard isn’t ready. You will see it. Next year we will replant it.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon. We hope you are well and the situation in Worcester and its surroundings is back to normal now.

Best wishes to you

Kristine and Henning

The proposed date for next year’s visit to Magdeburg is

the week of the Bank Holiday at the end of May (setting off on Friday evening 23rd May) - make a note in your diary!!

WATER-AID

This year for our Harvest Festival service the youth group are presenting the sermon on Water-aid. Barney’s Bunch is going to introduce a song to the congregation also based on water.

We are looking at the recent floods which have devastated some countries in Africa recently and we want to help to purchase a water pump. This cost about £25 and to help us do this we already have some money from the go-karting the other week (see photo on centre pages).

Many of you will know that Tony Collis who owns the go-karting track lets us use it for free but we always collect £1 from all those taking part and pass it on to a charity of his choice. When we told him it was for Water-aid and that we were doing a line of pennies he gave us a dish full to start us off.

So we are well on the way but we do need more pennies as we want to have a long line of pennies around the church at the harvest festival service. Please start saving them now for us. More information about Water-aid can be found on www.wateraid.org.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Once again Barney’s Bunch and the youth group will be filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This will start on the 4^th November and continue until 18^th November when our boxes will be blessed and taken to the drop off point to start their journey.

We hope to have the leaflets soon – they have been ordered – and other information but you can visit www.samaritianspurse.

org and click on Operation Christmas Child UK if you would like to find out more.

Please help us by bringing shoeboxes, wrapping paper and items for the boxes to church as soon as possible.

HARVEST SUPPER

The Harvest Supper is on Saturday 13th October

at 7.30 in the

Church Hall—cost

£2 per person. Please put your name on the list at the back of church to give idea of numbers

MENTORLINK

Andrea Maddox of MentorLink recently gave a very informative talk during the Sunday service and answered questions on the work of MentorLink in schools in the area.

The charity recruits and trains volunteers to mentor pupils who face difficulties such as family breakdown, low confidence, bullying or illness. The mentor goes into school each week to befriend and support.

For more details of the scheme see last month’s magazine or contact Claire on 01299 40616 (www. mentorlink.org.uk)

EXPERT PATIENTS PROGRAMME

WiNN is running a new self management course for people with a long term health condition—a course to help YOU take control and make a difference to YOUR life. It is free and deals with tiredness, stress and anxiety, eating healthily, and other aspects.

For more information on the Expert Patients Programme phone Sharon on 01886 833186

WALK THE WALK

On 15^th September we went to the Walk the Walk 2007, at the Old Palace in Worcester. Luckily there

was lots of sunshine.

We got there at 1.00 pm and signed in. We were told to choose two activities, one for the morning and one for the afternoon. The activities we could choose from were, “pray with clay”, “drum love”, “arts and crafts” and “communicating with God through music” with “Formal Affair” a Christian band. Each activity lasted for 45 minutes.

We both chose the same activities; they were arts and crafts for the morning and pray with clay for the afternoon. We started with a few games as one big group. This was great fun. There were lots of balloon racing games. At this point we met Sue Martyr and family. Sue was good fun and joined in with the balloon games unlike our mums.

We then separated out to do our chosen activities. We sat in a circle and said our names. We were then read a poem called “Footprints in the Sand”. We were given two footprints and put prayers on each of the footprints. We then lay them on a long sheet of paper. It looked just like footprints in the sand. We then painted a jar with decorative colours and put a tea-light in the middle, so that when we lit it, it was like God was shining a light into our lives. When we finished we wove on a little cross so that when we prayed we could hold the cross in our hands and we knew that God was there.

We then broke up for lunch. In the afternoon we prayed with clay. This was us making a symbol out of clay to mark something that we felt strongly about, and we chose “end slavery”. We made broken chains.

After these activities we had a question and answer time and then had a service led by Bishop David. The hymns were sung by Formal Affair, which made it even better. The hymns were great because they were a bit like pop songs. It all came to an end at 6pm when everyone went home after what was a very enjoyable day.

Chloe Ramsden and Helen MacPherson.

(Two of our young Servers)

NEWS FROM JEAN KENNEDY

I can hardly believe that it has been two and a half years since I left Worcester! I was so sad to leave that I had to cut myself off completely from Worcester friends to avoid having a foot in both camps and to make a
complete break.

I did not know anyone in my new area of Lower Darwen and my daughter lives 5 miles away in an area where houses are too costly for me to even consider. I looked to my local Parish church for friends and support but after a year it was obvious that I just didn't fit although I was a useful leader! So I went off to the Cathedral for almost a year just waiting to see what next! I spent much time pondering upon the fact that in Jesus' day the shepherd went out to find the lost sheep but in these days despite much bleating, the sheep must find the shepherd!

Then one day there was a knock on my door and there was my former vicar from the time I lived in Blackburn almost 20yrs ago. He had come hot foot from Spring Harvest where he said he heard God telling him to bring me back into the fold where I had unfinished work to do for the Lord! What else could I do but to humbly return to my old church in Blackburn which like Jonah I had been avoiding from the time I left Worcester. I was given a warm welcome and am to be commissioned Pastoral Assistant to the vicar in September. The church is part of a community centre with a cafe and book shop, worship centre and meeting rooms. It is situated in an area of high social priority as well as a high percentage of Asian Muslims many of whom remember me from 20yrs ago when I was a home/school liaison teacher there. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to learn that I have just sent off a first order to Traidcraft to introduce to the church!

I really enjoy spending time with my daughter and grandchildren but miss my son and grandchildren in Worcester! I hope to fit in some teaching in September for Lancashire Education Authority. I am on a register to teach
children coming into the country not speaking English especially Eastern Europeans and asylum seekers of which there are many.

I frequently remember everyone at St Barnabas church and eagerly read the Parish magazine each month. I do miss St Barnabas' warmth and friends but at last I think I'm able to move on and look back with gratitude to all the love, support, teaching and
experiences that I hopefully draw upon to make me an instrument of God's love in my new church. Please remember me in prayer from time to time as I
remember St Barnabas Church
Love and God Bless
Jean Kennedy

(see photos on centre pages)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

Sing for Change at Tesco in aid of Christian Aid on Saturday 22nd December

Parish Camp next

year will be the

weekend 27/29 June again at Mordiford, Hereford.

ST BARNABAS PCC MEETING 10th SEPTEMBER

Bullet points of the meeting:

· Thanks to all who helped with the Open Day on 8th September

· Christ Church clergy cover - Children’s Club

· Redecoration of Church Hall completed during the summer

· Vandalism during the summer: windows broken, attempt to steal

roof lead

· Electrical up-grades in the Church: Standing Committee to prioritise work

· Trimming of pine trees

· Mission £300 sent to Peru Earthquake Appeal. USPG speaker to be invited

· Magazine - thanks to Jackie Campbell

· Worship Matters: Confirmation on 9th December in St Barnabas

Music in Church to come back for discussion

Baptism: Initial PCC discussion at next meeting—please pass any comments for this to PCC members for raising

· Diocesan Assembly - pewslip article

· PCC Away Day

· Cluster very supportive

· Diocesan: Bishop Peter last service on 30th September

· Bullet points for noticeboard/magazine

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

23rd August Clive Ronald Adkins 63

5th September Richard Hewins 60

12th September Ivor Raymond Roscoe 70

18th September William David Sherwood 9

24th September Veronica Farmer 67

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

26th August Caitlin Anne Clements

Layton Kingston

Dylan Michael Faulkner

Ebony Elizabeth Faulkner

Curtis James Jones

Lily Jennifer Jones

2nd September Ryan Michael Prodger

Jannette Shirley Prodger

Megan Louise Burfitt

Morgan Charles Burfitt

Cacey Kathryn Burfitt

Paige Bailey-Ann Swallow

Rhianna-Morgan Swallow

16th September Harry Daniel Dunn

Benjamin Luke Sherwood

Isabelle Grace Kelly

SEPTEMBER 2007

Back to the Future

A couple of weeks ago we came back from a holiday in Rome. We got quite a good deal because Rome’s so hot in August most people don’t want to go then. However if you can put up with eating copious amounts of Italian ice cream, it’s not too hard!

Of course, at any time, Rome is a fascinating place, filled with fabulous buildings and historic monuments from every era. Rome has seen so much growth and development from ancient times, through the renaissance, to modern times. But, one thing we were forcibly reminded of, time and again, was that this progress and flowering of civilisation was far from smooth and was filled with contradictions and the need to re-assess what had become precious and important in the light of new discoveries, attitudes and insights. The pain of change and growth is not just something our generation is undergoing and feeling the pressure of.

Apparently, in ancient Rome, once a rich patron died what quickly happened to any statues of them was that the head was quietly removed and replaced by a likeness of the next person of local influence! It was similar with the buildings. The marble that faced places like the Colosseum was filched from earlier settlements like Ostia Antica, at the mouth of the Tiber before, in turn, being re-cycled to decorate the beautiful churches that burgeoned over the years; as Rome became established as the seat of the Pope. And so with ideas and people - the place where Christians were initially persecuted and martyred became the centre of western Christendom. Or again, what was in it’s time the most important landmark in Rome, the Mausoleum of Emperor Augustus became just a grassy hill; and for centuries the whole Forum complex became pasture for flocks of local sheep. So, on the one hand it’s a timely reminder that none of us is indispensable but on the other things that seem inconceivable one day can become generally accepted in what seems like no time at all.

So, our short time in Rome gave me plenty to reflect on about this coming month. On Saturday, September 8^th many parishes across the Diocese will be opening their doors and encouraging local people to re-discover something of the rich heritage that is the story of their local church. St Barnabas will be open throughout the day. Christ Church will also be open during the afternoon (2pm – 4pm), where there will be a display of the work produced at the recent Children’s Workshops (the next one of which - “A Christmas Cracker” - will be on Saturday 1^st December).

And alongside this appreciation of all the local church has meant to people over the generations, there is also a need to engage with the future, its possibilities and challenges. Our Church Council “Awayday” will be addressing these things on Saturday 22^nd – about which more over the coming months. Meanwhile, I hope that, like us, you found some refreshment and inspiration over the summer and are ready to face the future, inspired and hopeful.

Peter Haddleton

LUNCH CLUB:

CAN YOU HELP?

PCC AWAY DAY

The PCC have arranged an Away Day on 22nd September—please pray for them as they plan for the future.

PARTNERSHIP SUPPER

To celebrate Partnership Sunday and the link between Worcester and Magdeburg, we are planning a Partnership Supper on Saturday 15th September in the Church Hall. This will be bring & share—sign up at the back of church to give idea of numbers.

Everyone is welcome—even if you do not plan to visit Magdeburg.

HARVEST SUPPER

The Harvest Supper this year will be on Saturday 13th October—keep this day clear and watch out for details closer to the time!

MICHAEL LEWIS

Michael Lewis, who was Rural Dean before Robert and vicar of St Martin's Church on London Road is to be appointed Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf.

Congratulations!

WALK THE WALK

Walk the Walk is one of the most important days in the year for young Christians in the area with the opportunity to share Christ’s love in a relaxed and informal way.

Workshops, worship, a Christian band and general good fun are the order of the day at the Old Palace on Saturday 15th September from 1.00-6.00pm.

For more information phone Steve Martin on 732825.

Sophie Duffy , one of our young servers, had a special summer!

Apart from being a server in Church, my great love is scouts and at the end of July/beginning of August my brother and I went with our troop, 3rd Worcester, to a special Centenary camp at Rhydd Covert, to celebrate 100 years of Scouting.

There were many International guests there from Poland, Germany, Denmark, Japan and Brazil. We were camping there for a whole week and were the only scout group from Worcester fortunate enough to be invited.

There we did many exciting activities, some on site like; climbing, archery and shooting . Others were off site like; canoeing and visiting the dripping limestone caves, next to the Black Country Museum.

On Wednesday, August 1st, we got up and went down to the main field and took part in a global sunrise challenge, this was when every cub/scout/beaver around the world, remade their promise together at 8am. It was overwhelming to be part of something so inspiring.

But the best day was Friday, when we travelled to Essex, to the 21st world Jambouree. There were many tents which we went around collecting stamps and mementos and learnt about scouting around the world. I swapped my orange knecker (thats the traditional scout kneckerchief which identifies our troop and our colour is orange), for a Greek International one.

We hadn't realised just how many lives scouting touches and the difference scout groups all over the world make to many different communities. We got back really late that night and were all very tired but knew we had taken part in something that we would never forget.

On the Saturday, the last night, we all partied together with an open air disco. It was a terrific week and such a great opportunity. It is a week I know Shaun and I will never forget.

Sophie and Shaun Duffy

HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN

Worcestershire Acute Trust reduced chaplaincy posts in the county, but as the result of public pressure, relented and will take back the funding of these posts within two years. PCCs and individuals are being asked for help to support this work in the meantime. If you wish to make a donation please give it to Imogen Taylor who will pass it on.

At the back of church is a large box for collecting empty inkjet and laser tone cartridges to send to Christian Aid. They will receive £1 for each re-useable cartridge (Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Dell, some Canon and others – see box for details). We also have a box of small bags to take with you to work or for friends. Either bring these back here or post them direct.

Christian Aid will use the money to help the “Little School” in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. One cartridge can pay for two school exercise books for a child from a poor family. Poverty is not the only problem, however. Relations between immigrants from Haiti, at the west end of the island, and the Dominican population are increasingly tense, sometimes erupting into violence. The “Little School” deliberately helps children from both communities to learn together and overcome prejudice and discrimination. “At this school there is education without prejudice,” says their head-teacher, “Relationships between Haitians and Dominicans have improved, but there is still much to do”.

There are also good ecological reasons for recycling your ink cartridges:

· Reducing manufacture of new ones helps to reduce carbon emissions and the effect on global warming.

· Recycling conserves resources and reduces waste. A printer cartridge takes more than 1000 years to decompose.

· In the last 6 months inkjet recycling has saved more than 50 million litres of oil.

Sabah an easterly state of Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu the capital city of Sabah we stayed here for six days. Touring the city to see Sabah Foundation Building with its 72 sided polygon column, the city Mosque with a prayer hall that can accommodate between 9,000 and 12,000 people and a beautiful Chinese Temple.

A coach journey into the Mount Kinabalu National Park, winding roads through mountainous country, seeing Mount Kinabalu with its granite peaks rise over 13,000ft above sea level. We were in the rain forest, in a tropical thunder storm. We visited a village of the head hunters, to enter these houses on stilts we had to remove our shoes. Hanging from the roof were human skulls trophies of the head hunters. We went to a small theatre to watch a local cultural show, and it ended with the Bamboo Dance. The dancers had to be nimble of foot to avoid being caught between the bamboo poles. Longhouses are built on stilts, where one family would live in one room, there were 5 or 6 rooms to one longhouse. A communal area was the full length of the longhouse.

Over a fast flowing muddy brown river Sabah’s longest suspension bridge. It took me about five minutes to walk over, all the way across going up and down and sideways, but I clung on, in the river below there was the odd crocodile (saw a young one). Getting to the other side was quite an experience, then I had to walk back over again.

With a Park naturalist we walked one of the jungle trails, saw many different kinds of trees and orchids.

A flight to Sandakan, then drive to Sepilok, and into the rain forest to see the orang-utan in their natural habitat. Feeding time brings the orang-utan to a feeding platform

where they find plenty of bananas.

During the Japanese occupation of North Borneo a POW camp at Sandakan where mostly Australians and British were held, is now a Memorial Park to the POW’s who died in this camp.

We stopped at a Malay fishing village the houses were on stilts over the water, we walked through the village to see their houses.

A drive south from Kota Kinabalu to cruise on the Geramama river, where we hoped to see the proboscis monkeys (the ones with long noses). Sailing up the river was like being on the “African Queen” everywhere seemed like a dead end, the forest growing down to the river bank. We did see the monkeys but were too high in the trees to get a close look. We passed houses on stilts, the children waved as we went by and we waved back. In a tropical storm as we sailed on the river made the cruise more exciting, we got wet. Getting off the boat to walk (on a walk way) in a swamp where water buffalo were wallowing in the river a muddy brown. On the walk we saw a firefly, our tour guide got it in the palm of his hand, and by shear delight flew off and landed on my coat.

This was a wonderful holiday in Borneo, one I will always remember.

A flight to Kuala Lumpur a stop over for three nights. A morning tour of the city, the Petronas Twin Towers the tallest building in the world 451.9m. At the Royal Palace gates, sentries were standing guard and also guards were on horse back. The Royal Pewter factory, city Mosque. A beautiful and interesting city. It was hot hot hot and hot I thought I was drinking plenty water. I spent 24 hours in hospital, was discharged in time to join the rest of the tour for the flight to UK. I will put this down to experience.

Grace Woolley

No doubt you saw the news in mid-August of the devastating 7.9-scale earthquake in Peru which has affected an estimated 80,000 people, causing deaths and injuries and destroying thousands of homes and other structures at a time of increasingly cold weather.

The Anglican Diocese of Peru is our link diocese with Worcester and their bishop, the Rt Revd Bill Godfrey, has often visited here. A small team from their diocese was the first aid to get through to the epicentre with food, water and medical supplies. Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans and other churches are all helping, as are aid agencies such as Christian Aid and World Vision.

Just before the earthquake our parish had sent £300 to Bishop Bill as part of our mission giving to support projects in the diocese, to be used as he felt best, so it is not surprising that I have received a letter thanking us for this and saying that they would like to add our donation to their earthquake appeal. It may be that we also send a further donation now that needs have been increased by this disaster.

They write, “We are helping set up soup kitchens and are feeding 5000 to 6000 every day.” That is a lot for what is a small Church in the country, but only a part of the overall needs in the earthquake zone—which gives you some idea of the scale of the emergency. Please keep Peru in your prayers. They send best wishes to us at St Barnabas.

Helen Lubin

CHURCH CAMP

I set of from London with some trepidation about camping for the weekend, it was bucketing down with rain all the way to Worcester, and I felt sure the campsite would be flooded.

We arrived at camp about lunchtime on Friday and although it was a bit wet underfoot at least it had stopped raining, as this was my first taste of being under canvas I was very

pleased about that. I had visions of being washed away during the night!

Fran and I managed to get the tent erected with a little help from Wayne! Thankfully the rain stayed away for the barbecue on Friday evening and I must say what a great job Fran and Wayne did, cooking for all those people.

We had a very enjoyable day on Saturday and the weather was kind to us once again, in the evening Hales Owen did a grand job with all the food they provided and I especially enjoyed the sing-a-long with John playing the piano accordion he is extremely good, my father used to play one and tried to teach me without success!

May I take this opportunity to say what a great weekend myself and Mitchell had, you and Hales Owen always make us feel so welcome at camp and I always feel so at home when I come to St. Barnabus on my visits to Fran and Wayne’s.

I wish our little church St. Mary’s in Denham Village had such a lively social side as your church has maybe this would encourage a few more young people to attend.

I would like to thank everyone for inviting myself and Mitchell and making the weekend at camp so enjoyable even if we didn’t go canoeing, after last year I don’t think we would have tried again anyway! I hope we will be invited to come again next year.

No more living under canvas though, Fran’s Dad has brought a camper van! So I hope to bring that next year. Lynne Banyard (Fran’s Mum)

PATRONAGE SCHEME

Recent patrons are:

9th June: Jean Kennedy

14th June: Douglas Cook

1st July: Michael & Angela Clarke

5th Sept: Jan Harvey

10th Sept: Jean Kennedy

18th Sept: Tony & Chris Chilton

For more information on becoming a Patron ask a Church official or Jackie Campbell.

CAN YOU KNIT?

WANT TO LEARN?

Rainbow Hill Centre are starting a Knitting Club on Wednesdays from 9.30-11.30am starting 5th September. If you are interested in teaching others to knit or learning yourself, phone Margaret (27522) or Mary (23178) for more information.

WELLCHILD

Dear friends of St Barnabas,
I have recently received a letter from the charity WellChild expressing their thanks for the money recently raised for them by running in this years Flora London Marathon. Can I take this opportunity to thank all those from St Barnabas who kindly helped sponsor this wonderful charity. The day was an incredibly emotional experience and one that I will cherish forever.

It is due to the amazing generosity of people that I managed to raise a total of £2,400, and WellChild are near to achieving their target of an outstanding one million pounds. So can I just repeat my heart felt appreciation for both the money donated and for helping make the day such a memorable one.
Kind regards,
Christopher Chilton

In April 1945 the then Curate of St Barnabas (the late Revd W E Witts-Hewinson) founded a Young People’s Fellowship. It was not merely a social club, but a friendly gathering of young people in the Parish who wished to become better Christians and more faithful Church members by learning in fellowship how to fit themselves in body, mind and spirit to “go forth into the world to serve God faithfully within the fellowship of the Church.” The 4-fold basis of the work was—worship, study, witness and service, with recreational activities whenever possible. Membership was confined to young people who had been confirmed and meetings were held on Wednesday evenings. Members were expected to attend Church each Sunday.

My brother, John and my friend, Olive, were members of the Organising Committee and, at as later stage, Joy Stubbs and the late Barbara Hughes were also Committee members. Many of the young people subsequently married and moved away from Worcester and others have since died. However, Margaret Penman (nee Williams) has happy memories of her time as a YPF member. At that time most of the members were older (being not of call-up age during the War ). When later the younger newly confirmed wished to join there was quite a bit of friction between the two groups.

Activities arranged included debates and table tennis; visits to other Church Youth Groups and a young people’s drama group. The highlights of the year—a 10 mile or more hike every Bank Holiday Monday—come rain or shine! On one particular hike round the Malvern area the then Vicar said “I’ll wait here till you all come back” and was politely told that we were coming back a different way!

The Revd Roland Stockley, whose home was in Worcester, came to St Barnabas as Curate in 1949 and took over the leadership of the AYPA in place of The Revd Witts-Hewinson who went to do Missionary work in South Africa. That same year a Magazine was launched by the Youth Fellowship entitled Premiere, being the first magazine of its kind in the City and was highly praised by the then Diocesan Youth Organiser (Betty Pollard). Unfortunately I do not have any copies of the Premiere but I do have a scrapbook compiled by one of the YPF members showing the highlights of the Fellowship if anyone would like to see it.

Apart from the Wednesday evening programmes, outings were also arranged, including a visit to Stratford-on-Avon to see Toad of Toad Hall and the Ballet Rambert. Some members also went to the Passion Play at Oberammergau in 1950 (an article about which appeared in the May Church magazine this year). Sunday worship was important to the life of the Fellowship and in those days a sung Eucharist was held at 9am, followed by a Parish Breakfast in the Church Hall which was prepared by the young people.

One of the Wednesday activities reported as follows at a Mock Trial:

At a mock trial in the Church Hall a female member of the YPF was found guilty of attempting to murder our Curate. The alleged motive? - Jealousy!

Eventually when other secular clubs sprang up in the city and TV arrived and no one was willing to take over the leadership, the Youth Fellowship ceased to exist.

These were very happy times in my youth and it is where I met Olive and we have been friends ever since, worshipping and serving God at St Barnabas until now!

Joan Court

HOST

HOST is a registered charity, founded by the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to promote international friendship and understanding.

For 20 years, it has been linking international students at British universities with volunteer hosts, for short, enjoyable and mutually beneficial visits. Last year, several hundred adults, from all over the world, enjoyed discovering Christmas in private homes across the UK. Sadly, several hundred more had to be disappointed.

If you think you might be able to offer an invitation this Christmas, please look at www.hostuk.org, or call HOST's voluntary regional organiser: Roger Lowery 01885 489024

MARK STRANGE

We recently sent a card to Mark congratulating him on his appointment as Bishop in Scotland—he sends this reply:

I just want to say thank you to you all for the lovely card which winged it's way to Elgin. The shock of my election and all it entails hasn't worn off yet, I am still wondering around in a daze and it is all your fault, the grounding and the freedom you gave me at St Barnabas and Christchurch has stood me in good stead for the last 18 years, I am still heavily involved in youth work and will in a real sense become the Scottish Youth Bishop (if not young Bishop!).

For those of you who like figures the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness stretches from Huntly in Aberdeenshire all the way to John a Groats, along the top to Cape Wrath, down to Kyle of Lochalsh and then beck up through Aviemore to Huntly, many miles, a few people and lots of sheep!

Jane is her usual laid back self about it all, what will be will be, Aidan (about to turn 16!) has lined up a series of houses in Elgin that he can stay in so he doesn't have to move. I did tell him though that he would have to be tidy then so he is re thinking his strategy, Beth is concerned she will be too far from the shops and Mara just wants to be allowed to finish primary school.

We don't know where we will be living, the present "Hartelbury" is a three bed semi in Inverness so we wont be going there. Never mind something will turn up.

The Consecration is going to be in Inverness Cathedral on the 13th October, if your passing call in it could be fun (Jane has told me to get my hair cut so that it doesn't stick out like Tommy Coopers when I put the mitre on)

Love to you all

Mark (Strange)

YOUTH WORKERS’ TRAINING

A Youth Workers training course is about to start at St Martin’s Church on Wednesday 5th, 19th & 26th September and 3rd October. If you are interested in going, please speak Peter as soon as possible.

Mentor Link is a Charity which recruits, trains and supports volunteer mentors to schools in Worcestershire and have been providing our services for five years. It is a charity dedicated to supporting young people in school who are facing difficulties and provides them with an adult mentor who will meet them e ach week one to one to befriend and support them. Typically the issues that these young people face are family breakdown, low confidence, bullying or illness and the mentor will talk through these difficulties, offer support and aim to create a more positive attitude towards learning. Some pupils may need help with their school work or need some advice on personal organisation. We are seeking volunteer mentors from the community to spend a short time each week in school selected pupils.

What is a mentor?

A mentor is someone who comes into school each week to befriend, support and encourage young adults who are facing personal difficulties.

How much time?

We work with the volunteer to arrange times to suit, but you can spend half an hour in school or half a day- whichever suits you.

What qualifications do you need?

None!

All training is provided free of charge by Mentor Link. Induction training is given before you start mentoring and short courses are offered throughout the year. All applicants are subject to reference checks and enhanced CRB clearance. Travel expenses are paid.

If you would like further information on the work of Mentor Link look at our website on www.mentorlink.org.uk or contact Claire on 01299 400616 or mentorlink@talktalk.net.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

19th June Baby Maddison Lewis (stillborn)

3rd July Baby Samuel Scarratt (6 months)

3rd July Ada Jones 100 years

6th July Doreen Thompson 78 years

6th July Bill Lock 64 years

11th July Olive Pinfield 80 years

13th July Maurice Ball 78 years

30th July Thomas Griffiths 77 years

2nd August Bessie Thomas 91 years

13th August David Webb 77 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

1st July George Thomas Smith

Maisie Rachel Salmon

Lily Emma Salmon

Charlotte Rose Etherington

Regan James Biggerstaff

Rio Louise Lapajne

22nd July Ronnie Victor Newman

Jasmin Satou Jallow

5th August Tori Maryann Sherwood

Owen Nicholas Michael Swallow

Darryl Swallow

Jonathan Roger Sprague

JULY/AUGUST 2007

Moving to a new parish makes you reflect on many things, perhaps chief among them the pattern of worship. Here people tend to talk about Eucharist rather than Communion, which – as it means Thanksgiving - is certainly starting to grow on me and it feels right for the place. There is a lot to give thanks for, the legacy of Robert Jones, the hard work of staff and parish officers together with so many others over the vacancy period, the lively music, the involvement of people – young and old(er) - in leading worship and so much more besides; not least, the welcome we have received and the sense of hope and energy that is around.

Some of that has been marked tangibly, like Pippa Wickson being thanked for her 7 years as Warden, Jackie Campbell as her replacement, joining Clive Crowther at the recent special service to swear in the church wardens for the whole Archdeaconry, with its sense of occasion and being part of a broader church.

Then there was the dedication of the new Rainbow Hill Centre and the planned Lunch Club it is hoped to launch there as something of a joint venture with St Barnabas.

And if we are looking to the future so there has been a celebration of the heritage of the past with Claines Church’s Patronal Weekend to mark 1050 years of Christian witness there (and St Barnabas’ place in that, being originally a Daughter Church of Claines also got an honourable mention).

One of the real joys for me so far also links to this theme; the special ties with St Barnabas School and with Bishop Perowne College. Some of St Barnabas’ Year 3 children came and helped to lead the St Barnabas Patronal Service on Sunday June 10^th and on the 11^th (Barnabas’ actual feast day) there was a special afternoon celebrating being part of the St Barnabas family and what the children felt they liked most about their School. Then there was a teaching Eucharist for years 3 – 6 later that week. Bishop Perowne, meanwhile, had had a special Leavers’ Eucharist in Church a couple of weeks before where lots of individuals’ contributions made clear what had been special for all of them about their time in the College.

One of the key things about Eucharist, though, is that what Jesus is actually giving thanks for is the bread and the wine he was using to redefine what is significant in our relationship with God. These were the ordinary staples of life, which usually no one gave a thought to. Jesus is getting us to look anew at what we take for granted and to give thanks for the special in what we dismiss as ordinary.

So alongside all the special events and particular people I’ve highlighted above, maybe the biggest thanksgiving should be for all those who work in the background rather than the limelight, but are at the heart of God’s thinking and should be special in our eyes as well as his. Peter Haddleton.

ST BARNABAS DAY

The St Barnabas Day celebrations started when St Barnabas School came to the Sunday service and showed us the banner they had made at the cathedral as part of the JC Today Project (see photo on page 8). They then led us in the Millennium Prayer together with the actions.

Celebrations continued on the Wednesday with a BBQ. Unfortunately we were unable to put up the bouncy castle because of rain but this didn’t dampen spirits and Darren and his team cooked up some delicious food enjoyed by all.

LISTENING FOR THE TRUTH IN LOVE

There is to be a series of four evenings listening and talking through issues around homosexuality and the Church. They are to be held on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in St Martin’s Church London Road on 27th June, and 4th/11th/18th July.

Everyone is welcome

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK COLLECTIONS

The combined total raised from street collections, congregation envelopes & Chris Chilton’s coffee morning was £1081.78 (plus Christian Aid will recover a further £101 from 55 who gift aided their donations). I think this is our highest ever.

Well done & many thanks. Thanks also to Jack Pardoe who did most of the counting.

Helen

CLAINES FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Claines Church celebrated their Patronal Festival and 1050 years of a church in Claines recently during which there were special events including a flower festival and Medieval Fayre and procession. The church looked beautiful, and included displays from its daughter churches—Sheila Bright had put together a wonderful display which featured yellow roses and the figure of Virgin Mary sculptured by Bishop Perowne School pupils which normally stands in church. (see photo on page 9)

CLAUDE BERKLEY

Claude Berkley is coming back to Worcester with his wife Dawn for a holiday in August.

Claude was our Mission Partner for a year from September 1999. He came from his home in Tobago to study at the College of the Ascension in Birmingham and spent many weekends and Christmas with different people in St Barnabas.

Claude and Dawn will be in Worcester for a few days from Sunday 5th August. There will be a barbecue when everyone will be welcome to come and renew friendships or meet Claude and Dawn for the first time. At the moment the date has not been fixed—so watch the pew slip and a notice at the back of church for further details.

(see photo of Claude on page 9)

BISHOP PETER RETIREMENT

There will be a Eucharist Service at the Cathedral on Sunday 30th September at 4pm to wish Bishop Peter farewell. Numbers are limited, so if you are interested in going, see list at the back of church.

THANKS!

Many thanks for your generous sponsorship for the recent sleepout.

In the end Sue was unable to take part, but Zac joined David and Imogen. Yes, it did rain and yes, my cardboard box did leak! Zac and David managed to stay dry and appeared to sleep through the night...I was on my 4th cup of tea by the time they emerged.

About 30 people slept out including a few current and past hostel residents. The Dean (who also took part) kindly mentioned the event at the Civic Service at the cathedral on Sunday morning, so further donations are still
coming in. We expect to have raised over £1000!
Thanks
Imogen

(see photo on centre pages)

GOING TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE to be invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire

On the 16th May 2007 at 10am Robin, Sally and I showed our Invitation Cards and passports to the policeman on duty at the entrance gate to the front of the Palace. Our identity having been established we then walked across the courtyard through the arch and into the quadrangle behind to arrive at the main entrance. Here once again our names were checked against a list held by a member of staff.

Robin and Sally then left me to find their way with the help of very helpful and cheerful members of staff to the palace ballroom. Meanwhile I was directed to a gallery which is next door to the ballroom and where my identity was checked again. Here we were able to meet other recipients of the Order and be briefed by Lt Col Andrew Ford the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The latter, a very large, tall and smartly dressed soldier explained the procedure and how we were to address Her Majesty. Because of his size I have been told that Col Ford is known as ‘Panzer Ford’ (built like a tank!!) in his Regiment!!

When I eventually stood before the Queen, having inclined my head as instructed and taken three paces forward, she attached the medal to a small hook which had earlier been pinned to my jacket. She then asked what I was doing and I replied that I was a former Chairman of the Cathedral Friends and presently Chairman of the DAC to which she immediately said “well done” and shook my hand!! I then almost forgot to take three paces back, turned right and walked off into another gallery on the opposite side of the ballroom where my medal was placed in its box by an attendant and handed to me.

I then entered the back of the ballroom to take a seat in the audience to watch the remainder of the ceremony.

Soldiers of the Household Cavalry were on duty in full dress uniform in the entrance hall and on the staircases. The Queen was escorted into the ballroom by members of the Yeoman of the Guard in their picturesque Tudor uniform together with, by tradition established by Queen Victoria, two officers of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Amongst those who received medals after me was a man to whom I had been chatting earlier and who was receiving the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for repelling the attempted boarding of a cruise liner by a gang of pirates off the coast of East Africa about 18 months ago. He had been wounded in the action together with a fellow crew member who, because he was not a British citizen, received a different award for his part in the action.

John Bailey

OPENING DOORS—EXPLORING LOCAL CHURCHES/CYCLE RIDE

On Saturday 8th September the Diocese is encouraging all churches to open their doors for the day and tell the local community all about what’s inside. The day coincides with National Heritage Day and also Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches Trust cycle ride, so if you aren’t planning to take part in this, why not take the opportunity to visit other churches in the Diocese.

DIOCESAN FLOWER FESTIVAL - See the Cathedral at it's most stunning

After the success of the Flower Festival in 2004, the Diocese is holding another Flower Festival in the Cathedral during the period Wednesday 15th – Sunday 19th August as part of the Worcester Festival on the theme of ‘Hymns’, with free expression around hymns both well-known and perhaps not so well known.

There will also be a Flower and Craft Fayre in the Cloisters

£5.00 Entry charge to the Flower Festival in the Cathedral (Children free)

MEMORIES

I was born on 1st June 1920 in Mayfield Road and lived on one side or the other until moving to present house in 1988, so you can see I’m well travelled.

An idea of the Parish of my childhood, narrow streets like Church Road and Vauxhall Street, with row on row of terraced houses. Think of all the present sites of semi-detached houses and bungalows as green fields or allotments, one such site of allotments ran from near top of Green Lane to Astwood Road and from lane to cemetery wall.

Organic? old hat! everything was that in those days, even pigs or chicks fed organic.

Green Lane ended at top with a row of thatched cottages and green fields and Perry pear orchard where St Barnabas School is now. I believe some pear trees are still there. Where Church Hall now stands was cottage of School Caretaker who was also Verger at St Barnabas, a Mr Price. Church Road was exactly like the recent picture in magazine, just a deeply rutted cart track, muddy in winter and dry and dusty in summer. At its junction with Mayfield Road was a field, opposite from Church Road to Green Lane was a tip.

Kingston Avenue and Woodland was a farm worked appropriately by a Mr Farmer, one of his fields was used for Sunday School summer tea party: plain cake, fruit cake, bread and butter and strong tea from an urn, all delivered by farmer’s horse and bray!

Blackpole Road was just a narrow Lane with elms on both sides which met overhead forming a tunnel. There were only about ten houses in the whole length. Brickfields Road ended in an ash path through fields to Tolladine Road and Trotshill, children from there walked to and from St Barnabas every school day. Tunnel Hill also led to Tolladine Road by footpath round Gorse Hill to the Virgin Tavern.

Trams ran from town via Rainbow Hill to Cemetary, often wondered at speed down Rainbow Hill if they’d stop or end up in the river.

The Worcester Birmingham Canal was very busy from Diglis Docks to Cadbury’s at Blackpole or further to Bourneville, both of which had their own landing stages. Barges were pulled by either one carthorse or two donkeys. Everything delivered by horse and bray, wonderful animals so gentle for something so big and strong. A much more gentle and slower world then.

Jack

(see photos on page 8)

BLACK PEAR CREDIT UNION

Black Pear Savings & Loans is the Credit Union for the people of Worcestershire. Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial co-operatives, owned and controlled by their members. They aim to tackle financial exclusion, promote financial literacy, and to provide an alternative to unprotected savings schemes and high interest doorstep lenders.

As Credit Unions are regulated by the Financial Services Authority, members' savings are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Savings also come with free life insurance and any profit is returned to members in the form of a dividend.

Once members have established a pattern of savings with Black Pear, they can apply for loans of up to £500 at 12.7% A.P.R. on the falling balance, with no hidden costs. More established members can apply for higher amounts. Loans will not be granted if they would get people into unmanageable debt.

As well as the office at 15 Lowesmoor, which is open Monday - Friday 9.30am - 3pm, we also have Collection Points around the city where people can join and pay into accounts and we have recently re-opened at the Tolly Centre on Thursday mornings between 10am - 11am. Anyone can join and start saving there.

MY TRIP TO GERMANY

When the Magdeburg group returned after their April visit I accompanied them in the coach at the kind invitation of Marga and Jurgen Kramer...they had invited me some months before as I had once mentioned I would love to see Dresden and visit Weimar where the Weimar Republic had begun after the 1st World War. We spent a day or two in Magdeburg when Marga and I walked round this lovely city and I saw parts I hadn’t seen before. Then Jurgen drove us to Dresden where my hosts had rented a flat from Erica whom many of you will know, and proceeded to explore every part of this beautiful restored baroque city.

The altar space of the Frauenkirche took my breath away and we just sat and looked at it for a long time, overawed by its beauty. You may remember that when the Queen visited Dresden she presented them with a new gold cross for the dome of this church. I learnt that this was made by a London goldsmith whose father was one of the pilots who bombed Dresden.

The Kramers made sure that I saw absolutely everything: the extensive terraces along the river Elbe; the Zwinger, a world famous masterpiece consisting of a complex of pavilions and galleries round a huge open esplanade, with a lake and cascades of flowing water; the Procession of Dukes, a great wall mosaic of Meissen porcelain tiles, 102 metres long, showing the 35 rulers of Saxony; the Castle, a former royal residence, the Semper Opera House and even the rebuilt synagogue. We went into the Museum of Art where I was delighted to see paintings by Vermeer, a Raphael and one or two of our Charles I with his wife and children by Van Dyck. The Porcelain collection in another museum is vast, including Japanese and Chinese ceramics and of course Germany’s own Meissen china.

After three days we drove to Thuringia, stopping en route to look at Meissen, a lovely little old town with steep narrow streets. We headed for another small town, Kranichfeld, where Marga was born and went to school and where we stayed at a guesthouse.

From there we visited Weimar, its open square, tree lined streets and the houses of Goethe and Schiller. I was quite unprepared for the beauty of this part of Eastern Germany, with its forests, mountains, magnificent views, medieval churches and cathedrals, Schloss, like Wartburg, where Luther took refuge and translated the New Testament into German, old towns like Eisenach and Eurfurt.

The weather was beautiful and we often stopped for coffee and cakes or German sausages and oblong rolls in the open air. Throughout my visit Marga and Jurgen showed me outstanding kindness and generosity. I don’t speak German but Marga goes to English classes and with the aid of dictionaries and a mechanical gadget of Jurgen’s we love to communicate with one another. I told them they had given me some of the happiest hours since my husband died.

When we said goodbye at Berlin airport it was with cries of “See you in Magdeburg next year.” I flew back to East Midlands Airport where Rachel and Bill Chalmers met me at 11pm, just another example of the kindness I have received since joining St Barnabas.

Pam Holder

(See photos on page 9)

SCOUTING MEMORIES (Continued from last month)

It has always been difficult for me to separate Guiding from Scouting—both groups originated from the same book as the Edwardian Girls never had any intention of being excluded from participating in a good idea! Over the years I appreciate in some areas never the twain shall meet—but my friends and I in the late forties had other ideas—with little success.

In fact I was enrolled as a Brownie in 1937 and my imagination was captured immediately—gathering around the toadstool every week to learn many interesting things, especially tying a reef knot behind ones back! Because of living the other side of Portsmouth Harbour it was necessary for me to be evacuated and my guiding was picked up along the way becoming a Guide in one billet (where we were bombed—so returned to face the final years of the war at home). As usual there were others who had to stay some having been Guides so two Guiders developed a Company near my home.

What memories from there:

· the first camp after the war

· the creating of Sea Ranger Ship Mystic when we became too old for Guides

· visits to Headquarters in London

· being a member of one of the first expeditions to Our Chalet in Switzerland after it had been reopened after the war

· travelling 3rd class on French trains

· rowing in the rain on the lake at Interlaken

· becoming part of a train carrying displaced men going from place to place between Germany and France.

· reclaiming a dirty old whaler, getting her seaworthy and learning to pull her in Portsmouth Harbour using all the correct terminology, pulling her through moth-balled battleships to Portchester Castle for camp fires (no health & safety in those days!)

· Regattas off the Foudroyant in Portsmouth Harbour, an old sailing ship (launched in 1817) being used as a youth training ship—it has now been given a new lease of life and given its original name of Trincomalee by Hartlepool where it has pride of place in their historic quay.

· The Empire Ranger Rally in London in 1950 marching round the White City Stadium leading the Hampshire contingent, followed by the Ralph Reader show in the Albert Hall where a glider was suspended to represent the Air Rangers, which I was fortunate to watch from the box next to the Royal Box where I sat with the County dignitaries as I was Chairman of the Hampshire Ranger Council.

I cannot remember anyone having their own private transport therefore all activities were approached on public transport with full packs on our backs!

· Taking part in the Youth Council’s Gosport Entertains, one year miming Albert Ketalby’s In a Persian Market. If the music means nothing to you I am sure the title can conjure up pictures of what fools we made of ourselves to the delight of all.

The means of transport was the same as above when going on Scouter Training—can you imagine getting to Kidderminster by 9am on a Sunday morning by public transport? The main county trainers lived that distance away from our home town. I am sure their neighbours should have paid us for the entertainment value—playing cub games in their large garden, having mock investitures where straight faces had to be observed at all times, not a flicker allowed. Encouraging the cubs to take part in all the district activities—floats for the local carnival—various parades—annual camp where I am sure we stretched the rules of the day watched over by our Group Scout Leader and a wonderful District Commissioner for cubs—Miss Nimmo. The cubs always enjoyed acting out various scenes which included jungle dances—stories taken from the Jungle Book and at the beginning and ending of the meeting we always ‘dyb, dyb, dybed’ and ‘dob, dob, dobed’, which resulted in comments like ‘see your off dobbing’ or ‘how’s dobbing?’

In fact nothing to mock, only something to be proud of at the beginning of the meeting Akela would ask the Pack to ‘Do your best’ and the Pack would reply ‘We will do our best’ and the same at the end of the meeting when the idea was they would take this promise out with them to do their best until meeting again. The Beavers, Scouts and Cubs of today have different routines but it is obvious they and their Leaders carry the same ideals with them encouraging each other to have fun while learning about life and the natural gifts which are all around us.

Continued from previous page

An incredible 100 years and an incredible 50+ years for myself—thanking all the wonderful people along the way who have supported, encouraged, including parents, growing family and colleagues. This support and encouragement is still very necessary—in some cases even more as activities, experiences and opportunities have expanded to a degree that never could have been imagined. So let us all give a prayer and a little thought that these young people will remain friends to all no matter what creed or country the other belongs and continue to do their best at all times.

Pat Millard

(See photos on centre pages)

PATRONAGE SCHEME

For more information on becoming a Patron ask a Church official or Jackie Campbell.

Think GLOBAL … Act LOCAL

Wednesday 19 September, 7:30pm - St Stephen’s Church, Worcester

There are 360,00 orphans in Eastern Cape - how can anyone help?

HIV/AIDS is destroying the people of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The story of the people of Mzamomhle, an informal black settlement near East London in South Africa and how they connect with CATCH (Caring, Affirming, Training Children) will be told by Lynne Fox & Revd Margie Schutte.

All are welcome to this evening event organised by the Africa Task Group of the Diocesan Board for mission, to be held at St Stephen’s Church.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

29th May Fred Wilkins 90 years

30th May John Farr 75 years

6th June Dennis Smith 72 years

6th June Keith Colwell 58 years

7th June Thomas Alldret 73 years

8th June Henry Dovey 84 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

3rd June Two sets of twins:

Joseph Matthew Tipper

Emily Elizabeth Tipper

Faith Williams

Zak Williams

JUNE 2007

“It’s not exactly rocket science….”

Ascension Day used to be such a special time in the Church’s social calendar as well as the Christian Year. These days though, it tends to be much more in the shadows, partly perhaps because it always falls on a Thursday and so much is geared round the Sunday Services. I can’t shout too loudly because I wasn’t around for when the Cluster celebrated Ascension with a hilltop service and a fish & chip supper afterwards. Talking to some of those who did go, they all felt it was very much worth the effort, for the reflective worship, fabulous views - and excellent supper!

It got me thinking, though, about why it might have become one of Christianity’s forgotten festivals. Perhaps it seems rather quaint and out of place in today’s scientific world where we can put men into space and know so many of the secrets of the night sky. Why is it still important? What is its real significance? The important aspect of The Ascension is not the how of it – so essentially it’s not like rocket science. Now, I’m not saying don’t ask the “how” questions if you’re sceptical. I’m just saying it’s the wrong question to ask – no Christian can expect to answer that one, even if they might also like to be able to. And focusing on that also misses the point of what has become known as The Ascension. The more important and ultimately more interesting one is “Why The Ascension?” And I think it of it as a watershed, when the focus shifts from looking at Jesus for our inspiration, to looking at ourselves and the task he has handed on to us.

Jesus got his disciples to understand the significance of all he was about and the unique relationship they had forged with him, so that they wouldn’t need his earthly presence any more. He had passed on a living faith, a way to come close to people and bring them as close to God as he had been. And we are asked to do the same – pass on our life experiences in the light of our faith. It’s not rocket science, it’s something we can all do, but I reckon it’s just as important. Think about it – and the difference you can make.

Peter Haddleton

THANK YOU PIPPA!

Pippa Hawkins is stepping down as Churchwarden after serving for six years (she took on the office for five years but agreed to stay on an extra year during the interregnum). Thanks for all her enthusiasm, dedication and hard work. Clive Crowther continues as a Churchwarden, and is joined by Jackie Campbell.

WELL DONE JOHN!

John Bailey travelled to London recently to collect his MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. He was awarded the honour for his services to the Church of England in Worcestershire. Watch out for photos of John’s proud day!

RAINBOW HILL CENTRE DEDICATION

With the building work now complete, the Baptist Church held a service of Praise, Thanksgiving & Dedication on Saturday 19th May. Almost 100 people attended the service followed by a meal from the new kitchen. Revd Peter Haddleton offered prayers and a framed print of St Barnabas and Helen Lubin presented them with (a cheque for) four tables as a lasting reminder of our friendship.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

Many thanks to all those who collected for Christian Aid, during a very wet week; to Chris Chilton for her coffee morning; and to all of you who gave donations. The total raised will be published in next month’s magazine.

Helen Lubin

ST BARNABAS DAY

CELEBRATIONS

Sunday 10th June 10am Eucharist (Outdoors— weather permitting)

Wednesday 13th June 7pm BBQ in Church grounds all welcome

LEAVES OF LIFE

On Sunday 20th May the Leaves of Life Celebration service was held in which Barney’s Bunch and the congregation wrote out their prayers on paper leaves which were then put on the Easter cross. The service was followed by mini-sports and a book/cake stall which raised £114 for the Children’s Society.

THE WORLD CAN’T WAIT

2nd June Pre-G8 Summit Rally in London to call for further urgent action on debt, poverty, trade justice, health, clean water, education, the arms trade and climate change, to be high on the G8 Agenda. Transport is being arranged for a group from Worcester. Contact Helen if interested on 01905 610580. (Bring alarm clock to ring!)

PARISH CAMP

This year Parish Camp will take place from 6th/8th July, and will again be at Lucksall Caravan & Camping Park at Mordiford, Hereford. (For site details, visit www.lucksallpark.co.uk.) The cost will be £6 per person per night with the option of canoeing on Saturday at £25 per boat. See noticeboard at back of church to sign up!

CHRISTIAN AID COFFEE MORNING

For the last few years I have had a coffee morning to raise funds for Christian Aid. I find this less painful than collecting envelopes door to door but I do want to do something to help.

9.00am: The wind and rains poured down and I hoped someone would venture out!

10.00am: Sunshine! and people came with good cheer and plenty of money. We had a bring & buy, a raffle, as well as coffee & biscuits and Helen the Christian Aid organiser arrived in time to draw raffle tickets.

Thank you to all who supported this event yet again. Money is still being sent in but so far we have raised over £120 for a worthwhile cause. Grand to be able to help.

Chris Chilton

THE BIG SLEEP-OUT CHALLENGE

This challenge to help raise funds for St Paul’s Hostel takes place on College Green on Saturday 23rd June—see poster at back of church for more details.

MAGDEBURG REUNION MEETING

A small (but select) group meet last week to talk about the recent visit of our Magdeburg friends and to start planning for our visit to them next year. Suggested dates for this were either during the school Easter holidays or half term in May when it should be warmer, and whilst we are there St Lawrence’s Church will hold a Dedication Service for their newly refurbished church.

CLAINES CHURCH FLOWER FESTIVAL

St John the Baptist Church in Claines is celebrating the 1050 anniversary of a priest at Claines with a special weekend of events on 22/24th June:

Flower Festival—St Barnabas, as a daughter Church of Claines, will decorate a window

Medieval Fayre on Saturday with craft and rural stalls, period costume, medieval scarecrow competition, stocks, games, Morris dancers and parade

Pig roast & folk music on Saturday evening around the Mug House

Patronal Festival on Sunday 24th—Bishop Peter will be sharing the celebrations

OPENING DOORS—EXPLORING LOCAL CHURCHES

EYGPT—LAND OF THE PHARAOHS

Cairo was hot, our sightseeing tour included the Mohammed Ali Mosque, which dominates the skyline of the city, walked through the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. And the Egyptian Museum, and old Cairo to St Sarguis Church oldest church in Egypt, built on the site where Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lived when taking refuge in Egypt from King Herod. I should have seen the Pyramids forty years ago, but the Suez Canal was blocked just before my ship was due to sail from New Zealand. The long wait was worth it (they were still there) the Pyramids and the Sphinx are so huge.

A short flight to Aswan and to our hotel “Isis Island Hotel”, on Isis Island in the middle of the Nile, in the evening from the balcony of my room I could hear the noise of bull frogs. The Aswan High Dam 3600 metres long, 110 metres high, and 40 metres wide at the top. A boat trip to the island of Agilka and the Temple of Philae, this was moved from its original site, which is now under the waters of the Aswan Dam.

By coach from Aswan we went overland through the desert to Abu Simbel, a three hour journey in convoy with police escort. The four giant statues of Ramses II 20 metres tall, standing beside them made me feel like a “Lilliputian”. The original site of Abu Simbel on the bank of the River Nile is now under water. Before flooding was moved stone by stone to present site.

We were transferred from Isis Island Hotel by felucca to our River Nile cruise ship. Sailing down the Nile sipping mint tea on our way to Luxor. The Temple of Karnak has lots of pillars and like all the temples have beautiful carvings. The Valley of the Kings is very dry and dusty, went down into Tut-ankh-amun’s and Ramses III tombs. By the end of the tour my head was spinning in hieroglyphics. In a souvenir shop two youngish lads said they liked football, and Beckham is the best footballer, and we like Arsenal!!!!!

Holiday ended at Luxor, a flight to Cairo and overnight stay, then back to London Heathrow and home. A wonderful holiday

Grace Woolley

(See photos of Grace’s latest travels on the centre pages)

A CENTENARY & A GOLDEN+ CELEBRATION

These events are always occurring—what is it this time and where to begin? Let us start from the very beginning, an Army Officer returning from Africa and the Siege of Mafeking to England a Hero. He saw a problem in Edwardian England and wrote a book called Scouting for Boys—did he realise the effect this would have on many millions of young people in the future? Despite the many changes in Society over the ensuing years similar problems remain with us and there are many dedicated people over the world endeavouring to encourage young people from 6 upwards to 20+ to learn about life, helping others and having FUN doing it.

Worcester is no exception—there are many Scout Groups (yes, that is what I am talking about—if you had not guessed) throughout the City. We at St Barnabas have one very close to us, the 3rd Worcester in Vicar Street. There stands a building which over the twenty years I have known it has faced many problems with hard work on behalf of Leaders who have always tried to ‘sing and smile under all difficulties’ as one of our original laws decreed. Through two financial crisis we have been assisted by the District and by careful budgeting and fund raising by ourselves and good friend we are now clear of debt.

I was introduced to the Group on my first Sunday at St Barnabas (another story) by Mrs Mary Taylor who was a wonderful lady—Enrolling member of the Mothers’ Union—Rabbit Fancier—etc. etc. and Secretary of the 3rd Worcester who felt it was time to find a new Secretary—took one look at me and said ‘Have you anything to do with Scouting’ reply ‘Yes’ and here I am!

On the 13th May the Group held its Annual General Meeting very informal, with all ages present. The Section Leaders each gave their individual reports but it is obvious they all assist each other at meetings and special events. The youngest in age are the Beaver Scouts who like to think they are as big as the rest and take part in as many District activities as possible. At present they are 18 in number with eight on the waiting list. Space does not allow me to name all their activities helping others by collecting litter, etc, making red noses for Comic Relief, hugging trees on Pitchcroft!! Making Time Capsules, Ice Skating, Sleepovers and on it goes.

To ensure that 2007 Centenary Year is not forgotten they are making a scrapbook of all their activities over the year, which will include a 100 year special sleepover, Acorn’s sponsored walk and a visit to the District Camp. Then come the Cub Scouts of which there are 27 and some of the Beavers are expected to come up in the near future. Last year they attended three camps—one with the Scouts. The majority of District Events were supported and they won the Archery competition. The Cubs have been working through the programmes in the Centenary Book which all have been finding very interesting and also making Scrap Books. Already one camp has taken place with two more booked—one to the District Camp in June and the other to the Centenary Camp in July/August at Rhydd. Claire the Scout Leader gave a presentation on screen—showing the Scouts at Camp in Holland last year see photo on page 6 (and they are going again this year) and various other activities enjoyed during 2006 and events planned for Centenary Year. Rhydd Covert (to give the full title) is frequently mentioned the Three Counties activities centre where the Scouts have already booked to attend Activate 2007 (where whole day activities are organised) and the November Badge Camp. Also planned attending the Kidderminster District Centenary Camp, Worcester District Camp, Jamboree of the Air 2007, a Kayak Canoeing Course throughout the Summer whilst working to the 100 years of Scouting programme. The Troop has 34 members with 21 on the waiting list from which can be observed that if more adult helpers came forward another evening could be organised for a second Troop. The Headquarters and Scouters also support all young people attempting the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Scouts and non Scouts).

The Group Scout Leader Bob Edgson was delighted and excited by all the activities and thanked all the Leaders, parents, helpers and supporters and most of all the members of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts for taking part with such enthusiasm making a happy and successful whole.

It is hoped that when the Group come to Church on Remembrance Sunday 2007 the congregation will look further than the ‘smart turn out’ and appreciate what is going on behind the scenes up in the Headquarters in Vicar Street—all the time is given on a voluntary basis and each Group is a Registered Charity and therefore it can be appreciated the work the Treasurer has to accomplish to keep all these activities flowing.

The visitor from the District to the meeting was the District Commissioner Nigel Brooks who also thanked all present for the support given to the group by all. Words of encouragement are always very important to all members whatever age group, section or position.

Nigel then proceeded to present to Pat Millard an award for fifty years of service. In fact, I was invested as a Scout in 1947 to assist a friend’s brother in running his Wolf Cub Pack.

Pat Millard

(Pat’s enthusiastic account continues next month)

SPROUT’S STORY

(Two of the local charities we support from our Church Mission money are Worcestershire Association of Carers and Worcestershire Young Carers. The following was written by a woman who lives in our parish and was a carer for both her parents over 15 years. She has written it from the point of view of her collie dog, Sprout.)

Hi! My name is Sprout a rescue dog from Evesham Dogs Trust I was adopted in January 2004. My mum worked part time and I would be at home with Dad (who was her Dad, too) and keep him company. All this was to change when Dad suddenly became very ill. He was unable to get out of bed one evening and the emergency doctor had to be called out. Mum was very stressed and Dad was now bedridden . She would run up and down the stairs to dad at least sixty times a day. Mum was only able to walk me in the morning for a short time the rest of the time I spent in the house and garden. However, she did find time to play football with me each afternoon, I enjoyed this very much, it was our time.

Mum was unable to carry on with her job as dad needed constant care and was bedridden for six weeks until be was admitted to hospital. The hospital was about 20 miles away and this meant mum leaving me every afternoon until the early evening. But I was a good boy for her and was very pleased to see her every evening. Sometimes my mum would sit and cry and I would snuggle up to her and say in my way, don’t worry I am here I will look after you.

Dad came home and we returned to our routine of a walk every morning and football in the garden every afternoon. Little did we know that this was to be our routine for the next two years.

Dad was eventually diagnosed with Multiple Myaloma and mum resigned from her job to care for dad. In those two years I never really experienced what it was like to go for a walk to different areas, visit other people in their homes, have a holiday, go out in the car. This did not bother me as I loved my Mum and Dad.

Dad had operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments during the two years, but he was a very brave and tolerant man and battled on. Sometimes mum would lift me up to sit on his lap, but not for long as he was in pain and sadly as his illness progressed I was not able to do this. Dad was upset about this as he liked our cuddles. As I said mum would often cry when dad was in bed and could not see her, he did not like her to cry as he got upset himself. Mum had no life of her own, but I would often hear her say to dad “she would have done it all again if she had to and had no regrets about what she was doing“. It was very hard for her and she would get very tired and stressed. She had also cared for her mum, who had passed away before I was adopted. I know that mum was very proud to have kept her mum and dad together at home.

We were told in February 2006 that dad was in remission. In April dad became ill with a chest infection and did not pick up. Mum had to rush him to the A & E one Sunday morning, they left the house and only my mum returned.

My dad never came home and I miss him very much. In the final days he was home he had suddenly started calling “Where’s my babby then”. He had not done this before, every morning before my walk, he would say to me “be a good boy for your mam”. The house is now feeling somewhat strange, empty, there is an empty armchair, where once sat Dad. My mum cries a lot and I snuggle up to her and try to comfort her, my dear dad will not be returning. The week of the funeral arrives and mum has a photograph of me that dad took. She has written on the back a message to dad to thank him for buying me for her birthday and that I will continue to be a great comfort and companion to her as my dad knew I would. This is placed in Dad’s coffin. It makes me very proud.

The story of Sprout and his life as a carer 2006 by Annette Lord.

I wrote the original version of ‘Sprout’s story in June 2006, since then Sprout and I have taken a while to adjust to our life. We have just recently passed the fifth anniversary of mum’s death and the first for Dad. I am attending courses at the Fairfield Centre and this has been a lifeline to me. One afternoon a week I Volunteer in the Worcestershire Association of Carers Office. They recently published Sprout’s story in ‘Caring News’. I have also written poems about my parents, one about Sprout I placed at the cemetery this month, to thank him for the most precious Birthday gift he could have bought me ‘Sprout’. (See photo of Annette & Sprout on page 6)

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

25th April Reginald John Hart 79 years

9th May Audrey Hodgetts 74 years

11th May Zach Hartshorne 3 weeks

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

6th May Callum Robert Karl Wood

Jack David Richardson

Harley James Tongue

Riley David Patrick Dance

MAY 2007 MAGAZINE

For the first time in nearly thirty years I have been very much a spectator for this Holy Week and Easter. We’ve moved, and thanks to everyone who’s given us such a warm welcome, but, as I write this, I haven’t started in ministry yet, so what am I going to write about?

Last month, Helen Lubin ended her article by saying, “Happy Easter and exciting new beginnings to us all.” As you read this, my ministry will have begun and all of us will be tasked with what Bishop David also recently emphasised in his reflections on Easter - “embodying Easter joy”. The excitement of a joyful faith adds a new ingredient to life’s mix. Surely that’s something to be celebrated as a real force for good on every level in our church relationships, in meeting the needs of our local community and as global citizens.

For Vanessa and I, Easter has been an good time for us to get to meet people, including, of course, those over here from Magdeburg, and May will bring lots more opportunities; my first wedding here is on the Saturday after my welcome service, there will be baptisms on the first Sunday in May. There is an invitation to the reopening of what will know be know as Rainbow Hill Centre – the home of Rainbow Hill Baptist Church, and then comes Christian Aid Week with its focus on the needs of the world. Indeed, as with every month, there will be loads of opportunities for each of us to put our faith into action and, for me, to embrace this new phase in my ministry here in Worcester.

This challenge to all of us is put rather well in the Christian Aid prayer:

God of provision, send life-giving rain and restore growth.

God of grace, send fresh ideas and unity so communities can work together.

God of forgiveness, pour the water of your spirit onto our harden hearts.

Unite us and inspire us to be generous enough to bring life.

Peter Haddleton

Rector

WELCOME TO PETER & VANESSA

Our new Rector, Revd Peter Haddleton’s service of Induction & Collation took place on Tuesday 24th April. The church was very nearly full and included a coachload of 60+ wellwishers from Hereford. We all enjoyed the wonderful music provided by John Dentith on the organ and the Music Group which surprised everyone with the rousing final processional hymn, My Eyes have seen the Glory. The celebrations continued in the Church Hall with mountains of delicious nibbles and drinks—welcome Peter and Vanessa!

PLANT SALE

St Paul's Hostel is holding a plant sale on Saturday 19th May at 145 Bromyard Road 10am-2pm. Plants are required to sell, so if you are sowing seeds or cultivating cuttings, could you prepare a few extra for sale? Please contact Imogen (458498) to arrange collection/delivery.

BISHOP’S LENT APPEAL
In his pre-lent tape, Bishop Peter encouraged us to give up a meal or something else and give money saved to the Diocese of Peru. Several people have asked who to pay the money to—cheques should be made payable to 'The Bishop's Discretionary Fund', with a note saying that it is for Peru. They can then be sent to Mrs Emma Woollaston, Secretary to the Bishop of Worcester, The Bishop's House, Hartlebury Castle, Kidderminster, DY11 7XX.

MAGDEBURG VISITORS

Everyone had a great time when our friends from Magdeburg visited just after Easter, helped enormously by the beautiful weather they bought with them! It was wonderful to see our old friends again and welcome others coming to Worcester for the first time and to see so many of the St Barnabas congregation joining in with the trips and meals. (See Brian Trussler’s report on page 8)

Watch this space (and the pewslip) for details of the Magdeburg reunion when we will discuss and reflect on the visit.

WELL DONE CHRIS!

Congratulations to Chris Chilton’s son, Christopher, who finished the London Marathon in 3hrs26mins on Sunday 22nd April. If you would like to sponsor him, see the noticeboard at the back of church.

PUDDING CLUB

Recently our friends from the Baptist Church on Rainbow Hill invited us to their Pudding Club. What a wonderful evening it was! First of all we were shown round their new extension including a very modern kitchen at the Rainbow Hill Centre. We were then served a delicious supper, followed by a table laden with a wide selection of mouth-watering desserts! (See pictures on page 6.)

The Rainbow Hill Pudding Club meets in the Rainbow Hill Centre every other month. Membership is £3 plus £3 each meeting for members and £5 for non-members. The next meeting is on Thursday 24th May and if you are interested in going along, phone Lyn (29301) or Janet (359437) for more information.

PCC MEETING

The first meeting of the new PCC will be held on Thursday 10th May at 7.30pm in the Vestry.

COFFEE MORNING

Monday 14th May

10.00am

7 Birchfield Close

raising funds for CHRISTIAN AID

Bring & Buy/Raffle

MAY 13-19

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK—GROW A BETTER FUTURE

Envelope Collection

13^th – 19^th May is Christian Aid Week. It marks 50 years of the house-to-house envelope collection. We have 170 streets in our parish. Could you help to reach some of those people as a Christian Aid Collector this year? Give your neighbours the opportunity to help others, they will probably already have heard about it through the TV advertising. Yes, it takes a little time and effort to collect but last year Christian Aid Week raised £15m through volunteers like us. Helen Lubin has information and everything you will need. Your own prayers and donations are also gratefully received. Look out for Chris Chilton’s coffee morning during the week, too.

Climate Change

At present Christian Aid is very much involved in the campaign to tackle carbon emissions as climate change is having a devastating effect on poverty and natural disasters in many parts of the world. Many of their local projects now are about adapting to climate change effects, such as dealing with drought or flooding.

Tree Planting

In Christian Aid Week the focus is particularly on tree planting, in El Salvador and in Senegal.

In El Salvador, following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch, Christian Aid supports a local project (“Aprodehni”) replanting mangrove trees as a natural defence against the sea. The trees also help trap crabs and supply timber for building. One villager said, “We will never forget this work from Christian Aid and Aprodehni, because no-one else remembers us”.

In Senegal projects are training and funding people to plant fruit trees such as mangoes. They provide ample fruit to eat, share and sell and even the waste helps feed the farm animals. In addition the trees improve the environment for everybody. They reduce drought and soil erosion and give shelter from the scorching sun and wind.

16yr old villager Youmaissy Diack knows the value of mangoes, she eats five a day. Her father was the first in the village to begin planting them before she was born, and she now helps to care for them. Her parents tell her that before humans came to the region it was forest with animals, but humans cut down the trees and turned it into desert. Now Christian Aid is helping local partners to reverse this.

The average sum raised by a Christian Aid Week Collector is £33.50p. That can buy 50 mango tree saplings. How many can our Church buy?

Helen Lubin

THE BIG SLEEP-OUT CHALLENGE

This challenge to help raise funds for St Paul’s Hostel takes place on College Green on Saturday 23rd June—see poster at back of church for more details.

WORCESTER CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL 2007

Help is needed at this year’s Flower Festival which takes place from Wednesday 15th August to Saturday 18th August. Stewards are required to assist the public in the cathedral.

If you can spare a couple of hours during this time and would like to help, please contact Mrs Gill Onslow (01562 823915)

ANAGRAM FUN!

DORMITORY rearranged becomes DIRTY ROOM

DESPERATION rearranged becomes A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES rearranged becomes THEY SEE

SNOOZE ALARMS rearranged becomes ALAS, NO MORE Z’s

MAGDEBURG VISIT 2007

Once again our friends from Magdeburg have come and gone, leaving us with so many happy memories of a wonderful time.

A huge thank you must be said to the organisers of their stay, for a very varied and most entertaining itinerary and for all the work and time spent in putting this together. I am sure that we all appreciate the work of Lyn and Clive, Sally and John and Rachel and Bill and everyone concerned for a magnificent effort.

It all began of course with a welcoming meal on the Wednesday evening, and the exchanging of gifts and the celebration of ten years partnership. It was also very nice to have Robert there with us to enjoy the evening.

What followed over the next few days were some exciting visits to the cider museum at Hereford, a visit to see the Mappa Mundi at the Cathedral, with grateful thanks to Peter and Vanessa for their local knowledge and for lunch in the restaurant/church, a visit to the Black Country Museum and an eventful visit to the Crooked House Pub.

A service at St John’s Church was held on the Thursday after our trip to Hereford, followed by a superbly laid on meal, with a great variety of food on offer, for which we sincerely thank the ladies of St John’s Church who looked after us so well.

Friday after a visit to Ledbury, we arrived at the home of Robin and Sue Sykes for a delicious BBQ, in their lovely garden on the edge of the River Severn. Once again food was in abundance, helped down by the occasional glass or two of bubbly and our sincere thanks to Robin and Sue for all their hard work.

Saturday evening was fish and chip time, where we all gathered at the Church Hall and sat patiently and expectantly as John ushered in with trays containing the above mentioned to the kitchen where the ever-efficient crew distributed them to the waiting hordes.

Sunday morning of course was the church service taken by Reverend John Davies and Reverend Don Ruddle followed by coffee and cake and later another sumptuous lunch organised by Ali, Ian, Fran, Wayne, Darren and Tracey during which we were entertained by a slide show of pictures taken during our time together and of times past presented by Stephen Baird-Parker and then outside for a photo call in the glorious sunshine. In the evening it was down to the Alma Inn for skittles and nibbles and sadly it was farewell time as our friends boarded their coach for their return journey.

As for Joy and I, this was the first time we had hosted anyone, and we were apprehensively looking forward to it but we need not have worried because Martin and Susanne were a lovely young couple who gave us immense pleasure and were a delight to be with.

I apologise if I have inadvertently left anyone out in this brief commentary. One last big thank you to Stephen Ruddle for rescuing Joy after her unfortunate accident.

Brian Trussler

(See photos of the Magdeburg visit on page 7)

TRIP OF A LIFETIME

One of the most memorable holidays I have had was when Olive and I went with St Barnabas Youth Club to Bavaria to see the Passion Play at Oberammergau in 1950. The trip was organised by the then Worcester Diocesan Youth Organiser (Miss Pollard). The journey was by coach, from Worcester and back, and the cost was £26 (including the entry fee for the Play)! Mr Pillon, the owner of the coach company, came with us and he brought his friend, the Manager of the Hotel in Paris where we stayed for a night on the way home. We traveled through France and Germany and came back through Switzerland—a total of nine days (about 2000 miles).

It was our first trip abroad and so we were very excited as we set off for Dover crossing to Dunkirk. After several stops for refreshments we finally arrived at a small village on the outskirts of Oberammergau where we were hosted by the villagers. At the house where Olive and I stayed our hosts could not speak English, but fortunately their daughter could, so we had no difficulty.

The Passion Play takes place on an open air stage which gives a very realistic portrayal of the story and takes you right back into the time when our Lord was facing the bitter journey to Jerusalem and his Crucifixion. In between the scenes there were tableaux from the Old Testament and a prologue related the story. The actors, who all lved in Oberammergau, took their parts with great commitment and even grew their own beards where necessary. The play ended with the choir singing an Hallelujah Chorus, similar to the one in Handel’s Messiah with the Risen Christ in all His Glory and the Angels worshipping Him.

There was no entertainment in Oberammergau during the time of the Play, but as we were in the neighbouring village we were entertained by a group of Bavarian Dancers in National Costume.

Bavaria, like its neighbour Austria, is a beautiful country with snow-capped mountains and fresh water streams and lovely trees. The houses in Oberammergau are beautifully decorated with murals. Many of the villagers are skilled woodcarvers and we were able to watch them at work and also purchase some souvenirs.

For anyone who has not heard about the Passion Play it takes place every ten years. It began when Oberammergau was plagued with a life threatening disease and the villagers made a vow to God that if they were saved they would re-enact the Passion of Our Lord every ten years and this they have done every since (except during World War 2).

If you have a chance to go to see the Play in 2010 you will, I am sure, be moved by the experience as we were, but I am afraid you will have to pay much more than £26 to get there!!

It made a great impression on me and although I slept for nearly a whole day after the journey back I shall never forget this experience of a holiday of a lifetime and I thoroughly recommend it.

Joan Court

(See photos of Joan’s trip on page 6)

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

8th March Ronald Blocksidge 73 years

13th March Agnes Wood 82 years

14th March Wayne Lewis 18 years

22nd March Francis Hadley 86 years

23rd March Dorothy Whittaker 87 years

29th March Ruth Seville 95 years

30th March Ivor Cox 78 years

2nd April William Green 74 years

2nd April Susan Janes 49 years

18th April David Goodfellow 53 years

23rd April Sheila Vaughan 84 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

There were no baptisms in April because of Easter celebrations

SUPPORT GROUP

Not out of Mind Support Group for parents who have experienced the pain of the loss of a baby at any stage meets on 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month from 7.30-9.00pm at St Martin’s Church, London Road. Phone Judith on 760124 for further information.

WORCESTER CATHEDRAL—MAY EVENTS

3rd-30th Echoes of a Congregation by Colin Monk

7th 1pm Free Recital by Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

14th 1pm Free Recital by students of Royal School of Music

(flute, viola & harp)

24th 7.30 Service & Songs of Praise for 300th Anniversary of birth of Charles Wesley

30th 7.30 Elgar Concert by English Symphony Orchestra

tickets £10-£20 from Worcester Box Office (611427)

APRIL 2007 MAGAZINE

WELCOME TO APRIL AT ST BARNABAS

Christ is risen!

April begins with Holy Week and Easter, the climax of the Church Year. The Church services in Holy Week are really all installments of a single story and Easter Sunday is even more rewarding if you can manage to get to the services that lead up to it and make this a very special week. I give a little more detail about these services on pages 4 & 5. Day by day we enter dramatically into Christ’s final days with his disciples, his journey to the Cross and ultimate sacrifice for us, until on Easter morning our lives are changed by the wonderful revelation of his Resurrection and we know that in God’s power love and life will always triumph over sin and death. These are the foundational truths of our Christian Faith. We see the worst and the best of all that is human - us and our times as well as the past - taken into the suffering, healing heart of Jesus, offered to the Father and redeemed for all eternity.

Well, that might seem enough to get our minds around for one month, but this year April is a very busy month in the parish, with further treats in store.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

On Easter Tuesday (Apr.10^th 7.45pm) we shall hold this legally required annual meeting in the Church Hall. At this we review the past year, present audited accounts and elect our church officers. Its an occasion to show your solidarity with your parish church.

Magdeburg

The next day a group of guests from our partner parishes in Magdeburg will arrive and begin a week of sharing friendship with us. Details of worship, meals and excursions are well-publicised in church for this and it promises to be an enjoyable time. All are welcome to join in.

New Rector

Finally, at the end of the month, we reach a long-awaited event when we welcome our new Rector, the Revd Peter Haddleton and his family, into the parish with the Bishop conducting his licensing and installation at St Barnabas on Tuesday April 24^th (7.30pm). We look forward to setting out on this new era together.

So a very Happy Easter, and exciting new beginnings to us all.

Helen Lubin (Reader)

MAGDEBURG PHOTOS

We would like to put together a slide show of photos taken of the exchange during the last 10 years. If you have any (the older the better) please see Lyn.

ADVANCE NOTICE…

CONGRATULATIONS!

Best wishes to Henry and Hazel Gorst who recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations!

PLEASE REMEMBER…

The red box for donations of non-perishable food for Maggs Day Centre is kept on the windowsill at the back of church. All contributions much appreciated.

CHURCH HALL

Now that the dance group has moved into a bigger room at Elgar School the hall is now available for letting on Saturdays and most Thursday and Friday evenings. If you know anyone who might want to hire for a regular group, please contact Jackie Ratcliffe on 330118.

WORSHIP AT ST BARNABAS FOR HOLY WEEK & EASTER

Palm Sunday

8am Holy Communion.

10am Sung Eucharist.

6.30pm Requiem Eucharist

On Palm Sunday we commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, when he was acclaimed by the crowds. Each service begins with a distribution of palm crosses and before the 10am service we also have a procession, singing and carrying palms, around the nearer streets of the parish, which we share with our friends from Rainbow Hill Baptist Church. To join the procession please come to the Church Hall for 9.30am. In the course of the service we note how the crowds moved from triumphal welcome to hostility as we hear the full Gospel of the Passion read, turning our minds to the week ahead.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in Holy Week

8pm at Worcester Cathedral

This year the Diocese is encouraging us to join others at the Cathedral to hear three addresses from Bishop Peter, who retires in September. These are entitled “Journeys to Freedom” and reflect upon and make links between the historic journeys of slaves to freedom, Christ’s own journey through grief and death to freedom, and the implications for our own journeys towards freedom and that of our society. We hope to be able to arrange some lift shares for people wanting to go to any of these.

Maundy Thursday

7.45pm Eucharist. Watch until Midnight

A Eucharist that is both joyful and poignant. It underpins all our Eucharists as we remember the evening when Jesus first gave us this sacrament, at the Last Supper with his disciples. We also recall Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and giving them the commandment to love one another. Then we make the journey to the Garden of Gethsemane and strip the church bare of all signs of consolation as Jesus enters his time of desolation. There will be a watch of silent prayer with the Blessed Sacrament in the Lady Chapel until midnight, representing the time when Jesus asked his disciples to pray with him before his arrest. Anyone is welcome to stay, or return later, to take part in this for as much or little as they wish.

Good Friday

10am All Age Stations of the Cross

2pm Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross

In the morning we follow the Cross around the outside of the church, stopping at the various stages of Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion. We use song, prayer and a simple but direct message at each station. This service has an impact that goes to the heart and has become very popular with children and young families (and others). Stay for hot cross buns in church afterwards.

In the afternoon there is another more solemn, but equally moving, service as we reflect in awe at the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross. We hear the story of the Passion read from St John’s Gospel, we pray for the Church and the World, and we have the opportunity to offer our own personal prayer and devotion in a quiet moment at the foot of the cross. Those who wish may also receive from the sacrament consecrated and reserved fom Maundy Thursday.

Holy Saturday – the Easter Vigil

7.45pm.Vigil of Readings; Lighting the Paschal Candle; Renewal of Baptismal Vows

As God’s mysterious work takes place in the tomb we anticipate the discovery of Christ’s Resurrection to be made on Easter Morning. This is a service of Word, music and symbol. We recall the covenant promises made to God’s people in the Old Testament, that culminate in this day. We kindle a living fire, light our new Easter (Paschal) Candles, spread the light among us and hear the Easter Song of Light (the Exultet). We conclude by gathering round the font to renew our Baptismal Vows, an act of commitment acknowledging that Christ has brought all of us with him on his journey through death to eternal life.

Easter Sunday

8am Holy Communion.

10am Sung Eucharist

6.30pm Festal Evensong

Christ is risen from the dead. On this day we celebrate, with Word and Sacrament and hymns of joy, and in fellowship with each other, the Resurrection of our Lord, who has won our Salvation. At the 8am service the Easter Garden is blessed. The church is once again decorated with flowers and colour, and Glorias and Alleluias are restored to the liturgy after the abstinence of Lent. No doubt a glass of wine and a slice of cake will also be on offer.

HAL

SHARED GIVING 2007

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ANNUAL REVIEW

Did you know that it now costs about £1300 per week(!) to run our parish? And that, unless we carry out an annual review of our giving, we stand to be about £60 per week short on our budget for 2007?

And this year, we have even more reason to need to look at our finances. We are just about to embark on the excitement of having a new Rector. We want to ensure that our finances don’t hold us back as a parish.

There is also a slight extra challenge in that, for a wide variety of reasons, recently congregation numbers have taken a bit of a dip, and as a result, money pledged last year has been slower coming in of late. We’re running a bit behind (as the Treasurer Imogen Taylor pointed out in her recent article in this magazine). As the congregation numbers get back to normal, maybe those good folk will catch up the missing weeks and we’ll return to budget, but we are definitely behind at the moment. That’s not where we want to be when the new Rector arrives – we want to be solvent and secure. So we need the budget increase and the ‘catch-up’.

BUT - if we do believe that Planned Giving works, and we adopt it and live by it, then we conduct this annual review of our giving, and then forget all about it for another year. We don’t become fixated with money. We don’t run beetle drives and jumble sales to pay for the gas bill. We don’t look at the leaflet and see there’s a projected shortfall of £60 per week plus the catch-up, we don’t just respond to negative figures.

What we do in this church is look at what God asks us individually to give and our response to it, and how we can do that fairly between us so that we shoulder the burden collectively as well as individually. If you’re new or fairly new to our church, this may come as a surprise, that somebody like me tells you how much you’re supposed to give, and some people really don’t like it. Other people do like to be told, so they have some guidance to work by – it’s an individual thing.

So – briefly - the Bible teaches us that we should give a tithe, that is ten per cent of the first fruits of our income. The Church of England allows for the fact that many of us give to other charities as well, so it more modestly asks that five per cent of take home pay, or half of your tithe, should be given ‘for and through the church’. A big target for us, but based on scripture. It might have come as a bit of a shock, but the point is that it gives us all something to aim at, a giving target, and an equal target.

It isn’t the church coming to you, a bit like Oliver, with it’s hands out saying ‘Please, congregation, we want some more’, it’s more personal and far more direct than that. Each and every one of us individually is being asked, or rather in biblical terms told, HOW MUCH to give. It means we give to our church realistically. We contribute every week, whether we’re in church or not, (the bills have to be paid whether we’re here or not). It means we can continue to give away ten per cent of our giving income to various mission charities, some abroad, some close to home such as the Maggs Day Centre. We pay our diocesan share to the diocese every month to help their cash flow. We pay our own bills on time because we know we can rely on your regular planned giving, so we’re not keeping our suppliers waiting. It’s the right and proper way for us to live. Most importantly, it’s fair to everyone because we work towards everyone giving the same share of the income we have; if we earn more we give more, if we earn less we give less. The same share of what we have, following the bible teaching.

How realistic is what you give at present? That can be a tough question. It probably means that small change isn’t good enough. It may mean that we have to sacrifice ourselves a bit. It depends where you’re starting from. Five per cent can seem very daunting, if not impossible, especially if money is short for you. So what happens if you’re nowhere near five per cent at present, and it seems an impossibly large amount to you? Well, you can have two reactions, I suppose. Firstly, you could say ‘the bible’s wrong’ and there’s no way I can spare that amount and why should I?’ OR you could say ‘I’m starting from where I am, I know what my target is, it’s going to take me some time to get there, but I’ll work on it’. That’s fine. God doesn’t mind it taking a period of time. We work out what the gap is, then work towards getting closer each year over a period of time, till we eventually get there.

And it’s a mind set, you know. You can either say ‘this is my income and these are my bills, now how can I afford to pay that much to the church’, or you can say ‘this is my income, this much of it is God’s, and how can I budget my bills out of the rest?’ Once you get into that way of thinking, it’s surprising how quickly you get used to it. My family’s planned giving goes out of our bank account on pay day, so I know that for the rest of the month what’s left is ours.

As a parish, when we all get to our five per cent, we won’t need to worry about

money, we won’t have a problem paying the diocese, we’ll be able to do all the repairs, and nobody here will be paying more than they need to, to subsidise those who pay less.

Please don’t forget about Gift Aid. If you pay tax on your income, and the amount of tax you pay is more than you give to the church, then you can use Gift Aid. You sign one form, and the church is able to claim nearly a further third of what you give back from the tax man. Four pounds on the plate becomes five pounds in the bank. No fuss, no hassle, and a major benefit to the parish – nearly £10,000 this year.

Pledge forms should have been sent to you by now, for you to use if you wish, and I hope you will! Your PCC would like you to return it in the envelope provided, by Easter Sunday if possible, completed and hopefully Gift-Aided. The information is confidential to the Treasurer or the Stewardship Co-ordinator, and only totals are advised to the PCC, to help them to budget for the year ahead. Why not put your pledge in the collection plate so that it receives a blessing?

So especially if you’ve come new to this topic of Shared Giving, please think about what you give now, work out your five per cent personal target, and please if you can increase your giving by an amount which moves you nearer to it. On the other hand, if you’re someone who has heard about it so many times before that you’ve switched off a bit, this very important year could be the time when you really want to have another think about it.

SO - we have heard all of this before. And we’ve acted on it. We know it works. So, well done, a pat on the back, and from your PCC and especially the Treasurer, an enormous Thank You. What you do is so important. I think it’s up-lifting, I think it’s an inspiration that, including Gift Aid, we can already fund about £1000 per week from our giving, I think I worship in an exciting parish with an even more exciting future. And I want us to be financially secure. And I want a whole year off before I have to bother you about money again.

John Dentith (Lay Chair)

CAN YOU HELP?

Worcester Citizens Advice Bureau desperately needs your help. At the moment the bureau desperately needs more volunteers, especially volunteers who are able to work in the afternoons and during school holidays.

Volunteering with the CAB is an interesting and a rewarding experience. Current volunteer, Vanna Di Placito, says, “I really love the work. It’s great to feel that you are helping people, and the training for new advisers is fantastic!”

The new training session starts in early May. If you would like more information contact Alison or Rachel at the CAB on 01905 744592 or bureau@worcestercab.cabnet.org.uk.

FROM THE REGISTER

May they rest in peace … and rise in glory

FUNERALS:

19th January Ronald Tippin 81 years

25th January George Weston 71 yea4rs

25th January Bernard Bums 68 years

5th February Desmond Taylor 79 years

13th February Margaret Windiate 70 years

14th February Thelma Butterworth 75 years

16th February John Willis 80 years

20th February Pamela Evans 63 years

21st February Rodney Staines 60 years

And he took them in His arms and blessed them

BAPTISMS:

4th March Mia Rose Rutt

Dylan George Lacroix

Freya Jessica Stark

Neve Isabelle Stark

Declan Jack Woodbury-Gisbourne

MARCH 2007 MAGAZINE

COLLATION & INDUCTION

our new Rector

REVEREND PETER HADDLETON

Tuesday 24th April

7.30pm in Church

followed by drinks & nibbles in the

Church Hall

See noticeboard for more details

ELECTORAL ROLL

This year will see a new Electoral Roll and all church members need to fill in new forms before 25th March. The forms will be available in church from Sheila Bright or Chris Chilton.

MAGDEBURG PHOTOS

We would like to put together a slide show of photos taken of the exchange during the last 10 years. If you have any (the older the better) please see Lyn.

CAN YOU HELP?

We need a couple more people to help distribute this magazine—if you can help please speak to Sheila in church.

Thank you!

ANNUAL REPORTS

The AGM is on Tuesday 10th April. Would all groups please submit their reports for the Annual Reports booklet to Jackie Campbell (jackiecampbell@talktalk.net or in tray at the back of church) by the beginning of March.

HALL AVAILABLE
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Shona and all the girls from the Worcester Freestyle Dance Group. The group have been meeting in the hall for over three years. The group is now so popular that they are moving to a larger hall at Elgar School. We wish them every success in the future.

This means the Church Hall is available for letting on Saturdays and also most Thursday and Friday evenings. If you know anyone who might want to hire the hall for a regular group please contact Jackie Ratcliffe on 330118

MOTTRAM Pat & Pam: Melvyn Brooks, an American serviceman who stayed at their house on the corner of Green Lane/Astwood Road in 1945, is trying to contact the family. If you can help, please speak to Lyn Crowther.

THANK YOU (FROM THE BAPTIST CHURCH)

To our friends at St Barnabas Church, thank you for letting us use the kitchen for the past nine months, which has helped us in our times of fellowship each Sunday. We hope you will be able to come and enjoy cups of tea and more with us as we move back to our own building. Like in a family home, the kitchen is at the heart of it. With grateful thanks from the Fellowship at Rainbow Hill.

After using our church hall for worship for nearly nine months while the Chapel on Rainbow Hill was being refurbished, the Baptists have now moved back home!

MAGDEBURG VISIT

11th—15th APRIL 2007

After the recent meeting, the following programme was planned:

WEDNESDAY: Our friends want to stop in Oxford for a visit to the cathedral and lunch on their way to Worcester—some people may want to go down and accompany them. In the evening there will be a shared supper in the hall and celebration of ten years of the partnership.

THURSDAY: Trip to Hereford to visit cider museum and Mappa Mundi with chance to look round the Cathedral or shopping centre. Back to St John’s church for service and buffet supper.

Cost (including lunch, supper & transport) £10— may be slightly less for children

FRIDAY: Worcester day with possibility of boat trip & lunchtime BBQ (weather permitting) plus free time in Worcester (evening with hosts)

SATURDAY: Parish visit to Black Country Museum £10

Possible fish & chip supper in hall

SUNDAY: Service at St Barnabas followed by lunch in Church Hall. Free time in afternoon then goodbye evening in pub with skittles

CAN YOU HELP WITH:

Catering for shared supper & Sunday lunch (this frees up hosts)

Donating drinks (alcoholic or soft) for hospitality—box at back of church.

PLEASE SIGN UP TO COME ON ONE OR ALL OF THE EVENTS AND HELP GIVE A WONDERFUL ST BARNABAS WELCOME TO OUR GERMAN FRIENDS!

PATRONAGE SCHEME

For more information on becoming a Patron ask a Church official or Jackie Campbell.

BARNEY’S BUNCH

Barney’s Bunch continues to meet every Sunday (even on the first Sunday of the month) and recently discussed the story of Elijah and are pictured below acting out some of it.

Primary School age children are always welcome to attend on a Sunday morning at 10am.

BURNS SUPPER

Bill Chalmers is pictured saying the Selkirk Grace at the Burns Supper held in the hall on Friday 26th January as part of the fund-raising being done for the Magdeburg visit.

This was followed by a traditional Burns’ Night meal including haggis, neaps (swede) and tatties (potatoes).

Another very enjoyable evening in the Church Hall!

DONATIONS & LEGACIES

Everything comes from you, O Lord, and of your own have we given you (1 Chronicles 29:14)

Research shows that over half the UK adult population have not written a will so far. For nearly 500 years the Church of England has encouraged people to make a will. When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote the first English Prayer Book in the sixteenth century, he reminded parishioners to keep their wills up to date while they were still in good health, for their own peace of mind as well as to help their executors.

If you are thinking about making or revising your will, please could you consider leaving a gift to the Church? As God’s people, we have much to be thankful for. If it were not for the generations of Christians before us, faithfully sharing the Good News of God’s forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we would not be here as members of the Church today.

The very building we meet in is a testimony to their love and generosity, built and maintained by our predecessors’ investment and stewardship. They have left us a precious gift. Our inheritance was their legacy for the future.

Leaving a gift in your will is a practical way of saying “thank you” to God for all the blessings we have enjoyed during our lives enabling us to make a lasting contribution to our Church family and help secure the work of the Church for future generations. (Gifts made to the Church and other charities are exempt from inheritance tax, and are deducted from the value of the estate before inheritance tax liability is calculated.)

Our usual policy at St Barnabas is for any donations or legacies received to be put in a separate fund to be spent on specific items and not on the day to day running expenses of the church, which are covered by our weekly Planned Giving.

Thank you.

WORCESTER CATHEDRAL

APPEAL FOR MUSIC & LIGHT

The appeal, launched in 2005, is an ambitious scheme to raise £5 million has now reached its half way point, which is tremendous cause for celebration.

Both of the Cathedral’s organs are worn out beyond economic repair and will cost £1.7 million to replace; it needs to establish a £3 million choral foundation in order to secure the choral tradition for the foreseeable future, and wishes to enhance the lighting in the building in order that it can be used as a world class arts venue – another £300,000.

A Cathedral with a secure musical future can also offer the diocese expert help, from its musicians, provide a world class venue for concerts and offer a musical education and singing opportunities to young people.

The Bishop of Worcester said,

‘The Appeal for Music and Light is an exciting initiative to secure the future of music at our Cathedral in Worcester for the foreseeable future. It means that generations of musicians, singers, congregations and audiences yet to come will be able to enjoy the wonders of choral and organ music, animating the Cathedral and its services, and safeguarding this special dimension in our worship.

I am delighted that the appeal has been so successful thus far, and brought with it, a whole host of people, all passionate about the preservation of the Cathedral’s heritage and what music and light means in its daily life. The Cathedral is a wonderful resource for the whole diocese and I am delighted to endorse this appeal’.

Already the appeal success has allowed for the launch of Girl Choristers in the Cathedral, and work has begun on dismantling the old Quire organ in readiness for the installation of a new one which has been ordered, ready for installation in 2008.

If you are interested in learning more about the Appeal for Music and Light please call Lucinda Wray-Wear on 01905 28854.

.PRACTICAL ACTION

Last month Ann Meadows came to give an illustrated talk about the work of this charity which works with people living in poverty to find real answers to their problems by designing practical solutions.

· Not power stations, but wind turbines.

· Not genetically modified seeds, but local crop varieties.

· Not tractors, but donkey ploughs.

One of the examples highlighted was in Darfur, one of the driest parts of Sudan where sometimes rain falls for just two hours, in the whole year. Working with local farmers, Practical Action had helped design a crescent shaped terrace which holds onto vital water so that more crops grow.