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Woodhall Lane & Welwyn Garden City Free Church Magazine July & August 2009
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Free Church & Woodhall Lane
United Reformed Churches
July & August 2009
Page 2
MONDAYS
Hatfield Tai Chi Chuan Club Tel Pat 01707 331526
6:30 to 10:00 pm Not in August
Chinese Health Exercise Classes
Puppy Training Classes Tel Gill Tel 07967 226 796
7:00 to 9:00 pm
TUESDAYS
* Dinky Dancers Tel Lorry 01438 831281
9:20 to 10:20 am and 10:20 to 11:20 am
Activity classes for children under 4 years.
Mind Drop In Coffee Morning Tel Rhoda 01707 654633
10:00 to 12 noon Drop in coffee morning for those with
mental health issues, but open to all.
*Pat Reid School of Scottish Dancing
Tel Pat 01707 338478
5:15 to 8:30 pm Scottish Dance classes ages 3½ & above.
WEDNESDAYS
NCT Bumps and Bundles Tel 01707 320422
2:00 to 4:00 pm Drop in sessions for pregnant mums and
babes in arms.
* Girls and Boys Brigade Tel Glenys 01707 336433
6:15 to 8:00 pm For children aged 4+
* Denotes term time only.
Page 3
THURSDAYS
*Chatter N Tots Tel Ann 01707 327277. 9:45 to 11:15 am Parent/ Carer and child group.
Play, arts and crafts, music and refreshments.
New Thursday Club Tel Rosemary 01707 330660
2:30 to 4:00 pm Alternate Thursdays but not in August.
Activities, Trips etc for the over 50’s.
The Cellar
4:15 to 6:30 pm Drop in centre for vulnerable people.
Providing snacks, tea and social contact.
English Country Dancers Tel Terry 01707 320299
8:00 to 10:00 pm Not in August Folk Dancing.
Trefoil Guild
8:00 to 10:00 pm 2nd Thursday in the month.
Not in August.
FRIDAYS
Welwyn Archaeological Society
Tel Daphne 01707 335729
7:00 to 10:00 pm Sept. to April. 2nd & 4th Friday in the
month. Talks, slide shows etc.
WGC Art Club Tel Bryan 01438 714528
8:00 to 10:00 pm September to May 3rd Friday in the
month
Meetings, Talks etc
* Denotes term time only.
Page 4
MINISTER
Rev Jane Weedon
01707 375133
Freechurch Woodhall Lane
CHURCH SECRETARY CHURCH SECRETARY
Mr John McKenzie TBA
01707 375024
email :- secretary@freechurchwgc.org.uk
HON. TREASURER
John Meers 12 Brockswood Lane
Welwyn Garden City AL8 7BG
Tel 01707 327277
e mail :- treasurer@freechurchwgc.org.uk
CONFIDENTIAL REGISTRAR
Mr Alan Tyler
23 Harmer Green Lane
Digswell
AL6 0AS
Youth Worker
Sara Taylor
102 Wellcroft Road Office 01707 321270
Mobile 07903236458 email :-youthworker@freechurchwgc.org.uk
Page 5
Letter from the Manse
Summer is here at last, bringing with it holidays and time to rest
and relax and do something different.
The word ‘holiday’ comes from ‘holy day’, which in years past were the only days that workers had off.
When we go on holiday I like to read – something I don’t usually get much time to do, I swim every day, enjoy visiting different
places and walking along the beach. It is fun just to spend quality
time together and to find an activity that is different from usual. This year in Minorca we played table tennis, which got really
competitive and was great fun for everyone.
There are various opportunities over this summer for us to meet
and do different things together. My other favourite holiday
activity is to sit and relax and spend time with God so I would like to add another invitation – this time to take time out with God at
the Manse.
There is a book called The Shack, it is an easy read, is widely
acclaimed and has a fascinating story. We can read this together
and meet to enjoy each others company, chat about the book over a cup of coffee and something sweet and sticky and take some time
out with God relaxing and reflecting and enjoying the Manse
garden.
This will be on Wednesday mornings July 8th,15th,22nd,29th and
August 12th and 19th.
If anyone would like to come in an evening, please let me know
Please sign up on the list on the notice board as soon as possible to
enable me to get the books. Even if you cannot come to all
sessions please drop in when you can or just read the book - it is well worth reading.
Page 6
I hope you have a lovely summer, safe
journeys if you are travelling and return refreshed, relaxed and renewed from time
out doing something different.
Every blessing
Jane
Visions old and new
The elders have been studying a book about a church in California. It has a mainly Japanese American congregation which is now
mixed with newer families of different backgrounds (rather like
us, with some members going back to Irish, Scottish and Welsh Presbyterian roots and others who have joined us from a rich
variety of traditions). Numbers had been dropping in the church
and their many activities were being sustained by fewer people. There was always a cheerful buzz of conversation after the church
service but it was not about the service or spiritual matters.
The church undertook a process called “Appreciative Inquiry”. A small group of people, some elders, some not, began to ask
representative members of the congregation what - in their
memory and experience in the church - had most excited and enthused them. They began to collect stories of great moments
from the church’s past and personal stories of times when
individual members had felt most engaged and involved. Then they asked the members about their hopes for the future.
Page 7
Paul reminds us that this is a good thing to do. Finally, friends,
whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
They collected the stories, hopes and dreams and where they were
similar they put them together into what they called “themes” –the ‘themes’ represented different areas of the church’s life – and all
the people’s memories of the past and wishes for the future were
included in those areas. Every memory was important because it was a precious part of the church’s history to the person who
shared it.
Finally they drew up descriptions of what they hoped the church
would be like in a few years’ time. These descriptions created a
picture of the future built on the memories and reflecting the hopes.
As they did this, (positive?) changes and development began to take place in the life of the congregation, which grew from the
creative energy of recalling the past.
We have begun this process in a small way – by asking ourselves
questions at our Church Retreat on a day in December and by all
the congregation’s responding to similar questions at our All-Age service in April. A small group will be meeting with the elders in
June to sort our stories and hopes into themes for more
conversations with the congregation.
We hope to encourage everyone to join in the conversations so if
you would like to talk with one of the team, please speak to Jane or an elder.
(Elders photographs and names are on the board in the vestibule if
you are unsure who to go to.)
Robert and Jane
Page 8
‘What is the Spirit saying to the Church?’
Yesterday, along with many church leaders in our area, I attended an ecumenical study day organised by Churches Together in Herts and Beds at
the University of Hertfordshire. The title of the day was ‘What is the Spirit saying to the Church?’
In his summing up of all that we had heard, our Synod Moderator, The Rev’d Dr Andrew Prasad, spoke about the common ground shared by our
three speakers. They were all from very different backgrounds and areas of expertise, but each one of them had wrestled with inner tensions that had moved them outside their comfort zone of their faith traditions to engage
on a wider stage with people of different Christian backgrounds, other faiths and no faith.
As they presented their papers to us, they had told stories from their own
life experiences and Andrew affirmed that storytelling is an important way to listen to the Spirit. Personal stories are authentic.
The Rev’d Dr Joel Edwards – formerly Evangelical Alliance, now International Director of Micah Challenge, spoke of the importance of
knowing our own identity. We need to have confidence in our faith and in Christian values in order to learn new competences to engage with the diversity of our world.
He challenged our thinking – ‘Christ doesn’t belong to Christians’ he said,
‘Christ belongs to the world’. (John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave his only son…). We need to be more than followers of Christ or
disciples; we need to be citizens of Christ living out our faith wherever we are and whatever we are doing.
Our priority is still to make Christ known in a way that the world will listen, our priority is still mission – addressing the wrongs in human
relationships and Advocacy – speaking out for those who are being treated badly who have no voice of their own.
Professor Grace Davie – Professor of Sociology at the University of Exeter – spoke of context. Her title was ‘Religion in Europe’ and she stressed the
importance of understanding the place where we are set.
Page 9
She told us that modern does not equal secular. We are a European country and Europe’s secularism is out of sync with the rest of the world ‘who are as furiously religious as ever’. (P Berger).
She gave us five factors to take into account which included our cultural
heritage – our calendars, seasons, festivals and holidays are mostly based on the Christian year: and Vicarious Religion which she explained by
talking about Jade Goody.
How was it that this young woman faced with tragedy felt the need to put
her affairs in order in such a public way? She did not appear to have lived her life up to this point with much thought of Christian values and yet she
wanted to be married by a priest, she and her boys were baptised and then she had a Christian funeral.
There was something that almost instinctively drew her to the church and even more surprisingly she found a priest who did not turn her away.
‘Sometimes this is our calling’ she said and careful ministry can open up opportunities with people who often ‘believe without belonging’ to the
church.
Out final speaker was Fr Mark Woodruff, Roman Catholic Priest and
Secretary of the Society for Ecumenical Studies. He spoke about the importance of working together. He said we need to be restless for the
unity of heaven to happen on earth, where diversity is accepted but divisions are not. This is not just about ecumenism but included the need to work with people of other faiths too.
He spoke of the Spirit urging us to engage with our world and engage in
our world in a transformational way.
To do this we need a firm identity built on the truth of Christ.
This bought us full circle, back to where Joel Edwards had begun. The message I heard was that the Spirit is at work in our world and calls us out of the comfort of our traditions to engage and partner with diverse people,
sharing the hope that is within us in a way that the world can hear. It was a very inspiring day.
Andrew ended our worship with words from ‘God is still speaking’.
Page 10
God is still speaking to our local churches; to us; through our scriptures; through the written word; through our history…
God is still speaking through the generations
And across cultures: Unique, diverse, Rich in insight,
Joining together in one holy communion.
God is still speaking through our worship
Through the incense of praise and the sacrifice of steadfast love, In music and drama, in reading and honesty of preaching,
In silence, in the touching place of prayer, In tears and laughter, in fellowship together.
God is still speaking – may we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.
Jane
A DVD of the day will be available soon. Please let me know if you would like to see it.
===============================
Free Church Secretary’s Notes As summer approaches with its longer days I always anticipate that I’m
going to have more time to do things, but it never seems to work out that way. And before I know it the days are getting shorter. A number of things
have been happening in the Church that I’d like to bring to your attention. At the end of May we held an extra-ordinary Church Meeting to decide
what to do about meeting our commitment to fund the tremendous work done by our Youth Worker, Sara. The initial commitment from the Church
was to joint fund a Youth Worker with Panshanger Church for five years. The Free Church is likely to fall short of the 50% financial commitment this year alone by around £12000. The minutes of the meeting are posted in
the church for everyone to read but in summary we decided:
Page 11
• to bring the situation to everyone’s attention,
• to make every effort to get members and friends to increase their
pledges,
• to ask those not contributing already (new members) to make a
pledge,
• to seek one-off gifts if people are unable to pledge a regular
donation,
• to seek external funding,
• to review the accounts,
• to use church funds for this year only to top up any short fall,
• and to set up a group to plan where we go in the future (from March
2010) with the Youth Worker. If you would like to support the excellent work that Sara does (just read her regular articles in this magazine) please speak to the minister,
treasurer, or any of the elders. Please also support this work with your prayers.
Everyone should have picked up at church, or received in the post, a letter asking for nominations for new Elders. I should have received
these nominations by 28th June but if there are any last minute names please let me know a.s.a.p. The nominations will be made known at
church on Sunday 12th July and an election will be conducted at the next Church meeting on Sunday 19th July.
The task group set up to revise the Free Church Child Protection Policy has presented the completed policy to the Elders meeting and it has
been approved. The policy now incorporates the latest legislative requirements and guidelines as well as recommendations gained from recent experience. Bertie Everard will be assisting the Junior Church
leaders in the first instance to become conversant with the policy. A copy of the policy will be available in a folder in the church.
Have a pleasant summer. John McKenzie - Tel: 01707 375024
e-mail: secretary@freechurchwgc.org.uk
Page 12
June Money
Free
Church Woodhall
Income £5,065 £1,451
Expense £3,493 £2,141
FC figures look good, but include
£2.7K from Gift Aid Recovery.
WHL had the £1K electricity bill I warned about last time.
Strengths and Weaknesses
‘School was always pretty iffy for me, because I am dyslexic. Reading is laborious: I’m very slow and have a hard time retaining information
I have read’ Ann Bancroft.
This famous woman explorer had to know her strengths and weaknesses before she could do what she wanted to do in life. We all
have strengths and weaknesses. The key is to admit them and then use them creatively.
Visit us on the web at:
www.freechurchwgc.org.uk
For updated and exciting content and the latest
information about the Free Church
Page 13
Mark McCahon-Gardener
All aspects of garden
maintenance and planting design undertaken.
RHS and City and Guilds qualified.
Contact:
117 Upperfield Road Welwyn Garden City Herts
AL7 3LR Mob: 07984659816
E-mail: markmccahon@ yahoo.co.uk
PC HOME HELPER
Computer health check Full data backup service
Emergency call out
Home tutorials
New Computers Old computer recycling
Broadband installation
Wireless networks Internet security check
Your local friendly computer home help service!
01707 690468 / 07768 055906
Page 14
Pilgrimage day to St Albans Abbey
Wednesday 5th August
This is an opportunity for everyone to come along and enjoy St Albans Abbey and grounds.
The day begins with the Free Church Service at 10 o’clock, which Jane is leading.
After that there are various activities, guided tours, children’s tour – and possibly other events, a Pilgrims Journey prayer trail and
lunch either in the Café or picnic in the grounds.
Please can you let Jane know if you are coming? I would especially like to know if you are coming with children – if there
are enough we may be able to arrange something special, or if you
would like to come but need a lift.
From my one experience as Chaplain at the Abbey all should have
an enjoyable day.
Jane
==============================
We say we want to be our own person and sometimes that scares us to death.
It’s OK to be afraid - just don’t let it stop there.
Anon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God created us to be unique – our own person – as God intends us to be.
We are not alone on the journey. ‘I am with you always’.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 15
THURSDAY CLUB
Yesterday we held our annual Garden Party and were favoured by much better weather than had been anticipated, especially after the previous week of very poor conditions. There was a large attendance and it was a very enjoyable afternoon. As always we are grateful to the group of helpers who cheerfully and competently served the food and to Howell who provided the transport.
We now look forward to another Singalong with Brian on 9 July at 2.30 in the Lower Hall and our last meeting before the summer break is on 25 July.
We start up again on 17 September. It would be especially nice to see some new faces, as well as those who are already familiar , and they would all be welcome.
Rosemary Craig (330660)
Page 16
FREE CHURCH July & August 2009
Jane - Communion Sun 5th Jul
Thursday Club Thu 9th July
Robert Harvey Sun 12th Jul
7:30pm Elders meeting Tue 14th Jul
Jane - Church Meeting Sun 19th Jul
Jane – All Age Sun 26th Jul
Jane – Communion Sun 2nd Aug
Robert Harvey Sun 9th Aug
Jane Sun 16th Aug
Jane – All Age Sun 23rd Aug
Joint service at WoodHall Lane Sun 30th Aug
Page 17
Woodhall Lane Corner
HOLIDAY CLUB WEEK
Although this is yet to be confirmed with other local churches it is planned for week commencing 24 August. Venue also to be
confirmed. CHURCH MEETING - Sunday 26 July - This will be the AGM.
A light lunch will be served after the morning service and all are welcome.
CHRISTIAN AID - The final total collected from our church was £272.29p.
SONGS OF PRAISE SERVICE - 19 JULY
As we do not have an organist for this date hymns will be from those on the CD listings and these can be chosen beforehand.
CHRISTMAS FAIR MEETING - The first of these is to be held on Wednesday 1 July at the Church at 10 am. Joe Palacio is the
organiser.
Visit us on the web at
www.woodhalllaneurc.org.uk
For updated content and information about Woodhall Lane
If you have a problem or need to discuss something that
requires pastoral attention please contact one of the Elders
Page 18
Woodhall Lane July & August 2009
. PREACHERS
5 July Robert Harvey
12 July Rev Jane Weedon (Communion & Gift Day)
19 July Songs of Praise 26 July David Cracknell (Church AGM)
2 August Robert Harvey
9 August Rev Jane Weedon (Communion) 16 August Martin Wells
23 August Rev Roy Eames
30 August Joint with Free Church (At Woodhall Led by Rev Jane Weedon)
DOOR STEWARDS VESTRY
5 July Joyce/Grace Barbara
12 July Joan Margaret 19 July Joyce/Grace Linda
26 July Joan Barbara
2 August Joyce/Grace Margaret
9 August Joan Linda
16 August Joyce/Grace Barbara 23 August Joan Margaret
30 August Joyce/Grace Linda
Page 19
FLOWER ROTA
5 July Carole
12 July Margaret
19 July Barbara 26 July Carole
2 August Margaret
9 August Barbara 16 August Carole
23 August Margaret
30 August Barbara
COMMUNION STEWARD
Barbara
FELLOWSHIP CLUB - Alternate Thursday 2 - 3.30pm 9 July Skittles
23 July Quiz
6 August Video
20 August Summer Sundae
ELDERS MEETING - Thursday 9 July 9.30 am.
BIBLE STUDY Friday mornings 10 am at 114 Parkway
Page 20
The following article was found by a nurse working in an elderly care unit some years ago. It had been written by one of the residents who had passed on.
‘What do you see nurses, what do you see? Are you thinking when you are looking at me
A crabbit old woman, not very wise Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply, When you say in a loud voice “I do wish you’d try” Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe, Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill, Is that what you’re thinking, is that what you see? Then open your eyes nurse, you are not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still; As I use at your bidding, as I eat at your will,
I’m a small child of ten with a father and mother, A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet. Dreaming that soon now a lover she’ll meet.
A bride soon at twenty my heart gives a leap, Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now I have young of my own, Who need me to build a secure, happy home; A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last, At forty my young sons now grow and will be gone
But my man stays beside me to see I don’t mourn: At fifty once more babies play round my knees, Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead, I look to the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all busy rearing young of their own, And I think of the years and the love that I’ve known. I’m an old woman now and nature is cruel,
‘Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
Page 21
The body it crumbles, grace and vigour depart, There is now a stone where I once had a heart: But inside this old carcase whiles a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells, I remember the joys, I remember the pain
And I’m loving and living life all over again. I think of the years all too few - gone too fast And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes nurses, open and see Not a crabbit old woman, look closer - see ME.
=======================================================
‘LOVE IN A BOX’
WOODHALL LANE
Already it is July – where has the year gone? In four months our
shoe boxes will have been lovingly wrapped and filled with gifts
ready for despatch to deprived children in parts of Africa, central Asia and Eastern Europe. Why do we send filled shoe boxes?
Imagine never having received a present before. That is the reality
for so many children in these countries. We bring a smile to their
faces as we contribute in our different ways. Giving money, knitting, buying toys, toiletries, sweets (but not chocolate), etc. Let
us think of the joy we can give to these children.
Last year, 1.2 million boxes were distributed via Operation
Christmas Child. 120 of these were from us. Let us try to improve
on this total this year. I have a DVD giving insight into the work of Operation Christmas Child. If anyone would like to borrow it
please contact me.
Thank you for your continued support both within the church and
loyal supporters in the community. £33 was raised at the May
Fayre. I am able to receive contributions any time. God bless.
Carole
Page 22
Education: an Inter Faith Perspective
For three years the Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group has been trying to
engage with the Herts SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education) to ensure that RE in local schools is sound and
contains an inter faith dimension. We asked if we could have a representative (such as an RE teacher) from the IFG on SACRE, but sadly we have been consistently rebuffed.
Our first approach concerned the 2006 RE curriculum, on which we sent
the SACRE many comments, but were told that it would not be changed until 2011. Now the Government has issued for consultation some new
Guidance for all SACREs, which we think is open to similar criticism – that it over-emphasises the differences between religions without drawing attention to what is held in common (eg values). The message that it
conveys to pupils is that the relationship between the various religions is predominantly adversarial; it makes no mention, for example, of the
Millennium Pledge in which all the main national religious leaders in the UK vowed to work together for the common good – an aspiration that the WH IFG tries hard to implement at the local level. We propose to respond
to the consultation along these lines.
On 12 June I attended on behalf of the IFG a conference in Coventry jointly organised by the UK Inter Faith Network (of which the WH IFG is a member) and the National Association of SACREs. Of the 70-odd
participants, half were members of both a local IFG and their Local Authority’s SACRE. In a survey among 156 IFGs, the WH IFG was the
only one that had encountered unresolved problems in establishing a role relationship with their SACRE (which was not represented at the Conference). In many areas, such as Kirklees, Warwickshire and
Birmingham, a highly constructive relationship was reported, which had given rise to some impressive initiatives of the kind that could be emulated
in this Borough. Two clear messages came through: (1) IFGs and SACREs need to work together to raise their public profiles (even in WH, one member of the clergy who received my conference report had to ask me
what a SACRE was!) and (2) Effectiveness of both SACREs and IFGs depends heavily on getting funding – here again our County and Borough
seem not to be generously treated by comparison with most others.
Page 23
It is really important that all church members who have children, grandchildren and young friends in the public education system should
satisfy themselves that local RE is soundly based. At present, in my view, it has some serious shortcomings, which the IFG aims to highlight, with
some practical proposals for addressing them. But first we need the ear of the Herts SACRE, which is the body with statutory responsibility for deciding on the RE curriculum.
Bertie Everard
============================ Hope is believing in sprite of the evidence then watching the evidence change.
Jim Wallis
============================
We have only this short life in which to prove our love.
- Edel Quinn,
Missionary of the Legion of Mary (1907-1944)
Page 24
Free Church Rotas for July & August 2009
Coffee
5 Mrs. H. Kaye and Mr. R. Harvey 12 Mr. and Mrs. P. Read
19 Mrs. A. and Miss K. Onasile
26 Mr. and Mrs. A. Tyler
2 Mrs. S. Chamberlin and Mrs. K. Muir
9 Mrs. M. Sartin and Mrs. L. Perry
16 Mrs. J. Marshall and Mrs. J. Spalding
23 Mrs. J. Cleese and Mrs. K. Muir 30 Joint Service at Woodhall Lane
Flowers
5th Helen Cunningham
12th Mrs Jessie Lunt
19th Lady Menzies
26th Lambert Family
2nd Margaret Taylor
9th Mr and Mrs N Muir
16th TBA 23rd TBA
30th Service at Woodhall
If anyone would like to provide flowers on either of the TBA dates please write your name in the roster
in church or contact Joyce Nicolson
Creche
It’s great if all the family can come to church together. If your
child is too young to attend Junior Church, we have a warm, safe and comfy room where parents can take their babies and
toddlers. Hey and there are loads of toys!
Page 25
Painful Revenge
A mother ran into the bedroom when she heard her seven-year-old son scream. She found his two-year-old sister pulling his hair. She
gently released the little girl's grip and said comfortingly to the
boy, "There, there. She didn't mean it. She doesn't know that
hurts." He nodded his acknowledgement, and she left the room.
As she started down the hall the little girl screamed. Rushing back
in, she asked, "What happened?"
The little boy replied, "She knows now."
—Joke a Day Ministries Group; submitted by Keith Todd,
www.sermonfodder.com
Deadline for September Magazine
Articles requiring typing Sunday 16th August
Articles sent via email Thursday 20th August
e-mail documents to magazine@freechurchwgc.org.k , hand your
articles to Chris Ewer the Magazine Secretary or leave them in the magazine pigeon hole at the back of the church for the Freechurch or hand to TBA for Woodhall Lane, and if they can be with us before or as
near to the deadline date as possible that will be much appreciated.
Please note that it is essential that these dates are
respected if the magazine is be printed on time.
Magazine will be printed for Sunday 30th August Please note the next magazine will be September
Page 26
Page 27
NEWS RELEASE Churches concerned as BNP makes election gains Churches’ steadfast message: God loves all, racism is a ‘sin’ Disappointment and concern have been expressed by Christians following gains made by the British National Party (BNP) in last week’s European Parliament Elections. In elections held last Thursday, the BNP won two seats in the European Parliament and three seats in local councils around the UK. Rachel Lampard, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church, said, “The limited success of the BNP does not change our steadfast message: God loves all. Racism is a sin. The campaigning work of the churches and other grass-roots organisations has helped to highlight the need for people to vote positively, especially at a time when public confidence in politics has been shaken.” Many commentators predicted success for the BNP due to low voter turnout and the political scandals of recent weeks. However, the gains were nowhere near as great as the BNP themselves predicted.
Page 28
Revd Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, added; “It’s deeply disappointing that we now have a racist party representing Britain in Europe for the next five years and it is vital that our remaining UK representatives dedicate themselves to promote the common good.” Secretary for Church and Society for the United Reformed Church, Frank Kantor, said; “We must never become comfortable with the BNP using their position to promote their racist policies. We will continue to counter their messages of hatred and fear.”
INTERFAITH MATTERS
Welwyn Hatfield Interfaith Group
Dates for your Diary Sunday, 5th July
Walk in the Woods Time: 12.30 pm Venue: Meet at No. 60 Bridge Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8
6UR.
Please bring a picnic lunch and a chair, drinks provided. Walk in Sherrards Wood from 2 pm. Free parking at
Campus West.
Monday, 6th July Building Communities
Time: 7.45 pm until 10.00 pm (Refreshments from 7.30 pm)
Venue: Park Lounge, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6AE.
Page 29
Saturday, 18th July
Kaleidoscope Festival Celebrating cultural diversity in Welwyn
Hatfield Time: 12.00 noon until 6.00 pm Please visit our stand.
Venue: Stanborough Park, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6DQ.
Wednesday, 30th September
Autumn Festivals
Time: 7.45 pm until 10.00 pm (Refreshments from 7.30 pm) Venue: Park Lounge, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, AL8
6AE.
Monday, 19th October
Annual Public Meeting - Faith: Public or Private?
Time: 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm - Key speakers to be announced.
Venue: Terrace Suite, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6AE.
National Interfaith Week 15th-21st November Events to include: Tuesday, 17th November Bring & Share
Supper
Time: 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm Venue: Focolare Centre for Unity, 69 Parkway, Welwyn Garden
City, AL8 6JG.
Other events during the Interfaith Week to be
announced.
For further details contact Valerie Skottowe on 01707 324828 /Email valerie@tonyandvalerie.plus.com
Page 30
Christmas Fayre 14th November 2009, 10:30-3:00pm Ballot Results: The results from the ballot for selecting our 2009 charity showed that Isabel Hospice was by far the most popular choice, and so we will be donating 50% of all funds raised to this worthy cause. I know many of you are thinking of your summer holiday and Christmas is the last thing on your mind at present but I do hope you have this date in your diary. The Christmas Fayre can become more meaningful not only in keeping us going financially but also as a catalyst for working together and outreach to the community. We have been busy already planning and co-opting helpers in the hope that we can host an enjoyable and fun event while raising funds for our church and our nominated charity. Perhaps you could get together with a friend or neighbour – not necessarily someone from Church. It could be another way of getting people to see what a friendly congregation we are! We need to show our friends and neighbours what a happy, welcoming and inventive lot we are. Selling programmes and displaying posters and car stickers is the best way to promote the Christmas Fayre and something that nearly everyone can help with by selling them to friends, neighbours and work colleagues.
Please volunteer to help.
Complete and return the pull-out section in the middle of
this magazine and place in our Christmas Fayre box at the
back of the church or post to Joyce Nicolson (3 Hawthorns,
WGC, AL8 7SE).
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Where we are now:
� Entertainment: ♦ Santa has already agreed to attend, accompanied by his Elves ♦ Smartie Artie our Entertainer is booked
� The following stalls and activities have already been booked but many need your help with prizes & stock:
Stall/Activity Stall Owner Please contact the stall owner for offers of:
Tombola Howell Watkins 01707 892 833
300 items plus a few STAR prizes
Bottles Derek Groves 01707 323 126
All kinds of bottles, large and small
Mystery Parcels Sara Taylor & the Youth Groups 01707 321 270
Small items to wrap and sell for £1 or 50p
Toys Jaqui Perilli & Chatter and Tots 01707 376 336
All your outgrown toys, books, games and novelties
Crafts Mary Sartin 01279 793 959
Items which will catch the eye
Books Robert Harvey 01707 322 339
Your unwanted books, DVDs, and CDs in goodish condition
Plants Ann Meers 01707 327 277
Help to run or stock the stall
Homemade Provisions
Dorothy Tulloch 01438 869 279
Your homemade jams, chutneys, marmalades and pickles
Cafeteria & Snack Bar
Joyce Nicolson 01707 326 829
Cakes, lite bites, biscuits etc
Silent Auction Sue Cory 01707 325 896
Offers of items to auction (please see the pull-out section)
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�
Stall/Activity Stall Owner Please contact the stall owner for offers of:
Biscuit Decorating Cathy Clark n/a
Children's Fun Activities
Alison Giles & the Girls Brigade 01707 376 918
n/a
Plate Painting Karen McAllister 01707 891 060
n/a
Publicity Jane Sartin 01992 505907
n/a
Pottery Pigs Felicity n/a
Stall/Activity What we still need
Cakes A volunteer to organise and run the stall Offers of lots of attractive cakes, decorated sponges and cookies of all kinds – we need sufficient stock to keep going until after lunch!
Games/Puzzles A volunteer to organise and run the stall Offers of unwanted and complete games & puzzles
Hook a Duck A volunteer to organise and run the stall
Lucky Dip A volunteer to organise and run the stall
Buried Treasure A volunteer to organise and run the stall
Bouncy Castle A volunteer to man the castle on the day
Silent Auction A volunteer to assist Sue Cory
Santa A volunteer to relieve Santa when he needs a break
� The following stalls and activities still have vacancies – if you can
help with any of them please fill out the pull-out section in the middle of this magazine:
Page 33
Photographs with Santa A volunteer to take photographs of the children with Santa for sale on the day
Face Painting A volunteer to help transform the children into tigers, fairies or whatever takes their fancy
Christmas Draw A volunteer to co-ordinate & manage all aspects of the Christmas Draw (draw tickets, prizes donated, ticket sales, stall on the day etc) Prize donations and contacts who may be willing to help
URGENT APPEAL
Clearing Up A dedicated team of able-bodied and energetic volunteers to help clear up after the event as quickly & efficiently as possible so the church is ready for worship the next day
Front Door Volunteers to collect entrance money
Car Park Volunteers to be car park attendants
Sales Volunteers to sell draw tickets and programmes in the vestibule in the weeks prior to the Fayre
Sales Volunteers to help mind the advertising board in the Howard Centre for a short while (date tbc)
Small Change Boxes Please take a small change box and fill it with your loose change. It can be exchanged every Sunday and refilled as many times as you like
The following stalls and activities still have vacancies – if you can help with any of them please fill out the pull-out section in the middle of this magazine:
If you have any additional suggestions,
or a stall/activity you would like to
assist with which is not already
mentioned above, please let us know
in the pull-out section which follows.
Page 34
PULL-OUT SECTION - 1
Please pull out this section from the magazine and return it to the Christmas Fayre Post box at the back of the church or post to Joyce
Nicolson (3 Hawthorns, WGC, AL8 7SE) no later than 31st July
Your Details: Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Telephone: __________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________
Any queries, please contact: Joyce Nicolson : 01707 326829
joycen2@hotmail.com
Cherylle Cooper: 01707 896248
cherylle.cooper@ntlworld.com
Sue Cory (Silent Auction): 01707 325 896
c.cory@tesco.net
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PULL-OUT SECTION - 2
Please tick if you can help with the following
stalls/activities:
Stall/Activity Could you ... Volunteers needed
I can help (√)
Cakes organise & run the stall 1 or 2
Games/Puzzles organise & run the stall 1 or 2
Hook a Duck organise & run the stall 1 or 2
Lucky Dip organise & run the stall 2
Buried Treasure organise & run the stall 1 or 2
Bouncy Castle run the stall 1
Silent Auction assist Sue Cory 1
Santa relieve Santa 1
Photo with Santa
organise & take photos 1 or 2
Face Painting organise & run the stall 1 or 2
Christmas Draw manage & co-ordinate 1
Clearing Up lead the clear-up team 1
Clearing Up help clear-up As many as possible
Front Door collect entrance money As many as possible
Car Park be a car park attendant 1 or 2
Sales sell programmes & tickets in the vestibule
As many as possible
Sales mind the ad board in the Howard Centre
As many as possible
Set Up help set up on Thurs 12th & Fri 13th Nov
As many as possible
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PULL-OUT SECTION - 3
Please tick if you would be willing to do any of the following:
Description I can help (√)
Place a poster in your front window/office etc
Place an advertising sticker in your car
Any other advertising
Allow us to approach your workplace for a donation (please supply name of company and whom to contact).
Number of programmes you would be willing to sell (please state number in box).
Number of draw books (in books of 5) you would be willing to sell (please state number in box).
Please insert in the box below anything else you can help with, or
suggestions, and any relevant details:
Page 37
Alternatively, you may email your offer to Sue Cory: c.cory@tesco.net Viewings of goods for sale can be arranged via Sue Cory. An update of offers will be available on the website. Offers to be in by the end of July; bids to be in by 14th November.
Successful bidders will be notified on 14th November.
PULL-OUT SECTION - 4
Silent Auction Here's your chance to offer something that people will bid for. You may offer a service (e.g. shopping trip, babysitting or DIY tasks) or an object (e.g. furniture, cameras, DVDs etc), and you can nominate a reserve price. The possibilities are endless, and the highest bidder for each item will win it. Please provide details of your offer(s) below. These details will be
passed onto successful bidders after 14th November, who will contact you
to claim their prize. Please supply a picture if applicable.
Offer
(e.g. babysitting)
Description
(e.g. 2 hours within WGC)
Reserve Price
(e.g. £5)
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