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Bamford Chapel and Norden URC Magazine March 2015
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Bamford Chapel and
Norden URC
MARCH 2015
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BAMFORD CHAPEL & NORDEN URC MISSION/VISION STATEMENT
Worship
In our devotion we will come together to express our joy, love and thanks through worship.
We shall share our praise and dedicate it to God.
Ministry
Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will show compassion and love by understanding, supporting and meeting the spiritual, the physical and the emotional needs of others.
Evangelism
We are called as Christians to share the good news; living as examples of Christ in our everyday lives we can spread the word and love of Jesus.
Discipleship
We as a church have a responsibility as Christians to encourage people to know God and to enable them to develop their relationship with Him through prayer, discussion, study and learning.
Fellowship
We welcome to our church family those who want to belong. We show our love for others by sharing acts of fellowship in God’s name.
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Sunday 1st March
10.30 am Family Worship with Holy Communion Led by Revd Richard Bradley
2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Messy Church—Chinese New Year Theme – New Beginnings
6.00 pm Evening Worship Led by Anne Fitton
Monday 2nd March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group (Crèche Room)
Thursday 5th March
12.30 pm – 2.00 pm
Lent Course Week 3 (see poster in the magazine)
7.15 pm Elders’ Meeting
Sunday 8th March
10.30 am Family Worship Led by Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship Led by Revd Richard Bradley
Monday 9th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group (Crèche Room)
Tuesday 10th March
12.15 pm 1 – 2.00 pm
Lunch followed by Music at Lunchtime (details in the magazine)
8.00 pm 8.00 pm
1. Fellowship Core Group 2. Home Group at the Manse
Thursday 12th March
12.30 pm – 2.00 pm
Lent Course Week 4 (see poster in the magazine)
Saturday 14th March
North Western Synod (In Barrow)
Sunday 15th March
10.30 am Family Worship & Mothering Sunday Parade Led by Margaret Ogden
6.00 pm Evening Communion Service Led by Ken Greer
Monday 16th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group (Crèche Room)
Thursday 19th March
12.30 pm Lent Course Week 5 (see poster in the magazine)
March 2015
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Sunday 22nd March
10.30 am
Family Worship Led by Revd Richard Bradley
Followed by Church Meeting
6.00 pm Evening Worship Led by Andy Platt
Monday 23rd March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group (Crèche Room)
Tuesday 24th March
8.00 pm Home Group at the Manse
Wednesday 25th March
1.15 pm Monthly Midweek Communion Service (In the lounge)
Thursday 26th March
12.30 pm Lent Course Week 6 (Revd Richard Bradley leading this week) see poster in the magazine
Saturday 28th March
10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Fresh Expressions Workshop
Sunday 29th March
10.30 am Palm Sunday Family Worship Led by Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship Led by David Watson
Monday 30th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group (Crèche Room)
Weekday Opportunities for Learning and Sharing Fellowship You are welcome to join any of the following Exploring Groups
Further details of all Services and Groups may be found on the Sunday Notice Sheet and at:- www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
Monday Focus on Prayer Group: 8.00 pm in the crèche
Tuesday Home Group – Discipleship Explored: Fortnightly - 8.00 pm in the Manse
Monday Home Group: 8.00 pm at the home of Addie &
Barbara Redmond
Wednesday Exploring the Bible: 7.30 pm at the home of Ray Atkins, 8 Greenwich Close
Monday Monthly Joy Group: Monday 30th March Meal at Dolce Vita 6.30 pm (optional). Meeting 7 .30 pm at 17 Bamford Mews
Thursday Morning Weekly: Community ‘drop-in ‘coffee morning from 10.00am Thursday Evening Monthly – Ladies Fellowship, 2nd Thursday 7.45, subs £3 open to all Ladies. Mar 12th “Children of Swaziland”. Pauline & Bernard Thompson
Tuesday Stillness and Sharing: 1st & 3rd Tuesday in the month, 3rd & 17th March 2.15pm in the Lounge
Sunday Evening Youth Groups: Koinonia 6.00—7.00 pm Hay Hodos 7.30—8.30 pm
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MESSAGE FROM THE MANSE I write this article some three or four days before the start of Lent. I find it hard to believe we are already two months into 2015! The year is going so quickly. I wonder have you given anything up for Lent? I sometimes think giving something up at Lent (and equally New Year’s resolutions) are becoming less and less popular. I think the Lenten observance of giving something up has far more spiritual significance than New Year’s resolutions do. The idea of giving something up is an act of penitence as we remember and reflect on
Jesus’ 40 days of being tempted in the Wilderness. I believe it gives us, as Christians today, the opportunity to focus daily on Christ’s love for us as he went through being tempted by the devil before he began his public ministry. Like fasting, it allows us to focus daily on what we have given up in order that we can focus on Christ. As our recent preaching series on Ephesians has taught us we are in a daily battle with the devil. Paul, you may recall, encouraged his readers/listeners to put on the full
armour of God for the spiritual battle we have with the devil. So what helps you focus daily on God? In Lent we can do it relatively easily with what we have given up. But what about every other day outside of the forty days of Lent - what helps us focus on God then? It could be time we spend in prayer. It could be time we spend reading our Bibles. It could be time we spend reading a devotional book. All these individually or collectively help us to focus on God. I want to encourage us this Lent to take up a “habit”. Habit is never a word I liked using for spiritual or devotional practices. But I think it is a word that is right to use. One of the definitions in my dictionary says this of the word “habit” – something “done regularly and repeatedly”. I think that is an accurate use of the word when it comes to reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer or reading a devotional book. All are habits on which we ought to spend our time. I believe we are in an exciting time as Bamford Chapel and Norden
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URC. We have the challenge of what lies ahead with the roof works. We have the discussions that have started about the redevelopment in church itself as the pews are removed (more about this at the March Church meeting!) But we are also in an exciting time with regards the spiritual life of the church – arguably the most important part of our life as the church - as we continue to live out God’s vision for us. In the lives we lead both individually and corporately may we all continue to: “Love God, Serve Others, Build Community”.
God Bless, your servant in Christ, Richard - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NEWS OF THE FAMILY
Concerns are expressed for the following: Charlie
Peacock; Margaret Entwistle; Sheila Lord; Dennis
Doyle; Marjorie Farrington; Brian and Shelagh
Chrimes; Frank Kershaw; Olive Brierley and
Elizabeth Hazlehurst; Margaret Ogden; Andy and Julie Platt and the
wider family; Lyn and Luciana Jeffries; Lisa Galloway and her family;
Celia Wilkinson; Frances Kenyon and Matt Wynne. We also pray for
all who wish to have children and are facing difficulties in
conceiving.
We ask for the Lord’s love to envelop them and their struggles and
to lessen the burdens they face.
We give thanks for the achievements of our young
people. Eve Ryan, a keen netballer, was invited to
be a ball-girl in the recent Manchester Thunder
Super-league game. The invitation was made
because of her link with her netball team. Taking an
active part in a sports team is such a fantastic way
for our children to keep fit, to learn teamwork, to share in triumphs
and to face loss and adversity together. Rosie Greaves also plays
netball regularly and competitively and we will watch with keen
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interest where these activities will take Eve and Rosie.
Louise and Andrew Aspinall are currently embarking on a once in a
lifetime trip to New Zealand to visit Louise’s brother out there and to
take the opportunity to explore the wider island. Very little
accommodation was booked in advance but their itinerary has been
well planned, but also leaving some scope for spur of the moment
decisions about where to explore.
Turning to those returning to our shores, we welcome back from far
afield Christian Platt and his girlfriend, Chih Yuan. Andy, Julie, Jenny
and Katie are delighted to see their return, which could be for several
months. Watch this space.
The baptism of a child is often the first Christian
milestone of the youngest members of our church.
We welcome to our church family Freddie Nugent,
son to Nina and Rob Nugent, who will be baptised in
our March baptismal service. Freddie has been
attending our Mums and Toddler group for some
time and, latterly, our crèche, and it is lovely to see
new faces and particularly young families amongst the familiar folk in
our congregation. Please make Freddie, Nina and Rob feel welcome on
his special day.
Those children and parents who attend our Mums and Toddlers Group
(and grandparents and child-minders!) always keenly await the next
Messy Church, and the Chinese New Year themed activities on Sunday
1st March are bound to be a triumph. Thanks to Barbara Redmond for
co-ordinating all those who volunteer to make these important
outreach opportunities such a success.
As ever, if you have any news that you would like to be included in the
magazine then please pass the details to Sarah Finnigan either in
person, by email to: [email protected] or by telephone (0780)
361 8165. Many thanks!
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Fairtrade at Bamford Chapel
There has been a weekly Fairtrade stall at Bamford Chapel since 1995. We now have a rota of 30 helpers including 10 of our young people. Thank you to these for their commitment and reliability. Barbara is now one of the Traidcraft’s top fair traders which means we get a better discount on the products we buy and a longer time to pay our bills
We were awarded Fairtrade Church status in August 2004. To gain this we had to satisfy the following conditions:-
Use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which we have responsibility
Move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit
Promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activities whenever possible
During Fairtrade Fortnight we have held several events to promote Fairtrade as well as Fairtrade featuring in worship. Through the catalogues we have sold lots of craft items and we manage to sell both the “Real Easter Eggs” and the “Real Advent Calendars” which include a Christian message. Most groups use Fairtrade sugar (Tate & Lyle) and some groups use Fairtrade biscuits. To fulfil the conditions we need to be serving Fairtrade coffee and tea in all our meetings and we hope to find appropriate makes of Fairtrade tea and coffee that most people enjoy. It may be difficult for some people to understand our passion for
Fairtrade but when living in Africa for four years we have seen the
poverty in the developing world. We also stayed at a Fairtrade tea and
coffee plantation in Malawi where we could see the real benefit of
Fairtrade to the workers – there were safe practices in the plantation,
clinics and schools were provided for the children and the workers got a
fair wage.
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Remember, when you drink a cup of Fairtrade coffee (even if you’d
prefer a different brand) you are helping to change the lives of farmers
in the developing world. You are helping them grow more, earn more,
eat more.
Are you willing to sacrifice a little on cost and taste to play your part in
bringing justice to poor people?
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you
did for me.” (Matt 25: 40)
Addie and Barbara Redmond
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I would like to thank my family and
friends for the lovely flowers, visits,
cards, prayers and expressions of concern
following my recent knee replacement.
As expected, recovery is slow, hampered
by severe bruising and a suspected DVT, but each
day sees some improvement. I’m looking forward to
the better weather, being pain free and driving
again. Thanks also to the Consultant
and staff at Wrightington Hospital and
Ro ya l Old ha m who ma de the
experience as pleasurable as it could be;
and to the Doctors and District Nurses
at Edenfield Road who were there in
the initial recovery process. Charlie Peacock
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Women’s World Day of Prayer
The service has been devised and written
by the women of The Bahamas
Everyone is welcome (men as well as women)
to an uplifting, fun and enjoyable service
Friday 6th March at 2.30pm
At Bamford Chapel
Women (and men) from
Churches Together in NW Rochdale
will be participating
Church Flowers
Donations for flowers in January and February have been received from:
Donated by In Memory of
Hazel and Bob Gordon Betty Ainsworth Gillian Galloway Dad, Mum and Dad
P and J MacKimm
Dot Craig Peter
Brenda Griffiths Peter
Charlie Peacock Molly Peacock (Mam) Paul Graham (Nephew)
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Anne Frank- 70th Anniversary of her Death
Many people think of Anne Frank as a Dutch girl, but she was born – and died – in Germany. This month marks the 70th anniversary of her death – only nine months after she recorded the final entry in her diary while hiding from the Nazis in a secret annex in Amsterdam, which had become her home town after her Jewish family had fled the Nazis.
Her full name was Annelies Marie Frank, and that last entry in the diary given to her by her father was made on 1st August, 1944. She was 15 years old. Three days later her hiding place was raided following a tip-off. She and her family were taken to Auschwitz concentration camp. Anne and her sister were later transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where they died of typhus. Their father Otto, a former German soldier and businessman who was the only member of his family to survive the death camps, was impressed and deeply moved when he discovered what his daughter had written. He arranged for parts of it to be published, and it is now known universally as The Diary of Anne Frank. It has been filmed many times, adapted for the stage and translated into many languages. It tells the inspiring story of how eight people survived the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam by living for over two years in a dark, concealed part of Otto’s company building, protected and fed by – among others – two Christians who ran the company on the owner’s behalf. Throughout the diary runs a thread of faith, hope and love, tinged with despair. A fortnight before she was captured, the teenager wrote: "I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return.”
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HEYWOOD LOCAL COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING
In aid of Cancer Research UK
at
Bamford Chapel,
Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs. OL11 5PQ
on
Thursday 12th March 2015
10.00am to 12 Noon
Raffle
Tombola
No admission charge but donations gratefully received
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15th March - Mothering Sunday - 4th Sunday in Lent There is an old Jewish saying:
God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers. Mother Church, Mother Earth, Mother of the Gods - our human mothers - all of them have been part of the celebration of ‘Mothering Sunday’ - as the fourth Sunday in Lent is affectionately known. It has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 16th century.
In Roman times, great festivals were held every Spring to honour Cybele, Mother of all the Gods. Other pagan festivals in honour of Mother Earth were also celebrated. With the arrival of Christianity, the festival became one honouring Mother Church.
During the Middle Ages, young people apprenticed to craftsmen or working as ‘live-in’ servants were allowed only one holiday a year on which to visit their families - which is how ‘Mothering Sunday’ got its name. This special day became a day of family rejoicing, and the Lenten fast was broken. In some places the day was called Simnel Day, because of the sweet cakes called simnel cakes traditionally eaten on that day.
In recent years the holiday has changed and in many ways now resembles the American Mothers’ Day, with families going out to Sunday lunch and generally making a fuss of their mother on the day.
All in the Month of MARCH 500 years ago, on 28th March 1515, Saint Teresa of Avila was born. This Spanish Carmelite nun was a writer and mystic who reformed the Carmelite Order. She was also the first woman to be made a doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. 250 years ago, on 3rd March 1765, William Stukeley, English clergyman who pioneered the archaeological investigations of the ancient stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury, died.
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Date Host Church Leader
5th March Bamford Chapel Revd Joanna Watson
12th March Bamford Chapel Revd David Woodall
19th March Bamford Chapel Revd Denise Owen
26th March Bamford Chapel Revd Richard Bradley
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You are invited to the
Churches Together Lent Course 2015
Magnificent Jesus
The course will be run at lunch times from
12.30pm—2pm
Soup and a roll lunch at 12.30pm
Course starts at 1pm
Revd Karen Smeeton will be running an evening
course during Lent. (see separate poster)
We hope you will be able to come!
Further details, if needed, from Revd Richard Bradley 01706
369622 or [email protected]
Date Host Church Leader
5th March Bamford Chapel Revd Joanna Watson
12th March Bamford Chapel Revd David Woodall
19th March Bamford Chapel Revd Denise Owen
26th March Bamford Chapel Revd Richard Bradley
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Palm Sunday Prayer
Loving Father, People didn’t recognise Jesus as your son, on that first Palm Sunday, even though you had told them what to expect.
They wanted him to be their hero, to do things their way, to meet their expectations. To be a king of their own creation. Perhaps we still do.
Help us to look beyond what we think is best, to see that the values of your Kingdom are very different from the values of this world.
Help us to proclaim you as our King, to commit ourselves to building for your Kingdom to come - and then to trust you and get on with it.
In Jesus name, Amen.
By Daphne Kitching
Jesus at the gates of Jerusalem
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when the Church remembers how Jesus arrived at the gates of Jerusalem just a few days before the Passover was due to be held. He was the Messiah come to his own people in their capital city, and yet he came in humility, riding on a young donkey, not in triumph, riding on a war-horse.
As Jesus entered the city, the crowds gave him a rapturous welcome, throwing palm fronds into his path. They knew his reputation as a healer, and welcomed him. But sadly the welcome was short-lived and shallow, for Jerusalem would soon reject her Messiah, and put him to death. On this day churches worldwide will distribute little crosses made from palm fronds in memory of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.
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We started the New Year ‘stocktaking’ with the very generous donations which we received both in the run-up to Christmas and afterwards, for which we are hugely grateful. However, for the moment we have more than adequate stocks of cereals, baked beans and soup, so your donations of other items from the Shopping List to be found on our website rochdale.foodbank.org.uk would be very welcome. Demand for our service seems to show no sign of decreasing; we honoured 300 vouchers in January but this necessitated providing 4.00 tonnes of food, so your continued prayer and practical support is vital. Thank you once again." Because the people at Bamford Chapel continue to give generously, we have been asked if we could concentrate on providing long life milk and sugar. These are two of the items that frequently 'run out' making it necessary for us to go out and buy more. Of course if you prefer to give other items, they will always be gratefully received. Thank you again
Margaret Ogden and Anne Newman
“Many people will walk in and out of your life. But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” Eleanor Roosevelt A word of encouragement can sometimes make the difference between giving up and going on. The important thing about your lot in life is whether you use it for building or parking.
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I don’t know how I came to be alone and on look-out duty here at
Bamford Chapel and Norden URC. We meerkats build many
connecting burrows and I can only think I must have taken a wrong
turning and ooops suddenly here I am. However, maybe I’m meant to
be here!! I’ve lost my meerkat group but I think I’ll hang around and
see if I can help you lot.
I’ve found a big book, ‘Holi Bibel’ I think it’s called and when all is quiet I’ve started to read it. That’s where I got my name from!! Some guy called Moses climbed up high on his own (just like me in my job) to sort things out because the world had gone crazy. While he was up on the mountain all alone, he got messages from the GIAM (the GREAT I AM) who sorts out everything AND made us meerkats the cutest animals on the planet!! So maybe the GIAM has got some forgotten messages he wants me to pass on. I hope it doesn’t involve burning bushes and mighty floods cos I’m not that tall and strong – though I am fit and impressive!! I was regarded as the best look-out in the business! I’ve already realised that I’m not looking for the usual dangers like hawks and eagles but GIAM says if I stick around I’ll spot lots of dangers that you people might miss. You see when I’m on look-out duty for my meerkat group, the rest are all busy foraging, having baby meerkats, teaching the kids how to forage, helping each other out, and having fun and adventures. Which is just as it should be with you too, as long as someone’s there to recognise the dangers and warn everyone in time. And your someone is ME!
Meerkat Moses
(not the Meerkat Manor Family) Mystery Messenger from the
GIAM Things you’ve forgotten IT’S ALL SO SIMPLES!!
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Christian Aid week this year will be 10th-16th May
I am looking for a volunteer to act as the treasurer responsible for opening and counting all the money collected. Peter Sutton has done this job efficiently for the last few years but feels he would
like to take a break. If this is something you feel you could tackle, please have a word with me. Also I will be asking for collectors again and hope that we have a
really good response as in previous years. The slogan on the posters this year is "Let's walk this world together. Let's be the change we want to see!" What a privilege it is to know that we can make a difference to people's lives.
Thank you - Margaret Ogden
GIAM says He’s happy for me to stick around, keep reading THE BOOK, keep listening to Him, watch for dangers and pass on the forgotten messages when He tells me to. FORGOTTEN MESSAGE NUMBER 1 FROM GIAM: “EVERYTHING IS SO SIMPLES! LOVE ME, LOVE EVERYONE, and don’t forget to LOVE YOURSELF” (cos GIAM does!) Mercy me – I found that right at the beginning of THE BOOK! (If you don’t believe me, look up Levi-something 19: 18, 34 and Deut-something 6: 4, 5) No wonder GIAM is puzzled at the fine mess you humans have gotten into!! Right, I’m signing off – got to get to know the furniture mice better!! Love from Meerkat Moses pp Giam Submitted by Joan Warner
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Bamford Chapel
& Norden URC
presents
MUSIC AT lUNCHTIME
Lunch items priced individually
are available from 12.15 pm
Concert Admission £3.50
1.00 pm — 2.00 pm
Tuesday 10th MARCH
Jordan Bateman (Cello)
Edmund evans (Piano)
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Ladies’ Fellowship February 2015
On 12th February we were treated to a wealth of information about
antique jewellery. Most of us had brought something and we
doubted that we could all be seen in the time allotted. However we
need not have worried. John Alexander took each one individually
and 3 spectacularly valuable pieces emerged, their owners allowing
us to handle them.
Reluctantly, we collected our refreshments whilst the
speaker continued his valuations and amusing
commentary until everyone had been seen.
We had a thoroughly interesting and satisfying evening which left us
all happy but exhausted. Mr Alexander would be delighted to see
anyone at his shop in Rochdale for a free, unwritten valuation, or to
take advantage of his skills as a singer or a comedian.
Many thanks to all concerned, especially to the genius who found
this man.
Members were asked to think about the future of the Fellowship
with regard to visits, programme and nominations for next year’s
Committee.
All ladies are invited to our next meeting on Thursday 12th March at
7.45 pm, when Pauline and Bernard Thompson will speak about the
“Children of Swaziland”. If you have never been before come and
join us, bring a friend; you will be made most welcome.
Joyce Cooper (Chairman)
If God is your co-pilot, switch seats.
We change things by changing ourselves!
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Walking in the Footsteps of the Radical Jesus
(Part 3 - Final)
The Palestinian Situation
Again and again when we met Palestinians we heard about the unjust treatment they receive from the Israeli government. They did not ask for
money. They just asked us to pray for them and tell their stories. We saw the Israeli settlements in the middle of Palestinian land. The Israelis come to a hill top with their caravans, then portacabins and then their bulldozers. Soon houses are built and an affluent settlement developed.
We visited the YMCA to be introduced the Olive Tree Project. This is an initiative to prevent the Israeli land-grab through the building of settlements on Palestinian land. The Palestinians may not do anything on their own land
outside the separation wall other than cultivate it. They may not build on it, dig wells, or even collect the rainwater. They have no running water or electricity on these farms. There is often no road access to the farms, so
farming means carrying bottled water on foot or by donkey to water their olive trees. They are sometimes attacked and beaten up by settlers who are supported by the Israeli police, military and government. Unsurprisingly,
many abandon their land, and it is then settled by Israeli
settlers – mission accomplished. The olive tree project is an ingenious plan. International donors donate $20 per olive tree, which are then planted by international groups (who
are not attacked by settlers while planting) on land that is about to be colonised by settler expansion.
We visited a farmer who has settlers on his land. The Israelis have built an
access road for the settlers through his land which he is not allowed to use. He therefore has an olive grove he cannot reach to water or harvest. If he makes any noise while farming in the field, the settlers are allowed to retaliate. He nevertheless tends the land which has belonged to his family
since 1882. During a visit to Dar Al Kalima School in Bethlehem we learnt that a key part
of the ethos is to educate Christians about Islam and vice versa, preparing children for living with difference in a community that is increasingly polarised.
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In 1948, the residents of 35 Palestinian villages were driven from their homes by Israelis. They thought they’d return after a couple of weeks so they packed
minimally, locked their doors, pocketed their keys, and left. They have not yet returned. Instead, the third generation of these refugees is being born in the Aida Refugee Camp. It is a UN-operated camp. The residents have graduated from tents to tiny rooms to houses they’ve built. The camp is surrounded by
the Wall and Israeli settlements built on their land. The camp is hugely overcrowded, with an average of 1 square metre per person. The land on which they used to picnic at weekends is now forbidden to them. They get
water once a week – nominally. Often times, they wait a month for re -supply. You can tell the Palestinian houses: they have huge black water tanks on the roofs. They are watched over by Israeli soldiers from 5 towers. There is no privacy. Women sleep fully dressed because the Israeli soldiers come into the
homes at night and invade bedrooms and privacy. The Israelis control the camp. They use it to teach their soldiers to enter and storm houses. They regularly toss tear gas in – canisters litter the place. The school gates have
bullet marks and they still have their keys and papers for their homes. Their dream is to return home and the key is a symbol throughout the West Bank of their determination to return to their homes. It was a heart-rending experience being in the camp, yet amazingly encouraging to meet people who
were angry but not totally embittered. Later we listened in horror to Jack’s story. He showed his olive farm in the distance – he can’t farm it any more – it was taken from him and it is now on
the other side of the wall. Now the trees are dying because they are not being cared for. At the Caritas Baby Hospital they wanted their story to be heard. They offer care for any child – no matter what religion. This is the only
specialist paediatric hospital on the whole of the West Bank. The citizens of Hebron aren’t allowed to use their front doors – the handles have been removed. Instead, they have to exit their homes through a
trapdoor and climb over their neighbours’ roof to descend into the Palestinian quarter and avoid using the main street. The strategy of the settlers is to destroy the businesses so the shops become vacant and can be invaded.
The water issue is a huge problem and a cause of conflict for Palestinians. 85% of the West Bank water is in Israeli settler hands. They have running water 24hrs per day. They have no water tanks on their roofs. By contrast,
Palestinians have access to only 15% of the water. It is officially delivered once a week, but often isn’t. They have a continual water shortage. The farmers are not allowed to collect rain water or store it. They are entirely
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dependent on rainfall or irrigation by hand. We visited 3 Palestinian villages in the Jordan Valley with PARC a Christian Aid
partner. One of the main problems for them is lack of water. Water is under the control of the Israeli authority and they take 80% of the water supply for their own use. The Jordan Valley is fertile agricultural land and is the food basket of the Palestinians, but water is needed to ensure food security. At
Jeflik village we learnt that the main problem was lack of water especially for drinking. There are 2 outlets for the whole village whilst on the Israeli
settlements there are 2 outlets per household. The
Palestinians are not allowed to build new wells. It would be cheaper to switch the power for the pump from diesel to electricity but this is not allowed either. In Bedale village, previously to 1968, there were 6 wells. The Israelis
shut these and built 3 new deep wells reducing the amount of water allowed for the Palestinian villagers from 240 to 70 cubic metres per hour. Here also the Israelis are
controlling the water supply and the supply is not regular so they are sometimes without water. The last village we visited was Frush Beit Dajan . Here the water used to come from a spring but the Israelis dug deep wells thus reducing the water supply to the villages. An application had
been submitted to dig a new well but as yet this has not been approved. Also there is water leakage in the irrigation system. The system is old and too expensive to repair.
Ata, the farmer we met, has Roman aquafers on his farm; these have been destroyed by Israeli soldiers. He lives against the settler wall and has suffered huge injustice and intimidation. He has had his home taken over, first by the
settlers and then by the military, and had it gutted and all his belongings burnt. He has been beaten and had crops destroyed. He has twice had his home bulldozed. When that happened, he and his family lived in the cave at the back of their home that still forms part of their kitchen. They use it for old
times’ sake, but also as proof of habitation for the day when they expect the settlers to break through the roof of the cave from above and claim that this is uninhabited. He had us for tea – all 17 of us – and told his story.
We had lunch with Mohammed, a Bedouin, who gave us homemade bread, a fabulous mezze and delicious yogurt made using their own goats’ milk. There was no cutlery so we ate with our fingers. After a delicious meal we were shown the site where his brother’s tents were demolished a few days before
the family wedding. The Israelis demolished them so that they crushed and killed the chickens in the coop and also the wedding food. They then covered
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the wreckage in animal dung to prevent the family salvaging anything for the wedding. But again, the story is one of displacement, dispossession and intimidation. They bought the land, but they can’t develop it. So each time
the family home is rebuilt, it is bulldozed.
In the Anglican Christ Church, Nazareth we heard from Father Nael about the life and struggles of Arab, Palestinian, Christian Israelis. He talked about the
discrimination in education and the job market because they were not Jews. He felt the Jews were trying to divide the Christians and the Muslims and so gain power. He also
thanked the House of Commons for voting to recognise Palestine as a state. One sign of hope here was that Muslims, Jews and Christian leaders meet monthly for discussion, prayer and meditation.
We met farmers who have the title deeds for their land that go back to the Ottoman Mandate, yet they are not allowed to build on their land and their water is heavily restricted. Settlers, on the other hand, who live on
confiscated sections of their properties and who harass and intimidate them are allowed to build, expand and have access to unlimited supplies of water and electricity. They are guarded by the Israeli military. Chillingly, when the Israelis set the mountain pastures alight in order to prevent the Palestinian
farmers from grazing their herds, they send in doctors in case any settlers are hurt. There is no provision made for injured Palestinians. Because they are not allowed to build on their lands, the homes are necessarily temporary – and therefore subject to summary demolition! The owners are issued with
demolition orders. If they choose to demolish the home themselves, they avoid having to pay a tax to find Israeli army demolition charges! We met Mohammed, whose home was one of 5 demolished just that morning at 6am.
This is the third year in a row that he has had his home demolished. He is determined to keep rebuilding: it is his land, he told us, and if the Israeli settlers can build on his land, he is determined that he will build his own home for his family. Demolitions are designed to be as deliberately intimidating and
humiliating as possible. Whereas it would take 2 soldiers to demolish a home, the military arrives in force and at a time when the children are still at home. The occupants are ordered to leave the home or else be bulldozed with it.
Children threatened by armed soldiers and who have to watch their homes destroyed are emotionally and psychologically scarred. We were shocked and silenced by the brutality and horror of what we encountered on that day.
When visiting the Orthodox School of Bethany, Sister Martha, the inspiring
principal told us about their water supply problems. In the affluent Israeli
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settlement of Ma’ale Adummim just across the valley there is water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 4 municipal swimming pools and a fountain. The school gets water only twice a week in the summer and they often run out. One
sister has the job of checking the water tanks daily and when they are low they use imaginative methods to conserve water. They buy bottled water to cook with, use disposable plastic dishes to reduce washing up, send the laundry to the Russian Orthodox female monastery in Jerusalem and use the
same water for washing several children or even take them to the monastery. Unfortunately the stink in the toilets doesn’t go away. Sister Martha is a Maths teacher like myself and she has started classes in mathematical
problem solving. Her strategic thinking ability is helping her care for the children in her school particularly the 15 children from broken homes who board at the school.
In the order of service book at St George’s Anglican cathedral we
read, “Pilgrims come here to seek prayerfully the decisions God wants them to make. And God will always surprise us. God has not finished with us or our church yet. God, the Holy Spirit, will
lead us into all truth and we who come here as pilgrims must be open to the spirit’s leading, open to God’s surprising revelation to us.” (Bishop Dawani). God is leading us to transform our lives. He has certainly been a God of surprises on this pilgrimage – the
surprise of how terribly disadvantaged the Palestinian community is, the surprise of the thought provoking Bible studies, the surprise of the beautiful, symbolic church at Magdala and the excitement of the excavations there, the surprise of the wonderful hospitality of the Bedouins and not forgetting the
surprise of the floating in the Dead Sea experience. What surprises has this
transforming God got for us now we have returned home?
Addie and Barbara Redmond
Answer to Prayer
A small boy badly wanted a baby brother, so his dad suggested he pray every night for one. The boy prayed earnestly, night after night, but his prayers seemingly weren't answered. So after a few weeks, he didn't bother to ask anymore.
Some months later, his dad said they were going to see Mum in the hospital and he was going to get a big surprise. When they got to the room, the little boy saw his mother holding two babies. The little boy stood still for a moment, and then cautiously observed: "It's a good thing I stopped praying when I did."
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For Our Children and Young People
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BAMFORD CHAPEL & NORDEN URC MAGAZINE
EDITORS:
Linda Peacock 01706 522593
Martyn James 01706 868885
SECRETARY:
Joan Ashton 01706 360395
DATES FOR THE APRIL MAGAZINE
Articles to be handed in by: Sunday 15th March
Magazine to be completed by: Thursday 26th March
Magazine distributed: Sunday 29th March
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BAMFORD CHAPEL & NORDEN United Reformed Church
Charity - Reg’d No 1128387
(FAIRTRADE CHURCH) Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs. OL11 5PQ
The Manse, Norden Road,
ROCHDALE, Lancs
OL11 5PQ Telephone: 01706 369622
www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
Minister : Rev Richard Bradley
Email: [email protected]
Church Secretary: John Lapworth Telephone: 01706 632460
Email: [email protected]
Wedding Secretary: John Lapworth
Telephone: 01706 632460 Email: [email protected]
Lettings Manager: Linda Kerford Telephone: 01706 624256
Email: [email protected]
Times of Services: Family Worship : 10.30 am : Holy Communion 1st Sunday in month Evening Worship : 6.00 pm : Holy Communion 3rd Sunday in month
