Our Community July & August 2012

OUR COMMUNITY

ST . T HOMAS’ CHURCH, KE RE SLE Y, AN D KE RE SLE Y V I LLAGE COM MUN I T Y CHURCH

www.st-thomas-keresley.org.uk

J U L Y — A U G U S T

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Inside this issue:

Parish Calendar 2

Local news 3

Eric Liddell 4

Olympic thoughts 5

St Thomas’ past 6

Parish Register 6

Smile lines 7

Children and Young people

7

Mouse page 8

Wise words 8

Make the least ado

about your greatest gifts. Be content to

act, and leave the

talking to others.

HOLIDAY CLUB 2012

Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August,

10am until 12 noon, St. Thomas Church Hall

For ages 5 to 11

JULY—AUGUST 2012 PAGE 2

July

Sunday 1st 9am St Thomas

Holy Communion and hymns. Mark Norris 10.30am St Thomas

Family Service. Claire McArthur and Pete Hudson 10.30am KVCC

Family Communion. Mark Norris

Sunday 8th 9am St Thomas

Holy Communion. Mark Norris 10.30am St Thomas

Family Communion and Baptism. Mark Norris 10.30am KVCC

Steve Medley. Family worship



Family Worship. Mark Norris and Pete Hudson 10.30am KVCC

Family Communion. Andrew DeVille

Sunday 22nd 9am St Thomas


Family Communion . Mark Norris. Sunday school Party as they break up for the summer.

10.30am KVCC Morning worship


Holy Communion. Mark Norris 10.30am

Family Communion and Thanksgiving. Mark Norris 10.30am KVCC

Family worship. Steve Medley

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SUMMER SERVICES AT ST THOMAS’ AND KVCC

Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’ Church at 10.30am for Children and Young People (during term time) 1st Sunday

Family Service in Church 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays

3-11s, Sunday School in Galilee Room, 11+, Pathfinders in the Church Hall. All join the service around 11.25am

3rd Sunday All ages start in Church

SUMMER BREAK—FINISH 22nd

JULY, RESTART 9TH SEPTEMBER

Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August 10-12 daily

Holiday club. See page 1 for details

August

Sunday 5th

9am St Thomas Holy Communion. Mark Norris

10.30am St Thomas Holiday Club Family Service. Steve Medley

10.30am KVCC Family Communion. Mark Norris


Holy Communion by extension. Margaret Potter 10.30am St Thomas

Family Worship. Pete Hudson 10.30am KVCC

Family Worship. Steve Medley



Family Communion. Mark Norris 10.30am KVCC

Morning Worship. Ethel Martin and Steve Medley

Sunday 26th

9am St Thomas Holy Communion by extension. Claire McArthur

10.30am St Thomas Family Communion and Baptism

10.30am KVCC Family worship. Steven Medley

September

Sunday 2nd 9am St Thomas

Holy Communion and hymns. Mark Norris 10.30am St Thomas

Family Service. Mark Norris and Claire McArthur 10.30am KVCC

Holy Communion

Other Diary dates

Saturday 4th August Family Games. See page 1/2 Sunday school and Pathfinders restart on 9th September.

Looking ahead . . . Our Harvest Service will be on Sunday 7th October. More details in the September issue on what we will be supporting this year through our

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Sunday 8th July In the Vicarage garden after the morning service.

All welcome. Bring something to cook, something to sit on and something to share.

Barbecue

Family

Church

ON YOUR MARKS …. GET SET… GO! . . .is the name of our holiday club this year, and takes its inspiration from the worldwide sporting

event taking place this summer. It will be meeting Monday to Friday from 30th July to 3rd August

in the Church Hall in Wickham Close,10am until 12 noon. It is for children aged 5 to 11 and there is a

charge of £1.50 per child per day.

So what will be happening? Each day there will be with activities as we

are invited to ‘join up with other athletes and take part in the ‘Global

Games’ to discover what it was like for the disciples to follow Jesus and

how you can be on his team.’

For more information or to book a place please contact Steve Medley 024 76331910 or watch out

for flyers available in local primary schools

Following on from the holiday club there will be a

Family Sports Day

Saturday 4th August, 11-3pm

at the Church Hall

Fun games and activities for all the family, bring a picnic lunch. BBQ food will be available.

Don’t forget the Holiday Club Family Service at St Thomas Church on Sunday 5th August at 10.30am.

THE MAGIC FLUTE COMES TO WARWICKSHIRE - “GLYNDEBOURNE” STYLE! What could be more enjoyable than a picnic at a picturesque historic house followed by a delightful performance of Mozart's light and humorous opera The Magic Flute?

Promoted by Fillongley Church and Meriden Rotary in aid of the Emmaus charity, Regents Opera will be performing a fully-staged version of Mozart's The Magic Flute in the grounds of Fillongley Lodge on Saturday 7th July 2012 at 7.00pm. Sung in English by a cast of outstanding singers with chamber ensemble accompaniment, this is a must for regular opera-goers and novices alike.

“There have been many eccentric productions of great operas, some of them in our major houses in recent times, which have not come remotely near to the charm of this new look by Regents Opera. For anyone fortunate enough to find it billed at their theatre, it should be a must!" British Theatre Guide

In a specially erected auditorium, just in case it rains, the audience and performance will be under cover, but the grounds and lawns of the venue will be open for picnics and casual enjoyment of the summer's musical event. Why not come along and enjoy a “Glyndebourne” for the Midlands?

Seats are priced at £35 and are bookable from the Box Office on 07929 351159 or via the Fillongley Village website: www.community-council.org.uk/Fillongley/events

contact for further details: John O’Brien 01676 41409 / [email protected]

JULY—AUGUST 2012 PAGE 4

E very Olympic Games brings its own memorable events. In recent years, a host of

athletes from a range of sports have won Gold in epic contests. Swimmer Michael Phelps scooped eight golds in the 2008 Olympics, while Sir Steve Redgrave won gold medals at five Olympic games from 1984 to 2000.

Even curling gave us a memorable moment when the Scottish team scooped gold medals in the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City.

The modern Olympic games began in 1896 and was held in Athens and even the early Games have had their own heroes. Perhaps none more memorable than E Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, who competed in the eighth Olympics, held in Paris in 1924. They scooped gold in the 100m and 400m respectively and their medal winning exploits were immortalised in the ever-popular 1980 film Chariots of Fire.

Eric’s story is well known. Nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, he was the second son for the Revd James Dunlop Liddell and his wife who were serving in China with the London Mission Society.

Eric studied at Eltham College, Blackheath and went on to study Pure Science at Edinburgh University. Throughout his formative days, his skill at athletics was greatly admired: he captained the school’s cricket and rugby teams and awarded cups for his athletic prowess. He was also dubbed the fastest runner in Scotland.

It was only natural that he be selected for the British team competing in the 1924 Olympics.

Underpinning his entire life was his strong Christian faith and it’s well-known that he withdrew from the 100 metres race – his best event – because the heats took place on a Sunday. Instead, he focused on training for the 400m race.

On the day of the race, he was handed a bible verse by an American team masseur. The paper simply read: “Those who honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). It proved to be the inspiration he needed – not only did he win, but

Remembering Eric Liddell

he set a new world record which held for another 12 years.

After the games, he left the UK to follow his parents’ footsteps and become a missionary in China. Teaching in schools, he also worked towards his ordination, which occurred while home on furlough in 1932.

Due to unrest in China, he was captured by Japanese soldiers in 1943 and held in the Weishen Internment Camp. His natural leadership skills saw him organise life for his fellow captives, becoming known as Uncle Eric by the children.

One of his fellow prisoners, Norman Cliff, said of him: “[He was] the finest Christian gentleman it has been my pleasure to meet. In all the time in the camp, I never heard him say a bad word about anybody.”

He died in 1945, still in confinement, having refused the chance to leave the camp in a prisoner exchange, instead offering his place to a pregnant woman.

But his witness, love and grace have long outlived him, offering inspiration for millions.

His legacy lives on, not least through The Eric Liddell Centre, an Edinburgh-based charity providing specialist caring services as an expression of compassionate Christian values.

For more on the centre, log on to www.ericliddell.org.

Those who honour me

I will honour 1 Samuel 2:30.

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invited to Olympia to test their prowess against others - not just athletically, as we have noted, but artistically.

By contrast, the modern Games have become a celebration of national triumphalism, a notion far removed from the original Greek model, but also foreign to the vision of de Coubertin. He would have deplored medals tables, anthems, flag-raisings and all the media hype that surrounds perceived national success or failure. Patriotic pride has attached itself to the accumulation of gold medals - many in Britain will write this year’s Games off as a failure if Team GB does not win more of them than we did last time.

The ancient Games are conspicuous in the New Testament, especially in the letters of St Paul. He must have been a bit of an athletics fan, because time and again he reverts to the Games for illustrations of Christian pilgrimage. The marathon was the greatest of all the contests, and that provided him with the perfect picture of the faithful life, from the starting line to the distant finish.

The Christian competes, but not against the other runners. Our contest is with all the things that will distract us, slow us down, divert our eyes from the ultimate goal. And at the end of the marathon of life there is the prize, the ‘crown of glory’ - not just for the winner, but for everyone who completes the course.

‘I have fought the good fight’, Paul writes. ‘I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ Not won, you notice, but finished. And for that, he says, he will receive the crown - ‘and not only me but all who have longed to see him’ (2 Timothy 4:8). The apostle and the founder of the modern Games would agree on one thing for sure. The prize is not for winning, but for taking part.

Editor: Canon David Winter, a former Head of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC, continues his series presenting a point of view...

J ust to set the record straight, the Olympic Games - yes, the events that will bring much of

London to a standstill this month - were founded in 776BC in ancient Greece. They involved athletics, poetry and music and were held at Olympia (hence their title), a centre for the worship of Zeus. You may recall that mount Olympus - the highest point in Greece - was the dwelling place of the gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman religion.

Once the Christian faith prevailed in the Roman Empire the Games were abolished, in the fourth century AD. What we have this month is a modern revival of the Games, the brain-child of a Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin. It was he who memorably declared that the object of the Games was not the winning but the taking part.

The ancient Olympic Games had no element of international competition, no rankings, no flags or national anthems. The youth of the world were

The way I see it: Welcome to the real Olympics!

I have fought a good fight,

I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

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From 80 years ago . . .

THE CHURCH’S CLUB FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

I should like to call your special attention to the following letter, which explains itself. Anything that we can do to show our practical sympathy with the Unemployed is of the utmost value, and we church- people ought always to remember Our Lord’s tenderness towards the unfortunate. GHR (the Vicar)

5 St Patrick’s Road, Coventry,

June 20th 1932

Dear Mr Editor

At a recent meeting of the Committee of the above, with the Provost in the Chair, I was instructed to write to the editors of the parish magazines of the churches in this Rural Deanery to ask their permission in this way to bring the work which we are doing before the notice of the Church people of Coventry. The club was opened in January last in Holy Trinity Schools, several rooms of which have been most generously placed at our disposal by the Vicar and Churchwardens. The scheme was commenced with the knowledge and approval of the bishop and a committee of management was appointed by the Chapter. This committee consists of a number of ladies and gentlemen in addition to representatives of the Clergy and meets regularly at the house of Mrs Davidson in priory Row.

We feel that the foundation of this Club has been abundantly justified. The number of men who attend regularly has been far greater than was

anticipated, and the general tone and conduct has bee excellent. When it was suggested that the club should be closed for the summer months a largely signed petition was presented to the committee urging that the club should remain open as it was so greatly appreciated. Card games, billiards, ping-pong, etc are played by the men and tea and cakes can be had for a small charge. It is hoped considerably to extend the work in the near future. A boot repairing department has already been opened and leather is provided for the men to mend their own and their children’s boots. There is also a carpenter’s shop where many useful articles are made.

There is no need to emphasize the value of this work. It is little enough that we can do to help the Unemployed, but here surely is one way of showing some practical sympathy with them. We confidently appeal, therefore, for the interested and support of your readers. The Club is entirely dependent upon the voluntary offerings of church people and our funds are already exhausted. Donations, large or small, should be sent direct to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr A Carter, Beechwood Avenue. Gifts of clothing for those in special need, leather for the boot repairing, wood and tools for the carpentry would also be greatly appreciated; these should be sent to Holy Trinity Schools, Hales Street, or they can be called for if a postcard is sent to me at the above address.

Yours faithfully

GEOFFREY H K PEDLEY, Hon. Secretary

BAPTISM

10th June Finnian Logan Burford

WEDDINGS

4th June Katheryn Elizabeth Milsom & Ross Anthony Stretton

8th June Kerrie Louise Harris & Lewis William Peter Caven

9th June Joanna Louise Carney & Simon Robert Boyce

PARISH REGISTER

9th June Claire Michelle Thompson & Craig Stephen Devoisey

22nd June Natalie Marie Vail & Christopher David Kinnie

BURIAL

23rd May Betty Margaret Jones aged 90 of Beaufort Nursing Home (formerly of Kelmscote Road)

12th June

Dennis James Buttress aged 84 of Thompsons Road

St Thomas’ Keresley and Coundon

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Regular Activities take a summer

break for the school holidays

and restarting in September

The Holiday Club will

be meeting

30th July to 3rd August

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Uniformed Groups Meet in the Church Hall :

9th Rainbows, Mondays, 6-7pm 13th Brownies, Mondays, 6.00 - 7.30pm 9th Brownies, Wednesdays, 6.00 - 7.30pm 9th Guides, Thursdays, 6.30 - 8.30pm

Meet in the Scout Hut: 41st Cubs, Mondays, 6.45 - 8.30pm 41st Scouts, Tuesdays, 7.00 - 9.00pm 41st Beavers, Fridays, 6.00 - 7.30pm (for 6-8 year olds )

Drop In Centre for teenagers

Not currently meeting

Youth Essence

Thursdays 7.30pm to 9pm in the Galilee Room, School year 9 upwards

Regular Activities in the Church Hall

NB the Church Hall is not usually available for late night Discos

Pre-school Playgroup: Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 11.30am and 12.30pm – 3pm

Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts meet on weekday evenings. See above for details.

First Steps

. . . with Jesus

For babies and pre-school children with their parents and carers, weekly in term time

Mondays 1.30-2.30pm Meets in the Galilee Room,

Tuesdays 1.30-2.45pm. Meets at Keresley Village Community Church

Children and Young People

Letter to God

A Sunday School teacher invited her children to write a letter to God. They were to bring their letter back the following Sunday. One little boy wrote, "Dear God, We had a good time at church today. Wish you could have been there."

Trailblazers Children's Club

Mondays 5-6pm at Keresley Village Community Church

Thursday at St T’s

Thursdays From 6pm to 7pm For 5-11 years Meets in the Galilee Room

Bowls

A small boy stunned his parents when he began to empty his pockets of coins. Finally his mother asked him where he had got all that money.

"At church," the boy replied nonchalantly. "They have bowls of it."

Preacher

After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mum, I’ve decided to become a minister when I grow up.”

“That’s okay with us, but what made you decide that?”

“Well,” said the little boy, “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and talk, than to have to sit and listen.”

Cry baby

A woman took her 4-month-old baby to visit her neighbour. The baby began to fuss soon after they arrived. Callum, the 5-year-old son of the neighbour she visited said, "Where did you get this little baby from?"

"He was sent from Heaven," the mother replied. As the baby continued to cry and yell, the little boy said, "I bet I know why he was sent from Heaven. God wanted it quiet up there!"

Smile lines

Documents

Our Community July & August 2012