The Magazine of IngatestoneAug 08, 2018 · Magazine Editors Organist Pianist Prayer Partners URC under fives (URUS) Women’s Friendship Circle June Parsons (Serving Elder) Bob Furley

1

The Magazine of

Ingatestone United Reformed Church

August and September 2018

‘...you are wonderfully made’ 2

Revd. Barnabas Shin

W e welcome Barnabas Shin to our congregation as our new minister here in Ingatestone. We all look forward expectantly to his leadership of our church, the wider pastorate and to getting to know

him better over the next few weeks and months. We also look forward to meeting his wife Maria and son Nathanael, aged eighteen, in due course. We pray for God’s strength to enable us to do all we can to help Barnabas settle into the life of our church and within the community of Ingatestone, and also to help give him the time he needs to observe and prayerfully consider how to best lead us. Barnabas was brought up in South Korea and first attended a Presbyterian Church when he was five years old, a church he stayed with until he moved to Bristol in 1999. From 1997 to date Barnabas has committed time to theological and ministerial studies as well as having opportunity for pastoral and assistant ministerial work in Bristol and London respectively. Maria, is involved with church community work in Chelmsford and Nathanael has just finished his sixth form and hopes to go to University in the autumn. At the time of this magazine going to print the date of his Ordination and Induction service are not available. Nevertheless, we are encouraged and thankful that Barnabas has given a commitment to lead us, and we pray for God’s strength and blessing upon him as he commences his service and ministry among us.

the editors

3

Church Contacts Church Website Church Email Church Telephone Church Treasurer

www.ingatestoneurc.org.uk [email protected] Bob Furley (Serving Elder)

355875 352917

Church Flowers/Decoration Buildings Manager Lettings Secretary Magazine Editors Organist Pianist Prayer Partners URC under fives (URUS) Women’s Friendship Circle

June Parsons (Serving Elder) Bob Furley Carolyn Searle Tony and Clare Cox Tony Cox (Serving Elder) Carol Brown Valerie Rees (Serving Elder) Sue Furley Rosalie Mullender

352779 352917 355630 353186 353186 353486 222484 352917 353303

3 4

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

I n his sermon on 15th July Revd. Barnabas Shin quoted from Psalm 139:14; ‘I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.’

First, these words are a clear statement about the amazing capabilities of the human body God has created. Our bodies are made of billions of cells and a myriad of parts that can only be adequately explained by a loving and wise Creator and Designer. Secondly, this verse gives an indication of our value from God's perspective. He not only designed us but he loves us. Thirdly, this verse reveals the inestimable worth of all human life. A direct application of this verse is the protection of life at all levels, from the womb to the final breath of a person's life. This is why so many care deeply about those mistreated or undervalued by others in society and for the elderly and those with terminal illnesses. Next, God's qualities of having all power and all knowledge are revealed in this verse. The same God who created the billions of galaxies in the universe also knows the number of hairs on our head. Finally, in this verse we find yet another reason to worship the Lord God Almighty. He has created us in such wisdom, power, and love, and the only proper response is to honour Him and glorify His name. In this context the word ‘fearfully’ means to have a respect and reverence for God. A story is told of a man who was once exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag containing hardened clay moulds, each about the size of a tennis ball. It was as if someone had once left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he threw the moulds one at a time out into the sea. Suddenly, he dropped one of them and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excitedly, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the clay balls he had left. Then it struck him; he had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown some of the moulds with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he just threw it away. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know a person, and if we ask God to show us that person in the way He sees them, then the gem inside the outer clay begins to shine brightly. May we never come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships and relationships because human gems were hidden in seemingly unattractive clay. And may we see everyone in our world as God sees them; fearfully and wonderfully made! the editors

5

Women’s Friendship Circle

W e continue to enjoy meeting together twice a month although we are now approaching our summer break when there will be no formal meetings throughout August. However, we would still like to

meet informally at some point and plan to get together for a meal at the community centre during the month. We had an interesting and enjoyable afternoon on 6th June when Carol Brown led us in our favourite hymns and readings. The other three meetings in June and July were social afternoons which are always a relaxing time together. Our meetings will recommence on 5th September when everyone will be welcome. In the meantime enjoy your holidays.

5th September: ‘Help the Aged’ by Ben Lacey 19th September: Social afternoon Rosalie Mullender

Ardtully Retirement Residence

T he Ardtully home has offered a first class care service in Ingatestone for many years and many elderly people, especially from the local community, have benefitted from the professional support and service

provided. Occasionally, members of our own congregation at URC have spent time in the home. Throughout much of this time Colin Hunt and I have faithfully represented URC in our commitment to the home on the first Thursday of every month. As part of the local outreach of Ingatestone Fryerning Churches we have provided meaningful short sermons together with musical accompaniment for well known hymns. Revd. Ruth Mitchell was also able to attend occasionally but her visits became increasingly curtailed due to her declining health. Colin and I are now no longer able to continue this ministry, especially as my keyboard recently packed up, and I would like to thank Kate Evans who succeeded me as the visiting musician. Ardtully is ably supported by other churches from within Ingatestone but as to our future involvement we will wait and see if our new minister, or anyone else from our congregation, will continue this very worthwhile outreach. In the meantime I want to thank Colin, Ruth and Kate for their help and I send best wishes to them all including the residents and staff of Ardtully.

Carol Brown Editors note: and thank you too Carol for your many years of faithful service to this valuable community witness.

6

Quiet Day

Saturday 1st September, 2018

URC Little Baddow, 10.00am to 4.00pm led by Colin and Grace Baldock

Bring your own lunch

Please advise Tony Cox if you wish to attend

7

S ummer has truly arrived with continual sunshine and record-breaking temperatures. It is several weeks since it rained and the scenes of fires on the Yorkshire moors have been devastating. It is a stark reminder of

how essential water is to life and how much we take it for granted. We can just turn on a tap and we have this life sustaining liquid. So many people in third world countries do not have this privilege and it is good sometimes just to reflect and thank God for his provision. We have much to be thankful for. Georgina and Rupert (George and Ru) Witter welcomed their baby son into the world on 12th June (see page 15). Harrison Bear William weighed in at 6lbs 15oz and is beautiful. Many congratulations to George and Ru, especially as the last few months have not been easy due to health concerns, but by God’s grace all is now well. John and Janice Smith have had a much needed holiday which has done them both good. Tony and Clare have also had a break and June managed to have a few days away with her daughter Jane, sure in the knowledge that Norman was being well cared for at the Brentwood Care Centre. It is a reminder that we all need a break to recharge our batteries. Ricky Furley has had some challenges recently and we pray that with the support of Bob and Sue, and his brother Jonathan, he will overcome these difficulties. Jim Mitchell continues to have a program of treatment which is very debilitating but with Ruth by his side he is coping. They both value our prayers. Ann George is finding life more difficult and it is an increasing problem for her to get out. Unfortunately, she recently broke her elbow and is now receiving care at St Francis Hospice. We pray for comfort and peace for Ann, and her son Timothy and daughter Susan. Doreen Quinlivan has had more tests and is awaiting results. Rosalie Mullender has been unwell recently but her son Graham is back at work, doing well and for this we give thanks. Keith Mathers is still waiting for his knee surgery. Other members of the church family needing continued prayerful support are Ron and Carol Brown, Dorothy Watts, Doreen Williamson, Sylvia Simpson and Ray Reynolds. We pray that God’s peace will surround them and grant them strength and encouragement. Finally, we congratulate Ron and Carol Brown whose granddaughter Catherine, aged twenty-one, has graduated from Canterbury University attaining a 2.1 result. From September she will be teaching at Elim Hall Primary School, Witham, but before then Catherine will be working part-time at the Play and Resource Centre for disabled children in Braintree. Ron and Carol are looking forward to next January when Catherine’s graduation ceremony will take place. Please continue to remember in prayer Sue Furley as she leads URUS and Rosalie Mullender as she leads Women’s Friendship Circle.

Valerie Rees

8

Diary for August 2018

5 Sun 9.45am

10.30am

Prayer meeting at the church

Morning Worship and Communion with ELIM Church led by Pastor Lee Carmichael

7 Tue 1.30pm URUS United Reformed Under 5’s in the hall - school aged children welcome

12 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by Revd. Geoffrey Griggs


19 Sun 10.30am IFCT Morning Worship at the Parish Church. There will be no service at the URC - see page 3


26 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by Valerie Rees - see below


Songs of Praise

26th August 2018

H ave you a favourite hymn or worship song? Is there a poem or Bible reading that has a particular meaning for you.

Would you like to read it yourself? On Sunday 26th August there will be an opportunity once again for you to share in these favourites at our Morning Worship. Please let me have your choices as soon as possible. Many thanks.

Valerie Rees

9

Diary for September 2018

1 Sat 10.00am Quiet Day at URC Little Baddow - see page 6

2 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship with Communion led by Tony Cox

4 Tue 1.30pm URUS United Reformed Under 5’s in the hall

5 Wed 2.00pm Women’s Friendship Circle - ‘Help the Aged’

9 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by Revd. Geoffrey Griggs

11 Tue 1.30pm

7.30pm

URUS United Reformed Under 5’s in the hall

Elders Meeting at 7 Deepdene

16 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by Chris Harvey

18 Tue 1.30pm URUS United Reformed Under 5’s in the hall - Rhyme Time

19 Wed 2.00pm Women’s Friendship Circle - Social Afternoon

23 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by Amanda Dolan-Harrison

25 Tue 1.30pm URUS United Reformed Under 5’s

30 Sun 9.45am

10.30am


Morning Worship led by a representative from ELIM Church

Harvest Service with Pre-School

Sunday, 7th October 2018, 10.30am

10

Rotas for August and September 2018 Aug

5 Vestry Elder Welcoming Elder Bible Reader Door Steward Communion Servers

Tony Cox Bob Furley ) )from ELIM Church )

12 Vestry Elder Welcoming Elder Bible Reader Door Steward

June Parsons Tony Cox June Parsons Ron Brown

19 Joint IFCT Christian Unity Service at Parish Church at 10.30am

No service at URC


Carol Brown June Parsons Pat Tyson Jean Mathers

Sep 2

Vestry Elder Welcoming Elder Bible Reader Door Steward Communion Servers

Bob Furley Carol Brown Liz Alderton Rosalie Mullender Trevor and Angela Morley


Valerie Rees Angel Morley Tony Drake Doreen Quinlivan


Tony Cox Trevor Morley Angela Morley Pauline Ficken


June Parsons Bob Furley Trevor Morley Ron Brown


Carol Brown Tony Cox Sue Furley Jean Mathers

If any of your allotted dates are inconvenient then please swap with someone and let me know. Bible readers are asked to announce the page numbers for both the standard and large print Bibles. Thank you.

Valerie Rees

11

Lectionary readings for August and September 2018

October and November 2018 Magazine Please ensure all articles are given to the editors by

Sunday 9th September 2018

16th September Prov-erbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38

23rd September Jeremiah 11:18-20 Psalm 54 James 3:13-4:8 Mark 9:30-37

30th September Num-bers 11:4-29 Psalm 19:7-14 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50

26th August Joshua 24:1-18 Psalm 34:15-22 Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69

2nd September Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Psalm 15 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-23

9th September Isaiah 35:4-7 Psalm 146 James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37

5th August Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 78:23-29 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35

12th August 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:1-8 Ephesians 4:25-5: 2 John 6:35-51

19th August Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 34:9-14 Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58

The Beauty and Simplicity of the Gospel

W riting of Jesus, the apostle Paul tells us ‘God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in

heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Phil.2:9-11). Elsewhere Paul confirms that ‘God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things on earth, or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross’ (Col. 1:19,20). The good news of the gospel is that all humanity will, in due time, come to know the God of creation. It is inevitable and it will happen. Christ so perfectly fulfilled his mission as ‘Saviour of all’ (1Tim.4:10, 1Cor.15:22) that regardless of where we find ourselves, now or later, whether it be in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, one day all people will bow in worship and adoration to him. ‘There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace.’ All that is presently not under his rule will come under his rule. ‘The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this’ (Isa.9:7). Arthur Williams

12

From Russia-with love!

O ver the past few weeks much of the world has been united by sport; specifically the Football

World Cup. France may have won the trophy after a thrilling final against Croatia but, ultimately, sport was the winner. The 32-nation tournament drew many positives, especially for the hosts Russia for whom the competition was a major public relations coup and a fitting return on an investment for a nation that spent heavily to put together this most popular sports event. That the 64-match tournament ended

incident-free was a huge credit for President Putin’s administration and a great advertisement for football, the beautiful game, especially in the wake of strong anti-Kremlin sentiments ahead of the tournament. But as France, Russia and the world celebrate the conclusion of a successful sporting spectacle, one of the most enduring legacies must be of the Christian footballers, many of them famous household names, who used the competition as an opportunity to testify and to proclaim their faith. Unsurprisingly, little of this

reached the national news but an interesting story is told of the team mates of Radamel Falcao, the well-known Colombian striker, who had to avoid him every Sunday throughout the competition for fear of him taking them to church! None of the nations rep-resented by the players pictured here progressed to the final stages of the competition, and that would have been a disappointment to them. Neverthe-less, in a wonderful way, they had an even greater victory to proclaim and celebrate! ‘With Jesus you’ll never be alone. Thank U Jesus.’

Radamel Falcao

Lionel Messi

Odion Ighalo

13

The story behind Harvest Festivals

I t is not easy, during a heatwave in the middle of July, with the light evenings, BBQ meals, holidays abroad and with Summer still in its infancy, to start thinking about events and activities later in the year; a time when

the nights begin to draw in and the cheery hot days of summer become a distant memory. Perhaps we are not yet prepared, nor do we want to think about, for example, the season of harvest, celebrated by our church with the pre-school this year on Sunday 7th October, particularly so as our own personal efforts down the allotment and in the garden are floundering, with our flowers, crops and vegetables struggling to cope with the parched and dry soil. Nevertheless, Autumn will soon be upon us and as it approaches many people naturally think about giving thanks for the harvest and the food they enjoy. Or do they? Have they always done so? Who began Harvest Festivals? For many of us associated with church life and the Christian calendar it seems pretty obvious, and the done thing, to thank God for the harvest at the appropriate time of the year. Sometimes it is celebrated earlier in September and for our American friends, usually on Thanksgiving Day in November, but actually, it is a comparatively recent church celebration. Less than two hundred years ago, harvest was not formally ‘celebrated’ in church, but in the taverns and on village greens of the countryside, with wild drinking and eating before the harshness of winter set in. But all that changed when in 1834 an eccentric clergyman called the Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker arrived in Morwenstowe, a tiny hamlet of a few farms perched high on the windswept cliffs of the north Cornish coast. The church had been without a vicar for years, but now Robert Hawker strode the lanes of Morwenstowe in a bright purple or red cassock. Rural life in those days was harsh, and Hawker soon realised the sheer effort needed to survive in those parts. Harvest was the only thing that got people through the winter: a poor one meant starvation. Each bad year Hawker buried some of his congregation. But the summer of 1843 was perfect, and the harvest that year was exceptionally bountiful. The people of Morwenstowe were getting set to celebrate with their usual abandon, when Hawker stepped in. Who, he asked, did they think had given them the harvest? Were they not going to even say ‘thank you’ to Him? Abashed, the people came to church, and Hawker led them in giving thanks to God for his rich blessing upon them. The ‘Christian’ Harvest Festival had arrived – in Morwenstowe. Nowadays Harvest Festivals are enjoyed by both regular church-goers and visitors, making it one of the most popular and God honouring services in the church year.

adapted from Parish Pump, website resource for church magazines

14

Word Search

P salm 104 is a magnificent song of praise to God for the wonders of Creation. The Psalmist notes that God ‘set the earth on its foundations’, and marked out the seas: ‘you set a boundary they cannot cross’. The

springs that pour into ravines, the wild donkeys that drink there, the birds of the air that nest by the waters and sing in the branches, the grass that grows for the cattle, the wine that gladdens the heart of mankind, the bread that sustains our hearts. All these come from our loving Heavenly Father. Everything is in this Psalm, from lions hunting to leviathan, playing in the sea.

Creation Earth Foundations Boundary Sea Springs Ravines Branches Stork Nests Mountains Oil Wine Gladdens Bread Sustain Lions Leviathan Living Food Satisfied Good Renew Glory Rejoice Sun

15

16

Documents

The Magazine of IngatestoneAug 08, 2018 · Magazine Editors Organist Pianist Prayer Partners URC under fives (URUS) Women’s Friendship Circle June Parsons (Serving Elder) Bob Furley