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CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

Margaret Burrell
Editor

16, The Butts, Warkworth, NE65 0SS
Tel: 01665 711 395

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Wilma’s Summer Reminiscences
From the City of Jam, Jute and Journalism

Prior to the Tay Road Bridge opening in 1966 the quickest route from Dundee to Fife was by ferry across the River Tay.  Known locally as “The Fifie” it left the pier at hourly intervals.  Built in 1929 the “ B.L. Nairn” and the “Sir William High” were paddle steamers but the “Abergraig” and “Scotscraig” were diesel fuelled and had been built in Dundee at the Caledon Shipyard.
 Only a short walk from our Church and Sunday School,  we  made our way to the quayside.  Not many families in those days owned a car so we watched transfixed as the handful of motors were allowed to board first.  Then it was a mad dash by foot passengers to get a favoured seat.
 The top deck was open to the elements with seating around the perimeter and further seating on large wooden, slatted chests which held the life-jackets. 
We “bagged” one of these as our den for our game of hide and seek.  Four staircases led to the middle deck where the motor cars stood and the first class saloon, where, for an extra penny, one could sit in comfort.  I was grown-up before I indulged in this luxury!  Down below was the star attraction, the engine room.  We never tired of watching the engineer as he twisted wheels, checked dials and wiped the gleaming copper and brass machinery.
 On arrival at Newport we purchased drinks and biscuits from a small shop before making our way to the embankment.  Choosing a flat, grassy spot we settled down to our picnic.  Below us, the rocky shoreline provided endless fun as we hopped over the little pools.
 Sometimes we just lazed playing guessing games or discussing recent films and film stars.  I was a member of the “Patricia Roc Fan Club” and often wrote to Hollywood to ask for photographs of the stars.
 About 4pm we watched the ferry leaving Dundee and knew it was time to make our way back to the pier.  The few minutes before the boat docked we spent using our last pennies in the amusement arcade, ever hopeful that the huge pile of pennies were about to drop and make our day!
 Sadly, the day the road bridge opened, was the last day the ferry made its crossing.  The “Fifie” ended up in Nigeria but will be remembered with great affection by generations of Dundonians.
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Soo gives us an insight into “Riding for the disabled”

“If Wishes were Horses”

Horse and ponies have always played a large part in my life ever since I learned to walk using my “horsey on wheels”.  Eventually I experienced the real thing and the rest is history as they say!
 It was, therefore, a natural progression for me to volunteer for Riding for the Disabled, something I have been involved with for many years in different places.
 The rewards, however, have remained unchanged; whatever the disability, a child’s joyous response to sitting on a living animal that is kind, willing and gentle, is humbling.
 For some who are wheelchair bound, they experience independent mobility and the pride of being able to look down on their helpers.  All children are encouraged to interact with their ponies through various exercises and games.  Riding on a regular basis has shown to improve communication skills and strengthen limbs.  Everyone achieves success and, at the end of the session, a stroke for the pony and a handshake or hug for the helper, demonstrates an understanding of polite behaviour not always seen in the able-bodied.
 This is voluntary work which is always a delight.
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Viv’s family took part in a great day for Charity

Viv and Family would like to thank everyone
 who helped with their kind words, support and donations
for the “Children’s  Cancer Run 2010”

Thank You for helping us to support a worthwhile
Regional cause.

THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR

Simple:

All you have to do is fill in a Gift Aid form with your name and address, stating that you are a UK tax payer, you wish the charity to reclaim the tax and you pay in tax at least as much as your total Gift Aid. (Phone Jan Archibald 01665 711304 for form.)

ACTS – THEN AND NOW

Following a successful public reading of the Gospels at the March Synod, the Vision4Life Synod Planning Group, invited every church to put pen to paper and together produce “Acts, Then and Now!” – a hand written copy of the Acts of the Apostles (then) and a story of God’s activity in our church (Acts Now) plus a drawing or illustration.
Our Church was given the Passage from Acts ch 4 vs. 13-22.
The Elders decided to use Mary Dixon’s recovery from her serious illness as our example of Acts Now. Greg wrote the story and Margaret Gibson drew the illustration.

Acts Now at Warkworth United Reformed Church
Mary’s Story

A little while ago Mary, one of our older members, was admitted to hospital with breathing problems. Her condition became serious and she was taken into intensive care where it was feared she might die. During this time when only close family members were allowed to visit her, our church prayed for Mary, as did two other churches in the locality. Mary was aware of this and eventually made a wonderful recovery and was able to return home. One of the first things she did was to attend church and express her gratitude publicly to God. We too, as friends and fellow members, were thrilled at the change in her. At this point Mary was living in a home which no longer afforded her the comfort and freedom from care required by her age and condition in life, but she was unwilling at that time to consider giving it up. Then she became ill again and was re-admitted to hospital where she was critically ill as before. She herself was ready to die and, indeed, wished to. But God hadn’t finished with Mary yet…..
She recovered to a better state of health then before, took the decision with her family to give up her home and move to sheltered accommodation and began a new lease of life. We felt that the prayers of the churches and the village had been abundantly answered again. Mary now lives within walking distance of the church and is able to attend under her own steam with the help of a walking frame with wheels.

What a joy it is to see her every Sunday morning at church and to glimpse her smiling face as she gets there and back by herself! She has brought her infectious joy in what God has done through the skill of doctors and nurses to the community of church, village and her new home; she has also become a source of hope and inspiration for us all.

78 other churches in the Northern Synod have been asked to do this project. It will be interesting to see the completed work being produced by Rev. John Paul of West Denton Church.

Thought for the Month – 1 Kings ch 19 vs. 1-15

Elijah was in a bad way.  Ahab and Jezebel were after his blood and, as he complained to God, the Israelites had broken their covenant with the Lord, thrown down His altars and killed His prophets.  So here he was hiding under a Juniper bush and praying that God would just let him die.
Today there are very disturbing changes going on within the URC .  We have long been used to dwindling membership and congregations, coupled with rising costs and many more changes which have been thrust upon us.  Now, we learn, there is to be a substantial reduction in the number of ministers, either because there are fewer coming forward for training or because we can’t afford them, or both.

But, for us, there can be no metaphorical Juniper bush in which to hide.  Nor would we want them.  What we need to do is to face the challenge and,  like Elijah, go out to listen to God’s “still small voice” or, as another version has it, His “gentle whisper.” In other words, to make more effort to discover His will for us in our own day and generation.

In practice, how can you and I start? Well, here is one suggestion.  Select some favourite verses from the Bible or the Hymn Book for study.  Not for any deep theological exercise but simply to ponder and reverently consider; to roll around in our mind, if you like.  Then we can move on to others.

Here are three examples which have been doing just that in my mind recently.  I am sure you will have no difficulty in finding plenty of your own.

John R. Judson

MAKING THE PENNIES MOUNT

Although in these grey days of February it may not seem like it, May is not far away and among the other joys of May comes Christian Aid Week.  We are being encouraged this year to think even more carefully than usual about our response.

Like everyone, whether individual or business or charity, Christian Aid has been feeling the chill wind of financial pressure in 2009.  Two main blows have landed; one was a £3million drop in the total giving for Christian Aid Week and the other the shrinking of what the £ can buy abroad due to the changing exchange rate.  Combined together this has caused a £9million hole in their plans.

In response Christian Aid has looked at its own habits and tightened them up. This was not enough so they have reduced the size of their staff in the UK.  Unhappily this has still not been enough so on 15th of February the organisation has to decide which of it’s projects around the world it will cease to support.  A deeply painful process as we can all appreciate.

So we have all been asked to put on our thinking caps and see if we can come up with feasible fundraising ideas.  It should be said here that Warkworth’s Christian Aid Week total did not go down last year and that the NE in general sustained it’s level of giving.  One thing we can do is consider if we can improve our way of doing house-to-house collections e.g. by collecting as we deliver or by going in a group to collect.  The other is to see if we can think of anything else we might do.  We do already play our part in the coffee morning each year and this will hopefully continue.  However if anyone can think of anything else – possibly something they could do individually or with others on a smaller scale then please let Paddy or myself know.  Our friends at St. Lawrence’s have been asked the same thing so we may hear of things we can contribute to as well.  And don’t feel constrained by the calendar – if you feel some time other than now to May is the right time for you then please do so.

Lindy Conway

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Congregational Meeting – Sunday 20th June 2010

Our Church Friend, Mrs Margery Tate took the Chair

Apologies for Absence:-  Mr John Judson, Mrs Mary Dixon, Mrs Eileen Wealleans & Mr Keith Scott.

Purpose of Meeting:-
This meeting was held to bring to the congregation the situation regarding the future of our Church at Warkworth. The Secretary reported to the congregation that eventually the Mid Northumberland Cluster (Mission Partnership) will become one large pastorate of eight churches, stretching from Thropton to Felton, Alnwick to Amble.

Until the Revd Pamela Ward retires in 18 months time, there will be a Coastal Pastorate and 2 Valley Pastorates. The Coastal Churches will be Alnwick, Warkworth and Amble and the Valley Churches will be Felton, Longframlington and Glanton with Rev Ed Butlin and Rothbury, Thropton with Rev Pamela Ward.

St. Mark’s Amble has been allocated a Non-Stipendary Minister, Mrs Alison Mills, who will be inducted to the mission pastorate, not just Amble.  She is willing to give 10 hrs per week to St. Mark’s which, when divided up, would mean 2 Sunday services per month and 2 evenings.  The Revd Joan Grindrod Helmn would have oversight of Mrs Mills for her first year.

It has been reported that Warkworth and Amble were no longer a Joint pastorate.
It was requested by a number of members that an official letter be received from Synod to say that this pastorate had been dissolved.

Who would Warkworth accept as  Minister in oversight?
Synod had received word from Alnwick, St James’ that their minister, Revd Grindrod Helmn was willing to share ministry with Warkworth.

It was proposed by members of Warkworth that we accept Revd Grindrod Helmn as our minister.  This was unanimous.

It was pointed out that Joan would be willing to provide 10 hours per week.  How this would be allocated would be under negotiation.

Would there be a Formal or Informal relationship with Alnwick?
It was felt that, for the first 18 months, that an informal relationship with Alnwick would be the best and then afterwards, when Mid Northumberland Cluster became one large pastorate, that the ministers be inducted into that pastorate.

It was proposed by members that, instead of a formal Induction at present, a special service of recognition be held with Alnwick, Warkworth and St Mark’s Amble would be three churches sharing ministry.

Settlement Agreements:-  Conversations between St James’  Alnwick, their Minister and Warkworth will be the next step so that the finer details can be made. e.g.
Preaching Plans:-  Who is responsible for these?  How often do we wish Joan to take a service?  Elders’ Meetings etc.
Travelling Expenses, Book Allowance, Maintenance of Manse and possibly Maintenance to Ministry Allowance.

Comment made by one member:-
As the Church as a whole is in such a difficult state, particularly financially, why is it that we are still paying for 13 Moderators who have no pastoral charges?

In previous years the Church was successful when a Minister, who had a charge, was asked to be a Moderator for a set period of time.  These Ministers felt it was an honour to be asked to take this position.

Next Steps.
The Secretary and Assistant Secretary wish to have conversation with Rev. Peter Heckles whilst the Moderator is on Sabbatical.

We ask Rev Peter Heckles to come to a congregational meeting to ease the congregation into the new territory that all our churches here are about to experience.

It was asked what the role of our Church Friend would be after completion. Margery thought that she would only be expected to work with the congregation until the new arrangements had been completed but she would like to think that she would be able to continue her friendship with the congregation whatever the outcome.

Margery was thanked by the Secretary for the work she had done in helping to clarify the many problems and doubts which had occurred.

The Meeting closed with “The Grace” said together.

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