WARKWORTH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

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Revd Greg Thompson, B.A. Minister of the Joint Pastorate of St. Mark's, Amble and Warkworth United Reformed Church Let me introduce myself... I have been a minister of the United Reformed Chruch for over 20 years. I was ordained in June 1986 at St. Margaret's U.R.C. in South Shields. It was receiving a Gideon's New Testament and Psalms in my first year in Secondary School that set me on my faith journey. I read it, discussed it with my dinner lady and was introduced by her to Church at the age of 16. I immediately felt a strong desire to be a minister but was advised by my then minister to pursue an "ordinary" career in order to test my calling. I studied French at Birmingham University and, after teacher training, went to Wolverhampton to teach French, Music, Spanish and European Studies to 11 - 18 year olds. Four years later I trained for ministry at Mansfield College, Oxford and have since had Churches in South Shields, Hebburn, Chester, Billingham and Norton, Shotton, Garden City & Northop Hall and my present pastorate - which is only half time - at Warkworth and Amble. I left my last ministry after almost eight years to marry Adrienne, a member of my first Church and a friend since 1986. Our romance flourished from October 2004 and we were married in Cyprus in September 2005! We now share our time between South Shields and the Manse at Warkworth along with our 12 year old Tibetan Terrier, Adam. We all love our new situation and direction in life and are deeply touched by the friendliness and sincerity of the people we work with and minister to. As regards my own interests - I love music of all kinds from pop to classical but my favourite composers are Bach, Handel and Shostakovich. I like to read and have many, many books. My favourite Biblical book is the Psalms and a day doesn't go by without reading several of them. For a different kind of pleasure I indulge a taste for crime fiction; my favourite author is Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine. I have read all her 60 + books several times and continue to find them fascinating. If you want to know about Adrienne, then you'll have to ask her when you next meet her - I am sure you'll learn a bit more about me along the way too! Greg Return to menu


THE MINISTER'S MESSAGE My Dear Friends During each 24 hour day we all know that certain things will definitely happen across the world. Lots of babies will be born and lots of people will die. Some people are interested in statistics and would probably love to know how many of each and whether they balanced each other out, but I’m afraid I don’t have those figures to hand. Last week, however, I saw the “Cutting Edge” programme on Channel 4 which looked at a 24 hour period in Bristol. It turned the spotlight on several individuals and families as they encountered birth, marriage or death during those 24 hours. I can’t remember the exact figures, but there were about 22 babies born, 15 couples married (only one in church) and 17 people’s funerals took place. Although it was fascinating to witness some of these events and observe the participants’ reaction, one thing especially remained with me – the stark fact that none of us knows what a new day will bring. We don’t know how our baby will be born, what its gender will be, whether it will be healthy; we say that we really love each other and that our marriage will last till death parts us; but doesn’t every newly married couple say that?; and we just don’t know whether we or our loved one will still be alive at the end of the day. Sometimes we think it would be good to know all these things, to be omniscient, but would it? Whenever we get to Lent and Easter I always wonder whether Jesus knew what was going to happen to him. The gospels lead us to believe that he was aware that he would be put to death and arise again and John’s Gospel sees him as the controller of his destiny – in other words, he chooses to submit to the awful things that happen to him and has complete, divine foreknowledge. It comes down to whether we stress Jesus’ humanity or his divinity. It also raises the question as to how these two qualities coexisted in his one body. I must confess that I don’t sit easily with an all-knowing Jesus. It makes him unlike me and therefore not fully able to sympathise with all my experiences. But, whatever we believe, Jesus faced the last forty days of his earthly life in a most amazing way. He lived each day in the complete assurance of God’s involvement with him. He didn’t resist or retaliate against people, disappointments, or events that stacked up to assault him. He knew that he was living his life to the full – that is, as God would have wished him to – so he knew that, come what may, he would be given the strength to face it. It was literally “one day at a time, sweet Jesus.” We believe as Christian people that it was because Jesus lived as he did and died as he did that God raised him up on the third day and so poured out salvation on the whole world. That is the good news we prepare for in Lent and look forward to on Easter Day. Let’s live out the next forty days, whatever each one brings, sure of God’s love for us and his involvement with our lives – not just now, but for all eternity. A very happy Easter to you all, With Christian greetings from your Friend and minister, Greg Return to menu

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

At our February meeting, we spent a most delightful afternoon as the winter sun shone into the hall.
We sent good wishes to Mary in hospital. We recalled the happy times we had spent with Jessie during her months in Abbeyfield. We welcomed Margaret who was attending our meeting for the first time.

Fay had arranged a delightful display of some of her mementos from the holiday she and Bob enjoyed in China. They had made an excellent video of their travels and Fay’s commentary was interesting and informative and yet personal in its presentation – Another in-house success!

We then all enjoyed chatting over tea served by Beattie, Marjorie and Norma.

WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL
2.30pm
Speaker – Mr Eric Brown, Alnwick
Ladies from Trinity Methodist Church, Amble were our guests

Margaret Burrell
Hon. Sec.

PRAYER
by Kenneth Steven

If you do not believe in God
Go on a blue spring day across these fields.
Listen to the orchids, race the sea, scent the wind.

Come back to tell me it was all an accident
A collision of blind chance
In the empty hugeness of space.

These lines are from a collection of Kenneth Steven’s poems entitled ‘Iona’. They reflect his confidence and wonder in God as Creator of this wonderful and beautiful world.

What would you choose as your three ‘wonders’ that show the Creator’s work? Perhaps the simple perfection of a primrose, the sight and sound of a skein of wild geese, the might of the waves on a stormy day.

Would any of our readers like to share their three ‘wonders’? Please do.

Notes or words to the Editor would be very welcome and will be included in future editions.

Contributed by Mrs. Sally Black

Margaret Burrell
Hon Sec
Tel: 01665 711 395
16, The Butts, Warkworth, NE65 0SS

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Services and Meetings

Most Sundays	Service in Warkworth Church	11.15 a.m.
Please check the "Dates for your Diary" page for more information.

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Flower Rota
7th June 2009	Mrs J. Robinson
14th June 2009	Miss J. F. Archibald
21st June 2009	Mrs A. Manderson
28th June 2009	Miss M. C. Burrell
5th July 2009	Mrs N. Egdell

"Thank you" to all those people who have already offered to give flowers on 'vacant' Sundays. There are still a few vacant slots if anyone would like to volunteer please.

I have had appreciative messages from ladies who have received flowers in recent weeks.

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

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Shilbottle Transport Rota
7th June 2009	Jan Archibald
28th June 2009	Miss H. Peacock

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Dates for your diary

11th July 2009

Strawberry Tea

TBA

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CHURCH FAMILY NEWS GOOD WISHES Special thoughts and good wishes to our Shilbottle members who are still having unpleasant health problems. We were shocked and so sorry that Greg and Adrienne had such a distressing experience last month when they had a break-in at their home at South Shields. We were all so grateful to Hilga and Margaret Gibson who took over morning service having had only a few hours to prepare. THANK YOU BOTH! ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY After a most enjoyable service, members and friends enjoyed a delicious lunch served by Beattie and Margaret Gibson. How fortunate we are to have such gifted cooks. A most sincere 'thank you' to both. THE HALL Paul Daley has seen to the cleaning of the ceiling timbers. The stage curtains, the gift of the Women's Association and other friends are now in place. Sally made sure we all had the opportunity to voice our opinion; she also made many visits to P.E.C. to discuss and negotiate. It all takes TIME! Thank you Sally. After 75 years the stage carpet was looking decidedly weary so more visits to Alnwick and Amble by Sally and Jan - MORE TIME AND THOUGHT GIVEN! Now we see the result and I feel you ought to know that the carpet has been given by Jan; to whom we say a most grateful 'Thank you' for such a generous gift. Thanks to Anne who has spent so much time on paintwork, windows etc. and to all who laundered and re-hung the curtains. A GREAT TEAM EFFORT. CHRISTIAN AID WEEK Christian Aid Week in Warkworth and Acklington has raised £2,176.40 from the house to house collection with a few envelopes still to count. That is 7.1% up on last year. We raised £289.20 on the coffee morning so have already sent £2,465.60 to Christian Aid. That's not the end of it. Christian Aid will be able to reclaim the tax on those donations which were gift-aided; this will bring an additional £333.48. So altogether Christian Aid will benefit to the extent of £2,800.00. Our thanks to those who gave, collected, counted or helped with the coffee morning. Paddy and Lindy Conway. Thank you both for all your hard work in organising this important event in our district. Margaret Burrell. MAY BANK HOLIDAY TEAS Our annual 'Afternoon Tea' event was once again successful. We were delighted by the support we received both from our members and village friends as well as from visitors and holiday-makers from as far away as New Zealand. Thanks must go to all the bakers who produced a truly delicious choice of goodies and to helpers and washers-up. The team effort resulted in raising £246.00 for Church funds. Sally Black Margaret Burrell Editor 16, The Butts, Warkworth, NE65 0SS Tel: 01665 711 395 Return to menu

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

GOOD WISHES

Special thoughts and good wishes to our Shilbottle members who are still having unpleasant health problems.

We were shocked and so sorry that Greg and Adrienne had such a distressing experience last month when they had a break-in at their home at South Shields.

We were all so grateful to Hilga and Margaret Gibson who took over morning service having had only a few hours to prepare. THANK YOU BOTH!

ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

After a most enjoyable service, members and friends enjoyed a delicious lunch served by Beattie and Margaret Gibson. How fortunate we are to have such gifted cooks. A most sincere 'thank you' to both.

THE HALL

Paul Daley has seen to the cleaning of the ceiling timbers. The stage curtains, the gift of the Women's Association and other friends are now in place. Sally made sure we all had the opportunity to voice our opinion; she also made many visits to P.E.C. to discuss and negotiate. It all takes TIME! Thank you Sally.

After 75 years the stage carpet was looking decidedly weary so more visits to Alnwick and Amble by Sally and Jan - MORE TIME AND THOUGHT GIVEN! Now we see the result and I feel you ought to know that the carpet has been given by Jan; to whom we say a most grateful 'Thank you' for such a generous gift.

Thanks to Anne who has spent so much time on paintwork, windows etc. and to all who laundered and re-hung the curtains. A GREAT TEAM EFFORT.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

Christian Aid Week in Warkworth and Acklington has raised £2,176.40 from the house to house collection with a few envelopes still to count. That is 7.1% up on last year. We raised £289.20 on the coffee morning so have already sent £2,465.60 to Christian Aid.

That's not the end of it. Christian Aid will be able to reclaim the tax on those donations which were gift-aided; this will bring an additional £333.48. So altogether Christian Aid will benefit to the extent of £2,800.00. Our thanks to those who gave, collected, counted or helped with the coffee morning. Paddy and Lindy Conway.
Thank you both for all your hard work in organising this important event in our district. Margaret Burrell.

MAY BANK HOLIDAY TEAS

Our annual 'Afternoon Tea' event was once again successful. We were delighted by the support we received both from our members and village friends as well as from visitors and holiday-makers from as far away as New Zealand. Thanks must go to all the bakers who produced a truly delicious choice of goodies and to helpers and washers-up. The team effort resulted in raising £246.00 for Church funds.
Sally Black

Margaret Burrell
Editor

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

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JUST TO EXPLAIN 50% SCOPING It has come to our notice that there are still a few members at Warkworth and St Mark's, Amble, who believe that our Minister is available to attend to the needs of the Churches every day of the week. The Revd. Greg Thompson was inducted to the joint pastorate on a 50% working week basis. That means that he is only available on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, when he will attend to pastoral duties. Naturally, this means firstly amongst the elderly and sick, then the more able amongst us; be present at Elders' meetings and Congregational meetings - provided they are arranged for either Friday, Sunday or Monday - and take two services on Sundays. Should Greg be required by the pastorate to conduct a funeral he will be contacted by the Church Secretaries or the Funeral Directors. Any other meetings during the week he should be treated as a speaker and offered a fee and travelling expenses.
Jan Archibald Church Secretary Tel: 01665 711304 Return to menu

JUST TO EXPLAIN 50% SCOPING

It has come to our notice that there are still a few members at Warkworth and St Mark's, Amble, who believe that our Minister is available to attend to the needs of the Churches every day of the week.

The Revd. Greg Thompson was inducted to the joint pastorate on a 50% working week basis. That means that he is only available on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, when he will attend to pastoral duties. Naturally, this means firstly amongst the elderly and sick, then the more able amongst us; be present at Elders' meetings and Congregational meetings - provided they are arranged for either Friday, Sunday or Monday - and take two services on Sundays.

Should Greg be required by the pastorate to conduct a funeral he will be contacted by the Church Secretaries or the Funeral Directors.

Any other meetings during the week he should be treated as a speaker and offered a fee and travelling expenses.

Jan Archibald
Church Secretary
Tel: 01665 711304

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THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR

Many of you will recall the letter which Paddy enclosed with your Free Will Offering Envelopes. He felt that many may still have doubts about "Gift Aiding" their Weekly giving so he has produced the following:

To anyone who pays Income Tax
We hear a lot about GIFT AID and some people are nervous about it

Perhaps they remember the covenants in the past where one had to commit yourself to paying a certain sum to charity every year for seven years. The charity could then reclaim tax. People were, not surprisingly, wary of this long term commitment. But all that has gone. In 1990 the Chancellor introduced Gift Aid for larger donations. Ten years later Gift Aid was expanded to cover all donations to charity of whatever size.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED - gift Aid is applied to the individual donation. There is no long term commitment.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

The Government have announced an intention to reduce basic rate Income Tax to 20%. (I've used this figure as it's easier to calculate)

You give a donation to a charity of	£10.00
If you pay tax at the standard rate, then, in order to get £10 in your pocket you will have earned £12.20
i.e. Gross Earnings	£12.50
Less Tax at 20%	2.50
Money in your pocket	£10.00
If you Gift Aid your £10 donation the charity can reclaim from the Treasury the £2.50 paid in tax. So for every pound you give the charity gets an extra 25p

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.)

If for any reason you wanted to cancel a Gift Aid declaration you can at any time.

A Message from Paddy re Christian Aid Week

WARKWORTH AND ACKLINGTON

A big 'Thank You' to the people of Warkworth and Acklington for their generous support of this year's Christian Aid Week. Despite an uncertain economic climate we collected over £2,000 for the third year running. To the £2,032 raised, Gift Aid will add another £272. With the Coffee morning and services we have been able to send a total of £2,359.49 to Christian Aid. That money will help to support projects which can free people in the poorest countries in the world from poverty and oppression. Other work tackles some of the obstacles to improvement in the lives of the poor like unfair trade, historical debt, climate change and HIV AIDS. Finally it is able also to respond to emergencies - this year including floods in Bangladesh and the cyclone in Burma. With its contacts all around the world Christian Aid can spend the money quickly and effectively. YOU may find it of interest to visit the Christian Aid website at www.christianaid.org.uk Thanks to all who helped.

Paddy Conway
Treasurer

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Gift Day 2008

Thank you for, once again, rising to the Challenge on Gift Day. In the Invitation for 8th November, I used the words “Please will you dig a little deeper.” Many of you did and gave generously in your envelopes as well as coming to enjoy a very happy Coffee Morning.

The results of the Gift Day were as follows
Door	£70.50
Raffle	98.50
Cake Stall	241.00
Everyone a Winner	70.50	480.50
Gifts	4,325.00
Gift Aid reimbursement (to come)	1,028.08	5,353.08
Competition	106.00
Concert	135.00	241.00
Total		£6,074.58

If you were unable to come in November – Remember, it’s never too late!

We say a sincere “Thank you” to our friend Mr. George Robertson, for compiling and giving The Prize for our Competition.
The winner was Mrs. Campbell, Ashington.
“Thank you” to Hilga for arranging the musical evening on 21st.
Those who came were most appreciative. The artistes gave a most enjoyable and varied programme which was followed by a delicious buffet.
Alas, early advertising in “The Pelican” and in our own Newsletter in September did not prevent a clash of events in the village and this meant a smaller audience. Please, do try to make a note of dates when they are announced as much preparation and thought goes into these events!

Margaret Burrell

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World Leprosy Mission Day – Sunday 25th January 2009

I would like to thank the Minister for his service on Leprosy Sunday 25th January. A great deal of thought and preparation had gone into the Service.

I would also like to thank members of the congregation for their generosity to TLM from the retiring offering which has been sent to the Leprosy Mission. It amounted to £250, which included “Gift Aiding”.

Thank you all.

Hilga

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