E - Letter 86 - September 2nd 2010

E-LETTER NO. 86 – 2nd September 2010

EDITED THIS WEEK BY: Colin Udall

I have just returned from the Greenbelt Festival, as I know some of you have, too. This year there was a major stream of seminars and workshops looking at the Israel/Palestine conflict. I am saddened at the situation there, which seems to have no solution anywhere in sight. We were reminded that we should not tar all Israelis or Palestinians with the same brush and that there are people from both sides of the conflict working hard together to show that people can work together. Many commentators have suggested that if this conflict was solved then many other problems which arise from the Middle East will also be solved. Let us remember the new peace talks starting in the next few days and hope and pray that a just solution can be found. Colin

People/Churches

The induction of Revd Brian Norris and Revd David Downing at the Derby Group is taking place at Carlton Road URC, Derby on Saturday 4th September at 11am.

The induction of Revd LYNN FOWKES at St. Stephens URC, Leicester in on Sunday 5th September at 3.00pm. All are welcome.

REVD DAVID HOLLEY died on 21st July 2010 at his home in Spain. A service to celebrate the his life will take place at Sinfin Moor Church, Arleston Lane, Derby DE24 3DH on Monday 27th September 2010 starting at 7.30 pm followed by refreshments. If you want more information, please contact Ian Sant on 01332 721927 or e-mail ian [dot] sant [at] ntlworld [dot] com.

 

INVITATION FROM THE TWO MODERATORS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - If you would like one of the Moderators, Val Morrison and Kirsty Thorpe, to attend your church for a special service please contact Church House. This is an opportunity to invite others churches in your area and to all meet together.

SAFFRON LANE URC will be celebrating their 80th Anniversary on Sunday 19th September. The church will be open from 2:00pm until 5:00pm on the afternoon of the 19th, there will be a display of flowers and refreshments will be available, so please join us and help us celebrate this significant anniversary.

Also, Richard and Shirley Eastman are pleased to announce the safe arrival of their first grandchild, Jake Mark Eastman, mother and baby are fine.

We would like to congratulate TOM HACKETT who has his degree in Physics and Medical Physics from Sheffield University. By the time you read this Tom will be in Amsterdam preparing for his year at the Mission House there. Please pray for him and all the other young people he will be working with. Tom will be inducted at a service at the Elthetokerk on Sunday morning

Congratulations to REVD JOHN SLOW and his wife, MARION who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the end of August.

CAFES AND CHURCHES – A 1C100U EVENT – Monday 27th September 10am – 4pm

One Church 100 uses and English Heritage are calling all Entrepreneurs, Heritage enthusiasts, Church representatives and listed building occupants!

Anyone interested is welcome to attend our event for an interesting discussion, presentation, and informal lunch. At Christ Church Spitalfields, Fournier Street, London, E1 6QE. £30 per person

For more info visit: http://ctfc.org.uk/images/stories/training/cafes%20and%20churchesv6%201.pdf

To book please contact Richard Oxley: richard [dot] oxley [at] live [dot] com

CLOSURE OF URC BOOKSHOP - I have some sad news to report about the URC Bookshop. For personal reasons, I have recently resigned my position from the URC as Bookshop Manager. Unfortunately, following this, the decision was made by the URC to close the bookshop permanently.

It is a great shame and loss, especially considering the recent work that has gone into ensuring its survival. However, as many of you know the bookshop climate is not a good one; particularly for Christian Bookshops. I think this knowledge has contributed to the tough decision the URC had to make to closing the shop.

The shop will continue to run as a website based shop only until the end of the year. The physical shop is closing its doors as of next week.

Unfortunately this also means that we will cease to operate any bookstalls for events as of this Friday (3rd September). For those of you that have booked a bookstall, we will now not be able to fulfil these requests (incl. TLS fayres). I do apologise to anyone that we are letting down.

We will be selling off a lot of our stock as sale items over the coming months so do be sure to keep checking the website.

If you have any concerns/worries/outstanding orders, please do contact us and we will endeavour to get these sorted for you. I am leaving this Friday, but Sunny and Robert are staying on for the meantime and will be able to assist you (bookshop [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk (bookshop [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk); Tel: 0207 9168629).

This is a very tough time for the remaining staff, and I would ask you to be patient at this very busy time.

Thank you very much for all your help and encouragement, and maybe please continue to support independent bookshops!

Caz Binstead, URC Bookshop Manager, 0207 9168629


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MILTON KEYNES

SHERWOOD CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENT: ’SUMMER SUNDAY’ BY JOSEPH HOROVITZ

Friday 10th September 8pm at Freeman Memorial Methodist Church, Buckingham Road, Bletchley

A comical tragical, ecological, pastoral soap operetta, performed alongside other pieces from Mozart to Mercer.  Admission £6 (concessions £5).  Proceeds to Advantage Africa. 

THE MILTON KEYNES BIG FUN RUN - 11am on Sunday 26th September Willen Lake. A great opportunity to get fit by running 3 miles round Willen Lake, and raise funds for Advantage Africa, one of the official charities.

Entry is online at http://www.bigfunrun.com/?milton_keynes&locations_id=38 and open to runners of all ages and abilities, including families.

 

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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

At the Faithfest planning meeting this evening we reluctantly made the decision that FAITHFEST WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 18th.

Sincere apologies to those churches who have committed themselves to the event and reserved the date - and especially to those who have prepared items for the occasion.

The reasons for cancelling the event this year are chiefly the non attendance of some key personnel at the planning meetings, and churches either not responding to invitations to participate, or for a number of quite legitimate reasons apologising that they cannot take part on that particular Saturday afternoon.

After last year's very successful FAITHFEST many people said, We must do this every year. Somehow that hasn't translated into the necessary involvement to make it happen this year.  The planning group agreed that we ought to try one more time (in 2011) to see if this year we perhaps just got the time and date wrong. Your thoughts on this will be appreciated.

We would be grateful if you could let other people know that FAITHFEST for 2010 has been cancelled . My personal thanks to those who have given their time to the meetings, which have really been very enjoyable and worthwhile in their own right.

On behalf of Churches Together in Northampton, Ted Hale, Hon Secretary.

IS IT DEMENTIA? This is the title of a talk to be given by author Louise Morse, whose book “Could it be Dementia?” explores a number of issues for this sometimes distressing condition. Thursday October 7th at St. Mark’s Church, Queensway, Wellingborough at 3-5pm or 7-9pm. Admission £3 including refreshments. Contact lesleyjohn [at] talktalk [dot] net (lesleyjohn [at] talktalk [dot] net) or 01933 401885. For the poster visit: www.urc5.org.uk/dementia

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LEICESTERSHIRE

Christian Aid Leicestershire Round Sponsored WALK on Saturday, 9th October We are encouraging on-line registration this year as it simplifies what is otherwise a complex organisation involving 15 different venues.  Of course, it is likely to be of interest only to those churches in Leicestershire - though others would be most welcome.

* Please note Christian Aid have moved! The address is: Suite 2, Ground Floor, Block A, The Moseley Complex, Derby Road, Loughborough, LE11 5AH.

LOUGHBOROUGH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH - An Evening with Henry Olonga - Loughborough Grammar School Hodson Hall, Friday 22nd October 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets (£8/£5) - call 0116 230 4634

BIAMS DAY CONFERENCE - We are delighted to announce that the 2010 BIAMS (British and Irish Association for Mission Studies) day conference will take place at St Philip's Centre, Leicester on 3rd November. The conference is entitled Extremism/Mission: Responses to racist, religious and political zeal. There will be two main speakers in the morning: The Rev'd Canon Dr Frances Ward from Bradford Cathedral and Asif Mall, a Pakistani Christian. The afternoon will include a response from Suleman Nagdi, a Muslim who works closely with the St Philip's Centre. 10.30am start with refreshments, with the first session at 11.00am. It is planned to finish at 4.30pm. The cost is £20 for BIAMS members, £25 for non-members and £15 for concessions and lunch will be provided. Polly Keen, BIAMS Administrator. Email: pk262 [at] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk (pk262 [at] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk)

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DERBYSHIRE

MACKWORTH URC have a new website! Please take a look:- http://www.mackworthonline.com/webpage_reformed_church.html 

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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

WORLD CHURCH SUNDAY will this year be on November 21st at Friary URC, West Bridgford from 3pm. The theme is "Meeting Jesus in India" and Clare Downing will be sharing the experiences she had in India earlier this year. Full details and posters will be available shortly. To find out more contact ian [dot] sylvia [at] salmon2 [dot] co [dot] uk (ian [dot] sylvia [at] salmon2 [dot] co [dot] uk)

EXCLUSIVE TICKET GIVE-AWAY FOR NOTTINGHAM’S YOUTH!

Nottingham City Council has two pairs of tickets to give away for “Blaze The Streetdance Sensation” show at the Royal Concert Hall on Monday 4th October 2010.   

All you have to do is “like” the new Nottingham Youth Facebook page www.facebook.com/nottinghamyouth after 9am Friday 27th August and you will be automatically

entered into the competition. The competition closes Friday 17th September at 4pm the winners will be selected at random and will be announced the following week.  

 

The Nottingham Youth Facebook page has been created to tie in with the launch of www.nottinghamyouth.co.uk where young people living in Nottingham can go to find information on things to do, places to go and someone to talk to.

Elsewhere

Enabling Church Conference Invitation – Thursday 7th october 2010

A selection of top quality speakers will share their insight for disability through their own experience or that of their families, and offer their biblical reflections on the subject. Location: Friends Meeting House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Standard Booking: £25 per person (inc VAT).

Accompanying enablers of disabled delegates are allowed free access. A limited number of tickets will be available on the door. To register for this event please visit www.premier.org.uk/enablingchurch call Premier Tickets on 0207 316 1313.

VISION4LIFE – TRANSFORMED FOR EVANGELISM

The Vision4Life Evangelism Year booklet will soon be distributed to registered churches/synods.  We hope that the early arrival of this booklet will help you in planning for Year 3.

‘Exploring Evangelism’ is designed to be used by groups and individuals in Vision4Life churches.  It is for this reason that we are sending 50 copies of the booklet so that most if not all people in the church can have a copy.  We have decided on a blanket mailing of 50 booklets per Vision4Life church as this is the most cost-effective, but we are aware that many churches have less than 50 members.  If churches do have more copies than they need, please take any spares to Synod in November for churches that may not have enough copies.  For those needing more than 50 copies, or large print copies, contact tracey [dot] hardingham [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk (tracey [dot] hardingham [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk) or 020 7916 2020. It is hoped a talking version will be available soon on the Vision4Life website. Churches not registered with Vision4Life should receive 2 copies of the booklet later in the autumn. Longer versions of some of the articles and information from the booklet will be put up on the website over the next few weeks and new material for the Evangelism year will appear throughout the coming months. If you want to be put in touch with someone about any materials or about visiting churches, synods, groups or other input, then please contact Janet Lees, Vision4Life Coordinator at 16 Grasmere Road, Huddersfield, HD1 4LJ or via the website: www.vision4life.org.uk

RURAL MATTERS

We have been notified of new resources and events available through the Arthur Rank Centre. There are Harvest Festival worship resources available on their website – www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk - and they are also organising the 3rd National Care Farm Conference on Care Farming – Working Partnerships.16th September 2010 at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire 9.30am – 4.30pm. Further details can be found at the website and you can also sign up for a regular prayer letter which will give further details and advance notice of events that they organise.

CORRECTION TO JULY ISSUE RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY
Please use the following link to access resources prepared by URC Racial Justice Advocates: http://www.urc.org.uk/what_we_do/rjmm/docs/rj

Year Book Changes

  • Ray Chambers is now the group treasurer for North West Northants Group.
    Address Orchard Lodge, 8A The Jetty, Creaton, Northampton NN6 8NZ tel 01604 505935 e-mail     ray [at] raychmabers [dot] plus [dot] com (ray [at] raychmabers [dot] plus [dot] com)

  • Revd Jo Williams' (Retired Min in Northants) has a new email address: jmjlwilliams [at] o2 [dot] co [dot] uk

  • John Culley has moved to 34 Manor Close, Edwalton, Nottingham NG12 4BH.Telephone Number 0115 923 3186. Email: johnculley24 [at] o2 [dot] co [dot] uk (johnculley24 [at] o2 [dot] co [dot] uk)

  • Page 37 of the Year Book - Geoff Ware a locally recognised Lay Preacher is no longer a URC member.

AND FINALLY: - Please send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to cydo [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk (cydo [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk)

The URC East Midlands Synod, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 3AA.
Telephone: 0115 960 9241.  Facsimile: 0115 960 9202
Email address for E-Letter Editor: editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk (editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk)

Copy Date for Next E-Letter: Monday 13th September

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