It’s been a long, tiring couple of weeks, so I looked for something to cheer me up. I offer the following which serves, not only as something to make us smile, but also carries a warning for those of us who find ourselves in the pulpit. Enjoy
A Rabbi and his wife were cleaning up the house. The Rabbi came across a box he didn't recognize. His wife told him to leave it alone, it was personal.
One day she was out and his curiosity got the best of him. He opened the box, and inside he found three eggs and $2000. When his wife came home, he admitted that he opened the box, and he asked her to explain the contents to him. She told him that every time he had a bad sermon, she would put an egg in the box...
He interrupted, “In 20 years, only three bad sermons? That's not bad.
”His wife continued... “and every time I got a dozen eggs, I would sell them for $1.
”Keep smiling!
God bless
Deborah
Cancellation – Family Synod Day – 12th June 2010
It is with regret that we must announce that the Synod day due to be held at Nottingham Bluecoat School has been cancelled. Due to only 37 people requesting to attend by the deadline, a decision had to be made on whether to proceed, for this to be viable 100 people were required. The coming together of our church family is important and helps us in so many ways. We are sorry that some don’t seem to feel this and have missed out on a day suitable for all. We would like to thank Sally Gibbs for all the hard work in trying to prepare something special for us all.
People
We would like to congratulate David and Avril Turner who are celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 25th June!
The Induction of the Revd Ray Sowersby to Melton Mowbray with Freeby United Reformed Church will be on Saturday 19th June at 3pm.
The Ordination and Induction of Helen Carr to Kettering, Toller & Desborough Group will also be taking place this month, on Sunday 20th June at 3.30pm.
All are welcome.
2009 ACCOUNTS
The 2009 Accounts of the Trust (which includes Synod accounts) has been published on the website and can be found under “URC EMP Trust”.
CRB CHECKSOver the past few years the United Reformed Church has slightly relaxed the rules on who is allowed to verify a CRB disclosure application. When the scheme was first launched, only the Church Secretary could undertake this role. In the last couple of years the URC has allowed churches to nominate someone else to do this, so long as Church House in London are given all details of who is now doing this. I would like to assure churches that this will continue under the new CRB and Vetting and Barring Scheme launching later this year. My apologies to those attending the Sherwood update evening when I stated that churches had to go back to using only church secretaries. I would re-iterate that it is still the URC policy to use Church Secretaries for this role wherever possible as the list of Church Secretaries is kept up to date at Church House. If you have any questions about this, please contact me. Colin Udall cydo [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk or phone 07776 157511
VETTING AND BARRING SCHEME AND CHANGES TO CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU PROCEDURES
There are currently a series of information evenings to update you on all the new procedures coming online regarding new procedures for CRB checks. Dates still available are:-
· Wednesday 9th June – Newport Pagnell URC, MK
· Tuesday 15th June – Gainsborough URC, Lincolnshire
· Monday 28th June – Crossways Conference Centre, Northants
· Tuesday 29th June – St. Andrew’s, Chesterfield
Please book your place with Chris at the Synod office: admin [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk
Nottingham
WHERE DO WE FIND GOD?
Quiet Afternoon, 2010 at Mapperley Methodist Church on Saturday 5th June, 2.30 – 6.30pm with opening worship at 3pm. To be led by Revd Mike Playdon a URC minister who has been involved with Quiet Days for many years. Coffee, tea or cold drinks and biscuits will be available. Some financial help on the day, towards costs, would be appreciated please. For more information contact the Henmans: 0115 952 3971.
The Nottingham Community Prison Chaplaincy Scheme AGM
The Nottingham Community Prison Chaplaincy have their committee meetings at The Bridge Centre, Boulevard URC and are holding their 13th AGM, with guest speaker Andy Keen-Downs, Director of Prison Advice and Care Trust on Tuesday 15th June. Starts with buffet at 12.00pm and then business followed by a power point presentation. Open to All
Messy Fiesta Training Day
Saturday 17 July 2010 10.00am to 3.00pm at St John’s College Nottingham
Speaker: Lucy Moore. A Messy Fiesta training day. Find out what is being learned from the experience of leading Messy Church in a variety of difference contexts (rural/urban/large/small etc) and what this may be saying to the Church. For church leaders, youth workers or children’s workers considering running Messy Church events, or Messy Church leaders considering the next steps
Price: £15 including lunch (payment in advance by cheque or card please)
VISION DAY
A multimedia day full of opportunities to reimagine church, dream dreams, ask questions, share your story, discover resources and build relationships. Saturday 9th October 2010 from 10am-4pm
Speakers: Tim Lea, Roger Johnson, Joanna Dobson and Michael Mitton.
Cost: £10 including lunch and refreshments.
Venue: Nuthall Methodist Church, Nuthall, Nottingham, NG16 1DN
For more information or to book places, please contact: Catriona Gundlach catriona [at] southwell [dot] anglican [dot] org01636 817232
Northampton
ART AND THE ARTS OF PRAYER
There are places still available for the Study Day at Wellingborough URC led by Rev Neil Thorgood from Westminster College Cambridge entitled 'Art, and the Arts of Prayer'. This is on Saturday 12th June from 10am to 3pm. Bring your own lunch. Refreshments provided. Cost £3.
This is a rare opportunity, not to be missed. Contact Sue Scott at susanscott469 [at] googlemail [dot] com to book a place.
Lincolnshire
STAMFORD URC
The Gildenburgh Choir from Peterborough will be giving a concert at Stamford URC at 7.30pm on Saturday 26th June. As is our usual custom, which seems to work very well, we don’t charge admission, but ask for donations as the audience leave. This time, the proceeds will be given to the Willoughby School in Bourne; this is a school for children with learning needs. One of our elders has an autistic grandson who has been at the school for most of his life – he is now 19 and leaving this year. To the great joy of his Grandmother, he is head boy this year. She is a member of the Gildenburgh Choir and asked them if they would do this concert.
Derby
Fountain Square, tideswell
Celebrated 200 years of Methodism and 180 years of Congregationalism/URC in the village. Tideswell Male Voice Choir sang to a packed church on Saturday night and on Sunday morning the building was full again for a morning of praise, thanksgiving and teaching. We made our first new member as a joint church on Pentecost Sunday and Baptised Faith Elizabeth Hudd. We feel God is really working in and through us and have a membership preparation class starting for four people in July, two of whom are new to the church and another two newcomers are hoping to join the church later in the year. There is a new vibrancy in the church now and people who have not been coming much for years are starting to return, as they catch the vision of what we are doing with God’s help at FFE. So, life with us is busy but good. God’s certainly seems to bless unity! Peter Meek and Fran Lane
BEYOND FUNDRAISING
Generating income to become more sustainable
SONGS OF PRAISE
Sunday 4th July at Carsington WaterAshbourne & Wirksworth Churches Together celebrate water and the life it brings
With Ashbourne Town Band and The Dales Worship Group
Come along and join us for good music and song!
YEAR BOOK CHANGES
· Revd Sue Litchfield has a new email address: ** available from Synod Office**
· Janet Clarkson, The Dales URC Secretary has a new email address: **available from Synod office**
AND FINALLY: - Please send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to training [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
Copy Date for Next E-Letter: Monday 14th June 2010
Please forward this e-letter to members of your congregation or anyone who would like to receive it.If you do not wish to continue receiving the e-letter, then please contact admin [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk
