November 2009
 Thoughts from The Cottage
Dear Friends
As we approach the annual remembrance service my mind always turns to the question ‘What is Peace?’ Rightly we remember the sacrifice paid by all who have died in the service of their country. Rightly we give thanks that this country has been at peace for the last sixty-four years. Rightly we remember that British soldiers are still dying in conflicts around the world, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq. Rightly we make a commitment to work and pray for peace. All this is vitally important but it is the last one I want to address here.
If we do not work and pray for peace then the gospel we believe in is not being fulfilled and the men and women who died fighting for freedom and peace have died in vain. Jesus taught that all people are our brothers and sisters, that violence is not a reason for violence, that we must forgive and forget, and that we should live at peace with all people. Even if we are not Christian we can see that the world works better in times of peace than it does in times of war. We all want to honour those who died in war and the best way to do that is to work for peace.
Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is not a ceasefire, it is not a lull in the fighting. Peace is much more than all these things for peace is active not passive. We have to build peace, work for peace, strive for peace, pray for peace. Christians in the west too often are two faced on the issue of peace. We talk about peace, we pray for peace, we work for peace, we enjoy peace and yet we play our part in building a society where fear, mistrust, hatred, oppression and poverty are rife.
Our contrariness, or should that be hypocrisy, pervades every area of our life. We want the cheapest possible food, clothes, furniture or whatever and we close our eyes to the conditions it is produced in and the poverty it brings to other parts of the world. We speak about a gospel in which all men and women are our brothers and sisters and we are certainly not racist yet we want immigration controls on our country and we want all immigrants to learn our language and to adapt to our culture. We rejoice when the G8 nations make positive pronouncements on trade justice or debt relief but it should not be the G8 giving charity, it should be the G193 – all the nations of the world – sitting down together to solve the issues. What right have we in the west got to tell the rest of the world how to live?
I want peace, you want peace but we must be careful about what we pray for because God might just give it us! The peace he gives will challenge a few of our assumptions and attitudes if not our whole way of life. It will not just be the end of armed conflict it will be the kingdom of God on earth. From what I understand of the kingdom of God it is a place of justice, truth, equality, harmony and it is a place without boundaries. So next time we pray ‘Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’ we might to like to remember what we are really asking for.
Yours in Christ, Ian
WORSHIP & PRAYER for NOVEMBER
Sunday 1st
Theme: Remembering - Jesus
Readings: Exodus 12 vv 1-14 & 1 Corinthians 11 vv 17-34
11.00am Worship with Communion
6.30pm Worship with Discussion
Both led by our Minister, Ian Ring
Tuesday 3rd 7.00pm Power House for Prayer
Sunday 8th Remembrance Sunday
Theme: Remembering - Service
Readings: Micah 4 vv 1-7, John 14 vv 1-13
10.55am Worship
6.30pm Civic Remembrance Service with wreath laying
and Rubery Youth Marching Band
Both led by our Minister, Ian Ring
Tuesday 10th 7.00pm Power House for Prayer
Wednesday 11th Remembrance Day
10.55am-11.05am Act of Remembrance in the church
Sunday 15th
11.00am Worship led by Michael Sheen
6.30pm Worship with Communion
led by one of our Preaching Team, Ron Peach
Tuesday 17th 7.00pm Power House for Prayer
Sunday 22nd
11.00am Worship
Theme: Remembering - Us
Readings: Hebrews 11 vv 4-12 & 17-29 & 32-40
led by our Minister, Ian Ring
4.00pm CTB45 United Worship led by Grace Community Church,
held in our church
Tuesday 24th 7.00pm Power House for Prayer
Sunday 29th
Theme: Homecoming (2) – On Being The Elder Son or Daughter
Readings: Luke 15 vv 1-3 & 24-32 & Ephesians 4 vv 17-32
11.00am Worship
6.30pm Worship with Discussion
led by one of our Preaching Team, Terry Thompson
WERE YOU THERE....?
In response to the item in the October Beacon magazine reporting on the fire that destroyed the Church schoolroom back in 1959, yes I was there and I recall that there was also a sale of smoke damaged wood. I bought several lengths and made a door for the coal house I was building, having moved here two years previously.
Looking at it now, it's a tool shed and I think both the door and the building will outlive me!
We were also invited to make interest-free loans at the time towards the rebuilding.
John Davis.
BABY BOXES of HOPE
Thank you so much for all the gifts you have handed in for Baby Boxes. I am so grateful to all the prolific knitters - you know who you are!! And for the many blankets, feeding bottles, nappies etc., many many thanks.
There are over 200 boxes packed already to be sent this year, and more waiting to be ‘topped up’ with goodies before the end of November.
Don’t forget that we are always in need of knitting wool - oddments are fine - so if any of your friends are clearing out their cupboards, please let them know where to donate their wool!
We are always short of new or immaculate nearly-new babygros.
THANK YOU !!
Vivienne Thompson
BEACON BOOK CLUB
UPDATE, October 2009
- At our last meeting, we reviewed “Love’s endeavour, love’s expense” by W H Vanstone - making use of a summary which had been prepared by Terry. The general conclusion was that in was a difficult book to follow at times and some of the language was not easy! However, there were some good ideas within the book and the summary made it a bit easier to understand these. One or two people even decided to read again or finish the book with the aid of the notes.
- We agreed to use the “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri J.M. Nouwen as our next book and have set ourselves to read up to page 89 ready for discussion at the next meeting. Terry thanked Jim for getting notes and a picture from his son which will help us focus at meetings and also at the Sunday services (Oct 4th, Nov 29th, Dec 20th) when Terry will use the book as the theme.
- We looked at suggestions for the book to follow - Ron suggested Prayer by Philip Yancy and Frank suggested The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond. Phil agreed to have a look at both (Ron and Frank to provide copies) and bring a recommendation to the December meeting
- The date suggested for October clashed with some half term breaks, and the proposed November date clashed with the Christmas Cracker Fayre, so we agreed to change both. The new dates are November 5th (an explosive meeting??) and December 3rd (early Christmas - mince pies instead of cakes, Dorothy??).
Look forward to seeing you all on the 5th November
Terry Thompson
If you would to join the book club, or would like further details, please contact Terry Thompson on 01527 837083 - or just come along to the meeting - all welcome! Don’t forget - if you would like a copy of any recommended book and the cost is a problem please have a quiet word with Terry and we will sort something out - no embarrassment, we don’t want people to be excluded for financial reasons.
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