June 2009
Fair Trade
and Human Trafficking
Stewards
Rota for June and July 2009
Jamaica:
Together Against Violence
The views expressed in this magazine are those of the
individual contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Park
United Reformed Church.
The story of the early church is fascinating – it is a story of organic growth, of people inspired by God to take the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth... It is a story without end because we are the disciples of Jesus doing the same today.
Just as in the Acts of the Apostles people risked ridicule and rejection because of the message of God's love, so we risk the same. Just as the early disciples had to learn to communicate with other cultures and understandings, so we have to be able to communicate with people of other cultures and understandings.
The debate between science and religion is largely one of misunderstandings. All science is propositional, the truth of any hypothesis exists until the weight of evidence points otherwise. Think of global warming and the debates that have gone on in the scientific community – very few scientists doubt that there is a real problem for the human race to address. The question of timescales for the melting of the polar caps and the rise of sea levels still remains.
The Christian perspective that God created the world and calls us to be good stewards of God's creation does not give rise to any conflict of views. Our duty as Christians is to do all we can to encourage our communities , our government, our multinational companies to be good stewards of God's world.
We shall continue
to look at the Vision2020 material produced by the
In the Vision2020 draft we have ten statements, the final one reminds us of our need to commit ourselves individually and as a church to being 'greener' in all that we do.
That will mean looking again at our energy use, our insulation levels, our transport, the use of email and websites rather than letters, the environmental impact of our fellowship and much more. Many scientists and theologians have identified this as the priority of the human race for this century – I wonder if you agree?
After much anticipation we have received our new chairs for the church and already they have allowed for more flexible layout of chairs in the evening worship. The comments so far have been very positive, the colours blend well, the light wood looks good, even the smell of new chairs has been appreciated!
We are looking at the best use of this new flexibility (particularly for the evening worship) which means we could have a different style of service starting in the evening. If you have any ideas please come forward and share these with myself or one of the Elders.
Finally, let us rejoice in our talented fellowship. Since we began our talent scheme on Easter Sunday it has been a delight to see the variety of talents being offered – with many surprises! Yet I should not be surprised – our God is a God of surprises – the Holy Spirit is like an uncontainable wind blowing away our expectations and taking us in ever new directions!
May the Holy
Spirit fire you up and lead you in new directions too!
Yours in Christ,
Dear Friends,
We would like to thank everyone who very kindly sent us such caring and loving thoughts after the sad and very sudden death of our son, Richard.
It helped us a great deal to know that everyone was holding us, and the rest of the family, in their prayers.
We are very grateful that so many of his old friends from Scouts and Youth Club were able to attend the Thanksgiving Service for his life and we would like to thank everyone who helped with the service and afterwards.
We also thank Robert for so sympathetically leading both services, at the Crematorium and at Church, and for the help he gave us in arranging everything.
With grateful thanks from all the family.
Peter and Sue Short
Funeral
13 May 2009 Richard Short
‘Dad’ - for Richard Short
So many images come to mind whenever I speak your name,
It seems that without you in my life things have never been the same.
What happened to those lazy days when I was a little child,
When my life was consumed in you, in your love, in your smile.
What happened to all those days I use to look up to you,
No matter what happened to me you could make my grey skies go blue.
Dad, some days I hear your voice and turn to see your face;
Yet in turning - it seems the sound has been erased.
Dad Who will I turn to for answers when life does not make sense,
Who will be there to hold me close when the pieces don't fit.
Oh Dad if I could turn back time I would just hear your voice one more time,
And I'd tell you out of all the dads in the world you'd still be my first choice.
Please always know I love you, and no one can take your place.
Years may come and go but your memory will never be erased.
Today Jesus as you are listening from up above ,
Would you go and find my Dad,
And give him my love.
Carla Short age 13
30th
Reading
The Brownies have just returned from another
fun-packed holiday to Cheltenham where they stayed at
As far as we were concerned, however, it was
a trip to
We were very lucky as on site there were
several activities for the Brownies to try.
They all had a go at archery, grass sledging, and climbing. Probably the
favourite activity was the low ropes challenge, as following this tricky course
involved everyone working together as a team and winning crystals.
We were very pleased to hear that both our groups were the first Brownies ever to get all the balls from one side to the other – to do this, they had to throw and catch whilst balanced on ropes!
There were also various crafts to complete,
including necklaces, jewellery chests and bookmarks.
Our day out was to Cirencester, where we went swimming, visited the fascinating museum and did a spot of shopping. As usual we ended our busy, fun-filled week with a party.
The Brownies all dressed up in Robin Hood outfits and took part in a talent show as well as completing a final medieval challenge in their sixes.
During the last half term the Brownies
completed their Crime Prevention badge and we were grateful to Karen Bird for
coming to finish this with them.
On the first Thursday in May we held our annual Brownie Fair and were pleased that in just an hour we raised over £170; this will be sent to our Changing The World charity ‘The Railway Children’.
We are now looking forward to the rest of the term, hoping that we may have some fine weather so that we can go outside.
The Church Meeting in May was chaired by Roger Clark, as
the Minister was attending the URC’s Mission Council, held in
We have four people who are to be welcomed into Church
Membership: David Wong, Phebe Mann, Marius and Maria Richard. We have one
person who is to transfer membership to
It was agreed that we should move the church archives from
the cellar and transfer them to the Berkshire Records Office, where they would
still remain available for our use, but would be properly and securely kept.
There was a request that the more sensitive material should be kept ‘closed’ to
the general public and the meeting asked that this be investigated further.
Doreen Woods kindly offered to make contact with the Records Office for further
clarification. The meeting was reminded that the records of Baptisms, Marriages
and Deaths would continue to be kept in the church safe.
Everyone was invited to take part in the
Godly Play visit to Abingdon on 20th June – and the Midsummer Party organised
by Churches Together in
The PUFF Club
Ever thought about running but thought you’d
never be able to? Fancy giving it a go, but very gently?
Then why not join The PUFF Club(Park United in Fellowship and Fitness) in aid of the Talent Scheme.
The club will walk and run gentle routes at different venues helping you slowly build up your fitness and stamina.
· Meeting 3 times a week, Tues 7.30p.m., Thurs 8.30a.m. and Fri 7.00p.m.,
· Liquid refreshment will be provided for the end of each session!
· Only £1 per session – come to whatever sessions you can manage!
· Bring along all your family, friends and colleagues to join in!
Contact Carrie King on 0118 934 3089 for further details.
You can do it!!!
470,001 people went bananas for Fairtrade
11,000 events were held
4,836 mentions of Fairtrade in the media including GMTV, Working Lunch, BBC World Service and every national newspaper.
Gift Day 2009
I am delighted to report that the Gift Day held in March attracted donations from 53 members and friends to a grand total of £3,462. Of this, £3,076 was Gift-Aided, meaning that we will receive a tax refund of £867, thereby giving a total benefit to the Church of £4,329.
Many thanks are due to all who contributed -
this sum will go a long way over the next year in funding the employment of our
Youth Worker
Alistair Knox
The 73rd
The Finance and General Purposes (F&GP) Committee has approved the purchase of a replacement microwave for the kitchen (a temporary replacement was found after the old microwave stopped working). The F&GP Committee has also approved the purchase of a pull-down screen for the Small Hall, to allow projectors to be used in this room.
If you have noticed any other improvements that would be welcomed, please talk to Robert Weston or Julie Cameron who will pass suggestions to F&GP.
We are aware that the church website www.parkurc.org.uk needs to be updated and further developed. We are grateful
to David Wong who is working on a new format to make it easier to enable a team
of people to be responsible for updating pages. If your group would like to
offer contributions for any of the webpages, please email minister@parkurc.org.uk
A huge thank you to all who helped make the May Fair a
success on 9th May. We had a good number of stalls and volunteers to
run the event.
Refreshments were very popular and in three hours we raised
over £500. This figure is an estimate that includes the money raised by
individuals as part of our church 'talent scheme', which will be collected in
November.
From Pentecost Sunday until Trinity Sunday we joined with
hundreds of other Christians in our area to pray for our world, or community
and ourselves.
This latest initiative from Churches Together in Earley and
There was even a small tent in the middle of the room!
Thank you to all who supported this event between 31st May and 6th
June.
Perhaps next year in the Vision4Life Prayer year we might
host something similar?
At the March Church Meeting it was agreed that we would run a talent scheme, in which members would be able to take either £10 or £20 and use it to generate more money for the church to use for its ministry and mission.
As we explained in the last magazine, this scheme is based on the parable of the talents which is recorded in Matthew's gospel (Chapter 25) and in Luke's gospel (Chapter 19). The parable is all about using your talents, gifts, skills... and we've already seen that Park's got Talent!
Beryl Levett has run a great exhibition of her collection of photos of artwork and carvings showing the story of the annunciation (when God revealed to Mary that she was to be the mother of a very special baby).
Frances Sansom has organised a Gospel Choir concert for Friday 12th June from 7.30pm performing at park United Reformed Church. Tickets are priced at just £3 per adult and £1 per child (all proceeds to Park URC).
Carrie King is running a successful running group for all abilities – whether you can manage a slow jog or or fast sprint, there's always room for another runner (contact Carrie for further details).
Les Dray has produced a selection of great greetings cards using his photographic skills, some of which were sold at the May Fair, see Les if you'd like further details.
We rejoice that we have so much talent at Park URC, there are no great prizes, no TV fame but no pressure either!
REinspired (School's Work Project) continues to grow and develop. Discussions are in progress with BRF (the publishers) who are interested in publishing the REinspired story, and trustees of the project are busy writing the book.
The primary school sessions continue to inspire, in June we are visited by Alfred Sutton school, there is a conference at Maiden Erlegh for Year 9 students and a transition event planned for Year 6 students from several primary schools in July.
Please continue to pray for the Project Director Paul Haynes, the Chair of Trustees Jane Earl and the Primary Co-ordinators: Julia Jones, Suzanne Knight, Sue Rees, Alison Chevassut, and all who support the project.
Following the success of the DRAPES (our drama group) performance in March, they have chosen this autumn's dates. In November DRAPES will be performing Aladdin.
Drapes has been approached by Steve Atkins who is a well know local playwright and director to write a pantomime for us which he will also produce. This is an extremely exciting time and once we have scripts to hand we shall be holding read-throughs. These will hopefully take place before August so watch this space!
Drapes AGM will take place on Saturday 4th
July at Gaye and Ray's home (
All budding stars should contact
As part of our
Vision4Life activities during 2009 (the Bible Year) we are exploring the use of
the Godly Play approach to sharing Bible stories.
The principle is very simple, it is a way of telling
stories using artefacts and encouraging the listeners to ask 'wondering'
questions , open-ended questions that allow for a range of responses.
The Godly Play approach has been used primarily for work
with children but can be used with all ages. Many adults have found it has
deepened their spiritual understanding.
The
If you are interested in finding out more about Godly Play
and the trip to Abingdon (a minibus has been booked, places are still
available!) please see Elizabeth Knox or Robert Weston. Come and be inspired!
I’ve just picked up Steve Chalke’s book entitled ‘Stop the Traffik: People shouldn’t be bought and sold’ and it is an aspect of global trade that has gone unseen for too long.
We have become more aware of the need for ‘fairer’ working conditions for people across the world. We have supported the notion of Fair Trade improving the lives of many people through health and education.
We have been less vocal in speaking out
against the buying and selling of people across the globe, across Europe and in
cities and towns of the
In a memorable speech at a Spring Harvest
event in 2007, Steve Chalke urged everyone to buy Fair Trade chocolate because
certain cocoa farms in Africa were using children who have been trafficked into
the
It is a major step forward that both Cadbury and Mars have agreed to switch to Fair Trade suppliers of cocoa beans. According to Steve’s book, Mars had the largest annual in 2006, followed by Nestlé, Ferrero and Cadbury. The revenue of these four companies exceeds 26 million US dollars.
If we ever feel despondent that the Fairtrade movement has such limited impact in our town, we should be encouraged by the move made by Mars and Cadbury.
Let us pray that more multinational companies will wake up to the issues faced by children across the globe – and make positive steps to change the world.
Let us pray that we might rejoice in each positive change that we see and continue the good work that is happening in our world.
Robert Weston
Stop
the Traffik’ by Steve Chalke is published by Lion Hudson in 2009, with a
chapter by Cherie Blair
The response for stamps since Christmas has
been tremendous, raising some £40 already.
The most recent collection looks very promising too, with some pictorials from around the world and some high value G.B. stamps.
All the funds for the Air Ambulance are raised through generous giving - there is no government funding. If some pictorial post cards with stamps on come in I'll pass these on to Linda Atkins for her charity.
Thank you - please keep the stamps coming.
Peter Short
If you have not visited the URC website for a while then you may be in for a few surprises – it has been refreshed and updated. I think it is much improved – what do you think? Visit www.urc.org.uk
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June 7th |
Julia Marsh |
Rod King |
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June 14th |
John Davey |
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June 21st |
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Lynda Fox |
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June 28th |
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July 5th |
Joan Pearson |
Barbara Mathers |
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July 12th |
Maureen Plummer |
Mick Plummer |
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July 19th |
Maureen Johnstone |
Roy Johnstone |
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July 26th |
Janet Pritchard |
Alan Pritchard |
A very big thank you to everyone who helped with our Christian Aid collection this year, especially to all those who delivered and collected envelopes in local streets. The weather wasn’t particularly kind to us – with a high wind one day and heavy rain on another – so renewed thanks to all who undertook this challenging task. It can be rather dispiriting but in many cases it is rewarding, not only financially; it resulted in the total (to date) of £1318.47.
Thanks too to everyone who gave – either in your own road (probably covered by another church), or in the special plates on the following Sundays.
Once again Many thanks from your organisers, and, more to the point, from all the people who will benefit from Christian Aid’s work.
Doreen Woods, Sally Kirk, Gaye& Ray Rees
PS. In
one of the envelopes we found a football medal: ‘2004 The official
Bennetlands is a ghetto community in the
heart of
Beacon of hope in the community is the S-Corner Clinic. Director Angela Stultze Crawle explains: "It is an integrated community development initiative in which the main emphasis, really, is to improve the living conditions of the citizen in this area and these are through programmes of health, education, sanitation, outreach programmes and those things."
Horace Levy, Chairman of the S-Corner Clinic Board, says that these area gangs are not really criminals. "The ‘corner crew’ must be sharply distinguished from a criminal gang. A "corner crew" is there to give solidarity and self-respect and identity to a group of youth. That's not to say that these corner crews do not commit any criminal acts – they do. They have guns, they use them - they maim, they shoot, they kill - but they don't organise for that purpose and they are redeemable."
For young men, the gun became the symbol of male pride. Where the guns come from, nobody knows - though one local resident hazards a guess: "from foreign in barrel". But the S-Corner complex had won the respect of the entire community including the dons and area leaders, by providing health care for young and old. Angela explains: "The old ladies are their mothers, are their grandparents and so they really need our presence and because we have built that relationship with them over the years we were now at an advantage to say if you do not stop shooting at each other then - we'll just close." And when someone was shot right outside the clinic, the community was outraged.
A meeting was called with the pastors of the two churches, the S-Corner Staff and the Principal of the primary school. The crews were blaming each other for the violence. It took about 15 meetings over several months to persuade the area leaders to meet. But, with protection, they agree to come. One admits he's sick of swapping dead bodies for live bodies; another says he regrets the passing of the local football league, choked out by the violence.
At the end of the day there's a cease-fire, but it's a fragile one - there are still guns out there. Soon another teenager is shot. But because of the peace initiative, there's no retaliation, no chain reaction of revenge killings. The community is realising that peace has a value.
Horace Levy says that youth are becoming more conscious -"more aware of the foolishness of fighting among themselves and of being used and abused by politicians. So it's a moral force that's driving the peace, not economics, really, which is extremely interesting." What is bad, he says, is that farmers are still being driven off the land, which creates more unemployment. "There's also debts, external debts and internal debt, a massive amount which is preventing the state spending what it should on social services."
In Bennetlands, a Community Development Council has been formed, where problems can be discussed and disputes resolved. Former 'corner crew' member Glen is now a highly respected health worker at the S-Corner clinic.
Fabien is a "proud example" of someone who can "make it" in the ghetto: he's completed school and is going to university - in the meantime he teaches at the local school. Crime in the metropolitan area - including Bennetlands - has fallen by 23% in the last three years, and that peace is precious.
Spring Harvest is a Christian event which
takes place over Easter.
It's for people of all ages and church backgrounds and features inspirational Bible teaching, seminars, and spirit-filled worship. It's about one thing: deepening your walk with God, so you return home inspired to impact your community and your friends, for Jesus.
For 2010 the theme is ‘Different Eyes: Living distinctively in a time of uncertainty’
Ethics aren't just choices. They're moral decisions about life. Sometimes everyday life. Sometimes extraordinary circumstances.
Ethics provoke the most passionate discussion whether in parliament, church, our families and schools, the office, or down the pub. Different groups of people respond differently to the same situations, because they have different beliefs. Different sense of right and wrong.
The hope of the world is not liberty or justice, or equality or democracy - it's Jesus and a community committed to ethics. The goal of a Christ-centred life and community is not to feel good, but to know and do good.
We're distinctive, because we're Christ's people and we live in God's story.
We'll be discussing real issues. Things like: Crime and rehabilitation, Ethical consumerism - fair trade and food miles, Banks, economics and bonuses, War and peacemaking, Euthanasia and assisted dying
Come and have your perspective - and your life - shaped by applying Biblical truth to issues you face at this uncertain time.
Everyone but me, it seems -
where was I
that I should miss this grace?
My grief perhaps more
that I could not be consoled by the others
driving me to the streets
to the temple
to the tavern
hoping for some sign.
What did you say? What did you promise?
How could you heal so many and yet let this be?
I begin to understand Judas now
because you betrayed our hopes.
Maybe he understood more than the rest of us
how wrong we were.
I couldn't stand with John and the Marys
to watch the symbol of my hope destroyed,
but in my own dark corner of despair
I heard your words within me,
"My God, MY GOD, why have you forsaken me?"
Abandoned even more now
that the others have seen you
How can I believe? How can I trust
words again when I so misunderstood your own?
"Peace," they say. "He is alive."
And then they scorn me for wanting proof,
yet did they believe until they saw?
Why is more asked of me?
After all that has passed
I need to see - no, I need to touch
I need to hear your voice again
speaking to me - to ME.
Doubting Thomas they call me,
but haven't we all gotten so much wrong before?
Fighting to be first, cowering in storms,
still counting the loaves and fishes in our minds,
wondering how so few could feed all those thousands, and running away in disbelief
from the cross that hangs over me still.
I've made too many mistakes already and if it's true,
the only thing that I can trust
is that you will forgive.
from Street Prophets.com
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Wed |
3rd |
9.30 am |
Morning Prayers |
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7.30 pm |
Finance and Strategy Group |
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Fri 5th-Sun 7th Exhibition of Pictures of the
Annunciation At 5th – 7th Minister away at the URC Youth and
Children’s Work Committee |
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Sun |
7th |
10.30am |
Holy Communion led by Rev. Kate Pryde |
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4.00 pm |
Songs of Praise at |
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Wed |
10th |
9.30 am |
Morning Prayers |
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7.30 pm |
Elders Meeting |
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Sun |
14th |
10.30am |
Morning Worship |
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6.00 pm |
Evening Prayers |
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Wed |
17th |
9.30 am |
Morning Prayers |
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Thurs |
18th |
7.30 pm |
CTEER AGM at St Luke’s Church |
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Sat 20th “Godly Play” session at |
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Sat |
20th |
12noon- 6.00 pm |
Churches in Reading Midsummer Party in The |
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Sun |
21st |
10.30am |
Morning Worship with the Praise Band |
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6.00 pm |
Holy Communion with a time of Prayer for Healing and Wholeness |
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Wed |
24th |
9.30 am |
Morning Prayers |
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Sun |
28th |
10.30am |
Morning Worship Prayer and Praise |
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Last day for items for July Magazine |
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Rev Robert
Weston
office:
0118 926 5003
e-mail: minister@parkurc.org.uk
e-mail: churchsecretary@parkurc.org.uk
e-mail: centremanager@parkurc.org.uk
Magazine Editor
Rod King
e-mail: magazine@parkurc.org.uk
Church Website: www.parkurc.org.uk
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Worship |
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SALT groups for young people |
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Crèche facilities |
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Holy Communion (1st
Sunday of month) |
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Worship Holy Communion (3rd Sunday) |
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Monday |
9.30 am |
Earley Preschool Playgroup (Monday – Friday) |
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Cub-Scouts |
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Housegroup |
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Tuesday |
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Friendship Club |
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Badminton Club |
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7.30 pm |
Housegroup |
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Wednesday |
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Morning Prayers |
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Beavers |
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Thursday |
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Senior Citizens’ Luncheon Club |
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6.00 pm |
Rainbows & Brownies |
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7.15 pm |
Guides |
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Scouts |
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7.30 pm |
Housegroup |
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Friday |
9.00am |
Music and |
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Saturday |
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The |
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11.00 am |
Prayers |
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7.30 pm |
FIZZANG(Youth Club) |
