February 2004

Dear Friends,

By the time you read this, our Christian Stewardship Renewal Campaign will be well underway, and with your help we should be putting our financial worries behind us for the next five years – what a comforting thought!
But of course our Campaign is to do with more than just money, important though that is. In this busy age the availability of Time and the use of Talents play an equally important part in the success of any venture, particularly when the ‘Mission Statement’ of Jesus our Lord and Master included the words “Go therefore to all nations and make them my disciples.” (Matthew 28. 19)
“What, me?” did I hear someone say? “Surely that’s the Vicar’s job?” Well, yes it’s clearly part of his Job Description; ‘at times convenient and inconvenient’ as the Ordination Service puts it, but there are lots of other times and places where someone else may be more suited to the need.
Sunday School Teachers and Helpers, occasional evenings at Kenyons, Pastoral Visiting, once a year collecting for Christian Aid Week, Membership of the Mothers Union or the Ladies Fellowship, assistance with our young people’s needs at the Sunday Morning Lazer Group or our Sunday Evening Discussion Group – the list is endless and the need, real.
If we are to obey our Lord’s command and be faithful to Him, we each need to ask ourselves whether we are playing an active part, as much as lies within us, in promoting His Kingdom to the people around us, day by day.
By the end of this month the penitential season of Lent will be upon us and our various House Groups (we purposely call them Key Groups) will once more be meeting, this time to listen to eminent speakers and to discuss the points they raise about the Hard Sayings of Jesus.
Lists will be available at the back of church for you to add your name to join the existing members, on a night in the week convenient to you.
It may be that through this means that you might be called to serve God in some further way in the promotion of the practical work and witness of Christ’s church.
Yours in Christ,

Les Lawrinson

MOTHERS UNION

The afternoon group held two meetings in January when we heard Capt Graham Bibby giving us some encouraging words for the start of the New Year and reminding us of Jesus’ presence in all that we do. This was followed on a cold Tuesday afternoon by Mrs Sally Macfadyen, who gave a wonderful talk and visual presentation on a journey she and the Lieutenant Governor had made to India.

The Evening Group listened with more than a little surprise to Joyce Quine outlining some of the background work that goes on in the Fostering and Adoption chain here on the Island – many questions followed Joyce’s talk.

We now look forward to February’s meetings – again all in the Church Hall:
2pm 10th Feb Fire Prevention in the Home – Fire Officer Carl Kinvig
7.45pm 19th Feb “Praise Him on the Tambourine” – Alison Foster
2pm 24th Feb Tea & Chat

A big thank you to all members who have helped/are helping with various jobs on the Stewardship Renewal Campaign. I know the Stewardship Chairman and Director have been grateful for the support.

Once again I will be looking for help with catering – this time for the Marriage Preparation Evening to be held on Monday February 9th.

This month our special prayer for the International Year of the Family is for ‘Mothers and Fathers’:
“We pray for Mothers & Fathers:

We pray for mothers and fathers everywhere,
for all the joy and happiness that children bring.
But in the times when parents feel stressed and overtired,
give to them spaces to relax, times to recover
and peace in mind and heart.

Thank you Lord that you are our father and mother.
As we experience your parent's love and care for us,
may we reflect that in our relationship with our own children.
Amen.
Sylvia Lawrinson

LADIES FELLOWSHIP

The January meetings were very well attended. The first was a very interesting talk given by Mrs Pamela Kewley on Victim Support. Then a very good demonstration by Miss Laura Heaton on facial cleansing and hand care. The February meeting on the 4th will be "Dancing with Freda" and a look at holiday snaps and Mrs M. Cooper will be talking to us about her musical memories on the 18th February.

CHOIR

As we start a New Year a sincere thanks to all the members of the Church Choir after a particularly busy time.
The Choir are a committed group – some of whom attend Morning Worship, some Evensong and some who may do either or both.
The Choir hope to practise once a month but do practise for about twenty weeks of the year and work hard to achieve a high standard for special services which has been evident on many occasions during the past year, culminating in a very successful Candlelight Carol Service at Christmas.
The Junior Choir practise (from time to time) at 10.15am before Church on Sunday mornings.
There are over 20 members of the Choir and anyone who would like to join us – please contact Wendy or Gordon – will be made very welcome.

CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

The Children's Society boxes are due to be emptied during February. If you have not yet been contacted by Hazel perhaps you could leave the box in church for emptying.

FOR SALE

Mrs Emily Hamer has an Singer Electric Sewing Machine for sale – proceeds to the Parish Hall Fund. If you would like more information please contact Jane at the Parish Office.

PERSEVERANCE

Successes can be measured
In varying amounts.
So long as we're still trying –
That's the thing that counts.
Feeling sure, each bright new day
Something good is on its way.


FAITH

I'm sure many of us have a "down" day from time to time and I'm passing on these anonymous lines entitled "Faith" in the hope that they may be a comfort next time you feel depressed:

Doubt sees the obstacles,
Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step,
Faith soars on high.
Doubt whispers, "Who believes?"
Faith answers "I".


WHO'S JOB?

A friend sent me this item from their church magazine, but I think you will agree that it applies to much more than the life of the Church:

"There were once four people – Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but in the end Nobody did it. Somebody got very angry over this because it was really Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody had asked Anybody."

FROM THE REGISTERS

BAPTISMS
Susan Hughes, Faye Helena Cooil, Claire Hannah Clucas

FUNERALS
Emma Cotterell, Lionel Ellison, Norman Fargher,
George Howard Gelling, Jean Eileen McKay, Ernest James Dobson, Kathleen Larmuth, Chrissie Kermode, Margaret Kneen,
George Green, Doris Robb.

OFFERTORY
The offertory for December totalled £7,236.89 and was made up of £4,763.95 pledged giving and £2,472.94 (inc. £426.23 Christingle) of loose plate giving

Thank you.