July 2003

Dear Friends,

St Peter’s has been making a bit of a name for itself in the national church press recently. Whilst not wanting to blow trumpets or anything, I do consider it worthwhile letting you know.

It all started last autumn when the Church Times included an article that the Diocesan Youth Synod wanted the next Bishop to wear glasses. Then after our family service on February on the theme of prayer and intercession when we used the Bubble Machine, the bubbles gave visual support to the offering of our prayers, once again Church Times picked it up and made mention of this unusual initiative. By the way the Church Times is a national newspaper published each week concerned particularly with news in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion.

On the Mothers’ Union front there was a picture taken of Liz, Steve, Maria and Kathryn Hull cutting the cake shared at the Wedding lunch served after the enrolment of 19 new members into our Mothers’ Union. The short article made mention of the numbers involved.

Finally I received a copy of a magazine insert which is widely used which included a brief mention of the new Parish Office and the appointment of Jane Cretney as Parish Clerk.

As I suggest we can not take all the credit for these articles nor the work they mention. Last night in the sermon I underlined how important it is that we recognise God is good and good things come from Him. Part of our role as Christians is to help others see the goodness of God at work, so they may come to recognise him.

In the Communion service we often say ‘all good things come from you and of your own do we give you’. May we continue to work hard and imaginatively for God and not forget who to thank when things go well.

Yours in Christ,

Nicholas A. Wells

WORLD MANX ASSOCIATION

On Sunday 13th July we will be pleased to welcome members of the World Manx Association as they join us for Morning Prayer. They are visiting the Island to join the Tynwald celebrations and we look forward to them being with us in our worship.


SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY

The Sunday School celebrate their Anniversary Service on Sunday 20th July at 11am. They have recently been following the Old Testament story of David and this will be the theme of the service. As they have been meeting in the Scout Hall all year the procession to church will begin from there this year.

The service will be followed by a picnic on the Church Green, so bring your hampers and chairs with you too!


STEM

We are sorry to say that due to summer holidays there will be no STEM service in July or August

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

This years Sunday School Anniversary is being held on
SUNDAY 20TH JULY at 11 a.m.

Following the Service we are again holding a Picnic on the Church Green
So dust off you’re your picnic baskets and chairs and join us.

KEY GROUPS

The Key Group co-ordinators have recently met with the clergy to discuss the programme for after the summer. It was recognised that the Key Groups are becoming a little like mini-churches and this is a very positive development. After all they centre around bible study, prayer and praise and become important pastoral supports too.

As each of the groups has grown over the last year and the Tuesday group is particularly large we have agreed to multiply the number of Key Groups. The vision is for 6 groups to gather after the summer with 2 groups on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The danger is that the groups will otherwise become too insular, unable for practical reasons to invite anyone else to join them.

In September we will have Key Groups as the focus of a Sunday Service and extend a very warm welcome to anyone to come and join a Key Group.

LADIES FELLOWSHIP

We had a great night out at the Hilton Hotel on 11th June, the worst part of the evening was getting a park, as the hotel was very busy. It was a beautiful evening and we saw various boats coming and going whilst we enjoyed our meal in the Paragon Restaurant.

We have a soft drinks stall for Nobles Day at Onchan Recreation Ground on 5th July. It is going ahead wet or fine. Help is required to 'man' the stall.

Our annual Garden Party is on the 19th July this year at the home of Margaret & Howard Corlett, 18 Snaefell Crescent. We have tea and cakes and various stalls, so please come and support us – ALL WELCOME.

MOTHERS UNION

On 17th June, eight members attended the Deanery Meeting at St. Mary's Hall, Port St. Mary. It was a well attended meeting during which Ann Hadwin and Ruth Hibbert told us all about their recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago complete with a slideshow. It was very interesting hearing all about the M.U. Childrens Home there.

For our next meeting, on 1st July, we have been invited to Mildred Cooper’s home, Woodlands, Alexander Drive, for afternoon tea at
2 p.m. (please support the bring and buy stall).

Flower Festival Coach Trip – is on Tuesday 8th July we have booked a large coach for a trip round the Ramsey area, departing Onchan Commissioners at 1.15 p.m. A strawberry tea has been booked at the United Reformed Church in Ramsey. There are still a few seats available, if you would like to come along, contact Sylvia 627664, Christine 616125 or Joan 625583.

5th July is Henry Bloom Noble Anniversary Day at 2 pm in Onchan
Recreation Ground. Any donations for the stall would be much appreciated - for more information please contact Betty Makin.

On 18th July the Mothers' Union are holding a Songs of Praise in Bride Church at 7.30 p.m.

Thursday 31st July at 12.30 p.m. in the Parish Hall we are holding a lunch party for the Chernobyl Children – any help would be much appreciated together with donations of sandwiches, cakes, etc.

The evening group held a quiz night in June and in July, Sylvia will be talking about her fostering experiences.

PEOPLE FROM THE PAST

At the moment there is much talked and read about in the media of immigrants from various countries, but over many years numerous Manxmen (and women) have emigrated to Canada, America and Australasia etc., and below is an article from A. W. Moores “Manx Worthies” re one such emigrant :-

“ WILLIAM KERMODE, The Hon. (b. 1775, d. 1852) a native of Port Erin. He went to sea as a boy, and soon became a skilful navigator. During the early part of the century (19th) he had command of large ships trading to India and Australia, and , in the course of these voyages, he visited the country then known as Van Dieman’s Land (now as Tasmania), which was at that time
a penal settlement. The English Government, however, wishing to encourage colonists, offered large tracts of land, at a nominal price, to those who would undertake to settle there and cultivate them, with the assistance of convict labour. In 1822, WILLIAM KERMODE accepted a grant of land on these Conditions. At first he had what he termed a “rough” time of it, with his convicted labourers, but he was just the man to manage them, as is shown by the following incident: It is well known that at one time bushrangers were a terror in Tasmania. During one of their outbreaks, WILLIAM KERMODE was being driven to Hobart Town, through what was in those days a dense bush, in a closed carriage, when two of the bushrangers suddenly thrust their heads in at the window and demanded his money or his life. His reply was to knock their heads together, which so stunned them that he, with the aid of the driver, was able to tie them up before they recovered their senses. They were then placed in the carriage and driven into town, where they were recognised as two of the most dangerous of their class. By 1828, he had his land laid out and brought into order. On this land he grazed an enormous number of sheep, and he amassed great wealth by the sale of their wool, which was well known in the London market by its brand, the “Three Legs of Man”. He always took pains to get the best possible stock, whether it was of merino sheep or of the “Suffolk Punch” horse, the breed of which he was equally famous. He was for many years a member of the Upper House of Parliament in the colony called the Legislative Council, a position which carried with it the right to the title of “The Honourable”. All the governors during his time were on intimate terms with him, especially Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer, who was a frequent visitor at his large and handsome residence, called “Mona Vale”, where he and his wife dispensed a lavish hospitality. He was no doubt one of the ablest, most influential, and popular men who had ever sought a home in the colony”.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Baptisms
Ellen Lewin, John Overs, Ruby Riekstins,
Benjamin O'Rourke

Funerals
Keith Burton, Lillian Cole, Joan Courtie, Nora Fletcher,
Ernest Hewitt, Elsie Wenn, Irene Wilding

Offertory

The offertory for May totalled £4,658.50 and was made up of £3,613.54 pledged giving and £1,044.96 of loose plate giving.

Thank you.