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33, Halton Drive, Wideopen, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 0AA. CHURCH SECRETARY: |
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Sunday 7th December Saturday 13th December Sunday 14th December Sunday 14th December Wednesday 17th December Wednesday 24th December Christmas Day Sunday 28th December
2009 Sunday 4th January Sunday 11th January Sunday 18th January Tuesday 20th January |
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Then Jesus said to the Disciples. "There was a rich man who had a manager and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer’ Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes'. So summoning his master’s debtors one by one he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?’ He answered ‘a hundred jugs of olive oil'. He said to him 'sit down quickly and make it fifty'. Then he asked another. 'How much do you owe' and he answered 'A hundred containers of wheat' He said to him 'Take your bill and make it eighty' And the master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. No Servant can be the slave of two masters; such a servant will hate one and love the other or will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money”. St Luke 16 v 1 - 8, 13 |
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When, in the rush of days, my will is habit - bound and slow Help me to keep in vision still what love and power and peace can fill A life that trusts in you 497 (Rejoice and Sing) |
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A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2009 TO ALL OUR READERS
Dear Friends As we enter Advent, we look forward to the celebration of “God with us”, when God came onto earth in human form. He wasn’t born in the way we would have expected - as the son of a ruling monarch would have been - but instead in the worst possible of ways. He was born to an unmarried woman, who was engaged to an older man, in a time when single parents were not accepted. He came into a society that would reject the mother and leave her as a pariah within society. The child would be ignored at the Synagogue school with no male to guide him into manhood, when he would, for the first time, read the scrolls at his Bar Mitzvah. We can go on with the rejection scenario ad infinitum; except - it didn’t happen! We know what happened, we have heard the story many times so it doesn’t need a retelling here, because it all worked out ok in the end, but it beggars one question for us to consider and it’s this. If a single woman came into our church, visibly pregnant and with the father of the child absent, what would we do? Would we reject her for the apparent immoral life she leads? (Joseph didn’t!) Could we find someone to give her room in their house? (The Innkeeper didn’t!) Would people make provision for the child? (Three Wise Men did!) Could someone prophesy over the child? (Anna and Simeon did!) Would the eldership and minister bless the child before God? (The Temple priest did!) Advent is a time of reflection and questioning. If we cannot answer these questions as others did, then our faith has nothing to commend itself to anyone. It also means that our church should shut its doors and give up! These are some hard questions that normally would never see the light of day in print. Perhaps they would be dealt with in a sermon one Sunday, but not in a more major sense. These are questions that could damage a church merely by their asking and certainly if that church is weak in faith and spirit. I know that this church is not weak in faith or spirit; I know that this church would not act wrongly in this matter. I also know that this church will benefit from rethinking these questions and reaffirming that we stand by the weak and the dispossessed. We are a friend to all, no matter what their background and we stand by all who call on us for help. We use wisdom to help those in need and bless those who seek a blessing. To all of this we say Amen, Amen and Amen! Now a gentler concluding thought. Let us remember that the Wise Men are now plotting the progress of the star and making plans to travel towards the birth of the infant King. We too make plans to join the infant King on Christmas day. The giving of presents symbolises the gift from God, we have a feast day in celebration and we hug and kiss as a sign of the peace which the Christ Child brings. May this Christmas be all you want and need it to be, may the Christ child be born in your hearts and minds and may you know the joy of Christmas throughout the coming year. God Bless and – ‘Where’s the mistletoe???’ God Bless,
CHRISTINGLE
This Christmas Eve sees the advent of a new service for children (old and young), when we will have a Christingle service at 4pm. It’s a simple little service of story, carols and a little bit of Blue Peter when we will make a Christmas decoration. The service will be finished by 5pm with those words that many parents love to hear “ now boys and girls, if you don’t go to sleep at bedtime then the magic of Christmas cannot happen and there will be no presents appearing for you, so go to sleep and stay in bed until at least 4am, sorry I meant 7am”. Hopefully we shall see you and the young ones at 4 pm in the church. Philip |
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The Elders have had three meetings in the last month, two of which were devoted solely to developments within the Mission Partnership. To date, although various changes have been suggested, our position remains the same as at the Congregational Meeting. At our monthly meeting we welcomed the news that Hannah Middleton with whom Phil Wagstaff has been in touch about Junior Church, may be able to help with youth work in Ponteland in conjunction with Ponteland Churches Together. We considered the Church Calendar for 2009 which could include a Passover meal in Holy Week and ecumenical soup and roll lunches during Lent. There will be a service of carols, candles and readings at the evening service on December 14th this year. Philip Gray shared with us his format for Café Church and told us of an initiative he has developed with PC Henry to meet with the young scooter and motorbike riders on the estate. It is to be hoped that this could be the beginning of a good relationship with our local police constable. We also noted that Raymond Tipping is retiring from being convenor for the Events Committee and Communications Group and we thank him for all his work and the expertise he brought to these roles. It is to be hoped someone will take on the leadership of each of these groups and make as good a job as Raymond has done. Carol Gabriel, Acting Secretary. |
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The total amount raised this year for Kapsowar Hospital is £500. Sincere thanks to everyone who has helped to raise this amount. Some of the money was raised by members and friends saving their small change throughout the year. The funds have been helped by Friday soup makers who have donated their soup expenses. The raffle for the embroidered picture, by Audrey Baxter, realised £136. The money will be sent to Kapsowar Hospital for the patients who are too poor to pay for their treatment. Dr. Fursdon is back in Kapsowar temporarily and has said she will make sure the money is well used. A happy Christmas to all of you who have given so generously. Marion Dowden. |
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Waiting is significant. The waiting for the birth of a child can mean the last two weeks seem endless. Waiting for Christmas to come when one is a toddler is interminable. Waiting for God to come can seem endless. Advent is a time when we acknowledge this. When I was a teenager my family ran cafes and so the holiday job was to wait on table. This is an active thing, not passively hanging around for a bus or for the kettle to boil, but attentively being ready to serve when required. This is how we are to wait on God. We need to have our oil lamps filled with reserve oil in stock. We need to have our batteries charged for the torch. We are to wait on God in prayer and thanksgiving. Attentively listening to what God requires. Psalm 130 talks of 'Waiting for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning.' The period before dawn is the bleakest. If you have ever stayed up all night, you will know this is when the coldness sets in, the body clamps down, everything slows and it feels like the whole world is held in suspended animation. Yet it is at this point when the watchman is the most expectant of the coming of the dawn. It is this kind of waiting for God to come amongst us in Christ that we are called to. Waiting entails anticipation about what it will be like when God comes. There are memories of previous experiences. Prophecies, experiences and dreams recall possibilities of justice and judgement, suffering and victory and light in the darkness. Our past glimpses of God's glory bursting through into our lives colour our anticipation. This was so for the early church as they reflected on seeing God in Jesus and developed the stories of his birth so beloved at Christmas of angels and shepherds, magi and star. It is so for us now as we anticipate God bursting into creation. We are to wait on God more than those guarding the city wall wait for the morning. We wait by offering thanks, listening in prayer, paying attention to the Word in the bible, and by telling the story of our faith by recalling and sharing our previous encounters with God. This leads to Vision 4 life. Wait, wait for the Lord Whose day is near Wait for the Lord Keep watch. Take heart. (Taizé chant) Shalom |
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5th December 7.30 pm Dunston Silver Band Concert 6th December 10.00 am Memorial Tree erected in Church. Come and add your message in memory of your loved one 5.00 pm Concert by the Piano Students of Mrs Susan Huntingdon 7th December 10.45 am Morning Service led by Rev. Philip Gray 5.00 pm Youth Carol Service 8th December 1.45 pm Carol Praise 9th December 7.30 pm Salvation Army Christmas Praise 13th December 4.00 pm Especially for Children. Setting out of the Nativity Scene and story time 14th December 10.45 am Morning Service 16th December 2.30 pm Mince Pie Tea in the Church Hall 19th December 7.30 pm St Johns' Singers Christmas Concert 21st December 10.45 am Family Service led by Rev. Philip Gray 5.00 pm Lessons and Carols followed by Mince Pies, Mulled Wine and Coffee 24th December 6.00 pm Christingle, a service specially for children, young and old 9.00 pm Carols and Candles to set the mood for Christmas 25th December 10.00 am Christmas Day Service
Philip and the congregation invite everyone to join them at any of the above services and events. |
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The Finance Group met on 3rd, October, 2008. It was noted that the Northern Synod had given permission for the empty manse to be let and that the income was to be used first to bring the manse up to the national standard and secondly to maintain the property. After that any income may be used for the purposes of Ponteland URC. It was agreed that Barbara Johnston, Joyce Childs, Colin Scott, Robin Ramsay and I should form the Manse Committee and the Committee met on 24th October. I must congratulate the other members of the Committee who have contributed a great deal to this project. After much discussion the Committee has decided that it will be best to let the manse through an agent and terms have been agreed. Some expenditure will be necessary before the property can be let, including full re-decoration, cleaning, an asbestos survey and the removal of a wasp's nest from the loft! These jobs are in the process of being arranged and I expect that we shall be in a position to look for tenants before too long. The Finance Group also considered the Church's payments to e.on for gas. The Group noted that the Church had been paying VAT at 17.5% and a Climate Charge although churches should pay VAT on energy at only 5% and should not pay any Climate Charge. Happily it was also noted that we could have the bills re-assessed for the past three years and that process was started. The contract for the Church's gas supply changed from e.on to British Gas on 30th October and the heating still seems to be working so so far so good! Although the British Gas deal was the best one available it is going to be over 60% more expensive than we had been paying to e.on. On the matter of the cost of heating the Church, it was decided at a meeting of the Managers in October to pay £1,133 for the insulation of the roof from the vestibule to the rear entrance. This was started on 10th November, 2008. In the long term that should save us money. The Finance Group also listened to and approved my proposal that the Church should move its banking from the HSBC to the CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) Bank. The CAF Bank is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and, I discovered subsequently, is recommended by the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers. The CAF Bank will pay a lot more interest than does the HSBC. In this edition of The Source you will find a leaflet giving information about what the URC does with its Ministry and Mission (M&M) fund. Briefly, the URC uses a church's membership at the start of one year to calculate how much that church will pay to the M&M fund in the following year. This year our M&M contribution is based on a membership of 142 at the beginning of 2007 and will total £40,902 or about £5.50 per Church member per week. Our membership at the start of 2008 was 133 and our M&M contribution in 2009 will be £38,437. Our income in October totalled £10,937. The main source of income was £5,000 from the will of the late Sam Campbell. Our givings totalled £3,072 (freewill offerings) and £530 in the collection plate. The other sources of income were £2,125 from letting the Church, £135 sponsorship and a donation of £75. We were also notified about the gas VAT and climate charge rebate which totalled £1,167. To the end of October, 2008 the church has received £36,044 as freewill offerings and from the collection plate. This compares with £45,006 in the same period in 2007. Our expenditure in October totalled £5,182, £3,390 of which was our monthly payment to the Northern Synod for Ministry & Mission. At the end of October, 2008 our balances in the current account and Northern Rock savings account totalled £36,504. This compares with £32,817 a year ago. To the end of October, 2008 our income has exceeded our expenditure by £5,465. Peter Watson, Treasurer |
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Our Special Saturday in November was very successful. This year we held our Christmas Fayre in our own building using all the spaces available and as ever our community and friends supported us. Our stall holders were happy with the changes and the innovations. Our ‘Jane’s Café’ was splendid and the burgers cooked and served at the front door were very popular. Our thanks go to everyone involved in any way; the stallholders and their helpers; the cooks and the bakers; the workers in the kitchen and café, and those raising further money with superb raffles. Our thanks also to Frank for ensuring we have a splendid photographic record of the day. We also appreciate the support we receive from local businesses in particular Snaiths, the Butchers and Davidsons, the Bakers. But a HUGE thank you to LES for his unstinting dedication to the Day and for making it all go so successfully. Including the second bric-a-brac sale the excellent amount of over £5,000 was raised. |
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On Friday 21st November, in the church, the Fenner Sisters assured us that “Mama don’t allow no music playing in here” but, fortunately for us, the Tees Valley Jazz Men and the sisters themselves ably demonstrated to us that they “don’t care what Mama don’t allow” and in the process entertained a large audience of members and friends with an evening of hand-clapping and foot-tapping music. Their professional presentation of a wide range of favourite chart toppers, vocal and instrumental, which have retained a place in our memories, gave us a great deal of pleasure, not least because of the obvious pleasure it gave the performers. On a cold winter night we had a perfect demonstration of the heart warming pleasure music can give us. Once more we appreciate the efforts of those who do all the background arranging of these occasions and of those who performed for us. The splendid sum of £570 was donated to Church funds.
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Philip and Paul Henry, our new Community Beat Officer, organised an ‘open-door’ session for young bikers and scooter riders. Our Church was the venue for this initiative. The fire service and an undertaker were part of this motorcycle group, there to talk to the youngsters. They were supported by several of our members. Unfortunately, the youngsters did not participate; some were seen at a distance! However the concept will be given a fresh attempt next spring. |
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KIDS CORNER FOR CHRISTMAS
1. NNI ................... 8. RTAS...............
2. ESEHHDPSR.............. 9. NYOKDE.............
3. HWDRISP................ 10. YABB...............
4. JHOPSE................. 11. RMGENA............. . 5. TEHMHELBE............... 12. SSJEU..............
6. RYMA................... 13. IGFTS..............
7. LATESB................. 14. AGLSEN.............
Mary stable inn angels Joseph donkey Jesus gifts manger worship Bethlehem star shepherds Baby
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Dear Friends, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift comes from” God. So I thanked him heartily for the arrival of a French medical student for a 4 week visit. God knows my limits and my talents and weaknesses. The job was to put in order a new store. There were medicines, medical supplies and equipment to organise piled up in my spare bedroom or stored at another mission station. I felt that working at this by myself would have seriously affected my mental health. I am thankful for the new vehicle, what a pleasure to start a journey with confidence. Travelling has been difficult due to the state of the roads, many are impassable from all the rain, and this has limited my visits to health centres. I was very thankful to return to Bebalem (the hospital where I previously lived) to do some clinical work, help with an audit, show something of Chadian medical work to my student and to make various contacts. I enjoy the work and have many friends there. My visit coincided with a request from the Board Chairman to make up an order of medicines for 20 million CFA (£25,000) as the government was willing to help us. As he also asked for a plan of action of capital projects to a total of much more, it was great that I was there to help. The information was asked for ‘immediately’ and now we have not received anything. But we are assured that we will be in the budget for this amount in 2009. Don’t hold your breath but pray! The government have sent drugs etc so that the hospital might give free maternity care. The hospital also figures in the regional government health budget and is currently receiving help in buying fuel for the generator, food for patients and some administrative costs. Praise God for these good gifts. While I was there they were continuing with major work on repairing buildings through gifts from Samaritan’s Purse, ECHO and Parole et Action. This much needed work is a great encouragement. I saw much evidence of poverty preventing people coming for treatment. The hospital has need of such subsidies. Future activities I was asked to be part of a consultation with a German mission who were previously heavily involved in the work of the hospital. Please pray for our meetings and for the best solution for the continuing work at Bebalem. It is difficult to make a home somewhere if one does not live there. It is difficult to live somewhere if one’s job is to be out visiting other works and one is not sure of any role at “home”. Pray that my role and the best place to live will become clear to all in the near future. I am due to go to Kenya for a leadership seminar. I will see some of my Kenyan friends although I will not have time to go to Kapsowar. I also hope to buy some of the medicines that are not available in Chad. With more experience than before of the challenges of leadership, it will be interesting to learn more. Earlier this year we were due to establish a strategy for the medical work in Chad. Meetings were cancelled because of the insecurity at that time. We hope these meetings will go ahead in January 2009. I am thankful in some ways for the delay as I believe that the understanding of my work as coordinator of the church health centres has changed recently. Pray for us in our thinking for this strategy – what is helpful, important, feasible etc. Some health centre news Abba Limane: The government banned the making of charcoal, a main source of income, and local people had no money for health care. Combined with Ramadan this caused a significant drop in patient numbers. BUT the health centre received a motorbike from Medecin sans Frontieres and is promised a fridge (for vaccines) from the district health officer. Ba Illi, at the edge of a large village with a good size population, was a very active health centre but now is seeing fewer patients and has too many staff so money is difficult. They serve an area where there are many unreached groups so we wish this work to continue. Pray for the nurse in charge who had become discouraged and pray that the cause of the problem will be clear. Djimtilo has a functioning airstrip (previously abandoned), we visited there by plane in October. It saved me 4 hours driving. I was there with the chaplain of Bebalem and was thankful to have his company and also to Dourbali, another centre set amongst a Moslem population. Financial irregularities at Boutal Bagar have not been explained. Pray for our meetings regarding this matter I do not relish having to deal with this but nor do I want to ignore apparent dishonesty. I am very thankful to have the help of people who have knowledge of Chadian law and customs in dealing with such issues. Plenty to pray about! Thanks for doing so. Love ANN.
(This is an abbreviated version of Chad Chat. The full letter from Ann is available on the church noticeboard). Ann sent a further note confirming the good news of positive future involvement, at the Bebalem hospital, of the German mission, also the contribution of Government finance and that previous hospital debts of more than £35,000 will be written off; so they are very pleased. |
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“Come in and pray to-day - beat the Christmas rush” “If you are heading in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns” “In the dark? Follow the Son” “This is a ch...ch. What is missing? - (UR) “If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd” |
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Dining Together at Fratelli Women’s World Day of Prayer Nearly New Sale or alternative Bible Society Lunch Passover Meal – Holy Week Skipton Day trip Party in the Park Mini Holiday Iona and Mull European Evening Bible Society Coffee Morning at St. Marys Bible Society Lunch Harvest Festival Harvest Supper One World Week Christmas Fayre Second Bric-a-Brac Sale Carol Singing |
January/February Friday 6th March tba Wednesday 18th March Wednesday 8th April Saturday 16th May Sunday 7th June Monday 8th June Friday 10th July Saturday 11th July Thursday 24th September Sunday 11th October Friday 16th October Sunday 25th October Provisional Saturday 14th November Saturday 28th November Saturday 12th and 19th December |
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Church Secretary - Mr. F. Milligan, 10 The Beeches, Ponteland. NE20 9SZ Tel. 823489 Hall Bookings - Mrs. J. Childs, 34 Ashdale, Ponteland. NE20 9DR. Tel. 825144 Property Secretary - Mrs. B. Johnston, 2 Bamburgh House, Merton Way, Ponteland. NE20 9PY Tel. 872546 Disclaimer:- |
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