1 GREETINGS Greetings greetings greetings Greenacres Congregational Church In this issue..... Page 5 - ‘5 minutes with Rowena’ Page 6/7 - Children’s ministry Page 12/13 - Chaplaincy – A way of Serving Page 14 - Film review June 2013 greetings greetings
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
GREETINGS Greetings
greetin
gs gr
eeti
ngs Greenacres
Congregational
Church
In this issue..... Page 5 - ‘5 minutes with Rowena’
Page 6/7 - Children’s ministry
Page 12/13 - Chaplaincy – A way of Serving
Page 14 - Film review
June 2013
greetings
greetings
2
Church membership Church membership is a very important part of the life of
a Congregational Church. We at Greenacres value the commitment that is expressed through Church
Membership, devotion and service. If you would like more details about becoming a Church Member, we have an
information pack you may find interesting and
informative.
Please ask our Minister or one of the Deacons for a copy.
Weekly activities Sunday 10.45am Morning Service Communion follows the morning service on the first Sunday in the month
everybody whose eye this leaflet meets Dear Friends,
The continued popularity of Facebook has brought about a very
interesting phenomenon. More and more quotes are being posted on its pages and people are being invited to ‘like’ them and ‘share’ them.
A popular one doing the rounds at the moment is: “In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many mo-ments took your breath away.” Another is: “When life gives you a
hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand
reasons to smile.”
On Facebook, of all the different genres of quotes and sayings, the
most popular is friendship. Like: “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
One of my favourite quotes comes from Maya Angelou: “I've learned
that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
The one thing in common that lies behind all these words is care,
and that very much ties in with the words of Jesus to Peter telling him to “Take care of my sheep”. As a church we are deeply
committed to caring for one another. To looking after each other,
encouraging, supporting, helping in whatever way we can. Just as God calls us into a relationship with him, so as members of God’s family we have a relationship that requires us to look after each
other.
That is why, through the pages of Greetings, we want to say we are
here for each other. Relationships feed on communication, so please do let us know if you have any concerns, any news, or any needs. If you would like a visit, or know of someone who might appreciate a
visit from myself or one of the deacons, please do let me know.
We are all in this together, part of the body of Christ, sheep that are vulnerable and need looking after. Please play your part. As Theo-
dore Roosevelt once said: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
With every good wish,
Neil Chappell
4
A few moments from the scribe
Hello readers,
This is my third issue of Greetings, and I think I am just about getting things sorted out! Whilst I love and deeply welcome your input, the saying ‘a camel is a horse designed by a
committee’, comes to mind! So be patient and we will get there, but I have big shoes to fill, and one must walk before
we run!
But talking about input and contributions, this is your
magazine, this is your Church, this is your chance to have a direct impact in the life of your Church. So please, if you have
anything you would like to submit for publication, any ideas or thoughts, comments, letter to the editor, then either e-mail me or hand it to me, Neil or anyone of the steering group in
Church, we look forward to your contribution.
In this issue we are looking at ‘Pastoral Care’ and some of it’s many forms. Peter Butler has written an excellent personal insight into chaplaincy, whilst Pam, writing for the children’s
ministry, has concentrated on Fathers day, and whilst both may seem distant, Fathers are probably our first experience of
‘Chaplaincy’, though it usually follows with ‘ask your Mother’!
So lets publish and be ……., see you next issue! And thanks
Steve Sinclair P.S I have a new mobile number, details on back page.
5
5 minutes with Rowena
Most prized possession: My home– because it is where all the
people who mean the most to me live, meet and spend time
together.
Why do you come to Greenacres Church? I have never gone
anywhere else! I like the friendliness of the people, the
informality of the services and the knowledge that everyone
who worships at Greenacres does so because of their faith.
Favourite words of inspiration: Throw back your shoulders,
let your heart sing, let your eyes flush, let your mind be
lifted up, look upwards and say to yourself ….nothing is
impossible!
Saddest moment of your life: When my Dad died.
Happiest moment of your life: Happiest moment– marrying Ian
Happiest moments– when Mark and Ruth were born A figure in history who you’d like to have afternoon tea with:
Mahatma Ghandi, because he inspired people to make a dif-
ference whilst never compromising his belief in the impor-
tance of truth at all times.
Person in your life who has influenced you the most: My Dad–
I often find myself wondering ‘what would Dad have done or
said in this situation?’ and I try to be guided by the re-
sponse.
Piece of wisdom you would pass on: Always look for the good
in everyone.
Your philosophy in life: Do to others as you would have them
do to you.
Which film could you watch again and again? ‘Pretty woman’
- a real feel good film I can watch time and time again!
6
The History of Father's
Day The tradition of celebrating Father's
Day as seen today originated in the last century. Though there are several
people who are credited for furthering the cause of Father's Day, there is far greater acceptance for Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd's
contribution. A doting daughter from Spokane, Washington, Ms Dodd is recognized as the Founder or Mother of the Father's
Day Festival. Inception of the Father's Day took place in Sonora's mind when
she happened to hear a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora, who was 27 then, had begun to recognize the hardships her
father must have gone through while bringing up his six children alone. When Sonora was 16, her mother had died during childbirth. Sonora's father a Civil War veteran by the
name of William Jackson Smart raised six children including the new-born on his own. Sonora questioned that if there is a day
to recognize mothers then why is not there a day to honour fathers?
Many people laughed and joked at Sonora's idea. But her will did not droop. She began a sincere campaign lobbying for the
cause of Father's Day. Her hard work began to show signs of success when Spokane celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910 with the support of Spokane Ministerial Association
and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). To pay tribute to her affectionate father, Sonora wished that Father's
Day be celebrated on her father's birthday on June 5, but it so happened that there was not enough time for preparation and the day came to be celebrated on third Sunday in the month of
June.
Try our Fathers Day Word search on page 15
7
What is CF-XTRA?
The work of the Congregational Federation with children and young people is now split into two: Children First and CF-XTRA.
The work of Children First! helps churches reach and engage with children by:
promoting effective strategies such as Messy Church affirming excellence through the Child Friendly Church
award scheme
giving churches hands-on help to reach more families offering churches advice, support and training as needed.
CF-XTRA is the national youth provision for all young people aged 10-29 with connections to local CF churches. CF-XTRA is led by a Core Team who are elected by youth participants from
CF churches. A team of 5 are currently in post serving the churches of the
Congregational Federation. They are supported by John Brown as the National Youth Enabler. Their challenging brief is to develop an effective strategy for
participation by all the Federation’s young people aged 10 to 29 years.
CF-XTRA is about young people growing in faith and becoming radical disciples of Jesus.
CF-XTRA provides an exciting programme of regional, national and overseas events. CF-XTRA supports young people in local CF
churches - whether they are involved in Sunday worship, or attend a club or group during the
week. Whatever their connection to the fellowship of the church, they are already a member of
CF-XTRA.
CF-XTRA offers opportunities for local youth leaders to meet and support one another.
CF-XTRA is seeking to build a community of young people and to develop the relationship between local churches and the national provision.
For more information visit their website at: www.congregational.org.uk/cfxtra
8
PASTORAL CARE
This is one encyclopaedia's definition of Pastoral Care:
“Pastoral care is a term applied where
Christians offer help and caring to others in their church or wider community.
Pastoral care can be listening, supporting, encouraging and befriending.”
Too often we think of pastoral care as just visiting the home bound or the ill and infirm. We regularly visit folks in nursing
facilities, in hospitals or in their homes. We sometimes fail to realize that everyone is in need of pastoral care at one
time or another. As loving and caring Christians, we should all keep our “antennae” out to sense the need for pastoral care in others.
“Listening” means giving your full and undivided attention.
It does not mean offering a solution to a problem or how to “fix” a situation. “Supporting” means offering nurture and validity to an
individual even if you don’t fully understand his or her needs. “Encouraging” means bolstering someone’s faith and
confidence. We all need to be reminded from time to time that the Holy Spirit will come along beside us to inspire us. “Befriending” means opening your heart to anyone you
believe to be in need of pastoral care.
When we sense a need in someone, a simple “Are you OK?” may well open a floodgate. Our caring response to his or her needs is what pastoral care is all about.
9
Church Diary
June
2nd – Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship & Communion
16th –Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship - Father's Day 18th –Tuesday – 7.30pm – Peace & Quiet Time 23rd –Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship - Led by Rev John
Arnold 28th – Friday – 7.30pm – Quiz Night in support of Christian Aid
30th – Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship
July
2nd – Tuesday – 7.30pm – Deacons
7th – Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship & Communion 14th –Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship - Father's Day
16th Tuesday – 7.30pm – Peace & Quiet Time 21st – Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship 28th – Sunday – 10.45am – Family Worship
10
A number of people from church have lost a good friend,
neighbour and family member recently. We pray that you will
take some comfort knowing that you are all in our thoughts
and prayers at this time. We think especially of
Brenda Parkinson
Anthony Stockton
Offertories April May 7/4/13 £399.00 5/5/13 £285.60 14/4/13 £299.71 12/5/13 £327.70
21/4/13 £248.20 19/5/13 £232.60 28/4/13 £238.15 26/5/13 £192.00 Total £1185.06 Total £ 1037.90
11
Greetings, to infinity and beyond
Easter Eggs We recently received a lovely letter thanking us for the donation of over 80 Easter Eggs for families in need.
Thank you once again for responding with such generosity, and thanks to Muriel Booth for organising it all
on our behalf.
We are now able to put an electronic copy of Greetings on the
Church Website. If you would like to be informed
when this happens please send your email details to
I am often asked what a chaplain is. The answer to that is that
they are people usually of a religious persuasion who want to give something back to society. They are not just from the
various Christian denominations, but include Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists and all other sorts from the faith community. All these variant peoples act as a team and apart from when
someone is in need of the sacraments our differences rarely matter. In point of fact I along with my colleagues are at pains
to explain to patients, visitors and staff alike that we are there for them if they need to talk and anything else is only at a
specific requests. Another question that sometimes comes up is why I do it, especially giving up my time as a volunteer. I am afraid that the answer to that one is that I get far more out of
the job than I put in. I am constantly amazed at the stoicism of people in distress and always humbled at the way the face their
adversities.
Of course there is a certain amount of consideration to be given about the situation that people in hospital find themselves in.
They are after all in a very vulnerable position, depending on others and often feel a loss of control over their lives and in an
undignified position. They have lost their badges of identity in the sense that they are not wearing their day clothes and look the same as everyone else. Given the situation it is important to
ensure that any contact one has with patients must allow for them to retain their dignity and take people at face value. One
never knows to whom you may be conversing and often people at their lowest ebb present themselves in an unfavourable light. This is when it is important to remember the importance of
being non-judgemental. Patients are there to be treated for
illness and nursed back to health, not preached at.
It is equally important that one never proffers medical advice, as not only is this not in the remit of chaplains, we are simply not qualified to do so, nor are we aware of the history of the
patients though I have been faced with questions such as do I think someone should allow the consultant to amputate or
should he try to live on without treatment. The job of a
13
chaplain is to listen and
perhaps, pass on where people can obtain
information they might require. It is quite easy to be led into a situation whereby
people ask about you and you end up doing more talking
than listening, but as I said this is to be resisted. Talking is sometimes not appropriate,
either because the patient is too upset or because they are
not able due to their medical c o n d i t i o n . I n t h e s e circumstances simply the
holding of a hand is all that is necessary and is very much appreciated as can be discerned by the tightness of the grip
and the reluctance to let go.
In addition sometimes (though surprisingly rarely) patients
need someone to vent their anger at and if we happen to be the ones they do it to, then that too is a way of serving. Mostly however, people just need to talk to someone neutral, someone
they can trust to keep things strictly confidential and have no stakeholder involvement. Sometimes people need to say things
they would not wish to say to medical staff or friends and
relatives.
Of course there are some frustrations, we can’t always be the
answer to the problems we are presented with and have to defer to more experienced colleagues or other agencies, also
we often do not get to know the end of the story as we only see a person for a short time and do not know whether they fully recover and how they are after their hospitalisation. So why do
I do It? Simply because it is a privilege and pleasure to be allowed to be a part of someone’s life, if only for that short
time..
Peter Butler
CONFIDENTIAL HELPFUL APPROACHABLE PERSONAL LISTENING AVAILABLE INTERESTED NON-JUDGEMENTAL CARING FOR YOU
14
QUARTET – a film review
Lifelong friends Wilf (Billy Connolly) and Reggie (Tom Courtenay), together with former colleague Cissy (Pauline Collins), are residents of Beecham House, a home for retired
opera singers. Every year on Verdi's birthday, the residents unite to give a concert to raise funds for their home. But when
Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), a former Grande Dame of the opera fallen on hard times, also Reggie's ex-wife and the
fourth and most celebrated member of their former quartet, moves into the home to everyone's surprise the plans for this
year's concert start to unravel.
As old grudges threaten to undermine past glories and theatrical temperaments play havoc with the rehearsal
schedule, it becomes apparent that having four of the finest singers in English operatic history under one roof offers no
guarantee that the show will go on.
Directed by Dustin Hoffman, Quartet is a joyous and entertaining film about redefining old age and growing old with
hope, demonstrating how art illuminates life and how the human spirit remains undimmed even as the brightest stars
start to fade.
Quartet is out now on DVD so why not treat yourself to an
evening of grand entertainment.
15
16
Greenacres Congregational Church, Contacts and Organisations.