Our Community February 2010

OUR COMMUNITY

ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH, KERESLEY, AND ST . THOMAS’ CHURCH, KERESLEY, AND ST . THOMAS’ CHURCH, KERESLEY, AND ST . THOMAS’ CHURCH, KERESLEY, AND KERESLEY V ILLAGE COMKERESLEY V ILLAGE COMKERESLEY V ILLAGE COMKERESLEY V ILLAGE COMMUNITY CHURCHMUNITY CHURCHMUNITY CHURCHMUNITY CHURCH

www.stwww.stwww.stwww.st----thomasthomasthomasthomas----keresley.org.uk keresley.org.uk keresley.org.uk keresley.org.uk

FFFF E B R U A R YE B R U A R YE B R U A R YE B R U A R Y

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Inside this issue:

St. Thomas’ Calendar

and Notice Board

2222

Local news 3333

10:10 4444

St Thomas’ past 5555

Keresley Village Community Church

Calendar

6666

What’s the Big Idea 6666

Parish Register 7777

Double Mouse page 8888

Lent—a good time to

pray 5555

Peace and love are always alive in us, but we

are not always alive to peace and love.

Julian of Norwich

Ash Wednesday is on 17th February and there will be a Devotional Service

at 7.30pm at St Thomas’ Church.

A new Alpha Course is starting on Friday 5th February (see page 3) and will be running through Lent and after Easter. This may be the opportunity you are looking for to reflect on your

Christian faith.

LENT — PREPARE, PRAY, PRACTISE

T he last issue of the magazine was all about Christmas. This month we are moving into the season of Lent; a time of

preparation and reflection leading up to Easter.

There are two articles on the centre pages from different centuries urging us to take the opportunity to reflect and pray in Lent. The lifestyle in 1915 may be very different from today, but

some of the core ideas are timeless.

And we can take action with ideas from Fairtrade Fortnight and the 10:10

challenge (see page 4).

Swap your usual stuff for

Fairtrade stuff For this year's Fairtrade Fortnight we're asking the nation to join us in The Big Swap. For two whole weeks we'll be asking you to swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. This means that every time you go shopping, you can

use your wallet to make a stand.

The Fairtrade range started small. Like one bar of chocolate small. Now there are over 4,500 products bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark. A glorious array of products that spans pineapples

and footballs to duvets and rice.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap/about_the_big_swap/ This is the home of all things swap, a hub for all your swapping needs. It tells you how to get involved, what you can swap and most importantly, how to register them. Because we need lots of swaps made. One million and one in fact. Every swap will be proof that the people of the UK want producers in the developing world to get a fairer

deal.

� Juices

� Jams & spreads

� Treats

� Rice

� Tea

� Flowers

� Herbs & spices

� Beauty

� Booze

� Fruits

� Cotton

� Chocolate

� Cereal & bars

� Cooking oils

� Coffee

From the Fairtrade Foundation website www.fairtrade.org.uk

FEBRUARY 2010 P AGE 2

MarchMarchMarchMarch Tuesday 2ndTuesday 2ndTuesday 2ndTuesday 2nd 1.30pm Refreshment Group. Galilee Room Friday 5thFriday 5thFriday 5thFriday 5th 11.30am Womens’ World Day of Prayer service at All

Saints, Allesley Sunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7th 9am Holy Communion

Tuesday 2ndTuesday 2ndTuesday 2ndTuesday 2nd 1.30pm Refreshment Group. Galilee Room Sunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7th 9am Holy Communion and hymns. Peter Walker 10.30am Family Service and Baptism Sunday 14thSunday 14thSunday 14thSunday 14th 9am Holy Communion . Rev Bob Earnshaw 10.30am Family Communion. Rev Bob Earnshaw 15th to 19th 15th to 19th 15th to 19th 15th to 19th Schools half Term Tuesday 16thTuesday 16thTuesday 16thTuesday 16th 1.30pm Refreshment Group. Galilee Room Wednesday 17thWednesday 17thWednesday 17thWednesday 17th————Ash WednesdayAsh WednesdayAsh WednesdayAsh Wednesday 7.30pm Devotional Service Sunday21stSunday21stSunday21stSunday21st 9am Holy Communion. Ruth Walker 10.30am Family Worship. Peter Walker. Preacher: Pete

Hudson Sunday 28thSunday 28thSunday 28thSunday 28th 9am Holy Communion. Ruth Walker 10.30am Family Communion. Peter Walker

C H I L D R E N A N D Y O U N G P E O P L E

FEBRUARY 2010 P AGE 2

Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’ 10.30am (during term time) 1st Sunday Family Service in Church 2nd Sunday 3-11s, Sunday School in Galilee Room,

11+, Pathfinders in the Church Hall. All join the service around 11.25am

3rd Sunday All ages start in Church 4th & 5th 3-11s, Sunday School in Galilee Room,

11+, Pathfinders in the Church Hall All join the service around 11.25am

This pattern may change occasionally for special services.

ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH CALENDAR

First Steps . . . with JesusFirst Steps . . . with JesusFirst Steps . . . with JesusFirst Steps . . . with Jesus

For babies and pre-school children with their parents and carers

Meets in the Galilee Room, weekly in term time

Mondays 1.30-2.30pm

Monday evenings, 7.30pm, Galilee RoomMonday evenings, 7.30pm, Galilee RoomMonday evenings, 7.30pm, Galilee RoomMonday evenings, 7.30pm, Galilee Room

(School Year 9 and above. Contact Steve (School Year 9 and above. Contact Steve (School Year 9 and above. Contact Steve (School Year 9 and above. Contact Steve

Medley for more details)Medley for more details)Medley for more details)Medley for more details)

Refreshment for all Tuesday afternoons, 1.30-2.30pm in the Galilee

Room

Restarts on Tuesday 2nd February then

fortnightly

If you need transport or would like to request prayers, please contact

Margaret Bosworth on 7633 7932 leaving a message if necessary with your name

and telephone number and she will ring you back.

Daily Prayer: Daily Prayer: Daily Prayer: Daily Prayer: 8.30am,Monday, Wednesday and Friday at St Thomas’ Church, Tuesday at Keresley Village

Community Church.

Uniformed Groups Meet in the Church Hall : 13th Brownies, 13th Brownies, 13th Brownies, 13th Brownies, Mondays, 6.00 - 7.30pm 9th Brownies9th Brownies9th Brownies9th Brownies, Wednesdays, 6.00 - 7.30pm 9th Guides9th Guides9th Guides9th Guides, Thursdays, 6.30 - 8.30pm Meet in the Scout Hut: 41st Cubs41st Cubs41st Cubs41st Cubs, Mondays, 6.45 - 8.30pm 41st Scouts41st Scouts41st Scouts41st Scouts, Tuesdays, 7.00 - 9.00pm 41st Beavers41st Beavers41st Beavers41st Beavers, Fridays, 6.00 - 7.30pm

(for 6-8 year olds )

Thursday at St T’s For 5-11 years Meets in the Galilee Room On Thursdays From 6pm to 7pm

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New Alpha Course starting

Have you every wondered about finding out more about aspects of the Christian faith? Or feel a little jaded and would like to take time to refresh and renew your faith? Or just wondered what the Alpha Course is all

about?

A new course is starting on Friday 5th February in the parish. Please contact Peter Walker if you would

like to take part.

Course Content The talks each week cover the following topics, which people are then free to discuss in the small

groups afterwards:

Week 1 Who is Jesus? Week 2 Why did Jesus Die? Week 3 How can we have Faith? Week 4 Why and how do I Pray? Week 5 Why and how should I read the Bible? Week 6 How does God Guide us? Week 7 How can I Resist Evil? Week 8 Why and how should I tell Others? Week 9 Does God Heal Today?

Week 10 What about the Church?

During the course there is a special awayday focusing

particularly on the Holy Spirit:

Who is the Holy Spirit?

What does the Holy Spirit do?

How can I be Filled with the Holy Spirit?

How can I Make the Most of the Rest of my Life?

The Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday, March 5th 2010 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” The Women’s World Day of Prayer is just one part of a huge worldwide movement from the rising of the sun in the East to its setting in the West, and really does unite Christian people all around the globe. We all share in the same service on Friday 5 March

2010 wherever we are!

The service this year has been written by women in Cameroon, West Africa, and has all the flavour and rhythm of Africa. So do come with your drum, rattle, tambourine .. and share with Christian women

the world over.

In Coventry there

will be services in:

City Centre: Methodist Central Hall at 11amCity Centre: Methodist Central Hall at 11amCity Centre: Methodist Central Hall at 11amCity Centre: Methodist Central Hall at 11am; speaker: Sister Ruth Kidson, who has worked in the

Cameroon

Hillfields: Cornerstone Methodist, Harnall Lane at Hillfields: Cornerstone Methodist, Harnall Lane at Hillfields: Cornerstone Methodist, Harnall Lane at Hillfields: Cornerstone Methodist, Harnall Lane at

11am 11am 11am 11am contact Rev Jean Clark Tel: 024 7644 2400

Hall Green:Methodist Church, 2.15 pmHall Green:Methodist Church, 2.15 pmHall Green:Methodist Church, 2.15 pmHall Green:Methodist Church, 2.15 pm speaker: Rev Rachel Burgess -

contact Doreen Williscroft Tel: 024 7636 5330

Tile Hill: Our Lady of Assumption at 7. 30pm; Tile Hill: Our Lady of Assumption at 7. 30pm; Tile Hill: Our Lady of Assumption at 7. 30pm; Tile Hill: Our Lady of Assumption at 7. 30pm;

contact Geraldine Ford Tel: 024 7633 2147

Allesley:All Saints 11.30Allesley:All Saints 11.30Allesley:All Saints 11.30Allesley:All Saints 11.30

contact Lesley Groves Tel: 0247640 2067

Everyone welcome – women, men and children!

Enquiries contact Shirley Trafford 024 7641 4042

Palestinian Fairtrade for a Sustainable

Future As part of Fairtrade Fortnight

Zaytoun and Pax Christi are pleased to welcome Olive farmers from Palestinian Olive farmers from Palestinian Olive farmers from Palestinian Olive farmers from Palestinian CoCoCoCo----operatives operatives operatives operatives who will speak about their lives and work, and the challenges of the

political situation in Palestine.

12.30pm Thursday 25th February 2010

The Herbert, Jordan Well, Coventry

Come along and learn more - free admission

Zaytoun is an ethical business supporting marginalized farming communities in Palestine

Pax Christi is an international peace organisation Sponsored by Coventry Fairtrade City Steering Group

Skittles and Supper Evening

Saturday 27th February

St Thomas’ Church Hall

6.30pm

Adults £3,

children £1.50.

Al proceeds will go towards a new kitchen for

the Church Hall

FEBRUARY 2010 P AGE 4

Lent – a good time to pray

L ent is traditionally a time when Christians take stock of themselves spiritually. They set aside

extra time for prayer. So there you are, tentatively wanting to pray... Here are some helpful things to

remember as you settle down to it:

People have been praying since Adam had a grandson named Enosh. At least the Bible tells us in Genesis 4:26 that it was during his days when “men began to call on the name of the Lord” . They have

been doing it ever since.

People have been answered by God since Genesis, too. But if you want to read some beautiful prayers – and answers to them, browse through the Psalms. Again and again the psalmist writes: “the Lord heard

my cry”.

So – what do you need to bring to prayer? Just the tiniest amount of faith that God is even there.... Jesus assures us that even faith as big as a tiny

mustard seed will be effective.

What gives you the right to come before Almighty God? Jesus does. The Bible is clear that “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus

Christ”. (1 Timothy 2:5)

The Bible makes clear that God does not stand on ceremony – he wants our personal, spontaneous prayers. Jesus was very matter of fact about it: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door

and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward

you.” (Matthew 6:6)

The Bible assures us that prayer will bring us good things: “we may receive mercy and find grace to help

us in our time of need”. (Hebrews 4:16)

Above all, prayer must be made with a pure heart. “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18) That simply means that if you know you are doing something wrong, and intend to keep on doing it, don’t waste your time

praying.

Finally, what can be the results of your prayers this

Lent? Well, here are seven, for starters....

1. Joy and deep happiness. (John 16:24)

2. Relief from your worry, stress and tension

(Philippians 4:6,7)

3. Wisdom and more mental clarity (James 1:5,6)

4. Protection and deliverance from temptations

(Matthew 26:41)

5. An ability to share the Good News of Jesus to other

people (Matthew 9:38)

6. Strength to persevere when you feel under

spiritual attack (Ephesians 6:18)

7. A growing thankfulness to God, who is worthy of all

glory (Revelation 4:11)

What is 10:10 ? It's a pledge to cut your greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by

Christmas 2010.

Why 10% in 2010? While politicians argue about targets for 2050 and 2020, the scientists say world emissions must peak and begin to fall within the next few years. That means we need deep cuts in the developed world as quickly as possible. The longer we leave it, the

smaller our chance of avoiding disastrous warming.

Who is it for? Individuals, churches, schools, councils, businesses, hospitals -- everyone working together! 10:10 makes the efforts of individuals meaningful by ensuring that lots of people will be pledging to make the same cuts, and shows politicians that we as a people are

taking the threat of climate change seriously.

Why is this a Christian act? The early Christians shared what they had with each other and with the poor (Acts 2:44 -45). Climate change is already affecting our neighbours and fel-low Christians in the developing world and by cutting our own emissions we can help to slow the damaging

effects of climate change for them. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to ‘let the day's own trou-ble be sufficient for the day' (Mt. 6.34). It's impor-tant to do what we can now in the present and not

look just to the future.

How to do it : Cutting your first 10% is the easy part. It's all about not wasting energy at home and cutting down on unnecessary journeys. For those who have already slashed some emissions another 10% cut will be

more challenging!

The first steps :

Gather your 2009 bills for gas, electricity and water

and work out how many units or kilowatt hours you

used last year. Calculate how many miles you drove

– and how many you flew! How many imports – by

ship, air, and lorry – did you buy? File away those

figures so you can check at the end of 2010 if you

really have managed to cut down by 10% on the

energy use you are directly responsible for. Then

start to work out how to make those cuts. For some

ideas to get you started down load CEL's ‘ Nine Ways

to Live Gently on the Earth' leaflet at

www.christian-ecology.org.uk/nine-ways.pdf

Christian Ecology Link

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 5

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 5

In Lent 1915 the Vicar shared his thoughts on that first season of Lent after the outbreak of the War, which we

now know as the First World War.

St Thomas’ Keresley and Coundon

FEBRUARY 2010 P AGE 6

Regular Meetings "Children's Club" Mondays Trailblazers 5-6pm Tuesday mornings 9.30-10.30am First Steps for babies and pre-school children with their parents and carers, during term time Wednesday 7.30-9pm – ‘Drop-in’ Centre for teenagers Mondays and Thursdays 9.30Mondays and Thursdays 9.30Mondays and Thursdays 9.30Mondays and Thursdays 9.30----11.30am Coffee 11.30am Coffee 11.30am Coffee 11.30am Coffee mornings. mornings. mornings. mornings. The Church is open for anyone to drop in for a drink and a chat

P AGE 6

FebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruary Sundaty 7Sundaty 7Sundaty 7Sundaty 7thththth 10.30am Family Serivce. John Horsler Sunday 14thSunday 14thSunday 14thSunday 14th 10.30am Holy Communion. Rev Gareth Jones Wednesday 17th Wednesday 17th Wednesday 17th Wednesday 17th ---- Ash WednesdayAsh WednesdayAsh WednesdayAsh Wednesday 7.30pm Devotional Service at St Thomas’ Sunday 21stSunday 21stSunday 21stSunday 21st 10.3a0k Morning Serivce. Ruth Walker and Mary Coles 6pm Holy Communion. Rev David Hunter Sunday 28thSunday 28thSunday 28thSunday 28th 10.30am Holy Communion. Ruth Walker

MarchMarchMarchMarch Sunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7thSunday 7th 10.30am Family Service

KERESLEY VILLAGE COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICES

Rev Paul Hardingham, Rector of Bolton

In Genesis, God is presented as supreme over his creation, but he enters into covenants with the world (the rainbow following the flood) and with Abraham and his descendents (circumcision), pledging his love and faithfulness to them and calling them to

respond similarly to him in faith.

A key verse for our understanding of Genesis comes

right at the beginning of the book:

‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created

them’ (1:27).

It reminds us that God is fundamental to living. If we don’t have a sense of the centrality of God’s place in

life, we will never get our lives right.

Matthew

T raditionally this gospel was ascribed to Matthew the apostle, however today it is generally believed

that the author used oral tradition, written fragments, eye-witness accounts, as well as common material in the other synoptic gospels (Mark and Luke). This has led many to believe that

Matthew was written in the AD 70’s.

Matthew, originally writing for Jews, sets out to prove that Jesus is the true Messiah. He makes sure that as we read his account of the birth, life death and resurrection of Jesus, we see the connections with everything that has gone before. ‘Fulfilled’ is one of Matthew’s characteristic verbs, as he makes the connections with the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact he quotes the Old Testament more than any other New Testament author. This is reflected in the opening genealogy in which he traces Jesus as a descendant of Abraham; in his use of the terms

(Continued on page 7)

What’s the Big Idea This is the first of a new series which will give an overview of the books of the Bible. This month we begin with Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and Matthew, the first of the gospels, which opens the

New Testament.

Genesis

H istorically, Jews and Christians believed that Moses was the author/complier of the first five

books of the Bible (the Pentateuch). However, this view has been questioned by scholars over the last two centuries. As the title suggests, Genesis is primarily about beginnings. In the first of its 10 sections (chapters 1-11), it records the beginnings of our world, in the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth, human beings, sin’s effect on the world, marriage and family, society and civilisation and blessing and curses. In the remaining sections, it tells of God’s dealings with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and their families. In this story of the Patriarchs we see how God is establishing a people who will bless the

world, as he seeks to bless them.

The book of Genesis is key to understanding the whole of the Bible. It is supremely about relationships; the relationships between God and the created order, God and human beings, and between human beings themselves. Fundamentally man has been created in the image of God, by which he can relate to God in a personal way. However, Genesis plots how this relationship was broken by sin, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, resulting in the fall of both human beings and the created order. Clearly by creating people with free will, God risks the possibility that they might reject him; this is

inherent in his love for human kind.

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 7 OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 7

Regular Activities in the Church

Hall NB the Church Hall is not usually

available for late night Discos

Pre-school Playgroup: Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 11.30am and

12.30pm – 3pm

Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts meet on

weekday evenings. See page 2 for details.

kingdom of heaven and Father in heaven, reflecting a Jewish reluctance to use the name of God; and in

the way he emphasises Jesus role as Son of David.

The gospel may have also been originally addressed to teachers, remembering that at the time many people couldn’t read. The whole gospel is woven around five blocks of teaching (chapters 5-7; 10; 13; 18; 24-25).This fivefold division may reflect a deliberate allusion to the structure of the Pentateuch

(the first five books of the Old Testament).

Matthew provides a comprehensive context by which we see all God’s creation and salvation completed in Jesus, and all parts of our lives (work, family, friends and future) completed in him. At the end of his gospel he records Jesus’ commission to his disciples

share this good news, promising to be with them:

‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the

age.’ (28: 18-20)

(Continued from page 6) The Big IdeaThe Big IdeaThe Big IdeaThe Big Idea

It’s all in the spelling...

G - God

R - Ran

A - Alongside

C - Carrying

E - Everything

PARISH REGISTER

BAPTISM

13th December

Emily Louise Diane Dagg

17th January after Thanksgiving Service on 6th December Alfie Matthew Farrelly Kemp

Ashton John Harry Tomlinson

WEDDING

27th December

Dean Ferris and Lisa Jones

CREMATIONS

21st December Kathleen Margaret Devey of Brookford Avenue,

died 8th December aged 80

8th January Neville Richard Thirlwall of Parkfield road,

died 27th December aged 71

BURIAL

19th January Doris Hardwick of Bulwer Road,

died 28th December aged 87

26th January Joan Sheila Davies of Penny Park Lane,

died 4th January aged 81

4th January Angus Henry Cotton of Taunton Way ,

died 21st December aged 57. Burial at Canley

ASHES INTERRED

20th November Peggy Elizabeth Pearson of Sovereign Nursing

Home, died 4th November aged 80

25th January Christopher Rowell of High Street,

died 29th December aged 90

Fair Share celebrates!

Everyone is invited to a Celebration Service

on Sat 6th March 2010

to give thanks to God for 5 years of trading as Fair Share Coventry Fair Share Coventry Fair Share Coventry Fair Share Coventry in partnership with

Holy Trinity Church

Service starts at 2.30pm

followed by a

5th Birthday Party at 3.15pm

Both events will be held inside Holy Trinity Church,

Coventry.

Tel 024 76550728 during trading hours for more

details.