Woodhall Lane & Free Church Magazine: December 09 & January 10

Welwyn Garden City

United Reformed Churches Dec 2009 & Jan 2010 Magazine

FREECHURCH

CHURCH ROAD

WOODHALL LANE

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MONDAYS

Hatfield Tai Chi Chuan Club Tel Pat 01707 331526

6:30 to 10:00 pm Not in August

Chinese Health Exercise Classes

Puppy Training Classes Tel Gill Tel 07967 226 796

7:00 to 9:00 pm

TUESDAYS

* Dinky Dancers Tel Lorry 01438 831281

9:20 to 10:20 am and 10:20 to 11:20 am

Activity classes for children under 4 years.

Mind Drop In Coffee Morning Tel Rhoda 01707 654633

10:00 to 12 noon Drop in coffee morning for those with

mental health issues, but open to all.

*Pat Reid School of Scottish Dancing

Tel Pat 01707 338478

5:15 to 8:30 pm Scottish Dance classes ages 3½ & above.

WEDNESDAYS

NCT Bumps and Bundles Tel 01707 320422

2:00 to 4:00 pm Drop in sessions for pregnant mums and

babes in arms.

* Girls and Boys Brigade Tel Glenys 01707 336433

6:15 to 8:00 pm For children aged 4+

* Denotes term time only.

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THURSDAYS

*Chatter N Tots Tel Ann 01707 327277. 9:45 to 11:15 am Parent/ Carer and child group.

Play, arts and crafts, music and refreshments.

New Thursday Club Tel Rosemary 01707 330660

2:30 to 4:00 pm Alternate Thursdays but not in August.

Activities, Trips etc for the over 50’s.

The Cellar

4:15 to 6:30 pm Drop in centre for vulnerable people.

Providing snacks, tea and social contact.

English Country Dancers Tel Terry 01707 320299

8:00 to 10:00 pm Not in August Folk Dancing.

Trefoil Guild

8:00 to 10:00 pm 2nd Thursday in the month.

Not in August.

FRIDAYS

Welwyn Archaeological Society

Tel Daphne 01707 335729

7:00 to 10:00 pm Sept. to April. 2nd & 4th Friday in the

month. Talks, slide shows etc.

WGC Art Club Tel Bryan 01438 714528

8:00 to 10:00 pm September to May 3rd Friday in the

month

Meetings, Talks etc

* Denotes term time only.

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MINISTER

Rev Jane Weedon

01707 375133

Freechurch Woodhall Lane

CHURCH SECRETARY CHURCH SECRETARY

Mrs Joyce Nicolson

Tel 01707 326829 TBA

email :- [email protected]

HON. TREASURER

John Meers 12 Brockswood Lane

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 7BG Tel 01707 327277

e mail :- [email protected]

CONFIDENTIAL REGISTRAR

Mr Alan Tyler

23 Harmer Green Lane

Digswell

AL6 0AS

Youth Worker

TBA email :-

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Letter from the Manse

Looking for inspiration for something different to give this

Christmas I came across an ‘on line’ game called the Christmas

Challenge. This title was so close to our Bethlehem Challenge theme for Advent this year I was intrigued and looked more

closely to see what it was all about. It was simple – match up the

Christmas Gifts, score points and gain lives!

That could be a parable all by itself!

Christmas came about out of a longing in Gods heart to be

reconciled with people again. The separation had gone on far too

long. It was so painful something had to be done.

Reconciliation always requires a giving of oneself out of love and a desire for peace. That first Christmas God gifted himself to all

humanity. Hope and truth and light slipped into the world wrapped

in human form, born of Mary, in a draughty stable in an

unremarkable town called Bethlehem.

Only a few people recognised the enormity of this birth at the time. As the child became a man whose message was heard by

many, the remarkable openhearted generosity of Gods Christmas

gift was realised. It matched exactly the needs of the people and

simply receiving and accepting this gift brings an added bonus; eternal life.

And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, the

one and only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. John

17:3 (The Message)

Jesus birth was a watershed moment for all humanity. No longer

walking in darkness, struggling on alone. Because of Jesus Christ, the one sent by God, God is Immanuel – God with us. Present in

the lives of all who seek his truth we are truly never alone.

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The Christmas Challenge for us never changes. And I don’t mean

getting the shopping, card writing, parcel wrapping and cooking done on time – although that is a challenge enough in itself!

The challenge for us it to continue to receive Gods gift, to spend a lifetime unwrapping it

and enjoying it. As we uncover deeper

meaning and renewed possibilities within than precious present, the biggest surprise is

to find Jesus born anew in us each day.

Roger joins me in wishing you all the love,

peace, hope and joy of Christmas as you

celebrate this special season and every blessing for 2010.

Happy Christmas!

Jane and Roger

=============================

The year beginning Advent 2009 is the second year in the Vision

4 Life process which encourages us in the URC to re engage over

the next year with prayer. The purpose of this process is to bring transformation to the way we engage with the Bible, with each

other, with God and our community.

On Advent Sunday we launched our Prayer Challenge for the next

year and there will be many opportunities to participate. The

challenge is to achieve 50 hours of shared prayer during the year.

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There are so many possibilities and different ways to do this.

Some ideas include

. Prayer in church 9.45-10.05 prior to the morning service

. Monthly prayer meeting (prayer and praise?)

. Expand the Sick Register to an intercession book where

anyone can record people’s names or situations in the world

they would like included in the prayers. . A display board for anyone using the building to post requests

for prayer and where we display which group, using our

building, we are praying for this week. . Prayers for the other churches in WGC.

. Prayer breakfasts

. Bible studies and services on Prayer

. Prayer days – say 2 in the year.

. Prayer shawl ministry

. Meditation

. Prayer stations

. Prayer walks

If you have any thoughts or ideas about this please let one of the Elders know.

The Prayer Group prior to the morning service will begin on 29th

November at 9:45 am in the Vestry and that same day we will

launch the Intercessions Book.

We hope you will make use of this if you have people you would

like us to pray for or situations in the world that are causing particular concern. It will be available each Sunday in a prominent

position and will be included in the prayers.

It will be interesting to look back at Advent 2010 to see what

effect this year of prayer has had on our fellowship and our town.

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Bethlehem today

Christian voices speak out

Canon Naim Ateek (Director of Sabeel, ecumenical liberation theology centre, Jerusalem), Wisam Salsaa (tour guide from Beit

Sahour, nr.Bethlehem) and Bishop Riah Abu El Assal (former

Bishop of Jerusalem) write about Christmas behind the Wall.

Canon Naim Ateek (Director of Sabeel, ecumenical liberation

theology centre, Jerusalem) A Christmas message - Fear Not!

I think we need to challenge churches to be more courageous this

Christmas; today more and more people have some knowledge about what’s really going on in Bethlehem yet fear makes people

keep quiet….

But the message of Christmas is ‘Fear not.’

We have the good news, and the good news does not allow people

to be encircled in a big prison. This is not good news. So it places

greater responsibility on us to say, ‘what is happening in

Bethlehem today is bad news, not good news’.

One of the first sermons of Jesus was about release of the captives,

and in Bethlehem today they are all in captivity they are prisoners.

If we do not speak up, who is going to speak? How can we celebrate Christmas when people are in captivity -when Bethlehem

is in prison?

And yet, in spite of all of this, I would stake my life and say my hope is in God. He is a God of hope. We are people of hope. Our

hope begins with a birth in a stable at Bethlehem. Our hope helps

us overcome our fear. And we will continue to address these issues prophetically - as often as we can - until freedom

comes.

Wisam Salsaa (Tour Guide from Beit Sahour, (meaning the

Shepherd's Fields), nr. Bethlehem.)

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I’m very angry, I don’t like it, I hate the wall, I hate the

settlements; I think that we no longer have any chance for the

future in this prison because, as you see, Bethlehem is completely

closed.

I think that the situation will get worse and worse, because even

though they talk about peace and they talk about solutions, look

what’s happening on the ground. How can we live in peace if there is a wall going around us and there are even settlements behind

these walls and they are still building settlements. So we are

talking about peace today and the bulldozers are taking more land and pulling up trees around here and making something permanent

on the ground. That means that we’ll never have peace. At least,

where I live, we�ll never have peace. Peace for me is freedom.

Peace for me means justice. Peace does not simply mean smiling and saying ‘hello’ to the Israelis.

This is not peace.

I don’t think the future will be good over here unless something

happens…..

…The best way is for people to see with their own eyes what is

going on. It is more important than anything else. People here are very peaceful people. People want to live. People want to love.

People want to dream. That’s why I’m still here because people

are good. ….

Bishop Riah Abu El Assal (former Bishop of Jerusalem)

My message for the churches at Christmas is – ‘Stop mentioning

the word Bethlehem unless you care about us. Stop singing ‘Oh

little town of Bethlehem’ unless you come and visit with its people, unless you do something about protecting the holiness of

the place, and the Christian history of this wonderful place.

Why continue to sing for Bethlehem when Bethlehem is in prison. How can we sing joyfully when people are being killed, being

harassed, being humiliated. It is true that Jesus Christ did not find

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a place at the inn, but you are not told that he was humiliated - not

told that he was stopped from entering Bethlehem.

I’m sorry to say that the way the church today relates to the

Christian community in the land of the Holy One and to the people

of Bethlehem, causes me to wonder whether we are of the same family. I ask the question, Are we really of the same family? What

are you doing? Singing? Praying for peace?

If I get the chance I will say, ‘There is something wrong with us. Christians make up 2 billion people in the world in the Christian

community and we can’t resolve the issue of Bethlehem?’

http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/christmas/bethlehem-today

Claire Ross and John Taylor would like to

announce their marriage to be held at the Free

Church on Saturday 12th December at 4pm.

Claire and her family are long standing members of

the Free Church and many of you will have known

Claire's grandfather, Denis Jones. Claire and John

would like to invite any members of the

congregation whom would like to celebrate their

marriage with them to attend the ceremony at 4 pm.

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Find the following hidden words:

christmas, stockings, tree, mary, jesus, nativity, presents, baby, shepherds, kings, santa, chocolate, robins

Quiz Time 1. What gifts were presented to baby Jesus?

2. What city was Jesus born in?

3. In what direction did the kings see His star?

4. In the song, what was given on the 7 th day?

5. What might a Canadian say on Christmas day?

Competition Time

Write a poem or draw a picture about Christmas to win a prize. Hand them into Allison by the 2nd Sunday in January and maybe you will win the prize. MERRY CHRISTMAS

What is the best

Christmas present in

the world?

A broken drum – you can’t beat it!

What do you call an

old snowman?

Water!

Why are turkeys wiser

than chickens?

Ever heard of Kentucky

Fried Turkey?

A O M E C L S P M S S Y E A M E

J E N Z L Y E O E F E S C H A E

E Q Z C E Q C I G K I J S A A U

S D R E H P E H S O I H E G O C

U M E F N R E R O B I N S I S A

S M D S A A I E T C Q W G K X N

I P E T T R A S H Q O M R S A E

P S G N I K C O T S Z L D T J S

S F A E V X A N R M X O A V O E

B S E S I O A P E T A E I T U N

D P L E T P E T K E V S S D E I

F B I R Y B A B R V R S D K P T

G S E P H R P M R Y S T H S T N

E C G H E E A E S U M P R S C J

I M F S S F C M H H N J V F M F

O F A U S O C F B E C E I N A S

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet the words repeat,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom Had roll'd along th' unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head: "There is no peace on

earth," I said,

"For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

'Til ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

first published in 1863

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Free Church Secretary’s Note

I overheard a conversation this week where two young women

were discussing their Christmas shopping purchases One mentioned she had bought an Advent Candle. “Why did you

buy that it’s a religious thing?” I was heartened to hear the

friend reply “ Christmas is a religious thing . If it hadn’t been

for the birth of Jesus we wouldn’t have Christmas.”

Throughout our world people look forward to Christmas .

Why? Is it because it is a time for them to meet up with their

family and friends and enjoy each others company? Is it because it is a peak selling time for those in the retail business?

Is it because it is a time to show their love and affection for

each other by giving and receiving gifts and cards? I don’t know the answer but I wish there were a few more people

around who , like the young woman I overheard, were brave

enough to convey the true meaning of Christmas to the unenlightened. Why don’t we all make an effort to invite

people to join us in our Christmas Celebrations at the Free

Church so that they can experience the true meaning of

Christmas first hand.

We will be lighting our first Advent Candle on the 29th of

November. Advent comes from the Latin “adventus” meaning

arrival. Advent is a time when we prepare for the arrival of the Lord into the world through the birth of Jesus. It is a time to

celebrate light in the midst of darkness and to look forward to

a time when Jesus will come a second time.

As a Church we have already started planning for the

coming of Christmas and I do hope you will all enjoy taking

part in the activities and services which lead up to this very special celebration in the Christian Calendar. The most

important service for me personally is the Christmas Eve

Candlelight Communion which sadly is very poorly attended.

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I do hope a few more of you might consider coming along to

this service which marks the arrival of Christmas Day. I find this service in the stillness of late evening peaceful and

spiritually uplifting as I am sure you would.

The 29th of November also sees the launch of our Prayer Challenge and I do hope you will be able to participate in some

of the prayer sessions being held in Church over the coming

year. Please watch the notice board for dates and times.

Last but not least a very big thank you to everyone who

contributed to the success of this years Christmas Fayre. We

raised £2,200 on the day and hope to swell this figure with the sale of Draw Tickets and Promise Auction Bids by the end of

the year. Can we hit £3,000? Let’s try! Our final figure will be

in the February magazine.

With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year

Joyce Nicolson.

The Legend of the Robin's Red Breast

A little brown bird shared Bethlehem's

stable with the holy family. One night as

the family lay sleeping, she noticed their fire was going out. So she flew down

from the rafters and fanned the fire with

her wings throughout the night in order

to keep the baby Jesus warm. In the morning, she was rewarded with a red

breast as a symbol of her love for the

newborn king

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HELPERS REQUIRED

Friday 11th December 10 am onwards to set up the first stage of the Church decoration for Christmas and Carols by

Candlelight. Please come along armed with suitable foliage to

decorate the window sills etc. No expertise required just a willingness to help make the church look festive for the

Christmas period. Your reward will be coffee, mince pies, time

to chat and the satisfaction of seeing our Church looking really festive. If you are unable to help but can provide suitable

foliage please arrange with me a suitable time for you to bring

it to Church.

Friday 18th December 10am onwards stage two of decorating

the Church for Carols by Candlelight. This session will be

mainly putting candles in place for the Sunday service.

Friday 8th January 10 am The bit no one enjoys! Packing

away all the candles etc and getting the Church back to normal for the Sunday Service.

Please try to offer help on all or one of these occasions.

Thanks in anticipation

Joyce Nicolson and the Flower and Decor Team.

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The Legend of the Holly Wreath

A young orphan boy was living with the shepherds when the herald angels

appeared announcing the glad tidings of

Christ's birth. On the way to Bethlehem, the child wove a crown of holly branches

for the newborn king. But when he lay it

before Jesus, the crown looked so unworthy that the little shepherd became

ashamed of his gift and began to cry.

Then the Christ Child reached out, touched the crown, caused its

leaves to sparkle shiny and green, and turned the orphan's tears

into scarlet berries.

The Legend of the Donkey's Bray

After hiding in Egypt for some years, Joseph decided to move his family back to Nazareth. During the night they camped along the

side of the road. One night while

they slept, their donkey heard the soldiers' horses coming from afar.

Afraid that the soldiers were

coming to kill Jesus, the donkey

neighed to wake Joseph. He neighed and neighed, again and

again, but his voice was just too

soft to wake the sleepers. Finally, as the soldiers approached, the donkey prayed for a loud voice to

wake the family. When he neighed again, he was rewarded with

the loud bray such as donkeys have had ever since.

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New Sound System

Some of you may have noticed a change in the sound at the church, and that the audio

loop is working again. The old system was

about 15 years old and showing its age so

we have replaced it.

The new system is quite similar, but we

have added a second lapel radio microphone

and a hand held radio one as well so we can have up to 3 people talking without having

to hand round the microphone.

We can also connect the laptop to the main system so we don’t have to have separate speakers for it, and have

a CD player so we can play music in services or, as you may have

noticed, at the Fayre. We also now have a socket in the centre of

the hall for times when we ‘turn round’ the church.

We are still fine tuning the volumes, so tell myself or Ade if it

sounds wrong.

For those of you who set up the audio for services etc, there are instructions in the cupboard. All you really need to do is switch on

and off at the mains switch and plug microphones etc into the

sockets in the hall. Please, Please do not twiddle knobs or switch off individual equipment in the cupboard otherwise the next

person will be in trouble.

John Meers

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October Money Free Church Woodhall

Income £6,933 £4,982

Expense £8,108 £1,670 FC includes Fayre money and expense

for sound system WHL includes Nursery rent up to end of the year

Visit us on the web at:

www.freechurchwgc.org.uk

For updated and exciting content and the latest

information about the Free Church

Specialising in the following treatments:

Corns & Callous Remova l Elderly / Diabetic Foot Care

Routine Nail Care Fungal Nail Treatments

Louisa Munch MCFHP MAFHP Judith Munch MCFHP MAFHP

01707 325592 01707 332270

Registered Member of The British Association of Foot Health Professionals

ACORN FOOTCARE Qualified Foot Health Professionals

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PC HOME HELPER

Computer health check Full data backup service

Emergency call out

Home tutorials

New Computers Old computer recycling

Broadband installation

Wireless networks Internet security check

Your local friendly computer home help service!

01707 690468 / 07768 055906

SUNDAY COFFEE

ROTA

Please, please, please can we have some more

volunteers for the Sunday

coffee rota. The more

people on the rota the less often your turn comes

round. Any volunteers ring

Kathleen Muir on 01438 880382 as soon as

possible. Many thanks in

anticipation!!!

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MOIRA NEWLANDS

It may come as a surprise to learn that Moira’s official name was Mary

after she was born 15 May 1917, in Largs, Ayrshire, to Mary and

Alexander Morris.

After the local primary and higher schools in Largs, Mary Muir Morris, as she was then, progressed at the age of 14 to Ardrossan

Academy, where she travelled by train. It was at Ardrossan that she first met George Newlands the boy who was to become her husband

13 years later. Moira completed her formal education at Skerries College, Glasgow, afterwards working at the Dalry and Greenock

labour exchanges – mathematics were Moira’s forte and she had won

the Dux Medal for Maths at Largs Higher Grade School.

It was in a group of friends travelling into Glasgow to train for their

college and university studies that she got to know George better. George and Moira married on 14 February 1944 – one reason being

that the fishmongers being run by Moira’s parents would have been

closed for the half day anyway!

Their first home was at Dalbeattie where George worked for ICI Nobel Division, but a year later in 1945, George was transferred to ICI

Plastics Division in their Tewin Road research labs.in WGC. It was a huge decision to cope with as neither George nor Moira had lived

anywhere else but Scotland. Moira certainly missed her native hills

and seascapes. Shortage of accommodation in WGC after the war meant that life continued in lodgings followed by a flat in Park House.

However, the opportunity arose for their own house to be built in Roundwood Drive and the family, now augmented by the arrival of

daughter Mary and brother George, took possession in 1953. This was

to be Moira’s home for the next 45 years.

As part of the settling-in process, George and Moira joined the Free Church which was to become a large part of both of their lives. Moira

joined women’s groups and George was involved in various committees – he became Session Clerk in 1965 and, after the URC

was established in 1972, the first Church Secretary until 1986. For

many years Moira organised the flower distribution rota.

Page 21

A Caledonian Society was very active in the town and they both became keen members. Moira was also a WRVS volunteer, working

in the QE11 hospital teashop for 25 years. Frequent visits were made to Scotland and reciprocated by friends and family visiting WGC and

following George’s retirement they were able to enjoy this activity

even more.

For many years Hogmanay was celebrated in true style including

George, uniquely, being attired in a kilt.

Moira bore George’s death in 1986 with great stoicism but, with the

help of friends and family was eventually able to move on in her life. She took great delight in watching her family grow up and progress,

and continued travelling at home and abroad.

Moira moved into Woodside House in 1998 but in 2003 went to live at

Stanborough Lodge residential home; not an easy decision but one

helped greatly by the family and the caring and attentive staff. Her 90th birthday was celebrated in some style at daughter Mary’s in 2007.

Moira became a great-grandmother to Evie, born in Australia, in 2008 and to her great delight the family travelled to the UK in September

this year when a face-to-face meeting was achieved.

After this, however, Moira’s health took a rapid downward turn and

she sadly passed away on October 16th. Moira always had a ready smile and a cheerful word for all about her. She was non-judgemental

and accepted the decisions made by her children and grand-children. Generous with her time and money she had her favourite charities but

could not pass a collecting tin without making a donation.

------

As Moira’s Elder for a number of years I knew personally what a

wonderful lady she was. I’m very grateful to Mary Sartin for the biographical notes which formed part of Moira’s memorial service on

October 28th and on which the above piece is based. At this service a collection for the RNLI was taken up and it is perhaps fitting that a

letter of thanks from the RNLI received by Joyce Nicolson is referred

to here.

Roger Simpson

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THURSDAY CLUB

We start this month with our CHRISTMAS

PARTY on 10 December at 2.00 pm.

There will be the usual festive food and drink,

followed by another lovely reading of poetry by our talented performers and finishing with some

of the old traditional carols which we love to sing.

Mrs Jennifer Newton will again accompany us on

the piano and we look forward to that. She has

been doing this task since the Club started 7 years ago this month.

Everyone is very welcome. We charge a small sum of £1.50 to cover expenses and it would help

with the catering if you could contact me should you want to come. We are always glad to see a

good number at our special events. Do come.

We start up again after Christmas on 14 January 2010.

Rosemary Craig (330660)

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Freechurch Family Corner FREE CHURCH FAMILY CORNER Congratulations To Iris Waite and her husband on the birth in September of their great-

grandchild, Charles William.

To Claire Ross on her marriage to John on 12th December in our

church. Many of you will remember Claire as she is Doris & Dennis Jones’ grand daughter and grew up in our Junior Church.

To Janna Hansen on her 95th birthday in September and Marie Machen on her 85th in November.

We were very pleased to see Cathy Clark and her fiancé Chris when they came to help at the Christmas Fayre. They are getting married

next July and hope to live in Cambridge where Cathy works in Diabetes Research.

We have heard on the grape vine that Heleen and Greg Schmidt are expecting their first child in the Spring.

Cherylle & Michael’s daughter Michelle & husband Jamie are expecting an addition to their family in March. They are living in

Cyprus for 3 years.

Some of us enjoyed the show “Les Miserables” at Campus West

recently when Abi Giles, Nicola Ashman and Sophie Washington were taking part. Nicola had a solo part at one performance.

We are very pleased that Alan Tyler is at last out of hospital and we send our prayers and good wishes to him and Evelyn for a speedy

recovery.

Please remember those mentioned in our sick register. Margaret Ansell

keeps this list up to date and also organizes the distribution of the

flowers following Sunday Worship so she is always grateful for any news of members of our congregation who need our prayers and good

wishes.

I should be grateful for any items of news for inclusion in the next

issue which will be in February.

Thank you. Ann Meers

Page 24

Inter Faith Matters

Half way through Inter Faith Week, I can report that the session I

led on Faith and Creation at the Backhouse Room was well-attended and led to a lively and thoughtful discussion. Several

participants, including a Jew, told me afterwards that they had

found the topic very interesting and worthwhile.

The shared meal at the Focolare Centre also proved popular and

helped people of different faiths to get to know one another better.

The encounter of representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Ba’hai faiths with about a hundred girls at Bishop Hatfield

Girls School was a success. They had more questions to ask than

we had time to answer. How would you have answered ‘Does your faith ever make you feel uncomfortable?’; ‘Why do you think God

exists?’; ‘What does a religious marriage ceremony achieve?’;

‘What does your faith forbid you to do?’. Interestingly, those of

other faiths mentioned more prohibitions than the Christians, especially about what they can eat. We Christians were able to

tuck into the roast pork they served for lunch, whereas the

vegetarian alternative better suited the rest. Over lunch we had a good discussion with the school’s RE teacher and argued the case

for inter faith matters to be part of the curriculum.

Two of us went to County Hall to attend the Herts SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education) meeting

as observers. It was disappointing to note that the SACRE Annual

Report for 2009 makes no mention of Inter Faith matters, or of the IFG’s representations that Inter Faith issues should be included in

the curriculum. Afterwards, I spoke to Paul Goggins, the Chair, but

made no progress in persuading him to engage with any IFG in the

county – unlike most SACREs elsewhere, which collaborate. The Herts SACRE decided not to mark Inter Faith week in any way.

Bertie Everard

Page 25

You are invited to attendYou are invited to attendYou are invited to attendYou are invited to attend a Free Church Servicea Free Church Servicea Free Church Servicea Free Church Service in The Lady Chapel on: in The Lady Chapel on: in The Lady Chapel on: in The Lady Chapel on: Wednesday 2nd. December 2009 at 11a.m. Preacher: The Reverend Anne E. Brown, the Chair of the District,

of the Methodist Church Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and

Essex.

– At Noon join a Christmas Lunch in the Abbey Café. Wednesday 6th. January 2010 at 11a.m. Preacher: The Reverend John E. Churcher, M.A.,

The Methodist Covenant Service including Holy Communion.

– At Noon join a Fellowship Lunch in the Abbey Café.

Special Services:

Carols on the Hour - Saturday 19th. December 2009.

Abbey Choirs singing on the hour from 11a.m. – 4p.m.

The Blessing of the Crib – Christmas Eve at 3p.m.

This service is intended mainly for children and families.

All ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIPAll ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIPAll ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIPAll ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIP

Reverend Peter Hudson Free Church Ecumenical

Chaplain

Email:<[email protected] >Phone: St Albans: 812076

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FREE CHURCH DIARY DATES FOR Dec 09 & Jan 10

Date Day Time Led By Event

6th

Dec

Sunday 10:30 Jane Communion (Toy Service)

4-5 pm Come and sing Carols with WGC

Churches outside the Howard Centre

8th Tuesday 7:30 pm Elders Meeting

10th Thursday 2:00 pm Thursday Club Christmas Party

12th Saturday 4:30 pm Claire Ross Wedding

13th Sunday 10:30 Bertie

Everard

Morning Service

20th Sunday No Morning Service

Sunday 4:30 pm Carols by Candlelight (Tea Coffee and

Mince pies from 3:45)

24th Thursday 11:30 pm Jane Christmas Eve Candlelight

Communion

25th Friday 10:00 am Invitation to join Panshanger

Christmas Day Worship

27th Sunday 10:30 am Christmas Worship for all ages

Sunday 4:00 pm Robert Afternoon Communion

3rd Sunday 10:00 Jane Communion

10th Sunday 10:00 am TBA

12th Tuesday 7:30 pm Elders Meeting

14th Thursday 3:30 pm Thursday club

17th Sunday 10:30 am Jane Morning Service

24th Sunday 10:30 am Jane All Age

Sunday 4:00 pm Robert Afternoon Communion

28th Thursday 2:30 pm Thursday club

31st Sunday 11:00 am Jane Joint Service at Woodhall Lane

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Woodhall Lane Corner

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

A Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday 13 December

will be led by Robert Harvey at 11 am.

Midnight Communion at the Free Church Thursday 24

December will be led by Rev Jane Weedon at 11.30 pm.

Christmas Day Service will be a combined service with the

Free Church and Panshanger Church held at Panshanger at

10 am.

Sunday 27 December will be a joint service with the Free

Church at the Free Church.

Epiphany Celebration led by the Elders will be held on Sunday 3 January 2010 at Woodhall Lane.

A New Year Social afternoon will be held on Thursday 7 January 2010 at 2 pm at Woodhall Lane.

Visit us on the web at

www.woodhalllaneurc.org.uk

For updated content and information about Woodhall Lane

If you have a problem or need to discuss something that

requires pastoral attention please contact one of the Elders

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Woodhall Lane Dec 09 & Jan 10

.

PREACHERS

6 December Christine Warren

13 December Rev Jane Weedon (Lessons/Carols) Lunch/Church Meeting to follow

20 December Robert Harvey (Communion)

27 December Joint with Free Church (at Free Church)

3 January Epiphany Service (Led by Elders) 10 January Rev Jane Weedon (Communion)

17 January Rev Brian Shenk

24 January Robert Harvey 31 January Joint with Free Church (at Woodhall)

DOOR STEWARDS VESTRY

6 December Joyce & Grace Linda 13 December Joan Owen Barbara

20 December Joyce & Grace Margaret

27 December Joan Owen Linda

3 January Joyce & Grace Barbara

10 January Joan Owen Margaret 17 January Joyce & Grace Linda

24 January Joan Owen Barbara

31 January Joyce & Grace Margaret

COMMUNION STEWARD

20 December Linda

10 January Margaret

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FLOWER ROTA

6 December Carole

13 December Barbara

20 December Margaret 27 December N/A

3 January Carole

10 January Barbara

17 January Margaret

24 January Carole 31 January Barbara

BIBLE STUDY

Friday mornings 10 am at 114 Parkway

or venue to be advised.

FELLOWSHIP CLUB - Alternate Thursday 2 - 3.30pm

12 November Make & Taste + Bring & Buy

26 November Making Christmas Cards

ELDERS MEETING

3 December 9.30am at the church.

RESOLVE

Jean King from Resolve gave us a most interesting talk on the

work they do. The team that work there are all voluntary and

they have over fifty clients on their books at this present time. Resolve is one of the charities we are committed to supporting

this year.

POSTAGE STAMPS

Please continue to save your used postage stamps especially over the Christmas period. Joyce Whiting is collecting these

for Oxfam.

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CAR PARK

We would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to Joe Palacio for

felling the two large trees in the car park and making the area tidy and more spacious. Also appreciation to his friend Terry

who assisted him. Joe is also preparing for another role, the

Pre-School have asked him to be their ‘Father Christmas’ at their Christmas Party.

MABEL PHILLIPS

We were sad to announce the death of Mabel at the end of

October. Her funeral was on Friday 13 November and a

Service of Thanksgiving was held at 3 pm on the same day. The Service was led by Rev Jane Weedon with prayers said by

Rev Derek Jones our previous Minister who had known

Mabel for many years.

As some of our members/friends were unable to attend the

service we thought you would like to read the eulogy given by Mabel’s daughters Jenny and Gerranwen.

Jenny’s contribution….

“Our Mum, Mabel Alice Molly Turner, the youngest of four children,

was born in Woolwich Nursing Home for Mothers, and her names were those of the three nurses who attended the birth.

Her father, who was in the Metropolitan Police Force, died when she was only three years old, and sadly her young brother, Nen, who was

9, passed away just a few months later in the orphanage.

The family moved on to live in Fulham, above a haberdashery shop,

owned by her grandfather. We often heard entertaining tales of the Italian family next door who sold ice creams and about her 5 cats.

When she was about 5 yrs old Mum was sent to the Metropolitan Police Orphanage to be at school with her other brother and sister.

She left the orphanage when she was nearly 15 yrs old and went to work in an office for her cousin who was a chartered accountant.

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Then her mother, my grandmother, moved to Potters Bar, I think Kit and Bert were married by then. In about 1939 Mum sadly lost her beloved

sister Kit who had T.B.

Some of her jobs were cleaning at Potters Bar hospital, (the explanation of

this work was a little gruesome) she then cleaned again in a private home and at Burleighmead house in Hatfield as a cook and bottle washer.

Mum then moved to an office job at Murphy Radio, where she met

Dad, who also worked there. They married after only knowing each

other for a short while in 1935. I, Jennifer, arrived a year later, and they were given a council house in Knella Green where they lived for

about 26 years.

Mum had various other assorted jobs, for instance, making emery

cloth and glue, which was wartime work at B.C.R. She took in evacuees, Mrs Duff and her two boys for a while. After the war at the

Malaysian Rubber Research, she was a tea lady. The men teased her on April 1, by putting dry ice in her teapot causing havoc. She even

did homework putting hairslides together and much later packing eyelashes for Eyelure where Dad worked as a lorry driver, plus several

other little jobs. Mum also looked after Kit’s children taking them on outings, and also later to our cousins in Wales during several summer

holidays.

Mum didn’t join in many social activities, except Bingo in the last couple

of years where she won at her first visit. But Mum did teach the Girl’s Brigade, Indian Club swinging, which she remembered from her school

years.

One of Mum’s favourite pastimes was painting and she was a very good artist. Also she enjoyed calligraphy classes, where she made several

friends.

Yes! in 1959 Mum surprised us all by producing another baby girl (Gerranwen).

Gerranwen’s contribution…….

When I was growing up Mum worked at Hyde Valley House in the kitchen where she made many friends and also did cleaning at Roseanne House

with Mrs Roberts, as well as packing eyelashes for Eyelure.

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After Knella Green we moved to Cole Green Lane and I remember Mum’s encouragement to me all through my school years, always focussing on the

positive and her patience sitting with me for hours going through my school homework.

At intervals while I was growing up Mum would test out new ways to try and help Dad’s hair to grow back. One particular attempt involved the application of chicken manure to Dad’s head which, of course, didn’t work.

In the 1980’s Mum and Dad went on holiday to Scotland and we were surprised to receive a parcel from Mum whilst they were still on holiday. On opening the parcel we were even more surprised to find a Pipestral Bat,

which Mum had found and sent to us in a matchbox, with a little note for Emma.

I remember the holidays we went on, and especially our family holidays to Somerset for Mum’s 80th birthday when she climbed to the top of Glastonbury Tor, not to be outdone by the younger ones, and of course, her

90th birthday when so many members of the family got together to celebrate with her.

There are many other times that I could mention, for example, when Mum walked to my friends house in the rain to repay 2p that she had borrowed

from her in Fine Fare the previous day, but just to end I would like to say these are some of the things that I remember about my Mum:-

� Her kindness and patience were never exhausted.

� She truly believed that love could overcome anything. � She had endless compassion and empathy for those less fortunate. � She didn’t have a cruel bone in her body and despised any form of

cruelty to animals or others. � She was gentle and honest to a fault and

� Although she was shy and sometimes found it difficult to socialise, once she got to know someone, no-one could ask for a better friend.

Mum loved her family, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - she was so proud of all their achievements and she was never so happy as

when she was at a family get together.

My sister Jenny and I feel very lucky and privileged to have had such a wonderful, unique and irreplaceable women to call our Mum.

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LOVE IN A BOX - Woodhall Lane

Once again we have exceeded all expectations. We have covered, filled

and safely despatched 139 boxes. This really is a brilliant effort and my grateful thanks go out to everyone who has made this possible. It seems more and more people are becoming involved each year, many from

outside the church but have contact with those in the church. Keep up the good work! Thanks to those busy knitters in Woodside House. Also

thanks to Shoe Zone who supply many of the boxes. This makes the project a lot easier; 139 boxes takes some collecting!

This year our boxes are destined for Bosnia and we pray God’s Blessing on the various stages and preparation these boxes go through before the

children receive them. We pray especially for these children who will receive them, may they know something of the love behind the

organisation - that God loves them.

Once again many thanks to all of you who have made this possible and I

am pleased to say that your monetary gifts have covered both the cost of the many items it was necessary to buy and the transport costs. God Bless

you all.

Carole

Family Devotions

Shortly after our family began having nightly devotions—which

isn't easy with a precocious four-year-old daughter and an impish

two-year-old son—my daughter asked, "Mommy, when are we gonna get together with Daddy and Austin to talk about God and

have family commotions?"

—Carla Crumley-Forest, Jacksonville Beach, FL. "Heart to Heart,"

Today's Christian Woman

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Free Church Rotas for Dec 09 & Jan 10 Coffee

Dec09

6th Mrs M Ansell & Mrs A Meers

13th Mrs H Kaye & Mr R Harvey 20th Mr & Mrs P Read

27th Mrs A & Miss K Onasile

Jan10 3rd Mr & Mrs A Tyler

10th Mrs S Chamberlin & Mrs K Muir

17th Mrs M Sartin & Mrs L Perry 24th Mrs J Marshall & Mrs J Spalding

31st Joint Service at Woodhall Lane

FLOWER ROTA

Dec09

6th Mary Sartin 13th Lady Menzies

20th Carols by Candlelight

27th

Jan10

3rd

10th Cherylle Cooper

17th Mr and Mrs N Muir 24th Joanne and Andre Gibson

31st Service at Woodhall Lane

Creche It’s great if all the family can come to church

together. If your child is too young to attend

Junior Church, we have a warm, safe and comfy room where parents can take their

babies and toddlers. Hey and there are loads

of toys!

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The Legends of the Christmas Tree

Several legends claim the fir is one of the trees from the garden of Eden. One says the fir is the Tree of Life whose leaves shrank into

tiny needles when Eve plucked the fruit from the Tree of the

Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life did not bloom

again until the night Christ was born.

Another legend claims that Adam carried a twig of the Tree of the

Knowledge of Good and Evil with him from the garden. This twig

later became the fir which was used for the Christmas tree and the

Holy Cross.

Deadline for February 10 Magazine

Articles requiring typing Sunday 17th Jan Articles

sent via email Thursday 21st Jan

e-mail documents to [email protected] , hand

your articles to Chris Ewer the Magazine Secretary or leave them in the magazine pigeon hole at the back of the church for

the Freechurch or hand to Linda Sutton for Woodhall Lane, and

if they can be with us before or as near to the deadline date as possible that will be much appreciated.

Please note that it is essential that these dates are respected if

the magazine is be printed on time. Magazine will be printed for Sunday 31st January

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