Woodhall Lane & Free Church Magazine: Nov 09

Welwyn Garden City

United Reformed Churches November 2009 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

Sara Taylor 102 Wellcroft Road

Office 01707 321270

Mobile 07903236458 email :[email protected]

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Letter from the Manse

In the course of a conversation I was asked what my vision was for

the Free Church and why the appreciative way seemed right for us.

An odd subject for a letter to our two churches perhaps but the

underlying principles are relevant to all of us.

What is my Vision? I think the ministers role in determining the

way forward for a church is to engage as many people as possible in the process and then help to discern, in the repeated themes,

who we are as a church and how we can build on that for the

future. You are the church and my role is to help you find a way

forward that is right for you.

As for my overall vision for ‘church’ I love the image of the newly formed church in Acts 2:42-47. The word that really speaks to me

in this passage is ‘devotion’; suggesting intense love, faithfulness,

an openness to give and receive love (the most difficult part of all)

that was hugely attractive to people.

Perhaps this is a glimpse of the kingdom that is found in all churches to some degree. Especially when devotion to God and the

welcome, acceptance, love, support and care people find us

showing for each other and sharing with them as strangers is a

reflection of the very love we see in Jesus in the gospels.

Why the appreciative way?

The understanding of the appreciative way is that you get what

you inquire into.

A friend of mine demonstrated this at a dinner party recently when

he asked his guests to share what made them happy, and how they made other people happy. The effect of the question was

immediate happiness and they had a wonderfully happy evening

sharing stories and getting ideas about how to increase other

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One guest had recently become prematurely deaf and shared how

he gave time to older people struggling with their hearing aids to help them wear and use them better. He found happiness and

fulfilment in helping and knew he increased their happiness by the

results of the help he gave. No one else would have thought of that or been able to do it because it was not their experience.

When we inquire into our church at its best the stories we get back are personal stories of positive experiences. They tell us about the

way people have experienced our welcome, our worship, our

outreach, and our support in times of difficulty. They tell us when people have felt a strong sense of belonging, engagement and even

challenge.

When we inquire into the positive we hear positive stories, which

can become our gold standard for best practice in the future.

This fits well with Paul's charge to reflect on ‘whatever is good

and whatever is true’ and Jesus desire to release us from whatever

holds us back from becoming the people we were created to be.

In years to come I pray that the glimpse of the kingdom people see

in Welwyn Garden City will bring a change in their lives and that our churches will be engaged at the very heart

of that as we find new ways to bring the love

of God to the people of our community.

Every blessing

Jane

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Vision4Life reminds us to get ready for the Prayer Year in advance

of the beginning of the official start on Advent Sunday 2009.

The Prayer Handbook for 2010 ‘Gathered to the heart of God’ is

now available at the cost of £4.90.

If anyone would like to order one for personal use during the year

please sign the sheet on the table at the back of the church where a

sample copy is available to look at.

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the

reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity.

Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my

name.

- Thomas Merton,

from A Book of Hours

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Ron Buford’s visit to the Free Church on November 22nd

.What a coup! Ron Buford has been acting as consultant to the URC over the ‘God is

still speaking’ campaign to be launched in the UK in 2011 and he is coming to spend

time with us!

His current role in the UCC in America is Team Leader of The Stillspeaking

Initiative. Earlier, he acted as spokesperson to outside media for the UCC. Mr. Buford

has significant professional experience in public relations and marketing for companies large and small. He joined the

United Church of Christ in 1988 and is a member and part-time staff at Pilgrim

Congregational UCC in Cleveland.

You will recognize some of the ideas we piloted here in this introduction written by Ron:

We introduced the phrase “God is still speaking,” as 21st century shorthand for John Robinson’s famous words in his farewell sermon to the Pilgrims as they set sail from Holland: “God hath yet more

light and truth to break forth from God’s Holy Word.”

Connecting with John Robinson’s hopeful phrase reminds us to take the Bible seriously, even though we may not take it literally. Today,

Robinson’s words call us to question, explore, and make faith our own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and

in purity of heart before God.

…..Praying and other engagement with the living God of mystery and creation should open our hearts and minds to the future, to the

work of God in our midst, to the not yet known.

We are thrilled that he is coming to visit us on November 22nd.

He will preach at the morning service and then after a hot lunch he will share a little of the experience of his home church in growing from a small congregation to one of 500.

A definite date for your diary! Look out for your personal invitation.

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HARVEST FESTIVAL

A very big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make the Harvest festivals at both churches such wonderful occasions. It was very special to welcome so many people to the Free Church to celebrate the harvest of time and

amazing to see the wonderful array of gifts donated by the church and the pre school at Woodhall Lane to help fill the store cupboard at the Refuge. How good it is when we work together to touch our communities with Gods love through our appreciation and care. Thank you everyone. Jane

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

WELWYN TIMES TARGET STAMPS

Please remember to cut out the stamps each week as you read our

local paper. We’ll soon be redeeming the stamps before the Christmas Fayre so please keep putting them in the box in the

vestibule.

Thank you for your support. Ann Meers

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Free Church Secretary’s Notes

Our extra special Harvest Celebrations this year were more than the traditional bringing of gifts and singing Harvest Hymns. The unusual

twist to our Harvest Celebrations gave us an opportunity to give thanks for the wonderful work done by volunteers within our church and in our community. Our guests filled normally empty chairs and more had to be

brought in. Wasn’t it good to have that buzz in our building again on a Sunday Morning? After our worship we were able to sit down together and

enjoy a Harvest Lunch in each others company. Just like the old days some of us might have been heard to say. We have two other events to look forward to which should bring that ” buzz” back into our Church

providing we have the help and support of each and everyone of you.

The Christmas Fayre on Saturday 14th November is our only fund raising event this year and hopefully will be successful but it does need to be

advertised well Please sell as many programmes and draw tickets as you can, tell all your friends, and bring them along on the day.

The following weekend, Sunday 22nd November, we have a special treat in store. Jane has been successful in getting Ron Buford to accept her invitation to preach in our church. This will be followed by a free hot lunch

at 12.00 and at 1.30 Ron Buford will speak to us all. We are at present Collecting the Stones, a process which we hope will guide us on the way

forward for the Free Church. I am sure Ron Buford will be able to inspire us in our quest for a vibrant future for our church. If you have the desire to see our church grow please make sure you join us on the 22nd.

The 29th of November is the first Sunday in advent and also the launch of Vision 4 Life’s Prayer Challenge. Several suggestions have been made as to how we can meet the challenge of 50 hours of shared prayer during the

year . If you have any ideas please let us know. November promises to be a busy month with lots of opportunities for us all to share each others

company and bring the “buzz” we experienced and enjoyed at our Harvest Service back into our church. I do hope you will all make the effort to support us.

We have also been invited to join Panshanger for a bring and share lunch at Panshanger Church after the morning service on Sunday the 8th of

November. I hope you will be able to attend to say goodbye and wish Sarah well in her new venture.

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I would like to close with an apology to anyone who has had to pay

postage for some letters which were sent by mistake without stamps . Please ask Philip or John for a refund. Looking forward to a busy month and hope to see you all at the various

events we have planned for November.

Joyce Nicolson - Tel 01707 326829

e-mail: [email protected]

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

Vision for Life: Dec 2009- Nov 2010

The subject for next year is Prayer

The following ideas for a year of prayer have been put forward.

Can you think of others?

1. A “prayer challenge”: 50 hours of corporate prayer i.e. prayer

together

Reached by:

a. Prayers every Sunday before church 9.45-10.05 in

Quiet Room/office

b. Monthly prayers for the sick and for our world

c. Prayer Days : e.g. for peace, or for an end to poverty

d. Possibly – prayer breakfasts eg. Praying through the newspaper

2. Other ideas

a. Have the facing page in the sick register left blank so that

people can add prayer requests

b. All- age worship on prayer

c. Pray for another church each month – get their prayer requests

d. Organise a talk – for the town – on Christian meditation

e. A prayer walk

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Christmas Fayre 14th November

10.30-3 pm

As you read this, final preparations will be well underway for our biggest and only event of the year. It isn’t too late to offer your help either on the

day or with setting up prior to the event. So please contact us even if you can only spare an hour every little helps.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO:-

*Sell programmes and draw tickets to organisations who use the Church

Premises at different times during the week. *Sell Programmes and Draw tickets in the Howard Centre on 7th Nov. between 12.00 and 4 pm.

If you can spare an hour to help with either of these please see Cherylle ASAP. *Help set up tables on Thursday 12th November from 11.30 am -8 pm

(This is quite heavy work ) *Help set up from 10 am onwards on Friday 14th until we are finished.

Hope fully not too late. Just turn up and we will find you a job to do.

STALLS

Keep filling the boxes at the back of the church with:-

*RAFFLE PRIZES *TOMBOLA ITEMS for Howell Watkins

*PUZZLES AND GAMES for Margaret Ansell *BOTTLES for Philip Read *HAND CRAFTED ITEMS for Mary Sartin

*BOOKS for Robert Harvey *MYSTERY PARCEL ITEMS for The Brigade.

PLEASE CONTACT:-

Kathleen Muir if you can provide homemade cakes biscuits or sweets for

sale on the day.

Dorothy Tulloch if you can provide sweet or savoury preserves of any description for sale on the day.

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PROMISES AUCTION

Have you placed your bid for an item / service or your favourite hymn.?

All bids need to be in by 6th December and successful bidders will be notified on the 13th December.

*View and bid for items for auction on display in the vestibule

SMALL CHANGE BOXES

Please keep filling and exchanging them.

PROGRAMMES (Available on Sundays at the back of the Church)

Please take some away and sell them to your families and friends. Return any unsold programmes by the 12th November. Please place any cash in a

sealed envelope marked programme money along with your name ,the number sold and the amount enclosed.

DRAW TICKETS ( Available on Sundays at the back of the Church.)

Please take some to sell to friends, family and work colleagues. Tickets are 50p each and come in books of 5. Unsold books, stubs and money need to be returned by Friday 11th December for the draw after the service on

Sunday 13th December. Please put these in a sealed envelope with your name, amount sold and the amount of cash enclosed.

CAN WE BEAT LAST YEARS TOTAL?

WE BELIEVE WE CAN BUT NOT ON OUR OWN

We need you all to sell as many Programmes and Draw Tickets to your

friends and relatives as you possibly can and bring them along on the day for their lunch or tea and coffee. We look forward to seeing you all on the day which we hope you will enjoy.

See you all on the 13th November

Joyce and Cherylle

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Thank you from John McKenzie

Shalenipo Umutende

It may have come as something of a surprise to some of you that I decided to leave Welwyn Garden City just as my term as Church

Secretary came to an end. Believe me it was almost as surprising

to me, but it was just another of those changes in life that seem to happen.

I came to WGC with my wife Lorna, and daughters Nicola and

Karen, in March 1993 as a result of a new job at Glaxo in Stevenage. I settled at the Free Church with the help of long

established family friends, Evelyn and Peter Snelson (I was

pageboy at their wedding in Northern Rhodesia in 1961). Besides

being a career move for Lorna and me, it was designed to give the children a broader upbringing than they would have had in the

backwaters of Dumfries. Those of you who know me will realise

that my upbringing was unusual. Having been born in Glasgow my parents brought me up in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia,

from the age of one. I spent most of my pre-school years up

mango trees speaking Chibemba. I attended the local school in bare feet because I refused to wear shoes when my friends didn’t

have any. My parents sent me to a missionary boarding school in

primary two where I received extra tuition because my English

was so bad. At the age of twelve I left my parents in Zambia to attend senior boarding school in Scotland. Set at the foot of the

Ochil hills the school encouraged outdoor pursuits, sports and

dancing. Thereafter, I studied Ecology for three years at Edinburgh University in the hope of getting a job working with nature in

some capacity, and while there I took part in the anti-nuclear

campaign at Torness, preferring wind and wave power to nuclear. Few of my colleagues or I got our ideal jobs; we were thirty years

too early! From Edinburgh I moved to Dumfries where my parents

had settled on their return from Zambia and that’s where my

family started. So now you know my background you can see why I am the way I am.

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Back to the present, in November 2008 Lorna decided to give up her job in order to escape the demands and stress of modern business methods, to

give time for others, and to have time to appreciate life. Our youngest daughter, Karen, finally left home in January 2009 and moved into rented

accommodation in WGC, only to be made redundant. She has eventually found another job. With time on her hands Lorna started looking around for a new home in the country and soon arranged the sale of our house,

with a visit to Spain to teach English thrown in. Meanwhile our eldest daughter, Nicola, disenchanted with the finance world gave up her high-

flying career in the City to travel the world for a year and give of her services. Having deposited all her chattels in our house before we moved she set off to spend three months teaching children in markets in Quito, the

capital of Ecuador.

Finding a new home that would allow us to enjoy gardening has not been

easy. We decided to rent a house in Cottered to give us more time and to see if we liked village life. We do, very much, and after two false hopes we are now in the process of offering for a Grade II listed house built circa

1550 in Sutton, near Biggleswade, with a lovely garden. Not content to wait around Lorna has gone to Argentina for two months hoping to

volunteer her services, and to meet up with Nicola who likewise will be volunteering for a couple of months, separately! So, I’m left at “home alone” to arrange what we hope will be the final house move. When we are

eventually settled I’ll let you know our contact details.

I would like to thank you all for the support you gave me during my term as Church Secretary. It is always a daunting prospect to take on such a

responsibility, but with such wonderful friends, it is also a privilege. I’m sure you will afford Joyce the same support as she takes over. Thank you

also for the plaque from the home of the Focolare Movement depicting a cluster of buildings. It will always remind me of happy times in Welwyn Garden City. The generous sum of money given to me, with your

permission, I will forward to the Yasheni School for Orphans and Vulnerable Adults run by my lifelong friend Wicki at Chinsali Mission, in

Zambia. The school built on the site of the old school we both attended as youngsters.

To translate the title “Shalenipo umutende” – Stay well, Lesa amupale –

God Bless.

John McKenzie Cottered Tel: 01763 281022

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Sunday October 4th,

A day abounding in

blessings as we

rededicated our own

lives, ordained Joyce as

an Elder and welcomed

Jenny, Helen, Lorraine

and Frank as Church

members.

In the name of Christ we welcome you.

May we grow together in unity,

And be built up into the body of Christ in love,

To the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

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Flower Rota 2010

It is time to compile the 2010 Flower Rota. Your generosity has

enabled the team to provide Sunday and special occasion flowers

throughout 2009. To ensure this continues in 2010 I need to be contacted by everyone who would like to be included on the rota

before the end of November. Please give me a choice of at least two dates and I will try to accommodate your first choice.

The new rota will be displayed in the Rota Folder at the back of the Church. If there are any blank Sundays, please try to fill them. A group

of friends, for instance, may wish to subscribe jointly. Sadly we have lost several of our regular contributors so I do envisage a greater

number of blank Sundays and hope some of you who have not been

involved in the past may consider making a contribution in 2010.

On your dedicated Sunday you can opt to arrange the flowers yourself

or make a donation and one of the team will take care of the rest.

Extra donations, regardless of the amount, are always welcome

throughout the year. These help with special occasions, christenings, sundries, and when necessary, blank Sundays on the rota.

Making a Donation

Please follow these guidelines: -

· Pink envelopes are available for us to claim tax back on your

donations – please ask for one if you are agreeable. · Cheques should always be made payable to Joyce Nicolson

· Cash, cheques and pink envelopes containing these should be

placed in an envelope marked F.A.O. Joyce Nicolson, Flower Fund.

· Pass the envelope to one of the Flower and Décor team or place on the collection plate – these will reach me if clearly marked.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Joyce Nicolson – 01707 326829 email [email protected]

Page 18

September Money

Free Church Woodhall

Income £4,183 £351

Expense £5,458 £1,886

FC is about average for the month WHL shows the effect of hall hire

income since no Nursery payments in the month.

Turns of Phrase

You read the funniest things when the local language is directly translated into English.

From the brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo: When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first,

but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day.

During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front desk.

Visit us on the web at:

www.freechurchwgc.org.uk

For updated and exciting content and the latest

information about the Free Church

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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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Inter Faith Matters

The Inter Faith Group has been busy planning for Inter Faith

Week, and we welcome your support. We hope to have a

celebratory display in the public library from the week before. Do visit! There will also be an advert in the Welwyn & Hatfield Times.

Sadly, security concerns are inhibiting some faith communities

from opening their doors to all comers.

Another concern is that most IFG meetings touch only a small

percentage of the local population; how can we best engage entire

faith communities, as distinct from a sample of representatives? Even our big public meetings attract only about 200 people, and

we shall not be holding one in 2009.

We have been consulted by the local Council about Gambling decisions in the Borough. However, the consultation rules preclude

those consulted from basing any response on moral considerations.

This is part of national guidance to Councils, so we have written to Grant Shapps MP to challenge such a ruling. One of our aims is to

bring a faith perspective to bear on civic affairs, and such a

perspective naturally includes moral arguments. As a matter of

principle, therefore, we ought not to be gagged.

The Herts SACRE, which determines the RE syllabus in

Hertfordshire schools, is holding its next meeting in County Hall \t

2 pm on 19 November (during Inter Faith Week). IFG members have been told that they may attend, so I propose to do so. If

anyone else is interested, please let me know.

The Free Church has received warm greetings from the London Inter Faith Centre (www.londoninterfaith.org.uk), based on St

Andrew’s URC, a small inner city congregation where the Synod’s

new part-time (25%) Inter Faith Adviser, Maggie Hindley (a ‘Special Category Minister’). is based. She has offered to visit us

and preach and asked us to tell her how we are involved in inter

faith affairs. We are invited to nominate a ‘Companion of

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St Andrews’ to help form an outer circle of hands-on URC

support. We have an interesting story to tell and it is good to note that the Synod is supporting inter faith work, which sends a

message to our congregation and registers the URC

denomination’s support of such work. It may not capture everyone’s interest, but it is part of what God calls on us to do.

Bertie Everard

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

`Christmas Fayre Plant Stall A big thank you to everyone who has given me lots of nice pots to

plant up for winter colour.

We have an interesting assortment of plants to cheer us all up through the winter months.

All we need now are customers to buy them!! I hope to see you all

on 14th November. Ann Meers

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

MUSTARD SEED LOVE IN A BOX CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Last year we collected over 40 boxes so I hope even more of you will be able to take part in this year’s appeal by the Mustard Seed

Charity. .It’s so easy to do and will give a huge amount of pleasure

to the deprived children who will receive our boxes at Christmas.

Just find a shoe box (please put, or take, any spare ones under the table in the vestibule) cover It with Christmas paper and fill it with

small toys, toiletries, sweets, hats, gloves or scarves etc.

The leaflets which explain it all are on the bookstall at the back of the church. Our pick up date is MONDAY 23RD NOVEMBER so

please get your boxes to church by Sunday 22nd November

Any queries to Ann Meers (327277)

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Freechurch Family Corner

I hope you will all assist in contributing to this part of our monthly

magazine in the future. This month I have attempted to collect various snippets of news about members of our church family past and present. It

would be really helpful if one of you out there could volunteer to collate this information monthly and forward it to Arthur as I have a great deal to prepare each month without this additional responsibility, I do feel it is an

important addition to our magazine . Many people who for one reason or another are no longer able to attend still receive the magazine and are

interested in news about their church friends.

FRIENDS DEPARTED

Moira Newlands died peacefully and quietly at Stanborough Lodge on the

16th October. By the time you read this a Service of Remembrance will have taken place led by Robert Harvey in Jane’s absence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family especially Mary Sartin her daughter and Jane

Sartin her granddaughter who worship with us at the Free Church.

It has also been brought to my notice that this summer we lost an old friend Margaret Dawson . Margaret and Robert joined the Free Church 37 years

ago when they came to live in WGC. She sang in the choir and they were both Elders. They moved to Dorchester in 1986 and later retired back to the north east of Scotland. The words of her WGC friends Cathy and

Margaret summarise her life for all who knew her - “Margaret was a fine Christian lady, kind and compassionate, fun- loving, bubbly and friendly; a

devoted wife, mother and grandmother. We feel privileged to have known her and will miss her greatly” These thoughts are shared by all of us who knew her.

FRIENDS IN NEED OF OUR BEST WISHES

We hope Jessie Cleese, Alan Tyler and Norman Muir make speedy recoveries and our thoughts and prayers are with them .

We keep in our prayers all our friends who are no longer able to join us in

our Sunday Worship.

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CONGRATULATIONS

Stephanie Onasile we hope you had a very Happy 18th Birthday on the 16th of October.

Ann and John Meers on the birth of their 4 th grandchild

Ann, Elise May and Rosilie Jane

Please remember to keep us up to date with any items you would like

to be included in the next issue of the magazine.

Joyce Nicolson

THURSDAY CLUB

October started off well with a very interesting talk from Jean

Hughes on a most unusual Sunday School in Stockport where she

used to live. We enjoyed this very much and are grateful to Jean

for her time and effort. Our meetings in November are on the 12th and 26th. On the 26th

we are pleased to have another visit from the Whitwell Singers

who always give us a delightful afternoon. Everyone is welcome. Looking forward to December we shall be having our Christmas

Party on 10th this year. Again everyone is welcome but it would

be helpful if you could let me know so as to assist catering.

Rosemary Craig (330660)

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Sara – moving on

As you will have heard by now, having nurtured, discipled,

encouraged, pushed and cajoled our young people, laughed, cried,

worshiped and gone on roller coasters with them, for the last four and a half years Sara has decided to make a change.

By the time you read this, the family will have already moved to Staffordshire where they hope to become foster parents.

It seemed appropriate to take this opportunity through the magazine to say thank you to Sara for her work over the last few

years.

The shape of youth work in Welwyn Garden City has changed

completely, and Sara was a catalyst for this, ecumenical working

together is the norm rather than a rarity, she helped establish the chaplaincy at Oaklands College and has undertaken various other

initiatives like youth Alpha and work in local schools.

The triumph of the Costa Rica trips and the way in which that has

broadened the horizons for so many people will stay in our minds

for a long time to come. The faith and trust that the finance would be in place is an awesome reminder of Gods faithfulness and

evidence of God at work among us.

As Sara moves on, again putting her faith and trust in God for a

future that is still unfolding, we pray that Sara, Wayne and Jake

will find all they hope for themselves in this move and have a few surprises along the way, may they remain strong in times of

difficulty and hold fast to the promises of the one who calls us to

follow.

There will be a bring and share farewell lunch at Panshanger

Church at 12.15 on November 8th. Please come along to help give her a good send off.

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FREE CHURCH DIARY DATES FOR NOVEMBER 2009

Sunday 1st November 10.30 Communion (Worship led by Jane ) . Sunday 8th November 10.30 Remembrance Sunday

(Worship led by

Mr Martyn Macphee)

Tuesday 10th November 7.30 Elders Meeting Thursday 12th November 2.30 Thursday Club

Friday 13th November Setting up Christmas Fayre

all day Saturday 14th November Christmas Fayre 10.30- 3.00

Sunday 15th November 10.30 ( Worship led by Jane)

Sunday 22nd November 10.30 ( Worship led by

Ron Buford) 12.00 Hot Lunch ALL

Welcome

1.30 Ron Buford to speak (An opportunity

not to be missed)

Thursday 26th November Thursday Club 2.30

Sunday 29th November 10.30 Joint Service at

Free Church Worship led by Jane

1st Sunday in Advent and

launch of Vision4Life Prayer Challenge

NB Girls and Boys Brigade meet every Wednesday at 6.15

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Woodhall Lane Corner

RESOLVE

This is one of the charities to which our church is

donating this year. Jean King is their Practice

Manager and she is coming to give a talk on the work

they do assisting people from the misuse of alcohol

and drugs into a manageable positive life style.

Resolve is based at the Woodhall Community Centre.

The talk will take place on Thursday 5 November in

Woodhall Lane Church starting with a cup of tea at

2.30 pm and the talk will continue.

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 October 2009

.

PREACHERS

1 November Rev Roy Eames

(Communion & Love in a Box Dedication)

8 November Rev Jane Weedon (Remembrance Sunday

and a Baptism) Lunch/Church Meeting follow. 15 November Robert Harvey

22 November Ian Matthews

29 November Joint with Free Church (at Free Church)

DOOR STEWARDS VESTRY

1 November Joan Barbara

8 November Joyce/Grace Margaret 15 November Joan Linda

22 November Joyce/Grace Barbara

29 November Joan Margaret

COMMUNION STEWARD

1 November Margaret

FLOWER ROTA

1 November Barbara

8 November Margaret 15 November Carole

22 November Barbara

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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

Harvest Festival

Three groups of children from the Pre-School had attended

during the week with Jane talking to them on the theme of ‘The Very Hungry Harvest Festival Caterpillar’ and accepting

their harvest gifts. The main service and the Harvest Lunch

on the Sunday went very well with our Harvest offerings for the Women’s Refuge. These were collected on the Tuesday

and they were very grateful for all our gifts

TARGET STAMPS

Vera Haslem has been collecting these and has reached the figure of 3000. This redeems £30.- for our Love in a Box

donations. Many thanks to all who collect these stamps and

well done Vera for being coordinator. Please carry on collecting everyone.

CHRISTMAS FAIR

All plans are well in hand for our Christmas Fair on Saturday

28 November 10.30 am to 1 pm. More helpers would be

greatly appreciated. Come along and join us and children

and grandchildren don’t forget Father Christmas will be waiting.

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Ray says thanks…

To all those who found time to listen and join the Celebration of

Volunteering.

I forgot to mention the fact that apart from myself, the Free

Church has no other representatives (or chair pushers, as we are

called) on the QE2 Hospital Church Service rota.

There are 5 groups who form the rota and on each of 5 Sundays

they arrive about 10.20 to 10.30 and visit each ward, asking at each bed ‘Would you like to be taken along to the church service?’

We usually take those who wish to come in a wheelchair or those

who have permission to walk to the Chapel, St Luke's, which is on level 1 opposite the lifts.

The service starts at 11.15 with a hymn, followed by prayers, a reading, sermon etc – like a normal service, usually very uplifting.

It finishes at 11.45 and the patients are back in their wards by 12

noon, just in time for lunch.

Most patients ‘float back on a lovely high’, being out of the ward

and the boredom, hearing the word of God, singing his praise and the fellowship of others in the same predicament gives them much

to thank. You often hear comments like “That’s better than

medication”.

All my volunteers are precious and a big smile comes with the job.

If you would like further information, give me a call on 01707 322242 or at home on 322395 – there’s an answerphone on each

number, if I’m not available.

Kind regards.

Ray Gibbins

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THE MARRIAGE COURSE

We are planning to start a Joint Churches Marriage Course in

Welwyn Garden City in the New Year to tie in with the HTB National Launch. This is a seven-week course and we are hoping to have a Valentines Party a week before to give people a taster of the course, details to be confirmed.

Coming on the Course – This is open to any couple; if you and your partner would like to come along and experience the course or know a couple you would like to encourage along please do. The Valentine’s Party would be a good opportunity to see how the course runs so do bring them along. The venue is: Christchurch Baptist Church

10 Parkway, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6HN The dates are: Monday 15th February

Monday 22nd February Monday 1st March Monday 8th March Monday 15th March Monday 22nd March Monday 29th March

The times are: 7.00 pm to 9.45 pm

How the evening runs: Each couple will be served making them

feel special; the tables are arranged for each couple to have a private discussion after DVD footage.

Team help required: As this is a joint churches adventure we really

hope to reach many more people who would not normally get to hear about the course. So we look forward to having many people from across the churches to help out to make this a successful course.

We need help with promotion, cooking, washing up, setting up, helping to run the evening.

If anyone is interested please let Jane know.

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Take part in a quilt creation!

Textile Exhibition (28 & 29th November)-

As part of the "Design and Make" textile exhibition there will be

the opportunity to take part in a 'Hands on' Project, making a Quilt

for the Linus Project, which donates Quilts to children and young people in need of a 'security blanket'. See more at

www.projectlinusuk.net

If anyone is interested in making a simple patchwork block

(design will be supplied) please contact me for details. Otherwise

please come to this exhibition. It is an amazing display of "art in

patchwork". Dorothy Tulloch.

Exhibition of City & Guilds

Stitched Textiles from Studio 39

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6PS

Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 November 2009

1 – 5 pm Entry £3.00—includes Catalogue & Teas

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In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the office

between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox

monastery: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily

except Thursday.

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers: Not to perambulate the

corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to

hope for.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs

Barbara Weeks -

01438832919

Studio 39 -

01462 490000

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Free Church Rotas for November 2009

Coffee

1st Mrs M Sartin & Mrs L Perry 8th Mrs J Marshall & Mrs J Spalding

15th Mrs J Cleese & Mrs K Muir

22nd Mrs M Kirkpatrick & Mrs A Giles

29th Mrs J Nicolson & Mrs J Hughes

FLOWER ROTA

1st Nov TBA

8th Nov Remembrance 15th Nov Sheila Chamberlin

22nd Nov Edith Hamilton (In memory of Ray

Lennon) 29th Nov Mrs J Fyfe (In memory of her

mother Jennie Lawson)

I am hoping that everyone attending the

Remembrance Service will collect a Poppy

as they come into Church and place a donation in the box provided. During the service they will be able to come forward

and place their poppy in the Remembrance Wreaths at the

front of the Church. I hope you will all be willing to

participate in this act of Remembrance. Joyce Nicolson

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 Starfish

As the old man walked along the beach, he noticed a young

woman ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the

sea. Finally catching up with the young woman, he asked her why

she was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish

would die if left until the morning.

‘But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish’

countered the other. ‘How can you make any difference?'

The young woman looked at the starfish in her hand and threw it

safely in the waves.

‘It will make a difference to this one,’ she said.

Deadline for Dec 09 & Jan 10 Magazine

Articles requiring typing Sunday 15th Nov Articles

sent via email Thursday 19th Nov

Please note this magazine will cover

the next two months

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 29th November

Please note the next magazine will be February 2010

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