 |
||
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
33, Halton Drive, Wideopen, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 0AA. CHURCH SECRETARY:
New Church email address - info@ponteland-urc.org.uk |
||
Wednesday 1st April Sunday 5th April Monday 6th April Tuesday 7th April Wednesday 8th April Thursday 9th April Friday 10th April Sunday 12th April Sunday 3rd May Sunday 17th May |
||
"What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with forty litres of flour until the whole batch of dough rises." Luke 13 v 20 - 21 |
||
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, The world and those therein, For he has founded it upon the seas‚ And established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24 v 1 |
||
Dear Friends An Easter Message As we approach Easter it is good to think about what was happening at that time. Jesus had come out of the sunshine of preaching, teaching and healing the sick, into the dark clouds of death. He faced the reality of having to become the sacrificial lamb, to be slaughtered as a sin offering for the sake of humanity. Just like the Passover lambs that were led to be slaughtered for the ritual Passover meal, so too was Jesus led to the point of his death. The lambs, whilst not knowing what was to happen to them, could sense the danger and also smell the blood of the many lambs that had been before them. They bleated and struggled knowing that something awful awaited them, just as Jesus did the night before his death. He was beside himself with worry. God had told him so much but not the whole story. As yet the resurrection was not yet mentioned. He knew, just like the lambs, he would be rough handled prior to his death, that it would be a shameful death. The Romans knew that the Cross did one other thing beyond killing a person; it brought the shame of public nakedness and humiliation, which was something the Jews found extremely difficult to bear. On the evening before his death Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his friends, shaping it into something new. He then tried to find strength for the events yet to unfold, and asked his friends to watch and pray with him. They fell asleep, their plea was weak and lacked comprehension of what was to be. When the guards came and arrested Jesus, his disciples fled and denied him. He was alone and helpless and yet, when we listen to the dialogue between him and the Temple leaders and even Pilot, we realise Jesus was still very much in control of the situation. But he was not allowed by God to change what was to happen, even though he could have done so easily. Jesus knew it was a case of him saying "Your will, not mine, be done", as he submitted himself to God's will and desire. Scourged, bleeding and in great pain he went out to die. Not knowing of God's plan for the resurrection, he cries out "My God, My God why have you forsaken me". In the coming days and nights before Easter Sunday, will you all please reflect upon these words but this time turn them around to "My God, My God why have I forsaken you?" Consider the times throughout this last year when our words and deeds forsook God and left him bleeding and dying again on the cross. So let us all seek forgiveness for the errors of the past, and pray that God grants us the time to amend our ways. On the Wednesday before Easter we will celebrate in a simple Passover Meal and start our act of contrition which will end on the Sunday. If you cannot join with us for the meal, take time quietly to seek a meeting with God, so that God‚s forgiveness might be yours. God Bless, |
||
The major part of our Annual General Meeting was taken up with deliberations on the future of our pastoral ministry. In this we were advised very well by the Revd. David Bedford from our Trinity Gosforth church. He has been appointed by Synod as our Pastoral Representative as we continue on the journey of finding ministry to replace Kevin Watson. A letter had been circulated to all members detailing two alternative ways of achieving this: Declare a vacancy for Ponteland URC Joint Pastorate with Wideopen URC on a 50/50 basis. The meeting was advised that we could proceed with the Joint Pastorate proposal, giving us continuity and greater security with Philip; and also begin the process of calling a second minister to this Joint Pastorate. The Elders had met and decided unanimously to recommend this amended proposal to the meeting. Members expressed concern that this was a fresh proposal coming before them for immediate debate and decision. There was considerable discussion on both the principle and practical aspects of forming the joint pastorate and of calling a second minister to this pastorate. The meeting then voted on the motion:- Ponteland URC agrees in principle to the formation of a Joint Pastorate with St. John's Wideopen URC on a 50/50 basis, initially sharing the Revd. Philip Gray. The two churches will prepare church profiles and start the process of calling a second minister to the Joint Pastorate. The motion was carried by 50 votes to 4 with 2 abstentions. The Project Group reported healthy finances of about £95,000 (at 31/12/08) and this was expected to rise further with continued donations and interest as well as new grants. The meeting approved that the minister, secretary and project director open and select appropriate tenders (due on 2nd April) for the Community Lounge extension to the vestibule. It is anticipated that work will begin early in May and last for 4 to 5 months. The meeting approved that Ann Birch return to active eldership and that Fred Milligan serve a seventh year as elder. The next Church Secretary was agreed as Carol Gabriel. The elders recommended that we introduce Pastoral Eldership for elders to serve a district of members and friends but not be obliged to attend Elders Meetings or carry out other elder duties. The meeting approved that Althea Coghill, Marion Dowden, Alan Fox, Graeme Smith and Marion Thomson become pastoral elders. Fred Milligan, |
||
We reviewed our recent meetings and discussions about the Mission Partnership and our optimum option for future progress and stability in our ministry. At our meeting on 1st March, we had agreed unanimously to recommend to the Church Annual General Meeting that we pursue the following proposal:- The formation of a Joint Pastorate with St. John's Wideopen URC on a 50/50 basis of sharing their present minister Revd. Philip Gray. The two churches will prepare church profiles and start the process of calling a minister to the joint pastorate. Most of the remainder of a short meeting was spent discussing other matters to bring before the Church AGM. Ann Birch will be returning to active Eldership and Fred Milligan has agreed to stay on for a seventh year before retiring. We commend to the AGM that Althea Coghill, Marion Dowden, Alan Fox and Marion Thomson also return to active Eldership as Pastoral Elders, having the care of an Elder's District but not being required to attend Elders meetings. We recommend that Carol Gabriel becomes our new Church Secretary, serving for a period of three years. We reviewed our request to Peter Watson our Treasurer, for monthly progress reports and agreed that this was unreasonable and also not of any great value. We ask instead that on the months when there is a Church Meeting we receive a progress report which is going to be put before that Church Meeting.
Fred Milligan, Secretary |
||
Like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of post-apartheid South Africa, where victims of the violent and cruel regime were encouraged to tell their stories, Scotland's first Poverty Truth Commission was held on Saturday 21st March to encourage disadvantaged people from Glasgow to talk of their experience of poverty. The Commission, held at Glasgow City Chambers, was hosted by the Right Reverend David Lunan, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and attended by some of Scotland's senior civic leaders, including politicians. One of the organisers of the event, Revd. Martin Johnstone, "The question is how do you overcome poverty? The answer is to ask those who experience it, rather than those who only know it in their heads. Poverty can be overcome in Scotland but only if we are prepared to take seriously the wisdom of those who really know about it". Churches in Vacancy can feel bereft and unsupported. The February Pastoral Committee meeting received a paper on the subject prepared by the Designated Group, but also a submission by a church in vacancy spelling out some of the problems. We agreed that there was no way of going back to the full engagement of an interim moderator: we simply don't have the people to do all that used to be done. But ways were suggested of helping ministers within the Mission Partnership to become more involved and perhaps earlier on and thought was given to appointing a "pastoral visitor" who would play a part in keeping communications open between the church and synod. |
||
"In Christ there are many members yet one body" :- I wish to start by thanking everyone who helped to make this year's service so meaningful. A total of £286.51 was raised - all of which has gone to the organisation. In many countries women's lives are difficult. Illiteracy levels are often higher amongst women, and hence their ability to make decisions for themselves, to provide for their families, and to understand basic healthcare are diminished. In Papua approximately 60% of women are illiterate. WWDP provide grants and donations worldwide to charities and non- governmental organisations which help to promote Christian love and understanding. In Britain they support various bodies including the Salvation Army, RNIB, Leprosy Mission, Scripture Union and CAFOD. Over 170 countries worldwide are involved in WWDP. On 06 March 2009. A chain of prayer went round the world from Tonga to Samoa as people celebrated the day using the set service, as prepared by the Papuan women. We look forward to next year's service, which the women of Cameroon are preparing. It will be held at St. Matthew's Church on the first Friday in March 2010.
Please come if you can. Chris Cogan |
||
Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours? If a deaf person goes to court is it still called a hearing? If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? And finally there was the person who sent ten different puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh no pun in ten did. |
||
This would almost certainly seem to be the case and there are several reasons. I suppose many of us can cast our minds back to some fifty or sixty years ago when families of a Sunday evening could be found around the home piano or harmonium. A stalwart parent or relation would be at the keys and those assembled would be providing a hearty rendering of Moody and Sankey, or some other rousing hymn. It was commonplace then, but how many families might indulge in this fashion these days? The reasons for the demise of the Sunday evening singsong are not hard to find. Modern technology has reached the state where we no longer have to provide our own entertainment. It is all too readily and cheaply available at the flick of a switch. The ease with which we can now be spoon-fed with a diet which contains ever increasing amounts of television dross, is frightening and the situation deteriorates at an alarming rate. Few families invest in musical instruments but feed their children the electronic gadgetry which allows immediate access to the latest in modern 'music'! I trust I may be excused here for including in passing, modern art, modern poetry, modern business methods - I have little time for any of them. In recent years have you ever been satisfied when you have tried to make telephone contact to try to resolve any issue with a major supplier of anything?! What led to the disappearance of Courtaulds and ICI?..... Surprising where an article on Church organists can lead! Of course there are other reasons for our demise. Many Church organs have become too costly to maintain and are simply being replaced by more reliable and cheaper electrical machines. Fewer youngsters are being taught keyboard skills and even fewer will have the opportunity of ever having access to a genuine Church organ. Indeed in many Churches, including our own, every hymn tune we need could be provided on CD. This is one way to edit out mistakes, but what if the CD player breaks down or gets set on the wrong track? Mind you, organists are not perfect either! On occasion I have 'short-changed' the congregation by stopping playing too soon, or have been extraordinarily generous by starting an extra verse that doesn't exist! Another factor conspiring against the Church organist is the very nature of the pipe organ itself. Being electro-mechanical in operation it is susceptible to both electrical and mechanical problems and here follow some examples I have encountered. The first, and this one is particularly frightening, is when a note 'sticks' and continues to sound, producing some eye-watering disharmonies. If one is clever enough to know which note is causing the problem then striking that offending note again usually corrects the situation and harmony returns. On occasion even this remedy fails whereupon the only solution is to struggle manfully to the end of the verse and switch the organ off and on again as quickly as possible! This action cures the electro–magnetic 'jam' but because of the time delay leaves the congregation wondering what is going on! One Saturday morning some years ago I went to the Church to practise for Sunday and on switching on the organ, a note sounded continuously. There was nothing I could do to stop it sounding, and as a result, the organ was unplayable. In some panic I decided that an immediate visit from our organ tuner, Mr Lightbowen from Whitley Bay, was required! He came straight away and diagnosed the problem immediately. Inside the organ loft a cardboard cross had been propped against the operating mechanism keeping one note permanently on! All the way from Whitley Bay to move a cardboard cross a few inches! On another Saturday morning I found the organ would not play a note and again made a panic call to Mr Lightbowen but this time he was unable to visit. Considering my best course of action I went home for my keyboard, which can be put into 'Church Organ' mode and installed it ready for the Sunday service. On the Sunday morning I met up with Les Donald and mentioned the dead organ... "Oh" says Les. "There's a main switch for the organ inside the organ loft. " When I went to look, the switch was there and it had been switched off! The keyboard was speedily dismantled and put away in the car! That evening I gratefully telephoned Mr Lightbowen to say there would be no need for him to call! When the Churches (U.R.C. and Methodist) came together in Stamfordham to form the Uniting Church, a keyboard was chosen to provide music for the singing. I have played it a few times but in my book it is a poor relation to our own Church organ, or even to the small electric Yamaha it replaced! There are a few youngsters who play and of course we were very fortunate when we had Alex Ross as a member. Kevin Watson knew of one youngster whom he allowed to have the occasional practice - unfortunately I don't know his identity but think that he used to play at Milbourne and perhaps still does. Just before Christmas a Mr Lee from Ponteland attended Sunday morning service and advised us that he had been a Church organist in Gosforth and would be prepared to play for us on occasion. An opportunity arose for him last December but he couldn't manage on that occasion. I have his telephone number and since we are a disappearing breed, I'd better make sure I don't lose it. Sandy Christie |
||
Have you lost a loved one in the distant past or recent times?
Would you like a service dedicated to your loved ones?
We are holding such a service here on
Sunday 17th May at 3.O0 pm
You are welcome to join us to remember the person you have lost in a service specially tailored for them
For further information phone revd. Philip gray on 0191 2171690 |
||
Friday 13th March was a successful evening. Our ladies committee as ever did us proud and produced tasty pasta dishes with plenty for second helpings and the ladies of the Wideopen choir entertained us, giving us a well chosen variety of songs. The choir was formed around 23 years ago and at present, has, when altogether, 35 members. It is an interdenominational choir meeting on Friday evenings for their practice and singing a wide range of music, secular as well as religious. Anyone is very welcome to join them, there are no auditions, the choir is for people who enjoy singing and want to be part of the group, all singing for the fun of it. They are willing to go anywhere to entertain - at homes for older people as well as in church halls. Recently they have given nine to ten concerts. It was good to watch them obviously enjoying themselves and their audience too enjoying the music, feet tapping or singing the well known melodies. Our thanks go to all the ladies who made the evening go so well but also to Stewart Blake the patient choirmaster and St. John's organist for bringing the choir to entertain us and to Les, our Sommelier.
Margaret Milligan. |
||
Thirty four members of our congregation joined Philip and Helen on Wednesday, 4th March in Fratelli Ristorante for another of our traditional evenings out together. We have thoroughly enjoyed a number of visits to the New Rendezvous, the Sampan and Ponteland Golf Club in recent years but it was felt that we should add Italian cuisine to our dining experience. There is no doubt whatsoever that this 'adventure' was a huge success. The food was unfailingly excellent as was the service. The company was very happy, everyone enjoying a lot of cheerful conversation between tasty mouthfuls. Thirty six very contented diners made their pleasant, if weary, ways home vowing individually to return to Fratelli's soon but also convinced that another evening of collective dining together somewhere in the locality should be arranged long before this memorable one is forgotten. Stewart Blair |
||
I was most interested to read about Ponteland's Abbeyfield House and would like to commend the members of our Church who have given so much of their time on a voluntary basis to this organisation. An aunt of mine and Kenneth's mother spent their last years very happily in these wonderful places. My aunt was first in Armstrong House at Bamburgh. Her room had a view of the castle, it was en suite, quite large and filled with her treasured possessions including a large china cabinet. Some residents had their own cars, going on foreign holidays was not uncommon. Eventually my aunt transferred to the Abbeyfield extra care home in Alnwick, where she died peacefully in her own room. At much the same time Kenneth's mother became a resident at the Abbeyfield extra care home near the Freeman hospital. This was a new home, very spacious and beautifully furnished, felt like being in an hotel. When she became very ill she was taken to the Freeman, eventually to return to her own room in the Abbeyfield to die, being excellently nursed there by the staff. The staff in these extra care homes are absolute treasures, our visits were usually unannounced and they would be playing cards or games or walking in the grounds with their charges. Entertainment occurred from time to time and birthdays were celebrated with a party tea and balloons. I would not hesitate to recommend a move to an Abbeyfield if running one's own home becomes too much for one. Perhaps I had better put my name down on the waiting list - just in case!! Kathleen Hall |
||
Firstly we survived being born to mothers who both drank and smoked whilst they carried us. They took aspirin, ate tuna that came from a tin and didn't get tested for diabetes or cholesterol. After surviving that trauma, our baby cots were painted with lead-based paints. We had no child-proof lids on medicine bottles, any child-proof safety doors or cabinets. We rode our bikes without helmets and we often hitch-hiked. As children we rode in cars with no seat belts or airbags. Riding Œloose' in the back of a van was always exciting and great fun as you were thrown for side to side. We drank water straight from the tap or even from the garden hose - but never from a bottle, specially bought. We shared a bottle of soft drink with our friends and lived to tell the tale! We ate sticky cakes, white bread and full fat butter and drank cordial with sugar in it, but we weren't over weight . We were always outside playing!! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back home by the time the street lights were back on. No adult was able to reach us all day, but we were o.k. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scrap and then ride down the hill only to find that we had forgotten to include brakes in the construction. We soon solved the problem - after running into the bushes a few times! We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos or X-boxes, no video games, cable TV, pay TV, DVD movies or surround sound. We had no mobile phones, no text messaging, no personal computers, no internet or chat rooms . but we had plenty of friends who we went out to find!! We fell out of trees, sustained cuts and bruises, broke bones and teeth, but there were no law suits resulting from these accidents. We played with worms and made mud pies (after all, the worms didn't live in us for ever!) We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, despite being told that we would poke each other's eyes out, it didn't happen. We rode bikes or just walked to a friends house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or more often that not, just yelled as we went riding past. Local teams had trials and not everyone got selected, those who didn't had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. More likely Mum or Dad would side with the policeman and you would probably get a further punishment for bringing trouble home. How to behave and have respect for others was high on the family agenda. Those from the above generation have produced some of the best risk takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility and learned how to deal with it all!!! My, how did we survive? But survive we did and YOU are one of them - so CONGRATULATIONS for surviving against all the odds (by today's standards that is!!) Helen Gray |
||
As members know our Interim Minister, Philip Gray, takes morning Service on the second Sunday of the month, and Evening Communion usually on the first Sunday evening of each month. He also presides over Café Church which is currently held on the second Sunday evening of the month. Philip will take our Easter Communion Service on Sunday, 12th April. In addition to the usual lists in the magazine, some members have requested short Œbackground notes' in "The Source" about Visiting Preachers due to take Services during the ensuing month. We have agreed to do this for a trial period to see if it is helpful, although due to space constraints in the magazine, it may not always be possible to fit these in. The Visitors for April, (whose agreement to the notes which follow in respect of each one individually has been obtained), are as follows:- Sunday, 5th April - Revd. D. Alasdair Pratt. Born in Stanley, Co. Durham, Alasdair trained at Westminster College, Cambridge. He served as Youth Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of England for three years, and later in Pastorates in Orpington, Sutton Coldfield and Guildford. In 2003-4 he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the URC. He has retired to Alnwick and presided at our Easter Communion service in 2008, when he and his wife Sheila kindly stayed afterwards to share in our 'roast lamb lunch'. Good Friday, 10th April - Mrs Margery Tate. This will be a short Service at 10am which will finish in time to allow those who so wish, to attend the 'Raising of the Cross' service on the Village Green. Margery was a secondary school teacher of Religious Studies and Social and Personal Development and has been an accredited Lay Preacher in Northumberland for over eight years. She is Secretary of her local W.I. and has already taken insightful services for us in Ponteland. Sunday, 19th April - Revd. Dr Sam Boyd. Sam has been a good friend to Ponteland URC where he has taken a number of services in our present period of 'Interim Ministry.' He is a retired Baptist Minister who served formerly in Uddingston and Dunfermline in Scotland, and later in Westgate Road, Newcastle. He moved into Teaching in the Gateshead area but maintained involvement with a number of Baptist Churches south of the river Tyne. He and his wife live in Ponteland. Sunday 26th April - Revd. Peter Moth. Peter trained at Mansefield College before serving in Ilkley, South Leeds, and Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne. For a number of years he worked with Tyne Tees Television, retiring as 'Director of Broadcasting'. Originally a Francophile and now a Sinophile, Peter is still very active in the URC and is currently Interim Moderator at St. Andrew's, Monkseaton. |
||
All entries for this competition should be brought to the easter sunday service. The judging will take place after the service. Prizes will be given for three age groups:- 10yrs and under 16yrs and under Grown ups |
||
Church Secretary - Mr. F. Milligan, 10 The Beeches, Ponteland. NE20 9SZ Tel. 823489 Hall Bookings - Mrs. J. Childs, 34 Ashdale, Ponteland. NE20 9DR. Tel. 825144 Property Secretary - Mrs. B. Johnston, 2 Bamburgh House, Merton Way, Ponteland. NE20 9PY Tel. 872546 Church email - info@ponteland-urc.org.uk Disclaimer:- |
||
Close |
||
