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| The Messenger, June
2003, No. 606
Sunday 18 May was a joyful time for Wendy and Colin as we had our first winners from the children’s page art competition. They were in the 8+ age range, Victoria Beck and Heather McDonald in a joint effort and in the up to 8 age range Danielle Carr, who was not in Church, so her grandmother collected it for her. The prizes were a pot of 72 felt pens and Sand Art Kits and an assortment of activity books. We had thoughts that we will have to use them ourselves, the competition has been running since we took over The Messenger. Have your say Have your say about the new Church name and how much you would pay for the new Magazine and give it a name. A new name for the united Church and the magazine must be with John Lines by 22 June at the latest. If you would like to have your say and want to vote you can Email us on colin_j_thompson@ msn.co by no later than 18 June.
Dearest Friends, Greetings in the name of Jesus! I feel a bit of a youngster in a toyshop with 25 pence to spend, and everything is 30 pence! I had so looked forward to the joint Church meeting on the 18 May when, I thought, we would move forward at a very fast rate! Sadly, due to various legal points, we were not able to do all that I had hoped for. However, this is not the time to be despondent, we are talking, planning and looking forward to our coming together. In another part of the ‘Messenger’ (at the bottom of the contents page and on the London Road page) you will read about some decisions that ALL of us need to be preparing to make. Please make sure that you read this item, think about it and then your thoughts and views. I really want the united Church to be formed on the basis that all three contributing congregations have had their say and, more importantly, are happy with the results. I am writing, for another source, a small report on part of my work. I am seriously thinking calling ‘Does God use Pickfords?’ Why, you might ask? Well, it does seem to me that God is what one might call moving the furniture in our lives at London Road, St Columba and Tower! Perhaps for some, these changes will be difficult, it is never easy to face change, especially as we grow older and the things that seem to have always been there move. However, I pray that we will grasp opportunities that God is giving us with all our might. I sincerely believe that God has great plans for our work, our witness and our worship. The next few weeks are going to be vital, both in establishing a firm base for our new worshipping family and for seeking to understand the needs and traditions of the three constituent parts. Ann Pierce has started the ball rolling with the ‘Getting to know you’ course on a Wednesday evening, now, in our worship and other activities, we need to make sure that we are listening to each other. My thanks to all who are working so hard to ensure that our uniting is painless as possible. Please keep praying for our future. Christine and I send our love and thanks to you all. I am yours because I am His - John
Coming together Firstly, grateful thanks to those who supported the faith lunch after the morning united service on the 18 May. Sorry about the delay, but some folk couldn’t get to St. Columba until2 pm. Strange how the rumblings start! Secondly, I think we got on with a few things, although the letter stating that the United Reformed Church couldn’t sanction anything until the Covenant was signed was a bit of a blow. Never mind, we did manage to make some plans! Thirdly, what’s in a name?! At the meeting the suggestion of the ‘Beacon Church and Christian Centre’ was put forward. This was popular, especially as we already have a Beacon playgroup and the Church is on the corner of Beaconsfield Road. There was even a suggestion of a beacon on top of the new Church building to shine out! Since the meeting I have received another suggestion of St. Christopher’s. The feeling being that St. Christopher is the patron saint of travellers, thereby giving us a link with Dover being a major port. We obviously need to get something sorted out QUICKLY because we shall have to have new signs made and the minibus re-lettered. That will take some time, especially as we have to organise it with an outside firm. We did take the decision to commence our morning worship at 10.30 a.m. from the start of the united Church and, not for a while, to have an evening service. We did, however, agree to host the Christians Together in Dover United Service on the evening of the 18 January 2004. The first Sunday of the Month would be the Holy Communion and the third Sunday the Youth/Family service. There are many other points to pull together, please make sure that you attend the next joint Churches meeting on Sunday 15 June at London Road at 10.30 a.m. We shall just have a short communion and then meet together to try and sort out the other matters!
We will be meeting on Wednesday 25 June and Saturday 28 June for our Bible studies. Both will be at 10 a.m. in the vestry. Due to holidays and other commitments, I suggest that we have a break in July and August, restarting in September as the United Church. I still feel that we ought to move the Saturday to an earlier one in each month. MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION Due to other commitments, I cannot make the 9 July. We have all agreed that in July we shall meet on Wednesday 16 July instead. PLEASE NOTE your diaries of this change. Thank you in advance. CHARLTON SCHOOL I would like to see us becoming more involved with Charlton School, perhaps by supporting some of their events. With this in mind, I use this opportunity to tell you that their Summer Fair will be on Saturday 21 June.
Graham’s suggestion to lead this event has been accepted, now your help is needed. If you are interested or would like to know more, please speak to Graham Tutthill as soon as possible. We plan to have a very special day on the 7 September, our first day together! Make sure that you don’t commit yourself to anything else that day, PLEASE! THE MESSENGER I hope that you all agree the Wendy and Colin have done a superb job in carrying the Messenger forward after Graham hung up his editorial pen! They have great ideas for the future, not least colour! This would mean more expense and the suggestion has been made that a small charge be made for the Messenger – what are your thoughts? I also think we should have a new title from September to reflect our unity, again any ideas? John Lines
More than 200 people use the Lymphoedema clinic at Buckland Hospital. A perometer is for measuring limb volume of sufferers. Lymphoedema, which causes swelling in arms and legs cannot be cured. A perometer , which costs £10.000, is capable of measuring limb volume accurately within seconds. The League of Friends hope to raise most of the money at the Hospital Fete in July, to help in some small way I am holding a ‘Coffee Evening’. Coffee and Cake for £1.00 There will also be a Bring and Buy Stall. Please come and support this worthy cause as we must keep Buckland Hospital open. We need it! Doris Friend
Phyl Gay OUR PLACE IN ‘TOGETHER’ The April edition of ‘Together’, which is the newsletter of Churches Together in Kent, notifies readers of our proposed Local Ecumenical Project. It is good to know that the seeds that have been planted here in Dover are being ‘watered’ with prayer by Christians throughout Kent. I hope that many folk are praying for us as we find our way along the path to unity! No doubt there will be pitfalls to be worked through, but TOGETHER we can do it in God’s love. KENT REFUGEE ACTION NETWORK I guess that most readers will have heard of KRAN, even if the above title is strange to them! The Annual General Meeting this year is to be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday 4 June at Aycliffe Parish Hall. There are changes afoot in the organisation of KRAN as it seeks Charity status and Company Limited by Guarantee. At the AGM all the committee members will be standing down and seeking re-election. Please think about this very important aspect of refugee action in our area. 10 – 2 – 10 Don’t forget this event at St. Martins, Church, Church Road, Dover on Saturday 7th June. The subtitle of the day is ‘Worshipping on Spirit and in Truth’ and will be a day of worship for all Christians. Copies of the programme for the day are on the notice boards, it does look, to me at least, there will be something for everyone during the course of the day. You don’t have to go from 10 – 2 – 10; you will be welcome to attend for the parts that challenge YOU!
The above collection
will be on show at the Central Hall, Westminster, from Friday 13 June
to Sunday 6 July 2003. The exhibition will be open Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday’s 8.30 a.m. to 8
p.m. and Saturday’s 9.30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday’s
9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is FREE! Anyone wanting more information
is invited to contact Mrs Ollie McEwen on 0207 2228010, Tower News EDITH SEELLY - It was with sadness that we gathered at Tower Hamlets to say goodbye to Edith only six weeks after doing the same for her sister Winnie. Edith will be remembered for her dedication to the life of Tower Hamlets Church. She had held most offices possible and had been a Sunday school teacher since the 1920’s until she was forced to go into residential care at ‘Applecroft’ a few years ago. Even then she tried to run the Church from there, reminding me of when special events such as Sunday school Anniversary, Gift Day and Church Anniversary should be held. Edith was born in Tower Street soon after her father’s death. She was educated at St. Bartholomew’s School (now Brambley Hedge). She was an avid reader and a fund of knowledge on many subjects especially the Bible. Her mind was alert and she never forgot anything or anybody. Edith and Winnie complete the history of Tower Hamlets as the Church closes. Grandmother, Mrs Marsh, was the first caretaker of the Church when it opened in 1852, followed by Mrs Seelly and then by Winnie and Edith. So it seems fitting that as the life of the Church ends at Tower Hamlets so Edith and Winnie go to their Lord knowing that all the work they have done in His name will be rewarded in heaven. We remember the family of the late Mrs Joyce Fletcher, from St. Columba as they give thanks for her life amongst them. FELLOWSHIP - will meet on Tuesday 24 June at 7.15pm. Anyone wishing to join us will be very welcome. WOMEN’S LEAGUE - meets each Monday at 2.30pm. Any lady wishing to join us will be assured of a warm welcome. The programme for June: 2 – John s Jolly Jaunt; 9 – Members’ Afternoon; 16 – Mrs. Sue Brockman; 23 – Word Search; 30 – Mrs. Vera Doone St. Columba DON’T FORGET – We hold a coffee morning every fortnight, the dates are Tuesday 10 and 24 June at 10.30 a.m. Prayer Page We send our love and prayers to May Lancaster and Mary Page who are no longer able to meet with us at Tower, also we remember Hilda Johns and her family hoping that Hilda’s husband will soon be well again. Sue Brockman We continue to pray for all those who are unwell in their own home, or in residential homes, especially thinking of Margery Bones, Vera Coombes, Nell Finnis, Mary Page, John Bates, Ossie Hodgson and Colin Thompson at this time.
Issy Bailey, from Tower, is in King’s College Hospital at Denmark Hill for an operation, whilst Ruth Edwards, from London Road, has been in Buckland Hospital for an operation. Joyce Stacey, from London Road, has decided to stay in the Whitfield Rest Home, where she will be sharing with Vi and Sonny Mills amongst others! Especially we remember those members of our Church family who are away from Dover, either by way of education or work requirements. John Lines
Evelyn Tutthill
Wendy and Colin.
On the 12 May, Colin Thompson brought his dog Guy in to give us a talk, and it was so entertaining. We found out how sniffer dogs are trained and also how a bad dog can be re-trained to become a dog that assists people. At the Guild meeting the following day all we did was talk about his talk. One or two of our ladies missed the talk but heard about it later. Thank you Colin and Guy. Flower Rota: 1 June – Jill Tutthill; 8 Brian Jacobs; 15 – Kath Hogg; 22 – Ruth Edwards; 29 – Doreen Hallybone. Mini Bus: 1 June – Colin Hadden; 8 – Shirley Carr; 15 – Margaret Tutthill; 22 – Graham Tutthill; 29 – David Galley. Mini-Bus for Women’s own: 2 June – Margaretr Tutthill and Ken Vincent; 9 – Colin Hadden and Brian Jacobs; 16 Peter Hogg and Valerie Bowes; 23 – Judith Jacobs and Ken Vincent; 30 – Ruth Edwards and Brian Jacobs. Women’s Own Programme for June: 2 – Mrs. Phyl Gay; 9 – John’s Jolly Jaunt; 16 – St. Margaret’s; 23 – Rev. John Lines; 30 – Mrs. Sue Brockman Items for the next edition of "The Messenger" should be sent to messenger@londonroad.ukf.net |
