christ church united reformed church newsletter4 | christ church urc newsletter seasons with clocks...

September 2017 | 1

Christ Church United Reformed Church

NEWSLETTER

September 2017

Harvest Festival

Family Parade Service

Sunday 17th September

at 11:00am

2 | Christ Church URC Newsletter

Getting in contact

Enfield and East Herts Local Area Group Convenor Rev David Bradburn 01992 443 218

Secretary Mr Stephen Gilburt 020 8363 0031

Treasurer Mr David Fisher 020 8482 4610

Bookings Secretary Mrs Pamela Mansley 07936 798 722

Property Committee Mr Philip Taylor 07714 325 902

Newsletter & website Mr Tom Boorman 07903 605 545

Serving Elders Miss Sylvia Coombs 020 8363 3543 Mr Stephen Gilburt 020 8363 0031 Miss Rosemary Milns 020 8363 6571 Mr Philip Taylor 07714 325 902 Youth organisations Boys’ Brigade - Anchor Boys Miss Sue Bullock 07961 504 123

Boys’ Brigade - Junior Section, Company Section & Seniors Mr Tom Boorman 07903 605 545

Girlguiding - Rainbows, Brownies, Guides & Rangers Mrs Vicki Stratton-Stubbs 07968 483 609

Adventurers (Junior Church) Miss Rosemary Milns 020 8363 6571 Other activities Friendship Club Miss Sylvia Coombs 020 8363 3543

Worship Group Miss Rosemary Milns 020 8363 6571 You can also email us at [email protected] or visit www.ccurc.org.uk

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‘Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness’ I have always thought that the most marked change between the seasons is between summer and autumn. I think it is probably because of the start of the new academic year and the leisurely atmosphere of summer being replaced by the resuming of normal activities in autumn. Our church calendars, which have been quiet during July and August, will start to become busy again and all our organisations and groups will soon start a new session. The days will start to become shorter and the evenings will start to draw in. I love this time of year but I know that my view is not shared by everyone. I love the beautiful autumn colours and the bounty of nature shown in trees and bushes being ripe with fruit and vegetables. What a wonderful thing God’s creation is and what a wonderful and amazing world we live in. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon tells us that life is really a matter of timing, for timing is everything. This should be evident to us. You probably have many clocks and calendars in your home and possibly wear a watch on your wrist. Our mobile phones and computers also tell us the time. But if timing is everything, then how should we live? Verse 1 says: ‘For everything there is a season, and a time to every matter under heaven’. You see, we serve a God of seasons. We see it in creation. God created the four seasons based upon a rotation of the earth as it orbits the sun. The seasons change as the earth moves, but the sun in our planetary system remains constant, and everything revolves around it. In many ways we see the signature of the same artist in our lives. Much like the earth, our lives should revolve around the Son, Jesus Christ. Our lives will change, and we will enter and exit many seasons, but the Son remains constant yesterday, today and forever. So we serve a God of seasons, but God doesn’t measure

Pastoral Letter September 2017


seasons with clocks and calendars, they are man made, but through truth and revelation. Every aspect of our lives is as to a season and there is a purpose for these seasons. There is a reason for the season, a purpose for the process. There are seasons we don’t always want to go through, but we go through them and learn new things that we wouldn’t have known if we hadn’t gone through them. Change is inevitable, it’s going to happen. We look outside at the world around us and notice that things are different today than they were ten, twenty years ago, last week or even yesterday. Remember we serve a God of seasons and each season is different from the others. God gives us revelations and truths to propel us into new and different seasons. Let us hold on to that as we enter into a new season and a new session in our church activities. Laura Marlow Lancaster Road URC

Pastoral Letter September 2017 continued...

Margaret Hume has recently had an operation and is currently recuperating at home. We hold our friend Terry Silvey in our prayers as he continues his recovery from illness. We think of all of the young people in our youth organisations who have recently received exam results. Let us remember all our church family in our prayers and caring.

News of the fellowship

September 2017 | 5


In memory of Betty Over

In memory - Betty Ruth Over (9th November 1928 - 20th May 2017) Peter Over, Maureen and Michael would like to thank everyone from Christ Church who wrote and sent cards of sympathy after hearing about Betty's passing. When Betty moved to Enfield at the age of 7 she started to attend Sunday School at Christ Church Congregational. This shaped her life in so many ways. It grounded her life and the way she conducted it. She soon joined the girls choir and later became a Sunday school teacher. In 1943 she took Church membership and in her early days of courtship with Peter they both performed in many youth group church shows very loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan but with poetic license. They were married at Christ Church in June 1953 and remained very involved members until 2004. During those years she was secretary of the Friendship Club; she and Peter helped out at numerous Church fetes and bazaars - working in the kitchen supplying sausage and onion rolls with Betty and Ron Andrews - their kitchen was referred to as the Andover Cafe; she was a member of the choir for 71 years, sometimes being the soloist. She was also a member and a long serving chairperson of Enfield Choral Society. She loved supporting both Michael and Maureen in both the Guides and Boys’ Brigade. When Betty and Peter moved to Poynton in 2004, they joined Bramhall URC. She enjoyed being nearer her grandchildren and loved meeting her first great grandchild Elijah born last November. She and Peter continued to be busy but when in 2012 Betty was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and dementia life became harder and gradually the effects of both diseases took their toll, and Betty died on 20th May in Adlington Manor Care Home.

September 2017 | 7

Her funeral was at Bramhall URC and Stockport Crematorium on 21st June and many people from the church joined the family to celebrate her life.

In memory of Betty Over continued...

Our Treasurer would be very pleased to receive contributions towards the cost of producing this newsletter. Please pick up a donation envelope from the back of the church and put it in the collection bag or send it to our Treasurer, David Fisher, at 40B Chase Green Avenue, Enfield, EN2 8EB. Please mark your donation as a newsletter contribution. Suggested contribution is £12.00, or £15.00 if you receive the newsletter by post (to cover the additional cost of envelopes and stamps). Your contribution can be Gift Aided if you are a UK tax payer - just write your number from the freewill offering envelope or add your name and address to the back of the envelope.

Newsletter contributions

At our Harvest Festival on 17th September we are asked to bring gifts of food to church as a sign of our thankfulness to God for the many ways in which be provides us with food. These will be sent to the North Enfield Foodbank, which helps to provide emergency food for local people in crisis. Items gratefully received include non-perishable, non-meat products, pasta, tins (beans/soup/vegetables/pulses), rice, tea, coffee, biscuits with a long shelf life. The loose offering at the service will be sent to Sight Savers International. They work with partners in over 30 developing countries. The money collected will transform lives!

Harvest Festival


The Friendship Club meets in the Christ Church Hall usually on the third Monday of each month at 2:15pm for friendship,

fellowship and cups of tea!

Forthcoming meetings are as follows:

Monday 18th September Namibia - John Wallington and Anne Johnson

Monday 16th October

Rev Mandy James

Monday 20th November In sickness and in health in the Solomon Islands -

Sylvia Coombs

Monday 11th December Preparing for Christmas

(a Christmas variety programme including a bring and share tea)

Further future dates will be announced in due course.

Everyone is very welcome to these friendly meetings.

‘The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’

For more information please contact Sylvia Coombs on 020 8363 3543.

Friendship Club Programme 2017

September 2017 | 9


JustOne at the Emirates Stadium

On Saturday 8th July, over 23,000 people gathered at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club, for the JustOne event. The event, organised by evangelist J.John, was supported by around 200 churches and attendees were encouraged to bring “just one” person along in the hope of doubling the impact. JustOne Emirates began with a time of worship led by Hillsong. J.John and his wife, Killy, then interviewed four high profile Christians: Linvoy Primus (former Premier League footballer), Julia Immonen (a member of the first female crew to row the Atlantic), Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (KPMG International’s global head of corporate citizenship) and Canon Andrew White (former Chaplain of St George’s, Baghdad). More music then followed, first by the London Community Gospel Choir and then a time of worship with Matt Redman. J.John then delivered his message, based on John 3:16 and aimed both at sceptics and also Christians who might have moved Jesus out of the centre of their lives. Christianity, he said, offers three things: forgiveness from the past, new life today and hope for the future. The full message can be watched again at www.facebook.com/justonestadium Following the message, there was a time of prayer and an opportunity for people to respond. All in all, a wonderful event which it is hoped will encourage many people to share the Gospel in their own local areas!

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It was lovely to welcome back our friend Linda Clarke, from Enfield Baptist Church, to lead our worship service on Sunday 20th August. Linda spoke on the theme of ‘transformations’ and service to Christ from Romans 12:1-8, and whilst doing so transformed a blank canvas into this beautiful painting! We thank Linda for coming to lead us in worship and sharing her fantastic talents with us.

Art in worship

On Monday 21st August the Friendship Club held their annual summer tea in the hall. Thanks to Pamela Fisher for all her work in putting on such an enjoyable occasion!

Friendship Club summer tea


Following Rev Henriette Wentink’s departure from Enfield at the end of June, five members of the North Enfield Pastorate were able to go to her induction as minister of Trinity URC in Plymouth on Saturday 15th July and the generous tea in the hall afterwards. The church buildings were constructed from 1938 onwards and the members have ambitious plans to extend their premises by linking the church with the hall. The moderator of the South Western Synod of the URC, Rev Ruth Whitehead, presided at the induction. She knew Henriette from when she was in training for the ministry at Westminster College in Cambridge. The address was given by Rev Dr Alan Spence. We were also able to attend Henriette’s first service as the minister of Trinity URC on the Sunday morning and to explore the delights of Plymouth. Both services were enjoyable occasions and we were warmly welcomed by Henriette and members at Trinity URC. Stephen Gilburt

Henriette’s move to Plymouth

September 2017 | 13

Dear friends, Thank you all very much for the lovely send-off I received in June. Seeing so many of you at Christ Church on 18th June for my last service and at the lunch afterwards was truly wonderful. Your personal words and good wishes spoken out or written on cards, the individual gifts and the leaving presents from the churches have been received with much appreciation. I have settled in well in Plymouth and as you may have heard, the induction service at Trinity in July was a joyful occasion. What a surprise to see Stephen, Jim and Mavis, Maureen and Philip there too! They brought with them a booklet with more good wishes, further gifts and some photos. Lovely memories to keep from Enfield. May God bless you and keep you and guide you into the future. Shalom, Henriette

(With thanks to John Pasmore of Trinity URC Plymouth for the above photo)

Thank you from Henriette


Rainbows & Brownies trip to Legoland

On Saturday 1st July the Rainbows and Brownies had a fantastic day at Legoland. We went on lots of rides and enjoyed a picnic lunch! We really loved spending lots of money in the shop. Vicki Stratton-Stubbs

Guides & Rangers trip to Thorpe Park

On Sunday 2nd July the Guides and Rangers enjoyed a fun packed day at Thorpe Park. We arrived nice and early and the girls managed to get on lots of rides before it got busy! The weather was lovely and we had a fabulous day! Vicki Stratton-Stubbs

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This year the Guides and Rangers enjoyed a week long Summer Camp at Tolmers Activity Centre in Cuffley. 15 Guides, 2 Rangers, 6 leaders and Charlie enjoyed a fun packed week of activities! The girls got to try lots of different activities including high ropes, dancing, Corning, archery, rifles and bungee run. We also spent time during the camp sorting out our camping equipment which is now rehomed at the church. We sadly had to get rid of a few items which were broken so will be fund raising this year to replace them. During this camp Vicki passed her camp licence and can now take the Guides and Rangers away so we're hoping to now do camping more regularly.

Vicki Stratton-Stubbs

Guides & Rangers Summer Camp


Boys’ Brigade Juniors 100 Camp

On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June, 8 members of the 3rd Enfield joined around 400 others from around London District for a Juniors 100 Camp & Fun Day at Scout Park, Haringey. The Junior Section was originally formed as the Boy Reserves in 1917, before becoming known as the Life Boys and later Junior Section. During the day on Saturday those present got the chance to try a wide range of activities, including It's a Knockout team challenges, archery, climbing wall, rifle shooting, outdoor laser tag, inflatables, football and lots more. Later in the afternoon everyone came together for a celebration at the main stage where Tom Elliott, who is a Christian speaker and magician, spoke to us. Following the departure of the day guests, the evening activities included a camp fire and the chance to toast some marshmallows, followed by a disco and film to finish the day. On Sunday there was an opportunity for the young people to carry on doing activities that they didn't get a chance to do the previous day. There was also a time of worship, including puppets and lots of singing, led by members of the 4th Bromley. It was a fantastic weekend which brought many people from across the District together to celebrate Juniors 100 - huge thanks to all of the volunteers who made it all possible!

Tom Boorman

September 2017 | 17

Boys’ Brigade Juniors 100 Camp continued...

On Saturday 1st July, members of Enfield and Inner North London Battalions joined together for a day out to Thorpe Park. It was a lovely day and the young people got the chance to go on lots of rides including Swarm, Stealth, Tidal Wave, Nemesis Inferno, Samurai, Saw and more. A great day was had by all! Tom Boorman

Boys’ Brigade trip to Thorpe Park


Boys’ Brigade Summer Programme

Over the last few weeks of term the BB Summer Programme took place, where we took advantage of the lighter evenings and (usually) better weather to go out and about a bit more. Our boys had the opportunity to do activities including outdoor games on Chase Green and in the church grounds, a pizza and games evening, and trips to Jungle Falls Adventure Golf and Jump In Trampoline Park. Our final meeting took place on Monday 10th July with our summer BBQ in the church garden. It was open to all boys and their families, and included a bouncy castle, sumo suits and plenty of food and drink!

Tom Boorman

Boys’ Brigade Summer Camp

From Sunday 23rd to Saturday 29th July, a group of young people and leaders from the 3rd and 10th Enfield Companies travelled to Beeston Regis, near Sheringham in Norfolk for our Summer Camp.

September 2017 | 19

Throughout the week the young people had the chance to take part in a number of activities, both on site and off site. On site activities included football, swingball, an Xbox tournament, a BBQ, quiz, devotions, water games and a water fight. Off site activities included a day out at Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park, trips to the beach and local towns (Cromer and Sheringham), cinema, pitch and putt, an 'around the town' challenge, a treasure hunt, go karting in Cromer, going on a seal trip and swimming. A great time was had by all!

Tom Boorman

Boys’ Brigade Summer Camp continued...


1st - Pray for God’s guidance at the start of a new month. 2nd - Pray for the Breakfast Club, which meets this morning. 3rd - Pray for Stephen Gilburt, our Church Secretary, as he leads us in worship this morning. 4th - Pray for the young people who are preparing to return to school this week. 5th - Pray for all those who have been affected by the recent terror attacks in Spain and Finland. 6th - Pray for those who are at new beginnings, whether it be a new school, college, university or job. 7th - Pray for your friends and family. 8th - Pray for the Rainbows as they meet today. 9th - Pray for our elders and their leadership over Christ Church. 10th - Pray for the Adventurers and that more children will be encouraged to join the group. 11th - Pray for the Anchor Boys and Junior Section as they meet this evening. 12th - Pray for the BB bugle band as they start rehearsals again this evening. 13th - Pray for the staff of Chase Farm Hospital. 14th - Pray for our future ministry. 15th - Pray for the Brownies as they meet this evening. 16th - Pray for a joyful time at today’s Lunchtime @ Christ Church. 17th - As we come together for our Harvest Festival Family Service, pray for those who struggle to find enough food to eat. 18th - Pray for the Friendship Club as they meet this afternoon. 19th - Pray for our friends from Bush Hill Park and Lancaster Road URCs. 20th - Pray for the work of Christ Church in the local community. 21st - Pray for the residents of Gordon Hill. 22nd - Pray for the Guides as they meet this evening.

Prayer diary September 2017

September 2017 | 21

23rd - Pray for all those who are involved in the Enfield Town and Country Show in Enfield Town Park this weekend. 24th - Pray for God’s guidance at our Church Meeting this afternoon. 25th - Pray for the Company Section and Seniors as they meet this evening. 26th - Pray for our friends from other churches in the local area, as we all work to glorify Jesus. 27th - Praise God for his love and compassion. 28th - Pray for peace in areas of the world where there is conflict. 29th - Pray for the Rangers as they meet in the hall this evening. 30th - Pray for the work being done by Christian charities around the world.

Prayer diary September 2017 continued...

The October 2017 newsletter will be published on Sunday 24th September. Items intended for inclusion in this issue should be with the Editor, Tom Boorman, by Sunday 10th September. Any late submissions may be held over to the following issue. Please contact Tom with any items to be included in future issues. Items can be received either in paper form at Sunday worship, by email to [email protected] or by phone on 07903 605 545. The newsletter is published monthly (except for combined issues in July & August and December & January). Back issues dating back to 2007 can be found on our website. Please note that views expressed are not necessarily the views of the whole fellowship, nor are they representative of church policy.

October 2017 newsletter


Church diary September 2017

Saturday 2nd September 9:00am to 10:30am Breakfast Club (Bible study and prayer group) Sunday 3rd September 11:00am Mr Stephen Gilburt Holy Communion (offering for the Communion Fund) Duty Elder - Philip Taylor Sunday 10th September 11:00am Mr Martin Wells Duty Elder - Sylvia Coombs Saturday 16th September 9:00am to 10:30am Breakfast Club (Bible study and prayer group) Saturday 16th September 11:00am to 2:00pm Lunchtime @ Christ Church Sunday 17th September 11:00am Mrs Laura Marlow Family Parade Service (Harvest Festival) Duty Elder - Rosemary Milns Monday 18th September 2:15pm Friendship Club Namibia - John Wallington and Anne Johnson Sunday 24th September 11:00am The Worship Group Duty Elder - Stephen Gilburt Sunday 24th September 12:30pm Church Meeting

September 2017 | 23

Church diary October 2017

Key future dates

Church Meetings Sundays 24th September, 5th November (12:30pm) Lunchtime @ Christ Church Saturday 16th September (11:00am to 2:00pm) Holiday Memories Evening Saturday 14th October (5:30pm) Christmas Bazaar Saturday 25th November (11:00am to 2:00pm)

Sunday 1st October 11:00am Mr John Stynes Holy Communion (offering for Goldie College) Duty Elder - Rosemary Milns Saturday 7th October 9:00am to 10:30am Breakfast Club (Bible study and prayer group) Sunday 8th October 11:00am The Worship Group Duty Elder - Worship Group members Saturday 14th October 5:30pm Holiday Memories Evening


SUNDAY 11:00am Morning worship (Holy Communion - first Sunday) (Family Parade Service - third Sunday) (regular service - other Sundays) 11:00am Adventurers (children aged 3 upwards) MONDAY 2:15pm Friendship Club (once monthly - see diary) 6:00pm to 7:30pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys (boys aged 5 to 8) 6:00pm to 7:30pm Boys’ Brigade Junior Section (boys aged 8 to 11) 7:30pm to 9:15pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section (boys aged 11 to 15) 7:30pm to 9:15pm Boys’ Brigade Seniors (boys aged 15 to 18) FRIDAY 5:00pm to 6:15pm Rainbows (girls aged 5 to 7) 6:00pm to 7:30pm Brownies (girls aged 7 to 10) 7:30pm to 9:00pm Guides (girls aged 10 to 14) 7:30pm to 9:00pm Rangers (girls aged 14 to 20) SATURDAY 9:00am to 10:30am Breakfast Club (twice monthly - see diary) For details of other special events and activities please see the diary.

Regular activities at Christ Church

Christ Church URC is a part of the North Enfield Group of URCs and the North West Enfield Group of Churches.

Motto: “Enter to worship, depart to serve.”

Mission statement: Christ Church URC aims to provide through its worship, work, witness and mission an effective contribution to the

spiritual and social welfare of the Church family and the wider community.

Address: Christ Church URC, Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 6NJ

Cover image ©iStock.com/AlexRaths

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