CrosswaysEdition 11

September 2014

The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us

Psalms 67:6

Editors forward

Welcome to the Harvest edition of Crossways

Hello readers, after such a horrible soggy winter I think we can thank God for a wonderful spring and summer. A lot has gone on since our last edition and I am sure there have been lots of holidays taken and I hope that those that have taken holidays have returned refreshed ready for the harvest.

In this edition we have a farewell letter from Stella

And a lovely letter from Chris Jones, our new Acting Superintendent Minister, in which he is introduces himself with a few thoughts for the Circuit.

There is a lot of information about forth coming events, a few thought-provoking articles and a technical piece from Alan.

Regards to you all,Jene

“Challenging times lie ahead, but with much prayer and honest conversations I am sure we can move forward to fulfil not our preferred options but move closer to God’s perfect holy and acceptable will.”

Christopher G T Jones (read all his letter later in this edition)

Dear Friends

It is with sadness that I write this final letter to you for Richard and I have made many good friends here in the Romsey Circuit and it will be hard to part with you. Also we have loved living here and working among such lovely, caring people and in such a lovely part of the world.

We would like to say a big thank you for all your help, encouragement, enthusiasm, faith and love which has made this time with you so worthwhile. We would also like to thank you for your gifts and cards and for your fine send off last Sunday. We really appreciated this (and have plans for the generous cheque you gave us) and we enjoyed spending this time with you. It was good to say personal goodbyes to those who stayed for tea but we regret that some couldn’t stay and slipped off without us having a chance to speak and others weren’t able to be there.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on and if you are in our new neck of the woods give us a call so we can arrange to meet up. Several people on Sunday asked for our new address so here it is:

16A Hillcrest, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0LJ; tel: 01691 622274.

So now it just remains for us to say goodbye to you all and wish you every blessing for the future. May you know God’s presence surrounding you in all things and at all times.

Stella & Richard

A letter from Christopher G T Jones Acting Superintendent Minister

The Coming Year in the Romsey Circuit

Why should a Supernumerary minister from another Circuit suddenly appear as an Acting Superintendent in the Romsey Circuit and who is he anyway?

The second question is perhaps easier to answer. So I will start there. I was brought up in a Baptist home where my father and both grandfathers were Baptist ministers.

I am married to Margaret who is also a Methodist minister (Presbyter). She is Methodist Oversight Tutor to the six Methodist students studying alongside Anglican students on the STETS non-residential course, so although we support each other’s ministry she will not be appearing on the Romsey plan.

After a theology degree from Oxford (where Margaret and I met) I became an RE teacher and my first post was at Brockenhurst Grammar School (just before it became a sixth Form College). I taught for over 20 years and the last seven of those years were as headmaster of a rural comprehensive school of 1000 pupils in North Essex. I had always felt a call to ministry and in 1990 the call became overpowering, so after successfully candidating, I was sent to join Margaret at Wesley House for two years.

We initially shared an appointment in the Cambridge Circuit as Probationers and after two years were moved to the Southend and Leigh Circuit where I became Superintendent. After eight years we moved to Bushey in Hertfordshire where I was again Superintendent. In 2004 Margaret became a member of the Connexional team as Secretary for Presbyteral ministry

I retired in 2008, but found myself tutoring students on STETS, sharing with Margaret the acting superintendency of the Winchester Circuit in

2009/10, and involved in ecumenical matters and other Connexional responsibilities.

We have two children, our daughter is a lecturer in the OU and has two young sons; our son is married to an Anglican priest and lives in Ipswich.

Andrew Wood has asked me to help in the Romsey Circuit for this Connexional year. My role, agreed with the Circuit Stewards, is fairly limited and is based on my offering one day a week (three sessions). I will continue to live in Salisbury and will concentrate on the oversight of the circuit by chairing meetings of the circuit and of some Church Councils. I will of course preach in all the churches and thus hope to get to know you.

I am very grateful that the pastoral responsibilities of the circuit will be undertaken by others who are well gifted to do so. My limited time availability means that I will be in the circuit when there is something I need to do, but I will not be able just to be present at all the Circuit and church events if there is not a specific task for me.

One of the most important challenges of this period, until the time when a new minister will take up responsibilities in September 2015, will be to utilise the gifts and graces of the lay people in the work of the kingdom. I am well aware that this has already happened, but I do hope that we can go further in unveiling the talents that are to be found in our churches. The church should not be focussed on the minister, nor even on the lay leadership, but on the worship of God and on serving God by sharing in God’s mission to the community in which we are placed.

As part of the discernment of our mission, difficult but essential decisions will need to be taken about how we should work with those churches at present in other circuits, in a new enlarged circuit which will enable us afresh to serve God’s purposes.

Challenging times lie ahead, but with much prayer and honest conversations I am sure we can move forward to fulfil not our preferred options but move closer to God’s perfect holy and acceptable will.

Grace and peace to you all,

Christopher G T JonesActing Superintendent Minister

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard somewhere near 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

Help to avoid your PC going slow

The most common reason for a PC to run slow is because there are too many unwanted programs. Many of these get on your PC without you knowing. This article suggests a way you can get a warning if a program starts to install. This will help you avoid getting a slow computer but will not speed it up if it’s already going slow.

The technique is to setup two accounts (also known as users) on the computer. One is an administrator account, called “Admin” or similar, and the other is your own account which is set to be a standard account, i.e. it cannot install programs. In most cases you won’t use the Admin account but if a program tries to install on your PC it will ask for your administrator password and you can choose whether to install it or not.

There is one drawback: if you are used to booting straight into your account you will need an extra mouse click to proceed, but it’s worth it to avoid unwanted programs.

This is how you do it (the procedure may vary according to the version of Windows but is similar to this).

From the Start Button, open ‘Control Panel’ Find and click on ‘User Accounts’ (or Users) Click ‘Add or Remove Account’ Click ‘Create New Account’ Call the new account ‘Admin’ – select ‘Administrator Account’ –

Give the account a password(If you need to protect your PC, give it a good password but if not, just use your initials)

Click ‘Create Account’

You should be back in the list of accounts – click on your own account

Click ‘Change Account Type’ Select ‘Standard Account’ Click ‘Change Account Type’ (the button this time) Click the ‘X’ to close the window Restart the PC

You still need to be vigilant about extra programs that come with updates. Make sure you un-tick the boxes.

As I said previously, the details vary with different versions of Windows. If you have any questions or would like me to talk you through it, contact me on ac100cw@virtualromsey.co.uk

Alan Clark

I was on a coach tour of the Island of Lesbos some years ago. The guide explained that during the German occupation of the island in the Second World War, the inhabitants were reasonably well off. “We had corn from the fields and olive oil from the trees so we could make bread and that was all we needed” she said. It set me thinking how God provides not just given the basics of what we need for nutrition, but such a rich variety of food, that gives us pleasure and enjoyment as well. We are truly blessed when we receive such bounty.

Christopher Jones

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Reimaging The FutureA seminar looking at the future of the Church in a changing society

Led by Sim Dendy, senior leader of New Life Church in RomseySaturday 20th September – Nomansland Methodist Church10:30am – 3pm with break for lunch (bring your own food)

Contact Bradley Newman01794 88461907771 803881

Circuit Ministry Arrangements - 2014/15

SuperintendencyThe Revd Chris Jones, a supernumerary minister in the Salisbury Circuit, will be acting Superintendent from 1st September 2014 until 31st August 2015. Chris will be working with us for the equivalent of a day per week - giving general oversight and chairing various meetings -including Circuit Meetings, Local Preachers’ Meetings, Circuit Leadership Team Meetings etc. He will also be preaching in every church each quarter. Chris’ contact details are - 01 722 412224; Mobile - 07776 375910 c.jones@jsb.myzen.co.uk

Pastoral CareThe Revd Brian Spencer (01 794 518989) will be working alongside Irene Bourne (023 8074 1033) to co-ordinate pastoral care across the circuit and to respond to requests for help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with them either for yourself or on behalf of others. If you have difficulty making contact with them, please phone Marilyn Pack (01 794 512022) or the Revd Eric Renouf (01 794 514060).

Local ChurchesThe Revd Chris Jones has kindly agreed to keep an eye on Cadnam and Romsey Churches for the coming year. This will involve chairing their Church Councils and keeping in touch with Church Stewards. The Revd Brian Spencer will be fulfilling a similar role for Canada Common, Landford, Nomansland and Wellow - ie by maintaining contact with Church Stewards and chairing Church Councils. He will also chair meetings of the Pastoral Committees at Cadnam, Landford and Romsey.

AdministrationMarilyn Pack will have an expanded administrative role – supporting staff colleagues and co-ordinating the day to day work of the circuit - in

addition to her normal responsibilities. Please keep her informed of developments and contact her with general enquiries - 01 794 512022 mjpack@renpack.co.uk

Two Sons

Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. He asked each of them to go and work in the vineyard that day. The first son refused but later changed his mind and went to help out. The second son said he would, but did not. At the end of this story, found in Matthew 21 verses 28 to 31, Jesus asked his listeners, "Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

How often do we say we will do something, then completely forget about it? Surprise your family and friends this week! Make that telephone call, write a letter, send an e-mail, do that odd job which has been put off for weeks, pop in to see your friend or lonely neighbour, return a borrowed item, give a bunch of flowers, say "I love you".

Be creative - be the sort of son God wants!

FilmAt Wellow

"Indescribable"Friday 14th November 7.00pm

Followed by a light buffet supper.No ticket necessary.

"The church must be reminded that it is not the master or servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."Martin Luther King

WellowSaturday 20th September 7:.00 pm

Italian Evening.

Tickets Ä6 per head.

"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say,

"Jesus, could you get that for me? "

Registered Charity no 1134386

Creating Safer Space for AllA One-Day Opportunity for children, youth & family

workers, ministers, church/circuit safeguarding reps, parents, pastoral visitors, church members and

professionals to listen, learn and discuss

Saturday 18 October 2014Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road,

Chandlers Ford SO53 2GJ

10.30am – 4.00pm(refreshments available from 10.00am)

Keynote speaker:Natasha Jetha - Policy Assistant (On-line Safety) NSPCC

Workshops (we hope to offer some or all of the following - a detailed programme will be sent nearer the date when you will

be asked to choose your workshop preferences)

Protection of Vulnerable/Elderly Adults Domestic Violence Safeguarding & Pastoral Visiting Positively Working Together Self harm Trafficking/Child Sex Exploitation

Charge: �5 to include a sandwich lunch.

Book a place by contacting Marilyn Pack (16 Petty Close, Romsey, SO51 5UY) with a cheque payable to ‘Southampton Methodist District’ together with your name, email address

and a note of any special dietary or access needs.

‘Partners in Sacrifice’ - 2014-2015 Methodist Prayer Handbook

The new Prayer Handbook for Methodists in Britain and Ireland can help us by –

giving us prayers that can deepen and widen our own praying; giving us information about the Methodist Church more widely

in Britain and Ireland, and in many other countries also, including our fellowship with other Christians in many united Churches as well!

The Prayer Handbook can also guide us in reading the Bible through the year and introduce us to a variety of hymns and songs as well.

It’s available now from Marilyn Pack (01 794 51022) or the Revd Eric Renouf (01 794 514060) – price �3.35 per copy.

(By the way, contributions are invited for the 2015-2016 edition – see the inside cover of the Prayer Handbook. Wouldn’t it be great to see a prayer or photo in next year’s edition that’s been sent in by someone from our Romsey Circuit!)

A Harvest story.The minister was visiting George and admiring the garden, full of flowers in one area and excellent vegetables in another. “Well George” the minister said, “You and the Lord between you have made a really good job of this garden.” “You should have seen what it was like when God had it all to Himself” came the reply.

Does this story raise any thoughts or issues for you as we approach Harvest?

Christopher Jones

Do what you can for us, sir!

A fictional story based on fact set in the year 1869, by Julia McKinley

Young Ted slipped out the back door of the Workhouse. The only person he had ever known and loved had just died. Keeping well in the shadows he stumbled along the street, frightened, and now, all alone in the world. He knew he couldn’t stay in the Workhouse under the fearsome regime of the owner. He turned towards the river, the Thames, the water reflecting the street lights of the embankment. Ted stared at the barrels and tarpaulins alongside its edge.

“Hey, you, wotcha staring at?” The voice made Ted jump, “nnn…nothing” he stuttered. “I’m on my own…” “Aw, c’mon on in then.” said the voice. Ted saw a corner of a tarpaulin move and a grubby arm reached out and pulled him in.

Ted’s eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness. Questions ran through his mind but he was too scared to say anything. His rescuer, Will, threw Ted a crust of bread, “ ’ere ‘ave that.” Suddenly Will whispered “sh… boys, someone’s coming.” No-one moved. The footsteps they had heard stopped, “The young lads are often round here, sir.” “Show me,” came the reply. The boys froze as the tarpaulin lifted and a policeman and a kindly looking gentleman peered in. Will, decided to risk it, and called out “Do what you can for us sir.”

Just a few days later, Will and Ted were tucking into breakfast lovingly made by the Master and Matron of the house rented by that kindly gentleman. He was the Rev Thomas Bowman Stephenson, a Methodist Minister working in Lambeth. The cry “Do what you can for us, sir” had touched his heart, and with the financial help of his Methodist friends Alfred Mager and Francis Horner the first Children’s Home was established by 1871. The name may have changed over the years, National Children’s Home, NCH, Action for Children, but the aim of supporting vulnerable children, young people and families has remained.

You can read more about the history and current work of Action for Children at http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Rev Stephenson put love into action, he was following Jesus’ example. The friends of the paralysed man who let him down through the roof were saying “Do what you can for us, sir”. The man at the Gate Beautiful called to Peter and John “Do what you can.” We too can make a difference when challenged by those who suffer to “Do what you can for us” whether it is through time, money, a listening ear or an opportunity to share our faith. Pray for God’s blessing on all who work to give practical action to support the needs of children, young people and families.

Wellow

Friday 10th October 7.00 pmMusical Evening(pre-arranged programme)

followed by buffet supper.For further details please

contactMarian on 02380 869846.

Many thanks for supporting this

great event; because of your

magnificent support we managed to

raise a whopping Ä2070.

Hilary (Babey) has received a letter

from John Medcraft a director of

Evangelical Action Brazil

Thanking us for our significant

donation to EAB.

Once again thank you for your

support.

So

Look out for A Good Night Out next

springHilary

CIRCUIT DIARYSaturday 20th September 10am until 3.00pmReimaging The Future - a sequel to Unlocking the Growth –Led by Sim Dendy at Nomansland Church

Saturday 20th September 7:30pmClassics to Cabaret – Musical evening – Cadnam Church

Saturday 20th September 7:00pmItalian Evening – Wellow Church

Friday 10th October 10:30am until 4:00pmCreating Safer Space – Seminar – Chandlers Ford Church

Friday 14th NovemberFilm Evening – “Indescribable” – Wellow Church

Please make a note of these dates in your diary. Further details will be circulated

in due course.