feb 16 for web

1REV GAVIN HANCOCKS

Tel: 01803 615480email: [email protected]

MINISTER IN PASTORAL CHARGE

CORNER

STONE

FEBRUARY 2016

MAGAZINE

OF

CENTRAL

ST. ANDREWS

AND

VICTORIA PARK

Central Central Central Central

Reflection Reflection Reflection Reflection

Pg 10Pg 10Pg 10Pg 10

St Andrews St Andrews St Andrews St Andrews

FamilyFamilyFamilyFamily


LentLentLentLent


Photo by John Head

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CHURCH CONTACTS - CENTRAL

Secretary Barbara Lawton 01803 296990

[email protected]

Treasurer Paul Sherriff 01803 298603

Envelope & Gift Aid Secretary Paul Sherriff 01803 298603

Organist & Choir Director Clive Bastin 01803 325142

Magazine Editors Hazel Nightingale 01803 613345

Philip Kay 01803 323551

[email protected]

Booking Secretary Hazel Nightingale 01803 613345

[email protected]

Publicity(Posters) Barbara Gissinger 01803 328407

Caretakers Darrell Sanderson 07719 099901

Keith Read 07719 099901

Website www.centralchurchtorquay.org

CHURCH CONTACTS – ST ANDREWS.

Church Secretary Nicola Lindsay 01803 314292

[email protected]

Senior Steward Sue Masheder 01803 873258

[email protected]

CHURCH CONTACTS – VICTORIA PARK

Church Council Secretary Myra Wise 01803 327145

[email protected]

Senior Steward Mavis Paul 01803 291895

A donation to defray printing costs would be much appreciatedA donation to defray printing costs would be much appreciatedA donation to defray printing costs would be much appreciatedA donation to defray printing costs would be much appreciated

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THE MINISTERS

Dear Friends,

2016 has certainly got under way in a hurry. So much so I’m writing this

past the deadline with grateful thanks for the indulgence afforded me

by the Editors!

As we move past Christmas and Epiphany we are very soon into Lent this

year being that Easter comes a little earlier – the difficulty of marrying

an event determined by the lunar calendar, Easter, with the solar

calendar! Anyhow, Ash Wednesday is the 10 and so we begin our

journey through Lent in early February this year.

Lent is a period of preparation for Easter and has traditionally been

associated with the practice of denying some or other pleasure, usually

associated with food, in order to devote oneself to greater dependence

on God. This is good and can be a helpful discipline for us in preparation

for Easter but I fear it has become somewhat devalued in recent times.

For whatever reason we are not a community that embraces fasting in

any significant shape or form so perhaps it might be good to refocus and

think in other terms.

Instead of ‘…giving up chocolates…’ why not find an opportunity to do

something significant in devotion to God? Perhaps you could join us on

the ToWNS night shelter team as we offer hospitality to the homeless

through February? Or what about some other ‘inconvenient’ avenue of

service – visiting some shut-in members or perhaps inviting someone for

a meal each week? In each instance the opportunity is to allow the

moment to take you outside a comfort zone and discover God in the

midst of it. That way, when we arrive at the moment of remembering

God’s incredible self-offering on the cross we will enter into the depths

of the deeper joy of being reborn in the resurrection and set free to love

him even more deeply in the days that follow.

Remember the words of Jesus: ‘If you do this for even the least of….’

Matt 25:40 and ‘Well done my good and faithful servant’ Matt 25:21.

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Moving on to other things, the new year has also brought some new

opportunities for us here in Torquay. At Central we are exploring a new

opportunity for Family Worship on a Sunday morning at 9:15am. In

response to a request for an opportunity for families to gather in a more

informal act of worship we are commencing a half hour Family Worship

service at 9:15am on the 7 February. This service will be geared around

a contemporary worship style with a short message and will hopefully

provide opportunity for families to worship together. It will mean that

as from February the Sunday Club will no longer meet. Arrangements

will be made to accommodate any children or young people who might

attend that service but, for now, it won’t be a formal arrangement.

It is my prayer that this will be an exciting opportunity to reach out to a

different group of people who might otherwise not be inclined to join in

worship with us on a Sunday. Please do pray for this service and all those

involved that God will guide us in it and use it for his glory.

Yours in the Gospel, Gavin

The Sunday Welcome Sheet

As you may or may not know I have been producing the Sunday Welcome

Sheet for a couple of years now, but I am a firm believer in new eyes and

new hands to a job to keep things fresh.

I am looking for a willing volunteer to take over this responsibility, the

production only takes an hour or two per week, using a publisher program

on a PC, including contact with a few people regarding content. The job

isn’t onerous but I could do with the time to spend on my ever increasing

list of other jobs! Access to a PC is essential but full training will be given!

Even if you do not wish to take this job on full time, a willing volunteer

to cover for holidays would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks

Sarah Ayres

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FAMILY & FRIENDS

Family News & other Bits & Pieces

CONGRATULATIONS

To Doreen Head who was 80 on 5 January

Belated greetings to Pat Hawes for the 13 January

Belated greetings to Mavis Paul for the 14 January

Happy Birthday to Audrey Avery on the 10

Happy Birthday to Pam Cloke on the 17 .

.

THANKS

To all those who gave donations in lieu of postage with their

Christmas cards and greetings for the leaflet in the

December/January Cornerstone. £228 was received for Church

funds.

Barbara & Tony Zaple would like to thank Gavin, Angela and

everyone who visited Tony in hospital. Also, all our friends at

Central who sent cards, flowers, and telephone messages. God

Bless you All.

Mary Nankivell would like to thank all those friends who offered

support and prayers, and sent calls and cards during her recent

illness. All were much appreciated.

MILITARY WIVES

As you may well remember, we had the Military Wives and the Brixham

Orpheus Male Voice Choir for an evening at Central on 21 November

2015. It was an amazing evening, with the Ladies really excelling

themselves on this occasion.

After paying all expenses, we made a profit of £2,540 which was split

equally between SSAFA (the charity chosen by the Military Wives) and

Rowcroft Hospice (the charity chosen by the Orpheus Choir).

A splendid result, from a splendid evening!

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JANE BALE 1924 — 2016.

Those members of Central who knew Jane were of course saddened to know she

had died — but she had lived a long and interesting life. It was always special to be

with Jane, she was such a happy person.

Jane was born in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire and grew up near there. She walked to

church on Sunday mornings, to Sunday School in the afternoon, and church again in

the evening. She was also a keen member of the Girl Guides.

On leaving school Jane worked for a textile company and learnt to weave as well as

working in the office. When war came Jane met Ron who was stationed nearby and

when he was posted to Free Town West Africa he kept in touch. After two years he

was stationed back in Lochwinnoch and the relationship grew. They were married in

1945. Her daughter Sheila was born in 1947 at Westbury, and Elaine in 1956 in

Axminster.

During all this time Jane was very much involved with the W.I. as she loved sewing,

especially embroidery, knitting and baking, and entering competitions at the local

show.

In 1976 Ron and Jane moved to their last home which was in Paignton. There they

joined Central Church, and Jane joined Women's Fellowship and Ladies Circle. Jane

& Ron worked in the gardens at Central for some years and helped to win 'Torbay

in Bloom' awards.

Jane joined the Linen League at Torbay hospital and in 1999 was given a certificate

for 14 years commitment to the Linen League by Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

Some time after Ron died Jane went to live with Sheila and Paul and shared time

with Elaine and Phil.

Above all Jane was a home maker. She loved nothing better than cooking and baking

for family and friends, knitting, sewing and spending time gardening — making sure

Ron was digging up weeds and not precious plants! Every year she knitted everyone

in the family a Christmas jumper, some of which are still fondly remembered to this day

by her G r a n d c h i l d r e n , K a i a n d D a n e w h o s h e d o t e d o n a n d

o f w h o m s h e w a s s o p r o u d . We are so glad to have had Jane with us at

Central and thank God for her life — now we offer our loving sympathy to Sheila, Elaine

and their families.

MML

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LEAP YEAR – 29 FEBRUARY

2016 brings us a Leap Year. We need to add this extra day

every four years in order to keep our calendar in alignment

with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. The problem

is very simple: our calendar has 365 days, but it actually

takes 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once

around the Sun. That means we are ‘out’ by nearly six

hours a year. Four times six hours is 24 hours - hence an

extra day every four years.

Adding the extra day in February goes back to Julius Caesar

in 45 BC. In his Julian Calendar, February was the last

month of the year, and 24th February was Leap Year Day.

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A PROFILE OF ...............JOHN TIBBETTS

John was born in the West Midlands at the end of the war years. He just

about remembers bombings – his grandfather’s house, which was next

door, had a direct hit from an incendiary device. As he says – there were

hardships – rationing, very little food, as many members of Central will

know! He says he was quite mature before he tasted a banana! Friday

nights were often spent bartering – sugar, bacon, petrol etc! His

grandmother made most of his clothes when he was a young lad.

He went to Junior School in Blackheath and as his grandfather was

Secretary of Blackheath Methodist Church, he went there very frequently.

When war was over the Tibbetts family returned to their profession of

plasterers and they repaired many homes devastated by the bombings.

John then began studying at the Dudley-Staffs Technical College, and

after this he obtained an apprenticeship in Engineering, followed by a

position as Applications Engineer in the lubrication industry. However,

building was in his blood and he persuaded his father to let him join the

family business in 1966. The family had entered the housing market and

John wanted to promote the venture – a decision he has never regretted.

In 1966 the family moved to Shropshire to assist with housing

development. Five years later he came to Torquay – more building works.

After only two years a move to Stoke Gabriel which lasted twenty years

– a village where he is still very much involved. Since 1993 he has lived

in Torquay.

John had two daughters and one son, and nine grandchildren (aged 9 –

23 years). If you missed John for a few weeks recently, it was because he

was in Australia visiting his eldest daughter.

John is a very busy man. His interests include sport, music, walking and

travelling. He is a member of Torquay Rotary Club. He is still very busy

with his business, and property matters.

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John joined Chelston Methodist Church when he returned to Torquay in

1973, and spent many years there helping in many ways. He was sad to

see Chelston close, but he is happy to be a member of Central, and we

are delighted to have him among us. He wants to thank all who have

made him welcome – he especially loves the Choir and the music, and is

glad to be worshipping at Central.

Thank you John for all you did at Chelston. We do warmly welcome you,

and look forward to sharing with you in the years ahead.

MML

JONATHAN OLIVERIO

we have received this letter from Jon.

Happy New Year – I hope you all had a good Christmas!

As some of you may know, Katherine Fallon and I are getting married on

Saturday 6 February at 2pm at St Peter’s Church, Stoke Fleming.

Katherine and I have been delighted that so many of our friends from

the churches that we have connections with, have been asking about the

details of the wedding ceremony, so we both thought we’d get in touch

with hope that that you will be able to put the information into your

church magazines/newsletters.

It’ll be a real blessing to see you there along with our friends from the

churches. If you do manage to get the details into your church

magazines/notices/newsletters, we would recommend that people car

share or arrive early on the day to avoid missing a parking space.

Do feel free to get in touch if you need a little more information,

otherwise we look forward to seeing you very soon.

Every Blessing – Jon & Kate.

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A REFLECTION FROM CENTRAL

This year is a Leap Year. A year which occurs every four years. As you

all know, in a Leap Year we get an extra day -- 366 days instead of 365,

and that extra day comes in this month.

February 29 can be viewed in different ways.

If your mother gives birth to you on 29 February, it means that your

birthday only comes round once every 4 years. During the intervening

years you will have to celebrate on either 28 February or 1 March.

However, 29 February has a bonus for some. It is said that single ladies

can “pop the question” to the man of their dreams. So, look out Gavin,

you could have a rush on weddings soon!!

If you are not about to give birth, and there is not a gentleman who you

think could change your life, what are you going to do with the extra day

which we are going to have at the end of this month?

Well, for those who have not retired, I am afraid that you will have to

work, as 29 falls on a Wednesday. For those of us who are older, we

have a choice.

But, for all of us, we can give thanks to God for the extra day we have

been given. We can give thanks for our health and strength, to either

work, or go for a walk. We can give thanks for our family and friends.

We can give thanks to God for the Spring which is just around the corner.

We can give thanks to God for the lovely area in which we live and the

opportunity to see His wonderful creation day by day.

We have been granted another day. Let’s thank God for it.

Margaret Newman

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CELEBRATING THE QUEEN’S 90 BIRTHDAY

a special book

The Queen has served the country and Commonwealth for more than

60 years. From 10-12 June 2016 her 90th birthday will be celebrated.

To mark the unique occasion, HOPE, Bible Society and the London

Institute for Contemporary Christianity are publishing a ‘very special’,

64-page book focusing on the Queen’s Christian faith as a tribute to her

life of service.

The Servant Queen - and the King She Serves is a beautifully illustrated

short book, which uses the Queen’s own words to draw out the central

role of her trust in Jesus Christ, offering an inspiring, multi-faceted insight

into a life well-lived for others.

In her 2014 Christmas broadcast the Queen described Jesus Christ as ‘an

anchor in my life’ and a ‘role-model’. It is the most recent of many public

references the Queen has made to her Christian faith.

Advance orders for The Servant Queen have already reached more than

60,000 with Anglican dioceses and denominations ordering copies to give

away.

Judgement?

This true story concerns the visit of a visiting preacher to a little

village chapel… ‘He was a few minutes into his sermon when, without

warning, about twenty square feet of thick and decayed Victorian

plaster fell from high on one wall and crashed into a group of empty

pews below. As the dense fog of dust began to settle, and it became

clear no one was in injured, the minister prepared to resume his

sermon. Then he paused, and looked heavenward and in a slightly

pained voice, asked: “Was it something I said?”’

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ST ANDREWS MISSIONS

On Sunday 14 February it will be our annual Mission in Britain

Sunday when the preacher will be Mrs Irene Cochran. Envelopes for

your gifts for the Mission in Britain Fund will be given out and the

coffee collection for Sundays 14 , 21 and 28 will also go to this

fund.

Mission in Britain is an essential part of the One Mission of the

Methodist Church in Britain. Churches across England, Wales and

Scotland are courageously living out the calling of the Church in their

communities - that is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ

and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

Gifts to Mission in Britain enable them to support mission-orientated

church projects through grant giving across many categories such as;

Mission Alongside the Poor, Chaplaincy and the use of church

properties to serve local communities.

Four years ago, Helen was struggling with debt. She rarely had enough

money to buy both food and pay for heating. It was the local Citizen’s

Advice Bureau who referred Helen to the Parson Cross Initiative’s

food bank. “I still remember how kind and understanding the

ministers and volunteers were. I felt very low at the time. Talking to

them about my situation really helped.” Alongside giving Helen food

parcels in those early days, PXI also supported her by applying for

funding through ACTS 435* (a church network website putting people

who can give in touch with people in need). “That was a massive

help,” says Helen, “I was able to buy a new heater and the rest of the

funding went a long way to clearing my debts.” Helen soon became

a regular visitor at PXI’s weekly drop in social café, run alongside the

food bank. PXI also supported Helen with her day to-day budgeting.

Step-by-step, as PXI walked with her, Helen rebuilt her life. Today,

among other things Helen volunteers at the PXI food bank each week.

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The Parson Cross Initiative (PXI) in North Sheffield is just one of the

many projects supported by the Mission in Britain Fund. Please give

as generously as you can to help other people like Helen.

Rachel George

Sunday Coffee: November, £22 for Flower Fund. December £128.50

for Action for Children.

Jean Jarvis

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE

CANDLEMAS

In bygone centuries, Christians said their last farewells to the Christmas

season on Candlemas, 2 February. This is exactly 40 days after Christmas

Day itself.

In New Testament times 40 days old was an important age for a baby

boy: it was when they made their first ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all

good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her first male

child - to ‘present him to the Lord’. At the same time, she, as a new

mother, was ‘purified’. Thus we have the Festival of the Presentation of

Christ in the Temple.

So where does the Candlemas bit come in? Jesus is described in the New

Testament as the Light of the World, and early Christians developed the

tradition of lighting many candles in celebration of this day. The Church

also fell into the custom of blessing the year’s supply of candles for the

church on this day - hence the name, Candlemas.

The story of how Candlemas began can be found in Luke 2:22-40.

Simeon’s great declaration of faith and recognition of who Jesus was is

of course found in the Nunc Dimittis, which is embedded in the Office of

Evening Prayer in the West. But in medieval times, the Nunc Dimittis

was mostly used just on this day, during the distribution of candles

before the Eucharist. Only gradually did it win a place in the daily prayer

life of the Church.

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50 YEARS? “I DON’T BELIEEEEVE IT!”

We are all too well aware that time flies – especially as you get older! It

doesn’t seem possible that I have had the privilege of leading the praise

of God’s people from the organ for fifty years.

I would like to share with you just a few of the experiences that I have

encountered in my role as organist, and I shall be interspersing my

reminiscences with some (relevant) music from the organ. That will be

at Tuesday Guild on 23rd February in the church at 7.30.

Clive Bastin. Organist & Choir Director.

‘ACTION FOR CHILDREN’

Home Collecting Lantern Boxes

The Home Collecting Boxes are now due to be opened. Please let me

have your boxes and subscriptions as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support of ‘Action for Children’.

Linda Duckworth

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FLAME OF A CANDLE

See the candle flame a-burning

See its flick’ring, dancing light;

See how it, the darkness spurning

Burns throughout the darkest night.

Light of faith, of God reminding

As His Spirit, long ago

Lit the first apostles, finding

Faith within the Spirit’s glow.

Light of life – God’s life eternal

Won through Christ’s atoning death

Sparing us from Hell, infernal

Granting us His living breath!

Light of hope, in God victorious

For we know that He will win

When we’ll see His flames of glorious

Vict’ry o’er the pow’r of sin!

Light your candle, kneel and praise Him

Kneel and praise the Lord of Hosts;

Let your prayers and praises raise Him

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

By Nigel Beeton

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from Victoria Park:

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

On the 14 March 2016 The Women’s World Day of Prayer will be

held at Victoria Park Methodist Church at 2.30pm.

Tea will be held in the Assembly Hall afterwards.

Further details later

NEWSLETTER/CORNERSTONE

Any items you wish to feature in these, please let Myra have details

before the first Sunday in the previous month. Thank you.

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TEA AND FELLOWSHIP

at CENTRAL CHURCHTuesday and Friday Morning from 10am -12noon

AND on the 4th Tuesday of the month there will be cake available, do not miss out!

THE

NEXT

MEETING

WILL BE

Friday 29th FebruaryAt Central Church

4.00pm – 6.00pm

In a sack

Seen in a church magazine: ‘Bring your old newspapers (and your

neighbours), put them in a sack and tie them if possible.’

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AROUND THE FAMILY AT ST ANDREWS

Revd John Bradley

We were saddened to learn of the passing in December of Rev. John

Bradley, after many years of ill health. John joined the Senior class of the

Sunday School at St Andrew’s in 1963 and was also then a helper in the

Junior class. In 1966 he was received into membership, later candidating

for the Ministry. One of his earliest postings was in Scotland where met

Marian, from Stornaway, who was to become his wife. John served for

a time during his early career in Africa.

Hilary Hodgson, née Denham, writing of her memories as a child at St

Andrew’s, said “Special occasions I recall include the ‘Share Our Faith’

Mission in 1975, led by John Bradley, especially John’s enthusiasm as he

taught us action songs like ‘Swing low sweet chariot’ and ‘I don’t want

to march with the infantry’“.

In 2003 the St Andrew’s Newsletter noted that “making a welcome

return to our pulpit on July 13 is Rev. John Bradley. John grew up in

our Sunday School here…..Now the Ecumenical Officer for Christians

Together in the South West, he has served in Circuits as far apart as the

Shetland Islands and Devon and Cornwall.”

John’s funeral was held at Olney, Buckinghamshire on January 6 .

Because he had suffered for many years from Multiple Sclerosis he had

donated his brain and spinal cord to the M.S. Society to be used for

research purposes.

We extend our prayerful sympathy to Marian, to Mairyn, their daughter

and to his sister Elizabeth Bradbury and the Bradley family.

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Other News

During the busy month of December we were especially pleased to enjoy

and partake in a well-attended Nativity Service here in the afternoon of

Christmas Eve.

Mary and Jim Gill experienced delight when their granddaughter, Laura

Parkes, arrived unexpectedly on their doorstep – from Australia! A joyful

bonus at Christmas for the Gill family.

We are pleased to see the continuing recovery of Geoff Hayman, our

valued Treasurer. Also making a good recovery from his fall and

subsequent hospital treatment is Colin Powell, who works so hard in so

many ways here. Our prayers are with you.

To Sue Masheder, our esteemed Senior Steward, we say “Happy

Birthday” on February 15 , and we hope she and David enjoy their

holiday in New Zealand.

Our thanks and appreciation go to Nicola Lindsay for her sterling work

with the Flower Rota and for arranging flowers for many of us, a task also

undertaken on occasions by Mary Gill. Thank you both for this. Please

remember to sign up for one of the weeks this year. If the week you sign

for is to remember someone special to you, please add that and we can

publish the list here each month.

Please remember the 3 Wednesday of each month when light lunches

are served followed by a chance to enjoy board games, so Wednesday,

17 February at 12.30 will be the next chance to enjoy soup or a toasted

sandwich or something tasty for £1. Do come!

After a time of being out of touch ‘phonewise, Sheila Denham is now

happy to tell us that her telephone number in fact remains as 01803

361206.

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From Margaret Freemantle: Action for Children: St Andrew’s raised

£18.50 via coffee money and £845 (!) via the “Big Christmas Card” for

the fund and Margaret would like to thank everyone for their support.

Margaret also kindly collects our shoe boxes for the Samaritan’s Purse

Appeal. This year she took 22 shoeboxes from St. Andrew’s to be sent

and a very valuable £57 towards the cost of transport, in addition to

some people who paid their costs on-line.

By the time you read this the evenings will be lighter. We dare not

speculate on the weather. Most importantly, Lent will soon begin.

CentralCentralCentralCentral@@@@40404040Growing in Grace – Sharing God’s Love

SHARING IN WORSHIP - Sundays at 10.30am

Sun 14 Feb’16 : Rev Jeff Armitstead

Sun 17 Apr’16 : Rev Brian Hunt

Sun 22 May’16 : Rev David Grosch-Miller - Moderator of the General

Assembly of the URC

OTHER ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

Sat 20 Feb’16 : Sankey tea with Clive Bastin (See back page)

March’16 - Date to be confirmed - To the Cross and beyond with Dana

de Waal, Angela and friends

March’16 - Date to be confirmed - Question Time with guest panel

21

SUNDAY SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY 2016.

(HC) = Sacrament of Holy Communion (WG) = Worship Group

CENTRAL

Date Morning 10.30am Evening 6.30pm

FEB

7 Revd G Hancocks. (HC) Revd Gavin Hancocks

14 Revd Jeff Armitstead Revd Gavin Hanckcks (WG)

21 Revd Gavin Hancocks Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC)

28 Mrs Margaret Newman Revd Lythan Nevard (WG)

ST ANDREWS

Date Morning 10.30am

FEB

7 Revd Adrian Phippen

14 Mrs Irene Cochran

21 Revd Gerald Morris (HC)

28 Major Denise Brine

VICTORIA PARK

Date Morning 10.30am

FEB

7 Revd Gerald Morris

14 Deacon Jane Verrall

21 Mrs Irene Cochran

28 Revd Gavin Hancocks (HC)

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VICTORIA PARK FEBRUARY

DATE DOOR STEWARDS

FEB

7 Stephanie Withers & Sylvia Penny

14 Pat Hawes & Pam Cloke

21 Connie & John Sims

28 Margaret Collings & Betty Peachey

VP FLOWER ROTA

DATE NAMES IN MEMORY OF

FEB

7 Mrs Mary Royle Her Husband Tony

14 Ann Williams Her Husband John

21 Muriel Colefax Her Husband Eddie

28 Pam Cloke Her Husband Stan

As you will see by the Flower List on the Notice Board, there are a few

vacancies during the year – if you would like to fill in a space please see

Stephanie.

VP PRAYER BOARD

This is where we remember in prayer those friends who are not well,

and those friends who are not able to attend Church.

Audrey Avery. Christine Birchell. Doreen & Bam Moore. Iris Kaey.

Margery Vaughan, Carl. Barry, Bob, Kelly Young. Virginia. Torbay Winter

Night Shelter. Youth Genesis.

23

CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2016

ST ANDREWS CENTRAL VICTORIA PARK

Monday 1st 2.30 Women's Fellowship –

Music with Philip Kay

6.00 Brownies

6.30 Flexercise Fun

7.30 Guides

7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup

Tuesday 2nd 9.30 Midweek Prayers

9.30 Toddler Group

2.30 Sisterhood: DIY + Bring & Buy Stall

10.00 Coffee & Fellowship

10.00 Busy Bees

7.00 New Life Housegroup

7.30 Guild-Evening with

Revd Val Price

Wednesday 3rd 9.30 Toddler Group

10.00 Bible Study

10.30 Bible Study (coffee at 10.15)

2.30 Healing Group

6.30 Beavers

7.30 Ladies Club: The Banjo Boys

Thursday 4th 9.30 Central Tots

6.30 Cubs

Friday 5th 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship

11.00 Belleplates

7.00 Choir Practice

7.00 Scouts

Saturday 6th 9.30 Contact Centre

10.00 Pop in for a Coffee

6.30 ToWNS

Sunday 7th See separate page for Services-All Churches

Monday 8th 2.30 Women's Fellowship-

Rev Valerie Price, Lent

24

Monday 8th 6.00 Brownies

6.30 Flexercise Fun

7.30 Guides

Tuesday 9th 9.30 Midweek Service -

Mrs Margaret Newman

9.30 Toddler Group


10.00 Busy Bees

2.30 Sisterhood: Mrs Rita Trotman

Orphanage for Boys in Romania

7.30 Guild - John Head, Picture Quiz

Wednesday 10th 9.30 Toddler Group

10.00 Bible Study


Last day for entries Newsletter + Cornerstone

10.30 Contact Management

6.30 Ash Wednesday Service

at Furrough Cross URC

6.30 Beavers

7.30 Ladies Club: The Torbay Coastline

– David Bowen


2.30 T.G. David Elliot Chiropractise


11.00 Belleplates

6.00 Messy Church Planning Mtg

7.00 Choir Practice

7.00 Scouts


10.30 Special Coffee Morning: Church Funds

6.30 ToWNS


Last day for Cornerstone articles

Monday 15th 2.30 Women'sFellowship-Marion Farley,

Flower Arranging

25

2.30 T.G Social Studies

6.30 Flexercise Fun

7.30 Lydwell Park Housegroup

Tuesday 16th 9.30 Midweek Prayers


10.00 Busy Bees

2.30 Sisterhood: Ken Belham

Slides of Coleton Fishacre

7.00 New Life Housegroup

7.30 Guild- Michael Mann:

More Smiles Please

Wednesday 17th 10.00 Bible Study


6.30 Beavers

7.30 Quiz Evening at Central

7.30 Ladies Club: Quiz Night

Thursday 18th 6.30 Cubs


11.00 Belleplates

7.00 Choir Practice

7.00 Scouts



2.30 Sankey Tea

6.30 ToWNS

Sunday 21st See separate page for Services-All Churches

Monday 22nd 2.30 Women'sFellowship:

George Horn Leprosy Mission

6.00 Brownies

6.30 Flexercise Fun

7.30 Guides

Tuesday 23rd 9.30 Midweek Communion-

Rev Gerald Morris

9.30 Toddler Group

2.30 Sisterhood: W.I.Singers

26

Tuesday 23rd 10.00 Coffee & Fellowship

10.00 Busy Bees

7.30 Guild-50 years? “I don’t

belieeeeve it!” Clive Bastin

Wednesday 24th 9.30 Toddler Group

10.00 Bible Study


6.30 Beavers

7.30 Ladies Club: Babbacombe Ukelele

Players


2.30 T.G. Social Studies

6.30 Cubs

7.30 Moors Housegroup


11.00 Belleplates

4.00 Messy Church

7.00 Choir Practice

7.00 Scouts



6.30 ToWNS


Monday 29th 2.30 Women's Fellowship:

Forget-Me-Not Singers

6.00 Brownies

6.30 Flexercise Fun

7.30 Guides

Wages

Advert for a new minister: ‘Wages not high, but retirement

benefits out of this world.’

27

CENTRAL’S WELCOME ROTA.

DATE 10.30am 6.30pm

FEB

7 Paul & Christine Sherriff Sue Coatham & Paul Sherriff

14 Mary Fradley Celia & David Bolt

& Cynthia Arscott

21 Hye-ok Wells & Monica Lansley

Judith Holmwood & Philip Kay

28 Gerald & Joy Morris Barbara Gissinger

& Margaret Newman

CAROLS ROUND THE HOTELS.

On Christmas Eve around 20 of us went round the hotels to sing carols.

Starting at the Grand, followed by the Livermead Cliff, the Corbyn Head

and finally the Livermead House.

For some, with yet another year on from the previous outing, the evening

proved to be a little testing on the hips/knees/legs, but we persevered

and with some determination reached the last call. As usual, and with

grateful thanks for the seating provided, we were treated to mince pies

& coffee. Then many of us went straight off to Church for the Midnight

Communion!

We were well received at the hotels, and everyone entered into the spirit

of the occasion with the singing being quite remarkable! Even a bit of the

old descant kept appearing!!

When the money was counted, we had raised £406 for Action for

Children. What a splendid evening!

28

WOMENS FELLOWSHIP

Our first meeting this month will be a musical one when we welcome our

own Philip Kay. Revd Valerie Price will share her Lent thoughts with us at

our second meeting, and Marion Farley, one of our own Flower Arrangers

will demonstrate her talents on the 15

we welcome George Horn, a tireless worker over many years for the

Leprosy Mission. Ladies remember your stamps and postcards.

Sadly one of our members Jane Bale, passed away at the beginning of

January. Because of infirmity Jane hadn’t been able to attend our

meetings for some time, and we remember her family and friends at this

sad time.

Barbara Lawton

29

ST ANDREWS JUNIOR CHURCH NEWS

Happy birthday to: Benjamin Keay who celebrates his first birthday on

February and Billy Wilcox who will be 7 on 26 February.

John the Baptist came to talk to the people. He gave advice on how to

live a new life that would please God. He announced the coming of the

Messiah (someone more powerful than him). We read these passages

from Luke one Sunday in Junior Church. We found out that Jesus (the

Messiah) wants us to bring good news to others. We cannot make deaf

people hear but there are other ways we can bring good news to people.

When we use words and actions that bring happiness and help others

enjoy life, we show others how much God loves and cares for them. We

discussed ways in which we bring good news and made a good news

newspaper. The good news in our paper; three brothers making their

Mum a cup of tea every day. The headline of the paper: “I’m glad I had

Children” says Mum of 3 boys!

On the first Sunday of 2016 we celebrated Epiphany. We learnt about

the visit of the wise men to Jesus. We made pictures to illustrate this

which are displayed on the board in the hall.

The following Sunday we read the bible passages telling of Jesus’ baptism.

We talked about the different things water is used for such as washing

and flushing the toilet. One of our young members also mentioned

hydroelectric power! We discussed other bible passages that link with

the story of Jesus’ baptism such as Noah and the flood and the Creation.

We made a poster to display our ideas.

Rachel George

Woman’s Work

If a woman’s work is never done, why start?

30

A PRAYER FROM THE DISTRICT CHAIR

Revd Graham Thompson.

Lord, Wherever I go, you go.

Whatever I say, you hear.

Whatever I think, you understand.

There is nothing about me, and no place I go, that you don’t already

inhabit.

Help me to Walk faithfully,

Speak clearly,

Think lovingly,

Listen carefully,

Understand completely,

That I might be your faithful companion.

Amen.

IRENE COCHRAN

at Victoria Park

It was with regret that we learnt, at the end of 2015, Mrs Irene Cochran

had decided to end her membership at Victoria Park and return to her

previous church. We have appreciated her work at V.P. and we will miss

her very much as our Pastoral Leader.

Fortunately she has agreed to lead our Bible Study, which those who

attend appreciate very much.

We extend our best wishes.

31

REJOICE - A CHRISTIAN CHORUS would like

to thank everyone who helped make their Christmas Concert in aid of

the Special Care Baby Unit and Children's Ward at Torbay Hospital such

a success. The choir managed to raise £1,800 for two desperately

needed oxygen saturation monitors.

DO YOU LOVE TO SING? Choir starts back at 7pm on Tues-

day 19th January at Sacred Heart Church Hall in Paignton and any new

members would be made most welcome! There are no auditions and

the first session is free. For more information please contact Veronica

(Roni) Layne on 07780512745, email [email protected], Face-

book: Rejoice - A Christian Chorus or just come along on the night.

33

SHROVE TUESDAY

Pancake Day – 9th February

It’s odd, really, that confessing one’s sins to God should ever have

involved making pancakes. And yet the beginning of Lent brings us both

– Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day, and is followed by Ash Wednesday,

and so Lent begins.

In centuries gone by, the pancakes were made to use up the milk and

eggs before the fasting of Lent. More recently, many readers will have

childhood memories of the wonder of watching our mothers break an

egg, mix it with milk and flour – and out of that gooey mess, to produce

a light and delicious pancake.

These days more and more of us buy pancake mix, or even ready-made

pancakes. It seems we prefer the certainty of ending up with pancakes -

to the risk of having made nothing BUT a mess of the kitchen.

In many parishes they used to hold pancake races on the day. Why

anyone would want to run around a field while holding a pancake is not

clear, but in Olney, Bucks, they have held a pancake race almost every

year since 1445.

Giving up for Lent

At the end of the vicar’s pre-Lent sermon he suggested, as an

example to the rest of the community, that the congregation

should worship in an unheated church for the whole of Lent. As

they made their way into the chill Sunday air the vicar

addressed one member of the congregation, asking what she

had decided to give up for Lent. “Church,” she replied firmly.

34

Ladies

Notice in a church hall where a sale of second-hand clothes

was in progress: ‘Ladies may have a fit upstairs’.

35

LENT: STAY WATCHFUL – EXPECT MUCH!

“A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44)

In all history was there ever a more colourful prophet than Elijah? In

the power of God, he halted the deadly drift to Baal-worship in a single

day. Earlier he had pronounced upon the land a divine judgment of

three and a half years of drought. Now that dry period was about to

end.

1. Confidence in God’s power. Praying people need to know that they

are called and sent, no matter the set-backs. Elijah tells King Ahab,

“Rain is coming!” But the skies looked like brass. That’s real

confidence!

2. Watchfulness for God’s signals. The prophet now prays – for the

promised rain. He sends for his weather-watching aide: “How is it

looking, now?” The report comes back - “It’s a beautiful sunny day out

there!” Elijah prays on. Christian colleagues – can we do the same,

when the work – or future prospects- looks limited and unpromising?

To pray is to stay alert to what GOD may do!

3. Involvement in God’s actions. A seventh time the aide returns. The

weather? “Er, blazing sun actually…. well, except for one tiny cloud!”

But that’s enough for Elijah. “Into your chariot!” he orders Ahab, “and

ride before the rain stops you!”

The skies go black, the wind rises…. and the drought is over. See Elijah,

caught up in the excitement as he runs ahead of Ahab – on a seventeen

mile stretch to Jezreel - in the drenching, refreshing rain of God. Did he

have to do that? No, but he wanted to be involved up to the last! Read

James 5:17,18; Elijah was no super-hero. He was like any one of us.

Allow your Lent to be a time of watchful expectation!

Preb Richard Bewes

36

ALL IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY....................It was:-

400 years ago:- on 26th Feb 1616 that Galileo was ordered by the

Catholic Church to abandon his opinion that the Earth and planets

revolve around the Sun (known as the Copernican theory). He was

banned from holding the opinion, promoting it, or teaching it.

60 years ago:- on 11th Feb 1956 that two members of the Cambridge

spy ring, British diplomats Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean,

announced that they had defected to the Soviet Union. They had both

vanished in mysterious circumstances in 1951.

40 years ago:- on 11th Feb 1976 that John Curry won Britain’s first-ever

Olympic gold medal in figure skating. (It was also Britain’s first medal at

the Winter Games for 12 years.)

20 years ago:- on 1st Feb 1996 that US President Bill Clinton met Sinn

Fein President Gerry Adams at the White House to discuss the

Northern Ireland peace process.

Also 20 years ago:- on 10th Feb 1996 that the IBM supercomputer

Deep Blue defeated reigning world chess champion Garry Kasporov in

one of their six games. This was the first time a computer beat a world

champion under tournament conditions.

15 years ago:- on 19th Feb 2001 that the first case of foot-and-mouth

disease in the 2001 UK outbreak was detected at an abattoir in Essex.

On 21st Feb the European Commission banned all British milk, meat

and livestock exports.

10 years ago:- on 18th Feb 2006 that British rock band the Rolling

Stones played the world’s largest free rock concert on Copacabana

Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An estimated two million people

attended.

37

THE NEW YEAR 2016

Every New Year we start with great hopes, that Wars will cease,

There is a need for people to know the beauty of peace!

Finding the answer to live in harmony must be the aim of man

Surely! It is not impossible for humanity to achieve a peace plan,

Time for the world to realise the value of life,

Put aside past hatreds and put an end to strife.

Then, no longer will it be necessary for people to flee from their home,

Accepting the risks of mass migration, having continually to roam.

In villages, towns and cities, constant rains are causing floods every-

where,

Distressed inhabitants are saying, the scenario has become a living

nightmare

We live in hope that the extreme patterns of weather will soon end,

That the 2016 ‘Seasons’ will get back to normal and once more be our

friend.

J.H.D. Lawrence

38

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT - 29th February – 13th March

Martin Luther King famously once said: ‘Before you finish eating breakfast

in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half the world’. And eating

breakfast is just what Fairtrade Fortnight has in mind for you this year -

the campaign hopes to get as many people as possible to eat a Fairtrade

breakfast in their homes during the Fortnight.

As a spokesperson explains: “It’s a scandal that the people who grow the

food we take for granted can’t always feed their own families. We can

support farmers and workers to put food on the table for their families

by harnessing the power of a Fairtrade breakfast. When people are paid

a fairer price, they can have more control over their lives when times are

hard, and worry less about how they will feed their families.” More details

at: www.fairtrade.org

CMS TRAINS TANZANIAN CHRISTIANS

A new initiative to train and inspire evangelism has resulted in more than

100 Tanzanian Christians being trained to share the gospel, and hundreds

of people from the local community attending a two day open air mission

of prayer, healing and preaching.

Church Mission Society mission partner Christine Salaman, who works

for the Anglican Church of Tanzania, explained: “Large numbers of people

came to hear preaching and receive prayer.” Traditionally, Tanzanian

Christians have lived peacefully alongside their Muslim neighbours, but

tensions exist with some radical groups wishing to use Zanzibar as a

springboard to extremism in East Africa. However, the Anglican Church

in Tanzania [ACT] team has a vision to send out ‘missionaries’ across the

whole country and more training events are now being planned.

39

CHURCH ACTION ON POVERTY

The following is a prayer found on the

Church Action on Poverty website.

http://www.church-poverty.org.uk/

Creator God,

you made this good earth and gave us enough

that all could delight

in bread and wine, milk and honey, story and song.

As Jesus sat by lakeside and table

and shared bread,

and said that his body was broken for all,

he showed us a glimpse of your Kingdom.

Inspire us

with a vision of a society beyond the scandal of poverty

where bread is the birthright of all your children.

Give us hearts that yearn for it,

voices to call for it,

strong hands to build it together.

THE GUILD

we are having an evening with Revd Val Price (a change

to the published speaker, and on the 9 (which is Shrove Tuesday) John

Head is presenting a picture quiz. On the 16 Michael Mann will give a

talk entitled “More Smiles Please” (this also is a change to the published

speaker). Finally, on the 23 Clive Bastin will be with us for “50 years?

I Don’t Belieeeve it!”

Enia Dunn

40

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!

The Beatles’ song ‘All you need is love’ is very fitting in this month, as

we mark St Valentines’ Day. If love is all we need, what does real love

look like?

Paul describes it like this: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,

it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not

self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love

does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.’ (1

Corinthians 13: 4-8).

Love is unconditional:

The agenda of one bride on her wedding day was ‘aisle-altar-hymn’

(think about it!). Entering into love on the basis of changing the other

person is dangerous! Paul talks about loving unconditionally, rooted in

our experience of God’s love through Christ for us: ‘We love, because

he first loved us.’ (1 John 4:19).

Love is forgiving: According to the film Love Story, ‘Love means never

having to say you’re sorry.’ This is rarely true in our experience!

According to Paul, love is saying you are sorry and hearing that you are

forgiven. Love ‘keeps no record of wrongs’ (5). We can only forgive as

God forgives us, and who does so from the arms of Jesus stretched

wide in love on the Cross.

Love is sacrificial: Paul describes love as not selfish or self-seeking, but

selfless and self-sacrificial. It is a love that puts the needs of the other

person first. Take the words from 1 Corinthians and instead of the

word love, substitute your own name. Now substitute the word Jesus.

This is the Jesus who is available to you to make your love for others

grow that will bring true Valentines’ joy!

41

CROSS WORD SOLUTION FROM JAN/FEB CORNERSTONE

THE NEW MINISTER

The new minister was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At

one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no

answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Finally he took

out a card, wrote ‘Revelation 3:20’ on the back and stuck it in the

door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found

that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic

message, ‘Genesis 3:10’.

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in

gales of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was

afraid for I was naked."

42

SAINT OF THE MONTH - BRIGID OF IRELAND (1 )

compassion & love

Brigid, you could say, was the female Patrick of Ireland.

Historical facts about this first abbess of Kildare (d.c. 525) may be scarce,

but her ‘Lives’, written from the 7th century, tell many anecdotes and

miracles which over the centuries have become deeply rooted in Irish

folklore. Brigid came from a village near Kildare, of parents of humble

origin, and is said to have been baptised by Patrick and become a nun at

an early age. She is credited with founding the monastery of Kildare, a

powerful influence for Christianity in Ireland.

The miracles attributed to Brigid show her to have been a woman of great

compassion and generosity. There are stories of how she could multiply

food, especially butter, for the poor. Other stories tell of her changing

her bath-water to beer, in order to satisfy the thirst of unexpected

visitors. Even her cows gave milk three times the same day, to enable

visiting bishops to have enough to drink.

Brigid’s cult grew rapidly in Ireland,

where it became second only to that of

Patrick. In England, there were at least

nineteen ancient church dedications in

her honour (the most famous is St

Bride’s Fleet Street). There is also St

Bride’s Bay, Dyfed, which underlines the

strong connection between Irish and

Welsh Christianity. St Brigid is patron of

poets, blacksmiths, and healers. She is

usually depicted with a cow lying at her

feet, which recalls her phase as a nun-

cowgirl.

43

REV GERALD BOWERMAN

URC Minister at Central 1984 - 1995

Gerald Bowerman died recently at his home in Leeds, doing what he

loved to do - watching football on T.V. He had been having heart

problems recently but still took a keen interest in church and youth

work.

He and Ann –his Wife – had three children, Steve, Judy and James.

There were a number of grandchildren for Gerald to spoil. He came to

Torquay from the North of England District, relying on memory, the

Church was in Darlington.

He was the second URC Minister to be appointed to Central. A quiet

modest man, his Manse was always open to his flock; a good listener, he

tried to please all his congregation, which in those days numbered

around the 400 mark: a mammoth and almost an impossible task !!

During his tenure at Central he was often persuaded to take part in the

Church Pantomimes. He was one of the instigators in the setting up of

the Leonard Stocks Centre (Factory Row) which was supported by the

local town churches. He joined the local Rotarians and helped in as many

ways as he was able. He organized and led a trip to the Holy Land, and I

believe also one to Egypt.

He was a keen football fan supporting Middlesbrough and Darlington

and later Torquay United. He enjoyed watching Cricket especially when

his grandchildren were able to accompany him. Gerald was very proud

of his grandchildren’s prowess at their various sporting activities.

After eleven years at Central, Gerald received a call to take up a Ministry

in Camberly from where he retired to the I.O.W. and then to the South

of France where he also with the help of Ann, took a few services. This

quiet, concerning and caring man was fighting to help his neighbours

right to the end.

44

CROSSWORD

Clues Opposite

45

Crossword Cluess

Across

1 Success or wealth (Deuteronomy 28:11) (10)

7 Forbidden fruit for Nazirites (Numbers 6:3) (7)

8 Concede (Job 27:5) (5)

10 Look at (Psalm 48:13) (4)

11 Much in evidence after weddings (8)

13 Condense (Job 36:27) (6)

15 Breakwater (6)

17 Give a tan (anag.) (8)

18 More usually now called Pentecost, — Sunday (4)

21 After living for 365 years, it was said of him that ‘he walked with

God’ (Genesis 5:23–24) (5)

22 Trampled (Judges 9:27) (7)

23 For example, Miriam, Deborah (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4) (10)

Down

1 Arrogance (Proverbs 8:13) (5)

2 Roman poet from first century BC (4)

3 So rapt (anag.) (6)

4 Declare again (2 Corinthians 2:8) (8)

5 Paul’s ‘fellow worker’, to whom he sent two epistles (Romans 16:21)

(7)

6 God’s foreseeing care and protection (Job 10:12) (10)

9 Traditional form of Roman Catholic Mass (10)

12 ‘The Lord... has given the — of Israel to David and his descendants

for ever’ (2 Chronicles 13:5) (8)

14 ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my — ’

(Luke 1:46–47) (7)

16 The central element in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, identified and

interpreted by Daniel (Daniel 2:31) (6)

19 ‘On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of — will not

overcome it’ (Matthew 16:18) (5)

20 City where Paul was under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:16)

(4)

47

NATIONAL NESTBOX WEEK

14th – 21st February

With less and less trees and undergrowth, but more pollution and

people around, birds can struggle to survive these days.

National Nestbox Week aims to encourage you to put up

nest boxes in your local area, in order to promote and

enhance biodiversity and conservation of our

breeding birds and wildlife. After more than 15 years

it has become a well-established part of the

ornithological calendar. More details

at: www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw

feb 16 for web

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