FULWOOD METHODIST CHURCH Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8EA

Tel. Preston (01772) 718741

SUNDAY SERVICES

9.45 am SINGING PRACTICE 10.30 am MORNING WORSHIP & SUNDAY CLUB

We offer a welcome to all ages on Sunday mornings, there is a CRÈCHE for babiesand toddlers while parents are in worship. The first 15 minutes of worship are forall ages and then on most Sundays the children leave for their own time inSUNDAY CLUB, where there are groups for different ages. Parents can go outwith the younger ones to see them settle, and then come back into church forworship. Sunday Club and worship finish at the same time and an invitation isextended to everyone to stay and share in fellowship in the Willow Grove, wheretea, coffee and orange juice are served.

The CHURCH MINIBUS provides free transport to and from Church on Sundaymornings. The timetable and route information are available at Church. Should youwish to make use of it please complete one of the request cards in Willow Grove.

6.30 p.m. EVENING WORSHIP usually on 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month atFulwood URC, Symonds Road, and at FMC on others. (See weekly notices for details)

HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated monthly (morning and evening) and once amonth there is ALL-AGE WORSHIP involving children from the youth groups. For MARRIAGES AND BAPTISMS contact Revd. Malcolm Hickox.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *If you need any help, or have any concerns, please contact

Revd. Malcolm Hickox, Deacon Yasha Mashoko or Mrs. Sue Penrith.

or contact .................................................................... Tel.............................

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Revd. Malcolm Hickox

malcolm@hickox.fsnet.co.ukTel. 01772 715134

Deacon Yasha Mashoko

yasha_rue@hotmail.comTel. 01772 720184

EDITORIAL

“I love deadlines: I especially like the ‘whooshing’ sound they make as theygo flying by!” Yes, well.....we’re sorry that the copy date for this issue had to bebrought forward, and at such short notice. However, folks’ holiday datesintervened and it was the only solution. Please accept our sincere apologies. Thenew date was however the same as last year.

Very many thanks to all those who managed to send material in by the newdeadline.

The copy date for our next (Autumn) issue will be Sunday, 23rd August,2015, and material in advance of that would be very welcome. (N.B. Articles maybe subject to editing.)

Roy Smith (Editor)* * * * * * * * * *

FULWOOD STEWARDSCHURCH

Margaret Squire Tel. 01772 715862margaretsquire@yahoo.co.uk (1st contact Steward) Anne Garsed Tel. 01772 717316fairpreston@gmail.comStephen Grice Tel. 01995 602622sjgrice@talktak.netAmanda Latham Tel. 01772 727813mandy@fivelathams.comLibby Stone Tel. 01772 774818 libbystone12@aol.co.uk

COMMUNIONPauline Kirkham (Senior Steward) Arnold Barker, Lesley Birkett

John Butterworth, Jacqueline Clarke, Audrey HarrisonGraham Johnson, Pam Johnson, Melba Southwood

Pastoral Secretary:Sue Penrith (862273) email: suepenrith@virginmedia.com

* * * * * * * * * *EDITORIAL TEAM

EDITOR Roy Smith 7 Southgate, Fulwood Preston PR2 3HX (716772) Assisted by Barbara Hothersall (716203)

Libby Stone (774818) Computer layout John Butterworth (774024)

e-mail fmcmagazine@yahoo.co.uk

If you need a spare copy, please pick one up from Willow Grove.

This magazine is also available in large print version and on theinternet at www.fulwoodmethodist.org.uk and click the OnlineMagazine tab on the 2nd page. If you have a smartphone, scan theQR-code alongside to access the site.

Copies going back to Harvest 2001 are available!

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PASTORAL LETTERfrom Revd. Malcolm Hickox

Dear Friends,

In one of our archive boxes at home I have my school reports and they makefor some interesting reading, although perhaps not as fascinating as one report forthe motor cycle legend Barry Sheen, which read, “Barry should realise that theworld does not revolve around motor bikes and thinking it does will not earn hima living.” If that teacher got it wrong, then Jeremy Paxman’s was perhaps not sofar off the mark with its comment, ‘His flying off the handle will only mar hisefforts and he must learn tact while not losing his outspokenness’. Oscar-winningfilm producer Lord Puttnam, has said that his final school report made a lastingimpression on him, with the comment, ‘After six years in this school this boyremains a total enigma’. Having no idea what enigma meant and being equallysure that his mum wouldn’t, Lord Puttnam stopped off at the library on the wayhome to look it up. He decided that it meant ‘interesting’ and told his mother so.Years later, he named his production company ‘Enigma Productions’ and the restas they say is history!

I cannot claim any comparable revelations from my reports, but there wasone comment about my hand writing, which reminds me how much time we had tospend practising our script with fountain pens. I don’t know what my teacherwould have made of children’s hand writing today, but before I turn into a grumpyold man complaining about the demise of ‘proper joined-up writing’ I want toreflect on whether or not we have ‘proper joined-up theology’! Or to put it anotherway, do we hold together what we believe in a way that makes sense not just toourselves, but to others to whom we are called to witness? And do we attempt torelate what we believe to the issues we face in our everyday lives and to our lifestyles? Hence the question, do we possess a ‘joined-up’ faith?

We celebrate Good Friday not as a memorial service for Jesus, but as aproclamation of the nature of God’s love and forgiveness, which we are called toembrace in our lives. In the same way to say, ‘Christ is risen!’ is to take into ourvery being the resurrection life which proclaims, ‘Behold I am making all thingsnew’. To live with a ‘joined-up faith’ means not just reciting the truths about theseevents, but living with the reality that their energy can break out in our lives andinto our world and transform everything.

We’ve recently celebrated Pentecost and heard how a group of frightenedand confused disciples were transformed by the power of God’s Spirit. The Actsof the Apostles has to use picture language to convey the extraordinary impact ofthat first Pentecost and the danger of getting too absorbed in the detail is that we

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can become distracted from the message by wondering how it all took place.Alternatively, we can assume that it was a once and for all event rather than justthe start of God’s new activity. Perhaps it would have been better to call the book‘The Acts of God through the Apostles’, emphasising that what took place was as aresult of God empowering ordinary human beings rather than as a result of thework of a sort of elite, super talented group of Apostles. The implication is that ifGod can work through that rather odd collection of disciples with all their frailties,then why should God not also be able to work through us?

Several years ago, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund, as it wasthen known, now ‘All We Can’, used the theme ‘Small Miracles’ and suggestedthat real change often comes from a series of smallactions rather than one great event. An example of‘joined-up’ faith - seeing the link between one thing andanother and the power of God’s Spirit at work. Back inMay we celebrated the 70th Anniversary of Christian Aidand once again a small group from the church gave theirtime to the house-to-house collection. You could say that what was collected inour area was a drop in the ocean, but over the whole country the week regularlyraises more than £12m. The campaign to end the slave trade began in 1787 and by1791 more than 300,000 Britons were boycotting West Indian sugar, produced byslave labour. Just like the Fair Trade movement of today: personal action whichbrought positive change.

I recently heard of a minister who asks people to make a commitment totaking on a job in the church when they come into membership. It doesn’t have tobe something major like being a Church Steward, it could just be a commitment topray regularly for the work of the church. Can I invite you as you read thismagazine to consider if there is a role that you might take on within the life of thechurch. We certainly need some Church Stewards, but there are many otherpositions we need to fill. Most of us are relieved that the days of our end of yearschool reports are long gone. As a church we have just produced an annual reporton our activities for the last year, ready for our General Church Meeting on 14th

June. I wonder how you would feel about an annual report on your activities as aChristian disciple? Would it show that you are living out your faith?

Every blessing,

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FAMILY NEWS

Baptisms

29th March Edward Matthew Gaunt

3rd May Franky Max Benn Flood

7th June Darcey Rose Lawton

Marriages

24th May Kath Williams and Nick Penrith

We send our warmest congratulations to Nick and Kath whowere married in church on Pentecost Sunday.

Deaths

19th May Charles Wisbey.

We send our love and prayers to Sue Wisbey and toall her family on the death of her father, Charles, andto others amongst us who are mourning the loss ofloved ones.

Sickness and Bereavement

In the last few months a number of our church family have been unwell,several have been in hospital for treatment or for various surgical procedures, andothers have faced serious difficulties. Several others have experiencedbereavement with the death of a relative or close friend. We assure them all of ourlove and prayers.

If you have a person for whom you would like us to pray, there is anopportunity on a Wednesday morning at the communion service or their name canbe circulated around our prayer chain – information to Judith Harvey 01772787500 or e-mail: judith.harvey44@sky.com. There is also a prayer book on thetable in the prayer corner of the church for anyone to write in their prayer requests.These prayers are then used on a Wednesday morning. If you mention someone’sname, please make sure you have their permission.

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SPECIAL SUMMER SERVICES

Sunday 12th July

‘At the Sea’Come and join us for an afternoon

at the coast,

with a short informal

act of worship on the beach.

Full details and location

to follow in the church notices

4.00 p.m. Sunday 2nd August

Summer CelebrationShort informal act of worship

followed by a ‘bring & share’ tea.

Transport available for those who need it.

Requests to Malcolm Hickox or Sue Penrith

4.00 p.m. Sunday 30th August

‘In the Garden’Bring a picnic,

enjoy the garden and share

in some informal worship

at Slaters Barn

Whittingham Lane, Goosnargh

For more details of all these special

services see the Sunday Notice Shee ts

nearer the time

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HARVEST BEFORE HARVESTRemember our Young People

The words of Jesus, “The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few”, oftenrings in my mind as I stand in the middle of the Willow Grove on a Fridayevening, casting my eyes across the four corners of the room. In one corner I see aten year old girl helping her little eight year old brother choose a book and drop afew coins in the money box. In another corner are agroup of friends playing table football, showingkeen concentration, so as not to allow the ball topass their little footballer figures. In the third cornera few youngsters congregate around the drinksstand, quenching their thirst from all their activities;and in another corner still, a group of the quieterones sit around tables and play dominoes and otherboard games with a couple of the leaders.Everywhere in the middle, is a young person making their way to something. Thesound of victorious cheers from the football and dodge ball games, echo across thehall every few minutes, and a general buzzing of activity fills the space, leaving noroom for silence. This is our Friday Night Youth Club!

In this day and age where many churches despair at their lack of contact withyoung people, we face the challenge of finding ways to cope with the numbers ofchildren that walk through our doors every Friday evening during term time. Aproblem most welcomed and should in fact, be celebrated! Between the twogroups, ‘Escape’, which is for the juniors (Y3 to Y6), and ‘Youth Club’ for theseniors (Y7+), we are in regular contact with about 150 young people and thisnumber is rapidly increasing. With the lack of other provision for youth in ourcommunities, the need is greater, which makes the work we do the more vital.

As the team of Youth Club Leaders, we feel that the purpose of ‘Escape’ and‘Youth Club’ is primarily to make connections with the young people in oursurrounding community; forming positive relationships through conversation andgiving our time, and showing our love and concern for the children. The activitiesorganised for both groups are shaped by this vision. We are privileged to have thespace we need to accommodate a large group of people, although most recently wehave had to suspend registration and create a waiting list because we have reachedour capacity. However, with the space, a variety of resources and a committedteam of volunteers, we have been able to provide activities the young peopleenjoy. Keeping an eye on our vision, we continue to reflect on ways we canimprove on what we offer and pray for the Spirit to guide us as we take part in themission of the Church.

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Such a vibrant part of the life of the church isnot to be kept secret. I share this in our magazineso that we, as a church, can celebrate togetherand support each other in prayer and in action.Although we do have a committed group ofvolunteers, we are stretched and we are in needof more support. We call on those of you whofeel able to offer a bit of time on a Fridayevening during term time, to be an extra pair ofeyes and hands. Even an occasional Friday wouldbe much appreciated. We call on those who feelthey have a skill they are able to offer to a groupof youngsters. It can be to do a craft or paint theirnails, or any other simple activity that can bedone as a one-off or occasionally. We call on allof you, who feel that we can invest in the youthof our community.

“The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few!”Yasha

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Our new Church Project is‘Embrace the Middle East’

a charity working across the Middle East

The following is how they describe their work:

Mission We aim to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the MiddleEast. We do this by partnering with local Christians who provide health, educationand community development programmes to those in need - regardless of theirfaith or nationality. ‘Embrace the Middle East’ is a non-governmental,inter-denominational charity.

Our history‘Embrace the Middle East’ is a Christian charity, which was set up in 1854. In our160 years of existence we have worked in many countries in the Near and MiddleEast, including Turkey, Syria, Egypt, the Balkans, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine andCyprus. Currently Embrace supports projects in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Egyptand Syria, where we have been supporting the work of local church leaders to bringfood to internally displaced persons.

In 2012 we changed our name from ‘The Bible Lands Society’ to ‘Embrace the Middle East’ We chose ‘Embrace the Middle East’ because it described where we worked andwe felt it reflected our Christian calling to welcome the stranger, feed the hungryand help the homeless (Matthew 25). We also felt that ‘embrace’ was a veryBiblical concept, one that invoked the inclusiveness that goes to the very heart ofthe Gospel. One paraphrase translation of Jesus’ comments in Mark 9:37reads: “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and farmore than me - God who sent me.” The cross at the centre of our new logoemphasised our confidence as a Christian charity.

Research showed that our previous name conjured up an old-fashioned image andled people to believe that we distributed Bibles or were an overtly evangelisticcharity. Indeed, we were often confused with the Bible Society. While all of us atEmbrace believe in the importance of the word of God and its dissemination,distribution of Bibles is not part of our charitable purpose, and therefore notsomething we do. Although many supporters were very attached to Bible Lands,they saw a name change did not reflect a change in our work, and that our ministryof Christian care and compassion in the lands of the Bible would continue -stronger than ever.

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THE CHURCH IN SOCIETYSome thoughts following the General Election.

My birthday is 8 May, but this year the country seemed more taken aback by theoutcome of the general election than the fact I had survived for another twelvemonths. And perhaps with some justification, for in spite of all the predictions thepeople had decisively shown their hand. How long their commitment will last willneed to be seen, but there is no denying that the government is moving swiftly toimplement the mandate it has been given.

This article tries to avoid commenting upon the outcome, either in pleasure orwith concern, but rather reflects upon two events I have recently attended where theGeneral Election provided the context. Both were ecumenical events with anemphasis on social justice. The firstwas led by Professor Chris Baker (TheUniversity of Chester and The WilliamTemple Foundation), and the secondby Lord Maurice Glasman (a Labourpeer with a strong interest andbackground in social cohesion andjustice) and Revd. Paul Hackwood(Church Urban Fund). The changingnature of the Welfare State, growinginequality in western countries,especially our own, and what options might arise following the election for theChurch in general and Christians in particular, were the focus of these discussions.

In these individuals and others, at the present time we have some outstandingpeople helping Church leaders to understand what is happening in our society. Thereis a growing appreciation of the importance of what social scientists can tell us aboutour communities and our economy amongst the leaders of the churches. That is notto say that the Church knows little – indeed, in practical terms both now and in thepast, the churches have been at the forefront of social justice thinking, advocacy andaction. Arguably, and to a greater and lesser extent, much of our education, healthand social care services have their roots in Christian service. However sometimes itneeds people outside the box or outside the moment to help us understand what ishappening. When we allow them to share their thoughts with us then progress mightbe made.

Of course, education, health, social care, community involvement and politicsare all ways in which Christians show their love for God and their neighbour, butmany of us now are less sure of how we should respond in an effective way in theplaces in which we find ourselves. For example, we see increasing need as thepolicies of austerity bite. We have fears for the well-being of our families and indeedourselves. We discern ever-increasing complexity and an inter-relationship of theneeds we encounter in individuals and communities. We hear strident voices tellingus that austerity is the road to prosperity and that we need to distinguish between thedeserving poor and the rest. Yet we see and read about ever-increasing inequality andlittle or no evidence that prosperity for some leads to wider wellbeing. We are drawn

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between serving our neighbours, here and in other countries, or raising thedrawbridges to protect our country, our towns and neighbourhoods, our homes andeven our churches. Yes, we are confused!

And yet we must be confident and even enervated. For if we are not, (we whohave the gospel to proclaim) who is there to raise the hope of our communities? Sowhat are some of the characteristics of our society that we might discern in the lightof the General Election result? Well, we might want to consider these:

- We have as a society become less trustful of the state – the state has forgotten howto treat us as human beings. We are involved in transactions, we are consumersof services and no longer people, individuals, with needs of our own.

- Partly as a result, a belief in the power of transformative relationships hasdisappeared. We are at the mercy of forces we cannot understand or even locate.

- We have forgotten the power which resides in people and groups – for exampleeven the Church has forgotten the power it has to confront collectively andindividually the power of drugs, alcohol, gambling and other destructive forces.

- As a society, or as individuals within it, we long for attractive places where we cangather and reclaim our identity in ways and at times which are relevant to ourcurrent needs and not just to satisfy our traditions.

- We have replaced love, patience and faithfulness with new concepts of welfare,equality and inclusivity.

- We have created two new idols – the state and capitalism – and allowed both todrift out of our control.

There may be others you can identify but I want to suggest four principles whichshould be amongst those which guide our Christian discipleship in the current age.There may be others, I make no claim to exclusivity.

1. We should be open to all for business and increasingly so. People should bewelcome, comfortable and encouraged when they visit or meet us.

2. We should recognise everyone’s need for dignity and identity. All we do shouldbe for them and not for us.

3. We should be generous. The amazing generosity which led to theredevelopment of our buildings is just the start. We have been richly blessed –let us share those blessings with others.

4. We should be confident in action, thought and prayer. The gospel we have beencharged to share is the gospel which overrides all political creeds andprincipalities. We express it in different ways and at different times but therecan be no greater prosperity than helping others to live their lives abundantly.

The Church is an amazing institution. Arguably it is the one institution in thewest which has best resisted globalisation and the power of the state. The challenge isours – don’t let love fail.

Ken Wales

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THIS BIBLE TRAVELLED - POSTSCRIPT

Before the recent article about my late father’s Bible and its wartime travelswith George Seck was published in the Easter magazine, and when I was at a verylow ebb emotionally, I received out of the blue an e-mail from a complete stranger.

It read, “I am the grand daughter of George Seck, are you the Len Fletcherwho wrote the article in the Fulwood magazine?”

It used to be that if one used Google to search for George Seck on the internet,up would come articles about his evangelical work in Canada.

Now if one does that, there are screen shots of the illustrations from the articleabout the Bible. They link to the Fulwood church website and the full article fromwhen it was first in our magazine in 2006.

It seems that this lady had used Google to see the link to the article and thensearched again for ‘Len Fletcher’ and ‘Fulwood Methodist Church’, from whichshe found a link to an event booking form with my e-mail as the contact.

A wonderful ‘Godincidence’ at a time when I needed a morale boost!She and I are now exchanging e-mails and I hope shortly to be sent a

photograph of her grandfather to complete my collection of the story of the Bibleand its journey from Blackburn to the army, on to North Africa, then Poland andfinally back to me in Blackburn!

Len FletcherSee also page 17 for a response from Enid Singleton.

NOT ONLY - BUT ALSO......

“You have a page on your website that refers to a visit to graves of theSomme and especially that of Brandon Platt at the Sucerie, which also mentionsmy grandfather Tom Hilditch. The information came from a lady called ElaineRidout. I would love to chat to her about this. Would it be possible for you toforward this message? Thank you, Diane”

Sent to our magazine website emailThis was then forwarded to Elaine who has been in contact with Diane, the detailsof which are on page 16.

* * * * * * * * * * * *No grumbling, no sulking, no feuding, no fighting – but looking and looking for things to delight in.No hating the state of the world every minute – but seeking and finding the beauty that’s in it.No worrying and letting your troubles confound you – but laughing and liking the people around you.

from the 1997 Friendship Book

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TOM HILDITCH

In autumn last year I wrote a short article, as part of the WW1 centenarycommemorations, about David’s ancestor Brandon Platt, who was hisgrandfather’s cousin.

Brandon was killed on the Somme in July 1916 and was buried in SucrerieCemetery near Albert. David had visited the grave during one of his visits toBelgium. In my article I included part of a letter sent to Brandon’s mother by hisbest friend Tom Hilditch, who was with Brandon when he died.

A few weeks ago John Butterworth received an email from a lady calledDiane, who was Tom Hilditch’s granddaughter. She was seeking informationabout Brandon’s family. I sent her a copy of David’s research and she was able totell me more about Tom.

Apparently the families had been very close friends, and the boys best friendsfor many years, and Tom continued this family friendship throughout his life.

I was very interested to find out what had happened to him. He survived thewar, but was invalided back home on three occasions; once with a bullet wound,once with a shrapnel wound and once with trench fever. He served on the Sommeat Arras and at Passchendaele. Diane said he never did recover from hisexperiences and would often wake up during the night with nightmares. He hadbecome engaged to her grandmother Florence in 1913 and they finally married in1922. Florence died in 1969 and Tom died sometime after that (she didn’t saywhen).

Diane’s father, Geoffrey, was their only child: hewas very interested in trains and trams and wrote booksabout them. He also wrote his autobiography and on thefirst page he relates how his father Tom and Brandonenlisted. They walked from Denshaw, near Oldham, toHalifax some 14 miles away across the Pennines, toenlist in the West Yorkshire Regt. After their medical,which took place in a draughty tram shed, in midwinter, with snow on the ground,they walked all the way back to Denshaw! It seems to me that this was a foretasteof things they were to experience later.

I was very grateful for Diane’s information, as both David and I had oftenwondered what had happened to Tom and it was good to hear that he had survivedand lived to a good age.

It was John’s idea that maybe I could write a short article for this magazine. Itis fascinating to me that someone ‘surfing the web’ should come across FMC’smagazine and inadvertently find some family history they have been searching for.

Elaine Ridout

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MORE ABOUT THE LOST BIBLE

I was interested to read in the Easter church magazine Len Fletcher’s accountconcerning how his father’s Bible was found in Poland and returned to Len’sfamily by George Seck, when he was based at the refugee transit camp at Inskip in1948.

In the late 1940s I joined a branch of Christian Endeavour in Preston called‘Comradeship’. It was an international organisation and itsaims and objectives were to break down the barriers thatcause wars between people of all nations, and to recognisethat all human beings are equal, indivisible alike by class,creed or colour.

When I read about the refugee transit camp at Inskip itsparked a memory for me because our Comradeship groupwas asked to visit the camp every Tuesday evening to offerthe refugees (who were displaced persons as a result of theSecond World War) the right hand of friendship, and to helprelieve the monotony and boredom. They were placed in thecamp waiting to be rehabilitated, to be found jobs and housing. It was very remotefor them in Inskip, far from their native roots in Germany, Austria and EasternEurope.

We travelled on the Ribble bus service, arriving at 7 pm and takinghomemade sandwiches and cakes to offer them for supper. We played games withthem and had an interpreter on hand to explain the rules. I may have met GeorgeSeck at the camp, but that I am unable to recall.

As members of Preston Comradeship we welcomed groups from all overEurope on exchange visits. Just before I went to Teacher Training College in thesummer of 1953 we welcomed a group from Bielefeld in Germany. Some of usreturned with them by train, to stay in Bielefeld for two weeks. It was my firstholiday abroad.

Enid Singleton* * * * * * * * * * * *

A Sunday School teacher was observing her children while they were drawingpictures. She asked one girl, who was working earnestly, what the drawing was.“I’m drawing God,” she replied. The teacher paused and said, “But no one knowswhat God looks like.” Without looking up from her drawing the girl replied, “No,but they will in a minute!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *Railways and the Church have their critics, but both are the best ways of getting a manto his ultimate destination. (Revd. W Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine)

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LEST WE EVER FORGET

Why do you still march, old manWith medals on your chest?Why do you grieve, old man

For those friends you laid to rest?Why do your eyes gleam, old manWhen you hear those bugles blow?

Tell me why you cry, old manAbout those days so long ago?

I’ll tell you why I marchWith medals on my chest.

I’ll tell you why I grieve young manFor those I laid to rest

Through misty fields of gossamer silkCome visions of distant times.

When boys of tender ageLost lives, and mothers pined.

We buried them in blanket shroudTheir young flesh scorched and blackened.

A communal grave, newly gougedIn blood stained gorse and bracken.

You ask me why I march, young manI march to remind you all.

That but for those apple blossom youthsYou would never have known freedom at all.

Unknown* * * * * * * * * * * *

THE WAR TO END ALL WARS

Author of Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkein served in the Lancashire Fusiliersduring WWI.

A book with a difference:- What Tommy Took To War, 1914-1918 by Peter Doyle& Chris Foster (Shire Books £6-99 ISBN 9780-74781-4030)

Did you notice that the six Victoria Crosses, won by the Lancashire Fusiliers‘before breakfast’ at the opening of the Gallipoli campaign, were brought togetherfor the very first time for an exhibition earlier this year in Bury.

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39th PRESTON BROWNIES

Our Brownies have been very active since our Centenary year finished lastAutumn. We completed 25 boxes for OperationChristmas Child and collected a record number ofprizes for the tombola stall at the Christmas Fair(which we shared with Rainbows). We also had avisit from Roy Smith who taught the girls some folkdances, testing their listening skills as well as theirco-ordination!

Spring saw the girls learning how to drawcartoons (thanks to one of our parents) as part of the

Artist Badge. A number of girls plus 3 leadersattended a County Thinking Day event at AshtonCommunity College where there were a number ofactivities based on different cultures, so they camehome laden with items they had made.

We decided to leave the church premises forvoters on 7th May and went to MFA Bowling onGreenbank Street. 29 girls attended with 6 leaders(who managed to knock at least some of the pins

down most of the time). 16th May saw a Sleepover with a difference. One of the leaders from 16th

Blackpool Brownies has been helping us at Sleepovers and Pack Holidays for the lastfew years and Snowy Owl and Wise Owl agreed to take the Blackpool Brownies on ajoint sleepover with our younger girls, plus a couple of older girls who could helpthem (and Olivia, our Young Leader). Our themewas Disney – the crafts were Disney based and sowere the meals to some extent. We stayed in theBarn at Guy’s Farm Activity Centre and evenmanaged to get about 6 hours sleep! The girlsenjoyed it so much that they are all coming on ourPack Holiday to Waddecar in July. All our leaderswill be there, plus our friend from Blackpool.

We have 29 Brownies (aged 7 – 10 years),rising to our maximum of 30 at the end of May,with 4 leaders and 2 young leaders. If anyone has a daughter who wants a place atBrownies, but hasn’t been a Rainbow, please give us at least a year’s notice as wehave a long waiting list, particularly as we automatically reserve a place for everyRainbow (they too are full) and we rarely have any extra places available. TheRainbows have asked us to request that parents of girls aged 31/2 years, who want aplace at Rainbows, get their names on the list as they too have a long waiting list anddo not want to miss any of our church members.

Diane Bird19

SABBATICAL EXPERIENCES IN NEW ZEALAND

Our visit to New Zealand was something we’d both been looking forward to fora long time. It was back in 1986 that Christine’s brother, Peter, left Britain for NewZealand with his wife and daughter of a few monthsand since then we had only seen him twice, onceover here for a very brief visit and then when wetravelled to see him in 2001. So the scene was set fora major family reunion, with time to meet Peter’sdaughter-in-law and two grand-children for the firsttime, and also the partners of two of his olderchildren, who both got engaged on Christmas Day!The journey ‘down under’ is the longest that can bedone without starting to come back, and leaving Manchester on December 31st wecelebrated New Year with a Singapore Sling somewhere over India.

The winter in Preston was soon forgotten as we sat having coffee in the blazingsun on January 2nd with Trevor and CathieHoggard in their back yard in Auckland.Also there, were Cathie’s mum and sister,Liz and Sheila Huddleston, known to anumber of folk at Fulwood, who were overfor a visit. Trevor and Malcolm’s paths hadcrossed previously, as is inevitable inministry, but Trevor is now serving with theNew Zealand Methodist Church, where he’sresponsible for co-ordinating the English

speaking work. Malcolm was able to draw on Trevor’s wide experience when wespent two days with him at the end of ourvisit. New Zealand Methodism is facing manyof the same issues as we are, but it was goodto learn from their responses as we travelledaround. In particular, we saw someecumenical activity, city centre work, Fijian,Samoan and Tongan congregations and theirnew approach with young people.

The other significant event of our visitwas a reunion with our son Richard and hisgirlfriend Pippa as we began our travels. Richard had left Preston two yearspreviously, for six weeks in New Zealand and then almost two years working andtravelling in Australia, so we had much to share. Hiring a car, we covered hundreds of

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kilometres on both North and South Islands,finding hidden surprises along the way.From waterfalls, dams, rocks with amazingformations, animals and birds, to people whowere so welcoming and helpful, there wasnever a dull moment! We had theopportunity to canoe across a lake, bathe innatural hot-pools, fish in the sea, take agondola to see fantastic views overQueenstown and ride down the hill on aluge, watch groups of seals playing on the water’s edge, suffer the effects of the sea

but see a rare Hector dolphin swimming next to our boat,and see spectacular views in much of the country.

We also experienced some contrasting aspects ofchurch life, on one occasion finding ourselvesworshipping in what had been the front room of a house,lowering the average age, but being treated to cake andcoffee afterwards. Whilst the weather was warm, therewere some reminders of British summers when we had topicnic in the car because of the rain. Our friends andfamily were very generous with their hospitality as wespent half our time staying with them and the rest in youthhostels and backpackers’ lodges. We discovered travellersof all ages and from many different backgrounds in whatis becoming a truly international country.

New Zealand is a young nation and is only just acknowledging its Maoriheritage. It’s also a fragile country as theearthquake in Christchurch demonstrated, andas can be seen from the geothermal activityacross the islands. Part of its youthfulness is inthe appetite for change and we certainlyexperienced this. None of this would havebeen possible for us to experience without thegift of a sabbatical and for that we areenormously grateful. Our appreciation alsogoes to the Church Stewards who took on more responsibility in our absence and tothe rest of the Circuit Staff who provided pastoral cover and led many of the serviceson Sundays and midweek.

Malcolm & Christine Hickox

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KILOMETRES FOR KENYASponsored walk for Christian Aid

This year, to support the project in Kenya - which the Preston Christian Aidgroup has signed up to support - to provide better maternity and child healthfacilities, we are holding a virtual sponsored walk. Have a look at the website -www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/communitypartnership/kenya.aspx

We are looking for as many volunteers as possible to take part to help us raisemoney towards our target of £5,000. You may ask what a virtual walk is? Theanswer is one that you do in your own time and at your own pace, whileundertaking your daily activities over a period of a month.This could be walking the dog, playing golf, walking upstairsat work instead of using the lift, or any other activities youare doing. It could also be running, swimming or cycling.You will record each day exactly how far you have gonetowards your individual target for the month and ask friendsand family to sponsor you for the distance you cover. You might for examplepledge to walk the 60 kms that represents the distance from one end to the other ofthe area that nurse Monica Asikuku covers visiting clinics and training traditionalbirth attendants, or you may prefer a lesser distance such as the 15 kms bothGladys and Doreen walked just to get to the clinic, or 30 kms to represent theround trip they made. Whatever distance you choose, and however much you raisedoing it, you will be showing your solidarity with, and support for, these womenand the money you raise will help fund improved clinics, motorbikes for Monicaand her colleagues to get around their area, and ambulances to bring emergencycases to hospital, even at night when it isn’t safe to walk.

For an information pack and to sign up contact Anne Garsed (07813 870641).To measure your activity, you could buy a pedometer or, if you have a smartphoneor other device, you can download an app such as ‘Walk with Map My walk –GPS Walking’, ‘Pacer - Pedometer’, ‘Footsteps - Pedometer’. Otherwise you cangauge your distances from maps or the Internet.

You must complete your walk between Thursday 17th September and Saturday17th October 2015, recording your distances on the daily log provided (though youdo not have to add to it every day). We will finish with a collective walk of the lastkilometre through Preston City Centre on Saturday 17th October. You can stillparticipate even if you can’t join the final kilometre.

All money raised will be match funded by the EU, making each pound youraise worth £4.00. If your sponsors also Gift Aid their donations, then that willfurther increase the amount we raise; so please do encourage sponsors to tick thegift aid box on your form.

Anne Garsed

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WILL YOU SHARE WOMEN’S NETWORK MEMORIES?

Recently Joyce Powell wrote in the Methodist Recorder:

“Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB) and the trustees of Epworth OldRectory have completed an agreement whereby themuseum will develop a room known as the BackKitchen as an exhibition space for MWiB.

Nearly two years ago MWiB set up a Heritage andArchive task group to start researching the history ofwomen’s movements within the Methodist Church. The project is called‘Transforming the World from the Kitchen’, as the work of Methodist womenstarted in Susanna Wesley’s kitchen – she who is still regarded as the ‘mother ofour faith’!

The memories of women involved in (Women’s) Network and prior to thatWomen’s Fellowship, Women’s Work, Young Wives, Girls’ League and theWorld Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women are being recorded.Connexional artefacts are being collected with a view to creating a revolvingexhibition at Epworth Old Rectory. MWiB has appointed Sarah Braisdell as a

researcher who is working with the curatorof Epworth, Gillian Crawley, and thevolunteers of both the task group and themuseum.

We invite anyone with memories ofthe Methodist women’s movements to getin touch with Sarah either by email -sgbraisdell1@gmail.com or by writing toher c/o Epworth Old Rectory, 1 RectoryStreet, Epworth, Doncaster, DN9 1HX.

Alternatively, stories may be posted directly on the ‘My Methodist History’website www.MyMethodistHistory.org.uk.

There are also some photographs on this site and we would like help inidentifying the people featured. We would ask, however, that no artefacts are sentwithout contacting Sarah first.

We know that many people from this country and across the world visitEpworth and we hope to inspire them through our history to continue to work forChrist and God’s kingdom where they are now.”

Joyce Powell is convenor of the MWiB Heritage and Archive Task Group

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A FARRAGO� Looking ahead: this year’s Lancashire Churches Ride & Stride event is to be heldon Saturday, 12th September. The National Churches Trust bike ride and stride is anannual event in many parts of the country with the aim of raising money for theupkeep of buildings. Riders / striders are sponsored to visit churches across theircounty. In 2008 the first such event was set up in Lancashire, located around Prestonand the Fylde.; since then the number of churches and participants has increased.However, success depends on volunteers, and especially on keen cyclists andwalkers within churches who can mobilise people from their locality. So ............doesanyone fancy having a go at it?

� On Saturday, 17th October, the Lancashire Wesley Historical Society will bemaking a visit to Harrogate, using a coach for the trip. If anyone wants to book a seatto shop rather than attend the planned lecture, then they should ‘phone Revd. BrianBullick on 01253 726074 (or e-mail him at bandabullick@o2.co.uk). The coach willbe picking up locally, in the morning, and arrangements for eating will be workedout later. At the moment the main thing is to book your seat!

� The Principal of Cliff College, the Revd. Dr. Chris Blake, is to return to pastoralministry and will be leaving the college in the summer of 2016.

� MHA (Methodist Homes for the Aged) has 89 homes, providing accommodation,care and support to 16,000 older people nationwide. Earlier this year they achieved a97% over-all satisfaction score in the Your Care Rating survey – and some scored100% in their individual surveys.

� On 2nd May, 1715, eight ringers ascended the tower of St. Peter Mancroft(Norwich) and became the first ever band to ring a true Full Peal. The 300th

anniversary of this event was duly celebrated over the first weekend in May thisyear.

� York’s Mystery Plays will be staged again in 2016, for the first time since themillennium.

� The Fylde History Network & Lancashire Local History Federation arepromoting a conference on ‘Struggle For Survival – Poverty & Society in Lancashire1630 – 1900’ on Saturday, 7th November at St. Annes-on-Sea URC, 09:30 – 16:30.For further details go to www.fyldehistorynetwork.co.uk

� Other folks’ church magazines, newsletters and weekly sheets have arrived from:-Birkdale St. Peter’s; Central Methodist, Preston; Christchurch Methodist/URC,Ilkley; Christ Church Fulwood; Fulwood URC; Garstang St. Thomas’s; KingstonMethodist; Kirkham St. Michael’s; Leyland Methodist; N. Lancs. Methodist Circuit;Oakworth Methodist; Penwortham St. Leonard’s; Preston Minster; Warton St.Paul’s; Church Road, Lytham St Annes.

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THE BOOMERANG THAT WOULDN’T COME BACK

(“My cousin in New Zealand sent the following account, written by her nine yearold grandson, Connor. His father had given him a boomerang for Christmas.”)

“Another great haul, I thought to myself: remote control cars, sports bike,heelys – but what I wanted to try now was my super-visible, bright orange,triangular-shaped boomerang.

I power-walked as fast as I could, trying to contain my excitement. When thesand finally warmed my feet I could wait no longer: I arranged my hand at a 90degree angle and threw. For a fewheart-breaking seconds it flew gracefullythrough the air, like a bird, but just whenI was about to give up hope it began toturn. I couldn’t believe it, but then.......SWOOSH, it planted itself into the sand.I ran over to it, picked it up and returnedto my position.

I turned around for fear of hitting theocean, threw again and, to my horror, itplanted itself this time in a tree – aPohutukawa. I couldn’t believe it: a Pohutukawa- the lady at church that morninghad said that tree was the tree of Christmas.

Ten minutes later Dad and I returned to the luscious, soft, soothing sand. Wehad a plan: Dad threw a ball. No luck. He threw it again but this time it got stuck.A few people started to look mildly interested. We threw a second ball: it got stucktoo!

Now this is where the story turns to a true Christmas tale. A Maori teenager ofabout seventeen came up with a netball and started to throw that. Now the crowdstarted to grow. And so it went: he knocked both the tennis balls down but thenthe netball got stuck too. Neither of the tennis balls could knock it down, it wastoo heavy.

By now there was a crowd of onlookers and two emerged – both Maoris. Onehad a rugby ball and a volleyball and the other, with bulging muscles, had a hugestick. It turned into a sort of entertainment, but for us it was a game. A third mancame up with half a fencepost and chucked that up into the tree. About ten minuteslater the impossible happened: the fence post got stuck

While I was dwelling on that, I heard a cheer and an outbreak of clapping.The boomerang lay innocently at my feet! Even now I look up into that tree, seethe half fencepost and remember the true Christmas tale.

via Enid Singleton

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DAY-FEUD

What happens to light when it goes away;Where is the dark when it’s light?

The two of them struggle to rule over the day.But neither wins out in that fight.

Now the days are longer, so some folk claim,I’ve not heard the like in my puff!

Such crackpot ideas really give me a pain:Are twenty four hours not enough?

The sun and the moon contest each otherAs to which has the greater share,

Though neither can win, so why should we bother?Let both of them wrestle up there.

Why do they say there are longer daysAnd never weeks, hours or minutes?

But even if you look at it in any other ways,You know that they all have their limit.

No matter what else you may hearYou know all other ideas are lame.

When you work it out for the whole of the yearThey both are exactly the same.

Brain Sumner* * * * * * * * * * * *

THE CUREThere is a cure more wonderful

Than medicine or pills.

A cure that helps you to forget

Your troubles, pains and ills.

The cure works even better

When it’s shared with others too:

It’s just a fit of laughter,

But it’s so good for you.Unknown

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Our church has rooms and areas that are available for rent.If you wish to book a room, arrange to view the facilities, please contact BarryCrossley on 01772 716973 or email him at barrycrossregent42@yahoo.co.ukAll the areas of the building are available for use.Different hourly rates are applicable. One for local churches / community use andanother for commercial use.

Other areas are available by negotiation. 28

CENTENARY OF THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE IN BRITAINMrs Adelaide Hunter Hoodless was a Canadian farmer’s

wife who lived near Hamilton, Ontario. When her son diedafter drinking contaminated milk she began to campaign forthe education of rural women in the rudiments of hygieneand basic healthcare.

Erland Lee, an executive member of the Farmers’Institutes who was working to advance many progressive causes, invited MrsHoodless to speak at the Ladies’ Night of the Saltfleet Farmers’ Institute inFebruary, 1897. This gave the impetus to form the very first Women’s Institute atStoney Creek on 19th of that month. Much of the early executive work was done athis home and his wife, Janet, wrote out the first Constitution and Byelaws of theorganization.

The idea quickly spread, not only throughout Ontario but the whole ofCanada. On a visit to Britain in 1915 one of the co-founders,Mrs Madge Watt, was invited to speak at UniversityCollege, Bangor, North Wales, and inspired the women of Llanfairpwll to form their own WI – and thesame rapid growth followed throughout England and Wales.Singleton & East Dean in Sussex was actually the first one

in England and an early one in our locality was Claughton near Garstang. (Edgemont Farm, the home of Erland & Janet Lee, is now owned by the

Ontario Women’s Institutes, re-namedThe Erland Lee Museum, and is listedas a National Historic Site of Canada.

Llanfairpwll – or LlanfairPG – isthat village with the incredibly longname on Anglesey!)

Roy Smith* * * * * * * * * * * *

When Columbus started out he didn’t know where he was going. When he gotthere he didn’t know where he was. When he got back he didn’t know where hehad been – and he did it all on other people’s money.Can’t help thinking that Columbus reminds me of some teenagers who go onfamily holidays!

* * * * * * * * * * * *Is the reason why MPs try so hard to get re-elected because they would hate tohave to make a living under the laws they’ve passed?

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EDITH CAVELL“a nurse who tried to do her duty”

The theatre of war has produced several heroes and Ihave written about two of them in previous issues,Woodbine Willie and Tubby Clayton. Now it is the turn ofthe ladies! Edith Cavell was a British nurse working inoccupied Belgium who saved the lives of soldiers from bothsides of the conflict, as well as helping Allied soldiersescape

She was born on December 4th, 1865 in Swardeston, asmall village in Norfolk, to the Revd Frederick Cavell andhis wife Louisa, the eldest of four children. She was a verylively child with many interests, one being photography. Shewent to work as a governess in Belgium where she became afluent French speaker, returning home when her fatherbecame ill. Edith helped to nurse him back to health and it was this that probably ledto her changing her career. She trained at the Royal London Hospital under Eva lckeswho, if truth be told, was not overly impressed by her pupil. She had several nursingposts in England, which included Maidstone and Manchester and Salford, before shereturned to Belgium to nurse. There, eventually, she was invited to take up the role ofMatron of the first nursing school to be founded in Belgium. Despite her formertutor’s misgivings, Edith excelled in the role and by 1912 she was managing a schoolof nursing, thirteen private kindergartens, three hospitals, three private nursing homes,24 communal schools for nurses, a clinic and giving lectures.

At the outbreak of war, Edith decided her place was on the front line in Belgium.She cared for soldiers from both sides which made her unpopular in certain quarters.As the war progressed Edith took on a more hazardous role, that of helping theresistance to smuggle Allied soldiers out of hospital and into neutral Holland. Thisbranch of the underground operated for a year and was masterminded by the Princeand Princess de Cray from their chateau at Mons and assisted by an architect, PhilipeBaucq, who acted as guide for the escapees. Unfortunately, as is often the case, theGerman authorities became suspicious and Edith was arrested. There was a distinctpossibility she had been betrayed by a collaborator but they were dangerous times.She was sent to trial and sentenced to death by firing squad alongside Baucq. She wasattended at her execution by an Anglican clergyman the Revd H Stirling Gahan. Hehad been approached by the prison chaplain, Pastor M Le Seur, who felt that Edithwould not find spiritual help or comfort from a German in uniform. The accounts ofboth these gentlemen of Edith’s final hours are extremely moving. She was buried atthe rifle range and a plain wooden cross was erected over her grave. Her executionreceived worldwide condemnation and she became a secular saint and martyr. Edithwould certainly not have approved of this!

At the time of her death she had enabled up to 200 men to escape. Her couragewas truly remarkable. She was well aware of the likely outcome of her activities but,

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because she had an undying belief in the rightness of her actions and a very strongfaith in God, she pressed on and, in the end, she paid the ultimate price. “I have nofear nor shrinking. I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me.This I would say, standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realise that patriotismis not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness to anyone”.

After the war, her remains were returned to England and a funeral was heldat Westminster Abbey with Queen Alexandra in attendance. She was re-interred in

Norwich Cathedral and the wooden cross that hadmarked her grave in Belgium is now preserved at theback of her father’s church in Swardeston.

There are several events planned during 2015 to markthe centenary of her death and there are memorials tothis incredibly brave lady. There is a statue outside theNational Portrait Gallery and a mountain (Mount EdithCavell) in Jasper National Park, Alberta in Canada, toname just two! One of the latest is that of a coin struckas part of the Royal Mint’s commemoration of the FirstWorld War.

Finally, the words of one of her father’s successors. “A very brave woman,driven by a sense of duty, of patriotism and by the practical living out of her faith inJesus Christ.”

Barbara Hothersall

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BOOK CLUB

The Book Group is alive and well and progressingtowards its first birthday! For our last meeting, we had beenreading Jonas Johannson’s novel ‘The Hundred Year OldMan Who Climbed out of a Window’.

Most of us had enjoyed reading it and several had foundit very funny. The author’s notes told us that was his mainintention but typically some of us wondered whether it wasalso a fantasy or fable. Indeed, when we challengedourselves to think if we had ever ‘climbed out of a window’one of our number spoke about how she had done that toachieve her academic qualifications.

Alan, the main character in the novel. Had climbed out of his window at hisresidential home to escape his one hundredth birthday party. And what anadventure followed for him, as a scarcely believable story followed from themoment he took a moment’s rest before catching a bus and simultaneously wasasked to look after a suitcase whilst it’s young owner paid a call. But it turned outthat this adventure was just one of a number he was able to recount to those he metsince earlier in his life he had taken part in several of the great events of twentiethcentury history. Particularly memorable for me was the time he had dinner withStalin!

Our next book is Thomas Keneally’s The Daughters of Mars, a wide-rangingnovel of a group of Australian nurses in Europe during a time of war. We meet onJuly 21 at 7pm at Church. At that meeting we will also decide on our books for theautumn. You don’t need to be a expert in English to enjoy our discussions. Youdon’t even need to have read or finished the book! We will be delighted to see youif you love reading and thinking about life both in fact and fiction. Give us a try!

Watch out for future meetings in the notices and on the Church Website.Ken Wales

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Happy moments: praise God.

Difficult moments: seek God.

Quiet moments: worship God.

Painful moments: trust God.

Every moment: thank God.

Author unknown

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THEATRE VISITS2015/16

Saturday July 18th CATS

Winter Gardens Blackpool (Matinee)Price £42 £10 reduction for children

* * * * * * * * * *Wednesday 2nd September

Noel Coward’s comedyFALLEN ANGELS

Cost £33 Coach only £20The Theatre by the Lake, Keswick (Matinee)

Full day visit * * * * * * * * * *

Wednesday 7th OctoberTHE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST

Nigel Havers and Sian Phillipsby Oscar Wilde

Lowry Theatre Salford (Matinee)approx cost £37

* * * * * * * * * * Wednesday 4th November

THE 39 STEPSThe Theatre by the Lake, Keswick (Matinee)

Full day visit * * * * * * * * * *

Wednesday 16th December THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Lowry Theatre, Salford (Matinee)Full day visit for shopping etc. £45 Coach only £30

* * * * * * * * * *Saturday 9 January 2016

BFG (Big Friendly Giant) The Octagon, Bolton (Matinee)

approx cost £30 (Subsidised cost for children)* * * * * * * * * *

New for 2016BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S The Lowry (Date to be announced)

Contact Joyce Rae 01772 700926 Email malcolm.a.rae@gmail.com or malcolmrae@blueyonder.co.uk

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CHILDREN’S PAGE

I SAY, I SAY

� What did the big candle say to the little candle? Are you going out tonight?

� How do we know that Moses wore a wig?Because sometimes he was seen with Aaron and sometimes without.

� Who invented the five-day week?Robinson Crusoe. He had all his work done by Friday!

� Why do they put telephone wires so high? To keep up the conversation!

� Did you hear about the man who took his car in for a service?He got it stuck in the church door!

� What kind of ears does a train have? Engineers!

� When do Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall in the same year?Every year – but not in that order!

� Why do birds fly south in winter? Because it’s too far to walk!

� Why are tall people always the laziest? Because they lie longest in bed!

� Who invented fire? Oh, some bright spark!

� Why did the policeman cry? Because he couldn’t take his panda to bed!

� “I’ve lost my dog” “Why don’t you put an advertisement in the paper?”“Don’t be silly – he can’t read!”

� What do you call a 12 foot monster with a pointed head? Lance!

� A lorry carrying treacle has shed its load on the M4.Police are advising motorists to stick to their own lanes!

� What do you call a monster moving through the bushes? Russell!

� What do you call a play that’s acted by ghosts? A Phantomine!

� If you put 3 ducks in a carton, what do you get? A box of quackers!

� Here is the traffic news: A lorry load of hair restorer has been spilt on the M1. Police are combing the area!

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A PRAYER

For flowers that bloom about our feet,For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet.For song of bird, and hum of bee,For all things fair we hear or see.Father in heaven we thank Thee!

For blue of stream and blue of sky. For pleasant shade of braches high.For fragrant air and cooling breeze.For beauty of the blooming trees.Father in heave, we thank Thee!

Ralph Waldo Emerson* * * * * * * * * * * *

KITTENS AND BABIES

There were two kittens, a Black and a Grey,And Grandmother said with a frown,“It will never do to keep them both,The Black one we’d better drown,Don’t cry my dear – (to tiny Bess) –One kitten’s enough to keep,Now run to Nurse for ‘tis growing lateAnd time you were fast asleep.”The morrow dawned, all rosy and sweet,Came little Bess from her nap.And Nurse said, “Go into Mama’s roomAnd look into Grandma’s lap!”“Come here”, said Grandma, with a smile,From the rocker where she sat,“God has sent you two little sisters – Now what do you think of that?”Bess looked at the babies a moment,With their wee heads, yellow and brown,And then to Grandma soberly said:“Which one are we going to drown?”

Unknown

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BIG MEN

The story is told that during the AmericanCivil War, Jefferson Davis, former President ofthe Confederate States of America, one daywanted a reliable officer for an importantcommand. He asked General Lee what he thoughtof a certain man by the name of Whiting for thepost. Lee commended him highly. One of thelatter’s officers was greatly surprised at theGeneral’s commendations, and, calling him aside,asked him if he knew what unkind things Whitinghad been saying about him. Lee said, “Iunderstand that the President wanted to know myopinion of Whiting, and not Whiting’s opinion ofme.”

Big men are too magnanimous to notice criti-cisms or slights. It is the small man, who iscarried away with his own importance, who can-not overlook personal attacks.

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DIARY DATES

JUNE

Sunday 14th General Church Meeting following the morning service

Thursday 18th 8.01 p.m. After Eight’s AGM

Wednesday 24th 7.30 p.m. Circuit Meeting - Fulwood

JULY

Tuesday 7th 5.00 p.m. Messy Church

Sunday 12th ‘At the Sea’ Church afternoon at the coast with short informal worship to follow (see poster for details)

Sunday 19th 6.30 p.m. Circuit Service at Bamber Bridge with a farewell toMark Lomas, the Youth and Community Worker

AUGUST

Saturday 1st 9.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Table Top Sale

Sunday 2nd 4.00 p.m. Summer Celebration and Tea

Sunday 30th 4.00 p.m. ‘In the Garden’ worship & tea at Slaters Barn

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 12th 9.30 a.m. District Synod - Blackburn

Tuesday 15th 2.15 p.m. Women’s Fellowship Birthday Celebration

Tuesday 15th 7.30 p.m. Circuit Meeting

Sunday 20th 6.30 p.m. Circuit Service - Fulwood

Tuesday 22nd 5.00 p.m. Messy Church

Saturday 26th 10.00 a.m. Farmers Market

Sunday 27th 10.30 a m Harvest Festival

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CHURCH ACTIVITIESSunday 9.45 am Singing Practice (Cedar Room)Tuesday 10.00 am Men’s AM Club (fortnightly) Allan Clarke (718547) 2.15 pm Women’s Fellowship (weekly) Muriel Crossley (716973) 7.00 pm Alphabites (monthly fellowship) Margaret Holmes (726964)

Wednesday 10 till 4.00 Welcome Wednesday - food, activities, games and New2U stall 10.30 am Midweek Communion with prayers 7.30/8.00 WoW (monthly Women’s Group) Sarah Farrell (379464)Thursday 7.00 pm Knitting Group (Sycamore Room) Veronica Frost (717415) 8.01 pm Ladies After 8 group (fortnightly) TBA

Table Tennis matches Richard Holyfield (727349)Friday 9.30 am Toddlers’ Club (under 5s & parents / carers) Janet Porter (462808)

FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLEMonday 6.00 pm Beavers (6 - 8 yr) Fiona Jackson (700487) 7.00 pm Cubs (8 - 10½ yr) Karen Smalley (735087)Tuesday 7.00 pm Scouts (10½ - 14 yr) Steve Williams (07734824011) 7.00 pm Explorer Scouts (14 - 18 yr) Operated by Scout District (#) 7.00 pm Scout Network (18 - 25 yr) Operated by Scout County (#)

(#) Contact Lesley Thomas - Group Scout Leader (727877)Thursday 5.45 pm Rainbows (5 - 7 yr) Jayne Myatt (718217) 6.15 pm Brownies (7 - 10 yr) Claire Richardson (728853) 7.30 pm Guides (10 - 14 yr) Allison Allcock (703571)Friday 6.30 pm Escape (7- 11 yr) Yasha Mashoko (720184) 8.00 pm Youth Club (Secondary School age) " " "

Sunday 10.30 am Sunday Club Janet Wales (863791) 4.00 pm OMG (monthly for year 5 and above) Wendy Bennett (860965)

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Published and printed by Fulwood Methodist Church. Unless clearly stated, the views expressed are not necessarily

those of the editor or the church. Care is taken to acknowledge sources of material where possible.

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