THE CONTINUING

STORY OF

THE CHURCH

AT CARRS LANE

united in Jesus — serving the city

The home of a partnership of Christian ministries

supported by the Methodist and United Reformed Churches

with

Journey Fe

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Minister’s Letter

Dear Friends, This month, the shops will be encouraging us to think of love as related to red hearts – preferably made of chocolate, cards, and expensive meals out. In January, we shared in a ‘Covenant Service’ when we heard again of God’s everlasting Covenant with us and when we chose to promise to be in Covenant with God. The words of the Covenant prayer are words of commitment in response to God’s love and commitment to us. In truth, I find them hard to say – each year there will be one part (or more) that makes me kind of choke a little as I say it. I feel like the man who said to Jesus, ‘Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief’ (Mark 9:24). My version would be, ‘Lord, I mean this, help me to mean it.’ It is genuinely difficult to mean it when I am saying to God that I am happy for God to decide where I am, who I’m with, what I’m doing, who is in my life, what I have or don’t have. And then to say that I offer this ‘freely and wholeheartedly.’ Do I? Really? Or is it with gritted teeth and a grimace? Sometimes the latter to be honest! The winter when someone had driven into my motorbike, damaging my back, and I was awaiting news from the nursing college as to whether I could continue my nurse-training or not… I found these words especially hard to say. Was I really prepared to be employed for God or laid aside? To have all things or nothing? When I loved nursing so much? I said those words both meaning them and gritting my teeth. I am convinced that God, who made us and loves us, knows that we struggle. I am convinced that God understands entirely the struggle of ‘Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief’ and the struggle of ‘Lord, I mean this, help me to mean it’. I’m deliberately writing about it in the month that will see Valentine’s Day come around, as God’s Covenant with us is the ultimate Love story… that of a God who knows us completely and chooses to love us anyway, a God who yes, sees our failings and faults, but also sees our progress. Who loves us in our efforts, our failures, our getting-it-right and our getting-it-wrong and wants to be close to us anyway. This Valentine’s Day, I invite you to spend a little time reflecting on God’s love which will never let you go. God who wants the love of your heart, the joy of guiding your life, of blessing you, of comforting you, strengthening you, challenging you to grow, giving you peace and joy… and I invite you to spend a little time reflecting on the Covenant Prayer (see over) – one of our responses to God’s love and commitment to us; a surrender in love and joy to the wonderful and everlasting love of God. Peace to you, Ruth

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The Covenant Prayer 'I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.' © TMCP The Methodist Worship Book 1999

Sunday Worship during February 2017

Sunday 5 February 10.30am Morning Worship, including the Lord’s Supper, led by Neil Johnson Followed by First Sunday Lunch Sunday 12 February 10.30am Morning Worship led by Ruth Yorke Followed by Church Meeting Sunday 19 February 10.30am Morning Worship led by Neil Johnson Sunday 26 February 10.30am All-age Morning Worship led by Richard Becher

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Notices Monday 13 February 10am – 4pm Traidcraft Road Show here at The Church at Carrs Lane. Tuesday 14 February 11.30am Elaine Wheeler’s funeral service will be at Lodge Hill Crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving at Carrs Lane from 2.00pm. Thursday 16 February February Walk: Start time 10:30 am. Leader Andrew Veitch. Make own way to Start (28 Edgcombe Road, Hall Green) where drinks and biscuits will be served from 9.45 am. Bus Number 6 or train from Moor Street (at 10, 30 & 50 minutes past each hour) to Hall Green. Length: approx. 4 miles to Yardley Wood Station, or 5.5 miles back to the start where soup and drinks will be provided. Finish time approx. 1 pm Please sign on church notice board if coming or let Andrew, Phil or Peter know. 19 February 6.00pm Prayer in the way of Taize at Hodge Hill Church, Coleshill Road. More info from 0121 478 3841 or phpaw2@btinternet.com Monday 20 February 7.30pm Heretics Anonymous: In what ways are we a Radical Church? 23, 24 and 25 February Carrs Lane Players will be performing The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley. Tickets £7. Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th performance at 7.30pm (supper @ 6.00pm cost £5), Saturday 25th performance at 6.30pm (afternoon tea @ 5.00pm cost £4). There is limited space for meals, so please book early. All tickets available now from the office or from the Players.

Thursday 2 March 10.15am Thinking Allowed: Being liberal - responding to cruelty and humiliation. Tuesday 7 March 2.15pm or Wednesday 8 March at 7.15 pm Lent Groups at St. Martin’s. Five Sessions looking at the beatitudes. The same course on Tuesday at 2:15pm or Wednesday at 7:15pm. 90 minutes per session. We begin on Tuesday 7 March and Wednesday 8 March and will finish in the week before Holy Week. The course is taken from the Pilgrim Course series, www.pilgrimcourse.org Saturday 11 March Run4Refugees. Following last year’s success this fundraising event will take place again in Cannon Hill Park. Could you volunteer to be a marshal? Would you like to run or know someone who would? Please tell people about the event, which is a choice of 5, 10 or 15k. More details from www.restore-uk.org/event/run4refugees Friday 24 March 7.30 pm “East Meets West” – Music from Russia and England. Ruth Henley (Cello) and Ilya Chetverikov (Piano) perform Shostakovich’s Sonata Op. 40, Paul Henley’s Sonata No. 3, and Rachmaninov’s Sonata Op. 19 at Carrs Lane. Tickets £12 / £10 concessions, to include refreshments. Tickets available from Carrs Lane office, from Tim Batty, or (subject to availability) on the door.

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Sunday 2 April 12:00 Social Justice in Mongolia: a special presentation after / with lunch. Please stay for lunch from 12 noon, presentation and join-in 12.30-1.30pm hear Banjuu and BatTsetseg speak first-hand about Jubilee Society, Mongolia, working amongst the poorest people in Mongolia; see and touch Mongolian artefacts; sing a Mongolian song; take a selfie in a Mongolian hat! There will be a retiring collection for the work of the Society. Queries? Contact Ruth Yorke

Carrs Lane Fair Trade Shop is open as usual every week Tuesday through to Saturday 10.30am to 2.30pm. Pick up our brand new Traidcraft Spring Catalogue and see the bright and colourful garden section, pretty duvet sets and stylish fashion along with our great tasting foods. Aston and Nechells Foodbank are currently running low on the following tinned items: tomatoes, rice pudding / custard, meat, fruit and vegetarian meals. Also packet soups (no tins please), small packets of 40 tea bags, coffee, long life juice or squash, nappies (all sizes), toothpaste, toothbrushes & shampoos

Deputy Editor’s Note At the time of publication (12th February 2017), Carol Khan-Ahmadi – our esteemed Journey Editor / Publisher who works wonders with the magazine every month – has sadly been off work for the past few days due to ill health. Therefore, I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with this subpar version, which I put together in haste at an ungodly hour and with a lot of guesswork! Please keep Carol in your thoughts and wish her a speedy recovery.

Tim Batty

Carrs Lane Players A group of passengers are left stranded at a remote railway station, facing the prospect of a cold night in the waiting room. But when the old stationmaster warns them about the phantom train that haunts the tracks after dark, the evening starts to take one chilling turn after another. This sets the scene for our next play, ‘The Ghost Train’ by Arnold Ridley, to be performed on 23, 24 & 25 February 2017. Please put these dates in your diary. All tickets available now from the office or from the Players.

Alan Emson

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By Arnold Ridley

By arrangement with Samuel French Limited

Thursday 23 February 2017 at 7.30 pm Friday 24 February 2017 at 7.30 pm

Saturday 25 February 2017 at 6.30 pm

Tickets cost £7 and are available from The Church at Carrs Lane, telephone 0121 643 6151, from members of Carrs Lane Players

or request by Email to office@carrslane.co.uk

Suppers will be served before the play at 6.00 pm on Thursday and

Friday priced at £5. Late afternoon tea at 5.00 pm on Saturday costs £4.

There is limited space available for meals, so you are advised

to book early to avoid disappointment. Student Sunday

Carrs Lane Players

The Ghost Train

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On 19 February 2017, student groups, churches and other Christian communities will come together to celebrate Student Sunday and pray for students around the world. The theme this year is ‘All Are Welcome’.

In an increasingly hostile world, it’s more important than ever to create spaces that are generous, hospitable and welcoming for all. Spaces to think, reflect and act; spaces to be ourselves, as God made us. For students who are exploring their identity and vocation – and sometimes struggling to be heard and recognised – a truly welcoming community can make all the difference.

That’s why we’re inviting churches and groups to join with our movement on Student Sunday, as we pray and work to create a welcome for all – changing lives and empowering young people in faith. Find out more about Student Sunday on www.movement.org.uk.

Notice For Past and Present URC Members The United Reformed Church (URC) is launching the second phase of its Past Case Review on 4 October 2016 when the public are being invited to raise concerns formally about the behaviour, or conduct, of anyone affiliated with the URC since its formation in 1972. To raise a concern in the Review’s second phase, individuals are invited to share basic contact details by secure phone, email or web form on the URC website (www.urc.org.uk/past-case-review) by 31 March 2017. You may contact them on 0207 916 8682 and email at pastcase.review@urc.org.uk. Complainants will then be allocated a listener who, either through a telephone call, email dialogue, or face-to-face meeting, will give an account of the concern. At every step, complainants can let the URC know if they want to stop or continue the process. The URC, in turn, will keep the complainant informed as to what is happening. When the complainant gives the go-ahead for the process to continue, their account will go through the Past Case Review team to an allegations panel of two people who will make the first assessment of the case. After that initial assessment, the account will be reviewed either by (a) an independent specialist or (b) an allegations’ reference group. The recommended action will depend on the level of:

risk

severity, and

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available information If, at any point, it is clear that the account is current, rather than historical, the complainant will be linked with the person in their URC synod who handles active cases. When called for, a concern will go to a statutory authority. At all times, each case will be managed in synods by adherence to strong and agreed processes. A learning group will be reading all anonymised accounts and make recommendations about change reflecting good practice for the church in future. Tony Greenfield (Safeguarding Officer)

Quinborne Choir Are we looking for you? We certainly are if you love singing and would like to join a friendly group of like-minded people. We are especially looking to recruit more tenors and altos, but welcome all enquires. Quinborne Choir has been established in Birmingham for over 75 years and is a registered charity. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings between 8.00pm and 10.00pm at Quinborne Community Centre, B31 2TW. Why not visit our website at www.quinbornechoir.wordpress.com for more information, or if you would like to call Kay on 0121 422 5794 for an informal chat, you would be most welcome. Perhaps we will see you at our next rehearsal…we do hope so.

Suited for Success When going for a job interview everyone wants to make a good first impression. But what if you've been unemployed for a long time or you're struggling to get by on benefits or you've recently been released from prison and you can't afford a suit or smart clothing for that crucial job interview? An exciting new charity called Suited for Success will soon be opening its doors in Ladywood, Birmingham in late October with

an aim to support unemployed men and women with a suitable interview outfit that will give them the confidence they need to make that positive first impression and get a job that could change their life. Suited for Success provides unemployed men and women with free interview clothes and advice so they can feel more confident when going to a job interview and therefore increase their chances of getting a job that could change the lives for themselves and their families. Good quality 'gently worn' suits and professional workwear is donated by professional men and women and distributed to the unemployed men and women referred to Suited for Success.

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Clients are referred through various grass roots agencies who support unemployed men and women into employment including job clubs, community projects, churches, work programmes, job centres and more. All clients must be unemployed and have a guaranteed job interview. We work on a referral/appointment basis only and all referred clients must have proof of a guaranteed job interview. Referred men and women are given a complete suit or smart clothing so they feel more confident and start believing in their own ability to succeed in their job interview. If they are successful in the interview job they can come back to us to receive a few more items of clothes to look the part in the first few weeks of their new job. All the clothing is given free of charge. A bespoke onsite training area also provides employability workshops, presentations, CV and interview tips and more. Collaboration is at the heart of Suited for Success, we bring together the corporate and third sector organisations in Birmingham to practically tackle the barriers unemployed men and women in the city face on their journey to employment. By working together, we can reach a greater number of people, impact unemployment and tackle poverty at its root. There are plenty of ways to support Suited for Success through suit donations drives, volunteer opportunities (full training given) or financial support. Referrals can also be taken, full details of how to refer are available on our website www.suitedforsuuccess.co.uk If you would more information about volunteering opportunities, referring clients or how you can support Suited for Success please contact managing director Patricia White by email: patricia.white@suitedforsuccess.co.uk

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A big Thank you to all who support Carrs Lane Fair Trade selling Traidcraft throughout the year.

Joan Davies

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Reviewing Recent Events

Amnesty International Greetings Card Campaign 2016 Write for Rights

Once again I want to thank everybody who contributed to the Amnesty Write for Rights Campaign by sending Greetings Cards to Prisoners of Conscience and their families, during worship on 11th December last year, also to everybody who took cards home to write. Many people contributed in others way towards this campaign and I would like to thank you all.

As I mentioned during the service it was 40 years since Revd Frank Rock wrote an article in the Carrs Lane Journal suggesting the setting up of an Amnesty Group based on the Church. That group, Central Birmingham Amnesty Group, still operates in the City Centre. In 1984 people at Carrs Lane started to participate in the Greetings Card Campaign at Christmas time and have done it every year since on the Sunday nearest Human Rights day 10th December. Imagine how many cards we must have sent over the years.

We know your messages of support mean a huge amount, because the recipients have told Amnesty so, and people in our congregation have also received replies from a number of people.

Last year Albert Woodfox was freed after 44 years in solitary confinement in the USA. On his release he said to Amnesty International:

Your messages from beyond the prison walls were an enormous source of strength to me. Thank you.

Yecenia Armenta (Mexico), jailed on the basis of a ‘confession’ extracted after 15 hours of torture, was released in June 2016. . She said ‘It’s exciting to think that there are people who still care about the rights of other people.’ Please do let me know if you do receive a reply from anybody as a result of our action. I will then forward the information to Amnesty in London. For further information you can look up the website www.amnesty.org.uk/write Thank you to everybody. Christine Rowntree

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Looking Back, Looking Forward - Journeying Together Excerpts from our worship, led by Revd Diana Cullum Hall on Sunday 1 January 2017. Looking back It is now more than 350 years since the first Non-conformists joined together in Birmingham in turbulent circumstances. Their worship was only tolerated because Birmingham was such an insignificant place! The first building - the Old Meeting House was destroyed twice by rioters and was rebuilt as the New Meeting chapel on the current site of St Michael’s Catholic Church next door. Theological differences about the Trinity led to a group leaving and setting up the first Carrs Lane Chapel in 1748. It was registered as a place of worship for Protestant dissenters called Independents. A small chapel between some poor housing. The second Carrs lane chapel - a much bigger building - was opened in 1802. John Angell James was ordained as their first minister in 1806 and the church flourished under his leadership. By 1821 the membership was over 1,000 and the third chapel was opened in 1820 seating 2,100 people. Towards the end of JAJ’s ministry a young associate minister joined him - Dr R W Dale. When JAJ died, after 55 years as minister, Dr Dale became the minister at Carrs Lane - the most famous minister of this church - his statue is in the foyer! He was an inspiring preacher it is said that when he was preaching one only had to follow the crowds from New Street to Carrs Lane! Birmingham was expanding rapidly and living conditions were bleak for many - poor housing; lack of sanitation and subsequently poor health. Dr Dale preached what he called the ‘ Civic Gospel’ and worked passionately for social improvement. Voluntary service became a way of life for the church members - much of the work focusing on poor families and improving education. I am sure that our gospel reading from Matthew today was an inspiration for Dr Dale’s mission, as it continues to be an inspiration for the congregation today. In the 1960s the huge third chapel was no longer fit for purpose and was a big financial drain. It was agreed to build a new church. In 1969 the largest free-standing cross in Britain was erected at what was to be the front entrance - 60 feet high. A symbol to the city of this Free Church presence with its ongoing commitment to social justice and peace. The present building opened in 1970. Today we are going to dedicate our new Heritage Boards which are positioned on the grass behind the church building. They tell the history of the church from its earliest beginnings to the present day - a witness to passers-by of our story. Telling the people of Birmingham and visitors of the roots of this church; what this church is passionate about in its service to God and how we are still a vibrant community of Christians who proclaim God’s love. We follow Jesus into the future guided by the life-affirming Spirit.

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Our first jubilant hymn, “Joy to the World”, celebrating Jesus’ coming, was written by Isaac Watts, a prolific non-conformist hymn writer. He was growing up at the time that the Non-conformists in Birmingham were building their first meeting house in the 1680s. The Act of Uniformity in 1662 required everyone to abide by the Book of Common Prayer. Dissenters and Non-conformists refused and many of their clergy were banished or imprisoned. These were turbulent beginnings for the non-conformists of Birmingham. This is where the story of the Church at Carrs Lane begins. There have been many different influences on our worship and reflection over the years. One such influence has been the writings and hymnody of the Iona Community. We watched a short drama from the Iona Community - a reflection on what it is to be church. Martin Stokes and Chris Grove perform ‘A New Experience’. Our next hymn was a favourite of Priscilla Steele - one of the many remarkable members of this church through the years. She was one of the founder members of the counselling centre at Carrs Lane which has helped so many people over the last 50 years. I found this hymn tucked into her hymn book after she died. The hymn was written by Fred Kaan, another prolific and challenging hymn writer - a former moderator of the West Midland Synod of the URC and friend of this church.

For all who have enriched our lives, whom we have loved and known,

for saints alive among us still by whom our faith is honed,

we thank you, God, who came and comes through women, children, men,

to share the highs and lows of life: God-for-us, now as then.

Looking forward - Journeying together The membership at TCACL no longer requires a 2,000 seater church and people no longer follow the crowds from New Street to Carrs Lane! We live in different times to JAJ and Dr Dale but the traditions which they started are still very much a part of this worshipping community. I think if Dr Dale were to look at us now he would be amazed at the many church activities and witness that still continue today with a much smaller congregation. Lists are always a problem because I am bound to leave something out - but I want us to rejoice at the many things we accomplish in God’s name - Amnesty; Children’s ministry; Christian Aid; Coffee drop-in; Discussion Groups and House groups; Healing Ministry; Journey magazine; Links with Germany; Music tradition; Pastoral Care; Prayer ministry; Radical Lectures; Retail Chaplaincy; Shelter partnership;

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Street banquet; Traidcraft; Walking group; Worship; and so many events and projects involved with Social justice and peace making. There is a range of theologies here and people from many walks of life. Visitors are welcomed from around the world and many secular events are also hosted here by the Carrs Lane conference centre. We are thankful today for those who have gone before us, offering their talents, their resources; their gifts; their faith and their love of Jesus to fulfil God’s purposes here. We are also thankful for the many people today who also offer so much of their lives in God’s service here in so many ways. You know your own contribution and we thank you for that contribution whatever it may be. Looking forward we are sometimes anxious that we do not have enough people to accomplish the many ministries we feel called to offer in God’s name. We are called to be a people of hope, confident in our hope for the future. We sometimes forget that we are not witnessing in our own strength but in the strength which God gives us. Perhaps we should reflect on the words Jesus said to Peter in our drama:

“Don’t worry about the church. That’s God’s problem, not yours. You set your eyes on the kingdom and God will make clear what should be the shape of the church.”

Our church magazine is called ‘Journey’. How appropriate as we journey together into the future at the beginning of 2017. We go in faith, hope and love, following Jesus, who calls us on. The Lived Community at Carrs Lane is particularly involved with the Taize Community. They are helping to organise a Taize gathering in Birmingham this year. In recognition of the Taize influence we will come to God in prayer by singing this Taize chant. O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: when I call, answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: come and listen to me. Prayers Carrs Lane church has developed strong ecumenical links with other churches in Birmingham. In 2011 The United Reformed Church at Carrs Lane and the Central Methodist Church joined to become the Church at Carrs Lane. Our next hymn was written by Marjorie Dobson - a Methodist Local Preacher who visited CL a while back for a hymn writing day. StF 664 Lord, you call us to your service (To the tune ANGEL VOICES)

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Offering Bountiful God, women, children and men down through the years have offered their talents, their resources and their gifts for the furtherance of your kingdom here in this place. We offer our talents, our resources and our gifts that your love may be shown as we journey together into the future. Amen. Our final hymn today is by Fred Pratt Green. He was a Methodist minister and hymn writer. At the end of the hymn we will be going outside to dedicate the Heritage Boards. If you are able to join us, please make your way there after the hymn, bringing your order of service. There will be a short dedication and we will then say together the prayer written by John Angell James - the minister of the 2nd Carrs Lane chapel, who was ordained here in 1802. We will then finish the service with a blessing. If you wish to remain inside I invite you to read John Angell James’ prayer. Coffee will be served at the end of the service. We join to sing Fred Pratt Green’s hymn - StF 691 What shall our greeting be: Dedication of Heritage Boards Gracious God, we dedicate these heritage boards that they may be a witness to faithful people who have served you in this place. We pray that they may also speak powerfully of your love today, ever present for your people here in Birmingham. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

O Holy Spirit, the Comforter, come and dwell in our souls; make our bodies thy temple.

Fill our minds with thy light, and our hearts with thy love, that over our whole character thy power may be seen

in the beauties of holiness. May we live as something sacred to thee as well as perfected by thee.

Come in all thy sevenfold energy, and replenish us with thy illuminating, comforting, sanctifying influence.

Baptize us with celestial fire, and give us in thine abundant grace the earnest of glory everlasting.

John Angell James

Jesus said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” The blessing of God be upon you, the One who loves you, the Christ who calls you, the Spirit who makes you holy, today and always. Amen.

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Christian Aid Sponsored Swim Congratulations to the Carrs Lane team of eight swimmers who covered in total 4 ¾ miles at the Christian Aid Sponsored Swim Event in Erdington on Sunday 15 January. The final sum raised from our friends and families will be announced in next month’s Journey. Pat Davies

Ballet at The Church at Carrs Lane Sunday 29 January 2017

Ballet in the church – when I first heard about this I had my reservations. Having seen ballet performances at the theatre my thoughts were about whether it would be appropriate in church. How would the dancers be dressed? Tutus? Man in tights? Would they be dancing close to the audience in a small space pushing people out of their comfort zone? My fears were unfounded. The performance was excellent and the dancers were a joy to watch. With only a minimal amount of floor space, the dancers showed their skill and professionalism. The costumes were elegant and dignified and the musicians uplifting. The concept ‘Light’ was not an easy one, with the aim being to use the medium of dance to explore the spirit that binds people together. I thought that by dancing as individuals but within a group with one aim, the dancers demonstrated unity of spirit beautifully. It showed how universal dance is, how it can transcend differences, and has the power to change people’s emotions and views. It taught me to always keep an open mind! The opportunity for everyone to have a discussion with the dance students afterwards was a really interesting experience. It was interesting to raise awareness for both Westhill Endowment and Elmhurst School for Dance too. Overall, I thought that bringing ballet to The Church at Carrs Lane was a great idea, and it was a real privilege to be a part of it. Carol Heath

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Remembering the Life of Pamela Liddell Pam Weston was born in southern England, the eldest of two daughters. She had a much older half-brother who was also an important part of her life. The family moved to Birmingham in 1926, and came to Carrs Lane Church in 1934, starting Pam’s long association with our fellowship. The children were brought up quietly at home with much help from the family maid, as both parents led very outgoing lives. Weekends were family time with regular trips to the country in the family car; a rare thing in those days. Pam and her sister were educated at the prestigious King Edwards High School, and Pam went on to become a medical secretary. As she grew up she joined the 70 Club at Carrs Lane where she met Bob Liddell in 1946. They married in 1948, and, as was expected then, Pam gave up work, though they had little money. The Weston family saw great cultural gaps between themselves and the Liddells, and the newlyweds trod a difficult path at times, but they were supportive in the end. Pam and Bob had four daughters whom she raised almost single-handedly as Bob’s successful business career, and church commitments took up a lot of time, but they were very happy. As the children grew Pam found more time for reading and art (she was a very talented artist) and, of course, her beloved garden. Family holidays, often spent in Wales or Cornwall, were important. As the family grew up and left home Pam was able to join Bob on business trips to Milan, Tokyo and Prague. They also shared Carrs Lane group holidays to Germany, India, Israel and South Africa. Pam’s free time was curtailed when she gave up work to have Bob’s mother to live with them and she uncomplainingly looked after her for thirteen years, not always an easy task. Fortunately she and Bob were able to enjoy retirement years together with lots of walking, swimming and UK holidays before his death. Pam’s contributions to Carrs Lane life included work at the Winson Green Prison Family Support Group as a reliable volunteer in the café we operated for the public during the 1970s, 1980s, as a member of the Banner Making Group (still used in worship), Reform distribution, a time in Carrs Lane Players with Bob, an Elder, and, last but not least, like her father and husband before her, as Church Secretary. She was always generous with hospitality to newcomers. All Pam’s daughters went on the have good careers and marriages and she took great joy in her grandchildren. It was good to see the different generations at her funeral and thanksgiving service. Sadly, Pam’s last years were blighted by dementia, and in our sadness we can also take pleasure from knowing she is at peace and reunited with her husband Bob.

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We remember a quiet, capable and gracious lady, and give thanks for her life. Margaret Cross

The Prayer and Healing Ministry at The Church at Carrs Lane There has been a prayer/healing ministry at Carrs Lane for at least 40 years. It has always been a quiet 'behind the scenes' activity which has gradually evolved So what is the Prayer and Healing Ministry at Carrs Lane? 1. The Prayer Group oversees the activities listed below, with others involved in several key tasks 2. Monthly Prayer Meeting of the prayer group meets on the first Wednesday of the month, attending the Lived Community's prayers at 7.00pm and then continuing afterwards to pray for the church and to deal with any organisational matters such as updating the prayer list. 3. Formal Prayer List is updated four times a year by Wendy Firmin, who also inserts the prayers under each list. The format is that there is a list for each weekday, so everyone on the list will be prayed for once a week, by those who use the prayer list at home, and are also prayed for at the Wednesday lunch-time service. 4. Wednesday lunch – time service. A variety of ministers and lay members lead this informal half-hour service, at which those named on one of the 'days' on the prayer list are prayed for and cards, signed by all those present, are sent to them,. When a minister is taking the service, communion is celebrated. Tim Batty and Phil Parkin take it in turn to play for the hymns. Attendance is up to 15, and often includes visitors. 5. Prayer Cards. The cards that are sent are either donated, or are purchased with donations received. Five people are responsible for the writing of the cards on a 6 weekly cycle - the five weekday prayer lists and prayers for our children’s ministry. A brief message is written on each card to let the recipients know that they have been prayed for. Cards are often received from those who are prayed for, thanking us for the support they experience. 6. Prayer Request Box, which is on the foyer. These requests are completed by a wide variety of people, some of them from those coming to meetings at the conference centre. The requests are read out for four Wednesdays and are then removed. They are monitored to avoid duplication and to take account of changing situations. 7. Healing prayers at the Sunday communion service. The rota of prayers for the 12 communion services is as follows: on five Sundays, the people on the five days of the prayer list; on another five Sundays the congregation; and on the last two

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Sundays, the conference centre staff and the children and Junior church leaders. On each Sunday the prayer requests are also offered. The future

Discussions have taken place with Matthew and Steph about the possibility that on the first Wednesday of the month, the evening prayers follow a different format, with the theme of healing, possibly using Iona material.

Should this ministry be more widely supported and publicised – it has perhaps been too 'behind the scenes' and maybe not enough members know about it?

Would more members like to have the prayer list, to use at home?

Would more members like to be involved in the Prayer Group, writing cards, or to share the responsibility in some other way?

Suggestions concerning the times of prayer group meetings and any other aspect would be welcomed.

A plan is needed if this ministry is to be able to continue in the future.

If you have any suggestions or would like to be involved, please let us know. Andrew & Jill Veitch.

St Basils Free Text Service

St Basils have recently launched a new free text service, meaning young people aged 16-25 who are at risk of homelessness in Birmingham can text ‘Need St Basils’ to 62277 for free and will get a phone call in return from a trained housing advisor based at St Basils Youth Hub in Digbeth, Birmingham. This new way for young people to get in touch, is in addition to a helpline and ‘get help’ email web form St Basils and the Youth Hub provide, but crucially it means young people at risk can still access help fast even if they have no credit or data left on their phones. Homelessness can happen to anyone at any time. If young people don't feel safe at home they may have no choice but to leave, or they may be evicted at short notice. In the winter months it is more important than ever that young people who find themselves in this situation are picked up and helped quickly. St Basils works across Birmingham and surrounding areas with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Over 5000 young people across the West Midlands region come to St Basils for advice every year, and over 1200 are housed in their 29 supported accommodation schemes. As well as helping young people who have become homeless, they do a lot of work to prevent young people from becoming homeless. In 2015-16 St Basils Youth Hub in Birmingham prevented 3360 out of a total of 3613 at risk young people from becoming homeless. That’s a rate of 93%. Preventing youth homelessness is achieved through St Basils family mediation service and the partnerships they have with other local charities and services helping young people. The quicker young people can access this raft of services available through the Youth Hub, the higher the chance of preventing youth homelessness.

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All young people have to do to get help from St Basils Youth Hub is text ‘Need St Basils’ to 62277. Streetlink: help for those sleeping rough Concerned about someone who you see sleeping rough on the streets? Get in touch with Streetlink at 0300 500 0914 or www.streetlink.org.uk or download the app. This service ensures rough sleepers are connected to the local services and support available to them.

Refugees Welcome - Change the Story Christian Aid is encouraging us to ‘be part of the big conversation’ and help change the story about refugees when it is promoting fear and preventing those seeking safety from finding a welcome. Please visit christianaid.org.uk/ changethestory asking us to start up conversations with family, friends and colleagues about the contributions made by refugees in our community and beyond, and why Britain should not close its eyes to people seeking sanctuary.

Birmingham City Mission Care Centre

Proclaiming the Gospel, Helping the Needy

We welcome those who find themselves homeless, or are vulnerable. We offer friendship and food two evenings a week (Tuesday & Wednesday), doors open at 5:30pm, food is served at 6:30pm. We are based in Washington Street, just off Holloway Head. This project has not long been opened and so we are still in the early development stages. We are considering possible projects and workshops for the future, e.g. cycle project, allotment project, reading/numeracy workshops, craft workshops, cooking workshops. The ideas are many, as well as expanding our service in the evenings. For this to happen we are heavily reliant upon volunteers, if you are interested in helping please contact me via email: jontiley@birminghamcitymission.co.uk Stoner

Commitment for Life Extracts from the New Year letter to Commitment for Life Church Linkpersons from Linda Mead, the Programme Co-ordinator, plus an update on the after-effects of the war in the Gaza Strip two years ago Greetings to you all at the start of this New Year.

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Looking Back As we look back on 2016 with the Brexit and American Presidency results, the continued war in Syria, the refugee crisis and a feeling in many church quarters of the need for the church to be more vocal against the rising inward looking society, we must realise the important part Christians must play in being a voice for those who seek justice for all God’s people. 2016 also saw General Assembly taking place in July at Southport. The Environmental Policy was accepted and a rewritten resolution on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories also passed. A task group has been set up to look at how the church can take the resolution forward. The Ecumenical World Development Conference met in Coventry. The conference was entitled 'Hope in a Changing Climate' and focused on how Christians can work together locally and globally to care for creation. Our own Rev Dr Rosalind Selby, from Northern College, spoke. As Christian Aid decided to end the intern scheme, Amelia, intern 2015/6 was our last for the foreseeable future. We have been blessed by all our interns with their different skills. Update from November 2016: New Hope for Esmat Two years after war devastated large parts of the Gaza Strip, claiming more than 1,500 civilian lives, many farmers, herders and fishermen are still struggling to recover from the damage to their land and livelihoods. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, some 19,000 households dependent on farming, fishing or herding needed help right after the conflict to restore their means of earning a living. Israel’s illegal blockade continues to stifle recovery for 1.8 million Palestinians in the region. Due to the restrictions on the movement of people and goods into Gaza, including essential items such as food and building materials, only 10% of homes destroyed in the conflict have been rebuilt and more than 80% of the population still depend heavily on aid. Esmat Abu Quader’s farmland was badly damaged during the last offensive, and the irrigation network to his fields and protective fenced bordering his lands were both destroyed. This damage prevented Esmat from working, and so he struggled to provide for his family, including a disabled relative. Christian Aid partner PARC has helped Esmat to restore his farm and resume farming by installing a new fence and irrigation network. The rehabilitated farm has provided a livelihood for Esmat and a brighter future for his family. PARC is continuing to help farmers like Esmat to repair damaged lands and livelihoods. In addition, it’s also helping to rehabilitate the farming sector by

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supporting people displaced by conflict to find short-term agricultural work, such as restoring fences, agricultural perimeters and irrigation channels. Thank you so much for your support of partners like PARC through Commitment for Life, which gives families like Esmat’s a chance to recover and rebuild their lives. This coming year Show the Love – February 2017 The ‘Show the Love ‘event in February is becoming an annual event knowing that climate change is already impacting on all the places we love and cherish. It can be seen in increased flooding and summer heatwaves. It is changing the seasons, upsetting crops and flowers, and disturbing the journeys of migrating birds. Over the past year, many countries, including the United Kingdom, have ratified the deal made at Paris 2015, a landmark climate deal which endeavours to limit global temperature rise to 1.5˚C. So this February, we need the government to know that people care about this. Whether you make one, wear one or share one, each green heart is a chance to begin a conversation about the things we love that climate change threatens and the opportunities for a world powered by clean and secure energy. Last year green hearts winged their way across the web and made a special appearance on the BT Tower. They were spotted in Parliament and on Premier League football managers. And in one giant leap for green heart-kind, one was even sent back to earth from the International Space Station. Celebrating 25 years In 2017 Commitment for Life remembers 25 years of walking alongside those who need justice. We are delighted that Rev Dr Susan Durber has kindly written a service for us. We will be producing a booklet during the year looking at how Commitment for Life has changed lives. Watch out for this new resource. Thank you all for your continued commitment and as Susan Durber says in her sermon: ‘Commitment for Life is one of the most counter-cultural statements that our church has ever made. It runs counter to the way most expert fundraisers think you should do it. And yet, it is profoundly Gospel. Jesus gave his life for God’s people. And Jesus asks of us our whole lives. And the amazing thing is, when you follow Jesus Christ, when you see what God has done in him, then making a commitment for life does not seem strange at all, just the natural way to respond to God’s grace.’ Fairtrade Fortnight 27 February – 12 March Churches were so much part of the original push to get people to buy Fairtrade products and the need is even greater now. Farmers are still trapped in a system that is unfair. However hard they work to provide for their families they still are not paid what they deserve. So…….. Don’t feed exploitation, Choose Fairtrade. We hope to be doing something special with the Fairtrade foundation during the year. Contributed by Wendy Firmin

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We live and breathe fair trade

Joining a company like Traidcraft is an honour. There are not many companies like this one, certainly not in the UK. Nor are they particularly numerous across Europe or the States. Fair trade, it seems has made big waves in the market but there aren’t many companies who are totally and unashamedly committed to “putting fair trade into commercial practice”, as our founding documents so simply put it.

Multinationals dip in and out of Fairtrade until they find something easier or more suited to their business scales, smaller companies see it as a good way to engage with a certain market segment, while others develop “Fairtrade Light” systems that kind of promise something, though no one is quite sure what exactly.

That makes Traidcraft and a handful of other companies really special. We live and breathe fair trade. And with that clarity comes a certain responsibility. A company that professes to put the principles of Fairtrade into commercial practice means doing business right, but also profitably. It means acting commercially and remaining 100% true to our founding principles. It means being better than the rest in everything we do, not cutting any corners by short changing producers or consumers. It means – and it demands – that we are successful.

I hope I can live up to this vision. I know that I have an inspiring set of colleagues who believe we can succeed. And I also know that we have a remarkable base of shareholders, supporters and customers who believe in what we do and wish us well on the way.

To succeed in our mission, we are going to have to make some changes. I believe that our products can taste better, look better and perform better. I believe that when we have the right products from the right producer groups we can begin to see transformative change at the start of the supply chain. I also believe we can reach out to new customers who are desperate for truly ethical, fair and tasty food and crafts. I also believe that you, our supporters, deserve unstinting acknowledgement for the amazing work that you do. Whether by selling, donating, giving talks or championing the case for justice, you are the many heroes who make up a movement.

I look forward to meeting with you over the coming year, and I want to thank you for giving me this once in a life time opportunity to make a big difference.

Robin Roth, Traidcraft CEO

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A Good Read

Richard Holloway, A Little History of Religion This book fulfils exactly what its title promises, but with more depth and elegance than the title might imply. Holloway offers an engaging canter through almost four millennia of religious history, zigzagging both chronologically and geographically into a comprehensive range of sources, contexts and story. The first two chapters set out the territory. ‘Is Anybody There?’ explores the origins, nature and purpose of religion, its relationship with human quests for meaning and the possibility of a supernatural force called God. Beliefs about death are used to show how religious thinking develops, is communicated, sanctified, symbolised and inevitably disputed, sometimes violently. A focus on the stories religions tell about themselves, especially about their prophets and sages, is promised. In ‘The Doors’, the reader is invited to witness a man in the desert paying rapt attention to a thorn bush, before considering how words might be spoken by a disembodied voice and received by a human mind. Is it through a door between the conscious and unconscious mind of the person or is it an opening between two minds, one supernatural? In response to these questions and as preparation for what is to follow, this chapter ends with a health warning: in matters to do with religion, you can be a non-believer or a true believer but make sure you are a critical believer. Explicit here is the challenge to readers to make up their own minds. Although Holloway recognises his history cannot follow a continuous line of development, he nevertheless manages to weave a spirited thread through what follows. From the beginnings of Hinduism in the Indus Valley and the composition of the Vedas around 1200 BCE, with a further chapter on Hindu images of God, we are storied into the world of Siddhartha Gautama, staying east to look into Jainism before whizzing back a few hundred years to meet the Wanderer of Ur and, through the account of Abraham’s abomination of idols, we are challenged to ask where ideas of God come from. Chapters 8 to 13 tell Hebrew stories of the ‘forth-tellers’, the prophets, their impact on Israel’s history and the suffering of its people. ‘Towers of Silence’ takes us deeper into battles between good and evil with the Zoroastrians, before leaving thoughts of life after death and travelling east along the Silk Road to China where pragmatism takes over. From Confucius and the Golden Rule, the focus moves to Lao Tse and the balance of Yin and Yang, then with a diversion into creation stories and their meaning, to Japan and Shinto. Religion gets ‘personal’ as we touch Greek and Roman gods, before Christianity is introduced in chapter 18, through ‘The Convert’, a ‘stock character in the drama of religion’. This is Paul whose story serves as an introduction to chapter 19, ‘The Messiah’, with attention given to biblical criticism. We go on to hear the Jesus story, before returning to Paul, the founder of Christianity, recognising that the events of this narrative, like other ‘events that come on tip toe and often change the world’, did alter the course of history. Next, the Early Church where argument and persecution

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cloud the picture but not to the degree that the growth of Christendom obscures the ‘peasant from Galilee who started it all’. Although the Christian story is far from over, attention shifts to Mecca and the story of Muhammad and the revelation of the Qur’an, scene-setting for the next chapter called ‘Submission’. Here Holloway explores monotheism, contextualising Islam alongside Judaism and Christianity, perhaps a little insensitively, although it is helpful for the inexperienced reader. But his explanation of the beliefs and practices of Islam is thoughtful and stirring, as ‘to hear at daybreak the cry of the muezzin pouring itself over a silent African village is to be pierced with longing’. He moves to the old problem of disputes, along the way explaining the irritation of literalism in any faith, and arrives at the hotly contested concepts of heaven and hell. Back to Christianity – it does feel seamless – looking at the way the Church fragmented and medieval Catholics found it necessary to invest absolute power and authority in one man and indulgences let you off the hook for a price, until Luther joined the cast. Cruelty and persecution were still the order of the day and remained so for centuries. Before a resumption of this account of Christianity’s Reformation, Holloway makes a four thousand miles zigzag for a final time into India where he highlights the commonalities between Luther and Nanak. Though they might not have liked each other very much, they were contemporaries and each reformed the religion of his birth. The story of religious wars across Europe rumbles on in ‘Beheading the Beast’ before the journey moves to its antidote in the story of George Fox and the Friends, which carries us across the Atlantic. Here the evil of slavery, ostensibly biblically justified, was confronted in 1688 by the Quakers, ‘Christianity’s conscience’. The focus remains in America for several chapters, charting the attacks on indigenous spirituality and on her ‘other crucified race, African Americans’, then describing the new religions and sects – the difference clearly explained – that have emerged there in the last two centuries. The concept of ecumenism introduces the explanation of Baha’i, followed by ‘Angry Religion’ and the battle fought by fundamentalists against science. The penultimate chapter revisits religious violence, coming to interesting conclusions and the book closes with a reflection on the potential end of religion and the growth of secular humanism. If the warp of Holloway’s tapestry is strung from these threads, the weft is the range of themes which reoccur throughout, for example: religion as a human construct; the mystery of God and the tyranny of truth claims; problems with orthodoxies and the power therein; the importance of symbols, and beautiful storytelling. These forty short chapters maintain a consistency throughout, each of five or six pages in length, illustrated with a simple, highly stylised line drawing. The chapters are all skilfully linked, creating the impression of continuity. Chapters open with a question or an engaging idea, variously contextual, provocative, informative, or simply inviting the reader to imagine. The style throughout is informal and the language accessible, with technical terms explained in an incidental way. Holloway is always in touch with his reader, expressing profound theological ideas by way of

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deceptively unpretentious writing. This is a book to delight and be appreciated by all, even those who profess to be knowledgeable. Julie Grove

Letter to Theresa May Please help us to preserve and develop Birmingham’s Shared Society Dear Mrs. May, We write to you as a group of concerned local charity leaders, to appeal for your support in helping us to continue to work with Birmingham City Council to build and maintain your vision of a shared society in this city. We represent a range of organisations delivering essential services to the city’s most vulnerable people in the fields of mental health, disability, homelessness, domestic violence, caring, substance misuse and offender rehabilitation – services which are facing unprecedented levels of disinvestment as the Council grapples with the need to deliver a balanced budget for next financial year. Council officers and elected members have been working intensively and constructively with us to find ways to deal with the current budgetary challenges. However, the imminent risks to the lives of vulnerable people are such that we feel we need to ask you for extra help. A consultation is currently underway on proposed cuts of £5m, rising to £10m in 2018/9, within the Supporting People and Third Sector Grant Programme, which has already absorbed cuts of 50% from an initial total of £50m. If carried out, these additional cuts will erode the housing and housing-related support which underpins the infrastructure of a shared society in Birmingham, and directly disadvantage unprecedented numbers of at-risk local people, including at least: · 2000 people with mental health problems; · 1670 homeless single people; · 520 homeless families; · 950 people with learning disabilities; · 600 people with physical and sensory disabilities; · 2100 victims of domestic violence; · 4200 vulnerable young people, including care leavers; · 750 ex-offenders and those at risk of reoffending; · 787 people with drug and/or alcohol dependencies. Our analysis indicates that the proposals would also place at risk an estimated £144m of levered income and critically destabilise a not-for-profit sector which has already absorbed disproportionate losses of funding. Our data shows that 50% of local not-for-profit services (including those providing preventative and rehabilitative support which reduce pressure on upstream and downstream provision such

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Accident and Emergency departments) report likely closure within 2 years should these cuts go ahead. In other words, the financial changes proposed would not be savings, but long-term costs borne by the most disadvantaged people in Birmingham. In early December, Birmingham dealt with a very public tragedy, when rough sleeper Chiriac Inout was found dead outside a car park in John Bright Street in the city centre on the coldest night of the year. The death of a single homeless person is one death too many, yet we are now seeing reports that around 20 homeless people have died as a result of the wave of cold weather sweeping across Europe. We believe that further deaths in Birmingham are likely if these proposed cuts go ahead, and are therefore appealing for you to urgently increase housing support and social care funding to help ensure that Birmingham – a city with a proud track record in inclusivity but a disproportionately high number of social challenges – is able to meet the needs of all its citizens. We warmly welcomed your commitment, given at the Charity Commission annual meeting on 9thJanuary, that government would step up to play an active role in tackling the "everyday injustices" which leave so many people in society feeling overlooked, and your recognition that charities and social enterprises have a key role to play in this agenda. However, it is not clear to us that there is a full appreciation at government level of the pressure on our local authority - pressure which is severely limiting its ability to meet its obligations to all the people of Birmingham. On this basis, we would also like to meet with you to discuss our concerns and to share our ideas as to how local voluntary groups can work with local and central government to meet these current social and financial challenges. We would be happy to welcome you to Birmingham to visit us and our service users - or we can come to you if that would be easier. Our history of working side-by-side with Birmingham City Council in supporting the people of this city is one we take great pride in. As partners, we and the Council are now faced with a catastrophic sea-change in our current and future resource-base, one which would permanently disable our ability to meet the needs of society’s most vulnerable people. Once these services are gone, they will be virtually impossible to regain. We respectfully ask for your practical and personal help in ensuring that the shared society in Birmingham isn’t dismantled, and is instead supported to flourish for the benefit of all. Yours sincerely, Brian Carr, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council Maureen Connolly, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid Helen Wadley, Birmingham Mind Dave Rogers, Midland Mencap Jean Templeton, St Basils Natalie Allen, Birmingham Changing Futures Together

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Chris Bates, Birmingham Rathbone Tom Harrison, Midland Heart Paul Wright, Fry Housing Matt Green, Crisis Muna Choudhury, Ashram Moseley Housing Association Gail Penberthy, BID Services

1943 Guide to Hiring Women:

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II. Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties: 1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters; they're less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently. 2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy. 3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters. 4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. 5. Stress at the outset the importance of time - the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up. 6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes.

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Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves. 7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change. 8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day. 9. Be tactful in issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts her efficiency. 10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this. 11. Get enough size variety in operator uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too strongly in keeping women happy.

Please send your contribution for next month’s Journey to the Editor, Mrs. Pat Davies, The Church @ Carrs Lane, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX

or by email to office@carrslane.co.uk.

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Room Hire at Carrs Lane Carrs Lane Conference Centre Ltd is in Birmingham city centre and within a few minutes walk of New Street and Moor Street train stations and the National Express coach station. Public car parking and bus stops are also nearby.

The Conference Rooms on offer are of several sizes and situated on three floors. We can support most types of events. Rooms can accommodate from 6 up to 350 delegates. You will find that our prices are very competitive. Our staff will be pleased to discuss ideas for your event with you and advise on the suitability of our facilities.

Hot and cold drinks can be supplied in the meeting rooms as often as required. Buffet meals can be pre-ordered. These range from a simple sandwich menu to a full buffet

Full details and prices are available on our website, www.carrslane.co.uk., or you may call the conference team on 0121 643 6151 if you have any questions or email booking@carrslane.co.uk.

Open here in the city at The Church at Carrs Lane

Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am - 2.30pm and most Sundays after morning worship

Visit us for your Fair Trade needs Traidcraft foods, gifts and much else -

0121 643 6151 fair-trade@carrslane.co.uk www.carrslane.co.uk

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The Church at Carrs Lane Regular Activities

SUNDAYS

Morning Worship Every Sunday at 10.30am with Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month

Children’s Church Second Sunday at 2.30pm

First Sunday Lunch First Sunday each month at 12.30pm

Church Meeting Second Sunday at 12 noon

Singing Group Third Sunday 9.45 – 10.15am

WEEK DAYS

Carrs Lane Lived Community meet for Prayers - Monday to Friday 7.30am and Monday to Thursday 7.00pm, all welcome.

Lunchtime Healing Service Every Wednesday 1.15pm

Prayer Group First Wednesdays at 7.30 pm

Thinking Allowed First Thursdays at 10.15 am

Harborne House Group Fourth Tuesdays 2.00pm (various locations)

Central House Group at Carrs Lane Third Wednesdays at 7.30pm

Heretics Anonymous Third Mondays at 7.30pm

Coffee Drop-in Fridays from 10.30am-12.00pm

Carrs Lane Choir Practice Fridays at 7.00pm

Carrs Lane Players (drama group) Fridays at 7.45 pm

Charity Knitting Circle First Tuesdays 10.00 am - 1.00 pm

Carrs Lane Walking Group usually meets monthly, see notice board

Carrs Lane Fair Trade Shop Tuesday - Saturday 10.30 am - 2.30 pm and most Sundays after morning worship

Counselling Centre by appointment Monday & Wednesday 10am - 5pm; Tuesday & Thursday 10am – 7.30pm

Contact details for The Church at Carrs Lane Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX

Telephone 0121 643 6151 Fax 0121 631 2118

www.carrslane.co.uk