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Contents Minister’s Letter ......................................................................................................... 3

News from the Birmingham Methodist Circuit ............................................................ 4

Sunday Worship during February .............................................................................. 5

Peace Hub ................................................................................................................ 7

Sustainability Fair ...................................................................................................... 8

About People ............................................................................................................. 8

Messages of Thanks…… .......................................................................................... 9

Prof John Alfred Blyth Hibbs OBE ........................................................................... 12

Carrs Lane Players .................................................................................................. 13

Ordination ................................................................................................................ 13

Carrs Lane Lived Community .................................................................................. 14

Carrs Lane Lived Community – Church Meeting Feedback Part 2 .......................... 15

Birmingham Churches Winter Night Shelter ............................................................ 17

First thoughts about Ghana ..................................................................................... 18

Commitment for Life ................................................................................................ 20

On This Day … ........................................................................................................ 22

A New Mexico? ....................................................................................................... 24

‘The Constant Irritation of Perpetual Amusement…’ ................................................ 25

50 signs you’ve made it… ....................................................................................... 25

Kids Page ................................................................................................................ 26

Lent colouring page ................................................................................................. 27

The Word and the Words… ..................................................................................... 28

The Paradox of Our Time in History ........................................................................ 30

The Church at Carrs Lane Regular Activities ........................................................... 32

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Minister’s Letter Dear friends,

imagine that most of us would say that the passing years bring comparatively few pleasant surprises – ageing is not easy – but something happened recently which brought a smile to my face. I went to renew my annual membership at the

university swimming pool…and was puzzled to be told that this year’s fee would be £70 less than the amount that I paid last year; this is not the direction in which things normally go. The Sports Centre employee and I pondered this unusual phenomenon for a few minutes, until we realised that I was 55 last birthday, that the relevant software picked up on this automatically – and that the cost tumbled dramatically on achieving this relatively modest non-landmark birthday. No complaints from yours truly! There is much talk of the ‘God of surprises’. Gerald Hughes wrote a best-selling book with this title and Isaiah 43.19 is often used to prepare people for an unknown and unknowable future: ‘I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?’ Realistically, though, I still don’t know whether I regard this as a ‘selling point’ for God or not: at times, the completely unexpected can be exhilarating, affirming, energising – at other times, it can be draining, confusing, annoying even. As a student of law, I was surprised to receive a call to Christian ministry, and I am not sure that this initial sense has ever gone away completely, even thirty-five years later. Much of the time, it is very humbling…but occasionally, it catches me out and I grapple with very different emotions. I suspect that there is a difference between the ‘God of surprises’ and a ‘surprising God’, but we do need these dimensions as a part of faith…not least to remind ourselves that we cannot ‘manage’ God out of the picture, try as we might; even within faith communities, there is much talk of order, control and management…of statistics, successful outcomes and measurable projects. We need to be open to the possibility that everything can be turned on its head, in spite of conscientious planning and presumed near-certainties. Boris Pasternak wrote that, ‘Surprise is the greatest gift which life can give us’. Sometimes, I have to remind myself of this, not least when it comes to matters of faith. With much love in Christ, Your friend and pastor,

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News from the Birmingham Methodist Circuit

Dear Sisters and Brothers

ne political commentator has recently described the forthcoming General Election as the most significant election that this country has faced since 1945. That is a debatable point, but there is no question that we as a nation

have to decide on the type of society we want to live in, which means thinking about how we relate to one another and the wider world. To help each one of us reflect on our values and vision several groups and organisations are compiling discussion papers, including the Joint Public Issues Team which is supported by the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches. Another ecumenical organisation called Together for the Common Good has written in its latest public statement: The Church cannot propose concrete political solutions, but its body of thinking and its people can inform rational argument, promote spiritual awareness and bring positive energy. We think that Christians of all traditions are ideally positioned, in their diverse spheres of influence, to introduce the practice of the Common Good at every level of society. As we prepare to decide about the future of Britain along with our neighbours on Thursday, 7 May, we the Birmingham Methodist Circuit challenge our own values and vision through the Holy Habits programme to be launched at the ICC on the morning of Sunday, 17 May. Grounded in our mission priorities of developing discipleship and offering hospitality, and built on the common life of the first Christians recorded in Acts 2, the programme will make us face up to how we relate to one another and the wider world as the people called Methodist in this time and place. Happy New Year and may the peace of God be with you! Neil Johnson (on behalf of the Superintendents’ Team) The Circuit Connector February/March 2015 Issue No. 25

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Sunday Worship during February

Lent Groups at Carrs Lane

These will commence at 2.30pm on Monday 23 February and 7.30pm on Thursday 26 February (with an invitation to Community Prayers beforehand at 7.00pm) Carrs Lane Lived Community 17 February: Prayer and Pancakes- prayer at 7pm followed by pancakes. We'll

provide pancakes, bring a filling of your choice to share. It would be helpful to have numbers in advance. 19-20 February: There will be no community prayers on these two days. Resuming on Monday 23 February. Film Club - Evening Prayer at 7.00pm followed by a film. Thurs 26 February: UK Gold (E). March 26: The Hiding Place 7/8 March: "You are the Salt of the Earth", a Taize meeting for those aged 15-35 with a brother from the community will be taking place here and at St Martins. There will be evening prayer at 7.30pm open to all. We are looking for people who could host those who come from outside Birmingham. If you can help with accommodation please email: taizebirmingham@gmail.com 29 March: On Palm Sunday there will be a vigil for peace at Aldermaston (Nuclear Weapons Factory) Speak to Matthew or Steph for more details.

Sunday 1 February 10.30am Morning worship including the Lord’s Supper led by Neil Riches Key passage: Mark 1.21 – 28 Worship will be followed by First Sunday Lunch – all welcome 4.00pm Street Banquet Worship and hospitality for the most vulnerable members of Birmingham’s diverse communities, inspired by Jesus’ story of the Great Feast Sunday 8 February 10.30am Morning worship led by Margaret Checkley 2.45pm for 3.00pm Children’s Church Theme: ‘On Fire – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’ Sunday 15 February

10.30am Morning worship led by Neil Riches Key passage: Mark 9.2 – 9 Sunday 22 February 10.30am Morning worship led by Revd John Barnett 6.00pm Radical worship – continuing the series on ‘seeing through the eyes of the world church’

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Notices

Zweibrücken/Ernstweiler. The dates for our bi-annual exchange are Thurs 21 to Mond 25 May. Based on current fares the total price per person will start from around £240. If you would like to join us please speak to Tim Batty, Donald Payne, Andrew or Jill Veitch Carrs Lane Walking weekend 23-26 October There are still a few places available on this year’s walking weekend at Lindors Country House Hotel, cost £198.72 for 3 nights, £132.47 for 2 nights. Please contact Ann Parkin ASAP if you wish to join us. £30 now, and full amount in April to qualify for our 4% discount Saturday 7 February 8 Week Mindfulness Course 10:30 - 12 noon in Wolverhampton Chaplaincy Centre. Cost £80. Mindfulness in Lent -Kingwinsford 6 week course start Mon 7:30 - 9 pm £30.Info Sarah Bruce sarah@act2change.co.uk Tuesday 10th February: Peaceful Act of Worship and Witness at UAV Engines (drones factory) in Shenstone. At Shenstone Railway Station an act of worship lasting from 2.30 - 3.30pm. Details from johnflit@hotmail.co.uk. Events at Barnes Close Walking With God (Thursdays) 12 Feb, 12 March, 9 April £15 per person per day. Enjoy peace, tranquillity, good food and spend time with God. 10am - 3.30pm. Quiet Retreat - Journeying with Jesus. Listen to God, allow him to minister to us and bless us, and deepen our relationship with Him. Tues to Thu 3-5 March - £140 Full board. For more information contact: Ian Ring, 01562 710231 Email: cfrenquiry@aol.com

Prayer in the way of Taize Third Sunday of the month at 6pm.15 Feb St John’s & St Peter’s Ladywood, 15 March South Aston URC. All Welcome. More info from 0121 478 3841phpaw2@btinternet.com Love your neighbour: Think, Pray, Vote Conference at Coventry Central Hall on Saturday 21 February. Keynote address Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Tickets for the full day

are booked, but tickets for the morning session are available, including the keynote address. 10-11.45am. £5 suggested donation. More info from Matt Collins jointpublicissues.org.uk Social Media for Beginners - training at Church House – 24 March aimed at those who want to use social media to actively engage with their community. The day will start with a practical session helping delegates get connected – with step-by-step instructions in getting started on face book and twitter; and will also include a look at the potential benefits of using social media, plus tips on how to use/write for it. The day is free, includes lunch, and open to anyone who attends a United Reformed church (lay person, elder, minister). Places are limited, but to register please email emma.pearce@urc.org.uk. Disabled Christians Fellowship meetings Saturday 10.30am 28 March, 23 May at Waterloo Road Chapel, Waterloo Road, B25 8JR. Further info from 0121 440 3564 or www.throughtheroof.org. All ages and abilities welcome.

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Peace Hub

e are warmly invited to the official launch of Peace Hub, a new centre opened by Central England Quakers.

What is Peace Hub? Quakers believe that a just and peaceful world is possible if we work together to make change in our own lives and to build local, national and international structures that support peace and justice. Peace Hub is a centre for everyone who is in sympathy with this call to action: Quakers, the wider peace movement and the general public alike. Everyone is welcome to pop into our Hub on Bull Street, Birmingham, to take action for peace and justice from resisting the arms trade to supporting Fairtrade.

Peacemakers (the West Midlands Quaker Peace Education Project) are based on the first floor. They work in partnerships with local schools to help build more peaceful communities by delivering training to adults and children in skills such as peer mediation and conflict resolution. Launch Event On 26 February we would love for you to join us to celebrate our official launch. Between 11:00 and 18:00 we will be open for the public to join us in celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight, with an action for people to take to encourage local supermarkets to stock Fairtrade goods. Peacemakers will be inviting local schools to attend and take part in a competition to promote Fairtrade. You are welcome to drop-in at any time during the day.

From 18:30 we invite you to join us for a reception with light refreshments, hosted by our sister organisation the Priory Rooms (next door at 40 Bull St). There will be a chance to discuss why we have felt called to promote peace and justice in Birmingham through the Hub, and how we hope to work together with the community, as well as an introduction to our next peace & justice theme: conscientious objection.

We look forward to you joining us in celebration of this new peace-making project in the heart of Birmingham. For the evening event, RSVP to office@peacehub.org.uk or Peace Hub, 41 Bull St, Birmingham, B4 6AF.

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Sustainability Fair

o mark Climate Week 2015 and Fair Trade Fortnight, Birmingham GreenFest is coming to the famous Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Saturday 7 March from 10.00 – 17.00. Don’t miss the special offer entrance price of £2 for adults

(normal price £7) and free entrance for under 16’s.

Attractions include the first ever auction of ethically traded and locally sourced goods presented by local auctioneers Biddle & Webb who are generously supporting fair trade charities. Back by popular demand is the Birmingham Fair Trade and Ethical Market selling a range of locally sourced and fairly traded produce as well as sustainable and green exhibitors.

There will be Bollywood dancing performances, workshops and henna painting by the talented local troupe Hina & Co and kids of all ages can get take part in hands-on environmental art interventions including musical instrument making, jewellery making, junk art and model making and an exciting new performance art intervention “Plastic Planet”. Hot food and refreshments will be on sale from the terrace or you can blend your own fruit drink on the smoothie bike. Enjoy an entertaining, creative and sustainable fun day out at the beautiful gardens and glass houses. Carrs Lane Fair Trade shop will be there.

About People

ur thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Priscilla Steele and John Hibbs, who both died recently. We also send our condolences to the family and friends of Revd David Dones.

The funeral for Priscilla will be held at Westall Park Woodland Cemetery, at 1.00pm on Wednesday 4 February. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday 17 February at 1.00pm at Carrs Lane, followed by refreshments. All are welcome to both. Family flowers only please. The family is keen for it to be a celebration, and that people are not to wear black.

letter of thanks has been received from Rev Neil Thorogood, principal of Westminster College. He expresses thanks to all the churches of the West Midlands Synod for their generous support for the £7million Westminster

College appeal. He ends his message with greetings to all the churches.

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Messages of Thanks……

From the Ex-Treasurer…..

would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who kindly and generously contributed to my retirement gift from the church. This was not something that I was expecting to receive, but it is of course gratifying to know that one’s efforts

over the last few years are appreciated. It has been a particularly demanding time, following which it would be good to think that Martin Stokes (as my successor) would find life a little easier. However, based on past experience, it is likely that there will continue to be significant and difficult matters that the treasurer will need to be involved with. Best of luck, Martin.

Derek Duffield

…..and Ex-Church Secretary…..

am simply overwhelmed by the generosity of your gift presented to me at the last Church Meeting. My service as Church Secretary has been a challenge, a joy and a privilege, all rolled into an eventful and very busy six years!

For so long I wasn’t able to make much contribution to the life of our fellowship because of professional pressures, so I was pleased to be able to return to serving eldership when I retired in 2004 and then to pick up these other responsibilities four years later. It’s been especially rewarding to have been so involved in our ecumenical journey and the birth of TCaCL. Thank you for trusting me with that responsibility. I’m delighted to have such a committed and able successor in Ann; we are extremely fortunate to have her, and I wish her well. As for my gift…I know exactly what I shall do with it. Our recent expedition to the bottom of the world showed up the shortcomings of my camera. It was difficult to capture the image I wanted – frequently of an endearing penguin or two – when all I could see on the LCD screen in the bright, white wilderness was my own reflection! I needed a camera with a viewfinder and a better zoom, so that’s what I shall buy, ready for the next adventure. And I shall think of you all every time I use it…thank you so much!

Julie Grove …..and Christian Aid…..

any thanks to all who sang or collected in the Carol Sing in the Cathedral Precincts a week before Christmas. We raised £218 for

Christian Aid making it all well worthwhile. Particular thanks to Tim who led us on our musical way. Just a note for your diaries: Christian Aid Week 2015 is 10-16 May.

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.....Christian Aid…..

ongratulations to all who took part in the Christian Aid Sponsored Swim on Sunday 11 January at Birmingham University Sports Centre swimming baths. The team swam a total of 267 lengths, and Neil swam 60 of them! Pat Davies

has already received over £400 sponsorship money before we go to press. Thank you all for your support.

…..Foodbank…..

Dear Partner

e wanted to let you know that we have received a magnificent total of over 6 tonnes of food from your fantastically generous harvest, Christmas and regular donations. We have completed our annual stock take (having over 8

tonnes of food in store) and are very well supplied with most foods. For instance we have 36 boxes of baked beans, 24 of vegetables, 19 of tomatoes which will last for quite a few months Please can we ask you therefore if your are a regular donor or if you are planning any special collections for us in the next period up to Easter to ask your members / colleagues to donate only any of the following:-

Tinned fish, fruit, vegetable curry or halal meats; smash potato mixes; steamed puddings (not rice); rice (0.5 or 1kg size only); coffee; long life fruit juice (not squash); long life milk; pasta sauces; gravy, tomato ketchup or HP sauces; packet soups (not tins); toilet rolls; deodorants; tooth paste and brushes; feminine hygiene pads (not tampons); disposable razors.

We very much value your support and cannot thank you all enough for your generosity. We shall continue to update you as the food list needs change.

All Good Wishes from the staff at Aston and Nechells Foodbank

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.....Amnesty International….. Greetings Card Campaign 2014 Write for Rights

nce 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 in December last year, also to everybody

who took cards home to write. Thank you to everybody who donated money towards postage, cards and also gave stamps and to Margaret Cross who made all the cards. As a result of everybody’s effort we sent about 100 cards. This is the 30th year that people at The Church at Carrs Lane have taken part in this campaign. This is pretty amazing.

In early 2012, Neil suggested that we try a different format for the campaign and so we decided to write the cards during worship .This is the third year that we have written the cards this way and many appreciate the quiet and the space to concentrate on the people we were being asked to contact.

We know your messages of support mean a huge amount, because the recipients have told Amnesty so.

Several members of the congregation have already received a message from Chelsea Manning. In this she thanks people for writing to her.

She continues ' I greatly appreciate all the strong words of support and warm words of comfort that I receive each day. I wish I had the time to write to everyone who sends me letters and cards.'... 'I am also glad that Amnesty International and its many members are reaching out to help me...'

Please do let me know if you do receive a reply from anybody else. 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

….and Save the Children……

any thanks to all who sent Christmas greetings though the Journey – so far we have received £270 for Save the Children. Ed

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Prof John Alfred Blyth Hibbs OBE

ohn Hibbs was born in Birmingham but spent his childhood in Brightlingsea, the Essex trading sea-faring town from where came both sides of his family, Hibbs and Blyth.

His father died just ten days after John’s birth, so John was brought up by his mother, supported by two aunts and his grandmother. He was educated first locally, followed by Colchester Royal Grammar School, and boarded at Hailbury College Hertfordshire. By the time he was 18, John was a committed pacifist, following his father, a Congregational minister, and satisfied the war-time Tribunal for registration as a conscientious objector. He spent the time he would otherwise been on National Service working in agriculture and hospitals. He returned to Birmingham in 1948 to study Bcom (Social Studies) degree of Birmingham University at Woodbrooke , one of the Quaker Selly Oak Colleges. During this time, he joined Carrs Lane Church, during the ministry of Leslie Tizard. The turning point in his career was securing a second-year placement with a bus coach company, Premier Travel Cambridge. That placement supported John’s Bcom dissertation “The place of the motor bus in the rural economy” and led to a job in 1950 as Personal Assistant to the Managing Director. John learned a lot about running buses from his boss, but by 1952 the company was in trouble, and John had to go. He was fortunate to gain the position of Rees Jeffreys Research Student at the London School of Economics. His Msc research project examined the economics of the road transport licensing system, and became the foundation of much of his later career. Moving to Birmingham Polytechnic was driven by him and Paddy finding each other again after both had divorced, but it also became a great career move. In due course he became Director of Transport Studies, and subsequently Professor of Transport Management. In 1983 he gained his own Phd. It was about this time that I got to know John with our mutual interest in transport, especially buses, both John Hickman and I were acknowledge in his book “ The Country Bus” he also wrote a book on “The Country Chapel” including all the historic free churches. We were both Elders at the same, John was never too happy with URC preferring freedom of the individual church, so joined the Congregational Federation. In recent years John returned to Carrs Lane where he enjoyed the services, and meeting up with old friends. John is survived by children Mike, Alison and Robin by his first wife, Constance, and five step-children Krysia, Cyrrhian, David, Enistine and Tim from his second marriage

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to Paddy. It was always a pleasure to visit John, who was always so appreciative of the time we spent chatting about our shared Christian belief, and of course buses. John grew in the Congregational Church, went to an Anglican School, followed by a Quaker College and married Paddy, a Roman Catholic. Ecumenism at the grass roots!

Peter Redwood

Carrs Lane Players

reminder that Carrs Lane Players will present ‘Ten Times Table’, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, on Thursday and Friday 19 & 20 February at 7.30pm and Saturday 21 February at 5.30pm. Tickets will cost £7 each.

The play is about the increasingly rancorous attempts of a dysfunctional committee to organise a festival celebrating the ‘Pendon Twelve’ rebellion culminating in a re-enactment that mirrors the original event all too closely. Pre-play suppers will be served at 6.00pm on Thursday and Friday priced at £5 and afternoon tea on Saturday at 4.00pm for £4. Tickets are available from your usual sellers, and

for your convenience there will be a sales desk in the Church foyer after Sunday morning services until the date of the play. Please buy your tickets soon to avoid disappointment. New supporters are welcome, so invite your friends to come.

Alan Emson

Ordination

he members of Hall Green Baptist Church and Trinity United Reformed Church cordially invite you to the Ordination and Induction of Elaine

Hutchinson on Saturday 14 March at 3.00pm at Hall Green Baptist Church, B29 9BQ. Following the service you are invited to join us for refreshments, for catering purposes please reply with approximate numbers to, Alison Crathorne, 0121 777 6548 ali.abc@tesco.net by 6 March 2015

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Carrs Lane Lived Community

e had two main motivations that brought us here to Birmingham. Firstly, we wanted to find out to what extent Jesus is to be taken literally, when he speaks of helping the poor. In Switzerland we are doing volunteering work

with the YMCA and our local church, however we’re not helping the poor in a literal sense, but rather in a figurative sense (people struggling with God, having problems with their families or school…) At some point we realized, that we, presumably, do not know one person who is actually poor. We decided that, to find out how Jesus wants to be understood, we should actually go out and meet the poor. Of course we could have tried that at home, but the inhibition level was lower in an unknown environment. Secondly, the thought of living in a community came up some time already and this was a perfect opportunity to actually try it for a somewhat longer time period. We have found out by now, that it does not matter for us whether Jesus’ words should be taken literally or not. We love the volunteering work we do here and are moved by the people we have met so far. For example, I, Jürg, had a quite a long chat with a person struggling to fit in to society, and was really impressed. I always assumed all ‘those’ people to be on drugs all the time and unable to have a normal conversation, but he seemed to be quite smart and knew a lot more about politics, than I know. It didn’t seem to me, that he is a wreck, just something happened in his life, and after that a lot changed, but in some sense he remained the same smart person he ever was. I, Jenny, am impressed by the asylum seekers and their will to learn English as fast as possible. In Switzerland, asylum seekers are often accused of not wanting to integrate themselves into society. Concerning the people I have met so far, this would be a very wrong accusation. It must be very hard, coming here with nothing, being put in some hostel and not understanding a word of what people are saying. And still they somehow find St. Chads Sanctuary where they are welcomed. I am amazed by everything that is happening there. All in all we enjoy our stay here very much. Thank you all for welcoming us so warmly and letting us be part of the congregation for these five weeks.

Jürg and Jenny Spaak

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Carrs Lane Lived Community – Church Meeting Feedback Part 2

s promised we have taken time to reflect on the feedback from the church meeting in November. Hopefully this encompasses some of the more thoughtful response we hoped to offer, but we remain convinced that dialogue

is always more fruitful than a printed article, so would encourage those who had particular issues or questions to explore them with us personally. We were pleased to see prayer featuring so strongly among the things the wider congregation value about what we have brought to the church. We take our commitment to a life centred on prayer very seriously, and are pleased people feel this is having a positive impact on the life of the church. We are also grateful for your affirmation of some of the other things we are involved in, including our ministry of hospitality and the engagement with the city and wider world. It seems one of the primary, frequently repeated concerns was around the need for better communication. We agree this hasn’t always been as successful as it might have been and share some of your frustrations. After reflection and discussion among ourselves, we want to come back to you for ideas about how this might improve. The main concrete suggestion from the meeting was writing for Journey. As there has rarely been an edition without an article by one of the community, we would love to hear how you think this could be used more effectively. Our invitation to join us for dinner is still open to everyone, just ask. We are around as often as possible on Sunday mornings and happy to chat over coffee. Within the bounds of a working life which means daytime activities are almost always impossible, and the reality of a life all-too-often full to bursting point, we would love to hear your ideas about how we can work together to build better relationships. We wondered whether questions about how we were involved in the life of the Church at Carrs Lane were also linked to poor communication, so thought it might be useful to take this opportunity to communicate some of the ways which we are present here. As you probably all know, we pray together publicly in the centre twice a day. We consider this the most important thing we do, the heart of our existence; so for us, the connection to Carrs Lane is very clear. We have welcomed into the flat somewhere in the region of three hundred different people in the last year and a half. We attend Sunday morning services whenever we can and between us are on the rotas for first Sunday lunch, reading, helping with junior church, and leading intercessions. We have helped with the Traidcraft shop, street banquet and children’s church. We host a monthly film club and monthly shared meal and discussion evening here to which all are welcome. Equally, we would also like to reassure those concerned that we do not recognise what is being done, or has been in the past by the church. We are neither suggesting we are doing something entirely new, nor do we wish to undermine what is already being done. We know we draw on ancient and ongoing traditions within the church

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and are sure many of the things we are trying to live are being done by individuals in the church currently, or have been part of the life of this church in the past. In answer to the several questions about our involvement in different existing ministries in the church: while at times it may be wholly appropriate for us to support these, we do not wish to take over or duplicate ministries already being effectively fulfilled by others if our energies can be better directed elsewhere, adding different dimensions to the life and work of this church. We are neither claiming exclusive rights to the version of the gospel we are trying to live; nor criticising those who have been inspired to live out their faith in a different way. We are trying to live a life honestly guided by our experience of prayer, which will both overlap with and diverge from the way others are living out their faith. If sometimes that means repeating something that has failed in the past, that does not necessarily make it wrong to try again; if it means doing something which is happening already, let’s talk about how we can do it together; and if sometimes, it means testing a different model which is outside what we as a church have known before, then perhaps faith allows us to give that a go too. We know having both the time and energy to try to live our lives in a different way to the prevailing models in society is a huge privilege. We are honestly trying to take those blessings and make the best use of them we can. There are times when we have and will fail. Fortunately, the heart of the gospel is forgiveness: when we get things wrong we know we are forgiven by God and trust we are forgiven by you too. Our intent remains, individually and collectively, to try to share the gospel we have received with others as best we can. There is, and always will be, more to say, but that’s probably enough for now!

Matthew, Melissa and Steph

Fair Trade AGM

onday 23 March 10.30am Carrs Lane Fair Trade Annual General Meeting at Carrs Lane, including a report on last year’s trading and activities, a presentation of accounts and election of officers. Light refreshments will be

served from 10.00am. Following the formal meeting there will be a talk by Joan Davies following her visit to Ghana last November when she was part of a Traidcraft Meet the People tour.

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Birmingham Churches Winter Night Shelter

he Birmingham Churches Winter Night Shelter started to run for its fourth year, beginning on Monday 12 January for 8 weeks. It is an ecumenical project which sees churches offering shelter, friendship, dignity and hope to those who

find themselves sleeping rough on the streets of Birmingham this winter. The shelter uses the ‘roving shelter’ model, devised by Housing Justice and 7 different churches host it in their building on a different night of the week. It is a 12 bed shelter, providing a hot meal, friendship and hospitality, a bed for the night and breakfast, and transport to and from the venues as many of them are a few miles out of the city. Guests are assessed and referred to the shelter by the homeless charity Sifa Fireside, and are met by street outreach teams who travel with them to the shelter venue. It is a very collaborative project that includes local churches, outreach teams, Thrive Together Birmingham, Housing Justice and Sifa Fireside. The shelter is only possible because of the time and resources offered by churches and volunteers but the role of a shelter coordinator is vital in keeping the project running, and so Thrive Together Birmingham made the decision to recruit a new part time coordinator for 6 months, and have now recruited David Bebb, a church host coordinator at one of the church venues for the last couple of years. We have 7 host churches providing their building, volunteers and food, as well as 4 outreach teams and Sifa Fireside also part of the project supporting the homeless guests and providing referrals. However, we do still have a couple of resource needs which we hope you might consider supporting us with. Our main capital overhead is transport, specifically minibus costs and bus passes for guests, who struggle to be able to access the shelter if they have to make their own way there. We have volunteers providing minibuses for 3 nights and are hopeful there may be other offers. We have a good relationship with Shencare who provide them for us with a driver at a discounted rate and so we expect the costs to be £1,112. We also provide bus passes for the guests so that they can return to the city centre where they can access support through Sifa Fireside and other agencies. The bus passes cost £1,776 but we are hopeful that we will be able to negotiate the price. Although we have now recruited a shelter coordinator, we did so in faith, having not yet secured all the funds needed for the pot, which is a part time role for 6 months, the costs for which total £7176. We have made some trust applications and are hopeful of a positive response but would very much welcome any financial contributions toward this post. For more information contact Sarah Turner, 0121 426 0442, info@thrivetogetherbham.org.

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First thoughts about Ghana

was delighted to be going on holiday to Ghana last November, especially as I had not visited West Africa previously. Ghana is often described as “Africa's friendliest country” and we were certainly given a warm welcome by all the people we met. It

is also reputed to be the “land of sunshine” and indeed the temperature was over 30 degrees at midday and it didn't cool down much in the evening! As it was the dry season we didn't experience much rain but when it did rain, it poured, but for a very short time. It was not going to be an ordinary holiday as I knew before I embarked on it! It was a Traidcraft Meet the People Tour and that was exactly what we did. We were privileged to be able to visit Traidcraft Producers – the farmers, the people, mostly women, involved in processing the harvest ready for export as well as development projects. There were twelve of us from different parts of the UK, unknown to each other before we met in the Traidcraft Offices in Gateshead for a briefing day. We all shared a common interest in fair trade and we were looking forward to meeting the farmers and others and to see for ourselves how Traidcraft has worked with them over the years and to hear and be able to see how the Fairtrade premium that they receive, in addition to getting a fair price, is benefitting their communities. Most of us met up at Frankfurt from where we flew to Accra, arriving there mid evening. We were very soon aware of the heat and the traffic, the noise and the general buzz of activity. I think we were all glad to get to our hotel with our luggage after a long day and we knew we had to be up early in the morning for a sight seeing tour of Accra. In addition to Independence Arch – Ghana became independent in 1957 – and the country's Parliament House, we went to see handcrafted wooden coffins which come in various shapes designed to represent and celebrate an aspect of the deceased's life. We saw cars, beer bottles and a variety of types of fish all painted in bright colours.

Lunch was usually a buffet and I think we all enjoyed the delicious African food which had been prepared for us. Fried plantain was a great winner as were the different types of fish. My favourite was tilapia, freshly caught, I think. Afterwards there were large bowls of fresh fruit – mango, pineapple, water melon. We drank bottles and bottles of water. Our first Producer visit was to Serendipalm. Africa has been home to palm trees for centuries and Traidcraft

has worked with Serendipalm to develop a sustainable Fair Trade palm oil. It takes

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so- called fresh fruit bunches from smallholder farmers in the surrounding area for processing at the factory; they are mostly women who clean up the palms and we were able to talk with some of them. They enjoy above average wages compared to other small scale processors and work in a safer environment. The farmers too receive benefits, including technical advice and assistance in farming organically and sustainably. We were actually standing in the palm plantation listening to one of the farmers explaining these things and more.

We saw how the Fairtrade premium is being spent for the community including their premium funded borehole which they were proud to show us. Following this we went to see the processing plant where the oil is extracted from the palm fruits and clarified ready for shipment to the UK. It was already dark and we had just had our first experience of rain and these factors combined with the smoke and steam created by the wood-fired boilers are not easily forgotten!

The oil is used in the UK for the world's first Fairtrade marked household cleaning range 'Clean & Fair' pioneered by Traidcraft and successfully launched in February 2014, There is lots more to say about our visit to Ghana - see the March edition of Journey. There will also be the opportunity to hear more at Carrs Lane Fair Trade AGM on Monday 23 March at 10.30. Do come.

Joan Davies

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Commitment for Life (from Moving Stories 178)

The one who gives thanks

amdan Abdellatif’s name means ' the one who gives thanks' and 'servant of the gentle one’. Hamdan certainly gives thanks for the expertise shared with him by Christian Aid partner PARC (now called the Palestine Agricultural

Development Association) to build a water cistern on his land. It means he is no longer a slave to the land or the weather. Hamdan, originally a teacher of English, has a small produce business, selling vegetables at the local market in Tulkarem in the West Bank. He and his wife Suadahmed are retired, so their crops are their main source of income. 70% of people in the West Bank depend on both agriculture and a second employment. 25% of West Bank Palestinian families’ main income is from home agriculture. With three sons and twin daughters he needs that income to put them through university. Like so many Palestinians, education is vitally important as it is seen as a way out of their current situation. Hamdan proudly displays his crop of green beans that is irrigated from water collected in his reservoir during the dry months. This was built with the help of PARC. Hamdan’s reservoir has empowered him; he knows he has benefited from signing the contract and charter with PARC to build it on his land. He explains, "During the winter the reservoir is very useful. In summer, around May, I close the pipe and use the water from the local well to irrigate my crops. When that gets low I can use my reserve rain harvested water. This gives me around 20 days’ supply. The tank will water 3 dunums in the greenhouse. Last year I was able to supply my own water from November to April. This has saved me money too.” PARC normally supply 100 or 200 cubic metre capacity tanks. If the farmer feels he needs more than this he must pay the full cost for that extra part. PARC pay 75% of the costs of building the reservoir. They have received match funding from the Dutch government for this project. Christian Aid supports PARC with core funding which allows them to train and employ skilled agronomists to work with farmers. Other members of the local co-operative spoke of their thanks for all PARC has achieved. “We would like to thank PARC for implementing the ‘building cisterns for rainwater harvesting scheme’. We hope the spirit of the farmers comes through. The 32 cisterns in this area are making the greenhouses an independent force out of season. Instead of pumping directly to the greenhouse the water goes into the pan (reservoir) and then can be used for irrigation later.” Hamdan’s story is one of hope but, when he says that his biggest regret is that neither he nor his family have ever been able to obtain a permit to worship in Jerusalem, the reality of his situation comes into sharp focus.

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Another farmer’s story from Gaza I met with a farmer, his name was Rami Salim Kudeih, he is 33 years of age, with a wife and five children, the youngest child being one month old, and the oldest nine years of age. I asked what he wanted to grow on this land and he said, “Wheat and lentils. This is the season for it. The season may leave us and we will not have done any work because we are in constant fear of attacks from Israel. They have killed people here before on this land that is called Um Khamseen. When the Israelis shoot, I feel angry and sad. A woman was killed in a nearby field too, within the last two years. My sister has also been injured whilst working on these fields, she suffered from a head injury but now she is better thanks to God, but sometimes in the cold, the pain comes in her head.” The saddest thing of all, is that when I asked Rami, what he thought the international world could do; the world outside of the open air prison that is Gaza, his reply was indeed heartbreaking. It showed me that he had lost hope, that he is living with the situation as it is, with no sight for improvement. “They [the Israeli military], shoot often, they shoot in our direction, at the land, and alhamdulillah [praise to God] so far no deaths… but we never know what will happen. The only solution is for the internationals to accompany us in the fields so we can do our work.” I was expecting a response where he would ask the world to raise their voices and put pressure on the world leaders to put a stop to these crimes against humanity, but in fact, he gave a response which showed his resignation to the life that they are subjected to in Gaza, the life of living in constant fear of being attacked by Israel. This is not how they should live, this is not how anyone should live, but the people of Gaza do. When will we do something to let these people live the life they have a right to and deserve? During our time this morning out on the field, we were between 100 – 150 metres away from the fence, things were quiet, though we did see two Israeli tanks rolling around close by, and then go into hiding. The farmers managed to carry out their work in peace and then we left. The point is though, they should not need to have any internationals present, they should be able to go safely to their land without any worries.

Contributed by Wendy Firmin

Reminder – If you have not made your donation yet please do so in February. Check with Andrew Wood if you are not sure. Thanks.

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On This Day … An outline of what Carrs Lane Church did during 1914 From the Carrs Lane Journal February 1915 The Church Minute Book 1914 I have been privileged to have access recently to the Minute Book of Carrs Lane Church, and, finding there were so many occurrences that had passed from my own mind, it appeared that a review of the work of the Church, as recorded in the Minute Book, might be interesting to others. 1914 began with Thanksgiving Sunday, when £1,270 was collected, which sum cleared the Church from debt. At the first Church Meeting mention was made of the proposal to form a Congregational Club in the centre of the city, which it was hoped would afford facilities to the members of the various Churches for meetings, appointments, and social intercourse. Mr. Berry stated that such a club was in existence in Manchester, where it was much appreciated, and where it had fulfilled the object of its promoters. This excellent suggestion received a good deal of support, and I understand that a committee was formed to evolve a workable scheme. An interesting characteristic of this committee was that it was formed of Baptists and Congregationalists, the two local bodies having decided to work together in the matter. A good many difficulties were encountered – principally those of rent, suitable rooms and site, and the probable membership – and before any definite solutions were arrived at the War broke out and the matter was shelved. In February the Missionary Committee were asked to make arrangements for an appeal for £400, which was estimated to be Carrs Lane’s share of the amount expected from Birmingham towards raising £100,000 required by the L.M.S. to wipe off their accumulated deficit and to give them a reasonably sound financial prospect. It appears that the response to this appeal was excellent, and brought the total sum contributed by Carrs Lane to £372. Perhaps it is well to remark here that regular subscriptions have been kept up with noteworthy loyalty at Carrs Lane in spite of the many insistent calls for help that have arisen as the direct and apparent results of the War. The question of how the attendance and interest at Church Meetings might be increased was brought before the Church in April, and suggestions were invited. Discussion on the subject took place at subsequent meetings, and in September certain very interesting proposals were unanimously adopted. The details of this change are by now in the hands of all Church members, but I am stating fully the programme of subjects which will occupy the meetings after the ordinary business has been transacted, because the happenings of the Church Meetings must be of interest to many Carrs Laners who at present are not in actual membership with us.

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Church Meetings 1914 Feb 4: Deceased members. New members. Service of commemoration and praise. Mar 4: Conversation on family Worship. April 1: Review of work among the young people. April 29: Address on some notable religious book. June 3: Reports on May meetings. July 1: Some aspects of foreign mission work. Sept. 2: Ordinary business. Sept. 30: Some experiences of Sunday during the holidays. Nov. 4: Reports on Autumnal meetings. Dec. 2: Committees nominated. The home work of our Church. Dec. 30: Committees elected. From the Carrs Lane Journal February 1965

A glimpse of one of VSO’s longest running programmes in Africa’s most populous nation fifty years ago. The current areas of VSO Nigeria’s work are HIV/AIDS, education, secure livelihoods and national and international volunteering. A Year in Africa (by A.J. Smith) Calabar is a large and in some ways rather beautiful town, surrounded by creeks, dense forest and mangrove swamps, in the south-east corner of Nigeria. The quaint names Duke Town, Creek Town, Five Fathom Point, Monkey Creek, and Parrot Island are reminders of its past association with slave traders and “palm oil ruffians.” It was to this town, with its 100 inches of annual rainfall, that I was sent for one year under the Voluntary Service Overseas Scheme. My assignment was to teach physics, chemistry and mathematics at Hope Waddell Training Institution for boys. Hope Waddell, named in honour of the first Church of Scotland missionary to West Africa, is a secondary school of about 400 students, practically all of them boarders. H.W.T.I., founded in 1895, is one of the oldest and best-known secondary schools in Nigeria, numbering among its Old Boys Dr. Azikwe, the president of the Republic, and Sir Francis Ibriam, the Governor of the Eastern Region and one of the leading figures in the World Council of Churches. The school was founded by the Church of Scotland Mission and is still administered by it. My work was interesting, rewarding, often enjoyable, sometimes exasperating, and, I hope, useful. The boys (perhaps I should call them young men as many were older than I) were eager to learn, which tends to make a teacher’s job easier, but does not automatically guarantee good discipline in the classroom: boys will be boys, and Nigerian boys are no exception. All instruction is done in English so I did not have to master any native language, but it took me some time to get used to the pupils’ names: for example, Ugbagha, Mybemana, Okoronkwo may be more colourful but they are more tongue-twisting than Brown or Jones. During school holidays I had a chance to see a little of the rest of Nigeria – as far north as Kano on the edge of the Sahara desert. En route I spent a few weeks in the

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plateau country around Jos, a region inhabited by primitive pagan tribes. Last Christmas I climbed Mount Cameroon, 13,352 feet sheer from the coast and still an active volcano. At the end of my stay, I visited the Spanish island of Fernando Po, just over 100 miles from Calabar. One can see the influence of the various Missions in the country. Mission schools, hospitals and churches abound. Before I was able to go and see for myself, I was under the impression that Mission and Missionaries were a rather old-fashioned idea. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth: the Christian missions are still playing a vital role in the religious, educational and social life of the country. Incidentally the grave of the famous Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor, is at Calabar. Finally a word about VSO. There are about 1000 volunteers this year serving in over 50 territories. Most of these do some sort of teaching work but there are other types of project like community development, refugee work, etc. Without doubt VSO provides a unique and valuable opportunity for service which in the experience of many volunteers is a “wonderful experience.”

Contributed by Wendy Firmin

A New Mexico?

est you think that Liberation Theology from South America belongs to the last century, I was fascinated – and encouraged – to read an

interview with Father Alejandro Solalinde in the Independent recently. It is worth going online to read the full interview, but I was struck particularly by his succinct appraisal of Jesus (in the light of continuing struggles for openness and justice in Mexico: ‘He was a brave and analytical young man who got in a lot of trouble by fighting for justice. He was a conflicted man, but he always overcame his fears’. Some will be happier than others with this ‘take’ on Jesus!

Neil

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‘The Constant Irritation of Perpetual Amusement…’

was intrigued to come across the following quotation recently; in 1935, the Archbishop of York shared his fear that wireless was discouraging independent thought.

‘The evil is at its maximum in the case of children…Under the constant irritation of perpetual amusement their capacity for concentrated attention remains embryonic…The issue looks like a struggle of Man verses Machinery, with Machinery winning’. I grew up in times when we were told that too much television was ‘bad’ for us; today’s youngsters are warned about the apparent dangers of spending too long in front of personal screens – and you do not have to go too far back into the nineteenth century to discover some people arguing that an increase in literacy rates would be a bad thing (since education unlocks a door to knowledge, and knowledge empowers…). I am not sure that the Archbishop got it right: ‘Machinery’ provides for education as well as amusement. As educators, the Christian churches need to stay abreast of developments in technology, not live in reactive fear of them.

Neil

50 signs you’ve made it…

…was the rather nonsensical title for an article which appeared in the Metro at the beginning of December. I allowed myself a little idle amusement as I read it on the bus, whilst on the way into the centre of Birmingham – and then I discovered that No. 48 on the checklist was, ‘On first-name terms with the local vicar’! Intriguingly, No. 49 was, ‘On first-name terms with the pub landlord’: make of those respective positions what you will. There was me thinking that all social cachet had long since disappeared from the position of minister…but maybe the ‘sign’ relates to ministers of the Established Church only. Ah well…

Neil

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Kids Page Lent Crossword

Across

2. What did Jesus die on? 5. Which day recall's Jesus' Death 7. The soldiers put a Crown of ______ on Jesus' head 9. The season after Lent 11. How many times did Jesus fall? 13. Two _________ died next to Jesus 14. _______ the Cyrenean helped Jesus 17. Lent is a time of_______ 18. The final week of lent 19. the disciple who betrayed Jesus 20. Giving to ______ is a good lenten practice 21. We recall this on Holy Thursday Down

1. Giving to the poor 3. Jesus told these people not to weep for him but for the sinners of the world 4. ________ of Arimathea donated the cave for Jesus 6. What is put on your forehead on the first day of lent 8. Palm branches were waved at Jesus'arrival into _______ 10. Jesus shed blood for our _________ 12. 40-day Liturgical season before Easter 15. The hill of Jesus' Crucifixion 16. ________ wiped the face of Jesus

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Lent colouring page

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The Word and the Words… …was the title of a very good book by Colin Morris, but I am not going to write about that now! Some of you will know that I have been ‘experimenting’ with poetry during my part-time weeks – indeed, some of you have had to sit through readings of it and have been extremely gracious! Words and their effect have always interested me; in worship, I can be moved equally by the extempore – the spontaneous – and the carefully. I wouldn’t want to lose either. As I dig deeper into poetry, however, I am struck by the amount that has been written regarding the perceived ‘overlap’ between poetry and prayer…and I am not entirely sure what I think about this. A single word, offered hesitantly, can be an extraordinarily powerful prayer – yet there are many who can testify to help received by using the considered and beautiful words of others. For many of us, it may well be that variety is the key, but I offer you the following thoughts/words of Toby Martinez de Las Rivas; it is the final stanza of a major work from somebody who would not describe himself as a religious poet: Lastly, I pray for the makers of prayers, which are poems we say to ourselves in the hard times,

cold times dry times, tucked in tenements & tower blocks, in the lock-ups of our bodies,

between the soil & sky falling & falling like snow flakes beyond all light & knowledge. What works for one person may not work well for another; all of us have the capacity to be touched uniquely by the Spirit of God.

Neil

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Answer to Crossword on page 26 Across 2. Cross 5. GoodFriday 7. Thorns 9. Easter 11. Three 13. Thieves 14. Simon 17. Penance 18. HolyWeek 19. Judas 20. Charity 21. LastSupper Down 1. Almsgiving 3. Women 4. Joseph 6. Ashes 8. Jerusalem 10. Sins 12. Lent 15. Calvary 16. Veronica

Answers to Christmas Acrostic in last Journey

1. W atc H (Keeping watch over their flocks by night. Luke 2.8)

2. I ndi A

3. S hi P (I saw three ships come sailing in)

4. H iccu P

5. I v Y (The holly and the ivy)

6. N i C (St Nicholas of Myra)

7. G od on hig H

8. Y onde R (I and the lad will go yonder. Genesis 22.5)

9. O n I on

10. U pstair S

11. A methys T (Revelation 21.20)

12. L ukewar M (Revelation 3.16)

13. L aodice A (Revelation 3.1)

14. A lleluia S (Songs of praise the angels sang … R & S 667)

What am I? - MIDWINTER

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The Paradox of Our Time in History

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers Wider motorways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but we have less We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families

More conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense More knowledge, but less judgement

More experts, and more problems More medicines, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life. We have added years to life, but not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

We have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We've cleaned up the air? but polluted our soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We've higher incomes, but lower morals.

We've become long on quantity but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character; Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

More leisure, but less fun More kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces; Of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the show window,

and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this message to you, And a time when you can choose to make a difference,

And pass it on.

Anon

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

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

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Open here in the city at

The Church at Carrs Lane Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am - 2.30pm

and after morning worship on first and third Sundays 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

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.

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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

Radical Worship Fourth Sunday at 6.00pm

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 7.00pm, all are welcome to join them

Lunchtime Healing Service Every Wednesday 1.15pm

Prayer Group First Wednesday at 7.00 pm

Thinking Allowed First Thursday at 10.15 am

Harborne House Group Fourth Tuesdays 2.00pm (various locations)

Central House Group at Carrs Lane Third Wednesdays at 6.30pm

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 Tuesday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm

Carrs Lane Walking Group usually meets monthly, see notice board

Fair Trade Shop First and Third Sunday after morning worship and Tuesday - Saturday 10.30 am - 2.30 pm

Counselling Centre Monday - Friday 11.00 am - 1.30 pm and Monday to Wednesday evenings 7.00 - 9.00 pm

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