P R A Y E R D I A R Y M i JUNE, JULY TH 4 June; Pray today for our her ministry at James Cook hospital d th understanding of Ascension day 24 July; We pray today for d & AUGUST the realisation that Jesus is the Son children and young people as they l of God. Pray for Rev Martin break up for the summer holidays e Ramsden and Grove Hill and for all of us who look forward to 2011 12th June; We pray that on this rest and recreation. Pray for Linda s Pentecost Sunday we may truly Harkins and Linthorpe Road b believe in the power and presence 31st July; We pray for Live at Home r of the Holy Spirit transforming our and for all who are elderly and M o lives and the lives of our churches particularly those who are lonely u and circuit. Pray for Rev Sue and do not have the g Greenwood and Stainton church companionship of the programme. h 19th June; On this Trinity Sunday we Pray for Julie and Elaine and their pray that through our worship and efficient work in the administration & our own devotions we may come side of our Circuit. Pray for to understand the importance of Nunthorpe. E the Trinity in our lives of faith. Pray 7th August; We pray today for all s today for Rev Rosemary Nash and those ministers and their families t Trinity who are moving circuits that they o th 26 June; We pray today for all may be welcomed with Christian n those Christians who are involved in love in to their new homes. Pray for E education both in our churches Deacon Jane Gibson and Ormesby M and in schools and colleges, that 14th August; We pray today for all e they may set values which enable who are involved in running play young people to learn of our faith. schemes in our churches and the t Pray for Rev Huw Sperring and local communities and all who work h Normanby. as youth leaders. Pray for Matt o 3rd July; Pray today for the many Conant and for Eston Grange d st weekly meetings which take place 21 August; We pray for all those i in our churches, that they may offer people who will have received s INSIDE: fellowship and support. Pray for Rev examination results this month. Bless t Lawrence Law and the Chinese and enrich the celebrations of M The Superintendent’s Congregation. those who have been successful O letter 10th July; We pray today for the and comfort those who are u News from the Churches work of Action for Children for all disappointed. Pray for Hayley t Project News their support of children and Liversidge and Avenue b families and also the Fostering 28th August; We pray for ourselves u Fresh Expressions programme. Pray for Rev Len Karn today for all that is good in our lives, r And of course and Marton. all that we wish to praise God for, s 17th July; We pray for all who are ill and indeed for our continuing THE PLAN t at this time in body, mind, or spirit, journey of faith. Pray for Rev Ruth and for those who care for them. Gee as Chair of our District and for Pray for Rev Sarah Ramsden and 28 all the churches in our District. 1

CHURCH ADDRESSES

Avenue The Avenue, Linthorpe TS5 6PA Once again we head with reminded of the birth of Eston Grange Corner of Churchill Road and Fabian Road TS6 9PP confidence in to the the Christian church and summer and if the the power of the Holy weather during April is Spirit giving us new Grove Hill 422 Marton Road TS4 2PT (entrance on Farndale Rd) anything to go by, it energy in our should be a great discipleship. I hope that summer. It does make us as you read this Memo Linthorpe Road 54 Borough Road TS1 2JH feel good after a long you will see signs of that winter, to feel the warm renewal in the sun and to see the beauty encouraging accounts of Marton The Grove, Marton TS7 8AB of our gardens and the the life of our Circuit. parks and country side, a Have a great summer. real sense of new life. At Please send items for the Normanby Corner of Cleveland Street and Patten Street TS6 0LW Easter and through next Memo to the Circuit Ascension and on to Office by Sunday July st Nunthorpe Corner of Connaught Road and Marton Moor Road Pentecost we see those 31 at the latest. TS7 0BP signs of new life on our Dave Elliott on behalf Christian journey. Jesus of Jim Neesam and Bill Ormesby Corner of Pritchett Road and High Street, Ormesby risen from the cross Teasdale. TS3 0NQ leaves this earthly life and is ascended to be Stainton Meldyke Lane TS8 9AU with his father. This shows us again his true identity as the Son of Trinity Stainsby Road, off Acklam Road TS5 4JS God. At Pentecost we are

2 27 CONCERT BY The Superintendent’s Letter STOKESLEY METHODIST CHOIR Dear Friends, at

ESTON GRANGE METHODIST CHURCH …A Connected Community United in Christ to Pursue a Common Mission … WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE AT 7.00PM These words are at the beginning of the Circuit’s Vision Statement. They are really important words for our ADMISSION £5 self-understanding as one Christian community located in INCLUDING LIGHT different places around Middlesbrough and Eston. Many REFRESHMENTS of us, I sense, still think of ourselves as separate and isolated Christian communities with only a tentative Proceeds to Church Funds connection to those other Methodist Christians worshipping in other places. When we retreat into this All Welcome view we are impoverished and we lose something of the incredible strength and vitality which comes from living on a bigger map. I think God has been calling us over recent years to look beyond the limits of a local church vision to DEADLINE FOR NEXT embrace the vision of being a Circuit with a deep sense of EDITION OF MEMO mutuality in worship, fellowship and mission.

All material should be with the Circuit There are tremendous opportunities for us in this Office (or the Editors) by Sunday 31st July quarter to rejoice in and celebrate our Circuit identity. These opportunities are focussed on our Circuit Weekend COLLATION OF MEMO th th th Will take place at the Circuit Office on 16th August from 8 to 10 July. On Friday 8 we will be welcoming a from 9.30am. professional actor and Wesleyan scholar to the Circuit. Mark Topping will be presenting his ‘Evening with John

Come along and help - refreshments provided, Wesley’ at Avenue Methodist Church at 7pm. We will also good conversations had! Thank you. be singing a number of Charles Wesley’s wonderful hymns.

26 3 We hope to fill Avenue that evening with Methodists from around the Circuit who can sing the roof off together and CIRCUIT FAMILY experience something of the missiological passion of the Wesleys which we continue to share. FUN DAY

On 9th July there will once again be a Circuit Family 9TH July 2011 Fun Day at Stewarts Park. Last year was a truly brilliant 2.00pm to 5.00pm event. It was an opportunity for witness and for fellowship. The planning for this years

On 10th July at 10.30am we will have a Circuit Service Circuit Family Day is beginning in earnest. which gives us opportunity to give thanks to God together Much of what happened last year will happen for the work of God’s kingdom in which we have shared. again. This includes saying thank you to Deacon Jane Gibson for It was a fantastic day last year, made even her work in the Circuit and for her friendship in these last better by the glorious weather. five years. We wish Jane well as she moves to pastures new in the newly formed North Lancashire Circuit. There The planning team think it would be lovely if will be further opportunity to share with Jane at Normanby on 22nd July where we will gather for a farewell service. each of the churches in our circuit have some involvement in the afternoon, so we are May God bless us in these coming months as we asking for help and ideas from you all. deepen our fellowship and grow together as a connected community united in Christ to pursue our common Please let us know what you can do to help. mission:

To Love Christ Contact us via email: To Grow in Christ [email protected] To Show Christ’s Love To Make Christ Known From the Circuit Family Fun Day

Martin Planning Team.

4 25 Hopefully by the appreciated. Some of you AVENUE time you read this may have a collecting box After the heavy snow of December and Christmas we Memo many of you and Annette Ellis is responsible settled down in the New Year to making plans for the will have enjoyed for the boxes and would th the Songs of Praise appreciate more people closure of Avenue next year. On the 20 March part of at Avenue in aid of taking a box. If you feel you the congregation visited Trinity Methodist Church and Action for Children. would like to know more about part visited Grove Hill Methodist Church. We were As a Support Group we this part of the programme made very welcome at both churches. In May those who went to Trinity will visit Grove Hill and vice-versa. continue to think very carefully please contact Annette, her th about our role in the Circuit number is in the Circuit On Saturday 26 March we had our postponed and about our job of raising Directory and she is at Marton Christmas lunch. We enjoyed soup, turkey with all the money but equally important church. trimmings followed by dessert then tea/coffee and of raising awareness of the We hope that the Step out For mints, this was enjoyed by everyone. charity. In a time of turbulence Children will have been well Our Easter services included Maundy Thursday for many families facing the supported this year, thank you Communion, this was a joint service with Trinity, our economic crisis and also in anticipation to those of you Good Friday service was held outside the front doors of problems facing the who will have taken part. Avenue in the sunshine, although there was a very organisation in finding foster We look forward to another cold wind, but we attracted attention from passersby. homes, we need to do all we soup quiz and pudding On Easter Sunday we had Communion at 8.30am can to support this Christian evening to be held at Marton followed by our 9.30 service. work. We need to pray for the on Saturday November 16th at On Saturday 2nd July from 10.00am to 12noon there will work of Action for Children, to 7-30pm, please see details be a Strawberry Coffee Morning in the church make the work of the charity which will be posted to your hall, and on Saturday 10th September, which known to our friends in the church. is Heritage weekend, we are celebrating church and in the community. We are also hoping to run the 100th Anniversary of our church organ You will also remember in the another Fashion with a flower display, organ music and last Memo seeing that a Show on March 17th displays followed on the Sunday by our 9.30 website is now up and running featuring Spring and service and a Songs of Praise service on the Sunday it is Summer collections. afternoon to which everyone is welcome. [email protected] Our last Fashion Show As from June 2011 all Avenues services will be at 9.30. This will help to update us on was so very Pam Laverick the work of the charity and successful. also the needs of the charity in Lastly please talk to GROVE HILL terms of funding of specific us about AforC your thoughts th items and projects. on the charity and the work of February 13 was a big day in the church when I also wish to thank the many the Support Group. Elizabeth Hemblade was welcomed into full generous people who give to Email me on membership and our love and congratulations go out to AforC in so many different [email protected] her. ways, your kindness is Dave Elliott. Paul Martin was baptised that day, and also made a

24 5 NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES - CONTINUED member. Six of us shared in his joy by going out for lunch with AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH him after the service, spending a happy time with him. This is how I personally will remember him, as sadly he died early in HERITAGE WEEKEND April. His funeral was held in his home town of Macclesfield. He will be greatly missed. We have unfortunately lost two other members recently. Brian FLOWER FESTIVAL Robinson, our Bookings Officer and ―Jack of all trades‖ died th after bravely fighting cancer for many years. He was very active 100 ANNIVERSARY in the community, and many of us shared a pleasant time with him at the Town hall last December when he was presented OF ORGAN with the ―Citizen of the year‖ award. He is fondly remembered and sadly missed. The greatest tribute was to see the building full to overflowing for his funeral “JOURNEY OF LIFE” The day after his funeral we met again to say goodbye to Dorothy Poad. She had been unable to attend church services th in recent years because of failing health, but had been a SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2011 member at Grove Hill since Gilkes Street closed down many years ago. We remember her with affection and send our love Organ Music Refreshments to her family. Our Sunday School has added so much to Displays our worship in recent weeks. Mothering Sunday was led by Joan Bennison and the --- children, then on Easter Sunday Dave Elliott SUNDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2011 and the children took over the service, reading poems, finding hidden eggs, and helping to decorate the wooden cross with Spring flowers. 9.30am Service CELEBRATION AND Our thanks go to Joan, Dave and Anne Darby for their dedicated work. REMEMBRANCE On Good Friday the church was open for a craft session. This 3.00pm SONGS OF PRAISE SERVICE was not very well attended, possibly due to the schools having broken up two weeks earlier, but a good time was had by all, and the hot cross buns went down a treat! Refreshments Our Easter fair was a huge success this year----the weather was so good that we had all the stalls outside (and bacon ALL ARE WELCOME butties inside!!) On June 17th we will be holding ―Friday night is music night‖ 6 23 Refreshments will be served at 6pm followed by entertainment by guest artistes. Tickets are £5 and will be Circuit Farewell service available shortly. We are hoping to organise a full day trip to to Bridlington in the Summer as a fund-raising effort. More details will be announced soon. Deacon Jane Gibson Cynthia Brennan Normanby Methodist Church

on Friday 22nd July NORMANBY I hope you have all had a blessed and renewing at 7.30pm Easter time. We celebrated the risen Lord by decorating the cross with flowers. Thanks once again to our COME AND CHAT – PLEASE! Property Steward, Mr. Tom Towers, for making the cross for us. In February last year our Methodist Asylum Project (MAP) Here at Normanby, we have had our usual coffee mornings, launched „Come and Chat‟ at Linthorpe Road Methodist Church meeting with friends from different churches and none. There is a community spirit building up in our Saturday mornings, with the and Resource Centre on Friday mornings from 10am councillors, the Neighbourhood Police, and sometimes our local onwards. The purpose was, and still is, to give MP meeting on the same day. Our monthly coffee mornings people learning English an opportunity to put that maintain their momentum. Our Easter Fair raised a staggering learning into practice. Ideally it would be great if we £567.50: thanks to all who manned stalls, donated gifts and cakes, and supported us.( and I did not win the Easter Bonnet could offer one to one help to our clients – having Parade AGAIN !) In the coming months we will be hosting an individual conversations is extremely useful. And Inter-denominational coffee morning for Teesside Hospice on that‟s where you could come in! Please think about becoming a 14th May, and another the charity "OVA the Rainbow." volunteer at Come and Chat – just a couple of hours on Friday Since the last Memo we have enjoyed some social evenings together, testing our knowledge with quizzes and sampling mornings would be so beneficial. We usually work from pre- different foods! A Valentines Quiz and Party: another journey prepared sheets but conversations can take on any turn! For more round the UK by car (with pie and peas and a cornetto!) Thanks information please give me a ring on 868774 – if you speak to any go to our Ways and Means Committee for the organising and of our current volunteers, they will all tell you how their lives have running of these evenings and to Nigel Marsh for the time he been enriched by the experience. spent arranging the journeys!; and thanks also to those who came along and enjoyed themselves. It is lovely to see all generations sharing in fun and fellowship. Thank You. By the time you come to read this the Royal Wedding will be Linda Harkins history, but we are hoping to have participated in the 22 7 NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES - CONTINUED expanded to the top of the tins, before being gently lifted into the smoky oven. The smell when those celebrations by having our "indoor street nutty brown loaves were tipped out onto the kitchen party" complete with Royal Quiz. Hopefully table, was mouth-watering. some will have come dressed for the Wedding. You know what it's like, Ladies, That table with its regularly scrubbed wooden surface you buy an outfit for a wedding, and never wear it again! Well, I was in constant use. I remember my grandmother for one will be wearing the outfit I wore for my son's wedding - chopping raw meat on it, one piece of which always hope it still fits! found it’s way into my mouth (my tastes have Members of Eston Grange will be joining us on the church changed since then. I couldn’t stomach doing that outing to Ripon and Harrogate on Sunday 12th June. Also in June this section is holding a reading of the Acts of the now) Custard tarts were regularly made but these I Apostles over two days: 28th at Normanby, 29th at Eston did not like, only as an adult did I acquire the taste Grange. each followed by Bacon Sandwiches, to which you are for them. all invited - to read or just listen. But if you do wish to come, please let Deacon Jane Gibson know and she will be able to let Homemade ice cream was a regular treat. It’s making you know what you are reading and/or cater for the bacon was a mystery to me. It involved a butty! galvanised bucket filled with cold water, On 9th July, our History Group will again hold the a metal milk can with a lid, in which I very popular exhibition about Normanby in the guess was a mixture of cream, cold cus- past, but this year there will be no fly-over, but we tard and sugar. This sat in the water will have a free ride on an old bus! filled bucket until set. It may have been a Have a refreshing and relaxing summer. mystery but it tasted delicious. It was one of the Celia Shires many things that disappeared once the war started, as fresh cream delivered with the milk in waxed MARTON cardboard tubs, was no longer obtainable. We have recently celebrated our Church Anniversary this March through recognising the gifts that we have. On Saturday On a rare occasion an odd misguided bomb exploded folk brought and displayed the fruits of their nearby, so at the sound of the distant air raid siren gifts. We admired a whole range of gifts from we were bundled into the cupboard under the stairs. things such as baking, photography, glass Here I became acquainted with the delights of the painting and patchwork to name but a few. black wooden shoe box with it’s tangy rags, polish There was also a small concert when more tins with butterfly openers and worn down shoe vocal gifts were shared and a faith tea. We then brushes. I returned time without number to explore had a service led by Rev Gee on Sunday. the magic of that shoebox. This year (Methodist year not calendar) we have begun a group on the third Thursday of the month called not surprisingly Thursday Night Together (TNT). The evenings are very Len Karn 8 21 informal and the themes have been varied. So far we have The Kitchen Range experienced items such as talks, music concert, beetle drive and Christmas fun. This is open to all and if you would like to The kitchen–cum-living room was at the back of the know what is on offer then contact Julie Thomas, Pat Hinton, house and looked out onto a stone flagged yard, a Linda Martin or Vi Moore. long shed and, rising beyond it, the slopes of the We now have a parade service which is the first Lancashire Pennines. The windows had green wooden service in the month when we are joined by the shutters on the outside which my grandfather local scouting group. These are always joyous routinely shut each night and opened up again in the occasions and the scouts now feel very much part of our church family. morning. Best wished for a lovely Summer from all at Marton Methodist

Julie Thomas A black kitchen range with a high mantle shelf dominated the room. It had a central grate about NUNTHORPE eighteen inches from the floor and was flanked by an The Good Friday walk of witness started at the oven, on one side, and flue plates on the other. Unicorn Centre in Hemlington and the cross It was an ever-shining monster that was given a was carried to the Church in Stainton. This was weekly coating of black-lead, and polished. followed by a service led by Rev Sue In front of it was a fender, which kept any fallen Greenwood to a packed church. The service cinders from getting onto the home made rag -rug was followed by a walk from Flatts lane car park to Eston Nab which always sat in front of it, and gave some As part of the year of celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary insulation from the stone flagged floor. of the building of Nunthorpe Methodist Church, on Saturday 26th March 2011 we hosted a ―Come and Sing‖ rehearsal and It was at this range that I tried an experiment with a performance of Handel‘s Messiah in the church. The conductor poker. I was curious to see what would happen if I and director was Mr John Forsyth who is conductor of the heated the poker up in the fire and then touched my Cleveland Philharmonic Choir. The solo parts were taken by a sister’s hand with it. She yelled of course and my number of talented young singers, there was a large choir, I grandma heard all about it. So she in turn did the counted over 80, and around 18 instrumentalists. same to me. We both still have the faint scars to The singing was much appreciated by a large audience and the choruses almost raised the church roof! prove the painful lesson we learnt that day. th There will be a BIG SING as part of the 50 Anniversary celebrations starting at 3pm on Sunday Once a week on baking day, the kitchen range came June 5th on the grass outside the church. The into it’s own. It was the bread I most Lingdale Silver band will play some popular hymns remember. The pale dough rounded for us to sing. Please come and join us! into battered old loaf tins that sat It would help if you could bring a folding chair to sit on and inside the fender with damp tea afterwards there will be a ―bring and share‖ tea in the church. towels covering them until the dough John Parratt 20 9 LINTHORPE ROAD volunteers from all the churches who Eastertide was a good time for the members and friends at work so hard to assist this vital th Linthorpe Road. On Monday 18 April we held an Eastertide ministry. Social Afternoon when four of our young people entertained us with the playing of musical instruments and dancing. God bless,

Maundy Thursday evening was the meeting together with the Hayley friends from Grove Hill and the Chinese congregation to share in ‗the Seder Meal‘ led by our minister Martin. On Good Friday we shared in the procession of witness with other Town Centre Churches from the Bells to Captain Cook Square for a short service. RAGS TO RICHES! On the afternoon we were host to the circuit‘s At MAP we try each year to provide a summer part in the ‗Handwritten Bible Project‘ It was a programme for our clients, trying to give them lovely spring afternoon and over 60 members opportunities to do something a little different so of the public stopped and asked what we that they can look back over the summer and were doing. Most of them on finding out remember special days out or perhaps an evening copied a verse from the bible in their own handwriting assisting with the completion of the project. In addition in the of entertainment. As part of our fundraising for the project we church the stations of the cross were set out and people could have found an outlet for rags - clothing or soft furnishings, etc wander in and stay as long as they wished. The ‗stations‘ set that are no longer good enough to use - perhaps a little worn or up by Rev Rosemary Nash was excellent and very thought beyond repair. If you have items that fit that category, please provoking. A great day at a great time of the year. th don’t throw them out. Pass them onto MAP and we’ll turn your On Saturday June 18 at 7pm a musical evening with the rags into riches! And we’ll be able to provide Mosaic Singers is to be held. Tickets are £3-00p each and can be obtained from George and Freda Gibson 01642 814848. events for those of our clients for whom some We wish all our friends around the circuit and beyond a time of things are just beyond their financial capabilities. relaxation in lovely summer weather and with happy holidays. I would be happy to arrange the collection of Bill Teasdale. your unwanted items – just put a label on the bag saying ‘rags’ and we wouldn’t even need to CIRCUIT SERVICE sort them. (Please be assured that it is only the items which are unusable which are recycled – all other items are so gratefully The next Circuit Service will be at received and used!)

Avenue Methodist Church Thank you so much. on Linda Harkins. Sunday 10th July at 10.30am

10 19 Road Methodist Church for a visit plus staff. I was informed that this was the first time the school had visited a church in about twenty years. We had an excellent time discussing points about the Bible and aspects of the Christian faith including church buildings. DIARY OF EVENTS Finishing with a competition on designing the front cover of a Bible. It would be good to Bible Studies Circuit Family Fun Day develop this further welcoming other classes 24 Cleveland Close, 9th July 2.00pm—5.00pm Ormesby at 8.00pm Stewart‘s Park, Marton from Abingdon Primary to Linthorpe Road. contact Huw Will resume in September. We Camping The Friends of Breckon Hill parents group are looking at different Sunday 24th July for 4 nights – with their children visited Linthorpe Road Methodist Lake District. Contact Liz ways to run the bible studies – Church to participate in Easter craft activities and some suggestions welcome. Shopping games. It was brilliant to see so many members from the Pub Quiz Girls shopping day out to York. church coming to support the event and join in. There Thursday 4th August. General Knowledge was a lovely atmosphere finishing with an Easter bonnet The Apple Tree, Marton Treasure Hunt competition done as group work. I am sure they will Manor. Meet at 8.00 pm Saturday 6th August – 3.00pm want to visit us again in the near future. Tuesday 7th June, Tuesday 5th onwards July, Tuesday 2nd August Treasure Hunt walk around In addition it has been my pleasure to work with Ten Pin Bowling Ripon, with tea or picnic some- Trinity Methodist Church as part of their planning team at Hollywood Bowl. Saturday 25th where – possibly Allhallowgate on the community fun day they organized June, 7pm. 2 games of 10 pin Methodist Church. Start/Finish TBA particularly working on providing activities for bowling, followed by drinks. children. Numbers to Jayne by 28th May. Planning Meeting Monday 18th July 8.00pm Looking to the future, in August there Home of Liz & Brian will be a Scripture Union residential holiday camp for 9-11 year olds held Contact Details Events: Liz Milburn on 01642 592238 or 07752 503196 in the Durham region. At the [email protected] moment I am in the process of let- Ian & Jayne Brady on 01642 657260 [email protected] ting interested families know about the Jayne 01642 657260 camp and hope to see a group of children from Bible Studies: Rev Huw Sperring 01642 515522 the circuit join me on it. [email protected]

So there is plenty of exciting work going on, but as We are also on facebook – as a private group, please ask to join always my sincere thanks to the large numbers of search for us as Fresh Expressions Middlesbrough

18 11

“Come and Sing” Messiah Families Outreach NEWS

The Diary of a Very Special Day The families outreach work (or the FLAME Project) continues to grow and thrive. Early morning Saturday 26th March 2011, I pinch myself. Has the day we have been anticipating for the last 18 months finally dawned. the day The four school clubs at Breckon Hill Primary, Beech when we shall sing Handel‟s marvelous choral masterpiece “The Grove Primary, Green Lane Primary and Newham Messiah” in its entirety in Nunthorpe Methodist Church? Bridge Primary are very popular. It is a great privilege

9.00 a.m. I arrive at church where willing helpers are already to be able to share Bible stories with children and to assembling: copies of the scores piled high ready for registration; discuss the Christian faith amongst the fun of doing programmes for audience and singers, being distributed on the pews. various games and craft activities.

9.15 a.m. Arrival of the reporter from BBC Tees. I check my notes The choir at Newport Primary recently prepared for the interview. Alas, his microphone is bereft of batteries! performed for members of Canon Park Never mind, here comes John Forsyth, the conductor for the day and his wife Audrey. Excitement and anticipation mount by the minute as Congregational Church for the first time. A people assemble, greeting old friends and making new ones. good time was had by all , the children were immediately invited back to sing again. 10.00 a.m. Jim McAllister gives a warm welcome to the hundred and They also sung in a school assembly. This term they are twenty singers on behalf of the Church. Singers assemble on the staging, erected by able-bodied helpers yesterday, which spans the width of the looking forward to performing at Linthorpe Road church and is six rows deep. Methodist Church and at Park View Care Centre.

10.10 a.m. The singers are now settled ready for the morning rehearsal It was very pleasing to see how well messy church at and the first chorus “And the Glory of the Lord”, to be taken at a time of Grove Hill Methodist Church is taking off and that one in a bar (to the uninitiated that means very quick!)And so, with numbers are growing. Seventy eight parents and Thomas Neal at the piano, the rehearsal continues until 12.30, with the assembled choir ranging in age from 16 to 86, some familiar with the children attended the last one. These are families who challenging music, others sight-reading it for the first time, but all don't get to church on Sundays. It is excellent to be able responding to the dramatic words and music of this great work, which to explore the Christian faith with them through craft tells the story of the coming of Christ, his suffering and death, and the activities, games, worship and a meal. Since then it has glory of the life to come. been my pleasure to assist Eston Grange Methodist 12.30 p.m. A welcome lunch break, during which our BBC Radio Tees Church in doing messy church. Their first one was a reporter (this time with batteries in his microphone!) interviews a great success with really good numbers of families number of people. attending. I look forward to helping both these

2.30 p.m. Another opportunity to sing through the choruses but this time initiatives develop further. with the orchestra and the organ, and chance to develop the interpretation. One example is to get across the cynicism of the chorus Another first this last quarter was to welcome fifty Year 5 pupils from Abingdon Primary School to Linthorpe 12 17 “He trusted in God that He should deliver him” and another, the majesty of the “Hallelujah” chorus.

AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH 4.15 p.m. A well-earned rest and extended tea break for the choir but THE AVENUE, LINTHORPE, rehearsals continue with the orchestra and the five youthful soloists until 6.15 p.m. No rest for our conductor, John Forsyth, who nevertheless MIDDLESBROUGH manages to eat a quick tea, change and be ready for the performance starting at 7.00 p.m.

7.00 p.m. The church is now full to capacity. Rev Sue Greenwood STRAWBERRY welcomes the audience. The lady singers dressed in black and the men in evening dress await the entrance of John Forsyth and the five young soloists, Laura Braithwaite, Soprano, resplendent in a purple dress, Alice COFFEE Hughes, Contralto, in a delicate shade of blue, Scott Richardson, Tenor, and Adam Price and Thomas Boynton, Basses.

MORNING The audience is immediately engaged in the enfolding story interpreted by soloists and choir with the support of the seventeen members of the orchestra.

As expected the audience rises to its feet in the Hallelujah chorus SATURDAY followed by spontaneous applause. The last chorus, the powerful nd “Worthy is the lamb that was slain” followed by the triumphal “Amen” 2 JULY 2011 chorus, brings people to their feet again in a standing ovation.

9.40 p.m. Our Minister, Sue Greenwood, presents the main participants with small tokens of appreciation for their hard work. I am humbled that 10.00am – 12noon such talented musicians have given their services free of charge. And so the audience leave and we hear murmurs of “magnificent”, “awesome”, “wonderful”, “emotional” echoing through the foyer.

But it is not quite the end. Our friend from BBC Tees goes away with recordings taken during the evening and at 7.00 a.m. tomorrow morning bookstall, cake stall, (Sunday) Teesside is able to wake up to the sound of our rendering of the “Hallelujah” chorus.

Raffle, What an achievement!

bric-a-brac 10.00 p.m. An army of helpers arrives to dismantle the staging, remove the chairs and prepare the church for Worship tomorrow morning!

Beryl Lindley

16 13

Farewell to Deacon Jane Methodist Women in Britain As we come to the end of another Connexional year the time approaches when those ‘on the move’ in the itinerant ministry prepare for pastures new. This is a time Incorporating Women’s Network and British Unit of the of very mixed emotions. There is sadness at leaving World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women behind people and situations but also excitement of moving into new opportunities. I’m sure Jane is There will be no Circuit Network Meetings during experiencing all of these things and more as she prepares June, July and August to leave us and move to a new ministry in the North Advance notice Lancashire Circuit. Please remember the Annual Circuit Network Evening event on th Wednesday, 12 October at Grove Hill Methodist Church at 7pm. Jane has contributed a great deal to the life of the Musical entertainment will be provided by “Kaleidoscope”, followed Circuit and to the communities around Middlesbrough and by a faith supper. More details later. Eston. We have received many blessings through her District Network Events friendship, colleagueship and ministry amongst us. Please Monday 11 July 2011 take opportunity in these months to let Jane know what Presidents Afternoon at Great Ayton Methodist Church at 2pm The people from Yatton House will entertain us, with refreshments to you have valued in particular about her time here. follow. There are no tickets but numbers are required before the Speaking personally, I have enjoyed being lead in worship event to ensure there are seats for everyone so please let me know by Jane and have enjoyed leading worship with her. I have how many are intending to go. valued her prayerful support for my ministry and her

More Network News willingness to work as part of the Leadership Team.

Launching MWiB I know how much Jane has been appreciated by the Methodist Women in Britain will be launched at the Methodist Con- ference at Southport on Friday 1st July this year. There will be a se- churches in Normanby, Eston Grange and Ormesby as well ries of “launch events” during 2011-2012, more about these later. as in the chaplaincy settings at the Kara Project and in Middlesbrough College. Jane has taught us much about If anyone would like to receive a copy of the Methodist Women in what it means to be servants of Jesus and of one another. Britain newsletter by email, please contact the Administrator, Margaret Williams, at [email protected], but alternatively paper Our prayers and good wishes go with Jane as she begins copies are available, please contact me for more details. this next stage of her ministry. Kath Smithies Martin Circuit Network Secretary

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