Cheltenham United Reformed Church November 2017 ‘Through Faith, Fellowship and Care We Affirm that Jesus Is Lord’ CHELTENHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH www.urcic.org.uk Minister Vacancy Lay Preachers Bob Alger Julie Jefferies Vicar, St Christopher’s Rev. Gary Grady 01242 511522 [email protected] IN TOUCH Editor/ St Andrews Janet Kemp [email protected] Prestbury Ian Brooks [email protected] TCiWH Brian Miles [email protected] Advertisements Brian Smith [email protected] Distribution Fiona Hall [email protected] Website Fiona Hall [email protected] PRESTBURY URC, DEEP STREET, PRESTBURY, CHELTENHAM, GL52 3AN Secretary Fiona Hall [email protected] Hall Letting via the secretary ST ANDREW’S URC, MONTPELLIER STREET, CHELTENHAM, GL50 1SP Secretary Janet Kemp [email protected] Hall Letting Edith Black [email protected] THE CHURCH in WARDEN HILL, SALISBURY AVENUE, CHELTENHAM, GL51 3BY Administrator Pauline White [email protected] Hall Letting Tom Shepley [email protected] CHURCH GROUPS Community Film Brian Miles [email protected] Creative Cards Ann Standring [email protected] Discussion Group Janet Kemp [email protected] Footsloggers Jenny Evans Little Shepherds Prestbury Friday Circle Rose West [email protected] Prestbury URChins Fiona Hall [email protected] Qi Gong Tony Jeans [email protected] Reading Group Mary Cummings St Andrew’s Toddlers Ann Lewis [email protected] Tuesday Forum Keith Norcott Wednesday Women Donna Sutherland In Touch November 2017 Welcome to ‘In Touch’ The magazine of Cheltenham United Reformed Church, a joint pastorate of the three United Reformed Churches in Cheltenham. The three churches work very closely together, sharing this magazine, the website and all activities. St Andrew’s United Reformed Church is in the Montpellier district of Cheltenham town centre. A former Presbyterian church founded in 1885, it became United Reformed on unification in 1972. St Andrew’s offers impressive facilities, meeting the needs of 21st century Cheltenham. Prestbury United Reformed Church is in the heart of Prestbury village on the northern edge of Cheltenham. A former Congregational chapel built in 1866, becoming United Reformed on unification in 1972. The Church in Warden Hill is a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) between the Anglican (St Christopher’s) and URC communities of Up Hatherley and Warden Hill in the south of Cheltenham. Ministry is shared between the URC and Rev Gary Grady of the Anglican South Cheltenham Team Ministry. Both the Anglican and URC buildings are regularly used for worship. For other information about the Church in Warden Hill please see ‘The Lantern’ or visit www.tciwh.org.uk Jesus said: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18 v20 NRSV) 1 In Touch November 2017 News of the Church Family We are invited to pray for: Isobel Hitchings, Beryl Ames, Trevor Childs, Lyn Ricketts, Harriet Wright, Joyce and Phil Arnold, Joyce Whiting, Tony and Wendy Gledhill, Kate Alger. ************************************** Pastoral Visiting - St Andrew's If, during the vacancy, you are aware of any person who is unwell or anyone who requires a visit please can you contact Ann Lewis and Ann will arrange for one of the pastoral team to visit. e-mail: [email protected] Church Meeting - St Andrew’s The Church Meeting at St Andrew’s will be following Morning Worship on Sunday 26th November. A Gift to St Andrew’s This bench has been donated by the family of Jessie and John Stredwick, for use by all who like to sit outside on the patio. Marcus Dann 2 In Touch November 2017 This month’s Pastoral letter comes from our Lay Preacher Julie Jeffries Dear Friends I have just come back from a lovely weekend in Bath having celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. I can’t believe where the time has gone! When Dave and I got married Joan Winterbottom gave us a Welsh love spoon and talked about the adventure we were about to embark on. A – amour D - Duty and devotion V – voicing E – excitement, everydayness N - New beginnings, negotiate T – trust U – understanding R – rings and religion E – enrich and encourage S – spirit and support of family and friends As we face the adventure that being in vacancy brings we will need to do our duty and play our parts in keeping the everyday things going. We will need to show our love and devotion to each other. This will be a new beginning, we will need to voice our thoughts graciously whilst supporting and encouraging each other. We will need to be understanding to each other’s points of view and there will be negotiations. But most of all we will need to trust God. Over the last 23 years my trust in God and his plans for us as a family have made a big impact on my faith journey. I have been involved in adventures which I wouldn’t have chosen, stepped into challenging situations and wanted to run away and hide, but God has been with me every step of the way. Even at the points when I haven’t noticed! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3 verse 5 As we set out on this new adventure, I invite you all to pray for each other, the Church Secretaries, the Elders, the Vacancy Committee, James our Interim Moderator and those leading our worship. Julie 3 In Touch November 2017 The Pulpit in November Find out who will be preaching at Prestbury, St Andrew’s and on URC Sundays at The Church in Warden Hill (See back cover for other services) At St Andrew’s 5th November Rev Dr Alison Evans, County Ecumenical Officer (Communion) 12th November (Remembrance Sunday) 10.15am Prayers 10.50am Mr Bob Alger 19th November 9.30am Jump for Joy 11.00am Rev Stuart Scott Synod Training & Development Officer 26th November Rev Ken Martin At Prestbury 5th November Rev Dr Dee Brierley-Jones 19th November Rev Martin Turner, from St Michael's, Cheltenham 26th November Mrs Julie Jefferies (Communion) At The Church in Warden Hill 12th November (Remembrance Sunday) 10.00am Rev Canon Richard Atkins (Communion) (For details of Remembrance Sunday Events – see page 12) 4 In Touch November 2017 St Andrew’s-tide Celebrations The Cheltenham Scottish Society invite members of St. Andrew's U.R.C. to a lunch in the Montpellier Hall on Sunday 3rd December 2017 after the St Andrews-tide Service starting at approximately 12.30pm. Brian and Jean Smith have agreed once again to prepare and serve the lunch with some help from members of the Scottish Society. A list will be placed on the notice board of coming events and it is essential that names of those wishing to attend are clearly added. Numbers will be restricted to 60 and tickets will be issued to those wishing to attend. There is no charge for the lunch but donations to a local charity will be gratefully received. Doreen Steele Bible Study Group Special meeting on 3rd November, we will welcome Liz van Zyl to talk about Jewish Festivals. We meet on Friday mornings from 10.30 – 12.00am at the home of Joan and Steve, 51 Bournside Road, Cheltenham. Please contact Janet Kemp. ALL WELCOME Reading Group The next meeting of the Reading Group will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 22nd November at Wendy Outram's home. The book we have decided to discuss will be 'Conclave' by Robert Harris. The Pope is dead and behind locked doors of the Sistine Chapel 118 cardinals are meeting in conclave to cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are Holy men but they are ambitious and they have rivals. Over the next 72 hours, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth. Which one of them will it be? Robert Harris will be coming to the Cheltenham Literary Festival on 8th October. Any questions about the group please ring Mary Cummings 5 In Touch November 2017 Advertisements Any broken furniture? Cheltenham That wobbly chair… That drawer that’s falling apart.. Choral Society Do you need a handle to Conductor Ian Higginson match a drawer or door? Love to Sing? Come and join us Don’t panic!! We rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 Mike A Fix It to 9.30 at Bethesda Methodist Church Great Norwood St. Wood turning Furniture Repairs Next concert: No job too small 25th November 2017 Rutter Requiem 9, Glebe Road, Prestbury Durufle Requiem Cheltenham GL52 3DG cheltenhamchoralsociety.org.uk Tel: 01242 236732 Reg Charity No 287756 Mobile 07970 073812 Advertising in ‘In Touch’ We are pleased to negotiate for Commercial advertising in ‘In Touch’ at the following rates: Quarter Page £22 per annum Half Page £44 per annum One off Quarter page £5 Please contact Advertisements Secretary Brian Smith for further information: [email protected] 6 In Touch November 2017 St Andrew’s Lunch Club St Andrew’s URC, Montpellier Street Does a lovely bowl of thick, homemade soup with a fresh bread roll, followed by a homemade pudding interest you?? Then join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 1.00pm and bring a friend. All for ONLY £3.00 National Star College Anniversary 2017 marks 50 years for the Gloucestershire based charity, National Star College. To celebrate this, they asked people to hold a 50th anniversary inspired fundraising party within their anniversary year from May 10 2017 to May 10 2018. National Star students previously supported our Wednesday lunch club so we thought it would be appropriate to use one of the Wednesday lunches to hold a fundraising party.