Rose Hill United Reformed Church, Bradford Road, Bolton. A member of the Vision Pastorate, together withTonge Moor URC and St Andrew & St George URC Minister: Rev Mark Bates Tel: 01204 653477 April / May 2014 Church Elders Anne Fitton (Secretary) ................. 01204 401273 John Waith (Treasurer) ................. 01204 391894 Rita Dunn ........................................ 01204 305339 Philip Garsden ............................... 07854 614245 Sylvia Hodgkiss ............................. 01204 363263 Anne Taberner ............................... 01204 793341 Janet Waith...................................... 01204 391894 —–— oOo ——– Book of Prayer If you would like a church member or friend to be remembered in the morning prayers, please write their name in the Book of Prayer located in the porch, prior to the start of the service. Doing this will also serve to keep Elders and members informed of any pastoral concerns Items for the next issue of Rose Hill Recorder should be handed in to Rita Dunn or sent via email to [email protected] on or before Sunday 25th May 2 Minister’s Letter. Dear friends Once more the cycle of the seasons continues as does the cycle of the church year. What a difference we are experiencing weather wise this year compared to the same time last year. This time last year the farmers were struggling and livestock were dying as a result of the harsh winter weather. This year we have experiences much milder weather, but also much wetter weather. Circumstances beyond the control of the farmers impacted greatly on the way they were able to live their lives. As we approach Easter and the events of Holy Week I would like to invite you to take the time to stop and think about the thoughts that Jesus might have had as he set his face to Jerusalem knowing what was going to happen. He knew what was going to happen in order to fulfil the Old Testament prophecy, but I wonder if the disciples really understood. Also I wonder if he considered the impact that his death would have on his friends and disciples. The harsh reality of losing someone close to you always leaves a huge void which can never be filled. Circumstances beyond the control of the disciples had an impact on the rest of their lives. Yet we have the glorious news of the Risen Christ. We share in the excitement and the good news that Christ has returned and the risen Christ meets the disciples on their continuing journey. Christ is still accompanying all disciples on their journey. From the harsh reality and the cold that gripped the disciples comes new life; life that has continued to be shared in all its many guises throughout history. From the harsh reality and the cold of the weather we encountered last year comes new life and warmth. Let us continue to share that new life and warmth with each other and with all people, as we continue the journey we are called to make. Mark 3 Pastoral News A Family Fun Night was held on Saturday 15th February organised by our minister Mark Bates and the Sunday School. Everyone enjoyed the games and quizzes and also the pasties and peas for refreshments. Thank you to all concerned. It was good for the children and adults to spend some time together having fun. Men’s Sunday was held on the 9th February. Mark led the service and his theme was ‘The Salt of the Earth’. The men’s choir sang ‘Soldiers of Christ Arise’ and ’I Cannot Tell’ Congratulations were given to: Sylvia and Colin Gibbon on their Golden Wedding Anniversary The 8th of March Pat Howard who was 80 on the 16th March and Joan Warburton following the birth of her granddaughter, Harriet Our thoughts and prayers have been with Debbie Collinson (who helps in the choir on special occasions) Her father died on the 9th February. Also: Hazel Henry, on the death of her brother in law’s wife Margaret, Betty Holden, whose sister in law is seriously ill and Thelma Bolton, whose son has suffered another serious operation. We are pleased that Neville Yates has been discharged from hospital. His health has improved and he is settled in his care home. He is able to walk again now and no longer needs a wheel chair. We will keep him in our prayers. Doris West, a long serving Elder at Rose Hill, who now resides at Mill View Care Home reached the age of 92 on the 19th February. She received a card and flowers from church members and friends. Vi Tatlock (Freda Cooke’s sister) has had to move into Calway House nursing home Taunton because of old age and health 4 problems. Vi attended Rose Hill from being a child and was a devoted choir member. She and her husband (Fred Tatlock’s brother) moved to Taunton because of his work, but she always has fond memories of her time at Rose Hill Church February 23rd to the 9th March was Fairtrade fortnight and during the service on March 2nd Mark gave us lots of information about how Fairtrade started in 1988 when coffee was sold in Dutch supermarkets, and how it developed over the years until there are now over 700 Fairtrade and catering products. By 2013 the sale of Fairtrade products rose to raise over one billion pounds worldwide. Gill Bates, with the aid of a giant blow up Banana, involved the children in learning how Fairtrade has helped to improve the lives of the communities who grow and provide the Fairtrade products. One interesting thing we learned was how to correctly peel aBanana - from the bottom, not the top. A very interesting informative morning. Thank you Mark and Gill. We have all enjoyed the warm sunny weather following the very wet winter. Flowers are starting to bloom and new life is all around us. As we journey through Lent we look forward to celebrating Easter and our Lord's resurrection. Marjorie Plant —–— oOo ——– Ladies Circle January 22nd A Bring and Buy Sale added money to the pot, followed by tea and biscuits and much chit-chat. January 29th Barbara Howard was our speaker on this evening and gave a talk, with music, on the life of Elvis Presley, known as the King of Rock and Roll. He was born on Jan 8th 1935, the only surviving son of Gladys and Vernon. Although quite poor, they 5 were a close and loving family and regularly attended the local Assembly of God church. At the age of 10, Elvis won his first talent show, winning 5 dollars. He continued to perform with his guitar throughout school and in the community until 1955 when he signed his first record contract and Col. Tom Parker became his manager. The rest of his musical career is history, his first No. 1 single being Heartbreak Hotel followed by many more – 18 in all, as well as films and television appearances. He married Priscilla and they had one daughter, Lisa Marie, but the marriage was short lived, ending in divorce. Unfortunately, he battled weight problems and died at the young age of 42 due to prescription drug use. His music, however, has lived on and is well loved, thousands of people visiting his Gracelands home every year. We enjoyed a game of “Eureka” on February 5th, organised by Pat Longworth, but she ended up sounding rather hoarse at the end of the evening. “Laughter is the Best Medicine” was the title of Mr. Dennis Moore’s talk on February 19th. Mr. Moore had been a teacher for 26 years but after retirement became interested in stress management, where one of the courses he undertook included a module on the benefit of laughter to health and well-being. A good laugh relaxes the whole body, releases tension, boosts the immune system, produces endorphins which encourage positive thinking and protects the heart by increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Funny anecdotes from his time as a teacher and jokes from his own joke book, put us in a happy mood. We all know that a good laugh does a lot of good and that’s what we try to do at Ladies’ Circle at the close of the meetings when Freda always looks on the “bright side of life” and we go home with a smile on our faces. 6 Derian House Children’s Hospice in Astley Village, Chorley has been our chosen charity for many years and on the following Wednesday, February 26th, Gill Kirkman came along to give us an insight into how it came into being. Back in 1991 there was no respite or palliative facilities in Lancashire for families of children and young adults with life shortening conditions. The concept of a hospice was born out of the experience of a Leyland family whose son, David Haycock, had died from a progressive genetic condition. They called it Derian House, an amalgamation of Derek and Ian, the names of their two sons. The Haycock family and their supporters initially raised £25,000 to buy the land. On approaching Manchester Children’s Hospital for advice, they approached Margaret Vinton, a nurse and business woman, who agreed to spearhead the project and she set up the Board of Trustees. In October 1993, the first baby entered Derian House. 286 families are now using the 14 bed hospice. There are also 6 flats for parents’ use and a lodge for young adults. £3,000,000 is needed each year to provide all the services with only 9% given by the government, the rest coming from fund-raising and donations. 89%of this money goes directly to the care of the children.