Colchester Methodist Circuit
Newsletter
Edition 2 – March 2023

MISSION planning for all the Methodist churches in Colchester and it surrounds is
under way and launches formally this month with a day of discussion, prayer and
planning on Saturday 4th March at The Ark (Highwoods),
Everyone with a passion, vision or a simple suggestion for the further work of Christ in
their own churches and beyond is encouraged to attend this event which is supported
and led, in part, by the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Methodist District, of
which this Colchester circuit is a part.
The event will pause mid way for a bring and share lunch, and hot and cold
refreshments will be provided by The Ark throughout the day. Stewards from all seven
churches are co-ordinating donations of food for lunch and all are encouraged to attend.

LETTER: From the Superintendent, Rev Chris Preece
Dear Friends,
We undertake many journeys throughout our lives. On many
days we travel from one place to another even if it is only to
go to work, church or visit friends. Sometimes these journeys
may be somewhat longer and for different reasons including
travelling abroad on holiday. We also sometimes use the
metaphor of journeying in an emotional or spiritual sense as
well.
This letter will take us through the season of Lent and on into Easter. We follow
Jesus’ journey to the cross physically, emotionally and spiritually before sharing in the
joy of Easter Day with one another. There is much on which we focus as we travel
together during this time.
Lent is often a time where we reflect on our own discipleship. It may be a time
where we deliberately choose to spend more time with God, or through Lenten
devotionals consider particular aspects of our journey of faith. As I look back on the
first few months of my time in the Circuit it is with deep gratitude and joy for the
way in which I have been welcomed and supported. We are also journeying together
with one another as we begin to think more about how we reach out to the
communities in which each of the churches is based.
Part of our journeying is to come together for the SPA day which will be held from
10am to 3pm at The Ark on Saturday 4
th March. This is an invitation to everyone to
come as we begin to think through how we Serve the Present Age, hence the acronym
SPA. This is a valuable opportunity for us to come together, to share with one another
some of the things we are already doing, to get to know each other better and, above
all, to seek God’s voice through the Holy Spirit for where we may be being led
together for the future. Further details about the SPA day have been shared with all
of the churches with posters and information available.
The journeying, of course, doesn’t stop there. It will then be a time of reflection
and, I hope, joy as we sense God’s leading in the opportunities to share God’s love to
others in the areas in which we live. We can then begin to see how we can support
one another as we seek to serve this present age and fulfill our calling as Christ’s
disciples.
I look forward to all that is to come.
God bless,
Chris

NEWS: From the Circuit
WE are delighted to let you know that we have been matched with Rev. Hannah Chun
who will be joining the Colchester Circuit as a probationer presbyter in September. She
will be living at the manse in Robin Crescent, Stanway, and in particular will be looking
after the churches at Wimpole Road, Lexden, Wivenhoe and West Mersea. Hannah is
currently completing her pre-ordination training at The Queen’s Foundation in
Birmingham and as part of her programme she is currently working with the
Kingston-upon-Thames Methodist Circuit.
Hannah and her young family visited all the churches in the Circuit in January, taking
the opportunity to chat and answer questions from stewards. She will be welcomed to
the Circuit at a service on 1st September, which will be led by the chairman of the
District, Rev David Chapman. More details will appear in the next edition of this
newsletter.
A SPA day is not to be missed. This particular event on Saturday 4th March at The Ark.
Highwoods, Colchester, is an opportunity for us all to come together and think big and
small about how within the life of the church we Serve the Present Age, As disciples of
Christ, we are all called to share the message of God’s love to others but this isn’t
something we always find easy. Considering how we reach out to others and the plans
we make for this is the principle of mission planning that we agreed at the September
Circuit Meeting and to help all of the churches in the Circuit to consider ‘where next’ in
terms of seeking God’s leading and discerning where the hopes and dreams might be
for the churches, we are holding a Circuit SPA day on 4th March between 10am and
3pm. This will be a day to ‘springboard’ our thinking and help us to come together, share
with one another and begin to think about where we go next as churches and for this to
feed into wider Circuit thinking. Angela Brydon (District Discipleship Enabler) and Steve Watson (District Property Officer) have kindly agreed to come and lead our day and we
are delighted to welcome them and for them to share their expertise with us.
MONTHLY Circuit walks rather lost their way as a result of Covid, but have been
resurrected on a Tuesday afternoon at the start of each month. The next will be a 4.5
mile walk on Tuesday 7th March which will start from Lexden Methodist Church at
1.30pm and will make use of mainly surfaced paths via Prettygate and Boadicea Way
before skirting the military grounds to come out on Circular Road South and then
crossing Abbeyfields to reach the city centre and Castle Methodist Church.
Because the bluebell flowering season is going to be early this year, the walk in April will
be at West Bergholt so that we can walk through Hillhouse Woods which always has a
spectacular display of bluebells. The date of the April walk will be at the latter end of the
month but will not be finalised until the end of March.
A suggested pattern of walks through the year is to do two walks of approximately 5
miles in consecutive months and then to do one of nearer 3 miles before doing two
more of c5 miles, etc. Please let organiser Derek Coe at Castle know your thoughts on
this suggestion and also advise him of any local walks which you have enjoyed which
could be included in the programme.
From time to time, a day long/longer mileage walk may be organised. If you are
interested, please contact Derek via Castle to be added to the list of interested walkers.

NEWS: From Lexden
AS a Church Community we have now settled into a pattern of worship on the first and
third Sundays in the month. When there is a fifth Sunday we have an own arrangement
Songs of Praise Service. Members are asked to suggest their favourite hymns in
advance. Unfortunately we no longer have a resident organist but requests are fulfilled
by pre-recorded music, hence the need for advance warning! Members willingly
contribute with readings, poems and prayers.
Planning this Service in advance has enabled some of our housebound members to
make their contributions and this was particularly a source of enjoyment for John
Hampshire, one of our retired organists.
John was able to provide a hymn (and suggest the right tune!) as well as some
background information which was of interest to us all. John was then able to see and
hear the service via our DVD distribution arrangement.
It was with sadness that his family told us of John’s death in December after a very
short stay in hospital.
His celebratory funeral service was held at Lexden.

From The Ark
SINCE November we have opened our doors as a Warm Space every Monday morning,
offering free hot drinks and companionship, and are now able to offer free WiFi
connection. We have been blessed with the support of staff at Home Start who are
based at The Ark and regularly set up the worship area in advance for us. The event
has received excellent publicity on FaceBook by the local councillor, on our own
FaceBook page and via HomeStart who have good connections in the community.
Leaflets have been made available in the Bluebell community centre next door, which
houses the Highwoods branch of the Colchester Food Bank on the same day.
To date we have had a handful of visitors and for the last month we have had three
regular visitors who have enjoyed the opportunity to come in and chat and enjoy the
companionship we can offer. While we have no plans to continue Warm Space, as
such, beyond the end of March this has given us the opportunity to consider further
what more we can do to support our own church community as well as the wider
community in Highwoods.
PLANS are in hand for an outdoor service, to be led by Rev Chris, on Sunday May 7th,
after which there will be a bring and share lunch to celebrate the King’s Coronation
which again will be outside if the weather permits. We are hoping to make this a
community event and to welcome our neighbours to our service and celebration.
WE are pleased to have welcomed four more of our regular worshippers into
membership at a special service last month.

From Wimpole Road
GREETINGS to you all. We are thrilled to have achieved an Eco Church bronze award,
with many thanks to Sally Crafer who has been the inspiration behind this.
Eco Church is an A Rocha UK project, which encourages churches to care for God’s
Earth. Following on from a ‘Dreaming for the Future’ meeting in July, a small group met
to complete an Eco Survey which asked questions about four aspects of our church life.
The first section was about our worship and teaching, which we scored highly on as we
include care of creation in our services. Also our leadership team have made a formal
commitment to improving the environmental credentials of our church.
The next section was buildings. We achieved bronze standard because we are using a
green tariff for our church gas and electricity supply and have some double glazing. In
this section there is much we could do to improve, including calculating our carbon
footprint, knowing our energy efficiency of the main boiler on church premises; making
sure that all our light bulbs are energy efficient and to consider generating renewable
energy on/for our premises e.g., from solar panels or solar hot water.
The next section was about land. As we do not have any that we are responsible for,
this section is not applicable and did not contribute to our award application.

The final section was community and global engagement. It asked if any member were
involved in community projects such as litter picking, if members shared car lifts to
church and whether we encourage people to walk and cycle to church if possible. We
could really improve with more global engagement by participating in Tearfund ‘Toilet
Twinning’ scheme and registering with the Fairtrade Foundation as a Fairtrade Church.
We scored well in that our church tries to use locally grown food and includes
vegetarian and vegan options of meals we provide for community projects we run, such
as Make Lunch and Warm Space. Also, that our church funds are ethically invested.
The climate pledges we made as part of our worship together in October to show how
we can continue to care for the Lord’s earth.
· May we only use earth’s resources we really need
· Drive less
· Turn heating down and ensure church heats more efficiently
· Recycle more
· Stop wasting water
· Examine where food items have come from and so reduce ‘air miles’
· Reduce plastic in waste
. Encourage wildlife in garden
· Pledge to grow own food and fruits. Promote afforestation (plant trees in a
new area)
· Not to eat food other than locally sourced whenever possible
· No buying plants in plastic pots. Never use peat
· Avoid consumerism, being mindful not to waste produce. Care for the
voiceless animals of this world
· Grow lots of flowers for bees and insects. Save more water. Use less gas and
electricity.
Thank you Sally for all your hard work.

NEXT time you visit Wimpole Road, we hope you will notice that the front of the Church
is beginning to look a little smarter. The ground has been cleared and we are waiting
for a new resin surface to be laid; this surface is permeable so is part of our ongoing
quest to become more Eco friendly. There may even be a few pots with flowers
appearing to brighten up the space and bring a bit of colour. The front doors are next
on the list, they will be sanded and re-stained in the hope the front of the building will
look more welcoming and friendly. We realise this is long overdue and look forward to
the ‘new look’.
THE last of our news is that Joan Gomer has finished her Worship leader course and
along with Peter from Lexden would like to send a big thank you to Rev Chris for her
help and guidance throughout. Both Joan and Peter await the acceptance of their new
role from the Local preachers’ meeting and respective Church councils.
Congratulations to you both. Joan is raring to go and we look forward to your
contributions to our worship. We pray God’s blessing on your work.

From The Well

AT Christmas we had a new venture – something we inherited from West Bergholt. We
sang carols on a Friday evening outside the Co-op on the Chesterwell Estate. This was
well received and we collected £30 for Action for Children. We were grateful to Clive for
‘working’ the Circuit speaker system. Also, another new for us, was live transmission of
our United Christmas Day Service on You Tube. We are indebted to Bob, Clive and
Delia for making this happen.
WE envisage our Warm Space (weekly) and Community Food Pantry (fortnightly) to
continue into the foreseeable future. We open from 11.15am to 4.00pm on a Tuesday
and food is collected from FareShare Ipswich on the Monday afternoon of the week the
Food Pantry is open. The philosophy is not only to provide cheap food but also to
prevent food waste so that anyone in the community can become a member. It initially
costs £5 to join and then for subsequent weeks, £2 entitles a member to fill a bag of
food of their own choice. The economics are that we sell enough food to buy the next
consignment from FareShare, so that it is self-sustaining – at present we are achieving
this. We provide fresh, chilled and some frozen food, but, besides the provision of food,
we look to provide a warm welcome and friendly conversation, as well as activities, free
use of the internet and phone charging. Refreshments are also provided free. There is
good ecumenical involvement and enough volunteers – God is honouring our vision and
faith.
AS part of Myland Churches Together, for a number of years, members from our
churches have met on Palm Sunday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, for a short service
and the blessing of Palm Crosses. We then attend our own services bearing Palm
Crosses for distribution to our congregations. There are four denominations involved –
St Michael’s, St Joseph’s, New Growth Ministry (Baptist) and The Well. This year we are
renewing our Covenant, a service of recognition and the signing of the Covenant is
planned for Saturday 15th July.

From Wivenhoe
OUR Sunday worship continues with average attendance at about 20 mostly elderly
people.
We celebrated Communion on Christmas Eve and were pleased to have Michael White
from Friends International in attendance with his daughters and an Indian student. Four
Chinese students also attended. Sadly we no longer have the active members able to
host students, run a monthly games evening and put on a Christmas dinner and party.
We have worked with Friends International for over 20 years on these and other
ventures, and while we continue to have close contact with Friends International and
have premises and equipment we are unable to run activities. This is a very important
and worthwhile outreach and we would welcome assistance from the Circuit in providing
more active support.
Given the advanced age and health issues of so many of our members, pastoral care
remains a top priority for us. Indeed two of our members have died since Christmas.
LADIES Fellowship on the 4 th Thursday of the month and Knit and Natter on the 2
nd
Thursday of the month at 2.30pm and pre-covid numbers are slowly returning. Circuit
friends would be welcome.
AN outside group of young mums, Bumps and Babies, meets alternate Thursday
mornings. Up to 30 mums plus babies attend and our own Betty Rampling attends
making drinks and toast and generally being a friend to them all.

OUR monthly Saturday Coffee Morning is on the second Saturday of the month from
10-12. It is always well attended by church people and the general public. It raises
money towards the Beacon of Hope Charity run by our own Bagamba and Banage
Araali in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. Banage reported recently that lots of
fighting continues around Bunia. It is a very dangerous area. There are many orphaned
children and widows in desperate need.
WE continue to play an active part in ‘Churches Together in Wivenhoe’ and our next
joint activities will be a series of events over Lent followed by a Good Friday Walk of
Witness culminating in Worship in the Methodist Church at 11am led by Rev Joe
Adams.

From West Mersea
OUR Christmas services went well and prepared us all for a splendid Christmas time.
As soon as January started we opened our church hall up for “Warm Spaces” where
people can come from 10am – 2 pm every Wednesday to be out of the cold, chat and
drink coffee and partake of a lunchtime snack. We are not the only church to run this
event, the Community Hall is open on Mondays the Methodists on Wednesday and the
Free Church on Fridays.
THE Chairman of the District took the morning service at Mersea on 26th February. The
World Day of Prayer will take place here in Mersea at the Catholic church on Friday, 3
rd
March, when members from all the churches play their part.
MOTHERING Sunday is 19th March and we always give our ladies a pot of primroses at
the end of the service. After that we look forward to the Lent groups all churches take
part in, then we look forward to Palm Sunday with the crosses then Good Friday and
Easter Day with a sunrise service on the beach at 6 am

From Castle
WE have been heartened at Castle by the response we have had to warm space. We
are currently looking at how we can keep the momentum going when warm space
officially ends. We hope to restart our Wednesday coffee mornings to continue the
work, with the hope we can attract more members of our local community.
WE continue to be joined by people of diverse cultural backgrounds at our Sunday
morning worship. We are aware that we need to work hard to ensure our brothers and
sisters feel welcome and included when English is not their first language, as they
always appreciate the fellowship we share.
FOR the first time in some years, we are looking forward to celebrating the events of
Holy week with face to face worship and fellowship. Following our April soup and snack
lunch on the 6th Rev Chris will be leading us in a service of Holy Communion for
Maundy Thursday. Then on Good Friday morning we will be sharing in a service of
witness and meditation, again led by Rev Chris, as we recall the suffering of our Lord.
This service will be followed by continuing fellowship over coffee and hot cross buns.
BRIDGEWAY MISSION is a small Christian charity working with Eastern and Middle Eastern
refugees who have been housed in Colchester, and with refugees and asylum seekers who are
living here temporarily. Bridgeway has been supported by Castle for nearly four years now, and
several members of the congregation work voluntarily with Bridgeway in the activities they
provide for our families and single people.
They are looking for more volunteers. Craft sessions and English conversation need volunteers
at present, with more in future. Usually it’s for an hour of two at the Bridgeway hub in
Colchester.

FROM THE CIRCUIT DIARY:
04 March – SPA ‘Serving the Present Age’ Day at The Ark
27 March – Circuit members meeting
22 April – Spring Synod (district)
08 June – Circuit leadership team meeting
27 June – Circuit members meeting
16 July – Farewell service for Rev Joe Adams
1 Sept – Welcome service for Hannah Chun

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Lexden Link
Autumn 2019
Issue 53

From our New Minister

Dear Friends,

Earlier this year I celebrated my 36th birthday as a Christian and I still remember so much of that Saturday night in Hockley Pentecostal Church in Birmingham when I made a decision to accept Jesus as Lord. Yet my journey of faith began well before I choose to accept Jesus.

It began in a way with Maggie who pestered me about the faith she had in Jesus during my time at Dudley College and wouldn’t let up until I came with her to the Christian Union and eventually a few weeks later to that service.

It involved being sent to Sunday School with my siblings by my non-Christian parents. I wanted to be friends with Jesus then but struggled with the God who called us to turn the other cheek.

After my Ordination my Mom told me it began years before with a prophecy shared over me by my grandparents neighbour who worshipped at the local Methodist Church; she told my mom when I was just a few days old that God had big plans for me, that I would serve as a Minister in the church. If only she had told me when I was wrestling with my call to ministry!

In reality though God has always been in my life. My story above is about how I learned to follow Jesus, but the bigger story is God has always been following me!

The President and Vice President of our Methodist Conference urged us this year to tell our stories. Stories of how you came to faith, and how we have maintained faith and life, and they are without doubt the most prized possession we have. These stories shouldn’t be all about the distant past, we need to tell stories of what God has done lately.

All of us have stories to tell and it is something we will be thinking about again and again this year. For now I wonder if you will accept this challenge?

Will you spare some time to think about and write down your story by answering these kinds of questions;
when did you first become aware of God?
who played a part in making Jesus real for you?
how did you come to be in this Church?

Then try to write a few words about what God has done or hasn’t done
lately.

It will exciting to discover what we have written and to see how far our
storytelling can take us in these coming months.

May God’s rich blessings surround you.

Yours in Christ

Rev.d Joseph N Adams

The Corn Song
by John Greenleaf Whittier

Heap high the farmer’s wintry hoard! Heap high the golden corn!
No richer gift has Autumn poured from out her lavish horn!
Let other lands, exulting, glean the apple from the pine,
The orange from its glossy green, the cluster from the vine;

We better love the hardy gift our rugged vales bestow,
To cheer us when the storm shall drift our harvest-fields with snow.
Through vales of grass and meads of flowers our ploughs their furrows made,
While on the hills the sun and showers of changeful April played.

We dropped the seed o’er hill and plain beneath the sun of May,
And frightened from our sprouting grain the robber crows away.
All through the long, bright days of June its leaves grew green and fair,
And waved in hot midsummer’s noon its soft and yellow hair.

And now, with autumn’s moonlit eves, its harvest-time has come,
We pluck away the frosted leaves, and bear the treasure home.
There, richer than the fabled gift Apollo showered of old,
Fair hands the broken grain shall sift, and knead its meal of gold.

Let vapid idlers loll in silk around their costly board;
Give us the bowl of samp and milk, by homespun beauty poured!
Where’er the wide old kitchen hearth sends up its smoky curls,
Who will not thank the kindly earth and bless our farmer girls?

Then shame on all the proud and vain, whose folly laughs to scorn
The blessing of our hardy grain, our wealth of golden corn!
Let earth withhold her goodly root, let mildew blight the rye,
Give to the worm the orchard’s fruit, the wheat-field to the fly:
But let the good old crop adorn the hills our fathers trod;
Still let us, for His golden corn, send up our thanks to God!

Hymn Writers

by Alan Beesley

Horatius Bonar

In previous editions of our church magazine I have written articles on several hymn writers both past and present. This time I have chosen Horatius Bonar. He was born in Edinburgh on 19 December 1808 and was the son of James Bonar who was the Solicitor of Excise for Scotland and Marjory Maitland. He came from a long line of ministers who served in the Church of Scotland.

Horace – as he was known to his friends – was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and became a Church of Scotland minister in 1837 when he was appointed to the Kelso parish where he stayed until 1843. He then joined the Free Church of Scotland following the Great Disruption which saw the division of the Church of Scotland. Later he became minister of the Chalmers Memorial Church in Edinburgh, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1883.

He married Jane Lundie in 1843. They had a number of children but five died in childhood. Of their surviving children two went into the ministry. His wife died in 1876 and he died on 31 July 1889 and was buried with her at the Canongate Kirkyard.

He gave instruction that no memoir of himself should be written. This is somewhat strange because over his lifetime he wrote several biographies of other ministers including “The life and works of Rev. G. T. Dodds” and “The life of Rev. John Milne of Perth”. He wrote over 140 hymns and published several collections. Seven of his hymns are included in Hymns and Psalms. Probably the best known is number 207 – “Rejoice and be glad the Redeemer has come”

We will publish the next edition of the Lexden Link when we have enough articles. Please see me or Alan if you have anything you wish to be included.
Christine Beesley – Editor

Colchester West – Eight Ash Green Methodist Church

What’s afoot?

The Lexden weekly notices have included several references to Eight Ash Green Methodist Church and a new manse for Colchester West and, not unreasonably, several people have been asking what it’s all about.

There is a lot of new building going on at Stanway Lakelands area, around Halstead Road and on the way out to Copford. Recognising the need for a church presence to meet local pastoral and spiritual needs in this rapidly expanding area, a group known as ‘Churches in Stanway’ has been formed by the leaders of Bethel Church, Stanway Evangelical Church and St Albrights C of E Church and this is currently being co-ordinated by Rev’d Paul Howes. Other local churches are being kept informed of progress.

From September 1st 2016, Rev’d Steve Swann will be joining the Circuit as a Pioneer Presbyter (subject to Methodist Conference approval). Steve, together with his wife Julie, is coming from the Lizard and Mount’s Bay Methodist Circuit in Cornwall. Steve will be concentrating on building up contacts in the area, talking to residents and businesses to see how best the pastoral and spiritual needs of the locality can best be met. Colchester Borough Council has plans in the pipeline for a new community centre to be built on the western bypass plus land has been allocated for an Academy Junior school to be built. In time it may be that these can be a base for people to meet, talk and worship but at the moment Steve will be working from a blank canvas.

So that Steve can be at the heart of the new community the Circuit has invested in a new manse at 78 Robin Crescent, located near to the Western bypass road. This house will be largely paid for from the proceeds of sale of the manse at West Bergholt when the current letting agreement comes to its end.

At the same time our friends at Eight Ash Green Methodist Church, as part of exploring their future Mission and Vision, have decided that now is time for them to change the focus of their outreach. They will be joining Steve Swann in seeking to reach out to the people of Stanway and its growing community. As a result over the weekend of September 2nd to 4th we are all invited to share in a time of Celebration for the chapel and people at Eight Ash Green ending with a service on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. The chapel may continue to be used while Steve and the congregation consider the best way forward. The Circuit Meeting is excited by this bold step in faith being taken by the Eight Ash Green church members.

As we all know there is a similar explosion of building taking place in Colchester north around the northern approach road and the Severalls Hospital site. Rev’d Ken Chalmers wishes to investigate the opportunities here together with other local clergy and organisations.

How does this affect Lexden? Very little – except that from September 1st the way in which Circuit Ministers share their pastoral responsibilities will change.

Rev’d Alan Jenkins will be the lead Presbyter for Castle, Wimpole Road, Wivenhoe and Mersea.

Rev’d Ken Chalmers will be the lead presbyter for The Ark (Highwoods), Mile End, Boxted and West Bergholt.

Rev’d Paul Howes has agreed to look after Lexden.

Rev’d Steve Swann will be caring for the congregation of Eight Ash Green as part of their joint venture into Colchester west.

A Team Ministry approach will continue and all the presbyters will be available to everyone and will be taking services in all the Circuit Churches as arranged on the Quarterly Plan.

We, at Lexden, are being asked to hold all of the exciting developments in our prayers, to provide a welcome where necessary and support wherever possible.

Geoff Wilcox

From our Minister

We are now well and truly into the season of Lent and anyone who has given up anything as a Lenten fast will be finding their willpower thoroughly tested. Lenten fasting was originally preparation for those who were due to be baptised at Easter, but it is also linked with the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. The idea is that by giving up luxuries we are better able to focus on what is important in life and we are able to build up our discipline to resist temptation.

In modern day Christianity fasting is not given a great deal of prominence and yet the bible has plenty to say about how we fast and about where our priorities should be. Jesus teaches that fasting is a private thing, as is prayer and the giving of alms; something for God’s benefit alone that should not be noticed by others, probably in response to those who made a great show of their piety. Isaiah speaks about fasting in terms of justice, saying that God is pleased more with those who uphold the rights of the vulnerable than with those who make a big show of sackcloth and ashes:

‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

It therefore seems to me rather apt that the Church of England has chosen this season of Lent to publish a letter urging Christians to get actively involved in politics as the elections draw closer . Although the Church has been slammed for releasing this guidance the call is not for people to be party political, but to show concern for the moral and ethical leadership that is given to the country and to seek to campaign for the wellbeing of those who suffer the effects of poverty.

As Christians we are called to offer practical help and support to those in need, but we are also called to challenge the root causes of poverty and injustice and this means being involved in politics in order to play our part in nurturing a just society.

So, this Lent if you have not yet chosen to give anything up, perhaps you might choose to take up an interest in our political system instead, asking questions and making sure that you use your vote. In that way perhaps we can fulfil Isaiah’s vision of a true fast.

God bless.

Ruth.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

A message from Aylsham

To All My Friends At Lexden

First of all I want to say a big thank you for the generous gift and signed card from the Church as well as all the individual cards and phone calls when I moved here last October. I was able to buy a small table and chairs (which are a perfect match for my kitchen) and I think of you all when I use them.

The move went smoothly in the end (after a few stressful moments prior to exchange of contracts) thanks to marvellous support from my daughter Rachel who lives in Norwich. It’s good to be closer to her and Colin and my grandchildren Anna and Ben – twenty minutes by car or half an hour on the bus. I’m making good use of my Essex bus pass which is still valid here until it expires. Ruth is further away but says her journey is easier and she has been able to bring Kim to see me several times and have lunch out. At the moment he is in remission for which we are very thankful.

A neighbour opposite brought me a poinsettia and card just after I arrived here and said ‘What a massive leap to move here not knowing anyone!’ I guess it was but all the way along following my ‘footprints in the sand experience last June’ felt it was the right thing to do (at least for most of the time!) The town centre is a 15 minute walk away or a few minutes on the bus from the top of my road.

I started going to the Methodist Church my first Sunday here and received a very warm welcome. (Note to Bill – 15 minute walk using footpaths.) The services are at 10:00 followed by tea/coffee ALWAYS SERVED BY THE MENFOLK and I’ve joined other weekly activities including Coffee and Cake with a chat on Friday mornings enabling me to get to know more people. I was amazed to discover that David Bedford and his wife Norma are in the Church Directory as they spend some weekends at their second home in Tuttington near here. Their main home is in London and David is the son of one of our former ministers at Lexden (1977-81) the Revd Reg Bedford. We were all surprised to meet up again here in Aylsham. Our Ruth used to babysit for them in the 1980’s when she lived in London. Small world!

I have many happy memories of people and special occasions over 40 years at LMC (most of which I shared with Hu) and will continue to remember you in my thoughts and prayers.

With special love to you all

Chris (Nash)

The Hymn Writers

Philip Doddridge was born in London on 26th June 1702 the last of the twenty children of Daniel and Elizabeth. His father was a son of John Doddridge, rector of Shepperton, Middlesex, who was ejected from his living following the Act of Uniformity of 1662 and became a nonconformist minister. Philip’s mother was the orphan daughter of the Rev John Bauman, a Lutheran clergyman who had fled from Prague to escape religious persecution.

Before Philip could read, his mother began to teach him the history of the Old and New Testament from blue Dutch chimney-tiles on the chimney place of their sitting room. He was educated first by a private tutor then at a private school until 1712 he attended the grammar school at Kingston-upon-Thames.

His mother died when he was 8 years old and his father died 4 years later. He had a guardian named Downes who moved him to a private school in St Albans where he was much influenced by the Presbyterian minister Samuel Clark. Downes squandered Philip’s inheritance, leaving the orphaned thirteen year old destitute but Clark took him on, treating him as a son. Having remained lifelong friends, Doddridge preached at the funeral of his older friend remarking: "To him under God I owe even myself and all my opportunities of public usefulness in the church."

In 1723 he received an invitation to be pastor to an independent congregation at Northampton. He was a popular preacher and his sermons were mostly practical in character. His aim was to cultivate in his hearers a spiritual and devotional frame of mind. On 22 December 1730 he married Mercy Maris and they had nine children. The first, Elizabeth, died just before her fifth birthday and was buried under the altar of the Doddridge Chapel, Northampton. Four children survived to adulthood.

Throughout the 1730s and 1740s Philip Doddridge developed close relations with numerous early religious revivalists. He established a circle of influential religious thinkers and writers, including Dr Isaac Watts. He also became a prolific author and hymn writer. In 1736 both the universities at Aberdeen gave him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Doddridge dedicated his book, The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul to Isaac Watts. He also wrote over 400 hymns. John Wesley stated, in the Preface to his Notes on the New Testament, that he was indebted to ‘the Family Expositor of the late pious and learned Dr Doddridge’ for some ‘useful observations’.

Philip Doddridge died on 26th Oct 1751.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this quarter’s newsletter.

Please let me have articles for the Summer 2015 edition by the start of June.

Christine Beesley – Editor

From our Minister

It seems like a lot of the news at present has to do with co-operation and how we work together with others; from the alliances being built to tackle the conflicts across the world to the discussions around Scottish independence and the impact of the referendum, both on Scotland and the wider UK, the question seems to be, how far can we work with others?

This seems to me to be a question faced by the Church too and one that is faced at every level, from the dialogues between denominations to how we as a group of 11 churches relate as a circuit. Whatever we do we cannot work in isolation and there is great benefit to be had from sharing together, the thing is how do we manage this in a way that fully recognises the contributions of all?

Jesus in his great prayer to the Father on the night of his betrayal prays about his followers ‘may they be one, heavenly Father, as you and I are one.’ This prayer is often taken as the mandate for ecumenical work and a marker against which we measure ourselves. It is God’s own call that we should ‘be one’, the question is, how does that look in 21st century society?

Jesus prays ‘may they be one’, he does not say ‘may they all be the same’ and indeed the twelve that he chooses as apostles are a witness to that, coming from a wide variety of backgrounds with very little in common. Yet, for all their bickering, the disciples are united by their faithfulness to Jesus and so it is with us the Church. The things that we hold in common are far more important than the things that divide us and whenever we come together it is good to remember that.

I very much enjoyed being part of a family fun festival held at the beginning of September in Castle Park and organised by a wide group of churches across Colchester. One of the great blessings was meeting people from fellowships I knew relatively little about and learning from them. We didn’t agree on everything, but I felt richer for the conversations, which enabled my own faith to grow.

As churches in the circuit facing important decisions at this time we need to really reflect on how we fulfil Jesus wish to ‘be one’. Are we supporting one another in prayer and seeking to build one another up or is there a sense of competition to see who is ‘biggest and best’? We will not always agree, but we do need to talk together, pray together, worship together and share in fellowship together in order to build up our own faith life and the life of our wider community. This means supporting events at other churches as well as our own and finding out the needs and concerns of others as well as being prepared to share honestly ourselves. As we do so we hold fast to the One who prayed for his followers to come together so that His prophecy may be fulfilled and ‘the world may believe.’

God bless.. Ruth

The Four Seasons

by Myrtle I Sparke

From our Minister

As a keen, but very much beginner birdwatcher I have been trying this Spring not just to identify birds by sight, but also to begin to recognise their calls and it has been a very instructive process! Most of us are probably aware of the way that birdsong multiplies between the months of March and June and you may even have been aware of the dawn chorus getting earlier and earlier until it seems that there are birds singing throughout the night. We all delight at the wonderful melodies that we hear each time we go out and there may even be some birds that we can pick out by their distinctive song. However I have certainly found it a challenge to begin to decipher the layers of different calls in order to identify each individual song, it is taking much patience and some very careful listening.

The act of doing this has led me to reflect on how we actually listen in our day to day lives and how much we actually really take in. The world is often a very noisy place and we rely a lot on sound to communicate, but this can mean that we end up overloaded and failing to pay attention to the detail. We hear without really listening, allowing the sound to wash over us, but not taking in the message.

Jesus says to his disciples when telling them parables ‘let those who have ears hear’. He is reminding his audience that his teaching is available to all, but to really gain the benefit of it, the disciples have to listen carefully, to absorb what is being said and to respond. Without careful listening the parable remains just an interesting story, but with our spiritual ears open then we are able to learn something of the kingdom.

‘Let those who have ears hear’ is a good command for us as the Church today too. It reminds us that we need to listen carefully to what God is telling us through the scriptures, to absorb it, pray about it and discuss it before applying what we learn to our lives. More than that though, it is also a reminder to us to listen to where God is speaking in the world today, to listen for people’s pain so that we might bring comfort and healing and to listen for voices crying out for justice in order that we can join in. Our spiritual listening involves conversation with others, listening to the news and listening in quietness for the voice of God. Let’s use our ears well to distinguish the different messages that God has for us.

God bless. Ruth

Famous Church Quotes

The True Church can never fail. For it is based upon a rock. – T.S. Eliot

Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon. – Martin Luther

Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man. – Dwight L. Moody

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God.- C.S. Lewis

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults.”- John Calvin

I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can be committed to Church but not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church. – Joel Osteen

I think if the church did what they were supposed to do we wouldn’t have anyone sleeping on the streets. – Michael W. Smith

“I believe there are too many practitioners in the church who are not believers.”- C. S. Lewis

“You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.”- Charles Spurgeon

“What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organisations or more and novel methods, but people whom the Holy Ghost can use — people of prayer, people mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through people. He does not come on machinery, but on people. He does not anoint plans, but people, people of prayer.”- E. M. Bounds

“I lack the fervency, vitality, life, in prayer which I long for. I know that many consider it fanaticism when they hear anything which does not conform to the conventional, sleep-inducing eulogies so often rising from Laodicean lips; but I know too that these same people can acquiescently tolerate sin in their lives and in the church without so much as tilting one hair of their eyebrows.”-Jim Eliot

“One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organisation do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always” – A. W. Tozer

Come, let us sing of a wonderful love

This is a hymn which is sometimes written off as a piece of Victorian sentimentality. Lots of Victorian hymns were not very good, it’s true, but this is one which quite rightly is still sung today.

It’s deeply felt rather than sentimental. It’s written out of a full heart and a profound sense of how much God has done for us.

It’s also a hymn soaked in Scripture and shows how deeply the stories of Jesus had sunk into the author, Robert Walmsley.

The first verse, which speaks of the wonderful love “streaming to me and to you” helps to recall God’s promise to “open the windows of heaven” and bless his people, while the second and third take their line from the parable of the Lost Sheep: Jesus came “seeking the lost/Saving, redeeming at measureless cost”; he is “seeking the wanderers yet/Why do they roam?”

There are echoes of the parable of the Prodigal Son too – “Love only waits to forgive and forget;/Home weary wonderers home!”

The last verse is a plea for the Spirit to come and in-dwell us, lifting us above envy, and falsehood, and pride. We cannot ask God to bring others without asking him to deal with us too. Far from being sentimental, this verse echoes the theme of the great mystics, who sought to lose themselves in God.

The hymn is metrically quite complicated and it’s a mark of the author’s skill that we don’t notice that as we sing. He doesn’t strain after rhymes and each line flows naturally, leading us further into his own experience of the love of God.

Robert Walmsley was born in Manchester in 1831, and worked as a jeweller in nearby Sale, where he died in 1905. He was involved for many years with the Manchester Sunday School Union and wrote many hymns for the annual Whitweek Festival, when the children would march through the town in procession.

Very few of them are sung now, but judging by what has survived he had considerable gifts as a writer of devotional verse.

With thanks to Bill Harber for this article

.

Lexden Link
Spring 2014
Issue 44

From our Minister

Lent by Jean M Watt.

Lent is a tree without blossom, without leaf,
Barer than blackthorn in its winter sleep,
All unadorned. Unlike Christmas which decrees
The setting-up, the dressing-up of trees,
Lent is a taking down, a stripping bare,
A starkness after all has been withdrawn
Of surplus and superfluous,
Leaving no hiding-place, only an emptiness
Between black branches, a most precious space
Before the leaf, before the time of flowers;
Lest we should see only the leaf, the flower,
Lest we should miss the stars.

This poem is one from the book I have been reading this Lent; The heart’s time by Janet Morley. It fascinated me because it looks at Lent and at the bare winter trees from a new perspective. Instead of seeing bare branches as barren and lifeless the poem directs us to the stars which can be seen between the branches as a sign of light and hope.
It stuck me whilst reflecting on this poem that there are many things we can reflect on from different perspectives, seeing either positive or negative, but often it is important that we hold the balance of both. The cross is one such thing and this becomes particularly relevant as we approach Holy Week and Easter and see so many different images of the cross on Easter cards and church posters.

Sometimes our images focus on the suffering of Jesus – carved crucifixes showing the figure of Christ twisted and in pain – and it is important that we remember the reality of the suffering and that Jesus stands alongside us in our own. However we need to be able to look beyond to see the hope that resurrection brings.

Other images dress the cross in Spring flowers as a sign of joy and new life and this has as much to teach us as the crucifix as we remember that it is the cross that brings us life and hope. However it is important to remember that the cross does not start as a thing of beauty, but as the place that Jesus died for us. When we remember both the reality of Jesus suffering and the joy of the resurrection then we get the full picture of Easter and we know that Jesus is both alongside us in our earthly struggles and calling us on to the hope that awaits us in his kingdom.

Perhaps this way of seeing the cross from two perspectives can teach us about the way we view events in our lives too. Maybe it can help us to acknowledge our suffering when times are hard and to stand alongside others who are suffering in true empathy. But maybe it also reminds us that we can look beyond the bare branches in our lives to see the stars which shine in every season.

Easter Blessings.

Ruth.

They hung my Lord upon a cross; they hung Him there to die.
Forgive them God we heard Him say, that was His final cry.

Forgive them God forgive them for they know not what they do.
Forgive them God forgive them they will find their way to You.

Your Church – ‘Its Comings In and Goings Out’

At the Church Council on 19th February, a summary of the current financial situation o the church was shared and discussed along with a projection covering the period up to the end of 2018. The information that follows is shared with you for you will want to know how things are with your church now and as much as can been foreseen, into the future.

Using the figures for the year ended 31st 2013 adjusted for 2014, it is apparent that at the present time the church is spending more money each week than it is receiving. On the income side, an average of a little over £300 each week comes from through the collection plate and a further £80 comes from gift aid, interest and donations. On the outgoing side, £317 goes each week to the circuit to pay minister’s salaries, pension contributions, travel costs and to maintain manses. In addition, the costs of running the church (light, heat, repairs and maintenance, etc.) plus our subscriptions works out at an average of £115 per week. A little piece of mathematics shows that we are currently operating what any Chancellor of the Exchequer would call ‘a deficit budget’. In fact, we are spending about £50 a week more than we are receiving. This is not all ‘doom and gloom’ for prudent housekeeping in previous years has built up a reserve and this could keep the church solvent for the next five or so years. However, in view of the fact that by the end of 2018, this reserve will have been used up, the church council agreed at its meeting that we should be looking to prune the running costs of the church where we can and to seek new income from lettings as well as striving to attract new members and adherents to our church. Of course, if those attending the church at the present time were able to give a little more, it would all help but it is appreciated that the current economic climate is not an easy time for any one of us.

Our possible options are:
To prune our costs
Consider our giving
To seek possible sources of income – e.g. hire out the Garling Room, organise fund-raising events
Prayerfully consider other options

Please feel free to share any thoughts and ideas with us.

Stephen, Derek and the Church Stewards.

The Hymn Writers

Graham Kendrick was born on 2 August 1950 in Blisworth, Northamptonshire. He is the son of a Baptist pastor the Revd. M.D. Kendrick. He now lives in Croydon.

Kendrick began his song writing career in the late sixties. His most enduring accomplishment is his authorship of the words and music for the song “Shine Jesus Shine” and is among one of the most widely heard songs in contemporary Christian worship worldwide.

His other songs include -: All I once held dear, Amazing Love, Such Love, The Servant King and Meekness and Majesty. This is just a small number of the Christian hymns and songs he has written. As well as this he has also been in the UK charts with his song “Let the flame Burn Brighter in the late 1980s.

Although now best known as a worship leader and writer of worship songs, Graham Kendrick began his career as a member of the Christian beat group Whispers of Truth. Later, he began working as a solo concert performer and recording artist in the singer/songwriter tradition. He was closely associated with the organisation Musical Gospel Outreach and recorded several albums for their record labels. On the first, Footsteps on the Sea, released in 1972, he worked with the virtuoso guitarist Gordon Giltrap.

He received the Dove award in 1995 for his international work and honorary doctorates in Divinity in 2000 and 2008 from Brunel University and Wycliffe College in Toronto respectively. Kendrick worked for a time as a member of "In the Name of Jesus," a mission team led by the Rev.Clive Calver who went on to run British Youth for Christ. Calver left the United Kingdom and went to live in the United States. Kendrick, however, has remained firmly fixed in the UK church as probably the most influential Christian songwriter of his generation.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this quarter’s newsletter.
Please let me have articles for the Summer 2014 edition by the start of June.
Christine Beesley – Editor

Lexden Link – Autumn 2013 – Issue 42

From our Minister

This month sees the start of a new academic year at schools and universities and, although the ‘back to school’ signs have been in the shops for some time, it still seems to be the herald of new beginnings. I always remember a mix of feelings connected with going back to school; sadness at the end of the holidays, trepidation and anxiety about what my new class might be like and excitement about what lay ahead in terms of a new school year. One of the best parts of the new term was always receiving blank exercise books. They always felt so fresh and new and for the first few weeks I would try extra hard not to make any mistakes.

New beginnings like returning to school always conjure up a mixture of feelings. And can be anything from moving house, starting a new job to simply the start of another Methodist Connexional year. Whatever the beginning it is natural to feel nervous about what might be as well as excited about the potential that a new start brings, just like those exercise books!

In order to make the best of any new beginning we have to be prepared to step out in faith and to do our best, whatever the situation might bring. It always felt dangerous to begin writing in those new exercise books in case you made a mistake, but writing nothing would have meant that the books remained blank and empty with nothing to say and with any new start in our lives we need to be prepared to embrace the challenge and to do our best in order to fulfil our potential. I think of Peter when Jesus called him to step out of the boat on the Sea of Galilee. He could have remained safely in the boat and he would never have sunk. However he would also never have known the joy of walking on the water or the grasp of Jesus’ hand as he lifted him out of the waves.

God calls us to make the most of every new beginning and every challenge that we face in life and as with Peter, when we get in a muddle, He will lift us up when we call His name. God gives us new pages to turn when we make a mistake, but He also calls us to keep trying and to learn from Him. So this Autumn, in all of the new challenges that come your way place your trust in God and step out in faith and hope.

God bless.

Ruth.

Lexden Methodist Website

Here are some interesting statistics about our website:

Our new website is called a ‘Blog’ and that means people can receive regular updates via email.

People also visit the site through the internet and in a recent 30 day period we had: –

57 visits from the United Kingdom
2 visits from the United States
2 visits from Australia
1 visit from Denmark
1 visit from New Zealand
1 visit from Germany
1 visit from Netherlands

If you look at the internet hits from the last year we were visited by people from 31 different countries!

Most people arrive by bookmark or typing the URL directly, or via a
search engine. A few arrive via this link:
http://www.colchesterchurches.org.uk/lexdenmethodistchurch.htm

People that arrived via a search engine were most often searching for
lexden methodist church. Other searches included sign post, methodist
church magazines, methodist church colchester, straight road methodist
church, minister of lexden methodist church, and lots of similar terms.

One person recently was searching for “a poem about little girl on train with
no money for her fare because Jesus paid it”. They found this in the Spring 2013 edition of Lexden Link.

Most people visit the home page since that’s where the most recent
content is. The other top pages are:
https://lexden.org.uk/about/
https://lexden.org.uk/contact-us/

Comings and Goings

We were very sad to lose our dear friend Rita Moss recently, especially as this happened so soon after Rose and Peter Bobby lost their son, David. Our thoughts and prayers remain with both families.

We are also losing Mo and David Beale but this is the start of a new life for them in the Isle of Wight. They will be missed. John and Jane Allison are also entering a new stage of their lives after John retired as Superintendent Minister and they left the Manse for their home in Great Bentley. We wish both couples joy and happiness for the future.

We are pleased to welcome Alan Jenkins to our circuit and his wife Janet who is a Deacon in our neighbouring circuit of Tendring.

Quotes

“Life is never measured by the years through which you live,
But by the kind deeds you do and the friendly cheer you give.”

Helen Steiner Rice

With thanks to Jane for sharing this wonderful quote from her calendar.

The Editor’s favourite quote is this one from Michael Quoist –

Tomorrow God isn’t going to ask you what did you dream, what did you think, what did you plan, what did you preach? He’s going to ask, what did you do?

Anagram

“Oh, why did you make woman so beautiful?” the man says to God.
God says: “So you would love her.”

Is an anagram of –

“Ay true,” the man says. “But God, why did you make a woman so foolish?”
God: “So she would love you.”

The Hymn Writers

The Revd Sabine Baring Gould (1834-1924) was born in Exeter and educated at Cambridge, where he chose the Church as his calling, and became Vicar of Dalton in Yorkshire.

A rather eccentric High Churchman, he was offered the living at local East Mersea Church in 1871.

This was a mismatch from the start, as the rather highbrow Vicar came to disdain the humble Essex peasants, and they had no great love for him. But it lasted for 10 years, during which he wrote much poetry, travel books, Church history and a number of hymns.

His famous novel of 1880 concerned life in the Essex marshes around Mersea and Tollesbury (in places rather violent and cruel) and was entitled “Mehalah”. This is still available in local libraries.

His two best known hymns are, “Onward Christian Soldiers” – written after he moved to Devon – and “Now the Day is Over” – rarely sung now with the sad demise of Evening Worship in most Churches.

“Onward Christian Soldiers” caused some controversy as the rather low-church Bishop of Exeter found the implied procession, – “With the Cross of Jesus going on before” – a bit too much for his low-church thinking and suggested that Baring Gould modify that line.

The rather haughty Baring Gould soon fixed that, returning the amendment as “With the Cross of Jesus left behind the door!” Apparently no more was heard on the subject, though in later years some Hymn Book editors have modified that line.

He also translated some hymns and we can thank God for using all sorts of men and women in His service, even those who are a little controversial!

John Hampshire

Lexden Link
Summer 2013
Issue No 41

From our Minister

I’ve been struck recently by how many of the stories of Jesus revolve around hospitality, both giving it and receiving. Both Jesus’ parables and the stories that involve healing and forgiveness often seem to include a meal and nowhere is this more evident than in Luke’s Gospel. Perhaps that is why the fact has come to my attention, as we are following Luke in the lectionary this year.
For Jesus hospitality is something that includes, welcomes and unites; bringing in the outcast. Jesus is often criticised for eating with tax collectors and sinners and perhaps the most famous of these incidents is Zacchaeus. Jesus chooses to eat at Zacchaeus’ house and as Zacchaeus offers hospitality he is changed. He makes a commitment to pay back anyone he has cheated and to live an honest life in future. It is as if entertaining Jesus opens his heart.
Jesus also uses offers of hospitality and dinner parties to challenge peoples’ accepted views of the way of the world and to introduce kingdom values. Many of his parables are to do with wedding feasts or banquets and they often feature a complete reversal of the status quo. The parable of the great banquet sees the vulnerable and outcast taking their seat at the table and in another parable Jesus reminds those who think that they are important to act with humility. Kingdom parables remind us that God’s kingdom is glorious and generous, but that God is no respecter of status or worldly power and wealth.
Finally, Jesus uses table fellowship as an opportunity to teach us about growing in faith. Martha and Mary are reminded that listening to God is essential before action, the woman who anoints Jesus teaches the Pharisees that God welcomes extravagant acts of love and Jesus uses the Last Supper to teach his friends about his sacrifice on the cross; a meal we still share today in commemoration. Eating together opens hearts and minds and allows Jesus to feed others both spiritually and physically.
All of these stories about food and meals have led me to reflect on the kind of hospitality that we as churches offer today. Do we offer hospitality as a form of healing which is open to all? Do we stand on ceremony at the expense of making people feel at home and do we share the bread of life in a way that enables everyone to eat and be satisfied? Our hospitality is offered not just through church functions, but at worship as we are fed spiritually and through our bible studies and home groups where faith is shared and we are nourished in our Christian journey. Let us pray that in all of our activities we may offer as well as receive a balanced diet, with enough for all and some to spare!

God bless.

Ruth.

Mission and Ministry

Vice President on Tour

The Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District were delighted to welcome the Vice-President, Mike King, and his wife, Isabel, for a weekend focusing on mission and ministry in small chapels.

A day conference was held in Harlington, Bedfordshire to discuss the mission and ministry opportunities of small chapels. After a keynote address from the Vice-President, we heard stories from some of the smaller churches in the District. These covered subjects such as reviving morning worship, introducing messy church, engaging with families, engaging with local schools, working with elderly people and discipleship and mission through small groups.

More than 50 people attended the event from small churches within the three counties of the District, both in urban and rural contexts. This enabled us all to recognise that not all small churches are in villages. The Vice-President’s experience of being a rural church and community co-ordinator in the Banbury circuit was extremely useful and everyone left with at least one new idea to try out in their local context.

On the Sunday we travelled to north-east Essex, to the village of Boxted, to lead a united service for four small chapels who had come together for this special occasion. The Vice-President’s presence was a huge encouragement for the congregation which began to see that small churches do have a place in Methodism. A united service was held in Great Bentley in the Tendring circuit in the afternoon, giving people from all over the Tendring peninsula the chance to hear the Vice-President preach and meet with him and Isabel.The weekend was a real encouragement to many of the small chapels in the District – more than 60 per cent of the churches in Bedford shire, Essex and Hertfordshire have less than 50 members – and was also a way of valuing their ministry and offering them ideas for future mission initiatives.

Michael and Isabel were warmly received and their presence greatly appreciated as they gave most generously of their time during their visit.

Anne Brown

Published in the Methodist Recorder on Friday, April 19 2013 and reproduced with thanks

Spotted in Church Notices

Don’t let worry kill you – let the church help.

Thursday night – Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn’t care much about you.

The rosebud on the alter this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer.

This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

Tuesday at 4:00 pm there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.

Thursday at 5:00 pm there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All ladies wishing to be "Little Mothers" will meet with the Pastor in his study.

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

The service will close with "Little Drops of Water." One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.

Obviously not our notices

The Hymn Writers

We continue our series of hymn writers by looking at Cecil Frances Alexander. She was born in Red-cross, County Wicklow, Ireland in early April 1818 and was the third child of Major John Humphreys and Elizabeth (nee Reed). She began writing poetry as a child and was strongly influenced by Dr Walter Hook, Dean of Chichester. Her subsequent religious work was influenced by her contacts with the Oxford Movement and in particular with John Keble. By the 1840s she was already known as a hymn writer and her compositions were soon included in Church of Ireland hymnbooks. She wrote many narrative poems and Tennyson, the poet, said he would have been proud to have written her poem "The Burial of Moses".
Her book, Hymns for Little Children reached its 69th edition before the close of the nineteenth century. She wrote some 400 hymns of which the best known are probably: – "All Things Bright and Beautiful”, "There is a Green Hill Far Away" and “Once in Royal David’s City”. These hymns are known by Christians the world over, as is her translation of “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate”. She issued Verses for Holy Seasons in 1846, The Lord of the Forest and His Vassals in 1847 and Hymns for Little Children in 1848.
She married the Anglican clergyman William Alexander (later to become Bishop of Derry and then Archbishop of Armagh) in October 1850. Her husband also wrote several books of poetry, of which the best known is St. Augustine’s Holiday and other Poems. She was six years older than the clergyman, causing great family concern.
Alexander was involved in charitable work for much of her life. Money from her first publications had helped build the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, which was founded in 1846 in Strabane. The profits from Hymns for Little Children were also donated to this school. She was involved with the Derry Home for Fallen Women, and worked to develop a district nurses service. She was an untiring visitor to poor and sick.
Seven hymns penned by Alexander were included in the 1873 issue of the Church of Ireland Hymnal, and eighteen of her works were contained in A Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern (1889). They continue to be well-accepted, as nine of her works were contained in both the 1960 and the 1987 editions of the Church of Ireland Hymnal. Cecil died in Londonderry on 12 October 1895 and is buried in the city cemetery. A posthumous collection of her poems was published in 1896 by William Alexander, titled Poems of the late Mrs Alexander.

Lexden Link

Spring 2013

Issue No 40

From our Minister

IF – such a small word and yet one that can carry layers of meaning. IF can mean hope – IF we can reach our target-: it can mean regret – IF only I had thought more carefully – and it can open up possibility – IF we go in this direction… IF is a word we use hundreds of times each day to convey a variety of thoughts, hopes and dreams, it is a small word with a very big impact.

IF is also now the name of a new campaign, supported by Tearfund, Christian Aid, the Methodist Church and a variety of other faith organisations, charities and denominations. ‘IF’ is short for ‘Enough food for everyone IF…’ and it is a campaign that recognises that the world produces enough food to feed the entire population, but that this is not always shared fairly. The ‘IF’ campaign is focused on the G8 summit this year, which the UK is set to host and aims to encourage world leaders to rethink policies on aid, trade and taxation to give a fairer deal to those who live in poverty. There are four main targets to this campaign; enough food for everyone IF we use land for food not fuel, IF we help poor people to feed themselves, IF taxes are paid in poor countries and IF companies are more transparent about their business dealings. These are big aims, but they would make a big difference in many places where food is scarce.

“What does this have to do with me?” you might ask. The answer is that this campaign will only work IF enough people get behind it and show their MPs and our government that we want them to support these aims. Tearfund, Christian Aid and the ‘IF’ campaign website have a large number of suggestions for petitions to sign, MPs to lobby and ways to get involved and there are also encouragements to pray – for those in need, but also for our leaders that they might show wisdom in this matter. IF we are all prepared to pray and to act then the weight of popular opinion will be able to bring about change and new hope to many.

This is not a purely Christian campaign, but in my opinion it is one that all Christians should be part of as we seek to follow Jesus’ teaching “IF you love me you will keep my commandments” . Jesus calls on us to love our neighbour wherever he or she may be and one way of doing this is to seek justice for all. IF we can all get behind this campaign then maybe it will no longer be a question of IF we can rid the world of hunger, but when.

God bless.

Ruth.

The Little Pilgrim

One summer’s evening, ere the sun went down,
When city men were hasting from the town
To reach their homes, some near at hand and some afar,
By snorting train, by omnibus or car,
To be beyond the reach of city’s din:-
A tramcar stopped, a little girl got in,
A cheery looking girl, scarce four years old;
Although not shy, her manners were not bold.
But all alone, and scarce could understand,
She held a little bundle in her hand,
A tiny handkerchief with corners tied,
But which did not some bread and butter hide.
A satin scarf, so natty and so neat,
Was o’er her shoulders thrown, she took her seat,
And laid her bundle underneath her arm.
And smiling prettily, but yet so calm,
she to the porter said “May I sit here?”
He answered instantly, “O yes my dear”, ‘
And there she seemed inclined to make her stay,
While once again the tram went on its way.
The tall conductor – over six feet high –
Now scanned the traveller with a business eye.
But in that eye was something kind and mild,
That took good notice of the little child.
A little after, and the man went round
And soon was heard the old familiar sound
Of gathering pence, and clipping tickets too;
The tram was crowded, and he had much to do,
‘Your fare, my little girl” at length he said;
She looked a moment, then shook her little head.
‘I have no pennies, don’t you know?” said she,
“My fare is paid, and Jesus paid for me.”
He looked bewildered, – all the people smiled,
“I didn’t know, and who is Jesus, child?”
‘Why, don’t you know. He once for sinners died,
For little children, and for men besides,
To make us good and wash us from our sin,
Is this His railway I am travelling in?
“Don’t think it is, I want your fare, you know.”
“I told you JESUS paid it long ago.
Why mother told me just before she died,
That Jesus paid when He was crucified,
That at His cross His railway did begin
Which took poor sinners from a world of sin.
My mother said His home was grand and fair,
I want to go to heaven where Jesus lives,
Won’t you go, too? My mother says He gives
A loving welcome – shall we not be late?
O, let us go before He shuts the gate.
He bids us little children come to Him.”
The poor conductor’s eyes felt rather dim,
He knew not why, he fumbled in his coat
And felt a substance rising in his throat.
The people listened to the little child.
Some were in tears, the roughest only smiled.
And someone whispered as they looked amazed,
‘Out of the mouth of babes the Lord is praised”;
“I am a little pilgrim”, said the little thing,
I’m going to heaven: my mother used to sing
To me of Jesus and His Father’s love,
Told me to meet her in His home above.
And so today, when Aunt went out to tea,
And looking out I could not father see,
I got my bundle, kissed my little kit,
(I am so hungry; won’t you have a little bit)
And got my hat, and then I left my home
A little pilgrim up to heaven to roam;
And then your carriage stopped, and I could see
You looked so kind, I saw you beckon me –
I thought you must belong to Jesus’ train.
And are you just going home to heaven again?”
The poor conductor only shook his head
Tears in his eyes, the power of speech had fled.
Had conscience, by her prattle, roused his fears,
And struck upon the fountain of his tears,
And made his thoughts in sad confusion whirl?
At last he said, “Once I ‘d a little girl,
I loved her much, she was my little pet,
And with great fondness I remember yet,
How much she loved me, but one day she died”.
“She’s gone to heaven”, the little girl replied,
“She’s gone to Jesus, Jesus paid her fare,
Oh, dear conductor, won’t you meet her there?”
The poor conductor now broke fairly down.
He could have borne the hardest look or frown,
But no-one laughed, but many sitting by,
Beheld the scene with sympathetic eye.
He kissed the child, for she his heart had won.
“I am so sleepy”, said the little one,
“If you will let me, I’ll lie here and wait
Until your carriage comes to Jesus’ gate.
Be sure you wake me up and pull my frock,
And at the gate, give just one little knock.
And you’ll see Jesus there.” The strong man wept.
I could but think as from the car I stepped,
How oft a little one has found the road,
The narrow pathway to that blest abode,
Through faith in Christ has read its title clear,
While learned men remain in doubt and fear,
A little child! The Lord oft uses such
To break or bend, the stoutest heart to touch.
Then by His Spirit bids the conflict cease,
And once for ever enter into peace;
And then along the road the news we hear,
“We’re going to heaven – that Jesus paid the fare.”

With grateful thanks to Ros Carrington for sharing this poem by E. C. Jewett.

The Hymn Writers

Isaac Watts was born in Southampton on 17th July 1674 and died in Stoke Newington, London on 25th Nov 1748. He was the son of a clothier who was a staunch nonconformist and was twice imprisoned for his beliefs. He was educated at Southampton privately, and then at a Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington run by Thomas Rowe, an independent pastor as he would not be accepted at Oxford or Cambridge because of his non conformity. He spent some time at home in Southampton, 1694-96, and it was then that many of his hymns were written and tried out at the Southampton chapel. He became private tutor to the son of an eminent Puritan, Sir John Hartopp, 1696-1702, and then was ordained pastor of Mark Lane Independent Chapel, London. He suffered from considerable ill-health, and was forced to accept the help of an assistant: in 1712 he had to give up his post, and he became a semi-invalid in the house of Sir Thomas Abney, first at Theobalds, Hertfordshire, and later at Stoke Newington. The degree of DD was conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh, 1728. His publications were numerous, in prose and in verse; his text-book, Logic was used at Oxford for many years. His books containing hymns included Horae Lyricae (poems and hymns), Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Divine Songs attempted in easy language for the Use of Children, and The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. Watts has sometimes been called ‘the father of English hymnody’. He was a considerable poet in his own right, and his hymns are sometimes magnificent in their celebration of God in Creation and Christ in Redemption. Two of them, ‘0 God, our help in ages past’, and ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’, are probably the best-known sacred poems in the English language. In all he wrote about 600 hymns and there are nearly 40 of his hymns in Hymns and Psalms. He published several books of poetry, hymns and three volumes of theological discourses.

He died on the 25th of November 1748, and was buried at Bunhill Fields, where a tombstone was erected to his memory by Sir John Hartopp and Lady Abney. A memorial was also erected to him in Westminster Abbey, and a memorial hall, erected in his honour at Southampton, was opened in 1875.