May Highbury News

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Highbury Congregational Church

Oxford Street. Cheltenham. GL52 6DUwww.highburychurch.co.uk

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Highbury News - 2 - May 2012

Deadline for June Highbury News: Sunday 13th May

... to our May Church Meeting.It is one of the things that’s specialabout Highbury.We believe it is for each local church toseek the mind of Christ and then toshape all the church does.That makes our Church Meeting animportant part of Highbury’s churchlife.It is so easy, however, for Churchmeeting to get bogged down in thekind of detail that is better left topeople to carry out who are doingvarious jobs in the church.For 2012, therefore, we have tried toarrange our Church Meetingsdifferently.

Our May Church Meeting is going tofocus on Mission. Sharon Wallington isjoining a team from St Luke’s to go toBolivia with Latin Link. We will be ableto hear more about the project thatSharon is going to be part of, andremember her in our prayers.May involves us in Christian Aid. Thatis not ‘a charity’ we support - but it isthe ‘aid and development’ arm of allthe main churches in the UK. It is partof us. We’ll be exploring how we canmake that involvement more real inthe next two years too.Mission is what we are all called toshare. Do join us on Thursday 3rd Mayfor what promises to be a specialChurch Meeting.

An invitation ...

Highbury Congregational Church belongs tothe Congregational Federation and is in partnership with

the Council for World Mission and Churches Together

www.highburychurch.co.uk

01242 522050

[email protected]


Not just an add-onMission is very much part of what weare about in all we do at church.Get what we do right, and at the heartof what we are as a church will beMission.It is so easy for church to become aclub that we want people to join.‘Church’ exists for other people. Ourconstant concern is for others.So it was back in our January Churchmeeting that, when people came upwith words and phrases to describewhat’s special about Highbury, anumber of them had to do with Mission:

Words and phrases that stimulate meto think about what we do as a church,and what makes us tick.It’s great that Sharon Wallington isgoing to be joining up with a teamfrom St Luke’s and going with LatinLink to Bolivia. To belong to onechurch is to belong to the churchworld-wide. As Sharon shares, all toobriefly, in projects that are part of thechurch’s mission in Bolivia with verymany different needs, we as a churchfamily will be part of that. It will begood to share in prayer for Sharon ...and to support the fund-raising thegroup have been doing to support thatwork.

Through our CongregationalFederation we have entered into apartnership with the churches ofNicaragua that is now in the second ofthree years. It will be good to see howwe can develop that partnershipfurther too.We are in need of new volunteers tohelp with the Christian Aid Collectionthat takes place in the second week ofMay. Iain and Laura MacLeod are theones to contact about that.A big thank you to Louise Middletonwho is going to represent Highbury onthe Christian Aid organising committeein Cheltenham.It was good hearing news of aCongregational Federation CWMpartnership visit to Malawi, and toremember that country as it is goingthrough a difficult period of successionfollowing the death of the President.We are looking forward to seeingStefan and Birgit Kürle again in theAutumn, as they return to Europe for agood break from their work in Brazil.To belong to one church is to belong toone world-wide church and that is awonderful dimension to our Mission.But lots of the words and phrasespeople came up with were to do withwhat we are doing locally here. Howwe respond to needs in our owncommunity is as much part of ourchurch’s mission.It’s exciting that this month one of ourinitiatives, Hy-Speed, is going to bereceiving an award at the

Minister’s Memo


Congregational Federation’s AnnualAssembly.Its simple mission statement is areminder of what it is all about:

One phrase more than any othercaught my attention as I was preparingmy reflections for this month:

Maybe that’s what Mission is all about.Being approachable. Being willing tolisten. Being easy to talk to.In all that we share maybe God’s lovecan shine through in such a way thatpeople will be taken by that love anddiscover the difference it can make intheir lives.

It prompts me to wonder, however,how prepared we are to respond tothose questions that probe and enquireand ask about life and its big questions.And when we do make a response howready are we to point in the directionof God’s love and the difference ourfaith can make?Mission is all about sharing God’s loveand enabling people to experience thatlove in all sorts of ways.May it be at the heart of all we do atHighbury!Every blessing,

RichardPS On a personal note, we have allmissed Sue and wish her well in herrecovery, hoping that by the time thismagazine comes out she will be welland truly on the mend!

Highbury Community CaféEvery Thursday 10:00am until 11:30am

Coffee, Tea and Homemade CakeBring your friends or neighbours

The foundation stone of the present Highbury Church buildingwas laid on 18th May 1932

Eighty years later, we offer God our gratitude and praise -For those whose vision led to the beginnings of this church,for those whose faithful service maintained the church’s life and witness,for all the worship which has been offered in this building,for every activity which has helped faith to grow,for all the love which has been shown in words and actions,for moments of glory flashing through the routine of church life,for all that we mean to each other and to you, our loving God,

we praise and thank you.


Wanted: Memories of HighburyLast year, Highbury ‘archives’ were sorted and lodged with the County Archivein Gloucester and now, as a follow-on, a project has been launched to producean updated history of Highbury Congregational Church.The last History was written in 1927, so there are 85 years to catch up on! Ifyou have anything you think might be of interest (written material, photos,unrecorded memories) please contact June Tremlett who is co-ordinating theproject, or Diana and Dick Adams. Some ‘memories’ have already been receivedand they are proving to be interesting reading, so however small yourcontribution may be, please jot it down, or email it.Do you remember the War years at Highbury? The years before or during RevDouglas Evans’ ministry? Or the ministries of Rev H.E.B. Hillary, Rev LawrenceSquires, Rev Eric Burton, Rev Dr Clifford Hill or Rev Clifford Small? Do youremember the Sisterhood, Young Wives, Needlework Guild? Or the LivingstoneFellowship - carol singing, leading worship in village churches, May Day walksor Easter rambles? Sunday School on Sunday afternoons, or later Junior Churchin the mornings? Outings to a farm in Gotherington, or to Portishead? The Choiror Junior Choir? Highbury Youth? Uniformed Organisation? Annual Sales of Workon Wednesday afternoons in October, succeeded by Annual Autumn Fairs allday on Saturdays? Highbury Players? Ruby Cole’s shows, and the pantomime?The Travel Institute for International Understanding, and visits to and fromBurlington, Vermont? Church ‘planting’ at Warden Hill? The ideas are endless!!

Sue’s NewsI am very fortunate in normallyenjoying good health, so it wasunusual and frustrating to be recentlystruck down with a health problem. Ithappened at one of my favourite timesof the year, when days werelengthening, things were changing inthe garden, and Easter, one of themost meaningful festivals in the churchcalendar was upon us. I reallyappreciated the messages, cards,flowers and, no doubt, prayers fromthe Highbury family, so My HeartfeltThanks.May brings the Annual NationalAssembly of Congregational Federationand, being held in Dunfermline this

time, far fewer than usual will attendto represent Highbury, but we lookforward to hearing a report from ourrepresentatives sometime soon.Christian Aid Week also occurs in Mayso the regular team of volunteers willbe required, for envelope distributionsand collections. Any new first timevolunteers will be welcomed by LauraMacLeod who co-ordinates Highbury’sChristian Aid fundraising.The Highbury Directory will be going topress imminently, so any changes ininformation from the last editionshould be passed to the AdministrationTeam or the secretary as soon aspossible, please.


Charity for May: The Woodlands House of Prayer Trust(Brunel Manor)

Brunel Manor is held in trust by theWoodlands House of Prayer Trust,founded by two ladies, MargaretBarbour and Vera Hawkins, 70 yearsago this July, when they purchasedtwo houses in London for ‘theestablishment of a home for thepurpose of affording the means ofphysical and spiritual help to those inneed’. The trust then moved toEastbourne before buying WatcombeManor, Torquay (now Brunel Manor)in January 1963 for £28,500. Thehouse and grounds were intended tobe Brunel’s retirement home but hedied before the house was built.The Trust now operates from threebuildings, the Manor, the Court andthe Lodge, as a Christian Holiday andConference Centre. Many churchgroups meet for weekends throughoutthe year and feedback from guestsshows how much the peacefulatmosphere, the extensive facilities,as well as the good food and warmhospitality means to them. Themedbreaks, often with a visiting speaker,are also popular and guests regularlyexpress their appreciation of theministry which is provided.The Court, originally the stables to theManor, has recently been refurbished

to provide accommodation forschools, youth groups and universityChristian Unions.A very important aspect of thecharity’s work is the support it canprovide for individuals or families atdifficult times in their lives. Recently,they were privileged to be able towork with another local charity toprovide free accommodation for afamily with a very sick family member.The charity has a hospitality fundwhich is used to subsidise or pay forsuch provision.Friends of Brunel Manor receiveregular updates on the work at theManor and are very faithful prayerwarriors! Many contribute regularlyfinancially and some pay frequentvisits. One Friend stayed at the Manorten times in 2011!The motto of the Trust is ‘Given toHospitality’ and, as the tricky path ofHealth and Safety compliance in aGrade II listed building is negotiated,the Trustees are daily aware of theirreliance on God’s strength andguidance, as they seek to continue togive Him glory through ministry andservice for the next 70 years!

Mary Michael

A Thought on Good FridayInside in sunlit silence I reflect on the meaningof a death which gives free entry to paradise

Outside, I hear the sounds of everyday – the whines and bangs of a bin lorrycollecting its load for the landfill

Jesus, the dustbin-man, who takes away the rubbish of the world.


WELCOME to- Solomon and Dina Udayakumar who were received into Church Membershipon Sunday 25th March, and their children Dorothy and DerekIT IS A PLEASURE TO REPORT that- Jonquil Harrison is back home after a successful knee operation; althoughrecuperation will be lengthy, the outlook for both Jonquil and Peter must bepositive again- Paul Harris’ baby granddaughter, Poppy, is home again with parents Chloe andNathan, after a spell in hospital.OUR SYMPATHY to- Lorraine and Neil Gasside, and all in the family, on the death of Lorraine’sAuntie Mary in Tewkesbury Hospital on Friday 23rd March- Sheila Grimes on the death of her Auntie Vera- Olga Slack following the death of her cousin, Muriel- the family of Richard Jefferies, who passed away on Thursday 19th April,husband of Jean, father of Joanna and Marcus, and brother of Anne HopkinsAN AMENDMENT- Clare Clucas has a new telephone number( 01544 231239

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS all those mentioned above - and- Ray and Margaret Morgan, as Ray is hospitalised- Howard Bartlett, recuperating after a bout of pneumonia- Andrew Bartlett, now recovering at home after a hospital stay following amotorbike accident in London- Raymond and Brenda Clarke - Ann and Stan Jones - Joan Lee- Joyce Moore - Brenda Lamb - Sue Cole- Joan Barnes - Maurice Wilce - Hilda Read- Ian and Hilare Pulford - Gwen Taylor - Ivy Sadler- Vera and David Williams - Karen Hayden’s father, Peter - Eric Burton- Rachel Jacques and her father Ron- Marguerite Brown who has broken her arm- Shirley Fiddimore’s sister Gloria and brother-in-law David- Russell and Frances May, former members of the Livingstone Fellowship- others with a variety of problems – personal, family, health, work, education- or simply feeling down, and in need of our love and prayerful support- also remembering those who care for all these folk

News of the Church Family


Syrian Christians in desperate straits: will the churches survive?The city of Homs, the third largest in Syria, has seen almost its entire Christianpopulation of 50,000 to 60,000 flee for safety as fighting continues in thestricken country. The number of Christians left in the city has reportedly fallento below 1,000 after the strife between the troops of President Bashar Assadand anti-government forces.Please pray …

for protection for all the people of Homs and in other parts of Syria whoare caught up in the conflict, and that humanitarian aid will reach them;for the Christians displaced from their homes or in danger of attack,that the Lord will protect them and meet their needs;for an end to the fighting and a just resolution of the crisis in Syria.

Christians in peril as Sudan and South Sudan head towards warThe threat of an all-out war between Sudan and South Sudan is mounting amidintensifying fighting in the disputed border region, putting Christians in bothnations in great danger. Recent fierce clashes in the oil-rich territory have beendescribed as the worst fighting since South Sudan gained independence in July2011. The UN Security Council has expressed its ‘deep and growing alarm’ overthe ‘escalating conflict’, and said that the situation threatened to return thecountries to full-scale war.Please pray …

that the UN and African Union will be able to broker peace betweenSudan and South Sudan and that the underlying issues will be resolvedto the satisfaction of both nations;for all those who have been left in a state of limbo without officialcitizenship of either Sudan or South Sudan. Pray that their paperworkwill be issued swiftly and that they will be able to find homes and jobs;that the Lord will protect His people in both Sudan and South Sudanfrom violent attacks.

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS, AND VISITING REQUESTS please contact:

Joyce and Philip Arnold ( 01242 285705

David and Betty Butcher ( 01242 300581

PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS please contact:

Lorraine Gasside ( 01242 239838 - [email protected]

Did you know that ...It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month afterthe wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead hecould drink. Mead is a honey beer. Because their calendar was lunar based,thisperiod was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.


Open the BookOn Being the Church

Thursday 10th May 7-30 to 9-00pmWe had to miss a couple of Open The Book meetings earlier in the year andso we are going to take a look once more at what it means not just to belongto church but to be the church.We began with Jesus, moved on to look at Paul and this month turn to Peter.Do join us if you can! Thursday 10th May Peter ... On being the Church ... 1 Peter 1-2

Richard Cleaves

Weekend Away at HomeFriday 28th to Sunday 30th September

We’ve been calling it ‘a weekend away at home’ so that we can think of itas a weekend with all the fun, fellowship and stimulating thinking of a BrunelManor Weekend without any of the traveling!It now really is going to be a weekend away ‘at home’. When we visited theC3 church in Hatherley it quickly became apparent that the facilities therewouldn’t meet with what we needed.So we have decided to have the weekend here at Highbury!It will begin on the Friday evening with an introduction to the weekend, afun social evening and some worship. The younger children will then haveall the fun of a sleepover.On Saturday we will take up the thinking we have been sharing on ‘what’sspecial about Highbury’ and ‘what it means to be church at Highbury’, andsee if we can come up with those words that describe what we hope andpray Highbury can become.During the afternoon there will be fun to share, and in the evening a QuizNight. On Saturday night Hy-Tec will invite all who are in Year 6 and overto join them in a sleep over. We will then meet on Sunday for our HarvestCelebrations with news of the Christian Aid Nicaragua partnership.I very much hope the weekend can be for everyone. Wouldn’t it be great tohave a good mix of people from our morning congregation and from ourevening congregation, of children and youngsters, families and older peopletoo!Look out for booking forms and more news to follow.

Richard Cleaves


Poet’s Corner“Magazines should have occasional religious and literary items”

This little poem combines both:King David and King Solomon led merry, merry lives,With many, many girlfriends, and many, many wives.

But when old age crept o’er them, with many, many qualms,King Solomon wrote the Proverbs, and King David wrote the Psalms.

Dewi Howells

Chosen CharitiesCommunion offerings and money donated at coffeetime after morning worship will go to our chosencharity for May, which is The Woodlands House ofPrayer Trust (Brunel Manor) - see page 6.The total raised by our communion offerings and bythose who stayed for coffee after morning services inMarch, for Cheltenham Youth for Christamounted to £149.58

Hy-Way in MayOur meetings continue every Wednesday afternoon

for a time to worship, a time to listen,and for our social time with refreshments and chatter,

from 2.00 to 3.30pm in the Morton Brown Room.All are invited - do come along - you will be assured of a warm welcome

Welcoming Team for May 2012Sunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGSharon Wallington Mary BuchananTrisha Stone Rachel JacquesJohn Stone

Vestry DutySunday MORNING Sunday EVENINGShirley Fiddimore June Tremlett


Highbury LunchThis month the lunch will be held on Wednesday 9th May at 12.30pm

All are welcome to come along,just let us know you are coming!

The Cooking Team

In the March Meeting for Church Visitors and Deacons, Kathryn Mead told us ofthe work of ‘Listening Post’ a Gloucestershire-based, professional, voluntary,confidential counselling service with a Christian ethos of caring, without any aimof converting or proselytising those who come with troubles. What is more, noset fee is charged; all that is requested is that ‘where possible and based uponindividual means, clients make a donation to cover support costs.’Founded in 1990, Listening Post offers counselling for people in emotional orpsychological distress, to help them see a way through whatever is hurting thembadly. In many cases personal isolation, having no one else to work things outwith, is at the root of their problems. On the other hand, some concerns mayseem too sensitive to share with others who are close, and a counsellor isneeded. Sharing concerns with an uninvolved caring person often helps to bringthe problems into perspective, and even opens up new avenues of approachwhich enable working towards a solution.Listening Post literature mentions that ‘issues brought to counselling ofteninclude help in making difficult decisions, the trauma of loss and bereavement,stress management, anxiety, depression, despair, abuse, and personalrelationships’. ‘Counsellors do not offer direct advice or guidance; rather, theysupport clients to achieve change through their own resources.’There are now three centres, in Gloucester (tel: 01452 383820), Cheltenham(tel: 01242 256060), and Stroud (tel: 01453 750123), open usually 9-30am to4-30pm and some evenings. The Cheltenham centre is based in the Hester’sWay Community Resource Centre, Cassin Drive, GL51 7SU.Kathryn pointed out that key to counselling is listening, and that this is a skillwhich can be learnt. Listening Post offers a course, ‘An Introduction to ListeningSkills and Theory’ – a one-term 30 hour training course (9 sessions plus aone-day workshop) costing £150 - suitable for those who wish to learn initiallistening skills, whether in a voluntary, church, or employed setting.’The charity is also in continuing need for support by way of donations, becauseclients are not on the whole able to pay for the running costs involved; andKathryn thanked Highbury Church for its help with this.

David Butcher

Listening Post


Prayers for CheltenhamMonday to Friday12-30 to 12-45

St Mary’s Church in the Town CentrePeople from all the churches of Cheltenham are invited to join together inprayer for our town each weekday lunchtime from 12-30 to 12-45 in StMary’s, the parish church of Cheltenham.

An Hour of Prayer for CheltenhamThursday 3rd May 12-30 to 1-30

Every quarter we have a special hour of prayer for Cheltenham at St Mary’s- it would be great to see people from Highbury joining us for that hour, orpart of it. If you would like to take part in any of these prayer times pleasehave a word with me.

Richard Cleaves

Update on Moffat in death row in ZambiaFirst of all thank you to those who have asked me how Moffat is, and have toldme that you pray for him. This is something that really encourages Moffat whenI tell him. He has passed his exams in English and Geography but may re-sitthem to improve his grades. He is also interested in taking Maths and History.We can be thankful for this opportunity to study - although he tells me thatstudy time is limited. There are problems again about my letters reaching himand this is causing Moffat some anxiety - please pray that these letters will havearrived by now. In fact, that is not the only communication difficulty at themoment. The quarterly payment that we send him has also not arrived - not forsome time - and there are difficulties at the moment in getting Cecilia's schoolfees through to the school. Please pray that this situation will be quickly resolved- and also for wisdom and patience in dealing with it. Moffat's plea for ourcontinued correspondence is most heartfelt - he wrote 'I feel that especially atthis time of Lent I need your encouragement very much. Christ really sufferedfor our welfare.'I'm also asking for prayer for Moses Chansa. He is an ex-prisoner and now anevangelist who takes the Gospel into prisons. He is finding life very difficult andchallenging - for financial, housing and health reasons. The last I heard is thatboth he and his wife have malaria. He has asked us to pray for his hopes to startup a small business for which he needs funding. Please pray that help, hope andencouragement may be his at this worrying time.

Judi Marsh


God for us, who created a world ofopportunities;Grant us the confidence torespond to them.God with us, who shows us the way tolive together in unity;Help us to share our resourcesand knowledge with people whoneed them.God among us, who inspires us to keepon going, and turns our smallbeginnings into big results;Keep us faithful to thepossibilities before us.God of life, we celebrate all that isgood and life-giving in your creation.We hold before you the country andpeople of Sierra Leone, a beautiful andfertile land with a wealth of naturalresources, and a dignified and resilientpeople. We so often see only theproblems; but the people of SierraLeone see the possibilities. Your worldcan provide food and a good life for allits people, if we share resources andskills;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.We are sometimes overwhelmed at themagnitude of the task, but you ask usfor what we are able to give – toolsand seeds. Together, our small actions

and the hard work of partners in SierraLeone produce huge changes;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.We give thanks that simple technologyand improved methods help the peopleto be more productive and generateincome. Help us never to take our foodfor granted, or those who produce it;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.We give thanks for people finding theirvoice to speak out for the right toeducation. May we share their courageto do the same;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.We pray for a world with enough foreveryone. In hearing the voices thatspeak of hunger, may we too becomehungry for change;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.We give thanks for all the channelsthrough which change can happen.Help us to speak out as individuals,churches, and communities;For the end of hunger is thebeginning of speaking out forchange.

Let’s give the toolsto help people in poverty out of poverty

In Christian Aid Week, from 13th to 19th May, thousands of people willstand together to speak out for change and raise funds to help someof the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, with a focus on thestory of change taking place in a community in rural Sierra Leone.


Day Meeting Contact Tel. Number

Sunday 10-30am Morning Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 6-30pm Evening Service Richard Cleaves

Sunday 7-15pm Hy-Tec Adrian Blazey

Monday 6-45pm Scouts Andy Sargent

Tuesday 9-45am Toddlers Felicity Cleaves

Tuesday 5-45pm Transformers Carolyn Tennant

Wednesday 2-00pm Hy-Way Sue Cole

Wednesday 6-15pm Cubs Ian Miller

Wednesday 6-00pm Brownies Christine Lodge

3rd Wednesday 8pm House Group Sharon Wallington

Thursday 10 - 11.30 Community Café Felicity Cleaves

Thursday 7-30pm Church Meeting

Deacons’ Meeting

Open the Book

Sue Cole

Richard Cleaves

Friday 7-00pm Guides Tania Ashdown

Friday 7-30pm Choir Mary Clifford

Saturday 10-00am Beavers Amanda Sargent

1st Saturday 2-30pm Friendship Group Olga Slack

2nd Saturday 6.30pm Hy-Speed Peter Tennant

Sunday 9-30 am Hy-Spirit Mary Buchanan

Big Jubilee Lunch Party! Sunday 3rd JuneOn Sunday 3rd June we are holding a lunch party at church to celebrate theQueen’s Jubilee. You are all invited to join in – it will begin after we have hadcoffee following morning worship, and if the weather is kind we shall acceptRichard and Felicity’s invitation to use the Manse garden. To help with thecatering please add your name to the list, which will be available from mid-May,and placed on the corridor notice board by the car park door. The cost is £3 perhead, or £10 per family. Please see me if you have any dietary requirements, orif you need any further information.

Jean Gregory (01242) 526002


Calendar for May 2012

Thursday 3rd 7.30pm Church MeetingSaturday 5th 2.30pm Friendship Group for those who live alone

SUNDAY 6th 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm Evening Prayers with Holy CommunionWednesday 9th 12.30pm Highbury Lunch - see page 11Thursday 10th 7.30pm Open the Book - see page 9Saturday 12th Congregational Federation 40th Anniversary National Assembly at Dunfermline, Scotland

6.30pm Hy-Speed for younger members 8.30pm Hy-Speed for older members

SUNDAY 20th 9.00am Sunday Special 10.30am Morning Worship with Holy Communion 6.30pm Evening PrayersWednesday 23rd The Olympic Torch passes through CheltenhamThursday 24th 7.30pm Biblical Interpretation Public Lecture at Francis Close Hall, the University of Gloucestershire - see page 23

SUNDAY 27th 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm Evening PrayersThursday 31st 7.30pm Deacons’ Meeting

SUNDAY 13th CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 10.30am Morning Worship led by Yvonne Brae 6.30pm Evening Prayers led by Alan Barratt


Prayer Rota for Sundays in MayMorning

Sunday 6th May Felicity Cleaves Sunday 13th May Adrian/Kate Blazey Sunday 20th May Richard Cleaves Sunday 27th May Karen Haden

EveningSunday 20th April Phil Arnold

S.W. Midlands Area of the Congregational Federationinvites us to pray for …

Sunday 6th May C.F. National Assembly in Dunfermline Sunday 13th May Christian Aid, its workers and its work Sunday 20th May The World Church Sunday 27th May C.F. Area Officers and the Church Support Worker

Prayer Focus - District 5Howard and Jenny Bartlett

Vera JonesKatherine Stanley

Lilian WatkinsTony and Karen Wilkes

Ivy SadlerElsie Williams

Mike and Gill DownwardDennis and Norma Gill

Joyce MarriotIan and Hilare Pulford

Ron HillDeacon: June Tremlett

Visitors: Karen Wilkes, Mike and Gill Downward

Take God's comfort blanket of unfailing, unlimited and unconditional love.Wrap it snugly around yourself, and enjoy the warmth and protection it offers.

Romans 8:35


A Love LetterMy Child,You may not know me, but I knoweverything about you.I know when you sit down and whenyou rise up,I am familiar with all your ways.

Even the very hairs on your head arenumbered.For you were made in my image,

In me you live and move and haveyour being,For you are my offspring.I knew you even before you wereconceived,I chose you when I planned creation,

You were not a mistake, for all yourdays are written in my book.

I determined the exact time of yourbirth and where you would live.

You are fearfully and wonderfullymade;I knit you together in your mother'swomb,And brought you forth on the day youwere born.I have been misrepresented by thosewho don't know me;I am not distant and angry, but am thecomplete expression of love,

And it is my desire to lavish my love onyou,

Simply because you are my child and Iam your Father.I offer you more than your earthlyfather ever could,For I am the perfect Father.

Every good gift that you receive comesfrom my hand,For I am your provider and I meet allyour needs.My plan for your future has alwaysbeen filled with hope,Because I love you with an everlastinglove.My thoughts toward you are countlessas the sand on the seashore,

And I rejoice over you with singing.

I will never stop doing good to you,

For you are my treasured possession.

I desire to establish you with all myheart and all my soul,And I want to show you great andmarvellous things.If you seek me with all your heart, youwill find me.Delight in me and I will give you thedesires of your heart,For it is I who gave you those desires.

I am able to do more for you than youcould possibly imagineFor I am your greatest encourager.


Easter Café with Hy-SpeedThanks to everyone who came along and supported the Easter Café withHy-Speed. It was a great success, the whole building was buzzing. It broughttogether all the generations and the two churches of Highbury and St Luke’s. Inaddition there were many people who came along to other activities at thechurch and seemed to enjoy this social atmosphere. As ever Hy-Speed was abig draw for parents and children, but many took time to explore the interactiveEaster in the Church. It was great to have people from both churches runningthe café and helping with crafts in the Church, to have Easter cards to buy andmake, and to have the Traidcraft stall from St Luke’s doing a good trade. Thestall sold £81.25 of Fairtrade goods for St Luke’s PCC, and the café raised £132for Highbury, though we want to stress again that raising funds is a pleasantoutcome to what should be seen as being a great opportunity to developfriendships, and to share the Easter message. We look forward to furthercollaborative activity. If you were not able to join us at this event look out forthe next one.

Felicity Cleaves and Carolyn Tennant

I am also the Father who comforts youin all your troubles;When you are broken-hearted, I amclose to you.As a shepherd carries a lamb, I havecarried you close to my heart;

One day I will wipe away every tearfrom your eyes,And I’ll take away all the pain you havesuffered on this earth.

I am your Father, and I love you evenas I love my son, Jesus;For in Jesus, my love for you isrevealed.He is the exact representation of mybeing,He came to demonstrate that I am foryou, not against you,And to tell you that I am not countingyour sins.

Jesus died so that you and I could bereconciled;His death was the ultimate expressionof my love for you.I gave up everything I loved that Imight gain your love.If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,you receive me,And nothing will ever separate youfrom my love again.Come home and I'll throw the biggestparty heaven has ever seen.

I have always been Father, and willalways be Father.My question is … will you be my child?(I am waiting for you.

From your Father in Heaven

Used by permission -

http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html


Daisy Flint – Highbury’s Golden Girl of 1962Daisy Flint, from Highbury Church, was 17 years old when she had the honourof being chosen to represent England in the first Commonwealth ParaplegicGames held in Perth, Western Australia, in November 1962. Games for theparalysed had been held at Stoke Mandeville Hospital for a number of years, butfrom 1952, when a team from the Netherlands took part, they had aninternational footing. The number of foreign teams participating increased eachyear, and in 1960 the games were held in Rome with 400 competitors. Throughthis natural development the first Commonwealth Games were held ‘down under’.The England team flew to Perth with three stops at Bahrain, Colombo wherethey spent the night, and Singapore. As they arrived at their final destination inthe early hours of the morning it was pouring with rain. This was ‘sunny Australia’!New friends were made in Australia. Rev Lawrence Squires from Highbury hadwritten to Rev J Bryant of Trinity Church, Perth, and had told him Daisy wasgoing to the Games. He met her, with some young members of the church, atthe airport, although it was very early. (During her stay ‘down under’ the churchsent Daisy a bouquet of flowers and gave her a souvenir Koala bear, whichmade her team mates quite envious!)The next day was fine for the Governor of Western Australia to open the Games,and the first event Daisy took part in was swimming. She had the pleasure, andterror, of swimming in the magnificent Beatty Park Pool. She also threw thejavelin, put the shot, threw the club and played table tennis. For these eventsshe won two gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal.The Australian authorities provided an abundance of entertainment in thelimited time the team was there. Variety artistes went to the grounds to giveshows, cars took the athletes to a drive-in movie, transport was provided forthose who wished to see the Christmas and Games lights in Perth. Wheneverthey wished to go sight-seeing or souvenir hunting cars were ready and waiting.A constant supply of transport is always a delight to a disabled person,especially those huge Australian cars that took three or four wheelchairs,enabling fellow competitors to go out together.The English team arrived home again on 22nd November and as they toucheddown they sang “Waltzing Matilda” – an unsuccessful method of keeping thetears back, after three weeks never to be forgotten.

With the opening of the Paralympic Games drawing nearer ‘has challenged churches to be as inclusive as the 2012 Games themselves.Churches are encouraged to make their events around the Games welcomingfor those with disabilities and learning difficulties, and to use the Paralympicsto highlight the issues of disability and inclusiveness, while addressing issuesof global injustice and promoting inclusion of disabled people everywhere.


Praying for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic GamesThe 2012 Games will give UK churchesa once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.In recent years, when major sportingevents like this have come to a nation,churches have responded withextensive programmes of communityoutreach, hospitality and service. Andnow the baton has been passed to us.Beyond the walls of our churches, mostpeople see us as irrelevant. Now the2012 Games give us an opportunity totell a very different story, and theyoffer Highbury, and every otherchurch, the way to be the hosts of thebiggest party the UK has ever seen,and to shine out with the light of JesusChrist like never before.The Games will not just affect London.In the same way as the Royal Weddinglast year touched every street, so withthe 2012 Games.There will be enormous mediacoverage from mid-May onwards,when the Olympic Torch starts its run,with a growing crescendo of mediafever.The Torch Relay will bring a cavalcadethrough over 1,000 communities andwithin only ten miles of almosteveryone in the UK.Teams of competitors will arrive totrain in almost every corner of theBritish Isles in the months before theOpening Ceremony, with the teamfrom Malawi coming to Gloucestershire.Almost everyone will watch ontelevision, with millions, of all ages,avidly following every huff, puff, spilland saga.Events will take place way beyondLondon - as far north as Glasgow, andsouth to Weymouth and Portland.

And in the midst of it all Highbury hasthe wonderful opportunity to makeJesus known through words andactions, and to ‘be Jesus’ to guestsvisiting from around the globe –whether athletes, athletes’ families,trainers, support teams or spectators,and to people of all ages and walks oflife in our own local community.Mission and prayer go hand in hand.So the aim is to encourage everychurch to put prayer at the heart ofeverything, and seize the moment.

Biblical perspectives – What doesthe Bible say about praying for anational sporting event?When it comes to praying for asporting event, all kinds of questionsbubble up –

How are we supposed to pray?Are we praying that our

favourite team will win?Whose side is God on anyway?And is this really an event we

should be praying for at all, whenfamine, war and natural disaster stalkour world? Isn’t this just sport?The Bible has some perspectives whichare helpful as we consider how to prayfor the Olympic and Paralympic Games.1. A nation in celebration

God instructed his people to holdnational gatherings. They were timesof worship, prayer and sacrifice, theywere times of celebration and joy, andthey were often the times when Godwould speak.


The most significant events in Biblicalhistory happened when people weregathered for celebration: the exodusfrom Egypt, the consecration of thetemple, the crucifixion and resurrectionof Jesus and the outpouring of the HolySpirit, to name but a few.The 2012 Games may not lookanything like these Biblicalcelebrations. But it will be a time whenthe whole nation has its gaze on oneparticular event. We may not gatherphysically, but we will gather throughthe marvels of modern technology, toexperience a significant moment in ourhistory.The Scriptures give yousome idea of what God wantednational gatherings to look like. Whatstands out, in all of these passages, isthat God intended gatherings to bemoments of encounter with himself.The partying and even the religiousactivities were secondary to theimportant business of meeting withhim, hearing from him andrecommitting to him.Whether the 2012 Games turn out tobe this kind of God-encounter forBritain rather depends on us, hisChurch. We can shape this celebrationin prayer, so let’s be expectant in ourfaith and specific in our requests.

2. A kind of winning that matters

The arrival of the Games signals anincreased interest in all things sporting.In school PE lessons, in sports clubs, intraining gyms up and down the land,the Games will provide the motivation

to spur people on to greater heights ofphysical stamina. Whether it’s justabout healthy living and getting fit, orcompeting to win something, more andmore emphasis will be put on sport andrecreation over the coming months.This global event we’re about toexperience was very familiar to thewriters of the New Testament. TheGreeks had hosted the first everGames in 776 BC, so they weresomething of a fixture by the timeJesus was alive.Paul made several references toathletics competitions in his teachingson discipleshipSo, we can assume people have longsince found spiritual inspiration in anevent which, on the face of it, seemsso physical.Though Paul uses the illustration ofsport to teach on discipline andstamina, his main purpose for using itis to teach about persevering to win.He speaks of prizes and trophies – allthings which seem rather worldly andirrelevant to us in our daily walk withGod.Yet Paul is challenging his readers tothink about what kind of winningmatters to them. As they watch theraces between world-class athletes, asthey hone their own bodies to be fitand healthy, what goal are they reallypursuing? What prize do they mostwant to win? Is it man’s or is it God’s?As the nation goes ‘sport crazy’, we, asthe Church, have the responsibility ofchallenging people to think about theeternal score-board; and of prayingthat the Games will cause people toask deeper questions about their lives.


3. Welcoming all the visitors fromother nations

Thousands will visit our shores for theGames; not just the competitors, buttheir trainers, support teams, andfamilies, the dignitaries from theirnations, and, of course, the spectators.We have the privilege of being hostsfor the biggest party in years – andespecially of hosting the Malawianteam!Throughout the Old Testament we findGod instructing the Israelites to behospitable. He makes it clear that,having chosen them out of the nationsto be his own, he expects them toextend his welcome and kindness tothose around them.The New Testament continues thesame command. We are to welcomeforeigners, shelter strangers, feed thehungry, clothe the naked … all as if wewere welcoming Christ himself.There is much talk of how the increasein tourism in 2012 will boost oureconomy - and how proud we will beto have the eyes of the world on us.But will we really be hospitable? Willwe welcome people like we’d welcomeJesus, or will we just see them as asource of income?Let’s start the welcome by praying forthem regularly, even before they’ve setfoot in our land.4. The Body of Christ ... workingtogether, and becoming involved

Big occasions create big opportunitiesand, as occasions go, they don’t get

much bigger than the Olympic andParalympic Games. So what is the bigopportunity? And how can we makethe most of it? There are many peopleasking these questions:

Businesses wondering how they can make the most of ‘Olympic fever’ to sell their products

Charities wondering how they can capitalise to highlight the good causes they support

Traffickers wondering how they can exploit the predicted rise in demand for prostitutes.The question is not whether theGames will be big, but who will they bebig for?On this the Biblical message seemsvery simple. Over and over again, Godcommands His people to be involved.We are not to sit on the side-lines asspectators, but to throw ourselves in.Whatever is going on, whatever theworld’s ‘big event’ is, we are to be inthe thick of it, shining the light of Jesusinto every corner.But we are to be involved together,rather than presenting the world witha fragmented, divisive Church. Wehave the privilege to ‘be Jesus’ at thisbig occasion, but we will only trulyreflect him if we work and praytogether.5. A global perspective

An event can truly be called ‘global’when over 90 per cent of the nationsof the world take part. In summer2012, the UK really will play host to theworld.


University of Gloucestershire School of HumanitiesINTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIBLICAL INTERPRETATIONThe Twelfth Annual Biblical Interpretation Public Lecture

Paul, Reciprocity and the Modern Myth of the Pure Gift

Professor John BarclayLightfoot Professor of Divinity, University of Durham.

Thursday 24th May 2012 at 7.30pm followed by a reception

Room TC001 Francis Close Hall, University of Gloucestershire,Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ

Admission by free ticket only.

For tickets please send a SAE to: Mrs Wendy Arghyrou, School ofHumanities, University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road,Cheltenham. GL50 4AZ. (Please give the names of those attending thelecture.)

Over the years I have supported these lectures at the University and othershave joined me for the evening to. Sometimes they are good, andsometimes not so good!! If you would like to join me let me know and I willreserve some tickets.

Richard Cleaves

God promised men that good and obedient wives would be foundin all corners of the world. And then he made the earth round.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Biblecontinually challenges us to have aglobal perspective.We are never permitted to shrink ourworld view down to our own interestsand our own borders.God the Father created the world, Godthe Son died and was raised to life toredeem the world, and God the HolySpirit is pouring himself out across thewhole world.When the world’s inhabitants step overour threshold, we have the perfect

opportunity to introduce them to theGod who made them and loves them.More than that, we have the privilegeof influencing the world beyond ourborders.The Church can share in the work ofbringing freedom, justice and hope tothe whole of creation.Let’s pray for the Games, not just as aglobal event, but that they will have along-lasting legacy of blessing for thewhole world.


How the Internet Was StartedIn ancient Israel, it came to pass thata trader by the name of Abraham Comdid take unto himself a young wife bythe name of Dot. And Dot Com was acomely woman, broad of shoulder andlong of leg. Indeed, she was oftencalled Amazon Dot Com.And she said unto Abraham, herhusband, "Why dost thou travel so farfrom town to town with thy goodswhen thou canst trade without everleaving thy tent?And Abraham did look at her as thoughshe were several saddle bags short ofa camel load, but simply said, "How,dear?"And Dot replied, "I will place drums inall the towns, and drums in between,to send messages saying what youhave for sale, and they will reply tellingyou who hath the best price. And thesale can be made on the drums anddelivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable(UPS)."Abraham thought long and decided hewould let Dot have her way with thedrums. And the drums rang out andwere an immediate success.Abraham sold all the goods he had atthe top price, without ever having tomove from his tent.To prevent neighbouring countriesfrom overhearing what the drums weresaying, Dot devised a system that onlyshe and the drummers knew. It wasknown as Must Send Drum Over Sound(MSDOS), and she also developed alanguage to transmit ideas andpictures - Hebrew To The People(HTTP).

And the young men did take to DotCom's trading as doth the greedyhorsefly take to camel dung. Theywere called Nomadic Ecclesiastical RichDominican Sybarites, or NERDS.And lo, the land was so feverish withjoy at the new riches and thedeafening sound of drums that no onenoticed that the real riches were goingto that enterprising drum dealer,Brother William of Gates, who boughtoff every drum maker in the land.And indeed did insist on drums to bemade that would work only withBrother Gates' drumheads anddrumsticks.And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, whatwe have started is being taken over byothers."And Abraham looked out over the Bayof Ezekiel, or eBay as it came to beknown.He said, "We need a name that reflectswhat we are."And Dot replied, "Young AmbitiousHebrew Owner Operators.""YAHOO," said Abraham. And becauseit was Dot's idea, they named itYAHOO Dot Com.Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being theyoung Gregarious Energetic EducatedKid (GEEK) that he was, started usingDot's drums to locate things aroundthe countryside. It soon becameknown as God's Own Official Guide toLocating Everything (GOOGLE).That is how it all began. And that’s thetruth.


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Things thatwill destroy us …

Politics without principle.Pleasure without

conscience.Wealth without work.Knowledge without

character.Business without morality.Science without humanity.Worship without sacrifice.

Mahatma Ghandi

“Whenever we find pure disinterested love welling up in our hearts, we shouldregard it as the activity of God within us.If God is not to be found in the upward push of our nature, in the generousimpulses, in the goodness and love of men and women, where is He to be found?”

Rev T Rhondda Williams, one time Chair of the Congregational Union


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Evening ServiceReaders’ Rota

The readers in May will be:

6th May Felicity Cleaves 13th May Diana Adams 20th May Martin Evans 27th May Marion Taylor

I am using the names I alreadyhave, but if there are otherswho would like to be included onthis rota please let me know.

Jonquil Harrison01242 520522

Give to the world the best you haveand the best will come back to you.Give of the friendship that all of us craveand your friends will be many and true.Give love, and in your life will flowa strength in your utmost need.Give faith, and a score of friends will showtheir faith in your word and deed.


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Toddler Group / Transformers for school years 3-6 / Hy-tec for 11s & overChoir/ Music, House and Prayer Groups / Alpha: exploring faith / Hy-Way /

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Sundays at 10.30amA time for all the Church family

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Countdown to the Olympics in PrayerA few years after I started training to throw the hammer I started trainingto be a minister. Since then I have often joked about the similaritiesbetween ministry and hammer throwing. Both have seen me running roundin little circles holding onto a heavy weight. In both I have had to learn theright moment to stop and let go without hurting myself or others.Warm-upSensible athletes have a warm-up routine before they take off theirtracksuit. Ignatius suggests each time of prayer is approached with warm-up exercises. First, I take a few moments to become aware of God’s lovingeye resting on me and then I pray for grace that my whole being is focusedon bringing service and praise to God.VisualisationAfter warm-up the next step is what athletes call ‘visualisation’. I use myimagination to focus on the specific goal and then pray for God’s grace towork on that particular area of my life.RepetitionThere were no short-cuts to improving my hammer-throwing personal best.Neither can we expect short-cuts to spiritual growth.

Rev Dr Janet Corlett writing in ‘Magnet’- a wonderful Christian magazine available via Felicity Cleaves

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