THE OPEN DOOR

Myriad web

The Magazine of the

Lymington United Reformed Church

JUNE 2011

FROM AN ELDER 'COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME!‘ Pentecost, 12th June. Jesus bequeaths His Spirit to the Church. The Spirit is the gift that unlocks and animates all the other gifts. It is closely bound up with the giving of authority to continue His ministry - preaching, teaching, healing etc.. It is infinite, never running out. It is wildly unpredictable and we can never pin it down. Without the Holy Spirit there could be no Church and no mission. It is as available to us today as it was to those first disciples huddled and frightened in the upper room. What a difference it made to them! We may not be very ready to receive the Spirit - or expectant of what He can do in our lives. But, the Spirit still wants to make Jesus known and grow the beautiful fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in our lives (Galatians 5:22-3). God our Father still wants to pour His Spirit into His Church and pour a Spirit-filled Church into the world. It is only by the Spirit of Jesus that we can witness to the resurrection of Jesus; it is only by His Spirit that we are formed as His body here in Lymington URC; and only His Spirit enables us to tell His story. That is what we are about here — making Jesus known and following His example of loving, giving and serving in our community. I think we probably need a wake-up call now and again...I certainly do!... to allow the Spirit to fill us and work in us. We were amused in the Lent Course by the snippet telling us that in some translations the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter: the one who strengthens (John 14:16-26). The old usage is very different from our modern understanding. A scene in the Bayeux Tapestry carries the caption: 'King William comforteth his soldiers’, but we do not find the king with his,

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arms around his men. No. He is prodding them into battle with his sword! Perhaps we need prodding into action as we seek to work out the Open Door vision for our church. Brian Wren’s hymn, “There’s a Spirit in the air”, gives us lots of pointers for allowing the Spirit to work in our lives.

Lose your shyness, find your tongue Tell the world was God has done. When believers break the bread When a hungry child is fed. When a stranger’s not alone Where the homeless find a home. May the spirit fill our praise Guide our thoughts and change our ways. Praise the love that Christ revealed Living, working in our world.

(CCL 152452) Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Sandra

SECRETARY'S NOTES JUNE 2011 Summer events are beginning to happen, including the Car Boot Sales in the Forecourt on Saturdays and the Lymington Arts Festival which will be using our premises, see advertising posters, etc.

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We're looking forward to holiday visitors coming to the Open Door Cafe and our Saturday Coffee Mornings. We hope they'll feel welcome and amongst friends! By the time you read this, we hope to have 8 serving Elders on the Eldership. Margaret Clark was nominated for a continuing three years; David Bywater and Jenny Henderson for three years; Catherine Bowell for a further year. The election was due in mid-May. Whilst we are in a vacancy it is especially important to have a strong Eldership, which includes spiritual leadership of the Church, please pray for all our Elders as they seek to serve God here.

Sandra

BASICS BANK The weather on Easter Bank Holiday Monday was perfect for our afternoon at Elmer’s Court. We are immensely grateful to Jean-Marc and all the staff who provided tea/coffee/hot cross buns, cup cakes and home-made biscuits to refresh us and a bouncy castle, egg hunting, egg and spoon races and face painting. It was a successful afternoon and very relaxing. It was good to see young families enjoying themselves, strolling round the grounds and taking their ease on the large area of grass. Some of those who came were staying at the complex over Easter. Basics Bank funds gained just over £289. A good time was had by all! Back at base, it's continued to be busy and a few more agencies have started to use us. The bulk of our parcels go to New Milton and Ashley, Lymington and Pennington and various villages in between. Some of the agencies take parcels as far afield as Burley, Fordingbridge, North Baddesley and Totton.

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Our deliveries drivers do a great job and we’re very grateful to them!

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

We were delighted to welcome KATE NOON into full membership of our Church as part of our Palm Sunday Service. If anyone else is considering taking a step into full membership please speak to one of the Elders. It's quite painless! There are several people who are faithful members of our congregation every Sunday/ support most or all of our social events and even attend Church Meetings. We'd love YOU to become full members. Please give it prayerful thought and hoping to hear from you!

CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY We wish a very Happy Birthday to: Peter Wildschut who will be 3 years old on 29th and sister Carli will be 12 on the 1st July. We hope you both have a wonderful day!

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LYMINGTON URC DIARY

JUNE 2011 EVERY WEDNESDAY the Prayer Group will meet in the Church from 9.15 a.m. until 10.00 a.m. Everyone welcome.

COFFEE MORNINGS

EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, from 10.00 a.m.—12 noon, in the Open Door Café. On Tuesday 21st, Carers' Café. Every Tuesday the Open Door Cafe proceeds support the Good News Children's Home Mombasa and local charities and Groups

The Open Door Cafe will also open on Fridays during the summer and will be staffed by members of the Fellowship and Fundraising committee.

EVERY SATURDAY, from 9.30 a.m.—11.30 a.m., in the hall.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

5th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship including Communion led by Rev’d Paul Holmes 12th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship for Pentecost led by Rev’d Bill Macrae 19th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship for Trinity Sunday led by Rev’d Eddie Boon (our Interim Moderator)

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26th 10.15 a.m. Elders’ Prayer Time in Vestry 10.30 a.m. Worship led by Mrs Christine Pitts 6.30 p.m. Solent Mead Service

EVERY WEEK there will be Junior Church and coffee/tea after the service.

OTHER EVENTS EVERY FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, New Forest Disability Information Service Outreach Session in the Open Door Café, 10am to 12noon, with Jean Reece (not on Bank Holidays though). Free Wi Fi connection to the internet available in the Open Door Cafe, Balcony and Main Hall areas. Just ask for the required password!

Sat. 4th 8.00 a.m. Car boot sale in the Forecourt. Tue. 7th 7.00 p.m. Elders’ Meeting Wed. 8th 7.30 p.m. CTLP Council meeting at St. Mark’s, Pennington. Sat. 11th 8.00 a.m. Car Boot sale in Forecourt 7.30 p.m. Lady Zing Concert in Church. Tickets: £8 for Open Door Project, includes light refreshments.

12th - 18th LYMINGTON ARTS FESTIVAL

Sat. 18th 11.00 a.m. Festival Main Event in - 8.00 p.m. Forecourt. (No car boot sale) Sun. 19th 3.00 p.m. Fordingbridge URC visiting us.

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Mon. 20th 7.30 p.m. United Prayer and Praise Fellowship meets in the Church led by St. Thomas. Sat. 25th 8.00 a.m. Car boot sale in the Forecourt.

CLOSING DATE FOR JULY/AUGUST 'OPEN DOOR’: 12th

JUNE

Please note that the forecourt sales start once again on Saturday 28th May and run until Saturday 10th September (excluding 18th June, when the forecourt will be used for the Lymington Arts Festival) This, therefore, means that there will be no Church car parking on any Saturday during this period.

FROM ANNE HARNETT

These words were very familiar to me in my youth and still remind me of my Godly mother, and also of a Dr MacLaggan who was a minister in the Church of Scotland, in Largs, Ayrshire, where my husband and I worshipped many years ago. My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign. My gracious redeemer, my saviour art Thou If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now. I love Thee because Thou has first loved me And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

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I love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now. Anne Harnett

THE PULLEY ON THE WALL Having just read the May church magazine, I am able to solve the mystery of the pulley on the Church wall. When fundraising began, some eleven years ago, I arranged for it to be placed there, it was used to hoist flags for the various forecourt events mainly at the car boot sales.

I am amazed that after the renovations, to learn that it is still there!

Janet.

UNSEEN WORK NUMBER THREE PULPIT SUPPLY SECRETARY It was some years ago that dear Ethne Devons approached me to become Pulpit Supply Secretary. “Don’t worry,” she reassured me, “it should be easy, as Jane Weedon will be taking all the Services, apart from the third Sunday in the month when Alan Green leads our Worship.” So, rather naively, I agreed to become Pulpit Supply Secretary; and it was easy for the first few months, especially as Roger, Jane’s husband, liaised with the Organists. Then everything changed, when Jane told us that she was leaving to become Minister at Welwyn Garden City, and we were into our first Interregnum. So what is the job of a Pulpit Supply Secretary? Basically, I need to

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find Ministers or Preachers to lead our Worship every Sunday, and also on Church Festivals like Christmas. I also need to find Organists or Piano players, although fortunately we do now have the Hymnal System to fall back on. And then there are the Readers for each Sunday. We are really fortunate in our Readers but I am always grateful for any new volunteers for the job. Having found our Preachers, Organists and Readers, I need to send out our Order of Service and Guidance for visiting Preachers about a month before the Service. Nowadays I usually send these out by email, which is a great help. Some Preachers are really organised and send me their Hymns and Readings about a week before the Service, but others have to be gently reminded. Next, the details have to be circulated to the Church, to the Organist and the Reader and to Gerry, Margaret, or whoever else is operating the Sound System. Worship is the fundamental element in our Church and we are indeed fortunate in having so many friends, both in the United Reformed Church and from other denominations, who come and take our Services. Organists, Readers, Stewards, Flower- arrangers, Judith, Cathy and Jane who lead Junior Church, Coffee providers, Sound System Operators; so many people contribute to making our Services a spiritual and meaningful experience and it is a real privilege to be part of it all. But watch out when somebody tells you that taking on a job will be easy!

Mary Ann

NAOMI HOUSE DONATIONS You may notice a strange green collection bin situated in the Open Door Cafe near the balcony stair well.....and the reason? Naomi House has kindly given us this, together

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with up to date posters and leaflets, to help with our donations of STAMPS, OLD MOBILE PHONES, OLD and FOREIGN COINS, - the information is all on the bin! Naomi House collect the items when the bin is full............so start donating and spread the word! Please note they no longer take milk bottle tops - Ann Webber along with Mike and Norma Bell still accept these to pass on to others.

LYMINGTON URC OPEN DOOR CAFE HELPS WITH A CUPPA! The United Reformed Church in Lymington gave an unexpected boost to local charities with donations of up to £150.00 to First Opportunities, All Seasons Children Centre, The Fortune Riding Centre and The Stroke Club Lymington (LVCG). The money was raised in the Open Door Cafe currently open Monday to Friday 10am to 12noon. Every Tuesday half of the proceeds from selling TRAIDCRAFT tea, coffee and cakes goes to those groups and charities in the local area who support the community with the remainder supporting the Good News Children's Home in Mombasa. So come and enjoy a Tuesday cuppa and help local groups!

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In this photo L-R: Pauline Rushton (URC Open Door Cafe Coordinator), Chrissy Reynolds (All Seasons Outreach Worker), Robert Jackson (Chair LVCG), Margaret Clark (URC Church Elder), "Mary" (Coffee Sign!!), Geoff Pitts (Vice Chair First Opportunities) & Tracey Densley (All Seasons Centre Coordinator) Some quotes: Robert Jackson.........."The Stroke Club is delighted to receive this cheque from the Open Door Cafe at the URC and it will enable us to continue to provide weekly respite for carers of stroke victims in Lymington & District." Geoff Pitts............First Opportunities would like to thank all those involved with the Open Door Cafe for their kindness. I can assure you that this donation will be wisely and carefully spent to the benefit of the children."

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LADY ZING CONCERT 11 JUNE at 7.30 PM

We very much hope that you will be able to come and enjoy our lo-cal Lady Zing choir who will perform a range of music which will in-clude pieces from popular musicals and light classical items. They have built up a strong local reputation following successful concerts in Brockenhurst. They are very ably led by their conductor and pian-ist and regularly rehearse in our church. Proceeds will go to our Open Door Project. Tickets are £8 which include light refreshments. It would be very helpful if you could buy tickets in advance from us. Please support this event which will take place on Saturday 11 June at 7.30 pm.

Peter and Jill

KEYHAVEN SONGS OF PRAISE Having heard the Boscombe Salvation Army band indoors in the Au-tumn, you might like to know that they play each year on the Quay in Keyhaven The date & time is dependent on the tide – we watch it coming or going - but this year it will be on Sunday 31

st July at 5.30

pm Bring a chair, come early to park and enjoy singing familiar hymns and worshipping God in a wonderful setting. The proviso is always “if wet, in All Saints Church, Milford” but despite dark clouds hovering this has never happened in ten years.

Christine Luxon

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OPEN DOOR FUNDRAISING

Forthcoming events:

We have an outline calendar of events for the year as follows:

• Fridays—Open Door Café*,

• Zing Choir, June 11th,

• Cream Teas, July 29th to August 26th.

*If anyone can spare 2 or 3 hours on a Friday to serve coffee, please let a member of the Fellowship and Fundraising Commit-

tee know.

The bad news; due to a clash of dates, Ann’s Beach BBQ can-

not take place this summer, but will be reinstated next year.

The good news; Cathy and Rob Bowell and Jane and Mike Saqui

will arrange a Sunday BBQ at Cathy’s new house (complete

with swimming pool!) which is very close to Jane and Mike’s ho-

tel in Lyndhurst.

Minister: Vacancy

Secretary: Sandra Jackson. Tel 01590 676306

Editorial Team: Wyn Davies. Tel 01425 616384 e-mail: WynBDavies@sky.com Church: Web site: http://www.lymurc.org.uk/ Tel 01590 676306 e-mail: adminurclym@btinternet.com

Basics Bank web site: http://www.basicsbank.org.uk/ Tel 01590 610008 e-mail: info@lymurc.org.uk

ROTAS FOR JUNE COMMUNION SUNDAY: 5th COMMUNION ELDERS: John and Catherine If you cannot do a particular date, please swap with someone to cover that date.

DUTY ELDER READING IN CHURCH 5th Judith Baker Janice Perkins 12th Mary Ann Jardine John Wiseman 19th Sandra Jackson Jack Gordon 26th Margaret Clark Alec Luxon

STEWARDS SOUND SYSTEM

5th Liz Griffiths and Steve Turberville Peter Richardson

12th Shelagh and Peter Richardson Wyn Davies

19th Jill and Peter Haslett Mike Saqui

26th Gill Wiseman and Ron Parker Margaret Clark

COFFEE MORNING ROTAS Saturday Sunday 4th Mary Ann Jardine 5th June Copperi 11th Judith Baker 12th Janice Perkins 18th June Copperi 19th Margaret Clarke 25th Ann Webber 26tn JUNIOR CHURCH

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PLEASE NOT: This magazine is printed on paper from re-newable sources out of our concern for the environment.