The
Broadsheet
To know Jesus better,
And to make Him better known
February 2018
Dear Friends,
My first reaction, which is normal for me, when I learned I had to write
this ,was panic followed by I will write something. It may not be what
has gone before or will ever come again, it may not be ‘correct’ or
helpful or incisive but I will have had a go and someone might read it
and very often constructive discourse afterwards helps everyone. So,
after getting used to the idea of laptop to paper the ‘wonder’ of it all
will somehow have to come upon me, to enlighten me and give me
something to put on that paper.
I stop here for a prayer. But stop. I feel self-indulgent at the
moment. Why should I be asking God for help to write some-
thing? God is busy. There are surely too many prayers. Too many
personal tragedies suffered, too many natural catastrophes, too many
world differences and to cap it all I even start to wonder if we ever say
Thank you to God for what we do have. Our love, the seasons, the light,
the dark, a home, friends, my dog, and a cotton wool life, privileged
really but with ups and downs like most of us. But not like most of
us. The world is not equal so we do pray for a better world, for lives
lost, for the homeless, for crops to grow for new life without hate and
war and famine. We can pray at any time of the day or night and God
will listen. But most of all I believe we live life by example and trust
that other people will follow our lead just as Jesus has taught us to do.
My prayer has been answered as I have something on paper. It was
not what I thought I would write about. My initial thoughts were to
talk about the New Year and how our Church will be changing. How we
move on and trust that the right decisions will be made. After all, it is
the future of this Church that is important. But perhaps not so
important. God will have guided us and we will know the direction we
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH
Lord God, we give you thanks for the year which has passed.
We thank you for the many ways you have touched us in moments of
happiness or distress.
We thank you for the people who matter to us, who have given
themselves to us and through whom you have been present to us in
their love.
We thank you for your church, the community of faith in whose
company we have journeyed, whose friendship we value, whose
challenge we welcome and whose wide boundaries are not defined
by time, space or death.
As we move on now into a new year, give us grace to leave behind
our regrets and our failures and any sense of guilt, to let go of the
past with gratitude and to leave in your hands the future in faith, to
live each moment in joyful discipleship in the company of him who is
always Emmanuel, God with us.
AMEN.
are going by the time this is printed. Not all prayers are answered
immediately. Not all prayers are answered how we want them to
be. But all prayers come from the heart to make this world a better
place. Please keep praying.
Bev Churchill
In the community, for the community
During Remembrance and Christmas, we invited visitors to our church to
write a prayer and tie it to a tree. The Remembrance tree signified Peace
having Justice for its roots. Later, a Christmas Tree that was set amongst
trees decorated by local organisations. Both were covered with prayers as
people responded to the invitation.
At Sunday Morning Services our congregation prayed over the prayers, the
people mentioned, and the people who had written them.
The prayers showed that even in a generally prosperous and peaceful
country people of any age can feel empty inside. Some people face health
scares, worry about money, worry about relationships, feel lonely, or suffer
depression. Whatever it is, the people who wrote the payers wanted help.
God is always reaching out to us, all the way through life’s journey. Prayer is
a way for us to listen and talk to God in a two-way conversation. We can do
it as individuals, or as a group, or both.
Lots of people worry about how to do it. When his disciples asked him, Jesus
gave his disciples what has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer”. In
services, in different churches, prayers are often gathered into those that
Adore and Praise God, Confess and say sorry to God, give Thanks to God,
and those that ask for God to intercede and act to help other people or
ourselves.
During the coming year we will be seeking different ways to help people in
our congregation and our community to find ways that suit them. For
example, a prayer corner has been created in church that reflects on the
journeys of the wise men to Bethlehem and encourages us to pray for our
own life and faith journeys and for God’s guidance and help.
Why don’t we use the start of this New Year to try and find new ways of
growing in relationship with God through prayer?
Mark
Services in February
All services start at 10.30am. Everyone is invited to stay for refreshments in the Church Hall after the service.
Sunday 4th February Revd Mike Spencer—Holy Communion
Sunday 11th February Commitment for Life
Sunday 18th February Revd Brian Clarke
Sunday 25th February Revd John Sutcliffe
Sunday 4th March Revd John Marsh– Holy Communion
Elders Meeting 5th February
Church Meeting 18th February
Birthday Celebrations
February 3rd Mark Pickering
February 17th Sue Jones
February 19th Margaret Taylor
February 25th James Martin
Duty Elder Bev Churchill
Sunday 4th February
Welcome Jill Hedges
Reading Michael Davies
Coffee Pat Davies and Judy Aiton
Flowers Pat Aberdein
Sunday 11th February
Welcome Sara Williams
Reading Joanne Griffin
Coffee Pat Aberdein and Vicki Packman
Flowers Christine Waller
Sunday 18th February
Welcome Margaret Taylor
Reading Marion Tunwell
Coffee Pam and Alex Peters
Flowers Sheila Payne
Sunday 25th February
Welcome Wyn Whitten
Reading Sheila Payne
Coffee Margaret and Roger Harrington
Flowers To be decided
Duty Elder Pat Wallace
Sunday 4th March
Welcome Michael Eden
Reading Megan Thomas
Coffee Judith Gibbons and Kathy Hancock
Flowers Margaret Rubridge
Sunday 11th March Mothering Sunday
Welcome Joanne Griffin
Reading Sue Jones
Coffee Christine and Frank Waller
Flowers Christine Waller
Sunday 18th March
Welcome Bev Churchill
Reading Laura Holt
Coffee Pat and Bruce Wallace
Flowers Laura Holt
Sunday 25th March
Welcome Noel Kershaw
Reading Noel Kershaw
Coffee Christine Kershaw and Sheila Payne
Flowers Joanne Griffin
What’s On ? At Broadway URC , 77, High Street, Broadway . WR12 7AL
What’s On February March April
Sunday Service 10.30—11.30 am 4,11,18,25 4,11,18,25 1,15,22,29
Tuesday
Table Games Afternoon 2-4pm 6th 6th 3rd
Wednesday
Neighbours on Line Computers and
Internet Coaching 2-4pm
7th , 21st 7th, 21st 18
Threads 2-4pm 21st 21st 18th
Thursday
Look After Yourself—Gentle Exercises
10.30 –12 noon
1,8,15,22 1,8,15,22,29 5,12,19,26
Today’s Our Day Activities and Chat
2-4pm
1,8,15,22 1,8,15,22,29 5,12,19,26
Friday
PILOTS Crafts, Games for all aged 4-
18 6.30-8.00pm
2,9,16 2,9,16,23 20,27
Events
Healing service at Pershore 11th
Messy Roads at Pilots 16th
Easter Activities Morning 9.30—12.30 30th
Messy Good Shepherd at Pilots 27th
More information
www.broadwayurc-worcs.org.uk
Or contact Mark 07949 296 738 [email protected]
“A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
IS A WORK OF HEART!”
The Work of Heart garden is a unique idea to raise funds and awareness of
the Sue Ryder Hospice in Leckhampton. The garden will be on show at the
RHS Malvern Spring Festival in May.
Yarn-bombing has become a craze! Anyone who can
knit or crochet is invited to help create what is hoped
will be a collection of 10,000 woollen hearts which will
be displayed at the Festival.
Is this something Threads or individual members would like to be involved
in?
Further information from www.workofheartgarden.org
(or Joanne has copies of the patterns)
Wholeness and Healing Service at Pershore Abbey:
Sunday 11th February, 5pm –6pm
We will be sharing in this service, leaving Broadway in the minibus at
4 pm and returning at 7pm.
Do let Mark know if you would like to join us.
A Prayer Corner has been created in Church .
It will be refreshed on a regular basis.
Please speak to Joanne if you would like to
contribute to this new project.
Traidcraft Figures 2017
We are delighted to report or figures for Traidcraft from January to December 2017.
Monthly Figures total; £1096
Christmas Orders:- £870
Total sales for the year £1966
Thanks to all of you who have supported us so loyally month by month.
Blessings - Pat Wallace and Judith Gibbons
Church in Society
Emergency Fund - in November £150 was sent to Christian Aid for their
work with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar
The 'Special' Collection at Christmas for Caring Hands in the Vale raised
£293.40 plus some gift aid and this has been given to the Charity.
Also £80 was raised by the congregation after the service on 6th January to
be sent to Andrew Mann-Ray to give to the Food Bank at Baxter URC,
Kidderminster which was sadly ransacked over the New Year.
Tools with a Mission
The Committee would like to continue with this practical witness that Ken
instigated and we are seeking someone to take on responsibility for the
collection. We do have the offer of a good space in Broadway to keep the
tools etc. The Charity, with a workshop in Coventry, will come and collect
the items from time to time. Anyone interested and wanting further
information please speak to Ann.
“Today really was our day!’’ So said one couple who enjoyed our festive afternoon tea at Timothy’s restaurant at Moreton in Marsh. Seventeen teas of sandwiches and cakes needs a long table! Plus the opportunity to have a look round the garden centre’s Christmas offering. then back on the Nomads Community Bus for the trip home. No Christmas songs on the bus though- far too much chatter! A big thank you to Signpost and the URC for today, and every Thursday .
Today really was our day!
Nativity Characters found !!
Juliet from Toddington
found all the nativity
characters in the hunt
during the Christmas Tree
festival and received a set of Broadway URC
notelets as her prize…...
Christmas Activities Morning
A few examples of what the children got up to at our
Activity morning. They enjoyed
crafts, singing and the story of the
camels who crossed the desert
following the star.
and Pippa and Lily from Pilots and the young people from Warrington
received selection boxes for their correct answers.
REGULAR MEETINGS
Monday Broadway and Towerview Playschool 9am –12noon
Brownies 6.30pm– 7.15pm
Elders Meeting ( first Monday in the month )
Tuesday Table Games Afternoon 1st Tuesday each month 2-4pm
Tai Chi 6.30 -8pm
Wednesday Broadway and Towerview Playschool 9am –12noon
Neighbours on Line 2- 4pm every other week
Threads 2pm –4pm 3rd Wednesday of month
Music Makers 7.30 – 9.00pm
Thursday Look After Yourself 10.30am—12noon
Today’s Our Day 2-4pm
Friday PILOTS 6.30pm -8pm
Fun and activities in a Christian environment during term time for everyone aged 4-18
Broadway United Reformed Church
77,High Street , Broadway , Worcestershire. WR12 7AL
www.broadwayurc-worcs.org.uk Outreach Development Worker Mark Pickering 07949 296 738 [email protected] Secretary Joanne Griffin [email protected] Booking Secretaries Margaret and Roger Harrington Church E-mail address [email protected] Articles for the next Broadsheet can be sent to [email protected] or can be placed in the folder at the back of the Church Closing date for articles is 12th February 2018