APRIL 2019 - United Church Winchester
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Magazine of
The United Church
Winchester
APRIL 2019
The United Church 01962 849559
Jewry Street
Winchester
SO23 8RZ New website: ucw.org.uk
Minister Revd Tim Searle
Fellowship, Worship and Education
Co-ordinator Pat Fry 01962 880748
Asst Co-ordinator Juli Wills 01962 863057
Pastoral
Co-ordinator Graham Rolfe 01962 861506
Bereavement Sandy Foster 01489 890334
Flowers Distribution Lesley Worrall 01962 882269
Cradle Roll Ann Coleman 07739 793488
Students Sam Barnes 02380 685531
Finance
Co-ordinator Christine Cook 01962 884510
Payments and Expenses Ralph Jessop 01962 843114
Donations and Gift Aid David Worrall 01962 882269
Administration
Co-ordinator Bob Lord 01962 855910
Asst Co-ordinator Dorothy Lusmore 01962 885824
Office Administrator Naomi Honey 01962 849559
office@ucw.org.uk
Mission
Co-ordinators Jo Crocker 01962 622654
Jo Pellatt 01962 849334
Youth Worker Sam Barnes 07742 077114
sambarnesyouthworker@gmail.com
Live at Home Anna Miles 01962 890995
Magazine Editor Barbara Dunton 01962 882012
yours@unitedchurchwinchester.org.uk
2
Minister’s Letter
Broken for us
Some of you will be taking part in this year’s
Lent house group study based on the BBC drama ‘Broken’.
Each episode focuses on a particular character through the
eyes of Father Michael Kerrigan, a Catholic priest who
ministers to their community. Written by Jimmy McGovern,
known for his edgy and often bleak portrayal of life, the series
pulls no punches and tackles a range of weighty issues.
Whether it’s the benefit fraud of a penniless Christina, the
desperation of gambling addict Roz, the racial or
homophobic struggle between Carl and Daniel, or the
recurrent trauma of childhood abuse that plagues Fr Michael;
all are examples of very broken lives being lived by very
ordinary people who are all trying to keep a lid on that
brokenness one way or another.
Our own lives are broken too. Well mine certainly is even if
yours isn’t. Though this last year has been so life-changing for
me and has given me a restored sense of hope for the future,
it’s also highlighted much of the brokenness I’ve carried
throughout my own life so far. A failed marriage, a broken
home, mental illness and some unhealthy patterns of belief
and behaviour imprinted on me as a child are all factors that
have contributed to my own sense of being broken; and my
story is relatively tame compared with the traumas many
others have endured. We all live with brokenness; we are all
characters in our own dramas; we are all, in some way,
‘Broken’.
Winchester has one of the most profound visual examples of
beauty from brokenness out there. The story of the West
window of the Cathedral will be known to many of you so I
won’t relay it here, but suffice to say that if you go into the
Cathedral and look out of the main West window you’ll see it’s
actually made from broken pieces of its former glory. Instead
of being put back to how it was before, the broken pieces
3
were painstakingly assembled to form something new and
even more beautiful. And why is it more beautiful? Because it
represents the possibility of brokenness being transformed into
beauty through the love of Christ.
At Easter just as at every celebration of Holy Communion, we
are reminded that Jesus too was broken for us. He endured
much suffering, not just at the end but throughout his life and
ministry. Though he was without sin, he chose not to lay the
blame for that brokenness at our feet; ‘Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.’ and he never resorted to
playing the victim. Instead he sought our release from the
captivity of our own brokenness, and he delivered that release
when his own broken body was remade into the ultimate
symbol of love and grace.
Try as we might we can’t hide our brokenness from God. So
instead, try drawing close to God this Easter, let Jesus into the
inner recesses of your heart, and let the Spirit take, shake and
remake you. Jesus chose to be broken for us, not so that we
would stay broken, but to give us the chance to turn our
brokenness into beauty. ‘… melt our cold hearts, let tears fall
like rain; come, change our love from a spark to a flame.’1
Sincerely,
Tim
1
‘Beauty for Brokenness’, Graham Kendrick, StF 693
4
Church Family News
We were very sorry to hear that Valerie
Costard died on February 16th after a short
time in hospital. Richard and Valerie
became members of the United Church in
April 2017, and had become valued
members of our congregation. A
Thanksgiving Service to celebrate Valerie’s life was led by our
minister on March 18th. Richard and several members of the
family shared memories of Valerie with the congregation. We
heard of Valerie’s time as a nurse and of her various interests,
but above all she was seen as a ‘people person’. We extend
our sympathy to Richard and their family, and remember them
in our prayers.
We send good wishes to Dorothy Lock who has just celebrated
her 90th birthday.
We wish the best of luck to Cathy Blackburn who is taking part
in the London Marathon at the end of April.
We were sorry to hear that both Isabel Witham and John Steel
have suffered serious falls recently. We wish them a full
recovery. Several members of our congregation are faced
with serious illness or waiting for treatment. We continue to
remember them and their families in our prayers.
On Easter Day (April 21st) at 8.30 am we shall hold our Easter
Breakfast. All are welcome to a ‘family’ breakfast that
includes an informal celebration of Holy Communion. Please
let me know by Sunday April 14th if you would like to come.
Reply slips will be available, or by email
(graham.rolfe@googlemail.com).
Since this is my final edition of Church Family News before I
retire from the role of Pastoral Coordinator at the Annual
Church Meeting, let me thank all those who take part in the
5
pastoral care of our community. And, just in case you are
wondering, I do not intend to disappear!
Graham Rolfe
Our Lenten Cross
There are many ancient traditions
associated with Lent. Our Syrian Christian
friends were delighted to join us for
pancakes; in Syria Shrove Tuesday is a
day for a great feast and enjoyment,
before the strictly observed Lenten fast,
abstaining from meat and all other rich foods.
The Lenten Cross only emerged as a custom in the Free
Churches in England around 1990, though St Augustine of
Hippo mentioned the Lenten Cross in his writings in the fourth
century. The twentieth century idea was to strip the Christmas
tree of its branches, make the trunk into a cross, and place
symbols beneath it during Lent, then bring it alive with flowers
on Easter Day.
Some liturgies jump straight from the Temptations to Maundy
Thursday, some only use symbols associated with Good Friday,
like the crown of thorns and a whip. The reason for this is that
so few people attend Good Friday services; if like many of us
you have to fit in with the wishes of non-churchgoing relatives,
it can feel as if you miss out on this essential part of the
Christian Year. Some churches leave the cross bare, and then
place symbols below it on Good Friday as the story unfolds.
This year we have decided to begin by placing symbols drawn
from everyday life that reflect something of the message of
the set Gospel for the day. We hope it will provide food for
thought and conversation.
Pat Fry (FWE Co-ordinator)
6
More Reflections of Church Life in the West Indies
Reading Alison Wood’s article relating her experiences, when
she and Clive attended church during their holiday on
Barbados, has prompted us to write some reflections about
our “church experiences” whilst in the West Indies which,
though different, bear some similarity to those of Alison and
Clive.
Although the nature of our holiday did not permit opportunity
to attend a service, we did find two churches on different
islands. The first was on the island of St Lucia, a former British
Colony, in the Leeward Islands, i.e. the northern part of the
Lesser Antilles, the chain of small islands that lie between the
Atlantic Ocean and The Caribbean. An Anglican church of
brick and stone, we chanced upon it whilst morning worship
was in progress, with the preacher in full cry; the windows were
wide open as were the doors and we could see and hear the
proceedings from the street. The church was full and, as Alison
remarked about the ladies in
Barbados, the St Lucian ladies
were very colourfully attired and
hats were de-rigour, no doubt for
practical as well as fashion
purposes. We had little time for
more on this occasion other than
to take the accompanying
photographs of the exterior of the
building.
On the same visit to the West Indies, we
chanced across another church; this time on
the island of St Maarten; also in the Leeward
Islands, St Maarten was colonised by the
Dutch and the French; today, small as it is,
less than a fifth of the size of Barbados, it is
divided between the French, the northern
two thirds and the Dutch the southern third.
Our visit was to Phillipsburg, port and chief
7
town of the Dutch part and walking around the town we were
surprised to find a Methodist chapel in Front Street.
It being a weekday, the chapel was not in use but the doors
were open; on entering, we found it to be constructed entirely
of wood and similar to some
Methodist chapels in the UK - two
blocks of pews served by a single
central aisle, a centrally positioned
pulpit and with an all-around gallery
still in situ,
a feature
often now
removed from similar buildings in the
UK. Returning to the island two years
later we again visited the little
chapel; on both occasions it was
Advent with the chapel dressed to
mark that season with panels of Messianic texts mounted
around the balcony of the gallery.
On both of our visits we were fortunate enough to find several
Orders of Service left behind from previous services and it is
through these that we could gain some insight into the life of
this little church. Reading these, there can be little doubt that
services here shared many, if not
all, of the features described by
Alison about the church in
Barbados. To that extent,
therefore, her descriptions of their
experiences have enabled us to fill
the gaps left between the Orders
of Services and our photographs.
Unfortunately, there was not a visitor’s book in which we could
record our visit and express greetings from Winchester United
Church. Some pages from these Orders of Service, including that for
their 2018 Harvest Thanksgiving, are included here; Alison in
particular will be intrigued to note that the Order of Service for 10 th
June 2018 shows that “Jesus wants me for a Sun Beam” was used in
8
the “Message for Children & Youth” part of the service; it was also
used in yet another service not reproduced here!
In these Orders of Service, the abbreviation “VIP” in the hymn title
stands for “Voices in Praise”; published in 2013, it is the authorised
hymnal of The Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas
(MCCA) intended to replace Caribbean Methodism’s longstanding
attachment to the British Methodist Hymn Book (MHB) of 1933; on our
2015 visit we found MHB still being used as well as VIP, but by 2018
only the latter was in use.
One final feature of the Orders of Service to note, perhaps, is the use
of colour?
David & Lesley Worrall
What is important?
In November we attended a lecture at the University on
Mindfulness. It was a lecture supported by both the Cathedral
and the University.
It is an annual event in the interfaith calendar.
9
This year it was the popular topic of mindfulness, which has
been found to alleviate stress, depression and negative
thinking, as well as contributing to general well-being.
Vishvapani introduced the practice from a Buddhist
perspective. He began by asking us to participate from where
we were sitting. We were asked to close
our eyes and make sure our feet were flat
on the ground. He then asked us to try to
empty our minds of everyday thoughts
and to concentrate on our body. He
instructed us slowly and gently to become
aware of each part of our body and concentrate on our
breathing. A very simple idea which I have done before.
When we were asked to open our eyes it was surprising how
relaxed we felt. Just stopping and taking time out from the
business of life is so important for OUR body and mind.
The second speaker Brian Draper spoke from a Christian
position. Mindfulness is for people of all faiths and none. It
seems to be very beneficial for everyone in society. Many of us
spend so much time complaining and yet we strive to be
content and to achieve a perfect life.
We were also reminded that we are all going to die but we do
not know when. At the end of the day if we can make the
world a better place for having been here we have achieved
a great deal.
Sometimes we need to shift our perspective.
I found the following on a friends face book page.
Grateful for....
• Early wakeups = children to love.
• House to clean = safe place to live.
• Laundry = clothes to wear.
• Dishes to wash = food to eat.
10• Crumbs under the table = family meals.
• Grocery shopping = to provide for us.
• Toilets to clean = indoor plumbing.
• Lots of noise = people in my life.
• Endless questions about homework = children's brains
growing.
• Sore and tired in bed = I'm still alive!
Amen
(by Dr Norman Finkelstein)
Perhaps we all need to stop and find space in our lives to truly
live .
Ann Coleman
City Centre Chaplaincy
This month we start a new series looking
at the different Chaplaincy roles around
Winchester. We start by talking to
Debbie Veal who is the Lead City
Centre Chaplain. She and her team of
14 volunteers from local churches visit
and support people who work around
the city centre. Last year they made
around 5,000 visits.
What do you do as a City Centre chaplain?
We visit shops and businesses, the law courts, the police and
the City Council.We are there to be a listening ear, for people
to talk about anything that's going on in their lives. It might be
work issues, health, family, money or relationships. Wecan also
offer people the chance to meet up after work or at lunch-
time in a cafe for a more in-depth conversation. We are
confidential and we’re free. We don't interfere with people’s
work and we don't preach. We are not counsellors or debt
managersbut we can refer people on if needed. We are a
11listening and supporting ear around the city letting workers
know they are loved and cared for.
What reaction do you get and do you feel there's a need for
this?
People are positive and feel supported and the feedback is
that the chaplains are really valuable. I only know of one shop
that didn't want to be visited, other than that everyone is
genuinely pleased to see you. This year we have had a lot of
conversations about Brexit and insecurity. The anniversary of
the First World War also led to conversations about the state of
the world and how things have changed. There are a lot of
regular conversations like “hello how are you?” but you do get
some really significant ones. I speak to a gentleman whose
wife is quite ill and she doesn’t want to tell her friends so I’m
someone that he can talk to and he appreciates that. One of
my chaplains was invited into a retailer after there was a
tragedy to be alongside the staff and support them.
Sometimes all you do is smile and say hello because people
don't always want to engage in a conversation but when life is
tough they know there is someone there for them.
Do you have a chance to talk to people about faith?
We don't preach to people but some ask why we do this and
we say we're serving Jesus and working in our community. If
we've developed a relationship with someone, we might ask if
they would like us to pray with them and most people say yes,
even if they don't have a faith. I was a volunteer chaplain and
street pastor in Basingstoke before I came here and I can only
count on one hand the times people have actually said no.
Some people say I didn't know you could pray other than in
church, so we take the opportunity to engage in
conversations and tell them that you can pray anytime. One
of my Chaplains prayed with a lady and she said she'd never
been prayed for before. In due course she said to the
Chaplain I want a bit of what you've got and she started
going to church with her and she was baptised last Easter
Sunday. That’s not why we do this role but it’s a bonus and an
opportunity to encourage people on their journey.
12What does it mean to you to be able to do this job?
It's really lovely to have the chance to help people. It’s nice to
be part of their livesand to be trusted with information. They
also share good news with us. One lady was invited to the
Queen's garden party so we had a wonderful conversation
about what she was going to wear and afterwards about
much how she enjoyed it. People tell us about new babies
and show us photos. I have a management team and a
fabulous team of 14 volunteer retail and court Chaplains and
a Mum’s Chaplain who supports Mums who meet at the
United Church on a Thursday. It’s great to be involved with
them; they're amazing and really good at what they do.
How long has there been a city centre chaplain?
I think we're approaching 20 years. I've been in the job for 18
months. The chaplaincy comes under Churches Together in
Winchester. There are 6 churches that are major financial
contributors - the Cathedral, St Peters, The United Church,
Winchester Baptist Church, Christ Church and the St Lawrence
benefice and others like St Mary’s in Kings Worthy who support
us. There are different roles volunteers can be involved with.
Anyone who supports us can join the management so we
would love to welcome someone from St Mary’s if they felt
called to that role.
What does a typical day involve?
Most days there is some visiting. I have various patches
including Parchment Street and the High Street. There’s admin
and management, meeting up with the other chaplains to see
how they're doing,and I’m involved with other projects. I've
been part of the planning team for the civic prayer
breakfastand we organise a contact lunch with Winchester
Baptist Church to try to connect with people who work in
Winchester. The retail chaplains all have their own round and
visit for an hour and a half to 2 hours every other week. They
can be flexible about days but we don't tend to visit on
Mondays and Fridays because they are not good days for
13retail. Deliveries take place on Mondays and Fridays are
preparing for the weekend.
What would you like to see in the future?
I’d like to develop more contact with businesses. We have
someone visiting Stagecoach buses and I'd like to develop
more community work. It would be really good to link with
businesses and estate agents and support people who don’t
come into the categories of retail or the court. It's not always
easy because they're often in big buildings with codes on the
doors so we might have to think of different ways to develop
that work. I'd also like to set up a prayer group to support us
and encourage more people to get involved.
Contact lunches every 2ndWeds of each month at Winchester
Baptist Church in Swan Lane 12.30 – 2pm aim to connect
people who work in Winchester. Anyone is welcome. No need
to book (although it helps with catering)
chaplain@winccc.org.uk
This Article re-produced, with permission, from The Worthys Parish Magazine,
March 2019 (Ed.)
GREAT NEWS!
WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR BRONZE ECO CHURCH AWARD.
Well done to everyone
involved.
Silver Award next? – here
we come!
14Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ……..
Commendable they may seem,
but the government’s recent
much-publicised proposals to
combat air pollution strike me as a
distraction. The banning of wood-
burning stoves and similar will save
thousands of lives and billions of
pounds a year, asserts
Environment Secretary Michael Gove: “The evidence is clear.”
Far from it. Six years ago, Ingunn Ridderfold, of the
Department of Public Health at the University of Aarhus in
Denmark, conducted an experiment monitoring the effect on
the respiratory functions of exposing 20 volunteers with asthma
– and thus likely to be particularly sensitive to air pollution – to
concentrations of wood smoke particles 10 times higher than
those generated by a wood-burning stove. This, it was
anticipated, would induce “acute signs of nasal and
pulmonary inflammation.”
On the contrary. “No significant measurable effects were
observed”, apparently, “in concordance with findings of
similar studies.”
The irony here, one might hope, has not escaped the highly
intelligent and affable Gove. His assertion that the current
level of air pollution in Britain “shortens lives, harms our children
and reduces the quality of life” provides precisely the rationale
for those burdensome regulations and pseudo-solutions for
non-existent problems that our exiting the EU is intended to
avoid. Throw another log on the fire!
An Article by Dr James Le Fanu
(from The Daily Telegraph, 4.2.2019)
15A Psalm for our time?
As I reflected on our house group material
“Broken”, a hymn by Fred Pratt Green kept
coming into my mind. It was first published in
Hymns and Songs, back in the 1970s, but did
not survive into newer hymn books. The last
three verses realy spoke to me at the time,
and I still find them deeply meaningful.
But it was not popular with congregations. I think they disliked
it for three reasons:
1. They couldn’t sing the set tune (we found an
alternative!)
2. The first two lines did not speak to their experience, and
so they didn’t understand it.
3. It’s not a jolly hymn to belt out; it’s a psalm expressing
an anguished search for faith, just as some of the
Biblical psalms were, and it requires time for thought.
Fred Pratt Green began by describing views that were
prevalent in the 1960s, and then posed the question: What is
the meaning of life, in the light of the Cross and our
experience?
I have taken the liberty of writing an alternative opening which
relates much more to our current experience: so here is the
hymn – the first two and a half lines are mine, the rest is the
original:
In the bustling city, there are different lives:
some flaunt wealth, while others struggle to survive.
In our busy lifestyle, Lord of life forgive
If we never asked you what it means to live.
Life is meant for loving? Lord, if this is true
Why do millions suffer without help from You?
16Some who fought injustice added wrong to wrong.
Can it be that love is stronger than the strong?
It was You who promised all who seek shall find.
What we find lies deeper than our reach of mind.
What we found was You Lord, You, the God above
You have come, as victim, to the world you love.
Life is meant for loving. Lord if this is true
Love of life and neighbour spring from love of You.
Give us your compassion, yours the name we bear
Yours the only victory we would serve and share.
With grateful thanks to Rev. Fred Pratt Green.
Pat Fry
Christian Aid Week, 12-18 May
Tenneh’s story – giving birth in Sierra Leone
Every year Christian Aid Week opens up for us the challenges
facing different parts of the world – one of the ways in which
we benefit as well as the people helped by what we collect.
This year we learn about Sierra Leone, one of the most
dangerous places in the world to have a baby. We meet
Tenneh and her happy, healthy baby Ansumana. But Tenneh
loved and lost another baby before Ansumana’s birth.
When Tenneh’s labour started during her first pregnancy, there
was no health centre in the village. Her mum took her to a
traditional birth attendant, who had had very little medical
training. For the two days of her labour, Tenneh was in agony,
and bleeding heavily. The baby wouldn’t breastfeed, and
tragically died when he was three months old.
But new hope followed. Christian Aid, working with its local
partner RADA (Rehabilitation and Development Agency), saw
17how difficult the situation in Sawula village was. RADA has
worked locally to help vulnerable women access healthcare
and improve hygiene,and a small health centre was provided.
So when Tenneh was pregnant a second time, things had
changed for good. This time, she had nurse Judith by her side.
With her expert love and
care, Judith helped Tenneh
deliver her baby safely.
Tenneh still felt scared: ‘But
nurse Judith was with me,
assuring me of everything.
When I delivered, I felt so
good. With the coming of
Judith, so many lives have
changed.’ So now, thanks to nurse Judith and her medical
training, Tenneh can hold her beautiful baby boy in her arms.
So Sawula now has a health centre and many like Tenneh
have benefited, but it is tiny - the size of a small bedroom.
Operations, deliveries and baby check-ups all happen in one
single room with only two delivery beds. Nurse Judith works
around the clock to meet the needs of mums and young
children who come to the clinic. But the need is great, and
sometimes she’s forced to send people away. If they come at
night, there is no light for Judith to use. She has to ask her
patients to bring a torch to see by. And there are often not
enough drugs at the clinic. She sometimes has to walk for
three hours to collect drugs.
Judith’s message to us: ‘I need help. Women are dying from
childbirth, children under five are dying, because of poverty.
Please help us.’
Let’s do that!
Please note: We have been given permission to collect at
Tesco’s at Winnall on Friday 17 May. If you could help for an
hour (or two?) please contact Rosemary, 869007 or
rcdunhill@gmail.com.
18The Wednesday Fellowship
Join us for fun and fellowship over a good cup of tea.
April 2019
3 April Elizabeth Britton T.B.A.
10 April Fellowship Sharing Time
17 April Service of Easter Hymns and Readings
.
24 April NO MEETING
In February we enjoyed the following events
6 February Fellowship sharing time
This was a time for sharing holiday memories.
From a visit to Egypt and the Nile delta, and
enjoying the many varied sights of the
Pyramids', the Cairo Museum and its
antiquities, to a visit to Venice, with St.
Mark's Square, and the remarkable Bronze
Horses and architecture. The experience of
a gondola ride through the Canals, or being a Volunteer by
escorting children to various airports, were amongst many
happy memories.
13 February Rev'd Tim Searle United Church of Zambia
Tim showed us a power point presentation of his trip to Zambia
in 2011, as part of the Synod/District world church link with the
Lusaka Presbytery of the United Church of Zambia. The UCZ is
the largest Protestant Church in
Zambia with coverage of all the ten
provinces of the country. Tim travelled
with representatives from Chandlers
Ford URC to establish a link with Bethel
Congregation in Chilanga, part of the
Lusaka South Consistory. Visits were
made to a range of churches in the
19area; the smallest congregations being 300-400 strong whilst
the largest attracting almost 4,000. We were very struck by the
robes worn by the choirs in the different churches, they were
very colourful, and clearly revered. In addition all of the
churches run Bible Study groups, usually on Sunday afternoons
(the whole of Sunday is given over to church!), as well as Boys’
and Girls’ Brigades and both Men’s and Women’s fellowships
As part of the trip Tim visited the Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is
located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in Africa,
which also defines the border between Zambia and
Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is the only waterfall in the world with a
length of more than a kilometer and a height of more than
hundred meters. It is also considered to be the largest fall in
the world. We enjoyed the stunning pictures of the falls.
20 February Sabrina Marsden
Ambassador for Winchester Hospice Fund Raising
We were given a power point presentation of Burrell House,
situated in the grounds of Winchester Hospital. A beautiful
house now very dilapidated, is trust owned. The plans were to
provide 10 rooms for those needing Hospice Care, a new roof,
and an outside lift to all floors, encased in glass, as well as
refurbishing all internal rooms. The Trust has an estimate for all
the works of £2.5 million, so far through a generous legacy of
£750,000, the house now has a new roof, and all the rooms
have been completely cleared back to the brick, with the
stained glass windows being preserved. The total raised so far
is £1.4 million.
27 February Margaret Braddock
Mourning and Sentimental Jewelry
Margaret brought along a selection of mourning jewelry that
she had collected for over 40 years. We
were given a power point presentation on
the history of the practice of keeping
mourning jewelry in memory of one's loved
one. The first items we saw were rings, they
were called the memorial manta rings. We were shown a ring,
displayed In the Victoria and Albert Museum, containing the
20image of Charles I. Samuel Pepys owned 123 rings. Nelson's
Pendant, was made into a ring which contained a lock of his
hair. The tradition of weaving the hair into rings and bracelets,
was considered an act of joy and showed love. George IV
had a brooch with the hair of Mary Hamilton enclosed. Queen
Victoria gave her hair to be enclosed in rings and bracelets.
Although most of the jewelry was set in gold and decorated
with pearls, other jewelry was made in Whitby Jet, which is
warm to the touch. We were privileged to handle a beautiful
carved piece.
Pamela Gilbert
Parkinson Awareness Week April 8th -13th
Parky is back and invites you all to give a thought to Parkinson
sufferers on Wednesday 10th April (World Parkinson’s Day).
Parkinson Disease is a progressive long-term degenerate
disorder of the central nervous system. In the early stages, the
main symptoms are slowness of movement, shaking and
rigidity. Symptoms come on slowly and vary from person to
person. There are approximate 170,000 sufferers in the UK.
Research tells us that many people today do not see it as a
serious health problem, unlike James Parkinson when he
identified it in the early 1800s.
NO! HE IS NOT DRUNK, HE HAS PARKINSONS!
Another year has passed and a CURE still eludes sufferers
despite much ongoing research. Medication provides the
main help towards daily living but, like most long-term use
medicines, there are side effects - freezing to the spot is one of
the delights that can be experienced.
A sense of humour and determination helps one to cope with
the frustration of living with Parkinson’s. Frequently moving
around and exercise is beneficial but be prepared for
21problems when sitting in a cramped position for a long time -
theatre/restaurant/pub.
I have been very grateful to members of the public when I
have needed help. Such was an occasion on a visit to Wales.
Parky and I had spent an enjoyable evening in a Welsh pub
but when it was time to leave I had frozen. Fortunately, there
was a group of rugby supporters there and they offered to
help my wife out, deciding the best solution was to carry me
up to our room. As an ex-hooker I found it amusing as we
assumed a front row scrum position and they carried me
bodily up two flights of stairs and deposited me on the bed.
We had a good laugh with no hint of embarrassment.
Kenneth More, actor and film star, who was diagnosed with
the disease in his fifties wrote ‘Doctors and friends ask me how I
feel. How can you define "bloody awful?" My nerves are
stretched like a wire; the simplest outing becomes a huge
challenge – to have my wife’s arm to support me most days...
my balance or lack of it is probably my biggest problem. My
blessings are my memories and we have a few very loyal
friends who help us through the bad days.... Thank goodness
my wife…… is constantly at my side. Real love never dies. We
share a sense of humour which at times is vital…… I strive to
remember the ups rather than the downs. I have a lot of time
with my thoughts these days and sometimes they hurt so much
I can hardly bear it.”
Alan Adla, who starred in the TV series M*A*S*H, diagnosed in
2015, was acknowledged to have had a positive approach to
his Parkinson’s. "It's common for us all to go to the
worst thought, but that's not where I am. But what's interesting
is, this is a disease that is different for almost everybody who
has it," he said. "There are some common symptoms, but
mostly everybody is different. And each day is different from
the next… But the main thing is there's stuff you can do. It's like
a puzzle to be solved - what do I have to adapt to it, to carry
on a normal life? And I enjoy solving puzzles."
22Most Parkinson sufferers would agree with the comments
expressed by these two stars.
The Winchester Branch meets on the last Tuesday of the month
at Tubbs Hall Kings Worthy for a varied programme.
Contact the secretary gisellelchworth@btinternet.com
Brian Lusmore
Wessex Synod of the United Reformed Church
March Synod Meeting 2019 at Basingstoke URC
Children’s and Youth work
The younger representatives at the Synod chided us and the
Synod representatives in particular, for not including them
more in church life. Do we hear what they are saying to us?
They are today’s church, not tomorrow’s, and need to play a
part. It takes guts for children to say to their peers that they
are going to church and that they are part of their church life.
Zambia – link with the United Church of Zambia
There are already close links between the United Church of
Zambia and our Synod, and four of our Churches, including
Chandlers Ford, have regular contact with that overseas
Christian denomination. The Synod’s World Church Group and
our Moderator, Clare Downing, are keen to extend these links
across our region and visits between the two countries have
taken place and will continue to take place. People and
Churches have been enriched by these links. Synod
commends a congregation to congregation link. As the U C
23of Zambia’s churches are full to overflowing but we are able
to demonstrate how our Churches use their premises for wider
work, then each side has something to learn from the other.
Local Ministry and Mission Review
This important ‘self examination’, encouraged among URC
Churches, is a review of all aspects of a church’s life, used as
an ongoing reminder of a local fellowship’s development as
life around it changes, sometimes inexorably. Where churches
have not previously prepared a profile of its work, its ministry, its
resources and its spiritual development and other aspects of its
corporate life then, once agreed upon, it forms a valuable
blueprint for the future. Churches are encouraged to review
this Local Ministry and Mission Review every four years. The
Meeting heard from two member churches where this review
had not only helped their work and development but also was
embraced by their memberships. Both spoke highly of their
reviews’ benefits. Of course we here have been through this
process but Synod’s Ministries & Learning Committee stressed
the value of regular reference to it and the updating process.
URC’s Council for World Mission (CWM) has requested
Churches to consider their response to the legacy of the Trans-
Atlantic slave trade and to white privilege. We may hear
more.
Planting of churches in new developments
Mission Development Group and the Synod Pastoral
Committee, are currently overseeing a potential church
‘plant’ at the Welbourne Garden Village development of
possibly 6,000 homes north of the M27 near Fareham. A new
URC presence is being explored.
Fairtrade Church & Society Group are seeking to compile a
complete list of Fairtrade or ethically trading shops on our High
Streets or shopping centres. Maybe you can help? I could
pass on any details which you might have.
This information is also on the Notice Board
Ian Giles
24Wessex URC Synod – Dates for your Diary
Synod Quiet Day for all – Walking Day. Thursday, 30th April,
2019, Crowe Hill Methodist Church, Ringwood. A walking quiet
day in the New Forest led by Mike & Louise Shrubsole.
Synod Quiet Day for all – Mindfulness Day Provisional date:
Saturday, 26th October, 2019. Venue to be confirmed. Limited
to 20 persons.
Le Weekend, Woking, 12 – 14th April. This is the annual coming
together of the French Protestant Church and the URC.
Kathleen Hill has details
Children’s and Youth Events:
URC Youth Event for 11-18 year olds, 5th-7th July, 2019 at
Repton, Derbyshire.
Wessex Summer Camp – 19th – 21st July at Runways End Activity
Centre, near Farnborough.
New Junior Camp for those in school years 4, 5 & 6 and will run
in parallel with the youth camp.
Children’s Day Fleet URC “Lego Church” 8th June, 2019
Children’s Day – possibly a sleepover at the Intech Museum,
Winchester. 30th November, 2019
Ian Giles
All the above events may be booked through Ruth Heine at the URC
Synod Office in Southampton: tel.023-8067-4513,
email:bookings@urcwessex.org.uk
25Can you help?
One of the attractions of our United Church is that so many
people join in to help with the various roles that make up
Sunday services, whether as part of the worship or by
contributing to social aspects, such as the Traidcraft stall or
serving coffee.
For next March to May (the current rota) we have gaps due to
the pool of helpers growing ever smaller with the passing of
time. The burden on those remaining grows greater
Here are some of the ways in which you could join us. At the
same time, you will enjoy getting to know more of our
members. We have vacancies in every category as the more
helpers we have, the less the demands on existing helpers.
9.00 Service:
• Stewards, Ministerial and Communion
• Readers
• Intercessor – leads Intercessory prayers
2610.30 Service:
• Stewards
• Welcomers - Front Door, East & West Doors. You see
them every week!
• Crèche
• Audio-visual techies
• Traidcraft stall – especially short of helpers
• Coffee – a good task for a pair of people
Everyone who helps reduces the load for the regulars
There are plenty of people around willing to guide you through what
you have to do – it’s never very difficult and you will be very
welcome! You can do as little or as much as you like, frequently or
infrequently.
For more information, please get in touch with Mike Foster at
mikeandsandy47@gmail.com, 01489 890334.
May 2019 Yours Magazine
Publication date for the May 2019
magazine (the next one) is Sunday 28
April. The deadline for articles and notices
is Monday 15 April.
All contributions gratefully received.
The Yours Team is: Barbara Dunton and Sophie Armstrong
Email: yours@unitedchurchwinchester.org.uk
27SPACE IN THE CITY
28There will be a service on behalf of the Nightshelter in Winchester
Cathedral at 3.30pm on 3 April.
Most of the local agencies are involved, the City housing team,
Trinity, West View and Emmaus as well as the Nightshelter.
All are welcome to this service
29Last, but not least, this is for dog owners :
Have you heard that the Highway Code has recently been
updated? There is a new rule 57 covering dogs in cars:
"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals
are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you
while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if
you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier,
dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining
animals in cars".
Did you know that if you are caught driving with a dog loose in
your car:
• You could get up to nine points on your licence;
• There is a risk of a fine of up to £2,500; and
• Your insurance could be invalidated.
Keeping your dog safely restrained in the car will make your
dog happier, as well as keeping you and your passengers
safe.
Happy Driving!
30Dates for April 2019
1 Church Council in Room 1 9.30-12noon
2 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2pm-3.30pm
3 Fairtrade Stall in the Coffee Lounge 10am-2pm
*Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
4 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
MESSY CHURCH 3.30-5.15pm
5 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
9 No Baby & Toddler Group
10 *Wednesday Fellowship 2.30pm
11 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
Churches Together in Winchester 7.30pm
Meeting in the United Church
12 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
16 No Baby & Toddler Group
17 Fairtrade Stall in the Coffee Lounge 10am-2pm
*Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
18 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
19 Good Friday Service in the Church 9.30am
followed by Hot Cross buns
Coffee Bar & Church Office closed
23 Coffee Bar open
Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2pm-3.30pm
24 No Wednesday Fellowship
Women’s & Men’s Groups at the Queen Inn 7.30pm
25 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
‘Food for Thought’ in Room 1 6.30 - 9pm
26 Coffee Bar Committee in Room 4 12.15pm
29 Craft Club in Room 1and hall 10-12noon
30 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2pm-3.30pm
*Details elsewhere in Yours
Prevailing circumstances may require change of programme
31Services for April 2019
7TH APRIL
9.00 am Word & Worship Mr Graham Rolfe
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd Tim Searle
14TH APRIL – PALM SUNDAY
9.00 am Holy Communion Revd Tim Searle
10.30 am Morning Worship Mr Stewart MacLachlan
18TH APRIL – MAUNDY THURSDAY
7.30 pm Tenebrae Service (S) – a quiet reflective
service which includes a simple meal and Holy
Communion (Booking essential 01962 849559)
19TH APRIL – GOOD FRIDAY
9.30 am Good Friday Service Revd Tim Searle
followed by hot cross buns in the hall and the
10.50 am Walk of Witness from St Peter’s Church
11.10 am Service at the Buttercross
21ST APRIL CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!
8.30 am Easter Breakfast & informal celebration of
Holy Communion. Revd Tim Searle
Children are warmly welcome
10.30 am Easter Celebration with Holy Communion &
Dressing of the Cross. Revd Tim Searle
Please bring along a few flowers to bring the cross alive
as we celebrate the risen Christ.
28TH APRIL
9.00 am Word & Worship Revd Tim Searle
10.30am Morning Worship Mr Nick Langham
32You can also read
