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H A M P T O N H I L L U N I T E D R E F O R M E D C H U R C H Minister: Revd Jenny Snashall minister@hamptonhillurc.org.uk 020 8979 3552 Lay Leader: John Latham 8, Coombe Road, Hampton john.latham@hamptonhillurc.org.uk 020 8255 0994 Community Affairs: Mike Grieveson 31, Acacia Road, Hampton michaelgrieveson@aol.com 020 8979 7438 Sunday family worship, crèche & Junior Church 10.30 a.m. Saturday Fellowship 10.30–12.00 a.m. The Minister is available in the Church Office most Thursdays 11.30 a.m, – 2.30 p.m. We are members of Churches Together around Hampton
NEWSLETTER. Dear Friends I don’t know about you but I always look forward to the Summer. It’s a chance to ease up a little, catch up on outstanding jobs and just be less busy for a few weeks. Having a rest is not just a ‘good thing’, its ordained by God, who himself rested after his work of creation. We all need some ‘down time’ - time to stand still, recharge our batteries, take stock and reflect, maybe to reconnect with God if he’s got a bit crowded out by ‘stuff’. I want to share with you this story which Mike Grieveson sent me a while ago. Hopefully it will provide a focus for your reflection over the Summer. Wishing you all a peaceful, restful and relaxing few weeks. God bless you all. Jenny Snashall
The Cherokee Indian Youth’s Rite of Passage his father takes him in to the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not to remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him some harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don’t know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Our midweek events include Footsteps offers friendship, fellowship and fun with worship for parents WITH their pre-school children. Quiet Space is just what it says. Sunday mornings may not suit everyone so here is the chance for prayer and contemplation. Come when you like for as long as you like. Think, talk, pray, light a candle, have a coffee or just sit. The choice is yours. Someone will always be there to talk or with you if you would like. Saturday Fellowship is from 10.30 – noon each Saturday (except August) where good conversation, refreshments and a host of jobs get done by members and friends. TRAIDCRAFT goods are always available. The newly re-furbished prayer room is available as is good company and a cheerful greeting.
Brownies and Guides are looking for the right sort of help Did you enjoy being a Brownie or a Guide in your childhood? If so you are in the company of very many and particularly the present generation of girls. Elaine MacGreggor is the District Commissioner for the Guides in our area, as well as being involved with one of the Rainbow Groups herself. However there is a very real problem that has emerged. It is the severe lack of appropriate people offering to take on the weekly responsibility of leadership of a number of our Groups locally. Two are having to plan to close this Autumn through lack of leadership while there is a waiting list of girls wishing to join. Fiona MacGreggor, who runs the Brownie Group at our Church, now has a waiting list too. There is a phenomena in our society that seems to prevent us from joining things. There is, on the other hand, a genuine wish to recreate the sense of local community. These contradictory forces seem to have played poorly and despite families wishing to be involved with local Children’s and Young People’s groups Leadership is a very worrying concern. It may be the fear of the Criminal Record Bureau check, it may be the commitment to one night each week and the implication of events during some of the school holidays - such as camps. Whatever it is Elaine is urgently in need of people to offer to take on some aspect of support and leadership of our local Groups. Please talk to your friends about this, pray about it, and chat to Elaine. Surely we want to welcome the children? Thank you for your concern. Traidcraft Our Church, through Rachel Latham, first became involved in TRAIDCRAFT as early as Autumn 1978 or Spring 1979! Churches were campaigning on behalf of the two thirds of the world’s population who go to bed hungry every day. Now TRAIDCRAFT is seen as mainstream and properly badged TRAIDCRAFT goods are in the supermarkets. TRAIDCRAFT itself has gone further by seeking out the poorest families and turning them into Producers. This they do by training them, advising them and offering guaranteed prices for the goods sold. The upshot is the very poorest, who are lucky enough to be supported by TRAIDCRAFT, can now rely on themselves and be certain of an income that will allow them to build a home or pay the school fees for the children, or even pay for the basic but necessary medical care. While we have our stall every Saturday morning and some Sunday mornings there are problems. Obviously in buying food products they have a ‘shelf life’ and when it is passed the items cannot be sold. Many of us buy our Fair Trade products at the supermarket and rightly so. What is the reason for or the purpose of our Church stall that has so few customers? Before making any decisions we would like the views of the congregation and our neighbours and friends on the value of this approach. Might the time - perhaps up to 4 hours per week at busy times - now be better spent on other aspects of our church life? Contact John Latham with your views at john.latham@hamptonhillurc.org.uk
‘Reform’ is our denomination’s magazine Having seen the magazine and perhaps read something of the wider role of our church you might wish to subscribe. John Latham has all the details and can arrange it for you. We are members of Churches Together around Hampton TRAIDCRAFT works ecumenically and needs your help.
Church Diary for July and August 2010
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