The Herald

May 2019

Mothering Sunday

On Mothering Sunday we had a most inspiring and joyful Service at St. John's. It was led by our Minister Rev. John Boardman and included a dramatised  version of the Moses in the bulrushes story, with lots of children taking part some as the leading characters and others being bulrushes or the River Nile.

We were delighted to be entertained by the very talented Youth Songsters and Sudbury Songsters. St. John's own " Spice girls and boys". We hope to see them performing again very soon.

It was so good to welcome  into the Church many of the youngsters who attend the Tea and Tots or TGIF sessions with their Mums and Dads. These events are very popular and are organised superbly by our Community Worker Emma Smy and her team of helpers.

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Service with special thanks to John, Emma and Amber for their dedication and hard work. Thank you also to the folk who prepared the small daffodil sprays which were given to every member of the congregation.

It was a very special Mothering Sunday Service which was greatly appreciated.

Maureen Hearn.

 

Saturday May 11th  - a Quiz Evening with Andrew

6.30 pm. 

Teams to be made up on the evening.  Excellent buffet.  Donations. Please sign up in the Link

 

Suffolk Churches Ride & Stride 2019 on 14th September

A date for your diary !  This year, the Suffolk Churches Ride & Stride 2019 will take place on Saturday 14th September.  Please help to raise funds for our historic Suffolk churches and St Johns by supporting this event.  You can take part in a Sponsored Bike Ride or a Walk between churches or help with welcoming and registering visitors at St Johns.

Further information and forms will be available soon.

Brian & Clare Mortimer (Local Organisers)

 

Harvest - Advance Notice

Our Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday September 29th this year.

We plan to have a Harvest Supper [bring and share] on Saturday September 28th. 

More details later.

 

Family Fair, 16th November 2019

Hi everyone,

With only six months to go, we just thought we would put a quick reminder in the herald about the Family Fair.

As always, this event would not be able to run without the assistance of all of you. Whilst we will again be selling space to various local producers of crafts etc, as well as Fairtrade , we will have our own tables and the café  that need our help with donations of items and time.

So please try and keep Saturday 16th November free.

More used jam jars for the jams and chutneys stall are still required so please bring any of those along to Church for Andrew.

Many thanks,

Andrew Clare, Gill Phillips & Julie Rix


 Easter Messy Church                      

 A lively group of 13 children survey the crafts and activities as they arrive and chose which to try first.      An edible Easter Garden is a big draw.   Biscuits with icing and colour created the scene of the tomb and surrounds.    Butterfly prints represented the signs of new life.     Scratch art crosses.   The darkness of the cross developing into new life when scratched - intriguing.    Creating Easter cards and sending messages of God's love and new life.    A wall picture told the story of the cross, the tomb and the resurrection.    Characters were coloured and glued to the background.     These, a selection of crafts and activities were on offer.     At the time for the service the children were deeply engrossed but finally moved through to the church for the short service.     John greeted them and asks what they enjoyed most in the activities.   Songs with the guitar and words on the screen operated by one of the children on instructions from John.     A drama, always a favourite,   The story of Easter.    All characters volunteer.   Noisy ones chosen carefully to occupy them, shy ones drawn out,   Words of the characters repeated after John.   A tomb had been created, the angel at the tomb draped in a white sheet - great delight.   The details creating the reality  as the children enter into the spirit of the Easter story.    With a final song and prayer the children are then ready to return to the hall where the faithful  catering ladies had prepared sandwiches, mini  sausage rolls, quiche, followed by fancy iced cakes plus a simnel cake, the meaning of which John explains.   11   marzipan balls -  the apostles minus Judas  Iscariot, on a marzipan topped fruit cake.   This concludes 2 hours of enjoyment and learning of Jesus' life

                                  Jane Sainsbury

 

Spring Synod on Saturday 30 March 2019 at Lowestoft.

‘Our Calling’ was the theme for Synod which, in the absence of our District Chair, Rev. Julian Pursehouse, who is on Sabbatical, was led by Deputy Chair, Rev. Andrew Maguire. In his Opening Devotions, Andrew spoke about our calling to be God’s people.

The Superintendent Minister of the Lowestoft Circuit, Rev. Peter Rayson, then welcomed us all to Trinity Methodist Church, Lowestoft which is close to the most easterly point of the UK. It felt like the most easterly point as we got out of the car and walked along to have a quick look at the sea before going into the Church!

After Dispensations and Initial Business, Rev. Paul Wood, Ministry Development Co-ordinator in the Connexional Team gave, ‘A Perspective on Our Calling’. He began by saying that if you know where you are going, you will find your way.

Paul grew up in Derbyshire in the 1970’s. When he was eight years old, a friend at school invited him to go with her to the Sunday School at the Methodist Church.

His reply was, ‘Maybe’.

However, he did go with her. The teacher there said that whatever you read in the Bible you need to think about what it means to you in your life. This was Paul’s first taste of Liberal Theology. He learnt that God loves me, He loves us and He loves the world.

Paul became a Church Member, held various jobs after he left school then trained to be a Presbyter.

We are called to be disciples. Evangelism, worship, loving and service are four ways in which we respond to the Love of God.

Paul asked:

What is the Church called to be?

What is the Methodist Church’s part?

What enables the Church to play that part?

How do we enable people to hear that the Call of God is for them?

We learn that God loves us – and then what? What are we actually doing for God?

This is a time of serious crisis in our Church. In times of crisis, God calls up the leaders needed. We must watch, wait and see what happens.

Paul went on to say that we need time to grow in our personal faith through reading, study and prayer. Prayer, which is so important, has become an option.

We need active membership. Respond is not a passive word. Where is our confidence? Our confidence is in God. He will give us the words we need to use and will show us the way so that we know where we are going.

I found all this very challenging. It gave me a great deal to think about.

After various updates and reports on different aspects of the Methodist Church we had a break for lunch.

Paul preached at the Communion Service in the afternoon. He asked us for one-word reactions to the stories about Simon Peter in Luke ch. 5 vv 1 – 11 and John ch. 21 vv 1 – 6. We gave our reactions. His reaction is, ‘Wow!’. Wow leads to response and action. In Luke, the crowds were wowed by Jesus who needed help. He got into one of the fishing boats and asked Simon Peter to go out a little from the shore so He could speak to the crowds from there. Simon Peter obeyed.

 In John, Simon Peter had been out fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus told him to throw his nets on the right side of the boat. Paul asked if we should call it not the right side but the wrong side – if he threw the net that side it would not open. Simon Peter obeyed. We, like Simon Peter, must respond to a challenge which seems impossible.

The world needs God more than it has ever done. God needs us to do His Will.

The Service, in which the Prayers of Intercession were led by Rev. John Boardman, was moving, a time for reflection and a time for renewal.

After thanks to all who had worked to make Synod possible, we left for home feeling challenged and feeling ‘Wow’ about our faith, for God is an amazing God.

Isabel Hebden.

Circuit Steward.

Wednesday June 5th 2019 - World Environment Day

“Air pollution”, the theme for World Environment Day 2019, is a call to action to combat one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Chosen by this year’s host, China, the theme of World Environment Day 2019 invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce, and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.

Approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific. Nine out of ten people worldwide are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed those considered as safe by the World Health Organization.

Air pollution doesn’t just impact human health and economic growth. Many of the pollutants also cause global warming. Take black carbon, which is produced by diesel engines, burning trash and dirty cookstoves. Black carbon is deadly, but it is also a short-lived climate pollutant. If we were to reduce the emissions of such pollutants, we could slow global warming by up to 0.5°C over the next few decades.

Methane, a large percentage of which comes from agriculture, is another culprit. Methane emissions contribute to ground-level ozone, which causes asthma and other respiratory illnesses. It is also a more potent global warming gas than carbon dioxide—its impact is 34 times greater over a 100-year period, according to the International Panel on Climate Change.

What you can do

This year’s World Environment Day provides an opportunity for each of us to combat air pollution around the world. And you don’t have to wait until 5 June to act.

There are so many things that we can do: from cycling or walking to work and back, to recycling your non-organic trash, to pressuring your local authorities to improve green spaces in your city. Here are some other ideas:

  •  Turn off lights and electronics not in use.
  •  Check efficiency ratings for home heating systems and cookstoves to use models that save money and protect health.
  • Never burn trash, as this contributes directly to air pollution.

 

 

The following poem was written recently by Rev Rita Carr of Stowmarket and Old Newton when she took part in a District Ministers’ Retreat.  It is reproduced here with her permission.

Tony Clark

 

What kind of call is this?

I heard a voice,

A quiet voice,

A still, small voice,

I think it called my name

 

I heard a voice,

A reassuring voice,

A kind voice, a nice voice,

I am sure it called my name.

 

I heard a voice,

It was a voice,

A forceful, urgent voice,

It did, it called my name.

 

I heard a voice

A voice that called my name,

I answered it, and I knew

The Lord had called MY NAME


A beacon of hope when  disaster strikes

We stand alongside the poorest of our sisters and brothers who are hit hardest be emergencies.  Even when the media spotlight has gone, we’ll keep striving for a saferworld, reports Maurice Onyango – Christian Aid’s Head of Humanitarian Programmes in Africa

When earthquakes, famines and other major disasters strike, claiming many hundreds  or even thousands of  lives, they dominate our television screens, newspaper front pages  and generate millions of  social media posts. 

This can help Christian Aid generate the funds  we need to respond rapidly to these emergencies,  largely through our network of local partner  organisations. 

But in most cases, the media quickly moves  on to the next story - while in others, where  situations develop slowly and grip a country or a  region for years, there is little coverage at all.

These are the world's forgotten crises. Not in the spotlight, not in the news - but the scale of the suffering is huge. Turmoil and tragedy,  hidden from view. 

A recent United Nations report found there are now more crises affecting more people and lasting longer than a decade ago. This year, over 130 million people will need humanitarian assistance to help them stay alive. 

Over nearly a decade, the crisis in north-east Nigeria has become one of the world's most  severe: 1.8 million people remain internally displaced, human rights are violated every day,  and the food situation is dire. There seems to be no end in sight. 

Christian Aid’s response in the region, which began in 2016, has focused on livelihoods work  and food programmes for pregnant women, new  mothers and very young children. We've also provided life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene, and cash for food. 

ln 2018, more than 1.3 million people received  food through our distributions. Our work is having a huge impact, but we can still only meet a small proportion of the need. Women are suffering and children are dying because they can't access basic food. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 13 million people face food shortages, including  over 4 million malnourished children, in a crisis fuelled by seemingly unending conflict. lt is  extremely hard to raise funds for this forgotten crisis. ln South Sudan, after 5 years of deadly civil  war, 4.5 million people have been uprooted from  their homes. 

The poorest communities in these places have very few options for how to shape their  own future. But we believe in the power of local solutions, and we channel funding to national organisations wherever possible to enable and nurture home-grown solutions.

The scale of the sufferlng is huge.

People are in desperate need of food, clothing, water, shelter and medicine. 

At the time of this magazine going to press,  Cyclone ldai has ripped through Mozambique,  Malawi and Zimbabwe, leaving behind a trail  of destruction. 

More than 2.5 million people are in need of help and at least 750 people have been killed, but the devastating death toll is expected to rise.

Dr Rowan Williams, Chair of Christian Aid, says: ‘At a time of increasing disasters across  the globe, it has never been more important for humanity to come together to support the most vulnerable. Let the response to this DEC Cyclone  ldai Appeal be a beacon of hope for everyone. l urge you to support it as generously as you can.’ 

Please donate to the Cyclone ldai Appeal and help us reach those most in need. Donate now at caid.org.uk/cyclone-idai 

Taken from Christian Aid Magazine SpringlSummer 2019       

 

Just for fun – try measuring your carbon footprint!

Check your environmental footprint.  Our lifestyle choices make up our environmental footprint. And the World Wildlife Fund says measuring yours takes less than five minutes and could change the way you live. The charity’s website calculates your footprint score using the answers you provide to their five-minute questionnaire. Then it offers tips to reduce your footprint – and shows how you can share that knowledge with others. Discover small changes that have a big impact.

Go to the World Wildlife Fund Footprint Calculator at footprint.wwf.org.uk 

 

We have to save the Earth

 All of us, members of the human race, are faced with the most: momentous challenge ever!  The challenge is to prevent the destruction of our home,  our planet Earth, taking place right now !  The diagram above sets out our perilous situation but we should appreciate the wider ‘picture’ of our existence, summarised by Tanya Steele. Her sobering words will resonate especially with the generation of this writer, who has lived his almost 90 years, when the  thought would never cross his mind, that this bountiful planet might be threatened with extinction (visiting asteroids  or hydrogen bombs excepted).

The words of the Bible, 'While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest shall not  cease’ (Genesis 8.22) have been regarded as ‘rock-solid’. The harvests of wheat or rice of millennia have  demonstrated for millions of believers the enduring providence of the Maker of earth and heaven. Generations have  prayed with confidence: ‘Give us this day our daily bread‘ — until now.

The thought of the demise of the living world is horrifying beyond words. It is so awful, that we may be tempted to shrug our shoulders and try our best to carry on living in the hope that the predictions may never happen.  On the other hand, if the threat is genuine, we, as responsible folk, should seriously investigate the case, and take action to head off the catastrophe. 

What must be done to save the Earth ?

·         Global education on the purpose of humankind's existence on Earth 

·         Population control: rational birth control 

·         An end to war and its waste of human life and Earth's resources

·         Measures to reduce global-warming/climate-change; especially change of use of land and sea, and dietary-shift 

·         Preservation of plant and animal life 

·         Reduction of use of harmful raw and manufactured materials, such as plastic 

Malcolm Hill 

 

The deadline for the June Herald is Sunday 19th May 2019

 

 

Any articles for the Herald would be most welcome

  Please email any contribution to either Tricia Campbell  - triciacampbell@lycos.com or Gill Phillips - gillian.phillips @gmx.co.uk  - or leave it in the tray in the Link.


Coffee Rota

Date

Coffee Rota

May

 

5

Clare’s team

12

Tricia’s team

19

The Flower Committee

26

Daphne and helpers

June

 

2

Clare’s team

9

Salt Shaker House Group

16

Re-Unite Ladies

23

Jan and Daphne

30

Tricia Campbell’s team

 

   Volunteers to join the Coffee Rota are needed urgently.  Please let John Harris have your name if you would be prepared to help from time to time.

 

Church Contacts:-

Minister                      Rev John Boardman     01787 372738

Senior Steward        Sue Rampling                01787 377441

Lettings Secretary    Andrew Clare                 01787 372705

Church Office                                                     01787 373185

 

Church website: www.stjohns-sudbury.co.uk

Church email address:  stjohnssudbury@gmx.co.uk