Issue 97
April
2015
newsletter
The Spirit of Scartho
This month’s Local Preachers corner has
kindly been written by Brian Smith
Contact us at [email protected]
www.scarthomethodists.net
SCARTHO METHODIST CHURCH
The voice of true love? I wonder if this
is the way we often deal with God and
the way we pray?
Dearest one....You know you're in my
thoughts all day long......I love you with
every heartbeat. For you I'd swim
through rivers full of crocodiles, climb
Everest, go round the world as often as
you asked. I'd love you in fire or frost,
wind, hail and brave anything to be at
your side....
But....sorry. I can't get to see you this
week. I've got a bit of a cold and don't
want you to get it. I've got to go to the
gym tomorrow and I've got a night out
with the lads next night. I've still not
had a go on my new computer game
and Town are playing that
replay match on Thursday. I
always swim on Fridays and
I can't miss The Voice on
Saturday.
You know I'd do anything for you but can't this
week. Sorry.
I'll be in touch......Yours always.....
(When you think of the Easter story, it's a much
more reliable guide to real love....that simply
doesn't fade or make excuse.....)
Happy Easter.....Brian
Church Bulletin Notices
Some church bulletin notices have a charm all their
own, where you know that they MEANT to say….
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic
will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practise.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of
several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all
the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married last Saturday in the
church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days
Please place your donation in the envelope, along with the
deceased person you want remembered.
2
Overcoming ‘The Black Dog’
Many famous people, who have made a lasting impact, have
suffered from debilitating mental illness. Winston Churchill, the
fiftieth anniversary of whose death we celebrate this year, called
his bouts of clinical depression his ‘black dog’. He just learnt to live
through it with courage and grit and sought consolation in his
creative energy, as in his painting and even in building brick walls
at Chartwell.
Robert Schuman, the famous 19th Century German composer,
suffered greatly from mental illness, which at times led him to the
depths of despair when he found it difficult to function. Some years
ago a new CD was issued of Schuman’s String Quartets. The
performance of one quartet was criticised for being too disturbingly
agitated in its mood. One music critic, however, on Radio 3,
disagreed. He praised the performance because it was faithful to
what Schuman had actually written. The music was disturbing
because Schuman was in a disturbed state when he wrote it.
Schuman’s agitated music was an authentic expression of his
humanity at the time.
Many other artists have expressed their humanity creatively while
wrestling with mental illness; the Russian composers, Tchaikovsky
and Rachmaninov, the Dutch painter, van Gogh, and the English
poets, John Clare and Gerard Manley Hopkins, for example.
Sometimes, sadly, mental illness and life in a secure institution can
cause a talented artist to be neglected. They may continue to
express themselves creatively, but they can be forgotten.
Ivor Gurney, a First World War poet and composer of many
beautiful songs, is an example. When he died in 1937 in the City of
London Mental Hospital, in Dartford, he was largely forgotten,
except by a few friends, like the composers Gerald Finzi and Ralph
Vaughan Williams. They tried to help him and make his work
known. Thankfully, today Ivor Gurney’s talent is becoming more
recognised and an orchestral work was included in the 1914 Prom
3
Season in the Royal Albert Hall.
So the point is this: mental illness may seem to be a denial of a
person’s true humanity, but it is in fact the opposite. Everyone
who lives courageously through the ‘black dog’ that haunts them is
expressing profoundly their humanity. They don’t have to be
famous, or famously talented. They are just bravely themselves,
even when they are struggling to keep in touch with reality. They
deserve our full respect and admiration.
Canon David Williams
TEXT OF THE MONTH
Proverbs 17 v 1
“better a dry crust with peace and quiet than
a house full of feasting with strife.”
Fido and Grumpy on Facebook
Do you post pictures of your cuddly pets on your Facebook page? Then you are
probably behind the times: it seems that the latest thing is to set up a social media account for your dog or cat.
According to recent research by the Co-operative Insurance, almost one in four dogs
and cats now have their own social feed or page. Cats favour Facebook, with 13 per
cent having their own page; while nine per cent have their own feed on Twitter. One
recent internet star is Grumpy Cat, who can boast six million Facebook fans.
Dogs, on the other hand, prefer to use Instagram, with six per cent having their own
picture page. Two per cent of dogs are so smart that they even have their own blog. It
gives a whole new meaning to the command: ‘Fido, speak!’
4
For the love of chocolate
Are you going to indulge in Easter chocolate this year? Ever
wonder where it first came from? We have the Aztecs of equatorial
Central America to thank: it was they who discovered that a
certain tree, later named Theobroma Cacao, was well worth
cultivating. The Aztecs considered chocolate the ‘drink of the gods’
(Theo means God, broma means drink; hence the name). The
Aztecs credited chocolate for everything from spiritual wisdom to
sexual prowess; Emperor Montezuma is reported to have drunk
more than 50 flagons of the stuff each day.
The Spanish explorer Cortes also called it ‘the divine drink’, and
the conquistadors brought chocolate back to Spain. From there it
travelled north, and reached England about 1849. It was first
served as a drink, until during the Industrial Revolution it caught
the attention of several leading Quaker families, (including the
Cadburys, the Frys, the Rowntress and the Terrys. It was the Fry
family who created the first ‘eating’ chocolate… and the rest, as
they say, is history. Today the world eats about 600,000 tons a
year. Enjoy your Easter egg!
5
6
Kindness and cake
Moist, dense and fruity. That’s how my husband loves his
Caribbean rum and raisin cake. It’s his favourite and every Christmas his Mum used to bake one. Last Christmas I surreptitiously
attempted to find out if anyone could bake him one as a surprise
gift. But my search was fruit(!)less and I decided to give up and
try again next year.
So you can imagine my delight when Mabel, an elderly lady from
church, arrived on our doorstep out of the blue on Christmas Eve
with two raisin loafs, a batch of home-made fish cakes and, glory
be (!) a huge Caribbean rum and raisin cake. We were delighted
by Mabel’s thoughtfulness. And she couldn’t have known how
much her baking blessed us.
Acts of kindness can have a disproportionately positive impact on
people. They can tangibly demonstrate the love of God and make
people feel valued and appreciated. Can you think of a time when
someone has shown you real kindness? Perhaps helped you with
some DIY, sat and listened to you or sent you an encouraging
card? It may have seemed like a small thing to them but could
have made you feel very loved.
Jesus’ command to love your neighbour in Matthew 22:39 is a
challenge to busy, 21st century disciples. As a mum of three young
children I often feel unable to do anything except the basics
needed for family survival – is everyone fed, clothed, happy and
clean? Ah well, three out of four isn’t bad, I think to myself.
But loving our neighbour doesn’t need to be an extra burden or
something we feel guilty about neglecting. What can we do right
now, where we are, with the people in our context, to demonstrate
the kindness of God? Here are a few ideas that I hope will inspire
you.
7
Mums I know have :
~ Mentored a young person by inviting them round to have tea with their
family and chatting ‘on the go’
~ Bought flowers for a friend who lost a baby and left them on her doorstep
~ Made food for the teachers at their children’s school during an Ofsted inspection
~ Offered to pray for a member of staff at a Children’s Centre who was having
a hard time
~ Cleaned the oven of a mum who was struggling with post-natal depression.
What one thing can you do this week as an individual, family or community to
demonstrate kindness? Don’t underestimate the difference your small act of
love may have and what it can communicate about the love of God. Thanks to
Mabel we have full bellies, full hearts and have been reminded of how God
really does care about the little things. And the diet starts tomorrow.
By Anna France-Williams. Her recent book, with Joy French, is ‘Ordinary Mum,
Extraordinary Mission: how can a busy mum be part of Gods’ mission when
she can’t even find a babysitter?’ (IVP, £8.99)
On The Third Day
What is the meaning of Life? What’s with the trouble and strife?
No-one will pay on the third day.
God’s answer, he did reveal, what humankind could now feel.
No more to say on the third day.
It all climaxed on the cross, when Jesus showed who was Boss!
Doubt put away on the third day.
Now we can follow the call, which is a message to all.
We can obey on the third day.
8
Monthly Prayer Diary
Kathy Lancaster does a fantastic job of putting
together items in the notices to focus our
prayers for the coming week . These are
pointers to help us focus our prayers this month
Please pray for the people of Vanuatu and the surrounding islands whose
towns and villages have been devastated by the recent cyclone. Please
pray for those whose relatives were killed that the Lord will comfort them.
Pray for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Many said they
had prayed to God for protection during the cyclone, thank God for their
faith in Him and pray that the Lord will strengthen them in the days ahead.
Pray that aid would reach the people and they would have food, fresh water and shelter, also help to rebuild their devastated communities. Most
people have been left with nothing. Homes have been wrecked and their
belongings lost. Pray that the Lord would put hope in their hearts.
Please pray for the Christian communities in Lahore, Pakistan, following
the recent suicide bombers attack on two of their churches. Pray that the
Lord would protect them and keep them safe in their constant state of
fear of further attacks. Pray that the Lord would strengthen their faith. We
cannot imagine what it must be like to attend church and have security
guards at the doors to keep us safe from attack. Pray for an end to the
persecution of Christians in Pakistan and for freedom for Christians to
worship God. Pray also that they would no longer be treated as second
class citizens and assigned the most menial jobs. Pray that they would
find respect within their communities as God's love shines through them
and out to others.
9
Book Review of the Month
This month we have her review of “Branded”
by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalcicki. Thanks and take it away Jess…..
Branded is a self published novel by two authors : Abi
Ketner and Missy Kalicicki and therefore my first praise of
this book comes from the fluid writing style that in no way
gives away the dual authors. Lexi’s voice is so consistent throughout the novel.
This dystopian world follows the rules of the seven deadly sins and they serve
as the laws of the country. However the ‘commander’ of the country has made
an inhuman sort of prison for criminals in the form of the pit, criminals are
branded with a different coloured permanent mark on
their necks (like Lexi’s blue mark on the cover) to display their crimes. Lexi is accused of lust, she had no
trail. So even though she did not commit this crime it
doesn’t matter, she’s branded and sent to the pit anyway. I loved this book. I loved how it presented the idea
that even though the ideas that the commander is using
might be right that doesn’t mean that the way he does
things is also right. The descriptions of the pit were horrifying and really brought to life this cruel world that
Lexi is forced to live in. I loved the romance in this
book and how it was portrayed so well, it could easily
have fallen into being a typical forbidden romance but it fought its way out of
the stereotype and managed to enthral me into their romance. While Lexi does
in her romance commit the crime of Lust and give into the lust she feels for her
love interest I loved that this was presented as being entirely the choice of the
two characters involved. The Commander and any other person’s views on what
they were doing wasn’t mentioned in their decision it really put into perspective
how restricting this government has been to it’s inhabitants. I think Lexi is one
of the most realistic characters I have ever read. Her character is human,
inconsistent with her feelings for her love interest and her family. She’s
constantly switching from being a strong woman who won’t let the people
above her see her cry, to a weeping girl who can’t bare to face the pit every
morning. I love that about her, because who wouldn’t have inconsistencies in
the world she lives in! I gave this book five stars and I can’t wait to see what
else is in store for this amazing series!
Jess
10
Scartho Churches Together
Presents:
Walk of Witness
Good Friday
3rd April, 2015
St Giles Church Car Park
11:00am
(to start walk at 11:15am)
All are Welcome!
11
Richard Bewes considers what it was that Easter actually changed
A new world is ushered in
‘Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary of
Magdala went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been
removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter
and the other disciple… and said “They have taken the Lord out of
the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”’ (John
20:1,2)
No one was ready for Christ’s resurrection. On the Friday, two
sympathetic Jewish council members - Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus – had taken the body of Jesus down from the cross,
burying Him in a new tomb before instructed guards had moved
into place. Thirty-six hours later the tomb was empty and the
guards were scattered – to be paid off with hush money by the
chief priests (Matthew 28:12).
The account rings with authenticity. Here is no ingenious attempt
at a carefully-contrived scenario, with Pontius Pilate or Caiaphas
the High Priest falling back in confusion before a resurrected Christ
and a crowd of impressive witnesses. The whole account has feet
running everywhere - yet ushering in a new world that would
never be the same again. At this stage it is a complete jumble:
1. The right actions, but the wrong deductions Mary Magdalene
witnesses the empty tomb and then runs, rousing Peter and John,
having concluded that her Lord’s body had been taken away. She
then returns to the tomb - Peter and John presumably outstripping
her on the way. It was only then that she met the risen Lord for
herself.
2. The quick feet, but the slow minds As for Peter and John, they
breathlessly reach the tomb - and are gazing at the grave clothes,
still twirled together and collapsed under the heavy spices. How
long did they wait? John eventually perceives what has happened 12
and believes (v.8). In his account he admits his slowness to take
in the truth of the resurrection (v.9). Has that been so for you?
Read John’s Gospel for yourself, friend - and get into the flow
today!
3. The new era, but the familiar routine Verse 10 gives us an
interesting statement: ‘Then the disciples went back to their
homes.’ There was Jerusalem outside - just the same. Perhaps
Peter’s mother-in-law would like a cup of tea? Before long they’d
go out fishing again (John 21:3). Life looked unchanged – for the
present.
Yet, from now on, Christ’s gift to them of Resurrection to eternal
life would captivate hearts, loyalties and energies for ever.
Free trees from Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust sends out free trees every March and November to
groups across the UK. Packs come in various mixes of 30, 105 or 420
saplings approximately 20-40cm tall. The charity wants to help school,
youth and community groups bring people together to plant green
shared spaces. It says that “Planting trees is also an ideal way of
creating a beautiful, living tribute to those who have helped shape your
local community.”
You can apply for multiple packs (e.g. 1x105 wild harvest, 1x30 copse,
1x30 hedge) up to a maximum of 420 trees per delivery season.
Applications for packs to plant in November 2015 can be submitted
online now until 3 September, while stocks last. Visit our website today
for m ore i nform ati on and h elp wi th h ow to
apply. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community
13
Beginner
Intermediate
Editor: We have Grove Booklets to thank for this one!
ODE TO SPELL CHECKERS
I have a spelling checker, I disk covered four my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot see.
Eye ran this poem threw it. Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh, My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a blessing. It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed, And aides me when aye rime.
Each frays comes posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word To cheque sum spelling rule.
Bee fore wee rote with checkers Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps, Wee are not maid too wine.
14
And now bee cause my spelling Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults in awl this peace, Of nun eye am a wear.
To rite with care is quite a feet 0f witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can, Sew flaws are knot aloud.
That's why eye brake in two averse Cuz Eye dew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye This soft wear four pea seas.
Maundy Thursday – time to wash feet
Maundy Thursday is famous for two things. The first is one of the
final acts that Jesus did before his death: the washing of his own
disciples’ feet. (see John 13) Jesus washed his disciples’ feet for a
purpose: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another.” His disciples were
to love through service, not domination, of one another.
In Latin, the opening phrase of this sentence is ‘mandatum novum
do vobis’. The word ‘mundy’ is thus a corruption of the Latin
‘mandatum’ (or command). The ceremony of the ‘washing of the
feet’ of members of the congregation came to be an important part
of the liturgy (regular worship) of the medieval church, symbolising the humility of the clergy, in obedience to the example of
Christ. But Thursday was also important because it was on that
night that Jesus first introduced the Lord’s Supper, or what we
nowadays call Holy Communion. Jesus and his close friends had
met in a secret upper room to share the Passover meal together for the last time. And there Jesus transformed the Passover into
the Lord’s Supper, saying, ‘this is my body’ and ‘this is my blood’
as he, the Lamb of God, prepared to die for the sins of the whole
world. John’s gospel makes it clear that the Last Supper took place
the evening BEFORE the regular Passover meal, and that later
Jesus died at the same time that the Passover lambs were killed.
15
The Rectory of St. James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren,
There are times when I indulge you too much; why I ever let
you run your course “Taking Responsibility for your Church”
among our congregation, I am now unable to understand. I
had hopes that it might encourage a few more people to
volunteer for the flower rota, or to give occasional help
mowing the churchyard. I even had a vague fantasy that
someone might turn detective, and discover who was eating
the chocolate biscuits between Sundays, condemning the rest
of us to munch on Rich Tea after Services.
Unfortunately, your course turned out to be inspirational,
and has fired up our members to take on all sorts of new
initiatives. Enthusiasm in a congregation can be a very
dangerous thing, especially if people start making decisions
on their own.
Those who formed a welcoming group are admittedly
well-meaning – although it was more than a little traumatic
for those coming through the door the next Sunday to be
greeted with frenzied hand-shakes, big toothy smiles, and
even hymnbooks. That is unheard of in this church – we
always ignore people and leave them to find hymnbooks – if
they can.
16
Naturally, all those offering to take the prayers, produce new
orders of Service and even to give the occasional sermon have
been booked on the appropriate training courses. By the time
they have been completed, I can only hope they will have gone
off the idea.
But it was the group which decided to “beautify” the church
who have proved the most tiresome. Hanging the Christmas tree
lights round the altar made it look as if I was standing behind
a fairground stall, waiting to invite people to throw hoops
round teddy bears – although I would have rather enjoyed
making winners sit for the rest of the Service holding a
polythene bag containing a goldfish.
Our pulpit has also been given a makeover, with the various
panels painted in contrasting colours; I am sure the sixteenth
century Flemish woodcarvers would be delighted with the
result, although the next time any medieval historians come to
view it, I shall take the day off – probably travelling abroad.
My dear Darren, your course took the stopper out of the bottle;
would you please run another to put it back?
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
17
18
19
Largest volcanic eruption – ever
The largest volcanic eruption in recorded history – Mount Tambora
in Indonesia – began 200 years ago this month, on 5th April 1815.
Ash in the atmosphere lowered global temperatures for two years,
and an estimated minimum of 70,000 people died. The explosion
was heard 1600 miles away, and ash fell at least 800 miles away.
The eruption column reached the stratosphere, an altitude of more
than 27 miles. Fine ash particles stayed in the atmosphere for
many months, spread around the globe by longitudinal winds,
creating brilliantly coloured sunsets and twilights in London and
influencing painters such as Turner.
In the spring and summer of 1815, a persistent "dry fog" was
observed in the north-eastern United States. The fog reddened and
dimmed the sunlight, so that sunspots were visible to the naked
eye. In 1816, known as the Year Without a Summer, countries in
the Northern Hemisphere suffered extreme weather conditions.
Cool temperatures and heavy rains resulted in failed harvests in
Britain and Ireland. Famine was prevalent in Wales and north and
south-west Ireland, following the failure of wheat, oat and potato
harvests.
Tambora's explosion was 10 times bigger than Krakatoa and more
than 100 times bigger than Vesuvius or Mount St Helens.
Tim Lenton
Dial
They have Dial-a-Prayer for atheists now.
You call up and it rings and rings but nobody answers.
20
ENG-AGE
Eng-age the campaigning group for those aged
50 plus now has 2 different meeting venues.
On the 1st Wednesday in the month we gather at
the riverhead hub in Grimsby from 10am.
Whilst on the 3rd Wednesday our transport group
gathers at 9am in the new carers centre opposite
Grimsby Town Hall (The old water works
building)
Why not give us a try?
Tim Mickleburgh—chair Eng-age
Beginner
Intermediate
21
The Armenian Genocide – 100 years on
The murder of up to 1.5 million Christian Armenians by the Muslim
Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) took place only 100 years ago, but
is now largely forgotten in the West, possibly because it was overshadowed by the First World War.
The Armenian Genocide is normally given the date 24 April 1915,
which when the authorities arrested and later executed Armenian
intellectuals and leaders in an attempt to eliminate Turkey’s entire
population of Armenians; but it lasted in all about 30 years, starting around 1894. As well as the 1.5 million Armenians who died –
plus a similar number of Greeks and about 750,000 Assyrians – at
least two million more were deported, often by long-distance
forced marches without food or water, and ending in concentration
camps in the Syrian Desert.
It is estimated that only one quarter of the deportees survived the
process, and many of them, including young children and women,
were murdered in barbarous fashion by killing squads. About
200,000 Armenians converted to Islam to be spared. Even after
the landlocked Armenian Republic was established in 1918 between Turkey and the Caspian Sea, Armenians continued to be
massacred and deported until the republic was taken under the
protection of the Soviet Union in 1920.
Today, Armenia is in tension with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which lies between them and is inhabited largely by Armenians. Of the total Armenian population living
worldwide today, about three million – well under half – live in Armenia. Their population area in 1914 was six times larger than
that of present-day Armenia. The Assyrians, who stood with the
Armenians during their First World War persecution, have suffered
even more drastically, though not in such huge numbers. They are
still denied a homeland and are persecuted by Muslims wherever
they settle in the Middle East (largely Syria and Iraq).
22
Communities of Christian Ottoman Greeks living in Anatolia were
forced on death marches during the First World War and later
massacred, as Turkish armies sought reprisals following Greece’s
failed invasion in 1919-22.
The systematic murder of Assyrians and Greeks has also been officially defined as genocide. Turkey has never admitted responsibility.
Thought for the Day
The biggest lie I tell myself is "I don't need to
write that down, I'll remember it."
23
We would like to welcome you to Scartho Methodist Church if
you are a visitor or newcomer. Below is some information
which might prove helpful.
HOUSEGROUPS
We have a range of housegroups meeting during the week.
Please feel free to contact the person responsible for any
group for more details of venue etc. You are welcome to try
any group, or move if you chose to
Tuesday
8.00pm
8.00pm
Wednesday 10.00am
Wednesday 8.00pm
Thursday
Sunday
contact Peter Tappin
tel 825737
contact Gill Thomas
tel 276972
contact Patrick Mickleburgh tel 870769
contact Richard Melling tel 07889862458
[email protected]
10.00am contact Heather Corry tel 872658
7.30pm contact Inga Greet tel 475536
Prayer meeting in Church 1st & 3rd Saturday Morning 930—1030am
Christian Meditation Meeting—2nd Friday of the month 10-11am
(in crèche)
SERVICES FOR SCARTHO
in April
2nd April Maunday Thursday service 730pm
Service of Holy Communion
3rd April Good Friday
Service at St Matthews 930am
Walk of Witness 11am from
St Giles’ Car Park
4th April 930-1030 Prayer meeting
5th April Rev Patrick Mickleburgh 830
Holy Communion
M.A.T.C.H. 1030
12th April Lynn Whitehead 1030
Rev Ruth Charlesworth 6pm
19th April Rev Ruth Charlesworth 9am
Holy Communion
Terry Simco 1030
WHERE ARE OUR LOCAL PREACHERS?
5th April - Ruth - Tetney St Johns 0830
North Thoresby 11am
Andrew - Killingholme 1030
Graham - Humberston 6pm
Patrick - Scatho 0830
12th April - Ruth - St Christophers 10am
Scartho 6pm
Christopher - Killingholme 1030
Elizabeth - Humberston 1030
19th April– Ruth - Scartho 9am
New Waltham 1030
Chris - North Thoresby 11am
Elizabeth - Waltham 1030
26th April - Lester - New Waltham 1030
Andrew - Keelby 10am
Scartho 6pm
26th April Andrew Gadd 1030
Andrew Hornsby 6pm
Cafe Style
24