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Ministers: Rev Craig Manley: 01249818923
Email craig.manley@methodist.org.uk
Web site www.unitedchurchwarminster.org
Editor: Joan Jones iantojo@virginmedia.com
MINISTER’S LETTER
I remember when my sister last came to visit us whilst we lived in Somerset. It was for the first time in years. Now Elizabeth and Olivia are trouble when together, and enjoyed the time mostly by constant talking, and of course planning all kinds of wonderful but mad adventures for the future. A good time was had by all, with me retreating to the garden for some peace. It was like having two eight and half year-old girls chattering and oblivious to anything remotely serious and grown up.
When the time came for Olivia to leave on the bank holiday Monday, we ventured to the railway station to await her train. On arrival the girls took a seat on the platform, still talking and unaware to the things I thought necessary to be considered for the imminent journey.
Is this the right platform, have you your tickets, your phone? What carriage are you in? These were just some of the things that I would be finding the answers to before I sat down. The station was, as usually expected, busy for a bank holiday afternoon, with three trains arriving in the station within a period of fifteen minutes. It was therefore important to be on the right platform, and around the right space on the platform, where the carriage she was traveling in would be likely to stop.
The right platform, and train, would ensure that the journey would be the correct one undertaken. Amongst so many people, the best place on the platform would ensure entry to the train would be just that little bit easier to achieve. I studied the electronic information boards, ticket, and platform markings, confirming that we were in just about the right place for the correct train and carriage……and the girls just continued to talk oblivious to the need for any of these things to be done. They had handed over care and responsibility for the journey to me, trusting that I would ensure that all would be well.
As I waited, I watched one of the high-speed trains glide quietly into the station. I have to say it was a thing of beauty. Streamlined and futuristic magnificent, designed coachwork and lines. I was amazed at just how far trains have developed, but then again trains have not sparked my interest and imagination in the past few years. The ‘Station Master’ Martin, from my church, would have been so pleased at my thoughts, sensing a possible conversion moment.
You know that all our journeys undertaken in life require trust to be placed in another. In this case the driver of the train, or myself ensuring that the start of the journey was correct. Perhaps rail staff to give assistance, information, and direction. Once the train had left the station, with my sister onboard, my responsibility ended, and was passed to another. During the relevant changes of trains, she managed to end up on a wrong train, but still somehow arrived at the correct destination, and just an hour or so later than planned. You see God was watching closely that day.
To put one’s trust in God requires faith, and also confidence, that all our journeys are the correct ones. We may sometimes end up travelling by a slightly different route than the one we intended. With God in the equation, we will always arrive at God’s intended destination, but with diversions, and different encounters and experiences, that we had not originally envisaged.
There are so many different experiences, events, and ideas that we face in any given journey that we only remember, or pay attention to, the ones that touch a story that is rooted in our own narrative and understanding. Some of our early encounters of pain and trauma become the stories that we often use to make sense out of the rest of our lives. Some of our experiences of joy and blessing, on the other hand, will also become stories through which we give meaning to other things that happen to us.
I do like the verse from Judges 18:6 “And the priest said to them, ‘Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord’.” It is such a comfort, and a strength, to know that God is present with you now, at this very instant, whatever you are doing and wherever you are going. That all will be well….hold on to that! And in the case of my sister….I smile that God was forced to have both eyes open that day!
Stay safe and well… Craig.
SUNDAY SERVICES 10.30 a.m. (unless otherwise stated)
DECEMBER 1st Revd Heather Morgan
8th Margaret White
3.30 p.m. 15th CAROL SERVICE led by Revd Craig Manley – mince pies after
There will also be a short service of prayer and reflection at 10.30 a.m. led by Karen Woollard for those unable to attend Carol service
22nd Revd Craig Manley HOLY COMMUNION
29th SECTOR SERVICE at our church -led by Revd Craig Manley
Refreshments after the service – donations of CAKES would be welcomed
JANUARY 5th Revd Graham Warmington
12th Revd Heather Morgan
19th 10.30 a.m. Karen Woollard
3p.m. WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Combined churches service at our church – light refreshments to follow
26th Revd Craig Manely COVENANT SERVICE HOLY COMMUNION
FEBRUARY 2nd Revd Peggy Kabonde
9th Erica Castle
16th Revd Heather Morgan HOLY COMMUNION
23rd Revd Craig Manley
3.30 P.M. SUNDAY 15th DECEMBER
led by Revd Craig Manley
Collection for Crisis at Christmas
REFRESHMENTS after the service
Donations of mince pies welcomed. Please tell Hilda if you can bring some
CAROLS IN THE MALL
14th December 11 a.m.
Carols and mince pies organised by Churches together in Warminster
Three Horseshoes Walk
CHRISTMAS DAY 10 a.m.
We are warmly invited to
WORSHIP
At The Baptist Church in North Row
(note this is 10 a.m. not their usual service time of 10.30 a.m.)
CHRISTMAS EVE - there are suggestions for a Tea-time communion, or morning worship – Please look out for more information on weekly notices
The Minster Church Christmas Tree Festival
Friday 6th December 10a.m. to 3p.m. Saturday 7th 10 a.m. to 4p.m.
Father Christmas 10a.m.1p.m ,2p.m. – 4 p.m. Breakfast 10 a.m. – 11.30a.m
Sunday 8th December 11 a.m. to 3.30p.m. Festival Carol Service 4p.m.
Admission by donations for Silk Works Alzheimer’s support and church funds
A Christmas Community Lunch is being organised by Rev Lorraine for people on their own. Please talk to Marion Barton if you would like to support this.
Penelope will put up our Christmas tree in church on the 1st week in December and the crib will then be open for gifts to the Foodbank.
Once again, this year the children will make a big Christmas card in which you are invited to write a greeting to all at church. There will also be a collection box for Shelter in which to put the money you are saving on individual Christmas cards!
From the minutes of AGM on October23rd
We remember members, Liz Pierssene and Jenny Sanderson, who have died this year.
Church Council members are:
John Alpin, Marion Barton, Erica Castle, Jan Cobb, Helen Dawson, Hilary Reid, Anita Silk, Karen Woolard, and Craig Manley attends as our minister.
If anyone would like to join the council, please speak to one of the above for more info. We currently meet alternate months.
Reports from Committees and Clubs – see below
Reports were proposed, seconded and accepted by the church meeting -
1. Finance - Thank you for all your work, Anita.
i) Starting Balance for Audio visual was £25,100 Two payments went to Novum: £12,703.12 as deposit and payment £11,553.81. John paid £428.00 for the lap top and Pen and a further £308.10 went towards the Novum wall plate, jack & installation drum.
The REMAINING BALANCE is: - £106.97
ii) A 2nd computer for worship media will cost £1,030. The worship media programme will cost £222.90 and the Annual fee will be £24.99
iii) The Family Activity Day Fund contains £704.96
iv) Bank Balance stands at £31,185.81
2. Eco-Church The church is now using Ecover products for all cleaning jobs. The junior church members have made 4 garden bee boxes and we have plans for an insect hotel, a small tree to attract birds and a mini pond to attract other wild life.
4. Craft and Chatter – are meeting alternate Mondays with some very skilled crafters making all sorts of work. We have donated £50 to the church. Penelope organised a Strawberry Tea. We have made hats and gloves for the Shoe boxes and decorations for Christmas windows.
5. Shoe Boxes This project was reported on at AGM and thanks given to Joan and Brenda for again organizing the venture. See update later in newsletter
6. Children’s Work Although we have very few children in church on a Sunday, we have around 25 on our Family Activity Days and these parents and grandparents who accompany them are very loyal. The families really enjoy each event. Our next one will be Pumpkin Day with material prepared by World Vision as an alternative to spooky Hallowe’en. We will hold a coffee morning in January for the work of World Vision because all their resources for us are free to use.
The Churches Together in Warminster shared their working dates for the children’s work around the town. This will help each of the churches to co-ordinate their children’s work without clashing dates.
Minister Church holds a Toddlers morning 10.30 every Thursday and have Messy Minster on some Saturday mornings.
Christ Church has Toddlers 9.15-10.45 and Messy Church 4th Thursday of the month 3.15-5pm during school time. (no meetings in August).
Baptist Church has Rainbow Corner Tuesdays 9-11.30 for Toddlers, and Wellspring Wednesday lunchtime term time + after school – meals and activities for adults and children.
It is noticeable that there are no activities for teenagers. We are asked to pray about what support we can give this vulnerable group.
7. Pastoral Care: Heather and Susan were in charge of this. Heather will continue with pastoral work and Erica will meet up with Susan to see what paper work she can take from Susan so that we continue to comply with GDPR.
8. Discussion from Area Meeting: There is generally a problem with acquiring ministers for the 17 churches. The other big problem in the Area is the loss of an Area Treasurer (Michael died earlier this year). Plans are being discussed but things are changing while we still have responsibilities to our parent bodies. Many churches who have been left without a local, weekly minister will have to develop skills and relationships to help them continue their Christian community in their church. This is an opportunity for the congregations to step up with their Christian plans. Rev. Craig will continue to be the Methodist Superintendent, the District Safeguarding Officer (and has a few other hats too) until his retirement.
Discussion from the Church Council
1) Thank you to everyone who has supported the plans for our church life.
2) Audio and Projection System: -
i) Points Raised in the Discussion
-All worship leaders should continue to produce a paper copy of their service that can be copied for distribution to members unable to attend.
-The service will be, eventually, be on our website for those with e-access.
- Even when we have a visual system hymn books will still be available for congregational use.
- Organists will still be necessary as our church has very poor internet access.
- We will need volunteers to operate the audio-visual system. Suggestions for 4 trained members of the congregation to take it in turns and maybe ask the young people to consider training for this.
3) Warminster Churches Together-Participating in the Street Market, 30th November, for lighting up the Christmas lights - CTW will be running two stalls – one for the children to prepare gifts for children in Salisbury hospital around Christmas (3pm-5pm in the town), and one to offer hot drinks to people in the town (from St Lawrence’s church 5pm to 7pm). Please come and offer your help at these two events.
JOINT WORSHIP IN THE MALL: 14th DECEMBER 11AM. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US AS WE SHARE MINCE PIES AND CAROLS.
4) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18 to 25 January 2024 – see ctbi.org.uk website We will be visiting one another’s churches for prayers, discussion and light lunches, meetings start at 12 noon.
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Meetings to be held at 12noon |
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Saturday 18th January |
(no meeting) |
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Sunday 19th January |
3pm Joint Worship/United Church |
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Monday 20th January |
St Georges |
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Tuesday 21st January |
Minister |
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Wednesday 22nd January |
FCF |
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Thursday 23rd January |
The Baptist’s |
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Friday 24th January |
Christ Church |
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Saturday25th January |
(no meeting) |
Worship Arrangements – Christmas: 15th December Carol Service at 3.30pm Penelope will put up the Christmas tree on the 1st week in December and the crib will be open for gifts to the Foodbank
(On 15th Dec there will be a short service of prayers and reflections at 10.30 for those who can’t come to the 3.30 service Karen)
Christmas Eve Communion Tea time. Shall we have a Local arrangement for morning worship or shall we ask Julie Vince to record that we have a service so other churches can attend (eg ask the Westbury Churches to come)? Action – decide what to do
Christmas Morning 10am we will join our friends at Warminster Baptist Church.
A Christmas Community Lunch is being organised by Rev Lorraine for people on their own. Please talk to Marion Barton if you would like to support this.
Common Chapel Trust: Trustees are Anita, Erica, John Case, Paula, Marion Barton
AOB : Warm Spaces for the Winter being organised around the town.
Sunday 19th January 3pm Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at our church.
Coffee One – every Wednesdays for Christian Fellowship 10ish
Date of next AGM: October 2025
Next Church Meeting will be in January and the date will be confirmed at the Council Meeting
MONTHLY CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS
|
Date 2024 |
CHARITY |
Organiser |
Raised |
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13th January |
Farming Community Network |
Jan Cobb |
£117.73 |
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10th February |
Cancer research |
Pauline Reed & helpers |
£327.40 |
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9th March |
Breast Cancer Now |
Joan Jones |
£227.77 |
|
April 13th |
Wiltshire Wildlife |
Rachel & Dave Cox |
£214.15 |
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May 11th |
Christian Aid |
Karen Woollard |
£150.40 |
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June 8th |
Action for Children |
Marion Barton |
£150.75 |
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July 13th |
Medical detection dogs |
Anita and Hilary |
£342.90 |
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August 10th |
Alzheimer Support |
John Case |
£192 |
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September 14th
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Warminster Action Group |
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£165.70 |
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October 12th |
Wiltshire Treehouse charity |
Pat Cutler |
£700 |
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November 9th |
Christmas Shoeboxes |
Joan Jones |
£370 |
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December 14th |
Guide Dogs |
Anita |
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Totals raised this year = £2,958.80, and one month still to go!
Many thanks to all who have helped run, or supported these events. Enjoyable mornings and well attended by the local community.
CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES
Many thanks to all who have worked hard knitting and sewing for the boxes all year, to all who have generously donated items to go in the boxes and to Brenda for covering all those shoeboxes with Christmas paper and keeping tabs on what is needed. On November 11th a group of us packed 110 shoeboxes to go to Bulgaria, plus another 10 boxes to go to ladies in a local Women’s Refuge. The coffee morning, on Saturday 9th November raised £370 money to help with the cost of sending these boxes to Bulgaria.
The boxes were collected from us by a representative of the “House of Opportunity” on 18th November.
What is “House of Opportunity”
The Parent organisation, The Trussell Trust (TT), was founded in 1997 with a legacy left by Betty Trussell. TT immediately began work in Bulgaria, helping to relieve families in crisis through street-feeding programmes in Sofia. Humanitarian projects developed – Roma community improvement schemes, health projects and a Christmas box appeal (generating Christmas presents in the UK and distributing them in Bulgaria), among others. The work with orphanages identified a particular problem – those young people leaving the institutions at the age of 18 were left completely on their own, with no help whatsoever as they tried to make their way in the hostile and exploitative world.
In 2007 TT opened its first House of Opportunity (HOP) near Botevgrad. In 2008 they established a new organisation, The Foundation for Social Change and Inclusion (FSCI), which assumed responsibility for delivering TT’s vision for the work in the Balkans. HOPs are small group homes that provide two-year residential programmes for young State-care leavers (18 years old +). This helps these vulnerable young people to make the difficult transition from care to independence by helping them complete or continue their education and assisting them to find employment. In this way the young people are able to have every opportunity to have a normal, fulfilling life, rather than slip into extreme poverty, or become prey to human-traffickers and other criminals – common outcomes for this neglected group. This work spread and grew – there are now more HOPs, in different areas and other Eastern European countries. They also run kindergartens for Roma children
Although the organisation does so much more than the Christmas shoebox appeal – hence its change of name to “House of Opportunity”- it still organises the distribution of thousands of these gifts every year
Who will receive a Christmas Box?
Our Christmas boxes will go to children and adults in all kinds of circumstances, including abandoned children living in state care, poor rural schools and kindergartens, women’s refuges, prisoner’s children, isolated or lonely elderly folk, refugees and Roma children living in difficult conditions. These presents show people who have been rejected or are living in poverty that they are loved, and help to build bridges with communities. Any surplus money generated by the appeal will help support the long-term projects – making a direct impact on the lives of at-risk children and teenagers.
Many thanks to all who have contributed in any way to our efforts, and who continue to do so.
(Brenda will be happy to continue receiving your empty shoeboxes to prepare for next year!)
Joan Jones
Enhancing Our Worship Experience: The New Audio-Visual System
I am excited to announce that our new sound system and projector in the worship area are now operational! This advanced audio-visual setup will enhance our worship experience by providing superior sound quality and integrating meaningful visuals into our services. As we explore its features, we look forward to new opportunities for our church and the local community.
About two years ago, the Trustees and later the Church meeting began considering this project, which initially seemed daunting, especially financially. Our previous sound system, installed over 30 years ago, was showing its age, struggling with sound quality, hearing loop issues, and compatibility with modern audio formats like Bluetooth. We also recognized the need for visual elements in our worship to improve accessibility for those with visual impairments and enhance our worship experience. While cost remained a primary concern, we believed that it would be more economical to implement the audio-visual system as a comprehensive package rather than adding a projector later.
To inform our decision, we explored audio-visual systems in other churches and learned about the software Easy-Worship from Susan, who had used it successfully in other settings. We are grateful for her guidance and determination in researching the necessary equipment and identifying volunteers for training. We are also grateful to Anita and Erica who focused on our financial situation, evaluating bank accounts, investments, potential grants, and liaising with the Methodist Authorities. Eventually this led to the successful acquisition of funds that allowed us to move forward.
After assessing several equipment suppliers, we chose Novum for their experience in church installations and commitment to preserving the character of historic buildings. They also understood our goal which was to create systems that would be more user-friendly than those implemented in other churches, as we lacked a large team of skilled operators and anticipated that most of our users would be from an older demographic. Their installation team began work at the end of October, and after three busy days, the sound system is now operational, with positive feedback received.
We have tested Easy-Worship, which, hopefully, will be fully operational after Christmas, while I continue to simplify the audio system's operation and address ‘teething’ issues. Currently, we have trained 13 volunteers to prepare the system for services, with 3 individuals ready to monitor sound during services—all of whom stepped forward voluntarily.
If you’d like a guided tour of the sound system, please see me after a service. I’d be happy to show you how everything works! John Alpin
A True Story – Looking Up!
Now that we will be worshipping in a more immersive way, stimulating our minds and being influenced by visual imagery—the "wow" factor—I'm reminded of a true little story filled with awe and wonder.
I’ve shared this tale with school children doing science. It’s about a 7-year-old boy who was tucked into bed by his parents one evening. Later, when they checked on him, a wave of panic swept over them as they discovered he was missing! The back door stood unlocked and open, and to their relief, they found him in the back garden, standing on the damp grass in his pajamas—thankfully wearing his wellies because he remembered it would be wet! When confronted by his understandably upset parents, he simply replied, “I’m looking at the moon, the twinkling stars and the patterns they make, there are too many to count” This story illustrates the pure, innocent wonder that can draw us out of our everyday routines and connect us to something much larger than ourselves. In a similar way, worship that incorporates immersive experiences can inspire that same sense of awe and curiosity, inviting us to look beyond the ordinary and truly engage with the divine.
We need to have the courage to set aside our hymn books and be like that little boy, venturing into the dark to look up and marvel at the beauty around us. It’s time to break free from the comfort of our familiar practices—because that’s simply how we’ve always done things—and embrace the opportunity to worship God with our entire body, mind, and spirit. So, let’s engage with this new system and give it a try—we might just be pleasantly surprised! NOTE - Hymn books will still be available for the foreseeable future.
A quote from Stephen Hawking:
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious! “
PS I think I might know that little boy! John Alpin