Sping Newsletter 2025

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WARMINSTER

 UNITED CHURCH

(Methodist/URC)

George Street, Warminster BA12 8QA

Spring 2025

March, April and May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 Ministers:     Revd Craig Manley   01249818912

 

Website: www.unitedchurchwarminster.org.uk

 

Editor iantojo@virginmedia.com

 

A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated   It has been a trying time for me over the last couple of years recovering from not one but two debilitating illnesses. I have not been incapacitated very often in life but had more than my fair share of sporting injuries in my younger days. Such periods of enforced rest and recuperation often bring with it a chance to review the past, to look towards the future, perhaps with a different perspective?

After many years, our area looks to review and change what we have had in the past. So many people have given so much of their precious time, to provide a link to our town’s communities and churches.

May I voice my personal thanks on behalf of all in our communities for the work people carried out on our behalf, in love, in friendship and with patience. But sometimes illness, increasing age, lack of able people and resources, will eventually bring about enforced changes. Endings and hopefully new and different beginnings.            

Perhaps therefore I have thought this month to speak about balance…. about maintaining that equilibrium, of harmony and peace within life and work. Someone once said, “the key to keeping your balance is knowing where you lost it.” I’m still pondering that one but I kind of think Bruton Methodist Church in Somerset springs to mind…an unforgiving wet stone church floor and slick leather shoes may reveal some indicators, ending in a broken kneecap!  

In this month of March, the season of Lent figures prominently in church life. March days often point to the many meanings of balance…. days of preparation for new life and new growth.  Lent honours the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for a ministry that led to the cross. He didn’t retreat to the desolate place to escape his calling but went to steady himself and find his own centre within it. How can we begin to understand what is needed in our own spiritual ministry?

I think, it starts with acknowledging where we “lost” our balance in the first place. For me that’s an easy one, but if I was more honest, maybe I had begun to lose some of the balance in my life before that accident, and through the two illnesses that followed.

The questions for each of us to consider must be, do we really emulate, in our behaviour, the one who called us to serve in the first place?

I recently discovered a well-known quote about balance which says, “A well-developed sense of humour is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.”

I smile as I read that and look at my father’s walking stick that helped me on a lentern journey of healing and wholeness in the past, with the words of my grandparents echoing in my ears…. More haste less speed… 

It simply means that you make better progress with any task if you don't try to do it too quickly.

Slow down, reflect on who we are, and where we are going.

Consider and give thanks for the spring…and the new life that is once again almost upon us. Have you noticed the early signs of spring this year?  There are hopeful signs of new life. Beneath the earth, the spring bulbs, having rested in the cold and frozen earth, are now drawing life from the soil made fertile with last year's remains, and they seem so far on this year. Our spiritual life mimics nature and requires change and removal for new life to appear. 

Almost Spring…. almost there…….  But in Christ, certain… that we too are blessed with the gift of new life.

Go Well! ……But go with God.

Craig and Elizabeth

 

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY SERVICES 10.30 a.m.

MARCH 2nd                Revd Heather Morgan

        9th            Karen Woollard

        16th          Revd Craig Manley                      HOLY COMMUNION

        23rd           Revd Maree Farrimond

        30th          SECTOR SERVICE at CORSHAM

APRIL 6th           Mrs Shirley Cairns

        13th          Erica Castle and Karen Woollard     PALM SUNDAY

        20th          Revd Heather Morgan                  EASTER SUNDAY

        27th          Revd Craig Manley                      HOLY COMMUNION

MAY 4th            Erica Castle

        11th          Revd Heather Morgan                   HOLY COMMUNION

        18th           Clive Illman

        25th          Bob Farrimond

 

Calne Methodist Church zoom their services.  All are welcome. 

Please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3854225136 Meeting ID: 385 422 5136

 

Ash Wednesday 5th March – Karen will lead a short meditation at 10 a.m.

 

World Day of Prayer: - Friday 7th March at the Baptist Church, North Row.

Service at 12.00 noon followed by soup and a roll.

 

 The Good Friday Walk of Witness (April 18th) is from St George's, Boreham Road, leaving at 10.30 a.m., it can also be joined at the old PO. Arriving at St Lawrence's for service at 11.00 a.m.

The Feeoffees of St Lawrence will provide tea, coffee and biscuits after.

 

         There will be a church meeting after the service on 16th March. Do try to be there! There are some changes taking place in the Area which will affect us, come and learn more. We are a lively, active church and have welcomed several new people to our congregation recently. We all have our part to play to make sure our church continues to flourish.

 

 

MONTHLY CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS

Date2025

 

CHARITY

Organiser

Contact if not from the church

Raised

11th January

World Vision

Karen and Joan

 

£150

8th February

Cancer research

Pauline Reed & helpers

(Joan will open)

07907994968

£395.50

8th March

RUH Cancer unit

Marion B

 

 

April 11th

 

Motor Neurone Disease

Heather

 

 

May 10th

Christian Aid

Karen

 

 

June 14th

Tools with a Mission

Joan

 

 

July 12th

Air Ambulance

Hilary and Anita

 

 

August 8th

Cornerstone

Karen & Geoff Samways

 

 

September 13th

???Action for Children maybe?

???

 

 

October 11th 

Dorothy House

Helen Richards

 

 

November 8th

House of Opportunity (Shoeboxes)

Joan Jones

 

 

December 13th

Guide Dogs

Anita

 

 

Please let the organisers know if you can help them at any of these events

 

ACTION FOR CHILDREN

On their website are details about their “Count your Blessings” idea for Lent. Too much info to put in our newsletter but if you can, have a look at their site it may be an idea you would like to use.

Until last year people from our church collected for Action for Children in boxes, when this was stopped it was suggested that instead we hold a coffee morning for them each year. Marion B did this last year. Is there someone who would like to fill the empty space in September and run a coffee morning for Action for Children? Let Joan know if you can.

 

Update on the New Audio/Visual System

It has always been my clear and frequently stated objective that the operation and introduction of the new system would be in phases/stages, prioritized by our needs.  This would be supported by training and written operating instruction from me for volunteers (the supplied manufacturer’s manual is not specific to our use)

  1. First phase: Microphones

Learn to turn ON and initialize the system for ‘standard’ worship i.e. no media. Adjust audio levels during services.

    1. This phase is mainly complete.
    2. All Vestry Stewards are trained to turn ON the system and check microphones are working prior to a service
    3. Four additional volunteers are trained to monitor and adjust microphones and audio Loop during the service
    4. Two new radio microphones will require additional training.
  2. Second Phase: Play Audio Media

Learn to play back audio media from the Media Player in the equipment rack: CD, USB, and Bluetooth or any computer. 

Comments:

    1. The Media Player in the equipment rack will play audio from: CD, USB, and Bluetooth
    2. Any computer or iPad connected to the external audio input to the system will play audio through the Mixer Unit and not the Media Player
    3. This phase is starting soon
    4. No volunteers have been identified
  2. Third Phase: Play Visual Media

Understand how to play visual media through the system, including turning on the projector, screens, connecting a computer and playing DVDs.  Alternatively, using the DVD function of the Media Player in the equipment rack.

    1. This phase has not started yet.
    2. No volunteers yet.
    3. Easy Worship is not the only way to present visual media.  Any information may be projected be professional, using the internationally recognized Microsoft PowerPoint application.  Worship Leaders might benefit from training on how to generate a PowerPoint presentation.
    4. Volunteers need to understand how to load and run a PowerPoint presentation or other visual media e.g. DVD from a computer. Easy Worship is a special case – see Phase 4 below
    5. DVDs may be played from the DVD function of the Media Player in the equipment rack. Volunteers need to know how to do this.
    6. When playing a DVD there is likely to be an audio component from a computer or the Media Player.  Therefore, for expediency this phase may be combined with Phase 2 but not necessarily so. 
    7. Please Note - The operator of the computer should not be responsible for generating the presentation to be run - that is the responsibility of the Worship Leader.  The Worship Leader should present any media in the right format and ‘ready to go’ and in good time i.e. not last minute.  This needs discussion with Worship Leaders.
  2. Fourth Phase: Easy Worship

Those Worship leaders who may wish to use easy Worship to produce a service for presentation through the audio/visual system will need training. Although easy Worship may be controlled from the pulpit by the Worship Leader, there may be a need for volunteer operators to load and run a presentation from the rear of the church.  They will need appropriate training.

    1. Worship Leaders need full training to put together an Easy Worship service or a Service using Microsoft PowerPoint.  Operators only need to know how to load and run these two applications
    2. This is dependent on having a good overview of the system capabilities and operation.
    3. Worship Leaders who will compose services using this software and Volunteer operators have not been identified or training planned.    John Alpin

 

FAMILY ACTIVITY DAYS

Another very successful Family Activity Day took place on Thursday 20 February.

Eighteen children aged from under a year old to twelve years old came along with each family group having an accompanying adult.  All enjoyed a fun morning at our Church.

There were craft activities, biscuits to decorate, miniature gardens to create, toys for very young children and songs for everyone to join in with.

The theme was Friends, and Karen talked to us about Jesus and his friends- the twelve disciples.  The children were very good at remembering the names.

There was also a healthy sandwich lunch followed by the ever popular jelly!..and cakes too.

I must say that the children were - as usual - very well behaved.

In the past, Joan and Evan Jones have been very involved in the Activity Days, but this time, they felt they both needed a rest.  We are very grateful indeed to them, and to everyone who is involved in these fun days: - those who prepare the sandwiches, cook the sausage rolls, make the jellies and help with the craft activities etc.

Thanks especially go to Karen Woollard who was in charge of this day.  She put in a lot of preparation to ensure that the day ran smoothly.

Heather

(It is our aim to hold one of these days in each school half-term holiday and once during the summer holiday.)

 

CHRISTMAS SHOEBOXES

We will be packing Christmas shoeboxes again this year and will put a collection box out in the foyer every week from May onwards. Please start to bring along items to fill the boxes.eg. Hats, gloves, scarves, stationery items, toiletries, small toys, children’s underwear and socks, items for babies.

 

GIFT AID

We are coming to the end of the financial year so a few things to consider: -

1. If anyone who has signed a gift aid form has moved house in the last year, please make sure I have your new address. You will need to sign another gift aid form with your new address on

2. If you have signed a gift aid form and your financial circumstances are about to change, it’s your responsibility to tell me if you no longer pay tax or sufficient tax to continue with gift aid.

3. If you have signed a gift aid form and currently pay by cash in an envelope, please consider signing a standing order with your bank for your donation. It would make both Karen's and my life easier when the return has to be made

Thank you

Diana Bennie

 

WEBSITE

John and I are working on trying to get the website a bit more up to date than it has been. John has updated the front page and I have managed to put some photos on of Family Activity days. Now I know how to do that if anyone has any photos relating to church activities that they think would be good on the website please let me have them and I will try to put them on too! Weekly notices and newsletter are also there, and the calendar is starting to fill. We will continue to try to make the site more useful. Any ideas for improvement welcome.  Joan Jones

 

WARMINSTER STREET PASTORS

Warminster Street Pastors started in 2011, with 21 Street Pastors and about 10 Prayer Pastors. At the moment there are only 6 Street Pastors and 9 Prayer Pastors.
Currently street pastors go out every 2 weeks on a Friday, 7pm to Midnight, and   the alternate weeks on a Sunday afternoon, 2pm to 5pm in the Park .Starting in March  they are trialling going out one Saturday per month, ideally the  last Saturday of the month, instead of one of the Fridays to make the best use of their limited resources .Most street pastors go out once a month

They are asking the Warminster and District Churches to help at this time of need. They are looking to recruit more Street Pastors.  If this is something you feel you could do then please speak to Karen or Erica

Also, importantly they need a new Chairperson. Their current Chair has stepped down after 7 years. They are appealing to any member of the Churches represented by The CTW to consider this small but important role. Ideally someone with committee or chair experience and a strong interest in in their ministry. Any Volunteer for the Chair does not have to be an active Street Pastors.  If a chairperson is not found, then Warminster Street Pastors may not be allowed to operate.

Street Pastors remains a valuable ministry in our local community. Since October 2011 they have supported several growing generations both late into the night hours, and more recently on Sunday afternoons. They also need more Prayer Pastors who are a valuable part of their team. They do have a wonderful, prayerful and supportive group of pastors who pray from home or in the park on a warm Sunday afternoon! They need more people to join this group. It is important that any volunteer can engage with WhatsApp as this is how they communicate with the team while they are out on patrol.

They also need to replace their 13-year-old not-so-smart mobile phone. If anyone
has an old smart phone that they could have that would also be an answer to prayer.
 

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