August 2015 Monthly Newsletter of St Barnabas
Parish Church of Linthorpe and Ayresome
Outlook
Two recent visits to St Barnabas
Church from people working in
other countries described daily life
in those places. The Robinsons
spoke of the poverty and
destitution of the home lives of
many of the children who attend
their ‘Place of Grace’ in Bangkok.
They also told of the terrible
family situations many of them find
themselves in.
Hearing these harrowing stories
must have made us appreciate
even more all that we so easily
take for granted here in this
country. Family life is never
perfect, but most of us were
brought up in much better
Salt and light
circumstances than those faced by
the ‘Place of Grace’ children and
young people.
We may gripe about aspects of
our education and health services,
the price of a rail journey or the
congestion on some of our roads,
but the truth is we live in one of
the most advanced and privileged
civilisations ever enjoyed. Good
governance and institutions that
have developed and
m a t u r e d o v e r
centuries undergird
much o f those
advantages. (This is
something that is too
often missed by those
who have sought to
impose ‘Western’
values and ways on
countries that have
deve loped qu i t e
differently to ours.)
It is impossible to
measure how much
of what we enjoy is
the result of the
profound influence of
Christianity on our
nation over many
centuries. Historians
will argue over how
much it is down to
m a j o r c u l t u r a l
movements, such as
the Enlightenment;
and whether or not
the Enlightenment could have
happened were it not for the
influence of Christianity. The
debate no doubt will continue.
I think we cannot deny the
influence of Christianity on many
of the basic values that are held in
our country. I worked as a
shipbroker on the Baltic Exchange
in London. The motto of the
Exchange was, ‘Our word, our
Nor i s there room for
complacency. We still benefit
greatly from the legacy of the past,
but we cannot live off of spiritual
and moral capital forever.
It is for each new generation of
Christians to seek to stand firm in
the teaching of Christ, to
understand how it applies
particularly and practically in
today’s contexts and live out those
values, whatever cultural pressures
there may be to abandon them. It
is in this way that we will be the
salt and light that Jesus calls us to
be and so continue to see this
country influenced for good.
Erik
bond’. It was a motto that was
lived out in the day to day of
business transactions. Ship owners
and chartering agents from other
countries would chose to do
business through the London
market not just because of its
expertise, but also because of its
honesty and integrity. We are
not, thankfully, a nation where
bribery and corruption are rife.
Recent political and financial
scandals have dented our
reputation and damaged trust.
Not so long ago the BBC
announced that it would be
teaching its programme makers
about the importance of honesty
in producing current affairs
documentaries. This followed a
scandal about a programme on
dying. I was left asking what
happened to the basic integrity we
could expect from those in
positions of such influence. If you
have ever read a newspaper article
about something you know about
first hand you will possibly realise
just how inaccurate much of it
was.
We could probably multiply the
examples of ways in which
Christian values are being
challenged and eroded in 21st
Century Britain. There is,
however, no need for despair.
Shine Party 31st October- Sorry it seems too early
to be thinking about this, but by the time the
summer holidays are over we will need to get down
to organising this. The last few years have run a
similar pattern, but it feels right to try something
different to keep interest up.
Please consider whether you can help with any ideas
for fun, engaging activities for children and families, a
theme, publicity, preparing an activity or time on the night. It’s a great
opportunity to share God’s love and reach out with a more positive
message than the secular theme of Halloween.. Thanks. Please contact Fiona
Fletcher 590603.
Shine Party 2015
Shine Party 2014
We are very grateful to the flower team, responsible for the
beautiful flowers in church every Sunday. If you would like
to contribute towards the cost of flowers, there is a list of
dates in the porch. Choose the date you would like and
either sign or tick in the box. Some people like to remember a loved one or
a particular anniversary in this way. A couple of weeks before your chosen
week, put your gift in an envelope marked ‘flowers’ and put it in the offering
bag or give to one of the churchwardens.
Flowers
Recently the amount in the fund for the
Jachie Eye Clinic in Ghana got up to
£12,600, £4000 of which was money raised
at Craft Aid in November. Then I had a
request from Sister Abba for £12,000
towards the cost of a minibus.
Many people in Ghana will not have the means to travel to the Jachie Eye
Clinic, so an outreach service is vital. The new minibus will allow many
more people with eyesight problems to be helped. It is really good to
know that the money we raise is so well used.
Hugo Pollak
Minibus for Jachie
‘You are the salt of the earth. But
if the salt loses its saltiness, how
can it be made salty again?
Matthew 5:13
From the Registers
Wedding
11th July Alasdair Harry Imran McClenahan
and Meghan Rowan Graham
Funeral at the Crematorium
26th May Daphne Smith aged 91
Funeral at St Barnabas
23rd July Joan Mary Pay aged 91
Joan was a lovely presence at St Barnabas. She was always cheerful, easy in
conversation and interested in people. Joan often travelled on parish
holidays, to Bonskeid and Wydale Hall and was one of those people whose
personality lifted the atmosphere of a gathering. Joan spent most of her
career as a school secretary, bringing up her two daughters on her own.
She also served with the WRVS at James Cook hospital for 20 years. She
remained very much a central figure in her family and will be much missed
by them. Please continue to pray for Barbara and Carol and the wider
family.
Joan Pay
St Barnabas Church Office, 1A St Barnabas Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 6JR
Phone: 01642 812622 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.st-barnabas.net
Sunday 26th July Prayer Course begins, 6.30 p.m. in church
Monday 27th July Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Wednesday 29th July Wellbeing group meets, 7.30 p.m. in the Dales Vestry.
Friday 31st July Lydia group meets, 2 p.m. in the Reid Room
Sunday 2nd August Summer morning service patterns begins.;
9.30 a.m. Morning Praise
11.15 a.m. All Age Praise Together
Monday 3rd August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Monday 10th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Monday 17th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Sunday 23rd August 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion
11.15 a.m. Family Communion
Monday 24th August Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Wednesday 26th August Wellbeing group meets, 7.30 p.m. in the Dales Vestry.
Week beginning 30th August Life groups meet
Monday 31st August No Welcome Break
Sunday 6th September Normal service pattern resumes
Monday 7th September Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room
Week beginning 13th September Life groups meet
Monday 14th September Welcome Break, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in the narthex
Diary