Free Church & Woodhall Lane

United Reformed Churches

Dec 2008 & Jan 2009

Page 2

MONDAYS

Hatfield Tai Chi Chuan Club Tel Pat 01707 331526

6:30 to 10:00 pm Not in August

Chinese Health Exercise Classes

Puppy Training Classes Tel Gill

7:00 to 9:00 pm

TUESDAYS

* Dinky Dancers Tel Lorry 01438 831281

10:00 to 11:00 am Activity classes for children under 4

years.

Mind Drop In Coffee Morning Tel Rhoda 01707 654633

10:00 to 12 noon Drop in coffee morning for those with

mental health issues, but open to all.

*Pat Reid School of Scottish Dancing Tel Pat 01707

338478

5:15 to 8:30 pm Scottish Dance classes ages 3½ & above.

WGC Chess Club Tel Mr Wali 01707 331833

7:30 to 10:00 pm

WEDNESDAYS

Howardsgate Women’s Institute Tel Enid 01707 884052

10:00 to 12 noon 2nd Wednesday in the month, but not in

August.

Talks, demonstrations etc

NCT Bumps and Bundles Tel 01707 320422

2:00 to 4:00 pm Drop in sessions for pregnant mums and

babes in arms.

* Girls and Boys Brigade Tel Glenys 01707 336433

6:15 to 8:00 pm For children aged 4+

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THURSDAYS

*Chatter N Tots Tel Ann 01707 327277. 9:45 to 11:15 am Parent/ Carer and child group.

Play, arts and crafts, music and refreshments.

New Thursday Club Tel Rosemary 01707 330660

2:30 to 4:00 pm Alternate Thursdays but not in August.

Activities, Trips etc for the over 50’s.

The Cellar

4:15 to 6:30 pm Drop in centre for vulnerable people.

Providing snacks, tea and social contact.

English Country Dancers Tel Terry 01707 320299

8:00 to 10:00 pm Not in August Folk Dancing.

Trefoil Guild

8:00 to 10:00 pm 2nd Thursday in the month.

Not in August.

FRIDAYS

Welwyn Archaeological Society Tel Daphne 01707

335729

7:00 to 10:00 pm Sept. to April. 2nd & 4th Friday in the

month.

Talks, slide shows etc.

WGC Art Club Tel Bryan 01438 714528

8:00 to 10:00 pm September to May 3rd Friday in the

month

Meetings, Talks etc

* Denotes term time only.

Page 4

MINISTER

Rev Jane Weedon

01707 375133

Freechurch Woodhall Lane

CHURCH SECRETARY CHURCH SECRETARY

Mr John McKenzie TBA

01707 375024

email :- secretary@freechurchwgc.org.uk

HON. TREASURER John Meers 12 Brockswood Lane

Welwyn Garden City AL8 7BG

Tel 01707 327277

e mail :- treasurer@freechurchwgc.org.uk

CONFIDENTIAL REGISTRAR

Mr Alan Tyler

23 Harmer Green Lane

Digswell

AL6 0AS

Youth Worker

Sara Taylor

102 Wellcroft Road Office 01707 321270

Mobile 07903236458 email :-youthworker@freechurchwgc.org.uk

Page 5

Letter from the Manse

There have been, as usual at this time of year, discussion on blogs

and messages flying around on the internet about how best to approach Christmas. Not just about spreading your shopping and

your spending and how to have a stress free time by cooking in

advance but how to put over the story of Christmas in a way that will be heard today.

The kinds of questions asked are about what actually happened when Jesus was born, was it just as the Bible tells or is some of it

added to the story? Does it matter if we tell the story even if it

didn’t happen quite that way?

The most helpful comment came from Margaret Rolfe in

Australia. She encouraged people to think about not just the story but also its meanings.

Christmas is a story about hope - babies bring with them thoughts of hope for the future.

Christmas is a story about loneliness – the loneliness of bearing

a secret that will be difficult to share.

Christmas is a story about humility – without the humble

acceptance of both Mary and Joseph, a different time and place

would have been needed for Jesus birth.

Christmas is a story of uncertainty – No one knew what the

future would hold for Mary, for Joseph, for this child.

Christmas is a story for ordinary people – That angels

announced it to the shepherds who were avoided, outcast and looked down upon reminds us of that. God chose those with the

least fashionable post code to get the good news first!

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Christmas is a story about joy – the joyful way the news was given

and received.

Christmas is a story about a star – a symbol of light in a dark

world.

Christmas is a story about wise men – wisdom is something we all need and search for.

Christmas is a story about love – Gods love for us seen in this new born child and Mary and Josephs love for their baby born in

dubious and uncomfortable circumstances.

Christmas is a story about angels – if God is love then the angels

are messengers of love.

Christmas is a story about fear – Mary and Joseph fleeing the

country to protect their child.

Above all Christmas is a story of peace and

goodwill to all. It is a story that contains a message for everyone whatever their

circumstances.

I wonder what speaks to you most as you

reflect on the story this year?

Please take the time to read the story for

yourself, to reflect, to ponder, to wonder,

and as you celebrate to hear the message God brings for you of joy and hope, peace and

love at this special time of year.

May you all know the glory of Christmas and Gods blessings for a

happy and healthy new year.

With love to you all from Jane and Roger

Page 7

God is still speaking – Jane brings us up to date on the campaign.

Thank you very much to everyone in both churches for your

willingness to respond to the questionnaires and discussions about

the ‘God is still speaking’ campaign.

We were invited to go to Church House to meet Ron Burford the

person who designed the campaign for the United Churches of Christ in the USA. In the end I was the only one able to go which

was a pity as it was a very informative and helpful day. The other

participating churches who were there were from Scotland, Yorkshire, Manchester and London. I was able to feedback some

of our discussion comments and it was interesting to hear where

people agreed with us and where they saw things very differently.

The views on the colours were mixed most people thought that

they were so striking that it maintained a continuity. Ron also suggested that we look at Vodaphone and HSBC to see how they

use the colours in a positive way.

We watched the original television ads and heard radio ads that

had been made by individual churches to advertise particular

events and services. Ron had noticed the bus adverts by an atheist organisation. They say (roughly)

‘There probably is not a God – so have fun and enjoy life’.

Apparently many Christian groups have contributed to this

campaign because it gets God talked about! Neither do they seem totally atheistic if they can only say that God probably doesn’t

exist. His suggestion was that we should advertise on the other

side of the bus and say something like:

‘ He probably does – come to the United Reformed Church

where God is still speaking!’

Page 8

It was my privilege to be asked to preside at an impromptu

Communion service at the end of the day and that ended the whole thing on the right note for me. It isn’t about saying look at us

aren’t we great but it is all about the one we serve. To that end the

ideal seem to fit very well with our Mission statement. If our profile is raised and people know who we are and where we are,

we will be in a better position to bring Gods love to our

community.

I thought you might like to see people’s answers when asked ‘Why

do you love your church?’

I love my Church because:

. it is open to everybody of different backgrounds and beliefs

. the doors are open to one and all

. we are open to discovering more fully what Gods

purpose is in the world . we are always challenged to stand up and be counted

. its not all ceremony

. no one batted an eye lid when my son screamed through the services

. everyone is welcome

. it is like having one big extended family

. it is a place where you can feel comfortable

. we look at the issues of the day – we are a thinking

church

. it is not always the same format

. of the people

. it is not dogmatic – people can use their heads

. because I feel comfortable enough among these people to be challenged in my thinking.

. everyone cares deeply about everyone else.

Page 9

. we laugh and have great fun but we can also be

serious in discussion, disagree heatedly but still love one another.

Isn’t that encouraging? Perhaps you would like to add your own?

The research and development will be presented to Mission

Council in December so watch this space for further

developments.

If we go ahead Ron Burford offered to come to Welwyn Garden to

help us to think further on some of the ways we might use the campaign here. So I wont put a full stop where God has put a

comma,

God is still speaking!

================================

Carols by Candlelight

The Flower and Decor Team would greatly appreciate some

help with setting up candles and decorating the Church on

Friday the 19th December from 9.30 onwards. If you can spare

an hour or two we would love to see you there. All willing helpers will be warmly welcomed expertise is not essential .

We will also need lots of foliage and holly with berries . If you

can supply foliage please drop it off at church on Thursday 18th , early on Friday or bring it with you when you come to

help. If you have any queries please contact me < . Hoping to see you on the 19th . Joyce Nicolson

Page 10

To the churches of Welwyn Hatfield .

As you may know, Space Community Centre (next to Sainsbury's) is now open every morning, and it is exciting to see how things are developing!

We have a drop-in cafe on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (with trained listeners on Tues), Credit Union in on Wednesdays and a drop- in Toddler group on Fridays. It has been great having folk come in, feel at ease, and

even ask for prayer.

We are looking for volunteers from the local Christian community to help with our expanding work and a couple of new ventures:

~Volunteers to help staff the drop- in cafe on a Thursday to stay open until 3 pm (at present we close ~12.30 pm) - this is a very popular day for the

older folk of our community to shop at Sainsbury's, and so to have a coffee / loo stop planned into their schedule, especially before the winter

sets in, would really benefit them.

~Is there anyone with a heart (and / or experience) for running a monthly support group for parents, grandparents and carers of children with autism? There have been quite a significant number of people who have come into

SPACE and shared something of their struggles - all have agreed that they would benefit from talking with those who are in similar situations. It

seems that provision is made at an educational and medical level, but not at the day to day level.

I also am aware of the significant effect that prayer has, and so am looking to the local church community to see if this an area that 'God is moving

someone's heart'?

Do contact me at Space on 01707 326573 or feel free to pop in and visit Space during the morning.

Many thanks

Christine Novelli

SPACE Community Centre Manager Christine.novelli@centralhertsymca.org.uk

'Christians working together serving the community'

Page 11

Observations of a Youth Worker

The last few months have passed so quickly that I have struggled at times to catch up with my thoughts and feelings about everything I have experienced throughout the summer.

In July, 27 teenagers and leaders from our Churches left for San Jose, Costa Rica to work with young children in a local orphanage. The journey,

for us involved however, commenced a long time before the summer, with twelve months worth of teambuilding, fundraising and discipleship training groups.

The trip itself consisted of six days manual labour and a week of children’s ministry work. It was during week one that the team painted three roofs, the outside of two houses, one bedroom, the Bible Home’s main kitchen

and varnished 5 floors. In addition to this they dismantled an old warehouse building, cleared rubble and the grounds surrounding the

volunteers house.

Week two was spent working with the children in the three day care centres in San Jose, participating in crafts, sports, games, puppet shows

and songs. It was also during this week that we had the opportunity to visit one of the thirteen local shantytowns, called ‘Los Guido’s’. This proved to

be a very emotional day for the whole team, truly highlighting some of the reasons why missionary work is so vital in poor countries .

Since our return, the team have met on several occasions to discuss

different aspects of the trip and how it has impacted their lives personally. It has been wonderful to see so many of them appreciate that although the trip itself was a life changing experience, that many of them had already

begun their spiritual transformation throughout the months of preparation beforehand. It was during this process the foundations were laid, allowing

the young people to discuss their personal spiritual journeys with their peers and individual leaders in a safe, relaxed environment. By the time we left for Costa Rica, the young people were prepared for the changes that

may occur in their lives.

“How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” (Trina Paulus)

Page 12

The discipleship training was really a combination of three factors, and it

was imperative that all these were present to truly achieve success and spiritual growth for the youth. These important features were a) Gods Word, which would help to guide the young people in all areas of their

lives, b) Our walk as leaders, as the growth of these young disciples would inevitably imitate our own strengths and weaknesses, and c) Our shared

life – for it is the rapport - that delicate relationship between the students and their leaders, the sharing of one’s own personal experiences, the investment in time and the true giving of oneself, that would provide the

impetus for real growth.

We, as leaders, were placed in a very privileged relationship with some of God’s young disciples. Being with the youth inspired us all and made

everyone so much more passionate about this mission opportunity, as we witnessed the changes in their lives. However, it was always important for

us all as leaders to point the young people towards Christ and continue in the relationship for the benefit of the students, rather than for the things we may get out of it ourselves.

For me personally, the hardest part of the journey has been maintaining the goal that the students would become independent of me, and our

relationship, as they grow more dependent on God. This is so much harder than I ever expected, as I feel so attached to them all, but I have to keep reminding myself that they were never mine, they belong to God and I

have just been entrusted with them for a season. It is important that the

seasons change otherwise life would not continue in the way God intended.

Now that we have returned to some sort of “normality” and “routine”, I can truly evaluate the mission trip, establishing the areas that were

particularly successful and those that required additional work. You may recall from one of previous magazine articles, the procedure I had put in place to monitor results. My next step is to utilise this framework to

evaluate all the young people who went to Costa Rica on an individual, confidential basis. However, I feel that it is important to share an

evaluation of the group as a whole, because as the Churches involved, we are all responsible for ensuring the discipleship of our future generations. Do look out for the group results in the final Costa Rica Newsletter.

Since our return there have been other new exciting ventures arising in the Church youth department. The main one being the recruitment of Christine Fette, our half time German student placement, shared with the

YMCA.

Page 13

Christine joined us at Panshanger Church in July, and she will be staying with us until July 2009. Working in a similar role to Kathrin (the previous German student, split between YMCA, Christchurch & St

Francis), Christine will spend 50% of her time working at Space on behalf of the YMCA, and the rest of her time split between several

youth ventures at Panshanger Church. These include Girls Brigade, Lazers and Unite on a Sunday morning, Cell Groups, Awake Social and 4word Youth Group. Throughout the next 9 months, Christine will be

working closely with Simon and myself to explore all the areas of children’s and youth ministry.

One of the new exciting ventures Christine will be leading alongside me is the new cell group for our teenagers. Over the last year, a cell group has been in place for the youth in years 7 & 8, and attended by young

people from Panshanger Church and St Francis Church. This particular group was developed out of the need for additional weekly spiritual

fellowship witnessed at the Youth Alpha group held at McDonalds last year.

So why make these changes now? We feel that whilst there are so many

benefits to ecumenical working, sometimes the young people feel particularly nurtured when doing things individually within their own Church family. It is for this reason that we decided it would be a great

idea to open this group to just the young people in Years 7 & 8 at the Free Church and Panshanger Church. Furthermore, this will help to

offer an alternative when people are unable to make the service on Sunday due to other commitments such as sports or family obligations.

With Christmas fast approaching one might ask, “is it a good time to

start something new?” At this time of year, everyone is even busier as they shop, visit relatives and make arrangements for this special day.

Parents may feel under pressure to finish their work commitments before the holidays start, and still pull together fun events for the family. Studies show that depression rates are higher at Christmas as,

although not ‘clinical depression’, a type of transitory despair can occur as people try to meet unfair and impossible expectations. This year in

particular, with the financial market as it is, Christmas may, for many children and families, be a time where the wealth divide between many becomes even more apparent.

Page 14

So with that in mind, could there ever be a better time to remind children and

young people of the real reason we celebrate Christmas? Is it possible to find

another time in the year where such spiritual fellowship between young people

could be required more? What a fantastic time to remind our children of the

fact that Jesus loves them and his birth, his whole being, his death was for us.

He alone is the main gift we should encouraging our children and youth to ask

for this Christmas.

The importance of weekly fellowship amongst Christians is becoming ever

more apparent to me as I am fortunate enough to witness the growth week by

week within my youth cell group. This group of young people, in Years 9 to 13,

even with an age span of 5 years, have the deepest most profound conversations

I could ever imagine. To me, there is no better way to learn about Christianity.

I am sure my next comment may be seen as controversial, but I have found that

we as adults can bubble wrap religion. We understand various things about the

Bible, we believe that Jesus is real and that there are many things that are too

great for us to understand, and we are happy to leave it there. Just knowing.

The youth, with their ever-inquisitive minds, are not satisfied with ‘just

knowing’. Sure they understand that there is much unknown and that is why it’s

called faith, but they still challenge everything. It is through these challenges –

did Noah flood the whole Earth, were all the continents joined, did Lot really

turn into a pillar of salt – that growth occurs, as they discuss Christianity in all

its glory. Only last night at cell group did I think to myself, “its 10.10 pm, cell

finishes at 9.30 pm, they are still sat here debating what Hell may be like!”

How fantastic is that?

I too have seen the value of this time of fellowship, as Wayne recently started

leading an adult home group at our house. Not only is it wonderful to see him

excited and totally immersed in his Biblical studies as he prepares for the

lesson, it is a wonderful time for me to have in-depth conversations about the

glory of Jesus and the trials of living a Christian life with people who are older

than 14.

So what next? It seems amazing to think that 3 years ago my three main aims

were for the youth group to become as one unit, complete a youth mission trip

and get an intern. It is so wonderful to know that these aims were not just my

fruitless wishes, but God’s plans. That is the reason they have all come to pass.

The last 3 years have flown by, and so much has been accomplished. It has

been a very busy time. So I think some time out to reflect would be good.

However, that’s just me. Let see what God has in store…

Many blessings, Sara

Page 15

Introducing Christine Fette

In July I started working for the YMCA Central Herts and for

Panshanger Church. For the time of one year, I am delighted to support Sara with the youth work at church and concerning the

YMCA I am involved in two very valuable youth work projects:

“Space” in the town centre and “Space Hall Grove”. Both of them are youth hubs, where young people have the opportunity to hang

around, meet their friends and take as well as to take part in

activities. They are also offered to get support. Working at church

means in particular to be helping at “Girls (and Boys) Brigade” at the “4 Word (Sunday) Youth Group”, to be part of the team for

“Lasers”, to assist Sara at Friday evening “Youth Group”, to start

a new “Cell Group” together with Sara and to be wherever she, Simon or Audrey need my support. On Mondays I meet at

College with youth workers or ministers from different churches

of W.G.C. to do “College Chaplaincy”.

Panshanger Church, with its four denominations worshipping

together impresses me a lot and I feel very welcome by the church members. Many invited me for lunch or visits. Thank you

for so much hospitality! I love going to the Thursday evening

“Home Group” at Sara’s and Wayne’s house, as we not just learning at lot, but also having fun and while doing this. I like

very much that whenever and wherever English people meet they

will have time to have a tea or a coffee (and a chat) and I never

met people as polite as English people are. I hope you forgive me if I am sometimes different or forgetting about it. Sorry for that!

Christine ☺

Page 16

Page 17

THURSDAY CLUB

In December we hold our Christmas Party on 4

December and all are welcome to join us. The cost is £1.50

and food will be provided followed by some

entertainment. Mrs Jennifer Newton will be

our pianist again for our carol singing - all the

old favourites! The event starts at 2 pm.

The following week on the 11 December we

are pleased to have the Whitwell Singers who kindly

offered to come and sing carols to us. This promises to be

another enjoyable afternoon so do join us. This event starts

at 2.30 pm.

As the next magazine does not come out until February I

would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people

who make the Club work by giving us their time and skills

in the kitchen and donating food for the Christmas Party.

This help is given all year and is much appreciated, as is the

huge contribution made by the drivers who transport the

people who need assistance. Without this massive input the

Club simply would not function. Thank you, friends.

Especially on the driving front we are very short of

volunteers and if anybody could offer us any help at all, it

would be welcome. We try to keep the duties down to 3 or 4

a year.

Rosemary Craig (330660)

Page 18

Mark McCahon-Gardener

All aspects of garden maintenance and

planting design undertaken. RHS and City and Guilds

qualified.

Contact:

117 Upperfield Road

Welwyn Garden City Herts

AL7 3LR Mob: 07984659816

E-mail: markmccahon@ yahoo.co.uk

Page 19

PC HOME HELPER

Computer health check Full data backup service

Emergency call out

Home tutorials New Computers

Old computer recycling

Broadband installation

Wireless networks Internet security check

Your local friendly computer home help service!

01707 690468 / 07768 055906

Visit us on the web at:

www.freechurchwgc.org.uk

For updated and exciting content and the latest information about the Free Church

This Month’s Money Free Church Woodhall

Income £3,987 £2,164

Expense £6,251 -£2,950!!

Free Church had a bad month for bills, including installing the car park barrier. Woodhall had an insurance claim of £4,500 paid which is an offset against expenses

Page 20

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

Firstly a big thank you to everyone for their help and support

on the day and during the run up to the event. We are pleased to announce that we have beaten last years on the day figure

and have raised a fantastic £2,320.72 . This figure does not

include our Silent Auction which should raise around £400 once all bids have been collected. We still have money

outstanding in small change boxes and of course their is still

our Christmas Draw which has the potential to raise £1000 if we sell all the draw tickets printed. We could reach a figure in

the region of £3500 after expenses if we keep up the good

work so please take some draw tickets and sell them to your

friends and family as we have some wonderful prizes.

Draw Prize List

Golden Labrador Soft Toy (life

size) donated by Journeys Friend

Mercedes Goodies Package donated by Nick and Lesley

Lambert

£50 off new spectacles at Stevenson Parker

£30 Lamberts Flowers Gift Voucher £20 John Lewis Vouchers

Marks and Spencer Food Hamper (purchased with our target

stamps) 2ball at Mill Green Golf Club donated by the Club

Hair Products from Academy

Chocolate Fountain donated by Chris Ewer

Signed Jamie Oliver Cookery Book

donated by Helen Briggs from

Maher

Page 21

I hope this list will encourage you to sell as many tickets as you possibly can enabling us to reach our best final figure ever.

ALL STUBBS MONEY AND UNSOLD TICKETS MUST BE

RETURNED FOR THE DRAW ON SUNDAY 14th DECEMBER AT 11.30.

Small Change Boxes

Due to our current financial situation we would like you to

continue filling and exchanging your small change boxes

throughout the coming year.

I hope you can support us with the above requests and thank

you again for all your support to date.

Joyce Nicolson and Cherylle Cooper

Page 22

Why Have Coffee?

The Church Meeting on 2 November discussed the subject of coffee

after the Sunday service, focusing largely on where and how to serve it,

rather than why serve it at all. Afterwards I reflected on what we are

trying to achieve by serving coffee. One possible reason would be

gratify those who are mildly addicted to elevenses and who therefore

feel thirsty towards the end of the service. Another would be to

encourage those attending the service to socialise afterwards and get to

know people better, with a view to generally strengthening our

fellowship and helping it to become more cohesive. Another would be to

ensure that anyone present who is lonely and has few opportunities to

meet other people during the week can rest assured that the church is

reaching out to them to help meet their social needs. Another would be

to exploit the convenient presence of so many members at once to enable

some of the business of the church to be conducted informally in a

congenial setting, without the need to convene a special meeting. We

may all have our own reasons for staying, or for going straight home, as

most people seem to do. In today’s society, most people seem to have

many calls on their time, and staying for coffee may not rank as a high

priority.

Partly because I do not normally have elevenses, and partly because my

experience of socialising after the service is a tendency towards

superficial discussions, I usually help to stack the chairs (someone has

got to do it!). So I asked myself what would persuade me to drink coffee

instead of stacking chairs and going home. This is a question that each of

us might ask ourselves, and then share the answer with an elder or Jane.

I have two answers. First, I may have been animated by the preacher,

and want to discuss something in the sermon while it is fresh in my

memory. Unfortunately, the preacher is always otherwise engaged,

shaking hands with the departing congregation, so I feel it would be inconsiderate of me to engage him or her in a deep conversation, with a

queue of people behind waiting to take their leave. I never know who

else has been animated, otherwise I might discuss it with them. But if I

found an opportunity to discuss an interesting sermon with someone else

I knew to be equally interested, I would be sorely tempted to stay, and

even drink a cup of coffee!

Page 23

My second thought originates from Andrew Neil’s BBC1 TV

programme which immediately follows Question Time on a Thursday

night. He always asks Michael Portillo and Diane Abbot to describe their

‘moment of the week’. They usually choose something significant, or

funny, that the journalists have not picked up, and which make me think.

I can envisage people taking part in our service being able to call to

mind a ‘moment of the week’ which has some sort of Christian

significance or moral, and which they would be prepared to share with

others, and also listen to others’ ‘moments of the week’.

So I wondered if more people would stay for coffee if we designated two

tables ‘Sermon Discussion’ and ‘Moments of the Week’ and had no more

than 4-5 chairs at each table (to ensure an optimum size of discussion

group). The idea could be extended: another table could be labelled

‘Pilgrimage’ or ‘Change’. It would help if each table had someone with

some experience of discussion group leading, because discussions can

sometimes go off the rails. No doubt we would have to experiment and

proceed in the light of our evolving experience of what happens.

If you want to respond to this article, or share your answer to the

question ‘What would induce you to stay for coffee and/or a chat?’, I

suggest that you contact Jane or an elder, including me.

Bertie Everard

BIBLE A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he

fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was

an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.

'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out. 'What have you got there, dear?'

With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think

it's Adam's underwear!'

Page 24

New Moderator for Thames North Synod

This extract of a press announcement provides some incite into Andrew’s background.

‘Andrew Prasad was ordained in 1981 in the Church of North India. After coming to England, he was appointed as minister at Dulwich Grove and

Camberwell Green churches in South London in 2002. He has also served as the convener of the Church’s national Racial Justice and Multicultural

Ministry committee.

He said, “I am delighted to be able to bring my own global and culturally diverse experience to the ethnically and religiously diverse city of London and the surrounding area. My appointment also shows that the Church

values and appreciates the contribution of its black and minority ethnic members”.

“In an uncertain world, where there is so much mistrust, I see my main priority as building community cohesion and trust among various people

and groups that make up society. I shall seek to engage with initiatives that strengthen family values, offer the opportunity to make a positive

contribution in the community, and attempt to create a climate in which everyone is loved, respected and valued”.

Andrew Prasad is 55. He is married to Kiran and they have two children, Rahul and Jasmine’.

At his first Synod meeting on November 8t h Andrew took the words of

Jesus from Luke 4 :18-21 as his text for the opening worship.

18" The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. " [e]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat

down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,

21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in

your hearing."

Page 25

He said it might seem a strange reading – Jesus manifesto when people

might have been expecting to hear what his manifesto for the Synod might

be!

What he hoped for the Synod was that the churches would be reflecting

Jesus calling by

. Engaging with scripture

. Responding to the needs and hopes of the community

. Having buildings that demonstrate the Good News, that offer

welcome and hope

. That we would be people who offer ourselves on Gods potters wheel

allowing God to shape and reshape us for the task ahead.

As he visits churches he hopes to hear our stories of how we are demonstrating these things.

If God brings you to it

He’ll bring you through it

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The Jesse Tree .

This year we are going to turn our Christmas Tree into a Jesse

tree to help us in our countdown to Christmas. .

The traditional Jesse Tree looks at some of the important

stories in the history of Jesus people. It is expressed visually by

adding symbols, a different one for each Sunday in Advent - the symbols are often put on a bare branch but we are going to

put them on our Christmas tree. The idea dates back to the

Middle ages and is based on the text:

'The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but

just as new branches sprout out from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.' Isaiah 11:1

Matthews Gospel tells the story of that king and begins with the ancestry of Jesus - Jesse's Family Tree. You can read it in

Matthew 1:1-17. It is a long list of difficult to pronounce names

but it also contains some surprises. Hopefully our Jesse Tree will do that too!

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Welwyn Times Target Stamps

A big thank you to all those who have been putting the Target

Stamps from the Welwyn Times in our collecting box in the

vestibule. We were able to redeem 2200 stamps in early November and provide a superb hamper full of Marks &

Spencer goodies as one of the 10 prizes for the Christmas

Fayre Draw. You can still get tickets until the 14th December

when the winning numbers will be drawn.

Please carry on collecting the stamps which are printed each week in the paper and we will hopefully have enough by the

time of next year’s Christmas Fayre to provide another prize. If

you haven’t remembered to cut out the stamps when you are

reading all about what goes on in our area, it’s never too late to start so please join in and swell the numbers.

Thank you in anticipation of your support!

Ann Meers

==================================================================

ELDERLY .

While working for an organization that delivers lunches to

elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. . She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old

age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I

found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I

braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never

believe this!'

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Woodhall Lane Corner

‘LOVE IN A BOX’

‘Wow’ was a word used by one of our congregation. We have

packed and despatched 120 Christmas boxes this year. This has

been such an amazing result. The Lord has certainly been at work.

I would like to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to all of you who

contributed gifts of money, articles to go in the boxes, knitting and even the empty shoe boxes.

As you know, these boxes are sorted and despatched to Eastern

European countries where there is such a great need. For so many children, our shoe box is their only Christmas present. A

concept hard for us to grasp, as we have so much.

As Christmas approaches, let us pray for these children and also for those people working to distribute the presents.

Again, thank you all for your continued support. Without this

we would not be able to achieve this high number of boxes.

Carole

Visit us on the web at

www.woodhalllaneurc.org.uk

For updated content and information about Woodhall Lane

Page 29

Woodhall Lane Dec & Jan

PREACHERS AT WOODHALL

7 December Robert Harvey 14 December Robert Harvey (Communion)

21 December Jane Weedon (Carols & Readings) 28 December Fred Tucker

4 January Robert Harvey

11 January Jane Weedon (Communion) 18 January Christine Warren 25 January Rev Norman Plumb

FLOWER ROTA

7 December Margaret Margaret 14 December Barbara Linda 21 December Margaret Barbara

28 December Carole Margaret

4 January Barbara Linda 11 January Margaret Barbara

18 January Carole Margaret 25 January Barbara Linda

COMMUNION STEWARD

14 December Barbara 11 January Margaret

DOOR STEWARDS VESTRY

7 December Joyce/Grace Barbara 14 December Joan Owen Linda

21 December Joyce/Grace Margaret 28 December Joan Owen Barbara

4 January Joyce/Grace Linda 11 January Joan Owen Margaret 18 January Joyce/Grace Barbara

25 January Joan Owen Linda

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES

21 December 11 am Carols & Readings 24 December 6 pm Carols outside Woodhall

Community Centre 24 December 11.45 pm Communion at Woodhall Lane

25 December 10.30 am Joint Service at Panshanger

FELLOWSHIP CLUB THURSDAYS 2 pm - 3.30 pm

4 December Christmas Carols and Tea Re-starts on 22 January with planning the program.

BIBLE STUDY Most Fridays 10 - 11.30a m at 114 Parkway

CLEANING To be confirmed

STOP PRESS!

WOODHALL LANE CHRISTMAS FAIR - 22 NOVEMBER

THE TOTAL SUM RAISED AT OUR CHRISTMAS FAIR WAS

£516.90P. 10% OF THIS IS BEING DONATED TO THE ‘GOOD

NEWS’ CHILDREN’S HOME IN KENYA.

WELL DONE AND A BIG ’THANK YOU’ TO ALL CONCERNED. SPECIAL THANKS TO BARBARA AND JOE PALACIO AND JIM BUTLER FOR ORGANISING.

USED POSTAGE STAMPS

Please continue to save your used postage stamps and let Joyce

Whiting have them in aid of OXFAM.

If you have a problem or need to discuss something that

requires pastoral attention please contact one of the Elders

Page 31

Inter Faith Affairs

The Inter Faith Group met on 12 November. We reviewed the

evening open meeting at which the DVD What should we believe?

was shown. It provided the trigger for what turned out to be an

excellent series of positive conversations. Some Muslim boys came, and the way in which they engaged with people of other

faiths was exactly what the IFG is all about – animated dialogue

between those of different faiths about things that matter. We plan to build on the success of the format chosen for this event, which

was similar to that used at the Free Church / Woodhall Lane URC

retreat day on 1 November.

Time was spent in planning our next two open meetings. On 15

December at 7.45 at Campus West the theme will be the global

economic recession and its implications for faith communities. Please come along if you, or someone you know, are badly

affected and deeply worried. Publicity material will be available

soon, but meanwhile note the date.

On 16 February we expect to have someone from the

Government Office East to address an open meeting (at which

councillors and council officers may also be present) about what

the national and local government expect of local faith communities, with the opportunity for faith communities to say

what they, in turn, expect of government. There are some

important issues here, which bear on the URC’s statement of faith, as read out at Jane’s induction service. The Group was given a

practical example from Hatfield of discord between the local

authority and a faith community on a matter where there should have been common ground.

The IFG has submitted a bid for more grant funding to support its

work in the area of social cohesion, but we shall not know if we have been successful till the New Year.

Bertie Everard

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Flower Rota 2009

It is time to compile the 2009 Flower Rota. Your generosity has en-

abled the team to provide Sunday and special occasion flowers

throughout 2008. To ensure this continues in 2009 I need to be con-

tacted by everyone who would like to be included on the rota before

the end of November. Please give me a choice of at least two dates and

I will try to accommodate your first choice.

The new rota will be displayed in the Rota Folder at the back of the

Church. If there are any blank Sundays, please try to fill them. A group

of friends, for instance, may wish to subscribe jointly. Sadly we have

lost several of our regular contributors so I do envisage a greater num-

ber of blank Sundays and hope some of you who have not been in-

volved in the past may consider making a contribution in 2009.

On your dedicated Sunday you can opt to arrange the flowers yourself

or make a donation and one of the team will take care of the rest.

Extra donations, regardless of the amount, are always welcome

throughout the year. These help with special occasion, christening

Plants, sundries, and, when necessary, blank Sundays on the rota.

Making a Donation

Please follow these guidelines: -

· Pink envelopes are available for us to claim tax back on your do-

nations – please ask for one if you are agreeable.

· Cheques should always be made payable to Joyce Nicolson

· Cash, cheques and pink envelopes containing these should be

placed in an envelope marked F.A.O. Joyce Nicolson, Flower

Fund.

· Pass the envelope to one of the Flower and Décor team or place

on the collection plate – these will reach me if clearly marked.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Joyce Nicolson – 01707 326829 email joycen2@hotmail.com

Page 33

A Child's View of Thunderstorms......

A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable and

clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along

with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter

would be frightened as she walked home from school and

she feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother quickly

got into her car and drove

along the route to her child's school. As she did, she saw her little girl walking along

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and

smile. Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and

with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and

smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she

lowered the window and called to her

'What are you doing?'

The child answered,

'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my

picture.'

Page 34

Free Church Rotas for Dec & Jan

Coffee

December

7 Mr. and Mrs. A. Tyler 14 Mrs. S. Chamberlin and Mrs. K. Muir

21 Mrs. M. Sartin and Mrs. L. Perry 28 Mrs. J. Marshall and Mrs. J. Cleese

January 4 Margaret Kirkpatrick and Alison

11 Joyce Nicolson and Jean Hughes 18 Ann Meers and Margaret Ansell

25 Helen Kaye and Robert Harvey

Flowers

December

7 Moira Newlands

14 Lady Menzies 21 Carol Service

28 TBA

January 4 Cherylle Cooper

11 Mr. and Mrs. N. Muir

18 TBA 25 TBA

Crèche

December

7 Linda Perry and Karen McAlister

14 Margaret Kirkpatrick and Brendalene McDonnell 21 Kath Evans and Lesley Lambert

28 Paul McAlister and Joyce Nicolson

January 4 Linda Perry and Karen McAlister 11 Margaret Kirkpatrick and Brendalene McDonnell

18 Kath Evans and Lesley Lambert

Page 35

Deadline for February Magazine

Sunday 18th January

e-mail documents to magazine@freechurchwgc.org.k , hand your articles to Chris Ewer the Magazine Secretary or leave them in the magazine pigeon hole at the back of the church for the Freechurch or

hand to TBA for Woodhall Lane, and if they can be with us before or as near to the deadline date as possible that will be much appreciated.

Please note that it is essential that this date is respected if the magazine is be printed on time.

Magazine will be printed for Sunday 1st February

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