Dear Friends,

I was at someone’s house the other day when someone uttered a heresy that shocked me to the core. I couldn’t believe my ears when the words, "It’s only football" came from their mouth! We know Bill Shankley’s famous quote:

'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death.
I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.'

And people seem not to realise that this was essentially a joke, while at the same time being an acute description of the passion felt by fans for the game.

I think it’s true that for some people football is their religion

I walked from my house to another last week, a short walk, of about half a mile and in that distance, counted the St George flags along the way – there were 33 of them.

Something has gripped large swathes of the population and of many populations. People seem to care more about who wins the World Cup than who wins elections.

• Is it partly that we need something to lend passion and drama to sometimes mundane lives?

• Is it partly that we seem to have a deep hunter-gatherer need for the struggle for victory or defeat?

• Is it partly that we seem to have pent up energies of frustration or anger that seek some means of release

I am fully drawn into euphoria and despair of the event (at the time of writing England are still in it) But I also feel a disappointment that this is some people’s religion, the most important event of the year, the be all and end all, the vehicle of so many emotions. Domestic violence is thought to increase after the nation’s team loses.

• Do we need the reflected glory of the country’s team achievements because we know of no other glory?

• Do we need the self-affirmation of our team being the greatest because our own sense of worth is so brittle?

• Do we need the drama and passion of football because we know of no other drama and passion?

So, cheer and celebrate and follow the team through all the highs and lows, if that’s your thing, but know that in the end, true glory lies elsewhere, and true sense of worth comes from elsewhere.
Noel

Fund Raising Update

We've had a busy time during the last few months.On the 17^th June, Alan & Rowena Boyce held a quiz evening at the Church and although it wasn't well attended we all had a very warm and fun evening. In total we raised £25 clear profit for the Church Roof. Many thanks to Alan & Rowena for all their help in setting up the quiz evening.

Then on the 24^th June, 42 people from all over the circuit descended on 1 Sevenacres Lane (the home of Tony & Anne Martin) for an afternoon garden party. We all had lots of drinks and home made cakes and the bring and buy stall went well. In total we raised £102.66 which is excellent. Many thanks to Anne & Tony for the loan of their lovely back garden which made this event such a great success.

In total we have now raised just under £1,500 and by the end of July will have paid out just over £12,000. We have agreed with the circuit that we will attempt to repay the loan of £10,000 that they gave us within a 2 / 3 year period so we still have a fair way to go.

We have a bit of a break now before our next big fund raising event which is a BBQ on the 19^th August 2006.

In addition to the main events that are taking place, we still have plenty of spare smartie tubes for people to put their loose change in. If you would like one please see us.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work with the fund raising events.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Ground Force

Well its not quite grounds force but you may have noticed some changes in our Church Grounds. John Oakley, myself and Gail have began working our way around the garden clearing all the undergrowth and bushes.

Our idea is that the grounds will be totally finished by the 19^th August, which is when we are having our BBQ.

As part of these works, starting on the 8^th July the trees at the front and back of the Church will be taken down. Once this has been done we can really start to make the Church Grounds look more like a garden than a wilderness.

We are of course always happy to have more volunteers to help us work on the grounds. At the moment we are currently spending every Tuesday & Thursday evening at the Church, but once the trees are down would like as many people as possible to help us.

If you are interested in keeping the Church grounds looking nice and tidy and would like to help us then please let us know so that we can arrange times and days to meet. Even if you think you are unable to actually work on the garden maybe you could come and make the drinks or hold bags open for us while we fill them.

Helping with the garden does not mean that you have to do the heavy digging and lifting.

• Walk Day 1: Start Bewdley; lunch Heightington (packed lunch), overnight Abberley via Abberley Hill. (10 miles)
• Walk Day 2: Start Abberley; lunch Rodge Hill (packed lunch); overnight Knightwick. (12 miles)
• Walk Day 3: Start Knightwick; lunch Storridge (pub); finish Malvern. (12 miles )

A schoolboy comes into class at the beginning of a lesson and says to the teacher "Sir, is it right that I should be punished for something that I haven’t done?" The teacher said "No, that can’t be right. We must stop this. Tell me what has happened." The boy replied "Well sir, I haven’t done my homework."

In a recently service, we were asked to write those things which we regretted in the past week. I found that it was not the things I had done that I regretted: it was the things I had not managed to do. This brings to mind the fact that there are two distinct types of sin. These might be called sins of commission and sins of omission.

The sins of commission are those things that we do that we really shouldn’t. In the Ten Commandments, these started "Thou shalt not" murder, steal etc. Generally speaking, I find that these are easy. I can avoid all of these by staying in bed. Most of the laws of the country are on this basis.

The sins of omission are those things that we should do, but don’t. The Ten Commandments include "Honour your father and your mother." This requires positive action. It is not enough to avoid annoying them. In a similar way, loving your neighbour as you love yourself involves more than keeping the noise down and not throwing rubbish over the fence. There are certain regulations in this country which require positive action. You have to fill in the census form. If the Inland Revenue sent you a tax assessment form, you have to fill it in. You will be punished if you do not do it.

Many of the things I fail to do are due to lack of time. At least, this is my excuse, and there is an element of truth in it. However, I do have some discretionary time, so it is the sort of excuse that the schoolboy might use when he was actually watching the football on the television. Perhaps my school report will say "must try harder".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people . . . together.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have heath and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

********************************************
Dear God, I pray I'll not take for granted today,
the daily blessings you give
Like the sweet smell of a flower
or the green grassy hill.
May I not walk at such a pace
That I miss the beauty of the place,
Nor the smile of a child at play
Or the song of the blue jay.
And may I travel not so fast today
That I fail to help someone along the way

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn't long before he realized how it was impossible to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to tell the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At the last Church Council meeting, it was suggested that rather than try and run a formal Junior Church, we would instead run an informal Junior Church. In simple terms this means that instead of having a rota of people who would prepare something for every week we would have a set of resources that could be used if and when children attend our Church.

The reason that this decision has been taken is because the Junior Church leaders spend a lot of time planning their session which usually the theme is specific for that time of year or week, if no children are then present then its very disappointing for the leaders.

Duncan Berry, Chief Executive of Redditch's YMCA, explains how young people are being helped to build a better future for themselves.

Whenever I mention the YMCA, people tend to burst into song and wave their arms in the air. I bet the pop group, Village People, had no idea that it would create such a long lasting, inaccurate reputation for the YMCA when it launched this disco anthem back in the 1970s. In reality, this is a very busy and active charity helping all young people, particularly in times of need.

Our youth workers and volunteers really do help so many young people in all sorts of ways. A recent initiative, Dream Schemes, is helping those who are at risk of being excluded from school. Every week, pupils are rewarded for completing their work on time by being allowed to leave the classroom early and go outside to do maintenance work in the school grounds. It's incredible, these kids will happily do maths when asked to measure wood to make a playground bench but can find it really difficult to use the same skills if asked to complete a written maths question in the classroom!

To see the young people's self esteem improve when they realise they can achieve something, is so encouraging. What's more these young people then voluntarily attend an after school club to do additional maintenance tasks. So it's a win win situation. The pupils learn new skills, their confidence improves and the school's facilities are repaired.

Another recent initiative Dads and Lads is run at Trinity High School. Amazingly, a group of lads come voluntarily after school to think through the implications of being a dad. During the general group banter, a young person will often say something negative about his prime male carer. The session leader then turns this phrase on its head and asks, "What would you do if you were a dad and your son did something like that?" As the group discussion develops, the lads think through how they could be good parents. The course includes sessions where dads or guardians attend as well. Sports based activities are used to rekindle or enhance relationships between the young people and the key male figure in their lives. We will not know how successful this initiative is until these lads actually become dads themselves. However, if they are equipped with appropriate skills at an early stage, they stand a much better chance of being responsible and effective parents.

Our community centre in Church Hill, Redditch provides many opportunities for our staff and volunteers to get alongside people. We provide mother and toddler and pre-school groups through to after school clubs, sports clubs, youth clubs and holiday play schemes. We also help those who have become homeless. They are given accommodation in our supported housing units and are encouraged to move from dependent to independent living by learning life skills and working towards long term life goals.

We want all young people to have the opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential to grow and develop in every aspect of their lives. To see young people develop as they use YMCA facilities is hugely rewarding and makes my job very worthwhile.