REVIDGE FOLD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH REACH OUT NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 REVIDGE FOLD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH REACH OUT NEWSLETTER JUNE / JULY 2016

2 Dear Friends, On Sunday 15 th May we held our Pastorate Service to celebrate Pentecost and using puppets we tried to answer the question what does Pentecost mean? Pentecost gives an appropriate opportunity for us to recap because we might say that it is a time when we celebrate the founding of the Christian church. Christ was born, lived thirty blameless and mostly unremarkable years and then began his three years of earthly ministry. He roused the interest and support of the common people and enmity and opposition of those in authority. All this came to a head in Jerusalem where he was tried, condemned, crucified and buried. But he rose again, made several resurrection appearances and then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of his Father. Yet this was still not the moment for the launching of the church. The disciples were instructed to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We are often not good at waiting. We think we know what would be the appropriate moment and are apt to grow inpatient. Yet in Acts Ch2 we have a clear example of what can happen when the Holy Spirit is waited for in patient expectation. One moment the disciples appear to be on the verge of being dismissed as a drunken rabble and the next Peter is launching into the first Christian sermon. And what a sermon it was. It started with where the crowd was, mentally that is. They were assuming the disciples were a bit tipsy or more likely roaring drunks. Peter quickly disabused them of that illusion, then he quickly took them through Old Testament prophesy and a synopsis of what, to them, were recent events until they could see Christ in a new way and they were pierced to the heart. He wound up with an exhortation to repentance and that they be baptised and receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit and such was the power, that 3000 people received the Lord on that day. Let us not forget what kind of man was instrumental in this remarkable event. He was no trained orator, he was no expert in the Jewish religious law, he had not spent years pouring over the scriptures. He was a relatively unlettered fisherman, very impetuous and up to this point, a little unreliable. So how did it come about? It came about for two reasons, firstly he had spent three years in close company with Jesus and secondly he had received the power of the Holy Spirit. However if we are to progress beyond the merest kindergarten stage of Christianity we also must be open to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Remember Jesus said. "In truth, I tell you no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh can give birth only to flesh, It is spirit that gives birth to spirit. The wind blows where it wills, we hear the sound of it but we do not know where it comes from and so it is with everyone who is born of the spirit So when we hear a wind like an earthquake or like a freight train passing close by, let us not shelter and try to shut it out, let us turn our faces to the wind, let us embrace it. Let us open the windows of our souls for the disruption, the turning over, the cleansing and the new beginnings which the Holy Spirit can bring if only we wait patiently upon it and let it come in. That s the spirit, may God help us to catch it. Every blessing, Mal

3 March April Pastorate Pages Welcome to the Pastorate pages of our June and July Newsletter What s been happening since our last Newsletter Our Holy Week celebrations began with our Palm Saturday Walk of Witness with Peg the donkey. The Dean of Blackburn opened the proceedings, which began with a short act of worship with the Salvation Army band. The cross was carried through town and the Easter story told in scripture and hymns in the town centre where a tent had been set up with activities for children. This year we were blessed with a fine day as we continued on to The Citadel where we another celebration of praise before enjoying coffee and hot cross buns. Our Pastorate Pesach Service and meal was held at Trinity on Maundy Thursday this was a lovely service and we had a superb meal thanks to Bev and team they really did a wonderful job. As in previous years our sweet was a Traditional Sephardic Jewish Passover Cake made by Andrea (read more about this and see the recipe from Andrea at the end of the Pastorate Pages.) Our Pastorate Good Friday service was held at Revidge this was a moving service of readings, hymns and meditations finishing with Lorraine s very moving meditation Mary s story. Westbury Gardens First Monday group met and enjoyed board games, followed by tea and biscuits. The group meet on the first Monday of each month except for Bank Holidays. April 5 th saw the Trefoil meeting at Revidge. After the meeting our past Brownie leader Lorraine was presented with her forty years in Guiding reward we enjoyed tea and beautiful home made cakes it was a lovely celebration. Congratulations Lorraine. Trinity Ladies Circle met on 5 th April They meet on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of each month. Their last meeting before the summer break is the AGM on Tuesday July 5 th. Church meetings were held in all three churches on Sunday 10 th April. Lena did not attend any of these, as one item on each agenda was her retirement plan. Below is an extract from a letter from the Convener of the Lancashire Area Pastoral Committee which the Elders of all three churches had agreed to unanimously, subsequently this proposal was accepted all three church meetings: The recommendation which needs to be agreed by the three elders meetings is that Rev d Lena Talbot continue in full-time ministry with Revidge Fold, Trinity, and Westbury Gardens URCs until 31 st December 2016 and then at 50% until 31 st August Revidge Fellowship held their AGM at the final meeting for the summer on 12 th April. The autumn and winter programmes were issued. The fellowship meets on alternate Tuesdays the next meeting is on September 20 th. The TMAD Steering Group met at Westbury on 13 th April the big project at the moment is the clean up of the local area more of this in Mal s TMAD Page. We had a super Saturday evening at Trinity on 16 th April at our Rose Queen s quiz night. The quiz was great, there was a great raffle and we enjoyed a potato pie supper, all the proceeds were going to Theo s Fund. The Children s Holiday Club was held at Westbury, week commencing 18 th April, read all about this on the TMAD page. On April 23 rd Mal held a Proms in the Church night at Revidge this was a super programme of music and slides. We had a cake & beverage break half way through, then finished off with a video of the proms in the Albert Hall and we all joined in waving our Union Jacks and singing Jerusalem and Land of Hope of Glory. Westbury held another Messy Church on 27 th April in Shadsworth School. Our theme was Rooted in Jesus - again more of this on the TMAD page.

4 May On Sunday May 1 st at the end of morning worship we presented Douglas Thompson with a framed photograph of the church as a thank you and in recognition of his many years as editor of Reach Out. Thank you again Douglas it really is appreciated. May 1 st was the leaving service for the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Reverend Christopher Armstrong. The service was attended by several Bishops including Bishop Nicholas Reid and Bishop Alan Chesters. Revd Armstrong was a member of our Churches Together in Central Blackburn which Lena and Mal were also involved in, on behalf of our Pastorate. We wish Revd Armstrong every blessing for his future in Peterborough. Our Pastorate bible studies on healing and wholeness commenced on Saturday 14 th May. These will be held at Revidge till 12 (drinks available from 10.00) for the next 7 weeks. These are to link in with our Pastorate Healing Services. Our annual Pentecost Pastorate Service was held at Trinity on May 15 th and conducted by Lena and Mal ably assisted by puppets Micky, Emily and George. This was also a communion service and included the blessing of the TMAD murals by representatives from each church. The puppets were used to explain the meaning of Pentecost, Communion and the Murals. We had a full choir of singers from all three churches and it was lovely to have a full church of people praising our Lord. This Sunday was also the start of Christian Aid week and our thanks go to Norma and Veronica for organising the collection on behalf of Trinity. On Sunday 22 nd May, our service at Revidge to mark the end of Christian Aid week was led by Ellis and Lena following which we enjoyed a soup and scone lunch, thanks to team Ellis for organising this. The month of May also saw those of us involved in the Memory Café having our training for Dementia Awareness this was a two hour session led at various places by Sadia and Jal we were really given an insight into what it is like to live with dementia. Baptisms Other News We have had two baptisms at Trinity, Mia Melling the baby daughter of Christian Melling and Bethaney Murray was christened on Palm Sunday and Gracie-Leigh Wilson the fourteen-month old daughter of Terry and Liam Wilson was christened on Sunday 10 th April. Mia and Gracie-Leigh The Lord bless you and keep you both safe in his love. Weddings On April 1 st Mandy Kennedy and Grahame Chillingworth were married at Trinity and on April 8 th Rachael Kelly and Andrew Gray were married also at Trinity. We send both couples our congratulations and every blessing for their future together. Funerals We were saddened by the death of Eric Barnes on the 18 th March, Eric along with his wife Margaret was a stalwart of Westbury and he will be sadly missed. We had four deaths in the same week at Trinity, sadly Ray Barsby died very suddenly on the 16 th April, Ray and Mavis were both members of the choir and totally involved in church life. We will all miss Ray so much. Irene Whalley a long standing member passed away on the 18 th April. Irene lived on Brownhill Road before her move to Springfield Cottage. On 19 th April Ken Taylor died. Ken was a professional footballer and played for Blackburn Rovers in their hey-day. Ken s wife Gladys is a wonderful worker for church and before his illness Ken supported Gladys in many ways not least as her chauffeur. Amy Rawlinson died on the 21 st April. Amy attended church when she lived on Bank Hey Lane North. She still came to lunch club when she moved to Darwen but latterly she was in Andrews Court. At Revidge we were saddened to hear that Cicely Grubb had died on 10 th May, Cicely had been housebound for many years but she loved her church and was never short of phone calls and visitors. She will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all their families at this time. May their loved ones rest in peace and rise in glory and we give thanks for their lives and their service.

5 Ecumenical CTNB (Churches Together in North Blackburn) The Annual Covenant Service was held on May 22 nd at St. James church. We began with afternoon tea at 5.00 pm followed by a service of thanksgiving and celebration. CTNB meets again on Tuesday 19 th July, which will be a farewell to Revd Albert Gayle. CTB (Churches Together in Blackburn) Spectacular flower festival in the Cathedral 23 rd - 25 th June not to be missed. There will be an open meeting with Dave King on Thurs. 14 th July further details to follow. CTCB (Churches Together in Central Blackburn) The Next meeting is at The Citadel on 20 th July at 2.30 Interfaith Under the umbrella of Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum, we have two interfaith groups within our Pastorate. EBFLF (East Blackburn Faith Leaders Forum) which involves Westbury Gardens and NBFLF (North Blackburn Faith Leaders Forum) which involves Revidge Fold. Each Forum held a Faith Food and Friendship lunch. The East Blackburn lunch was on Saturday 9 th April at Tauheedul Masjid and the North Blackburn lunch was on Saturday 30 th April at St. James School. At both events we had a lovely time of sharing faith, friendship and food with some amazing curries and Mal s wonderful chicken pie. All are welcome, so watch this space for the next events. BwD Interfaith Forum are holding their annual Let us Remember service in Corporation Park at 2.30 on Sunday 5 th June. Danielle Probert, the Rose Queen elect for Trinity will be reading a verse. Still to come in our Pastorate 29 th May A Service of Healing and Wholeness 3.00 pm in the chapel at Revidge Calendar for June Thursday 2 nd Revidge Lunch Club Saturday 4 th Bible Study at Revidge drinks available from am. Saturday 4 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Monday 6 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Monday 6 th First Monday Group 2.00pm at Westbury Tuesday 7 th Ladies Circle 7.30 pm at Trinity Wednesday 8 th Trinity Lunch Club Wednesday 8 th TMAD Steering Group meeting 2.00 at Westbury Saturday 11 th Bible Study at Revidge drinks available from am. Saturday 11 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Saturday 11 th Rossendale Scout Band Concert at Revidge 7.00 pm (all tickets from Jan. will be honoured.) Sunday 12 th Sienna Betty Rose Taylor will be baptised by Simon at Trinity. Monday 13 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Thursday 16 th Revidge Lunch Club Saturday 18 th Bible Study at Revidge drinks available from am. Saturday 18 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Sunday 19 th Rev d Wilf Bahdur leading worship at Trinity on the 20 th anniversary of his Ordination Monday 20 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Monday 20 th The Memory Café will open at Revidge 1.30 till Refreshments will be served. Tuesday 21 st Afternoon Fellowship Strawberry Tea-14:00-15:30 Tuesday 21 st Ladies Circle 7.30 pm at Trinity Wednesday 22 nd Trinity Lunch Club Wednesday 22 nd Prayer Walk meet at Westbury at 6.45

6 Saturday 25 th Bible Study at Revidge drinks available from am. Saturday 25th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Sunday 26 th Rose Queen and Church Parade Sunday at Trinity am Sunday 26 th A Service of Healing and Wholeness 3.00 pm in the chapel at Revidge Sunday 26 th Evening Communion 6.00 pm at Higher Bank HFE Monday 27 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Thursday 30 th Revidge Lunch Club Calendar for July Friday 1 st Synod road shows for Elders pm at Poulton URC and 7-9 at Fulwood URC (the same presentation at each venue.) Friday 1 st Rainbows Sleepover at Trinity Saturday 2 nd Bible Study at Revidge drinks available from am Saturday 2 nd Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge followed by---- American themed Barbecue at Revidge from Sunday 3 rd Christening of Mason Haworth at Trinity Monday 4 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Monday 4 th First Monday Group at Westbury ,00 Barbecue & Strwaberries Tuesday 5 th Trinity Ladies Circle 7.30 AGM (last one till September) Wednesday 6 th Trinity Lunch Club Saturday 9 th Afternoon Tea & Teddy Bears Picnic at Mr & Mrs. Parkinson s (12 Westwood Ave. Rishton) Saturday 9 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Sunday 10 th Evening Communion 6.00 pm at Higher Bank HFE Monday 11 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Wednesday 13 th Prayer Walk meet at Revidge at 6.45 Thursday 14 th Revidge Lunch Club Saturday 16 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Sunday 17 th Baptism of Oscar Hartley-Hilton (10.30) & twins Amelia & Bobby Bell (12.30) at Trinity Monday 18 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Wednesday 20 th Trinity Lunch Club 12,30 Monday 25 th Art & Crafts at Westbury Thursday 28 th Revidge Lunch Club Saturday 30 th Coffee and Chat 10:00-12:00 at Revidge Saturday 30 th Strawberry Tea at the Manse13:00-17:00 Sunday 31 st Baptism of Ava, Amelia and Jacob Abbott at Westbury Sunday 31 st Healing and Wholeness Service 3.00 pm at Westbury Lena will be away 11 th 21 st June and 22 nd 25 th July Advance Notices Mon. 1 st to Fri. 5 th August Holiday Club pm at Westbury (Presentation & afternoon tea 6 th ) Sunday 7 th August Pastorate Pet Blessing Service am at Westbury led by Lena & Mal Saturday 3 rd September Revidge feedback and refresh from the Bible Studies

7 Diary for June/July 2016 Pulpit Supply: June 5 th Rev Lena Talbot ( Communion) 12 th Kath Hodkinson (Church Parade) 19 th Roy Cook 26 th Roy Cook July 3 rd Rev Geoff Peddie (Communion) 10 th Rev Lena Talbot (Church Parade) 17 th Brian Birtwistle 24 th Sheila McNab 31st Elders Service Pattern Our Worship Pattern is as follows 1 st Sunday of the month at Communion Service 2 nd Sunday of the month at All age worship Church Parades are held in February, March, June, October, November and December 3 rd Sunday of the month Family Worship 4 th Sunday of the month Family Worship 5 th Sunday of the month Family Worship Junior Church is available every Sunday except the 2 nd Sunday which is all age worship Normal Activities with Dates where these are not weekly Monday June 20th- Elders Meeting 19:00 June 20 th Open Door Memory Café begins -13:30-15:00 (fortnightly) Thursday Lunch Club 11: pm June 2 nd August 25 th (fortnightly) Health & Fitness Development Hall 10:30-11:30 Uniformed Groups 17:30-21:00 Friday Saturday A Team 10:00-14:00 dates to be confirmed see weekly notices Scouts 19:00-21:00 Coffee and Chat noon Sunday Family Worship nd Sunday of the Month - Higher Bank HFE

8 TOGETHER MAKING A DIFFERENCE (TMAD) Revidge Fold, Trinity Brownhill and Westbury Gardens United Reformed Churches, Community Ministry Project Everyone has something To offer Together We Can Make A Bigger Difference INTRODUCTION Welcome to the seventh issue of TMAD News, the page in the newsletter to keep you up to date about Mal s work as our Community Minister. WHAT S BEEN HAPPENING?j A lot has happened since the last issue of the news letter. Mal has again continued to support all three churches in various ways, led worship on several occasions and represent the pastorate at various meetings. His puppets have been well used particularly at Baptisms. Interfaith Work: Two exciting events took place Faith, Food and Friendship. One in East Blackburn and one in North Blackburn. Folk from the Mosques provided various curries and Mal made chicken and mushroom pie Halal style on behalf of the churches people attended both events and shared experiences and ideas for future events. Both events were a great success. Easter Holiday Club: This took place from 18 th 22 nd April and the theme was Xpedition Force based on stories from Matthews Gospel. 21 children registered during the week and enjoyed songs, games, the daily video clip, bible stories and craft work including trumpets, stained glass windows and an Easter Garden. We also explored the Stations of the Cross which culminated in making the giant cross as below. Proms in The Church: This was a very enjoyable event organised by Mal to celebrate St. Day. Using Cd's and video we experienced the last night of the.proms waving flags and singing along to Land of Hope and Glory, Thine be the Glory, Jerusalem and many more. Messy Church: The theme for our messy church session in May at Shadsworth Infants was Rooted in Jesus. The children enjoyed the story of the three trees, played parachute games, sang a song and made things to put on the Prayer Tree below. This has been put up in the school for the children to hang their prayers on. FUTURE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Memory Café: Plans are well under way to launch the Memory Café at Revidge Fold on 20 th June. We have a core group of around 20 volunteers from various churches, most of whom have undertaken the Dementia Friends Training. This is an exciting project and we are looking forward to taking it forward. Prayer Walks: The next prayer walks are as follows Wednesday 22 nd Westbury Gardens 7.00pm 8.00pm Wednesday 13 th Revidge Fold 7.00pm 8.00pm Back Street Project: This is a partnership between Hillside Residents, TMAD, and Beach Partnership Ltd. The aim is to transform the two gunnels near Westbury Gardens with a grant of 12,000 from the Big Local working with local schools and other agencies. Watch this space!!! Summer Holiday Club: 1 st 6 th August More details to follow. If you can t physically get involved in any of these events please remember them and all the work of TMAD in your prayers. To find out more about TMAD or get involved please contact Mal on or speak to any member of the steering group.

9 CHRISTIAN AID It is most pleasing to report that the Christian Aid lunch held on the 22 nd May raised the excellent sum of of this were Gift Aided and this will add a further to the total. My very grateful thanks go to a number of people who acted as willing helpers on the day but special thanks go to John Blows for conjuring up such a tasteful and nourishing soup and Elaine Whalley for not only providing the most wholesome and delicious scones but also being instrumental in the preparation of the room the previous day. Thanks must also go to Lena for making Christian Aid the theme of the Morning Service and focusing the thoughts of the congregation on this worthwhile Charity. Much of the Christian Aid material this year has cncentrated on the plight of a young Bangladesh mother, Morsheda, whose home is frequently prone to flooding. If it could be raised 6-8ft above water level then she would have a much safer place to live. It is hoped that the money we have raised will help to bring this about not only for Morsheda but also for a number of other families who are in a similar situation. Ellis OPEN DOOR MEMORY CAFÉ We are pleased to say that the plans for the Open Door Memory Café are progressing well! We have a group of about 20 volunteers from Revidge Fold, St James and Blackburn Baptists. Most of the volunteers will have completed the Dementia Friends training by the time you read this. After meetings with Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Community Circles, we are hoping to open the café in late June. The café will open fortnightly on Mondays from 1:30 to 3:00pm. The café will welcome people living with dementia and a companion. The companion may well be their carer, but could also be a friend or relative. If you know of anyone who would like to come, please speak to either Mal or Elizabeth. We would be very glad of your prayers as we plan for the café to open. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don t hesitate to ask us! Many thanks. Elizabeth Bradley

10 TOGETHER MAKING A DIFFERENCE TMAD MURAL The mural above was painted by Gordon Melody a Community Artist and at my induction service on 6th December 2014 everyone who came along was given a cloth hand and asked to write a message or a prayer on it (you may remember this) and I asked people to join me and be MAD, to Make A Difference. The hands have been shared out and stuck on to three special copies we have had made and at our Pastorate Pentecost Service we dedicated them with a special prayer and gave one to each of the three churches. This is the dedication prayer... Loving God, earlier we sang Bind us together with chords that cannot be broken. We read about the sower scattering seeds. We ask your blessing on these murals that they may be a constant reminder that we are in this work together. May these hands bind us together in the work that you have called us to do in these three communities. Help us to serve them with renewed confidence by sowing seeds may the seeds fall on good ground, take root, and create change so that together we can make a difference in this part of your kingdom and as we work together may we find ways for these prayers and messages to be answered. We now dedicate these murals in the knowledge that the love of God the Creator, the guidance of Jesus the risen Saviour and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with us every step of the way on our journey together now and forever more. Amen. May God bless each one of us as we work together. Mal

11 CRACKED POTS I recently received this via and thought I'd share it with you as I feel it s very appropriate to our work in the Pastorate and to each one as individuals. (Enjoy it, Mal) An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments...but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.' Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! CHURCH BARBECUE CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY We are holding another barbecue on Saturday 2 July. This will follow on from Saturday morning coffee from 12:00 to approximately 2:30pm. There will be locally produced beefburgers and sausages cooked on the barbeque by our resident chefs, John, Maurice and Mal! There will also be cakes and cookies. We are also planning some quizzes and there will be board games for those who wish to play! Tickets are priced at 5 each, available from the elders. It is a fundraising event for church funds. Please do come along and bring your friends the more the merrier!

12 Pastorate Healing and Wholeness Service (See Calendar for dates of services) In the belief that Jesus called those who follow Him to a life of wholeness, and that the Ministry of Healing is as much a part of the Christian life as is prayer or service, we have set aside a time each month that we might share in such a ministry. During our worship we will pray for people by name, recognising them as people whom God knows and loves. Though the members of the congregation may not know some of the people personally, none-theless by sharing in prayer for them, we unite ourselves to God who knows us all. There will also be the opportunity for people to receive the Laying on of Hands. Those who would like to receive this Ministry are asked to come forward, when invited, and sit on one of the seats in the front row. The New Testament tells us clearly not only to pray for those who are ill, but to lay hands on them as we pray, and Jesus himself did this many times. We know that in our daily lives it is often touch - the hand on the shoulder, the hug of a friend, the cuddle of a child - that lets us know we are loved. Touch, often more than words, is a way of giving physical expression to our prayers and concerns for others. We invite you to come forward for prayer and healing even though you may not be physically ill, other things like our past experiences of hurt, our tangled emotions, or our inability to forgive or receive forgiveness all makes us less than whole, and so in need of healing. Through the love and care for us all, God can act and become present to those in need, both healing and restoring. We trust God to answer our prayers for healing, but we do not know how or when that will be. We simply trust God to act in love for us, out of a deeper knowledge of our needs than we ourselves have. We know, too, that to be involved in the healing ministry requires our willingness to be involved in the process of change - change which may demand us to act as well as pray. The things which cause people to be hurt often requires a social solution arising out of our prayer. Our worship and our daily lives belong together. In this Ministry of Healing we are in no sense rejecting the work of medicine, which is also the gift of God. Prayer is not an alternative but a complement to other forms of healing, and recognition that healing comes in many ways, and is finally concerned with wholeness and not simply the cure. Lena and Mal Thought for the Day If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning. Face it, friend - He is crazy about you! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

13 The History of the Sephardic Jews Sephardic was the name given to the Jewish community in Iberia between 1000AD and 1500AD. The word "Sephardic" is derived from the Hebrew word for Spain. A S e p h a r d i J e w i s a J e w d e s c e n d e d f r o m t h e J e w s w h o l i v e d i n t h e I b e r i a n P e n i n s u l a i m m e d i a t e l y p r i o r t o t h e i s s u e o f t h e A l h a m b r a D e c r e e o f b y o r d e r o f t h e C a t h o l i c M o n a r c h s i n S p a i n, a n d t h e d e c r e e o f i n P o r t u g a l b y o r d e r o f K i n g M a n u e l. The Crusades which started in the beginning of the last millennium virtually destroyed Jewish intellectual life. It was suppressed and almost brought an end to the Jewish creative process in the middle European countries and the Holy Land. It was during this period that the further development of the Talmud passed to Jews living in Iberia and North Africa. The Talmud, the base of how we interpret Jewish law, came to Spain from Babylon (Iraq) and the Middle East. It was not developed there; it went there with Rabbi Saadia ibn Joseph Gaon, Rabbi Chanoch ben Moshe and Rabbi Hananel ben Hushiel in the 10 th and 11 th centuries. These rabbis were born in North Africa. These three rabbis fuelled Rabbi Yitzhak Alfassi (born in Algeria, raised in Morocco), who later became one of the highest recognized Talmudists in history. He later lived his life in Cordoba and Lucena, Andalusia." It was common for Jews, especially travelling merchants, to travel and have homes in more than one place and on more than one continent. Rabbis commonly thought of as Sephardic settled and lived in many places. According to references in Genesis, 10.3 and Obadiah, 1.20, the lands called Sepharad were located in areas north of the Holy Land, and were not necessarily in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, as the term is generally understood. Sephardic Jews, lived there for many centuries, but were descendants of Middle East ancestors who came to the Iberian Peninsula in stages from Egypt, Baghdad, North Africa, Palestine and Syria. Arabic was the principal language in large sections of Spain until the Christian conquests and was used by the Jews for daily communication and religious works. In effect, Jewish Spain was merely an extension of the Middle East, to all extents and purposes, the Sephardim did not substantially differ from their brothers in the Fertile Crescent, in language, religious practices and endeavours. Today, many religious leaders in Israel consider themselves as Sephardic and identify with the founders of the Babylonian Talmud. Traditional Sephardic Jewish Passover Cake Serves medium large oranges 250g sugar 5 large eggs 250g ground almonds 0.25 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda Cook oranges in deep water for 2 hours. Cool and puree until smooth having removed pips and central pith. Beat eggs and sugar until pale. Combine almonds and bicarb and fold into mixture together with orange puree. Pour into 25cm tin and cook at 160 for hours. (Freezes well.)

14 Bits and Bobs This is a new page for all those little but important messages, news, comments, reminders--- so please make use of it in future editions. Two large print Bibles have been placed in the Foyer for persons who may wish to use one during a service. Tickets will be available from Sunday 5 th June for the Rossendale Scout Band which is on 11 th June- If you bought a ticket for the cancelled concert in January you do not need to buy another! Following last year s successful American themed Barbecue it has been decided to hold another one on 2 nd July-a little earlier during the day. It will follow straight on after Saturday s Coffee and Chat which finishes at 12 noon. Further information can be found in this edition of Reach Out! Something to think about when we drink our next cup of coffee: C = Christ O = Offers F = Forgiveness F = For E = Everyone E = Everywhere We all used to sing 'Jesus loves me, this I know'. The converse is equally true - 'Jesus knows me. This I love'. God bless Robin.