St. NINIANS UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Caldwell Grove Solihull Member of Churches Together in Central Solihull Minister: Revd. Mary Burgess 118 Buryfield Road, Solihull, B91 2DP Home 0121-711-4685 St. Ninian s 0121-711-4727 Hobs Moat 0121-684-5511 Mobile 07984 588642 Church Secretary: Mrs. Diana Dicker 33 Witherford Croft, Solihull, B91 1TU Sunday Worship 10.00 a.m. (with Junior Church) Beavers Mon 6-7.15 pm Rainbows Tue 6.30-7.30 pm Brownies Thu 6.15-8.00 pm Guides Thu 6.45 pm February 2006 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends, Student Minister s Letter I am not usually a rash sort of person, but when it came to agreeing to take part in a sponsored slim along with Mary, in aid of the building work at Hobs Moat, I had no hesitation. As well as taking part in worship and shadowing Mary in her work, my main involvement has been leading the Bible Studies at St Ninian s and Hobs Moat where we have been working our way through the letter of James. A major theme in the letter of James is Actions speak louder than words, or in other words Faith without works is dead. Paul in his letter to the Philippians has a similar theme where he encourages them to consider others better than themselves. This is not an easy thing to do particularly as we so often hear the opposite in that what we should be doing in this day and age is looking after number one, because nobody else will. This, however, is simply not the case. I am heartened by the care and concern that there is for one another by those who are people of goodwill and who go against the trend of self-interest. We are all judged by our actions in one way or another and it has been said that people will not attend to what we say, but examine what we do; and will say first obey your own words, and then exhort others. This is the great battle; this is the unanswerable demonstration which is made by our acts. Put more simply, we should not speak unless our actions support what we are saying. James also says let our yes be yes and our no, no. I was very happy to say yes to helping towards the extension of Hobs Moat rather than the extension of my stomach. May God bless you all throughout 2006 and beyond. Andrew 2
News of the Family Congratulations to Isobel and Mark Chamberlain on the arrival of their little boy Taro. Our warmest congratulations to the happy grandparent, Dorothy Girvan. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with Margaret McWilliam and the family. We also think of Gordon Cameron and family. We remember in our payers Maggie Webster, Gwen Adams, Maud Hurt and Barbara Carnochan. John Soltau has had a nasty fall. Jean Sargent has damaged her knee getting on a train. We keep them both in our prayers. Important Dates for Your Diary Open Cluster meeting Thursday 16 th February at 7.30 p.m. at Knowle URC (although do double check the venue with Mary) to discuss what the Catch the Vision and Deployment discussions will mean for us. Please come along and make your views known, so that we can pass them on to be considered in the wider URC committees. A service of reflective worship for Ash Wednesday - 1 st March - will be held at 7.30 p.m. at Trinity URC, Hall Green this we will share with the other churches in our Cluster. Just to remind you that our URC cluster consists of : Hobs Moat; Christ Church; Knowle; Trinity, Hall Green; Olton; Digbeth-in-the Field, and ourselves. 3
A VERY SPECIAL MAN Ian McWilliam We were all shocked by Ian s illness and it was with great sadness that we heard of his death on Wednesday 21 st December. Together with Margaret, a faithful member at St Ninian s for so many years, Ian offered his considerable musical gifts to us. At first assisting the organist when they arrived, and in due course taking on the full responsibility of playing the organ and encouraging the choir to bring their voices to enhance the worship. He was always keen that music and song should be of the highest quality to offer to God, and choir members will tell you that he was quite a rigorous choir master, rehearsing a piece until it was as polished as possible. A few months ago, Ian and I spoke of music being soothing to the soul, and I said how blessed we were by his skill offered so willingly, ministering to our souls and spirits. His deep commitment to us meant that he rarely missed a Sunday or playing for special services, and for that we give thanks, and miss him so. He also used his delight in gardening in our service by tending the flower beds at the front of the church. But we also miss him, as do so many others, because of his kindness, in giving lifts, in concern shown in quiet ways. We miss his conversation, always well informed and interesting. Together with about 200 people gathered at St Ninian s, on 5 th January, we reflected on Ian s life, gifts, characteristics and faith - his deep love for his family, his enjoyment of music, golf and gardening. How special it was to hear the Solihull Choral Society sing to us, and two of his daughters, Vivienne and Katherine, superbly playing a piece by his favourite composer, Bach, on their violins, most ably accompanied by Andrew Fletcher. Ian, himself, chose so much of what was included in that service, that it truly reflected him and his faith. We feel deep sadness, but we need also to have hope and a sense of joy and wonder that defies description. For Ian was a man of great faith - he wrote to his children and grandchildren, some nine years ago, a letter to be read after his death, whenever that would be. With their permission, I share this portion with you all. I have had a wonderful life and have done so many interesting things, but am happy to die - this is so for two reasons. Firstly, it is the last, greatest and final adventure of human life and of great intellectual interest to me. 4
Christian, I know that life here is transitory - the true reality is with God from whom we came and to whom we return. It is a great mystery, but all will become clear after death Ian died on the shortest day in the year. Katherine remarked that in previous years he had always said that it was special because it was a time to look forward, into a new day and a new phase of life, as the days began to lengthen again. Ian has now begun his next phase of life and greatest adventure. He died, held in the arms of love, and we know, he will have been welcomed into God s outstretched arms to a place, specially prepared for him a place of love, and music, joy and peace. A Message from Margaret McWilliam and Family on the passing of Ian Robert McWilliam on 21st December 2005. On behalf of the McWilliam family, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the kindness and support we have received from our St. Ninian s friends throughout this sad time. We received so many cards, phone calls and loving messages during Ian s illness; I would read the cards to him and pass on your messages, so that he knew that you were all keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. I must also give a special thank you to our minister, who gave her time unstintingly to us, and conducted such a moving and uplifting service. It was a great tribute to Ian that so many people attended, and a comfort to his family to know that he was loved and valued by them. His Christian faith sustained him throughout, and his ending was peaceful, but my heart is sair at the loss of such a companion and friend. I know that there are many who will also miss Ian, but I hope he will be remembered for his many talents, and for a life well lived. Love Margaret x 5
Prayer Meetings & Bible Studies Please note that, for different reasons, the dates for the Prayer meeting and Bible study in February, are not our usual Tuesdays in the month. So our next prayer meeting will be held at Mamie s home at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 21 st February and then the 28 th March. If you have any matters for prayer, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew, Mary, Mamie, or any member of the group, or, better still, come and join us! Our next Bible study will take place at Mamie s home at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 7 th February and then the 14 th March. Andrew will be continuing our studies of the Letter of James. Why not join us? February 14th Not only St. Valentines Day Latimer and Ridley, who were both bishops, found themselves on the wrong side of the Catholic-Protestant divide in the 15 th Century. They were burned at the stake on the 14 th February 1556. They showed great courage, and Hugh Latimer, even while the fires were stoked up around them, said words which are among the top ten quotations from our island history : Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle by God s grace in England as (I trust) shall never be put out ) A Very Advance Date for Your Diary!! On Sunday 21 st May we are planning to have a very special service of worship to celebrate St Ninian s 60 th Anniversary. Rev Elizabeth Welch, our Moderator, will be the guest speaker, and we hope that many of our past members will return to celebrate with us. Please put the date in you diary, and try not to book a holiday for then, so that we can be together to give thanks for the life and witness of St Ninian s over the years. 6
Women s World Day of Prayer The Women s World Day of Prayer will be held at 10.30 am on Friday 3 rd March 2006 at St. Ninian s. The speaker will be the Revd. Mary Burgess and the theme of the service, which has been compiled by the women of South Africa, is Signs of the Times. All are welcome and I hope many of you will be able to attend to enjoy what is always a special service. Refreshments will be served after the service. Carol Fender Is Anybody out there??? For the FOURTH time of Asking : IDEAS AND ACTIONS PLEASE At our October Church meeting, it was decided that we needed to arrange a few occasions when we can get together socially as well as undertake some fund raising for particular needs. Now that the premises are not used on Saturdays, we could hold coffee mornings or afternoon teas, have a bring and buy stall, a Traidcraft (Fair Trade stall); offer car washing; see if some of those who use the premises would like to share an occasion with us; invite a choir to come along and sing to us again. Various ideas were floated. If you think one of these ideas would be worth pursuing or you have more innovative ones, please do follow them up with action. We are doing so little together these days that there are few opportunities for inviting friends and neighbours along to meet us or even to be able to build up our relationships with one another. Please do give the matter some serious thought and prayer. 7
Worship 5 th Joe Blackburn 12 th Michael Platt 19 th Revd Mary Burgess (Communion : Collection Parkinson s ) 26 th Anne Simcock Reflective Services Seeking Wholeness At St Ninian s URC on Fridays 10 th February and 10 th March at 2 p.m. Services of Healing and Wholeness at Hobs Moat on Saturday 11 th February at 10.15 a.m. and Saturday 4 th March at 10.15 a.m. Next Newsletter Please send items and news by Sunday 19 th please, to Terry or Diana Dicker Elders and Stewards Rota 5 th Linda Morton Chris Oberholzer Mamie Gibson 12 th Tim Forsyth Dorothy Girvan Diana Dicker 19 th Stan Holland Peter Oberholzer Mike Norris V Ian Miller V Diana Dicker 26 th Norma Broom Chris Oberholzer Ian Miller V indicates communion rota Elders and Stewards should find an alternate when unable to attend