Compass is the name of St.Mary's Parish magazine. It is published at the beginning
of every month and is distributed throughout the Parish by a band of volunteers.
If you would like to receive a copy of the magazine every month, it is available
for an Annual Subscription of £3.60.
If you live outside the Parish and would still like to receive a copy, arrangements
can be made to post it for an additional charge
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Articles from August 2010 Magazine
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| Letter
from Vicar Ken |
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Vicar Ken writes
A teacher said to me of a vicar she knew: "He actually believes God
speaks to him!" She was so surprised. Why is it peculiar to think
that God speaks to us?
Many would say that God speaks to us in a general sense through the world
around us -
the psalm writer claims that the heavens are telling the glory of God."
If we stop to think for a moment we are bound to be amazed at the wonder
of what is around us, and to reflect about what that says about a creator.
In a personal sense too, many have found they have come to hear a "still,
small voice" speaking to them in the midst of the ordinariness of
daily Living, and have realized the need to try and tune in more clearly.
Some have found that, in a very strange way, the voice has become clearer
in times of great suffering. C.S.Lewis even claimed that, "God whispers
to us in our pleasures, but shouts to us In our pains - they are his megaphone
to rouse a deaf world." Cruel as that sounds, perhaps it says something
about our willingness to take time to think, reflect and Listen, and that
perhaps we are more open at some times than at others.
This makes me think: what are the reasons I don't always listen to God?
Asking him for things is easy - though often we forget to do it, and also
ask for the wrong things if we're not careful. But spending time Listening?
Obviously, being busy is one reason: time needs to be set aside so that
I can focus. Being preoccupied is another: we can spend time trying to
focus, but there can be so many other voices clamouring for our attention.
Why is it that, when we pray, we suddenly remember all sorts of other
important things Like how we've run out of tomato sauce? I find a pen
and paper next to me is a good thing, so that I can jot down the distracting
thoughts, and get them out of my mind.
Does God really want to say anything personally to me? That question can
be another reason. Shouldn't we just get on with things that need doing,
following the general principles that he reveals but not expecting flashes
of Lightning? We can easily be put off by those who claim a hotline to
God but who are a bit scary. Perhaps we can also be a bit anxious about
what he might say to us, especially It our view of God Is like an over
demanding boss or fierce head teacher, rather than a friend or loving
father. There are so many reasons why we can stay away.
Assuming then that we want to listen to God, where should we begin?
Finding a quiet spot where we won't be disturbed is so important - a place
where it's comfortable, but we won't necessarily fall asleep.
When I talk to God and try and Listen to him I usually read a Bible passage
as well. This keeps me rooted in the truth of who God Is, and how he wants
me to live as one of his followers. We need to check out with ourselves
whether we're really open to hear anything he wants to say to us, and
whether we're expectant that he might want to say something.
Telling him first of all how we feel and what's on our mind can free us
up to be ready to listen, as would happen in any conversation between
people.
And then, when thoughts come along in this atmosphere of openness, expectancy
and trust, it can be a good Idea to jot them down, and also re-visit them
on another occasion like this with God. Sharing with others what has come
out of these times can also be a real help, partly because it protects
us from going off track, and also because it can be very mutually encouraging.
These are just some of my thoughts on this topic. Maybe you have some
that you'd like to pass on. I'd be really interested.
Ken Shill
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| News
from Amy Rodgers |
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I'm having a wonderful time here in South Africa as I'm sure you can
imagine. The World Cup is a huge source of excitement for us all at the
moment and the sound of vuvuzelas has become as natural to hear as bird
song! Thank you so very much to all those who have sent me letters and
postcards, it's so nice to know that I have your friendship and support.
As many of you may have already heard, I have extended my visa until December
so that I can stay for an extra 3 months. My time here is going so quickly,
I feel like I could spend a lot longer living amongst my friends here
in Underberg. I will be home for Christmas and look forward to seeing
you all.
Towards the end of last term, a local volunteer Sonya and I started a
playgroup for the 2-3 year olds. She supplied many of the resources and
I decorated the rooms that we use. The children were steeping from 10
until 12 during the day, they weren't getting any stimulation or structured
play. It is so important to expose them to English early on, because they
will attend the English speaking school when they're older. We have 10
children at 'Mustard Seeds' and It's going very well. I chose the name
after reading the parable of the mustard seed, and because I see so much
potential in each of my little 'seeds'! All the children have responded
really well to the playgroup. They are picking up English incredibly fast
and are always very excited and happy to be at "school". Two
mums help each day on a rota system so that each of the moms gets to help
once a week, which Is good exposure for them as well.
Everybody here is very kind and generous. I often go over to Gogo Abigail's
house for dinner with my South African family. The children and I have
had many movie nights and the younger ones are constantly asking me for
paper so that they can draw or paint. I only have to sit on my front door
step for a few seconds and I'm instantly joined by two or more of the
children. The weather here is usually beautifully sunny during the day
and chilly as soon as the sun goes down. We have had many frosty mornings
and a few threats of snowstorms! The cottage that I stay in is basic and
comfortable with a decent sized bed room. In mid June, I supervised twelve
of the primary school boys aged 6 to 15yrs for a week at a Christian soccer
camp in Johannesburg. Six of the boys stayed with separate hosts and 6
of the younger boys stayed with me so that I could assist a couple of
them with their ARV (anti retro viral) medication . We all had a fantastic
time and met some wonderful people. The boys certainly did not want to
leave. Last week I treated the six high school girls to a daytrip to Pietermaritzburg
where we watched Eclipse at the cinema and stuffed ourselves with breakfast,
Lunch and popcorn before doing a little window shopping and heading home!
All In all, it's been a nice winter holiday but it'll be good to get back
into routine again, at least for a little while. The school term is about
to start again now as the World Cup draws to an end. During term time
my days are rather busy. I run the playgroup from 8.30am until noon, I
help the grade twos with their homework from 1.30 until 3.30 and then
grade sevens from 4.00 until 6.00. On Fridays, when there is no homework
I work in the storeroom organising the donations. I am currently recruiting
more local volunteers to help with homework and am busy with plans for
painting the new hall and the outside wall of the Mustard Seed's building.
A few of you have asked if there is anything that we need that you could
help us to fundraise for the new hall has been built but now we need to
furnish It. The hall will be used for all Indoor communal activities and
for homework groups. We have an area which can eventually be turned into
a small kitchenette. It'd be lovely to have a television and DVD player
(the old one has already shocked me twice!) in place for communal movie
nights and some comfortable seating such as beanbags would be Invaluable.
The playgroup would benefit from some fundraising too as so far It has
all been completely funded by Sonya and myself. We would love to have
some outdoor toys for the children to play on and would love some new
storybooks. Clouds of Hope Is always in need of financial donations for
general running costs and food.
Please join 1GOAL education for all at www.join1goal.org
or and help to make education a reality for millions of children throughout
the world. With education we can beat poverty.
I hope you are all well,
God bless, love Amy xxx
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Growing in discipleship |
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We may hear people talking of 'growing In faith or 'growing as Christians'
and wonder what on earth they mean. Do they mean becoming super-confident
preachers or pray-ers or study group leaders? Even becoming church ministers?
And how does this growth happen? There is actually no mystery about growth,
If we think about what goes on in the garden. Given the right combination
of light, warmth and moisture, a garden shrub will flourish. And white
tight, warmth and moisture are essential for plant growth; different species
will need them in different combinations and degrees in order to develop
as they should.
In the same way, we can grow as Christians, providing the conditions are
right - and that depends on who we are as individuals. Once we have been
'planted' in the soil of faith, we can start to grow spiritually. The
basic requirements for such growth are prayer, gathering for worship and
fellowship with other believers, and getting to know the Bible. Some will
find all of these a delight, while others will find that they struggle
with each one of them. For most of us, one will come more naturally than
the others, and that can be our starting-point for growth, the essential
'fertiliser' of our personal faith that builds us up. As we gain strength,
we will in time develop good roots, holding us secure in what we believe
and why, and also strong and supple shoots that not only reach up towards
God but out towards others. At the same time, we should remember that,
just as there is a rhythm to the seasons of the natural year, so there
are seasons of growth but also seasons of dormancy in our lives as Christians.
Realising that we are going through such a 'quiet season' ourselves should
not be a cause of alarm but for patient waiting on God. Dormancy is essential
as a time of gathering strength and building reserves In order then to
develop even further, higher and stronger. As we wait for new growth,
we can prayerfully hold on to the hope that one day, through the gracious
work of the Holy Spirit, we will produce 'the harvest of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God' (Philippians
1: 11).By Richard Fisher of the Bible Reading Fellowship. For more information
about discipleship resources from BRF visit www.brfonline.org.uk and www.foundations21.org.uk
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| Christian
Aid 2010 Result |
The final total collected at St Marys this year was £2502
What can £2502 do?
It could provide 42 herds of goats to 42 villages. The goats fertilise the
land leading to much better crops. They also provide the villagers with
food, milk and a livelihood provided by selling excess milk, meat and the
baby kids. This money enables their children to have a uniform and books
which in turn means they can attend school, get an education and move out
of the cycle of poverty they are caught up in.
Or it could
Provide 52 community taps providing clean water to villages or areas of
large towns. Not only does this free people up from often travelling large
distances to fetch water but the water is clean and disease free making
enormous differences to the health and death rate in these communities.
MANY, MANY THANKS to all who collected or donated in any way this year.
Your help will change lives.
As Christian Aid says
'Your small change making a big difference.'
Andrea Sands
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Iona
- Our PILGRIM PLACES:
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Off the end of the Mull peninsula In the Inner Hebrides in Scotland lies
a smalL island, Iona. It is situated a mile from the mainland and Is Utile
more than three miles in Length and one mile in width. While it is very
likely that Ninian (died c.430) brought Christianity to southwest Scotland
around the year 400, we have much better historical records for what happened
at Iona.
In 563 a boat arrived at the island bringing a group of monks from Ireland.
They had braved the storms of the Atlantic Ocean since leaving the Irish
coast and their arrival in Iona began a new chapter in the history of Scottish
Christianity. Their arrival would also have important consequences for English
Christianity. The monks were led by Columba. He was born in county Donegal,
in the northwest of Ireland, probably sometime in the 520s. By birth he
was connected to Irish kings and he was schooled and trained in Celtic Christianity.
Patrick had founded the Celtic faith in Ireland in the previous century
and Columba was one of a number of outstanding monks and scholars that the
Celtic Church produced.
Although the details are uncertain, Columba became involved in controversy
about biblical manuscripts with another Celtic scholar, Finnian, who headed
a monastery at Clonard. If the traditions can be believed, this controversy
led to a local war and soldiers were killed. Columba was judged to be in
the wrong and he was forced into exile. With some fellow monks, he Left
Ireland by boat, bound for Scotland, and landed at Iona. It was indeed a
momentous event. Although there is evidence that Ninian had evangelised
parts of southwest Scotland, the inhabitants of the country, the Picts,
were pagans when Columba arrived.
For the next forty years Columba and his monks travelled and preached and
catechised and evangelised much of the south and west of Scotland. Iona
was their headquarters and Columba founded an abbey there. The little island
was soon recognised as a centre both of Christian spirituality and Christian
Learning. In Columba's lifetime and in the centuries following, Iona, in
spite of its isolation, became a place of pilgrimage. Columba and his monks
established churches and monasteries, ordained priests and appointed monks
according to the Celtic faith and customs they had (earned in Ireland.
Continued next month.
Dr Herbert McGonigle is Senior Lecturer in Historical Theology & Church
History at Nazarene Theological College, Manchester.
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| Where
does your time go? |
Have you ever got to the end of the day and wondered where the time has
gone? Days, weeks, months can fly past. Before we know where we are there
is another birthday or anniversary. Maybe it's time to pause and reflect
on the day or year, notice what is around, discover God in the middle of
it all. Here are some ideas you may like to try.
Listen - Try simply listening. Listen to whatever sounds are around with
complete attention for a few minutes. How many sounds can you hear? Is there
anything you have not noticed before?
Feel - Hold a smooth pebble. Take some time to feel the smoothness of the
stone. Look at its colour and texture. Feel its weight in your hand. Great
forces have gone into the making of your stone. Now it is small and still.
Hold it as you talk to God about what is in your mind.
Look - Let a candle, a cross, a picture or icon become a focus for your
attentiveness. Or sit in the garden and let a tree, leaf etc. be that focus.
Sit and look at it. Allow yourself to Look at it rather than think about
it. When you are ready, talk to God about what you see.
Breathe - Choose a short prayer or a few words from the Bible. Repeat it
in time with your breathing. The Jesus Prayer can be used in this way "Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, be merciful to me, a sinner".
Or simply, "Jesus". Try to breath naturally, without over breathing.
An empty chair - Sometimes a chair becomes something to pile things on to-a
bag of knitting, books, newspapers Take a chair and put it near the place
where you are sitting. In your imagination put onto it anything you are
finding difficult or heavy at the moment. Share it with God. Put onto it
anything that you are glad about. Appreciate it and enjoy God appreciating
it with you Or you may Like to simply imagine Jesus sitting on the empty
chair. Sit In his company. Talk with him if you want to. Tell him about
your day. Listen to him as well.
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| Praying
with Objects |
Have you ever watched young babies contentedly studying their surroundings?
Their eyes are attracted by colour, shape and movement. As babies grow into
toddlers and young children, this fascination with their environment continues.
Look at the way children's eyes light up with excitement as they discover
the veins in a fallen leaf, the sparkling trail of a snail across a pavement,
or the colours of a piece of silver paper catching the light. All too quickly
this fascination fades as the pressures of life and the need to achieve
take over.
This fascination with our world is a gift from God. It is always there for
us to take hold of again, if we can only pause amongst the hustle and bustle
of our busy lives. When was the Last time you looked with wonder, either
at a natural object, such as a seashell or a tree, or a manufactured object
such as a book or a pen? We take so much for granted, but looking with wonder
and gratitude can help to bring calm and a sense of inner peace into the
busyness of our world.
The next time you watch a DVD or listen to a CD, take a few moments to look
at the disc. Look at the colours reflecting off the surface. Look in wonder
as you ask yourself where this glorious rainbow of colours comes from. Think
about other times and places where you have seen these rainbow colours.
Spend a few moments thanking God for the beauty of the rainbow and feel
God's calming presence.
When you pick up a pen, why not spend a few moments thinking about the people
who designed the pen, the people who were involved in making it. As you
hold the pen allow yourself to marvel at the number of people involved.
Thank God for the way in which people work together to help others.
Pausing with an object and allowing your thoughts to turn to God in gratitude
can bring a moment of calm and prayerfulness in an otherwise busy day.
Lynn Chambers of Bible Reading Fellowship
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| CHRISTIANS
AGAINST POVERTY |
THIS IS ONE OF THE CHARITIES SUPPORTED BY OUR CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS.
Some 35 per cent of Britons who responded to a recent pan-European survey
on consumer debt felt that their borrowings were too high, relative to their
income. Only the Spanish (45 per cent) were in a worse position. So it's
heartening to know that the Church of England and other denominations, are
providing guidance for those worrying about their finances. It is estimated
that as many as seven million people in the UK are at risk of getting into
problem debt. Many of them won't realise how serious, and stressful, the
situation can become if it isn't kept under control.
Carol's story, for instance, is not uncommon. "We had a few credit
cards and a loan," she said, "but my husband Tony had a well-paid
job, so we could afford them. Then Tony got ill, it was awful and he was
laid off work. I had to reduce my hours to look after Tony." Things
went from bad to worse "and if we tried to talk about debt It would
always turn into an argument," said Carol. Then Carol's sister told
her about Christians against Poverty (CAP) whose support workers can visit
people in their homes (if they live within a certain distance of a CAP centre
there are 112 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) otherwise
one can phone 01274 760720 or email infocapuk.org) for advice and referral
to Local sources of help). For those visited at home, CAP will help to work
out a realistic budget and arrange affordable payments with each creditor.
A local 'debt coach' then keeps in touch with the client. A CAP account
is set up for the client (Like a simple bank account) into which the client
makes a weekly or monthly payment (CAP then pays the bills).
Low income borrowers using Home Credit (doorstep Lending) are being charged
some of the highest costs in the whole of Europe, according to a recent
BBC TV programme. Debt on our Doorstep' is a British campaign that is part
of a European Coalition for Responsible Credit.
Another social-justice group backing the campaign is Church Action on Poverty.
www. cofe.anglican . org/debt
www. capuk. org
www. debt-on-our-doorstep. comn
www.church-poverty.Org. uk
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| Isn't
it strange? |
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Isn't it strange how a £20 pound note seems like such a large amount
when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?
Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how
short they seem when you're watching a good movie?
Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying
but…you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?
Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of
the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games
but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?
Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks
before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it
for other events in the last minute?
Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share
it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat
gossip?
Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers
say but…we question the words in the Bible?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but…they don't
want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?
Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right
away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about
it twice before we share it with others?
Unknown
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| Alpha |
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This !s whet the papers say:
"What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is
permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions - life
and death and their meaning." The Guardian,
London
What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy-going, relaxed
feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success." The
Times, London
Many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier
for the experience." Time Magazine
Alpha is an unqualified triumph." The Daily
Telegraph, London
Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life." The
Express, London
This is what Jim from Kent said:
I do not come from a Christian background, I didn't even know anyone who
was a Christian, so when a work colleague invited me to an Alpha supper
I had to think about it for several weeks, because part of me was interested
in why people go to Church but part of me was very wary. When I walked
in on that first night, I thought the hall was going to be full of people
who all had grey hair and looked like they were sucking on half a lemon.
I couldn't believe it when I found the hall full of people of all ages
and all backgrounds, I remember thinking I don't know why I was so worried
about coming
( found the group discussion about the various Alpha talks each week a
really good chance to learn. One of the bits that I personally liked was
the fact that I could ask any questions and everyone was interested in
them.
When I came on the course I thought they might try and get me on some
sort of religious treadmill, but the Alpha course taught me that I could
have a personal relationship with God, and that God was but a prayer away.
I went on the Alpha course with an open mind expecting nothing. I still
find it hard to take on board the positive difference it's made to my
life, marriage and family. The Alpha course helped me to look at myself
as I really am, and helped me to love and respect other people, even those
I considered not my type. Considering how reluctant I was to go, I actually
found myself looking forward to the Alpha course each week.'
Want to know more?
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We have a new course about to begin (October 1st)
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