The Rock, May 2014 by Simon Douglas

The Rock

Magazine for the Parish of Tettenhall Regis

May 2014

Sunday Services at St. Michael’s

8am Holy Communion (last Sunday 1662) 10.30am Parish Communion 6.30pm Evensong

Sunday Services at Christ the King

9am (1st only) Holy Communion 10am (1st only) Family Service – no Communion 10am Family Eucharist 6.30pm (3rd) Healing Service

Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

10.30am

Monday 8.30am Tuesday 9.15am Wednesday 8.30am 9.30am 10.30am Thursday 8.30am

Worship together with Holy Communion Children’s groups most weeks.

Weekday Services

Morning prayer at St. Michael’s Eucharist at St. Michael’s Morning prayer at Christ the King Eucharist at Christ the King Eucharist at St. Michael’s Morning prayer at St. Michael’s

The parish online

St Michael’s:

www.stmichaels-church.org.uk www.facebook.com/stmichaelstettenhall

St Paul’s:

saintpaulspendeford.wordpress.com

Messy Church: www.facebook.com/messychurchtettenhallregis 2

A Christian Country? Democracy is often held up as a value and aspiration in itself, but to be effective it needs to be underpinned by a value system and a moral framework. The Christian heritage of our civilization, through many twists and turns and through many challenges, has given us the relatively humane, liberal, and accommodating society with its legal, educational, just and caring values.

It’s often said that we live in a multi-faith society – and who could argue? In our own city people of different faiths and of no religious faith live side by side and for the most part get along harmoniously. One can argue about the political motives for the Prime Minister David Cameron calling Britain a Christian Country but the heat of the debate that has ensued has been something to behold.

But with the loss of its Christian heart, our society, is in danger of disintegrating under the force of greed and selfishness, the reduction of value to monetary worth and the devaluing of justice, equality, the common good and human life itself. An absence of guiding values, opens the way for extremists who can point so easily to a moral vacuum and offer trenchant and sometimes violent alternative views which are indeed sectarian and divisive.

There is undoubtedly an aggressively secular agenda at work in our society and clearly those who are taking that forward felt extremely uncomfortable with the Prime Minister’s remarks calling them divisive and outdated. It is interesting that some leaders from other faith communities have responded with support for seeing Britain as a Christian country. Far from finding it divisive, they feel that their faith is valued in the context of a Christian country.

It is good that Christianity faces challenges from outside but it is important that we as Christians continue to shape the values of our society which owes so much to its Christian heritage.

Our Church Schools in the Parish – St Michael’s and the King’s School are both unashamedly Christian, but both have significant numbers of children from other faith communities. I have personally heard young people in the King’s School speak movingly of the value they feel that is given to their (non-Christian) faith precisely because they are in a Christian context. This is not secular pluralism but Christian hospitality providing community cohesion.

That influence can come above all if we allow Jesus Christ himself, his teaching and his example, to shape our lives, our attitudes our actions and our values. Richard Reeve

The Risks of Loving What amazing people! – Those people recently to be seen in a heart-rending and inspiring series on Channel 4: “15,000 and still counting”. The figure referred to the number of children at any one time to be found on the UK registers waiting for adoption. The three programmes followed the work of several social workers and adoption agency staff as they tried to find some of them new homes. In particular we followed the plight of seven year old Lauren who, with her younger brother, Liam, longed for a permanent adoption placement but feared, “What if they don’t like me?” But the astonishing insight for me was into the emotional costs that are faced and met by those who seek to place the children and of those who provide foster care for them in the meantime. One such wonderful foster couple, probably now in their seventies, had cared for over 100 children and for them each parting was like a bereavement. “I couldn’t do your job; I’m too soft-hearted”, someone had said to Tony. “Well what does that make me?” he asked us. Yet this big-hearted softee had put himself through the experience time and again was due to go through all the pain of letting go yet one more time, for the joy of knowing he had done what he could to give one more child a better life.

demand something of us. In a much smaller way these are the same sort of choices that Jesus faced in his ministry and passion, choices that were vindicated by God in his resurrection. “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.” (Luke 17.33) As we continue to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ risen life perhaps we might ask for his help to be less “risk averse” in our own living and loving. It was a privilege to share in worship at Christ the King during this Lent and Holy Week and to stand once more outside in front of the Cross on Easter Day, watching it being dressed with the lovely flowers that people had brought with them. Somehow all the efforts of the previous six weeks; the study groups, prayer packs, shared meals, children’s activities, Holy Week services and preparation came together as we glimpsed the wonder of God’s transforming love active, far beyond all our efforts and expectations and filling us with new joy and hope in our Risen Lord. Celebrations continue: In our next Community Praise service at Christ the King at 10.00am on May 4th we shall be giving thanks with the Brownies for a very big birthday - 100 years of the Brownies (and they don’t look it!) We are delighted to be home to two Brownie packs and look forward to

For me the series said a lot about the challenges we all face and the choices we have to make about “getting involved” with situations that may 4

celebrating with them and their families and friends.

Walker, Nathan Hall and Ciara O’Connor being confirmed – also Maggie Parry re-affirming her baptismal vows and James Sarpong being received into the Church of England. Our prayers are with them and all the other candidates at this important step on their journey of faith. The following Sunday is Vocations Sunday at which we shall be praying for all who are seeking to discern God’s call on their life. Perhaps it could be you?

Easter has traditionally been the time of preparing new believers for baptism and on that same day, May 4th there will be a Confirmation service at St. Michael’s church at 6.30pm at which around seven adults and eight young people from the parish will affirm their faith and be received as full members of the Church. From Christ the King district are Esther Oman, Hannah Perry, Daniel

Liz Rathbone

App of the Month Name:

Daily Prayer: The Official Common Worship App from the Church of England Developer: Aimer Media Price: Free (in-app purchases for offline content) Platform: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) Android Link: iTunes Google play Daily Prayer is the latest in a series of apps that Aimer Media have made on behalf of the Church of England. It provides the daily pattern of prayers and readings for morning, evening, or night, in either contemporary or traditional language. The app is free to download and includes access to online material up to one month in advance and there is the option to pay a small premium (£1.49) in order to access the material offline and to view up to 12 months in advance. For anyone who likes to pray ‘on the move’, it is a very useful app. Do you have a favourite app that you think we should all know about? Send a short review to therock@tettenhallregis.com 5

Christian Aid Week, 11-17 May door‑to‑door collection, which last year raised £12million.

Christian Aid insists the world can and must be swiftly changed 11–17 MA one where Y to everyone can live War tears lives apart. You can help piece a full from poverty. themlife, backfree together.

As a parish we have long supported Christian Aid week, which this year is from 11-17 May, by delivering envelopes to houses in our locality and returning a few days later to collect them.

DONATE £5 TODAY:

TEXT GIVE TO 60155* They seek to provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

There are a great number of people who give of their time to support this worthy cause, but there is always a need for new people. Our rep, Paul Holt (majumajo@btinternet.com) would love to hear anyone who could offer a few hours over the course of that week.

Printed on 100% recycled paper.

UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI059154. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid November 2013 14-803-J1945 F5021E

J1945 CAW14 SUPP A4 promo poster_EN_ROI_WLSH_AW.indd 1

*You will be charged £5, plus cost of one standard text. Christian Aid will receive a minimum of £4.96. By using this service you agree that we may contact you in future, unless you text OPTOUT to 60155. Donations can be made until 30/06/14.

11/12/2013 16:47

Each May they have a major campaign, raising awareness about the issues of poverty around the world as well as much needed funds, including a

Noah (cert. 12A dir. Darren Aronofsky) Darren Aronofsky’s take on one of the Hebrew Scripture’s most challenging stories is a good film which treats the Biblical material with sincerity and respect. Starkly beautiful with steady pacing it has an almost meditative quality, albeit punctuated by action and moments of violence. The focus on the family unit of Noah (played with depth by Russell Crowe), his wife Naameh and children plus only a few other major characters, around which a much larger story unfolds has echoes of classic cinema epics of the past. But it is a thoroughly contemporary film with extensive use of CGI, ecological sub-text and hints of magic (used as a kind of short-hand for the idea of blessing) aimed at audiences familiar with ‘A Game of Thrones’ etc. Not everything works well; the battle scene felt too much like a video game sequence and the costumes are completely out of time. The biggest artistic licence is taken with ‘The Watchers’; while their use in the film is not without justification (the idea comes from the Enoch, in the Apocrypha, and the Nephilim of Genesis 6.4) their portrayal is unconvincing and is the one time the film feels like it’s trying too hard to appeal to a block-buster audience.

However Aronofsky clearly has a deep knowledge of the Scriptures and engages with details from the first 11 chapters of Genesis to offer an imaginative but reasonable interpretation. For Christians whose only engagement with Noah is the cute and colourful Sunday School telling of the story this may be an uncomfortable watch. The film doesn’t flinch at the horror of the flood. The Creator is presented as awesome, fearful and ‘other’ – this is no Morgan Freeman version of God! Crowe does an excellent job of portraying the psychological cost to Noah of his task and of surviving while the rest of humanity is wiped out. The ambiguities and difficult questions are left hanging with no easy resolution and through the character of Ham (Noah’s middle Son) Aronofsky asks if it’s even possible to be fully human without the potential for pride, greed, violence and lust. Every work of art or reading of a Biblical story is an interpretation. This film is a thoughtful, sincere and faithful interpretation of the story of Noah. It’s not the only interpretation, but it is a more Biblical and honest interpretation than most presented in church! It’s also a great, enjoyable film. Jim Perry

Rogation Day Service, 25 May Blakeley Green House Trust warmly invite you to a Rogation Day Service at Blakeley Green House, Green Lane, at 3pm on Sunday, 25th May, followed by a short AGM, then tea and cake. During the service we will ask for God’s blessing on the gardens and animals of Blakeley Green House. 7

Maligayang pagdating!! (welcome) This is the first of a two-part reflection on my visit to Manila in February. These were the words with which we were greeted at every stage of our time in the Philippines, as at every place we visited, everyone, young and old, was so pleased to see us, of gratitude: “thank you for coming to visit” wrote one of the girls in a card. The Philippines is a country in crisis, and this immediate situation has been demonstrated to the rest of the world through the coverage of the catastrophe that was Typhoon Haiyan, or ‘Yolanda’, as it is known there. But elsewhere, too, this beautiful country is struggling under the weight of globalisation, of urbanisation, and of corruption. Much of our visit was centred on Metro Manila, a city estimated in 2012 to contain 12 million people, although

there has been a further influx from the country since the typhoon. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, with possibly as many as 40 000 people per square kilometre. UNICEF estimates that there are 150 000 children living on the streets, in ramshackle, precarious and unsanitary temporary constructions. Many have run away from often abusive family situations, although living on the streets leaves them vulnerable to further abuse. They work on the streets, scavenging, begging, trading or stealing.

Kanlungan We were visiting Kanlungan sa ER-MA, which was set up 25 years ago, to work with children living on the streets in Ermita-Malate, the then red-light district of the city. ‘Kanlungan’, which means sanctuary or refuge, takes a holistic approach to the problem, with a range of programmes, working with families, where possible. They run education programmes, on the streets, and in a community centre. They also have a children’s home, with intensive therapy and interventions. 8

They are keen to maintain family links, but children who are unable to return, for whatever reason, move to homes for boys and girls, where they undertake formal education. There are also further programmes being developed, to provide further training as well as income generation, a farm, a coffee shop, bakery, and bestbuy.

were looking to rehouse the community under the bridge.

Hope & Gratitude The abiding memories of my time in Manila is that of ‘hope’, that in the dark of the places we visited, we saw the glory of God shine out of the faces of the children.

Our visit We were there as part of Streetlight, a UK-based trust, established to support the work of Kanlungan. The trip was mainly concerned with visiting the projects, getting an awareness of them, but also to take money raised to fulfil their needs, including trips and equipment, as well as staff salaries. But we were also there to experience all their programmes, to spend time with the children and staff, that they might feel valued and supported in the incredibly challenging work that they do. We also visited 3 communities with whom Kanlungan work most closely: Smokey Mountain (the rubbish dump), a community living under a bridge and families living on the streets. Each of these communities had sprung up as a means of necessity, making use of the available space and recycling the rubbish of the city. These communities were also places of risk, to the health and welfare of the families that formed them. These communities also posed problems for the authorities who habitually disperse the families on the streets and who

“Thank you for coming, supporting, helping, visiting!” Next month, visiting Tacloban to see the destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. ‘Kouya’ Simon Douglas

Upcoming events: • A Big Welcome – 22 June, sponsored abseil off the tower, including to Streetlight. • St Paul’s Fun Run – Linzee Perry is taking part in the fun run, on 17 May, to raise money for Streetlight. • Cheese & wine evening – at St Michael’s church. Saturday 7 June, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 each. from Simon (01902 741028 | simon@sdouglas.org) Come and hear more about the trip, see some pictures and raise funds for Streetlight.

Election of Parish Officers At the Annual Parochial Meeting, the following were elected to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and respective District Church Councils (DCC): Parish Wardens: Parish Treasurer: Parish Secretary:

Dawn Parsons, Cyril Randles Chris Cooper Tracey Preece

St. Michael & All Angels District Wardens: Diocesan Synod: Deanery Synod: PCC:

DCC: Co-opted:

Roberta Evans, Paula Timmins Cyril Randles Peter Rowley Rachel Bruerton, Julie Burgess, Chris Cooper, Phil Deeming, Barbara Gollings, Ann Gough, Andrew Graham, Bob Jones, Stella Salt (ex-oficio), David Smart, Peter Stevens, Marcus Woodhouse Chris Dewey, Sandra Pickerill, Jon Preece, Kate Raven, Lisa Terry, Pat West, Sue Woodhouse Tony Elias

Christ the King District Wardens: Deanery Synod: PCC: DCC:

Dawn Corfield, Ivor Jones Jasmine Eldon, David Jacques, Keith Whitehouse Cheryl Bristow, Martin Bristow, David Parsons, Jeff Webster, Keith Whitehouse (ex-oficio) Joyce Lee-Whitehouse, Diane Phillips, Clare Reynolds, Ann Stanley, Phil Wadge

St. Paul, Pendeford District Wardens: Deanery Synod: PCC: DCC:

Eddie Baker, Joan Philips Eddie Baker, Ron McTurk Angy Bullock, Dot Clayton (ex-oficio), Susan Fisher, Greta Lowe, Helen Rhodes Laura Bloomfield, Bridget Campbell, Geoff Creswell, Michael May, Ron McTurkDel Moore, Steven Oxley, Joan Philips, Helen Rhodes

Patricia Mary Morris a grandmother and great grandmother. She gave the best loving start in life she could to her children and she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren too – a skilled embroiderer – she provided each of them with an embroidery and they used to come and be spoiled by her. Bringing up a large family was of course hard work and one of the memories her family have is that she ironed every day. She was also skilled at needlework, dressmaking and knitting.

Patricia Mary Morris, died on 29 March 2014 aged 88. She had worshiped weekly at St Michael’s for over 40 years. Her funeral Eucharist took place at St Michaels on 24 April The following is taken from the funeral address by the Rector, Richard Reeve Pat was the youngest of three children with two older brothers and was the last remaining of them. I’m told she was the studious one of the three – so when she left the local primary school in Turton she did so with a scholarship to Bolton School. Incidently Harold also gained a scholarship to Bolton school, and although the boys and girls school were separated, they did manage to meet one another on the tram car. Pat was a keen sportswoman and trained at Liverpool as a PE teacher. She enjoyed lacrosse and cricket and went on to represent Lancashire Ladies at cricket, playing at Old Trafford. Pat and Harold met up again when Harold came out of the Navy in 1947 and they were married in December of that year. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with you Harold after, by my calculation, 67 years of marriage.

Pat’s faith was always at the centre of Pat’s life and her family life, and she put her many gifts to good use in the service of God, of the church and of others wherever she found herself. She was faithful in worship, never missing a Sunday even on holiday. Amongst other things she was the enrolling member of the MU in Matlock. Here at St Michael’s she was a governor at the foundation of St Paul’s School, she led the Social committee organising parish suppers with after dinner speakers, a stewardship supper for over 300 guests. Members of the congregation have mentioned to me about ways in which she helped them become part of the life of the church as well – a lovely welcoming and thoughtful way she had. I only knew her in the last few years of

Family life involved quite a bit of movement and Pat was always skilled at making a new home. First in Bolton then Plymouth then Matlock and then here in Wolverhampton where Pat and Harold spent their last 45 years. Pat was a loving mother to Catherine, Anne, Tony, Steve and Mark and in due course 12

throughout she faced life with faith and with grace – not complaining about her situation. She enjoyed remarkable love and care from Harold whom we uphold today. For the last ten days she enjoyed excellent nursing care at Atholl House. She chose not to go back into hospital, and was in a sense ready to go, trusting in her Saviour and not fearful of death. She was anointed and surrounded with prayer at the end of her life and died peacefully with her family around her. A good life and a good death.

her life, but her witness at the heart of church life was an inspiration to me, frail as she was she would do her utmost to be at church, and when she was too ill to be at church it was always a pleasure to visit her at home, because of the appreciativeness and grace she showed even in the most terrible circumstances. There are lots of good memories of Pat, trips to Poole, to the lifeboat headquarters, watching cricket (especially when Mark was playing), trips to La Presta in Swizerland; family gatherings and Pat loved to have the family together. Even a wave from the Queen who happened to pass by on a visit to Matlcok as Pat stood outside the church in Matlock with Bishop Tom taking shelter from the rain.

The eucharist which nourished and sustained Pat through her life was for her and is for all who come to Christ with faith a promise and a participation in things to come in the place Christ promised to prepare.

I’ve hardly mentioned Pat’s teaching career but she taught at several different schools, amongst them in Wolverhampton, St Stephen’s Heath Town, St Lukes Blakenhall, and latterly Castlecroft which she liked best and from which she finally retired.

Especially in the Easter season we celebrate Christ sharing in our life, our suffering and our death and leading us through to new and risen life. With confidence in him, and his love stronger than death, and with the witness of Pat’s faith we can entrust her to him.

So we have a great deal to be thankful for in Pat’s life. Her faith in Christ inspired and guided her life. Anne mentioned to me the saying of Christ which was a guide to Pat, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Something she lived by and taught her family.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

She had her share of sadness and struggle, not lest the loss of Tony, and of course the decline in her health, but

Amen. Richard Reeve

Parish Calendar for May 2014

Friday 2 May

Sunday 4 May

7.30-9pm –

St. Michael’s Youth Group, Church Cottage

Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2.14a, 36-41, Psalm 116.1-3, 10-17, 1 Peter 1.17-23, Luke 24.13-35

6.30pm – Confirmation

Michael & All Angels

service, with Bishop David Bentley, St.

Thursday 8 May

8pm – St. Michael’s Church Cottage

Children & Young People’s Committee,

Sunday 11 May

Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2.42-47, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2.19-25, John 10.1-10

3pm – Marriage

Forum, St Michael & All Angels 7.30pm – St. Paul’s Worship & Ministry Team,

Monday 12 May

Wednesday 14 May

Friday 16 May

Saturday 17 May

Archdeacon’s Visitation, St. Benedict Biscop, Wombourne 7.30-9pm – St. Michael’s Youth Group, Church Cottage 11am – St. Paul’s Community Fun Run, Pendeford Square

Sunday 18 May

Fifth Sunday of Easter

St. Paul’s Vicarage

7pm –

Acts 7.55-60, Psalm 31.1-5,15-16, 1 Peter 2.2-10, John 14.1-14 3pm – Marriage

preparation, Church Cottage 6.30pm – Memorial Service, St. Michael & All Angels Tuesday 20 May 7.30pm – PCC meeting, The Oasis Café, St. Paul’s Church

Sunday 25 May

Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17.22-31, Psalm 66.7-18, 1 Peter 3.13-22, John 14.15-21

3pm – Rogation

Tuesday 27 May

Thursday 29 May

Day Service and AGM, Blakeley Green House 7.30pm – St. Paul’s DCC, The Oasis Café 7.30pm – Ascension Day Eucharist, St. Michael & All Angels

Upcoming events St Michael’s DCC, Church Cottage Sunday 8 June – St Paul’s Treasure Hunt, TBC 4-6pm – Messy Church, Christ the King Sunday 22 June 12-3pm – The Big Welcome, St. Michael & All Angels Saturday 28 June 11am-2pm – Arts & Crafts Fayre, The Oasis Café, St. Paul’s Church

Thursday 5 June

7.30pm –

From the registersâ&#x20AC;Ś

Baptisms

April 27

Rachel Elizabeth Stevens

Funerals S t. Michae lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Ronald Nicholas Wright

Valerie Guest

Michael Morgan

Patricia Morris

Bushbu ry C rematoriu m

Joan Stirling

Olive Armitage

Sibyl White

Harry Morgan

Eva Garrington 15

Parish Information Parish Office, Church Cottage, Church Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 9AJ tettenhallregis@gmail.com | 01902 751622 The office is open 10am‑12pm Monday-Friday.

Clergy Rev’d. Richard Reeve. . . . . . . . . . . . 742801 Rev’d. Liz Rathbone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562469 Rev’d. Jim Perry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562133 Rev’d. Patrick Bryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 689550 Readers Mrs. Stella Salt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 751407 Mr. John Vickers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651790 Mrs. Dot Clayton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780920 Mr. Keith Whitehouse . . . . . . . . . . . 831135

Rev’d. Simon Douglas . . . . . . . . . . 741028 Rev’d. Allen Roberts. . . . . . . . . . . . . 765741 Rev’d. Jack Lloyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 765612 Rev’d. Ruth Brooker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399644 Mr. Peter Rowley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 751762 Mrs. Christine May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397031 Mr. Marcus Woodhouse . . . . . . . 759379

Parish Wardens Mr. Cyril Randles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758797

Mrs. Dawn Parsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822390

St. Michael District Wardens Mrs. Roberta Evans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758711

Mrs. Paula Timmins. . . . . 07782 512013

Christ the King District Wardens Mr. Ivor Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753960 Mrs. Dawn Corfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753433 St. Paul District Wardens Mr. Eddie Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 829040

Mrs. Joan Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785844

Magazine Contacts St. Paul’s Mrs. Sue Ellick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 578822

Christ the King Mr. Martin Bristow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833411 St. Michael’s currently vacant Subscription & Distribution Mrs. Elaine Dovydatis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757775

The June edition of the Rock will be available on Sunday 1st June. All contributions by Friday 23rd May to therock@tettenhallregis.com The views and opinions in the magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the clergy, editor or PCC. The electronic version of the magazine is sent via email 12 times a year, at no cost. To subscribe go to: http://stmichaels-church.org.uk/rock/ A paper copy is available, costing £3 a year for 12 copies. Speak to one of the contacts.