December Magazine 2020

1 | PGURC Magazine | December 2020 Issue

Palmers Green United Reformed Church

December Magazine 2020 For all people who seek and share the Good News of Jesus Christ Member of Churches Together in Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill

In this issue Worship Services and Church Diary – December 2020 p.2

Pastoral Letter – Melanie and Mark p.4

December Prayer Diary – Gill Whiting p.8

Our Mission Statement p.11

News of People and Events p.12

23rd Southgate Scout News – Ian Lamb p.20

Visiting Worship Leaders p.25

Provoking Poems – Harry Hunter p.26

Letters p.28

Notices p.30

Come to our Forest Church Christingle On Sunday 20th December - see pages 7 & 32 See pages 7 & 8


Date Time Service Worship Leader

Sunday, Dec 6th 11:00am Communion Service Revd Jim Gascoigne

Sunday, Dec 13th 11:00am Morning Worship Revd Melanie Smith

Sunday, Dec 20th 11:00am Morning Worship Revd Jonathan Hyde

Thurs, Dec 24th 11:30pm Midnight Communion Revd Jim Gascoigne

Friday, Dec 25th 10:30am Christmas Day Service Revd Melanie Smith

Sunday, Dec 27th 11:00am Morning Worship Revd Jonathan Hyde

These arrangements are provisional, depending on the latest Covid-19 regulations and Elders Meeting decisions.

BIBLE READINGS FOR DECEMBER 2020 WORSHIP SERVICES

6th December 13th December 20th December

Mark 1.1-8 Isaiah 40.1-11 Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13 2 Peter 3.8-15a

John 1.6-8 Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 or Luke 1.46b-55 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24

Luke 1.26-38 2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16 Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26 Romans 16.25-27

25th December 27th December Luke 2.1-20 Isaiah 9.2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2.11-14

Luke 2.22-40 Isaiah 61.10-62.3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4.4-7

W O R S H I P S E R V I C E S - D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0


Elders’ Meetings 2020 – (CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY) ➢ Wednesday 2nd December

Church Meetings 2021 ➢ To be advised

‘A Place for Coffee’ – (Opening Date to be announced)

Please also refer to the weekly Bulletin, available by email and by post, and to NewsShare email messages, for more up-to-date information about events.

C H U R C H D I A R Y

HALLS LETTING: Contact Mikayla Coote, Bookings Manager Tel: 01366 348190 | email: [email protected]

Please visit our website for more details - http://www.palmersgreenurc.org.uk/halls.html

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.palmersgreenurc.org.uk/halls.html


Merry Christmas

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6,7)

Now, as it’s coming up to Christmas and we’re sure that everyone ‘likes’ Christmas crackers and those awful jokes we usually get inside them…how about a question that may get us thinking as part of our cracker this time round?

Who was present at both Jesus’ birth and his death? Some of you will get the answer quickly – others may have to think a bit.

John 19:25 may give you some assistance: “Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother…”

The reason for asking the question is that in the reformed tradition we often do not seem to pay as much attention as, say, the Catholic church, to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Perhaps there is still something deep within us that, when we mention Mary, we are fearful that we may be thought of as someone that has wandered away from the true path – it’s all about Jesus, don’t you know, not Mary?

But can we not learn from Mary, as we learn from many others who are mentioned in our bibles, and as we learn from others mentioned in Church history?

Have you ever considered what it must have been like to have had Mary’s life?

From having an angel appear and announce to her when she was still a young child that she was going to give birth to the Christ-child, to

P A S T O R A L L E T T E R


watching over him as he grew up, to not understanding why he would want to stay in the temple and learn when he was still a boy. Then there were occasions when Jesus was teaching when it felt as if you were not wanted or needed…and we forgot to mention her encouragement to him to perform his first gospel-recorded miracle – turning water into wine at Cana.

For your child to then be hung on a cross while you watched – from near, or from afar?

What a journey Mary was on. And it doesn’t end there.

We discover that Mary too was present with those early disciples, praying with them as they waited for the day the Spirit was to come (Acts 2:14). Was she among the disciples when the Spirit was poured out? How did she feel, surrounded by people who walked with Jesus, her son, when in their prayers, in her prayers, they spoke to the God who Jesus called his Father?

As you look again at the Christmas pictures in this strange year, look again at Mary, the carrier of the Christ-child, and see if you might find new inspiration to carry Christ yourself into the year ahead – a year we all hope will bring change for the better.

Your ministers, Mark and Melanie

India Appeal 2020 (Enfield Churches) Many of you will recall that we launched an appeal for some of the projects that some of us have visited in India late last year as our 2020 Appeal.

We originally set the target for the Appeal at £3,000. This was later increased to £4,000 because of the coronavirus situation and the super-cyclone that Kolkata experienced.

Through Quiz Nights and other means during the course of the year the donations have increased, and we are pleased to report that the total now raised has been £5859.16 (as of 16th November 2020)


This is an incredible figure, and we are both very grateful to all of you who have given so much during the course of the year.

We’re very conscious that we have still only made a small difference to the work going on in India and the struggles the people there have to face – please do ask for a copy of the latest update on what’s happening from Friends of Cathedral Relief Services and we will pass it on to you - so we are leaving the Appeal open at the moment – you can donate at: www.give.net/IndiaAppeal

Thank you! Melanie and Mark

Green Tips in the Kitchen Did you know that just by using a lid to cover a pot on the stove top, you can reduce your energy use by up to two-thirds? It also allows you to heat food faster, saving you both time and effort.

http://www.give.net/IndiaAppeal


Simultaneously preparing more than one food in the same pot is another easy way to save time and energy. For example, while you’re boiling pasta you can easily steam some fresh vegetables over the top of the pan.

Before there were chemical-laden cleaning products on grocery store shelves, people used natural things to clean. Lemons have amazing antibacterial qualities and will leave your kitchen smelling fresh as a spring morning. Even tough stains on kitchen countertops can be removed by simply leaving lemon juice on the stain for a few minutes, and then wiping it away with a wet cloth.

Coffee grounds to spare? You can use them to help remove grease and stuck-on food remnants from your pots and pans. Just mix the grounds with a little water and the coffee’s abrasive, acidic properties will make relatively cleaning quick and painless.

Zoom Bible Study Our Zoom Bible Study continues to meet on Saturday 28th November at 10.30 am. The topic we are currently looking at is ‘Parables’ and we hope to finish the Cover to Cover book that we are basing our study on then, so that we can then follow an advent Bible study in December. If you would like to join the Bible Study Group, then please contact Mark for the Zoom sign-up instructions – you can join the group by phone if you wish to. Check the Weekly Bulletin for more information.

Forest Church Christingle We hope to hold (weather and restrictions permitting) a Forest Church Christingle on 20th December. Please see the notice on the back of this issue and consult the latest Weekly Bulletin for further details.

Front cover image (also shown right above) courtesy of christmasphere.com. See their website for more information about the history of Christingle at: https://christmasphere.com/what-is-a-christingle-service/ .

https://christmasphere.com/what-is-a-christingle-service/

https://christmasphere.com/what-is-a-christingle-service/


December Prayer Diary

Here is our monthly prayer diary for December, compiled by Gill Whiting. As well as a daily prayer topic there is a short bible passage which will tell the Christmas story day by day.

Fredwyn Hosier will be compiling January’s so please contact her if you have any particular prayer requests or ideas. If you would like to contribute and compile a list of prayers for February, please contact Melanie or one of the elders.

1 Luke 1 5-7 Today is World Aids Day. Pray for Christian Aid partners working to support those who are living with HIV to live a full and abundant life.

2 Luke 1 11-12 Today is the international day for abolition of slavery. Pray for those working to stop human trafficking. For those who are being exploited into forced prostitution, labour, criminality, marriage or organ removal.

3 Luke 1 13 Today is the International day of disabilities. Pray for those suffering with hearing or visual impairments, developmental disability, and those face with physical challenges. Pray for those who struggle with depression, mental confusion, fears and anxiety

4 Luke 1 18 This is National Grief Awareness Week. Pray for those you know, who have lost someone close to them in 2020

5 Luke 1 24-25

Today is International Volunteer day. Pray for those who give up their time for others. This year many

P R A Y E R D I A R Y


more have helped out the NHS and have responded to need due to the pandemic.

6 Luke 1 26-27

Pray for yourself and lay your fears and worries before God.

7 Luke 1 28 Pray for your family or for those who feel as close as family. Take time to pray for each member.

8 Luke 1 29-30

Pray for Gods Family the Church. Pray for our ministers, elders, organists, education leaders and caretaker.

9 Luke 1 31 Pray for people in your street, your neighbours, the postman/woman, Refuse collectors, the milkman/women and the delivery drivers.

10 Luke 1 32 Pray for those who appear in the national news today for whatever reason. Pray for the perpetrators as well as victims.

11 Luke 1 34-35

Today is the start of the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. Pray for our Jewish neighbours and friends as their celebrations cannot be the same this year.

12 Luke 1 38 Pray for vulnerable communities in Yemen, DRC, Afghanistan, Venezuela, the W. African Sahel, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Haiti who are facing chronic hunger.

13 Mat 1 18-19 Pray for a deeper relationship with Our Lord. Pray for personal guidance in the coming weeks

14 Mat 1 20-21 Pray for those who have lost their jobs in recent months. Pray for them and their families as they search for new employment.

15 Mat 1 24 Pray for all the different organisations attached to PG URC especially the different children’s groups. Pray for the children and leaders of the uniformed organisations and nursery.

16 Luke 2 1 Pray for those you see regularly in your neighbourhood; the shop keepers and supermarkets tellers; your GPs, pharmacists, opticians, dentists, barber/hairdresser etc


17 Luke 2 3 Pray for those who are in authority, the Prime Minister and the government. Especially pray for their advisers and officials.

18 Luke 2 4 Today is International Migrants day. Pray for those who have little alternative but to leave their homelands undertake hazardous journeys and those who receive them.

19 Luke 2 5 Pray for those who make the international news headlines today and pray for the needs of the world.

20 Luke 2 8 Pray for your local schools, children and teachers. Pray for your local hospital and its staff. Pray for the local Care Homes.

21 Luke 2 9 Pray for justice, safety and equality for our black communities. Pray for repentance, education and solidarity for those who chose to look away. Pray that we guard against indifference, ignorance, and silence in face of racism in any form.

22 Luke 2 10 Pray for those named in our church handbook on page 3 and 4. Pray for their spiritual, mental, and physical health.

23 Luke 2 11 Pray for those who are ill, those with Covid 19 and those waiting for test results.

24 Luke 2 13-14 Pray for your family and friends and for those you would love to spend some time with this Christmas. Pray they will be full of joy and hope.

25 Isaiah 9 6 Give thanks for the birth of the baby at the heart of Christmas Day. Pray for those who have to work today, those who keep us safe, warm, feed and entertained.

26 Luke 2 15 Pray for the various conflicts around the world in the Middle East, the Sahel, Mexico, India, Somalia, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.

27 Mat 2 1 Pray for those waiting for hospital appointments or operations. Pray for the surgeons and doctors trying to keep up with the needs.


28 Mat 2 9 Pray for all those struggling with money for their fears and concerns. Pray for those who are homeless. May they all find the support they need.

29 Mat 2 11 Pray for our Enfield and East Hertfordshire local area group of churches. That we may become stronger in our fellowship. That we continue to reach out and serve our different local communities.

30 Mat 2 13 Pray for forgiveness where we have failed this past year and ask for strength and courage to grow in faith this coming new year.

31 John 1 1&5 Pray for our hopes, for our family and friends as we move into the New Year.

Editor’s Note: The ‘Praying Hands’ image, also known as Study of the Hands of an Apostle, is a pen-and-ink drawing by the German printmaker, painter and theorist Albrecht Dürer. More information can be found about it online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer) .

We are a group of different people looking for

and finding, strength and meaning in God’s love.

You will always be welcomed gladly.

We worship and pray together.

We learn about God’s love and forgiveness

through Jesus, the Bible and with the help of each other.

Together we will work to make Jesus present

by loving actions done, and by loving words spoken,

in this church and beyond these doors.

O U R M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer)


ANNUAL CHURCH FORUM From Church Secretary - Martin van Staveren

Our Forum meeting for 2020 was held on Sunday 15th November, and due to the pandemic restrictions, the meeting took place online, with 21 members attending.

Fredwyn opened the meeting in prayer, reminding us that we were still a church even when we could not use our buildings, and that our worship and fellowship had continued throughout this year, just in different ways.

Three apologies for absence were received, and the minutes of the previous meeting on 16th February were agreed.

Church Family news was reported: PW was in North Middlesex Hospital after a fall at her care home; NM is recovering after emergency surgery last month; BS is still in the Beaumont care home; MO has a very painful shoulder and is waiting for a hospital appointment; P&DR are almost

N E W S O F P E O P L E & E V E N T S


recovered from Covid-19; D&HW are self-isolating at home after contact with Covid-19. Four members had died this year – BI, PO, CG and BA. All these were remembered in prayer.

Two new Elders had been nominated – Margaret Jenkins and Derek Wilcox – their appointments were approved by the meeting.

Finance and Fabric: The 2019 accounts were approved – this had been a good year, with a balance of £20000 in the Congregational account, mainly due to increasing halls income. The current year would be affected by much lower halls income due to the pandemic, but we should still break even by not putting money into reserves this time. Our requested payment to the national Ministry and Mission Fund for 2021 was up 10% to £55000 – this amount was approved by the meeting. On Fabric, risk assessments had been carried out before we re-opened in September, and improvements made to the manse before new tenants moved in.

Worship and Study: Online services during lockdown had been well attended, and pastoral care had remained strong. A monthly Prayer Diary had been re-started from this month. Prayers for guidance were needed as we think about the future of our church. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD OUR USUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCH THIS YEAR, BUT ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE TO DELIVER LUNCHES TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON 6TH DECEMBER. WE WOULD ALL BE INVITED TO JOIN A ZOOM MEETING ON THAT DAY FOR A SOCIAL TIME. It was hoped that the church could be open and the local community invited on Christmas Eve - either for prayer or a service, depending on what restrictions were in place. A Forest Church Christingle service was also planned.

Membership: We now had 81 members, after 4 deaths during the year. Brian Ball was accepted by the meeting as a member, following a recommendation from Elders.

Secretary: Due to the pandemic, worship in our buildings had not been possible for almost 6 months. But we were grateful to Mark and Melanie for online and postal services and prayers, and also to those who helped with distribution. Thanks to our Elders, especially Estelle who was stepping down this year, and to all those who have served the church in this difficult time, and those who have helped with pastoral care.


Minister: Our church’s life this year has been like none other. Times have been hard, as we were effectively a church without a building for 6 months. But worship and pastoral care continued. A second lockdown is now upon us. We need to pray and call on our spiritual reserves, as think about our church’s future.

A number of appointments to roles in our church’s life were approved. Dates for 2021 meetings will be announced in due course.

Any Other Business: In response to questions raised about our financial procedures, it was reported that we had not been able to find a new Treasurer, but hoped that a new Administrator for our Local Area Group would be able to deal with some routine property and finance matters when appointed . We tried to obtain quotations for work over £10K, but firms were often now reluctant to quote competitively. Our buildings maintenance contractor continued to be very late in submitting invoices, which is frustrating, but his work was of good quality, and he dealt promptly with emergencies as needed.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

Martin +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Church Christmas Lunch 2020 From Revd Melanie Smith

You are cordially invited to share in our Palmers Green Christmas Lunch on Sunday 6th December from 1.00pm - but this time from home!

Some folk have had the opportunity to opt into a lunch delivery service, but those of us who haven't, please cook your turkey (or nut roast), roast your potatoes, have a glass of something and cracker ready, and then be ready to join everyone else by phone or by computer at 1.45pm for a prayer of thanksgiving, share some cracker jokes and enter into the Christmas spirit. If you have a phone, hopefully by the time you've settled down to your Christmas pud (or pudding of choice), simply


dial 0131 460 1196 and then enter the meeting ID: 845 2180 0510 and Passcode: 621861 when prompted. If you have a computer, click on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84521800510?pwd=bkNES2p3Rng0QkRMamNtK2tGR0srZz09 or use the ID and Passcode above.

We realise that not everyone will be able or want to join on the phone or computer, but you are encouraged, as you eat your lunch on the 6th, to raise a glass to all our Palmers Green Church family. Happy Christmas!

Melanie

Editor’s Note: Toasting photo courtesy of krakenimages-7BpuzmcxIHU at Unsplash.com. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All Souls Day on 1st November and Remembrance Sunday on 8th November

Led by our Minister Revd Melanie Smith, the All Souls Day service was a special one to remember our own members who have died in the last year, and for all of us to remember any special people in our lives who have died recently. The service included Holy Communion.

The Bible reading was from Matthew 5.1-12 where Jesus speaks to the crowds from the mountainside saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”. Referred to as the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ blessings as The Beatitudes, the passage ends with “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84521800510?pwd=bkNES2p3Rng0QkRMamNtK2tGR0srZz09

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84521800510?pwd=bkNES2p3Rng0QkRMamNtK2tGR0srZz09


During the service, video recordings with music included the hymns ‘For all the saints who from their labours rest’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams and W. W. How, and ‘Christ be our Light’ by Bernadette Farrell. John Strange (shown previous page) also sang beautifully ‘For all the saints who showed your love’ by John Bell and Graham Maule plus a final hymn by John Parry, both to his own piano accompaniment.

This memorable communion service was attended by around two dozen worshippers who were seated well-apart and using face coverings. It was the last worship service we were able to hold in the Sanctuary before the current coronavirus lockdown 2 began on 4 November.

On Remembrance Sunday, our service (held on Zoom shown below) was led by both Melanie and Mark and joined by around 25 people, including those from other URCs in Enfield. Following a Call to Worship and prayers for those we want to remember, we kept silence simultaneously with the live ceremonies at the Cenotaph, which we viewed on our screens.

This was followed by a reading of the Lord’s Word from Isaiah 2.2-4 (ending with, “…nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”), a Reflection, and then Final Prayers.

Editor


Applying Government Restrictions during future Sunday Services

We are unsure as to when we will be allowed to worship again together in the Sanctuary but please note that when we are, the usual protocols outlined in the November issue of this Magazine will probably still need to be followed. This includes not attending if you feel unwell, wearing face coverings, sanitising your hands and keeping your distance from others. Please check the weekly Bulletin for any announcements. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

‘Cards for Good Causes’ shop ready to reopen when restrictions allow

As announced in the November issue, the shop opened on

Saturday 31st October (see photos right and next page), but due to new coronavirus lockdown measures, had to close four days later. Hopefully, we will be able to open again on Thursday 3rd December (10am- 4pm), so check the weekly Bulletin for any relevant notices.

We will have Christmas cards for at least 32 National Charities which include locally based Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and The North London Hospice. It is likely that the cards will still not be available after church services on Sundays, so please come during the week when you will be welcomed by our loyal band of volunteers.


This year, please note we are cashless: Credit or Debit Cards only. Cheques cannot be accepted. With any luck we will be open Monday - Saturday 10am- 4pm until Wednesday 16th December. All of our customers will be required to wear a face mask or covering, unless exempted. Use of hand sanitiser on entry will be mandatory.

Displays are spaced to allow for safe distancing. Please help us to help the charities. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

New Moderator of URC’s Thames North Synod nominated

The Revd George Watt (pictured right), Minister of Reigate Park United Reformed Church, has been nominated as the next Moderator of the Church’s Thames North Synod.

George was born and brought up in the Highlands of Scotland, living most of his childhood in the village of Lairg in Sutherland. He came to faith through the work of Scripture Union and was also nurtured through his local Church of Scotland and its youth fellowship.


His family moved to the Shetland Islands when he started studying at Stirling University where he gained a degree in history, but also studied economics, statistics and religious studies. On graduating, the minister moved to the Medway Towns in Kent where he started work as a statistician with Lloyds of London. He went on to become a computer implementation analyst.

George joined the URC in Gillingham and became an Elder at the age of 23. He met and married his wife Linda and then started training for the ministry at Mansfield College. His first pastorate was at Freemantle and Isaac Watts Memorial Churches in Southampton. In 1998, he moved to St Andrew’s, Cheam where he was minister for 12 years. George has been the Minister at Reigate Park Church in Surrey for the past ten years.

He and Linda have three sons: Nathan, married to Emily, who works as a BT consultant; Jacob who is studying medicine at the University of Aberdeen, and Reuben who is studying ethical hacking at Coventry University and is currently the URC Youth Moderator. George has particularly enjoyed being involved in local schools as a governor and leading collective worship. Recently, he provided moderatorial cover in the URC’s Southern Synod and serves as Synod Council Convener. In his spare time George enjoys cooking, gardening and walking.

Speaking of his nomination, George said, “I am really looking forward to working with and supporting the churches and ministers of the Thames North Synod. I am excited by the diverse nature of the Synod and all the richness that entails. In these challenging times I hope to be able to encourage the Synod in its witness and mission.” If approved by the Mission Council, George will assume the role after the Revd Dr Andrew Prasad retires in early 2021, having served as Synod Moderator since 2008. The Revd Dr John Bradbury, URC General Secretary, says, “George brings a wealth of experience of ministry, including having held some of the responsibilities of Moderator previously. He impressed the panel with his vision for the life of the United Reformed Church and his pastoral skills.”

Editor’s Note: This article was first submitted by Revd Melanie Smith and is reprinted from: https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3643-new-moderator-

of-urc-s-thames-north-synod-nominated.html .

https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3643-new-moderator-of-urc-s-thames-north-synod-nominated.html

https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3643-new-moderator-of-urc-s-thames-north-synod-nominated.html


Scouts in lockdown 2 From Ian Lamb – 23rd Southgate Scout Leader

The last time I reported on scouting was in the May issue, just after lockdown started, and our response then was to run a CampAtHome event using WhatsApp. After that we progressed to Zoom meetings - the Scouts Association negotiated free professional accounts for all scout groups, which has been a massive boon to us - and held these weekly until the first lockdown ended.

At this point we were given the option of meeting in groups of up to 15 scouts and 5 adults, and after working our way through quite a lot of paperwork we naturally enough started as soon as we could.

At the end of the scouting year - June - our senior group of 22 scouts grew too old for the troop and most moved up to Explorers. This was very sad because we had a very busy term lined up, including a Leavers Weekend especially for them, and the result of lockdown was that in place of an active term ending with a spectacular Goodbye weekend we ended up with a slow fizzle out as many did not like online meetings.

The troop is now 30 scouts.

Some troops in the district responded to the limit of 15 by inviting scouts to come along once every two or even three weeks. Our approach was to borrow the Outdoor Activity Centre in Bourne Hill, for which a big thank you is due to the 3rd Southgate Scouts who own and maintain it, and run two sequential meetings each of 15 scouts every Thursday.

At first we were confined to outdoor meetings only, but eventually were allowed to do indoor meetings. However, the scouts enjoy being outdoors so much that we never managed to make our way back under cover before lockdown 2 came along.

Our online activities consisted of quizzes, games, and conversations and our outdoor work has involved whittling, wood-cutting, fire-lighting, shelter-building, and lots of outdoor cooking, so if nothing else, what has

2 3 r d S O U T H G A T E S C O U T N E W S


come out of the pandemic is a group of young people who can cook bacon, sausages, soup, pancakes and other dishes without access to a kitchen and can survive in the wild.

Between the two lockdown periods we had an afternoon of kayaking on the Brent Reservoir and took part in the annual Chiltern 20 hiking competition. In view of the need not to have 400 young people and 200 adults in a school building all at the same time, this year it was a "Challenge," with each team walking on its own on one of numerous combinations of place, date, and time. Nearly half our scouts took part in this and all did at least one training hike in addition to the main event. (With all the hikes and the kayaking, we were out nearly every weekend during the period between the two lockdowns!)

We are now in lockdown 2 and back to Zoom scouting. Online scouting is only a fraction of the enjoyment of the real thing, for adults just as much as for young people. But we have had many comments from parents about how maintaining a presence during the main lockdown, when schools were closed, has been an enormous support to mental health, and how our online sessions, some lasting as long as three hours, were The Thing that Scouts looked forward to all week.

Online scouts


Hiking - a training afternoon reaching the 400-year-old Grimston Oak in Epping Forest

And doing what scouts do when they find a tree!


Run and jump (after careful consideration of distances) is the scouts’ way of crossing flooded footpaths on a bad-weather hiking day.

Our house in the woods


Getting ready to cook

Halloween When lockdown 2 ends we are planning a sponsored hike. This is to fundraise for the homeless and Memory Lane Café for people with Alzheimer's and their Carers, and replaces our usual (and much more challenging) pre-Christmas cardboard sleepout. We also plan a series of bike rides in the Lee Valley, and have every intention of returning to being a very busy troop, but without committing ourselves to travelling far until


we can be sure there will be no more sudden reversals of ‘freedom’ to meet and travel.

We have lost our main fundraiser for the Scouts Group - the jumble sale, which leaves us with the potential for a financially difficult situation. However, our parents are collecting unwanted clothing and shoes as we can sell these without having to hold a jumble sale. We are looking to collect these sometime in January or February, and if you would like to collect for us, we would be very grateful. When we have a fixed date, we will announce our collection system in these pages.

Ian

‘So deeply do we care’ was our worship theme on 25 October led by Mrs Kathleen Laing

Old Testament Bible readings were from Psalm 1 and Leviticus 19.1-2 and 15-18 in which the Lord, speaking to the people of Israel through Moses and the psalmist, praises those who follow his commandments that you shall love your neighbour as yourself and not be misled by those who bear grudges and take vengeance.

The New Testament reading from Matthew 22.34-46 records the meeting between the Pharisees and Jesus, where Jesus answers their question “What is the greatest commandment?” and Jesus answers “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”, and “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”.

V I S I T I N G W O R S H I P L E A D E R S


During the service, video recordings with music included a female voice singing ‘Morning has Broken’, a choir and orchestra performing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’, and a small string band playing and singing ‘Let there be Love’. The closing hymn ‘Jesu Jesu’ was beautifully played on the church organ by Robert Evans. It was a very inspiring worship service.

Mrs Kathleen Laing (pictured on page 25) is an Accredited URC Lay Preacher, a mother, grandmother and former foster parent, from High Cross URC Tottenham.

Acrostic Fruits By Harry Hunter

Fruits of the Spirit

Followers of Jesus Respond with love, spread joy. United In the Spirit They foster peace, Show patience, and don’t annoy.

Others’ burdens bearing Freely, gladly sharing

They act with kindness Hold fast to all goodness Eagerly affirm faithfulness.

Saints act with gentleness and Practise self-control; they endure Insults and injuries with Rejoicing. To be sure, If you abide in the Spirit, Then you are free from the law.

P R O V O K I N G P O E M S


Love

Liking just the people you get on with isn’t enough Often it’s hard to be unstinting with Christian love Valuing equally one who pleases and one who offends Enemies, awkward relatives, your ex, fickle friends…

Joy

Joyful for the possibilities this new day brings Often, inexplicably, your heart suddenly sings You soar over troubles on eagle’s wings

Peace

Prince of Peace, making my spirit whole Everlasting Father, stilling my restless soul Almighty God, eternally in control Counsellor most wonderful, keeping me secure Even in the midst of conflict, terror, war

Patience

Please, Lord, grant me: A temper that doesn’t easily flare Time to show others I really do care Inspiration, when I’m close to despair Equanimity, when life seems unfair Numerous blessings to ponder and share Calmness when problems seem too much to bear Even when I’m hectic, the time for a prayer.

Reprinted from https://harryhunteronline.com/acrostic-fruits-and-gifts/ .

https://harryhunteronline.com/acrostic-fruits-and-gifts/


Free Lunch, etc. on Christmas Day to Over-60s From Revd Melanie Smith

Yes - you read it correctly - over 60s can be nominated for a free Christmas lunch.

So if you think you know of anyone who would benefit - or indeed anyone who would be willing to deliver meals to over 60s on Christmas Day (it will be different this year, anyway!) then please use the contact details on the attached leaflet.

Yours, Melanie

Thoughts on November Pastoral Letter, ‘Memories of War’ From Brian Ball

Mark Meatcher’s Pastoral Letter ‘Memories of War’ in the November Church Magazine was a thought-provoking article. I would like to add some thoughts of my own.

Recently I’ve stopped to read war memorials, more than I ever used to. One, pictured below, that has really struck me is outside Enfield Civic Centre, commemorating the ‘Arctic Campaign’ of the Second World War.

L E T T E R S


There’s a special connection with Enfield as a former mayor of Enfield served in the campaign.

The Arctic Campaign was to supply Russia with vital food and armaments. Convoys, protected by the Royal Navy, sailed well into the Arctic Circle around the North Cape of Nazi-controlled Norway to the

port of Murmansk. We now think of this as the Land of the Midnight Sun. Yet the 24-hour daylight in the summer meant great danger for those convoys, while winter 24-hour darkness was accompanied by 40ft waves, raging storms and iced up ships.

The campaign lasted from July 1941 right through to 1945. Many thousands were killed and others suffered terrible injuries including frostbite. As it says on the memorial:

“All this effort to win the freedom we take for granted today”.

Brian

Enfield URCs’ Viewing Statistics From Mark Meatcher

The email that is being sent out weekly by Mark and Melanie containing weekly worship is being sent to 271 contacts. It is being opened by between 53% and 66% of people receiving it. In addition, hard copies of the weekly service sheet are being delivered or sent to at least 24 people each week.


‘Thought for the Day’ that Mark and Melanie issue by email occasionally is being sent to 27 recipients and being opened by 55% to 70% of those who are emailed. The Twilio Phone line set up is being regularly called by 6 people. The Enfield URC’s YouTube channel output has had 266 views in the last 28 days and 1400 views in the last 90 days. The top viewing figures over the latter period were for Adrian West’s service on 23rd August.

Data correct as of 8th November 2020

Mark

What’s Going on Here? Live Morning Worship in our Sanctuary is currently suspended, due to the current lockdown 2, but hopefully will start again on 6 December. A recorded version is still available every week online and includes Holy Communion on the first or second Sunday of each month. If you would like to access our online Sunday Worship for the first time, please contact our Minister so you can receive her email notifications each week.

If you do not have Internet access and cannot come to live services, there is still an alternative to the online worship services some of us have been using. Melanie and Mark are recording a short 7-minute message for each Sunday which you can listen to by ringing 020 3389 6021. There will be a new message every Sunday. The cost of making the call is the standard local call rate, which is often free in most peoples' phone packages.

We will continue to send out copies of our weekly Sunday Bulletin and Monthly Magazine by email. If you don’t currently get these, please ask Harry Goforth to add you to the mailing list. This will help us all to keep in touch with news of our Church Family and maintain our Church community life. Items to include in the Bulletin or Magazine can be sent to Jean and Harry, respectively.

N O T I C E B O A R D


WE SHARE OUR PASTORATE WITH THE PONDERS END and WINCHMORE HILL URCs. Listed below are contact

details for their Church Secretaries: Ponders End Church Secretary: Mrs Pat Lewis

[[email protected]] Winchmore Hill Church Secretary: Vacant

We are part of the Thames North Synod in which there are 122 United Reformed churches in six Areas, headed by a Synod Moderator. The United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom has approx. 1,354 local Churches, 13 Synods and 44,788 members. It meets every two years in General Assembly and has its central offices at 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1 9RT. Through our membership of the Council for World Mission we belong to the world-wide Church of Jesus Christ. This is a Reformed and Congregational body for international exchange in Mission. The United Reformed Church is one of 32 member Churches.

We are a member of Churches Together in Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill and Grange Park (CTPGWHGP). In partnership with Church of England, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Baptist churches in our neighbourhood, we aim to explore the Christian faith together, and witness to the Gospel.

Minister – Revd Melanie Smith e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0208 374 0509

Secretary - Mr Martin van Staveren e-mail: [email protected]

Treasurer (Interim) - Mr Brian Hosier e-mail: [email protected]

Palmers Green United Reformed Church is at the corner of Fox Lane and Burford Gardens, London N13 4AL and online at both www.palmersgreenurc.org.uk and www.facebook.com/PGURC/ . Our magazine is published monthly and is printed by ‘Office Interiors’ in Palmers Green using approx. 85% recycled paper.

MAGAZINE COPY DATES FOR JANUARY 2021 ISSUE Publication is scheduled on or before Saturday 26th December 2020. All copy, including Church Diary information, to be sent to Harry Goforth (preferably by email to: [email protected]) by Friday morning 18th December 2020.

A B O U T O U R C H U R C H




http://www.palmersgreenurc.org.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/PGURC/


December Magazine 2020

Documents

Transcript of December Magazine 2020