OUR COMMUNITY

ST . T HOMAS’ CHURCH, KE RE SLE Y, AN D KE RE SLE Y V I LLAGE COM MUN I T Y CHURCH

www.st-thomas-keresley.org.uk

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 /

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1

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Inside this issue:

St. Thomas’

Calendar and

Notice Board

2

Local news 3

A very special gift? 4

St Thomas’ past 5

Keresley Village

Community

Church Calendar

6

What’s the big

idea 6

Parish Register 7

Mouse page 8

Star 8

At Christmas time,

when we receive

presents we don’t really

need, God offers us

a gift we cannot do without.’

Rejoice O world!

your Saviour has come

A warm welcome is extended to all to come and celebrate the

Christmas season at our churches of St Thomas and

Keresley Village Community Church. In the midst of the

cutbacks and the threats that dominate the TV news we can take

the opportunity to focus on the good news that is in Jesus, born to

bring salvation to the world.

Nativity service at St Thomas‘ on Sunday

19th at 10.30am. Carols by Candlelight is

at 6pm, where we focus on the bible

readings to remind us again of the

wonderful promise of God fulfilled by the

birth of Jesus and the example we can

follow, and rejoice

with familiar and

well loved carols.

School holidays

have begun, so

have some fun at

Make‘n‘take at St

Thomas‘ on Monday

20th and KVCC on

Tuesday 21st.

On Christmas Eve

there is a crib

service in the

afternoon where

children and their

families can enjoy

the simple and

joyful story of the

first visitors to the

stable and the baby

born.

At 11.30pm in the

quiet of the night we

take our first

communion of

Christmas and greet

each other with joy.

At 10am on

Christmas Day,

Steve and Jo Medley

will lead a lively

family celebration at

St Thomas.

Messy Church at KVCC on Sunday

12th at 2pm will be exploring the

nativity; craft, food, fun and fellowship

for all ages.

The Sunday school will be leading a

DECEMBER 2010 / J ANUARY 2011 P AGE 2

Saturday 25th—Christmas Day 10am Family Celebration. Steve and Jo Medley

Sunday 26th 10am Family Communion. Rev John Horton

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS ONLY ONE SERVICE TODAY

January Sunday 2nd 9am Holy Communion

10,30am Family Service. Ministry Team

Sunday 9th 9am Holy Communion

10.30am Family Communion

Sunday 16th 9am Holy Communion and hymns

10.30am Family Worship. Ministry Team

Sunday 23rd 9am Holy Communion

10.3am Holy Communion

Sunday 30th 9am Holy Communion

10.30am Family Communion

February Sunday 6th 9am Holy Communion and hymns

10.30am Family Service. Ministry Team

December Sunday 5th 9am Holy Communion and hymns. Rev Elizabeth

Kerr

10.30am Christingle Family Service. Pete Hudson and

Ministry Team

Sunday 12th Our visiting minister today is Rev John Horton, non-

stipendiary minister at St Giles Exhall

29am Holy Communion. -John Horton.

10.30am Holy Communion and Baptism. John Horton

4pm Messy Church. An informal service for everyone.

At Keresley Village Community Church.

Sunday 19th 9am Holy Communion and Carols. Rev Alastair Kirk,

Chaplain at the University of Warwick.

10.30am Nativity Service. Steve Medley and the Sunday

school and young people

6pm Carols by Candlelight

Monday 20th 1.30-3pm Make‘n‘take, all age Christmas crafts

Friday 24th—Christmas Eve 3pm Crib Service. Steve Medley

11.30pm Midnight Communion. Rev Becky Welch

C H I L D R E N A N D Y O U N G P E O P L E

DECEMBER 2010 / J ANUARY 2011 P AGE 2

Sunday Morning Activities at St. Thomas’ 10.30am (during term time)

1st Sunday Family Service in Church

2nd Sunday 3-11s, Sunday School in Galilee Room,

11+, Pathfinders in the Church Hall.

All join the service around 11.25am

3rd Sunday All ages start in Church

4th & 5th 3-11s, Sunday School in Galilee Room,

11+, Pathfinders in the Church Hall

All join the service around 11.25am

This pattern may change occasionally for special services.

ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH CALENDAR

First Steps . . . with Jesus

For babies and pre-school children

with their parents and carers

Meets in the Galilee Room, weekly

in term time

Mondays 1.30-2.30pm

Uniformed Groups Meet in the Church Hall :

9th Rainbows, Mondays, 6-7pm

13th Brownies, Mondays, 6.00 - 7.30pm

9th Brownies, Wednesdays, 6.00 - 7.30pm

9th Guides, Thursdays, 6.30 - 8.30pm

Meet in the Scout Hut:

41st Cubs, Mondays, 6.45 - 8.30pm

41st Scouts, Tuesdays, 7.00 - 9.00pm

41st Beavers, Fridays, 6.00 - 7.30pm

(for 6-8 year olds ) Thursday at St T’s

For 5-11 years Meets in the Galilee Room On Thursdays From 6pm to 7pm

new flavour

Thursdays

7.30pm to 9pm,

Galilee Room,

School year 9 upwards

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 3

Christmas Choir Would you like to sing in the choir for the Carols by

Candlelight this year? We are aiming for four practices

meeting on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The dates remaining are:

Saturday December 4th 10am

Friday December 10th at 7pm

Friday December 17th 7pm, with band

Singers of all ages and abilities are

welcome; if you would like to take

part this year please give your

name to Heather Hudson or Jo

Medley. .

New Bookshop, new book

CLC took over the former Wesley Owen bookshop last

December and have moved to a new and

prominent location as part of their re-brand and

modernisation. The CLC bookshop opened its doors in

September at 1 City Arcade selling Bibles, Christian

books, CDs, cards and gifts, but was officially opened

by Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop

of Coventry on Saturday 13th November.

CLC Bookshop Manager, Angela Adams, was

delighted that Bishop Christopher chose to mark their

official opening with the launch of a local book of

more than local importance; a book which will inspire

21st Christians to keep Love, Prayer and the Holy

Spirit at the heart of the Church.

'Fire in Coventry' by Stephen Verney, is a book which

looks forward not only to the new Coventry Cathedral

as an icon of hope rising from the ruins, but also to

the call for a renewed people preceding the

consecration of their new Cathedral in 1962.The new

edition of this spiritual classic has a substantial

introduction by Bishop Christopher

The Right Reverend Stephen Verney (1919-2009) was

Diocesan Missioner in the Diocese of Coventry from

1958 to 1964, the year in which ‗Fire in Coventry‘ was

originally published. He then joined the staff of

Coventry Cathedral as a Residentiary Canon until

1970 when he left the city. In 1977 he was

consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Repton in

theDiocese of Derby

Interviewed shortly before his death last year at the

age of 90 Bishop Stephen said ―I began to see that...

the great fire which burnt down the heart of

Coventry... was not the end for the Cathedral but a

new beginning‖ .

Christmas Make’n’Take

All age craft event

Monday 20th December, St Thomas’ Church (or Tuesday 21st at KVCC)

1.30-3pm

Come along, have fun, make things for Christmas. Then join in with songs and mince pies at the end

CORD award

I nternational aid charity CORD has been awarded

the prestigious Coventry International Prize for

Peace and Reconciliation 2010.

The Leamington-based charity was founded in 1967

as a direct response to the humanitarian situation in

the war zone of Vietnam.

Since then it has developed its expertise working

alongside people displaced by violent conflict in 26

war-torn countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan,

Rwanda, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of

Congo, assisting millions in peacefully and sustainably

rebuilding communities.

Messy Church is on

Sunday

12th December

at KVCC

from 2pm to 4pm.

Come and celebrate the Christmas story

with us. Fun, activities and food. For all the

family.

Christmas Fayre A grand total of £694.55 was raised at the

Christmas Fayre in November.

A big thank you and well done to all involved

for all your hard work in make this such a

success.

WANTED—Plastic milk bottle tops Jacqueline Quinn is asking people to save their

plastic bottle tops and bring them along to church

for her to collect.

A friend of their family needs a wheelchair but can‘t

afford to buy one. They have been told by the

company that if they can collect the weight of the

chair in plastic bottle tops they can have it for free.

DECEMBER 2010 / J ANUARY 2011 P AGE 4

A Very Special Gift?

G eorge asked, ‘My dad’s so rich that I don’t know

what to get him for Christmas. What do you give to

a man who has everything?’ Harry replied, ‘A burglar

alarm!’

It‘s not easy buying Christmas presents for others,

especially in times of economic uncertainty. However,

let‘s not forget the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ.

Our gifts at Christmas mean very little unless they point

at the greatest gift of all. This was certainly true of the

gifts given to Jesus by the Magi.

‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his

mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped

him. Then they opened their treasures and presented

him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.’

Matt 2:11. These were just the kind of gifts that visitors

from the east might bring, as they were all traded in

this region. They were also very expensive gifts,

including gold, frankincense (a plant gum resin used in

incense) and myrrh (another gum resin used for

perfume). Although all very familiar, they help us to

understand God‘s gift of Jesus:

Who is he? Gold is a gift fit for a king. In Jesus we

see a king in baby clothes. The worship of the wise men

was costly, not only in terms of their gifts but also for

their lives.

What did he come to do? Frankincense was used by

the priests in the temple as part of the sacrificial

system. Jesus, as the ultimate priest, is the one who

came to bring God and man together in reconciliation.

He can do this because he is both divine and human.

What did it cost him? Myrrh was used to embalm the

dead. This gift reminds us that the baby of Bethlehem

would die on the cross to give his life for us. The wood

of the crib and the cross are the same wood!

The wise men offered him costly gifts; what are we

going to offer him this Christmas? Jesus is for us:

the Christ, the king who came to rule us and take

care of everything.

the Lord, who‘s not just a person like me but he‘s

God as well.

the Saviour, the one who came so that we can be

friends with God.

‘At Christmas time, when we receive presents we

don’t really need, God offers us a gift we cannot do

without.’ (J John)

Chile miners: the 34th man

T he Chilean miners have emerged from their

ordeal testifying to the presence of Jesus with

them, according to a CMS mission partner on the

scene.

The Rev Alfredo Cooper, chaplain to President

Sebastian Pinera, told BBC Radio Five Live that the

miners had a sense of Jesus being the 34th man in

the collapsed mine.

"Many of the miners went down as atheists,

unbelievers or semi-believers and they have come up

to a man testifying that they were not 33 but that

there were 34 down there - that Jesus was there with

them and that they had a constant sense of his

presence and guidance," he told Five Live's Peter

Allen.

Challenged by Allen that if divine intervention had

saved the miners, divine intervention must have put

them down there in the first place, Alf gave a careful,

clear response.

"Man is subject to accidents and all sorts of problems

thanks often to his wilful negligence, as was the case

in this mine. There are consequences when you don‘t

care enough for people. And of course in those

situations people tend to cry out to God... And the

interesting thing is God has answered."

Alfredo Cooper paid tribute to the work of all the

scientists, engineers, politicians and press, who had

contributed to the successful rescue of the miners.

"We see the hands of all these magnificent experts all

around, the good will of so many people

internationally and the brilliant coverage of the press.

We would suggest that all this works together for

good, that certainly as we prayed God has guided in

remarkable ways – even the scientists.‖

Alf helped to lead the country's prayers for the

trapped miners since the beginning. He described

how he had convened an emergency prayer meeting

at the presidential palace, and how the president had

asked for a service of thanksgiving when it was

discovered that the miners were still alive.

A New Year’s Resolution To begin with oneself,

but not to end with oneself;

To start from oneself,

but not to aim at oneself;

To comprehend oneself,

but not to be preoccupied with oneself.

By Martin Buber (Austrian born Jewish

philosopher)

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 5 OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 5

My dear Friends

When this magazine comes into your hands the New year will have started, and it is most sincerely that I hope it will be a really happy one for you all. We have many perplexities to face, personal, national and international and through lots of them we can see no clear way: but we Christians have a sure conviction that God’s Hand is not weakened and that through Him justice and peace can triumph if only men will allow Christ's principles to guide their lives. This is an axiom of the Christian Faith, and as we try to live by Christ we find it true in practice.

“the words that one by one the touch of Life has turned to truth”

as Henry Newbolt, one of our modern English poets puts it.

And the last week has provided a striking illustration of this, in Mr Anthony Eden’s work at Geneva in the dispute between Hungary and Jugo-Slavia. The train was laid for war and feeling was rising high, till Mr Eden brought the spirit of conciliation and spoke and acted in so Christian a way that a settlement was reached in a few hours.

Because of our faith we start the New Year with hope because we know God's power: let us resolve that He shall have more influence in our lives this year, and the influence will then radiate to others and leaven the world.

Yours affectionately

G H Roper

St Thomas’ Keresley and Coundon January 1935 and the Vicar, Rev G H Roper begins his new year letter with a reference to very real

historical developments of the time. However, his urging to the parishioners to .‖leaven the world‖ is still

as relevant today

Left out in the cold

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services each week, stopped going. After

a few weeks, the minister decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The minister found the man at home

alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his minister‘s visit, the man welcomed him warily,

led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The minister made himself comfortable, but said nothing.

In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minutes, the minister took the

fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly

burning ember and placed it to one side of

the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in

his chair, still silent. The host watched all

this in quiet fascination.

As the one lone ember's flame diminished,

there was a momentary glow and then its

fire was no more. Soon it was cold and

dead and dark. Not a word had been

spoken since the initial greeting. The two

men sat on in reflective silence.

A little while later, just before the minister

was ready to leave, he picked up the cold,

dead ember and placed it back in the

middle of the fire. Immediately it began to

glow once more with the light and warmth

of the burning coals around it. As the

minister reached the door to leave, his host

said, "Thank you so much for your visit and

especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be

back in church next Sunday."

DECEMBER 2010 / J ANUARY 2011 P AGE 6

1 & 2 Kings (like 1 & 2 Samuel) was originally a single

literary work called Kings, the division being

introduced by the translators of the Septuagint. The

books tell the history of Israel‘s monarchy from the

end of David‘s rule until the time of the Babylonian

exile following the fall of Jerusalem in 586. After

Solomon‘s reign, Israel divided into two kingdoms,

Israel to the north and Judah in the south. In the north

20 rulers represented 9 dynasties during the 210

years from the division of the kingdom until the fall of

Samaria in 722–721 BC. In the southern kingdom

there were also 20 rulers, all descendants of David,

spanning a period of 345 years.

This account of Israel‘s kings is not like reading a

modern history book. The author views their story

through the lens of God‘s covenant with his people.

The welfare of Israel and its leaders depends on their

trust in God, obedience to his laws and giving attention

to the prophets.

Therefore, the kings who receive the most attention

are those whose disobedience is greatest or who truly

follow God. Ahab is an example of the former (16:29—

22:39). His reign is mentioned, not because of its

political importance, but due to his unfaithfulness to

God. Manasseh (2Ki 21:1–18) is a similar example

from the southern kingdom. On the other side,

Hezekiah (2Ki 18:1—20:21) and Josiah (2Ki 22:1—

23:29) are recorded as kings who renewed the

covenant.

All of this suggests that the book was written to show

those in exile the consequences of breaking God‘s

covenant. By bringing the exile upon his people, God‘s

warning of the consequences of disobedience is

fulfilled for both kingdoms (cf Dt 28:64–68). However,

this does not mean that there is no hope for the

future.

Sunday 26th No service today

January 10.30am service each Sunday, details to be confirmed

Regular Meetings Mondays 5-6pm Trailblazers Children's Club

Tuesday afternoons 1.30-2.45pm First Steps, for babies and pre-school children with their

parents and carers, during term time

Wednesday 7.30-9pm ‗Drop-in‘ Centre for teenagers

Fridays 5-6.30pm monthly. Friday Church, usually meets on the first Friday of the

month.

P AGE 6

December Sunday 5 tj 2nd Sunday of Advent 10.30am Family Service. Mr Nik Stevenson

Sunday 12th 10.30am Holy Communion. Rev James Jasper

2-4pm Messy Church

Sunday 19th 10.30am Carol service. Rev Andrew de Ville

6pm Carols by Candlelight at St Thom‘as‘ Church

Tuesday 21st 1.30-3pm Make‘n‘take Christmas all age crafts

Friday 24th—Christmas Eve 3pm Crib Service at St Thomas‘ Church

11.30pm Midnight Communion at St Thomas‘ Church

Saturday 25th, Christmas Day 10am Family Celebration with Steve and Jo Medley at St

Thomas‘ Church

KERESLEY VILLAGE COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICES

What’s the Big Idea? - An Introduction to the Books of the Old and New Testaments: 1 & 2 Kings, Galatians

and Ephesians

In the final four verses of the book, Jehoiachin‘s

release from prison in Babylon and his elevation to a

place of honour is recorded (2Ki 25:27–30). The

future remains open for God to fulfill his promise to

the house of David. ‗We begin to realise that if God‘s

sovereignty is never cancelled out by the so deeply

sin-flawed leaders (‗kings‘) in both our culture and

our church, we can quite cheerfully exult in God‘s

sovereignty as it is being exercised in all the

circumstantial details of the actual present‘ (E

Peterson).

Galatians It‘s easy to see how religion can be used to control

people‘s lives! Paul‘s letter to the Galatians has

been described as the ‗Magna Carta of Christian

Liberty‘, because it emphasizes the freedom that we

can know through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul

vigorously defends the essential truth that people

are justified (‗made right with God‘) by faith in Jesus

Christ alone. Our standing with God is not

determined by what we do, but by dependence on

what God has done by the grace and power of Christ

and the Holy Spirit.

The date and destination of Paul‘s letter are

disputed. One view holds that Paul wrote this letter

in the mid 50s to the churches in north-central Asia

Minor that he visited on his second missionary

journey. More generally, it‘s believed that he wrote it

in 48/9 to the churches in the southern area of

Galatia, which he planted on his first missionary

journey. In this case the letter would have been

written before the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15),

making it the earliest of Paul‘s letters.

However, there is general agreement about the

problem Paul is dealing with in Galatia. When he left

(Continued on page 7)

OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 7 OUR COMMUNITY P AGE 7

Regular Activities in the Church Hall NB the Church Hall is not usually available for late night

Discos

Pre-school Playgroup:

Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 11.30am and 12.30pm –

3pm

Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts meet on

weekday evenings. See page 2 for details.

PARISH REGISTER

THANKSGIVING 20th November

Harry Peter Jacob Viner

and Alexander Blue Alfie Viner

Isobel Leigh Heritage

BURIALS 25th November:

Pamela Jean Troth aged 79 of Rupert Road

WEDDING 3rd December:

Stephen Christopher Garrett and Rachel Woodward

the new converts, Jewish-Christians (or Judaizers)

advocating ceremonial practices of the Jewish law,

including circumcision, in addition to the cross of

Christ as a means of salvation. They also

undermined Paul's authority as an apostle, by

asserting that he had not been trained by Jesus

and that his gospel did not agree with the original

apostles in Jerusalem.

In response, Paul defends his apostolic authority

and presents the true gospel, by emphasising the

unique importance of Christ and his cross as God's

means of salvation. He argues that ‗a person is

justified not by the works of the law but through

faith in Jesus Christ‘ (2:16). He employs a variety

of arguments, appealing especially to the example

of Abraham (3:6-9) and the difference between

Hagar and Sarah (4:21-31), interpreted as a

contrast between being a ‗slave‘ under the law and

‗free‘ in Christ.

Therefore, a key verse in the letter says, ‗It is for

freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,

then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again

by a yoke of slavery.‘ (5:1). It is by grace through

faith alone that people are justified, and it is by

faith alone that they are to live out their new life in

the freedom of the Spirit.

(Continued from page 6)

Ephesians Paul‘s letter the Ephesians has been described as ‗the

divinest composition of man‘ (ST Coleridge). Paul wrote

the letter around AD 60, while in prison at Rome. It

lacks his usual personal greetings and doesn't directly

address any particular problems in the church.

Therefore, it was probably a circular letter to be read in

the house churches of Ephesus and western Asia Minor

(now Turkey).

Paul founded the church at Ephesus over a period of

three years (Acts 19:1-20:1), from about 52 to 55 AD.

Ephesus was the leading city and commercial centre in

the region, famous for its temple to the goddess

Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the

ancient world. The practice of sorcery was connected

with the worship of Diana and so the city was also a

centre of magic arts.

Paul‘s aim in writing his letter was to help his readers

understand the dimensions of God‘s purpose and grace

for them and his eternal plan for the church. The

believers were largely converts from a Greek

environment; they needed to understand Christ's

Lordship and their status ‗in Christ‘, as well as

encouragement to live a lifestyle worthy of Christianity.

They also needed to appreciate the Jewish heritage of

their faith. Ephesians is a letter of two halves; chapters

1-3 concern theological issues, while chapters 4-6 deal

with the practical outworking of the Christian faith.

Having shown God‘s purpose for the church, Paul

shows how God has reconciled individuals to himself as

an act of grace (2:1–10). He has reconciled people to

each other in one body, the church, having broken

down the barriers through Christ‘s death (2:11–22).

This is the ‗mystery‘ fully revealed by Paul (3:1–13). He

goes on to show how Christ‘s gifts promote unity and

maturity (4:1–16). The believer‘s new life stands in

contrast to the old way of life without Christ (4:17—

6:20).

The great overarching theme of the letter is that we are

rescued by God not just for our personal benefit, but to

bring praise and glory to him in our lives. For God‘s

purpose is clear: ‗He thought of everything, provided for

everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the

plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out

before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which

everything would be brought together and summed up

in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on

planet earth.‘ (1:9,10 The Message) I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow