The United Reformed Church in Jersey

The Messenger

The Magazine

Of

The United Reformed Church in the Channel Islands

APRIL & MAY 2019 

From Reverend David Knight.   April 2019

Dear friends,

At times we all feel trapped, when Paul was in gaol, he wrote “I am sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.

It is very easy to be faithful and filled with joy in the good times of life, but we can, during the dark times, be left feeling abandoned by God.

Not one of us has gone through life without pain, sadness and disappointment. The disciples were no different to us when they struggled with Christ’s death on the cross. Yes, they had a rich faith in God, but only until the path that Jesus took did not meet their hopes and expectations. At that point most of them went to ground, denied Christ and hid. Their reaction can so often mirror ours. When things go wrong, do we put our complete trust in God or do we become steadfast in our attempts to continue on our own anticipated path?

Paul writes these words knowing about Christ’s resurrection and its implications for us all. Paul trusted that God was still at work. He didn’t know how or when his incarceration would end. He didn’t know if he would come out of it alive, yet he trusted God absolutely, he knew that God was working to His great purposes. Paul understood that through Christ’s death and resurrection God’s purposes will always be fulfilled. God’s plans are according to His will, not ours.

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During the course of my life and ministry I have witnessed a lot of heartache and pain in the lives people both within and without our churches. I have also witnessed times of great joy and excitement within and without our churches.  My work with the Guernsey Royal British Legion Welfare Team has led me to meet with ex-service people and their families suffering in all sorts of ways, I have seen the darkness of PTSD and the evil of substance and alcohol addiction. In all these circumstances, we are invited to examine our hearts and determine whether or not we are truly trusting in God.

It is not for us to take things into our own hands, or try to force things to happen as we would want them to, because God’s plan will ultimately prevail.

I cannot take hold of God, rather, God has taken hold of me. Our confidence should not ultimately be in our character or our accomplishments or strength or intellectual prowess; our confidence must be in our sovereign God.

The disciples thought the worst, only to realise that God had a new path for them, a path that they never could have predicted.

During this Lent and Easter, let God’s resurrection power into your life. Be reminded of how amazing God is and trust Him more and more each and every day. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

With every blessing

David

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What is Stepwise?

Stepwise is coming!

Stepwise is the new intergenerational United Reformed Church discipleship development programme.  It is for people of all ages and backgrounds.  Stepwise is an integral part of Walking the Way – living the life of Jesus today, the United Reformed Church’s focus on whole-life discipleship and mission.

Further information about the programme is available from the URC website on the Stepwise page.

https://urc.org.uk/stepwise/Stepwise-flyer.pdf

Wessex Synod is pleased to confirm that Stepwise will soon be rolled out in our Synod. A Synod Stepwise Advocacy Group was formed last Autumn and they have been working hard to make sure that all the procedures are put in place to ensure safe recruitment and orientation of voluntary facilitators and mentors. We hope that we will have some groups following the Faith Filled Life Stream in Wessex later this year. If these are not in your area – please don’t worry – groups will be starting at different times in different areas according to numbers and need.

This is what you need to know

• All participants wanting to engage in the Stepwise programme will have to begin with completing Faith Filled Life

• If you want to participate in Faith Filled Life, go to our Synod website and fill in an application form, and send this to Ruth Heine, development@urcwessex.org.uk

  You will then be contacted by a member of the Synod Advocacy Group.

•  Synod will identify where the learning Hubs will be located within the Synod

   

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• Groups will be formed logically for participants, and appointed facilitators will be asked to travel (where appropriate). Groups will then be registered with the Stepwise hub at Church House and you will receive a login for your online learning.

• You will have a mentor throughout Stepwise, and if you are unable to identify one from your church, you will be given help to find one.

• Following on from Faith Filled Life, there will be Faith Fuelled Leadership, Faith Filled Community and Faith filled Confidence. Then the final stream will be Faith Filled Worship.

  You can do all of these or just select what you feel God is calling you on to after completing Faith Filled Life.

If you want to know any more about this, please contact

Mary Thomas dso-s@urcwessex.org.uk

READINGS FOR APRIL

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READINGS FOR MAY

NEWS FROM GUERNSEY                                      

Happy Birthday Greetings for April to: Harry Bough (1^st), Carol McIntyre (2^nd), Marion Batiste (3^rd), Pauline Falla (7^th), Zoë Ferbrache (11^th), Joyce Le Poidevin (13^th) and Enid Batiste (16^th).

Anniversary Greetings to: Frank and Winnie Keyho (10^th), Barry and Rose Le Sauvage (14^th), David and Nikki Knight (15th) and Lloyd and Joyce Le Poidevin (29^th).

In May: Happy Birthday greetings to: Janet Duquemin (1st), Lilly Le Marchant,  April De La Mare and David Le Tissier – all on 3^rd, Archie Carre (11 on 13^th) & Philip Le Poidevin (16^th).

Anniversary wishes – congratulations to Karen and Peter Leaman for 10^th and to Gary and Julie Doggett on 28^th.

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CARING

Marion writes “First of all I must apologise for failing to do caring for February/March.  I’m sorry but I was unwell and forgot”.  Our thoughts are with Irene Domaille, Vi Duquemin, Charles Pratt and also Ruth Rich.   Ruth has spent time in hospital recently and our thoughts are with her.  Also we think of Jean Le Poidevin, Joyce Anderson and Pamela De La Mare who was in hospital for three months, but is now recovering at home.  While Ruth was in hospital I also was in hospital, but not in the same ward.  I am recovering but tire very quickly.  I’m sure I’ll bounce back.  I also felt guilty because I had a conversation with Martin McIntyre, my niece Carol’s husband, before he died.  He asked me to thank all the people from church who had shown him, and Carol, a great deal of sympathy.  So many of you showed caring and it meant a great deal to both of them.  He had cancer and on January 2nd he was told his death was imminent which is when he rang me with his message.  He died on January 8th.  Carol, who is partially sighted and has a guide dog, is coping.  Please remember her.  My apologies if I have missed anyone.  Please let me know if anyone needs our support and prayers.  Copy for the next Messenger needs to be ready by 19th May.  Thank you.                                                                                            Marion

Congratulations to Lindsey Veillard on her success in the music section of the Eisteddfod this year.  She came first in the sacred solo class with 88 marks for her rendition of “Where no one stands alone” winning the John and Joan Le Flem Cup.  She also won La Coupe Miriam Robin Le Page with “Elegie” in the French song class and was awarded the Peter A Malley Memorial Trophy by the adjudicator for entering into the spirit of the Eisteddfod.  There are no words to describe her performance in the novelty song class with “It’s hard to be

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humble” dressed as Donald Trump!!!  Thank you Lindsey for giving the audience such pleasure.

Please note there will be a special coffee morning on Thursday 11th April in aid of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

The Palm Sunday walk will be held before morning service on Sunday 14th April.  Please gather at church at 10am.

Easter Breakfast will be held at 9.15am on Easter Sunday 21st April in the hall.  Please sign the notice at the back of the church if you wish to attend.

MODERATOR’S VISIT 5th May 2019

We are delighted to announce the visit of Rev. Nigel Uden Moderator of the URC General Assembly on Sunday 5th May.  Rev. Uden is the Minister of St Columba's URC in Cambridge and also Fulbourn URC, where our friends the Mizons attend.  Brian Mizon has been integral in setting up the visit and we look forward to Rev. Uden preaching on the subject of Liberation as the date is so near to our own Liberation Day.  We hope to see a good turnout of members for this service which will be followed by a reception in the hall when members will have the opportunity to meet with the Moderator.

The General Assembly is the United Reformed Church’s decision-making body, bringing together commissioners drawn from every congregation every two years to make and refine church laws and policy.   The moderators of General Assembly are part of the denomination’s leadership team, acting as a point

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of unity but also using their wider perspective on the whole Church to inform discussions and make key decisions. The moderators act as ambassadors for the general assembly and represent the United Reformed Church both internally and within the wider world; chairing major meetings, visiting churches at home and abroad, and seeking to provide worship, teaching and pastoral care. In 2008, the General Assembly agreed to move from a single moderator appointed for one year to two moderators, a minister and an elder, serving for two years alongside one another.

To celebrate the Moderator’s visit on the 5^th May 2019 there will be a congregational lunch after the service, (venue to be confirmed) so please keeps the date free.

LENT COFFEE MORNING

Guernsey has been supporting work in the Philippines following the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan (6 years ago), through Christian Aid’s Island to Island appeal. We also live on a small island and experience some bad storms but they cannot compare with the damage typhoons cause in poor coastal villages. Homes and crops are destroyed and when the fishing boats are also wrecked the islanders have no way of catching fish to provide food and an income.

Again this year our Lent coffee morning’s total of £93 has gone towards the small fishing communities, to replace their boats and rebuild sturdier homes safe from storm surges.

Our local Christian Aid organiser is out there now and will be

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able to report back on how the work has progressed.

All the profits from the Christian Aid charity shop at the top of Smith Street also go to this appeal.

Thank you so much to all of you who have supported this vital work.                                                                             Jeanne

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☼☼☼☼

NEWS FROM JERSEY

Birthday Greetings for April go to: Beryl Richard who will be 90 on 10th, Matthew McManus (10^th), Leonard Springate (19^th) and Archie Stephenson (4 on 22nd.) while off Island we send best wishes to Maggie Fowles (13^th), Bridget Bentley (20^th) and Sally Read (23^rd)

Wedding Anniversary greetings go to Gillian and Patrick McManus (40th) on 7^th and Sheila and Richard Charles (on 9th) and Helen and Mark Treby on 12th.

And then in May: Birthday Greetings to: Sheila Charles (5^th), Amber du Feu (13th) Evie McDonald (6 on 15^th) Kevin Mason ( 15^th), Lincoln Pierre Sheldrake (7 on 16^th), Richard Charles (17^th), Kimberley Sheldrake (23^rd), Natasha & Jonathan Hardman (26^th), Bill Gray (28^th), and Tammy Channing (31^st) .

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 Wedding Anniversaries: Rowena and Bob Le Brocq (19^th).

Congratulations to David and Sarah Prothero who became Grandparents again on 13th March with the birth of Esmie Joanna Giles.   David has been unwell with an attack of Labyrinthitis and is looking forward to his Easter Holiday on the mainland.

We continue to miss Joan Le Boutillier who sent a card from Stuart Court “to all friends at the URC with many thanks for the lovely flowers and best wishes for my birthday.   The flowers were much enjoyed by all at the home.   I just wish I could be with you all.”   Also continuing in our thoughts are Amber Du Feu, Sheila and Richard Charles and Phillip and Shirley Osborn.   Margaret Pirouet has had another bad cold but is now back with us again as is Noelle Johnson.

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Note from the Church Secretary: as more and more of our folk are now in need of lifts on Sunday mornings further offers to join a transport rota would be gratefully received.

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Unfortunately lack of space has meant a gap since we last visited Mike Sheldrake’s biographies of those named on our War Memorial.

John William Kingsland

This may have been viewed as one of the saddest losses that our church experienced in the First World War. He died on November 6^th 1918 of his wounds that he had received while attacking the North-East French town of Valenciennes 28^th October. Five days later the Armistice to end World War 1 was implemented. What was even more poignant is that John was the only son of Reverend John Kingsland who was the minister of Victoria Street Congregational Church. In 1911 he is living in Northamptonshire with his parents. It is not clear if young John came to Jersey because he is recorded that at the time of his death he is living in Chippenham and is employed by Lloyd’s Bank. However, even though he may have started work as early as14-15 I suspect he spent some time in Jersey and would have been known to all the congregation. Therefore, his death at the age of 19 must have been a great shock to his parents but also to the whole congregation. Consequently he was also remembered at the memorial service on 18^th November. John is buried at the Cambrai East military cemetery and on his headstone it states “My boy Jack he is not here, but is risen”. These were undoubtedly the words that his Father and Mother requested.

Please support our Easter Services and I would especially point out those at St. Columba’s on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday when Reverend Graeme Glover assures us of a warm welcome.

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Guernsey

Chaplain to the Bailiwick

Reverend David Knight

Glencoe,

La Passee,

St Sampsons,

Guernsey,

GY2 4TJ

(01481) 255440

Dave.knight@gov.gg

Church Secretaries

Guernsey: Mrs Sarah Bough

Ch'lisier

Grande Rue

St Saviours

Guernsey

GY7 9PP

Tel:  (01481) 267127

ansafaff@yahoo.co.uk

Jersey: Michael Ruskin

Ocean View,

 Route de L’Etacq,

St. Ouen,

Jersey

 JE3 2FB

(01534) 482366

ruskin.oceanview@gmail.com

Magazine Editor

Michael Ruskin

Website: www.urc.org.je