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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT 2008/09

Another Award For Us!

Readers of the Birmingham Mail will already have read that Selly Oak Methodist Church was awarded another environmental award at a ceremony on May 21st.

The Birmingham Mail has a regular "Go Green" page , and as part of their "Think Global, Act Global" campaign they have made five environmental awards. Selly Oak Methodist Church was awarded the "Environmental Project 2008/09" award. David Edden picked up the award on behalf of the church and in the near future it will be on show in the church. The award is a tribute to everybody who helps in any way with keeping our church environmentally friendly.

Duncan Miller

News

The Circuit is now a "Fairtrade Circuit"

Pauls Boys' Home

Pauls Boys' Home, in Madurai, in the south of India, was started in 1998 in response to the needs of orphans or semi-orphans often picked up from the streets of Madurai with some from the remote rural areas.

The home now has 15 boys and provides shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, support with education and the loving care of two people who run it, Ester and her husband, Retnaraj, who are totally committed to their welfare.

It is financed by donations and by some local people giving their services free of charge. Ester works as a teacher to ensure a regular income.

The home used to be in rented accommodation but the basic construction of a new house has now been built with some earlier help from SOMC. It is one of the charities we are supporting in connection with our own building scheme.

And Pauls? An acronym:

People's

Action for the

Upliftment of the

Less privileged in

Society

More details via arulisrael@hotmail.com

Musings from the Manse

Musings From the Manse - February 2010

Last Autumn my diary was over-full and I was unable to get to any of the annual Radical Lectures at Carrs Lane. However at Christmas I received a CD of the lecture given there in October by Jim Cotter who, like myself, was Sheffield born and bred.

On listening to the CD, I was moved to go to the several Jim Cotter books sitting on my study shelves. And I came across a beautiful poetic piece of his writing on Lent:

"Let us embrace the way of the crucified Christ, fountain of life, source of hope, deliverer from slavery, maker of peace, obedient to death, pioneer of the narrow way, burning flame of love, source of all faithfulness, sanctuary of justice, elder brother, Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, bodily presence of the fullness of God, our life, our death, our resurrection." (Prayer in the Morning - Jim Cotter 1989)

As we move into Lent 2010, could there be a clearer picture of a true Christian disciple straining to follow this "way of the crucified Christ"?

For me the Lenten journey has always been one that is nourished and nurtured, urged and inspired by the devotional material, study group opportunities and traditional liturgical times of worship and ritual which the season throws up. Such events and resources provide the feeding which enables spiritual reflection and renewal to take place.

So as I "muse" at my desk I am encouraged to share with you some resources and events which have been sent to me as invitations for the intake of spiritual food for the Lenten journey.

The Favourable Time; daily reflections for Lent by Christian Aid & Cafod

Pub: Darton, Longman & Todd £5.95 (can be ordered online)

Lent for Everyone by Tom Wright £6.99 Available from Amazon or Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith St, London SW1P 3BN (Telephone: 0207 799 4064)

Christian Aid "Count Your Blessings" sheets avilable from SOMC - Crush Hall.

Lent Circuit evenings at Hay Green church in Cob Lane between 7 and 8.45pm on Thursdays 18 February and 25 March; come and go as you please.

Ecumenical Lent groups meeting locally for five weeks from the week beginning 22 February. Sign up at Selly Oak Methodist Church.

I wish you a blessed and spiritually satisfying Lent

Doreen C Hare

Superintendent's Letter

I cannot know what you see at this moment as you look out of your nearest window, but as I write this I am watching the snow falling inexorably, continually, determinedly. The flakes look white and fluffy and beautiful and the view from the window is like the Christmas cards recently taken down. Here I feel warm, safe, cosy and sheltered. The refuge of home is a comfortable resting-place.

However I know this cannot last. Life involves going out to work, school, shops, leisure and being part of community. Going out in the snow means facing challenges and uncertainty. Some travellers become stranded, have accidents and face difficulties as well as adventures.

This can also be true when we journey in faith. Lent presents us with the challenge of a spiritual pilgrimage as we reflect, engage in something different and seek a time of renewal. We can choose to stay safe with a cosy warm faith. Or we can choose to step out and face another challenge which may change our faith and will certainly move us on.

During this Lent 2010, can we find the courage to engage in a new way with the gospel story of the suffering servant messiah? There will be lots of special things happening at this important part of the Christian year. Special Lent study groups, prayers and devotions all can encourage a dogged perseverance which can help us on our journey.

The CTBI course this Lent looks at key characters in the Passion narratives; the CMS course 21M looks at five marks of mission; Christian Aid has produced a calendar to help us to count our blessings and use our new awareness to help others across the world.

Let's all consider being brave this Lent, engage in a new venture and determine to make a difference, both to ourselves as we journey and to others who may find it more difficult in their life situations.

Every Blessing; Doreen C Hare

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