ENTERPRISE - May/June 2010
From our Senior Minister
Beyond Makeovers
10 YY
In recent years we’ve grown accustomed to makeover programmes: gardens, rooms, whole houses,
and of course, people! One of these is called 10 Years Younger – the idea is to enable a person
to look at least 10 years younger in just 240 hours: clothes, hair extensions, dental work,
even eye surgery are all included in the treatment.
Veneers are for teeth!
As a pastor I am fascinated by how people grow and change. Sometimes people feel the need to
put on a veneer to seem spiritual, and to appear godly to others around. Most of us who have
tried this know it doesn’t work. Like slapping paint over a damp patch, in the end what is
underneath bubbles up. Or as Jesus said, what’s in the heart shows through (veneers only work
on teeth!).
Creation from scratch?
That’s why Christian faith is not about external makeovers, but about internal transformation –
because that shows through. That’s what the season of Pentecost is partly about: God
writing his laws, his ways, his character on our hearts – God renewing us from within. But is
it restoration – a renewal of what was, or a new start from scratch?
The call to develop
If we take seriously the first two sentences of the Bible (Genesis 1.1-2), the
storm-riding-Spirit-of-God is the go-between God hovering between the heavens and earth, enabling
what was and is to become our extraordinary planet. The original paradise of Eden was never
meant to be static; rather human beings were meant to help it develop and flourish – and to grow
with it.
All things new - not all new things
In the very last book of the Bible (Revelation 21.5) we find God making all things new. And
once more, God is not creating something new out of nothing, but rather taking what is to ‘recycle’
and transform it, us. Between ‘the beginning’ and ‘the end’, Jesus’ resurrection body
mysteriously straddles physical human reality and an end-time spiritual body able to thrive in
dimensions we haven’t even discovered yet.
Overwhelmed by change and choice
In the meantime we face many choices about how to adjust to the bewilderingly accelerating change
all around us. From political landscapes to church magazines, right through the huge shifts in
each of our personal and family lives, there is the need to know how to respond well to
change. All of which can seem like a heavy and overwhelming responsibility. That’s why it
can be a relief to know that while we are called to use our minds to determine what is best we are
also invited to receive the gift of God’s inspiration and wisdom. We are invited to open
ourselves up to being changed by the life-giving breath of God.
Live prayerfully and attentively
There are one or two things we can do: firstly, we can reach out to and pay attention to
the God who loves us and gave himself for us in Christ. As the apostle Paul put it in Romans
12, ‘In full view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices and be transformed by the
renewing of your mind – then you’ll find right living bubbling up from within’. One of the
mysterious ways this happens is through prayerful attention to God. So, in 1 Corinthians 3,
Paul talks about being changed by contemplating Jesus. The sheer act of prayer and worship is
one of the ways that God grows us. So, secondly, we get on with offering our very selves – with
living and serving, albeit prayerfully and attentively.
And wait...
However, having done these two things, having chosen to do all that seems right and helpful, we
can still seem to be making no progress: all flights are grounded, all the trains and buses are
full – all we can do is wait for the earth to stop shaking and erupting – or at least for the wind to
blow in a different direction.
...for the Spirit
Sometimes we can do nothing but wait – just as Jesus said – for a fresh gust of the
Spirit: for the creating, sustaining, guiding, strengthening, transforming breath of God to
blow. In a world obsessed with superficial responses, the Spirit takes us beyond the veneer of
cosmetic makeovers to the deep and lasting in-dwelling that enables us to know and live out what it
means to be truly human and true community. And so with faith, expectation, joy and
anticipation, we wait. Together with all other believers worldwide, this Pentecost we wait for
the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, for his renewing, directing presence. We wait.
Colin
Experience Easter March 2010
Several weeks before Easter, the blue illuminated sign in the foyer invited all to
“Experience Easter” – the Holy Week services, the Agape meal, the Good Friday service and Easter
Sunday resurrection celebration were all eagerly anticipated – BUT this Experience was something
new.
Following six hours of intense activity the sanctuary was transformed by the addition
of three covered gazebos, screens, posters, a walkway bordered with palm and bamboo branches, tree
stumps, branches of eucalyptus tree, pots of polyanthus, a half-open baptistry depicting a tomb, a
cross made from the Christmas tree, large letters stuck to the floor spelling “Hopes and
Dreams”. There was a small cross around which children could lay pebbles where they had written
their hopes, a dead-looking tree named “Tree of Hope”, and signs declaring –
 | Remember me |
| Alone |
| Not fair! |
| The greatest love of all |
| Resurrection. |
During the following week, 250 children aged 10-11 years from Red Maids’, St Ursula’s
and Elmlea Schools flowed into the building together with their teachers. We also had visits
from the 195th Brownies, members of Senior Circle, Lawrence Weston’s “Sing for your Supper” group of
children, and many more. They all came to
Experience Easter.
In looking at what Christians believe, we were invited to think of our own hopes and
dreams. We learned of the hopes and dreams of the Jewish nation, we sat at the table of the last
supper and ate bread and grapes, sensing the sadness of the occasion. We entered into the
isolation of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, moulding clay to depict times of loneliness for
us. We explored the unfairness and injustice of the trial, noticing in newspaper articles how
injustices still dominate the headlines today.
We faced the agony and desolation of Jesus’ death on the cross writing responses to His
love on labels and tying them on wooden stick crosses. We explored the tomb and endeavoured to
discover whether the resurrection was a plausible explanation for the missing body, and how the
disciples lives were changed by the experience of seeing Jesus alive again.
Finally we were invited to write on a leaf-shaped piece of paper a prayer, or thought
for changes in our lives or for our world, bringing new life and hope. We then tied them onto
the dead tree which became transformed.
The children left not only with hot cross buns and an Easter egg, but also with lasting
memories of an experience which offered them a deeper understanding of what Christians believe
happened at that first Easter.
Liz Dawson and Wendy McDonald
The Italian Experience
It must be two months ago that I had the madcap idea of trying to include about ten
disadvantaged children, from my school in Bridgwater, on the next school ski trip to Italy (that’s
10 out of 40).
| I told some of you about a young lad whom we'll call E and how I had taken him on
his first ever overnight trip away from home. We went body-boarding at Woolacombe. He
had never been in the sea, never swum a width of a pool, never slept in a tent, never taken
responsibility for himself, never had so much exercise, never eaten so much bacon and never
enjoyed so much sport. |
| E now brings a football to school to play with the older students. He looks
forward to PE lessons. He is able to work more independently in class without adult
support. His grades have climbed from F/G to C in 15 months. He has just come top of
my maths class in his first GCSE module exam (and only 3 marks off the best of the group
above!). |
| E is going to Woolacombe again in July but this time with more responsibility to
help the younger students. |
| Next April we plan to take him skiing in Italy. |
How has this been possible?
| Many very generous people at church and in the wider community have joined me in
this challenge. |
| We secured the deposits (£80 per head) in the first weekend – thank you, God, for
the gift of generosity. |
| We have secured some funding from the District Council “but you do know things
are tight at the moment!” |
| We have run three discos at school for Year 7/8 children – making between £80 and
£100 a time. That means we need to do about two per month throughout the year! Only 27
more to go! |
I mentioned to some of you that at the beginning I felt like the lad with the loaves and
fishes who went out for a day with his packed lunch. Did he know it was a special packed
lunch? Was it special or was it only special when ordinary people did extraordinary things
through God’s power? It has been pointed out that the loaves and fishes were given to the
disciples to distribute. Jesus didn’t feed the crowd individually. Perhaps that’s what
you have been doing when you have supported this cause.
In April I went out to see the ski resort in Italy – health and safety required a visit
in person. A tough job but someone had to do it!
I met a local shopkeeper who was excited by the challenge but pointed out that some of
the local children cannot afford to ski on their own mountains! I have been in touch with the
local mayor and we are looking at including about eight local children on two days of
skiing. This project just keeps on growing.
I have had interesting conversations with the new head teacher at my
school. He says he has always admired people with faith. “They always seem so much happier
than me”. Pray where these conversations may go.
I am now looking to involve business sponsorship and local initiatives like bag-packing
in supermarkets. If you have links that might prove beneficial to this cause please let me
know. Maybe you are looking for a fundraising event. This may be it!
Thank you for your generous support through cash and prayer (and both).
Phil Heard
From Bristol to Gaza Baptist Church
Last December, Monica Jones and eight other Bristolians travelled with the Viva Palestina
convoy to take desperately needed aid supplies to the besieged people of Gaza. Driving overland
through Europe and the Middle East, the convoy grew to 200 vehicles, with 500 participants from seven
countries. The aim was to deliver medical supplies collected in Bristol by Muslims, Christians and
others, and to raise awareness of the suffering of ordinary Palestinians trapped by the Israeli
siege. These are entries in her convoy diary:
6th December – Setting off
It’s moving to see so many here, coming to the rescue. Vehicles from Birmingham, Ireland,
Malaysia. One ambulance is marked “A gift from the people of Wales”, another ‘From Birmingham with our
love”. Two Asian men in traditional dress distribute sandwiches for the long journey.
9th December – Northern Italy
After several freezing nights camped in car parks, and days of frantic driving across Europe, here we
are on the Italian side of the Alps. I come up to the main building at the service station to find the
Muslim men there, praying together. The fervour, the simplicity of it, is moving. No
ostentation, no phoney piety. They just find whatever space they can to say their prayers.
24th December – Leaving Amman
In Amman, whole Palestinian refugee families have come to see us off. As the lines of vehicles
slide by, women stand silently and make the V sign, tears streaming down their faces. They’re cut off
from relatives in Palestine, or they have lost people dear to them. Two of them promise to pray for
our safe arrival in Gaza.
25th December – Christmas in the port of Aqaba
A strange Christmas Day spent in the courtyard of a community centre, with a backdrop of bare
mountains, cloudless sky, and the white tower of the Greek Orthodox church. We expected to be sailing
to Egypt by now, but the Egyptian government has refused us permission to land. On Christmas night
we’re still in Aqaba. Some of us go up to the church for a vigil. The elderly priest comes out
and gives us his blessing. We sing carols.
(After a hunger strike, much lobbying, and mediation by Turkish politicians, the Egyptians
finally agreed to let us into Egypt. But we had to go back to Syria, and send the vehicles on a ship
from there, while we flew to rejoin them in the Egyptian port of Al-Arish.)
7th January – In Gaza City
The convoy arrived in Gaza from Egypt at 4.00am. The Egyptians allowed us to stay for just over
twenty four hours. I don’t know what any of us expected to find in Gaza, a year after the massive air
raids of December 2008. In fact we saw few signs of bomb damage – most of the bombsite rubble having
been recycled to deal with the shortage of building materials created by the siege. We saw people
harvesting their crops, shopping for what food was available – generally trying to get on with their
lives.
There was a bombing raid, the night we were in Gaza City. Though it was on nothing
like the scale of December 2008, forty people were injured.
I met Isam Farah and Farid Ayyad of the Gaza Baptists. Their church has a very good
name for caring, regardless of the peoples’ faith, and we gladly gave them a minivan, plus boxes of books
and stationery. We promised to keep in touch. Such warm, lovely people! A pity we could
only speak together so briefly, as the time in Gaza was short. Never mind – the connection has been
established. I feel sure our friendship will grow.
Monica Margaret Jones
Fair Trade
Campaign Updates
What has happened to all those cards you sent in over recent years. Are we making a
difference?
Supermarket Watchdog
Do you remember last year the campaign to set up a watchdog to tame some of the alleged unfair
trading practices of supermarkets, which harm businesses in the UK as well as overseas? All
three main political parties are now committed to establishing this. The exact nature of the
role has yet to be finalised, but this is something to press the next Government to
progress. Yes, together, we are making a difference!
Make it Fair Tea Campaign
The five tea brands targeted, PG Tips, Tetleys, Twinings, Typhoo and Yorkshire Tea, who between them
hold 72% of the UK tea market, have received 54,000 postcards since the campaign started. They
have all written in response. Their replies can be found at
www.makeitfair.org.uk/latest-
updates. Note particularly Typhoo’s positive commitment to extend its Fairtrade product
range.
Other companies are also starting to address problems in their supply
chains. It is not too late to add your ‘voice’ to the campaign, so please take and complete a
card from the board at the back of the church, or why not take several and ask friends and family to
fill them in? You might also like to respond encouragingly to the tea companies’
letters. Our support is making a difference.
Please do keep buying from the church stall
Did you taste the new teas at the Café? It was a happy occasion, but a little quiet. You
will be able to see your favourite food items, and a wide variety of craft products at the Scouts’
coffee morning on 22nd May. There will also be a Fair Trade stall after the Sunday morning
services on 16th May, 13th June and 4th July.
Rachel Corbin
News from Lawrence Weston Baptist Church
Hello Friends: unbelievably my first year at the Baptist College is almost
over. I have survived! Hoorah and thanks be to God! But what has it been like? Well,
back in September I attended an introduction week. All the first years were at college all day, from
8.30am till around 7.00pm each day. It was a great time of getting to know the college community and
each other. However it felt like a train had hit me – there was so much to remember!
Then on 19th September I was officially launched as the minister in training for Lawrence
Weston Baptist Church. This occasion was marked by a great service which was very well
attended. I felt loved and supported by those around me. It was comforting to witness the
affirmation of God’s call on my life and to hold the hand of a friend when I had some teary moments.
Since then it’s been all go. For most of the year college has been from 8.30am (prayers)
to 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – long days where lectures have been attended, books read, and quite a
few assignments handed in, as well as the usual church commitments at Lawrence Weston.
If I make it sound easy and straightforward, well, it wasn’t. Although I manage to meet
deadlines, the truth is that it has been an internal struggle of really knowing and trusting in
God. I have had to face the internal battles of my own inadequacies and insecurities and I have found
myself at times wondering and questioning God’s call. Yet it has been at my most profound unsure
moments that God has revealed himself through his people. A member of the congregation saying how
helpful my sermon was, people around me reminding me of the qualities God has given me. I’ve had
practical struggles concerning money, but people have been extremely generous to me and I want to say thank
you very much. It lightens the burden and I feel the love and support even though I don’t have the
names of those who support me and my family. This is proof that God does provide when we step out in
faith.
When I look back I remind myself that when I first began to test this calling I gave God
every opportunity to close any doors he didn’t want opened. Well I have to say they all opened and I
always promised God that if they did open, then I would go through them. And I have. I just have
to remember to carry my double edged sword for the monsters that may lurk behind them!
Please pray for me in terms of coping with the college work and pray for us as a
family – myself, Rich, Lydia and Jacob – for God’s protection and guidance.
Blessings,
Mare
Common Ground
Programme for the Summer Term 2010
| Monday, 17th May Kathie Duke – Pilgrims walk to Santiago |
| Monday, 14th June Lorna Robertson – The work of the Alzheimer’s Society |
| Monday, 28th June Tim Lewis – Glorious mud: Flanders and Swann |
Do join us for any or all of these meetings. Our meetings start at 2.00pm in the Carey Hall and we
have refreshments to finish off at around 3.45pm. Why not come along and bring a friend or a neighbour
with you. A warm welcome awaits you!
Clive Seward
Bible Study Fellowship
Bible Study Fellowship is an
interdenominational Bible study class welcoming people from all walks of life and providing a unique
way to study God’s word with questions for personal study, lively discussion groups, an interesting
lecture and written notes summarising each week’s study.
A ladies’ class, with provision for babies and pre-school children, meets in Bristol on
Tuesday mornings during term time and this year, beginning in September, we will be studying the book
of Isaiah.
If you would like more details, please contact Rachel Corbin.
Gifts of Flowers
| 2
May |
|
Joan
Nicholson |
| 9
May |
|
Honor
Bristow |
| 16
May |
|
Joan
Stinchcombe |
| 23
May |
|
Jan Morris |
| 30
May |
|
Flower Fund |
| |
|
|
| 4 June |
|
Hilda & Gordon
Jones |
| 13
June |
|
Brenda
Parsons |
| 20
June |
|
Cynthia
Burridge |
| 27
June |
|
Henry Sager |
If you appreciate the flowers in church each Sunday, you may like to consider donating the cost one
week a year. This could be to celebrate a birth or wedding anniversary, or to remember a
relative or close friend. Your flowers would be arranged as close to your preferred date as
possible. Please see Heather Colbran if you are interested.
Short Notes
Thank you Paul! (2)
Having been a professional singer, I was able to appreciate fully the very high standard of the choir
in our church. I often found that their singing was thrilling. My congratulations to Paul,
Heather and all members of the choir for the pleasure they have given us.
June Pearson
Please support the
Scouts’ Plant Sale and Coffee Morning
Saturday 22nd May,
10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Plants, cakes, car wash, white elephant stall, bedding plants, Fair Trade stall, coffee, tea, and lots
more!
All proceeds to Christian Aid, Haiti and Scout group funds.
Enterprise
In 1996 I became responsible for editing Enterprise and it has been a privilege to work on
the magazine since then. Readers who still have a copy of the July/August 1996 issue (and I am perhaps
the only person in that select category) might observe that Enterprise hasn’t changed very radically in all
that time. Our Church, though, has changed in many ways and modern technology now provides us with
opportunities to do things differently. So I am persuaded that this would be an appropriate time to
step aside from my role as editor in order to concentrate on other tasks. I am most grateful to all
those who have provided material over the years - and to those who have read it!
David Hughes
Birthdays
The following friends will be marking their birthday in May or June with a gift to the BMS Medical
Fund:
| Jean Trump, Freda Dupe, Jenny Dean, June Pearson, Maggie
Crisp, Catherine Preston, Lee Hall, Ian Dawson, Terry Wright, Brenda
Darling, Valerie May |
Tuesday Lunch Club
The next dates for the Tuesday Lunch Club:
| 11 May |
| 25 May |
| 8 June |
| 22 June |
| 6 July |
| 20 July |
We do invite anyone who is free on Tuesdays to join us at our lunches. You are assured
of a warm welcome, a good lunch and lots of company. If you have not been before you will find a list
to sign in the foyer of the church or you can ring Yuika in the church office
or leave a message or have a chat with Margaret Pinnock.
|
|
Westbury-on-Trym
Baptist Church
Bristol |
 |
A Christian community
at the heart
of our neighbourhood |
 |
© Copyright 2001-2010, Westbury-on-Trym
Baptist Church. Westbury-on Trym Baptist Church is UK Registered Charity
1132392 | 
