Tottenham Baptist Church Magazine
August/September 2002
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| Family Service & Sunday School - 11 am |
| Evening Worship - 6.30 pm |
| Communion: 1st Sunday Evening
3rd Sunday Morning |
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| 1st Monday Music Group 7 pm |
| Wednesday Midweek Meeting 8 pm |
| Thursday Girls' Brigade 6.30 pm |
| Friday Boys' Brigade 6.30 pm |
Church Address: 699 High Road, London, N17
8AD.
Dear Friends,
I was very pleased to hear at our last deacons' meeting that the
pastoral committee was functioning well. As Christians we should
always care for one another, but there is no more important time
for doing that than in a time of pastoral vacancy.
I would like to suggest two practical steps that each member can
take to increase the strength of the fellowship. Firstly, take
the new church members list, and starting with your own name,
work down the list making sure that you know who each person is,
and that you can fit a face to each name. If you are sure of the
person put a tick next to their name. When you find someone who
you are not sure about, write down the name, and when you come
to church next Sunday, ask one of the deacons to point out the
person to you. Go and introduce yourself, because if you do not
know them, it is likely that they do not know you either. Then
both of you will be able to tick another name on your list. Wouldn’t
it be a wonderful thing if, by the time the next minister is appointed,
every church member knew every other church member!
The second thing I would ask you to do is watch which person you
speak to first after the service. Don’t speak firstly to
your friends, look out for the visitor, or the person you do not
recognise. Speak firstly to them. If you miss your friend you
will always be able to contact them another time, but this might
be the only opportunity you have to speak to the visitor, and
if you do not speak to them, they might not want to come again!
Two simple steps, but they can do a great deal to make the fellowship
real and lovingly concerned for one another.
God bless you all,
Roger Collins.
CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Let us pray in support of our Sunday School teacher, Ivy Legore,
and one of our faithful ushers, George Wheeler, on their recent
bereavement. Ivy’s father - George’s brother - passed
away recently.
Kathleen Hatchett would also appreciate our prayers on the loss
of a very close friend. Her passing away was like losing a family
member.
Alva Ricketts was received into our fellowship in May. May our
church bring blessings to you every week and let us be thankful
for the wonderful voice she has already shared with us on a solo
rendition!
Do remember the homebound, including Mrs Whitehead, our BMS Secretary,
and her mother, and Mrs Eileen Wood. Others who are largely homebound
include Miss Olive Perssons and Miss Mabel Johnson, who was soon
due to get a cast removed.
Let us be mindful of the members of our Pastoral Care Team, who
care for us with visits and prayers - let’s be thankful for
their efforts in the Lord and send prayers of blessings to them
also!
Our Pastoral Care Team is available to help and any member of
the Team would be glad to know of anyone in the fellowship who
needs a visit or prayer or spiritual encouragement. They are:
Thornton & Leola Reid
George Wheeler
Grace Tyzack
Hilda Gosling
Clare Lee
Margaret McGlynn
COMING EVENTS
World Link Missionaries sharing with us
Thanks be to God we can meet our world link missionaries again,
John and Maria Dyer and their son João Marcos, who have
returned temporarily from Natal, Brazil, and who will be visiting
us on August 4th. For anyone you may know who needs an inspiration
about mission, invite them to listen to John and Maria’s
updates as he has been planning and running church leadership
courses for lay people and pastors there while Maria organises
and leads literacy courses for locals.
They are on home assignment time back in England and will be with
us for both services. Read more in the 'World Mission' magazine,
@the4front section of March/April 2002 issue and in their newsletters.
Do come and support them as we worship together!
GB Summer Camp
The Girls Brigade will be camping at Littlehampton Baptist Church,
Sussex on 17-24th August. About 16 girls from our company, along
with Mrs Joan Stokes and some of the 1st Chelsea girls, plan to
spend this time together.
Ask for their 'home made’ cards for your special occasions,
wish them a week full of sunshine and remember how, as with any
other group, prayerful and financial backing would be helpful!
Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
The next breakfast will be held under the auspices of Junior Deane
on Saturday morning, 7th September. Listen out for further details
and, gentlemen, let’s keep getting to know each other better
and better! “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love
comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows
God.” (1 John 4:7)
Harvest Supper, Saturday 28th September
We will begin celebrating Harvest with our traditional fellowship
supper. This always attracts lots of fun and is a great opportunity
to rub shoulders with others in the fellowship! Join us in the
church hall.
Harvest Sunday
July seems much too early to be writing about Harvest, but as
usual our Harvest Thanksgiving will be held on the last Sunday
in September, the 29th, when once again we will do our very best
to help restock the larders at Mill Grove Children's Home at Woodford.
As well as gifts of fruit and vegetables, toiletries, washing
powders, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, in fact anything that you
would find in your own store cupboard or use in your own home,
is needed there.
Keith White, who is now in charge at Mill Grove, will be our speaker
on the previous Sunday and no doubt will tell us something about
the work there; I know he will be only too willing to answer any
questions after the service. The work began with his grandfather,
handing over to Keith’s father, who then left off for Keith!
There will also be a retiring offering at the close of each Service
in aid of the home.
Vi Maddison
Church Anniversary
On Sunday, 13th October, we will celebrate our 175th Anniversary!
The President of the Baptist Union during 2001-02, Rev Peter Wortlet,
will be conducting both services. The Lord willing, we will help
mark the occasion with a 'sprucing up' gift to the church!
Sunday Preachers
| 4th August | - am & pm: |
| Rev. Roger Collins | |
| Plus visit from our | |
| Missionaries, the Dyers | |
| 11th August | - am & pm: J Field |
| 18th August | - am & pm: M Kilby |
| 25th August | - am: Mr. David Binns |
| - pm: Rev. L Miller | |
| 1st Sept | - am & pm: Rev. S Guttman |
| 8th Sept | - am & pm: Mr. Ian Powell |
| 15th Sept | - am: Mr. David Binns |
| - pm: Mr. Chris Rann | |
| 22nd Sept | - am & pm: Mr. Keith White |
| (Mill Grove) | |
| 29th Sept | - am & pm: Mrs. Chris Hall |
| (Harvest & parade) |
COWS FOR KOSOVA
The amount we agreed to raise for the Kosova
Relief Fund in order to purchase a cow and a calf for a family
in Kosova by the end of 2002 was £600. By the end of June
the total has reached £195 so, in the next 6 months, we
require £67.50 per month in order to make our target by
the end of December 2002.
Any gifts for the Fund should be put into the Offering in an envelope
marked 'Cows’. Let’s see if we can make £600!!!
Les Paskell
Treasurer
This magazine is your magazine! Help shape TBC whichever way the
Lord leads you. Write, tell, e-mail or dictate to the editor any
articles, quips, etc. that you want to share, or speak to him
about any issues you would want in these pages!
Jose Jurado Aranda
First Floor Flat
63 Becket Avenue
London
E6 6AE
Tel: (020) 8471 8289 or leave message
E-mail: tbceditor@hotmail.com
You can also read Focus online at:
http://freespace.virgin.net/jamesimac.mcglynn/tbc.htm
Postcard from Malcolm and Maria
To all our friends at Tottenham Baptist Church,
We would like to say a sincere thank you for the generous gift.
We are spending it on a dishwasher and a new mattress - so you
can be sure that our cutlery will be clean and we will sleep well!
Thank you too to all who came to our induction at West Croydon.
We were overwhelmed at how many of you came to support us on that
day.
Hope to see you soon.
All our love and thanks once again,
Malcolm & Maria
Our new address and phone no.:
41 Alderton Road
Addiscombe
Croydon
CR0 6HL
Tel: 020 8654 8042
Dear friends
My thanks to those of you who sent cards and get well messages.
Thanks also to those who remember me in their prayers.
I had to return to the hospital for some tests about four weeks
ago. The doctor more or less told me to do what I usually do but
not to push myself. He also said that I was fit to drive.
I carry a spray which squirts a drug under the tongue to relieve
any chest pains but fortunately I don’t have to use it.
I do miss the folk at TBC and remember the Church in my prayers.
Yours,
John Akerman
CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES
After our great success of collecting and filling over 40 shoe
boxes last year, we are going to do the same thing again this
year. Smile International will be taking the shoe boxes to needy
children in Kosova, Macedonia, Monte Negro and Bulgaria in November
so we will need to have them finished and handed in to me by Sunday
13th October. Hopefully, this will give you time to fill the shoe
boxes little by little so it isn’t too much of a hardship.
Should you prefer to give one or two items for a shoe box, then
either give them to me or put them in the big box in the church
lounge marked “Smile International”.
There are certain things that cannot be sent so please do not
include: second-hand or used items, toy guns/knives, military
or monster characters, battery operated items, make up, items
in glass bottles and other breakables and books.
Smile International would be very grateful if you include items
from amongst the following: hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks,
small toys and games, pens, pencils, pencil cases, sharpeners,
rubbers, rulers, notebooks, paper, paints, crayons, colouring
books, packets of sweets, toothbrushes, toothpaste, flannel, soap,
hair accessories such as slides, grips, bands, combs and brushes.
It would be really helpful if you could cover the shoe box in
wrapping paper - please cover the lid separately - and label it
'boy' or 'girl' with the age of the child to whom you wish to
give the present. The youngest is three years, and the oldest
is sixteen years. Then secure the box with strong elastic bands,
as it will need to be opened and checked before being sent abroad.
Thank you so much - in advance - for your kindness and support.
These shoe boxes bring such happiness to the lives of the children
who receive them and although we can’t change the whole world,
we can change somebody’s world!
Best wishes,
Janette
Aims and objectives
To know what Tottenham Baptist is driving for and how you can
relate, here are the goals as set out in our newly accepted church
rules, which will be attached to the Trust deeds:
Our aim is to honour Jesus as Lord in every aspect of our lives,
as individuals and as a church, and with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, to seek to persuade unbelievers to confess their sin,
accept Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord, and to be baptised.
In pursuing this aim, our objectives are, (drawn from Acts 2:41-47
& Eph 4:1-6):
· To worship together, especially each Sunday, (the Lord’s
Day), praising Almighty God, confessing our sin, learning from
the Bible, and praying for our needs and the needs of our world.
· To disciple Christians of all ages by providing opportunities
to come together to deepen their understanding of the Bible, and
to grow in their fellowship together.
· To demonstrate the love of God by actively praying for
one another, caring for one another, and helping one another.
· To share the love of God by reaching out into our local
community, helping with local needs, and making known the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
· To contribute prayerfully and financially to the Baptist
Missionary Society and to the Baptist Home Mission fund to propagate
the gospel further afield.
· To relate to our fellow Baptist churches in particular,
and churches of other denominations where possible, to enrich
our own life and witness, and to strengthen the visible unity
of the church.
Do your aims match these? Ask the Lord if He would have you a
member of our church if you aren’t, and you can learn and
get involved in shaping the church with various responsibilities,
and to contribute to our decisions through our church meetings
too!
BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY NEWS
BMS Birthday Scheme
AUGUST
MATTHEW PETTIT 6th
MR T REID 10th
MS R KING-SPARKE 21st
MR M HATCHETT 29th
SEPTEMBER
KELLY PLUNKETT 1st
MASTER WILLIAM HATCHETT 19th
ABIGAIL TIDMARSH 26th
MRS H WHITEHEAD 29th
Mrs Hazel Whitehead, our BMS Birthday Scheme secretary, shares
a recent letter about our scheme:
'Thank you for your gifts towards the medical work of BMS World
Mission.
'Your support makes it possible for our medical workers to make
a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes this takes the
form of one-to-one treatment or, in Christine Preston’s case,
helping develop health programmes for entire communities. Teaching
and training local people to obtain the skills and qualifications
they need to be able to provide treatment and care. Christine
is Project Director of the Yala Urban Health Programme (YUHP)
in Nepal, which provides health care for some 200,000 people living
in Patan.
'At a clinic in Patan, Christine describes the scene: “The
clinic is as crowded as usual - with many mums and babies who
come in for routine injections and others who are sick and desperately
needing medicine. My attention is caught by one tiny baby boy,
just three days old. He had been brought in by a woman who found
him on a pile of rubbish near to where she lives. The baby’s
mother had disappeared. After a thorough check, he was given a
TB vaccination, a warm wash and some clothes. He is now being
cared for and seems quite content. God is answering prayer in
many beautiful ways through the medical workers and the health
programme in this place.”
'Please pray for BMS medical work around the world and that people
will continue to receive a better quality of life and come to
know Jesus through it. Thank you for your support.
'Yours sincerely,
David Locke
Director of Finance and Administration
Baptist Missionary Society'
BMS Summer Team gets green light for India
A BMS Summer Team left for India in early July for a one-month
mission experience. The Team was given the all-clear after restrictive
travel advice to India was relaxed and reports highlighted an
ease in tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed
territory of Kashmir.
Sue Tomlinson, from Manchester and assistant leader of the nine-person
Indian Summer Team, gave her thoughts before leaving: "We
were all very excited when the Team got the green light to go."
The India Team is due to be working with Emmanuel Ministries,
an evangelical Christian outreach organisation with numerous projects
running in Calcutta. Some of projects that the Summer Team will
be involved with include: the Calcutta Emmanuel School - a school
for 350 street children aged up to 14 who receive a formal education
from qualified teachers; the Tollygunge Night Shelter - a home
for boys aged up to 16 who are recovering from drug addiction,
and the Pavement Club - run daily for 70 street children who receive
non-formal education, plus breakfast and lunch.
Sue has been involved in leadership roles at Altrincham Baptist
Church and shortly before leaving for India she was also running
the Mothers' and Toddlers' group. "I'm looking forward to
an amazing four weeks experiencing the Indian culture. I'm looking
forward to working with the street people, especially the children.
I've heard from others that working with children in this context
has a profound affect on you, and in a way, I don’t expect
to be the same again afterwards. This will a huge opportunity
to give and to show God's love."
This month 63 people will be doing mission overseas on a BMS Summer
Team. The other teams will be based in Uganda, north and south
Brazil, and for the first time, Thailand and Poland.
Last opportunity to join BMS Action Team
There is one space still up for grabs on one of BMS’s Action
Teams heading out to India in October. If you are aged between
18 and 25 and fancy a one-year mission experience never to be
forgotten, call the Action Team hotline on: 01235 517647 or email
missionteams@bms.org.uk
To Focus Readers:
Here are some thoughtful words from my book of jottings.
'Never be ashamed to own up when you have been in the wrong: “It
is but to say that you are wiser today than you were yesterday”.'
I was delighted to come across this definition of the word 'generosity':
'Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will
never find out.'
Doing someone a good deed doesn’t have be something you tell
the world about!
'Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for
the small ones. Then, when you have laboriously accomplished your
daily task, go to sleep in peace, for God is always awake.' (Author
is Victor Hugo)
Pearl Nevers
For the upwardly mobile
For all of us who are upgrading our mobile phones and discarding
our old ones, Miss Vi Maddison points out that by slipping the
old ones into an envelope and sending them for recycling at the
address below, you would: (a) raise £3.50 per phone for
Christian Aid’s charity work; and (b) help to conserve the
environment from the magnesium, cadmium and other contents which
could be harmful in a land site! No postage required.
Christian Aid Appeal
XS Tronix
Freepost LON17592
PO Box 323543
London
SW17 9ZZ
Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside
On a bright Saturday morning, June 29th, a coach-load of folk
from T.B.C. set off to Hastings to spend the day by the sea. And
the sun shone for us as though Clare had laid it on special!...
Most of us strolled along the front and admired the beautiful
gardens; some went up on the lift to get a better view overall.
Some of us went into the boat museum, and the children disappeared
in to the fun fair. Altogether, we had a good day!
I must thank Frank, the coach driver, for his interesting talk
and commentary, and he never hit anyone’s wing mirror!...
So we will say thank you to Clare and please can we go out again
next year?!
Grace Tyzack
Family Gospel Festival 
Saturday 7th September 2002 from 7:00 pm
Come and enjoy an evening of uplifting entertainment.
Entrance is free. In support of sickle cell and thalassaemia sufferers.
Donations on the day will be gratefully received.
Broadwater Community Centre, Adams Road N17.
Thank you and God Bless.
May Richards
SPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Jesus performs one of his many healings
Do you know this story about the time Jesus healed a deaf man?
Try reading this story or get someone to read it to you. Can you
test yourself after with the crossword below? He did some unusual
things in this story, but it must have been for a good reason...
After all, Jesus did a miracle to heal this man!
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon
towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They
brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech;
and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his
fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then
looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha,"
that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were
opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered
them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded
beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he
even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." (from
the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 7 verses 31-37)
Across
4. The Bible says that, unfortunately, when Jesus ordered people
not to tell the miracle to anyone, they ............. it”
5. What is the name of the area (meaning 'Ten cities'!) where
Jesus performed this miracle?
7. The people found that Jesus did “everything ...........”.
8. Jesus said some words in a language (called Aramaic) which
people spoke. What do the words mean?
Down
1. The man who was sick was mute and wasn’t able to talk
properly. He had a speech ............................
2. One of the unusual things Jesus did was that He “spat
and ................ the man's tongue”.
3. What happened to the people who heard about this miracle?
They were “astounded beyond ..................".
6. Did Jesus do the healing in public or in .....................?
Turn page over for the solution!
Jokes from www.kids-teens.org
Why did the dinosaur cross the road? Because chickens weren’t
around then.
Joshua Akers, 8
What has arms and legs but no head? A chair
Kalrissa Everest, Michigan, USA
What is as big as an elephant but weighs nothing? An elephant's
shadow.
Joshua Akers, 8
What did the tie say to the hat? You sit up there, and I'll hang
around!
Why did the sheep take a bath? Because he needed a b-a-a-a-ath.
Anna, 8, British Columbia, Canada
Crossword
solution:
Paul wrote: 'Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading
of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching'.
1 Timothy 4:13
SMILE PLEASE...... WE’RE IN BULGARIA!!
Wow! It’s hard to know where to start (or finish!!) as I
write this article about my recent ministry trip to Bulgaria with
the Christian charity Smile International. I met so many wonderful
people and had so many different experiences that I do not know
what to write first so I’ll just include some of the 'highlights'.
Smile International was set up in faith by Baptist minister Revd.
Clive Doubleday and his wife Ruth about three years ago - initially,
to respond to the desperate situation of the Kosovan refugees
during the war with Serbia. Its work has grown rapidly and it
now seeks to bring the love of Jesus (and a smile!) through practical
aid and support to needy people in Kosova, Macedonia, Monte Negro,
Bulgaria, Zambia and Zimbabwe - with new countries such as India,
China, France and Belgium also requesting help.
I met Clive and the six other members of the team at Gatwick airport
and we headed for Sofia, the capital. The main aim of our visit
was to decorate part of a girls’ orphanage in the mountain
village of Dolna Bania, home to 34 girls aged 7-18. We decided
to paint two of the big bedrooms upstairs that held about eight
children each, and chose white and yellow to make their surroundings
light, bright and sunny. One room, in particular, was very dismal
as it was dark and had paint peeling off from the ceiling. The
girls’ beds were very old and needed replacing, and some
of the lucky ones had broken bedside cabinets with no doors on
the front. This was sad to see as they had nowhere private to
put their personal belongings, little as they were. The director
asked us not to move the wardrobes, if possible, in case they
fell apart! By the time we left, Clive had met with a local carpenter
who had agreed to make new pine beds and bedside cabinets (with
locks) for the girls at a cost of only £20 each (£15
bed and £5 cabinet), and to build new wardrobes. It’s
amazing how far our English money goes in Bulgaria and the big
things that can be done with relatively little.
The girls were very pleased to receive the gifts we had taken
- teddies, toys, games, toiletries, etc. One of the older girls
was heard to say, 'I’m happy now', as she walked upstairs
clutching a selection of hair accessories and toiletries. Little
things mean a lot!
Some of the girls had been in several orphanages (this was the
fifth for girl), and for others it was their first time. Their
parents were dead, in prison, disabled or had abandoned them -
one young girl had been left in a shoe box as a baby. Elena, the
Director, works very hard to do her best for them on a meagre
income as the government gives her about 8p per day for each child
for food, which is not nearly enough! She has been known to go
and beg for food so that she can better meet the children’s
needs. How humble can you get!
A major concern is what happens to the girls when they leave at
18 as there is absolutely no provision for them. Elena tries to
get them a job and gives them a few clothes and pans but, unless
they are the lucky ones, they have not choice but to live on the
street and become involved in stealing or prostitution in order
to survive. It is an area of great concern and Smile Int. are
making plans to build a study skills centre so that the girls
can learn skills at 18 which will equip them to get better jobs
and will give them a hope and a chance in life. The Methodist
church in Sofia (one hour’s drive away) would like to plant
a church in this village so that the girls can regularly learn
about the love of Christ. At the moment, they are too far away
to attend churches in Sofia and the lack of money for petrol prevents
the Christians in the capital from visiting more often.
We stayed at Dr. Long’s Methodist Church and received a wonderfully
warm welcome. The church started with four people seven years
ago and now has 330 members!! Even though these people do not
have a lot, they have a real heart for Christ and support a soup
kitchen which feeds 150 people per day (except when they run out
of money as they have in July and August!), 3-4 orphanages including
one for disabled men and women, and a medical centre. Such faith
in action! The pastor, Evgeniy (who trained at Spurgeon’s
College with Malcolm!) and his wife Aneta work extremely hard
in setting up projects to support these establishments. They talk
with the government to get better conditions and liaise with other
countries to set up new projects - as well as Bible teaching,
training students, preaching and a whole host of other things.
They are a lovely couple and so committed to the Lord - please
pray for them.
Janette Whitehead
Look out for more on Janette’s mission in the next issue,
where she introduces us to Roma (or Gypsy) believers and their
outreach!
Meeting Nicodemuses today
Have you thought of ways to be prepared to witness at work?
If you don’t think you know how to witness because you think
whatever you say will come out gauche, or you might even be sanctioned
for it, I would suggest that after asking God’s direction
you begin by visualising yourself talking to your work mate -
truly visualising yourself telling him or her how much joy Jesus
has brought into your life, or whatever appeals the most to you
about Him. Is it the gift of eternal life? The strength to stand
the enemy? The consolation of His fellowship? Just picture yourself
going through the motions of telling him or her about this.
Visualisation is actually a technique that athletes use nowadays
to succeed! 'Without vision, the people perish'. Here also, it’s
a matter of having a 'vision' about witnessing. By visualising
yourself witnessing you can overcome further any jitters. Discuss
with Jesus what is likely to happen and He will tell you what
He expects you to do. You’ll get the courage to witness because
you have rehearsed reactions in your mind, talked it over with
Him, and how it is likely to feel. One reason Jesus gives us visions
of the Kingdom of Heaven through parables perhaps is so that we
could feel or picture what it must be like also. Sometimes, He
might say “Do it!”, and we should do it without needing
to rehearse the outcomes, though!
Another thought about witnessing: why not concentrate on witnessing
about what Jesus has done for you instead of trying to prove your
beliefs over other peoples’?
Let’s help each other to witness about the Lord and encourage
each other by writing about any mission inspirations or thoughts,
or by telling some of the witnessing you have done in your community
or beyond on these pages. Please write or tell your witness stories
or thoughts on evangelism to the Focus editor.
Í
While on holiday recently, we had occasion
to drive past the cleft in the rock where Augustus Montague Toplady
(1740-1778) took shelter during a storm.
At Burrington Combe or not at Burrington Combe? This is one of
the questions surrounding the hymn 'Rock of Ages'. But then the
author himself was also something of an enigma and certainly not
half as popular as his hymn has become. He never knew his father,
and it was an uncle who looked after him, sending him to Westminster
School where he presumed to lecture everyone through pious sermons,
and when that didn’t work wrote a farce instead, which he
sent to Drury Lane. Uncle was displeased at this development and
young Augustus and his mother moved to Ireland, out of harm’s
way. There he attended Trinity College in Dublin, and although
a member of the Established Church, he was converted to Wesleyanism
after attending a service in a barn.
Toplady had caught the religious burr, or rather butterfly, as
only a few months later he fluttered into Calvinism and Wesley
was forgotten. He was ordained, and finally took a living in Exeter,
where he became rather attached to an historian, Mrs Macaulay,
who lived in Bath. They corresponded regularly and it looks as
if Augustus expected marriage, but his hopes were dashed when
the forty-seven year old woman of his dreams married what today
we might call a 'toy boy', a very pleasant surgeons mate who was
just twenty-one!
Reverend Toplady was furious and he was not a man to hide his
feelings.
The most popular story about this hymn concerns a visit to Blagden,
where during a storm Augustus sheltered in a cleft rock in the
Mendips called Burrington Combe. Not having a notebook in which
to write his hymn he found a playing card on the ground and used
that.
However, when this hymn was published in 1776, the author had
not been near the West Country for twelve years!
Augustus died when he was only thirty-eight, but he has left us
with a hymn that has inspired, challenged and strengthened many
people over the years. And if we want to imagine the events of
Burrington Combe, why shouldn’t we?
Submitted by Vi Maddison
(taken from 'More Hazel’s Hymns')
Í
A Parade to Remember
The 4th June 2002 will stay in many people’s minds as the
parade and bank holiday to mark the end of the long weekend of
Golden Jubilee celebrations. But for those of us who took part
in that celebration and performed, or sang or paraded, it was
when we took part in British history.
Being up at 6 a.m. to get into London for early in the morning
is, as many know, no fun at all but many of our girls had a much
earlier morning as they came from all over the country: from Scotland,
Wales, Devon, Cornwall and Birmingham, and many in between.
Everyone arrived around 11 a.m. and then began the job of getting
everyone into uniform - 1900s uniform. The Girls’ Life Brigade
uniform, Scotland’s Girls’ Guildry uniform, the previous
uniform (blazers), the current ceremonial and activity uniforms,
girls from GB Scotland uniforms! Then, we had to sit in Totthill
Street eating the lunch provided before we lined up.
Now, lining up for three hours is generally no fun at all, but
we still enjoyed ourselves! It would seem some camp songs are
just well-known by everyone. And it’s a well-known fact most
girls, and particularly the officers, came with a large lung capacity!
Just after 3:45 p.m. we finally got to start to move, although
it was about half-an-hour or so before we actually got onto the
parade, but in the meantime, we continued to entertain ourselves,
other marchers and the organisers with angelic singing. (Hmm...
maybe not.)
For those of you who were not sure, we were under the huge balloon
globe with the GB emblem on it.
The actual parading part was over quite quickly (although my feet
would disagree), and walking past hundreds of smiling, waving
people is an experience I doubt many of us will forget.
And so begins the long journey home and the job of attempting
to get out of London.
But for those of you who were wondering if an early morning, lots
of travelling and hours of waiting around was worth it: it truly
was something I will forever be proud to have taken part in -
and we had lots of fun too!
Victoria Plunkett
Bible Society News
Iraq - 'Just for Kids' drama
Bible comics, colouring books, New Reader Scriptures, special
Children’s Bibles, videos and drama are being produced to
appeal to youngsters. From Peru and Iraq to Romania and Brazil,
Bible Societies are helping children to hear God’s Word.
The Just for Kids drama troupe of the Bible Society in Lebanon
(BSL) completed a 3,750-mile tour of three Iraqi cities, making
Christ known to thousands of Iraqi children aged between six and
twelve. They heard the message of hope in Jesus through drama
and song.
After Baghdad, the tour continued to Basrah, near the border with
Iran and Kuwait. This city was badly damaged during the eight-year
Iran-Iraq war, the 1991 Gulf War, and in the subsequent civil
uprising. The group then headed north to Mosul, bordering on the
autonomous region of Iraq, where civil war has raged between the
government and the Kurds for years. BSL Distribution and Information
Officer Tom Hoglind said, " To see so many children captivated
by the drama and participating in the singing was something that
we have not witnessed anywhere else apart from Iraq. The children
responded to questions asked from the stage and sat with rapt
attention!"
More prisoners know that "God will never abandon" them
Many of these prisoners are desperate to find forgiveness and
a way to escape a life of crime after their release - but many
of them are yet to know "the saving power of Jesus Christ."
Through its work with prison chaplains, churches and volunteers
throughout the world, the Bible Society hears of prison populations
living without hope until they receive the receive and discover
God’s promises.
In Cameroon, God’s life-giving and life-changing message
has made a deep impression on one inmate’s life. Condemned
to die, Dieudonné Tokoh does not seem concerned. "I
am ready to die if that’s what God wants of me," he
says.
Dieudonné learnt to read with the Bible, and it has become
the most important thing in his life. "I gain great strength
from it, especially the story of Joseph who was locked unjustly.
Through stories like these we can take comfort and remember that
God will never abandon us."
Dieudonné describes the free Bibles provided by the Bible
Society as "a blessing from heaven" and he uses them
to share his love of God’s Word with fellow prisoners. Many
prisoners have become Christians through Dieudonné’s
sharing of God’s Word, but his greatest desire is to be able
to continue his work outside prison. "I am praying that God
will one day release me from this jail but I am prepared to wait
here in jail," he said. "I know the most important thing
in my life is my relationship with God." His words are testimony
to the "saving power of Jesus Christ" and show how important
the Word of God is to those prisoners struggling to come to terms
with an uncertain future.
Call to pray that the Bible be heard at The Commonwealth Games
The Bible Society has been able to provide mission teams and churches
with 20,000 specially-designed sports John’s Gospels for
free distribution in what is the biggest multi-sport event ever
held in the UK.
With more than 4,000 athletes from 72 nations competing in Manchester’s
Commonwealth Games (25 July to 4 August 2002), local churches
and other organisations join together to share the Christian message.
This More than Gold campaign, whose Patron is Olympic champion
Jonathan Edwards, is using the sports edition Gospel of John,
which includes a special cover with specific Games information.
More than Gold, an inter-denominational organisation, takes its
name from 1 Peter 1.7 about faith being more precious than gold.
Launched at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, it has co-ordinated
initiatives at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 2002 Winter
Olympics in Utah. More than Gold is co-ordinating a range of activities
in Manchester with sports dinners, youth sports events, schools
missions, and serves visitors with athletes’ family hosting
and mission teams.
Bible Society is thrilled that the Bible will be heard at the
Commonwealth Games, and that it can be involved in building bridges
between the Bible and the sports community. In the notes on this
special edition, Jonathan Edwards says how central the Bible is
to his life: “It tells me what my attitudes, my actions,
the way I should live life should be: to glorify God through every
aspect of my life.”
Where are you now?
Well, I did manage to “renew acquaintances” with CATHERINE
ORTEGA (née LOVE) and meet fifteen-month-old MICHAEL ANGELO
(a lovely little boy) in June on Catherine’s first visit
back home from Cleveland, Ohio. On her return to the U.S., she
was expecting to move - we hope it didn’t (doesn’t?)
prove too much of an upheaval!
MURIEL MATHERS has been well occupied recently with her Women’s
Fellowship, Stanmore Baptist Church’s children’s holiday
club, a trip in June with a group from SBC down the Thames from
Westminster Bridge to the Thames Barrier and Greenwich, and a
week at the Keswick Convention in July with four other SBC folk
and another friend. How do you find time for all your everyday
church activities, Muriel?
MARY LOOMES and her daughter MARGARET enjoyed a week at Frinton
in June, coinciding with the Queen’s Jubilee. They hope we
won’t be too long without a minister. Mary’s church
at East Finchley has been without a minister for some time but
has “a new man starting on 7 September and very thankful
we are, too”, she writes. She sends her love to all at TBC
and thanks us for our prayers.
WINNIE and LAURIE REED will have had a week’s holiday in
Sidmouth (with good weather, I hope!) when they receive this copy
of Focus. Their church at Bishop’s Stortford is still worshipping
in a School Hall, praying that they will soon find a site to build
new premises. Their brother LIONEL and his wife are “very
happy living in Leeds in a beautiful part of the city with many
parks and lakes close by”. On return from holiday, Winnie
will be seeing a consultant about gastric problems “which
need sorting out”. We pray that they will soon be resolved.
Lena Starling
Prayer
Calendar for August 2002
To you, 0 Lord, I offer my prayer; in you, my God, I trust
Psalm 25
Pray for or about:-
Thursday 1st Thanks for safe return of Janette from Bulgaria
Friday 2nd Anyone recently bereaved-remember Ivy & George
Saturday 3rd Visit of John & Maria Dyer our link Missionaries
Sunday 4th Revd Roger Collins leading worship today
Monday 5th The RNLI -give thanks for the lives they save
Tuesday 6th Give thanks for the love and care of your own family
Wednesday 7th Our Pastoral Care Team & the work they do behind
the scenes
Thursday 8th Open air campaign ministries everywhere
Friday 9th People sleeping on streets without a home of their
own
Saturday 10th Great Ormond Street Hospital and children in their
care
Sunday 11th Our visiting speaker Mr J. Field
Monday 12th Give thanks for Miss Starling and her work over many
years
Tuesday 13th Remember Sunday school children whilst on holiday
Wednesday 14th Malcolm & Maria now settling into their new
home in Croydon
Thursday 15th The British Heart Foundation and anyone needing
help
Friday 16th Give thanks to God for medical science
Saturday 17th GB Officers, Helpers & girls travelling to Littlehampton
Sunday 18th Mr Kilby who conducts our worship today
Monday 19th Home Mission Fund and churches they help
Tuesday 20th Young people awaiting exam results
Wednesday 21st Miss Maddison & Miss Starling on holiday this
week
Thursday 22nd All girls and Helpers away at camp
Friday 23rd Give thanks for all Chemo and Radio Therapy
Saturday 24th The open air witness on church forecourt tomorrow
Sunday 25th Our visiting speakers Mr David Binns AM Revd L. Miller
PM
Monday 26th All Emergency Services on duty Bank Holiday
Tuesday 27th The Ecumenical movement of Christians working together
Wednesday 28th May Richards & all she does to organise Family
Gospel Festival
Thursday 29th Eileen Woods, Mabel Johnson & Olive Persson
all house bound
Friday 30th Students now awaiting placements
Saturday 31st Sisters of Mercy who are caring and kind
0 Lord, my defender, l call to you. Listen to my cry!
Psalm 28
Prayer Calendar
for September 2002
We thank You then, 0 Father, for all things bright and good.,
the seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.
Pray for or about:-
Sunday 1st Revd S.Guttman bringing us His message
Monday 2nd Thanks for Talking Bible for the blind
Tuesday 3rd Our Deacons and Moderator as they meet tonight
Wednesday 4th Bible Study:-Come to the Alpha Course video
Thursday 5th All concerned in Racial Justice Sunday on the 8th.
Friday 6th The men's morning breakfast tomorrow
Saturday 7th Family Gospel Festival at Broadwater Farm
Sunday 8th Our Speaker today Mr Ian Powell
Monday 9th Sunday School Teachers meeting this evening
Tuesday 10th Thanks for all eye surgeons and hospitals
Wednesday 11th Those attending Prayer and Bible Study
Thursday 12th New session starting in GB
Friday 13th BB Officers and Boys meeting / LVCEF Meeting
Saturday 14th Preparations for Harvest Festival Services
Sunday 15th Visiting Preachers David Binns AM Chris Rann PM
Monday 16th Hazel Whitehead our BMS Secretary
Tuesday 17th Church Members Meeting and matters to be discussed
Wednesday 18th Our Queen and family in her 50th Anniversary year
Thursday 19th Girls,Officers and Helpers at GB
Friday 20th Famous artists who proclaim their Christian beliefs
Saturday 21st The Gideons and their on going witness
Sunday 22nd Keith White our speaker from Mill Grove Children's
Home
Monday 23rd The Music Group preparing to give a witness
Tuesday 24th The Pastoral Care Team
Wednesday 25th Thornton Reid leading Bible Study
Thursday 26th The continuing work of Task Force
Friday 27th Sufferers of Arthritis
Saturday 28th The Harvest Supper
Sunday 29th Harvest Services led by Chris Hall GB Commissioner
Monday 30th Give thanks for gifts going to Mill Grove