DECEMBER 2019 & JANUARY 2020 - United Church Winchester
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Magazine of
The United Church
Winchester
DECEMBER 2019 & JANUARY 2020
The United Church 01962 849559
Jewry Street
Winchester
SO23 8RZ New website: ucw.org.uk
Minister Revd Tim Searle
New email address: minister@ucw.org.uk
Fellowship, Worship and Education
Co-ordinator Pat Fry 01962 880748
Asst Co-ordinator Juli Wills 01962 863057
Pastoral
Co-ordinator Helen McTiffin 01962 868073
Bereavement Sandy Foster 01489 890334
Flowers Distribution Lesley Worrall 01962 882269
Cradle Roll Ann Coleman 07739 793488
Students Sam Barnes 02380 685531
Finance
Co-ordinator Christine Cook 01962 884510
Payments and Expenses Ralph Jessop 01962 843114
Donations and Gift Aid David Worrall 01962 882269
Administration
Co-ordinator Bob Lord 01962 855910
Asst Co-ordinator Dorothy Lusmore 01962 885824
Office Administrator Naomi Honey 01962 849559
office@ucw.org.uk
Mission
Co-ordinators Jo Crocker 01962 622654
Jo Pellatt 01962 849334
Youth Worker Sam Barnes 07742 077114
sambarnesyouthworker@gmail.com
Live at Home Anna Miles 01962 890995
Magazine Editor Barbara Dunton 01962 882012
yours@ucw.org.uk
2
Opening Letter
Dear Friends,
When Christmas Hurts
Many of you will remember Band Aid, the 80’s
brainchild of Bob Geldof, who used the
power of celebrity to raise money for those suffering due to
the famine in Ethiopia. Their 1984 Christmas hit ‘Do they know
it’s Christmas’ haunted many of us with images of emaciated,
fly-ridden, sun-beaten children whose experience of the
season of so-called goodwill was anything but joyous. To this
day those scenes remind me that many around the globe still
go hungry whilst we tuck into our Christmas lunches. Many
who are already facing the reality of climate crisis and
extreme weather will be forced from their homes whilst we
decorate ours. Many people in our own communities will be
facing loneliness, isolation or illness this Christmas whilst
Wizzard’s ‘Well I wish it could be Christmas everyday’ blares,
incessantly, out of every shop and superstore. Many will be
dying or caring for those who are dying or grieving for those
who have died. Many will feel the grip of long-standing grief
resurface or the black dog of depression once again sit on
their shoulders. For many, Christmas is a jumble of bad
memories, unfulfilled dreams and past traumas. Is it any
wonder the nation’s alcohol consumption peaks at this point
of the year?
So this year, we’re tearing off the collective ‘band-aid’ of
forced jollity at United and we're going to make space for
when Christmas hurts. As part of our ‘Down to Earth’ Advent
theme which focuses on the reality of the nativity scene itself,
we’re going to have a tree especially set aside for people to
reflect on when Christmas hurts. We’re not saying that it’s a
bad thing to enjoy Christmas and we're not saying that it's
wrong to have a good time. What we are saying is to allow
space for those whose stories don’t conform to the meek and
mild, crisp and clean Christmas card image that has Mary
3
being the perfect advert for Daz and Jesus lying with beaming
smile on a velveteen bed of hay.
For their story was anything but meek and mild. It’s a story
about a displaced family forced to find a bed wherever they
could; forced to flee for their lives from a despotic madman.
It’s a story about an unmarried couple coming to terms with
an unplanned pregnancy; a teen mum forced to grow up
faster than she should have done. It’s a story about child
poverty and child cruelty. It’s Jesus’ story, a story about when
Christmas hurts. He suffered as one of us and he will not
sugarcoat our pain with forced jollity or empty platitudes.
There were plenty of times he felt pain, anguish, rejection and
isolation just like we do. He can walk with us through our own
tribulations because he knows, first hand, what it’s like to feel;
to be human in every way. So this year, spare a thought for
the lost and lonely of our world ... when Christmas hurts.
Tim
YOURS MAGAZINE
February 2020
Publication date for the February magazine
(the next one) is Sunday 26 January. The
deadline for articles and notices is 5 pm on
Monday 13 January.
All contributions gratefully received.
The Yours Team is: Barbara Dunton and Sophie Armstrong.
Email: yours@ucw.org.uk
4
News of the United Church Family
Alan Irving died peacefully at home at
Abbotts Barton Care home on 30 October
aged 96. He came to live at Abbotts Barton
Care Home in Winchester in June 2015 after
a severe stroke. He was a member of
Havant URC for 63 years, being a Deacon
and then Elder and also Church Treasurer, among many other
roles. Latterly, he considered himself a part of both church
families – Havant and The United Church. As a family we
would like to thank United Church friends for their friendship
towards my father and their prayers and support for us all.
Congratulations to Sarah and Richard Lane on
the birth of their son, Matthew Anthony, on 22nd
November. A grandson for Jessica and Martin
Tringham.
Tim and Sophie are delighted to announce that they are
expecting a baby boy due in April.
We send greetings to all those who are in our fellowship who
are unable to come to services or activities on a regular basis.
We wish you, especially, the peace and joy of Christmas.
An advance notice for all our Pastoral Visitors. We shall be
meeting at 11 am on Monday 20 January up in the church.
This will be a chance to catch up and discuss items of
particular concern. Thank you for all your continuing care this
year.
Helen McTiffin
Pastoral Co-ordinator
5
The United Church Winchester
Down to Earth
During Advent the church will be open to give an opportunity
for quiet reflection, an escape from the hustle and bustle of
Christmas.
There will be a display of nativity scenes and Christmas trees
representing Christmas carols, as well as a short video offering
food for thought on the wonderful mystery at the heart of the
Christmas story.
Please do come in and enjoy this peaceful place in the heart
of the City
Opening times : 1 December–23 December
Monday–Friday 10 am–2 pm, and Saturdays 10 am–12 pm.
NB: this display will not be open on Thursday 5 December.
6
Down to Earth
Remember the angels last year – wasn’t
it wonderful how so many people
worked together to create a memorable
display?
We knew we had not got the time or
energy to create another spectacular
display. But we thought it important to
have the church open and welcoming
as an oasis of quiet in the Christmas rush.
Two people told us that their churches had displayed nativity
scenes lent by members that had been much appreciated.
I remembered being on a summer holiday in Innsbruck in
torrential rain. We had taken refuge in a museum – and found
something amazing. It was full of traditional hand-carved
nativity scenes, each unique, and added to down the years.
Each one represented the woodcarver’s own village, its
buildings, their friends and neighbours, their animals, and the
holy family at the centre of their village. A wonderful
demonstration that God came into ordinary life; that God’s
presence can be found wherever people are now, not just
two thousand years ago. So Down to Earth became our
theme, reflected in our Christmas invitation leaflet.
Unfortunately, the fact that we cannot steward the event full
time meant that, for good reason, there were not enough
nativity scenes volunteered. So we hit on the idea of
supplementing with Christmas trees decorated to reflect
Christmas carols, another down to earth way Christmas has
been celebrated for centuries. There will be some scenes for
children to play with, others that are too delicate to handle. A
big thank you to all those who are helping by lending
treasured nativity scenes, or by decorating trees.
7
But Christmas is not an easy time for everyone; sometimes
personal circumstances make it hard to engage with the
jollity, so in one corner there will be space for quiet prayer.
This Christmas let us find time to wonder again at the good
news of God’s love coming down to earth.
Pat Fry (FWE co-ordinator)
Christmas Carol Service
Sunday 22 December
at 4.30 pm
An occasion for the whole church
community.
This year we have reversed the order: service
at 4.30 pm followed by a Christmas tea,
including mince pies as well as rolls and cakes
etc. We hope it will be more appropriate both
for families and older people.
We aim to include a range of music with
‘something for everyone’.
There is no offering in the service, but there
will be opportunity for donations to Action for
Child Trauma International at tea time.
8
Christmas Craft Morning
Monday 23 December 10 am–12 noon
Wondering what to do at the beginning
of the school holiday before the
excitement of Christmas Day? Why not
come to our drop-in craft morning? We
aim to provide a range of activities, so
whether you are three or eighty-three, or
anywhere in between, we hope you will find something to
enjoy doing. (Children must bring an adult with them)
Pat Fry
Make Do and Mend Christmas
In my childhood Christmas crept up
on us quietly. With food rationing,
and everything geared to the War
Effort, it was a world away from the
conspicuous consumption and
razzmatazz of today. Free from a
world of advertising and high
expectations, children were happy with gifts cobbled together
from bits and pieces.
What did it matter that the stocking hung at the
foot of my bed was an old sock of my father’s?
The bumps inside seemed mysterious and
exciting. An orange, nuts and home-made
fudge were treats. If you dug deep there were
small items, a miniature pack of cards, some
crayons, or a whistle.
After lunch we were allowed to unwrap the big brown-paper
wrapped parcels under the tree. One for each child. We
children were dragged off in the afternoon by my father for
what he called ‘Our Fresh Air Fix’. As this invariably led to a
9
local piggery our grumbling ‘Phew! What a stink!’ made him
cut short this traditional outing and take us home to have
some of the Christmas cake we had helped to bake. After this
we settled down to play games in front of the fire.
I lost faith in Santa the year of the bear. Instead of the fat,
cuddly creature I wanted so badly, the black,
glittery eyes of the khaki clad soldier bear I
unwrapped scared me. Bursting into tears, I
flung it away. My mother tried to explain how
hard the elves had worked to make those
special soldier bears but it was no good. At four
years old I could not understand what a shortage of toys
meant. Santa was rubbish!
The gift that gave me the most joy for the longest time was the
dolls house my father made and
painted. That winter I was
recovering from pneumonia and
my convalescence was a creative
one. Wallpaper remnants, curtain
scraps, matchboxes, anything I
could find went into furnishing my
grand mansion. Scavenging for
shells and flotsam and jetsam
remained a hobby and the little people I dressed up became
characters in the first stories I ever wrote.
Today we are urged to save the planet; so do we really need
the paraphernalia surrounding Christmas? It is the memories of
the warmth, togetherness and simple fun and games that I
cherish now.
Maybe it is time to Make Do and Mend once again.
Rosemary MacMullen
10Think Green this Christmas
Please remember to try and think 'Green' this
Christmas. We always have a board for Christmas
cards in the hall. How about sending one card to all
our church family rather than several individual
cards?
There will be some people who really appreciate an individual
card so there will be a post box for these but please check
addresses (especially for those who have moved into nursing
care). Hopefully they will all be delivered, but EVERY year
many get left !
Think also about alternatives to Christmas wrapping paper;
much of this paper cannot be recycled so how about using
old rolls of wallpaper instead?
Happy Christmas preparations.
Ann Coleman
Change of Manse
Message from Clare Downing, Moderator, Wessex Synod
The manse associated with Winchester United Church is
owned and managed by the Wessex Synod of the United
Reformed Church. We do not take decisions to sell manses
and buy new properties lightly, and if it is necessary, we would
normally undertake this during a period of ministerial vacancy.
We have come to the conclusion that the current manse at
Ruffield Close is not now suitable, and for pastoral reasons
have decided – with Tim’s full support – to seek a new property
whilst he is in post. We have ensured that any properties
considered comply with both the Methodist and URC manse
standards.
We are hoping that this can go ahead shortly, and that it will
be a positive factor in Tim’s continuing ministry, and for his
family life.
11A Book Review
Recently published, A Single Thread by
Tracy Chevalier follows on well from the
recent series in Yours of three Winchester
men who served in the 1914–18 War.
Set in 1932, the book introduces us to
Violet Speedwell, aged 38 years, who lost her brother and
fiancé in the war and has become one of the spare
generation of women. She had a desolate life with her
mother, also in mourning, and has decided to move to
Winchester where she lives frugally as a typist. However,
visiting the Cathedral she meets the broderers (a group of
women charged with embroidering kneelers for the
Cathedral) which leads to friendships and even learning how
to stitch. Walk round Winchester, the Cathedral and nearby
countryside with her.
Kathleen Hill
A Note from the Editors:
Having received this book review from Kathleen, we wondered if
any other of our readers would like to submit a review of a book that
they have enjoyed and would like to share. The book can be fiction
or non fiction and the review about two or three paragraphs long.
We look forward to hearing from you!
12Please Note the Dates for the Women’s
and Men’s Groups
All meetings are held at The Queen Inn, Kingsgate Road at
7.30 pm.
Women's group
Wednesday 22 January
Wednesday 19 February
Wednesday 25 March
Men's group
Thursday 23 January
Thursday 20 February
Thursday 26 March
Coffee Bar are Offering Free Teas and Coffees
9–23 December
For many years now the Coffee Bar
has offered free tea, coffee (cup
or mug) or squash to customers
during these dates as a thank you
to the regulars for their support
throughout the year and as a
welcome to new visitors.
Even if you don’t usually frequent our Coffee Bar, please give
us a try and pop in for a drink and a chat during December.
You can be sure of a warm welcome.
There will be collection boxes on the counter for customers
who wish to donate to the Trinity Centre (9–14 Dec) and the
Night shelter (16–23 Dec).
13The Wednesday Fellowship
Join us for fun and fellowship over a good cup of tea.
December 2019 & January 2020
December
4 Christmas Craft Yvonne North
11 Fellowship Christmas Lunch
Plus Advent Carols and Readings
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR BREAK
January
15 So you think the Earth is solid? Molly Adamson
22 To be Advised
29 Nick Langham
In October and November, we enjoyed the following events:
Fellowship Sharing Time
Jenny shared with us the second instalment of her working life
in TV, Film and Theatre. Having compiled her portfolio of
photographs, she set about seeking work. This initially led to
Gloucester, no work was offered.
Then a part came along in a soap
commercial at Calshot Beach. On
this particular day, it was very windy.
Her enduring memory was, in order
to protect her hair style, three young
men in white shorts were designated to hold up a large
umbrella, whilst running backwards towards the sea. Another
part came her way later, in the TV series Miami Vice.
Celia; read to us from Rediscover Jesus, a Prologue called ‘I
am Jesus?’
Naomi, shared with us a story of one of her pupils, who wrote a
book, called, Girl on a Plane. The name of the girl in question
is Miriam Moss, and whilst travelling with her family she went
14through the trauma of their plane being hijacked. The
hijackers were threatening towards the passengers, so to keep
their spirits up, one of the passengers sang and played ‘Bridge
over troubled waters’. Although he was threatened, he
continued to sing this song. They eventually returned safely
home.
Pam shared some words written by Hugo Grim, who at six
years of age wrote of a visitor to his family home. This visitor
stated that there are only 36 righteous men in the whole world
and he used to recite the Psalms and talked of social justice.
Hugo at his young age felt that this visitor was one of the
righteous men.
The Mary Rose Margaret Braddock
We enjoyed a powerpoint presentation on the raising of the
Mary Rose Ship.
Cambridge University have a painting of King Henry VIII’s roll of
ships. The Mary Rose ship is included in the painting. The ship
was named Mary Rose after King Henry's sister Mary who
married the King of France.
The ship went through three
wars, and in 1545, during the
French invasion, the ship sank.
It had on board guns that
were still primed and 500
men, aged between 10 and
40 years.
In 1971 the remains of the Mary Rose were discovered. After a
great deal of preparation work to preserve the timbers the
ship was finally raised in October 1982. Prince Charles took a
great deal of interest in the wreck and dived on the site nine
times. The ship contained many artifacts of great interest and
is now displayed in the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. Well
worth a visit.
15The Rose Road Association Vicky Jelley
Rose Road offer a Community Outreach Service locally for
young disabled people. This service involves support and
activities within the home or community to children and young
adults with severe learning disabilities. Their facilities include
‘Take a Break Scheme’, for families; ‘Acorns and Oaks’, which
offer residential short-breaks for children and young adults;
and a ‘Play scheme’ during school holidays for children and
young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
They also run a school for pupils aged two and a half to
nineteen years old with profound and multiple disabilities and
complex needs. Rose Road also offers volunteering
opportunities within the association and in the local
community.
Pharoah, Shetland and Orkney Islands
Roger and Pauline Brooks
Roger and Pauline came to tell us about their cruise round the
UK on the Oriana.
Pharoah: Having reached the Pharoah Islands, they visited the
capital Torshaun. Within the capital there is a new exhibition
centre and hospital, and the houses have been built in a style
showing a strong Danish influence. Because of the glacier
activity, the landscape has U shaped valleys, and it is known
as a vertical island. There are long haired sheep in the fields,
there is also fish farming.
Shetland: is made up of over 100 islands. It is where Scotland
meets Scandinavia and the North Sea meets the Atlantic
Ocean. They docked at Lerwick, with its stone buildings, a
Victorian library, town hall, and a castle. It has a combination
of inland lochs, spectacular coastal scenery and heathery hills.
It is also the home of a number of birds, such as Cormorants,
Guillimots, Ganets and the Great Skewer They also saw otters
and seals.
16Orkney: Orkney’s Capital, Kirkwall, remains a Viking town at
heart, with a skyline dominated by the magnificent 12th
century Norse Cathedral of St
Magnus. Pauline and Roger travelled
in an open top bus around the island
taking in the lovely scenery and
good grazing land. They visited Skara
Brae, a stone-built Neolithic
settlement, located on the Bay of
Skaill. The early settlement had been
excavated and dates back to 3100 BC – it is Europe's most
complete Neolithic village. The early houses showed there was
planned living at this time.
Pamela Gilbert
Operation Christmas Child – Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Box
Appeal
Thank you to everyone who helped in
any way with the Shoe Box Appeal this
year. Samaritan’s Purse collected from
The United Church 210 boxes from us,
and 60 boxes (approx) delivered to us by
St Mary’s Church, Kings Worthy, to take to the warehouse
where they will be customs checked and packed ready
for dispatch to children and families.
This has been a very good collection this year with many
contributing including Church members, Wednesday
Fellowship and WLAH’s members, who enjoyed an
excellent talk from Mary Savage, Area Rep for
Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Box Appeal.
Many thanks.
Yvonne North & Ann Coleman
17A Concert of Christmas Music and Readings in
Support of Winchester Hospice,
5 p m, Saturday 14 December
at The United Church.
Winchester Music Club invites you to join them
performing some of their favourite carols, raising funds for
Winchester Hospice. Work is underway to renovate
Burrell House but before they can open the doors just
under £3 million is needed to complete the conversion
into a specialist hub for palliative care. Winchester
Hospice will be there to provide patients at the end of
their lives – delivering care on site and in the community
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
1819
Space in the City
New Year 2020
Angela Tilby
The Problem of Sin. Our fault or our
circumstances?
Canon Angela Tilby will address the idea of sin
in the Bible and the Christian spiritual tradition,
and what sense can we make of spiritual
warfare?
Wednesdays
29 January, 5 & 12 February
12.30–1pm
at The United Church, Jewry Street,
Winchester
Sandwiches will be available after the talks
No charge but your donations are gratefully received
www.spaceinthecity.org.uk
20Dates for December 2019
2 Church Council in Room 1 9.30-12noon
3 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
4 Fairtrade Stall in the Coffee Lounge 10am-2pm
*Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
5 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
Messy Church in the Hall 3.30-5.15pm
6 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
9 *Coffee Bar Christmas special – 10am-2pm
free tea & coffee to 23 Dec inc
(Donations to Trinity Centre 9–14 Dec
& to Nightshelter 16–23 Dec inc)
10 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
11 *Wednesday Fellowship – Christmas
Lunch in the Hall
12 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
13 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
14 *Winchester Music Club concert 5pm
in aid of Winchester Hospice
17 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
(last Baby & Toddler Group until Jan)
18 Fairtrade Stall in the Coffee Lounge 10am-2pm
No Wednesday Fellowship until Jan
19 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
20 Winchester Live at Home Carol 10.30am
Service – all welcome (No Friday Worship)
23 *All Age Christmas Craft drop-in morning
Christmas closures:
23 Winchester LAH closed –offices reopen on 2 Jan
– activities resume on 6 Jan
24 Church Office closed – reopens on 31 Dec
Coffee Bar closed – reopens on 6 January
Messy Church, Thursday 5 December,
3.30 pm (straight from School) –5.15 pm.
Fun, games, craft, DVD, Bible stories and shared meal.
Children must bring an adult with them.
21Dates for January 2020
HAPPY NEW YEAR
1 New Year’s Day – Bank holiday
2 Church Office open (NB: Coffee Bar closed 2 & 3
Jan)
6 Coffee Bar open
9 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
Messy Church in the Hall 3.30-5.15pm
10 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
13 Church Council Plus 9.30am-1pm
14 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
15 Fairtrade Stall in the Coffee Lounge 10am-2pm
*Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
16 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
17 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
21 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
22 *Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
23 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
24 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
27 Craft Club in Room 1 10-12noon
28 Baby & Toddler Group in the Hall 2-3.30pm
29 *Space in the City – Winter series 12.30pm
Angela Tilby: The Problem of Sin –
our fault or our circumstances (1 of 3)
*Wednesday Fellowship in Room 1 2.30pm
30 Coffee Bar Playtime in Room 1 10am-1pm
31 Friday Worship in the Church 11-11.20am
Messy Church – 9 January
3.30 pm (straight from School) –5.15 pm.
Fun, games, craft, DVD, Bible stories and shared meal.
Children must bring an adult with them
22SERVICES FOR DECEMBER 2019
1 DECEMBER – Advent Sunday
9.00 am Word & Worship Revd Tim Searle
10.30 am Morning Worship with Revd Tim Searle
Holy Communion
8 DECEMBER – 2nd Sunday in Advent
9.00 am Holy Communion Revd Tim Searle
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd Tim Searle
15 DECEMBER – 3rd Sunday in Advent
9.00 am Word & Worship Mrs Pat Fry
10.30 am All Age Nativity Service Revd Tim Searle
20 DECEMBER
10.30 am Winchester Live at Home Carol Service
22 DECEMBER – 4th Sunday in Advent
9.00 am Holy Communion Revd Howard Mellor
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd John Archer
4.30 pm Candlelit Carol Service Revd Tim Searle
followed by Christmas tea
25 DECEMBER – Christmas Day
10.00 am Christmas Celebration Revd Tim Searle
with all the family
29 DECEMBER
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd Sue Keegan v
Allmen
Additional Services in December
Friday Worship – pause for thought, 11–11.20 am
in the Church (upstairs)
(excluding 20 & 27 December)
23SERVICES FOR JANUARY 2020
5 JANUARY
9.00 am Word & Worship Mrs Beth Sharratt
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd Howard Mellor
12 JANUARY – COVENANT SUNDAY
9.00 am Holy Communion Revd Sue K v Allmen
10.30 am Covenant Service (S) Revd Tim Searle
with our friends from St Bartholomew’s,
St Lawrence-in-the-Square & St Swithun-upon
-Kingsgate
19 JANUARY – WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
9.00 am Word & Worship Miss Pamela Gilbert
10.30 am Morning Worship Mrs Pat Fry
6.30 pm Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service,
at Winchester Cathedral
26 JANUARY
9.00 am Holy Communion Revd Tim Searle
10.30 am Morning Worship Revd Tim Searle
Additional Services in January
Friday Worship – pause for thought, 11–11.20 am
in the Church (upstairs)
(excluding 3 January)
24You can also read
