The Magazine of the Launceston Area Methodist Church November 2020 Edition 203
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The Magazine of the
Launceston Area
Methodist Church
November 2020
Edition 203
1
Dear Friends
I wonder how many of you have been busy in your gardens pruning down
overgrown shrubs and generally clearing up any dead vegetation ready for
the winter months ahead? Yesterday Frank planted out some daffodil
bulbs on the bank that runs past our bungalow and we are looking forward
to them nodding their cheerful heads next Spring! So, it seems that
these Autumn months are a time of getting rid of anything that needs to
go but also a time of looking ahead. There has to be a message in there
somewhere!
In our Christian lives we need to give ourselves a bit of a health check to
see if there is anything that we need to put aside so that we can
concentrate on what is important for our faith to grow. Perhaps the
restrictions placed on us because of COVID 19 have given us the
opportunity to reflect more than we normally would. The important thing
is that we don’t give up and keep on looking forward to what lies ahead.
The apostle Paul writes this in his letter to the Philippians:
“I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won
me to himself. Of course, my brothers, I really do not think that I have
already won it; the one thing I do however, is to forget what is behind me
and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight towards the
goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to
the life above.” Phillipians 3:12-14
In my copy of the Good News Bible, there is a sketch of an athlete
running straight towards his goal – it reminds me of my grandsons who
take part in athletic races. Ofcourse they are teenagers with loads of
energy, but we can all relate to this illustration of someone straining
towards the finale. The London marathon has just taken place and many
of you will have seen the athletes completing the gruelling course in very
cold weather – when they reached the finishing line some of them lay
down on the ground because they were so exhausted but they were
pleased that they had made it!
For many of us lockdown and the months that have followed have meant
that life has been taken at a slower pace. Perhaps it has meant that we
have had more time to pray and to read the Bible – perhaps it has meant
we have had more time to be close to God through His creation – perhaps
those times have inspired us to reach out and help others. I will close
2
with a well-known poem I found in my Harvest box:
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep and cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see in broad daylight
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
W.H. Davies
I hope you are all keeping well. Every blessing to you all as you walk the
walk (or run the run!).
God bless from Cathy
From the Spotlight Team
For many years Viv and Evelyn Sandercock have led the
Spotlight Team. They have now decided to retire. We wish to
thank them for all their hard work during that time. They have
increased the distribution of Spotlight so that it now goes into
the Care Homes and many other organisations of the town.
Also they have been the link in providing items from the
Museum and their interest in philately has provided articles
from the world of stamps. Viv has been responsible for print-
ing the 500 copies which are distributed each issue. We
hope we can maintain the high standard they have set for us.
On that note we wish to welcome Margaret Stephens from
Trebullett and Joanna Harley from Central to our team.
Spotlight Online
Spotlight will be available on the Circuit website in
both A4 and A5 versions from November.
https://www.lamc.org.uk
3
Lifton
On 6th September we opened our doors again. Our team of willing helpers
had worked incredibly hard to make sure the chapel was Covid- safe. Hand
wash was in the foyer, Cathy was waiting to take names and telephone
numbers, Frank was in charge of the sound system and a Steward was
ready to show people to their carefully spaced apart seats. The congregation
began to arrive, masked and dutifully standing 2 metres apart. A service
sheet had been placed on steam cleaned chairs and bags were stowed
underneath. Cathy took off her mask and led us in worship. We listened to
choirs singing the hymns and hummed along with them if we wished. 18 of
our congregation came that first Sunday. Some familiar faces were missing
as they were ( and still are ) shielding. “ It feels like Sunday again,” and “
How I’ve missed the Fellowship,” were heard after the service as people
used the hand wash and left by the back door.
Tess Stone
4Bridge
No one was prepared for what this year was going to bring and in many ways it
has felt hard and frustrating but at the same time we have seen so much
love and support shared.
Like everyone else we have had to change how church has looked this year
and find new ways of staying in touch, following Jesus and growing together.
We have taken full advantage of technology, especially Zoom, setting up
weekly Zoom prayer meetings as well as moving house groups on to Zoom
and it's been fantastic to see people embrace this new way of engaging with
each other.
We also moved our Sunday morning services online streaming them live on
Facebook each Sunday at 10.30am and have seen our engagement numbers
grow as more and more people tune in each week. It's been really encouraging
to see people who may not have walked into church on a Sunday morning now
clicking on to Facebook each week.
Sunday services were not the only thing to go online with Bridge Kids
streaming interactive family content on their Facebook page each week as well
as running a summer virtual holiday club. Online holiday club videos
accompanied activity packs for children to complete at home. We had over 120
families sign up and receive packs with packs being posted as far as Hull,
Sheffield, Bournemouth and Hampshire.
With all the Covid -19 restrictions in place reaching out into the community has
needed a little extra imagination this year which is why we launched our Big
Thanks campaign coming together to show our thanks and appreciation to
those in our community who have kept us going through this year. Many have
got involved leaving gifts for the postman, rubbish men, delivery drivers and
milkmen. Making up gift bags for children, supporting the local food bank and
providing gifts and treats to the local pharmacies. These small gestures of love
and thanks are something we intend to continue with long into the future.
Our women's ministry 'Chosen' also sent out gifts to ladies in our community
asking people to nominate ladies they would like to receive small gifts which
included bracelets, chocolates and soaps.
This year has proved to be a trying time for the teenagers of our community
with exams being cancelled and uncertainties around college and university
places. We have insured we continued to reach out to our young people
supporting them and their families in any way we can as well as running online
games evenings helping them to stay in touch with us and each other.
As we move forward and continue to monitor the Covid 19 guidelines we are
determined to continue to make every effort to stay engaged with the
community, always looking for new ways to reach out as well as continuing to
lift each other up in love with prayer, support and friendship.
Sam Beazley
5Coads Green
Yipee- we’re back! I can’t believe it has been 30 weeks since the last service in
our chapel.
On Sunday 11th October, Coads Green Chapel opened its doors once more to
all those who wanted and needed to attend after the forced closure due to
Coronavirus. Many were understandably apprehensive, not knowing what to
expect, but we need not have worried.
On arriving at the Church grounds, we were greeted by an army of willing
volunteers who guided us through the now familiar procedure: queuing 2
metres apart, sanitising and giving contact details, following a one way system,
using a face mask and sitting in household bubbles.
25 people attended the service in total which was led by 2 of our own members,
Ken and Margaret Ridley. We started with a prayer before the first hymn which
of course we were not allowed to sing but thanks to the screen and sound
system, we could follow along with it. It was so difficult to sit and listen without
joining in and I must admit to humming along behind my face mask. One thing I
did learn through this was how important the words to hymns are, something
that is quite often overlooked when you are singing with gusto. Ken read ‘Lord
of the Dance’ and the words took on a new meaning. Perhaps it’s something we
could do more often.
The service ended with another well-known hymn, ‘We Shall Go Out With Joy’,
and after the conclusion that is just what we did.
This was an experimental event, but we hope they can continue as planned at
10am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
Michael Stephens
Boyton
After closing our doors in the middle of March, we opened again at the
beginning of September when our service was led by Mrs Sue Uglow, who
involved the congregation as much as you are able to do within these restricting
times. We then celebrated our Harvest Festival at the beginning of October
which was led by our new Minister, Rev David Miller. It was lovely to see
families attending both services, but at the same time we are mindful of those
who feel unable to attend at this stage and we hold them all dearly in our
prayers. The Harvest service began with a solo by Natalie Merritt and, again,
Rev Miller included the congregation as much as possible by the playing of
harvest hymns as we followed the familiar words. The ‘smells’ of Harvest
Festival as you walk into a church or chapel were unfortunately missing due to
the fact we are unable to decorate our windows, however a beautiful
arrangement at the front by Mrs Ruth Allin reminded us of the beauty around us
and how thankful we should be for all we have. Mrs Pat Perkin provided packs
for the children present which contained a number of lovely harvest activities.
6During the time of lockdown the Chapel displayed a large wooden cross
outside the Chapel during the Easter period, bare on Good Friday and with the
opportunity to lay flowers on Easter morning when it was bedecked with
colourful ribbons – it was touching to see single wild flowers picked by children
mixed with larger bunches. For VE Day we decorated the Chapel with Union
Jack flags some of which had been coloured by the children; we also took part
in the village Scarecrow competition and depicted the story of Noah. There has
been some sadness within the community with a small number of members
who have supported the Chapel’s Coffee Mornings throughout the years having
passed away suddenly (not due to Covid 19), and our thoughts continue to be
with the families concerned.
We will be holding a service on 25th October, together with a monthly service
planned for the months up to February, subject to local restrictions. We would
prefer anyone wishing to attend to contact a chapel member.
Lorraine Sluggett
Central
Central, originally called Wesley, will be 150 years old this month. As we look
back we are reminded that John Wesley visited Launceston on 32 occasions.
He preached in the Town Hall which was in the square and other places
roundabout. In the 1750s the Methodists had a room in Tower Street. By 1764
a house had been converted into a chapel called a “preaching house.” In 1810
a large chapel was built on the present site which was enlarged and virtually
rebuilt in 1862 but it was discovered that the walls were in danger of collapsing.
A decision was made to demolish it and so the current building began.
The opening service was held on November 5th 1870 when over 900 people
attended. Many had to stand as there was only seating for 700. In 1887 some
adjoining land was purchased and the Dingley Hall was built. This was for a
Men’s Bible Class which was led by John Dingley for 19 years. The fine stained
glass window is a memorial to him.
In 1975 Tower Street Church decided to close and join with Wesley, the united
church then became known as Central Methodist Church.
Over the years many improvements have been carried out. In 1980 the Hall
and kitchen had a major refurbishment. The improved facilities made it possible
to serve hot meals for over a 100 people.
The spire at over 120 feet high was built that high to be above St Mary’s tower.
When the spire became unsafe the cost of repairs were deemed too expensive
so it was decided to remove it. This changed the skyline of the town.
In 1993 major renovation in the church was carried out. The pews were
removed and replaced with chairs that could be moved for different uses of the
area. The floor was replaced and carpeted. Changes at the front gave a large
7raised area which could accommodate choirs and allow for other uses.
We thank God for the people who built the church and for the people who
have maintained it over the years. As we look to the future in these uncertain
times we put our trust in God to guide us in all that we do.
Marion Allen
If you would like to share on the circuit website something special that
happened at your church send details to David Rogerson
david@lamc.org.uk
Or post to Glebe House, Lezant, Launceston PL15 9PP (01579 370412).
Items need to be brief and a photo would be good giving a
snap shot of what is happening in your church.
8REMEMBRANCE
Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world,
Where war divides and greed and dogma drive.
Help us to learn the lessons from the past,
That all are human and all pay the price.
All life is dear and should be treated so;
Joined, not divided, is the way to go.
Protect, dear Lord, all who, on our behalf,
Now take the steps that place them in harm’s way.
May they find courage for each task they face
By knowing they are in our thoughts always.
Then, duty done and missions at an end,
Return them safe to family and friends.
Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us;
Who died protecting us and this their land.
Bring healing, Lord, to those who, through their service,
Bear conflict’s scars on body or in mind.
With those who mourn support and comfort share.
Give strength to those who for hurt loved-ones care.
And some there be who no memorial have;
Who perished are as though they’d never been.
For our tomorrows their today they gave,
And simply asked that in our hearts they’d live.
We heed their call and pledge ourselves again,
At dusk and dawn - we will remember them!
Words – Charles Henrywood - 2009
Copyright given
Sung to ‘Finlandia’, by Jean Sibelius, this was written in 2009 as an ending
item for a “Six Male Choirs and a Silver Band” fundraising concert in aid of a
memorial to Service personnel from Neath Port Talbot, Wales, who have died
in the course of duty since 1946.
9Mona Pengelly - A Eulogy
M
ona was born on 16th July 1929 at Portscatho on the Roseland
Peninsula in her grandparents’ home. Her brother Gerald was born 18
months later. It was a very happy home despite moving several times
and attending different schools, because of her father’s work. Sadly he was
taken ill and died when she was 9 years old. The family moved to Saltash
where her mother found work. Mona attended Burraton chapel and Sunday
School.
Mona did well at school and wanted to be a nurse. She qualified in Plymouth
as a registered nurse and then as a midwife before being encouraged to train
as a district nurse. She then was accepted as a district nurse, midwife and
health visitor in Cornwall provided she did a year’s further training in London.
While in London Mona attended a lively Methodist Church where midweek
meetings enabled her to engage in discussions about her faith. After a service
at Westminster Central Hall, Mona spoke with the Deacon and Minister, which
led to her developing her faith through prayers and bible study.
She returned to Cornwall and spent four years at St Dennis as a combined
duties nurse, which was rewarding despite the extremely long hours. She
attended a strong church at St Dennis and it was here that Mona commenced
her Local Preacher’s studies. Mona then moved to be with her mother in
Porthleven and attended Providence Road Bible Christian church, where she
became a fully accredited Local Preacher in September 1960.
When her two half-sisters were older and more independent, Mona felt able to
respond to her call to overseas mission and offered to work for the Methodist
Church abroad. She attended a number of interviews and was accepted to
train at Selly Oak College, Birmingham. Her first appointment was to Burma to
work in a hospital 500 miles north of Mandalay.
In October 1960 she sailed on an old cargo boat arriving in Rangoon 4 weeks
later. For the first time she tried Burmese food, which she very much enjoyed.
Then she travelled on a very slow train to Mandalay for language studies with
a colleague Florence, who became a close friend. Burmese was not easy to
learn, especially as it has its own script. After seven months study, she sailed
500 miles by river boat to work in a Khongsai tribal village with Dr Maureen.
The hospital was very basic: no electricity, no running water, a very primitive
ward, six beds.
Every day the staff were met by patients waiting for them, some with minor
ailments, some more serious. In the afternoons Dr Maureen performed eye
operations and other more serious operations. There was a primitive maternity
ward, and some mothers travelled many miles for help.
During Mona’s four years in the village, residents, who were nearly all
Christian, brought happiness, sorrow, fulfilment and Joy. The Christian church
was full on a Sunday and for midweek bible study. Suddenly the government
ordered all foreigners to leave and Mona and her colleagues had 24 hours to
10pack and go. All the villagers stood on the top of the river bank and sang.
“God be with you till we meet again” as their river boat pulled away.
Mona was next asked to go to Sarawak, East Malaysia, to take over a mobile
clinic just down the river from Sibu. Sarawak was more modern than Burma.
She spent just 3 months learning Foochow before moving to her new home at
Bukit Lan which is 12 miles downriver from Sibu. All travel at that time was by
longboat because there were no roads. Her week was split between holding a
clinic in the space below her house or travelling by longboat to remote villages
and houses on stilts, which meant being away for two or three nights at a
time.
A very important part of her work was immunisation and teaching the women
healthcare, including diet. Mona also had good American neighbours and
found herself helping with other aspects of church work, sometimes with
hilarious results because of the communication problems. She taught women
to knit, earn pocket money, as well as opening her house and garden for
Easter egg hunts and parties. She was even asked to help with the youth
group and learnt the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in mandarin to play games with
them.
There was a difficult time when the community and surrounding riverside
villages were under 24 hour curfew because of the threat of insurgents hidden
in the jungle. Troops were billeted on the villages land and Mona had an army
helicopter pad in her garden as the army commanders came to visit the
troops regularly - the helicopters made an awful noise! For ten weeks it was
impossible to work as everyone had to remain in their own houses. After the
threat subsided the curfew was lifted.
Mona was asked to start a Girl’s Brigade company 12 miles upriver in Sibu.
She knew nothing about Girls Brigade so sought advice from a company in
Malaysia. This year, Sibu Girls Brigade celebrated its 50th anniversary and it
is still going strong. After 6 years in Sarawak and with someone else available
to take over the clinic, Mona felt it was time to come back to the UK. With
many mixed feelings she left Asia to return to life in the UK.
She lived in Stepney, East London where she worked as a health visitor in
Tower Hamlets. Her experience in Asia proved invaluable for her work with
the Bangladesh families. She became a member of Whitechapel Mission,
which was another learning curve as she become involved with the homeless.
This was a time of heartbreak and laughter, love and caring as she became
part of THE FAMILY, as everyone at the mission was known.
Mona retired in 1993 but continued with her church and family commitments,
serving as a circuit steward in The Tower Hamlets circuit for fifteen years and
preaching regularly. She volunteered to work with Age Concern, another big
learning curve, which proved quite stressful as she was unexpectedly made
acting chair and then chair due to sudden changes in the charities
organisation.
Mona enjoyed volunteering with Age Concern, especially home visiting to help
11out with numerous needs, including filling in finance forms. She met an amazing
group of elderly people and heard their extraordinary life stories.
Mona received a civic award for her work in healthcare and the voluntary sector
in the early 2000’s from Tower Hamlets Council. She continued her intense
charitable service in the London area before feeling that she had completed all
that she was called to do and it was time to slow down. She returned to her
beloved Cornwall in 2005, settling in Launceston to be near one of her sisters.
She intended to live very quietly, however; it was suggested that she join Coads
Green Methodist Chapel as it was very friendly. She did, and from her first visit
was made so welcome that she settled there. She served as Chapel Steward
for three years and engaged in many church activities. She found so many kind
and warm-hearted people there. The WI was also a happy source of friendships
for Mona.
As Mona’s mobility decreased, she was delighted and grateful to receive so
much help and support from many at Coads Green, which enabled her to
continue to attend worship. Reverend Jo has also provided wonderful spiritual
support in times of need.
A Word from Mona
The support of my Godson and all my lovely nieces and nephews (not forgetting
Maddie) has been very special to me.
Cheerio Folks- See you later.
Mona Pengelly.
The Revd Dr Roger Walton and Rachel Lampard MBE wrote:
Wondrous God,
We delight in the beauty, diversity and richness of your creation.
Every creature comes from your goodness and love, and all things speak of
you.
Forgive us
• for our poor stewardship of this planet;
• for using its resources selfishly, indifferent to the consequences of our
actions;
• for the pain we have inflicted on other creatures and the damage done to
the fabric of the world;
• for our failure to seek the common good.
Awaken in us a desire to protect all life, to promote environmental justice and
to prepare for a better future.
In the name of Jesus, the Lord of Life,
Amen.
12Dusty’s Decades - a random introduction to the Millers...
A
rriving in the circuit in the most unusual circumstances we all face this
year, Liz and I are acutely aware how much harder it is to get to know
one another, so here’s a slightly random introduction to the Millers. I grew
up in Romford, Essex and Liz in Luton, Bedfordshire. Both of us had the
privilege of growing up in committed Christian homes and we came to faith in
our teens - accounts we’ll share on other occasions.
I studied Physics at the University of Surrey, Guildford, where I met Liz, who
studied Mechanical Engineering as part of an apprenticeship with Rolls Royce
Helicopter Engines at Leavesden. Joining the University Methodist Group and
Christian Union helped us grow in faith and understanding. I am one of those
people who ran away from a call to ministry, but reflect that the Lord outflanked
me! During my second year, our Chaplain and his wife shared their testimonies.
From then on, I sensed I should offer as a candidate for the Methodist ministry -
sometime. That call was reinforced during a “sandwich year” with an electron-
ics company - when I started training as Local Preacher (hoping that would be
enough). Leaving university, unemployment and a job in the electronics industry
did nothing to diminish the nagging sense of a call to ministry waiting to be
tested. To my amazement, I was accepted and sent to Queen’s College,
Birmingham.
Liz and I married just before the move to Birmingham, in 1985 and Liz then
worked for an engineering company in the city. We spent early 1988 on a
ministerial student exchange in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. It was a life-
changing experience. The same year, Liz qualified as a Chartered
Mechanical Engineer and we were stationed in Leyland, Lancashire. With three
churches in need of resurrection, we had five challenging years
including the birth of our sons, Tim and Stephen and Liz trained as a Local
Preacher (ask her the story). We began attending Easter People in 1990 and I
became involved in its leadership; we have continued being actively
involved with its successor, ECG - Equipping, Calling, Going.
From 1993 to 1998 we served in Jersey in the Channel Islands where I was
“part-time” circuit minister and “part-time” Circuit and District Training officer (let
the reader understand!); we did Alpha in 1994 and I participated in planting
Worship on The Rock - what we then called “an alternative worship
congregation”. We moved to Hull where we spent nine mainly happy years. I
was minister of three churches - on average - one was very thriving with all-
ages, growing small groups; I was involved in starting Sacred Space - another
congregation plant. Liz undertook teacher training and worked as a primary
school teacher. In 2007 we moved to Marlow, near High Wycombe, where Liz
had various teaching jobs and I was Superintendent Minister. All three of my
churches had a Fresh Expressions congregation (Sunday Live) initially targeted
at families with under 7s - a real challenge as families stayed and grew into
teens! Yes, again, we began and encouraged small group participation to help
grow disciples. The past five years, we have been in Chippenham, Wiltshire,
part of a widespread, geographically dysfunctional circuit (covering over 200
13square miles) again our churches were very varied - 2 villages and a lively town
church with a busy community centre; Soul Survivor with the teenagers was a
great experience, Liz became a Street Pastor and we enjoyed working with the
worship band, small groups and establishing Mainly Music. This summer I
completed an MA in Leadership, Mission and Ministry through Cliff College and
if I have opportunity to get my dissertation published I was due to graduate in
Derbyshire this November - but like so many things, it’s been relegated to
zoom by Covid-19.
Away from work, we’ve always enjoyed walking - and recently had a great day
on Bodmin Moor; we’re restoring a 1950 Sunbeam-Talbot coupe - which is
currently on a farm in Chippenham awaiting some repairs and to be moved; a
couple of years ago I finally bought a sailing dinghy (accidentally!) and have
done some training courses, but can’t persuade Liz of the joys of being on
water, yet! Tim, our elder son, is a live sound engineer (this summer has been
difficult with no work); he’s married to Claire who’s a primary school teacher and
live in High Wycombe. They and their 2½ year old daughter, Hannah, await the
birth of a baby in late November. They’re part of a church plant team seeking to
revive a dying church. Our younger son, Stephen, lives in Birmingham and is
part of Gas Street Church - a city centre church plant. He was a research
chemist, but became a fully qualified commercial airline pilot in early March - so
this year has not gone as planned and he’s worked in various jobs. You still
won’t really know us yet - and we remain a bit sketchy about many of you. None
the less, we look forward to joining in worship, fellowship, ministry, mission,
service, growing in discipleship and sharing the work of the kingdom of God
with you in the coming years.
Yours in Christ,
David Miller.
RUN THE RACE - An Online Event for MEN!
Thursday 12 November, 19:30 - 21:00.
What happens when you throw an ex-army
paratrooper and a 1920’s penny farthing bicycle
together? We realise no one has ever asked this
question but… in our brand-new event, Run the
Race, we answer it anyway.
This autumn, Rob Parsons OBE, founder of Care for the Family, Mark
Chester, founder of Who Let The Dads Out, and Gerrit Bantjes, founder of
having a name that no one can pronounce, join together to bring you this
event – specifically designed for men.
For further information and to book your free ticket:
https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/events/events-online/run-the-race
14TIDAL WAVE OF POVERTY
C
hurches warned to prepare for ‘tidal wave of
poverty’. Church leaders are being urged to be
ready to respond to the lasting impact of the
pandemic on the country’s poorest people. The effect
on urban, suburban and rural communities is likely to
be severe with many thousands of jobs being lost
and livelihoods threatened. The poorest in society
may find themselves hardest hit.
Churches are being encouraged to respond to the devastating impact of the
pandemic and to build on the numerous social projects already in place.
The Trussell Trust that supports around 1200 UK foodbanks is warning of a
‘tidal wave of poverty’ poised to engulf the country. Chief Executive Emma
Revie has called on church leaders to talk to their congregations about justice
and compassion and to work to address the root causes of poverty. Speaking
at a Bible Society webinar she encouraged church leaders “increasingly to talk
to their congregations about God’s concern for justice and compassion to
characterise the structures of our society: the way our benefit system works,
the way our economy functions, people’s employment conditions and wage
levels.
Emma Revie said that the Trussell Trust was “very clear that food banks are
not a solution to poverty” and the charity wanted “to see people experiencing
fulness of life and not being trapped by poverty.” She praised the vital role
played by churches in running foodbanks and encouraged congregations
“That when we pray for our foodbanks, that we would also allow ourselves
room to lament the injustices that make them necessary in the first place and
seek wisdom about how we might be part of bringing about change”.
“Because if we don’t concern ourselves with these things, the tidal wave of
poverty is going to be too high and too powerful for us to respond to and we
will see many more people being swept into destitution in the UK.”
At the webinar ‘Mission during lockdown and beyond,’ the Bible Society
published research showing that church leaders are expecting increased
demand for food banks, poverty relief, mental health work, bereavement
support, relationship counselling, as well as courses such as Alpha that
introduce people to the Christian faith.
The insights resonate with responses to the impact of the pandemic from other
church leaders. The Bishop of Tonbridge, Simon Burton-Jones, warned a
Church of England webinar that the pandemic would cause growth in the
‘precariat’, the numbers of people on zero-hours contracts or juggling several
jobs to survive.
The bishop also forecast an increase in tension between the generations, with
the future particularly bleak for many young people who have lost their jobs,
and those living in insecure rented accommodation.
15Recycling on a Grand Scale
I
had an email from Judy yesterday, telling me about the events that are
rocking her life. Finally she added, “I’m trying to kick out the nasty
question, ‘Is Jesus powerful enough to get me through this?’ But clinging
to two words has really helped me! ‘ALL THINGS.’”
Curious, I picked up my New Testament and was surprised how often these
two words appear together: ALL THINGS were created through Jesus, He is
before ALL THINGS, and in Him ALL THINGS hold together (Colossians 1:
16-17). He knew that the Father had put ALL THINGS under His power
(John 13:3), and He is able to bless us in ALL THINGS at all times (2 Corin-
thians 9:8). Best of all, He is able to bring good for us out of ALL THINGS –
the good, the bad, and the ugly (Romans 8: 28).
This morning Judy emailed again. “I was helping my daughter with her
school project on water when I had a Eureka moment! I suddenly realised
that God knew the only way He could provide a home for us on Earth was to
give us water - but stagnant ponds wouldn’t keep us alive. So He sends
down fresh rain, then channels it in rivers, to the sea, where He has it sucked
up again to purify, distil, and desalinate it in the clouds - ready to come back
down again as rain. Someone who could think all that up will surely find a
solution to my problems!”
‘God is all powerful…
No one can tell him what to do,
or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
Instead, glorify his mighty works…
God is greater than we can understand…
He draws up the water vapor
and then distils it into rain.
The rain pours down from the clouds,
and everyone benefits.”
Job 36:22, 26-28 (NLT)
My Lord and my God, You are awesome!
Ref: Jennifer Rees Larcombe, God Moments for Busy People, Monarch Books, 2018
Christian Aid Autumn Appeal
Launceston Area Christian Action Group are holding a Zoom Christian Aid
Quiz on Saturday, 14th November 2020. Doors will open at 7.15 pm and
the quiz will start at 7.30 pm. Donations will be taken for the above appeal.
If you would like to attend please email jcsmart@me.com and she will
provide you with the Zoom link.
Thank you.
Chris & Julia Gaunt
16From Boy to Man
I
was about 13 when my mother gave me an
information leaflet on the Royal Marines Band
Service. I’m sure she didn’t want to get rid of me as in
fact I had expressed an interest in joining the Royal
Navy but, as my father was a professional musician, she
thought it might be a good idea for me to consider the
Royal Marines Band Service – and it turned out, it was!
I joined up at the age of 14 on the 1st May in 1961. I had
gone through an extensive recruitment process which
included interviews, a medical and an audition at the
Royal Marines School of Music at Deal in Kent and was
ready to start four years of training – from boy to man. It
was a big moment for me as I was fully committed up to the age of 27 years, but
little did I know it would extend to a 36-year career.
In the early 60s the school leaving age was 15. This meant the first two of my
four years at the School of Music were shared equally between music lessons on
the cornet and violin and academic teaching. I was given £1 a week to spend
and to me it seemed to be a good deal – money in my pocket, academic teach-
ing in small classes and learning two instruments for free. It’s fascinating to look
back and reflect on what I was able to buy with my £1.
Four eventful years later, at the age of 18, I left the School as a fully trained
member of the RM Band Service and joined my first band at HMS EXCELLENT
in Portsmouth. This was the start of a career playing in venues around the world
as a member of the service and particularly the RM School of Music staff band.
During the 1970s I also served on several ships including the old HMS ARK
ROYAL made famous by the BBC TV series ‘Sailing’.
I had met my wife Janet in 1969. She was a Deal girl but away at Nottingham
University studying for a BSc. Her grandfather had always told her that one day
she would bring a band boy home - he was a wise and humorous man with a real
sparkle in his eye. Janet and I were married in 1971 at the Deal Methodist
Church and I’m often reminded by her that, after our honeymoon at Lynton and
Lynmouth, we spent our first year of marriage with me away in the West Indies
and other places!
By 1982 I was the Warrant Officer Bandmaster at the Commando Training
Centre in Exmouth and after ‘enjoying’ the officer’s rigorous promotion course at
Lympstone was selected for commission as a Director of Music. This would take
me to the age of fifty.
In 1988 I was selected to lead the Flag Officer Plymouth Band at HMS RA-
LEIGH, the Royal Naval initial training establishment at Torpoint. As a family we
had always felt most at home in Cornwall and in fact our youngest daughter
Helen was born when I had been based at Culdrose near Helston in 1977. We
were very happy to move back to the area and to our new home in Lezant, where
we live to this day.
17Just over a year later on 22 September 1989 I was away with the band when we
received the dreadful news of the Deal barracks bombing by the Provisional Irish
Republican Army. It took place at 8:22 am, when the IRA exploded a time bomb
in the recreation room of the Royal Marines School of Music staff band. The
building collapsed, killing 11 musicians from the Royal Marines Band Service and
wounding another 21. The Royal Marines Band Service and the town of Deal was
a close family so it goes without saying that everyone was badly affected and felt
the losses deeply. It was a very emotional period and many events of remem-
brance have taken place over the years marking the lives of those young men. In
Deal there is a large bandstand on the seafront which was built to remember their
lives and every July a weekend of concerts and marching displays by the RM
Band Service takes place in front of massive crowds.
From 1992 to 1997 I was the director of music training at the school and in 1996,
as a result of financial cuts, had the sad task of moving the school to a new home
within the naval estate in Portsmouth. Each year in October the Band Service
has a reunion weekend which culminates on the Sunday morning with a service
of remembrance at the Portsmouth Cathedral. Everyone enjoys meeting up with
old colleagues on the Saturday evening to share a drink, but this service is the
absolute highlight. To hear the singing of hundreds of musicians of all ages
supported by a full orchestra is very moving and special.
Throughout my life and time as a member of the RM Band Service an abiding
constant for me has always been the love of my family and the Christian faith we
all share. This has been made ever stronger by my experiences in the service
and sharing fellowship with other friends and Christians. I will always remember
them.
David Rogerson
18Bags of Love
B
ags of Love - our local alternative to Operation Christmas Child. This year
we plan to have a Community Project making up Bags of Love for
children and adults in the area who may otherwise receive nothing at
Christmas.
I hope each Church will find out who is needy in their area and make up and
distribute bags for them.
I suggest we use gift bags 10 x 13ins (26 x 33cm) up to 16 x 12ins (40 x 30cm)
and fill them with such items as:-
Stationery - notepads, pens, felt tips, pencil cases.
Fun toiletries - shower gel, bubble bath, character sponges
Games - cards, table games, balls
Books - puzzle, colouring, reading books
Clothing - socks, hats, scarves, gloves
Sweets, Toys.
Please label each bag with the age and sex of the child for whom the bag is
suitable. We can use the same categories as Op.C.C. Boy or Girl age 2 - 4, 5 -
9, 10 - 14.
For adults probably food and toiletry items are most acceptable, but bear in
mind some are diabetic.
If each Church works with their own area any additional completed bags and
gifts may be brought to us at Elmslea. Along with Churches Together we are
also planning to work with Cornwall Council Housing Forum and the Cornwall
Council Children’s Directorate. I am in the process of setting up a Charity bank
account where people can deposit any monitary gifts which can be used to
purchase some items in bulk and at a discount.
Specially designed cards with a Christmas message and details of the Members
of Churches Together will be available to go with each bag. Looking forward to
your support Irene Stanbury tel: 01566 777661 email irenestanbury@icloud.com
Irene Stanbury
Cards For Good Causes
It will come as no surprise to learn that the problems caused by
Covid-19 mean that Cards for Good Causes can't offer any charity
Christmas cards at Central this year.
We’re all bitterly disappointed; we’ll miss meeting friends old and
new, and giving our support to the many worthwhile charities that vitally need
our support -now more than ever.
But we hope to be back, in some form or other, in 2021 and until then we wish
you well.
For this year you can shop on line; their lovely selection of cards and gifts is at
www.cardsforcharity.co.uk
19CORNWALL AND IOS DISTRICT METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN
INAUGURATION OF REVD CATHY ARSCOTT AS DISTRICT PRESIDENT
O
ur Autumn District Days are always special and even more so every
alternate year when our new President is inaugurated. It’s a day when
all those MWiB members in Cornwall can meet together with worship
and communion and fellowship, seeing friends from all over the county who we
may not have met since the previous District Day. This year of course was to be
extra special as it was to be held at Launceston Central Methodist Church and
our own Revd Cathy Arscott was to be inaugurated as our President for the next
two years.
However, the Corona Virus restrictions meant that our service couldn’t go ahead
as planned but there was no way our Committee was going to allow the
inauguration and handover from the previous President, Mrs Jill Nute, to Revd
Cathy to go unremarked and not celebrated. Thanks to modern technology we
decided to go ahead with a service on Zoom, not a whole day as this would be
far too long but for 2 hours or so. We would miss out on the fellowship and
cream tea but break out rooms after the service would go some way to alleviate
that. The service was planned for 16th September, hymns and prayers were
chosen and participants invited. Jill Nute and Revd Cathy rehearsed their lines
for the inauguration and invitations sent out to every circuit in the District and to
many guests.
Rev Jo Smart was invaluable in helping me with the technology of how to share
screens and how to choose the right videos to accompany the hymns and our
District Chair gave us much support and was happy to “do his bit” from his office
at home. It was also good to have Revd David Miller with us to lead us in prayer
at the start of the service. In fact, it happened that Revd Jo had to do far more
than help me as two weeks before the event I fell and broke my right arm so Jo
took over from me and managed the “tech”. Thanks Jo from the bottom of my
heart!
Because of the support and enthusiasm from everyone involved, the Zoom
Service on 16th September went extremely well. Revd Steve’s address was
excellent and inspirational – he is a great supporter of MWiB and we thank him
for this.
We did think we would be the first District to hold an inauguration service via
zoom but it transpired that Devon and Exeter also held their service at the same
time on the same day! Never mind, the most important thing is that both
Districts fulfilled their wishes.
Each President holds office for two years and for that time chooses a charity for
which the District MWiB raises funds. Revd Cathy’s chosen charity is Kernow
Young Carers. This is a project run under the auspices of Action for Children
and aims to make the caring role a more positive experience for children, young
people and young adults by offering support, information and advice, activities
and trips, short breaks, school groups, training and educational sessions (eg
first aid), advocacy and groups and forums. Jamie Lee from Action for Children
20spoke at the Service and showed a video featuring many young people who
have been helped by this charity.
Launceston Area Circuit MWiB Committee will be planning events to raise funds
for Kernow Young Carers – probably virtual online ones for the time being until
such time as we can meet together in person again – our Central Coffee
Morning and Autumn Afternoon fundraising events obviously can’t be held this
year but we are hoping that our Spring Afternoon can be held next year. If you
have any ideas for “virtual” events when people can enjoy it and also donate to
the charity, all suggestions will be welcome. If you wish to make a donation to
the charity, please write a cheque to Cornwall District MWiB, and send it to
Anne Cresswell, 1, Coldrose Court. Truro. TR1 2LE. No receipt will be sent to
you to save postage, but you will see it on your bank statement. Alternatively
send an email address and a receipt will be sent to you. Anne will then send one
cheque off every time a statement comes through. In this way, there will be a
record of how much is raised by the District during Cathy’s two years of office.
Or, you can pay by BACS direct to Action for Children: Sort code, 20-50-40.
Account number. 10219274. Please put DD-YCinK as the reference.
Our Committee thanks all those involved, particularly Revd Steve Wild, Revd
David Miller and Revd Jo Smart, together with Revd Anne Curnow who read the
Lesson and Jamie and Kevin from Action for Children for their presentation.
All members of the Methodist Church are deemed to be members of
Methodist Women in Britain and our aim today is to connect women with an
interest in creative spirituality and a passion for global social justice. If you want
to know more, please contact me or Cathy. We look forward to seeing you at
our future events;
Jill Price Jillprice1@yahoo.co.uk
New on-line 5 session fellowship and study series
Starting Thursday 22nd October 7.30pm on Zoom
We’ll explore moving through times of change, by drawing on the exodus of
the freed Hebrew slaves and seeing these elements
1. Complaint 2. Meltdown
3. Provision 4. Discipline 5. Growth
The Land Between
Finding God in Difficult Transitions
Based on the book of the same name by Jeff Munion
We’ll have a short video clip from Jeff each week and then discuss the issues
raised to see how we can grow in discipleship in such uncertain times.
For a Zoom link, please email David Miller on david.miller@lamc.org.uk
Everyone welcome!
21My Calling
I
f you ask any local preacher about their calling, you will probably hear
something different each time. It may be that they saw a need, or heard the
gospel message being explored in a new way, or a hymn or prayer felt as if
it was speaking directly to them. It might have been that someone saw in them
the potential gifts and graces of a preacher. It could even have been borne out
of frustration in worship and a sense that they could do better. (Called to
Preach, The Methodist Church).
As part of a short series, looking at God's calling, we have asked Philip
Medland to share how God called him to share in the Church’s mission:
I was influenced by my mother, she was a Tucker, and the family have been
actively involved in the Coads Green Church for 200 years. Father’s parents
were also Methodists where he had various roles. Mother was Sunday School
teacher for the juniors and also did some preaching until I arrived, I usually
agreed with mother about religion. The teachers of the Sunday Bible Class
were Richard Lea and Isaac Duance. Mr Lea and his wife had no children and
he put a lot of care to the young people of the Sunday School. One year I had
bad tonsilitis and he gave me a walking stick that had been presented to Revd
FC Sackett when he left Hyderabad in 1942.
Mr Duance, who had been in the navy and also lost a brother in the First
World War was in charge of me on note. He was very careful choosing hymns
and encouraging me to speak to the congregation, I remember opening a
pulpit Bible to read from Isaiah to find Roman numerals.
There were two ministers that influenced me - Revd Crocker who started a
Circuit wide Youth Fellowship and also a Membership Class in the later
1950’s. Revd Dr Mildon followed him and I remember going with him to read
the lessons and give out the hymns one lovely Spring evening at Trebullett
and he continued to encourage me. Revd Mildon’s son was the Lay Chairman
at Trewint Wesley Day. He gave his testimony of how he was in a lookout post
with only a telephone for company during the Italian campaign and met Jesus.
He did it so vividly that the invited speaker found it very hard to follow!
One of the other memories of Trewint is when the overseas delegates of the
Methodist Conference when it was at Plymouth came and we held a
communion service in Altarnun Church and saying the Lord’s Prayer in
several languages.
In ‘67 I was planned at Altarnun and used a service that was based on the
congregation thinking of Bible characters using the alphabet. It worked at Co-
ads Green but in the large chapel with a small congregation it did not go well,
it was the first time I met Linda and her mother!
In view of climate change—Isaiah 29.17 - shall not Lebanon in a very little
while become a fruitful field and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest.
Part of my calling is to keep learning my first sermon which was based on
Philemon so “grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ”.
22Autumn Dance
Around the fields and hedgerows as the seasons ebb and flow -
Just a few days more of Summer, then an Autumn storm will blow.
The leaves will soon be shredded from the trees that dance and sway,
Then will fall along the narrow lanes and crumple where they lay.
The children on their way to school will enjoy their rustling scrunch,
While squirrels scamper through them, seeking hazel nuts for lunch.
The blackberries are almost gone, enjoyed by bird and beast,
And also by the local folk in search of nature's feast;
With jars of jam and jelly they will fill their winter store
And bring it out on darkest days to lift their mood once more.
The avid hunter-gatherer works from their garden patch
To pickle beans and onions, and pot a chutney batch.
With fields now bare the rabbits hop beneath a harvest moon,
Hunted by this year's fox cubs, almost grown 'though born in June.
The law of nature will decide which has the upper hand
For there is balance needed for the creatures on the land.
When warmth and dampness coincide burst fungi overnight
But the humble looking mushroom brings this cook the most delight.
The swallows wearing waistcoats gather on the high up lines;
They know that Winter beckons, when they'll flock to warmer climes.
It seems that they are line dancing – all off, then back as one,
But I never see them fly away, then suddenly – they're gone,
Just like the butterflies that dance in sun from bloom to bloom;
They sup the last of Summer's wine until the first frosts loom.
The crane fly's dangling flight is o'er, its death is overdue
As it struggles in the spider's web bedecked with morning dew.
It laid its eggs on grasses so that its rubbery little grubs
Could emerge as leather jackets to eat the roots of plants and shrubs.
The honeysuckle's twirling stem holds berries in her fist,
But in Spring she's first to show her leaves so must be earliest to rest.
Those berries with a blueish tinge may flavour up our gin,
So with a 'sloe, sloe, quickthorn sloe' we can dance the new year in.
The holly, stiff and prickly, bears its berries of bright red
Reminding us of Christmastime and the blood that Jesus shed.
'Though the hungry birds in autumn may have a 'berrytable' feast
There will still be some for Christmas to adorn the mantlepiece.
Such a richness in the harvest towards the ending of the year
When the climax of plants growth is found in seed and fruit and ear,
So let us join with all creation to sing our harvest praise
And acknowledge God's great gifts to us and all His bounteous ways:
'All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for His amazing love'.
Sandra Smale
23Some more events you may like to attend…...
Congdons Shop Remembrance Day Service on 8th November at 3:00 pm.
Jesus - The Wounded Healer Course which starts in October but will be
running into November. Session 4 will be on 9th November and Session 5 will
be on 16th November. There will be a session on 2nd November.
The Bible Series: Experience a better story -
A 7-part journey through the big story of the Bible for your whole church.
Zoom Online Services will be following the Bible Society - "Bible Series:
Experience a better story” which starts on 18th October but will take us all the
way to Advent, where we journey through the Big Story of the Bible from the
Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Garden of Life in Revelation.
Editorial Team:
Marion Allen, Pauline Daniel, Elaine Shillaber Joanna Harley & Margaret Stephens
Collator: Richard Wright.
Production & Distribution Assistance: David & Joanna Harley,
Leighton Penhale, Sally Harvey and Philip Smith.
All articles for the December /January issue to spotlight@lamc.org.uk or by post/
hand to the Circuit Office no later than 15th November 2020.
Items submitted after this date may be withheld or used in a subsequent edition.
Please ensure items are clearly marked for Spotlight and include contact details.
Whilst every effort is made to print forwarded material, its inclusion cannot be
guaranteed. All items are printed at editorial team discretion.
Websites: www.lamc.org.uk www.central-methodist.org.uk
Launceston Area Methodist Circuit - Registered Charity no: 1138314
Contact Information:
Revd David Miller Tel: 01566 776603. Email: david.miller@lamc.org.uk
Revd Jo Smart Tel: 01566 782921 Email: jcsmart@me.com
Pioneer Mr Sam Beazley Tel: 07540 107655 Email: sam.beazley@bridgechurch.org
Circuit Office, Richard Wright, Dingley Hall, Castle Street, Launceston, PL15 8BA.
Tel.: 01566 772797 Email: circuitoffice@lamc.org.uk Office open Tue.and Thur 9.30 am to 1pm
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