Page 76 - Phonebox Magazine October 2012

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell
Father James was "mustered"
Letter From A Minister
The language of blessing is more frequently used than we may think. If someone does something we think is very good, we often hear someone say,“God bless you!” We hear the same when someone sneezes. We say “count your blessings” when someone is feeling sorry for themselves We talk of having mixed, unexpected and blessings in disguise. What are we hoping and asking for someone when we use the expression ‘God bless you’?
God’s agenda for us, ever since He looked at creation and said it was good, is to be blessed. Unlike luck, which comes both in bad and good forms, blessings are only good and for our benefit.
God’s blessing is a heavenly calling for an earthly purpose, as Jesus taught us to pray; ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. God’s original intention was for us live in His care. His concern for us is grounded in love, and is personal and real. As we pray for God’s kingdom to draw near we are asking for His favour, provision, care, faithfulness, goodness and abundance.
When we ask for God's blessing, we're not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves. We are asking, in obedience to His will, for goodness and care that only God has the power to know about or give us.
May God richly bless you, Birgitte Grace Chaplain, Westbury Grange
Indian priest in Newport Pagnell
For a few weeks Father Lourdusamy, a priest from India, celebrated Mass at St. Bede's, the Catholic Church in Newport Pagnell, while Parish Priest Father James Evans was on holiday and then covered a neighbouring parish. Father Lourdusamy has just spent a couple of years in Rome for further training and will return soon to Southern India, where he works with orphans. He is a member of a religious order, the Somascan Fathers that is dedicated to working with the poor. They run centres for orphaned or homeless boys from slums in the wider Bangalore area. Without the help of the Fathers the boys would live on the streets. By giving them a home and a purpose in life, the Fathers help the boys to build their future and give them spiritual and material care.
Father Lourdasamy greatly enjoyed his time in Newport Pagnell. This also allowed him to visit his sister who lives in Northampton. At a small leaving party he showed a DVD and talked about his work in India. Father James thanked him for his help in the parish and gave him a donation from St. Bede's to take back to India.
Father James Evans, the Parish Priest of St. Bede's, the Catholic church in Newport Pagnell, took time out from his busy schedule and participated in the Newport Pagnell Muster, together with a
couple of parishioners. The Muster consists of a series walks of various lengths and Father James chose the "Beer Walk", which leads past a number of pubs, although sadly many of them have closed down over the years. But it wasn't all doom and gloom, because there are still pubs open in Newport and the walkers had a break at one of them for the obligatory pint (there isn't really an alternative on a beer walk!). After completing the 6 mile walk
Father James enjoyed the exercise so much that he is now contemplating a return next year for the 9 mile walk Klaus Reidel
CTNP – Holiday Club 2012 Report
HOLIDAY CLUB...On Your Marks, Get set...and we went!! Once again Churches’ Together ran a Holiday Bible Club. It used the Scripture Union material based on the stories from Mark about Jesus and his team and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. As it is the year of the Olympics we had a Sports theme, learnt about different sports each day and had our groups based in themed villages (Canada, Scotland, Holland, Australia, France and Brazil).
Every day began in groups according to age and then, when we all came together, ‘Professional Sports Coach to the Stars’ (Angie) took us through a sports based aerobics. This was followed by sessions led from the front including the story of the day and the sport of the
day and games and a quiz and review of the story. (We
played our own version of ‘Hole in the Wall’- had to be
seen to be believed!) Then the children broke off into
groups again and had snacks (themed around sports- Javelin cucumber and carrot sticks, Discus apple and rich tea biscuits and so on....) and then learnt more about the story, Jesus and his team and took part in craft activities. Each group was led by two or three (or four) willing volunteers and the children were kept occupied and busy for about 3⁄4 hour before regrouping in the Church for the memory verse (‘You are the Messiah, You are the Son of God, You are the Messiah, Mark 8 verse 29’) and then the drama presented by our young people: ‘Ready, Steady Enders’ Street’. Priceless acting and comedy! Each day was rounded off with the theme song ‘On Your Marks’ with great enthusiasm and fabulous actions. Each day there were points awarded for groups that really took on the theme- dressing in the colour
of the country,
making flags, and
pictures or playing
their part; and
Australia won. It was
tiring but great fun
and developed a real
life of its own. We had
84 children most days
(last day some went
on holiday!) and
managed to keep
them all happy and
busy. It was rounded off with a BBQ at the Baptist Church on Friday evening where we showed friends and family all that we had done. Already we are talking of next year. Already children are asking when they can sign up. Already 11 year olds are talking of becoming helpers.... NEXT YEAR 12th-16th August 2013. Keep the date free.
Newport Pagnell United Reformed Church Receive Child Friendly Award
It is an award scheme that was developed to help churches to consider how they ‘welcome and integrate children and their families into the worshipping life of their church.’ It has taken a number of years to achieve this as we have focused on youth and children’s work in the Church. Issues considered include: ensuring that there is a vision in the Church for youth and children’s work, safeguarding issues are addressed, there need to be opportunities for children and young people to participate actively in the worshipping life of the church, the voices of the children and young people are to be heard and we need to ensure that there are opportunities for feedback. The Elders and the Young Church leaders have worked hard putting policies and practice in place and then this was all reviewed by the URC through a Children and Youth
Development Officer. Following this review
we received the award on Sunday 9th
September at our Early Bird service at 9am
and also at our 10.30am service! We now
have a lovely plaque to put up on the
outside of our Church. A number of URC’s
nationally have this award- some without
many children; it is recognising the value
churches put on welcoming and integrating
children and families, as well as other
people. We hope that we welcome everyone, but we now have special recognition for our children’s work!
Rev Jenny Mills
CTNP has a new Media Officer
Hi I am David Huckle and I would like to thank
Keith Bedford for his work as Media Officer for
CTNP. I am looking forward to working with all
the Churches in Newport Pagnell; and for those
people who do not know me, I am a deacon at
the Baptist Church and also a Police Community Support Officer in Newport Pagnell.
76 Phonebox Magazine