News 2009

 ST. GILES' CHURCH, NORTHANTS

The results of the St Giles Christmas Tree Festival, Dec.  2009 

Venue: St Giles Church, Desborough, Northants.

The results of the St Giles Christmas Tree Festival are in.

Favourite Tree from Children – HeraldTree by St Giles Youth Fellowship

Favourite Tree from Adults – “Ma-Tree-Mony” – by Karen and Eric Lennox

Runners Up – “Surprise in a Box” by Desborough Dolls House Club, “Friends in Pink” by Bosom Friends, “Cen-Tree” by Desborough District Guide Association and “We wish you a Beary Christmas” by Charlotte & Cameron Johnson

 The Colouring Competition was won by‏

Pre School - Chloe Lee

5-7 Years of Age - Anna Bilney

7-9 Years of Age - Oliver Parton

Over 9 Years of Age - Charlie Smith

 RAFFLE WINNERS

• Fairtrade Hamper                    The Sprostons
• M&S Voucher                         D Farey
• Great Wall voucher                 The Tomkins
• Manicure voucher                   The Coes
• West lodge voucher                Nicky Winch
• Cotes du Rhone                      Ann Gurney
• Red wine                                 Kate Gent
• Littlestones’ scarf and gloves Lana Brighton
• Celebrations                           Adrian Goss
• Ted Baker bag                        Mrs Helliwell
• Wine game and bottle             Helen Wignall
• Oriental Body bath set            The Wilsons
• Eye lash kit                             The Richardsons
• Dasco shoe kit                        Jean Fraser
• M H money box                     The Harrises
• Wine with metal carrier           The Rustages
• Bean bag                                Adrian Joss

 The Lott-tree was won by Mrs Jan Nunn

 The Christmas quiz was won by Helen Ives

 Notes. 

 St Giles is a Local Ecumenical Project and has been a joint Methodist and Church of England church for over 30 years.

 Media contact :- Alan Window,

1 Foxlands, Desborough, Northants, NN14 2UA

Telephone     - 01536 761329   

Mobile            -           - 07711 580552

Email - alanwindow@hotmail.com

 Alison Adam Singing Workshop & Worship: Prayer in Song, Sunday, 7th June, 2009, at Central Methodist Church

 On the afternoon of our pulpit swap, 50+ worship leaders and local preachers and others from the Nene Valley, Northampton, and Kettering and Corby Circuits gathered for a singing workshop with Alison Adam of the Iona Community.  She emphasised the importance of encouragement and quality, and helped us have a go at some new material!  It was a worthwhile afternoon for people of all tastes in church music.  Her visit was supported by the training budget of our Circuit, as part of local preacher and worship leader development.

 Youth Club/Youth Fellowship Reunion 16^th/17^th May 2009

 A rash of MAYC ‘green and yellow’ marked the reunion of about 80 former members of Central’s youth club and youth fellowship over the weekend of 16^th/17^th May.

 The weekend started off on the Saturday evening with a Barn Dance at the Corn Market Hall. Dave Lewis and Mick Truslow provided the music (with additional support from David Liggins on flute) but the dancing did not start until the old friends (some of whom had not seen each other for over 40 years) had greeted each other amid whoops of surprise and laughter.  Around the walls were photographs from the 1950s to the 1990s and memorabilia such as the youth club register and membership cards; hats, scarves and badges; several London weekend programmes and the outfit worn in one of the shows in 1966.

 The dancing got underway eventually and there was more laughter as people mixed up their ‘right hand star’ with their ‘promenade’ – so no change there then! Around 9.30 the dancing stopped for a buffet supper and the only formality, Ruth Lewis and Brian Peck cutting the two celebration cakes made by Valeska Kiloh (néeFinch) and decorated by Charlie. The MAYC badge appeared on one cake and the other was thoughtfully decorated with symbols of youth club ‘activities’ such as drama, dancing and snooker, around a central cross.

 Ruth, the daughter of Jack and Edna Young, told us how the Youth Fellowship started 1952. She said “a girl called Mary Stephenson was working as a mother's help in Kettering. She came from a remote farm in Lincolnshire and was about 17 or 18, very shy and quite lonely. She met Mum & Dad at church and they realised there was no organisation for young people at that time, and so decided to start the Youth Fellowship in our house’.  Ruth recounted how she used to sit on the stairs and listen to the hymn singing but would disappear when the talking started! In 1959 Brian Peck arrived in Kettering courtesy of his firm, Norwich Union, to work in their office in Market Place. On his first Sunday at Central Norman heard an appeal for somebody to start up a Youth Club. Having been involved in running a Youth Club in Ipswich he decided to answer the call.  He combined this with local preaching and within two years Norman was accepted to train for the ministry and set of for Birmingham. It was fitting that Norman and Ruth (on behalf of her parents) told us the history of those early days which marked the start of over 50 years of ministry with young people at Central.  

After supper we were entertained by the wonderful singing of Sarah Bradley (daughter of Barry and Joan Lewis) and David and Christa Liggins playing high speed tunes on ocarinas. The dancing resumed with more laughter as Dave guided us through the complexities whilst keeping up a stream of banter, just like old times!  A memorable evening was rounded off most fittingly with everyone joining hands for ‘Auld Lang Syne’. 

 The Sunday morning service was led by Rev’d Geoff Cornell, son of the late Wally and Dorothy who hosted the Youth Fellowship in the 1970s). Once again the church was decorated with photographs and memorabilia and more green and yellow (including the flowers – thanks Janet!) At the beginning of the service, based on John 15 verses 9-17, Geoff invited us to define ‘who we are’ by writing our names on ‘vine leaves’ , finding someone we did not know and introducing ourselves to them and swapping names. Next we were to find a second person and tell them about the first person before putting all the names on ‘the vine’

 Later we heard from five former members of the Youth Club and Youth Fellowship in the section called ‘who we were’; Mike Coleman (1950s), Jim Stirmey (1960s), Sue Hufton née Kearley (1970s), Clare Lewis (1980s) and Caroline Barratt née Spooner (1990s). Each spoke briefly about memories of ‘their’ era but there were common themes: ‘lots of people crammed into small spaces!’, ‘going to London weekends’, ‘Grendon weekends’,  ‘fun and fellowship’ , ‘wonderful, committed leaders’ and ‘the foundation of my faith’.

 Norman Peck read the lesson from John’s gospel about the fruit of the vine and Geoff developed this in his reflection ‘what are we?’ He described how in the past (the church) “relied on a cadre of commitment, not least amongst a leadership in its work with young people that, like Doctor Who, regularly regenerated into new bodies. It was a particular combination, not unique to Central, but of which Central was a good example, of a particular time that has now passed. The mid 1990s marked the end of that cycle of church life, as it were – the post-war cycle”. Referring to the image of the vine and the history of the early church Geoff reminded us that “the image is clear. What matters is the production of fruit, to sustain others, to gladden the heart and bring joy. It can’t be something frothy, momentary, it has to be fruit that will last. The vine gets pruned to produce fruit like that; otherwise it grows wild and weak.” Geoff suggested that there are two things that enable fruitfulness“The first thing is to be rooted in God. ‘Make your home’ in God, dwell, abide. The second thing is to be connected. The branches relate to each other. And John gives a particular emphasis to this relating: ‘I have called you friends’. The network is absolutely key”.

 The service concluded by everyone singing, by way of a blessing, the song from the Iona Community ‘Now go in peace.’ Geoff warned us that this four part round “often ends in mayhem” but on this occasion it didn’t! How wonderful to see so many smiling faces at the end of this very special service.

 Most of the former members stayed after the service for a ‘bring and share’ lunch which provided the opportunity for more conversation and shared memories in a relaxed atmosphere. We were particularly delighted that Barry Lewis and Jack Read were able to join us.

 The idea for this reunion was sparked when some of the ‘60s’ crowd met several years ago. Preparations for the weekend began in earnest a year ago and since then there has been a lot of delving into lofts and photograph albums and researching on the internet to find ‘lost’ members. I must record my thanks to everyone who came from all parts of the UK and as far away as France and Canada. Particular thanks to Norman Peck, Ruth Lewis, Brian Hudson, Joan and Barry Lewis, Margaret and Malcolm Brooke, Alan Deans, Lindsey Hughes(née Jenkin), Jackie West (née Smart), Anne-Marie Bird and others for supplying photographs and ‘filling in the history’. To Geoff for his excellent service; Valeska and Charlie for the cakes; Dave, Mick, Sarah, David and Christa, Margaret and Malcolm and the group for the music; Linds for mounting the photographic displays and so much more; Joan, Alan, Angela, Linds, Ruth, Carol Read and Justin Dalton-Stirling for their help setting up and clearing away; Graham Hefford, Jen and the stewards for their encouragement and Jim, as always, for his support.  

 We thank God for the privilege of being part of this history and for the wonderful grounding we were given into the Christian faith at Central. Particularly we thank Him for this chance to renew old friendships. However it is not enough to wallow in nostalgia. To use Geoff Cornell’s challenging closing words “perhaps today, even as we look back, we might also dare to look forward – and then to look around now, and begin to set that rooting in God and those links with others in place”.

Amen to that!   

Maggie Stirmey

Alexander Ardakov Piano Recital at Rothwell Methodist Church on Saturday, 28th February, 2009
Rothwell has over the years been a fortunate host to such leading musicians as Sir Adrian Boult, Paul Tortelier and Elizabeth Harewood - and is now a preferred venue for the Russian pianist Alexander Ardakov.
About 120 people snapped up tickets for his return visit the final Saturday of February filling the Methodist Chapel to capacity.  This time they were treated to a lighter programme ranging from baroque Haydn and Dacquin to Chopin and Schumann of the Romantics. 
Alexander's flexibility and unerring touch were evident to all - as also his intense concentration.  What a privilege to be in the company of such a fine musician who in informal moments proved most approachable with no sense of self-importance. 
Clearly he enjoys coming to Rothwell and hopes to make a third visit next year.
"Nous attendons avec impatience!"