January News

Notices January 2011


Pulpit Arrangements Services start at 11.0 am

Sunday 2nd January Kath Phillips

Sunday 9th January Ges Murray

Sunday 16th January Frank Clare

Sunday 23rd January CTBB exchange preacher

with Communion

Sunday 30th January Ges Murray

You will be most welcome to join us.
January 2011 Editor’s newsletter


Dear All,

I write this looking over a snowy scene which reminds me of all those who have struggled to cope with the last few weeks and could have difficulties in joining together in the birthday celebrations with families and friends over the Christmas holiday. .Even more so those who have no family of friends and have to cope with extreme conditions. I am delighted that there has been great cooperation between the voluntary organisations such as the Glebe centre which we support ( and they send their thanks for the regular donations organised by Jean) Highs and Lows ( based at St Pauls) , other churches and the Council ( who have a statutory duty to provide emergency night shelter in such severe weather) We have had sheltering between 8 and 16 fellow human beings over the current severe weather. There are many others who could be described as ‘sofa sleepers’ who as the name suggests use temporary accommodation. We can remember the act of kindness on that original Christmas eve when there was no room at the inn and to me such support today to such individuals and families who for many reasons are currently dependant on Christian kindness from others.

There is also an even worse void for those who in that position after Christmas when all of us have gone back to our own families.

As our dear departed Wyn Taylor would have said…

’ Lord wrap your arms around them and bring them home’

I hope we can live up to her example of Christian love.
Regards

Ian p.s Note that the Preacher in week for Christian Unity will be Revd Roger Williams Vicar of All Saints ( 23rd January)
Dear Friends,


The Christmas season is coming to an end, and the legacy of Christmas is upon us. To me it means becoming more aware of the difference the birth of our Saviour is making to each of our lives and working out just how to follow Jesus day by day.

This year, we are in the “Year of Evangelism” in the Vision4Life Cycle, and that means we will all need to acquire and practice the skills of sharing the Good News.
We will be getting the first batch of targeted help on Saturday, 22nd January. A team from Synod will be visiting our area on that day, coming to Broadway URC to give us some Evangelism Training. This is not just for officers of the church, but for anyone who is not quite sure of the best way to share their faith story with friends and neighbours. If you want some useful pointers where and how to begin with this task, you will be most welcome to come along to the morning session, beginning at 10 am.

After a soup lunch – and the opportunity to eat your sandwiches in the company of church friends from all of the Black Country Area – the Moderator Roy Lowes and a team of Synod Officers will visit us for the afternoon for a Synod Road Show. We’ve had a special weekend, Making the Synod Sizzle, last March, and this Road Show will be the opportunity for those who did not get to it to receive some first-hand feedback.

There will also be surgeries, where the Synod officers will be available to speak with us on the work of Synod and some of the help Synod can give to us, from working out a fair financial balance, through supporting our youth work and lay training, to strategies for church growth and mission work.

Finally, we will be able to share stories relating to the areas of church life closest to our hearts, from membership issues to the working out of team ministry.
It would be great if as many as possible of our friends and members were able to come to either the morning or the afternoon of January 22nd, or even to both. A good attendance at this event is a crucial basis to renewing our visYou may be aware that at the point of writing this, it is 5 months since Diana retired, and the vacancy for the pastorate has still not been declared: officially nobody knows we are looking for a new minister. The main sticking point is the inadequate state of our Manse and the difficulty of deciding what to do about it, and how to finance any work that needs doing. Over the past few months there has been some hard work done on our behalf, and a preliminary plan of action has been worked out and sent off to Synod. This will now need to be agreed by all three churches and by Synod, who will pay at least half the cost of the work. Once the plan is agreed, the vacancy can be declared and we will need to raise funds for the work as well as look for a new minister. May God guide us and empower us through all these stages, so that we will have the chance of finding the minister to Walsall whom God wants call into our midst.

May God bless your journey through the New Year,

Franziska

ion for the Walsall Pastorate and becoming quite clear where Jesus wants to lead us in 2011.
Other Dates for your January diary


4th January Glebe Service 1.30pm

5th January Elders Meeting 7.30pm

9th January Epiphany Service at Broadway 3.00pm

10th January Coffee Morning 11.00am

18th-25th January Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

20th January F & M Meeting 7.30pm

22nd January Synod Area Road show at Broadway 10.30am

24th January Coffee Morning 11.00am

27th January Church AGM 2.00pm

30th January Joint Walsall Pastorate Service 11.00am at Blakenall

Brownie meetings

Thursday evening 6pm to 7.30pm

Girls between ages of 7 to 10 years

For details please ring Fiona 01922 685063

Or Yvonne on 01922 682078

Brownies is the only uniformed organisation to meet on Thursdays..

This month the Church will be praying especially for the people who live in the following streets :

Thames Road, Mersey Road, Severn Road, Harden Road