Archived Links; 05 Oct Nov 06 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Excerpts from the monthly News Letter, JULY 06
Ashburton Methodist LINK
|
MINISTER for July, Rev John Bilverston Ph 308 6297 OFFICE: Thursday / Friday 9am to 12 noon Email: ashmeth@paradise.net.nz SECRETARY: Daphne Whiting Ph/Fax 308 6207 |
"JESUS BIDS US SHINE”
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt.
Remember
the parable Jesus told of the shared talents (Matt.25:14) There’s a warning
here to use our talents or loose them. That makes sense – why hide your light
under a bucket! – Jesus bids us shine. Within our church community we have
many skillful people. They are needed to keep the community ticking over. Just
as within the wider community, people use their gifts to help others – the
world moves forward on the skills of its people. The world also has ways of
showing its appreciation to many of these people with honours, citations,
certificates etc. – ‘mentioned in dispatches’. For all these ‘mentioned’
there are so many doing great things for others that aren’t ‘mentioned’.
Most people appreciate some praise, it spurs them on. Here’s another quote,
this from William James: “The deepest principle of ‘human nature’ is the
craving to be appreciated.” People, young people especially who are not given
praise often lack the incentive and confidence to make positive contributions to
society. “Well done!” and, “Thank you!” go a long way to helping people
to feel wanted and motivated.
This
applies equally in family, class room, sports club, interest group, business or
church. But, I have heard some say we shouldn’t give praise – I’ve heard
this in a church community as well as other places. Similarly, I’ve heard that
we shouldn’t do better than those around us because it shows up their
inadequacies and they might not make an effort. Such nonsense! Does a preacher
hold back in case he/she shows up another? Does a flower arranger hold back on
her/his creativity so as not to a stunning arrangement? Does a teacher not do
her/his best to interest and motivate and teach in case they show others they
are not up to her/his standard?
“Jesus bids us shine” – with all our
candlepower. Gordon
SERVICES
for JUNE
2th Baring Square 9.30am John Bilverstone Holy Communion
9th Baring Square 9.30am John Bilverstone
Tinwald 11am John Bilverstone
16th Baring Square 11am John Bilverstone
23th Baring Square 9.30am Betty Watson
Tinwald 11am Graham Hawkey
Winchmore 8.45am Graham Hawkey
30th Baring Square 9.30am
MEETINGS
FOR for this MONTH
Retired
Men’s Fellowship
Tuesday 4th 9.30am
at B.Sq Church
Parish
Executive
Thursday 6th 9.30am in
the Office.
Parish
Council
Wednesday 12th – 7.30pm
in the Lounge.
METHODIST WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP – for this MONTH
Baring Square Afternoon Group: Thursday 13th 2pm in the Lounge. Topic: Show & Tell: my favourite piece of jewellery
Evening Group:
Sunday 23nd 6pm Tea
Meeting
Annual Meeting
Thursday 20th 10.30am followed
by lunchat 12.30pm. Afternoon program; 1.30pm Entertainment with
Joan Johns
Willowby Evening AGM: Tuesday 18th 2pm at the home of Elwyn Peck. Please note change of time.
PARISH
GOODWILL SHOP -
Open Tuesday & Thursday Mornings in the Tinwald Church
9.30am – 12.30pm,
A good selection of pre loved clothes at reasonable prices.
Take time to visit you will be made most welcome.
AGM 25th July 1pm in the Tinwald Church. All
helpers and interested persons please make every effort to attend.
Please note change of date.
Baring Square Indoor Bowls
in the Church Hall:
Tuesday nights 7.30pm.
Come along and have a roll up!
BARING SQUARE
DUTY ROSTERS for this MONTH
MORNING TEA 2th & 9th A & J Lawton 16th & 23th Willowby Fellowship 30th A & C Watson
DOOR STEWARDS 2th M & K Wilson 9th L & D Hayes 16th L Butt 23th W Greene 30th D & B Lill
CLEANING ROSTER 2th A & C Watson 16th A & C Leadly 30th R & B Leadly
|
CONTACT NAMES FOR PASTORAL CARE:
Prayer Chain Convenor: Dorothy Lill Ph 308 3793
Greetings Secretary: Lynda Ayers Ph 308 9311
Small Tasks Organiser: Allan Tweed Ph 307 1650
NOTE:
Duty
Presbyter for July
Rev John Bilverstone Phone
308 6297.
Parish
Council Report – June meeting
This should be a
Parish Council Report –
Due to the snow the June meeting was canceled. Any urgent matters will be dealt with by the Executive.
GRAND
VARIETY CONCERT
BARING SQUARE CENTRE
11th August at 7.30pm
Some outstanding Guest Artists are appearing, so please
support this fund raising event by bringing as many friends and family as possible
Tickets are $15 each and are available from Merle ph 308 9885 or the Church Office during Office hours.
Christian
Women Communicating.
Mon
21st August 12 noon - 2pm in the St
Stephen’s Parish Centre.
Speaker Dr Annette Hill who lives in Hamilton.
Topic: “Beyond The Looking Glass”
She will be addressing issues of health, spiritual and physical as we move
through the ages and stages of our lives.
Soup and cheese rolls, tea/coffee with eats, will be available.
Readers contributions …..
Exercise for Seniors – You May Want to Try This!
I came across this exercise
suggested for seniors, to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders.
It seems so easy; I thought I
would pass it on.
The article suggested doing it three times a week. Begin by standing on a
comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 2kg.
Potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and
hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute and then relax.
Each day, you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 4kg potato sacks. Then 10kg potato sacks,
and then eventually try to get where you can lift a 20kg potato sack in each
hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.
Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks
And another …...
An American and a Japanese were sitting on the plane on the
way to LA when the American turned to the Japanese and asked, "What kind of
ese are you?" Confused, the Japanese replied, "Sorry but I don't
understand what you mean." The American repeated, "What kind of -ese
are you?" Again, the Japanese was confused over the question. The American,
now irritated, then yelled, "What kind of -ese are you...Are you a Chinese,
Japanese,Vietnamese!, etc......???" The Japanese then replied, "Oh, I
am a Japanese." A while later the Japanese turned to the American and asked
what kind of 'key' was he. The American, frustrated, yelled, "What do you
mean what kind of '-key' am I?!"
The Japanese said, "Are you a Yankee, donkey, or monkee?"
Lesson - Never insult anyone.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour!
THE SMALL TREE
I hired a plumber to help me restore
an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a
flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient
one ton truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in
stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked
toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of
the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing
transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two
small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We
passed the tree and my curiosity got
the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh,
that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having
troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in
the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree
every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the
morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled,"
when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I
remember hanging
up the night before."
Our
Prayers for…...
All those who are in Hospital and Rest Homes and all who are unwell our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
The Christian life isn't difficult--it is impossible.
If we don't know that, we will try to do things ourselves.
Faith is not necessary when we think we can do it ourselves.
Faith comes along when we realize that we cannot do it on our own." -
Joseph
Garlingen
Mid Winter Studies:The final will be on Thursday 29th June 7.30.p.m. to 9.30.p.m. in the Armstrong Lounge, Baring Square.
Topic - Giving and Generosity
We are using extracts from the DVD “Small Strong Congregations” by
Dr. Kennon L Callahan.
Supper provided.
Leadership will be provided by those who
attended Kennon Callahan's Seminar in Christchurch last year.
In the discussion time we will acknowledge and affirm what as
a Parish we do well - and what we
might be able to do better.
Bibles In China
In 1966 China was immersed in the Cultural Revolution and Bibles were almost non-existent. Any copies around were well hidden.
1980 Bibles were again being printed in China
1987 Amity Bible Press, the printing side of the Bible Society began
printing the Chinese Language Bible.
1989 The first millionth Bible came off the presses.
1999 The twenty millionth Bible
2006 The forty millionth Bible
Each
roll of paper used is made in China to ISO standards. At $1,250 one roll
provides approximately 500 full Bibles.
- From
the Bible Societies Bulletin ‘The Word at Work’
The Computer’s Swallowed Grandma!
The Computer’s swallowed Grandma
Yes ‘honestly’ its true
She pressed ‘control’ and ‘enter’
And disappeared from view.
It’s devoured her completely
The thought just makes me squirm
Maybe she’s caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.
I’ve searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind
I’ve even used the Internet
But nothing did I find.
In desperation I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine
The reply from him was negative
Not a thing was found ‘online’.
So, if inside your ‘In Box’
My Grandma you should see
Please ‘Scan’, ‘Copy’ and ‘Paste’ her
In an email back to me.
Apologies to all those who have never used a computer you probably won’t understand a bit of this! - DRW.