Issue No.78

Farewell to Sue Le Riche

 Sue Le Riche left Jersey on Jan 2nd to live  Dorset with her son Michael and granddaughter Amy, age 7.   She will be greatly missed as a Circuit Steward, as a local preacher, as a lay pastoral assistant at La Rocque and as a good friend to many in Jersey.

 Sue Fennell first came to Jersey from Bath at the age of 9, though her father was a Jerseyman and her Grandfather an RSM in the Jersey Militia.  She went to Helvetia and Jersey High School and attended St. Andrews Church.  She trained as a hairdresser before spending some years raising her family.  She restarted work in the Trust industry, taking offshore banking exams and ending at Barclays.  She left when she married Mark Le Riche, a second wedding for both of them and a very happy relationship.

 She attended St. Saviours Church and St. George’s Church not very frequently till in 1995 she attended the first Disciple Course run by Rev. Derek Poole at Bethlehem.  This deepened her faith and led to her starting to train as a local preacher.  This faith was severely tested as Mark died suddenly on January 2nd 2000, but she was accepted onto full plan in 2002 and did further training on the STETS course at Salisbury.  She served as Local Preacher’s Secretary till recently.

She is going to be near two other grandchildren, Jemma a little older than Amy and Ben who is 17 months old.  Her son Michael Hocquard will be doing much of the purchasing for the Jersey-based internet company pentagondirect.com and Amy will be going to  Clayesmore Preparatory School.

 Her new address will be 7, Bowey,  Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford, Dorset DT11 0TR.  She has not yet decided where she will travel for worship but will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to any congregation with her pastoral and preaching experience.  We shall miss her in Jersey and our prayers are with her as she starts a new phase of her life.

Ed Le Quesne

New minister for the West

Christine Legge

Christine will come to Jersey in September from the Bude Circuit where she has been since 2002. She became an LP in 1984.  She has a BA Theology and Mission and Certificate in Evangelism and Mission from Cliff College.  She has training in Puppet Ministry and Godly Play.  She is looking forward to sharing in the life of the circuit as part of the team. She enjoys leading worship in all styles as well as exploring new ways.  She is keen to get alongside people and to work ecumenically. She desires to make faith relevant to the whole of life.

 She was previously employed by British Rail and the Electricity Industry in a variety of secretarial and administrative posts.

 The family that will accompany Christine will be a dog, two cats and a budgie.  She is familiar with Jersey, having  been on holiday here many times, including this year when she attended St Aubin.  Some of her training was shared with Liz Hunter and Caroline Homan.

David Coote 

Letter from the Super 

Dear Friend

 I am very grateful for the many people who contribute to the life of the Jersey Methodist Circuit and to all the people and Churches that make up its life. Among the many who serve we owe a great debt to Ed Le Quesne who edits Jersey Methodist among a myriad of other causes including the invaluable Amos group. 

 During 2007 we did as a circuit lay down some guiding principles on the use of our money. Perhaps Wesley's dictum, ‘earn all can, save all you can, give all you can’ should be applied as much to our shared life together as to our individual budgeting. The undergirding principle behind the management of circuit resources is to use them to the best advantage in our Kingdom building work. Circuit Advance fund money largely derives from the sale of property. It should be used to stimulate fresh activity in our local churches and not just to maintain.

  I personally would like to see every church in the circuit looking seriously as to how it might employ a youth or family or youth and community worker in the local context. As long as there is evidence that such a properly trained or 'willing to be trained' employed person will stimulate fresh ways of working and outreach then the Circuit Leadership Team would look favourably on an application from a local church. You may be aware that at the last circuit meeting it supported the Leadership team's recommendation that Liz Lambotte be employed as a youth leader at St Aubin and granted what amounted to about a third of the part time budget for a three year term. 

 Of course unless we act with wisdom, then the funds available will rapidly expire which is why the Leadership Team always has to balance the third part of Wesley's dictum with the second! 

I am excited by innovative work going on around the circuit. 2008 will be an exciting year if we grasp the opportunities that God is giving us. 

A Happy New Year

David

Children and Youth Ministry at St Aubin

 I look forward with great excitement not only to the start of a New Year but with eager anticipation to the 1st February when I begin a three year part time contract as a youth leader for St Aubin's Methodist Church.  It is a huge step of faith for the congregation of St Aubin as they prayerfully support and encourage the children and youth work that already exists but also as we listen with open hearts to new challenges and opportunities to show God's love in the community around St Aubin and further develop a partnership with St Brelade Youth Project at Communicare.

 I am thankful for the financial support put forward by the Jersey Circuit, the District Advance Fund and Lloyds TSB which enables me to put my full concentration and total commitment to the work that I feel God is calling me to do. I know and understand only too well that some things will be within my capabilities while many others will be completely out of my comfort zone and way out of my depth.  It seems this fast track roller coaster ride which began from my decision to leave full time employment as a primary school teacher in 2005 continues as I hold on tight and trust that God is in full control.  I have experienced so many new and exciting ventures over the last two years all helping me gain knowledge and confidence to carry out the job to the best of my ability.  There have been lows and struggles too but I know that God is in the driving seat and to him I put my complete trust and focus.  

 I ask for your prayers for children and young people for their hearts to be open and their minds attentive to listening to God's small voice.  Let us be thankful for the imaginative and creative youth work that already exists in the island and for the many leaders, teachers and helpers now involved in sharing God's great love.  I pray that more and more churches will take our Christian responsibility seriously and commit to putting more time and money into the spiritual formation of our young people.  Our children are not only the church of tomorrow but they play a very important and significant role in the church of today.

Liz Lambotte

Youth Leader St Aubin Methodist Church

Channel Islands District Review

 The agreed title of the review is “are there better ways for the CI District to work for the achievement of our mission?”.

 John Bell, former vice-President, has summarised the discussions at the District Policy Committee (DPC) on December 8th and Jersey Circuit Leadership Team (JCLT) on December 10th 2007 in a detailed paper.(5 pages long)

Some of the key points.

 The District Chair moves on at the end of the connexional year 2009-2010 (i.e. August 31st 2010). If an “as is” replacement is to be found, the appointment process must begin in early Autumn 2008 to enable the nominee to be available for shadowing during the year 2009-2010:  This is in accord with the normal time scales for district chair appointments.   Moreover, a decision to so proceed commits the CI District for the period 2010 to 2016, as the normal initial appointment term is six years. The District must also be clear where a Chair would be stationed in 2010. 

The review of district organisation, in terms of the main choices must therefore be completed by the end of August 2008.  There are effectively only two basic options for district organisation.

Option A: To retain the Channel Islands District, or

Option B: To merge with a mainland district. 

 Under option A, there may be ways in which the effectiveness of the existing district organisation can be improved, particularly around the roles undertaken by the person who is (currently) District Chair, Circuit Superintendent and local minister, and whether some activities could be shared with a mainland district. These need to be assessed before choosing.

 Under option B, there are certainly three possible mainland districts - Southampton, Plymouth & Exeter, South East - with various claims to natural connections. 

 In choosing A or B, it would seem prudent only to go for option B if it expected to deliver clear, desirable and significant benefits. If the balance is 50:50, or even slightly in favour of B, the upheaval in changing is probably not worthwhile.

 Whilst the decision to select option A must be taken by August 2008, work on changing the district organisation can proceed beyond that

Future time scales and meetings

2008    February 2nd CI DPC - to receive/prepare proposals for decision-making, based on this paper and any further discussions by then

Before April Synod - (extra) Circuit Meetings to discuss proposals (Jersey on April 17th) 

April 18th CI DPC  

April 19th CI District Synod

September DPC may be a Synod if needed

Other principles and issues

   The Stationing Review Group reporting to Conference 2008 is recommending favourable terms for all the Island Districts, and would also suggest similar arrangements if they were part of mainland districts.    

 Do we need districts at all? Conference 2007 agreed to defer any general review of districts until “five years' time or so” (i.e. not before 2012), in order that districts could focus until then on enabling circuits to restructure.

 There is also a view expressed privately - note, not a policy - that in the longer run, one layer from districts and circuits will disappear altogether, and that the Methodist Church will have a single unit between Connexion and church, generally larger than present circuits and smaller than districts.  What is the realistic present role of the CI District? Is unnecessary work done? Who values the district?

 The same person is District Chair, Circuit Superintendent and circuit minister - the so-called “trilemma” a challenging, sometimes difficult, position but maybe there is no real alternative.

 If the CI joined a mainland district, what models of oversight could be used to ensure that the CI would not be neglected? The islands are not part of the UK and do not send MPs to Westminster. Being part of a mainland Methodist district would sit uneasily against this background.

 Methodist Church and the ministers play distinctive roles in the life of the islands, in some aspects quite unlike their counterparts on the mainland. There is concern that these aspects would not be appreciated within a mainland district. Critical matters relating to governance, finance and law may be missed, such as in the case of Network becoming a UK charity - this is part of the uniqueness of the CI that might be overlooked

 Being a District is a source of power and influence. The CI District currently enjoys full representation in the courts and councils of the Methodist Church (mainly Conference, Methodist Council, Connexional Leadership Team): if it became part of a mainland district, this would be largely lost.

 The strong island identity of the Anglican deaneries appears to generate a positive contribution to mission.  How can the CI Methodist Church make the most of its ecumenical opportunities?

 This summarises the paper. The discussion is at an early stage and no one brings to it any preconceived outcomes or pressures.  To see the full paper please 

contact the circuit office 728900 or e-mail  circuit.office@jerseymail.co.uk.  Comments and  reflections are welcome and should be sent to Rev. David Coote.   

Ed Le Quesne

News from Samares

The congregation at Eastern Good Companions on Sunday, May 20th, 2007

  This was their first time they began to hold their Sunday worship in the Rotary Eastern Good Companions club premises (EGC).  Situated there between the Le Marais / Le Squez developments “we are so well placed to begin a responsible outreach to the area.    Our relationship to Rotary continues to grow and I am so grateful to Rotarian John Reed and his committee for their confidence in us.”   said Rev. Henry Le Ruez

 Church activities  are described below.

Baby Buzz  

Miriam Higginson

 This Parent and Toddler group started in January and numbers have grown, so sometimes as many as 30 adults and children are present. From 9.30 there is free time for children to play while adults chat over tea or coffee.  There is also a table for colouring and craft work and drinks and snacks for the children to enjoy.

 At 11, we tidy  the toys away and enjoy some lively music on CD called ‘Jump for Jesus’ which has us jumping, hopping and clapping.  It is so popular it has become our theme tune.  We then relax with story time and singing songs before bringing the morning to a close by having fun with lots of soft coloured balls. 

Miriam Higginson

Grace Trust

 This Island based charity seeks to help the needy of our island.  Samares’ role is to pack food items each month, which are distributed locally to people selected by St. Clement Parish Welfare.  The delivery is co-ordinated by Oasis Church, who collect the packed items from the church on a Saturday morning.  A leaflet is enclosed giving details of both Samares and Oasis churches.  Occasional letters of thanks are received.

Andrew Bird

 Coffee Buzz

 This is open on Friday mornings offering home made cakes and fresh tea and coffee. All ages are welcome, getting to know people and offering friendship 

Eileen Le Ruez

Tuesday afternoon Bible Study

 Monica and Andrew Bird

 This group generally meets at the home of John Le Cornu and uses course material called ‘The life of Christ’.  The group starts with a chat and a piece of cake before moving on to the study. Other issues often arise during the study and different perspectives are shared in a lively but relaxed way.

Andrew Bird 

Portuguese House Group

 It has been a very positive year. We have learned a little more how to live, talk and to be in this world.  We have studied Proverbs, Psalms and now Acts.  A blessing to us all.  The house group is very solid and we hope to increase next year in numbers.

Mario Reis

Property 

 The platform at the front of the church has been reduced to allow more tables to be fitted in.  The majority of the PA system has been transferred to EGC.  To integrate it with the existing  system, both systems needed upgrading. 

Stephen Higginson

Sunday School

 Subjects covered this year have included creation and Old Testament characters such as Noah and Abraham.  Worship has also occasionally been included for example using ‘sing along’ DVDs.  Attendance is usually between 10 and 16 children, age range 7 to 15.   Ian Alder and Monica Bird have been the key teaching staff, with occasional help from others. Ian has now returned to the Baptist Church full time, so the need for additional teaching staff to develop this work remains important.

Andrew Bird

Men’s Bowling Group

 This group was started by Danny Desbois and meets once a month on a Monday at Jersey Bowl.  Men from various churches meet socially and enjoy an evening out. In the summer we hold  a mixed bowling evening, where women as well as men are welcome.

Shaun Perchard

HMP La Moye

 As Henry Le Ruez is a member of the Prison Chaplaincy team, the church has come alongside an ex prisoner in support following his release. Also Mario Reis is visiting twice a week, particularly the Portuguese inmates and hopes to begin a Portuguese Bible study as soon as possible.

Rev. Henry Le Ruez    Tel 481335 

Andrew Bird    07797 732996 

Prayer line    Tel  856048 or by e-mail prayer@ci-methodist.org.   

 Requests for prayer are received from as far as Singapore and the USA and prayers offered at the weekly prayer meeting and at Sunday worship.   The church has a website www.samares-methodist.org.  

 This is an edited version of the first Annual report from Samares

News from the outlying Parish of St Ouen.

 The Sunday School outing took place on 9th September. The children, teachers and a number of our congregation set off after the morning service in lorries gaily decorated with streamers and balloons, followed by a 'splittie' camper van which contained more people and large quantities of food.  After a short drive through St Peter and St Brelade the lorries stopped on the Five Mile Road for an excellent faith lunch and games, and then went on a longer drive, waking up the neighbourhoods through which we passed, arriving back at church about an hour before the evening service.

 The Sunday School Anniversary was on 18th November when the children displayed their beautiful artwork and took part in the service led by Dr Nola Webster.  This year the young people's Christmas treat will be a visit to the pantomime 'Dick Whittington'.

 A very successful bazaar was held in the Parish Hall on 1st December and it was a great pleasure to welcome so many members and friends from other churches.  The following day was the occasion of our Church Anniversary and we had a special morning service in which many members of the congregation took part, including the children.  The service was led by Mr Nick Owen and included a moving tribute by Hugh Lince on the life and work of Charles Wesley to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Charles Wesley.

Valerie Remon

Share through Prayer

 The “Share through Prayer” group has met regularly at 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Monday of each month.  Requests for prayer are posted on prayer leaves and pinned on the tree in the church; these leaves are changed each month.

 The main aim of the group is to pray for the life and ministry of the Church Fellowship in St Ouen and to build up a spirit of love and co-operation within the Parish.  We have enjoyed times of spiritual refreshment, blessing and answered prayer through meeting in this informal way.  Please do join us; you will be most welcome!

John Carnegie

 A further Tribute to Rev Malcolm Bailey

 It was with great sadness that the congregation at St Ouen learned of the sudden death of their minister Rev Malcolm Bailey on 31 August, exactly one year after his ministry with us began.  Malcolm was an energetic and effective minister who preached an authentic gospel message and communicated the scripture in an exciting and illuminating way.  He guided us through some familiar, but difficult theology surrounding the cross and the Resurrection, and added considerably to our understanding of these key issues of faith.

 Malcolm was also an outstanding pastor, whose love for his people was evident to all who met him.  His leadership at St Ouen inspired our recently established prayer fellowship “Share through Prayer”, breathed new life into evening services and planted the seeds of revival at our church.  The church Malcolm left behind is stronger, more vibrant and growing in numbers and in faith, as a direct result of Malcolm's ministry.

 We all admired Malcolm's sensitivity and his commitment to God's work.  It was a privilege to be among his flock and to share the work with him.  All of us thank God for Malcolm's ministry and his time with us.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Charmaine, daughters Cheryl and Lindsay, Malcolm's mother and all the family.

Nick Owen

OHP/OAP

 An overhead projector is often referred to as OHP.    Confusion with the term OAP is a bad idea, as discovered by a man in one of our local churches who announced the following: 

      'I have been going through the OAPs in our church and it has become clear to me that many of them are simply no use to us any more. They are elderly, shabby, difficult to understand, poorly put together, old fashioned and often theologically unsound. Some of them are literally falling apart. 

I have weeded out a number of these redundant OAPs and I suggest that we store them in the church cupboard until the autumn. 

 Have a look through if you wish, and feel free to take home any that you fancy, otherwise I shall dispose of them on the church bonfire.'

from Adrian Plass's book   A-Z of Christian life

Preaching Truths and telling stories

On Saturday November 10th, local preachers met at Georgetown for an in-service day with two visitors from UK.

 Judith Rossal spoke about some stories she had heard in church that made her cringe.  For example a little star going all round the universe before finally reaching the stable or detailed descriptions of the packing of the lunch box of the lad with 5 loaves and 2 fishes before a brief encounter with Jesus.  She said that Christian ethics is not about “Thou shalt” or “Thou shalt not” but  should be about ‘rightly envisioning the world’  Spirituality is about being alive and responding to God in the world not just to the world.  

 People like to identify with people, which evokes emotion in a way that a set of statements doesn’t.  However stories should have some tension, where you can’t quite see where  they are going till the conclusion.   Judith suggested to preachers that they keep a book of good stories that can be used at an appropriate time.

 In a second session, Judith said that before the Reformation, worship was imaginative, as most people couldn’t read and they lived in a world where much was unexplained.  They were surrounded by stained glass windows and other art that told the Christian story.  After Martin Luther and others, worship became much more words based with a professional at the front., who interpreted the message.

 The Reformation in the 16th century also gave the message that God could speak directly to individuals and in time it set people free from serfdom, though that consequence was not seen at the time.

 The emerging church now tries to be relevant to today’s culture and is forced to go back to church history and the Bible to find out the central truths.  Our culture doesn’t use the idea of sin and panders to the self-esteem of an individual, while the church speaks of evil and confession. There is a tension between those who believe that people are fallen and need saving and those who see people as pilgrims on the way but always with human fallibility.   Judith is developing her ideas during her sabbatical from her post at STETS, the theological college in Salisbury that has trained several Jersey preachers including Sue Le Riche, organiser of this in-service day.

Sonia Woolley emphasised that our voice is created by brain, body and face and we need to think about all three and remember to smile.  She gave us some exercises to relax our body.   We had to say similar words to convey different emotions just by the tone of our voice.  We had to try to get our tongues round some tongue twisters.  This was all done in a single group.   

 After a good lunch we had, each in turn, to either deliver part of a sermon that we had brought with us or read a passage from the Bible.  She gave helpful hints and words of praise to each of the dozen preachers and ministers present.   All agreed it had been a good day and thanked Sue Le Riche and June Le Rossignol for making the arrangements.  Worship leaders were present for some sessions

Ed Le Quesne 

The twelve days of Christmas at Georgetown, December 2007

     Betty Brooke’s Saturday Special once said  “from 1558 till they were emancipated in 1829, Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. During that era this Carol was written as a catechism for young Catholics”.  However, some research on the web shows that the above explanation is almost certainly untrue. See  

www.snopes.com./holidays/christmas/12days.asp.

The Carol has two levels of meaning -a surface level and a hidden level for all Christians. The ‘true love’ refers to God Himself.  The ‘me‘ who receives the presents refers to every baptised person, i.e. the church.  The partridge is Jesus Christ.  Christ is represented as a mother partridge in memory of the expression of Christ’s sadness  over the fate of Jerusalem. “How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so”   Partridges feign injury to protect their nestlings.

This display was made by the Friendship club, who meet on Monday evenings and who organised the various groups at the church to provide the exhibits.

The two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments and was made by the Neighbourhood Club, an active group of elderly people, who meet every fortnight on Wednesday afternoons

The three French Hens stood for faith, hope and love and were made by the Toddlers group who meet on Fridays with their carers. 

The four calling birds represent the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   The figures were made by Plat Douet School, who held their Carol Service in the church on December 17th.

The five Golden Rings recall  the Torah or Law, given in the first five books of the Old Testament, and was made by Network, who meet fortnightly on Wednesday afternoons.

The six  Geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation. It was made by the Parent and Toddlers group.  Two photos on display show the groups who meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Here are the five gold rings

The seven Swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership and mercy.  The Swans were made by the Boys Brigade.

The eight maids a-milking mark the eight Beatitudes.  It featured John Curwood’s cow’s head and a picture of eight members of the neighbourhood club, dressed in Jersey bonnets and with a Jersey cow on Eileen Le Sueur’s farm!!                      

   The nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits   of the Holy Spirit:  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They were made by the Girls Brigade     

 The ten Lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.  They were made by the Activity Group who meet on Sunday mornings. The children were photographed dressed in rich clothes.

Eight above and nine and ten below.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciple, shown here as eleven flying angels.   They were made by the Wednesday groups which meets on alternate Wed  evenings.

  The twelve drummers drumming symbolised the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.  The display was made by church steward, Gladys Renouf. who set the drummers in an Alpine village

Ed Le Quesne

Trek Vietnam Challenge

 On a regular visit to Jersey Hospice in the summer of 2006 I happened to mention in passing that I'd spent my holiday walking in Jersey.  Before I knew what had happened I was signed up for the Trek Vietnam Challenge 2007, which at the time sounded fun and something different to do.  In reality it was both those things and more.

    As a member of the Hospice Chaplaincy team I was more than happy to get involved with something that would raise money for a cause that is close to my heart, maintain the profile of Jersey Hospice around the community, and at the same time challenge myself physically.  November 2007 seemed a long way off when my arm was twisted in August 2006 but it soon came round - a bit too soon really!  I'd started off really well with my training but for the three months before we left instead of picking up the pace I rather dropped off the scale all together!  So fitness was a bit of a worry as we gathered at Jersey Airport on 9th November. Thankfully the fund raising hadn't proved to be so erratic and I have so far raised £3,250, of which £2,800 was given in memory of Rev Derrick Mellor.  This might be the ideally opportunity for me to thank all those who sponsored me and offered their encouragement and support along the way.

    So, back to Jersey airport.  We winged our way (28 trekkers and 60+ cyclists) to Gatwick and then on to Heathrow, where our paths split and most of the cyclists departed for Vietnam via Kuala Lumpur whilst we intrepid walkers headed for Hong Kong.  (There were no direct flights to Hanoi).  A day sightseeing in Hong Kong sort of helped to get us acclimatised and then it was off to Hanoi and from there a 3 hour bus journey to the Pu Long Nature Reserve, where our adventure was to take place!  

    And it was an adventure in so many ways.  We were a group of people who knew very little about each other before we left Jersey, most of us had never met before.  And we were from very different backgrounds and experiences.  Just getting to know each other, interacting with all our different moods and needs, our physical abilities and our senses of humour - that was an adventure.

Liz on the trek

 Then there were the domestic arrangements - thin mattresses on the floor with a lumpy quilt to wrap around you and a sleeping bag liner to sleep inside of.  The liner was the only thing that remained with us as all our bedding and other supplies travelled around in a support truck so we were never guaranteed to get the same quilt.  Nor did we have individual rooms!  One large living area in stilted local wooden house where the family would give up their home to us, a different village each night.  A means of earning an income for them, an adventure for us!     

    And then there was the actual walking.  We trekked through an amazing variety of terrains.  Dried up stream beds, the banks of paddy fields, the Ho Chi Minh Trail.  Some days it was just slightly undulating, on one day we walked up and up until we had reached a point almost the equivalent of the height of Ben Nevis!  We crossed rivers, walked through local markets, watched rice being harvested, played football with local school children and laughed and sang and had the best adventure you could imagine!  It was wonderful.    Our eight days trekking ended all too soon and we were back in Hanoi for some rest and retail therapy before heading back to Jersey.  And Hanoi was another adventure……!!

    If you'd like to know more Liz Hunter will be speaking about her trip at St Helier Methodist Centre on Friday 25th January at 2 pm following the regular Friday lunch there.

 If you would like her to come and share her experience with a group in which you are involved please contact her on 739906.

A STORY OF CHINA

 It now seems a lifetime ago when as minister of our Richmond Chapel in Penzance I first met Kathie Warren and her niece Mona Warren.  Kathie, by now well on in years,  took us to China with her graphic stories of her life in in that country as part of a famous missionary family.  She had been born in China and grew up there through hard and tumultuous times. Though she was part of our Christian family in Penzance her heart and soul were still part of the China she loved.  It was there she really belonged.

 I met this extraordinary spirit again recently. Not in the flesh this time but through a piece written in the Methodist Recorder recommending a book just published by a Mrs. Mary Shaeff living in Saltash.  It is a fascinating and well researched book telling the story of our Church in China as it was in the last century.  The tale relates in particular to two families called Warren and Watson who through successive generations lived and worked in Hunan Province in central China.  When I first contacted Mrs.Shaeff I was surprised and thrilled to learn that she was a sister to Mona Warren and another niece of Kathie.

 The story covers the period relating to the collapse of the old dynastic rule.  How the Chinese struggled to hold their nation together under Sun Yat Sen and then Chiang Kai Shek.  The developing struggle between the Nationalist forces and the growing Communist Party. The long period of Japanese occupation during the Sino-Japanese War (1937 -45).  Finally the communist control of the country under Mao Zedong.  The whole of this period was one of conflict and  struggle.

 In this book you see China through the eyes of those who lived there as Europeans, and who had grown to love and be loved by many Chinese people. It is a picture of a world few of us know anything and a moving account.

 If you want a little local interest, included is an account from a recent visit made by Mary Shaeff with as party of folk who belong to "Friends of the Church in China".  Amongst places they visited was an old missionary hospital in Zhaotong (we used to spell it Chaotong).  This was the old Bible Christian's area  of work.  I quote from her account "Then came a visit to a hospital founded very early in the missionary era...after that we saw the broken remnants of the missionaries gravestones.  After these had been smashed during the Cultural Revolution the local Christians had collected the pieces,  possibly going at night to pick up all they could find.  I found it very moving to see the way these were preserved in a room at the Church".  I  hope you Jersey folk who read this realise that among those broken stones are probably the remains of your own Dr. Lilian Grandin's grave.

The book is entitled   FROM TORTOISE HILL.(A story of China)

Obtainable from:   Mrs. Mary Shaeff, 58, Callington Road,  Saltash, Cornwall.  PL12 6DY

Cost: £10  (inc.  p  &  p)

Tom Nicholas

Signing (sic) Carols! 

A study in concentration as Barbara Coote, centre, and Marcia Lee are part of a group signing Christmas Carols in the Precinct during one of the Thursday shopping evenings.  They were part of a choir of over a dozen people, coached  by Pat Bougeard, during the previous weeks, supporting her deaf ministry.

From Matamata, N.Z. church weekly notes... 

A church minister was visiting an elderly lady who had difficulty in getting to sleep at night. 

Minister:       ”What do you do - count sheep?” 

Elderly lady:  “No, I talk to the Shepherd.” 

Daryl De Gruchy

      Daryl retired from active local preaching in the summer of 1993 when she had a stroke.  In the same year her friend Joy Remphrey had a heart attack and also retired.  Joy died in 2000.   Daryl still lives in their cottage in Patier Road with lively dog Robby and has fully recovered from the effects of the stroke.   Her memoirs were printed in 4 successive editions of the SHMC magazine and are printed below. 

Daryl’s memoirs

 I’ve lived a long time and it’s one of the perks of older years that one can indulge in reminiscence and re-enjoyment of the ‘good old days’. 

Early life

 Life for me began at 13 Old St John’s Road, lived in by my family, my aunt & uncle and their family, and also Granny Louisa. It was a happy home and the children playing in the garden were conspicuous because three of us were redheads. The exception was Pat, dark-haired and full of fun, who was usually blamed for our collective mischief. 

  Memories of my first home are small and an odd mixture:- the pump in the back yard (no indoor water supply); doses of cod liver oil and malt in the winter; Dad lighting the gas mantle in the evenings; paddling on West Park beach; shopping with Mum at Cheapside. All the shops have changed since then, except for the chemist, run then by Mr South ( Methodist local preacher). 

  But the happiest of these early memories are of the annual holiday at Corbiere. Dad rented a bungalow on the hill above Petit Port and each June we walked down to the station at West Park and travelled to Corbiere by train. There were picnics on the turf  outside the bungalow, time spent on the beach at Petit Port and La Pulente. Sometimes we stood on the veranda watching the mailboat crossing St Ouen’s Bay. 

The Old St John’s Road chapter ended in 1935. Our cousins moved to First Tower and we made our new home in Clubley Estate. My first home is still there, in spite of much redevelopment in that corner of town. When I pass through Cheapside, I can see the old house and the memories return. 

Occupation times

 It was in 1935 that we moved to Clubley. The estate was brand new then and we were the first family to move in. Five years later the Occupation started and, surprisingly perhaps, memory recalls stability and many pleasures.   It was our parents of course who bore the burden of anxiety during those difficult years. The strong links with our First Tower cousins continued. During term time, Mark and Pat would arrive early at Clubley, bringing a can of soup for their lunch. Later, we met again around the dining table, swapping tales of life and fun at our respective schools. Happy memories. By contrast, one awful day, I hurried down the avenue carrying the pan of vegetables for our meal, collected from the communal bakers’ oven. In my haste I tripped - disaster - but, within minutes, neighbours were on our doorstep offering food. Such was the generosity so frequently shown in those lean years. Occasionally the copper in our wash-house was used by a neighbour for making sugar beet syrup. Each time a welcome jar of syrup was added to our meagre food cupboard. The copper, used pre-war for laundry purposes, was never the same again. 

 School days were uneventful. All subjects were ably taught, including German (compulsory). My worst subject was Art - well, we can’t all be artistic. The summer terms ended with the performance of a Shakespeare play. I’ve never been a fan of Shakespeare and acting was definitely not my forte. By 1945 we were regularly weighed, and banned from games if we lost weight. In the end we were attending school mornings only. 

 At Grove Place, my church home, Sunday School, Junior Church, Anniversaries and Sunday services all laid a firm foundation. It was during the Occupation that I took my first steps in Christian Discipleship - the most important decision I’ve ever made and it’s one I’ve never regretted. 

Working life

 Fifty years ago I started working at the Airport. I was replacing the full-time shorthand typist in the Commandant’s office, who’d recently left. There was also a part -timer. On my first day I was surprised to find the office empty. The part-timer had also left! 

 And so began the most rewarding years of my working life. I loved the wide open spaces, the bustle, the thrill of watching  planes rising into the air, seemingly without effort. I enjoyed the work - much of it pounding a typewriter; letters, reports, memos, instructions, staff rosters, statistics piled up in the Out tray, while reams of paper flowed from the duplicator. I was also tea and coffee maker and guardian of the petty cash. 

 There were daily deliveries of post and memos to other Airport departments, and the hazard of serving tea on a heavy silver tray when the Committee met in the Commandant’s office. The staff were great and, in those far off days, there was no talk or threat of terrorism. 

 Then there were the VIP visits.  Just one memory; the Royal visitor was due to have refreshments in the boss’s office. Flowers were to be on display and a silver vase had been loaned for the occasion. It leaked; but help was at hand. Someone produced chewing gum and the tiny hole was plugged; unnoticed, I’m sure, by the royal eye. 

 In my lunch hours, I walked the lanes of St Peter and in summer sunshine, I relaxed on the dunes,  serenaded by larks carolling overhead. 

  Eighteen years after stepping into an empty office, I said my farewells to the Airport. It was time to move on and I left with a host of good memories.

Retirement hobbies

  It was while I was working at the Airport that I started bird watching. With binoculars in hand a new dimension was added to lunch hour walks. I soon learnt that there were many more birds flying around than just sparrows. Always there’s been the possibility of a surprise - a heron flying overhead when scootering up Beaumont Hill; looking through a window and seeing a tree creeper weaving its way purposefully up a tree trunk; a kingfisher flying past when sitting on rocks at the Dicq; and ever  the hope of seeing a duck or goose, new to me, sailing by in Queen’s Valley. 

  Several years after bird watching began, I extended my horizons to wild flowers. Flowers have an advantage over birds - they don’t fly away while I’m trying to identify them. Discovering a ‘new’ flower is always a pleasure. I remember finding a member of the dandelion family while holidaying in Scotland. I ticked it in my flower book, only to find later that it bloomed in the churchyard at the foot of my road. There’s a wealth of beauty to be found on old walls, the dunes, cliffs, hedgerows, fields. Dog walking provides opportunity for making new discoveries, and Robbie is very patient at such delays on his travels. 

  I’m now looking at trees, which present a double challenge - identifying them by their trunk as well as by the leaves. For me one of winter’s  lovely sights is to look at a leafless tree standing proudly erect against a wintry skyline. This winter, with so many trees leafless, I must concentrate on the evergreens. 

 What a wonderful creation God has given to us to explore, enjoy and respect. 

Daryl De Gruchy 

The Rosebud

It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God’s design; 

But I cannot unfold the petals 

With these clumsy hands of mine. 

 The secret of unfolding flowers  Is not known to such as I. 

GOD opens this flower so easily, 

But in my hands they die. 

 If I cannot unfold a rosebud,  This flower of God’s design, 

Then how can I have the wisdom 

To unfold this life of mine? 

 So I’ll trust in God for leading  Each moment of my day 

I will look to God for guidance 

In each step of the way. 

The path that lies before me,   Only my Lord knows. 

I’ll trust God to unfold the moments, 

Just as he unfolds the rose. 

 Source unknown, from SHMC magazine 

Thanks, goodbye & God bless you 

 On Sunday 21 October Mamaria (we called her ‘Maria’) expressed her thanks to SHMC members for the friendship and fellowship she had found with us over the last 4 years. It was her last Sunday with us before she returns to her home in South Africa. She was carrying a small South African flag (well SA had just won the Rugby World cup!) -a flag made up of many colours, she said, but a togetherness, sadly, not yet reflected in her country. She was glad to have spent time in Jersey and to experience no problems for people of different cultures living, working & worshipping together. She sang in her lovely clear voice of her love for us and her deep thanks to God for his continuing presence in her life. It was very moving. 

 After worship, a cake was shared, and again Mamaria sang to us.   She gave Liz a card and this is what she wrote inside:-

    “to The Reverend & Congregation SHMC.  I could not just walk away. I could not just simply leave without thanking you my spiritual host. When I arrived here I was lonely, worried depressed and felt lost, like a drifting soul.  You welcomed me so warmly, showed me so much love I never expected from people of a different culture. You supported and cared for me so much that I can’t find words enough to say thank you. God used you as channels through which his love, mercy and grace flowed to reach the deepest part of my being. The words I listened to from the pulpit as well as reading the Magazine, strengthened, nurtured me and made it possible for me to survive in Jersey. I’m going back home with something that no one can ever take away from me (The power of the holy spirit and a living testimony- that with God by one’s side and wonderful friends like you, nothing is impossible).  

Thank you all very much. I pray that St Helier Methodist Christian Church grow from strength to strength. Continue the good work. May God bless you all with good health as well as your families. 

Thank you. 

Mamaria Moroe 

Thanks for the ‘5’ five words on the cross - the blood that cleansed us all. To be used for the Glory power of God. 

  -Bye-” 

 She goes home with the love and blessing of us all. We will not forget her. 

(Ma)maria on Harvest Sunday, wearing Nance’s floral hat, which went so well with her own African dress. In so many ways she brought colour to SHMC whenever she was there. 

John Langley    23 Oct 1923 - 14 Oct  2007 

 John Langley was married to Barbara, sister of Peggy Tostevin.  His family ran Donaldson’s music shop at the bottom of Belmont Road, now a Spar!.   Barbara and John escaped from Jersey by boat from Rozel in October 1944, landing in Carteret, where the Americans had arrived.  Barbara was quite a celebrity being the only Jersey born woman to actually effect an escape from the island! 

 After the war, John worked in his father’s music business and became an accomplished piano and organ tuner. However in 1953 John and Barbara with their 2 boys, Stephen and Timothy, emigrated to New Zealand.  Around 1958 John was called to the ministry of the Methodist Church, serving in several parishes till he retired in 1988  Throughout his ministry he continued to take an active interest in pipe organs and he rebuilt 18 pipe organs in New Zealand.  

 John was also an inaugural member of Lifeline (a telephone counselling service similar to the Samaritans) and was instrumental in setting up 3 Lifeline Centres in N.Z. This special work made an impact on many lives wherever John worked and preached. 

 He was an amazing person - a complete person. He was handsome, he was talented, he was physically strong and yet showed real gentle understanding, empathy and compassion towards any who sought his help and advice. His faith in his Heavenly Father was strong, and he was loved by all. 

 After retirement Barbara and John moved to Picton, to a beautiful waterfront apartment. They were not far from their younger son Timothy who also had been in the ministry for a number of years. John’s health had been deteriorating for the last few years and he had been admitted to a care home. It was with great sadness we learnt of John’s death on 14th October.  A light has gone out for my New Zealand family but his memory will stay with them and with the many whose lives he touched both in New Zealand and here in Jersey. 

Libby Farnon (John’s Goddaughter) 

Edited from SHMC magazine 

St. Helier get new chairs

 The new, blue, stacking chairs have arrived and look very smart in the foyer/coffee area.  They replace the brown, stacking chairs which have given some 15+ years of service but which had been looking very tired and tatty for some while. Thank you to those who contributed directly to the cost of the chairs. The balance of the cost came from half the proceeds of the Autumn Fair.

Water, water everywhere and...... (no heating!) 

  St. Helier had a serious water pipe burst under the building in the area of the nursery kitchen in the Autumn. This resulted in it being impossible to have any heating in the Centre. By dint of buying and borrowing electric heaters, the nursery rooms and other essential areas have been kept warm. The nursery kitchen & laundry had to be relocated - the laundry to the Art room and the fridges to the Youth room, while all food preparation & washing up took place in the church kitchen.  The nursery staff were very adaptable in this difficult time and so far there have been no major conflicts over the use of areas. The nursery parents have to deliver and collect their children from the front of the Centre as there is no access to the building from Vauxhall Street. 

 A big thank you also goes to Teresa and Pauline who have responded to all the extra changes and inconvenience with cheerfulness. 

Norman is keeping in close contact with the engineer, plumbers and insurance assessors and  there is now heat again. (In fact, on Sunday 25 November, worship was held in the hall and the electric heaters had to be turned off as it got too warm!! Someone was even heard to remark that we ought to have worship in the hall more often as it was ‘cosier’ - the hall was packed. For those who spent some time moving furniture down from the church and then back again afterwards, this may not be too attractive an idea!)  

From SHMC magazine, December 07 

book review

Horrible Histories – Horrible Christmas by Terry Dreary and Martin Brown

 If you are ever stuck for a Christmas gift for a young man of your acquaintance then bear this book in mind.  To compliment their unique series of books documenting world history in a way designed to appeal to the minds of 7 – 11 year old boys (and according to many teachers having a very positive affect) this team have brought out a book telling the slightly more “bah, humbug” elements of the festive season. 

 With a mixture of quizzes, stories and cartoons there is a healthy irreverence in tone, whilst being incredibly informative. Did you know that as early as 1880 the Post Office was asking people to ‘post early for Christmas’?  Even before then the increase in mail had been noticed. 

“In 1871 a miserable newspaper was complaining that Christmas cards filled the post offices and held up important business letters (e-mail hadn’t been invented).  By 1873 the first adverts were appearing in the newspapers saying: ‘Mr & Mrs Blank will NOT be sending cards this year but wish all their friends a Merry Christmas’.”

 Whilst exploring the myths and traditions around Christmas the book is never derogatory about what is at the heart of the festivities – the birth of Christ.  In fact having looked through the book I have a better understanding of many elements of our traditions and how they link in with my faith.  The final page of the book encourages the children to consider the true spirit of Christmas.

 So if you know of anybody who needs reasons for not eating their sprouts this year, or who wants to know more about mistletoe – this would be a great gift.  The book also comes with a free CD that contains yet more stories and trivia.  

Happy Christmas.

Helen Toole

An English law of 1551 says that everyone must go to church on Christmas Day on foot! That is still the law. So if you ride to church perhaps the punishment would be to sit through a 5 hour sermon while your Christmas dinner gets burnt?!

DISCIPLE

 It's hard to believe that we are almost half way through the DISCIPLE courses which began back in September.  On a Monday evening 14 people are committed to DISCIPLE 1 - a chronological study of the Bible Genesis to Revelation, and all stops in between!  Hosted by St Ouen Methodist Church the group represents five different churches and has brought people together whose paths might otherwise never have crossed.  

    Wednesday evenings see the 13 people doing DISCIPLE 2 descend on Georgetown Methodist Church for a more in depth exploration of four books of the Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts.  This group have all completed DISCIPLE 1, most were involved in the initial course that took place through 2006.

  DISCIPLE is a huge commitment with reading to be done most days.  It introduces you to the Bible in a way that goes beyond the daily reading programmes or house group study that many are involved in.  Not only do you discover more about yourself but it encourages you to put that discovery into the context of the world around you and the fellowship you share with other Christians.  It is a wonderful way in which to strengthen and deepen our faith and then to have the confidence to live it out and share it with others.

Liz Hunter

Tragedy in Kenya

 Many people in Jersey have close links with Kenya and are deeply saddened by the outburst of violence that followed the recent disputed election.  Modern communications by e-mail mean that we have detailed knowledge of the sufferings of ordinary people caught up in this tsunami of hatred.

 The group from St. Helier that went to Nyalkinyi in November 06 have heard from Paul Okumu and the Georgetown group that went to Kisumu have heard from Hezron, who is actually co-ordinating the relief effort in the whole area round Kisumu.   This is part of an e-mail from Paul on Jan.4th   “The anarchy is at a critical state as the Govt decided to use force/security. There are already severe shortages of food, water, fuel and transport completely paralysed. Beatrice (Paul’s wife) said people are in darkness as no paraffin to light the lamps. As if to add salt to the injury,  the region has been faced with drought and I'm told the maize farms we saw in Oct in some areas have yielded nothing due to drought. For that reason, most families have no where to lay their hands on for food”    

 An e-mail from Hezron on Jan. 6th said ” I am off to the mortuary this morning to help families identity some of the bodies for burial and then off to Koru with the Red Cross team (about 65 km towards Kericho) with a medical team where I was told early this morning there may be 3000 people hold up in a church for the last 1.5wks. 

 Early this morning 2 am I had to collect a 7 yr old girl shot last week in Chemelil from the back on the lt shoulder and she is now in our hospital in high dependency unit. quite tragic and amazing she has survived over 6 days.”   

   Just glimpses of the struggles that they are facing.  What they need from us now is prayerful support and money that can buy the food and shelter to help those thrown out of their homes and left with nothing. 

Ed Le Quesne

 All contributions for the 79th issue and offers of help by March. 23rd, to: Ed(itor), 16, Millais Park, St. Helier, JE2 4RU.   or to edleq@jerseymail.co.uk

Also see the website www.ci-methodist.org.uk