Hello everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of our church newsletter. Our newsletter is sent out regularly to share reflections from services, Bible readings and church news with our church family. You can find previous issues on our church website here.
We would love to hear from you and are always looking for uplifting and encouraging content to share in future issues of this newsletter. If you have any ideas or content that we can share, please do email them to Louise (publicity@christchurchuxbridge.org.uk)
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that you have been faithful to us
through all the changes of our lives;
we praise you, for there is no end to your faithfulness.
Help us today to be open to you,
and to trust you through all the changes still to come.
Amen.
(Taken from Roots)
Reflection from 9 June
Reading – Mark 4: 35-41
We are going to get noisy this morning.
Make some noise and when I put my hand up, stop!
I want you to imagine you’re in boat. It’s not a big boat – gentle rocking from side to side – then its gets windier. Make some wind noise – swing pipe – pieces of paper – shake them – move a bit more.
And stop!
Try it again – hope nobody’s seasick!!
We live in a very busy world. Sometimes the noise can be too much: big crowds, or things that scare you, maybe the dark, spiders. When we’re scared it can feel like there’s a storm in your stomach and that’s when we need to take a breath and calm. It’s not easy to do.
Have you read the book ‘Big Bag of Worries’? It reminds us that sometimes we have to give our worries and troubles and stormy times to someone else – or to God.
In the navy if there is a sudden disaster aboard ship, the “still” is blown. It’s a whistle that calls the crew to a moment of silence in a time of crisis. When the still is blown, people aboard know that it means, “Prepare to do the wise thing.” People have said that the moment of calm has helped stop many a catastrophe. That stopping and taking a breath – it might stop us from doing something silly or saying something rude.
So this week lets encourage each other to be still – be calm – and prepare to do the wise thing – so take that extra breath and trust in God to help us through the storms of life.
Claire Gill
Readings for 16 June
Mark 4: 26-34
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Further readings from the lectionary this week are as follows:
- Ezekiel 17: 22-24
- Psalm 92: 1-4, 12-15
- 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10, 14-17
Our worship
We meet at 11am for our Sunday services, which are also live-streamed on our YouTube channel. If you wish to view our services online, you can find them at https://www.youtube.com/@christchurchuxbridge
You can also view a recent service on our church website. Our service this week will be led by Christ Church member, Louise George. You can find the order of service here.
If you are unable to join us in person or online for our Sunday services, but would like to receive a recording of them on a memory stick to watch at home, please let us know.
Forthcoming services
16 June – Christ Church worship group
23 June – Richard Reid (Methodist local preacher)
30 June – Revd John Mackerness (URC minister) – Holy Communion
7 July – Neil Mackin (Christ Church member and trainee URC lay preacher)
From the Circuit
D-Day Concert at Pinner
The Royal Navy Volunteer Band will be performing a free concert to mark the 80 years since D-Day in 1944. Held in Pinner Methodist Church on Saturday 15th June at 7:30pm, the programme features Wind Band and Big Band marches, popular songs, swing music, and a traditional naval finale. The concert is free and all are welcome to attend.
St. Andrews Christian Literary Festival
St Andrew’s Christian Bookshop in the beautiful village of Great Missenden will be holding its first Christian literary festival, where many of the UK’s most beloved authors will be present, on the 21st and 22nd June. There will be interviews with the author, book discussions, and even kids events. The venues for the literary festival will be in the churches of Great Missenden – to book tickets or see specific dates and times for the festival events, visit the website on stalitfest.co.uk, where you can also find a list of the 20+ confirmed contributing authors.
Farewell to Revd Nigel Cowgill
Nigel’s time as a Chair of the District is coming to an end in August. To thank him for all his work and service to the London District and wider church the District is holding a Farewell Service on Sunday 21 July at Hinde Street Methodist Church, W1U 2QJ. The afternoon will start with refreshments from 5:30pm, followed by a service at 6:30pm. If you would like to attend, please let the Circuit know on admin@hahcircuit.org.uk so that we can give an estimated headcount to the organisers of the event.
Circuit Life magazine
The latest Circuit Life magazine is now available and can be found at https://tinyurl.com/hahcircuitnewsjun24
URC News
Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Exhibition
Ickenham URC are hosting an arts, crafts and hobbies exhibition on Tuesday 11th June – Friday 14th June 2024, 10am – 9pm and Saturday 15th June, 10am – 5pm.
Entry is free, but donations are welcomed for their chosen charity, 2nd Ickenham Scout Group. Refreshments will be available in the mornings between 10am and 12noon and cream teas will be served on Friday and Saturday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm.
Get crafting to dream on
What are your dreams for yourself, for the church and for the world?
Show us by designing a 15x15cm square. Knit, crochet, make a patchwork square or even draw. All the squares will be joined together to make one massive quilt of dreams.
Whatever your talent, we would like your help. Be a part of the URC’s presence at this year’s Greenbelt festival, titled ‘Dream On’, even if you can’t be there in person.
How to join in:
- Your square(s) should be 15x15cm.
- If you are knitting or crocheting, use any wool you like.
- If drawing/writing with fabric pens or stitching, please do so on a cotton square (any colour you prefer).
- Please send your squares to The Quilt of Dreams, 116 Mount Road, Penn, Wolverhampton WV4 5RZ by 15 July, 2024 so we can stitch them all together.
Please email samara.andrews@urc.org.uk if you have any questions.
Find out more at https://urc.org.uk/greenbelt
Uxbridge and South Ruislip Hustings
Friday 21st June, 5.30pm – 7pm at Brunel University
The Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Brunel University London, will be hosting the Uxbridge and South Ruislip election hustings event on Friday, 21st June 2024 in Brunel University, London UB8 3PN. If you are interested in attending this, please register online at https://tinyurl.com/m8apzw4z
CTU AGM
Sunday 30th June 2024, 1pm at the Quaker Meeting House, York Road, Uxbridge
This year’s Churches Together in Uxbridge AGM will be taking place on Sunday 30th June at the Quaker Meeting House. All are welcome to join us for lunch from 1pm, followed by the AGM where we will also be welcoming a speaker, Judith, who is a Quaker who has worked in Israel and Palestine. Nominations for CTU officer positions (chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer) are also open. If you would be interested in standing for any of these, please email secretary@churchestogether-uxbridge.com
Children’s Corner
Dates for your diary
| 26 June | Welcome Wednesday |
| 30 June | CTU AGM |
| 10 July | Welcome Wednesday |
| 24 July | Welcome Wednesday |
| 4 September | Welcome Wednesday |
| 8 September | Congregational Meeting |
| 18 September | Welcome Wednesday |
| 24 November | Congregational Meeting |
Praying for other churches
This week we hold the following in our prayers:
- Kenton Methodist
- Brentford Free Church (URC/Baptist)
- Our Lady of Lourdes & St Michael, Uxbridge
Closing prayer
Thank you, Lord, that you love us and you can change us:
help us to trust you this week.
Thank you, Lord, that you love this world and you can change it:
help us to work with you this week. Amen.
(Taken from Roots)
