October 2010

October was a busy month for both of us. Friday 1st saw Susannah at chapel for the preparations to get the chapel ready for Harvest Thanksgiving and the food festival. There was shoping to be done to get the food for the festival, an early start to the market was necessary.

Susannah was again busy with the food festival on the Saturday and then she preached at the morning service. Jonathan preached at the evening communion service.

Friday the 8th saw us both at chapel to put the meat in the slow cooker to prepare the pies for the next day. The peas also had to be soaked.

On Sunday the 10th it was "Connexional Plan" and Jonathan was at Ibstock

whilst Susannah was at nearby New Swannington. Since we are without a car at the moment we were very grateful for Ray taking us and bringing us back.

On Thursday 14th, Susannah was speaking at Dodworth Methodist Church (where we were married) in the evening and travelled by train. whilst on Sunday 17th Jonathan was preaching at our Philadelphia chapel.

On Sunday 24th, Jonathan was preaching at Tapton Hill Congregational Church.

Thursday and Friday saw us preparing for the festival of light by shopping for the food and swedes to make lanterns. Last week we were in a branch of a well known supermarket and they had lorry loads of swedes. This week we went to another branch of the same supermarket; not a swede in sight!

The evening before. Jonathan was sorting sweet wrappers. The congregation had been asked to save wrappers from sweets for the lantern and "stained glass window" making. what a lot of toffees they have eaten! The festival was an encouraging success, and will be adapted for next year.

September

Jonathan was preaching and celebrating communion at 6-30p.m. on Sunday Sept. 5th at Mayfield.
It may seem strange for church pastors to be concerned about the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, but we live in an area alongside many Muslims. Over the years we have established a tradition of giving as many of our neighbours as possible a cake to help them in their celebration of Eid. This means that Jonathan spent many hours on the 10th and 11th of September baking Swiss rolls, which were given to 8 local families. We are not aware of any special significance of Swiss rolls to Muslims!, but our conversations with Asian families have taught us that this is an aspect of English cookery which they appreciate. The gifts have resulted in many interesting conversations over the years, often a small gift of Pakistani food in return, and frequently a Christmas Card later in the year.
The church meeting on the 15th required some communication (mostly email) with the secretary in order to establish what the agenda would be.
Sunday September 19th was the last Cafe church for the summer which required Saturday being spent in preparing worship materials and baking.
The lack of a car meant that the shopping for the Supper club was a bit more involved that normal, but the problem was solved by several trips using a shopping trolley.
The coffee morning on 25th in aid of Macmillan was a success, and was followed by our friends from Richmond church using our premises for their "awayday"
Susannah celebrated communion on Sunday 26th morning whilst the team from Fulwood church led the worship.
In the evening Jonathan preached at our Philadelphia church and Susannah sang a solo ot the celebration of their anniversary, it was 45 years since the current building was opened.
Susannah attended a meeting and lunch to celebrate the acquisition of the new minibus for Pitsmoor and Shiregreen community transport on Wednesday 29th. This was held at Shiregreen United Reformed Church.
On Thursday 30th, Susannah chaired the circuit meeting at Owlerton church. Jonathan attended the meeting.

Gainsville Florida

Readers may be aware that Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainsville Florida has stated that he will be burning copies of the Koran to mark the anniverary of the terrorosm attack on New York (11th September). I have been unable to find a email address for Rev. Jones, but I have sent the email below to the city authorities with the a request that they forward it to him.

Dear Rev. Jones,

At our church prayer meeting on Tuesday we prayed for you, your church, and the people who will be affected by your proposed actions.

In Matthew's Gospel (ch 5:44), Jesus urges "Love (agape) your enemies." and "Pray for those who persecute you" Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13) gives us an exposition of what love (agape) is, and in his letter to the Ephesians (4:16) urges the body to build itself up (edify) in love.

You will undoubtedly say that you are free to do that which you propose, and I cannot argue with you, but may I remind you that in his first letter to the Corinthians (10: 23), Paul says that all things are permissible, but that does not necessarily make them beneficial or constructive (edifying).

I urge you to prayerfully consider whether your actions are worthy of our Lord's call to love; whether they are beneficial; whether they will edify. If any of these questions cannot be answered with an unqualified "yes", then I urge you to reconsider your course and make any protest which you feel necessary in a more loving, constructive and less confrontational manner.

Yours in the service of the Lord,
Jonathan Youdan
Pastor Mayfield Wesleyan Reform Church
Sheffield, England

August 2010

The month started with Susannah preaching at the Philadelphia church in the morning. Later that week we were visiting members of the congregation.

Susannah attended the needlework day on the 14th and bought the flowers for church the following day when it was our son's turn to provide them. The materials for the café church were printed and laminated. The seeds to plant had to be bought.

Susannah was camping at church with our dog for the camp weekend, Jonathan was working and at home looking after the animals. He was also preparing and printing the orders of service for the animal service the next day. This went well.

The shopping had to be done for the supper club, one supermarket never has everything we need for a menu!

Afterwards we had to put the pulpit back into the church ready for the wedding on Sunday.

On Saturday 28th we had the rehearsal for the wedding which was to take place the following day. Susannah was the flower arranger for the Sunday, so she did a pedestal display ready the both the morning service and the wedding.

On Sunday, Susannah was preaching at Hillsborough Trinity Methodist Church in the morning, and then making the journey back to Mayfield to take part in the wedding. Unfortunately, the car expired on Fulwood Road in a cloud of smoke and steam! Fortunately, a passing motorist stopped and asked if she could be any help, Susannah arrived at the chapel just in time for the service.

Afterwards, the car was successfully started and coaxed home, but the cloud of smoke indicated that all was not well!! It has since been decided that it was beyond economic repair.

July 2010

July was another busy month. (Is there another sort?) In addition to the activities in the church blog, it was the time to design, print, fold and distribute about 450 "What's On" leaflets for the Summer 2010 period. Towards the end of the month the next edition of the newsletter was also due and had to be printed. This month it was decided to produce a copy of the Wesleyan Reform Union's "Excited About Mission" which is distributed monthly. Members were asked to read and pray about the contents. People who want their own copy can have it sent by email straight from the Union, or ask for a paper copy.

On July 11th Jonathan was preaching at Hampden view church in the morning. This was an "All age worship" on the theme of the calling of the first disciples.

Later that week, the chapel had to be prepared for the coming visit of the Coal Aston United Churches Choir. This involved moving the pulpit and communion table into the vestry and turning several of the pews round in order to accommodate the choir. Arrangements had also to be made to produce and serve about 80 drinks. The evening went well.

Susannah attended an event at "The Rock" Christian centre on Carlisle Street where she read the scripture reading.

Also during the month, a number of visits were made to members of the congregation.

Visit to Coal Aston.

The last Saturday in June saw us visiting the Wesleyan Reform Church at Coal Aston. They were taking part in a Flower Festival which was organised in Dronfield and District with many churches participating. The displays were presented to a high standard and were a credit to all at the chapel who had worked extremely hard.

June 2010

The week before "Quiet Waters" (the ladies' day) saw us buying material to make the displays, printing programmes, arranging furniture at chapel to enable the event to take place, worrying about what would happen if noone came and generally getting ready. Plants had to found which suited the displays, and the effect of a sheet of water had to be created in the chapel, without getting it wet!

On Sunday June 6th Jonathan was preaching at Grimesthorpe Wesleyan Reform Church in the morning and at Mayfield in the evening.

May 8th saw Susannah reading and leading prayers in the city centre outside Boots.

Thursday May 10th was the circuit meeting at Grimesthorpe where each church had been challenged to talk about "the state of the work of God" in their place. Susannah chaired the meeting in her role of circuit president. It was very interesting to hear about the ways in which different churches proclaim the Word in their areas.

Saturday June 12th was the induction of Carole Parkinson as the "Women of Action" national president. This was also at Grimesthorpe as Carole attends there. Susannah represented Mayfield at this event.

Susannah was away at Wesleyan Reform Union Conference from 17th to 20th June. This was held jointly with the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion at High Lea conference centre.

Whilst Susannah was away, Jonathan had to bake for the café church service on the Sunday and buy the ingredients for the breakfast on the Monday.

Jonathan led the monthly Café Church on a theme of "Water" to coincide with the collection and dedication of the collection bottles for the "Samaritan's Well" project. Over £167 was collected in this way.

Sunday saw Susannah back late from conference, with the knowledge that she would have to be up at half past two to collect a passenger and prepare for the Summer solstice service at sunrise on Monday.

Susannah Visited the Ladies Rally at Hampden View Church on Wednesday afternoon and preached at the ladies' service on the Sunday evening.

Thursday afternoon was the monthly supper club which had to be shopped and prepared for as usual.

Sunday morning saw Susannah leaving Jonathan at Philadelphia Church and picking up Julia Hodson who was preaching at Mayfield.