Magazine for May 2012

YOUR DECISION!

One Sunday, a vicar announced that the sermon would be given by a visiting preacher, who had been a friend of his for many years. The elderly stranger stepped into the pulpit and began to speak.

“A father took his teenage son sailing, and invited him to bring a friend with him. It was an enjoyable day until late in the afternoon, when a really bad storm blew up. The father was an experienced sailor, but even he could not control the boat. A giant wave swept the two boys into the sea.”

It happened that there were two teenagers in the congregation, and they were taking a keen interest in the story.

The minister continued. “The father managed to grab a rope, and faced an agonising decision. Should he throw it to his own son, or to his son’s friend? He knew that his son was a Christian, and that his son’s friend was not. There was only a split second in which to decide. He threw the line to the friend and pulled him into the boat. His son had disappeared beneath the waves. His body was never recovered.”

“The father” said the old man, “knew for sure that his son would have eternal life with Jesus, and therefore he saved his son’s friend. He sacrificed his son, just as God sacrificed Jesus, so that we could all be saved.”

The two teenagers were waiting to speak to the preacher at the end of the service. “That was a nice story” said one of the boys politely, “but it wasn’t very realistic for the father to let his own son drown, in the hope that the other boy might perhaps become a Christian.”

“Well” said the preacher, “I understand – more than most – the pain that God must have felt. You see, I was the man in that boat. And the boy I saved, all those years ago, is your vicar.”

P.E.Archer

Magazine for May 2012

GARETH BAILEY 27th May 1958 – 4th April 2012

Gareth was a very active member of St. Mark’s for a number of years, together with his first wife Christine , his step-daughters Michelle and Francesca, and his daughter Naomi. 

Then he decided that as a Christian he really wanted to work with people who were in difficulties. As a first step he worked full-time with Steph and Geoff; explored working for the Church Army, and then, having been away from study for over 12 years, he worked hard to get University entrance, and a degree, to become a Social Worker in Coventry.

His brother Arwyn was for some years Youth Leader and Administrator at St. Mark’s, and his mother Anne until recently a choir member. Gareth and Christine did much to support Anne so that she could live independently, which she did until 2011.

Magazine for May 2012

ST MARK’S PCC MEMBERS 2012/13

Paul Manuel   Vicar and Chairman

Ann Parsons   Churchwarden

Dan Wood       Churchwarden

Peter Took     Representative Reader

Deanery Synod Elected Members To 2014

Paul Mileham, David Calvert (PCC Lay Chair), Dan Munday, Ann Parsons

Elected PCC Members To 2013

John Denning, Tom di Giovanni, Ruth Smith

Elected PCC Members To 2014

Peter Ormerod, Liz Munday, Ben Munday, Sarah Klein, David Robinson, David Wigman

Elected PCC Members To 2015

Claire Russell, Sarah Lee, David James,

Dave Rawcliffe

Co-opted PCC Members

Tony Parsons (Treasurer)

Amanda di Giovanni (Secretary)

Magazine for May 2012

COLETTE ALLAN-DONALD 30th Dec 1973 – 3rd April 2012

From a very early age Colette had a strong Christian faith which sustained her throughout her life. At St.Mark’s she joined the choir at 7, eventually becoming  Head Chorister, and  was a Brownie and a Guide.

She has always had a passion for work with children and young people, becoming Explorer leader, and also a Leader with Brownies and Young People both at St. Mark’s and  in London, where she trained as a Nursery Nurse. She later lectured in Early Years Curriculum at Henley College, and became Family Care Co-ordinator for Warwickshire PCT.

She then went to work on the Island of Lewis! Some of us have forgotten how very active Colette was. At school she sang in the choir, learnt violin and clarinet, acted in panto, and enjoyed games. Later she loved walking, squash and riding. How did she fit in her other hobbies and crafts?! She first sponsored a child through TEAR Fund at the age of 7, and  became a committee member of the Children’s Society in her early teens.

Whilst in her last post as Nursery Manager in  Leicester she had the accident which so changed her life. Though in much pain, and so restricted, even losing her sight ,she was amazingly patient and uncomplaining.  She had countless stays in hospital, and was looking forward to going into Heathcote Hospital to improve her mobility.

Alas, it was not to be. But now Colette, we know, has no pain, no restrictions and has met Jesus face to face, as she always knew she would.

Magazine for May 2012

When we first arrived in Leamington Spa and took up residence in the vicarage, we noticed that the south facing wall, previously overgrown with ivy, was now quite bare. So we seized the moment and planted a wisteria.

Five years later I can report that, only now, it is just about to burst into the full glory of its first flowering; it is full of flower bud where in previous years there were only leaves. At last! Sadly however over those five years we have lost a few plants – mainly because of the heavy frosts of the two past winters.

At the APCM on 22nd April we considered all the ways, formal and informal, in which the church has been developing during the past year. In some areas there has been obvious growth, indeed some activities and people have flourished. In other areas there has been a bit of contraction and taking stock, with a bit of pruning here and there. And in other areas there has been a realisation that a season has come to its natural close; a time to stop, to replant and renew.

In gardening we know this needs to happen (though I am always reluctant to abandon a pleasing shrub however ‘leggy’ or ‘woody’ it has become!) but in church life it is harder still. The things we have nourished and valued in church life can be closely associated with our own personal walk of faith and commitment to God.

In this context, we have come to the last edition of the magazine in its current format. I know that Peter Took and Ruth Smith have been very committed to editing and improving the magazine over these past years – and month by month we have (more or less) always had a full edition and in recent years in living colour too!

Nevertheless Peter and Ruth have come to the view that it is time to step down, and so this will be the last edition.

Times change, and much that we do is communicated by the web site and other social media. We will review all our means of communication over the next period and determine how best to proceed.

In the meantime we thank Ruth and Peter (and also Beryl Robbins and Katy Fermor at the printing and binding end) for their inspiring commitment to this role and look to see how the Lord will lead us on as a church into 2012 and all that lies ahead.

Easter Blessings

Paul

]]> http://www.st-marks.net/jubilee/feed/ 0 http://www.st-marks.net/mothers-union-2/ http://www.st-marks.net/mothers-union-2/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:32:41 +0000 paul http://www.st-marks.net/?p=8027

Mother’s Union

The Mothers’ Union (MU) is the largest Anglican Christian organisation which promotes the well-being of families worldwide.  Founded in 1876 it now has 3.6 million members in 76 countries, the majority of whom are outside the UK and Ireland.

 The aim and purpose of the Mothers’ Union is to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the transformation of communities worldwide through the nurture of family in its many forms.

MU members encourage family life, working towards 5 objectives:

• Supporting and promoting marriage
• Encouraging parents in their role to develop the faith of their children
• Maintaining a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
• Promoting conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
• Helping those whose family life has met with adversity

For information about MU in this Diocese see website www.mothersunion-cov.org.uk and for information about the MU work overseas see www.themothersunion.org

Membership is open to all, men, women, married or not, who have been baptised as a Christian and who support our aim and objectives.

The Mothers’ Union at St. Marks has been running for over 100 years.  In January this year (2012) the branch became a Diocesan members group.

Members are involved with a range of activities – supporting Diocesan and National Initiatives;  visiting the sick and lonely; helping at San Marco’s cafe, Toddler Group and Kaleidoscope; supporting various charities – Teddies for Tragedies, TWAM, Angel Tree (buying presents for prisoners’ children), the Women’s Refuge; and running the Craft Group. Each year we pack shoeboxes for the Operation Christmas Child appeal.

For further information please contact Diana Griffiths 01926 422310.

Programme 2012

Magazine for May 2012

CATHEDRAL NEWS

Do try to get to the Cathedral sometime this month – the Golden Jubilee of its dedication in 1962. The big Jubilee Service on May 25th is an all-ticket occasion, which seems harsh, but so many people will be there, that there would not be room for everyone.

Representatives will be there from each parish in the Diocese, and obviously the normal Cathedral congregation  have all to have a place (so that ordinary mortals are not left out).

There will also be representatives from cities such as Dresden and Hiroshima with whom Coventry shares its Ministry of Reconciliation. Also representatives from other denominations and faiths will be present – how important is that reconciliation, when we see throughout the world the religious persecution that is suffered.

A “Senior Royal ” will also be there! No doubt we shall see it on TV.

Magazine for April 2012


ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING


On Sunday 22nd April, following ONE combined morning Service at 10.30 am, we hope to start our Annual Meeting at 12 noon.   As this will take place DURING lunch, you will need to BOOK your lunch. Forms will be in pews in the church, or phone the office.


Copies of both the financial report and the report on church activities will be available in church from Easter Sunday, and minutes of last year’s meeting will be posted on a noticeboard at the back of church.