St Thomas’ Parish Church Belfast
        

Newsletter

Oct-Nov 2009

  

www.stthomas.connor.anglican.org
The Rector, Canon W A Lewis, writes:-
MEMORABLE AUTUMN FAIR
Many of you were at the Garden Fair on Saturday, September 12. It was a most successful and enjoyable event. The weather was fabulous. The sun was shining. The Choir, the Jazz Band, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Band, and even the exotic Belly Dancers were in great form. The Teas in the Church and the Burger Bar outside fed the gathering, the Book Stall, Tombola, Gardening and General Stalls and ‘Guess the Weight of the Lamb’ did a brisk trade. The grounds looked beautifully festive with the stylish and colourful array of marquees and bunting. The Fair was a wonderful social occasion - thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and raising the appreciable sum of £2,500. Thanks to all who contributed items to the event. Particular thanks are due to the helpers and organising committee whose chairman was Dr David Bell. David, you and your team did a magnificent job!  See pictures from the Garden Fair

PARISH DINNER
The next major social event in the Church will be the Parish Dinner in a fortnight’s time, Friday, October 9 at 7.00pm. All arrangements for a beautiful meal and excellent musical entertainment are in place. Tickets are available from the Parish Office and in Church - £20 for adults, £5 for children 6-12, and under 5s are free. The Dinner was a wonderful and enjoyable event last year: it promises to be even better this year.

STUDENT LUNCHES
Student Lunches will re-commence on Friday, October 2 in the Church. Please make the Lunches as widely known as possible. I also appeal for more volunteers to prepare and serve the lunches. Presently, there are 6 people on the Rota. The team will be joined by Dan Randazzo who is a Commissioned Youth Minister in the Episcopal Church of the USA. He, and his wife Megan and daughter Rebecca, who are from Texas, joined St Thomas’s recently.

LINKÖPING DIOCESE LINK
In January 2010, a priest from Linköping Diocese in the Church of Sweden will be joining the Parish Staff as a second Curate until Easter. Her name is Rev Elin Rundl-Dapo. Further details about Elin and this new venture will be in the next issue of the Magazine.

SUPPORT AND HELP AVAILABLE - CONTACT RECTOR
Recently, my attention was drawn to the existence of a special fund to help people where there may be needs of any kind, particularly where children and young families, or the elderly, may benefit from financial support. If you yourself can be helped, or know of others in such circumstances, please contact me. All such matters will be dealt with in confidence.

BIBLE STUDY - WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
I shall be running a series of Bible Study sessions on Tuesday mornings in the Parish Meeting Room, commencing on October 13 for seven weeks. The theme will be ‘An Introduction to the Old and New Testaments - How the bible came into being!’ This may be of interest to young mothers/fathers, students, senior citizens and anyone interested in the origin of the Bible. We will start with coffee at 10.30 and finish with prayer at 11.45.

CONFIRMATIONS 2010
If you are a teenager or adult and would like to be confirmed next year, please let me know or ask for information.

NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR FLOWERS IN CHURCH
At a recent open meeting it was decided that members should continue to be invited to write their names on the Notice Board Flower List against the Sunday(s) of their choice - to mark a special occasion, or in memory of a loved one. In future the procuring, arranging and placing of the flowers in the Church will be the responsibility of the donor.

GRATEFUL THANKS
I thank the many active members of the Flower Guild who, over many decades, have given outstanding service to beautifying our Church for Divine Worship: in this regard, I pay particular tribute to Anne Seeds for her dedication and floral artistry, and thank her for all her work. I also take this opportunity to thank Eric Harvey for his service in three important areas of Church life. For many years, Eric was a member of the Readers’ Rota at Sunday Services, Co-ordinator of the Freewill Offering Counters, and Chairman of the Magazine Distribution Committee. In all three areas, Eric discharged his responsibilities with professionalism, and appreciation of those who helped him. We thank Eric and pray for the Harvey family and for God’s blessing on Florence in her illness.

140th ANNIVERSARY
2010 will be the 140th Anniversary Year of St Thomas’s. A programme of Anniversary events and projects will be published in due course.
 

 

 

 

Walter Lewis

 

Please pray for those who are not well:
Edith Burrowes, Marjorie Johnston, Edith McSparron, Greta Shivers, Florence Harvey, David Green, Derek Orr, Harry Grey, Adnan Zahoor-Ali, Grace Daly and Matthew Kane. 

Children’s Pages

10:30 October 4 2009
HARVEST THANKSGIVING
Preacher: Rev Tracey McRoberts
Reader: Lucie Litvack
Prayers: Mikey McKaigue
Worship for all ages. Children are invited to bring a small gift of fruit

CRÈCHE/SUNDAY CLUB 
Autumn has come again and it is a time when we are thankful for the harvest and the beauty of this time of year. The rich red and golden leaves that are falling to the ground are fun to crunch beneath our feet. As the earth is settling down for its winter rest it should remind us that we should slow down as well and prepare ourselves for a new season of hope and faith.
It is a new season of Sunday Club and it is hoped that the children will continue to have fun as they learn.
Don’t forget that during November we will be preparing for our Nativity play. Come along, pick a part and join in!
Wendy

The Nativity Play
Rehearsals for the Nativity Play will be on 22nd and 29th November in the Sunday Club. Tell your family to make sure to come to Church on 20th December to see you tell the story of Jesus’ birth!

Happy Birthday to our young people
in October and November:

Amy Grace Chestnutt who will be 14

Chloe Diane Chestnutt who will be 9 

Eve Stephanie Rose Daly who will be 7

Eva Catherine Kingwho will be 3

Luke Molloywho will be 12

Lola Maria McCully who will be 7

Nathan McCabrey who will be 1

Archie Jackson Smyth who will be 3

James Morrison who will be 1

Toby Oxley who will be 15

Niamh Jane Allen-Collins who will be 6

Zoe Lauren Cosgrove who will be 4

Rona Molloy who will be 9

Louis Molloy who will be 7 

Garden Fair

See more pictures from the Fair

Curate’s Corner

The magazine I treat myself to every month recently had an article on prayer. If it’s to be believed, it would seem a recent report carried out by Tearfund found that almost half the adults in Britain pray. In fact, one in six adults pray daily and apparently women pray more than men. Interestingly, one in eight of adults who claim they have no religion at all admit to praying sometimes. Psychologists claim this is more about individuals trying to find a sense of ‘self’ rather than reaching toward a higher being or Deity. They claim it brings comfort and reminds us of a time when we felt protected.
Fast-forward by twenty or thirty years. If the same survey is carried out in 2040 will prayer remind the children of today of a time when they felt safe and secure? Is prayer a central part of our family lives together? Is it one of the things that makes us stand apart from our non-Christian (or maybe, to use the language of my magazine, non-‘religious’ friends)? There’s an old saying ‘a family that prays together stays together.’ Mind you, I’m not too sure …… when my son Philip was little we had many a heated ‘debate’ about him not eating his greens when we’d prayed grace together only ten minutes earlier!
On my journey with God thus far I’ve discovered I’m a great believer in prayer. I’ve seen many, many situations – both personal and in my ministry – where prayer has been answered and God has been glorified. But I also have to confess that, at times, I find prayer exceptionally difficult and it seems as if I’m talking to myself while God isn’t listening. On these occasions I remind myself I’m in good company given the Psalmist(s) went through similar experiences. Over the years I’ve also found that my own prayer life inclines more toward a constant conversation with God and an awareness of his presence rather than any list of requests.
Indeed, I think prayer might bring me comfort as the article would suggest, perhaps like any daily routine but it would also seem to me that to engage in prayer with the living and active God of my faith can at times make me feel anything but protected. After all, it’s been through prayer I’ve felt called to full time ordained ministry and in order to realise that vision give up my job, leave family and friends to train in Dublin and travel what can sometimes feel like a very lonely path that’s often a struggle for others to understand. But how else can we be in relationship with God if not through prayer? How else can we slow down enough to hear His voice and discover His will?
And so, I would ask for your continued prayer for the work I’m involved with here in St. Thomas’s. Pray that the children of our church community will grow in their faith and have fun worshipping God. Pray for the Sunday-Club and crèche teachers as they prepare to spend time with the children each week. Pray that the young students who come along for lunches on Fridays will decide to come back through the doors on a Sunday and get involved in the life of the church. Pray that God will clearly reveal His plans for the next step for St Thomas’s following such hard work over the last few years to provide a truly beautiful church out of which we can witness. And, finally, can I ask for your continued prayers for Walter, myself and our families as we go about the daily task of church leadership and pastoral care? And, as you pray, remember John Wesley once said ‘God does nothing except in response to believing prayer!’
(Psychologies UK Edition, No. 49, October 2009)
   

 

 

 

Tracey McRoberts

THE TUESDAY CLUB

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Good food and fellowship for the Senior Citizens of the Parish! The Tuesday Club plans to meet on the last Tuesday of each month.

VOLUNTEERS are required to help on these occasions. Can you spare a few hours each month to help in the kitchen/with serving or with transport? If interested contact Jennifer Miskelly or Margaret Turnbull.

Parish Dinner & entertainment

October 9 at 7.00pm

Adults - £20
Children aged 5 - 12   £5
Under 5 - free

Tickets available from Evelyn Lewis

Public Lecture Institute of Theology, Queen’s University 
‘DARWINISM AND RELIGION: 
SORTING OUT THE OPTIONS’
by
Professor Frederick Gregory
Professor of History, University of Florida
Thursday October 1
at 5.30pm Room 121 Lanyon Building
ADMISSION FREE

HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES
Sunday October 4
08:30 Preacher The Rector
10:30: Family Service Preacher Rev Tracey McRoberts
19:00 Preacher The Rector

HARVEST NOTICES
Harvest Envelope
Proceeds of donations through your Harvest Envelope 2009 will be divided between various deserving Church and community charities. Please give generously.
‘Freely you have received, freely give.’

Children’s Harvest Gifts
Children attending the 10.30 am Harvest Service are asked to bring a small gift of fruit which they will present during the Service. These gifts will be given to the children of Barnardos in Windsor Avenue and Women’s Aid in Wellington Park.

MOTHERS' UNION 
May I take this opportunity once again to extend a very warm invitation to all ladies in the Parish to consider coming along to any of our meetings.

OCTOBER 22   ‘The Golden Age of the Picture Palace’ - Mr Tony Fleck

NOVEMBER 26   ‘Houses and Miniatures’ - Margaret Hunter

Meetings are held in the Parish Meeting Room and commence at 7.30pm

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
10:30 Sunday November 8
There will be an Act of Remembrance at the 10.30 am Service of Holy Communion on Sunday, November 8. At that Service wreaths in memory of members of H.M. Forces who have been killed in the course of duty will be presented.

Sunday November 15

Disability Awareness Sunday


Mission Sunday - November 29 10:30
Theme: ‘World Partnership for Aid and Development’
Guest Speaker: Deborah Doherty
Director, Christian Aid, Ireland
Over the weekend there will be a stall with handicraft goods for sale in the Church

WEDNESDAYS

Midweek Holy Communion at 10.30am

BACH CANTATA CONSORT

19:00  Sunday October 18 & November 15 

See photos of the Bach Cantata Consort.

From the Registers...

Welcome to new members
Welcome in the name of the Lord
Richard Tanswell

Christian Marriage
'And the two shall become one flesh'

17 September:  Wendy Thompson and David George

 

  Sunday Greeters

10.30am & 7.00pm Services

October   Leslie & Louie Jefferson

November   Andrew & Joan Whitaker

If you are unable to be present on your Sunday, please inform the Rector so that a replacement can be found.

FWO Counters

  October   Andrew & Joan Whitaker

November   David King & Clem Shaw 

SUNDAY SERVICES ROTA
If you are unable to read at the assigned Service, please switch with another person on the rota and inform the Rector of the change.

October 4  Trinity 17
HARVEST THANKSGIVING 
8.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant & Preacher: Rector
10.30 am Family Service
Conductor: Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Lucie Litvack
Prayers: Mikey McKaigue
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2 
Conductor : Curate
Preacher: Rector
Reader: David Chapman

October 11  Trinity 18
8.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant : Rector
Preacher: Curate
10.30 am Holy Communion 2
Celebrant & Preacher Rector
Reader: Evelyn Lewis
Prayers: David King
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2 
Conductor : Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Renee Pelan

October 18  Trinity 19
8.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant & Preacher: Rector
10.30 am Morning Prayer 2
Conductor : Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Catherine King
Prayers: Andrew Whitaker
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2
with Bach Cantata Consort 
Conductor: Curate
Preacher: Rector
Reader: Caroline Linse

October 25  5th Sunday before Advent
8.30 am Holy Communion 1
Celebrant : Rector
Preacher: Curate
10.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant & Preacher: Rector
Reader: May Brown
Prayers: John Martin
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 1
Conductor: Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Anthony Malcomson

   November 1   4th Sunday before Advent
All Saints 
8.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant & Preacher: Rector
10.30 am Family Service 
Conductor: Rector 
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Karl McKaigue
Prayers: Amy Chestnutt
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2 
Conductor : Curate
Preacher: Rector
Reader: Evelyn Lewis

November 8  3rd Sunday before Advent
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 
8.30 am Holy Communion 1
Celebrant: Rector 
Preacher: Curate 
10:30am Holy Communion 2 
Celebrant: Rector
Preacher : Curate 
Reader Norma Thompson
Prayers Terry Patterson
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2 
Conductor: Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Georgina Millar

November 15   2nd Sunday before Advent
Disability Awareness Sunday
8.30 am Holy Communion 1 Celebrant & Preacher: Rector
10.30 am Morning Prayer 2 Conductor: Rector 
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Saskia Lourens
Prayers: Marcus Wheeler
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2
with Bach Cantata Consort Conductor : Curate 
Preacher: Rector 
Reader: Renee Pelan

November 22  Sunday before Advent
8.30 am Holy Communion 1
Celebrant : Rector
Preacher: Curate
10.30 am Holy Communion 1
Celebrant: Rector 
Preacher: Rector
Reader: Eric Thompson
Prayers: Chichi Aleruchi
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 1
Conductor : Rector
Preacher: Curate
Reader: Anthony Malcomson

November 29  Advent Mission Sunday
8.30 am Holy Communion 1
Celebrant & Preacher : Rector
10.30 am Holy Communion 2
Celebrant: Rector
Preacher: Deborah Doherty
Reader: Georgina McDowell
Prayers: Oswyn Paulin
7.00 pm Evening Prayer 2
Conductor: Curate
Preacher: Rector
Reader: Malcolm Braidwood

 

Welcome to Visitors

Visitors are always welcome at St.Thomas’s - at Church Services and meetings of our organisations and groups.  We welcome you in Christ’s name!

and Welcome to Students

We welcome you to Belfast and to this Parish and wish you every success in all your undertakings at university or college. You will be very welcome at worship and the meetings and activities of all organisations and groups in the parish.

Student Lunches
You are welcome to come along to St Thomas’s on Fridays from 12noon to 2.00pm when we will be serving FREE lunches to students. Come and meet your fellow students or bring them along for some soup and chat!

Volunteers
If anyone can help make and serve lunches please contact the Rector.

Free-will Offering Envelopes 2009

If you do not have Free-will Offering Envelopes, and would like to make your weekly offering to the Church in this planned manner, please contact either Professor Wheeler or David Chapman for a set of 2009  Envelopes.

If you pay income tax then please sign a GIFT AID form because St Thomas’s can then claim back a very worthwhile tax refund at no extra cost to you.  It is very simple to arrange.  You only need to give your name and address and sign that you pay tax.  No other private details are required.  You do not have to specify how much you will give.  Ask the Churchwardens or Professor Marcus Wheeler for a form. 

This also applies to anyone who already has envelopes, but who has not yet given the Church the simple advantage of Gift Aid. 

It is worth another 25p for every £1-00  you give, i.e.  25% more for the Church at no extra cost to you.  

At the end of the Tax Year, the Church claims back from HM Revenue & Customs the tax (which you have already paid) on the money you have given to the Church.

 

Transport to Church

Transport by taxi to and from the 10.30am Sunday Service can be arranged. If you would like to travel by taxi, contact Gladys Smyth.

Family Service for our Children

On the first Sunday of each month, children attend the special Family Service at 10.30 am.  For more information please contact the Rector.  On other Sundays, the creche and Sunday Club are in the Creche Room.

Safeguarding Trust Parish Panel

The Panel exists to protect young people in the Parish.

Contact Person:  Mr C Kavanagh

Parish Organisations

Tuesdays        The Tuesday Club  12:30-14:30 (last Tues. of month) Jennifer Miskelly

Wednesdays    Choir Practice    19:30    Canon Charles Kenny

Thursdays       (4th in month)   Mothers' Union  19:30  Mrs Evelyn Lewis

                     Bell Ringers  19:30  Duncan Scarlett

Fridays           Student Lunches 12:00-14:00   During Term Time

Sundays         (Other than 1st in month)   Creche/Sunday Club  10:30  Rev Tracey McRoberts

 

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL VESTRY

If you are a member of St Thomas’s, and subscribe to the Church, you are encouraged to become a member of the General Vestry.  Please sign the relevant form at the back of the Church.

Become a Bellringer!

St Thomas’s peal of eight bells is among the finest in the British Isles. If you would like to become a member of the bell-ringing team, speak to the Rector or Duncan Scarlett, Conductor of Bells, or contact the   Alternatively, just come along to the Bell Tower on a Thursday night between 7.30 and 9.00 pm.

 

CHURCH INFORMATION

www.stthomas.connor.anglican.org

RECTOR AND RURAL DEAN OF SOUTH BELFAST :

Rev. Canon Walter A. Lewis, The Rectory, 1a Eglantine Avenue, Belfast BT9 6DW

Tel., Answerphone & Fax 028 9080 8343           Contact the 

CURATE ASSISTANT: Rev. Tracey McRoberts  Contact the

STUDENT READER: Brian Lacey

The Parish Office

This is situated near the entrance to the Rectory.

The Parish Secretary, Rosie Charlton, can be contacted Monday, Tuesday & Friday 
from 09 00 - 13 00  
by telephone: 028 9066 3332 or by 

EMAIL ADDRESSES

For speed of communication, if you haven’t yet done so, please send the Parish Secretary your email address.

 
Organist Canon Charles Kenny

Select Vestry:

Churchwardens:  Rector's : Liz Elwood;   People's: Ren Zhang 

Glebewardens: Peter King,   David McCabrey

Hon Secretary: Catherine King

Gift Aid Secretary: Professor Marcus Wheeler

Hon Treasurer: David King

Assistant Hon Treasurers: George Ferrett, Dr David Bell

Members:  Kerena Crowe, Wendy Daly, Ngosi Eneh, Cecil Kavanagh, Terry Patterson, Oswyn Paulin, Freddie Seeds

Conductor of Bells: Duncan Scarlett

 

Contact telephone numbers and addresses not published in this internet version may be found in the paper copy of the Parish Newsletter which is available at the back of the Church. Please ask the Churchwardens for assistance.

If you haven't yet seen the St Thomas' Church home page then please click  Home