Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
March/April 2009

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Baptist Church   |   Holy Trinity   |   Methodist Church
St Mary's   |   St Michael's   |   St Osmund's

Baptist Church

This year Baptists will be looking at their roots. In 1609 the first English Baptist church was founded in Amsterdam. Birthed at a time of persecution, it was a further three years before that little band of Baptists dared to return home. So in three years’ time there'll be another excuse for a 'root inspection' and celebration as we commemorate the first planting on English soil of a Baptist church. Believer's baptism is one of the core values that lies at the heart of our Baptist Christian identity and are a wonderful celebration of God, and His amazing love. It expresses a commitment to personal faith in Jesus Christ and leads to our conviction that the church is made up of people who have individually decided to live under the Lordship of Christ. The baptismal act itself is a symbolic declaration of the believer's position in Christ. As we are lowered under the water we die to sin and self. As we rise up out of the water we rise to new life with our resurrected Saviour Jesus. It's all there in St Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome – Romans 6: 3-4! Our Passiontide and Easter service details are given below and a warm invitation is extended to all.

Graham Pulham

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Holy Trinity

Our two New Year projects are proving to be very popular and Holy Trinity is now buzzing with people on Tuesday and Thursday mornings albeit with very different atmos­pheres. Trinity Tots welcomes babies and preschool children with their parents or carers and our coffee morning welcomes Over 50’s. In addition to this we run Dance the Music fortnightly on a Saturday afternoon and a weekly Fellowship Group on a Thursday evening. With Space To Be happening each month as well, we are now welcoming a large number of people to Holy Trinity each week.

We are pleased to be offering a series of four Lent Lectures each Wednesday in March to be given by Professor Mary Grey, theologian and writer. Click here for details. On 21st March we are holding a Space To Be Discovery Day which includes some excellent speakers and the opportunity for people to find out more about the project – see Noticeboard for details.

We are soon to begin the internal redecoration of the church which will mean that the scaffolding comes back for a few weeks but it will be worthwhile to see the church in all its beauty once again. We are planning a celebration service after Easter and we hope our friends in Churches Together will join us.

I write this as I am about to depart for India and hope to write about this trip in the next edition.

Jean Boulton-Reynolds

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Methodist Church

“I don’t know what the world is coming to”. Many times this is our instinctive response as we look at the news on television, read the paper or hear about another disaster somewhere in the world. Our world is not different from the world of those that lived before us. Writing in 1274 Peter the Monk has this to say about the society of his time: “The world is passing through troubled times”. Closely related to this view, Aristotle made a similar comment when he said, “When I look at our younger generation I despair of future civilisation”. A close look at the Psalms seems to give us a model of this type of world but with a more comforting tune, that gives us hope that God is in control; God will faithfully keep and look after his own, and that we need to pray and trust Him.

As I think about the current economic situation I am encouraged by Psalm 93:3-4 “The floods have lifted up, O Lord the floods have lifted up their voices; the floods have lifted up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea than the mighty waves of the sea”.

Ebute Obiabo

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St Mary's

While the cat’s away, the mice can play. As Ross trailered in the last issue he began his sabbatical after the Family Service on 18 January and he’ll be back after Easter, when he’s due to lead a group to the Sudan for the opening of Under Tree Schools.

You may have spotted a fat pink pig called Barnsey on St Mary’s noticeboard on Church Road and seen the hanging Barnsey poster inside the church. We are trying a new approach to inviting every single household with members of our congregation to commit themselves to regular giving to the church. Without this we just won’t be able to pay our way. Spread the word if you can.

We hosted the Churches Together in Barnes annual covenant renewal service on 25 January when 50 or more from all six churches gathered for a beautiful service. Thanks to Father Paul for officiating on this occasion. There is promise of fine music at St Mary’s during Lent, especially an evening of music and readings on Palm Sunday. And then Spring and Easter will have arrived and we shall be welcoming our former Rector, Canon Juergen Simonson, to preside at our Easter time services.

Geoffrey Barnett

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St Michael's

If you walk around the church to the south side you will notice scaffolding against the church wall. We are in the process of making the upper windows watertight. Once this is done we will be able to start work on the floor in the church. We hope this will be finished by Easter.

The Community Centre this year will be hosting “FiSH First Fridays” starting on the 6th March. 12.30 – 1.30pm. Fish will be offering Lunch with entertainment. The first event will be a piano and vocal concert. This is open to all. If you need to book transport you can phone Fish Busline 8876 3765. This is a new venture and we hope it is well supported.

St Michael’s is very fortunate to have contact with the local schools. Last month Paddocks School gave a brilliant performance of Macbeth in the Community Centre. It is always a very moving experience to see these young people perform with such joy and enthusiasm and we look forward to their next production.

Paul Holland

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St Osmund's

Father Dominic is leading a pilgrimage in France this week for young people. Father Logan, who is now settled into his new flat in Richmond, is to be seen filling in at St Osmund’s from time to time. At the beginning of the year, our first Epiphany banquet was great success. The new Social Committee which organised it no doubt has other treats in mind.

With a new priest come new ways. One such is the introduction of a monthly Sunday Mass where, unlike other Sundays, the children will not have their separate liturgy, but will occupy the front pews and Father will address his sermon particularly to them. On the negative side, the youth club is temporarily a victim of Health & Safety, but will resume as soon as possible.

Riq Willitts

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