When the Britain in Bloom judges visited us they saw the pieces of ancient timber salvaged after the repairs to the tower roof. They challenged us to make a display of these pieces in the same way that we have displayed the salvaged pieces of stone, which they were impressed by.

Have you got the vision to rise to this challenge? Please let me know if you can.

Bob Steel.

There has been a serious omission in the “thank yous” which it is necessary to rectify.

There were very many people who commented on the beautiful music coming from the organ loft and how it lifted their visit to a higher plain.

THANK YOU, RON. !!!

The new South West Worcestershire Methodist Circuit wishes to employ a part-time Lay Worker to support the new Minister in the Malvern Section of the Circuit in the pastoral care of three congregations, particularly of the housebound and older members. The appointment will be for

1st September 2010 to 28th February 2013.

The worker will have experience of church related pastoral visiting, be a good listener with the ability to empathise, relate effectively to a wide spectrum of people, be able to keep confidences and be aware of the need for professional detachment.

Application forms are available from:

Carole Flatt, 19 Fairbairn Avenue, Worcester WR3 7JH; tel: 01905 756388;

email: flattie@btinternet.com

and should be returned before 8 June 2010. Interviewing will be in the week commencing 21 June.

All enquiries should be made to Philip Wetherall on 01684 574346 or by email at lpsw@glencarlyn.plus.com

Relate Worcestershire is a local charity dedicated to helping people to maintain and care for their personal relationships.

There is no doubt that many of us are feeling the pinch of the recession in our everyday lives. And as times get tougher, more and more people are in need of Relate’s specialist help with managing the effects on their relationships of job losses, spiralling debts and the increasing uncertainty of the economic outlook. Good relationships are the most effective means of holding families together; they contribute to better mental health across the population; and ultimately they form the glue which binds society together.

Jo Ringshall, Centre Manager of Relate Worcestershire, comments: “As times get tougher financially, many people find that it’s their relationships that suffer. Longer working hours and more financial worries can drive couples apart and at its most extreme this can contribute to the eventual breakdown of the relationship. The good news is that Relate Worcestershire offers relationship counselling for couples or for individuals, as well as for young people. Especially during tough times, investing some time and effort in looking after your relationship can bring big rewards in the longer-term. It’s important that people know they are not alone. Talking to someone before it becomes too late can make a real difference.”

Relate Worcestershire operates in Worcester, Malvern, Bromsgrove and Broadway. There is no need for a referral – anyone in need of our help can make an appointment for themselves by calling 01905 28051. We charge a fee of £37 per session to cover costs but we also offer a hardship bursary scheme to people on low incomes or on means-tested benefits. This helps to ensure that our service is available to as many people as possible regardless of their ability to pay. Donations towards the bursary fund are always very gratefully received. Anyone wishing to donate to Relate Worcestershire can call Paula on 01905 23597 or visit www.relate-worcestershire.org.

We are working hard to ensure that as many people as possible have access to our help and support to manage and enhance their personal relationships, particularly during these tough times. We would encourage anyone who is worried about their relationship(s) to take an important step and give us a call.

For further information please contact Sarah Jeffery, Operations Manager, or Jo Ringshall, Centre Manager on 01905 23597 or email sarah@worcsrelate.plus.com

In February this year the Church Mission Society and the South American Missionary Society united. These are 2 Anglican mission agencies with similar evangelical traditions. On Saturday May 22nd there was a special celebration to mark the integration of the 2 societies at the King's Centre, Osney Mead in Oxford. Over 1000 people attended this event which was an opportunity to meet together and to make a re-commitment to God's mission.

In the first part of the programme there were interviews with Christian leaders from Africa, Asia and South America and also with Mission Partners and Christians involved in new ways of being the church in Britain. Then there was a service commemorating the launch of the new 'CMS community'. The reading from Acts 2 v 1-12 was read simultaneously in 6 languages to give us a feel of the day of Pentecost.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, preached the sermon. He spoke of the new life given to the church at Pentecost and how barriers between different languages and cultures are broken down by the Holy Spirit.

Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Leicester, was introduced and commissioned by the Archbishop as the Episcopal Visitor for the new community. There was silence and prayer at this moment as the English Bishop knelt to receive the blessing from the Archbishop, originally from Uganda.

The service concluded with all who have become members of the CMS community standing and making the 7 promises of membership and saying together the Covenant prayer from the Book of Common Worship in the Church of South India.

Meeting in Malvern:

On the 3rd Thursday of every month an inter-church group meets at 2.30 p.m. at 25 Richmond Road, Malvern Link to listen to interviews with mission partners working in different parts of the world, to listen to a CD produced by CMS with South America, and to pray for the work there. All are welcome.