In this edition of Triangle
Bishop Alistair's Monthly Newsletter
The King’s Speech has proven to be one of the most imaginative and widely acclaimed films of recent times. Among the many themes the film explores is that of true friendship. There is a memorable line where Lionel Logue says to the Duke of York, later to be King George IV: ‘What are friends for.’ And to which comes back the reply; ‘I wouldn’t know.’ What is so telling is the heart felt cry of the Duke. He had money, position wealth, servants, a plethora of advisors and attendees. What he lacked was a friend.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines a friend as: one joined to another in intimacy and mutual benevolence independently of sexual or family love. As the film graphically portrays the friendship that developed between Logue and the King was one that stood the test of time. It remained through the challenges and severe tests of a turbulent time. Indeed it weathered the storms of a royal temper and the eccentricities of an antipodean maverick. True friendship seeks to understand and accept the other. It also has the courage to challenge, rebuke and speak the truth even when painful. There is both an unconditional acceptance and brutal honesty in the face to face interactions of a true friendship. Friendship of this kind is a deep and priceless treasure.
‘Friend’ is in danger of becoming trivialised or at the least devalued in common usage. While recognising that social networking and virtual communications have their place, to call any and indeed all who interact on sites such as Facebook, friends is one such trivialisation. Indeed it reminds me in some ways of the philosophy graphically illustrated in George Orwell’s novel 1984. In that novel by changing language and bombarding people through tele-screens, literature and the media not only was a new medium of expression provided but also a change in the way people thought. Language is shown to have power to communicate and on the darker side power to psychologically manipulate and control. Ours is not the world of Orwell’s novel but the danger in trivialising language is real.
In a remarkable passage of St John’s gospel (Jn 15: 14-15, NIV 1984) Jesus says to his disciples, ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends…’
Here true friendship is offered and a real friend who laid down his life for us. Here also is a friend who lovingly accepts us and who challenges us with a brutal honesty to be different. Here is a gift of life and friendship in order that we might become truly what God desires and in turn more truly ourselves. Are we ready for friendship with God?
+Alistair
From Darkness to Light
It is a shame in mid summer to have to think about the darker days and colder temperatures of winter. However the suggestion has been made that it might be good to bring forward the time of the Sunday Evening Service at St. Michael’s Church. The time of 3.30pm from November to the end of March would be in keeping with arrangements at other churches in the Church of England. If you have views and suggestions regarding this proposal, please have a word with a member of the team.
Rev.Henry Morris
Historical Research Item 3
Middle England Mirror
1666
The shire∫ are agog at the revelation∫ that one ofit∫ most notable gentlemen - namely Squire Dick Whittington - seem∫ to have vanished from the sight of those person∫ who hold him most dear in their heart∫.
Renowned for his fondness of long walk∫, it is understood he intended to reach the city of London, whereupon he would proffer hi∫ service∫ as the next Lord Mayor. In this ambition he hath once before been thwarted, by the interference - it is believed - of an unnamed member of the royal household.
Information regarding any sighting of the Squire should be directed to Whittington Hall in Staffordshire. To ease identification he is alway∫ accompanied by hi∫ cat.
Mmmm - these stories are becoming very familiar.
More to follow DAB
Pause for Thought
Just before Christmas Matthew spoke about one of the names of Jesus being “Emmanuel – God with us” and I felt challenged to take that word as my watchword for this year. This challenge was reinforced when Church Army told us that the theme for our May conference was to be the verse from Micah 6v8 The Lord requires us to walk humbly with our God.
So this year my daily prayer has been that I will remember that God is with me, and that he will keep me walking closely with Him.
I would like to tell you that this has resulted in a perfect life, but those who know me best would say that I lied! I still do, say and think things that are not honouring to God.
But I can truthfully say that I am much more aware of God walking with me, and I know for sure , that when I am sad He’s there to comfort me, when I’m glad He laughs with me, if I stumble, He steadies me, and when I fall He picks me up and dusts me down.
What a great God! And how I praise the Lord that He is Emmanuel!
Nancy Thompson
A Summer Quiz
These are the initials of films. There are no prizes, it’s just for fun, see how many you can get.
The answers are at the bottom of the webpage but have a go before you look at the answers. (They are all fairly well known films)
1. AV:PD
2. BCATSK
3. COAHTR
4. DRS
5. EOE
6. FBDO
7. GWTW
8. HN
9. IAWL
10. JP
11. KK
12. LOA
13. MFL
14. NBN
15. OE
16. POTC:TCOTBP
17. Q
18. ROTLA
19. SNF
20. TMMITFM
21. U
22. VD
23. WFRR?
24. X-M
25. YS
26. Z
Have fun!
News from Abu Dhabi
It's 45°C and humid. It is now beginning to seriously hot up for the long summer where temperatures and humidity levels soar into the high numbers. It's unpleasant and most people flee to cooler climes for long holidays.
Alas for us we are here for the whole summer. To add more challenge, it will be Ramadan in August, which means there is nothing to do outside during the day. The shops and eating places are mainly closed.
For families this is tough. It is too hot to take the kids out and so we need to find something to occupy them and discover new ways of getting them out.
This summer, Rianne our eldest daughter will be having an operation on her knee. This will mean a long recovery period of 6 weeks. Effectively she will be housebound for most of this time. Please pray for a good recovery from the operation.
So please pray for us this summer. It is draining, it threatens to stretch out into long periods of boredom for the family. My plan is to use the time to visit families and church members - taking the kids with me so they at least get out of the house.
We will have a student couple from Ridley Hall, Cambridge staying with us for a month as part of their ordination training. Please pray for them as they adjust to the heat and way of working here.
This week we are hosting a Harp Guitarist who promotes Inter faith dialogue through music. It has been fascinating to see the impact of his music on the Arab sheikhs and their audiences. It has been a great platform for the Church, as I have met so many new members of the community that I otherwise would not get to meet. Pray for a serious engagement between Muslim and Christian to emerge in Abu Dhabi as the regional unrest continues to surge around us.
Every Blessing,
Rev Andy Thompson
Dates for the Diary
Sat 16th July | 8am | Ladies Prayer Breakfast |
Sun 17th July | 3-5pm | Strawberry Cream Tea |
Sat 6th Aug | 9.30am | Men's Breakfast at The Brewery, Coalport |
Sat 20th Aug | 8am | Ladies Prayer Breakfast |
Sun 21st Aug | 3-5pm | Strawberry Cream Tea |
Sat 3rd Sept | 9.30am | Men's Breakfast at The Brewery, Coalport |
Sat 10th Sept | 7pmTBC | Eroica Camerata Orchestra |
Fri 16th Sept | 7pm | Quiz night with Fish & Chip Supper at Sutton Hill church |
Sat 17th Sept | 8am | Ladies Prayer Breakfast |
Sat 1st Oct | 9.30am | Men's Breakfast at The Brewery, Coalport |
All the above are at St Michael's Church unless otherwise stated
St Michael's Fellowship Programme of Events
Sept-Dec 2011
5th Sept | Mystery Objects | John Challon & Ian Pritchard |
19th Sept | Shropshire Cakes and Ale Trail | Dr Bob Bibby |
3rd Oct | Harvest Lunch | |
17th Oct | Villages of South Shropshire | David Trumper |
31st Oct | Members Afternoon | |
14th Nov | All about Christmas | Dorothy Nicholls |
28th Nov Spalding Tulip Festival Brian Luke
12th Dec Christmas Lunch
Fellowship meetings are held in St Michael’s Church unless otherwise stated and commence at 2.30 pm.
All are welcome.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are available afterwards.
Answers to Summer Quiz
Answers to Summer Quiz
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
East of Eden
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Gone with the Wind
High Noon
It’s a Wonderful Life
Jurassic Park
King Kong
Lawrence of Arabia
My Fair Lady
North by Northwest
Ocean’s Eleven
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Quadrophenia
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Saturday Night Fever
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
Unforgiven
Vera Drake
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
X-Men
Yellow Submarine
Zulu
Thank you
Thank you to all who have contributed to this edition of Triangle. The closing date for articles for the next edition will be announced in the church notices. Please pass to your church representative:
Woodside: Angela Handley, Sutton Hill: Anne Koe, St Michael’s: Hazel Shipman. Or if possible e-mail: triangle(at)tf7.org.uk