MUSINGS FROM THE MANSE
For Methodists, September is a month of welcoming as the connexional new year begins. Many circuits will be welcoming new ministers and their families, new supernumeraries will be joining other congregations and starting to explore a different role for themselves, Methodist students will be looking for places of worship in their new environment. It's a time for people taking up new jobs in Birmingham, maybe as the new educational year begins. Newness is all around and can be such a blessing to a church.
No doubt we who are already part of Selly Oak will have our opportunity to be caught up in this welcoming atmosphere. No doubt there will be new faces in our congregation each Sunday. And we must all remember the importance of first impressions. If a new person happens to sit with someone who omits to be part of the welcome, then that lack of friendliness is the impression of Selly Oak Methodist Church that that new person will receive. Sometimes a church's reputation can all depend on the reaction of one person. We all carry a great responsibility for continuing Selly Oak's reputation of friendliness and we have many opportunities to practise it. We have had a good number of baptisms recently; did YOU have a word with some of the baptism parties? If you recognise the family afterwards when you meet them in the street, do you speak to them as a church member and offer invitations? Baptisms can often be a "First Step" into church life for both the child and its family.
Many groups use our premises; do you sometimes mix with them as they arrive or as they leave? Do YOU invite new people to church events you are a part of? Do YOU sometimes pop into the Wednesday coffee mornings and chat to people there? - they will be starting again this month so do keep them in mind.
Let's ensure that we all do our utmost to keep Selly Oak's welcoming reputation alive and kicking!
Doreen

Back2Church Sunday
Back2Church Sunday on 28th September is a special Sunday when churches are offering an extra warm welcome to people who have dropped the habit of Sunday morning church. This year many Birmingham churches are throwing open their doors. It began in Manchester Diocese in 2004 to help people who go to church invite a friend to come with them. In 2007, it was piloted by 14 churches in the Birmingham Diocese.
The idea is for churchgoers to invite people in their area who have had some connection with the Church, to come back and see what they are missing. Those who have never been churchgoers are also welcome and anyone can come even if you have not been invited. We know how easy it is to get out of the habit of going to church but it seems much harder for people to come back once they have stopped. Yet researchers found that millions of people said they would go to church if they were simply invited. If YOU would like to invite someone Back2Church at Selly Oak then please see a church steward who can give you the official invitation forms. The first page is the personal invitation; the second is a section to be handed back to the stewards. Please play your part in this very worthwhile project.
In order that those we invite to service on 28 September have a chance to meet us all rather more informally, the morning service will be followed by a bring and share lunch. So if you are bringing someone please ensure you bring enough food to share and do look after your visitor and introduce them to the church family. I hope all at Selly Oak will take seriously a commitment to share this particular church family occasion, both because of Back2Church Sunday and Harvest Thanksgiving which we will be celebrating that day in our worship.
Kathleen's story :
Kathleen was born into a church-going family and it was taken for granted that she would be at village Sunday School and at church every Sunday. As she became older, she joined the choir, taught in Sunday School and was active in many ways. In her twenties she married a young man from the same church and they moved away to the big city. But somehow in the excitement of this first taste of independence and in the happiness of their new life together, their church attendance became more and more spasmodic. However when the children were born they took to heart the baptism vows they were required to make and decided to do better. They worshipped at Family Services and at some of the more special services. But soon their teenage children saw little point in church-going and rebelled. Not long afterwards their parents did the same and the church saw no more of the family.
Occasionally when Kathleen passed the church she wished she was more involved. Out of her life experience and maturity she felt a need to ask questions. But how could she go back to the church where she had promised to bring up her children as Christians? The closed church door through which they had once passed so happily now looked forbidding; she felt as though God didn't want anything more to do with her.
And then one day a neighbour gave them an invitation - an invitation addressed to the family personally, telling them of Back2Church Sunday. Kathleen and her husband summoned up their courage and decided to go along. They were accompanied to church by their neighbour, a regular attender and this helped them to cross the threshold with more confidence. The welcome was warm and accepting. After the service, friendly people brought them coffee and they found themselves chatting quite naturally. It was the start of a new life and a renewed faith.
As a follow-on to the above, on Saturday 4 October we are to hold a Welcome Coffee Morning from 10 until 12 noon which is meant to be a welcome to any new people in our midst. This will be the Saturday following our Back2Church Sunday and so we will be able to invite those who responded to our special invitations to come back to church. There will also possibly be people, students etc, who have newly arrived in Birmingham and are looking for a church home. Obviously it is not only for new people but an opportunity for current members to express the warmth of welcome of our church and make people feel at home.

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Church Benevolent Fund
Many Methodists will remember the former Poor Fund which was taken up at communion services. In more recent times this has been known as the Benevolent Fund when people offered a thanksgiving gift which they know will go to the most needy in our community who approach the church for assistance in circumstances of dire need. At Selly Oak the timing of this offertory moved away from eucharist services and was placed on the 3rd Sunday of the month when we have collected money for some of the charitable causes we support.
After some reflection the Church Leadership team has decided to reinstate our thanksgiving offertory at eucharist. It seems an appropriate time for us to remember God's love given to us in Christ and celebrated as we share the family meal together so that we as a community can respond to particular needs. So that we do not accumulate a lot of money in our Benevolent Fund, some of these offertories will still be an occasion when we give to those charitable causes supported by our church family.
So please remember that on the 1st Sunday of the month when we share at Christ's table, in addition to the normal offertory there will also be a retiring collection. On 5 October it will be for our Benevolent Fund and on 2 November for Methodist Homes. We will not take one in December as 16 November is Shoebox Sunday (there will be more of that in our next newsletter) and on 30 November we hold our Gift Service when gifts are brought for distribution among the local community. Our special Christmas services collections will be for Action for Children (the new name for NCH) and on 4 January at our Covenant Service the retiring collection will once again be for our Benevolent Fund.
Thank you for your caring generosity.

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SELLY OAK ECUMENICAL GROUP
Selly Oak Methodist Church needs to appoint an Ecumenical Representative from among its members. The job involves attending two meetings per year on our behalf.
Its main task of the group is the organisation of the ecumenical Lent groups and having a representative enables us to keep in touch and up-to-date with other local churches. Please see Doreen or one of the church stewards if you would be willing to take on this task. Thank you.

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50 Global Days of Action against Poverty and Inequality
On September the 1st the 50 Global Days of Action against Poverty and Inequality begin in 100 countries across the world. High profile conferences at the United Nations with world leaders taking part through to simple actions on the streets of every type of community. There are already over 200 events planned in the UK. Please begin to plan how you can join in, and include poverty in your prayers. Jubilee Debt Campaign will be focusing on the Global week of action on debt that runs from October 11 - 19th October. If you are leading worship somewhere on 19th October consider marking MICAH SUNDAY and use the Micah Challenge joining with thousands of churches worldwide to stand together in prayer. Micah Challenge can provide resources from sermon themes and creative prayer and worship ideas. For more information http://www.micahchallenge.org.uk/micahsunday/ For the 'person in the pew' with a concern about world poverty you might like to use this pledge at any gathering you attend between 17th and 19th October. If your school, sports club, college, or work place could take a few minute out to Stand Up against Poverty we could create a new world record and have as many as one million people pledging them selves by saying or reading this short pledge and then sending in the total numbers to a designated web site. As part of the generation that demands an end to poverty, I stand up: - for the 30,000 children killed by poverty today - to insist that governments keep their promises to the poor - to reach the Millennium Development Goals and aim even higher - for action, not excuses - for justice and equality I stand up against poverty. What could be easier:- well perhaps just to come to Victoria Square on 18th October at 2.00pm and "Stand Up" with other faith groups of Birmingham. For maximum impact "The stand up and Take Action Against Poverty" must take place any time over 3 days, Friday October 17 to Sunday October 19. We need to count those taking part. The "counting" period will be at any time over those 3 days. Register your event and upload numbers directly to the Stand Up and Take Action website at: www.standagainstpoverty.org. Audrey Miller

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WATER AID
Selly Oak Methodist Church is supporting the sinking of a borehole in a village in Kenya called Mutionjuri, (Population 3000), with surrounding villages Kianjai, Mairiri, Akithii and Mtalami (Total Population 8 - 10,000).
The seasonal local river called Luuria is some distance away.
The project is being managed by Rev. Dr. John Ataya, who some at SOMC may know.
The villagers are desperately in need of a borehole as there is no water naturally. In the area is a school, Methodist Church and a Health Centre, they also want to start a maternity unit, all without readily available water.
Last year John and his wife Faith managed to accomplish varied projects for their people, which they have achieved on top of their paid employment.
The classrooms in the village had no windows just high up spaces in the wall where the wind in winter rushed in. The floors were mud and the barefoot children get bugs crawling under the skin of their feet. The new classrooms were funded as memorials to lost parents, have windows and a solid floor.
We can have no idea what a difference the borehole in the village will make and how much it will be appreciated. Our support is essential and fundamental to the project.
As part of our harvest giving, there will be collection for this project during the Harvest service on September 28th. Envelopes for donations will be available at the back of church and from the stewards prior to and during the service.

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HARVEST FESTIVAL
Sunday September 28 2008 Led by Rev Doreen Hare

Gifts of imperishable food (cans, packets etc.) will be given to
THE
FIRESIDE
DAY CENTRE
which provides daytime shelter and a meal for disadvantaged people
And
THE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM YOUNG HOMELESS PROJECT
For starter packs given to help in moving to new accommodation see list in Welcome Area.

Please bring these gifts at 10 a.m. on Sat Sept 27 or on Sunday morning.
Money in lieu could be given in an envelope labelled 'Harvest' via the collection plate.

Any fresh produce will be given to residents at Asbury Overseas House.

Flowers (brought early on Saturday morning) will be welcome and will afterwards be given to the elderly and housebound.

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JOIN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING

Come and join Jean & Alan Sterne For the World's biggest coffee morning and raise your cup to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Date: Friday 26th September 2008 From: 10.00 am to 12 noon At: 183 Sellywood Road (472 2028)

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HELP WANTED!
Monday 29th September from 9.30 a.m.
Help will be required to pack the Harvest goods for Fireside and the Young Homeless, and to tidy the church.
Please come and help -- more people = less time needed.
Thank you.
Margaret Heath

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Share a Meal
Saturday 25th OCTOBER Would you be prepared to join us as we EITHER cook a meal in our own homes for 2 (or more) extra people OR be a guest and pay for our meals? Pay what you can afford, possibly what you might normally pay for a meal out. All proceeds to the: Please sign up as either a HOST or a GUEST. The lists will be pinned up in September. Hosts and guests will be paired by arrangement or you may find your own guests. PLEASE PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY. (Valerie and David Edden's Class)

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PERSONALIA

We send our greetings to Norman Nixon who is not able to get to church these days. He celebrates his 90th birthday on September 23rd. Congratulations Norman!

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It is good to see Ken Mason among us again after his period of incapacity. Welcome back, Ken!

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We are sorry to report that Geoff Welsh is in hospital at the moment. We send him our good wishes, and pray for better news in the near future.

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Rambling

It is with deep regret that we have decided to retire from leading the Rambling Group. We took over from Jean Sterne in April 1998 (she had been in charge for over 17 years). We have organised and led the walks for 10 years, and have walked more that 420 miles and negotiated at least 150 stiles - this included 10 New Years Day and 5 Easter Monday rambles. We have enjoyed all the rambles with rain, snow and sun, and would like to thank everyone who came with us from Bidford, Bewdley, Kinver, Kingsbury, Kenilworth and Henley - and places in between. It was decided 4 years ago we would plan morning walks only, parking at a pub and return there for lunch, but this has become increasingly difficult to arrange.
We've had 10 new friends, not church members, who have joined us recently.
We are both getting older and find that we cannot walk as far - so, thank you very much for your company over the years. We hope someone will follow in our footsteps.
Phil and Ruth Mayhew

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Festival Arts

In celebration of the 40th year of our own Festival Arts Group at St. David's, we are appending here some items sent to us in respect of this year's performances.

Jack and Joye Beckett could not possibly have imagined that after forty years, Festival Arts, made up of most of the members of their family and many friends, would not only still be performing every year at St. David's Bishop's Palace,but thriving.
They commenced at that time with the Chester Cycle of mystery plays and over the years, graduated to Shakespeare, Children's plays and an Anthology performed on different nights over three weeks. From the very beginning, Joye has made the costumes for the plays. The Anthology' Out of the Blue' included not only all the cast (from the youngest to the oldest members) but all the 'backstage' staff as well, who do a valiant job keeping the whole show on the road. Songs, rousing choruses, orchestral pieces and poems all with a blue theme, and (gently risqué) blue items, provided a most delightful evening's entertainment. The amazing musical and acting talent of this mainly young group of people must be quite unique.
Congratulations! Here's to the next 40 years!
Margaret Lee
This from two of the members of the Beckett/Baines family

Festival Arts had another season of great plays and events in this, our 40th one. We did our Shakespeare in the Bishop's Palace - It was 'The Tempest' this year, a powerful and expressive play. In the only venues we could find we did 'The Land of Green Ginger', a play of our very own adapted from Noel Langley's lovely story.
Several things mitigated against us this year - we were unable to use our usual Secondary School venue for the children's play, and had to use Mathry Hall (where we live now) for the first two nights, and Solva Memorial Hall for the other five, both of which are several miles out from St. David's. Then there was the weather - we had rain in the Palace -and played in it partially or totally right up to the last night, when we had a balmy (muddy!) Summer evening.
So, while we played to full houses in the small Solva Hall, we only had smaller faithful audiences in the rain till the last night when people really did come in the Palace. The Sunday show in the dry vault played to packed houses and we all enjoyed that. Nearly 2,000 people, all told, came and were very appreciative. The young casts worked so well and bravely coped with weather, strange venues, so yes, we had a good season.
Our party weekend was a great success - lots of old hands came to see us and celebrate. We even had a children's party the following afternoon!
Thanks to everyone who came down this year - it was lovely to see you all.
Joye & Jenny

Despite the rain, the Community Hall in Solva was packed with adults and children waiting expectantly for the show to begin. The title on the programmes was "The Land of Green Ginger" by Noel Langley, adapted for the stage by Jennie and Colin Baines and Julie Beckett, performed by Festival Arts.
We had all heard of Aladdin, but did you know he had a son named after him? This part was played brilliantly by Matthew Skelding. As he seeks to win the hand of the beautiful Silver Bud by plucking a feather from the tail of the Phoenix Bird, we are treated to all the elements of an exciting story ; the scheming rascals played by Tom Baines and Sean Burke; the scary Giant; a magic carpet - and much more. The large cast, supported by the musicians, all performed superbly. Looks of rapt attention on the faces of the children in the audience backed that up.
How good it was to see certain members of the cast helping, so unobtrusively, the small physically disabled boy to delight in taking part in all the performances on stage. Great too, the way they all came off stage at the end to interact with the children of the audience, much to their delight.
Thank you to everyone for their hard work, making it a most enjoyable evening. If only the Land of Green Ginger could be shared with audiences in Selly Oak; but we recognise this is asking too much of such busy people!
Margaret Parsons

Our visit to Festival Arts culminated with a performance of the Shakespeare play and this year's choice was perhaps very apt for the weather conditions.
The day had been fairly good with only the occasional shower in amongst some welcome sunshine. Just as we hoped the evening would be fine, there was a very heavy storm with some thunder but happily by the time the performance started, the rain had receded. I'm sure the conditions had kept some of the audience away but about 80 people settled down to watch 'The Tempest'
It's not a play with which I am familiar but, as usual, the Festival Arts Company gave a first class performance. The main part 'Prospero' was superbly portrayed by Colin Baines and we marvelled at his powerful voice, his prodigious memory, and wonderful stage presence. I understand that he performed this role many years ago at St. David's and ever since has confined himself to production and, of course, music. He left us in no doubt about Prospero's full control of the island and its inhabitants. What a wonderful actor! With the exception of Prospero's daughter, Miranda the rest of the 'speaking parts' are all male but all gave excellent and totally convincing portrayals. It's perhaps invidious to single anyone out but I feel I must mention the mad slave, Caliban, -played by Tom Baines - a worthy follower of Colin and Jenny. The rest of the Cast, mainly girls, were Spirits - Air, Fire, Earth and Water but all gave very creditable performances. We had to admire their dedication as they knelt in wet and muddy parts of the set.
As always we were enthralled by the colourful costumes so ably produced by Joye Beckett - I hope they will be redeemable after the repeated soaking they got!
I was convinced that this would be my last opportunity to attend but Rachel Stephens managed to travel by train and 'bus so there's hope for the future. What a wonderful job is done by the Beckett/Baines/Clixby family in enabling so many young people to have such a wonderful experience.
Joan Stoker

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This year's Fair will be on Saturday 8th November. Tom Hill will be grateful to receive any spare bowls (plastic or ceramic) for use on the Hyacinth stall at the Fair. Duncan Miller will also be pleased to receive any second-hand books for the Fair. Collection of any quantities can be arranged.

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Open in the city centre
Tuesday to Friday 10.30 - 14.30
Trading Fairly is an effective way of Seriously improving the lives of people in Developing countries.
We are in urgent need of volunteers To sell our wide range of Traidcraft Foods, crafts, cards and giftwrap
Can you spare a day per week or a Day Per fortnight, when our Refurbished shop reopens in September?
We'd love to hear from you
Contact us at: 0121 643 6151
fair-trade@carrslane.co.uk
Find us at: Carrs Lane Church Centre alongside M & S in the city centre