Poster detai;s for 2017

Welcome to the C.W.F. Autumn Newsletter and booking details for the 2017 90^th Birthday Celebrations at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire, so come along and celebrate with us.  We will enjoy the moment, reminisce and also look forward to the future in God’s Grace.  We are praying for a bumper harvest of attendees so spread the word and bring your friends. 

The recent Olympics reminded us of the powerful boost we got at our 2016 convention with the message about us being carriers of the flame of God, given by our speaker Rev Kelly Wellman.  So we know we are headed for something great in our speaker for our   2017, 90^th Anniversary.   

She is Rev Kate Bottley sometimes known as ‘the vicar on Gogglebox’.  Many of you will certainly know of this very talented minister from Nottinghamshire.   This year we have some lovely opportunities for all attendees to use our diverse talents as you will see from the programme outlined later.

The details are as follows:

Date: Friday 24^th –Sunday 26^th February 2017

The Key Speaker:  will be the Rev. Kate Bottley (as seen on Channel 4 TV’s  Gogglebox)

Friday Evening:  Welcome

Saturday Workshops:

Prayer Walk                Music     Writing            Exercise activity with relaxation

Collage Making of “The Church where I worship” (Please bring along a photo of your church)

Banner making:  Could you prepare something in advance and bring it with you to be sewn into our banner?  We anticipate having our logo on it, a cross too, the rest is up to you.  

Saturday Evening concert:  Led by our resident poet Joy Rice.

Nominations: We have a vacancy coming up on the committee

Special events

Great Swanwick Bake Off:

We know there are great bakers among us so we would like someone to make us a special cake for our anniversary.  We have a simple design in mind so if you can help, contact us to discuss it and get further details.  Please email Sue Simpkin: s.simpkin@btinternet.com  as soon as possible, it would be very much appreciated.

Hymn:

We want to sing a new song.  Back in the 1960s  Bertha Duncan from Coplaw St Church in Glasgow wrote a hymn for the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and we would like to do it again.  So this is challenge:

Could you either write new words to a known hymn tune, or write a hymn, and we have a composer who will write a tune.  Please send  Sara your  hymn by December.   We are planning a souvenir publication and if the new hymn author will waive copyright it will be published in that.    Good luck.

Present Stall:

Now for a gift:   There will be no bookstall this year but instead we will have a present stall!  Please bring a wrapped gift (it need not be expensive, something around £1), to put on the stall, (it will be like a bring and buy).  Ideas for gifts: something handmade, crafts, toiletries, something that you’d like to receive yourself.  Money raised will go into the C.W.F. funds. 

Your Memories on a Postcard:

Even as we celebrate and look forward to the future, we will certainly remember times past.  We would love you to bring your memorabilia of pictures and photos/or jot down your memories of Swanwick , on a postcard please. 

We will have our daily quite time and meditation as usual, alongside faith, fellowship; friendship and fun, so come along and join in our 90^th Birthday Celebrations.   

P.S. Replies to items on the evaluation slips: 

There is no individual church name on our badges because this is an easy way of opening a conversation.                  

                                                                                                                                    Charitable status has been considered in the past, but is not suitable for CWF.

Our donation to the Ifacara Bread Project bought 1,657 loaves of bread for children aged 3 to 7.

And now to the all-important cost of the weekend: The Committee have decided the cost will be £142.00 for an en-suite room and £117.00 for rooms in the main building.

Day Visitors are more than welcome: The cost, including morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will remain at £40.00

We accept cheques but, if you pay by this method, please make sure you have enough money in your bank for several weeks to give the cheque time to clear.

Subsidy Fund: We have a subsidy fund which is there to help any member who might be deterred from coming by the cost of travel and/or the weekend.  If you would like to apply to the fund please e-mail the booking secretary in confidence.

Have a good rest of the year.  We shall all be together very soon and February is not that far away when you think about it.  If you have any further questions please e-mail Sara Millard Booking Secretary cello67@hotmail.com 

or Yvonne Attry Programme Secretary yvonne.att3@talk21.com
 

Hope to hear from you soon     

Yours in Christian Fellowship                                     
 The C.W.F.Committee

Second Helpings

Shop early for Christmas!

Ideal small gift or stocking filler

Second Helpings by Joy Rice – 111 poems +2 bonus poems!

To purchase go via www.joyrice.co.uk

also available to order from  the Fast-Print Publishing website

http://www.fast-print.net/bookshop/1945/ second-helpings

or if you live near to Nottingham -I have copies available 

Come and have a cuppa!

Autumn Newsletter

Welcome to the C.W.F. Autumn Newsletter and booking details for the 2017 90^th Birthday Celebrations at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire, so come along and celebrate with us.  We will enjoy the moment, reminisce and also look forward to the future in God’s Grace.  We are praying for a bumper harvest of attendees so spread the word and bring your friends. 

The recent Olympics reminded us of the powerful boost we got at our 2016 convention with the message about us being carriers of the flame of God, given by our speaker Rev Kelly Wellman.  So we know we are headed for something great in our speaker for our   2017, 90^th Anniversary.   

She is Rev Kate Bottley sometimes known as ‘the vicar on Gogglebox’.  Many of you will certainly know of this very talented minister from Nottinghamshire.   This year we have some lovely opportunities for all attendees to use our diverse talents as you will see from the programme outlined later.

The details are as follows:

Date: Friday 24^th –Sunday 26^th February 2017

The Key Speaker:  will be the Rev. Kate Bottley (as seen on Channel 4 TV’s  Gogglebox)

Friday Evening:  Welcome

Saturday Workshops:

Prayer Walk                Music     Writing            Exercise activity with relaxation

Collage Making of “The Church where I worship” (Please bring along a photo of your church)

Banner making:  Could you prepare something in advance and bring it with you to be sewn into our banner?  We anticipate having our logo on it, a cross too, the rest is up to you.  

Saturday Evening concert:  Led by our resident poet Joy Rice.

Nominations: We have a vacancy coming up on the committee

Special events

Great Swanwick Bake Off:

We know there are great bakers among us so we would like someone to make us a special cake for our anniversary.  We have a simple design in mind so if you can help, contact us to discuss it and get further details.  Please email Sue Simpkin: s.simpkin@btinternet.com  as soon as possible, it would be very much appreciated.

Hymn:

We want to sing a new song.  Back in the 1960s  Bertha Duncan from Coplaw St Church in Glasgow wrote a hymn for the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and we would like to do it again.  So this is challenge:

Could you either write new words to a known hymn tune, or write a hymn, and we have a composer who will write a tune.  Please send  Sara your  hymn by December.   We are planning a souvenir publication and if the new hymn author will waive copyright it will be published in that.    Good luck.

Present Stall:

Now for a gift:   There will be no bookstall this year but instead we will have a present stall!  Please bring a wrapped gift (it need not be expensive, something around £1), to put on the stall, (it will be like a bring and buy).  Ideas for gifts: something handmade, crafts, toiletries, something that you’d like to receive yourself.  Money raised will go into the C.W.F. funds. 

Your Memories on a Postcard:

Even as we celebrate and look forward to the future, we will certainly remember times past.  We would love you to bring your memorabilia of pictures and photos/or jot down your memories of Swanwick , on a postcard please. 

We will have our daily quite time and meditation as usual, alongside faith, fellowship; friendship and fun, so come along and join in our 90^th Birthday Celebrations.   

P.S. Replies to items on the evaluation slips: 

There is no individual church name on our badges because this is an easy way of opening a conversation.                                                                                                                                                      Charitable status has been considered in the past, but is not suitable for CWF.

Our donation to the Ifacara Bread Project bought 1,657 loaves of bread for children aged 3 to 7.

And now to the all-important cost of the weekend: The Committee have decided the cost will be £142.00 for an en-suite room and £117.00 for rooms in the main building.

Day Visitors are more than welcome: The cost, including morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will remain at £40.00

We accept cheques but, if you pay by this method, please make sure you have enough money in your bank for several weeks to give the cheque time to clear.

Subsidy Fund: We have a subsidy fund which is there to help any member who might be deterred from coming by the cost of travel and/or the weekend.  If you would like to apply to the fund please e-mail the booking secretary in confidence.

Have a good rest of the year.  We shall all be together very soon and February is not that far away when you think about it.  If you have any further questions please e-mail Sara Millard Booking Secretary cello67@hotmail.com 

or Yvonne Attry Programme Secretary yvonne.att3@talk21.com

Hope to hear from you soon    

Yours in Christian Fellowship                                      The C.W.F.Committee

Poems inspired by carrying the flame

Inspired by John 15 v16

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Chosen to carry the flame

A dismal life unsure, still and frozen,
until the flame came and I was chosen.

I did not seek or chose to embrace the light,
the flame sought me out and set my soul alight.

Sparks flickered, I was chosen and appointed.
Burning brighter, mightier, by God's flame anointed.

Kindling, glowing, like a candle centrally placed,
Love lighting many darkness’s faced.

Illumination so purposefully planted,
an inferno of grace, God given and granted.

I'll carry this flame, to shine throughout our nation.
Sharing the love and light of God. Let it be a conflagration!

 Joy Rice

 Topsy The Tortoise

What am I thinking as I walk along slowly?

What am I thinking as I amble along?

Are they just jumbled thoughts as the rainspots fall on my head?

What is my destination. Or am I just wandering?

How far have I travelled since I began my journey?

I am so majestic as I slowly make my way along this narrow path.

I must be careful though that I don't meander too far left or right. I might fall off.

My shell is beautifully patterned in a wonderful mosaic.

I am beautifully crafted in my own way.

God made me this way.  I wonder why he did.

As the rain begins to fall heavier now, maybe this is the time to retreat for a while.  Pause, take stock, plan my next adventure before it is too late.

But wait the rain is stopping. The sun is coming out.

It is getting warmer, and I can feel the warmth through my shell.  I like the sun.  I poke my head out once more.

Shake it a bit and then proceed on my adventure to the lettuce patch.

It is wet and I nibble a piece.  It is very refreshing and revives me.

What a relief I was feeling a little lethargic and now I have restored my energy levels.

Now I wander back and retreat into my shell for a sleep.  How wonderful!!!!

Goodnight.

                                                                  Kathryn Taylor

Flames

There is a smell. There is a noise.

A screaming alarm, we move, no poise.

Where’s the fire we ask with fear.

It’s getting near, so very near.

This earthly fire which knows no bounds.

Consumes and hurts as it moves around.

It leaves so little in its wake.

Our dreams, our hopes, our loving keepsakes.

Unlike the fire God gives us all.

To nurture, feed and most of all, to pass this spark to those who need.

This fire of love, this tiny seed.

Don’t stand and stare, the spark with fade.

Move it on to those He made.

His glow in darkness makes us see.

We can , with love, help those we meet.

So can we carry , by God’s grace,

This flame into another place.

This kindling’s damp and stale – but wait,

God’s spark with love and grace is great.

       Ida Bede

 CARRYING THE FLAME.

God's love is a FLAME.

Like a candle, that cannot be extinguished,

even if you try to,

It re-ignites and glows again.

CARRYING implies moving on,

Taking something somewhere,

Running with those God has surrounded us with.

When we are chosen to carry the flame,

we have to accept that we are carriers,

We are infectious, we risk starting an epidemic!

Hallelujah!

 Inger Collier,

Creative writing group CWF 2016,inspired by Kelly  Wellman's talk on

Carrying the Flame.

My inspiration came from the card with the Biblical text from Matthew Ch.3 v 11.  ‘He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’.  I wrote it ‘as a follower of John’:

Someone is coming, someone with power?

Who is this person – when will be the hour?

I know that I need to repent and be saved

to walk in a way that is level and paved.

I’ve followed John, heard his words – understood

how to live wisely, how to be good.

Someone is coming, do I need to stay?

I know about life – but do I know the way?

Perhaps this is my moment, I’m beginning to tire

‘baptize with the Spirit and baptize with fire’?

New words to me but I like what I’ve heard

I long to be challenged, I long to be stirred.

Someone is coming, my heart’s beating fast

will he be transforming, will my life change at last?

Jesus before me, I feel all aglow

I’ll follow you Jesus wherever you go,

you’ve fired my journey of faith with a smile

I’m burning, I’m bright, I’ll blaze every mile.

Someone has come – thank God.

Margaret Withers

Swanwick 2016 -  Kelly carries the Flame

Kelly was like Jonah

Trying to resist The Lord!

The Lord, He did not phone her

But He called and called and called!

He wanted a new prophet,

Not old and male and grey,

But young. female and "with it"

To preach The Word today.

She was chosen to go forward

Carrying the torch.

The flame that keeps on burning

Will strengthen but never scorch.

The flame of love sustains us

As back to homes we go,

Knowing that through Jesus

All our lives will surely flow.

Annette Scholes