STAR NEWS
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S T A M F O R D U N I T E D R E F O R M E D C H U R C H S T A R L A N E P E 9 1 P H |
A P R I L
A final missive from Peter:
Our new address is:
142 Taylor’s Avenue, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 0LN
My personal email address is petertd2025@btinternet.com
No landline but the mobile is 07972 790483
Looking at the diary I have just two church commitments, preaching at Trinity URC Sheffield on 1st June and 9th November. We have holiday booked and family time arranged. With my Christmas gifts of binoculars and bucket and spade, I have everything I need for promenade walks and I will be getting my Grimsby Town FC season ticket for 2025/6 as soon as they go on sale. The U3A program is extensive and I think I will take up ten-pin bowling again. Beyond that, who knows, other than to take the opportunity to rest in the Lord and be guided.
What has been the role of full time paid ordained ministry and could it not have been done by anyone with a heart for Jesus. For nearly 25 years, I have received a stipend - a payment to enable clergy to exercise their ministry without the need to take another job. I have friends who do the job without payment and others who do the exact same tasks without being ordained (often referred to as lay people). I studied for 4 years in order to gain a ‘leavers certificate’ that warranted ordination and voluntarily a further 5 years to gain additional academic qualifications. I never felt called into the church but always felt that I could serve a wider community as a theological practitioner. Working in an array of chaplaincies has been rewarding and helped me to feel purpose. It has been a privilege to share deep emotional and spiritual time with people and I have rejoiced with those whose faith has strengthened.
Where to now? More of the same but in a different context and without payment. Thanks to prudent financial planning I am able to serve without recompense so I shall be about God’s work instead of the Church’s work. The subtlety will not be lost on any reader that has been shackled by rules, regulations and the expectations of others. I am looking forward to finding where God is at work and joining the Lord there.
Thanks to the many people who have supported, encouraged and loved me during the past six years and I look forward to seeing you for fish and chips at Papa’s on the pier.
Blessings, Peter
April Services
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Date |
Minister |
Organist |
Duty Elder |
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6th April |
Revd. Ray Hinch and Deacon Ruth Hinch |
Ann Llowarch |
Anne |
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13th April |
Yvette Munoz Diaz, Stamford Street Pastors |
Ann Llowarch |
Frank |
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17th April |
Revd. Clare Davison (inc. Communion) 6.30pm Maundy Thursday (held at St. Andrews, P’boro) |
n/a |
n/a |
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18th April |
Revd. Clare Davison 10.30am Good Friday (held at St. Andrews, P’boro) |
n/a |
n/a |
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20th April |
Revd. Clare Davison – Communion Easter Sunday |
Caragh Johnson |
Anne and Tony |
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27th April |
Matthew Henderson, Leprosy Mission |
Caragh Johnson |
Pam |
All services commence at 10.30am unless otherwise stated.
Notes to Services
Please note the above table of services for this month carefully, as some times and places are different from ‘usual’.
Advanced notice - on Sunday 18th May there will be a Welcome Service for Revd. Clare Davison at 3.30pm, all are welcome.
Advanced notice – Evergreen are inviting Friends of Evergreen to join them;
We would love to see any former volunteers, staff, members, family of members and supporters of Evergreen. Sunday June 1st 3pm at All Saints Church Stamford with refreshments served afterwards in the Unity Centre. We do hope you can join us in celebrating God’s faithfulness to this work for the last 20 years.
(I’ll inc. a flyer for the event next month)
Flower Rota
6th April Tony Blow
13th April Liz Richardson
20th April Anne Thompson
27th April Jane Kew
Dear Friends,
It is with joy that I come to be your new Minister, as part of the South Lincolnshire Resource Area. Of course, it is also tinged with the loss of Rev’d Peter, who I know you’ll always remember fondly. With living in P
eterborough and having more churches, I won’t be around Stamford so often, but I hope to be around as much as possible and am always at the end of an email and have both a landline and mobile phones – details at the bottom of this letter.
I’ve included my photo on this letter, which was taken shortly after moving to the manse in August 2022, just as a heads up for those who haven’t met me yet. In this issue, I write to introduce myself.
I live in the manse of St Andrew’s URC in Peterborough. So far it seems to be about a 20min drive away, plus parking and walking. So not a million miles. My husband, Brian, is a Baptist Minister, retiring at the end of May, and we have 3 grown up children, two sons and a daughter in-between, all living in other cities in the UK.
I’m originally from Brighton, moving to Manchester for University, where I studied Psychology and lived in at the URC training college. I’ve moved around since – Coventry as a ‘Time for God’ volunteer, back home as a church volunteer, to Streatham Hill until Brian and I married, then to South Croydon until he finished his training for ministry. In ministry from his first pastorate, we’ve lived in Nottingham, Ilford in east London/Essex, Huddersfield, Leeds, and now Peterborough.
I served as a lay assistant pastor with Brian in Ilford, until I needed time to finish ordination training, then after ordination in the Forest Group of Churches in the south Epping area. In Huddersfield for Brian’s ministry move, I served as a transitional Minister in Bradford, then Halifax. I was then called to Leeds, to serve half-time in Headingley and half-time as Ministry & Mission Enabler with the Leeds URCs. I’ve enjoyed all those places, and it’s been a privilege to get to know people and serve in a variety of different ways.
Now in the South Lincolnshire Resource Area (see elsewhere for what that is about), I find it another great place to be. The churches are and have been all different, and I look forward to getting to know you all and seeing how the Lord calls us to work together.
I wish you all the joy of Easter, and the joy of knowing the resurrected Christ all year through!
Happy Easter! Clare and family
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Phone numbers: 01733 260164 and 07476 958269
Resource Area News
What is the South Lincolnshire Resource Area?
In our Synod over the last few years, Resource Areas have gradually been formed with a Minister called to an Area. Each Area has a Resource Church, which the Minister serves 50% time, and the other 50% of time is over the rest of the churches in the Area, dividing their time as to individual church need. So it may be that one church has a specific project to give time to over a few months, and then another church will take more of their time, and so on. It is especially also for the Minister to work with the Elders of the churches.
The Resource Church helps the other churches, as and when they can, but the model also suggests all the churches can offer help to one another and work together. Financially, the Resource Church pays 50% of manse and the Minister’s expenses, the other 50% shared equally among the other churches.
That works out too in terms of Sundays, divided equally over the year to 50% of the Sundays at St Andrew’s and the other 50% shared between the other churches.
In our South Lincolnshire Resource Area, St Andrew’s URC in Netherton, Peterborough, is the Resource Church, with 50% of my time. When I came to this Area, I had 3 other churches: Eastgate in Bourne, Spalding and Wisbech. Sadly, Wisbech closed quite quickly, in April 2023, and a good deal of my time was then spent on helping Eastgate with the passing of their Treasurer, to their closure in March 2024 for lack of money. For a good few months, there was a lot to do in sorting the utility bills and helping to clear the building. I have since been able to spend more time with the Elders and congregation at Spalding, and they have plans to reach out locally.
Discussions are also taking place with two Methodist/ URC churches in Peterborough, whose Methodist Minister is moving, to potentially come under our Resource Area from later in the year.
In terms of the Resource Church resourcing, there is the financial resource of paying half the manse and Minister’s expenses. It has been hard with the distance between the churches, but a number of folk have been able to offer some practical help, and St Andrew’s treasurer pays my expenses and claims the accepted percentages for those and the manse expenses from the other churches.
Resource Areas are encouraged to have an Area meeting of reps, which we have of 2 reps from each church 3 times a year, plus our Pastoral Consultant and an Area network person for Mission, Training & Development. In those meetings, we share what our churches are doing, give special dates we’d like the Minister to lead worship, pool ideas and share anything we think might be of help to each other and special events to invite each other to. We also think about training needs so as to share in those where possible.
In addition, we have an Area Service once a year, rotating around the churches, ending with a picnic lunch (see under Area Worship). And a weekly prayer meeting online – see below.
Resource Area Prayer: every Thursday, 7pm
This has been happening every week since the January 2023. It focuses on the mission of our churches, so any events we have, for regular contact with the community and for any mission of other churches or Christian outreach in our towns and city. The same link is used every week, and is sent around weekly, which will be sent to the Elders to send out. Occasionally, when I am away, a different link is sent.
It only lasts for just over half an hour. We have a chance to chat, to share what our churches are doing, and we then spend about 15minutes focused in prayer on those things. Most of those who come pray out loud, but don’t let that put you off coming, as some pray silently and others bring a prayer someone else has written.
I always include a bit in the magazine for those who can’t join us on Zoom, so we can all pray generally for the churches’ mission, as follows:
This month, please pray for our church, as we get used to being part of our Resource Area, for new ways of working, and for their building project; and pray for all holy week and Easter preparations in all our churches.
In our Resource Area churches, please pray:
~ for St Andrew’s, for the Reception children’s visit at the beginning of the month from nearby Thorpe School
~ for Spalding, for Messy Church on 13th April, for all the advertising and preparations
~ for a meeting on 16th April to discuss how Westgate New Church and Queen Street Whittlesey, both Methodist/URC Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs), could come into our Resource Area.
Area Worship, for your diary:
Sunday 18th May, 3.30pm, a service of Welcome to Stamford URC to our Resource Area and Induction of Clare as Minister, followed by refreshments, at Stamford URC.
Sunday 8th June, 11am, Resource Area service at St Andrew’s URC. Bring your own packed lunch, for a picnic outside if it’s nice weather, or in the Hall. After this, Clare will have a short time to speak about the Kenya part of her sabbatical, before a fundraising event later in the month.
Save the date: Kenya Fundraising event
A social event for our Resource Area to get together as well as raise funds.
Saturday 21st June, times to be arranged.
Probable Treasure Hunt around our churches, with food, to raise funds for the project Clare is visiting in Kenya.
More details to follow next month.
Lent Lunches
The last two of these during Lent are on Fridays 4th and 11th April. This year they will be held in St. Mary and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church Hall on Broad Street. All are welcome.
Friday Coffee Morning – departures…and a new face
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde – To lose one helper may be regarded as misfortune, to lose two seems like carelessness… but to lose three is downright negligence!
Well, as you know Pam and Ishobel retired at the end of February after being treated to departing gifts and best wishes:
But they’ve already popped back in to see friends on a Friday, long may that continue!
And as you know Peter retired as our Minister at the end of March (see over).
But we are delighted to welcome our new Minister Revd. Clare Davison to the team – she will be joining us at least once a month. Clare introduced herself on 21st March and she’ll be back on 11th April. So Friday Morning Coffee strides on under new leadership and with refreshed and able helpers to continue our outreach and to serve the Stamford (and beyond) community.
Peter’s retirement service and lunch.
There was a wonderful congregation in church for Peter’s last service, featuring lovely contributions from church friends from his years of service, Stamford British Legion, Town Council and South Kesteven DC.
There was an even larger gathering in the Church Hall afterwards, including people from Churches Together Stamford, Friday Coffee Morning, Christ Church Grantham and others – it was lovely to see the hall filled with people enjoying the occasion:
For those who couldn’t make it in person to give him a send-off, we were able to give Peter & Dawn the following gifts, thanks to the generous donations of many people:
Stamford keyring (to remind them of us and to take their keys out with them!😉).
Grimsby Town scarf and gift card for the next season ticket.
Eat Out gift card inc. Miller & Carter – I’m pleased to report this has already been used!
Gift Card for the big A place (no further advertising required!) – for books, or towards a sunlounger.
Bottles of wine.
A micro-lawnmower to match his enthusiasm for gardening!
Personalised card inc. images of Star Lane, signed by as many people as possible.
Thad also gave Peter a wonderful hand-painted portrait of Stamford Meadows.
Thank you to all those who helped serve and tidy up the hall afterwards, it was a great team effort. Special thanks to Anne and Lisa for all your hard work organising the arrangements and card.
Lisa and I took up peter’s offer and popped round to The Manse late on Sunday for a well-needed glass of wine and beer (or two) to round off a memorable day.
We wish Peter and Dawn along and happy retirement, keep in touch.
Life Skills Course sponsored by CAP (Christians Against Poverty)
Sue recently received info. about the following course from Churches Together:
Life can be challenging when living on a low income and with gas, electricity, water, council tax and food all getting increasingly expensive it isn’t getting any easier. Low income affects what we can or can’t afford, what we eat, our relationships, our health and wellbeing and much more. On the Life Skills course you’ll learn how to manage your money, eat healthily, manage energy bills, and improve your relationships with others.
The course is free and delivered over eight sessions on Wednesday mornings. Members are encouraged to contribute and talk about their own experiences. The environment is designed to be non-threatening with an appropriate degree of confidentiality.
Each session ends with a cooked lunch.
The next course starts at 11am on Wednesday 7th May at Georges Place, Cheyne Lane, Stamford PE9 2AX. All who complete the course will receive a certificate and an Amazon Voucher.
If you or if someone you know would be interested in joining, please contact Ian Collis on 07771566533 or email iancollis@caplifeskills.org
Funfair Models Display on Saturday 5th April in the Church Hall
I can recommend this fantastic display of working models to everyone. We hire the Church Hall out for the day and it’s usually packed with people as well as all the models. You really should make a point of going - there’s nothing else quite like it!
As it’s Easter this month, I thought I’d repeat the recipe for Simnel Cake (again) in time for you to make your own if you want to this year:
Recipe for Simnel Cake
Ingredients (for an 8” cake, serves ~12):
250g mixed dried fruit (a mixture of sultanas, currants, raisins and candied mixed peel)
1 orange, zested and juiced
500g pack marzipan
250g pack butter, softened
200g light brown soft sugar
4 eggs, plus 1 beaten to glaze
175g plain flour
100g ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1 lemon, zested
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g glacé cherries, halved
3 tbsp apricot jam
Method:
STEP 1 Put the mixed dried fruit in a bowl with the orange juice and zest and 2 tbsp water. Cover and microwave for 2 mins, then leave to cool completely. Alternatively, heat gently in a pan, stirring now and then until the liquid has been absorbed and leave to cool.
STEP 2 Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Roll out a third of the marzipan and use the base of a deep 20cm cake tin as a template to cut out a circle. Wrap any offcuts and the remaining two-thirds of marzipan and set aside for later. Butter and line the cake tin with a double layer of parchment. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs, flour, almonds, baking powder, lemon zest, mixed spice and vanilla (all in one go) and mix until well combined. Mix in the cooled soaked dried fruit and fold in the cherries.
STEP 3 Scrape half the cake mixture into the tin. Top with the disc of marzipan, then the remaining cake mixture, and level the top with a spatula. Bake for 2 hrs. Check it’s cooked by inserting a skewer to the centre of the cake, if any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for another 10 mins, then check again. Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
STEP 4 Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan and use the base of the cake as a template to cut out another disc. Place it on top of the cake and crimp the edges, if you like. Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 equal-sized balls for the apostles. Brush the marzipan with beaten egg and arrange the apostles in a circle on top around the outside, and brush them with a little egg too. Put under a hot grill for a minute or two until just starting to caramelise – be very careful as the marzipan will burn easily. Leave to cool and wrap a ribbon around the cake, if you like. It will keep for up to a week in a sealed tin.
And finally…Sadly, one of Peter’s last duties was to announce the death of our friend Sheila Thompson. Sheila was a long-time member of our church and had been a member of the Friday Morning Coffee team for many years. We hold her family in our prayers.
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MINISTER |
COULD ANY ITEMS FOR THE MAY EDITION PLEASE REACH GLYNN BY APRIL 27TH AT: |
HALL LETTINGS |
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REVD. CLARE DAVISON |
MRS. SUE SAMUELS |
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revclare.urc2004@gmail.com |
urcstarnews@gmail.com |
sues25@outlook.com |
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01733 260164 07476 958269 |
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07428 820671 |
WE HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE, WELL AND HAPPY