Rivertown United Reformed Church

At the end of August our Minister Rev Greg Thompson left Rivertown and moved to the North East and we wish him well for the future. Rivertown were richly blessed during Greg's ministry.

We now start an uncertain period of time without a Minister and look forward to sharing our thoughts and time with Rev Peter Nunn who will act as our Interim Moderator. This is the first step on the process we will now follow to determine our future ministry.

Our fellowship actively support the HHI charity particularly by using the ambulance collection box to save 20p pieces to support their ambulance service in Africa. This time of year we have another way of supporting the charity - HHI have published an alternative gifts catalog. This contains special gifts for people in need at prices betwen just a few pounds to hundreds of pounds. You pick a gift and send the money to HHI; they arrange for the gift to be sent to the appropriate place and send you a nice card to present to a friend or relative. That way you are getting a gift for someone but the benefactor is somebody more in need.

Gifts include medical supplies, fruit trees, bicycles, animals and even water wells and whole villages.

If you are interested look out for the catlogues in the church porch or of course visit their website via our links page.

The cross is the resurrection of the dead
The cross is the way of the lost
The cross is the staff of the lame
The cross is the guide to the blind
The cross is the strength of the weak
The cross is the doctor of the sick
The cross is the hope of the hopeless
The cross is the freedom of the slaves
The cross is the source of those who seek water
The cross is the cloth of the naked.

Part of a 10th century African Hymn.

I wandered slowly down the road
That winds its way o’er vale and hill,
When all at once I saw a load
Of litter, it made me feel quite ill.
Beside the path, beneath the trees,
Clattering and blowing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
Were wrappers from Mars and Milky Way,
Bottles and coke tins in a line;
Along the Prom, toward the bay.
Thousands I saw at a glance
Tossing about in a litter dance.

The waves beside them danced
But they disgraced the waves untidily,
A poet could not be entranced
In such dreadful company.
I gazed around and then I thought,
What hurt this sight to me had brought.

So oft when on my bed I lie,
That sight will in my mind intrude,
It penetrates my inward eye,
Destroys my peace and solitude,

A corner has been set aside in the church to provide a safe area for our little ones to be during morning service, and it is now up and running. The area is softly furnished and child safe with books and toys.

We thank Lynda Evans for making this possible.

Next to my patio window I have placed a pot with an azalea in it and over time the top of the soil has filled with moss, that, for ages, I have intended to dig out. I am so pleased that I left it because it has been a source of joy for me. A little wren, one of those shy secretive tiny birds, has been entertaining me for 3 days now pulling and tugging at the moss to line his nest. I did loosen some for him because it seemed such a struggle for him to get even the smallest piece out, but he knew just what he needed and ignored my bits, What do I know about building nests anyway?

Wrens are fascinating birds, the male builds the nests, usually more than one, and then takes the female on a tour of inspection and she picks her favourite. I always feel that it is such a waste of effort for the nest that gets rejected.

Also nesting in the garden we have blackbird, ring collared dove, sparrow and robin, with the crows nesting in an oak tree just beyond the fence.

The wonder of Gods

The sales table at the coffee morning is in urgent need of items of bric a brac. We are very sorry but we are unable to take any electrical items but anything else will be most gratefully accepted. We are always willing to take books and can supply you with Fairtrade products. If there is anything else you would like to see on Thursday morning please let one of the helpers know.

Elders...

Please note that elders meetings will now take place on the 4th Monday of the month at 7.30 p.m.

Pilots are going to record the birds they see in the garden for one week beginning Sunday May 1st. There will be sheets in the porch if you would like to join in. Please put your name on the sheet and give it to one of the Pilot leaders- Val, Lynda, Cath, Carol, Ceri, Marilyn or Rella.

Praise the Lord!
Praise Him for all animals, tame and wild, the fish of the sea and the birds of the air.
Praise the Lord!

Pilots are planting sunflower seeds. Last year Adam Brown, Joe Brown and Emily Hodson were very successful and grew tall sunflowers. They will receive certificates on open evening. Adam and Joe brought some of their seeds so that we can hopefully grow tall sunflowers. If you would like to join in please let us know, in the Autumn, how tall they grow. Please phone 831966 if you would like some seeds.

Praise the Lord!
Praise Him for hills and mountains, forests, fruit trees and flowers.
Praise the Lord!