Family News
Easter - Not all Eggs and Bunnies
Spirit comes to Totley
Who Knows?
Music for a Spring Evening

In the car park the youngsters rushed around sponging down the cars, then trying to get hold of the few hose pipes available to rinse the cars before the foam dried. Large amounts of water found their way on to the children -~ not all by accident. I saw two children being dried off by their Mum and put into their car to keep them warm. Amongst all the apparent chaos the cars got cleaned and everyone had a good time. Wise motorists left their cars and sought the sanctuary of the church where they could have refreshments whilst they waited in the dry.

 Last November Peter and his wife, Phyl, visited a project in the Valley of a Thousand Hills near Durban. They met the people running an AIDS project which was run by local people, and had the support of the community and the local chief. Although over 25% of the population have HIV/AIDS they are having an impact on the problem. They have an education programme, they support orphans and widows, they encourage skills training and production, they link with poverty relief, they have a hospice and have a community visiting programme. They have been using medication developed by an Italian which is much cheaper than standard drugs and which has been effective in bringing some people back from near death to being active again in the community.

Our first aim is to raise at least £1,500 towards materials to make nappies on a machine they have just obtained. (People in the final stages of AIDS need nappies).

A charitable trust has been set up under the title ‘Friends of Ikhaya Lobomi’ - colloquially known as FOIL AIDS. They will be keeping in touch with work in South Africa, reporting back on what is happening and raising funds. Donations can be made through the church (if you put cash in an envelope labelled FOIL AIDS). Please make out any cheques to FOIL AIDS. Peter Holmes (2351897) can give you details of standing orders and Gift Aid.

Not my drama teacher’s assessment of my acting ability but a Hollywood honcho’s dismissal of the genius that was Fred Astaire. Despite the quote being over 70 years old it could easily belong to 2005 and the world’s readiness to casually cast people aside.

 “Too old, too young, not enough experience, not qualified, not …. material” (fill blank as appropriate). At the heart of the Christian faith is a God who refuses to write anyone off - who sees in a person what they can do, not what they cannot. You can make mistakes but you can still recover. You can wander but still find your way back. It’s all captured in the story of the Prodigal Son and a father who would not give up on his son. The church has been described as many things. My prayer is that it would be an oasis for any feeling tired of rejection. I believe at Totley Rise Methodist that is the experience for visitors and long­standing members alike. If you haven’t found this for yourself then give us a try. And if you already have, then do all you can to ensure it long may continue’

 The activities take over the entire building. The main hall is given over to bikes and trikes for the older children whilst babies and toddlers have their own space - and the children can take part in the weekly craft activities such as play-dough and painting sessions. In the run up to Easter, the children made Easter cards.

 Ann Oles, Pushchair Club leader, says: “The club is a place for mums, dads, grandparents and carers to come and chat whilst the children play, in a Christian atmosphere.”

 Parents get the essential cup of tea and a biscuit, and sessions close with a group sing-song. One grandma says: “The Pushchair Club team put out toys for the children to play with, and they make sure we enjoy a cuppa. My little grandson looks forward to his chocolate fingers all week!”

Welcome also into the Church family another Samuel Jude, who is the son of Dan and Sarah Raw, who was dedicated at TRM Church on Sunday 20 March.

Congratulations to Gary and Alison Barnfield who were married at TRM on 5 February 2005.

Easter is about the death and returning to life of Jesus. On Good Friday we focused on the cross. There was drama about the way Peter betrayed Jesus, readings about the original events and items put on the cross as reminders. The theme was Broken beyond Repair? The good news of Easter is that not only was Jesus not broken beyond repair — he came back to life again — but neither are we. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection we can also be repaired.

Who Knows?

What was the significance of the number 1809 last year? That was just one of the tantalizingly tricky questions in March’s Quiz Night, held at Totley Rise Methodist Church, which raised £85 for the FOIL AIDS charity.

 Contested by around 40 people in 5 teams, the quiz was open to the local community as well as the church family. Several church members brought friends and relatives and the Ladies’ Circle fielded an able team supported by a pair of matching terriers!

 Quizmaster Chris Kirk had concocted 8 rounds of varied questions on themes such as ‘Places’, ‘Musicals’ and ‘Sport’ and had managed to restrain himself to only 2 questions about Leicester City FC! Variety was provided by video clips, and pictures.

 A delicious selection of desserts, organized by Pat Kirk, provided an enjoyable interlude for socialising. After a close fought contest, the quiz was eventually won by a team containing previous winners, the Thomas family. Afterwards Barry Thomas modestly joked ‘Once again we won by using the ploy of having the largest team’.

Music for a Spring Evening
Spring may have been late in coming this year but the Castleton Silver Band lifted what was left of any winter gloom with a great concert at TRM church on Friday 15 April. The inclement weather was acknowledged in their playing Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. There were small solo parts for the cornet, euphonium and trombone in the Fantasia Country Life, and the concert ended with a peaceful performance of Softly Falls the Shades of Evening. The conductor, Bryan Hazelhurst, interspersed the items with humorous stories of characters in the Hope Valley.