Blog

Why replacing our church doors is key to making people feel welcome

‘Blessed is the man that listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.’ Proverbs 8:34

According to biblical scholars, doors signify communication and agreement, and, when doors are open, that people are in communication with God and others. A door also symbolises the transition and passageway from one place or world to another. Often we can feel that, as we cross the church threshold, we leave the outside world behind as we step into a special place of hope and peace where we have time to be with God.

Over the last year, with the Link entrance closed, our main entrance has been via what we call our ‘wedding doors’. It was so good to have the old doors replaced last year in time for small weddings to take place. The new doors really look the part – strong and secure, and a great improvement to the fabric and security of our church.

Now we need to turn our attention to the replacement of our ‘funeral doors’. Again, these are important in that we open them to welcome those who have died and their loved ones, as they come to say goodbye and celebrate the lives of those dear to them. The doors currently in place are in poor condition and there are concerns that they are not as secure as we need them to be.

The quotation to replace and fit new doors is just under £5,200. It would be wonderful if we could aim for the replacement to take place in the Spring. Could you please consider helping us to raise the funds? If you are able to make a one-off donation or a number of smaller donations over the coming weeks, these would be very welcome. Please indicate that your donation(s) are for ‘Church doors’. Please send cheques to the church office or give online via the church website. God does love a cheerful giver! Thank you!

Christine Moyes, churchwarden

Jez Ferguson is thrilled about a new venture for young people

Hi everyone,

We’re very excited to let you know that we will be releasing a live service on Thursday 18 February at 7pm. The service will be primarily targeting the youth, but anyone is welcome.

What to expect

Our Moorlands student Jordan will be leading us in the first of a three-part series on our identity in Christ. Eleanor and Lydia, also Moorlands students, will be leading us in worship.

And there will be opportunities to interact! You will be able to comment and ask questions as the service goes on – we will put them to Jordan during the discussion segment at the end of the service.

We hope you will join us by going to the St Saviour’s YouTube channel a few minutes before the service starts.

Jez Ferguson, youth minister

(PS Don’t forget to like our videos and subscribe to the channel while you’re there! It will let you see when we upload content.)

There’s plenty of mission news, both abroad and at home

Many things have ground to halt this past year, borders may have closed, but God’s activity in the world has not! And nor has St Saviour’s support for Kingdom-building work both overseas and closer to home. Here are just some of the mission partnerships that we were able to bless financially in 2020 …

The Yakar Bible translation project in Russia had a very productive year. The team continued work on 11 Old Testament books and a set of 70 Bible stories. Ecclesiastes was released in print and audio for the first time. And a Bible app was also developed to give people easier access to the translated Scriptures.

Through the Teso Development Trust we’ve been able to contribute to relief aid to 13 communities in Uganda, including a water programme and hospital support – needed more than ever this year. And through Christine, the two-way relationship with Christian leaders there has continued, in the form of encouragement and prayer.

It’s not easy to learn a new language and culture during a pandemic. But that’s what Daniel Brooks (UFM/SEND) has been trying to do in Croatia this last year! And somehow he found ways of getting involved in all kinds of outreach ministries. But Covid hit him hard – twice, with serious ongoing results. He needs our prayers as he’s back in the UK for tests and treatment.

And imagine the challenges of arriving in the UK as a refugee, this year of all years. International Care Network, through Christie and others here in Bournemouth, continues to help these vulnerable people rebuild their lives and show them something of God’s love.

Through Open Doors we can stand alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters living in some of the toughest places in the world, where following Jesus costs dearly.

Isn’t it great that, even in these difficult times, even if we are confined to our homes, our giving and praying can help release God’s blessing in so many different places around the world!

World Mission Core Group

An update from Nick Richards on 2020 finances

“Money!”

Well, what did you expect I was going to talk about?

As a church we rely on donations for 90% of our income. The rest is from renting out the church all, plus a small amount of fees for weddings and funerals. The cost of maintaining our buildings, heating, lighting, refuse collection, insurance, our contribution towards the running of Winchester Diocese (who pay Andy’s salary), and staff salaries must all be met from our income. In addition we donate about 10% of our income to various charities.

A few figures …

Our income last year was £148,000, compared with £166,000 in 2019, down £18,000. We had £27,000 less donations, including gift aid, and £7,000 less rental income. Additional income of £19,000 furlough payments was received. Our expenditure was reduced by £20,000 to £148,000; we actually ended the year with £8 less in our current account than when we started.

This balancing act was only achieved by significant cuts and a government subsidy. No one has had a pay rise, our office administrator Tanja left and has not been replaced. Our payments to the diocese’s Common Mission Fund (CMF) have been reduced. The CMF amount is calculated based on each church’s congregation size and the relative affluence of the parish: for 2020 it was assessed at £73,000, of which we paid £36,000.

So, I would encourage you to review your giving. Although the church building is not open, we still have significant costs to meet and our income has decreased. Fortunately many of you give by bank transfer via the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) or by standing order, so we have continued to receive donations despite not having physical collections every Sunday. We can now also receive donations online by card. I would encourage everyone who can to use the PGS – even if you are not eligible for gift aid or you have a standing order. The PGS means we receive the 25% gift aid uplift immediately and allows giving to be increased by inflation each year. This all makes our finances simpler and more secure. However, not everyone is comfortable with these methods, so if you are a traditional giver, please do not think you need to change.

If you have ideas to share about our finances or would like more information, our Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting will be held in April and we would encourage you to attend.

Nick Richards, treasurer

Caz Gatehouse shares some amazing resources to help during lockdown

As I am starting to write this, we have just been told that we are entering into another lockdown, which means our churches remain closed.

Yesterday I was reading an article on the Premier Christianity website titled 14 Things you (probably) didn’t know about Christianity but really should. No.1 was the fact that the ‘Church’ is not the building but the ‘people’. It was a timely reminder that even though our church buildings may be shut – God’s Church isn’t!! We are not banned from worshipping God, doing his ministry, or teaching and learning about Him, or from loving, supporting and encouraging one another – we just need to find different ways of doing it!

Although it’s not the same as meeting in person, technology has been a great way of doing this. Imagine what it must have been like in 1918 when churches had to close during the Spanish flu pandemic; most people didn’t even have a phone to contact friends and family!

So, as well as the services and Messy Church that you can access online, we have a Zoom Children’s Group on a Sunday morning at 10.30am for half an hour. Tuesday afternoon’s at 2pm we have a Zoom Toddler Group for parents/ grandparents to keep in touch with each other, and if the toddlers join in, we can do a song time and story. I email out a weekly ‘Family Time’ for you to use to do ‘Sunday School’ at home.

I am also looking at starting a parents’ ‘catch up and pray’ group. If you are interested in that or any of the above, please do get in touch.

• Email: caz@stsaviours.net
• Mobile: 07948 799332

There are also many free resources online that you can use. Here are two:

Check out Doug Horley’s website for some fun and crazy antics, as well as great music, with his Crazy Stay at Home Road Show – access via his website https://www.duggiedugdug.org/crazy-stay-at-home-road-show.

The Bible App for Kids is an animated storybook app for smartphones and tablets. It has colourful illustrations with animations activated by touch, games and activities. On the website you can also stream or download video episodes, as well as resources like colouring pages and activity sheets – go to www.bibleappforkids.com

Have fun checking them out and please do get in touch if I can help in any way.

Praying for God’s peace, protection, and blessings on you all at this time.

Caz Gatehouse, Children’s minister

Laura Simpkins reflects on Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15

As the first frost of the year melts, the glistening ponds in our back garden reappear, mud and fallen leaves from ancient oaks creating a slippery network of little motes around the numerous molehills. The bright sun can’t disguise the chill. It is undisputedly winter. In this season we look back at 2020 with thanks for the many good things we have experienced. However, none of us has been untouched by the suffering, fear and heartbreak of this year. Some of us might even be tempted to ask, ‘Where has God been this year?’

I invite you to pause here to listen to the Byrds’ folk rock hit of 1965 Turn! Turn! Turn! – click here. The song’s lyrics were nearly exclusively taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in the King James Version. Pete Seeger wrote it as a call to peace during the Vietnam War; however, the passage reaches even deeper into history.

In the poetry of the first verses, Ecclesiastes 3 reminds believers that God has His hand on all things throughout all of time, past, present and future; and that nothing escapes his watchful eye and steadying hand. The writer, possibly King Solomon, continues to make sure we get the point:

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.’ Ecclesiastes 3: 11-15

God has built in humanity a yearning to understand and look towards eternity. We also have deep in us a (sometimes suppressed) desire to revere and praise Him, walking hand and hand through the days, months, years and millennia, in work, struggle, pleasure, joy and pain. He wastes no words or actions. He allows nothing to come to pass that will not work for good through the power of his Spirit. His timing and all He does is perfect.

Sometimes steps of faith, in whatever form they take, can be daunting. So let’s help each other to refresh our perspective in this New Year. Our peace comes from knowing our God is unchanging. His plan for us is for blessing in both the short and long term, regardless of circumstance and the fallen
state of this world. We always have hope through Christ!

Pause

You might like to look up some of the highlights of the year, including the really good news, not limited to the discovery of viable COVID-19 vaccines.

Suggested further reading

• Jeremiah 29:11
• Romans 8:28

Suggested worship music

• Yesterday, Today and Forever – Vicky Beeching
• 10,000 Reasons – Matt Redman

Closing prayer

Dear Father, I pause in stillness to take a moment to thank you for the many blessings of this year.

Now I pause to lift up to you the deep hurts of 2020, personal and global.

I repent, or turn, from my own failures and recommit to the way of love in Christ.

I chose to turn away from negativity, godless thinking and fear peddled by the Enemy.

I wholeheartedly turn towards the challenges and joys of this coming year in expectancy, and ask in faith for your hand of healing on those who need it.

I thank you for Jesus who was, coming as a babe, giving his life through crucifixion; who is as our comforter and friend; and who will be, shining in eternity with us at his right hand in joy never-ending.

Unfailing and unchanging God, I praise you and offer up my life to you afresh.

Amen.

Laura Simpkins, discipleship coordinator