Articles for inclusion may be sent via Email to:  tanialeman@tiscali.co.uk

Revd Dennis G Reynolds 

19th May 1930 - 6th January 2010 (Epiphany)

Service of Thanksgiving ------------

'He died as he lived, continually amazed and delighted

by the unconditional mercy, love and grace of God in Christ.' 

 So read the opening sentence from the Order of Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Dennis Reynolds, at St Mary's Church, Woughton on the Green, Milton Keynes, on Saturday 6th February 2010. The day had started unpromisingly, with fog lingering on the M1 motorway which most had used to get there.  This quickly dissolved into what Dennis would have called a 'Blue and Gold Day'.   It also transpired to be the exact day, fifty years earlier, when he and Lore became engaged to be married and this was celebrated as such, at Lore's request.  Theirs was very much a joint ministry.  

 In the impressive Parkside Hotel, once the Rectory for the adjacent 13th century church, hot soup, rolls, tea or coffee was served to all who had travelled from afar.  This also afforded a time to try and catch up with friends, some from up to thirty years previously, before a short walk to the church.    

With the church packed almost beyond capacity with family and friends, the service followed the printed folder with a picture of Dennis, looking quizzically out from the front cover.  After a welcome from the resident Minister (Vicar), well known hymns were sung as one would expect from a Methodist gathering, interspersed with several heartfelt tributes, covering different aspects of Dennis' life and ministry. 

 Alan Boyd gave a great account of his time at Grosvenor Road (Aldershot), when Dennis had given him a 'God-Word' that he should go into the ordained ministry.  His contribution was witty, inspirational and brought back many memories.

 Jenny Oliver briefly told of her experiences of Dennis and Lore's ministry, before reading from one of his sermons 'Aspects of Faith' - so, in a way, he was still there with us.  (see: sermonsforyou.co.uk) 

 'Setting things in context', one contributor recalled how, when Dennis first saw Lore at a distance in a London park, declared that she was 'the one' he was going to marry;  how his initial church attendance was only on 'high days and holidays' as a 'favour to God' (and only if there was nothing he wanted to see at the cinema) until he had a conversion experience - sometime after being an office-holder in the Methodist church that he and Lore first attended. 

 There was a contribution from Dennis and Lore's children, Jane, Helen and Mark, and another from Lore herself, both read by long-standing friends in the ministry.  And finally, the time Dennis spent as a chaplain at the newly opened Woodhill High Security Prison was recalled and how, when a name for the chapel was needed, his suggestion 'Chapel of Hope' was adopted, as best describing its function.    

A splendid afternoon tea completed the proxy Golden Engagement occasion that Lore had invited us to.  With an estimated 230 people, it must have resembled a miniature feeding of the 5000.  'All were fed and satisfied.'  Many thanks to the Reynolds' family for such a memorable time.

 Aldershot members and friends present at the Service of Thanksgiving:

 Colin and Frances Gawthrop, Vera Speak, Eileen Briscoe, Dot Yates; John and Rosemary Sewell, Millie Whale;  Peter Sewell;

Trevor and Sue Smith;  Richard Smith;Alan and Ashley Boyd;

Richard and Jenny Oliver;Roger and Sarah Fright;

Tom and Sarah Norbron;Carol Richards;

Craig and Gaye Wilson;Lieu and husband

(she was one of the 'Vietnamese 'Boat People' helped in the 80s.  Now happily married with three children and living in London).   

Revd Dennis G Reynolds

Time in Aldershot recalled September 1980 - August 1989 

 Dennis and Lore came into our lives when he took up the ministry of the Grosvenor Road and Stone Street Methodist Churches in Aldershot in September 1980. His preaching was clear and straightforward and his memorable first subject was:  'Be careful what you ask for - you might get it!'  

You are a club.' Dennis declared, 'and I intend to make you a church!'  And this he set about doing, shaking all pre-conceived ideas.  His sometimes blunt, single-mindedness was not always welcome, and he was never afraid to 'grasp the nettle' when needed.  

We learnt from his instructive sermons, which began to turn our 'academic' faith into a personal, spiritual and eminently practical faith.  We not only learnt what was wrong but what we should aim for - and, most importantly - how to get from one to the other!  

Dennis set up a network of monthly Housegroups, in line with the 'Conditions of Membership' for the Methodist Church with everyone allocated a place.  There we enjoyed a sustained period of shared learning and experiences.  Soon, the once a month was deemed too infrequent and it became twice monthly and soon once a week, as we hungered for more.  

Dennis and Lore ran an 'open manse' and soup (Dennis loved his food!) was nearly always on offer, as was their love and care. 

Before his arrival, the work of the Holy Spirit was an issue, we thought, that belonged to history and the pages of the Bible.  One person though,  Phyl (Phyllis) Hutt, our old Sunday School Superintendent, was a prayer 'warrior' and thought differently.  A banner still hangs in the foyer of our church, dedicated to her memory stating: 'Prayer Changes Things'.   

With inspired teaching, underpinned by prayer, one by one, many became empowered by the in-filling, or Baptism, of the Holy Spirit - and were changed  forever!  The town centre church was open daily for anyone to 'drop in', with a succession of members ready to help with or pray for any needs that were presented.  It was an exciting time to see how God used us to help others.  

Music in services was employed in a different and more accessible way.  Sadly, not everyone in the well established, prize-winning choir found the changes to their liking and a music group was formed to encourage singing throughout the whole congregation.  We began to involve everyone in such works as the Biblical musicals of Roger Jones, who came to lead seminars and performances which became a joyous sharing and outpouring of faith.  There were now copies of the Bible in all the pews. 

It was also a time of great upheaval, not least when the owners of Grosvenor Road church wanted to sell the building, forcing all to remove to the smaller, less imposing Stone Street Church at the other end of town.  Many had to assess their depth of faith; that the centre of worship was God, and not a building.  With the sensitively managed coming-together of two congregations, Aldershot Methodist Church was born.  With the building of an extension to include a dedicated sanctuary area, things began to settle down.  

Some thirty years later, as we seek a renewed way forward, maybe we need another Dennis' to come and stir us up again - lest we become too comfortable…? 

Making a list of those who seek to carry on this heritage of the nine years of his ministry here in Aldershot, makes interesting reading:

  Ministers

Revd Alan Boyd (Huddersfield)

Revd Richard Smith  (Chaplain to the Forces)

Sarah Norbron (Lay Minister, St Peter's Church, Farnborough)

 Local Preachers: 

 The late Bob Briscoe,

Sue Smith

Jenny and Richard Oliver (Melton Mowbray)

Colin Gawthrop

Martin Squires,

Carol Richards (Liss)

Yvonne Farrar

Rosemary Sewell  

Many more actively serve in other capacities but all have benefited from the impetus Dennis gave us, by opening God's Living Word to us in action. 

Well done, thou good and faithful servant!             

Lent and the Internet

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2 NIV)

Lent has begun, with this passage from Matthew providing the inspiration for each Christian's personal journey leading to Easter. When deciding what to give up this Lent I had an idea; someone else had a suggestion too:

“I have a proposal: why not send the next 40 days in a metaphorical rather than a literal desert? It shouldn't be too difficult to contrive – simply remove all aspects of art and culture from your life.... all pictures and drawings, music and books, television, film and radio... newspapers and magazines... the worldwide web.” (Altered States – Will Self: New Statesman 22/02/10 & Lent Talks – Will Self: BBC Radio 4 24/02/10)

I think I had my similar idea before I read and then heard this one. Coincidently I heard it again at the recent Circuit Meeting when Revd Rachael Hawkins referred to it in her Opening Devotions. My idea was not quite as wide-ranging, I merely thought about trying to go without the Internet for the 40 days.

How hard could it be? After all it's not like the Internet has been around all my life is it? I mean for about 30 years I coped without it. But as I write, Ash Wednesday was a week ago, and if I manage to finish this article before the In Touch deadline I will be emailing it to Tania. So for this year at least I passed on denying myself the Worldwide Web. Instead, I'm off the biscuits and have a daily Lent Reader to help me on the journey to Easter.

Why couldn't I give up the Web? One of the reasons I thought about doing so was I realised what a time waster it can be. These days if I have a sudden thought about something I may buy, in no time I'm 'Googling' for information about the item, comparing details and prices, weighing up the options, checking a few more sites in case I can save a couple of £s somewhere else. Or when a vague memory of an old TV programme pops into my head; click, click, click and I'm checking Wikipedia, discovering what someone else has written about it or going to You Tube to watch a grainy, badly copied clip from the show. In no time I find I've been online for 2, 3 or 4 hours. Surely 40 days without these distractions to free up time for God is possible?

But then again I'm not always wasting my time on the Internet. I use it to find teaching resources for my job, it's there to help me research articles for In Touch, the Church and Circuit use it to communicate between members, I do my banking on-line which is very convenient as my branch is in Scotland, I keep in touch with friends both near and far, I book train tickets and check up on travel problems. Could I give these things up for 40 days? It would certainly feel like a sacrifice to go without these benefits of the Internet for Lent.

So hopefully next year I will prepare myself better for an E-Fast, maybe I should just forego the trivial and discipline myself to stick to the productive elements of the Internet. It would certainly be more challenging than avoiding digestives. And if I could I would gain time to spend on my Lenten journey.

Rolfe Bridson

The Difference

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I didn't take time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task,
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered. He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me--He said, "But you didn't seek,"

I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock,
God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.                                                   --Author unknown

God Sent Us a Saviour

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator,

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Saviour.

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

       In  Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover Holy days.  He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days...  The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days. 

       The case was brought before a judge.  After listening to  the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!" 

       The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honour, How can you possibly dismiss this case?  The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others.  The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..".

       The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do.. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant." 

       The lawyer said, "Your Honour, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists." 

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:

 

1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

 

Dates for you diary

 

March

”

5^th 10.30am  and 7.30pm  Woman’s World Day of Prayer at st Mary’s R.C. Church

7^th 10.30am  morning service with S. Chowns

      6.30pm evening service with G. Chowns

14^th 10.30am morning service with S. Gardner all age worship

      6.30pm evening service with Revd  J. Kennedy Holy communion

21^st 10.30am morning service with D. Betts

     6.30pm evening service with Rev Phillips

28^th 10.30am morning service with Revd J Kennedy, Holy Communion

       6.30pm evening service with Revd J Kennedy

April

1^st 8pm Maundy Thursday service at Aldershot Methodist Church

4th 10.30am morning service with S. Smith

       6.30pm evening service with  Revd J Kennedy  Holy Communion

11^th 10.30am morning service with A Goldring

      6.30pm evening service with Y Farrar

18^th m10.30am morning service with Revd J Kennedy Holy Communion

      6.30pm evening service with Revd J Kennedy

25^th 10.30am morning service with R Sewell

      6.30pm evening service with Revd R Hawkins Holy Communion

May

2^nd 10.30am morning service with Rev Kennedy Holy Communion

     6.30pm evening service with Rev Kennedy

9^th 10.30am morning service with C Gawthrop

     6.30pm  evening service at Fleet  Easter Offering

16^th 10.30am morning service with J Morton

    6.30pm evening service with Revd J Kennedy

23^rd 10.30am morning service with M Squires all age worship

     6.30pm evening service with Revd J Kennedy

30^th 10.30am morning service with Revd J Kennedy

     6.30pm evening service with F Jasper

 In the current Summer edition you will find an interesting article on "Coptic Christianity" contributed by Rolfe Bridson and in complete contrast there is a good selection of "sentences" from Church magazines which have really appeared in print.

Here are some examples:

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the Church. Please use large double doors at the side entrance.

Miss Charlotte M  sang "I will not pass this way again" giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Answers: Quiz

General Knowledge.

1. Davy Crockett  2. Llanberis  3.Maple leaf  4. Crocodile  5. Neptune  6. 500

7. flashing directional indicator lights  8. on your legs  9. John Milton  10. South Africa.

Music

1. Scott Joplin  2.Genesis  3. marriage Prince of Wales (future Edward VII)  4.  8th

5. 3   6.Isaac Watts  7. Boer war  8. Liberty Bell  9. Ernest Lough  10. Piano