Welcome to Verwood United Reformed Church

Manor Road, next to the Library, between Ferrett Green and the Post Office 

email: verwood@urc-eastdorset.org.uk

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“To know Jesus better and to make him better known”
  

                                                             

 

We are here for you – whoever you are!

 Our main Sunday Worship is at 10.45am when all ages are very welcome.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the third Sunday each month and at major Festivals.

 

  

Other regular activities include –

 Tuesday (in term time): Toddlers, parents and carers, 9.45-11.30am        Contact:  Helen on 07860367955

Thursday: The Church is open for prayer and reflection, 9.30-11.30am

Saturday: Coffee 4 All, 10.00 – 11.30am

 We are a Fair Trade Church and our Traidcraft stall is available at Coffee 4 All on the fourth Saturday morning each month and after Worship on the following Sunday. If you live in the Verwood area you can order Traidcraft items through us by email to dorothy.macro@dandjm.plus.com. More information available at http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

 Other activities include “Music for the Mind” at 10.30am on fourth Mondays and Lunch for those living alone on second Thursdays at 12 noon for 12.30pm.

Verwood URC May  2018 Calendar

 

        

Sundays        10.45am, Morning Worship in our newly refurbished Church – we are delighted by the very positive comments we have received from those who have been into our premises and seen the refurbishment. Do come and see for yourselves. You will be very welcome!       

             13th    Christian Aid Week begins: CA works directly with local projects across the world, not through governments!

            20th     Pentecost Sunday:  Morning Worship with Holy Communion

Mondays      11.30am – 1.30pm   Food Bank Open 

            28th     10.30am   Music for the Mind for those with memory problems and their carers                                      

Tuesdays   1st 8th 15th 22nd  9.45am   Toddlers, Parents and Carers Group

                          Not 29th   -  Half term

            15th     Churches Together in Verwood  (CTiV)   Messy  Church in the Memorial Hall – includes a meal

Wednesdays   11.30am – 1.30pm   Food Bank open

Thursdays    9.30 – 11.30am    Church Open to all for personal quiet time

          10th     12noon for 12.30pm   Lunch for those living alone

          17th     7.30pm   CTiV   Annual Meeting at Bethel Chapel

          24th     6.30pm   Fellowship Supper / Church Meeting

Fridays        11.30am – 1.30pm   Food Bank open

Saturdays   10 -11.30am   Coffee 4 All,  with Traidcraft on the 26th

                   Further information available from the Church secretary.

At the end of April we marked our refurbishment of the Church itself - which enables much more flexible appropriate community use -  with a visit from Peter Aston (well-known on Forest FM)  and Becky Neale who provided a musical “whistle-stop tour of the Bible”. This was much enjoyed and appreciated by all present, and also raised £165 for the Trussell Trust Foodbank. 

                       

                               

A wider vision

          One of the most abused sayings is, “Charity begins at home,” as so often this line is trotted out to explain a refusal to look beyond the immediate circle to check and address need. Charity does begin at home so that a ripple effect can spread it wider and wider. Jesus came up against those who restricted their concern for those who fully observed Jewish laws and customs – but Jesus observed no such restrictions; the New Testament records the debates that went on in the early Church about the outreach to those who were not Jewish, and, following Peter’s vision, realised that Jesus is Saviour for the whole of humanity, not just a chosen few.

          We thank God for those who brought the Christian message to our own countries, and we thank God for those who have gone from their homes to spread the Good News is word and deed. There are so many faithful people working with many fine organisations – they need our support.

          The much publicised sad lapses at Oxfam, Save the Children and some others show how easy it can be for those who want to abuse others to gain the trust of well-meaning people, and also show how vigilant churches and charities must be in their management of those acting on their behalf. What these abuses must not do is become an excuse (yes, excuse not reason) for not taking forward the Christian commitment to help those in need. In the month of May we can focus on Christian Aid Week but our concern should no more be limited to a single week than to a narrow group.

          In our prayers we should support those committing their lives to helping others, so often under very troubling circumstances: with our money we should enable such work to be extended.

 

  A little history….

 Ours was the first Church in Verwood, founded in 1802 when some fearless missionaries came from Ringwood hoping to tame and convert the wild heathen on the heath: the work goes on, joined over the years by other Churches with whom we have an excellent relationship in Churches Together in Verwood. Our present building dates from 1906 with major improvements in 2000. The previous building is next to us; after the new Church was built it became the local school and is now the Library. We were originally known as an Independent Church, later Congregational and since 1972 a United Reformed Church which also includes Presbyterian and Church of Christ traditions.

The church currently has a vacancy for a Minister but the Revd Julian Macro (01202 814270 and 07586 255311, email, julian.macro@mansfield.oxon.org  is available to offer pastoral support.

Our Church Secretary is Dorothy Macro (also 01202 814270) and our Church Treasurer is Alan Harley (01202 824060). Our email address is verwood@urc-eastdorset.org.uk . If you would like to receive our weekly emails please send us an email and we shall be happy to add you to the circulation list.

Enquiries  about hiring the hall – please phone Chris on 01202  821633

 

We could tell you a lot more, but hope you will come and find out for yourself –

we look forward to welcoming you