In one episode of the TV comedy soap, Friends, two of the characters, Monica and Chandler, have decided to move out of their New York City apartment and find a home in the suburbs. ‘We want somewhere our children can ride their bikes in the streets, where they can play out all day in safety and where everyone takes care of their yards’, Chandler explains. One of the other characters, Ross, responds to this with the question; ‘You’re buying a house in the 1950’s?’

The question reflects the social changes that have taken place, not only in America, but also in the UK, in the past few decades. Those of us who have been around for those few decades will have noted the changes. It is rare to see a group of children playing out in the streets, or even unaccompanied in the park these days. Many children are driven to school by their parents, rather than take the risk of walking a few hundred yards and having to cross busy roads on the way.

One of the consequences of our changed life-styles, a recent report has highlighted, is the enormous increase there has been in levels of obesity – a problem which is predicted to become even more widespread (no pun intended). Our bodies are not adapting quickly enough to our more sedentary routines and our more calorific diets. (As if they would in just two generations.)

These changes reflect more profound changes in our life-styles. The prevalence of the motor car, the huge explosion in communications and computing power, and the vast increase in international transport, which makes a greater variety of goods than ever before available to us, have all had their effect. Perhaps, however, it is changes in attitudes to marriage and family life which have had the greatest effect. More children are born outside of marriage, more marriages end in divorce, more people live on their own and fewer people get married in the first place than before.

These changes cannot all be attributed to some dreadful decline in morality, as some would have us believe. It costs a great deal of money to be married today and some couples simply cannot afford it. Moreover, there is no telling how many couples would have divorced if it had been less difficult and more socially acceptable in the 1950’s. Many single parents are so because a spouse or partner has walked out on them, leaving them with the burden of raising the children on their own.

It must be careful not to be seen to judge or condemn any particular individuals or groups. Some of our newspapers give the impression that if only the church would shout the Ten Commandments more loudly the nation’s problems would be solved; would that it were as simple as that. The church should, however, be prepared to challenge many of the ideas, philosophies and world views which are current today and which otherwise would remain unchallenged.

There are those, for example, who argue that marriage is restricting and that it contributes to human misery and unhappiness and that it is best avoided if you want to lead a full and free life and reach your full potential. Cohabitation is better because it does not involve compulsion or law, but is based on love and commitment. People should be allowed to make their own lifestyle choices, unchallenged by anyone else.

Such arguments may seem attractive at a superficial level, but they do not stand up to scrutiny. Marriage recognises that true love involves commitment, for better or worse. Furthermore, recent statistics indicate what many people knew instinctively already, that is that marriage is better for you. Married couples are in general healthier, live longer and are better carers. Their children in general are healthier and better educated than those in other family arrangements.

Of course we must beware of over-simplistic use of statistics, particularly those which would seem to back our case. It is argued that it is only those on good incomes who can afford to marry and that it is those with greatest wealth who stand to lose more through divorce, thus creating greater disincentive for them to do so. Even when these factors are taken in to account, however, marriage does come out as life enhancing in so many ways.

God’s laws are not intended to diminish us, but to enrich us. They are given to us in love. The church should have the confidence to proclaim them and to challenge those who would disparage them. Our generation does not need a church which has lost confidence; nor, however, does it need a church which has lost touch.

One way the church could respond to the changes and challenges our society presents us with is to go in search of the church of the 1950’s; to look back to a golden age when churches were full and people in general lived more conventional lives. There are those Christians who find change in church very threatening because it seems to undermine the comfort and security which church offers them. Church can seem for some people their only real link with the past.

No ‘golden age’ is entirely untarnished. Measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough were rife amongst children in the 1950’s. Many of us had cod liver oil, bitter orange juice and free school milk to supplement our restricted post-war diets. Then a diagnosis of cancer was a death sentence for most people. Some married couples lived lives of quiet desperation and isolation. Many attended church out of habit or convention rather than because they had a personal relationship with the living God.

We would surely want to embrace many of the changes which have taken place since the 1950’s and challenge some of them. What we cannot do is turn the clock back.

We have to find new ways of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ which will reach a generation whose knowledge of Christianity is in general slight and confused. We may even have to find new ways of being the church, the people of God, in a society where people relate in networks rather than geographically.

Those of us who were around in the 1950’s have a responsibility to do what we can to prepare the church for its ministry to future generations. I have a vision of St Barnabas in the 2050’s as a lively church full of worshippers delighting in the Lord and serving him in their generation. I find it exciting to think that we are part of the groundwork for that.

Ultimately the work is the Lord’s and these things will only come to pass if we remain faithful to him, to his church and to his cause. And in the meantime, and for ever more, our security is to be found in Christ alone.

Erik

I am delighted to announce that the PCC has appointed Sarah Harrison as part-time Director of Music. Sarah has a Music degree and has also studied theology, music and worship at the London School of Theology. will be living in the house in Queens Road and will begin work with us at the beginning of November.  She will overlap with Sheila Barker for the time being.

Sheila’s operation for colon cancer went well and she thanks everyone for their prayers. She will soon begin a course of chemo-therapy and I am sure she will value our continuing prayer for her and for Keith. Her illness had been diagnosed.  Sheila had already expressed her intention to retire in February next year from her role as Director of Music.  She is intending to offer Sarah as much support and guidance during the overlap period as possible and we are very grateful to her for that.   We wish her a full and speedy recovery.

Saturday 3rd November

Monday 5th November PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Sunday 11th November Remembrance Sunday 10.15 a.m. Family Parade Service

Saturday 17th November Alpha Day

Tuesday 27th November Mission interest group meets, 7.30 p.m. at 30 Addison Road

Friday 30th November Lydia group meets, 2 p.m. in the Supper Room

Sunday 2nd December Advent Sunday

Monday 3rd December PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Sunday 9th December Family Parade Service

Monday 17th December Teesside Hospice Care Foundation Carol Service, 7.30 p.m. in church

Sunday 23rd December 10.15 a.m. Family Carol Service 6.30 p.m. Service of lessons and carols

Monday 24th December 2—4 p.m. Christmas crafts and Christmas Eve Christmas activities 4 p.m. Carols round the Crib 11.15 p.m. Holy Communion

Christmas Day 9 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Family Service

Over the past two years, this collection for recycling has raised £23.10 towards support for the Eye Clinic at Jachie. While this may not seem to be a great amount of money, there is a hidden benefit in the recycling of metals which would otherwise have gone to landfill, to the general detriment of the countryside.

The price given for aluminium foil for recycling has stayed the same over the two years, at £140 per tonne.  Aluminium cans were £700 per tonne early in 2006, but have now fallen to £500.

We have looked after the foil collection, with some kind help from Gordon Stanley, since it was passed onto us by Sarah and David Scott, some six of seven years ago. We now feel that it is time for us to step down from this job, and hand it over to someone who shares the vision for recycling and the care of God’s creation, but who has more energy than we now have.

In September the PCC returned to the decision taken to go ahead with the nave re-ordering and discussed whether it should involve replacing the floor. After a long thoughtful discussion the following was proposed and agreed:

1. To proceed with a full reordering of the nave as envisaged in Scheme B, i.e. to include laying a new floor

2. To authorize the vicar and churchwardens to make the necessary faculty application(s)

3. To prepare for an appeal for pledges to raise a sum in the region of £250k

4. To approve in principle a phase 1 of reordering costing approx £40k to cover a) the purchase of new chairs, b) repairs following the removal of the pews, and c) initial professional fees and expenses.’

In October Andrew Argyle reported on behalf of the nave re-ordering working party. It had been decided to move the process forward by setting up five small working groups to look at graphic design and publicity, music and media, furniture, finance and the ministry team.

Erik reported that Sarah Harrison has been appointed as director of music on a half time basis. She will start on 1st November.

Bob Parkin reported on building and security, particular in the light of the recent theft of copper from the choir vestry roof.

The PCC heard about a new service for 18 - 30 year olds, ‘Fresh’, which will take place on the first Saturday evening of the month in church. Concerned about the lack of co-ordination of schools work in the area, the PCC agreed to consider a 15 hour a week post for someone to work in schools and support the NE1@Goals project, half funded by St Barnabas and half by seeking match funding.

Offerings

Offerings in August £11,760

Restricted (for specific purposes) £697