Each month one of our wonderful Church Wardens Alison writes a news article about St Clements Church. Please download the PDF document or read the article below.News from St Clement of Alexandria Green Lane, Castle Bromwich known locally as St Clements Church "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out" Walter Winchall Forgiveness and Kindness: Friendship is grounded in treating others with the same love, kindness, and forgiveness that Jesus showed (John 15:12). Spring reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus, of his love for us all, and as we emerge from the grip of winter it is the promise of life after death; a “second chance” after the grip of winter. Life is worth living in the small things: a smile, a cup of tea with a friend, or just sitting and listening to the birdsong in a world that can sometimes be so cruel. BE KIND. On the 13th April, the Mary Bridgeman Tea and Coffee Lounge at St Clements (known as the Café) was once again assessed (this takes place every 2 years) to make sure we were compliant with all aspects of food safety. We come under SMBC, and after answering questions on allergens, making sure our weekly diary was up to date, reviewing cleaning routines and handwashing, and even how we dispose of food waste and recycling, we were again awarded GRADE 5. Not one of our volunteers worked in catering, so what a learning curve this has been, and we often wonder what Dorothy Cotterill would say today about what we have achieved. It was her idea, after all! All our volunteers have Food Hygiene Level 2, which is renewed every 3 years, and will be undertaking a separate e-learning course on allergens, which is now a requirement whether working as a volunteer or in employment in catering. Our café opens on Mondays during term time from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm when we welcome members of the community to our Church building. We also use the café for our Forget Me Not Memory Café, which we hold every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month (during term time) from 1 to 2.30 pm. Access to the café is through the Church (we no longer hire this space) and is set up ready for the next service. Although St Clements was built in the early 1960s and does not have stained glass windows or even a steeple, we do have some wonderful hangings created and made by Sally Sycner, which, when the school children visit, allow us to encourage questions about their meanings. Alma Spink left us with a cross-stitched picture of “The Last Supper,” which hangs in the Church, and the kneelers still in use today, restored in recent years, were all hand-made by members of the Church—Olive Payne certainly left her mark. All around the Church and Chapel are reminders of those members who gave their time and talents, and a reminder that on the “shoulders of those that went before we stand.” St Clements will be going to Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 18th July, leaving at 9 am for our annual church outing, and if anyone is interested in joining us, please don’t hesitate to give us a ring for more details. A coach has been booked! Rehearsals for our joint Summer Concert are taking place each Thursday from 8 pm to 9.30 pm at St Clements. Daniel will be performed on Sunday 7th September by members of St Mary and St Margaret, and St Clements Churches. If you came to the Christmas Concert, you are certainly in for a treat. If you love to sing or play an instrument, just pop along on Thursday evenings. I know the conductor Stuart Jeffs and all the members would welcome you. Go on, give it a go, and you even get a cup of tea or coffee, and maybe a biscuit—that’s Thursday evening sorted! The bus pass for the elderly opens the doors to many adventures: taking the 94 or X12 into Birmingham and then the tram to Wolverhampton or West Bromwich. Some members of our Church ventured to Tamworth—yes, on the bus, six in total: three there and three back. You can’t say our Church members are not up for an adventure. Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Coventry by bus and then train, and even Stratford are in reach—nothing is impossible; you just have to step outside and get that bus. Don’t want to go too far? Take the X12 or even 94 and walk a couple of roads, get off at Arden Hall on Thursday to get a coffee and play bingo, or you can just visit the Garden of Memory and sit and reflect. If you want to more about St Clement’s, our Services, how to arrange a baptism or wedding, our work in the community or events, you can get in touch in the usual way by: Phone: 0121 274 7120 A Church Near You: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7248/ Church Website: www.stclementschurchcb.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/stclementschurchcastlebromwich Email: office@stclementschurchcb.co.uk
Each month one of our wonderful Church Wardens Alison writes a news article about St Clements Church. Please download the PDF document or read the article below.News from St Clement of AlexandriaGreen Lane, Castle Bromwichknown locally as St Clements ChurchMother Teresa: Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small thingswith great Love.Jesus made the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice by dying on the cross to atone forhumanity's sins. Mary stood at the foot of the cross, she must have experiencedprofound sorrow, a crushing feeling too much to bear, but still she stood there neverleaving, as she watched her son die; her trust in God unwavering. Laughter, joy,sorrow and pain are all wrapped up in moments, as we watch our children grow, butwithout any doubt being a mother is a challenge, however old your child is, but sucha joy.During Lent we celebrated Mothering Sunday to say a huge thank you to ourmothers and carers for all they do for us. Sourcing daffodils proved difficult this year,so we’ve decided to expand our display by planting more ourselves to avoid thesame issue next year. “Grow our own” feels like the most practical solution.On Saturday 28th March we held our Easter Tea and Bonnet parade in memory ofJanet Smith. Smiling faces and games of Bingo with jelly and ice cream made for anafternoon of fun and laughter. Judging the bonnets was certainly a challenge as theywere all amazing. So much talent; see what you think!On Saturday 4th April we came together to get the Church ready for Easter Sunday.Preparations for the 8am Sunrise Service and breakfast, transforming the Churchwith flowers. It was a hive of activity. There can be joy in the simple things and doingit together makes it very special.Our next event will be Saturday 16th May with a Quiz starting at 4pm including a fishand chip supper (already provisionally booked). Tickets will be on sale shortly at£8.50 each. You can find further details on our Facebook page and in ournoticeboards or just give the Church a ring if interested.We were delighted to welcome Smith Wood Academy to St Clements at the end ofApril. Welcoming children from local schools is something we have been proud to doas a Church for many years. Their young voices and laughter always create awonderful “feel-good” atmosphere, whatever the weather.Our annual trip this year will take place on Saturday 18th July to GloucesterCathedral, with Johnson's Coach booked. This outing follows the wonderful exampleset by Janet Smith, who for many years brought such care and dedication toorganising our trips. As a former Guider, she had a real gift for making every event,large or small, run smoothly. We hope to honour her memory and continue hertradition in a way that would make her proud.Last year’s visit to Weston was certainly memorable, not least for being one of thehottest days of the year! This time, we’re hoping for dry weather—just perhaps a littleless heat.We were pleased to welcome some new faces to our Forget Me Not Memory Caféon the 26th March which we hold on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from1pm to 2.30 pm. Bird Bingo a new game for us proved a great success. If you are acarer or have someone with memory loss then just come along to St Clements. Youwill be most welcome and the tea, coffee and cake isn’t so bad either!Our Mary Bridgeman Tea and Coffee Lounge will be inspected by EnvironmentalHealth Solihull on 20th April, as part of the routine two-yearly review. At our lastinspection, we were awarded a Level 5 rating. All our volunteers hold current Level 2Food Hygiene certificates, and our records are fully up to date. We are hopeful ofanother positive outcome.Members of St Clements will be supporting Castle Bromwich Parish Council withParty in the Park on Saturday 27th June, all details are on their website.If you want to more about St Clement’s, our Services, how to arrange a baptism orwedding, our work in the community or events, you can get in touch in the usual wayby:Phone: 0121 274 7120A Church Near You: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7248/Church Website: www.stclementschurchcb.co.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/stclementschurchcastlebromwichEmail: office@stclementschurchcb.co.uk
