BIRTHDAY REUNION
Barrow Methodist Church invite past members and Sunday school
attendees to a Birthday tea.
The minister and stewards of Barrow Methodist Church invite
those who have in the past been members, or have attended
the Sunday schools of the Barrow Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist
chapels (and any spouses), to a Birthday tea on Saturday June
14 at 6.00 pm followed by entertainment, with reminiscences
on Sunday school.
This event is to mark the Tercentenary of John Wesley’s Birthday
in June 2003.
We are planning to organise an exhibition to accompany this
gathering and if you have any photographs, books, or any other
item that could form part of this, we would like to include
these in the display.
It is necessary for us to know who intends to come and details
of any possible exhibits. Please respond to one of the following
telephone numbers, or write to the church address, as soon
as possible with your name and contact number/address. Also,
if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact
either Mrs Joan Crompton (Tel. 01509 414184) or Mrs Janet
Thompson (Tel: 413810).
We look forward to hearing from you.
Rev. David Leese
c/o Barrow Methodist Church
North Street, Barrow-upon-Soar, LE12 8QA
KEEP THE BELLS RINGING
Dwindling numbers of bell ringers threaten the continuation
of this tradition.
Three of the bells in the Parish Church have been ringing
out over Barrow since the middle of the 17th Century. Even
when the tower collapsed in 1868, the bells were saved, re-hung
in the new tower and were being rung again within two years.
 It
is known that with the exception of a period of about three
years during World War II when bell ringing was banned, our
bells have been rung regularly for at least the last 100 years.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the case for much longer.
We now have 8 bells but due to the dwindling number of ringers,
it is now a rarity for all 8 to be rung together. Ringing
just 5 or 6 bells is acceptable but even this often not possible
and frequently, the bells stay silent on Sundays.- , (There
have been no new learners for over 12 years but we were saved
during this time by gaining the valuable services of four
experienced ringers who had returned to bellringing after
long breaks or had come to live in the village).
Through the Barrow Voice, I should like to appeal (no pun
intended) to any former ringers in the village to return to
the art and help us to ensure that the 300 year old tradition
of bellringing in Barrow does not die out. This appeal is
made to anyone who ever learned to handle a church bell. Our
prime concern is to keep the bells ringing so that Change
Ringing ability is not a necessity. Individual practices could
be arranged for anyone in need of a ‘confidence boost’ after
a long break from ringing.
BARROW BAPTIST CHURCH AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE
On March 16th 2003, Barrow Baptist Church held the first
of a series of roughly monthly services at the Community Centre,
Cotes Road. “We hope it will be a venue where those who donít
normally go to church will feel comfortable” said Mark Turner,
the Senior Minister.
“Jesus is widely acknowledged to be the greatest teacher
who has ever lived, and we will be looking at how some of
his well known stories relate to today”.Services are suitable
for all ages and are from 10.45-11.45am followed by refreshments.
For more details ring the church office on 416603.
Mark Turner
Senior Minister
BAPTIST CHURCH LUNCHEON CLUB
If you are over 60, why not join us for lunch? We meet on
the second Friday of each month, when a good hot meal is served
at 12.30 costing £2.50. There is plenty of time for a chat
with old and new friends over the meal and a cup of tea which
follows. We then have a very short talk from a guest speaker.
For more information please ring Judith Morrison on 01509
412770. We look forward to seeing you.
HANDS UP FOR GOD PUPPET TEAM
Barrow upon Soar Methodist Church is the base
of a successful Christian group, the Hands Up For God Puppet
Team, and as one of the latest, and ‘oldest’ recruits I was
interested to research their beginnings.
Dennis and Suzanne Doyle were already leaders of a popular
Shell Group when in 1996 Dennis attended a conference in Sunbury.
One of the workshop leaders was Harry Barrett from One Way
UK, which is an agency for a major resource centre for Christian
Puppetry in the USA, One Way Street. Harry presented a 45
minute workshop using one puppet, but that was enough to change
the lives of Dennis and Suzanne.
Dennis was hooked and bought a puppet, along with a book on
Christian Puppetry. Such was the enthusiasm that both Dennis
and Suzanne decided that they wanted to begin using puppets
in worship at the earliest opportunity. Luck was on their
side as Dale Von Seggen from One Way in Denver, Colorado,
was visiting the UK and he brought some small puppets along
with him. Dennis met him at Leicester Forest East services
where they provided the interest for travellers and truck
drivers over breakfast with an impromptu hour-long Christian
puppetry course!
That weekend there was a gathering at Beaumanor Hall in Leicestershire
for local Shell groups and the newly learnt puppet skills
were put into action and rated a roaring success by the youngsters
who were keen to do a ‘proper’ service with puppets in church.
A meeting was held with the youth group who readily accepted
the challenge and the ‘Hands up for God’ puppet team was formed!
 The
first service was held at the team’s ‘home’ church and the
news quickly spread about the lively new Christian group.
More opportunities to perform came in and it was obvious on
some occasions when hearing the first song ‘Holy Hokey’ that
it came as a bit of a shock to the more traditional churches!
This led to the first taste of uncertainty that can easily
accompany any performing group. However, it taught everyone
that all congregations are different and that the team would
have to be sensitive to the fact. It was a lesson that stays
with the puppet group to this day.
It was in February 1996 that an article was printed about
the team in the Methodist Recorder and from then on things
progressed rapidly and the team were soon on their way to
churches in towns all over England. Dennis was already a member
of Leicester Magic Circle and was used to performing Gospel
magic routines that convey Biblical truths through illusions,
therefore he was able to incorporate this into a cabaret evening
whilst the team presented a Puppet Family Service in the morning.
In 1997 a chance was given to the team to lead worship with
the puppets at the Easter People celebrations in Bournemouth.
The whole experience proved to be a superb experience for
everyone involved and the team’s diary became full overnight.
It wasn’t long before it was extended by 18-24 months ahead,
which it remains to this day. They continue to perform yearly
at Easter People and this, their sixth year, the team will
be in Scarborough. Their programme also extends to going on
‘Share Jesus’ Missions and performing in schools and churches
in Jersey.
The team has changed over the years as original members have left
to go to universities, or moved away from the area etc., but
such is the popularity that not only do new members keep coming
along to fill the vacancies, old friends come back and enjoy
their puppet roles again with just the same enthusiasm as in
the beginning!
Sue Sykes
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