Dear friends,
‘Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.
In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.
Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.
While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.
Furthermore 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop, and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank, where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.’
Clearly whoever dreamt this lot up had too much spare time on their hands!
This is not my problem of course, but I do have time. In fact I am available for anyone of you reading this magazine if you have some spiritual need or concern that we could talk over. This is not an empty gesture. I have a diary and am capable of using it to find a suitable time.
I say this for two reasons. The first is that people often say things like ‘oh you must be very busy (with your two jobs and all)’, and perhaps conclude that I have no time for them. But actually I do, although it may need planning ahead! The second is that I’ve been thinking about promises and decided that I would make a promise I intend to keep. I don’t care much for promises that are made in the heat of the moment, or rashly without forethought, or insincerely.
Through scripture we are told that God has made promises not only to ‘his people’ but also to the whole of creation. Sometimes these are called covenants or testaments (hence Old and New ones). They are agreements made between two parties with promises made to be kept on both sides. God makes some fairly amazing promises. To
Abram (Genesis 17v2) he said ‘Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward’, and he went on to promise that Abram (who was old) and Sarah (who was childless) would be parents of a people so numerous it would be impossible to count them. God promised that to Abram he would be a shield which meant that he would be like a king who guides, protects and looks after the best interests of his people. The great reward was not money or possessions (Abram had plenty of that and it hadn’t done him much good). It was that the relationship between God and Abram would be the reward. God promised something so special that it was a better reward than winning the lottery (or owning more sheep than anyone else in OT terms). God promised to be ‘in relationship’. That’s friendship to you and me, and God promised that he would never break that friendship, ever. There is a lot that God doesn’t promise e.g. a trouble free life, a chance to avoid suffering, insurance against stupid mistakes, escaping the consequences of wrong doing. Instead he just promises to know you, love you and be with you through everything. Our job is simply to believe it, or in the words of the man who pleaded with Jesus to heal his son ‘I believe, help my unbelief!’(Mark 9v24).
Banks promise to pay us our money or so it says on bank notes. Sometimes however they are unable to do this and the value of our investment can drop as well as rise. If we invest in faith this is something that will continue to appreciate, well beyond our retirement!

‘I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God’ (Exodus 6v7)
Phil

Ps from August the work in the church will be taking place and won’t finish until just before Christmas (this is a hope not a promise!). Let’s remember not to say ‘the church is closed!’ The church building may be closed but the real church is always open. The church is the people of God. God arms are forever open to welcome anyone into a friendship with him. Let’s pray that our worship in the Parish Hall during this time helps us to grow our friendship with God and one another in new ways.

 Thank you again very much for continuing to pray for us and those we try and help. Please continue to pray for Sunday school teacher Carmen from Yema who is alone in Buenos Aires, looking after her daughter Mechy who had several operations there for her brain tumour. Carmen is alone as her aunt Deaconess Elena has returned to Chiriguanos to look after the congregation there.  Pray also for Carmen’s husband Lolo, an often absent member of the congregation, that his faith may grow stronger.
Please also pray for the congregation in Juarez as they lead a young people’s camp there during the winter holidays this month.
Please also continue to pray for Lynn’s health. She has recently been to hospital for tests. most of them said she was basically healthy. Her basic problem is severe osteoporosis in the back - a lack of calcium in the bones. She is more mobile since being in the hospital. 
Our Bishop Greg says that the Bishop’s conference in Jerusalem was good, and he asks us all to pray for him and the other Bishops at and after Lambeth.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us,
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing to be enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela
(Submitted by Diane Simpson)

Conductors
Malcolm Appleby & Caroline Watkinson

Hello everyone. We have had a busy time recently with 2 concerts in June. On the first we were at the Spa and yes it rained but we were able to play in the Spa Grand Hall. We had a good audience. On the 18th we were at Queen Street Methodist Church this was part of their summer season concerts.
By the time you read this we will have given a concert for the Scarborough Lions who are raising funds for Martin House Hospice and this concert was held at the Library. Our band is growing week by week. We have had 6 more musicians join us over the last few weeks 3 young clarinet players, a tenor saxophone, a trumpet player and a percussionist.
This year is a very special year as you know and we have been very fortunate from friends of the band and local organisations who have helped raise funds for new banners, music folders and music stands all of which have replaced our well used ones.
In August we have 2 outdoor concerts both on Sunday afternoons the first will be on the bandstand at Filey on the 3rd and, the second in Peasholm Park on the bandstand on the 17th both of these are free and if the weather is nice makes a lovely afternoon so why not come along.
The months seem to fly by I can’t believe it’s July we will soon be thinking about Christmas (dare I mention it) . We have 2 concerts planned for then but I will give you details nearer the time, lets not think that far ahead and just enjoy the rest of the summer.
September 3rd we are back at Queen Street Methodist Church for their last concert of the summer season, then on the 4th of October we have our celebration concert at Queen Street and we are inviting past members of the band to come along and join us for this one-off concert which we are all really looking forward to. Hope you will be able to come along and help us celebrate this special concert.
Well that’s all the news I have for you best wishes.