CHRIST CHURCH WARWICK – WEEKLY BULLETIN
18 OCTOBER 2025
NEW MINISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH WARWICK
Christ Church Warwick has a new Minister! The Induction of the Very Rev Dr. Martin Fair took place on the evening of Wednesday 15th October 2025. The congregation of Christ Church is happy to welcome back Martin and Elaine Fair, 34 years after Martin served as our Youth Minister! Martin’s first church service as our new Minister will be tomorrow, Sunday 19th October.
CONGREGATIONAL LUNCHEON TO WELCOME MARTIN AND ELAINE FAIR
There will be a congregational luncheon after church tomorrow, Sunday 19th October, in the Thorburn Hall, to welcome Martin and Elaine back to Christ Church.
THANK YOU TO JOHN AND LIZ CHALMERS
Rev John Chalmers and Liz will be leaving Bermuda tomorrow evening. We are grateful to have had the Chalmers with us for several of the five last months, since Rev Alistair Bennett’s retirement earlier this year. We would like to express our gratitude to John for having served as our Locum Minister for much of that period, and as Interim Moderator throughout.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DAVE GARLAND
A Celebration of Life service for George David “Dave” Garland will be held at Christ Church on Thursday 23rd October at 3:30pm.
Please see the announcement as published in Bernews Obituaries on 9th October:
Bulley-Graham-Rawlins Funeral Home regrets to announce the death of Mr. George David “Dave” Garland, who died peacefully in the care of Westmeath on the 3rd of October. He was the dearly loved husband of Sue for 56 years, a loving father to Caitlin [Ross] and Chris, much loved by his granddaughters, Jodie and Isla, of whom he was so proud. Dave will be fondly remembered by the Bradshaw family in Wales, by his brothers and sister in Yorkshire, his extended family in the UK, and friends in Bermuda and abroad. He was a Yorkshireman, a lover of sports, music, and poetry, a teacher of navigation to countless people, and a policeman for life. In a life lived to the full, he collected many great stories, and he loved to share them with whoever would listen. A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Church, Middle Road, Warwick, on Thursday, 23rd of October 2025 at 3:30 pm.
The service will be live-streamed on the JRoc Communications YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/jrocbda. Should you wish to donate in place of flowers, please consider Westmeath Trustees HSBC bank account # 010 035723 001or a charity of your choice.
https://bernews.com/obituaries/george-david-dave-garland/
MESSY CHURCH
October’s Messy Church will be held next week, on Saturday 25th October. This month’s theme is: Hello! I am… As always, the time will be 5:00pm – 6:30pm, and the location the Thorburn Hall. All ages are welcome!
CCY (CHRIST CHURCH YOUTH)
All children ages 3 years and up are welcome to attend CCY, held every Sunday in the Thorburn Hall during the 10am church service.
2025 CHURCH FAIR!
The date of this year’s church fair is Saturday 29th November. Please mark your calendars!
REQUEST FOR NEW CHOIR MEMBERS
Matt Nester, who is currently directing the Choir, is recruiting new Choir members. Anyone who would like to join is asked to speak to Matt at church, or to contact him by phone at 901-2813 or by e-mail at . Rehearsals are at 9am on Sundays.
MESSAGE FROM ALISTAIR BENNETT
Please see, below, a message from our former Minister, Rev Alistair Bennett.
North Berwick
Dear Friends,
It is hard to believe that it is five months since we left Bermuda to begin our retirement here in North Berwick. During that time we have been staying with our daughter but it has included a golf trip to the States and five weeks in Canada visiting family there and travelling.
I had hoped to have the opportunity of a newsletter before now but would like to send this brief message as you welcome Martin and Elaine. First of all can Judi and I express our thanks for the tremendous generosity shown by the congregation on our farewell. We really were quite overcome and are hugely appreciative. Around September 2016 it would never have been in our minds that we were shortly going to be spending nine years in Bermuda. They were nine years that we greatly enjoyed and much value the friendships made. We miss you all and hope that when appropriate, we might be able to return at some point. In the meantime we would be delighted to see any of you in North Berwick, especially as we have now had an offer on a house accepted and plan to move in January.
It has been disappointing on our return to find too many Church of Scotland congregations in such a poor state with some notable exceptions. It was a privilege to be the minister of Christ Church, a friendly, lively congregation with a clear vision of its future. I understand that you have recently had a Stewardship Campaign to try to return income to pre-Covid levels and to ensure congregational expenditure is matched by income without depending on the Endowment Fund which is part of the Friends of Christ Church Trust. As your former minister it is perhaps easier to raise the following than when in post. Discussions with the Trustees did take place as to how to increase the capital of the Endowment Fund and so I now take the opportunity to raise the possibility of legacies specifically for that purpose. Individual conversations on this topic are sensitive and often difficult to take place so I now do so from the safe distance of Scotland! Given the present state of the Church of Scotland the need for congregations to be both financially sustainable and outward looking is being increasingly emphasised and I know Christ Church will rise to that challenge.
With best wishes to you all,
Alistair
CHRIST CHURCH 2026 ANNUAL PLEDGE
The 2026 Annual Pledge process has begun. Please refer to the e-mail of Friday 3rd October from Christ Church Bermuda for information on the Pledge process. The e-mail contains a link to the simple and secure, online Annual Pledge Form 2026. If you would prefer a hard-copy (paper) Pledge Form, or if you haven’t received the e-mail, please contact David Cartmill, Treasurer of Christ Church, at .
MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESBYTERY
TWO UPCOMING SEMINARS
LET US INTERCEDE: Leading the prayers of intercession in your local church
Join us for two seminars hosted by the International Presbytery, offering an introduction to intercessory prayer, the vital and powerful practice of praying on behalf of others. Led by the Irene Bom, the Presbytery Worship and Prayer Promoter. These sessions will explore Biblical foundations, share real-life stories, and provide simple ways to begin or deepen your intercessory practice within your congregation. Whether you’re new to leading prayers in church, or seeking to grow in confidence, there will be space to learn, reflect, and share together. All are welcome.
Dates
Tuesday 23 September 2025
Tuesday 21 October 2025
Times and Location
2:30pm to 4:00pm (Bermuda-time), online using Teams
Contact
Christine Colliar –
This information can also be found on the website of the International Presbytery of The Church of Scotland at www.internationalpresbytery.org/events.
SEARCHES FOR RENTED ACCOMMODATION IN BERMUDA
A member of the congregation, Matt Nester, is seeking rented accommodation as of the start of November. Matt is currently looking for a studio or one-bedroom apartment in any parish, or alternatively, a medium-or-long-term house-sit. If you can assist, please contact Matt at 901-2813 or .
Pastor Karsten Decker and his wife, Diana, are also seeking rented accommodation; they are looking for a 1-or-2-bedroom dwelling in any parish, as of the beginning of December. Pastor Karsten can be reached at 777-2493 or .
SUMMARY OF UPCOMING DATES
Sunday 19th October (after church) – congregational luncheon to welcome the Fairs
Tuesday 21st October (2:30pm-4:00pm) – online seminar on intercessory prayer
Saturday 25th October (5:00pm-6:30pm) – Messy Church (Hello! I Am…)
Saturday 29th November (10am-3pm) – 2025 church fair!
CHRIST CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION AND OTHER ITEMS
MINISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH WARWICK
The Very Rev Dr. Martin Fair, the Moderator of the Kirk Session of Christ Church Warwick and our new Minister, can be reached by phone at the manse, on 236-0400, or by e-mail at .
CHURCH OFFICE
The church office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm. Phone calls can be received on 236-1882, and e-mails at .
PASTORAL CARE
If you know of someone who is housebound or in need of a pastoral visit, please do contact the church. Our Minister, Rev Dr. Martin Fair, can be reached at the contact information above. Pastoral visits may also be arranged through the church office.
SUNDAY SERVICES
Sunday service at Christ Church is held each week at 10:00am. The Order of Service can be viewed in advance on the website, on the home page www.christchurch.bm. After the service each Sunday, you will find a video recording of the service on the website, under Sunday Archives at www.christchurch.bm/about-us/sunday-archives/, or on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@ChristchurchBermuda. If you are aware of someone who needs assistance with transportation to church, please contact the church office, and we will endeavour to arrange a lift.
CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS
Anyone who would like to receive the Weekly Bulletin and who isn’t already subscribed is asked to contact the church office. This Weekly Bulletin and past editions can be found on the church website at www.christchurch.bm/news-events/. The church calendar of upcoming events is also at that location, and at www.christchurch.bm/events/. Christ Church news and events can be found on our Facebook page too, at www.facebook.com/Christ.Church.Warwick.