Have a go at our next caption competition (above). Send entries by email only to captioncompetition@churchtimes.co.uk by 9 a.m., Monday 6 November
Here is the winning entry for the previous competition:
Robyn Golden-HannRobyn Golden-Hann
The Vicar hoped confiscating the bikes would end the undignified race for coffee and cake after the morning service (Jo Mash)
VISUAL aids can be helpful when learning Bible stories, wherever they may be found:
“Messy church had reached Ezekiel 1.21, ‘the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels’” (Martin Kettle); “It was time to return the visual aids following Sunday’s sermon on Ezekiel’s wheels” (Eunice Parry); “Ezekiel saw the wheels” (Alistair Bolt); “Wheels within wheels? The Vicar brings out her visual aid for the Junior Church lesson on Ezekiel 1” (Peter Beal); “Mother Robyn had heard that parish life is all about wheels within wheels and burst on to the scene well prepared” (Pip Martin).
Working with children is an integral part of parish ministry, but not necessarily for the faint-hearted:
“Another Messy Church done for the day” (Richard Strudwick); “The vicar had to borrow the church toddler group’s bikes for this year’s nativity, owing to shortages of camels and donkeys” (Paul MacDermott); “Robyn cheerfully robbing the children for her next sermon on the ‘wheelbarrow of faith’” (Paulette Yallop); “In her quest to rid the planet of plastic, the new Vicar was in danger of upsetting Children’s Church” (Mervyn Cox); “I had no idea that that fizzy drinks given to the kids would result in this pile up’’ (Eric Jones).
“Oh no, the local kids have been ram-raiding the residential care home again” (Rob Falconer); “Now that’s what I call throwing all your toys out of your pram” (Rena Plumridge); “When I said people were welcome to ride their scooters into the church, I was thinking of mobility scooters!” (Valerie Budd); “The Sunday school suggested that the vicar should go on a sponsored cycle ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to raise money for church funds. All equipment would be provided” (Christopher Miller); “The new vicar realises she should have explained the Cycle of Prayer better to the younger members of Sunday school” (Pauline Williams).
All aboard the net-zero bandwagon:
“The net zero replacements for the church’s cars was welcomed by the clergy” (Philip Lickley); “Worshippers swapping their cars for these to get to church should kick start us on our path to net zero” (Heather Ford); “The new DIY HS2 replacement zero-emission community minibus has arrived!” (Stella Stephens); “Having been asked to find a greener form of transport for the pensioners’ outing, the Vicar was only too happy to roll out the alternative” (Jeannie Chamberlain).
Some other entries that we enjoyed:
“The family of Mr Heath Robinson generously donated a contraption to be auctioned for the church restoration fund” (Catherine Thorp); “The new Vicar was eager to show her congregation that she’d look after them from the cradle to the grave” (Lesley Cope); “All shall be wheeled, and all manner of things shall be wheeled” (John Appleby); “Yes, I admit to watching Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out” (James Parsons); “Having completed her potty training, the new curate moved on to the next stage of CMD” (Marja Flipse); “Mount Sinai as reimagined by small fry” (Paul Lodge); “The vicar’s plan to encourage young members to attend church council meetings was beginning to look quite ridiculous!” (Mark Parry).
“The new Archdeacon had a plan to cut diocesan travel expenses” (Vicky Deasley); “Some items turn up at the Christian Aid sale year after year” (Don Manley); “The vicar had to admit she had a wheely good day!” (Kathy Cakebread); “Limited parking at church” (Claire Driver); “Despite the challenges of rural ministry, Revd Rosie was determined to cut down on PCC travel expenses” (Maree Foster); “The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling Beryl. . .” (Pearl Davison); “To huge applause, the church’s entry to the next Turner Prize was unveiled” (Anthony Goodger); and “The Vicar had promised to provide transport for the parish day out” (Andrew Williamson).
As ever, the winner receives a prize of Fairtrade chocolate, courtesy of Divine Chocolate.
divinechocolate.com