May The graciousness of God by Matthew Street, The Vicar, based on Jonah 3:5 and 3:10 to 4:3

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1 The Parish of Wellow Wellow Church and Parish News May 2018 The graciousness of God by Matthew Street, The Vicar, based on Jonah 3:5 and 3:10 to 4:3 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. (Jonah 3:5 and 3:10 to 4:3) Many of the characters in the Old Testament seem almost too good to be true. We can feel daunted by the depth of their piety, devotion and commitment. When it comes to Jonah, however, it's a different story. One of the great appeals of this short book is the raw humanity of this reluctant prophet. Irascible, cold-hearted and petulant, he is just about the last person you would expect God to call into his service; his faults, if only he could see, equally as great as those he was called to preach to. That is the beauty of this tale, for it vividly portrays God's amazing Grace in action. No one in the narrative remotely deserves his blessing, yet all end up receiving it. The same holds true for us. We may pray 'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us' but thankfully God is willing to go a good deal further than that. The consequences, if he wasn't, don't bear thinking about. Visit the Church Website:

2 Sunday Services in May Jonah the reluctant witness Sunday 6 th May 10:00 Talk: Don t call on me Jonah 1:1-17 Leader: Matthew Street Speaker: Matthew Street Sunday 13 th May 10:00 St J s Group Joint Benefice Service Talk: God s call is for the best Jonah 2:1-10 Leader: Matthew Street Speaker: Matthew Street Sunday 20 th May 10:00 Talk: Mission accomplished Jonah 3:1-10 Leader: Tom Benyon Speaker: Tom Benyon Sunday 27 th May 10:00 Talk: God, why did you do it? Jonah 4:1-11 Leader: Tom Benyon Speaker: Tom Benyon Contact the Rector: The Revd. Matthew Street mgstreet@me.com or through the church website, see below Want to keep in touch? St Julian s Church sends out a weekly e-newsletter with all the latest news and views from around the Benefice. administrator@stjsgroup.church to subscribe to the mailing list. Advertising in this Newsletter FREE: Voluntary organisations based in Wellow. Fees apply to all other individuals and businesses who seek to gain financial benefit from advertising (irrespective of if they are based in Wellow or not): Contact Jenny Barr for more details and payments. Cheques made out to St. Julian s Church P.C.C Church Community Groups White Ox Mead Community Group Phone Nigel & Jo for more details Wellow Prayer Group Tuesdays at 3pm Phone Pauline for details Benefice Praise and Prayer Every Monday, The Vicarage, Peasedown St John God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 Please join us as we praise God, hear from His Word, and come to Him in prayer. St John s Peasedown 1 st Sunday - 10:30am HC 4:30pm SF 2 nd Sunday - 10:30am MP 4:30pm SF 3 rd Sunday - 10:30am HC 4:30pm SF HC 4 th Sunday- 10:30am MP 4:30pm SF HC= Holy Communion SF= Soul Food - A service with modern lively music followed by a family tea MP= Morning Praise Benefice Office For anything church related contact the Benefice Office: T: E: office@stjsgroup.church Visit the Church Website:

3 CHURCH NEWS Thank you Thank you to all who helped to make the Easter Service such a great occasion. Lovely eats and coffee beforehand and so good to have over 20 children. Quiet garden The Quiet Garden at St Julian s Well Opens on 3 rd May, to All welcome for all or part of the day. (Ring for details). Tom Benyon will be leading us. We open every first Thursday through to September. Special joint service On May 13 th we will be hosting folk from Peasedown and Foxcote and Shoscombe. The service is at There will be coffee and croissants available from 10.00, as at Easter. Please come and meet families from elsewhere in the Benefice. Special arrangements will be made for children; pre-school under the tower and primary school age either in the Vestry with a video or the in the school depending on numbers. North field The field looks really good with daffodils still out and the paths to the benches beautifully mown. Loads more snowdrops have been planted. Do use the field for picnics or quiet reflection. A day of prayer Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is calling for parishes worldwide to pray over a 10 day period in May under the title Thy Kingdom Come. This is an invitation to pray for family and friends to find a Christian, spiritual, dimension to their lives. We thought it would be good to take part. We plan to hold a day of prayer on Thursday 10 th May from 8 am to 8 pm in the Church Vestry, which is warm and welcoming. The idea would be to have at least two people praying, or quietly reflecting at a time, in shifts. Or just pop in when you can for as long as you want, the Vestry will be open all day. If you would like to take part, please ring or colintremellen@icloud.com. Pam & Colin, Churchwardens Don t forget to visit the Wellow

4 WELLOW PARISH COUNCIL Eight members of the public attended the 16 th April meeting. Annual Parish Meeting This will be held on Monday 21 st May at 7.30pm in Wellow Village Hall. You are warmly invited to come and have your say on local matters. If there is a particular subject you would like to speak on, it would be helpful to have notice in advance. We also welcome reports from local organisations. These can be sent beforehand if you cannot be there on the night. Contact the Clerk. Planning Councillors supported an application for a carport, garden and storeroom at Church House, High Street, Wellow, noting that this was a smaller version of an application they had previously supported. There were no planning decisions from B&NES. Chicane planting It is hoped to take advantage of the closure of Wellow Road for resurfacing from May 8 to plant up the chicane, thanks to volunteers, using the grant obtained from B&NES towards the cost. Village Hall driveway The exceptionally heavy rain at Easter revealed tree damage to a storm drain at the top of the drive. This has been replaced by the Sports Pavilion contractors while on site. Apologies to Village Hall users who were inconvenienced. The offending tree will be removed. Sports Pavilion The Council is pleased with the layout and shape of the new pavilion and the way it blends into its site. Thanks to all those who have worked so hard to make it happen. The Grand Opening is on May 19 th. Play Park A recent inspection has revealed the need for some further maintenance work, most of which it is hoped can be done by volunteers. Meetings ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Monday 21 st May, Wellow Village Hall, 7.30pm, followed by the ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING (election of Chair) at approximately 8.15pm Robin Campbell clerk@wellowparish.info

5 WELLOW AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Well at last the weather has warmed up and I am enjoying a large patch of snakes head fritillaries at the bottom of my garden near the stream. They enjoy this situation, naturalised amongst the grass in an area which floods occasionally. At least there is some compensation for the foot of water I sometimes get in my glasshouse! I have been sowing seeds frantically to produce plants to bring to our plant sale on Saturday 12 th May. For anyone who hasn't been before this is an excellent opportunity to stock your garden at rock bottom prices. It runs from 2 til 4 pm and there are refreshments available and activities for young ones. Admission free but bring along any spare plants you may have. Also coming up is the Wellow Bee Walk on 3 rd of June. Details to be announced on our website hortsoc.wellow.org a bit nearer the time. If you are looking for a garden to visit this month I have two suggestions. Great Chalfield Manor Garden (National Trust) is now open in the afternoons Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and is beautiful, as is East Lambrook Manor, of Margery Fish fame. East Lambrook is open under the NGS on Sunday 13 th May. Happy gardening, Bridget and the committee LUNCH CLUB The Lunch this month is on Thursday 24 th May at 1pm in the Village Hall. If you are unable to be there, please let one of the cooks know as soon as possible. My number is , please leave a message if I don t answer. Thank you, Janet Martin BAT TALK AND WALK - THURSDAY 24 th MAY Come along and find out a bit more about these elusive endangered creatures that live right here in Wellow, (as part of the FESTIVAL OF NATURE). It will not only be full of mind-boggling batty facts... It will be full of advice about what you can do to help the wildlife (particularly the nocturnal) that lives all around us if there is sufficient interest then I can get some funding for bat detectors and set up an Eco/ Wildlife community group that can help the parish council preserve the rich and diverse wildlife in Wellow (one of the main reasons I love living here) and encourage budding naturalists (both young and old).

6 The bat evening will be on the 24 th of May and will start with a talk from 7-8pm, by the AVON BAT GROUP (with live rescue bats) in Wellow Village hall this talk will be suitable for children 5 years+ WALK - At 8.30pm 30 adults (maximum) are invited to the hall to be taught how to use bat detectors before the group sets off on a walk around Wellow to see what it can pick up on the monitors If any adults want to book to go on this they will need to events@avonbatgroup.org.uk quoting Wellow 24 th May. Let s get BATTY! Jo McKerr Wellow Valley Tennis and Wellow Recreation are pleased to invite all Wellow Parishioners to the Launch and Grand Opening of The Wellow Sports Pavilion on Saturday 19 th May from 12 noon (The Opening Ceremony will be held at 1pm) Achieved thanks to the generosity of many Wellow residents and grants from local and national bodies, this wonderful new building (and disabled access WC) is for the enjoyment of all users of the Wellow Playing Field, tennis courts and Play Park. Our policy is, 'if it's open just come on in' and the aim is to have it open as much as possible!

7 THE CHERRY ORCHARD - performed by Miracle Theatre - Tickets now on sale As we approach the hot days and balmy evenings of Summer, it's time to make plans for your friends and family to enjoy more time together. With numbers climbing to 270 in the audience for the outdoor theatre last summer there's no time to lose in getting tickets in case it's sold out in advance this year. The professional Miracle Theatre will be visiting Wellow once again on Thursday 19 th July when they will be performing 'The Cherry Orchard' adapted and directed by Bill Scott - a family friendly and entertaining evening. Miracle will unpack Chekhov s bittersweet comedy about a once-wealthy family, whose idleness and extravagance have brought them to the brink of bankruptcy. Obstinate and self-absorbed, they are deaf to the rumblings of change which surrounds them, and unable to accept help when they need it. Will it take a revolution to destroy their cosy world of privilege and entitlement or will their own stupidity be enough? Bill's new adaptation treads the tragicomic tightrope, bringing out all the humour and pathos of Chekhov s masterpiece which, more than a century after it was written is as popular as ever. So, pack up a picnic, bring a folding chair and arrive early to choose your spot. The programme will comprise: 6.30pm Hannah Banks - Trumpet welcome as people arrive

8 6.40pm Maryell Finisterre - Acclaimed singer while everyone enjoys a picnic. 7.30pm Miracle Theatre Company - The Cherry Orchard performance begins - running time: approximately 2 hours plus interval. Ticket prices have been held at last year's prices and are available through the Wellow Community Shop (cash and cheques) or through Bath Box Office (credit and debit cards) online See you there! Ron & Sheilagh Humphreys On behalf of Wellow Recreation Charity No WELLOW COMMUNITY CHEST - SAVE THE DATES! We are very excited to announce three events to put in your diaries for More details will follow, but in the meantime! Sunday 24 th June 2018, 2pm to 5pm Wellow Art & Garden Trail A lovely opportunity to enjoy some of our very talented artists' work in beautiful garden settings. Starting at the Village Hall, with afternoon tea available at the Village Hall and St Julian's Church. 5 per head including map. Accompanied children go free. No dogs please. Sunday 14 th October 2018 Apple Day in partnership with the Horticultural Society at St Julian s Church. Saturday 1 st December 2018 Wellow Safari Supper, a chance to catch up with old friends and make new friends whilst enjoying some delicious food. We do hope you join us and in doing so help us raise funds for the Wellow Community Chest. The Wellow Community Chest Committee Community Matters: Support your Village The Parlour Shop, the Village Hall, Church and Societies

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12 NEW EDITOR NEEDED After ten years, it s time for me to step down as editor of the Parish News, and let someone else take over. All you need is a spare 2-3 hours a month and basic Microsoft Word Skills. If you have any questions, give me a ring on Jenny PARISH NEWS Can you let me have any articles for the April edition, by the 19 th of April. As usual, you can either me at jennybarr44@yahoo.co.uk, leave at the Parlour shop or post it through the letterbox of Honeysuckle Cottage. Printed by St Phillip and St James Church, Oddown. Published and Promoted by St Julian s Parish Church at the St J s Group Office, The Vicarage, Church Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8AA, administrator@stjsgroup.church