THREE PARISHES NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2016

Transcription

1 THREE PARISHES NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2016 Dear Friends Welcome to the New Year where the work of Christmas begins. As another New Year begins, many of us will be dreaming about new possibilities or looking forward to exciting events that lay ahead; a family wedding, retirement, the birth of a child, a new job or a new home. Some of us will make resolutions; this year will be the year when we achieve our goals and aspirations. All this often happens as the excitement of Christmas begins to fade. We have celebrated the most momentous historical event ever to happen the time when heaven touched earth through the birth of Jesus our Saviour, but as our celebrations fade and the decorations are boxed up for another year, and our thoughts turn to our aspirations for the coming year what can we do to ensure we don t pack Jesus away with all the tinsel? This poem by Howard Thurman expresses it all and will I hope will give us all something to reflect on as we enter another New Year. When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. (Howard Thurman ) This New Year will see a number of new beginnings in our Benefice. Our new pattern of services is launched this month please do check the notice sheet and newsletter for service times. A new beginning for Newton is the introduction of a service on the first Sunday of the month at 4pm which will be different every month but an opportunity for

2 all the village to join together to worship. In Corston in January there will be a Blessing of the Plough service on January 17th. The churches across the Benefice will begin to worship together on 5th Sundays and our first Benefice celebration will take place on January 31st at 10am in Saltford. There will be two services at the same time, one a service of Holy Communion in St Mary s Church at 10am and the other a Family Worship (Café Style) in St Mary s Church Hall also at 10 am. On Sunday January 17th at 6.30pm in our Café Worship in Saltford we will be exploring the theme Beginning again with the Bible part 1. All are welcome to any or all of these new beginnings. In February we begin our Lent course exploring The Church as a Community. If you would like more information regarding this year s Lent Course please contact your home group leader, however if you don t belong to a home group but would like to come on the Lent Course please get in touch with Robin Dixon (Saltford), Teresa Austin (Newton), Anthony Acton (Corston) or myself for more information. Happy New Year to you all, and may the work of Christmas begin. Blessings Daile Parish Registers SALTFORD Thanksgiving for the birth of a child 24th December: Gabin James Arlo Luc Funerals 19 th November: Priscilla Crew CORSTON Funerals 21st December: Charles Keith Bates Parish Roundabout Holy Communion at Home or a Visit: If anyone is unable to get to church and would like either Holy Communion at Home or just a visit, please contact the Parish Office. Copydate for the next newsletter is 10 th January at the latest. Please deliver all copy to the Parish Office. If you produce it on a computer it would be a great help if you would please it to: parishoffice@stmaryssaltford.org.uk Transport: for transport to a service in the benefice, please ring the Parish Office. The Less Able: if anyone needs assistance to fully share in a church service please ring the Parish Office.

3 St Mary s Saltford The Parish Office, St Mary s Church Hall, High St., Saltford, BS31 3EL Tel: parishoffice@stmaryssaltford.org.uk Churchwardens: Dave Faulkner John Norris Thank you Open the Book team. I was thrilled by the Nativity service today (Dec 6th) and would like to thank all who contributed and helped Sunday Club children, leaders and parents together. The Christmas story was retold in a fresh and meaningful way by the Open the Book team and our church children. We know that the Open the Book team go into Saltford School most Monday afternoons to take part in Assembly, but we don t know what they do. This has been happening while there was no Rector to maintain the strong links we have with our church school. It was great to have the opportunity to see how they tell a bible story by acting it out and involving the children, with dressing up, truth and fun. Thank you, team, for your faithfulness in this ministry. I was moved to see how many children there today have parents who did that same thing in their time. Many of us have been around long enough to have seen these parents when they were in Sunday School, Youth groups or Holiday Bible Club. Doesn t this show how important it is that we nurture and encourage our young people now, then we will see them bringing their own children in the future, if we re still here! May the Lord continue to inspire, lead and strengthen us as we grow in his family here in Saltford and beyond. Judy Penny Circle of Friends : We start the New Year on 7 th January 2016 with a visit to the Rectory for a lighthearted entertaining evening. Nibbles and drinks will be provided and the start time is 7.30pm. Every one is invited including those in Corston and Newton- St- Loe who would like to join us. Please sign the list in the Porch or phone Hilary Smedley Theatre Trips : Contact Olive Wilkinson on for further details Coffeeshop: this is now on Friday Mornings at the Hinton Close meeting room from 10.00am to 11.30am. Evening Praise Evening Praise on the third Sunday of January (17 th ) is entitled Beginning Again with the Bible

4 HOUSE GROUPS IN SALTFORD Tues Evenings: 18 High Street, 7.45pm Contact: Ken Plant Tel Wed Evenings: 14 Golf Club Lane, 7.45pm Contact: Sue & Robin Dixon Tel Wed Evenings: 5 Vernon Close, 8.00pm Contact: Julia & John Norris Tel Mens House Groups (meet monthly) 2 nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm for 8.00pm Contact: John Norris Tel or Dave Faulkner Tel nd Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm Contact: Robin Dixon All Saints, Corston Parish Office Tel: Churchwardens: Jane Jones Liz Acton Christmas Village Market: Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Christmas market such a huge success a total of raised for church funds! Thank you to all those who donated such

5 wonderful things to sell, lovely cakes, super raffle prizes and much more and to all those who came and I hope enjoyed the occasion. What would we do without the team of helpers who so willingly and cheerfully give their time getting ready serving on the day and clearing up afterwards - not forgetting the kitchen staff who produce a never- ending supply of coffee, bacon butties and mince pies. On a personal note, it was a great joy for me to meet all my friends. Bette Parfrey Bible Study...will recommence in the New Year. The proposed dates are 14 and 28 January and 4 February when we hope to complete our study of the Acts of the Apostles. 7.30pm for 8.00pm at 8 Brook Cottages. Tickets: Adults 5 Children 3 BEETLE DRIVE AND SUPPER Corston Village Hall Saturday 30 January 6.00pm start Bring your own drinks. Tickets from Jenny Holy Trinity, Newton St Loe Parish Office Tel: Churchwardens: Rosemary Denning Ian Tadd Christmas Concert: Newton Church was packed for a Christmas concert by the young people of the Bristol School of Performing Arts on Saturday 12th December. Simon Carr Minns, the choir director and the Artistic Director, John Redgrave, arranged a superb programme of carols and songs from the musicals for the junior and senior choirs. The enthusiasm and talent of the young people was heart warming which our rector, Daile, referred to when she gave a vote of thanks to everyone who helped and also to the audience for their support. 'Carols in the Barn' was arranged by Teresa and Celia on Sunday 13 th December. The music was provided by Meg on the keyboard and a brass group led by Joe. The seats were all taken, our rector, Daile, gave a short address and the readers read the Christmas readings. Hugh and Josh served mulled wine and mince pies. Chuffy the Train chugged around the village and the craft stalls were very festive. Newton really showed the Christmas spirit and spread the good news of peace and joy to all.

6 How Do You Pray? Psychologists have demonstrated that the way we sit expresses our feelings and attitude in any situation. If we sit with our arms folded and/or legs crossed, we are being defensive, shielding ourselves from what is going on around us. How, I wonder, does this translate to our posture in prayer? We would be unlikely to pray in a defensive posture unless we were feeling particularly hurt and vulnerable because of what was going on in our lives. If and when we pray in a defensive posture, we are trying to exclude what is hurting us in order to be in contact with God alone...in private. Jesus encourages us to do that, but he also encourages us to pray connected to (and as part of) all creation. We have been taught by a mediaeval tradition of praying on our knees, with hands together, head bowed and eyes closed (all for very good reasons). The early church, however, prayed with hands open and raised, looking upwards. Which of these makes it easier to embrace those for whom we pray and with whom we pray? Some of these ideas seem disconnected and even incompatible with each other, which shows us that prayer takes many, many forms. The person crouching and rocking to and fro in grief or mental anguish is praying just as much as the person singing loud and cheering spiritual songs, with their hands waving in the air. Let s learn to use all of these as the situation in our lives requires, or gives cause for them. Prayer is a precious privilege, granted by our gracious God and we are talking about it. Let us pray. Ken Plant Advance Notice: The Annual 3 Villages Coffee Morning in aid of Cancer charities will be held in Saltford Hall on Monday February 15 th 2016 at 10:15 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The Annual Soup and Cheese lunch in aid of Christian Aid will be held in Saltford Hall on Thursday March 3 rd at 12 noon until 2 p.m.

7 Over 2 million people in the UK and 11 million worldwide have now attended an Alpha course. It is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life and explore the Christian faith, in a relaxed informal setting over several weeks. There will be a two course meal provided free of charge* Time: Wednesday s pm Venue: St Dunstan s Church Hall Keynsham *Donations gratefully accepted towards cost. Schedule January 20 th Alpha Supper Is there more to life than this? January 27 th Who is Jesus? February 3 rd Why did Jesus die? February 10 th How can we have faith? February 17 th Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? February 24 th How can I resist evil? February 20 th Holy Spirit Day pm Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? Venue: Emmaus Centre, Whitchurch tbc March 2 nd Why and how should I tell others? March 9 th Does God heal today? March 16 th How can I make the most of the rest of my life? What about the Church? For more details please talk to either: Pat Clarke Tel: (St Dunstan s Church) Rev Mike Burke Tel: (Keynsham Parish) Rev Ian Rousell Tel: (Keynsham Parish) A New Year Message from Bishop Ruth Dear Brothers and Sisters, Did you know that 2016 is designated as the year of the monkey in the Chinese calendar? And the UN calls it the year of pulses not the one that beats blood around our bodies but rather nutritious seeds for a sustainable future. (Last year was the year of soil!) I wonder what you will make of this New Year. How would you like to recognise it? The year in which you achieve a promotion at work? Gain qualifications at school? Have a year free from pain or ill health? Mend a relationship?

8 How about seeing this year as one when you can pass on the good news of the love of Jesus to someone you know? Did you know that on average the decline in numbers in church attendance across the Church of England amounts to about 1 person per congregation per year? Just imagine what could happen if you introduced one new person to church this year. And if each of your fellow church members did so too then we would see an amazing reverse of the trend! But frankly it s not about reversing the decline in our church numbers is it. Much more important is that there are people around us who are missing out on knowing that God loves them. And we can do something about that. Through our prayers, our care and our words. So who might you pray for this year? Is there a neighbour, family member, work colleague or a friend who could really do with God s blessing this year? And as you pray, listen out for what God might say to you about being the answer to that prayer. Perhaps you could be the one who shows them they matter to someone. And how about your church community? What might you do together to send a message of love to your parish, the people you live among and serve? And in so doing think about how you might tell them that your act of kindness and care comes with the love of God attached! With love and prayers for you all this New Year! +Ruth Taunton JANUARY 2016 DIARY 3 rd Sunday 9.30am Family Service for Epiphany with baptism, Saltford 4 th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Local Ministry Group, Marksbury 5 th Tuesday 8.00pm Prayer Meeting, 5 Vernon Close 7 th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 7.30pm Circle of Friends 8 th Friday 10.00am Coffee Shop, Hinton Close Meeting Room 7.00pm Choir Practice

9 11 th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Local Ministry Group, Marksbury 13 th Wednesday 12 noon Soup and Pudding Lunch, Corston 14 th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 7.30pm Benefice Committee Meeting, Church Hall, Saltford 8.00pm Prayer Meeting, 14 Beresford Close 15 th Friday 10.00am Coffee Shop, Hinton Close Meeting Room 7.00pm Choir Practice, Saltford 17 th Sunday 11.15am Teen Church, Saltford 18 th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Local Ministry Group, Marksbury 7.30pm PCC Newton St Loe 21st Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 7.30pm PCC Corston 7.30pm Prayer Meeting, 3 Copse Road 22 nd Friday 10.00am Coffee Shop, Hinton Close Meeting Room 25 th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Local Ministry Group, Marksbury 26 th Tuesday 6.30pm Prayer Meeting, 433 Bath Road 28 th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 7.30pm PCC Saltford 29 th Friday 10.00am Coffee Shop, Hinton Close Meeting Room 30 th Saturday 6.00pm Beetle Drive, Corston

10