Church of All Saints in the Vendée To know and to share Jesus Christ

Transcription

1 Church of All Saints in the Vendée To know and to share Jesus Christ CONTACTS: Locum Priest: Position vacant at the moment Church Wardens: Barbara Kenyon: Phone no: , Joan Stewart: Phone no: , Readers: Robin Kenyon: Phone no: , John Matthews: Phone no: , Website: Preface I am delighted that one of our Readers, John Matthews, has written this month`s Preface for us: Dear friends, The family was on the beach at Les Sables d'olonne and the young daughter dug a hole in the sand. She then went down to the sea and brought some water to fill the hole. In a moment the water disappeared. She repeated the exercise again and again only to find the same thing happened. Of course, she became tired and started to cry. Meanwhile the tide had been coming in, so her father showed her how to make a channel to the sea, so it would flow naturally into the hole and fill it - and the girl was content. Aren't we a bit like that girl? We try to fill our minds with ideas about God and often exhaust ourselves. We think, and talk, too much. We need to wait upon the Lord, knowing he will come to us. As Paul tells the church in Rome, 'don't try to measure the wind of God's love; just go with it, let it breath through you and empower you''. This is God's Spirit, a totally renewable power source. To be filled with the vitality of God's love is to share in a relationship with him and to know ourselves truly loved. Its also to share in God's limitless love for the world. Paul insists that our love must be as unending as God's. No check-lists, not just loving our neighbour 'on our terms only'. God the Son preferred to go to the cross rather than force his creation into a dutiful and fearful obedience to the Father -so that must also be our choice. One of the distinguishing features of Christianity is how we discern God. We believe he is 'three persons in one' - the Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So we know God as Father in creation; as Jesus, the Son, intervening throughout history; and as the Holy Spirit active in us. The Trinity is a community of love, and this rich and dynamic model means we have a God for whom relationships are crucial. Christianity offers an understanding of God the Father known through the Son, and experienced through the Holy Spirit. Simple yet complex, accessible yet subtle. God beyond our imagination, yet God with us. As we celebrated at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit first became available to all believers shortly after Pentecost, a few weeks after the Resurrection. Jesus explained that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. He works in ways we cannot predict or understand. Just as we did not control our physical birth, neither can we control our spiritual birth. It's a gift from God. Paul reminds us, via his letter to the church in Rome, 'you have received a spirit of adoption and when we cry, 'Abba, Father', it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. What a privilege! What a responsibility! July 2013 As children of God we are invited to enjoy his love but to extend it to others, that all may come to believe, and to experience that love for themselves. John Matthews Page One

2 JULY INTO AUGUST CHURCH SERVICES WITH BIBLE READINGS All Services start at 11am except where indicated 7/7/2013 MW Trinity 6 LCP 1 st Lesson: 2Kings 5: 1-14 Epistle: Galatians 6: 7-16 Gospel: St Luke 10: /7/2013 HC Trinity 7 PDS 1 st Lesson: Amos 7: 7-17 Epistle: Colossians 1: 1-14 Gospel: St Luke 10: /7/2013 MW Trinity 8 LCA 1 st Lesson: Amos 8: 1-12 Epistle: Colossians 1: Gospel: St Luke 10: /7/2013 5pm Evensong Trinity 8 TSG 28/7/2013 MW Trinity 9 PDS 1 st Lesson: Hosea 1: 2-10 Epistle: Colossians 2: 6-15 Gospel: St Luke 11: 1-13 LCA = La Chapelle Achard; PDS = Puy de Serre; LCP = La Chapelle Palluau, TSG = Tallud Sainte Gemme MW=Morning Worship; HC(CW)=Holy Communion (Common Worship); BCP=Book of Common Prayer Please join us for Tea, Coffee & Biscuits after our services, followed by a Bring & Share Lunch Everyone is welcome to join us - even if you have not brought anything There is always enough to go round! (Unfortunately, when there is a service on the fifth Sunday in the month, the hall is not available). Whatever happened to the little dog who was hanging around before and after church last Sunday? The little dog came home with me and, eventually, I managed to find her original (registered) owner via her 'tattouage' Her original owner lives in Las Sables d'olonne but had given the dog (her name is Hola) to a friend. How Hola ended up in Puy de Serre is unclear. This evening I arranged to meet her original owner at 'Sud Avenue' La Roche Sur Yon and the little dog has been returned Barney is sulking and won't speak to me Polly Page Two

3 5 th July, Friday: Quiz. 5.30pm for 6pm prompt start! For more details, please see below and/or contact Polly Ward on th July, Wednesday: Ministry Team Meeting, 10am 17 th July, Wednesday: Church Council Meeting, 10am, Les Essarts 21 st July, Sunday: Evensong. 5pm. Tallud Sainte Gemme 25 th July, Thursday: Ladies Circle, 2.30pm For further details, please contact Joan Stewart on th July, Thursday, 6pm: Kedgeree or Curry? Chez Jack and Val Goadby. Don t forget that Diary Updates are available on our Website: Names on our Prayer List. Through the coming days Please remember especially in your prayers: Arnold Burrows, who had a serious fall in his own home recently resulting in surgery at La Roche sur Yon. He has now been moved to rehabilitation at Luçon and is able to walk a little with the aid of a walking frame. Sally Mills, who has now returned home following her second hip operation. She is able to walk unaided in the house and a little outside with a walking aid. David Pearson - Following a minor problem a few weeks ago he is again doing well. He has a return visit to his consultant in July. Peter Hutchinson who is suffering from Parkinsons and who is now fairly frail and living alone Please let Dawn, our Prayer Co-ordinator, have details of any folk you become aware of who need our prayers , or dawn.collinson@wanadoo.fr. Thank you all for your continuing prayers Page Three

4 Notes from our Church Wardens We are indebted to the Rev. Martyn Crompton and the Rev. Adrian Low who will be helping us out in June, July and August. Unfortunately the Rev. Herbie Floate and the Rev. Bernard Rumbold may be unable to lead the Services which they had originally planned to do. They are however both trying to re-organise their time with us. Both Martyn and Adrian have second homes here and have offered us their services. Thank you both! On Sunday the 16th June some members of A.S.V. were delighted to attend a Service of Confirmation at St., Bartholomew's church in Dinard. Bishop Geoffrey confirmed five candidates, three of whom were from the Vendee. It was a lovely service and we were made most welcome by the congregation of St. Bartholomew's, even by the two dogs who regularly attend services there! As there were a number of us supporting the confirmation candidates in Brittany it is perhaps not too surprising that the number of people attending our first Evensong of the year was rather small. Hopefully our next three will see more people at this lovely Service. Please try and come. The church is found very easily as it on the main square in the little village of Tallud Sainte Gemme just off the D949bis, west of La Chataigneraie. We have had a letter from Bishop David who says that he will be trying out new initiatives in the search for a priest, let us pray that these bring success. We have a number of social events coming up so please keep checking the Social events calendar on the website. Barbara Kenyon ARCHDEACONRY SYNOD 2013 The Archdeaconry Synod was held at St. Jacut de la Mer on the 12 th to the 15 th June. The venue for the Synod is an old Abbey which has been turned into a Conference and family holiday centre and is therefore ideal for accommodating the many representatives, both Lay and Clergy, from all the Anglican Parishes in France. There were fifty seven lay representatives at the Synod and thirty four clergy. There is a Chapel at the Abbey and during the Synod, Morning Prayer, Eucharist and Evening Prayer are held daily. The Synod this year was led by Bishop Geoffrey and will be his last Synod here as he retires in November. The main topics for discussion this year were wide ranging. We also had two very comprehensive Bible Study sessions. Meeting with people from other Parishes helps us to realise that, whilst we are not alone in having problems, the Anglican Church in France is flourishing. Robin Kenyon Page Four

5 Bonnes Fêtes! `Wilyworks, mummy! Wilyworks!` Apparently, I drove my mother mad one day when I was very small. What on earth was I trying to say? She tried putting on `Music while you work` on the wireless. No, it wasn`t that. She became so frustrated and unable to satisfy my demand, that she remembered it all her life. And what was it that I was unable to say? Why, fireworks, of course! And some people would tell you that I have changed very little since that time! I still love fireworks. Le quatorze juillet, La fête nationale, Bastille Day, call it what you will, will soon be upon us. Every small town and village will have its own celebration. There will be dances, `diners champêtres`, all the fun of the fair on this national holiday and to round it all off, there will be glorious firework displays after the sun sets. I can`t wait... Fireworks need to have that wonderful warm velvety blackness of a summer night. Cloudless, clear and no hint of rain. Sitting outside on such a night is such a pleasure and so unlike the damp Novembers we have been used to! Some may miss the smell of the Autumn bonfires, the blackened hotdogs and the scalding soup and jacket potatoes that burned your mouth. Not me! Instead of welly boots, I shall be wearing sandals. Instead of several woolly jumpers, I shall be wearing a T shirt. Instead of a mac, I shall take a light cardigan, just in case! No gloves. No thick wool socks. No strange woollen hats with bobbles on the top What a sensible time of year for such a celebration! Bonnes fêtes, everyone! Joan Stewart FRIDAY 5 July 2013 START 1800 (Salle will be open from 1730 for registration and apero) SALLE PAROISSIALE AT PUY DE SERRE TEAMS OF 4-6 CONTESTANTS PRICE per head (includes apero, 2 course meal and quizzes) Bring your own drinks and glasses MEALS THIS TIME WILL BE EITHER BUFFET & SALAD OR PAN-FRIED SALMON, SALAD + POTATOES (Please contact Polly to book your place) Page Five

6 OUR CONFIRMATION IN DINARD On Sunday 16 th June, Joan Stewart, my son Daniel and I were confirmed in Dinard by the Rev Geoffrey Rowell, the Bishop in Europe. This was a very special weekend, especially for me and Daniel. We travelled up to the region on the Saturday afternoon and stayed in a camp site in Dol de Bretagne. On Sunday morning we were made very welcome by Rev Gareth Randall and his congregation in their beautiful church in Dinard. During the service Joan was introduced to the Bishop by Robin Kenyon, I introduced Daniel to the Bishop and Daniel introduced me. We then shared our first communion. It was a very emotional and calming experience for me. Afterwards we were all given a Bible signed by the Bishop to help us on our way in our Christian journey. We shared drinks and cake after the service, then headed back to the camp site for some swimming and a late lunch before heading back to La Vendée. To be able to be confirmed at the same time as my son and share this experience with him was very special for both of us, I am so proud of Daniel for taking this step. He is proud too and was so excited to tell his class mates all about it on Monday morning and he now wears his cross every day with pride and a smile. I would like to give huge thanks to the people in All Saints Vendée who supported us through this and helped make it possible Polly Ward, and Barbara and Robin Kenyon. God bless xx Lynn Talbot NOSTALGIA AND HOW TO TREAT IT! Now, look, I`m not one of these people who constantly talk about the Good Old Days, because there were not enough of them to form the basis of a good reminisce during my early years in North Wales. Still, I had my football to play and watch, and even cricket when it was dry no, it wasn`t sunny every day, however your memory wants to tell it! So, `fast forward` and our life in France. I discovered a channel on our TV box called S4C which showed Welsh `live` football from some of the football grounds that I had played on or visited. But, more interesting than the football, were the `wide-angle` shots from the television cameras. `There`s the office I used to work in!` `The factory has changed a bit!` That building..` At that point I realised that I had lost my `audience`. My grandson had decided that the best way to treat the `N` word was to smile and ignore and wait for the memoirs! Brian Thomas Please send your contributions and letters for the August issue to: The Grapevine Editor at: jpsmorandiere@free.fr before 15 th July Requests to be included on the ing list should be addressed to Jacqui Stainton-James at: sjfamily66@hotmail.com Page Six