Our Benefice This Week. From the Editor s chair

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1 Churches of the Cley Hill Villages Through the Open Doors Issue th November 2017 Our Benefice This Week Church Calendar Around and About the Benefice Our Friends in South Sudan Benefice Contacts Page Page Page Page From the Editor s chair This is the last Sunday for handing in your filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. On Saturday 18th we will be holding a Coffee Morning for church funds. As well as the various stalls there will the draw for the 50/50 Club. Details on page 6. This year we are planning that at our services on November 26th and December 3rd we shall hold a special Christmas collection for the Foodbank. The Foodbank at Christmas tries to supplement the essentials with some extras to provide a little Christmas spirit. Please do try and support these special collections so that the Foodbank is able to distribute some Christmas cheer. The donated food will be delivered to the Foodbank following these services. Christmas items required (B&M at the time of checking were the best value, other shops can provide!!): Selection pack of chocolate for children, tinned ham, small Christmas puddings, mince pies, tinned Chicken in white wine sauce. Items always required: Semi-skimmed milk UHT, Fruit juice longlife carton, Pasta sauce tin or packet, toiletries, rice, tinned tomatoes, tinned potatoes or instant mash, tinned vegetables, tinned meat or fish, tinned soup, tinned pasta, tinned fruit, tinned rice or custard, squash or cordial, coffee, tea, jam, biscuits or snack bars. Keith Muston

2 Benefice of Cley Hill Villages Church Calendar Sunday 12th November 2017 Remembrance Sunday 9.30am at St Philip & St James, Chapmanslade Remembrance President Reverend Marian Curtis The collection, and Gift Aid, will be donated to the Royal British Legion Welcome Keith & Marion Muston; Reader Sue Fear; Intercessor Ian Buick; Server & Chalice Keith Muston; Coffee Brownies & Guides 10.50am at St Mary the Virgin, Kingston Deverill Remembrance Service Lay Led 10.50am at St Margaret of Antioch, Corsley Remembrance Service President Reverend Pauline Reid The collection, and Gift Aid, will be donated to the Royal British Legion Welcome Richard & Rosalyn Dean; Readers As arranged; Intercessor Richard Dean; Coffee Eileen Shimwell 10.30am at Horningsham War Memorial Remembrance Reverend Di Britten Readings First reading: Amos 5: verses 18 to 24 Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: verses 13 to end Gospel reading: Matthew 25: verses 1 to 13 Thursday 16th November 10am to 12 mid-day at the, Chapmanslade Church and Community Coffee Morning Saturday 18th November 10am to 12 mid-day at 47 High Street, Chapmanslade Please see advertisement on page 4 Sun 19 Nov Sun 19 Nov November Service or Event (PR) Family Worship (LWT)

3 Mon 20 Nov Tue 21 Nov Wed 22 Nov Sun 26 Nov Sun 26 Nov Sun 3 Dec Sun 3 Dec Sun 3 Dec Mon 4 Dec Wed 6 Dec Sun 10 Dec Sun 10 Dec Sun 10 Dec Sun 10 Dec Sun 17 Dec Sun 17 Dec Sun 17 Dec Thu 21 Dec Sun 24 Dec Sun 24 Dec Sun 24 Dec Sun 31 Dec Tue 2 Jan Sun 7 Jan Sun 7 Jan Sun 7 Jan Sun 14 Jan Sun 14 Jan Sun 14 Jan Tue 16 Jan Thu 18 Jan Sun 21 Jan Sun 21 Jan Wed 24 Jan Sat 27 Jan Sun 28 Jan Sun 28 Jan Thu 15 Feb Wed 28 Feb Thu 15 Mar to Think Home Group After Alpha Home Group (HS) (PR) December Service or Event 1662 BCP Holy Communion (PR) (TW) Christingle & Posada (PR) Advent meditation Light Bites Christmas Lunch (PR) (MC) Matins From Darkness to Light (PR) (PR) Carol service (PR) Carol Service (Village led) Crib Service (DB) Crib Service (PR) Benefice Midnight Service (PR) 1662 BCP Holy Communion (TW) (MC) Family Holy Communion (PR) (DB) Christmas Worship (JB) Benefice (PR) January Service or Event After Alpha Home Group 1662 BCP Holy Communion Morning Worship Matins After Alpha Home Group Family Worship (LWT) Parish Strategy Meeting February Service or Event March Service or Event 9 Cleyhill Gardens 129d Forest Walk 131 High Street St Mary s, Temple St Mary s, Temple St John s, Horningsham St Mary s, Temple

4 Wed 28 Mar Thu 29 Mar Fri 30 Mar Sun 1 Apr Thu 19 Apr Wed 25 Apr Thu 17 May Wed 23 May Thu 21 Jun Thu 19 Jul Thu 16 Aug Thu 20 Sep Wed 26 Sep Thu 18 Oct Wed 24 Oct Maundy Thursday Good Friday April Service or Event Easter Sunday May Service or Event June Service or Event July Service or Event August Service or Event September Service or Event October Service or Event Around and About the Benefice Advent Meditation On Monday 4th December we shall hold an Advent Meditation at 131 High Street, Chapmanslade. The session will be led by Reverend Pauline Reid and will start at 10am and is due to finish at 12 mid-day. West Wilts Theology Group I am attaching our initial publicity for the first meeting of a new venture - the West Wiltshire Theology Group. This group, locally planned, intends to attract interest, debate and reflection in the range of theological concerns in an open, inclusive and challenging manner. As you will note, the Bishop of Salisbury is our first speaker - addressing the matter of marriage and the Church. There will be further meetings in once every three months. All meetings take place in the St Boniface hall of Warminster School. There will be no charge. All are welcome to attend. May I invite you to forward this message to any others you feel might be interested. I shall also be using the Salisbury Diocesan contacts to broaden awareness. Best wishes Harold Stephens

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6 Corsley and Chapmanslade Churches Coffee Morning Saturday 18th November 10am 12 noon 47 High Street, Chapmanslade Bring and Buy 50/50 Club Draw Hosted by Sue and Andy Fear

7 Our Friends in South Sudan Dear friends Headline Prayer: Pray for all refugees (outside South Sudan) and displaced people (within the country. The UN's humanitarian agency OCHA estimates that 6.2 million people need help, and these include 2 million people "displaced" (fled from their homes); by August 4.7 million had been reached with aid. In some places access to those in need has been obstructed by government forces, but UNMISS has succeeded in reaching Okobo on the border with Ethiopia, a remote area held by rebels with a large influx of people displaced by fighting in the area. UNMISS plans to establish a presence in the area and reach more vulnerable people in remote areas. Over 180,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan in 2017 so far. The majority of new arrivals in 2017 have fled to White Nile, followed by East Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan.25 Aug The UNHCR does not have funds to support them - only 38% of the $804m they need has been received - so the refugees in White Nile have been authorised to work as labourers for local farmers, so they can earn money to eat. Pray for all who have fled their homes, whether in camps or in unprotected places - for the means of life, for hope for the future, and for peace that enables them to return home in safety. Maridi: there is more news on the fighting which was briefly reported last week. It seems that a government convoy was attacked by opposition forces on its way to Maridi, at Bahr-Olo, on Friday 27th and was defeated, but the skirmishes lasted till Sunday 29th October. In retaliation, government troops started looting and burning civilian houses. Six people died, including a woman and her child who burned to death inside their house. Pray for the families affected, for justice for those concerned and for the restoration of peace and order. An alliance of civil society groups in Maridi has launched a campaign against gender-based violence. Their spokesperson pointed out that there is no civil court in Maridi, so cases of rape go to the traditional court, where the accused pays 600 South Sudanese pounds and is released...or in some organisations is transferred to another location without punishment.pray for equal treatment of women and respect for their rights. Pray also for the Diocese of Maridi and Bishop Justin; for the Chaima Christian Institute, all who teach there and for the students we support; and this week pray also for the Central Archdeaconry. This covers most of the churches within the town of Maridi. it is led by Rev. Canon Luka Sanada. Ø Pray for the pastors in the Archdeaconry as most of them do not have church houses to live in. Ø Pray for Evangelization work in the Archdeaconry and for the youth activities. Improving bilateral relations: President Kiir spent two days in Khartoum last week with President Bashir, discussing the resumption of oil production, reopening the common border, and security issues. Several Memoranda of Understanding were signed, including one providing for the establishment of crossing points and corridors along the border with customs and immigration posts. Sudan has demanded the payment of arrears for oil transfer fees, amounting to $262million. The agreed fees are currently $24 per barrel; the current price of crude oil on world markets is $55. Reports of violence: Attacks are reported from many places, but most of them from "unidentified gunmen" or robbers. A pupil in Yei town was kidnapped by "security agents" and later found dead. Two women kidnapped from Nimule town were brutally killed, but a third was freed after her family paid $. A 40-year old Sudanese trader was murdered in Lainya county while returning from Juba with goods for trade. Three people were killed and two injured in an armed attack on a passenger vehicle on the Juba-Magiri road in Jubek state. 125 people have been killed on this road since January. And rebels have claimed the capture, after fighting, of Ombachi payam in Yei River State. Pray for the restoration of civil order, and protection for civilians. Signs of hope: An inter-communal conference opened in Wau on 1st November: 40 members from three communities, plus parliamentarians, met with space for dialogue and the aim of developing a road map to solve inter-ethnic conflict. During an UNMISS workshop for SPLA officers on protecting children, Brigadier-General Chaplain Khamis emphasised the army's duty to protect, prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children. "We are trained to shoot and kill, but trained also to observe national and international law", he said. He also spoke of protecting civilians, and of the army's desire to build a reputation of professionalism and respect for human rights. And 38 SPLA soldiers have been convicted and sentenced by a military court for crimes including rape, murder and corruption. Give thanks for these positive moves towards the rule of law and inter-tribal peace, and pray that they may be multiplied...pray for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, and a just and lasting peace throughout South Sudan. With every blessing - Jane The Reverend Jane Shaw, Manor Farm House, Corton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 0SZ Tel: or Mobile:

8 Benefice Contacts Clergy Rural Dean (day off Friday) Reverend Pauline Reid Lay Pastoral Assistants Barbara Hughes Claire Tanner Richard Dean Churchwardens St John the Baptist, Horningsham Tim Moore St Margaret of Antioch, Corsley John Helliar St Mary the Virgin, Kingston Deverill Robert Shuler St Michael the Archangel, Brixton Deverill Richard Lucas St Peter & St Paul, Longbridge Deverill ditto Guy Ratcliffe Tim Young St Philip & St James, Chapmanslade Ian Buick Deputy Churchwardens St Mary s, Temple St Philip & St James, Chapmanslade Judith Helliar Harcourt Gough Janet Aylesbury Benefice Team Administrator Marion Muston or The office at St Margaret s is usually open from 10am to 12pm on Mondays. Please phone Marion on if you plan to visit and want to make sure that Marion will be there. Safeguarding Officer Webmaster Marion Muston or cleyhillchurches@gmail.com Ian Buick For contacts for the Parish of Corsley & Chapmanslade or for the Parish of the Deverills and Horningsham please see the contacts section of the Benefice website Production and distribution of this newsletter Usually published on Friday. Contributions are very welcome from all and should be sent to Keith Muston using where possible. Sorry, Through the Open Door is distributed by only. Please contact Keith Muston at themustons@btinternet.com if you wish to be added to or deleted from the distribution list. If you do not use then we will make every effort to link you to someone who has and will provide you with a paper copy.