REACHING OUT. .. on behalf of the Benefice Churches of Bradfield St Clare, Bradfield St George with Little Whelnetham, Cockfield, Felsham and Gedding

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1 REACHING OUT... on behalf of the Benefice Churches of Bradfield St Clare, Bradfield St George with Little Whelnetham, Cockfield, Felsham and Gedding Issue Dear Friends, A month of remembering lies before us. Remembrance Day is probably the most significant of the days in when we remember all who have given their lives whilst serving their country in the armed forces. But it is also the season for remembering the Saints. Many of us would not aspire to the title Saint, but in the New Testament letters all Christians were addressed as saints and called to live up to the name. I looked up saint in the dictionary and it says, 1. a holy or good person who Christians believe will go to heaven after death. 2. a person of great goodness who is declared to be a saint by the Church after death. So, you can see from this that the title of Saint is not preserved for those declared by the Church to be so! However, it is good to have saints to inspire us in our every day lives. One of my favourite saints is Theresa of Avila. Theresa was born in 1515, and was a Spanish mystic, writer and reformer of the Carmelite Order of nuns. She became a nun after a convent education. She had problems with the authorities when she experienced religious ecstasies which didn t really fit in with the Catholic Church s idea of how a nun should behave! It was also the time of the Spanish Inquisition, and her behaviour caused jealousy and suspicion.

2 The important thing about Theresa is that she was different, she did not conform to the expectations laid on her by the Carmelite Order of Nuns, and indeed eventually set up her own Order. She was just a quiet, placid saint. She had a life energy that attracted and inspired many who were close to her, and she continues to inspire us today. Sometimes it is hard for society to accept those who are slightly different. Be that in the way they dress, speak, or act. In the world today it seems that being different can be dangerous. I pray that as Christians we can accept everyone, whatever their creed or race, or how they view themselves and society. And not just on the surface, but deep within our hearts. With every blessing, Revd Sharon revsharon@btinternet.com

3 SPIRITUALITY Spiritual Direction This is about taking the time to meet with another person and talk about one s spiritual journey and prayer. Bishop Mike works with the Spirituality group to encourage the priority of prayerfulness in the Diocese, the growth of prayer and spirituality and to support the ministry of spiritual accompaniment. If you want help in finding a spiritual director/companion for yourself, or if you might like to become a spiritual director/companion contact Caroline Redman at spiritual.direction@cofesuffolk.org or on Two events are being held on prayer and spirituality in the diocese: Friday 11 th Lord teach us to pray: a day led by Bishop Martin, venue to be confirmed Thursday 16 th March 2017 The Sermon on the Mount: a spirituality for today a day led by Bishop Mike. Venue to be confirmed. Contact Caroline Redman to book or for more details. Suffolk Theology Forum not just for theologians! The Suffolk Theology Forum welcomes all to its meetings pm at the Co-op Education Centre, Fore Street, Ipswich. No need to book. Nonmembers entry 5 ( 4 for retired and students) payable at the door. Co-op Education Centre has its own free car park, off Waterworks Street: satnav for car park IP14 1JG. Pedestrian entry: 11 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP14 1JW. For the current Forum programme see Queries to the Forum secretary: Elizabeth Moore eymoore@talktalk.net or Forum treasurer: David Capey stf@keme.co.uk On 29 th the Forum welcomes Dr Jonathan Chaplin, Director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, Cambridge: Faith in diversity? a Christian perspective on multi-culturalism.

4 In need of some refreshment when you re shopping in Bury? Have you thought of trying the Fair Trade café at Just Traid, St John s Centre in St John s Street in Bury? Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am 4pm Tea, coffee, delicious homemade cakes. jacket potatoes, filled rolls, hot soups and more. All reasonably priced Staffed by volunteers Some GF food available For more details see Christine Stainer Village Friends will meet again on Thursday 24 at West Lodge 2-4pm for an Advent and Christmas afternoon. For more details contact Lynn Cardale on If you are over 60 and would enjoy meeting with others in a relaxed environment for tea and the occasional activity then Village Friends is for you! Cockfield Church is holding a Winter Lunch on Sunday 6 th at Cockfield Village Hall. Tickets cost 15 (including a glass of wine), 5 for children (under 5 s free) and are available from Norman Kelly or Mike Swiney (or any other PCC member) pm for 1pm. The Real Advent Calendar is on sale. In 2015 the Real Advent Calendar raised more than 15,000 from sales which were split between Traidcraft Exchange and the Funzi and Bodo Trust. Lets help to surpass this in For more details contact Richard Stainer.

5 Cockfield Benefice & Cockfield Congregational Church invite you to Craft Fun Stories Food Saturday Felsham Village Hall 3-5pm All children aged to 11 welcome must be accompanied by an adult. More details from Revd Sharon Potter or Christine Stainer

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7 Service of Healing with Communion On 6 th at 4pm we will be holding a service of Healing with Communion, to which all are warmly invited. James and Lucyann Ashdown have written the following in preparation for this service: When we come to the Communion we do not demand healing as if God was some kind of Divine Healing Service for which we have paid by the tax of our good works. When we come to the Communion we do not expect healing as if our faith is a guarantee that we will always get what we want. When we come to the Communion we come simply, with open hearts and empty hands, believing that we will receive from God what we need, believing that we will receive healing; even if that healing is not like any healing we ever expected, and that makes demands of us we never realized we were able to achieve. Our CMS Mission Partner; Michael Green, Update. Michael you may recall worked in Jordan until In his recent news-letter he tells us that he is now working in the Westgate area of Ipswich where he works to evangelise Kurdish, Persian and Arab people. His work also involves caring for Syrian refugees and helping them to integrate. You will probably be aware of the fact that many towns across the UK now have significant numbers of Muslim folk who need to be reached. The skills that Michael learned such as speaking Arabic and working with refugees while in Jordan are now very useful as he gets close to these people and helps them to feel at home here. For those of us who may not know much about him, Michael gives us the following information, in 1986 he was in one of the churches in Ipswich which he is now working with; there he promised that he would go anywhere that God wanted. This led to him to train as a nurse and a ministry amongst Arab people. From he worked in Jordan as a nurse/evangelist with Church Mission Society, at times within sound of the war in Syria. Michael asks that we should pray for the following:- 1) For those who are seeking Allah, that they see that Jesus sought them first. 2) That God might direct me as I discover the right work here. 3) For more mission opportunities among migrant communities.

8 Cockfield Benefice Services 2016 Please note Remembrance Services are all at 10.45am Sunday 6 th 3 rd Sunday before Advent/All Saints Friday 11 th Remembrance Day 8am Communion 9.30am Communion BCP 4pm Healing Service with Communion School Remembrance Service Cockfield Gedding Bradfield St Clare Cockfield Sunday 13 th Remembrance Sunday 9.30am Family Service Felsham 10.45am Remembrance Service Felsham 10.45am Remembrance Service Cockfield 4pm Communion Bradfield St George Sunday 20 th Christ the King Sunday 27 th Advent Sunday 9.30am Communion 9.30am Morning Prayer (BCP) 11am Communion 6pm Six2seven 11am Benefice Communion Cockfield Gedding Bradfield St George Felsham Bradfield St Clare Daily Prayer Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9am Cockfield 12 noon Felsham 4pm Bradfield St Clare 12 noon Gedding 4pm Bradfield St George Please note these services may be subject to change for up-to-date service times see the benefice website at