The BROADSIDER. Covering the Broadside Benefice parishes of Ranworth with Panxworth, South Walsham, Upton & Fishley, and Woodbastwick.

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1 The December 2017 BROADSIDER The Covering the Broadside Benefice parishes of Ranworth with Panxworth, South Walsham, Upton & Fishley, and Woodbastwick Dear Friends, By the time you pick this magazine up, Advent will probably have begun. It comes to us as a time of kindling light in the growing darkness of the world. The Advent wind begins to stir With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir; It s dark at breakfast, dark at tea, And in between we only see Clouds hurrying across the sky And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry The beginning of John Betjeman s poem Advent 1955 reflects the damp chill and darkness around as we move towards the Winter Solstice. Beyond it, we will celebrate the Saviour s birth. However, this month of preparation can feel like a headlong rush. So many Christmas events happen during Advent that we can forget that Advent actually exists. The name comes from the Latin Adventus meaning the coming. It is the time of waiting for God to act, for heaven to come down to earth. It s a healthy discipline in a frantic world to allow ourselves time to be still and enter the darkness of waiting. Jesus comes to earth as the light that shines in the darkness. Give yourself time to experience the darkness he came to illuminate. We try to keep the darkness at bay during the long evenings by switching on the lights and putting on the TV or radio or communicating on our phones. Put the lights out, leaving just one or lighting a candle. Switch off the sound and flickering images. Draw back the curtains and look at the night sky. Let your body be still and listen to the unaccustomed silence. If you want to go further, think of the darkness of the world that Jesus came into. Think of the darkness in our world today. Think of the darkness in our lives that he came to illuminate and heal. If you want to go further still, there is an ancient Advent prayer that uses just one word: Maranatha. It means, Come, Lord. Say it slowly, reflectively, thinking about people or situations we re concerned about. continued on page 2

2 THE BROADSIDE BENEFICE CONTACT LIST Rector Revd. Canon NICHOLAS GARRARD Assistant Priest Revd. HELEN GARRARD Benefice Administrative Assistant Suzy Strowger (usually available on Monday and Thursday mornings) The Rectory, The Street, South Walsham, Norfolk NR13 6DQ Telephone CHURCHWARDENS RANWORTH with PANXWORTH David Benham John Ley WOODBASTWICK Alby Cator Kit Cator SOUTH WALSHAM Steve Ganson Gill Hood UPTON James Chaplin Tony Moore FISHLEY Ivan Barnard Chloe Ecclestone Pastoral Care of Parishioners If anyone requires visiting or wishes to make arrangements for a baptism, marriage or funeral, please inform Revd. Nick Garrard, Revd. Helen Garrard or one of your churchwardens listed above. We can say it for ourselves as well. When we re ready, put all the lights back on and go back to our normal activities. This kind of Advent journey can be made without leaving the room. But it can take us a long way towards the loving heart of God, who made us and waits for us to be still with him. It can feel hard for us to do this, even for a few minutes. That is why he sent his only Son Jesus to be born among us. He came closer to us, so that we can draw near to him. Betjeman s poem ends with these words: The time draws near the birth of Christ. A present that cannot be priced Given two thousand years ago Yet if God had not given so He still would be a distant stranger And not the Baby in the manger. The Church is making its Advent journey towards the light and joy of Christmas. You are very welcome to join us in any of our services and events as we prepare to greet him once again. Wishing you every blessing during Advent and Christmas, Nick Garrard Christmas Communion at home If you or someone you know is unable to come to church at the moment but would like to receive communion during the Christmas period, Helen and I would be happy to bring you communion at home. Please contact us on for further information. 2

3 Mary and Joseph are travelling this way. They re happy to do selfies, too! Our small wooden figures of Mary, Joseph and their donkey are visiting local villages. They re wondering if you could offer them somewhere to shelter for a night or two. Maybe you could help them on their journey, too. From Christmas Eve onwards, they will continue on their way into the New Year, joined by Jesus (currently asleep in the zip pocket of their travelling bag!). Are you going anywhere interesting? Take Mary and Joseph with you. They re very agreeable travel companions and you can add your selfies with them in their travel journal! If you would like to host them, please contact Nick or Helen on Sunday Plus Christmas Monday Munch December 4 th You re welcome to join us at our special Monday Munch in December, for some posh nosh, carol singing and good company, and as always, it s free! This year we ve also invited the Foodbank officers and volunteers from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, our local team, as a thank you for their hard work throughout the year. Bishop Alan will be joining us for lunch around 1pm. May I also thank our hardworking team for all the lovely lunches and afternoon teas we ve enjoyed in Christmas Hamper Raffle Many thanks to everyone who donated items or bought raffle tickets for the Christmas Hamper Raffle. We made 136 which goes to maintaining the website for the 4 churches in our Broadside Benefice. BAPTISM ST LAWRENCE S, SOUTH WALSHAM All-Age Nativity, Sunday Plus is back in December with our new all-age instant Nativity! It will celebrate Advent, a time of watching and waiting and the joy of Jesus arrival at Bethelehem. There will also be coffee and seasonal goodies for all! For more information please ring Helen on or Julia on Facebook SUNDAY DECEMBER 10 th 10AM-12 NOON +SundayPlus at SS Fabian & Sebastian, Woodbastwick October 15 th Archie Leo Taylor WEDDING at St Mary s, South Walsham October 20 th Benjamin Knight & Danielle Giles FUNERALS at St Margaret s, Upton & Upton Parish Cemetery October 9 th Marion Guy at St Mary s, South Walsham & South Walsham Parish Cemetery October 16 th Constance May Goose 3

4 Carol Service Mince Pies If anyone can help with making or providing some mince pies for the Carol Service on the Staithe on Thursday, December 14 th they will be very gratefully received. If you can deliver to either John Ley at 4 School Hill, Ranworth, or to The Granary by noon on the day it would also be very helpful. Otherwise call John on and a collection can be arranged. Prayer and Praise Meetings Our meetings will continue throughout the Christmas season, every Thursday in St Lawrence s from 7.30pm. Please come along and join us for guitar led praise and Bible sharing. For further details, please contact Elaine Tree and Lights Festival The Friends of St Margaret s Church, Upton, invite you to the Tree and Lights Festival in Upton Church on 15 th, 16 th & 17 th December between 2pm and 6pm. The trees will be decorated by local businesses and organisations. Come and decide which is your favourite over a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits. Also on Sunday 17 th join in our Celebration with Carols service from pm. We hope to see you and wish you a Merry Christmas. A Big Thank You... A very big Thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas in a Box Appeal Service at Upton, and everyone who s supported the Great Yarmouth Foodbank over the past year as donors or collectors. CAROL SINGING on Ranworth Staithe by the Christmas Tree at 6.30pm Thursday, 14th December WITH MINCE PIES AND MULLED WINE AFTERWARDS A CHARITY COLLECTION WILL BE MADE FOR NELSON S JOURNEY SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN IN NORFOLK BRING A TORCH EVERYONE WELCOME - COME AND SING YOUR HEART OUT 4

5 Tis the season of Advent the celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent consists of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day and it is the start of the church year. This period of time allows us to focus on four key messages of the Christmas story: hope, peace, joy, and love. Because it represents a new beginning you may feel it runs parallel to what we feel in our own lives. The year is nearly at its end - it is time for a new beginning. It is certainly a good time to remind ourselves of some of our own spiritual needs. Whether we like it or not, we all have a spirit within us. We may not recognise it as such but you will commonly hear people say that they need their spirits lifting. So this may be a good opportunity to do just that. In our lives we need HOPE. Hope is the essence of our lives. Without hope we wither away and die. We need to look to the future. We need PEACE, so we can be calm, think and meditate, so we can be serene and not agitated and so we can heal when our mind or body is tortured. We need JOY to provide us with good memories and to keep us going day-to-day. Finally we need Love. What are we if there is no love in our lives? Ask anyone what they really want in their lives to make them feel fulfilled. It may be that they would answer: more money, a better car, or a new house but these will not fulfil the spiritual needs in their lives. If we analyse what we really want it is something that is often, so difficult to find - hope, peace, joy, and love. So where can these things be found? As Christians we believe that they can be found through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Through the words of the Bible it becomes clear that there is a very special message which is there for anyone who cares to read or listen. The words are often not easy to understand and the stories are sometimes difficult to relate to in our modern lives but in the stories will be found the very words we are talking about - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Through these stories we find our spiritual needs strengthened and sustained. The Christmas story is just one of those stories. As we said, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. On the First Sunday of Advent, a candle is lit in church to celebrate Hope, the inspiring and uplifting hope that Christ among us represents. On the Second Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit to celebrate Peace, both the Prince of Peace himself and the promise of peace on Earth. On the Third Sunday a candle is lit to celebrate Joy, the joy the shepherds received at hearing the news of Christ s birth, or the joy that God brings into our lives. As the coming of Christ draws near, the final candle is lit on the Fourth Sunday of Advent to celebrate Love, both God s boundless love for us and our love for one another. The bright light from the candles is an expression of the growing anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, who in Christian faith is seen as the Light of the World - one who enlightens our lives. As Christians we seek for the spirit of Jesus Christ to be reflected in our lives. Sometimes it does not turn out that way - our belief has let us down - but when it does click the batteries start charging. Broadland Rotary Group Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) There are an estimated 46 million in slavery according to Walk Free s Global Slavery Index. That is four times the total taken out of Africa during the 400 years of the Atlantic Slave Trade! Rotary clubs from over 65 countries are involved in this initiative in providing information about, and promoting ways to engage and support anti-slavery and human trafficking projects, programmes and campaigns. Our member, Pat Hinkins, is an active co-ordinator in RAGAS. She is involved in work against the slavery and trafficking of children. Further information about RAGAS may be found at: 5

6 December 3 rd Pray for the work of the Children s Society and Norfolk County Council Children s Services, supporting vulnerable children, young people and families. For Justin, our Archbishop and for our Bishops, Graham, Alan and Jonathan. December 10 th Give thanks for the involvement of older people in the life of our parishes. For our links with Broadlands Park, Upton. December 17 th Pray for all who visit the sick, troubled or housebound, sharing Christ s love through action. For inspiration and encouragement as we seek to meet our challenges. December 24 th Give thanks for the precious gift of God s Son, Jesus. Pray for our ministry to visitors. For the Committee and helpers at the Visitor Centre. For Norwich Cathedral, its Dean and Chapter, staff and volunteers. December 31 st Please pray for God s guidance in the year ahead. Pray for our bellringers. January 7 th Give thanks for Jesus, revealed to the world by the coming of the Wise Men. Pray for our Churchwardens, David Benham & John Ley (Ranworth), Gill Hood & Trevor Nelson (South Walsham), James Chaplin & Tony Moore (Upton), Alby Cator & Kit Cator (Woodbastwick), Chloe Ecclestone & Ivan Barnard (Fishley) and their Deputy Wardens. A BENEFICE PRAYER FOR DECEMBER For Bringing us back to God, back to ourselves Restore us, O Lord, we pray, bring us back to that place where we once met, as shepherds to the stable after hearing angels sing. Bring us back to that place when our love was fresh, not embarrassed to express itself in praise to our heavenly King. Restore us, O Lord, we pray. Amen. Faith and Worship 6

7 CHURCH SERVICES Saturday, December 2 nd Ranworth 4.15pm NDA Eastern Branch Bellringer s Service Sunday, December 3 th Advent 1 Ranworth 9.30am Christingle Service Upton 9.30am Holy Communion Fishley 11.00am Holy Communion Woodbastwick 11.00am Holy Communion South Walsham, St Mary s 3.30pm Tree of Light Service Sunday, December 10 th Advent 2 Ranworth 9.30am Holy Communion St Lawrence s, S. Walsham _ 10am - 12 noon Sunday Plus South Walsham, St Lawrence s 11.00am Holy Communion Woodbastwick 11.00am Morning Prayer Upton 3.30pm Candlelit Carols Wednesday, December 13 th South Walsham, St Mary s 10.00am Fairhaven School Nativity Fishley 6.30pm Carols, Candles and Cake Sunday, December 17 th Advent 3 Fishley 9.30am Holy Communion South Walsham 11.00am Carol Service Woodbastwick 3.30pm Candlelit Carols Upton 3.30pm Celebration with Carols Ranworth 6.30pm Candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 24 th Christmas Eve Ranworth 4.00pm Crib Service South Walsham 6.00pm Crib and Christingle Service Upton 11.30pm Midnight Mass Ranworth 11.30pm Midnight Mass Monday, December 25 th Christmas Day Upton 9.30am Holy Communion Ranworth 10.00am Family Service South Walsham 11.00am Holy Communion Sunday, December 31 st Christmas 1 Woodbastwick 11.00am Benefice Holy Communion Sunday, January 6 th The Epiphany Ranworth 9.30am Holy Communion Upton 9.30am Holy Communion Woodbastwick 11.00am Holy Communion South Walsham, St Mary s 11.00am Holy Communion Fishley 3.30pm Evensong 7

8 MEETINGS & VILLAGE ACTIVITIES December 4 th Monday pm Christmas Monday Munch St. Lawrence s, South Walsham 5 th Tuesday 2.30pm Womens Fellowship Upton Village Hall 6 th Wednesday 7.30pm South Walsham W.I. South Walsham Village Hall 9 th Saturday 2.30pm Carol Singing at Broadlands Park, Upton 12 th Tuesday Carol Singing at the White Horse, Upton 7.30pm Ranworth Ladies Group Christmas Party. For further information contact Sue Hitchcock. Tel th Wednesday 10.30am Fairhaven School Nativity St Mary s Church, South Walsham 14 th Thursday 6.30pm Carols on Ranworth Staithe 15 th -17 th Fri-Sunday 2-6pm Upton Christmas Tree Festival - St Margaret s Church, Upton culminating on Sunday at 3.30pm with a Celebration with Carols 2018 QUIZ AND CHIPS in Upton Village Hall with all proceeds to The Big C and The Salvation Army Toys & Tins Appeal The 2018 Preliminary Rounds are.. Friday, February 2 nd Friday, February 16 th Friday, March 2 nd and the Grand Final... Friday, March 16 th For further details or to book in your team contact Sue Hitchcock on or suehitchcock6@gmail.com EVENT ORGANISERS PLEASE NOTE 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start A general knowledge quiz of ten rounds Make up a team of eight with your friends for a very enjoyable evening No embarrassing individual questions, each table competes as a team Choice of cod, plaice or vegetarian pizza and chips served in the interval Please bring your own wine, beer, glasses cutlery and condiments etc Tickets per person All proceeds to be divided between the 2 charities The next issue of Broadsider covers JANUARY & FEBRUARY Deadline: Monday, December 11 th Please send your copy to David Benham send2broadsider@gmail.com 8