February 2018 'Being there'

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1 The Parish of Wellow Wellow Church and Parish News February 2018 'Being there' by Matthew Street, The Vicar, based on Acts 15:32-35 Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, encouraged and built up the fellowship there. After they had been with them some time, the believers sent them back in peace to those who had sent them. However, it seemed right to Silas to remain there. Similarly, Paul and Barnabas, and many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. (Acts 15:32-35) If I said the names 'Paul' and 'Silas' in the same breath, which one would you immediately recognise? The answer, of course, is Paul, the celebrated Apostle who did so much to further the gospel during the early days of the Church. We can overlook the fact that for many of his missionary journeys he was accompanied by Silas, but though we might forget the contribution Silas made, Paul never did. What was it, then, that made Paul value Silas so much? For one thing, Silas may have acted as his scribe, recording his letters as he dictated them. For another, he clearly had gifts in his own right, regarded as a leader of the Church among Christians back in Jerusalem. Perhaps, though, what stood out above all else was, quite simply, his willingness to be there when needed. Whatever Paul came up against, he knew that Silas would be ready to face it with him. Imprisoned, beaten, attacked, insulted, it made no difference - he remained a friend in need, someone to lean on in moments of crisis. Never underestimate that gift, for it is one of the most precious there is, and one that each of us can show in our turn. It may not seem much - simply being there, yet for someone going through the mill it can mean more than any words or action. Visit the Church Website:

2 Sunday Services in February Paul s First Missionary Journey Sunday 4 th February 10:00 Talk: Witness to Cyprus Acts 13:1-12 Leader: Dick Beath Speaker: Jo Vening Sunday 11 th February 10:00 HC Talk: The gospel message Acts 13:13-43 Leader: Tom Benyon Speaker: Tom Benyon Sunday 18 th February 10:00 Talk: Coping with rejection Acts 14:1-20 Leader: Jo Vening Speaker: Bob Grace Sunday 25 th February 10:00 Talk: Success at last Acts 14:21-28 Leader: Tom Benyon Speaker: Rich Miles Contact the Rector: The Revd. Matthew Street mgstreet@me.com or through the church website, see below Want to keep in touch? St Julian s Church sends out a weekly e-newsletter with all the latest news and views from around the Benefice. administrator@stjsgroup.church to subscribe to the mailing list. Advertising in this Newsletter FREE: Voluntary organisations based in Wellow. Fees apply to all other individuals and businesses who seek to gain financial benefit from advertising (irrespective of if they are based in Wellow or not): Contact Jenny Barr for more details and payments. Cheques made out to St. Julian s Church P.C.C Church Community Groups White Ox Mead Community Group Phone Nigel & Jo for more details Wellow Prayer Group Tuesdays at 3pm Will resume on Tuesday 13 th Feb Phone Pauline for details Benefice Praise and Prayer Every Monday, The Vicarage, Peasedown St John God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 Please join us as we praise God, hear from His Word, and come to Him in prayer. St John s Peasedown 1 st Sunday - 10:30am HC 4:30pm SF 2 nd Sunday - 10:30am MP 4:30pm SF 3 rd Sunday - 10:30am HC 4:30pm SF HC 4 th Sunday- 10:30am MP 4:30pm HC= Holy Communion SF= Soul Food - A service with modern lively music followed by a family tea MP= Morning Praise Benefice Office For anything church related contact the Benefice Office: T: E: office@stjsgroup.church Visit the Church Website:

3 CHURCH NEWS Your church news this month comes to you from your apprentice church warden so please bear with me if it s a little off kilter. Firstly, on Tuesday 16 th January the new Archdeacon Adrian Youings came for an informal meeting to discuss with us the plans for the kitchen and toilets. He was very positive and promised his full support in the matter which is extremely encouraging. Jane Rees and Jonathan Wyld are still working hard on the project. We are hopeful. Bell Ringing A new member has joined our Bell Ringing group as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award and is doing well and progressing quickly. I think he would agree it s challenging but good fun. We would welcome anyone to come along and give it a try. A.P.C.M. A reminder that the Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held during the Sunday service on 18 th March. Please come along to hear what is going on. Christmas Bazaar 2017 Cast your mind back to a miserable Saturday morning last November, it was St. Julian s Christmas Bazaar. Thank you all who turned out to support this annual event. We are pleased to say we made 1800, split equally between St. Julian s and the Children s Hospice Southwest. It s all in the distant past but thank you all who supported and helped in anyway. We hope you found some bargains and enjoyed the great homemade soup. Many thanks everyone. The Bazaar Team. Pam Pike, Churchwarden LUNCH CLUB The next Lunch is on Thursday February 22 nd at 1pm in the Village Hall. If you are unable to be there, please let one of the cooks know. My number is , please leave a message if I don t answer. Many thanks, Janet Martin Don t forget to visit the Wellow

4 WELLOW PARISH COUNCIL Precept The precept, the money WPC receives from B&NES each year to run its business, is raised through council tax. Councillors (with input from the public) discussed how to minimise the increase whilst funding necessary expenditure. It was unanimously decided that in addition to a rise of 1.99% for general purposes, WPC would sign a precept to include 920 to help restore reserves. We will, amongst other items, be paying 2,700 towards the Playing Field drainage project (the other 36K coming from the Big Lottery Fund) and 800 for village clock repair. And we have to find the money to replace the Playing Field fence. WPC s share of council tax for a Band D property will rise from 49 to 53.78, broadly in line with neighbouring parishes. A similar increase is expected the following year. Broadband The council was informed that Farm Lane will be closed on 12 February so that BT can begin installation of a new fibre cabinet. A faster broadband service should follow shortly thereafter. Information will be provided about what you will need to do to access it. Planning Councillors supported the application for a detached carport, garden and store room following demolition of the existing garage at Church House, High Street, Wellow. They also supported a single storey side extension following demolition of the existing extension at Church Farm House, High Street. They noted that B&NES had approved an extension and car port at Willow Farm House and tree felling at The Manor House and Church Farm House, all three in the High Street Dog poo Bag it, then put the bag in a bin, not in the hedge. Thank you. Next meeting Monday 19 February, 8:00pm in Wellow Village Hall. All welcome. Robin Campbell clerk@wellowparish.info Community Matters: Support your Village The Parlour Shop, the Village Hall, Church and Societies

5 WELLOW AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY In 2017 we ventured into the topic of pollinators with a talk on Butterflies. At the AGM I proposed we continue the pollinator theme in 2018 by focussing on bees, so we have designed our 2018 programme around bees. We want you to come to the events, but also get involved, doing things to support bees and other pollinators. While the honey bee is an excellent pollinator, we want to focus on wild bees bumble bees and solitary bees. You do know the difference, don t you? No? then come along to our events to find out! It s no secret that many pollinators are facing threats. Insensitive land use by man, and the loss of habitat, reduction in plant species diversity and the use of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides have all been linked to declining bee numbers. This is bad news for us and for them. But you can help - and we are asking you to The most important thing you can do is grow the right types of plants for bees, using seeds/plants that have not been chemically treated. We have been promoting some free seeds which support pollinators. Please take up our offer - But please don t be restricted by this offer when you are buying your normal seeds for 2018, select an ADDITIONAL packet of bee friendly seeds and grow them and bring them to the plant sale in May. Want advice? please contact us! On February 15 th the lovely and inspirational Brigit Strawbridge will tell us about the importance of pollinator diversity and the relationships between bees and flowering plants. Come along and find out which plants you should grow in your garden. Collect our bee identification guide to help you identify the bees in your gardens. Bumble bees will start appearing in early spring the large queens are looking for a new nesting place. Get your camera out to photograph the bees in your garden so you can enter the photo competition at the Flower show in September! Hugh Prentice. Thanks to Hugh for his enthusiasm in writing the above article. Apply for your free seeds ASAP as some varieties require early planting. Members only.

6 A Garden Visit For a fantastic display of snowdrops and hellebores visit The Courts Garden in Holt near Bradford on Avon. This is open at weekends only from 3rd to 25th February, 11am to 5.30 pm. National Trust Members free. Bridget and the Committee FOODBANK Foodbank's Children Centre reported the delivery of 50 hampers to needy families over Christmas. They were hugely grateful: some were in tears, others incredulous at the hampers which made children and households unexpectedly happy. Our thanks to all of you who donated in Wellow at the Parlour Shop and the Nativity Service. WELLOW RECREATION The charity continues to look after the playing field and the play park for the Parish Council. The drainage project has helped the football pitch to cope with the winter's storms and we hope that a warm spring will promote the speedy regrowth of the grass and enable football to start again after Easter. Our trustees are working hard together with Wellow Valley Tennis to deliver the new Sports Pavilion in March. Its ongoing management and financing will be shared equally by the two groups. Our next big project for 2018 is to raise funds for the much-needed renovation of the Children's Play Park and we look forward to everyone's support in this very worthwhile challenge. We are holding our AGM on Thursday 22 March from 7pm in the Village Hall at which our sports groups will share their plans for Please come along and let us know your ideas and suggestions for increasing participation on the playing field, especially among younger villagers. We will also reveal details of this year's outdoor theatre production by the Miracle Theatre on the field in July. Following the meeting refreshments and nibbles will be served and we hope that ideas will continue to flow. Debbie Clarkson

7 POP INN The Pop Inn for February will be on MONDAY 5 TH FEBRUARY at the usual time of Noon- 2.30pm in the F&B. Come along and enjoy a Lunchtime Chat and a snack. Plus, a coffee/tea or something stronger. Hope to see you there- All Will be Made Welcome Shirley PARISH NEWS Can you let me have any articles for the March edition, by the 19 th of February. As usual, you can either me at jennybarr44@yahoo.co.uk, leave at the Parlour shop or post it through the letterbox of Honeysuckle Cottage.

8 Printed by St Phillip and St James Church, Oddown. Published and Promoted by St Julian s Parish Church at the St J s Group Office, The Vicarage, Church Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8AA, administrator@stjsgroup.church