THE LANTERN ~FEBRUARY 2018~

Transcription

1 THE LANTERN ~FEBRUARY 2018~ NEWS OF THE PARISH OF ST ANDREW S BREDFIELD Cutoff for MARCH issue: 20 th FEBRUARY 2018 Please submit entries to Alison Cannard lantern.bredfield@gmail.com Inside this issue: From our Ministry 2 Team Diary dates 5 News from 9 Bredfield Rotas 11 Services 12 1

2 FROM OUR MINISTRY TEAM Here is a children s song written by a man called Nigel Hemming in 2014 that we sometimes sing in church, usually in an all-age service setting. In fact, we sung it on 31 st December in St John s as we thought about the goodness and faithfulness of our God and thought also about focussing on demonstrating to our family, other church members, our colleagues at work and our community at large just how amazing God s goodness is through the things that we do and say. Our God is so enormous and yet at the same time he is so close to us. He is an enigma but one that we can trust and depend on because we know he keeps his promises as demonstrated through the Christmas story. Our God is a great big God Our God is a great big God Our God is a great big God And he holds us in his hands He's higher than a skyscraper He's deeper than a submarine He's wider than the universe And beyond my wildest dreams He's known me and he's loved me Since before the world began How wonderful to be a part of God's amazing plan Isn t it a wonderful thought that each one of us is a part of God s amazing plan for this world? However, are we really playing our full part in bringing his message of salvation to our darkened world where God s light is so badly needed? For those of us who are Christians, this is a vital part of our calling. There are so many people living in our society who live without hope; who live in darkness, despair and loneliness. If we are a committed Christian, we need to shine God s light into the world we inhabit and through what we say, do and think, bring hope, comfort and encouragement to those who are in need of it. People live in differing places in their spiritual journey; many may have not started it, but there are others who are searching for a meaning to their 2

3 existence. The Rev Dave Gardner used to refer to these people as God s people of peace people who are longing to hear God s message of hope and salvation that we celebrated again this Christmas. As members of God s family, it is our job this year to share his love with those around us in everything we do. Is this a New Year s resolution that rings bells with us? Is this something we can redouble our efforts, with God s help, to do better with in 2018? God has loved us since before the world began and with these words ringing in our ears, I want to finish with some of King David s thoughts from Psalm 139 which picks up on this theme: O Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.. You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them, They would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake I am still with you. Search me O God and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. A happy and blessed New Year to you all! Gay Nichols 3

4 FROM MEMBERS OF ST ANDREW S PCC THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHURCH IN BREDFIELD It was great to see our Rector, Clive, back to take our 2017 Christmas services after his long illness. Although different from our usual pattern we believe these services combined to attract a greater attendance than last year. You will have read in the Lantern last month that Clive has explained that he has a much reduced number of lay readers and retired clergy who he can call upon to take services and hence has to reduce the number of services in Bredfield. Unfortunately, this has had an immediate effect and January saw only two services scheduled at our church. Clive has stressed that he aims to be sensitive to the needs of the community and wishes to incorporate services which are both more attractive and more appropriate, particularly to the growing number of young families. With this in mind he has proposed reducing services at Bredfield to TWO formal services each month. This would include at least one communion service. In addition he suggests a "family friendly" service at a time which is suitable, possibly Sunday afternoon. He proposes that this service would be led by the benefice youth team supported by volunteers from both Bredfield and St John's and Clive himself. The PCC is committed to providing the best possible service to the village in terms both of services and of pastoral and spiritual support and are pleased that Roger Ackerley, who is currently training in order to be licensed as a Lay Reader in Bredfield, has offered to lead an additional service each month. We have also received, from residents, many exciting ideas for special services which could take place at occasions such as Easter or Harvest or when there is a fifth service in the month. 4

5 Having initially had a deep concern for the future of our church in Bredfield we feel now that we can look forward with enthusiasm to a full calendar of services. We are therefore proposing that we accept the proposals made by our Rector at our next formal PCC meeting on 6th February. It would however be very reassuring for us if we had some indication of the feelings of other parishioners especially regarding the pattern and type of services being proposed. Time is short but if you could make a comment we would be very grateful. This could be directly to any PCC member, by to: lantern.bredfield@gmail.com or on paper and put in the box put for the purpose in the porch of the church. At the moment St Andrew s Church is looking splendid. The building is in excellent shape, the grounds are beautifully kept and it seems that more graves are attended and decorated as a result. Inside the church, the recently refurbished kneelers are hanging on the pews. Cleaning and flower arrangement is done each week. Be proud of the church at the centre of our village and please take the time to walk round it and into it. It is opened every day. Members of Bredfield PCC: Roger Ackerley Paul Cannard Caroline Cowper Robin D'Arcy Janet D'Arcy Andrew Miller Ann Pilgrim Janie Taylor 5

6 DIARY DATES WINTER CAMEO 2018 Tuesdays 20th Feb, 20th Mar St Andrew s Church Room, Teas, Coffees, Squash, Cakes (voluntary 1 donation) Toys available EVERYONE WELCOME- Bring a friend for a relaxing get together in the warm For more info contact Ann Stammers Quotation for February The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be...it is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own. C.S. Lewis 6

7 Friday 23 rd February Bredfield Village Hall 7.30pm per person Tables of 4 (includes fish & chip supper bring your own drinks Quizmaster Alex Briggenshaw) Proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support in Suffolk TO BOOK PLEASE CALL ANNE HENDERSON

8 Woodbridge Deanery God and Politics A Lent Course led by Bishop Tim Stevens In uncertain and often confusing times, how are we as Christians to develop habits of wise reflection if we are to engage faithfully and prayerfully with the big issues of our day? What are the key commitments of our faith that connect with those big issues, and how are we to learn what sort of questions to ask when applying our Christian values to the great challenges of today? In this series of talks and discussions, Bishop Tim will explore questions including: 1) What does the Bible say about God s action in politics and history? 2) What can we learn from outstanding Christian Leaders? 3) How can the Church enter the Public Square and what is our responsibility in this? 4) What does the Cross have to teach us about the cost of public discipleship? Wednesdays, 21 and 28 February, 7 and 14 March 2018 St Mary s Church Centre, Woodbridge, IP12 4LP 7.30pm 8

9 NEWS FROM BREDFIELD Bredfield 100 Club Subscriptions are now due for the Church 100 Club. Please give to either Rosemary or John McCarthy. We would welcome new members! Subscription is 12 per year (cheques payable to Bredfield PCC). The draw takes place at the beginning of each month. First prize is 25 and second prize is 10. All proceeds go to Bredfield Church. A Farewell to Matthew and Claire Ling. The lovely Claire and Matthew Ling who have come to St Andrew s in the past to lead Special Services (Stir Up Sunday and Olympic Sunday to name just two), have now finished their curacies and are off on an exciting adventure to New Zealand. They depart at the end of January, their belongings having already left in a container from Felixstowe, to take up a joint ministerial role at St Augustine s, in the suburb of Cashmere, in Christchurch. They have previously spent some time in the area, retuning to Suffolk about 15 years ago with their three children, who are now all grown up. Their enthusiasm, dedication and hard work will be greatly missed in Woodbridge and the surrounding area. We wish them all the very best in their new ministry in the southern hills above the Christchurch plains. Although Cashmere is a highly desired suburb, it is still recovering 9

10 from the devastation of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake of Feb 22 nd 2011 which caused so much damage to structures already weakened by the previous earthquake of Sept The 2011 earthquake killed 185 and injured about 2000 others, as well as demolishing many buildings and homes. Matthew and Claire now face quite a challenge as the rebuilding of structures and lives is still on going. The Special Bring and Share Lunch today was scrumptious, with lots of fellowship and catching up, followed by a presentation made on behalf of St John s by the amazing Jeremy Harrold and a presentation on behalf of St Andrew s by Steve Stammers, for all that they have achieved in our Benefice. Our prayers for their ministry would be much appreciated over the coming year, together with prayers for Jeremy who undergoes another operation in a few days time. Steve and Ann, 20 th Jan

11 100 Club Winners 1st Prize 2nd Prize No. 45 T. Richardson No. 32. P. Cannard Church Cleaning Rota 3 rd February C. Cowper 10 th February A. Pilgrm 17 th February P. Cook 24 th February J. McCarthy Church Flower Rota 4 th February S. Woods 11 th February J. Garrod Lent - Lent - Refreshments Rota 4 th February A. Cannard 11 th February A. Stammers 18 th February - 25 th February - 11

12 February Services at St. Andrew s Sunday 4th February 9.15am Sunday 18th February Family Communion Rev Clive Howard Family Service Bill Herbert No service at St Andrew s Sunday 25th February No service at St Andrew s - Sunday 11th February 9.15am - To contact the Rector and for all enquiries regarding St Andrew s, contact St John s church office on: info@stjohnswoodbridge.org.uk Or RECTOR: REV D. CLIVE HOWARD CHURCHWARDEN: Vacant. 12