Issue No. 34 June 2017 NewSheet Congratulations, James & Hayley Our own James White and Hayley Denyer were married in church on Saturday 29th April. They had issued an open invitation to the church family to attend the ceremony and a number of regulars (not least, the choir) were there to share in their special day. The smiles on their faces say it all: it was a truly joyous occasion and we wish the new Mr and Mrs White a long, blessed and healthy life together. Our congratulations also to another couple previously married at Sheet, Chris & Jenna Coombes, on the birth of their son Jacob, who behaved immaculately on his first visit to church! Loving God, Loving People St Mary Magdalen Church, Sheet, Petersfield www.sheet.church 1 Registered Charity No. 1128244
Pentecost gets none of the hype and commercialism that Christmas or Easter attract, but what we celebrate at this time of year the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on ordinary, everyday people is just as important as Jesus birth, death and resurrection. For it is the Spirit who brings home to us in the here and now the reality of the rescue and freedom which Jesus has brought. At Christmas we celebrate the kingdom of God coming to the earth as Jesus, King of the kingdom, is born. But, as Jesus tells Nicodemus, it is only as we are born of the Spirit that we enter the kingdom for ourselves. (John 3:5-8) At Easter we celebrate Jesus wonderful victory over sin and death. But it is the work of the Spirit in our lives that means we ourselves participate in this victory, which in turn gives us hope of resurrection. (Romans 8:11) It is by God s Spirit living in us that we share in Jesus life. It is by God s Spirit living in us that we are adopted into God s family, know we are God s children and can talk to him intimately, crying, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15,16) Christians are meant to live in the presence and power of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to confess Jesus as Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3), empowers us to serve God with supernatural power (1 Cor 12:4-11), binds us together as the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-13), helps us to pray (Romans 8:26), and even intercedes for us with God the Father (Rom 8:27). The Spirit guides us (Galatians 5:25) and transforms us, helping us to live like Jesus (Gal 5:22-23). All of this could be seen as a very individual thing. And of course we can and do experience the Spirit as individuals. But the first Pentecost was a pouring out of the Spirit on a group of Jesus followers as they were gathered to pray. And it led to a shared life together, focused on teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and practical sharing to ensure no-one was hungry or needy (Acts 2:42-47). And so we speak of Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. So the Spirit brings us into a new relationship with God and with one another. But it didn t stop there. God is a God of mission, reaching out in love to all he has made, to heal, to rescue and make himself known. So we shouldn t be surprised to discover that the Spirit drives the church out in mission. As those first Christians lived out their new faith together by the power of the Spirit, the Lord added to their number those who were being saved (Acts 2;47). So my prayer this Pentecost is that we may be filled with the Spirit of God and that this will deepen our relationship with our heavenly Father and with each other as brothers and sisters in His family. And it is that we too, both individually and as a church, will be motivated and empowered to make his ways known in the world and be used to help others come to know him. You can read about some of the ways we believe God is calling us to do this in our Mission Action Plan leaflet. Thank you for being part of this. And if you d like help in discovering more about how you might be involved, I d love to hear from you. PS. My Pentecost challenge! If you don t usually get round to reading the Bible at home or even if you do why not take five minutes a day for a few days this Pentecost to look up the Bible references above and reflect on them, being open to what the Spirit might want to say to you and praying for a deeper experience of Him? 2
Tack Tack & Adjö, Sofia! [ in other words, Thank-you and Goodbye! ] Swedish curate Revd Sofia Backsten completed her twoweek stay with us on 8th May, before flying back to Stockholm to find out how Max had fared in her home parish. [We ll hear more about that in next month s NewSheet.] Sofia takes the microphone for a brief interview in The 10 O Clock Service As well as Sunday services at Sheet, Sofia visited a Sheet prayer meeting, Parents & Toddlers at the Vicarage, Reveal, a home group, Wednesday Communion, }OPEN{, a Sunday tea (for seniors), YA and Costa drop-in (for young people) and a Deanery Synod meeting, as well as observing a wedding and a funeral.. And that wasn t all. The diocese arranged a two-day trip to the Isle of Wight, where Sofia met Bishop Christopher at a service to mark 35 years of the IoW Hospice. She also learned about the organisation of church life on the island and the ministry to prisoners. Sofia was very grateful to all who gave her hospitality. The visits to different people in their own homes gave her a really valuable insight into English ways as well as the faith stories of individuals. [You will be pleased to hear she also managed to fit in sightseeing trips to Idsworth, Chalton, Winchester, Chawton and Portsmouth and a brief visit to the beach!] On Sunday 7th May, Sofia preached at both services, tackling the thorny topic of suffering with sensitivity and wisdom. At the opening of her sermon, she said this: During my visit here I have learnt a lot about the differences between our churches, but also about our similarities. We pray, we sing, we talk about God and try to get to know him through his Son Jesus Christ. We read the scriptures and try to learn what it can mean to us today in 2017 in Sheet, in Stockholm and around the world. By visiting here I have learnt a lot about how our language, culture and context (differ), but in the end we all live the same lives. This curate exchange has certainly made a real connection between Christians from opposite ends of Europe. Many people were touched and impressed by their meeting with Sofia and it was good for us to hear these words too: St Mary Magdalen Sheet is now a place where I have friends. Sofia shakes Thelma Berry s hand at the door after her sermon. The service included a baptism coincidentally of a lovely little girl named Sofia! 3
OASIS At The Half Moon, London Road, Sheet Service followed by tea and cake Thursdays, 2.30-4.30pm JUNE 8th and 22nd JULY 13th and 27th ALL OLDER PEOPLE VERY WELCOME For more details, contact Julie Slade on 01730 269160 or email julie@sheet.church From the Annual Meeting We give 10% of our income away. This will amount to 12,804 this year, as it depends on our income from the previous year. We are still appealing for money to ensure we can employ David Loveless as our full-time Youth Worker for a further 3 years, all the way to 2020. We had a deficit of 2,394 in 2016, despite increases in regular giving. We are hoping to pay our way this year and secure reserves of 30,000. Generous legacies from much-loved church members Gladys Fiander and Adrienne Spiers are funding our part-time Seniors Chaplain. Hilary Bonney has retired as our PACT representative with Petersfield Area Churches Together after doing sterling work for many years. She hands over to Jenny Parkes. 4 Philip Poulter has stepped down after 5 years as Treasurer, handing over to Peter Gaut. Philip still has one more year to serve on PCC before taking a well-deserved rest. After years of much-valued service, Ambrose Barber, Tim Horne, Shaun Whelan and Nigel Williams left the PCC at the end of the last Council year in April. Our teams of visitors have now knocked on around 1,700 doors in the parish. About 50% of people come to the door and of those, around two-thirds have a specific request for prayer. Those requests are then included in our services the following Sunday. Our Mission Action Plan has been approved by the PCC and copies are available now. It embodies our mission statement and values, summed up as Loving God, Loving People.
A Vicar s Life is not all about long hours at the computer, managing a team, discussing church heating, visiting parishioners and meetings with the Archdeacon! Our pictures show Richard at May s Messy Church, obviously enjoying a break from the week s usual challenges. (Although, to be fair, he did have to sing for his supper, telling the story of Daniel to an audience of children and their parents before the craft and meal.) Messy Church was started in our own diocese, just down the road in Waterlooville. Lucy Moore had the idea of an after-school monthly meeting for children and parents with craft, a chance to celebrate and a meal. The next Messy Church is at Petersfield Methodist, 3:00-5:15 pm on Tuesday 20th. June. Prepare... Concentrate... Enjoy! A Toddler s Life isn t just about stories, singing and playing at Toddling Tortoises in the Village Hall on Sunday mornings, or making hand-print lions at Messy Church once a month. Thanks to Jo Saunders hospitality, on Thursday mornings there s play inside the vicarage to enjoy and a whole big beautiful garden to explore. There are even trees to sit in, as you can see! Pre-school Families Worker Suzy Cross welcomes all toddlers to the Tortoises on Sundays and to the Thursday morning group. Do contact her on 01730 301126 or at suzy@sheet.church for more details. Pictures by Karen Glanville 5
***** STAR PAGE****** The monthly page for The Ark, SMART and Young-at-Heart. On Sunday 4th June we celebrate Pentecost. That s the name of the Jewish festival Jesus friends were celebrating when the Holy Spirit was given to them. Pentecost is the 50th day of Passover. Because Easter is close to Passover, Pentecost Sunday is always 7 weeks - or 49 days - after Easter Day. If you are confused about the numbers, remember that the Jews always counted the first day as number 1, not zero. That s why they said Jesus was raised on the 3rd day, rather than 2 days after he was crucified. Friday = day 1, Saturday = day 2 and Sunday = day 3! **************************************************************** Another difference is that we think each day starts in the morning. The Jews count the evening as the beginning of the day to come. Each 24-hour day runs from nightfall to nightfall. So if you were born after nightfall on 4th June, your Jewish birthday would be 5th June! Our Pentecost as Christians is really important because God the Holy Spirit is with each of God s people all day every day and the coming of the Holy Spirit for every one of us started on that day. The Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. On that day, we celebrate the amazing fact that our God is one God but three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 6
Did you know? If you miss a service, you can usually catch up with the sermon on our website sheet.church? Just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions. Put your name down NOW for the PACT HOLIDAY CLUB There are large-print hymn sheets at every 10 O Clock Service. Do ask a welcomer if you prefer to sit for some of the songs or find it easier to read on the page rather than the screen. As well as the streamers, there are toys, books and colouring available at the back of church each week. Families are of course very welcome to sit wherever suits them in church. If you have an email address, Rebecca can send you the Sheet sheet of weekly notices and the monthly link to NewSheet - in full colour - every month. What is it? When is it? Where is it? A week of school holiday mornings full of fun, craft, singing, stories & sport 31 July to 4 August 2017 9:15am - 12 noon The Petersfield School Who can go? 0-7s, with a parent or carer (job-share with a friend!) 8-11s on their own Can I help? YES! As a junior helper if under 16; as an adult helper as long as you have a DBS How do I book? There are forms at the back of church or look online: www.pact.org.uk/holidayclub Calling All Actors! On all but the last of the Summer Sundays (ie 30 July to 27 August inclusive) we shall be working our way through the life of Joseph, whose experiences have so much to teach us today. While the appropriate passage from Genesis will be read as usual at, The 10 O Clock Service will include a dramatic presentation of each episode. Linda Clist is inviting anyone who would like to take part to volunteer as soon as possible. She s happy to confirm that there will be no discrimination on the grounds of age, gender or experience and you don t even have to remember your lines! The cast will vary from week to week, so it s fine if you re available for just one or two weeks of the five. 7
Services for June Pentecost Sunday 4 Filled with the Spirit Communion Sunday 18 Sharing faith with those closest Father s Day The 10 O Clock Service Communion inc The Ark (for 0-10s) & Upper Room (for 11+) 10 O Clock Together 6pm Choral Evensong Sunday 25 Faith around the world Trinity Sunday 11 Faith in a sceptical world BCP Communion BCP Communion The 10 O Clock Service The 10 O Clock Service with Communion, inc The Ark & Upper Room with Communion (& optional prayers for healing), inc The Ark + Upper Room with a speaker telling us more about Connected Church as we connect with Christians in Uganda Saturdays 3rd June & 1st JULY Wednesdays 9am Short Communion 8pm Reveal at Winton House... 6pm - 7pm Mondays 29th MAY & 3rd JULY 8pm - 9pm }OPEN{ informal worship open to all Praise and Prayer Services for July Sunday 2 Sunday 9 Sunday 16 Sunday 23 Sunday 30 BCP BCP The 10 O Clock Service The 10 O Clock Service with Communion The 10 O Clock Service with Communion 6pm Evensong 11am at Sheet Rec St Mary Magdalen FESTIVAL SERVICE The 10 O Clock Service with Together Communion Summer Sunday 1 From the Registers Baptism Sofia PENWARDEN (7 May) Funeral Wedding Marilyn WADHAM Hayley DENYER & James WHITE (29 April) (24 May) NewSheet is free, but a donation of 20p per copy would cover basic costs. (There s a slot in the wall near the church door.) To receive NewSheet in full colour (at no cost to the church) join the church email list at admin@sheet.church Feedback, letters and contributions are welcome. Please deliver to newsheet@sheet.church to the pigeonhole at the back of church or to the Parish Office. Material for publication will be edited as necessary. Copy date for the JULY/AUGUST issue is MONDAY 19th JUNE. Editor: Linda Clist 01730 262312 NewSheet The next issue, professionally printed in colour, will be distributed free to every home in the parish. Vicar Revd Richard Saunders 263673 richard@sheet.church Curate Revd Max Cross 301126 max@sheet.church Youth Worker David Loveless 302695 david@sheet.church Churchwardens Karen Glanville & Philip Taylor churchwardens@sheet.church Parish Administrator Rebecca Whelan 302695 admin@sheet.church 8 Hon Clergy Revd Mick Micklethwaite 893303 Lay Ministers Linda Clist 262312 & Bob Slade 269160 Pre-school Families Worker Suzy Cross 301126 Seniors Chaplain / Pastoral Co-ordr Julie Slade 269160 Parish Office 2 Pulens Lane, open Wed - Fri mornings