THURSTON NEWSLETTER June 2018 Produced by St Peter s, your Parish Church, supported by Thurston Parish Council
CHURCH LETTER Churchyard Rules St. Peter`s Churchyard Our village churchyard is more than a graveyard it is a planned space for quiet reflection and recreation; someplace where many of you visit to find peace. Some visit graves of loved ones and others just love to stroll around, reading headstones or admiring the wild flowers and abundant wildlife that flourishes there. We are very lucky to have a few green fingered people who prune, cut back or weed for us. We especially want to thank the Forge Church for their help on their outreach weekend not only gardening but repairing our shed. The grass is cut regularly (organised by The Parish Council) although at this time of year part of the churchyard is allowed to grow wild in all its glory. However there are a few problems. Our Churchyard is subject to the Churchyard Rules of the Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. There is a copy of these rules in the porch to the left of the door for all to see. To summarise the following are forbidden on or by graves;- kerbs, surrounds, railings, stone or other chippings, statues, sundials, bird baths, portraits, wind chimes, windmills and the like, candles, trees, shrubs, photographs, holograms, laminated cards, seats, lights, toys, horizontal ledgers and slabs. You can imagine how some of these things can cause trouble for mowers and how over time shrubs and trees grow. We fully understand that for a while after the loss of a loved one, especially a child, putting special reminders on graves helps with the grieving process. However, things deteriorate in the open and soon look very sad. We would therefore ask if you will kindly look at what you have placed with such love and see if it is time to remove them. To continue from the Rules, bulbs and small plants may be planted in the soil of the grave within the area previously excavated. Plants or flowers may be placed in a removable container (not glass) and unless the grave is kept tidy the PCC may treat the grave as part of the turf and mow over it. No artificial flowers other than silk are allowed either and the PCC can remove them without notice. Many of the graves do not have anyone to tend them and others are only visited at Christmas or anniversaries. We do from time to time scoop up old wreaths or flowers and dispose of them but we would ask that whenever possible you take them away to put in your bins, as the church ones can quickly fill up. Sadly we have also had reports once again of pot plants being stolen from the lower churchyard. Please be vigilant and report any strange sighting either to us or the village PCSO Matthew Smith who does regularly patrol around the church. We do hope you will all continue to visit. The blossom and wild flowers are beautiful at the moment. Mr & Mrs Barber continue to keep the area around the War Memorial neat and tidy and we thank them for their work. The Parish Council is of course responsible for this area and not the church. We always welcome assistance with keeping the churchyard beautiful and a place it is a pleasure to visit. If you have never visited please do. You are also welcome to bring your dog so long as it is under control on a lead. We appreciate the need for sensitivity when grief is still very raw but rules are an important part of our everyday lives and are made in order to maintain uniformity in places such as our churchyard. Please do contact us if you would like to discuss anything. We are always very happy to listen. Your Churchwardens Irene & Pat Are you running an event for Thurston? Please let us know at thurstonnewsletter@gmail.com EMERGENCY PRAYERLINE If you, your friends or loved ones need prayerful help, please telephone one of these numbers: The Rev. Derek Hill - 01359 230770 Alf Nightingale - 01359 231155 Christopher Wells - 01359 231573 3 HOME COMMUNION AND VISITS: If you are housebound and unable to come to church but would like to receive Communion or a visit, please contact Rev d Manette Crossman (Tel. 01284 787554) or one of the Churchwardens (Irene & Pat) who will be able to arrange this for you. St Peter s Church contacts Rev Manette Crossman 01284 787554 revmcrossman@gmail.com (Manette s day off is usually Monday) You can contact;- Joy Bolwell for Baptisms 231301 Pat Sadler for Weddings 230865 Irene Churchus Funerals 230652 Secretary: Gillian Bush 271704 Treasurer : Catriona Addison 07931 199721 Churchwardens: Irene Churchus 230652 & Pat Sadler 230865
CHURCH SERVICES FOR JUNE 2018 Holy Innocents Sunday 3 rd June 1 st Sunday after Trinity St. Peter s Wednesday, 6 th June Sunday 10 th June 2 nd Sunday after Trinity 10am Holy Communion (CW) also Mothers' Union Corporate service (Everyone Welcome) (CW) 10.30am Matins 7pm Praise+Prayer@7 Wednesday, 13 th June Sunday, 17 th June 3 rd Sunday after Trinity 9am Café Church at the Church Institute 10am Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30am Morning Praise 6.30pm Choral Evensong Wednesday, 20 th June Sunday 24 th June John the Baptist 10am Holy Communion Montana (CW) (Everyone Welcome) followed by Church BBQ Wednesday, 27 th June 10am Holy Communion (CW) BCP: means according to the Book of Common Prayer - traditional Language: CW: is a short service in modern language, which is easy to follow. DO YOU KNOW THE CHURCH IS OPEN EVERYDAY FOR YOU TO VISIT? There is a children s corner with toys and books and a prayer corner for quieter reflection, together with books you may like to borrow. You are very welcome to come to any of our services and we serve coffee and biscuits in The Rock (the church room with a loo) after the 10.30am service every Sunday. This is a lovely opportunity to meet and chat. Hope to see you soon. 4
St. Peter s Church Draw Club Thank you to all members for your support which helps to fund the Church in Thurston. The winning numbers so far this year have been; January 35 February 46 March 72 April 2 The Summer Grand Draw will take place at The Rock on Saturday 7th July and all members and potential members are welcome to come for a cup of tea and strawberries and cream in the church grounds (inside the church if wet) from 2.00 4.00pm. Any donations of prizes for a raffle would be welcome before the event if possible. Anyone interested in joining the Draw Club please contact Ann Reeve on 01359 270491 Saturday 2 June: Music on a Summer s Evening @ Holy Innocents. 7.30pm Saturday 9 June: Benefice coffee morning at the Vicarage, 10.30am to 12 noon Sunday 24 June: Barbecue, Barton Lodge, The Avenue, Gt Barton. 1.00pm Saturday 30 June: Kirbye Voices & Friends concert at Gt Barton Village Hall. 7.30pm Saturday & Sunday 14 15 July: Gt Barton Open Gardens Saturday 18 August: Hymns and Pimms, Bush Cottage, Thurston. 4.00pm Friday 14 September: St Peter s Church & Thurston Library Village Quiz, Cavendish Hall, Thurston. 7.30pm Saturday 29 September: Bangers and Bingo The Institute Gt Barton: 6.00pm Friday 5 October: St Peter s Harvest Supper, Cavendish Hall, Thurston Saturday 17 November: Holy Innocents Christmas Fayre, The Institute, Gt Barton Saturday 24 November: St Peter s Christmas Fayre, Cavendish Hall, Thurston Saturday 24 November: Bangers and Bingo The Institute Gt Barton. 6.00pm Sunday 25 November: Confirmation with The Bishop of Dunwich, Rt Rev d Mike Harrison, at Holy Innocents Saturday 1 December: The Harvesters Concert at St Peter s Thurston Saturday & Sunday 15 16 December: Christmas Tree Festival, Holy Innocents Gt Barton and St Peter s Thurston Thursday 20 December: Kirbye Voices concert in Holy Innocents Church, Gt Barton Please look on our website for more information for all our events: http://www.greatbartonandthurston.org.uk CHURCH NEWS 5 Benefice Coffee Morning - Saturday 9th June Everyone welcome to come to the Vicarage at the invitation of Manette from 10.30am. We will have our usual books/jigsaws/ pre-loved items and produce for sale and there will be a raffle. Come and spend a morning of friendly chat and hopefully take a stroll in the garden. The MU enjoyed a lovely meal at the Bunbury Arms in May. The next meeting is on 12th June when they will be meeting in Carol s house (or hopefully, garden) at 2.30pm. Please bring folding chairs and bring and buy items. Our friends from Gt. Barton also welcome. We have a busy July! 5th is Diocesan AGM 7.30pm at Christchurch Moreton Hall. Lifts can be arranged. 10th Manette is our speaker at 2.30pm in The Rock. 17th at 2.30pm Cathedral for Wave of Prayer Service Lifts to be arranged. 19th visit to Dads Army Museum Thetford. Joint with Gt. Barton MU. Coach. Do ring Joy on 231301 or Jill on 231647 for further information and a warm welcome. Saturday, 18 th August at 4pm Hymns & Pimms in the gardens of Bush Cottage, Ixworth Road, Thurston by kind permission of Lt.Col. Christopher and Mrs. Elizabeth Wells. Come and sing your favourite hymns and enjoy a glass of Pimms with a few canapés. All welcome, for more information please contact the Benefice Web Administrator via email: beneficepr@gmail.com The Benefice of Holy Innocents & St Peter s Church Thurston has a joint web site. Please visit www.greatbartonandthurston.org.uk and peruse at your leisure TINY TOES THURSTON Thursdays (Term Time Only) 9.15am 9.15-11.15. - 11.15am. A friendly A friendly and informal and informal group group for parents, for parents, grandparents grandparents and carers to meet with babies and toddlers. carers to meet with babies and toddlers. Craft/activity every every week, week, healthy healthy snacks snack and and biscuits biscuits provided, provided, free tea/coffee free tea/coffee for parents/carers for parents/carers and singing time. and singing time. New Green Centre, New Green Avenue, New Green Thurston Centre, IP31 New 3TG. Green Contact Avenue, Roxanne Thurston Perry IP31 3TG. Contact 07946 Zoe 336066. Foreman 01359 241319. This This group group is is supported by St by Peter s St Peter s Church. Church.
Barton Lodge, The Avenue, Great Barton Tickets 13 (including 8 voluntary donation) In aid of Parish Church Funds Lovely surroundings and wonderful food Swimming pool for the energetic Bring your own chairs Tickets from Linda Scoles 01359 230392 or David Sheppard 01284 705540 Kirbye Voices and friends warmly invite you to a Concert of Summer Music to include music by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Simon and Garfunkel, Moeran, Finzi and Debussy Great Barton Village Hall Elms Close, Great Barton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2NR Saturday 30 June, 7.30pm Retiring Collection 6