Feb/March Services 2/3 Pancake fun 4 Womens Day of Prayer 4 Andrew Sheppy 4/5 Congresbury History 5 St B s/claverham news 5/6 Mothers Union 6 Lent Lunch 6 Bishops Lent appeal 7 Panto/Thank You 8 The M Messenger Published free for Holy Trinity, Cleeve and St. Barnabas, Claverham penance; maybe giving something up that we usually enjoy, like chocolate or alcohol! Issue 322 February 2018 Lent Matters.. It seems as if Christmas is only just behind us, and here we are preparing for Lent, as this coming week is Shrove Tuesday when we practice our pancake tossing skills and enter the six weeks leading up to Easter Day on 1st April. Many Christians prepare for the celebration of Easter by prayer and However, I have decided that for Lent this year I am going to attempt to cut down drastically on our family s use of plastic. We are told in the Bible to look after Creation, and the problem of plastic pollution has been highlighted by David Attenborough in Blue Planet 2 and on recent news items, with heartbreaking images of the destruction of marine life. The scale of the problem is enormous and it is easy to feel that nothing we can do will help the situation and that the best thing we can do is to keep recycling. I have been in touch with the North Somerset Council s Waste Management dept who told me that our plastic recycling is sent to Grangemouth in Scotland to be processed. Presumably it is transported all that way by lorries at the expense of we
M two Council Tax payers, and, although it is obviously good to recycle, it is hardly an ecological or economic solution. The Technical Officer from the department told me that her team, have all taken a challenge to reduce their personal plastic use and have made changes to their lifestyles such as using Pokito collapsible travel mugs for their coffee, sourcing non plastic cotton buds and using their own reusable water bottles. Every reduction made will help the environment. So this Lent I will keep eating the chocolate and cutting down on the plastic in any way I can. If anyone has any good ideas on how to deplasticise, maybe they could let me know and I can put them in next month s Messenger! Ed One Tip - Our local fruit/veg stall in Brockley supplies paper bags. They are kept inside the shop to stop them getting soggy! Services from the second week of Februaryuntil the second week of March 2018 The Sunday next before Lent Green 2nd Sunday 11th February 09.30 Holy Communion Claverham 2nd Wednesday 14th February 10.00 Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes Yatton 19.30 Team Communion with Imposition of Ashes Yatton Thursday 15th February 09.30 Prayers for Healing & Wholeness + Holy Communion Cleeve The First Sunday of Lent Purple 3rd Sunday 18th Feburary 09.30 Holy Communion Cleeve Thursday 22nd Feburary 09.30 Prayers for Healing & Wholeness + Holy Communion Cleeve
M three The Second Sunday of Lent 4th Sunday 25th February Wednesday 28th February Thursday 1st March Friday 2nd March Purple 10.00 Cafe Celebration Court de Wyck School 11.00 Holy Communion (BCP 1662) Claverham 09.30 Prayers for Healing & Wholeness + Holy Communion Cleeve 10.30 Women s World Day of Prayer 14.00 Women s World Day of Prayer The Third Sunday of Lent 1st Sunday 4th March Thursday 8th March Yatton Purple 09.30 Holy Communion Cleeve 11.00 Informal Communion Claverham 09.30 Prayers for Healing & Wholeness Cleeve The Fourth Sunday of Lent - Mothering Sunday 2nd Sunday 11th March 09.30 Holy Communion Thursday 09.30 15th March Claverham Purple Claverham Prayers for Healing & Wholeness + Holy Communion Cleeve
M four Pancake Fun Some of the children from the parish who have recently been confirmed met for a pancake party, run by Jo Stobart (formerly Slade). Harriet, Lawrence, Ella and Arianne enjoyed cooking and eating pancakes and waffles, whilst chatting about their Christian journey since their Confirmation in November 2017. Harriet read Chapter 2 from Luke, and Jo led an informal discussion. Jo held a Communion service once the munching had stopped! It was a lovely informal way for the youngsters to get together. Photos -Glenda Haggar Women's World Day of Prayer This year the service is on Friday 2nd March. It will be held at 10.30am at St Barnabas Church. The service is set by the ladies of Surinam in South America which has a very hot and sticky climate The theme of the service is 'All God's Creation is Very Good and it will be a very interesting service. I do hope that you will be able to come along every year each service is different and a challenge. Hope to see you at St B's on the 2nd March. Brenda. Andrew Sheppy s memorial It was suggested and agreed at a PCC meeting following Andrew s death last year that we provide a memorial for Andrew in recognition of all his musical talent and prayerful contribution to Holy Trinity during his thirty-six years as organist. It hasn t been decided as yet as to what would be most appropriate but possibly a plaque or dedication of a new lectern bible. Also there is a suggestion of hopefully the on line publication of his music. We don t anticipate
M five the cost will be too great and are asking in the first instance for donations. If you would like to contribute in any way please see Diana, Andrea or Dave. Diana and Andrea Congresbury History Group Spring Programme 2018 February/March New members and visitors are welcome to attend meetings of the Congresbury History Club, and as you can see, the next two meetings are of particular relevance. Wednesday 21st February An evening remembering Andrew Sheppy A chance to reflect upon the life of Andrew and view photographs of old Congresbury from his extensive collection. Presented by Chris Short. Wednesday 21st March The Story of Bristol Airport then and now We are delighted to welcome Jacqui Mills, Public and Community Relations Manager at the airport, who will tell us all about its history (including old photos) and future development. All meetings at 7.30pm for 7.45pm prompt start are held in the Methodist Hall unless otherwise stated. New members/visitors welcome Annual Membership 10 or 3 per meeting. Further information from Anne Dimmock 01934 838891 or on the website: www.congresburyhistory.org.uk St Barnabas/Claverham News. As in previous years St Barnabas will be hosting a Lent group at the church. The first meeting of five will be on Monday 19th February at 2pm. The course this year is entitled All things are possible and explores how faith in God can change the world (See details at www.uspg.org.uk). Everybody welcome. The Women's Day of Prayer takes place at St Barnabas on the 2nd March at 10.30. On the 14th March there will be a Lent lunch at the church at 12.00 noon. Tickets are 5 and are available from Sheila Inglis.
M six The usual Claverham market will be from 10-12noon on Saturday 17th February where you can browse the stalls and have a chat with your friends over a cuppa. The Claverham Ladies Guild have a coach trip to North Cerney house and gardens on Thursday 1st March. Seats are available phone Jean Watson for details on 838017. Mothers Union News In what has become an annual event for our branch, we enjoyed a pub meal together last week and 'passed the hat round for a collection for the 'Make a Mother's Day' appeal to help mothers around the world to support their communities and families. We collected 100 and in a democratic process we voted to send two gifts each of Practical skill training, Literacy and Numeracy and Learn a Livelihood. The gifts will be distributed to mothers across the world wherever the need is greatest. The next meeting is at Holy Trinity on Tuesday 20th February starting at 11.45 where there will be a talk by Sue Reagan, a trustee of the Clevedon Foodbank. This meeting is open to anyone whether a member of the MU or not and a lunch is supplied for a nominal 2. Please let Andrea (832458) or Lin (838515) know if you are staying for lunch so that they know the number to cater for. Holy Trinity - Lent Lunch A reminder that Holy Trinity s Lent Lunch is to be held on Wednesday 21st March in the Church Room. Lunch will be from 12noon until 2pm soup, a ploughman s and a sweet, plus tea/coffee, all for 5.
M seven Tickets are bound to go quickly, so please get in touch with Lin on 838515 or Gill on 832917 if you would like to come to this popular event. Bishops Lent Appeal 2018 Following a successful initial Lent appeal in 2017 Bishops Peter and Ruth are again asking for support for a Lent appeal in 2018. Holy Trinity and St Barnabas together sent a sum of 409 in 2017 that helped swell the Appeal Fund to 16000, which was used to support refugees in Somerset and in Athens, Greece. This year s appeal is asking for support to the Lay Ministry in a) the Diocese of Bath and Wells and b) in the five Diocese that make up the Anglican Church in Zambia. Of the money raised, 25% will be used to help individuals training for Lay Ministry roles in the Bath and Wells Diocese to pay for books, study materials, and travel expenses. Another 25% will be used to support innovative, lay-led mission initiatives in the Bath and Wells Diocese, and 50% will be used to support lay ministry programmes in Zambia, in this the 40th anniversary year of the Diocese s companion link to the Zambian Anglican Church. Zambia has only a limited number of clergy to administer to everyone in the country, far fewer than in our Diocese, so there is a much greater reliance of Lay Readers and Lay Evangelists to lead in Zambian Anglican Churches. Our Churchwardens, June and Nick have decided that Holy Trinity will have a retiring collection on Sunday 4th March. Anyone who wishes to contribute but cannot attend on that day, can send a donation to me at 40 Cleeve Drive. Gift Aid envelopes will be available for completion if applicable. Valerie and Derek are currently deciding St Barnabas s position. Dave
M eight Focos Panto The second performance of this year s Focos Panto took place in front of a raucous audience (the best kind for a panto!) on 20th January. There were loud boos at the evil Baron Lout and his opportunistic Russian bride, Tak-e-over in this lively production which was loosely based on Cinderella, but with a James Bond theme! There was almost a disaster when Tom the cat accidently ate the two white mice destined to pull the golden coach, but all was well in the end. Baron Lout and his dastardly schemes to deprive the locals of their hostelry, was vanquished and Cinders briefly united with her Prince Harry before he unfortunately did a bunk with an American actress! It was a great evening with a lovely meal to go with it, prepared by Lin and her team. Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make this production such a success. All proceeds have gone to FOCOS funds. Ed Thank You For your contributions to this month s Messenger. Articles for the March edition should be with me, Carole Perrott by Wednesday 7th March. They can be e mailed to carole.perrott @gmx.com, given to me at church or put through the door of 15 Chestnut Drive, Claverham. Sarah Cush Nick Cush Andrea Stoddart Lin Mortimer Enid Pring Ron Pring Kath Hunt Gill Roe February 18th February 25th March 4th March 11th March 18th