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THREE PARISHES NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2014 The Rector’s Letter When you read this Lesley and I will be about to move. From 21st October our postal address will be 45 Howard Park, Greystoke, Cumbria CA11 0TU and our email [email protected] You can start using that email address now! We are leaving after almost exactly 27 years and how time has flown. Sarah had just started Primary School in the September, when we arrived. Rachel Hare soon helped her to settle in. David was only 2. For us it has been an amazing journey. Thank you to everyone in our three churches who has worked with us and supported us throughout the years. Please support and pray for those taking on extra responsibilities during the vacancy and those who will make the appointment of a new incumbent. I would say that if you love, support and pray for my successor, as you have done for me, I’m sure all will be well. When people have asked me if we’re looking forward to retirement, we’ve usually said something like, we’re looking forward to life being less hectic but we shall miss you all, and we will. We would like to stay in touch so keep those emails coming, but you will understand that I do need to take a step back on retirement. I am not really able to come back and take funerals for example. I really do want to know your news but I must allow my successor the opportunity of getting to know you all as I have. You may find us knocking on your door for a cuppa because we will be in the area occasionally, but we cannot really come to official events or services, unless my successor invites us. I promise you that you will remain in our prayers as we ask for yours, and especially for our move, for the letting go we must do, and for whatever new things God has in store for us. With our grateful thanks and prayers, Richard & Lesley
Parish Registers SALTFORD Baptism 7th September Henry James Shaw CORSTON NEWTON ST LOE Marriage 23rd August Benjamin Jacob Pearce & Rachael Sarah Goble ☩ Parish Roundabout Holy Communion at Home or a Visit: If anyone is unable to get to church and would like either Holy Communion at Home or just a visit, please contact the Parish Office. Copydate for the next newsletter is 7th October at the latest. Please deliver all copy to the Parish Office. Transport: for transport to a service in the benefice, please ring the Parish Office. The Less Able: if anyone needs assistance to fully share in a church service please ring the Parish Office. Confirmation: Our Deanery confirmation service is on Saturday 1st November. More details from the Rector. Please advise him if this is something you (as an adult) or your young people would like to consider. Harvest Services and The Rector’s Final Services • October 5th Harvest in Saltford at the 9.30am Family service and 6.30pm Evensong service • October 5th in Corston: this will be Harvest with an 11.15am Family service & 6.30pm Songs of Praise • October 12th in Newton: Again, this will be Harvest with an 11.15am Family service & 6.30pm Festival Evensong. The above services are Richard’s final Sunday Services in Corston and Newton St Loe • October 19th in Saltford: with a 9.30am Family Communion This will be Richard’s final Sunday service in Saltford ☩ St Mary’s Saltford www.stmaryssaltford.org.uk The Revd G R W Hall, LL.B., M.A. The Rectory, 12 Beech Road, Saltford, BS31 3BE e-‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01225 872275 Churchwardens: Dave Faulkner 01225 874133 John Norris 01225 872750 Mothers Union: On Wednesday 22nd October, Lynne Tembley the worldwide president is coming to Monkton Combe School, Bath. Details and times to follow Evening Praise: There will be no service of Evening Praise on Sunday 19th October Barn Dance: There will be a barn dance on Saturday 11th October at Saltford Hall to say goodbye to Richard and Lesley. Tickets are on sale from Dave Faulkner (874133) and John Norris (872750) Saturday 11th October: Our young people can say “goodbye” to Richard at an afternoon party in The Church Hall Saltford from 3.00pm -‐ 5.00pm. More details from Janet Brett (872591) and Julia & John Norris (872750). Christ in the Harvest: On Wednesday 1st October at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church Hall there will be an evening led by Jews for Jesus. We will share a meal and then listen to a fascinating presentation entitled “Christ in the Harvest.” Tickets from Pam Faulkner (874133) Circle of Friends. There will be a meeting on Thursday 2 October at 7.30pm when Julie Sampson will explain to us about Saltford Wombles which she is going to start here. (There is a very successful scheme which has been working in Keynsham for some years). Afterwards, she will tell us about ‘Barking Mad’ which should produce some laughs! Meet in the Newton Room, top floor of the Church Hall. Hilary Smedley. 873179 Men’s breakfast with guest speaker Paul Solly Saturday 15th November 8.30am St Mary’s Church Hall Despite Bath being a World Heritage Site, homelessness is a real issue. Come and hear our speaker Paul Solly who leads The Genesis Trust, a charity founded on a Christian vision which has been working to alleviate poverty and hardship for people in Bath for 20 years. For more information of the Genesis Trust see http://genesistrust.org.uk/ Do come along and don’t forget to invite a friend! Tickets £2.50 available from: Robin Dixon 01225 359014 Nigel Taylor 01225 874905 Dave Faulkner 01225 874133 Ian Freemantle 0117 9090496 ☩ All Saints, Corston www.allsaintscorston.org.uk The Revd GRW Hall LLB, MA The Rectory, 12 Beech Road Saltford BS31 3BE e-‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01225 872275 Churchwardens: Jane Jones 01225 873475 Liz Acton 01225 873955 4th Sunday at 8.00am: Please note that after the 28th September there will be no 4th Sunday Service at 8.00am at Corston. BIBLE STUDY: Just one evening of Bible Study this month on October 2nd There is then a “half term” break before re-‐starting on 6th November. We are studying the Acts of the Apostles and we are grateful to Angela and Peter LeRoy for hosting these evenings at 8 Brook Cottages, 7.30 for 8.00pm. HARVEST AND RICHARD’S LAST SUNDAY: We all know that Richard’s last Sunday at Corston is October 5th and we shall also celebrate Harvest that day. In the morning there will be a Family Service. As usual, if any children wish to bring a small gift, as is traditional at Harvest, could this please be something suitable for the shoe-‐boxes. The collection at this service will be given to Operation Christmas Child. This will be followed by a Parish Harvest Bring and Share lunch – if you have any queries about this please contact Jane or Liz. In the evening we shall have our traditional Harvest Songs of Praise, followed by harvest refreshments. Please come! Village Markets: We look forward to seeing you on 4th October. On November 1st, in addition to our usual stalls we shall have items suitable for Christmas Presents and a range of hats and mittens for the cold weather. As always we shall have cakes books and bric a brac and Andrew will have plants vegetables and bird seed. Do come and support us! Vacancy Matters in Corston: We look forward to our Harvest Festival Services on 5th October this year with very mixed feelings as these will be Richard’s last Sunday Services in Corston. What a gap he will leave in the life of our church. I’m sure that every one who possibly can will want to be at one of our services on 5th October to send Richard and Lesley off with our love, gratitude and good wishes. The process for appointing Richard’s successor is slow and deliberate. First we have had to think about how we see ourselves and what qualities we look for in a future Rector. Our Newton/Corston Lent programme of talks, discussion and questionnaires has given us a really good start on this part of the process. Next we have to prepare our “Parish Profile” which will be part of an overall Benefice job description pack which all potential candidates will see. Corston Parish Profile will be studied in draft by our PCC and I expect it will go to the November meeting for final PCC approval. The Diocesan Office is hoping to advertise the post in the spring with shortlisting and interview after that and if all goes well we may have a new rector in post before the end of 2015. During the vacancy, Corston Church will, so far as possible, continue with “business as usual.” Apart from dropping the 8.00am Holy Communion on the 4th Sunday of the month, our pattern of services will be maintained. Corston’s Family Service Committee and lay teams will take care of the services on the 3rd and 4th Sundays. The communion services at 11.15am on the 1st Sunday and the 6.30pm on the 2nd Sunday will continue with help from Revd Ralph Osborne, Canon George Farran and other clergy. Canon George will take the annual Remembrance Sunday service at 3.00pm on 9th November and Revd Margaret Snook has kindly agreed to take our Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The weekly Communion services at 10.30am on Thursday mornings will continue with Corston Reader Peter Davies taking the majority of these. Formally, during the vacancy, the role of our “parish priest” is taken by the Rural Dean, Revd Jane Chamberlain of Blagdon. However, all enquiries should be made in the first place to Jane Jones & Liz Acton who, as churchwardens, have responsibility for the day to day running of the church. Margaret de Jong will chair our worship and Education Committee and I will chair the PCC and the Standing Committee. Malcolm Seymour continues to act as our invaluable PCC secretary. It is going to be abit daunting for all of us without Richard but I know he wants us to “keep calm and carry on’ and that’s exactly what we shall endeavour to do! Anthony Acton ☩ Holy Trinity, Newton St Loe www.holytrinitynsl.org.uk The Revd GRW Hall LLB, MA The Rectory, 12 Beech Road Saltford BS31 3BE e-‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01225 872275 Churchwardens: Rosemary Denning 01225 872617 Ian Tadd 01225 426489 What happens now? Sometimes a walk through Newton can give the impression that it has remained the same for centuries. It takes a more careful look to notice the evidence of change -‐ like the houses on the road leading down to The Spinney, different stonework where there has been an addition to a cottage. The Square almost reflects a scene from the early 20th century -‐ the Old Rectory, the Old Post Office, the Old School -‐ and then the timeless Holy Trinity Church with the sublimely peaceful setting of its churchyard. One cannot see any internal modifications -‐ such as the planned changes inside our church -‐ so one has to depend on any information given on the notice boards and name plates to appreciate that one of the village schools is now The Village Hall and note where the Duchy of Cornwall now has its regional office. It is the information board just inside the church's main gates that will be a prominent indication of the major change we are all facing as the name of the current Rector will have to be removed -‐ and a space left to be filled once the new appointment is made. Fewer people will be aware of the board inside the church just over the South Porch's massive door which records the names of our incumbents -‐ with Francis de Stockley (aka William Pawson to recall our Son et Lumiere) in 1297. The line recording Richard's 'reign' will later need to be completed. We are all about to face different demands on our lives during the inter-‐
regnum but the intention at Newton is to maintain the normal pattern of worship -‐ details being posted on the website as well as in the Three Parishes Newsletter. Trevor, Teresa (due to be licensed on October 4th) and the church officers will be available to do their best to answer any queries. As is so often the case, Shakespeare offers an apt phrase in Juliet's cry -‐ "parting is such sweet sorrow"... But then I think of the man who will be tramping the fells, relaxing in his garden and having more time to be with his family and I know that he deserves it -‐ even though we'll miss him! This should certainly be a time for reflection while we remember his recent advice -‐ "We will, I believe, never improve on God's purposes and plans for us", -‐whilst Shakespeare also sees us looking into the future with -‐ "...the eyes of men, after a well-‐graced actor leaves the stage, are idly bent on him that enters next'! Newton St Loe PCC th
HARVEST 12 October I came across an old photograph of George Hughes making a stunning display of flowers and vegetables by the pulpit in our church for the harvest service. The flower ladies were also busy filling the church with beautiful flower arrangements -‐ people came with produce from their gardens so the whole village was involved. Sadly, many of the stalwarts are no longer with us but some of their family members keep the tradition alive with lovely floral displays and we now accept non perishable items for the Keynsham Food Bank. The service will be followed by a buffet Lunch in the Duchy offices to which everyone is invited. This will be a chance to wish a happy retirement to Richard and Lesley. Finally the evening service is choral evensong at 6.30 with the choir singing an Anthem. Joe and Anna say that this will celebrate not only the
harvest but also Richards many years of dedicated ministry and they aim to give an evensong for him to cherish and remember. Trevor Ewins Anna Bernard’s pupils will give a concert in church on Saturday 18th. October 2.30 p.m. with songs from folk to the musicals. Adults £5, Children, free. Proceeds in aid of Bath Cats and Dogs Home and the church. Please make a note of the Remembrance Service on 9th November when we start at 11am at the memorial in the churchyard followed by the service in church at 11.15am. The annual Christmas Bazaar and coffee morning which we share with the village hall is on Saturday 29th. November from10am to 12noon. ☩ How Do You Pray? “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted. – Be still and know that I am God. – Did I not tell you that if you trusted you would see the glory of God? – The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Mary ….sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – In returning and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength. – Commune with your own heart on your bed and be still. Be still before the Lord (Rest in the Lord) and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord his heart is secure. The one who believes will not make haste.” This was the ‘Daily Light’ reading for September 4th. What does each of the verses say to us about prayer in its many forms and in the many circumstances in which we pray? Prayer is a precious privilege granted by our gracious God and we are talking about it Let us pray. Ken Plant Is. 7v4 – Ps. 46v10. – Jn. 11v40. – Is. 2v17. Lk. 10vv39.42. – Is. 30v15. – Ps. 4v4. Ps. 37v7. Ps. 112vv7.8. Is. 28v16. ☩ OCTOBER 2014 DIARY 1st Wednesday 8.00am Morning Prayer NSL 9.30am Holy Communion S’ford 7.30pm Christ in the Harvest, S’ford 2nd Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer C’ton 10.30am Holy Communion C’ton 7.30pm Circle of Friends 7.30pm Bible Study 8 Brook Cotts 3rd Friday 8.00am Morning prayer S’ford 10.00am Coffeeshop Ch Hall S’ford 4th Saturday 10.30am Village Market,C’ton 5th Trinity 16 -‐ Harvest at S’ford & C’ton 8.00am Holy Communion S’ford 9.30am Family Service S’ford 11.15am Teen Service 11.15am Family Service C’ton 11.15am Morning Prayer (CW) NSL 6.30pm Festival Evensong S’ford 6.30pm Songs of Praise, C’ton 6th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer Marksbury 7th Tuesday 7.45pm H’grp 18 High St. S’ford 8th Wednesday 8.00am Morning Prayer Newton St loe 9.30am Holy Communion, Saltford 12-‐1.00pm Soup Lunch C’ton Vllge Hall 7.45pm H’grp 14 Golf Club La S’ford 8.00pm H’grp 5 Vernon Cl S ’ford 9th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 10.30am Holy Communion, Corston 7.30pm Joint PCC Saltford 10th Friday 8.00am Morning Prayer, Saltford 10.00am Coffeeshop, Ch Hall, S’ford 7.00pm Choir Practice S’ford 11th Saturday 7.30pm Barn Dance Saltford Hall 12th Trinity 17 -‐ Harvest at Newton 8.00am Holy Communion (1662), S’ford 9.30am Family Communion, S’ford 11.15am Harvest Family Service, NSL 6.30pm Harvest Evensong, NSL 6.30pm Parish Communion, C’ton 13th Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer, Marksbury 14th Tuesday 7.45pm H’grp 18 High St. Saltford 15th Wednesday 8.00am Morning Prayer Newton St Loe 9.30am Holy Communion, Saltford 11.00am Holy Communion Wick Hse Cl 2.00pm Holy Communion St Teresa’s 7.45pm H’grp 14 Golf Club La S’ford 8.00pm H’grp 5 Vernon Cl S ’ford 16th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 10.30am Holy Communion, Corston 17th Friday 8.00am Morning Prayer, Saltford 10.00am Coffeeshop, Ch Hall, S’ford 7.00pm Choir Practice S’ford 18th Saturday 19th Trinity 18 Richard’s Last Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion, NSL 9.30am Parish Communion, S’ford 11.15am Family Service Corston 11.15am Morning Service (1662) NSL 20th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer Marksbury 21st Tuesday 7.45pm H’grp 18 High St. Saltford 22nd Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion, Saltford 2.00pm Mothers Union Saltford 7.45pm H’grp 14 Golf Club La S’ford 8.00pm H’grp 5 Vernon Cl S ’ford 23rd Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 10.30am Holy Communion, Corston 7.30pm PCC, Saltford 24th Friday 10.00am Coffeeshop Ch Hall S’ford 25th Saturday 26th Sunday – Last after Trinity 9.30am Parish Communion, S’ford 11.15am Family Communion, NSL 11.15am Matins, C’ton 27th Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer Marksbury 28th Tuesday 7.45pm H’grp 18 High St. S’ford 29th Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion S’ford 7.45pm H’grp 14 Golf Club La S’ford 8.00pm H’grp 5 Vernon Cl S ’ford 30th Thursday 9.00am Morning prayer C’ton 10.30am Holy Communion C’ton 31st Friday 10.00am Coffeeshop Ch Hall S’ford NOVEMBER 2014 DIARY 1st Saturday 10.30-‐12noon Corston Vllge Mkt 2nd Sunday – 4 Before Advent 8.00am Holy Communion S’ford 9.30am Family Service S’ford 11.15am Teen Church S’ford 11.15am Family Communion C’ton 11.15am Morning Prayer (CW) NSL 6.30pm All Souls Evensong S’ford 3rd Monday 9.00am Morning Prayer Marksbury 4th Tuesday 7.45pm H’grp 18 High St. S’ford 5th Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion, Saltford 7.45pm H’grp 14 Golf Club La S’ford 8.00pm H’grp 5 Vernon Cl S ’ford 6th Thursday 9.00am Morning Prayer, Corston 10.30am Holy Communion, Corston 7.30pm Standing Committee Saltford 7.30pm Circle of Friends 7.30pm Bible Study 8 Brook Cotts 7th Friday 10.00am Coffeeshop, Ch Hall, S’ford 7.00pm Choir Practice S’ford ☩ Bishop’s Message – October 2014 ‘It rained and rained and rained and rained and….’ I don’t know what you did on Bank Holiday Monday, but I was taking part in the Annual Raft Race in Wells. And my word did it rain. It was so wet you couldn’t tell who had fallen off their raft into the moat and who were simply spectators. It was such a shame, as so much work had gone into organising it. I felt particularly sad for the stallholders, most of whom were volunteers, who had come to raise money and support for various local charities. As the rain poured down they were forced to seek shelter under trees and gazebos. There were lots of good causes represented, with a wide range of charities all of which do a fantastic job in different ways. It made me realise again just how fortunate we are in this country to have so many charities which together provide vital support, advice, care or assistance to millions of people each week. Most of that amazing work would not happen without volunteers playing their part and giving their time. The same is true in the church. We are so richly blessed with dedicated people who give so generously of their time, maintaining our churches and ensuring that they are open and welcoming; overseeing church finances and safeguarding; serving on committees or as a school governor; working with children and young people; praying; taking services; preaching; visiting and caring for people. The list is endless. In many of our smaller churches, however, it is not always easy to get people who will serve as churchwardens, treasurers or church officers and sometimes the ‘turn’ on the coffee or flower rota seems to come round somewhat too often. So let me use this article to encourage everyone to ask the question: ‘Is there something else that I could do to support my church and to serve play my part in serving my local community?’ If there is I am sure your offer to help will be warmly received. With warm Christian greetings +Peter Bath and Wells