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A Monthly Magazine
for the parishes of Michelmersh, Awbridge, Braishfield
Timsbury and Farley Chamberlayne
October 2014
THE UNITED BENEFICE OF BRAISHFIELD
including the parishes of Michelmersh, Awbridge, Braishfield,
Timsbury and Farley Chamberlayne
Rector: The Revd. Canon Steve Pittis, 01794 368335
The Rectory, Braishfield, Romsey, SO51 0PR
Hon. Assistant Clergyman: The Very Revd. Trevor Beeson
Ordinand in Training: Mrs Jane Thompson [email protected]
Church Wardens
Awbridge
Mr Fred Tucker
Mrs. Mary Savage
01794 340709
01794 367908
Braishfield
Mrs. Jane Bennett
Mr. Andrew Brooks
01794 368109
01794 523928
Farley
Chamberlayne
Mr. Iain Chisholm
01794 368250
Miss Hannah Boothman 01794 368143
Michelmersh
Mr. John Hunt
Mrs. Clare Harvey
01794 368745
01794 368789
Timsbury
Mrs. Catherine Baker
Dr. John Glasspool
01794 368364
01794 368017
Benefice Office Tel: 01794 878020
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Braishfield Benefice Office
Elm Grove Farm
Dummers Road
Braishfield
Romsey
SO51 0QG
Benefice Administrator: Sarah Boothman
Items for 5 Alive
may be sent to Sarah at
the Benefice Office by
post or email.
Deadline for
November edition
Mon 20th October
Five Alive
is usually available in each
church on the 4th Sunday
of the month
Meeting God in the deserts of our lives ……. cont.
Last month we reflected on the fact that times of God’s seeming
absence, which we might call ‘desert’ or ‘wilderness’
experiences, are part and parcel of the Christian life. Though
often confusing and frightening, they can be places and times of
spiritual renewal and growth. If we are followers of Jesus we will
all face a desert of some sort sooner or later.
Many things may precipitate these times: bereavement,
rejection, job uncertainty, relationship breakdown, health
concerns, pressures of life …. Sometimes we find ourselves there
without any apparent cause.
Whilst God is not the author of our suffering, he allows us to go
through these barren times for a purpose:
To make us more like Jesus in our character
To deepen our faith (roots go deep in drought)
To test our hearts (God wants us to trust him wholeheartedly)
To humble us (to teach us to depend on him alone, not
our own strength or abilities)
There are choices we can make in the desert
It may seem that our choices are restricted; there can be an
awful sense that there doesn’t seem to be a way out.
Yet we can still choose what perspective and attitude we
adopt
The writer to the Hebrews says that discipline, trials, the desert
experience can lead us to seek God’s grace or to become bitter
(c.f. Hebrews 12 : 7-15).
Desert experiences can make you bitter or better. So we can
choose how we respond; we can choose our attitude.
To some extent our response can determine the duration of the
desert experience. God didn’t intend for the Israelites to wander
around for 40 years in the wilderness. They were heading for a
land of promise, God’s future for them. What prevented them
entering in was the way they chose to respond to God: unbelief,
grumbling, ingratitude and nostalgically looking back to Egypt
(Cf. Hebrews 3 : 7-10)
Throughout scripture, we are invited to choose. The freedom to
choose our attitude and response is never taken away. Therefore
we can choose to: grumble, complain, be bitter and resentful,
blame God, say ‘it’s not fair’, wallow in self-pity, ask ‘why me?’,
……. or we can believe that God is in control and loves us
passionately, be thankful, praise God because he is faithful,
relinquish control and trust God for the future ……… We get to
choose.
It’s been said that “life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I
respond to it”, i.e. what happens in me. God chooses what we
go through; we choose how we go through it.
Victor Frankl was in a Nazi concentration camp in World War II;
he said to his captors who subjected him to extreme degradation
and indignity: - “the one thing you cannot take away from me is
the way I choose to respond to what you do to me.” In his book
In search of Meaning, Frankl reflects “the last of human
freedoms is the ability to choose in any given set of
circumstances.”
Too often we try to control the things we cannot; too seldom we
choose to control what we can, our attitude.
To be continued …. (What are the lessons we can learn and
treasures we can find in the desert?)
Steve Pittis
Messy Church – Explorers!
The theme for this month’s Messy Church at Awbridge Village
hall was ‘Love Your World’. We live in a beautiful area and so it
was lovely to spend much of the afternoon outside enjoying our
environment. As part of the activities, families were taken on a
walk around the conservation area by Brian Raines. Brian told us
that there are 35 different species of trees in the woods and
challenged the children to collect as many different leaves as
possible from the various trees. Even Brian was amazed that
within half an hour or so one of the children, Thomas, had
managed to collect 24 out of the 35 species! He was given a
beautiful wooden mushroom, turned by Brian.
Other activities included making wild bird feeders, mini fruit
made of icing, dragonflies from old socks and a mini aquarium!
(Amazing what can be done with a jam jar and plasticene).
After all the activities there was a time of reflection and
worship, thanking God for all the trees, plants and flowers and
all the creatures on land , sea and in the air. Remembering the
important role we humans have in taking care of our world.
Finally, a picnic tea was enjoyed outside in the sunshine,
making the most of the Indian summer.
The next Messy Church in
the Benefice is on Sunday
12 October, 2:30pm at
Braishfield Church Room.
All families are very
welcome to join us.
Pepe Alexander
Thomas at
Messy Church
Five Alive Fellowship
At our September meeting we enjoyed a very interesting talk given by
Elizabeth Lindesay, a local author.
Elizabeth has written a book entitled “I Couldn’t Even Boil an Egg”.
She wrote this for her children to preserve the many memories of her
30 years of life in the Middle East.
In 1950, at the age of 50, Elizabeth married John Lindesay, an
international banker, and left her native Scotland to be swept into a
new and colourful life in the Middle East.
During the course of the next 30 years they lived in Iran, Jordan,
Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco
raising four children in the process. Elizabeth gave us a fascinating
insight into life in the Middle East for Westerners at that time.
On their retirement, Elizabeth and her late husband John came to live
in Romsey where John’s mother lived. The family have many
connections with Braishfield Church, not least Elizabeth’s friendship
with Mary Boothman.
I am sure that I am not the only member of the audience that has
since purchased the book and is thoroughly enjoying reading it.
Nicky Ayres
Love God
Sunday 12 October
2 30 pm - 5pm
Braishfield Church Room & Church
SO51 0QH
MESSY ACTIVITIES
CELEBRATION
FEAST
Please invite/encourage families to come!
Lost For Words - starting mid-November - look out for dates in
the Notice Sheets
This 4 session course in faith sharing is specifically designed for ‘nonexperts’, those who might shudder at the thought of evangelism, either
because they feel it is not for them, or because they feel inadequate.
Evidence shows that most people come to faith in Jesus because someone
they know both demonstrates the reality of that faith in the way they live,
and shares aspects of the good news in what they say.
So the aim of Lost for Words is to help ordinary Christians gain more
confidence in what they believe so that they can speak about their faith in
the course of everyday life in a relaxed, natural and helpful way, so that
others may discover and respond to God’ s love for them.
Help is needed - All Saints’ Braishfield
Can you give an hour about 4 times a year to help clean
Braishfield Church? Volunteer cleaners work in pairs to
hoover, dust, and polish if they feel they have time, at a
time to suit themselves. A few people who have been
volunteer cleaners for a very long time need to hang up
their dusters, and replacements are required!
Please speak to Nicky Ayres, 368143, to add your name
to the list or ask for more details.
of Goods and
of Goods and Promises with Afternoon Tea
Braishfield Church Room
Saturday 18th October 2.00pm
Auctioneer Mr Neil Pearce
Offers of goods and promises - please phone
Jane Bennett on 368109
Items can be delivered to the Church Room from 9.00am on the
day. Large items: please provide a photo in lieu
Proceeds split between All Saints’ Church and PLANETS
[PLANETS = Pancreatic, Liver And NeuroEndocrine Tumours Southampton]
Donations for Southampton City Mission/Andover Foodbank
Please keep these coming in, they are much needed.
With Harvest in mind: Food items for Basics Banks:
Please look at this list before you decide what you can donate, please
buy smaller portion bags, not bulk buy items, as food is given out
based on meal portions.
Tinned Foods:
Cereals:
Stewed steak
Weetabix (pkts can be divided)
Minced Beef
other cereals for families
Chicken in white sauce
Curries
Ravioli
Other foods:
Spaghetti bolognese
Pasta sauces
Meatballs
Pkts noodles/savoury rice
Baked beans w sausages
Pasta
Irish stew
Rice
Chilli con carne
Coffee/Tea
Macaroni cheese
Hot chocolate
Spaghetti hoops
UHT Milk
Tuna
Flour
Sardines
Sugar
Salmon/ pilchards
Conserves
Soup (esp chunky ones)
Treats (crisps,chocolate, biscuits)
Baked beans
Potaoes (tinned or pkt)
Squash
Tomatoes
Other items you think families
Rice pudding/custard
would like to receive!
Tinned fruit
Vegetarian foods Peas
Carrots Sweetcorn Other tinned veg
ANDOVER - VERY URGENT
Rice
LONG LIFE fruit juice 1lt
Sugar – 1kg and 500g
URGENT
Tinned Rice Pudding, Instant mashed potato, Dried powdered milk
We also need the following non-food items:
Saucepans – VERY URGENT Frying pans – VERY URGENT
Razors – VERY URGENT
Thank you.
Deodorant – male and female
Be moved… be calmed… be inspired… be uplifted…
Charity lunchtime piano recital
Romsey Abbey, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8EP
Saturday 1st November 12 noon to 3 pm
Pianist and composer Charles Timberlake, from Titchfield, gives an informal
piano recital in Romsey Abbey on Saturday 1st November in aid of
Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices.
In this, his fourth recital for Naomi House over the last twenty years,
Charles will be playing a variety of styles of music –
ranging from well-known ballads, show tunes,
television themes and hymns (both modern and traditional)
to his original compositions –
all played in his own inimitable style.
He will be playing from 12 noon to 3pm, with intervals, and visitors are
invited to feel free to come and go as they please -to sit and listen or to
wander around the Abbey listening to Charles’
inspirational music.
Admission is free, with all donations going to Naomi House
and Jacksplace Hospices supporting children and young people from
across central Southern England.
Refreshments will be served.
All Saint’s, Braishfield
Harvest Thanksgiving weekend Sat 4th/ Sun 5th
October
Harvest Supper in the Church Room Sat 4th 7.00pm
with entertainment by BUMS (Braishfield’s own ukelele band)
Tickets £7.50 (please bring your own drinks)
available in church or ask a member of the PCC
Harvest Thanksgiving Family Service
Sunday 5th at 9.30am
followed by refreshments
Have you made a Will?
It is sometimes said that one of the worst legacies you can leave your
loved-ones is NOT to make a Will. Next month sees the return of Will
Aid which, during November, allows you to use a solicitor to draw up
a straightforward Will in return for a voluntary donation to charity.
Suggested donations are £95 for a single Will and £150 for a pair of
mirror Wills. Will Aid donations are used to support the work of nine
charities including Christian Aid, SCIAF, and Trocaire (the other
charities are Action Aid, Age UK, British Red Cross, NSPCC, Save the
Children, and Sight Savers).
More details of the scheme are available on the internet at
http://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers
Solicitors who are registered can be found in Eastleigh, Winchester,
and Salisbury and printed details of these will be displayed in
Awbridge church along with a Will Aid poster. A full list of
participating solicitors can be found at
http://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers/find-solicitor
Graham Winn
Local participating solicitors:
Bernard Chill & Axtell
Address: 103 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9ZQ
Distance: 8.56 mi
Telephone: 023 80613197
Contact name: Mr Paul Harvey
Thomas Simpson Solicitors Ltd
Address: 35 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EH
Distance: 10.27 mi
Telephone: 01962 820228
Contact name: Mr Rob Simpson
Richard Griffiths & Co
Address: 50 High Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2NT
Distance: 11.69 mi
Telephone: 01722 329966
Contact name: Ms Patricia Lush
NB - worth getting in touch soon - each has only a limited number of
slots available
Christians in Science Public Lecture
Can we believe Genesis today? Revd Dr Ernest Lucas
7:30pm Wednesday 29th October
Lecture Theatre A, Building 46 (Physics A) University of Southampton
SO17 1BJ
How are we to approach the Genesis story of the origin of the world?
Most are sceptical that it has anything to say in our modern scientific
age while some still insist that this ancient text should take precedence
over our school science textbooks.
In this lecture Ernest Lucas will help us reread these early chapters in
their ancient context. By so doing, he will show how these stories are
surprisingly relevant to us today, and provide us with a framework
within which we can pursue science for the benefit of humankind and
the rest of creation.
Ernest Lucas has an MA in Chemistry from Oxford University and a PhD in
Chemistry from the University of Kent. He did post-doctoral research in
biochemistry in the University of North Carolina and in Oxford University
before studying Theology at Oxford. After ordination he was minister of
Baptist Churches in Durham and Liverpool. He obtained a PhD in
Oriental Studies from Liverpool University. He was Vice-Principal and
Tutor in Biblical Studies at Bristol Baptist College until he retired in
2012.
Following the talk there will be an opportunity for questions and
discussion. There is no charge for admission.
For more information about the talk and the location email
[email protected] or visit www.cis.org.uk/groups/central-south
Christians in Science is an organisation run by Christians who either work
professionally in science and engineering, or have interests in how faith
interacts with science and engineering. The Central South local group has
been putting on public lectures in Southampton since 2006. The lectures
cover a wide range of topics, always aimed at a level to be accessible to
people from a wide range of backgrounds, whether or not they have
studied science at a high level and whether or not they are Christians.
What they have in common is to aim to be faithful both to core Christian
values and to modern science.
All Saints’, Braishfield
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
5/6/7 December 2014
We are planning our first Christmas Tree Festival
f
from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th December 2014. The
proceeds will be shared between All Saints Church and Naomi House &
Jacksplace.
A tree may be real, artificial or made from any medium, decorated and
named to a theme of your choosing. For example a title from a Carol or
Song such as We Three Kings, Wish Upon a Star or themes such as A
Christmas Card, We ‘Stitch’ You A Merry Christmas! Power points will be
available so please include fairy lights if you so wish. Please ensure you
read the instructions relating to lighting under Important Information.
There will be NO charge to enter your tree and each entry will receive
ONE free admission ticket. We hope this will be well supported with entries from individuals, families and organisations. Entry forms available
from Carole and Jane (see below).
A charge of £2.50 will be made to all adult visitors to view the festival.
Light refreshments will be available in the Church and viewing will be on:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
5th December
6th December
7th December
11.00 am - 6.00 pm
11.00 am - 6.00 pm
11.00 am - 4.00 pm
At the same time there will be an Art Exhibition in the Church Room.
We will be concluding the Festival with an All Age Worship service at
4pm on Sunday 7th December, with mulled wine and festive fayre, before
the trees are taken to become part of your own Christmas festivities.
Carole Renvoize (01794 368766)
Jane Bennett (01794 368109)
The Organising Team
Choral Evensong at All Saints’, Braishfield, September 21st
All Saints’ choir was joined by members of the choirs of St Matthew,
Copythorne and St Boniface, Chandler’s Ford, for their annual festival. Each
choir had been learning the music for some months independently. On Sunday
afternoon they met for an hour and a half’s rehearsal, led by guest conductor
Steve James and guest organist Dr Hugh Benham. There were almost 40
singers in total, well balanced over the four singing parts.
After the rehearsal, everyone sat down to a large and varied tea provided by
the Braishfield choir in the Church Room. A sociable time was enjoyed, and
then choir members robed and took their seats for the service. In Steve’s
absence this was led by Revd Angie McNutt from Copythorne. The opening
introit was Byrd: Sacerdotes Dominum. The choir also sang the Magnificat and
Nunc Dimittis to settings by Dyson, Sanders’ responses, and the anthem ‘Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee’ by SS Wesley.
The congregation joined in the
three hymns enthusiastically:
altogether an uplifting act of
worship. This is now the 6th
gathering which the three choirs
have shared, and we hope the
tradition will continue. It is
lovely to have the chance to
come together occasionally and
enjoy being part of a larger
group worshipping together
through music. The amazing
flowers arranged by Andy
McIndoe for the wedding of
Sarah and Andrew Wright the
Photos: Alan Lord
day before were the crowning
Text: Sarah Boothman
glory!
It’s time to
start thinking
about
Christmas
shoeboxes!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: GOOD NEWS GREAT JOY
Here is an amazing story from a 12 year old, from a poor family in South
Asia who received a shoebox last year: “My father makes bricks in a factory and I also make bricks with my family. I have never been to school,
church or Sunday school. Last month I asked my parents for new shoes
because my old ones were ruined, but they didn’t have any extra money. I
was upset and angry. A few days later I received a shoebox gift at the
local church. When I opened the box I was amazed to see a pair of beautiful shoes that were my size and some other lovely gifts also I was able to
attend school with other children in my village. I am so thankful to God
and those families who send these gifts to us from a country faraway.” We
can’t identify the country or location for safety reasons but a wonderful
story brought about by a shoebox gift, especially as we don’t suggest
shoes are actually put in the boxes!
Once again it is the season for preparing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and leaflets are available in all our churches. This is the world’s
largest children’s Christmas project, in 2013 nearly 10 million shoeboxes
were distributed by the Christian relief and development organisation
Samaritan’s Purse of which 918,000 were from the UK .
Hopefully each parish will be able to fill some shoeboxes: Awbridge will be
having a special coffee morning on Saturday 8th November from 10am 12 noon in Awbridge Village Hall, a joint event with ADVA.
The annual Romsey Deanery Shoebox Service this year is being held
in the village of Broughton, at St Mary’s Church, on Sunday 16
November, at 3 pm.
Other resources including knitting patterns can be downloaded from
www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.
We are always in need of empty, medium-sized shoeboxes, please drop
these off at Choice Plants or Awbridge Church, if you have spare ones.
Thank you.
Mary Savage, volunteer for Samaritan’s Purse For more information please
contact 01794 367908 or email: [email protected].
Benefice Diary for October
Wed 1st
Thurs 2nd
Fri 3rd
Sat 4th
Mon 6th
Wed 8th
Thu 9th
Fri 10th
Sun 12th
Mon 13th
Wed 15th
Thur 16th
Fri 17th
Sat 18th
Mon 20th
Tues 21st
Wed 22nd
Thu 23rd
Fri 24th
Wed 29th
Fri 31st
7.30pm
7.30pm
9.30am
1.00pm
Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3 Chapel Close
Michelmersh PCC meets at the Rectory
Awbridge Ark Toddler Group
Thanksgiving for the life of Mr John Cheer,
All Saints Braishfield
7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church
1.00pm - 4.00pm Messy Church “Great Outdoors” Fairthorne Manor
7.00pm Braishfield Harvest Supper, Church Room
7.30pm Five Alive Fellowship “Hearing” with Debbie Sacre Braishfield Church Room
7.30pm Timsbury PCC meet
7.30pm Romsey Deanery Synod meet at North Baddesley
12 noon Awbridge Lunch Club, Church Room
7.30pm Timsbury House Group, Little Herons
7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close
7.45pm Awbridge Wednesday House Group, Chanwel House
7.45pm Awbridge Thursday House Group 27 Barnes Close W.Wellow
9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group
10.00am Awbridge Craft and Chat, Village Hall Committee Room
1.00pm Braishfield Prayer Lunch (details Andy Brooks 523928)
7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church
2.30pm Messy Church, Braishfield Church Room
12 noon Braishfield Village Lunch, Church Room
2.00pm Braishfield School Harvest service in All Saints
7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close
7.30pm Friends of Michelmersh Church: ‘Going to School in the
9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group
[Blitz’ - Bill Jory
7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church
2.00pm Auction of Goods and Promises with Afternoon Tea
Braishfield Church Room (Viewing from 1.00pm)
MATERIAL FOR NOVEMBER FIVE ALIVE BY TODAY, PLEASE
7.45pm Awbridge Tuesday House Group, Rosemary Croft
12 noon Awbridge Lunch Club, Church Rooms
7.30pm Timsbury House Group, Little Herons
7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close
7.45pm Awbridge Wednesday House Group, Chanwel House
7.45pm Awbridge Thursday House Group 27 Barnes Close W.Wellow
7.45pm Farley PCC meet at Oakfield
9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group
10.00am Awbridge Craft and Chat, Village Hall Committee Room
1.00pm Braishfield Prayer Lunch (details Andy Brooks 523928)
7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church
7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close
NO Awbridge Ark - Half Term
7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in Church
Services in the Benefice for OCTOBER 2014
SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER – 16TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
9.30am Awbridge
HOLY COMMUNION CW
9.30am Braishfield
FAMILY HARVEST THANKSGIVING CW
10.00am Michelmersh MORNING WORSHIP for Michelmersh and
Timsbury at St Mary’s CW
Timsbury
see above
6.00pm Farley Chamberlayne EVENING PRAYER
BCP
6.30pm Awbridge
FIRST SERVICE
D.Croad
S.Pittis
T.Beeson
tbc
S.Pittis
SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER – 17TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
8.00am
9.30am
9.30am
11.00am
2.30pm
6.00pm
Farley Chamberlayne HOLY COMMUNION BCP
Awbridge
MORNING WORSHIP CW
Braishfield
MORNING PRAYER CW
Timsbury
FAMILY SERVICE in the Jubilee Hall CW
Braishfield
Messy Church
Michelmersh HOLY COMMUNION CW
S.Pittis
S.Pittis
T.Beeson
S.Pittis
Lay led
S.Pittis
SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER – 18TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
9.30am Awbridge
HOLY COMMUNION CW
C.Blissard-Barnes
10.00am Timsbury
HOLY COMMUNION in the Jubilee Hall BCP S.Pittis
11.15am
Farley Chamberlayne
HARVEST FAMILY SERVICE + BAPTISM
CW
S.Pittis
6.00pm Michelmersh
EVENING PRAYER BCP
C.Blissard-Barnes
6.00pm Braishfield
EVENING PRAYER
BCP
S.Pittis
SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER – LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Trinity 19 BCP
8.00am
9.30am
9.30am
11.15am
6.00pm
Michelmersh HOLY COMMUNION BCP
S.Pittis
Awbridge
FAMILY WORSHIP
CW
Lay led
Braishfield
HOLY COMMUNION CW
S.Pittis
Farley Chamberlayne MORNING PRAYER BCP
T.Beeson
Timsbury
EVENING PRAYER at Poppies, Choice Plants BCP
S.Pittis
SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER – 4TH SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT or All Saints
9.30am Awbridge*
10.00am Michelmersh
HOLY COMMUNION CW
M.Halliwell
MORNING WORSHIP for Michelmersh and
Timsbury at St Mary’s CW
10.30am Braishfield * SERVICE OF CELEBRATION CW
J.Mitchell-Innes
Timsbury
See above
6.00pm Farley Chamberlayne EVENING PRAYER
BCP
6.30pm Awbridge
FIRST SERVICE