Praise Him - Songs of Praise in the New Testament Course Church News and Views for the Parishes of Badingham Bruisyard Cransford Dennington Rendham & Sweffling Services for February 2015 Sunday 1st 8.00am BCP Holy Communion Dennington Epiphany 4 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer Bruisyard 9.30am BCP Holy Communion Sweffling 11.00am CW Holy Communion Badingham Presentation of Jesus Sunday 8th 8.00am CW Holy Communion Badingham Lent -2 9.30am CW Trad. Communion Cransford 11.00am Family Service Dennington 11.00am BCP Holy Communion Rendham Sunday 15th 8.00am BCP Holy Communion Dennington Lent -1 9.30am CW Holy Communion Bruisyard 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer Sweffling 10.00am 30 Min. Family Service Badingham Ash Wednesday 18th 7.00pm Holy Communion Sweffling Sunday 22nd 8.00am BCP Holy Communion Badingham Lent 1 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer Cransford 9.30am Morning Prayer Rendham 11.00am CW Holy Communion Dennington Articles for publication should be with the editor by the 15th of the preceding month. Editor: Victor Warne 5 Mill Road Badingham Woodbridge Suffolk IP13 8LG 01728 638357 or Email copy in the text, not attach: [email protected] The Editor reserves the right to edit or omit any item submitted. 2 The Rectory Tel. 01728 638823 Reader: Mark Myatt Tel: 01728 633032 As many of you know, I have been in hospital and am still recovering. Please accept a very big thank to all who have supported me with prayer, cards and practical help. I was very sad not to be with you over Christmas but as we start a new year many of us may be wondering what the forthcoming 11 months will bring. Although, I do remember chatting to someone who suggested it would be very much the same as the previous year with the usual ups-and-downs of life, so why get too excited about a new year? It is easy to be fatalistic about what lies ahead rather than view the future with optimism. For many a new year heralds a new opportunity, a fresh start and maybe new challenges. For a Christian, it should be one of hope and expectation; hope in that this may be the year that Christ returns, fulfilling Advent promises. Alongside hope there should be expectations, expectations of what God might do in my life and the life of the church family. Expectations are such an important part of anyone's life, particularly for Christians in their relationship with their heavenly Father. I recall a passage from the OT book of Jeremiah, where the prophet is writing to those who lost everything as they were forcibly taken from their homes in Jerusalem and settled in another city, the great city of Babylon. Their future and outlook appeared bleak, until God spoke directly into their situation. As I read this I think of the many Middle Eastern Christians who are displaced and effectively living in exile. 3 This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.' History was to prove these words fulfilled as the people were to return home and rebuild their homes, their city and their lives. One of the most encouraging thoughts is the idea that God has "plans" for us. We might appear to drift along at times, but those who trust in God, have purpose and order to their lives. God's plans are there to help us "prosper" and to provide "hope and the future." It is important that we have such an outlook when we consider our roles within the local church, especially when we can feel overwhelmed whenever we face difficulties and problems. I think particularly of PCC members who when trying to advance the mission and ministry of the church appear to be held back and discouraged by a shortage of finance; a sense of gloom can descend and yet, if God has got "plans" for the local church, then he will provide the means for these to be undertaken and fulfilled. Of course, it will require us to make use of our God-given resources – be it money, time or expertise - and of course to be prayerful. Plans lead to vision and vision, hope, and yet without any vision we read: "Where there is no vision, people perish" (KJV Proverbs ch29 v18) When we face the New Year ahead, it is important we do so with hope and expectation, trusting that God has plans for us. Those who exercise such faith have confidence knowing "those who hope in me (God) will not be disappointed." (Isaiah ch49 v23) Ash Wednesday and Lent are also upon us and as we know, Jesus began His public ministry with 40 days of fasting and spiritual communion with God. During Lent, we remember the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ and submit ourselves to Him. Lent consists of 40 days including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. This year, the Great Lent begins on Sunday, 22nd February 2015 4 Lent is not intended to win favours from God; instead, it is the time of fulfilling the purpose of God in our lives. May God help us to observe it meaningfully with prayer, fasting and correction in life. Blessings, Jonathan AGM DATES FOR 2015 BADINGHAM BRUISYARD CRANSFORD DENNINGTON RENDHAM SWEFFLING TUESDAY 17TH MARCH THURSDAY 12TH MARCH WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH TUESDAY 24thMARCH WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH 6.00 IN CHURCH 6.00 IN CHURCH 7.00 OLD RECTORY 7.00 IN CHURCH 6.00 IN CHURCH 6.00 IN CHURCH LENT COURSE 2015 All on a Monday night at 7.00pm at BRIDGE FARM. SWEFFLING The Theme is: “Praise Him - Songs of Praise in the New Testament course.” 23rd February 2nd March 9th March 16th March 23rd March 1. Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) 2. Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) 3. Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) 4. New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) 5. Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) Bruisyard Many thanks to all who decorated the church for Christmas and all who supported the Crib Service on Christmas Eve. Thanks also to all who have helped towards the successful Soup and Puds in 2014 and the recent “Winter Party” at the village hall which was much enjoyed by all. We now have a very fine new Rowland’s electric organ. We all hope and pray for Jonathan’s speedy recovery Rupert 5 Cransford We are much missing the ministry of Jonathan our Rector, and wish him a speedy recovery. In his absence on Christmas Day our service was taken by Rev Martin Percival, and was well attended, with several from other churches in the Benefice. After a troubled start let us hope 2015 settles down to a more peaceful and stable normality. So far we have been spared snow and hard weather and already there are signs outside of the coming spring. On Good Friday the annual Procession of the Cross will start at St Peter’s Cransford at 10am, and proceed to The Christian Fellowship Church for a service and refreshments. Our Coffee Morning and Plant Sale will take place again this year at the Free Church in Framlingham on Saturday 25th April. It opens at 9am. Entry is free. There will be a large selection of plants and shrubs ready for your garden, and freshly baked cakes and biscuits, marmalade and honey, other stalls and a Grand Draw. Contact Caroline 663510 or Glenda 663732 for further information. Easter April was called Ostermonath, the month of the east wind. (we know about that in Suffolk). Easter was thus the April feast which lasted eight days. Our Easter Sunday must be between March 21st and April 25th. It is regulated by the pascal moon, or first full moon between the vernal equinox and fourteen days afterwards. The Anglo Saxon for Easter was eastre, rather different from the latin pasche which gives the French Pâque or Italian La Pasqua. Easter eggs are symbolic of creation, or the recreation of Spring. It seems they originated in Magian or Persian, and are also found among the Jews, Egyptians and Hindus. We can blame them therefore for all that chocolate we now have to face after church on Easter Sunday Patrick CHURCHWARDENS’ REPORT FOR ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH RENDHAM FOR THE FEBRUARY/MARCH STREET AND ALDE LINK On the first Sunday of Advent, 30 November, our Benefice Service of Holy Communion was conducted by the Rector and was well attended. The Choir sang the introit Let thy merciful ears... and Stanford’s anthem Beati quorum via. Thanks to those who provided the refreshments afterwards which we all enjoyed. 6 More than 50 people came to our Christmas Day Service which was taken by Canon Basil Jenkyns. The Choir sang The Infant King and In Dulci Jubilo with warmth and feeling. The Church looked beautiful with lovely flower arrangements and the two decorated Christmas trees. Thanks to Richard Pilgrim and to another donor who so generously gave and set up the trees, and to the Flower Team for giving so much of their time to make such a fine display. Everyone connected with the Church will feel the loss of Derek Mangan, who died on Friday 9 January. His work for St Michael’s was tireless, both as churchwarden and as fabric officer. A fuller appreciation appears in our magazine The Street. Charles Seely, Frances Hill, Churchwardens Badingham FRIDAY 20TH MARCH 2015 7pm - 9pm A BEETLE DRIVE in BADINGHAM VILLAGE HALL Tickets for The Beetle Drive £7.50 adults no charge for children under 16years A light buffet supper with a glass of wine or fruit juice will be served at half time for which there is no charge. There will be a Raffle Tickets from Carol - 638352; Ann - 638288; Tanya - 638894 Proceeds for Badingham Church of which 10% will be donated to Badingham Village Hall This is intended to be a fun evening for all the family do come along and join us. Everyone very welcome 7 March 15th is Mothering Sunday Our Family Service is at 10am lasting approximately 30 mins. in Badingham Church. Stay and join us for coffee afterwards. Come along and help us bake a cake to share for the occasion. Dennington Christmas seems a long time ago now but thank you very much to everyone for decorating the church so beautifully – it really did look wonderful. Thank you also to those who brought mince pies, cakes or biscuits to the Carol Service. It was lovely to see so many people in church for the carol service and on Christmas Day, but very sad that Jonathan could not be with us and we wish him a speedy recovery. Dates for the diary Wednesday 18th March Dennington PCC AGM in the church at 7.00 pm Sunday 5th April Easter Day service will be at 11.15 am. Saturday 2nd May – Plant Sale – more details to follow. Veronica Rendham MEMORIAL LILIES AT EASTER IN RENDHAM CHURCH Unfortunately, in 2014 we had to cancel our memorial lilies in our village church due to its redecoration. However, we would like to do them again this year: they have been well supported by local people in the past. Lilies in memory of family and friends will be on display in St.Michael's Church, Rendham, over the Easter weekend and throughout the following week; the names of those to be remembered will also be displayed and read out at the 11 o'clock service on Easter Sunday, April 5th. If you would like to order a lily or lilies, in memory of someone dear to you, please fill in the form on the table at the back of St.Michael's Church. Orders must be in by the end of the day on Wednesday 11 March. Lilies cost £3.50 each & proceeds go to Church funds. Please support us in order for us to have as beautiful a display as we have had in the past. 8 SATURDAY 14TH MARCH: FRAMLINGHAM FLOWER CLUB will again be selling baskets of flowers for Mothering Sunday in Framlingham market from 8.30 a.m until they're all gone. Pocket money prices, so Dads bring the kids. COME EARLY to avoid disappointment! ALL PROCEEDS TO THE NEO-NATAL UNIT AT IPSWICH HOSPITAL ALDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGM 18th March 2015, 7:00pm Bruisyard Village Hall. To be followed at 8:00pm by an Archive Film Show. The Community draw will take place during the evening. ALDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL SPRING FLOWER SHOW 28th March 2015, 2:00pm Sweffling Hut. Prize-giving and raffle at 4.00pm Entry forms in village halls, and on village web-site. Entry 50p to include tea/biscuits Advance Notice An opportunity to be entertained in Rendham Village Hall. We are planning a series of varied entertainments. There could be an appetiser in February or March Keep looking for further details Sweffling Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with our services over Christmas and we wish Jonathan a speedy recovery. St. Mary’s Sweffling: There will be a service of Holy Communion at 7.00 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 18th. Everyone from the Benefice is warmly invited. We will be holding our annual Lent Soup Lunch in Sweffling Hut on Saturday, March 7th from 12.00 noon until 2.00 p.m. As usual we will have a large selection of home-made soups and bread and you can eat as much as you like. The cost will be £4.00 for adults, £2.00 for children and all proceeds will go to the Bakary Medical Centre in the Gambia. Our Mothering Sunday Service on Sunday March 15th will be a Family Service at 9.30 a.m. and will be followed by refreshments. Posies will be distributed during the service. We are again having memorial lilies for our Easter Day service. Each lily will cost £3.50 and the names of those to be remembered will be read out during the Service. If you would like to order a lily or lilies, please contact Diana (663578) or Sheila (663518). 9 Date Church Family Services for 2015 at Badingham Church 10am Sunday Mornings With refreshments at end of service 10.30am ALL WELCOME Service 18th January Jesus in the Temple 15th February Creation Story 15th March Mothering Sunday 19th April Noah and the Ark 17th May Daniel in the Lions Den 21st June Fathers’ Day 19th July Pet Blessing 16th August Church Animal Trail 20th September Harvest Festival 18th October Jonah and the Whale 15th November Donkey 20th December Christingle 10 Services for March 2015 Sunday Lent 1st 2 8.00am 9.30am 9.30am 11.00am BCP Holy Communion BCP Morning Prayer BCP Holy Communion CW Holy Communion Dennington Bruisyard Sweffling Badingham Sunday Lent 8th 8.00am 9.30am 11.00am 11.00am CW Holy Communion CW Trad. Communion BCP Holy Communion Morning Prayer Badingham Cransford Rendham Dennington Sunday Lent 15th 8.00am BCP Holy Communion Dennington 4 9.30am Family Service Sweffling 3 Mothering Sunday 9.30am BCP Holy Communion Bruisyard 10.00am 30 Min. Family Service Badingham Sunday Lent 22nd 8.00am BCP Holy Communion 5 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer 9.30am Morning Prayer 11.00am BCP Holy Communion Palm Sunday 29th 11.00am Benefice Service Maundy Thursday April 2 Good Friday April 3 EASTER See bac k cover April 5th 11 Badingham Cransford Rendham Dennington Badingham LENT & EASTER IN THE UPPER ALDE BENEFICE 2015 MOTHERING SUNDAY 15th March Normal service throughout the Benefice PALM Sunday 29th March Benefice Service 11.00 Badingham A chance for the benefice to share this important day together. HOLY WEEK Maundy Thursday 2nd April 7.00pm Holy Communion St Mary's Sweffling GOOD FRIDAY 3rd April 10.00am United Service following the Cross from St Peter's Church for the Service. At Cransford Chapel (Refreshments) 12.00 Midday Good Friday Reflection St Michael's Rendham EASTER DAY 5th April 9.00am Joint Communion at Cransford with Bruisyard - The Rector 9.30am BCP Communion St Mary’s, Sweffling 10.00am CW Communion St John the Baptist Badingham - The Rector 11.00am BCP Communion St Michael's Rendham 11.15am CW Communion St Mary's Dennington The Rector ASCENSION DAY 14th May 7.30am Holy Communion St John the Baptist Badingham Followed by Breakfast at the Rectory
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