|
Probably one of the most immediate and widely used pictures of God comes
from Psalm 23, which is sung at weddings and funerals, school assemblies and
national occasions both in great cathedrals and local churches however
small.
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for his own name’s sake.
This picture of God comes from the Old Testament yet Richard Dawkins
writes in his latest book, The God of the Old Testament is ‘the most
unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; unjust,
unforgiving control freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a
misogynist, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously
malevolent bully’. Apart from the extraordinary, intemperate, language
(which tells us a lot about the author and very little about the Old
Testament), where is all this vitriol coming from? Dawkins uses the phrase
in all fiction which by extension applies to his own writing about God. He
is simply making things up to suit himself. Admittedly he is not the first
person to misread the Bible (many Christians do it all the time!) but
clearly he has not read the text with care and poetic imagination (not to
mention scholarship) and reached a balanced view. As in all Shakespeare, a
reader can find in the Bible anything he or she wants to find. But that does
not exactly help when we are attempting to find truth and consider the
various visions of God.
So to be a bit more accurate, here are a few more sketches from the
biblical picture of God which lead to a very different vision.
God called to (Moses) out of the bush, ‘do not come near; put off your
shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy
ground.’ (Exodus 3:4-5)
I saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; above him
stood the seraphim and one called to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1-3)
Thus says the Lord God; behold I myself will search for my sheep, and
will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his
sheep have been scattered abroad, I will rescue them, I will feed them
with good pasture, I will seek the lost and I will bring back the strayed,
and I will bind up the crippled and strengthen the weak. (Ezekiel 34)
When Israel was a child, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son.
It was I who taught him to walk, I took him up in my arms, I led him with
cords of compassion and with the bands of love. My compassion grows warm
and tender, I will not exercise my fierce anger. For I am God and not man,
the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy. (Hosea 11:1
& 9)
A good deal of nonsense is written by many about a make-believe figure of
God in the Old Testament. Look carefully and with insight and God is every
bit as loving in the Old Testament as he is in the New. After all, Jesus
came to know God as Father and the good shepherd by reading
the Jewish scriptures. In addition, his prayers and daily relationship with
God strengthened and deepened this vision. True, it led him to the cross BUT
ALSO to the resurrection.
 Fr
Paul
contents
The Christingle Service must be my favourite service of the year.
St Mary’s was packed to the rafters, mostly with excited and happy children
who were looking forward to Christmas. The Celebrate! music group did
us proud with a mixture of modern and traditional hymns and,
 with
the newly arrived Christmas tree twinkling in the corner, the special
atmosphere was assured! The highlight, of course, after the distribution of
the oranges, was the switching off of the lights and the lighting of the
candles as we sang ‘Away in a Manger’. At the end of the service the
children proudly left church sporting their oranges to light later at home
and a total of £318.86 was raised for The Children’s Society! So a big
THANK YOU to everyone who attended or contributed to this year’s total.
Another big THANK YOU goes to the merry band of helpers who gave their time
to assemble our oranges – it was a great team effort!
Rachael Buttress
contents
Our love and prayers go to Clare Wood, who is currently teaching in
Bishop Cotton’s Girls School in Bangalore. There are 3500 girls age
4-18, with 60 per class. Nearly all of them speak good English, and
all teaching is done in English.
Clare is hoping also to go and work in a more rural school and possibly
in a hospital or program for female street children. If you have access to
the internet have a look at
clareinindia.blogspot.com
where there are photographs and more information.
Editor
contents
 The
new calendar year started, as always, on 1 January. The church year,
however, started a month earlier, on 3 December, Advent Sunday. Immediately
Prestbury and All Saints’ moved into a new era as Fr Michael Cozens was
licensed as our new priest-in-charge, rector designate of the
forthcoming North Cheltenham Team Ministry.
The day started with a major power cut, reminding us that we cannot take
anything for granted, even electricity, and that we can always find
alternative ways of doing things. The licensing, as the morning services in
St Mary’s had done, took place by candle-light.
Under Fr Michael’s leadership things will change. We shall be encouraged
to explore new ways of doing things as a church, and we should not take for
granted anything that we are used to.
Best wishes for a blessed new year to all our readers from all the
editorial team.
Editor
contents
We are running two courses this Lent. All are welcome to join us at
either or both.
Refreshed in Jesus
The evening Lent group, led by Sue McLeish from Kemerton, will meet on
Thursdays at St Nicolas’ and follow the Refreshed
with Jesus video presentation of St Matthew’s Gospel, accompanied by
readings from Bruce Marchiano’s book In the Footsteps of Jesus. Each
session will include excerpts read from the book relevant to the Gospel
chapters which then follow on video. After the listening and viewing, there
will be opportunity for questions and discussion.
These evening sessions will begin at St Nicolas’ on Thursday 15 February.
Coffee will be served from 7pm and the sessions will start promptly at
7.30pm. NB there is no session on 22 February.
Can we Build a Better World?
Learning from William Wilberforce
Our afternoon Lent Course will be led by Father Paul on Thursday
afternoons in Lent at St Nicolas’. This course celebrates the life, work and
faith of a great Yorkshireman and pays tribute to his work in combating
slavery.
The five sessions are:
- Slavery: then and now;
- Friendship & Prayer: then and now;
- Change & Struggle: then and now;
- The Bible: then and now;
- Redemption & Restitution: then and now.
Please sign up on the lists in church and order your course booklet,
price £5. Money with order, please. Can we Build a Better World? will
begin on Thursday 1 March at 2.30pm. There will be no session in Gold Cup
Week, 15 March.
 Jen
Swinbank
contents
We were in France, on holiday, in early January. We had bought a pie from
the local patisserie and were sitting in the car, in the warmth, discovering
what our non-existent French hadn’t told us, that it was an apple pie, when
suddenly Neil bit into something hard.
A little figurine of Mary, the mother of Christ, was discovered (or
revealed), in his piece of pie. What was the meaning of this? We suddenly
clicked – it was the celebration of Epiphany. That was why, when they had
sold us the pie, they had also given us a cardboard gold crown. From this
point onwards we found ourselves interested in discovering more of what
Epiphany was all about.
What better way to find out more about Epiphany than attending the events
this year at both St Mary’s and St Nicolas’? At St Nicolas’, Andy Hughes
taught us that Epiphany is all about the revealing of Jesus, as the Christ,
to the wider world, when the wise men, or sages, came to visit Jesus. We
learnt who these men might have been, how they might have understood what
happened and how they might have journeyed in order to see this Christ-child
(certainly not in a taxi or a car!).
At St Mary’s we learnt more about the tradition that the church has
always had, though forgotten by many, including us, of celebrating the
twelve days, not before Christmas day, but beginning at Christmas and
continuing for twelve days. We celebrated in a most enjoyable way, right in
the body of the church with a full, sit-down dinner, miraculously produced
from three stations within the church.
To aid our digestion, between courses we were gently entertained with
poems, drama (can anyone forget Cinderella?) and photos of how Christmas was
celebrated at St Mary’s.
To round off the whole weekend, in a fitting way, we remembered the
importance of continuing to reveal Christ to the wider world, at the carol
service following Andy’s Bible study at St Nicolas’ – how nice to sing some
of the carols that don’t usually get sung, supported by the strength of the
choir, with stimulating and interesting readings throughout the evening.
The whole weekend was one of warmth and fellowship, a special time when
those of us in the North Cheltenham Mission Area could
get together, and find out more about each other.
I just have one question left that needs to be revealed to me – what
was the name of the
tasty savoury pie that we ate at St Mary’s?
 Sarah
Jones
contents
‘The Real Christmas’ and Epiphany Supper
I am not sure of the exact date that the Parish Events Committee decided
on presenting ‘The Real Christmas’ and the ‘Epiphany Supper’. However,
suffice it to say that both occasions were most enjoyable.
The Real Christmas filled the church with a number of stalls selling
items with a Christmas theme all in aid of a number of charities. Bell
ringers supplied the entertainment and this was interspersed with carols.
Seasonal refreshments were served while one learnt how to make Christmas
tree decorations. A most enjoyable afternoon was shared with members of the
churches of North Cheltenham together with our ecumenical friends in
Prestbury. I trust the homeless children in the old and new world benefited
a little and maybe next year the event could be more widely advertised.
Now to the Epiphany Supper! Lynda has been heard to comment that the PEC
has many ‘Indians’ but only a few ‘Chiefs’. She led her team of helpers most
efficiently. She had planned her menu as only Lynda can, and solicited help
with the cooking and transportation of crockery, cutlery, glasses, hostess
trolleys, pews and much more! Around ninety people attended the Supper with
representation from all our North Cheltenham Team of churches. A carol was
sung and Fr Michael gave a prayer and a few words before the feast
commenced. A delicious first course of pork and orange casserole, homity
pie, bean casserole and sausages was consumed with relish with many second
helpings.
Cinderella
Several people performed a variety of entertainments before sweets were
served. An audiovisual show of all the activities that took place over the
Advent period was shown on a large screen, starting with the erection of the
Christmas tree and finalising with Christingle. This was followed by poems
and readings, culminating in the pantomime, ‘Cinderella’ performed by four
male stalwarts of the parish and Marion. The second course was then served
of lemon roulade, hazelnut meringues, custard pots and fruit salad. Needless
to say there were plenty of second helpings of these delicacies. It was such
a splendid evening people were loath to depart.
Once again thanks to all the Parish Event Team and their helpers for
another wonderful evening.
 Sheila
Beer
contents
Dear fellow member of St Mary’s and St Nicolas’
Advent Sunday (3 December) was the beginning of the Church new year and
for us in our Team Ministry of Prestbury and All Saints’ it also marked the
beginning of a new chapter in the life of our churches. Much has been
achieved in both St Mary’s and St Nicolas’. We are blessed with many people
who are using their gifts in very many different ways.
- We have established work with children and young people which is
respected beyond our parishes.
- We have launched and maintained Celebrate! at St Mary’s which has
connected with a large number of people from the parish, especially
families with young children.
- We continue to give excellent support to our local schools,
particularly through those who work as governors.
- We are able to enjoy a variety of social occasions where we can deepen
our fellowship with one another.
- We have good systems in place to offer pastoral care to the bereaved
and to people in other kinds of need.
- We have buildings which are being well looked after and also well
used, not only on Sundays.
- Most importantly, on Sundays and throughout the week, we are able to
offer to God worship that speaks clearly of our love, our thankfulness and
our praise.
Thanks
None of this happens without a great deal of time given by so many people
and I would like to express my thanks to all of you who contribute to the
life of our churches in any way, especially worshipping with us!
However, all of this also costs money. Just like every household, our
churches face costs which increase every year. You will know how your gas
and electricity bills have gone up and so you will appreciate how the costs
of running our churches have increased. Of course this also means that the
cost of anything we do as part of our Mission – our call to spread the
message of the Good News of Jesus Christ – has also gone up.
A request
On behalf of those who so conscientiously and carefully manage our
finances, I am writing to ask you to consider prayerfully your financial
contribution towards God’s work in Prestbury. Please think about whether you
are able to give more. Please think about whether you are able to commit to
a regular amount; this is so much more helpful for paying the bills. Please
consider gift-aiding your donation if that is possible. Do ask to speak to
someone if you would like to know more.
Money is always a difficult issue to raise and it is unfortunate that I
should have to do so in only the second month of my appointment as
Priest-in-Charge, however it is vitally important if we are to be able not
only to ‘pay our way’ but also to fund God’s work in the future.
Please take some time to consider this prayerfully. If you have not
received a copy of this letter, please collect one from one of the churches
and then make your response to God’s generosity by completing the reply slip
and returning it in the envelope provided. Your response can be placed in a
collecting bowl in church, or sent by post.
 With
my prayers,
Fr Michael Cozens
contents
I enjoyed my visit to the Khel Toys from India exhibition at the
Cheltenham Art Gallery, with its variety of colourful objects, many of them
made from recycled materials. I was attracted to the simple clay figures of
birds and animals and it reminded me of some of the pottery pieces I made on
a course up at the Art College.
When Fr Grant was speaking in St Mary’s about the defection of the boy
Jesus from his family whilst on a visit to the temple in Jerusalem, he spoke
about how little we know of his family boyhood. Was the story true that he
also made small clay figures of birds and, when reprimanded for this, he
told them to shoo, and they flew away? It was one of those many moments when
you wish you had been there.
Later, when we went up to the rail to receive communion, I contemplated
the nativity scene created under the altar. Here was another colourful
Eastern scene which reminded me of the one in the art gallery and I thought
how close we all are at times, and yet divided by stupid superstitions
between races and cultures.
May this New Year help to bring us all closer and make us capable of
better understanding.
Tudor Williams
contents
In February 2006 Fr Grant came to visit me and welcome me to the Parish.
I was introduced to the Daily Service of Evening Prayer. This quarter-hour
service at 4.30 has filled a need in my life, with Canticles, Psalms,
readings from the Bible and of course Prayers. An exciting exercise of
getting to know the book of Celebrating Common Prayer and a lovely way of
meeting other members of the Church I ‘nod to’ on a Sunday morning.
My delight has been Bishop Michael’s Praying Together in Advent. Although
structured, it is less formal, more time for a guided meditation. It will be
good to return to Celebrating Common Prayer after Advent and to look forward
to Bishop Michael’s Praying Together in Lent. (It is an excellent booklet
for use for private prayer.)
Perhaps it is necessary for our souls to be rattled out of a routine
service for a while, time to look where we have been and encourage our
new-found spirituality on to a new plane.
Pat Stevens
contents
The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for
all they had heard and seen; ...
The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the
ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the
child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law
of the Lord: “Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord.” They
also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as
required by the law of the Lord.
Luke 2:20, 22-24 (GNB)
So the shepherds returned to their flocks and to their old lives, on the
fringes of respectable society. They would never lose the memory of that one
night when they were chosen to be the only witnesses of amazing things: a
choir of angels and a wonderful child in an animals’ manger.
Mary and Joseph were left alone at last with their newborn baby. In their
makeshift accommodation, life began to settle into a routine. No more visits
from angels to give instructions on baby care, but plenty of advice no doubt
from older women in Bethlehem.
Like any Jewish parents, they set out simply to do the right thing for
their child. When he was a week old, he was circumcised and received his
name, in a simple ceremony at home, possibly carried out by Joseph. After a
further month, they took him to the Temple at Jerusalem, eight miles away.
Here there would be two public ceremonies: the infant Jesus was presented
before God, in memory of the time when every first-born son was appointed a
priest in the desert tabernacle, and for Mary, as for every new mother,
there was a ceremony of purification and thanksgiving.
As it turned out, this temple visit was not quite like those of other new
parents. Two devout and respected worshippers, a man and an old woman, were
both inspired to prophesy over Mary’s tiny baby. But then it was all over
and the little family group went back to their temporary home. Soon they
would be forced to leave Bethlehem in fear, to live for a while as refugees
in Egypt before they could return and settle down to a quiet existence in
Nazareth.
In all these years, as they survived and worked and cared for their son,
they were granted no divine advantages. Mary thought often of God’s promise
that her child was special beyond all others, a king like David, even the
son of God. It seemed a long way from the day to day reality of a growing
child. But in this ordinary time, they were no less the Holy Family, Jesus
was no less the promised saviour, God’s care never left them.
Here in our 21st century existence, the church year will soon move on
from the final days of Epiphany. Lent is coming soon, but for three weeks we
shall be in ‘Ordinary Time’, marked by the colour green for vestments and
service books. In this quiet interlude, our worship and prayers will be no
less valid – we may even find it a relief to be ‘back to normal’.
In our personal lives, a lot of our weeks and months are ‘ordinary’,
passing without great highs and lows. But throughout these quiet times of
small problems and partial successes, we are no less cherished by our
heavenly Father. Underneath the dull surface of the everyday, there is
growth. One day we may know how much.
 Beryl
Elliott
contents
On 1 August 1907 Lord Robert Baden Powell – ‘BP’, hero of the siege of
Mafeking during the Boer War – opened an experimental camp on Brownsea
Island in Poole Harbour. He brought together teenage boys from Public
Schools and deprived areas, formed them into small groups, had them living
in tents, cooking their food on open fires and taking part in a variety of
adventurous activities. The experiment was a success and the Scout Movement
was born!
Today there are Scout Associations in 155 countries as members of the
World Organisation of Scout Movements (WOSM) with over 28 million members.
There are also 26 associated countries, 35 countries where Scouting is known
to exist in some form and six where it is not permitted.
BP wrote the handbook ‘Scouting for Boys’; girls quickly took it up and
the Girl Guide Movement was formed in 1910 led by Lady Olave Baden Powell.
There are now girls in the UK Scout Association as in most countries.
In this Centenary Year there will be many celebrations:
- At 8am on 1 August in each time zone around the world the Scouts there
will gather to repeat their Promise.
- From 27 July to 8 August 40,000 Scouts from 216 countries will camp at
a World Jamboree in Essex, living, working and playing together. They will
also have ‘Home Hospitality’ throughout the UK before and after the camp.
- On the weekend of 27 May every Scout should have the opportunity of a
Centenary camp locally.
There will be many other activities locally, nationally and throughout
the world. All Scouts past and present will be welcome at these events.
 Bob
Lyle
Scouting in Prestbury
From the 1920s there was a Scout Troop in Prestbury and old glass lantern
slides show them meeting in a hall on the site which is now the King’s Arms
car park. The Revd Harry Hartley acted as a Scoutmaster when he was a curate
here. The troop closed after a 12-year-old scout drowned in August 1947; his
grave is in the churchyard.
The Group reformed in 1951 with a Cub pack, Scout Troop and Senior Scout
Unit, meeting in the room over Tatchley House garage, Tatchley Lane. They
moved to their present headquarters in the Burgage in 1974 at a ‘peppercorn’
rent to the Clergy Pension Board and bought it from them twenty years later.
Bob Lyle
Members of 1st Prestbury Scout Group at
Prestbury War Memorial on 12 November 2006
Photograph by Nigel Woodcock
1st Prestbury Scout Group – Present Situation
The Group is currently located in the Burgage and is very active. The
Group consists of Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scouts. There is also an active
Executive Committee, chaired by Paul Brown, which takes care of raising
money (mainly through jumble sales) and maintenance of the property.
We have a Cub pack of around twenty with a waiting list of half-a-dozen
boys. Andrew Jackson and Bruce Bennetts, the leaders, operate an exciting
programme with activities ranging from making model cars and hot air
balloons to games and camps.
The Scouts have recently acquired a new leader, Duncan French, supported
by Steve Downward and Phil Morris. The Scouts are divided into four patrols
and have a programme arranged around six challenge badges. Activities
include lighting and cooking on open fires, pioneering (making structures by
lashing poles together), and camping, which often includes canoeing, archery
and climbing, as well as more traditional activities such as night hikes and
wide games. The Scouts are currently undertaking a number of badges which
include Mechanic, DIY, Cooking, and Craftwork.
The Scout Group also benefits from having an Explorer Scout Unit located
at the Burgage, with two leaders, John Powell and Andrew Butcher. Explorer
Scouts are a new Scout section made up of boys and girls aged 14 to 18 years
and managed at district level. The programme is linked to the Duke of
Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Scouts engage in a wide range of activities
that they organise themselves with the help of leaders.
Last year the Explorer Scouts built a two-man canoe and organised a
five-day canoe-camping trip on the Thames. The ‘Black Sheep’ Explorer Unit
won the Silver trophy for the Cotswold Marathon last year and they are
planning on building another canoe and doing a ‘survival skills’ course
during the current year. There are currently ten Explorers and we are
actively seeking more boys and girls who might be interested in joining.
Explorers meet on a Tuesday evening at the Scout HQ.
 John
Powell
 |
The
home-made canoe on the Thames
Photograph by John Powell |
110 Years of Service
At the end of last year two members of our congregations were given
awards by the Scout Association. Though no longer actively working with the
young people, Bob Lyle and Alan Jackson are still supporting Scouting in the
Scout Fellowship and several local District Committees.
Bob’s Scouting started in Kent. On moving into Tatchley House several
years later he discovered he had also ‘bought’ a Scout Group! He became
‘Honorary Troop Surgeon’, then Group Scout Leader. He progressed to District
Commissioner and later County Commissioner. Currently he is a County Vice
President and President of Cheltenham District.
Alan’s Scouting began in Lancashire, where he progressed to Assistant
Scout Master. A few years later in Cheshire he became Senior Scout Master of
an Admiralty Recognised Sea Scout Group. Unusually their boat was a canal
narrow boat. There he also became District Scout Leader and a Peak Forest
Warden. Moving to Greater London he took on the role of Group Secretary,
then Group Scout Leader, then district Commissioner. Now in Prestbury he is
Chairman of the Cheltenham Scout Fellowship.
The Scout Association is always appreciative of support given to the
Movement in this way and at a gathering in Tatchley House in December the
District Commissioner presented awards for 60 years service to Bob and 50
years to Alan.
Congratulations to them both!
Gillian Jackson
Postage Stamps
Thank you to everyone who collected or is still collecting postage stamps
for me. The Scout Holiday Homes Trust provides wheel chair accessible
caravans at several places around the British Isles. This year’s project is
for caravans at Hoburne Naish and Hoburne Torbay – each is a double-glazed
37ft x 12ft Pemberton Sovereign with wheel-in shower.
 Gillian
Jackson
contents
Homity Pie (Prestbury Style)
This seemed to be the perfect answer to hot potatoes in a church with no
kitchen so I concocted this recipe since I couldn’t find one in a book.
Ingredients
Enough shortcrust pastry to line a pie dish or flan ring of the size
required
A good pot of creamy mashed potatoes
Plenty of milk and butter and a pinch of nutmeg or ground mace
One average sized onion, chopped very finely and fried in a knob of butter
until golden and soft
Grated cheddar cheese, enough to cover the top of your size pie
Method
Grease the tin of your choice well with margarine or butter. Roll out
pastry fairly thinly then line the tin. Prick over the base with a fork and
line round the pastry sides with a strip of cooking foil folded over several
times to make it stiff. This will stop a major collapse of the sides of the
pastry case as it cooks. Bake in a moderate oven, about 160°C, until nice
and firm but not completely done, probably ? of the usual cooking time. In
the mean time mash the hot boiled potatoes, beat in the soft fried onion,
milk, butter, mace or nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Fill the almost
cooked pie case generously with the mashed potato mixture, rough-up the top
with a fork and sprinkle with a covering of grated cheese. Put it back in
the oven and finish cooking until pastry is done properly and the cheese has
melted and bubbled. Serve hot with meat and other vegetables or enjoy it on
its own, perhaps with a side salad. The cooled pie can be wrapped and
frozen. When wanted it can be cooked from frozen like any supermarket ready
meal.
Biddy’s Meringue Roulade
(Makes 2)
Ingredients
6 egg whites
300 g castor sugar
2 tsp cornflour
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 300g cartons of double cream
sliced seasonal fruits or lemon curd or chocolate spread
sliced almonds (optional)
icing sugar
Method
Line 2 swiss roll tins with non-stick paper. Whisk the egg whites till
firm and dry, add the sugar a little at a time. Add the 3 other ingredients
and whisk. Spread out on the tins (sprinkle sliced almonds on top if liked)
and bake for 15 min at 180°C. Cool in the tins and turn out onto cling film,
peel off the non stick paper. Whisk cream and spread on the roulades (save
some for piping rosettes down the top if liked). Cover with sliced fruits in
season. Alternatively spread with lemon curd or chocolate spread – before
you put the cream on. Roll up using the cling film to press the roll
together. Decorate and dust with icing sugar. Freezes well (not sure about
with the fruit in). Thaw out at room temperature for 1 hour.
Many people requested this recipe at the Epiphany supper. It was given to
me by a friend called Biddy who is a professional caterer, hence its name.
 Lynda
Hodges
contents
Joyful Singing by Prestbury Junior School
On Tuesday 19 December thirty children from Prestbury St Mary’s Junior
School gathered together to perform songs from Puss in Boots, their school
Christmas production.
They began at the local library and sang several songs from their
production to a very appreciative audience. They continued their journey to
Bay Tree Court where they repeated the recital to the residents there.
This is the second time the children of the Junior School have shared
their joyful singing with older members of the local community and they hope
to continue this in future years.
Sue Malloy
contents |
A Date for your Diary
Children’s Activity Day – 14 July 2007
Once again plans are being made to host another of our
very successful Children’s Activity Days. These days are an essential part
of our ministry with children and involve many people from across the team.
In the past we have followed a theme, with the previous two based on Moses
and Joseph. This time we have decided to focus on the New Testament and
explore the stories Jesus told – The Parables.
If you would like to be involved in this crucial mission
work amongst our children then please contact me. There will be a meeting on
Monday 12 February in St Nicolas Church Room.
 Linda
Biggs
contents
Prestbury & All Saints’ Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Friday 4 – Monday 7 May 2007
I have already distributed application forms to all those
who have expressed an interest in joining our 2007 pilgrimage to Walsingham.
If there is anyone else who may be interested and would to like to know
more, please contact me. The overall price this year is £116.55 (children
£69.93, under 5 – free) and this covers accommodation from the Friday night
and all meals from breakfast on the Saturday up to and including breakfast
on the Monday. I would be grateful if booking forms and a non-returnable
deposit of £10 could be returned to me by Tuesday 20 February. For
those who have access to the Internet further information on Walsingham can
be found at www.walsingham.org.uk.
 Colin
Holman;
contents
St Mary’s Bakestall
This month’s bakestall at St Mary’s is on Sunday 18
February with contributions from those with surnames N-Z. Do contact one
of us if you would like to join the rota.
Margaret Waker & Linda Matthews
contents
Shrove Tuesday 20 February
Pancakes & Beetle Drive
Prestbury Hall, Bouncers Lane
6.30pm
£2 per person (£5 per family)
Don’t miss this fun event! |
contents
Mothers’ Union
Our February meeting will be held on Tuesday 27
February at 7.30pm at St Nicolas’ Church. It will be our AGM followed by
a Eucharist Service led by Fr Michael. We shall also renew our Mothers’
Union promise. Any new members will be most welcome.
 Marion
Beagley
contents
MID-LENT CRISIS
A Quiet Afternoon led by Father Tim Raphael
Saturday 10 March at All Saints’, from 12 noon to 4pm beginning with
a light lunch of soup and rolls.
contents
Calling all committees
Our Annual Church Meeting will take place on Sunday 25
March. Prior to this meeting I have to prepare a report which needs to
include a small ‘thumb print’ paragraph from each committee that reports
back to the PCC. If you are the chair of any committee, or work in a
specific area that needs to be mentioned, I would be most grateful to
receive your short article by Friday 16 March. With many thanks.
Marion Beagley, Secretary to the PCC
contents
EverestMAX
On Saturday 17 March at St Nicolas’ Sarah Lyle will
be giving an illustrated talk about her expedition last year from the
Dead Sea to Mount Everest. Details next month.
contents
Working Gardening Weekend – 13 to 15 April 2007
Does the idea of spending a residential weekend working in
beautiful gardens appeal? Glenfall House, with its special atmosphere,
renowned welcome and good cooking, is running a weekend to help maintain the
landscaped four-acre grounds. It is suitable for both novice and experienced
gardeners. Day visits may be possible for local residents. Please telephone
if you are interested and I can supply details of cost and application
forms.
 Janet
White
contents
Plant Sale – Date for your Diary
The Plant Sale at St Nicolas’ will be on Saturday 12
May. As we plan to grow on geraniums, etc for you, may we appeal for
small square plastic plant pots? If you have some to spare, please bring to
me or give me a ring and I will collect.
Janet White
contents
Sidmouth 2007
Our Parish weekend will take place at
Sidholme in
Sidmouth. For those who have
already booked, you should by now have received the information from me. If
you would still like to join us we have about twenty spare places – please
ring me as soon as possible for further details, or you may find you have
missed the boat!! It is a good way of enjoying relaxed fellowship with
fellow church members and there is no pressure to join in anything that you
are not too sure about. Just come to enjoy the hotel, food, swimming, beach,
or whatever else you may wish to do.
Marion
Beagley
contents
World Vision Christmas Card
The collection from the Christmas card scheme enabled us
to send a donation of £210 to World Vision. This was the best ever, and
thank you everyone for all your kind wishes and generous donations.
Margaret Waker & Margaret Holman
contents
Thursday Morning Eucharist at St Mary’s
At the 10.30am Thursday Eucharist at St Mary’s we raised
£400 last year for the Church Heating Fund. After the service we meet
socially for a cup of coffee and biscuits, for which we usually pay 50p. We
started this function on 18 February 1999 and we first of all raised £500
for Let the Children Live!, and then in November 2000 started raising money
for St Mary’s Heating Fund. Our Grand Total for the latter is £2,300 to
date.
Thank you to everybody who has supported us, whether by
donation or by helping in any way. A great achievement and a much warmer
church. It would be nice to see some new people joining with us for this
lovely half-hour service on Thursdays, after all, only half an hour out of
your week.
 Doreen
Morris
contents
Christian Aid at Christmas
Many thanks to our choirs and friends who sang carols for
Christian Aid at the new Sainsbury’s store in Priors Road. St Mary’s raised
£133.62, St Nicolas’ £100.04 and Churches Together, singing in supermarkets
all over the town, raised more than £2,445. A fine result!
Thank you, too, to everyone who put the price of a
Christmas dinner in an envelope, totalling £189.00 from the two churches,
and thank you for supporting Present Aid. One friend told me that she would
have preferred to be consulted before presents were given in her name. I
should be interested to hear what other people think about this. It is, of
course, possible to avoid the problem by asking friends and relations to
send us these ‘presents’ instead of others which they might have given us,
but to refrain from sending them to people who might not share our views.
What do you think?
NB Christian Aid Week comes round in May. More helpers are
urgently needed, especially at St Mary’s. In particular Gill Ashman is
looking to hand over the organising at St Mary’s. PLEASE get in touch with
us soon if you could help.
Gill Ashman (St Mary’s)
Paddy Spurgeon (St Nicolas’)
contents
The Children’s Society at St Nicolas'
Very many thanks to all the box holders who have helped to
collect a total of £450.87 during 2006. Thanks also to Enid Cowley who
patiently helps me to count all those pennies. I’ll be glad to open your
boxes again: please give them to me on a Sunday morning or contact me and I
will be glad to collect.
Janet
White
contents
Parish Events Committee
Thank you to all volunteers and workmen who, when they see
me approaching must think ‘what is she going to ask me to do next’ and
hearts must drop. Without you none of the agape, teas/coffee, cakes and
Parish Events would take place.
We are always looking for new ideas and inspiration. If
you would like to join our Merry Team please see me or one of us or the
clergy.
 Shirley
Brown, a Member of the PEC team
contents
|
