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Prestbury Parish Magazine

November 2007

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life."

   John  11:25

 

Photograph: Prestbury War Memorial
by Brian Wood

 

Contents

God in My Living

All Saints’ Tide 2007

Eucharistic Ministers

Are you a reader?

Education and Nurture across the Team

The PPY Alternative Fashion Show

The Chill

Taizé workshop

The First Epistle from John’s

Christian Aid – tea parties and Christmas fair

Calling all Thespians

Bell Ringers wanted!

Stewardship & Legacies

You can run but you can’t hide!

Some articles from this month's magazine have been included elsewhere in the web site:

The Consecration of St Nicolas

Parish Weekend at Sidholm, Sidmouth

The Registers

The Calendar for this month

The Diary for this month

 


God in My Living

SOMETIMES it all seems chaotic. It seems as though all the pieces strewn around are not even from the same jigsaw. Often in life things just do not seem to fit together neatly.

At times the Celebrate! service can seem like that too. In September and October the themes for the services have ranged from a focus on the football team to a celebration of marriage, from a service led by Rockers pre-school group to thanksgiving for harvest. Each Sunday has been varied and very engaging, but does it all hang together?

On further reflection the apparently random themes all seem to find a connection in the idea that God is in every part of our lives. We have the chance to meet and serve God through sport, through our care for the young and vulnerable, through our everyday relationships and in our response to all that God has given us, the list could go on and on.

We live in the world of the neatly packaged sound bite; it is tempting to want to find everything ‘in order’, including, and possibly especially, within the Church. I have sympathy for Naaman (2 Kings 5). He expects God in the grand and dramatic and is very close to passing by on the other side rather than finding healing in the ordinary. Our God is not a God who is found ‘somewhere else’; our God is present in the ordinariness of the here and now.

Yes, life is confusing and often disjointed, yet we find hope in Jesus’ coming to earth and embracing all the brokenness of being human. The song ‘God in My Living’ talks about God being there in our hurting and in our healing. We follow Jesus; his journey did not end at the brokenness of the cross, but went on to the transformation of the resurrection. A great taste of this Life which Jesus brings was found in the joyful sharing together at Sidmouth (not just the ice creams!).

As always with Jesus it can never stop with ‘just me’. If God is in my Living then he is also in the living of those around me, so if others suffer, then it affects God and myself. Our response to the suffering of others often starts with small steps. Two such small steps are being taken by Celebrate! and Prestbury & Pittville Youth. Celebrate! are together taking on the sponsorship of a child through World Vision – helping to bring the basics to the child and the surrounding community. PPY are running an Alternative Fashion Show (details elsewhere in this magazine) part of which focuses on ‘fair trade’ clothing – why not share together in that great evening?

It has been such a privilege to share over the past months in many special moments of people bringing what they have to offer in worship. One treasure for me has been the Rockers’ prayer: ‘Jesus, may I walk your way, in all I do and all I say.’ Amen.

Andy Macauly

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All Saints’ Tide 2007

All Soulstide

On Friday 2nd November there will be a Said Requiem Mass at 10.30am in St Mary’s during which there will be a time of commemoration of the departed.
At 7.30pm in All Saints’ there will be a Team-wide Sung Requiem Mass for the departed which will also include a time of commemoration of the dead. 

Please use the lists available in all three churches to add the names of those you wish to be remembered. If you will be attending a particular service and would like to hear the names you have added read there, please ensure that you have recorded them on the correct list.

Fr Michael

All Saints’ Patronal Festival

A Patronal Festival should be a significant occasion in the life of a church. As we celebrate the Feast Day of the patron (or patrons) after which the church is named, we also celebrate the lives of all those who have contributed in any way to the worshipping life of the church through the years. We also celebrate with thanksgiving the life of faith which is shared by those who worship in the church today.

These significant occasions are also significant times when we can join together with our brothers and sisters from across our Team Ministry.

 Worshipping in a larger gathering of people reminds us that we are part of the wider church and we share our faith with many others. I do hope that as many of you as possible will join the people of All Saints’ for their Patronal Festival on Sunday 4th November at 10.30am. Two Sunday Club groups will be run during the service, for the under-8s and for the 8s and over.

On this Sunday there will be no services at 9.30am in St Nicolas’ or 11.00am in St Mary’s. There will be said services at 8.00am in both churches. Please do ask one of the Churchwardens if you would like help with transport to All Saints’.

Fr Michael

 

 

Remembrance Sunday

On Sunday 11th November there will be an Act of Remembrance during the 9.30am sung Eucharist at St Nicolas’. In Prestbury village we will gather as usual at the War Memorial at 10.45am for the Act of Remembrance, which will be followed by the Sung Eucharist in St Mary’s.

At 3.30pm on 11th November in St Mary’s there will be a Memorial Service for those who have been bereaved during the past year. We invite the families of those for whom we have conducted a funeral to attend this simple service of prayers, readings and hymns. During the service there will be an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a departed loved one. Anyone is very welcome to attend this service.

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Eucharistic Ministers

CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to Jenny Newman, Lynda Hodges, Stephen Wilson and John Petchey, who have all received the Bishop’s permission to be ‘Eucharistic Ministers’. They will take turns to administer the chalice at the 8am Eucharist on Sundays.

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Are you a reader?

READING the lessons in church is one way in which individuals can bring
their own abilities to enrich our shared Worship.

  • Are you already on the reading rota?
  • Perhaps you’re a bit nervous, but would like to be involved.
  • Would you appreciate some tips to improve your public speaking skills?

On Saturday 10th November, Rachel Murray will be sharing her expertise at All Saints’ Church and inviting us to have a go. If you would like to take part, please contact Jennifer Swinbank or E-mail jenswinbankbeeb.net. There is a limit of 12 people for this event, but Rachel will be happy to run another similar session at a later date if this first event is over-subscribed.

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Education and Nurture across the Team

The Team-wide Education and Nurture Group met in September to reflect on recent events and to plan the forthcoming programme up until 2008.

Activities for children and young people had been prominent during the Summer, beginning with the successful ‘Going Up’ Ascensiontide event at Up Hatherley, whilst our own ‘Parables Activity Day’ and ‘360° Active’ holiday project had attracted young people from across the North Cheltenham Area. A large group had also camped at the racecourse for the duration of the Greenbelt Festival.

Work is in progress to produce guidelines for those who lead Intercessions in our Team and a morning offering encouragement and advice to current and prospective Lesson Readers will be held at All Saints’ in November.

Later in November, Father Brian Torode from St Stephen’s Tivoli will present a one-off evening event at All Saints’, ‘Pilgrimage and Medieval Gloucester’, one of a number of events involving people and churches from a wider area, which also includes Maz Allen’s Taizé workshop in October and the Advent Sunday Iona Workshop at Holy Name Hall in Prestbury.

It has not been possible to hold a Quiet Day this Autumn, so we are hoping to re-schedule that event for May 2008. As we began looking into next year, it came as something of a shock to discover that we will barely have recovered from our Team-wide Epiphany carols before we find ourselves in Lent.

Ash Wednesday falls on 6th February; so we need to begin to identify House Group Leaders, along with hosts and hostesses, for the 2008 Lent Course. Do please contact one of the Education Group if you can help:

Karen Winder or Jennifer Swinbank at All Saints’
Colin Holman at St Mary’s
Margaret Compton at St Nicolas’

Jennifer Swinbank

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The PPY Alternative Fashion Show

This fantastic evening is on Saturday 10th November at 7.30pm at St Nicolas’, doors open 7pm. It will include a focus on fair trade and ethical fashion, worship led by young people and much more. Tickets are available from PPY reps (Adults £3, Family £6, Concession £1.50, Children £1). Do join us to share in this gala event and help raise money for Prestbury and Pittville Youth and awareness of issues around fashion.

Andy Macauly

 

 

The Chill

Being in the Chill is really fun! It has plenty of benefits including: there are plenty of fun sports to take part in; there is cool video games and online access. There are friendly and approachable leaders and friendly members.

You can always find something interesting to do and there is always something going on! Our themed nights go from pizza making to ‘alternative’ fashion night! We also have a trip out each term. Some of these have included: laser tag, ice skating and more! We always have loads of fun and every trip has been a complete success and everyone always wants to go again!

Going to youth club is always the highlight of the week for all its members and leaders and we all always have a really good time! And that’s what our youth club’s all about, having a good time! Put it more simply
OUR YOUTH CLUB ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

Jordan, Josh, Luke & Sam

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Taizé workshop

I liked doing the Taizé workshop and finding out about it. The music was really jazzy and quite easy to sing once you got the hang of it.

Rowan, aged 7

We learned to sing in four parts. I was a soprano and my dad was tenor. We sang the songs a few times, at first it was a bit difficult but then it got easier and it sounded really nice with everyone singing together. I think we should have more workshops like this because it was very good.

Freya, aged 9

 

Taizé service

On Sunday evening we were privileged to take part in a Taizé Service at St Nicolas’. The Church was lit by candles, which created a wonderful atmosphere. It was interesting to look at the choruses as we sat down, written in a variety of languages, some in Latin, French, German and English, others in something quite different. It brought home the universality of the song and praise.

Soon we started singing with an accompaniment of guitar, flute and piano and variations of the three. It was easy to sing as with the repetition you could soon pick up the tune and the words and join in praise to God. It made you realize that is what we have been made for.

Rev Maz Allen, who led the service, told us about the Taizé Community and different aspects of the life. Her energy and love for this approach to worship encouraged us as we listened and joined in. We also had times of prayer and a time of silence where each person was able to spend time communing with God.

Great! Looking forward to the next one…

John and Anne Nicholson

 

Iona Worship

On Sunday 2nd December at Holy Name Hall Churches Together in North Cheltenham will be holding another worship workshop and joint evening service. This time the style of worship will be Iona and the afternoon workshop will be led by Alison Adam from Worship Works. The cost of the workshop and shared tea will be £4. The workshop starts at 3.30pm and the service at 6.30pm. All are welcome to join in with all or part of this event and to try the Iona experience for themselves.

Fiona Hall

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The First Epistle from John’s

SO, WHEN IS it that you realise that life as a chaplain will never be quite the same again? Perhaps it’s the first taste of beetroot ice cream at a formal dinner or maybe sitting to have lunch by candlelight in the Fellows’ Dining Room because it’s a gloomy day and they’ve never got round to installing electric lighting. Then of course it could be the first time you have to explain to a new Chinese student with barely any English precisely what eucalyptus foam is before they eat it and that no, it’s not exactly traditional British cuisine. The sandwiches at our staff meetings in Fr Michael’s kitchen seem a very long way away indeed!

Life so far in Cambridge has been wonderful but frantic and as I write this, I’ve just about emerged from the mêlée that is the first fortnight of term unscathed but with very little sleep. Being a chaplain is a curious role as you don’t quite fit anywhere. I am in the college but not of it and so can meander from conversations putting the world to rights with Professor Sir Maurice Wilkes (who practically invented the computer) one moment to consoling a lost and anxious Fresher the next, stopping in between to discuss the length of the grass for the First XV rugby match with our groundsman, Keith. It does sometimes take one from the sublime to the ridiculous, like the other evening when I went from having to defend my thesis to a retired Fellow over a glass of 1945 Chateau d’Yquem (I think I’ve got that right but let’s just say there was a certain frisson among the cognoscenti when it was announced it had been decanted in honour of the new Master) via a quick change into something resembling school uniform to being served mysterious green and brown cocktails from plastic vats in the middle of a dance-floor and festooned with glo-sticks at the Back to School Ent. All in all, marvellous fun and getting right to the heart of what I think being a priest is about – being where people are and just pointing gently in all we do and say towards God and his love for his world.

Chris and the girls have also settled in well to Cambridge life. Bethany loves her new school and her new teacher (though apparently she’s not as good a dancer as Mrs Tandy), while Sarah has found a playgroup where she gets to do lots of painting and play-dough so she’s very happy. They both love the swing you so kindly gave them and it was the first piece of furniture I had to assemble on our arrival here – always important to get the priorities right! I’ve heard fabulous reports of the St Nicolas’ consecration celebrations and was sad not to be able to come myself but you’re still very much in my thoughts and prayers, especially when I look at the wonderful icon of the Trinity you gave me which now has pride of place in our dining room.

Love to you all and I’m sure there may be more news from Cambridge anon when Frances twists my arm.

God bless.
Fr Grant

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Christian Aid – tea parties and Christmas fair

The September tea parties proved very popular: Marion Godden held open house all day in Limber Hill and a succession of guests dropped in to chat and consume home-made goodies, while in Prestbury village Barbara and Bob Lyle kindly offered their hospitality at tea-time, with cakes baked by a team of volunteers organised by Margaret Waker. Many thanks to Marion, Margaret, Barbara and Bob and everyone who supported these enjoyable occasions. Altogether £400 was raised for Christian Aid.

A pre-Christmas Fair will be held at Holy Apostles’ Church Hall, London Road, on Saturday 3rd November from 11am to 2pm. There will be stalls, coffee and lunches. We are asked to contribute produce, groceries or Christmas gifts. We would be grateful if you put suitable goods into the box in St Mary’s or St Nicolas’ or get in touch with one of us. Thank you.

Gill Ashman (St Mary’s) &
Paddy Spurgeon (St Nicolas’)

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Calling all Thespians

Most of you will remember, better than I do, that we always used to have some drama groups in the parish – namely the St Mary’s Players and St Nicolas’ Amateur Dramatic Society (SNADS). It would seem, of late, that these are not very often resurrected and I have been asked if I would consider bringing such an activity back into the Parish.

We now have an excellent venue in the new Prestbury Hall in Bouncers Lane, thanks to the hard work put in by the Trustees, and it would be great if we could put it into use from time to time. I would not want to encroach on the WI drama group that already puts on a Christmas event, but thought that maybe a spring and/or autumn show of some kind would work. Perhaps if you are interested you would contact me and if there is enough interest to make it worthwhile I would then call a meeting of all interested parties.

Marion Beagley

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Bell Ringers wanted!

We are looking for people to join the bell ringing band at St Mary’s.

Bell ringing is an English activity with over 400 years of history: you would help to maintain this traditional skill which is a service to the Church. It’s a very sociable activity that families can enjoy together.

You do not have to be strong; being able to count is all the maths you’ll need and you don’t need to be good at music.

You’ll need to be able to join us on Tuesday evenings for our practice, and, a few months later, when you have learnt to ring, on Sundays, when we ring for service. Children should be twelve or over: we’d prefer if children learnt with a parent.

We are holding an open evening from 8.00pm until 9.00pm on Tuesday 20 November, when you can meet us and find out more. We’ll then run a beginners’ course for those interested, four lessons, each about an hour long.

Any queries to bellsprestbury.net

David Lynch and Jenni Scruton

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Stewardship & Legacies

Many of us in the Parish are now of a ‘certain age’ which means we are on a fixed income. This means that we cannot always increase our planned giving when asked. However, there is another way in which our churches can benefit from your generosity. Have you ever considered leaving a sum of money in your will to the church? This can be small or large and would make the difference to our funds that perhaps we cannot make in our life-time. If you would like to know more I have the necessary details and would be glad to talk to you if you so wish.

Marion Beagley

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You can run but you can’t hide!

O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
    Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
    In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them – they are more than the sand; I come to the end – I am still with you.
  
  Psalm 139:1-2, 7, 16-18 (NRSV)

How many of you have stood in a wide open space at night, where the only light comes from the myriad stars? I don’t know about you, but it certainly makes me feel very insignificant and at the same time awestruck that in a very tiny way I too am part of God’s amazing Creation.

This psalm confirms that God is always here; he knows each one of us intimately, and has done so since before our very existence! Whether we accept this or turn our backs on him makes no difference, his love for us will always be there.

Like the stars in the night sky, the grains of sand on a beach that you sift through your fingers are too many to count, and yet God knows them all, and nowhere is too far, too high, too deep for him to reach us. The point is that we have to want to be found, the responsibility is ours. God is here, but if we don’t make the effort to search for him, or if we try to hide from him, then the ‘connection’ just won’t happen!

Perhaps the way in which we hide from God, or turn our backs on him has changed over the millennia since this psalm was written, so that nowadays it is such things as our busyness, our social activities, the million and one things that can take up our time, so that Sunday mornings end up being the only time that we find space to worship God, and then only if there isn’t the shopping to do or a football/cricket/rugby match to play in or watch. But even then, every so often for a small instant, through a chord of music, a thing of beauty or a smile on the face of a stranger, God reminds us that he is here, that it only takes an instant to turn back to him, to follow the path he has set out for us to follow. 

In Ephesians 2 v 10, Paul says, ‘For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand to be our way of life.’

God has a plan for each of us, He sent his son Jesus Christ as a guide for us, but it is up to each one of us, to use the gifts He has given us.

Jesus himself says, in John’s gospel, (ch 14 v 11), ‘Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.’ By believing in God and being open about our belief, we are beginning to do the ‘good works’ that he has set out for us.

Basically, the powerful message that comes to us across the ages is, ‘You can run, but you can’t hide!’ Instead, why not find a quiet place somewhere, preferably outdoors, and just sit and marvel at the beauty that is God’s Creation, worship him in your own way and in your own time, and let him come fully into your life.

Liz Greenhow

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‘Music for Malcolm’

Malcolm McKelvey was Director of Music in Prestbury parish from 1989 to 2003 and this series of concerts in his memory is to raise money for work on St Mary’s organ.
The final concert in the series is postponed from Wednesday 7th November at 11am and features Peter Greaves, the present organist at St Mary’s. The programme will include works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Stanford, Ireland and Thalben-Ball.
Admission is free, but there will be a retiring collection for the organ fund. Coffee will be available from 10.30am.

Christine McKelvey

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Three Annunciations

Leading up to Christmas the Bible study group will look at the annunciations to Zechariah, Joseph and Mary of the births of their sons John and Jesus. We meet on Tuesdays 13th and 27th November and 11th December in All Saints’ church at 6.45pm for a 7pm start. All are welcome to any of these sessions. If you can, do stay afterwards for the short service at 8pm, which will be either Compline or a said Eucharist.

Frances Murton

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St Mary’s Bakestall

The next bakestall at St Mary’s is on Sunday 18th November with contributions from those with surnames G-M. Please contact one of us if you would like to join the rota.

Margaret Waker & Linda Matthews

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To be a Pilgrim

On Wednesday 21st November Father Brian Torode will present an evening about Pilgrimage and Medieval Gloucester as part of our Team-wide Education and Nurture programme. The evening will begin with the Eucharist at 7.30pm in All Saints’, followed by Father Brian’s presentation, refreshments and an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Jen Swinbank

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Eucharist with a Difference

The next ‘Eucharist with a Difference’ at St Nicolas’ will be on Sunday 25th November, the Feast of Christ the King, at the usual time of 9.30am. Do come and join us for this special time of worship.

Linda Biggs

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Mothers’ Union

Our meeting this month will be on Tuesday 27th November at 7.30pm at Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep Street. Dee Graham will show us some more craft ideas for Christmas. Anyone welcome to join us even if not a member of the MU.

Marion Beagley

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A Wine Tasting Evening
with Matthew Hemming

Friday 30th November, 7.30 pm, Prestbury Hall, Bouncers Lane, Tickets £12
The wine tasting will be followed by a light buffet and a chance to discuss the wines

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Team Christmas Lunch

We will have a traditional Christmas meal at 1pm on Sunday 9th December at the Royal Oak in the Burgage. Please contact me to secure a place.

Marion Beagley

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Prestbury Parish Magazine - November 2007

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