The Sodbury Vale Benefice Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury
O U T LO O K
magazine
www.svbcofe.org.uk
May 2015
1 Jane is enrolled as a Companion of the Society of St Francis by Brother Damian. See 1
Nominated Person:
Contacts
Mrs Hilary Holder 01454 327118 This is the person to contact if you wish to express concern about suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
Rector The Revd. Canon Jane Kenchington, 01454 313159 [Day off Friday] email jane@svbcofe.org.uk
Churchwardens
Associate Priest The Revd. Yvonne Brae, 01454 850682, Mob. 07908 513098 [Day off Monday]
Chipping Sodbury
email yvonne@svbcofe.org.uk
Anne Mudge 07823 441920
Assistant Curate The Revd. Peter Fewings, 07795 206590, email peter@svbcofe.org.uk
Old Sodbury
Reader (Licensed Lay Minister)
John Myers 01454 312223 Karen Hunter 01454 319903
Mr Ian Yemm 07514 139825; 01454 318608 [Day off Saturday] email ian@svbcofe.org.uk If you would like to know more about the Christian faith or are thinking about baptism or confirmation please speak with the ministers
Little Sodbury Brenda Cordy 01454 316447
Director of Music VACANT
Horton
Church Office
Tina Hildick-Smith 01454 320380 Richard Needs 01454 329890
Open during school term time Monday - Friday mornings 9.00 - 12.00 Administrator: 01454 325160 Michelle Jenkins - Mon, Tue & Thu AM
This magazine is brought to you Free by the four churches of the Sodbury Vale Benefice. If you would like to make a small donation towards production costs that would be most welcome. Thank you.
email: office@svbcofe.org.uk Web Site: www.svbcofe.org.uk
June Deadline Can you have all copy to Michelle in the Church Office by May 11th at the latest please.
Advertising: Sylvia Franklin 07788 111726
Editor: Michael Stephenson 01454 314094 email outlook@svbcofe.org.uk
Front Cover - Red Squirrel Photo by Underscar Cumbria
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involved, you can visit our website www.gloucester.anglican.org/joinin From “The Messenger” www.gloucester.anglican.org
A Friend Baptisms: We welcomed into the Church:
Great thinkers have, for centuries, tried to define just what makes a friend. Yet no matter how deep their insights or how good they are with words, a friend always seems to be more than their definition. A friend is someone who sees your first tear fall, catches the second, stops the third and turns the fourth into a smile. Joyce Cains
Joshua Joseph Longworth on 5 April at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Amelia Mae Fletcher-Jackson on 5 April at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Oscar Robert Batten on 12 April at St John’s, Old Sodbury Teddy & Betty Maggs on 12 April at St John’s, Old Sodbury
Marriages: We send our congratulations to:
Benefice Confirmation
Damyon English & Julie Ashford on 22 March at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Giles Pick & Siobhan Morley on 18 April at St John’s, Old Sodbury Anna Cooper & David Hewstone on 25 April at St James’, Horton
Sunday 24th May at 10:30 am at St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury. Bishop Martyn will be coming to confirm candidates from our benefice.
Funerals:We
extend our sympathy to the families and friends of:
Gerald Percival Truckel 1 April at Westerleigh Crematorium
Serving through Synod We are facing some big decisions in the Church today. Reaching out to our communities, we want to bring about God’s vision for the Diocese of Gloucester. We need your help. We are looking for people to join the diocesan Synod. Do you want to represent your church as we make decisions about the direction of the Diocese over the next three years? By standing for election in the Diocesan Synod this year, you can play a vital part as we engage with the world and help to shape our nation. If you want more information about the nominations process or how to get 3
Dear Friends,
Well the empty Easter Egg wrappings are on the floor, there’s only crumbs in the cake box, the Easter cake has been eaten; Britain’s Got Talent is back on the tele, all is well and we’re back in our usual, mundane but very acceptable world. Oh hang on there’s going to be change, Jane’s leaving – yes not back in our usual world at all, in fact we’re facing a big change. Change is a frightening thing isn’t it? We don’t like change do we, we think we’re not really designed to cope with it don’t we? Surely the only people who like change are wet babies and they need it often! People get anxious over change don’t they? What if, what if, what if. Change can be difficult, painful and frustrating. We can be both desperate for it and hate it all at the same time. We are a bunch of complex beings that God has to work on and with over not only our lifetimes but also our times as a Church family. And here at the Sodbury Vale Benefice He’s going to have to work on us and through us soon in quite a new way. On 19th July 2015, the Benefice of Sodbury Vale will both starting on a new journey, undergoing a change. Jane, our Rector will be starting on a new journey too as she did five and a half years ago when she came here. Jane’s new journey will take her to the Parish of Solihull. Hers will be a journey of fresh discovery and ours will be a journey of discovery where we will hopefully find working together as a Benefice to be the most useful way of managing our Churches without someone heading things up for us though I mustn’t forget to mention the work of the Church Wardens and the admin help in the office. Change has happened over the last five years of Jane’s incumbency and in some ways it’s been a tough journey, as I wrote earlier change can be difficult. The most recent change has been the learning to work together at joint PCC meetings. A lot of us struggled to even begin this process, it was hard to imagine how things might happen and meeting together was a step too far we felt with many dangers lurking around the corner. But hey guess what, we’re discovering how good it can be to meet together as Churches, to encounter one another in a fresh way, meeting others we’ve not spoken to before and it’s been okay. We’ve learnt that it can be stimulating to see how other Churches in our Benefice do things and we want to join in with them, we’ve found encouragement in one another when life has seemed dry for us in our Church. Khalil Gibran said this: ‘Out of suffering have emerged the strongest of souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.’ Now whilst I would say that being in vacancy as a Benefice is not the worse kind of suffering, I think there are lessons we can learn from those ‘strongest of souls’ and that is to learn to squeeze the best out of any situation. Those who are strong make it their goal to learn life lessons. We too can learn much when, as a Benefice, we keep on that journey of discovering the joys of working together, the joys of listening to others who have a different take on situations from us. We don’t want Jane to leave us but lying before us is a new way, a fresh way, ways in which we have the possibility of finding how we can work together more and more as a Benefice. Let’s not be frightened by the change but embrace it and continue the journey of learning to enjoy one another.
Yvonne
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Open Garden Days
F. WOODRUFF
When Graham is not found at the keyboard of one of the Benefice organs he is most likely to be in the three acre garden with Margaret at their house on Ram Hill in Coalpit heath, spades and forks in hand. This year their work will be on view on June 27th and 28th (2.00pm to 5.00pm) in aid of the African village of Genieri. The contributions of people in Sodbury and Yate have always been vital in raising the standard of living in the village. The Day Care Centre which serves to give pre-school education to all the children of the village up to the age of seven is just one of the projects. Among the challenges facing the Centre this year is a lack of rice for the children’s lunches. This unexpected shortage due to a poor harvest is being augmented by The Genieri Link with additional contributions from well-wishers. Other projects which continue to flourish include the Women’s Gardens, the Primary Health Centre and the Micro-loan scheme. This latter scheme is now in its third year and well on the way to becoming self-financing thanks to the modest interest paid back by the numerous minibusinesses which have taken loans. As always Margaret, Graham and the committee of the Link will be delighted to see as many of you as possible in June
Local Family Cremation and Funeral Directors 24 Hour Service
2 High Street, Winterbourne Tel: (01454) 773776 118-120 Station Road,Yate 192 Badminton Road. Coalpit Heath email:info@funerals.uk.net
www.funerals.uk.net
Private Chapels of Rest at Coalpit Heath & Yate
OPEN GARDEN DAYS Sat & Sun June 27th & 28th at Nutridge, Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath. BS362UF 2.00pm – 5.00pm Admission £3.00 Adults. Children under 16 free. A three acre garden with herbaceous borders, wooded area, shrubs and open spaces. Cream teas. Plants for sale. Musicians will perform on both afternoons. In aid of Yate-Genieri Link www.yategenierilink.org.uk
5
Write a Letter
in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read. You see, there are benefits to ageing that we don’t even see until we get there. Joyce Cains
When did your postman last deliver to you a hand written letter from a friend? In today’s world of mobile phones, email and the Internet we can communicate almost instantly with friends and relatives across the world. However, none of these will ever be the same as receiving a hand written letter, which you can keep, perhaps treasure and re-read as often as you wish. There is something about the feel of a sheet of writing paper and matching envelope, or an illustrated notelet, with a friends personal writing style that electronic communication can never compete with. So instead of picking up the mobile or logging on to your computer take a few minutes to write a letter with that fountain pen hiding at the back of your bureau. The trouble you have taken and your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated, and you can enjoy a walk in the fresh air to the post box Joyce Cains Why not write your letter to the Outlook magazine and tell us what you think and what you would like to see in your magazine?
More than words When we see the needs of people around us, as Christians our first reaction is to get down on our knees and pray. We want to ask God to intervene in the suffering of the world and to make this a better place for all of us. But God has also reminded us that we cannot simply rely on words; He has given us responsibility too. He expects us to do all that we can and that means actions as well as just words. There are so many ways people can actively help to make a difference, both at home and abroad, whether it is taking spare tins to a foodbank, writing to a Member of Parliament to highlight an issue or joining a mission overseas for a few days, weeks, months or even years. Numerous charities and causes are desperate for any help they can get, and it is up to us to answer that call. If you are deeply affected by what you see around you, whether it is the hunger of families in Britain forced to rely on handouts or the plight of ethnic minorities left homeless by war overseas, you can do something about it. Rather than sit back and bemoan the way of the world, we can all take a stand and help those less fortunate. Are you ready to answer that call? You can find more ways of helping make a difference on our website: www.gloucester.anglican.org/churchoutreach/social-action/
Birthdays ‘It’s my birthday tomorrow’ one of my great grandsons told me one day, his face glowing with excitement. ‘I’m going to be 10 and I can’t wait.’ I smiled and said, ‘I do wish I could feel that keen about my own birthday next month. I must admit that as the years go by, I approach them with resignation rather than enthusiasm. It’s not an uncommon attitude, but before we allow ourselves to get too gloomy it’s worth remembering that age appears best 6
M&S forced to remove 'Jesus Christ' from list of words banned in gift messages The retailer had added the term to a list of banned words to prevent abuse. Customers who used it were prevented from ordering. Some customers threatened to boycott M&S over the ban, with one accusing the store of "discriminating" against Christians. A spokesman for Marks and Spencer said: “We apologise for any offence caused, it was certainly never our intention. "We have revised the words included on the automatic phrase checker which is in place to prevent the use and misuse of certain words.â€? The rule emerged after 53-year-old Gerardine Stockford was prevented from buying a ÂŁ35 funeral bouquet because she included 'Christ Church Teddington' in the gift message. When she phoned M&S customer services, an employee told her that the word 'Christ' had been blocked by the system. Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, said: "If Christ becomes an offensive word in a Christian land then all of us should be alarmed." Andrea Williams, chief executive of campaign group Christian Concern, said: "We are delighted that Marks and Spencer has responded to the huge concern raised by members of the general public on this matter and will no longer blacklist the name of Jesus Christ as a swear word or 7
Rural vicars struggling with multiple churches and dying congregations Vicars in rural Britain are rushing between multiple churches to take Sunday services while their congregations are dying off faster than they can be replaced, according to a new report. Urgent calls for reform of rural ministry, such as appointing parish administrators to relieve clergy of the burden of running several churches at once, are suggested. Fewer than one in five rural churches is experiencing growth - a statistic repeated in urban areas - and parishes are struggling to fill all the positions on the church council, especially to find church wardens. However, there was a strong commitment across communities to keep churches open, especially where they served as a hub for community activities and had good facilities. One vicar said the age profile was heavily weighted in favour of older people. "Our numbers have stayed the same overall but I'm basically replacing the dead people with new people who are much younger but in the future when all the oldest people have died, there won't be enough 40-50 years old to take their places." Bishop James Bell, of Knaresborough says: "A Christian presence in every community” is more than a strap-line - it is the heart of English Anglicanism. It is the expression of our obligation, as the church for all the people of the nation, to leave no community untouched by the gospel of Jesus Christ, lived out among the people of every place. 8
INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED RETREATS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE 2015 All at The Monastery of Our Lady & St Bernard, Brownshill, near Stroud, GL6 8AL. A TASTER IGR: From Mon 11 – Thurs 14 May Team: Felicity Bayne, Michael Cozens and Ali Clifton Barnard Cost: £ 180.00 A SUMMER 4-DAY IGR from Tues 21 – Sun 26 July Team: Sister Winnie Morley, Andrew McKearney and Brenda Dowie Cost: £300.00 AN AUTUMN 4-DAY IGR: From Fri 9–Wed 14 October Team: Rachael Willard, Chris Mason and Jennie Barrow Cost: £ 300.00 Enquiries direct to Sister Mary Johanna Tel: 01453 883084, Email: brownshillbookings@bernardine.org Or from Mrs Rachael Willard Tel: 01242 530051
Bring and Share Lunch Sunday 28 June We are holding a Benefice Bring and Share lunch (bring your chairs as well as food!) to celebrate Peter’s ordination. If it’s sunny and dry, we’ll hold the lunch in the Vicarage garden. If it’s wet, we’ll celebrate in St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury.
Find the Cat Somewhere in this picture is a grey and white cat. Can you find him?
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Chaplaincy on the High Street
We are currently recruiting for people to join the service as lay chaplains and friends. Lay chaplains will receive full training and have an opportunity to go out with a retail based chaplain. It will involve 1-2 hours per week and the hours are flexible to suit the group of businesses you will serve and your own timetable. Those who feel it is for them will be in a team of lay chaplains supported by those who will pray for them. They will be identified by badges on the High Street. It is a great opportunity to use your hospitality and listening skills as a Christian on the High Street. You need to receive recommendation from your minister. Friends pray for the chaplains each week and are updated with current prayer items. They pray each week and make a small donation (£5) to provide underpinning to minor costs. If you are interested please contact Revd Peter Fewings 07795 206590 email ptfewings@gmail.co.uk or see Revd Canon Jane Kenchington. We will be available to tell you anything more you need to know. There are leaflets available in in St John’s CS and also in Old Sodbury, Horton and Little Sodbury.
Chipping Sodbury High Street during week days is a hive of activity because of the businesses that exist to provide retail and other business services. If there were no services then there would be no shoppers and punters. All day behind the scenes 1000’s of people are employed and spend their days serving the local population. Some of them live in Chipping Sodbury. But many of them have come from further afield. Workers though busy have many things to think about and sometimes they want to talk about them – who do they turn to if their colleagues are not interested, or they work on their own? The Baptist Church, the RC church and Sodbury Vale Benefice have been working hard to provide a lay chaplaincy service starting in September to be a Christian presence in the High Street matching Yate Shopping Centre chaplaincy and the night service provided by the Street Pastors. Each Lay Chaplain will be available to a group of businesses each week and provide a listening ear for anyone who would like to talk. Chaplains are not News of Jane’s departure evangelists, but will provide hospitality and This was the announcement that was support to anyone who feels they would made by the Churchwardens on Palm like to talk to someone about themselves Sunday: who is outside the workplace. Everyone The following will know the chaplains are Christians announcement is because they will follow Christ’s example being made in all the and have compassion and love, respect churches of Sodbury confidentiality and be non-judgemental. Vale benefice this They will be concerned for justice and they morning. The will care. This is an important service Patronage Board of which shows the love of Christ in the Solihull parish in centre of where people are and sensitive partnership with the to the language people feel comfortable Bishop of with. St Alphege’s Solihull 10
Birmingham are delighted to announce, subject to the usual checks, the appointment of Revd Canon Jane Kenchington to be the next Rector of Solihull. We realise this news will be unexpected for many in the parish, but we are glad for all that Jane has contributed here and prayerfully look to God who holds all our futures in his hands. Further information about this appointment and its timings will be available once formalities are completed and Bishop Martyn, acting Bishop of Gloucester assures the benefice of his prayers and support as we prepare for the vacancy. Meanwhile please join us in prayer for Jane and the family, the Parish of Solihull and our own benefice as we prepare to say farewell. Since then, DBS All age worship at St checks have been Alphege’s done and cleared. Jane’s last Sunday will be Sunday 19 July when we’ll have a Benefice service at 10.30am in St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury.
PLEASE do come! Jane will be instituted as the Rector of Solihull by the Bishop of Birmingham on WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER at 7.30pm in St Alphege’s Church, Solihull. Again, I hope you’ll join us! Please contact Paul Jones- Williams (01454 324970) or Keith Stanley (01454 319467) if you’d like to go.
St Alphege St. Alphege was born in 954 and was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1006 to 1012. By an early tradition Alphege's birthplace was Weston, near Bath. He entered the important Benedictine priory
at Deerhurst near Tewkesbury and became Abbot of Bath in 973. At fifty-two years of age, Alphege was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006. St. Alphege died for justice. His life and death give a special Christian meaning to reconciliation
Try Praying! Praying isn’t (only) for so-called ‘experts’. It certainly isn’t only for clergy or monks and nuns. We’ve all actually prayed at one time or another – even if it was to cry ‘Oh God help me!’ or to exclaim ‘Thank you God for this stunningly beautiful day’. Prayer and praying is at the heart of the life of faith. Prayer may use words – and clearly our Lord taught his first followers some key words – but they are not essential. Every conscious breath is a prayer. There are many ways of describing prayer – but praying isn’t an academic exercise which we simply talk about. It is a personal encounter between us and the living God. And because God is involved, sometimes we need to listen as well as sometimes speaking. Bishop Martyn is encouraging us all to pray, and has specifically asked every church in the diocese to invite people to ‘Try Praying’ in the ten day window between Ascension (Thursday 14 May) and Pentecost. (Sunday 24 May). To help in this challenge, we have produced a booklet which you can request for free. It suggests a different way of praying for each of these ten days. If you haven’t seen it, ask your parish priest. Don’t forget to Try Praying yourself before giving the booklet away! Revd. David Deboys, Diocesan Worship Officer From “The Messenger” www.gloucester.anglican.org
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Why I am going to Try Praying this month As an officer in the diocese, you would be forgiven for thinking I should be a fully signed-up Christian, but I came into this role not with a churched background, but a curiosity to find out more. That’s why I find the Try Praying resource so compelling. It’s aimed at people not dissimilar to me, who find themselves on the fringes of the church community looking in and wondering how I can have a bit of what you’ve got. I’m assured it all begins with prayer. The beauty of the resource is its simplicity: most of the suggestions can be completed at any time. Others will need a little planning, but all are easy to fit into a busy schedule. The booklet comes with a simple request— look for a God-given opportunity to offer the booklet to someone who doesn’t usually come to church. Just say: “Try praying for a week and see what happens!” It’s an invitation that people like me are waiting for. James Butterworth, Acting Head of Communications
Have your say... Why does prayer matter to you? Wendy Roberts, Tewkesbury Prayer is a gift that God has given to us. Without Christ’s spirit to fill me and work through me each day I would not be able to do the work I do in His name. It is good to be filled with Christ’s spirit each day so that we can be channels of His love. Prayer is important so that I can pray for others who need it. Jacqueline Brunger, Daglingworth Prayer matters to me because our loving 12
God wants a relationship with us. How can friends get close if they don’t communicate with each other?
How about you? Why not write to Outlook and share with others in our benefice why prayer matters to you. Your perspective could be just what someone needs to start their own prayer life.
Principal Service readings May May 3rd (Fifth Sunday of Easter) Acts 8: 26 - end 1 John 4: 7 - end John 15: 1 - 8 Psalm 22: 25 - end May 10th (Sixth Sunday of Easter) Acts 10: 44 - end 1 John 5: 1 - 6 John 15: 9 - 17 Psalm 98 May 17th (Seventh Sunday of Easter) Acts 1: 15 - 17, 21 - end 1 John 5: 9 - 13 John 17: 6 - 19 Psalm 1 May 24th (Pentecost) Acts 2: 1 - 21 Romans 8: 22 - 27 John 15: 26 - 27; 16: 4b - 15 Psalm 104: 26 - 36, 37b May 31st (Trinity Sunday) Isaiah 6: 1 - 8 Romans 8: 12 - 17 John 3: 1 - 17 Psalm 29
WW2 New Testament returned after 70 years When Margaret Boanas handed over a small leather-bound wartime copy of the New Testament to Paddy Douglas last month, it marked the fulfilment of an undertaking linking both of their fathers since 1943. Two years earlier, in April 1941, Mr Douglas’s father, Albert, then 31, was carrying the pocket Bible when he was captured by Rommel’s Afrika Korps at Sidi Barrani, Egypt, while serving with the Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa. Inside it, the Lance Corporal, from Belfast, kept a precious photograph of himself and his wife, Ellen, whom he married two years before the outbreak of war. He carried it with him as he was shipped across the Mediterranean first to a holding camp in southern Italy, then further north to Camp 59 at Servigliano where he and his fellow prisoners were put to work in a labour camp. It was during one such work party in 1943, that he and another British soldier seized a moment of opportunity and made an escape. They spent months passing from place to place, sheltered by Italians, finally crossing into Zermatt in Switzerland. He walked into the village on the day of his wedding anniversary. He was eventually transferred back to the UK just before D-Day, weighing just six stone. He later said his faith had kept him going. One of his fellow prisoners, Sapper George Alan Boanas, a driver from 4 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers, retrieved it, resolving to return it if ever he had the chance. 13
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Sodbury Vale Benefice Regular Weekly Events Monday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.30pm
Bell Ringers’ Practice
Church Tower, Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
Church Centre, Upper Room,Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
9.15pm
Stor'k'ies
St John's Church, Chipping Sodbury
Wednesday
8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Thursday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Benefice Choir Practice
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Youth Club (age 11-18)
Baptist Church Centre
Friday
Note: No Morning Prayers on Bank Holidays
Sodbury Vale Benefice Forthcoming Events 5th - 14th
May
2015
Pilgrimage to The Holy Land led by the Info from Alison Vlach 01452 Ven Jackie Searle Archdeacon of 835583 Gloucester
Sun
24th
May
2015
Benefice Confirmation Service
St John’s, CS
Sun
7th
June
2015
Archdeacon’s Visitation
St James the Great Dursley
Sun
14th
June
2015
Civic service for Festival Week
St John’s, CS
Sat
20th
June
2015
Peter’s ordination
Gloucester Cathedral
Sun
21st
June
2015
Peter’s first time presiding at the Eucharist St John’s, CS
Sun
28th
June
2015
Peter’s second time presiding at the St James, Horton Eucharist
Sun
28th
June
2015
Benefice Bring and Share Lunch (and Vicarage Garden, if wet St bring your chairs!) John’s CS
July
2015
Benefice Retreat at Llangastry Retreat Info from Ian Yemm House
3rd - 5th Thurs
9th
July
2015
Joint PCC
Sun
19th
July
2015
Benefice Service - Jane’s last service in St John’s, CS the Benefice
Wed
9th
Sep
2015
Jane’s institution as Rector of Solihull
St Alphege’s Solihull
Sat
26th
Sep
2015
Benefice Baptism Fun Afternoon
St John’s, CS
Sun
27th
Sep
2015
Harvest Communion
St John’s, CS
Sun
4th
Oct
2015
St John’s Praise for Harvest Communion
St John’s, CS
Sun
4th
Oct
2015
Harvest Family Communion
St John’s, OS
Mon
5th
Oct
2015
Old Sodbury’s Harvest Supper
Village Hall, OS
Sun
1st
Nov
2015
All Souls’ service
St John’s, CS
Nov
2015
Nativity Crib Festival
St John’s, CS
2nd - 6th
Horton Village Hall
If you don’t see your event in the list above please let me know, once it is on this calendar other people can put it on theirs! All times are subject to change look out for further details closer to the date. Michelle 01454 325160 sodburyvalebenefice@gmail.com
Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar May 2015 8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 6.00pm 9.15am 11.00am 7.30pm 7.30pm 10.00am 10.45am 4.30pm 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 6.00pm 7.45pm 9.15am 3.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am 10.45am 6.30pm 7.30pm 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 6.00pm 9.15am 7.30pm 10.00am 10.45am 6.30pm
Holy Communion St John’s Praise Mattins Family Communion Evensong Storkies Mothers’ Union Festival Service Little Sodbury PCC Pastoral Care Group Holy Communion Coffee Shop Bell Ringing Service Parish Communion Holy Communion {CW} Family Service Evensong{BCP} Mothers’ Union Storkies Meditation Meeting Horton PCC Holy Communion Coffee Shop Safeguarding Course Holy Communion for Ascension Day Family Communion Morning Prayer Holy Communion {BCP} Evensong {BCP} Storkies Chipping Sodbury PCC Holy Communion Coffee Shop Safeguarding Course
St John’s C/S St John’s, C/S St James’, Horton St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S St John’s, C/S Gloucester Cathedral Tba Church Centre, CS St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S St John’s, C/S St John’s C/S St James’ Horton St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S Church Centre, C/S St John’s, C/S Ring 312228 for venue Kirren House, Horton St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S Church Centre, C/S St John’s O/S St John’s C/S St James’, Horton St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S St John’s, C/S Church Centre, CS St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S Church Centre C/S
7.30pm
Old Sodbury PCC
Village Hall, O/S
Sun 24th Pentecost Tue 26th
10.30am
Benefice Confirmation Service
St John’s C/S
9.15am 2.30pm 3.00pm
Storkies Tea and Chat Meditation Meeting
St John’s, C/S Church Centre, C/S Ring 312228 for venue
Thurs
10.00am 10.45am 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 6.00pm
Holy Communion Coffee Shop Parish Communion Holy Communion {CW} Morning Praise Holy Communion {BCP}
St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S St John’s C/S St James’ Horton St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S
Sun 3rd Fifth Sunday of Easter
Tue Wed
5th 6th
Thurs
7th
Sat
9th Sun 10th
Sixth Sunday of Easter Mon Tue
11th 12th
Thurs
14th
Sun 17th Seventh Sunday of Easter
Tue Wed Thurs
19th 20th 21st
Sun31st Trinity Sunday
15
Embracing the New (Part 3) If you have been looking at our svbcofe.org.uk web site you will see that it has been changing over the past few weeks as we have reflected on Lent, the lead up to Easter, the Crucifixion and Easter Day. Soon we look at Ascension Day (14th) and Pentecost (24th). In the April issue we looked at the Home page down to the halfway point – where the sliding pictures are. Now we continue… Below the sliding pictures here are six sections, four of them are asking questions: Needing Help? SVB Internet Workshop Hungry? Feel Like Praying? Looking for God? Frank Gray is planning These attempt to offer assistance to people an informal workshop on looking for guidance. Another talks about our Partnerships with other agencies. Thursday 21st May at the Church Centre. Then there is a string of pictures linking to Christian Literature sites and other Media. This Time :11.00-12.30 is a good starting point if you are looking for books All Welcome! to order online, or videos to view. This area is still being developed and your suggestions would be welcomed. You can also link to Outlook magazine on-line – and read all the back issues. Below these linked sections there are pictures of the four SVB churches. Click on these pictures twice and this will take you to the websites for each of the churches. Then right at the very bottom is contained basic SVB Information and administrative stuff – as well as a BBC Top Stories feed… Going back to the top (by scrolling up) you will find there is now a Directory tab at the far right. If you don’t feel comfortable you can click on Directory and it will take you to a page where most of the main topics are listed alphabetically. Hopefully you can find what you need there. If not, let me know… There is also a new Welcome! tab for new-comers to our community. And at the very top in the blue section you will find additional links: for sending a message to the web administrator, for SVB’s Facebook and Twitter pages. If you need help in understanding this or other Internet-related issues you may be interested in a special Internet workshop I shall be conducting this month. See panel (inset) for details. We want to help… Happy surfing…! Frank Gray (admin@svbcofe.org.uk) 16