cminchin@talktalk.net The Vicarage, Elm Road
01453 822332 Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
GL10 2NP
JANUARY 2012
Dear Friends
NEW YEAR
Some of you will be relieved at the start of a New Year, others, I expect, sad. The changing of a number on the date gives us an invitation to look at what happened, what we did, last year and to think about the future, to make plans, and to begin to put them into practice, both as individuals and in organisations. So, as usual, we must ask, what was good in last year that we can repeat or modify? And, what didn’t work so well and how do we change that?
GROUPS
We started last year with a series of group studies, which were very stimulating, and it was good to meet together. But(!) .. it was really too long, hence our much shorter course in the autumn. So starting this month, we will have another short burst of bible-study together, this time on the theme of journeys. Starting dates, places and times appear elsewhere in the magazine, though it may be, of course, that groups find that some meetings have to change nearer the time. This will link in with our journey together through Lent to Easter. I am sure that those of you who took part in the study groups on Romans 8 will need no further pushing to join in. Those of you who have yet to join in a Bible study group, please join us. We can readily organise additional groups as required!
OUTINGS and OTHER ACTIVITIES
We enjoyed going to the seaside at Sidmouth, so we are planning another outing in 2012, not to the seaside this year, but to St. Fagan’s Museum of Welsh National Life, near Cardiff. As in the Black Country Museum, a number of old buildings have been dismantled and reassembled to re-create life as it was, and the whole place has much to offer visitors. It should be a good trip – on Saturday 19th May, so please keep that date free. And following on from the Quiet Day that was appreciated by the few that came during the week last year, we have planned a Quiet Day for Saturday 23rd June. Once again, it is a question of saying, “keep the date!”
RECURRING
Some things, of course, simply have to happen each year. One of these is our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, which has been fixed for the evening of St. George’s Day, Monday 23rd April. We hope, however, to be able to lay rather fuller plans for our Church over the next few years, so in addition to the usual (who said “boring”?!) meeting we shall have a Parish Away-Day – on the following Saturday, 28th April - much of which will be devoted to the theme of Local Ministry. Should our LMT continue much as it is, or be replaced wholesale? Or should others be invited to join? And how does it relate to our Parish life as a whole in any case? Too often such topics get a slight mention at the end of a meeting, so it’s worth spending a whole day, setting a Godly course for the parish, not just hoping for the best!
MORE CHANGE
The Church Development Group will continue to meet, looking at the possibilities of renewed activity in our Church building, and we hope to be able to firm up some proposals in the course of the year. That could involve a big change both in our own activities and in the image that St. Cyr’s has in Stonehouse. At a diocesan level, we shall see a change of Archdeacon by the end of the year – The Venerable Geoffrey Sidaway’s farewell service is at the Cathedral on Friday 18th May – and we must be aware that changes in our relations with neighbouring parishes continue to be considered.
THE WORK OF GOD’S SPIRIT
Above all we need to be aware of the will of God, whether that is in complete change or in remaining much the same. As individuals we are called to be open to what the Spirit wants as he “blows where he wills.” It will not always be comfortable! But let’s pray, together that our Father’s will may be done in us – in 2012 and beyond, and that His may be the glory
CALENDAR
January 2012
1st SUNDAY THE NAMING AND CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
No Evening Service today
Retiring collections for Samaritans
2nd Mon Basil the Great & Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers, 379 & 389
Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop of South India, Evangelist, 1945
4th Wed 9.30am Holy Communion
6th Fri The Epiphany
8th SUNDAY EPIPHANY
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for Bible Lands Society
9th Mon 10.00am Bible Study 1 – Vicarage
7.00pm Bible Study 1– Jacob’s Cottage
10th Tue William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645
7.00pm Bible Study 1 – 72 High Street
11th Wed Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915
9.30am Holy Communion
2.00pm Pic ‘n Mix - Vicarage
7.30pm LMT – Jacobs Cottage
12th Thu Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167
Benedict Bishop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689
13th Fri Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher, 367; Kentigern (Mungo),
Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603;
George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends
(the Quakers), 1691
15th SUNDAY SECOND OF EPIPHANY
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for Bible Lands Society
16th Mon 10.00am Bible Study 2 – Vicarage
7.30pm PCC
17th Tue Antony of Egypt, Hermit, Abbot, 356; Charles Gore, Bishop,
Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932
10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.00pm Bible Study 2 – 72 High Street
18th Wed Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951
9.30am Holy Communion
7.00pm Bible Study 1 – 9 Springfield Court
19th Thu Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095
7.30pm Mothers’ Union – Hazelwood – AGM
20th Fri Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349
21st Sat Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304
22nd SUNDAY THIRD OF EPIPHANY
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for U.S.P.G.
Please Note that at 12.30-2pm there will be a Bring and share Lunch at St Joseph’s to commemorate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Churches Together)
23rd Mon 7.00pm Bible Study 2 – Jacob’s Cottage
24th Tue Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva, Teacher, 1622
7.00pm Bible Study 3 – 72 High Street
25th Wed The Conversion of St Paul
9.30am Holy Communion
2.00pm Pic ‘n Mix - Vicarage
7.00pm Bible Study 2 – 9 Springfield Court
26th Thu Timothy and Titus, Companions of Paul
28th Sat Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher, 1274
29th SUNDAY FOURTH OF EPIPHANY
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion – preacher:-
we welcome Janette O’Neill from U.S.P.G.
3.00pm Holy Communion – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for U.S.P.G.
30th Mon Charles, King and Martyr, 1649
10.00am Bible Study 3 - Vicarage
2.00pm Women’s World Day of Prayer
– Ladies Group – Baptist Church
7.00pm Bible Study – 3 Jacob’s Cottage
7.30pm Deanery Synod – Painswick
31st Tue John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888
7.00pm Bible Study 4 – 72 High Street
February
1st Wed Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, c525
7.00pm Bible Study 3 – 9 Springfield Court
2nd Thu Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
3rd Fri Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg,
Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865
4th Sat Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189
5th SUNDAY CANDLEMAS
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for Missionary Aviation
Forward Dates – Please make a note of these.
Even if the event does not affect you please remember it in your prayers.
Please pray for OPEN THE BOOK which takes place at the Park Junior School each Thursday morning during term time.
Please note that ALL Mothers’ Union Meetings are open to anyone – not just members. N.B. Pic ‘n Mix at the Vicarage will now be on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
February
6th Mon 10.00am Bible Study 4 – Vicarage
7.00pm Bible Study 4 – Jacob’s Cottage
7th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm PCC
7.30pm Vocations Group
8th Wed 2.00pm Pic ‘n Mix – Vicarage
7.00pm Bible Study 4 – 9 Springfield Court (t.b.c.-may be 15th)
7.30pm LMT
9th Thu 10.00am MU Deanery Meeting
7.30pm Churches Together – Baptist Church
12th SUNDAY 9.45am Family Communion with presentation by PSALMS
21st Tue Pudding Party!!
March
2nd Fri 10.00am Women’s World Day of Prayer#
13th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
31st Sat Churchyard Clearance
April
1st SUNDAY Palm Sunday
10.15am Procession from Methodist to St Joseph’s
3rd Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
6th Fri Good Friday
16th Mon 7.30pm LMT
17th Tue 7.30pm Vocations Group
23rd Mon 7.00pm APCM
26th Thu 7.30pm Deanery Synod – Lakefield School, Frampton
28th Sat Parish Day
30th Mon 7.30pm Churches Together – Bethel
May
1st Tue 7.00pm Holy Communion followed by PCC
13th-15th Christian Aid Week
15th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm LMT
16th Wed MU Quiet Day
18th Fri Farewell Service at Cathedral for Archdeacon Geoffrey Sidaway
19th Sat CHURCH OUTING TO ST FAGIN’S – see Glenis for details and to book
June
12th Tue 7.30pm Vocations Group
13th Wed 7.30pm PCC
16th Sat MU General Meeting – Llandudno
18th Mon 6.30pm Churches Together AGM – St Cyr’s
19th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
21st Thu 7.30pm LMT
July
12th Thu 7.30pm PCC
17th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm LMT
18th Wed 7.30pm Deanery Synod – Sheepscombe
August
3rd Fri Wedding of Robert Ricks and Adele Edgeworth
September
3rd Mon 7.30pm PCC
4th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm LMT
11th Tue 7.30pm Vocations Group
24th Mon 7.30pm Churches Together in Stonehouse
26th-28th Retreat – Glenfall
October
2nd Tue 7.30pm LMT
6th Sat Harvest Preparation
7th SUNDAY HARVEST
9th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm PCC
13th Sat Churchyard Clearance
16th Tue 7.30pm Deanery Synod – Cainscross
20th Sat 10.30am Children’s Society Box Opening
November
6th Tue 7.30pm Vocations Group
13th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
14th Wed 7.30pm LMT
15th Thu 7.30pm Churches Together
21st Wed 7.30pm PCC
December
4th Tue 7.30pm LMT
18th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
FACTS AND FIGURES – from our NOVEMBER records
Communicants Collections Stewardship
£ £
November 6th 3rd before Advent 49 12.00 81.00
November 13th 2nd before Advent 43 49.00 55.00
November 20th Christ The King 59 58.40 198.87
November 27th First of Advent 50 26.50 72.50
Mission Giving
Royal British Legion: £ 21.00
Christian Aid: £ 5.00
Crisis/Shelter: £ 100.00
Dear Fellow Members,
It was great to be able to join you for the December meeting. I am on a course which is every Thursday evening during term time so I am missing my MU meetings.
Olga put together a lovely evening of readings, poems and carols and even persuaded some of us to do a little sketch and a lot of us to partake in a quiz! The refreshments were wonderful as usual and everyone enjoyed a pleasant time together. Thank you Olga.
I hope you have all enjoyed celebrating the birth of Jesus and are welcoming this New Year with it’s new challenges. Every year there is a challenge of some kind. Some of you will know what the challenges are, for others they will come as a surprise. For some the challenge will be exciting and for others less so, but we all will be able to face them with God’s help.
January 19th will be our next meeting which will be our AGM but knowing Olga (and the rest of the committee) there will be something else for us as well. So we look forward to seeing you then.
With love Kay
SHOE BOXES THANK YOU
As of 11th December 2011 the number of shoe boxes received and sorted at our Evesham Warehouse:-
Liberia 8,843
Kyrgyzstan 7,524
Bosnia 4,560 (+ another 4,500 still to leave Evesham)
Belarus 9,680 (+ 117 large carton of knitwear)
The Warehouse held a coffee morning on the first Saturday of November and 500 people attended!
We have so far received £43,000 in cash and cheques for the shoeboxes plus online donations which we do not have any figures as yet. We worked hard in a very cold warehouse checking the boxes and had a lot of fun and laughter!! We held an emotional final “send off” service with the Salvation Army Band and saw another 10,000 boxes off in pouring rain. It is always a little sad on the last day to say ‘goodbye’ to our ‘Warehouse Family’ of volunteers but I look forward to ‘Operation Christmas Child 2012’.
God Bless you All - June Dolphin
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