cminchin@talktalk.net The Vicarage, Elm Road
01453 822332 Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
GL10 2NP
MARCH 2010
Dear Friends,
VOWS
The traditional three-fold vows made by members of religious orders don’t seem at first sight to be at all attractive. Yet monks and nuns are, on the whole, held in very high regard in our society. And they are good company; they are happy people, who value life. They also pose some difficult questions for those of us whose Christian commitment is expressed rather differently. And perhaps we should ask what message they offer to a world that is often based on very different values.
POVERTY
Do you want to be poor? I thought not. Do you want your life to be ruled by money? No? I certainly have no wish to share with the world’s poorest the grinding poverty of deprivation that they suffer, to be ruled by money that is always short and sometimes completely lacking. But nor do I want to be ruled by the need to accumulate wealth in the way that seems to afflict some politicians and most bankers. I understand why many people want more money than they have, but surely if your income is over, say, £200,000 the incentive offered by extra earnings will be less than if your income is below £15,000. If some bankers will only perform well if “rewarded” by millions, doesn’t that indicate that they are exceedingly poor, if not bankrupt? Can we re-learn the value of poverty? Giving a little something up for Lent is surely a good start. And perhaps we will find as we rediscover the value of money, we will find that, in the world as well as in the Church, we are not alone.
CHASTITY
Christianity probably has a reputation for telling people not to do things. You must not do what you are going to enjoy is the message that is so often heard, however different from the message that is sent out that may be. Never more so than with sex. It sometimes feels as though the only people against whom it is permissible to discriminate are the chaste! And yet, in this area as in so many others, there is a growing awareness of un-fulfilment in people’s lives. The creed that proclaims: concentrate on me, enjoy yourself whenever you can, rather than a life concerned with the effect on others, is not one that brings joy, but death. I believe that Christians have a message about commitment in relationship that matters, and that, increasingly is being recognised by the world. A one-liner from Facebook perhaps sums it up, “Sex in a relationship = win.” In a world where it can be assumed that sex is about self-fulfilment, that message is perhaps not only true but increasingly accepted in a not-so-godless world.
OBEDIENCE
Perhaps the hardest vow to take is that of obedience. It means losing control, allowing someone else to determine what is best for ME. Yet in this world the lives of all of us do seem to be determined by what (often faceless) others do or by factors totally outside our control. I have no control over the economic situation, I have only one vote in a political election, I certainly have no control over wind or weather. The Christian message is surely that the best way for human beings to take control of their lives, to find happiness and fulfilment is not by increasing our efforts for our own well-being, but by deliberately allowing God by His Spirit to take over. It does not excuse us from all the problems of determining what the command of God for us is today. It does mean that we realise our full potential as human beings as we behave more fully as children of a loving heavenly Father.
THE REAL WORLD
To take the step of commitment to a monastic order is a big one and I’m sure we all join in respect for those who are called to such a life. Not many of us are so called. But all of us can take on aspects of that challenge to a world-orientated life. I hope this Lent will leave us poorer, more chaste, and more obedient! I know that will make us richer in the kingdom of God, better members of the body of Christ in all our relationships, better fulfilled in ourselves than the most expert in self-help. And I trust too that all of us are looking forward not just to celebrating Easter Day, but to living in the fullness of the Resurrection, day by day.
I wish you continuing joy this Lent, and a very Happy Easter,
CALENDAR
March
1st Mon David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c601
11am Lent Course Hazelwood
7.30pm Lent Course Jacob’s Cottage
2nd Tue Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672
7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse – Bethel
3rd Wed 9.30am Holy Communion
2-4pm Lent Course 18 Quietways
7.30pm Lent Course 7 Springfield Court
4th Thu 12-1.30pm Lent Lunch Methodist Hall £ 2.00
5th Fri 10.30am Women’s World Day of Prayer Service –
St Cyr’s
7th SUNDAY THIRD OF LENT
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for USPG/CMS
8th Mon Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910
Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647
Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929
10.00am MU Deanery Committee
11.00am Lent Course Hazelwood
7.30pm Lent Course Jacob’s Cottage
10th Wed 9.30am Holy Communion
2.00pm Lent Course 18 Quietways
7.30pm Lent Course 7 Springfield Court
7.30pm Stonehouse History Group – Town Hall
11th Thu 12-1.30pm Lent Lunch Methodist Hall £ 2.00
7.30pm Churches Together committee – Baptist
14th SUNDAY MOTHERING SUNDAY – Fourth of Lent
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Service
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for USPG & CMS
15th Mon 11am Lent Course Hazelwood
7.30pm Lent Course Jacob’s Cottage
17th Wed Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c460
9.30am Holy Communion
2.00pm Lent Course 18 Quietways
7.30pm Lent Course 7 Springfield Court
18th Thu Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher, 386
12-1.30pm Lent Lunch Methodist Hall £ 2.00
No MU Meeting
19th Fri Joseph of Nazareth
20th Sat Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687
21st SUNDAY FIFTH OF LENT – Passiontide begins
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
3.00pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for CMS & USPG
22nd Mon 11am Lent Course Hazelwood
7.30pm Lent Course Jacob’s Cottage
24th Wed Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Augustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396
Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980
9.30am Holy Communion
2.00pm Lent Course 18 Quietways
7.30pm Lent Course 7 Springfield Court
25th Thu The Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary
12-1.30pm Lent Lunch Methodist Hall £ 2.00
7.30pm MU Lady Day Eucharist – Cathedral
26th Fri Harriet Mansell, Founder of the Community
of St John the Baptist, Clewer, 1883
27th Sat 9.00am Stonehouse Live Prayer Breakfast –Methodist Hall
28th SUNDAY PALM SUNDAY
BST Begins (at last) – clocks go forward
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
6.30pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for USPG & CMS
Holy Week
29th Mon 7.30pm Holy Communion
30th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House 11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm Holy Communion
31st Wed 9.30am Holy Communion
April
1st Thu MAUNDY THURSDAY
11.00am Diocesan Eucharist at the Cathedral
7.00pm Celebration of the Last Supper in church
2nd Fri GOOD FRIDAY
11.30am Procession of Witness
2.00pm Good Friday Meditation at St. Cyr’s
3rd Sat 10.00am Come along and help arrange the flowers
- you don’t have to be an expert! 12.00noon Marriage of Julian Hasinski
& Elizabeth Pritchard
4th SUNDAY EASTER DAY
8.00am
Holy Communion
9.45am
A said Eucharist prior to our joining
in the Churches Together Service
11.00am Churches Together celebration - at the Globe
(indoors if wet) – if you wish to book a lunch please contact the Globe
6.30pm Holy Communion - Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for USPG/CMS
6th Tue 7.15 - 8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse – Bethel
10th Sat Lunch at Jacob’s Cottage – Lent Course final session for all
11th SUNDAY SECOND OF EASTER
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Eucharist
6.30pm Evensong – Wycliffe Chapel
Retiring collections for Churches Together in Stonehouse
Forward Dates – Please make a note of these.
Even if the event does not affect you please remember it in your prayers.
Please note that ALL Mothers’ Union Meetings are open to anyone – not just members.
N.B. the Prayer for Revival in Stonehouse is 1st Tuesday of each month.
April
12th Mon 2.15pm WWDP & Churches Together Ladies
Committee – Baptist Church
13th Tue 1.20pm-2.10pm Stonehouse MU Wave of Prayer
14th Wed 7.30pm Stonehouse History Group – Town Hall
15th Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting - Hazelwood
19th Mon 7.30pm Annual Parochial Church Meeting
22nd Thu 7.30pm LMT meeting - Vicarage
23-25th Fri-Sun Retreat at Nympsfield – leader Tony Minchin
26th Mon 7.30pm MU Committee meeting
27th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
7.30pm New PCC meet – in Church
May
1st Sat Stonehouse Live Event – please keep free so you can help
3rd Mon Stonehouse Clean Up & BBQ – Stonehouse Live
4th Tue 7.30pm Deanery Synod meet – St Laurence Church Hall
7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
6th Thu Local Elections
12th Wed 7.30pm Stonehouse History Group – Town Hall
15th Sat Local Ministry Service of Celebration – Cathedral
17th Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting
20th Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting – Hazelwood
22nd Sat Parish Outing to the Seaside - Sidmouth
25th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
6.00pm MU Diocesan AGM and Spring Council
June
1st Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
2nd Wed MU Quiet Day
9th Wed 7.30pm Stonehouse History Group – Town Hall
10th Thu 7.30pm PCC
17th Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting – Hazelwood
21st Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting – Audrey’s
22nd Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
24th Thu Mothers’ Union General Meeting – Preston
July
3rd Sat 10.00am LMT prayer morning – leader Tony Minchin
12.30pm Lunch with parish
1.30pm Parish Prayer time
6th Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse – Bethel
7th Wed 7.30pm Deanery Synod meet
– Sheepscombe Village Hall (prov.)
15th Thu 6.30pm proposed MU Outing to Nailsworth
18th SUNDAY 9.45am Archdeacon Sidaway to preside & preach
19th Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting
20th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
22nd Thu St Mary Magdalene
7.00pm Holy Communion followed by PCC meeting
24th Sat Stonehouse Jolly & Horticultural Show – Stonehouse Live
August
3rd Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
Stonehouse Live Event at Stonehouse Jolly
9th Mon Mary Sumner Day Picnic
September
7th Tue 7.30pm PCC
Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
11th Sat Sponsored Churches Cycle Ride
14th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
16th Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting – Hazelwood
21st Tue 7.00pm Service in church followed by LMT meeting
22-24th Wed-Fri Retreat – Glenfall House
26th SUNDAY ‘Back to Church’ Sunday
6.00pm Deanery Mission Opening Service
October
3rd SUNDAY Harvest
5th Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
17th SUNDAY 6.00pm Deanery Mission Closing Service
18th Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting
19th Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
21st Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting – Hazelwood
7.30pm Deanery Synod Meet – Cainscross Church Hall
31st Sun Halloween Event – Stonehouse Live
November
1st Mon All Saints
Stonehouse Live ‘Party’
7.30pm PCC
2nd Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
18th Thu 7.30pm MU Meeting - Hazelwood
21st SUNDAY 9.45am Bishop John’s visit (? + Confirmation)
22nd Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting
23rd Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
24th Wed MU Forum
27th Sat Goodwill Evening – Stonehouse Live
December
5th Mon 7.30pm LMT meeting
7th Tue 7.15-8.30pm Prayer for Stonehouse - Bethel
9th Thu 7.30pm PCC
16th Thu 7.30pm MU Christmas meeting – Hazelwood
21st Tue 10.30am Communion at Sherborne House
11.00am Communion at Hazelwood
FACTS AND FIGURES – from our JANUARY records
Communicants Collections Stewardship
£ £
3rd Jan Epiphany 39 88.77 202.50
10th Jan Baptism of Christ 35 86.57 30.00
17th Jan Second of Epiphany 46 45.04 212.31
24th Jan Third of Epiphany 63 85.97 387.00
31st Jan Fourth of Epiphany 64 121.05 359.00
Mission Giving: Church Urban Fund £ 15.50
Samaritans £ 17.60
Biblelands £ 8.00
Haiti Appeal £ 379.80
Fees: January £ 1585.50
Donations: Coffee profits £ 100.00
Riggs £ 20.00
CHRISTIAN BURIAL AND CREMATION
“May they rest in peace and rise in glory.”
12th
February Alice Elizabeth Johnson
(aged 84) Penwood Lodge
(Burial in the churchyard after a service at St. Joseph’s)
15th
February Beryl Mott
(aged 74) The Grange,
Eastington
(Service in Church followed by burial)
15th
February Norman Percival Goddard (aged 82)
Burdett House
(Service in Church followed by burial)
16th February Marjorie Doreen Bays (aged 80) Moreton Hill
Care Centre
(Service in Church followed by Cremation at Cheltenham)
18th
February Mary Olwyn Burns (aged 88)
The Elms
(Service in Church followed by burial)
From PC 1695 Emma Beard
Hello,
As you have probably read in the local press or seen on the local news it has been an unusually busy month for the police in Stroud and Stonehouse with numerous major incidents occurring over the last few weeks.
This has been a trying time for all officers who have been working above and beyond to investigate these crimes and deal with victims and families with care and compassion.
As you may all appreciate these major incidents can deeply effect those officers who are dealing with them and so I would ask that you remember them in your prayers this month as well as those victims and their families who have been affected directly.
I think that this month I will leave the prayer requests as simple as that.
Best wishes to you all. Em.
Lantern Procession
Dear Friends
To celebrate Candlemas (2nd February), members of all the churches in Stonehouse met together at St Joseph’s church at 6.30pm. We each had our symbols of light and it was wonderful to see the special lanterns that had been lovingly made by some of our congregation under the direction of Anne. Jesus’ name was emblazoned on a couple of them. Charles said a prayer before we set off. We were a good number as we made our way through Stonehouse. As we walked through our town, we individually prayed quietly for our community and at various places along the way we stopped and Charles led us in prayer. It was a cold evening but thankfully dry. We arrived at the Bethel church to a warm welcome, a hot drink and light refreshment. Some of us stayed behind with the Bethel people to share with them in watching a video which then led to Bible study and prayer. This prayer walk with our lights was a real witness of our faith to our community and we had quite a few acknowledgements along the way.
With love, Glenis.
MU Branch Meeting Thursday 18th February 2010
At 3.00pm on the Thursday afternoon, (as we were watching snowflakes the size of 50p pieces falling) Jean, Kay and I decided that we would go ahead with the branch meeting that night – unless by 6.00pm the weather made it too risky to do so!
We felt it was unfair to ask Audrey, our speaker, to travel in such potentially difficult conditions so we postponed the session of ‘Turkish Delight’ and hopefully we will find space for it later on in the year.
So what to do instead - or plan B!
As we’d all had such a great time at the mission launch on the previous Tuesday evening we thought we’d give those members who were unable to attend a shortened version of events. So after a short service, the 16 members who found their way to the lounge at Hazelwood got stuck into the activities.
Jean’s place names quiz was again a great success, encouraging everyone to mingle and chat, and much fun was had thinking of animals to represent the Church.
Kay and I rounded off the evening with an entertaining sketch telling of the meeting between St. Peter and Forrest Gump at the gates of heaven.
It was very pleasing to welcome two guests: Jean, brought by Joy Rochester and Anne, brought by May Smith. We hope that they enjoyed their time with us and that we will see them again!
Reminders!
· Your committee has again volunteered to plan the service for Mothering Sunday on 14th March; do come and share in the fellowship as we give thanks for our families.
· Lady Day service in the cathedral at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th March – please let one of the committee know if you would like to go and if you need transport.
· No branch meeting as such in March but we would encourage you all to attend the Agape supper in church on Thursday 1st April at 7pm – again anyone wishing to go and needing transport please let us know.
With Love, Olga
News from Centre Christian Bookshop.
The special season of Lent is a wonderful opportunity to carve out a “sacred space” each day in our busy lives; to take time out for God in prayer and meditation; to seek to draw closer to Him and thereby find spiritual refreshment and enrichment.
Centre has a good and varied selection of books available for Lent reading - either for individual or group study.
Sacred Space for Lent 2010 (published by Ave Maria Press)
This little inexpensive pocket book (£2.50) uses a distinctive 6 step prayer method. It has 40 Lenten reflections, prayer starters and weekly Lenten themes. It lends itself equally well to small group study as it does to individual use.
Tasting life - daily thoughts for Lent (£9.99)
Written by Chris Morley and published by Kevin Mayhew. Each day’s thought begins with an often light-hearted look at an aspect of human behaviour, or something extraordinary from the natural world. This is used to encourage reflection on a facet of our own experience in the light of God’s involvement in our lives.
Mothering Sunday falls on 14th March this year. Do come in and select an attractive card for the occasion.
Easter cards
We have a splendid selection of cards for this most joyous season. One way to celebrate is to send a thoughtful greeting to friends and relatives to remind them of God’s all-consuming love.
YOU ARE INVITED TO
THE BIG BREW CHURCH CAFÉ
in
THE ‘NEW’ WALKER ROOM
at
STONEHOUSE METHODIST CHURCH
on
SATURDAY 6TH MARCH 2010
FROM 10.00 AM TO 12 NOON
as part of
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
22nd February – 7th March 2010
Please come and bring a friend
Freshly brewed coffee or tea
Hot chocolate * Orange juice
Fairtrade Cookies and Cake
Browse the Traidcraft Stall
Watch the Traidcraft Tea Story DVD
Chat with friends & make new ones