20 Jan 2008 - Pew News
SUNDAY 20th January 2008 Epiphany 3
Readings:- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4: 12-23
8.00 am Holy Communion Stamford Bridge
10.30 am Family Praise Low Catton
10.45 am Holy Communion Stamford Bridge
Wed 23rd Pram Service 10.00 am Stamford Bridge
Thurs 24th Mothers’ Union AGM 2.00 pm Kings Garth
Fri 25th Free Spirits 4.00 pm Junior School
Youth Group 5.45 pm Stamford Bridge
G2 7.15 pm Stamford Bridge
SUNDAY 27th January 2008 Epiphany 4
Reading:- Luke 24:13-32
8.00 am Holy Communion Stamford Bridge
9.00 am Holy Communion Low Catton
10.45 am Holy Communion with Sunday School Stamford Bridge
6.00 pm Celtic Evening Prayer Stamford Bridge
Wed 30th Pram Service 10.00 am Stamford Bridge
Fri 1st Feb Free Spirits 4.00 pm Junior School
FROM THE RECTORY
YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S WORK TRAINING We started our training with the Diocesan youth officers on Thursday 10th and there were 16 people from our parish attending. That's an amazing turn-out for a small parish, especially considering that we have 7 other adults who help with our youth and children's work who weren't able to be there. The first session was quite challenging as we were asked to take a children's eye view of our PCC, our Sunday Eucharist, our Lent Course and our possible Parish Away Day. It brought home to me how easy it is to view church life from the adult perspective and to forget to include the whole age range in our thinking and planning. Nigel Chapman told us that some recent work done with young children shows that even by the age of 8, children have often decided that church is boring and irrelevant in their lives and they decide to leave as soon as they have the opportunity. Once this internal decision is made, it's very hard to reverse it. Many things from this training are rattling round in my brain, and I think it gave us all food for thought and also ideas for ways we can improve what we do. And there are still 3 more weeks of the training to go! This training will no doubt feed into our PCC agenda, as it should, as we look to the future and how we might develop church life in our parish. This is not to sound negative - we should continue to be hugely grateful for the fun, friendships and good work that goes on with our young people. There are many traps that children's work often falls into which we have managed to avoid - but there is always more to learn, and we have to have the humility to remember that. We are grateful to Nigel and Ashley for running the pilot scheme in our village, and also to the Barchester Manor House, for hosting us as part of their offer of a free room for community use. We look forward to bringing the fruits of our labours and our learning together back into our church life during the months to come. Please continue to pray and give thanks for all who have taken on the responsibility of working with children and young people, both in our church and beyond it. Diane
GROUP NEWS
WEBSITE
Michael Catterick
www.stamfordbridgechurch.ik.com
If you have not visited either of our two websites recently, you might like to look at the above “new look” one. The site provider has drastically improved the choices we are able to use to make the site look more individual and inviting. At the moment a group of “volunteers” are updating the information. If there is anything you would like to offer for consideration for inclusion on the site, please let me know. I hope to have it completed by the end of the month. Watch this space!
MAKE A MOTHER’S DAY
The Mothers’ Union are encouraging people to donate a gift to those more in need than ourselves. Each gift enables Mothers’ Union work to improve the lives of mothers and carers, and through them families and communities. When you buy a gift from the catalogue, you are buying a virtual gift. If you choose, for example, a goat, we can guarantee that your donation will provide whatever agricultural assistance may be needed to ensure a sustainable food source. This flexibility ensures that your gift can be used in the most effective way possible by tailoring the funding to supply items that will improvements to a family in need, including the expertise of the Mothers’ Union Development Worker in the area.
Forms available from Irene Keeling. The closing date for this Mother’s Day project is 15th February. For further information, please see the notice board at the back of St John’s Church.
BIG BREW 2008
Next year’s Big Brew is to be held during Fair Trade fortnight, instead of in July as in the past two years.
We will therefore hold a Big Brew event on 9th March in the Methodist Coffee Room. Full details will follow later.
Big Brew gives Christians across North and East Yorkshire a way of changing public opinion, and of demonstrating that Christians are not only concerned about global poverty but mean to do something about it. A Big Brew event can be any event where Fair Trade goods are promoted e.g. tea parties, family fun mornings, football games, concerts...…For churches already registered as a Fairtrade church (such as St John’s), a Big Brew event can help fulfill our commitment to promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade fortnight.
The Synods of the Anglican Diocese of York and the Methodist York and Hull District resolved in April 2005 to aim to become registered for Fairtrade. To reach this status half of each denomination’s churches must be registered with the Fairtrade Foundation. The number of Fair Trade churches in North and East Yorkshire rose from 18 in January 2006 to 200 in July 2007, which is a great start.
BITS & BOBS
RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008
This year, I have decided that with God’s help, I shall:-
Give up complaining . . . focus on gratitude.
Give up harsh judgments . . . think kind thoughts.
Give up worry . . . trust divine providence.
Give up discouragement . . . be full of hope.
Give up bitterness . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred . . . return good for evil.
Give up anger . . . practice patience.
Give up pettiness . . . put on maturity.
Give up gloom. . . enjoy the beauty that is around me.
Give up gossiping . . . control my tongue
Why not join in trying to keep these resolutions too?
TWO POEMS
Tired
When my mind feels tired, let it rest in thought upon you.
When my eyes are tired, let them close to everything but you.
When my hands are tired, let them be renewed by your work.
When my legs are tired, let them walk for you.
When my tongue is tired, let it speak your comfort.
When my ears are tired, let them hear your word.
When my heart is tired, let it beat to your blessing.
Sinners Beach
When the mind is many troubled,
and the need for prayer redoubled.
In the midst of all confusion,
that quiet stillness is illusion.
Every thought a heavy challenge,
fading to nought like revenge.
The calamity of this stasis,
rises within to a fevered crisis;
until the touch of your spirit,
brings calm and compassion with it.
Breaking the storm of all anxiety,
upon a shore of tranquillity.
Strong waves that would wash away,
collapse slowly back as foam and spray.
All will walk that Sinners beach,
where mercy does such wisdom teach.
ARE YOU TAKING
A MID – WINTER BREAK?
If you are preparing to take off for foreign climes, do keep an eye out for signs that have English words… but perhaps not an English meaning! In hotels and train stations and airports all over the world there are polite little signs that will bring a smile to the lips of even an exhausted traveller. For instance, how about these: -
Switzerland: We have nice bath and are very good in bed.
Romania: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret you will be unbearable.
Russia: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
Italy: If service is required, give two strokes to the maid and three to the waiter.
Spain: Our wine list leaves you with nothing to hope for.
Denmark: In the event of fire, open a window and announce your presence in a seemly manner.
Canary Islands: If you telephone for room service you will get the answer you deserve.
Have you spotted any signs that mistranslate English? If so, please tell the editor, and we may publish them.
AND FINALLY
Teacher: How many zones does the earth have?
Student: Temperate zone, intemperate zone, no parking, and O.
Noah
When Noah sailed the waters blue, he had his troubles same as you. For 40 days he drove the Ark before he found a place to
LENT COURSE 2008
The Good Book Club
All you ever wanted to know about the bible and then some.
This year’s Lent course will be held in St John the Baptist Church,
Stamford Bridge. Each session starts at 7.30 pm.
Week 1 Thursday 7th February
Getting started - An overview of the bible
Week 2 Thursday 21st February
Noah, Joseph and Jonah – How the Old Testament fits together
Week 3 Thursday 28th February
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Looking at the story of Jesus.
Week 4 Thursday 6th March
Love from Paul – Looking at the letters in the New Testament.
Week 5 Thursday 13th March
How the Christian Church grew.
For more information please contact the Rectory.