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THE QUIET REVOLUTION
It will probably have escaped most peoples' attention, but for the
last year the church and chapel worshipping communities have been
regularly taking communion together. We all felt that whilst there
were always going to be things that we did differently - we both
obey the command of Jesus at the Last Supper to "Do this in
remembrance of me". So we have been doing, together, every
couple of months, and will continue to do so. If you find that the
Chapel is closed on March 17th - try the church! Similarly the church
will not have a service on May 26th - we shall all be at the Chapel.
John Roberts: Rector
NO MORE LEAKS IN THE CHURCHYARD!!
For the last three years we have been putting together plans for
the installation of kitchen and toilet facilities in the church.
These facilities are urgently required to make the church a good
venue for concerts, fetes and even Sunday services! With these additions
to the church we can ensure that the building becomes a more useful
amenity to the life of the village. Visitors to the village will
also have a place to relieve themselves as they pass through - yes,
the church is open during daylight hours.
At last it seems as though it is all about to happen and we are
hoping that the builders will start work around the beginning of
March. The cost is about £27,000 because it all has to be in keeping
with an ancient listed building and only traditional materials can
be used. Drainage has to be installed and water laid on. The kitchen
will be housed behind folding oak doors in the south-west corner
of the church. The toilet will be created out of the south porch
and will have full disabled facilities. We have already collected
about £10,000 from donations and from our own resources. We should
welcome donations from any of you who feel able to give something
towards the cost of this project. If you complete the Gift Aid form
attached then we can also claim back the tax you have paid on the
amount you donate. Please send donations to Morag Underwood, 44a
Wappenham Rd, 01295 768922. We greatly appreciate any support you
can offer.
Morag Underwood: Churchwarden
PEWS FOR SALE
The PCC have agreed to move ahead with the development of a Kitchen
and Toilet facility in the Church. As a result of this work, 11
pews of solid pine, will be surplus to requirements.
It has been decided that these should be sold though sealed bids
delivered to the PCC Secretary.
Bids must be received by 12 noon on Saturday 30th March. Bids must
be in a sealed envelope, and provide details of the number, size
of pew, price and contact details. Bids should be addressed to:
Paul Stothard, Secretary, Helmdon PCC, 55 Wappenham Road, Helmdon.
NN13 5QA
The decision on successful bids will be notified within 7 working
days of the closing date.
Details of the pews likely to be available are as follows:
There are 3 pews of length about 6 feet 6 inches. We may decide
to keep one of these pews.
There are 8 pews of length about 5 foot and one pew front. One of
these has been set into the back wall of the church and therefore
the back is cut into and the backs of the end curls are cut.
A SENSE OF PROPORTION
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The three richest Americans together have a larger income than over
sixty of the world's poorest nations, together.
That wealth is what trade can achieve - if the rules work your way.
That poverty is also what trade can achieve.
For example, the coffee-drinking world made sure the coffee-growing
world would grow more and more coffee and base their prosperity
on coffee. Then the price paid to the growers fell by half.
The Fairtrade
Label |
Existing trade rules give poor and producing nations very little power
to defend themselves against rich and consuming ones. Christian
Aid's new campaign is part of the Trade Justice Movement to change
world trade rules so that they work for the poor too. If you would
like to help in this, please let me know.
Meanwhile we can buy excellent "free-traded" coffee, tea
and chocolate in our supermarkets. They are dearer than most other
brands because the growers get a fairer share of what we pay. Look
for this label.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK is May 12th - 18th. I should be very glad of
offers to help with the house-to-house collection. There will be
a bread and cheese lunch in the Reading Room on Saturday May 11th.
Jean Spendlove
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTICES
Church notice board
Everything is in place now for the new Noticeboard and this should
be gracing the entrance to the Churchyard very shortly.
Christmas
The Christmas arrangements were reviewed. It was felt that it would
be a good idea to try and hold an evening Carol Service at Christmas
2002. It is interesting to note that at 4pm on Christmas Eve there
were 400 people attending services within the Benefice. The Carol
Singing and Christingle Service raised a net sum of £398.75 for
the Children's Society.
The Church in the Community
Chris Peck is running a course on this topic on the evenings 0f
23rd and 30th April and 14th and 21st May. Commencing @ 7.30 these
will hopefully be held in the Reading Room.
Church Bazaar
The PCC has agreed to bring the date of the Bazaar forward to early
or mid- November. Final date will be notified later in the year.
Church Fete
As noted in the last newsletter, the date of the British Grand Prix
in 2002 clashed with the traditional day for the Church Fete. On
balance it was agreed that we should avoid the clash and the Fete
will therefore be held on Saturday 29th June commencing @ 2.3Opm
Sunday School Chairs
The PCC has approved the purchase of 12 new stacking chairs for
the Sunday School.
Dorothy Micklethwaite
Dorothy is to be ordained on Sunday 7th July in Peterborough Cathedral
and will celebrate her first communion in Helmdon that evening,
Grand Prix traffic permitting!
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