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Inductions & Institution. My grateful thanks.
The 15th May was a wonderful day. The sun shone and it was really
hot. Bishop Ian even removed his dog collar! The Whitsunday Benefice
Walk, now a tradition across the six parishes, was delightful. Our
own small pilgrimage enabled folk to meet and chat in the most convivial
of manners. We were not only able to enjoy one another's company but
also the delights of the beautiful countryside in which we are so
fortunate to live. For Linda and myself it was a great joy to have
not only our son and daughter with us but also my parents who had
not been able to attend my ordination at Peterborough Cathedral as
well as my nephew, David. I was particularly touched by the generosity,
warmth and kindness shown especially to myself throughout the day
and in particular at all the churches that we visited. I will have
lasting memories of each of them and not least of being greeted and
welcomed to the parish of Helmdon so fondly by people drawn from across
all aspects of village life. To be welcomed by bells and such a splendid
supper was a joy. People had gone to so much trouble not only in Helmdon
but also in every church. We were truly feted well. I would want to
express my sincere thanks to all those involved.
Initial Aims
At my first meeting with the PCCs, I was eager to share with members
a number of initial goals I wished to complete across the benefice
within the first six or so months of my incumbency. These I highlighted
by simple captions together with a series of tasks I hoped to complete
in order to move towards their realisation. The captions were, "Good
morning Rector", "Good morning Jane" and "Unity
& Diversity".
The first two were clearly related in that my aims are that folk
in all parishes recognise and feel they know their Rector, be they
church goers or not and that they feel he is part of their community.
Equally, I feel that I want to know my parishioners as well as I
can so that I am able to respond to their welfare and rejoice in
their celebrations, as well, of course, as meet their worshipping
needs. As aids to achieving these ambitions I am in the process
of drawing up a plan of all the events, church based and secular,
that take place on a regular basis across the benefice as well as
collecting information of other village events so that where possible
I am able to drop in or take part in these activities. An additional
and more demanding exercise, which I am undertaking with the help
of folk from all the parishes, is a demographic profile of each
parish. This I believe will enable myself and the PCCs to analyse
the make-up of the parishes in a way that may possibly influence
our work and worship in the future.
We are very fortunate that within the benefice we have a variety
of worship forms, churchmanship and timings of services, from Taize
to Holy Communion (1662) as well as Family/Village to Under Fives
services. Already there is diversity which adds a great richness
to our worship.
Whilst the standard communion services throughout the benefice follow
the Book of Common Worship and will be familiar to all, it may well
be that we may wish to extend or vary our pattern to embrace the
worshipping and spiritual needs of others as well as current church
attendees. We shall see. What is important is that there is coherence
to our worship and church activities, a range of churchmanship and
a timing pattern across the benefice which allows the Rector to
move from church to church so that he is able to regularly lead
worship in each church.
God bless you all.
Will Adams Rector
P.S. Please note that my e-mail address is now: rector@astwellbenefice.co.uk
About the Woodgreen Gospel Choir
Ever since its formation in the early 1980s, the Wood Green Gospel
Choir has striven to maintain its commitment to excellence in song.
The choir consists of members who are all drawn from the Wood Green
branch of the New Testament Church of God in North London, England.
The choir is led by Colin Vassell, the choir director, with Isaac
Carter providing musical support. Over the last 10 years, the choir
has performed all over England, with many appearances on television
shows, such as Songs of Praise,They have also sung in concerts,
festivals and fund-raising events throughout the United Kingdom.
Overseas tours have been carried out to Belgium, Germany, Holland,
France, Northern Ireland, Wales and South Africa. Their debut appearance
at the Varese Gospel Festival in Italy in 2001 was followed by Pedova
and the Czech Republic.
Tuesday Lunches
We are now well established after nearly a year, with numbers enough
to keep the price down at £3.50. We have some excellent cooks....
Most lunchers are regulars - because they know a good lunch when
they find it; but we are not a club and we welcome all comers. The
menu for people to sign up their choices for the next lunch is put
up in the Reading room immediately after each lunch, and is there
for a good three weeks. Post Office sessions are the easiest time
to get access to sign, but if they are difficult just ring me. We
aim to help older people who find that cooking a meal is troublesome
or who too often eat alone. But we have no lower age limit - nor
an upper one for that matter. And if you need transport, let me
know.
Jean Spendlove for the PCC's team (01295 786196)
Ckers
Ckers (a Youth Group for children of Helmdon from school year 5
upwards) usually meet in the Reading Room from 6.30 to 7.45pm on
alternate Sundays. We restart on September 11th in church at 6:30.
Any new members or helpers are welcome so please contact Kathy Quiney
(01295 760837) or Jane Barnes (01295 760444) if you wish to join
us.
The Friends
We have had three successful fund raising events in recent weeks.
Fiori Musicali performed in the church on June 10th, playing some
unusual pieces which were absolutely superb. After the concert they
made some very complimentary comments about the superb acoustics,
apparently brought about by the installation of new heating and
the fact that the walls are now much drier than before. (Amazing,
but we were assured it was true!). Also the "in the round"
set-up was much appreciated. The event made a profit of £261.80
for the Friends.
On June 26th eleven Helmdon gardens were open to the public and,
thanks to the glorious weather, over 60 people visited. Including
teas and plant sales, the result was a profit of £362.65.
Finally, on July 17th the Friends made and served teas at the Open
Garden event at Peters Farm. Thanks to Sue Wallace and Peter Burns
for allowing us to take advantage of this, raising a further £253.66.
Thanks also go to the helpers, washing up volunteers and all the
garden owners for their generosity in time and effort.
The next Friends event is the Woodgreen Gospel Choir in the church
on Saturday September 17th. They are a long established group and
have appeared around the world as well as on TV and we are really
looking forward to this. Tickets are already selling fast, so get
yours now before it's too late. The cost is £10 and they are
available from all Friends committee members. After this we have
the annual Wine Tasting on November 18th. Unfortunately the proposed
Summer Family event will not now be held, because of the difficulty
in finding enough volunteers in the holiday period and the fact
that we have tried to organise too many things!
Finally, a gentle reminder that subscriptions for 2005/2006 are
now due.
Chris Gartside
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THE BENEFICE'S 14th SUPPER-MEETING
Wednesday, October 19th Weedon Lois Village
Hall
7:15 for 7:30pm £3.50
Alison White
on
SELLING THE SOUL? - Spirituality in the 21st Century.
What do you think it is? Bring your challenge
and questions.
Book as soon as possible through Jean Spendlove (01295 768196)
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Harvest Festival Auction
Bringing Gifts of food and flowers to the harvest festival is an
expression of gratitude for the plenty and beauty we enjoy. Selling
them is the means of passing the blessing on to people in need.
From Helmdon we send all we raise through Send A Cow to the states
in Africa whose country people are helped to independence by gifts
of farm animals and the training to make them nourish families,
earn the means to send children to school and establish health care,
and build up the whole society and its environment.
Such large benefits come from out gifts of produce and flowers -
if we can sell them at a good price. Please help this happen by
joining the regular congregation at its Harvest Festival, and eating
with them and buying with them after the service. If you will risk
your purses, let your children have fun bidding for you. Service
at 4.30 October 2nd, food and auction after it.
Mothers' Union
September 28th Ecumenical Supper and Communion Service.
All denominations warmly invited 7:30pm at St Mary Magdalene.
October 26th Traidcraft talk and stall with David Wiseman. 8pm at
Ann's house
November 23rd AGM and bring a favourite hymn, poem, picture or
reading to share. 8pm at Ann's house 12A Church Street.
December 8th Deanery Advent service 2pm at Farthinghoe church.
Bee Aczel 01295 760816
Make Poverty History
I was recently admitted as a member of the Mothers' Union at its
Wave of Prayer Service in Helmdon. In case you're confused, men
can be members of this organisation for which I have great admiration.
It won't surprise anyone who is familiar with the Christian aim
of the MU to learn that it was especially active in supporting and
organising the 2005 campaign, Make Poverty History. They were of
course one of many with churches of all denominations combining
together to focus on the root causes of poverty, such as unjust
global trading systems, debt burdens which drain poor countries'
resources, and insufficient aid. How privileged we were that Scotland
hosted the G8 Summit where the leaders of the eight richest countries
in the world met under sympathetic UK's chairmanship. How gratifying
that there also would seem to have been a national groundswell of
support to lobby the G8 leaders to help prevent 30,000 people dying
needlessly every day just because they are poor. "With 2.8
million people living in poverty in our world today, something has
to change. " Ellen Teague.
We may feel a little unclear about quite how much progress was made
at Gleneagles and our picture will inevitably be clouded by the
dreadful killings in London on the 7th July whilst the leaders were
in session. However, we are all I am sure far more aware of global
poverty than we were, because of those organisations like the Mothers'
Union campaigning under the banner of Make Poverty History. The
dreadful pictures on our television screens from Niger of young
emaciated bodies only serve as an all-too-immediate reminder of
the right of this cause. A greater willingness perhaps seems also
to have been established whereby poverty is not accepted as a fact
of life but rather as an injustice which must be overcome.
May I take this opportunity to encourage men and women be they married
or not, parents or not, to support the work of the Mothers' Union
and there is no better way of doing this than by joining its ranks.
Ann Smith, the Astwell Benefice President would love to hear from
you. (01295-760684).
Will Adams Rector
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