Electric Church - 31st May 2008

Would you like to be  part of this exciting new venture?  We would certainly love you to join us!  All talents required:

Rehearsal refreshment makers; flag wavers; musicians; vocalists; roadies; technicians, etc.

Or just come along and enjoy the rehearsal sessions.

Dates for rehearsals are:

Saturday 1st June 3-5 pm = New songs for worship workshop open to everyone.

Sunday   8th June 3-5 pm.

Sunday 14th June Dress rehearsal 10am - noon.

Sunday 15th June 6pm Service.

All rehearsals take place at St James the Great, Syresham. If you want to know more please contact the Revd. Will Adams.

Helmdon Village Fair - 1st May 2008

Helmdon Village Fair will be held on Saturday 28th June starting at 12 noon.

There will be a BBQ at The Bell Inn and there will be many stalls and competitions around the village. Stalls include plants, books, jewellery,cakes, compost, tombola, lucky dip and games etc for children. Several houses will be providing toilet stops and tea and coffee will also be served.

Tea and cakes will be served in church from 3.30 pm and the raffle with top prizes of a pair of Grand Prix tickets, £100 and £75 will be drawn at 4.30pm.

The day will conclude with a short service.

A plan showing where the stalls are around the village and timetable of all events will be available for a small charge on each stall. If anybody would like to run a stall or game, or help in any way please let Ann Smith know. 01295760684 ann@antone.plus.com

Mothering Sunday Service  - 27th  February 2008

There will be a Mothering Sunday service in the church on Sunday, 2nd March,
at 9.30 am, for children of all ages to celebrate Mothering Sunday.

A Curate for Astwell Benefice - 25th  February 2008

It is with much pleasure that I announce the appointment of Colin Simpson to the Curacy of our benefice.  We welcome Colin, his wife Sandy and their son and daughter, William and Serena.

Colin is to be ordained as a Deacon in Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday 6th July.  Following this he and his family will take up residence in the benefice.  Our hope is that parishioners from across the benefice will want to welcome Colin to Astwell by supporting him in Peterborough and by attending a special united service (Lois Weedon Sunday 13th July) to greet him and his family warmly as he embarks on his ministry with us.

Colin will serve for three years within the Astwell Benefice before seeking his own parish. As a deacon he will support priests by assisting at sacramental services and once ordained as priest in 2009 will take these services himself.

It is a delight that the diocese should see this benefice as one suitable for the training of future priests.  Rural curacies are not common.   I am sure that we will all do our very best to provide Colin with the secure and loving support that will enable him to develop his lifetime's ministry in the church and, thereby we shall fulfil the trust placed in us.

Will Adams, Rector.

Your Ideas Wanted - 15th February 2008

The Village Fete is on Saturday, 28th June.  Stalls will be grouped in clusters round the village and open from 12 noon until 4 pm. There will be floral displays in the church and teas will be served from 3.30 pm.  Then the raffle will be drawn and there will be  short service.  Anyone with ideas for a stall please contact Ann Smith on (01295) 760684 or e-mail

Has Granny Gone To Heaven - 6th February 2008

The 19th Benefice Supper Meeting will be held on Friday, February 29th, 7.15 for 7.30 pm, in the Weston Community Room.  Jonathan Baker, Canon Pastor at Peterborough, will have as the subject of his talk "Has Granny Gone to Heaven".  Tickets at £3.50, to include a hot supper and for the evening, from Ann Smith (01295) 760684. All welcome.

Mothers' Union - Music in the church - 3rd February 2008

Carol singing round the village on December 19th raised £300 for The Children's Society.

The Church would like to thank the choristers, the collectors and all those who contributed towards this excellent result.

£970 Raised at Christmas Bazaar - 11th December 2007

£970 was raised at the Church Christmas Bazaar.  All thanks to the organisers, helpers and to those who supported.

Carol Singing Round Village - 7th December 2007

There will be carol singing round the village in aid of the Children's Society on Wednesday, December 19th, beginning at 6 pm outside Seckington's shop.  You are warmly invited to join in.

                              click for approximate times of stops

Restoration Work - 2nd December 2007

No doubt many of you will have seen the vehicles parked outside the church of those who are currently repairing the East Window.  This is the first of a series of works that are being undertaken.  I think a number of us had not fully realised the poor state of the window arches and other parts of the building until closer examination was possible.  We are indebted to the Friends of St Mary Magdalene and members of the PCC for their hard work in raising the money necessary to begin this present schedule of work. We were not able to secure the funding to complete all the issues raised in the quinquennial report even by undertaking a number of them ourselves.  A priority list was drawn up and once the present work is complete we will return to those other repairs listed in the report's pages.

I would however, wish very much to thank everyone who has helped in ensuring this critical work could begin.  Without your support our custodial responsibilities to maintain this magnificent buidling would not have been possible.

Will Adams

Rector

What Controversy would you like to see discussed at a Benefice Supper Meeting? - 29th November 2007

Please pass ideas to Jean Spendlove on (01295) 768196

Temporary change of venue for Tiny Tots - 17th October 2007

Repair and maintenance at the church will be carried out between 15th October and 30th November .

During this period it will not be possible to hold our Mums and Tots meeting in the church.

Therefore you and your friends who have tots are invited to Drop in for ‘Coffee and a Chat’ from 10–11.30 am at 12A Church Street, the home of Ann Smith, on the following Thursdays:

18th October, 8th, 15th and 22nd November 2007

More information:  Ann Smith (01295) 760684  

Plea for Bell Ringers - 1st October 2007

Helmdon has a splendid ring of six bells, and thanks to Christine Klein Wassink and neighbouring bellringers our bells in Helmdon are rung from time to time.

It would be a great joy if they could be rung more regularly.  We are particularly keen to have our own set of ringers,  and so if you would like to learn this ancient art please do get in touch with either myself (01280) 850683 or with Chris at 9 Lukes Close (01295) 760403.

Will Adams

Notice of Wine Tasting on 3rd November  - 1st October 2007

Notice of Harvest Supper on 22nd September  - 17th September 2007

Notice of Supper-Meeting on November 13th - 2nd September 2007

Songs of   Praise - 21st  August 2007

Songs of Praise to mark Helmdon Carnival will be held in the Carnival Marquee on the sports ground, on Sunday 26th May at 10.30 am.

All are welcome. Sing along with village organizations, hear their choice of favourite hymn, and join together in celebration and praise.

Please also join us for lights refreshments after the service.

Holy Communion will be celebrated as usual at 8 am in the church. 

Restoration Grant for Stonework -  29th July 2007

St Mary Magdalene church.

In July the church received a cheque for £4,000 from a representative of the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust.

This will be used to carry out badly needed repairs to the stonework.  Niki Phillips, the secretary of the PCC, told the Northamptonshire Chronicle & Echo who reported the event, that "some of the stonework has deteriorated and urgently needs to be repaired.  We aim to raise as much money as we possibly can but this grant will make a huge difference."

Helmdon Village Fair - 13th July 2007

The Village Fair on June 30th raised over £2,700 (the total is still rising), which is a tremendous result for a summer event which took place in very unsettled weather.

The event started at midday and the Bell was the venue for a successful barbecue. All round the village there were open gardens and many stalls selling a large variety of items such as bric a brac, plants, books, jewellery, fresh fruit and vegetables, toiletries, locally produced compost, cakes, ice cream and muffins.  Many of the stallholders also organized various games and competitions for children. There was a very popular tombola on the green and a bouncy castle and smoothie stall in the school.   A car shuttle service was running all afternoon to give those who didn’t want to walk, a lift from one end of the village to the other. The church sold refreshments all afternoon, and was the venue for a small art exhibition. The raffle was drawn in church and the event concluded with a short service with readings and popular hymns.

The church would like to thank all who supported the afternoon’s activities by either manning stalls or opening their gardens, and all those who came out to support  on such a bad day.

Ann Smith.