 Archive
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new United Benefice of Parkend and Viney Hill. Dear
Friends. For 2 weeks
in October we stayed in a well-equipped chalet on the As we
travelled around we saw numerous flint-clad churches, almost all with the same
pattern of tower, nave and chancel. In bigger communities the churches might
also have a porch and side vestry and in the towns aisles or transepts. 1. The towers
made them very visible in a relatively flat agricultural landscape, pointing to
God’s presence at all times and in all seasons. 2. The naves
spoke of welcome and regular worship even if not every Sunday or even on a
Sunday. One church had a 3. The chancels
reflected stillness, prayerfulness and communion with the Living God 4. They were all
open during the day for any who wished to enter them. In other words the churches In one
church we found this quote from T. S. Eliot: “You are not here (just) to
verify, instruct yourself, or inform
curiosity Or carry report. You are here to
kneel Where prayer has been valid. And
prayer is more Than an order of words....” We were asked to
remember this as we enjoyed the peace and beauty of the place and also asked to
thank God for all who had worshipped there over the years. There was also a
blessing that we, with them, know God’s love and presence now and for ever. What more can be
said? As Jeremy and I
prepare for the last weeks of worshipping, praying and witnessing with you all,
I pray that we will each have the confidence to entrust ourselves to the Lord,
to listen prayerfully to what He wants us to do and have eyes open to see the
answers to see what he is doing through us in our varied communities. Prayer is indeed more
than an order of words.
With every
blessing
Philippa
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| From the Vicarage. October Dear Friends For the last few weeks Jeremy and I have been sorting out ready for the move at the end of November. As usual it amazes me how much we have accumulated!
Personally we have come across such things as: books we had forgotten we had and want to read again; photographs from many years ago (didn’t we look young!); birthday and anniversary cards that evoke very particular memories; gifts that have been stored safely and surprise us when we open them; remnants of our children’s toys (which have now come in very handy for the grandchildren). And we could go on….
Parish-wise we have come across a whole range of things that remind us of what has happened over the last 16 years. For example I still have copies of the new heating plans for each church and many other improvements made. I have minutes of groups that are no longer in existence here, such as Mother’s Union at Parkend and the Wednesday Open Group at Viney Hill with their wide range of meetings, activities, outings and fund-raising for charities. I have found programmes and photographs from Flower Festivals at both churches with a whole range of themes, each one of an incredibly high standard. School assemblies, Open the Book and Storytellers programmes are also there going back at least 14 years. I remember Little Rainbows, our Mum and Toddlers Group, which went on for several years, the children of whom are now at the top end of our primary schools or have started secondary school. What a lot we have done together over this time and I could go on…
Then there are the services. On the computer I have copies of services going back to 2002! When I started here we were still using the Alternative Service Book (ASB) and over the next year or so moved on to Common Worship (CW). There has been such a change in liturgy over this period. I think of all the baptisms, weddings and funerals that I have taken and the emotions they bring of joy and sadness. Our regular times of worship together are so important, whether on a Sunday morning or evening, midweek or festivals, they are what join us together as we focus on God, his word in the Bible, his Word made flesh Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit poured out on us all.
Sorting out brings so many memories, but the time comes for all of us when we need to move on to something new. I am reminded that at the centre of all we do is the One who does not change. As Hebrews 13.8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. May we keep Him always at the centre of our hearts and minds and lives.
With every blessing Philippa |
September
In today’s culture it is easy to forget how important the farming year
and cycle is for the well-being of us all. Today the majority of us are totally
dependent on what is in the shops to provide our daily bread. It doesn’t take
much to find that some shelves are empty, such as when a continental cold snap
in January this year reduced the number of salad and vegetables in our shops. This is only a minor inconvenience to many, but for some unexpected
personal events, such as redundancy or an unexpected bill on a low income can
mean there is actually no money to buy food. Food Banks are often a life line
in such circumstances, but the demand is growing and many have suffered from
stock shortages this summer as school meals are not available. The Trussell Trust was set up in 1997 by the Initially the Trust helped feed children in Both our Harvest Festivals will be collecting food for the local Food
Bank and also toiletries for the Haven Centre in May our gifts this Harvest time be a particular help to those in need
locally. With every blessing Philippa
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September is here! Autumn is beginning, the harvesting is drawing to a
close and we begin to focus on celebrating all being ‘safely gathered in'.
AugustDear Friends On 16 July fourteen families opened their gardens to help raise money
for the monthly Yorkley Newsletter. It seems to have been very well supported
from what we saw of people arriving just in our local area. Sadly we only
managed to visit two gardens due to other commitments, but at both there was a
warm welcome and both gardens were really inspiring. Reflecting upon all the work that goes into gardening made me think of
the cycle of sowing, growing, harvesting and resting, all of which are
necessary. Sowing or propagating in whatever way is appropriate means that new
growth is possible even if the conditions are not always favourable. That
growth takes time and patience; some will grow very quickly, others will take a
very long time. There is much beauty during this time with the wonderful range
of colour of flowers and the ripening of the crops. Then there is the time for
reaping and harvesting which often becomes very intense in the summer and autumn.
Help may well be needed and produce is shared or stored as appropriate, so we
can all be fed. Then things begin to die down with the beauty of autumn being a
final gift and the time of rest comes as the cycle starts all over again. This also made me reflect on the fact that schools have now broken up
and the children are in holiday until the beginning of September. The last year
has been a time of ‘sowing, growing and harvesting’ for them too; they have all
learnt so much and moved on so much. Now they have a time to play, to explore,
and to visit different places and people over the holiday period preparing for
the next stage of their lives. For some, the coming year will be a particularly
significant step, maybe starting school or a new school, or going on to college
or university or starting work. In both examples we see transition happening. It is happening for us too
here in the parish. On 18th November I will have been your parish priest for 16
years. Together we have grown on the foundation of what went before; we have
sown new seeds; we have had periods of resting and growth; we have had times of
reaping and harvesting. Now it is time to move on and let that cycle take place
again for all of us; for the parish to prepare for a new incumbent and for
Jeremy and I to take the step of retiring. This was announced on 16 July and my
Farewell Service will take place on 26th
November when we celebrate Christ the King. There is a time and season for everything and this, It seems, is the right
time for us all! With every blessing Philippa |
July
Dear Friends, With the summer now upon us we are entering a time of school sports days and other activities. I wonder how many of you reading this will be the proud parent, grandparent, other family member or friend standing at the sidelines shouting encouragement? I remember doing this at so many events when our children were young – football matches for our son, gymkhanas and swimming events for our daughters. Just being there was an encouragement to them, but actively shouting out their names would also spur them on. Even if things didn’t go particularly well at least they had taken part and tried hard. The word encouragement has the word ‘cour’ at its centre, which means ‘heart’. When we encourage, we give heart! Offering encouragement is a gift, especially in an age when it is so common to find people discouraging others, knocking them down by words and actions. We have had some dreadful things happen over the last few weeks in our nation and in our world. Many are hurt and angry about what has happened and there is much that needs to be done to answer their questions and make sure right things are put in place. But, at the same time, we mustn’t lose sight of the generosity shown and the support and encouragement given at such times by so many. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told about a Levite from Cyprus called Joseph whose name was changed to to Barnabas meaning Son of Encouragement. He became one of the most significant apostles in the Early
Church introducing Paul to the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem and working
with him for a time.
With
every blessing, Philippa |
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Parkend
1917—Meet the People. Beautiful
flower arrangements will illustrate a range of figures made by Dorothy
Basson
with help from her husband Arnold. There is a nurse and a wounded
soldier, a
railway porter, the local Vicar, a cricketer, a stone worker, a member
of the
band and many more. The
history of Parkend dates back to the early 17th century. In the 19th
century it was a busy industrial village with several coal mines,
an ironworks,
stone works, a timber-yard and a tinplate
works.
The village had several pubs including the Fountain Inn and the Woodman
(also
known as the New Inn) still open today. Until
the 1920s it also had the British Lion. Change
was ahead, however, with some industries beginning to close including
the
ironworks, the former engine-house of which became in 1910 the
country’s first 10
years or so later, however ,there was a loss of markets and general industrial
decline meant the
mines closed, the railway stopped carrying passengers and a
couple of years later the stone works also closed. So
our Flower Festival will take us back 100 years to commemorate all who
lived in
the village and the surrounding area at this time. On Sunday 28 May at
With every blessing Philippa |
| April Every Sunday we say together the Collect, a short general prayer
assigned to that particular Sunday. It originates from the Latin word collecta meaning
the gathering of the people together. Each prayer tends to follow a particular
structure. Normally, but not always, each addresses God the Father and then
describes an attribute of Him. This is followed by a petition or request and
its desired result. Finally the mediation of Jesus Christ is invoked and the
prayer ends with the people’s response Amen. will draw you closer to the One who died and rose again for us—the Living Lord.
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| March
We are drawing to the end of a long winter period and many of us feel “down”. Lack of sunshine affects us, as do the various viruses going around that leave us feeling debilitated. Yet there are now clear signs of spring with the snowdrops, crocuses and even daffodils coming out. It is good to see the lambs and hear the birdsong. The days are beginning to lengthen which makes such a difference. Our feelings begin to lift and we look forward to the spring and summer months ahead. As
many of you know, Jeremy’s Mum died on 11
February. We were
fortunate to be up in Lincolnshire that week and to share with other
family members watching and
waiting at her bedside. Granny
was 96
and she and Grandad (92) would have been married 70
years on 29 March
so there is great sadness in the family.
Yet she had a good, long life, did many things and
had a great faith in
God. Although we miss her hugely we have
comfort in knowing
she is now with the Lord. We
would like
to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their cards and
expressions of
sympathy. It has
made such a difference. How we feel goes up and down with the weather, the season and the circumstances in our life. In the Bible we read in Ecclesiastes 3 ”there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.” So when we are in sad and miserable times may we remember that, after the rain comes the sunshine and that, in God, we can know peaceand comfort even in difficult times. Philippa |
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January Dear Friends Stewardship and Giving to Help Your Churches Blossom and Grow Thank you most sincerely for contributing so generously to the ministry,
mission and maintenance of our churches through both regular and occasional
giving. We are most grateful. Like me I am sure you like to look at your contributions at some point
each year. As with all things expenses
always seem to rise whilst income can remain rather static or even go down. It
is, of course, no different with the church. Your contributions cover a whole
range of things including service needs (candles, wine, wafers etc), utilities
(oil and electricity), insurance, licenses, buildings and churchyard
maintenance. We are obviously very careful with our expenditure, but have to
cover certain things to keep our churches warm, legal, safe and maintained. The greatest responsibility we have is for what is called the Parish
Share which pays for ministry including payment of the stipend (monthly living
payment), pension and provision of a Vicarage. The total for this is shared
among every parish in the Diocese and increases each year at a pre-given rate
over a 5 year programme. Our share for 2017 is £42,761 an increase of £2,467.
We are pleased that we have paid the share request for several years now and
very much hope we will also be able to pay this year's share in full. However,
on our current income we can only commit to increasing our monthly Direct Debit
by half the required amount. A realistic
regular income is the responsible way of ensuring that we fulfil our
commitments and keep our ministry growing and blossoming in this parish. |
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December
Then I went
onto thinking about the preparation for parties and especially the shopping. I
am, I confess, a terrible shopper, at any time of year. I do what has to be
done, that is the household shopping. I still prefer to ‘go myself’ I
am not
fond of crowded high streets or shopping malls so took the opportunity
recently to visit one of the But
somehow, it’s all a parallel to that first Christmas. Joseph and Mary, and the
shepherds didn’t have a present shopping list,
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| November
Dear
Friends In
October we were fortunate enough to spend time on holiday in The
Coast … We were staying on the north coast and were able to walk some of the
South-West Coastal Path. The views were spectacular! What struck me, however,
was how difficult it often is to get down to the sandy coves and, once down
there, how careful you had to be to get back again before the tide came rushing
in. It made me remember those who ‘sail on the sea in ships’ and the dangers
they often face. It also reminded me of Jesus sleeping on the boat on the Mining
… The mining areas of Churches
and Historic Houses … We like to use holidays to explore the houses, gardens
and churches where we are staying, but what caught my attention this year was a
pilgrimage walk across the sand dunes, which local church people use once a
year to remember the faith of those who have gone before, and to renew their
own faith in Christ who leads us through life. On top of one of the dunes is a
cross marking their destination close to a church now hidden by the sand - a
visual reminder of the Christ who is always with us. Food
… I cannot finish without remembering Cornish pasties, Cream Teas and seafood! Food is so essential, not only for sustenance,
but also as a sign of hospitality and sharing. Each time we share the bread and
wine of Holy Communion together, we follow Jesus’ instruction to ‘do this in remembrance
of me’. It is a special moment as we hold out our hands to him in the midst of
busy lives—a holy moment. The holiday is now over, but it
has reminded me to look out for the ‘God moments’ all around us. As we go into
the darker months may these 'God moments' sustain and help us. With every blessing Philippa |
| October Dear Friends Last month we received faculty permission to put in a path between the
car park and Church path at Also
last month, sadly, we saw an incursion of boar into the Lych-gate
Churchyard at Parkend. They seem to have come under the wire fence and
then
over a section of wall that had fallen down in the bottom right hand
corner. The worst damage was in that lower quarter and along the bottom
wall
with some damage further up the yard as the animals turned over the
turf to
look for food. Grateful thanks go to Trish and Ken Ducker who spent
time
building up the wall again and treading
down of the turf. We will be keeping a close eye on this. Keeping the churchyard
gates closed is essential and we do ask all visitors to be vigilant with this. On a more cheerful note, at
All Saints, Viney Hill on 28th of August, we had a lovely Praise Service for
children and their families, with the theme of 'God’s World'. The children made
shakers and streamers which they used to accompany songs. Pass the Parcel was popular with various reminders of God’s
World in the layers; animals, birds, stars and so on. We listened to the song
‘What a Wonderful World’ and watched slides which showed the beauty of the earth,
but also the ways it has been harmed and the inequalities in it.
This
was
followed by writing or drawing prayers on post-it stickers to place on
a large
map of the world. At the end we had a wonderful party and sang Happy
Birthday to those celebrating a variety of ages! Many thanks to all the
families who attended and to Linda and Louisa Davies, Hilary and Trevor
Richings and Trish Ducker for making this a very special time. |
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Journeying Together—Next Steps: So Far So Good!;- As you know +Rachel
has called us to a visioning process as we journey together with God and each
other on the next stage of our Diocesan vision.
It
all began with a day of prayer at Gloucester Cathedral when hundreds gathered
to pray for the development of our new Vision. Through multi-sensory displays, silence, play,
and words, people prayed in many different and creative ways. For the next couple of months there was the period of conversation with
many different people and groups to get a variety of views. As this came to a
close there was ‘a flurry of emails and responses on the website as people
shared their data and reflections from the myriad of conversations they had
held around the Diocese.’ The feedback has now been collated and some early indications as to what
direction the conversations have headed in from schools, community and churches
can be found on the website at:- https://storify.com/GlosDio/vision-2016-so-far-so-good Five areas have been highlighted (in alphabetical order)
Buildings, Finance & Human Resources; Community Engagement & Social Justice; Prayer, Worship & Spirituality; Relevance to Modern Life. From Schools - Prayer, Worship
& Spirituality stands out together with the Church’s engagement with, and support
of, schools in a variety of ways.
From Communities - support from the
church and engaging with the community was highlighted as was the need for
better use of media and social media. From Churches - all areas were
highlighted especially the importance of a warm welcome, good communication and
connecting with young people and
children. On Monday 12 September the key themes and priorities will be shared through a newsletter and on the vision website. Please reflect prayerfully on the material and let me know any thoughts to take to the Clergy Conference at the end of the month. In Advent our new vision will be launched with
a big party celebrating the next phase of our work and life together. Please pray for all involved in this process of discernment, as our vision
for this Diocese for the next five years continues to take shape. With every blessing Philippa |
| August Dear Friends
As Christians we know we have heard Good News (which is what the word Gospel means)
and that we are called to share what we have discovered about God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. We are the Church, with a capital C, because we are God’s
people, his children, here today responsible for caring for his world and the
people in it, strengthened by worshipping together and learning how to serve
the Lord in our lives.
Our churches (with a small c) are the places in which we hold regular worship; there for all the community; open to all visitors; places of prayer and of interest historically and architecturally. In themselves they are a wonderful witness to God’s presence and love. We are very fortunate here to have two very special churches at All Saints Church, Viney HIll - Roof Repair Grant "The Parish of Parkend and Viney Hill has successfully applied for a grant through the Government-funded Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund, and is to benefit by the sum of £91,900.This money will be used to effect major repairs to the roof above the Chancel and Vestry. This part of the roof was identified in the church'sQuinquennial Report as being in need of urgent repair.
This money is part of a wider funding package of £22.9million to 401 historic
places of worship across the
Thank you to Fred for all his work in applying for this grant, which was the
maximum they will give and the highest given in this diocese! The work has to
be done within the next 12 months and there will still be about £10,000 to
raise, but this grant means we can get started and so preserve this place of
worship for now and for future generations, just as parishioners did in the
past. To God be the glory! |
| June
Last month I drew your attention to Bishop Rachel’s Diocesan Call to Prayer between Ascension Day and Pentecost (5-15 May). I thank everyone who took this call seriously. It was really good to see initials on our prayer sheet so that every section of the day was covered. We now go on to the Bishop’s second Call which is to "Conversations". Bishop Rachel writes: "In Worship together Share our Christian faith and values Provide a visible presence in every community and parish Serve the wider world The aspirations and commitments in all of this remain unchanged, and the next steps are to build on what we have achieved and move forward on our journey." Questions
for the church community:
1. What
is the Holy Spirit
saying to us in this Diocese?
2. What is your dream or vision for the Church in our Diocese in five years’ time? 3. What
could we do to realise
this vision?
Questions
for the wider community: 1. What
is your impression
of the Church of England in
your local
community? Please look
out for opportunities to take part in this in the next few
weeks.
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Dear Friends
This year Bishop Rachel has called us to a
particular focus of prayer during the ten days between Ascension Day and
Pentecost and then to follow it up with a series of Conversations across the
Diocese between 15 May and 20 July. She writes ‘In Four areas of commitment were identified: • Worship together • Share our Christian faith and
values • Provide a visible presence in
every community and parish • Serve the wider
world. The aspirations and commitments
in all of this remain unchanged, and the next steps are to build on what we
have achieved and move forward on our journey. I now invite the whole Diocese
to be part of a vision process to identify some key priorities to be launched
in Advent. This process begins with an emphasis on prayer, leading into a
period devoted to conversations around some core questions. My hope is that
together, we will discern what the Spirit of God might be saying to us about
how we share the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ in some new and distinctive
ways over the next five years.’ So please note the following and take part in as many ways as you
can: 5 May Ascension Day - 15 May – 20 July Conversations will be held to help us listen to what
God may be saying to us through those amongst whom we live and work. This is a wonderful and exciting opportunity to join together to discern
God’s guidance in different ways! |
Before he ascended into heaven Jesus told
his disciples, ‘I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in
the city until you have been clothed from on high.’ Luke 24.49. They all joined
constantly in prayer until the Day of Pentecost ten days later when they were
filled with the Holy Spirit as he promised and went out to witness to what God
had done. It was the Birth day of the Church!|
April
Dear Friends
Alleluia
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed Alleluia
Lent is a time of fasting and prayer, of self-assessment, of looking
seriously at our life in Christ and taking time to change anything that is
stopping us serving him in the way we should. It is followed by Passiontide and
Holy Week, the journey of Christ to the cross and then to the dreadful events
of Good Friday. It seems like the end of all the hopes and dreams of Jesus’
followers, but, of course, on the first Easter Day everything changes. There is
hope, there is joy, and there is wonder.
Something new, incredibly new, has begun and spreads out into the world.
David Adam* gives a useful illustration to show how this series of
events can help us be renewed and refreshed to serve the Lord anew. He talks of
a heather moor which in the winter is twisted and gnarled, no longer producing
food for the birds or even the tough moorland sheep. He notes that it has
become useless to the life it usually sustains. So it is burnt, but with a controlled burning so that, although it looks totally destroyed, it is not. Under the ground the roots are safe. This means that in the spring the old heather is gone, but new shoots are appearing. The heather is rising from the earth, fresh and as useful as ever. What was destroyed is back with newness of life. Christ died and rose again and so we are fed, refreshed, renewed and so in our turn can feed and encourage others as we share the difference this joy and hope gives us.
*David Adam
Sermon Illustrations (2011, Kevin Mayhew)
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Dear Friends,
It reminded me of the first time many years ago when I heard that phrase ‘Easter People’ and began to reflect on what it meant. Yes Easter Day is a wonderful celebration, but so is each Sunday and each day we live in the light of the living, risen Lord. With every
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February Dear
Friends, I wonder if
you know this story called God’s Embroidery?
The child
grew into a man and many times through the years he looked up to heaven and
wondered what God was doing. It all looked so messy to him, so jumbled, the threads
so dark. ‘Father, why can’t it all be clear and bright?’ he asked. Then
remembering his lesson as a child it seemed that he heard the Father reply, ‘My
child, continue in my way and one day I will bring you to heaven. Then you will
see the plan from my side!’ Things do
look messy, jumbled and dark at times and it is not unusual to wish everything
would be put right and be bright again. Yet wishing doesn’t put it right.
Trying to look at things through God’s eyes, can prove a help in the difficult
times. Continuing in his way, despite what is going on, takes a lot of faith,
but by doing so we can both receive blessing and bring blessing to others. 10th
February is the beginning of Lent. It is a good time of take a step back and to
see things the way God sees them, growing in faith as we walk his way. As you
will see in the magazine and elsewhere on this site, a Lent Course will help us look at Worship. Liturgy
and Festivals and understand this important part of our Church life. We also have four Lent Lunches and return to our weekly Midweek Communion pattern which give us an opportunity to do something extra together at this contemplative time. May this Lent bring us a new and refreshing understanding of God’s love shown through Jesus. Philippa |
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December This
month our focus is very much on preparing for, and celebrating,
Christmas. It is a time of anticipation for children and a time of
busyness for
adults. Buying presents, sending cards, putting up decorations,
preparing
special food, going to parties, Nativity Plays, Christmas Concerts, and
Carol
Services add to the expectancy. It is a special time as we rejoice in
the birth of God’s Son, Jesus
Christ, and spend time with our families and friends. For
some families, however, this will be a difficult time, a time of
loneliness for some and sadness for others. Some may also be asking how
our
celebrations of the birth of the Prince of Peace fits into a world
where we see
the relentless flow of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and
other
places escaping from conflict where normal life is impossible. A world
in which
we see terror attacks, such as those in Paris, by those who wish to
destroy
what we value, the freedom to live our lives in peace and safety. Perhaps
it might help to recall that Jesus was born into a turbulent
time. His country of birth was occupied and the rule was brutal. His
place of
birth was due to a dictate that demanded registration in your home
town, often
many miles away. At a young age he became a refugee as his parents fled
the God’s
Son was born into an unsettled, difficult time, but he was also
born into a loving, faithful family who cared for him, protected him,
taught
him a craft and gave him a settled home life. There he learnt to know
and love
his Archbishop
Justin Welby says that the world is engaged in a ‘global and With
every blessing this Christmas.
Philippa |
|
November
Dear
Friends, November is
the month of Remembrance. The darker nights and colder November
1st, is All Saints’ Day when we remember the saints of the Church. The
evening
before, Hallowe’en, may seem a fun time of dressing up
and doing scary
things, but it reflects a darkness in the world that needs the Light of
Christ
to dispel. All Saints Day reminds us that His light is stronger than
any
darkness and that the saints of the past show us how that light shines
through
us, the saints of the present, as we stay close to Him. November
2nd is All Souls’ Day when we remember those we love who have
passed from
this life to the next. This time of separation is a very
difficult time, a
time of darkness, yet their light continues to shine in our hearts and
lives.
As we remember them, we also remember that Jesus too died and was
buried, but
into the darkness burst the light of his resurrection.TheLight of
Christ With
every blessing, |
days seem an
appropriate
time to remember the past and to recall how the Light of Christ
overcomes the
darkness.|
October Dear
Friends,
WELCOME TO BISHOP RACHEL Last
month I told you about our journey to In
a magnificent and moving service we travelled with Bishop Rachel on a
journey that began with her entering the West Door, simply dressed in
white, and
being asked at the Font ‘Who are you? And why have you come to us?’ She
answered, ‘I am Rachel, a pilgrim and servant of Jesus. I have come as
one
seeking the grace of God’. She
continued
her journey along the Nave stopping at various points until she came
into the
Quire where she was anointed at the High Altar. Now dressed in her cope
and
mitre, she was placed in the Cathedra, her seat, and was reminded by a
small
girl that she was a child of God before praying and receiving her
crozier. Back
in the nave she was greeted with great applause before sharing the
peace. In
her sermon Bishop Rachel reminded us that all who have said ‘Yes’ to
Christ in baptism are called to make a difference. All who are soaked
in the
waters of baptism are called to leave a’ trail of wet baptismal
footprints’ and
witness to Christ wherever they go. It was a very memorable
illustration in a
service in which baptism was an important theme. The service ended with
everyone gathering on College Green and being sent out with God’s
blessing, but
not We
welcome Bishop Rachel, look forward to her ministry among us and in
due course to welcoming her here in Parkend and Viney Hill.
Philippa |
September O
for a thousand
tongues to sing, my
great Redeemer’s
praise! With
so many people space was at a premium, but was very
carefully managed. We sat in the South Transept with the Quire in front
of us,
filled with Bishops! Unfortunately we couldn’t see very much, but were
able to
hear everything.
On
Saturday 19 September at The
Consecration Service ended with the giving of the
instruction: Keep
watch over the
whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you shepherd.
May
Rachel be a blessing to us and we a blessing to her.
Philippa
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Dear Friends, In
August we continue to read from The popular long-running BBC Television programme Songs of Praise illustrates this so well! It was first aired in October 1961 when it was broadcast from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff. Over the years there have been many presenters and venues and several modifications as the programme keeps up with changing times. For many it is their Sunday worship by which they are fed and inspired. Singing
old and new hymns and spiritual songs is a key part of the programme,
of course. When we lived at Highnam, Songs of Praise was filmed in
the
One
of the most interesting and moving parts of Songs of Praise, however,
are the interviews in which a wide variety of people share their faith
and tell something of their story. Following Jesus Christ is worked out
in so
many different ways and shows the difference placing our faith and
trust in him
makes. Stories shared show us how we are his hands and feet, eyes and
ears, his
voice today. I
wonder… What hymn is your favourite? And what story would you tell of
your faith? Well remembered hymns and encouraging stories help us in
our faith
and remind us to give thanks to God for so many blessings! With
every blessing
Philippa
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July
Dear
Friends,
Much
to my regret I have never been a particularly ‘sporty’ person! I
was never very good at rounders, netball, hockey or tennis at school
and I was
usually the last to be chosen for any team. I was slightly better at
individual
events such as running or swimming, but not being particularly
competitive or fast I was usually among the last to finish the
race. I am more a rambler – or ambler, whichever you prefer! I did
enjoy,
however, watching and cheering on our children at their school Sports
Days,
football matches, gymkhanas or martial arts events. I am also
reasonably
knowledgeable about golf and vicariously proud of the many competitions
won by
a certain member of the family! I have great respect for those who do well in their individual sports, whether professional or amateur and recognise the hard work put into training and building up strength, stamina and skill. It takes time, effort, determination and perseverance to get to be the best you can. Although
I am not very competitive, I can persevere in whatever I am
doing, not wanting to give up until the task or goal is reached. The
Bible
interestingly speaks about training and perseverance in spiritual
terms. 1
Corinthians 9.24-27 speaks about training and discipline so that we are
equipped to run the race well. In Hebrews 12.1 we read ‘let us run with
determination the race that lies before us’. Working
at our spiritual disciplines, Bible reading, prayer, fellowship
and worship, is vitally important and takes time, effort and
determination, for
only thus will we be equipped to run the race with Christ. |
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June
PETS’
SERVICE 28
JUNE @
Dear
Friends
At
the end of this month we are holding another Pets Service at All
Saints, Viney Hill. Please note the slightly Pets
are an important part of our families. In our time we have had cats
(3), gerbils (3), hamsters (4 and babies), God’s
creation would not be the same without the animal kingdom, without
the birds, the insects, the reptiles, Our
pets are part of our task from God and also a blessing to us. I hope
you will be able to join us for our Pets With
every
blessing, Philippa
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MayDear
Friends
The second is Pentecost (Whit Sunday) when we celebrate the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit in wind and fire, inspiring, motivating and driving them out to share and spread the amazing Good News. The
third is Trinity Sunday when
we remember that God is Three-in-One,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The creator God who loves this world so
much he
sent his Son so we may be restored to eternal life with him. We are
invited to join in his active love for the world through the Holy
Spirit. This
month each of these Festivals will be celebrated in special ways.
We We begin our celebration of Pentecost on 24 May at 10.00 am at All Saints, Viney Hill with a Family Festival Communion including a Children’s Talk and Activities which is always a special time of blessing for us as a Church Family. At 6.00 pm at St Paul’s, Parkend we host a Christians Together Songs of Praise celebrating with our wider Christian Family in this area. Our
special celebrations come to a fitting climax from 29 – 31 May with
this year’s Flower
Festival at With every blessing Philippa |
Towards
the end of this month we have three important Church Festivals
which can be overlooked in the wider world. The first is |
Alleluia Christ is risen! – He is risen again. Alleluia! They are powerful words, important words because they shout out the very meaning of our faith that Jesus Christ is not dead – he is truly alive! Because he is alive we have hope in this world and the next as we accept his invitation to share in the love and community of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because he is alive we can have a relationship with him that fills our hearts and bursts out of us to shine his light in the world. I was particularly reminded of this at the recent solar eclipse. The world began to grow dark, the shadows lengthened, it became rather quiet as if all creation was waiting for something to happen. One could appreciate the fear in times past that the world might be coming to an end. In just a few minutes the moon moved across the sun and in some places covered it completely. The incredible thing was, however, that the world was not left in total darkness – the sun’s rays were still seen round the circumference of the black moon. There was still light on earth. Then in a short space of time the full light of the sun shone again. On
Good Friday, as the Light of the World, Jesus
Christ, was crucified, the world entered into darkness, but three days
later
the life and light of the Son of God shone
through the darkness. It is an incredible and beautiful
glimpse into the heart
of God.
As we
journey together this Holy Week and Easter may the light of Christ
shine in our
hearts in a new and enlightening way! Happy Easter to you all! With every blessing Philippa |
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January Every
Blessing for 2015 from All at the Vicarage!
To
a troubled world, peace from
Christ To
a searching world, love from
Christ To
a waiting world, hope from Christ We ask God’s blessing in this new year of 2015. Dear
Friends, We
do not know what this year will bring, but we do know who will be with
us every
step of the way during 2015. There will be opportunities that will take
us into
new directions we never thought would happen. There will be things to
celebrate
which will bring us great joy. There may also be things that will
challenge us
and may bring us sorrow. Whatever this year brings Jesus will be
alongside us,
an ever present listener to our prayers and an ever present voice in
our hearts
to guide us. He is present in each of us as we journey together through
this
year in faith and hope and love. As a church family we have the
responsibility
and privilege to be channels of his grace to others, to pray, to help,
to be
his hands and feet.
May
God bless you and your families in your journey with Him each day of
this New Year. With
every blessing Philippa |
This
month we encourage you to be with us to celebrate the
December
This month we
prepare again to celebrate the birth of Jesus
our Saviour. As we ponder and acknowledge this wonderful gift, we in
turn
consider the gifts we will give which reflect this. I thought you might
like to
read what Bishop Martyn, the Bishop of Tewkesbury says about gifts this
Christmas. “Most of us,
when we
picture the perfect Christmas, think of the young child waking early
and
rushing to see what has appeared under the tree. Every present is
touched,
shaken and inspected with a sense of awe and wonder. It is a
wonderful
tradition. Gifts are a way of creating or deepening relation-ships.
They draw
us into community and give us a shared sense of belonging. They require
thought, care and preparation. But they also create a sense of
obligation: how
will you return the gift? Or how will you pass it on? This Christmas
we will
hear again from the shepherds and angels. And we will ponder the
supreme gift
of God’s own Son. A gift offered to us with the intention that it (he)
draws us
into relationship and into community. But such a gift also creates an
obligation. How will we respond? How will we pass it on? Giving to God
our
devotion and our love is our supreme gift. But love for God cannot be
divorced
from love of neighbour. I hope this Christ-mas, we will also give to
our
neighbour in I hope you will
be able to join us for some of our services
this Advent and Christmas. Through this may we too create new
relationships which
will bring us much blessing and joy now and in the New Year to come. With every blessing Philippa
|
November Dear Friends
November, as we all know, sees particular changes of the season. Daylight hours are shorter; there is a drop in temperature; the weather worsens; the leaves fall from the trees and winter begins. In the church there is also a change in season, from Sundays after Trinity to a season of remembrance. We begin November with All Saints' Day, remembering all Christians in time and space and All Souls' Day when we remembered the departed. The second Sunday in November is Remembrance Sunday, that very moving time of remembering those who have given their lives to their country in war. the last Sunday of the old Church Year (23 November) is Christ the King, when we consider the reign of Christ, and what that means in ‘Kingdom values'. Kingdom values come in a variety of forms and are modelled in the New Testament for us to model in our turn. Jesus put God's Kingdom values in action. He put his Father first in all things through prayer; he reached out to the needy, the sick, the outcasts; he showed what righteousness, love, hope, forgiveness, patience truly mean. He showed what authentic faith means. The apostles and first disciples imitated the Kingdom values that they saw in Jesus and which changed lives. These values were central to all they did. Their faith had to be nothing less than authentic; they had to live what they taught, otherwise it would not have been ‘real' nor made any discernible difference to their way of life. As they lived them, they also modelled them for others. Some of the kingdom values they showed included persistence in prayer, in support of the new Christians. They recognised the faith, hope and love of their brothers and sisters in Christ and gave them genuine encouragement, especially important to a church that was often persecuted. They were able to do so because they took seriously the word of God in Scripture; they thought and talked about' what would Jesus say and do?' in any situation and trusted him, being open to God's Holy Spirit. Jesus was their model and it showed through, so they were models to the new churches and it showed through. They in their turn were models to others in the area and it showed through. We need to do the same and show that our Christian faith is authentic. Christians need to be true to God's values whilst living in today's world, so others know the truth too. With every blessing Philippa |
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October
Dear Friends
With every
blessing Philippa |
|
September Dear Friends Just one day
after the closing
ceremony of the Games, with great solemnity, the leaders of
the
Commonwealth and many others gathered in Every person in
every generation has
a life to live, a race to run, however long that may be. All of us have
the
example of those who have showed us the way and are encouraged by those
who
have gone before; who have blazed the way and cheer us on. The writer
of
Hebrews urges us to ‘… run with perseverance the race that is set
before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…’ (Hebrews
12.1b-2a
NRVS). May we heed these words of wisdom in our day and age. Philippa |
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August
Dear Friends |
| July Dear Friends We had a wonderful celebration of faith on Trinity Sunday with Bishop Martyn. It was good to welcome the congregations of Blakeney and Awre to this service and those being confirmed, affirmed in their faith and received into the Church of England. It was a wonderful day! Later that day at the evening service one of our Lay Ministers, Trevor Richings, chose the theme of God’s grace. He read to us from Eddie Askew’s book ‘Facing the Storm’. The story spoke of a man who had been sketching by a river on a bitterly cold day. He watched as an angler who had been fishing there for the last four hours pack up his gear. The last thing he did was to pull up his net from the water. As he did so it burst into a mass of silver energy as the fish inside thrashed about. The fisherman looked at them for a moment and then gently released them into the water, giving them their freedom. In the same way we can get entrapped by all sorts of things and can feel as if we are thrashing around without purpose or hope. Through grace, God has opened the way to us to be free from all that binds us. It is something we cannot do by ourselves; it is unearned and undeserved, a gift from God. This gift is there for all to receive and accept in faith. Our lives reveal the one in whom we believe, Jesus the Son of God. By faith we are saved and we live in that knowledge and should always be willing to show it and share it. That is what we were all celebrating on Trinity Sunday! May the grace of God fill our hearts through faith and make each of us a true witness to his grace. Philippa |
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June Dear Friends,
Philippa |
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A Day in the Life of the Vicar – an extract from a blog written on
Monday 12 May Woke to a
brilliant blue sky and a
quiet still day: a contrast to the high winds of the weekend. 10.00 am Gloucester
Cathedral for Archdeacon
Geoffrey Sidaway's funeral. A packed Cathedral and a wonderful Requiem
Mass.
Geoffrey very supportive of the churches in the 12.30 pm Home and
catch up time for
emails and phone messages. After lunch spent time on Deanery matters as
it is
the time of year for Annual Reports. As Area Dean I am responsible for
gathering these in. 4.00 pm Home
again after a brief call on a parishioner. Email and phone check, then
tackled
monthly expenses and prepared for a funeral. 6.30 pm More
office work as it is time to think of service rotas and the magazine
for June.
There are also several meetings this week which means reading all the
paperwork.8.30 pm Supper and time to relax a bit before bed.10.00 pm
Night
Reflection. 'I am reminded in the thought section of the devotion I am
following that taking time to read the Bible each day, 'digesting it'
(that is
taking time to enjoy it like a good meal) and then living it out, is an
important part of any Christian journey. A good thought on which to go
to
sleep!
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May Dear Friends
We have been
having a spring clean and clear out at the Vicarage. It
doesn’t
actually seem that long since we did it last, but where does everything
come
from? This year I was particularly keen that drawers and cupboards in
our joint
study were turned out. How did we ever end up with literally thousands
of paper
clips (all sizes), dozens of pens and pencils, numerous dead batteries,
rolls
of sellotape and sheets and sheets and sheets of repeated notes,
agendas,
minutes and reports? It certainly was very satisfying to dispose of
much of the
latter. There are so
many things we can
possess today and when new things come on the market, the old are still
okay
and kept. Do you remember when there was only one television in a house
–
usually in the sitting room? When that was replaced the old one might
migrate
to the kitchen and the next to the bedroom and so on such that one
became
several. And do you remember when you had your first computer? – one
for all
the family! And now there may be several in the house plus each person
having a
tablet or smartphone . The above can
be duplicated in so
many ways and it is no wonder that the Vicarage has become full of
‘things’!
Having a good clear out helps to identify what is needed and what can
be
recycled, taken to the charity shop or otherwise disposed of. The trick
now is
to look before we buy and not duplicate what is not needed! Every so often
in our lives it is
good to take a step back and decide what is really important. Perhaps
we need
to make more time to catch up with family and friends or to relax and
get
outdoors more. Perhaps it is a need to make time to spend with God, to
pray,
read our Bibles and to listen for his still, small voice of wisdom and
guidance. As spring turns into summer may you find time to take that step back and decide on what is really important.
Philippa |
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April
Dear Friends
The Crossbeam of the Cross – it was very heavy and Jesus was battered and bleeding. No wonder he stumbled. Jesus carried the suffering of the world in order to redeem it. The purposes of God are cross shaped. The Crown of Thorns – the soldiers dressed him as a king, made fun of him and bullied him. But the joke backfired because Pilate puts Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews on the cross. Jesus is the true King. |
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March
Dear Friends
Yet there is
hope, for we have also seen communities joining together
to help
and comfort in many ways. We have seen boats instead of cars carrying
mail,
medicines, groceries and also ferrying people where they need to go.
Emergency
services, flood wardens and so many more have helped in so many ways.
The deployment
of service personnel, help with pumps from the
Local churches
and Christians have been right there from the start in
these
difficult days. When there is so much uncertainty and distress we can
bring an
extra dimension. This may be by being involved in local initiatives to
alleviate the very real suffering we see around us; to show love to our
neighbours.
Or if this is not practical we can hold people and situations in prayer
and
hold on to God’s words for them;
Do not be
afraid – I will save you. I have called you by name
– you are
mine. When you pass through deep waters I will be with
you; your
troubles will not overwhelm you. Isaiah 43.1b-2a.
Keeping hope
alive and showing God’s grace is something we all need,
but
especially when life is turned upside down in such disastrous ways.
Philippa |
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February Dear Friends The Company of
St Kyneburga Unlike many
dioceses the Diocese of
Gloucester had no diocesan award for significant service. Bishop
Michael has
now instituted such an award through membership of “The Company of St
Kyneburga”. Initially there will be 23 recipients to begin the
“company”, then
usually 6 to 10 awards in each year, admitted at an annual service in
the
Cathedral. Most of the awards will be for long service within the
diocese open
to men and women, lay and ordained, but with an expectation that the
majority
of the company will be lay people. Among the categories considered for
inclusion would be long-serving churchwardens and parochial officers,
readers,
head teachers, church musicians and clergy who have served all or most
of their
ministry in the diocese. Bishop Michael
has given the award
the name of St Kyneburga, since she was the co-foundress and first
abbess of
the first religious community at what is now Gloucester Cathedral. The
Inaugural Service is in the Cathedral at
I am delighted
to tell you that Jean Edwards from this parish has been
invited
to be a member of the Company of St Kyneburga. Jean has many roles in
the
church as organist, as a Parish Visitor and as my Pastoral Assistant.
She also
helps lead the weekly Storytellers Club at
With every blessing to you all Philippa
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| January
Every Blessing
for
2014 from All of Us at the Vicarage!
To a
troubled world, peace from Christ
To a searching world, love from Christ To a waiting world, hope from Christ We ask God’s blessing in this new year of 2014. Dear Friends
Recently I read
an advertisement which was about making it easier for
us to be
more active, healthier and better informed in 2014. This is often the
basis of
many New Year’s Resolutions: we want to get fitter and trimmer; to take
on
something new; to keep in touch with family and friends old and new.
Making
Resolutions at the New Year or other times is rooted in very
ancient traditions with the basic idea of
putting things right as well as of
self-improvement. Some churches hold a special service late on New
Year’s Eve
as an opportunity for Christians to review the year that has passed, to
make
confession, and to prepare for the year ahead through prayer. We will
be doing
this as part of our services on 29 December.
It is always
good to take time to prayerfully consider how we can
spiritually
grow and be more active, healthier and better informed at turning
points in a
year. It is good to ask, ‘How is God calling me/us to live and share
the
transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ in the circumstances in which we
find
ourselves?’ Sometimes this will not be easy, but witnessing to the
hope, love
and peace of Jesus transforms lives – including our own!
May God bless you and your families in your journey with Him each day of this New Year.
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