St Andrew’s is an Eco Church At St Andrew’s Church in Rugby, we have Prayer Diary an Eco-Church group and last year (2018) we were proud to achieve the Silver Eco Church Award. May 2019

In December we launched the first of our Sustainable Saturday events where local businesses and groups come to sell plastic-free, eco-friendly and charitable goods. God’s enfolding love for us These will be a regular, monthly event at St Andrew’s and will include free activities for families (e.g. storytelling) as well as different talks and demonstrations. The café 25 years ago this month, I had the enormous privilege and joy of will be open from 10am, and from midday it will serve a vegan lunch. being ordained priest after 7 years of being a . I was then delighted to be able to preside at a service of Holy Communion for St Andrew’s also has a crowd-funding campaign to transform its grounds into a place the first time on Sunday 8 May 1994, the day on which we for Peace, Performance and Play. Recently Warwickshire County Council and Rugby commemorate St. Julian of Norwich, a woman whose most Borough Council have pledged to support the project. We aim to reduce and famous words were ‘All shall be well, all shall be well and all replenish current planting, make more space for community events and develop a manner of things shall be well.’ flagship bee-friendly garden. We plan to do this whilst improving sight boundaries, with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour in the centre of town. We will co- The last century has seen the reemergence of the writings of the space with users and install a water fountain, charging points and a story several women mystics and Julian’s book ‘The Revelations of Divine Love’ is thought telling chair. Another aim of this project is to protect and enhance the current to have been the first book written by a woman which has survived. She lived in a memorial garden by developing a community-driven arts commission with new cell in Norwich in the 14th and early 15th centuries and, on 8 May 1373, received a seating, offering a safe refuge for reflection. By pledging a minimum of £150 you can series of visions. She saw Jesus bleeding in front of her and, through that, received have a loved one's name included and remembered in the memorial . deeper insight into his sufferings and his love for us.

For more information on the transformation of St Andrew’s grounds please visit: Julian lived a life of devoted prayer, offering spiritual counsel to many who probably https://www.spacehive.com/standrewsrugby at the time were beset by poverty, but the message in her writings is one of hope and trust in a God whose compassionate love is always there for us. She speaks of God enfolding us in love.

In a very turbulent world with so much uncertainty, there is, more than ever, a need for Christians to be prayerful, still and attentive, renewing our faith and trust in the God who loves us more than we can ever imagine and who showed us that most perfectly in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the hope that we can bring to others in what we say and in the way in which we live our lives.

‘May God's love wrap and enfold you, embrace and guide you, and bring you Sue Field comfort.’ (Julian of Norwich) Pastor

Page 8 Page 1 Focus on Rugby Deanery Flecknoe Breakfast Service

Someone once said to me that The parish of St Mark, Flecknoe, is one of the most understanding a Parish is a bit like trying rural in the Coventry Diocese consisting mostly of to land a big slippery fish. Just when you farms and small hamlets with about 140 living in the think you have got your hands on it, it main village, including children. In 2008 and 2009 we slips through your fingers and runs off in a were concerned because the average congregation at different direction! our twice monthly services had dwindled to 7. We were all getting older and most of us had been I sometimes find that with the Deanery members of the congregation for the last 20 years. too! Even though I have been Area Dean Due to Clergy time restrictions, all our services were held at 9.00am and all were Holy for nearly 2 ½ years, things keep popping Communion services. It was clear that if this continued there was no future for our up and surprising me. I am still discovering Church.

all the things I don’t know! That said, as We started to look round at what others were doing and in so doing attended a service time goes on I become more aware of all the great things that are going on in the in Badby in the Peterborough Diocese where coffee was served in the middle of the Deanery, and of course of the difficulties and struggles that some parishes are facing. service. We decided that since our service had to be at 9.00am, we would experiment But the good news is that we have a plan. In fact, we have had a plan for well over a with a new service with breakfast served in the middle of the service. We felt Holy year now and we would have told you all about it in the Prayer Diary last year but for Communion was too formal for most people and did not appeal to children so we the fact that Rugby Deanery had to give away its slot because of a special visitor devised a very simple new service suitable for all ages. The service splits into three being in the Diocese this time last year. sections, each of roughly 20 minutes. In the first we have the Welcome, a Hymn, Confession, the Peruvian Gloria (sung without accompaniment), a Bible reading and a Actually, Rugby was the first Deanery to formulate a plan to help it meet some of the Talk. We then break for breakfast which includes fruit juices, cereals, bacon, sausage challenges that it faces so that its churches can look to the future together and find and egg, roll or toast with jam or marmalade all washed down with proper coffee. All this ways of supporting one another and working more closely together. It’s not until you is done with no plumbing in the church. The service concludes with a Hymn, Prayers, a start an undertaking like this that you begin to see just how much the churches of simple creed, a third Hymn and the Grace. our Deanery are doing in sharing the love of Christ with others and the huge number of church folk that are involved in ensuring that the ministry and outreach of the The service is written in simple language so that even the smallest can follow. Having church reaches out ever wider into our communities. In the other articles that focus breakfast in the middle means nobody is rushing off and all have a good opportunity to on Rugby Deanery this month are just two examples of the ways in which we are catch up on local and family news and to make new friends. No charges are made, but doing this; one from a rural context and one from an urban one. Please pray for we do have a collection which more than covers our costs. We are fortunate to have a these and the many other creative things that our churches are doing, that you’ll skilled catering cook in our congregation so in this service we are leveraging the talents read about each day. of our community.

The service has steadily grown since its introduction in October 2010 and we now have a regular congregation of 30 or more, swelled by visitors from other Parishes in our Benefice and some from even further. As a result of the families and children this service Tim Cockell has drawn in, we now have several new younger Area Dean of Rugby members on our PCC and the future for our small Andrew Grant church looks much brighter. Churchwarden at Flecknoe

Page 2 Page 7 Fri 24 We thank God for all the headteachers who lead schools across the diocese. We pray for the Headteacher Wellbeing Group who meet Cycle of Prayer - May 2019 today. With a focus on parishes and schools in Rugby Deanery *John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788

Provost Williams Primary School, Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Headteacher: Claire Rugby St Peter and St John. Clergy: Sheila Bridge. We thank God for the

Sat 25 Hall. We pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in Wed 1 completion of Phase 1 of Project Welcome, also for the steady faithfulness of this school community. Philip and the congregation in spite of the sudden challenge of having no heating. We * Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735 James, would like prayer for sufficient funds to replace our boiler and for our *Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709 Apostles midweek community groups to recover attendance. Knightlow Primary School. Headteacher: Jill Vavasour. We pray for God's m2o Rugby. Clergy: Interregnum. Readers: Mervyn Hill, David Long, Mairi

Sun 26 blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. Thu 2 Mowbray. We thank God for those who have taken on new responsibilities *Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 during our vacancy and for many encouragements we have seen. Please pray Sixth Sunday of *John Calvin, Reformer, 1564 for the right person to become our vicar. Easter *Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595 *Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 Wolston and Church Lawford. Clergy: Kevin Flanagan, Paul Simmonds. St Oswald's CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Hillary Lorimer. We pray for

Mon 27 Readers: Isobel Wickens, Jayne Flanagan, David Gadsby. We give thanks for Fri 3 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school the permission received and funding raised to enable the long term refit of St community. Margaret's. Please pray for next year as that will involve moving out of church Today we pray for Bishop John who will be preaching at the Founders and to our local community centre. Benefactors' Service of King's High School for Girls at St Mary's, Warwick. Wolston St Margaret's Primary School. Headteacher: Julia McLeod. We pray Tue 28 St Matthew's Bloxam Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Anita Timson. We Sat 4 pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school. community. This month Bishop Christopher will be focusing on the work of the Living in *Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089 Love & Faith Project. We pray for wisdom for the Bishop as he works on this. *English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era Rugby St George. Clergy: Hilary Iredale. Readers: Carol Davies, Mike Iredale. Bilton. Clergy: Tim Cockell, Jonathan Smith. Reader: Glenn Lowde. We pray for

Wed 29 We thank God for the many people who play an active part in St. George's Sun 5 God's blessing on this parish. We thank God for our Messy Church and our mission and ministry. Please pray for us as we enter an interregnum in June - Pilgrim home groups. Please pray for the appointment of a new Associate Third Sunday of that we will work well together towards making the vision for St. George's a Minister who will focus on families & 20-30s and for a suitable house to be reality and for the right minister to be found to work with us. Easter found for them. Also pray for our desire to work more closely with schools. We pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches

Thu 30 (DAC). Mon 6 Harris CofE Academy, Rugby. Headteacher: Michael Stoppard. We pray for *Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school *Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431 Ascension Day community. *Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933

St Andrew's Benn Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Abi Huggins. We pray Leam Valley Benefice. Clergy: Anne Hinks, Barbara Clutton. Readers: Alec

Fri 31 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Tue 7 Parker, Karen Hatch. We thank God for our churchwardens and for all the new The Visit of community. services that are being developed across the churches. We ask for your Mary to We thank God for our brothers and sisters who serve and worship in other prayers that we may respond well to the call to become healthier churches Elizabeth Christian denominations. over the coming year by setting goals so our love will increase day by day. Page 6 Page 3 The Revel Primary School, Rugby. Headteacher: Mr A Edwards. We pray for Wed 8 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Thu 16 The Revel Group. Clergy: Jonathan Fox. Readers: Charon Hall, George Lee. We community. pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. We pray for the Investment Sub-Committee which meets today. *Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877

*Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417 Rugby St Andrew. Clergy: Imogen Nay, Barry Collins, Peter Privett, Pam Gould, Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Newton and Brownsover. Clergy: Malcolm Garratt

Thu 9 Graham Hardwick. Readers: Sue Goddard. We thank God for the growth of Fri 17 (retired). Readers: Cath Hammond (PTO). We thank God for the ministry of our community and for the new Junior Choristers. Please pray for St Andrew's Tim and pray for many blessings in his new role. Please pray for peace, Gardens ('A Space for Everyone' project) and for members of our stability, and hope; the reconciliation process at Christ Church and the on congregation who are getting older and moving into care homes. going interregnum in the benefice. Today is World Lupus Day. Lupus is a global health problem that affects May the blessing of God be upon our farms and on all the cereal crops of our

Fri 10 people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and ages. However many Sat 18 countryside. May they receive rain to swell the grain and sun to ripen it. We people have not heard of lupus and do not know its symptoms and the impact pray that the harvest be safely gathered in and stored, and may we see it can have on the lives of sufferers. We pray that today will help raise ourselves as harvesters for eternal life - "For look! The fields are already ripe awareness of lupus. for harvest". Amen. Newbold-on-Avon with Long Lawford. Clergy: Clergy: Paul Wilkinson, Diane Dunchurch Boughton Junior School. Headteacher: Ian Dewes. We pray for Sat 11 Bussey. Clergy with PTO: Peter Beresford, Sara Bowie. Reader: Jonathan Sun 19 God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school Broom. We thank God for the development of the Churchyard Cafe in Long community. Lawford Church. Please pray that we may be ever more visionary in Fifth Sunday of *Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988 embracing God's future for us. Easter Hillmorton. Clergy: Steve Gold, Margaret Simmons. Reader: Paul Thomas. We

Sun 12 pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the local community. Mon 20 Bilton Junior School. Headteacher: Alex Norton. We pray for God's blessing on Today Bishop John will be leading the confirmation service at St Peter's, pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. Fourth Sunday Alveston. We pray for the candidates being confirmed. We pray that their *Alcuin of York, Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804 of Easter faith will be broadened as they go out in the Spirit. Baginton, Bubbenhall and Ryton-on Dunsmore. Clergy: David Wintle. Reader: Leamington Hastings CofE Academy. Headteacher: Suzanne Marson. We pray

Mon 13 Rosemary King. We pray for God's blessing upon the church members and the Tue 21 for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school local community. community. We pray for all those taking SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in primary We pray for the Glebe Committee which meets this afternoon. schools across the diocese this week. *Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330 Dunchurch with Thurlaston. Clergy: Pat Townshend. We give thanks for the Today Bishop John will be interviewing the sponsored candidates at Tue 14 links we have had with Pets As Therapy, Forage Aid, the Royal British Legion, Wed 22 theological college, who are due to be ordained next year. We pray for these Eco Church, Dunchurch Band & Festival, Rugby Food Bank and the St candidates as they continue with their studies and begin their preparations for Matthias the Petersburg Choir over recent months. We pray that these links continue. ordination. Apostle We pray for the Bishop's Council which meets today. Draycote Benefice. Clergy: Ali Massey, David Shaw. We thank God for our Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore Primary School. Head of School: Lisa Bernard. We Wed 15 Thu 23 clergy, churchwardens and laity who all work so well together to serve our pray for God's blessing on pupils, teachers, staff and governors in this school community. Please pray for us as we discern God's will for this beautiful place, community. give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to comprehend God's mission as We pray for the Diocesan Board of Education which meets today. well as the energy to join in! Page 4 Page 5