November 2013
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
V I L L A G E N E W S For the villages of Charlton Musgrove, Cucklington and Stoke Trister with Bayford November 2013 REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY BENEFICE SERVICE REMEMBRANCE DAY (ARMISTICE DAY) th November 10 at Monday 11th November ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH Stoke Trister with Bayford Parish CHARLTON MUSGROVE Council will lay a wreath at at 10.45 am ST ANDREW’S, STOKE TRISTER at 11.00 am 1 FROM BATH AND WELLS From Rt Revd Peter Maurice, Bishop of Taunton As many of you will know, this period in the Church’s year between All Saints and Advent is known as ‘The Kingdom Season’, and it invites us to reflect on what we believe the church is for. You will have your own views, but at the heart of my response to that question as I look forward to Advent and Christmas is my continuing belief in a God who chose to come and make his home among us. In other words the church is called to be a sign of the God who has come to earth to dwell with his people. Our purpose as a church is not only to make better the lives of individuals, but through them to enable local communities to flourish as well. It is only when a community flourishes that the individuals who live there can live well, which is why the church is right to be so concerned at the levels of increasing poverty and debt that we are witnessing across the country. ‘Seek the welfare of the city’, God told the exiled Jews through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, because in its welfare you will find your welfare. On a recent visit to the Halcon Estate in Taunton that is what I witnessed. The church at the heart of one of the most deprived parts of our diocese working in partnership with the school, the police, social services and other willing partners to enable the community to flourish – the Kingdom of God at work! For all its weaknesses and foibles the church is still populated by Christian people who quietly go about the business of being Christians in their workplaces and communities, transforming them by their patience, kindness and generosity often over long periods of time. May God give us grace to continue to give evidence to the Kingdom by seeking the welfare of the communities in which we are set. +Peter Taunton Archdeacon Nicola elected as one of first female representatives to House of Bishops Archdeacon of Wells, the Ven Nicola Sullivan south west region as a woman in the House of has been elected as one of eight senior Bishops. This interim arrangement allows for women clergy to serve as regional women to make a contribution to the decisions representatives on the Church of England’s and discussions at the highest level in the House of Bishops. The creation of the regional Church of England. Following the roles by the House of Bishops means female disappointment at last November’s General participation at the highest level in the Church Synod, this move is a sign of hope and of England. It demonstrates how much the significant change over the next three years or House and its members value the contribution until such a time as women may be members of women to the future of the church. The of the House of Bishops in their own right. I move is in direct response to events of shall do my best to use my experience in this November last year, when General Synod as a diocese to serve and help shape the national whole narrowly voted against legislation to church in the challenges and opportunities allow women to become bishops. The House ahead”. of Bishops voted unanimously in favour. The regional representatives, who take up their Rt Revd Peter Maurice, Bishop of Taunton roles on 1 December, will play a full part in adds, “I welcome this news. The presence and meetings and discussions, bringing a fresh contribution of women will change the dynamic perspective from their own ministry and of the House of Bishops for the experience. They will not, however, be able to better. Archdeacon Nicola is at the coal face vote on decisions. of ministry and will bring a wealth of experience to this new role at such an Archdeacon Nicola says, “I am privileged, important time for the Church of England.” honoured and excited to be representing the The House of Bishops The House of Bishops is one of the three houses of the CofE General Synod. It has introduced the regional representative roles as an interim measure until legislation allows for women to be consecrated as bishops and there are six female members of the House. The 12-strong electorate for the regional representative elections comprised of two senior women clergy, nominated by their Bishops, from the six dioceses in the south west region: Truro, Salisbury, Bath & Wells, Gloucester, Bristol, and Exeter. 2 FROM THE RECTORY The clocks have gone back, the dark nights have returned and summer, which at least we had this year, is now a distant memory. For both church and state, November is a time for remembering. In the church calendar, the month begins with All Saints and then All Souls. Our Christian forbears were a canny lot. “If you can’t beat them, join them” seemed to be their motto. So if there was a good festival already in the cultures to which they brought their message of love, hope and new life, their preferred option was to baptise it, not squash it. Christmas, the feast that celebrates the birth of Jesus, has been put on top of the midwinter festival; Easter, the greatest Christian festival, that celebrates the rising of Jesus from death after his crucifixion, at least in England, is known by the name of a pagan goddess and All Saints on November 1st has been put on top of the autumn equinox festival. This was a time when the realm of the dead and of the living was said to be closest: in early cultures not always an easy thought. Halloween, literally, All Hallows Evening, (“hallow” being an old English word for sacred), the evening before November 1st, baptises this older festival. Children dress up as ghouls and ghosties and long legged beasties to make fun of that which in the pre-Christian era was thought to be frightening. The earliest Christian pictures of the resurrection of Jesus shows him going into the realm of the dead and rescuing Adam and Eve and all their children. Death and darkness now hold no fear and Halloween opens a two day festival in which we remember all the people who have lived and died before us. It celebrates that all those who have died, the saints and all the rest of us are, in death, safe in God’s keeping. Not everyone who has died we remember with fondness though. Those we have loved and cherished we remember with joy and thanksgiving; but, knowing that all souls are safe in God’s keeping means even those relationships we found hard and difficult need not be shied away from. All Saints and All Souls encourages us to remember; to remember those we loved and valued , with joy and thanksgiving and to have the courage to remember those who have caused us pain or who we feel we have let down, trusting that, even now, in Christ, these wounds are not beyond healing. Jo 3 BENEFICE N E W S CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2013 CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2013, ST ANDREW’S CHURCH STOKE TRISTER, FRIDAY 13TH, SATURDAY 14TH AND SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2013 There has again been a lot of interest in displaying a tree at this festival with many ideas from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to ‘Bunting, Baubles and Bows’. There are still places available if you have an idea and the energy to join us. Please contact Diana Noble on 01963 31071 for further details. The event will open on 13th December with a Cheese & Wine Evening at the church from 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm. The ticket price is £5.00 per adult; children are free and there will be soft drinks and mince pies for them! On the Saturday and Sunday the church will be open from 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm Entrance is free but donations will be most welcome. At 3.00 pm on the Saturday there will be congregational singing of advents carols, plus hopefully, a children’s choir who will perform seasonal music. Individuals or groups (adults or children alike!) can decorate their own trees using any theme they wish. Trees can be real or artificial but in the case of the former we suggest the size is limited to make them easy to handle and set up. Julian Shave’s shop in Wincanton will be offering a discount on trees ordered via the entry form. He will deliver them to the church. This year a lot of children have shown enthusiasm in helping to make a ‘Paper Chain Tree’! The chains can be any colour and decorated with stickers, glitter or pictures. The links should be approximately 30 cm x 4 cm and then stuck together in the normal manner. The paper chain can be any length you want – the longer the better! Now is the time to start making them because Diana and Maggie need them to determine the height of the tree structure. Any finished chains are welcome at either house. ST STEPHEN’S AND ST JOHN’S, CHARLTON MUSGROVE Church Wardens: Veronica White 01963 32928 Jonathan Hand 01963 828930 St.Stephen’s Church was looking suitably bountiful for the Harvest Thanksgiving service.