GrapevineThe THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST LAURENCE CHURCH ALVECHURCH November 2014 Online at www.alvechurch-stlaurence.org Page 1 St Laurence Church Alvechurch SUNDAY SERVICES 8.00.am Holy Communion 9.30.am Family Service with Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday and Baptisms on the 4th Sunday 11.00.am Parish Eucharist 6.00.pm Evensong At Rowney Green Shared Church 9.30.am Methodist/Anglican Service with Holy Communion on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month DAILY SERVICE 9.00.am Monday to Friday In St Laurence Church ORGANISATIONS Sunday Club Sundays at 9.30.am in the Church and Ark (445 1854) Choir Thursdays at 7.45.pm in Church (445 3569) Bellringers Sundays at 10.30.am and 5.30.pm Tuesday Practice at 7.30.pm (01527 64077) Women’s Fellowship 4th Wednesday of the month at 2.00.pm in Tanyard Lane Community Centre (445 2125) Mum’s the Word Thursdays at 9.30.am in The Ark (07773509390) Tiny Tots Service 10.15.am 2nd Thursday of the month Ark Café Thursdays during term time at 12.15.pm (447 7017) Home Group Thursdays, 7.30.pm at the Coach House (445 2547) Messy Church Quarterly on a Saturday in The Ark (445 1985) THE ARK Enquiries to Ian Price 0121 447 7955 Registered as a Charity in England and Wales: Charity Number 1131783 Page 2 Philippa Brakes Writes... churches and elsewhere to comfort and strengthen each other. We may not be facing a world war now, but each of us faces times of loss, pain, regret and grief. We still have active and caring communities here in Alvechurch and Remembrance – November; time to look elsewhere. The church still continues to offer back over the year. What has happened to support, love, acceptance and a place for us and to those around us? What have we reflection and healing. It also offers a place done well and what could we have done and time when we can celebrate all that is better? wonderful in life; love and marriage, How must people have looked back 96 christenings, a chance to say thank you for years ago after four years of fighting a the good things we have and share. terrible war? So many had lost sons, Above all we have God who understands husbands, fathers and friends – seen sights everything we have been through – who they would never be able to talk about – rejoices when we are celebrating and wraps perhaps done things they would never have us in loving care when we weep. We do not believed themselves capable of; heroic acts, need to conceal or deny our failings and things demanding huge endurance, or sufferings, but simply to lay them at the feet perhaps unspeakable things that would of someone who accepts us just as we are fester in hearts and minds for years to come. and then fills us with his love and joy and Yet what seemed to come out of that war forgiveness. and out of so many wars since was a genuine desire for peace and reconciliation and for the dead to be remembered in a positive way. In our village, a grieving family gave the land we know as the Meadows to the village so that local people could gather and St Laurence’s Annual children play in perpetuity. What a lovely way to remember a boy who must have All Souls Service will be played there before the war cut short his brief life. held on Sunday I think part of what made the healing of the dreadful wounds possible for everyone November 2nd at affected by World War One was the sense of 11:00am. community spirit. Men from every background had volunteered and suffered All are invited to our traditional service for together in the trenches and women at remembering the recently departed. home found themselves pulling together and doing jobs no one had previously thought A form for those wishing to have the name they could or should. When it was all over of their loved on read out during the service people were able to draw together at the will be available at the back of the church from Sunday 19th October. Page 3 A Very Special Announcement Huntleys Funeral Services Dear friends, as a piece of “stop press” news you may have Serving your community for 130 years already head this “on the grapevine” but its important you Your local family orientated funeral directors read it officially in ”The Grapevine”! of distinction, offering a traditional and caring service with attention to detail On Wednesday 8th October an interview panel with Faith at FOR 24 HOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION Work representatives, Jill Woolley, myself and Reverend Nikki 01527 892900 Groarke (Archdeacon of Dudley), met to interview for our Priest in Charge/Workplace Chaplain post. We were successful 12 Feckenham Road in the applicant being suitable and he has accepted the post. Astwood Bank Branch also at The official notice via Reverend Nikki Groarke from the Bishop 58 Ipsley Street , Redditch is as follows:- 01527 62106 Providers of the Perfect Choice Funeral Plan An Announcement from the Archdeacon The Bishop of Worcester is pleased to announce that he has offered the post of Priest in Charge of St Laurence, Alvechurch and Workplace Chaplain, Faith at Work in Worcestershire to the Revd Richard Bubbers, and the offer has been formally accepted. Richard is currently an Assistant Curate in the Ipsley Team. He is married to Sally, a sensorimotor psychotherapist, and they have four grown-up sons. Prior to ordination, Richard was senior partner in a firm of solicitors in Hertfordshire, and practised as a civil litigation and family solicitor. It is expected that Richard’s Licensing will take place in early 2015. Many thanks for all the support and prayers for the team taking part. We now turn our prayers to focus on Richard as he leaves Ipsley and moves here. With our recent experience of an interregnum I’m sure we can use those insights to pray for the church at Ipsley. More details hopefully in The Grapevine soon! Martin Allen and Jill Woolley PCC interview panel representatives. Macmillan Coffee Morning Thank You From Rectory Cottage Many thanks to all the lovely people who came along and supported our coffee morning on the 26th September. Also a big thank you to our many hard working helpers, they did a wonderful job! We raised a total of £685, a great result. Thanks to all of you. Celia and family (Rectory Cottage, Old rectory Lane, Alvechurch. Page 4 "Rectory Cottage Bed and Breakfast" Old Rectory Lane, Hopwood Village Hall 1914-2014 Alvechurch offers The Trustees of Hopwood Village Hall invite you to celebrate warm and welcoming accommodation, with us the Centenary of the village hall with a 'bring and share' with super breakfasts and attractive, spacious bedrooms. supper at the hall on 28th November at 7.30pm. Local band Hopwood Junction will be entertaining us with their music, and we hope to have memorabilia on show as well. If you have any old photographs of the hall or events that have taken place there over the years, please get in touch with us. The event is free but please obtain your FREE ticket from Hopwood Garden Centre, Ash Lane. Please bring your own drinks to the event. Any more information from Ann Thurrell Contact Celia on 0121 445 4824, or visit our website on 0121 4477668. www. rectorycottage-alvechurch.co.uk WHERE NEXT ASSOCIATION Garden Centre Opening hours Mon-Fri 9 to 5, Sat 10 to 4 Woodwork Packing / assembly Landscaping / maintenance Support your local cha rity which offers peop le with special needs the opportunity to experience the real wo rld of wo rk. Wellesbourne Close Easemore Road, Redditch B98 8ER 01527 69955 Page 5 The Grateful And The Grumblers A poem by Gordon Parsons. God calls the Grateful and the Grumblers, Opens the mouths of mutes and mumblers, That they may think, and speak and say Those words the Master taught us to pray, As seventy times seven we beg to forgive, With grace our lives to fervently live We ponder not the how or where, We know that God is always there, On His throne in the celestial sea Ready to welcome your good self and me. His love for us is extra traditional, For though we sin, it's unconditional. Parent-like he tends and spares us, Comforts us through all our woes. While he may chide us with a frown His loving care is of renown. Alvechurch Village Society Ray Yarnell AVS Chairperson writes... The November walk will be at 2.30pm on Sunday 2nd November, and will be '' Up Hill and Down Dale'' which is another of a series of my favourite local walks. The walk will start at the Tanyard Lane car park and will be led by Anne and Andy Humphries (0121 445 5955). The November social event would normally be held on Wednesday 26th November, but we have given up our booking of the hall to allow an extra performance of the Pantomime ''Orphan belle & the Last Circus'' by The Alvechurch Dramatic Society. Kathryn Collinson BA Hons, BEd Hons, ALCM Tickets for the event are on sale as usual throughout the village and we would recommend and support this event Lessons from 20 minutes Rowney Green Horticultural Society to 1 hour The Rowney Green Horticultural Society meets at the Peace Hall on the second Thursday each month at 7.30pm. The meeting on 13th November 2014 will be the AGM followed by Cheese & Music tuition – All Styles Classical, Bass and Electric Guitar Wine.