The magazine of The Wissey Valley Benefice

Goodbye and God Speed to Ken & Wendy

March 2020 We pray to be generous and visible people of Jesus Christ News & Events

Contacts Janet Tanton [email protected] Facebook www.facebook.com/cre8StAndrews/ Methwold Rev Ken Waters [email protected] Ray Burman [email protected] Facebook www.facebook.com/ray.burman.9

† Methwold – St George’s v The next Adult Messy Church is at 10am, Saturday, 29th February in St. George’s Church. To encourage the swifts back to church we will be making swift nest boxes to go into the church tower. Book a place through Ray Burman. YOU WILL NEED A HAMMER! v The next Family Messy Church is on 12th April. More next month. † West Dereham – St Andrew’s v The next cre8 is on Saturday 7th March at 3pm in West Dereham Village Hall. See the poster on page 7. v café cre8 is open every Wednesday morning between 10.00 am and midday in West Dereham Village Hall. Good coffee and tea, snacks, chat and toys for toddlers.

Þ Youth Club The youth club for all Year 7 to 11s, meets at 7.00 pm on Friday, 6th & 20th March in All Saints Academy. Contact Revd Carol Nicholas-Letch (01366-500704) or Elaine Taylor (07770 896607) for details. Þ The Hive – Methwold Youth Club Everyone, from Years 5-13 (ages 9-18), is welcome to The Hive at the Iceni Academy Community Building! Three separate sessions: Mondays 3.30-5.30 pm (Years 5 & 6), Thursdays 6.30-8.30 pm (Years 7-9) and Fridays 6.30-9.00 pm (Years 10-13). Contact Tracy Doughty, [email protected].

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Rev Ken’s Column This is it then! The day I didn’t think would be here for a while yet has finally arrived. But a great opportunity came up that was too hard to refuse. Wendy and I are leaving this great place to spend a few years in the sunshine in Cyprus. I’ve taken up a new post in Paphos as an associate priest and we will be leaving in early April. We’ve had a fantastic time here in for the last 27 years, and between 4 and 10 years (depending on which church) as your local Vicar, so much so that when the post in Cyprus finishes we’ll be back (God Willing)! Not as the Vicar though; just a retired couple. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and love over the years. My last service will be at St George’s Church, Methwold at 11.00am Sunday 29th March 2020. This is a joint Benefice service and will be followed by lunch. It has been an honour and privilege to serve the parishes; to have been involved with the families during baptisms, weddings and funerals; to see you at coffee mornings, Burn’s Suppers, Quiz nights, Family Messy Church, Adult Messy Church and all the various other times we’ve crossed paths. We wish you all well for the future. Love and God Bless,

Ken & Wendy Waters

Network Page 3 March 2020 Services in our Group Feel free to enjoy as many services as you can manage!

Network Page 4 March 2020 Services in our Group Feel free to enjoy as many services as you can manage!

Network Page 5 March 2020 News & Events Benefice Lent Course This year’s Lent course starts on Wednesday, 4th March at 7pm. It will be held in at 3 Church Lane, Whittington, PE33 9TG, Susan Smith’s home. To book a place or for more details, please contact Susan Smith on [email protected].

The Eternal Youth Club The first Monday of the month, between 10am and midday, is the time for this special over-50’s youth club. Meet new people, enjoy refreshments in a new & exciting environment, borrow books and try out the amazing facilities at the Youth Centre in the Iceni Academy, Methwold.

Barton Bendish Soup Night This month’s soup night will be held on Wednesday, 4th March in the village hall. We will have a Major Christopher Zaremski from USAF Lakenheath. Rev Ken will be preparing and serving up his world-famous homemade soups! Book in with Rev Ken or Ray Burman (see page 8).

Regular Coffee Mornings and Events Tue 3rd 10.00am- midday St George’s, Methwold Wed 18th 2.00-4.00pm St Mary’s, Beachamwell (in Beachamwell Village Hall) Every Wed. 10.00am-midday café cre8 – West Dereham Village Hall (plus Toddlers) Every Thur. 10.30am- midday All Saints Academy, Stoke Ferry (followed by Lunch Club) To book lunch, call Carol on 01366-500704 Come and meet Old Friends and make New Ones

Barton Bendish Events • 14th March – Quiz Night. This year’s quiz will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday, 14th at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Teams of up to 6 people, £4 per person. Tea or coffee will be served but bring your own food and drink. Book a table on 01366-347563 or 347983. • Community Book Library – Starting in the Spring, a second-hand book library will be set up in St Andrew’s. Please remember us when you are spring-cleaning your bookshelves and if you have any bookcases that you no longer need please let Linda or Mhari know. • Advance Notice: a. Celtic Service – 28th April at 6pm b. Barton Bendish Open Gardens – 28th June

Organist Still Required St George’s, Methwold is in need of an organist for Sunday services and other occasional services. Anyone wishing to fill this appointment should contact Ken Waters, 01366-727220.

Ken’s Final Joke Spot Little Johnny was an old farmer; one day a bus-load of politicians were driving down a country road, when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into his barn. Little Johnny got off his tractor and went to investigate. Soon he dug a hole and buried the politicians. A few days later, the local policeman came out, saw the crashed bus and asked Little Johnny where all the politicians had gone. He told him that he had buried them. The policeman said, "Goodness, were they ALL dead?" Little Johnny said, "Well, some of them said they weren't, but you know how politicians lie!"

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Network Page 7 March 2020 Contacts Ministry Family Revd Ken Waters (Priest in Charge) [email protected] (Day off – Friday) 01366-727220 Revd Carol Nicholas-Letch (Curate) [email protected] (Day off – Wednesday) 01366-500704 Janet Tanton (LLM) [email protected] (Day off – Thursday) 01366-500031 Peter King (LLM) [email protected] Pippa Blackall (LLM) [email protected] Diane Mantle (LLM) [email protected] Ray Burman (LLM - Pioneer) [email protected] Michael Poole (ALM) [email protected] Susan Smith (ALM) [email protected] Tracy Doughty (Youth Worker) [email protected] Sarah Molyneux-Hetherington (Pioneer) Church Officers Churchwarden Secretary St Andrew’s, Barton Bendish Mhari Blanchfield 01366 347849 Liz Stephen 01366-347549 Linda Webster 01366 347563 St Mary’s, Beachamwell Vesna Hudson 01366 327030 vacant – please contact churchwarden All Saints, Boughton Pam Wakeling 01366 500429 Pam Wakeling St George’s, Methwold Nick Guyer 01366-727293 Ray Burman 01842-828891 Alan Burbridge 01366-727002 St Margaret’s, Sheila Smith 01366-858165 Christine Clere 01366-500417 St Andrew’s, West Dereham Graeme Pressley 01366-501179 Michael Poole 01366-500031 Christ Church, Whittington Susan Smith 01366-502254 Davina Eves 01366-500517 Elaine Taylor 01366-500948 All Saints, Elaine Taylor 01366-500948 Helaine Wyett 01366-500165 Susan Smith 01366-502254 Network Editor Michael Poole 01366-500031 [email protected]

Network Page 8 March 2020