Our Clergy letter this month is from Rev. Jennifer Totney The first time I went on a silent retreat, I wasn’t too worried about being quiet during the day- I am used to quiet walks for reflection, but I did wonder how the mealtimes would be. It was strange of course, especially as I had gone with a group from my church. We did manage to have much hilarity- it is amazing how funny burnt toast can be when you are not allowed to talk to each other! But the thing I noticed the most, was that it made me much more aware of other people. When you can talk to each other it is easy to say ‘please pass the salt’ or to get someone’s attention by saying their name. But because we couldn’t use verbal cues, we had to pay attention to each other much more. It was a strange combination of feeling removed from each other and yet brought closer in a new way. I have noticed a very similar sensation over the last few months as we have all adjusted to ‘social distancing’ and wearing masks. We are removed from each other in ways that are unfamiliar- not being able to shake hands or hug, not seeing someone smile or frown. And yet because of this we have to pay more attention and be more aware of each other. Instead of just brushing past people on the street or footpath, we are thinking about which direction we are going. Instead of just smiling at people we pass, we have to say hello or nod to show our engagement. We are getting adept at reading expressions from our eyes rather than our whole faces. Perhaps like my silent retreat, we can use this opportunity to pay careful and loving attention to one another, making special effort to connect despite the distance between us. This is the way God looks at each one of us, knowing ‘when we sit down and when we stand up’ as well as our deepest thoughts as Psalm 139 has it. We will find that although much of life feels at one remove at the moment, being aware of each other will bring us closer together. And finding things like the burnt toast to laugh about together doesn’t do any harm either! FROM THE REGISTERS Funerals: May they rest in Peace. Pam Bracher Funeral on 24th September at St Mary’s, Upavon Carolyn White Funeral on 14th September at St Mary’s Alton Barnes V ALE OF PEWSEY TEAM MINISTRY Rev Canon Deborah Larkey, Team Rector, The Vicarage, Woodborough, Pewsey, SN9 5PH (01672) 851746 [email protected] Rev Jennifer Totney, The Rectory, Church Street, Pewsey, SN9 5DL (01672) 562886 [email protected] Rev Mark Windsor, The Vicarage, Wilcot, Pewsey SN9 5NS (01672) 564265 [email protected] Rev Canon Gerald Osborne, Associate Priest and Rural Dean, Lower Farm House, Milton Lilbourne (01672) 563459 [email protected] Rev. Colin Heber-Percy, Curate, 01264 731386 email: [email protected] PEWSEY METHODIST CHURCH, NORTH STREET, PEWSEY Minister: Rev Stephen Skinner, Marlborough (01672) 512457 [email protected] ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY, BROADFIELDS, PEWSEY Parish Priest: Father John Blacker, Marlborough (01672) 513267 [email protected] marlboroughandpewseycatholics.org.uk Team Office, Bouverie Hall, Pewsey SN9 5QE 01672 562221 [email protected] Church Services in the Vale of Pewsey for October Date 4th October 11th October 18th October 25th October Trinity 17 Trinity 18 Trinity 19 Bible Sunday Readings Exodus 20.1-4,7-9,12- Exodus 32.1-14 Exodus 33.12-23 Nehemiah 8.1-4a[5-6] 8 20 Philippians 4.1-9 1 Thessalonians 1.1-10 -12 Philippians 3.4b-14 Matthew 22.1-14 Matthew 22.15-22 Colossians 3.12-17 Matthew 21.33-46 Matthew 24.30-35 St John the Baptist 9.30am 11am 11am 11am Pewsey *# Wonderzone Celebration Parish Communion Morning Worship Parish Communion St Mary, Alton Barnes 9.30 am 9.30 am Parish Communion Parish Communion St Stephen 11.00 Beechingstoke Harvest Festival All Saints *# 11am Harvest Stanton St Bernard St James * 11am 11am * Café Church Harvest Festival North Newnton St Peter 9.30 9.30 Manningford Bruce Harvest Festival Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene # 11am Woodborough Parish Communion St Nicholas 8am Huish Holy Communion 11am Holy Trinity Parish Communion Oare Holy Cross 11.00am 6pm Wilcot Parish Communion Evensong St Peter *# 6.00pm 9.30 am 11.00 am Milton Lilbourne Harvest Festival Holy Communion Morning Worship Holy Trinity 11.00 am 11.00 am Easton Royal Morning Worship Parish Communion St Andrew 9.30am 9.30 pm Wootton Rivers Holy Communion Morning Prayer St Peter 6pm 6.00pm Parish Communion Evening Worship Charon St Peter St Matthew 2.30 for 3,00pm 11.00am 11.00am Rushall Creationtide Walk Holy Communion Matins St Mary # 8.00 am 11.00am Upavon Holy Communion Morning Worship Our pattern of services are slightly different currently due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Please check before travelling * Access for Wheelchairs # Loop system for the hard of hearing BCP Book of Common Prayer All other services Common Worship WEEKDAY SERVICES: Holy Communion on Wednesdays at 10.00 am at St John the Baptist, Pewsey Morning Prayer Monday: St Peter, Charon St Peter 8.45am Tuesday: St Mary, Upavon 9.30 Wednesday: St Matthew, Rushall at 8.30am Page: 5 Ride and Stride This year there were 7 riders: Gerald and Emma Osborne, Katie Kornicka, Anna Wilson, Simon Vandeleur, Rose and Orme de St Hilaire, and 4 travelling supporters: Anita Vandeleur, Rory, Polly and Evie Kornicki. Mark and Anna Wilkinson set them off from St Peter's (with thanks to Mark for the photography at St Peter's) and the 35.9 miles to Salisbury Cathedral Close were completed in glorious sunshine. According to the Fitbits and apps on phones, each cyclist used around 1,300 calories. The highest point was Upavon Airfield before a beautiful run west across the Plain to Netheravon, and then south following the River Avon down the Woodford Valley into Salisbury Cathedral Close where a picnic was enjoyed against the backdrop of the Spirit & Endeavour Exhibition of sculptures by Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Elizabeth Frick and others, celebrating 800 years since the laying of the first foundation stone of Salisbury Cathedral, and then a tour for some of the Cathedral. Twenty nine generous donors kindly donated online via Justgiving.com or with a cheque or cash. The two Justgiving sites, set up in the names of Katherine Kornicka and Simon Vandeleur (www.justgiving.com/David-Vandeleur) are still open for those who may wish to make a donation. Half of the money comes back from Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust to St Peter’s. WHCT keeps the other half, plus the Gift Aid, to help repair/restore Wiltshire's historic churches, including St Peter's. The Grand total raised so far for WHCT and St Peter’s Church is £1,345, plus Gift Aid. This is a brilliant amount at a time when churches are missing out on money from collections during services while the costs of maintaining these ancient and historic buildings do not go away. With grateful thanks to all those who took part and/or donated to a very worthy cause. Photographs of the Start and the Finish are attached! 5 It continues to be a very interesting and challenging time for all of us, and with the changing of the seasons and a definite change in the weather, there have been a few other changes to note too: Councillor Terry Eyles has recently stood down from the council after many years of sterling service. We were pleased to be able to provide a tribute to him which was published in the local press, but for those who did not see it, I’ve included it here: “After nearly 30 years of outstanding service for Pewsey Parish Council Terry Eyles has had to stand down for health reasons. Terry`s first Full Council Meeting was May 1991 and before long he was deeply involved, especially with environment issues, taking over as Chairman of the Environment Committee in 2005, a post he held until this week. In addition to the Parish Council, Terry also served on various Social Housing Committees, in particular Aster Housing, speaking on behalf of local tenants. He also helped run a Youth Club in Pewsey for many years. Terry remains a trustee of the “Pewsey Relief In Need “ Charity. We will all miss Terry and sincerely hope that he returns to better health in the not too distant future so that he is able to get back to enjoying some of his other interests including Fishing, Speedway, Rugby, Football and Cricket.” The Parish Council would also like to pay tribute to the PCCA volunteers for all their hard work on behalf of our Community. Whilst few of the councillors were able to assist in a practical, hands-on way (due to shielding and self-isolating requirements) the Parish Council provided help from the very earliest stage through grants, banking services and financial management support. For example, until recently we administered PCCA finances on their behalf through the auspices of our Parish Bank Account. We believe this partnership working to have been an important factor in the undoubted effectiveness of the PCCA response to date. PCCA are now in the process of morphing into a charity, with their own bank account and administration and also a new name, “Pewsey Creative Community Alliance.” Given the latest government predictions that current restrictions will remain in place for the next 6 months, we will continue to offer support to the PCCA to help maintain some of their valuable services.