Royal Wootton Bassett United Reformed Church June 2019 Newsletter

Services Sunday services begin at 10:30am 2nd Bryan Elkington 9th Revd Ollie Blease with our worship team 16th Revd Andrew Francis including Holy Communion 23rd Revd Tom MacMeekin 30th Revd Gerald Tea and coffee will be served after the service. Please stay and enjoy this time of fellowship with us. Welcome to any visitors today, please make yourself known to any one of us.

On Saturday at the start of Christian Aid week we had a May Festival. £432.70 was raised for Christian Aid and the Food Collective. Big thanks to Lorna and her family for leading the work of organising the day.

Members raised plants to sell and made refreshments. A raffle had prizes donated by local businesses. Representatives of the Food collective showed a typical food box and there were talks by the Allotment Society and the Cottage Garden Society. Please join the Wootton Bassett Bible Society Action Group for a strawberry tea in the lovely surroundings of the Croft and raise funds for children’s Bibles in Malawi. Sat 8 June from 3.00-5.00, tickets £5 from The Croft or tel 01793 854038.

Royal Wootton Bassett Orchestra in Concert Music from the Movies - The Greatest Showman - Lord of the rings - Jurassic Park - Cavatina - Chronicles of Narnia - Pirates of the Caribbean - Gladiator - and more. The concert at the Memorial Hall in May received rave reviews. Our string players will join the orchestra for the repeat performance at Abbey, SN16 9BA, Saturday 8th June 7.30pm

Tickets: Adults £8, Students & Under 16’s FREE Tickets available on the door or reserve by email: [email protected] or Bookshop

Café Church Our service on 14th July will be a family focused Café Church led by Sarah Crabb. We will be in the hall, comfortably seated round tables. Something to bring out the inner child, among children - bring along your grandchildren, nieces, nephews and godchildren to share the exciting time of craft in worship.

Happy Birthday this month to Lucy Dixon

Rotas for June Church Welcome Vestry Notices Readers Communion Tea Flowers 2nd Isobel Eileen Fiona Fiona Andrew, Fiona Jack, Isobel 9th Jenny Joy Jenny Fiona Ron, Margaret Lorna, Jenny 16th Angela Lorna Andrew Fiona Lorna, Jenny Andrew, Fiona Ron, Margaret 23rd Margaret Jack Joy Fiona Jack, Nicky Joy, Eileen 30th Eileen Eileen Jack Fiona Ron, Margaret Andrew, Lorna Murmurings from the Manse I was at a concert in Malmesbury Abbey, I looked up to the ceiling and there amidst the 12th century architecture was a red hearted shaped helium balloon.

It made me smile, it also made me wonder a) how it had got there and b) how much of a distraction in was.

It looked out of place and yet quite ‘at home’.

It was unexpected, but maybe that says more about my perceptions than the realities of life in 2019.

Surely the point is that despite the size or grandeur or tradition of our buildings, the purpose that brought them into being remains the same and that is to serve and glorify God in whatever ways work for those who come through our doors.

The Abbey was full that night, as it always is for concerts by Malmesbury Singers (they are very good!) the programme was St. John’s Passion and it was the night before Palm Sunday. As the words and the music engulfed me I couldn’t help but think that the heart shaped balloon was symbolic of the events about to unfurl – and what lies at the heart of the Easter story, but God’s love.

Mother Theresa said “We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love”.

So think about how we can best serve and glorify God in the place He has entrusted to us, and don’t be scared of the unexpected.

Yours in Christ,

Sarah Church Diary for June Tuesday 4th 7.30pm Malmesbry URC Elders Training Evening

Saturday 8th June 7.30pm Malmesbury Abbey Our string group playing in RWB Orchestra concert

Thursday 20th 7.30pm Annual Church Meeting Documentation previously circulated

Tuesday 25th 7.30pm Malmesbry URC Elders Training Evening

Sunday 30th After service Lunch at Five Bells, Celebrating Lucy’s 93rd birthday Please confirm with Joy to ensure you have a place there. Cost £12.95 or £6.95 for a smaller portion. Choice of roast pork, beef, lamb or chicken. Vegetarian options available.

For your July Diary

Thursday 11th July 7pm Elders Meeting Sunday 14th July Café Church

Hive Toddler Group for parents, carers, and babies and toddlers, meets Thursday mornings, 9.30-11.30

Contact details Minister Revd Sarah Simpson 32 Niebull Close Reeds Farm Malmesbury SN16 9TX Tel: 01666 826866

Church Secretary and Serving Elder, Preacher Booking, Church Treasυrer and Serving Elder Foodbank Voucher Issue Serving Elder Joy Mattis 01793 848328 Fiona Butler 01793 849075 Jenny Stratton 07818 450651

Serving Elder Pastoral Visitor and Serving Elder Hall Booking Contacts Andrew Crown 01793 330502 Mrs E.Henly 01793 848712 Ron & Margaret Wills [email protected]

Web-site wburc.org.uk Web-site and newsletter editor Find us on Facebook Jenny Stratton 01793 850310 Twitter @rwburc [email protected]