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January 2016 Redenhall Wortwell Harleston Needham Brockdish Thorpe Abbotts Billingford Scole Benefice of Redenhall with Scole - Church of England - Diocese of Norwich facebook.com/redenhall.scole twitter.com/RedScole 1 Ramblings from the Rectory January is all about new resolutions and fresh beginnings. I hear lots New Year's Resolutions about cutting down smoking, more exercise, looking for a better job etc. I'm sure you could add lots more of your own. Sadly, so many new starts don't even make it past the end of January. I was chatting to a gym owner. He loves New Year because loads of people sign up at his gym (not in Harleston). They're all enthusiastic and confident that this is the start of a whole new, healthier lifestyle. They're so confident that they insist on paying for a whole year. Some, well a few, will become regulars but many barely make it past January, still fewer to Easter. For him and most gym owners New Year's Resolutions pay the bills and human weakness makes sure that the gym isn't overcrowded past January. I can be a little cynical about New Year but I do know that a fresh start can be such a powerful thing. I know that I need a mental, physical, and spiritual clean slate regularly, otherwise all my failures just build up and going on just seems beyond me. Thankfully, I get that fresh start every time I pray, every time I ask for forgiveness, each time I am set free and can start again, clean and pure. But with really big things I need a little more help. When I have lost someone close to me I have needed the funeral to really mark the fact that I won't see that person any more on this earth. I need those prayers; that ritual. I need to sprinkle soil into the grave and commit them to God's safe keeping. It doesn't take away all the pain or tears but it helps; it helps. That is why we have these rites of passage. But what happens when a major life change happens and there isn't a rite of passage? For example, what about divorce? With divorce being far from uncommon I suspect that there are many, many women and men who feel bereft and empty following their divorce: People in need of a rite before God to mark what has happened and allow them to walk on knowing that God is walking with them. I hope that they are able to find someone who can help them in their pain. Cont.... 2 ....cont Moving house can also be a life changing event. Again, I have found that marking that change by blessing the house and those who will live in it helps to mark this transition. Becoming a parent is certainly a life changing event that is as least as momentous as getting married, again this can be marked with prayers and blessings. Rites marking these, and so many other life events are so important and I feel privileged to have been able to provide these to many people over the years. If any of you would like to explore how to mark an important life event then I would be happy to talk with you. New beginnings can be essential to being able to carry on in life. This New Year, whatever your future holds, I wish all of you the Father's blessing and love, his comfort and peace, in this world and in the next. God bless, Nigel. You've blessed me with friends and laughter and fun With rain that's as soft as the light from the sun You've blessed me with the stars to brighten each night You've given me help to know wrong from right You've given me so much, so please Lord give me too A heart that is always Grateful to you. Taken from http://www.faithandworship.com/Celtic_Blessings_and_Prayers.htm Look Out For in 2016. Ely Outing in April, Quiet Day in May, Summer Lunch and Otley Hall Retreat Days Stillness, Mindfulness, Meditation. Free & Open to All Oasis Prayer Space, Archbishop Sancroft High School. Weds 20th January at 7.30pm. NEEDHAM House Group in Needham is on 19th January at George & Sylvia Millers home, led by Revd Nigel Tuffnell 01379 308905. Needham Coffee Mornings with Cake, Raffle and Stalls. In The Red Lion at 10.00am on Tuesday the 5th January and also on 2nd February. 3 SCOLE Treasurer. Do you know someone who would be our ‘Church Treasurer’ and take minutes at meeting 6-8 times a year? Please contact Rev Sue details back page. Scole Home Group is on 14th January, 7.30pm at Rev Sue’s. Call 01379 740325 if you would like to come. Saturday 6th Feb Scole Church - 6.30 pm for 7pm Bookings Rev Sue Auckland Tel: 01379 740325 Email: [email protected] BILLINGFORD Advent and Light weekend at St Leonard’s Billingford. A steady stream of people visited our church on 28th and 29th November,they enjoyed the 25 displays ,all very inventive. The church looked different but beautiful. Visitors also enjoyed hot drinks, a variety of cakes and egg and bacon rolls cooked to order,these proved very popular. Although not really a fund raiser we did make £280. Our thoughts for the weekend was to encourage a larger congregation to our carol service at 4pm on 29th, as last year only a disappointing 16 attended. We were delighted when our congregation swelled to 60 and Carols by Candlelight led by Nigel and Lynda was a success and enjoyed by all who attended. Thankyou to everyone who decorated the church, cake bakers and everyone who helped in any way. Special thanks to Georgina for organising the event. Sue Redgrave BROCKDISH Quiz Night in Brockdish Village Hall Saturday 9th January at 7.30pm Tickets £5 and remember to bring your own drink. Call Jan 01379 668630 4 HARLESTON The Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike Ride & Walk. This year, Maureen, Peter, Jean and Michael visited cathedrals, churches and chapels in Norwich and I went on my bike around the churches and chapels in “The Saints”. Between us we raised £566 for St John’s Church, Harleston and the Norfolk Churches Trust. A deduction of 5% for administration and printing is made to all monies submitted; the remaining 95% is divided equally. Last year £103,595 was raised for the Norfolk Churches Trust. Thank you to all who helped in any way to make this event possible and successful. Gill Green,Local Organiser. Thursday House Groups is on 12th January at Gill & Nigel’s home and 26th January at Sheila’s at 7.30pm. Please call Sheila 01379 852762 if you would like more information. Light House Group is on 15th January at 2.00pm. This time it will be at Gill & Nigel’s home 2 Shotford Road, Harleston. This group is a Mission & Disciple- ship group and if anyone would like to join just contact Revd Nigel Tuffnell. Details back page. Christian Unity Service will be held at the RC Church at Jays Green Centre, Harleston on Sunday 24th January, starting at 5.30pm tea for 6pm service. Mothers’ Union Thank you to all members and friends who came to our December meeting, to Anne for writing the quiz, and to everyone for the delicious bring-and- share supper. An enjoyable evening to end to our year. The first meeting of 2016 will be on Thursday 7th January, 7.30 pm, Methodist Hall. A short AGM will be followed by a talk, given by our member Mr Brian Wright, entitled “Henry Blogg, Lifeboatman”. Just a reminder that the members’ annual subscription for 2016 (increased this year to £24) is due to be paid at this first meeting of the New Year, and to say that we welcome ladies and gentlemen to join us at our meetings - you don’t have to be MU members. I wish all members and friends a happy and peaceful New Year. With love, Daphne. 5 Lent 2016 Lent Groups will be from the Week Beginning Sunday 14th February to the Week Ending Saturday 27th March This year we will be exploring Healing together Healing - and forgiveness / Healing - creation Healing - relationships / Healing - the body Ash Wednesday Services 7pm, 10�� February at St. John's Harleston & St. Andrew's Scole Brockdish - Group 1 Alternate Mondays & Tuesdays 7.30pm. Varies at Roy and Val’s or Louis’ and led by Revd Sue Auckland 01379 740325, [email protected] Thorpe Abbotts - Group 2 Led by Lynda Mansfield call 01379 740401 or [email protected] for day and venue as these might vary. Harleston - Group 3 Tuesdays 7.30pm Hosted by Sheila Thurlow, 72 London Road, Harleston or Nigel and Gill Mutimer, 2 Shotford Road, Harleston. Led by Revd Nigel Tuffnell and Sheila Thurlow 01379 852762, [email protected] Needham - Group 4 Wednesdays 2.30pm. Hosted by George and Sylvia Miller, Ivy Farm House, 44 High Road, Needham. Led by Nigel Tuffnel, 01379 308905, [email protected] Scole - Group 5 Thursdays 7.30pm. Hosted and led by Revd Sue Auckland, 8, Karen Close, Scole. 01379 740325, [email protected] Harleston - Group 6 Thursdays 7.30pm. Hosted by Don and Joan Blagg, 24 Church View, Harleston or Brian and Kay Wright, 36 Mendham Lane, Harleston and led by Revd Nigel Tuffnell and Don Blagg, 01379 854156, [email protected]. Please either add your name & telephone number to the form at the back of your church or contact the leader to book your place.