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1 The Dun Valley Churches are members of The Clarendon Team THE CLARENDON TEAM MINISTRY OF CHURCHES TEAM RECTOR Revd Nils Bersweden, The Rectory, The Plantation, Winterslow, Salisbury SP5 1RE Tel 01980 862231. Mobile 07960 321355 E-Mail: [email protected] TEAM PRIEST Post Vacant TEAM CURATES Revd Cynthia Buttimer Tel: 01980 862017, [email protected] Revd Jane Dunlop Tel: 01794 884793, [email protected] TEAM LAY LICENSED MINISTERS Mrs Gill Morgan, Mr Bill Thompson, Mrs Debbie McIsaac, Mr Michael Barratt OTHER CLERGY Canon Roger Sharpe, Canon Jeremy Davies, Revd Anthea Cochrane, Revd Gordon Mitchell CLARENDON TEAM WEBSITE – www.clarendonteam.org - an informative website covering Worship services, notices and activities throughout the Team Team Worship Rota – www.clarendonteam.org/rotacurrent.htm, or to download in MS Excel www.clarendonteam.org/rotacurrent.xls TEAM ADMINISTRATOR Clarendon Team Office, St. John’s School Room, Gunville Road, Winterslow, Salisbury SP5 1PP Tel 01980 863635 (Mon-Fri 9-11 a.m.) E-Mail [email protected] WEST DEAN WITH EAST GRIMSTEAD CHURCHWARDENS Mr Bob Trott, Oakley, East Grimstead (Holy Trinity) 01722 712685 Mr Mike Marx, The Old Vicarage, West Dean (St. Mary’s) 01794 340271 FARLEY WITH PITTON CHURCHWARDENS Mrs Sara Bossom, Stockbottom House, Pitton 01980 611133 (Acting) Mrs Jane Bawden-Jeanes, The Barn, Farley 01722 712854 WEST DEAN WITH EAST GRIMSTEAD FARLEY WITH PITTON LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS LAY PASTORAL ASSISTANTS Mrs Jenny Cotter, East Grimstead, 01722 712316 Mrs Gill Morgan, Farley 01722 712438 Mrs Sara Bossom, Pitton 01980 611133 TREASURER Ms Jane Higgins, 01794 340536 TREASURER Ms Mandy Kerley, 07971 679466 SECRETARY Gill Sowerby, 01722 712665 ORGANISTS Mr Barry Cooper, 01722 712350 Ms Janice Brown MAGAZINE EDITOR Rod Coppock, Timbers, Beeches Close, Pitton, SP5 1EF Tel 01722 712469 E-Mail: [email protected] ADVERTS EDITOR Tim Hawkes, Lodge Farm House, Elm Close, Pitton, SP5 1EU Tel 01722 712577 E-Mail: [email protected] 2 PathFinders@Pitton Sunday 1st May Learn about the story of Lydia and her purple cloth! For more details contact Sara Bossom on 01980 611133 Pitton Methodist Society The Pitton Methodists worship together with the Anglicans at St. Peter's Church and have a Methodist led service there once a month (currently the 3rd Sunday). Acting Superintendent - Rev. Bryan Coates [email protected] 02380 252960 Steward - Mrs. Sarah Sankey 01722 712581 Board meeting “There will be a meeting of the Board immediately after the service,” announced the minister. And so, after the close of the service, the Church Board gathered at the back of the church for the meeting. But there was a stranger in their midst - a visitor who had never attended their church before. “My friend,” said the minister gently, “Didn't you understand that this is a meeting of the Board?” “Yes,” said the visitor, “and after today's sermon, I must be as bored as anyone else who came to the service.” WHIST DRIVES - PITTON VILLAGE HALL 3rd Wednesday in the month at 7.30 pm Next one on 18th May 3 The Revd Beth Hutton joined The Clarendon Team of Churches during April. Here is her first magazine letter! From Alderbury Rectory, ‘Getting to know you, getting to know all about you; getting to like you, getting to hope you like me……’. So says one of the songs from the musical ‘The King and I’, describing those tentative first steps of new relationships and friendships. Having now taken up the post of Team Vicar within the Clarendon Team, with particular responsibility for the parishes of Alderbury, West Grimstead and West Dean & East Grimstead, I am doing my best to get to know as many people as I can, as quickly as I can. In trying to get to know so many people, there is the danger of having superficial conversations. But I’m really keen to listen to your stories, as well your hopes and dreams. At the same time, I hope to be able to share something of my story, and be an encouragement to you. So, what will help you get to know me? I am a ‘Moonraker’, born and bred in Devizes. I was ordained nearly twenty one years ago, and have served in parishes in Dorset and Wiltshire. I enjoy meeting with people of all ages, and am looking forward to sharing with the Alderbury and West Grimstead School community. I love music, and enjoy singing, playing instruments, composing and conducting, but could probably benefit from further lessons in all of these! I have been a member of Devizes Musical Theatre (which was started by my father over fifty years ago) for many years, but had to miss their recent production of ‘Fiddler on the roof’ because I ended up moving house during the week of the show! Although I’m not sporty, I do like to get around by bicycle as much as possible, so please do stop me and say hello if you see me. When I was a curate many years ago, several people didn’t realise I had a car, even by the time I left. Other more trivial things you might like 4 to know about me are that if I pop in for a cuppa my preference is decaffeinated coffee………and I collect pandas……and still hope to see a real one, one day! Following the joy of Easter celebrations, this month sees further important festivals in the Christian calendar, firstly Ascension Day on May 5th (literally a high point in the Christian year as we celebrate the ascension of Jesus into heaven), and then Pentecost on May 15th (when we celebrate God equipping his Church with his Holy Spirit). Do join us for worship on those days – details are on the Clarendon Team website: www.clarendonteam.org Our understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit can sometimes be difficult to articulate. One way we might like to describe the Holy Spirit is as the ‘getting to know you’ quality of God. God loves us to get to know him, not as a distant figure, not as a historical figure, but as somebody who is close and loving. For his part, he loves to get to know us, and takes joy in watching us flourish. He knocks on the doors of our hearts, asking for an invitation to visit or stay. As I visit and get to know many of you, I pray that I may bring something of the Holy Spirit’s love, joy and peace with me, and that I may receive it through you. Beth Hearing A man went into a church and asked the vicar to pray for his hearing. Touched by his faith, the vicar agreed. “Kneel here,” he began in a loud voice. The man knelt, and the vicar placed a hand on each ear and bellowed a prayer. “I hope that will help,” he finally shouted. “Well, I won't know for a while,” the man replied. “It isn't until next month”. 5 From the registers Baptisms William Thomas Hamilton COOPER at St Peter’s, Pitton on 10th April 2016 George John BANNISTER at St Mary’s, West Dean on 17th April 2016 Funerals Susan Margaret WATERS at St Peter’s, Pitton on 29th March 2016 Irene CHENERY at St Peter’s, Pitton on 6th April 2016 The Winterslow Scout Group would like thank all those who supported our Burns Night Celebrations in January. We are pleased to announce that the funds raised have been shared between the Scout Group and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance sending a donation of £320. The committee would very much like to thank all those who helped in anyway, your continued support is greatly appreciated. 6 April 2016 Dear Friends, Farley and Pitton are both very fortunate to have churches that still offer a weekly service and we hope you might consider this a real asset to the villages whether you are a churchgoer or not. Both churches rely on their congregations, supporters and the community for their regular funding. Although very different, the churches enable the villagers to gather for Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals in addition to Sunday worship, concerts and coffee mornings and they remain a viable and active hub for community life. As a parish we are involved in a Diocesan-wide Wills and Legacy Campaign to highlight the importance of encouraging our members to leave a gift in their Wills to the church. This can be tax efficient and is of great use to the church in the future. This does not impact on your own personal finances in the present. Your legacy will be most gratefully received by the church and will make a considerable difference to our churches’ finances. The Church PCC will try to follow your wishes wherever possible and promises to apply your gift in a way which honours your bequest. It will speak to your executor(s) and family if that would help. Please will you consider leaving a gift to the church of your choice thus enabling it to continue its vital presence in our villages? For further information do see the churchwardens or speak to me. With many thanks for your ongoing support, From The Reverend Nils Bersweden 7 Sudoku solution p.29 8 Parish steward vehicles rolled out as new highways contract begins A fleet of green and yellow vehicles, driven by parish stewards conducting minor highways work, will be a regular feature on local roads by the autumn as part of Wiltshire’s new multi-million pound highways contract. Wiltshire Council’s highways contract with Ringway Infrastructure Services Limited began on April 1 2016. The contract is worth £15m per year with the company responsible for the maintenance of roads, street lights and pavements, clearing drains, gritting roads and emergency repairs.