Aley Green Pepperstock Slip End Woodside PARISH NEWS April 2017 Noel and Jane Nugent from Woodside who helped with the Big Brew - see page 11. activities change throughout the calendar, Editors’ Notes we are pleased to introduce a new feature focusing on just one of our local farming At last, after the long, grey months of winter, families. we begin to see the first signs of spring This should offer a fascinating insight into painting the parish with colour. what exactly is going on in the fields we pass This time of year brings with it a sense of every day, and we’re grateful for this optimism and hope, as the promise of contribution from the Speirs family. summer beckons. Closer to home, and we’re pleased to Of course, for some of it that means welcome a new team at The Rising Sun. The venturing out into our gardens for the first pub is once again offering food, so why not time since the autumn, to examine any pop in and sample their fare? damage inflicted by winter and to start preparing for the better weather. The Parish News has received comments from a resident who has concerns over the After an afternoon spent collecting random traffic calming measures and parking bays branches which had blown down in that have been installed across the parish. February’s storms, and filling the green bin full of leaves, it still seems as though there is He has asked that anyone with concerns or a great deal to do, and the next few weeks views about these measures should contact are likely to be filled with gardening chores. him to share their thoughts and experiences. His details are: Mike Sanders, 78 Front For the farms which surround our villages, Street, Slip End, LU1 4BS, or call 07969 work continues apace as it does throughout 191976 or email him at the year, and for an insight into how their [email protected]. 2 SLIP END VILLAGE DAY 2017 IS ANNOUNCED FOR SATURDAY 8TH JULY Plans are in hand for Village Day and castles and pony rides. Local groups we hope to see everyone again this and businesses are booking stalls for year at the Playing Fields from 11am the day, so if you or your group would until 4pm. like a chance to advertise your group, There will be a Grand Raffle with or to sell your wares, please contact superb prizes to win. Tickets will go us using the details below. on sale a month before the event in Help is always needed for setting up, local pubs and clubs and, of course, running and clearing after the event – you can purchase them on the day. so, if you could spare some time, do Refreshments will include a please let us know using the details barbeque, bar, and teas and cakes below: available all day, plus a visit from the [email protected] or ice cream van. For the children we phone us on 01582 728865 or have confirmed so far - bouncy 07958587595. KEEP THE DATE – SATURDAY 8TH JULY SEADA Car Boot and Table Top Sale Slip End Village Hall, Easter Monday St Andrew’s Holiday Club 17th April 11am—2pm One Day Drama Workshop *************** For school years 3 and Names for the Annual Outing for Senior upwards Citizens will be taken on Easter Monday. POSTPONED until June 2nd. The outing this year will take place on Look out for more details in Saturday 24th June. Destination to be the May Parish News. arranged. 3 ALEY GREEN METHODIST CHURCH 3rd March. The theme this year was Justice Fairness and Balance and the banner Services and Diary Dates depicting the theme made by Ann Meader for April was admired by the 50 or so people attending. (It is now hanging in the church at Sunday 2nd - Lent 5 Aley Green, do have a look when next you 10.30am Morning Service - Rev Bob Forrest visit). 10.30am Sunday School Our Coffee Evening in aid of Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (a Methodist Monday 3rd charity), raised £35. 7.30pm Ecumenical Lent Fellowship 4 led by Pancakes and Company was very well Jo Prowes supported, we served over three dozen bacon rolls and countless pancakes as well as our Sunday 9th - Palm Sunday usual goodies. £330 was raised for the 10.30am Morning Service - Michael Adams upkeep of our building. Thank you to all who 10.30am Sunday School supported us. The five week Ecumenical Lent Fellowship Monday 10th commenced on Monday 13th March with 13 7.30pm Ecumenical Lent Fellowship 5 led by people in attendance. Jo Prowes We are following Stephen Cottrell’s meditations for Lent and Holy week entitled Tuesday 11th ‘The Things He Carried’ , you are invited to 10am-12noon ‘Cakes & Company’ join us on 3rd and 10th April for the final two 10.30-11am ‘Little Lambs’ weeks. We look forward to joining the other village Friday 14th - Good Friday Walk of Witness churches for the Good Friday Walk of 10.30am Starting at Aley Green Witness, starting at 10.30am at Aley Green with a short time of worship an then walking Sunday 16th - Easter Day with the cross to St Thomas’, All Saints and 9.30am Morning Service and Communion led finally the Baptist church where hot cross by Rev Nigel Bibbings buns, coffee and tea will be served. Our Easter morning service will be held at the Sunday 23rd - Easter 2 earlier time of 9.30am with our minister Rev. 10.30am Morning Service Local Arrangement Nigel Bibbings leading our worship before 10.30am Sunday School dashing off to Eaton Bray, one of his other churches. Monday 24th April’s Coffee Evening will be in aid of ‘A 7pm Ecumenical Fellowship and Rocha UK’, the Christian charity that works Bring and Share Supper will individuals and communities, encouraging them to think about their use of the Wednesday 26th environment and develop practical ways to 7.30pm Coffee Evening in aid of ‘A Rocha care for people and the planet. UK’ This is a new charity to our fundraising list, please help us to help them. All our usual Sunday 30th - Easter 3 offerings, cakes, sausage rolls, preserves, 10.30am Morning Service - Tina Armiger books etc. and of course free tea and coffee 10.30am Sunday School and ‘priceless company’. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Ecumenical Women’s World Day of Easter Blessings from Team AG. Prayer service, written by the women of the We look forward to seeing you soon. Philippines, was held at All Saints on Friday Ann Meader’s deputy scribe! 4 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO … PLEASE ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS CONTACT JO MOSS ON IN THIS SPACE... 01582 484373 OR EMAIL [email protected] Hair & Beauty Salon Charisma NEIL SHEPHERD Ladies & Opening Times Gentlemen Mon: 9 –3 Painter & Decorator 01582 722801 Tues: 9-5 Wed: 10-1 Easy Parking - Remedial Massage Thurs: 9-6 Fully Insured & Approved Ear Piercing available now £5 per lobe Fri: 9-7 43B Elm Avenue, Caddington 07860 93 93 93 www.charisma-caddington.com Sat: 8-3 Find us on facebook Chiropodist State Registered Home visits Evening & Weekend appointments Keith Appleby BSc (Hons), MChS, SRCh Telephone: 01582 873136 Need a reliable Window & Carpet Cleaner? We operate in the Carol Brennan ACCA FMAAT Slip End area Certified Chartered Accountant For free quotation 74 front street slip end tel: 01582 453049 contact us on Luton mob: 07979 402847 01462 629302 lu1 4bs 07970 406 926 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE A. McClelland REPAIRS Pest Control Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Driers, Cookers, Microwaves, Fridges & Storage Heaters For fast response call Mobile 0777 494 8415 Barrie Acton or office 01582 872158 Slip End (01582) 728865 e-Mail: [email protected] or Mobile 07802 723160 5 A Message from St Andrew’s Apparently C.H. Lawrence said that the world fears a new experience more than anything else. Ideas are not a problem, “The world can pigeonhole any idea. They are easily discounted and dodged”. But an authentic inner experience is more difficult to discount. Experience changes us, for good or ill, we can’t go back to the way we were before. God invites us to experience him, not just to think about him or even to pray to him or seek to please him, but to know him as one might know a friend or relative - to experience his presence in our lives. One of the most life transforming experiences that I have had is the iniquities; the punishment that brought sense that he has been with me in my us peace was on him, and by his suffering. wounds we are healed. This isn’t simply an idea that is helpful – though it is a helpful idea to know He shares in the sense of inadequacy that God is not indifferent to the and shame that we so often feel suffering of people on earth, but that through our limitations. But he does he came and shared in it through his more - he takes upon himself our pain, suffering and death. he bears our suffering, he takes upon But through faith this can be much himself the punishment – the more than idea, it can be a healing consequences of our failings, or as experience. Isaiah puts it – our transgressions and Isaiah, a prophet who wrote more than iniquities. 500 years before Jesus was born, wrote An experience of this leaves us feeling about the death that Jesus was to go free, feeling loved and adequate, through. You can find it in Isaiah feeling forgiven and whole.