The TOGETHER Sheet Combs and Little Finborough From the Rectory… Reverend Chris Childs The war-time mantra of ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ was revived for the recession of 2008. It retains a certain sound common sense that we all admire, and none could have anticipated how much we all need it now in this the ‘Remembering’ month. Our churches traditionally remember the dearly departed – and we will again this year on 1st November with a Special Service at Combs (and in each of our churches within the normal act of worship, as the month progresses.) Communities and churches remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country and we will again this year on the 8th November with a Special Service at Buxhall, another on Zoom and another at Onehouse. We all remember (or at least hear) the celebrations of Guy Fawkes on 5th November and we will again this year – though no doubt from our own gardens. Men have chosen this month to ‘Movember’ by growing a moustache to raise money for Prostate Cancer research and we will again this year. I make these points to remind us all that life goes on amidst this pandemic and there are many people trying to do their best to make a living in their businesses and cafes. No doubt we are supporting them as much as we can. For many paid work continues, but in a different format and with many added pressures and stresses. Life is less certain than it was and the older we get the more we realise it and perhaps turn to the God who is there to sustain and support and strengthen in the good times and the bad. Perhaps oddly I was strongly reminded of this fact when I had the pleasure of conducting three marriages recently. The couples had gone through much disappointment, stress and upset at changing plans and dreams made over years sometimes, but as I have tried to say these are minor issues when set against the long life they will enjoy together. One of the set prayers in the service asks that ‘they may nurture their family with devotion, see children grow in body, mind and spirit and come at last to the end of their lives with hearts content and in joyful anticipation of heaven’ Who knows what life has in store for any of us? Who knows how we will cope with the ‘sudden changes and chances of this life’? I pray those couples have many fulfilling decades ahead of them, but also very much echo those sentiments that when our senses and our health begins to fail, we shall be ready with hearts content, that we have done our best and be in joyful anticipation of heaven. So as I said at the beginning, I am sure we are trying to keep calm and carry on amidst these present troubles, many people are trying to make life as normal as possible and Remember, Remember those who have loved you, those who have given their lives that you might enjoy yours, those who have fought for our system of government and those who try to raise money to fight the diseases that afflict so many of us today. Support them and encourage when you can. With all good wishes and prayers Rev Chris 2 Services in the Benefice Services at churches To facilitate safe seating arrangements, numbers may need to be limited. Please book with the churchwardens or clergy if you would like to attend. 1 November: All Saints’ Day, Kingdom 1 Revelation 7.9-17; Psalm 34.1-10; 1 John 3.1-3; Matthew 5.1-12 11.00 am Remembering the Dear Departed Combs Special readings 3.00 pm Evening Prayer Little Finborough 8 November: Remembrance Sunday Amos 5.18-24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; Matthew 25.1-13 10.45 am Remembrance Service Buxhall Special readings Please make sure you book for this service 3.00 pm Evening Prayer Onehouse 15 November: Second Sunday before Advent, Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity Zephaniah 1.7,12-18; Psalm 90.1-8[9-11]12*; 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11; Matthew 25.14-30 11.00 am Holy Communion Great Finborough 3.00 pm Evening Prayer Shelland 22 November: Christ the King, Twenty-fourth after Trinity Ezekiel 34.11-16,20-24; Psalm 95.1-7; Ephesians 1.15-23; Matthew 25.31-46 11.00 am Holy Communion Combs 3.00 pm Evening Worship Harleston 29 November: Advent Sunday Isaiah 64.1-9; Psalm 80.1-8,18-20*; 1 Corinthians 1.3-9; Mark 13.24-37 11.00 am Holy Communion Great Finborough 3.00 pm Evening Worship Onehouse, Trinity Hall 3 To facilitate safe seating arrangements, numbers will need to be limited. Please book if you would like to attend. For Combs: Jenny Straughier 615956, [email protected] Little Finborough: Cheryl Edwards 774027, [email protected] Precautions against coronavirus transmission will be in place. Face coverings must be worn, and attendees must be seating where instructed. The precautions may change as the regulations and best practice are modified. Services on-line The following services will be held by Zoom meeting SPIRITUAL COMMUNION for the benefice every Sunday at 9.30 am Morning Prayer on Wednesday and Saturday at 10 am. Bible Study on Wednesday at 4 pm. Log in details will gladly be given by Rev. Chris as well as the weekly Pew Sheet and Orders of Service. Please ask. The Sermon and a Reflection are uploaded onto YouTube each week as well. Churches opening for Private Prayer (liable to change) All folk from any of the parishes are welcome for private prayer at the largest churches as follows: 10am - 12noon each Saturday at St Andrew’s, Great Finborough 2.30pm - 4.30 pm each Wednesday at St Mary’s, Combs Lord, prop us up! There is a story of an old farmer who always prayed the same prayer at his church meeting. ‘Lord, prop us up on our leanin’ side’. After hearing this many times, his minister asked him one day quite what he meant. The famer replied: “Well, it's like this... I’ve got an old barn out in one of my fields. It's been there a long time, and gone through a lot of storms. One day a few years ago I noticed that it was leaning to one side a bit. So, I went and got some poles and propped it up on its leaning side, so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time, and seen plenty of storms in life. I was still standing, but I was also leaning a bit. So, I decided to ask the Lord to prop me up, too, on my leaning side.” Our ‘leaning side’ is where we are weakest in ourselves. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, bitterness, bleakness in life. Then we too need to pray for God to prop us up, especially on that leaning side. He wants us to stand tall and free, in Him. 4 A letter from Michael Green 18th October 2020 I am still your Church Mission Society partner and still currently working with Migrants in Ipswich. I am seconded to the Churches in the London Road/Portman Road area of town; but working from St Augustine's to Whitton! Over the last year the work has changed dramatically: one of the first steps was an urgent need to house a Persian Muslim Background Believer (MBB) with right to remain but who had moved to Ipswich without understanding that her local council had responsibility to house her. Ipswich Borough were helpful as were St John's church and Talitha Koum where she was eventually housed which suits her. This uncovered a small group of Persian MBBs in Ipswich who I have worked with. In trying to house her, I met Pastor Stuart Balmer who had a family of Kurds who had converted to Christianity entered the UK legally and were then violently persecuted by their close family (who claimed to have converted) for having converted. Proving persecution of Christians is not an issue far away. The family had been given a new identity and relocated several times. I worked with the police domestic violence unit (DVU) and a Charity hired by social services; helping them to live safely and provide advice and support. I also did weekly bible studies with their church and helped with their baptisms which was a great joy. They now have refugee status and we are urgently looking for accommodation as they must leave the safe house; they will probably be but into emergency accommodation in a hotel split up with their own amenities until a house is available, so prayers are needed. I worked closely with a Portuguese man with physical and mental health issues; providing support and attending appointments with him, during lockdown the police were again supportive as we needed to meet and they suggested locations and provided me with a crime number in case police stopped to arrest us so we could explain what was happening. During this time, I was also designated a volunteer on the Ipswich Borough list; and a part of the telephone support team the Diocese supplied to Ipswich hospital. Earlier I had a complex Safeguarding case with Aramaic Christian refugees; with many sides investigated and several court cases, this family were one of the longest on my caseload.