Volume 21: Issue 7 September 2019 Sheepy Benefice Gazette Covering: Orton, Ratcliffe, Sheepy, Shenton, Sibson and Twycross www.sheepybenefice.org or (Sheepy Group of Churches) Church Celebrations (Clockwise from top left) Bap�sm of Archie Derek Lampard (held by mum Kayleigh) at St Edith's Orton, Sunday 14 July. Dad, Rob, holds elder brother Harry, with cousins standing. Rob & Kayleigh were married at Orton in 2013. Sunday 14 July was also Archie's first birthday. Holly & Simon Lax, married at All Saints Sheepy on Sunday 5 May. Wedding at St John the Evangelist Shenton, 20 July, of Jonathan Young & Joanna Davies - pictured with their dog Maggie, who was the ring bearer. Maisy Louise and Hollie Rose Vann at their bap�sm at All Saints Ratcliffe Culey on 29 June. Distributed free to around 900 households in all six parishes ten times a year September 2019 Sheepy Benefice Gazette Sheepy Benefice Gazette September 2019 View From the Pulpit Church Services - Sept 2019 All service details are also on the Benefice website -www.sheepybenefice.org There is also a Communion service at 9 am every Thursday at All Saints Sheepy Magna A place for s�llness and reflec�on Words from Gillian Greenwood... “Having been a ‘friend Having just returned from a day’s retreat atLaunde, I of Launde’ for many years, I look on Launde as a special thought I would write in celebra�on of this beau�ful place to go where my spiritual needs and desires always place that has been so much a part of my own spiritual seem to be met, whatever they are. Approaching journey; most especially in this year when Launde is Launde over the ca�le grids I experience a joy, as celebra�ng 900 years as a place of prayer. though I was coming home.” Richard Basset, a royal official of Henry I, founded A view from a parishioner, having just visited Launde for Launde Abbey as an Augus�nian priory in 1119. During the first �me, in fact experiencing a retreat for the first the first century of its life the community buildings, �me... “I arrived at Launde Abbey for a Beginners Silent cloister and garth were built, including an imposing Retreat on a Friday evening with my head buzzing a�er church of which one side chapel s�ll survives, now used another hec�c week at work. I was apprehensive about as the Chapel in the present-day what to expect. I wanted to try to find a way to introduce meaningful prayer into my busy lifestyle. If you haven’t heard of Launde before, I encourage you Launde Abbey is surrounded by beau�ful gardens and to view their website: www.laundeabbey.org.uk countryside and the building itself has many quiet where you can learn more about its history and place spaces so immediately gives a sense of peace. The within the worshipping life of the Diocese of Leicester; guidance sessions were very gentle tasters of different and how all are welcome to come and experience this ideas on how to talk to God with no expecta�ons of beau�ful place. anyone. Whilst it was a silent retreat talking was not I came to know Launde for the first �me in 1998, when prohibited, although they did ask that the silence was my Vicar suggested I try a day’s retreat … I didn’t know respected a�er the last session which finished around quite what to expect, but was hugely surprised by God 8.30 pm un�l breakfast. There were opportuni�es for CONTENTS in the transforming nature of a day spent en�rely silent communal prayer and communion each day in the Notes from the Editor focusing on s�llness, scripture, prayer and crea�on, and chapel and this was a lovely experience. There was an CHURCH NEWS now try to spend at least three days there in the year. opportunity to talk with one of the leaders (Chaplain Welcome back a�er the summer break. I’ve been grappling and wardens) on a 1-to-1 basis if you wanted to and I with a completely new publishing so�ware, so you may see The Chris�an retreat can be defined in the simplest of Church Services 2 some varia�ons in style, and I’ve taken the opportunity to terms as a definite �me (froma fewhours in length to a found this really helpful. Much of the weekend was move a few things around, in par�cular to emphasise that month) spent away from one's normal life for the spent exploring the abbey and the grounds and finding View from the Pulpit 3 this is primarily a Church publica�on for the six parishes in the Benefice, purpose of reconnec�ng, usually in prayer, with God. quiet places to just sit and absorb the environment and although we also try to include plenty of news from the villages. spend �me with God. I le� a�er lunch on Sunday and View From a Pew 4 From their website: “Launde Abbey is a beau�ful got home feeling that I had been away for 2 weeks If you spot any howlers (e.g. changes to adverts which should not have Chris�an Retreat House and Conference Centre set in rather than 2 days, with an inner calm that I have never happened) then do please let me know ASAP! Diocesan News 4 the heart of England. Open to the whole church and the experienced before. It has really helped me to create I’ve been contacted by a charity, which offers financial help for those with wider community through the generous support of the Sheepy CofE School �me for God each day and I would definitely 5 health problems to improve their quality of life. Anyone in Coventry or Church of England Dioceses of Leicester and News recommend a visit to Launde if you are seeking peace Warwickshire (including our CV postcodes) is eligible—see details on page 7. Peterborough, every year we welcome thousands of and quiet, whether on retreat or just to soak up the VILLAGE NEWS One new adver�ser this month: visitors to a unique experience of warm hospitality and environment for a day.” deep spirituality. • Dr Vera Hartland offers private science tui�on, see page 18. If you would like to know more about Launde, or Orton News 7 Set in beau�ful parkland of 450 acres on the borders of News and photos of local events should be with your village correspondent taking �me for a retreat, please do speak with me, Leicestershire and Rutland, with extensive cul�vated Ratcliffe News 9 (If you are not sure who that is, see the Who’s Who on page 19) by 14 Revd Julia. September for the October issue please. gardens and a wonderful twel�h century Chapel (part of the original Augus�nian priory). “Come to me, all you who are weary and Sheepy News 11&13 As always, I’m happy to consider ar�cles of local interest for publica�on but burdened, and I will give you rest” reserve the right, as editor, to publish or not, and to shorten or edit as Launde Abbey offers a place of s�llness and tranquillity Sibson News 15 required. in the countryside, away from the pressure of everyday Ma�hew 11:28 life, in which you can pray, reflect, and gain fresh New Interna�onal Version (NIV) For the avoidance of doubt, we do not have the resources to vet all perspec�ve.” Twycross News 17 adver�sers, so please exercise the usual cau�on. HA 2 3 September 2019 Sheepy Benefice Gazette Sheepy Benefice Gazette September 2019 View From An Orton Pew Sheepy CofE School News I grew up in the flower power era of the 1960s (yes I There’s talk of an independent Scotland and maybe Last term was another busy one at Sheepy School, with know, do your calcula�ons … ) when the mantra was Northern Ireland too if the “back-stop” isn’t sorted. the children taking part in lots of trips and experiences. make love not war. Global travel was encouraged Racism and violence appears to be at an all �me high with the increase in cheap flights and Interail cards, fired by greed and protec�onism. Portland class had a trip to Kingsbury Water Park where they took part in pond dipping activities. (Picture top so my friends and I were able to explore and Some of you might remember a popular music right) The weather was kind to them and they collected experience many different cultures, unlike previous record issued in 1969 en�tled “Mel�ng Pot” by Blue and identified a variety of creatures during the day, using genera�ons whose only foray abroad was probably Mink (if not, check it out on You Tube.) Well what magnifiers to war or even deporta�on! The hippie hope was that happened to that Great Big Mel�ng Pot where we look closely at this would encourage global collabora�on and could all live in harmony to the greater good of all what they had tolerance for the benefit of all. found. The day humanity? was completed th The la�er half of the 20 century saw the UK join the Perhaps our church communi�es hold the key to re- by a picnic and a Common Market in 1973, the Berlin Wall come down uni�ng and healing the world. On all levels we play on the park. in 1989, the Cold War end in 1991 and Ireland sign should welcome and include our neighbours instead (Picture left.) the Good Friday Agreement of 1998—and that’s just of fearing them.