Watlington • Pyrton • Shirburn New Look for Method- ist Church Kolaghat Co-op India April/May 2012 1 PYRTON AND SHIRBURN FETE THE OLD RECTORY, PYRTON (by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Mats Ottosson) SATURDAY 19TH MAY 2012 AT 2.30 PM WATLINGTON CONCERT BAND (RBL) GRAND RAFFLE, STALLS AND SIDESHOWS TUG-OF-WAR, CHILDREN'S GAMES, BOUNCY CASTLE ICE CREAMS, TEAS AND BBQ FOOTBALL GOAL KICKING CONTESTS Adults: £1 Free Car Park Children under 14: free No Dogs or Bicycles 2 Editorial Team Editor…Pauline Verbe [email protected] 01491 614350 Sub Editor...Ozanna Duffy [email protected] 01491 612859 St.Leonard’s Church News [email protected] 01491 614543 Val Kearney Advertising Manager [email protected] 01491 614989 Helen Wiedemann Front Cover Designer www.aplusbstudio.com 01491 612508 Benji Wiedemann Printer Simon Williams [email protected] 07919 891121 Apl 2nd (p.9) Seder Meal St.Edmund Campion Apl 5th (p.9) Maundy Thurs Meal St.Leonard’s Apl 15th (p.19) KK Centenary Service Dorchester Abbey Apl 19th (p.6) M.N.Hopwood- performs St.Leonard’s Apl 21st (p.16) CelebrateSt.George’s Day High St.Watlington Apl 22nd (p,21 AGM St.Leonard’s Apl 29th (p.8) Rev. Christopher Evans Celebrate Silver Anniversary St.Leonard’s May 13-19th Christian Aid Week Watlington May 19th (p.2) PYRTON FETE Pyrton May 19th (p.13) Simeon-WoodMinisterial Concert Teams St.Leonard’p.50 s June 2nd (p.16) GRAND JUBILEE& church FETE wardens St.Leonard’s St.Leonards News p. 5,21,27 Pyrton News p. 10-11 Ministerial Teams p.50 Methodist News p. 14-15 & church wardens S.Africa News p. 18-19 St.Leonards News p. 5,21,27 Church Services p. 28-29 Pyrton News p. 10-11 Methodist News p. 14-15 S.Africa NewsPLEASE LET USp. 18-19HAVE YOUR COPY FOR June/July 2012 Church Services p. 28-29on or before May 2nd 2012 3 The Minister Writes Throughout Lent the Methodist Church has been looking at what it means to be Methodist in the 21st Century. Not because we don’t know that we are Methodists, but there is always more to discover if we take time to understand and reflect upon our distinctive identity. Over the weeks we have looked at our history and beliefs as well as what we do and our future together. Every story has a past, a present and a future. From the past we learn of our history and heritage – it can be important not just to continue to do the things we do – but to understand why we do them, what their significance is. Especially if you identify something you no longer want to do. From the present it can sometimes be hard to gain a perspective upon which to look at it, but through conversation and reflection a purposeful understanding of what is happening around us is important. If like me you wake up in the morning to the radio, I know it helps me place the world around me in some kind of context – a bigger picture – and that sort of rootedness is helpful. Looking into the future can be daunting – but it is important to have vision and be able to dream dreams. The story of Jesus too has a past and a present and a future – particularly if when reading a particular part of a Gospel you can imagine yourself there as one of the characters in the story. And as we walk with Jesus towards the Cross we know where the story leads, and can see the future of it clearly ahead of us. As followers of Jesus we look towards that Easter morning and all that it brings to us. But Jesus’ story can live in us too – and then it might have a different resonance. It will still have a past, perhaps one that begins in darkness until Jesus provides some much needed light. It might begin with Jesus calling us into his service, like he called so many especially his first disciples. Perhaps in the present we are unsure of where Jesus is with us? Perhaps we feel we are walking alone rather than by his side? But we can be assured that he is leading us into our future… John Wesley following a deep experience of faith was assured that God did love him, and that he was indeed a child of God. And however we experience that story in our lives, that is the story of Easter – that God loves us, so much that he sent Jesus to us to be part of our stories, even today. Have a very blessed Easter Adam. 4 Churchwarden’s bit How do you pray? It’s a difficult question, because everybody prays differently. One Bishop, when asked for how long he prayed every day, answered “Oh about 10 minutes”. Then he saw the disappointment on the questioners face, and added, “But it takes me a good hour to get there!” Sometimes my prayers feel like that. During Lent, I am trying to give our Lord space, to really listen for Him Like most of us, I have a ‘shopping list’ that I bring every day. It’s grown quite long over the years, and if asked to pray for somebody, I am very faithful in trying to keep my promise. However, it doesn’t give our Lord much time to speak! A dear friend once told me that if a job is reassurance, and stops us from thinking we worth doing, it’s even worth doing badly. I do anything through our own power. We have found this true in prayer and exercise. have had some wonderful results through Even if we don’t excel, it’s truly better to try our weekly prayer group, but it wouldn’t to pray than not to pray at all. It definitely work without the Holy Spirit. gives a sense of peace and belonging. So now I am praying on consecutive days one Prayer is an important part of our vision day with my shopping list, the next day for St. Leonards. It always has been. waiting for Godot! Well that’s how it feels Any new Service, project or plan is very sometimes. I have to admit to myself much prayed over. This doesn’t always though that perhaps Our Lord, who after guarantee success, as we are fallible all does have a whole universe to keep humans, but it certainly helps us step out His eyes on, may not always have a word in faith. Sometimes we learn more from just for me. Amazingly though, as I have our ‘desert experiences’ than from our persevered, with a Christian Radio station success. So we move on in prayer and playing softly in the background. Words do faith and hope to get more right than we come! Words of encouragement, words of get wrong. love, words of admonishment! It’s worth the wait. Over the past year we have felt prompted to go out more into the community, so we Our weekly prayer group is a great resource have had Pub Services, a regular monthly in sustaining my prayer life. We are told in Service of Praise at Sanctuary Care Home, the Bible that when two or more people ask and just recently a bi monthly Mums for anything in the name of Christ, then we and Toddlers Group started up. We are also have the Holy Spirit there to help us. continuing to pray that we are ‘hearing’ (Matthew 18: 19-20) This is a wonderful right. 5 As we pass through this special time of Lent and through to Easter and beyond, we have so many exciting dates ahead of us and many opportunities to come together in faith and fellowship. However underpinning all of this is faithful prayer. So if sometimes you wonder “What are those folks at St. Leonards up to now” Rest assured, we have prayed about it! Val REMEMBERING A LOVED ONE; CELEBRATING AN EVENT. Do you have special dates during the year when you remember a family member, or celebrate a special anniversary? I’m sure we all do. If you would like a flower arrangement to be done in St. Leonard’s Church to mark such an occasion, please ring Eleanor Holden on 01491 613885. The idea is that you make a donation to pay for the flowers and, if possible, the flower arranger will use the flowers, or colour scheme, you request.The person or occasion being remembered can be announced in the Service, mentioned in the pew sheets and included in prayers - or it can be anonymous. The only times the Church does not have flowers are during Lent (leading up to Easter), and during Advent (leading up to Christmas). I look forward to hearing from you. Eleanor Holden. [email protected] Tel: 01491 613885 2012, ‘An English Love Story’ Performed by M.N.Hopwood at St Leonard’s Church Watlington on Thursday April 19th starts at7.00pm Tickets at the door ( £5) For a preview – see his delightful website - www.mnhopwood.com M.N Hopwood is the co-founder of the fair trading Independent Music and Arts organisation called Montpatry Press whose roots are firmly grounded in sustainability and fairness, ‘seeking to make music and art with love and through personal communication’. His album ‘And to this Last’ will be released across the UK in Autumn. “In the style of the troubadour I am journeying through England, sharing my music, my love story, and hearing other peoples love stories in return.