Focal Point, October 2011 Welcome from the editor id anyone see Jonny Wilkinson in Bitton a few weeks back? The rugby star was a guest at a wedding at D St Mary’s, and churchwarden Barbara Merritt says he signed the visitors’ book! I may have missed Jonny but was lucky enough to meet another great sporting hero, Ian Holloway, in September. The Blackpool FC manager, who used to play for and manage Bristol Rovers, was invited to open the new community sports centre at his alma mater, Sir Bernard Lovell School in Oldland Common, which has fantastic facilities, including the courts used by Bitton Tennis Club. It was the first time Ian had gone back school he left 32 years ago, although he still has close ties locally; his sister Sue lives in Bitton and his mum in Cadbury Heath. He admitted that the visit was emotional for him and his wife Kim, also an ex-pupil. And no doubt two big school reunions taking place this month will reignite memories for many local people. Anyone who was a pupil (or taught) at any of the three schools in Oldland between 1950 and 1960 is invited to a reunion at SBL on October 22. Meanwhile pupils who started at Kingsfield (now King’s Oak Academy) in 1967 or 1968 are invited to a reunion also being held on that Saturday. Details of both events are on page 13. Renovation work continues at the White Hart but we still had no firm completion date as we went to print. And in an interesting twist, a ‘To Let’ sign went up at the former Intier factory site the day before we went to print. The derelict 24-acre site, which is earmarked for housing, recently changed hands. Could the ‘industrial premises’ there really be resurrected? It will no doubt be a subject for discussion at the residents’ association AGM, details of which are on page 22. Becky Feather 1 Focal Point, October 2011 Message from the lay minister n his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul paints a picture of the Church as a living body comprising many parts, I each with its own function and purpose. Each is dependant on all other members and no part can exist on its own. It is a profound illustration of the relationship we all have with one another in the service which we offer to Jesus. Our dependence on each other is stressed. No one should feel left out and no one is more important than any one else. The whole body is bound together with the love of God and with love for each other. The fellowship should be adaptable enough to accommodate growth. New people joining are lovingly enfolded within the fellowship. Likewise the body needs to be ready to accept loss. Consequently the temporary absence of a member is noticed. The permanent absence is mourned. In time, adjustments are made to realign the body parts to allow the essential work to progress. In the fellowship, the sharing of the vision and the work is vital. The body cannot function satisfactorily unless all members play their part. When St Paul lists the functions with which the Church (or the body of Christ) has been blessed, there is no role for which one person is responsible. There are prophets, not just a prophet. There are teachers, not just a teacher. There are healers, helpers, administrators, etc. All are in the plural, not the singular. Within our fellowships no one should be left acquiring lots of jobs without assistance or back-up. Why am I summarising what I guess most of us already know? There are two reasons. Last month John Nye, Warmley’s treasurer, died suddenly. We all miss him very much. We miss him because he was gentle, willing and generous. But we miss him too because he did so much which no one knew about. We left him to get on with things so well that now he is gone, we have to learn all 2 Focal Point, October 2011 over again how certain things are done. Lots of little things which he did and nobody realised, for a while were at risk of not being done at all. In January 2013, Paul Denyer will retire. During the next few months our PCCs will be visited by Douglas Holt with a view to planning how each parish in the benefice will adapt to working without a vicar for a year or more. Roles and duties we have previously left to Paul will now have to be assumed by others within our fellowships. If we don’t share the vision there is a risk that the work may not get done. We need to start to learn how the work, which Paul has done by himself for years, can be shared effectively amongst us all. Are we up for the challenge? If we believe, as St Paul did, that God through the Spirit provides the Church with the people it needs, then our faith in God should carry us forward with confidence. Leslie Willcox Fete organiser’s big thank-you Well, World you have kept faith with me, Kept faith with me; Upon the whole you have proved to be Much as you said you were. Thomas Hardy My world for the day of the fete was made up of all the people who helped so tirelessly to make the day such a success. Without commitment from so many people, St Mary’s Fete could not take place at all. A big thank you to Ali Vowles, who opened proceedings, to all stall holders, the cream tea and afternoon tea teams, for the art exhibition, the gang who prepared for and tidied up afterwards, and to everyone who came to make it a wonderful event to help raise around £7,000 for St Mary’s. Ann Willis 3 Focal Point, October 2011 Our churches and services UPTON CHEYNEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Elder: Muriel Williams 0117 961 6843 Sunday services at 3pm October 9 Harvest special service led by Ken Gibson October 16 Led by David Jones October 23 Led by the guitar group Relentless October 30 Led by the Rev James Jang There will also be a coffee/tea afternoon at 2pm on Tuesday, October 25 ST MARY’S CHURCH Vicar: The Rev Canon Paul Denyer The Vicarage, Church Avenue, Warmley, BS30 5JJ 0117 967 3965 Lay ministers: Mr Ken Gibson, 8 Church Road, Bitton, BS30 6HH 0117 932 2122 Dr David Bailey, Westover House, Bitton, BS30 6HT 0117 932 8449 4 Focal Point, October 2011 Churchwardens: Miss Barbara Merritt, 32 Bath Road, Bitton 0117 932 3926 Mr Jim Heavens, Eastover, High Street, Bitton 0117 932 5376 Baptism Inquiries: Mrs Jean Gray 0117 967 2964 Marriage and funeral inquiries: To the vicar From St Mary’s parish register Wedding August 20: Mark Johnstone & Tracey Jenkins Committal August 24: George Watson Holy Baptism September 4: Flora Oliver Funeral September 6: Tara Jade Farthing Harvest auction raises more than £1,200 The Harvest Auction held at the Upton Inn on September 19 in aid of the local branch of the Royal British Legion raised the marvellous sum of £1,218 and was very well- supported. 5 Focal Point, October 2011 St Mary’s services for October Sunday, October 2 10.30am Parish Communion Sunday, October 9 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer 10.30am Sunday Funday in the church hall Sunday, October 16 10.30am HARVEST FESTIVAL Family Service, followed by a bring and share Harvest Lunch at the back of the church 6.30pm Harvest Evensong, led by The Ammonites Friday, October 21 9.30am Celtic Holy Communion, followed by coffee and cakes Sunday, October 23 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer Sunday, October 30 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Family Communion 6 Focal Point, October 2011 St Mary’s Matters t is meet and right at all times to give thanks and praise. So says the Prayer Book. And this is especially I true at Harvest time, when we will be celebrating the bounty of the fields and our gardens over the weekend of October 15 and 16. On Saturday, October 15 there will be a Harvest Home at Manor Farm, Upton Cheyney, and Bitton Ukulele Band will be providing musical entertainment. This is at 7pm and tickets, are £8 for adults and £5 for children. They can be obtained from Janet Ivens or Barbara Merritt. At the Family Service the next day we can bring our Harvest gifts, and following the service there will be a chance to sample the Harvest loaf as we enjoy a bring and share lunch at the back of the church. In the evening there will be Sung Evensong led by The Ammonites. On the Monday at 9am as many people as possible are asked to come to help in the distribution of harvest gifts round the village. Please come if you can. Another cause for celebration occurred last month at the Parish Communion when all the Gibson family were in attendance. Paul Denyer led the congregation in celebrating Ken’s 45 years service as a lay minister, initially in the Presbyterian Church and now in the Anglican tradition. What is a Quinquennial Report – and why do we need them? Well, as you can guess, this follows a five-yearly inspection of the church building and property, undertaken by law. The church architect, Marcus Chantrey, has to inspect the roof, the walls and every part of the church building and its contents, and the churchyard, then reports on work needing to be carried out to keep everything in good order.