1 The Hatchet Inn Lower Chute A warm welcome awaits locals & visitors alike Tuesday Evenings – Quiz Night Home cooked food served in the restaurant or bar with a changing menu of special dishes Modern rooms with en-suite facilities in a quiet annex away from the bar & restaurant for your family or guests Telephone 01264 730229 or by fax: 730212 E-Mail - enquiries - [email protected] 2 3 4 Savernake Team Letter Revd Robert Grist, Assistant Curate writes: What a difference a few days can make… The week before Easter my world was turned upside-down by the unexpected and untimely death of my dear mother. At the time it made it difficult for me to reconcile the emptiness I was feeling inside with the triumphant emptiness of Jesus’ tomb. And then, after some time off work, I returned only to find that two of my three senior managers were leaving the business (one had gone already) now throwing my whole work situation into confusion. It’s at times such as these that all any of us can do is to reach out in faith to the one who is unchanging, unfailing and dependable – as the Psalmist puts it; he is our rock, our fortress, deliverer, shield and refuge. (Psalm 8:2) And he is still our hope. At the end of this month we remember a day which also turned the world upside-down for a lot of people. For we celebrate the festival of Pentecost - the fiftieth day after Easter. The word literally means ‘fiftieth’ and, as a multiple of seven, is a special number in biblical terms. Seven has always indicated God’s fullness or completion; in the Genesis account, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, when it was complete. And so as a multiple of seven plus one day, Pentecost also points beyond the fullness of God’s revelation in Jesus to the Holy Spirit. At Christmas we celebrate God the Father’s wonderful gift of his Son; at Easter we celebrate Christ’s triumph over death; and at Pentecost, the third most important festival for the Christian Church, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit who gives the gift of faith. On the first Pentecost (Acts 2), we read how the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon the disciples. Such was the revelation that ‘about three thousand’ were baptised that day. This tradition continued through history and is the very reason we also call it Whit Sunday (after ‘White Sunday’) when those newly baptised into the church would dress in white. Pentecost celebrates the birthday of the Christian Church - the Church which survives to this very day. 5 And so, on reflection, I thank God that a few days can indeed make a difference. Because in a few days at Easter the world was indeed turned upside down…not just for me, but for everybody. And we are reminded of this right through until Pentecost and we continue to celebrate…. HE IS RISEN INDEED. Alleluia! With every blessing, Rob Your Church In May Love is all we have, The only way that each can help the other. Euripides & Name Service Prayers Flowers Readers Cleaners andDate Readings Timeand Sidesmen 6 May 6pm Chris John B David Isobel Easter 5 Evensong David Eileen 13 May 11am Pets’ Service outside the Village Hall Rogation 17 May 7pm Ascension Day on the Causeway 20 May 11am Vikki Karen Vikki Dorothy John & Easter 7 Morning Lesley Janet Worship 27 May 9.30am Holy Amanda Mary- ME Audrey Pentecost Communion Mary Vere Caroline 3 June 6pm Jubilee David tbd tbd Jessica Lesley & Trinity Service Amanda Amanda 6 The church looked (and smelt) really wonderful for Easter – so much thought, talent, work, time (and money) is given to achieve this and I hope the flower arrangers know just how very grateful we all are! (Ed – we are pleased to include some photographs of a small selection of the arrangements; sadly just in black & white, which doesn’t really do them justice.) Please note these special services: Pets’ Service on Sunday 13th May outside the Village Hall. Several people last year said they hadn’t been aware of it and missed it … we do hope you will come and bring all your pets and animals to be blessed and to join the Phoenix Silver Band outside the Village Hall – it is always fun! The more the merrier. Ascension Day 7pm on Thursday 17th May on the Causeway – This outdoor service has become so popular that people from other parishes come to share the wonderful views and spirituality offered by the Causeway. Bring a folding chair, and from Anton Post you will see where to go. Jubilee Service 6pm 3rd June As the Queen is the Defender of our Faith, it seems important and right to honour her and we hope you will come to this special service, followed by refreshments in the churchyard. Also Sunday Club on 6th May for 3-11 year olds in Chute Village Hall Collingbourne Ducis Puddingfest in their Village Hall 7pm on Friday 4th May. Sample as many as you can eat! £5 per person on the door or www.standrewsducis.org.uk ‘The Life of Christ’ Tuesday 19-Sunday 24 June - this amazing outdoor play 10am-4pm 01483 892167 or google Wintershall Life of Christ 2012 for tickets or more information. 7 Team Services –excluding Chute Ham/ Shalb'n/ C' Little St Date Burbage Tidcombe C' Ducis Grafton Gt Bedwyn B'mere Bagshot Kingston Bedwyn Katharine 8am HC 6 May 11am 9.30am RG 6pm 5th 9.30am HC Family 8am HC Family 11am 11am 09.30am 11am - Evensong Sunday RG Service ME Service HC AD Matins Lay HC AD AAW Lay of Easter Lay ME RG 12 noon 9.30am 9 May Holy MU HC - - - - - - - - (Wed) Communion ME ME 13 May 8am MP 6pm 09.30am 6th of Lay Evensong 9.30am 9.30am 9.30am Family 8am HC 11am HC Easter/ 11am at Parish - - HC LD HC AD Service AD ME Rogation Fam Buttermere Com ME Lay Sunday Com LD Lay 8am HC 20 May RG 6.00pm 11.00am 11.00am 7th 9.30am 11am - - Evensong Rogation - Rogation - - Sunday HC RG All Age ME ME Cluster RG of Easter Lay 11am 9.30am 8.00am Pentecost 11.00am Cluster MP LD 11.00am Service - Joint HC (Bedwyn's 27 May 11am 9.30am Family - Charlie with - & St - - Pentecost Family HC LD Service Allen Kingston Katharine's) Service Lay (with ME Communion Lay Ham) MC 8 9 Chute And Chute Forest Parish Councils - Annual Parish Meeting Chute and Chute Forest Parish Councils held the first joint annual parish meeting on April 19th 2012 at the Village Hall. The meeting was well attended by Parishioners of both parishes, and with representatives and presentations from Wiltshire Council, The Police, The Link Scheme, Village Hall, King George’s Field, Chute Website, Chute Chronicle, Chute Relief and Chute Emergency Planning. The Chairmen of both councils, Cllr Rowan Cherrington and Cllr Eddie Quirk, reported a quiet year, and thanks were given to Gordon White for the mowing of the War Memorial Green and to Mr and Mrs Thistlthwaite for storing surplus winter grit supplies. Thanks were also given to fellow Councillors whose work is invaluable to the community, and to Jim Haines and Michelle Taylor (CPC) and Judy Woods (CFPC) who were co-opted as Councillors this year. Chute Forest Parish Council reported 10 planning applications in the last year, and Chute Parish Council 32, which is a 120% increase over last year with several large applications. Extracts of the reports are included later in this magazine and the full minutes will be available on the Chute Web site, or if you would like a printed copy, please contact the Clerk. Carolyn Wall 730758 Clerk to Chute and Chute Forest Parish Councils 10 QUEENS JUBILEE CHUTE CELEBRATIONS June 2nd 1.00pm Soap Box Derby – see separate notice re this event. June 2nd 3.30pm Children’s Tea Party for 11year olds and under at the King George Field with a Magician Games and a Bouncy Castle. No need to book, just bring your under 11 year olds. June 3rd 12.00pm Pram Race between the Hatchet and Cross Keys. Make your own pram, anything un-motorised with 4 wheels! Arrive at the Hatchet by 11.45am. All ages welcome June 4th 6.30pm Celebrations on Chute Causeway by Limmer Pond with a Complimentary Hog Roast and Barbecue, 3 Live Bands, Licensed Bar and lighting of the Jubilee Beacon All weekend Scarecrow Competition Make your own scarecrow and put outside your house for a hunt the scarecrow competition all weekend. Contact Carolyn for further information on 730758 11 Chute Wednesday Club On the wild and wet Wednesday of April 18th we had our first trip of the year to Exbury Gardens. Despite the weather, 37 members with macs and wellingtons went to this lovely garden where the Azaleas and Rhododendrons were blooming with many more yet to bloom in the coming weeks. Our outing on May 16th is to The Gloucestershire Steam Railway where we will have a short train ride with a lunch of Fish and Chips. This event has to be booked in advance owing to the lunch so it is important to book early. Please phone if you would like to be added to the list. Eileen Soper, 730698 Bourne Valley Movies Our next film is “War Horse” (12A), the Steven Spielberg interpretation of the wonderful National Theatre production which those who saw it will never forget.