for St Mary’s, Burwell with St Etheldreda and the Holy Trinity, Reach tact con February 2018 Women’s World Day of Prayer Service led by Mothers’ Union February 28th 2.00pm in Guildhall Refresh Café at St Mary’s Every Friday 9.30 - 11.00 A friendly café and play space for babies & pre-school children with their parents and carers Refreshments, Toys & Games, Craft, Singing, Bible Story All Welcome! This year has two odd date coincidences. The first is that Ash Wednesday falls on February 14th which will be celebrated by many as Valentine’s Day. That’s a strange combination- or is it? Valentine’s Day is a day celebrating love, and yet Ash Wednesday is also about love. As we take time on this first day of Lent to reflect on where we fall short of what God wants for us, to acknowledge our need of his grace, we are assured of how much God loves us and wants to forgive us and we have an opportunity to respond afresh to God’s love poured out for us. The other coincidence is that Easter Sunday falls on April 1 st - April Fools’ Day. Easter is when we celebrate God’s incredible, some might say foolish love, in Jesus living, dying, and rising again to give us new life and hope. Every year, the season of Lent invites us to make space to allow God to transform us with his amazing, outrageous love. How will we do that this year? Eleanor Williams AMAZING LOVE ASH WEDNESDAY 14 th February at St Mary’s 10am & 7.30pm Holy Communion with imposion of ashes & me for reflecon THE BIG SPLASH! Sunday 4 th February 2018 10am St Mary’s Church, Burwell A Celebraon to Remember your Bapsm or Thanksgiving followed by drinks and cake Send us a photo of your Christening or Thanksgiving day Bring your Bapsm Candle with you, if you have one! RSVP 01638 741262 or [email protected]
Transcript
Feb 2018 Page
con tact
for St Mary’s, Burwell with St Etheldreda and the Holy Trinity, Reach
tact con
February 2018
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Service led by Mothers’ Union
February 28th 2.00pm in Guildhall
Refresh Café at St Mary’s
Every Friday 9.30 - 11.00
A friendly café and play space
for babies & pre-school children
with their parents and carers
Refreshments, Toys & Games,
Craft, Singing, Bible Story
All Welcome!
This year has two odd date coincidences. The first is that Ash Wednesday falls on February 14th which will be celebrated by many as Valentine’s Day. That’s a strange combination- or is it? Valentine’s Day is a day celebrating love, and yet Ash Wednesday is also about love. As we take time on this first day of Lent to reflect on where we fall short of what God wants for us, to acknowledge our need of his grace, we are assured of how much God loves us and wants to forgive us and we have an opportunity to respond afresh to God’s love poured out for us. The other coincidence is that Easter Sunday falls on April 1st - April Fools’ Day. Easter is when we celebrate God’s incredible, some might say foolish love, in Jesus living, dying, and rising again to give us new life and hope. Every year, the season of Lent invites us to make space to allow God to transform us with his amazing, outrageous love. How will we do that this year?
Eleanor Williams
AMAZING LOVE ASH WEDNESDAY
14th February at St Mary’s 10am & 7.30pm Holy Communion with imposition of ashes & time for reflection
THE BIG SPLASH! Sunday 4th February 2018
10am St Mary’s Church, Burwell A Celebration to Remember
your Baptism or Thanksgiving followed by drinks and cake
Send us a photo of your Christening or Thanksgiving day
Bring your Baptism Candle with you, if you have one!
2018 has only just started but already there are a number of key events in the diary. More details will be given about them as time goes by, but please put them in your diary now! Sunday March 11th Mothering Sunday All Age service with special posies to be given out Saturday March 17th- Sunday March 18th Burwell@Large. We will have a stand at this major exhibition about everything that goes on in Burwell March 26th – April 1st – Holy Week & Easter. Look out for various services and events Sunday April 15th – Annual Parochial Church Meeting and special service with Bishop David Saturday April 28th – We welcome back the choral group Cantilena for a concert in church Monday May 7th Reach Fair Saturday June 9th Church Fete June 9
th – 12
th Burwell Festival Exhibition in
church Saturday June 16th Burwell Carnival Saturday June 23rd Concert by Huntingdon Male Voice Choir Sunday July 1st Ordination of Paula Spalding and Chris Campbell in Ely cathedral
From the Parish Registers
Baptisms
We welcome
Isla Deistler-Howe
Funerals
Rest in peace
Irma Ashby
Meryl Moore
Meryl Rollason
Bruce South
Lionel Suttle
Michael Mitcham Sr.
Doreen Grainger
John Mundin
June Goodchild
Alfred Rayment
Pam Westley
PILGRIM GROUPS Pilgrim groups will start again during Lent, when we are moving on to book 7: the Bible. If you have never been in a group, or not recently, and would like to join one, please speak to Eleanor.
For those who have been in groups which have met previously, these should continue, but please confirm with your group leaders that you would like to join in.
Thank you so much for all the congratulations and good wishes expressed on the announcement of my curacy title post, and ordination at Ely cathedral on Sunday, 1 July 2018. I am both humbled and thrilled to continue walking alongside you in God’s ministry. Having been a member of St Mary’s church family for about 20 years, and having been encouraged by so many of you to explore a vocation in the Church, it might be helpful to recap and explain how I’ve arrived at this point and what happens next: I am currently an ordinand, training for ministry with the Eastern Region Ministry Course. At the end of my training, in July, I will be ordained deacon to serve in this parish for a three year appointment. During that time I will be undergoing post-ordination training, and in the first year will not be authorised to preside at a service of Holy Communion or to pronounce the absolution or blessing. After a year, I will be ordained priest and will continue in the parish until my curacy is completed or extended. In all of this, my role is to assist Eleanor as Vicar of Burwell with Reach. Please pray for God’s blessing as we work together with you for God’s mission in this parish.
Paula Spalding
A NEW CURATE!
Millions of households in the UK are struggling to avoid hunger, as latest figures from the United Nations show that nearly three million people in the UK are now classed as severely ‘food insecure’, which means they are facing hunger on a daily basis. In the whole of Europe, according the UN, only Albania has higher levels of food insecurity. And so it is that the End Hunger campaign, a collation of charities and faith groups who are working to tackle food poverty, is demanding that a new cross-departmental Household Food Security Minister be appointed to tackle the problem. The Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, said in her recently published report, A Menu to End Hunger, that in her diocese, one foodbank alone had distributed about 1860 food parcels in the last year. She said: ‘We know that many more people are living on cheap food, much of it unhealthy, or skipping meals, because they are too ashamed to visit a foodbank. Whilst celebrating the work that churches and other voluntary groups are doing to respond to this urgent need, it is clear to me that Government and businesses could and should be doing more to reduce the need for foodbanks in the first place.’ The report also calls on the Government to do something about the problem of ‘holiday hunger’, when parents whose children receive free school meals struggle to feed them during school holidays. The Government should provide holiday clubs where such children can be fed, the campaign says.
END HUNGER CAMPAIGN
St Mary’s is open during the day so that you can leave donations for the Ely foodbank. If you need help from the foodbank the quick-est way to do so is by telephone. Someone can then direct you to the most appropriate agency to give you a foodbank voucher. Phone 01353 468626 or email [email protected] Or you can also speak to Eleanor about vouchers.
On 11th November 1918 the ringing of church bells erupted spontaneously across the country, as an outpouring of relief that 4 years of war had come to an end. Every year St Mary’s Bells are rung half muffled for the Remembrance Sunday Service. This year on Sunday 11th November it will be exactly 100 years since the end of the First World War. During this day there are lots of events planned nationwide. To commemorate this occasion, Burwell Bell-ringers plan to join in the large scale British Project ‘Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute’ which will involve as many towers as possible to ring our their bells at 7.05pm on the day to coincide when 1,000 beacons are being lit across the UK. Would you like to be involved in this special project? Every new bell-ringer who rings on the day will receive a special badge and certificate. Look out for further details round the village and come and see us at our stall at Burwell at Large. You are welcome to come along to St Mary’s Tower on any Monday evening at 7.30pm to have a go and see how you could be part of the Ringing for Peace Project. For more information contact Dee Smith, Tower Captain [email protected]
WORRIED YOU HAVE
AN URGENT MEDICAL CONCERN?
CALL 111
A NEW NHS 111 CAMPAIGN launches to
help people get the right urgent medical
attention.
A new campaign has launched to help
anyone worried about an urgent medical
concern get the right attention fast. When
it’s not an emergency, people are urged to
call the FREE NHS 111 service to receive
medical attention urgently.
NHS 111 is much more than a helpline.
Depending on the situation, the NHS 111
team can connect you to a nurse,
emergency dentist, or even a GP and if they
think you need it, they’re able to arrange
face-to-face appointments.
NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisors
who can assess if you need an ambulance,
and if you do, one will be sent immediately.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week to ensure that you get the right care,
from the right person, at the right time.
PRAY FOR SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudanese bishops have been urging their political leaders to think of their country before themselves, as South Sudan recently marked four years of a war with devastating consequences. It has left two-thirds of the population in need of aid, and created the largest exodus in Africa since the Rwandan genocide. The Bishop of Wau, in South Sudan, the Rt Revd Moses Deng Bol, said he was praying for leaders, ‘that they will put the interest of their people first… that they will embrace the rule of law instead of the current military mind-set; and that they be willing to hold those who have committed atrocities against civilians accountable.’
SOUTH SUDAN HUNGER CRISIS SET TO INTENSIFY
IN 2018 Christian Aid has renewed its call for urgent action to stem alarming levels of hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan. Ongoing violence and civil insecurity, which began in late 2013, have crippled South Sudan’s economy, created catastrophic food shortages and forced four million people to abandon their homes. The UN recently warned that more than 1.9 million people in the country are displaced, with 1.2 million ‘just one step away from famine’. In fact, food security experts predict that famine could occur in multiple locations in the country in 2018. Progress towards sustainable peace is desperately needed. Meanwhile, the UK Government has recently announced an additional £52 million humanitarian package for South Sudanese communities affected by the conflict, including refugees and internally displaced people.
Feb 2018 Page 6
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In April each year, we hold our Annual
Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), which is
similar to an AGM. We receive reports about
the church’s year from the Vicar, PCC
Secretary, Churchwardens and Treasurer and
elect any new church officers and members of
the Parochial Church Council (PCC).
In this parish, we decided many years ago that
PCC members would normally step down after
3 years, unless they had a specific role like
Secretary or Treasurer that needed a longer
commitment. This means that each year we
have an opportunity to recruit some new
members and this rotation leads to a healthy
balance of fresh ideas. This year we have 5
vacancies on the PCC, so we’d be interested
to hear from anyone who would like to become
involved in this way. The commitment
involves attending meetings monthly, with
approximately half of the meetings being
focussed on ‘business’ matters like finance
and repairs to the building and the other half
being more strategic discussions and planning
for the Mission and Ministry of the church.
PCC members are also expected to become
involved in practical ways as appropriate to
their interest and availability. If you would be
interested in becoming a PCC member, please
speak to Eleanor in the first instance.
At the APCM, we also elect people to be part
of the welcome team, more formally known as
‘sidespeople.’ It’s their job to welcome you
when you come to a service and give you a
pew sheet and, if necessary, a hymn book.
We have a rota of sidespeople, so that every-
one does a duty once a month, but this year
two of our sidepeople are retiring (see below),
so we have at least two vacancies, although
we could always accommodate extra people in
this role. Again, if you feel this is a job you’d
like to do, please speak to Eleanor.
The APCM will mark the retirement, not only of
the two sidespeople mentioned above, Don
Kyte and Brenda Bellward, but also of our
PCC Secretary, Philip Baker and one of our
Churchwardens, Simon Rogers.
Churchwardens are elected for a year at a
time, up to a maximum of 6 years and Simon
will complete his 6 years in April. At our
church, PCC secretaries and sidespeople
have no such time limits and Philip, Don and
Brenda have served MUCH longer. Philip
says he has served 20 years as PCC
secretary, but a total of 43 years on the PCC!
(The 3 year rule was introduced later.) Don
and Brenda say they can’t remember when
they were appointed, but are sure it was more
than 40 years ago! We have decided to mark
these very special retirements by inviting
Bishop David to come and lead a service of
Thanksgiving and Dedication, to celebrate
and give thanks for all the dedication of those
stepping down. It will also be an opportunity
for those newly appointed to commit to their
service in the future.
The APCM will take place on Sunday 15th
April 2018. Full details of the day will be
published later, but in addition to the meeting
and the service, there will also be a bring-and
-share lunch.
If you would like to contribute to gifts for
Philip, Simon, Don and Brenda, donations
can be given to Sarah Wingate, Pat Chalmers
or Myrna Leech.
SERVICE AND DEDICATION
Feb 2018 Page 7
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Thurs 1 Fri 2
Sat 3
10.00 9.30
10.00 7.45
9.00 9.30
4.00
Little Bears Refresh Cafe a Burwell until 11am Knit and Natter at Ness Court Youth Café in the Guildhall until 9.15 Prayers at CentrePeace till 9.30 Marriage Preparation course in the Guildhall until 1pm Evening Prayer at CentrePeace till 4.30
8.00
10.00
Sunday 4th February Presentation in the temple Holy Communion (said service) at Burwell All Age service The Big Splash
Wed 7
Fri 9
Sat 10
10.00 11.00
9.30
10.00
9.00
Holy Communion at Burwell Holy Communion at Ash Grove Refresh Café at Burwell until 11am Knit and Natter at Ness Court Prayers at CentrePeace till 9.30am
8.00
10.00
7.00
Sunday 11th February Sunday before Lent
Holy Communion at Reach Holy Communion at Burwell (groups for children and young people during the service) Sunday @ 7 at Burwell
Wed 14 Ash
Wed
Fri 16
Sat 17
10.00 7.30
9.30 10.00
9.00
Holy Communion at Burwell with ashing Holy Communion at Burwell with ashing with Mothers’ Union Refresh Café at Burwell until 11am Knit and Natter at Ness Court Prayers at CentrePeace till 9.30am
8.00
10.00
Sunday 18th February 1st Sunday of Lent
Holy Communion at Burwell Holy Communion at Burwell
Wed 21
Fri 23
Sat 24
10.30
9.30 10.00
9.00
Holy Communion at Ness Court Refresh Cafe at Burwell till 11am Knit and Natter at Ness Court Prayers at CentrePeace till 9.30am
8.00
10.00
4.00
Sunday 25th February 2nd Sunday of Lent
Holy Communion at Burwell Holy Communion at Burwell (groups for children and young
people during the service) Messy Church at Burwell
Wed 28 9.00 12.00
2.00
7.30
Holy Communion at Burwell Lunchbreak cafe at Burwell till 2pm MU in the Guildhall - Womens’ World Day of Prayer Service Mission & Ministry Team meeting in the Guildhall
All events are in Burwell unless otherwise indicated
Daily Prayer Weekdays at St Mary’s 9am and
6pm (Except Thursday which is a BCP service at 8.15 am at Reach)
February 2018
EXPLORING FAITH - THE NEXT STEPS
Do you have questions about life, the universe, God, faith? Most of us do! Do you want to go deeper, and have you been thinking about what might be the next steps for you, or your family? If so, please get in touch with Eleanor, and we can arrange to talk through how we can support you in taking the next steps. For some, that might be having space to ask questions, and explore what the Bible might have to say, either one to one or in a group. For others the next step might be making a public declaration of faith in confirmation, or for children over 7, preparing to receive communion before confirmation. We would love to walk alongside you on your journey.
Feb 2018 Page 8
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Contact is printed at Burwell Community Print Centre (Registered Charity no. 1053026) Views expressed are those of the individual and not of St Mary’s and St Etheldreda’s PCC
Collation and distribution Ken Hurrell and Avril Plume
To join the circulation list please phone 743118
Copy for March issue by 15th
February please. Your contributions are most welcome.
Everyone welcome
Knit and Natter
Every Friday 10am — 12 noon
At Ness Court
Come and join us
at our new regular venue!
For further information
please contact
Kathy (743556)
or
Jackie (07759 015698 )
Do you need a break
in your busy day?
LUNCHBREAK CAFE Serving light lunches at St Mary's church
On the 4th Wednesday of every month
Open from 12.00 till 2.00 Next Dates:
28th February
28th March
We always try to provide options suitable for
those with food allergies and intolerances
Vicar Revd Dr Eleanor Williams 741262 22 Isaacson Road [email protected] More details of many of the activities in this magazine and also any special events may be found on our website www.stmarysburwell.org.uk. We’re also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stmarysburwell https://www.facebook.com/messychurchburwell https://www.facebook.com/centrepeaceburwell CentrePeace 07542 828801
