EGGBUCKLAND PARISH MAGAZINE INCLUDES NEWS OF CHRIST CHURCH, ESTOVER SEPTEMBER 2015 PRIEST IN CHARGE Rev’d Chris Routledge 100 Church Hill, Eggbuckland PL6 5RD Tel:781564 E-mail: [email protected]CHURCHWARDEN Peter Anderson 1 Crown Gardens, Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5JA Tel: 707377 Email: churchwarden@stedwards .church Julian Payne 9 Unicorn Close, Plympton, PL7 4QD Tel: 344632 Email: churchwarden@stedwards .church ST. EDWARD'S CHURCH WEB SITE http://www.stedwards.church Price 40p Minimum
Transcript
EGGBUCKLAND PARISH
MAGAZINE INCLUDES NEWS OF
CHRIST CHURCH, ESTOVER
SEPTEMBER 2015 PRIEST IN CHARGE
Rev’d Chris Routledge
100 Church Hill, Eggbuckland PL6 5RD Tel:781564 E-mail: [email protected]
CHURCHWARDEN
Peter Anderson 1 Crown Gardens, Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5JA
Education, Harvest & Prayer – new beginnings in September Education As we start this new Academic Year, we stand at the beginning of a number of exciting developments. St Edward’s has always been a Church passionate about encouraging education and creating opportunities to meet local needs to help local people as evidenced by the historic trusts such as the Warren Trust, Jessop Trust, and Culme Trust. Then there was the setting up initially of a school in the old vicarage gardens, later to be established as Eggbuckland National School, now known as St Edward’s CofE Primary on Fort Austin Avenue. St Edward’s Church has been involved in supporting the establishment of Eggbuckland Vale Primary and Eggbuckland Community College. Through the development of a play group, a nursery was developed in the church hall which lasted in various forms for around 40 years. This was replaced a few years ago by Honeyshute Day Care and Nursery. We are hugely privileged to be part again of yet another educational provision in a different part of the parish – the opening of a new school, St Matthews CofE Primary and Nursery Academy in Derriford in the area of the old Seaton Barracks to serve the huge new housing development planned for that area of the parish. We also begin this Academic Year welcoming two new members of our staff and
leadership team who are with us to train for Ministry. Firstly, Libby Marsh, our Children’s & Families’ Ministry Trainee, will be studying with South West Youth Ministry (SWYM) on the Children’s & Families’ stream supported by Scripture Union. We will provide the practical dimension of the experience
through opportunities for her to be part of our various teams and for leadership development, as well as the support and encouragement for her to grow in ministry as she explores her sense of God’s calling in her life. Secondly, we will welcome (soon to be Rev) Carl Budden and his wife Linda. Carl will be with us as a Curate in training. He will be in a self-supporting capacity and consequently has a full time job. This is with Plymouth City Council. Though his time and availability with us will be limited, he comes with a wealth of experience and skills and will be a very welcome addition to our Ministry Leadership Team. I do strongly encourage you to make Libby, Carl and Linda very welcome, get to know them, support them and pray for them. Carl’s Ordination as Deacon will be in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday, 13th September at 10.00am. If you would like to go please speak to me to ensure there will be space. We will welcome Libby, Carl and Linda at a special welcome tea at 5.00pm that day followed by a welcome service at 6.30pm. Please come and support.
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So, a new school, Libby starting her studies with SWYM and Rev Carl beginning his Curacy and continuing his training for Ministry, all beginning this September, together with those students going off to University. They all need your support. Harvest However, September is not only the beginning of the Academic Year; it also heralds the season of Harvest. There is a real sense that those above mentioned new beginnings in education are a harvest of a kind. Harvest is a time of giving thanks for everything God has given to us and asking for his continued blessing. Our Church harvest celebrations will culminate in a special Community Harvest Celebration at 10.30am on 4th October, preceded by a reflective service of Holy Communion at 8.30am but will be anticipated by a number of schools and community events leading up to it and corresponding with the ‘British Food Fortnight’. The church is always beautifully decorated by our wonderful flower arrangers each year and so this year we wanted to increase the opportunity for people to see it. As well as the school assemblies occurring during the preceding week, we also hope to run a special Messy Church event on Tuesday, 29th September from 3.30-6.00pm in the church and church hall with a special harvest theme. We will also be celebrating a harvest of creativity and hard work in the developments in the churchyard and marking this with a special celebration on 26th September to which a number of special guests have been invited and to which you are all invited too. Please keep an eye on notice sheets and diary for further details. Prayer With so many new beginnings and so much to be grateful for, our priority of prayer must not be forgotten but rather invested in more deeply. Bishop Robert’s very first priority and challenge to the Diocese is growth in prayer such is the centrality of this amazing privilege. In prayer, we come before God with our
hopes and dreams, our failures, our needs and allow him to speak to us, to encourage us, listen to us, and experience his loving presence and purposes. In prayer we come before the Creator of the universe in intimacy. It is for this reason that we are taking part this year in the National Prayer Weekend – 25th-27th September – and Bob Hall, our Reader, will be coordinating this for us. This will flavour some of our
teaching in September leading up to it but there will be a few events on that weekend relating to it. Please look out for further details as they become available. Prayer is such a vital aspect of our growth and health, both as a Church and as Christian people. I encourage you to make the most of these opportunities to participate in and grow deeper in your experience of prayer. I hope those who have been away during August, as we have, return safe and refreshed and that as we start this season of new beginnings we continue to grow in our dependence and devotion to Jesus as we love, serve and grow as ‘one family’ through Him. With Every blessing,
Chris
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ST EDWARD’S EGGBUCKLAND DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
On each Tuesday throughout the month there will be Morning Prayer at 8.45am
Tue 1st 7.30pm Growth Group at 1 Crown Gardens Thu 3rd 3.00pm Growth Group at 6 Orchard Avenue Sat 5th 1.00pm Wedding of John Downey & Abbie Leanne Fenn Sun 6th Trinity 14 8.30am Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Worship with the Baptism of Amelia Florence Skinner 6.30pm Evening Praise - HEARTBEAT Mon 7th 9.15am ‘Eddy Bears’ (Adults & Toddler Group) in the church hall 7.30pm Standing Committee & MLT Meetings at the Vicarage Tue 8th 7.30pm Eggbuckland Ladies’ Group in the hall Wed 9th 9.00am Open the Book at St Edward’s CE Primary School 11.30am Midweek Morning Communion in St Edward’s 12 for 12.30pm Eggbuckland Community Lunch in the hall Thu 10th 7.30pm Fabric & Maintenance Team meeting in the Vestry Sat 12th 9.00am-12noon Living Churchyard Pre LaunchTidy-up
2.30pm Wedding of Alan Page & Judith Levenson Sun 13th Trinity 15 9.30am Morning Prayer 10.00am Ordination at Exeter Cathedral of Carl Budden
3.00pm Baptism Preparation 5.00pm Welcome Tea in the hall
6.30pm Evening Praise – Welcome Service Mon 14th 9.15am ‘Eddy Bears’ (Adults & Toddlers Group) in church hall 7.30pm Growth Group at the Vicarage Tues 15th 7.30pm Growth Group at 1 Crown Gardens Wed 16th 9.00am Open the Book at St Edward’s CE Primary School 11.00am Schools’ Work Development & Planning Team at the Vicarage Thu 17th 7.30pm Eggbuckland Community Choir Practice in church Sat 19th 3.00pm Messy Church at Christchurch, Estover
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Sun 20th Trinity 16 9.30am Holy Communion – Rev Carl Budden 4.30pm Youth Group in church hall 6.30pm Evening Praise – HEARTBEAT Mon 21st 9.15am ‘Eddy Bears’ (Adults & Toddlers Group) in church hall 7.30pm Growth Group at the Vicarage Wed 23rd 9.00am Open the Book at St Edward’s CE Primary School
Thu 24th 7.30pm Finance Team meeting in the Vicarage Sat 26th 11.00am Living Churchyard Launch in the churchyard Sun 27th Trinity 17 9.30am Holy Communion 3.00pm Baptisms 6.30pm Evening Praise – HEARTBEAT Mon 28th 9.15am ‘Eddy Bears’ (Adults & Toddlers Group) in church hall
7.30pm Growth Group at the Vicarage Tue 29th 3.30-6.00pm Messy Church in the hall 7.30pm Parochial Church Council Meeting at the Vicarage Wed 30th 9.00pm Open the Book at St Edward’s CE Primary School
FROM THE REGISTERS Baptisms June 28th Jack William Somerset, son of Robin & Charlotte DODDRELL Madeleine Rose, daughter of Russell & Victoria WILSON Lacie Ann, daughter of Nathan & Yvette COUZENS July 26th Grace Gladys, daughter of Richard & Natasha ADAMS James Arthur, son of Richard & Natasha ADAMS James Robert John MITCHELL, son of Daren Mitchell & Victoria Ward
May they grow to know Jesus and follow Him Weddings July 10th Phillip Michael OSGATHORPE & Katharine Kelynen HALEY July 11th Robert Douglas CUMMING & Lisa Marie EVANS
May they continue to grow in their love for each other Funerals June 18th Elisabeth WILDING aged 74 years June 25th Clifford BOTTOMLEY aged 87 years June 29th Hazel Marilyn GAYLARD aged 77 years June 29th Rosemary ROBERTS aged 87 years May the Lord bring comfort and healing to those bereaved
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From the Editor When I first read the following, my initial thought was it was something being made up by a Euro-sceptic. It then became clear that it was no fabrication or light-hearted pronouncement but yet another attempt by Brussels to dictate to our Government:
Britain has too many stay-at-home mothers and must do more to get them into work, the European Union has said. British women are twice as likely as those in the rest of Europe to choose not to work in order to care for their children or elderly relations, EU figures show. The large number of mothers who work part-time or not at all is a “social challenge” that the Government must address by providing more free child care, according to a report by the European Council.
Now, if that isn’t designed to get up the noses of all self respecting Brits, I don’t know what is. I, for one, am pleased and proud that so many mothers are willing to stay at home and look after offspring and the elderly. They can only but benefit from that and economically it could be beneficial to the State. There may, of course, be reasons other than choice why more mums stay at home or only work part-time in this country than in the rest of Europe. It could be that there is a higher incidence of parents here with less extended-family
support. It may not be financially viable for them to work or there could be a shortage of tax-payer funded child care places. In the latter instance, the Government has been at pains to stress they will be honouring a manifesto pledge to provide more such places. The one thing that is crystal clear to me is that European bureaucrats should have no right trying to tell our mothers what they should or shouldn’t do nor insist upon what steps our Government should take. No wonder there remains so much disillusionment with the European Union. Parking in Widey Lane In our last magazine I expressed concern about the potential worsening of the parking situation in Widey Lane as a result of Widey Court Primary School’s proposal for an extension which would reduce the amount of parking spaces within the school’s boundary. I am, therefore, grateful to Councillor Mrs Lynda Bowyer for subsequently contacting me and advising that the published Planning application details were incorrect and there will be no loss of parking spaces. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there could be some means of increasing parking areas adjacent to the many congested streets in our district? I know it’s a city wide problem and a pie in the sky wish. Oh for a magic wand! Pat Whatty
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The Final Frontier “Space, the final frontier” so we are told by Captain Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard. During July 2015, the ‘New Horizon’ mission successfully reached the dwarf planet Pluto and sent back some remarkable pictures of an object at the edge of our solar system. One NASA scientist said that in a matter of fifty years we had visited all the planets within our tiny corner of the universe. This year also saw the spacecraft named Philae landing upon a comet orbiting the sun. As I write preparations are being made to go back to the moon and also to have a human to step foot on the surface of Mars. Over the centuries, since the emergence of the Enlightenment in the sixteenth Century, humanity has sought to reposition itself at the centre of the universe. Science and Religion, unintentionally, both helped to achieve this aim,
thus side-lining God in the process. Many people have been convinced that the idea of a supreme being who is the origin of everything is an irrelevancy in our modern technological world. However, without such a belief, the world would probably have been destroyed by humanity many decades ago. Believing in God has helped civilisation to be less self-centred and to focus upon others and our environment. Certainly it is true that Religion has contributed to some less favourable aspects of human endeavours but overall a belief in the Divine has been positive. I would suggest that it is almost impossible not to have some concept of the Divine and certainly to be completely immune to a notion of a creator is unique. We have not been constructed to ignore the spiritual dimensions of our existence. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the Psalmist writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Science can only provide answers to some questions, as a journalist recently commented upon the NASA’S New Horizons mission, “It is throwing up more
mysteries about Pluto than answering them.” This is why man will never replace God at the centre of the universe. Once a Christian friend who was an amateur astronomer said, the more science revealed about the universe, the more he was in awe of the creator of it. As Genesis 1 puts it: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Yours in Christ,
Julian Payne (Churchwarden)
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Muriel’s Page
A Baby’s Smile
The station platform was bleak, the weather being cold and windy. The rain had passed but dark clouds scurried across a threatening sky. I looked around. Was there any shelter? “Waiting Room – No Smoking” the sign declared. On approaching the door, the glass thick with dirt and almost opaque, I tentatively entered in. The smell of stale tobacco smoke was almost overwhelming and there were cigarette ends everywhere.
The seats looked most uninviting; the other passengers had preferred to stand around on the draughty platform. I was about to select the least scruffy seat when the door opened. A young woman appeared with a bonny baby in her arms. His smile (I had asked whether a boy or girl?) brightened the gloomy room and the dark, dull day like a ray of sunshine. “Thank goodness there is somewhere to sit,” said the young mother.
“We must be grateful for small mercies,” I replied, and suddenly the sun seemed to shine. The baby chuckled and we waited together contentedly until we heard the whistle of our approaching train. The express from Paddington – and on time!
Muriel Marshall The Best Way to Pray A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray,” the priest said. “No,” said the minister. “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.” “You’re both wrong,” the guru said. “The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor.” The repairman could contain himself no longer. “Hey, fellas,” he interrupted. “The best prayin’ I ever did was when I was hangin’ upside down from a telephone pole.”
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ROTAS
FLOWERS Altar Memorial Chapel
Angela McLeod Fri 4th Sept Bobbie Bidgood Jen Peart 11th Brenda Whatty Pat Horrell & Pam Cooper 18th Val Francksen Margaret Turner 25th Brenda Whatty
BRASSES
Week commencing Monday 7th Sept Marion Gates 21st Brenda Whatty
CHURCH CLEANING
Week commencing 7th Sept Frances Rendle 21st David Sinclair
Eggbuckland Ladies’ Group Our Summer Outing and lunch this year to Dawlish on 14th July was an unqualified success. The fact that the journeys to and from the destination were more akin to mystery tours just made them all the more interesting as we were kept guessing as to the eventual outcome. The service and hospitality provided at the Langstone Court Hotel, Dawlish Warren, could not be faulted. There was a wide range of choice for the lunch and the meals were excellent. Our Autumn programme begins on 8th September when our guest speaker Janet Cowlard will be telling us about “The Day I met the Queen”.
Thank You Eggbuckland Road
I would like to thank all of you at St Edward’s for your kind wishes on our anniversary.
It meant a lot to me as Harold doesn’t remember everything and everyone.
God Bless you all,
Phyllis (Stafford)
CHURCH FLOODLIGHTING Grateful thanks to Vicki Hocking and Glenda Davies who have each sponsored the tower floodlighting for September in memory of their late husbands, both by the name of Ken
Magazine Deadline The deadline for the OCTOBER magazine is
SUNDAY, 13th SEPTEMBER
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Change is here to stay We’ve finally arrived! After a horrible week and a 13 hour nightmare journey, at last we’re here, in our secluded log cabin on a sheep farm in the Lake District. I’m sitting on the verandah at 6 o’clock in the morning, listening to the birds singing and the sheep calling to one another, our remaining dog at my feet. While sitting down to a late meal last night we were delighted to see our first red squirrel. There was a great rush to find a camera and take pictures without disturbing him. Even as I write, a woodpecker has landed in the tree in front of me and is tapping away at the bark, looking for insects. The farmer has put up bird and squirrel feeders on the trees a few feet in front of the cabin. “If you see any greys, tell me,” he says passionately. “I’ll get my gun!” The week began with our Springer Spaniel of 12 years getting sick and eventually, after an unsuccessful operation, we very sadly had to say goodbye to our beautiful Tizer. Struggling with the “what ifs” and “should we have done this or should we have done that,” we tried to move on with our lives and adjust to the space that he left. Our remaining dog, a 7 years old Jack Russell called Whiskey, absolutely adored his best buddy. He used to hang on Tizer’s back legs, sleep on his back and follow him obediently around. Whiskey’s evening occupation was spent grooming him and Tizer probably had the cleanest ears in the South West. We decided we should keep a close eye on Whiskey to make sure he didn’t pine for his friend. So, it is with some surprise that Whiskey has accepted the changes without the blink of an eye and taken advantage of the current vacancy, smoothly appropriating the role of ‘top dog’ that Tizer once held. It is astonishing to me how easily he has adapted, accepted the way things are and moved on with his life. In fact, not just moved on, but capitalised on the absence of any competition and is loving being the only dog in the house. This leaves me speechless; I don’t know whether to be glad that he is coping so well or horrified that he is so heartless. Today we are planning to visit the osprey viewpoint in Dodd Woods, overlooking Lake Bassenthwaite, where there is a project to re-introduce ospereys to the Lake District. The return of the ospreys at Lake Basenthwaite was the culmination of several years’ hard work and, in 2001, for the first time in over 150 years ospreys were bred successfully in the Lake District. Sometimes known as the fish eagle, they were hunted to extinction in this country until, in 1916, the last known pair was recorded to have nested on an island in Loch Loyne, Scotland.
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Forty two years later, an osprey pair was reported to be nesting at Scotland’s Loch Garten but because of egg thieves it was not until 1959 that young osprey chicks were seen in the area. Due to the work of RSPB staff and volunteers protecting the nests and carefully managing the breeding sites, osprey numbers have gradually increased and spread from Scotland to the rest of the British Isles. A majestic bird, with a wingspan of 180 cm, it is now beginning to thrive because of changes in attitudes and understanding and is now being treated with the respect and awe that it deserves. Change is never easy. It is always hard to accept that our previous ideas, behaviour and way of doing things are no longer acceptable or appropriate in the changing world in which we live but I hope that, like Whiskey, I will not only accept change but even take advantage of the opportunities that change can present us with. Sue Lake
Sunday Sermon – 9th
August The following is a condensed version of the Sermon preached by
Rev Richard Wakerell on 9th August and reproduced here by request
Rubbish disposal today can be a complicated process. In Plymouth we have our green bins for recyclables, our brown ones for everything else except garden waste which is collected separately for part of the year. When we go to the Council tips everything from washing machines to wood, rubble to glass or general waste has its separate dropping off point. Either it will be recycled or disposed of safely. Afterwards, to drive home with empty cars knowing that our lofts, sheds, garages or whatever dumping grounds we have are free of clutter is really satisfying. We may feel that a weight has been relieved and we are able to breathe and move again. Rubbish is something we all generate. Modern society seems to be creating more
and more. Stories of plastic bags and bottles covering many hundreds of square miles floating around in the Pacific bear testament to that. It is a reminder that mankind generally has a big problem with rubbish. This is even truer when we are dealing with emotional or spiritual rubbish, specifically with issues of guilt and shame.
One of the most salutary lessons in life for people who have a conscience is to recognise that we are not the people we would like the world to think. When we put God in the equation, with the Gospel challenge to love unconditionally, to forgive over and over again, that’s when it can get really difficult. There is nowhere to hide! Humanity’s problem is that we all foul up – time and time again. In times of challenge, we may bottle out. At other times we may prefer to try to court popularity with friends and family when we know that we should be standing on principle. For others it might be the issue of ‘if only’ after a time of tragedy or crisis. ‘If only I had been there.’ ‘If only I had not said or done that, things might have been so different.’
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Guilt, shame and regrets, if not dealt with absolutely, clutter up lives. They penetrate to the very core of our being, hold us back and impair our capacity to love, impeding our ability to live for the present and make it virtually impossible to learn and mature. If it was not for the Christian Gospel, things would be bleak. If our faith was really about earning favour with God, few of us would have much chance but the Gospel is a Gospel of Grace, speaking of the God who deals with our sins once and for all. This invitation to Grace is an absolute necessity. The world has been damaged irreparably by unresolved shame, the guilt of human failure and
wrongdoing. This thought nudged Friedrich Nietzsche, famous for his ‘God is dead’ statement to declare war on God because the idea of divinity made him feel like effluent trash. He wrote, “He saw with eyes that see everything…..all my concealed disgrace and ugliness…..he crawled into my dirtiest nooks. This most curious one had to die.” (Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None)
With Nietzsche’s thought in mind, I would invite us to think of Calvary being in effect the universal dump for the emotional and spiritual rubbish that humanity creates and which we all carry to some extent. Jesus hanging on the cross, isolated and in agony, covered by blood, bruises, flies and sweat, vilified by the taunts of his accusers, deserted by his friends was, in that death, doing something incredible. He was dealing with the sin of the whole world. If we dare to recognise that desolate scene’s redeeming effect for us, there should be no dark corners of our lives, no guilt, no shame and no ‘if onlys’ that God in His abundant love cannot deal with. The wonderful truth is that all who come to Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour have everything that hurts and destroys taken away. Lives become de-cluttered. People with the slate wiped clean can start again. They can build lives on different, more enduring foundations. Receiving this forgiveness is a far more subtle act than physically going to Council tips. It’s not a one-off trip but a mental act that requires faith and willingness to focus on Jesus. It takes an act of faith to toss our rubbish and guilt in this direction. But it becomes far easier when we recognise that the Gospel is about relationships. Firstly it is about knowing Jesus, developing intimacy and a personal relationship with Him. It is about opening ourselves to receiving His healing love. There is a ludicrous temptation to receive mercy. Those of us who are naturally anxious may, from time to time, as memories come flooding back, doubt some of the things we have done and be convinced that some of our guilt and shame is too much for God to deal with. Sometimes the urge to look back may come from family, friends or others who, in times of anger, fear or pain, by using ill judged words, hold our pasts against us. But we have in the bread and wine of Communion, physical tokens reminding us of Calvary which act as continuing receipts of forgiveness. Our God cares enough to
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offer us ongoing support, helping us resist our doubts and the burdens heaped on us by others which might otherwise stop us looking ahead. The cost of not going to Jesus with our emotional or spiritual rubbish is the equivalent of spiritual fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is the act of unscrupulous people dumping their rubbish and possessions on public highways, in beauty spots or any other public space as opposed to licensed recycling centres or rubbish dumps. It is selfish, messy and potentially lethal when dangerous items are dumped where others can encounter them. It is costly to clear up and always a blot on the landscape. Guilt or shame that is not dealt with properly will not go away. It may be denied or covered up but denial as a strategy only works to a limited extent. Eventually as these issues build up, lives will be damaged. People may end up in a spiritual and emotional sense fly-tipping their guilt and their shame when they are exposed publicly in negative, destructive behaviour. This may come through addictions used as a futile attempt to cover the pain or through extreme expressions of anger and hurt. It may manifest through becoming increasingly anxious and depressed. When we end up fly-tipping in an emotional or spiritual sense, things tend to explode, messing up our lives and the lives of others we profess to love or care for. It creates distance, fuels superficial relationships and is the complete opposite of the life and peace that is experienced by those who know that they are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ once and for all on that cross at Calvary. If your rubbish, guilt and shame made you feel rubbish, do something with it. There is no better place to take it than to the universal dump located outside a city wall, on a green hill far away. This dump is always open, available to all who want to talk about their rubbish and deal with it in the proper way.
Sainsbury’s clean up at St Edward’s At the end of July we had some very welcome guests in church. Ten members of staff from Sainsbury’s at Marsh Mills turned up armed with an impressive array of cleaning materials to help spruce up the building. They did a marvellous job and made a real difference, even leaving the unused materials for future cleaning. Also, most generously, the ladies donated to church funds their wages for the two hours’ work. As some small mark of appreciation for their labours, the cleaning team members were escorted to the top of the tower to enjoy the views. The Sainsbury Company also donated £20 towards the cost of desserts for the August Eggbuckland Community lunch. Our Grateful thanks to them on both counts.
Seen on a church notice board
All services are different – we leave the repeats to television There are some questions that cannot be answered by Google
Team Details Reverend Rob Jones Baptist Tel 780830 Vacancy Church of England Father John Webb Roman Catholic Tel 701660 Curates within the Holy Family Mission Community: Reverend Tim Thorp Catechesis and Teaching Tel 417618 Reverend Chris Routledge Children and Young People Tel 781564 Father Simon Rundell Mission and Evangelism Tel 702119 Enquiries concerning Baptisms, Dedications, Weddings and Funerals please telephone 780830 Who to contact: Church Warden Beryl Norton Tel 211324 Assistant Church Warden Paul Lane Deacon Ann Bailey Tel 208171 Flower rota Julia Mudge Tel 707778 Joyful Noise Adrian Thatcher Tel 704058 Newsletter items Janet or John Brooks Tel 210768 Or email [email protected] Hon Treasurer Penny Wicks Hon Secretary Val Egan Magazine Beryl Norton Pianists Adrian Thatcher / Ann Bailey Safeguarding Reps Jan Simpson / Janet Brooks Rainbows Mary Roberts Tel 789404 Brownies and Guides Maureen Horton (evenings) Tel 301460
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Diary for Christ Church A warm invitation is extended to all who wish to attend our services and social events.
Each Wednesday at 9.15 am Morning Prayers followed by the Roman Catholic Mass at 9.30 am in the Chapel. Baptism Preparation at St Edward's Church, Eggbuckland Baptism Preparation takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 pm. Please contact Beryl on 211324 to book a place. Fellowship Group Tuesday 2.15 pm - 3.30 pm at 75 Dartmouth Walk. Contact Tel 707119 Church based organisations Hire Enquiries
ELM centre - Monday to Saturday: contact Brenda on Tel 301015 Church/ELM centre - Sunday: contact Tel 780830 or call in to the Cafe on a Monday or Tuesday morning.
Yoga with Venita 07745 521069
Monday 6.15 - 7.15 pm
Slimming World Tuesday "
9.30 & 11.30 am 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30 pm
U3A Yoga Wednesday 10.30 – 11.45 am
Brownies Wednesday 6.00 – 7.30 pm
Rainbows Friday 5.30 – 6.30 pm
1st Sept 7.30 pm Church Council Meeting
6th Sept 10.30 am Christ Church 35th Birthday Morning Worship: Reverend Rob Jones
3.00 pm 4.30 pm
Bring and Share Birthday tea followed by Short Service of Celebration & Praise
13th Sept 10.30 am Holy Communion: Reverend Rodney Baxendale
19th Sept 3 - 5 pm Messy Church: Harvest theme
20th Sept 10.30 am Holy Communion: Reverend John Richards
27th Sept 10.30 am Morning Worship: Mr Peter Sweeting
4th Oct 10.30 am Harvest Festival: Reverend Rob Jones
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The Cafe in the Elm Centre - You are warmly invited to call in for refreshments and a chat between 9.00 am - 12 noon Monday - Thursday. Last orders for freshly cooked food is 11.30 am. If you would like to help out for an hour or two please speak to Penny or Brenda.
TOOLS WITH A MISSION - Sending tools across the world All types of Hand Tools Required: bring to Christ Church or contact Ann Bailey on Tel: 208171 if collection of items is required.
Yorkshire Tea - bar codes buy wheelchairs Please take the time to save the bar codes and give them to Beryl who will send them to the Wheelchair Foundation UK. Thank you.
Used Stamps: are collected for RNIB and overseas.
Table Top Stall - New stock urgently required Do you have any unwanted presents?
Do you have any good quality items that are no longer required? Only new clothing is acceptable. Maybe you could knit or make something
that our customers would love to buy. Please pass them to Penny.
Future Events
Devon Historic Churches Day Saturday 12th September 2015
incorporating the National "Ride + Stride" Have a fun day out visiting our glorious churches and chapels
We pray for the children starting school in September and the teaching and support staff who help them in their learning and development. We pray for the senior and mature students as they continue their studies; and all who support their learning. Amen.
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Leigham Church Hall: Monday 9 - 12 noon Playschool Contact Heidi Bailey on Mobile 07929 039 832
7 – 9 pm Close to Heel Dog Training Contact Janet Timpson Tel 707772
5 – 9 pm Beavers, Cubs and Scouts (Term time) Contact Graham Hancock Tel 773372 Thursday 9 - 12 noon Playschool - see contact details above
8 – 10 pm Canine Society: Training for Crufts (alternate wks) Contact Debbie Tel 823106
Friday 9 - 12 noon Playschool - see contact details above Leigham Church hall is available for private parties on Saturday and Sun-day – please contact Maisie Pullyblank Tel: 707119.
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New Studio School (Based on an article which appeared in the The Herald on 14th August)
The Plymouth Studio School is opening in September in temporary accommodation, but images have been handed to city planners as part of an application to build its permanent two-storey home in the north of the city. The school, for up to 300 pupils, is being led by City College Plymouth, but will be situated on the campus of The University of St Mark and St John. Studio schools are now an established feature in the UK’s education landscape with nearly 50 either open or approved to open across the UK for students of all abilities aged 14 to 19. The Plymouth Studio School is to be for students aged between 13 and 19 and will focus on academic, vocational and professional qualifications. Class sizes will be a maximum of 25 and there will be just 80 pupils in each year group. Phil Davies, Principal of City College Plymouth said: “Our vision is to create a vibrant place of learning, staffed by a team of excellent learning and personal coaches that will equip each individual student with the skills and confidence they need to achieve their full potential.” The main difference between this school and mainstream schools will be that all subjects will be taught through projects designed with employers. Classroom teaching will be combined with work placements. At first, students will carry out work experience for four hours a week increasing to two days per week, often paid, when they turn 16. Professor Cara Aitchison, Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Mark and St John, said the purpose-built base would be a state-of-the-art facility. The school will open this month (September) with 100 students – 60 in year 10 and 40 in year 12. Plymouth City Council is set to make a decision on the new building after public consultation which ends on 8th September.
From St Edward’s Church Primary School
To all interested parties Ref: Consultation for the Proposal that St Edward’s CofE Primary School converts to Academy Status and to join St Christopher’s Primary Multi-
Academy Trust
The Government in its current and proposed Education Bills is increasing access to Academy status for both primary & secondary Schools. All schools are encouraged to express interest in collaborative arrangements and schools judged ‘good’ by Ofsted have been encouraged to seek Academy status and increasingly within multi-academy trusts to enable effective school-to-school collaboration and increased educational outcomes for children. A large number of State schools have applied for and expressed interest in adopting Academy status and an increasing number of primary schools are now making this decision.
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The Governing Body of St Edward’s CofE Primary School has been discussing the proposals to convert to Academy status for some time. On 19th March, 2015 it was unanimously agreed to confirm its interest by submitting an application to the Dept for Education. The application is to convert to Academy status and to join St Christopher’s Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). This is a group of primarily church schools across Devon and within the Diocese of Exeter. The schools already members of the MAT are: All Saints CofE Primary School, Babbacombe, Torquay; St George’s CofE Academy, Plymouth, St Marychurch CofE Primary & Nursery School, Torquay, St Matthew’s CofE Primary & Nursery Academy, Plymouth, St Peter’s CofE Junior School, Tavistock, and ST Rumon’s CofE Infant School, Tavistock. One more school, Old Priory Junior Academy, Plympton is also seeking to join the AT and, therefore, St Edward’s will be one of six schools in the Plymouth/Tavistock area that wish to work closely together to enhance the quality of provision and educational outcomes. As a ‘good’ school with many outstanding features, the Governing Body feels that St Edward’s can both contribute to and learn from the relationship of other schools with a similar vision and ethos. St Christopher’s MAT prides itself on working ‘with’ schools to enable them to remain as unique and individual schools with the autonomy to make school based decisions. As a church school we empathise with their values of compassion, honesty, respect, integrity, service and trust – “Christ in all we do”. St Christopher’s Multi-Academy Trust is committed to:
Progress towards autonomous ‘Outstanding’ schools within an ethos and vision rooted in the Church of England. Rapid improvement in all schools. Stability in governance and leadership. Innovation and decision making for impact. Building capacity and resilience. The transfer and continuance of current staff pay and conditions unchanged and unaffected. The learning of all pupils whatever their background, ability or learning needs.
Consultation is a significant feature in our decision to convert to Academy status and we would invite you to contact us should you wish to do so regarding any aspect of the proposal. There is a plethora of information and guidance within the DfE website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/academy-conversion-process and more specific information about St Edward’s at http://www.st-edwards.plymouth.sch.uk/ For any issues relating specifically to St Christopher’s Primary Multi-Academy Trust, contact the Chief Exec Officer, Janine Waring at [email protected] The consultation process is due to close on Friday, 11sth September, 2015 and we anticipate a conversion date of 1st October, 2015, following the end of the consultation process. Yours sincerely, Darren Clark – Chair of Governors.
Parish Pieces Living Churchyard Launch Saturday, 26th September at 11.00am is the date and time of the launch of the Eggbuckland Living Churchyard Project. The Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev’d Nick Mckinnel, has accepted an invitation to attend as have a number of other local dignitaries and parishioners who have taken an interest in the project. It is also hoped that our MP, Johnny Mercer and his family
will be able to find the time to attend. There is an open invitation to all who wish to come along to do so and the launch will be followed by a barbecue. A new information board should be in situ on the day thanks to the Plymouth City Homes who have made and donated it. Pre Launch Tidy-up
There will be a general tidy-up of all areas of the churchyard during the morning of Saturday, 12th September when any litter can be collected and the pathways cleared of any overhanging vegetation. Anyone who is willing to help with this should come along from 9 o’clock. Bell Ringers Win again and again As readers of the weekly Sunday Snippets will know, July and August have seen more trophies brought back for display in the St Edward’s ringing chamber after competition successes by our tower’s talented band. Firstly they won the John Scott Trophy at St Michael’s Doddiscomsbleigh for a first place
in the Devon Church Bell Restoration Fund competition and another from the Dunsford Church Bell Ringers’ Association. More recently they were at St Bridget’s Parish Church, Bridestowe and won the Ernie Chapman Memorial Cup. Then on the same day it was the Albert & Hilda Hamley Perpetual Memorial Rose Bowl that was added to the collection when gaining first place at St Petrock Parish Church,
Lydford. Ringers from other towers must breathe a sigh of relief when the Eggbuckland team is not competing. Ford Park Cemetery Exhibition Anyone who has viewed past exhibitions in the Visitors’ Centre at Ford Park Cemetery will know just how professionally presented and interesting they are. The current one, People of Plymouth 1915, features some of the details of the two sons of Rev AF Baker (Vicar of Eggbuckland 1901-1921) whose exploits at the Front in France are being published in our magazines. The exhibition runs until 27th September and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am-3.30pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12.30pm-3.30pm.
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Parish Notes from the Past
100 Years Ago Some extracts from letters of the Vicar’s elder son, 2nd Lt Frank Baker, in
France: 4th Sept, 1915 – In trenches and everything is mud, mud, mud. I got wet through in about half an hour. One simply can’t keep dry here. I was out from 11 pm to 5 am when it was cold but fine after the rain ceased. 5th Sept – He goes on a reconnaissance mission at midnight with a sergeant and six men to a mill with the intention of entering and capturing a German. Two streams had to be crossed by wading through five feet of water. He had a rifle with thirty rounds of ammo but no revolver. They found themselves in the midst of German patrols, estimating about 30 members of the enemy. They managed to return safely. 7th Sept – Just before dawn he led a patrol of nine men to the mill and its surrounds. They crawled all the way, expecting the building to be occupied. Lt Baker drew a rough map and sent this with his report to the General. Next day he went with 30 men and held the mill all day. They survived a bomb attack, rifle and machine gun fire in the evening and in response, “laid out three or four and could hear considerable moaning.” On returning to rest billets, Lt Baker said he slept like a top and forgot all about eating. His first meal for two whole days was a late breakfast. He reported that the Germans were using trench mortars with 2000lb shells but the British artillery was very good and accurate. 16th Sept – In support trenches and receiving only a few shells compared to the thousands being put over just four or five miles along the line. His men are paving
the bottom of the trench with bricks gathered from the ruins of villages to keep down the mud. 21st Sept – The Adjutant and Second in Command was badly wounded by a “Little Willie” and the Colonel also had a piece of shell through his cap. 22nd Sept – Lt Baker says it is still warm enough to bathe in the river and he is much hardier than he used to be. They are working night and day and it is difficult to find time to sleep. In fact, he says, no-one is supposed to
sleep there! Chief Torpedo Gunner Hooper was home for a short time from the Dardanelles. He was on HMS ‘Ocean’ when she was sunk so had experienced a full share of the dangers and hardships of the heavy task undertaken in the East. RIP – The death was announced of Lawrence Carlton at Gallipoli. He had been a choirboy in St Edward’s when his parents lived at Widey Court. 75 Years Ago A Tea with sports and games was organised at the Vicarage for the Sunday school children at the end of August. The fun could not start until an air raid rehearsal warning had been completed. Despite the wartime food shortages, generous donations of milk, cream and butter, tea, jam, etc had been received.a
