The Churches’ Magazine
O U T LO O K
The Churches of the Sodbury Vale Benefice Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury
June 2017 1
www.svbcofe.org.uk Jane is enrolled as a Companion of the Society of St Francis by Brother Damian. See 1
Churchwardens
Contacts Rector
Chipping Sodbury
The Revd. Canon David Bowers 01454 313159, [Day off Monday] email rector@svbcofe.org.uk
Joy Gibson 01454 319288 Jane Jones-Williams 01454 324970
Associate Priest
Old Sodbury Karen Hunter If you would like to know more about the 01454 319903 Christian faith or are thinking about baptism or confirmation please speak with one of the the ministerial team
Little Sodbury Brenda Cordy 01454 316447
Church Office
Open during school term time Mon - Tue - Thu mornings 9.00 - 12.00 Horton Administrators: 01454 325160 Tina Hildick-Smith Michelle Jenkins, Trish Gailey 01454 320380 email: office@svbcofe.org.uk Richard Needs Web Site: www.svbcofe.org.uk 01454 329890
Advertising:
Volunteer required
Editor:
This magazine is brought to you Free by the four churches of the Sodbury Vale Benefice. If you would like to make a small donation towards production costs (about 70p per magazine) that would be most welcome. Thank you.
Michael Stephenson 01454 314094 email outlook@svbcofe.org.uk
Nominated Person: Mrs Hilary Holder 01454 327118 This is the person to contact if you wish to express concern about suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
Jul-Aug Deadline Can you have all copy to Michelle in the Church Office by June 16th at the latest please.
Front Cover- Michelangelo’s Bruges Madonna Photo by Michael Stephenson in the Church of our Lady, Bruges
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Dear friends
In the name of the Father, the Son - and the Holy Spirit? If there is one member of the Trinity who is misunderstood more than the other two put together it is the Holy Spirit. Even the question, “what is the Holy Spirit?” would lead us off in the wrong direction, as the New Testament teaches that the question should begin with “who” rather than “what”. For some people the whole idea of thinking about someone who is a “spirit” is difficult and vague. On June 4th we celebrate Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as they were gathered together praying. Acts chapter 2 tells us all about this. We often refer to it as the birthday of the Christian Church as it was the day when God empowered the followers of Jesus to go out to spread the good news throughout the world. This was a fulfilment of the promise of Jesus to the disciples in John chapter 16. In Acts we read how the disciples suddenly found a new boldness and confidence as they continued the work of Jesus, proclaiming the gospel, healing and teaching about the faith. At Pentecost we also remember how the Spirit continues to come to us today. We remember that he gives us gifts and abilities to use in God’s work, he helps us to understand our faith, especially as we read the Bible, and he leads us forward in our mission of making Jesus known to all people. The only qualification for us to receive the life of the Holy Spirit is for us to be open to God working in our lives. Come and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with us at Pentecost and pray that our churches may be renewed in love and power as we seek to grow in discipleship and to reach out to our communities. David Bowers “The chief actor in the historic mission of the Christian church is the Holy Spirit. He is the director of the whole enterprise.” From “The Go-Between God” by John V. Taylor (Bishop of Winchester 1974-84)
Prayer for the Month This month’s prayer is a simple worship song, asking God to fill us with his Holy Spirit. It is a prayer for anyone who is seeking to be more open to God. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. 3
Bream Church, Forest of Dean June 7 10.0am – 12.30pm Corse and Staunton Village Hall June 21 7 – 9.30pm Chipping Sodbury Church Centre July 12 7 – 9.30pm Bisley Village Hall, Stroud July 26 10.0am – 12.30pm tbc Sept 6 7 – 9.30pm Parish Room, St George’s, Nailsworth Oct 5 7 – 9.30pm tbc Oct 19 7 – 9.30pm Wotton Nov 9 10am – 12.30pm Parish Centre, Cirencester Nov 30 2 – 4.30pm Holy Ascension, Oddington
Baptisms: We welcomed into the Church: Jacob Michael Burden on 23 April 2017 at St John’s Old Sodbury Harper Lily Rose Pearson on 23 April 2017 at St John’s Old Sodbury Cain Morgan Badman on 23 April 2017 at St John’s Chipping Sodbury
Marriages: We send our congratulations to: Christian Gerald Newcombe and Stephanie Jane Skidmore at St John’s Old Sodbury on 29 April 2017
Funerals:We extend our sympathy to the families and friends of:
Principal Service readings June
Robert Charles Paget at St Adeline’s Little Sodbury on 9 May
June 4th (Pentecost) Acts 2: 1 - 21 1 Corinthians 12: 3b - 13 2017 Safeguarding Training John 20: 9 - 23 by Gloucester Diocese at Chipping Psalm 104: 26 - 36, 37b Sodbury Church Centre on June 11th (Trinity Sunday) 21st June 7.00 – 9.30pm Isaiah 40: 12 - 17, 27 - end This Core Training is essential for all members of PCC’s, Church wardens, 2 Corinthians 13: 11 - end those with trustee or other children and Matthew 28: 16 - 20 vulnerable adult responsibilities in the Psalm 8 parish settings (ie have a DBS certificate) plus nominated people. June 18th (First Sunday after Trinity) Exodus 19: 2 - 8a The Diocese cannot visit every PCC so Romans 5: 1 - 7 they are offering a range of sessions Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 8 which it is hoped many will attend. We are Psalm 100 fortunate to have this training locally. See list of other dates and venues below. June 25th (Second Sunday after Trinity) To book please contact either: Jeremiah 20: 7 - 13 Hilary Holder on 01454 327118, or Romans 6: 1b - 11 Beccy Smith - BSmith@glosdioc.org.uk Matthew 10: 24 - 39 Other dates: Psalm 69: 8 - 11, 18 - 40 May 31 7-9.30pm 4
going on to the Arpana School for children with learning disabilities, a very inspirational and caring place. We eventually arrived at our accommodation – a small guest house next to the Bishop’s House in the Trinity Church compound on MG Road and alongside a residential home for the elderly. After a brief rest we attended a graduation ceremony at the Mithralaya High School for Girls, a very happy and joyful occasion. Back at the guest house we had a very elaborate supper cooked by the catering staff of the Cathedral High School. On the Friday we began the day with a short visit to Trinity Home, the residential home next to our guest house, followed by Trinity Hostel for Girls, accommodation for girls studying at the Bishop Cotton Women’s College, of which the Bishop’s wife, Esther, is Principal. We visited Holy Trinity Church in the compound and then had an opportunity to meet the women
Bangalore/Bengaluru We continue the journey of David and Bishop Rachel in India….
We arrived at Bangalore Airport at 10.00am and were met by the recently appointed KCD Link Officer for the partnership, Revd Christy Gnanadasan, and our driver, Maran. We were taken straight to the Diocesan Office in the city and we were welcomed by Bishop Prasana Kumar Samuel and members of the Diocesan Council. We went from there to the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School where we were welcomed by the Principal, John Zachariah. The school, with its academic reputation and its facilities, attracts boys from across Asia as well as India and a large number of the students are on scholarships. We had a brief tour of the school and stayed there for lunch before
John Zachariah (next to +Rachel) is the Principal of the Bishop Cotton Boy’s School
clergy of the Diocese at the Bishop’s House. This was a positive and lively session and the female clergy were very keen to ask questions of Bishop Rachel as well as to tell us about their life and work. This was followed by lunch and then a visit to two residential homes for the elderly: St Stephen’s Home and Asha Nivas. At both places it was interesting to
Holy Trinity Church Bangalore 5
hear the stories of the residents. We went on to visit the Bishop Cotton Women’s College and then the Bishop Cotton Girls’ School. In the evening we attended the regular Friday evening worship service (in Tamil) at Holy Trinity Church with a guest speaker from the United Theological College in Bangalore. We returned to the guest house for another wonderfully prepared meal. Most of Saturday involved a trip to Kolar Gold Fields, about a two-hour drive from the city and an area that is now economically depressed with the closure of the gold mines. Most of the working
We visited two hostels in the area, one for boys and one for girls, and also an apprenticeship training centre for boys who had dropped out of school. We had lunch at the girls’ hostel and then made our way back to Bangalore, where we visited the New Life Centre for Girls. This is a hostel for girls who have been rescued from abusive situations or from sleeping rough and it was inspirational to hear their ambitions for the future. That evening we were the hosts and took the Bishop and Esther, along with Christy and the drivers, Maran and Augustine, out for supper in a hotel where we were able to sit at an outside table. As in Dornakal, we were presented with some beautiful Indian clothes. On our final full day we attended the Eucharist at St Mark’s Cathedral, a very traditional service in English with a robed choir and pipe organ. Afterwards we met the senior presbyter, Revd Prem Mitra, and some of the church officers over refreshments. We went on from there to the CSI Hospital, driving past the queues at the cricket stadium where the second test between India and Australia was taking place. We resisted the temptation! The Church of South India Hospital offers reasonably priced medical care and has a very strong Christian ethos. We spent some time with the medical director and some of the senior staff and had a short tour of some of the departments. For lunch that day we were the guests of the Bishop and his family and we went to a wonderful traditional South Indian restaurant where our food was served on banana leaves. Our final visit was to the Makkala Ashraya Kendra, a hostel for boys who have been in in abusive or dangerous situations or who have been sleeping out on the streets. This is run by Shakar and his
population now commute to Bangalore and the commuter train is one of the longest in India! We visited a number of churches and saw the architectural and cultural legacy of the many British who lived and worked there until independence. One of the churches was built in very traditional British neo-Gothic style and, in a shameful detail of our history, the Indian Christians were not allowed to worship there until after Independence. Along the road from there is the “Gymkhana Golf Club”, again built for the British, complete with a gentlemen’s bar and a snooker room. It is still in use as both a golf club and a social centre for the people of the area. 6
family and it is always one of the favourite places visited by our youth teams each year. We arrived back to supper at the guest house and managed to have a few hours sleep before our 2.45am trip to Bangalore Airport and the 7.00am BA flight to Heathrow. Once again we were struck by the warmth and generosity of our Indian hosts in both places and by the welcome we received wherever we visited. We also noted that the commitment of the Church of South India to social concern is as strong as ever and it is a feature of the life of both dioceses, with particular involvement in education and health care, extended to all people regardless of their faith or background. David Bowers
HOLIDAY HOME
OPEN GARDEN DAYS Sat, July 1st and Sun, July 2nd at Nutridge, Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2UF 2.00pm to 5.00pm Admission £4.00. Children under 16 free.
Thurlestone, South Devon Mannings,The Drive, Downs Road Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
A three acre garden with perennial beds, woodland and open areas.Refreshments and plants for sale.
Self Catering Pet Friendly Open All Year Wonderful Sea Views Parking for 2 cars Sleeps 6-10 people 3 Bedrooms, 2 Futons
Call Bob Alcock
01454 313880
Proceeds in aid of Genieri, the African village linked with Yate Charity no. 1057814 www.yate-genierilink.org
bobandsueal@gmail.com 7
church, school and the Holy Spirit - we can do so much! Rachel Howie, Diocesan Director of
Alone we can do so little – together we can do so much!
Education and CEO of DGAT
I find it hugely energising to see the creative connections between churches and schools in and around the diocese and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. When parishes and schools work together great things happen. I am continually surprised by the ‘hidden gems’ of innovative partnerships that I hear about all over the diocese. From children asking churches for their prayer requests so they can pray for them in their collective worship, to churches providing mentors for children who need some extra support. Activities such as these are going on around us but often we never hear about them. We need to share these ideas and inspire others to try something a little different in their context. What we take for granted on our own patch will be a lightbulb moment for someone else. Partnerships between churches and schools don’t have to look ‘churchy’. Many of the wonderful things I see involve faith in action, children living out the Christian values they learn about, alongside members of local churches. Enjoying each other’s company, raising money for the same cause, sharing news from one another’s newsletters, gardening together, eating with one another, learning together and of course praying and worshipping together are all ways that connections between our churches and schools are being developed. Of course it is not the partnerships for their own sake, these connections and relationships help us all to grow as disciples and learn more about who we are and who others are in Jesus. Alone we can do so little – together
Growing links between church, school and community The gardening club at Linden Primary School in Gloucester will be sowing a new plot this summer, in the grounds of St Paul and St Stephen’s Church. The Revd Ruth Fitter is planning to get her hands dirty and help the children to cultivate a new community garden. The children will learn gardening skills and be able to take the produce that they grow home.
Ruth said: “The church building and grounds are not just for the people who go to church and this is great a way of demonstrating that. The community garden is for all of us to share together. “My dad is a farmer and an excellent gardener, but unfortunately it hasn’t rubbed off on me! I am looking forward to learning more about gardening with the children and getting to know them.” Head of School Eileen Pegram said: “As a school, we believe that children learn through having experiences, so being part of a community garden project is very exciting for us.” From “The Messenger” www.gloucester.anglican.org
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A Flying Adventure By Frank Gray I was reminded of one of my more memorable flying adventures when visiting the M Shed museum in Bristol a few days ago.
Outside the M-Shed Among many other traditions the city has been famous for its aviation industry. Possibly the most famous plane to come out of the Bristol aviation works at Filton was the super-sonic Concorde, but among earlier classic planes was the Bristol Britannia – the “Whispering Giant” of the 1950s and 60s. Lesser known was the Bristol Freighter, an iconic transport plane notable for its front-opening fuselage. Both were built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was my unexpected privilege to ride in one of these in 1969. It happened like this… I was working under VSO in Laos at the time – part of the Colombo Plan aid team working at Lao National Radio in Vientiane. One key section of the project was the provincial radio station located in the idyllic royal capital of Luang Prabang some 300 km north of Vientiane. The station was already built, but one of the remaining challenges was to get the standby generator set there. Not difficult under normal circumstances, the mountainous terrain separating Vientiane from Luang Prabang was challenging to say the least. The area was also a war 9
zone and ambushes along the winding been successful in finding lifting gear so all we had were sections of galvanised road were frequent. My boss, however, was thinking outside iron piping. the box and in the course of his socialising The truck backed up to the plane, its nose wide open, the generator in full view. Unfortunately the cargo-hold of the plane was more than a foot higher than the truck. Oh dear!
The RNZAF Bristol Freighter in Vientiane he encountered the skipper of a New Zealand Air Force training squad that were temporarily in town. Their plane – a Bristol Freighter – would be ideal for the job in hand. With a little persuasion (I did hear mention of a crate of whiskey) they agreed to fly to Luang Prabang – and take the 2-ton generator set with them.
We had little choice. Rolling the gen-set as far as we could, tilting it – then finally a (sickening) drop onto the truck base. Sometimes tough decisions with calculated risk have to be made. Happily the generator set survived.
Now the challenge – I was asked to oversee the operation once it arrived at the other end. It meant flying with the crew to LP and then offloading the payload onto a lorry and ultimately into place at the Lao National Radio close to the Royal radio station. To add to the challenge we Palace had no special equipment, no crane – and I was not yet conversant in the local A 5-kilometre drive to the radio station and language at that time – Lao. the truck reversed up to the generator The early morning loading had gone well house – its final destination. A few hours and I was strapped into my seat beside later and the generator set was ready for the window. Mufflers straddled my head testing…. We hit the start button and the to reduce the noise as the twin-engined motor roared to life. With its AEC engine prop plane took to the skies….climbing it sounded just like a London bus! away to the north. In front of us was the Thanks to the Bristol Freighter the station, cargo, carefully stowed and secured. which incidentally is just along the road Happily the weather was good and from what used to be the Royal Palace, turbulence minimal. now had its own standby power! It gave On landing the large freighter taxied to a me a lot of satisfaction – a huge standstill. George drew up with a large confidence boost… One of my more truck and the challenge of getting the interesting challenges as a 22-year-old. generator off the plane began. He had not 10
Archbishops deny claims of bias The Archbishops of Canterbury and York denied claims that their letter to Church of England clergy and parishes over the weekend was an endorsement of Tory mantra. Their note called on Christians to set aside "apathy and cynicism" and draw new inspiration from the ancient Christian virtues of "love, trust and hope" during this election period. Justin Welby said "stability" should be a key reference point when people considered how to vote, which worried some who feel the word has become synonymous with the Conservative leader Theresa May. "Was the letter a shift to the right? Absolutely not." He added that the word stability had been a watchword of Christianity for centuries and the use of it should not be limited to a political campaign. In an open letter to the Archbishops, signed by Rev Al Barrett, the clergy say the connotations are too strong to ignore. "We appreciate the word's Benedictine roots, and the critical contemporary challenge of 'living well with change'. "However, words also acquire meaning from their common usage in the present, and it is impossible to escape the fact that the leader of one of the major political parties competing in this General Election has used the phrase "strong and stable" almost as a mantra throughout the election campaign thus far. "For your pastoral letter to focus so positively on such a politically freighted word seems to us, at best, as a case of desperate political naivety, and at worst, an implicit endorsement of one party in this election." What do you think? From www.premier.org.uk/News
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Teas on Sunday at Old Sodbury Church 2.30 - 4.30pm Sunday afternoons during the summer from May 28th to Sept 17th Come and have a cup of tea and see the amazing view over the Severn Valley
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE 9th – 18th October 2018
F. WOODRUFF
The leaflets and booking forms are now available for this and if you would like to come please return your form and deposit to David Bowers. The pilgrimage is organised by McCabe Travel, an experienced company that have organised groups to the Holy Land for many years. The trip has six nights in Jerusalem at the Golden Walls Hotel, a very comfortable and friendly base for time in the Old City and surroundings, including Bethlehem. For the three nights in Tiberias we stay at the Ron Beach Hotel, on the shore of Lake Galilee with its own stretch of private beach. The flights are with El Al from Heathrow and we have a local guide with us throughout the trip. The cost of £2025.00 includes all travel, accommodation, meals, entrance fees and gratuities.
This is a great opportunity to visit many of the places from the Bible and it will bring the Gospels alive to you in a new way. If you would like any further information please contact David Bowers. 12
Local Family Cremation and Funeral Directors 24 Hour Service 2 High Street, Winterbourne Tel: (01454) 773776 118-120 Station Road,Yate Tel: (01454) 320005 192 Badminton Road. Coalpit Heath email:info@funerals.uk.net Private Chapels of Rest at Coalpit Heath & Yate
From “The Messenger” www.gloucester.anglican.org
The Promises of a Settled People Joshua said to all the people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshipped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants...” Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness... As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’ Joshua 24:2-3 & 14-15
The Siniai Dessert Towards the end of his life, Joshua gathers the people and recites the story of all that God has done for them. His account intersects with Moses’ earlier summary in Deuteronomy 1-4, but is also influenced by the situation at hand. Having now entered the land of promise, they have stopped journeying and must decide how they will live as a settled people. Joshua reminds them of God calling Abraham, defeating the Egyptians, bringing them through the wilderness, and dispossessing the Canaanites (24:2-13).
The Lord is repeatedly the main actor in Joshua’s account – the one who ‘took’ and ‘led’ and ‘gave’ and ‘sent’ and ‘brought’ – emphasising that it is only by his grace that the people now stand where they do. Moreover, like Moses before him, Joshua shuffles between ‘they’ and ‘you’ in his telling in a way that interweaves his audience with their ancestors, such that the foundational story of the covenant people becomes their story too. Not to be missed, however, is that Joshua tells the story of Israel’s past as a journey from a ‘foreign’ land to the promised land by the descendants of people who ‘worshipped other gods’. Just as Abraham made the journey from polytheism to faith in the one true God, so Israel’s future depends on the acceptance of this same journey as their own. So it is that Joshua tells the story in a way designed to bring Israel to a decision. On the basis of God’s great acts for them, he appeals to the people to dedicate themselves to the Lord, announcing his own commitment to do so. Now that they have stopped journeying, they can live as Terah did ‘beyond the Euphrates’, or they can serve the one who delivered them from idolatry and slavery. One way or the other, the story of God’s people will continue to unfold. For us too, the call of Jesus to ‘follow me’ flows out of what he has already done on our behalf. And we do so with the confidence that he has brought us this far and will be with us always, to the very end of the age. Antony Billington
Source - London Institute for Contemporary Christianity www.licc.org.uk.
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Sodbury Vale Benefice Regular Weekly Events Monday
7.30pm
Bell Ringers’ Practice CS
Church Tower, Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
8.30am
Morning Prayer
Church Centre, Upper Room,Chipping Sodbury
9.15pm
Stor'k'ies
St John's Church, Chipping Sodbury
8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
730pm
Bell Ringer’s Practice Horton
St James’, Horton
8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Benefice Choir Practice
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Youth Club (age 11-18)
Baptist Church Centre
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Note: No Morning Prayers on Bank Holidays
Sodbury Vale Benefice Forthcoming Events 11th June
9.30am
Chipping Sodbury Festival Service
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
18th June
10.30am
Communion with Bishop Robert
St John’s Old Sodbury
23rd
July
10.30am
Benefice Service to welcome Peter
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
30th July
10.30am
Benefice Communion
St Adeline’s Little Sodbury
3rd Sep
2.00pm
Church Family Get together
Vicarage Garden, Chipping Sodbury
28th Nov
7.00pm
Crib Festival opening night
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Crib Festival
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
29th Nov - 3rd Dec
If you don’t see your event in the list above please let me know, once it is on this calendar other people can put it on theirs! All times are subject to change look out for further details closer to the date. Michelle 01454 325160 office@svbcofe.org.uk
Magazine Advertising Organiser Wanted Sylvia Franklin is standing down from the role and we thank her for the great work she has done over the years. As a result the editorial team needs a volunteer who will look after the advertising for the Outlook magazine. The job entails keeping in contact with the advertisers, persuading them to renew their adverts when the time comes and looking for new advertisers in the local community. If you are able to help please initially contact Michelle in the Church Office 01454 325160 or by email at office@svbcofe.org.uk
Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar June 2017 Sun 4th Pentecost
Tue
6th
Thurs
8th
Sat
10th
Sun 11th Trinity Sunday
8.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s, C/S
9.30am
St John’s Praise
St John’s, C/S
11.15am
Mattins
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Communion
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong
St Adeline’s L/S
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 327118 for venue
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
All Day
Old Sodbury Village Day
9.30am
Festival Service
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion {BCP}
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Service
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
Mon
12th
2.00pm
Mothers’ Union
Church Centre, C/S
Tues
13th
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
Thurs
15th
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
2.00pm
Tower Visits and refreshments
St John’s C/S
10.30am
Benefice Communion
St John’s O/S
Sat
17th
Sun 18th First Sunday after Trinity Mon
19th
7.30pm
Mission Prayer group
Church Centre, C/S
Tue
20th
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 327118 for venue
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
9.30am
Parish Communion
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion {CW}
St James’ Horton
11.15am
Morning Praise {CW}
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Holy Communion {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
2.00pm
Tea and Chat
Church Centre C/S
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
Thurs
22nd
25th
Sun Second Sunday after Trinity Tue
Thurs
27th
29th
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Foodbank Update Between 1 Jan and 30 April 2017 we have seen demand exceed the same period last year by 50%. We have already provided parcels to over 800 local people through our 3 branches in Yate, Emersons Green and Thornbury, issuing over 8 tonnes of food and other items. Unfortunately, the donations are down year on year and we have been topping up from stock and by buying items but we cannot do this for long. We are mirroring the national situation with increases in benefit issues, debt, homelessness and low income. The benefit issues relate to the roll out of Universal Credit with the £20k cap per household and the mess that is disability benefits. Universal Credit has a built in (deliberate) 6 week wait after application. There are still a lot of ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) rejections of which more than 70% are still reversed on appeal. This process, however, takes 5 to 6 weeks. The homelessness is often the result of private landlords wanting to sell up or increase rent or refuse to take tenants who are on benefits. The low income issues still relate to zero hours contracts, minimum wage jobs and agency work. 25% of our clients are in work but are struggling when an unforeseen crisis happens. There has been a report from the All Party Political Group – “Feeding Britain” chaired by Frank Field. This
Group started investigating in October 2013 and has branched off into inquiries into certain areas of the issue. One of these inquiries released its findings into ‘Hungry Holidays’ in April and it does not paint a good picture. We will be offering a special service to local schools this year to allow them to issue a food parcel to parents who they identify as at risk of struggling to feed their children during the school Summer holidays. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who misunderstand what foodbank does believing that we are feeding longer term and that our clients are the scroungers like the people they see on TV and read about in the papers or that we are feeding lots of refugees. We need to keep spreading the word about how we work and the sort of people we meet. This could happen to any of us In addition, we need to encourage more donations, particularly of the items on our monthly shopping list rather than beans, soup and pasta. This list is available in Church notes and on our website. On a brighter note, our first Eat Well – Spend Less free cookery course went very well. We had 5 participants who reported saving up to £20 a week on their food bills and were doing more cooking from scratch, much to their families’ delight. They said that they didn’t realise how quick and easy it could be. We are now advertising our next course – 2.5 hours per week for 6 weeks – and aim to run this one with the mums at the Yate Children’s Centre. Thank you all for your support. Blessings, Robert and Helen.
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