SVB
Outlook August 2020 - September 2020
The magazine of the churches of The Sodbury Vale Benefice: Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, www.svbcofe.org.uk Little Sodbury and Horton. 1 1
Our Team
The Rector
Assistant Priest
The Revd. Canon David Bowers 01454 313159, rector@svbcofe.org.uk
The Revd. David Powe 01454 777745
Day off Monday
Churchwardens St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
St James’, Horton
Joy Gibson 01454 319288
Tina Hildick-Smith 01454 320380
Paul Jones-Williams 01454 324970
Richard Needs 01454 329890
St Adeline’s, Little Sodbury
St John’s, Old Sodbury
Linda Hurst 01454 319183
Vacancy Safeguarding Nominated Person
Administrators
Hannah Saunders 07515 915976
Michelle Jenkins, Trish Gailey and helpers
Hcsaunders.hone@talk21.com
Advertising
Contact Hannah if you have a concern about suspected abuse of a child or a vulnerable adult
Volunteer required
Published by The Sodbury Vale Benefice, Church Office, St John’s Church Centre, Wickwar Road, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6BQ, 01454 325160, sodburyvalebenefice@gmail.com, Open in school term time, Mon - Tue - Thu mornings 9.00 - 12.00. Editor - Michael Stephenson outlook@svbcofe.org.uk
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A Word from David Dear Friends This year continues to be challenging but, as I write, we are slowly beginning to open our church buildings again after the lockdown. The closure in March was fairly easy and straightforward as all we had to do was lock the churches and put up notices explaining the situation. The re-opening is, however, more complicated as we have to do risk assessments and ensure that procedures are in place so that we can gather together safely. There will be hand sanitiser as we enter and leave; we cannot, for the time being, sing, and we will of course be socially distanced. It is nevertheless good to be moving back towards a form of normality, even though it is, as we are reminded a “new normal”.
“As we adapt to the “new normal” may One of the positive aspects of lockdown has been our use technology, especially our gatherings on Zoom and the our faith be of recorded reflections on YouTube each week. We plan to rooted in the maintain the Sunday online service, partly for those who Lord who is don’t feel ready to re-join worship in church and also for those who continue to enjoy the informality of Zoom. We always with us also plan to maintain the Wednesday evening meetings, and in whose which we have used to share our personal life and faith stories with each other. presence we Lockdown was for many of us a time of learning to be live.” patient, trusting in God’s presence with us in all
circumstances, however difficult. Re-opening will equally be a time of learning for Christians as we take cautious but positive steps towards meeting together in person and as we rely on his guidance and wisdom in how we do this. For me, the last few months have helped me to remember in a new way how our faith in Christ is a sure and unmovable foundation. Our world and our lives will inevitably change and bring uncertainty but we trust in the Lord who is eternal, unchanging and faithful. As we adapt to the “new normal” in the life of our churches, our communities and our nation, may our faith be rooted in the Lord who is always with us and in whose presence we live. David Bowers 3
Jane Jones-Williams Jane has completed her initial training for ministry and was due to have been ordained as Deacon in June in Gloucester Cathedral. Because of the coronavirus restrictions, however, this was postponed and we hope it will now happen in September. In the meantime, Jane has been appointed as a Lay Minister and we were able to joyfully welcome her on 28th June, the day she should have been ordained. We look forward to Jane’s ministry in the Sodbury Vale Benefice.
Over to Jane…. Some of you will remember when I was selected for training for ordained ministry, my concern was how I’d learn to study again after 40 years. Thank you for all your prayers and support over the last two years which helped see me through this challenge. Classes are held in Gloucester at St Mary de Crypt every Thursday evening for Ordinands, Readers in training and anyone wanting to either explore vocation or just more about different aspects of Christianity. Ordinands also spend time on residential weekends and occasional weeks away, for more study in Oxford, Hereford and Worcester. As we got to know each other, it turned out we all felt the same, firstly wondering why God had chosen us, then sharing we didn’t know how we’d get through the assignments. We were reminded that God would show us how, and he did! We studied different modules, each finishing with a written assignment. These were really enjoyable and for me, culminated in a project on Salvation, which at first, second and third glance at the requirements, looked as though I might as well give up on the spot! But we have brilliant tutors and it turned out to be the best topic of all. This year, the tutors quickly learnt new skills as a result of lockdown and 4
“Thank you for all your prayers and support over the last two years which helped see me through this challenge.”
adapted our weekly sessions, residentials and Easter School to run on-line.
“The culmination was receiving Bishop Rachel’s Charge at the end of the week. An enormous honour, as well as an extremely emotional moment.”
As part of my training I’ve had three placements which is, in effect, work experience. The first was at Dursley over Lent 2018, the second at Minchinhampton and Amberley for three months last year, then a ‘formational’ placement where you carry out something personally challenging. I spent just over a week in January with iSingPop at a primary school, which was a revelation to me and far different from being a Legal PA! In each of my placements I’ve met some amazing people and had wonderful experiences which will stay with me forever. While we won’t be ordained until later this year, it was strange having our ordination retreat at the end of June from our homes. Day one started with lunch via Zoom with Bishop Rachel and her senior staff, then reflections on-line over three days. One highlight was the remote cheese and wine evening, but the culmination was receiving Bishop Rachel’s Charge at the end of the week. An enormous honour, as well as an extremely emotional moment. Jane Jones-Williams
Church opening times for Private Prayer St John’s, Old Sodbury – Tuesday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm. St Adeline’s, Little Sodbury – Thursday morning from 10am until 12:00. St James, Horton – Sunday mornings from 10am until 12:00. St John’s, Chipping Sodbury – Monday to Friday from 10am until 12:00. Only the Lady Chapel (which has its own external door) will be used.
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Lockdown’s blessings By the time of publication Alan and I will have been locked down for almost five months, having taken the decision to self isolate ahead of the government announcement. A strange, uncertain future lay ahead for us all, but whilst daily 5 o’clock briefings brought us harrowing accounts of lives lost, of grieving families, of shortages of PPE and of the selfless dedication and sacrifices being made by frontline workers, we nevertheless felt an underlying sense of optimism and reassurance, which has continued throughout these very different times. In many ways life has changed for the better, as we notice and appreciate those things that were previously taken for granted: the changing seasons, bird songs, nature in all its beauty, stillness and quiet. We have been touched by the kindness and generosity of friends and neighbours; there has been time to enjoy hobbies and pastimes which were previously rushed or squeezed in amidst other commitments; between us we have gardened, baked, read, sewn scrubs bags for the NHS, collaborated on the children’s edition of Outlook, made French videos to help with the grandchildren’s homeschooling, chatted and laughed. The weeks have flown by quickly, each day seeming busier than when life was ‘normal’. But ironically we could so easily have missed out on some of our best lockdown moments. Not a great fan of social media, I was apprehensive when the idea of Zoom was first mooted, but eventually gave in to Frank’s powers of persuasion. How glad am I that I did! Thanks to the teams of clergy and technowizards, we have attended church services and fellowship groups, ‘met’ new members of the congregation and visitors from different continents, discovered unknown facts about friends we thought we knew well and those we have yet to meet in person, enjoyed coffee and chats ‘in’ other people’s homes and performed disastrously in David’s quiz. Yes, we can’t wait for the time when we will see our families and hug our grandchildren again, when a vaccine enables us to live without fear of Covid-19 and when the church bells ring out again for regular services. In the meantime we give thanks for all the blessings that the past months have brought us and pray that the spirit of kindness, cooperation, togetherness and generosity so evident throughout these strange times will become a legacy which lives on in the future. Lynne Watts 6
Crib Festival It has been decided with great sadness to cancel the Crib Festival this year. Social distancing is likely to continue for the foreseeable future and this would make such an event extremely difficult, if not impossible. Other factors include not wanting to give added commitments to schools, who will face challenging issues as they prepare to resume in the autumn. We hope we can plan for 2021 but in the meantime, we may even be able to have some form of “virtual Crib Festival”, drawing on photos, videos etc. from previous years.
Ian Yemm We send our congratulations to Revd. Ian Yemm, a former Reader in our Benefice, who was ordained as a Deacon in the Church in Wales in Llandaff Cathedral on June 27 and will serve as Curate in The Rectorial Benefice of Cowbridge. We pray for God’s blessing on Ian and Bernhard.
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Canon Rob Axford – who? After 10 years as vicar in Wotton-underEdge, we’ve now retired to Chipping Sodbury and beginning a new season of life and ministry. You may have met me in St John’s, Chipping Sodbury (most likely), a village church (occasionally) or a Zoom service (since lockdown) so now an introduction. As a teenager I was fortunate to attend a good church youth club in Hanham, we were encouraged to talk theology, take part in and devise worship, and become aware of social issues and justice. Much was practical – the soup run to the homeless of Bristol and preparing youth worship for the whole church. Church, while at university in Cardiff, was also a good place to grow. The vicar was a great encourager preaching in June 1971 on vocation, I noted it in my dairy writing “I must think about this”. I did think, on and off, but took 18 years to respond. In these early days, I’d also discovered the wider church: Oberammergau, Taizé, diocesan youth groups, places of debate, learning and encouragement. Chris and I met in 1971 through these groups and visits. After university, I moved to London, a post-grad course, and work but away from church. Three fallow years which were immensely important, although I moved away from church, God never moved away from me. This was a time of letting go my inherited Sunday School faith and developing my own faith. We married in 1975 then moved to north London where I returned to active church life. It was here that we met the Franciscans, the brown brothers and sisters of the Society of St Francis. The aims of the Society spoke to me: make our Lord known and loved everywhere; spread the spirit of love and harmony; live simply. These have been a model for our lives ever 8
The San Damiano Cross before which Francis prayed and where he heard the words of Christ “Francis, rebuild my church which as you see is falling down”
since, failing frequently but knowing the love of God throughout. These aims encompassed much of what I believed: that God’s love is for all, faith is to be shared in social justice and proclamation; that we are called to work for peace and harmony in the name of Christ; that we are to care for our neighbour and the whole of creation – to live simply. In 1979 we moved to Keynsham where our 2 sons were born, another good church community with encouragement to be involved in many ways, chairing several groups, actively involved in worship. It was here that I came to realise God was calling me to ordained ministry and, 18 years after hearing that sermon in Cardiff, I began theological college. I was ordained deacon in 1991 and priest in 1992, both in Wells Cathedral.
“The aims of the Society of St Francis spoke to me: make our Lord known and loved everywhere; spread the spirit of love and harmony; live simply”
Ordained ministry started as curate, then rector, 10 years in South Somerset. An exchange partnership with our local school led to 2 visits to Zambia: a time of learning about living in harmony, about social justice, simplicity and the love of God. In the diocese I was on the course teams for Spiritual Direction, Reader Training and the Zambia and Overseas Group. In the parish we developed a healing ministry and encouraged people into various ministries. From Somerset we moved to Suffolk for 6 years as rector of 7 parishes, where we grew local ministry with Lay Elders, a Reader and several Ordinands developing ministry and vocations. Seeing people grow has always been at the heart of my ministry. Diocesan involvement included the Diocesan Ministry Course, Area Dean and the Diocesan Advisory Committee. In 2008 we left Suffolk for Wotton-under-Edge, a new ministry but with much the same focus, encouraging people to be who God calls them to be. More widely I was Area Dean, a Vocations Adviser and chairing the Diocesan Prayer and Spirituality Group. Now retirement, time for areas of life that took a back seat during ministry: reconnecting with the natural
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world in the garden, walking, live theatre and visiting houses with gardens. It’s a new season for ministry. I’ve always been inspired by those times when someone reaches that “Ah!” moment, discovering what they knew all along, that God might be calling. It comes from the Franciscan desire of making our Lord known and loved everywhere, of seeking to spread the spirit of love and harmony and to live simply. Making our Lord known and loved everywhere has been a mainstay of ministry. It’s more than preaching and evangelism; for me it has always been about encouraging that deeper relationship with God through sacraments and prayer, silence and contemplation. It has led me into Spiritual Direction alongside a ministry of prayer and healing. Prayer and contemplation must lead to action, we cannot be satisfied with one and not the other, this leads to the spirit of love and harmony.
The Tau Cross, a Franciscan symbol
To work for love and harmony, love of God, love of neighbour and love of self, has led me to work in coaching, mentoring, mediation and reconciliation, seeking paths of peace and harmony which are needed in the church and beyond. Simplicity is possibly the hardest in today’s world, but I seek to find ways of living a simpler lifestyle which leads to a greater care for the whole of God’s creation, which leads to justice without which there is no peace. How will this work in practice? That’s my prayer as I wait on God.
Teacher:
Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
Donald:
H I J K L M N O.
Teacher:
What are you talking about?
Donald:
Yesterday you said it's H to O.
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Let your churchyard grow ? Blockley Churchyard is a riot of colour as its unmowed wildflower area starts to bloom. As part of their Eco Church project, they decided to promote local biodiversity by leaving areas of the churchyard un-mown. This allows the native wildflowers that still survive in the relatively unimproved soil to flower and set seed. The aim was to encourage bees and butterflies, creating a healthier eco system which will provide food for a range of birds and mammals like swifts, hedgehogs and bats. They have now done a formal survey of the species of wildflowers that are blooming in the churchyard. We are delighted to report that they now have no less than 41 different species of wildflower in the uncut area of the churchyard. Plants include wild strawberries, pyramidal orchids, selfheal, square stalked willowherb and field forget-me-not. This is a fantastic project for the summer, either in your own churchyard as part of your Eco Church scheme, or even at home. The sight of a manicured lawn is so familiar to us now that leaving grass and wildflowers to thrive seems unusual or counter cultural, but it is actually the perfect low effort way to care for God’s creation.
Church Quiz At which of our four churches was this picture taken? Answer in the next issue
The picture in the last issue was from St James, Horton
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Message from Bishop Rachel As I listen to the Cathedral clock chiming the hour as it always does, I am grateful for that constancy which speaks to me of God’s unchanging love and faithfulness, even amid so much disorienting change. At present I often find I have to pause to remember what day it is and which hour the clock is striking! It was wonderful to enter the Cathedral yesterday, open once more to receive people for private prayer and reflection. Yet the notices, hand sanitiser and carefully spaced chairs would not have been imaginable at the start of this year. So much has changed. ‘Change’ is a word which provokes a range of thoughts and emotions within different people, often depending on the context. Change can be exciting and energising but it can also be daunting, exhausting and even frightening. These last few months have certainly seen a lot of change which we could not have envisaged this time last year. It is not simply the radical change brought by lockdown and the trauma of a viral pandemic, it is also the continual phases of change we are now beginning to face and plan as we emerge from lockdown and enter seasons which will not look like life as we once knew it. And in all of that there have been the expected and unexpected changes in people’s lives which happen regardless of a viral pandemic. It is also evident that across our country and our world there is a renewed desire for change rooted in justice and equality and it is being expressed in both inspiring and ugly ways as we have seen in all that has been sparked by the horrific murder of George Floyd. We are people who are both beautiful and broken, capable of forging life-giving change or change which diminishes people. In these days when there is tiredness and endless messages about change whether it be about shops, household bubbles or our church buildings, we need to be watching, praying, talking and listening regarding what God is doing. What is it in your local context that 13
“I am grateful for that constancy which speaks to me of God’s unchanging love and faithfulness, even amid so much disorienting change.”
needs to continue or be returned to, and what are we being called to courageously change in how we are being Church?
“In all of this my constant prayer is thankfulness for our God who is unchanging and yet is always in the business of change and transformation.�
We need to be making space now to reflect on change and the processes we need to put in place to enable us to live it well, yet this is also the time when many people are weary. People’s inner resources for creativity as we first went into lockdown, much of which were fuelled by adrenaline, may now be depleted and it is important to acknowledge that. I am also aware how time-consuming it is to be planning ahead for the different phases which will emerge with government guidance regarding the use of our church buildings. It would be very easy to keep our eyes so focused on the detail that we fail to look up at the significant decisions and discussions we need to be having about the values and principles God is calling us to embody as we return. This is no easy path particularly as our own thoughts and emotions will be changing amid the ups and downs of each present moment. Care and prayer for one another is important, as is significant time for rest. In all of this my constant prayer is thankfulness for our God who is unchanging and yet is always in the business of change and transformation. Perhaps, we will see with fresh eyes the transformation to which God is calling us as we say yes to discovering and sharing the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ so that we and all people may know life in all its fullness. With my thanks and prayers as ever, +Rachel
"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer."
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Quiz - Beatles Songs Can you work out the titles of the Beatles songs from the crossword-style clues? The first 10 may be familiar to you, as I have used them before, but 11-20 are freshly conceived. 1. A titled pop star (4,7) 2. An informal prayer to the patron saint of lost causes (3,4) 3. Allow a sort of bite (3,2,2) 4. All change when priest joins an agitated: “Oi Luton!” (10) 5. Where you might find an evergreen near Oslo (9,4) 6. Don’t stick and say it loud (5,3,5) 7. You can rely on maternal wisdom (4,6,6,4) 8. Jeffrey Archer perhaps? (9,6) 9. Sounds like a way of getting to the Isle of Wight (6,2,4) 10. “Yes, dry tea”. Upset? It’s already gone (9) 11. A double plea on my behalf (6,6,2) 12. Sounds like a plan for slightly early retirement (4,2,5-4) 13. If you want to lose a tennis game, this is the advice for you (3,3,4,2,4) 14. The paper has arrived (4,5,3,3) 15. Unlike others, my macaque and I are transparent (10.3,9,2,4,6,2,3,2,6) 16. Sounds like someone who can’t decide if they’re coming or going (5,7) 17. Ray tripped, all confused. He’ll be back by tonight (3,7) 18. One of those “pick your own” farms that seems to be never-ending (10,6,7) 19. You won’t get much sense out of this man up the slope (3,4,2,3,4) 20. A good explanation of the doctrine of omnipresence (4,5,3,10) Answers in the next issue
Copy Deadline Please send all copy for the October - November issue to the Church Office by Monday September 14 Front Cover: Aerial view of St John’s, Old Sodbury 15
Photo by Michael Stephenson
Another maze to try. Here is the answer to the last maze.
A
Did you find your way through?
B 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 printing costs which are 65p a copy that would be most welcome. Thank you. 16