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Calendar for May 2002

Services in Kingscote

Services in Horsley

• It was announced on Sunday 31st March that the new vicar will be The Rev. Stephen Earley, who is currently Associate Minister at St. Christopher's, Warden Hill, Cheltenham. He will serve in the new combined benefice of Nailsworth with Shortwood, Horsley, and Newington Bagpath with Kingscote. The service of Institution and Induction will be at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 27th August in St. George's Church, Nailsworth. He will take up residence in Nailsworth vicarage.
• Sometimes a leader has to tell people something which they do not wish to hear ! So it was with the Bishop of Gloucester, who reported at the Diocesan Synod on 23rd March that although our Diocese is the 8th richest in England terms of regional wealth, it is only in 21st position in terms of actual church giving. These are the results of a country-wide survey carried out for the Archbishops' Council. Church giving is precisely recorded, and regional wealth is obtained from Treasury data, skewed on the assumption that church membership contains three times the normal percentage of pensioners. He also pointed out that giving in the Diocese is well below the level of 5% of income after tax, which was the level shown in an earlier study to be necessary to provide a C of E ministry which would meet our expectations. As an example, if one received an income of £100 per week then one would aim to put £5 on the plate each Sunday.
• The next PCC Meeting will be at 8.00 pm on Mon. 20th May in the Village Hall.
• Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Kingscote
• Forerunner Internet Site www.geocities.com/forerunneruk/
• Diocesan Internet News Site www.glosdioc.org.uk

Sunday 19th May - Pentecost

(Acts 2, verses 1 to 4, from the Good News Bible)

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing , and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

The Launch of the Christian Church

After the 'bombshell' of the Resurrection at Easter, Jesus visited his traumatised disciples on several occasions, giving them reassurance, and confirming the importance and significance of what had happened. Later at the Ascension he left them for the last time and subsequently at Pentecost, which we celebrate at Whitsuntide, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit and went out to change the world.

With the benefit of hindsight and history, one can perhaps see why Jesus came to join humanity at that particular time. One can consider the various other civilizations and cultures which existed then and previously, and accept that the Jews were his 'chosen people' as they claimed to be; and the Roman empire provided the necessary framework of communications, record keeping and stability to enable the message to take root and spread. There were sufficient people with 'time to think' living in a relatively open society where news, learning and free discussion abounded.

Because Christianity is voluntary and faith is a challenge (it would not be faith if everything were defined, proven and compulsory), it has been a bumpy ride. Each one of us has in a way, in his or her own lifetime, to relive the birth of the church. In our civilization we mostly hear the message but we are reluctant to accept it. Perhaps it is like having been saved from bankruptcy by a generous benefactor and then being too mean and vain to admit it. Or perhaps it is merely laziness and complacency which prevents us from even thinking about it.

But it is more than just a pity to have missed such an opportunity. After death we will all in some way have to live with our maker and ourselves in the knowledge that he came here to show his love, and suffered to save us, and we ignored him.

Church Flowers

Apr 28th and May 5th Mrs C Bennett

May 12th Mrs S Spandler

May 19th and 26th Whitsun Altar Guild and helpers

June 2nd and 9th Mrs E Tattersall

Jo Spash

Sunday Club
There will not be a meeting in May.

Janet Davies and Elin Tattersall

Altar Guild
The next meeting will be in the Church at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 22nd May.

Vida Sutton

Grumbolds Ash Group
The weather was just perfect for our gardening evening with Jane Bateman. We enjoyed a walk around the garden, discovering the names of many of her lovely plants. We also discussed future events, the next one being a theatre trip to the Everyman, Cheltenham, on the 29th May to see 'Annie get your gun'. We will meet at the Village Hall at 6.30 pm. Some feedback has been received from Doris Highfield concerning her visit to Buckingham Palace. She said that it was just magic - the Queen stopped to speak with her and her companion, and heard about the fundraising work in Nailsworth. Princess Alexandra was also present, looking very elegant as always. Doris says that it is a memory she will keep forever.

Vida Sutton

Parish Council News
The annual Parish Assembly will be held in the Village Hall on Monday the 13th May 2002 at 7.00 pm. All parishioners are welcome to attend, and if there are any items proposed for discussion please let Bob Smith know. The council is still looking for a Clerk to replace Bob, who resigned in January. Anyone considering applying for this important and interesting community role is welcome to contact Bob to discuss the duties involved.

Richard Gale.

Village Hall news
The Whist Drive held in the Village Hall on March 30th proved to be very popular, raising a useful sum for Village Hall funds. The event attracted a variety of players from a wide area whose ages ranged from 8 to 80-plus. The whole evening was enjoyed in the best of spirits, with the more experienced players helping out the novices. Thank you to all the many people who donated a wonderful array of prizes for both the whist competition and the raffle.

Tim Sage.

Jubilee Event - Saturday 1st June - afternoon and evening
Following a kind offer from Robert and Rebecca Whitworth of the use of their spacious lawns, it has been decided that if the weather is good on Saturday 1st June then as much as possible of the programme will be held there instead of in the Village Hall. These plans are subject to confirmation of details of the licensing and insurance. Final arrangements will be confirmed in the June magazine and the weather will decide the locations used for the various activities on the day.

Jubilee Committee

Church Restoration Fund
No doubt many other contributors to the appeal will share the frustration of the PCC at the lack of visible action, which is all tied in with trying to achieve the maximum possible matching contributions from relevant funding charities and organisations. A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes and we are hopeful of significant further awards. The situation at present is that adding together the money in the bank and grants already available we have £43,750. We need just under £19,000 to meet the full target. We are very keen to re-roof the tower before next winter. In addition to funding, there is an issue of bats which appear to be using the building during the summer. No-one has reported sightings of bats, but experts have found droppings around the premises. It is likely that we will have to wait until the end of September when the bats have gone elsewhere to hibernate before we can start serious work. The official Diocesan Public Notice of the impending work is posted at the church.

PCC Fabric Appeal sub-committee

Mobile Police Station
The Mobile Police Station will visit Kingscote on Wed. 1st, Sun. 12th and Wed. 29th May. It is not possible to give precise times, but the target is between 1.30 and 2.00 pm. It normally parks at the Lych gate and visit times are also shown on the Parish Council notice board. The police are working hard to provide more visibility in rural areas, and we owe it to them to co-operate in this initiative. We can at least say hello, and perhaps also exchange useful information.

The Editor

Post Office
The Post Office is open on every normal working Tuesday and Thursday :

from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

Mobile Library
The mobile library will be by The Walled Garden from 9.40 am to 9.55 am on Thursdays May 2nd, 16th and 30th.

Waste Recycling
The boxes will be emptied as follows:

Newington and Bagpath - Mon. 13th and 27th May.

Kingscote - Tues. 14th and 28th May.

The Concluding Prayer from the Family Service

Be with us, Lord, as we go out into the world.

May our lips which have sung your praises always speak the truth;

May our ears which have heard your word listen only to what is good

and may our lives as well as our worship be always pleasing in your sight,

for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

TETBURY MINI EXPO 2002
YOUTH EVENT

Friday 17 May
6.30 to 8.30 pm

Sir William Romney's
Community Playing Fields

Ending with Disco in the
Leisure Centre to 10.00 pm

DISCOVER WHAT IS GOING ON FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS AREA AND
JOIN WHAT INTERESTS YOU !

The Editor

Magazine
Material for the next issue of the Forerunner please by 20th May to H. Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194, e-mail: .

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