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 The Forerunner

 

The Magazine for the Parish of

Newington Bagpath with

Kingscote

December                                                    2003

 

Calendar for December 2003

Nailsworth (CC) = meet at Christ Church

* = joint meeting with Christ Church members   

 

Mums and Toddlers group meets at Nailsworth Church at 9.30 am on Fridays  5th, 12th and 19th December.

There will be a Benefice Christmas Party on Friday 5th December at 7.30 pm at The Vicarage.  Details given on page 6.

The next PCC meeting will be on Monday  1 December at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall.

 

            Diocesan Internet News Site   www.glosdioc.org.uk

            Forerunner Internet Site   www.geocities.com/forerunneruk/

 

The Vicar’s Letter

 Dear Friends,

“ The Servant King”  is the title of one of the modern hymns written by Graham Kendrick which we especially use at this time.  It speaks of the helpless babe from heaven who came as a servant and was killed that we might have eternal life.  The idea that the Son of God should come to earth as a servant; that anyone should choose to forsake a royal birth in order to serve others; is hard for us to get our minds around.

 Babies grow up !  The hymn does not dwell on the birth, shepherds and angels, that are so often shown on our Christmas cards - the idea of the baby Jesus lying in a manger of which we are so fond.  No, this song tells more of the man who lived His life as a servant to all, and who was prepared to be obedient to the will of His Father - now that’s a novelty in itself ! - even to sacrifice His life for us in agony hanging from a rough wooden Cross.  We must never forget that the baby grew up !

 The last verse of the song reads as follows:

“ So let us learn how to serve, and in our lives enthrone Him;

Each other’s needs to prefer, for it is Christ we’re serving.”

There was a time when many, through their time in the Forces or by serving apprenticeships etc. learned how to serve by starting with the most menial tasks, and learned to value experience and wisdom.  And in serving others we are following the example of Christ and affirming everything that He taught.

Who comes first in our lives ?  Is it possible to live our lives putting other people’s needs before our own ?  At this time as we prepare for Christmas can we first remember our Servant King, whose birth we celebrate, and the needs of others, remembering Christ’s own words,  “ It is more blessed to give than to receive”, putting our own needs last !  Then, in the words of the song, “ it is Christ we’re serving”.

May I wish you all a very Happy Christmas !

The Reverend Stephen Earley

Flower Rota      

 

Nov 30 to Dec 24   Advent Dec 25 and 28    Christmas Jan  4 and 11

Lyn Stuart Flower Team Mrs C Hatherell

 Jo Spash

Sunday Club

 Animal Service:  Thank you to all who brought their pets along to last month’s animal service.  Several dogs, a guinea pig, a donkey and a giant millipede were blessed in an informal and enjoyable service.  All present behaved impeccably - no messes or fights (humans included).

December meeting:  Come and join us for a busy hour based around the Christmas story at 11.00 am on Sunday 14 December in the Village Hall.  Make a Christingle, sing some carols, make decorations and adorn the Christmas Tree ready for the Parish Christmas Party in the afternoon.  We would also like to prepare for the nativity play on the 21st, so please come along.

Village Carol Singing:  Join us in song on Wednesday 17th December.  Children and adults will visit homes in the parish, singing carols and raising money for The Children’s Society’s work with youngsters in Britain.  Singers should wrap up well against the elements and meet outside the Village Hall at 6.00 pm.  The more the merrier and louder.  If anyone would like to co-ordinate a group to visit Bagpath, please contact Elin (Tel. See paper version of Forerunner).

Janet, Elin and Jenny

 An invitation to all parishioners

and their visitors to a

 Christingle service and

Nativity Performance

Sunday 21st December

11.00 am in Kingscote Church

From the Sunday Club

 

Flower and Clean Team

We will meet up in the Church on Wednesday 10 December to make everything sparkle for Christmas.  Time of 2.30 pm as usual.

Vida Sutton

 House Group

 If you read the Bible extract below - which we will be studying at this month’s House Group meeting -  you will see that we have a challenging task exploring what is meant by private sin.  How should we interpret these words of Jesus today and how have they been interpreted in the past ?   All are welcome to join us on Tuesday 9 December at the home of Sue Bradley-Jones, 7.45 for 8.00 pm,  for our next meeting.

 Matthew 5 verses 21 to 30

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times “You shall not murder”, and “Whoever murders shall be liable to judgement”.  But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say “You fool” you will be liable to the hell of fire.  So, when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to the court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.  Truly I tell you that you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

You have heard that it was said “You shall not commit adultery”.  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away:  it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

The House Group

 

Grumbolds Ash Group

 Painting a pot on 20 November was a new experience for all of us and I can honestly say I have never known our little group be so quiet as we all concentrated on our various designs.  The talent that emerged was quite surprising.  We will pick up our works of art in ten days time when they have been glazed and fired.  Roll on the next challenge which is computers.

We are booked up for our Christmas meal at the Ryeford Arms, Ebley Road, Stroud, for Tuesday 9th December arriving at 7.00 pm for 7.30.  We are hoping for some male drivers so that we can partake of a glass of good cheer.

Everyone to bring a small gift as usual, and travel arrangements to be made between members.    Cheers!                                                            

Vida Sutton

 Christmas begins here !

 

 

******

 

Join Stephen and Helen

For mulled wine and refreshments

  

Friday 5 December

  

7.30 pm at The Vicarage

  

******

 

Tickets:   £6.00 each

From  Delphia  Gaiger

(Tel.  832 180)

Limited to 70 total - first come first served

Water Aid Draw

 Parishioners are invited for coffee at Gardener’s Cottage, by kind invitation of Sue Bradley-Jones, between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon on Saturday 6 December when we will do the Water Aid Draw.  The prize is a full year entry ticket for two to Westonbirt Arboretum.  There is still time to contribute to this worthy cause and we hope that you will enjoy an opportunity to meet other parishioners before the winter hibernation begins !

The PCC

  Village Hall Activities

 Childrens’ Christmas Party:  Sunday 14 December, 3.00 to 5.00 pm.  Open to all children aged between 3 and 12 years who live in this parish.  Under 4’s to be accompanied.  Tickets available from Louise Marsh  (Tel. See paper version of Forerunner).

 Secretarial Assistance:  The Committee needs help from a parishioner with computer access in preparing meeting minutes, posters and circulars etc.

Alice Cooper

 Christmas Cards and Candles

 The PCC has had some very nice cards produced featuring details from some of the stained glass windows in the church.  They are available at £5 for 10 cards from PCC members.  Proceeds will go towards the fabric fund.

 Also, the 200 or so candles lighting the church for the Carol Service on 22nd December need replenishing.  If anyone would like to contribute some candles (approx 6” by 3/4”) or a donation, please contact Sue or Harry.  They do create a very special atmosphere for the event.

The PCC

 The KNOW HOW project

 @Tetbury  the recently opened outreach centre for Cirencester Community College is offering free informal 2 hour sessions on the use of computers.

The idea is for interested people to determine what they know already and, if they want to know more, to find out about local opportunities available to move forward.  Lap-top computers are taken out to various villages where they are hoping to attract groups of  5-10 individuals at each session.

Anyone interested who missed the introductory session on 26th November in the Village Hall should contact Sally Turner at @Tetbury, New Church Street, Tetbury, GL8 8DS, (Tel. See paper version of Forerunner).

 Church Improvements

 De-humidifier:  The PCC wish to thank Harry Tubbs for his work in preparing for the installation of the de-humidifier beneath the pulpit steps.  It was always going to be a tight fit, but it offered the most effective and discrete solution.  Each stage seemed to bring up new problems, the worst being that the original beams supporting the steps had rotted away practically to dust.  In addition to the hours put in by Harry, Brooks and Rod played key roles in the most difficult operations.  Some final checks are necessary to ensure that no serious re-circulations are taking place, and then we can set the machine to work each night using off-peak electricity.  This will be quite expensive to run, but we believe that the enhanced comfort provided by drier internal fabric (woodwork, cushions, kneelers, altar cloths, and books) will be appreciated, and the advantage of a self-draining installation is obvious.  We must remember that the machine was purchased  by a generous donation from the Altar Guild.

 Floodlighting:  Some parishioners have enquired about the operating cost of the floodlighting.  We have no direct measurements, but we estimate that the two (70W and 150W) lamps are costing no more than £12 per annum with the current operating pattern.  This is from dusk to 10.00 pm in winter and from dusk to 11.00 pm in summer, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.   We feel that this is good value for money.

The PCC

Churchyard Monuments

New updated rules covering the procurement and configuration of monuments in the churchyard have recently been introduced by the Diocese.   It is essential that these be consulted and discussed with the vicar before any action is taken.  These regulations are enforceable by law, and no one wants to go through the grief of having to cancel or at worst to pay to have something unauthorised removed.

The PCC

Mobile Police Station

The Mobile Police Station will visit Kingscote between 1.30 and 2.00 pm on Wednesday 10th and Monday 22nd  December.  Please give them your support.

 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 Thursday  11th December.

Waste Recycling

The boxes will be emptied as follows:

                   Newington and Bagpath  -  Mon. 8th and 22nd December.

                   Kingscote  -  Tues. 9th and 23rd December.

(Apologies for incorrect dates in November issue.  Editor)

Magazine

Any material which may be of interest for the next issue of the Forerunner should be sent by 20th December to H. Tubbs,  3 The Walled Garden,  Tel. 860194 , e-mail : 

The way ahead for our church - Dying we live

On Saturdays the Daily Telegraph has published a series of  articles by the Reverend Dr Denis Duncan under the title ‘Meditation’.  The extracts below seem relevant to us here in Kingscote:

The crowning glory of the church in the early part of the 21st century will lie not in its capacity for restoring the past but in its ability to discover its future.  Whatever its shape, it must be a church geared not to ‘maintenance’ but to ‘mission’.

Any national survey of the life of the church today would paint a picture of a declining institution, decreasing congregations, lack of resources in personnel and finance.   That older people adhering to traditional forms of worship now constitute many congregations is part of the reality of life.  But it is far from the whole story.  There are many churches that are thriving spiritually, throbbing with young life, family orientated and community conscious.  It is, however, precisely this combination of declining church life and restless new energy that creates the contemporary challenge, which is how to ‘pastor the old while giving birth to the new’.

It is the privilege of the local parish to work out ways through which this dual  ministry laid on the church can be fulfilled.  Older worshippers, long nurtured in the traditional language and concepts of the faith, have the right in their later years to be looked after spiritually.  Lovers of a liturgy which has shaped their faith and its devotional expression, they merit such provision.  At the same time, the modern congregation or parish must accept the challenge of finding ways to heed today’s loud cries for spiritual sustenance.   Those cries are authentic and need to be heard.

Dr Duncan’s book which is the source for the articles is obtainable from Telgraph Books Direct; Tel. 0870 155 7222 

Oh what a tangled web we weave !

The extract below is taken from the book ‘Our Tempestuous Day - A History of Regency England’  by Carolly Ericson, Robson Books.  It describes the mess which the playboy Prince Regent found himself in when he finally succeeded to the throne.

It made no difference to the king that his advisors were both shrewd and reasonable in their assessment of the situation.  They urged him to accept a formal separation, with a provision allowing Caroline (his wife) an income so long as she remained abroad, but stating clearly that if she returned to England her allowance would be cut off.  Parliament meanwhile was drawing up new measures to provide for her financial support, as her old income as Princess of Wales ceased with George III’s death.  It was urgent that some agreement be reached soon, yet the king would not listen to reason.  No one could persuade him that a divorce would offer his wife (and his political enemies) the opportunity to bring out in open court every embarrassing detail of his own immoral past, surrounding a great many prominent people with scandal; no one could tell him, for he refused to listen, that the publicity of the trial would do untold damage to his esteem as king and to his realm.  He was obsessed with ridding himself of Caroline, and in his weakened state his obsession “took a wonderful hold of his mind”.

The first Sunday of the new reign was at hand, and the king suddenly realised on Saturday night that because of his illness no thought had been given to changing the liturgy that would be read throughout the kingdom the following morning.  He was frantic.  Unless he did something to stop them, his subjects would pray next day “ for their most excellent majesties, the king and queen”.  Invoking the blessings of the Deity on a creature too horrid to deserve the name of wife seemed to him a fearful enormity.   “He immediately ordered up all the prayer books in the house of old and new dates, and spent the evening in very serious agitation on this subject.”   He found no way round the enormity that night, but before another Sunday passed an order went out that the queen was no longer to be prayed for by name.

 

 

The PCC wishes all Parishioners a Happy

Christmas and a Joyful and Fulfilling New Year

 

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