Monthly News from St. Giles, West Bridgford

Church Drive April 2014

In this edition…

The Rector Writes

Church Weekend Away in 2015

Book Review: Everyday Church

Not Just a Sunday Christian

Boys Brigade News

Something New for Christian Aid Week

PCC Report

St Giles’ Directory

Coming Up at St Giles

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The Rector Writes…...

In his 1999 hit film Sixth Sense Bruce Willis befriends a troubled boy. In one of the most memorable scenes in the film the boy whispers to Bruce the secret of his fears – “I see dead people”.

I remembered this line listening to Matthew’s account of the crucifixion at one of our Lenten communion service

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

The curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple is torn open from top to bottom and dead people rise. At the moment of Jesus’ death the barrier to God’s presence is removed and dead people rise to life. In the most dramatic way possible God reveals what the death of his Son Jesus has achieved. The price has been paid, sin defeated, those far off are invited to come near – by his stripes we are healed.

In different ways this Easter we will reflect again on the cross. Through the Maundy Thursday meal, The Good Friday meditations, Riding Lights play ‘Inheritance’; and we will celebrate the resurrection together on Easter Sunday with the cry ‘Christ is Risen’. As we journey again along the road to the cross let it not be for us ‘just’ a story but a matter of life and death – for that is what the Gospel truly is – the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the offer of new life in Him, to us and all who believe.

In Christ dead people have life.

In the peace of Christ. Rev Lee Proudlove

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Church Weekend Away 2015 Next spring, the first St Giles’ Weekend Away will be taking place, at Hothorpe Hall in Leicestershire, 13th—15th March.

We really hope that this first Weekend Away will be a highlight of

our year. We’re planning a weekend of relaxation and fun which

will include plenty of opportunity to get to know more people from

St Giles, to build our church family.

The weekend is for everyone, from babies to 100 years, and all

those in between! There will be a programme to suit all ages,

including specific activities for the children and youth.

It is a lovely venue, set in 12 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, in a tranquil rural setting, with stunning views. There is a licensed bar and two coffee lounges, an outside games a r e a , a c h i l d r e n ’ s adventure trail, and wi-fi throughout the venue.

There is something

different about being away

f r o m o u r u s u a l

surroundings. God is no different, he is the same at all times and in

all places, but sometimes we are different. More open, more

relaxed, more available. The Weekend Away will provide us with

opportunities to encounter God in fresh and new ways.

Leaflets and booking forms are available at the back of church, or

from Claire in the church office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do come and speak

to Lee.

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Book Review: Everyday Church

By Tim Chester and Steve Timmis I SBN 978-1-84474-520-3

“Everyday Church!” Come off it Andrew, our lives are so busy we struggle to get on a Sunday. You are retired.” Fair comment but that assumes church is a place you attend. Some years ago Bishop Graham Cray said: “Christians don’t go to church; they are

the church, gathered or scattered.”

In the recent Seniors Alpha course Nicky Gumbel mentions the age old question; “Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?” He doesn’t answer the question because it is the wrong question to ask as it misunderstands what church is. After all we spend far more time outside church buildings than inside them.

Some of the chapter headings of this book illustrate the principles of being Christian everyday of the week. “Everyday community, everyday pastoral care, everyday mission.” One of the strengths of the book is that the basis of it all is found in the Bible as it relates all the ideas and very practical suggestions to the letter of I Peter.

There are some unsettling statistics about church and society life but these are used to help hone the argument for Everyday Church.

The authors are down to earth people who have seen the ideas in this book developed in Sheffield and elsewhere. The church has been chosen by God to be distinctive as Jesus suggests in the Sermon on the Mount; to be ‘salt and light’. This book can help us be that more effectively. “We need to allow the gospel rather than the prevailing secular and socially fragmented story that our society tells us to define our identity.” “Peter is not talking about a Sunday morning service. He is talking about living as a community who love one another sincerely from the heart and are deeply engaged in one another’s lives.”

In the chapter of ‘Everyday Pastoral care’ the writers suggest “We [church] are to be an alternative family, where those who have become ‘un-family’ can find a home, a place of belonging for displaced exiles ’

The writers stress how important the Bible should be in church life. ‘We do not read the Bible simply to fill our minds, but to change our hearts, not simply to be informed, but to be conformed to the image of Jesus. ‘

The book gives us a vision of church that makes us look at how we ‘do’ church in the 21st century but when we see how church in the UK has worked in the last century we do well to take note of what is shared in Everyday Church. ‘Ina New Testament vision of church the whole community does Gospel ministry in the staff room, on the street, in the work place, at the school gates, in the kitchen’ ‘The church leader is someone who is sacrificed from the frontline [at least in part] to equip everyone else for the frontline.’ Now that is a different way of seeing the vicar! So what are we aiming at? .... ‘not to make people moral, but for people to experience joy in Christ.’ It is suggested that we do not need new truths but ‘we need truths we already know pushed down into the everyday realities of our lives.’

One of the central themes of this book is that our marginal status as Christians requires us to think differently about mission. One way to dot his is by dropping our pre-occupation with church. ….. If words are defined by usage…. Then the contemporary usage of ‘church’ means that we are almost certainly miscommunicating when we use it. i.e. church is building, meeting, organisation institution, place we attend. We must be church as the New Testament defines it I Peter chapter 2 verses 9-10.

Looking at ‘Everyday Mission’ the challenge is not extra activities but about living in our world in a different way. We live in a culture where it is all about ME; my rights, my pleasure, my fulfilment. God’s people have an altogether different motto “It’s not about me, it’s about God.” This makes a profound difference when we enter the public square or the work place of the home. Page 116. The sub title of the book is ‘Mission by being good neighbours’ and so we are challenged to be the people everyone would love to have as their neighbours.

Here is a book that pulls together lots of positive if challenging Biblically

based suggestions to help ‘church’ be more true to the original vision and

yet very practical. I was excited and challenged I hope you will be too. I

commend heartily to all readers of this review- get it share it with others

and think what might the head of the Church, Jesus, be saying to us.

Andrew J M Barker

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St Giles’ Youth - Not Just Sunday Christians

During the weekend of 14th-16

th March we as a youth group took

31 young people and 8 leaders away to Rock UK. in Northamptonshire. The weekend was an incredible success, and I want to thank all those who helped with contributions and prayers during our time. I especially would like to thank the leaders who gave up their weekends to come and have a mad time with us!

The theme of the weekend was ‘Not just a Sunday Christian’. We wanted the young people to see that being a Christian meant more than just coming to church on a Sunday morning. We had three sessions through the weekend going into detail about this theme—‘Why do we go to Church?’ ‘What is God’s will for our lives?’ and ‘How to be a Christian in school.’ Through these topics we looked at various bible passages that tell us what church is about and how God has a plan for our lives and that He chose each and every one of us to be His followers.

‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ 1 Peter 2:9

As well as these sessions we also packed the weekend full of

activities such as high ropes, raft building, ‘the potato game’, hunt

the leader, cops and robbers, bonfire, adventure/mud pit, hockey

and lots of football.

Andy Wright, Youth Worker

8th Nottingham Boys’ Brigade

In the Junior Section, Andy Galea has gained his Bronze Achievement Badge and Raphael Galea his Silver.

For this year’s Junior Section Bible Knowledge Competition the two passages were taken from Matthew’s Gospel and were about the workers in the vineyard and Jesus healing two blind men. There were thirteen teams this year and we entered one. The boys did exceptionally well scoring 37.5 marks out of 44 which equates to 85%. They finished 3

rd overall and I was proud of them all as four

of the boys were first years. Team: Francis Cahill, Christopher Kerry, Raphael Galea, Andy Galea and Xenis Antcliffe

There were 10 teams that took part in the Company Section Dodgeball Competition and we had one team. In the group stages the team won two and lost two of their matches just failing to qualify for the semi-finals. I must thank Oliver Kerry and Jack Hill for joining with the 42

nd to ensure they had a full team.

Team: Stanley Hanson, Reece Bensley, Jasper Hanson,Nicholas Kerry, Nicholas Ford and Sebastian Whitlow

Keith Whitaker, Captain

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Come Dine With Us!

Christian Aid Week 2014 runs from 11th – 17th May. This year’s theme is give people a future without fear. For a growing number of people across the world, the horror of war is part of daily life. The

good news is that individuals, communities and churches can make a real difference this Christian Aid Week. Last year, 20,000 churches across the country helped to raise £12m for Christian Aid Week. This magnificent effort means that many more people can look forward to a future free from poverty. This year at St Giles, instead of the Christian Aid quiz night, there will be a new fundraising event called ‘Dine in with St. Giles’.

Would you like to raise money for Christian Aid, but don’t want to run a marathon, jump out of a plane or shave your head?! Well, ‘Dine in with St. Giles’ is just for you! All you need to do is invite your friends round for a meal – a cooked breakfast for a lazy Saturday, a bbq for a sunny Sunday, afternoon tea for a refined Thursday or a curry for a fiery Friday – anything you fancy. Everyone donates money and their donation goes straight to Christian Aid. If hosting a meal is not for you,

then taking part can be even easier - just go along to one of the many ‘Dine in with St. Giles’ events that will be happening during Christian Aid Week - turn up, make your donation, and enjoy some fellowship and delicious food, all while fundraising for Christian Aid!

Breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner parties will be taking place, hosted by some of St Giles’

finest chefs, allowing the congregation (and non-church friends) to join in. ‘Dine in with St Giles’ meals will take place around Christian Aid Week, between 7th and 17th May. Listen out in church for more details or speak to Johanna Langheld.

PCC Report The key issues discussed at the PCC on 12th March were as

follows:

Finances and Parish share were extensively discussed with Lee sharing elements of Deanery and Diocesan discussions. The deanery is currently facing a shortfall in it’s diocesan apportionment and all churches in the deanery have been asked to reconsider their parish share. The PC reflected on the diocesan, deanery and parishes finances and there was a consensus that our current parish share for 2014 of £120,000 is generous and we are not able to increase it without harming the mission and ministry at St Giles.

The 2013 finances were presented showing a £7.6k surplus but this was largely due to one off donations for the Youthworker. The budget for 2014 was presented which indicates a deficit of £18k for the full year. There are sufficient surpluses to cover this, but this position is not sustainable in the longer term.

A request was made to be considerate for the wider St Giles community by ensuring the church is kept clean and tidy by individually clearing up after services and ensuring things are properly put away after events.

Consideration was given whether a proportion of funds on deposit with the CBF fund could be transferred to the Nottingham Credit Union where they would a have greater social impact. The Pcc were in favour in principle but requested more information before making a final decision.

Other items discussed were the need for more volunteers for rotas, most notably the coffee rota. And also the alternatives for fund raising for Christian Aid week and the Street Collections for which Matt and Debbie Keown have kindly offered to co-ordinate for a final time.

As always, if you have any questions on the above please do not hesitate to contact me, Lee or other members of the PCC.

In Him,

Adrian Cudmore, PCC Secretary

Easter at St Giles

Maundy Thursday Meal – 17th April - 7.30pm A simple communion service which begins with a 'bring and share' meal together. We reflect upon the presence of Christ in our midst.

Good Friday Workshop – 18th April - 10am to 12pm We welcome all 5-11 year olds for a fun morning when we explore the events of the first Good Friday and Easter Sunday through craft, storytelling, drama and song. £3 per child. Registration via admin@stgilesparish.com or 07948834250.

'The Cross' – 18th April - 3pm - 4pm A meditation led by Andrew Barker. Stop and come aside for a while on this the most solemn of days, where we consider the costly love of God shown us through the cross of Christ.

‘Inheritance’ – 19th April – 7.30pm Riding Lights Theatre Company presents its new Passion Play, Inheritance, weaving the strands of the biblical Passion into a dramatic new narrative, exploring in particular some of Jesus’ encounters with women in the gospels.

Easter Sunday – Family Communion Service 20th April – 10.30am All Ages gather together for a joyous celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After the service we will have our traditional Easter Egg Hunt and Balloon Race. Don't miss the fun!

Rector Lee Proudlove Tel: 981 1112 rector@stgilesparish.com

Church Caroline Harper Tel: 914 5650 Wardens Richard Crawley Tel: 981 3262

Administrator Claire Sheard Tel: 07948 834250 admin@stgilesparish.com

Pastoral Care Daphne Carter Tel: 974 3749 Co-ordinators pastoral@stgilesparish.com

Debbie Keown Tel: 914 9684 debbie@stgilesparish.com

House Groups Katie Conley Tel: 923 4721

Seniors Doreen Ottway Tel: 981 3689

PCC Secretary Adrian Cudmore Tel: 981 3877

PCC Treasurer Eddie Pearce Tel: 981 3580 treasurer@stgilesparish.com

Sacristan Maureen Swann Tel: 859 0975

Director of Music Andrew Rootham Tel: 921 3081

Junior Church Sarah & Iain Moppett Tel: 974 4442

Sunbeams Claire Sheard Tel: 981 9405

Tiddlers Caroline Crew Tel: 914 2465

Weddings Caroline Harper Tel: 914 5650

Church Hall Claire Sheard Tel: 07948 834250 Bookings

Church Cleaning Helen Jarvis Tel: 981 9947 and Flower Rota

Something Else Graham & Kat Rooke Tel: 07577 966684 graham@stgilesparish.com or kat@stgilesparish.com

St Giles’ Directory

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Coming up @ St. Giles in April

Tuesday 8h April, 10.30am Seniors’ Coffee Morning at Bradmore

Wednesday 9th April, 8.00pm Ladies’ Evening at Belle & Jerome

Monday 14th April, 8.00pm First Priority Prayer Meeting in church Come and make prayer your first priority. Everyone is welcome for a time of worship and prayer.

Wednesday 16th April, 12.00 noon Soup and Rolls Lunch at the Rectory

Thursday 17th April, 7.30pm Maundy Thursday supper and Communion

Friday 18th April, 10.00am—12 noon Good Friday Workshop

Friday 18th April, 3.00pm Good Friday Meditation

Saturday 19th April, 9.00am Decoration of church for Easter - everyone welcome!

Saturday 19th April, 7.30pm Riding Lights perform INHERITANCE

Sunday 27th April, 12 noon AGM and PCC elections followed by Parish Lunch in church

Monday 28th April, 8.00pm Men’s Social at the Willow Tree

If you have an idea for an article for Church Drive, or an event to advertise, please contact Claire (details on inside back page)

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