st giles’ church exhall christmas parish magazine...
TRANSCRIPT
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St Giles’ Magazine was first published in April 1898 and is now in its 118th year. We now publish 350 copies 10 times each year. Please also visit our website at www.StGilesChurchExhall.info
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
St Giles’ Church Exhall
Saturday 19th NOVEMBER 2016
12noon till 3pm In both halls
Refreshments Tombola Bric a Brac
Gifts and lots more Grand Prize Draw Children’s Games
November 2016 - Price 50p
St Giles’ Church Exhall Parish Magazine
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Front Cover: Parish Pump Back Cover: Christmas Bazaar poster
St Giles’ Parish Church, Exhall - www.stgileschurchexhall.info The Parish Office at St Giles’ Church Hall, St Giles’ Road, Ash Green, CV7 9GZ
Telephone/answerphone: 024 7636 8008 Office email: [email protected]
OR email the Vicar: [email protected] The Parish Office is open Monday-Thursday from 9 to 11.30am.
Sunday Worship 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion (sung) 11.30am All Age Service (Baptisms usually on 3rd Sunday) 5.30pm Evening Prayer (Sung Eucharist on 1st Sunday)
Weekday Services 8am Morning Prayer (daily except Friday) 10am Holy Communion (Wednesdays)
Other Useful Information Ministry to the sick and housebound We are always pleased to visit, at home or in hospital. But we need to know who would welcome a visit. Contact the Vicar on (024) 77 677461.
Sunday School & KiCKS (Kids in Christ’s Kingdom) A fun, creative session is run for children aged 4-11, as well as those 11+, during the 9.30am service every Sunday during term times, except the first Sunday of the month when everyone worships together.
Christenings and Weddings Enquiries should be made to the Vicar on (024) 77 677461.
Bereavement and funerals We will always take funerals for anyone in the parish, either at church or at the crematorium. Our new burial ground, St Giles' Meadow is now in use as well. Enquiries should be made to the Vicar on (024) 77 677461.
We have a team of Bereavement Visitors trained to listen and support those who are bereaved. Many find this really helpful. Call Margaret on (024) 77 677461.
FoodBank Do you know someone in need of a helping hand? St Giles’ is part of the local (Bedworth) FoodBank. It’s quick, simple and anonymous. Contact the Vicar for a voucher on (024) 77 677461. New members of any age are always welcome at the following: Bellringing Practices on Thursdays 7.30-9pm (except 3rd Thursday) Choir Practices on Fridays at 7pm. Worship Band Practices on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.
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Ministry & Admin Vicar (day off usually Friday) Revd Andrew Gandon 7767 7461 Assisting Priest Revd Rick White 7636 0417 Wardens Cynthia Cogley 7636 7406 Stuart Oliver 7664 3323 Readers John Owen 7636 6111 Jane Smith 7636 5043 Hilary Cryer 7673 8900 Chris Wilson 07717 523512 PCC Secretary Carol Gough 7631 8219 PCC Treasurer & Gift Aid Stephen Carter 7631 2831 Administrator/Rotas Chris Wilson 7636 8008 Bereavement Margaret Gandon 7767 7461 Electoral Roll Beryl Owen 7636 6111 Halls Bookings Marion Biddle 7673 8883 Legacies Jackie West 7636 2168 Parish Magazine Neil Harris 7636 4079 Tina Watkins 7664 5278 Pastoral Care Viv Hopkins 7664 5161 Safeguarding Muriel Ganley 07988 477659 Website tbc
Church & Worship Bell Ringing Viv Hopkins 7664 5161 Brasses, Care Home Services Chrissie Hughes 7631 5468 Choir/Organists Henry Wagstaff 7633 2660 Kathryn Unsworth 7667 3325 Flowers in Church Irene Prideaux 7636 1321 Prayer Chain Sheila Taunton 7649 1093 Sue Bourne 7636 8257 Vergers Roy Wiggins 7641 5412 Mandy Williams 7633 7188 Green Genies (churchyard) Robert West 7636 2168
Young People, Nurture & Discipleship Home Groups & Emmaus Vicar 7767 7461 Sunday School & KiCKS Helen Anderson 7631 5580
Other Groups & Activities Church Band Maurice Greaves 7673 3386 Cross Stitch Ann Crutchlow 7631 3845 Drama Club Tina Watkins 7664 5278 Food Bank Alan Marshall 7636 5870 Hospice Coffee Morning Chrissie Hughes 7631 5468 Mothers' Union (Afternoon) Mary James 7664 0804 Mothers' Union (Evening) Mandy Williams 7633 7188 Over 50's Club Marion Biddle 7673 8883
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At a Glance - November 2016
Tuesday 1st 1pm Over 50’s Club - Main Hall (weekly) 7pm Cross Stitch Group - Small Hall (weekly except 3rd Tuesday) 7.30pm Home Group at the Vicarage Wednesday 2nd 9.30am Parent and Toddler Group - Main Hall (weekly) 2pm Mothers’ Union Afternoon Group - Small Hall
Thursday 3rd 9.30am Parent and Toddler Group - Main Hall (weekly) 2.30-4.30pm Bereavement Drop-In - Small Hall 7.30pm Bellringing Practice (weekly except3rd Thursday) 7.30pm Deanery Synod at St Paul’s Church, Stockingford
Friday 4th 7pm Choir Practice (weekly)
SUNDAY 6th 8am Holy Communion - Order 2 9.30am All Age Holy Communion 11.30am All Age Worship 5.30pm Holy Communion Monday 7th 2pm Service at Richmond Lodge 7.30 Home Group at 63 Mavor Drive Tuesday 8th 7pm Prayer Group - church (fortnightly) Thursday 10th 2pm Service at Fairfield Nursing Home 2pm Pastoral Care Meeting - the Vicarage
SUNDAY 13th 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion - with Sunday School 10.50 REMEMBRANCE DAY Act of Remembrance - at Cenotaph 5.30pm Evening Prayer
Monday 14th 2.15pm Service at The Haven 7.30pm PCC meeting - Small Hall 7.30pm Home Group - 103 Coventry Road Tuesday 15th 10.30am Holy Communion at Bede Village 2pm Service at Benvarden Nursing Home 7.30pm Home Meeting the Vicarage Wednesday 16th 10.30am Hospice Coffee Morning - Small Hall Thursday 17th 2.30-4.30pm Bereavement Drop-In - Small Hall 7.30pm Mothers’ Union Evening meeting Saturday 19th 12-3pm CHRISTMAS BAZAAR - in both halls
SUNDAY 20th 8.am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion - with Sunday School 11.30am All Age Worship & Baptism 5.30pm Evening Prayer
Monday 21st 7.30 Home Group at 63 Mavor Drive Wednesday 23rd 11am Ministry Team Meeting - the Vicarage Saturday 26th 10-3pm PCC Away Day
SUNDAY 27th 8.am Holy Communion 1st of ADVENT 9.30am Holy Communion - with Sunday School 11.30am All Age Holy Communion 5.30pm Evening Worship for the start of Advent
Monday 28th 7.30pm Home Group at 63 Mavor Drive Tuesday 29th 2pm Service at Chasewood Lodge 7.30pm Home Group at the Vicarage Wednesday 30th 2pm Service at Chasewood, School Lane
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Any news, reflections, stories, pictures, jokes or brainteasers to share within these pages? We’d love to have them! Email them to
[email protected] or [email protected], or drop them into the parish office or in the “W” pigeonhole.
The next magazine will be a joint edition for December and January and the copy deadline date is Thursday 17th November .
Where to find …
The Vicar’s Letter 4-5 Battle of the Somme 18-19
Sunday School Programme 9 From the Registers 20-21
Common Declaration of Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin
10 At a Glance 22
Nature Notes 12-13 Directory of names and numbers 23
Painting and Planting 16-17
Remembrance Sunday at St Giles’ As usual we will be gathering on Remembrance Sunday around the War Memorial outside church at 10.50am, this year on Sunday 13th November, for the 2 minute silence and to honour those who died. Please join us, and for tea, coffee and cake afterwards in the main hall.
Continuing the theme of remembrance, please see Helen’s moving article about her visit to the Somme, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle and her grandfather’s involvement. Looking ahead, Christmas coming; details of Breakfast with Santa can be found on page 9 and the Christmas Bazaar and how your support can help with its success can be found on page 11. Details of all our Christmas services will be included in the December/January issue of the magazine. Tina Watkins
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The Vicar’s LetterThe Vicar’s Letter
November 2016 Dear Everyone
Look around you, can you see? Times are troubled, people grieve. See the violence, feel the hardness; All my people, weep with me.
It was the first verse of our opening song at yesterday’s 11.30 service, when we tried to tackle the difficult subject of SUFFERING. Of course this is not new; it has been a challenging issue throughout human history. But of late it has felt more acute. The city of Aleppo in Syria is being constantly bombarded, even hospitals and relief convoys targeted, and so many innocent civilians killed. Three weeks ago Hurricane Matthew brought widespread destruction and death to hundreds in Haiti, a country still trying to rebuild after the huge earthquake in 2010. In Yemen the BBC reported (and filmed) children dying of starvation due to the war against Houthi rebels. Millions of refugees are displaced by the continuing conflict in Syria plus the terrible injustice, oppression and inequalities that afflict so many in other countries. Our worship gave us the chance to share together some of our own experiences of suffering, and how we’ve reacted to it. A child who is sat in front of a nurse who is about to stick a nasty sharp needle into his or her arm may well say: GO AWAY! Or when they fall over, and graze a knee, or bang a head .. it’s OUCH! A baby who’s teething simply CRIES, and so does anyone who is really sad. Or if the teacher says ‘Right, no one’s going outside for playtime, because there’s been too much bad behaviour’, but you know you weren’t badly behaved .. then IT’S NOT FAIR! And often, especially in the more adult world, the reaction is WHY? For so much of what we call suffering we simply cannot understand. And of course for people of faith, it raises some big questions about God .. if God is love, and God created a good world, if we believe God is truly almighty, then how come there’s such widespread suffering in today’s world? Why doesn’t he stop it? Why doesn’t he intervene? Last Friday was the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster in S Wales. I was a child at school myself then, and remember it well. But what I never realised until now was the extent to which this was a manmade disaster, resulting from the National Coal Board’s failure to deal with those dangerous slag heaps in spite of warnings previously issued. In the conversations at church yesterday there was a clear acknowledgement that so much suffering is manmade, and results from humans being sinful, greedy, selfish and careless. The war in Syria is manmade. The barbarity of the Islamic State is manmade, and so is the refugee crisis. Rick said yesterday in his reflection near the end of our worship: “Wars, poverty and hatred are not caused by God.” No one suffers because God hates them, whereas millions suffer because of human hatred, and human stupidity and weakness:
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radio, shared with Craig an addiction to crosswords and word-searches, and on the TV her preferences were the soaps, Casualty and Holby City. Although Christine’s health was beginning to decline, her death came suddenly, and was a real shock. She leaves a huge gap. AG
October 20 Dennis John Docking, aged 89 ‘Dedicated’ and ‘devoted’ were two words that featured prominently in Mort Burch’s tribute to Dennis in the Nuneaton News after his death. His family moved to Foleshill from Northamptonshire in 1936. Dennis was the third of seven children. After the war he was a soldier in Malta, helping run a camp for German PoWs. For many years he worked at the Morris factory, having previously been at Sterling Metals, where he met Doreen. They married at St Giles’ in 1948. In 1953 they got their own home in Grant Road, Exhall and subsequently became proud parents of Denise and Wayne. Of course time goes by, children grow up and marry, and in addition to being ‘Uncle Den’ to many nieces and nephews, Dennis became grandad to Denise’s Rebecca and Claire, and to Wayne’s Sarah. Latterly he’s become a great-grandad too - to Finlay, Eva and Zachary. Doreen died in 1995, and he missed her massively, Dennis was clearly devoted to his family, and they to him, doing everything they could to support him especially latterly. He’s lived since 1999 at John Haynes Court. But he was also devoted to cricket: he played for many years (for Rotax, AEI, BTH and Stockingford AA), umpired till he was 80, and served as an administrator, heavily involved in the Coventry & District Midweek cricket league until 2009. He was a fine table tennis player years ago, and enjoyed playing snooker, Tuesday lunchtimes with Bill Davis and Ray Liggins at Stockingford. He followed the horses, and enjoyed football on the TV. Dennis was a natural people person, friendly and affable, enjoyed a good conversation, and made many friends: there was a grand turn-out for his funeral at St Giles’. AG
October 21 Kathleen Helen Rowe, aged 80 Kath was born in Chapel End and grew up there with her family, the eldest of three children. She left school when she was 15 and worked in Hinckley. She married Dennis in 1959 and they settled down in Vicarage Lane where they remained all their lives. Kath continued to work until their children were born, David and then Andrew. Kath was a very forthright person, kind and practical and she was known to speak her mind. Over the years she and Dennis were well known at St Giles’ Church. She cleaned the church for many years and was very involved in the table top sales and later the hospice coffee mornings. She enjoyed knitting and cooking, especially at Christmas, and would make all her own pickles and jars of jam and jellies to give to friends and family. There were holidays together, perhaps to Rhyll or to Skegness. In later life she and Dennis loved to go on coach holidays with Harry Shaw, and they travelled all over the country. As the years went by, Kath became a very proud and loving Grandma to Carl and Natalie, and later still a great grandma. She will be remembered with great love and affection and will be sadly missed. HC
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From the Registers Weddings Marriage is never to be undertaken carelessly, lightly or selfishly. (from the Wedding Service)
September 24 Simon Stanley and Stacey Chinn
Funerals In the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23 verse 4)
September 28 Thomas Arthur Wallace Pearson, aged 96 Thomas, Tommy, was born right next to the post office in Ash Green Lane in 1920. He was the middle of 3 children, his elder sister was Viv and younger brother Des. They all went to Exhall school and later Ash Green. Tommy always sang well and was in the choir at St Giles’ church for many years. At 14 he started work, at the Triumph factory in Coventry. Motorcycles became a life long love, and over the years he had great fun travelling around on his bike. When he was 18, much against his mum’s wishes, he joined the Air Force, working on engines and became a leading aircraftsman. After the War he returned to Triumph based at Meriden and he remained there all his working life. Triumph closed down when Tommy was 64, so he took retirement and went to help sister Viv on the farm in New Road. He enjoyed the work there, looking after the animals and generally helping out and although he had his own home on Ash Green Lane he remained mainly at the farm and was a great support to Viv after her husband died. He was quite a musician, in addition to singing well, he played the piano and the organ very well. Often he would go to local pubs playing favourite songs for them. He with Viv and Des enjoyed many cruises to exotic and lovely places. In later years his mobility became a real problem, but with health failing Tommy was greatly helped and supported by his brother Des, and also Joan, Shirley, and Jim among others. He will be greatly missed and remembered with love and affection. HC
October 5 Christine Wiggall, aged 69 Christine was organised, very much the centre of her family, house proud (she owned three Hoovers), always busy and active, and sometimes fiery! Her life began in Holbrooks, one of three children in the Oxley family. At 18 she was already managing the Co-op on Beake Avenue, when she met a handsome young chap called Allan Wiggall. And they have shared life and love, marriage, home and family ever since. It sounds like they were too busy having fun to rush into marriage: that was in 1976, and within a few years they had 3 children – Neil, Karen and Craig. Chris was a great mum, but if anyone stepped out of line, you were told! She cooked good wholesome meals, and plenty of cakes and puddings too. She it was who managed the family finances, and paid all the bills. In the early 1990’s, her sister was personnel manager at BRICO, and asked Chris to go and help out for two weeks. 22 years later she retired!! Both Allan and Chris’s hard work meant regular proper family holidays, notably at Llangranog in West Wales. She knitted, always listened to local
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how often do we end up with a tummy ache because we’ve eaten too much? Or a bad head if we’ve had too much to drink? Quite appropriately then, our opening song includes the plea: Forgive us, Father But the song also includes these lines: Walk among them, I'll go with you. Reach out to them with my hands. Suffer with me, and together We will serve them, help them stand. The whole song is written as if God is speaking. Getting involved is part of the Christian response to suffering. This is what we see Jesus doing all the time in the gospels… with the unfortunate woman about to be stoned for adultery, with ten lepers who were dangerously infectious, and a tax collector called Zacchaeus whom everyone hated, with the hungry crowd of 5000 whom his disciples would rather he had sent home, even with the corpse of Lazarus buried four days previously! And of course it’s especially on the cross where we see Jesus so involved that be lets himself become the victim of the worst of human sinfulness, where his terrible tortured suffering and death are the means that God uses to open the way to forgiveness and new life. We are to look for ways of being involved, alongside those who suffer, doing what we can to make a difference, even if only to one person. The local Foodbank is one very simple example. But there are so many other opportunities — supporting an agency like CAP (Christians Against Poverty), or CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) who campaign for the release of those in many places who face persecution for their faith or their principles, or contacting our local MP about the shameful and shocking slowness of our Government to bring more of the vulnerable youngsters from the Jungle camp at Calais into the UK. Or it may well be simply befriending someone local struggling with pain, mental illness, loneliness, grief… a very significant percentage of homes across our parish are occupied by those who live alone. And of course, always Christians can pray, and must keep praying, to the one whom we believe can and does change people’s hearts (eg in South Africa where Apartheid was dismantled, and Northern Ireland where “the troubles” have ended) and is at work through good and godly people working in sometimes terrible and dangerous situations to alleviate suffering. Yours sincerely, Andrew
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We go to the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. The trenches are preserved here complete with rusty iron pigtails that held the barbed wire. Canadian students tell us about the Newfoundland Regiment: how they all came from a small community and were 90% wiped out in only half an hour on 1st July 1916. The Caribou monument (pictured left) looks down the valley along the line of their attack. We walk the shell-pocked site and understand the utter futility of that
attack over open ground into a heavily-fortified ravine. On to Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle. The crater is 30m deep by 100m diameter and is what remains from a huge underground explosion set off as the battle began. The noise must have been truly terrifying as the ground heaved and shook. We sit on the memorial bench to the Nurses and VADs who cared for the wounded. Finally to Thiepval (below). Artwork in the visitor centre shows the soldiers’ journey from safety ‘behind the lines’, through the trenches to the hell of the front line and beyond. The horror of it all is plain to see. The massive Thiepval Memorial to the Missing contains the names of over 70,000 British & South African soldiers who died on the Somme between July and November 1916. It is wholly sobering. Visitors wander round quietly, tight-lipped and moist-eyed. Back home now, appalled by the suffering and the enormous loss of life, I understand why Grandpa never spoke of this. But I know exactly why we need to, and why it's our duty to ensure that future generations never forget. And yes, I will go back. Helen Anderson
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A Visit to the Somme During WW1 Grandpa Shortridge was in the 7th Div Signals Co. supporting the telephone system. He kept a diary, recording places and his role in actions etc. Over the years I’ve used this and other documents to trace Grandpa’s war, including the Somme. As 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme I decided to go there. Today’s Somme is very different to the scene Grandpa knew in 1916. The huge apparatus of war has been replaced by tranquil river valleys with vast swathes of gently undulating arable farmland punctuated by small woods and villages: all studded with war cemeteries and memorials. The chalky soil is productive: wheat, sugar beet and vegetables are grown but the iron harvest continues and we see 100-year old shells by the roadside awaiting collection and safe disposal. The desecrated villages and small towns have been rebuilt. Most of the churches are new and old
buildings are rare. Our tour starts at Albert. The Basilica of the Madonna, shelled in WW1 and famous for its hanging statue of the Virgin Mary, was rebuilt in Art Deco style. It’s a beautiful church. The gilded statue atop the church is visible for miles. We follow Grandpa’s diary: in the front line opposite Fricourt & Mametz and then moving towards High Wood. We visit the Welsh Dragon memorial at Mametz Wood (pictured left) where
men of the Welsh regiments were killed by machine-gun fire whilst trying to advance into the wood. We visit so many cemeteries: small garden-like Commonwealth cemeteries on the battlefield: some next to former dressing stations, some in old support trenches, some making use of shell holes. There are fewer French and German cemeteries because they concentrated their burials. French graves have white crosses but are similar to the commonwealth burials. The German cemetery at Fricourt is different: wooded and grassy, there are no flowers. There is an eerie sense of peace as the wind rustles the leaves above the black crosses. All the cemeteries contain many Unknown Soldier burials and the named dead are so young.
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Have you thought of using one of our Church Halls for your party, meeting or event? Or as a venue for a regular activity? Main hall seats 120 @ £12/hr; Small hall seats 60 @ £8/ hr.
Concessions available! Info and photos:
www.stgileschurchexhall.info/halls.html or speak to Marion Biddle on 02476 73 8883
Parent & Toddler Group Calling all babies and toddlers! And their parents, grandparents and carers! Come and play for a hour and a half in lots of space, with our varied range of toys and activities, singing, snacktime and just a place to hang out, relax and talk for a while.
Every Wednesday and Thursday during termtime in St Giles’ main Church Hall, 9.30-11am.
£1 per family per session. Contact Sue Sullivan 024 76 738897
Mob: 07902 132453 email: [email protected]
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St Giles’ Retreat to Holy Island
Our annual retreat will take place from Monday 9th – Sunday 15th January 2017. This means that we will have a full week on the island and should have more time to relax and catch our breath ready for the year ahead. Once again we shall be staying at Marygate House. There is no fixed cost to stay here and they ask for donations to cover the cost of accommodation. Transport will be in shared cars and lifts can be arranged. If you are interested in joining the retreat or wish to know more, give me a call on 024 76731530 or speak to Andrew. There will also be a sign up sheet in church during November.
Sian Coleman
A big thank you to everyone who helped with the planting and for allowing us to carry out the activity in St Giles’ Meadow. The timing was to fit in with World Polio Day on the 24th October and we hope there will be an amazing display of purple by World Rotary Day, which is the 23rd February. When we are not planting crocuses, the Bedworth Rotary Club takes part in a variety of social and fundraising activities, being affiliated to the world’s largest and oldest Service Organisation. We meet regularly on Tuesday lunch times at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club in Bedworth, with an evening meeting at the same venue each month too. For more details of the Club, please pay our website at visit http://bedworthrotary.org.uk.”
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Two days of teamwork!
Church Hall Painting Many thanks to Stuart Oliver and his colleagues from the Coventry Building So-ciety who, along with a number of volunteers from St Giles’, repainted the out-side of the Church Hall on Friday 7th October. The ‘workers’ were fortified with plentiful supplies of food and drink provided by the team of caterers, and the hall looks great with its newly painted exterior!
Crocus Planting On 22nd October a team from Bedworth Rotary Club planted almost 2,000 crocuses in St Giles’ Meadow, again assisted by members of St Giles’. Here’s what Paul Beedham of the Rotary Club has to say about the day: “Since the 1980s Rotary has been on a mission to rid the world of Polio and it is very nearly there. With 1,000 cases a day reported when the campaign started, we are down to 27 cases so far in the whole of 2016, with the last case in the world reported in Pakistan on 3rd September. This may well be the last year a case of Polio is reported and that would allow the world to be declared Polio free in 2019. We are on track to eradicate a disease from the face of the earth for only the second time in history (the first being smallpox). So why did we plant 1,850 crocus corms in St Giles Meadow on the 22nd October? The crocuses are purple, which is the colour of the dye used to paint the little finger of a vaccinated child during the National Immunisation Days in India. The Purple4Polio campaign is part of a massive awareness raising exercise this year in GB & Ireland, with 5.1 million crocus corms being planted across our islands. 235,000 are being planted via 31 Rotary Clubs in the West Midlands & Warwickshire, with 10,000 of those covered by the Bedworth Rotary Club. The other main sites are at the Almshouses and Nicholas Chamberlaine School. (Continued on next page)
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School Jumpers
Earlier this year I received an e mail from ‘Carriers of Hope’, with a request for jumpers suitable for school children aged 5 – 16 years. These are a few which the Cross stitch group have made. The Mothers’ Union are also taking part in this ongoing project. If any knitters would like to help, they can be any size, school colours, and knitted to any v-necked pattern. Cynthia Cogley
Date Bible Text Theme
6.11.16 All Age Service
13.11.16 Luke 21: 5-19 Hang On
20.11.16 Luke 23: 33-43 Public not Private
27.11.16* Matthew 24: 36-44 Shaken and Stirred
4.12.16 All Age Service
11.12.16* Matthew 11: 2-11 Setting People Free
18.12.16* Matthew 1: 18-25 God with Us
25.12.16 10.30 Christmas Day All Age Service
1.1.17 All Age Service
St Giles’ Sunday School Programme – November/December 2016 Sundays at 9:30am, starting in Church then going over to Small Hall
and returning for Communion. Parents are welcome too.
* Christingle rehearsals, which begin on Sunday 27 November We will also have an afternoon of ‘Relax and watch Disney’
Some time during Christmas week.
Breakfast with Santa
Come and have breakfast with Santa on Saturday 10th Decem-ber at 9am in St Giles main church hall. Tickets are £4 for chil-dren and £3.50 for adults. For more information or to order tickets, telephone Sue Sullivan on 02476 738897.
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Common Declaration of His Holiness Pope Francis and His Grace Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop Justin and Pope Francis issued a Common Declaration on 5th Octo-ber. The Archbishop was in Rome to join in celebrations to mark 50 years of closer and deeper relationships between the Anglican Communion and the Ro-man Catholic Church. Here is part of that declaration, which may be read in full at: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5786/common- declaration-of-pope-francis-and-archbishop-justin “Fifty years ago our predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey met in this city hallowed by the ministry and blood of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Subse-quently, Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Robert Runcie, and later with Archbishop George Carey, and Pope Benedict XVI with Archbishop Rowan Williams, prayed to-gether here in this Church of Saint Gregory on the Caelian Hill from where Pope Greg-ory sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxon people. On pilgrimage to the tombs of these apostles and holy forebears, Catholics and Anglicans recognize that we are heirs of the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the call to share that treasure with the whole world. We have received the Good News of Jesus Christ through the holy lives of men and women who preached the Gospel in word and deed and we have been commissioned, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be Christ’s witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8). We are united in the conviction that “the ends of the earth” today, is not only a geographical term, but a summons to take the saving message of the Gospel particularly to those on the margins and the peripheries of our societies. In their historic meeting in 1966, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey established the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission to pursue a serious theological dialogue which, “founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions, may lead to that unity in truth, for which Christ prayed”. Fifty years later we give thanks for the achievements of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, which has examined historically divisive doctrines from a fresh perspective of mutual re-spect and charity. Today we give thanks in particular for the documents of ARCIC II which will be appraised by us, and we await the findings of ARCIC III as it navigates new contexts and new challenges to our unity. Fifty years ago our predecessors recognized the “serious obstacles” that stood in the way of a restoration of complete faith and sacramental life between us. Nevertheless, they set out undeterred, not knowing what steps could be taken along the way, but in fidelity to the Lord’s prayer that his disciples be one. Much progress has been made concerning many areas that have kept us apart. Yet new circumstances have present-ed new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality. Behind these differences lies a perennial question about how authority is exercised in the Christian community. These are today some of the concerns that constitute seri-ous obstacles to our full unity. While, like our predecessors, we ourselves do not yet see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred. In our trust and joy in the Holy Spirit we are confident that dialogue and engagement with one another will deepen our understanding and help us to discern the mind of Christ for his Church.”
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St Giles’ long-serving organist In October many of you will remember that we sang Happy Birthday to Henry Wagstaff as he celebrated his 80th birthday. The choir decided that we should perhaps take this opportunity to thank Henry for his dedication to the role of organist and choirmaster over many years. He apparently began playing the organ for services when only 14 and with only very small breaks he has been organist at Exhall ever since. So many people have sung with the choir over the years and it is not uncommon for someone to appear at the organ after a service to say: “Hello – do you remember me? I used to be in the choir!” Singing in the choir has always been fun while at the same time Henry has made sure that we strive to do the best we can. We tease him that he rarely pays us compliments and when he does, we value them so much that we record them in a little black book! In reality we all appreciate the way he tries to ensure that we enjoy our singing while remaining aware of the importance of the music to our worship. So once again, Happy Birthday and thank you!
St Giles’ Church Choir
Host families wanted! Offer your hand for international friendship! Welcome an adult international student into your home for a day, weekend, or 4 days at Christmas, and do your bit to make the world a little friendlier. Many adult international students from across the world would love to spend a few days with you, learning about British culture, experiencing UK home-life, and telling you about their own country.
A Christmas invitation is particularly valuable to students facing a holiday on an empty university campus. Japanese student, Mamiko Moda, wrote “Thanks to my hosts and their kindness, I could spend a nice Christmas here instead of staying at home alone. I am grateful to you all.”
Hosting is a voluntary position suitable for all ages and is also available throughout the year with HOST, a charity set up in 1987. To find out more or be put in touch with your local organiser, please visit www.hostuk.org, or call 020 7739 6292.
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CHRISTMAS BAZAAR and GRAND RAFFLE
Saturday 19th November 2016 between 12 noon and 3 pm in both church halls.
This year, it is in aid of essential repairs to the church. We will need donations for the following stalls: bottles of wine for the tombola, jams and preserves, chocolates and biscuits, toys and games, gifts and toiletries, paper goods e.g. cards, gift bags, etc. Cakes, mince pies and bric-a-brac would be welcome on the day.
A box has been placed in church and any items will be gratefully received. Your contributions are vital for our success. If you would like items collected or to donate a prize, please contact the numbers below. Please return all sold raffle ticket stubs and money or unsold tickets as soon as possible.
Many thanks, Beryl 76310261, Debbie 76361919, Jackie 76362168.
Exhall Over 50s Club We’re a place to meet together, make friends and generally have a good time... We run a monthly buffet, a monthly pub lunch, occasional coach and theatre trips, and
weekly table games, discussions, music and sing-alongs, bingo, a raffle, talks, demos,
films and of course refreshments... We are a warm, friendly group always happy to welcome new members!
Every Tuesday in St Giles Main Hall, 1-3pm. Membership £12/year, sessions £2. Further info: Marion Biddle 024 7673 8883 or Flo Rhodes 024 7636 7924
Thank you to everyone who helped with and supported the Table Top Sale on 8th October. We had a great afternoon and we raised £200 for the Mary Ann Evans Hospice.
Sue Sullivan
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Nature Notes These nature notes are dedicated to the memory of the late Mr Norman Edmonds, Local Historian, Naturalist and well respected Ash Green School Master. Mr Edmonds wrote a page in the Church Magazine for 30 years, and I humbly try to follow in his footsteps.
Walking today in south Warwickshire, and parking at the Village Hall in Harbury This village has its own windmill, but now without sails. The first miller died at the mill from an accident, and now his ghostly figure is seen walking around the building. Blue Lias limestone is a Jurassic marine sediment and is found in Harbury, as it is in the sea cliffs at Lime Regis, and it contains many fossils. In the 1920s two skeletons of pre-historic reptiles, namely Plesiosaurus and marine dinosaurs, were found in Harbury Quarry – these are now on show in the Natural History Museum. The quarry is now water filled and is known as Bishops Bowl Lakes, with good fishing. We pick up the Centenary Way long distance footpath running through Warwickshire. The first cottage we pass has a large fig tree loaded with green figs climbing over its front door. The path continues through the local allotments – all showing their prize vegetables, lovely marrows, pumpkins and autumn raspberries. We pick up a field path heading for Harbury Heath, then following a bridle path towards the village of Chesterton. Next field has a herd of heifers all lying down in the grass right over the footpath – so we decide to give them a wide berth. We stop to look at a row of three deserted cottages called Humble Bee Cottages – they are on the outside of a derelict walled garden. This is the site of the old mansion owned by Sir Edward Peyto which was demolished in 1802. The Peyto Family worshipped at the Church of St. Giles, Chesterton; you can still see the tree lined drive to the church, where the famous Inigo Jones build the Peyto Archway, which took them straight into church. The sundial over the doorway has an unwelcoming inscription over it – “See , and be about your business”. A lovely church inside, no electricity, just candleholders all down the aisle. In one corner of the church is the tomb of Sir Humphrey Peyto and his wife, Anne, and colourful statues of their ten children surrounding the tomb, one child who died early in life is clad in a shroud. This is a lonely spot for the church as the villagers moved half a mile away to Chesterton Green after plague hit the village. We press on down the lane east towards Kingston Manor Farm – can’t find the footpath, it appears to be in the garden of the farmhouse. There’s no sign on the gate, but down the far end of the drive is a small sign almost hidden by a gate post – it doesn’t appear they wanted us to find it, but we walk through
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their garden to find a path leading between two lakes (thank goodness for maps), over two planks to cross a ditch and scramble up a bank into a field of stubble. While walking through this field we put up nine skylarks, who were feeding on the fallen wheat. We step over a cattle grid and enter into the old gated lane passing along Chesterton Wood – this lane is part of the Warwickshire Feldon Cycleway. Coffee break is taken leaning over a fence where we see yellowhammers and a flock of house sparrows. We now pick up the lane to Chesterton Green, and stop to admire the thatched cottages around the village green. In the distance we can see high on the hill the well known Chesterton Windmill (pictured right). This is also attributed to the 16th Century architect Inigo Jones and built for Sir Edward Peyto. It was first thought to have been an observatory before becoming a windmill, as Sir Edward was a keen astrologer. We take the field path to the windmill. which is lined with tall thistle and dozens of goldfinches after the seeds. Looking west towards the Fosse Way it is possible to pick out the old foundations of the Roman town and encampment which housed the Roman legions marching further north in their quest to try to take over England. What wonderful history to be seen all round. It’s been a fine autumn walking day with no mud on the boots.
Stella Bunting
New Foodbank outlet opening! The FOODBANK co-ordinator writes: We are soon to open a third Foodbank outlet in Bedworth. The venue will be at Bedworth Heath Community Centre on Smorrall Lane. We hope the choice of this venue will help to spread awareness of Foodbank throughout our local community. Our new outlet will be open every Friday from 12pm—2pm starting on Friday 4th November. We really need someone willing to oversee the running of these Friday sessions.
Exhall Grange Primary School’s harvest gifts for the Foodbank