St Nicholas’ Hedsor Newsletter

July 2018

Paul’s letter to the Colossians – A new sermon series

My Sunday school teacher always had an answer for everything. If we could understand God she said, then we would be God. It was after reflecting on these words that I discovered that it is often in the mysteries of life that we learn most about the mysteries of God. It is the very paradoxes of Scripture that help us to come to God most effectively when life itself is a paradox. However the paradoxes that come to light when we try to think about God deeply, are nowhere near easy to resolve. How can God be always with us yet so often seem so alarmingly distance how can Jesus death brings us life? Why do we bring our healing prayers to a God who, we are forced to recognise from experience, often doesn’t oblige? Paul starts his letter to the Colossians praying for the believers and encouraging THEM to look to Christ as their Saviour. If we are to discover God in the mysteries of life and become more Christ-like, we need the weekly reminder of corporate worship more than ever. Spending six days a week in the wilderness of cultural unbelief, the church needs that seventh-day gathering to do what it was designed for: reminding us that we are not alone. Our sermon Series starts Sunday 1st July and runs through to the end of October.

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The Alpha course – Coming soon

The Alpha course is an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over 10 thought provoking weekly sessions. It is low key friendly and fun. A new course starts in September, do think about taking a friend or neighbour

or explore it yourself. Further information to follow in the meantime please speak with Revd Janet if you would like to know more.

Please note that for July only the Sung Communion takes place on the 5th Sunday .

Children are welcome at all our services

Please pray for our wedding couples who were married in June: Stephen Farnley and Charlotte Mackey Raymond Moore and Anita Waldron Contact for Baptisms, Funerals & Weddings: The Rev’d Janet Binns on 01628 523046

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Benefice BBQ Saturday 21st July the annual BBQ will be held at the Rectory 5-8pm. Costs £5 adult £3, donations of desserts welcome. Coffee morning Every Monday 10-12 noon (except bank holidays) in St Mark’s Church hall. Puffins Toddler Group Every Wednesday during term time 10 -11.30am at St Mark's Church Hall. Crafts, story and nursery rhymes and an opportunity to catch up with other parents. Nursing Homes’ Communion Tuesday 24th July 2.30pm Kingfisher and 3.15pm Chiltern Manor If you can help strengthen the team please speak with Jimmy Heyes. Bible Study every Thursday, 7.45pm at 35 Blind Lane. We are studying Abundant Life focusing on the Story of Lazarus. Our discussions are challenging but fun and include prayer and fellowship. The Caring Church Course is designed to equip people to care for those in our church and community Wednesday 10th October – 5th December, 7.30 -9.30pm St Andrews Church Hatters Lane HP13 7HJ.

Partnership for Missional Church Partnership for Missional Church is a journey of spiritual discernment helping us join in with what God is up to and discover how God is sending us. Recognising that the church, though still important, is clearly not as important as it used to be in the Society around us. The programme is aimed at helping us see where the church fits in society today. There are four phases Listening, experimenting, focusing and learning and growing, knowing your church congregation and the community that surrounds it is all important to PMC. St Nicholas and St Mark’s are about to embark on phase one which involves listening to our congregation members talking about how they see the church, summarising what is said and developing a picture of the church. We are also asked to produce a timeline about the congregation’s history, an event will be organised for this. The programme requires willing participants; please pray about how you might be involved. For further information, do speak with Sue Burke, Stuart Fletcher or Revd Janet.

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Contacts Rector: Rev’d Janet Binns, 01628 523046 Churchwarden: Mr Graham Stacey, 01628 521348 PCC Secretary: Mrs Sarah Lawrence, 01628 526217 Administrator: Miss Sue Smithin, admin@parishesofhedsorandbourneend.co.uk

There are still some tickets left for The King and I at the London Palladium on 19th September. Seats are in the dress circle. The price is £58. The production begins at 7pm, meaning a 5pm departure. Please contact Maura Carr on 01628 530181.

First Saturday of the month Please join the team to help maintain our church yard on the first Saturday of each month. We very much appreciate the commitment of this team, without whom maintenance of the churchyard would be very costly.

1.30pm every Wednesday This weekly event goes from strength to strength. If you have a friend who is seeking a special place and/or inner peace, please bring them along. Please arrive 15 minutes early so that we can ensure a full 30 minutes’ silence. Please contact Maura Carr (01628 530181) for details.

Hedsor Fair – Thank you

The sun shone and people came making the fair a very enjoyable occasion. Gross takings for the day amounted to £4484. Given there was a reduced number of stalls overall, this was a massive effort and outcome. A big thank you to everyone for their hard work commitment and willingness in making this annual community event happen.

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St Nicholas’ Hedsor News Update

June 2018

BEATING THE BOUNDS

Beating the Bounds Sunday arrived, the weather could not have been better; the route maps and all the information were invaluable and the whole event was meticulously planned. The marshals were most helpful. We really enjoyed the morning coffee at Hedsor Wharf and of course the delicious hamburger at lunch

time. The boat trip to Cliveden was a delight and of course walking through the grounds of Cliveden is always uplifting.

Walking through Hedsor Park was a rare treat, first the rhododendron walk and then passing the paddock with the miniature Shetland ponies, then on round the corner to see the Hedsor Park boundary stone, it was a trail of experiences and surprises. We took a short cut back down Church Path, but felt we had only missed a small corner of the 'Bounds' and were really ready for the cup of tea and delicious cake waiting for us at the end of the walk.

Thanks go to Stuart Fletcher for all the time spent planning this event, from maps to tickets, and to all these who played a part before and during the day.

Text and photos: Susan Kronfli

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Following Alison Grey’s departure we have been without an administrator in the benefice for some time. Thankfully Sue Smithin of St. Nicholas’ congregation has agreed to take on the role. This month the role includes producing the newsletter. While Sue gets to grips with all that is required, she has put together a news update. Our thanks to John Rosewarne for faithfully producing our newsletters for a number years; sadly personal commitments no longer allows him to continue. New email address: admin@parishesofhedsorandbourneend.co.uk

Children are welcome at all services

Please pray for our wedding couples who were married in May: Myles Wilson and Kathryn Walker David Allen and Lisa Barsoum Shane D’Cruz and Debora Fusilli Spencer Belotti and Josephine Stretch Sean Fraser and Grace Taylor Paul Modlock and Donna Trainer Contact for Baptisms, Funerals & Weddings: The Rev’d Janet Binns on 01628 523046

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30 JUNE 18

12.00 – 4.30pm

Orchard Dene, Riversdale, Bourne End.

Plans are now underway for the Hedsor Fair with the following activities.

Boat Rides

Barbeque

Tea and Cakes

Bouncy Castle

Smash the Egg

Raffle, to be drawn at 4pm If you feel you and some friends can man an additional stall at the fair please contact:-

Jenny 01628 526554 Graham 01628 521348

or Chris 01628 528334

Tables will be supplied, however the rest is up to you. Please check with Jenny as regards availability of gazebos if required. As always we rely on volunteers to set up on Friday afternoon and clear away after the fair. Any help is gratefully received.

General Data Protection Regulations - GDPR I am sure you have found your inboxes full of requests for permission to continue to use your data. Unfortunately the church is no exception and we are obliged to do the same. The date of 25th May is the date by which the new process should be underway. Please look out for emails asking for consent to continue to use your contact details. Our thanks to Chris Chacksfield for enabling us to find our way through the minefield of the new regulations.

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Contacts Rector: Rev’d Janet Binns, 01628 523046 Churchwarden: Mr Graham Stacey, 01628 521348 PCC Secretary: Mrs Sarah Lawrence, 01628 526217 Administrator: Miss Sue Smithin, admin@parishesofhedsorandbourneend.co.uk

There are still some tickets left for The King and I at the London Palladium on 19th September. Seats are in the dress circle. The price is £58. The production begins at 7pm, meaning a 5pm departure. Please contact Maura Carr on 01628 530181.

First Saturday of the month Please join the team to help maintain our church yard on the first Saturday of each month. We very much appreciate the commitment of this team, without whom maintenance of the churchyard would be very costly.

1.30pm every Wednesday This is new to our church and we are praying that this will bring in people from the wider world. If you have a friend who is seeking a special place and/or inner peace, please bring them along.

Please contact Maura Carr (01628 530181) for details.

Over £400 was raised to support the work of Christian Aid at the recent coffee morning. Thank you to Sarah Lawrence for all the organisation, to those who provided cakes, helped serve and to those who joined us.