THREE  PARISHES    NEWSLETTER    FEBRUARY  2016            Dear Friends

“In  todays  world  hospitality  and  love  are  our  most  formidable  weapons  against  hatred  and  extremism.”  

(Archbishop  Justin  Welby  2016)    Our  Archbishop  shared  these  words  in  his  New  Years  message,  and  this  phrase  has  stuck  with   me   since   then.   Are   we   as   a   community,   as   a   church,   as   families,   as   individuals  hospitable  enough?  Do  we  welcome  strangers?  Do  we  love  the  stranger,  the  poor  and  the  weak?  What  are  we  doing  that  demonstrates  hospitality  and  love  in  today’s  world?    St  Paul  describes   love  as  patient  and  kind.   It  does  not  envy,   it  does  not  boast,   it   is  not  proud.  It  is  not  rude,  it  is  not  self-­‐seeking,  it  is  not  easily  angered  and  it  keeps  no  record  of  wrongs.  Love  does  not  delight   in  evil  but   rejoices  with   the   truth.   It  always  protects,  always  trusts,  always  hopes  and  always  perseveres.  To  love  some  one,  we  know  and  care  for  like  this  is  difficult  enough,  how  much  more  difficult  it  must  be  to  love  a  stranger?    The   author,   CS   Lewis   divides   love   into   four   categories,   affection,   friendship,   eros   and  charity.    He  says  that  while  the  first  three  come  naturally  to  us,  the  fourth,  charity,   is  needed  to  ensure  that  love  does  not  become  distorted,  bitter  and  even  dangerous.  Love  defined  as  charity,  is  self  giving,  doesn’t  expect  anything  in  return,  puts  others  first  and  requires  us  to  choose  to  love  and  put  it  in  action.      A   friend’s   daughter   recently   had  her   7th  birthday.   Like  most   children   she  had   a   party  with  friends,  but  there  was  a  difference.  This  little  girl  decided  she  didn’t  want  any  gifts  but  wanted  her   friends   to   give   some  money   to   a   local   charity   for   homeless  people.     A  wonderful  demonstration  of  hospitality  and  altruistic  love  to  a  stranger  –  by  a  child  aged  7.  Again  the  Archbishops  words  ring  in  my  ears,  are  we  hospitable  enough  to  welcome  and  love  the  stranger  in  need?    Ash   Wednesday     -­‐   there   will   be   two   opportunities   to   attend   a   service   of   Holy  Communion  with  Ashing  9.30am  at  St  Marys  Saltford  and  7.30pm  at  All  Saints  Corston.    Lent  Course  2016  This  year’s  Lent  Course  is  entitled  “The  Church  as  a  Community”  and  will  be  a  launched  on  Wednesday  17th  February  2016  at  St  Marys  Church  Hall.  Refreshments  served  from  7.15pm  for  a  prompt  start  at  7.30pm.  We  are  meeting  as  a  Benefice  for  the  first  week    and  

subsequent  weeks  will  be  in  home  groups,  and  the  final  week  we  will  join  together  again  to   share   with   one   another   what   we   have   learnt.   If   you   are   not   a  member   of   a   Home  Group  and  would  like  to  join  one  for  the  Lent  course  or  for  more  details  contact  Teresa  Austin  at  NSL,  Anthony  Acton  at  Corston  and  Robin  Dixon  at  Saltford.    Parish  Administrator  and  Parish  Office  I  am  pleased  to  announce  that  our  new  parish  administrator   is  Liz  Benden.  She  will  be  working   Tuesday,   Wednesday   and   Thursday   mornings   (term   time   only).   The   Parish  Office  will  be  open  between  9.30am  and  11.30am.  Liz  can  be  contacted  on  01225  872275  (there  is  an  answer  phone  if  Liz   is  busy)  or  parishoffice@stmaryssaltford.org.uk.  When  the  Parish  Office  is  closed  phone  calls  will  be  redirected  to  The  Rectory.      New  Pattern  of  Worship  Don’t   forget   January   saw   the   start   of   our   new   pattern   of   services   across   the   three  churches.  This  is  to  be  trialled  and  reviewed  in  the  summer.  There  has  been  a  concerted  effort   in  weekly   and  monthly   notice   sheets   to   ensure   everyone  was   aware   of   the   new  pattern,  but  it  seems  that  a  few  may  have  missed  hearing  about  it,  for  which  I  am  sorry.  Please  do  check  the  service  rota  for  times  and  type  of  services.    Blessings,  

Daile        Parish  Registers  SALTFORD  Baptisms  3rd  January  Sirena  Claewen  Darling  Metcalfe    Funerals  7th  January  Baby  Lara  Elizabeth  Jones  

 Parish  Roundabout  

 Holy  Communion  at  Home  or  a  Visit:   If  anyone  is  unable  to  get  to  church  and  would  like  either  Holy  Communion  at  Home  or  just  a  visit,  please  contact  the  Parish  Office.      Copydate  for  the  next  newsletter  is  10th  February  at  the  latest.  Please  deliver  all  copy  to  the  Parish  Office.  If  you  produce  it  on  a  computer  it  would  be  a  great  help  if  you  would  please  email  it  to:  parishoffice@stmaryssaltford.org.uk    Transport:  for  transport  to  a  service  in  the  benefice,  please  ring  the  Parish  Office.    The  Less  Able:  if  anyone  needs  assistance  to  fully  share  in  a  church  service  please  ring  the  Parish  Office.    

☩

St  Mary’s  Saltford  www.stmaryssaltford.org.uk  The  Parish  Office,    St  Mary’s    Church  Hall,  High  St.,  Saltford,  BS31  3EL  Tel:  01225  872275                                                                                    Email:  parishoffice@stmaryssaltford.org.uk  Churchwardens:  Dave  Faulkner  01225  874133          John  Norris              01225  872750      

The  next  Men’s  Breakfast  will  take  place  on  Saturday  27  February  at  8.30  a.m.  

in  St  Mary’s  Church  Hall.  The  speaker  is  Mark  Scott,  Communications  

Manager  for  Christians  in  Politics.    In  a  talk  called  Christians  in  Politics:  Saints  or  Sinners.    Mark  will  share  his  Christian  journey  with  us  and  tackle  tough  questions  like  ‘What  does  the  Bible  say  about  politics?’  and  ‘Can  Religion  and  Politics  mix  today?’    Do  come  and  bring  a  friend!      Tickets  (£3)  are  available  from  Robin  Dixon  (359014),  Dave  Faulkner  (874133)  and  Ian  Freemantle  (0117  9090496).        Circle  of  Friends  :    will  not  be  meeting  in  February,  but  instead  we  will  arrange  an  event  in   August   when  we   can   enjoy   better   weather.     On   Thursday   3  March,   Sue   and   Robin  Dixon  will  relive  their  holiday  in  Greece  in  a  talk  called  ‘In  the  footsteps  of  St.  Paul’.  This  will   be   in   the  Church  hall   and   the   start   time   is   7.30pm.  Every  one   is   invited   including  those  in  Corston  and  Newton-­‐St-­‐Loe  who  would  like  to  join  us.               Hilary  Smedley  873189                                                                                                                                                                                          Theatre  Trips  :  Tickets   are   available   for   GUYS   AND   DOLLS   at   the   Bristol   Hippodrome   on  Wednesday  13th  July  2016  at  2.30pm.  They  are  in  the  stalls  priced  at  £25.00,  they  need  to  be  paid  for  by  10th  May  2016,  contact  Olive  Wilkinson  on  873965  for  further  details    Evening  Praise  –  Evening  Praise  on  the  third  Sunday  of  February  (21st)  is  entitled  “”        

HOUSE  GROUPS  IN  SALTFORD    

Tues  Evenings:  18  High  Street,  7.45pm  Contact:  Ken  Plant  Tel.  01225  872904  

 Wed  Evenings:  14  Golf  Club  Lane,  7.45pm  

Contact:  Sue  &  Robin  Dixon  Tel.  01225  359014    

Wed  Evenings:  5  Vernon  Close,  8.00pm  Contact:  Julia  &  John  Norris  Tel.  01225  872750  

 

Mens’  House  Groups  (meet  monthly)    

2nd  Tuesday  of  the  month  at  7.30pm  for  8.00pm  Contact:  John  Norris  Tel.  01225  872750  or  Dave  Faulkner  Tel.  01225  874133  

 2nd  Wednesday  of  the  month  at  7.30pm  

Contact:  Robin  Dixon  01225  359014    

☩  All  Saints,  Corston  www.allsaintscorston.org.uk  Parish  Office  Tel:01225  872275  Churchwardens:  Jane  Jones            01225  873475    Liz  Acton                01225  873955    Bible  Study:  There  is  just  one  evening  of  Bible  Study  this  month  –  on  4th  February,  7.30pm  for  8.00pm  at    Brook  Cottages.  Then  it  is  Lent...    

CORSTON/NEWTON  LENT  COURSE  2016  WEDNESDAYS  24th  February  and  2nd  and  9th  March  at  7.30pm  

Good   company....a   tasty   meal.....interesting   discussion   –   what   better   way   to   spend   an  hour   and  a  half   on  a  winter   evening?  That’s  how  we’ve   run  our  Corston/Newton  Lent  Courses  recently  and  it’s  been  a  great  success,  so  we  are  doing  the  same  this  year.  As  you  can   see   elsewhere   in   this  Newsletter,  Daile   has   prepared   a   5  week   course   called   “The  Church  as  a  Community”.  The  first  and  fifth  evenings  (17th  February  and  16th  March)  are  for  the  whole  Benefice,  meeting  together  in  Saltford  Church  Hall,  but  we  at  Corston  and  Newton  will  meet  locally  for  the  second,  third  and  fourth  evenings.  As  before  we’ll  share  a   meal   of   soup,   fruit   and   cake,   and   spend   some   time   thinking   about   our   own   village  communities  and  our  church  communities.  What  makes  for  a  good  community?  What’s  special  about   the  village  communities  of  Corston  and  Newton  St  Loe?  And  how  do  our  church  communities  measure  up?  Come  along  and  enjoy  the  evenings  –  or  just  some  of  them  if  you  can’t  come  to  them  all!    Each  evening  will  start  at  7.30pm  and  will  finish  promptly  by  9.00pm.    Wednesday  24th  Feb    -­‐  Corston  Church.  Wednesday  2nd  March  –  Newton  St  Loe  Parish  Room.  Wednesday  9th  March  –  Corston  Church.    Any  questions  –  please  ring  Anthony  on  873955  or  Teresa  on  319322.    Ash  Wednesday:  Ash  Wednesday   falls   on   10th   February   this   year  when   there  will   be   a   service   of   Holy  Communion   at   7.30pm   at   All   Saints,   Corston.   This   is   the   only   evening   service   in   the  Benefice  on  that  day  an  dwarm  welcome  awaits  anyone  who  would  like  to  join  us.  

 ☩  

Holy  Trinity,  Newton  St  Loe  www.holytrinitynsl.org.uk  Parish  Office  Tel:  01225  872275  Churchwardens:  Rosemary  Denning            01225  872617  Ian  Tadd                                                    01225  426489    

Holy  Trinity  Newton  St  Loe:  First  Sundays  –Evening  Praise  at  4pm  Following   our   first   Sunday   Evensong   on   3rd   January   we   have   planned   further   4pm  services.  SUNDAY  7TH  FEBRUARY  will  be  a  SONGS  OF  PRAISE  service  with  favourite  hymns  and  readings  chosen  by  the  congregation  so  a  real  opportunity  to  sing  your  favourite  hymns.  This  will  be  followed  by  refreshments  SUNDAY   6TH  MARCH   -­‐     A  MOTHERING   SUNDAY   CELEBRATION  with   gifts   of   flower  posies  followed  by  seasonal  refreshments.  We  hope  you  can  come  and  join  us.  

Best  wishes,      Teresa and Revd Daile    This  years  Women’s  World  day  of  Prayer  will  be  held  on  Friday  4th  March  at  Saltford  Church  Hall  2p.m.  This  service  has  been  prepared  by  the  women  of  Cuba.    The  service  is  interdenominational   and   everyone   from   the   3   villages   will   be   warmly   welcome.   It   is  estimated  that  6000  services  will  be  held  in  the  U.K.  and  3  million  people  from  all  over  the  world  will  take  part.  Our  service  will  commence  at  2  p.m.  and  there  will  be  tea  and  biscuits  afterwards.      

☩ How  Do  You  Pray?  

 We  are  a  month  into  2016.  To  take  our  minds  off  resolutions  broken  or  needing  effort  to  keep,  may  I  suggest  a  few  minutes  spent  reflecting  on  and  pondering  a  straightforward  question.    Questions  are  always  useful.  Which  of  the  following  five  scriptural  encouragements  to  pray  is  the  most  difficult  to  follow?  Give  thanks  in  all  circumstances.  Give  thanks  for  everything.  In  everything,  present  your  requests  to  God.  Pray  without  ceasing.  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God.    Which  is  the  hardest  to  do?  You  may  like  to  put  them  in  order  of  hardest  to  easiest!  A  few  minutes  spent  pondering  these  things  can  really  help.  Prayer  is  a  precious  privilege,  granted  by  our  gracious  God  and  we  are  talking  about  it.  Let  us  pray…….in  all  four  ways  suggested  in  these  quotations.  

Ken Plant (1Thess5  v  18;    Eph5  v  20;    Phil4  v  6;    1Thess5  v  17)  

 ☩

 

Schedule January 20th Alpha Supper ‘Is there more to life than this?’ January 27th Who is Jesus? February 3rd Why did Jesus die? February 10th How can we have faith? February 17th Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? February 24th How can I resist evil?

March 2nd Why and how should I tell others?

March 9th Does God heal today?

March 16th How can I make the most of the rest of my life? What about the Church?

February 20th Holy Spirit Day 10.00 - 4.00 pm

Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do?

How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Venue: Emmaus Centre, Whitchurch tbc

For more details please talk to either: Pat Clarke Tel: 07510104037 (St  Dunstan’s Church) Rev Mike Burke Tel: 0117 9099425 (Keynsham Parish) Rev Ian Rousell Tel: 0117 9860031 (Keynsham Parish)

Over 2 million people in the UK and 11 million worldwide have now attended an Alpha course.

It is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life and explore the Christian faith, in a relaxed informal setting over several weeks.

There will be a two course meal provided free of charge* Time: Wednesday’s 6.30 – 9.30pm

Venue:  St  Dunstan’s  Church  Hall Keynsham *Donations gratefully accepted towards cost.

   

BENEFICE  LENT  COURSE  2016    

“The  Church  as  a  Community”  7.15pm  for  7.30pm  

 Wed.  17th  Feb:  Saltford  Church  Hall  Tue/Wed.  23/24th  Feb:  House  Grps  Tue/Wed.1/2nd  Mar:  House  Grps  Tue/Wed.  8/9th  Mar:  House  Grps  Wed.  16th  Mar:  Saltford  Church  Hall    If   you   are   not   already   in   a   House   Grp   and   would   like   to   join   one   for   the   Lent  Course,  do  please  contact:  For  Newton  –  Teresa  Austin  For  Corston  –  Antony  Acton  For  Saltford  –  Robin  Dixon      Advance  Notice:    Please  put  these  dates  in  your  diary!  The  Annual  3  Villages  Coffee  Morning  in  aid  of  Cancer  charities  will  be  held  in  Saltford  Hall  on  Monday  February  15th  2016  at  10:15  a.m.  until  11:30  a.m.    The  Annual  Soup  and  Cheese  lunch  in  aid  of  Christian  Aid  will  be  held  in  Saltford  Hall  on  Thursday  March  3rd  at  12  noon  until  2  p.m.        A  New  Year  Message  from  Bishop  Peter      Dear Brothers and Sisters,  As   the   new  year   gets   underway   so   our   thoughts   turn   to   spring   time   and  new  growth.  Even   in   the  midst   of   a  wet  winter   and   the   sometimes   seemingly   relentless   flow   from  news  channels  of  strife  between  nations  and  stories  of  sadness  for  individuals,  we  look  forward  in  hope.  Hope  is  a  peculiarly  Christian  virtue  which  St  Paul  puts  alongside  faith  and  love  and  it’s  a  mindset  for  everyday  life,  not  just  for  the  afterlife.  Our  trust  is  in  the  promises  of  Christ  that  this  life  is  not  the  end  but  those  same  promises  can  also  renew  us  daily.  The  world  is  God’s   good   gift   and   we   are   a   special   and   much   loved   part   of   it   –   individually,   and  collectively.  Shaping  our  future  is  a  part  of  what  following  Christ  is  all  about.  

As  I  write  I  am  preparing  for  a  Bishop’s  Staff  residential  at  Abbey  House.      We  will  meet  in  a  spirit  of  prayerful  reflection,  seeking  wisdom  in  the  quiet  and  listening  carefully  for  the   voice   that   calls   us   and   compels   us   to   action.  We   are   looking   for  ways   to   grow   the  church  and  to  shape  the  future  of  what  ‘church’  means  in  this  part  of  the  world.  We  will  be  rejoicing   in  all   that  we  have  and   love  and   looking   forward  to  see  where   the  Lord   is  leading  us.    Seeking  prayerfully  and  carefully  to  the  call  and  leading  of  the  Holy  Spirit  will  be  at  the  heart  of  all  we  will  discuss  together.  At  the  heart  of  our  faith  is  the  call  to  worship  God,  to  proclaim  Christ,  to  make  disciples,  to  serve  our  communities  and  to   further  the  Kingdom.    The  words  Sumorsǣte  ealle  (all  the  people  of  Somerset)  come  from  the  County  motto.    God’s  love  is  for  “all  the  people  of  Somerset”  and  it  is  our  task  to  be  channels  of  that  love.  As  2016  unfolds  may  it  bring  you  much  joy  as  we  continue  to  put  our  faith  and  trust  in  Christ.  With  warm  Christian  greetings        

+Peter Bath & Wells      

 FEBRUARY  2016  DIARY  

 1st      Monday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Local  Ministry  Group,  Marksbury    2nd      Tuesday  7.45pm      Prayer  Meeting,  18  High  Street,  Saltford    3rd      Wednesday  7.30pm      Daile  talking  at  the  Filling  Station  Meeting,  Saltford  Sailing  Club    4th      Thursday  9.00am      Morning  prayer,  Corston  7.30pm      Bible  Study,  8  Brook  Cottages,  Corston                    No  Circle  of  Friends  this  month    5th      Friday  10.00am      Coffee  Shop,  Hinton  Close  Meeting  Room    6th        Saturday  10.30am      Village  Market,  Corston  Village  Hall    7th      Sunday  11.15am      Teen  Church      

8th      Monday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Local  Ministry  Group,  Marksbury    10th      Wednesday  12  noon      Soup  and  Pudding  Lunch,  Corston  7.30pm  Holy  Communion  for  Ash  Wednesday,  Corston    11th      Thursday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Corston  7.30pm      Worship  Meeting  at  The  Rectory    12th      Friday  10.00am      Coffee  Shop,  Hinton  Close  Meeting  Room    15th      Monday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Local  Ministry  Group,  Marksbury  10.00am    The  Three  Villages  Coffee  Morning,  Saltford  Hall    17th      Wednesday  10.15am    Prayer  Meeting,  4  Roundmoor  Close  7.30pm      Start  of  Lent  Course,  Church  Hall,  Saltford    18th      Thursday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Corston    19th      Friday  10.00am    Coffee  Shop,  Hinton  Close  Meeting  Room    21st      Sunday  11.15am    Teen  Church    22nd      Monday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Local  Ministry  Group,  Marksbury    25th      Thursday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Corston  7.30pm      Benefice  Committee  Meeting,  Saltford    26th      Friday  10.00am      Coffee  Shop,  Hinton  Close  Meeting  Room  7.00pm        Choir  Practice    27th      Saturday  8.30am      Men’s  Breakfast    29th      Monday  9.00am      Morning  Prayer,  Local  Ministry  Group,  Marksbury  7.30pm      PCC  Newton  St  Loe