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November, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. A time for
remembering – for celebrating saints, for begging God’s mercy for sinners,
for refusing to forget all those whose lives were cut short by war… so how
do we cope when already the shops are decked with holly and Christmassy
tra-la-la-la-las assault the ears of unsuspecting curates out looking for a
copy of Fauré’s Requiem?
At first, as I was trying to prepare for our All Souls’ Day service,
this November 2nd – hopefully to be a great occasion with quiet to
remember, hope to share, music to rejoice in and the Bishop to lead us! – I
began to get quite angry with the ever earlier start of the shops’
commercial cashing in on the greatest free gift of all time. But then I had
one of those moments where I was challenged by Theological Consistency –
she’s a hard task-mistress, I warn you! The problem is I believe in a God
who speaks at all times and in all places, so if I’m theologically
consistent, there should be a message from God even in this most
unpromising of moments. So I decided to do a spot of listening while doing
the washing up (a good time for theological reflection and underrated in
the mystical literature).
And what I think I heard was actually a challenge, a challenge to
hospitality. It’s all too easy to keep All Souls’ Day very separate from
Christmas. We might let a little bit of Easter into Remembrance, the odd
bit of hope, heaven and resurrection, but the Christmas story we keep in
its place. However, if we let the Christmas message float from tinny shop
stereos through our ears and into our hearts in November, I think we might
begin to see both the season of remembrance and Christmas itself quite
differently.
There’s something about time – the one month speaks of humanity’s prayer
to be released from time into eternity, the other of God’s descent from
eternity into time. There’s also something about what remembering the dead
should mean for our attitude to the living, in the light of God’s great
gift and the story of that unwanted family sheltering in a cave. We need to
bring people not just an Easter hope for the future but a Christmas hope
for the present (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!!). The Christmas angels we
look for so excitedly amidst the nativity scenes and carols are actually,
Hebrews tells us, to be found on our doorsteps and in our homes –
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, some
have entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 13.2). As we pray for the
departed, as we give thanks for a world that many died that we might enjoy,
should we not be visiting one another more? Should we not be opening our
hearts and our homes now in the name of the babe of Bethlehem to those we
pray we will be joined with forever in the kingdom of heaven?
I believe in a God who speaks – sometimes even in
W.H.Smith’s – what’s he saying to you?
Fr Grant
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The 36th Cheltenham (St Nicolas’) Brownies took part in the BT
‘Giant Sleepover’ in June – and, out of 1,000 sleepovers held
 nationwide, we won TWO BT awards! So on 10 October, three
Guiders and seven Brownies travelled to London to collect our awards on the
34th floor of the BT Tower (which is not open to the public). We were
presented with our certificates for the best website –
www.36cheltenhambrownies.ik.org (why not take a look and leave the Brownies
a message in the guest book?) – and also for the best overall sleepover. We
are now awaiting the delivery of our prizes – a DVD player, and a digital
camera!
We were treated to a buffet lunch while the revolving floor was turned
on and, when we were ready to go, we were all given a special certificate
to show that we had been in the BT Tower!
Karen Walker (Sleepover Organiser)
36th Cheltenham (St Nicolas’) Brownies
See more pictures from
their day out on their website
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Six weeks into the project at St Mary’s CE Infant School, I am amazed
how many children rush up to one of the group and say “You’re the Open the
Book lady/man”, or make a point of introducing us to their Mum or Dad.
The children seem to enjoy the structure of Open the Book. The service
always starts with an introduction and the team opening the Storyteller
Bible. The children also put their hands together and open their own
imaginary book with us.
We try to involve some children in the story each week, and when it’s
appropriate we get everyone to join in some actions or mimes. The story is
narrated by one member of the team and then acted out by the rest of the
team with some children. The team makes time each week to rehearse the
story and try out our ideas; this usually takes about half an hour.
After the story we spend a few minutes reflecting on the key point of
the story or something the children can picture, for example a rainbow. The
final part of the service is a short prayer, when the children are invited
to say ‘Amen’ to make it their own prayer.
 The children who have been involved in the story are given a
sticker to thank them for taking part.
We currently have a team of nine people, but if you are reading this
article and feeling called to be involved we would love to hear from you.
Just speak to Marion Beagley, Mary Turner, Sheila Beer or give Julie
Jefferies a call on Cheltenham 232892.
Julie Jefferies
A note from School…
“The children love Open the Book, and are responding very well. The
services often tie up with the themes we’re talking about in School, and
the children are excited by the high level of interaction and involvement.
The more exposure our children get to Bible stories, the better: the Open
the Book method is to constantly return to the Christian message, reminding
the children what ‘the Book’ is, and why it is important. It enriches the
children’s relationship with God, while fulfilling our objectives of
helping the children learn about, and learn from, religion.”
Ann Fitzpatrick, Headteacher
St Mary’s CE Infant School
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People have obviously heard that I have been granted Sabbatical Leave
but there is much misunderstanding about what that is and when it will
happen, so here it is ‘from the horse’s mouth’!
Sabbatical Leave is described in a Diocesan pamphlet as ‘a structured
and well planned opportunity to step aside from the everyday routines of
active ministry’. It is granted, at the discretion of the Bishop, to
clergy who have been ordained for at least ten years and is to be seen ‘as
part of the conscious development of ministry’, and therefore of enormous
benefit to that ministry. It is an opportunity for rest and
reflection. A time to stand apart slightly and to concentrate on
something particular that there would not be time for within the normal
constraints of parish ministry.
Bishop Michael has granted me three months’ Sabbatical Leave in 2006.
This will commence on Monday, 17 April and include my annual leave, which
means that I will return to parish ministry on Sunday, 13 August.
During the Sabbatical I will be taking the opportunity to experience
different Spiritual Traditions as well as undertaking one or two retreats
and short courses. I hope that this will be of benefit to my work as
a Spiritual Director and as a trainer of potential Spiritual Directors.
I also believe that this opportunity will richly enhance my parish ministry
as well as my own journey of faith. At the conclusion of the
Sabbatical I will have to prepare a short report for the Bishop.
Lots of things need to be in place before April. I will be absent from
the parishes for the whole period and so all my usual responsibilities will
need to be covered by others. Also there are lots of implications for
our family as I will be away from home for differing periods of time.
At this stage I cannot quite believe that it is going to happen, even
though things are beginning to be booked! Please pray for me as I
prepare and for those who will cover things whilst I am away. Do ask
me if you would like to know more about what I will be doing!
Fr Michael
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Once again during Advent we are proposing to send our crib figures of
the Holy Family on pilgrimage throughout the Parish to the homes of our
congregations - Journey with Jesus. This year, two sets of crib figures
will be journeying, leaving St Mary’s and St Nicolas’ on Advent Sunday to
spend two or three nights with a family before being delivered to the next
‘hosts’. The figures will be returned to the Churches on Christmas Eve.
We are not expecting them to just stay with families with children; this
is open to all members of the congregations, and we hope the figures will
present an opportunity for the ‘hosts’ to offer hospitality to others at
this time. This was an extremely popular activity last year and anyone is
welcome to take part. If you are interested in participating in this
act of pilgrimage then please speak to Fr Grant or Linda.
Linda Biggs
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There’s always a lot in the papers about respect, well usually lack of
respect. Often it is ‘youth’ who are labelled (unfairly?) as the ones who
do not show respect.
As Christians we know that respect and lack of it is not an age issue.
At the heart it is an issue of the heart – it is about knowing the One who
is the source of all true respect. The Maker of All, who gave us the
precious gift of free will and the chance to make broken lives whole again,
is the only firm ground on which to build self-respect. It does not stop
there, though. Godly self-respect must become respect for others, however
different they may seem, and for the planet – as all share the same Creator
and Rescuer.
This vital message of respect is one that will be shared with young
people across Cheltenham and the UK as part of a Youth For Christ
initiative during the week of 21-25 November. For young people across
Cheltenham it will lead to an all-nighter at St Nicolas’ on Friday,
25 November. The night promises activities, sport, prayer and worship as
well as a struggle to stay awake. Please pray that it will be a great
night, but also that the good news of respect would continue to spread. Who
can you share the message of respect with?
Andy Macauly
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On Friday, 14 October a group of 30 young people and leaders from
Elevate, the Space and Synergy went to Oxford ice-rink. It was a great
evening of having a go, laughter, and getting to know people from different
groups.
 Things got increasingly difficult as the lights turned to disco
mode and the ice became more rutted (and wetter!!). There were of course a
few bruises and wet pairs of trousers. The thing which really stood out
though, was the way everyone helped each other - no one was made to feel a
fool for their lack of ice-skating prowess!
Thanks to all for giving it a go and especially to the volunteers for
making it happen.
Andy Macauly
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On Sunday, 9 October ‘Celebrate!’ was one year old. We ‘celebrated’ our
birthday in true party style at the 9.30am service with balloons, party
poppers, a party game and
pass the parcel
(with a difference): between each wrapper was a text from the Bible which
reminded us of God’s Great Love for all his people shown through the giving
of his son, Jesus Christ, who suffered death on a cross to redeem the
world.
 Through our prayers and songs we also offered thanks
and praise to God for his constant love and support. The congregation had
been asked in previous weeks to let us know any favourite songs they would
like included in our birthday service. Everyone joined in with great
enthusiasm, instrument playing and flag waving and, as usual, our music
group did us proud, both with their general accompaniment and their
individual contributions.
One of the congregation had written the following prayer which we used
just before the end of the service:
“Lord, thank you for being with us and
drawing our community together. Thank you for bringing so many lovely
noisy children into your house and showing us worship is for everyone.”
Finally, we all had a strip of very sparkly sticky stars which we shared
with everyone, offering a friendly word or the peace as we stuck stars onto
each other. (We all went home twinkling!)
As we shared refreshment and companionship after the service, we
received some feedback from the congregation about what ‘Celebrate!’ means
for them…
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"Celebrate! - feeling of belonging: great for all ages to be
together as family of God; very child friendly; great
worship group; kind of service you could ask friends to come to without
embarrassment." |
"Celebrate! has been, and is, a lovely service to bring my young family
to. It has been a friendly way to introduce them to
Christianity." |
| "It is so friendly and
welcoming and we really feel part of God's family." |
"We so enjoy the Celebrate!
service and it is a joy to bring the children. My son looks
forward to a Sunday morning and learning the Christian way in a relaxed
atmosphere." |
“The Team is made up
of representatives from all ages – they are kind, caring and enthusiastic
and really work well together and so obviously want to share their
Christian faith with everyone.
“I have found it a
good place to bring my daughter to learn about Christianity, particularly
in conjunction with ‘Rockers’ which is also held in St Mary’s Church on
Thursday afternoons at 2pm”. (This is for pre-school children and their
parents/carers – anyone is welcome to come along).
“I like to come with
my family – it feels comfortable and unpressured – it is helping me to
rebuild my faith.
“It is held at a good
time and, from a child’s point of view, is not too long and is easy to
follow”.
A final quote taken from an e-mail sent to the ‘Celebrate!’ Team by Fr
Michael: “It’s amazing to realise that we’ve done a whole year. It’s
been a tremendous journey and really great to have reached so many”.
To conclude – two lines from one of our most used songs:
“Our God is a great big God
And he holds us in his hands”.
Mary Turner
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On the morning of Saturday, 1 October, a peal of Double Norwich Court
Bob Major was rung at St Mary’s. This consisted of 5088 changes which took
2 hours 50 minutes. Three of the band were regular Prestbury ringers. The
other five ringers were from other Cheltenham churches.
We have recently had some electrical work done in the tower to provide
additional power sockets for maintenance work on the bells. The ringers
paid for this out of our own tower funds.
We rang for the funeral of Jill Yates on Friday, 7 October. Her family
had requested the bells, so we made special arrangements: ringers stayed
behind after the Tuesday practice to put the muffles onto the clappers.
Several ringers took time off work to help form a band on the day. We were
able to ring all eight bells half-muffled before the service and a bell was
tolled (again half-muffled) after the service during the burial.
Two of our ringers who learned to ring for the Millennium - Owen and
Joan Barraclough - recently gave a talk to 100 people at the Ringing World
Roadshow which was held at Newbury Racecourse. Their theme was “We wish
we’d started to ring forty years ago”. Apparently the discussion afterwards
was lively and well received.
Janet Covey-Crump, our former Tower Captain, who is now Ringing Master
of the Cheltenham Branch, was among the instructors on a ringing course
held over three days at Wantage.
Our best wishes go to Adam Vellender, one of our younger ringers, who
has recently started a Math degree course at the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth. He has joined the University Guild of Ringers and is enjoying
ringing the bells at Llanbadarn Fawr.
Jenni Scruton
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