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On 1 November 1996 I was licensed by the then Bishop of Gloucester to a
second curacy working with Fr Stephen in the Parish of Prestbury. At that
time I would never have imagined that at some future date I would be
preparing to be licensed as Priest in Charge of the Prestbury and All
Saints’ Team Ministry. After all, we only intended to stay for about three
years! God certainly has had other plans!
The process which has led to Bishop Michael’s inviting me to take over
from Fr Stephen has been a very moving and very humbling one. When
Fr Stephen announced his retirement people began asking me whether I would
take over. My reply tended to be, ‘well it doesn’t work like that in the
Church of England’. However, when our Wardens also asked me the same
question and then resolved to speak to Bishop Michael, I decided I ought to
see him first! I told him what people were asking and said that if he told
me it was out of the question then I could tell them his response. We talked
together about the parishes, about my journey and about the future,
especially the formation of a new North Cheltenham Team Ministry and then he
declared that I should not rule out the possibility but should go away and
pray and reflect and let him know.
In July the Bishop contacted me to tell me that he also had prayed and
consulted and had decided that he wanted me to take the post if I was
willing. I have given this much thought and believe that God is asking me to
bring continuity during a time of transition. I also believe that my local
knowledge and the important relationships which have already been
established will enable us to move on with the building of the new Team
Ministry. Initially, for slightly complicated legal reasons, I will be
Priest in Charge of Prestbury and All Saints’, but when the new North
Cheltenham Team Ministry is formed I will be the first Team Rector. As part
of the appointment process I have met with parish representatives from the
other parishes of north Cheltenham and all five PCCs have been consulted.
These past few months have also been emotionally charged, especially the
first weeks of November, as we have said our farewells to Fr Stephen and
Vicky. Many wonderful tributes have been paid to Fr Stephen’s thirty-eight
years of ministry, the last eleven here in Cheltenham, and we continue to
give thanks to God for all the blessings which Fr Stephen brought to us. For
me personally, working so closely for ten years with such an amazing and
Godly man, has been an incredible experience and a great joy.
Now we must build on all that has been achieved so far. The work of God’s
Kingdom does not stop. As those who share in that work, we are in a position
to carry straight on without the ‘marking time’ which can so often be a
feature of a vacancy, or ‘interregnum’ as they were known.
One of my first tasks is to recruit someone to replace me! That was one
of my immediate questions to the Bishop and he confirmed that if he wants us
to work towards a North Cheltenham Team Ministry, it does not make sense to
leave part of that area leaderless or understaffed. Please pray with me that
we will be able to recruit a Team Vicar who will enthusiastically bring new
and different gifts to add to those with which we are already blessed from
amongst the many who exercise ministry in our Team. (Someone young would
also be good!)
My Licensing on 3rd December is also a good point from which to move
positively towards building the North Cheltenham Team Ministry. This will
include St Mary’s and St Nicolas’ Prestbury, All Saints’, St Lawrence’s
Swindon Village, St Mary Magdalene’s Elmstone Hardwicke with Uckington and
St Peter’s Cheltenham. As you probably know, St Peter’s Church on the
Tewkesbury Road will be closed for worship and we expect that the
geographical parish will be added into the parish of Prestbury. Please pray
for Fr Stephen Eldridge, Fr Mike French and the people of St Peter’s at this
very difficult time. Pray especially that those who currently worship at
St Peter’s will find a new spiritual home after its closure.
Many of us were able to share with Fr David Eady and Elmstone Hardwicke
in their Harvest Celebrations in October. That was a really good example of
working across parish boundaries and supporting our fellow Christians. I
would expect there to be many more occasions like that. I have been able to
visit Swindon Village Primary School on a number of occasions to take their
assembly. I would ask you all to think of ways in which people from the
other parishes in the area can be welcomed to join in with things which
happen in Prestbury and All Saints’, and also ask you to be prepared
actively to support the other parishes in any way you can. Inevitably the
clergy of the parishes will be meeting together more frequently, especially
as we prepare for the clergy to become part of the new Team Ministry. I
would also anticipate meetings between Wardens and possibly, on some
occasions, between PCCs. Our PCCs will certainly have the task of approving
the Scheme which will legally bring the new Team Ministry into existence.
I am sure that people will also be wondering about clergy housing. As
many of you know, Gill, Anna, Simon and I moved to All Saints’ Vicarage just
over four years ago. You will all appreciate how disruptive it is moving
house and also how expensive; we spent all of my available grants on
re-carpeting the Vicarage and on new curtains! We have therefore agreed with
Bishop Michael and the Diocesan Officials that we will remain in the house
in All Saints Road. This will not only avoid involving us in time and money
involved in a move but will also save the Diocese the costs which would be
incurred in our move. My replacement as Team Vicar will therefore live in
the house in Tatchley Lane in Prestbury and it can be called ‘The Vicarage’
again!
This has been quite a lengthy article, but you will appreciate that there
is a lot to say! I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all of you for your warm
and loving support at this time of my appointment. I consider it to be a
real honour and privilege to lead you as your Priest in Charge at such an
exciting and challenging time. I am very well aware that I can only do that
in God’s strength and as a member of a much bigger team of people who share
this ministry with me. Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on us all.
Fr Michael
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Fr Michael’s Licensing
The Bishop of Gloucester will license Fr Michael as Priest in Charge of
the Prestbury and All Saints’ Team Ministry on Sunday 3 December 2006 at
3 pm in St Mary’s Church, Prestbury. Everyone is very welcome to attend.
NB There will be NO services at 6.30pm in either St Mary’s or All Saints’
on that Sunday
On Sunday 28 January 2007 the Reverend Maz Allen will be inducted as a
Minister in the United Reformed Church of Cheltenham. We welcome her to
Prestbury and All Saints’ and look forward to meeting her at ecumenical
services.
Fr Michael
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Once again this Advent the Holy Family figures are travelling around our
parish visiting the homes of people from each of our congregations. The two
sets of crib figures will leave St Mary’s and St Nicolas’ on Advent Sunday
to spend two or three nights with someone before being delivered to the next
hosts and eventually returning to church on Christmas Eve.
This little parish pilgrimage has proved very popular in the last couple
of years but if you haven’t heard about it yet, the idea is that making
space in our homes to welcome the figures can help us make space in our
hearts to welcome the real Jesus. There is a little prayer that you can use
at home if you like and a book into which people are invited to put a
thought or reflection, a favourite poem, a photo or a drawing. Above all we
hope that as the Holy Family is passed from one home to another, people will
take time to offer hospitality to one another, perhaps a cup of tea or a
brief chat, reminding us that Christ does not just bring us to God but to
one another.
Fr Grant
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Meet the Celebrate! team members – do you know we have two hardworking
projectionists who make sure the right words and pictures are on the screen
at the right time at Celebrate!? They are Harry Porter (he’s the one in the
photo) and Stephen Murton. Both are largely self-taught, with some extra
guidance about which wires connect where from Andy. Stephen finds this is a
useful skill at work. Harry also researches and puts the visual
presentations together.
It is a crucial job but one that means they can feel a bit detached from
everyone else at Celebrate! However, they realise how important it is in
order that Celebrate! can take place as it does. One of the tricky parts is
to listen carefully to pick up on (normally unrehearsed) cues from the front
of the screen and make sure that everything is on the screen at the right
time.
Amusing episodes have been when a toddler ‘escapes’ and goes unexpectedly
up to the projection area, normally with a worried parent in hot pursuit, or
Stephen using his finger in the projector beam to point at something on the
screen so it appeared as a ghostly shadow on the screen – the Hand of God!
They say the best part is getting everything right so it all runs
smoothly and helps the service along. One of them tells me that the worst
part is being hidden and feeling somewhat detached, the other says the worst
part is when he is not able to get everything up on the screen at the right
moment – perhaps you’d like to talk to them and see who said which.
If you would like to hear more, or if you would like to consider joining
them from time to time, please speak to them or to any of the Celebrate!
team.
Sue Read
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You might not have noticed how old and grubby the carpet has become in
the north-west corner of St Mary’s. This is the area where there are toys
for young children and so it is where they tend to congregate, usually with
a parent or two! A generous parishioner has offered to pay for a new carpet
and the fabric committee has obtained an Archdeacon’s Certificate allowing
for its purchase and also for the opportunity to try a different location
for the ‘children’s area’.
I am concerned that having an area for children in the furthest corner of
the church is saying something that we would not really wish to say about
their presence with us. It also means that the children, and the adults with
them, are very disconnected from the worship of whichever service they are
attending. I am also concerned that we now have a heater in that area which
inevitably gets warm. Therefore we are proposing moving the ‘children’s
area’ further up the north aisle into the block near the piano. We will move
some of the pews to the back and put the new carpet down in this new
position. I think this will mean that those who use the area will feel more
a part of the worshipping body, more welcomed amongst us and also be closer
to the toilets and kitchen!
Fr Michael
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In September the Education and Nurture Group met to review recent events
and to begin to think about activities during the remainder of 2006 -
2007.
We welcomed Andy Macauly, who spoke about how work with young people fits
into the spectrum of Education and Nurture across the Team. He mentioned
Elevate and Synergy, which meet weekly; both are faith-based groups aiming
to create a sense of belonging which supports individuals as they grow in
faith. There is also a monthly meeting of older young people and students,
providing a supportive network which prepares them for moving away from home
or into employment.
Discussion led the Education and Nurture Group to reflect upon how this
model of fellowship groups amongst young people might be extended more
widely to the whole church, to provide a network of small self-supporting
groups in which individuals of all ages can be nurtured and sustained as
they continue their faith journey. It was agreed that this would be worth
further consideration at a future date.
Events for Advent and Epiphany are detailed elsewhere in this magazine. A
new initiative, Education for Discipleship, has been developed by the
Diocese from the earlier Framework for Faith course and is being piloted in
two parishes. It will probably be available more widely from September 2007.
Jen Swinbank
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As the Christian Aid representative for the St Mary’s part of the parish
I find it is time for me to cut down on the work involved for Christian Aid
Week, which takes place May 13th-19th in 2007, so I am appealing for a kind
person to replace me! If you are interested please see me.
I have much enjoyed carrying out this particular task, as Prestbury
people have always been very supportive and generous in collecting and
giving. It only needs a few more persons to organize street areas, and it
could then be led by two or three people overall. This would avoid too much
burden, and I am most willing to work with or alongside others, if this
would help.
The Christian Aid Director, Dr Daleep Mukarji, is to give a talk on Saturday
3 February 2007 at St Mark’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, and on 12
March the Cheltenham Area AGM takes place at the same venue. Both of these
events should be informative and helpful. I shall be attending them, and
would welcome anyone wishing to accompany me.
Gill Ashman
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Yes, I know; it is not even Advent yet! But next year Lent will be
different. Instead of a number of separate Lent groups meeting at diverse
times and in many places, Lent 2007 will be offering a choice of two groups,
held on one afternoon and one evening.
The afternoon group, led by Father Paul, will meet at St Nicolas’ on
Mondays and follow either the 2007 York Course or an alternative guided
course with accompanying booklet. The evening group, led by Sue McLeish from
Kemerton, will meet on Thursdays at St Nicolas’ and follow the Refreshed
with Jesus video presentation of St Matthew’s Gospel, accompanied by
readings from Bruce Marchiano’s book In the Footsteps of Jesus.
Further information will be made available closer to the time, via
posters and the weekly pew-sheet. This is a new approach to Lent, in a busy
year when the Team will face new challenges and new opportunities. We hope
that as many people as possible will be able take part.
Jen Swinbank
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Part 3: Iona
The third stage of my sabbatical journey involved the most travelling. A
combination of train and aeroplane took me to Glasgow where I stayed
overnight in the city before another combination of train, ferry, bus and
ferry eventually brought me to my destination: the island of Iona.
The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian community founded in 1938
by the Revd George MacLeod, a parish minister in Glasgow. The original
inspiration of the Community lay in the need to communicate the Gospel more
effectively in contemporary urban society and was expressed initially in the
rebuilding of some of the monastic buildings of the medieval abbey on Iona.
The original monastic community can be traced back to the 6th century when
St Columba first landed on the island in 563 and founded a Celtic monastery.
Today the Iona Community is a movement of over 240 Members, 1,500 Associate
Members and over 1,500 Friends, men and women from all sorts of backgrounds,
living throughout Britain and also overseas. The island of Iona has two
residential centres run by a small permanently resident community and many
volunteers. People come to stay in these centres, usually for a week.
My first challenge (after managing to get to the island!) was to live for
a week in community, sharing a room with three strangers and living in the
Abbey with forty-five other visitors and members of the resident community.
We ‘built community’ by worshipping together, eating together and working
together on our daily chores, which included cleaning the showers and
toilets! Although I felt challenged by the lack of personal space, I
reflected, through this experience of living in community, on my ‘wants and
needs’: what I feel I ‘want’ in my life balanced against what I
realistically ‘need’. A humbling experience!
We also met together each day for a time of discussion and sharing on
issues of peace and justice. We were fortunate to have with us the leaders
of both the Iona Community and the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland,
and I was especially challenged at how engagement with real issues of
justice and peace is taken to be an integral part of the life of both
communities: a natural outcome for them of following the Gospel of Christ.
Twelve of our group were from a church in the USA and it was a real
privilege to hear them sharing some of the issues of justice which are very
real for them, especially concerning Iraq, what it means to be an American
and also issues of gay rights.
The experience of living in the Abbey for a week, strongly aware of the
connection right back to the community which gathered with St Columba, was
very powerful. I found the daily worship to be fresh and relevant. The words
and music were simple and grounded and yet somehow conveyed something of the
awesomeness of God, speaking of the wonder of God in creation and also of
God with us and at work in our lives.
Iona is a small, rocky island in the Scottish Hebrides. It is only three
and a half miles long and a mile and a half wide. It has been described as
‘a Hebridean jewel’ because of the whiteness of the sand contrasting with
the emerald green of the sea. I only really saw it like that on my last day,
because the weather had been so wet and windy for the rest of the week! Just
before I left I joined some other brave souls – mostly American – in a small
boat which took us on a very rough journey to the small island of Staffa. We
were able to land for a short time and took a very precarious walk over wet
rocks, dodging large waves, so that we could visit Fingal’s Cave. Well worth
the trip!
I returned home from Iona nearing the end of my sabbatical time. When I
met with my Spiritual Director I found that I had so much to reflect on from
the journey that I had made. A journey that had taken me to some wonderful
Christian communities and that had also taken me on a profoundly rewarding
personal journey of faith. Thank you for letting me go!
Fr Michael
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Snippets from the Tower
On the morning of 4 November a peal of 5040 changes of Plain Bob Major
was rung at St Mary’s. The band consisted of five of our own tower ringers
and three from other local towers. The treble was rung by Hazel Sweetman
(one of our ringers), who is to be congratulated as it was her first peal.
The ringing lasted 2 hours 55 minutes. It was dedicated to Fr Stephen on his
forthcoming retirement.
As is our custom we rang all eight bells half muffled for the service of
Remembrance on the morning of 12 November.
On the evening of Sunday 12 November our ringers gathered at the Tower
armed with snacks and wine and were joined by Fr Stephen and Vicky. A
surprise gift of a Garden Token was presented to them with our best wishes
for the future. Everyone enjoyed the occasion. Service ringing that evening
started a little later than usual!
Jenni Scruton
Fr Stephen's
Last Sunday at St Nicolas'
Eucharist of
Thanksgiving for Ministry and Marriage
Fr Stephen's
Last Sunday at St Mary's
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Compline by Candlelight
Looking for peace, space and time to think amid the hustle
and bustle this Advent? Why not join us for Compline by Candlelight at 8pm
on Tuesdays 5, 12 and 19 December at All Saints? Relax to the ancient
plainchant melodies and spend some quality time with God.
Fr Grant
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St Nicolas’ Patronal Festival
St Nicolas’ will celebrate their Patronal Festival with a
Sung Eucharist in St Nicolas’ church on Wednesday 6 December at
7.30pm. Mulled wine and mince pies to follow. All are welcome.
NB there will be no service at St Mary’s that evening
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The Churches of Prestbury invite everyone to step back
from the rush and relax with seasonal refreshments and music in St Mary’s
church between 2pm and 6pm on Saturday 9 December. Mince pies,
shortbread, spicy biscuits and German Stollen cake will be served, together
with tea, coffee, mulled wine or fruit juice. Our cream teas in the summer
were really popular and we were asked to ‘do this more often’, so this is
our Advent equivalent.
Informal carol singing and Christmas music, lots of
candles and festive greenery will help to set the mood. Our Christmas tree
will be there, newly decorated for the Christingle service the following
day.
All the churches in the North Cheltenham area will be
represented, including the United Reformed Church and Holy Name Hall. It
will be an opportunity to check up on all our Christmas and Advent services
and to browse for a special Christmas card or decoration. This is not a
Christmas bazaar, just a few small charity stalls selling seasonal things.
Profits from refreshment sales are to be used to support
homeless children in the old and new world – Let the Children Live! in
Colombia and a charity for orphaned or displaced refugee children in the
Holy Land. Considering the circumstances of Jesus’ birth this seemed the
most appropriate thing to do!
Lynda Hodges, Parish Events Committee
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Christingle Service 2006 – Shining light into darkness…
This year’s service is in St Mary’s Church, Prestbury, on
Sunday 10 December at 4.00pm. In a simple moving service with great
appeal to children, young people and their families, Christingle oranges,
bearing a candle, red ribbon and decorated with sweets, are presented to
everyone who brings a gift of money for the work of the Children’s Society.
The highlight of the service is when all the Christingle candles are lit,
shining light into darkness. If you would like a collecting box to bring to
the service please contact Rachael Buttress or Claire Burge. Everybody is
most welcome to join us!
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‘Angels in Art’
A one-off event for Advent presented by Vivian Northcote
at 7pm on Tuesday 12 December in All Saints’ Church followed at 8pm
by Compline by Candlelight.
Jen Swinbank
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The Alternative Christmas Card
This will again be available in St Mary’s during Advent
for you to sign to greet your friends instead of exchanging individual
Christmas cards. The donations will all go to World Vision to provide help
for those in great need.
Margaret Waker & Margaret Holman
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Rockers term dates
The last Rockers meeting this term will be 14 December.
We start back on Thursday 4 January 2007 at 2pm in St Mary’s church.
All pre-school children and their parents/carers are welcome.
We are always on the lookout for pianists or other
musicians to accompany the children’s singing. If you think you could help
even once or twice a term please contact Vicky Dunn or email
rockers prestbury.net.
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Christian Aid Carol Singing
Carol Singing will take place on Saturday 16 December
at the new Sainsbury Store in Priors Road: St Nicolas’ Choir 10.00-11.00 and
St Mary’s Choir 11.00-12.00. Everyone is welcome to join the Choirs – it’s
good fun and, for many of us, quite near this year!
For your Christmas gifts PRESENT AID Catalogues are
displayed in both churches – please use them for friends and family, and
remember the extra money which can be raised by gift-aiding your donation.
Gill Ashman & Paddy Spurgeon
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St Nicolas’ Sunday Club
Sunday Club at St Nicolas’ will finish on 17 December
and begin again on Sunday 14 January during the 9.30am Eucharist.
We will also be arranging a post Christmas party – further details after
Christmas.
Linda Biggs
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Mothers’ Union
Our Christmas Social will take place on Tuesday 19
December at 7.30pm at the home of Sheila Beer by kind invitation. All
are welcome. Please bring a small plate of food to share.
Our first meeting next year will be on Tuesday 23 January
at the United Reformed Church, Deep Street.
Marion Beagley
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Open Door at Christmas
As Christmas approaches once again we are reminded of
loneliness and the needs of others. Our churches have supported ‘Open Door’
with harvest gifts in recent years. This Christmas volunteers are needed to
give some time during the period from 22 to 27 December. Can you
spare 3-4 hours of your time to give rootless people with no families a
feeling of belonging and a warm welcome over this period? Leaflets have been
placed in each church giving more details; please read one and consider what
you could do to help.
Pat Attwood
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Crib Service and Candlelit Nativity
The Crib Service will be at 4pm on Christmas Eve,
Sunday 24 December, in St Mary’s church, telling the traditional
nativity story with carols. Children are invited to bring gifts for those
less fortunate than themselves.
Also on Christmas Eve, at 6pm in St Nicolas’, there will
be a Candlelit Nativity Service, the traditional nativity story with carols
by candlelight. Again, children are invited to bring gifts for those less
fortunate than themselves.
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One in a Taxi, One in a Car …
An Epiphany presentation by Andy Hughes in St Nicolas’
Church at 4pm on Sunday 7 January, followed by tea and cakes. The
evening will conclude with a congregational Epiphany Carol Service at 6pm.
Jen Swinbank
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St Mary’s Bakestall
Our final bakestall for this year was in November. We
resume on Sunday 21 January when ALL members and any supporters are
invited to contribute. Thank you to everyone who has baked and bought this
year, enabling us to send a total of £450 to the following charities:
Christian Aid, Care International, British Red Cross, Everychild, Practical
Action, Helen House, Cambodia Trust, Children in Distress, Mission Aviation
Fellowship, Harvest Romania Appeal and SOS Children’s Villages. We have
welcomed one or two new members this year but are always on the lookout for
more to keep up our numbers and our giving.
Margaret Waker & Linda Matthews
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Churches Together in North Cheltenham
The next ecumenical service is in the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity and will be on Sunday 21 January at 3.30pm in All
Saints’ church. All are welcome to join us.
Fiona Hall
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Prestbury & All Saints Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Friday 4 May – Monday 7 May 2007
I will soon be distributing booking forms and further
information about our 2007 pilgrimage to Walsingham. If there is anyone who
would like to know more about this and receive information (accommodation,
transport, cost, a sample programme), please contact me. Booking forms and a
non-returnable deposit will need to be returned to me by the end of January.
Colin Holman, colin.holmanprestbury.net
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Plant Sale at St Nicolas'
Here’s a bright thought to sustain you through the January
gloom. We plan to hold a Plant Sale in May so if you are planting any seeds,
etc early in the New Year, perhaps you could grow us a few extra. Later on
offers of greenhouse space would be appreciated.
Janet White
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