St. Paul’s Church, Chippenham

THANK YOU - to everyone who has contributed to the life of our churches during the past 3 months and my time of Study Leave – I really appreciate all that you have done and the way that the North Chippenham Group of Churches functions so well without me. It is the way God planned for his church that we would be his people working together for his Kingdom.

JAMES & INGER DENNISTON - as you will have gathered James & Inger are going to be moving on from Chippenham in early October (Sunday 7th) after 4 years with us. They will both be missed and I will be aware of missing a very encouraging and supportive colleague. Now is not the time to sing their praises (we will do that later) but I know many people value what they have brought to our churches and life in Christ. Thank you, both of you and we wish you well as you move into ministry supporting Lee Abbey and New Wine. Do ask them about what the future holds for them – they are both very excited by what God has brought forward for them and their ministry.

UGANDA VISITORS - you may remember that a group went to visit Mukono diocese last year and between 27th June & 14th July we will host 7 visitors in Chippenham deanery. Please put these dates in your diary – and give yourself a chance to meet them!

I am excited that the Rev Edward Balamaze is going to be one of the party – he is the wonderful young clergyman who I spent 3 weeks with last year ministering in Seeta parish. It will be very good to have him with us ….but I am also aware of a certain unease about him coming to see how we live and just how many material possessions we have. I think I will find his presence with us both a joy and a challenge – why should I and my family have so much and so many opportunities and Edward and his have so few? The world is a very unfair place – and I am one of the lucky few – what have I done to deserve this?

FETES - it is that time of year … St Paul’s school fete is on Saturday 30th June between 11am & 2pm… and Langley Burrell village fete takes place on Saturday 21st July starting at 12.30pm. Come along and support the school and church!

SONGS OF PRAISE - on Sunday 1st July we are holding an Open Air Songs Of Praise at 4pm at Hardenhuish. It should be a lovely event – do come along and sing God’s praises (and meet a Ugandan visitor – or two!)

OPEN TO GOD - this joint event should bring together people and their Ugandan visitors to St Paul’s hall at 7.00pm on Sunday 8th July. It should be a lovely chance for us to hear of what God is doing by his Spirit with our brothers and sisters in the church in Uganda. All welcome!

DEANERY GROWTH SUMMIT - this takes place from 9.30am-2.00pm on Saturday 7th July at Chippenham Town Hall. Bishop Lee will be the main speaker as we look at ways for helping our churches to share the Good News of Jesus and to grow in numbers and influence with those around us. If you would like to attend please talk to me about it as we need to register names – free lunch provided!

WOMEN’S UNION - on Thursday we are hoping to welcome the Women’s Union to the Rectory for the annual garden party – from 2.15pm and, weather provided, it is a lovely event and Ann & I are delighted to be able to invite Barbara Wood and the members to share our garden.

ST PAUL’S 8.30am SERVICE - we need a verger for this service as Dudley West has stood down from the role he has performed so well and caringly. This is really important and we need people committed to this service who are willing to open up and lay the Communion table and clear up – especially with the demand for so many services and clergy stretched to take all the Sunday services and have time to talk to people as well. Any offers, please? (But I must also record a big THANK YOU to Dudley for all he has done – I have greatly appreciated working with him.)

ST PAUL’S MUSIC MEETING - on Tuesday 17th July at 7.30pm at the Rectory there is a meeting for all those involved in the music group at St Paul’s church. After many years Peter & Sarah Howe are wanting to step down from the responsibility of leadership and ……who can blame them? THANK YOU BOTH for all you have done and that you will still be part of things …but we are looking for a revising of how we work and put together our musical resources. If you are involved, please do come along and let’s give God the chance to form how things move on from here.

THEMES & READINGS - we are looking at the theme of PEOPLE MEETING WITH JESUS during our morning services in July & they will have these main readings

July 1st - The man who loved money - Matthew 19:16-30
July 8th - The small example - Matthew 18:1-6
July 15th - The accused sinner - John 8:1-11
July 22nd - The man who could not see - Luke 18:35-43
July 29th - The untouchable - Mark 5:21-43

MIDWEEK BIBLE READINGS - at our midweek services of Holy Communion (10am on Wednesdays at St Pauls – and 10am Thursdays at Kington St Michael) we are going to be continuing with the theme of 2 CORINTHIANS.

July - 4th/5th - The Spirit gives life - 2 Corinthians 3:1-6
July - 11th/12th - Reflecting God’s glory - 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
July - 18th/19th - Let the light shine - 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
July - 25th/26th - Treasurers in clay - 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

SO HOW DID I GET ON? - brilliantly! I think my 3 month Extended Study Leave was a most enjoyable and invigorating experience. I had TIME …to walk, read the newspaper, travel by train, enjoy the sunshine, watch birds, swim, be with people I love and respect, worship God with Christians from many churches, learn French, meet people from various cultures and backgrounds, find out about the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, take photographs, spend Holy Week & Easter on Iona, read, reflect on who I am and what has made the person I am …oh, and think about God – because in a real sense it was all about God and his hand on my life.

I am thinking of talking and showing some pictures on Thursday 19th July – probably at the Rectory. Please talk to me if you might be interested in coming for numbers. (I did not read all the books I had hoped to – but half of them and then other novels and some fascinating books on the issues of refugees and asylum seekers.)

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME - as I try to readjust to being back at work and to all the issues that have, already, come up!!

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH - I think this prayer is lovely – don’t you?

Jesus, Lord of Time, hold us in your eternity.
Jesus, Image of God, travel with us the life of faith.
Jesus, Friend of Sinners, heal the brokenness of your world.
Jesus, Lord of Tomorrow, draw us into your future.
Amen

Simon Tyndall