St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

DID YOU SEE…? – Kington St Michael church in the second episode of ‘Tess of the D’urbervilles’ on BBC One recently? It was good to see Hardy’s novel on the tv screen and I was fascinated by the conversation between the Vicar and Tess (taking place in the choirstalls in St Michaels) about whether he would baptise her ‘bastard’ child – born to the poor 17 year old after she had been raped by her employer.

Sadly the Vicar said he would like to… but the Church would not let him! (I found that to be a rather weak excuse – surely, either he agreed with church policy and dogma or he should live by his conscience!) It also reminded me of just how much some people have felt rejected by the church over the years – and just how unforgiving and insensitive we can seem to those who don’t understand where we come from. (For what it is worth… I don’t encourage people to have children outside the marriage relationship but I also don’t refuse baptism if the parents are not married. We want children and parents to be made welcome to our churches!)

HARVEST FESTIVAL – we still have 2 to celebrate at 9.30am at Kington St Michael and at 10am at St Paul’s on Sunday 5 October (and the Langley Burrell Harvest Supper is on Saturday 4 October). These are good opportunities to invite others to join us to ‘give thanks to the Lord of the harvest’. Who could you invite?

“WHEN THE MUSIC FADES” – following a recent meeting between members of St Paul’s music team and Karin Needham and myself we decided that our church needed a bit of time and space to reflect on the role and nature of the music we use at the 10am services – and what our commitment needs to be in providing it. Matt Redman wrote a song “When the music fades” about a time when the church he was music group leader of realised that they had lost the focus of the whys and wherefores of their worship – the song is a reminder that it is “all about you, Jesus”.

I believe we have an excellent music team and I am delighted to be working with them and thankful for all they offer to our worship. But I do agree that it might be helpful for us to take a prayerful time of waiting on God to see how he wants to develop our sung worship. Also, this will give all those at St Paul’s who have musical gifts time to think and pray about how they might offer these to God in worship.

So, we have decided to move into a time (during October and November) of using probably only one person to lead us on a Sunday morning. This should give everyone space to sit and worship in the congregation and to reflect prayerfully on what God is calling us to at this time. The hope is that those involved in music will come together in times of prayer and waiting on God – and that this will renew our sense of commitment and direction. (It seems a slightly daunting but very exciting opportunity to be truly open to God!)

OPEN TO GOD – will still take place but we will be in St Paul’s church at 7pm on Sunday 16 October (partly because Youth Alpha are in the hall). Please come along as we are open to what God wants for us and the music we offer at St Paul’s. This will be a time jointly to reflect prayerfully on how the music side of our church can develop. It would be good to have lots of people from the congregation come along – whether you are a member of the music team or not. After all, music is core to our worship and who we are as a people under God!

THINKING THROUGH OUR WORSHIP – in one week I attended the church council meetings of both Kington St Michael and Langley Burrell churches – and the issue of worship came up at both of them. People were expressing their preferences for styles of worship and, in some cases, admitting why they did not attend various services. I believe that this is a fundamental problem for small churches. It is hard enough keeping things going when congregations are small in number and the problem with folk keeping away is that the churches lose their viability. Some people drift away and others start going to other (larger) congregations.

It is a challenge because when too few gather (and rattle around in a large building) people feel dispirited. It can be a fatal blow and I am afraid that we are in danger of sliding down this path. In truth our congregations are too small for people to keep away from the services that are not their own personal choice. We skate on thin ice! Both church councils have agreed to have another meeting to pursue some of the issues and to talk and pray about what can be done. Please keep this process in your prayers.

GROUP SERVICE – takes place at 6.30pm at Hardenhuish on Sunday 5 October. Please come along and join our worship.

YOUTH ALPHA – please keep in your prayers our Youth Leaders and the Young People taking part on Sunday evenings in Youth Alpha. It is being hosted at St Paul’s – in the hall – and youngsters from Sheldon Road Methodist Church and Station Hill Baptist Church are joining with ours for this course. Please uphold all that goes on and ask for God’s blessing and protection on them all.

TAIZE COMMUNION SERVICE – on Sunday 26 October our 6.30pm Communion service will be Taize style. It is a lovely quiet, reflective way to worship. Come and join us at St Paul’s for this!

PAUL BAYES @ DEANERY MEETING – as mentioned above Paul is leading our Lee Abbey weekend and he is also booked for an open meeting in the deanery. On the theme of “GOD’S MISSION – OUR MISSION” it will take place on Wednesday 29 October at Biddestone Village Hall. Although it starts at 7.30pm there will be coffee from 7pm and I hope many people will want to go and hear about how we can be involved as we reflect on BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY and begin to make plans for our deanery to take part in 2009. This should be a very good meeting open to all – including our Deanery Synod reps!

THE LIGHT PARTY – the KIDZOWN leaders are hosting a party for children on the evening of Friday 31 October in St Paul’s hall. (Clearly this is an alternative to the unhelpful Halloween events which have crept into our society!) It will celebrate light – and Jesus, the Light of the World.

THE POVERTY & JUSTICE BIBLE – and if you are not sure about the translation in your own Bible… there is a lot to be said for comparing one version with another. I have bought another 20 copies of The Poverty & Justice Bible in the CEV (Contemporary English Version) and will sell it at a discounted price of £9 (or £10 if you don’t have the change!) This version highlights some 2000 verses in the Bible which show God’s concern for issues of poverty & justice in the world. With articles and other pointers, this Bible helps us to understand something of God’s heart for the poor. I find it a timely reminder of what really matters to God – and it challenges my thinking. If you would like a copy of this Bible for yourself please contact me.

TEAM VICAR POST – as I write this piece I am hopeful that we may have made an appointment for our Team Vicar… but I am afraid that it’s not yet formally agreed (nor public knowledge) and so I can’t say more than that. But I am optimistic that it will be an exciting appointment. Please keep this all in your prayers!

MEMORIAL SERVICE – each year we hold a service for all who would like to remember those who have died. This year it takes place at 6.30pm on Sunday 2 November at St Paul’s. We will send out specific invitations to the families of those whose funerals we have taken in the past few years – but also want to invite anyone who would find it helpful to join us. Do come along and thank God for someone’s life!

CONFIRMATION SERVICE – I already have a couple of names of people thinking about being confirmed at the next deanery service on Friday 7 November (which should be in the evening at Corsham). Please have a word with me if you are wondering about confirmation yourself.

THEMES & READINGS – we are continuing a series of sermons called ‘Living…’ and these are the themes & Bible readings during October

• Oct 5 – Living… in a pick & mix society – Matthew 16:13-20
  (Oct 5 – Living… in a materialistic world – Luke 12:13-21, for the Harvest Festivals at St Paul’s & KSM)
• Oct 12 – Living… without community – Acts 6:1-7
• Oct 19 – Living… with the future – Romans 8:31-39
• Oct 26 – Living… by the Book – Hebrews 4:12-16

MIDWEEK BIBLE READINGS – at our midweek services of Holy Communion (10am on Wednesdays at St Paul’s – and 10am Thursdays at Kington St Michael) we are continuing a series looking at JEREMIAH THE PROPHET.

• Oct 1 & 2 – The potter – Jeremiah 18:1-17
• Oct 8 & 9 – Jeremiah’s complaint – Jeremiah 20:7-18
• Oct 15 & 16 – Prophets who lie – Jeremiah 23:16-32
• Oct 22 & 23 – Hananiah – Jeremiah 28:1-17
• Oct 29 & 30 – “Settle in exile” – Jeremiah 29:1,4-14

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH – a lovely reminder of just how important the Bible is to those who follow Christ (based on Psalm 119:105).

Almighty God,
we thank you
for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and a strength to our lives.
Take us and use us to serve all people
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Simon Tyndall