St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

WHERE THERE IS NO VISION… – Proverbs 29:18 is a verse of the Bible which was introduced to me when I was working for CMS some 20 years ago. Until then I was not aware of its existence. It is one of those verses that speaks profound truth in both a religious and every other context. It talks of vision and the vision for a group of people working together. Clearly it has real implications for church life.

As you will probably know there are many different translations of the Bible (from the original Hebrew & NT Greek and into English) and you may be aware of a variety of versions of the Bible – often know by their initials – KJB (King James Bible – also known as the Authorized Bible); NIV (New International Version); CEV (Contemporary English Version); GNB (Good News Bible); JB (Jerusalem Bible) and there are many more. Each one translates Proverbs 29:18 slightly differently.

Where there is no vision… the people perish (KJB). Where there is no vision… the people cast off restraint (NIV). Where there is no vision… the people get out of hand (JB).

In February we are taking the theme of vision and using this verse as a jumping off point to consider what vision God has given our churches at this time. I am sure each preacher and in each church in our Group different points will be made. But, and of this I am sure, we know that without vision we lose our way (‘perish’) and I know that if the leadership does not demonstrate vision the church members can become restless (‘get out of hand’). And we would not want that! Would we?

My prayer is that these sermons will help us all to play our part in shaping and living the vision God has for our Church life and community at this time.

[Editor's note: you can read some of these translations here:  Proverbs 29:18.]

THEMES & READINGS – will be as follows at the morning services during February with the title Where there is no vision…

• Feb 1 – Where there is no vision… the people perish (KJV) – Mark 1:21-28
• Feb 8 – Wycliffe Bible Translators (at St Paul’s & Hardenhuish)
  Jesus’ Vision (at LB & KSM) – Mark 1:29-39
• Feb 15 Where there is no vision… the people cast off restraint (NIV) – John 1:1-14
• Feb 22 Where there is no vision… the people get out of hand (JB) – Mark 9:2-9

REV MIKE WATKINS – as you might have noticed Mike and family have arrived amongst us and are settling in well. It is great to have them here!

HOLY COMMUNION @ LANGLEY BURRELL – from March we are moving the Holy Communion service to the later time of 10am. This means that all morning services at St Peter’s will now be at 10am. (However, the service on 1 Feb will still be at the old 9am time.)

SNOWDROP LUNCH – is being held in Langley Burrell Village Hall on Sunday 1 February – please see the notice sheet for details.

WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS – I am delighted that Mark Woodward (Tim’s nephew) is going to come and speak on behalf of Wycliffe Bible Translators. There will be an evening meeting at 7pm in St Paul’s hall on Saturday 7 February (all welcome) and then he will speak at the 10am service at St Paul’s on the Sunday and then join the 11.00am service at St Nicholas’ Hardenhuish.

DEANERY MISSION MEETING – following a great meeting with Paul Bayes we are hosting Jane Gibbs, author of ‘Faith In Suburbia’ which is described thus…

Suburbia is in trouble. What was once a symbol of the good life is now pervaded by a sense that life is happening somewhere else. And the Church in suburbia is in trouble too. This used to be the stronghold of the Church – now it seems impossible to persuade anyone to be committed. Jane Gibbs looks carefully at what has gone wrong, drawing on a wide range of research. She takes a fresh look at what the gospel might mean for suburban values, and offers some radical strategies to breath new life into the suburban church.

This should be very helpful to us as we think about our own mission outreach and strategy and all are welcome to Grittleton Village Hall for this 7.30pm start on Monday 9 February.

ST PAUL’S LEADERSHIP TEAM – please pray for us a we have an away day at Kington Langley on Saturday 21 February.

NEW CHURCH WARDENS & PCC MEMBERS WANTED! – as we come towards the annual meetings please think and pray about who we can invite to stand for these important posts.

ST PAUL’S GENDER BALANCE – sitting at a recent PCC meeting (11 men & one lady) and thinking about who leads our worship and music (i.e. nearly all men) and then who leads our work with children and youth (i.e. nearly all women) I have realised we have a lack of balance and are in danger in stereotyping who does what in church. I am concerned about this but am unsure what solution there is at the moment. Any ideas? Please help me (us!) think about what needs to be done!

DIOCESAN NEWS – can now be found on the internet with interesting news from around the Diocese of Bristol on www.bristol.anglican.org/news/local

SERVICE TIMES AT ST PAUL’S – after some discussion and prayer it looks likely we shall keep the 8.30am and 10.00am service times for Sunday mornings as they are!

WWW.WelcomeWorshipWholeness – also at St Paul’s it looks like we are going to change what we call our services – no longer Come & Worship, Morning Praise and Holy Communion… but rather focus on having services of Welcome (e.g. at festivals, Back to Church Sunday, with guests, for baptisms etc.) or Worship either in Song or Word (with greater emphasis on either singing or listening to preaching and teaching) or Wholeness (services with Communion, prayer ministry, anointing with oil etc). Watch this space but I think this could be a really helpful way for us to focus on the main purpose of each service – so that we don’t try to do everything in every service. Comments, discussion and thoughts would be most appreciated!

GROUP SERVICE – is on Sunday 1 February at 6.30pm at Kington St Michael. All welcome!

OPEN TO GOD – we are wanting to change the format and find a way of being open to God… but the time will be 7pm on Sunday 15 February. Come along!

TAIZE SERVICE – Sam is going to lead a Taize quiet HC on Sunday 22 Feb at 6.30pm at St Paul’s which should be lovely. It’s for all!

LENT STARTS – soon! In fact on Wed 25 February with Ash Wednesday. What are you going to do (give up?) for Lent this year?

FAIRTRADE SUNDAY – on Sunday 1 March at St Paul’s church we are going to celebrate and mark the work of FAIRTRADE and so the service at 10am will focus on this important issue and then there will be a Lunch together in the Hall. It’s for everyone!

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 continuing a series called AS MATTHEW WRITES.

• Feb 4 & 5 – Jesus’ Baptism – Matthew 3:13-17
• Feb 11 & 12 – Jesus’ Temptation – Matthew 4:1-11
• Feb 18 & 19 – Jesus in Galilee – Matthew 4:12-17
• Feb 25 & 26 – Ash Wednesday – John 8:1-11

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH – is more a statement of our intent to share our lives, joys and sorrows in the context of the Gospel, aware of the part we play and of God’s role in it all.

The cross, we will take it.
The bread, we will break it.
The pain, we will bear it.
The joy, we will share it.
The Gospel, we will live it.
The love, we will give it.
The light, we will cherish it.
The darkness, God shall perish it.

Simon Tyndall