St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

LAST MONTH/THIS MONTH – sorry, we did not manage to produce a copy of the February CLARION (due to some technical difficulties) but I am glad we are back for March!

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 (Church Mission Society) 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 and New Testament 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 took 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 were 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 the sermons helped us all to play our part in shaping and living the vision God has for our Church life and community at this time.

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!

BACK TO CHURCH TRAINING – on Saturday 28 March Mike Watkins will be leading people from the deanery in some preparation for BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY (27 Sept). It is at St Peter’s Frogwell and lasts from 9.30-1.00 and is open to all. Please come along and see how your church could get involved in this national mission initiative.

CONFIRMATION – will take place on Wednesday 6 May at 7.30pm at Box with both Bishop John Neale and Bishop Paul Kizito (of Mukono, Uganda) which should be lovely. If you are interested please talk to me. The adult confirmation preparation dates are: Wed 11, Wed 18, Mon 23 March and Wed 1, Tues 28 April. Please put these dates in your diary!

WORSHIP @ 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. And, also we have a new (bright) service order for the other weeks – combining both traditional and contemporary words which should be well appreciated and used!

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. The Annual General Meeting dates are:

• Sunday 29 March 11.15am Langley Burrell
• Monday 30 March 7.30pm Kington St Michael
• Monday 20 April 7.30pm St Pauls with Langley Burrell
• Wed 22 April 7.15pm Hardenhuish

and all take place in the churches. Please come and be part of what your church is doing!

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 of 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!

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!

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!

GROUP SERVICE – is on Sunday 1 March at 6.30pm at St Paul’s. 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 March. Come along!

LENT STARTS – soon! In fact it was on Wed 25 February with Ash Wednesday. What are you going to do (give up?) for Lent this year? We are holding evening worship (Compline) on Tuesdays 3, 17 and 24 March at 7.30pm at Hardenhuish church. Do come and experience the quiet and peace.

HOLY WEEK – will see a 24 HOURS OF PRAYER (from 10am on Tuesday 7 to 10am Wednesday 8 April) at St Paul’s – details will follow so you can sign up and join in and we will hold special services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

THEMES & READINGS – will be as follows at the morning services during March

• March 1 – A testing time – Matthew 4:1-11; FAIRTRADE Sunday (St Paul’s)
• March 8 – An hospitable church! – Hebrews 13:1-3
• March 15 – A welcoming church! – Mark 10:13-16
• March 22 – Mothering Sunday (10.30am) – Exodus 2:1-10
• March 29 – Jesus’ passion – Mark 14:1-15:47

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 starting a series called PASSOVER & DELIVERANCE.

• March 4 & 5 – Passover instructions – Exodus 12:1-13
• March 11 & 12 – Future passovers – Exodus 12:14-28
• March 18 & 19 – Israelites escape – Exodus 12:29-42
• March 25 & 26 – Pharoah’s pusuit – Exodus 13:17-14:12

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