St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

VISITORS FROM UGANDA - what a superb visit we had from Bishop Paul and Mama Margaret from Mukono in Uganda last month. It was a real joy to have them with us as we celebrated 40 years of the link between Uganda & Bristol diocese. Very special was the Confirmation service held at Box and also the Biddestone event with the Anglican Youth Fellowship Choir from Kampala. And the service of celebration in Bristol Cathedral was great! An excellent reminder that we are part of the world wide Church of Christ.

GROUP SERVICE - is on Sunday 7 June at 6.30pm at Kington St Michael. All welcome!

CHURCH WARDENS - following the Archdeacon’s Visitations we now have a complete set of Church Wardens and they are:

Hardenhuish – Derek Boulton and Debbie Loveday

KSM – Colin Labouchere and Pam Tayler

Langley Burrell – Sarah Cook and Caroline Preston

St Pauls – Judy & Martin Ellett and Michael & Wendy Meilton

It is not an easy role so please pray for them in all they do as they try to steer the churches forward working with the PCCs and Ministers.

ST PETER’S FROGWELL - it’s been nearly a year since Tony Fensome retired as Vicar of St Peter’s Frogwell and the Deanery has had a Support Team working with a newly formed Leadership Team helping to develop the way ahead. We are now at the stage where we are advertising for the new post of Deanery Missioner & Priest in Charge of St Peter’s Frogwell in the Church Times. Please keep this process in your prayers. We hope to make an appointment before the summer so that someone could start in the autumn.

ST PAUL’S LEADERSHIP TEAM - you have heard that Graham Pattison has stepped down from the St Paul’s Leadership Team. I want to record my thanks to him for all that he has done in the past year. Martin Ellett has taken on the role of Resources & Property and joins the Team of Alice Hall, Michael Meilton, Karin Needham, Ann Tyndall, Simon Tyndall, Mike Watkins. Please pray for our next meeting on the evening of Monday 1 June.

8.30am VERGER - for some time now we have been short of a Verger to cover the 8.30am Sunday Holy Communion services at St Pauls. Jane Humphries does a wonderful job and covers about half of the services. But …..we really need someone else who is willing to take on the role also. Any offers please?

KSM FETE - a date for your diary – Saturday 13 June from 2-4pm at Kington Manor – a lovely event and please come along to support this – any offers of help to the church wardens please!

4 JULY - also, looking ahead, the Langley Burrell Fete is on this Saturday from noon at the Village Hall and later that afternoon KARIOS OUTSIDE are holding a cream tea afternoon from 3pm in St Paul’s church hall. They should both be good fun and well worth supporting!

DEANERY MISSION MEETING - looking ahead…..there will be an open deanery meeting with John Hibberd (do you remember him from our GOD 4 U mission in 2004?) on Tuesday 7 July at 7.30pm at Lacock Village hall when he will help us think about our mission stragey. Please come along for this should be really interesting and helpful for each of our churches!

ST PAUL’S SCHOOL - at the end of term Bob Buckley (headteacher at St Paul’s school for the past 11 years) is leaving. As a governor and regular taker of assemblies I am aware of how much he has done for the school and how special our links with the school are. He will be missed and he has been a great support with the opening of the RISE Children’s Centre at the school.

ANJALI KANAGARATNAM - you might remember that Anjali & Neil (with Nithilan & Jeyan) Kanagaratnam left St Paul’s church last year as they went to live in Thailand where Neil had a new job. They went as CMS SALT Fellowship people and Ann & I were delighted to catch up with Anjali & the boys in Kent recently. She has a baby due on 14 June and so is currently staying with her parents. They all seemed in good form – so please continue to keep them in your prayers!

OPEN TO GOD - will be in St Paul’s hall at 7pm on Sunday 21 June. Come along!

THEMES & READINGS - will be as follows at the morning services during June, following the

theme LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

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 on the various Marys in the New Testament called MUDDLED BY MARYS. (These are all on the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ mother.)

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH – is the beautiful and well-known prayer by St Ignatius of Loyola

Teach us, dear Lord,

To serve you as you deserve to be served.

To give and not to count the cost;

To fight and not to heed the wounds;

To toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward

Save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen

Simon Tyndall