St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

I AM BACK!!!!!!  -   you may have noticed that I have not been rambling recently… or you may not have! …but I am back and should appear on both St. Paul’s Chippenham website and that of St. Nicholas’ Hardenhuish.  Also, we are looking at ways of possibly printing some copies off and distributing them.  If you want one PLEASE ASK!  I suggest you contact the Group Office 01249 444771 and leave a message on the answerphone.  Or have a word at the back of church with one of the churchwardens.

CLARION  -  after many years our magazine CLARION has run into trouble.  In essence it has not changed much since it was first printed and we live in a new era with so many magazines, publications, websites etc etc.  I want to thank all those who have edited CLARION over the years – you have done a great job – and especially our most recent editor Steve Cozens.  THANK YOU!  What has happened is that, although there are those who like to read CLARION, there are very few who are willing and able to contribute articles for it.  Without people writing pieces to include the editor has nothing to edit!

It may be that you have some energy and ideas and would like to see a new sort of publication, leaflet, flyer or way of communicating developed.  If so, I would love to hear from you – all ideas gratefully received and (realistic) suggestions as to what the future might hold would be most welcome!  On the other hand, in God’s economy, it may be that now is a time when we should have a space between CLARION and whatever comes next – time to pray and ponder how we can best reach out to our parishes and meet the communication needs of those who make up our church communities.  (Remember, resurrection only happens AFTER death!)

THE OFFICE  -  we are in the process of advertising, in the church weekly newsletter, for a new person to come and work in our Group Office, based at St Paul’s hall.

“As you know, with Kay having left, the role of Group and St Paul’s Church Hall Administrator is vacant. Volunteers have done valuable work over the summer but now is the time to fill the paid post. We are looking to appoint a part-time Administrator for up to 18 hours per week. Days and hours by agreement.
Anyone interested in this role should contact Simon Tyndall, Rector of St. Paul’s or John Moncrieff, St Paul’s Hon. Treasurer.”

Rob Kingsland has kindly taken on a couple of the roles that Kay formally did in this post – and we have found someone who is willing to be the Deanery Secretary.  There will still be lots to do and we expect to keep the administrator busy.  Please pray for the right appointment!

HARVEST FESTIVALS  -  Harvest comes upon us all too quickly when we get back into the new school year – mind you, I think the harvest was mostly gathered-in some time ago!  We are celebrating as follows

• Langley Burrell – Harvest Festival (Sunday 27/9) – Harvest Supper  (Saturday 10/10)
• Hardenhuish – Harvest Festival (Sunday 4/10) – Harvest Supper  (Saturday 26/9)
• Kington St Michael – Harvest Festival (Sunday 4/10) – Michaelmas lunch (Sunday 27/9)
• St Paul’s – Harvest Festival (Sunday 4/10) – Harvest Supper  (Saturday 3/10)

GARRY ION  -  we are delighted that our CMS link mission partner Garry Ion will be with us for the weekend of 3-4 October.  He is speaking at the St Paul’s Harvest Supper and also at 10am at St Pauls on the Sunday morning.  BETA youth will be hosting him that evening and hearing about his work building churches and schools in southern Sudan with the Episcopal Church of Sudan.  I am also hoping there will be other opportunities to meet with him – including on the Saturday afternoon in Kington St Michael.

HEALING & WHOLENESS  -  this course has been running at St Paul’s on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm and will also take place on 1 & 15 October.  With input from Keith Powell & Nigel Rawlinson (both ordained in Bath & Wells diocese) this is a lovely opportunity to let God’s Spirit be released into our lives for our own well-being AND for the effect that this has on others – both within our churches and in the wider community.  The Spirit of God wants to bless us but he also wants us to be a blessing to others!

SUNDAY EVENING @ ST PAULS  -  for sometime I have felt St Pauls has needed a regular evening service at a consistent time.  The current pattern is impossible for someone to be sure that there will be an evening service and when it is.  So, from 11 October we will start a weekly 7pm evening service.  Now you can be sure that if you turn up the doors will be open and you will be welcome!  (NOTE – the one exception is Sunday 8 November when we hold the Remembrance Service at 6.30pm!)

GROUP SERVICE  -  this means that there is some uncertainty about the future shape of what we will have on the 1st Sunday of each month, the Group Service.  For the past 8 years this has taken place around the 4 churches of our Group.  This month the Group sevice will take place on 4 October at 6.30pm at St Nicholas’ Hardenhuish.  In November it will be at 3pm on Sunday 1 November at St Pauls – taking the form of our annual MEMORIAL SERVICE.  And on 6 December it will be at 7pm at St Pauls – when the musician Paul Bambrough and I will be using readings and prayers in something we are calling LEADING TO CHRISTMAS.

OPEN TO GOD -   will be in St Paul’s hall at 7pm on Sunday 18 October.  Come along!

THEMES & READINGS  -  will be as follows at the morning services during October, continuing the theme HEALING, WHOLENESS & ST LUKE

• Oct 4 – Praise God – Psalm 100:1-5, Luke 12:13-21
• Oct 11 – Thank you! – 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 12:22-34
• Oct 18 – Joy of the Redeemed – Isaiah 35:3-6, Luke 10:1-9
• Oct 25 – Invitation to the Thirsty – Isaiah 55:1-11, Luke 13:18-21

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  called UNIQUE TO MARK & MATTHEW, and following some more Psalms.

• Sept30/Oct 1 – Jesus feeds 4000 – Psalm 19, Mark 8:1-10
• Oct 7/8 – Pharisees test Jesus – Psalm 20, Mark 8:11-13
• Oct 14/15 – Yeast of the Pharisees – Psalm 21, Mark 8:14-21
• Oct 21/22 – Request of James & John – Psalm 23, Mark 10:35-45
• Oct 28/29 – Jesus & the fig-tree – Psalm 24, Mark 11:12-26

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH  –  is a lovely prayer (which, I think, may come from somewhere like India, a tea growing land) asking for God’s Spirit to fall on us and renew us……(something worth praying each & everyday)…..so that we can be a blessing to others!

Even as the water falls on dry tea leaves
And brings out their flavour,
So may your Spirit fall on us and renew us,
So that we may bring refreshment and joy to others.
Amen

Simon Tyndall