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St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

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Rector’s Ramblings, November 2009

October 27th, 2009 · No Comments

ST PAUL’S RE-ORDERING APPEAL  -  as I write this, I am delighted by the initial response to our appeal for Phase 2 of the St Paul’s church building improvements.  Something like half the required money has already been donated or pledged as we look for £100k +.  Thank you for all that has been given and promised – it is so exciting and such an encouragement.  And if you have not yet responded (and would like to do so) please can I encourage you in your generosity.  My hope and prayer is that we will surprise ourselves by both what we raise and God’s wonderful blessing as we step out in faith.  Wouldn’t it be good to have reached our target by Christmas?  What a great way to see God at work amongst his people!

REMEMBERING IN NOVEMBER  -  this is the month for our Memorial Service (on All Saints Day 1.11.09 at 3pm at St Paul’s) and the Remembrance Services on 8.11.09 (including the Parade with the Mayor, British Legion & Uniformed Organisations at 6.30pm at St Paul’s).  Both are important and useful to many – do please take time to stop, ponder and pray as you are aware of people who have died.  May they be a (good) example to us!

HEALING & WHOLENESS FOLLOW-UP  -   I thought it would be good… but I did not realise just how good our 4 week course would be.  Many people have given testimony to how God has touched their lives and brought his shalom peace, healing and presence into their lives in a new way.  We will be especially following up what happened at these services – do take the opportunity to continue to let God be at work in your life!  (Like the course, all these are at St Pauls – but open to everyone!)

  • 8 November – prayer after the 10.00am service
  • 15 November – 7.00pm – Open to God
  • 13 December – 7.00pm – a ‘liturgical’ healing service of anointing with oil
  • 17 January – 10.00am – a service at which Keith Powell will preach
  • 21 February – 7.00pm – Open to God

REV ANDY GUBBINS  -  I am delighted that we will soon have in post a Deanery Missioner and Priest in Charge of St Peter’s church in Chippenham.  Andy will be licensed on Saturday 21 November at St Peter’s at 2pm and you are most welcome to come and support this new and exciting appointment.  With his wife Mary and their 3 children we look forward to his ministry within Chippenham deanery and all that we can share with him and learn from him.

CHIPPENHAM DEANERY  -  as Area Dean I am finding myself more and more involved in the life and working of all the benefices (i.e. groupings of churches) in our area.  This is particularly true of those where the clergy are leaving and moving on elsewhere – at this time in Corsham and in the By Brook Benefice.  We are working with people from the diocesan centre to help these churches define their mission and vision.  I am beginning to find this challenging… and wonder… what would our four churches say to the question ‘what is your mission and vision at this time?’  It may be that we need to be doing some thinking and praying about this!

RISE COMMUNITY LUNCH  -  don’t forget… 26 November at noon in St Paul’s church hall there will be a lovely soup, bread and cake lunch for those who would like to come along and have a chat.  You never know, you just might meet an old school friend – it has happened!

36 HOURS PRAYER  -  following the 24 hours of Prayer in Holy Week we want to offer the opportunity for a time of focussed prayer as Advent begins.  It will start at 8.00am on Saturday 28 November and conclude with a ‘Prayer Service’ at 7.00pm on Sunday 29 November.  Taking place in the Ascension Chapel at St Paul’s church we hope many people from across our Group will want to take part.  Maddy Crook & Karin Needham are primarily organising this and will be asking for volunteers to host each hour – you might lead a few short prayers in that time (for those who would like to join in).  Please come and take part – it is a very special time with God.

THE OFFICE  -  I am delighted to tell you that Jackie Beeney has been appointed to the post of Administrator for the North Chippenham Group of Churches and also for the bookings of St Paul’s hall.  She has started the role and we are trying to work out when the best regular hours will be for her to work in the office in the hall.  We intend to publish them in the weekly notice sheet.

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 Stephen 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!)

GROUP SERVICE  -  in November it will be at 3pm on Sunday 1 November at St Paul’s – taking the form of our annual MEMORIAL SERVICE.  And on 6 December it will be at 7pm at St Paul’s – 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 take place at 7pm on Sunday 15 November.  Come along!

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

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.

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH  –  if healing and wholeness is about us becoming more like Jesus, then in this prayer we certainly seek to align our lives with his.  May we be more Christ like!

Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.
Above all,
I give you my heart that you may love in me.
I give you my whole self that you may grow in me.
So that it is you, Lord Jesus,
Who live and work and pray in me.
Amen.

Simon Tyndall

Tags: Rector's Ramblings