St. Paul's Church, Chippenham

CHURCH WARDENS  -  I want to welcome John Hartley as a new Church Warden (at St Paul’s) and thank all those who have been re-elected this year as Wardens -  Michael Meilton; Caroline Preston & Sarah Cook; Derek Boulton & Debbie Loveday; and Colin Labouchere.  Thanks for what you do – you ARE appreciated!

MORE!  -  I am delighted that Mike & Sarah Watkins are continuing with MORE! And the next dates are Wednesdays 2 & 16 June from 7.45-9.30pm in St Paul’s church hall.  Do come along and try it …this is what it offers…
Do you feel there must be more to life than this?
Do you want to live the life Jesus calls us to?
Do you want to experience the adventure that following Jesus really is?
Do you want MORE?!
A fortnightly evening of worship, teaching and discussion as we look at Mark’s gospel together.

GROUP SERVICES  -  during the summer months, these will not be taking place on the 1st Sunday of the month but rather we have 2 special services:

• Sunday 27 June at 4pm at Langley Burrell  Evensong sung by a choir from the Lord Mayor’s Chapel (Bristol)
• Sunday 18 July at 4pm at Hardenhuish an outdoor Songs Of Praise.

I do hope you’ll want to come along to them!

CHURCH FETES  -  dates for your diary are:
Saturday 12 June from 2-4pm Kington St Michael fete in the Manor gardens
and the following week 19 June at Langley Burrell Village Hall.
They are good fun – especially if the waether is nice!  Come and enjoy the sunshine and spend your money!

OFFICE CO-ORDINATOR  -  Jackie Beeney is returning to teaching in the autumn and so the office role will fall vacant.  (We will miss her!)  At the moment a group from St Paul’s PCC are looking at what that church wants from the post (especially to do with the hall etc) and then we will talk with the other 3 churches and see what shape of appointment we want to make this time.  If you might be interested and want to find out more about what is involved please talk to me about this!

DEANERY MEETING  -  will be on Wednesday 9 June at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Frogwell as the Rev Andy Gubbins (our deanery missioner) leads us on the theme of ‘The Great Commission’.  An open meeting – all are welcome – and it should help us in our thinking of outreach in Christ’s name!

THEMES & READINGS  -  will be as follows at the morning services during June.  In GOING DEEPER (great themes from the OT) ….(i) GOD’S CALL we are looking at well known passages from the Old Testament and trying to understand what they are saying to us today.

• June  6 – The call of Abram – Genesis 12:1-9, Matthew 5:1-12
• June  13 – God chooses David as King – 1 Samuel 16:4-13, Matthew 5:13-16
• June  20 – God sends Moses – Exodus 3:1-15, Matthew 6:25-34
• June  27 – Isaiah’s commission – Isaiah 6:1-8, Matthew 6:5-15

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 starting a series on THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

• June    2/3 – Blessed are … – Psalm 90 – Matthew 5:1-12
• June   9/10 – Salt  -  Light – Psalm 91 – Matthew 5:13-20
• June  16/17 – You have heard it said … – Psalm 92 – Matthew 5:21-30
• June  23/24 – Simply yes or no – Psalm 93 – Matthew 5:31-37
• June  30/July 1 – Be perfect – Psalm 95 – Matthew 5:38-48

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH  –  is one that I often use asking for God’s Spirit to lead and equip us as we serve others.  Why not use it in your own quiet time?

Eternal God & Father
you create us by your power
and redeem us by your love.
Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit
that we may give ourselves
in love and service
to one another and to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Simon Tyndall

The Fair Trade Fashion Show raised a grand total of
£273.25 (including Gift Aid), which all went to
Traidcraft Exchange. A very big ‘thank you’
to all who were involved in any way for making this
such a successful event.
Colette, Elodie, Jackie and Rowie

9th – 16th May 2010
Thanks to all who have helped with this collection in
previous years, your help is again requested this year.
Additional collectors are also urgently required to
enable us to cover our allocated roads, please contact
Graham Franklin or Ann Tyndall if you are able to give
just a few hours of your time during the week – your
support is vital.
Please sign up and collect your envelopes etc. from
the back of church.

Come and hear a CMS-SAMS speaker at a
celebration service.
Holy Trinity Church, Stapleton, Bristol
Sunday 16th May at 6.30pm.
Meet the team of cyclists going round Britain who are
raising awareness of CMS and be excited about what
God is doing in his worldwide church.
Contact Ann or Simon Tyndall 657216 ( a few of us
are already going and lifts can be arranged).

GRACE & TRUTH  -  Ann & I have recently been to Lee Abbey where we heard Mike Pilavachi speak on the topic Grace Awakening.  As always, it was a lovely time away in a beautiful setting with good food, fellowship and worship.  For me the highlight was to re-read John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (TNIV).

In it I was reminded that Jesus was totally full of truth and at the same time also totally full of grace.  And I find this a timely reminder to myself and us all – yes, we are called to share grace with others (be caring and show deep love) but we also need to hold on to the truths of the gospel.  Similarly, we need to be a people of gospel truth – but this is in the context of God’s grace.  We can’t simply hit people over the head with truth – we must exhibit grace; but also we can’t be so gracious that anything goes – as Christ followers we need to stand for truth also.  It is not an easy path to follow.  But, as Jesus people we are challenged to be people of both grace and truth together.  And this should inform and guide our theology and the difficult choices we are regularly called to make.

PRAYER LABYRITH  -  this will be a lovely opportunity to journey with Jesus in prayer during Holy Week at St Pauls and on Maundy Thursday we will also be….

PUTTING ON THE ARMOUR  -  from 6-8pm  @ St Paul’s church and this will be an opportunity for us to worship, pray and support each other as we ask for God’s protection on our community at this time as we engage in mission.  Lent is always a struggle for the Christian and we will seek to put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) as we face challenges and look outwards to reach those around us.  We all need God’s special protection and this is an important time to join together.  Come for as long as you can……and if you are able, do stay for the completion, the Breaking of Bread as we remember Jesus’ jouney towards the cross.

CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING DATES  -  please note these dates (and come along as we reflect on what God has been doing amongst us and choose those who will lead us forward as church officers – Church Wardens, Treasurers, PCC members).  It is important!  We need to ensure that the business of the church is properly organised so that our churches function well and we are equipped to do God’s business.
Mon 12 April 7.30pm Kington St Michael
Mon 19 April 7.30pm St Pauls & Langley Burrell
Wed 21 April 7.15pm Hardenhuish
All take place in the church.

CMS’s 40 DAYS OF YES – if you have been a member of the Church Mission Society CMS you will have been asked to renew your membership to become a member of the new community of mission service.  At the moment I am (rather slowly!) making my way through the 40 days of Bible reading and prayer and reflection before signing up to be a part of this exciting new movement.  It is something well-worth exploring giving a world-wide perspective on our discipleship and following of Jesus Christ.

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES – it looks like we will have 4 candidates for the Confirmation on Wednesday 5 May at St Andrew’s church at 7.30pm.  Please come along and support them as Bishop Lee leads this service.

MORE!  -  I am delighted that Mike & Sarah Watkins are going to lead this starting on the 21st April 2010 from 7.45-9.30pm in St Paul’s church hall.
Do you feel there must be more to life than this?
Do you want to live the life Jesus calls us to?
Do you want to experience the adventure that following Jesus really is?
Do you want MORE?!
A fortnightly evening of worship, teaching and discussion as we look at Mark’s gospel together.

A GOOD READ – I can highly recommend JOHN STOTT’s book THE LIVING CHURCH as well-worth buying and reading.  He wrote it a couple of years ago and it is his definitive word on the Church.  It is very readable and covers areas like Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship, Preaching & Ministry as Stott looks at the Christian community and what it means for us to be Church.  It is biblical, logical and thoughtful.  Do read it!

ELECTION HUSTINGS – as I write this the General Election has not yet been called (but electioneering is already well underway!)  As in previous years, the local Christian community are hosting an opportunity to meet the candidates and quiz them.  This is pencilled in for Tuesday 20 April at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s church.  All are welcome!

SAMUEL’S WEDDING – as you probably know, our son Samuel will be getting married on Saturday 10 April to Becky Simpson in Oswestry.  Please keep them in your prayers as they start on this great adventure together.  They are a lovely couple who met at university and they will be setting up home in York where Samuel is working in hospital management and Becky for the minister at St Michael-le-Belfry church.

THEMES & READINGS – will be as follows at the morning services during April.  In THE FIRST CHRISTIAN WITNESSES we are looking at passages in Acts that refer to the events of Easter and trying to understand what it is really all about.

• April 4 – Easter Day – Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-9
• April 11 – ‘God raised Jesus’ – Acts 5:17-32, John 20:19-23
• April 18 – ‘Who are you Lord?’ – Acts 9:1-20, John 20:24-31
• April 25 – Many believe in Jesus – Acts 9:36-43, John 10:22-30

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 on ISRAEL’S LEADERS (FROM MOSES TO SAUL).

• April 7/8 – Easter – Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-9
• April 14/15 – Abimelech, a murderer – Judges 9:1-6, John 20:19-31
• April 21/22 – Jephthah, a mighty warrior – Judges 11:1-11, John 10:22-30
• April 28/29 – Ibzan, Elon & Abdon – Judges 12:8-15, John 13:31-35

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH – seems to me to be a prayer that we might each (and as a church community) be conveyers of God’s Truth & Grace.  Why not use it in your own quiet time?

Loving God,
Make my life a sign of your engaging love.
May my heart be penitent,
My actions generous,
My words sensitive.
Fill me with the longing to share with others
The good news I have received;
Anoint my life with your Spirit that
Jesus may be formed in me:
His tongue to speak in me,
His hands to work in me,
His heart to beat in me.
So through all I do, and all I am,
With all the people you have called me to witness to,
May Jesus be known
And his kingdom established.
Amen.

Simon Tyndall