THE PARISH PUMP FOR MARCH2006
EDITORIAL
.
This month the Rector describes the spiritual importance of church
buildings. He refers to research sponsored by the Archbishops' Council
and English Heritage showing the astonishing number of people
visiting churches, not just for services but for ‘special events’ (weddings,
funerals, concerts etc), to seek ‘a quiet space’, or as an historic building.
Churches are highly valued, even by non-members. 60% of those questioned
thought churches make neighbourhoods better places to live, and 70% that
they play a valuable social role. 70% also appreciates the role of church
schools. There are a great many people who would agree with Viscount
Melbourne, when he said ‘While I can not be regarded as a pillar, I must be
regarded as a buttress of the church, because I support it from the outside.’
At Harry’s induction service, The Bishop of Dorchester ruefully suggested that
in urban areas, priests can expect to be heard only ‘by a small percentage of
their parishioners.’ The Bishop is right, for less than 30% of people in
England went to ‘a normal Sunday service’ last year. Nevertheless, churches
are seen as such an indispensable part of every town and village that nearly
40% of us believe that the government, the Lottery, and English Heritage
between them pay for their maintenance. What is more, nearly 50% think this
is, or would be, a Good Thing.
In fact, as Lord Harrison said in a House of Lords during a debate in 2004,
the Church of England repair bill for its 13,000 churches is £80 million a
year, with only £30 million coming in state aid. The remainder has to come
from the resources of central church funds and the parishes. In the same
Lords debate, the Bishop of Norwich said ‘Our ancient parish churches are
cared for as a result of the best sort of localism. Thousands of volunteers
maintain and raise funds for this priceless part of our national heritage.’
But although he thought this enthusiasm would continue, he foresaw the
increasing costs would become too onerous a burden for many parishes
without either more state aid, or a widening of the use of our churches which
could bring in more money.
While these ideas are thought through, we must not underestimate the
importance of an open church building to everyone, including the large
number of those who do not regularly attend services. The army of parish
volunteers who keep our churches fettled, polished, and welcoming, deserve
all our thanks, and our help.
Richard Martin
PARISH & BENEFICE SERVICES
.
1st March - Ash Wednesday
10.00am B Bourton Holy Communion EJ
7.30pm Westwell Benefice Eucharist Service HM, EJ
5th March – Lent I
10.30am L Faringdon Benefice Eucharist Service HM, EJ
6.00pm Alvescot Evensong EJ
6.00pm Shilton Youth Worship HM
8th March
9.00pm Kencot Compline HM
12th March - Lent II
9.00am Alvescot Holy Communion HM
9.00am Broadwell Matins PW
9.00am Westwell/Holwell Combined Holy Communion EJ
10.30am Filkins Parish Communion EJ
10.30am Shilton Parish Communion & Children’s Church HM
6.00pm B Bourton Evensong HM
6.00pm Kencot Evensong AP
15th March
9.00pm Shilton Compline HM
19th March - Lent III
9.00am B Bourton/Alvescot Combined Holy Communion NUW
9.00am Holwell Holy Communion HM
10.30am Broadwell Holy Communion NUW
10.30am Kelmscott Family Communion HM
10.30am Langford Morning Prayer EJ
6.00pm B Poggs Evensong EJ
6.00pm Westwell Evensong NUW
22nd March
9.00pm Holwell Compline NUW
26th March - Mothering Sunday (British Summertime - clocks one hour forward)
9.00am Kencot Holy Communion (no sermon) HM
9.00am Shilton Holy Communion NUW
10.30am Alvescot/B Bourton Combined Family Communion EJ
10.30am Filkins Family Communion TF
11.00am L Faringdon Parish Communion HM
6.00pm Holwell/Westwell Combined Evensong NUW
6.00pm Langford Evensong HM
29th March
9.00pm Filkins Compline NUW
2nd April - Lent V
9.00am Alvescot Parish Communion NU-W
9.00am Westwell/Holwell Combined Holy Communion EJ
10.30am Broadwell Parish Communion NU-W
10.30am Filkins Parish Communion HM
11.00am L Faringdon Matins EJ
4
6.00pm B Bourton Evensong EJ
6.00pm Kencot Evensong NUW
6.00pm Shilton Youth Service HM
There is also a Communion Service at Black Bourton every Wednesday at 10.00am
CELEBRANTS
AP Arthur Pont EJ Liz Johnson
HM Harry MacInnes NUW Neville Usher-Wilson
PW Paul Winchester TF Tom Farrell
BENEFICE SERVICES
All services are at 10.30am unless otherwise stated
2006
9th April Filkins
Palm Sunday Procession starts from B Poggs at 10.00am
13th April Alvescot
Maundy Thursday 7.30pm
14th April Shilton
Good Friday 2.00pm
7th May Broadwell
Rogation Sunday 12.00noon
4th June Holwell
Whit Sunday
2nd July Alvescot
THE LECTIONARY
.
1st March - Ash Wednesday (P)
Joel 2.1-2,12-17 Psalm 51. 1-18
2 Corinthians 5. 20b-6.10 Matthew 6. 1-6, 16-21
5th March - Lent I (P)
Genesis 9. 8-17 Psalm 25. 1-9
1 Peter 3. 18-end Mark 1. 9-15
12th March - Lent II (P)
Genesis 17. 1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22. 23-end
Romans 4. 13-end Mark 8. 31-end
19th March - Lent III (P)
Exodus 20. 1-17 Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1. 18-25 John 2. 13-22
26th March - Mothering Sunday (P)
Exodus 2.1-10 Psalm 34. 11-20
2 Corinthians 1. 3-7 Luke 2.33-35
2nd April - Lent V (P)
Jeremiah 31.31-34 Psalm 51. 1-13
Hebrews 5. 5-10 John 12. 20-33
THE RECTOR’S LETTER
.
Dear Friends
Some churches in this country have a large advertising board on which
they display their activities, or provide (what they hope) is a helpful
thought for the casual passer by. I liked one of these which had the
caption ‘Try this church for a month, and if you don’t like it, your sins will
gladly be refunded!’
Although it is unlikely that this brought about a sudden increase in the
number of churchgoers, the press has recently reported the extraordinary
statistic that nearly 90% of the population visited a church in the last year. It
seems that the buildings that have stood for hundreds of years, shaping the
landscape and standing as a silent witness to another dimension of life, have
been noticed again.
No doubt there are all kinds of different reasons why this has happened. In
countless little villages and cities up and down the land, there are places of
worship that are treasures. The architecture and the craftsmanship are
exquisite. That is enough to draw the curious visitor. But there is more; these
buildings carry so much of our national history, changing with the
generations.
Each century has seen fascinating alterations and additions. Our churches
have been constantly adapted to facilitate the ongoing life of the community.
They have not simply remained as monuments to the past, but been centres
of life, where people have opened themselves up to each other in their search
for the meaning of life and that world of the Spirit which alone can make
sense of things.
Which brings me to a suggestion. In the villages of this benefice we have
twelve of the most fascinating churches in the country (of course I am not
biased in saying this!). How many have you been to? Do I dare to suggest that
you might try a visit to all of them, and perhaps even risk attending a
benefice service?
These buildings were never intended as museums, and there are many in our
parishes who are determined that they don’t become that. They are intended
to be places where men and women, young and old, are able to discover
afresh the forgiveness, love and power of Christ; and Lent is the time which
over the years has been used as period for focusing on just that.
I don’t know that we are very good at doing it yet, but it is never too late to
begin.
Harry MacInnes
For more about the evolution of our parishes see Mike Clark’s article click here
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
.
We have already had two children’s church activities this year. In
January we had a great time tracing the journey we thought the
three wise men must have done and used our imaginations to try
and feel what travel must have been like when the only mode of transport
were camels, donkeys or more often feet. The faith and courage these men
must have had but most importantly their belief in God and his love.
Children’s Church will continue on the second Sunday of every month,
except in April (when all the churches in the Benefice will be holding their
own Easter service) and August (school holidays).
Thank you for supporting our Children’s Church and we hope that many
more of you would like to join. For more information or any queries please
contact Harry McInnes (01993 845954) or me on 01993 847039.
Children’s Church dates for the first half of 2006
All activities start at 10.15 in Shilton Old School
Sunday 12th March Sunday 14th May
Sunday 11th June Sunday 9th July
Debs Price
YOUTH WORSHIP
.
Youth Worship generally runs on the first Sunday of each month from
6.00 to 7.30pm at Shilton Church and Old School House.
5th March 6.00 to 7.30pm Evening Prayer Shilton Church
9th April 6.00 to 7.30 pm Holy Communion Shilton Church
Jane Brylewski (Tel: 01993 822 479 and email: )
LENT COURSE
.
The theme of our Lent course this year is ‘Where is God?’ Where is God
when… we seek happiness? we face suffering? we make decisions? we
contemplate death? we try to make sense of life? Questions a lot of
people are asking in our troubled times.
Each evening we shall be listening to a short talk, with speakers Archbishop
Rowan Williams, Patricia Routledge, Joel Edwards, Pauline Webb and David
Hope, as a basis for discussion and reflection.
If you would like to set some time aside during Lent to think through these
important questions, do come and join us. We shall be meeting at Filkins
Vicarage every Monday during the five weeks of Lent, beginning on Monday
6th March, at 7.30 pm. For more details, do telephone me on 01367 860846.
Liz Johnson
GOODBYE TO THE BISHOP
.
The bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries, has announced that he will retire on 2nd June, his seventieth birthday, by which time he will have served the diocese of Oxford for 19 years. He and his wife, Dr Jo Harries, will be moving to south-west London where they hope to see more of their three grandsons.
There is to be a farewell evening for Richard Harries hosted by for the Witney and Woodstock Deaneries on March 9th at 7.30pm in Carterton Church. A short service will be followed by a talk from the bishop, and then refreshments. Everyone will be made very welcome.
Pat Pratley
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
.
Our meeting on 1st March will be in preparation for The Women’s World
Day of Prayer on Friday 3rd. We shall meet as usual at 2.45pm in the
schoolroom of Filkins Methodist Chapel, when Diane Blackett will show
slides of South Africa, whose women have put together this year’s WWDP
Service. This is an excellent introduction to the Service and all who intend to
go are welcome to join us. Will members please remember to bring their
contributions for the teas to the meeting, if possible.
MAB
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
.
This is at 2.30pm on Friday 3rd March in Filkins Methodist Chapel. This year
the interdenominational service has been prepared by the Christian Women
of South Africa. Please come and join us, everyone is welcome.
For more information telephone me on 01367 860504
Diane Blackett
SHILTON BAPTIST CHAPEL
.
On the first Sunday of every month we have an informal meeting. The
pews are turned round into a big square and before the service starts we
usually have a cup of tea and biscuits. Different members of the congregation
contribute to the service as they feel they want to. Some do a reading, or share
testimony of what God has done for them since the last meeting.
We have a time of open prayer when as many of us as want to can pray for
people and situations locally or internationally which need God’s touch. We
also choose hymns and choruses which we sing unaccompanied and very
heartily though not necessarily tunefully! We shouldn’t be amazed yet we
always are at how God uses this time to really speak to us all.
In March, Debbie Newman of ‘Helping Hands’ is joining us, and will share
with us news from this charity for children in Uganda. The charity aims to
give them a ‘helping hand’ so that they start life with basic medical care.
Everyone is very welcome to join us for this service or any other.
Our services for March will be at 6.00 pm. and are as follows:
5th March Informal Debbie Newman joining us
12th March Graham Sparrowhawk
19th March Stephen Mayo
26th March Andy Robinson
Elizabeth Harfield
LETTER FROM EAST AFRICA
.
Neville & Olaug report on their Great Adventure in Uganda
We’d very briefly visited the far east corner of Uganda in 1982 but,
effectively, this was our first time since 1969 and things have
changed, but not Entebbe Airport! Needlessly we queued before
realizing we already had the necessary visa and were able to get through only
to find our transport arrangements had broken down. But then a car arrived
and we were off to Kampala to the Namirembe Guest House, admirably managed by Vanessa, Miriam Mfitumukeza’s sister.
It is placed on the steep side of a hill, topped by the Anglican Cathedral (right), reminiscent on the outside of Byzantine architecture, and with a lovely view over the city. It’s cooler there with breezes, contrasting with the muggy heat of the city below. Trying to walk to what we thought we remembered, we got lost and took a ride on a couple of ‘boda bodas’, motor bike taxis, up to the Speke Hotel. They get through the habitually snarled up traffic, weaving past the jam-packed vehicles, all jostling for position and avoiding large pot holes, where possible!