St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Hutton, - News
February 2012
Dear
Friends,
As I write this article, the news is full of the
story of the cruise liner Costa Concordia which hit a rock –
although initially it was reported as a sandbar – off
the coast of Italy and capsized. So far, the reports are that
only [!] five people have died in this accident.
The thing which seems to puzzle most people is
‘how on earth could something like this happen to a well-founded
ship in this day and age...?’ Some say it was human error,
some say that the computer equivalent of sat-nav that ships
use was to blame. The Captain himself asserts that there should
have been deep water under the ship where it was at the time
it hit bottom. And all the while, we are hearing comparisons
with the Titanic .... ‘how could this happen...?’
Already the ‘black box’ that most large people-carrying
vehicles are now issued with, has been recovered to assess what
went wrong.
Sometimes things go wrong in our lives because
we live in a fallen world. ‘Stuff happens....’ even
to the best of us. But sometimes also, things go wrong because
we have not prepared things right or have deliberately or carelessly
allowed them to happen to us. The car with bad tires, the quick
dash across the road without looking, the habit which eventually
endangers our health. All these things can, though not always
will, cause things to go wrong.
We cannot always protect against the random events
of the world we live in. [Japan had protection in place for
the earthquake and the Tsunami, but not for the scale that eventually
hit], but we can choose certain things that will affect our
lives. I would like you to consider going to a Lent group this
Lent. Though Lent groups may not make you physically fit or
avoid the way you learn how to cross the road, they provide
an opportunity to give yourself, or rather allow God to give
you a spiritual [and maybe mental] M.O.T. Perhaps it is time
that you address certain issues which you know you don’t
want to live with. Perhaps it is time to slow down and let God
speak to you a bit more. Perhaps it is time to hear what God
wants to say to you about how much he loves you. And also, there
is the lovely opportunity to meet and mingle with other people
who are in equal need and have equally as much to offer as you
do.
I invite you this Lent to steer your ship into
waters that are safely charted and invite Jesus to pilot you
on a journey with him where you can explore some wonderful new
places in your life.
In his love
See Notice Board for
Whats's On this week
See Event Calendar
for events this month
CANDLEMAS
We celebrate Jesus’ presentation in the
temple with a weekend of fun activities with our Candlemas service.
Saturday 4th February
‘Candlemas Family Fun and Worship’
Two hours of activities in Hutton School from 4 – 6pm.
Come on Saturday. There will be making things, songs,
puppets and afternoon tea. We will provide all the materials.
Sunday 5th February
‘Candlemas Family Fun and Worship part 2’.
11am in Hutton school. An hour of songs, puppets and story.
Both events are for parents and children ages 0 - 11 years.
To book your place please ring Richard or
Anne 823556 or revdannelee@yahoo.co.uk
All welcome‘Christingle Family Fun and Worship’
“SINGIN' IN THE RAIN"
6th February at 2.30pm
Film Afternoon
St Mary’s church, Hutton
With refreshments
QUIZ NIGHT with Fish ‘n’
Chip Supper
Friday 24th February
7.30pm Hutton Village Hall
£6.50 per person
Alternatives available. BYO drinks
Tickets from Church or Kay Cole Tel 81142
Music & Meditation for Candlemass
6pm February 5th
St Mary’s Church, Hutton
Book Sale
Saturday 11th February 2012 10am - 12 noon
1, Moor Lane, Hutton
Come along and see what's on offer
All proceeds to St Mary's Church
Donations of books gratefully accepted
Ring: 814483 for more details
Quiet Time and a Lent Lunch
On Saturday March 17th the church will be open
from
10.30am to 3pm. From 10.30am to 11.30am and from 2pm to 3pm
there will time for peace and quiet, reflection and prayer.
This is the
day before Mothering Sunday, so it could be a good time to
remember mothers and those who have mothered us.
There will be a Lent Lunch from 12 noon until 1.30pm, with all
welcome.
For more details contact Jane Barry 813802
ELECTORAL ROLL and APCM.
This year the electoral roll will be revised
only. If you wish to have your name added to the roll then forms
will be in church. Being on the roll enables you to vote at
the APCM. The Annual Parochial Church meeting will take place
in church on Tuesday 27th March at 7.30pm. Do come along and
hear what has been happening and to hear what is planned for
the year ahead. At this meeting new PCC members will be elected,
as well as wardens.
LENT GROUPS
if you are interested in joining a group in
either
Hutton or Locking please see the lists in church. The groups
will
start the course week beginning Monday 27th February. There
are
groups who meet on evenings and mornings. If you do not already
belong to a group and would like to join one for Lent please
ring 823556.
SOAKING PRAYER
Saturday February 25th 7.00pm Locking
Church Centre. Please sign the list in church. Soaking Prayer
involves lying on the floor (please bring a sleeping bag / blanket
/
pillow etc) and listening to gentle music, allowing God to speak
to
you as you rest. If you are unable to lie down then you are
able to
sit. All are welcome to come along - places are limited.
If you have any questions, please see Richard, Anne, Chris or
anybody else who went on the last one.
WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP
Locking Women’s Fellowship In the Green
Room at Locking Church Centre
Thursday 2nd February - Robert Dungay - Mission
Aviation Fellowship
Thursday 16th February - Slides - Women’s World Day of
Prayer
All ladies are welcome at the meetings which
start at 2.45 pm and end about 4.00 pm
Please ring if you would like a lift.
Several ladies from Hutton go to each meeting.
Val Harris Tel: 814676
LENT LUNCHES FOR 2012
Once again we are to organise Lent Lunches at
various venues as shown below.
Many thanks to those people who have offered
to host these events. They are times of great fellowship and,
as the proceeds go to Christian Aid, it is a wonderful way to
support those less fortunate than ourselves.
Tuesday 28th February at Hebron Church Hall,
12.00 noon to 1.30pm
Wednesday 7th March at 51 Vereland Road, 12.00 noon to 1.30pm
Saturday 17th March in our church room at St Mary’s, 12.00
noon to 1.30pm
Wednesday 21st March in Hutton Village Small Hall, 12.30pm to
2.00pm
Tuesday 27th March at Summerset, 29 Church Lane, 12.00 noon
to 1.30pm.
Do come along and bring friends and neighbours,
the invitation is to everyone.
PRAYER MEETINGS
Prayer meetings in the South Aisle of St Mary’s
church:
Wednesday 1st February 9.30-10.00am
Wednesday 15th February 9.30-10.00am
Wednesday 29th February 9.30-10.00am
PASTORAL CARE TEAM
The Pastoral Care Team wish to offer contact
numbers for shopping and other necessary errands when
people are stuck at home because of the weather or illness.
Please contact one of the following if you are
in need of help and we will tryto assist
Virginia Hollis - 01934-812800
Val Harris - 01934-814676
WESTRON-SUPER-PRAYER AND PRAISE
Churches together in Weston-super-Mare and District
Emmanuel Church, Oxford Street,
Weston-super-Mare
7.15pm for 7.30pm start
Dates for 2012
Thurs Feb 9th: Carers in our communities
Thurs April 19th: Young People, unemployment in our community
Thurs May 24th: Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, Industry
Thurs July 14th: Prayer-on-the-Hill - Uphill
Thurs Sept 20th: Farming and Agriculture in our area
Thurs Nov 15th: Homelessness and Poverty in our community
Please do consider coming to these relevant
events.
If lifts are required ring Virginia on 812800.
OLDMIXON HOME GROUP
Friday 27th January l0.00am
Wednesday 15th February at 2.30 pm.
We shall be discussing the meaning of Communion to
us, hopefully with a Catholic Anglican as a guest.
For details of Locking home groups,
please contact Revs Anne and Richard Lee (823556)
HUTTON FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
Hutton Village Hall Visitors Welcome
February 2012
6th 10.00am Committee Meeting
13th 2.30pm Terry Gilbert - words and their Meaning
25th 10.15am Coffee morning
27th 2.30pm Cyril Routley - in my aunts parlour (china and glassware)
For more information, please contact Brian Cooper 814851
GENTLE EXERCISE CLASSES
Locking Church Centre from 10am to 11am, every
Tuesday morning. For the more energetic there
will be a chance to take part in more robust exercise. The choice
is yours.
The instructor is fully qualified and £3
will be charged for each session.
For further details contact Margaret Cooper 01934 822408.
ChaT- CHAPLAINCY ABOUT TOWN
COFFEE MORNING AND LUNCHTIME REFRESHMENTS
1ST SATURDAY,
EVERY MONTH
10.00-14.00
@ UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, THE BOULEVARD
*HOME MADE CAKES*
*OTHER GOODIES*
*CRAFT ITEMS*BOOKS*
RAFFLE*TOMBOLA*
*FREE ADMISSION*ALL WELCOME*
COME AND MEET THE TEAM
WELCOME TO LIFE
"Welcome to Life” is Weston’s
new independent Christian bookshop,
based at 13 The Centre, Weston-super- Mare.
Here at “Life” we aim to be more than a book shop.
Yes we sell books,
cards and gifts, as well as daily Bible reading notes etc. But
this is not our sole purpose.
Come and visit us!
We look forward to welcoming you at “Life”!
Andrew, Lydia and Ro
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
I wonder how many of you think how much the
village shop and Post Office makes us truly a village? It seems
to me that should it go, then very quickly we would become a
dormitory of WsM – and appendage to Oldmixon. So I have
started a new policy. When I have written my shopping list I
go first to Hutton Stores and buy there whatever they stock
(maybe it costs a little more, but just do without something
else! – think of all the unnecessary purchases you make
over the week), then I go on into town.
Please give it some thought – and, then, I hope, take
action.
BELL
RINGING
We are a friendly group of people who meet in
Hutton church on a Wednesday evening at 8pm.
You can be any age from 10 upwards to 80 and don’t need
to be physically fit.
We would like to recruit some new ringers.
If you would like to have a go join us on a Wednesday evening.
If you require any further information please
contact Margaret Bailey Tel 815308
ST MARY'S PRAYER CHAIN
If you or someone you know would like the support
and fellowship of others in prayer or praise, please contact
any member of the prayer chain. Your request will be shared
compassionately and confidentially with available members of
the chain and prayed about for two weeks. Should needs change
or further prayer be required - let the chain know! The amount
of information you give is entirely up to you. In some instances
it will be enough to give just the Christian name of the person
for whom prayer is requested. Contacts
Val Harris 814676 - Kay Cole 811424 - Marjorie
Barker 814011 - Virginia Hollis 812800 - Jill Banwell 812850
- Menna Davis 814680
ST MARY'S CHURCH CHOIR REPORT
Due to a plethora of senior moments on my part
around, this report did not make the Annual Parish Church Meeting,
for which many apologies! As always, the Choir and other invited,
regular singers have been very busy during the past twelve months
enhancing the worship at St. Mary's. I am very grateful for
their dedication and hard work week by week.
I must first of all thank Andrew and Vanessa so
much for all that they have done to enhance the quality, variety
and organisation of the music and of the choir, particularly
for Mattins services, with Andrew's organ playing adding great
variety and leadership, which we all value enormously. We wish
them all our very best wishes for their forthcoming marriage
on July 2nd here in St. Mary's at 2p.m. I am the first to appreciate
the sheer luxury of having an extremely competent Assistant
organist at a time when so many churches struggle to find anybody
to play at all! He and Vanessa have also cut the average age
of the choir by more than a generous Bank Holiday weekend discount!!
Thank you both so much for the time you put in so willingly!
I am also very grateful to Dan for his meticulous
organisation of the music, keeping a check on where it all is,
and for his valuable ideas. Thank you Dan! I have been so thrilled
by the quality of the singing in the choir recently, notably
at the Christmas Carol service, the Dedication Service for the
bells, the Good Friday Vigil and various anthems performed during
services - all of which have been appreciated by so many. Thanks
to you all! The Celtic Communion services have been also much
appreciated, and these have been principally organised by Mary
and Peter Beckett - many thanks to them! Mary has also worked
hard to put together the various occasional evening Music and
Meditations which have taken place and, again, appreciated by
many. Now that we have a large number of children in the School
Choir, I am hoping that children will be able to contribute
to the sing of praises in Sunday Services more in the future.
Watch this space!
Eric Holdaway
LAY LED HOME COMMUNIONS
Over the last year the number of people receiving
Home Communion in their own home risen considerably. In order
to cater for this, we will be forming a team of lay people from
both churches who will be trained to do this and who also have
the Bishop’s permission to do so. If you yourself would
like to receive Communion at home, please let the clergy know
and they can make arrangements for this.
MISSION PRAISE BOOKS
Following recent purchase of fifty-two of the
new black Mission Praise Song Books the PCC have purchased another
thirty. Jane Barry is co-ordinating the purchase and would like
to give you the opportunity to buy them in memory of a loved
one, at a cost of £6.60 each. This has proved very popular,
with Menna writing wonderful calligraphic memorial plates, for
a small donation to support her relatives’ work in Africa.
Please see Jane and Menna to arrange payment and memorial plate.
MOTHER TERESA'S PRAYER
A prayer written on the wall in Mother Teresa's
home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and
self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish,
ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful
friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive
you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could
destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be
jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be
enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It
was never between you and them anyway.
