"Journeying together to share our Christian faith"

PETERNEWS

Issue No 39 - 6th February 2010

A lot of premises work has been going on during the past month. The parquet floor blocks previously mentioned have been re-laid, sanded and polished. A separate bulging in the floor near the Lady Chapel door has also been re-laid. All the fluorescent lights in the Hall have been replaced (thanks, Rick and Richard) and the dripping tap in the Vestry rectified (thanks, Chris). Various other bits of maintenance have occurred, but the weather has caused a postponement of the concrete painting. The rain has shown up a few more leaks to do with the gutters and window sealants around the church itself: help requested, please …. The Quinquennial (5 years) inspection by diocesan architects is due this year.

One of the first aspects of life at St. Peter’s to come under the spotlight as a result of Andrew’s observations is the whole approach to Baptism. For the next few months, as a trial, the mums, dads and godparents of a new baptism candidate will be encouraged to come and see what we are like, starting with a ‘Birth Thanksgiving’ aspect within our 9.30 service - our chance to get to know them. Then we are to ensure that the baptism promises are understood and taken more seriously than previously permitted. In this way we hope to "journey together to share our faith" and love. So prepare to meet more new people.

At the other end of life winter takes its toll, and we record the deaths of Tom Bussey, Doreen Ross, Alfie Bridges and Margaret Hemmings – all sadly missed. Our love and sympathy are extended to the families of each. Though Margaret had been unable to attend Church recently, she had received Communion at Seymour House from members of our Pastoral team. Her long years of devotion to Church and family were duly recognised at her funeral service.

I arrived early at Church to set up for Margaret’s funeral, only to find Andrew entertaining dozens of children from Redland School. They were getting to know the church, and were drawing pictures of objects they could see and asking questions about them. A brilliant exercise in familiarisation, mission and evangelism.

The Rev. Christine Froude of Shirehampton came to talk to the PCC a couple of weeks ago. She had been invited to come and share her experiences of how she set about increasing the Shirehampton congregation from 35, seven years ago, to the current 230. Some achievement. It seemed to me that much of what she described takes place here at St. Peter’s, but she had the ability to manage, enthuse and encourage the relevant members of her congregation. In comparison, we initiate something, but often fail to see it through. Communication would again seem to be our problem. Our Leadership team has decided to start discussions of such matters. "Don’t try everything at once" said Christine.

Along the communications line, all information is available and usually disseminated, but how much is absorbed? Perhaps we need to meet each other more often on a social level?

On Sunday 31^st January (Homelessness Sunday) we welcomed to our service the Sheldon Road Methodists as, currently, they are ‘homeless’. This is because of significant new building work at Sheldon Road. For the next few months, they have found a ‘home’ in various other churches around town. The Church was full. The loose collection that day was split between Doorway (Homelessness) and the Leprosy Mission (their designated week); this resulted in £190 each.

On the question of giving – our own personal giving to St. Peter’s – we perhaps need a second contact for envelopes and Gift Aid forms requests and information at services when I am not present. Karen Tucker has agreed to take this on. Karen will be around to encourage such giving, and will channel the necessary information to me. Confidentiality will be maintained. I take this opportunity to stress how beneficial to St. Peter’s the making of a Gift Aid declaration is, in terms of the tax refund to us. Declarations made before the end of the tax year will be included in our April claim.

The Annual General Meeting will be on Sunday 18^th April following the morning service. Now is the time to consider whether you can actively serve on the PCC. Already we know that we shall need a new secretary to replace Barbara who has served us well. The two posts of Church Warden are also subject to annual election.

Here are two more dates for your diary. Friday 19^th March to 7^th April, a party of 6 – 8 Ugandans will be visiting the Deanery: accommodation and entertainment will be required – contact Andrew. The on Monday 26^th April at 7.45 pm we look forward to another evening of music by the Band of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service. Watch the Notices for more details nearer the time.

Writing on the feast of the Presentation, I stumbled on these hymn words:

"What shall we ask of Christ today in line with his intentions? / to fill the church with rage or prayer, blessed babes or children’s questions? / Oh let us pray for all of these and cease to be selective / for many are the means by which Christ makes his Church effective." No sentiment could be more timely for our journey of coming together in this new era at St. Peter’s, and no season more appropriate than Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Please support as best you can the upcoming events, in body and in spirit:

Pray for all the families invited to the Craft Morning with Bobby on St Valentine’s Day, alongside our morning service.

Get hold of this year’s booklet: Love Life Live Lent: £1, proceeds to charity. To start ticking the boxes join us in Church for a Generation Game, Pancakes & Ploughman’s at 6pm on Shrove Tuesday, plus a family member. Adults £2, children free.

Ash Wednesday services will be at 10 am and 7.30 pm.

Most important this year will be a very practical series of evenings entitled "Prayer: Perceptions and Practices" on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm starting 25^th February in Church, but warmly informal and down to earth. If Lent is ‘God’s Springtime’, then these evenings offer something suitably refreshing for our personal spiritual journey.

If you can only make mornings, St. Peter’s will be hosting a Chippenham Churches Together Lent Course immediately after the 10 am service on Wednesdays in which we will be looking at the Cross of Christ, 10.30 – 11.45 am, starting 24^th February.

It has been truly exciting to witness the collaborative nature of ministry, witness and worship in the community of St. Peter’s at the beginning of 2010. Let’s pray for the further leading of God’s Spirit at every level and occasion.

This page was last updated on 13 February 2010