The Forerunner – April 2015

forerunner

Service Calendar for April 2015

Wednesday    1st Nailsworth 10.00 am Holy Communion
Maundy    2nd Nailsworth 7.00 pm Holy Communion and
Thursday Stripping of the Church
Good Friday    3rd Nailsworth 2.00 pm Final Hour of the Cross
Horsley 2.00 pm Final Hour of the Cross
Kingscote 2.00 pm Final Hour of the Cross
Sunday    5th   Kingscote    9.30 am Parish Communion CW
Easter Day Nailsworth 11.00 am Holy Communion
Horsley 11.00 am Holy Communion
Wednesday    8th Nailsworth 10.00 am Holy Communion
Sunday 12th Kingscote    9.30 am Holy Communion BCP
Nailsworth 11.00 am Holy Communion
Horsley 11.00 am Family Service
Wednesday 15th Nailsworth 10.00 am Holy Communion
Sunday 19th Kingscote    9.30 am Family Service
Nailsworth 11.00 am Family Communion
Horsley 11.00 am Holy Communion
Wednesday 22nd Nailsworth 10.00 am Holy Communion
Sunday 26th Kingscote 9.30 am Holy Communion CW
St George’s Day Nailsworth 11.00 am Holy Communion
Horsley 11.00 am Informal Worship
Horsley 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

 

The Little Angels mothers and toddlers group meets on Fridays at 9.45 am at Nailsworth, except during the school holidays on Fridays 3 and 10 April.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be on Tuesday 7 April at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall.

All are welcome to attend and contribute. 

     Diocesan News                 www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/publications

                                          www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/blog

     Nailsworth Benefice        www.stgeorgesnailsworth.org.uk

     Kingscote Community      www.kingscoteonline.co.uk

Easter at St John the Baptist’s Church Kingscote                      

Preparations for Easter begin on Friday 3 April – Good Friday. In the morning we will put up our Easter Cross in the churchyard. In the afternoon there is an opportunity to recall the last hour of Jesus life on earth in a meditation of words, music and silence at 2.00 pm in the church.

Then on Sunday we will celebrate the joy of Easter Day and Jesus’ new life in a service at 9.30 am. This is for all ages and will include Easter Eggs !

 

The Vicar’s Letter

Dear Friends,

Easter is here ! Don’t you just love it …. fluffy bunnies, spring lambs and chocolate eggs.

But before we come over all Scrooge-like (yes I know it’s the wrong season for that) there is some merit in these symbols.

The Easter Egg is a tasty way of representing a real egg – looks like a stone, yet contains the potential new life of a chick. Jesus’ lifeless body was laid in a stone tomb having been properly wrapped for burial. There was no doubt in the minds of friends and foe that he was dead. Problem sorted, thought some. Dream over, thought others.

Yet God’s love proved so powerful that even death was not strong enough to overcome it. The one and only thing that humans never conquer was defeated once and for all by God’s love as Jesus was brought back to new life.

The Easter Egg reminds us of the unlikely yet miraculous truth that Jesus was alive again. And that gives ushope for our future after death. So let’s enjoy the eggs.

But what about bunnies and lambs ?   Once again, they are meant to represent new life at this time. If you have ever watched new born lambs or rabbits in a field, they seem to spend most of their time tearing around jumping and enjoying the freedom of the field and the open air.

Maybe we can learn from them to let our hair down at this time and really celebrate the joy and wonder of Easter.

Mike Smith

 

Flower Rota

5 and 12 AprilEASTER19 and 26 April

3 and 10 May

Flower TeamSheila Grey

Zoe Nichols

Lorna Reynolds

Cleaning Team

The next church cleaning session is at 2.30 pm on Monday 13 April. We are always delighted to welcome anyone who would like to join the team.

Teresa Day

 

Village Hall Programme

Film night – Tuesday 14 April To Kill a Mocking Bird, afilm classic starring Gregory Peck as lawyer Atticus Finch, 7.30 for 8.00 pm. Admission free, pay bar. Last show of this season.

Coffee Morning – Tuesday 21 April, 10.30 to11.30 am, £1-50 for coffee and cake. All most welcome. 

No other events in April due to Easter holidays but two advance notices for May.

Howden Jones concert – Friday 8 May. If you missed them two years ago do come and hear this excellent singer/songwriter duo …. and take your mind off the election result ! Tickets £10.

Coffee Morning and bring and buy Plant Sale – Wednesday 20 May 10.30 to 11.30 am, all welcome £1-50 for coffee and cake.

Carol Paton

 

Grumbolds Ash Group

On Tuesday 14 April we visit Bristol Zoo Gardens, BS8 3HA. Several routes can be used – M5 to J17 Cribbs Causeway or to J18 Avonmouth, and A46/M4/M32 into the city centre. Admission tickets £14-53/£12-71 before gift aid supplement. We meet as usual at the Village Hall at 10.00 am to share transport.

Jutta Tubbs

Book Club at 8.00 pm

Wednesday 15 April Elephant Moon by John Sweeney, at Nikki Shelton’s.

Wednesday 3 June The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, at Jane’s.

             (We have given more time to this book due to its length)

New members always very welcome.

Angela Wooldridge

 

Free-range eggs for sale

Mrs Pat Cooksley of 2 The Windmill normally has some free-range eggs for sale at £1 for six. Best call afternoons.

Kingscote Parish Council

The next meeting will be at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 14 April at Hunters Hall.

Planning approvals

Bagpath Court Cottage, Erection of 2 story side and 1 storey rear extension, and 2 storey rear extension to    existing dwelling insertion of 2 dormer windows and roof-light to the rear.

Calcot House Kingscote, Erection of garage and part change of equestrian land to domestic curtilage.

No other planning activity has been reported.

The AGM and Parish Assembly are provisionally booked for Tuesday 19 May.

Anna Davison, Tel. 860 244 

Sponsor a London Marathon Runner

Kingscote parishioner Luke Cox lives at Hazlecote and is running in this year’s London Marathon on 26 April. He is currently in his first year at Reading University studying Agriculture, and being only 18 this is the first year he is eligible to run.

He is raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, after joining a friend on a family holiday and sharing two weeks on the Algarve with an MS sufferer. Luke previously ran three half marathons in 15 days and raised money for Prostate Cancer research. His training is gong well and he is aiming to cross the finishing line in under four hours.

Luke has a Just Giving page and would greatly appreciate any sponsorship from other Kingscote residents. All donations big or small will be gratefully accepted.

Please go to: www.justgiving.com/londonmarathonlukecox

Karen Cox, Hazlecote Farm

  

Weekly Recycling – Green food boxes and wheelie bins

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays.

Fortnightly Recycling – Black boxes, White Bags and Blue bags

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays 3 and 17 April.

Fortnightly Waste – Grey wheelie bins to landfill

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays 3 and 17 April.

Bus Timetable Enquiries -Ring traveline on 0871 200 2233.

Mobile Police Van

The Mobile Police Station will visit Kingscote on Friday 24 April from 3.15 to 4.15 pm. However after June the Mobile Service will not visit Kingscote due to its deployment over a much wider area in Gloucestershire.

 

Mobile Library

The next visit will be on Friday 17 April when the van will park as usual in front of The Walled Garden from 9.30 to 11.30 am.

Magazine

Any materialwhich may be of interest for the next issue of the Forerunner should be sent by 20 April to H. Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194.

The Editor 

PCC Financial Report

The PCC accounts for 2014 are on display in the church porch for general viewing before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the Village Hall at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015. All parishioners are invited to attend.

During the past year 2014 we held a number of very well attended and enjoyable services, the collections from which were donated on behalf of the parish to specific charities. These were as follows:

The Alzheimer’s Society                                     £127

The Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust           £25

The Beresford Centre                                           £73

The Stroud Court Community Trust                     £122

The Royal British Legion                                    £148

Ebola Crisis Relief                                              £226

The Nelson Trust                                               £339

The Children’s Society                                       £155

 

We are indebted to the band of volunteers who give their time and talent in so many practical ways to keep our church running and in good shape, including of course the churchyard.

We are also most grateful to the people who donate by regular giving by standing order which can be Gift Aided for tax payers. If anybody would like to start contributing in this way, they should contact the treasurer Jane Nichols for details as follows: 

Tel. 01453 860 534, e-mail jane@nicholsfarming.co.uk – or write to Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote , Tetbury, GL8 8YB.

The PCC

  

Church Weddings in 2015 

At this time there are seven weddings scheduled to take place at Kingscote Church during 2015, all of them in April, May or September. The Village Hall is now booked for every wedding to help with parking and minimise disruption in the village, and wedding couples are advised to use mini-buses or small coaches to ferry guests where necessary.

Thursday 9 April   1.30 pm Andrew Porter & Melissa Harrison
Saturday 25 April 12.30 pm Adam Worricker & Charlotte Davies
Saturday 9 May   2.00 pm Eliar Jamafar & Isobel Robinson
Saturday 30 May   1.00 pm Mathew Kemp & Jessica Attree
Saturday 12 September     TBA Richard Tyler & Jessica Mullan
Wednesday 16 September   3.15 pm Luke Osbourne & Amy Elliot
Saturday 26 September   1.30 pm Julian Cooke & Laura McGinty 

Jane Nichols

  

By the Sea

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free;

The holy time is quiet as a nun

Breathless with adoration; the broad sun

Is sinking down in its tranquillity;

 

The gentleness of heaven is on the Sea:

Listen ! The mighty being is awake,

And doth with his eternal motion make

A sound like thunder – everlastingly.

 

Dear child ! dear girl ! That walkest with me here,

If thou appear untouch’d by solemn thought

They nature is not therefore less divine:

Thou liest in Abraham’s bosom all the year,

And worship’st at the Temple’s inner shrine,

God being with thee when we know it not.

 

                                                                                               W. Wordsworth

 

Parish Directory

Vicar:                    Reverend Mike Smith, Nailsworth, Tel. 07840 260 182

Curate:                  Reverend Sue Sobczak, Horsley, Tel. 01453 833 526

Reader                  Sue White, Nailsworth, Tel: 01453 835 693

Churchwardens:   Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP. Tel: 860 194

                            Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Kingscote, GL8 8XY Tel: 861 683

 

Hon.Sec.PCC:        Georgina Harford, Ashcroft House, Kingscote, GL8 8YF

                                 Tel: 01453 860 227

 

Hon.Treas.PCC:    Jane Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote, GL8 8YB Tel. 01453 860 534

 

Members of PCC:   The Churchwardens, The Hon. Secretary, The Hon. Treas-urer, Elin Tattersall, Zoe Nichols, Chris Alford.

 

Flower and Clean Team: Teresa Day, Vivienne Ainsworth, Angela Wooldridge, Pauline McTear.

 

Nailsworth MU:     Trissa Jones, Tel: 832 551

 

Editor of Forerunner: Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP Tel: 860 194

 

Gift Aid and Envelopes:   Jane Nichols, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel. 860 534.

 

Church Flowers Rota: Lorna Reynolds, Tel. 860 231

 

Organist:               Rosemary Sims, 15 Badger’s Way, Forest Green, Nailsworth, GL6 0HE Tel: 832 446

 

Sidespersons:         Harry Tubbs, Rod Tibbert, Elin Tattersall, Godfrey Ainsworth, Jane Nichols.

 

Electoral Roll:        Elin Tattersall, 3 Boxwood Close, Tel.01453 860 182

 

Mowing Team:       Harry Tubbs, Sebastian Cooper, Rick Bond, Roger Lucy, Godfrey Ainsworth, Ken Davies, Brian McTear, John Moore, Tony Wooldridge.

 

Village Hall:       Bookings: Pauline McTear, Kingscote, Tel. 861 311

                            Secretary: Carol Paton, Bagpath, Tel. 860 649

 

Parish Council Chairman: Graham Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel: 01453 860 534

 

Parish Council Clerk: Anna Davison, Bagpath Court, GL8 8YG, Tel. 860 244

 

Village Agent:        Aileen Bendall, Tel. 07810 630 156 or 01452 426 868

 

Printer of Forerunner: Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Tel. 861 683                                                   

The Forerunner is published by the P.C.C. who are usually most willing to

accept copy from village groups and individuals. However, please note that the opinions and views expressed by the contributors within the Forerunner are not necessarily those of the Church, P.C.C. or Editor.

 

 

Notice of Election

From the Clerk to the Parish Council:

Please find attached the Notice of Election for both District and Parish/Town council elections.

I also attach a list of parishes by District Ward to help you identify our new District.

Notice of Election – District

New polling districts with wards Notice of Election – District Notice of Election – Parish and Town

New polling districts with wards

Winston’s Wish & SWITCH

Winston’s Wish is the leading childhood bereavement charity in the UK, helping children and young people rebuild their lives after the death of their mum, dad, brother or sister, and enabling them to face the future with confidence and hope.

Throughout Gloucestershire, Winston’s Wish run a unique bereavement support program called SWITCH. The program is aimed at children aged 8-14 who have suffered a close family bereavement which is having a negative effect on their behaviour. The bereavement may not be recent but may still be having an impact on the child. The SWITCH program offers family work, individual work for children and their carers and group work. We end the program with a celebration day. The aim of SWITCH is to provide children and families with the opportunity to work through their experience with qualified professionals and to help them make sense of their emotions and feelings, meet other people in similar situations and provide them with coping strategy to help them reach their full potential.

We would like to reach as many of these children and families as possible in Gloucestershire. If you or you know a child or family who would benefit from the SWITCH program or would like any further information, please contact Sheila Elliott, Family Program Lead for SWITCH: selliott@winstonswish.org.uk / switch@winstonswish.org.uk / Phone the office on 01242 515157 and ask to speak to myself or a member of the SWITCH team. .

For further information about other services Winston’s Wish can provide for children who have suffered a bereavement, please go to our website www.winstonswish.org.uk

Aerial Mapping of your Garden

The Church has a need for a scale map of the churchyard on which individual graves can be identified.  There are two possible ways of doing this it seems:  The members of the PCC spend the rest of their lives in the churchyard with a large clipboard and a long tape measure OR aerial photography is used to record the layout.
Contact has been made with Andy Crowhurst of Overshoot Photos (Tel. 01628 56 99 22) who uses drones which hover at moderate height over the site and take a number of photographs which can be digitally stitched.  He has made the suggestion that if a number of customers in this parish wish to have such cover on the same visit the costs could to some degree be shared.  A complication might be that the churchyard needs to be photographed NOW before the trees come into leaf so that gravestones can be more clearly seen.  Overshoot Photos can be found on their useful web-site.
If you might be interested please let me know, including your postcode, so that he can consider the options.   Harry Tubbs, Tel. 01453 860 194.

Rabbit Hutch – Free to good home

A hutch suitable for up to two guinea pigs or rabbits is available following the recent loss of our own guinea pigs. Ideal for Winter/Summer use. There is also an accompanying run suitable for Summer use, straw for bedding and guinea pig food. All free for collection as a whole.

Please contact Louise on 01453 861027 for further details.

Lost Rabbit

One of our black and white Dutch rabbits escaped on Friday night.  If anyone sees it, please could they contact the Charnley-Heatons on 861179.

Thank you.

photo.JPG

Bridge Evening Fundraiser – LAST CHANCE – 19th March

Last chance to get a table together for the Bridge Fundraising Evening on Thursday 19th March.  All profits will go to the Village Hall.

When: Thursday 19th March
Time: 7pm start, finishing 10pm
Where: Village Hall
Cost: £10 per person, which includes a delicious cottage pie
Cash Bar
Organiser: Annabella Lucy

Why not make up a table of 4 who you’ll play with all evening – you can even play Canasta if you prefer!  If you want to have a table, or you’re interested but can’t get a whole table together please email Annabella Lucy.

March Hare Motorcycle Event – Sunday 1st March

Please see the note below:

“Please be aware that on Sunday 1st. March 2015 the Golden Valley Classic Motorcycle Club intends to hold an event for Solo and Combination motorcycles that will pass through your Parish. This is NOT a speed event, only a portion of a single lap route linking various sections on private land. Your indulgence and co-operation in this matter would be much appreciated.

It is intended that the event will be run in the opposite direction to last year using a virtually identical route.”

Start and finish is from the Hunter’s Hall Inn with the first bike leaving at 0900h.

The Forerunner – March 2015

forerunner

Service Calendar for March 2015

Sunday 1st Nailsworth 8.00am Holy Communion BCP
Kingscote 9.30am Morning Prayer BCP
Horsley 11.00am Holy Communion
Nailsworth 11.00am Family Service
Wednesday 4th Nailsworth 10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday 8th Kingscote 9.30am Holy Communion BCP
Nailsworth 11.00am Holy Communion
Horsley 11.00am Informal Worship
Wednesday 11th Nailsworth 10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday      Mothering Sunday 15th Kingscote 9.30am Family Service
Nailsworth 11.00am Family Communion
Horsley 11.00am Family Service
Wednesday 18th Nailsworth 10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday 22nd Kingscote 9.30am Parish Communion CW and Baptism
Nailsworth 11.00am Holy Communion
Horsley 11.00am Holy Communion
Horsley 6.00pm Evensong BCP
Wednesday 25th Nailsworth 10.00am Holy Communion
SundayPalm Sunday 29th Nailsworth 11.00am Joint Benefice service with distribution of palm crosses

The Little Angels mothers and toddlers group meets on Fridays at 9.45 am at Nailsworth. Refreshments served afterwards in the Parish Rooms.

 

The next PCC meeting will be on Wednesday 4 March at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall.

 

Lent study groups in Nailsworth Continuing as follows:

Tuesdays 7.30 pm at Christchurch, Wednesdays 2.00 pm at St George’s.

    

     Diocesan News                 www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/publications

                                         www.gloucester.anglican.org/news/blog

     Nailsworth Benefice        www.stgeorgesnailsworth.org.uk

     Kingscote Community      www.kingscoteonline.co.uk

 

The Vicar’s Letter

Dear Friends,

Already the year seems to be galloping away !

But March – often a month when we see things beginning to change as new life comes to our gardens – is also a month which, in the Christian Church, contains three very contrasting Sundays.

Mothering Sunday on 15 March used to be the Sunday on which those in domestic service were allowed home to visit their Mothers with gifts of simnel cake and the like. Today we use it as an opportunity to say thank you for our Mothers – living and departed – which we shall be doing in our churches.

Passion Sunday on 22 March is the Sunday on which we begin to turn our thoughts to the events nearly two thousand years ago, as we see Jesus ‘set his face towards Jerusalem’ and (in the words of Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise) ‘boldly go where no man had gone before’.

Palm Sunday on 29 March is a Sunday of mixed emotions. We join the crowd to celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem to be hailed as King, but knowing it marked the beginning of the end of his life on earth and heralded the awful events of his arrest, torture and murder. This year the churches of Nailsworth, Horsley and Kingscote will gather together in St George’s Church Nailsworth to celebrate Palm Sunday and prepare for the memorial events of the last week of Jesus’ life.

Perhaps you would like to join us on one of these special days and discover something more about the incredible story of Jesus’ life on earth.

Mike Smith

 

The Bishop of Tewkesbury, The Rt Revd Martyn Snow

The Bishop of Tewkesbury will be visiting Holy Trinity Church, Cirencester, at 7.30 pm on Thursday 12 March to lead an evening of presentation, discussion and prayer on the theme The Beginner’s guide to praying. Bishop Martyn is a young and impressive church leader who is not to be missed.

NB: Holy Trinity Church is NOT the large Parish Church in the Market Place but lies on Watermoor Road at GL7 1NE, best approached from the fire-station roundabout.

Flower Rota

22 February to 4 April             LENT

5 April and 12 April               EASTER

No flowers

Flower Team

Lorna Reynolds

 

Rosemary Sims

We were delighted to hear that our organist Mrs Rosemary Sims has been invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May.

She has been indispensible in one way or another to our church here since the day in 1958 when the Rev Dutton and his wife left Kingscote and gave her the organ keys as a teenager.   Without her lifetime of support to our parish church, in particular as organist, but also as Parochial Church Council member and team worker, it is quite likely that this community of 275 souls would have lost its opportunity for regular Sunday worship here.

She has also over many years, in addition, acted as regular organist for other local churches when the need arose, so her contribution has been appreciated in the district for generations.

Finally, she has provided for our community a brilliant little book ‘Growing up in Kingscote’ recording its history since WW 2. All of the proceeds from the sales of this have been shared equally by the Parish Church and the Village Hall.

Congratulations Rosemary and thank you for all that you do for us.

The PCC

  

Cleaning Team

The next church cleaning session is at 2.30 pm on Monday 9 March. We are always delighted to welcome anyone who would like to join the team.

Teresa Day

Village Hall Programme

Film night – Tuesday 10 March – The Book Thief starring Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. It tells the story of a girl who steals books to share during the war in Nazi Germany, 7.30 for 8.00 pm. Admission free, pay bar.

Coffee Morning – Wednesday 18 March, 10.30 to 11.30 am, all welcome £1-50 for coffee and cake.

Bridge Events – contact Bella Lucy for more details on annabella@btinternet.com

Carol Paton

 

Paul Hodgkinson Meeting on Wednesday 11 March

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate at the General Election in May will be at the Village Hall on Wednesday 11 March at 7.30 pm for a public meeting explaining his party’s policies locally and nationally. He is a Cotswold District Councillor and could be quizzed on housing, roads etc. This is a rare chance to hear in person from any candidate !

Carol Paton and Georgina Harford

 

Grumbolds Ash Group

On Wednesday 11 March we will visit the Electric Picture House in Wotton under Edge where tickets have been purchased for seven of us for the ENO: La Traviata at 7.30 pm. We meet at 6.45 pm at the Village Hall to share the driving and parking. Please pay me the £10/£11 on the night.

Jutta Tubbs

 

Book Club at 8.00 pm 

Wednesday 18 March The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, at Angela’s.

Wednesday 15 April Elephant Moon by John Sweeney, at Nikki Shelton’s.

Wednesday 20 May The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, venue undecided.

New members always very welcome.

Angela Wooldridge

 

Free-range eggs for sale

Mrs Pat Cooksley of 2 The Windmill normally has some free-range eggs for sale at £1 for six. Best call afternoons.

 

Kingscote Parish Council

The next meeting will be at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 14 April at Hunters Hall.

Planning approvals

Bagpath Court Cottage, Erection of 2 story side and 1 storey rear extension, and 2 storey rear extension to existing dwelling, insertion of 2 dormer windows and roof-light to the rear.

Calcot House Kingscote, Erection of garage and part change of equestrian land to domestic curtilage.

 

Local social networking

Streetlife is a social network recently launched across Cirencester which might be of interest in our community. To get involved or to investigate further, sign up at www.streetlife.com with your postcode and e-mail address.

Anna Davison, Tel. 860 244

 

STILL AVAILABLE

For those who missed it first time round, DVDs of ‘A Year in Kingscote 2012’ which records events of that year in the village, are still available for £6 each.

Proceeds for the Village Hall. Order from Tim Sage, Tel. 860 563.

 

Weekly Recycling – Green food boxes and wheelie bins

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays.

Fortnightly Recycling – Black boxes, White Bags and Blue bags

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays 6 and 20 March.

Fortnightly Waste – Grey wheelie bins to landfill

All current collection points – from 7.30 am on Fridays 6 and 20 March.

 

Bus Timetable Enquiries -Ring traveline on 0871 200 2233.

 

Mobile Police Van

The Mobile Police Station will visit Kingscote on Tuesday 17 March from 3.15 to 4.15 pm.

                          

Mobile Library

The next visit will be on Friday 20 March when the van will park as usual in front of The Walled Garden from 9.30 to 11.30 am.

 

Magazine

Any materialwhich may be of interest for the next issue of the Forerunner should be sent by 20 March to H. Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Tel. 860 194.

The Editor

 

What is wrong with the Christians ?

Statistics show unequivocally that Christian worship and belief is in decline in Western Europe, and we see a gradual decline in our own parish. Why is this ?

A host of possible contributing causes suggest themselves:

  • Material wealth and physical comforts making life easier.
  • Entertainment, travel and sophisticated pastimes distracting us from thinking beyond the moment. The    ‘background music’ effect.
  • Atheist influences from the media and seductive scientists, denying any spiritual dimension to creation. The ostrich ‘head in the sand’ effect.
  • Moral corruption of our society in multiple ways, poisoning the young.
  • Pride, arrogance and hypocrisy displayed by active church members.
  • Cases of theft, adultery, paedophilia by a tiny number of church officers and clergy, which become headline news in the press.
  • Violent conflict between world religions spreading to Europe, leading to fear for the future.

The teaching and example of Jesus Christ was and is adequate to lead us through this confusing situation, but it is not clear that we wish to follow. We seem in some way to be paralysed by a mixture of doubt and apathy. We do not seem able to muster the love and commitment which God as our creator hopes and deserves to have from us.

Harry Tubbs, Churchwarden

 

What is Lent about ?

 Extracts from an article in the Diocesan Messenger for March by

Revd Canon Robbin Clark, Dean of Women Clergy 

When many of us think of Lent (if indeed we do), we often think of giving up a treat like chocolate or alcohol or cigarettes, or some other thing we enjoy but don’t really think is good for us. It may feel like a burden or even an impossible effort.

But Lent is meant to be a ‘springtime of the soul’, not a punishment. It’s a chance for some interior personal spring cleaning – a time to clear away the cobwebs and spruce up our souls for Easter.

The Church recognises that Advent and Christmas call for serious periods of preparation. Advent focuses on attentiveness and anticipation. We face the ways we have failed to live up to the example set by Jesus and what this says about our gratitude to him for giving his life to save us and bring us back into harmony with God.

Three spiritual disciplines are associated with Lent:

Fasting for the good of our body.

Almsgiving for the good of our neighbour.

Prayer for the good of our soul.

I commend these to you, but I also suggest the more positive practice of ‘taking on’ rather than ‘giving up’ something for Lent, perhaps volunteer work or special spiritual study or a retreat.

 

The Church Urban Fund – Tackling Poverty Together

The start of Lent generally marks the beginning of a period of fasting or abstinence – a choice most of us make voluntarily. But for hundreds of thousands of adults fasting has become a way of life – a desperate choice between heating their homes and having enough food for themselves and their children.

This is a Church of England charity fund specifically helping urban churches to serve residents in their communities in cases of severe financial hardship due to Benefit delays and very low income.

The most convenient way of donating to this national charity is by the website www.cuf.org.uk/donate Note that the most deprived areas in the country may not be in Gloucestershire, but the Church Urban Fund is competent to allow for this factor and to direct funds to the people most in need.

The Editor

  

Parish Directory

Vicar:                    Reverend Mike Smith, Nailsworth, Tel. 07840 260 182

Curate:                  Reverend Sue Sobczak, Horsley, Tel. 01453 833 526

Reader                  Sue White, Nailsworth, Tel: 01453 835 693

Churchwardens:     Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP.           Tel: 860 194

                            Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Kingscote, GL8 8XY Tel: 861 683

Hon.Sec.PCC:        Georgina Harford, Ashcroft House, Kingscote, GL8 8YF

                                 Tel: 01453 860 227

Hon.Treas.PCC:    Jane Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote,

                            GL8 8YB Tel. 01453 860 534

Members of PCC:   The Churchwardens, The Hon. Secretary, The Hon. Treasurer, Elin Tattersall, Zoe Nichols, Chris Alford.

Flower and Clean Team: Teresa Day, Vivienne Ainsworth, Angela Wooldridge, Pauline McTear.

Nailsworth MU:     Trissa Jones,   Tel: 832 551

Editor of Forerunner: Harry Tubbs, 3 The Walled Garden, Kingscote, GL8 8YP Tel: 860 194

Gift Aid and Envelopes:   Jane Nichols, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel. 860 534. 

Church Flowers Rota: Lorna Reynolds, Tel. 860 231

Organist:               Rosemary Sims, 15 Badger’s Way, Forest Green, Nailsworth, GL6 0HE Tel: 832 446

Sidespersons:         Harry Tubbs, Rod Tibbert, Elin Tattersall, Godfrey Ainsworth, Jane Nichols.

Electoral Roll:        Elin Tattersall, 3 Boxwood Close, Tel.01453 860 182

Mowing Team:       Harry Tubbs, Sebastian Cooper, Rick Bond, Roger Lucy, Godfrey Ainsworth, Ken Davies, Brian McTear, John Moore.

Village Hall:                 Bookings: Pauline McTear, Kingscote, Tel. 861 311

                            Secretary: Carol Paton, Bagpath, Tel. 860 649

Parish Council Chairman: Graham Nichols, Asheldown, 3 Ashel Barn Cottages, Kingscote Tel: 01453 860 534

Parish Council Clerk: Anna Davison, Bagpath Court, GL8 8YG, Tel. 860 244

Village Agent:        Aileen Bendall, Tel. 07810 630 156 or 01452 426 868

Printer of Forerunner: Godfrey Ainsworth, Kingscote House, Tel. 861 683                                                    

The Forerunner is published by the P.C.C. who are usually most willing to

accept copy from village groups and individuals. However, please note that the opinions and views expressed by the contributors within the Forerunner are not necessarily those of the Church, P.C.C. or Editor