Cranmer Awards 2012

Calling all young readers!

Sutton St James will be hosting the annual Chester Diocese Cranmer Awards for young people during the morning of Saturday, 17th November.
This reading competition is for young people (11 - 18 in two age groups ) and is sponsored by the Prayer Book Society

The young people are invited to read aloud sections from the Book of Common Prayer such as a Collect, Epistle and Gospel, or two or three Psalms. There are a range of exciting prizes and the winners of each age group are invited to represent the Diocese at the National Final held early in the following year.

Full details of the competition can be found at: http://www.pbs.org.uk/society/awards.php

Judges this year include The Bishop of Chester and distinguished linguist Catherine Cheater.

More details about the local heat and entering can be obtained from Nigel Pearson

01625 261 502 thepearsons@tinyworld.co.uk

Winter Warmer Lunch

WINTER WARMER LUNCH
Wed 22nd Feb 2012, 12.30 - 3.30 pm
in Guilden Sutton Village Hall
All are welcome but this is especially suitable for those who are unable to get out and about to meet each other.
Cost £3.
We will hopefully have some entertainment by the children from Guilden Sutton  Primary School.
Lifts can be arranged .
Please let us know if you are able to come

Lent Course

LENT COURSE 2012
‘And it was good’
responding to God’s gifts of
Creation and Bible in Lent 2012

This course combines two vital themes:
Our understanding of and responsibility for creation
How Anglicans in different parts of the world use and interpret the Bible

Each session contains:
Bible exploration of one or two passages related to creation
Reflection on how our understanding can be deepened by the experiences of Anglican Christians throughout the world
Reading the Bible with Anglicans around the world, reflecting on what our exploration suggests about the way other Anglicans read the Bible
Questions for discussion
Sharing our insights with other Anglicans

The themes of the five sessions are:
The hope of something new (exploring Isaiah 11:1-9 and Mark 1:9-15)
The place of humanity in the created order (exploring Genesis 1-2 and Jeremiah 4:11-28)
Jesus – the centre and heart of all creation (exploring Colossians 1:9-29 and Mark 4:30-41)
Creation blesses the Lord (exploring Psalm 104 and the Benedicite, the Song of the Three Young Men)
Creation groans in painful hope (exploring Romans 8:12-27 and 2 Peter 3:1-13)

To be held in St John’s Church Hall on five Wednesdays in Lent, 7.45 for 8pm to 9.30pm on 29 February, 7 March,
14 March, 21 March, 28 March

Course booklets available from Mark for £1

ALL WELCOME

Barn Dance

BARN DANCE
with
The Family Band


Guilden Sutton Village Hall
Saturday 10 March 2012,
7pm-10.30pm

Adults—£8
Reception to Year 10 inclusive—£5
Pre-school—Free

Supper provided. Bring your own drinks.

ALL WELCOME

Quiet Day

QUIET DAY
Saturday 29 October 2011
10.30am-4.30pm
Foxhill Diocesan Conference Centre—near Frodsham

on the theme:
Vocation: What does it mean to say that God calls each one of us?

• an opportunity to take time out and listen to God
• a beautiful setting, with garden and arboretum, and a newly refurbished house and chapel
• transport can be arranged if needed
• £15 per person, payable on booking, either cash or cheque to ‘St Peter’s Plemstall PCC’
• coffee, tea, lunch included
• there will be three sessions of 15-20mins each, including prayer and a short talk, with space in between
• there will be a short communion service in the afternoon before ending with tea
• apart from coffee, lunch and tea, we will keep silence in the house, but people may walk and talk outside
• the space may be used for prayer, reflection, reading, walking, resting…

Programme: 10.30am Arrive & Coffee
11am Session 1
12noon Session 2
1pm Lunch
2pm Session 3
3.30pm Holy Communion
4pm Tea & Depart

All welcome, from both parishes, but
note that places are limited (20-25 max)

To book, please give your name
and payment (see above) to Mark

Charity Ride

A cycling fanatic from Cinder Lane is preparing for his third and most challenging charity cycle ride yet– the equivalent of cycling from Chester to London 17 times.
Hot on the wheels of rides from London to Monaco, and from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Jon Shorter is now set to ride over 2,800 miles from the southern shores to the northern tip of Australia over 40 days to raise funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity in Britain and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Jon, a mature Forensic Computing student, set himself the challenge of pledging his summer university holidays to raise awareness and fundraise for different charities over three years.
Jon, who will attempt the epic ride from 30th July, said “I wanted to make the best possible use of my time as a student and setting myself ever more ambitious challenges and fundraising targets seemed a better idea than the typical student holiday of lazing around, costly festivals or backpacking!”
A typical day on the trip will see Jon and his Aussie cycling partner Chris ride more than 100 miles through the winter, each pulling a trailer weighing 65 pounds over the snowy peaks of the Baw Baw National Park, across the desert sands of North Queensland and through crocodile-infested creeks and rivers in Cape York. The pair will carry all their equipment with no back-up vehicles or support.
Jon would like to raise £15,000 from this ride. He said: “Every year in the UK 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and I would dearly like to help fund more research into what is now the most common form of cancer in men.”
Mark Bishop, Director of Fundraising for The Prostate Cancer Charity said: "It’s fantastic that Jon is gearing up to cycle across Australia to support us. We rely on people like Jon to help fund our work supporting people affected by prostate cancer and we’re enormously grateful and quite frankly amazed by his plans to cycle around over 2,800 miles for us! It’s an effort for me to cycle down the shops let alone thousands of miles, so all credit to Jon. We wish him the best of luck in his amazing adventure.”
To find out more about Jon’s trip and to sponsor him visit UpUnder2011 or donate via mobile phone by texting UNDR99 and your donation value (£1, £2, £3, £5 or £10) to 70070 : eg 'UNDR99 £5' to 70070.

Well Dressing

As part of the Well Dressing in June 2011, this board was displayed outside the church to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible

Straight to the Pointlessness

I wrote 'Straight to the Pointlessness' during my sabbatical last year, and it was published in November 2010 by Continuum. Subtitled 'A Christian Account of Life and the Universe', it aims to provide both Christians and enquirers with a lively and thoughtful overview of the faith without avoiding deep and difficult questions.

It is dedicated ‘For the People of Plemstall and Guilden Sutton’ and I hope it will help many to see things in a new way. It draws on much that I have learned over the years, in particular through the writings of Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Jane Williams of St Mellitus College, London and Chelmsford, who taught me when I was training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol, gives this summary:
‘With beautiful clarity and calm passion, Mark Hart sets out a Christian understanding of living in the world. The joyful centre of Christian faith is that the world is pointless: it is made out of God’s love, not out of God’s need. As Hart works his way systematically through the major headings of Christian doctrine, he draws the reader into an enthralling quest to receive our freedom at God’s hands and so to find that our purpose in life is to be an unexpected, undeserved, astonishing gift to ourselves, to one another and to God.’

Straight to the Pointlessness is available to buy from all good bookshops and online retailers. Prices vary - see e.g. Eden Books, W H Smith, Waterstones, Amazon. People local to Chester may order directly from me.

Mark Hart

Holiday Club

The team which led the 'Starship Discovery' holiday club in the week 25-30 July, attended by 70-80 children each day.

Well Dressing 2010

The Well Dressing team at St Plegmund's well.










An extra board outside St Peter's church commemorating 21 years of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd










The theme for 2010 was 'Britannia'

Reordering of West End Complete

The reordering of the West End at St John’s is now complete. One of the main tasks has been to move the font and reduce the size of its base. We have done this for practical reasons, but the result is aesthetically more pleasing since the original base was quite out of proportion to the font. There is also some symbolic value in moving the font nearer to the church door. Previously it seemed to be designed to prevent the ministers from leaving the vestry. Now it more appropriately marks the way into the church.

The safe has been moved to the alcove in the North East corner, the inner doors have been replaced, and the cupboard has been replaced with a corner cupboard and surrounding shelves, all done in a way which creates more space.

The overall work is modest in scope, but it makes a significant improvement in a small church where space is at a premium. It is now much easier for people to circulate, and the new doors give more light.

Re-Ordering at St John's

Public notices have been displayed for the last few weeks regarding the proposed re-ordering of the West end of St John’s. Plans for inspection are available in a file at the back of church. The main purpose is to open up space at the rear. The font will be moved towards the door and its base will be cut back, freeing the aisle through to the vestry. Also, the inner door and the cupboard at the back will be replaced with less bulky fittings and the safe will be moved to the alcove off the chancel. This will be a great help at busy services, allowing people to circulate safely. We await the granting of a faculty and quotes from contractors, but it may be possible for the work to be carried out soon after Easter.

Lent Course

The York Course 2010

When I Survey…
Christ’s cross and ours

Wednesday Evenings
7.45pm coffee
8-9.30pm course
St John’s Church Hall

24 Feb, 3 Mar, 10 Mar,
17 Mar, 24 Mar

Flyers are available to take from the back of church which give more details

Please sign up on the form at the back of church if you wish to attend and order the course booklet (£2.99)

The course format will be the same as last year: input from various speakers on a CD, then discussion of questions with reference to Bible passages and the speakers. The speakers are: Revd John Bell (Iona Community), General Sir Richard Dannatt, Canon Dr Christina Baxter (Principal, St John’s College Nottingham), Revd Dr Colin Morris (former head of BBC religion)

Services around Christmas

There are many different services to choose from over the Christmas period. Everyone is welcome at any service, though it may help you to know the different styles of each:
Carol Services
There will be traditional services of lessons and carols, by candlelight, at St John’s on Sun 13 Dec, 6.30pm and at St Peter’s on Sun 20 Dec, 6.30pm. Refreshments after each service.
All Age Christmas
The Nativity Family Service at St Peter’s will be on Sun 13 Dec at 11am, where the Sunday School and Lazers will give presentations. There will be a Crib Service involving St John’s children’s groups and 15+ at Guilden Sutton Village Hall on Sunday 20 December at 4pm.
Community Carols
There will be Community Carol Singing, with miscellaneous items, on Monday 21 December at 7.30pm in Guilden Sutton Village Hall.
Holy Communion
There will be ‘midnight’ communion services at St Peter’s (1662) and St John’s (Common Worship) at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. The Christmas Day communion services (9.30am St Peter’s, 11am St John’s) will be for all ages.
Christingle Family Services
These services celebrate the light of Christ and are in support of the Children’s Society. St John’s service will be held in Guilden Sutton Village Hall on Sun 3 Jan at 11am. St Peter’s service will be on Sun 10 Jan at 11am.

New Life for an Old Bell

The bell from the old school in Mickle Trafford (now the Village Hall) has been lying in the vestry of St Peter’s Church on top of the safe for many years after it was rescued by Walter Johnson and mounted ready to be put on display. Nowhere seemed quite the right place, so there it stayed, until this centenary year of the present Mickle Trafford Village School, when it was realised that the school was the proper place for it to live. Thanks to Ian Tucker and Walter Johnson, the bell and its mount were cleaned and polished, and presented to the school on its anniversary, 19 October. It is sited on the wall, high enough to be out of reach of small hands, inside the entrance area. A plaque below says: “The original Mickle Trafford school bell was presented by St Peter’s Church Plemstall to Mickle Trafford Village School to commemorate its centenary 19 October 2009”. We don’t know how old the bell is, but for many years it would ring out across the fields to call children to the school. It now many not be regularly rung, but it now helps to carry a message across time rather than space, linking the present school with its heritage.

Advent Taize Service

On the evening of Advent Sunday the 15+ group led a service in the style of Taizé, using the distinctive Taizé songs, interspersed with readings, prayers and silence. St John’s Church was lit with over 120 candles which created an appropriate atmosphere for the theme of light. One of the Bible readings was in French and another in Spanish, reflecting the spirit of Taizé which draws people from around the world and expresses with some clarity the Church’s life as a people for all humanity with barriers removed. Here is a description of what happens at Taizé:

“On a hill in southern France you’ll find a community of brothers that has opened its door to the world as an act of hospitality. Young people from around the world flock to Taizé to be near the brothers, to pray, to be silent, to be simple, to be faithful. But what is it about this place that draws the youth of the world? Surely there are plenty of other more interesting vacation spots.

Youth come seeking the space—external and internal—in which to meet God. Their lives (and ours) are so wrapped up in to-do lists (on which one would find items such as church, youth group, Bible study, and so on) that we seldom find the space or the clarity to simply listen to the voice of God speaking deep into our hearts. That’s what goes on at Taizé—the freedom and space to hear God’s voice.

Time in Taizé is more like a melodic, holy rhythm than the frenzied pace of everyday life. Three times a day visitors are called to prayer by the chiming of bells. The prayers are not like ordinary prayer meetings or worship services. Instead of coming together to talk to God, the community gathers to listen. Instead of talking about the Scripture, the Scripture is read and left to speak for itself in the silence. By singing simple songs of prayer over and over again, the mind calms and the soul opens up; God speaks and the heart hears.” (from Jenny Youngman, Worship Feast: 20 Complete Services in the Spirit of Taizé, Abingdon Press, 2004)

The 15+ group led the worship with some skill, especially given that it is was such a new style for so many people. We hope to provide similar opportunities for reflection and contemplation in the future.

Prayer for Growth

We above all need to pray in preparation for our planning for growth. This is something we can do in a limited way in our weekly worship.

We can also pray at home. You may use the GAP prayer and think through all the different parts of the life of our churches as you pray.

But it is important also that we make more space for prayer together. It is not easy to do this in our Sunday worship, so there will be four evenings set aside just for prayer, one each week over the four weeks before St John’s GAP Evening and St Peter’s GAP Away Day, .

Each evening is for both parishes, wherever it is held.

Please do not feel you have to come for the whole hour. You may come and go as you please, as you have time, but it would be a great sign of our commitment if nearly everyone could make the time to come to part of at least one evening.

Each evening will include short readings, set prayers, open prayer and music, but with significant silences in between. It will be less structured than our normal services, making it easier to drop in or out at any point.

Dates & Venues, 8-9pm each evening:
Thurs 17 Sept—St Peter’s
Tues 22 Sept—St John’s
Mon 28 Sept—St Peter’s
Wed 7 Oct—St John’s

Growth Action Planning - What it's all about

Over the next 3 months both our churches will be engaged in “Growth Action Planning” (GAP), and we hope that everyone will contribute in some way to help us to discern the way forward. Bishop Peter gives an overview of GAP:

“Growth Action Planning encourages all parishes in the Diocese to ask some very important questions: What should our church be like five years from now? What are the two or three priorities our church should focus upon in the coming year? To begin to answer these questions each church will need to listen very carefully to God in prayer and consult widely with people in the church and beyond.

If a church answers these questions carefully and prayerfully then it will find that it is focused upon important things, the priorities of the church will be godly priorities. You may also find that your church is doing fewer things but doing them better. Through GAP you will find that the quality of your mission and ministry is enhanced.

It is for these reasons that I commend Growth Action Planning to all the churches in the Diocese. My prayer is that you will find through GAP that you can rejoice together in what has been done well and review and adapt the things that do not reach their full potential. And I am hopeful that through GAP you will find you have more time and energy to do well what is truly of God in your parish.”

Above all we should be prayerful as we approach this task. I would encourage you to have this in mind in your prayers on your own, or in homegroups, and in our Sunday worship. You may find the “GAP prayer” helpful:

Lord Jesus Christ, you command and inspire your church to make disciples: may our church become a joyful and vibrant community of welcome, worship and service, spreading hope to those around us and attracting others to the fire of your love; may your Spirit be at work through our Growth Action Planning, helping us to catch a vision for your church and to serve you faithfully, to your glory and honour. Amen

In different ways we will be asking people from both parishes for their thoughts. Find out about the GAP Evening (St John’s) and the GAP Away Day (St Peter’s).

Each of us may think and pray about all this now. What should our priorities be such that our churches may grow? Grow in maturity, and grow in numbers. What are we doing well? What could be done better? What should we stop doing? What should we do that is new, that we have the resources for?

The aim is to establish a small number of clear priorities which are particularly focused on growth. The aim is not to question everything we do as a church. We don’t need to ask whether we should continue to worship, baptise, pray, sing, read Scripture etc. We do need to believe that God’s purpose is the growth of his kingdom, and we therefore must seek to discern how our energy should be directed, that by the help of the Spirit it may bear fruit.

Lent Course

This will be held on the following 5 Wednesdays in Lent:
11 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 1 Apr, 8 Apr in St John’s Church Hall, 8-9.30pm.
We will use the “York Course” for this year. The format involves hearing recorded short talks by a range of speakers, followed by discussion.
The title is:
These three... Faith, Hope and Love and is based on the three great qualities celebrated in 1 Corinthians 13. This famous passage begins and ends in majestic prose. But the middle paragraph is practical and demanding. St Paul's thirteen verses take us to the heart of what it means to be a Christian.
The sessions are headed:
1. Believing and Trusting
2. The Peace of God
3. Faith into Love
4. The Greatest of these
5. All shall be well
The speakers are:
Abbot Christopher Jamison, Anne Atkins, Bishop Tom Wright, Professor Frances Young
There is a course booklet for each person which needs to be purchased in advance (£2.99). Please sign the sheet at the back of church or phone Mark if you wish to order.

Remembrance

“The services on the Day of Remembrance were quite well attended, and at the special service at 10.45am I was glad to see some of our ex-service men and women present, though I cannot refrain from expressing my disappointment at not seeing the few who should have been present but were not. How soon some forget what they owe to Almighty God.”
So wrote the Revd Hugh J Allen in the Guilden Sutton “Parish Paper” of December 1946, shortly after his induction on 25 November as the first Rector of the united benefice of Plemstall & Guilden Sutton. Who would have thought that clergy needed to complain about attendance at Remembrance services in 1946? Numbers have certainly declined since. In years past there was standing room only at St Peter’s. May all consider making the effort this year, if they possibly can.

Light Party

As in previous years it is planned that there will be a Light Party for primary school age children in Guilden Sutton Village Hall on the evening of Friday 31 October as an alternative to Hallowe’en. Watch out for publicity and details of tickets.

All Souls' Service

On Sunday 2 November at 6.30pm there will be an All Souls’ service at St John’s Guilden Sutton for both parishes. This is provided as an opportunity to remember loved ones, to hear their names read prayerfully, to light a candle, to give thanks to God for their lives, to look to God for comfort, and to renew our hope found in Jesus Christ. All are welcome, and if help with transport is required, please tel. 300306.

St John's Churchyard

From around the middle of July we will be trying to contact as many people as possible who visit graves at St John’s. Copies of a letter from the Churchwardens and of the Diocesan Regulations for Churchyards will be made available in the church porch. At present many graves have flowerbeds planted, or pots and ornaments spread across. This contravenes the regulations, which we have no local power to vary, and which are there partly to make the maintenance of the churchyard easier. Please collect a copy of the letter and regulations if applicable, and do get in touch if you wish to discuss this further.

St John’s Projection Facilities

A public notice is currently posted at St John’s regarding an application for permission to fit projection equipment. The proposal is to locate a rear projection screen behind the beam nearest to the east wall, not visible from the west when raised and lowered as required by a remotely operated motor. A projector will be located on a portable stand against the east wall when in use. Cabling will be routed to the screen, to the location of the projector, to operation points for a laptop computer and to the sound equipment at the rear of the church. It is proposed also to purchase a large portable rear projection screen for use with the projector/computer in the village hall.

These facilities will be used in a variety of ways: in family and morning praise services for the display of songs and liturgy; for the display of background images; for sermon illustration where appropriate; during holiday club; for school services in church; for other occasional events, courses, visiting speakers. It will take a little time to learn to use the equipment effectively, and we are not unaware of the danger of overuse and distraction, however, the PCC are agreed that this will be of valuable service in our worship. It is estimated that the total cost will be around £8500. Any questions and comments are welcome, and the plans are available for viewing in St John’s church.

Open Farm Sunday – Thanksgiving Service

1 June is “Open Farm Sunday” and The Grange, Warrington Rd, Mickle Trafford will be open from 10am to 4pm. A short service of thanksgiving will be held in the barn at 1pm. There will be guided farm tours when you will be able to see the rare breed Red Poll cattle with their young calves, as well as the three bulls, Larry, Gus and Bernie. You will be able to see the environmental stewardship work, including hedge laying and traditional willow tree management in the form of coppicing. There will be guided tours of the Grade II listed Mickle Trafford Water Mill during the day. There will be a formal opening of the new permissive footpath and bridleway network.
Everyone is welcome – do come along and join in with the service of thanksgiving.

St John’s Sunday Club

The following report was given at the recent annual meeting:
Sunday Club meets in the Church Hall at every 9.30am service during term time before joining communion at the end of the service. During the last year, 27 children have attended, with approx. 18 regularly.

Every session starts with time together – playing a game, singing and prayer time. This last term we've been starting to learn the Lord's Prayer. The children then split in to three groups following Scripture Union material: 3-5s “Bubbles” - Lesley; 6-8s “Splash” – Ruth; 9-11s “Xtreme” – Dave. We are very grateful to our young helpers Grace, Emma and Matthew who organise the game for us and are a great help during the craft activities. We are also grateful to Karen who looks after Rebecca for Dave & Lesley to allow them to run their groups.

At Christmas, as part of the Christmas Praise Service in the Village Hall, we performed “Whoops-A-Daisy-Angel” which the children all enjoyed doing and we hope the congregation enjoyed it too. We have learned a number of new action songs which we have introduced to the Village Hall Family Services.

We are keen to attract more children to Sunday Club, particularly some more boys. We would also be keen to attract some more leaders to help to share the work as the sessions involve a lot of preparation, particularly the craft activities.
Lesley, Dave & Ruth

Agnostics Anonymous

At the moment, the disciple Thomas is in my mind, in preparation for Sunday’s sermon. It is most unfair that he is called “doubting Thomas”. He did doubt, but he also believed, and on his lips is the most faithful response to the risen Jesus: “My Lord and my God”.

Which person of faith has never had a shred of doubt about any aspect of the faith? Only someone whose faith has never been tested, or who has never exercised any search for understanding. While doubt is not to be sought after as a virtue, in the experience of many it is the route to a stronger and deeper faith in God.

I have for some time thought that it may be helpful to provide space for a kind of “Agnostics Anonymous” group. It would be open to anyone, certainly not just Christians. “Agnostic” can have the precise meaning of someone who claims with certainty that it is not possible to know that God exists. It can also have a broader meaning, of someone who is not a “Gnostic”, someone who does not claim a direct line to all truth.

I would hope that such a group could bring together people who, whilst each having some firm beliefs, would be able respectfully to listen and contribute, and be open to fresh insights and understanding as a result of such a process. The focus would be on the ultimate questions of life, but the agenda and format would be set by the group, not by me.

At present this is just a thought, so please let me know if you may be interested.

Timber Treatment - St Peter's

A survey has been made of the woodwork inside St Peter’s church, revealing the presence of death watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum) and common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) in numerous places, in the screens and panelling. It is impossible ever to eradicate completely such problems in a building of this age with so much timber, but it is necessary, as the current stewards of the building, that we do our part to keep things under control. It is therefore necessary for a programme of work to begin immediately after Easter, requiring the church to be closed for 3 or 4 Sundays.

The list of services indicates the arrangements. On 30 March, the Sunday after Easter, there will be a joint service at St John’s Guilden Sutton at 9.30am. On the following Sundays, 6 April and 13 April, and possibly on 20 April, the services will be held in Mickle Trafford Village Hall.

The work will cost around £4-5000. Any contributions would be most welcome!