 |
Village Events
News Item
St Bartholomews News
| Happy New Year! I'm so pleased to be able to write this, Greens Norton News having been rescued by a kind volunteer (as yet I don't know who this is... how interesting!) I'm sure lots of people will join me in saying a HUGE thank you to Mary Brind-Surch for all the years (was it really 14?) that she has been editing the newsletter. It is a great way to inform each other about things going on and to achieve some of that communication needed for a village to feel like a proper community, not just a place where people lead their separate lives. Since the announcement that it was going to stop, a number of people told me how useful they find the newsletter, so thank you very much Mary and the team who work so hard to prepare this publication. I do hope that Christmas was a good time for you all and that this is going to be a very positive year. As Fr. Tony was saying, at the first service in January, the arrival of a new year tends to make us think a bit about our lives. What do we want to achieve in 2010? What are our dreams and hopes? Good luck to all of you in achieving your hopes. Don't forget the healing and new hope that can come through finding or renewing your relationship with God. At New Year we also tend to look back over the past year and smile at the good things and grimace at the awful bits. For just over a year now we have been running two childrens' groups. One has been a great success and one a bit of a flop, so here's a reminder about both. Harriet Bartley, "aided" by her twin daughters, is doing a great job in running Tots Own, which now meets every Wednesday in the church (don't worry it should be nice and warm!) between 2.15 pm and 3.15 pm. Harriet extends a warm welcome to old and new members. It's a lovely chance for the children to explore the church, have a story and an activity and play with others. It's also interesting for the mums to meet others, have a chat and a hot drink. The bit of a flop is Sunday Club which meets during the service in St. Bart's on Communion Sundays (1st and 3rd of each month). This is open to any child who would like to come, no age restrictions. We have story, talk and craft activities and some music in the meeting room (the old vestry) at the back of the church. Mums/ dads/grandparents are welcome to join us if they would like to or can enjoy the service without having to worry about the little ones. We haven't exactly been inundated with children attending the club despite all our hard work to make it accessible and fun for all, so are wondering if there are any more children who would like to join in. If you want to find out more, ring me on 354119. Did you know that Easter Sunday is on 4 April this year? The Easter services will be properly described in the next newsletter but we start preparing for Easter during Lent. Lent is the six weeks leading up to Easter and these days for most people is a weak version of the fasting that a lot of other religions do much more strictly. A lot of Christians do try to observe Lent in a way that is manageable and meaningful to them: there's a lot of giving up of chocolate or cigarettes or alcohol or something that you usually have. This is done as a small sacrifice in thanks for all the gifts given us by God. It's also one way to feel you've achieved something and to realise that you can be a different person in some way if you choose to do so. The day before Lent begins is Shrove Tuesday, usually referred to as Pancake Day. Lent starts the next day which is Ash Wednesday (17 Feb) and you are welcome to come to St. Bart's at 7.30 pm for the imposition of the ashes (the cross is signed in ashes on your forehead). Half way through Lent we get a break with Mothering Sunday (14 March). You are allowed to have a day off from whatever you are trying to give up during Lent, and you can come to church for a delightful service in which children of all ages collect a posy of flowers to give their mothers or grandmothers or carers. There are some Benefice Services during and at the end of Lent (this just means it's one service and people from the all the benefice parishes are invited which in our case is Greens Norton, Bradden, Towcester, Caldecote and Easton Neston). In fact, of course, everyone is welcome to come along from anywhere! Weekly Lent Communion services will be held in St. Bart's on Thursdays at 8.00 am. During Lent Fr Tony is planning some other Lent events so do look out for details on the church noticeboard or phone the parish office for details nearer the time (tel. number below). You may also be interested to hear that plans for an area of the churchyard for quiet reflection are well under way, and the sound system for which we raised funds last year is due to be upgraded early in February. The Brownies, Guides and Rainbows have volunteered to lead the service on the second Sunday in February, so this should be lively and interesting. Everyone is welcome. For any general enquiries about church life, or to arrange baptism, marriage or funeral services, please phone the Benefice Office which is 01327 350459. The office is situated in the Chantry House on Towcester's market square so do call in between 9.30 am and 12 noon or 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm Mondays to Fridays. You can also contact church wardens Nigel Shepherd (Greens Norton) on 353386, or Margaret Pickering (Bradden) on 860335. With all best wishes, Stephanie Ince |