August Parish Newsletter
A message from the Rector
Our grandson, James, is on holiday with us. He is 10. He lives in Guildford. There they have just imposed a hosepipe ban. When his dad said that it would take much longer to water the garden with a watering can, he asked “why can’t we use the hose to fill the watering can?” A reasonable question, that looks at things differently. But as I write this there are wildfires in the Cairngorms, and in Europe, one threatening Bordeaux. And I heard today that a row of cottages in Northern England is going to be demolished because of the risk of flooding. In 2023 one month’s rain fell there in 3 days. An inhabitant drowned. The cottages cannot be defended, and elderly residents who have lived there for decades are having to be relocated.
We are seeing the effects of climate change. And we all must look at this differently. Forecasts suggest that we will not have rain for another 2 weeks, maybe. Could water, that we take for granted, run out? I have been trying to imagine how I would feel if my house was nine miles downwind of a wildfire that’s out of control, and more hot weather to come… And in James’s lifetime the sea level in far Northwest Scotland, where we go each summer, will rise by several feet… The coastline will change.
If we are honest there have been warnings of climate change for years. Somehow there is extra bite now…
There will be a need to work together as a community to help us all to live differently, to get through this. We will need to look out for each other and help the more vulnerable in our society. The Christian way of life is a good foundation. And does also seek the blessing of God, who created us all in the first place. As a scientist I love the knowledge we are gaining daily about how the world was made, millions of years ago. Indeed, in NW Scotland you can see the creator forces that shaped our mountains and valleys at Knockan Crag – old rock containing equatorial fossils piled above younger rock. I also believe that this evolution could not have happened by random chance. There is clear evidence pointing to a creator… This is what the early bible writers believed.
There is however one further danger. I listened today to Giles Fraser’s interview on radio 4, with a follower of Tommy Robinson’s movement to make Britain Christian again. That too is a distortion of the truth, and is appropriating the universal Christian symbol (the cross) for nationalistic (and intolerant) purposes.
So, in proclaiming our faith – the Resurrection of Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, and the reason for the hope that we have – we must be biblical, humble, inclusive of all people made in His image, and seek to build a community living with a joy and hope that is infectious. So where would the blessing be? When the first Christians lived together in this way, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. (Acts 2: 47). Revd Prebendary Nigel Rawlinson
News from St Peter’s
It has been a quietish month at St Peter’s, although sadly we had the funerals of David Pepperell and Paddy Baugh. Our focus has been on finding someone to remove the stones at the back of the church and planning the repair work highlighted in the Quinquennial report. This report is an assessment of the church building which is done by an architect every 5 years. It has highlighted repairs needed on the roof and windows and some of the stone masonry.
Our next services are Sunday 9th August and Sunday 23rd August. Debbie
News from St Mary’s
St Mary’s has been a haven of peace and tranquillity this month, with beautiful, yet hazy, views Southeast to Salisbury Plain.
St Mary’s has been host for two concerts this summer. On Sunday 28th June an audience of over 50 enjoyed an informal hour of pieces played by the Quercus Quintet. Then on July 12th the church was again almost full for a harp recital given by Morgan Williams. Morgan studied Medicine in Bristol and was taught by Nigel – a happy reunion! Prosecco and cakes were served by Anne Jarrett and team – thank you all. Retiring collections helped set up a fund to maintain our musical instruments. More concerts to follow…
News from St John’s
We had our usual first Sunday of the month service on 5th July. As well as the celebration of Holy Communion, we also celebrated Nigel’s 70th birthday with gifts, cards and prayers. Evening Prayer continues weekly on Tuesdays at 5.30 pm and last week was held outside.
The outdoors notice board has been sanded down and treated with 10 Year wood stain, and it looks a great deal better. Photographs of past clergy, named and dated, are now up in the church. They add colour and life to the rather solemn ones of past generations.
The ceiling repair is moving forward, and we expect to be scaffold free and clean and tidy by the end of August. Liz
News from the School
The end of term saw the usual flurry of activity. An incredible performance of the Tempest, performed at Prior Park School, was a real highlight. We were delighted to be able to offer St Peter’s Church for rehearsal space for a few weeks.
Once again, thanks to the generosity of the Younghusband Trust, we were able to present each Year 2 pupil with a copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible. As the term drew to an end, we held our usual Leavers’ service in St Peter’s, led by Nigel, during which the children who were leaving the school were presented with the Big Story Bible by Tom Wright, also funded by the Younghusband Trust. Many of the events described in these books have been used by Louisa Kile and Amber Lorenzo as themes for weekly collective worship.
These Collective worship themes have been grouped and recorded as “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5: 22-23). We have explored these Fruits of the Spirit and discussed
how we can apply them to our daily lives. Each Year 6 child spoke movingly of how they had experienced “Love in Action” in their own lives during the leavers’ service.
We also said “goodbye” to Ruth Poole, who leaves the school this summer. She has been a teacher at the school for many years, and has been Acting Head for the past two years. She is extremely hard-working, dedicated, and loved by pupils and parents alike. She will be greatly missed. At the leavers’ service the pupils joined in a prayer of thanks with a resounding “AMEN”. We wish her well for the next chapter of her life. Penny
Services
2nd August 10.30am St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse Holy Communion (Common Worship)
4th August 5.30pm St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse Evening prayer
9th August 10.30am St Peter’s, Freshford Holy Communion (Common Worship)
9th August 12.30pm St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke Holy Communion (BCP)
11th August 5.30 pm St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse Evening prayer
16th August 10.30am St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke Holy Communion (Common Worship)
18th August 5.30 pm St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse Evening prayer
23rd August 10.30am St Peter’s, Freshford Morning prayer, led by the team
25th August 5.30pm St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse Evening prayer
30th August 10.30am St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke Celebration service
30th August 5.00pm St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke, Evening prayer (BCP)
Prayer Vigil for our world
Pray for peace, love, care and justice. We are holding an hour’s prayer vigil for our world in St Peter’s every Tuesday in August at 7.30 pm. Every one welcome to join us for as long as you wish
Ladies Wednesday walking group
There won’t be a walk this August, but dates commence from September the 9th, October 14th, November 11th and December 9th.
Wednesday afternoons – Tea, cake & chat
Please do come and join us in the Old Bakery on Wednesday afternoons from 2.30 – 4.00 for tea, coffee.
Zoom sessions
If you don’t get out much and feel like a chat, a small group of us zoom together for 45 minutes on a Monday morning. To give it a try, please contact Penny Jones on jonespennyg@gmail.com. Penny
Need a lift? Think LINK
A reminder that the Limpley Stoke and Freshford LINK service is available to residents in both villages who lack the means to get from A to B. Volunteer drivers will transport you to a doctor’s appointment or local hospital, as well as to shopping or social visits. The service includes the delivery of prescriptions from the Galleries for those unable to collect them. If you have a car and some free time, why not consider becoming a LINK driver. Details at freshford.org.uk or you can contact the LINK co-ordinator on 07714 169216.
List of contacts
Rector
Nigel Rawlinson rector@flshc.co.uk or Tel: 07304 498491
Churchwardens St Peter’s, Freshford
Roland Birchby birchbyr@gmail.com or Tel: 01225 723432
Debbie Ashcroft debbieashcroft@live.co.uk
Churchwarden St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse
Liz Wordsworth hintonwords@icloud.com
Churchwardens St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke
Trevor Quartermaine redadmiral7965@gmail.com
David Sibley dssibley38@gmail.com
Parish Administrator
Debs Jones contact.parishoffice@gmail.com 01225 720347
Safeguarding Officer
Lesley MacKenzie lesleyjmackenzie@gmail.com
Pastoral coordinator
Rachel Moore rachelfreshford@gmail.com
School coordinator
Penny Murray pennylanemurray@aol.com