Church Services in our Benefice
*To join our online Zoom Services, please email: wendydhooper@gmail.com
| Service Date | Barham Church | Great Blakenham Church | Henley Church | Online Zoom* |
| Wed 1 June | 10am Holy Communion | 7pm Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Event | ||
| Sunday 5 June Pentecost Platinum Jubilee | 8am Holy Communion 10am Jubilee Communion | 11am Jubilee Songs of Praise | 11am Platinum Praise | 9.30am Service of the Word |
| Wed 8 June | 10am Holy Communion | |||
| Sunday 12 June Trinity Sunday | 8am Holy Communion 10am Parish Communion 4.30pm families@4.30 | 11am Parish Communion | 9.30am Morning Praise | 9.30am Service of the Word |
| Wed 15 June | 10am Holy Communion | |||
| Sunday 19 June Trinity 1 | 8am Holy Communion 10am Morning Praise | 11am Morning Praise | 9.30am Parish Communion | 9.30am Service of the Word |
| Wed 22 June | 10am Holy Communion | |||
| Sunday 26 June Trinity 2 | 8am Holy Communion 10am Parish Communion 3pm Patronal Songs of Praise Claydon St Peter | 11am Parish Communion | 9.30am Patronal Café Church 6.30pm Patronal Benefice Evensong | 9.30am Service of the Word |
| Wed 29 June | 10am Holy Communion | |||
| Sunday 3 July | 8am Holy Communion 10am Parish Communion 4.30pm families@4.30 BBQ | 11am family@blakenham | 9.30am Parish Communion | 9.30am Service of the Word |
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THE CLAYDON BENEFICE
The Church of England in Claydon & Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham
Dear Friends,
Call me old-fashioned (as my own children and grandchildren frequently do), but I still get the bank to post me a monthly statement and when I get round to it, I check off all the entries and the receipts I so carefully keep. If you do the same, you’llhave spotted that if you don’t ask for your supermarket receipt, you might miss out on future offers!
I don’t want you to think I’m mean, pernickety or even OCD! It’s a lot more about control, not only of outgoings and the resources coming in to enable them, but about having a grip on one’s life. A bank statement is a narrative of who you’ve shared time and events with and, implicitly, one’s priorities, not only what has been spent but the level and frequency of certain entries which can be rather revealing when analysed honestly.
With the local elections now declared and the national stage a foment of political unrest and mistrust, my thoughts, and I’m sure yours, are focussed on government policies concerning the cost of living, climate change issues, health and social care, not to mention our international responsibilities in Ukraine, with our NATO partners and elsewhere on the world stage, and, of course, the state of the Union with the new political map in Northern Ireland likely to be just a beginning of a new era.
Perhaps those bank statement entries can help us be better stewards of God’s many gifts to us, for our own good and the good of others. So, let us emulate HM The Queen’s example of service of the King she has served these last 70 years.
All good wishes, Revd Canon Mark Haworth
For enquiries, please contact The Revd Canon Mark Haworth, Interim Priest-in-Charge and Diocesan Environmental Adviser: 07932 160009 / mhaworth50@hotmail.com
Or visit: www.claydonchurches.com
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Barham Church: July 3, Family BBQ; July 9, Barham Hall Picnic Concert; August 10-12, J-Team Holiday Club
Great Blakenham Church: July 16, Doggy Day at Great Blakenham Parish Room; Coffee morning every second Saturday, 10am-noon in the Parish Room; contact Wendy Hooper for details: wendydhooper@gmail.com
Henley Church: July 2, Barn Dance; contact Rev Cathy Austin for details: revcathyaustin@btinternet.com
Further information will follow in the coming months for all our churches: please see on our Facebook page and website for updates.
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MYSTERY GUEST
I used to watch A Question of Sport when Ian Botham and Bill Beaumont were the team captains. I enjoyed trying to answer the questions, but the most difficult round was the ‘Mystery Guest’. Each team had to identify a sportsperson in unfamiliar circumstances, filmed using unconventional angles. At the end of the clip, each team gave their answer before the guest’s identity was revealed. This round was turned into a card game described as the ultimate ‘Who Am I?’ guessing game. Players have to guess the sporting personality from three clues and can earn extra points for themselves and their team by using fewer clues.
Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say I am?”. The disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and others that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life”. From all the things the people had seen and heard, they had drawn their conclusions about who they thought Jesus was. Jesus then asked the disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”. Having been with Jesus more than most, would they have picked up the clues? The Old Testament, the first part of the Bible, spoke about what the one the Israelites were expecting would do. How He would heal the sick, make the blind to see and the lame to walk, amongst other things. It was Peter who answered, declaring, “You are The Christ of God”. Far from rebuking Peter for such an answer, Jesus acknowledged and accepted it. About a week later, Jesus went up a mountain with Peter, James and John. It was here that a voice from heaven was heard which revealed the identity of Jesus. They heard the voice say, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him”. This story can be found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9 verses 18-36.
The Bible records the wonderful things He did. He healed people who were ill, He gave sight to the blind, speech to the dumb and hearing to the deaf. He enabled paralysed people to move and walk freely, He fed thousands of people miraculously, stopped a storm at sea and brought dead people back to life. He was executed by being nailed to a cross and, on the third day after His execution, He came back to life and is still alive today. Peter recognised Jesus as the Christ of God. God Himself declared that Jesus was His Son. Who do you say He is?
Pastor Michael
The dates for activities in June are as follows:
Sunday Services: 10.45am
Wednesday 8, 15, 22 & 29: Coffee Morning from 10am-noon
Wednesday 8, 15, 22 & 29: Prayer Meeting from 7.30-8.30pm
Thursday 9, 16, 23 & 30: Growth Group, 10-11.30am
Monday 6 & 20: Little Owls from 10-11.30am
Fridays (in term time): Friday Club for Years R-6, 6.30-7.30pm
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ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD,
ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM
Priest-in-Charge: Revd Eric Falla
01473 484676 / 07540 359993 / eric.falla@yahoo.com
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are on the verge of celebrating HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, 70 years of faithful service as Head of the Church of England. From the moment the Queen was anointed at Westminster Abbey in 1953, she has faithfully kept her promise to serve our nation.
There will be lots going on over the Jubilee weekend. St Mary’s Bramford will be holding a Thanksgivings Service for HM The Queen on Friday 3 June at 1pm, followed by a teddy bear parachute jump. Entry is £2 for each bear brave enough to jump from the top of the tower. Bring them with you to the service and we shall bless them all.
We look forward to seeing you all on the fun day where we will have a raffle stall, a cake stall and bric-a-brac in support of the church.
There will also be a Thanksgiving Service at St Peter’s Baylham on Sunday 5 June at 3pm
I close with the words of the Queen in 1947 and on her Coronation Day 1953.
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service… But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”
Peace and Blessings, Rev Eric
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MORNING PRAYER
Morning Prayer at Mary’s Bramford on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8.30am and on Wednesdays in June as shown below.
June 1: 8.30am, St Mary’s Nettlestead
June 8: 8.30am, St Peter’s Baylham
June 15: 8.30am, St Mary’s Lt Blakenham
June 22: 8.30am, St Mary’s Bramford
June 29: 8.30am, St Mary’s Bramford
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SUNDAY SERVICES
Sunday 5 June Pentecost
10am Holy Communion Bramford
4pm Families@4 Bramford
Worship, crafts and singing
Sunday 12 June Trinity Sunday
8am Holy Communion (Said) Bramford
11am Holy Communion Nettlestead
Sunday 19June Trinity 1
10am Holy Communion Bramford
Sunday 26 June Trinity 2
8am Holy Communion (Said) Bramford
11am Holy Communion Lt Blakenham
4pm Holy Communion Baylham
Please check the noticeboards for any changes.
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PARISH NOTICES
Funerals
9 May: Terence Russel Arthur Mayes, St Mary’s Bramford
20 May: Barbara Mabel Hurren, St Mary’s Bramford
26 May: Shelia Walsh, St Mary’s Bramford
May they rest in peace and rise in Glory.
The Gathering
Tuesday 21 June, 2.30pm at St Mary’s Church Room, Bramford
Coffee Mornings
Saturday 4 June, 10.30am-12.30pm at Baylham Village Hall
Saturday 18 June, 10am-noon at Lt Blakenham Village Hall
Thursday 23 June, 10am-noon at Bramford Church Room
An Evening with Roy Tricker
Friday 10June at St Mary’s Little Blakenham at 7.30pm.£8 in aid of church building funds.
Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church
4 May: In memory of Phil Sawyer on his 76th Birthday
5 June: In memory of Katie Wilcox on her birthday
27 June: To celebrate Susan and Steve’s 35th wedding anniversary
If you would like to have the spire floodlit, please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week.
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. READINGS FOR JUNE
Sunday 5 June Pentecost/Whitsunday Red
Acts 2. 1-21 John 14. 8-27
Sunday 12 June Trinity Sunday White/Gold
Proverbs 8. 1-4 John 16. 12-1
Sunday 19 June Trinity 1 Green
1 Kings 19. 1-15 Luke 8. 26-39
Sunday 26 June Trinity 2 Green
2 Kings 2.1 14 Luke 9. 51- end
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THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE
Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead & Bentley with Tattingstone
For parish queries please contact:
Rev Annette Shannon
The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton IP8 3BQ
revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674
Benefice Administrator Hayley Purnell
northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07904 972116
Wouldn’t it be good if we could put ourselves in a dryer and come out wrinkle free and two sizes smaller?
No, not an original thought, just somethinggleaned from the internet, but I suspect it’s the kind of thing many of us are thinking as the summer gets going. Wouldn’t it be good if…? Well, yes, if our longings, dreams and the things we pray for were to come true.
I’m writing this on Bank Holiday May 2 and trying to foresee how we will feel during the Jubilee Bank Holiday. Today it’s dull, dry and still, good conditions for many activities. Perhaps you have fond memories of this bank holiday because you enjoyed it, but perhaps you just looked at it and decided it wasn’t worth trying, thinking it would be good if it was sunny, or there was a fresh breeze, or if we got some rain to water the garden… With those thoughts in mind, let’s consider what we can learn from this Jubilee holiday, the culmination of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the accession of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
At 21, she said: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”
Her Majesty has devoted her life as she vowed without apparently thinking “What if…?”.
Most of us do not have her Majesty’s sense of certainty from an early age. As examples of the contrast, there’s a story in the Bible about Samuel and Saul. From childhood, Samuel knew he had been called by God to serve in a powerful religious role as a priest and a prophet. The country was in a mess because of corruption and immorality in high places. Most people wanted a strong leader. Samuel stepped into the role and did well, but God told him to find the man He had chosen to be king. Samuel found the man, Saul. He convinced Saul that God had chosen him to be king and called a great meeting of the tribes. They gathered and confirmed that they wanted a king but when they searched for the chosen man, Saul was nowhere to be found. He was hiding among the baggage!
The famous preacher Charles Spurgeon remarked that people may be ‘hiding among the stuff’, evading their crown. He added: “There may be some here present, who may be doing precisely what Saul did only you are doing it more foolishly than he did. He hid away from an earthly crown, but you hide from a heavenly one.”
Are some of us doing that in relation to God? God wants to adopt us as his sons and daughters so we can live in his love forever sharing Jesus’ throne (Revelation 3:21).
A prayer for Jubilee Year
Gracious God, we give you thanks
for the reign of your servant Elizabeth our Queen,
and for the example of loving and faithful service
which she has shown among us.
Help us to follow her example of dedication
and to commit our lives to you and to one another,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
With my prayers for us all, Don Mehen
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FROM THE REGISTERS
Marriages
Saphire Wells & Daniel Bird – Copdock
Funerals
Peter Frost – Bentley
Joan Eagle – Burstall
Baptisms
India Rose Brennan – Bentley
The Rector is on study leave until July 20. During this time, please contact Revd Tony Wilcox (tony.wilcox@caringhandsru.org / 01473 461561), the benefice administrator or a churchwarden with any queries.
Sproughton Special Jubilee Service: 11am on Sunday 5 June
Copdock Monthly Market: June 7 at 10am in the Church Room
Copdock Coffee Mornings: Wednesdays 1, 15 & 29from 10am-12.30pm at the Brook Inn. Proceeds go to charity.
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SERVICES
The Celtic Prayer Service has resumed on Thursdays at 7.30pm. Go to Raul Arkaia’s profile on Facebook: www.facebook.com/raul.diazarkaia
Wednesday 1 June
8am Sproughton Holy Communion
Sunday 5 June
10.30am Burstall Jubilee Service
10am Bentley Jubilee Service
10am Tattingstone Holy Communion
11am Sproughton Jubilee Service
10am Copdock Jubilee Service
Sunday 12 June
8am Copdock Holy Communion
9.30am Burstall Morning Prayer
10am Bentley Morning Prayer
10am Copdock Holy Communion
10am Tattingstone Holy Communion
6pm Zoom Evening Prayer
Sunday 19 June
9.30am Burstall Morning Prayer
10am Bentley Holy Communion
10am Copdock Simply Sunday
11am Sproughton Sunday Morning Together
7pm Zoom Informal Worship
Sunday 26 June
9.30am Burstall Family Service
10am Bentley Morning Worship
10am Copdock Holy Communion
10am Belstead Morning Worship
3.30pm Sproughton Tea Break Church
Churches may be open for limited periods during the day/week for private prayer subject to hygiene regulations. Please contact churchwardens for up-to-date information.
Please submit church letters and copy for the July edition to Hayley Purnell by June 4: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com
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