Mud and Friendship – a booklet about the Parish Boundary Walks to 2015

Many of you will know that I’ve been collecting information and photos to include in a booklet about the Parish Boundary Walks.

As well as a walking guide to the Boundary, the booklet will have parish and local history and lots of personal memories about the walks and places around them.

The detail is now complete and ready to go to print. The booklet will be launched at the Christmas Wonderland event at Lees Library on Saturday 5^th December, with copies available for sale at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ Churches from that date.

The sale price will be £5 per copy, but the printing cost will be between £2.50 and £3 per copy, depending on the number of copies produced. After deduction of printing costs, all sale proceeds will be divided equally between General Parish  finances and the St. Thomas’ Development Fund.

Before going to print I will need to have a good idea of how many copies will be required.  I will have to make payment for printing costs up front, so it will be     useful to have copies ordered in advance, pre-paid if at all possible.

If you would like to pre-order a copy forms will be available at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ from Sunday 25^th October. For those who would prefer to order and pay   on-line please visit my fundraising page on https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizdent1 

Liz Dent

November 2015 Vicar’s Letter

Things have changed so much over the last two thousand years! That is, of course, rather obvious. Change has been as much a part of the history of the church as in every other part of human life.

We read of the early church in the book of Acts. So few people were     involved to begin with, soon after the death of Jesus the church was a small persecuted group in an occupied country. The early Christians lived together and knew each other. Following that first Pentecost, the faith began to spread and the church grew fairly rapidly.

Much of the New Testament is made up of the writings of early Christians, St Paul and others. These letters were written to keep those groups of Christians in what became a widespread church in touch with the beliefs and practices of the faith. As the church spread geographically so ways had to be found to help and encourage each other, to share ideas and experiences and to continue the teaching of Christ.

Now the Christian church is truly worldwide. There are, of course,      differences in ways of doing things in different places. In some places it is dangerous to be Christian. In some places it is difficult to obtain a Bible. In these places people long for news of other Christian groups, and long to be able to share with others their experiences and beliefs. In other places the church has perhaps become complacent, taking its place in society for granted.

Just as communication became important in the early church so it is in this place and at this time. We are lucky enough to be able to be open about our beliefs, but we must not become complacent and we must   remember to keep in touch with our faith and our fellow Christians.

We are a large and busy parish. So much is going on- there are our        services of course, and so much more. There are a wide variety of events which may be primarily social or fundraising, events led by our Harvest and Rose Queens, by the Ladies of Leesfield, by the schools, the Sunday Schools, and by the uniformed organisations – and more. There are also extra services in both our churches linked to the season of the church year.

All this is very encouraging, and is sign that the parish is healthy.

I think there are two real dangers though. Firstly it is easy to take our faith for granted and in our busy lives fail to find the time to worship with our fellow Christians. It is almost too easy – there are so many    opportunities. Yet worshipping with others keeps our faith alive. Private prayer and     reading is important but so is being present at our services.

Secondly, as a busy parish it is possible for people to be overlooked. Those perhaps not ‘in the loop’ may miss out on what is going on. We have a     responsibility to those who may be housebound or in care homes. Our    pastoral team do a great job supporting those, and I know there are others who also take this ministry seriously. 

We do have ways of informing all those in our parish about our activities. This magazine, The Voice, has a role. This is produced and  distributed    every month by Paul and Liz – but they can only include the material they are given, and people will only know what is in there if they read it.  Pewsheets are another way of keeping in touch.

These ways of communicating are vital if we are to keep everyone in touch, and the more we remember our own responsibility to inform others and to keep ourselves informed the better they will work!

Edith

Leesfield Parish October 25th 2015

Income Survey forms  If you attend church 12 or more times a year, and are an adult, please complete a form at the back of church and put it in the box. These are completely anonymous and are used to calculate our parish share.

This evening 6.30pm  Edith will be licensed as incumbent of the parish during a service of evening prayer.  Assistant Bishop Graham Dow will preside and license Edith, and Archdeacon Cherry Vann will preach. Please come along to this parish celebration!

Refreshments will follow the service

Next Sunday Nov 1^st  All Souls service at St Thomas at 3.30pm. In this we remember our loved ones departed (however long ago they died). Quiet reflective service.

Parish trip to  Llandudno and Christmas Market  Saturday 21st November 20159 am leave Lees and 4.30 leave Llandudno  Cost £14. Anyone wishing to go on this trip please let Audrey or Roy Atkinson know.

The new Planned Giving envelopes are now available. If you have not yet received yours please see Liz or Philip. Also, if you are not already a member of the Planned Giving Scheme and would like further information Liz or Philip will be happy to help.

The rota for the Posada at St Thomas is at the back of church- please sign up to have the holy family in your home overnight during Advent.

Please would anyone who has ‘stuff’ in the cupboards (or even not in the cupboards!) at the back of St Thomas Church please have a good sort through and clear out as soon as possible – and definitely by the end of October half term. We need to have the space cleared to enable the preparatory work for the development project to go ahead.

MyDonate

Leesfield Parish is now registered with MyDonate, a free service from British Telecom which enables us to collect donations on-line. MyDonate can also claim Gift Aid for eligible donations and the only deductions from payments are the charges made by the credit/debit card issuers.

In addition to general donations, payments can be made to specific appeals such as the L.A.S.T. appeal, and events can be published here. Individuals can also register with MyDonate as Fundraisers for the parish.

To find out more please visit our page at

https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/leesfieldparishstthomasstagnessthugh

The MyDonate page can also be accessed from our Parish Blogspot, or from our Facebook page.

The booklet “Mud and Friendship” is now almost complete and ready to go to print. As well as a walking guide to the Boundary, it will have parish history, local history and lots of personal memories and photos about the walks and places around them.

Launch of the booklet will be at the Christmas Wonderland event at Lees Library on Saturday 5^th December, with copies available for sale at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ Churches from that date.

The sale price will be £5 per copy.  After deduction of printing costs (around £3 per copy), all sale proceeds will be divided between Parish finances and the St. Thomas’ Development Fund.

Before going to print I will need to know how many copies to order, and I have to make payment for printing costs up front, so it will be useful to have copies ordered in advance, pre-paid if at all possible.

If you would like to order a copy forms will be available at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ from Sunday 25^th October. For those who would prefer to order and pay on-line please visit my fundraising page on https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizdent1 

Liz Dent

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

DATES

 Sun 25^th Oct     Edith’s Licensing as Incumbent.  Evening service at 6.30pm St Thomas

Nov 1^st               Service for All Souls at St Thomas 3.30pm

Nov 7^th               Coffee morning  2 Leesway  10.30 till noon

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery  No service at St Agnes

Nov 9^th               Standing Committee  7pm Vicarage

Nov 12^th              Gift and Pamper eve at St Thomas School    7-9pm

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1 - 4pm   St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am. No Service at St Thomas or St Agnes

Nov 16^th           St Thomas DCC  7pm Church

Nov 18^th             St Agnes DCC     8pm  School Hall

Nov 19^th           Ladies of Leesfield  Quiz night  7.30pm Lees Library

Nov 21^st            Parish trip to Llandudno and Christmas market

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Nov 29^th            Advent Sunday    Christingle service St Thomas 3pm  Bring an orange!

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting  St Thomas 7pm 

Dates for your diary

Sat 24^th Oct        Rose Queen Fancy dress Disco  at Springhead F.C

Sun 25^th Oct     Edith’s Licensing as Incumbent.  Evening service at 6.30pm St Thomas

Nov 1^st               Service for All Souls at St Thomas 3.30pm

Nov 7^th               Coffee morning  2 Leesway  10.30 till noon

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery  No service at St Agnes

Nov 9^th               Standing Committee  7pm Vicarage

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1 - 4pm   St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am.

Nov 16^th           St Thomas DCC  7pm Church

Nov 18^th             St Agnes DCC     8pm  School Hall

Nov 19^th           Ladies of Leesfield  Quiz night  7.30pm Lees Library

Nov 21^st            Parish trip to Llandudno and Christmas market

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting  St Thomas 7pm

Leesfield Parish October 18th 2015

Income Survey forms  If you attend church 12 or more times a year, and are an adult, please complete a form at the back of church and put it in the box. These are completely anonymous and are used to calculate our parish share.

This afternoon   2pm Churches Together service Freedom Sunday at Salvation Army

See poster at the back of church for more details

Wednesday 21^st   Churches Together open meeting  Zion 7.30pm

Thursday 22^nd Ladies of Leesfield 7.30pm St Thomas  Flower arranging

Friday 24^th  Rose Queen Fancy Dress Disco at Springhead Football club

Next Sunday (25^th) 6.30pm  Edith will be licensed as incumbent of the parish during a service of evening prayer.  Assistant Bishop Graham Dow will preside and license Edith, and Archdeacon Cherry Vann will preach. Please come along to this parish celebration!

Refreshments will follow the service

Parish trip to  Llandudno and Christmas Market  Saturday 21st November 20159 am leave Lees and 4.30 leave Llandudno  Cost £14. Anyone wishing to go on this trip please let Audrey or Roy Atkinson know.

School Supplementary forms have been signed. Please make sure you get yours back.

Rose queen has arranged for the now traditional evening at the White Hart to take place Fri March18th 2016. £35 per ticket. Laura is taking deposits of £10 now, and you can pay by installments if you wish.

The new Planned Giving envelopes are now available. If you have not yet received yours please see Liz or Philip. Also, if you are not already a member of the Planned Giving Scheme and would like further information Liz or Philip will be happy to help.

The rota for the Posada at St Thomas is at the back of church- please sign up to have them in your home during Advent.

Please would anyone who has ‘stuff’ in the cupboards (or even not in the cupboards!) at the back of St Thomas Church please have a good sort through and clear out as soon as possible – and definitely by the end of October half term. We need to have the space cleared to enable the preparatory work for the development project to go ahead.

We need more people to read and/or do the prayers at our Sunday services. Please think seriously about helping with this and talk to the wardens or clergy.  Help is available if you are unsure.

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

Sun Nov 1^st  3.30pm  Service for All Souls   at St Thomas

Psalm Response     The Lord heals the broken hearted