The Sodbury Vale Benefice Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury
O U T LO O K
magazine
www.svbcofe.org.uk
1 Jane is enrolled as a Companion of the Society of St Francis by Brother Damian. See 1
June 2016
Nominated Person:
Contacts
Mrs Hilary Holder 01454 327118 This is the person to contact if you wish to express concern about suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
Rector From July 13 2016
The Revd. Canon David Bowers
Churchwardens
Associate Priest The Revd. Yvonne Brae, 01454 325160, [Day off Monday] email yvonne@svbcofe.org.uk Reader (Licensed Lay Minister) Mr Ian Yemm 07514 139825; 01454 318608 [Day off Saturday] email ian@svbcofe.org.uk
Chipping Sodbury Joy Gibson 01454 319288 Jane Jones-Williams 01454 324970
Old Sodbury
If you would like to know more about the Christian faith or are thinking about baptism or confirmation please speak with one of the the ministerial team
Karen Hunter 01454 319903
Little Sodbury Director of Music VACANT
Brenda Cordy 01454 316447
Church Office
Horton
Tina Hildick-Smith 01454 320380 Open during school term time Richard Needs 01454 329890 Mon - Tue - Thu mornings 9.00 - 12.00 This magazine is brought to you Free by the Administrators: 01454 325160 four churches of the Sodbury Vale Benefice. Michelle Jenkins If you would like to make a small donation Trish Gailey towards production costs that would be most welcome. Thank you.
email: office@svbcofe.org.uk Web Site: www.svbcofe.org.uk
July Deadline
Advertising:
Can you have all copy to Michelle in the Church Office by June 14th at the latest please.
Sylvia Franklin 07788 111726
Editor: Michael Stephenson 01454 314094 email outlook@svbcofe.org.uk
Front Cover- Trees coming into leaf at St Adeline’s. Photo by Michael Stephenson 2
Something Different SODBURY VALE BENEFICE To celebrate the Patronal Festival of St John the Baptist
Baptisms: We welcomed into the Church: Elliott Alexandra Rowe on 1st May 2016 at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Harvey Maverick Newport on 1st May 2016 at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury Beatrice Victoria Joyce Wolfenden on 8th May 2016 at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
A Benefice BBQ at The Vicarage, Horseshoe Lane, Chipping Sodbury Saturday 25 June 2016 1:00 pm
Funerals:We extend our sympathy to the families and friends of: Frances Elizabeth Hawke on 27th April at St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Everyone welcome Look out for details in your church pew sheets and on SVBMail
Thanks from Yvonne When your heart is full and your head slightly all over the place, words don’t always flow too easily, yet I have need to write this. It might be a bit obvious why my head is slightly all over the place but my heart being full is easier to understand. People all over his Benefice have shown me their kindness and their caring in many shapes and forms. I’m amazed and so grateful. Thank you for every word of kindness, every thought of prayer, every gentle thought and every act of support. I have lots of cards and notes and the post woman knows my door well. Thank you everyone for all you have done and are continuing to do. Please know how much I appreciate it. Thank you. Every blessing
The Venerable Bede The Venerable Bede is widely regarded as the greatest of all the Anglo-Saxon scholars. He was born in Northumbria around the year 670. In 682 AD, Bede joined the monastery at Jarrow, where he subsequently spent the rest of his life. His most famous work, which is a key source for the understanding of early British history and the arrival of Christianity, is 'Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum' or 'The Ecclesiastical History of the English People' which was completed in 731 AD. It is the first work of history in which the AD system of dating is used.
Yvonne 3
Dear Friends, June is a busy month in the life of our Benefice, particularly in Chipping Sodbury, as the town celebrates its annual Festival with ten days of events and activities. There is something for everyone, including the popular Festival Service in St John’s Church and a Festival Songs of Praise Service in the Baptist Church. It’s good to see local Christians being ‘Alive and Active’ and ‘connecting our communities with Christ’, that statement at the heart of our Benefice’s vision. Our churches in Chipping Sodbury and Old Sodbury will both be celebrating their Patronal Festivals this month as the Feast of the Birth of St John the Baptist falls on Friday 24th June. We will celebrate with a lunchtime BBQ on the Vicarage lawn on the Saturday followed by celebratory services in Church on Sunday. The BBQ will be a great opportunity to get together – all of us – whatever your link to our churches might be – Storkies, Exploring Christianity, Baptism Fun Day, Friends of St Johns – please do come! I shall ask the Churchwardens to add good weather to their list of things to arrange! On the 23rd June, many of us will be voting in the EU referendum. Unusually for me, I will refrain from being partisan! The Diocese has signposted us to the website http://www.reimaginingeurope.co.uk/ which I have certainly found an interesting and varied read. I do believe that, for us, we must vote as Christians in the EU referendum and do so having prayed about it. God of truth, give us grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness. Give generosity to those who seek to form opinion and discernment to those who vote, that our nation may prosper and that with all the peoples of Europe we may work for peace and the common good; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. I look forward to seeing you over a burger or sausage – or both!
Ian
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This year the Sodbury Vale Benefice will be celebrating St. John's patronal festival St. John The Baptist is the patron saint of on Saturday 25th June with a barbeque Old Sodbury and Chipping Sodbury on the vicarage lawn. churches. See Page 3 for more details. We especially remember St. John the Baptist on 24th June which is the date of Everyone is invited for this his patronal festival. midsummer celebration.
St. John The Baptist
Saint John is thought of as one of the greatest saints as it was he who told of the coming of Christ.
THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY ANNUAL BOX COLLECTION 2015
John was a relation of Jesus. He lived in the desert, he wore clothes made of camel's hair and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and honey. He spent his days telling people to stop doing bad things and change their ways.
The annual box opening has taken place and this year we have raised £770.08 in this Parish. Thank you all for your most generous donations. The next count will take place in January 2017.
Many travelled great distances to listen to him. They wanted to make their lives better so they confessed all the wrong things they had done. John baptised them in the river Jordan as a sign that their sins had been washed away and they were forgiven.
Hilary Hurley 01454 311515 The Children’s Society Prayer
John was given the name John the Baptist because he baptized people -including Jesus.
Loving Lord, we thank you for The Children’s Society as it reaches out to young people experiencing pain and injustice. Guide and strengthen its work alongside children and young people who are homeless and on the streets, in prison or facing problems in the community. Grant us the wisdom to listen to the voices of the young and to respect their gifts and insights. Help us to work with them to create a fair and just society where we may all know the fullness of your love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read about John in the bible, Matthew Chapter 3. Saint John the Baptist's Day has been celebrated throughout many Christian countries for hundreds of years. In Puerto Rico, for example, bonfires blaze the entire night of June 23rd. Between midnight and dawn, people swim in the sea in memory of the saint who baptized people in water. In Quebec, Canada, the Fete de la SaintJean-Baptiste is also an important holiday which includes bonfires, fireworks, parades and carnivals. 6
coincide with the many street parties that are planned as the nation celebrates her Majesty's birthday 10-12th June 2016. As she writes in her Foreword, As I embark on my 91st year, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the words of a poem quoted by my father, King George VI, in his Christmas Day broadcast in 1939, that this country went to war for the second time in a quarter of a century. 'I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way." ' Frank Gray
The Queen at 90 A book has been written to celebrate the 90th birthday of our remarkable Queen Elizabeth. Written by Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher "The Servant Queen and the King she serves" paints a marvellous, beautifully illustrated tribute. The book is divided into 9 sections each with a different t h e m e , starting with The Queen's Secret and concluding with Good Evening Mr Bond. Throughout the book the focus is on the Queen's own words, drawing out the central role of her trusting in Jesus Christ in shaping her life and work. Amazingly as monarch and mother, and most photographed person on the planet, senior citizen who works over 40 hours a week, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, who feeds her own dogs, she is an inspiration to us all. The book is a lasting gift to pass on to family and friends, to neighbours or whoever. Best of all it is free for those who get to pick up a copy in our churches where there is a modest supply. It can also be ordered from the distributor CPO by phone (01903 263354) or on-line at www.cpo.org.uk/thequeen/. They are sold in packs of 10 @ £1 per copy. The main idea – a good one - is that you buy them to give them away. The book has 64 pages and there is also a 12-page version for schools available. This gives each of us a wonderful opportunity in our community, timed to
OPEN GARDEN DAYS Sat, July 2nd and Sun, July 3rd at Nutridge, Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2UF 2.00pm to 5.00pm Admission £3.50. Children under 16 free.
A three acre garden with perennial beds, woodland and open areas.Refreshments and plants for sale. Proceeds in aid of Genieri, the African village linked with Yate Charity no. 1057814 www.yate-genierilink.org
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working flat out as the District Advisor, becoming very well known in the farming community whilst at the same time assisting with bringing up the family. In 1962 the Pecks bought a pair of old cottages in Old Sodbury, which they restored as Yew Tree Cottage and where they have been ever since. Bill had a deep faith and worshipped and served in many capacities in the lovely Parish Church for over 50 years, sitting in the same pew near the font, each Sunday. Apart from a heavy work load, close family ties and a busy social life, Bill devoted many hours to the development of The Home Farm Trust or as it is now known HFT, a charity for the assistance of people with learning disabilities. Bill became involved in 1963 through the influence of Round Table and was a made trustee a year later. He steadfastly remained a trustee for 42 years, serving for 10 years as a very effective Chairman. During his time HFT evolved from the original local Bristol based charity to the large national organisation it is now. One of his coups was persuading the Princess Royal to become Patron. On retiring as a trustee, Bill then became chairman of The ExtraSpecial Trust, which offers small personal grants to people with learning difficulties, who are often of limited means, towards some of life’s important extras to help a wish come true. Bill was still chairman of this Trust when he died. When Bill retired from the Ministry of Agriculture he joined Humberts in Chippenham to set up the Farming Department and continued his energetic and meticulous working life. He was in high demand as an expert witness in court cases and as a speaker on farming matters at Farming Conferences.
A tribute to William (Bill) Donald Peck William died on 21st March 2016 was born in Lancashire near Lytham St Annes in 1928 and at the age of two, the family moved to Bristol. Even though he had only been there a couple of years Bill was immensely proud of his Lancashire heritage. During the war Bill attended Bristol Grammar School. At that time the bombing of Bristol was a its height and Bill saw service as a messenger for the Fire Service. He would only have been about 12 years old at the time, so it was a plucky thing to do. To get some relief from the bombing, the Pecks had a caravan on a farm, just north of the City. It was here that Bill got his taste for farming and on leaving school he went to the Seale Hayne Agricultural College in Devon and studied for his Diploma in Agriculture. He then worked on a farm in South Wales belonging to some cousins and in 1950 he joined the Ministry of Agriculture in Oxford as a trainee advisory officer. It was here that he met his wife Peggy who was a medical secretary in a local hospital and they married in 1953. Bill then took the opportunity of a posting as a MAFF District Officer in Chipping Sodbury and not long after, their children, Susan and William were born and thus started the families long and happy association with South Gloucestershire. To progress in MAFF, Bill realised that it was essential for him to get a degree in Agriculture so he became an external undergraduate at Bristol University and gained his B Sc. Bill rowed for the University and also played scrum half for a Varsity team. During this time he was 8
When Bill retired for the second time he joined his son William in his consultancy firm and ran a successful operation called Farm Business Assets where his business acumen is still at the fore now. Bill led a very full and active life, a Boy Scout in his youth; later he owned a Yachting World Dayboat, which he sailed on the Severn and in South Devon. A founder member of Sodbury Round Table and then 41 Club, a member of Sodbury Rotary Club, and a founder member of the Friends of Old Sodbury Church. He was a member of the Farmers Club in London and also a liveryman and freeman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers. Bill was a Life Member of the Old Bristolians Society, attended the Annual Dinners and in 2014, after the Remembrance Service, he addressed some of the younger pupils about his wartime experiences at the school.
celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday and reflecting on her amazing example of service to our nation. We'll also be considering how we will use the gift of our own lives to change the world wherever we are.
Over the last decade the Cathedral Leavers' Services have become more and more popular and have grown in number from two to six. We are hugely grateful to the Dean and Chapter as well as the staff in the Cathedral who cheerfully accommodate all our sound equipment and screens along with technicians, and Christian actors, dancers and storytellers (this year Bob Hartman will join us) not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of children each day. Hosting these acts of worship is a massive feat of organisation and I have a very dedicated support team who will pretty much begin organising next year's services as this years' conclude on 9 June. Please pray for all our Church schools. They touch the lives of thousands of families and offer to children an education rooted in Christian faith and values which, of all the things they experience at primary school, is the gift beyond price. Shahne Vickery, Assistant Diocesan Director of Education
Thanksgiving and celebration Each June Gloucester Cathedral opens its doors to two and a half thousand Year Six children from the C of E primary schools right across the Diocese. It's definitely my favourite week of the year but most importantly the children say that it's one of the highlights of their entire time in primary education. The services are first and foremost a celebration. They offer a unique opportunity for children to thank God for the teachers and friends who have supported them throughout the last seven years and to pray for God's blessing on the future as it opens up before them with all its opportunities and challenges. At each service, different schools dance, sing and share their prayers on the particular theme for the year. This time the theme is Making a Difference. We will be 9
From “The Messenger� www.gloucester.anglican.org
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Never too soon to pray
Principal Service readings June
Benefice Holy Communion
My pregnant daughter hugs her growing tummy. ‘Mum, when should I start sharing books with my baby?’ My simple answer is ‘it’s never too soon.’ Sharing books is too important to leave to others or to chance; it should be something we do naturally and every day. This question can be asked about sharing prayer with our children and I would give the same answers. Prayer takes us on a journey of exploration into God, ourselves and the world around us. Through prayer we create a safe place together where we can discover our identity in God, develop relationship, develop empathy, make connections about the world, and learn to create, even to play. The Young Families Prayer Calendar uses everyday language and situations from the world of the child to help families reflect and pray as part of their daily lives. It values the chatter and exploration which comes naturally to children and encourages them to use this in their encounters with God. To find out more, visit www.gloucester.anglican.org/churchoutreach/children-youth-andfamilies/family-prayer-calendar. See page 13 for an example calendar entry about St Columba Revd Jo Wetherall, Children and Families Officer
Thursday Mornings 10:00 am St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Letter from Brazil
June 5th (Second Sunday after Trinity) 1 Kings 17: 17 - end Galations 1: 11 - end Luke 7: 11 - 17 Psalm 30 June 12th (Third Sunday after Trinity) 2 Samuel 11: 26 - - 12: 10, 13 15 Galations 2: 15 - end Luke 7: 36 - 18: 3 Psalm 32 June 19th (Fourth Sunday after Trinity) Isaiah 65: 1 - 9 Galations 3: 23 - end Luke 8: 26 - 39 Psalm 22: 19- 28 June 26th (Fifth Sunday after Trinity) 1 Kings 19: 15 - 16, 19 - end Galations 35: 1, 13 - 25 Luke 9: 51 - end Psalm 16
From “The Messenger” www.gloucester.anglican.org
Dear friends, We hope that this finds you all well. We are now in autumn here in Brazil and it feels like it’s been a hectic few months since last writing a link letter. No doubt Brazil has featured in news reports due to
Join us for an hour each Thursday morning for a friendly service, for the whole benefice, followed by tea/coffee, biscuits and a chat in the Church Centre.
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the Zika virus outbreaks here, which this region has been greatly affected by. We have also been affected by corruption scandals and an impeachment process against the president, which has brought a lot of uncertainty and protests to the streets. Reflecting on the period from our last link
letter through to the end of 2015, we are grateful for all that the Lord has been doing in our midst. We started a Bible study group in our home in October; most of those who started to come have had limited contact with church. We started by exploring the seven signs in John’s Gospel and asking the question “what does this tell you about Jesus”? The times of reading God’s word together and times of prayer in group have been really special. We’ve seen people draw closer to Jesus and had some amazing answers to prayer, both immediate and unfolding. One immediate answer was a neighbour who had injured his coxes skiing in Chile two months prior to the meeting and was unable to sit down without a cushion due to the pain. On praying for him, he was completely healed and pain free. It has been great to see how God has drawn people into the group. One thing we have been praying for is for more mature Christians to get involved and be part of
building a new church community. A number of folk who were looking to be part of something more missional and perhaps more authentic have got involved bringing with them a variety of gifts and experience. We quite often meet people who have been hurt by and disillusioned with church here. In February we launched our first service and have since met on the first and third Sunday of the month and are hiring a function room in a guesthouse near to where we live. We’ve had a good mix of people from our group and people with no current church connection exploring faith. We have become part of the Vineyard Church movement in Brazil and are planting the first Vineyard Church in the state of Santa Catarina; we are currently a pioneer community of the Vineyard Church here.
As a family we are well; Joanna is enjoying activities such as ballet and capoeira and Davi is developing well and has a good mix of English and Portuguese. His sleep has improved in recent months, which has been a great blessing to us all. We are encouraged by what we see God doing in people’s lives around us; people are in general very open to prayer and free to talk about faith. However, we long to see more people give their lives to Jesus and get involved. Jimmy and Katia Rocks
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Children’s page
St Columba 9th June It is early morning, the sky is just turning to a pale pink and grey as the night fades. Your legs are still heavy from sleep as you lift up your long robes and step awkwardly into a boat. Not a strong wooden boat, this one is made from wicker, like a basket and like a basket it is round, to keep the water out it is covered with leather. Move along a bit, twelve of your friends have to fit in this coracle with you. Now, hold steady because in this crowded, wobbly boat you will sail away from your home in Ireland across cold, rough seas to a tiny Scottish island called Iona. The island is beautiful but wild. You have made a big promise to God that at the end of this voyage you will teach the people in Scotland about Jesus. In fact you will do this and more, a lot more. You will build churches on lots of Scottish islands
you will help people learn to read and write, you will also help people to stop fighting and keep peace with each other, you will copy 300 books and the Church on your little Island will become a place where people learn how to share God’s love with others. You will do all this a long long time ago (in the 6th century), without the help of a car to travel in or diggers to help with building or computers for writing - not even books but with a horse and bare hands and a feather pen. Your name? St Columba Collumcille, dove of the church. Prayer for this day May your day be filled with blessings Like the sun that lights the sky, And may you always have the courage To spread your wings and fly!
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Sodbury Vale Benefice Regular Weekly Events Monday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.30pm
Bell Ringers’ Practice CS
Church Tower, Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
Church Centre, Upper Room,Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
9.15pm
Stor'k'ies
St John's Church, Chipping Sodbury
Wednesday
8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
730pm
Bell Ringer’s Practice Horton
St James’, Horton
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Benefice Choir Practice
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Youth Club (age 11-18)
Baptist Church Centre
Thursday
Friday
Note: No Morning Prayers on Bank Holidays
Sodbury Vale Benefice Forthcoming Events Sunday afternoons 2.30 through the summer 4.30 Wed th July 13
Teas at Old Sodbury Church
St John’s Old Sodbury
Licensing of Rev’d Canon David St John’s Chipping Sodbury Bowers
If you don’t see your event in the list above please let me know, once it is on this calendar other people can put it on theirs! All times are subject to change look out for further details closer to the date. Michelle 01454 325160 office@svbcofe.org.uk Do you sometimes think, why has that been arranged for then, we’ve got… In the benefice lots of things happen, but sometimes not everyone knows about them! This is where the Forthcoming Events Calendar can be really useful, if you tell us in the office when you are planning an event – even if the date at that stage is vague we can tell everyone by publishing it here in Outlook (forthcoming events could be as much as a year or even more in advance) and in the online benefice calendar. So if you’re planning an event let us know even if the date isn’t quite fixed we can publish with vague dates like “early Feb tbc” or “week of the 8 March tbc” just so the idea is out in the community and firm up the details closer to the event. We look forward to hearing from you. Michelle and Trish
Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar June 2016 Sun 5th Second Sunday after Trinity
9.30am
St John’s Praise
St John’s, C/S
11.15am
Mattins
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Communion
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong
St Adeline’s L/S
Mon
6th
2.00pm
Mothers’ Union
Church Centre, C/S
Tue
7th
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 327118 for venue
Wed
8th
7.30pm
Crib Festival Meeting
Church Centre, C/S
Thurs
9th
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
9.30am
Festival Service
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion {BCP}
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Service
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
7.30pm
A Smile and a Song Concert
St John’s, C/S
14th
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
16th
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
18th
2.00pm
Tower Visits and refreshments
St John’s C/S
10.30am
Benefice Communion
St John’s C/S
2.30pm
Teas at Old Sodbury Church
St John’s OS
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 327118 for venue
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
9.30am
Parish Communion
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion {CW}
St James’ Horton
11.15am
Morning Praise {CW}
St John’s O/S
2.30pm
Teas at Old Sodbury Church
St John’s OS
6.00pm
Holy Communion {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
9.15am
Storkies
St John’s, C/S
2.00pm
Tea and Chat
Church Centre C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 327118 for venue
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
Sun 12th Third Sunday after Trinity
Tues Thurs
Sat
Sun 19th Fourth Sunday after Trinity Tue
Thurs
21st
23rd
26th
Sun Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Tue
Thurs
28th
30th
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Children in Church A female priest was sent a video of her daughter ‘playing Church.’ The woman was surprised and somewhat taken aback, after all this little girl had showed quite a bit of ‘character’! The video showed the little girl baptising her baby doll….. Say as recently as 15 years ago, in some Christian circles this would have been looked upon with perhaps quite shaded eyebrows. Hang on in here because I’m not going to go off on the hobby horse of women’s ministry, the point isn’t that this was a very small girl playing being a priest, this event is more important than that. This video showed plainly that, as in this situation, we don’t know what our children get out of being at Church, what they get out of being in worship. Some of us want to standardise reactions, saying children should be in Church only in certain places, only at certain times and we qualify that by saying that children’s experiences are are limited to time, experience etc., in Church. Others say, let them run around, those who find it hard to cope with, well they should just get on with it. And many of us polarise into one or the other camp. Yet again though, we miss the point….. we do not KNOW what children get out of worship. There’s no way to assess their experience of liturgy, no way to test if children’s worship is any deeper than any of the adults at the Church. I doubt whether we’ll see many toddlers sitting silently praying or kneeling in meditation; if they’re bored they don’t
know how to cope with that quietly, they don’t turn their eyes to read the Church magazine, they likely start running, moving around the Church and people will think, ‘oh they’re not getting anything out of being in Church.’ I beg to differ. Much more often than not they ARE getting something out of Church. All that’s needed to see in action is this is to take a few moments out ourselves, notice the child who reaches out his or her hand for communion, notice how they are engaged when they see a baby baptized, how they smell the oil of Chrism, see them work at the prayer activity they’re given, watch them as they take seriously taking the collection up, carrying the Bible for reading etc. As members of the congregation we might not see everything, I just happen to have heard of so many children acting out the drama of the Eucharist, lifting their hands, breaking their bread and saying “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” I want to suggest it’s lovely when we have children to disturb us in Church……; it’s lovely to have that challenge of being determined to focus on God. And don’t think the children aren’t with you and unable to centre on God, they are. It’s just more often or not they focus in God in a way we’ve forgotten. The Holy Spirit will not leave these children out of worship, just as she will not leave you out. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us all keep the feast, big and small, smart and silly, old and young, distracted and devoted. Let us … all of us … keep the feast and enjoy one another in Christ, giving thanks for every blessing along the way. Yvonne 16