September 2011 - Sodbury Vale Benefice Magazine

The Sodbury Vale Benefice Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury

O U T LO O K

magazine

Sept 2011

Nora @ ninety St John's Chipping Sodbury was filled with friends, family and wellwishers on the very day Nora Hodgkinson celebrated her 90th birthday - 7th August. We all wish you continued health and happiness as you head for your centenary.

And Nora says: “Thank you to everybody for your cards and good wishes on the occasion of my "big" birthday.

Having said, "No presents, please" I am thrilled that we are able to send £340 to the Children's Society, which is increased with Gift Aid. So, thank you, thank you.”

Your 1 FREE copy, 30p where sold

Old Sodbury

Contacts

Val Walker 16A Melrose Avenue, Yate 01454 318286 Tony Dixon 16 Chatterton Road, Yate, BS37 4BJ 01454 321 528

Rector The Rev. Canon Jane Kenchington, 01454 313159 email jane@kenchington.plus.com Assistant Curate The Rev. Val Bexon, 01453 521417 email:valeriebexon@onetel.com

Little Sodbury Nigel Rawlins Little Sodbury House, Little Sodbury, BS37 6QA 01454 312 269 Nancy Nagle Winchcombe Cottage,Little Sodbury End 01454 319798

Regular Weekly Events Sunday 9.00am Breakfast Club Church Centre Chipping Sodbury 11.00am Brunch Bunch, Church Centre Chipping Sodbury Monday 8.45am Morning Prayer, St John’s Chipping Sodbury 7.30pm Bell Ringers’ practice Church Tower Chipping Sodbury Wednesday 8.30am Morning Prayer, St John’s Chipping Sodbury Thursday 8.45am Morning Prayer, St John’s Chipping Sodbury 7.00pm Choir Practice, St John’s Chipping Sodbury Friday 10.00am Tubbie Tots Church Centre Chipping Sodbury 7.00pm Youth Club (age 11-18) Baptist Church Centre

Horton Tina Hildick-Smith Kirrin House, King Lane, Horton 01454 320380

Church Office Open during term time Monday, Tuesday & Thursday mornings 9.00 - 12.00 01454 325160 Email sodburyvalebenefice@gmail.com Web Site www.sodburyvalechurches.wordpress.com

Churchwardens Chipping Sodbury

Advertising Sylvia Franklin St. John’s Church Centre 07788 111 726

Paul Jones-Williams 1 Meadow Mead, Yate 01454 324970 Keith Stanley 132 Harescombe, Yate 01454 319467

October Deadline 2

Please can you have all editorial to Michelle by September 15th.

Dear Friends, September already! The school holidays have ended, children are starting new schools and autumn is in the air. Towards the end of the month we begin to celebrate harvest with the round of services and harvest suppers - all good stuff!

We've been reminded in recent weeks that not all the people of the world will be enjoying good harvests this year. The famine in the Horn of Africa is leaving frighteningly high numbers of people desperate for food, with many people dying. Other parts of the world are enduring droughts and failed harvests.

We, in this country, are fortunate. We are so fortunate that for many of us, most of the time, we take it all for granted. We are used to having clean running water, food in the shops and fruitful harvests of crops. At harvest time, we are reminded that everything comes from God and belongs to God. We are stewards of all that God gives us, not owners. It's our responsibility to share what God gives us.

We have committed ourselves to sending food to the Sisters of the Church in Bristol for their work with the people of St Paul's. We are seriously considering joining in with churches in Chipping Sodbury and Yate to establish a Food Bank in Yate for those who fall on hard times. (You will find more about that initiative elsewhere in this month's magazine.) These are good things to be involved with. But they require us to think of buying that "extra tin" when we're out shopping and thinking beyond our immediate needs.

Why should we bother? Because God is a generous God who loves all that he has made and calls us to share that love and generosity with others. If we are disciples of Christ, we are called to reflect that generosity of God in our own lives. And this extends beyond the harvest festivals to how we live all through the year.

A good exercise for each of us would be to take a hard look at ourselves and ask, "How generous am I? How generous am I with the money God has given me? How generous am I with the life God has given me in terms of the time I give to others? How generous am I with the material goods God has given me?"

God loves a cheerful giver (2Corinthians 9:7) With love and prayers,

Jane Jane Kenchington Rev. Canon Jane, Kenchington, 01454 313159, email:jane@kenchington.plus.com

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Message from our new Dean We all like to receive invitations. An invitation can make us feel known, wanted and loved. At the moment I am receiving more invitations than I can respond to, as I begin ministry as the Dean of Gloucester. I don't think people know me yet but it's nice to think they might want to get to know the Dean.

Going to church, or coming back to church, is so much easier if we are invited. Back to Church Sunday, 25 September, is a great day to invite someone you know to come with you to church. It will help them feel known, wanted and loved. It's so much easier to go with someone else, to be accompanied and to feel you are not alone. This month, resolve to invite someone to go back to church, or ask a friend to come with you; go on, invite yourself, for God knows you, wants you to come and loves you.

'FREE' lecture on banking The St Matthias Lecture 2011, "The HBOS story and the lessons learned putting faith and ethics into practice in the world today". Paul Moore, former head of Group Regulatory Risk at HBOS, will speak and take questions.

Chapel Lecture Theatre, UWE St Matthias Campus, Monday 17th October 7.30pm. This event is free and is open to both UWE staff and students and the community: Tickets from thelivingcentre@uwe.ac.uk. This event is a collaboration between The Living Centre at UWE and the Diocese of Clifton Justice and Peace Commission.

Val's back

Following two months of ministry placement and holiday Val is now If we are offering invitations to come back in full stride Back to Church, then those of us who as this picture come regularly, need to ensure church is shows. After inviting. We need the eyes of the spending time at St newcomer so that we can be sure that our welcome is genuine and meaningful. Stephen's in Bristol and Holy Trinity Tewkesbury she managed to grab a day off to walk with Bishop Michael on his Why not invite someone you know from recent pilgrimage. another church to visit for worship, and The 100 mile walk weaving through all ask them to reflect back on how it feels and how you might become as inviting Deaneries in the Diocese was completed as possible? Make Back to Church by a core of 16 people with many more Sunday this year an invitation that joining along the way. The pilgrimage anyone can respond to. took 7 days and visited 38 churches + one military chapel, worshipped at 35 Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester services, offered prayers on the way at www.backtochurch.co.uk many other churches, did 7 early morning Bible studies and enjoyed the hospitality of parishioners throughout the Street Pastors Diocese.

There were two people visiting from our More volunteers are needed to join our energetic band of Street Pastors to help link Diocese in El Camino Real, keep our town centre a pleasant place to California and one from Vasteras in be on Friday and Saturday nights. If you Sweden and it rained, and it rained and then they had showers and then they can help, or know someone who could, please contact Val on 01453 521417. 4 had sunshine - and a few more blisters

Back to Church Sundays in the Benefice You may recall that I mentioned the "Back to Church" initiative in the letter I wrote in the August edition of "Outlook".

This is a national initiative and gives us the opportunity to personally invite people to come to church with us on a particular Sunday. Research has shown that there are many people in our communities who used to worship in their local church and have just got out of the habit of doing so. A warm invitation from you might be all that's needed to help them join in with their local church again. So please think and pray about who you might invite and then dare to speak to the person/people concerned. The worst they can say is "No, thank you."

We felt that inviting people to our harvest services would create a good opportunity and since all the churches are

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celebrating harvest thanksgiving on different Sunday, we'll have several "Back to Church" Sundays in the Benefice.

So the "Back to Church" Sundays are as follows: Sunday 18 September 11.30am at St Adeline's, Little Sodbury Sunday 25 September 9.30am at St John's, Chipping Sodbury Sunday 2 October 8am and 9.30am at St John's, Chipping Sodbury 11.15am at St John's, Old Sodbury Sunday 9 October 11.15am at St James', Horton Invitation cards are available at the back of each of the churches. Please take one and invite someone.

Jane Kenchington

This offers a unique opportunity to explore the tower and to have a birdseye view of the surrounding area from 104ft above the town. This only happens once a year so don't miss this great opportunity.

Can I have some more please?

The garden of the vicarage was filled with parishioners from throughout the Benefice on July 31st when lunch was served in true 'family' style. These children were obviously enjoying their lunch and appeared to be asking for 'more'.

St John the Baptist historic church dates back to the 13th Century although the bell tower wasn't constructed until the 15th Century. This now houses 8 bells hung at 72ft, the newest two being installed to celebrate the Millennium in 2000.

The tower will be open for guided tours from 2pm - 4.30pm and there will be homemade cakes and refreshments available at ground level.

Church Tower Trips As part of Heritage Open Days, the church tower at St John's Parish church Chipping Sodbury will be open on September 10th to all who wish to climb the 139 steps to the top - for the magnificent view - FREE of charge.

Crafts for Kenya Well done to all the children who raised over £70 during lent by collecting 40 tiny items.

This has been turned into a huge box of stickers, glitter, tissue paper and other artistic things. All the craft items will go to the Turning Point Trust with Jon and Jo, when they visit the UK again over the summer, to be used in working with local children in Kibera. www.tptrust.org

HOLIDAY HOME

Thurlestone, South Devon

Lip-reading classes

Mannings,The Drive, Downs Road Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Self Catering Pet Friendly Open All Year Wonderful Sea Views Parking for 2 cars Sleeps 6-10 people 3 Bedrooms, 2 Futons

You are invited to come to lip-reading classes to learn how to cope with your hearing loss on Mondays 10 -12 starting on September 12th. The tutor is Mary Hall - 07790 283939 - and they are held at Old Grammar Rooms, Chipping Sodbury and cost £21 for 6 weeks. lipreadingmary@yahoo.com

Call Bob Alcock

01454 313880

bobandsueal@gmail.com

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Crib Crew

For a week in August Val lead a creative crew to develop a nativity scene based on the Kibera experience. All sorts of re-cycled material, loads of ingenuity and some latent Blue Peter skills were put into action. Watch out as the dream becomes a reality!

Jam makers beware!

Val is seeking clean jam jars for her nativity crib workshops, so there could be a shortage for jam makers in the coming months. However, she is willing to accept all sorts of clean glass jars such as empty pickle, mayonnaise and probably Brylcream jars, if they still exist.

Also being sought are washed (is this tautology?) plastic shampoo bottles and others of this type - especially if they have some 'shape'.

Fabric, leather and camel hair samples would also be appreciated, especially if they might have been around over 2,000 years ago.

Mini Gorilla at Large in Old Sodbury!

Old Sodbury School's gorilla, part of Bristol Zoo's 175th Anniversary celebrations, is currently moving around the village. It will be at St John's Old Sodbury on Tuesday 30th of August, and will be there until the school re-opens at the beginning of Sept.

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29 High Street, Chipping Sodbury Tel: 01454 325124 Fax 01454 326611

F. WOODRUFF Local Family Cremation and Funeral Directors 118-120 Station Road,Yate Tel: (01454) 320005 24hr Service 192 Badminton Road. Coalpit Heath Tel: (01454) 778838 24hr Service email:info@funerals.uk.net

www.funerals.uk.net

Private Chapels of Rest at Coalpit Heath & Yate

3 August 2011: Interment of ashes at St John's, Old Sodbury: Roland and Phyllis Smith

Marriages: 22 July 2011 at St John's, Old Sodbury: Elizabeth (Beth) Lawson & Paul Isaacs 30 July 2011 at St James' Horton: Charlotte Lowe and Leon Isaac Funerals: 6 July 2011 at Westerleigh Crematorium: Wilhelmina (Vilma) Maria Andrews 19 July 2011 at Westerleigh Crematorium: Kenneth James Evans 1 August 2011 at St John's, Chipping Sodbury followed by burial at Chipping Sodbury: Eileen Mary Harris 4 August 2011 at St John's Chipping Sodbury, followed by burial at Old Sodbury: Annette June Elizabeth Gilpin

St. John's Church Chipping Sodbury MOTHERS' UNION are holding their opening service (probably Evensong) on Monday September 12th at 7-30pm in St John's and we invite you all to join us, when our speaker will be the Rev. Val Abbott. Light refreshments will be served after the service.

PS. You don't have to be a member to attend, and we would like to see as many friends as possible from the other Churches of the Benefice. By joining us for our service you might learn more about the work of the Mothers' Union

WELCOME TO THE MODA HOUSE Whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend break away, celebrating that special occasion or perhaps just visiting the area on business we can accommodate your individual requirements. Ÿ Bed and Breakfast Ÿ 11 individually styled rooms Ÿ Excellent breakfast using fresh local produce Ÿ FREE parking and FREE WiFi Ÿ Within easy reach of the M4 and M5 Ÿ Meeting room To make a reservation or for more details simply email enquiries@modahouse.co.uk or telephone 01454 312135 1 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South 8 Glos. BS37 6BA. www.modahouse.co.uk

Much ado Our clergy 'duo' are constantly doing 'much about something' but on Friday August 5th they revelled in doing nothing with William Shakespeare. Much of it in fact brilliantly performed by the Sodbury Players when they offered 'Much ado about Nothing' in the picturesque setting of Camers at Old Sodbury.

As a result of the two performances, both 'sell-outs', over £900 was donated to the Friends of Old Sodbury Church and a futher £360 raised for Help for Heroes.

Mums & Dads go FREE! Duggie Dug Dug, the man with very many helping 'hands' is performing on Sunday 25th September at Castle School, Park Road, Thornbury.

The puppet show with music, tricks and thrills is from 4pm - 5.30pm and tickets cost £4 for primary school age children with younger siblings, mums and dads FREE!.

A great show for all the family. The event is organised by St Mary's, St Paul's and St Arilda's churches in Thornbury.

Please contact the church office 01454 281900 or Jo on 01454 853213 for information and tickets.

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The Barber Shop Roger Franklin 07855 887671

Paul Franklin 07772 789210

83 Broad Street Chipping Sodbury Bristol BS37 6AD Opening Hours Monday-Friday: 9:30 am-5:00pm Saturday: 9:00am-3:00pm Wotton-under-Edge The Rowe Veterinary Hospital Bradley Green Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire Tel: 01453 843295 Yate Yate Veterinary Surgery 9 Station Road Yate Bristol Tel: 01454 318016 Thornbury Thornbury Veterinary Surgery 3 Pullins Green Thornbury Bristol B35 2AX Tel: 01454 425478 Bradley Stoke The Rowe Veterinary Hospital Bradley House Ferndene Bradley Stoke Bristol Tel: 01454 275000

Coffee morning The Friends of Old Sodbury Church are holding a coffee morning at Challacombe House, Perrin Pit Road, Frampton Cotterell on Saturday 3rd September 10.30 - 12.30pm.

Apart from coffee there will be a great selection of gifts, cards, plants and preserves on sale - very good for early Christmas shopping.

Please contact Ann Ward 01454 317050 or Joyce Cairns 01454 314249 for more information.

Energy Performance Certificates for:

Sales, Rental & Holiday Lets, Floor Plans

What do we know?

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns, things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns, things we don't know we don't know.

Donald Rumsfeld

Lynn Edwards MA, MCIEH, MCIH Domestic Energy Assessor Tel: 07973 166 692 or 01454 323 340 Email: office@lenergy-assessor.co.uk

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THE HEALTH SHOP

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In these days of larger grouping of churches, it is impossible to offer the widest possible variety of services in every church - we just don't have the staffing for it. Looking at the pattern, I Following discussions in all the PCCs, think we do pretty well for variety the pattern of services across the Benefice will be changed a little from the considering the staffing constraints and I hope you will agree. I am particularly beginning of September. The reason grateful to the churches in Old Sodbury behind the changes is to establish regular types of service across the whole and Little Sodbury who bore the changes that we have made to create the new Benefice so that if there isn't a service that you prefer in your own church, there pattern of services. is always the option to go to one of the So please consult the pew leaflet or the other churches in the Benefice. magazine or the website to make sure The changes have enabled us to have: you arrive at the right church for the 타 A Common Worship eucharist every service you were hoping to attend!

Sunday somewhere in the Benefice; 타 A Book of Common Prayer eucharist New Service change at St James', Horton every Sunday somewhere in the After discussion at the Horton APCM and Benefice; 타 An all-age type service every Sunday at the last Horton PCC meeting, it has been decided to introduce a Common somewhere in the Benefice.

Worship Morning Prayer Service on the 3rd Sunday of the month, replacing the Book of Common Prayer Mattins service.

Some people felt that it would be a better balance to have two BCP and two CW services per month and we have made this change for an experimental 12 month period. Whilst we respect that some people are wedded to the services from the Book of Common Prayer, we also want to introduce some slightly more contemporary worship texts that might be attractive to other people who wish to attend worship.

The other additional exciting thing that is going to happen is that Horton School is going to take part in four services that occur on the 3rd Sunday over the forthcoming year. This is a big step forward and we're delighted that the school is keen to engage with the church.

Changed Service Pattern across the Benefice

Jane

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Ÿ The chance for the church you nominate to apply for a grant;

GLOUCESTERSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

Even if you are unable to ride or stride, you can ask people to sponsor you to man your church or to carry out specific RIDE AND STRIDE on SEPTEMBER 10th tasks while you are there.

A DAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CHURCH

Ride and Stride, run by the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust, is a great way to support this church and churches across the county when they most need help. It's an annual sponsored walk, bike or horse ride which happens on the second Saturday of September. That makes September 10th a date for the diary in 2011.

Further information, together with sponsorship forms, is available from your Local Organiser on the contact details below.

For information about the Trust's work and how to support it please look at the website: www.ghct.org.uk The Local Organiser for your church is Jackie Isaac, 01454 318079 County Ride and Stride Organiser can be contacted on Walkers and riders turn out to follow their rideandstride@ghct.org.uk chosen route between churches which open for the day. Many of them serve refreshments as well as checking you in and providing a friendly welcome, directions and moral support. Whether you prefer a solitary expedition, or to go with family or a group of friends, you know that you're joining thousands of people countrywide to raise money for an important cause. As Ian Hislop has said, "In the old days the churches used to worry about saving us. Now we have to worry about saving them".

For a lovely selection of cards for every occasion

What's in it for you, this church and the county's churches? Ÿ A perfect motivation to get out, explore and enjoy yourself; Ÿ The satisfaction of raising money and taking part in a nationwide initiative; Ÿ 50% of the money you raise goes to the church of your choice; Ÿ The chance to see inside some historic gems which cannot always be open for visits;

Sodbury Cards Cards • Giftwrap • Balloons Two floors of quality cards & gifts 54 Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury

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Tel 01454 273999

The camels are coming.

Richard Kenchington Domestic Structural Engineer

MSc(Eng), CEng, MICE, ACILA Chartered Civil Engineer & Chartered Loss Adjuster

ŸSteelwork & timber design. ŸStructural surveys. ŸSubsidence specialist. ŸFoundation problems. ŸProject management.

The Vicarage, Horse Shoe Lane, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 6ET

Actually it is probably only one camel, accompanied by a donkey and some goats, but they will be a welcome sight when they parade through Chipping Sodbury on the evening of December 2nd. They will have travelled from the west (not the east) - from the Forest of Dean in fact to take an active and moving part in the Nativity Festival being held at St John's.

This will be a spectacular event so please tell all your friends, family and especially children as this doesn't happen very often in Chipping Sodbury.

Telephone: 01454 324888 E-mail: richard@kenchington.plus.com

Mrs. E.J. Gauntlett M.Ch.S. HPC REGISTERED CHIROPODIST / PODIATRIST

6 Beaufort Mews 7 Horse Street Chipping Sodbury South Glos.

BS37 6DA

THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY BOX's Just to give you some prior notice, I will be visiting you during the month of October to collect your boxes in order to carry out this years 'count'. New box holders are always welcome; please give me a ring if you would like me to deliver a box to you. Thank you to everyone for your support. Hilary Hurley 01454 311515

Telephone: (01454) 319083 Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday Mornings 14

Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar September 2011

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o h J n t ’s S

Ch u rch

m m u er S h o w S

Saturday 10th September 2011

1pm-4pm Wickwar Road Chipping Sodbury Schedules available 16 from TIC/Church