ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES CHURCH GROBY PARISH MAGAZINE
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Building the body of Christ, equipping the Church for mission
May 2016 1
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ENGRAVING Monday to Saturday 10am - 5.30pm 19 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0GF Tel: 0116 287 0041 www.cathystephens.co.uk Also at 11 Flying Horse walk. The Poultry, Nottingham, NG1 2HN
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The Parish of Groby & Ratby
M
ay – the time of festivals, bank holidays and Maypole dancing… a time of relaxation and having fun… For the Queen, it is a time between her two birthdays - her real one and her ‘official’ one. We won’t ask her which one gives her the most fun and relaxation! For us, it gives an opportunity, whatever your feelings towards royalty, of giving thanks to God for the stability the Queen has given our country, but also for her faith. For me the joy of the Queen’s 90th birthday, is the opportunity it has given her to talk to others relatively openly about how she has managed to keep things together over all of these years, from some awful lows to the amazing highs, especially when she spent a day in Leicester at the beginning of her Diamond Jubilee year. In her Christmas speeches to the nation, she has been candid about the role of her faith. She said,” I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right… to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God… I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel.” I would imagine that many of us would echo her sentiments as we try to live out our Christian faith.
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I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad...
The Queen’s personal faith is very important to her, and it is from where she draws her strength. For us, we too can draw on that strength. It’s not just open to royalty. When life is difficult, God is there. We too can put our trust in God, and then do our best.
was a job to be done. And I wonder is God trying to catch your attention for a job to be done? As we seek to be guided by God, and as we try to find our “perfect fit” new vicar, let’s try and work on becoming the people of God, the people that God is calling us to be, and to seek God’s assistance in this. Let’s open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Spirit may free us and also support us, both in the selection process, but also in our ministry to our neighbours, and in loving them in a way that each of us might like to be treated ourselves... And you never know, in the process, we might enjoy some May fun and relaxation whilst we are at it – maybe even dancing around a Maypole. ..
Sometimes we may be tempted to think that we can go it alone, without any help. And yes, we can give it a try… but most of us don’t get very far… Jesus came back to his disciples after he had died, to show that there was something more… that we too can have the hope of eternal life. At Pentecost, or Whit Sunday, (this year falling on the 15th of May), we think of the support that God offers each of us, to guide us through life. It’s free and on offer to us all. The long awaited, Holy Spirit came down on the disciples, as their help mate, and also as their strength. The visual to catch people’s attention at the time, was flames, like tongues of fire descending on the disciples – strange phenomena even then. They certainly knew that something very special was happening. God had caught their attention, because there
May God bless us all and give us the wisdom to know what is right, and the strength to follow it through. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Revd Ros
MIDWEEK COMMUNION SERVICES - May GROBY
Wed
9.30am
RATBY
Thur 9.30am
4th
11th 12th
4
18th
25th 26th
GROBY/RATBY SUNDAY SERVICES—May 2016 DATE
GROBY
RATBY
8.00am Holy Communion (LC)
1st 6th Sunday of Easter
9.30am All Age Worship (Team)
10.00am Worship for All (LC)
6.30pm Holy Communion (LC) 8.00am Holy Communion (LC)
8th 7th Sunday of Easter
9.30am Holy Communion (LC/KW)
10.00am Morning Worship (FB)
6.30pm Evening Prayer (KW) 8.00am Holy Communion (LC)
15th
10.00am Christian Aid Service
Pentecost
10.00am Holy Communion (RC) 3.30pm Messy Church (RC)
6.30pm Reflective Service St P&J (LC)
6.00pm Holy Communion (RC) 8.00am Holy Communion (RC)
22nd Trinity
9.30am Holy Communion (FB)
10.00am Family Communion (LC)
6.30pm Evening Prayer (LC) 8.00am Holy Communion (LC)
29th The Kingdom of God
9.30pm Holy Communion (LC) 6.30pm Evening Prayer (LC) 5
10.00am Holy Communion (RC)
May 2016 Diary 1st
Sun
8.00am 9.30am 6.30pm
Holy Communion with prayer for healing All Age Worship Holy Communion
2nd
Mon
3rd
Tues
4th
Wed
5th
Thurs 8.00am 10.30 - 12 noon 7.30pm
Prayer in church CTG Fair Cuppa at the Village Hall Ascension Day service
6th
Fri
9.30am - 11.30am 7.30pm - 9. 30pm
CATCH playgroup at URC GAP Youth Group meets at URC
7th
Sat
9.30 - 12 noon
Love Groby Tasters at the URC
8th
Sun 8.00am 9.30am 6.30am
Gift Day Holy Communion at Ratby Holy Communion Evening Prayer
6.00 pm 7.45pm - 9.00pm
Chattabox Mondays at the URC. Rock Solid at the URC
8.30am 9.30am 2.30pm
Morning Prayer at Groby Holy Communion Church Women’s Guild AGM
Bank Holiday. Parish office closed.
8.30am 9.30am 7.30pm 7.30pm
Morning Prayer at Groby Holy Communion Revelation Youth bible studymeets at URC PCC meeting
9th
Mon
10th
Tues
11th
Wed
12th
Thurs 8.00am 10.30 - 12 noon 7.30pm
Prayer in church CTG Fair Cuppa at the Village Hall Manifest Discipleship meeting
13th
Fri
9.30am - 11.30am 7.30pm - 9. 30pm
CATCH playgroup at URC GAP Youth Group meets at URC
14th
Sat
9.30 - 12 noon 4.00pm
Love Groby Tasters at the URC Wedding blessing at church
15th
Sun 8.00am 10.00am 2.00pm 6.30pm
Pentecost Holy Communion Christian Aid Service Recording in church Reflective Taizé Service at St.P&J 6
16th
Mon
6.00pm 7.45pm - 9.00pm
Chattabox Mondays at the URC. Rock Solid at the URC
17th
Tues
2.30pm 7.30pm
Ladies Fellowship meets at the Vicarage Deanery Meeting
18th
Wed
8.30am 9.30am 11.00am 7.30pm
Morning Prayer at Kirby Muxloe Holy Communion Events Group meeting Revelation meets at the URC
19th
Thurs 8.00am 10.30 - 12 noon 7.30pm
Prayer in church CTG Fair Cuppa at the Village Hall Extend Governing Group meets
20th
Fri
9.30am - 11.30am 7.30pm - 9. 30pm
CATCH playgroup at URC GAP Youth Group meets at URC
21st
Sat 9.30 - 12 noon
Magazine deadline Love Groby Tasters
22nd
Sun
8.00am 9.30am 6.30am
Holy Communion at Ratby Holy Communion Evening Prayer
23rd
Mon
6.00pm 7.45pm - 9.00pm
Chattabox Mondays at the URC. Rock Solid at the URC
24th
Tues
7.30pm
Leicester and Peterborough Guild of Vergers Service
25th
Wed
8.30am 9.30am 7.30pm
Morning Prayer at Groby Holy Communion Revelation meets at the URC
26th
Thurs 8.00am 10.30 - 12 noon
27th
Fri
28th
Sat
9.00 - 12 noon 9.30 - 12 noon
Churchyard work party Love Groby Tasters Crafty Morning
29th
Sun
8.00am 9.30am 6.30pm
Holy Communion Holy Communion Evening Prayer
30th
Mon
31st
Tues
Prayer in church CTG Fair Cuppa at the Village Hall
Bank Holiday Parish Office Closed
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Andy C receives award from Princess Anne. On March 10th, our friend Andy Cereseto was presented with his Butler Trust award by The Princess Royal, at a ceremony at St James’s Palace. After the Ceremony, during which the award recipients received their certificates, a memorable afternoon tea was served to them and their guests in the iconic Palace State Rooms. HRH The Princess Royal, along with the Minister for Prisons, Probation, Rehabilitation and Sentencing, Andrew Selous MP, then met Award Winners and their personal guests. The picture above was taken from the Butler Trust website, which has a full account of all 30 award winners. Andy’s award was in recognition of his work for the Loughborough based ‘Minnie’s Friends’ charity, which is a drop-in centre for vulnerable people, particularly helping the homeless, the lonely, those with debt problems and others with drug or alcohol misuse. Andy’s work with the charity has formalised its administration by appointing a board of trustees, achieving registered charity status, and obtaining grants to secure its continuance. His selfless efforts have deservedly won him this national recognition.
Reflective Service Prayer and music inspired by the ecumenical and international monastic community of Taizé in France In the churches of Groby 3 Sunday of the month at 6.30pm rd
15th May at St Philip and St James For more information contact: Karen Silverwood 01530 249829 karensilverwood@googlemail.com 8
CHURCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING At the AGM on 13th April, Dave Robinson, Gillian Smith and Yvonne Randle were elected onto the PCC. Along with existing members Andrew Scott (Lay Chair), Gill Tyler and Christine Davies, they form the elected section of the PCC. Helen Robinson and Tom Limb were elected to the Deanery Synod, so they will be the Deanery representatives on the PCC. The full committee also includes standing members appointed by virtue of their office. They are Louise Corke, Ros Cooper, Keith Wignall, Chris Mann, Val Doig, Fiona Brooks (Minute secretary), Violet Atkins (treasurer), and the children and youth workers Ruth Cross and John Fryer. Re-elected to the Extend Governing Group were Angela Brymer, Fiona Brooks and Cliff Ashby. Re-elected to the CTG were Karen Silverwood and Violet Atkins, which leaves one person short. This vacancy will be filled by co-option later in the year.
All invited to Bishop Martyn's Service of Welcome On Saturday 14 May, the eve of Pentecost, there will be a Service of Welcome in the Cathedral at 2.30pm when Bishop Martyn will be installed as the 7th Bishop of Leicester. The first part of the service will be inside the cathedral before an invited congregation, then everyone will to move outside for the sermon and prayers .There will be a large TV screen outside the cathedral and a sound link so that those inside or outside can see and hear all that will go on. Invitations have already gone out across our diocesan family and wider community for those who will be able to have seats inside the cathedral. However, there is also an invitation to everyone who wishes to be present to join the great gathering in Cathedral Gardens. Please come along as individuals or groups. Please note there will be a small amount of seating outside for those with particular physical needs. Everyone is asked to wear something red or orange or yellow to signify the flames of Pentecost. Please come along expecting weather of all kinds!. Everyone will be most welcome. 9
CATCH Playgroup (Coffee And chat at the Chapel) Our April meetings are all at the URC, for pre-school children and their mothers/carers.
On Fridays at 9.30 - 11.30am 6th 13th 20th 27th
Daniel and the lions The boat in the storm Jonah and the whale No CATCH—schools closed
For more information, contact Ruth Matthews 287 6179 or Christine Fowler 07803 891336
THURSDAY Fellowship
“Fair Cuppa” At the VILLAGE HALL, 10.30am - 12noon April rota 5th 12th 19th 26th
Kay and Pat Elizabeth and Hilary Jane and Anne Peter and Enid
If you can help with the coffee mornings please contact Violet Atkins Tel. 0116 287 3463
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CHURCH WOMEN’S GUILD REPORT FOR APRIL 2016. Our April meeting was held at 2.30 p.m on Wednesday 13th April, 2016 at the home of June Waterfield, 4 Jonathan Close, Groby when the speaker was Dr J Coaton. Jim gave us a fascinating talk on the life and work of Charles Dickens. A story not often told, he had taught himself to read and educated himself. Dickens wrote many books, as well as being a good actor. He worked very hard during his life, dying in his middle 50’s. Our next meeting is our AGM which will be held at the home of Pat Hall. 36 Castell Drive, Groby on Wednesday 11th May, 2016 2.30 p.m. On Wednesday 8th June 2016 at 12.30 p.m. we shall be meeting for lunch at The Copt Oak. We do not hold a meeting in July. Why not come and join us at our meetings for a chat, tea and friendship. For more information please contact Annette Fowler (2873169) or June Waterfield (2872973)
LADIES FELLOWSHIP meets on Tuesday 17th May at 2.30pm at the Vicarage, when Louise Corke will talk about her travels. Contact Jane Thompson for more details - 231 4862
In place of the proposed visit to Launde Abbey, the Manifest group will hold a debate, on Thursday 26th May at the Groby Club. Manifest events are open to all men who attend our church. There is no membership requirement to come to an event, just sign the sheet at the back of the church 11
Morsheda is a young mother of four living in Bangladesh. She has no land, few assets and no savings. For Morsheda’s family living on low-lying islands in the Brahmaputra River, floods are a terrifying part of everyday life. The single-room, corrugated-iron house she shares with her children has been flooded four times. ‘I feel very scared of the river. When I look at it I keep thinking “it is coming”.’
Dangers all around One year, her humble house filled up to her knees with floodwater. To stay dry, and keep away from the dangerous snakes that now swam through her home she raised her bed up on bricks. But during the night she was woken by a loud splash. In the pitch black, her baby son had fallen into the inky water. He could have drowned in moments. Race against time In a bad year, huge waves crashed against her house, giving her less than an hour to uproot her home and scramble to safety. Racing against time, she gathered her terrified children together and hastily made a raft from a banana tree. At any moment, it could have tipped and plunged them into the swirling waters, but it was their only hope. She put her youngest daughter in a cooking pot and clung to it as it floated in the current. ‘My children were so scared. My sister was holding them very tightly and we were panicking because my neighbour’s child was washed away.’
The floods are coming Morsheda and her children live a precarious life. They know that the floods will come again, and soon. But we can lift our neighbours like Morsheda to safety. Just £250 is enough for a Christian Aid Home Safety Package. It could floodproof Morsheda’s home, raising it eight foot on an earth plinth, so that she has a safe place to rebuild, keep livestock and grow crops. It could also buy a goat, seeds and a wormery to help produce compost – all of which will give her a longterm income and a solid foundation for a new life. ‘If I could raise my house then I would feel much safer living here with my children.’ 12
Our Christian Aid Service will be at 10.00am on 15th May at St Philip and St James when we will be joined by our friends from the United Reformed Church. We will be inviting you to deliver Christian Aid envelopes in Groby. If you haven’t been involved before please consider if you could help this year. Sign up sheets are in church now.
A Huge Thank you to everyone who took part in the Lent Giving Project for the Tuesday People in South Africa. The amount donated is £515.32 This has been be sent to Val and Steve Meek, who will use it both to finance the sandwich boxes for their ‘Tuesday People’ and other aspects of their work.
Looking Forward:A Garden Party in support of the work of the Meeks in South Africa. Saturday 6th August, at the Newnham’s A Summer Sunday picnic lunch at Beacon Hill following the very enjoyable time there last year. Sunday 21st August Harvest Supper, Saturday 1st October Victorian Street Fair, Saturday 12th November
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Leicester and Peterborough Guild of Vergers The Office of Verger, or Virger, is an ancient one, and their duties have evolved over the decades, combining the tasks and responsibilities as the job has been passed on from one to another. The title Verger is derived from the rod that they carry in procession which is known as the ‘Verge’ (Latin Virga means rod), and which was originally needed to clear a path for the clergy and other dignitaries. At the cathedral you will still see a verger escorting preachers and readers during the service, though he/she doesn’t need to clear a pathway for them! Today’s vergers continue to play an important behind-thescenes role. They might be responsible for preparation for worship, the oversight of the worship resources, the care of people or management responsibilities. The Leicester and Peterborough Guild of Vergers will be gathering for a service on Tuesday 24th May at our church at 7.30pm. This will take the form of a Songs of Praise and will include a celebration of Marjorie Thomas’ and Sue Scott’s 50 years of singing in the choir.
Church Gift Day Sunday 8th May Sunday 8th May will be a Gift Day for Groby church family. We hold these Gift Days regularly, but not frequently, so that church members can take stock of their financial giving, be it to church or to other organisations/people whom they support. We believe that our giving should be proportional to our income, which might have gone up or down in the last year. So our Gift Day isn’t a fund raising exercise, but one of discipleship: we can review our income over the last 15 months since the last gift day and adjust our giving accordingly. It is important that those who record church finances and manage gift aid claims are aware of any changes in giving you make. Please ensure that you let June Clelland know (tel: 287 8415). On the church desk, there will be notes and gift forms for you. Please take what you need. 14
A Message from Peter and Sue Hooper Thank you! It is difficult to believe that it is now a couple of months since we were busy packing boxes, finishing off projects, saying our goodbyes and preparing ourselves for our move to the other side of the county. The actual house move was hard work but went very smoothly and we soon had most of the boxes unpacked. Our new house was built in the 1970’s so we are enjoying discovering a mature garden which is home to lots of lovely birds helped by the fact we are close to the River Wreake and open fields. Sue and I would like to say a huge ‘THANK YOU’ to everyone who contributed to our leaving services and celebrations. We were quite overwhelmed by your good wishes, individual gifts, the enormous array of beautiful cards and especially for the extremely generous financial gift we were presented with. We are going to spend some time choosing a white and gold chasuble (rather like a decorated cape) which I will wear over my alb for weddings and various festivals. It will be a wonderful addition to my clergy vestments and a constant reminder of many happy times in the Bradgate Team. We wish you all happiness and God’s peace on your continuing Christian journeys wherever they may take you….. Best wishes, Peter and Sue.
News of Peter Hooper The following announcement was placed the Diocesan website on 29th March,. The Bishop is pleased to announce the appointment of the following new Honorary Canons: Mr Malcolm Britton The Revd Canon Vivien Elphick The Revd Dr Peter Hooper The Revd Helen Newman The Service of Installation for all of the above will take place on Sunday 11 th September 2016 at 3pm in Leicester Cathedral. 15
Who do you think I am? Do you know which of our congregation had chicken and chips with Cliff Richard, or who goes to all the ‘Take That’ concerts, or who once cycled with Bradley Wiggins? Well you might know if you are a reader of our excellent ‘Who do you think I am’ series by Ruth Mwenya. Those who have been featured to date are: Oct 14
Andy Cereseto
Nov 14
Annette Fowler
Dec 14
Ruth Matthews
Jan 15
Michael Brymer
Feb15
Linda Newnham
Mar 15
Ellie & Hannah Robinson
Apr 15
Fiona Baby
May 15
Ken Rushby
June 15
Dawn Walker
July 15
Karen Silverwood
Aug 15
Violet Atkins
Sep 15
Mark Lawrence
Oct 15
Vivienne Limb
Nov 15
Cliff Ashby
Dec 15
Chris Mann
Jan 16
Matthew Smith
Feb-16
Dave Robinson
Mar-16
Keith Wignall
Apr-16
Gill Tyler
The articles tell us some interesting facts about some of our friends in the congregation, things that we wouldn’t necessarily know from our contact and conversations in church. And from that, they help to bring the body of church closer together. Ruth will be presenting further articles in this series from time to time, as she can find additional willing ‘victims’. If you would be willing to be featured on this page in future please contact Ruth Mwenya, she will be delighted to hear from you!
Hearing problem? A man went into a church and asked the vicar to pray for his hearing. Touched by his faith, the vicar agreed. “Kneel here,” he began in a loud voice. The man knelt, and the vicar placed a hand on each ear and bellowed a prayer. "I hope that will help," he finally shouted.
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As the wedding season approaches you may enjoy the image that this sign conjures up. Seen on a footpath in Staffordshire.
Fellas Following Footpaths
For our first walk in April we picked up the Ivanhoe Trail near Ratby and walked through to Glenfield before heading back via a very muddy and slippery footpath – but the least said about the slippery bit the better. We will be meeting on the first Thursday of each month until September, walking out of Groby and back via a different route for 60-90 minutes on at times muddy/rough paths – so walking boots and possibly waterproofs required. If the route takes us by a local pub we will stop for a short drink. The next walk at 7pm on 5th May starting from the URC car park will probably take us out through Martinshaw Woods to Ratby and then back into Groby on the old railway line. This is a Churches Together evening and fellas from both churches are encouraged to come along with a non-church friend. Just turn up on the night. 17
Saturday 16th July 10am - 4pm De Montfort Hall Follow 2016 is a National day festival, open to everyone of any age or denomination and is sponsored by the Central Readers Council to celebrate 150 years of Reader Ministry. Speakers include Paula Gooder, writer and lecturer in Biblical studies, Mark Russell, Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Greene, author and speaker from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, Debbie Thrower, former broadcaster and champion of BRF’s the gift of year’s initiative, and Paul Blakey, founder of the Street Angels movement. Pete James, full time songwriter, will be leading worship throughout the day and Roger Jones from Christian Music Ministries will be forming a scratch choir and performing his brand new musical Barnabas. Activities available throughout the day will be a taste of Messy Church from Lucy Moore, children’s multi-sensory equipment from Leicester diocese, 24-7 prayer space, adult and children bouncy castles, entertainment from Christian magician Steve Price, together with resource stalls across the site and world food available all day. Tickets costing just £5 have been subsidised to make the event accessible to as many people as possible, and families are welcome to attend. Children under 5 go free but do require a ticket, As this is likely to be a very popular event we have booked 10 tickets in advance. Please see Chris Davies if you would like one. If these tickets are not taken by 12th June they will be offered to other Christian friends
National Gardens Scheme Monday 30th May 11am - 5pm Newtown Linford Open Gardens Seven gardens in the village will be open for charity Tea and cake at Meadow Cottage home of Michael and Rosemarie Upstone. 18
Ladies Skittles evening A great time was had by all! Watch out for the next event
Lots of other suggestions were made during the evening
I’ll give it a go! We’ve earned this!
Advice from friends
What a laugh!
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Performance dates: Saturday 25th June 7.30pm and Sunday 26th June 3.00pm in the Sports Hall at Groby Community College. Tickets will be on sale from mid-May. Further details will be available shortly so watch out for our posters, church magazines and The Spotlight. For our summer 2016 performances, Groby Sings is going back half a century to the Swinging Sixties and Super Seventies when musical history was made with the coming of The Beatles and ABBA. Whatever their age, everyone knows at least one Beatles or ABBA song and we hope to delight our audiences this time with a fantastic selection of classic songs by these world famous artists. There should be some interesting sights on stage too as we raid our dressing-up boxes for Beatles wigs and sparkly costumes. Be prepared to be amazed in both sound and vision!! Our community choir, Groby Sings, goes from strength to strength with numbers increasing almost on a weekly basis. At the last count there were nearly 280 singers on the books which is a fantastic achievement for our fourth year of singing together. Many of this year’s newcomers have been encouraged to join by relatives, friends and acquaintances of existing choir members. Our posters have sparked a lot of interest, particularly because we are singing Beatles and ABBA songs which are proving to be a very popular choice. We know too that many choir members appreciate the social side of our choir. There is a great camaraderie which is encouraged by Helen, our conductor, who works us hard but makes us laugh too and, of course, who can resist the half-time cake? As the popularity of the choir is growing all the time and because Groby Sings The Beatles and ABBA is already eagerly awaited, we expect that tickets will be snapped up quickly so make sure to get your order in as soon as possible. Enquiries to: Helen Hayes 07867 963328 or Ruth Matthews 07759 395072 (not to the College). 20
Tuesdays are a little different nowadays! We still distribute the ‘packed lunches’ to those looking in the dustbins in our area. We spend time with the regulars: there is a trust on both sides and we welcome the ‘strangers’. Fewer people come to the door;
those
that do have always done so, or are those who have missed us on the Tuesday itself. In addition, we now drive to where the youth stay.
‘Stay’ is the word used for where someone sleeps. The teenagers sleep on the green in town. Another group of about 8 older youth have built a shelter next to the railway station, near the Traffic police depot. We take the packed lunches to these folk rather than them coming up to us. A man up the road was abusive to them, and us, threatening police and accusing them of robbing houses etc they retaliated; Steve and I found myself in the middle, sep-
arating them. We decided to change the system. Instead of the youth waiting for us on street corners, we decided to drive to where they stay. They seldom looked in the dustbins and were only walking up from town to receive the food etc The following week, we told those waiting. They readily agreed to the new system. They would look out for “The rooi car” (red car). Some of the kids had already decided to wait elsewhere. They said it was best for them and for us. They anxiously insisted to be allowed to wait with ‘Auntie Paulina’, who is a regular. Paulina said she would look after them “If they get an-
gry, I will say GO!” she said. About 6 other teenagers walk for 1 ½ hours from Avian Park, the Coloured Township. If we drove to them, any soup would be totally inadequate and cold! (A previous soup kitchen needed to feed 200 kids!). They wanted to be allowed to come as usual. They are all so used to being verbally abused or told to ‘go away’ that they automatically think that they need per21
The new system is going well. The older youth like us going to their home.
Those from the Green are getting used to it. We joked about it, “some are
asleep” they said, while they woke up and walked to us. They will try and stay put. We are now providing 70 ‘packed lunches’, probably the most we can prepare in one session starting at 4.30am. The farmers have been so generous this week: naartjies (assorted citrus varieties) and dark maroon plums. The fruits are of excellent quality. They are also sweet enough to distribute fresh. South Africans have very ‘sweet teeth’.
Previous plums have been sour but make lovely jam. It has been a very busy week so I am pleased that I do not need to ‘process’ the fruits. And we do like to give fresh fruit as much as possible. Donations from the farmers and from the green-grocer as well as moneys sent to us have meant that the Tuesday folk have has a lovely amount of fruit each week during this past growing and harvest period.
Thank you very much indeed! Everything is becoming so expensive: the drought has rocketed the prices of many food products; milk and bread are next in line. As we are now making 70 food bags at the very least, our costs are much more than last Autumn. The donations received from the Lent lunch/fund-raising are much appreciated and indeed so much needed. Thank you!
(We will write further with specifics)
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Last Tuesday, an older lady spoke in English for us
“God is Love” We finally caught up with Alice, the Big Issue seller at Waterfront in Cape Town. We’ve not seen her for 6 months or more and were concerned as she had been so ill last January. She is well. ”Just my knees!” she said. Her grand-daughter lives with her. A few weeks earlier, Alice found a suicide note and tablets. “I’m just playing” the girl said. “You don’t play with death” Alice replied. Gina is 16 years old and Alice says she is slow at school. She has been kept behind in the same Grade class for 3 years, not moving to High School. She does not pass the Grade exams. No extra or specific help has been given. Somehow, through unexpected meetings and connections, a special school was found and Gina accepted. The girl is blossoming and happy; the teachers supportive and caring. They all went on a picnic to a park across
the city. “The first in the family to go there” Alice told her. “God is Good!” Alice pronounced
Please pray For the Tuesday food bags, their preparation, the new system and wisdom for us dealing with different attitudes or circumstances We give thanks for the continued provision and protection of us and of the folk we meet Please also pray for our health For all four of us! XXXXX Steve, Val, Ruth and Hannah-Rachel XXXXX
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CHURCH REGISTERS Groby & Ratby
Ratby
Weddings
2nd April ~ Gary Nicholas Root & Lucy Elizabeth Ward Groby None
We pray for God’s blessings on this couple as they begin their married life together
Ratby None
Baptisms
Groby 3rd April ~ Jacob Henry Robilliard 10th April ~ Harrison James Cooper-Kennedy
We welcome them in to the church family
Funerals
Ratby 22nd March ~ Bernard Michael Jones, formerly of East Walk, Ratby Groby 7th April ~ Gordon Alfred Wood, formerly of The Maltings, Glenfield
We extend our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends, and pray that they may find peace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Do you receive the magazine on a regular basis? If not and you would like to have a copy each month, please contact a member of the clergy or one of the church wardens. You will find their details on the contact list overleaf.
Rotas - May Magazine Deadline Saturday 21st May
Altar Flowers 1st June Waterfield 8th Ruth Scott 15th June Waterfield 22nd 29th Enid Smitherman
Please send all items to stpandjmagazine@googlemail.com
Items for the weekly news sheet to:
Memorial Vase 8th Jean Graham
Church Cleaning
Ken.rushby@gmail.com
2nd - 6th Manifest 9th - 13th Gill and Alan 16th - 20th Elizabeth and Christine 23rd - 27th Margaret and Annette 31st - 3rd Kathryn and Lucy
Note: PARISH OFFICE HOURS
If the dates are unsuitable, please arrange a swap.
From 9am to 11am each weekday morning
Brass Cleaning May John Forgham
Parish Office Bekki Williamson 239 3768 office@bradgateteam.org.uk
Please when possible patronise our advertisers and let them know you saw their advertisement in the Groby Church Parish Magazine. 25
CONTACTS Vicar Curate Reader Churchwarden Churchwarden
Revd Louise Corke Revd Ros Cooper Keith Wignall Christopher Mann Valerie Doig
58 Pymm Ley Lane, Groby 26 Jackson Road, Bagworth 12 Beacon Close, Groby 29 Pymm Ley Lane, Groby 10 Elm Close, Groby
CTG Extend
Youth Worker Ruth Cross 07759 087 804 Children & Families Worker John Fryer 07540 957 926 Manifest Men’s Group Andy Cereseto 239 5457 Verger Owen Lawrence 01530 243179 PCC Minute Sec. Fiona Brooks 01530 242484 Treasurer Violet Atkins 287 3463 Gift Aid Secretary June Clelland 287 8415 Bell-ringers Sue Scott 01530 249324 Organist & Choir Paul Cox 287 0212 Sunday School Mike Matthews 287 6179 Women's Guild Annette Fowler 287 3169 Ladies Fellowship Jane Thompson 231 4862 Flowers Violet Atkins 287 3463 Newssheet Ken Rushby 0116 348 9726 Verger Emeritus Marjorie Thomas 287 0330 Magazine C Davies / J Newnham 231 2070 / 287 7871 Website www.bradgateteam.org.uk Magazine email address stpandjmagazine@googlemail.com Parish Office Bekki Williamson 239 3768 office@bradgateteam.org.uk
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231 3090 01530 231718 231 1439 287 8378 291 6923
I.K. MARRIOTT GAS SERVICES LTD
Chris Mann Decorating Top quality work and service at affordable rates. Friendly and trustworthy for a free quote call
Gas safe Registration No 1444445 Gas Specialist Maintenance—Installation—Repair
07923607972 or 0116 2878378 or email cmannsavage@yahoo.com
Local, friendly service Special rates for senior citizens
Phone (01455) 828542
S R SHEARER
DSWOODWORKING
BUILDING SERVICES
Quality internal and external joinery Kitchens Doors Windows Floors Rot Repair General Maintenance
Property maintenance, alterations, plastering, painting and decorating, joinery, roofing, landscaping, ceramic tiling, general building works.
Friendly reliable service Free quotation or advice on request 01509 230156 07979 715867 Email. dan@dswoodworking.co.uk
19 Overdale Avenue Glenfield LE3 8GQ 0116 231 2655 07913 534992 sn_shearer@yahoo.co.uk
RATBY PHARMACY 10 Main Street, Ratby, Leicester, LE6 0JG
FREE ORDER, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF MEDICATIONS
from Anstey, Desford, Forest House Medical Centre, Glenfield, Groby, Hockley Farm, Newbold Verdon, Ratby, Warren Lane and many other surgeries. PLEASE CALL US ON 0116 2393139 OR Email: ratbychemist@aah-n3.co.uk 27
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