Tuesday, September 30, 2014

HOST uk - welcoming international students

HOST is looking for kind, friendly, hospitable people of all ages whose imaginations are caught by the idea of welcoming an international student at university here, far from his or her own family, to their home, for a day, a weekend or at Christmas. You don’t need to live near a university, as students will travel for the privilege of meeting you, learning about real life in this country, and sharing their own culture. HOST is a voluntary activity which makes ambassadors for international goodwill of us all. Please see www.hostuk.org. Thank you

Margaret Stevens

Publicity Officer, HOST

HOST
www.hostuk.org

Monday, September 8, 2014

Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Sponsored Bicycle Ride and Graffiti event at Lidgate church

Sponsored bike ride

Saturday the 13th September 2014 will be the 33rd annual fund raising sponsored bicycle ride for churches of the Bansfield Benefice and the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust.

Half of the proceeds go to the church of your choice and the other half to the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust to help with their charitable work.

The event starts at 9.00am and finishes at 5.00pm. Start and finish whenever you like between these times. Visit by bike or on foot (no horses please) as few or as many churches as you wish. It's a great day out for all the family and there are refreshments (tea, biscuits and soft drinks) at all the churches you visit. It's a great opportunity to visit other churches in the area and to see the rich history of our religious buildings. It's also fun for the whole family and even helps to keep you fit. Why not visit all Seven churches of the Benefice?

Finding out about Graffiti

Matt Champion, the man in charge of finding the graffiti at St Mary's church, Lidgate is making a visit on Sept 13th which coincides with the SHCT sponsored cycle ride. Matt will be on hand to show and discuss the graffiti to anyone who visits on the day between 10am and 4pm. Come along if you would like to learn more.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Rector's View - September 2014

Dear Friends

September’s return from holiday and travel sets us back to work with the thanksgiving of Harvest. And in thanksgiving we might reflect on our needs and blessings, that which truly feeds and enriches us, that which truly offers fulfilment. So much today seems to break down our giving value to those who support us and strains our ability to support them, particularly when we think of our reliance upon our neighbours and our village communities. So much of what we take for granted in our enjoyment of village life these days seems under threat as fewer people are willing to give of their time or to take part. Village Halls, local clubs and community events as well the gatherings of the faithful in worship compete with a broadening horizon of individual interests and pursuits, and much of today’s aspiration demands more of our time to secure the income to afford them.

Perhaps the disciples faced similar pressures in their day, as the main source of income for their families and dependants, the harvest of their nets provided for their needs as well the growing demands of the Roman Empire. Rome’s advances in engineering and city life offered little to the settled Judaic rural community and neither Rome’s taxation nor even the Temple’s tax offered benefit to the rural settlements of Galilee. Yet Jesus’ calling of those fishers beside the Galilean sea enabled them to think beyond their being tied to mending their nets to give their all in building a new community after the promise of God’s Kingdom – ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of people’ being Jesus’ call.

This call remains with us today, we who as those early disciples find ourselves tied to mending nets in providing for the growing demands of modern life. Our Harvest services remind us to be ready to answer and welcome those in this age who offer thanksgiving in reflecting on their needs and blessings. So it is our Churches offer welcome to all who feel caught up in the pressures of modern life, we hope our catch in faith may release us for more enriching work, that of a more rewarding Kingdom bringing blessing to home and village alike. May our daily prayer for God’s Kingdom come be seen at our hand, in your days and mine.

Yours in Christ
Brin
Bansfield Benefice Rector