Great news to hear that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Martin Seeley, who will become the 11th Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.
Further details on the Diocese's website.
http://www.cofesuffolk.org/index.cfm?page=news.story&newsid=345&view=current
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Rector's View - November 2014
Dear friends,
I'm blessed to have recently returned from a Cursillo Pilgrimage amongst the ruins at Leiston Abbey near the East Suffolk coast. Cursillo is a renewal ministry for Lay people seeking knowledge and love of God through Christian discipleship. This blessing begins with a short three day course (Cursillo means 'short course') in community living and shared worship.
Our worship amongst the ruins of Leiston Abbey spoke powerfully of our shared inheritance of faith across generations past and generations to come. The ruins themselves still speak powerfully of God's presence in people's lives, their solid foundation directing our gaze upward to behold, by day the wonders of God's own vault of the sky (we rejoiced to see the sign of God's promise and sign of Cursillo – the rainbow), and by night the wonder of the stars, both speaking of that truth of Christian wisdom that whatever darkness blights our lives, light still shines.
As our days darken toward midwinter this year, there seem dark days indeed ahead through climate change, war and epidemic. By our November remembrances we remind ourselves of the great challenges faced and overcome by previous generations, who so valiantly laid for us foundations of peace social justice and accountability amongst the families of the nations. By their example we will find strength and resolve in this generation to proclaim however dark our days, the light of future hope still shines undiminished.
May God's bright Son, shine ever brighter in our lives, a hope expressed in the Cursillo cry of encouragement, De Colores!
Yours in Christ.
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
I'm blessed to have recently returned from a Cursillo Pilgrimage amongst the ruins at Leiston Abbey near the East Suffolk coast. Cursillo is a renewal ministry for Lay people seeking knowledge and love of God through Christian discipleship. This blessing begins with a short three day course (Cursillo means 'short course') in community living and shared worship.
Our worship amongst the ruins of Leiston Abbey spoke powerfully of our shared inheritance of faith across generations past and generations to come. The ruins themselves still speak powerfully of God's presence in people's lives, their solid foundation directing our gaze upward to behold, by day the wonders of God's own vault of the sky (we rejoiced to see the sign of God's promise and sign of Cursillo – the rainbow), and by night the wonder of the stars, both speaking of that truth of Christian wisdom that whatever darkness blights our lives, light still shines.
As our days darken toward midwinter this year, there seem dark days indeed ahead through climate change, war and epidemic. By our November remembrances we remind ourselves of the great challenges faced and overcome by previous generations, who so valiantly laid for us foundations of peace social justice and accountability amongst the families of the nations. By their example we will find strength and resolve in this generation to proclaim however dark our days, the light of future hope still shines undiminished.
May God's bright Son, shine ever brighter in our lives, a hope expressed in the Cursillo cry of encouragement, De Colores!
Yours in Christ.
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Shoebox appeal - Operation Christmas Child 2014
Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest children's Christmas project, bringing joy into the lives of underprivileged children since 1990. Last year, nearly 1.2 million shoeboxes were packed with gifts and goodies and sent from the UK to children who need them most in some of the toughest parts of the world. In most cases the shoebox will be the only Christmas present that child will receive.
Our Benefice is again supporting the Shoebox Appeal. Please consider supporting the Shoebox Appeal. Information leaflets, containing full details, are to be found at the back of all the churches and on our website - details below. Please then pass your completed Shoebox to a Churchwarden for passing on to our Co-ordinator. The deadline for handing in the completed Shoeboxes is Friday 31st October, as they need to be taken to a collection point in early November.
http://www.bansfieldbenefice.org.uk/benefice/shoebox.html
Our Benefice is again supporting the Shoebox Appeal. Please consider supporting the Shoebox Appeal. Information leaflets, containing full details, are to be found at the back of all the churches and on our website - details below. Please then pass your completed Shoebox to a Churchwarden for passing on to our Co-ordinator. The deadline for handing in the completed Shoeboxes is Friday 31st October, as they need to be taken to a collection point in early November.
http://www.bansfieldbenefice.org.uk/benefice/shoebox.html
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Rector's View - October 2014
Dear friends,
October's Harvest services set our mind to thanksgiving for this plentiful garden of creation, for all who tend and work in it. In this thanksgiving for the good we too call to mind our failing toward our natural world, how we by consumerism endanger nature's capacity to provide. The extraction of new energy resources becomes more complex and brings greater dangers yet we seem unable to accept greater cost in ‘green’ energy generation and recovery.
As the year darkens though we seek comfort in stories of hope. Looking to the stars we remember the light of the Saints who through the generations have given hope to others by their great works. We too remember the lives of All Soul's, those who brought light to our lives, those whom we have loved and known. This year we will hold at Wickhambrook Church 2nd November our 3pm All Soul's service commemorating our own faithful departed. All are welcome to attend to hear read any name they might put forward and light candles joining together after the service for refreshments and conversation.
This year's commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War offers stark reminder of our frailty and failing. For despite the sombre reflection on the tragedy of war still we face new conflicts and dangers and continue to look to the self-sacrifice of service men and women to offer us protection. So our Remembrance Sunday service at 10am Lidgate 9th November calls us to honour our debt to those who died and those who survived in providing for their need in the face of life changing injuries, psychological and physical.
November closes with the hope of realising our daily prayer for 'God's Kingdom come on earth as in heaven' in the festival of Christ the King. May our season of thanksgiving and remembrance instil in us the desire to determine all things for the good and in the face of this world's darkness ensure light still shines.
Your servant in Christ
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
October's Harvest services set our mind to thanksgiving for this plentiful garden of creation, for all who tend and work in it. In this thanksgiving for the good we too call to mind our failing toward our natural world, how we by consumerism endanger nature's capacity to provide. The extraction of new energy resources becomes more complex and brings greater dangers yet we seem unable to accept greater cost in ‘green’ energy generation and recovery.
As the year darkens though we seek comfort in stories of hope. Looking to the stars we remember the light of the Saints who through the generations have given hope to others by their great works. We too remember the lives of All Soul's, those who brought light to our lives, those whom we have loved and known. This year we will hold at Wickhambrook Church 2nd November our 3pm All Soul's service commemorating our own faithful departed. All are welcome to attend to hear read any name they might put forward and light candles joining together after the service for refreshments and conversation.
This year's commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War offers stark reminder of our frailty and failing. For despite the sombre reflection on the tragedy of war still we face new conflicts and dangers and continue to look to the self-sacrifice of service men and women to offer us protection. So our Remembrance Sunday service at 10am Lidgate 9th November calls us to honour our debt to those who died and those who survived in providing for their need in the face of life changing injuries, psychological and physical.
November closes with the hope of realising our daily prayer for 'God's Kingdom come on earth as in heaven' in the festival of Christ the King. May our season of thanksgiving and remembrance instil in us the desire to determine all things for the good and in the face of this world's darkness ensure light still shines.
Your servant in Christ
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
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
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
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
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