Rector's View - July 2014

Dear friends,

Summer for our Benefice Churches began most gloriously in song, as Denston hosted the vocal group Voces8 who are enjoying a great year of deserved acclaim and success.

Not only did they sing for our Concert but also for our Morning Worship, which bought to my mind the power of song to bring together communities whatever their need, whether to relax or entertain, whether to reflect spiritual presence in worship, or whether to console in time of challenge.

Song can tell our story in ways that transform our spoken word so as to more fully express the emotion of the telling. Music will feature at commemorations of 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, and at St Margaret Stradishall's 11am morning worship 3rd August, we will receive service issue St John's Gospels which offered strength to so many who were to lose their lives and helped inspire vision for the future in the care of those bereaved and those who returned. Our Remembrance service at St Mary Lidgate, 10am 9th November will feature a local folk song telling the story of the village through that great trial and loss.

This summer our Diocese tells the story of our first 100 years. And it is a song, specially written for our centenary year, which most fully expresses our Diocesan vision for growth, secured from our daily prayer, 'Your will be done, Your kingdom come'. A Song arranged for traditional choir, congregational singing and worship band, being heard in our Cathedral and Parishes throughout the Diocese. Our benefice choir led our congregational singing as Bishop David visited St Margaret Stradishall for our Confirmation service, where two young members of our fellowship gave testimony to their faith. Our Diocese holds a day of song at Ipswich Regent Theatre 6th July, 3pm for Songs of Praise and 7pm for Worship, perhaps you would like to book your place and join us? Bishop David writes of this great theatre venue 'you yourselves are the stars of our story, and we together will be the people who take God's good story for Suffolk forward into the future'. Indeed at the close of our Centenary year our Deanery Songs of Praise will again hear the words of our centenary song ‘Steer our path and be our vision all our life-time through’. Here we will be singing favourite hymns of the last hundred years, taking strength in our gathering and inspiration in seeking God's vision for us in our song. I do hope you will have opportunity to sing with us of our hope and vision, that we may see in our generation something of God's Kingdom come.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector

Clare Deanery Quiet Day at Clare Priory - 3rd July

You are warmly invited to the Clare Deanery Quiet Day at Clare Priory on Thursday 3rd July from 10am to 3.30pm.

The subject for the day will be the "A passion for poetry" led by The Very Rev'd Frances Ward, Dean of the cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

There will be worship to begin and end the day as well as time for quiet reading, reflection and prayer.  The Dean will share with us in the morning.

The cost is £14, please bring a packed lunch.  Further information can be obtained by emailing contact@bansfieldbenefice.org.uk

Confirmation Service on Trinity Sunday with Bishop David

Trinity Sunday was an especially wonderful day for the Bansfield Benefice as we hosted Bishop David who had come to be with us to confirm two members of the benefice at Stradishall church.  It was a very uplifting service and we were very pleased for both Sarah and Ellen who were the candidates being confirmed.  Congratulations Sarah and Ellen!!

Ellen, Bishop David and Sarah ( Left to right)

In the porch at Stradishall church

Trinity Sunday Benefice Confirmations with Bishop David at Stradishall church

On Trinity Sunday - 15th June at 11am - Bishop David will be joining us at Stradishall church to confirm two candidates from the Bansfield Benefice.  We hope to see you there for this important time in both candidates' spiritual lives. 

Rector's View - March 2014

Dear friends,

Many may share bemusement at the mood talk of 'green shoots of economic recovery' and wonder why if 'we're all in it together' we're not, the parties of power still pouring blame on past failings with little attention to those of the present.

Our calling in faith through Lent to Easter, is to look honestly at our own failings and in reforming the foundation of our lives allow the waters of blame to flow away. It is as that great Easter hymn has it ‘in the fields of our hearts' that the 'green blade riseth'.

Through Jesus’ own journey from His childhood presentation in the Temple (Candlemas) to His triumphal return entering again Jerusalem's Temple (Palm Sunday), the mood talk was all about forgiveness and reconciliation. Stories He told such as the Prodigal son - he whose Father has love for both the prodigal and the faithful son, the Lost Coin - joy at finding the lost, and the Good Samaritan - those hated and blamed who yet perform good works, enabled His followers to make new friendships and beginnings.

Our new beginning in faith this Easter will celebrate the resurrection with our 6am Dawn Eucharist (thanksgiving). Just as His birth saw the gathering of the faithful at the Midnight hour, so again we gather to celebrate the time of His rising again.

I do pray whatever new start you look for, you may find it early in this life's day, that all the more may share your rejoicing.

May Lent's reward bring Easter's joy.

Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector

Children's Society donations

This year our combined Christingle service (£79) and Children's Society boxes (£510) have raised £589 for the Children's Society. Thanks to all those who helped arrange these events and contributed.

Cathedral visit

Churches Together are planning an outing to the Cathedral in Bury St. Edmunds on Thursday 13th March at 2pm.

We meet at the Cathedral for a guided tour, followed by tea and cakes. The cost is £7 each.

Everyone is welcome.

Following the time at the Cathedral, Fr. Antony Foreman will also show us round the ruins of the Abbey.

For more information email contact@bansfieldbenefice.org.uk