The Bansfield Benefice is holding its annual Christingle service at Wickhambrook All Saints' on Sunday the 1st of February at 3pm. At the service, children will make a Christingle - an orange bearing a
candle, red ribbon and decorated with sweets. The highlight of the
service is when all the Christingle candles are lit, shining light into
darkness. We are supporting the Children's Society.
Each year The Children's Society helps over 50,000 children and young people through its 90 projects across the UK. It helps children at risk on the streets; children in trouble with the law; young refugees; children with disabilities. Please help us support the work of the charity by attending our service. You can be sure of a warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Rector's View - January 2015
Dear friends,
New Year's Resolutions are by some keenly entered into, a new beginning, a fresh page, a chance to set goals on life. The Christian Faith, having celebrated God's new beginning in us in the story of Christ's birth, offers in January's stories of the visit of the Magi – Epiphany (God's light in Jesus shown to the World in the worship of the Wise Men), and Jesus' Baptism (God's Holy Spirit seen descending on Jesus as He rises from the waters of His Baptism), opportunity for the celebration of faith's new beginning in Baptism. In Baptism we are given that new start our New Year's resolutions speak of, though by our Baptism Christians may turn a new page in life each day of the year, every time we determine to correct, reform, or set things right in our lives God begins again in us as is the promise of our Baptism.
Indeed every Sunday in our Act of Worship, we by our confession of our failings before God, are given the assurance, as that of any loving parent when faced with their child's sorry plea, of our Heavenly Father's merciful embrace and in the company of His Son we are shown the path we may take toward fullness of life.
As many as have shared our Christmas story and more are most welcome to accompany us through our celebration of fullness of life in God's name Sunday by Sunday through this coming year. Don't keep the promise of a new start only for New Year's Day, remember God's New Year in us begins every time we come before Him, this grace is not just for Christmas or New Year but for life, fullness of life in Christ's life giving Spirit.
Happy New Year!
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
News Letter Archive.
New Year's Resolutions are by some keenly entered into, a new beginning, a fresh page, a chance to set goals on life. The Christian Faith, having celebrated God's new beginning in us in the story of Christ's birth, offers in January's stories of the visit of the Magi – Epiphany (God's light in Jesus shown to the World in the worship of the Wise Men), and Jesus' Baptism (God's Holy Spirit seen descending on Jesus as He rises from the waters of His Baptism), opportunity for the celebration of faith's new beginning in Baptism. In Baptism we are given that new start our New Year's resolutions speak of, though by our Baptism Christians may turn a new page in life each day of the year, every time we determine to correct, reform, or set things right in our lives God begins again in us as is the promise of our Baptism.
Indeed every Sunday in our Act of Worship, we by our confession of our failings before God, are given the assurance, as that of any loving parent when faced with their child's sorry plea, of our Heavenly Father's merciful embrace and in the company of His Son we are shown the path we may take toward fullness of life.
As many as have shared our Christmas story and more are most welcome to accompany us through our celebration of fullness of life in God's name Sunday by Sunday through this coming year. Don't keep the promise of a new start only for New Year's Day, remember God's New Year in us begins every time we come before Him, this grace is not just for Christmas or New Year but for life, fullness of life in Christ's life giving Spirit.
Happy New Year!
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
News Letter Archive.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Rector's View - December 2014
Dear friends,
Of all the season's of the year it is Christmas that most likely finds us journeying to our local church to become part of that great story of wonder and new beginning.
The Nativity story itself is one of the great journey narratives of our time. Mary and Joseph journey to Nazareth, the Shepherds journey from their fields, the Wise journey from nations afar, even we ourselves journey to Carol Services, Midnight Mass and Christmas Morning that all the more we may wonder at God's journey to come among us in the babe, the Christ child.
We have the gloss of century's tradition, and these days Christmas shows putting their own shine on that first daystar starlit sky.
The reality of Mary and Joseph's perilous census journey to crowd the village of their ancestry though is all too common an experience for modern day refugees.
Today's migrants seek new beginnings in escaping poverty, and seek safety in escaping war. And these days we see more desperate journeys still, as people travel to temporary tarpaulin shelters or swiftly constructed treatment centres seeking aid against Ebola.
Please remember these modern day nativity families in your gift giving this year to the Disasters Emergency Committee.
May we be ready to offer new beginnings for survivors of poverty war and epidemic that all mankind may look to the light and hope of a new dawn in realising our belonging together in our common humanity.
Grace and Peace be yours this Christmas.
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
Of all the season's of the year it is Christmas that most likely finds us journeying to our local church to become part of that great story of wonder and new beginning.
The Nativity story itself is one of the great journey narratives of our time. Mary and Joseph journey to Nazareth, the Shepherds journey from their fields, the Wise journey from nations afar, even we ourselves journey to Carol Services, Midnight Mass and Christmas Morning that all the more we may wonder at God's journey to come among us in the babe, the Christ child.
We have the gloss of century's tradition, and these days Christmas shows putting their own shine on that first daystar starlit sky.
The reality of Mary and Joseph's perilous census journey to crowd the village of their ancestry though is all too common an experience for modern day refugees.
Today's migrants seek new beginnings in escaping poverty, and seek safety in escaping war. And these days we see more desperate journeys still, as people travel to temporary tarpaulin shelters or swiftly constructed treatment centres seeking aid against Ebola.
Please remember these modern day nativity families in your gift giving this year to the Disasters Emergency Committee.
May we be ready to offer new beginnings for survivors of poverty war and epidemic that all mankind may look to the light and hope of a new dawn in realising our belonging together in our common humanity.
Grace and Peace be yours this Christmas.
Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Reverend Canon Martin Seeley anounced as 11th Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
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
Further details on the Diocese's website.
http://www.cofesuffolk.org/index.cfm?page=news.story&newsid=345&view=current
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
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