‘Gossip’ According to St John’s

MAY 2015

LIST OF SERVICES MAY

Sunday 3rd 8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Communion

Thursday 7th 10.00 am Holy Communion

Sunday 10th 8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Communion

CHRISTIAN AID 6.00 pm At Christian Fellowship, Rockwell Green

Thursday 14th ASCENSION DAY

6.30 am At St John’s, followed by Breakfast in

the Church Hall following the service

10.00 am Holy Communion

Sunday 17th 8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Communion

11.30 am Baptism

Thursday 21st 10.00 am Holy Communion

List of Services for May continued:-

Sunday 24th PENTECOST

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Communion

6.30 pm CTW Songs of Praise

Thursday 28th 10.00 am Holy Communion

Sunday 31st TRINITY SUNDAY

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Communion

BAPTISM

Tim would like (along with Geoff and I) to say a big thank you to

everyone at church for supporting him at his baptism and for making it such a

special day. He had a wonderful time and is really excited to be part of the

church. Special thanks from Tim and Lorna for all the cards and chocolates, as

well.

Erica Beaumont

LIST OF WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS

Baptisms

5th April 2015 Timothy Beaumont, son of Geoffrey and

Erica of Waterloo Road, Wellington

26th April 2015 Edith Anna McGarva, daughter of Emma and

Andrew of Gladstone Terrace, Wellington

May their childhood be filled with laughter and happiness

Funerals

30th March 2015 Barbara Dyke, aged 90 of Sylvan, Road

Wellington

7th April 2015 Dorothy Wade, aged 83 of Lodge Close,

Wellington

10th April 2015 Graham Jones, aged 78 of Pyles Thorne Road,

Wellington

For I am his and he is mine

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

From 27th April to 1st May the Bishop of Bath and Wells, will take part in

this year’s Live Below the Line challenge – a global initiative which will see Bishop

Peter spend just £1 a day on food for five days.

As he prepares to take on the challenge with his wife Jane, Bishop Peter

says, “We’ve seen and heard the statistics –there are 1.2 billion people in the

world living in extreme poverty. That’s 20% of the world’s population living off £1

a day for food and drink as well as housing, education, health and all the other

necessities most of us take for granted.

“Whilst this challenge cannot possibly replicate the plight of those

people, it will give a sense of the harsh reality they face daily. I want to challenge

myself and others to think differently about what living in extreme poverty really

means and about the choices we make everyday. It will be a humbling

experience.”

Through the challenge, Bishop Peter is also supporting Send a Cow, a

Bath-based charity which supports African families at a grass roots level to help

them work their own way out of poverty by giving them training in farming

techniques, gender equality and livestock management. They are raising funds

for their newest project, Burundi, which has been cited by the global hunger

index as the Hungriest Country in the World. He will raise awareness of their

work and donate money raised to this country where over half live on far less

than £1 a day.

To share his experiences and reflections during his Live Below the Line

week, Bishop Peter will be tweeting as @bathwellsbish.

I have printed the above message as I had not received a Bishop’s message at the

time of going to print.

BLACKDOWN EARLY MUSIC CONCERT

MISSA SUPERBA

MAY 4TH AT 6.30 PM – PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 5.45PM

Blackdown Early Music Projects are delighted to be performing in St

John’s again on May 4th, are even more excited to be working with the

internationally renowned guest director ANDREW PARROTT, a highly regarded

member of the early music fraternity. He founded the Taverner Choir, Consort

and Players in the 1970s. and their recordings of music from Machaut to Handel

are exemplars of early music interpretation. Andrew received the York Early

Music Festival Lifetime Achievement award in 2014 in recognition of the vast

insight he has been able to bring to our enjoyment of this music.

The concert programme on May 4th will include the first known

performance since May 1690 of Johann Kerll’s Missa Superba, with full

supporting programme of Viennese music including Pachelbel Magnificat.

The band of baroque violins and five sackbuts(early trombones) will

make a glorious sound in support of the singers and demonstrate the unique

qualities of such distinctive seventeenth-century ensembles.

Tickets, £12, student £6 and under 12s free, are available now from

Wellington TIC, www.blackdownearlymusic.co.uk or at the door.

A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY

A VERY IMPORTANT DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES. ON THURSDAY 11TH

JUNE BISHOP PETER IS COMING TO SPEND THE DAY WITH US. MORE NEWS IN

NEXT MONTHS ISSUE.

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL

A very big thank you to those who came forward to offer their help at

the school in various capacities, it has been greatly appreciated.

Is there someone else in the congregation of St John’s Church who feels

they are able to help, if so the school would love to hear from you.

If you are able to help in any way please call at the school and speak

firstly to the Secretary Mrs Jo Rogers and she would be able to tell you what help

is needed and where.

SMILE

Join us on the first Wednesday each month after school at St John’s Parish

Church, Wellington. SMILE is fun, free and for anyone under 12 years old,

accompanied by an adult. There is craft, games, stories and prayer activities, we

start at 3.15 pm with drinks and snacks and finish at 4.30 pm.

The next dates are , 6th May, 3rd June and 1st July, we look forward to

seeing you all.

Blessings Andy and the SMILE Team

Andy Levett, Youth and Children’s Work Co-ordinator for Tone Deanery

Tel 07595 311183

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL REPORT

As mentioned last time, the school council visit to the Conquest riding

facility has now taken place. Theresa and Chantal made us very welcome indeed.

We started with a tour followed by an information session. Lastly, we took a walk

around the woodland area taking it in turns to lead Popcorn the smallest pony.

You may have seen us in the Wellington Weekly or the County Gazette! We are

hoping that Chantal will be coming in to take an assembley soon. Our stall at the

Summer Fair will raise money for this charity and we aim to have a cake sale this

term as well.

Years 1 and 2 greatly enjoyed the Bristol trip to the SS Great Britain last

term. This complimented their All at Sea topic. This term a visit to Wellington

Park will support a study of the environment and local history.

The children in Foundation are enjoying their outside area in this spell of

good weather.

Year 3 will be visiting Paignton Zoo at the end of April in conjunction with

their rainforest topic..

Year 4 representatives only just made our meeting having spent the

morning at the Princess Royal Sports Complex enjoying instruction in new sports.

Year 5 are studying weather across the world but don’t think that there

will be a trip on this scale!

Year 6 are heavily involved in their SATS preparations and we wish them

all every success.

This completed the round up of news from our representatives for this month.

PRAYER, REFLECTION, LAUGHTER AND EASTENDERS

FAREWELL TO THE BISHOP OF TAUNTON

On Saturday 18th April, the Diocese of Bath and Wells marked the

retirement of Rt Revd Peter Maurice after 40 years of ministry with a special and

fitting service in Wells Cathedral.

Bishop Peter has served in the diocese for 12 years. He became Bishop of

Taunton in 2006 after three years as Archdeacon of Wells and a Canon of Wells

Cathedral.

In a service that started with a rendition of the Eastenders theme tune

before all were invited to take communion together, the Dean of Wells Cathedral

paid homage to Bishop Peter’s humble leadership saying he had “developed his

own style: warm, earthy, deeply reflective and prayerful.”

Those gathered laughed as Dean John reminisced about Peter’s love of

popular culture, particularly the soaps, which are often referred to in Peter’s

sermons as he seeks to share the message of the Gospel, and his following West

Ham United.

“Peter is patient and observant – as all West Ham supporters must learn

to be – he sees heaven in the ordinary and a particular gift is that the

responsibility of his role sits very lightly,” said the Dean.

These warm sentiments were reflected by other speakers during the

service. These included Charley Thomas, Dean of Lusaka, one of five Anglican

dioceses in Zambia and Rt Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells who

presented Peter Maurice and his wife with a gift from the diocese, before leading

a standing ovation.

Following the formal part of the service, Bishop Peter was presented

with a West Ham onesie by Wells Cathedral and a special edition of the diocesan

magazine, Manna to mark his retirement.

MOTHERS’ UNION REPORT

At the April meeting Mothers’ Union members and visitors discovered

that “Floating Mission”, the title of the talk given by Canon Ian Ainsworth-Smith

and his wife Jean is a much better description of their voyages than “Leisure

cruising”.

In a talk illustrated with slides of places from northern Norway to the

Falklands, with visits to Ghana, Cape Verde and Malta in between, we heard of

Ian’s role as chaplain to the cruises. At some special services, such as Christmas,

nearly all the passengers and the crew attended.

On shore excursions Jean, and sometimes Ian, acted as a conductor with

the buses, liaising with the tour guides and dealing with any problems for

passengers on the tour. Both of them, demonstrating faith in action, are of

course available when anyone needs to talk.

During April members also attended the Diocesan Annual Meeting held

at Creech St Michael.

The next branch meeting is on Tuesday 5th May when there will be a talk

on the Indoor Members’ Prayer Circle by Anitra Streckles, the diocesan

representative. As always, everybody is welcome to our meetings.

Sylvia Waymouth

Branch Leader

THE BIG TENT 2015

Back this summer in a field near you! Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and

Thursday 20th August.

The Big Tent children’s holiday club is set to roll once again this summer-

the 4th Wellington churches town-wide holiday club in a tent!- and after a break

the team hope to return to the momentum gained in the first 3 tent events.

The theme this year is Cops and Robbers and will be exploring the Old

Testament story of Joseph alongside fun, games, music, video and craft activities.

The club will be run over 3 full days (Tues 18th – Thurs 20th August, 10am – 3 pm)

and open to Primary School aged children. All other aspects of the holiday club

will be as before (a large marquee on Wellesley Park Primary School field with a

staff from local churches) and the planning group are already busy putting plans

into action, forming the team, getting logistics sorted and setting budgets.

If you’re interested in being involved in some way do get in touch with

me, Andy Levett, 07595 311183 or contact Karen at the Wellington Baptist

Church office on 01823 663713.

For more info on this or how you/your church could support The

Big Tent do get in touch with me or contact Karen at the Wellington Baptist

Church office on 01823 663713.

Andy Levett Youth & Children’s Work Coordinator

A message from the editor, I am looking for some new articles for the

next issue of the “Gossip”, so, come on St John’s do your best!

PRAY FOR SCHOOLS FORTNIGHT

During the first two weeks of May, we are encouraging churches and

individuals to focus their prayers on schools and education, as part of the

national initiative Pray for Schools Fortnight. As well as including prayers for

local schools in Sunday services and other midweek meetings, we are also

hosting two special events:-

Thursday 7th May – Prayer Day at St Mary’s Church, Bishops Lydeard,

10.00 am-4.00pm.

Wednesday 13th May – Prayer Day at St John’s Church, Wellington, 10.00

am-4.00 pm

More details of these events will be put in the May edition of the “Gossip”

SOCIAL GROUP PLANS FOR COMING MONTHS

Friday 1st May Soup Lunch

Saturday 16th May Coffee Morning Plants

COFFEE MORNINGS – 10 AM TO 11.30 AM

SOUP LUNCHES 12 NOON TO 1.30 PM NO SOUP LUNCH IN APRIL

THIS MONTH’S RECIPE SUPPLIED BY TESSA BRADNOCK

COURGETTE SOUP WITH TOMATO AND TURMERIC

1 oz Butter

1 Small Onion

1 lb Sliced Courgettes

1 lb Chopped Tomatoes(fresh are preferable but not obligatory)

1 Tablespoon Flour

1 ½ Pints Chicken(or vegetable) Stock

¼ tsp Turmeric

Pinch of Salt, Black Pepper

Grated Parmesan to serve if liked.

Melt the butter and add the onion and courgettes, cover and cook gently for 5

minutes, add the tomatoes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the

remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Puree, heat and serve

Thank you, Tessa, I look forward to printing more recipes next month

from other members of the congregation.

FRIENDS OF WELLINGTON PARK

MAY DAY EVENT

4TH MAY 2015

IN OUR EDWARDIAN PARK

IN

COURTLAND ROAD.

Official opening by the Mayor and Mayoress of Taunton Dene

accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington Town Council.

The parade will be escorted by Wellington Majorettes and will start from the

main gate at 1.30 pm and will then process to the bandstand.

There will be The Morris Dancers and music by Yorkie

Also stalls selling cakes, plants, books and many other things.

There will be face painting for the children together with the Swing Boats and

other activities.

The Refreshments will include Hot and Cold Food and Teas/Coffees etc.

So, come and enjoy yourself for the afternoon, whilst at the same time

celebrating our wonderful park

For further information please contact Iris Ellins on 01823 664613

SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT IN WELLINGTON PARK

JUNE 7TH 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Andy Ash Country & Western

14th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Taunton Concert Band

21st 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Lazy River Easy listening Jazz

28th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Double Dealing Duo 60’s & 70’s music

July 5th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Thunderbridge Blue Grass Band

12th 2.30 pm- 4.30 pm Kingsbury Episcopi Band

19th 2.30 pm – 4.30pm Gold Blend 50’s and 60’s music

26th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Monopole Outstanding

Aug 2nd 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Ray Denning Easy listening music

9th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Yorkie Wide variety of music

16th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Dark Town Strutters Trad Jazz Band

23rd 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Ditavoce Semi Classical and songs

from musicals

30th 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Deane Big Band Glenn Miller and other

ageless classics

Any queries please contact Iris Ellins on 01823 664613

FANCY A TRIP TO FAIRFORD?

Back in 2007, I visited St Mary’s Church, Fairford, Gloucestershire as I

heard the church has retained a complete set of medieval glass. However, the

windows at that time were undergoing major restoration works by Keith Barley.

Between 1988 and 2010, all the windows were removed in turn to be cleaned,

repaired with some restoration, releaded and protected. At the time of my visit ,

the last two windows were being restored to the south side.

In February this year, I returned to see the finished result, and to

experience the new audio tour of the windows now on offer. The tour is

comprehensive and too long to complete in one go, as each window is explained

as well as additional topical discussions. I explored around 9 windows with the

tour which explains so much in a clear and understandable way.

Well known actors such as Joanna Lumley and Mark Rylance (who

recently portrayed Cromwell in ‘Wolf Hall’) are amongst many others who have

recorded on the audio guide, which is free and very easy to use.

The first mention of a church at Fairford dates from the 11th century. The

earliest surviving traces in the present building are some 13th century

foundations at the north-east corner, and piers with ball-flower decorations of

the early 14th century on the north and south faces of the tower within the aisles.

The tower was rebuilt in the first part of the 15th century; the work is in the

Decorated style and carries the Warwick emblem.

St Mary’s was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style in the 1490s and has

been attributed to the patronage of the wealthy wool merchant John Tame, who

lived in a mansion to the north of the church and was buried in the Lady Chapel

in 1500. The 28 windows were installed c. 1500-15 and tell the story of the

Christian faith from the Creation to the Last Judgement. No other parish church

has retained a complete set of late medieval glass.

Fancy a Trip to Fairford? Continued:-

Whilst I was contemplating the main west window, the steward on duty

explained that in 1703 the three west windows suffered severe storm-damage

and most of the glass was replaced in the great west window; in the first half of

the 18th century the main lights were decipherable although the upper part was

in a bad state of repair. In 1940 the main lights were removed by Oscar Farmer

for safe-keeping during the war and stored in the cellars of Fairford Park; they

were reinstated between 1945 and 1947.

St Marys’ is at the heart of life of Fairford today and as well as people

coming to services, individuals also come to reflect or pray at times of stress or

rejoicing. Other items of interest include the misericords, the screen, the tomb of

John Tame, the modern embroidery of cushions and kneelers, the early 20th

century altar and the stonework both inside and out.

Good books to read on the church are “Fairford Parish Church”, Sutton

Publishing, foreword by Simon Jenkins, and “St Mary’s Church” guide which can

be purchased at the church itself, both of which some of the above text has been

taken from. Their website is www.stmaryschurchfairford.org.uk and its worth

checking whether there are any services taking place on the day you plan to visit.

If you are staying in the area , the GWR Steam Museum at nearby

Swindon is well worth a visit too, but that’s another story…….

Dawn Southworth

USED POSTAGE STAMPS

Anita and Robert Good will no longer be collecting the used stamps for

USPG (box on the table at the back of the church) as they have re-located to

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Joy McDermott has kindly said she would collect them

and pass them on to her daughter Helen Good who will be living in Robert and

Anita’s house and she will forward them to John Wallis as Mum and Dad have

done. Joy will be the contact for St John’s for the used postage stamps.

SOME CONCERTS COMING IN 2015

Monday 4th May Blackdown Early Music Concert

Saturday 11th July Amici

Thursday 23rd July Organ Recital by John Young(Taunton Festival

Arts Summer Festival 2015)

Saturday 28th Nov Wellington Choral Society

Monday 14th Dec Collegium Christmas Concert

Tuesday 22nd Dec The Phoenix Singers, Nine Lessons

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 10TH – 16TH MAY 2015

This year’s Christian Aid Week, Britain’s longest running door-to-door

fundraising week, is asking the British public to support women living in poverty

around the world who are discriminated against from birth.

Discrimination against women is one of the greatest injustices of our

time and the statistics speak for themselves. Globally, less than 20 per cent of

landholders are women and women do twice as much unpaid work as men. In

many countries girls are treated like second-class citizens while boys are

provided with opportunities for an education, work, food and even decision

making at the expense of their sisters.

Almost as soon as girls are strong enough to walk many can spend hours

fetching water and doing household chores. Often forced into early marriages,

they can also face the dangers of giving birth before their young bodies are

ready. Deprived of an education, later in life women have to rely on man for their

financial security, with any hope of following their own dreams dashed, leaving

them vulnerable to deprivation and violence.

This inequality, often exacerbated by harmful social norms, leaves

millions of women at the mercy of violence and abuse, with one-in-three women

across the world experiencing physical or sexual violence. Millions remain in the

shadows, denied a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

Christian Aid believes this has to change- for the sake of everyone; for

the sake of women, men, boys, communities and societies warped by such an

extreme imbalance of power.

In Ethiopia Christian Aid partner HUNDEE works with both women and

men in poor rural communities to challenge violence against women and harmful

traditional practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation(FGM),

to bring about lasting change and ensure women can live in dignity and are

treated with respect.

Christian Aid Week continued:-

Despite a rise in the number of women holding seats in parliament and

an increasing number of girls attending school, Ethiopia remains a patriarchal

society and women rarely get the opportunity to influence decisions in their

families and wider communities.

HUNDEE encourages men to get more involved with household tasks,

including looking after their children, and consult their wives about decisions that

affect them.

They also provide the poorest women in pastoralist communities with

livestock, raising their status within society, because, when they have a cow they

have a voice in community decision making, as well as a means to earn a living.

Loretta Minghella, Chief Executive of Christian Aid said: “We cannot end

world poverty without addressing the fundamental issue of discrimination

against women and girls. The unequal distribution of power and opportunities

between the sexes is at the heart of poverty, and we are working with both men

and women in communities around the world to bring about change. We are

working with partners like HUNDEE to break down the barriers and root out the

injustices that hold women back, and give them a chance to stand on their own

two feet.”

We can help to change the lives of women in places like Ethiopia this

Christian Aid Week by donating online at www.caweek.org calling 08080 006

006, or texting ‘GIVE’ to 78866 to give £5.

If you would like further information please contact Emma Nutbrown on

07814 131169 .

MWENDA

Fr. Michael has sent a letter to June Best of Bradford on Tone Church,

which is rather long, so, instead of printing it here in the “Gossip” I have put it in

plastic sleeves and attached it to one of the boards at the back of the church. It is

full of information as to what is happening in and around Mwenda, so do please

find some time to read it.

Editor

Jenny Humphreys has already seen the letter and writes:-

“More of an epistle than a letter! I will be in Zambia from 1st May for 2 weeks

and hope to get to Luapula Diocese for a few days. I will be going with Janice

Price, the Church of England’s World Mission Policy Advisor. We hope to meet

with both Eastern Diocese and Lusaka clergy over the following day or two. After

that we will move on to Central, Northern and Luapula Dioceses and will return

to Lusaka around 11 or 12 May. We fly back on 13th”

The main reason for this visit is that there is shortly to be an appraisal to

look at how the Bath & Wells/Zambia Link is progressing as part of an Anglican

Communion Companion Links Project.

In a month or two it may well be time to call a long-postponed meeting

of the Mwenda Link Group to learn of any progress towards building the priest’s

house. Please therefore hold Jenny’s visit in your prayers during the first 2 weeks

of May

Gaby Grace

GOODBYE AND HELLO

On 30th April, Tim’s P.A. Sheila Cross is retiring and

we should like to say that we all appreciated the help

she has given us over the years she has been with us.

So, goodbye, good luck and a

Very Happy Retirement Sheila.

At the same time, let us all welcome her

replacement Sharon Chorley and hope that she will

enjoy her time with us. So, Welcome Sharon.

A message from the editor, I am looking for some new articles for the

next issue of the “Gossip”, so, come on St John’s do your best!

The Rectors P.A. Mrs Sharon Chorley

Bell Ringers Mr Frank Morris 01823 663862

Baby & Toddler Group Mrs Joyce Norrish 01823 669633

Flower Arrangers Mrs Doreen Street

Mrs Lenore Clarke 01823 667929

Members of the PCC

Mr James Bradnock Mrs Pamela Adams

Mr John Young Mrs Jennifer Bache

Mrs Iris Ellins Miss Nicola Reed

Mr Derrick Tron Miss Sylvia Waymouth

Mrs Christine Winhall Carol Waterman-Smith

Members of Deanery Synod, who also serve on the PCC

Mrs Julie Morton Mr John Massey

Mr David Dufour

Items for the newsletter or comments please contact Lenore Clarke 667929 or

email labubby72@outlook.com or leave in the pigeon hole at the back of

Church, in the meeting room. The closing date for any article is the 22nd of the

month before

PRINCIPALS OF THE CHURCH

Rector Rev’d Tim Treanor 01823 662248

tlvtreanor@btinternet.com

Rural Dean Rev’d Matthew Tragenza

Assistant Rural Dean Rev’d Helene Stainer

Reader Mr John Elder 01823 669820

johnelder@virgin.net

Churchwardens Mrs Judith Dufour ` 01823 666633

PCC Treasurer Mrs Jenny Bache 01823 664390

Stewardship & Gift Aid Mr Patrick Clarke 01823 667929

Director of Music Mr John Young 01823 663157

PCC Secretary Mr David Dufour 01823 666633

Mother’s Union

Branch Leader Miss Sylvia Waymouth 01823 665101

Electoral Roll Officer Mrs Julie Morton 01823 661996

Parish Office Mrs Sheila Cross 01823 665254

stjohns.wellington@googlemail.com

Church Hall Bookings The Parish Office

Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m to 1 pm