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TRANSCRIPT
REACHING OUT….
Issue 56
July 2017 Dear Friends, As I write this my thoughts are with all those who suffered last week following the Grenfell tower block tragedy. Over recent months the benefice has been looking at health and safety in our church buildings, and this latest disaster is a salutary reminder that it is important to be aware of those things that could possibly cause danger to human life, and that Health and Safety (which seems to be used as a derogatory term these days) is as important as ever. It has been very hot recently, and we suffered slightly from this on our ‘Big Day Out’ which we held on Cockfield Great Green on 18th June’. However, it was great to see the Rock Choir performing at long last in our Village, if you weren’t there you missed a treat! I am very grateful to all those who helped to make sure that the day went smoothly, and I would like to think that we might do something similar in future years. All ideas gratefully received! We are approaching the end of the school year, and my thoughts and prayers are also with those who have been taking exams, either at school, college or university. I know that many of you have children or grandchildren who have recently had to undergo the exam season – my sympathies are with you! I do hope that there will be good results for all later in the summer. I am looking forward to our holiday club this year, which will once again be held in Cockfield Village Hall for primary school aged children – see the advert later in this issue.
..…on behalf of the Benefice Churches of Bradfield St Clare, Bradfield St George with Little Whelnetham, Cockfield, Felsham and Gedding
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It is amazing that we are able to provide so much in the way of children’s ministry in our benefice, and that there are always willing volunteers to take part in Messy Church, holiday club and our family service. I pray that God will continue to bless this work, and all that we have planned this summer. With all good wishes, Revd Sharon [email protected] 01284-828599 or 07825 086063
Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
How I pray Saturday 1 July at 9.45am - 3.45pm at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. A day to explore different ways to pray with people who pray in different ways. Like a cartwheel with
many spokes, the different ways to pray lead to God, the centre of all things. Choose from the various workshops and hear from Bishop Mike Harrison and
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Canon John Parr about their experience of prayer. If you would like more information please contact Caroline Redman at [email protected].
Gather 2017 The annual Diocesan youth celebration, Gather, will be held at the Cathedral on 23 September. Live music will be from The Bean Baker Band. More information is available from the diocesan website, on Facebook or via
our Twitter account. Tickets can be booked by visiting www.stedsgather. eventbrite.co.uk. For more information please email [email protected].
Post-election thoughts Well, there it is! All done and dusted! We have a new government for the next five years. Some of us will be weeping into our beer while others will be thankful that things have turned out as they have. As I write this, on the 6th June, I have no idea which camp I shall be in when you read this. At present I am full of hope and expectation, and fully engaged in the democratic process as our Archbishops said we should be in their pastoral letter in early May (the month, you understand!). I am always somewhat puzzled when Christian friends say that I am too political – and believe me they do! The Bible is a highly political book. After all, it is about God’s relationship with his people and how that relationship should transfer into everyday life. In the Old Testament God is continually having to intervene to bring the Israelites back to God, as they follow leaders who take them into ways that estrange them from God. In the new Testament, Jesus recognises the oppressed society under Roman rule, but advocates changes in the way people should live, so that society is transformed. The Bible puts God at the centre of government and demonstrates that when we do society works much better for all concerned. How can Christians not be political, when we want changes in society that put God at the heart of it? Our faith, as the Archbishops said in their letter, means that we have to ‘set aside apathy and cynicism and … participate, and encourage others to do the same’. That means that we have to take a stand and actively campaign for what we believe in. So, we have had to select a party whose policies best align with the way we want our country to be run. That could have been difficult and some of us may have chosen between the lesser of several evils!
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However, the Archbishops go on to say that ‘the Christian virtues of love, trust and hope should guide and judge our actions’. In other words we must avoid biffing our opponents on the nose or slagging them off in public! Political debate can easily get heated. I confess that I can get quite worked up in discussions, but we need to remember that we should be disagreeing in love. Some Christian friends have different views to me about the way this country should be run and we manage to debate these views without falling out. Indeed, debate often strengthens our friendship and helps us develop our own political and religious thinking. It is all about the ‘getting of wisdom’ and that can only be gained, I believe, through discussion with each other and prayer to God. Elections create a rather febrile political atmosphere and concentrate our minds on the major political issues, but now that we have a new government we are not let off the hook. ‘Politics is for life not just for elections’ to rephrase the famous charity slogan. Firstly, we should pray for those who are now in power and in opposition that they will use their wisdom for the benefit of all in society. Secondly, as Christians we have to continue to engage fully in the way our society is governed and bring pressure to bear where we feel politicians fall short of their duty to make society a better place for everyone. Gone are the days when we were told ‘never discuss religion or politics’, for there is a real danger that this generates apathy and disengagement, which damages society. If we are to show that God should be at the centre of government and society then we need to talk religion and politics to whoever will listen. So, if I seem unusually quiet or sullen or annoyingly chirpy when we next meet, do ask me why and I’ll be happy to tell you – if you have a spare hour or so!
Richard Stainer
Congratulations and celebrations! James Ashdown was licensed as a Reader in the Cathedral last Sunday afternoon by Bishop Martin. James was licensed originally in Wales, and has transferred his licence to this Diocese, and joins our growing Ministry Team. We welcome him! David Hodge has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) in the Queen’s birthday honours list, for his services to Cockfield. Many of you know David and are aware of his contributions to the village over lots of years, and it is great to have this acknowledgement of his hard work and unswerving loyalty.
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Village Friends meets again for it’s annual seaside summer lunch and film at Felsham Village Hall. Booking is essential. Contact Lynn Cardale on 01284 386327 for more details.
Benefice tour of the cathedral with evensong and tea We have booked an afternoon tour of the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds for anyone interested from the benefice, starting at 2pm and ending with evensong and tea, on Sunday 10th September. If you would like to join us then please let Revd Sharon ([email protected] 01284 828599) or Sue Tarran ([email protected]) our benefice administrator know.
Setting God’s people free Matthew Frost, who chaired the Task Group which produced the report ‘Setting God’s people free’ for General Synod is coming to Suffolk to speak to us about its content. It is essentially about lay leadership in the Church of England, and we are being encouraged to send people to hear Matthew, and to participate in thinking about how we might take the recommendations of the report forward. Steve Smith from our benefice is attending, if you would like to join him then please let him know, either phone him on 01284 388311 or email [email protected]. The meeting is being held on Monday 3rd July at 7.30pm at the St Nicholas Centre in Ipswich.
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COCKFIELD VILLAGE GREEN
SUMMER FETE
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SAINTS…….. are you one?
Come and find out at our next Family@Felsham Felsham Church: 9th July Starting with coffee and croissants at 9.30am. All welcome!
Cockfield Benefice and Cockfield Congregational Church
Cockfield Village Hall
7th – 11th August
Monday to Friday
9.30am – 12.15pm
£10 per child per week (third family child goes free!)
Games – Crafts – Stories – Drama – Puppets
For Primary School Age Children
Contact Revd Sharon Potter for an application form:
[email protected] or 01284 828599
Jungle
Jamboree
Holiday Club
Jungle
Jamboree
Holiday Club
Cockfield Benefice and Cockfield Congregational Church
Cockfield Village Hall
7th – 11th August
Monday to Friday
9.30am – 12.15pm
£10 per child per week (third family child goes free!)
Games – Crafts – Stories – Drama – Puppets
For Primary School Age Children
Contact Revd Sharon Potter for an application form:
[email protected] or 01284 828599
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Cockfield Benefice Services – July 2017 Sunday 2nd July Third Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Communion BCP Gedding
11am Patronal Communion Cockfield
6pm Evening Prayer Bradfield St Clare
Sunday 9th July Fourth Sunday after Trinity
8am Communion Cockfield
9.30am Benefice Family Service
Felsham
Sunday 16th July Fifth Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Communion Bradfield St George
11am Communion Cockfield
6pm Six2seven Felsham
Sunday 23rd July Sixth Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Morning Prayer BCP Gedding
11am Communion Bradfield St Clare
6pm Evening Prayer Bradfield St George
Sunday 30th July Seventh Sunday after Trinity
8am Communion BCP Bradfield St Clare
10am Patronal Service Lt Whelnetham
Daily Prayer
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
9am Cockfield
5pm Felsham
5pm Bradfield St
Clare
5pm Gedding
5pm Bradfield St
George Please note these services may be subject to change – for up-to-date service times see the benefice website at www.cockfieldbenefice.com