A Monthly Magazine for the parishes of Michelmersh, Awbridge, Braishfield Timsbury and Farley Chamberlayne October 2014 THE UNITED BENEFICE OF BRAISHFIELD including the parishes of Michelmersh, Awbridge, Braishfield, Timsbury and Farley Chamberlayne Rector: The Revd. Canon Steve Pittis, 01794 368335 The Rectory, Braishfield, Romsey, SO51 0PR Hon. Assistant Clergyman: The Very Revd. Trevor Beeson Ordinand in Training: Mrs Jane Thompson Jane.Thompson@me.com Church Wardens Awbridge Mr Fred Tucker Mrs. Mary Savage 01794 340709 01794 367908 Braishfield Mrs. Jane Bennett Mr. Andrew Brooks 01794 368109 01794 523928 Farley Chamberlayne Mr. Iain Chisholm 01794 368250 Miss Hannah Boothman 01794 368143 Michelmersh Mr. John Hunt Mrs. Clare Harvey 01794 368745 01794 368789 Timsbury Mrs. Catherine Baker Dr. John Glasspool 01794 368364 01794 368017 Benefice Office Tel: 01794 878020 Email: braishfieldbenefice@gmail.com Address: Braishfield Benefice Office Elm Grove Farm Dummers Road Braishfield Romsey SO51 0QG Benefice Administrator: Sarah Boothman Items for 5 Alive may be sent to Sarah at the Benefice Office by post or email. Deadline for November edition Mon 20th October Five Alive is usually available in each church on the 4th Sunday of the month Meeting God in the deserts of our lives ……. cont. Last month we reflected on the fact that times of God’s seeming absence, which we might call �desert’ or �wilderness’ experiences, are part and parcel of the Christian life. Though often confusing and frightening, they can be places and times of spiritual renewal and growth. If we are followers of Jesus we will all face a desert of some sort sooner or later. Many things may precipitate these times: bereavement, rejection, job uncertainty, relationship breakdown, health concerns, pressures of life …. Sometimes we find ourselves there without any apparent cause. Whilst God is not the author of our suffering, he allows us to go through these barren times for a purpose: To make us more like Jesus in our character To deepen our faith (roots go deep in drought) To test our hearts (God wants us to trust him wholeheartedly) To humble us (to teach us to depend on him alone, not our own strength or abilities) There are choices we can make in the desert It may seem that our choices are restricted; there can be an awful sense that there doesn’t seem to be a way out. Yet we can still choose what perspective and attitude we adopt The writer to the Hebrews says that discipline, trials, the desert experience can lead us to seek God’s grace or to become bitter (c.f. Hebrews 12 : 7-15). Desert experiences can make you bitter or better. So we can choose how we respond; we can choose our attitude. To some extent our response can determine the duration of the desert experience. God didn’t intend for the Israelites to wander around for 40 years in the wilderness. They were heading for a land of promise, God’s future for them. What prevented them entering in was the way they chose to respond to God: unbelief, grumbling, ingratitude and nostalgically looking back to Egypt (Cf. Hebrews 3 : 7-10) Throughout scripture, we are invited to choose. The freedom to choose our attitude and response is never taken away. Therefore we can choose to: grumble, complain, be bitter and resentful, blame God, say �it’s not fair’, wallow in self-pity, ask �why me?’, ……. or we can believe that God is in control and loves us passionately, be thankful, praise God because he is faithful, relinquish control and trust God for the future ……… We get to choose. It’s been said that “life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond to it”, i.e. what happens in me. God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it. Victor Frankl was in a Nazi concentration camp in World War II; he said to his captors who subjected him to extreme degradation and indignity: - “the one thing you cannot take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me.” In his book In search of Meaning, Frankl reflects “the last of human freedoms is the ability to choose in any given set of circumstances.” Too often we try to control the things we cannot; too seldom we choose to control what we can, our attitude. To be continued …. (What are the lessons we can learn and treasures we can find in the desert?) Steve Pittis Messy Church – Explorers! The theme for this month’s Messy Church at Awbridge Village hall was �Love Your World’. We live in a beautiful area and so it was lovely to spend much of the afternoon outside enjoying our environment. As part of the activities, families were taken on a walk around the conservation area by Brian Raines. Brian told us that there are 35 different species of trees in the woods and challenged the children to collect as many different leaves as possible from the various trees. Even Brian was amazed that within half an hour or so one of the children, Thomas, had managed to collect 24 out of the 35 species! He was given a beautiful wooden mushroom, turned by Brian. Other activities included making wild bird feeders, mini fruit made of icing, dragonflies from old socks and a mini aquarium! (Amazing what can be done with a jam jar and plasticene). After all the activities there was a time of reflection and worship, thanking God for all the trees, plants and flowers and all the creatures on land , sea and in the air. Remembering the important role we humans have in taking care of our world. Finally, a picnic tea was enjoyed outside in the sunshine, making the most of the Indian summer. The next Messy Church in the Benefice is on Sunday 12 October, 2:30pm at Braishfield Church Room. All families are very welcome to join us. Pepe Alexander Thomas at Messy Church Five Alive Fellowship At our September meeting we enjoyed a very interesting talk given by Elizabeth Lindesay, a local author. Elizabeth has written a book entitled “I Couldn’t Even Boil an Egg”. She wrote this for her children to preserve the many memories of her 30 years of life in the Middle East. In 1950, at the age of 50, Elizabeth married John Lindesay, an international banker, and left her native Scotland to be swept into a new and colourful life in the Middle East. During the course of the next 30 years they lived in Iran, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco raising four children in the process. Elizabeth gave us a fascinating insight into life in the Middle East for Westerners at that time. On their retirement, Elizabeth and her late husband John came to live in Romsey where John’s mother lived. The family have many connections with Braishfield Church, not least Elizabeth’s friendship with Mary Boothman. I am sure that I am not the only member of the audience that has since purchased the book and is thoroughly enjoying reading it. Nicky Ayres Love God Sunday 12 October 2 30 pm - 5pm Braishfield Church Room & Church SO51 0QH MESSY ACTIVITIES CELEBRATION FEAST Please invite/encourage families to come! Lost For Words - starting mid-November - look out for dates in the Notice Sheets This 4 session course in faith sharing is specifically designed for �nonexperts’, those who might shudder at the thought of evangelism, either because they feel it is not for them, or because they feel inadequate. Evidence shows that most people come to faith in Jesus because someone they know both demonstrates the reality of that faith in the way they live, and shares aspects of the good news in what they say. So the aim of Lost for Words is to help ordinary Christians gain more confidence in what they believe so that they can speak about their faith in the course of everyday life in a relaxed, natural and helpful way, so that others may discover and respond to God’ s love for them. Help is needed - All Saints’ Braishfield Can you give an hour about 4 times a year to help clean Braishfield Church? Volunteer cleaners work in pairs to hoover, dust, and polish if they feel they have time, at a time to suit themselves. A few people who have been volunteer cleaners for a very long time need to hang up their dusters, and replacements are required! Please speak to Nicky Ayres, 368143, to add your name to the list or ask for more details. of Goods and of Goods and Promises with Afternoon Tea Braishfield Church Room Saturday 18th October 2.00pm Auctioneer Mr Neil Pearce Offers of goods and promises - please phone Jane Bennett on 368109 Items can be delivered to the Church Room from 9.00am on the day. Large items: please provide a photo in lieu Proceeds split between All Saints’ Church and PLANETS [PLANETS = Pancreatic, Liver And NeuroEndocrine Tumours Southampton] Donations for Southampton City Mission/Andover Foodbank Please keep these coming in, they are much needed. With Harvest in mind: Food items for Basics Banks: Please look at this list before you decide what you can donate, please buy smaller portion bags, not bulk buy items, as food is given out based on meal portions. Tinned Foods: Cereals: Stewed steak Weetabix (pkts can be divided) Minced Beef other cereals for families Chicken in white sauce Curries Ravioli Other foods: Spaghetti bolognese Pasta sauces Meatballs Pkts noodles/savoury rice Baked beans w sausages Pasta Irish stew Rice Chilli con carne Coffee/Tea Macaroni cheese Hot chocolate Spaghetti hoops UHT Milk Tuna Flour Sardines Sugar Salmon/ pilchards Conserves Soup (esp chunky ones) Treats (crisps,chocolate, biscuits) Baked beans Potaoes (tinned or pkt) Squash Tomatoes Other items you think families Rice pudding/custard would like to receive! Tinned fruit Vegetarian foods Peas Carrots Sweetcorn Other tinned veg ANDOVER - VERY URGENT Rice LONG LIFE fruit juice 1lt Sugar – 1kg and 500g URGENT Tinned Rice Pudding, Instant mashed potato, Dried powdered milk We also need the following non-food items: Saucepans – VERY URGENT Frying pans – VERY URGENT Razors – VERY URGENT Thank you. Deodorant – male and female Be moved… be calmed… be inspired… be uplifted… Charity lunchtime piano recital Romsey Abbey, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8EP Saturday 1st November 12 noon to 3 pm Pianist and composer Charles Timberlake, from Titchfield, gives an informal piano recital in Romsey Abbey on Saturday 1st November in aid of Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices. In this, his fourth recital for Naomi House over the last twenty years, Charles will be playing a variety of styles of music – ranging from well-known ballads, show tunes, television themes and hymns (both modern and traditional) to his original compositions – all played in his own inimitable style. He will be playing from 12 noon to 3pm, with intervals, and visitors are invited to feel free to come and go as they please -to sit and listen or to wander around the Abbey listening to Charles’ inspirational music. Admission is free, with all donations going to Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices supporting children and young people from across central Southern England. Refreshments will be served. All Saint’s, Braishfield Harvest Thanksgiving weekend Sat 4th/ Sun 5th October Harvest Supper in the Church Room Sat 4th 7.00pm with entertainment by BUMS (Braishfield’s own ukelele band) Tickets £7.50 (please bring your own drinks) available in church or ask a member of the PCC Harvest Thanksgiving Family Service Sunday 5th at 9.30am followed by refreshments Have you made a Will? It is sometimes said that one of the worst legacies you can leave your loved-ones is NOT to make a Will. Next month sees the return of Will Aid which, during November, allows you to use a solicitor to draw up a straightforward Will in return for a voluntary donation to charity. Suggested donations are £95 for a single Will and £150 for a pair of mirror Wills. Will Aid donations are used to support the work of nine charities including Christian Aid, SCIAF, and Trocaire (the other charities are Action Aid, Age UK, British Red Cross, NSPCC, Save the Children, and Sight Savers). More details of the scheme are available on the internet at http://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers Solicitors who are registered can be found in Eastleigh, Winchester, and Salisbury and printed details of these will be displayed in Awbridge church along with a Will Aid poster. A full list of participating solicitors can be found at http://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers/find-solicitor Graham Winn Local participating solicitors: Bernard Chill & Axtell Address: 103 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9ZQ Distance: 8.56 mi Telephone: 023 80613197 Contact name: Mr Paul Harvey Thomas Simpson Solicitors Ltd Address: 35 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EH Distance: 10.27 mi Telephone: 01962 820228 Contact name: Mr Rob Simpson Richard Griffiths & Co Address: 50 High Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2NT Distance: 11.69 mi Telephone: 01722 329966 Contact name: Ms Patricia Lush NB - worth getting in touch soon - each has only a limited number of slots available Christians in Science Public Lecture Can we believe Genesis today? Revd Dr Ernest Lucas 7:30pm Wednesday 29th October Lecture Theatre A, Building 46 (Physics A) University of Southampton SO17 1BJ How are we to approach the Genesis story of the origin of the world? Most are sceptical that it has anything to say in our modern scientific age while some still insist that this ancient text should take precedence over our school science textbooks. In this lecture Ernest Lucas will help us reread these early chapters in their ancient context. By so doing, he will show how these stories are surprisingly relevant to us today, and provide us with a framework within which we can pursue science for the benefit of humankind and the rest of creation. Ernest Lucas has an MA in Chemistry from Oxford University and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Kent. He did post-doctoral research in biochemistry in the University of North Carolina and in Oxford University before studying Theology at Oxford. After ordination he was minister of Baptist Churches in Durham and Liverpool. He obtained a PhD in Oriental Studies from Liverpool University. He was Vice-Principal and Tutor in Biblical Studies at Bristol Baptist College until he retired in 2012. Following the talk there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion. There is no charge for admission. For more information about the talk and the location email centralsouth@cis.org.uk or visit www.cis.org.uk/groups/central-south Christians in Science is an organisation run by Christians who either work professionally in science and engineering, or have interests in how faith interacts with science and engineering. The Central South local group has been putting on public lectures in Southampton since 2006. The lectures cover a wide range of topics, always aimed at a level to be accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds, whether or not they have studied science at a high level and whether or not they are Christians. What they have in common is to aim to be faithful both to core Christian values and to modern science. All Saints’, Braishfield CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 5/6/7 December 2014 We are planning our first Christmas Tree Festival f from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th December 2014. The proceeds will be shared between All Saints Church and Naomi House & Jacksplace. A tree may be real, artificial or made from any medium, decorated and named to a theme of your choosing. For example a title from a Carol or Song such as We Three Kings, Wish Upon a Star or themes such as A Christmas Card, We �Stitch’ You A Merry Christmas! Power points will be available so please include fairy lights if you so wish. Please ensure you read the instructions relating to lighting under Important Information. There will be NO charge to enter your tree and each entry will receive ONE free admission ticket. We hope this will be well supported with entries from individuals, families and organisations. Entry forms available from Carole and Jane (see below). A charge of £2.50 will be made to all adult visitors to view the festival. Light refreshments will be available in the Church and viewing will be on: Friday Saturday Sunday 5th December 6th December 7th December 11.00 am - 6.00 pm 11.00 am - 6.00 pm 11.00 am - 4.00 pm At the same time there will be an Art Exhibition in the Church Room. We will be concluding the Festival with an All Age Worship service at 4pm on Sunday 7th December, with mulled wine and festive fayre, before the trees are taken to become part of your own Christmas festivities. Carole Renvoize (01794 368766) Jane Bennett (01794 368109) The Organising Team Choral Evensong at All Saints’, Braishfield, September 21st All Saints’ choir was joined by members of the choirs of St Matthew, Copythorne and St Boniface, Chandler’s Ford, for their annual festival. Each choir had been learning the music for some months independently. On Sunday afternoon they met for an hour and a half’s rehearsal, led by guest conductor Steve James and guest organist Dr Hugh Benham. There were almost 40 singers in total, well balanced over the four singing parts. After the rehearsal, everyone sat down to a large and varied tea provided by the Braishfield choir in the Church Room. A sociable time was enjoyed, and then choir members robed and took their seats for the service. In Steve’s absence this was led by Revd Angie McNutt from Copythorne. The opening introit was Byrd: Sacerdotes Dominum. The choir also sang the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis to settings by Dyson, Sanders’ responses, and the anthem �Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee’ by SS Wesley. The congregation joined in the three hymns enthusiastically: altogether an uplifting act of worship. This is now the 6th gathering which the three choirs have shared, and we hope the tradition will continue. It is lovely to have the chance to come together occasionally and enjoy being part of a larger group worshipping together through music. The amazing flowers arranged by Andy McIndoe for the wedding of Sarah and Andrew Wright the Photos: Alan Lord day before were the crowning Text: Sarah Boothman glory! It’s time to start thinking about Christmas shoeboxes! OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: GOOD NEWS GREAT JOY Here is an amazing story from a 12 year old, from a poor family in South Asia who received a shoebox last year: “My father makes bricks in a factory and I also make bricks with my family. I have never been to school, church or Sunday school. Last month I asked my parents for new shoes because my old ones were ruined, but they didn’t have any extra money. I was upset and angry. A few days later I received a shoebox gift at the local church. When I opened the box I was amazed to see a pair of beautiful shoes that were my size and some other lovely gifts also I was able to attend school with other children in my village. I am so thankful to God and those families who send these gifts to us from a country faraway.” We can’t identify the country or location for safety reasons but a wonderful story brought about by a shoebox gift, especially as we don’t suggest shoes are actually put in the boxes! Once again it is the season for preparing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and leaflets are available in all our churches. This is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project, in 2013 nearly 10 million shoeboxes were distributed by the Christian relief and development organisation Samaritan’s Purse of which 918,000 were from the UK . Hopefully each parish will be able to fill some shoeboxes: Awbridge will be having a special coffee morning on Saturday 8th November from 10am 12 noon in Awbridge Village Hall, a joint event with ADVA. The annual Romsey Deanery Shoebox Service this year is being held in the village of Broughton, at St Mary’s Church, on Sunday 16 November, at 3 pm. Other resources including knitting patterns can be downloaded from www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/. We are always in need of empty, medium-sized shoeboxes, please drop these off at Choice Plants or Awbridge Church, if you have spare ones. Thank you. Mary Savage, volunteer for Samaritan’s Purse For more information please contact 01794 367908 or email: savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk. Benefice Diary for October Wed 1st Thurs 2nd Fri 3rd Sat 4th Mon 6th Wed 8th Thu 9th Fri 10th Sun 12th Mon 13th Wed 15th Thur 16th Fri 17th Sat 18th Mon 20th Tues 21st Wed 22nd Thu 23rd Fri 24th Wed 29th Fri 31st 7.30pm 7.30pm 9.30am 1.00pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3 Chapel Close Michelmersh PCC meets at the Rectory Awbridge Ark Toddler Group Thanksgiving for the life of Mr John Cheer, All Saints Braishfield 7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church 1.00pm - 4.00pm Messy Church “Great Outdoors” Fairthorne Manor 7.00pm Braishfield Harvest Supper, Church Room 7.30pm Five Alive Fellowship “Hearing” with Debbie Sacre Braishfield Church Room 7.30pm Timsbury PCC meet 7.30pm Romsey Deanery Synod meet at North Baddesley 12 noon Awbridge Lunch Club, Church Room 7.30pm Timsbury House Group, Little Herons 7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close 7.45pm Awbridge Wednesday House Group, Chanwel House 7.45pm Awbridge Thursday House Group 27 Barnes Close W.Wellow 9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group 10.00am Awbridge Craft and Chat, Village Hall Committee Room 1.00pm Braishfield Prayer Lunch (details Andy Brooks 523928) 7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church 2.30pm Messy Church, Braishfield Church Room 12 noon Braishfield Village Lunch, Church Room 2.00pm Braishfield School Harvest service in All Saints 7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close 7.30pm Friends of Michelmersh Church: �Going to School in the 9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group [Blitz’ - Bill Jory 7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church 2.00pm Auction of Goods and Promises with Afternoon Tea Braishfield Church Room (Viewing from 1.00pm) MATERIAL FOR NOVEMBER FIVE ALIVE BY TODAY, PLEASE 7.45pm Awbridge Tuesday House Group, Rosemary Croft 12 noon Awbridge Lunch Club, Church Rooms 7.30pm Timsbury House Group, Little Herons 7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close 7.45pm Awbridge Wednesday House Group, Chanwel House 7.45pm Awbridge Thursday House Group 27 Barnes Close W.Wellow 7.45pm Farley PCC meet at Oakfield 9.30am Awbridge Ark Toddler Group 10.00am Awbridge Craft and Chat, Village Hall Committee Room 1.00pm Braishfield Prayer Lunch (details Andy Brooks 523928) 7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in church 7.30pm Braishfield Prayer and Bible Study Group, 3, Chapel Close NO Awbridge Ark - Half Term 7.00pm Braishfield Church Choir Practice in Church Services in the Benefice for OCTOBER 2014 SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER – 16TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 9.30am Awbridge HOLY COMMUNION CW 9.30am Braishfield FAMILY HARVEST THANKSGIVING CW 10.00am Michelmersh MORNING WORSHIP for Michelmersh and Timsbury at St Mary’s CW Timsbury see above 6.00pm Farley Chamberlayne EVENING PRAYER BCP 6.30pm Awbridge FIRST SERVICE D.Croad S.Pittis T.Beeson tbc S.Pittis SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER – 17TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 8.00am 9.30am 9.30am 11.00am 2.30pm 6.00pm Farley Chamberlayne HOLY COMMUNION BCP Awbridge MORNING WORSHIP CW Braishfield MORNING PRAYER CW Timsbury FAMILY SERVICE in the Jubilee Hall CW Braishfield Messy Church Michelmersh HOLY COMMUNION CW S.Pittis S.Pittis T.Beeson S.Pittis Lay led S.Pittis SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER – 18TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 9.30am Awbridge HOLY COMMUNION CW C.Blissard-Barnes 10.00am Timsbury HOLY COMMUNION in the Jubilee Hall BCP S.Pittis 11.15am Farley Chamberlayne HARVEST FAMILY SERVICE + BAPTISM CW S.Pittis 6.00pm Michelmersh EVENING PRAYER BCP C.Blissard-Barnes 6.00pm Braishfield EVENING PRAYER BCP S.Pittis SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER – LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Trinity 19 BCP 8.00am 9.30am 9.30am 11.15am 6.00pm Michelmersh HOLY COMMUNION BCP S.Pittis Awbridge FAMILY WORSHIP CW Lay led Braishfield HOLY COMMUNION CW S.Pittis Farley Chamberlayne MORNING PRAYER BCP T.Beeson Timsbury EVENING PRAYER at Poppies, Choice Plants BCP S.Pittis SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER – 4TH SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT or All Saints 9.30am Awbridge* 10.00am Michelmersh HOLY COMMUNION CW M.Halliwell MORNING WORSHIP for Michelmersh and Timsbury at St Mary’s CW 10.30am Braishfield * SERVICE OF CELEBRATION CW J.Mitchell-Innes Timsbury See above 6.00pm Farley Chamberlayne EVENING PRAYER BCP 6.30pm Awbridge FIRST SERVICE
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