I write this on the morning of September 11. For most of us there have been few events we have witnessed more shattering. Though far removed from them in space, the pictures and words coming from the people caught up in the collapse of the Twin Towers make us reel from the shock waves. The world feels so much more fragile and vulnerable when its most powerful and wealthy member has suffered such intrusion and violation.
If all the sophistication of modern technology and security systems, all the military expertise and hardware available, all the tiers of trained staff presiding over airways and national security can fail......, and fail the American people, then where in the world is anyone safe?
Today, one year on, America is a different country than it was before 9/11/01. But alongside all the lessons still being learned are people, burdened and grieving. Death has robbed them of loved ones. Some of these victims have even been willing to share their stories, one year on, through interviews for the media. We have heard or read them. They are struggling, grappling to make sense of life without the person they have lost, and the world they have lost. The very public ceremonies and media coverage will have helped them to face up to what has been, and to face the future better, because it has been shared with others – a whole community and nation in mourning.
Loss of loved ones comes to all of us, sooner or later. What Americans today do publicly, many in our village communities are doing privately. But for them, too, sharing the burden can help. And this is something that the church can offer in a public and formal way a recognition of a journey that some people are making at this moment; and others are invited to draw alongside to walk with them.
Traditionally the first days of November in the church‘s calendar give us a season to remember loved ones who have died. All Saints Day [Nov1] is followed by All Souls [Nov 2].
On the Sunday nearest, November 3, we are holding a Service of Thanksgiving and Remembering at 3pm in St. Andrew's Langar. Invitations will be going out to all next of kin who the clergy have been in touch with for a funeral in the past year or two. Of course any others are equally welcome to attend.
The service will enable us to look back, grateful for the person we have loved, and assured they are in God's safe keeping. It will encourage us to embrace the present as the moment when God is there to give us strength and hope. Then we ask for courage to face the future and learn to leave it in God's hands; yet believing he will meet us every day with the companionship and purpose each of us needs.
This Service of Thanksgiving and Remembering is offered to all who feel they need it. It's just one way of coming alongside and sharing the burden.
NOTICES
Wanted
Some domestic help for a couple of hours a week at the Curate's House, Granby. Willing to pay £5 an hour, hours negotiable. Please contact Chris on 01949 850127.
Wanted
Andrew and Chris would like a Scanner for a Computer. This would make life easier for the Ministry team when constructing special services etc. Has anyone got one lying around? Perhaps you have updated your computer and have the old scanner. We would be prepared to purchase it. Please contact Chris on 01949 850127.
Harvest Supper
All Saints Granby Harvest Supper. Saturday 12th October at 7.30pm. Tickets £9 Tel: 01949 850231
From the Registers
BAPTISMS
Aug 18 Morgon Frederick Thomas Hedley Langar Trudi Louise Hedley Langar Elizabeth Jayne Evans Langar Sep 8 Alexander William John Beck Cropwell Bishop 15 Amelia Grace Barker Tythby WEDDINGS Aug 3 Peter Charles Besson & Emma Lucy Maltby Langar 10 Darryl Smallman & Helen Rosemary Cranswick Granby 24 Jason Kingsley Swann & Jacqueline Elizabeth Harris Tythby 31 Michael George Raines & Nicola Anne Birkett Tythby David John Rawson & Rebecca Kate Cessford Langar FUNERALS Jul 22 John Edward Marrison Cropwell Butler Aug 1 June Iris Day Cropwell Butler 12 William Gordon Sanders Colston Bassett 27 Kizzy Anne Faulks Granby 29 Tom Warrener Starbuck Langar 30 Catherine Sharp Langar Sep 2 Freda Spencer Langar
October & November Diary
OCTOBER
Wed 2 7.30pm East Bingham Deanery Synod St. Peter‘s Tollerton Sun 6 11am Harvest Thanksgiving Holy Trinity Tythby 11am All Age Harvest Thanksgiving St. John‘s Colston Bassett 6pm Harvest Thanksgiving St. Andrew‘s Langar Mon 7 7.30pm Granby & Sutton Parochial Church Council The Vicarage Wed 9 to Fri 11 Southwell Diocesan Conference The Hays, Swanwick Sat 12 2.00 Wedding of Jason Scarborough & Suzanne Freeman St. John‘s Colston Bassett 7.30pm Granby Harvest Supper Village Hall Sun 13 6pm Harvest Thanksgiving All Saints‘ Granby Wed 16 7.30pm Cropwell Bishop Heritage Group The Vicarage Sun 20 11am Dedication of Royal British Legion standard St. John‘s Colston Bassett 6pm Service of Prayer for Healing & Wholeness Elton church Mon 21 7.30pm Crop Butler & Tythby Joint Churches meeting Chapel Wed 23 7.30pm Anglican/Methodist Covenant meeting Bingham Methodist church Thu 24 7.30pm Wiverton Group Staff meeting 30 Rawlings Court Fri 26 SCHOOLS HALF TERM BEGINS [till Fri 1 November]
NOVEMBER
Sun 3 All Saints tide 3pm Service of Thanksgiving & Remembering loved ones St. Andrew‘s Langar Mon 4 8pm Elton Parochial Church Council The Old Brew House Sun 10 Remembrance Sunday See back page for service times/venues Mon 11 7.30pm Tythby & Cropwell Butler P.C.C. Methodist Chapel Sun 17 10.30am Confirmation Service in Southwell Minster Sun 24 11am Toy Service All Age Holy Trinity Tythby
The Journey Goes on
St John‘s Colston Bassett has just staged the third in our "Journey in Faith" services.
The aim is to give people a unique opportunity to meet for worship and prayer, to explore aspects of their local church and use them to highlight what the Anglican Church believes and practises.
We ask, Where do these beliefs and traditions come from? Are they still relevant today? We have so far taken an overview of a traditional Anglican Church. We have looked at Baptism and Confirmation. The next topic is to be Holy Communion.
Following its highly successful launch at Tythby, ”Journey in Faith• has now appeared at both Cropwell Bishop and Colston Bassett.
The service, organised by Chris Dolby and Peter Singleton, is really an informal gathering where people can ask questions, contribute to debate, and do unusual things like vote for which hymns they would like! All hymns are from the book "Hymns Old and New".
There are refreshments afterwards. We hope that as well as regular attenders from the chosen church, it will attract visitors from other parts of the group, and amongst them such as:
Those who might have just finished an Alpha course Parents and families of children recently baptised Newly married couples People new to the area"Journey in Faith" may come soon to a Wiverton Group church near you. Why not take a trip to see us?
Announcements
YAHOO - St Andrew’s reaches into Cyberspace!
St Andrew‘s Church at Langar has reached new heights - the Cyberspace of the World Wide Web! The new website, www.langarstandrews.org.uk, is already getting more than 25 hits a day, with nearly 120 on one day alone despite only recently starting to appear on well known search engines like Yahoo.
Wiverton's new "going global" approach is thanks to the hard work and devotion of Geoffrey Yarnall, the Group‘s very own "Web Master".
We would now like to get the other Churches in the Group on the web, but we need people who would gather the information required, such as the Church history, times of services, personnel etc. The group has a digital camera that can be borrowed to take photos of both the inside and outside of your Church. Please contact Chris Dolby if you are interested or get into the mood by emailing me on chri270@aol.com!
Anglican - Methodist Covenant
Anglicans and Methodists in Britain are wondering, once more, if the time is right to enter into a covenant of union. Whatever this means it will have implications at the local level as much as nationally.
To learn more about what the proposal is a meeting has been arranged for all congregations within the Bingham area. This in particular involves parishes in the Bingham Deanery (now to be called East Bingham) and the Methodist Vale of Belvoir Circuit. It takes place in Bingham Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23 October. Philip Webb, Ecumenical Officer for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, will introduce the proposed new covenant and lead a discussion on its implications for us.
Two deaneries unite
The two adjacent deaneries of Bingham and Bingham South are in process of being joined into one: to be called East Bingham. The main reason for this arises from reduction in numbers of clergy. When clergy numbers in a deanery become too few it is no longer viable to be effective for meeting together, nor for offering support when parishes may need it. A larger deanery also enables the synod [deanery council], made up of lay representatives with clergy, to be more effective.
The newly formed deanery will have 12 clergy for 34 parishes, amongst which are the towns of Bingham [pop 7000 rising], Cotgrave [pop 7500], Radcliffe [pop 8500 rising] and Keyworth [pop 8600]. The area covered by the deanery will now extend from Flintham in the north to Willoughby-on-the-Wolds in the south, from Bunny and/or Holme Pierrepoint in the west to Orston and/or Hickling in the east.
Congratulations Granby!
...........for winning the best kept village competition [under 300 population] for Nottinghamshire! After this success the village is entering for the national competition.
Over the past few years Granby residents have worked and played together very successfully, most particularly during the Millennium celebrations, and more recently for the Queen‘s Golden Jubilee. There have been village projects successfully completed, and some very enjoyable and imaginative ways of joining together, with Sutton, as a community to have fun.
Perhaps this spirit more than anything else lies behind their achievement in qualifying for this award.
"Honing faith"
In response to request a discussion group centred round Bible study is being planned: to run on Thursday evenings from October 31 to November 28 [5 weeks], 7.45pm to 9.45pm. Venue yet to be sorted.
The purpose is to bring together people who value the opportunity to talk with others about the Christian faith, to listen to the Bible and reflect on what meaning it has for today, to make friends and drink coffee/tea together!If you would like to join the group please contact the Vicarage [0115 989 3172], or Graham Freegard [01949 81745] by Sunday October 20.
St. John‘s Colston Bassett Flower festival raised £828 for church funds. More than 1000 people visited the church over the three days. Many thanks to all who worked so hard to achieve this success, and for the support given.
Graham Freegard (Churchwarden)
Lord, you have always given
Bread for the coming day,
And though I am poor,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always given
Strength for the coming day,
And though I am weak,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always given
Peace for the coming day,
And though of anxious heart,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always kept me
Safe in trials
And now, tried as I am,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always marked
The road for the coming day,
And though it may be hidden,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always lightened
This darkness of mine,
And though the night is here,
Today I believe.
Lord, you have always spoken
When time was ripe,
And though you be silent now,
Today I believe.
From Evening Prayer, Celtic Daily Prayer (Northumbrian office)