There has never been a time when this question has not been asked; both by people within the faith community and by those looking in from outside. Certainly people are asking it today; and maybe you are among them. A lot of the time the question is not being asked because it does not arise. You can live your life without these ‘ultimate’ issues imposing themselves. But, then, there are times when they do have a way of creeping in. Nearly always the reasons are very personal to you. It could be to do with your children. “Shall we have him baptised?” As they grow up so often it is they who lead their parents back to the question because of what they are learning and experiencing. Their questions often challenge and leave adults feeling: I’m not equipped to answer these! The question comes in a more gentle and commending way when couples marry. For each bride and groom, standing in church to make your vows before God and your closest circle of friends and family, again raises the question: How real is this to me?
This autumn two things are happening both of which set out to grapple with such questioning.
The first is local to us in these parishes. Exploring the Christian faith is a discussion group - advertised in this Wiverton News [See Good News!]. It offers five weeks in October and November, to meet with others who want to understand more. It is open to anyone able to take the time.The second is Nottingham based; again advertised in this issue.
‘The Christian faith - Can I believe it?’
This is what both programmes are about; but neither is setting out to preach answers. Instead people are invited to engage, hopefully in ways that make sense to them. At the end of the day the question will remain; but we trust some answers will begin to make more sense of it.
Andrew Wigram
Reader-in-training
Maureen Godfrey, who lives in Plungar but worships in Granby, has been accepted by the diocese for Reader training in the Wiverton Group. As congregations, in addition to offering our congratulations, we are asked to accept certain responsibilities for her training. Within the coming months Maureen will begin to appear alongside the clergy or reader and take a share leading parts of the worship. Our role is one of encouraging, and being ‘criticalfriends’ - helpfully commenting so as to enable her to improve her style and effectiveness as a worship leader.
Her success in the future will, therefore, much depend on how well we carry her in her training!
Andrew
Granby & Sutton Harvest Supper & Thanksgiving 2003
A warm welcome, a good meal, and even some (?) entertainment , is assured to ticket holders for the annual Harvest Supper. It takes place on Saturday 18th October in Granby Village Hall. Tickets are available from Mark Tubbs[01949 850231] or Brenda Preece [01949 850331].
Harvest Thanksgiving follows on Sunday 19th, 6pm Festival Evensong. Mark Tubbs is wanting to have a choir for this. If you would like to try yourhand please contact him.
St. Mary’s Church [ruin]Colston Bassett Church History Project
Southwell Diocese is encouraging individuals to enrole as researchers on their Church History Project. The results are then placed on their web site. So far 151 projects are under way.One of the most interesting sites must surely be the ruined church of Colston Bassett with such a wealth of archaeology, architecture and history to explore.To date no one has come forward to work on it.Is there anyone reading this, or known to you, who might be interested? More information and good examples of what can be done are obtained on southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk
Houghton Chapel [see web] is an example of what can be achieved.
Andrew Wigram
Wiverton Group Autumn course
Exploring the Christian Faith
I hope that headline grabbed your attention. Everyone likes good news. We believe that the Christian faith is good news.
Do you have questions about the Christian faith?
Do you want to challenge the Christian faith?
Do you want to re-examine your own faith?
How can we relate faith to today’s world?
How can we relate faith to our work, especially in today’s stressful workethos?
Our aim is to discuss these and any other burning questions you have about the Christian faith by running a discussion group over a cup of coffee. These groups would also be suitable for anyone thinking about Confirmation.
ALL ARE WELCOME.
Details are:
At the first meeting the group will be invited to express their preferences for future venues – homes? community meeting room?
If you are interested or want to know more please ring:Andrew on 0115 9893172 , or Chris on 01949 850127.
OCTOBER
Sat 4 St. Giles Fund-raising concert Radcliffe Ladies Choir -Cropwell Bishop Memorial Hall
Sun 5 11am Harvest Thanksgiving followed by Luncheon - St. Giles Cropwell Bishop
11am Harvest Thanksgiving – St. John’s Colston Bassett
Mon 6 7.45pm Langar & Barnstone P.C.C. - Bridge House Farm
Wed 8 7.30pm East Bingham Deanery Synod - Kinoulton Church
Fri 10 7.00pm Colston Bassett Harvest Supper - Village Hall
Sun 12 11am Harvest Thanksgiving - Holy Trinity Tythby
11am Baptism of Rose Mansfield - St. Giles Cropwell Bishop
11am Baptism of Samuel Curtis - St. John’s Colston Bassett
Mon 13 2.30pm Mothers’ Union: Musical Memories June Shock - Cropwell Bishop
6.15pm Southwell Lay & Clergy Diocesan Conference [till Wed15]- The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick
Wed 15 7pm St. Mary’s Colston Bassett committee - Churchgate Cottage
Thu 16 7.30pm Exploring the Christian faith [1] - Millennium Room St.Andrew’s Langar
Sun 19 9.45am Baptism of Ben Stevenson and Thomas Hallwood -St. Andrew’s Langar
6pm Granby Harvest Thanksgiving
Wed 22 8pm St. Giles Cropwell Bishop P.C.C. - The Vicarage
Thu 23 7.30pm Exploring the Christian Faith [2] - St. Andrew’s Langar Millennium Room [or as arranged]
Sat 25 2pm Wedding of Julian (Ed) Fawcett & Debra Peters – Langar
7pm Granby Harvest Supper - Village Hall
Sun 26 SUMMER TIMES ENDS
Thu 30 7.30pm Exploring the Christian Faith [3] - Millennium Room St. Andrew’s Langar [or as arranged]
NOVEMBER
Sat 1 Langar Primary School Bonfire Night
Sun 2 11am Baptism of Lucy Humberstone and Lois Timms - Tythby
Mon 3 7.30pm Tythby & Cropwell Butler P.C.C. - Chapel Schoolroom
Thu 6 7.30pm Exploring the Christian Faith [4] - Millennium Room St. Andrew’s Langar [or as arranged]
Sat 8 1.30pm Wedding: John Bell & Sarah Mudd - Granby
Sun 9 Remembrance Sunday
Mon 10 Mothers’ Union: Wedding dresses Sheila Allton - Barnstone
Thu 13 Exploring the Christian Faith [5] - Millennium Room Langar
Sat 22 2pm Cropwell Butler & Tythby Christmas Fayre - Village Hall
Sun 30 St. Andrewstide World Mission – GROUP service at Langar
This poem was supposedly found on the body of an unrecognised soldier killed in Italy during the Second World War and is a poignant reminder for the anniversary of Armistice Day on 11 November
Look God, I have never spoken to you,
But now I want to say: “How do you do.
You see God, they told me you didn’t exist
And, like a fool, I believed all this.
Last night from a shell-hole I saw your sky,
I figured right then they had told me a lie,
Had I taken the time to see the things you made,
I’d know they weren’t calling a spade a spade.
I wonder God, if you’d shake my hand?
Somehow I feel you will understand,
Funny I had to come to this hellish place
Before I had time to see your face.
Well, I guess there’s not much more to say,
But I’m sure glad, God, I met you today,
I guess the zero hour will soon be here,
But I’m not afraid, since I know you’re near.
The signal! Well, God I’ll have to go,
I like you lots, this I want you to know,
Look now! This will be a horrible fight,
Who knows, I may come to your house tonight.
Though I wasn’t friends with you before,
I wonder, God, if you’d wait at your door?
Gosh! I’m crying - me shedding tears,
I wish I’d known you these many years,
Well! I’ll have to go now - Goodbye,
Strange, since I met you, I’m not afraid to die
‘A season exploring different aspects of culture’
Public Events organized by the Bible Society, in Nottingham, solely for the month of October 2003
THE WAY - performed by Andrew Harrison
A 45 minute one man drama, following the extraordinary journey of two people on a lonely desert road hundreds of years ago. It confronts with searing honesty and compassion some of the most searching and testing issues facing today’s travellers on the human journey. [Commissioned by theBible Society]
Performances:
Sunday Oct 5 Queensbury Street Baptist Church, Old Basford
6.30pm. No need to book Free admission
Details: The Rev’d Peter Milner 0115 970 1291
Sunday Oct 12 St. Wilfrid’s Church, Wilford
6.30pm Free admission
Details: The Rev’d David Rowe 0115 981 7238
Sunday Oct 19 Arnold Methodist Church Arnold
6pm Free admission
Details: The Rev’d Rob Cotton 0115 920 1992
AGORA EVENING
Your chance to join with a diverse group of people from around Notts– gather around tables in a pub/cafe/community hall – sharing your own stories.Insights are drawn together, the Bible is told....and ‘who knows what might happen?’
Facilitated by the Rev’d Dr. Chris Sunderland these interactive discussions will grapple with stories and their power to shape and influence our lives.[Find out more about Agora at www.agoraspace.org]
Agora Evenings:
Oct 13 Civic Centre Arnold 7.30pm Free Admission Details and Booking: Rob Cotton 0115 920 1992
Oct 17 The Admiral Rodney Public House, Calverton 7.30pm Details & Booking: Cathy Wright 0115 965 3924
Oct 20 Cafe Wax Bar, 27 Broad St. Nottingham 7pm for 8pm Details:0115 959 0007, or email wax-cafe-bar@barbox.net
Oct 22 The Air Hostess Tollerton 7.30pm Details:Rob Cotton 0115 920 1992
MARK - an Epic Story of power and conflict, death and life, mystery and hope “incredibly powerful......not to be missed”.
A storytelling experience presented by The Telling Place (Bible Society and Northumbria Community). Six storytellers share the story of a life that shaped the world.
Oct 16 & 17 Sandfield Theatre, Sandfield Rd., Lenton, Nottm Evening performances only 7.30pm Box Office 0115 915 5328 Tickets £10 [consessions £7.50]
For additional information including films shown at Broadway Cinema Spirituality Film Season see any Parish Church porch noticeboard.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Read the Bible?“
I wouldn’t know where to begin!
I’d like to understand the Bible more; but don’t know how to go about it.
If either of these comments reflects your thinking - help is at hand!
There are Bible reading booklets with passages and comments for daily readings [notes] to suit all ages and preferences. They come in quarterly booklets and you subscribe for the year. The 2004 order for the Wiverton Group will be made in November. If you would like to order/subscribe, or have a trial run, be in touch with Catharine Wigram [0115 989 3172]