CHURCH NEWS - June 2011
Above: Rogation Sunday Thanksgiving and Blessing in the Community orchard last month.
11.00 am in the Main Tent at the Fete Field EVERYBODY WELCOME
This will be followed by a BBQ for stallholders & village residents from 12.30pm.
Remember to bring your own cutlery & plates and please let Mandy (01234 720414) or Jane (01933 410959) know if you are coming to the BBQ and if you can supply a salad.
Dear Friends,
As David and Christine are visiting their family in the USA in May, Christine asked me to write the introductory letter this month.
Over the past few weeks, a small group from Odell PCC have followed the ‘Everybody Welcome’ course, which is a nationwide course looking at ways in which we can make the Church more attractive to new members. Although it is referred to as a ‘course’ that is perhaps a misnomer, it could better be described as a guided discussion aimed at making each church look at itself and decide what they do well and where there is room for improvement.
It is well known that Christian church attendance is falling in this country. There are many reasons for this, amongst which are the following:
Our lives are too busy to spend half of a Sunday morning in Church. In so many families both of the adults work and the weekends are taken up with shopping, sports, gardening, DIY and all the other activities of everyday life for which there is no time during the working week.
With the cessation of prayers and an act of worship in many school assemblies there are many who have never experienced any form of church service, however basic, and have nothing to build on.
Some quite simply find it daunting to enter a Church building, perhaps because so many churches are large forbidding edifices surrounded by gravestones.
There are those who have no faith.
Apart from declared atheists, the majority of people who do not attend Church have a passive belief and most probably declared themselves as ‘Christian’ or ‘Church of England’ on their census form. It is to those people that Everybody Welcome is directed. We are trying to understand the barriers that prevent them from joining us in Church to enjoy the social contact and, in doing so, take their beliefs further.
Sometimes the barriers are imaginary or misconceived and, once identified, could be removed to change the balance of opinion.
As the fête approaches and the whole village becomes involved in helping the Church to raise funds to maintain the building (and, of course, to have a good time!), it is an opportunity to build on the goodwill that surrounds the occasion and to find out a bit more about what active Christianity can do for us. Have a word with Christine, or any member of the PCC, and let us know what might tip the balance for you.
With Best wishes, Martin Eshelby, Churchwarden.
'Henry' descending in style after a clean up in the clock tower in preparation for the Easter Monday Cafe-in-the-Tower.
We depend on a number of several willing volunteers to help us keep the church and churchyard looking beautiful - if you would like to help on an occasional basis we'd be delighted to hear from you! Please contact Christine on 720234 or any other church
member.
Prayer Group
What is the Prayer Group? It is made up of members of All Saints’ Church who undertake to pray regularly, on an individual basis, for people who ask us for prayer support.
Who do we pray for? Anyone whom we are asked to remember; these might be people from our church, from our local community or others known to us.
What do we pray about? Anything which you would like brought before God; maybe anxiety due to illness, stress or loneliness. You can also tell us of a special day you wish to be remembered – perhaps for an interview or an exam. Any information will be treated in strictest confidence.
How can you let us know if you would like us to pray for you? You can either telephone Christine (720234), or drop a note through the Rectory door, or complete a card (anonymously if you wish) and place it in a box kept near the church door. Prayer requests will be collected from the box each Sunday morning after the 10.00am service. Christine
All Saints Amblers meet outside The Bell, 9.45am on Saturday 18th June for a walk in the country followed by a pub lunch. Children and dogs on leads welcome to join us.
After The Fete …. an open air service for all ages in the Church tent at the Fete field, at 11.00am on Sunday June 12th …. followed by a BBQ for helpers and residents. Everyone is welcome – don’t forget to bring your own cutlery, glasses and plates! Please let Mandy (01234 720414) or Jane (01933 410959) know if you are coming to the BBQ and if you can supply a salad.
Rev’d David and Mrs Valerie Streater Golden Wedding Celebration
Rev’d David and Mrs Valerie Streater will be returning to Odell on Saturday 18th June for a Thanksgiving service to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in All Saints’ Church at 1.00pm, to which everyone is welcome. Their daughter Caroline and son-in-law Dick Seed will also be attending, on leave from their placement with the Church Missionary Society in Ghana, and Dick will deliver the address. If you would like to donate to a gift of flowers for David and Valerie, please contact Ann Hudson (tel: 720587)
The Coffee morning held at Rectory Farm on Saturday 21st May made £300.00 for ‘Places forPeople’ (Women’s Refuge). Many thanks to all who contributed to this.
Christian Aid
If you see this magazine before the beginning of June, this is just a reminder that the envelopes need to be returned to Jill by the end of May.
Odell Fete Saturday, 11th June 2011
HELP will be needed to set up fete stalls on the afternoon of Friday 10th June, and then dismantle everything after the fete has ended on Saturday 11th. Please come and join in!
ODELL VILLAGE FETE
AND DOG SHOW
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 2011 2 PM
(In the Scout field, Horsefair Lane, Odell)
ENTRY Adults £1.50, Children Free
2.00 PM Grand Opening
2.00-4.00PM Dog Show
4.00 PM Raffle Draw and Prize Giving
Wode-Hill Jazz Band Boys Brigade Bouncy Castle
Teas Tombola Ice Creams
Cakes Books Refreshments
Bottle Stall
Coconut Shy Children’s Sports White Elephant
Produce Gifts Many Side Shows
Raffle
(entry fee - £1 per dog per class)
Classes:
Children’s Handling (14 years and under)
Puppies under 1 year
Country Sporting Dog or Bitch
Best Rescue or Re-home Dog or Bitch
Best Condition Dog or Bitch
Dog or Bitch with Most Appealing Eyes
Best Cross-bred Dog or Bitch
Most Handsome Dog
Prettiest Bitch
Car park attendants are on duty at the field opposite The Bell public house
There is disabled parking next to the Scout field
Gazebos and tables Needed
Gazebos, trestle tables and garden tables are needed for the fete – if you have any you can loan please call Jill on 720261.
All Saints’ Church Charitable Giving for the months of May and June
The Church Pastoral Aid Society offers valuable training and wide range of resources for clergy and lay people, in evangelism, youth work, mission and ministry. It also runs Young People’s holiday clubs and offers Parish Consultations. Please give generously to this worthwhile charity.
Senior Citizens Summer Garden Party
Odell Luncheon Club invites you to a Strawberry Tea in Richard and Madeline Jeeves’ garden, at Rivendell, 15 Horsefair Lane, Odell, on Wednesday 13th July at 3pm.
All senior citizens are invited.
Please let Jill Cheadle (720261) know by Sunday 3rd July if you wish to attend.
Meeting Point in June
15th 10.30am at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage, High St., Harrold.
29th 10.30am at Jane’s, Newton Bromswold
Churches Together in Harrold and Carlton
Looking for ideas to rejuvenate your garden? – why not visit:
Carlton Open Gardens
Sunday 19th June, 1.30-5.30pm
Proceeds to local charities
Start at Carlton Village Hall
Programmes Lunches and teas
Plant sales Plant Clinic
Adults £3 Concessions £2.50
Under 12’s free 12-18 yrs £1
Free car park (follow the signs)
All Saints’ Church Flower Rota
June
12th Fete weekend
19th Tricia Hudson/Ann Hudson
Diary
9th 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP.
10th From 5pm Beer Festival, The Bell.
11th “ “
11th 2pm Village fete, Horsefair Lane.
12th 11am Festival Service, Fete Field.
12th Last day of Beer Festival, The Bell.
12th 12.30pm Village BBQ, Fete Field.
15th 10.30am Meeting Point at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage,
Harrold.
18th 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell.
19th 1.30pm Carlton Open Gardens.
23rd 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP.
24th Outreach Trip to Milton Keynes City Orchestra.
25th 2.30pm Café in the Tower, All Saints’ Church.
26th “ “ “ “ “
27th 10am Conservation tasks day, HOCP.
29th 10.30am Meeting Point at Jane’s, Newton Bromswold.
Magazine Deadline
Please send all entries for the joint July and August 2011 magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1 at odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by June 12th at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.