Fantastic St Swithun's Weekend!

What a fantastic time we had over St. Swithun's weekend! The Village Barbeque was great fun with a whole spectrum of people there from the parish. And it was great to see well over 160 people from all sections of the community at the Village Service on the green the following morning.

We came together to celebrate and give thanks for the life of our community, to hear about some exciting developments concerning the future of the shop and the progress of the Parish Plan, and to seek God's blessing and guidance on our life together in the year ahead. The children read to us the parable of the Good Samaritan and it seemed so relevant to be thinking together about what it means to be a neighbour to those who are different to us - religiously, culturally, socially.

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As a result of The 2002 Gift Day Appeal, the Village and others helped the PCC raise some £40,000 towards the cost of extensive repairs to our church. We are very pleased to let you know that, with a few exceptions, all of the major work to the building has been completed. We still have to repair two big windows and anticipate that work on one of these will start soon. Unfortunately we will not have enough money to repair the remaining window; but will not know how much is needed until the work to the first window has been finished.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and continues to help us with the repair work to our village church.

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As you may know, the diocese has given us permission to remove three of the pews from an area of the church that is little used for an experimental period of fifteen months. This is to make space for our growing Music Group, to provide a more informal seating area and to be able to display children's work and notices more easily and safely. The pews were originally given to make the building suitable for people to be able to come to church. We think we are being true to this same principle in the experiment we are undertaking. I would be very happy to talk further with anyone about this.

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There is to be another open air service on the green on Sunday, 1llh September and on this occasion the bishop of Bath and Wells will be joining us. Let's hope for some more of the glorious weather we had this time!

With best wishes.

24th July, 2005 The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

8.15am Holy Communion

Gospel Mark 12:28-34 page 1018

10am Holy Communion

Gospel Mark 12:28-34 page 1018

6.30pm Evensong

Old Testament Exodus

34:1-8 page 93 New Testament Matthew 20:1-16 page 987

Thank You

A huge thank you to all who worked so hard to make the BBQ and the Village Service so memorable last weekend

Toddler Hour Picnic

Toddlers are meeting in the playground at Alice Park on Monday 8th August from 10.30am? Please bring a packed lunch.

Wednesday Communions in August

There will be a service of Holy Communion on Wednesday, 3rd and Wednesday, 17th August

An Important Notice Regarding the Church Building

As many will know, the Children’s Church - from Toddlers, to Pebbles, to Stepping Stones ,and right through to Rock Solid – is active and growing in numbers such that the PCC has run out of space for Children’s Church activities on Sundays! To explain, on Sunday, during the 10 o’clock service, the Rock Solid Group (12 years and above) meets in the Parish Hall; the Crèche for Toddlers, their parents and/or guardians and a church volunteer meets in the Upper Room; leaving both Pebbles (3 – 6 years) and Stepping Stones (7 – 11) years) meeting in the St Nicholas Room (below the Upper Room) and in the Choir Vestry.

The PCC considers that it is totally inappropriate for any Children’s Church Groups to meet in the Choir Vestry, which is claustrophobic and has no outside light or windows, no proper ventilation and insufficient space and facilities. In addition the room is not available before services and must be cleared immediately afterwards, thus not always permitting activities to be fully completed. As the room is not sound proof, any noise made during the service may disturb those sitting towards the back of the church.

If our children are to learn more of the Gospel and develop their Christian lives we need to provide them and their leaders with the appropriate space and facilities.

The PCC, after careful consideration, taking professional advice, and looking at a number of options, is minded to build a second “Upper Room” above the area of the kitchen/servery in the South Aisle.

More design and research work is needed before any final decision is made; but the PCC wishes to keep the church advised about its plans as they develop. Thus far the PCC has asked the Church Architect to progress his initial ideas and costs, after which it will explain these to the church, and subject to any further ideas and comments will consider these at its meeting in September. Based on the Architect’s initial ideas and costings, the PCC believes that it should not need to make any major appeal for funds for this building work.

If any member of the church wishes to have more information about this development, please have a word with any member of the PCC or the Fabric Committee.

Discovery of this previously unknown papyrus

The belief that Jesus may actually have visited Bathford received a boost recently with the discovery of this previously unknown papyrus:

'Then a group of villagers went to Jesus and asked: "Teacher, is it right to pay the parish precept or not?" "Bring me a Council Tax demand." Jesus said. "Whose portrait is this and whose inscription?" "Beazer's," they replied. "Then render to Beazer that which is Beazer's and to God that which is God's. With apologies to Shirley!)

For Jesus, human beings have secular responsibilities and spiritual responsibilities; and, moreover, one way of honouring our responsibilities to God is by meeting our responsibilities to society. In fact, the Bible is full of this thought: 'Till the Garden and take care of it' (Genesis 2:15); 'Seek the prosperity of the city' (Jeremiah 29:7); 'Submit to the governing authorities' (Romans 13:1): 'Pray for all those in authority' (1 Timothy 2:2).

In Bathford we are extremely fortunate to have a Parish Council who work so hard on our behalf for the welfare of our parish, often in ways of which we are not even aware. Thank you to all of them.

If you think that this might be a way you could contribute to the life of our ' community, do have a look at the insert with this bulletin. It contains details of how you can get involved.

With best wishes, Tim

Services Sunday 9th July

8.15am Holy Communion

Epistle 1 Cor. 7:17-24 page 1148
Gospel Matthew 6:25-34 page 971

10am Holy Communion

Epistle 1 Cor. 7:17-24 page 1148
Gospel Matthew 6:25-34 page 971

6.30pm Evensong

Old Testament Exodus 33:12-23 page 92
New Testament 1 John 1:1-4 page 1225

Village Barbecue

A barbecue will be held at Church Farm on the 16th July, starting at 4pm. Tickets £2.50 (children £1.25), £7.50 family. Soft drinks provided. Bring chair or blanket to sit on. Friends very welcome.

Genesis Vouchers

Genesis vouchers, which can be used to pay for a night at the Julian House shelter or to buy a lunch, are now on sale at 6 outlets in the city: Ethos Sandwich Shop, Walcot Street; Wesley Owen Bookshop, (near the Forum); Bath Abbey Bookshop; Cornerstone Coffee Shop, Larkhall; Manvers Street Coffee Shop; and the new Wood Works shop, 5 Green Park Road.

Toddler Hour

Toddler Hour will be on Monday 11th July from 10.30 to 11.30. All pre-school children and babies are very welcome with their parents, carers, grandparents etc. See you there.

Village Service on the Green

This special opportunity to take our service to the heart of the village is on Sunday, 17th July at 10am. As usual, if you are able to, it would be great to meet at church at 9.40am to pray for the service and then process to the green singing hymns and songs as an act of witness.