What's here
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
For events see also Services and Events.
Ashfield Tsunami Appeal
Many thanks to all those who contributed most generously to the Village appeal on behalf of DEC. We raised £470 (plus Gift Aid) which when taken with other personal donations represents an impressive amount from a small village.
Alison Bowman
Ashfield Ladies Group
15th Feb |
Air Ambulance Service |
|
15th March |
His time with the Archers |
Douglas Ditta |
For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
Feb |
Miss J Cornelius |
658753 |
Mrs L Tinkler |
685278 |
March/April |
Mrs C Abbott |
685210 |
Mrs N Calver |
685698 |
If you are unable to do your flowers, please contact Margaret Buckland on 685329.
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
February |
Susan Hansen |
685738 |
March |
Margaret & John Garrard |
685038 |
April |
Jill Robinson |
685084 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.
Baptism
We welcomed into the Lord's Family on Dec 26th, Flinn Michael Tyne Seery, at Cretingham Church.
Confirmation
Thursday 20th January marked the welcoming of four young people from our Benefice, namely Katie & Tabitha Runnacres, Jacob Reed and Max Bowman, into the Church with a joyful service of confirmation at St. Mary’s Earl Soham. Other candidates from neighbouring parishes joined us in this celebration and the service included two baptisms as well as eight confirmations! Thanks are due both to Clare and the other members of the clergy who participated and to Bishop Richard, all of whom made this such a special event.
Earl Soham Christmas Eve Crib
Many thanks to all who helped with the annual crib event. Thanks are due to those who erected the stage; worked on the curtains; fitted the electrics; played the organ; brought the sheep; lent the ponies and of course, to all the children who took part. The event raised over £300 for the Children’s Society as well as bringing the Christmas message to all those who attended.
Mary Vellacott
Lent Groups
This year Lent groups are taking a different shape and form. There will be an opportunity on Saturday March 5 th and/or Thursday March 10 th, from 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m., at the Baptist Chapel, to spend a morning exploring the Easter Story through art, craft, poetry and music. You don't have to be an artist, poet, musician or whatever, but just someone who appreciates learning and exploring in a different way. For those with young children, a crèche facility can be provided on the Thursday March 10 th session. For those who want to join us, you are invited to tea at The Rectory on Feb 27 th @ 3.30 p.m., to meet one another and take away some thought provoking material on which to reflect, prior to the day. Want to know more? Speak to Clare or Wendy Gourlay on 685335
In addition there is also an opportunity on a Monday evening during Lent to meet with others from across the Mid Loes parishes, to learn more about how to live our Christian faith, in terms of visiting people in their own homes, and being good neighbours. As we move into new partnerships and ways of organising the Church in our Deanery over the coming months and years, there will be an increasing need for people to take responsibility and ownership of visiting, rather than the Vicar doing it. These meetings during Lent will provide an opportunity to explore this ministry and service in a relaxed setting. The sessions will be led by Elizabeth Moore, the Diocesan Lay Education Adviser. See Clare for further details.
Clare
RIP - Joyce Blower
Joyce and Bryn moved to Ashfield in 1974. They had met in Saxmundham during the war years when Joyce served as a member of the Land Army. Joyce became very involved in village life, and served from 1976 on the Community Council Committee, for nearly 25 years. She took her committee responsibilities seriously, and always had suggestions to make; she ran a Tuck shop for children from the Community Centre; she cleaned it regularly, and whatever the occasion for village or Church, Joyce was there baking cakes, running stalls and helping to tidy up afterwards.
Together Joyce and Bryn raised 3 children, Bryn, Melvyn and Myra, and they were the proud grandparents of 14 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great, great, grandchild. Their home was always a place of welcome, not just to members of the family, but also to many in the village, who knew in Joyce that they would find a welcome and a listening ear. In her family's words she was "wonderfully sweet, seldom angry and never had a bad word for anyone".
Indeed, even when she was very low, in the days that followed Bryn's death, there was always a smile when I called.
We send her family our condolences on her passing. May she rest in peace.