What's here
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
Earl Soham Village Hall A.G.M.
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
For events see also Services and Events.
Lent Groups
This year Lent groups are taking a different shape and form. There will be an opportunity on Saturday March 5th and/or Thursday March 10th, 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 10th session. Want to know more? Speak to Clare or Wendy Gourlay on 685335.
(There's also a Monday evening group, but that's already started, and it's too late to join, I'm afaid.)
Clare
Round the Clock
We all have problems and concerns that trouble us, and sometimes it is reassuring to know that someone is willing to pray about them. Whatever your concerns, big or small, and whether or not you are a church-goer, Earl Soham Baptist Church will soon be holding a 24-hour prayer session, during which we would very much like to pray about your concerns. Anonymity can be assured if necessary. Post your prayer requests, with contact details, through the door of the Baptist church in a sealed envelope, marked ‘Alex Roxburgh’, or send them to alex.roxburgh@btinternet.com, or leave a message on an answer-phone on 01728 685265: please speak clearly and leave your name and telephone number and Alex will call you back. If you would like us to contact you after the event, for further support or to let you have information about Alpha courses, please just ask.
Fairtrade Diocese
The diocese has recently pledged to support and promote Trade Justice and specifically to work towards becoming a Fairtrade Diocese. Earl Soham PCC has agreed to make a commitment to use fairly traded tea and coffee at all church meetings and events, including the Fete and village green stalls.
Using fairly traded products sends a message… the Church cares about poverty and justice. By choosing goods with the Fairtrade mark, we ensure that the producer gets a fair wage, helping to eradicate poverty in the developing world.
The fields of the poor may produce abundant food but injustice sweeps it away (Proverbs 13 v 23)
Ashfield Ladies Group
15th March |
His time with the Archers |
Douglas Ditta |
19th April |
Optical Illusions |
Kim Shaw |
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 |
May |
Alison Bowman |
685489 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.
Celtic Summer
An invitation for people in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Every summer Durham’s character changes significantly when the students go on vacation and the historic streets behind Durham’s majestic Cathedral breathe more easily. From August 3rd-10th, Revd Rob Marshall will lead one of his immensely popular Celtic Summer trips taking in Whitby, Lastingham, Ripon, York, Holy Island, Bamburgh and Monkwearmouth.
Based at St.John’s College in Durham, this is a great trip for parish groups to join in and is great value (£435) at the height of summer. Experience worship, learning and a time of relaxation and fellowship. Brochures are available on 01274 599622 or mail@ukltg.com.
See www.ukltg.com
Christingle
Thank you to all who supported the Christingle appeal in January, in aid of the work of the Children’s Society, £322.46 has been raised, which is a splendid sum.
Thank you too to the Earl Soham school choir who came and sang at the Christingle service at Cretingham church, and to all those who supplied food for the celebration tea which followed, a good time was had by all.
Earl Soham Village Hall A.G.M.
The A.G.M. of the village hall will be held on Tuesday, 5 th April 2005 at 7:30 pm. when we would welcome nominations for the Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Hall Manager and Booking Secretary as they are all due to election.
We particularly wish for nominations for the Hall Managers position as this will become vacant at the A.G.M. All proposed names should be given to the Hon Secretary Mrs Dale on 685608.
Earl Soham WI
At the January meeting, members heard a moving talk by a volunteer from ‘Make a Wish’, a charity that aims to grant the special wishes of children aged 3 - 18 who have life-threatening illnesses. Some are thrilled to be given a laptop, while others have favoured an adventure, like whale watching or a trip to Disneyworld. Further details can be seen on the website, make-a-wish.org.uk.
The WI meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in Earl Soham village hall, with the exception of the March meeting, which will be held at Ashfield village hall on Thurs 17th. New members are always welcomed to these lively, friendly gatherings, and to the other activities, which include book discussion, bridge, needlework, scrabble, croquet and country walking. More information may be obtained from the Hon Secretary, Debbie Sharman, on 01728 724544
Earl Soham Parish Plan
Update
A Questionnaire containing some 66 questions has been produced by the committee covering all aspects of Earl Soham and village life.
We then enlisted the help of a few parishioners to comment on it with some extremely useful feedback. It was then passed to Suffolk Acre who are our source of funding for this project who made a few more observations.
After this consultation the committee has produced a final draft questionnaire for printing and are hopeful within the next few weeks to distribute this to all households in the parish and, with your cooperation, we hope for a 90/95% completed questionnaire return to produce a successful Parish Plan.
Tearfund Fast Lunch
We have designated 13th March ‘Tearfund Sunday’ for our Benefice. We are holding a Fast lunch @ The Rectory, 12.30 pm. We will serve homemade soup, bread and cheese and would like people to join in and to make a donation towards the work of Tearfund - perhaps the cost of a Sunday roast lunch.
Contact Mavis 01728 685700 or Clare 01728 685778 if you would like to join with us.
‘The greatest natural disaster in living memory’.
That is how Tearfund’s International Operations Director, Ian Wallace has described the tsunami disaster. However with the support that we and others give to Tearfund, they have been able to do an incredible amount of work since the crisis struck, responding to the immediate needs with their partners in India and Sri Lanka. Tearfund is committed to a long-term response in South Asia and needs our continued financial and prayer support in a drive towards large-scale change for people living in poverty worldwide.
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
Matters discussed at the Friends’ Committee meeting on 28th January 2005 included the ongoing damp investigations at the Church, the lack of regular uplifts and the unannounced reduction by Suffolk Coastal District Council in the financial return received by the Friends in respect of the paper/glass banks at the Cretingham Bell. The issues have been taken up with the Council.
The next fund-raising event arranged is a talk on Thursday 28th April at the Church by Moira Coleman about Helmingham Hall entitled ‘From Still Room to Tea Room: the park and gardens at Helmingham Hall.’
Entrance is £6, which includes a glass of wine, and tickets can be pre-ordered at Cretingham Post Office or are available at the door. The event starts at 7.00 p.m. so hope to see you there. This talk, one of a series put on by the Friends over the year, will be followed up by a field trip to Helmingham Hall in the company of Moira Coleman on the 5th June. Full details will be announced at the talk and in the forthcoming Parish Magazines.
Two further event reminders - the Charity Golf Day at Cretingham Golf Club is on July 14th and the Puddings Evening will now take place in Mid August. Full details will follow in due course.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tony Whitmarsh Chairman Forge Cottage