St Augustine's Parish Church News
Locking, June 2017
Dear Friends,
We are all scared of things aren’t we?
This week we had a ‘Tom and Jerry’
episode in the Vicarage. Our cat Dolly brought in a live mouse
at 1.30am and we were trying to rescue it. It was running
around and I watched from the stairs, screaming when it got
close. We gave up and hoped that Dolly would ‘deal with
it.’ She didn’t and I was faced with an exhausted
little mouse behind my dishwasher the next morning. I am scared
of mice – I can deal with spiders – but not mice.
For the first time in my life I caught it and released it,
walking across the lawn with the trapped mouse saying out
loud, ‘Be brave, be brave.’ How ridiculous to
be scared of a little furry creature.
We are all scared of things aren’t we?
Snakes, mice, spiders, dentists, losing our job, getting ill,
exams, losing a loved one, the state of the world, what we
see on the news – terrorism, North Korea, Russia, Syria,
President Trump. The greatest and deepest fear that people
have is that of dying and of death itself. It is a basic and
deep-rooted fear that we often don’t like to talk about
as that makes it more real.
I
recently watched a part of a programme about stress. It was
saying that instead of saying ‘I am afraid’, trying
saying ‘This is exciting.’ I’m not really
convinced that that this will do any better than me saying
‘Be brave.’ I wonder what we do when we feel frightened
or troubled. It’s the fight or flight instinct. Some
of us fight it, while others hide.
As a Christian I find that I have various things
that I can hold onto – or rather I have somebody who
can help me. Jesus says to his frightened friends ‘Do
not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also
in me.’ John 14: 1. Jesus also says ‘Do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.’
Matthew 6: 35 Jesus can and will feel very close and present
to us when we are afraid. Recently somebody going for surgery
said that they felt like Jesus was holding their hand. The
presence of Jesus brings us peace – a peace which the
world cannot give. We put our trust in things and people that
often fail us, but Jesus can be trusted 100%. He knows us
and He knows what we need. He even addresses the fear of death
and death itself ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’.
‘In my Father’s house there are many rooms.’
John 14: 2, 6. Jesus rose again from the dead to show us that
death is defeated and that there is life after death.
So the next time that you feel frightened, whether
that be mice or the greatest fear, which is dying, then ask
Jesus to be with you and give you His peace, strength and
comfort. ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the
age’. Matthew 28: 20.
Peace be with you,
With love
See Notice Board
for What's On this week
Calendar of Events
over the next few weeks.
Click Here for Events
this month in Locking Village
Celebration Sunday
Summer Special Parade Service
10am 25th June
Locking Church Centre
Come and join us for informal café
style worship suitable for all ages
Coffee served from 9.30am
Songs, time for discussion and craft.
Followed by a free lunch
All Welcome
First Thursday ~ Prayer and Praise
Every first Thursday of the month all home
groups and
church members will meet in the green lounge in the
Church Centre at 7.30pm to worship together, to look at
God’s word and to spend the majority of the time praying.
This meeting is open to anyone to join.
Open Air Service
The Open Air Service in Locking Park is on
Sunday 9th July 2017, alongside the Village Hall
at 10 am. It will be held inside the hall if wet.
Sing and Praise Evenings
Come and sing with us in St Augustine’s
Church, Locking on 2nd Fridays, 7-8 pm
Friday 9th June 2017
Friday 14th July 2017
Messy Church
Saturday - June 24, 4pm – 6pm, Hutton
C of E Primary School
“Jonah”
Lots of Games, songs, story, active prayer
and tea.
For more details call Mary Potter on 812788
or the Benefice Office on 822857
Parents and children come together for a great time
Locking and Hutton Women’s Fellowship
Meetings are in the Green Room, Locking Church Centre
1st, 3rd & 5th Thursdays from 2.45 to approx 4.00pm
ALL LADIES ARE MOST WELCOME
to join this friendly, informal group which usually
comprises a short act of worship, a speaker and refreshments
For further information or to arrange a lift please contact
Kay Cole Tel: 811424
Thursday 1st June – ‘Parentwise’ by Marion
Dumbell
Thursday 15th June – Fun Quiz (Nothing too taxing!)
Thursday 29th June – Rev Anne Lee
Thursday 6th July – Summer Outing and Tea
Thursday 20th July – At Home – details to follow
St Augustine's Locking
OPEN CHURCH
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
10am - dusk
On Thursdays 2 - 5pm, tea, coffee and biscuits will be served
There will also be displays on the church, local history and
interest
Why not come along and see our beautiful church and spend
time in
the peace and quiet
St Mary’s Church Hutton is also open
at the same times and is
worth a visit to this Grade 2* listed building
Men's Breakfasts
on 24th June, 28th October 2017
All at 9 am in Locking Church Centre
Come and enjoy a full English breakfast
with cereal and toast
Also enjoy meeting new friends
All men welcome – bring a friend
If you would like to come along please ring
the Benefice Office 822857
Lunch Club
Meets in the Coach House, Locking on 2nd Fridays, at 12.15pm
for 12.30pm
To join the group, please contact Tony Coles 01934 822678
TAKE 5
Take a Break and drop in after school on Tuesdays for drinks,
fruit and cake
We offer a warm welcome to The Families of Children
Held in the school hall at Haywood Village Academy
2.30pm – 4pm (term time only)
TAKE 5 is offered by Church @ St Anne’s
In association with Locking Castle Church,
Woodspring Church and New Creation
We offer a warm welcome to The Families of Children
Held in the school hall at Haywood Village Academy
2.30pm – 4pm (term time only)
TAKE 5 is offered by Church @ St Anne’s
In association with Locking Castle Church,
Woodspring Church and New Creation
LITTLE ARK TODDLER GROUP
We meet on Monday afternoons from 1.30 to 3.00 pm in the
Church Centre in term-time.
We have lots of toys there including some lovely new ones
we have recently purchased and activity tables
where the toddlers (and their carers!) can have fun with play
dough or other craft activities.
We like to sing as well and our vicar Anne comes once a month
to tell us a Bible story.
We look forward to welcoming some new members so do join us
for a chat, play and cup of tea/coffee.
Any help from Mums or Carers to go on a Rota once a month
would be welcome.
This would just involve putting out the toys and doing the
drinks etc.
Contact Claire on 07553 933 936 for more information.
WORKING TOGETHER
Working together – as you will know new residents are
moving in to Locking Parklands. There is extensive housing
due to be built on other places in our vicinity eg Winterstoke
Village. On 5th September Revd Tom Yacomeni will be licensed
as the minister of Locking Castle Church (the church by Morrisons).
He is at present curate of St Paul’s Weston–super–Mare
and will be taking some members of that church with him to
join the church at Locking Castle. Tom will be working with
myself and Revd Peter Lynch (Worle Baptist) and Revd Matt
Thomson (Banwell and Congresbury) local ministers whose parishes
will be having new housing on. This is an exciting time as
different denominations and churches work together to reach
out with God’s kingdom and the good news of Jesus Christ.
FAIRTRADE COFFEE MORNING
The Fairtrade Coffee Morning - The Mustard Seed- is held
in Hutton Village Hall each Wednesday morning from 1000-1200.
There is a variety of Fairtrade Goods on sale as well as the
sale of Fairtrade drinks and home made cakes to eat.
It is a good time of fellowship and an opportunity to meet
people too. Members of both Hutton and Locking church attend.
BAPTISM
Baptism is a very special occasion when a
person is publicly welcomed into the
church and makes a commitment to the Christian way of life
(either by parents / sponsors on their behalf or if the
person is old enough, bythemselves), where sins are washed
away and the Holy Spirit is at work in the person’s
life
in a special and personal way. Have you had a time when God
was at work in your life in a special way? Would you like
to share your ?
Perhaps you are thinking about baptism - either
for yourself or your child.
(Give Revd Anne Lee a ring 823556).
CHURCH CENTRE HALL BOOKINGS
Large Hall with kitchens - Small Hall - Green Room
Click Here for more information about
booking the Church Centre
THE CHURCH’S SUPPORT TO THE
TIYENI FUND, MALAWI
Malawi is one of the poorest, but friendliest
countries of the word. The continuing degradation of the countryside
in general and of the soil in particular constitutes a serious
national crisis for Malawi.
John and Elizabeth Crossley who have been life-long
residents of Malawi visited St Augustine’s in May to
tell us about a project they helped to set up for rural communities
and students.
Tiyeni means ‘Let’s go’! And
the ultimate aim is to replace the need for food handouts
and fertilizer in rural districts by fostering communities
and enabling them to support themselves.
The projects works in three areas:
Demonstrating good farming practices
Supporting students at schools and colleges and training nursery
teachers.
Assisting local villagers to look after their orphans by delivering
food and clothes and equipment for nursery schools.
Church members have decided to raise £500
to support the construction of a new nursery school in the
village of Honga by providing funds to purchase materials
for the roof. The villagers have made bricks for the walls
from local materials and are soon in the position to purchase
corrugated iron roofing sheets.
Bible study groups and church individuals have
agreed to support three students at secondary school and college
for the coming year to see them through their present education.
We look forward in due course to hearing they have graduated
and are in a good position to obtain a well paid job through
their education. David Jackson
New Group to explore the Christian basics
We would like to start a new group which explores issues
relating to what we believe and how we live in this fast-paced
world.
The Christianity Explored course is a good introduction, but
we can use other material.
DO let us know when a good time to meet would be for you.
Lay Pastoral Assistants [LPA’s]
In May, 14 people will be commencing a Diocesan
Course to train them as Lay Pastoral Assistants.
This will enable them us to form a pastoral team who can care
for people in both parishes.
Lay Pastoral Assistants have the authority of the Diocese.
There will be a special service at which they will be commended
later this year
Favourite Sayings
Remember - it takes half as many muscles in
your face to smile than it does to frown!
Thoughts
If we could Shrink the World
If we could shrink the earth to a village with
a population of precisely 100 people with all the existing
human ratios remaining the same, there would be...
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both North and South
8 Africans
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
70 would be non-white
30 would be white
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's
wealth
80 would live in sub-standard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death
1 would be near birth
1 (yes only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer
When we consider our world from such a compressed
perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education
becomes glaringly apparent.
It you have never experienced the danger of
battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture
or the pangs of starvation - you are ahead of 500 million
people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear,
harassment, arrest, torture or death you are more blessed
than three billion people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes
on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep - you are
richer than 75% of the world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet
and spare change in a dish somewhere - you are among the top
8% of the worlds wealthy.
(Found at the Eden Project)
Humour
Give me a sense of humour, Lord, Give me the
grace to see a joke,
To get some humour out of life, And pass it on to other folk.
A little boy was attending his first wedding.
After the service, his cousin asked him, “How many women
can a man marry?” “Sixteen,” the boy responded
at once. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly.
“Why do you say that?” “Easy,” the
little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like
the minister said, 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”
Deliver us
I had been teaching my three-year-old daughter
the Lord's Prayer. Then one evening at bedtime she attempted
it solo. I listened with pride, as she carefully annunciate
every word, right up until the end of the prayer. 'Lead us
not into temptation', she prayed, ' but deliver us some e-mail.
Amen'.
One liners
Give God what's right - not what's left.
Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way
leads to an endless hope.
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
To be almost saved is to be totally lost.
When praying, don't give God instructions -just
report for duty.
Bibles that are falling apart are usually owned
by people who aren't.
Know your Ten Commandments
Henry, who was very elderly, was unhappy because
he had lost his favourite hat. Instead of buying a new one,
he decided he would go to church and steal one out of the
entrance porch when the worshippers were busy praying.
When Henry arrived at the church an usher intercepted
him at the door and took him to a pew where he had to sit
and listen to the entire sermon on 'The Ten Commandments.'
After the service, Henry met the vicar in the
vestibule doorway, shook his hand vigorously, and told him,'I
want to thank you Father for saving my soul today. I came
to church to steal a hat and after hearing your sermon on
the 10 Commandments I decided against it'.
The vicar answered, 'You mean the commandment
'Thou shalt not steal' changed your mind?' 'No; retorted Henry,
'the one about adultery did. As soon as you said that, I remembered
where I had left my old hat.
Extracts from church notices and newsletters
(not Crosslinks!)
This afternoon there will be a meeting in the
south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptised
at both ends.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have
a nursery downstairs.
Weight watchers will meet at 7.30pm at the church. Please
use the large double door at the side entrance.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition
of several new members and the deterioration of some of the
older ones.
Don't let worry kill you. Let the church help.
This evening at 7pm there will be a hymnsing
in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come
prepared to sin.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What
is Hell?".
Come early and listen to the choir practice.
The Minister unveiled the church's new donations campaign
last Sunday:
"I upped my Pledge - Up Yours".
Thursday night - Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to
follow.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and
community.
Tuesday at 4PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies
giving milk will please come early.
Wednesday, the Ladies Liturgy Society will meet. Mrs. Jones
will sing "Put Me In My Little Bed" accompanied by the organist.
Thursday at 5PM there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers
Club. All wishing to become Little Mothers, please see the
minister in his private study.
This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward
and lay an egg on the altar.
The service will close with "Little Drops of Water". One of
the ladies will start (quietly) and the rest of the congregation
will join in.
Next Sunday, a special collection will be taken to defray
the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something
on the new carpet will come forward and get a piece of paper.
The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind
and they may be seen in the church hall Friday.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church
hall. Music will follow.
The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth
of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev and Mrs. Julius Belzer.
The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.
The Vicar is on vacation. Massages can be given to church
secretary.
Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.
The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who
enjoys sinning to join the choir.
The minister would appreciate it if the ladies
of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles
for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
Hyms for all People
The Dentist's Hymn: .............................Crown
Him with Many Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn: ....................There Shall Be
Showers of Blessings
The Contractor's Hymn: ........................The Church's
One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: ........................... ...Holy, Holy,
Holy
The Golfer's Hymn: .......................... ...There's a
Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn: .........................Standing on
the Promises
The Optician's Hymn: ..........................Open My Eyes
That I Might See
The Gossip's Hymn: ....................... ....Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn: .......................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn: ........................ .Sweet By and
By
The Estate Agent's Hymn: ....................I've Got a Mansion,
Just Over the Hilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn: ...........He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn: ............................The Great Physician
AND for those who speed on the highway -- a
few hymns:
45mph.............................God Will Take
Care of You
55mph.............................Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
65mph.............................Nearer My God To Thee
75mph.............................Nearer Still Nearer
85mph.............................This World Is Not My Home
95mph.............................Lord, I'm Coming Home
Over 100mph....................Precious Memories
