BOWDON CHURCH NEWS May 2006
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Thank you to all who have contributed to the Parish Appeal which stands at £816, 000
SO CLOSE TO THE TARGET
It is wonderful the way people have been galvanised into action as we get closer and closer to the target amount to allow us to begin building. There has been a surge of donations in the run-up to Easter and people have found fresh energy for fund-raising events.
Easter Monday saw a Grand Car Boot Sale which has raised over £2,500. Thanks go to all those who worked so hard on their Bank Holiday. (We are grateful to the Head and Governing Body of the Boys’ Grammar School for use of their grounds).
The Advent to Easter Challenge has really encouraged giving – especially as we approached the deadline of Easter - and we are very grateful to the individual who made this challenge and who has matched donations with a further 10%.
Progress Suppers continue into May and June, with the opportunity to thank those who have already given and to encourage others who may still be considering supporting this project.
THE VICAR’S CHALLENGE
In the next three months we are aiming to raise at least enough to take us to £900,000 so that we can go out to tender, let the contract and begin building. With a project like this, it’s vital to raise the funds as soon as we can. Building inflation is running at around 9%, and so each month we delay the cost increases: it’s like aiming at moving target.
We have now over £816,000. I want us to reach that target and I
know many other people do also. We as a family gave as the Appeal was launched
– after thought and prayer. It was the first envelope to reach the Appeal
Secretary on the Monday morning following the Launch Weekend last May, for I
cannot ask anyone to do what I would not do myself. If I have asked people to
give generously then I have to do so myself. That is what we did then, but now
I want to see this target reached and so I will give more to help that happen.
I am giving a further £500 and I ask others to follow. If you have not
yet given and are still thinking about doing so, then please meet this
challenge and match this. If you have already given please think about a further
gift to meet this challenge. With this figure gift-aided it needs only 130
people to join me in this challenge by offering the same amount in order to
bridge the gap between what we have and what we need to begin building. Or, of
course, it needs just 13 people giving £5,000 – each of us can give according
to our circumstances, from £10 to £10,000.
Will you join me in this challenge and help make this happen?
For further details on how to make a donation, please contact the Appeals Secretary David Manning
on 928 1472
It is your donation which will make a real difference over the next few months.
FUTURE FUND-RAISING EVENTS
A SUMMER SOIRĒE on 1 July in the Vicarage Garden. On that evening we shall be drawing the winners for the GRAND PRIZE DRAW. Prizes include an iPod, tickets to the RHS Tatton Show, garden hammock, and many more. Draw tickets are now available. If you can sell a few books of tickets, please contact Alexia Hine on 928 2468 or alexiahine@hotmail.com, or at least buy some tickets and support the Appeal. Lots of good prizes … and it could be you!
A PAINTING OF YOUR HOUSE AND GARDEN
Local artist Prue Wallis Myers will undertake commissions to paint a picture of your house. Hang the original in your home, arrange for copies to be made into postcards. The cost is between £50 and £100, to be made as a donation to the Building for Bowdon Parish Centre Appeal. For further details contact Prue on 928 1926
THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE
A couple, of months ago Sue Sharples, the
4th Bowdon Group Scout Leader, had one of those ideas that come to
you when you're up a ladder brandishing a paint brush. They seem like a good
idea at the time….. Well, she now finds herself committed - along with a mixed
bag of friends and relations - to tackling the above challenge in June. It will
involve climbing our three highest peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon)
within a period of 24 hours - so some brisk walking and driving are required!
Sue is raising funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and for the Building for
Bowdon Appeal. You are welcome to sponsor her for both or either of the causes.
There is a sponsorship sheet at the back of church, or you can contact Sue on
941 1398.
If you have ideas for a fund-raising event for the Parish Centre please contact me
on 928 2468 or Sue Sinagola, on 928 3082.
We welcome ideas.
“Easter” by Jessica Oughton
WATER CHANGE
“If you want to walk far, you walk together with others, if you want to walk fast, you walk alone.” This is a Burkinabe proverb that Sarah Hindle (26) from Bowdon heard in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Sarah, 26, a former member of St Mary’s, was there on a fact-finding trip to visit projects implemented by the charity WaterAid to help people gain access to safe water and sanitation.
“I saw how the lives of people in the communities had changed because of having clean water” says Sarah, “and that these communities had contributed to solving their own problems. WaterAid had given them a helping hand with some finance and training and the communities had put in time and money to make the changes happen.”
“In Burkina Faso 49% of people do not have
access to clean water and 88% of people have to go to the toilet in the open
country or in the street. We visited a village which had received no external
support and I met a girl my age – Youko Setou – who spent 9 hours a day walking
20km carrying 20kg of water on her head – the luggage allowance on a plane. airoplane.
This water she collected was so dirty that we would put it straight into a
sewer. Each person in her family uses 20 litres of water a day, which is the
equivalent of two flushes of the toilet. She had lost her 18 month old baby 5
months before our visit because of the poor water quality and was worried about
the health of her second baby which was drinking the same water.”
“On leaving that village I was disturbed by the negative impact our visit might have had there, in raising expectations at a time when there was no funding to intervene there and in demonstrating a level of affluence that the people there had not previously seen. Ultimately I will never know how our visit affected them, but I want to raise awareness about the lives of people like Yokou Setou so that people in the UK can act to reduce the numbers of people who have to live like her.”
“I was very struck by how small external interventions can be critical to giving a community the means to work themselves out of poverty. I was also very impressed by the way that WaterAid work with communities and the fact that they are trying to train partners and local governments so that WaterAid are no longer needed. There are huge challenges for those living in poverty around the world, but there are simple things that can be done that make a difference and stop us feeling helpless in the face of such injustice.”
for more details log on to www.wateraid.org.uk
A THOUGHT: "for a fraction of the $100 BILLION the world spends annually on bottled water, everyone on earth could have access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation."
A TIME FOR FAREWELLS
Two members of the team of Readers, Peter Laverick and Vivienne Plummer have moved to the other side of the Pennines.
Peter will be remembered both as a Reader and as former Head of Bowdon Church School. Despite early ambition to be a lighthouse keeper, it was into education that Peter was drawn. After training there was a spell in Brazil and then marriage to Margaret. They worked in London before Peter came north, appointed Head of Bowdon Church School in 1984. Many parents, pupils and staff will remember those years with affection and gratitude for Peter’s particular contribution to the life of the School. Seeking new challenges Peter became an Ofsted inspector in 2000 and then Senior School Improvement Officer in Manchester. At the same time he was on a spiritual journey, his faith becoming increasingly important to him. He was licensed as Reader in 1995, and many have been enriched by the conviction of his preaching and of his faith. He and Margaret and their daughters Catherine and Philippa were very much part of the life of the Church and the local community and it was a shock to so many people when Margaret died last year. Peter is now beginning a new life in Yorkshire and is grateful for the love and support he and his family knew here in Bowdon, as we are grateful for his ministry. We keep Peter and his family in our prayers.
Vivienne has been a member of St Mary’s for many years, serving in the last eight as Reader. Originally from South Wales, she came to the North West to work for Granada Television, where she was to meet Peter Plummer. They married and settled into their home on Higher Downs. It was tragic that Peter became ill and died in 1993. Many will remember their hospitality there and more recently Vivienne’s at her cottage in Ashley. Her work experience and organisational skills were put to work in the parish, from musical evenings to the recent very successful Auction for the Parish Centre. She also became a member of the Youth Fellowship leadership team. Like Peter, Vivienne’s faith became increasingly important to her and she trained and was licensed as Reader in 1999. As well as leading worship, she led home groups and became involved in pastoral visiting. Her studies as part of her training led her on to further study and she gained a degree in Theology, and no doubt once she has settled she will continue her studies. Family commitments have meant this move to West Yorkshire and we thank Vivienne for all she has given to the parish and the community and wish her every blessing in her new life.
The Revd Canon Anthony Martin
Last month saw a sadder departure – the Service of Thanksgiving at Chester for the life of Anthony Martin, Vicar of Bowdon from 1984 – 1994.
Many will remember his ministry here in Bowdon with thanksgiving – for his leadership and spiritual guidance, and particularly his visiting of the sick and bereaved, home communions and his Biblical preaching and teaching. He took great care in the setting up of home groups. Anthony was also an experienced training vicar, with three curates serving here during his ministry. He put a lot of work too into the work of editing the Bowdon Church News, writing important lead articles. His other role was, of course, that of Chair of Governors to the Church School.
During Anthony’s time there were fabric repairs to oversee – the tower and the organ notably, and the setting up of the appeals to fund these repairs. He ensured that the fine building was left in good order for future generations. There were too plenty of changes to lead the parish through, as Anthony carefully led the way through such issues as the ordination of women and changes in patterns of worship.
Beside Anthony in all this was his wife Jean, with her own contribution too to the life of the parish in a loyal and quiet way.
Retiring from Bowdon Anthony and Jean returned to Chester where he continued an active ministry both in a local parish and at the Cathedral. It was a fitting tribute to the whole of his ministry that so many people attended his Service of Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Handbridge. We give thanks for his life and ministry and hold his family in our prayers.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK LOCALLY Christian Aid Week is 14 – 20 May. Last year the house-to-house
collection in our parish raised over £3,300. It would be good to match or even
exceed that total because it can do so much in the developing world. For
example, just £19 enables a child in the Congo to attend primary school for a
year. We already have over 40 collectors but we need a few more. If you could
spare two or three hours during that week, please contact the Parish
Co-ordinator, Suria Perera, either in person or on 01925 753086, or sign the
list at the back of the Church.
THE PARISH PROJECT FAIR
SATURDAY 13 MAY
from 10am to 12.30pm
at Bowdon Church School, Grange Road
All proceeds are in support of our Outreach Project which is to aid the rebuilding of a community in Azad Kashmir.
Please contact the following if you are able to donate goods or assist on any of the stalls.
Many thanks.
Cakes Julia Hyde 928 1152
Savouries Peggie Nork 928 4900
Soaps and Toiletries Helen Bonson 980 4055
Books Sue Sharples 941 1398
Bric-a-Brac Sue Redford 926 8232
Hats & Handbags Tracy Redford 926 6474
Plants Jean Eadie 928 4773
Cards Raffle Coffee Shop
Everyone Welcome
Entrance £1 (includes Refreshments)
Co-ordinator Evelyn Harwood 980 1761
Can we build it?
Yes, we can!
Registers
Baptism We welcome into God’s Church family
Ruby Harney Sophie Beighton Charlotte and Beatrix Bell
Weddings We congratulate
Mark Fryer and Caroline Swindells
Funerals We commend to God
Vera Shaw Mary Littler
Calendar for May
Morning Prayer is said in St. Mary’s at 8.45 am
Monday to Friday. Entry through the vestry door.
3 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
4 (Thu) 10 am Morning Worship at the Methodist Church
(St Luke’s being used as a Polling Station)
7 Fourth Sunday of Easter
(First Sunday in May)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.40 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
Oblations: The Church School.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer. (BCP).
10 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
8 pm A Service of Healing.
14 Fifth Sunday of Easter
(Second Sunday in May)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.45 am Family Service.
17 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
7.30 pm PCC Meeting
18 (Thu) 2 pm First Steps ‘Giving’
21 Sixth Sunday of Easter
(Third Sunday in May)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am Said Matins.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.40 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer (BCP).
22 (Mon) 2.30 pm Bible Reading Fellowship meeting at 34 Bow Green Road.
24 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
2.15 pm St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union. Speaker: Keith Hine, in St Luke’s Hall.
25 (Thu) Ascension Day
7.30 am Holy Communion
8 pm Deanery Service for Ascension Day at St Anne’s Sale
27 Seventh Sunday of Easter
(Fourth Sunday in May)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Morning Worship.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (BCP).
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Praise.
June
4 Pentecost (Whit Sunday)
(First Sunday in June)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.40 am Trekkers.
10.45 am Holy Communion, (Order One).
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Evening Prayer. (BCP).
7 (Wed) 11.30 am Holy Communion.
12 noon Lunch Club.
11 Trinity Sunday
(Second Sunday in June)
8 am Holy Communion.
9.30 am St. Luke’s Holy Communion.
10.45 am Family Service.
followed by coffee at the back of the church.
6.30 pm Choral Evensong.
Each week we pray for people living in the Parish.
|
Wk/begin |
We pray for those living in |
|
7 May |
Richmond Road, Richmond Green and Richmond Hill. |
|
14 May |
Richmond Court and Church Brow. |
|
21 May |
St Mary’s Road and Birchdale. |
|
28 May |
Winton Road and Portland Road. |
|
4 June |
Enville Road, Belgrave Road, Mallory Court and Delamer Road (part). |
|
11 June |
Langham Road and Holly Grange. |
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