Brantham Methodist Church, Minister: Rev. Ian Gardner,
Gravel Pit Lane, 34 Medway Road,
Brantham Ipswich, IP3 0QH.
Tel: 01473 431832
Email: ig.gardner@ntlworld.com
The services of Marriage, Baptism and Funerals can be arranged by contacting Ian.
Services and preachers in February and March 2009:
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Date and Day
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Time
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Preacher
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Sunday 1st February
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11.00 am
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Mrs Jenny Archer
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Sunday 8th February
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11.00 am
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Rev. Michael Allen
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Sunday 15th February
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11.00 am
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Rev. Peggy Heim
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Sunday 22nd February
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11.00 am
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Rev. Ian Gardner (Holy Communion)
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Sunday 1st March
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11.00 am
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Rev. Sue Lambert
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Sunday 8th March
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11.00 am
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Mr Bryan Nichols
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Sunday 15th March
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11.00 am
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Mrs Sally-Ann Laws
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Sunday 22nd March - Mothering Sunday
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11.00 am
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Rev. Alan Taylor (Holy Communion)
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Sunday 29th March
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11.00 am
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Mr Colin Westren
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Dear Friends,
On the last Sunday in January we will have celebrated our annual Covenant service where we will have used these words, among others; ‘I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will ………. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal ……’. These challenging words are not just individual appeals to our faith and its direction but appeals to us as a church community, as to what we might do corporately or rather 'bodily.' The message is about risk, being prepared to be surprised by where God takes us and what God shows us, even maybe recognising what might be under our very noses all this time.
Are we prepared to take risks for God? To place ourselves firmly in his hands and trust in him. Maybe, in a small way, that’s what we have done as we’ve completed renovation of our toilets so that they meet today’s standards so that all people, irrespective of disability, can be welcomed into God’s house. This has stretched us financially but I believe in a God who does provide if it meets with his will.
Ultimately though, we still need to discern our part in God’s mission and particularly where we need to put our efforts as His church. I have offered many times to meet people so we can have a conversation about the mission of Brantham Methodist Church but so far no-one outside of the current church has taken me up on that offer. How about you? I hope this will involve many 'conversations' through which we may discover one another afresh and come to an understanding of God’s work needed in Brantham.
Grace and peace to you,
Ian
St Michaels
You will have noticed how neat our churchyard looks now. There is a keen group of (mainly) men who come together on Tuesday mornings to work in the churchyard, or if the weather is too bad, in the church to do what needs doing. We are grateful to them for all their hard work. If you’d like to join them one morning, please do - they have a great deal of fun in the process. The PCC took the decision that new stones in the ashes area must be flush with the ground so that mowing is possible. It isn’t respectful when a grave is totally overgrown. Churchyards are always sensitive subjects but may I draw your attention to the fact that we are bound by the chancellor’s rules in the churchyard and so no photographs, toys, flags, lamps or plastic flowers are permitted and will be removed if found. Silk flowers are permitted. The Horticultural Society webpage has a list of plants that rabbits are not fond of, do consult this rather than trying to “fence” them out. Bits of wire across the churchyard make it look very tatty and will be removed to make upkeep possible. If you are trying to find a grave, do contact me. I have records going back many years in my vestry and am very happy to help where I can.
We are approaching Lent. A list of the study groups that will be running will be posted at the back of our churches. Do contact the leader if you would like to join one. There will be several concerts in St Michael’s this year. A Russian male voice a capella choir will be singing on Friday 3rd April at 7.30. Tickets at the door.
The Lord be with you
Stephne van der Toorn (Rector) 01206 392646 revsteph3@vodafoneemail.co.uk
Holy Family Catholic Church
Ipswich Road, Brantham
Priest in Charge: Fr Kevin Stokes, 180 Hawthorn Drive Ipswich, IP2 0QQ
Tel: 01473 684963 E-mail: office@stmarksparish.org.uk
Sunday Holy Mass 9.00 am
Wed 25 Feb Ash Wednesday- Lent begins
Sun 5April Passion (Palm) Sunday
Fri 10 .. Good Friday
Sun 12 .. Easter Sunday
Diary
2008-2009 Holy Communion Programme for children continues in March with two meetings- ‘The Gift of Forgiveness and Peace’ and in April-‘The Gift of Joy’: First Holy Communion Mass to be celebrated at St Joseph’s College on 17th May.
With atheism now being advertised on the buses throughout the country what can Christians say? Your writer has been assisted by a recent article on Apologetics- the defence of Christianity by argument. Christians should not be drawn into an attempt to prove faith against science but rather demonstrate that faith itself is not unreasonable. This was the stance of the pre- Enlightenment thinkers, for example, Anselm of Canterbury. Ultimately there can be no conflict between what the world reveals and what authentic faith teaches, since they both come from the same divine source.
All welcome to attend Holy Family services- not necessary to be a Catholic. Enquiries about the Catholic Faith are always welcome. Please contact the Presbytery as above or a local person who is a Catholic.
