The Benefice of St. Bartholomew

St Andrew's Church All-Weather Summer Fete - 26th August 2019

Details

Written by Michael Hockney

St Andrew's Church All-Weather Fete

Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August 2019
1.00 pm to 4.30 pm

at

Stoney Hills Field, Sans Lane, Donhead St Andrew, SP7 9LL

by kind permission of the Jeffrey Family

BBQ - Beer & Cider - Tea & Cakes
Pony Rides - Duck Shoot - Smash the Crockery
Family Fun & Sideshows
Books - Collectables & Bric-a-Brac - Cakes - Clothes & Shoes
Pictures - Plants - Preserves - Toys & Gifts
St Andrew's Church Friends’ Stall
Bottle Tombola - The Big Raffle - Silent Auction

Bell Street Jazz Band

Classic & Vintage Car and Bike Show Show

Live Auction of seasoned logs

St Andrew’s Annual Dog Show

You can find more detailed information about the Fete on the
St Andrew's Church Development Appeal website by clicking here.

Please do come along and join in the fun!

Click here to see a map showing the location of the Fete.

Raising funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Tisbus, Donhead Happy Gathering Club and St Andrew's Church

A CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE FETE

Collectables & Bric-a-Brac
All items please by 18th August - contact Michael, telephone: 01747 828833

Cakes
Please make a cake, scones, pies, savouries, biscuits & fudge. Will collect - contact Juliet, telephone 01747 828395

Preserves
Jams, marmalade and chutneys welcomed. Also cookery books - contact Liz, telephone 01747 828685

Plants
We’re after plants, fruit, vegetables, tied bunches, pots & vases, tools & gardening books - contact Ian, telephone 01747 828611

Pictures
Paintings, prints, drawings, frames, sculptures & art books - contact Lynda, telephone 01747 829678

Books
Books including children's books, but not dictionaries, manuals or text books, by 24th August - contact John & Jane, telephone 01747 828279

Toys, Games & Gifts
Including DVDs, CDs & records. Please deliver ASAP - contact Michael and Chris, telephone 01747 828739

Clothes
Clean good-as-new clothes, shoes & accessories by 18th August - contact Edrys, telephone 01747 828430

Bottle Tombola
Bottles of wine, champagne and spirits much appreciated - contact Alastair, telephone 01747 828789

Silent Auction
Offers of lots please by 18th August - contact Elizabeth, telephone 01747 828833

Lammas at Moors Farm, East Knoyle - 14th July 2019

Details

Written by Suzanne Sandford

Courtesy of June & John Reading

On a beautiful warm summer Sunday morning, the large barn at Moors Farm was the venue for the annual Lammas service, suitably bedecked with large bales of hay all around and some smaller bales arranged centrally for seating. Quite a large congregation heartily joined in the hymn singing accompanied by Roger Brown on the keyboard. The Rev’d Richard, Jo and the visiting ordinand from Cuddesdon, George Meyrick, led the service and distributed the bread and wine, and Jo delivered a thoughtful sermon.

Many thanks to June and John Reading for allowing us to use the barn and for making all the necessary arrangements, including refreshments. Our thanks must also go to those who supplied delicious nibbles to accompany the welcome coffee, tea and cold drinks. Another very pleasant Lammas Day!

Some photographs of the event are shown below - click on each of them to see a larger version.

Sedgehill Fete - Sunday 14th July 2019 at Whitebridge Farm

Details

Written by Suzanne Sandford

Courtesy of Rollo & Annabelle Fuller

Lovely weather
Great location
Crowds of people
Good stalls
Delicious teas

Good fun !!

Circa £1,250 was the grand result of the afternoon.

Well done!!

Some photographs of the Fete are shown below - click on each of them to see a larger version.

From the Rector - August 2019

Details

Written by The Rev'd Richard Warhurst

Dear Friends,

Darnel is a common weed in Palestine and indeed around the world. The seed of the darnel is easily mistaken for wheat and the two plants are indistinguishable until they have ripened and the ear has developed. This means that they are easily confused for each other.

Wheat and darnel are so alike that darnel is even known in some places as false-wheat. The major difference between the two plants is that darnel is highly toxic and when consumed can result in a kind of drunken nausea which in some cases can be fatal.

The weeds and the wheat and the explanation in Matthew’s parable (Chapter 13. 24-43) are unmistakeable. Jesus is warning us that there will be a time of judgement and that on that day we will be dealt with according to where our true loyalties lie. The story allows for mature judgement and also contains a message to take care not to damage what is good by dealing prematurely with what is bad.

The weeds are not just in the big wide world out there - they are much closer at hand, even within the church we love.

"Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?" Behind all these questions is the big one, "Will evil or good have the last word?"

The parable doesn’t give an easy answer. It doesn’t explain what’s happening: why evil exists; why there is suffering; why good gets corrupted? But at least it admits to the problem: good and evil co-exist, up close to one another and up close to our lives. They are intertwined and seem to be involved in a struggle for a final victory.

Weeds get into everything, even into the landscape of our own spiritual field. There are definitely times when we must make decisions about what is right and wrong.

Still, this is a parable that has something to say to our church and personal lives - especially when, in our enthusiasm, we are quick to judge, pull up, cast aside and give up: when we are quick to jump to conclusions about ourselves and our institutions; when we think we have all the evidence, but may not have and be in no position to judge.

Jesus, the teller of the parable knew this from his own experience. He chose servants to do God’s work, yet early signs did not accurately forecast the future. Judas was the keeper of the purse and showed good skills for his position. He was a "mover and a shaker," Peter, Mary Magdalen, Thomas and the rest, revealed early signs of failure, doubt and fear. Yet, he gave them a chance to grow and bear much fruit - and they did.

You may not think it but this is an encouraging parable for each of us.

It is a story of grace, patience and hope. We look back on the mistakes we have made and are grateful we have had time to change; been able, with God’s help, to work things out. What used to be a weed, we were sure, turned out to be wheat. Suppose we had been judged back then, on the spot, without being given more of a chance?

As we look and still see weeds in our lives and the lives of those around us, rather than being overcome by discouragement, the parable holds out hope for us. Good seed had been planted in us; it is growing. What’s more, the burden of the struggle isn’t ours alone.

We can trust the Owner, who knows what is happening, to come to help us sort things out If not now, then surely later - if the parable has any truth to it!

At its heart, this is a parable of confidence. God is in charge. God is not indifferent to our struggle. God is not unaware of what still needs doing. God is guiding us and the church in the process of bringing about a good harvest.

We need to recall this parable, especially when things dismay and discourage us. We will look out at the field and think we know what is going on and what needs to be done. But we will hear this parable and be comforted that it is God who has the final word.

Richard

Prayer Cycle and Prayer of the Month - August 2019

Details

Written by The Rev'd June Lane

Many of you have requested prayer these last months but we are always ready to listen and pray for you. Do keep asking - contact Julia (tel: 01747 829166), The Rev’d June (tel: 01747 828427), Theresa (tel: 01747 829188), or The Rev’d Richard (tel: 01747 830174).

Looking back I realised that it is four years since Richard and Anna came to us. The following is the Prayer I used as Prayer of the Month then as we anticipated their arrival. It is still very appropriate and can never be prayed enough.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
teach us to walk in your way more trustfully,
to accept Your truth more faithfully,
and to share Your life more lovingly.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
guide us in our work for Your Church,
so that we may become as one family,
wanting only to serve You and our community.
Amen