1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

HOLY TRINITY PRESTWOOD
MONTHLY HERALD
JANUARY 2015
Rector: The Reverend Deiniol Heywood BA, MPhil
140 Wycombe Road
Prestwood HP16 0HJ
01494 866530 rector@htprestwood.org.uk
Associate Priest: The Reverend Teresia Derlén M Theol
01494 868448 teresia@htprestwood.org.uk
Parish Office: 134 Wycombe Road
01494 863805 secretary@htprestwood.org.uk
www.htprestwood.org.uk
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THE FEAST OF
EPIPHANY
And Procession of the
Magi
Sunday January 11th
at 9.30am
Family Festival Eucharist
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Services this month
Sunday 4th
Christmas 2
Ecclesiasticus 24.1-12 ; Ephesians 1.3-14 ; John: 1.10-18
8.00am
BCP Holy Communion
9.30am
Parish Eucharist
Ministry team – Elamites
Sunday 11th
Epiphany
Genesis 1.1-5; Acts 19.1-7; Mark 1.4-11
8.00am
BCP Holy Communion
9.30am
Family Eucharist for Epiphany
Ministry team – Cappadocians
Sunday 18th
Epiphany 2
1 Samuel 3.1-10; Revelation 5.1-10; John 1.43-end
8.00am
BCP Holy Communion
9.30am
Parish Eucharist with Nativity
Ministry team – Mesopotamians
Conversion of Paul
Sunday 25th
Jeremiah 1.4-10; Galatians 1.11-16a; Matthew 19.27-end
8.00am
BCP Holy Communion
9.30am
Family Eucharist
Ministry team –Pontians
Tuesdays at 9.30am
Wednesdays at 10.00am
Thursdays at 10.30am
Informal Holy Communion & coffee
BCP Holy Communion & coffee
Toddler Praise! (during term time) & coffee
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The Building Project
2015 is going to be an exciting year. If things go to plan the major works on
our Church Building which we have been planning in detail over the last 12
months will get underway after Easter. By Christmas 2015 we should be
having the full advantages of under-floor heating, a lighting system which
enhances the architectural features, a new sound system, better disabled
access and a disabled loo, a better welcoming area with glass doors, more
flexible seating and a re-organised vestry area including a kitchenette area
for better basic catering . All this plus cleaning the internal stonework and redecorating throughout. I can’t wait!
To meet the timetable there are two things we need to do. We need to get
the necessary permissions, and this process is underway. We also need to be
confident by the end of March that we will have the funds available before
we commit to signing contracts.
The estimated cost is £550,000. We started with Daisy Bush's £240,000
bequest and over the last 10 months have got pledges and grants for a
further £240,000. This is a tremendous achievement, and we’re very grateful
for the strong support that you’ve given. But – it is £70,000 short of the
target. We aim to raise £20,000 through a series of fund-raising events in
2015 but we urgently need to narrow the gap. We need to know we have the
funds in place by March when we get the bids back from the tendering
process, before we go ahead with signing a contract.
Our plan in January is to launch a ' Sponsor a Chair' appeal. If we can get
sponsors for 150 seats at £250 a seat then, together with Gift Aid, we'll
realise almost £50,000 and we'll know we can go ahead. So: - if you haven’t
contributed yet this would be a wonderful time to make your commitment if you have already contributed could you stretch your commitment a little
further to help us get there.
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You could sponsor an individual seat (or two), a 3 seater pew, a seat for each
member of your family, a whole row.... – whatever you feel moved to do
would be highly appreciated. Or you might feel you want to sponsor a seat
for someone who has died, as a special way to honour their memory. We will
record every sponsor and special memory in a special book to be kept in
perpetuity.
Forms for sponsorship are available and will be distributed on January 11th.
Or contact Nigel Bicknell (863267) or David Wickham (865480). Please help us
cross the finishing line in style.
Nigel Bicknell
Steering Committee
Pew benches from Treske
plus coordinating chairs
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Thought for the Month by our Rector
At the beginning of January there will be just thirteen weeks until we close
the church, and, at the time of writing we have £70,000 still to raise! As I
wrote last month we are now a fundraising church. Please think about what
you could do to raise money to help your church.
As well as raising funds and working towards our long-term goals, we mustn’t
neglect our immediate spiritual needs. That’s why we are running for the
next six weeks the Pilgrim course. Pilgrim is a major new teaching and
discipleship resource from the Church of England. It aims to help every local
church create a place where people can explore the Christian faith together
and see how it can be lived out each day. Pilgrim takes a different approach
to other Christian programmes. It approaches the great issues of faith not
through persuasion, but participation in a pattern of contemplation and
discussion with a group of fellow travellers. Pilgrim is comprised of two
stages: the Follow stage for those very new to faith, and the Grow stage for
those who want to go further. Each stage contains four short six-session
courses which focus on a major theme of Christian life.
We are starting by running a course from the Growth stage. Back in April, at
the AGM, I said, “My focus for the coming year is on deepening and
strengthening the core spirituality on which the life of our church depends.
We need to regain our sense of discipleship. We need to deepen and
strengthen our own faith if we are ever to bring others to faith, and it is
perhaps too easy to take these things for granted.”
We have done some work on this, most notably through our Monday
Prayers.
I also said, “I want to make progress developing the life and role of our
ministry teams. This is something which has been part of my vision for our
spiritual growth since we began our ministry teams—but somehow has never
happened. Ministry teams should be the engines that drive our church, and
that means they must be prayerful, spiritual groups dedicated to discipleship.
It starts with the practical job of a Sunday morning—but only because our
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worship is the start of our encounter with God. Discipleship is not an optional
part of being a Christian, it is an essential part. Following Jesus is what we
do.”
Ministry team members are the heart of our congregation. They are mature
and experienced Christians who take their faith seriously. That’s why we are
offering an invitation for this course to all those who are members of
Ministry Teams. Of course, anyone who comes to church is welcome to come
along, and I hope will, and there is no compulsion for Ministry Team
members to attend. But what we are hoping to do is resource those who
resource our worship.
We fall into a trap if we make some sort of distinction between the practical
side of running a church and the spiritual side. They are part of the same
thing. Remember in Matthew 25 when the righteous say, “Lord, when was it
that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you
something to drink?” These are practical things—and they build the Kingdom
of God no less than our building project. One day you might say, “Lord, when
was it that I welcomed you into church, or read to you, or prayed with you?”
and yet that is what Ministry Team members do each week.
The Pilgrim course will start on January 7 and run for six weeks until February
11. There will be two groups meeting on Wednesdays. A lunchtime group will
meet upstairs at the Polecat for a simple (and cheap) lunch at 12.30pm and
an evening group will meet at 8.00pm in the Church Cottage. Each session
will last a maximum of 90 minutes. Please speak to the clergy if you’d like to
come along!
Deiniol
Helpers for Children's Church and Crèche Wanted!!
If you feel you can spare the occasional Sunday morning to help in Crèche or
Children’s Church please contact maddy@htprestwood.org.uk. Roles include
leading Children’s Church, assisting with it, or reading stories in Crèche.
Material and ideas for each session would be provided.
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PCC Notes
The last PCC meeting of the year was held on the 25th November. It got off to
a confused start as the key to the shed with the chairs in wasn’t available;
that combined with an error on the part of the Secretary about the time of
the meeting resulted in it being held in the cottage, eventually starting
shortly after 8.00 pm.
The date for the Carol Service was confirmed as 20th December, the Saturday
before Christmas, with Deiniol and Mike Cobley approaching people to read.
Deiniol also confirmed that the new list of chalice bearers had been approved
by Bishop Alan and that Christopher Gothard would be second chalice on
Advent Sunday.
The main part of the meeting was devoted to the building project with
financial and status updates being given by Nigel Bicknell and David
Wickham. It was confirmed that good progress was being made on both
fronts and that the plan was for the church to close on 7th April for the work
to begin. In the meantime the DAC had been contacted about the type of
paint intended to be used. This followed research by Nigel as to the best way
of covering the existing surfaces without creating problems by stripping the
whole thing down to remove the original lime wash.
The key thing now is to raise the last £90,000 and a programme of
fundraising activities has been scheduled to start in the New Year. This will
include concerts, a 50/50 auction and many other events. It was agreed that,
of the net surpluses generated and collections at special services, 90% would
be dedicated to the building project and the balance shared between two
local charities.
Disappointment was expressed that the repair of the cottage kitchen ceiling
still had not been done. Deiniol and Christine Taylor undertook to find out
what was happening with a view to expediting the work.
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The Education Group will introduce the Pilgrim Course in January with the
first element running for 6 weeks. The second part of course will form part of
our Lent Course and will be run in conjunction with SS Peter and Paul and the
Baptist church in Great Missenden. The results of the 2014 Lent appeal were
reviewed and whilst the KIVA project had been successful the Credit Union
had not got off the ground. It was agreed that we would withdraw our
support for it and those members who had invested with it would be advised
accordingly. A general discussion followed about our charitable giving and
Deiniol agreed that it should be an item for further consideration in January.
Nigel Bicknell reported that our finances were in good order although the
annual pledged giving had decreased by about £3,000. This shortfall had
been countered by one off donations and reductions in expenses.
The next meeting will be held on 27th January.
Colin McBride PCC Secretary.
APPEAL FUND RAISING EVENTS FOR 2015
There are a number of fundraising events planned for 2015. Here’s advance
notice of some of them. Some dates are subject to change, but we’ll
keep you posted.
An evening with Judy Theobold
“Autumn Concert”
Six Month Supper
Two suppers in church – a fish and chip
supper once the pews are out, followed
by a celebration gala dinner when the
work is completed!
50/50 Auction
Musician’s Concert
Beer & Hymns
ArtFest
Beetle Drive
Autumn Fayre
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Sat Jan 31, 7.30 for
8.00pm
Sat March 14, 7.30pm
Part 1: Sat April 18,
8.00pm/Part 2: Date
to be confirmed…
Sat May 9th, 3.00pm
June
July
September
October 17
November
January dates for your diaries
2nd
Fri
1.15pm
Pot Luck Lunch – Church Hall
NEW YEAR FAMILY WALK AND FESTIVE TEA
Sunday 4th January at 2.00pm meet in Holy Trinity car park for a fun walk for
all the family, approx 1 ½ hours.
And at 3.30pm in the Church Hall – come and enjoy one of SEARCH’s famous,
or infamous, teas. Everyone is welcome, whether you have walked or not,
but to help with the catering it would be helpful if you could let Doreen
(863397) know if you are intending to come, mentioning any dietary
requirements.
Festive Tea £4.00; children under 12 £2.00, under 5s free.
4th
Sun
5th
Mon
7th
Wed
12th
Mon
14th
Wed
18th
19th
Sun
Mon
21st
26th
27th
10.30am
2.00pm
3.30pm
11.45am
7.30pm
12.30pm
8.00pm
11.45am
7.30pm
12.30pm
8.00pm
3.00pm
10am
11.45am
7.30pm
Wed
12.30pm
8.00pm
Mon 11.45am
7.30pm
Tues 3.15pm
8.00pm
Cake Sale after the morning service.
Donations of cakes welcome
New Year Walk
Festive Tea – Church Hall
Monday Prayer
Table Tennis – Church Hall
Pilgrim Course – The Polecat
Pilgrim Course – Church Cottage
Monday Prayer
Table Tennis – Church Hall
Pilgrim Course – The Polecat
Pilgrim Course – Church Cottage
Tea at 3 – Church Hall (tbc)
Quiet Garden – Mary Sketch’s house
(44 Hale Road, Wendover)
Monday Prayer
Table Tennis – Church Hall
Pilgrim Course – The Polecat
Pilgrim Course – Church Cottage
Monday Prayer
Table Tennis – Church Hall
Prayer Circle – Taiwind, Clarendon Road
PCC meeting – Church Hall
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28th
Wed
31st
Sat
12.30pm
Pilgrim Course – The Polecat
8.00pm
Pilgrim Course – Church Cottage
7.30pm
An Evening with Judy Theobald – a meal
followed by a humorous, entertaining talk interspersed with
some of her poems.
Looking Ahead
th
Wednesday 18 February at 8.00pm Eucharist for Ash Wednesday
Sunday 25th March at 8.00pm Eucharist for The Annunciation
Sunday 26th April at 10.30am Holy Trinity Annual General Meeting
AND – see separate notice for Appeal Fund Raising Events
Contacts
Churchwardens: David Chantler 865382; Jean Green 865660
PCC elected members:
Colin McBride 863627 (PCC Secretary)
Ann Hunt; Doreen Clarke (Assistant Churchwarden); Christine Taylor; Ros
Wingrove; Jan Darley; Yvonne Wilding; Sarah Keeble; Dick Rivett; Gill
Hart; David Wickham; John Wiles
Co-opted as Treasurer: Gill Bicknell 01494 863267
Deanery Synod Reps: Mike Cobley; Nigel Bicknell; Diane Goford
Children’s Church: Maddy Darley: maddy@htprestwood.org.uk
Future Shape Committee: David Wickham 01494 865480
Estate Management: Martin Everitt 01494 865777
Finance: Sarah Keeble 01494 868974
Education: Diane Goford 01494 862156
SEARCH: Mike Cobley 01494 864952
Director of Music: Fraser Simpson 01494 512006
Pastoral Care Manager: Caroline Everitt 01494 865777
Safeguarding Officer: Ros Wingrove 01494 862050
Monthly Herald Editor: Judith McBride 01494 863627
Envelope Recorder: Janet Smith 01494 864555
Gift Aid queries: Gill Bicknell 01494 863267
Hall Booking Secretary: Karen Lamb 07827 455659
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13 weeks
£70,000 to go!
PLEASE SEND COPY FOR FEBRUARY MONTHLY HERALD
to Judith McBride (judithmcb@btinternet.com/01494
/01494 863627)
863627
by Tuesday 20th January
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