AICM News

Shortly after his visit to Fen Drayton in May, The Ven. Canon Enoch Kayeeye, the founder and Director of African International Christian Ministries (AICM) had to cut short his stay in the UK in order to return home to Uganda for an important meeting with government officials regarding setting up a child-care and nutrition programme for the under-fives in the Ntangamo district of Uganda. AICM is the lead agency implementing this project. Funded largely by the World Bank, this project represents an important extension of the community work of AICM and considerably raises its profile in the region. Our prayers for the success of this work are much needed.

AICM Christmas Cards

Two new designs of AICM Christmas Cards, designed by Ruth Townsend, are available this year. They are available, price 2.00 per pack of 5, from Gill Henderson (01954 267349) or through the churches. Earlier designs are available at reduced price!

St Andrews Choir

St Andrews Choir expects to contribute an anthem to the morning service at St Andrews, Swavesey, for Harvest Festival on 1st October. In the evening, at 6.30pm, we will be singing attractive settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis and a further anthem. We look forward to a good attendance by the congre-gation!

As we say farewell to Alan Jesson, it is a good moment to ask for more singers. All voice parts are welcome, both young persons (aged 9 upwards) and adults.

After visiting St Marys, Conington, for the Harvest Festival there on 8th October, we shall be looking forward to Advent and Christmas.

Keith Lofts

New Worship for Old

The Vicar has ordered a small number of the Common Worship service books. These contain the main services which are replacing the forms of service in the Alternative Service Book 1980 from the end of the year.

It is certainly not necessary to have one of these books as the four churches of the benefice will continue to use individual service leaflets at all services. However, parishioners may like to purchase a copy of the Common Worship main volume for their private use.

This main volume will be printed in black and red on specially made cream paper, have a black hardback binding and will run to 896 pages. The standard retail price will be 15 but the Vicar will have a few copies available at 10 each. These are offered strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed

For some years now, it has been our custom to commemorate the faithful departed on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of All Souls (2nd November). The names of all those whose funerals have taken place in the benefice since last year will automatically be included, but other names for remembrance may be given to the Vicar.

Relatives and friends of the recently departed are warmly invited to join in the commemoration, which will take place this year during Parish Communion on Sunday 5th November in St Andrews, Swavesey, at 10.45am.

Confirmation

There is to be a Confirmation Service in Over Parish Church on Friday 10th November at 7.30pm.

Would those who are considering offering themselves as a candidate for confirmation please have a word with the Vicar as soon as possible. There are preparation classes both for adult candidates and for young people who should be aged at least eleven years on the date of the Confirmation Service.

Christingle Service

This years Christingle Service, always popular with children and parents and an excellent way of beginning our celebration of the birth of the Christchild, takes place on Sunday 3rd December at 3.30pm in St Andrews Church, Swavesey. As usual, there will be an offering of Christmas presents for the childrens wards at Addenbrookes Hospital (please label your gifts with the age range for which they are suitable) and a collection will be made in aid of The Childrens Society at the distribution of the Christingles.

If anyone would like to help with preparing the Christingles, please contact Dorothy Gilbert on 01954 231484. Those who would like to play in the band which accompanies the service, please let the Vicar know.

Recycling Area

In recent weeks, the recycling area in the church car park at St Andrews, Swavesey, has attracted a measure of unwanted rubbish. Please remember that only the recyclable materials for which bins are provided should be left at St Andrews. Other materials, including plastic bags, garden refuse, cardboard boxes and general rubbish must be taken to the council facility at Milton or disposed of in other legal ways.

Communion at home

The Vicar is always pleased to bring the sacrament of holy communion to the homes of housebound and infirm parishioners, especially during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Please contact him to arrange a time.

Heidelberg Concert

Visitors to St Andrews, Swavesey, on the afternoon of Sunday 17th September were delighted by a programme of sacred and secular songs performed by 36 male-voice singers of the Liederkranz Heidelberg-Rohrbach.

The singers, who are travelling with other members of their families, broke their otherwise non-performing holiday in England and Scotland to provide the voicepower for the Swavesey Millennium Concert.

Our great thanks go to the members of the Liederkranz, also to those who decorated the church for the concert, provided and served the refreshments and built the stage; also to the Swavesey Millennium Coordinating Committee for making the arrangements.

The only tricky moment was when the choir began swaying in unison in one of the songs. Swinging was not in the design specification for the stage. But all was well - the design proved superior to that of the Millennium Bridge and all had a very happy afternoon.

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