Summer 2008
(New Series 14.2)
As the most successful Flower Festival at St Mary’s, Fen Drayton, the Concert with the London Mozart Players at St Andrew’s, Swavesey, the Confirmation Services at All Saints', Milton, and St Barnabas', Cambridge, and the other outstanding events of the late spring and early summer slip into the memory, there is still a lot to look forward to over the next few months.
The outdoor theme continues with the Vicarage Garden Party on 5th July and St Andrew’s Grand Summer Fête on 12th July.
Looking further ahead, next year is going to be a very special year for the Diocese of Ely as a whole because the Diocese will be celebrating its 900th Anniversary. There will be much more about this in future issues of The Fisherman but it is planned that this will be much more than a mere celebration and jamboree but offer a real opportunity for spiritual growth and outreach. Watch this space!
The Venerable Dr David Thomson, who until recently has served as Archdeacon of Carlisle, is coming to the Diocese of Ely as the new Bishop of Huntingdon. He is to be consecrated on 3rd July at a service in Southwark Cathedral in London and will take up his duties as Bishop of Huntingdon in September.
His predecessor, Bishop John Inge, has now taken up the reigns in his new post as Bishop of Worcester.
The Bishop of Ely writes that David Thomson ”will bring to Ely many things - he has served in urban and rural areas; he has experience of cathedral ministry; he has been an archdeacon for a number of years; he has made a distinguished academic contribution, and has produced a number of well-received books on spirituality of an accessible and practical nature. It will be very good to welcome him and his wife, Jean.»
The future bishop has declared his intention to go round the Rural Deaneries of the Diocese as soon as possible and we look forward to welcoming him to this benefice in due course.
The opening of The Children's Society collecting boxes for this year realised £457.15 - an increase of just over 25% which is a great result. Together with £162.12 collected at the Christingle service in December, this brings the total to £619.27 for the year. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this result, the best ever.
Now for news from the Society: ‘Dare to Care’is a new campaign from the End Child Poverty Group - designed to raise awareness of and help tackle child poverty. To find out more go on line to www.playyourpart.co.uk or www.childrenssociety.org.uk/daretocare or phone the Supporter Action Line on 0845 300 1128.
The eleventh ‘Sure Start Children’ Centre’opened in Bradford at the end of 2007. The center offers a range of support services, including integrated childcare and education to families with children up to 5 years old.
The ‘Safe and Sound’campaign launched four years ago wanted two things for young runaways: a national network of safe emergency accommodation and for all local councils to pass the the ‘Safe and Sound’test. Last year, over 115,000 people signed the ‘Safe and Sound’ petition. This led to more than 350 MPs supporting the campaign. The Society then joined forces with 12 other children’s charities to call for the government to take action. Now the government has lent its support. At an event held in Parliament where the Society submiitted the latest report on runaways, a petition was signed by nearly 100 MPs from all the major political parties. Dozens of MPs listened to former runaways speaking about their personal experiences of running away and how the help they were receiving from the Children’s Society was beginning to turn their lives around. Still more work needs to be done and it will take time to provide accommodation for these children.
Last year the Co-operative Society chose the Children’s Society as their charity of the year and raised £2m. This year Manchester United Football Club has selected the Society as one of its partner charities for the next 3 years. David Gill, Chief Executive of Manchester United explains, ”Our new partnership will enable us to raise a significant amount of money to support a number of important projects. We are extremely proud of this partnership and the young people who will benefit.» Backing like this is very encouraging and makes us realise that many people, whether individuals or large groups, do care about children and can work together to provide a better childhood for disadvantaged young people. If you would a collecting box to help in this work please ring me on 01954 205254 for details.
Dorothy Gilbert
An enthusiastic congregation gathered in Bethel Baptist Church on Saturday 10th May for the induction of the Revd David Mann as the new Minister. We wish David, Lucy and their family every blessing in their ministry in this locality and as churches look forward to working together to build up the Kingdom of God in this place.
We welcome also the appointment of the Revd Fiona Windsor as Team Rector of the Papworth Team to the south of this benefice. Already well-known and respected in the Team, Fiona will be moving shortly to live in the Elsworth Rectory. She will be inducted into her new role on 17th September in a service at Holy Trinity, Elsworth.
At the end of June, we say a sad ‘farewell’ to the Revd Geoffrey Turner who is retiring from being Rector of Willingham and Rampton. Geoffrey and Sheila are moving to Harrogate in Yorkshire where they will live near to their daughters.
A further recent move brings the Revd Kylie Hodgins, until recently curate in Histon and Impington, to be priest-in-charge of All Saints’, Cottenham.
Christian Aid Week last May brought in a total of £1,975.33 across the four parishes of the benefice. Individual parish totals were £1,039.10 for Swavesey, £644.20 for Fen Drayton, £152.33 for Lolworth and £139.70 for Conington. When the tax recoverable from those donors who gave under the Gift Aid scheme is added in, the total collected will be well over £2,000.00.
Thank you to all who organised, who gave and who collected to help raise this magnificent sum.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to and supported the recent Flower Festival at St Mary’s, Fen Drayton. Including the contribution from the excellent flute and keyboard recital given by Rachel Pointer and David Parry-Smith, the total raised for St Mary’s Repair and Restoration Fund exceeded £1,000.
The choir celebrated Easter Day with a stirring performance of ‘Zadok the Priest’ by Handel at the 11.00am Easter Communion service.
Twelve members attended the Ely Choirs’ Festival entitled ‘The King of Love’ on 17th May which was an enjoyable event. (See picture on www. honeyhill.org.) Practices for weddings later in the summer and the autumn programme have now commenced.
Keith Lofts
Sunday Sanctuary
Sunday Sanctuary offers a variety of alternative styles of worship - using pictures, words, music and silence. Sunday Sanctuary meets on the third Sunday of the month at St Andrew’s, Swavesey, at 6.30pm.
Baby and Toddler Service (BATS)
BATS meets on the second Monday of each month at 10.30am in St Andrew’s, Swavesey - to praise God, to make a noise, to do some craft and for a natter over coffee and biscuits.
St Andrew’s, Swavesey, Sunday School
Sunday School meets during the 11.00am worship in term-time except on Family Service Sundays. From age 3 upwards.
The House Group
The House Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm for fellowship, for Bible Study, for prayer and for discussion. See the Vicarage Website for the next venue.
St Andrew's Choir
St Andrew's Choir meets for practice on Thursday evenings from 7.45pm to 8.30pm and sings at the 11.00am service on Sunday mornings and on other special occasions.
The Music Group
St Andrew's Music Group plays for Family Services and on other occasions. Contact: the Vicar.
The Bell Ringers
Bell Practices are held at St Andrew's, Swavesey, on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Come along or call Andrew Stevens on 01954 231433. The bells of St Mary's, Conington, are also rung: contact Dean Jarvis on 01954 267441.
No, there isn't really a colour supplement to come with The Fisherman but you can find some pictures of parish events and happenings posted on the Vicarage Website at www.honeyhill.org.
Current stories can be found on the 'News and Forthcoming Events' page. Further and updated details of Parish events and people can also be found on the website.
The Fisherman backlist
the colour supplement backlist