church news winter 2011

Winter 2011-2012Tasburgh and Tharston

Church Newsletter“Fit it is we find a room”

Christmas is a busy time of year, especially for those of us in Christianministry – but the longer I am in ministry, the more I appreciate theflow and rhythm of our seasonal worship. Christmas is great, because itreminds me of God’s love for me. As Christina Rosetti wrote:

Love came down at Christmas;Love all lovely, Love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,Star and angels gave the sign.

God went to great lengths to show his love for you and me, taking onflesh, living in a hostile world, suffering and dying – all for love. Butlove demands a response. If someone had bought me the mostexpensive present I’d ever been given, I wouldn’t ignore it – I wouldn’tleave the giver out in the cold. I would do my utmost to find out aboutthis person who was professing such costly affection towards me. Inthis way, Christmas invites us to respond. Herrick wrote:

The darling of the world is come,And fit it is we find a room

To welcome Him. The nobler partOf all the house is the heart.

Christmas speaks of the costly and intense love of God for us, and itinvites us to respond, not just by singing carols or attending church –as lovely as those things are – but by opening our hearts and finding aroom within for the king of kings. In all that life brings to us, in all thetrials of this sometimes harsh world, don’t miss out on the fabulouslove of God – the God who has made the first move.

Wishing you true seasonal cheer,

Adrian

Tasburgh and Tharston Church Newsletter - Winter 2011-2012

4th Dec 4pm ChristingleFri 16th Dec, 7.30pm Traditional Carol Service with choir19th Dec 8am Holy Communion25th Dec 9.15am Holy Communion15th Jan 8am Holy Communion22nd Jan 11am Village Praise: Plough Sunday5th Feb 11am Village Praise19th Feb 8am Holy Communion26th Feb 11am Holy Communion

Tharston Church NewsTharston Church Wardens

Mrs Pat Read 530325, Mrs Sue Hubbard 530072

We enjoyed a delightful Harvest Meal again this year, this time usingthe village hall in Forncett. A good time was had by all. Thanks tothose who helped organise it.

We were delighted with the week of bell-ringing activity at the endof October to mark the launch of the special fund in memory of PaulCattermole, who was much treasured among us and is much missed.

We would love to see you at our annual Carol Service on Friday 16thDecember, where we shall welcome a talented local church choir.These occasions have been ones to treasure in past years and we aresure this will be too.

Tharston Church Services

1st Jan 9am BCP Communion, Newton Flotman 9:30am Breakfast, Newton Flotman 10am First Sunday Praise, Newton Flotman29th Jan 6pm Cell Prayer Workshop, Newton Flotman 7pm The Gathering, Newton Flotman5th Feb 6:30pm Benefice High Mass at Candlemas

Special Services in Neighbouring Parishes


Tasburgh Church Services

4th Dec 9.30am Matins11th Dec 3pm Christingle18th Dec 6.30pm Traditional Carols, with choir24th Dec 3pm Crib Service 11.30pm Midnight Communion25th Dec 10.30am Christmas All Age Celebration8th Jan 9.30am Holy Communion & Children’s Church15th Jan 9.30am All Age, with shared breakfast22nd Jan 9.30am Communion, Children’s Church & Sat Nav29th Jan 9.30am Epiphany Praise & Children’s Church5th Feb 9.30am Matins, Children’s Church & Sat Nav12th Feb 9.30am Holy Communion & Children’s Church19th Feb 9.30am Youth Service, with shared breakfast22nd Feb 7:30pm Ash Wednesday - Penitence & Healing26th Feb 9.30am Communion, Children’s Church & Sat Nav

Tasburgh Church NewsTasburgh Church Wardens

Vivienne Taylor 471790, Julia Orpin 470983Our ancient building and our modern church room continue toreceive good use for a variety of activities and events for all ages,and to provide a place of comfort and solace in today’s world.

We’ve seen some ups and downs. We recently suffered some leadtheft from the porch roof, and are taking steps to sort that out. Onthe positive, we’ve seen a record number of weddings at the churchthis year, all of which seem to have gone well and brought greatblessing to those in attendance. Remembrance Day saw the churchfilled to the rafters, which was lovely.

The PCC enjoyed a relaxed time away in the cathedral recently, andit was good to reflect on the good things that are going on, as well asto consider what we can do better.


Dates For Your Diary

DecemberLower Tasburgh Carol Singing – 7:30pm, Mon 19th Dec – starting atHarvey Close – all welcome – refreshments provided

Upper Tasburgh Carol Singing – 6:30pm, Tue 20th Dec – startingbottom of Henry Preston Road – all welcome – refreshmentsprovided

Tharston Carol Singing – 6:00pm, Tue 20th Dec, starting at WillowFarm –- all welcome - refreshments provided

Scrooge - 3:00pm, Thu 22nd Dec, Saxlingham Church – see below

JanuaryTasburgh PCC - Mon 9th Jan, 7:30pm, Church Room

FebruaryDeanery Synod - Wed 8th Feb, 7:30pm, Trinity Hall, Shotesham

“Scrooge”3pm, Thurs 22nd Dec, Saxlingham Church

For the first time, we are privileged to welcome Fusion MusicalTheatre to our benefice. They are a group of local children (6-14

years) who will tell the story of Scrooge through music, song, danceand drama. The story will include a lovely nativity scene.

There is no charge and no booking required (though first come willget the best seats!). Donations will go to support the Bulgarian

Orphans Fund. Refreshments will be served after the performance.

For more, see www.fusionmusicaltheatre.co.uk or contact Adrian.

Shoebox Appeal 2011We sent 250 shoe-boxes off to needy children this year, in

response to our appeal, from across the six villages.Well done to all who supported this worthwhile project.


St. Mary's Guild – Tasburgh

We meet on the first Monday of each month in the Church Room at2.30pm. Please come and join us, everyone is welcome.

Coming up....

2nd Feb Mrs A Crawshay AGM Mrs C Crawshay Cycling for Charity5th Mar Mrs P Anderson Amsterdam & Keukenhof Gardens2nd April Mrs Trixie Dye Stones

Guild Coffee MorningSaturday 21st January, 10.30am – 12noon

36 Henry Preston Road, TasburghCake Stall, Raffle, Bring & Buy, Coffee & Biscuits - £1

Tas Valley Cell ChurchCells are vital units of the body – and cells in church life are smallgroups, which contain the DNA of what it means to be church. Wemeet to grow in faith, to pray and support each other, to learn fromthe bible and to join in actively sharing our faith and serving the widercommunity.

If you'd like to join a cell, contact Jo Luxton (daytime, Newton)473030; Andrew Gibson (Tues eves, Saxlingham) 499004; Chris Martin(Wed eves, Tasburgh) 470768; Richard Bond (Wed eves, Saxlingham)578093; William & Vicky Ball (Thurs eves, Newton) 471506; Andy Cox(Friday eves, Newton) 471334; Chris Gaze (Sunday eves youth) 470762

Youth Cells (JAM) We meet on Monday evenings 7–8.30 to exploreour faith and have fun together. Once a month, we have a socialevent – cinema, bowling, circus skills, lazer quest etc. Other nights,there’s a fast moving programme, with bible bits, drama, games,praying about stuff that means a lot to us and crazy stunts all mixedup. Contact Chris Gaze, e-mail: [email protected]; telephone 01508470762.


Regular Events/Groups

All contributions for the next edition to Adrian by the10th February 2012. Thank you.

Making ContactRev’d Sally Gaze: [email protected] 01508 470762 The Rectory, Church Road, Newton Flotman NR15 1QBRev’d Adrian Miller: [email protected] 01508 498317 The Rectory,re The Stet, Saxlingham Nethergate NR15 1AJ.Rev'd Chris Martin: [email protected] 01508 470768 The Rectory, Church Hill, Tasburgh NR15 1NB

Bible Study Group – New members are always welcome. Pleasecontact Philip Simmons on 499041.

Emmanuel Group – Meeting weekly in Tasburgh. Ask Renee Hollingerfor more details or phone Shirley Brookes on 470369.

Fairtrade – Fairly traded products catalogues are available on requestfrom Val Cook on 470298.

Music in Worship – If you’d like to sing in Tasburgh Church Choir orexplore learning the organ, phone Sarah Norman on 471505.

Prayer for the parishes takes place every day. Please give prayerrequests to a churchwarden, clergy person or prayer box or board inchurch. On Tuesdays we meet to pray at Tasburgh Church at 9:30am.

Children’s Church – Tasburgh has a Children’s Church for children agedfrom three years. This runs on the first, second and fourth Sunday ofeach month. All welcome. Contact Jane Rae on 470692.

Tasburgh Crafts Club – Come and try new skills in a relaxedatmosphere. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month,10am – 12noon in the Church Room, Tasburgh.

Tasburgh Coffee Pot – Come and make new friends at the Coffee Pot.We meet every Wednesday from 2 – 4pm for a chat with coffee &cake. Church Room, Tasburgh. All ages welcome.

church news winter 2011

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