Upton St Leonards Church News

December 2007

December Diary

 

1.   TUES.   THE NAMING OF JESUS

6.  SUN.    EPIPHANY.

Holy Communion 8.00a.m.

All Age Communion 11.00a.m.

Evensong 6.00p.m.

7. MON.    BAPTISM OF CHRIST.

Upton W.I. Village Hall. 7.30p.m.

10. THURS.  M.U.Communion 2.00p.m.

History Group, Village Hall 7.30p.m.

13. SUN.    EPIPHANY 2.

Holy Communion 8.00a.m. & 6.00p.m.

All Age Communion 11.00a.m.

14. MON.    Twyver W.I. Village Hall. 7.30p.m.

17. THURS.  M.U. Annual Meeting. Church Room 2.00p.m.

18. FRI.    Start of week for Christian Unity.

20. SUN.    EPIPHANY  3.

Holy Communion 8.00a.m.

All Age Communion 11.00a.m.

Service at the Cathedral. 6.00p.m.

NO EVENING SERVICE AT UPTON.

25. FRI.    CONVERSION of ST. PAUL.

27. SUN.    EPIPHANY 4.

Holy Communion 8.00a.m.

All Age Communion 11.00a.m.

Evening Service 6.00p.m.

28. MON.    Ladies Group. Annual Meeting Church Room 7.45pm.

31. THURS.  Get-together Club. Village Hall. 2.30p.m.

 

Contributions for the February edition of Church News should reach Mrs. Rumsey, 16 Perry Orchard by 10th January please.

 

January

A Happy New Year to everyone!

I hope everyone had a great time over the Christmas season and you are, like me looking forward to a fantastic 2008 at St Leonards!

After the great success of our themed All-age Services through Advent we move into another very exciting Season - the Epiphany

Season. I can almost hear many of you saying "the what season?" !

The Epiphany Season is the weeks that follow the feast of the Epiphany and perhaps reflect most on the Church's ability to shoot

itself in the foot by making the most simple things seem complicated. For the time of preparation we use the Latin name Advent, and for

the time of realization and discovery, of recognition of the Messiah. Just as in the early days people didn't realize that the birth of a baby-

boy in a field in Bethlehem was to be a world changing event, the Season after Christmas, in the Church is not a Season of nursing the

hangover and Christmas overdraft. It is the time of new discovery, of God surprising us by becoming a part of our loves in the most

surprising ways ~ Light for the journey ~ God at the Christening party ~ God rocks!- God goes fishing - and finally God goes to

Church, the Feast of the presentation.

 

We look forward ti seeing you at our exciting re-formatted Communion for All Services, every Sunday in the Discovery Season January 6th – February 3rd 2008!

 

Paul

If you would appreciate a visit from the Parish Priest or someone from the Church please let us know, either in person at one of the Services, in writing to The Rectory, 12 Bondend Road, Upton St Leonards, GL4 8AG or by phone (01452 627828) or e-mail: rev_leckey@blueyonder.co.uk

 

 

Epiphany (Discovery) Season Services

Sunday January 6th

Feast of the Epiphany (Discovery)

11 am Communion4AII with Baptism

"Light for the journey"

Sunday January 13th

Celebration of the Baptism of Jesus

11 am Communion4all

"God at the Christening party"

Sunday January 20th

Third Sunday of The Epiphany (Discovery)

11 am Communion4all

"God Rocksl"

Sunday January 27th

Fourth Sunday of the Epiphany (Discovery)

11 am Communion4all

"God goes fishing"

Sunday February 3rd

Candlemas

11 am Communion4all

"God goes to Church!”

 

Communion4all Services ~ Worship for everybody!

 

 

Upton St Leonards Parish Church

Tower Flood Lighting

Sponsorship Details

December

On Monday 3rd December in memory of our daughter and sister, Sarah Threlfall on what would have been her 26th birthday.

Sponsored by David, Julie, Andrew and Stephen Threlfall.

 

January

During the month of January the lights are being sponsored as follows:

·        On Tuesday 22nd January the lights are being sponsored by Diane in birthday memory of her husband, Jack Limbird.

·        On Saturday 26th the lights are being sponsored by Matthew and Megan Gibbs in celebration of Zoes’ birthday.

·        On Wednesday 30th the Church Tower lights are being lit in remembrance of what would have been the 65th Wedding Anniversary of Betty and Bill Ford.

Their children, Peter and Pauline and their families have kindly sponsored the lights for this occasion.

 

Thank you to all those who have kindly made a donation or sponsored the lights at St Leonards. Your gifts are gratefully received.

 

If you or your family wish to have the lights sponsored in celebration of a birthday or anniversary or for a loved ones life  or any other reason then please contact Matthew.

 

There is no set amount for this, just what you would like to gift to the Church in order to help cover running costs. If you are able to gift aid any donation this will help us too.

 

If you would like to sponsor the Church Tower Flood Lights then please contact Matthew Gibbs on 01452 618127 or email matthewgibbs@uptonstleonardschurch.co.uk for more details.

Please note that the deadline of the Church News is the 10th of the preceding month.

 

From the Churchwardens:

 

2008 is finally here. Christmas is over – now let’s look forward to Easter and all the chocolate eggs and things like that. No, perhaps let’s reflect on the past month and what it has meant to us all. We hope that you all survived the festivities with your sanity and that everyone had a nice time, probably eating too much turkey and watching the Queens speech with a glass of wine or two in your hand. Seriously though we hope you had a good time and that you got all you wished for during the Christmas season.

It is also hoped that you were able to come to some, if not all of the special themed advent services held at St Leonards. Hopefully you enjoyed them and came away spiritually enhanced. Special thanks go to all those who worked so hard behind the scenes to ensure that the services went ahead with the minimum of fuss and problems.

St Leonards played host to the local nursery on the 11th December and the local school on the 20th December. I am sure that all the youngsters involved had a lovely time.

Thanks also to those that came and took part in St Leonards own nativity play on the 23rd of December during the 11am Advent Communion service. Also big thanks go to the hardworking group of young adults that helped to make all the Christingles that were handed out at both of the Christingles Services held on Christmas Eve. We have every confidence that these services were well attended and well received by all.

The past few months have been rather busy at the Church. Not only have the usual seasonal activities been happening we have also been trying to resolve several different problems that the Church building has provided us. Most of you are aware that the Church underfloor heating system was damaged in the floods of July. Due to circumstances that were totally beyond our control the replacing of this unit has taken longer than anticipated for various reasons, the details of which I will not bore you with now. As I write this article we have been given the go ahead from the insurance company to have the work done and the contractors came and revisited the site on Tuesday 4th December to check a couple of points before ordering the replacement unit. I am awaiting a call from them to confirm their start date of work at the Church. I have been assured that they will be doing their utmost to get the unit in place for Christmas. In the meantime the insurance company has kindly agreed to fund temporary heating in the Church and to that end we arranged with a local hire company to provide us with gas powered air heaters. The cost of these units is rather considerable (hundreds not tens of pounds) and so we are yet again indebted to Ecclesiastical for their assistance. Some of you may have noticed these ‘turbines’ running when you have arrived at the Church for a service. They are rather noisy at full blast but rather effective at taking the chill out of the air for a service. The only downside is that they cannot be controlled on a timer like the church heating system and must be manually turned on and off. This means someone has to get up really early for the Sunday 8am service and ensure that they are on and taking some of the night chill out of the Church.  Again, please be understanding and dress for the weather and I hope to be able to report in the February edition of Church News that the heating was replaced by Christmas.

Also, Wendy has been rather busy liaising with the Church Architect about a chunk of fallen plaster in the south aisle. Many of you may have noticed some hazard tape over a few of the pews at the front of the south aisle and some bits of plaster on the floor. The Church Architect came to the Church the other week to look at the ceiling area involved. It appears that is a small area of some plaster that held some wood fascia board in place. It is located above a heater and so it is likely that the heat from the unit caused it to dry out and to crack over a period of time. It also appears from conversations with former Churchwarden Dave Chave, that this area has done the same thing in previous years and so appears to be a repeating issue. We have to await the Church architects return as he has promised that he would be supplying Wendy with recommended Contractor details to have the issue resolved. Wendy is chasing for the information as the pew area will be needed for all our Christmas Services that are about to take place over the coming weeks.

We hope that the New Year sees you all well and healthy.

With your help and support, 2008 promises to be another fine year for St Leonards Church and the community it serves.

Take care and keep well and healthy,

Matthew Gibbs and Wendy Edgington – Churchwardens.

 

Don’t forget to check out the Upton St Leonards Parish Church Website at www.uptonstleonardschurch.co.uk for more information about things happening at the Church and links to sites of interest.

All comments or thoughts on its contents are appreciated.

 

ADVANCE NOTICE:

 

Women’s World Day of Prayer

The service this year will be held at Matson Baptist Church on Friday 7th March 2008 at 10.30a.m.

Further details next month.

 

MOTHERS UNION DATES FOR JANUARY.

Thursday 10th. Holy Communion 2.00p.m.

Thursday 17th. Annual meeting in the Church Room 2.00p.m.

Monday 28th. Ladies group meet in the Church Room 7.45p.m.

 

 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHURCHES TOGETHER.

Members of the congregation are invited to attend a servicp to mark the Centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at 6.00p.m. on Sunday 20th January 2008 at Gloucester Cathedral. The preacher at the service will be Revd. Flora Winfield, Secretary for International Affairs at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, who was the first County Ecumenical Officer for Gloucestershire.

 

T@3

T @ 3 meets once a month at Christchurch Abbeydale on a Saturday afternoon at 3.00 p.m. The afternoon starts with a speaker or entertainment, followed by refreshments, finishing at 4.15 - 4.30 p.m. A warm welcome is offered to anyone who wishes to join us and would like the opportunity to meet and talk with new friends. The programme for the first quarter of 2008 is shown below.

January 19th         Films of Old Gloucester.

February 23rd       "British Prime Ministers"

March 15th         "Quiz Time"

Further dates booked for meetings in 2008 are:- April 19th, May 17th, June 21st, July 19th, August 16th, September 20th, October 18th, November 15th & December 13th.

Why not come along one afternoon and give it a try, we look forward to seeing YOU there sometime!! For further details ring 01452 616034, or 610940.

 

ART EXHIBITION IN THE CHURCH

 

May 3rd – 5th 2008

 

During this weekend there will be displays of flowers in the Church and at the same time there will be a small Art Exhibition held in the North Aisle.

 

All artists are invited to display their work.

Whether you are a member of one of the Art Classes in the village or an established artist, your work will be welcome.

 

For further details, please contact Ken Herbert P.C.C. secretary, 2 Twyver Close, Upton St Leonards, Tel 01452 617894

 

St Leonard’s Church

Presents

 A fundraising evening with

NOTEWORTHY

A BAND WITH A DIFFERENCE

A mixture if Rock, Pop, Blues, Covers and more. Something for everyone come along and enjoy.

Saturday 16th February 2008 at 7.30p.m.

Upton St Leonard’s School, Bondend Road, Upton St Leonards

Tickets £6.50 to include supper. Family ticket £20

Available from Paul Black on 01452 618037 or The Rectory, 12 Bondend Road

Bring your own drinks

 

News from the WIs

Upton St Leonards

A joyous happy evening of frivolity, dancing singing and most of all fun, enveloped us all at Upton St. Leonards W.I. as 'England's Glory

Ladies’ morris dancers came to entertain us.

They were formed in 1973 by ladies and followers of 'Gloucester Old Spot' men's morris dancers.  Sporting traditional red, white and

blue dresses and ribbons around their decorated straw boaters, their gaiety and dancing entrances old and young alike from mid-April to

Christmas at local village fete's, shows, street parties, in market squares, around many Cotswold villages, keeping alive traditions from long

ago.  Outside Gloucester Cathedral on Boxing day they join with the Mummers in celebration of Christmas.  Diane Thomas gave a vote of

thanks for a wonderful evening given by such talented dancers and musicians.

Mulled wine, soft drinks and buffet were served during and after the dancing by committee members Judy, our President, welcomed all ladies,

thanking Kathy and Pauline for the lovely table arrangements.  A new committee will be voted in for the New Year.  Anthea, Judy and a small team of ladies deserve praise and thanks for knitting, collecting toys etc., and filling '67' shoe boxes for the 'Children in need appeal' - a fine

response for the poor children in Kurdestan, Serbia and the Balkans.  Our Christmas dinner at Tewkesbury Abbey with an hours tour was a very

happy evening for us all, thanks to 'chef ‘ Glenda Ford and her helpers who served a superb dinner.  Corrine Pritchett won the decorated

soap competition, these soaps are delivered to participants on Meals on Wheels at Hucclecote.

We meet again in the New Year, Monday 7th January 2008 at 7.30p.m. in the Village Hall for an evening of 'Scottish Dancing'.  Competition a

Scottish Verse.  Everyone very welcome.

All our members and readers are wushed a very

Happy New Year.

KATHY QUANT.

 

Twyver W.I.

The meeting was opened by new President Janine Black, and members sang Jerusalem accompanied by Dorothy Ratcliffe on the piano, as our long term pianist Dorothy Pointing has now moved to Scotland.  A presentation of a beautiful flower display created by Julie Threlfall was made to outgoing President, Jo Collins, and the new committee responsibilities were read out to members.  Volunteers were requested for a

number of smaller jobs and five birthday gifts were presented.  An announcement was made about a very successful charity coffee morning and a

crafts charity event run by Mandy Garstang.

After the rest of the business, Janine introduced our speaker, Chloe from Midnight Story Tellers, who kept us very entertained with her presenta-

tion of a range of stories, accompanied by a brass singing bowl and a great deal of wit. Chloe likes to collect stories from all areas,

and uses them to create her own unique event at every storytelling session which she gives. Chloe entertained us for 40 minutes, and joined

us afterwards when we were treated to mince pies and mulled wine or orange juice by the committee.

The raffle winners were Penny Wyatt, Irene Steer, Jackie Hunt and Hazel Day and the evening ended with spirited singing of a number of Christmas Carols again accompanied by Dorothy.   The next meeting will be on Monday 14th January at Village Hall when the speaker will be telling us about the History of Tea. Seasons Greeting to all!

JANINE BLACK.

 

UPTON ST. LEONARDS VILLAGE HISTORY GROUP.

On the evening of November 8th Mr. Jonathon Smalley gave a talk on the Ancrum Family who lived in St. Leonard's Court, which for those

not too familiar with Upton is down by the Kings Head public house.  He obviously thought that we were all latin scholars as he called his talk

'The Ancra'.

With the help of a power point presentation he went through the history of the Ancrum family who are his ancestors.  Dr. William Rutherford

Ancrum was born on February 5th 1816 and after qualifying as a doctor he, after  short while in this country, went to practice in the City of

Mexico.  In 1848 he was appointed surgeon to the Naval Hospital in Valparaison in Chile.  Early in 1863 he retired and came to Gloucestershire

where he purchased St. Leonards Court, where he lived until he died in 1898.

Dr. Ancrum became involved in local affairs including the Gloucester Mental Institutions. He was also responsible for closing down the

many ale houses in the Village, leaving only one. The King's Head. The house remained with the Ancrum family until 1932.   It was very

interesting to have a talk from a member of one of the families who left their mark on the Village at the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the last century.

Our next meeting is on the evening of January 10th 2008.

 

DAVID CHAVE.

 

 

Don't ForgetThe Mobile Library will be at the Village Hall, Upton St. Leonards on Monday 14th and 28th January between 1.40p.m. – 2.10p.m.

 

 

 

Thank You

John and Carol Baker would like to thank everyone for their kinddness and help during the ‘Floods’ last summer, we were both very touched by the overwhelming support people gave us when help was needed.

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

JOHN & CAROL BAKER.

 

COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF THE ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM EYE HOSPITAL.

The Coffee Morning held at Bond End Farm on 24th November raised just over £1130.00. 

In addition to this £220.00 was raised for needy children in Bethlehem by the sale of goods made there.

Thank you to everyone in the village who came or donated to the morning - the house was really full again and I am very grateful.  The moneys raised have been sent direct to the hospital account.

MANDY GARSTANG.

 

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to all those who gave presents for the children at The Haven – they were much appreciated.

Also, Thank You to all those who attended the Chipmunks Christmas service and donated £70 by way of retiring collection which will be given to The Haven.

RACHEL HALL.

 

GET-TOGETHER CLUB.

A very Happy New Year to all connected with the Get Together Club.  We look forward to another enjoyable and happy year, and would extend to any older person reading this a warm welcome to the Village Hall at 2.30p.m. on the last Thursday of the month.  We have speakers and outings and a jolly good tea in the Hall.  You will be made most welcome.

Our meeting this month is on Thursday 31st January.  Our speaker is well known to us all - Mike Stratford.  Mike has kindly agreed to come and talk about "Britain's Best Kept Secret". Say no more, except I have to say - miss this talk at your PERIL.  Our grateful thanks to Mike for giving up his time to come to our meeting.

I have to remind you all that I have bought 45 tickets for 'The Mikado' a Carl Rosa production from London which is coming to Cheltenham in March.  I have some spare tickets for this wonderful production - on Thursday 6th March 2008 in the afternoon   We shall have a coach leaving from the Village Hall, so transport is no worry. I have maximum reductions on ticket prices - £20 per person, which also should cover the cost of the coach.  ANY PERSON FROM THE VILLAGE OR AROUND is more than welcome to join us.  I need though, to hear from you as soon as possible, if you wish to go on this trip.  I shall collect Get Together Club members money at the January meeting.

 

MEG JAMES.

TEL NO. 616309

 

Village Hall Social Committee Events Preview for 2008

A note for your diaries for 2008:

Adult Quiz 7th February

Spring Show, Saturday, 15th March. Please start thinking about your entries now.

The Children's Quiz Evenings will be on Wednesday 7th 14th and 21st May.                                    -/  /

Hopefully another open air Brass Band Concert will be held in the summer.

We would like to thank all who have supported our events this year and enabled us to raise money to help improve the facilities at our Village Hall. We hope you enjoyed our social evenings and we look forward to seeing you at our events in 2008.

 

We are planning to have another Book Sale on Saturday 15th March 2008 in the Church Room to raise funds for the Church.

Please would you kindly consider donating any books you no longer need or want to this event.

Please contact Matthew Gibbs on 01452 618127 or email matthewgibbs@uptonstleonardschurch.co.uk for more details and to arrange collection of any books.

 

UPTON ST LEONARD'S 35th SPRING SHOW

AND

RENT-A-CRAFT STALL

ON

SATURDAY 15th MARCH 2008

Get those knitting needles clicking ready to enter

SECTION E - ARTS & HANDICRAFTS CLASSES

A Hand Knitted item up to 4 ply

A Hand Knitted item in double knitting

A Hand Knitted item in Fancy Wool/Yarn

A Crocheted item in any yarn

Show us your hidden talents - let us see what you have made

A picture. (Handicraft)        Max size 18”/46cms square

A picture. (Art)               Max size 18”/46cms square

These items should not have been exhibited in any previous show

SECTION XA - CHARITY CLASS

Knitting 'Jumpers for Joy'

Knit a drop-shoulder jumper for a child in double knitting.

ALL ENTRIES TO BE DONATED for an overseas appeal.

Pattern available from Mrs Bannister.

Sort out your photographs ready to enter

SECTION F - PHOTOGRAPHY

'Celebrations'                         Max size of photographs

'Water, water everywhere!'     12" x 8" (30cms x 20cms)

‘The World of Animals'