"Notes From Around the Parishes" April 2016

8/18/2019 "Notes From Around the Parishes" April 2016

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Notes from around the Parishes, April 2016

For Great Massingham, Harpley & Little Massingham

“April is the cruellest month breeding lilacs out of a dead land...”The poet TS Eliot was referring to the annual resurgence of new lifein Spring - which will only die once more when its time comes, hencethe cruelty: the annual cycle always leads to death. But this is a bleak

way of seeing the world.As Christians we know that in Spring-time, each Easter-tide we can bear witness

to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the life-blood which invigoratesand sustains our churches throughout the year. Our Christian faith is nourished

by the life-giving power of God in Christ Jesus, who gives us hope that willnever die; the power of the Holy Spirit is always at work in all our lives. April is

in fact the most joyful month – and the season of Easter-tide lasts all month.As a former city-dweller, I really appreciate the joy of rural life and beingsurrounded by the natural beauty of the countryside in Spring. I was at an RSPB

reserve last week and saw the reed beds quivering with new bird-life. In ourvillages, the toad patrols are on high alert near our wonderful ponds, as toadsemerge from hibernation for their spring migration to breed where they were

born.Gardeners too are stirring in their potting sheds, planning for the year ahead.

Our lawn-mower has been dusted off but during its annual service it gave up theghost so investing in a new mower became a priority. We decided against a self-

propelled one in case it ran away from us and attacked Rufus, always at ourheels, but we have gone for the best petrol engine we could afford, aninvestment in many happy years of mowing to come!

With Easter falling early this year we can now enjoy a leisurely stroll towardslate Spring and Summer as we welcome the new influx of visitors to our

beautiful county, passing through our villages and churches. Springtime activity

in churches is similar to that of gardening: dusting off the produce stall andtrying to summon up new energy for fundraising as well as doing a bit of spring-

cleaning. If you have ever thought of getting a bit more involved in Church life,now is the perfect time – we really do need your help and support. Have a wordwith one of the churchwardens or me. Do come and join us for our Sundayservices, especially as the weather gets warmer!Happy Spring-cleaning, Happy Gardening! Most of all Happy Easter-tide!

Reverend udith

Leanne Graver (née Grimes) died on 15th March after a long battle with cancer. Herfuneral and a Celebration of her Life will be held on Weds 30th March at 2:30pm, in theParish Church of St Mary, East Rudham; followed by burial in East Rudham Cemetery.


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SERVICES Across the Group for APRIL 2016

Sunday, April 3rd ~ Easter 2

0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass0900 Holy Communion All Saints’, Ashwicken 1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston 1030 Family Service St Nicholas’, Gayton 6pm Prayer Meeting All Saints’, Roydon

Weds, April 6th ~ 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s, Harpley

Sunday, April 17th ~ Easter 4

0930 Holy Communion St Andrew’s, Lt Massingham

1100 Family Service St Mary’s, Gt Massingham 1115 Sung Holy Communion St Lawrence’s, Harpley 0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Roydon1030 Holy Communion St Nicholas’, Gayton 1030 Family Service St Botolph’s, Grimston

Sunday, April 24th ~ Easter 51100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass0830 Holy Communion St Andrew’s, Congham

1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston 1030 Morning Worship St Nicholas’, Gayton 1500 Celtic Service St Mary’s, Gayton Thorpe

Sunday, 1st May ~ Rogation Sunday

0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley

1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass

0900 Holy Communion St Mary’s, East Walton

1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston 1030 Family Holy Communion St Nicholas’, Gayton

6pm Prayer Meeting All Saints’, Ashwicken

Sunday, April 10th ~ Easter 3 1030 Group Holy Communion, St Nicholas’, Gayton

4pm ‘The Gap’ ~ The Methodist Chapel, Pott Row


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On 11th March the Bishop of Norwich helped launch the East

Anglian Air Ambulance’s new helicopter and blessed it on its way. The EAAA was

set up in 2000 and since then over 18,000 missions have been flown. It has grown

from one helicopter, one day a week to two helicopters, with a doctor and paramedic

crew, available every day of the year. Participants in The Archdeacon’s Charge raise funds with half going to the EAAA and half to the church of their choice.

The 7th Archdeacon’s Charge will take place at Sandringham.

Bank Holiday Monday – 2nd May:

Run or walk a 2.5mile route (up to 10 miles), then relax and picnic.

Entry to the day costs just £10 per person, couple or family. To book your place

please visit www.dioceseofnorwich.org /charge ~ or pay on the day.This event keeps growing and is now much more than just the run. This year it

includes the big bring-your-own family picnic, a classic car show, craft market, a fitfor a Queen ‘bake off’ competition, live music and a play area to keep your littleones happy.

If you can’t come why not sponsor someone from your localchurch? Contact Rosemary Mehers to be put in touch (521866)

St Lawrence’s plans to run a stall at the Archdeacon’s Charge; if you

can help us on the day please contact Lucy Brown (520 252)

Study Groups: the Thursday night Bible study has ceased but it is hoped

there may be sufficient interest to start another group in the coming

months. Those attending the Lent study group enjoyed the fellowship and

discussions it provided and decided they would like to continue meeting.

They will start by dipping into The Screwtape Letters – a book by CS

Lewis in which an experienced devil instructs a younger devil in how toundermine a Christian’s good intentions. Day and venue to be confirmed

All welcome, especially new members. ~ contact the Rev’d Judith formore information (01485 601251.)

Annual Parochial Church Meetings:

St Mary’s, Great Massingham, at 7pm Monday, 11th April

St Lawrence’s, Harpley, wine & nibbles at 7pm Tuesday, 12th April

St Andrew’s, Little Massingham, at 2:30pm Wednesday, 13th April


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A concert to raise funds for the roof repairs at St

Mary’s Church, East Walton, will be held on

Sat 16th April 7pm at St Nicholas’ Church, Gayton

Harpley Churchyard has recently become home to six nest boxes. Theywill be monitored by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as part of a project to see

how successfully birds breed in rural churchyards. It is hoped the boxes

will encourage house sparrows to nest as they are in decline and now a

red-listed species. The boxes may also attract spotted flycatchers, a

migrant species also in decline. Any chicks would ultimately be ringed so

their movement and survival can be followed.

******* Regular Events *******

Harpley:

Reminder ~ There will be no meeting of the Phoenix Group on April 13th. TheAGM will be postponed until the meeting in May. The Phoenix Group usually

meets on the second Wednesday of the month in Harpley Village Hall at 7:30pm

Great Massingham:

Afternoon Teas Every Wednesday from 2pm (to whenever)

You are welcome to join us in 34, John Morton Crescent; for a cuppa, a chat and, of course, cake.

Donations as usual to the toilet fund.

Prayer Group WEDNESDAY: 8.15 pm at Barrack House, GreatMassingham; (next to Dabbling Duck) Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Our Ministry Team:

Team Rector Rev’d Jane Holmes, The Rectory, Gayton 01553 636227 Team Vicar Rev’d Judith Pollard, The Rectory, Grimston 01485 601251Contact the Rev’d Judith to arrange Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals. Herday off is Friday. If she is unavailable, the Rev’d Jane will be happy to help with urgent matters.

Please send items for inclusion in the May issue of the ‘Parish Notes’ to the editor by17th April~ Rosemary Mehers [email protected] 2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW; or Tel: 01485 521866
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

"Notes From Around the Parishes" April 2016

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