You are herePewsheet Archive / October 2019
October 2019
3rd November 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
Today, as well as being the fourth Sunday before Advent, we are also celebrating All Saints. A time when we recall the example, witness and prayer of the men and women who have been identified by the church as Saints. They are family members with whom we continue to share a relation in a bond of prayer called the Communion of Saints.In the Gospels, we recall for Jesus' teaching about happiness, the Beatitudes. None of those Jesus names as “blessed” or “happy” are expected . . . the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted. Jesus' blueprint for happiness reflects little of what the world might call happiness.
What does Jesus mean when he uses the word “blessed?” This word is sometimes translated as “happy” or “fortunate” or “favoured.” In other words, Jesus is saying that divine favour is upon those who are poor, who mourn, who are persecuted. This might have been welcome and surprising news to the crowds who heard Jesus that day.
The Beatitudes can be understood as a framework for Christian living. Because of this, it is natural that we proclaim this Gospel on the Feast of All Saints. Saints are people who lived the spirit of the Beatitudes as Jesus lived. On this day, we too are challenged to model our lives on the spirit and promises of the Beatitudes.
Nichola
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
313 99
Ps 149 163
259 172
63 297/456
122 317
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Elsie Richardson, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, John Richardson, Peter Bowler, Catherine Ritchie, Graham Baker, James Astle, Miles Brain, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright, Gren Deakin, Margaret Bott, Molly Wright, Norman Latham, Joan Lazonby, Richard Stephens
And for the departed:
Brian Dominic, Roy Farnell, George Washington, Eva McNulty and Joseph Tellwright
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Tuesday 5th 11.45 – 13.00 Drop Inn Café - St Michael’s hall
Thursday 7th 10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad
NEXT SUNDAY – 10TH NOV Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. There will be a said communion at 9.30am followed by the Town Service of Remembrance at 10.45am. There will be no green bus this week.
MESSY ADULTS: A Craft Café will take place on Wednesday 13th November at St Saviours Church Aston between 2pm and 4pm. Tea/Coffee and Cake and all craft materials will be provided for a suggested donation of £5.
If you would like further information please speak to Rev Alison Hudson.
BISHOP GEOFF’S LEAVING GIFT.Our two churches would like to make a combined gift. All donations to Churchwardens please,
LADIES OUTINGTuesday 17th December 5.30pm – Lichfield Cathedral Illuminations: The trip is now FULL. Ladies can you pay your money to Steph as soon as possibleplease.
27th October 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
Many years ago, without thinking, I forced a piece of frozen bread into a toaster. As I turned it on, there was a blue flash, as it shorted across the elements – and that was the end of that! You might say the toaster had “given up the ghost.”
A commonplace expression – but do you know from where it comes? In fact, it is from the King James Bible: as Jesus dies on the cross, according to St Mark, he “gave up the ghost.” So many of our expressions, both modern and ancient are still biblically based!
So how well do you know your Bible? It’s not really good enough to say “I hear it in church each Sunday” If we went to every Morning and Evening Prayer and never missed a Sunday, we would still only have read about 1/3 of Holy Scripture in a 3 year period! I remember hearing a sermon from a wise old Priest in which it was said that, to say we were an expert cook on the basis of watching all the TV cookery programmes would be a similar claim. No, the point is that we are called to engage with our faith through Scripture, not just to spectate. As the old Collect from the Book of Common Prayer says, we are to “Read, Mark, Learn and inwardly digest.”
This Sunday is “Bible Sunday” – a day in which to review our use of Holy Writ. It’s also a time to think about the value we put on our Bibles:- think of William Tyndale, going to the stake for the “sin” of printing the Bible in English – and the many, many others who smuggled them, risked their lives and faced considerable dangers in order for us to have it today.
Ian Cardinal
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
393 85
56 296
237 237
426/10 386/10
464 427
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Elsie Richardson, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, John Richardson, Peter Bowler, Catherine Ritchie, Graham Baker, James Astle, Miles Brain, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright, Gren Deakin, Margaret Bott, Molly Wright, Norman Latham, Joan Lazonby, Richard Stephens
And for the departed:
Margaret Griffiths, Brian Dominic, Ken Bentley, Roy Farnell, Pearl Sunderland, George Washington, Eva McNulty, Joseph Tellwright
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Tuesday 29th 11.45 – 13.00 Drop Inn Café - St Michael’s hall
Thursday 31st 10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad
LADIES OUTINGTuesday 17th December 5.30pm – Lichfield Cathedral illuminations: The trip is now FULL. Ladies can you pay your money to Steph as soon as possible.
BISHOP GEOFF’S LEAVING GIFT.Our two churches would like to make a combined gift. All donations to Churchwardens please
ALL SOULS DAY SERVICE4pm Sunday 3rd November. The letters of invitation to the bereaved have gone out – and the lists for any names to be remembered are at the back of each church. Do come and support this important ministry
PLASTER FALL IN ST M&W on Friday 11th evening a large lump of 18th Century plaster fell in the porch, which could have caused a significant injury to anyone underneath. The Architect is to inspect, together with a joiner. Until resolved, access through the porch is at your own risk
20th October 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
We are almost at the end of the Trinity season, next week being the last Sunday after Trinity – and in this week’s gospel, Jesus reminds us of the vast importance of prayer. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of, Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.” wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson. And, in our hearts of hearts we know that to be true.
The problem is that it’s hard! We can all easily rattle off a “shopping” list of prayers each day – but is that really what God asks of us? True prayer may begin in silence, when we try to listen to God speaking to us in prayer: and God is not a cosmic fruit machine, whereby we put in a request and, if we are lucky, the right combination comes up and we get the answer we want!
And Jesus tells us to persevere in prayer. It’s all too easy to give up – how many people do you know that will tell you they lost faith when something happened they think God should not have allowed? One of the things that constantly impresses me on my own spiritual journey is the constancy of those who are called to the Religious life of a Monk or Nun: their lives are filled with prayers, many times a day, let alone the times they spend praying alone. Not many of us may be called to that kind of life, but we are all called to pray constantly
In one of my parishes was a lady whose mother died after a long illness. When nature eventually took its course, she was in floods of tears with my predecessor as Vicar – who managed to point out that her mother had died, as she wished, at home and in no pain. This may not have been the answer she wanted – but undoubtedly the Good Lord was there, answering prayer in that moment
Ian Cardinal
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
243 246
5 (x2) 40
287 346
342/452 463/39
186 186
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Elsie Richardson, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, John Richardson, Peter Bowler, Catherine Ritchie, Graham Baker, James Astle, Miles Brain, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright, Gren Deakin, Margaret Bott, Molly Wright, Norman Latham, Joan Lazonby, Richard Stephens
And for the departed:
John Turner, Margaret Griffiths, Brian Dominic, Ken Bentley, Roy Farnell, Pearl Sunderland
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Monday 21st 7.30pm Ministry Team Meeting - Rectory
Tuesday 22nd 11.45 – 13.00 Drop Inn Café - St Michael’s hall
Thursday 24th 10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad
7.30pm “Spiritual essentials” – 11 Farrier Close
SPIRITUAL ESSENTIALS: Final session is entitled “Water – enjoying refreshment.” Everyone welcome to the Rectory on Thursday
LADIES OUTINGTuesday 17th December 5.30pm – Lichfield Cathedral illuminations – cost £6: JUST ONE PLACE LEFT! 4pm Buffet meal at Chapters, in the Close – cost £10.75. Please confirm your place and pay your money to Steph ASAP
BISHOP GEOFF’S LEAVING GIFT.Our two churches would like to make a combined gift. All donations to Churchwardens please
ALL SOULS DAY SERVICE4pm Sunday 3rd November. The letters of invitation to the bereaved have gone out – and the lists for any names to be remembered are at the back of each church. Do come and support this important ministry
12th October 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
People across the Diocese are being invited to make a donation towards a leaving gift for Bishop Geoff and Ann Annas.
Bishop Geoff announced in July that he will retire from his role in November. Diocesan Chief Executive Officer Julie Jones said: "We want to give people the chance to donate towards a leaving gift for Bishop Geoff and Ann, who will both be much missed.”
Please send any gifts to the Finance Team at St Mary’s House, The Close, Lichfield, WS13 7LD, clearly marking the envelope ‘Annas Leaving Gift’. Cheques should be made payable to 'LDBF'.
Payment can also be made using sort code: 30-95-04, account no: 00030004, ref: 'Annas' in the description.
Gifts should be made before a special farewell service, celebrating the life of the Church and communities in North Staffordshire, on Sunday 24 November at Stoke Minster at 4pm. All are welcome
Bishop Geoff will also be with us on 24th November at 10.45am for our annual “Stir up Sunday” puddings
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
101 565
186 288
524 464
355/342 72/53
534 380
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Elsie Richardson, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, John Richardson, Peter Bowler, Catherine Ritchie, Graham Baker, James Astle, Miles Brain, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright, Gren Deakin, Margaret Bott, Molly Wright, Norman Latham, Joan Lazonby, Richard Stephens
And for the departed:
Henry Smith, John Turner & Derek (friend of Carl & Jacob), Margaret Wright, Brian Dominic
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Tuesday 15th 11.45 – 13.00 Drop Inn Café - St Michael’s hall
7pm St Michael’s School Governors
Thursday 10th 10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad
7.30pm “Spiritual essentials” – 30 Airdale Road
SPIRITUAL ESSENTIALS: Session three is entitled “Shelter – finding security.” Everyone welcome to 30, Airdale Rd on Thursday
LADIES OUTINGTuesday 17th December 5.30pm – Lichfield Cathedral illuminations – cost £6: JUST SIX PLACES LEFT! 4pm Buffet meal at Chapters, in the Close – cost £10.75. Please confirm your place and pay your money to Steph ASAP
A TURBULENT PRIESTChrist Church hosts a light hearted look at the history of Archbishop Thomas a Becket and King Henry II by the same team as performed “A Monk’s tale” 2 years ago. Starts 7.30pm – tickets from Christ Church Office tel 811990 – cost £8 or £6 concessions
5th October 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
It wouldn’t take a genius to be able to work out that Harvest is probably one of the world’s most ancient religious festivals! Each year human beings have gathered together to worship their creator and to make an offering in thanksgiving for the fruit of the earth – and there is evidence of this kind of thing right back to the Stone Age
You can see it in some of the earliest books of the Bible as well. In Deuteronomy you can read some of instructions for the Hebrew peoples to bring their offerings and to set them before the Priest. But in this instance it is important that we notice a difference between them and other peoples. For most subsistence farmers, Harvest was both a thank offering for the past year and a prayer that the years following would be just the same: blessed by the right amounts of rain and sunshine, may the crops be enough to carry us through in the same old ways. But this wasn’t so for the people of Israel. They saw Harvest as a season in which they remembered that their God was a God who made a difference. Far from tomorrow being the same as yesterday, Harvest was a time to remember the God that had rescued them out of slavery in Egypt. Their offering and prayer was to a God who loved them and changed things for the better!
So our Harvest services are a reminder to us about a God who knows our needs, who has changed the world already, and is still changing it in Christ Jesus. Above all, Christians are called to be a people of hope – hope for the future that is, with ourselves, in the hands of God
Enjoy the Harvest
Ian Cardinal.
Hymns for today
Aston Stone (all on sheet)
133 101
Ps 137 1-6 557
277 137
466 414/328/Sheet
516 534
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Elsie Richardson, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, John Richardson, Peter Bowler, Catherine Ritchie, Graham Baker, James Astle, Miles Brain, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright, Gren Deakin, Margaret Bott, Molly Wright, Norman Latham, Joan Lazonby, Richard Stephens
And for the departed:
Kathleen Wright, Henry Smith, Richard Turner & Derek (friend of Carl & Jacob)
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Monday 7th 10.30am Holy Communion – Summerfield Court
Tuesday 8th 11.45 – 13.00 Drop Inn Café - St Michael’s hall
1.15pm Clergy Fraternal – Christ Church centre
2.30pm Aston Charity meeting – Farrier Close
Thursday 10th 9.30am Holy Communion – The Moorings
10.30am Holy Communion – St Michael & St Wulfad
2pm Deanery Standing Committee – Farrier Close
7.30pm “Spiritual essentials” – 7, Phillips Close
SPIRITUAL ESSENTIALS: Session three is entitled “Light – gaining wisdom.” Everyone welcome to 7, Philips Close on Thursday
LADIES OUTINGTuesday 17th December 5.30pm – Lichfield Cathedral illuminations – cost £6: Name and money to Steph by Sunday October 20th. Food plans to follow
WE WELCOMEthe children from St Michael’s School to our Harvest service at St Michael’s at 10.45am this Sunday