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NEWSLETTER JULY 2010 PRAYER FOCUS
SERVICES JULY 2010. Ploërmel 4th 5th after Trinity 11-00 H C order 1 11th 6th after Trinity 11-00 Prayer and Praise followed by bring and share lunch 18th 7th after Trinity 11-00 H C order 1 25th 8th after Trinity 11-00 Family Service with Communion And Sunday School downstairs. Rostrenen (Chapelle de Manoir du Campostal.) 11th 6th after Trinity 10-30 H C Order 1 25th 8th after Trinity 10.30 H C Order 1 Huelgoat (Parish Church in the town centre.) 11th 6th after Trinity 18.30 HC Order 1 For further information about any of these services please get in touch with The Rev’d Hazel Door, Churchwardens or the local contacts. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY/FORTHCOMING EVENTS Shared Lunch 18th July 2010 Malcolm and Jennie Bonnington have offered to host a shared lunch at their home after the service at Ploërmel on Sunday July 18th. Malcolm and Jennie live at Quily, just a few kilometres south of Ploërmel and if you need directions speak to Malcolm or Jennie after the service on the morning of the 18th. Christ Church Brittany Summer BBQ Christ Church Brittany Summer BBQ on Saturday, 3rd July 2010 Kertanguellou (10 mins drive south of Rostrenen) 12:30 – 16:30 Do please come and bring your friends and neighbors too *** Five euros each for food plus a drink (children under 12 free) No entrance charge - so if you wish to bring your own picnic (i.e. vegetarian food) please do so *** Games – Raffle - Book Stall – Animals to visit (well-behaved dogs on leads welcome) *** ‘Have-a-Go’ archery with the Wandering Arrows Archery Club of Brittany *** Please buy/reserve your BBQ tickets in advance so that we can cater for the correct numbers Any further details wanted please contact Julia by e-mail or telephone 0296 24 22 53
Home Group and Fellowship Meetings – July 2010 St Vran The meetings during July will be held on the 1st and 15th and will commence with a shared lunch. Everyone is welcome and for further information please contact Joyce and Alex Fraser on 02 96 56 13 22 or e-mail alex.fraser@wanadoo.fr. Redon Area For the date of the next meeting and further information or just to hear more about the Group in general please contact Joy Morin on 02 99 71 12 30 or Maureen Wilson on 02 99 08 21 94. Ploërmel A Home Group has started in Ploërmel at the home of Chris & Liz Barge. Meetings will take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting at 3.00pm. For information please contact Chris or Liz on 02 97 72 45 33 or e-mail lizzieandchris@wanadoo.fr. Bannalec There is a fellowship meeting for English speakers which usually take place at the Chapel at David and Rebecca Pugh’s on Tuesday evenings at 5.00pm. For further information and to check on dates beforehand please contact Rebecca or David on 02 98 35 46 59. Social Evenings – Ploërmel The social evenings are held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, commencing at 7.30pm. For further information please telephone John Edge 02 97 74 97 96 Joint Ecumenical Meeting – Carnac The joint Ecumenical meeting at Carnac this year will be held on Tuesday 3rd August starting at 11.00am. This year's theme chosen by Christ Church is 'Let the children come to me'. We hope as many as possible from Christ Church will come along and join in this joint service. OTHER NEWS AND MATTERS Summer Fete As Co-ordinator of our Third Summer Fete, I would like to thank so many people who took part. It was such a joy that Saturday morning to watch so many cars rolling in and unloading things for stalls, parasols, children’s games etc. Everywhere looked attractive, bunting and balloons waved in the sun, there were plenty of buyers, and the Teas were much appreciated.In addition to the stalls we had a 'Guess the doll's name' (Rebecca), and a splendid cake made by Barbara Woodford for 'Guess the Weight'. Barbara and Terry kept us busy with Bowling and hitting a poor defenceless Rat. There were clay models to be made with Sue Shotts. Guy amazed us with an ingenious take on his Bottle stall, and there were many great Raffle prizes. Thank you all for your help, it was a real team effort. Barbara Dunford PS I can also now add that a total of 1025 Euros was raised on the day which was a splendid effort, thank you again. Thank You Following the recent death of her mother Hazel sends her thanks and those of her family for all the kind wishes and cards, letters and emails that they have received from so many people. They have been a great comfort to them all. Heartfelt thanks from Helen and John Edge As you are probably aware, I am now in hospital. I spent a week in Ploërmel hospital having my oedema and ulcers treated and I am now in a Psychiatric Clinic called Penn-Ker at Bréhan (room phone number 02 97 28 12 26. Visits are allowed between 14.30h and 18.30h every day. There are some lovely peaceful grounds and a building for visits. John usually visits on Sundays, but I have various out-patient appointments during the next few weeks and John’s birthday is on 26th June. I go to church on Fridays at 17.00h and there are trips out on various days and there is O.T. and other activities, so if anyone wishes to visit me, I would be grateful if they would ring first. We would like to thank you all very much for your prayers and good wishes. I would be especially appreciative if you could pray for John, who is finding the experience much more traumatic than I am. Thank you all again very much for everything and John has put a card on the Notice Board from us. Love and best wishes to everyone. Helen and John Giving to God When you’re giving to God, just where do you start? Do you give with your head; do you give with your heart? Is God first on your list, or does He come last? Do you think just of your future, or think of His past? Does He get crumbs from your table, or do you give Him a slice? If you remembered what Christ gave, well that would be nice. For Christ held back nothing, He gave us His all, Is your gift to Him worthy, or is it so small That you don’t feel a thing, it’s as nothing to you? Well that’s just what the Lord feels about your gift to Him too! So give with your heart, it doesn’t pay for your sin! For Christ gave His life our salvation to win. All we have comes from Him, that’s what it says in His Word. Give a gift that is worthy, that honours the Lord. When you give with your heart, he’s promised nothing you’ll lack He knows what you give; He knows what you keep back. Be joyful in giving, but first give Him your heart, Then your giving is easy, for it’s only a part Of our service to Him, He deserves so much more. So give with your heart and you’ll never be poor; For your gifts to the Lord are your treasure above. They make the Lord glad, when they’re given with love. Alan Mason Formal Licensing as Reader of Alan Mason
Alan Mason was formally licensed as one of our Readers at a service held at St Michael’s, Paris on 15th June 2010. The Venerable Kenneth Letts, Archdeacon of France, presided at the service, when Betty Taylor of St Michael's Paris was also licensed. Also taking part in the service was our own Minister, the Rev Hazel Door. Our very best wishes go to Alan, who is seen regularly leading or preaching at services at Ploërmel. and finally......... For most of the last three and a half years, each time I have typed those words, I’ve felt a mixture of emotions: sense of anticipation, fulfilment, joy, sadness sometimes. But never before, have I felt the depth of sadness that I’m feeling today as I write them. In those years, we’ve journeyed together, laughed together, cried together, despaired together and rejoiced together. Just like any other family we have grown together; not only spiritually but emotionally too. The church family of Christ Church is no different. Like any other family we have had differences, tough times along with the good times; and like any family there comes a time when partings must come. I know that many of you have suffered/are suffering financially in the current economic situation, the falling exchange rate has hit many retired folk on fixed incomes; the cost of daily living here has increased and many have been struggling to manage on much reduced incomes; so it won’t surprise you to learn the Martin and I are in the same boat. For some time now we have been using our dwindling savings to augment our pensions. As time has gone on, it has been more and more difficult; and eventually we have had to make the one decision that neither Martin nor I wanted: that I should resign as Priest in Charge of Christ Church Brittany, and return to the Poitou-Charentes. It was not an easy or hurried decision, it had become obvious in August/September last year that our resources were not infinite, yet we hoped that a way might be found to stay. Christ Church has always been very generous in its support, going far beyond what was initially agreed in our original working agreement, back in 2006. However, the financial problem of her members has meant a reduction in the giving income to CCB. Following the washed out fete in 2008, there was little or no enthusiasm for fundraising in 2009. As a result Christ Church’s own reserves have dwindled to a point where an informal meeting of councillors, having reviewed the situation, could not see how it would be possible to be able to sustain the payment of even a part stipend (salary) and the additional social charges, without seriously further depleting the reserves. I know that, for them, it was a difficult decision; made in good faith in what they felt were the best interests of Christ Church. Equally, I know a great effort and many hours were spent in trying to find a solution that would make it possible. However, financial reality meant my resignation. I had informed the Standing committee on the 21st March 2010 that was my intention, but was asked to wait before announcing it. Time, of course, was a factor and it eventually ran out for us in mid-May. Despite last minute attempts to resolve the problem, I had to finally admit that we could no longer continue and announced my resignation. Since September 2009, both Bishop David and the Archdeacon Ken Letts have been kept fully informed of our situation and that of Christ Church. When Barbara Dunford and Chris Wilson, told me of their intention to resign as Church Wardens, I was obliged to inform Bishop Geoffrey as they were his officers in the Chaplaincy. From that point the matter was then in the hands of the Bishops. I can only say how devastated I felt when Barbara and Chris told me they were going. They have both served Christ Church amazingly loyally, with great effort, enthusiasm and unstinting devotion. They have been a greatly valued resource and support to both Martin and I. My last Sunday will be the 25th July and I hope that I will have the opportunity to bid farewell to most of you, either at worship or at social events before then. If I don’t have the chance, then please know that for the rest of my life I will hold you all in my thoughts and prayers, there will be a Brittany shaped hole in our hearts and lives. I will look back at our time here and know that we journeyed well together, knowing Jesus Christ and making Him known. May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, now and always. Hazel Christ Church Newsletter Contributions: for the August 2010 issue, please e-mail your contributions to Chris Wilson at wilson.christopher@orange.fr, the deadline is Monday 19th July 2010. Please note that any views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those held by Christ Church Brittany but are those of the individual contributor.
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