Notes from around the Parishes, November 2016

for Great Massingham, Little Massingham & Harpley

The Reverend Judith Pollard writes:
Advent Sunday, the start of the new Church Year, when we
begin to look forward to the birth of Jesus at Christmas (ten
weeks away as I write), falls in November, towards the end of
the calendar year.
Endings and new beginnings: our life consists of these,
rolling out across the years. We like to mark such landmark occasions,
pivots on which we hang our lives. We aspire to look forward in hope,
although this can sometimes be quite a challenge - when life surprises or
overwhelms us; and politically, due to Brexit, we could not live in more
uncertain, uncharted times.
However, the time around Remembrance Sunday (13th November) is
familiar territory, when we look back at our nations history in respect
and gratitude, remembering the courage of the past and the heroes who
have given us the freedoms we continue to be thankful for to this day.
We live in a world of tremendous upheaval and darkness; never has the
inextinguishable light of the Christ-child - and the hope He brings us been more needed in our world.
We continue to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War. The
Bible Society, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion, has produced
a small collection of psalms, poetry, prayers and hymns: Hear My Cry,
subtitled words for when there are no words. I quote from the books
foreword, words written not by a priest but by a decorated soldier,
General, the Lord Dannatt: God does not take sides between countries.
However, he is passionately concerned for the people who live in those
countries and get caught up in war. He made us. He loves us and wants
us to love him in return. In peace or war God is interested in us as
individuals. I echo these words.
This Remembrance-tide let us offer our prayers for our serving military
personnel and their families, for those challenged by life-changing
injuries and for those who have lost their lives in war (including civilians)
during the past year: at the going down of the sun and in the morning we
will remember them. We also pray that peace and justice will prevail in
Syria - especially in the city of Aleppo - and all the countries of the
Middle East.
Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful Advent,
Reverend Judith

SERVICES Across the Group for NOVEMBER 2016

Sunday, 30th Oct ~ All Saints Sunday (and 4th before Advent)
Group Services for the Fifth Sunday in the month

Note - British Summer Time ends at 1am!

0830

Holy Communion

All Saints,

1030
3pm

Holy Communion
Celebration of Life

St Andrews, Little Massingham

St Botolphs, Grimston

Weds, 2nd Nov All Souls Day

Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Ashwicken

9am

Sunday, November 6th ~ Third Sunday before Advent

0930 Family Service
St Lawrences,
Harpley
1100 Holy Communion
St Marys,
Great Mass
0830 Holy Communion
St Marys,
East Walton
1030 Holy Communion
St Botolphs,
Grimston
1030 Morning Praise
St Nicholas,
Gayton
6pm Prayer Meeting
St Botolphs,
Grimston

Sunday, 13th November ~ Second Sunday before Advent

~ Remembrance Sunday

1000
1050
1030
1030
4pm
Weds, 16th Nov at 9am

The Gap

St Marys, Great Massingham

St Lawrences, Harpley
St Nicholas, Gayton
St Botolphs, Grimston
Methodist Chapel, Pott Row,

Holy Communion at St Botolphs, Grimston

Sunday, 20th Nov ~ Sunday next before Advent

0930
1100
1115
0830
1030
1030

Holy Communion
Family Service
Sung Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Praise

St Andrews,
St Marys,
St Lawrences,
All Saints,
St Nicholas,
St Botolphs,

Lt Massingham
Gt Massingham
Harpley
Roydon
Gayton
Grimston.

Sunday, 27th Nov ~ Advent Sunday

1100 Holy Communion
St Marys, Gt Massingham
0830 Holy Communion
St Andrews, Congham
0930 *Family Service
St Botolphs,
Grimston
*The service, at this new earlier time, will now alternate between Gayton and Grimston

3pm

Celtic Service

Gayton Thorpe

30th Nov ~ Feast of Saint Andrew. Patron Saint of Scotland and several local churches
Sunday, December 4th ~ Second Sunday ofAdvent
0930 Family Service
St Lawrences,
1100 Holy Communion
St Marys,
0830 Holy Communion
St Andrews,
1030 Holy Communion
St Botolphs,
1030 Morning Praise
St Nicholas,
3pm Prayer Meeting
St Nicholas,
Weds, 7th Dec
Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Harpley
Great Mass
Ashwicken
Grimston
Gayton
Gayton
9am

From the Registers:

Marriage at St Marys, Great Massingham
22nd October:
Christopher Alec Brian Woods & Hannah Marie Reeve

Thank you to everyone who supported us

Donations at Christine Griffiths Coffee Morning were 237
and at Harpley Primary School in the afternoon totalled 105.11.

Sunday 13th November at 3pm You are invited to St Andrews Church,

Congham for afternoon tea and to view an exhibition of locally crafted items
on the theme

Hear My Cry

No charge.

Please join us to remember all those who fought and died.

Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

~ Leaflets are available in our churches Its not too late to make up a box to send to a
needy child.
Please get your completed boxes to St Marys, Massingham
or St Lawrences, Harpley
by Sunday Nov 13th.
For info call
Margaret Bowes 01485 520135 (or Rosemary Mehers if you are in Harpley).
Flowers @ St Lawrences:
Nov 20th

Nov 6th & 13th

Gina Wagg

Julie Coyne
Then no flowers in Advent

Study Groups:
The Screwtape Letters Group only has three sessions left.
Meetings are usually at Cobwebs, Gt Massingham; dates tbc
Advent Study ~ A short series of studies is being planned for the Advent period. Place,
day and time of the meetings have yet to be decided. If interested in receiving more
information email the editor (see below) to go on the mailing list or contact
Revd Judith (01485 601251)
at Barrack House,
Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Prayer Group WEDNESDAYS: 8.15 pm

Great Massingham; (next to Dabbling Duck)

Afternoon Teas Once the clocks have changed the Afternoon Teas
move to 34, John Morton Crescent for the winter months.
Every Weds from 2pm ~leave when you like; dogs also welcome!
Thanks to Dickie Nally & Bryan Jones for their hospitality

The Childrens Workshops at St Lawrences, Harpley, just like the summer

Holiday Club and Messy Church, are times of friendship and fun activities
including a Bible story, singing, crafts, and sharing refreshments. Advent is the
four weeks when we look forward to Christmas ~Jesus BIRTHDAY!;
Why not come along and join us as we prepare?
Advent Part 1 Monday, 21st November, 3:30pm
Make a birthday cake for Jesus, adopt a Nativity figure + more
then: Advent Part 2 Tuesday 20th December 9:30am
Decorate your cake and help us make the church ready with a Nativity scene.
All ages welcome Contact Lucy Brown 01485 520252
Messy Church is in the Jubilee Hall, Gayton on Thurs 24th Nov at 3.30pm
Please send items for inclusion in the next issue of the Parish Notes to the editor
by 18th Nov~
Rosemary Mehers
rosemarymehers@hotmail.com
2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW;

or Tel: 01485 521866

Our Ministry Team:

Team Rector
Team Vicar

Revd Jane Holmes,

Revd Judith Pollard,

The Rectory, Gayton

01553 636227
The Rectory, Grimston 01485 601251
Contact the Revd Judith to arrange Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals. Her day off is
Friday. If she is unavailable, the Revd Jane will be happy to help with urgent matters.