Notes from around the Parishes, September 2016

for Great Massingham, Little Massingham & Harpley

The Reverend Judith Pollard writes:
Resourced, equipped, inspired!
Autumn, a season of change in the natural world, begins in September: the
season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. It is also the season of Harvest and
Harvest Festivals and the challenge of a new school term: new beginnings are
exciting, full of promise but can be a bit daunting too! Warm and sunny
weather at this time is often called an Indian Summer.
This summer, particularly the month of August, has been amazing - not weatherwise but certainly for sporting achievements. As I write this, our brilliant Team
GB has won more medals than ever before in the Olympic Games and we are
second in the medals table, leading everyone except the USA, a remarkable
achievement for our small island and a great source of inspiration.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been invested in resourcing and training
our Olympians, ensuring that our athletes have the best training facilities, are
able to attract the best coaches in the world and have the best physical and
psychological support to assist optimum performance. And it has paid off.
Commitment, resourcing, dedication, courage, determination, singlemindedness, sacrifice - all these qualities play a part in the make-up of a sporting
hero. How would it be if we could apply the same criteria to our own normal
lives? Just imagine what we could achieve if we were as single-minded and
dedicated as an Olympic athlete? We all have the potential to be champions.
But of course it is very difficult, nay impossible, to stay focused at such a peak
for very long without living in a very particular, disciplined way with
exceptional support, where we are permitted to put our own training needs
before everything else and this is very hard for ordinary people to do.
We are all heroes in the eyes of God. Christians are asked to try and live lives
worthy of Jesus Christ, our perfect role model, and to always think of the needs
of others before our own: to love our neighbour as ourselves. This is a hugely
challenging task in a world dominated by material priorities and personal gain;
putting our own spiritual needs high on the agenda is problematic to start with,
without adding in the needs of others. Without the resource of Gods help
actively at work in our lives, we dont stand a chance of achieving anything very
much spiritually, let alone a gold medal. But Christians are not in it for personal
gain, just that our lives may reflect the glory of God.
Why dont you come and join us in our churches there are ten to choose from
in our group with a variety of different services see if our worship speaks to
you, especially if you feel there is something you are missing in your life.
It may just make all the difference to your future performance.

SERVICES Across the Group for SEPTEMBER 2016

Sunday, 4th September ~ Trinity 15
0930 Family Service
1100 Holy Communion
0830 Holy Communion
1030 Family Service
6pm Prayer Meeting
Weds, 7th Sept at 9am

St Lawrences,
Harpley
St Marys,
Great Mass
St Marys,
East Walton
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Andrews,
Congham

Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Sunday, 11th September ~ Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Group Service

1030

at St Botolphs, Grimston

Holy Communion

4pm

The Gap

Methodist Chapel, Pott Row,

A very relaxed time together
with prayer and praise.

Sunday, 18th Sept ~ Trinity 17

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

Weds, 21st Sept at 9am

Holy Communion at St Botolphs, Grimston
****** NEW - a new addition to the regular schedule of services
Sunday, 25th Sept ~ Trinity 18
1100 Holy Communion
0830 Holy Communion
1030 Holy Communion
1030 Morning Worship
3pm

Celtic Service,

St Marys, Gt Massingham
St Andrews, Congham
St Botolphs, Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Marys, Gayton Thorpe

Sunday, October 2nd ~ Trinity 19

0930 Family Service
1100 Holy Communion
0830 Holy Communion
1030 Holy Communion
1030 Family Service
6pm Prayer Meeting
Weds, 5th Oct at 9am

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

Harpley
Great Mass
Ashwicken
Grimston
Gayton
Great Mass

Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

From the Registers:

Joined in Holy Matrimony:
at St Lawrences, Harpley on 13th August:
William Lawrence Findhorn Brown & Rosie Marion Hobart Tasker
FUNERALS
at St Marys, Great Massingham:
30th June
Freda Frost

18th July

Amy Cross

Little Fishes is a new group created for all local pre-school age
children and their parents/carers.
Every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm
St Botolphs Church, Grimston .
1.50 for one child and 50p for each additional child
If you want to know more please contact Jane Reeve on
07813 104519 or jhkrcr@btinternet.com
or Gemma on 07962 227007

Sausage and Mash Evening ~ Sat Sept 3rd; 5pm

at Pott Row Methodist Chapel.
No charge, just goodwill giving
A time of friendship and fellowship

The Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike Ride and Walk

Saturday, 10th September 9am to 5pm
There is a photographic competition, you can compete for the Prince of
Wales certificate, join the Wall of Fame; download childrens activity
sheets. More details in churches / from http://norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk
Our Ministry Team:

Team Rector
Team Vicar

Revd Jane Holmes,

Revd Judith Pollard,

The Rectory, Gayton

The Rectory, Grimston

01553 636227
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.

Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

Samaritans Purse UK is an international relief and development organisation
that works through local churches to proclaim and demonstrate the love of God
amongst communities in need across the world. It's time to find a shoebox and
fill it with presents for a child who is less fortunate than us; ~ often living in
poverty, or a victim of war, famine, or natural disaster. Children need to know
they are loved and someone is thinking of them, this is a small way we can make
a difference.
Leaflets giving details of what to put in the shoebox are available at the back of
our churches or, look on the website www.samaritans-purse.org.uk or call
Margaret Bowes 01485 520135 for more information.

Look out for a Coffee Morning near you on

Friday 30th September

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

Flowers @ St Lawrences:

Aug 28th & Sept 4th

Sept 11th & 18th,
Sept 25th & Oct 2nd

Sue Wood
Sue Willson
Lucy Brown & Lara Hall

The Screwtape Letters: Alternate Thursdays at 7pm.

All welcome to join us as we discuss C S Lewis book.
Sept 1st,( letters 20/21) at 10, Owen Cole Close, GM
Sept 15th & 29th at Cobwebs Gt Massingham
Info from Revd Judith (01485 601251)
at Barrack House,
Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Prayer Group WEDNESDAYS: 8.15 pm

Great Massingham; (next to Dabbling Duck)

Great Massingham:
Summer Afternoon Teas

Every Weds in St Marys Church from 3pm

Produce Stall ~ 9:30am Saturday 3rd Sept,
All donations of produce or cakes welcome.

Why not come along?

Please send items for inclusion in the next issue of the Parish Notes to the editor
by 18th Sept~
Rosemary Mehers
rosemarymehers@hotmail.com
2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW;

or Tel: 01485 521866