August / September E-Magazine 2023
In this edition:
Reflections of Charlie - Youth Missioner
Eco Church
Ride + Stride
Mothers' Union Acitivites
Services throughout the Parish
Please click below for a printable copy of the magazine:
Reflections of Charlie – Youth Missioner
As I sit here reflecting on an incredible 9 months in post, I thought I might share a little with you.
It has been quite a journey so far, getting to grips with the change of vocation and all that has meant for me and my family, but then there is the breadth and worship experience of the 9 worshipping communities across the mission area too. As many other sectors and groups are finding volunteers in short supply in this post-pandemic time, so a great deal of my role has been hands-on leading and shaping the various activities that we offer for children and families in Yate, along with Sunday services, as opposed to the more strategic visionary role that was intended. It would be easy to become overwhelmed and lost in this role as there are so many opportunities that could be developed across the Mission Area.
I am frequently reminded that above everything I am in this place to carry out God’s work, meaning much time spent in both scriptures and prayer for guidance on the way forward. Words from scripture which speak to me and anchor me in what I do include Jeremiah 29:11 talking of the Lord’s ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’, as well as Matthew 11:28 ‘Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’.
Living and working in today’s society can be really heavy; we as individuals as well as the communities we serve are facing
so many challenges. This makes long-term planning a challenge as needs change. The joy of my role has been meeting many families and children and sharing laughs and conversation, sharing the love and hope of Jesus with them. I have also
especially enjoyed the richness and experience of working across the Mission Area and with other local churches.
If anyone feels that they could help at any of our groups in Yate Parish, whether weekday toddler groups or weekend
children and youth activities, please do let me know - it could be once a month helping with refreshments or sharing a bible story. All roles will be subject to the appropriate safer recruitment process being carried out.
Eco Church
Our committee has decided to avoid unnecessary travel by keeping in touch by email.
The good news is that St James and St Mary’s have both achieved a Silver Award, and St Nicholas and St Peter’s have
a Bronze Award. We feel at the present time this is as far as we can go.
I have registered as Eco Champions with the Diocese Jane Lawrence for St James, Julia Holbrook for St Mary’s, Anne White for St Nix and Jenny Shiles for St Peter’s. I have sent a donation of £160 to the Eco Church Fund.
All 4 churches are applying for a grant for Net Zero Church Support. This will provide us with a free energy audit and a grant of up to £10,000 for each church for implementing audit recommendations.
We are hoping, if possible, to install solar panels on all 4 churches, but will have to wait for the results of the audit.
It may be 3 months before the audit can take place as there are so many churches applying for the grants.
Christine Dolton
Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust – Ride+Stride
All around the country on the second Saturday in September each year, thousands of people are sponsored to travel from church to church by walking, cycling or other methods. Locally the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust, part of the National Churches Trust, coordinates this nationwide event. Funds raised are split between the Trust and local churches in Gloucestershire and North Bristol.
You may not be aware of the work of the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust. They support 600 historic churches, chapels and meeting houses in the region, providing grants towards essential repairs and re-ordering of buildings. Their work helps to keep these buildings alive as places of worship, active centres of community life and landmarks of our architectural heritage. The Trust raise funds through membership, donations, legacies and the annual Ride+Stride event.
In this parish both St Mary’s and St James have received help towards their roof repairs, and both churches hope to be given funds towards their latest ambitious projects.
At St James the congregation has participated every year since 2014 in the Ride+Stride event, both with sponsored walks and with a sponsored breakfast. This year the September breakfast in church on Saturday 9 September will be followed by a sponsored walk led by Kathryn Mills, visiting St Peter’s Wapley on the way to St Thomas a Becket at Pucklechurch. The full circuit is nearly 7 miles, but walkers can choose to return from Pucklechurch by bus.
St Mary’s, also starting at St James at 11am. Both groups will walk together as far as St Peter’s, then Lyn will guide her group via St Nix to finish at St Mary’s.
Note that both St Mary’s and St James will be open between 10 and 4 offering refreshments, although at St James this will be self-service after the breakfast team has finished clearing up.
If you’re interested in joining either group on the day, please contact us for a sponsor form.
Kathryn 07952 091991
Lyn 07697 167641
Mother’s Union activities,
August and September 2023
What can I say, what a wonderful time we had at our annual tea party at St James. Thank you, St James, for welcoming us all!
Please don’t forget the pairs of hearts you are making for our Bags of Love for St Mary’s reception class: we need 45 pairs by the end of August!
September will be here before you know it! We will welcome Lynn Crew to hear all about Gympanzees at St Mary’s on
Thursday 21 September at 2pm. Jenny is covering tea and washing up, Jan prayers, Celia the Bible reading. Could someone please help Jenny? Thanks.
Blessings, Louisa
Services throughout the Parish
Sunday 6 August
9th Sunday after Trinity—Green
Isaiah 55:1-5 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am All-Age Service
St Nix
10.30am Communion
St James
10.30am Communion
St Peter
6.30pm Evening Worship
(Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 13 August
10th Sunday after Trinity—Green
1 Kings 19:9-18 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Communion
St Nix
10.30am Morning Worship
St James
10.30am All-Age Service
St Peter
6.30pm Communion
(Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 20 August
11th Sunday after Trinity—Green
Isaiah 56:1,6-8 Romans 11:1-2a,29-32
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am All-Age Service
St Nix
10.30am Communion
St James
10.30am Communion
St Peter
6.30pm Evening Worship
(Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 27 August
12th Sunday after Trinity—Green
Isaiah 51:1-6 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Communion
St Nix
10.30am All Age Service
St James
10.30am Morning Worship
St Peter
6.30pm Communion
(Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 17 September
15th Sunday after Trinity—Green
Genesis 5:1-4; 6:9-14, 22 1 John 4:1-6 Luke 12:16-20
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am All-Age Service with Baptism
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am Communion
St James
10.30am Communion
St Peter
6.30pm Evening Worship
(Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 24 September
16th Sunday after Trinity—Green
Genesis 11:1-9 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 8:5-13
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Communion
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am All Age Service
St James
10.30am Morning Worship
St Peter
6.30pm Communion
(Book of Common Prayer)
Just a reminder there will be NO Messy Church at St Nix in August. The next one will be Saturday 23 September at St Nix 4-6pm
Saturday 12 August Saturday 9 September St James Church 9am - 11am Westerleigh Village Breakfast Come to St James in Westerleigh to enjoy a full English breakfast freshly-cooked for you. Spend time with old friends and new. Lighter and vegetarian options available. After breakfast you may like to join a small group setting off for a country walk at 11am.
Yate & Fromeside Mission Area Walks Sunday 6 August—meet at St Mary’s, Yate for BYO lunch after church. The walk begins at 1pm. Sunday 3 September— meet at St Peter’s, Frampton Cotterell for BYO lunch after church. The walk begins at 1pm. Meet outside/inside the church. Speak to Rev Wanda on 01454 326103
St James Church 9am - 11am Westerleigh Village Breakfast Saturday 8 July Saturday 12 August Come to St James in Westerleigh to enjoy a full English breakfast freshly-cooked for you. Spend time with old friends and new. Lighter and vegetarian options available. After breakfast you may like to join a small group setting off for a country walk at 11am.
Cancer charities aided by “CALENDAR GIRLS” “Calendar Girls” is being performed by amateur group Collaborative Productions at Rangeworthy Village Hall from 21 to 23 September, a charity event raising funds for BUST and Blood Cancer UK. Tickets bookable at www.ticketsource.co.uk/collaborative-productions or ring 0333 666 3366. See the July magazine for more information or yateparish.org under the heading What’s On.
Special free programme for mums
looking to return to work
The Women's Work Lab invites applications from mums aged 19 or over currently in receipt of state benefits who would like to return to work. Their free 12-week part-time course with work placement starts on 21st September in Kingswood. Travel expenses will be covered by the Jobcentre. For more information and to apply see www.womensworklab.co.uk or phone 07514 802818.
Find out more
about The
Connection and Those Vicar Blokes on our website at yateparish,org
under the heading
Explore our Faith
At a Glance Dates for your Diary Friday 4 August—Beetle Drive 2.30pm @ St James Sunday 6 August—1pm Mission Walk @ St Mary’s Saturday 12 August 9-11am Westerleigh Village Breakfast @ St James Sunday 3 September—1pm Mission Walk @ St Peter’s Frampton Cotterell Saturday 9 September—9-11am Westerleigh Village Breakfast @ St James And from 11am Ride+Stride Walk for St James & St Mary’s Saturday 16 September—7.30pm Harvest Auction @ The New Inn, Westerleigh Saturday 14 October—7-10pm Autumn Supper & Quiz @ Westerleigh Village Hall
Morning prayer in Yate Parish
Do you find prayer a little difficult? Would you like some inspiration? Go to the Yate Parish Facebook page to join in Morning Prayer led by our ministry team. You can watch live at 7.30am Monday to Saturday, or watch at any time later in the day. Many people have found it a great start to their day.
Weekly at St Mary’s
Thursday Communion at 10.00am
Compline @8pm
Before the lockdown happened, we had recorded the saying of Compline. We ask that each evening at 8pm we light a candle in our window and pray together for our nation using the words of the Compline service - it takes just over 5 minutes.
Visit the parish website and click on the recordings to listen; you will find the words of the service there too.
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