Page 73 - Phonebox Magazine June 2013

CHURCHES TOGETHER NEWPORT PAGNELL
Letter From e Minister
God sent into the world a unique person – nether a philosopher not a general, although important through they are, but a saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love. I came across that quotation in a new book by the Bishop of Oxford called ‘Living Faithfully’ which is about how we live out from Monday to Saturday what we hear and experience in Church on Sundays. You may be surprised to hear that it does not come from a religious book, but a broadcast by Her Majesty the Queen. This month includes the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen’s coronation and there had been a lot of programmes and newspaper articles about her. One thing that strikes me, and obviously impressed other, is her deep Christian Faith. The anointing for her was an essential part of the Coronation, con rming her sense of vocation, of being called by God to her particular ministry. Vocation is a word which has weighty overtones, and ministry has too often been taken as referring only to ordained or licensed ministers. But we are all called by God to be His people, and to play, and to play our different parts in His Kingdom. Ministry is not just about leading worship, or being in charge of a Church, or chairing the Church council meeting (!) its about our dealings with people as we go about our daily lives. Whatever we do from Monday to Saturday, we can always do it in a way that shows God’s love to those around us. To return to the point the Queen was making. The world seems full of situations where revenge and retribution are at the forefront of people’s minds. Often these situations escalate because each side appears to put reprisals above reconciliation. If those with power and influence can learn to forgive and to accept forgiveness, our own lives, on every day of the week, would be made immensely richer and more like the lives God intends us all to have. Rev Glynis Bell
Ninety not out
This summer the Rector of the Newport Pagnell Bene ce, Michael Godfrey and Fr. Edmund Wheat, SSM, now a retired priest will be celebrating landmark anniversaries. Michael will have been ordained priest for forty years and Fr Edmund for fty years.
There will be a joint celebration for the anniversaries of the two priests on Sunday 7th July at special service of Holy Communion at 10.30 am for the whole Benefice.The
preacher at the service will be the Rector’s son, Rev John Godfrey who was ordained priest last September and is now a curate in the church of Ireland as St Nicholas church, Galway. After the service there will be a lunch for parishioners and guests in the Brooklands Community Centre.
Michael was ordained priest in 1973 in Durham cathedral by Right Reverend John Hapgood, who later became Archbishop of York. After serving his curacy in Birtley, Gateshead, he joined the Northumbrian Industrial Mission Team as Industrial Chaplain in Gateshead, before moving to the Black Country in 1979, serving as an industrial chaplain and vicar of St Mary’s Bilston, Wolverhampton. He later became Team Leader of the Black Country Industrial Mission team and a team vicar in the Central Parish of Wolverhampton. In 1988 he was made a Prebendary of Lich eld cathedral. Before becoming Rector of the Newport Pagnell Bene ce in 2008, Michael had been Director of CORD, the Christian international development charity, specialising in helping communities recover from violent con icts. Michael also spent a number of years helping people with disabilities prepare for work. He has always had a concern that the Christian faith speaks to real situations and responds to issues of social justice and inclusion.
Fr Edmund Wheat Born and brought up in the South Yorkshire joined a church choir when he was eleven years old. He was prepared for con rmation by a Kelham trained priest, and aged 16 went to Kelham Theological College as a potential ordinand. After two years National Service in the RAF he returned to Kelham and was ordained deacon in 1962.
Four years later he returned to the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM), was eventually professed, taking the monastic vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience. After various appointments as Chaplain in Higher Education, he became a parish priest in Middlesbrough. Fr Edmund had also been elected Provincial of the Order for several years, a role which required him to visit all the houses of the Society in South Africa, USA, Australia and Japan.
Since moving to Willen for retirement, he has been ministering in the parish of Newport Pagnell, where the congregations enjoy his sermons full of anecdotes from his interesting life.
Father’s Day
g celebrations g
Why not show your appreciation of your dad by praying for him in church. We know he will enjoy a cuppa in bed, a nice present and a good lunch, but bringing him to church and praying for him will show him that God loves him too. The Parish of Newport Pagnell will be celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday 16th June with special services at the Parish Church at 9.30 am and St Luke’s, Wolverton Road at 11.00 am. Come to church as a family for Father’s Day
CTNP Forum is on ursday 20th June at 7:45pm in the q Methodist q
Hall, The Forum is open to everyone and is an opportunity to hear about the many activities the different church denominations are working on together. It’s also a chance for you to have your say, so do come along if you can
Annual Summer Fete, at the Parish Church – Saturday, 29 June from 10am to 2pm with delicious home baking, crafts, books, bric-a- brac and lots more.
THE SPACE ACADEMY NEEDS YOU
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Registration is essential to secure a place. Registrations forms are available from Cambourne Travel from 3rd June, Places on a rst come, rst served basis.
OLD TIME MUSIC HALL
Saturday 29th June 7.30pm – Come along and be amazed, astounded and aghast at the cacophony of creative crooners; gasp at the sensational skill of the singers and be excited at the exceptional, exhilarating entertainment. £3.50 per ticket including refreshments. Dress up and join in with community singing – prize for the best! All pro ts go to the Vipingo School, Kenya to help the 120 orphans have fresh fruit every day for a year. For tickets or come along to the URC on a Thursday morning between 9.30 and 11.30am to buy some.
Phonebox Magazine 73