The Benefice of St. Bartholomew

Harp, Piano and Young Choir Concert, Charlton - 22nd June 2018

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Written by Tony Gowers

*** This Coming Friday ***

Summer Recital

featuring

Kachina Aimee & Pupils of Ludwell School

Harp, Piano, Voice & Enthusiasm !

Friday 22nd June 2018 from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

at

St. John’s Church, Charlton, SP7 9LZ

We invite you to come and share in our joyous celebration of music.

During the first half of the programme, some of Kachinas pupils from Ludwell School (and even some of the staff!) will be playing and singing with Kachina. During the second half, Kachina Aimee will be playing harp and sharing her magical Celtic inspired sounds and music.

“We are delighted to share our love of music with you - see you there!”

Kachina Aimee is a composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist playing harp, piano, cello, flute and guitar. Inspired by her strong connection to the natural World and other dimensions, Kachina’s voice has been described as “resonant & pure” and her unique sound as “ethereal, Celtic and magical.” Click here to find out more about Kachina.

Tickets to include an interval drink: £10.00 and £5.00 for those under age 18
Available from Ludwell Stores (www.ludwellstores.co.uk) or on the door.

Proceeds will be shared between Christian Aid, Ludwell School music provision and Church Funds

Children’s Activity Week - 30th July to 3rd August 2018

Details

Written by Anna Warhurst

Children’s Activity Week

Woodland Theme

Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August 2018

To include Breakfast - where required!

For children aged 5 to 11years old who live in the Benefice and / or attend schools from within the Benefice: Hindon, Ludwell or Semley

Trip To Monkey World - Forest School - Arts & Crafts
Overnight Camp - BBQ - And Much More !!

£10.00 per day
£15 per day for 2 or more children In the same family

Please contact Anna (telephone: 01747 830174) to reserve a place.
Alternatively, you can contact Anna by email from this website - click here, and when the new page opens, select the 'Contact Form' to send your message.

From the Rector - June 2018

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Written by The Rev'd Richard Warhurst

Dear Friends,

To go on a pilgrimage is to walk purposefully to something which has meaning for you, a search for spiritual or perhaps moral significance. It provides the opportunity to step out of the non-stop busyness of our lives, to seek a time of quiet and reflection. It is a time of simply being rather than always doing.

Often, people go on pilgrimage when they are at a crossroads in their lives. or when undergoing a change in their life's direction or relationships. Others may be in search of a deeper spirituality, healing and forgiveness. Or it may be that pilgrimage marks a special birthday, retirement or other occasion for giving thanks. It‘s also a great adventure with the chance to meet new people and see new places.

• Christians walk to Santiago de Compostela (something I am longing to do if you'd like to join me!)
• Every 10 years, the little town of Oberammergau puts on it’s world famous Passion Play (Put this in your diary for 2020 as I hope to take a group from the Benefice with me)
• The Holy Land acts as a focal point for Christians

In this and my previous Parishes, we go on Pilgrimages and indeed, have one coming up in August to Walsingham. I have also, fairly recently, returned from a Diocesan led pilgrimage to Montserrat in Spain.

The area offered spectacular mountain views of Catalonia with The Benedictine Monastery in Montserrat, located at the top of a 4000 foot mountain... home to about 80 monks. Next door to this is the home of the revered La Moreneta (or Black Virgin). a beautiful 12th-century Romanesque carving which is about a metre in height She has the child Jesus on her lap and in her outstretched hand is a globe, a symbol of the cosmos (you can admire our own miniature La Moreneta - when you visit The Rectory next - on our hail table. who is, incidentally dark in colour due to the changes in the varnish with the passage of time!).

How La Moreneta came to be in Montserrat may be linked to a local legend which tells of the sighting of a vision by some shepherd boys in the year 880.

On a Saturday evening as the sun was setting over Montserrat, the boys saw a bright light shining down from the sky and it was accompanied by beautiful music. The following Saturday they returned with their parents and the same vision came to them again. On the following four Saturdays the Rector of Olesa went with them and everyone saw the vision. According to this legend, the statue of the Black Madonna was discovered in a cave where the light shone.

To be a pilgrim is to be a wanderer on an unbroken journey with a purpose.

We are pilgrims on journey.
Fellow travellers on the road.
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you;
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping.
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you.
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.

Yours,

Richard

Prayer Cycle and Prayer of the Month - June 2018

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Written by The Rev'd June Lane

There have been several requests for Prayer this last month but God's heart is big enough for a lot more. Please do let us know if you would like us to pray for you.
Contact us: Julia (tel: 01747 829166), The Rev’d June (tel: 01747 828427) or The Rev’d Richard (tel: 01747 830174).

Prayer Of The Month

This modern prayer by Gail Ricciuti is loosely based on one of our most popular hymns and is just right for this time of year.

For all things bright and beautiful,
For all things dark and mysterious and lovely,
For all things green and growing and strong,
For all things weak and struggling to push life up through rocky earth,
E For all human faces, hearts and minds which surround us,
For all non human minds and hearts, paws and claws, fins and wings,
For this life, and the life of this world,
For all that You have laid before us O God,
We lay our thanks before you, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.