ALL SAINT’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
With St. Ninian’s Fellowship Whithorn CHALLOCH
NEWSLETTER Issue No.018 May – June 2012
Scottish Charity SC003582
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‘Fill thou my life , O Lord, my God, in every part with praise.’
The words of Horatius Bonar’s 19th. century hymn echo the response of Thomas as he makes supreme statement of faith in the Risen Lord Jesus in the upper room, having previously been sceptical when his fellow disciples told him of the Easter experience of the Risen Jesus.
During my ministry I have sought to encourage people to meditate upon the texts of the hymns we offer in our worship, texts which often we allow to slip away as we move on to the next ‘action’ in the Liturgy, or as we find ourselves ‘caught’ by the tune we are singing, rather than the text of the particular hymn. When we ponder hymn texts, we can readily recognise often that what so many people immediately refer to as ‘Praise’ contains many differing aspects of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Intercession, Petition One aspect often leads into another as the poetic imagination of the hymn writer is led by the Spirit into differing prayerfulness.
Thomas’s response personal: ‘My Lord and my God.’ But he makes this response in the midst of the gathered disciples, who have already ‘rejoiced when they saw the Lord’ when Thomas was not present. Thomas, in his response, must have been sustained by the faith of those gathered around him, as our faith in the Lord is sustained by our fellow believers as we gather in our public worship and as they, in their daily devotion, pray for us and for our ‘strengthening for service.’
‘Fill every part of me with praise, let all my being speak of thee and of thy love, O Lord, poor though I be, and weak……
Kenneth G. Stephen.
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KEEPING EVERYTHING GOING
It isn’t until your incumbent leaves that you realise how much work goes into THE CHURCH.
Of course all the things that he/she did not do still go on; the flowers are arranged, the pew sheet sorted, the readings and who is going to read them found; the cleaning and the Sacristan jobs, not to mention running repairs to the sound system, paying the bills and finding the clergy to take the services, preparing intercessions and then writing or emailing the powers that be. Then there is updating the website each week, taking the mid-week services and visiting the housebound and washing up the after service coffee cups, although the dishwasher does that to be truthful. There are other tasks I am sure that do not immediately spring to mind. Amidst all this background work there is a great feeling of pulling together and supporting each other BUT
What is it for? Why do we go week after week, even if some things are not quite as we would like or there is a temporary falling out about some little thing? What is it about our particular church that is precious to us?
We will all have different personal reasons for our attendance in church. The one thing I do know is that the support of the congregation the one for each other as we follow the liturgy together and join in fellowship after the service, helps each one of us to go into the following week, strengthened to carry out the commitments that we have at home and in the community. We need and support each other in our outreach into the world beyond. We need each individual, whether or not they have a job of any sort in church, because it is that unspoken support given by presence together that is the lifeblood of the church.
SO WE NEED YOU! WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE, YOU ARE MISSED!
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A RECTOR FOR WIGTOWNSHIRE
The Profile for the three charges has been approved by Bishop Gregor and is now ready to be sent to any applicants for the post. The next meeting of the three charges will be on Tuesday 8th May with Bishop Gregor.
The Rectory is now actively being marketed at £250,000 by Galbraiths of Castle Douglas and there has been plenty of interest so far.
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A QUIET DAY
A quiet day with Rosie Rutherford is being held at St. John’s Church on the 21st May. 9.45 am (coffee) 10.00—12.00.
Open to all who are interested.
You are invited to bring your own sandwich lunch if you would like to stay and socialise.
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FUNDRAISING SUNDAY JUNE 3rd
Kathryn Ambler and Veronica Almgill are taking part in a Car Boot Sale in Port William. Anyone with suitable items for sale please contact Kathryn 500 908 or Veronica 402 550. Any items left over will be put into the Summer Fair.
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FRIDAY JUNE 8th
A Cheese and Wine at Don and Maddy Muffetts.
There will also be a raffle and suitable prizes will be most acceptable.
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ADVANCE NOTICE
Our Summer Fair will be held at Wigtown County Buildings on Saturday 18th August.
If you are a gardener please bear this in mind as perennials sell well.
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INTERCESSIONS AND PILGRIMAGE
Eight members of All Saints accompanied about thirty others from our Region on the Bishop’s Pilgrimage to our own cathedral.
The Provost took us on a tour of sacramental areas and we explored some of the visual signs of inward grace and outward expression which go to make the sacraments so full of meaning at the various stages of life from our baptism to our final moments, with possible ordination, confirmation or marriage on the way.
For most services the altar is placed so that the choir and the priest form a circle with the congregation, which emphasises the
importance that is placed on the inclusion of all people at the Eucharist.
In the afternoon we visited a Hindu temple with the Diocesan Chaplain to other Faiths. An insight into the devotion of the worshippers left a deep impression on us. When we returned to the Cathedral our own Bishop Gregor presided at the Eucharist and afterwards he saw us safely onto the coaches for our homeward journey.
Later in the month those of us who lead intercessions went to a Diocesan training day at Dalbeattie. This again was valuable and gave us inspiration and understanding. For the most part these prayers take a lot of prayer, time and effort to compose and we all feel that it is a privilege to lead the congregation in their response.
You may notice some different ways of expressing these and the responses which you are asked to make may vary. They will usually be printed in the pew sheet. It is good to have feedback and we can all learn from each other so please have a word with the Intercessor after the service if there is something you would like to comment on.
Going out of our comfort zone into the wider Region and Diocese was something that we all enjoyed and we can recommend the experiences for the next opportunity. An easy one would be the Ascension Day service at Castle Douglas where we can join with the rest of our Region.
Veronica Almgill
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ASCENSION
The bright vision of Christ atop the hill
Lifting his arms in last farewell
As the mountain mist descends around
Concealing him from sight and sound.
Then raise him up into the sky
His risen life on earth passed by.
Oh pray that when the time is right
We join with him, and see the sight
As the mists that bore him up all clear
And his light shines upon us in glory here.
Diana Sorrill
©en.wikipedia.org
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OUR VERY OWN WEBSITE
..can be found at: www.episcopalglasgow.co.uk/challoch.
If you would like to contribute anything to its content, please contact Gerry Ewan (gerryewan@gmail.com).
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NEWS FROM THE FELLOWSHIP
We are praying for good weather on Wednesday 9th May 2.00pm, when we meet at North Barnkirk, Cottage, the home of Don and Maddy Muffett. 
There will be a full programme of outdoor games, but indoor games will be available if wet. 
Please bring food for a picnic and any friends who would like to come.
On Wednesday June 13th, Fellowship will meet at the home of Mrs Innis in Creetown. She has a garden which opens to visitors by arrangement for the Charity of her choice. She will provide tea and friends are invited. Please see Church notice board for transport arrangements.
On Wednesday 11th of July we are going to see an old friend, Muriel Palmer.
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THE SEA, HER BEACHES, GOD’S OWN CATHEDRAL OF SAND (extracts from Inspires):
On this beautiful planet of ours, we are fortunate that there are many places where heaven and earth appear to visibly meet – many places where God can be seen, touched and felt. The remembrance of God’s forgiving love found in the simple beauty of a rainbow after a storm. The glimpse of heaven’s power as the sun breaks free over the horizon to herald a brand new dawn. And the quiet, sacred space created whilst walking along an empty beach listening to the unceasing crashing rhythm of the waves in an endless whisper of prayer to our Maker.
In the face of the great vast expanse of our Seas, we complex human beings are so very small. Our lives with all their traumas and failures, doubts and despairs, joys and expectation, fall silent before the simple repetitive beat found within the tides. The tides come in and they go out. All day, every day. Nothing can stop this – nothing. It will be the same tomorrow as it was yesterday and will continue long after we are the mere whisper of a memory in our great grandchildren’s lives.
The Sea’s endless and continued breathing is one that allows us the certainty that God is always with us. People have used the Sea and beaches for spiritual encounters with the sacred throughout millennia. This will continue as long as we walk on the earth and sail her waters. The mystery of what may lie beneath the surface of the Sea, the knowledge that the Sea has the power to give life as well as take it, the serenity of watching the sun go down over the horizon, reminds us to give thanks for all that God provides for us without us ever realising. These special moments will continue to inspire all who take the time to catch a glimpse of our Maker’s hand within the beauty of our Sea.
The next time you drive past the Sea or stop for an ice cream on the beach, take a moment, give thanks for all that has been, for all that you are and for all that you will be. Walking along a beach may seem an unlikely place to encounter God. But it is not until you have picked a pebble up off the beach, held it in your hand and considered how it has travelled thousands of miles, been tossed and turned, worn and wearied by its adventures to finally come to rest with you, that you begin to glimpse what it means to be fully alive. Take a walk on the beach soon. Try it barefoot – for you walk on Holy Ground. God will be with you, even if you look back and only one set of footprints in the sand….
Written by The Rev Samantha Ferguson
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Articles for the next newsletter will need to be with Veronica or Margaret Turner by Sunday 10th June. Items can be emailed to: mum@theturnerhouse.co.uk or given in by hand.
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REGULAR SERVICES FOR MAY/JUNE
May 6th: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Matins Douglas Allison
May 13th: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Eucharist Rev Beryl Scott
May 17th Ascension Day: 7.00pm St Ninians Castle Douglas
May 20th: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Eucharist Canon Ken Stephens
May 27th Pentecost: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Eucharist Rev Beryl Scott
June 3rd: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Matins
June 10th: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 Eucharist
June 17th: 9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Eucharist
June 24th:9.00 am Res Sacrament Rosemary, 10.30 am Eucharist
Wednesday Mid Week Service: St Ninians & Our Lady Church Hall
10.15am: The mid-week Holy Communion is at St Ninian’s Church Hall, Windsor Rd, Newton Stewart
Whithorn Services
May 6th: 4.00pm Holy Communion Canon Ken Stephens
June 3rd: 4.00 pm Holy Communion
