Church Services – 3rd and 10th December

Dear all
If it wasn’t for the cold air and the shop displays, it seems scarcely believable that Christmas is just around the corner again.  And as much as the die hard traditionalists amongst us might want to delay the inevitable, it is coming to you too now!  We had Stir-up Sunday last weekend, and those of you with us at Thorncombe may have had a go at stirring our Christmas cake mixture!  It is now cooked and in storage and we will share it with you all at Epiphany!  As I type another cake is cooling (our personal one), and the house smells wonderfully of fruit, spice and brandy…
This Sunday is Advent Sunday, and the start of the official ‘count down’ to Christmas.  And so also starts what I sometimes refer to as the freight train of services and events shoehorned into December.  We can feel overwhelmed by it all or simply under pressure to meet self-imposed expectations of the festive season; thinking about presents, decorations, food; a seemingly endless to do list which can make Advent feel like a month of practical preparation to arrive at a day of our own imagination and invention.
We need to be careful that in the midst of it all we don’t lose sight of the real present – not a re-visited past but a re-discovered presence leading to a newly understood future.
Advent is about preparation, yes.  But it is also about waiting.  It is about the discipline of waiting patiently and spiritually for something both expected and unexpected.  It is paradoxically about waiting for something that has already happened – and therefore about receiving that joy in a renewed way.  Above all it is about creating the space for that new presence to take root.  Ironically the very space that we can so hurriedly fill in with our panicked preparations.  It is not about us – it is about God.
A came across this poem in the introduction to an Advent theology book recently which beautifully illustrates the wonder of the waiting.  During Advent this year, when it all feels a bit much, take a ‘time out’ breathing the air as a ‘staircase for silence’:

Kneeling

Moments of great calm,Kneeling before an altarOf wood in a stone churchIn summer, waiting for the God  To speak; the air a staircase  For silence; the sun’s light  Ringing me, as though I acted  A great rôle. And the audiences  Still; all that close throngOf spirits waiting, as I,For the message.                         Prompt me, God;But not yet. When I speak,  Though it be you who speak  Through me, something is lost.  The meaning is in the waiting.  R S Thomas (from The Meaning is in the Waiting; Paula Gooder)
 
Services and Events for Advent & Christmas 2023
Please see the information on this link for all the Advent and Christmas services and events happening across the Benefice this year.
Our regular parish worship also continues as usual, and is as set out below for the next two weeks
SERVICES COMING UP this week and next
Advent Sunday – 3rd December
8am – Holy Communion (BCP); Forde Abbey
10am – Holy Communion; St Stephen’s, Winsham
10:30am – Emmaus; St John’s, Tatworth.  Cafe gathering from 1030, worship from 11am.
4:30pm – Outdoor Carols and Christmas Lights switch-on; St John’s, Tatworth
Sunday 10th December (Advent 2)
8am – Holy Communion (BCP); St Stephen’s, Winsham
10am – Morning Worship; St Mary’s, Thorncombe
10.30am – Holy Communion; St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe
Tuesday 12th December
6.30pm – Carol Service; St Mary’s, Thorncombe
Wednesday 13th December
11am – Holy Communion; St John’s, Tatworth
CHOIRS OF ANGELS!
4pm on 3rd December – St Stephen’s, Winsham.  September Singers are presenting an Advent Concert in the church.  This is a local choir led by our very own Pamela Everitt (Chaffcombe).  All Welcome!
1:45pm (or thereabouts) on Monday 4th December – St John’s, Tatworth.  Alison Hawes (Chaffcombe) is leading her choir in St John’s Church for those who are attending the Parish Council Christmas lunch earlier.  All welcome to the church to hear the choir sing, which should be starting at about 1:45pm.
CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING
There is a Christmas Coffee Morning in St John’s on Saturday 9th December – 10am to 12pm; all welcome.
WILD CHURCH
Wild Church meets at St John’s on Saturday 2nd December at 3pm.  This is our Christmas special and we will be decorating the Wild Church Christmas Tree!  We will be inside for this session – so we will be nice and warm and dry!
ADVENT COURSE – 2pm on 7th, 14th and 21st of December.
I am running a short Advent Course here in the vicarage on Thursdays in Advent at 2pm.  The theme is ‘The meaning is in the waiting’.  Each session is bible focused and will last about an hour.
PRAYERS
 
Pastoral:
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit.  We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Ron Bone
A Collect for Advent Sunday:
O Lord our God,make us watchful and keep us faithfulas we await the coming of your Son our Lord;that, when he shall appear,he may not find us sleeping in sinbut active in his serviceand joyful in his praise;through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessings
Philip

The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector – Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
 
PASTORAL EMAILS – please to: twoshiresrector@gmail.com
 
HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP:  https://twoshires.wordpress.com
 
Rest Days – Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday)
For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses.
Mornings are best times for phone contact!
 

Coffee Morning – Wed 6th December 10.30 – 12.00

CHAFFCOMBE COFFEE MORNING
WED 6TH DECEMBER10.30 – 12.00
THIS TIME TO RAISE MONIES FORMay be an image of text that says 'NEWSLINE Chard & IIminster Talking Newspaper'
Where: Chaffcombe Village Hall
Times: 10.30 – 12.00
Who: All are welcome. Young and old, parishioners and visitors.
Homemade cakes, tea/coffee available for a generous donation.
For information: The Link or www.chaffcombe.com(Chat Page – Facebook)
or Mary on 01460 64592
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PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY
Where: Chaffcombe Village Hall
Times: 10.30 – 12.00
Who: All are welcome. Young and old, parishioners and visitors.
Homemade cakes, tea/coffee available for a generous donation.
For information: The Link or www.chaffcombe.com(Chat Page – Facebook)
or Mary on 01460 64592
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Church Services – 19th and 26th November

Dear all

The Gospel reading for today is Luke 17:20-25; which includes this verse from Jesus:
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
When we think of the Kingdom of God, or heaven, we are often drawn to think of it in environmental terms.  A realm perhaps in the sky, full of clouds and angels and sunshine.  That is not childish thought as we may also assume – it is the product actually of what many of our oft used Bible passages and hymns tell us!  We can look to the hymn;  ‘Lo, he comes with clouds descending’, or passages such as Jesus’ ascension to heaven, his baptism, the various occasions where angels speak in heralding the incarnation.  We can also look to the creation accounts themselves.  And much of that is to do with how humans, us, interpret what is unknown.  How do we make sense of something that is clearly evident – and yet impossible to understand?  The answer is that we subconsciously detach ourselves from it.  In other words – yes it exists, but it must be in a different place.  Before the advent of flight that invariably meant placing it in the sky – or the heavens…
Jesus challenges us to break down that detachment and instead understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is not ‘over there’, but in fact it is all around us.  ‘The Kingdom of God is in your midst’.
Something that makes most people pause and take note of is the appearance of rainbows in the sky.  Children in particular are fascinated by them.  There is something otherworldly about them – the shape, the colours, the fact that it has to be both raining and sunny for them to be there at all.
And be there they most certainly are!  You can photograph them, watch them, but what you can’t do is place them.  They appear over a certain place – but if you move, they do too – because in reality it is an optical illusion of sunlight shining through the rain and reaching your eyes.  They are there, but not there; here but not here.  They are only visible because you are standing in the right place where those conditions ARE.
Attached here is a link to a little newsletter I wrote this week about some of the Good News we have in the Benefice at the moment.  The rainbows if you like that appear amongst us.  It is a snapshot, and I wrote it on impulse as I was suddenly aware that in the midst of what has been a challenging time we do have much to be thankful, and even joyous, about.  I know that there are many rainbows that I have missed, and you will probably read it and have an entirely different list in your head.  And that is great!!  I hope that is true!!  Because if that is the case then you too are seeing the kingdom of God in our midst and I ask that you also shout that from the rooftops!
SERVICES COMING UP
Saturday 18th November – WILD CHURCH
 
Wild Church meets outside St John’s this Saturday at 3pm.  This month we are going on a gentle, short, autumn walk followed by warming refreshments in the church rooms.  All Welcome!
 
Sunday 19th November
10am – Family Service; St Stephen’s, Winsham
1030am – Holy Communion & Sunday School; St John the Evangelist, Tatworth
Tuesday 21st November – 9:30am Morning Celtic Prayer; St John’s Tatworth
Sunday 26th November – Christ the King
 
8am – Holy Communion; St John’s Tatworth
10am – Holy Communion; St Mary’s, Thorncombe
6:30pm – BCP Evening Prayer; St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe
6:30pm – Service of Light; St Stephen’s, Winsham
Tuesday 28th November – 9:30am Morning Celtic Prayer; St John’s Tatworth
PRAYERS
 
In Celebration:
 
We celebrate with baby Ernest as he is baptised this Sunday in St John’s!  Congratulations Ernest, parents Hannah and Dean, and all his family!
Pastoral:
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit.  We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Ron Bone                   We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Peter Harper (funeral is St Stephen’s, Winsham on Monday 27th at 12pm) , and hold all those in mourning in our prayers.
A Collect for Christ the King (26th November):
God the Father,help us to hear the call of Christ the Kingand to follow in his service,whose kingdom has no end;for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, one glory.
Amen.
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector – Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
 
PASTORAL EMAILS – please to: twoshiresrector@gmail.com
 
HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP:  https://twoshires.wordpress.com
 
Rest Days – Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday)
For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses.
Mornings are best times for phone contact!
 

Next Village Walk to clear footpaths – Tuesday 31st October

Dear all
I had hoped that 2 stiles on the footpaths between the A30 and Fosse Way would have been repaired/replaced by now but they remain unsafe to use so we will not venture in this direction. However the diverted footpath over the Avishays Estate past the clock-tower is now officially signposted and open for us the enjoy.
So this is what is planned instead:-
Chaffcombe Parish Footpath Walk Tuesday 31st October at 10.00am
 
Village Hall – Summer Lane – West Lodge – Avishayes Road (west) – The Drift (south) – A30 (east) – Mals Mead Lane (north)  – across field to track north – diverted footpath past clock-tower – Whitemore Hill (north) –  Summer Lane – Village Hall

Due to recent heavy rains it will be wet underfoot and muddy in parts so please come prepared. There may be some light trimming to be done en route.

Hope that this appeals and look forward to seeing you then

Best wishes

Anthonty Gray Chaffcombe Parish PPLO

Anthony Gray

18 Barberry Drive

Chard

Somerset TA20 1HR

tele 0146065392

e-mail anthony.gray37@outlook.c

Proceeds from Jazz Evening

Thank you to you all who kindly came to our Jazz Band evening last week.   It was a great night and thank you for all of your positive comments.

We made an astonishing profit of £459, after paying for the Band, and this will go towards the purchase of new cookers for the Hall.

Thank you to everyone and hope to see you all at our next evening on December, Taffy Thomas, Midwinter  Folk Tales.  Taffy is one of the country’s most celebrated storytellers.  He is England’s first storyteller laureate.

 

Tickets are on sale now at £10 which includes refreshments and a complimentary glass of wine.   Bookings can be made with Mary Butler  01460 64592 and Stan Robinson  01460 239121 or email:  marybutler10@outlook.com

All the best

Mary and Stan

 

 

 

Next Monthly Walk to cut back foliage on our footpaths

Tuesday 5th September at 10.0 0 a.m. Weather permitting of course!

I am planning a walk (not too foolishly I hope) in the hope that what is currently forecast as showery weather will turn out better on the day.

This is what could be in prospect:-

Parish Footpath Walk Tuesday 5th September 2023 at 10.00am

Village Hall – Summer Lane – Whitemore Hill (taken gently) – Lydmarsh Farm – -Youngs Copse – Golf Course – Cricket Cross – Cricket Lane – Sprays Hill – Knapps Lane (west) – Village Hall

It is likely to be muddy in parts and there may be some cutting back to be done so be prepared.

Hope that this appeals but bring your waterproofs and boots as there may be some pesky brambles to cut back

Please wear suitable footwear as it may be very slippery and muddy!!!!     All of our walks are voluntary and walkers walk with us at their own risk.   No liability is accepted.   We try to arrange these monthly walks along our footpaths to clear the overgrowth on the footpaths and enjoy the scenery and each others’ company.   More volunteers are needed if we are to continue to keep our footpaths walkable.  If you have any secateurs etc.  Please feel free to bring them along – suitable gloves are advised if you are helping in this way. Dogs are welcome but must be on a lead.

Hope you can join me for a bit of gentle walking and talking

Best wishes

Anthony Gray, Chaffcombe Parish PPLO 01460 65392

Sunset Cafe Stompers (Jazz) at Chaffcombe

SUNSET CAFE STOMPERS (JAZZ BAND) will be playing at Chaffcombe Village Hall on Friday 15th September 2023 at 7.30 p.m.

Tickets are £10 (including light refreshments and a glass of wine).

The Jazz Band plays great tunes, e.g. from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller.

Tickets are available from:    Mary Butler on 01460 64592 or marybutler10@outlook.com

Stan Robinson on 01460 239121 or janet.m.robinson@sky.com

 

We await to hear from you.     Best wishes       Mary

 

Next monthly walk to clear footpaths – Tues 8th August

Dear all
I have been waiting in vain for a break in the weather but all we can hope for at the moment is lighter rain so I thought it may be safe to venture forth. Footpaths in the parish south of the A30 are not useable at present due to unsafe stiles so this is what is planned:-
Chaffcombe Parish Footpath Walk Tuesday 8th August 2023 at 10.00am
 
Village Hall – Knapps Lane (east) – Sprays Hill – Cricket Lane (west) – Ashtons – Knowle Green – Woodhouse Farm – Chaffcombe Lane – Village Hall
 
Hope that this appeals but bring your waterproofs and boots as there may be some pesky brambles to cut back
Best wishes
Anthony Gray Chaffcombe Parish PPLO

Anthony Gray

18 Barberry Drive

Chard

Somerset TA20 1HR

tele 0146065392

e-mail anthony.gray37@outlook.com

Chaffcombe Flower Festival

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ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS FLOWER FESTIVAL

CHAFFCOMBE

Not only were we blessed with a gloriously sunny weekend for our Flower Festival but without the generous time and efforts of so many people none of it would have been possible.

From the initial planning of programmes and posters (which were beautifully thought out) , the ideas flowed.

The church came alive with memories of wedding anniversaries past and present and the village filled with visitors enjoying the flower arrangements and the many entertainments that were offered.

There was comfort with endless cake and cream teas; retail, therapy including the table top sale and tombola – not forgetting the plant stall – also supplied by volunteers.

The dog show, as always, was great fun, as were the water wheel visits and the climbing of the church tower – many steps!

Then , of course, calm was provided with the portrait painting, a photographic display and a guided village walk.

On the Sunday evening, we shared our favourite hymns with readings in a service of Hymns and Pimms and finally, on Monday, to end the festivities, we were treated to a celebration of  music with a wedding theme for organ and voice – with Cava to follow, of course!

 At the moment, we have raised a provisional sum of £2010.36p.  All in all, a successful, if not tiring weekend for all involved! 

Thank you everyone for your kind and generous help.

Pamela and Mary

Chaffcombe Parish Walks for next week

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Dear all
I am planning 2 walks next week, one of Tuesday for those who may be helping at the Flower Festival and one as part of the festival, as follows:-
Tuesday 23rd May 2023 at 10.00am
 
Village Hall – Summer Lane – Whitemore Hill (walked leisurely) – Lydmarsh Farm – Youngs Copse – Golf Course – Knapps Lane – Village Hall
 
We may see the remains of bluebells in the woods!
There may be some clearance work to do as we walk but hopefully nothing too heavy.
Saturday 27th May Flower Festival Walk at 2.00pm
 
Village Hall – Knapps Lane to see water wheel working – Footpath to Court Farm partly alongside stream – across field to Gaylards Lane – across fields to Paintmoor Lane – along Paintmoor Lane to Chaffcombe Lane – Gaylards Lane – across field back to Chaffcombe Lane – Village Hall
Hope that one or both appeal to you, could be that there will be sun!
Best wishes
Anthony Gray Chaffcombe parish PPLO

Anthony Gray

18 Barberry Drive

Chard

Somerset TA20 1HR

tele 0146065392

e-mail anthony.gray37@outlook.com