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Sambourne Village Fete - 29th June 2024
Sambourne and Coughton Summer fete was opened by Mr Alex Kolb in warm sunshine . The Coughton School Choir was led by Miss Richardson with their interpretation of The Lion King and ABBA’s Dancing Queen, even the donkeys joined in!
The Revenge of the Wrinklies band played and we all enjoyed cream teas, coconut shies, skittles and a grand raffle. We made £1,700 so well done and a big Thank You to all those who baked cakes, brought plants and artwork.
Reading Mark Well
Study day with Dr Dave Allen - 22nd June 2024
Around thirty of us from Minster churches including other guests joined Queen's Foundation lecturer, Dave Allen, for a day-long deeper dive into Mark's Gospel, the focus of our reading in services this year. He reminded us that the gospels were most likely transmitted by performance at first - much like the evening we spent with Matt Britton in March.
Dave enabled us to see some of the important patterns, themes and connections across the gospel. In particular, he encouraged us to get to grips with the Old Testament ("If you only know the New Testament, you don't know the New Testament" he said!) in order to make sense of what the writer of Mark was trying to convey.
Most apt for the day before we were due to read the Transfiguration (Mark chapter 9) in our churches, he spent much time highlighting how in this gospel, the Transfiguration is the central event - in fact it IS the resurrection account in a gospel which finishes with an empty tomb but no Jesus.
The almost unfinished nature of the gospel, he said, was intended to draw us back around to the beginning of the book with the disciples being called from Galilee - the very place they were told to wait for Jesus after he rose again. In this cyclical way of reading, we ourselves are called by Jesus into the story, and invited to find our own Galilee, to live out the gospel as we read the story again and again, continually being challenged and changed by it. The ongoing motifs of death and resurrection throughout remind us that we are to carry our crosses and lose our lives if we are to save them.
We left the event inspired by the richness of the biblical account, challenged by the message of the gospel and encouraged to keep looking deeper.
Click here for our Mark's Gospel page to learn more.
Haselor Church Fete – Saturday 15 June
The heavy rain and thunderstorm mid-morning eventually gave way to some lovely
sunshine as we began to welcome people to our annual Church Fete, held once more on
the playing field at Tudor Grange Primary Academy. It’s a fantastic setting for the Fete and
we are privileged to be able to use it. Although it’s a large space, we managed to fill it
with loads of games and challenges for all ages, cakes, plants and food stalls, and of
course a bar! We also had a choir and a visit from Spiderman!!
Another shower in the middle of the Fete didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm and lots of
people stayed for the raffle and prize giving at the end.
It was a huge undertaking involving a lot of people and we are enormously grateful to all of
them for their help in organising it, running it and clearing away afterwards. And to those
who came and spent some money with us! Without doubt, it was a very successful event,
not only helping to raise much needed funds for the church, but also in bringing the
community together. We genuinely feel that more and more people are making a
connection with Haselor church because social gatherings such as these and that is very
encouraging and gives hope for the future.
Our next get-together is a Coffee, Tea & Cake
morning on Saturday 27 July, from 10.30 until 12.00.
Easter Day at Haselor
‘Symbols of the Resurrection’ was the theme of our beautiful and moving Easter Day service at Haselor, lead by Katie. Jars, a stone, a shroud, flowers and bread were brought in turn to the altar, each one reminding us of a moment in the unfolding mystery of our faith. Each symbol was accompanied by readings, at the same time both sad and joyful, to take us step by step from the discovery of the empty tomb to Jesus being recognised when he reached Emmaus and broke bread with two of his followers. When the disciples heard the news of his resurrection they cried out ‘The Lord has risen indeed’! And we sang ‘Alleluia, Alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord!’
Later, when Jesus suddenly appeared to the disciples, they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. But he showed them that he was real and ate with them. For Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in him shall never die.
We then shared the gifts of bread and wine to remember his death and resurrection and be fed by Christ’s body and his blood. Though we are many, we are one body, and we share in one bread.
In our prayers, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, we remembered the friends and family members we had lost over the last twelve months, and in previous years. We prayed in particular for those whose memory we cherish and to whom we dedicated lilies once again this Easter. Gone but not forgotten. Forever loved by us, and by you Lord.
Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Mark's Gospel
Matt Britton performed the unabridged text of Mark's Gospel in St Nicholas church on Saturday 9th March. People were astounded how with four props and just his voice, he could bring the text so fully to life. Some have commented that they now see the whole story, and Jesus himself in a totally different light.
We are now looking forward to the rest of the year of readings from Mark and the study day with theologian Dr David Allen.
Shrove Tuesday Lunch at Sambourne
Thank you to all who attended lunch at Sambourne on 13th February Shrove Tuesday .
We enjoyed soup and delicious pancakes with many friends.
Revd Julian Davey gave a reading from his book’ My Grace is Sufficient ‘remembering his work in Bangladesh.
A good start to Lent !
A reminder of our special Communion service for Maundy Thursday on 28th March .
Snowdrops at Kinwarton
Snowdrops give the first indication of Spring and are a real joy at Kinwarton in the churchyard and surrounding fields. By the time you read this the daffodils will have taken over.
Our Candlemas service with compline on February 2nd gave us a glimpse of ancient worship with the wonderfully reassuring prayers for the night. Thank you to all who took part in the choir and who came to listen on such a dark night.
March will be an interesting time of Lent culminating in a Minster service in Alcester.
Kinwarton will again have a time of meditation on Good Friday at 2pm to which all are welcome.
Church Organist and Choir Leader, St Nicholas Church, Alcester, Warwickshire.
We are a thriving church looking for someone to play for 3 Sundays a month plus 5th Sundays, weddings, funerals, and Civic services who has a mixed taste in Church Music.
We are looking to develop our small loyal choir who sing on the second and fourth Sundays for the Sung Eucharist Services.
For further details please contact the Administrator on administrator@alcesterminster.org for an information pack and application form.
Give a Gift
This Christmas in Alcester we have run a project to reach out to those families who are struggling financially this Christmas. In partnership with our local schools, both primary and secondary we asked our congregation and local community to ‘Love your neighbour’ - and they did!
In addition to sending 50 Christmas boxes to children overseas we have received gifts for 200 local children with over 700 gifts wrapped by a superb team of volunteers, even if it took them five hours!
We are so thankful to the generosity of everyone involved and know that many families this year will celebrate Christmas knowing they have been embraced by love.
Mothers Union celebrates 120th anniversary
On Thursday 14th December, Alcester and Arrow Mothers’ Union gathered to celebrate their 120th anniversary, with Christmas Carols, a short service and a lovely Christmas spread.
They were joined by Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union in Coventry, Karen Morris, who shared some of the
good news stories from Mothers Union around the Diocese and helped us to celebrate the momentous occasion.
There was a special cake that was shared amongst those gathered.
Arrow Church Christingle - with an outdoors-y twist
Arrow church welcomed many visitors to its Christingle service in mid-December. We gathered outside to make a 'giant christingle' out of the church before heading indoors for a more traditional end to the service, and hot chocolate and mince pies to finish.
In the churchyard, we wrapped the church building (the 'orange') in a red trail of confetti (the 'red ribbon') to represent the sad things in the world that need Jesus' love, and to remind ourselves that God so loved the world that he gave his only son that all who believe in him may have eternal life.
We planted two apple trees to represent the 'fruit sticks' and give thanks for God's creation and all his good gifts to us. And we lit a large lantern (the 'candle') as we sang a carol.
Indoors we circled the now darkening church while we lit the real Christingle candles, and sang and prayed together.
In Memoriam: Revd Canon David Capron
Rev David Capron will be mourned as a much loved and respected Rector in Alcester. He was priest here for 22 years and known and recognised by many of the townsfolk for his approachability, kindness, and love of a real ale as a CAMRA member. He was dedicated to serving as chaplain to both the Royal British Legion and local fire service, especially following the tragic fire in 2007 when local firefighters lost their lives.
He was also a keen railway enthusiast, loving steam trains and models alike. He was a priest of the people, both inside and outside the church. He loved the church, both its strengths and weaknesses, and was not shy about sharing his views. He had a warm heart and a larger-than-life personality. Priest , Pastor, Man of God.
David will be greatly missed by those who knew him, loved him and valued his priesthood. Our thoughts and prayers from St Nicholas church, the Alcester Minster team go out to Hilary and their sons at his untimely death.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
David’s funeral will take place at St Nicholas Church on Saturday 14th October at 11am followed by a burial at St James’s Weethley.
Rev Katie Cross (Rector St Nicholas Church Alcester)
Julian Davey's book launch: My Grace is Sufficient
Watch Julian's talk and slide show that accompanied the launch of his new book, a collection of letters from his time in Bangladesh in the 1970s as a young doctor.
Open The Book
It is not too late to join the Alcester Minster Open the Book team, or just come along and either, view one of our rehearsals or, even a performance.
All you need is an enthusiasm for taking Bible stories to children in the four primary schools in the Minster as part of their Collective Worship.
You certainly don’t need any expertise in acting, as we are all very much amateurs. Many of us struggle to learn our lines but we all work together to make it work, developing lines during rehearsals that we can follow.
We don’t yet have our schedule for this coming term, and we appreciate that people are not always available for the weeks we are due to go into the schools. But, if you are interested in joining the team, why not take the first step and get in touch.
You will find more information on the Open the Book page of the Minster website. www.alcesterminster.org under ‘Church Life’. If you might be interested and without any commitment, why not contact the Administrator, or Tricia Berry tynespirit135@gmail.com or telephone 01789 763 246 or the mobile 0775 444 6620.
Our New Curate
Julie Lindsay was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Warwick on Sunday 2nd July in Coventry Cathedral, surrounded by many from the Alcester Minster community. Bishop John, who retires this month, was celebrating 40 years since his own ordination to the diaconate.
Julie, who lives in Alcester and had previously been a licensed Reader in the Minster, was selected for ordination by the National Church and has been training part-time for the last two years. Julie is a self-supporting minister, which means she will continue in her civil service role whilst also serving her curacy (being a trainee vicar) across our eight churches.
She is seen here (L) with our Rector, Katie Cross (R) as they led the Sung Eucharist service together in St Nicholas Church on 9th July.
On Saturday 24 June the summer Fun & Chat event was held in the Great Alne and Kinwarton Memorial Hall. There were refreshments available throughout the morning and the morning finished with a free lunch of Quiche and cooked meats with Salad. The theme of the morning was ‘The Armour of God’ which was the focus of many of the crafts and the ‘Listening Time’.
The next Fun & Chat will be held in the usual venue on Saturday 23 September.
Remember this is a Minster event, open to all members of the Minster for adults as well as families. It can be a place to meet up with others. Why not pop in to one of our future mornings. Just can stay a while and enjoy a drink and a cake or stay all morning and partake in the lunch.
Alive 2023
On 15th June we accompanied our two CofE schools, St Nicholas in Alcester and Coughton Primary School, to Alive 2023. The Diocese of Coventry event brought together 9,000 primary school pupils over two days for a praise party like no other. Watch the video for a few highlights!
Wings Over Weethley
On the 3rd & 4th June Ragley held their Annual Air Show and the weather was fantastic. Many flock to the nearby country lanes to see the air displays and as such Weethley Church welcomed visitors with open arms to sit and relax inside and out.
Click on the photo to read Jane Cornwell, the church warden of Weethley church's piece about the afternoon.
In 2023 so far we have been able to buy a freezer for someone out of work with mental health problems and we are buying a bed and bedside table for someone else fleeing domestic violence and being rehomed with hardly any furniture [more...]