|
Last updated 27th June 2009
Norton sub Hamdon
|
|
Sponsored by Cycle Dorset and South Somerset.
|
St Mary's Church JULY CHURCH SERVICES. SUNDAY 5th 6.30pm Evensong SUNDAY 12th 9.30am Family Communion SUNDAY 19th 11.15am Matins SUNDAY 26th 8.00am Holy Communion FRIDAY 31st 7.00pm Tower Day Service
Choir Practice - Friday, 3rd July - 7.00pm.
BENEFICE CHOIR PRACTICES. The next rehearsals for the Benefice Choir will be on Tuesdays 28th July, 4th and 11th August in Norton Church at 8.00pm. We shall be rehearsing to sing at the Songs of Praise service in Norton on Sunday, 16th August at 6.30pm. This is always a joyful occasion and will be the first time the Benefice Choir will have sung as part of it. You are very welcome to come and join us! Chris Denman.
QUIET MORNING. By the kind invitation of Christabel Cumberlege we shall be holding a ‘Quiet Morning’ on Wednesday, July 29th at Carpenters in Higher Street, Norton from 10.00am - 12.00 noon. Although there will be some ‘input’ to help lead our thoughts, the main purpose is to have time for prayer and reflection in a beautiful garden. Please let Peter (881202) or Christabel (881255) know if you intend to attend. Drinks will be available. If the weather is fine you could bring sandwiches to eat together at the end of the morning. (There will also be a ‘quiet morning’ at the Rectory in September).
SUMMER STORY HUT. The ‘African Hut’ in the Rectory front garden (Cat Street, Chiselborough) will become a ‘Story Hut’ on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons - in fine weather - starting on July 21st and right through the summer holidays. The story time will start at 2.00pm with stories specially aimed at ‘tinies’, and stories for older children will be from 2.20 - 3.00pm. Do you love stories? This is for you! There will be books available, but bring along your own if you like! There will be games to play and things to do too! Enjoy an hour in the shade of the African hut, sharing a love of stories. All are welcome - no charge - just look for the Story Hut sign showing the hut is open. (Under 8s to be accompanied please). Contact Anne 881202 for more details.,
NORTON CHURCHYARD.
The suggestion has been put to the Parochial Church Council that an area of the Churchyard should be set aside as a ‘Wild Garden’. This does not simply mean not mowing one section. Such a garden needs to be maintained, and advice is available on this. The PCC has identified an area where this might be done - to the north of the church where no burials are known over the past 100 years. If you would be interested in maintaining such an area could you please let Denis Cannon or Peter Thomas know. “More than 6,000 British churchyards run their small plots of land as sacred eco-systems - without pesticides, and mowing the grass only once a year, ensuring that birds, reptiles, insects and flowers can thrive.
The scheme has been outstandingly successful for several reasons. Firstly because it immediately makes sense, secondly because it is simple to execute, thirdly because it is theologically sound, and fourthly because it enables people to be involved in a manageable environmental project” - Quote from the Living Churchyard Scheme. CHURCH FLOODLIGHTING.
Bearing in mind the need to reduce unnecessary carbon footprint, it has been decided by the PCC to turn on the floodlighting between Advent Sunday and Epiphany only (early December through to early January). BURIALS IN THE CHURCHYARD.
During the summer I have prepared charts for the churchyards in Chiselborough and Norton based mainly on work done by Sir Melvyn Mendlycott around 2000. These charts, together with a book containing various documents including photographs of headstones, will be kept in the churches. However, I have discovered that there are a large number of unmarked burials in both churchyards. Some of these have small flower pots, some with flowers in, but no names. If anyone is aware of the location of any unmarked burials, including those of cremated remains, can they please let me know so that records can be updated . Church burial registers have not, until now, had any record of locations.
Peter Thomas. Home Communion. It is the practice of the Church of England to offer people who cannot come to church the opportunity occasionally to receive Holy Communion at home. This will apply to people who are housebound or experiencing times of illness. I am happy to undertake these services - it would be good to know of people who might benefit from this ministry. Peter. WEDDINGS IN CHURCH. You may know that the regulations about who can marry in a Church of England Church building are just about to change. In July 2007, the General Synod overwhelmingly passed the Church of England Marriage Measure and it received the Royal Assent on the 22nd May. The Archbishops have now signed an instrument bringing all the provisions of the Measure into force from 1st October 2008. The measure seeks to respond to changing social conditions and in particular to the increasing mobility of our society today. It does not affect the existing right of parishioners. A couple continue to have the right to be married in the parish church of a parish where one or both of them are resident or entered on the electoral roll (The present regulations). However, some people would like to marry in a church because it has special significance for them, even though it is not where they live. This measure enables a church to offer the same welcome to a couple who wish to marry there and who can demonstrate a straightforward connection with the parish as it does to those who live in the parish itself, without the couple having to apply for a special licence. A person has a Qualifying Connection with a parish if that person: was baptised in the parish, or had his or her confirmation entered in a church register book of a church or chapel in the parish, or has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months, or has at any time habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months, or a Parent of that person has at any time during that person’s lifetime: had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months, or habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months, or a Parent or Grandparent of that person was married in the parish. In all cases involving church services, i.e. coming to/going to/attending normal church services, baptism, confirmation or marriage - this applies only to Church of England services. More information can be gained from the church website www.nortonchurch .org.uk |