MAY 2007
SERVICES
| 6th Easter 4 | 20th Ascension Sunday |
|---|---|
| 8.00 am Holy Communion | 8.00 am Holy Communion |
| 11.00 am Odyssey | 11.00 am Holy Communion |
| Preacher: Revd Prof Michael Langford | Preacher Mr Dylan Turner |
| 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist | 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist |
| Preacher Revd Dr Fraser Watts | Preacher Ms Tina Hodgett |
| 13th Easter 5 | 27th WhitSunday |
| 8.00 am Holy Communion | 8.00 am Holy Communion |
| 11.00 am Mattins & Sermon | 11.00 am Whitsun Readings and Music |
| Preacher: Revd Dr Malcolm Guite | Preacher: Revd Dr Fraser Watts |
| 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist | 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist |
| Preacher: Revd Dr Fraser Watts | Preacher: Revd Dr Fraser Watts |
| Fridays: 10.30 am Holy Communion 5.30 pm Meditation | |
11.00 am READINGS
Theme Old Testament/Epistle New Testament/Gospel
6 Liberalism P Marshall 2 Kings 5. 1-14 A Finn Luke 6. 1-5
13 Jesus' Farewell M Lee Deuteronomy 34 J Dent John 16. 23-end
20 Ascension D Hirst Acts 1. 1-11 Chaplain Mark 16. 14-20
27 Pentecost tbc C Walker Acts 2. 1-8 & 12-17
Readers for June.
3: T Hodgett & D Turner;
10: E Edwards & Chaplain
17: G
Barnes & R Lynden-Bell
Odyssey: The preacher this month (May 6th, 11.00 am) will be the Revd Professor Michael Langford. His latest book, A Liberal Theology for the 21^st Century, argues for the importance of open-minded reasonableness in contemporary Christianity.
Ascension Day (Thursday May 17th): One of the principal days of celebration in the Christian year. There will be a special Eucharist at 7.30 pm at which Fraser will preside and preach.
Whitsunday: The 11.00 am service will be a special service of readings and music for Whitsun, in honour of the Holy Spirit. There will be a Pentecost Eucharist at 5.00 pm.
Goth Eucharists: There will be series of sermons by Malcolm on `What's Good About Goth', looking at Goth virtues. April 24th: Empathy; May 8th: Vulnerability; May 22nd: Acceptance.
Holistic Spirituality Group: This will meet at 3.30 pm on Sundays April 29th, May 13th and 27th. The group is currently looking at the experience of angels, and led by Malcolm.
Healing: There will be laying on of hands for healing at the 5.00 pm Eucharist on May 13th, which is Rogation Sunday, and an appropriate time to be asking for healing.
House Group: There will be a new house group, led by Malcolm, meeting on alternate Mondays at 8.00 pm at St Mark's Vicarage, Barton Rd. The focus will be on the sayings of Jesus. Feel free to join at any stage. The dates are April 30th, May 14th & 28th etc.
Hidden Treasures: A 6-week exploration in creative writing about the theme of kingship, castles, and the middens to be found within our castle walls. Thursdays, 12.30-2.00, starting Thursday May 3rd. A light lunch will be available. Full details available on a separate handbill.
Sexuality Discussion Group: The sexuality discussion group will meet next at 3.30 pm on Sunday May 20th. Fraser will lead a discussion on what the Bible says about breaking taboos, and apply that to current debates about homosexuality.
Parish Communions: The next joint Parish Communion, a joint service for both morning and evening congregations, will be on June 24th. For the first time it will be in the evening, at 5.00 pm, followed by a social event. Please put this mid-summer Eucharist in your diary; more details next month. The Harvest Festival this year will be on Sept 30th, and will also be a joint Parish Communion. The preacher will be the Bishop of Ely. It will be followed by lunch in Trinity Hall.
New Members: We always warmly welcome new members of the congregation. If you would like to meet with one of the clergy, please let Fraser or Malcolm know. We plan to have periodic `get to know you' evenings for new members, so let us know if you would like an invitation to the next one. Also, if there is some contribution you would be willing to make to the life of the church, please let us know that too. We send round an email each week about what is going on in the church. To subscribe to that, please go to our website, www.st-edwards-cam.org.uk
Churchwardens: Welcome to our new Churchwarden, Steve Mastin, who is a teacher and Head of History at Sawston Village College. He is also active in local politics, and an approved parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party. We are grateful to him for taking this role on, and also to Dr Elizabeth Edwards for agreeing to give one more year of service as a Churchwarden.
Chaplain's Letter
An encouraging number of all people have joined St Edward's in recent months, and I have tried to listen to what has attracted them here. There are several recurrent themes.
People often say they find this a prayerful church, one in which people take the spiritual life seriously, and in which they can sense the Holy Spirit moving. Another frequent comment is that St Edwards is an open-minded church, broad and tolerant, in which people can think for themselves and find their own way. Several of the people who have joined us have felt somewhat scared by more oppressive experiences of church elsewhere. Yet another theme is that St Edward's is an interesting, stimulating church where people get a lot of food for thought, and receive valuable help in making a connection between Christianity and other areas of life. People also often say that it is a warm, friendly church in which they have quickly felt welcome and accepted. There are several people who have felt that they were disapproved of in other churches, for one reason or another, but who feel accepted and welcomed with us. I hope that at St Edward's people hear a positive message of light and love.
All that is very encouraging, and gives us a good idea of the strengths on which we should build. It is particularly encouraging to see so many younger people coming in. I believe it is right for us to go on being the kind of church that meets the spiritual needs of the kinds of people who are currently joining us. They often feel that no other church is really doing that. We are set on a path that not only meets spiritual needs, but gives us an important place in God's work in Cambridge, and which will, incidentally, lead to St Edward's being a flourishing church. It never seems right for a Church to set out to be successful as its main objective. However, if it is genuinely meeting people's needs and doing God's work, it will flourish as by-product of that, and have the momentum and resources to keep up its good work. As Jesus said, `first seek the Kingdom of God'.
Of course, there are things that we need to learn to do better, neglected things that need more emphasis, balances that need to be struck better etc. I always welcome comments and suggestions about that. However, our basic course is now clear, and St Edward's has fake calf become a happy, united, positive and flourishing church. I am deeply grateful to all those who have helped us along the way so far, and I warmly welcome those who are coming to join us.
Fraser Watts
Clergy: Revd. Dr. Fraser Watts (19, Grantchester Road, CB3 9ED; 359223, fnw1001@cam.ac.uk); Revd Dr Malcolm Guite (694249, mg320@cam.ac.uk); Canon Alan Cole (892286, alan73@waitrose.com). Churchwardens: Dr. Elizabeth Edwards (313570, elizedwards@waitrose.com); Mr Steven Mastin (361041, stephenjamesmastin@yahoo.com).Treasurer: Mr Geoffrey Barnes; (717757, Geoff.Barnes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk). Reader: Mr. Peter Marshall (564471). Church phone: 362004.