Friends of St Mary’s Church and the roof repairs
The Friends of St Mary’s Church evening at the Church on 30th June has had to be postponed as there is a delay in the start of repairs to the nave roof of the church. We are still tackling the problem of funding the repairs since English Heritage has now used up their church repair allocation. We are hoping that the work will be able to begin before autumn when we can report on the restoration work. As soon as we are able to provide more information we will do so.
Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Bike Ride
Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Bike Ride last year raised a total of £140,371 in Suffolk, which is the highest ever, but the Hadleigh benefice could do better! So please encourage riders and sponsors to support this year’s ride, which will be on 9th September. More details later. Let’s have a good band of cyclists this year. The Dean doesn’t want to be the only one!
St Mary’s Coffee Mornings
We will be serving refreshments in church every Saturday morning in July and August between 10am and 12 noon. Please come and bring your friends, and help us raise money towards the roof repairs.
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our new Curate
This month we welcome Jane Weeks, who comes to be Curate for the Hadleigh benefice. Jane is to be ordained Deacon at our Cathedral on Sunday 2nd July at 10am. Ordination is a tremendous privilege for the individual, and also a great act of commitment to the church community and to serve our Lord in this special way.
On the following day, Monday 3rd July, there will be our opportunity to welcome Jane to the benefice together with David her husband and their family.
On that Monday we will have a short Evensong and then we will be having wine and ‘nibbles’ at the back of St Mary’s Church and an opportunity for members to welcome them all. Please remember Jane in your prayers as she comes to join us here, that her ministry among us may be greatly blessed. Also please remember her family as they come to be part of our church community and of this town.
Baptisms at St Mary’s Church
From September onwards we will be offering families the opportunity to have Holy Baptism at 3pm on Sunday afternoons, usually on the first Sunday of the month. We are very anxious to give a good welcome to children and young families. It has become increasingly clear that many families who are unused to church services find the lengthened service on Sunday mornings quite difficult. However by having an afternoon Baptism service we will be able to make the occasion more personal and be able to explain more easily what is going on.
However we do not want to lose the link between the main worship and the families that come for baptism. We therefore propose to ask for some representatives of the morning congregation to join us in the afternoon at the Baptism Service to welcome them. We will also be asking the baptism families to come to our morning service on the following Sunday, which is the All Age Communion at which we will repeat the ‘Welcome’ for the newly baptized. By coming to that service they will be given a better idea of a more normal Sunday worship.
Please remember however that those who wish to have the Baptism at the main service may still do so, and on those occasions we will use the current All Age Communion with Baptism format.
Family Service at St Mary’s (Non-Eucharistic)
Our next Family Service will be on Sunday 16th July at 10.30am.
Healing Service
The next Healing Service will take place at Taize Eucharist on Sunday 16th July at St Mary’s Church at 6.30pm. You are most welcome to come and there will be the opportunity, if you wish, to receive the laying-on of hands and anointing either for yourself or on behalf of another.
Wednesday - Parish Office
The Parish Office at St Mary’s Church for arranging Baptisms and Weddings is open on Wednesdays from 7pm to 8pm. PLEASE NOTE that we are transferring to an appointment system so that visits can be better planned and spaced. If you would like an appointment please phone the Deanery on 822218 between 6pm and 6.30pm from Tuesday to Friday inclusive. We would very much appreciate your co-operation in this.
I pray that God bless you and your home.
Your Friend and Parish Priest, David Stranack
The Deanery, Hadleigh (01473 822218
I would like to give a brief introduction on the practice of Spiritual Healing.
Spiritual Healing is an ancient therapy which has been used throughout history. It has its roots in India, China, Egypt and Greece.
Peoples’ perceptions of a modern-day healer vary, but the large majority of healers I know are just ordinary people, leading normal lives, with normal everyday jobs, who in their spare time offer healing to those who seek it. There are also many full time healers who offer healing as an additional therapy within their complementary healing practice, such as Reflexologists, Aromatherapists etc.
What is Spiritual Healing?
It is the act of channelling the life force energy which animates all life. In an every day form, a mother comforting a child who has fallen and grazed its knee, is a healing act.
The mother’s intent is to heal. The healer acts in a similar way. To place a hand over a body that is hurting - this intent enables the healing energy to flow to wherever it is needed, which can help restore a sense of
balance, harmony and well-being.
What happens when you go to a spiritual healer?
There is no need to remove any clothing (apart from your coat and shoes!) and after taking a brief case history you will be asked to either sit in a chair, or lie on a healing
couch, depending on your preference. The healing session usually starts and finishes with laying the hands on the shoulders and feet, the rest of the time the healer usually works off the body (not touching). The session
will often take around 30 minutes, but obviously this will vary from person to person.
What can healing do for you?
No healer can promise a miracle cure, but most people feel extremely relaxed, peaceful and more balanced after a healing session, as well as reporting benefits in their health. The
healing energy works on the whole person at all levels. As most of us lead stressful and busy lives, healing is a natural way of helping to restore peace, harmony and balance.
Will I feel anything during a healing session?
You will experience healing in your own unique way. Some people feel nothing at all, some report feeling hot, cold or experience tingling sensations. Most feel very peaceful and
relaxed and often report feelings of well-being.
What will a healing session cost?
This will vary from healer to healer - you will need to ask for a statement of charges, but could be anything from £5 to £20. Some are able to offer a voluntary service, but most
need to meet the needs of their training costs, and that of running a small business.
In conclusion, healing can offer a natural way to restore a sense of well-being, balance and harmony.
Karen Oliver
Karen is a Spiritual Healer and qualified Reflexologist who lives and works in Hadleigh. She can be contacted on 822660.
William Booth - Nottingham’s Most Outstanding Son
On the 10th April 1829, a son William, was born to Samuel and Mary Moss Booth. A delicate baby, he was christened without delay in St Stephen’s Church, Sneinton. He was able to go to school when many other children had to go to work for up to 16 hours a day in bad conditions.
At 13 William was withdrawn from school when Samuel’s building business failed, became an apprentice pawnbroker and it was there that he learned about the lives of poor people.
When William Booth was 15 he started to attend the Methodist Church where he was converted, vowing and making a promise “God shall have all there is of William Booth.” He did not want to be a pawnbroker all his life; instead he wanted to spend his life telling people about God’s love.
Young Booth and his friend Will Sansom began holding open-air meetings in the back streets, and persuading men and women from the city’s worst slum areas to attend the Broad Street Chapel.
His apprenticeship completed, William, now 19, was made redundant and after a jobless year he moved to London, but failed to secure work outside the pawnbroking business. By now he was a Local preacher, his life was hard, but he maintained his faith and the preaching of it as far as he had opportunity. He startled most of his listeners by the strength and fire of his rugged energy.
On Good Friday 1852, Williams’s 23rd birth, he met Miss Catherine Mumford and on 16th June 1855 they were married. In Catherine’s letters she sent ideas for sermons at his request; sorted out his prejudice against equality and women preachers, and urged him to study for the ministry. William Booth became a minister in the Methodist Church. Later he left this Church and for four years travelled to many towns preaching, eventually arriving in London.
By 1865 both William and Catherine were involved in preaching campaigns. Catherine was leading revival meetings in Rotherhiithe, London, when William, passing through Mile End Road, Whitechapel, joined a group of missionaries holding a meeting outside “The Blind Beggar” public house. Hearing his fiery witness, the leaders invited him to preach at their tent meetings nearby. Returning to Catherine he declared, “Kate, I have found my destiny.”
It was among the degradation of “such heathens as these” that he must bring good news of the Saviour. He told Catherine, “These people shall be our people, and they shall have our God for their God.”
Night after night Booth walked home exhausted, often bruised and bleeding from rough treatment.
In 1865 the East London Christian Mission was formed but later, when its activity spread from London to the provinces, it was renamed ‘The Christian Mission.’ It had no buildings of its own so dance halls, skittle alleys, a pigeon shop, theatre, tents and the open air were used for meetings.
In 1878 The Christian Mission dramatically changed to The Salvation Army a “name descriptive of its purposes and character” with a General and members as soldiers.
In 1888 shelters for men and cheap food depots were provided. William realised that people would not listen to his preaching if they were cold and hungry. In 1890 William Booth’s book on Social reform ‘In Darkest England and the Way Out’ was published.
William tried to do something about the poor conditions in which people worked. He started a factory making safety matches. The tips of matches were usually made from material (yellow phosphorous) which caused a nasty, painful disease called phossy jaw.
William’s factory used material that was safe for the workers and caused no illnesses. When other factories changed to making safety matches Booth closed his factory. He also advertised Fair Wages for Fair Work.
In 1891 20,000 ‘farthing breakfasts’ were served to children.
William Booth’s last public speech given at The Royal Albert Hall in London reads:
“While women weep as they do no, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, I’ll fight; while there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight - I’ll fight to the very end.”
When he died in 1912 at the age of 83, William Booth’s Army had spread to 58 countries around the world. Today The Salvation Army serves people as a Church and Charity in over 100 countries.
2nd July is known as Founders Day, when we remember our beginnings and our God inspired Founder William Booth.
Hadleigh United Reformed Church
Market Place, Hadleigh
Pentecost, when the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit, has passed for another year. The life of the Church, that is the Christians who make up the Church, continues in the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus went back to his Father in heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to be a friend, comforter and enabler for all those who commit themselves to Jesus. This is a great support as we try to know God’s will and to serve him in the world. It doesn’t, however, mean that life is always easy, or that Christians always get things right. Farm from it; we are prone to the same mistakes as the rest of the world, although the power of the Holy Spirit does help us to change.
We all do things wrong and hurt others, but the wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit is that he reminds us of God’s love for us and encourages us to put right our mistakes. He also assures us of God’s forgiveness when we turn back to him. Christians may not be perfect (by a long way), but we know that God is still working on us, through the Holy Spirit, and his love for us will never fail. Isn’t that good news!
Last month we wrote about one of our regular events, Come in for Coffee, which meets between 10am and 11.30am in the Church Vestry every Tuesday. Everyone is welcome to drop in for some tea, coffee and biscuits and also some conversation, if they feel so inclined.
This month we want to tell you about Pause for Prayer
This happens at the same time as Come in for Coffee, 10am until 11.30am every Tuesday morning, and takes place in the church. Most of the time it is simply a quiet place to come and sit in silence and talk to God, for a brief moment, or for longer if you find that helpful. You will be most welcome and permitted to enjoy your time of prayer undisturbed. Afterwards you may want to drop into the Vestry for coffee and conversation, or you may prefer not. At 10.15am for approximately 15 minutes there will be a short meditative service of prayer. You are free to join in with this or to allow it to happen while you continue with your own prayers. We invite you to use Pause for Prayer as a quiet oasis in the midst of a busy life, a time you can set aside to hear what God wants to say to you.
Events this month:
We worship at 10.45am every Sunday morning, including the celebration of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month. During these services there is available a crèche for the smallest children and Junior Church for all other ages. We meet for worship at 6.30pm on the first Sunday, when we have a service of Praise and Prayer, often including modern Christian songs. We also meet at 6.30pm on the third Sunday of each month, when we celebrate Holy Communion within a quiet, more meditative form of service. You are most welcome to come and worship with us at any of these services.
On Sunday 9th Churches Together in Hadleigh have organised a service and a picnic at 5.30pm at the picnic site at Toppesfield Bridge. Everyone is welcome to come and join in the singing, which will be led by the Salvation Army Band. Please bring your own picnic and enjoy spending time with friends at the riverside. For further information contact Philip Mann, Chairman of Churches Together on 822658.
Further information:
For more information on any of the above, or any other aspects of life at Hadleigh United Reformed Church, please contact Revd Jim Dalgleish (827895).