August Services at Ansley Churches
| 4th August
Trinity 10 |
St John’s | 10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 11th August
St Laurence |
St Laurence’s
|
10.30 a.m.
|
Morning Worship
|
| 18th August
Trinity 12 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship
Flower F. Dedication |
| 25th August
Flower Festival |
St Laurence’s | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| Monday 26th
Flower Festival |
St Laurence’s | 5.30 p.m. | Thanksgiving |
From the Registers
Baptism
Evan Sansome was baptised on Sunday 21st July. His parents, godparents, family and friends were there to support him on this happy occasion. We welcome Evan into the church family and wish him well for the future.
Interment of Ashes
On Wednesday 10th July the ashes of Ronald Malkin, of Piper’s Lane, were interred in the churchyard. They were placed in the last plot in the current cremation garden.
Special Service at St Wilfrid’s
A message sent to Steve from Peter and Pauline Allen following their visit.
“Thank you Steve for inviting us to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Peter’s ordination at St Wilfrid’s.
Thank you too to all who came and especially those for whom coming out is difficult and painful. Thank you too for those who prepared the excellent buffet. The traditional generous Arley hospitality continues to live on!
In short to one and all
THANK YOU!
With prayers and good wishes,
Peter and Pauline
First Steps – Sharing Jesus in Your Everyday
This was an interesting course, with opportunities to share experiences, reflect on our own faith and consider gentle ways to be more open about how our faith impacts our daily life. Thank you to Reverend Jo and others involved in organising each meeting.
Prayer Group
The next meeting will be held in St John’s Hall on Tuesday 20th August at 2.00 p.m.
St John’s Bingo
When the date for the previous Bingo session was chosen, it was thought that holding it during daylight on a summer evening might attract some new people. This was not the case, however, as it was one of the many times this year when the heavens opened! The rain was just starting to fall as people would have been leaving their homes and by the time the session ended it was torrential. Nonetheless those who made it to the hall had a very enjoyable evening and there were a few new faces. There were some very good prizes for the lines and houses. The raffle also did well. Thank you to all those who organised the sesson and sorted the prizes. To sum up, we had a great evening of light-hearted fun and raised £50 for the hall funds.
St John’s are hoping to run another Bingo session in September but the date is not yet confirmed.
Britain in Bloom
This was a very joyous day for all who took part.
Representatives of the organising group met the judges at the church on the hottest day of the year so far. A short meeting was held in the annexe for practical matters before the visit began. The judges had a quick look inside the church. This was welcomed although not on the programme for the day. The church bells were rung and Ansley Morris danced in the churchyard. The judging group walked up to the War Memorial to the sound of the bells. They were then taken around Ansley Village to see the vast amount of work that has been done by many people to enhance the village and encourage a deeper sense of community. After the tour the judges were welcomed to the Hall, where local paintings by Ansley Village Art Group members were on display. Tea and cakes were offered to the judges following another Ansley Morris dance, after which the judges’ visit was over. Their deliberations will be revealed on 20th September.
Members of the PCC wish to say a a BIG THANK YOU to all the people who have worked so hard to improve the whole area and especially for the work at the Village Church Hall and in the churchyard. It is greatly appreciated.
Ansley Open Gardens
The day went very well, with over 150 visitors. Everyone had a good time and the organisers were pleased with the outcome.
From the PCC
Churchyard – Watering Cans
We are very pleased to let you know that the church has been given a new watering can for the use of churchyard visitors. It will have ‘Ansley Church’ painted on the side. We hope it will remain in the churchyard for many, many years.
Flower Festival 2024
For this our 60th and final flower festival the theme is “Titles”
This may seem a strange theme, but right from the start it was the importance of giving each display a title that made Ansley’s Flower Festivals very different to so many others. This also enabled us to bring the Bible alive to ourselves and especially to those who visited. If you want to know the full story it will be told at the Sunday morning 10.30 a.m. service.
In preparation for this event we will start on 12th August with making sure the churchyard is tidy, we will need to trim back the hedges and trees and also those many graves that are no longer attended. The paths will also need to be tidied. This churchyard work should not be as onerous as in previous years thanks to all the work carried out by the Britan in Bloom team, but it is amazing how much grows in a month especially when we have had so much rain.
If anyone wishes to help in the church during our preparations there are many jobs that will need to be covered even making a cupper is a great help, as well as cleaning and tidying etc. Please don’t wait to be asked. (“Many hands make light work.”)
We will continue to do our best for our environment, so again this year we will be hoping to grow more flowers locally as well as using pot plants. We will also try and not use just floristry foam but use some of the old methods such as jam jars and chicken wire! If you have any flowers or greenery that you would be happy to let us use please do bring it to church on Wednesday 21st or let us know and we will do our best to collect.
Probably the most difficult part of organising such a project, is publicity. We are always pleased to have any help with this aspect for all church events. If you can help in any way, it would be much appreciated. Email, Face Book, and any other forms of social media please help where you can. However, one of the best forms of publicity that has been found to work is “Word of Mouth” Please do tell people!
We will be accepting donations for the individual tapestry flowers that were made by people from around the world for the ‘Bouquet of Flowers’ Christmas Tree in 2021. Also on sale will be the newly produced book of photographs Ansley & Arley Past and Present.
Also very welcome will be home-grown produce and home-made jams etc. for the produce stall. The provision of cakes for the refreshments as well as help serving. There will also be the manning of the produce stall together with the raffle and quiz stall. We also require people to steward at the door of the church, or just come and talk to people and make them feel welcome. If you can help in any way, please let it be known. If you are unable to help in a practical way please help with your prayers for the event they are just as important.
The schedule is:
Saturday 24th August church open 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Sunday 25th August 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion
Sunday 25th August church open 12.00 p.m. to .6.00 p.m.
Monday 26th August church open 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Monday 26th August 5.30 p.m. Thanksgiving Service
During these times there will be refreshments available in the annexe, which, if the weather is kind, can be enjoyed in the churchyard with views of the countryside. The stall with home-grown and home-made produce will be in the churchyard, as will be displayed the fruit cakes that are being raffled. There will also be a quiz.
On Monday afternoon Ansley Morris will be dancing, weather permitting in the churchyard, or in the church if wet.
After the event any flowers in good condition will be given to those recently bereaved or are ill who live in the parish. If you know of anyone who would appreciate a bunch of flowers who lives in the parish or if you can deliver, please do let it be known.
As for many years, there will be an opportunity to lay a stone on the pile and leave your burdens or put a flower in an arrangement as a thanksgiving or place a prayer in the Prayer Jar. These prayers will be brought to God before the end of the festival.
Continuing our usual practice, we will be supporting the Nuneaton Hospital League of Friends and the Acorns Children’s Hospice as well as raising money for church funds. Entrance will be free, but we do say “Please place a gift here not only to thank God for the joy of the Flower Festival, but for all the joys that God has brought to you.”
We pray for God’s blessing as we prepare for this event.
Report on 2023 festival available at
https://www.ansleychurch.org/news/flower-festival-2023-report/
Prayer Requests
If you would like someone or a particular situation to be remembered in prayer, please make contact with the church by email or phone one of the numbers on the front cover.