November Services at Ansley Churches
| 3rd November
All Saints |
St John’s | 10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 10th November
Remembrance |
St Laurence’s
|
10.30 a.m.
|
Special Service
|
| 17th October
2nd before Advent |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship
|
| 24th November
Christ the King |
St Laurence’s | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
From the Registers
Baptisms
Dalton John Wesley and his younger brother, Jaxon Vincent Wesley, were baptised at St Laurence on Sunday 1st September Lucas James Noel Edwards and his younger sister, Elaina Ann-Marie, were baptised on the same day.
We welcome these four new members of the church family. May they grow in faith, surrounded by the love and encouragement of their parents, godparents, families and friends.
Wedding
The wedding of Chloey Hall and Jac Kearsley took place on Friday 5th September at St Laurence. We wish them every happiness now and in the years ahead.
Burials
Brian Johnson, who died in Malta, was buried on Wednesday 7th August.
Teresa Bailey was buried at St Laurence on Wednesday 21st August, following a funeral service at St Anne’s, Camphill.
We pray for the family and friends of Brian and Teresa.
Funeral
Moreen Freestone’s funeral took place on 1st October followed by burial in the churchyard joining her husband, Gerald. Moreen was born in the Village but moved away when she married but always felt she belonged to Ansley. She had a clerical career and was also a special in the police rising to the rank of Area Commandant. Following her retirement, she returned to an active role in the church and was a Churchwarden for 20 years. We extend our condolences to her family and friends.
Remembrance Sunday
The service will be held in St Laurence church at 10.30, with the silence being observed at 11.00 a.m. After the service those who wish will walk in procession to the War Memorial for the laying of wreaths. The Annexe will be open for refreshments as usual.
Christianity Explored
The last meeting of the series is due to be Wednesday 13th November. In case any changes have been made please check with Reverend Steve Medley (See front of magazine).
Spurgeon’s Coffee Evening and Bring and Buy
Kealey will be hosting this event at 34, Nuthurst Crescent between 2.00 to 4.00p.m. and 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. on Wednesday 13th November. Coffee, tea etc. and light refreshments will be served. It is an opportunity to bring along donations or your Spurgeon’s collection box. Spurgeon’s is a charity that gives excellent support to children, young people and families who are going through a range of difficulties.
Prayer Meeting at St John’s
The next meeting is Tuesday 26th November at 2.00 p.m.
Christmas Raffle for Church Funds
Tickets will be available during November from Linda Cooper and other church members. The winning tickets for prizes of different hampers will be drawn in the Annexe, after the service on 24th November. Tickets are £1 a strip.
Christmas Tree Festival at St Laurence Church
Preparations inside church will begin on Monday 25th November The trees will arrive on Monday 2nd December. Any help you can give to get the church ready and to help bring in the trees on the Monday will be much appreciated.
Decorating of trees will be from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday 4th December and Thursday 5th December.
Please book your trees (£16 each) as soon as possible. It would help us greatly if you could remember to provide us with your tree title no later than 30th November.
Trees can be dismantled on Monday 30th December, 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. and Monday 6th January before 10.00 a.m. Let us know if you cannot do these times.
Publicity
Posters and flyers are available from church members but remember the best publicity is by word of mouth (and social media)!
Concert
We are delighted that Jess and Richard Arrowsmith, plus Jo Maher, will be giving a concert in church on Saturday 7th December at 7.30 p.m. Tickets can be obtained from Pat Arrowsmith 02476 392555.
Entry is £2 for adults and free for accompanied children under 16. Light refreshments will be served in the Annexe.
Opening Days and Times
The festival will be held on 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd December.
On the Saturdays it will be open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
On the first two Sundays it will be open from 12 noon to 5.00 p.m. and on the third Sunday from 12 noon to 6.00 p.m.
Entry is £2 for adults and free for accompanied children under 16. Light refreshments will be served in the Annexe.
St Laurence’s traditional Carol Service begins at 6.30 p.m. on that Sunday. You are welcome to come along and join in this much loved service.
Fillongley Christmas Tree Festival
This event will take place on the weekends of Saturday 30th November, 1st December and Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December.
Christmas Lantern Trail and Carols
The trail will leave Hood Lane Farm at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 14th December and arrive at St Laurence at 5.00 p.m. The church will be open and carols will be sung. At 5.45 the trail will return to Hood Lane for more carol singing and a hot drink.
Harvest Festival Report
The harvest festivals at St John’s in September and St Laurence in October resulted in a very pleasing amount of produce being taken to Nuneaton Food Bank. Donations from the two congregations amounted to £250 and this sum was sent to the Salvation Army.
A thank you letter from Acorn Hospice was read out. They were very grateful for our donation this year and over the preceding years. A representative from Nuneaton Hospitals League of Friends also expressed her gratitude. The £600 that each of the charities received will have a very positive impact on their work.
Flower Festival 2024 Report
Where to start? The festival has been a wonderful event from start to finish.
The festival was dedicated at the service at St John’s on the previous Sunday after which the major preparations began.
So many people came forward to help at this festival which ensured that everything was completed on time.
Many commented verbally that the church looked so good and some wrote in the visitor’s book. Here are just a few.
On the Friday Rev. Steve had to leave early after helping get ready, he said later that he did not think we would get if all done. We did!
Saturday started in the pouring rain, but from 11.00 a.m. we had a steady stream of people coming to visit. The produce stall was very busy as usual in the morning.
The weather improved slowly, people continued to come and we had a very good day.
For part of the Sunday service we showed photos of some of the original people and early displays. We also explained the reasons for the theme of “Titles” (We will be putting the words in the magazine when there is space.)
Again we had a good steady stream of visitors despite the very cold wind. It was a shame as people were not able to sit outside for their refreshments but again we had another very good day.
The Bank Holiday arrived and the weather was set fair right from the start. We had a very busy time. Fortunately people stepped in and helped – especially with the refreshments.
We were also fortunate to be able to use the farmyard for extra parking for which we thank the Goadby family.
As for many years Ansley Morris put on their display, with opportunities for those watching to take part at the end of both sessions.
After 5.00 p.m. the raffle for the two beautiful fruit cakes was drawn. The first was won by S. Parker and the second by S. Faulks.
At 5.30 we ended the festival with a service of Compline when the prayers from the prayer jar were brought to God.
The financial result was wonderful. We raised £4,561. The donations to the Nuneaton Hospital League of Friends and the Acorn Children’s Hospice will be presented at Harvest Festival.
A BIG, BIG thank you to everyone, for hard work in many different ways, generosity and prayers, Again, “THANK YOU.”
And so as the final festival closed the words written after the first festival were still true.
“Frost had disappeared – The Sun Shone” and we had had a wonderful festival.” God has never failed; He has guided us every year.
Flower Festival Quiz Results
The winners, one from Nuneaton and one from Fillongley, each received a voucher for Dobbies. Congratulations to them..
| 1 Rugby | 6 Hurley | 11 Curdworth | 16 Packington | 21 Henley in Arden |
| 2 Southam | 7 Bulkington | 12 Austrey | 17 Astley | 22 Budbrooke |
| 3 Warton | 8 Ridge Lane | 13 Gaydon | 18 Birchmoor | 23 Mancetter |
| 4 Alcester | 9 Nuneaton | 14 Freasley | 19 Stoneleigh | 24 Princethorpe |
| 5 Barford | 10 Bedworth | 15 Coleshill | 20 Wellesbourne | 25 Bentley |
From the Magazine Team
We sincerely apologise for the missing pages last month. It was
a result of a combination of pressure of time and illness.
Missing information that is still relevant has been put into this issue.
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.