October Services at Ansley Churches
| 6th October
Trinity 19 |
St John’s | 10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 13th October
Harvest |
St Laurence’s
|
10.30 a.m.
|
Harvest Service
|
| 20th October
Trinity 21 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship
|
| 27th October
Bible Sunday |
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.
Funerals
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.
Harvest Festival at St Laurence
The church will be decorated on Friday and Saturday the 11th and 12th October. Gifts of produce will be welcomed. Do come along and help decorate if you can. Cash donations will go to the Salvation Army and food to the local food bank.
Christianity Explored
This series of meetings continues at Fillongley church on specified Wednesdays. Dates and details can be obtained from Reverend Steve Medley (See front of magazine).
Girl’s Brigade at St John’s
Explorer (Reception to Year 3) and Juniors (Years 4-6) meet on Thursdays from 18.00-19.30.
Seniors (Years 7-9) and Brigadiers (Years 10-13) meet on Thursdays from 18.00 -20.00.
This group offers a wide range of activities which can lead to Duke of Edinburgh and Queen’s Awards. For further information call Captain Ruth on 07752468142 or email
1st chapelendgirlsbrigade@gmail.com
Prayer Meeting at St John’s
The next meeting is Tuesday 29th October at 2.00 p.m.
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.
“Thank you to everyone for 60 glorious years.”
“A magnificent culmination after 60 years of bringing glory to God and so much blessing to others. Thank you so much.”
“Thank you for all the joy you’ve brought through your amazing festivals. Bless you.”
“Restful, beautiful and calming-as usual.”
“An amazing display for the 60th anniversary.”
“What an amazing blessing and celebration of creativity this flower festival has been over so many years. Thank you all for the hard work, dedication and love you put into making these such a special experience!”
“So beautiful and such love, brings tears to my eyes. Thank you. X”
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.
St John’s Harvest Festival Report
See next month’s magazine.
Ansley Village Art Group Annual Exhibition and Sale
This was the thirteenth exhibition and sale. One hundred and thirteen people came through the door. Twenty four paintings and fourteen cards were sold. Teas, coffees and cakes plus other items and donations brought in £133 and 10% of sales was given by the artists. A total of £173 has been donated to Ansley church. Visitors were very impressed by the artwork-300 paintings were on display. Thank you to the organisers, and to all who contributed to the success of this event.
From the PCC
Churchyard
New Memorial
Work has started on the new memorial. As a result there is a substantial heap of topsoil beside the hedge. This will be used to fill in hollows in the areas of the church yard either side of the path from the car park gate to the path junction. If the soil is raked across these places, the grass will grow through and the ground will be more even for visitors to access graves and for the mowing of the grass next year.
BUT – TO DO THIS WE NEED HELP! We would be very grateful if volunteers could bring a wheelbarrow, shovel and rake to help with this task when convenient. We are already very grateful for all the work done to tidy and improve the church yard over the summer.
Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal
It is the time of year to prepare shoe boxes to be sent to children around the world. Please pick up a leaflet or look online at Samaritans-purse.org.uk/occ to make sure you choose appropriate gifts and age range for your box. They will need to be taken to a local centre in mid November, so we will need to have them in the first week of that month.
Christmas Tree Festival
Application forms for Christmas trees are available now. The trees will cost £16 each this year. The time will soon rush by and we will once again enjoy the spectacular sight of all the decorated trees around church which give so much delight to youngsters and adults alike.
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.
The Voice of Flowers
The words below were written by Margaret Antill’s mother, Mrs Edith Truelove over 55 years ago as she reflected on how the Flower Festival began. We are including it in the magazine in sections, as there is space, as it seems fitting to hear the words of the person who began the festival in the year it has ended.
‘“To beautify the place we love is always a joy but to make that beauty carry a message to touch the hearts of all who see it, is to tell the message of Jesus through another medium. Therefore I call this “The Voice of Flowers.”
Knowing well the Voice of Flowers and the love of God which causes them to bring so much beauty into the world; we at Ansley have tried through successive festivals to share with all who care to come this beauty, pleasure and friendship, as we portray with flowers our interpretations of the Bible.
Our lovely old church was in need of some attention and repair in the 1960’s. During one autumn, early in the 1960’s, my mother came to spend a while with me. One day we were discussing expenses. I said,
“I wish I could think of some new money spinner.”
Mother replied,
“I went to a beautiful event at Christchurch Priory (Dorset). They called it a Flower Festival. It presented a huge display of colour, starting with purple and red at the back of the church. It ranged through the full spectrum of colours until the altar was reached, all decked in white, It was a wonderful sight!”’
To be continued next month.