Chrsitian Aid week, Unity Week, Songs from the Shows

It's been a busy week as ever at St Michael's.  I am half way through doing my Christian Aid collection - I always have to summon up my courage to go out and knock on doors but end up quite enjoying it.  I have done it for several years and know which houses to avoid and which will be welcoming and easy!  And it has been Unity week too, though I wasn't able to take part in that unfortunately.

And then we have Margaret and friends doing Songs from the Shows on Sunday as a tea time concert at 3.30pm - I am looking forward to the tea and cake.

Good to see so many children in Church last week - we were almost overrun, but in a good way, and there seem to be lots of baptisms taking place, so that is good.

And then it's the Parochial Church Council meeting on Monday  .............

Just a snapshot of what goes on in our busy Parish.

St Michael's Church Open Morning

Saturday 29th September
10am to 12noon

Select bric-a-brac, paperback books, home-made cakes & scones, plants and garden produce.

Please bring your friends and family to browse, find a bargain and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.

View Larger Map

What do you think about the Bishops Stortford North Development Plans?

Developers have announced plans for large new housing developments on the north side of Stortford, in the areas around the Hadham Road, Cricketfield Lane and Dane O'Coys Road.  The proposals are for around 2,200 houses.

What do you think about the proposals - are you for or against?

If you are not sure, there is a chance to find out more and give your feedback at two events planned for next week.

The events will be held at the Charis Centre in Water Lane on Friday, September 21 from 2pm to 7.30pm and on Saturday, September 22 from 10am to 4.30pm.

For those who know that they are opposed to the developments (and this includes several of our church members), an internet petition opposing the development went online this week.

The Save our Stortford group says: “Bishop's Stortford is an historic market town. It is in danger of being over-developed and over-stretched if large scale housing developments on Bishop's Stortford countryside go ahead."

The petition can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveourstortford/

Back To Church Sunday - 30th September

Millions of people who don't go to church would say yes to an invitation from a friend. What if you were that friend? Who would you invite?

'Back to Church Sunday' has caught on in churches everywhere because it is so simple. Since 2004 a quarter of a million people have said "Yes" to the prayerful invitation of a friend. Each year more churches take part and more people come back per church. In 2011 in the Church of England twenty more people came to each church - across all denominations about 77,000 extra people altogether. And at its heart it is the oldest idea of all, the one that made shepherds leave their flocks, fishermen leave their nets, and tax collectors climb out of trees. Someone invited them.

Back to Church Sunday can help you take the shortest step in evangelism: inviting someone you know to something you love. Taking part is as simple as 1 2 3:

1. Collect an invitation from the church
2. Invite a friend who hasn't been in a while to our Patronal Festival
3. Come with them and then take them out for a coffee or a bite to eat afterwards.

Back to Church Sunday 2012 is on 30th September. Let's get those invitations out now!

More photos from Belize

Toby has sent me a few more pictures since he is struggling to log into blogger!  I post them on his behalf, along with his captions:

"The beach Cabana at Hopkins, where we stayed for 4 nights."

"The Bishop's House, where I lived in 1965/6. Still his house today."

"The home of Sue Harris, who organised the Fyffes boat collections their end."

    
There is one more photo with the caption "Indiana and Mrs Jones at a Mayan Temple site".  I have tried to add it to the blog several times but it only downloads the top half of the image, so I will tease your imagination instead!

Katharine

Toby's Trip to Belize

As mentioned in last week's newsletter, Toby and Madi returned from Belize last Monday and I spoke to Toby on Tuesday.  He claimed to be suffering from jetlag but sounded bright and jolly and any tiredness was certainly not apparent!

I asked him to forward to a few photos since I was sure that others in the congregation would like to see them so he's now emailed a few.  Most don't need any explanation (which is good, since Toby hasn't included any captions!)  Others, I have labelled according to what I can recall from our chat on the phone.

Toby and Madi send their best to all at St Michael's as they now truly begin their new life in Deal.

Katharine

Upmarket accommodation ...  Toby and Madi borrowed a car and went exploring Belize for much of their time before returning to Belize City in time for the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Anglican Cathedral.





Bed and breakfast on the beach ... Toby commented that the most difficult part of the holiday was mastering the art of clambering in and out of the hammock!

'Cave Tubing' 300 feet underground along a river in a rubber ring.

Zip wiring!

A bar in Belize.  The Belizean national bird is the Toucan however ... and he tells me he's brought one home and named it Lulu ... 

Hmm, not sure where this is but it looks beautiful!

Toby, Madi and the Bishop of Belize at the Festive Service to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Belize City.

Cross-posted from St Michael's Discussion Forum.

The St Michael's Men’s Group arranged "An Evening With Toby Marchand' (our vicar)  on Thursday 12^th April in the Charnley Hall, following the format of that well know Radio 4 programme "Desert Island Discs".  The event was a great success, attracting an audience of 35 members from the congregation. 

Toby had chosen eight recordings of music and narrative pieces interspersed by questions put to him by Mike Ashwood. The music included:

• a Jazz piece from Belize (where he first met Madi when they were both on VSO duties there), 
• a cello work and other classical works (Elgar’s Nimrod’, the’ Dies Irae’ from Verdi’s Requiem and ‘Cum Sancto Spiritu’ from Rossini’s Petite Mess Solenelle). 
• Amusing extracts from ‘Beyond the Fringe’ (Take a Pew) 
• a speech by Martin Luther King 
• a performance by the Monks at Chevetogne in Belgium near which Toby had spent many rewarding times at a nearby retreat. 

Toby spoke of his early life, his travels and his ministry at his various churches, and provided us with an insight into his plans for retirement (which included furthering his proficiency playing the cello).  

The book he chose was Dante’s Divine Comedy and his luxury item an everlasting supply of ice cream! 

After answering a few further questions from the audience we concluded with a ‘Ploughman’s Supper’. It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening which will provide many happy and interesting memories for all who attended.