Good news has arrived!
Rev’d Josh Bailey has been appointed as our new Priest in Charge of the Bungay Benefice, and will take up his post at the end of June. By way of introduction, he has kindly written the following message:
As you read this, my family and I will be filling boxes in earnest, as we prepare for our move to Bungay! My wife Pippy and I are very much looking forward to getting to know the different communities within the benefice, and discovering all the connections of faith and friendship with the surrounding towns and villages.
After a short while working in a media agency, I was ordained in the Diocese of Leicester, serving my title post in the village of Rothley. We began my curacy with two children, and moved on to an Associate Vicar post in Great Chesham with four: Elijah (8), Mary (7), Phoebe (5) and Jonah (3). For the last three years, I have served in a parish of first six and then seven churches. The seventh arose from a pioneering group from one of the other churches, revitalising a dwindling congregation in a local council estate.
My role has been focused on the larger church of St Mary’s, though I have often led services or come together for festive occasions with other churches. The other churches cover a broad spectrum of traditions within the Church of England. We have had a parish liturgical service of foot-washing annually, on Maundy Thursday, alongside a new contemporary evening service at St Mary’s with young people taking an active role.
Throughout our marriage, Pippy and I have had many opportunities to see Jesus at work in all kinds of people, drawing them to fellowship with Him through local church families. To know the father through Jesus in the power of the Spirit is eternal life (John 17:3)-and the availability of this life to anyone and everyone is the best news in the world!
We look forward, alongside the three congregations, to discovering all Jesus’ purposes for us in the coming years. Please pray for us; that the timing of our arrival, as the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions appear to be subsiding, would prove to be a great moment of opportunity. Pray we would have wisdom and courage to be obedient to Jesus’ calling. Pray for Christ-like love and service towards all we meet from the first, and for our children particularly to make some strong friendships.
Love in Jesus,
Revd. Josh Bailey.
We look forward to welcoming Josh, Pippy and their family to Barsham, and wish them well with the move.
March collections totalled £1,072.
At Easter Diana took orders for Pavlovas, and Cheryl made Simnel cakes and other sweet treats. £150 was raised and sent to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for Kagera.
Food Bank donations numbered 155 in March.
Diana would like to thank all those who donated money to the Easter Lily fund. The church looked splendid and smelt divine! Thanks to Rev’d Canon John Fellows for leading the Good Friday Devotions, and Rev’d Tony Norton for taking the Easter Sunday service. Rev’d Roy Wormald continues to lead our worship on the third Sunday of the month, for which we are most grateful.
Having returned to our Sung Eucharist, the choir is singing responses, albeit limited to the Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei for the time being, to allow the congregation to join in with the Creed and Gloria. Bob McNeil-Watson continues to charm us with his musical interludes on the organ. Thank you, Bob!
FUNDRAISING and FORWARD PLANNING:
Thursday 20 May at 2pm in the church: APCM. All welcome.
Sunday 30 May 6.30pm: TRINITY EVENSONG with The Bishop of Richborough, Rt Rev’d Norman Banks. Followed by refreshments.
Wednesday 21 July 12.30pm: SUMMER LUNCH at Shipmeadow Church, by kind invitation of Jenny and Nick Caddick.
Sunday 19 September 6.30pm: HARVEST EVENSONG with The Bishop of Richborough, Rt Rev’d Norman Banks. Followed by HARVEST SUPPER in the Village Hall.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
(Matthew 25:21)
Remembering HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021.
Church correspondent: Cheryl Coutts 01502 714655/[email protected]