CHURCH NOTICES & LATEST NEWS [page last updated 16/5/12]

Latest News:

16/5/12: The Church Directory of church members in this Benefice will be revised and reprinted during the next few weeks. If you know of any changes that should go in, then please let Brian or Elizabeth know (T:822885). 1/5/12: Next All Saints' Stitchers' Coffee Morning on 2nd July. See Stitchers' notice below. 3/4/12: New "Benefice Jubilee Information" page added listing Diamond Jubilee events from across the benefice. Click on link below. 5/1/12: Brian & Elizabeth and some others from the congregations are going for a few days to Lee Abbey in Devon. Not an Abbey at all, but a lovely interesting country house by the sea with loads of space. A bit of spiritual refreshment, good food and some stunning walks. Suitable for anyone, whether fit, unfit, worn out and looking for rest, too much energy and looking to use it up, young, old, married, single, and for families with children as well. Although a Christian community, and some Christian teaching and worship will be offered, it is suitable for people at all stages in their Christian faith, and you don't have to join in anything unless you wish. Mon 29th Oct to Fri 2nd Nov 2012. If you wish to do the same then book via the Lee Abbey website. ( www.leeabbey.org.uk/devon ) More information from Elizabeth if needed.

QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE NEWS: News of Village and Church Jubilee Events in Milton Ernest, Pavenham and Thurleigh   Please click here to go to the Benefice Jubilee Information Page. The details on the Jubilee Information page will be updated from time to time as more information is received, so please re-visit the page for latest details.

Church Notices:    (please scroll down to see them all)
MILTON ERNEST ANNUAL FETE FOR 2012: In 2012 the Milton Ernest Church and Village Fete is on 2nd June, rather than the normal end of June, and celebrates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Our theme is: 'The Royal Garden Party'. The fete, starting at 2pm, benefits the Church Building Fund and The Playing Field Association. After the fete, at 7pm, food (a pig roast) and music (The Ouse Valley Jazz Band with singer Angela) will be served from the Village Hall. Ticket entry only to this 'Evening Celebration', but all tickets now sold. Apologies if you've missed out. See the "Benefice Jubilee Information" page on this website - click on the link above. Or check the Villager Magazine or posters for details.
BISHOP OF BEDFORD:       The Rt Rev'd Richard Inwood (left) retired at the end of March 2012 and his farewell service was 4th March at St Paul's Bedford. It is announced that the new Bishop of Bedford will be the Ven Richard Atkinson (right photo) currently Archdeacon of Leicester. Already he has been visiting the Bedford area. He will be consecrated at 11am on 17th May '12 in St Paul's Cathedral, London, and welcomed 4pm on 19th May at St Paul's Church Bedford. More details to follow. Also check the St Albans Diocese website - there's a link from our 'Links' page. RURAL DEAN: This benefice is in the Sharnbrook Deanery (see Deanery page on this website) and Rev'd David Mason recently retired as the Rural Dean who leads this deanery of 31 parishes. He has been replaced by two appointments: Rev'd Robert Evens as Rural Dean and Rev'd Stephen Liley as Assistant Rural Dean who were both commissioned by Ven Paul Hughes (Archdeacon of Bedford) on 20th Feb 2012.	Monday 4th June: Visit the Friends stall at the Thurleigh Jubilee event on the playing field. Starts at 1pm. Saturday 30th June - The Friends of St Peter's Church Thurleigh are having a fund raising Safari Supper. Starts and ends at the church, but for each course in between it will be somewhere different. Good wine, good food and good company. Tickets £10 each from: Eileen Shah (T: 772235); Wendy Armitage (T: 771016); and Lulu Fisher (T: 771856)
Discussion House Groups: Regular Christian discussion home groups operate as follows: Pavenham: Weekly on a Tuesday at 10.30am. Venue will rotate - see listings. Stops over holiday periods, half term, etc. Occasional socials. Thurleigh: Monthly on the last Wednesday of each month at 10.30am at either 8 or 13 Keysoe Road - see listings. Milton Ernest: A monthly evening group on the third Wednesday of each month. May not meet during school holidays - see listings. The meetings last about an hour plus time for refreshments. All are welcome to these informal discussion groups. You can go to whichever is convenient, not necessarily the one in your village. During Advent and Lent the regular house groups may give way to, or become, the Advent or Lent house groups if a study course is run. Beer, Wine 'n' Banter: Also just called Beer 'n' Banter. A monthly evening group on the 2nd Monday of each month in the Queen's Head, Milton Ernest. Just come along at 7.45pm for a drink and informal discussions about anything and everything. Contacts: Ali (T:825127) or Nick (T:824337) See the 'House & Study Groups' on this website, via the Menu page.	The All Saints' Stitchers (Tapestry Kneeler Project): About 40 completed kneelers have been dedicated and put into use in All Saints' Church. Still more have been completed or are in production, and kits are available for those wanting to make them. Further kneelers will be dedicated at the Patronal Festival in November. A coffee morning on 26th April raised over £90 for the Kneeler Project. Next coffee morning and raffle is: Monday 2nd July 10.30am at 1 Huntsman's Way. (Cherrie will be pleased to see you then and to have any donated raffle prizes beforehand.)
CHURCH & CHURCHYARD MAINTENANCE: ALL SAINTS' MILTON ERNEST: Monthly maintenance sessions inside the church and out in the churchyard take place on the last Saturday each month from 9.30am to 12 noon. ST PETER'S THURLEIGH: Occasional churchyard maintenance sessions on a Saturday morning from 9.30am. Good fellowship! Dates when known will be put here. Next is: Sat 12th May 2012. The Friends of the Thurleigh Community Memorial Garden have a gardening & tidy up session on the 1st Wednesday each month during the growing season at 9.30am for the memorial garden in the churchyard. Check listing. All welcome.	CHURCH DIRECTORY Church members are normally listed in the Benefice Church Directory. A revision is planned for 2012 and will be done in May/June/July time. Warden/PCC changes from the annual meetings will be incorporated plus any other changes, new entries or deletions.  Click here to download/print a form to help you apply to be entered, or to modify your existing entry, in the Directory.
	The Villager magazine copy date: The copy date for the May edition has passed. The June edition of the magazine has a copy date of 18th May 2012 for submission of articles.
	Calling All Musicians - young & old: Your skills are needed to join a church music group which plays at services across the benefice. Please contact Jonathan Hunt - tel: 01234 210428.
	Pavenham Village Choir: The Pavenham Village Choir meets on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9pm in the Committee Room of Pavenham Village Hall, under the direction of Mark Jeffereys. New members are always welcome. For information tel: 824841.