Page 62 - Phonebox Magazine October 2008

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell
Welcome to our Sunday Services
ANGLICAN
Parish Church, High Street 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Sung Eucharist creche and Sunday School 6pm Evensong and Sermon St Luke’s, Wolverton Road 11am Family Communion
BAPTIST
Lovat Hall, Silver Street
Rev Paul Rosier 616286 10.30am Family Worship with creche, Sunday School
CATHOLIC
St Bede’s, High Street Rev James Evans 671342 6.30pm Mass (Saturday), 9am Mass
METHODIST CHURCH
High Street 10.30am Service with creche
UNITED REFORMED
High Street
10.30am Family Worship
NEW RECTOR APPOINTED
The Rev Michael Godfrey is to be the new Rector of Newport Pagnell. He will be inducted into the parish on Tuesday, October 21, at 7.30pm in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul.
Committed to mission and outreach, Michael is excited at the prospect of taking up this post and says he is looking forward to working with all the Christian communities in Newport Pagnell, Lathbury and Moulsoe in worshipping God, bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ and working for God’s way of justice, peace and inclusion.
After 17 years experience of industrial mission and in parishes on Tyneside and the Black Country, Michael has spent the last few years working with disabled people and in international development. Until recently Michael was director of CORD, a Christian international organisation specialising in assisting people to recover from the effects of war and helping war- torn communities build peace.
He is married to Elena, who works for World Vision UK, and they have three married sons and two grandchildren. A Wolverhampton Wanderers fan, Michael has learned to keep hoping even when faith is stretched. “Football is like life,” he says. “There are times of elation, but also disappointment, suffering and failures. We need faith to keep going.”
FOOD FOR THE HOMELESS
The Salvation Army Open Door Drop in Centre at the Salvation Army, Conniburrow, is desperately in need of food for the homeless. It is asking for anything tinned or non perishable (e.g., soup, baked beans, corned beef, spaghetti, fruit, small packets of tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, chocolate bars) all with long sell-by dates, please. If the cans are ring pull so much the better.
Food can be taken to the centre any Monday from 10.15am to 1.30pm except Bank Holidays. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
COME AND ENJOY BURY FIELD!
Please come and make more use of the town’s great common, Bury Field. That’s the
message given to Newport Pagnell people by the reformed Commoners’ Association.
There are very few open commons in Britain today and Bury Field Newport Pagnell is one of them. They date from feudal times when landlords ruled the roost and gave certain rights to graze stock and grow fodder to those who lived in the community. These rights normally went with the house or hovel in which people lived.
In Newport Pagnell there is a register of the properties which have rights of Common attached and the current owners can belong to the Commoners Association which represents them in discussion with the Milton Keynes Council which is the Landlord.
The Common has been used for many activities over the years but today is mainly walked with dogs and used by a few model aircraft enthusiasts and family kite fliers. In recent months the Commoners and the Landlord have been looking at ways to encourage visitors and residents in the town to make more use of this valuable asset.
Creating awareness of the Common has been a first priority so welcome signs have been erected at the main entrances to the 180 acre field. On Saturday, August 30, everyone was invited to help celebrate this new initiative to encourage more and different ways of using the Field. The response was near to overwhelming. With an expectancy of 50 to 100 people the organisers found over 300 people wanting to know more about the Common. Perhaps it was the perfect summer day and the temptation to have tea and cake under a marquee on the banks of the River Ouse, but the result was a happy family party.
The Mayor of Milton Keynes, accompanied by the Mayor of Newport Pagnell, ‘cut the tape’ and encouraged everyone to find out a little more and actually walk on the Common. With maps to guide them the crowd set out to find the Railway that Never Was and the Civil War fortifications. They were able to seek out and watch model aircraft flying and a few families had brought their kites.
The tea party in the marquee near the river was voted a great success by the 200 or more
people who had taken the opportunity to explore the area, sitting with tea and cake watching the river Ouse flow by.
The organisers thank all who helped to make the day so memorable. They are looking forward to the next phase in the history and use of Bury Field. Plaques describing various facts about the Common are being designed and will be put up to further encourage everyone to take advantage of this unique open space and the relaxation it provides.
SAD NEWS FOR RINGERS
Church bellringers in North Bucks were saddened to learn of the death in Dublin of David Taylor, former tower captain at Newport Pagnell Parish Church. David, who was 66, learned to ring at his home village of Hanslope and did much to encourage young ringers when he and his family moved to Newport Pagnell. Local ringers were planning muffled quarter peals in his memory.
NEW CHURCH ORGANIST
Richard Heyes, of Olney, the musical director of Newport Pagnell Singers, has been appointed organist at Newport Pagnell Parish Church. He takes over from Jennifer Mazzone who is retiring after some ten years in the post. Her husband, Ralph, a choir member for 60 years, is standing down as choirmaster.
MINISTER INDUCTED
Jenny Mills was ordained and inducted as the new minister of Newport Pagnell United Reformed Church on Sunday afternoon, September 7.
PRAISE AT TEA-TIME
Food4Thought is an established and popular event for the senior citizens of Newport Pagnell, particularly those living alone.
Organised by the Newport Pagnell Baptist Church it is held at Lovat Hall, Silver Street, on the first Sunday of each month between 4pm and 5-30pm. It is a time for friendship, singing, praise and relaxation, followed by a home-made tea.
The popularity of Food4Thought is not surprising as free transport is available to and from Lovat Hall for anyone who lives within Newport Pagnell. All that is needed is a telephone call no more than seven days before the event to register your requirement.
Here are some of the comments received from those who have tried Food4Thought: “I always look forward to Food4Thought” ; “There is a big welcome and a lot of warmth at Food4Thought”; “The teas are delicious!”
As the colder and darker days of autumn and winter approach why not experience the warm welcome at Food4Thought for yourself. To obtain more information and to register for transport telephone 01908 617835.
MUNICH MARATHON
Ursula Ghaleb is running in the Munich Marathon on October 12th to raise money for Christian Aid. Four years ago Ursula visited Ghana and the sights of deprivation there had a profound impact on her. She felt she needed to do something to help and she is doing this by raising money for Christian Aid.
If you feel you can help by sponsoring Ursula please send a cheque payable to Christian Aid to Ursula Ghaleb, 112 Wolverton Road, Newport Pagnell, MK16 8JG (please add your name, address and postcode and indicate if you want to ‘Gift Aid’ your donation). Or you can go to www.justgiving.com/ursulaghaleb1. K
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