Page 76 - Phonebox Magazine November 2010

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell
Minister’s Letter
I’m writing this just as the first few of the miners from the San Jose mine in Chile are being brought back to the surface after sixty- eight days underground. Pictures of the joy and relief of their families have gone around the world and people from many different countries have been able to share in that joy.
What has struck me about the whole operation is not so much the advanced engineering skills, wonderful though they are, which made the escape possible, but the tenacity of the miners themselves in the first seventeen days after the collapse when no one else knew whether they were alive or dead. It was miraculous that they were able to survive for so long.
It seems from what has been said in the weeks since they were found that they owed their survival to a strong sense of fellowship, of concern and care for each other and a willingness to work for the good of all. They shared what little food and drink they had, they kept each other’s spirits up and they went on trying to attract the attention of their rescuers even when they were becoming weak and tired. Some were young and some old, some very fit and some not, but what they had in common was more important than what was different.
Here, the Christian churches have also learned to recognise that what they have in common is more important than their differences. They are not buried under half a mile of rock, but they face challenges from an increasingly secularised society which seems to assume that faith in god cannot and perhaps should not survive. Churches in Newport Pagnell work together to show that that is not true; that our shared faith is a living reality. We too share a strong sense of fellowship and care and concern for each other.
Commentators in Chile have told the world about the deep faith of the rescued miners and their families. Among all the other things they had to do, and with all their worries and anxieties, the miners made time to pray together. The importance of praying together is a theme that will be taken up in the next joint service for Churches Together in Newport Pagnell, on Sunday 21st November.
rev. Glynis Bell, Parish Church.
Newman (beatification is a step towards becoming a saint). It was a moving occasion for all in the group to be part of this celebration, to which thousands of people from all over the UK had travelled.
The parish priest of St. Bede's, Father
James Evans, was one of many priests
who assisted the Pope in the celebration
of the Eucharist. He is pictured here distributing communion during the Papal Mass (photo: Osiowy/www.thepapalvisit.org.uk).
Flower Festival and Songs of Praise
As part of the Bridge Bi-Centenary Celebrations the Parish Church in Newport Pagnell organised a Flower Festival. It included 38 lovely displays which were arranged by members of the Parish Church, other churches of the town and various organisations of Newport Pagnell. The church was beautifully decorated and music was played throughout the day. The Festival raised £2000 of which £1000 will be donated to Willen Hospice and £1000 to Parish Funds.
The weekend of festivities was rounded off by a Songs of Praise service organised by Churches Together which featured hymns and readings chosen by the Town's churches.
Remembrance Sunday – 14th November
The annual Remembrance Day Parade and Service organised by the Royal British Legion will take place on Sunday 14th November.
There will be a parade along the High Street to the War Memorial outside of the Parish Church where an act of remembrance service
will take place from approximately 10.45 with the 2 minutes silence at 11am.
This will be followed by a service in the Parish Church. All are welcome to remember the fallen of past and current conflicts.
Thought for the Month
John 15:13 “The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them”.
CTNP Website
For more information about Churches Together in Newport Pagnell please visit our website (www.ctnp.org.uk).
Pope in the UK
A group of parishioners from St. Bede's Catholic Church of Newport Pagnell went to Birmingham during the Papal visit to the UK to take part in a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict. This was the highlight of the Pope's visit, as it included the beatification of the English theologian and priest John Henry
Father James at Beatification Mass.
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
Welcome to our Sunday Services – Churches in Newport Pagnell
76 Phonebox Magazine
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