October
2003
Dear Friends,
I will let you into a clergy secret, most Vicar’s count down to retirement
by calculating the number of parish magazines they have left to produce.
As I am not half way there yet I have not worked it out, but knowing
me one day I will. This however is the last Monthly Review I will
write for and edit at St Peter’s, which is an odd feeling.
When I arrived the Review was a double sided sheet of A4, type set
and printed by M&G. The development of the Review since then
gives some idea of how the church has changed during my time.
Firstly I arrived with a computer so I was able to send the information
up to the printers already typed up and saved on a floppy disc, we
discovered modern technology had a part to play in the life of the
church.
We then did sums and realised the cost of printing would go a long
way to covering the cost of owning our own photocopier if we ran
the magazine off ourselves. So we bought a second hand copier and
began to run it off for ourselves, the copier allowed us to produce
other leaflets too.
The information being offered for the Review began to increase as
more things began to happen around the parish and people became willing
to submit items, so the number of pages began to grow. Bev proved
herself as a gifted desk top publisher and so pictures were introduced.
The cover changed from a drawing of St Peter’s, to a photo of the
church and we now have the spire logo on the front cover.
As the Parish Clerk came on board first Liz and now Jane have overseen
the layout of the magazine and collated articles. One couple, Bob
and Doreen Corrin, have done the photocopying and folding of it since
we first got a photocopier. The upgrading of the machine to a new
digital version a couple of years back certainly made their job easier.
In addition the Church Leader came into being early in my time here
and so that has been circulated alongside the Monthly Review. Collated
and delivered by a team of volunteers who distribute around 300 copies
to homes around Onchan each month at no charge, having these widely
distributed is primarily part of out outreach and not a fund raiser.
So as you see this newsletter has developed over the last 7 years.
Technology has been introduced, people have given of their time to
assist and talents have been developed. And of course through it
all we continued to be informed about the life of St Peter’s and
through the Vicar’s letter receive Christian teaching.
In closing may I thank everyone who has not only assisted with the
Parish Review but assisted in so many other ways in the life of Onchan
Parish Church during my time here. Please remember that these things
have not been given to me or to St Peter’s but they have been given
to God and may you continue to offer of yourselves to God into the
future and beyond.
Yours in Christ
Nicholas A. Wells
P.S. Our last Sunday is the 19th October and services that day will
be BCP Communion at 8am, Holy Communion at 11am and a Praise Service
at 6.30pm. We would love to see everyone at one of those services
to give us a chance to say goodbye.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
DOROTHY AND ERIC CRETNEY
WHO CELEBRATE THEIR
GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
ON FRIDAY 10TH OCTOBER
Please send a note of any celebrations to Jane at the Parish Office
so they can be included in future Reviews. Thank you.
KENYON'S CAFE
As you may have seen in the press recently, Kenyon’s drop in centre
has re-opened after a summer break having been repainted and re-carpeted.
Most evenings now finds 25 or more teenagers in the Café of an evening,
which is great news.
To help generate funds there is a 100 Club and forms to join and
support this project are available from the back of church.
GARAGE SALE
With the Vicar’s impending move to Netherton the Wells family have
various possessions from toys to furniture which they are not taking
with them. They are therefore holding a Garage Sale on Saturday 4th
October, from 1 pm until 3pm to which anyone is welcome.
INDUCTION
The induction of Nick across in Netherton is at 2pm on Saturday
15th November. Several people have expressed a desire to support
him by attending. To give us some idea of numbers, if you are hoping
to go over please add your details to the list at the back of church.
Who knows we may be able to arrange a group discount.
ST. LUKE'S FAIR
Each year the diocese organises a Fair to raise funds for the St
Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy. The hospital is a charity to provide
health care for clergy and their immediate families. Doctors and
other medical specialists give of their time for the hospital, so
only upkeep, administration and nursing care have to be funded.
This years Fair is in our deanery at All Saints Hall on the corner
of Alexander Drive and Selbourne Road. We have been asked to run
the Bottle Stall so your support with bottles left in church would
be much appreciated. The date is Thursday 23rd October at 2.30pm
and all are welcome.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
SH……… SILENT AUCTION
IN AID OF THE PARISH HALL APPEAL
SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER
IN THE PARISH HALL
2 pm – 6 pm
Do you have any items for Auction!
If so, please contact Jane or Nigel at the
Parish Office (675797)
*********
PARISH HALL APPEAL FUND RAISER
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
(JUST TO WET YOUR APPITITE!)
MANX NIGHT
Buffet Dinner
at Woodlands (courtesy of Mildred Cooper)
Saturday 22nd November
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: JOHN KENNAUGH LOCAL ARTISTES
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS
TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON
**********
HARVEST LUNCHEON
12 NOON TO 3 PM
in the Parish Hall
Monday 20th October
- organised by the W.I. -
IN AID OF THE PARISH HALL APPEAL
*******
FRIENDLY LUNCH
in
Parish Hall
on
Wednesday 29th October
at 12 noon
admission £2.50
********
'GOOD OLD DAYS'
MUSIC HALL
7.30 pm
IN THE PARISH HALL
THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER
featuring the Island's top artistes
IN AID OF THE PARISH HALL APPEAL
(VICTORIAN COSTUMES OPTIONAL)
RAFFLE TICKETS: £4
MOTHERS UNION
We started our programme with a 'Wave of Prayer' service on Tuesday
23rd September in Church when we prayed for the members of the Mothers'
Union throughout the World, especially for the members in our linked
dioceses: Rockhampton in Australia, Trinidad & Tobago in the
Caribbean and Akure in Nigeria. Immediately following the service
we had a 'celebration tea' to commemorate Margaret Brownlow's 60
years membership of the Mothers' Union.
Our meetings commence at 2 pm on 7th October when Derek Winterbottom
is coming to talk to us on "T.E. Brown" and on the 21st
October we meet at the Parish Hall at 1.45 pm to share transport
for our visit to Corrin Court.
The evening group commenced their programme on the 18th September
when they held an informal service for 'Shared meditation on families'.
For their next meeting they are supporting the Good Old Days Music
Hall in the Parish Hall in aid of the Parish Hall Appeal.
The Programme for 2003-2004 is now available and combines the Afternoon
Group, Evening Group, and Ladies Fellowship programmes together with
other events including friendly and lent lunches, corporate communions
and various other important dates for your diaries.
FROM THE REGISTERS
BAPTISMS
Jonathan Elliott Overs, Jessica Elizabeth Overs,
Joshua William Brew, Elliot Luke Nelson,
Caitlin Melissa McMurray
FUNERALS
Sylvia Hilda Kelly, Eileen Evans & Margaret Scully
OFFERTORY
The offertory for August totalled £5,229.50 and was made up of £3,977.29 pledged
giving and £1,252.21 of loose plate giving
Thank you. |
