Welcome to the Parish of Exning with Landwade

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember:

David Pugh, Nicole Sparrow, Avril Cooper, Sue Howlett, Ann Quelch, Vera Browning, Richard Clarkson, Sarah B, Dawn Semple and the Semple family, Michael Colbourne, June Curtis, Rose Everett, and Bridget Gosney who have particularly requested prayer at this time 

For the families and friends of those who have died recently  - particularly the families of Sally Pettitt and Derrick Sullivan

For those who have been baptised recently: Rose Crozier and Naomi Cruikshank

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION - FOR MORE NOTICES PLEASE SEE CURRENT/FUTURE EVENTS PAGE

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON PARISH COMMUNICATIONS As you will be aware, Cathy’s last WEN will be produced for Sunday 1^st August. After that, we are going to need to change the system somewhat. Any information to be circulated/people requesting prayer etc after 27^th July should be sent to me at john.pascall@outlook.com. I will then place those items on to the front page of the parish website (www.exningparishchurch.net) together with the services for the next two weeks. The contents of that page will be printed each week by Jenny King so that it is also available in church for people who do not have internet access. After 1-2 weeks, information will be moved to a tab on the website titled current/future events where it will remain until it has obviously expired. In parallel with this, in a new development Jenny King and Christine Pearce will be producing a monthly newletter. This will be available in the churches and, hopefully, in local businesses and will also be sent by email to anyone who would like to receive it; If you would like to could you please email Jenny King (patandjenking@btinternet.com). Please be patient with us as we work out how to develop this new system of communication. Thank you. John Pascall

ST MARTINS CHURCH OPENING - VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED  We will be opening the church every day starting on July 19th throughout the summer between 10am and 5pm (subject to any services taking place). I am looking for volunteers to help with this please. Thank you. John Pascall.

SAD NEWS I have just learned that Sally, widow of the late Canon Simon Pettit, died yesterday in WSH after a short illness. Please remember her in your prayers, also Sally and Simon's son, Nick, in Australia.  Sally had become a grandmother some days before she died and was fully aware of that.  John Hardy

DERRICK SULLIVAN Some of you will remember Derrick who was a member of the church for several years. Sadly with have just heard that he has died. His funeral was at Swaffham Bulbeck on the 3rd August. Please remember his family in your prayers. John Pascall

NEWS FROM ST MARY’S  Sacramental ministry: update. After careful deliberation (and the rector having consulted with the archdeacon of Sudbury), St Mary’s PCC have decided NOT to proceed with a definitive vote about the sacramental ministry of women in the autumn, nor will there be any such vote until further notice. It was agreed that the indicative vote of the congregation and electoral roll members on 1 July had sufficiently clarified the situation for the time being. The ‘fault lines’ within the St Mary’s family (if I may put it that way) were quite apparent for anyone who had eyes to see and ears to hear at the Open Forum (25 ‘for’, 9 ‘against). At the present time, it seems right for the PCC to acknowledge openly and honestly that there are considerable differences of opinion within the St Mary's church community on this crucial subject, without either brushing them away ‘under the carpet’ or needlessly polarising opinion by going to a formal vote in the near future (which would, inevitably, be the effect of a such a vote). ‘Good disagreement’ (‘live and let live’) is the appropriate note to sound right now. Deep differences can arise in any close community of Christians; the challenge at St Mary’s is how her people nonetheless continue to achieve a significant degree of ‘mutual flourishing’ without pretending we’re all ‘on the same page’ about the priestly and episcopal ministry of women in the church. As Church of England rules stand, a PCC vote on the questions polled on 1 July will eventually become necessary, in the event of a vacancy in the parish leadership (when the rector moves on/is moved on, dies, or retires), but not otherwise. The Revd John Hardy

SO WHAT ABOUT SHARED MINISTRY IN EXNING AND NORTH NEWMARKET?  Someone asked me last week what the consequences are for the Exning-North Newmarket shared relationship of the indicative vote (AKA 'straw poll') taken at St Mary's on Thursday 1 July about the priestly and sacramental ministry of women in the church. The short answer is: none whatsoever - at least, not in the short term. I see no reason (and the archdeacon agrees with me) why the excellent informal relationship which currently exists between Exning (with Landwade), St Mary's and St Agnes' can't continue - unless and until the incumbent (meaning me) and the PCCs decide otherwise. In my book, there's absolutely no need for that to happen at the present time: the ongoing connection between the SMENN benefices can only bring mutual benefit in terms of the social work and missionary outreach that we undertake together. Only if or when an interregnum occurs (i.e. when the incumbent moves on or is moved on) might our present informal, collaborative relationship change - for then St Mary's PCC will have to vote on the sacramental ministry question, prior to any decision being taken regarding the choice of the next incumbent in our parishes. But an interregnum is of its nature an unpredictable fact of life - a bit like the weather. So let's none of us worry too much at the moment, but keep working towards a closer relationship with our sister parishes (St Mary's and St Agnes') without necessarily expecting that to become a formalised relationship anytime soon. I suspect we all know it makes sense. The Revd John Hardy

OUT AND ABOUT  2^nd and 16^th August: 2-4pm at Exning Community Church Hall.  Sarah Price.  For more information please contact me on, 07762282103, or, sarahcprice@ntlworld.comPARISH VOICE AND EVENTS PLANNING MEETING St Martin’s Church, 7.45, Monday 23rd August.  Everyone welcome.  Please come along to advertise your event, offer help or just to find out what is planned in our parish/benefice for the coming months.  More information from Jenny King 578344.  We look forward to seeing you.

EXNING SALE TRAIL Have you been sorting out items you no longer need? Would you like an opportunity to sell some of them and make money for yourself and support charities? Why not hold a "sale at home" or in Exning Community Church Hall (ECCH)?The "Exning Sale Trail" will take place on August 14th from 9.30 am to 2 pm. Closing date for registrations is August 7^th Registration costs £8, sales tables in ECCH £10. The event will be supported by advertising and buyers will have a map of the "trail". Refreshments and maps will be available at the Hall. For further information and to register please contact:Jenny King 01638 578344 patandjenking@btinternet.com or Jan Lovegrove 01638 577292, janlovegrove@hotmail.com. Proceeds divided between Pancreatic Cancer Research and Exning Parish Church

BOOK STALL  St Martins is offering space in the church porch to Sam Street, who runs the Book Kiosk at the corner of Chapel Street and Laceys Lane, which she does in a voluntary capacity. During the months the church is open this summer, free books will be on offer for people to browse and take away. Sam Street will curate the books and advertise it on her website as an extension of the Book Kiosk. The books will be Ex library stock or donated second-hand books on a wide variety of subjects. If you have been reviewing your books and have some you would like to pass on, please contact Jan Lovegrove 577292.

A big THANK YOU to all my Church Family for the  prayers, cards and messages I have received following my recent accident when I tripped over and broke my hip. I am making slow progress and it will take time to get better, but your concern has really helped me.  JUNE CURTIS

PRINCIPAL PARISH CONTACTS

For additional contacts please see the contacts page