Notes from around the Parishes, April 2016

For Great Massingham, Harpley & Little Massingham

April is the cruellest month breeding lilacs out of a dead land...

The poet TS Eliot was referring to the annual resurgence of new life
in Spring - which will only die once more when its time comes, hence
the cruelty: the annual cycle always leads to death. But this is a bleak
way of seeing the world.
As Christians we know that in Spring-time, each Easter-tide we can bear witness
to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the life-blood which invigorates
and sustains our churches throughout the year. Our Christian faith is nourished
by the life-giving power of God in Christ Jesus, who gives us hope that will
never die; the power of the Holy Spirit is always at work in all our lives. April is
in fact the most joyful month and the season of Easter-tide lasts all month.
As a former city-dweller, I really appreciate the joy of rural life and being
surrounded by the natural beauty of the countryside in Spring. I was at an RSPB
reserve last week and saw the reed beds quivering with new bird-life. In our
villages, the toad patrols are on high alert near our wonderful ponds, as toads
emerge from hibernation for their spring migration to breed where they were
born.
Gardeners too are stirring in their potting sheds, planning for the year ahead.
Our lawn-mower has been dusted off but during its annual service it gave up the
ghost so investing in a new mower became a priority. We decided against a selfpropelled one in case it ran away from us and attacked Rufus, always at our
heels, but we have gone for the best petrol engine we could afford, an
investment in many happy years of mowing to come!
With Easter falling early this year we can now enjoy a leisurely stroll towards
late Spring and Summer as we welcome the new influx of visitors to our
beautiful county, passing through our villages and churches. Springtime activity
in churches is similar to that of gardening: dusting off the produce stall and
trying to summon up new energy for fundraising as well as doing a bit of springcleaning. If you have ever thought of getting a bit more involved in Church life,
now is the perfect time we really do need your help and support. Have a word
with one of the churchwardens or me. Do come and join us for our Sunday
services, especially as the weather gets warmer!
Happy Spring-cleaning, Happy Gardening! Most of all Happy Easter-tide!
Reverend Judith
Leanne Graver (ne Grimes) died on 15th March after a long battle with cancer. Her
funeral and a Celebration of her Life will be held on Weds 30th March at 2:30pm, in the
Parish Church of St Mary, East Rudham; followed by burial in East Rudham Cemetery.

SERVICES Across the Group for APRIL 2016

Sunday, April 3rd ~ Easter 2
0930
1100
0900
1030
1030
6pm

Family Service
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Service
Prayer Meeting

Weds, April 6th ~ 9am

St Lawrences,
Harpley
St Marys,
Great Mass
All Saints,
Ashwicken
St Botolphs,
Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
All Saints,
Roydon

Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Sunday, April 10th ~ Easter 3

1030
4pm

Group Holy Communion, St Nicholas, Gayton

The Gap ~ The Methodist Chapel, Pott Row

Sunday, April 17th ~ Easter 4

0930
1100
1115
0830
1030
1030

Holy Communion
Family Service
Sung Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Service

Sunday, April 24th ~ Easter 5

1100 Holy Communion
0830 Holy Communion
1030 Holy Communion
1030 Morning Worship
1500 Celtic Service

St Andrews,
St Marys,
St Lawrences,
All Saints,
St Nicholas,
St Botolphs,

Lt Massingham
Gt Massingham
Harpley
Roydon
Gayton
Grimston

St Marys,
Great Mass
St Andrews, Congham
St Botolphs, Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Marys, Gayton Thorpe

Sunday, 1st May ~ Rogation Sunday

0930
1100
0900
1030
1030
6pm

Family Service
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Holy Communion
Prayer Meeting

St Lawrences,
Harpley
St Marys,
Great Mass
St Marys,
East Walton
St Botolphs,
Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
All Saints,
Ashwicken

On 11th March the Bishop of Norwich helped launch the East

Anglian Air Ambulances new helicopter and blessed it on its way. The EAAA was
set up in 2000 and since then over 18,000 missions have been flown. It has grown
from one helicopter, one day a week to two helicopters, with a doctor and paramedic
crew, available every day of the year. Participants in The Archdeacons Charge
raise funds with half going to the EAAA and half to the church of their choice.
The 7th Archdeacons Charge will take place at Sandringham.
Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May:
Run or walk a 2.5mile route (up to 10 miles), then relax and picnic.
Entry to the day costs just 10 per person, couple or family. To book your place
please visit www.dioceseofnorwich.org /charge ~ or pay on the day.
This event keeps growing and is now much more than just the run. This year it
includes the big bring-your-own family picnic, a classic car show, craft market, a fit
for a Queen bake off competition, live music and a play area to keep your little
ones happy.
If you cant come why not sponsor someone from your local
church? Contact Rosemary Mehers to be put in touch (521866)

St Lawrences plans to run a stall at the Archdeacons Charge; if you

can help us on the day please contact Lucy Brown (520 252)

Study Groups: the Thursday night Bible study has ceased but it is hoped
there may be sufficient interest to start another group in the coming
months. Those attending the Lent study group enjoyed the fellowship and
discussions it provided and decided they would like to continue meeting.
They will start by dipping into The Screwtape Letters a book by CS
Lewis in which an experienced devil instructs a younger devil in how to
undermine a Christians good intentions. Day and venue to be confirmed
All welcome, especially new members. ~ contact the Revd Judith for
more information (01485 601251.)
Annual Parochial Church Meetings:

St Marys, Great Massingham, at 7pm

Monday, 11th April

St Lawrences, Harpley, wine & nibbles at 7pm

Tuesday, 12th April

St Andrews, Little Massingham, at 2:30pm

Wednesday, 13th April

A concert to raise funds for the roof repairs at St

Marys Church, East Walton, will be held on

Sat 16th April 7pm at St Nicholas Church, Gayton

Harpley Churchyard has recently become home to six nest boxes. They
will be monitored by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as part of a project to see
how successfully birds breed in rural churchyards. It is hoped the boxes
will encourage house sparrows to nest as they are in decline and now a
red-listed species. The boxes may also attract spotted flycatchers, a
migrant species also in decline. Any chicks would ultimately be ringed so
their movement and survival can be followed.
******* Regular Events *******
Harpley:
Reminder ~ There will be no meeting of the Phoenix Group on April 13th. The
AGM will be postponed until the meeting in May. The Phoenix Group usually
meets on the second Wednesday of the month in Harpley Village Hall at 7:30pm
Great Massingham:

Afternoon Teas
Every Wednesday from 2pm (to whenever)
You are welcome to join us in 34, John Morton Crescent;
for a cuppa, a chat and, of course, cake.
Donations as usual to the toilet fund.
Prayer Group WEDNESDAY:

8.15 pm

Massingham; (next to Dabbling Duck)

at Barrack House, Great

Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Our Ministry Team:

Team Rector Revd Jane Holmes,

The Rectory, Gayton
01553 636227
Team Vicar
Revd Judith Pollard, The Rectory, Grimston 01485 601251
Contact the Revd Judith to arrange Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals. Her
day off is Friday. If she is unavailable, the Revd Jane will be happy to help
with urgent matters.
Please send items for inclusion in the May issue of the Parish Notes to the editor by
17th April~
Rosemary Mehers
rosemarymehers@hotmail.com
2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW;

or Tel: 01485 521866