The Parish News

VOL.32 DEC 2014

Magazine

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FROM THE EDITOR

Season’s Greetings, Well it’s that time of the year again, Chestnuts roasting on an open Fire, Jack Frost nipping at your toes.

Welcome to the December 2014 & January 2015 Parish News.

It’s been a very long & busy year so much has happened good & bad for all. This edition will bring a collection of items for bot h December & January and hopefully will

take you through the festive season

In today's world we are inundated with images of Christmas from the media. We are told

that it is all about buying expensive gifts for each other.

In today's challenging economic times it is a tragedy that parents spend way more than they can afford to try to please their children. The sad truth is that, "money can't buy you

love".

A holiday is about the time spent together with loved ones. It is about gifts that come

from the heart, and it is the about the thousands of years of tradition that mark the

holiday season.

I would like to express a hearty and warm Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all.

Be merry & keep well. See you in February for the next Issue of the Parish News

Please send all items to me at: peterdownton@btconnect.com or to my home address

shown on back of magazine.

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Monday 1st December - Bikeabillity (Year 6’s) Wednesday 3rd December - Bikeabillity (Year 6’s) Thursday 11th December - Nativity in the Church Thursday 11th December - Christmas Fair 3pm Monday 15th December - Wren Christmas Party Tuesday 16th December - Nightingale & Robin Christmas Party Wednesday 17th December - Woodpecker, Kingfisher, & Falcon Christmas Party Thursday 18th December - Christmas Performance “When Christmas comes to town” (Times to be confirmed)

Sparkford Neighbourhood Watch Mince Pies & Wine Evening

Come to our “Get Together” on

Friday 5th December 7:30 pm

In the Sparkford Village Hall.

Mince pies & wine for all See You There.

Dates For Your Diary

Countess Gytha Primary School Diary Dates…..

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CaféXtra The next CaféXtra Village Breakfast Gathering Will take place on

Sunday 14th December.

Breakfast served 9.30am – 11.00am

Sparkford Church welcomes everyone for good coffee, Toast, Croissant, milkshake bar & A round of bacon rolls.

This venture aims to provide a monthly meeting point for our v illage, with the option too

to pray and hear a Bible story at one point in the morning. No charge for breakfast but

contributions welcome

GALHAMPTON PLAYGROUP

On Friday 7t h November we had our Autumn Fair to raise funds for the playgroup.

We would like to thank local businesses & hall committee members for their support.

Our thoughts will soon be turning to our Nativity to be held on Friday 19t h December Nativ ity & our Christmas Party please check the board outside the hall for more

details.

The playgroup would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Sparkford Playing Fields Associat ion are holding a Meet Santa at Sparkford Village Hall on

Saturday 13th December 3.00pm – 6.00pm.

Entry will be free for all children wanting to v isit Father

Christmas.

There will be lots of festive fun for all the family during

the afternoon so please come along with or without

children. For more information please contact

Lisa on 01963 440068 or d.k.davis@btinternet.com

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Camelot Music Night

Davis Hall, West Camel

Wednesday 28th January 8pm – 11:00pm - £4 Doors open 7.30pm

Enjoy an evening of music ranging from classical, traditional, blues, country, folk, boogie,

jazz and more. Each month anything from 8 - 12 different extremely talented performers

entertain on a variety of instruments, from guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bazooki, flute and keyboards etc.

The artists range from local young groups or soloists, to established groups v isit ing from all over the South West. Raffle & bar. Find Camelot Music Night on Facebook or contact

Martine/Iain on 01935 851556 or martine.hardy@live.co.uk if you would like to play and for more details

SPARKFORD ART GROUP

Sparkford has a friendly Art Group who meet

on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00pm –

4:00pm In the Sparkford Village hall.

We work in various media and have occasional workshops and v isit ing artists. We

are always pleased to welcome new members of all abilit ies.

If you would like to join us and have a go, please

call George Lawson on 01963 440551.

Come and play a night of Cash Bingo at Sparkford

Village Hall

On Friday 19th December

In Aid Of Cary Comedians Carnival Club

Doors open 6.45pm. Eyes down 7.30pm. Under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult.

Contact Donna Osmond on 01963 440477.

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What’s On at Sparkford Village Hall…?

Galhampton Preschool (term time) Monday 9:00am – 3:30pm Wednesday 9:00am – 1:00pm Thursday 9:00am – 3:30pm Friday 9:00am – 3:30pm

Contact Fiona Hooper Tel: 01963 440626

Monday & Tuesday Evenings (Term Time) Scouts Cubs & Beavers

Tuesday Yoga 10:00am – 12:00pm

Contact Marjorie Rourke Tel: 01963 350452

Sparkford Art Group Wednesday 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Contact George Lawson 01963 440551

Wednesday & Thursday 6:00pm – 8:00pm Dog Training Classes

Contact Lucy Roberts 07817 487901

Friday Men’s Barber in Committee Room 12:00pm – 6:00pm

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THANK YOU

Thank you to everyone who supported the Craft Fayre in Queen Camel and helping us to raise £784 for the Dorset & Somerset Air ambulance. Special Thanks to those who generously donated raffle prizes. Many thanks Rachael Trott + Shirley Rogers

May I express my very sincere Thanks for the many cards, kind words, and lov ing help I have received from you all, since the very sad passing of my

daughter Gill.

Thank You All So Very Much.

Rene Carpenter.

3rd Sparkford Scout Group

Latest from 3rd Sparkford Beavers, Cubs and Scouts

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts Remember Your local beavers, cubs and scouts from the 3rd Sparkford Group were proud to take part in the Remembrance Day Parade and Service held at Queen Camel Church. The event meant a great deal too all our young people, especially in this centenary year, as we all remembered those lost in the 1st World War and in all conflict. All our groups have a lot planned in the run up to Christmas, learning about Scouting around the world and international charities to earn global badges, and looking at recycling also. Our Scouts took part in the County Scout Challenge, and we are now planning Christmas events including our carol service – details coming soon. If you would like to get involved or contribute we would love to hear from you – we are now working to raise funds for outdoor cooking equipment

If you would like to get involved or contribute we would love to hear from you – please contact Helen Wooldridge 01963 440801 or helen@cuddledry.com

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Your Contacts held a meeting on 12th Nov ember and finalized details for the Christmas Party. This is on 5th December at 7:30 in the Village Hall Please come.

We hav e a Bank balance of £566.01. We decided to keep £100.00 for possible defibrillator spares and hav e decided to giv e £100 to the Village Hall and £100 to the Air Ambulance and reserv e £100 for the Parish War Memorial, when the plans are finalized. This will leave a balance of £266.01

After ten years as your Co-ordinator I have decided to step down but there are to date NO volunteers for a replacement. We therefore have decided to remain as contact to provide some backup for the v illage.

Thelma now cov ers such a v ast area, that we are advised to ring 101 rather than her number and if a crime is about to take place or s happening ring 999.

Recent campers and people sleeping in their car in Sparkford Copse were reported to the police who in turn checked tem out and asked them to tidy up when thy left, which they did after several days.

Christmas seems to be with us earlier and earlier and many of us will be buying presents but whatever happens do not leave them on v iew in your car or through your windows for obvious reasons, and when we go out after dark leav e a light or two on along with the radio. Look back at your home and see if it looks occupied or not. May we all have a crime free & Happy New Year.

Bill Westcott

Sutton Montis 100+ Club Winners March No. 20 £10.00 Caroline Allen April No. 81 £10.00 Innis Allen May No. 12 £10.00 Michaela Bucks June No. 59 £50.00 Jane Stebbings July No. 49 £10.00 Robert Little August No. 124 £10.00 Helen Soper September No. 131 £10.00 Sharon Scarlett October No. 12 £10.00 Ron Cornish November No. 51 £10.00 Ann Puddy

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SPARKFORD PARISH COUNCIL REPORT

The last Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 3rd November 2014. One planning decision had been received: 14/03789/FUL – Animal shelter and feed store, Church Road. Approved. One planning application had been received: 14/04902/COU – Change of use of Sparkford Hall from a C3 dwelling to a mixed use of C3 dwelling and a variety of functions and commercial uses. It is with great regret that I have to announce the departure of our Parish Clerk, Karen Bourke, due to ill health. On behalf of councilors and the whole parish, I would like to thank her for her huge contribution to the Parish Council over so many years and for her hard work and persistence when dealing with parish business. We now have a vacancy for a Parish Clerk and would welcome applications for the position from anyone, particularly within the parish. The job requires an average of 20 hours per month, paid according to experience and length of service on National Association of Local Council pay scales. The role has four main areas: organizing the monthly Parish Council meeting and producing the agenda and minutes; being a point of contact for parishioners seeking advice or reporting problems; dealing with correspondence; contacting District and County Councils or other agencies, regional and national , to have work done within the parish. The latter increasingly requires a Clerk to be persistent and demanding enough not to take No for an answer! For those without previous experience, the Somerset Association of Local Councils runs training courses for parish clerks. A full job description is available from me at the e-mail address below. The date of the next Parish Council meeting will be Monday 1st December 2014.

Justin Crawford Chairman, Sparkford Parish Council

justincrawford@waitrose.com

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2014 Breakfast Post Mortem!!

The Village Hall Breakfast Committee called an informal

meeting on October 23rd, asking all August helpers to

attend to discuss this year's disappointing profits and

to make plans for next year.

There was a very positive response from the majority

attending.

Among several suggestions it was decided that we should

explore the possibility of providing food for Friday

travellers, perhaps lunch and tea. This is what we are

at present investigating.

The Breakfast Committee

Queen Camel Tuesday Group

November 2014 Meeting This month it was our AGM and there is no speaker, probably, just as well after the problems that we had at the October meeting.

Presumably, because we have all done such a great job, the same team have been voted on again for another year. Let us hope that next year's programme is as successful as this one has been. After the AGM, one of our

committee devised a devious quiz to test our skills, fun, challenging and just what was needed after the dry business of voting. Next month we have our Christmas lunch at Sherborne Golf Club.

Looking into the New Year, we start with a talk from Sue King, of Age Concern U.K. on January 6th, which should prove interesting.

The Tuesday Group meets in the Queen Camel Memorial Hall on the first Tuesday of each month, at 10.00am. If you want any more information about our activities,

Pat Champion on 01963 32264 or Marion Chapman on 01963 220741.

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VILLAGE AGENT

Pension Scams Recent Government legislation allows people to cash in their pensions. Sadly the result has been a number of scams which can defraud the Pension Holder. Individuals could be targeted in a number of different ways including:

Websites, mass texting, telephone calls or cold calls

Scammers may suggest that the Government has asked them to make contact

The Scammers will appear to be very plausible

Scammers may offer a number of services such as: ‘One-off investment opportunities’, ‘free pension review’,’ cash bonus’, ‘government

endorsement,’ ‘legal loopholes’ Transfer of your money overseas

Access to pension before aged 55

Encouragement to speed up transfer of money to a new scheme

If you are interested to cash in your pension you should: Consult your Bank Manager, Solicitor, Accountant or responsible person such as a

member of their family before doing anything

Insist in having everything in writing

Not give details of your pension scheme or Bank Account to anyone other than a

responsible person Remember if it appears to be too good to be true it probably is not true.

Message in a Bottle Many of you who live alone have been provided with a Message in a Bottle container which holds

a form which you can fi l l in with information which would be helpful to health professionals if you were to be found unwell or unconscious. These have been produced by the Lions and I have a supply. When I give them to people me always say that the emergency services know about the

scheme and will look for the bottle if they see the sticker which tells them it is there. I am very pleased to report that in a recent incident when a lady in Sparkford fell the emergency services did indeed go to her fridge and found her information which they said was very helpful. They told her that often they find the bottle but the form inside has not been completed which does not help.

So if you have a Message in a Bottle please fi l l in the form. If you need help let me know and I will come along and help you fi l l it in. If you feel a bottle would be useful to you or a relative who lives alone please contact me and I can give you one.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year and to say how much I enjoy working with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel I may be able to help in any way. The service is free and confidential.

Andrea de Berker adeberkerva@somersetrcc.org.uk 07852 961839

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Hello all I have just returned from my rest days, I have had several complaints from various members of the Public in regards to the speeding traffic in The Avenue Sparkford. As a matter of cause I have been in contact with the Speed Enforcement Motorcycle Team, Who have confirmed that there isn’t a safe place for them to carry out checks in The Avenue. They however have found a safe place in the High Street, and will endeavor to attend Sparkford at least once a month. As part of my ongoing work I have been tasked to find another Community Speed Watch Co-ordinator for Sparkford and to get the CSW up and running again. If anyone in Sparkford or the local area is willing to give up some of their time each month to be part of this please contact me at Voice Mail: 07825756278 email: Thelma.Mead@avonandsomerset.police.uk or call 101 (ask for Wincanton Police Station) I am also looking for someone to take over the job as Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. As Bill is stepping down at Christmas. This is sad news indeed and he will be dearly missed. I would like to express a Big Thank You from Avon and Somerset Constabulary for all your diligent work as NHW co-ordinator over the years and to wish you well in the future Regards Thelma Mead

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Church Service Calendar Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Sunday, 7th December 2014 – 2nd Sunday of Advent (Purple)

Readings: Isaiah 40.1-11, 2 Peter 3.8-15a Mark 1.1-8, Psalm 85.1-2, 8-end (or 85.8-end)

Sunday, 14th December 2014 – 3rd Sunday of Advent (Purple)

Readings: Isiah 61.1-4, 8-end, 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24, John 1.6-8, 19-28, Psalm 126

Tuesday 16th December 2014

Thursday 18th December 2014

Sunday, 21st December 2014 – 4th Sunday of Advent (Purple)

Readings: 2 Samuel 7.1-11,16 Romans 16.25-end, Luke 1-26-38, Magnificat

9.30 am BCP Holy Communion at Sparkford

9.30 am BCP Holy Communion (said) at Sutton Montis

9.30 am Village Service at Corton Denham

10.30 pm Family Service at Queen Camel

4.30 pm Tea time at West Camel (Davis Hall)

6.30 pm CW Evening Prayer at Weston Bampfylde

9.30 – 11.00 am CaféXtra at Sparkford Village Hall

10.00 am Holy Communion at Queen Camel

11.00 am BCP Holy Communion at West Camel

11.55 am Informal Morning worship at Sutton Montis

4:30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Corton Denham

6.30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Weston Bampfylde

9.30 am BCP Matins at Sparkford

3.30 pm Carol Service at West Camel

4.30 pm Carol Service at Corton Denham

6.30 pm Carol Service at Sutton Montis

6.30 pm Carol Service at Queen Camel

10.30 am Cleaveside Community Service at the Community Hall

7.00 pm Sacred Space at Sutton Montis

6:30 pm Carol Service at Sparkford

7:00 pm Carol Service at Weston Bampfylde

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Wednesday, 24th December 2014 – Christmas Eve (White or Gold)

Readings: Isaiah 62.6-end, Titus 3.4-7, Luke 2.(1-7)8-20, Psalm 97

Thursday, 25th December 2014 – Christmas Day (White or Gold)

Readings: Isaiah 52.7-10, Hebrews 1.1-4(5-12), Psalm 98

Sunday, 28th December 2014 – 1st Sunday of Christmas (White)

Readings: Isaiah 61.10-62.3, Galatians 4.4-7, Luke 2.15-21,Psalm 124

Sunday, 4th January 2015 – Epiphany Sunday (White)

Readings: Isiah 60.1-6, Ephesians .1-2, Matthew 2.1-12, Psalm 72.(1-9) 10-15

Sunday, 14th December 2014 – 3rd Sunday of Advent (Purple)

Sunday, 11th January 2015 – Baptism of Christ (White or Gold)

Readings: Genesis 1.1-5, Acts 19.1-7, Mark 1.4-11, Psalm 29

6.00 pm Nativity Service at Queen Camel

11.30 pm Midnight Communion Service at Sparkford

11.30 pm Midnight Communion Service at West Camel

11.30 pm Midnight Communion at Sutton Montis

10:00 am Family Communion Service at Queen Camel

10.00 am Holy Communion at Weston Bampfylde

10.00 am Holy Communion at Corton Denham

10:00 am Together @ 10

10.00 am The Cam Vale Benefice Holly Communion at Queen Camel

9.30 am BCP Holy Communion at Sparkford

9.30 am BCP Holy Communion (Sung) at Sutton Montis

9:30 am Village Service at Corton Denham

10.00 am Holy Communion Service by Extension at Queen Camel

11:00 am Christingle Service at Weston Bampfylde

4.30 pm Tea Time at West Camel (Davis Hall)

10.30 am Cleaveside Community Service at the Community Hall

10.00 am Sacred Space at Sparkford

9.30 – 11.00 am CaféXtra at Sparkford Village Hall

11.00 am Three Kings All Age Service at West Camel with Queen Camel

11.15 am Informal Morning worship at Sutton Montis

4.30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Corton Denham

6:30 pm BCP Evening Prayer at Weston Bampfylde

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Sunday, 18th January 2015 – 2nd Sunday of Epiphany Week of Prayer Christian Unity (White)

Readings: 1 Samuel 3.1-10(1120), Revelation 5.1-10 John 1.43-end, Psalm 139.1-5, 12-

18(or 139.1-9)

Sunday, 25th January 2015 – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (White)

Readings: Genesis 14.17-20, Revelation 19.6-1, John 2.1-11, Psalm 128

Sparkford Church Rota’s

Flowers Keyholders

Cleaners

Sidespersons

From the Registers Baptism: We welcome them into God’s family

November 2nd Alex Webb at Queen Camel November 16th Ella Case at West Camel Funerals: Behold, I stand at the door and knock

November 5th Bill Whetstone at Yeovil Crematorium November 9th Jeremy Wright at Queen Camel (Thanksgiving Service)

December 8th Mrs A Tuck

December

13th – 28th

Flower Guild

December 6th Mrs Rankin &

Mrs Sanders

December 13th Mrs Voysey & Mrs

Braithwaite

December 20th Mrs Rogers & Mrs Skinner

December 27th Mrs Carpenter &

Mrs Yeates

January 3rd Mrs Pay& Mrs Osmond

December 7th Bill Tallon

December 14th Andy Voysey

December 21st Rene Carpenter

December 28th Ellen Marsh

January 4th David Ham

December 7th Ellen Marsh

December 14th Café Xtra

December 21st Norman Yeates

December 28th Together @ Ten.

January 4th David Ham

8.00 am BCP Holy Communion at Queen Camel

9.30 am BCP Holy Communion at Corton Denham

9:30 am BCP Matins at Sparkford

11.00 am BCP Holy Communion at West Camel

6:30 pm BCP Holy Communion at Weston Bampfylde

6.30 pm Evening Service at Sutton Montis

10.00 am Together @ 10

9.30 am The Cam Vale Benefice Service with the Methodist Church at the

Davis Hall West Camel

The preacher will be Nick Lankin, the Methodist Superintendent Minister

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Bishop’s Message – December 2014

The adventure of Christmas I passed a shop this summer which had Christmas goods and Christmas cards on offer - and it was still only August! Every year shops seem to start their Christmas displays a week earlier. But in the annual rush to Christmas (which we all have a sinking fe eling about) we risk losing a great deal. In particular we lose the distinctive emphases of Advent which is a season of preparation and expectation. In Advent we are invited to be still, to be watchful and to be prayerful and to prepare ourselves to celebrate once again the birth of Christ. The word Advent suggests both ‘Event’ and ‘Adventure’ and Christmas is both of those things. Christmas is when we remember the birth of a baby in a stable in Bethlehem: a baby who was God himself. This was God taking our nature upon himself and putting into effect his great plan of love, whereby we might be reunited with our Creator. That stable in Bethlehem may seem a long way away from us, but God’s love is the same. This is an event for us and our families today - an event to be celebrated. But Christmas is also an adventure. It was an adventure for the shepherds who ‘returned glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen’ (Luke 2:20). It is an adventure for us as we open our lives and our homes to God. It is an adventure as we look forward to 2015 and all that that may mean for us. It is an adventure as we trust ourselves and those we love to Christ as Savior and Lord. So let me challenge you to take time this Advent to make a space in the rush to pause, to be still, to reflect and to prepare for the wonder and joy that is Christmas. Let us pray that all our church services and activities will help us draw nearer to God and help us to concentrate on the great ‘event’ and great ‘adventure’ wh ich is at the heart of all we are celebrating. Furthermore, let us ensure that this Christmas is centered more on the coming of Christ and the needs of others, and less around ourselves. May God grant you a peace - filled Advent and a joy-filled Christmas. +Peter Bath and Wells

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RECTOR’S LETTER DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015

Christmas is simple. A child is born: so we celebrate.

I admit I secretly enjoy sitting with my wife to watch one of ‘her’ programs, ‘One Born Every Minute’. A fly-

on-the-wall documentary set in the maternity ward of a large city hospital, it follows mothers through the

time of admission through to the time of the birth of their child, interspersed with interviews recorded in

the weeks beforehand, and afterwards, in which she and her partner reflect on the whole experience of

childbirth and parenthood.

While the mother’s struggles through childbirth are of course, gripping TV, and the work of the midwives is

admirable and interesting, I’m always particularly fascinated by the journey which the fathers make through

this process, which so often deeply transforms them.

This is especially true of the first-time fathers, the teenage fathers, and the fathers who’ve been, by their

own admission, ‘jack-the-lads’ beforehand but for whom this life event has provided a focus challenging

them to change their ways and embrace the responsibility of parenthood. You can see it in their tearful

eyes at the moment they first take the new-born into their arms, just how genuinely they mean this, just how deeply they care to make a new start for the child’s sake.

So the TV show illustrates a great truth, that when a baby is born, not only does life begin for that child, but

life begins again for the parents, whose roles in life alter forever. Parenthood demands maturity and often

requires a change of heart to give space for maturity to grow.

So here’s a statement for you to chew over (along with the turkey sandwiches) this Christmas: the birth of

the Christ child brought a challenge to humankind - to begin again and embrace maturity. Every newborn

baby immediately makes demands on its parents and family - and so with the child Jesus and the human

family.

A child heralded by the angels as being the one who would bring ‘peace on earth’ looks to us to learn to be

peaceable people, putting aside our conflicts and finding ways to live together with people not like us; a

child who they sang about as the harbinger of ‘goodwill to all’ demanding that we show the way to be

benevolent, generous world citizens.

There is always the tendency for ‘Christian’ behavior in our society to decline into what looks like

immature, self-centered posturing. Taking on board the demands of the Christ child requires us to embrace

the adult Jesus’ teachings and example.

Love your neighbor as yourself; love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you - they’re not easy

things to do. But they are the Christian way. They require our willingness to change our ways and embrace

the responsibility of mature Christian living. And if we do embrace this, then the joy and the fulfilment we

find in so doing, is immeasurable.

Christmas is challenging. A child is born: our world changes forever.

The blessings of the season to everyone in the parish. John Davies

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Copy deadline for inclusion by noon on 15th of each month

Typeset © Mr Peter Downton, DCS Computers Ltd, Wychwood, Church Road, Sparkford, BA22 7JN

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