BIBLE STUDY GROUP
There will be a meeting in The Rectory at 6pm on Wednesday 14th October to discuss the logistics of the group. Please come if you are interested in being part of the group or if you have any experiences of being part of such a group that you would like to share.
Attending the meeting doesn't mean you have to commit yourself; so if you would just like to know more, please just come along.
ALL HALLOW'S EVE (HALLOWEEN) PARTY
As usual we will be running an All Hallows' Eve Party for children in The Parish Room Roydon on Saturday 31st October between 5-7pm. Please come in fancy dress if you can. Refreshments are provided and the party is FREE. All are welcome to this safe alternative to trick or treat and you get the opportunity to trick or treat Rob!
ALPHA COURSE
The Alpha Course is up and running on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm at The Parish Room Roydon, you have missed the beginning but it is quite alright just to come along.
The course pre-supposes no knowledge of Christianity and is very informal. Everyone is welcome and it is free.
ALL SOULS' SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE
Our service of Remembrance with Thanksgiving is at Fersfield at 6.30pm on Sunday 1st November; during this service we remember all those from our parishes on our Years' Mind List and any who grieve any loss recently or in the past. All are welcome.
REGISTERS
Holy Baptism
25th July Roydon Emma Tunmore
29th July Bressingham Liam Mullinger (adult)
29th July Bressingham George Manning (adult)
8th August N. Lopham Samuel Hewett
30th August Roydon Amy Lister
Holy Matrimony
1st August Roydon James Wolfenden & Elizabeth Barker
8th August Bressingham Neil Taylor & Louise Nichols
Funerals
11th August Earlham/Gissing Bob Ellis
11th Sept Bressingham Ralph Shipley (interment)
ARTICLE
I have a friend who tells me that he loves the autumn. He tells me that the autumn is a season for big decisions such as to whether or not it's too late to start spring cleaning and a time to drag out your winter clothes and see what kind of summer fun the moths had. He tells me he likes the autumn leaves and that they are just like raising kids; first they turn on you, and then they fly away and next thing you know, you look out the window and they're back! He also tells me that when he gets tired of looking at all those leaves in his garden, he gets up off the sofa and goes into action and closes the curtains!
For lots of people the autumn is a very special time of year; as far as the church is concerned it is like our New Year's Eve when we look back at what we have done and look forward to the season of Advent which is the beginning of the Church year.
Autumn is also a time for giving thanks for the good things in life; by the time you read this we will have well and truly given thanks for the Harvest (although there are still Harvest Thanksgiving Services at Fersfield and Roydon on the 4th October and a special Harvest Music, Praise & Worship at North Lopham on the 11th October) and then we enter the what the Church calls the Kingdom Season in November.
The Kingdom Season is a time of remembering. We begin November by remembering all the saints of the church and then we remember all the departed in a very moving service on All Souls' Day (which this year is on the evening of November 1st). Then of course we remember those who have given their lives in the supreme sacrifice the brave men and women of our armed services. We tend to focus on the two World Wars but this year will be particularly poignant for two reasons.
1. There are now no longer the veterans of the "Great War" who can pass on the horrors of that age.
2. The men and women of our armed services who are seeing active service today in Afghanistan and are still making that supreme sacrifice in the call of duty; and whatever we think of this campaign, whether it is right or wrong, our support and prayers must go out our servicemen and women.
The month of November or the Kingdom Season ends with the feast of Christ the King where we remember the victory Jesus won for each and every one of us on the Cross.
Sometimes we feel that there is nothing to be thankful for but the season of autumn reminds us that we all have many blessings in our lives, some big and some small, that we need to be thankful for.
Rob.
April to May 09
You can download a reduced copy (editorial only) of Cockcrow using the above links