January 2018

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The Five Parishes News

Serving the villages of Catthorpe, Misterton/Walcote, Shawell,

Stanford-on-Avon, and Swinford

The copy deadline for the February issue is Thursday 18th January

Please send news items, by the copy date, to: news@avonswift.org.uk

Copies of the current and previous newsletters are also available to view online at: www.avonswift.org.uk

LIGHT FOR A NEW YEAR

Here we are again at the beginning of another year! For many of us, January can seem a little flat, a bit

grey and drab, now that the coloured lights and the sparkly things of Christmas have been packed away.

If you’re someone who struggles with the lack of light it may help you to know that the last day of Janu-

ary will have 76 minutes’ extra daylight than New Year’s Day, even if the long days of Summer are still

far off.

January in the Church year is a time of light and colour – it’s the season of Epiphany, beginning on Janu-

ary 6th when we tell again of the brightness of a star leading the wise men to Jesus with their exotic

gifts. It’s a season when we continue to tell stories of God’s light and life being revealed in Jesus, and a

season to remind ourselves that God’s light through Jesus is shining still in and around us, even though

it’s grey and dark outside.

Throughout January some of our churches keep their crib scenes up to remind us that Jesus, the light

who came into the world, is with us still.

For some of us of course, the darkness we experience may be something we carry inside us more emo-

tionally or spiritually – we all face tough times during our lives. It may be hard at times like this to be-

lieve God is close, to see something of God’s light. Psalm 139 assures us that there is nowhere we can go

out of God’s presence and that even when we feel the darkness may overwhelm us, that God can see into

the dark because ‘even the darkness is not dark to you; the

night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to

you.’ (Psalm 139.12)

I pray this January, in darkness and daylight, you may know

something of God’s bright presence surrounding you, and that

each of us may be given grace and opportunity to spread God’s

light and peace to those around us.

May God bless you all now and throughout 2018.

The Rev’d Emma Davies

What’s On - January

6th Saturday Soups Misterton

7th Messy@Misterton

11th Swinford WI

11th Swinford Skirts Planning

Meeting Chequers

13th Saturday Soups Misterton

20th Stanford Hall CSA Opening

20th Saturday Soups Misterton

27th Soup and puds Swinford

27th Saturday Soups Misterton

27th Walcote Annual Village Quiz

January 2018

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SWINFORD WI

The end of the year and the anniversary of the for-

mation of Swinford WI saw members gather to-

gether for our annual AGM and Christmas Party.

On Thursday 14th December we almost had a full

turn out in spite of the atrocious weather condi-

tions. Everyone had wrapped up warm and braved

the snow and ice bringing with them dishes for the

festive feast to come.

Jackie Clapham had kindly invited us to her home

for the evening and food was placed on the table –

savouries to the left and sweets and deserts to the

right. Luckily Jackie has a large table to accommo-

date all of the various treats. It was a veritable

spread offering a huge variety of food.

Everyone was given a drink, - wine, fruit juice, non

alcoholic – whatever they fancied, before taking

seats in the lounge. Hazel Gardner brought the chat

to order and went through the business part of the

evening. There were a few notices of events from

WI House, the confirmation of our trip to the Con-

cordia Theatre in February to see Mack & Mabel

and a reminder to bring the Resolutions voting

strips from the WI Life magazine to the January

meeting. We were told that the January meeting

was to be a “surprise”, with no further details.

Rita Byrne told us a little about her experiences at

the WI Annual Council Meeting in previous years

and encouraged us to go along. This year the ACM

is to be held in March in Cardiff.

She also confirmed that she had been asked to stay

on for another 2 years to head the Avon Group

of WIs and this was soundly confirmed by the

members.

Lynne Grindlay presented the Treasurer’s Report

and was complimented on it’s clarity. Financially

we are on a par with last year but 2018 is likely to

be a challenge with the cost of Speakers rising and,

in particular, the travel costs of Speakers were ris-

ing exponentially. Hazel pointed out that in addi-

tion to being Treasurer Lynne was also undertaking

the role of Programme Secretary. Lynne then gave

a brief resume of the planned programme for 2018.

Joan Vickers gave her Secretary’s Report and all

agreed that 2017 had been a very successful and

enjoyable year.

Hazel Gardner presented the President’s Report and

confirmed that 4 members of Swinford WI (Hazel

Gardner, Jackie Clapham, Linda O’Reardon and

Ann Edwards) had braved the horrendous and haz-

ardous heavy snow and ice conditions to drive to

Gilmorton to represent Swinford at the Tuesday,

13th December Avon Group Carol Service. Well

done to Jackie who had done the driving.

Hazel moved on to the appointment of the new

Committee for 2018. Hazel was unanimously reap-

pointed as President, Joan Vickers as Secretary,

Jackie Chapman as Treasurer, Lynne Grindlay as

Programme Secretary and Mary Hall as a new

member of the Committee. Mary Shervington an-

nounced that she is stepping down. Linda

O’Reardon, who is not a Committee member, was

asked to continue as WI Correspondent.

Mary Hall welcomed everyone to attend the Carol

Service at All Saints Church, Swinford on Wednes-

January 2018

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day, 20th December – refreshments and mince pies

to follow.

Hazel then declared that the business was over and

invited everyone to partake of the wonderful food

and to top up their glasses. This part of the evening

was given over to partying. The noise levels rose

as everyone was chatting amiably, moving from

one group to the next, with food and wine and lots

of social interaction. A most convivial evening and

one that put us all into the mood for Christmas.

The evening ended with everyone helping to clear

the table, packing up goodies to take home, don-

ning their boots and winter coats – and, most im-

portant, lighting up their torches – then with a big

thank you to Jackie for opening up her home to all

of us – we went out into the very crisp winter dark-

ness to make our way home.

Our next meeting will at 7.30 pm on Thursday, 11th

January at the Village Hall.

We look forward to our “surprise”. Do come

along, we would love to see you.

Swinford WI members would like to wish everyone

a very Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

Linda O’Reardon

EPIPHANY GOES MESSY!

It’s time again for our next Messy@Misterton. On

January 7th at 3pm in St Leonard’s Church, come

and join us to find out everything you ever wanted

to know about Epiphany! The usual team will be

there, joined – for one time only – by KING

HEROD. Find out why the Wise Men followed the

star, what King Herod had planned for the new

baby King and why Jesus was given such strange

gifts.

Once we reach January 7th, Christmas is just about

over, but why not make it last just a tiny bit longer

with a trip to Messy@Misterton? Everyone is wel-

come: adult or child, regular worshipper or first

timer. Come and find out whether

Messy@Misterton is the service for you!

Liz Marsh (Messy@Misterton team)

January 2018

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SUPER SOUP FOR JANUARY!

Now Christmas has passed and 2018 has arrived,

perhaps you will be looking for a way to increase

your fitness and reduce your waistline. Never fear,

St Leonard’s at Misterton is here to help! Each Sat-

urday in January, why not take a bracing stroll in

the beautiful countryside, followed by delicious,

warming (and very healthy) soup in St Leonard’s

Church?

As you all know, 2017 was a difficult year for our

church, so we continue to search for ways to raise

funds. By taking a walk and sharing soup with us,

you can help yourself to greater fitness, while con-

tributing to our fundraising efforts.

WE HOPE TO WELCOME YOU ANY AND

EVERY SATURDAY IN JANUARY BETWEEN 2

AND 4pm.

Liz Marsh (Misterton PCC)

SWINFORD SKIRTS

At the time of writing this article Swinford Skirts

are looking forward to their Annual Christmas

Party which as usual includes husbands and part-

ners. This year we are going to the Ullesthorpe

Court Hotel for a three course festive meal and

disco. Steve Robbins is very kindly transporting us

home in shuttle runs on The Swinford Community

Bus.

2018 will be a special Year for Skirts as its our 20th

Anniversary! I can't believe that its almost 20 years

since Aimi Sewell had the brainwave of creating a

ladies social group which meets up once a month

usually on a Thursday evening. I helped Aimi cre-

ate the Skirts and there are still many of us in the

village who regularly attend who came to that ini-

tial cheese and wine evening in Swinford Village

Hall! Its amazing to think that we have had nearly

250 meetings!

Skirts is a great way to make new friends in the vil-

lage. Its a wonderful excuse to leave your little

January 2018

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ones at home with your husband/partner and enjoy

a social night out. We go to the theatre, have meals

out, have speakers, have done wine tasting, gin

tasting, sherry tasting, cocktail making, white water

rafting. We have an annual bike ride. The list is

endless. The memories priceless ! We have raised

thousands of pounds for charity as well.

The planning meeting for 2018 will take place in

The Chequers Inn on Thursday 11th January start-

ing at 8pm. Please come along for a drink and a

chat with absolutely no obligation to organise any-

thing. We welcome new members!

Julie Morris 07765 148335

January 2018

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Avon-Swift Group Services every week…..

Wednesdays: 9am at South Kilworth: ½ hour simple said Eucharist

Thursdays: 5pm at Gilmorton: quiet said service of Evening Prayer

Wednesday 3rd January

7.30pm Shawell Compline

Sunday 7th January The Epiphany [White]

Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 1-12; Matthew 2: 1-12

8.30 am North Kilworth Holy Communion (BCP) The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

9.30 am Kimcote Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

9.30 am Swinford Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

11.00 am Gilmorton Family Service The Rev’d Emma Davies

3.00 pm Misterton Messy Church The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

and Team

4.00 pm Peatling Parva Christingle Service Local Team

Sunday 14th January 2nd Sunday of Epiphany [White]

1 Samuel 3.1-10; Revelation 5: 1-10; John 1: 43-51

8.30 am Kimcote Holy Communion (BCP) The Rev’d Emma Davies

9.30 am Ashby Magna Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

9.30 am South Kilworth All-Age Service Beth Rogers

11.00 am Gilmorton Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

Sunday 21st January 3rd Sunday of Epiphany [White]

Genesis 14: 17-20; Revelation 19: 6-10; John 2: 1-11

8.30 am Gilmorton Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

9.30 am North Kilworth Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

9.30 am South Kilworth Holy Communion (BCP) The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

11.00 am Peatling Parva Holy Communion (BCP) The Rev’d Emma Davies

11.00 am Walton Baptist Chapel United service for The Rev’d Alison Iliffe

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Tuesday 23rd January

9.30 am Gilmorton Holy Communion with school students (all welcome)

2.30 pm North Kilworth Holy Communion with school students (all welcome)

Sunday 28th January Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) [White]

Malachi 3: 1-5; Hebrews 2: 14-18; Luke 2: 22-40

10.30 am Gilmorton Holy Communion (CW) The Team

(Food Bank Collection)

4.00 pm Shawell All-Age Holy Communion (CW) Canon Brian Davis

January 2018

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Sunday 4th February 2nd Sunday before Lent [Green]

Proverbs 8: 1, 22-31; Colossians 1: 15-20; John 1: 1-14

9.30 am North Kilworth Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

9.30 am Stanford Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Jane Kennedy

11.00 am Gilmorton Holy Communion (CW) The Rev’d Emma Davies

4.00 pm Peatling Parva Songs of Praise Local Team

BCP = Traditional language service from the Book of Common Prayer (1662)

CW = Common Worship - contemporary language service

All enquiries regarding Church matters should be directed to:-

The Rev’d Emma Davies, The Vicarage, Church Lane, Gilmorton.

Telephone: 01455 556573: email: emma.davies1@sky.com

The Rev’d Alison Iliffe, The Rectory, Dag lane, North Kilworth.

Telephone: 01858 881248; email ajiliffe@gmail.com

For Shawell:

The Revd Canon Brian Davis, Telephone: 01858 431843; email Revbdavis@aol.com

From the Parish Registers

Funerals—we say farewell and commit to Almighty God:

Sheila Ball aged 84 years Peatling Parva 21st November

Derek Robert Holland aged 70 years Misterton 12th December

January 2018

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January 2018

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SOUP AND PUD LUNCHES

The soup and pud makers are ready to get going

again in 2018. The lunches are served at the village

hall in Swinford from noon until 2pm on the last

Saturday of the month, January through to October.

We look forward to welcoming our regular cus-

tomer and new ones. Come along and meet up with

friends and neighbours for a natter and a super

lunch for £6 per person. See you on Saturday 27th

January.

Carole Smith

STANFORD HALL CSA

Stanford Hall is launching a Community Supported

Agricultural scheme. We'll be inviting the commu-

nity to join us in growing a wide range of food for

local school canteens and distribution via a mem-

bership system. The pioneering scheme is using

many new methods of agriculture in the hope that

we can find more sustainable ways of producing

the food we eat.

The opening ceremony of the project will take

place on January 20th 2018. More details about the

project can be found at:

http://www.stanfordhallcsa.co.uk

Graham Willett (CSA Coordinator)

07946830044

January 2018

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WANTED: QUIZ TEAMS AND GOOD SPORTS

Who knows: what is the capital of China – obvi-

ously ‘c’ ; where you would find the Sea of Tran-

quility – not in my house ; and when was William

Shakespeare born – a bit before me!?

If you know the answers to ANY of those ques-

tions, maybe you would like to join us in Walcote

Memorial Hall on Saturday 27th January for our

ANNUAL VILLAGE QUIZ. Doors open at 7pm

for a 7:30 start. You can come along with a team of

your own (up to 6 people), or come by yourself and

join a team on the night. We welcome teams from

far and wide: Walcote, Lutterworth or further

afield, all vying to win the honour of becoming

Walcote Quiz Champions 2018.

This is another fundraising event organised by St

Leonard’s Church, so of course, there will be a raf-

fle, and to ensure your brain cells will not suffer

from dehydration, there will be a bar. Do come and

join us for an entertaining evening …and I promise

this year there won’t be an impossible Harry Potter

round, because surely you all know the difference

between a hippogryph and your hippocam-

pus….don’t you?!

Liz Marsh (Misterton PCC)

SODS

The SODS committee would like to thank everyone

who came and watched our annual pantomime 'A

long time ago'. We would also like to say thank you

to all the volunteers for their continued support and

help to put on the shows! We hope you all enjoyed

the pantomime and look forward to welcoming you

all next year.

Aaron Doyle

SWINFORD 2000

Having raised over £850 at our Christmas Fayre

event on December 2nd, we would like to thank

everyone who attended the event in spite of the

weather not doing what was intended! We are very

grateful to all the volunteers who helped set up and

take down, or man a stall.

Thank you for all the help and support you give to

us during our events, and for the kind donations

you gave from chocolates to bottles of wine

through to the Parish Council paying for our Christ-

mas tree and some new lights. We also thank Stan-

ford Hall for donating firework championship tick-

ets, as well as Garden Barn at Cotesbach for donat-

ing a gift voucher to spend in their venue.

Thank you everyone!

We look forward to seeing you all next year!

Aaron Doyle

January 2018

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From all those involved in getting the Five Parishes Newsletter to your doormat!

January 2018

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