Interregnum-Bulletin-1

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Interregnum -

Wardens’ Bulletin - 1

There were four pages to the document. Here we have put the information into four columns. Please scroll down as required

Interregnum

(The period of time that a church is without a vicar is called an interregnum.)

Once Colin has left the responsibility for the running of the parish falls to the church wardens and the Rural Dean (Frank Scammell vicar of Emmanuel Stoughton).

Jasmine will continue her work with us, and will doubtless do more than she has been to help cover the vacancy; however she does not take on Colin's responsibilities and of course has her chaplaincy and work commitments too. Please pray for her, particularly for strength and good health, as she balances all these activities.

Colin has done much to prepare us for this period in our church life and we know that he will take great encouragement from seeing us now continue with a full programme of church life without his leadership.

Services

We will continue with our full, existing patterns and times of service as far as we possibly can. The Rural Dean is helping us to find clergy to cover our services from Sunday 1st April.

We will need volunteers from the congregation to help with some aspects of preparing services and leading worship and we know that there are some great gifts and talents amongst the congregation that it would be wonderful to see released and used.

Please consider prayerfully before God whether He is challenging you to step out in faith in a new way during this time in any way and let us know if you feel able to be involved.

Weddings

that have been booked will continue as planned with the clergy that the couple are expecting to marry them, taking the service. The Rural Dean will help us to provide funeral and baptism services.

Messy Church

We plan to continue with our monthly Messy Church. Dates have been booked until the summer holidays; 18th February, 17th March, 19th May and 16th June

Do come along and join in - it's great fun for all ages, with or without children.

Socials

The social committee will continue to run social events including the very popular monthly BBQs over the summer months. A new programme is in development.

Free and For Nothing

We have booked the field at Sutherland Memorial Park for Thursday 2nd,

Friday 3rd and

Saturday 4th August.

We would very much like to go ahead with this annual event, but need to know that we have enough helpers to go ahead with booking bouncy castles etc and paying out non returnable deposits.

There are roles for all abilities, all ages and all levels of experience, so if you can commit to helping please let Ruth Boughton know by the end of March.

It is great fun, great fellowship and much appreciated by the Burpham community as well as a great act of witness by the church to the community.

Welcome

We look forward to welcoming a new vicar to Burpham later in the year. The PCC and church wardens are working on this appointment with the guidance and support of the Archdeacon, Stuart Beake, and the Rural Dean, Frank Scammell.

We will give you more details as the process moves along, however the first part of the process is consultation with the Burpham community.

A crucial part of the recruitment process is a document that we as the community write about Burpham. This is called the parish profile; it is given to clergy who express an interest in the post of vicar of Burpham.

It is also very helpful to Bishop Christopher and the Archdeacon as they help us shortlist and interview.

In the parish profile we set out information about the community of Burpham, the activities that take place in both the church and the wider community.

We also look forwards into the future; what do we think Burpham will be like in ten, or even in twenty years time and the challenges facing the vicar and church as we strive to deliver our vision and mission.

From this we create an outline of the type of vicar that Burpham parish needs for the next stage in our development.

The recruitment is very much a two way process, so it is essential that we provide possible candidates with an honest and balanced picture to enable them to determine whether they think Burpham is the right parish for them as well as whether we believe they are the right person to call to the parish.

The PCC will be leading this piece of work, but we all need to be involved and share our perspective and express our views if the parish profile is to be a good reflection of Burpham.

To facilitate this work, there will be two alternative consultation events to gather your views.

Sunday 5th February 4-5pm in the Church Centre

Tuesday 7th February 8-9pm in the Church Centre

The programme will be the same at both events so there is no need to attend both.

There will also be a way to take part in the consultation via the church website. More details will follow.

If you are unable to attend one of these events, or use the website version please let Jane or Martin know and we will find a way to gather your thoughts.

The PCC will also be asking various community groups in Burpham for their ideas. Please let either Jane or Martin know if you are aware of a community group that it would be helpful to consult. We would rather be reminded of a group several times than miss a group out.

Farewell

Colin and Jean's last Sunday in Burpham will be 25th March and we will be saying farewell to them on that Sunday.

The farewell will take the following pattern:

08.00 am - Communion service
(St Luke's)

09.15 am - Communion service (CHS)

10.30am - Communion service (CHS)

at which we hope to be joined by members of the community, church members who have moved away and other visitors.

11.45 am - Drinks and nibbles in the church

During this time there will be presentations and thanks from the Burpham community

12.45 pm - Church family lunch to which all are invited.

We hope that many members of the Burpham community both past and present will be able to join us for all or part of the farewell on 25th March.

We don't want anyone to be forgotten, so if you are aware of someone who would like to attend please pass their name and contact details to Jane Agg by 20th February so that they can be invited.

Free tickets for the lunch can be obtained from Jane Agg 01483 502676 jane.agg@btinternet.com

Tickets will be available from Sunday 29th January onwards.

Tickets must be booked by 11th March to enable us to provide food for everyone. A vegetarian and gluten free option will be provided.

If you are part of a community group in Burpham who would like to say a few words or present something at the farewell please could you let Jane know so that a programme can be created for the presentation.

We will need help with this event both on the Saturday afternoon setting up, with some food preparation and on the day serving and clearing up. Please let Jane Agg, Ruth Boughton, or Belinda Greenwood know if you can help.

We would like to give Colin and Jean a gift as they retire. If you would like to contribute towards this gift please send it to David Agg, Treasurer, 9 Laustan Close, Guildford, GU1 2TS. Cheques to Burpham PCC. To give time to purchase a gift, donations should reach David by 11th March.

Wardens' Waffle

We are sure that by now you will know that Colin will be retiring at the end of April. We will miss Colin's infectious enthusiasm, energy and care and concern for each of us as an individual. We will also miss Jean's contribution to the parish, particularly her work with the music and her hospitality at the vicarage.

Colin and Jean have worked hard for the community of Burpham for 17 years. We wish them both a long and happy retirement. Please pray for Colin and Jean as they prepare for their retirement and moving away from the parish.

This Warden's Waffle is to give you information about what happens now for Burpham Church as we say goodbye to Colin and Jean, maintain worship and church life through the interregnum and discern God's will and guidance as we recruit a new vicar. We will update you in these briefings and on the church website as the process moves along.

The responsibility for arranging much of what happens next falls to the churchwardens and to the PCC.

Please pray for us as we lead the church in seeking God's will for the next stage of the life of Burpham Church.

Jane and Martin

Your PCC members are:

Jasmine Runnacles Curate

Jane Agg Church Warden

Martin Jones Church Warden

David Agg Treasurer

Ruth Boughton

Mark Clapp Joint Secretary

Trevor Greenwood

Sue Kethero