Follow 2016

2016 is the 150 anniversary of the use of Readers in the Church of England. These are lay men and women who assist the ordained clergy with leading services, preaching and other pastoral activities, sometimes including funerals.

St Pauls currently has two Readers, Colin Chettle and Hugh James, and in the recent past also benefited from John Lee and Steve Carter.

As part of the 150^th anniversary celebrations a National Day Conference called “Follow 2016” was held at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall on Saturday 16 July. There were major events in the main auditorium including talks by the Biblical Scholar Paula Gooder speaking about the meaning of discipleship, Mark Russell of the Church Army, speaking about sharing one’s faith and Mark Greene of the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity talking about how one’s faith influences one’s work.

 

Modern Christian worship was led by Pete James.

 In the Victoria suite a number of Christians were interviewed about their faith, while in the Garden Suite there were a number of talks about Messy Church. There were also displays of literature, books and Christian activities, while in the marquee in the garden was a magician and outside were bouncy castles for both adults and children.

A lot of hard work had obviously gone into the organisation, and those who attended had the outworking of their faith challenged. It was a very worthwhile 150^th year commemoration.

 

Principal Services - July - September

Our vicar writes:

Dear Friends,
In these three months we will be working through our latest sermon series based on the 10 Commandments. In these timeless values we find joy and hope for living our lives today.
For our All Together services we continue to focus on Men & Women of faith, different characters from the Bible that inspire us. In August we look forward to hearing about all that took place during our Holiday Club.

In September we welcome the Mayor of Oadby & Wigston, along with his guests, for his civic service. A date for your diaries, on Sunday 30th October Bishop Martyn will be joining us for a special evening service where he will be confirming some of our young people. If you would like to be confirmed please speak to Steve Bailey, Gillian Gamble or Lou McGoldrick about this.

But these three months start with a celebration as we welcoming Gillian's ministry as a priest among us, giving thanks for God's calling upon her life.

May we know God's hand upon each one of us as we follow Him together.

God Bless

Steve
Steve Bailey (vicar)
Link to programme

Daniel – We Welcome You!

It was a delight for our church when two of our members, Nelson and Erica Nelson-Adomako brought their young son Daniel for baptism this morning. Baptism is the sign of entry into the church family. The baptism included signing Daniel with the sign of the cross, and pouring water on his head. It was also a welcome into the church – as we all responded, during the service: “we welcome you into the fellowship of faith; we are children of the same heavenly Father; we welcome you.” The service was conducted by our vicar, Steve Bailey.

The talk, which was given by our youth worker, Lou McGoldrick, was based on the story of Gideon. He was chosen by God to lead the children of Israel. He was fearful of the supremely difficult task he had been given, but God provided for his needs, as he will for Daniel, too, as he grows up and faces life’s difficulties, if he calls on him.

After the service we all enjoyed refreshments donated by Daniel’s family and the church family. Thank you so much to all who helped organise this.

During the service Steve addressed the congregation and said: “People of God will you welcome Daniel and uphold him in his new life in Christ?” And we replied: “with the help of God, we will.” Now the challenge for us is to continue to uphold him in prayer.

Day of Celebration

Today was a special day for St Paul’s as Gillian Gamble led the service and then presided at Holy Communion for the first time. The church was packed, with friends of Gillian and many of the congregation of St Peter’s joining us. The crush was such that we had to bring in extra chairs. If Gillian felt any timidity or apprehension, it did not show.

Steve preached the sermon using the reading for St Peter’s day of Peter’s assertion: “you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It would be her challenge for Gillian to present this understanding of the world around, but it was also a challenge to each one of us – what do we make of Jesus?

After the service there was a “Bring and Share” lunch. At the end of this Gillian was invited to cut a cake to celebrate the occasion. She was also presented with cards from both congregations and the gift of a Home Communion set.

With Gillian’s gifts of pastoral care we are sure that it will be much used.

Gillian’s Next Step

After being with us for a year as a deacon, yesterday, Saturday 2 July Gillian Gamble was ordained priest at Leicester Cathedral. This is the second stage in the Anglican model of ordained ministry.

The service, led by Bishop Martyn Snow, took place in a Cathedral packed with the families, friends and parishioners of the eight people who were to be ordained. Bishop Christopher, the Assistant Bishop, also took part as did the Archdeacons, Dean and Cathedral staff. The sermon was preached by the Archdeacon of Boston, Justine Allain Chapman, who had led a retreat for the ordinands at Launde Abbey in the days leading up to their ordination.

She studied the story of Ruth, the ancestor of King David and of Jesus himself. Ruth had been an outsider to the Jewish faith, but had been attracted by the witness of her husband and of Naomi, her mother-in-law. The other reading, from Luke 24, told of Jesus explaining the gospel to the couple on the road to Emmaus and then revealing himself as he broke bread.

This witness to the outsider, this teaching of the Christian faith and this revealing of Christ who broke the bread would be the basis of the ordinands’ ministry.

After the charges to minister in a way that was acceptable to God, the Bishop laid hands on each of the ordinands and the Assistant Bishop anointed their hands with oil for the task ahead.

There was then a service of Holy Communion in which the ordinands were involved in distributing the bread and wine.

After the service the congregation milled into the Cathedral Gardens for photographs, a glass of wine, the opportunity to listen to the jazz band and the opportunity to greet the ordinands and to renew old friendships.

Gillian was to preside at the communion service at St Paul’s the next day. We look forward to her further ministry and pray that God may continue to bless her ministry.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
A family activity day is being run by 'Oadby Remembers' tomorrow at Brock's Hill Park from 10.30am - 4pm.
On Sunday evening a special service is being held in St Peter's at 6.30pm.