Notes from around the Parishes, July 2018

Great Massingham, Little Massingham & Harpley

The Reverend Judith Pollard writes:

One of my son Joseph’s favourite books in childhood was The
Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It describes the
adventures of a tiny caterpillar as he munches his way through
many exciting foods, growing bigger and bigger until he becomes
a cocoon and ultimately, a beautiful butterfly. Children identify
with this story. Eating too many treats can mean having a
stomach ache but the hungry caterpillar had to be so greedy to be
transformed into a butterfly! It’s about positive transformation.
Many of Jesus’s stories or parables are about transformation too.
The word parable literally means ‘to throw alongside’; there’s a sense of strength here
and also surprise. God’s kingdom is nothing if not surprising – and counter-cultural,
subverting conventional power systems such as, in Jesus’ time, the all-conquering
Roman Empire. And still the Gospel message continues to inspire and energise us to
this day. Parables allow us to use our imagination to engage with Jesus’s stories in each
new generation and compel us to challenge conventional ways of looking at the world.
We could all do with some unconventionality occasionally – think of President Donald
Trump and North Korea!
St. Iraeneus, one of the Fathers of the Church, said in the fourth century that: “the glory
of God is a human being fully alive.” I would strongly suggest that we are all in a
process of transformation, becoming ever more authentic to our particular calling,
whatever that calling may be. This may involve munching our way through the right
food, or taking the right exercise or reading the right books or sharing the right
conversations - but ultimately we need courage and to have the space in our lives to
listen - to our families and friends but also to be influenced perhaps by external factors
for good, in order to grow and develop both as individuals and as communities.
St Benedict, known as ‘the father of Western monasticism’, wrote a renowned Book of
Rules to order life in community, which people still find helpful today. Life in
community doesn’t have to mean a religious community - it can apply to any situation
where people are living and working together, such as our village communities here in
Norfolk.
Two of St. Benedict’s most important rules are: don’t judge your brother or sister; and
don’t grumble. The first word in his book is ‘Listen’. Let us heed this wisdom of St.
Benedict and continue together on this lifelong journey of transformation.
Summer is a wonderful time - of rest and recuperation, holidays, good times shared,
village fêtes and sunny days (hopefully!) Have a wonderful summer!
With my prayers and gratitude, Judith.

Please send items for inclusion in the Aug issue of the ‘Parish Notes’ to the editor by
17th July ~ Rosemary Mehers rosemarymehers@hotmail.com or Tel: 01485 521866
SERVICES ACROSS THE GROUP in July
Sunday, July 1st ~ Fifth Sunday after Trinity
0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley
1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass
0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Ashwicken
1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston
1030 Morning Praise St Nicholas’, Gayton
3pm Prayer Meeting St Mary’s, Gayton Thorpe
6pm Evensong St Andrew’s, Congham
Weds, 4th July 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s, Harpley

School Leavers’ Services at 2pm

St Lawrence’s Church, Harpley; Thursday 5th July
St Mary’s Church, Great Mass., Friday 6th July

Sunday, July 8th, ~ Sixth Sunday after Trinity

1030 Group Holy Communion St Lawrence’s, Harpley

4pm The Gap Pott Row Methodist Chapel

Sunday, July 15th ~ Seventh Sunday after Trinity

0930 Holy Communion St Andrew’s’, Little Massingham
1100 Family Service St Mary’s, Great Massingham
1115 Sung Holy Communion St Lawrence’s, Harpley
0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Roydon
1030 Holy Communion St Nicholas’, Gayton
1030 Morning Praise St Botolph’s, Grimston
6pm Songs of Praise All Saints’, Roydon
Weds, July 18th ~ 9am Holy Communion at St Botolph’s, Grimston

Sunday, July 22nd ~ Eighth Sunday after Trinity

1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Massingham
0830 Holy Communion St Andrew’s, Congham
1030 Family Service St Botolph’s, Grimston
3pm Celtic Worship St Mary’s, Gayton Thorpe
Sunday, July 29th ~ Ninth Sunday after Trinity
0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Ashwicken
1030 Prayer & Praise Service St Botolph’s, Grimston
1030 Holy Communion St Andrew’s, Little Massingham

HC4U HC4U HC4U

Gt Massingham Village Hall
July 30th/31st & Aug 1st 10am - Noon
Returning for its fourth year, a small team from St Mary’s, Great Massingham
(led by Kim & Judith) run a FREE Children’s Holiday Club:
FUN & Friendship with Bible Stories, Craft Activities, Games, Singing…
More details from Rev’d Judith (01485 601251) Reg forms also available at schools

Weds, 1st August 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s, Harpley

Sunday, August 5th ~ Tenth Sunday after Trinity

0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley
1100 Family Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass
Also celebrating with those who came to HC4U
0830 Holy Communion St Mary’s, East Walton
1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston
1030 Morning Praise St Nicholas’, Gayton
3pm Prayer Meeting St Lawrence’s, Harpley
Prayer Group Last meeting before school hols: Weds, 11th July at 7:30pm
@ ‘Cobwebs’, Gt Mass the home of Kim & Alan Frazer (Tel 01485 520930);
Bible Study The Study Group will not meet again until after the summer break.
New members welcome to both groups. Details from Rev’d Judith (01485 601251.)

From the Registers:

Funerals at St Mary’s, Great Massingham:
6th June Ephraim Green aged 95 yrs
15th June John Buckman , of Little Massingham. aged 54 yrs
Gt Massingham residents with Funerals held at Mintlyn Crematorium:
26th June Joan Reeve aged 94
29th June Brenda Maureen Newcomb aged 81

At St Lawrence’s, Harpley, on 23rd June: The Blessing of the Marriage of

Chipo Kate Elijah-Toye & Christopher Richard Toye
 June 30th & July 1st Open Gardens in Harpley 10 am to 5pm
Coffee Morning Sat 14th July
10:30am to 12 noon at St. Andrew’s, Little Massingham
Afternoon Teas ~ Every Wednesday from 3pm
in St Mary’s Church, Great Massingham.

Dates for your Diary

Roydon’s ‘Bit of a Do’!. Sat July 7th 1pm – 4pm

Live music, stalls, games, raffle, Mini Farm and more…
New for 2018 Dancing Dog Display

Congham Fête with Snail Racing Sat 21st July, 2pm

at Grimston Cricket Ground
Music by KL Ukelele Club and Ian Woodward
Attractions include:
Face painting, Hog Roast, BBQ, Football challenge

Year of Prayer & Pilgrimage

Come and join us on these walks to be held around our Parishes:

1 Walk through the woods and fields of East Walton

Bill will lead a lovely walk: Starting at Abbey Farm, East Walton; 5pm on 30th June
Do come and join us! Why not bring a picnic? ~ We will provide the drinks.
2 Walk at Great Massingham
Tuesday 10th July, meet at St Mary’s Church, Great Massingham at 2pm.
The walk is an easy four miles, but you need strong shoes or boots.
3 A gentle stroll around Congham
Wednesday 8th August, leaving from St Andrews church at 7pm;
returning afterwards for light refreshments.

As part of King’s Lynn Festival, King’s Lynn Festival Chorus will sing Rachmaninov’s
Vespers on Tuesday 17th July, at 8:30pm. Tickets from the Corn Exchange/ web site
£16 (Under 18 £8) Book 4 or more tickets – get 10% off !!!
Familiar words from a service of evensong but sung in Russian!
Our Ministry Team:
Team Rector Rev’d Jane Holmes, ~ is on sabbatical leave
Team Vicar Rev’d Judith Pollard, The Rectory, Grimston 01485 601251
To arrange Baptisms, Marriages, or Funerals please contact the Rev’d Judith (her day off is Friday).
 Harpley
Open Gardens
Saturday 30th June &
Sunday 1st July: 10-5pm
in aid of St. Lawrence’s Church
Tickets £4 (children under 16 free)
Plant Stall
Bric-a-brac
Pony rides (Sat pm only)
Children’s activities
Flower quiz
Gnome quiz
Flower Display
in Dogs on leads welcome
Church Croquet ~ Books
Refreshments in Church daily