TOM LONG'S POST A modern Christmas in a - Stroud District ...

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Tom Long’s PostCelebrate Christmas 2010with MBC!MBC has a full and excitingprogramme of services andcelebrations for the forthcomingChristmas Season with somethingsuitable for every age:Wednesday, 15th December at10.00 am Sparklets ChristmasSpecial at The Hub.Sunday, 19th December at 10.00 am"More to Christmas" all-agepresentation at The HubSunday, 19th December at 7.30 pmCarols by Candlelight at TetburyStreet (also in Café Church)Christmas Day at 10.00 amAll-age Celebration at The HubChildren - bring one of your presentsto show your friends!Sunday, 26th December at 11.00 amQuiet Christmas Communion atTetbury StreetFriday, 31st December at 11.15 pmat Tetbury Street Celebration andCommunion to welcome in the NewYearSunday, 2nd January at 10.00 amAll-age Celebration at The HubParenting CourseBeing a parent is probably the mostresponsible, challenging, demandingand rewarding job we can ever becalled to and yet whilst we can takecourses in many practical aspects ofeveryday life parenting is not usuallyone of them.MBC is, therefore, delighted toannounce its inaugural ParentingCourse which will run for 7 weeks onMonday evenings at The Hub(7.30pm) starting on Monday 10January 2011 which will be forparents with children from babies to 6year-olds.This course is open to anyoneregardless of their personal beliefs,and the principles shared will be ofvalue to every parent whether or notthey subscribe to the Christian faith.10 11For further information contact KateEaglestone at 01453 886606 or emailher atkate.eaglestone@googlemail.com.Ian Watts MBC Media officer07767217978 ian.watts@minchbc.orgMinchinhamptonChurchParishThere’s something for everyone inMinchinhampton parish thisChristmas, from carols by candlelightto a bring-and-share lunch withmulled wine and a walk.And the message from the Rector,the Reverend Dr Chris Collingwood,is simple and clear: please do comeand join in. “The birth of a child isalways a great gift and the birth ofJesus is understood as God’s greatgift of love to everyone, withoutexception,” he says.“We have lots going on. The CribService is absolutely magical, withlots of candles and the building up ofthe crib telling the Christmas story. Itreally engages children with thewonder of Christmas. Then there’sthe Festival of Nine Lessons,Midnight Mass and Christmas Dayitself – all highlights of the calendar.”There’s an extra special event forlocal children this year, as theReverend Jane Walden, associatepriest for Minchinhampton with Boxand Amberley, explained. She’sleading an ‘Experience Christmas’event, from December 7-12, for pupilsat Minchinhampton School. “Therewill be six interactive stations in theparish church, manned by membersof the congregation. All the schoolchildren will be invited in to interactwith each station, which will tell themthe Christmas story.”These stations will include theAnnouncement, where Mary is toldabout her child to be; the Journeywhich pupils can join in, mirroringMary and Joseph’s journey toBethlehem; and the Message,featuring the shepherds’ story,where children will be invited to sitround a fire to talk about theherdsmen and how they must havefelt.“The first ‘Experience’ event we didwas last Easter, and the commentsthe children made were so spiritual,it was stunning,” Jane said. “We’renow planning to do two a year.“Although ‘Experience Christmas’ isaimed at the school children,everyone is welcome to come intothe church and experience thestations for themselves. Althoughthey won’t be manned for generalvisitors, there will be cards in front ofeach one, explaining how to interactwith them.”For more details, log ontowww.minchchurch.org.ukFor details of services please referto back page.Walking your way to HealthEvery Wednesday there is a walkstarting from MinchinhamptonMarket House at 2.30pm. The walkis led by Pam Browne, a qualifiedwalk leader. The walks last aroundan hour and are FREE.In addition Pam also leads a walkevery Monday from the library inNailsworth on Mondays at 2.30.This is specifically a walk to teachpeople to use Pacerpoles. Thepoles can be borrowed for a monthat no cost whatsoever, howeverthere is a small charge of £3.00 perwalk which lasts 1 - 1.5 hours and isaround the footpaths of Nailsworth.Please contact Pam Browne on01453 832907 and she will explainthe details and answer anyquestions you may have.
Tony & Sue Simmonds, author MartinO’Brien and Gerry & Rosemary RobbinsTom Long’s PostMinchinhamptonHouse.MarketHave you been inside your iconic17th Century Market House recently?Pop in during any Thursday morning;see for yourself and support theCountry Market at the same time!Events:A wide range of public events are runat the Market House. Over the lastfew months these have included:· Literary Lunches in March,June and October with JennyJoseph, Prue Leith andMartin O’Brien.· Arts & Craft Workshop inMarch.· Children’s Theatre (Dazzle)in April, July and November.· Theatre ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ inApril. To enthusiastic praise,and a sell-out.· Local History Exhibition inOctober.· Film Nights. Alan Vaughan isvery keen to continue thesemonthly events. However,other commitments meanthat he has little time toorganise them at present.We are looking at how best tohelp him.The Hall is also used by KeySkill forconference, training and otherpurposes.Plus – all our regular events,Stapletons’ Dance, Dru Yoga, Arts &Crafts Course, Country Market, BellyDancing and Zumba (Dance to behappy).The last literary lunch was held in theBarn at the Crown Inn. Thephotograph below shows MartinO’Brien with Tony & Sue Simmonds,who organised the event, and Gerry& Rosemary Robbins, who hadproposed Martin as a speaker.Quality Fayre:The Management Committee will berunning another Quality Fayre nextyear – on Saturday, 2 nd . April 2011.These Fayres have been verysuccessful over the last three years,so – if you wish to be a stallholder atnext year’s event, please book yourplace now. Contact is Sue Simmonds(Tel: 01453 889 321) price, £35 perbusiness.Bookings:How about running your own event?We can help you get started.To arrange your own bookings,contact Rosemary Day; - Tel: 01453731 331 or Mob: 07747 805 742. Tocheck details or event dates, see ourweb-sitewww.minchinhamptonmarkethouse.co.ukProgress on the Market Houseupdates.Fabric. I’m sure some of you wereaware that jackdaws started nestingin the coving at the rear of the MarketHouse this Spring, creating significantdamage. Your Parish Council verykindly undertook the responsibility forrepair to both roof and coving, thuspreventing further extensive damage.Refurbishment Phase 1 continues.With the new curtains and blinds all inplace, the immediately obvious improvementshave been completed exceptfor the replacement chairs. Thedelays in making this decision arelinked to our desire to maximise audiencespace whilst providing goodseating comfort and chair storage.People, on average, are larger thanforty years ago (sorry, but its true!) sothe narrower chairs are less acceptable.Wide chairs could mean a 10%reduction in hall capacity.Recently we have been concentratingupon usability upgrades. These include:· The electrical circuit to thekitchen· The stage lighting circuitry tomeet modern legal requirements.We also plan to replace the fire detectionsystem and to replace the existingladders, many of which are in poorcondition.This refurbishment work was onlypossible through the generosity ofmany local people. We intend to setup a plaque thanking them.Refurbishment Phase 2, to providea proper kitchen, revamped toiletsand a lift is still stuck in the planningstage. In my last update, I hadhoped that by this Spring we wouldhave been entering a period of fundraising. Such optimism! Issues relatingto both our listed-building statusand to Fire Regulations appear tomake it impossible to provide allthree facilities without loosing audiencespace in the Main Hall. Presentthinking is that we should restrictPhase 2 to a revamp of the wholeground floor space, including thetoilets, and to providing a betterkitchen space. We could then, as aPhase 3 project, look at the possibilityfor an external lift at the back ofthe Market House.Help us to support you. We urgentlyrequire:· Auditor. Can you undertaketo act as our auditor?Financial year-end, 31 stDecember. The accountsare very straightforward andwould involve very little time.· Support Functions. Do youunderstand, or are willing tolearn, about RiskAssessment or CharityInsurance? Short term oron-going involvement. Icould do with some support,so please I would like tohear from you.If you feel you can provide us withthat little bit of extra support in eitherarea, please speak to myself, TonySimmonds (01453 889 321) or toPeter Sparkhall (Committee Treasurer01453 883 494).In the meantime, please enjoyyour upgraded hall! To date, wehave received many positivecomments – I can’t tell you howreally encouraging it is to feel that allour efforts are appreciated.10 11
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Page 3 and 4: Parish Council NewsTom Long’s Pos
Page 5 and 6: Community News and ViewsTom Long’
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TOM LONG'S POST A modern Christmas in a - Stroud District ...

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