Swaffham Newsletter

Swaffham Methodist Church
Fri 5th Jan 9.30 am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Sat 6th Jan 9.30 am - 12noon Coffee Morning.
Sun 7th Jan - 10.45am Morning Worship followed by
refreshments.
Thurs 11th Jan 2.30 pm - 4pm Thursday Group Beetle
Drive.
Fri 12th Jan 9.30 am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Sat 13th Jan 9.30 am - 12noon Coffee Morning.
Sun 14th Jan 10.45am - Morning Worship followed by
refreshments.
Fri 19th Jan 9.30am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Sat 20th Jan 9.30 - 12noon Coffee Morning.
Sun 21st Jan 10.45 Morning Worship followed by
refreshments.
Thurs 25th Jan 2.30 pm -4pm Thursday Group. A talk by
Mike Hills on the Bread Riots.
Frid 26th Jan 9.30 am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Sat 27th Jan 9.30 - 12noon Coffee Morning.
Sun 28th Jan 10.45am Morning Worship followed by
refreshments.
On behalf of the Swaffham Methodist Church may I
take this opportunity to wish all your readers a Happy
and Healthy New Year.
Our Lady of Pity Catholic Church
The Holy Scriptures Of The World
All the great religions of the world have their holy
books, which are loved and cherished and which
guide believers, giving inspiration and guidance. One
has only to think of the Koran of Islam, the Upanishads
of Hinduism, the Sutras of Buddhism, and the Bible
of Judaism and Christianity. For millions of people
these holy books have offered a way to live and a
way to enlightenment or conversion of heart. This is
why they are treated with such reverence and given
places of honour either in the temple, the mosque,
the synagogue or the church.
Holy scriptures are also the inspiration of much of
the world’s greatest art, music and literature. Think
of the works of art in the National Gallery. Much of
it inspired by the great Bible stories. Think of the
music of Handel, especially the great Messiah. Then
there is the art of the Italian renaissance such as
Michelangelo. There is no doubt that the Judaeo
Christian scriptures have given the world some of its
greatest art and music.
But this is true of the other great religions of the world
too. There is great art and music which has grown
out of India and Asia. The Upanishads represent for
the Hindu approximately what the new Testament
represents for Christians and it has brought much
esoteric art and music to the world expressing the
spiritual struggles of the human soul. The world
would be a poorer place without the holy books of
the world.
Fr Gordon Williams
St Peter & St Paul’s Swaffham
The January Services in Swaffham parish church will
be as follows:-
Wednesday 3rd
10.00am
Sunday 7th
8.00am
9.30am
3.30pm
Wednesday 10th
10.00am
Sunday 14th
8.00am
9.30am
Wednesday 17th
10.00am
Sunday 21st
8.00am
9.30am
11.15am
3.00pm
Unity
Wednesday 24th
10.00am
Holy Communion BCP
The Epiphany
Holy Communion
Sung Eucharist
Evensong
Holy Communion BCP
Holy Communion
Sung Eucharist
Holy Communion BCP
Holy Communion
Sung Eucharist
Family Service
Week of Prayer for Christian
Holy Communion BCP
Conversion of St Paul
Thursday 25th
10.00am Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity
Sunday 28th
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
Wednesday 31st
10.00am Holy Communion BCP
NB
Sunday 4th Feb Candlemas
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist
3.30pm Evensong
Iceni Youth Clubs
Youthie:
Year 4 to 7 Thursdays 5:30pm – 7:00pm .
Youth Voice:
Wednesdays 6:00pm – 7:30pm 2nd and 4th
Wednesdays of each month
Youthie Plus:
Years 6, 7 and 8 Thursdays - 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Youthie Hub:
13 to 18 years Thursdays - 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Staff are happy to give information, guidance
and advice, call Sally for further details on:
07772 852 284
https://www.facebook.com/groups/iceniyoungpeople
St Peter & St Paul’s Swaffham
I wonder what your hopes are for 2018? Maybe
an addition to the family, or better health, or a
new job or home? On a national and international
level there is so much we could wish for – whether
we voted for Brexit or not, wise discernment as
to the way forward could transform the current
uncertainties; and it feels almost too ambitious to
wish for world peace, when it is so far away for
many.
The start of our calendar year is often a time for
making resolutions – and breaking them within 24
hours! But it is certainly a useful point at which
to take stock of our lives and think about future
direction.
If we want to make a difference, it gives us the
impetus to start somewhere.
I always used to miss the moment – midnight
would strike at the end of New Year’s Day and no
resolutions would have been made.
Then one year I went into work on 2nd January and
my accounts officer said he was going to follow
his priest’s suggestion and just take one word to
focus on for the year ahead. His priest had chosen
‘attention’, so my accounts officer did too, and so
did I.
To cut a long story short, I think we were all glad
we did so. I found it immeasurably enriching to
take a simple focus, rather than making elaborate
and detailed resolutions I would almost certainly
not manage to keep.
In my case, after a frantically busy previous year,
taking time to attend more to my family, to those
around me, and to God, was transformative.
So whether you have great or small resolutions for
the coming year, I hope it will be one of fulfilment
and joy, and that even small changes will lead to
great happiness.
Revd. Janet Allan
Vicar of Swaffham and Sporle
swaffhamvolunteerhub@gmail.com
Fancy working at the library? At a care home?
At Green Britain Centre? Somewhere else in
Swaffham? Becoming a pledger? Newsletter
3, offering more volunteer opportunities in
town, is now available from the Community
Centre, museum or Town Hall. Don’t forget to
pick up a copy or email me. That way as soon
as something comes up you will be the first to
know! If you want to have more information
about what the Volunteer Hub is, please email
me for a leaflet.
Poppy Appeal Success
I am thrilled to be able to tell you that at the end
of November the RBL Poppy
Appeal for Swaffham stands
at £18,767.95 with more
money still coming in.
Well done everybody.
Anne Thorp, Hon Poppy Appeal
Organiser , Swaffham RBL
Community Hospital LofF
Hope you are all recovering from an enjoyable
Xmas and New Year. Of course not everyone stops
working over this period, including Nurses and
others at our Hospitals and Care Homes. So special
thanks to all those in our Community who look
after others during this time.
Our Viennese Evening was a great success and
as before people are already asking “when are
they back” Sorry if you were disappointed in not
getting a ticket, but numbers are limited. After all
expenses we raised just on a £1000 for our Funds
We participated in the Rotary event during
November, promoting our Charity. Nice to talk to
people about what we do. Our Coffee Morning
at the Methodist Church was well supported, so
thanks to those who helped and all our customers
In early Dec we spent time decorating the public
areas and the main Dining room at the Hospital, to
brighten up the areas. This included special Xmas
floral decorations as well as table pieces.
I hope you took the Opportunity to visit the
Church to see the Annual Xmas Tree Festival. This
is a brilliant annual event which we gladly support.
At the end of the Festival week we take the Tree to
the Hospital to add to the others.
Another aspect is that in the past we have provided
funds to help ensure that all inpatients receive an
individual present on Xmas Day.
Looking to next year. We are still pressing the
Hospital Trust to progress plans for a new covered
entrance to the Hospital. We have reserved funds
to support this. We also plan to support a major
revamp of the rear gardens. Given that we are a
“market town” we have suggested that the Garden
reflects a Market theme with individual Market
(floral) stalls.
We often get asked about access to inpatient beds.
The bad news is that the Hospital does not just
serve our immediate local area. The Hospital Trust
has a much wider catchment area so beds do get
used by a wide range of people.
We have recently welcomed some new members
to our committee. Hope you all enjoy supporting
the Hospital.
As usual views, comments or info available.
colin@houghton789.plus.com
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