St Mary Redcliffe Church Parish Magazine - December/January 2018

Sunday School Remembrance wreath; detail
sunday school
IT’S EXCITING TIMES at Sunday
School as we prepare for our
annual Treefest — and this year
it’s going to be spectacular! As I said
in my first article of the academic
year, our vision for the year is “Seek
God first and all the other things
will be given you besides”, and this
will be setting the theme not just
for this year’s Treefest but also for
other events throughout the year.
Sunday 25 November was our session
dedicated to our Christmas
preparations. Our team of very talented
helpers shared their gifts and
worked with the children to produce
some magnificent creations. In
amongst the creativity, we thought
about what this special message
means and how, with God firmly by
OUR VISION: SEEKING GOD FIRST
— BECKY MACRON, SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADER
our side and with Jesus’ unrelenting
love, our lives can be truly fulfilled.
It’s certainly been a very special
month. On 11 November we made
our Sunday School poppy wreath
(see p16) and remembered all those
who have been hurt to keep us safe
and all who died to make life better
for us — and we remember all who
go on loving, giving and caring for us.
At Sunday School we strive to support
the good work of charities and
individuals who dedicate their
time and energy supporting people
in need. Our Sunday School
Christmas cards will be on sale at
the 9.30am Eucharist for the next
couple of weeks and all proceeds
will go to Friends for Parents, the
people who are there for children
and families at very difficult times
during hospital stays at the Bristol
Children’s Hospital. We hope that
you will join us in supporting this
very worthy cause.
As Christmas approaches, we have
lots of great events planned, including
our Sunday School Christmas party —
so please come and join the fun!
Becky Macron
photo: Ed
community people
— VERGING ON HOPE
ANDY CARRUTHERS talks to the Mag
WE say goodbye to Andy from our Verger team, who leaves us at
Christmas — the editor caught up with him on the phone about
work and life —
MAGAZINE: Andy thanks for taking time out to chat
— just recapping then, how long have you been a
Verger at SMR, and what have you most enjoyed
about the work — and what will you miss most?
ANDY: I’ve been a Verger here for five years and I like
the variety of all the work — it’s never just one thing:
one minute you’re doing a concert, the next you’re
doing a Sunday Mass, or helping someone in need,
or cleaning up the rubbish. So what does a Verger
do? Well, everything really! But the thing I’ll miss the
most is the people — all of you at SMR; those who
come into church from around the world; or who’ve just come to have a look
round, or who’ve come in for help, or are planning a wedding, or...
— Whenever I’ve been in church drawing you’ve always been friendly; is there
more to do here in helping people feel welcome? I think in general we do, at
SMR, make people feel welcome — but I believe we should all do a little bit more.
No matter what job you do in life, as human beings we can all be a little bit more
welcoming. I’m not sure how you actually do that though — a bit of pastoral care
training across the board or whatever — as some people find it harder to interact.
But it’s not everyone’s forte, some people are just uncomfortable with it.
— More retiring by nature I suppose? You were talking about your background,
and I wondered if that influenced your work here — welcoming, stewarding,
and general wisdom about people and life... Yes, massively. I was street
homeless for many years and I had every addiction under the sun. People
at SMR gave me the chance to find out who I was before I found out who
everybody else was, and what I most enjoyed about them was they took me
for who I was. I didn’t think I’d see 30 years of age, so at 48... — well someone’s
been watching over and guiding me, and he threw me right into the middle