Dear Friends,
Chew Valley West Benefice July & August 2024
From the Rector
The summer months wouldn’t be the same without music. In July the BBC Proms will begin, spoiling fans of classical music with 90 concerts over 58 days in London and across the UK. This most ambitious celebration of music in the world is ours to enjoy on radio, television and iPlayer at times of our choosing.
Before the Proms, the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival will begin down the road. Closer to home, Valley Fest will arrive on our doorstep at the beginning of August. Countless other festivals will spring up across the country, celebrating every genre from opera to dance music.
Away from these headline events, there is a great deal of music-making making in our villages and communities throughout the year. Choirs, orchestras and choral societies bring pleasure to so many. Our churches play a part in this through our children’s choirs Mini Melodies and Jubilee, and our adult Community Choir.
Here in the Valley we are blessed by talented folk musicians, bell ringers, instrumentalists and singer-songwriters—too many to mention.
Saint Augustine said, ‘whoever sings, prays twice’. Music has long been a means by which people experience God—glimpsing something of the indescribable beauty and complexity of our creator whether in a grand symphony, or simple birdsong. I hope that you will find time to experience the joy of music this summer, and in so doing offer a silent prayer of thanks to the one who gives us these gifts.
Yours in Christ,
Prayer Our Contemplative Prayer Group will meet in St Andrew’s, Chew Stoke on Monday 1st July and Monday 5th
August 2024 at 10.30am. Please note the later starting time.
Community Choir
Our Community Choir and Children’s Choirs look forward to performing at a concert in Winford Church at 7.00pm on Thursday 4th July. Admission is free with a retiring collection in support of the restoration of St Mary & St Peter’s Church.
On Sunday 14th July, our Children’s Choirs Mini Melodies and Jubilee! will give a special performance in Wells Cathedral beginning at 1.00pm. You are very welcome to come along and hear our young choristers as they showcase the pieces they have been learning this year.
Our adult Community Choir will providing some light entertainment at this year’s Chew Stoke Harvest Home on Saturday 7th September. You will find us in the tea tent at around 1.30pm.
Midweek Holy Communion Holy Communion with intercessions for Healing is celebrated in our group of parishes on the first and third
Wednesdays of each month at 10.30am.
Wednesday 3rd July 2024
St Katharine’s, Felton at 10.30am
Wednesday 17th July 2024
St Andrew’s, Chew Stoke at 10.30am
Wednesday 7th August 2024
St Katharine’s, Felton at 10.30am
Wednesday 21st August 2024
St Andrew’s, Chew Stoke at 10.30am
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ (Matthew 11:18)
Mind & Spirit
Mind and Spirit continues on Wednesday 10th July and Wednesday 25th September at 10.30am in Felton Village Hall. If you live with any condition causing memory loss, or care for someone with memory loss, you are very welcome for some spiritual support and connection with people who know what it’s like. Contact Rev Fran for more details.
Revd Dr Ian Mills, Rector & Area Dean
The Rectory
4 Parsonage Lane
Winford
BS40 8DG
(01275) 474504 chewvalleywest@gmail.com
Revd Fran Smettem, Curate
(01934) 340682 curatechewvalleywest@gmail.com
www.chewvalleywest.org
