New Vicar Appointed

The Good News!

We are delighted to announce that Jane Close has been appointed to become our new non-stipendiary Parish Priest. She will be responsible for the four Parishes of Leamington Hastings, Grandborough, Willoughby and Flecknoe.

Jane will be licensed by Bishop John on 21st September and will live in Willoughby Vicarage. She comes to us from Fillongly and Corley Parish in Coventry where she is Assistant Curate and is 57 years old. She is married to Brian who is a deputy headmaster and they have three sons, Simon (32), Nicholas (30) and Alexander (25).

She was ordained Priest in Coventry in 2004. Before this she worked for six years in a Residential Drug Rehabilitation Home becoming acting deputy manager and was engaged with prison interviewing, drug counselling and providing volunteers with support and training.

Summer Holiday Club in August

The Leam Valley Holiday Club will be taking place in Flecknoe again this summer. It is for children aged 5 to 11 and will run over three days from 7th to 9th August and is open for children from all the Leam Valley parishes. Let us know if you would like your children to take part and/or if you are able to help. Contact Clare Grant on 01788 891076.

Here are the children and volunteer helpers on last year's Holiday Club day trip to Coventry Cathedral.

The Survival of the Church: an interview with Linda Woodhead

From the Coventry Diocese monthly digest of interesting Church-related reports, this fascinating article seems to fit our recent discussions on why so many people are choosing not to go to church these days.

Holistic spirit: The Tablet Interview, with Linda Woodhead

One of Britain’s leading sociologists of religion, Linda Woodhead, tells Theo Hobson of the vital choices the Church must make to survive:

“I’d say: whose common good is it that you’re talking about, and why do people leaving the Churches, and perhaps getting involved in the holistic milieu, not feel that it’s their common good? Perhaps your common good is actually quite a narrow common good; and there’s a big group of people, mostly women, for whom it hasn’t been very good, and you have to understand why they are going elsewhere for the spiritual, which they’re still deeply engaged with. There’s a big gender element: I think the Church needs to be much more aware about the message it has given women about being selfless, and think hard about why many women feel that’s an unfair burden that’s been placed on them.”

Linda Woodhead in the Tablet (10/06/2006) discussing the emphasis currently placed by Christians on the 'common good'.

Why has church attendance slumped over the last 20 years? Your chance to address the issues ...

Church Attendance Discussion

On Monday 10th July at 7.30pm at Hillcrest House, we will be holding our third meeting to discuss the church report on why attendance at church services for most denominations has declined over the last 20 years.

It has been most interesting to get an insight into the problems faced by the church as it tries to make itself relevant in a secular world. Please join us at this final meeting. This meeting will take the place of our regular church services in July.

For more information contact Andrew Grant on 01788 891076.

Andrew Grant asks searching questions about the moral issue of global warming

'Global challenge' - a newsletter article by Andrew Grant (Churchwarden, Flecknoe)

"On a visit to the United States in May, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, used the opportunity to raise the moral issue of global warming. Much effort is spent by the church and Christian charities such as Christian Aid and Tear Fund to try and improve the lot of the millions round the World who lack the basic necessities of life that we take for granted. We dip into our pockets whenever we hear of humanitarian disasters and satisfy ourselves that we are doing our bit to help those less fortunate than ourselves. But is there a greater moral issue that we are not facing up to?

The evidence is now clear that our consumption of the Word’s resources and in particular of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas has taken the level of carbon dioxide in the air to the point where a significant rise in global temperatures is inevitable. What will be the consequences of this? There has been much publicity surrounding the increased hurricane activity in the Caribbean and destruction of New Orleans, but what of the impact on the poor of the World? Many tens of millions already live in marginal areas where rains frequently fail. For them life will become unsustainable. We, the more prosperous nations, are already saying we can not take in more immigrants and are devising ways to make our borders more secure. What is to happen to those who must move to survive? It is probable that this will number more than a billion people within 50 years, given current trends.

What is our Christian responsibility? We can not let them starve, but neither can our damaged planet enable them to live. Is this not the greatest moral dilemma facing our World today? We in the developed world must make sacrifices to our standard of living now to allow the less fortunate a life. Is it surprising that our Archbishop chose to raise this issue in the land that symbolises consumerisation?"

Andrew Grant.

Cream Teas: Sunday 11th June, 3 - 5pm

Please do visit St Mark's Church on Sunday 11th June for our annual Spring Teas event, though in June it should really be Summer Teas!

Tea, squash, cream scones and other refreshments will be available. There will also be a raffle in aid of church funds. Everybody very welcome, especially families with children!

Sunday 11th June
3 - 5pm

Come & Discuss the Church Report: Monday 12th June

St Mark's will be holding a second meeting in June to discuss the church report on why attendances at church services for most denominations has declined over the past 20 years. This will take place on Monday 12th June at 7.30pm at Hillcrest House, Flecknoe. All are welcome. This discussion meeting takes the place of regular church services during the month of June.

A third meeting will be held on Monday 10th July. For more information please contact Andrew Grant, Churchwarden, on 01788 891076.