INCUMBENT: The Revd Hugh Trenchard 424984
CHURCH WARDENS: Jean Jones Shirenewton 641627
Cynthia Smith Shirenewton 626712
Pam Manning Newchurch 650294
Steve Manning Newchurch 650294
PCC SECRETARY: Felicity Hunt 650604
PCC TREASURER: Kevin Bounds 641818
COVENANTING SECRETARY Dennis Hopkins 641294
ORGANISTS: Gareth Williams Shirenewton * * * * *
Kath Wittington Newchurch 641600
SUNDAY SCHOOL: Jane Smith-Haddon 641525
TOWER CAPTAIN: Mike Penny 650653
MOTHERS UNION: Auriol Horton 641844
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER: John Waters 627185
CHURCH FLOWERS: Rose Robinson 641539
PARISH MAGAZINE: Pauline Dutton 641677
NAMES TO NOTE
WI: Margaret Woodliffe 641384
VPA: Pat Noble 641729
SCOUTS: Mark Baldwin 641296
GUIDES: Pam Manning 650294
BROWNIES: Jacky Broughton 641797
VENTURE SCOUTS: Pam Manning 650294
BEAVERS: Joy Chorlton 628542
REC BOOKING SECRETARY: Beryl Saysell 641637
FROM THE RURAL DEAN - CANON TERRY PALMER
Harvest Services beckon ! Come ye thankful people ... Good it is that we set aside a time to recall with genuine thankfulness our daily dependence on God. So many are the wonderful things in life that we richly enjoy but so often take for granted. Therefore it is good that as Christians we should at Harvest time rejoice in the overflowing generosity of God., thanking him for "Our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life", and have a reverent regard for the essential goodness of Gods creation, which will help us to conserve the earth's resources with care and respect. At Harvest it is also important that we should be challenged to recognise our interdependence in sharing generously and unselfishly Gods fruits of creation. We regularly pray "Give us this day our daily bread". Harvest time should open our minds, our hearts, and our giving to those in today's world suffering abject poverty, starvation, undernourishment, and homelesness. Even better for us Christians to rescue the harvest observance from becoming a mere "Nature festival", a relic of folk religion as we realise that our Lord Jesus Christ is the supernatural Bread of life, to nourish our souls, to bring a spiritual harvest in our lives, so that when the Heavenly Reaper comes ....
These and similar thoughts will bring folk together for Harvest Worship and social gatherings. There is however, another side to Harvest that I'd like you to think about. I refer to the harvesting of the souls of those for whom Christ died: men, women and children, all made in the image of God, and redeemed by Christ. The Church has to become a harvesting Church ... look around you, look out says the Gospel, the fields are already white and ready for harvest. It was Archbishop Temple who once said "The Church is the only organisation that exists for the benefit of those who are non-members !" we often forget that ... but we do so at our peril.
How much does our Christian faith and way of life really mean to us ? Are we sometimes in danger of losing the Christian faith and the local Church that exists to proclaim it ? I hope not, and pray that this will not be so. But I'll leave you with those challenging questions which only you and I can answer as we come with thanksgiving into Gods Church this Harvest season.
With prayers and every blessing
Yours in Christ
Terry Palmer - Rural Dean
The Pew restoration has now been completed. A scroll of remembrance to those who subscribed to the programme will be made. No date has yet been set for the rededication due to the illness of the incumbent.
It has been decided that any profits made over the Harvest weekend will go to the Chepstow MENCAP centre.
Many thanks to Mr Adams and the prisoners from Usk who have removed ivy from the churchyard walls. Thanks also to all grass cutters, path clearers, etc..., for their excellent work throughout the year. It is planned to create a summer meadow next year in part of the churchyard.
There will be no Autumn Fair this year.
Please send items for the next PCC meeting on October 11 th to the secretary by October 5th
NEWCHURCH NEWS
Many many thanks to Ron Huggett who has completed the renovation of the Churchyard walls. Everything has been completed safely and soundly. We are also looking forward to the dedication of our new bell. In the meantime some of our younger members are practising their ringing skills !
Pam Manning - Church Warden
"The Church in Our Village"
Don't forget the Church Open Day to be held on Saturday October.2 nd. Everyone is invited to come along and see what is happening in your Church. There will be events throughout the day, including flower arranging, produce stall, singing from Wandering Minstrels, Treasure Hunt, bell ringing, and trips up the Church Tower (Not to be missed if you haven't seen the view from the top !). There will of course be refreshments throughout the day, and much more.
The Harvest Festival service will be held at 9.45 am on Sunday October 3 rd, followed by the Harvest lunch at 1 pm in Earlswood Hall. All gifts will be auctioned following the meal. Everyone is warmly invited to any or all of these events. All proceeds from the refreshments, produce stall, and the Harvest Auction will be donated to the Chepstow MENCAP centre.
As mentioned above, this year the Family Harvest Lunch will take place after Family Service on Sunday October 3 rd, at Earlswood Hall starting at 1 pm. Tickets will be £5 individual, £15 Family and £4 concession, with all profits going to a local charity. Following the lunch the Harvest auction will take place. Please come along and enjoy the company, the food, the auction, and help make a few bob for a good cause. Tickets can be obtained from members of the PCC.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
3 rd Oct Family Harvest Service 9.45 am
10th Oct Sunday School 9.45 am The Chantry
17th Oct Family Service 9.45 am
24th Oct No Sunday School
31st Oct No Sunday School
GAERLLWYD WOMENS MEETINGS - WEDNESDAYS AT 2.30PM
6 th Oct Harvest Festival Service, Rev Graham Halls, Chepstow
20th Oct Mrs V.David
Our sixth meeting of the year took the form of a Corporate Communication at St Thomas a Becket Church conducted by the Reverend Nansi Davies. It was a pity that only nine members were able to attend, as Reverend Nansi was able to tell us more about Mary the mother of Jesus than we knew before, and there was an air of peace about the service that made us feel spiritually uplifted. Thank you Reverend Nansi for a lovely service and for joining us for Tea and Chat afterwards. The tea hostesses were Bernice Bowen and Gladys Lloyd. A special word of thanks to Bernice for getting everything ready for the service. At our next meeting on Wednesday 13 th October, we shall be welcoming Mrs Peggy Greedy with the Mothers' Union Trade Stand. Visitors will be welcome, 2:30 pm start. The Tea Hostesses will be Mrs Knox and Mrs Bryant.
Auriol Horton - Enrolling Member - Tel 641844
200 CLUB - SEPTEMBER 1999 DRAW
£40 No 78 David Cornwell
£20 N 102 Carol Jones
£20 No 230 Bernice Bowen
£20 No 43 John Washbourne
Estimates are being sought by the County Council for a footpath improvement at Coxes Well. A kissing gate was proposed onto the school footpath but councillors pointed out that this would be inconvenient for parents with pushchairs.
The suggestion last month for a play area in the field off Blethyn Close was put to the County Council. The existing plans, for low Estimates are being sought by the County Council for a footpath cost housing on the area, include a play area so it is considered unlikely that the County Council will approve the proposal a proposal for just a play area.
The County Council delivered a 10 year highway maintenance plan for the community area. Anyone who is interested in which roads will be repaired, & when, should contact their local Community Councillor - however, be warned that any repairs carried out will probably need re-doing before the 10m year cycle is up!
Footpath number 380/8 Coxes Well/Ditch Hill Lane . Ms Fiona Ford from the Monmouthshire County Council Office for Footpaths agreed the need for attention. It is expected that the repair will take the form of a steel `bridge' across the culvert.
Mr Howard Sheen kindly reported that there may be some need of repair to the wall of the Friends Burial Ground where it adjoins his neighbour's property. Councillor Lutken will investigate.
Councillor E. Jones reminded the council that the millennium committee have suggested a bus shelter at the end of Tan House Court . There was some suggestion that this might not be used as most of the schoolchildren who catch the bus wait in the square. It was also suggested that a shelter there might be a target for vandalism. The plans will be circulated to the Council for comment.
The Council has been asked to provide an office within the community area for the Clerk to the Council, for storage of community documents.
Highways Meeting; 13 September
With representatives of County Council Highways Department. Work has started on the Shirenewton School footpath, despite the fact that a source of funding has yet to be identified! (The representatives pointed out that signpost cleaning work has been postponed for lack of funds.)
Traffic Calming: The first stage of the survey has apparently been carried out and must be analysed. There will be no improvements anyway until next year because of lack of funds.
The Community Council are still pursuing the provision of white lines on the road past the Spout.
The representatives were pleased to announce that they had managed to achieve 60% of their plan for highway maintenance with only 75% of their budget.
Sylvia Bendall
SHIRENEWTON WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
The President welcomed members to the September meeting. Details of forthcoming events were discussed, namely Gardeners Question Time at Usk on the 29 th September, Group meeting at Llandogo on 20 th October, Craft Spectacular at Cwmbran on the 22 nd October, and the Annual Council Meeting on the 27 th October. Members were also reminded that our Christmas bazaar this year is to be held on Saturday morning, 6 th November, at the Recreation Hall, 10.00 to 12.00.
Our speaker for the evening, Mrs Chris Morton, Centre Organiser and a Tutor in Humanitarian International Law from the Red Cross, gave us a very interesting talk. She outlined the formation and history of the Red Cross, and gave us an insight into the very many important roles the Red Cross plays both locally and on an international scale. Mrs T.Moore proposed the vote of thanks. Tea hostesses were Mrs G.Lloyd and Mrs A.Horton.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 21 st October - "Wildlife in Gwent" with Colin Titcombe. Tea hostesses: Mrs M.Moody and Mrs P.Noble. Raffle Mrs N.Attewell. Please come and join us - 7.15 pm at the Recreation Hall.
Margaret Woodliffe - Secretary
FUND RAISING IN SHIRENEWTON SCHOOL
Shirenewton School every year holds a celebration for the Harvest festival. This year it will be on October 1 st. Children will bring in all sorts of vegetables that are displayed in the hall for people to buy. The money we raise this year will go to Taiwan, for the victims of the earthquake.
The school is also raising money for Sargeant cancer care for children, and the Roald Dahl foundation. It is doing this by way of a sponsored read. The children are reading as many books as they can, and getting as many sponsors as they can. This year they hope to raise over £200
By Emma Kelly and Lucy Duckham
SHIRENEWTON WI CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Saturday 6 th November 1999
At the Recreation Hall, Shirenewton
CAKE STALL
CRAFT STALL
BRING AND BUY
RAFFLE
etc, etc ...
Entrance 50p includes coffee and biscuit
Every Wednesday at Earlswood Hall, 8.15 to 9.45, only £2.50.
Everyone welcome ! If you've never been before, come along and give it a go !!
Call Heather on 672918 for more information.
Following our first meeting last week, we are close to having enough "Actors" (I use the term loosely !) and supporters to go ahead with the planned Millenium revival pantomime in January 2000. However, we are not quite there yet, and need a few more aspiring adult thespians, particularly of the male variety, to complete the cast list. For those of you who see this in time, please come along to a follow-up meeting on Wednesday September 29 th at the Rec at 8pm; for those of you who don't please call Stu Dutton on 641677.
On Saturday 4 th September we held our annual show. It was a beautiful day and really hot. The exhibits were as usual excellent but entries were down in number. The overall winners were Mr and Mrs Spary. Thanks to all who helped provide the lovely tea for the judges, and those who helped set up for the show and tidied up afterwards. Our last meeting was on Monday September 6 th. We had one of our super talks given by Usk College. The theme was generally on house plants. There were lots of examples and lots of cuttings !! We dispensed with a formal business meeting, but after tea and biscuits it was announced that since our programmes were printed the Harvest Festival has been arranged on the same date as our October meeting. So Monday October 4 th is now Harvest Festival, and it will be held in St Mary's Usk, and afterwards in the Memorial Hall. The new date for our next meeting is Monday 11 th October at 7.30 pm in the Huntsman Hotel. This meeting will be our AGM and will be held in the Fox's Lair (at the far end of the building), raffle prize and biscuits to be provided by Mrs Barbara Watson.
The Guides are still looking for two volunteers over 18 who are prepared to train for a warrant and go into uniform, ideally with two adult helpers to assist them. They are disappointed that nobody has so far come forward, and are anxious to remove the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the future of the company, and to get on with the term's programme. Please contact Pam or Penny if you are prepared to help.
Pam Manning (650294), Penny Field (400913)
Our fame is spreading. The BBC has approached us with the possibility of filming us for the Millenium festivities. Mike Penny has forwarded our plans and we are now through to the short list. I must get my hair done .....
We will be ringing for the weddings of Louise Hammond and Jeremy Light on Sat 25 th September, and wish them every happiness.
Your Bell correspondent - Bob Minor
Pyp (Parish Youth Page)
Hi ya! I hope you're not too down in the dumps at having to go back to school - I must say I'm very glad I don't have to go to any more dog obedience classes.
Here's a date for your diaries - Saturday 2 October is our Church Festival - there will be all sorts of displays and activities going on all day, so make sure you're a part of it. I was going to offer my services as sniffer-dog to anyone doing the Treasure Hunt, but I've been roped into helping to organise it, so I had to promise on my favourite squeaky ball not to give away the answers or dig up the treasure.
Here's a Treasure Quiz for you. You'll need to dig the answers out of the Bible -
John Chapter 6 verses 1 - 15.
It's about Jesus feeding a huge crowd of people with the help of one small boy and no Tesco in sight!
If you get the answers right a hidden word should appear.
1 What is another name for Lake Galilee?
2 A large _ _ _ _ _ followed Jesus up the hill.
3 Who told Jesus about the boy?
4 What type of bread were the boy's loaves made from?
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5 What did the boy have two of?
6 How many people were there? Five _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
7 Which food did Jesus thank God for first?
8 Who gathered up the left-overs?
Answers near the back of the mag.
Bye for now
Pyp
GARDENING CORNER
Why is it that gardening, like many other things, has to be fashionable rather than allowed to be itself? Thumbing through the most recent rounds of gardening mags gives me the impression that "Muck" is the "In subject" at present. Each writer doing their best to fill the reader with the magic and mystery of creating the perfect compost, quoting what to add, how to add and in what proportion each element must be mixed with the others. Now I must admit that one of my main ambitions when the garden at Barn farm began developing, was to create my very own compost bins. These were duly built utilising some external grade plywood that had previously served its use as shuttering for concrete. I don't have time to measure each layer, nor turn the contents at regular intervals, so it has to get on and do its own thing. Grass, green material from the garden and raw kitchen scraps all get thrown in together, but, without any mystery, the end result usually works out the same. I still get a perfectly utilisable compost, which gives our very hungry ground that extra bit of ooomph!
The present trend for Garden Makeovers doesn't help. The most satisfying part of creating a garden for me is that it is all your own work, with ideas taken from different sources, be it TV, magazine or stealing other peoples ideas when garden visiting! As a result of "Ground Force", there seems to be a mad trend to have a pebble fountain or other small water feature, timber decking, and hazel or wattle fencing in all its different forms. I am all for the last one, as purchase of these helps this particular country craft to thrive. It does get a bit wearing though to see almost identical gardens springing up everywhere you go. Maybe its just me being miserable!
Similarly, plants are always in or out of fashion. Definitely out of fashion are dwarf conifers and heathers, unless they are in a mixture with the in fashion plants at the moment, which are grasses in all their different formats. I have to admit that I planted a few grasses two years ago and have added to the collection since. They really are attractive plants to have in mixture with others. One in particular, Stipa gigantea (Giant Golden Oat), has been a real picture since the middle of May, when it first sent up its flower spikes. These are about six feet tall, but the plant tends not to be invasive. In May its golden plumes formed a perfect backdrop to pale lilac bearded Iris. As the season drew on gold gave way to tinges of purple, which in their turn created a backdrop for the gold of Rudbeckia `Goldsturm'. Others vary in colour from bright blue, through gold to bronze, and really do make a bold statement in any position, or with any mix of plants. They really come into their own if you can view them with the sun either shining on or through the foliage.
The recent spell of hot weather has meant that this September has been one full of colour, helped no doubt by all the rain that we had in August. Even the lawn, parched and in places burnt to the point of being non existent, has all but recovered, proving yet again the resilience of nature, and its ability to regenerate.
The hardy Geraniums, benefiting from their mid season haircut, are now having a second wind helping to add to the array of colour.
Nearly all the hedges have now been trimmed. These will stay tidy until early next summer. If you haven't trimmed yours yet there is still plenty of time. All winter in fact. The only time you shouldn't trim is when there is a heavy frost about, and then this only really applies to conifer hedges, as these will be singed and result in brown edges.
If the weather permits there is plenty to do in the garden this month, mainly getting ready for the winter. October is the last month for planting spring bulbs, except Tulips that is. These can wait until November, or even later, and come to no harm. Pots of tender perennials, or individual plants in the garden should now be removed to the shelter of a frost free greenhouse, before they are cut down. Some such as Dahlias and Canna Lillies, must be subjected to a frost in order to kill the foliage, before they can be dug up. Both should be treated the same, cutting the dead foliage off, before the tubers are dried and then stored frost free for the winter. Gladioli should be treated in much the same way.
A must do job is to remove finished summer bedding. This should be replaced with Wallflowers for spring colour, and winter flowering Pansies for some winter colour. At a time when you are pulling finished plants out it seems strange to talk about sowing Sweet pea seeds. They are perfectly hardy during Winter, and Autumn sown Sweet Peas will provide a much earlier flower next year. Sow in individual pots for best results.
In the vegetable garden spring greens should be planted as soon as possible. Hardy Garlic and Japanese onions can also be planted to produce the earliest crops. Winter digging and application of manure should also be started if you are looking to reduce your weight!
In the fruit garden old Raspberry canes should be cut down and the new ones tied in. If you have a greenhouse or polythene tunnel, it is worth growing a few early Strawberry plants. These should be potted up now and taken under cover. These will provide the earliest possible berries in May. Fruit trees should also be pruned once the leaves have fallen off, and the trees become dormant for the Winter. Now is also the time to order new trees, ready for planting in November onwards. There are so many varieties to choose from now, but do ensure that you select the right size of root stock for your garden. M27 is one of the most dwarfing, but if you are really short of space, then try the new ballerina or step over varieties. These will fit into the tiniest space, to give you the unforgettable flavour of fruit straight from the garden.
Talking of which I need to replace some really old trees so I best thumb through the catalogues and find what takes my fancy. All the best until next month.
Steve Hunt
COOKERY CORNER
50gm/2oz butter or margarine
2 tbsp honey
Grated rind of 1 lemon
50gm/2oz flaked almonds
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
Salt and pepper
4 Chicken joints
Mix together the butter or margarine, honey, lemon rind, almonds, mustard and seasoning. Spread the mixture all over the chicken joints. Cook under a moderate grill for 25-30 minutes, turning the joints once and basting occasionally. Serve the chicken with boiled rice garnished with parsley, and a crisp green salad.
Answers to Pyp's Treasure Quiz
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DIARY
2 Oct 10.00 am Church Open Day
3 Oct 1.00 pm Family Harvest Lunch - Earlswood Hall
6 Oct 2.30 pm Gaerllwydd Womens Meeting
10 Oct 9.45 am Sunday School - The Chantry
11 Oct 7.30 pm VPA AGM - Huntsman Hotel
8.00 pm PCC Meeting
13 Oct 2.30 pm Mothers Union - Recreation Hall
20 Oct 2.30 pm Gaerllwydd Womens Meeting
21 Oct 7.15 pm WI - Recreation Hall
DEANERY EVENTS
Sunday 31st Oct, Eve of All Saints
Deanery United Evensong. 6pm Magor Parish Church.
Preacher, The Rt Rev'd Dewi Bridges, formerly Bishop of Swansea and Brecon
Child Protection
The Archdeacon of Monmouth asks every Church and Parish to send the appropriate representatives (usually Churchwardens) to attend a very important meeting to inspect Child Protection Policies.: at Portskewett Church Hall on Monday November 8 th at 7 pm.
Please send notes or disks for next month's magazine to:
Pauline Dutton, 4 Newton Manor, Shirenewton Tel: 641677 by Thursday 21st October 1999
OCTOBER 1999 - SHIRENEWTON
DATE READER SIDESPERSON
October
3 Trinity 18 Gareth Thomas Winnie Jones
Family Harvest Service - 9.45 am Anharad Thomas Claire Lewis
10 Trinity 19 Kevin Bounds John Nicholas
Holy Eucharist - 9.45 am Barbara Davies Kevin Bounds
17 Trinity 20, Luke the Evangelist Sunday School
Family Service - 9.45 am
24 Trinity 21, Simon & Jude, Apostles Felicity Hunt Brian Robinson
Holy Eucharist - 9.45 am Jean Jones Bob Grattan
31 Trinity 22, All Saints & All Souls
Group Eucharist - CAERWENT
November
7 Trinity 23 Jane Smith-Haddon Bernice Bowen
Holy Eucharist - 9.45 am Cynthia Smith Dennis Hopkins
NEWCHURCH: 2.30 pm every Sunday