News Archive - 2007

29 Dec 07:  A busy Christmas period ended with a narrow victory for the lads in the now traditional Lads v Dads football match.  If you missed any of the services, the talks have all been recorded and are available as Godcasts.  Finally, have a very happy New Year and don't forget to sign up for the Alpha Course.

13 Dec 07:  Yesterday David was interviewed on East Midlands Today and Central News about our lead thefts.  Follow these links to watch  
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7140785.stm
http://www.itvlocal.com/central/news/?player=CEN_News_26&void=129121

7 Dec 07:  Wilford Church Holiday Club dates have been announced for the summer of 2008 - its on 21 to 27 July.  Next year we will be "On Safari". Watch out for the flyers, which will be posted shortly.  The events diary also has the dates for this year's Christmas services and the Alpha Course that starts in the new year.

1 Dec 07:  The church roof is still covered with tarpaulin and the Projects Group is now discussing, with the diocese and our architect, how we might replace it.  We seem to be the church that has suffered the biggest loss of lead in the area.  On a brighter note, the church office refurbishment is nearly complete and should be occupied before Christmas.  Plus churchwarden Eddie Mason opened his new fairtrade shop today - it's called Fairtrade Souq.

29 Oct 07:  Sunday morning was windy and so at times it was a bit like having the service at sea, with the sound of the tarpaulin on the roof flapping and drumming like a sail.  It's there because of three separate and major thefts of lead.  The Projects Group is looking at how to replace the roof and how to balance the cost against other projects - such as the refurbishment of the church office and youth meeting room, which is now well underway.

14 Oct 07:  A busy weekend for cake bakers comes to an end.  Today the Rainbows celebrated their 20th birthday (with cake) at the Parade service.  Yesterday the church family celebrated (with a joyful service - and cake) the wedding of our youth and community worker Angela to Jon.  Our best wishes and congratulations to them both.

1 Oct 07:  There'll be some tired people around after this weekend.  A small workforce of volunteers stripped out the church office in preparation for its major overhaul.  It's tidy again and ready for use this week.  One hundred miles away in rural Herefordshire over sixty of our youth were enjoying their Weekend Away.  With a packed schedule of worship, workshops on Daniel, a treasure hunt, a banquet and game-show, a bonfire and much more, there was lots to do and it was done with lots of energy from everyone.

23 Sept 07:  It's been a week of looking at wider issues.  A good turnout at the Test Match pub on Thursday discussed the existence of God and posed tricky questions for two scientists and our own vicar, David.  The attendance at Saturday's performance of 'The Walk' from Andrew Harrison was poor, despite the importance of the issue - the fight against slavery.  A repeat performance during Sunday's service was thought-provoking for everyone though (see Rob Baxter or Eddie Mason for info on the anti-slavery campaign).

10 Sept 07:  A hectic, new season of church events gets underway this week with youth housegroup enrolement on Tuesday and a "Pudding and Prayer" evening on Thursday.  Please come along for an hour and enjoy some tasty food and small-group prayer (with no pressure to say anything).  There's lots more in the Events Diary, so take a look and put the dates in your diary.

5 Sept 07:  A hall-full of people turned out tonight to say goodbye to Ruth Bushyager.  After two years as our curate, Ruth and her family are heading off to Abingdon for the next phase of their ministry.  Ruth gave a tremendous amount to Wilford Church and representatives from across all age groups testified to how much we will miss her.

29 July 07:  Another hugely enjoyable Holiday Club ends with a celebration service and a baptism this morning - followed by three hours of action as the marquee was cleared of the staging and set, and the paddock cleared and returned to normal.  Over the last week the children had great fun and the helpers pulled together and showed great team spirit despite the indifferent weather.  Read David's thoughts on a great week - and thanks to everyone involved.

22 July 07:  Despite the torrential rain, the marquees are up, the band have had the final rehearsal with the new songs and everything is ready for the start of Holiday Club tomorrow.  Let's hope we get a bit of sunshine during the week.  The gates open to over three hundred of our 'junior superheroes' at 10am - see you there.

8 July 07:  The sun shone down on both the church photograph and the picnic afterwards on the paddock - and a splendid time was had by all.  The morning service was led by our new curate, Megan, who is based at Wilford Church but whose ministry will mainly be at the Queen's Medical Centre where she works as a consultant.

1 July 07:  Congratulations to Megan Smith who was ordained as a deacon at Southwell Minster this morning.  David presented her with her stole during the service and Megan now starts to 'serve her title' at Wilford Church.  The photos after were interrupted by a torrential downpour - let's hope the same doesn't happen for our church family photo and picnic next Sunday (8 July).

30 June 07:  Some of our youth are off to do puppet training today in Luton - see the results at this year's Holiday Club.

24 June 07:  We learned today that Ruth Bushyager, our curate, will be leaving us in the summer as her husband Ron has a new job in Oxford.  She will be missed.  On a happier note, preparations for Holiday Club are now well underway - we're currently looking for craft items and security volunteers for example, so see the Superhero Academy page for more information. (Plus there are already 200 kids coming).

10 June 07:  Our second baptism service within a month was again very well attended.  Other events are moving nearer rapidly - so remember to attend the Holiday Club helpers meeting on Thursday.  This is also the day to return your forms if you want to go on the Youth Weekend Away.  Finally, the rain-delayed church family photo will now be on 8 July, followed by the church picnic.

13 May 07:  Although the rain caused the postponement of the church family photo, the rest of today's activities went well.  A great shared lunch was followed by presentations looking back at the last year and at David's study leave trip to Sri Lanka.  The formal part of our annual review saw the accounts accepted, Eddie and Mike elected as church wardens and four new members joining the church council.  Finally, congratulations to our youth worker Angela who announced her engagement.

6 May 07:  Today we welcomed back David Rowe, our rector, after his three-month sabbatical away from us.  He'll be saying more about it at next Sunday's annual review meeting and shared lunch.  We're also taking the church family photo that day so make sure you're there.  Plus, we welcomed Zoë Bushyager, our curate's new baby, into the church family on her first visit (with proud mum and dad) to one of our services.

13 April 07:  Congratulations to our curate Ruth and her husband Ron as they celebrate the birth today of their daughter Zoë Grace Frances Bushyager.  They are all doing well.

6 April 07:  Forty tired members of the various youth housegroups led the rest of the church family at the Good Friday service this morning.  They'd spent the night in church at their Maundy Thursday vigil, where they painted, wrote poems and prayers, thought through the issues of fear and suffering, spent time in the specially created prayer garden or just took some time to listen to God.

25 March 07:  Today we marked the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery Act by (like many churches) singing Amazing Grace and considering what the issue still means to us.  Visit www.stopthetraffic.org for more information.  Meanwhile, Jesse Rowe left recently for his four months with Latin Link in Argentina - see updates from him and from his team on www.argentina2007.co.uk.

4 March 07:  The female half of the church family held a surprise 'baby shower' today for our curate Ruth, who is going on maternity leave soon.  (The excluded male contingent still have their fortnightly breakfasts!).  Sue Periam reminds everyone that they need to complete an Electoral Roll form - the whole list is renewed this year so this does affect you.  Contact Sue for details and return forms to her in the office.

25 Feb 07:  David Rowe is back from the Sri Lankan part of his study leave, but still has over two months of work ahead of him looking at faith in schools in Britain.  Meanwhile Pixie Rowe reminds us that next Saturday is the big Fair Trade Spring Sale - bring your (fairly-traded) purse or wallet or if you don't have one, then buy one there.

4 Feb 07:  Today's service for Education Sunday included points for prayer provided by Eric Perry, headteacher at South Wilford Primary, and by Carol Fearria, headteacher of Nottingham Emmanuel.  Both are church schools in our parish with which we have strong links - please do pray for the pupils, staff and the various building projects at both schools.  We also said goodbye to David Rowe for three months as he starts his study leave tomorrow.

27 Jan 07:  Why would a church in England hold a meal to celebrate a Scottish poet?  To learn more about Malawi, Argentina and Sri Lanka of course.  Tonight's Burns Night parish event is a great excuse to share a meal, some dancing and some first-hand insights to parts of the world where there are people in need of our help and prayers.

14 Jan 07:  A week of two stops and three starts.  Legionela was found at the Rushcliffe pool, so we've postponed the Zone swim party - and we didn't get the numbers needed for exclusive use of the hotel, so we've cancelled the family weekend away.  But the Alpha Course has started this week, small groups are underway again and Holiday Club 2007 helper application forms are out now, so there's no excuse to get involved in something - see the events diary for more.

1 Jan 07:  The new year started in active style with the (now almost traditional) Lads v Dads football match.  Lots of enthusiasm and some skill was displayed on both sides, with the dads taking the honours this year - but no-one mention David's hat-trick or we'll never hear the last of it!