This week begins a transition between Easter Time to ‘Ordinary’ time, with a focus on the essence of ‘God in three’. The New Testament does not give us a theological definition of what ‘Trinity’ means, rather it gives us glimpses of how the early Christians experienced Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is an emphasis on relationship between ourselves and our God, and also a pointer to the deep truth that relationship is at the heart of God, the love between the three persons which pours out into humanity. Continue reading Scripture reflection – The most Holy Trinity – Year B – 31st May
Scripture reflection – Pentecost – Year B – 24th May
The first reading today from Luke’s two volume work of Gospel and Acts marks a shift in his emphasis. Jesus in his life on earth was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Luke 4:1) and had prepared his disciples for their calling. Now filled with the Holy Spirit themselves, they will be ready to continue his ministry. The Gospel promise of baptism in ‘Holy Spirit and fire’ by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) is now seen to be fulfilled on the church’s first Pentecost. Continue reading Scripture reflection – Pentecost – Year B – 24th May
St Gildas’ School Centenary Bike Ride
As many of you know, this year marks the centenary of the school’s foundation and there are a number of events planned througout the year to mark this important milestone. In addition to celebrating the history of St Gildas’ we believe that it is important to look forward and consider what needs to be done to secure the legacy of the school for future generations.
The key project we have looked to focus our fund raising efforts on this year is the school’s outside play facilities which are not meeting the needs of the children and urgently need to be upgraded.
We are making good progress in our efforts and have secured funding to replace the perimeter fencing and to demolish the now derelict perfab buildings beside the playground. This work will commence over the May half term and summer break. We therefore will be ready to commence the first phase of the upgrade works to create a dedicated multi-use games area (“MUGA”) where the old prefab buildings were over the summer. However, to do this we require further funding which is where we need your assistance.
On the weekend of 20 and 21st of June around 20 brave parents and staff from St Gildas’ and St Peter’s will undertake a c. 150 mile sponsored cycle to seek to raise the £25,000 needed to progress this playground upgrade work. The cycle will start from the St Gildas’ school in Yeovil Somerset on 20 June and end at our school on the 21 June. Many of the participants have never undertaken a long cycle before and a number have purchased their first adult bike – so this should definitely be seen as a challenge! All monies raised will go towards the playground development project and if we can rise the target amount then the planned works to create the MUGA can commence this summer. We would therefore ask people to give as generously as they can.
A dedicated fundraising site has been created so it’s very easy to donate – http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/stgildas
Gift aid will also be reclaimed from eligible donations.
Please feel free to pass on to family or friends or others you think would be interested in sponsoring the team. We hope to have a celebration at the school to welcome the cyclists back on Sunday 21st of June and we will share more details on that in the near future.
Your continued support is much appreciated.
The Centenary Team.
Scripture reflection – The Ascension of the Lord – Year B – 17th May 2015
We have heard in the Sundays of Easter time, how Jesus in his new resurrected body appeared unexpectedly to various disciples. That time came to an end with Jesus ‘ascending’ to the fullness of life with the Father. The reality of Heaven is beyond human imagination, as the Bible tells us (‘eye has not seen, ear has not heard…’). The best we can do is to rely on metaphors, like the idea of ‘going up’ which fits the world as it appeared before modern astronomy as ‘above’ the earth. This ascent of Jesus is mentioned in various ways in the New Testament, but it is only Luke who dramatises the scene – and he does it twice, at the end of his Gospel and the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. Continue reading Scripture reflection – The Ascension of the Lord – Year B – 17th May 2015
Photos of the Seeds concert
Here are a selection of photos from the recent charity concert in aid of Seeds
A total of £570.16 was raised towards Seeds, our new parish provision for learning disabled adults so a huge thank you to everyone who contributed. We were very grateful to violinists Duo Klier and their pupils of St.Gilda’s School, St Gilda’s school choir and director, Tom Fowkes, and everyone who made the evening such a success. Sue Hessel, Mary Halliday and Kayte Brimacombe
Photos copyright Kayte Brimacombe.
Click on the thumbnail to see the full-size image
