Vicar's Bit For January
Arrangements for the Benefice Jumble Sale on Saturday 24th January
At 2pm on Saturday 24th January seven local churches are holding a Jumble Sale at Hartpury village hall, raising money for the Parish Share (our combined cost of ministry).
We expect that most people will drop off bags of jumble at the village hall by 10am on 24th January.
However you may want to contact, in the week before the jumble sale, kind volunteers from your parish who will collect, from January 17th, and store your jumble. The jumble be brought to the Hartpury village hall around 10am on 24th January 2026.
Ashleworth village coordinator
Veronica Funnell: 01452 700712 veronicafunnell@icloud.com
Hasfield village coordinator
Rachel and Martin Hope: 01452 780250 rachel.hope@sky.com
Tirley village coordinator
Katherine Creese: 01452 780271
Maisemore village coordinator
Greg Chamberlayne: maisemorechurch@gmail.com
Hartpury village coordinator
Richard Keene: 01452 700180 richardkeene5@gmail.com
Staunton/Corse village coordinator
Malcolm Harley: 01452 840391 malcolmrena@gmail.com
Three Courses in 2026 – Rector’s Bit from Canon John Longuet-Higgins
In December’s magazine I mentioned a course using the Pilgrim Course. In actual fact we have three.
- Epiphany is the season of God revealing himself to us - starting with Epiphany Sunday on 4th January with the pilgrimage of the Wise Men. On Thursday 8th January 3pm at the Rectory (opposite Hartpury Primary School), and weekly in January, I shall be leading a small course called “Turning to Christ” for those who would like to explore faith. It lasts about two hours. Those who have been baptised and would like to be Confirmed, this is for you.
- Lent is the season of reflection – starting on Ash Wednesday on 18th February. This second course is on the Lord’s Prayer. We shall reflect upon our relationship with God our Father, explore God’s kingdom, reflect on how God feeds us, the central place of forgiveness in our faith, ask ourselves ‘how does God protect us?’, and explore the ways prayer and praise brings faith to life. This course on the Lord’s Prayer will be held at “The Upper Room” of the Old Forge next to Hartpury Church from Thursday 19th February 3-5pm, and weekly on Thursdays in Lent.
- Post Easter, and Easter Day is on Sunday 4th April, we are called to take the Good News to the world. On the morning of Thursday 30th April Revd David Treherne from Gloucester Diocesan department of Ministry and Mission will be giving a ‘taster morning’ for anyone interested in becoming a pastoral visitor. If you are smitten, there are then to be two all day courses on Thursday 7th and Thursday 14th May. The pastoral visitor’s course will again be held in the “Upper Room” of the Old Forge next to Hartpury Church, or should more than 12 people from across the Deanery want to join us, in Hartpury Old Chapel.
If you are interested in any of these three courses, can you phone me 01452 700965 or email me? vicar.westof7@gmail.com
We have one baptism in January. Bonnie Boon 2pm on January 11th at Maisemore Church. Her parents are Ellis and David. We offer our prayers and congratulations.
Have a Happy and fruitful New Year.