St Peter's Yaxley

…reaching out in love and faith

Archives for November 2017

St. Peter’s Church, Yaxley secures £2,500 grant for roof alarm

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St. Peter’s Church in Yaxley has recently installed a roof alarm thanks to a grant of £2,500 from Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust (CamHCT).

The grant was made possible by generous funding from AllChurches Trust Ltd and will protect the church against the continued increase in copper and lead theft from church roofs across the country.

Paul Russell, Churchwarden at St. Peter’s Church Yaxley commented: “After a suitable tender process we decided upon the most advanced CCTV security system available. Yet, after discovering the costs to be in excess of £6,000, we had to explore which grants might be available to us. Thanks to the generous support of CamHCT, we were eligible to receive £2,500 towards the cost of the alarm and were able to proceed with the installation almost immediately.”

“Not only does lead theft have a huge financial impact for us, but it can make the church building vulnerable to rain damage with the potential of causing long-term structural problems. The new alarm system helps us to sleep easy at night knowing that the roof has the best security system available today.”

The solution was installed by GBSG Ltd, a specialist security solutions provider, and supports intruder alarm technology with video verification CCTV. Footage of what caused the roof alarm to activate is reviewed by GBSG’s Alarm Video Monitoring Centre so that within seconds, it can be clarified whether the alarm activation is valid before notifying the police.

CamHCT offers grants and loans to help congregations look after their historic places of worship. Its main source of income is the annual “Ride, Drive and Stride” event where each September sponsored cyclists, motorists and walkers visit churches, chapels and colleges throughout Cambridgeshire, often sharing the money raised between the Trust and their local church.

For more information, please contact Paul Russell: paulrussell@saintpeters.co.uk

How did I come to faith?

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A week after re-affirming their baptisms in the sea at Hunstanton on a brisk, but sunny winter’s morning, Immy and Adam share their stories about how they came to faith in Jesus Christ. From very different beginnings and on very different journeys, they openly talk about their joys and sorrows, their blessings and struggles, as they try to walk each day with God.

The right way to live

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Around 30 years ago I went to San Francisco on business. I was in my early 20s, but it was the first time I had ever been on an aeroplane.

It wasn’t a happy travelling experience – on the way out I had to clear Immigration in Los Angeles and nearly missed my connecting flight. On the way back, we were accompanied by a storm half way across the US and the plane was lit up by lightning too many times for comfort. In some ways I’m surprised I ever got back in a plane.

The work I had to do was also pretty dull, but there was some sightseeing at the end of the trip. This included a free firework display on the bay overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. It was spectacular, but I have no idea now what the people were celebrating. Of course, on and around November 5th we celebrate the failed plot to blow up Parliament and that our democracy survived.

After every one of the recent terrorist attacks, at home and abroad, leaders have rightly said that we will not give in to terrorists and their “bully boy tactics”. The right way to express disagreement is via the ballot box and through local, district and national government.

On one occasion, two of Jesus’ disciples asked him if they should call down fire from heaven to consume a village which did not receive Jesus well. Jesus rebuked them and told them that fire was no way to win people over. Rather, they were to tell people the Good News of God’s love for them.

I hope you enjoy the fireworks this year. Perhaps as we watch the fireworks we can celebrate living in a society where most people acknowledge that blowing people and buildings apart is not the right way to live. May we also celebrate that God does not send down fire from heaven, but invites us into his Kingdom through love.

As always, you are welcome at St. Peter’s for any of our services – or any of our local church services – as we celebrate God’s love for us all.

With my continuing prayers,

Jon Randall (Vicar) 07939 449255; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.