St Peter's Yaxley

…reaching out in love and faith

Annual Church Report 2017-18

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There is much to celebrate as we look back on 2017. 

In August we said goodbye to Mark, Becci, Josie and Ethan after just two years with us. Whilst this was a shorter period than we initially expected, the role which Mark left us for fits perfectly with his gifts and passions. I would like to record my thanks to Mark and the rest of the family for everything which they contributed to life and ministry at St. Peter’s and beyond while they were with us.

There is much to celebrate as we look back on 2017. It seems to me that hardly a Sunday goes by when we are not privileged to welcome someone new to the 11am service.  The 9am and 7pm Sunday services continue at similar levels to previous years.
Our outreach to those who we don’t generally see on a Sunday continues to grow and several of these initiatives are detailed elsewhere in the report. Food Bank has continued to serve those in need and early signs are that 2018 will be the busiest year yet. We have run various CAP money courses during the year. SPARKS, our group for 0-4 year olds and their parents / carers on a Friday morning continues to thrive. We regularly have 40-50 children and those looking after them at each session.

During the sermon series on Revelation I invited both individuals and groups to write the letter that they believed Jesus would write to the church of St. Peter’s today. My thanks to those of you who chose to engage with this process and to spend time prayerfully reflecting on what Jesus would say to us as a church. These letters were shared with the church family in February (2018) at a “Vision Morning”. From the letters and the discussions, we have a basis for re-casting our vision as a church for the future. A key challenge for 2018 will be to find the strategy to implement our vision, and to seek to ensure that everyone plays their part in building God’s Kingdom.

Read the Full Report.

Jon Randall (Vicar) 01733 240339; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk

Young people taking a lead in mission

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Mission Academy Live_logoThe Talking Jesus research found that one in six of young people wanted to know more when a Christian friend talked to them about Jesus.

In response, the HOPE Revolution Mission Academy Live groups are encouraged to pray for six friends, asking God for opportunities to talk about Jesus with them.

One girl from St. Peter’s Church in the Cambridgeshire village of Yaxley, near Peterborough, is part of a Mission Academy Live group. She has been praying for six of her friends and invited them to a Neon-Glo Party, staged as part of the Mission Academy initiative.

Mission Academy Live is series of 10 innovative, video-based sessions. Each session provides teaching, with time for discussion and testimony in small groups. The focus is on peer to peer evangelism, all leading to a practical response in today’s context. As well as meeting as small groups in villages, towns and cities, they are encouraged to join a Regional Hub.

Regional Hubs are bringing Mission Academy Live groups together for large-scale evangelistic events in 2018. These events – youth fun days, Neon Glo parties, a worship outreach service, or a celebration event – offer the opportunity to celebrate all that God has been doing through the small groups, whilst also providing a large-scale evangelistic event for the young people to invite their six friends.

The Peterborough Hub held a Neon Glo Party in March with music, dancing, and crazy activities, with a guest DJ, glow bar, inflatables, football cage, performances, games, an inspirational message and more.

The girl from St Peter’s Church, Yaxley is part of a group led by Suzanne Delegate, from the church. Suzanne says, “In October we went to the Soul Survivor evening at Kingsgate Community Church in Peterborough, where I heard about Mission Academy Live.”

She signed up and downloaded the six Mission Academy Live films.

“I wanted to share them with our older group” she says. “Unfortunately, most of them were doing exams. So I prayed really hard, as I knew that these films would be so good for our kids. I approached our Vicar and suggested that I do a stand-alone, 10 week session, once a fortnight for our year 7-9s.”

Suzanne led the group with two other leaders. She was thrilled at the response: “The first session I had six young people around a kitchen table sharing hot chocolate and homemade cookies.”

“The feedback from the parents the following Sunday was amazing.”

One parent said that it wasn’t really something that would interest her daughter, but after the group she said: “I don’t know what Suzanne did, but whatever it was she has captured the attention of my daughter. She couldn’t stop talking about the evening.”

Suzanne says, “I only showed the first film and talked about it. Thanks to Mission Academy I have captured the attention of seven young people.”

Pete Skivington, the Youth and Children’s Pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham, Norfolk, has also been using the Mission Academy Live videos. The groups of three or four watch a video each week, discuss it and pray for their friends, asking God for opportunities to share faith with them.

“The majority of them are needing confidence to talk about their faith,” Pete says. “We have found it really beneficial. You can run it with just a handful of young people. They encourage each other and they are encouraged to know they are part of something bigger up and down the country.”

Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director says, “Mission Academy Live is ideal for village churches. Three or four young people can watch the videos together and can pray for their friends. The Regional Hubs can organise larger events, which serve the local church with an event individual congregations couldn’t manage.”

To find out more about Mission Academy Live, click here.

A noble spirit ’embiggens’ the smallest man

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Many of you will know that I am a big fan of The Simpsons. Well, the other day I read that a word made up by the writers in 1996 has entered the American dictionary. The word is ‘embiggen’ and means ‘to make bigger’!

It’s used in the motto of Springfield, the town where the Simpsons live. The motto is “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man”.

We’ve just commemorated Jesus’ death and celebrated his resurrection at the first Easter. Just before he died, Jesus told his friends that it was in their best interests that he returned to heaven. That was because when Jesus returned to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples and all who believe in Jesus. Why? In order to ‘embiggen’ them and us. One of the many great privileges of believing and trusting in Jesus is that we are embiggened by God’s Holy Spirit. To re-state the Springfield motto: “The Holy Spirit embiggens the smallest person”. However small we might feel, we are able to act powerfully when we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

If you would like to find out more about the God who both loves us and embiggens us, you would be very welcome to attend the Alpha course which starts at St. Peter’s this month. Alpha is an opportunity for you to ask your questions and to explore the basics of the Christian faith. The weekly course is free and starts at 7.30pm on Thursday April 12th. If you would like more details, please contact me using the details below.

You might have read (page 5 of March’s Gazette) that Rev John Harper is running this month’s London Marathon in order to raise funds for Christian Aid. Details of how to sponsor John are in that Gazette article. We pray that God would embiggen John and everyone else running the marathon to raise funds for charities.

With my prayers,

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

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.

You’re hired – Parish Communications Officer

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St. Peter’s Church, Yaxley are thrilled to announce the appointment of Laura Ashley to the position of Parish Communications Officer.

Laura joins us to support our growing ministry team and take on the responsibility of external communications management and internal administration. Her role covers a broad scope in which she will play a pivotal role in the life of the church.

She brings with her a wealth of experience, having advanced through progressively more responsible positions in project management, communications and administration. Laura has done this for a variety of public organisations, where she has played a key part in the facilitation and organisation of a number of vital projects and events.

Furthermore, Laura has agreed to take over as PCC Secretary, following our Annual Parish Church Meeting (APCM). We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Fran Russell for her many years of faithful service in this role.

This is a great opportunity for Laura to support bringing the vision of St. Peter’s to life in Yaxley and beyond. Likewise, Laura considers this an opportunity for her to explore and go deeper in her own faith as part of the church family.

Please join us in welcoming Laura to St. Peter’s and congratulating her on her new position!

Unexpected generosity of infinite value

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I wonder if you are annoyed when you travel on the bus or train by other people talking very loudly on their phones?

Well, making a phone call on the train had an unexpectedly positive outcome for a student recently. She was on the phone to her mother and crying about the amount of debt she was in. She had given up her part-time job in order to concentrate on her studies and was struggling to make ends meet. At the end of the call she fell asleep. When she woke up she found 5 x £20 notes folded under her napkin. Another passenger had heard her phone call and left the money for her anonymously. The student launched a Facebook campaign to try to find the generous passenger. I don’t know if she has managed to find them.

What an amazing act of generosity and giving with no expectation of gaining anything in return by her fellow passenger. At the end of this month we commemorate the generosity and self-giving of Jesus on the cross and we celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday. When he rose from the dead Jesus folded up his grave clothes and left them in the grave. The student found £100 under her folded napkin. If we look beneath the folded grave clothes at the reality of what lies behind them we can discover something of infinite value – not in monetary terms, but in terms of everlasting life.

As I said, I don’t know if the student has found her benefactor. If you would like to find out more about the one who has bought you eternal life, why not join us at a service over Easter? Our main services at St. Peter’s on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday are at 11.00am. For details of our other services, please take a look at our events calendar. Alternatively, give me a call on the number below. Similarly, if you don’t live in Yaxley and cannot find the times of services in your local church, please contact us and we’ll put you in touch with your local church.

With my prayers that you might find the eternal life Jesus has won for you this Easter.

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

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.

Opportunity awaits the courageous

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Happy New Year to you all!

I can remember when I was a boy calculating how old I would be in the year 2,000. Well this year, I’ll be 1.5 times as old as that. As they say; “Time waits for no-one”. Hopefully, this is an encouragement to me and us all to make the most of every day.

How might we do that? One way is to try to ensure that we make the most of every opportunity and not let setbacks and difficulties hold us back. Let me illustrate this in a light-hearted way by comparing my day at the end of November to that of our cat.

November 30th saw the first snow of the winter. Our cat was desperate to go outside and explore. However, she put one paw outside the door, realized how cold it was and turned round and went back to bed for the day. I was due to go to Newcastle and visit our daughter for the day. I was aware that 2-5cm of snow was forecast. When I stepped out of the front door at 8.00am, the wind chill hit me. But I was braver than the cat (!) and carried on. When I arrived in Newcastle there was a fair bit of snow already. As I ran to where our daughter had parked I stepped in a puddle of slush and discovered a hole in my shoe. As we walked to a pub for lunch my sock got wetter and wetter.

However, by braving the elements (and a wet foot) I had a wonderful day in Newcastle with my daughter. An opportunity taken despite the setbacks. The cat apparently slept all day and missed her chance to explore.

I wonder what opportunities lie ahead of you this year. Let’s be courageous and pursue them even if we face setbacks. I am, of course, well aware that a bit of snow is insignificant compared to some of the issues which some will face this year.

Whatever you do this year may you know Jesus’ promise to all who believe and trust in him. His last words before he returned to heaven after his resurrection were; “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. If you would like prayer for any issues you face, please contact me.

With my prayers for you all for 2018 and beyond,

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

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.

Job vacancy – Parish Communications Officer

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Do you have strong organisational skills and the ability to support the administrative work of the church’s leadership team? Do you have experience of managing numerous communication channels and event organisation?

We’re looking to employ a new, part-time Parish Communications Officer to support our growing ministry team. The role will include a combination of external communications management and internal administration. With those varied responsibilities comes wide scope to play a pivotal role in the life of the church.

We are keen to adopt a flexible working approach, and the role will be primarily home-based. The successful candidate would be required to work 25 hours per week (which will include some evening and weekend working) earning a minimum of £9 per hour, dependent on experience.

This is a great opportunity to join a church looking to grow and develop, working together to bring our vision to life in Yaxley and beyond.

If you consider yourself a motivated and organised individual with good communication and administration skills and a strong aptitude for managing digital communications, this role could be for you.

To download the full job description and for information on how to apply, please click here.

The closing date for applications is 21/01/2018.

You have a reserved seat

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Returning from a recent trip to London, I got into a carriage on the train where virtually every seat was reserved.

However, as the train left King’s Cross, it soon became apparent that a huge number of people had not got on the train to claim the seats that they had reserved.

At Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and the time Jesus came to begin his journey on earth. Of course, towards the end of that journey, Jesus died on the cross before he rose again and returned to heaven. Through his death on the cross Jesus has ‘reserved everyone a seat on the train’ to everlasting life. My prayer this Christmas is that we would all claim the seat which Jesus has reserved for us and celebrate accordingly.

If you would like to journey with us this Christmas, please join us for one or more of our services. Services well-suited to families with children are marked with a :-)

Sat Dec 2nd 10.00am Christmas Fayre :-)
Sun Dec 3rd 11.00am All-Age Nativity Service :-)
Sun Dec 10th 4.00pm Christingle Service :-)
Fri Dec 15th 9.30am SPARKS Christmas Party :-)
Sun Dec 17th 7.00pm Carol Service – with Mulled Wine & Mince Pies
Wed Dec 20th 7.30pm Beer & Carols – at the Three Horseshoes Pub
Christmas Eve 4.00pm Crib Service :-)
11.00pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 9.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Christmas Celebration :-)

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas!

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

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.

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.