Our portrait artist, Lorna May Wadsworth has finished painting the Last Supper "which measures 12 feet long by 31/2 feet wide and will hang behind the altar in the church. The painting is to be exhibited in the huge St Martin-in-the-Fields Church which borders on Trafalgar Square , London, a short pace from the National Portrait Gallery from Thursday 4th March until Easter Sunday, 4th April.. The painting will then be transported and hung in St George's Church to be unveiled during a celebration service to mark the event on St George's Day, 23rd April 2010 beginning at 7.30pm.

On seeing pictures of the painting the Archbishop of Canterbury has commented" I think it is really wonderful" and our own Bishop Michael Perham has said it is a "wonderful, wonderful painting!"

'Everyone's right to mobilty and inclusion'

Jen Howitt, an American who is to be married at Kingscote in the summer and played for the American Para-Olympic basketball team at Athens, winning a gold medal, gave a moving and informative talk at a recent Family service about her work with Motivation. This is a charitable organisation who seek to provide wheelchairs to people in the developing countries and also run a training  and educational programme. Jen told us that only one per cent of people who need wheelchairs are able to obtain them -a mind-blowing, thought provoking statistic! We will be discussing how we can support this worthy cause.

"The Parable of the Talents" is to be re-enacted by 20 worthy or daft members of our congregation who were given £10 at the end of our Easter Sunday service and told to "Go forth and multiply" with the results being announced at our Harvest service. The worthy winner will receive a free dinner for two at Calcot Manor. The recipients of monies raised have to be decided - but we may look no further than Motivation (see above)

Update on the girls' hostel in Bangalore

We have just sent £100 to Bishop John, which is an annual commitment the PCC promised him towards a girls' hostel in Bangalore. He has thanked us as follows:

Dear Stephen 

Thank you very much indeed for a further payment towards the girls hostel in Bangalore. I am most encouraged by your ongoing support and I know that our friends in Bangalore will be. Rosemary and I are in Bangalore in the new year to do some teaching for the clergy of the Diocese and will look forward to visiting the hostel again and getting an update. By all accounts it is flourishing and over 60 girls who would otherwise be barely surviving on the streets of Bangalore are able to be in a safe environment and experience human love and friendship and have a good education. Thank you also for the postcard and information about the fascinating last supper project which sounds most interesting.Thank you again. With warmest Christian greetings.

Yours as ever

John

SWINE ‘FLU:  THE COMMON CUP AT HOLY COMMUNION AND THE SHARING OF THE PEACE  - A separate summary of the precautions that are recommended and which we will follow is available in the church.  As we will all be aware the virus is spread by touch and through the air so we are suggesting:-

If you think that you might have the virus (as we would suggest for any infectious disease) remain in quarantine at home and certainly avoid crowded places such as doctors’ surgeries, shops or church!

The Peace is shared verbally (no hugging, kissing or touching) with those immediately around you.  Please be sensitive, especially during the holidays when we have visitors, that not everyone is comfortable with physical contact, particularly at this time.  For example, one member of our church awaits a serious operation in mid August, wants to come to church but does not wish anyone to transmit any disease by hugging etc. 

The Bishop of Gloucester, following the guidance of the Department of Health and the Archbishops, is recommending that for the time being we withhold the common cup and administer the sacrament only in one kind, i.e. the wafers, the president alone drinking from the chalice.  Bishop Michael has confirmed that receiving only the consecrated bread does not alter the validity or effectiveness of the sacrament. 

However, we are not aware of many cases in Nailsworth at the present time so will continue to offer the sacrament in both kinds as we continue to monitor the situation.  If you would prefer not to share the cup this is fine, please indicate this to those administering by bowing your heads and keeping your hands down.  Remain at the altar rail until the person next to you has received the cup.  Please do not get up as soon as you have received the bread – the person administering the chalice will still say “The blood of Christ”. 

We have anti-bacterial gel which the presiding priest will use before administering the sacrament.  If you have any queries please speak to the vicar or a church warden.

SKY DIVER

Andrea Urquhart handed a card to Stephen (Vicar of St George's) with the message:

"Having had the most amazing experience, on my tandem SKY-DIVE, I am pleased to give St. George's a cheque for £771 raised through the generosity of family, church family, friends and neighbours towards the restoration/replacement of the church organ. The pleasure really was all mine!"

Brilliant effort Andrea and we all thank you.