It’s very busy in and around the church next month, with plenty of opportunities for getting involved.

In this issue:
  1. St James’ Church Services – March
  2. Cuppa & Chat, Wednesday 6th March
  3. Birlingham Photography Club, Tuesday 12th March
  4. Vacancy at The Almshouses, closing date Friday 15th March
  5. Village Litter Pick, Saturday 23rd March
  6. The Friend’s of St James’ AGM, Tuesday 26th March
  7. Annual Church Meetings, Tuesday 2nd April
  8. Churchwarden and Treasurer’s Assistant
  9. Church Electoral Roll
  10. Snowdrops for Sale
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1. St James’ Church Services – March

Services at St James’ Church during March will be held at the following times:

  • Sunday 3rd: Morning Praise, 10.30am (with Peter Stansbie)
  • Sunday 10th: Holy Communion, 10.30am (with Revd Alma Organ)
  • Sunday 17th: Morning Praise, 10.30am (with Joanna Williams)
  • Sunday 24th: Pet Service, 3.00pm (with Revd Claire Lording)
  • Sunday 31st: Mothering Sunday Service, 10.30am (with Revd Philip Hughes)
The Pet Service on 24th March is a first for Birlingham and there will be more details in the next edition.

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2. Cuppa & Chat, Wednesday 6th March

The next Cuppa & Chat takes place on Wednesday 6th March, from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Come and enjoy tea, coffee and cake in Birlingham Village Hall – an opportunity to meet friends, catch up with the latest news and inspect the latest improvements outside the Village Hall.

All are welcome, especially families new to the village. Cost is £2 per head and it is always held on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information please contact Adrianne Woodward on 01386 750936.

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3. Birlingham Photography Club, Tuesday 12th March

Angela Fitch writes:
The next meeting of Birlingham Photography Club is on Tuesday 12th March, 7.00pm – 9.00pm, in Birlingham Village Hall. £4pp to include refreshments. (Please note that this is a 2nd Tuesday and later finish.)

Flash Photography Explained. Have you ever wondered how pro photographers’ images have that certain something that makes their work stand out from the rest? It’s all in the lighting and when there isn’t enough of it around an on- or off-camera flash may be just what you need to solve the problem.

But . . . You need to know how to use it – properly.

Terry Hewlett, ARPS, is guest speaker on 12th March. Having worked all over the world photographing the likes of Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomery and Seve Ballesteros on the golf course, weddings at Blenheim Palace, Clearwell Castle and Littlecote House and now running photography workshops under his own name and for the Royal Photographic Society, Terry is THE person who can help local photographers to get the lighting right in their own images.

BPC is open to anyone who is interested in photography, under 18s to be accompanied. More information at www.birlinghamphotography.co.uk.

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4. Vacancy at The Almshouses, closing date Friday 15th March

Tara Kirkham-Evans writes:
The Almshouses at The Row, Lower End, Birlingham, WR10 3AD are run by a committee of Trustees, all of whom live in the village.

Applications are invited for No. 3, a one-bedroom property which has become vacant. The property is available for immediate occupancy. The current monthly maintenance charge is £350.00 per calendar month, subject to review in April 2019.

Preference will be given to applicants of retirement age, who have a connection with Birlingham, either that they have resided or worked in the parish of Birlingham or the surrounding parishes at some time during their lives or have members of their family currently residing in those areas. All applicants will need to demonstrate a need for an Almshouse.

If you are interested or know of someone who would like this Almshouse, please contact the Clerk to the Trustees, Tara Kirkham-Evans, by email tarake1208@googlemail.com for further information or an application form. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 15th March and interviews will be held the following week.

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5. Village Litter Pick, Saturday 23rd March

The Parish Clerk writes:
The Parish Council is organising the Annual Litter Pick on Saturday 23rd March, meeting on the village green at 10.00am. Litter-picking equipment is provided.

Please save this date and join us if you can. We should be able to complete the litter pick in an hour if sufficient people turn up.

The litter pick is being timed to coincide with the Great British Spring Clean – full details at https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean.

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6. The Friend’s of St James’ AGM, Tuesday 26th March

Adrianne Woodward writes:
The Friend’s of St James’ AGM will be held on Tuesday 26th March at 6:30pm in the Church. All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

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7. Annual Church Meetings, Tuesday 2nd April

Ann Maxwell writes:
Two meetings will be held in St James’ Church on Tuesday 2nd April at 7.00pm. The first is for the election of Churchwardens and the second, immediately afterwards, is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, at which members of the Parochial Church Council and representatives on the Deanery Synod are elected.

Please come and show your support for our church.

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8. Churchwarden and Treasurer’s Assistant

Revd Claire Lording writes:
THERE’S STILL TIME TO OFFER TO HELP! The Annual Meeting for St James’ Church is fast approaching and I haven’t heard from anyone who might like to think about being Churchwarden or Treasurer’s Assistant. Ann and Ali are definitely stepping down so please think about offering to help. The ideal situation would be for an overlap to happen so that Ann and Ali can pass on their collective wisdom to their successors.

St James’ Church will be in a fragile position if these roles are not filled. Our church is an important part of village life and we love being there for those big moments in people’s lives as well as for regular worship. It would be a terrible loss to the village if we are not able to use our beautiful church for all those times.

If you think you can help, please contact me on vicar.pershoreabbey@gmail.com or 01386 552071.

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9. Church Electoral Roll

Ann Maxwell writes:
This is the basic list in every parish of all those entitled to vote on elections within the Church of England. Those entitled to have their names on this roll have to be 16 years of age or more and they must reside in the relevant parish or be regular worshippers in the church whose roll they wish to join.

The rules of the Church of England require the Electoral Roll to be re-drawn every six years, at which point all members have to re-apply for membership or their names will be deleted. By this means, the continuing validity of the roll is maintained. 2019 is the year for renewal of the roll. If you would like to be included on the new Electoral Roll you will need to complete a new form.

Application forms are available on the welcome table (with the lamp!) in the church. They should be returned to Sylvia Morgan, 2 Brook Cottages, Eckington Road, Birlingham, WR10 3DA. If possible please return the forms by Sunday 17th March.

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10. Snowdrops for Sale

Adrianne Woodward writes:
The Church is hoping to plant more snowdrops as there are some increasingly bare areas in the Churchyard.

There are a few pots of snowdrops left for sale so we are asking if there are any villagers who would buy a pot (or two) and donate them to be planted in the the Churchyard, or on a family grave or around a memorial plaque.

You can buy them yourself and put them in the tray marked for planting in the Churchyard or contact Adrianne Woodward (01386 750936) to arrange it for you.

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