9
Buckden Roundabout
October 2019
Church News
Weekly Prayer Roster
Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who
work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are:
6th October
Scouts, Cubs and Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, Playgroup and Day Nursery, Buck-
den out of Schools Scheme, Buckden Towers Youth Retreat Centre
13th October
Mayfield, Springfield Close, The Osiers, Stirtloe
20th October
Vineyard Way, Burberry Road, Swan End, Lark End, The Library and its librarians
27th October
The churches of the village: St Hugh’s, St Mary’s, Buckden Methodist Church, also Perry Baptist
Church, members of home groups from these and other local churches, ministers and all who
make our churches welcoming and worshipful places
Thought for the Month
Dear friends,
The following thought for the month is not original but
was written by the late Paul Williams in our Church
newsletter some years ago.
One of my favourite stories is about John Fletcher (1729
-1785) who was one the early Methodist preachers.
John Wesley planned that Fletcher should succeed him
in the leadership of the Methodists, though as it hap-
pened Fletcher died before Wesley. Fletcher’s biog-
rapher wrote of him that “He was more than Christian;
he was Christ-like.”
On one occasion Fletcher made an important public
statement about an issue that was causing concern in
the country at the time, and his comments proved very
helpful to the Government of the day. That wasn’t his
aim – he had merely said what he believed to be true –
but it had that result, and it was noticed. Fletcher was
not only a Methodist preacher, but like John Wesley was
also a clergyman of the Church of England, and it oc-
curred to the Lord Chancellor that some preferment
(what people would describe as ‘promotion’) might be
offered in recognition of Fletcher’s help. So, a messen-
ger was sent to Madeley to call on Fletcher. The visitor
tried delicately to hint at his mission, but Fletcher was
slow to take the hint! Then messenger had to be more
direct and asked if there was anything that Mr Fletcher
wanted? The Government would be very happy…if…
At last some understanding broke, and John Fletcher
said: “How kind! How very kind! But I want nothing…
except more grace.”
What a great aspiration – we might say it’s a desire to
be more like Jesus! Would that this might be the
“heart’s desire” of each one of us.
May God bless you all.
Yours in Christ,
Tony Whitlock, Perry Baptist.
Methodist Macmillan Coffee Morning
27th September 10am
Every year we like to give over our Friday Coffee Morning at
the end of September to this worthy cause.
There will be the usual stalls including cakes so do come
along with your friends and neighbours for an enjoyable
morning in generous support of this vital charity.
Thank you.
Buckden Village Hall - Annual
General Meeting
1 October 2019 at 7.30 pm
We welcome any Buckden resident who would be interested in
joining as a trustee as well as representatives from groups that
regularly uses the Hall: schools, youth clubs, churches, volun-
teer organisations, etc. Being a trustee is not a major time
commitment. If you are interested in getting involved and im-
proving the facilities in our Village, please get in touch.
Cynthia Alers, Chair chair@buckdenvillagehall.co.uk
Jo Harvey, Hall Manager admin@buckdenvillagehall.co.uk