Living Brook Benefice

Festival Fever

2013-07-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Psalm 100: 1-2

Our season of Patronal Festivals reached its climax on Sunday with our celebration for Mary Magdalene. The Hackleton School Steel band and choir certainly added a carnival feel to our celebration. The joyful service was led by Reverend Beverly Hollins and the Right Reverend Donald Allister, Bishop of Peterborough, who re-dedicated the children's chapel to Mary Magdalene. This dedication marks the creation of the new parish of Piddington with Horton, as the name continues the dedication of Horton Church which sadly closed at the end of last year. The new chapel has at its heart the altar that was previously in use at Horton and also the hassocks made and designed by Margaret Wright. He continued the service with the blessing of the new toilet and servery.
Bishop Donald's final task of the day was to hand out prizes to children who had entered a colouring competition that had been run as part of the Magdalene festival.

The service on Sunday was preceded by an open day on Saturday, which gave people the opportunity to view the new facilities; admire the fabulous embroidery work of Margaret Wright and her band of embroiderers; taste the wonderful creations of our master bakers in the men's baking competition and the ladies' refreshment stall; try their hand at bell ringing; marvel at the magnificent flower arrangements and partake of Freddie's fantastic BBQ.

For more pictures please go to the gallery

Magdalene Festival Weekend

2013-07-12T12:19:00.000+01:00

Come and join us for a joyful weekend, to celebrate the creation of the new parish of Piddington with Horton, the re-dedication of the Lady Chapel to St Mary Magdalene and to see our new facilities - the long awaited toilet and servery.

On Saturday afternoon the Church will be open for everyone to see the facilities and exhibitions and to join in the fun, that will spill outside to the BBQ.

Celebrate with us on Sunday 21st at 2.30 pm, when the Bishop of Peterborough, the Right Reverend Donald Allister will re-dedicate the Lady Chapel and bless the new facilities. The Hackleton Primary School Steel Pans will be there to add to the festival feeling.

Men’s cake-making competition Saturday 20 July 2013

Rules:
Only one cake may be submitted per entrant who must certify that it is all his own work.
Cakes must not have been previously frozen
Cakes must be accompanied by a list of ingredients, date made and name of maker.
Gentlemen of all ages are welcome to enter and if appropriate there will be a special prize for young gentlemen entering e.g. under 10 years of age, under 18 years
Cakes may be decorated or undecorated. If enough decorated entries are received an extra prize will be awarded for decoration.
Entries which are suitable for people with special dietary requirements are welcomed and should be clearly labelled as such.
All entries must be presented on a suitable plate or base and must be kept suitably covered until judging.
Cakes must be delivered to Piddington Church by 1.45pm on Saturday 20 July 2013. Judging will take place at 2pm and the winner(s) announced thereafter.
Reverend Beverley will be the judge and will award points on any basis she thinks fit. Points mean prizes! Her decision will be final.
Entrants must agree that their entries may be sold after judging has taken place.

Contact for this item: Joanne Wilde, tel 01604 870162.

Magdalene Festival

2013-06-25T09:03:00.001+01:00

Come and join us for the Magdalene Festival. On Saturday 20th July, Piddington Church will be holding an open day to include activities and a chance to see the new chapel and facilities.

On Sunday 21st July, Bishop Donald will be holding a service of re-dedication of the Lady Chapel to St Mary Magdalene and to bless the new facilities.

Those eggs in full

2013-06-23T15:33:00.002+01:00

Here is a little photo story of the Eggstravaganza on the 9th of June, long delayed from its usual Easter slot. The weather held out for us long enough to enjoy the usual mad chase down the lane, whacking our eggs mercilessly. Kai pulled off a very unorthodox reverse-through-the-legs manoeuvre to pull of a victory in the boys' race.

I really can't remember who won the other races... except it wasn't me. I never win. The eggs are against me. A chair got in the way, I swear.

Inside everyone enjoyed the usual array of games involving marbles, cars, balls, coins, flower pots, buried treasure and tail-less donkeys. Piles of tempting cakes and pots of tea and coffee ensured we did not go hungry while we browsed the books for that missing best-seller.

Thank you to everyone who turned out to support us on the day. Proceeds go to the Hackleton Primary School fund for paralympian Anna Turney!

Evensong and refreshments at St Peter and St Paul, Preston Deanery

2013-06-03T13:34:00.000+01:00

Photo (c) Ian Robb (Geograph)

Come and join us on the 30th of June at 3pm for a Patronal Evensong and refreshments at St Peter and St Paul in Preston Deanery. Don't miss this rare opportunity to worship and see inside this lovely church that served the parishioners of Preston Deanery until 1904. We are fortunate that local people in pastimes in our benefice blessed us with so many wonderful churches

Safari service

2013-06-03T13:17:00.000+01:00

Come and join us on our safari service on June 23rd which is being held at both our St John the Baptist churches in honour of our Patronal Saint of Piddington and Quinton churches. We will be strolling through the plains between Quinton and Piddington, just watch out for those elephants!

Cross Keys Summer 2013 Diocesan Magazine

2013-05-26T07:47:00.000+01:00

We have been mentioned in dispatches again, this time for our sterling fundraising efforts during our Lent campaign to twin toilets. Cross Keys Summer 2013

Worship and prayer courses

2013-05-22T14:33:00.001+01:00

New Courses

Reverend Beverley will be running two courses in June, one on Leading and Writing Intercessions and Leading the Service of the Word and All Age Worship, please let Revd. Beverley know if you wish to come along.

Late, Late, Eggstravaganza

2013-05-22T14:18:00.000+01:00

Please come and join us for our late Easter Eggstravaganza, which was postponed due to inclement weather at Easter.

Woodland Worship

2013-05-20T14:12:00.000+01:00

Woodland Worship

Members of St John the Baptist, Quinton and St John the Baptist Piddington with Horton, joined together for a simple, but beautiful woodland worship yesterday to mark Pentecost.
It was truly inspirational to come together in fellowship and worship God surrounded by the wonderful setting of Rookery Wood.
Our thanks to all those who made this possible. For more pictures of the service please follow this link to the Quinton page

Pentecost in the Park

2013-04-29T17:04:00.001+01:00

What is missing from this photo? That's right, it's you! Come along to Abington Park to celebrate 'Pentecost In The Park' (Sunday 19th May) 1.00pm - 6.00pm

This year's event will take place in Abington Park at the Bandstand and will feature the usual mix of bands, prayers and speakers. One of our guests is Tommy Baker, a world renowned Basketball Freestyler. Tommy will be performing and sharing his testimony. Also Tommy will be out and about in Northampton on Saturday. If your Church would like to be involved in this outreach especially our youth in Northampton please contact us.

This year we are also planning a Messy Church area for families. Why not come and be involved. We look forward to seeing you there.

Faith On The Streets
Pentecost isn't just about what happens on the Sunday. Every year we join together in mission in the Church coming together as Faith On The Streets.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHURCHES TO UNITE IN MISSION WITNESSING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL IN OUR TOWN.

For further information and updates please register on Hope Northamptonwebpage or facebook Hope Northampton

Easter service and parade at Hackleton

2013-04-28T22:03:00.000+01:00

Reverend Beverley with some of the children from year 6 Hackleton Primary School and their amazing Easter bonnets and accessories

Reverend Beverley has been working hard building links with the schools in the benefice. She has been taking special lessons in the school and taking part in assemblies, including the Easter service held in the school, which focussed on a drama performed by the children in year 5.

This was followed by the Easter bonnet parade where all the children parade in a bonnet and/or accessories they have made at home. Reverend Beverley shared the difficult job of picking the winners from each class alongside Mrs Burns, the Head Teacher and senior members (Year 6) of the school council, Adam Rimmer and Ellie Pilling.

Fundraiser for the Hardingstone organ

2013-04-18T14:34:00.000+01:00

Help us to continue to make a joyful noise in Hardingstone. Come along to our Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy in aid of the Hardingstone organ appeal on Friday June 14th, 10 - 12 at the home of Rhoda Bauldreay, 1 Firs Court, Hardingstone.

Christianity Explored - new course starting 24th April

2013-04-16T09:53:00.001+01:00

Just a reminder that our new course is due to start next week, there are still spaces available

Toilet Twinning Lent Campaign

2013-04-01T15:30:00.001+01:00

Flushed with success!

The Living Brook Benefice has raised a total to date of £311.30 for our Lent toilet twinning campaign, which means we have enough to buy FIVE new toilets which will be built in Burundi. Thanks to everyone who has saved their pennies during Lent. Some parishioners have followed Revd Beverley's lead in twinning the toilet in The Vicarage and have twinned their toilets at home too.
We also know that our campaign has influenced other groups too, Hackleton cubs are saving their pennies during April and hope to be able to twin another toilet. In addition all the toilets in Middlesex University Library are now also being twinned, due to awareness of our campaign.

Just because our Lent campaign is over, this doesn't mean you have to stop collecting your pennies for this fantastic project. To announce the end of our Lent campaign, however, a prize of a T-shirt and an Easter egg were awarded to Toby who had managed to collect the most pennies.

Easter news

2013-04-01T15:29:00.000+01:00

Easter news

Easter in the Living Brook Benefice has brought all our churches together at this most special time with services that have brought to life the Easter story. Services that have reflected the bittersweet moments of Jesus' last few days on Earth and the impact it had on those closest to Him then and for us here today.

The various services and activities throughout the Benefice, has been a time of fellowship and a chance to worship together with all the members of the benefice.

Below are a couple of photos taken on the Good Friday walk and breakfast. Our thanks to all those at Quinton who worked so hard to put on such a fabulous breakfast.

Mentioned in dispatches!

2013-03-20T12:38:00.001Z

The April Magazine 'Resource' from the Diocese includes a feature on Piddington with Horton parish, so do have a look by clicking on this link: Diocese magazine (page 2)

New course - Christianity explored

2013-03-20T12:20:00.001Z

Are we nearly there yet?

2013-03-16T16:27:00.000Z

Are we nearly there yet? Is usually the cry we here from children on a long journey. Well the same phrase is often said about the installation of our much needed toilet in Piddington church. As this photo shows, we can truthfully reply, yes we are nearly there! In the foreground you can see the new servery going in and behind that will be our long awaited and much heralded toilet.

However, we are fortunate that we have toilets to use in our homes and in public places unlike many people in developing countries. This is why the arrival of our toilet has been used as an opportunity to raise money to build toilets in Burundi, through the toilet twinning scheme run by Cord and Tearfund in our "Spend a penny in Lent" campaign.

You can help us twin our toilet by filling the inside of an empty loo roll with pennies (once of course you have sealed one end!) We will be collecting filled tubes at our Easter Day service in Piddington.

Easter Eggstravaganza

2013-03-04T09:56:00.001Z

If you want to stop Steve in his tracks this year, we hope you are busy boiling your eggs. If you start now, they will as hard as concrete and ready for the race of the year at the Easter Eggstravaganza on Palm Sunday, the 24th of March 2.30pm.

However, beware, the Revd. Beverley will be inspecting all eggs, to make sure they have not been coated with teflon or filled with cement!

For the less energetic, there will also be refreshments, games, books and a white elephant stall.

Lent Couse - 'Faith at Work'

2013-02-09T21:10:00.001Z

^{Come and join the Revd. Beverley who will be leading a Lent Course, 'Faith at Work' every Wednesday in Lent 7:30 pm in Quinton Village Hall starting on the 20th February. The course is suitable for all people waged or unwaged. All are welcome.}

Ash Wednesday 2013

2013-02-01T15:36:00.000Z

Come and join us for one of our Ash Wednesday services

9:30am at Quinton

7:30pm at Hardingstone

What's in a name - update

2013-01-21T12:10:00.000Z

The naming of the Benefice, is certainly keeping some of our parishioners busy, particularly those with a passion for the local area's historical and geographical features and I suspect those with a penchant for word puzzles. Check out some of the new suggestions on the updated post of 'What's in a name'.
Remember, the closing date for suggestions is February 5th!

Christening the new parish

2013-01-20T10:45:00.000Z

Following the APCM around 1:30pm there is a celebration to "christen the new parish” with refreshments, at the Watson’s (3 Salcey Rise). All are welcome from the benefice.

Piddington with Horton Parochial Church Council

2013-01-20T10:28:00.000Z

Piddington with Horton Parochial Church Council

A new Parochial Church Council (PCC) is to be established to manage the new parish of Piddington with Horton.

Nominations to be a member of the new PCC will be received and voted on at the APCM on Sunday 3 February.

If you wish to nominate somebody to be on the new PCC people complete a nomination form which can be found in church or obtained from previous Church Wardens of Piddington and Horton parishes.

There are a number of specific roles on the new PCC which are available to anybody in the Piddington with Horton parish to fill (subject to being on the new Electoral Role) as follows:

Church Warden
Church Warden
Deputy Church Warden
Deputy Church Warden
Treasurer
Secretary
Deanery Synod representative
And up to 6 ordinary PCC members

The new parish with a new PCC is an exciting project so we would love you to be a part of making our new parish and vision a reality and help spread God’s word throughout our community.