Notices
Messy Church
9th June 3.30 – 5.00 pm
Help appreciated. Please sign the rota/Messy Church at the back. Any concerns? Speak to Me, to Gill or to Fiona. Thanks Jenny
A Church Family Barbeque
Sunday 14th June immediately after the Outdoor Service. We will be outside if we can
Sunday 14th June 2026
We will be celebrating St Barnabas – our patron Saint. Do you have a favourite hymn? If you do please send the name to newsletter@stbarnabasbromborough.org. If you don’t do email then you can send me a text message or perhaps ask someone else to do that for you. I will try to include those that get the biggest vote in our outdoor service at 11.00 am.
Afterwards a BBQ for all to attend. Payment to cover costs by donation.
Mothers’ Union 150th Year Anniversary Fund Raising
Saturday 27th June 2.00-4.00pm in the Centre a Strawberry Tea. Tickets available now in the Centre or phone Jenny Hope (077971699132) £5.00 adults, £2 school children, under 5s a smile.
New cake rota
…is at the back of Church. If you would like to bring something for us to have with our tea and coffee on a Sunday morning, please sign up. It can be homemade or shop bought. On the date you choose, the cakes or pastries need to be in church by 10.15am. If you prefer, you can give a donation to Pat Down and we will purchase for you. Many thanks.
Funeral for the Lt. Graham Jones
I hope that you are all aware by now of Graham’s death. His funeral will take place on Monday 29th June at 1.30 pm in St Barnabas.
A message from Cyprus
More exciting news from Edna.
“Our new priest, Fr George Vidiakin, is being licensed on 13th June – St Barnabas’ Day weekend. He is quite young (compared to most of our members) is married and has 2 young daughters who are adorable! He was ordained in the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and has been accepted into the Anglican Communion here in Cyprus. He has been acting as vicar of Ayia Napa for a while, I think on a house for service basis. It will be good to have a family in the church house again and, as he and his family are already in Limassol, I hope we may have some more younger people – we do have some thanks to Rev. Deborah! His wife works, here in Limassol, she is an accountant so our treasurer may finally find some relief! Personally, I am praying it all works out well and we will not have to keep looking around the world for a new incumbent every 3 years!”
Hymns and Songs of Praise, café style.
14th June – 6.00 pm Music Sunday at St. Mary’s Church, Stanley Lane, Eastham, CH62 0AQ. It is going to be Your favourite hymns plus a couple of choir pieces, interspersed with different peoples’ favourite readings & poems. Topped and tailed by Malcolm Perry playing the organ with tea/coffee and cake. The theme is Old and New (Ancient and Modern?).
Parish Weekend at Foxhill 2027
What do you think? Shall we try to do that? I have done a bit of research. We could go in January – early March or July 2027. The current cost of a residential (Friday – Sunday) is £213 but it will go up a little for 2027. They can accommodate up to 26 people providing a few people share rooms. It is also possible for people to travel each day. The full day rate is currently £38 which includes all meals. (The food is excellent there now). Less on a Friday evening I imagine. I would hope that we would be able to worship together in different ways that we would do some study with an outside speaker and perhaps have chance for arts and crafts, and that there would be time to walk or read or simply sit quietly. Do let me or the churchwardens know if it seems a good idea. Not everyone has to take part, but I believe this is something that God is calling us to do. Jenny G.
Bible Course
Some of you have done the Bible course and one or two others have approached to ask whether I can run this. It would be in the evening beginning in the first week of September. The course lasts eight weeks and there will be no obligation to continue to meet after that. If you have done it before you can do it again assuming that there is room. I will run it as long as we have a minimum of 5 people interested. Please text, email or add yourself to the WhatsApp group in the St Barnabas Community called ‘Bible Course’. Depending on group preferences it will be a Tuesday or Wednesday evening.
Jenny
Why do we have to do training, have DBS checks and fill in forms?
The short answer is that the Church of England and the Diocese of Chester require us to do so. Safeguarding is a responsibility that every church must take seriously, and these measures help ensure that we meet the standards expected of us.
The deeper reason is that safeguarding is about protecting people. Churches should be places where children, young people and adults can feel safe, welcomed and cared for. Training, DBS checks and appropriate paperwork help us create that environment and reduce the risk of harm. The Church has a very bad track record of failing to protect the vulnerable. We have been inclined to turn a blind eye or lived with a ‘not here, not us’ approach. This simply is not good enough. We must do better and work together to create a much safer environment for everyone.
Training, forms and checks also protect volunteers by providing clear guidance and expectations. While forms and training may sometimes feel frustrating, they are part of living out our Christian commitment to love our neighbour and care for one another well. Safeguarding is not just a requirement; it is part of our ministry. The church is now required to treat all volunteers as if they are employees. Those undertaking any role should have a job description (we are nearly there – if you haven’t got one please let us know), fill in an application form and potentially expect to have references taken. For the benefit of volunteers it is expected that you are kept safe, given relevant information, appropriate tools and tasks and treated as the immensely invaluable resource that you are.
Because many of you started your training and had your checks three years ago, there will be a number of you needing to have new DBS checks in the next few months. Please support Sue in making sure this is done as swiftly as possible. With many thanks for all that you are already doing in this area.
Jenny – Rector, and Sue – Parish Safeguarding officer.