St Andrew's Church Eastern Green
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Dear
Parishioners, The
Smith family moved into St Andrew’s Vicarage in September 2004, having moved from Binley,
where I served as Curate at St Bartholomew’s Church for five years.
We left behind many friends (although one or two have already managed to
track us down) but are looking forward to making many new ones.
I brought with me my wife Fran who works in education and three teenage
boys: Peter, Daniel and Jacob. Peter
is at university , while the other two remain at school.
I have four grown up step-children and even two grandchildren (you will
be astonished at how young I look in spite of all this!). My
passions include running, drama and sport. When
I’m out running, I’m easy to spot: tall, dark, bearded man looking like he
is about to collapse. I always wave back at anyone who waves at me, even if I
have not the least idea who they are! My
enthusiasm for drama has led to the production of three successful pantomimes in
Binley, the last involving a cast of over forty, with almost as many working
behind the scenes. There is almost nothing better designed to get people of all
ages and all talents (and none) working together and having a great time.
To my way of thinking, this is a pretty good picture of what the church
should be like. My fondness for
sport is now generally indulged from the comfort of an armchair.
If you receive an unexpectedly brusque response when you telephone, check
the Radio Times, sports pages. My
greatest passion, however, is for as many people as possible to discover the
power and significance of the love of God as shown by the example of Jesus’
life and death. Even those who
wouldn’t dream of running for a bus or standing on stage and cannot see the
point of sporting competition, can share in this. I
look forward to meeting you soon. Greg Smith Vicar e-mail -gregsmith@standrews-eg.org.uk
October 2008 Dear Friends October is the month for leaving
home. For many this means University
or college, although for others it may be a new job or simply the desire for
independence that drives this separation of parents and children.
For many parents this is an agonising and challenging time, worrying what
will happen to Sarah or Simon in the big jungle.
However, this parting is one of the most natural things there is.
Every autumn, I am privileged to watch the same process in nature.
Sitting in my study, I see the resident moorhens on our pond driving away
the now fully grown chicks that they have lovingly and painstakingly nurtured
over the course of the Spring and Summer. Admittedly,
most human parents (having emptied the nest after 18 years) don’t think about
starting all over again and raising a new family as the moorhens do every year.
There are a lot of holidays in the caravan to catch up on after all! This process is also testified to in the earliest
chapters of the Bible. It is
suggested there that the natural order of things is for children to leave home
and marry. And for good or for ill,
through history and through almost every culture known to humankind, this is the
way it has been. And yet, in 21st
Century Many through bereavement or
relationship breakdown are condemned to live alone through no choice of their
own. It seems strange then that
there are those who actively seek this isolation.
Perhaps it demonstrates another example of popular wisdom: the grass is
always greener on the other side. Living
alone means watching the television programme of your choice, being able to
leave as much mess in the kitchen as you see fit; to leave all the lights on,
put your feet on the furniture and get up at what time you like.
These seem attractive until you try them and find after a while they do
not surpass the fulfillment of the company of another human being. These pages testify to the enduring human need for
human companionship. Stories from
the WI, Golden Years, the Eastern Green History Group and not least the church
tell of groups who exist for a range of purposes, but all offer fellowship and
friendship. What is more, the church
offers it to anyone whatever their background and whatever their reasons for
needing it: a reflection of the Every blessing Greg Smith
Marc Catley.......has now joined St Andrew's as Curate for 3 years ... here's an introduction from Marc.... “I
was in a band called “The Flaming Methodists”; I was interviewed on Radio 2;
I am the proud owner of a certificate that reads “Marc Catley, Grade 6
Classical Guitar, presented for examination by I
was born in Coleshill and grew up in I
supplemented my income by tutoring in schools such as the local Grammar. I made
the most of a visit by an examiner for the Associated Board, never imagining how
embarrassing the resultant certificate would be. Once I had become too old and too stupid to be a musician any more, I needed a new career, and the Church of England came to mind. Or perhaps it was part of a natural progression, to spend even more time teaching others about Jesus… Marc
Catley St Andrew's is the Anglican parish church of Eastern Green, Coventry. The church was built in the reign of Queen Victoria 131 years ago to serve 40 farming families. Today the profile of the parish is vastly different. The population of the parish is now 8,250 people but our mission continues to be "To make Christ known through word and action and to help people develop a mature Christian faith." As you scroll through this information we hope you will gain an insight into our ministry and mission. The church, which has a membership of 100, hopes that you may be enabled, at some time, to join us in our beautiful church building for worship. We invite you to read more about church life and participate in our Christian fellowship and education programme
See Services page for details.
May Christ's Peace be with you - wherever you are.
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