A Letter from our Rector, Mark:

March is another busy month and definitely a
time for prayer.
There is Lent of course – and we’re out to save
the world. Or at least think about God’s love for
the world in creating it and in making us
stewards and carers of all the good things He
gave us. There are some leaflets from the
diocese to challenge you, there is the Lent
study book – ‘Saying yes to life’ by Ruth
Valerio, and the chance to think about it with
others, which helps us think more deeply by
sharing what we and others have got from it.
Lent brings Mothering Sunday – and the
chance to welcome people into Framlingham
and Saxtead when Sing Praise in Framlingham
and the young musicians in Saxtead will both
be helping to lead the worship.
March this year also brings something unusual.
As this is being written the post of Priest in
Charge of Framlingham and Saxtead is being
advertised in The Church Times in a smart and
readable and expensive advert. We can be
grateful that our patrons – Pembroke College –
are bearing the majority of the cost. We need
to pray for people who apply, and having done
so, for the Bishop and parish reps and all
involved in welcoming them and discerning
who is right for Framlingham and Saxtead.
A prayer:
Lord as the chance to minister here is being
advertised, and a new person we hope will be
selected; guide people to consider the post,
and if it feels right to apply.
Help the Bishop and Parish Reps in their
discernment. Equip us all to continue to serve
you in prayer, love and mission, and help us to
do your work here in Framlingham and
Saxtead.

Mark.

St Michael’s Community Rooms
The plans from the architects were well
received by the 150 people who came to the
exhibition and the 76 who left written
responses - mostly very positive, some with
concerns we are working with anyway.
Car parking was the biggest worry, which is a
headache for Framlingham as a whole and we
are working hard to optimise the possibilities.
The plans are now in the Church, so if you
missed the exhibition please do go and look at
them and feel free to comment.
The PCC reps have now gathered Architects,
structural engineer and quantity surveyor to a
meeting, and we are working hard on putting
together a Planning Application, which, if all
goes well, will be submitted. We feel we have a
really good team working with us.
Planning Permissions are always uncertain,
and we cannot predict timings. Then the tender
document has to be worked on very thoroughly
before being sent out to appropriate builders,
who have a month to respond and inform us, if
successful, when they are able to start on site.
So there is uncertainty around this, but we are
confident that bookings will be taken to
October half term and possibly to the end of
the year.
Funding - the costs are estimated at £840,000:
£700,000 from East Suffolk CIL:
£70k from Framlingham Town Council, now
agreed and signed for:
£70k from the PCC has to be raised; a public
appeal will start this Spring. We are organising
a number of fund raising specials. There will be
a Ceilidh on April 24th from 7-10.30pm at St
Michael’s Rooms, a sponsored bike ride, and a
‘Singalongathon’. We’ll keep you informed!
Mark Sanders, Jeremy Schofield,
Sarah Farrand, Adrian Morgan, Peter Smith.

News from St Michael’s
Evensong at St Michaels; Sunday15th March
The Jubilate choir will be singing Choral
Evensong at St Michael's, on Sunday 15th
March at 6pm. We are looking forward to
welcoming them for this event. If you love
Evensong and would like to hear it beautifully
sung, put this date in your diary for a rare treat.
World day of Prayer – Friday 6th March
A service called ‘Praying with Zimbabwe’ will
be held at St Clare’s Church (off Fore Street)
at 2pm on Friday 6th March to mark the World
Day of Prayer. There will be refreshments
afterwards, including a special Zimbabwean
cake, and also its recipe for those who would
like to try making it. This is a service for
everyone, and all are welcome.
Lent Study Groups
These will be held on Wednesdays at 2pm
and 7pm at the Rectory, discussing Ruth
Valerio’s book ‘Saying Yes to Life’
Saturday 21st March - is the date for our next
Bi-Annual Church Spring-Clean. Is it really 2
years since our last cleaning bash? Yes, and
it’s time to give every nook and cranny,
cushion and pew of our beautiful building that
extra bit of TLC. I would welcome anyone who
can spare an hour or more between 9.30 and
lunchtime on that day to come along, with or
without their favourite vacuum or cleaning item.
Polish will be provided, as will refreshments to
maintain our energy levels. Not essential, but if
you think you can lend a hand I should be
grateful if you could let me know beforehand.
Many thanks in advance, Graham
(01728 723450 email: gjhaerle@icloud.com)
Prayer Corner – A Prayer for Lent
God of all wholeness, heal our hearts of all that
prevents us responding to our sisters and
brothers, excluded by poverty and prevented
from living a full and healthy life.
This Lent, may we:
implore justice through our prayer,
stand in solidarity through our fasting,
and reach out through our giving.
Send your life-giving power to revive the
weary, restore the broken, and renew the face
of the earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord

Amen