Recent Events

This page is forever "under construction" because we're forever having fun doing different things together, and we like to take photos at these events and put them up here so they can be enjoyed by others.  If you have pictures of a church event you'd be willing to share, please email the webmaster here so we can hook up with you.

So feel free to come back often and see what's new.  The most recent photos will always be at the top of the page.  

You see, the people of St Eds Way Benefice are all on a life-long journey together - trying to know, love and serve God better.  Think of these photos as milestones along this radical and exciting journey.

Welcoming Our New Assistant Curate and Celebrating Lawshall Re-Ordering

What a day we had on June 29th!  A service at the Cathedral, lunch at Great Whelnetham, and a Benefice Service to welcome Annette Shannon to the Benefice and to celebrate all the lovely work done to Lawshall Church.

Inside the lit room is a kitchen and loo! Archdeacon, Rector, Curate

Reverend Annette Shannon

Building Work Continues at Great Whelnetham, June 2008

The renovation of the North Aisle and re-ordering of the church continue.  Ray Hayhoe and a representative of Havebury Housing Partnership (who provided generously a portion of the funding) check on progress.

3rd Annual Clutterham Flower Festival, May 24-26 2008, at Nowton Church

Here are some photos of just a few of the eye-popping floral displays entered in this year's competition.

Display of Wartime Memorabilia, Saturday, November 10th, Lawshall

Set just before Remembrance Day, this popular occasion stimulated both happy and solemn thoughts -- as it should.

Harvest Service, Sunday, October 21 Great Whelnetham

Miss Megan Lovick created this lovely Harvest display for the Harvest Service.   Well done!!

Benefice Service, Sunday September 30

All Benefice services are joyous occasions, but this one may have set a new high!  Rev. James Longe was licensed as Assistant Priest, Margaret Eley was commissioned as a Lay Elder, and special prayer was conducted for Anne and Graham Shorter as Anne begins her journey to priesthood.  Here are a few pictures of the occasion.  

David, the Archdeacon of Sudbury licenses James,  

and commissions Margaret. Margaret is congratulated.

Special prayers for Anne and Graham.

Harvest Suppers

These are happy markers on our journey through the years - a chance to rejoice in God's provision for us - and our community together.  These pictures are from the Lawshall Event.

The "Diversity Collage" at September's Informal Worship

This demonstrated how rich we are in diversity.  If we let God work in us, together we can be something beautiful.  This poem prayer was read upon its completion:

 "God the Holy Trinity, whose dance spins in chaotic order, so grace our living as one and many; that we define ourselves not by how we differ, but by how we blend and weave in the sparkle of your design.  So may our lives worship you, weaver, thread and pattern."

The Labyrinth at August's Informal Worship

The Great Whelnetham Sound Portrait - May 2007

The twelfth century Church of St Thomas a Becket has witnessed the comings and goings, lives and loves of generations of Great Whelnetham people.  Supported by the Great and Little Whelnetham Parish Council and National Lottery grant funded, artist Breige Convery collected sounds and stories from village people to create The Great Whelnetham Sound Portrait, a fascinating and evocative reflection of life in the village today.

Exhibited in the church in May 2007, the portrait made connections between people, and across space and time.  Commemorative remix CDs were made to celebrate the village and the exhibition.

To hear a clip from the CD, click here.  

Here are a few photos from the exhibition.

Farewell to Rob and Jean

Presentation to Dennis Theobald for 50 years service as Church Warden!!

Nip-In Fun Continues!

Lots of people enjoy Nip-In as you can see by the faces.  You could be one of them...or maybe you already are!

Great Whelnetham Harvest Supper, October 14th

There have been lots of harvest activities across the Benefice lately.  Here are a few shots from the Gt Whelnetham Harvest Supper.

Mike and Kay entertain>    What life is really like in the Rectory>        

We are visited by Antipodeans>      

All ages enjoyed the evening>  

Ann and Graham performing dark arts>

FUN 4 U Activity Day, August 30th

Click a pic to make it even bigger.  Half of Suffolk came (well, Half-ish, anyway)!  Who says church is all old people?  See even more pics of this event at the TFM page

Lawshall Fete and Show, July 1st

Great summer weather for this and a fine time had by all.  Rachel Sloane from BBC Radio Suffolk did the "star turn."  Can you see yourself??

Rob's First Communion as a Priest, June 25th, Hawstead

It was an exciting day when Rob, our curate, was ordained as a priest.  After the ordination itself at the Cathedral, we had a lovely lunch at the Gt Whelnetham Community Centre.  Rob's First Communion followed at Hawstead church.  Remember to pray for Rob and Jean as they serve God and the Benefice.  Here are a few photos to enjoy.

Tuesday Fun and Madness Club's Special Fun Day at the Scout Camp, May 2006

This took place on May 30 in combination with the Cockfield Benefice.  Here are a few shots - to see more go to the "TFM Past" page.

Nip-In's "First Birthday Party" April 2006

This popular benefice activity has already been going for a year!  So everybody celebrated with a party.  That cake should win a prize in almost any baking competition.

A Fresh View of Our Churches, 2006

Recently, Breige Convery has done some photography in our churches as part of her art studies.  Two striking shots are included here.  We hope to feature more in coming months.  These were shot at Hawstead Church.

Cameron Stout (winner of Big Brother 2003) meets teens at a EU4RIA event on April 6, 2006

Sneak Preview of the EU4RIA PortaKabin!!

Here's where it will be sited.  (Click to get a big view)

Here's what it looks like inside now...

And...outside

Benefice Barn Dance, Saturday February 26 2006

Confirmation Service, Sunday, September 11, 2005

What an exciting day!  The Bishop of Dunwich presided over this service at Hawstead Church.  He gave a great sermon and even admitted to visiting this website!  We watched with joy as a number of people marked a big milestone in their spiritual journeys.  Some, who were already baptized, were confirmed; others were baptized and confirmed.  Thanks to Elizabeth Clarke for this row of shots.

Rogation Sunday, 1st May, 2005

After the combined Benefice service at Stanningfield, we enjoyed lunch together at the Village Hall.  Afterwards many of the group went on a walk around the Parish and along part of the St Edmunds way itself.  We offered prayers for fields, families, and creatures along the way.  Though we did not actually pray for rain, we got some anyway, but it didn't dampen our spirits.  These photos are of the lunch.  Sadly the pictures of the walk didn't turn out.

On Palm Sunday weekend 2005,

the Benefice focused on Ministry.  On Saturday, teams studied how to use drama, music, art, etc in church services to make them more lively and effective.  On Palm Sunday itself, the benefice combined service was literally the result of the Saturday study.  The photos show some of the result.  Click on any of them to get a bigger version.