As the leaves turn to their Autumn glory, the air cools, the evenings draw in, it is a temptation to sit by the fire and withdraw, if not hibernate until the rustle of Spring 2003.

Mindful of the change in temperature, one of our new initiatives, in the form of a monthly Healing Service, will be moving from its summer home at Great Hautbois to St John the Baptist beginning on Sunday 17th November at 6.30 pm, when the preacher will be Canon Malory Makower. This service has quietly established itself over the past few months and is open to all, with the opportunity for the laying on of hands, anointing and also, if you wish, to receive Holy Communion, you get to choose the hymns too.

Healing is about wholeness and to this end the Church always offers ongoing support and your parish clergy are always available to listen and give such support in confidence, so please take us up on this offer, after all our Lord himself was a 'Wonderful Counsellor'1, his personal meetings with Nicodemus2, a good but fearful man who became a 'secret' supporter of Jesus, and famously the Scarlet Woman at the Well3, moved on by her encounter into a more wholesome lifestyle and healthier acceptance of herself, are two illustrations of how the ministry of listening which we call Counselling, is part of the Ministry of the Church and is, as I've said, offered in its most simple form by all Parish priests. Sometimes the issues men and women are dealing with need more time and structured commitment on both sides to 'see it through', luckily there are people and places which can offer this structured commitment, Norwich has The St Barnabas Centre for one, where this help and support can be








received and if you feel that you would like to be listened to by someone outside of your circle of family and friends, please consider this option by telephoning Norwich 625222 and asking for more details.

With such a wonderfully uplifting beginning to Autumn, enjoyed by so many, in our Ministry of Flowers at St John the Baptist it is important to build on such inspiration right through the depths of winter, and make sure that the dedication of Gisela Revill and her helpers, for which we give all our thanks and love, is not forgotten.

Don' t be sad or depressed by the turning of another year, give thanks for what you have learned and enjoyed so far throughout this year and be ready for more opportunities to learn in worship, and one to one care and support and the knowledge that Coltishall Benefice Summer Fete committee has already met and has surprises in store for 7th June 2003, 2 - 5 pm at Horstead, so I hope you will agree there is plenty to celebrate as Autumn moves majestically into winter and beyond.

1 Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6 2 John Chapter 3 3 John Chapter 4

Lorna Wood