What comes to your mind when you see or hear the word CHURCH?
Do you picture a steepled building, dark
wooden pews, crosses, offering plates? Do you hear hearty singing? Or does church trigger childhood
memories of boredom-sermons-hymns-long bible readings; Sunday school teachers telling stories about
Samson and Delilah, David and his psalms, Noah and his ark, Daniel in the lion's den and, of course, Jesus?
Perhaps you experience again the texture of the wafer and the taste of watered-down wine at communion?
Do you remember a particular Sunday morning when a sermon gripped you as though you were the only one in
the congregation, or the moment you became a Christian?
Or does church bring other pictures to your mind? A wedding, a funeral, a Baptism, an exciting out-door
service, planning 'new' services, committee meetings, refreshments served in Tupperware dishes, that time
when you decided to commit your life to God.
When you see the word church, do you have good feelings? Like laughter? Warmth? Quietness? Acceptance?
Happiness? Awe? Love? Closeness to God? Or are your feelings negative? Like boredom? Anger? Confusion?
Guilt? Rejection? Does church remind you of arrogance, hostility, manipulation, anger, or irrelevance? Do you
think of it as a poor substitute for what is really important in your community and in the world?
The word 'Church' often dredges up memories and emotions from deep within. Some healthy, some painful,
most somewhere in between.
But the church is made up of people from our own communities. It is not the rather austere building - that
is just where we meet to be with fellow Christians - it is us, the people of our villages who make up God's
church here, with all our faults and inadequacies.
And it is changing. In the nigh on 50 years I have been a churchman I have seen so many positive changes.
Most importantly, in my opinion, the fellowship and friendliness between people who attend church services,
including non-regular attenders, which has become more pronounced and more genuine. We really do try to
follow Christ's great commandment to love everyone as ourselves.
Have you been to a normal Sunday church service recently? Give it a try you may be surprised by what you experience
you will certainly be made very welcome.
John Savage
Authorised Worship Assistant
Weddings, Baptism and Funerals
It is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people's lives. Here at The Waterside Group of Churches we will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals.
Waterside Scratch Band
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
WATERSIDE SCRATCH BAND – PRESS RELEASE
Meets: Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Ludham Church Room (Please check with a contact before coming, in case we are meeting elsewhere)
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
Forthcoming events:
Friday 3rd May - St Catherine’s Church, Ludham.
Informal evening concert of pieces composed by Scratch Band members during covid lockdown, accompanying the preview of an exhibition of hobbies and crafts created in lockdown, which will be on display over the weekend.
Saturday 18th May – Ludham Methodist Church.
To celebrate the chapel’s anniversary; an evening of sacred songs, hymns and choruses – join us for a jolly good sing!
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes.
The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
New member Dianne comments:
Hello, we are the scratch band, a group of musicians and singers who provide music and support for the Waterside Benefice (Ludham, Catfield and Potter Heigham Churches). We were formed some 10 years ago to provide music when there was no organist in the churches. And so now we attend all Benefice services and other special services in the church calendar. This Christmas we sang carols at Stalham Christmas event, sung to the residents at The Old Vicarage, Ludham. We were also found singing carols in the The Crown Public House Catfield one of our more unusual venues. Our happy band could also be heard in all three churches over Christmas. The final feather in our cap was a spot on Radio Norfolk singing our own very special rendition of While Shepherds.
My name is Dianne, and I am one of the new members of the band. I enjoy singing but never felt brave enough to join a choir. So when the bands leader David Frost invited me to become a member of the Scratch Band and I went along in fear and trepidation but I can honestly say is the best decision I made. There’s music, laughter and fellowship at our weekly meetings and I now really hate to miss a meeting. I urge anyone who loves to sing or play and perhaps a little hesitant about joining to come and give us a try. There’s no audition.
There is also a social side to our group and for Burns Night this year we had a haggis neeps and tatties supper followed by the traditional dessert of Cranach. The haggis was piped in by one of our musicians Ros Wilson and the address was given by another of our musicians Eilish. Once we had all enjoyed our supper we were treated to a very informative and enjoyable talk by Dr Zena Aldridge on “Dementia Awareness”. The whole evening was a huge success.
So having read all about us, I hope it’s whet your appetite and made you just a-bit curious about us
THE SCRATCH BAND.
Would You Like To Be More Involved In Your Local Church
All are welcome. We need musicians, readers, singers for the
choir/worship group, people who would like to pray, worship
assistants, help with buildings and maintenance.
People to help
with youth and children's work, people who would like to help
with pastoral care, fundraising people.
Would you like to host a house group or fellowship group?
There are many opportunities for all.
Please come along to one of our churches and speak to a Churchwarden.
The Waterside
