September, a month of new beginnings
I'm sure we all remember our first day at school, I know I do. For some who have older siblings
already at school it is following in their footsteps, already having an idea of what to expect. For
many others, this will be a completely new experience with no idea of what is to come. Many will
have attended some form of pre-school and will already have familiar faces around them as they
enter primary school. We are very fortunate that our schools in Ludham and Catfield are very much
part of our communities and have close links with our churches.
Young people leaving the intimacy of our village schools and transferring to secondary are taking
another very big step forward in their lives. Then on to college and maybe university. All these
important steps inyoung people's lives happen at this time of the year. We pray for them all.
Father God, we thank you for the precious gift of education and the first day at school. We thank
you for the days to come and for learning and growing.
We pray for peace for those for whom school is a blessed escape and for parents anxious for their
little ones. We pray for patience and energy for teachers and support staff. We pray that children
may be courageous and kind to one another. We pray that they will each fulfil their potential and
that you will fire up their imagination and creativty. We pray that you will protect them and keep
them safe. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen
Lynda 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
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.