2016 04 05 (web version) apr may

The Ismere Messenger

The magazine of The Parish of Kidderminster Ismere

www.ismere.co.uk www.facebook.com/kidderminsterismere

APRIL/MAY 2016 50p

The Ismere Messenger, page 2

Kidderminster Ismere Team Ministry

Team Rector

Revd. Canon Rose Lawley (Day off – Saturday)

186 Birmingham Road, DY10 2SJ

email: [email protected] Tel: 01562 748274

Team Clergy

Revd. Jan Ashton (Day off – Friday)

50 Nursery Grove, Franche, DY11 5BG


Revd. Nigel Taylor (Day off - Monday)

42 Woodlands Road, Cookley, DY10 3TL


Revd. Alex Vaccaro (Day off – Monday)

18 Batham Road, DY10 2TN


Readers

Sue Bullock

7 Kings Road, DY11 6YU


Ian Strongman

9 Benton Court, DY11 6YY


PARISH OFFICE

Arrangements for Baptisms. Marriages, reading Banns, interviews and other

enquiries can be made at:-

St Mary’s Chantry: each Tuesday and Thursday between 6.30 and 7.15pm

or contact The Parish Office:

St Mary’s Chantry, Churchfields, Kidderminster, DY10 2JN

Tuesdays - Fridays 10.00am – 12 noon.

Tel: 01562 751923 or email: [email protected]


Letter from Jan April/May 2016

Dear Friends,

Our Welcome Starts by Inviting People

Last weekend I learnt first-hand about how a church can fail

in its welcome.

My daughter, Kathy, had finished her chemo that week and I

was grateful to God my prayers had been answered. All 8

chemos, although they made her very poorly, went ahead without any life-

threatening side-effects. (Thanks for your prayers too).

Last weekend Chris and I went to North Wales for 3 days. As I drove there I

thought I would find a church and kneel down and say ‘Thank you Lord for your

goodness to Kathy.’

On the Friday and Saturday, the weather being sunny, we walked and passed many

churches. Every single one was locked. However, just down the hill from our

holiday studio flat was a large church, the main Anglican church of the town. I

decided I’d go to the main Sunday service before setting off back to Kidderminster

and say my prayer.

Saturday teatime I investigated the church to try and find if there was a service and

when it was. There was no noticeboard, no notices on the door, nothing to say there

would be a service. We looked at the local paper. Lots of churches advertising but

not this one. I did have my holiday landlady’s mobile number so I texted her if she

knew. She said she did - Eucharist at 10am.

At 9.50am we arrived to find some cars but no people. The door was locked. There

was no sign. Perhaps there’s another door (I remembered St Mary’s!) and there was

indeed a side door but it was closed. It did open into a curtain, into disorientating

darkness. I fumbled and pushed a second door and I entered into an empty church.

Still no signs saying anything. It was a chilly morning so I thought (St Mary’s

again) perhaps they are in the side chapel. This took some finding but eventually we

found where the service was.

Although we were late (the service started at 9.30am but it used to start at 10am),

we were welcomed and made to feel at home.

Leaving the church I felt as if I’d been at a secret society. But I think if you accused

that congregation of not being welcoming they would be insulted citing the

welcome they give when people come. But they aren’t a welcoming church, not

really. They didn’t really want people to come or they would have invited me. How

can churches be welcoming if they don’t invite people?


Once again, I was reminded that a welcome starts way before someone comes into

the building. Any welcome starts with an invitation to come. Jesus says ‘Come all

you who are heavy laden.’ He has invited us and we at some point in our lives have

accepted that invitation. So now we invite others.

I wondered how we, Kidderminster Ismere, would fare. What is our welcome like?

Are we inviting people to our services?

I decided to do a spot check! This afternoon (Friday before Mothering Sunday) I

drove around our 7 churches to see if any holidaymakers, or indeed anyone wanting

to come to church, could they find out when the next service was?

Also this Sunday is Mothering Sunday, a good excuse to invite those on the fringe

of the church and new people to our services - a particularly good time to invite and

welcome people.

Did all of our 7 churches pass the test of welcoming people by inviting them to our

church?

The Good News

Hoorah, all 7 churches had information about times of services.

The Even Better News

5 of our churches had a specific invitation to a Mothering Sunday service this

Sunday.

St Peter’s, Upper Arley - wins the prize for the best invitation. On the A442 there

was a huge banner inviting us to their service. Very well done.

Holy Trinity, Trimpley and St Peter’s, Cookley had A3 colourful invitations.

Trimpley’s mentioned puppets coming and Cookley’s mentioned tea and flowers.

Both were eye-catching. Well done!

St Barnabas, Franche and St John’s, Wolverley had A4 adverts but again they

were interesting and eye-catching.

I couldn’t find an invitation to a Mothering Sunday service at St Mary’s or St

Oswald’s. Perhaps they weren’t having a special service.

I’m going to a party tomorrow night to celebrate an 80th Birthday. I don’t just know

about this party but I’ve had an invitation. On Sundays we have a celebration of our

Lord’s resurrection. We need to welcome people by inviting them. This can be

verbal or in written form. We are not a secret society. People might come if they are

invited. Oh, they won’t come, we complain. But they won’t if they’re not invited!

Let’s be more dynamic in our invitations. Let’s put welcome on our DCC’s

Agendas and hold ourselves accountable on how we are welcoming those around


us. Let’s plan to target key services and put the welcome out there. Leaflets or

banner or posters - let’s invite people.

Thank you St Peter’s, Upper Arley for showing us how to invite thousands of

people who pass your sign. Thank you to all you in the 5 churches who made and

displayed those invitations.

Yours in Christ,

Jan

Letter from the Bishop of Dudley

Easter people are thankful people.

Throughout this year, I’ve been offering to spend an hour or so

visiting all of our licensed clergy at home.

These visits have been one way of interpreting that part of a bishop’s calling to

serve and care for the flock of Christ, to love and pray for those I seek to serve, and

to know them and be known by them.

What a blessing for me these times have been. It has been a privilege to share in

laughter, tears, happiness and worries. Some conversations have looked back

regretfully to a lost era, whilst others have been thankful. Some have looked

forward with concern, whilst others have held optimism and renewed hope.

Thankfully I haven’t heard the expletives engendered by a visit from Bishop

Brennan on Father Ted, nor had Carnation milk accidently poured over me as in the

young and sporty bishop’s visit to Susan and the ambitious Geoffrey in one of Alan

Bennett’s monologues!

Throughout our diocese I have met incredible clergy colleagues, deeply committed

to their vocation and the ministry entrusted to them, highly skilled in what they do,

often working very long hours. There is also a sadness from many that sometimes

life is made harder by those parishioners who appear quick to criticise.

This is reflected in some of the letters and emails that I receive. Rarely do I receive

a message praising the many thousands of positive aspects those in ministry share

each week.

We seem to live in an age of negativity. What would it be like, I wonder, if in this

season of Easter joy we were to turn our minds to an age of appreciation?

The Resurrection hope turned the negative, downcast thoughts of the disciples into

joy and thanksgiving. Being Easter people means living thankful lives, and the


people of Thessalonica where encouraged to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5.16-18).

That’s also good advice to us. Lest I be misunderstood, I’m not advocating a ‘Hug a

Vicar Day’ or a ‘Priest Appreciation Society’! However, if we begin by being

thankful for those around us, including those we pray and journey with at church,

I’m sure we will also see our appreciation of all that God has done for us lit up in

new ways with the rays of Resurrection light.

+Graham

Diary for April (please check “Messenger Xtra” for any last-minute changes)

1st 8.30am Holy Communion at St. Mary’s

3rd

2nd

Sunday of Easter

8.00am Holy Communion at St. Mary’s

9.30-11.00am Youth Alpha meeting at Holy Trinity

9.30am Morning Prayer at St. Oswald’s

9.30am Family Service & Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

9.30am All Age service at St. Barnabas

10.30am Mayor’s Sunday service at St. Mary’s

11.00am Holy Communion at St. John’s, Wolverley

11.00am Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Upper Arley

6.30pm Holy Communion at St. Mary’s

6.30pm Bereavement Service at St. Barnabas

4th Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary

6th 10.00am Holy Communion at St. John’s, Wolverley

7th 10.30am Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

8th


10th 3

rd Sunday of Easter


9.30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity

9.30am Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

9.30am Holy Communion at St. Oswald’s

9.30am Holy Communion at St. Barnabas


11.00am Worship4All at St. John’s, Wolverley

11.00am Morning Prayer at St. Peter’s, Upper Arley

6.30pm Evensong at St. John’s


12th

3.30-5.00pm “Jam and Bread” in Arley Memorial Hall

13th


14th


15th


17th

4th

Sunday of Easter


9.30am All Age service at Holy Trinity



9.30am Morning Prayer at St. Barnabas

10.30am Worship4All at St. Mary’s



6.30pm Evening Prayer St. Barnabas

19th

10.00am Mothers’ Union Corporate Communion at St. Barnabas

20th


21st 10.30am Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

22nd


23rd

George, martyr, patron of England, c.304

24th

5th

Sunday of Easter


9.30am Morning Prayer at Holy Trinity




10.30am Saint George’s Day service at St. Mary’s

11.00am Morning Praise at St. John’s, Wolverley


6.30pm Healing Service at St. Peter’s, Cookley

25th

Mark the Evangelist

27th


28th


29th



Diary for May (please check “Messenger Xtra” for any last-minute changes)

1st 6

th Sunday of Easter


9.30-11.00am Youth Alpha meeting at Holy Trinity

9.30am Family Service & Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

9.30am Morning Prayer at St. Oswald’s

9.30am All Age service at St. Barnabas




6.30pm Evensong at St. Mary’s

2nd

Philip and James, Apostles


5th Ascension Day


Archdeacons Visitation – St. Georges, Kidderminster

6th


8th 7

th Sunday of Easter [Sunday after Ascension Day]


9.30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity

9.30am Morning Prayer at St. Peter’s, Cookley




11.00am Worship4All at St. John’s, Wolverley


6.30pm Evensong at St. John’s

10th 3.30-5.00pm “Jam and Bread” in Arley Memorial Hall


12th 10.30am Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Cookley

13th


Deadline for next edition of “The Messenger”

14th Matthias the Apostle


15th

Pentecost [Whit Sunday]


9.30am All Age service at Holy Trinity



9.30am Morning Prayer at St. Barnabas

10.30am Worship4All at St. Mary’s



3.00pm Praise in the Park at Broadwaters

17th

10.00am Mothers’ Union Corporate Communion at St. Barnabas

18th


19th


20th


22nd

Trinity Sunday


9.30am Morning Prayer at Holy Trinity





11.00am Morning Praise at St. John’s, Wolverley


6.30pm Evening Prayer at St. Peter’s, Cookley

25th


26th

Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of the Holy Communion

(Corpus Christi)


27th


Next edition of “The Messenger” published

29th

1st Sunday after Trinity [Proper 4]


No Service at St. Peter’s, Cookley

9.30am Holy Communion at St. Oswald’s (with Cookley)


10.30am Morning Prayer at St. Mary’s



6.30pm Iona/Taize service at St. Barnabas

31st Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth


From the Parish Registers

Baptisms

We have been advised that the baptism details given for Bobbie May

WARD-STEAD and Zachary William John HAYWOOD were printed with

the date as 6th

September; this should have been 11th

October 2015. 10

th January Darcey Flo DANCE at St. John’s, Wolverley

17th January George Kenneth WOODS at St. Marys

24th January Sienna Rose MANDER at St. Marys

31st January Lily Rose HACKETT at St. John’s, Wolverley

31st January Frankie Harriet DRIVER at St. John’s, Wolverley

1st February Darren POOK at St. Barnabas

1st February Shirley POOK at St. Barnabas

1st February Joanne ROBINSON at St. Barnabas

1st February Sally ROBINSON at St. Barnabas

6th February Anna RATCLIFFE at St. Barnabas

6th February Ben RATCLIFFE at St. Barnabas

7th February Evelyn June Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN at St. John’s, Wolverley

14th February Francesca Elizabeth CALVERT at St. Barnabas

21st February Jake Ryan Thomas ADDISON at St. Mary’s

21st February Audrey Grace TYRER at St. John’s, Wolverley

21st February Harvey David BAKER at St. Mary’s

28th February Quinn Havana Bee COWLEY at St. Mary’s

28th February Linden Jackson DOWNING at St. Mary’s

Funerals 7

th January Terrence Leslie BUNYAN (81) at St. Peter’s, Cookley

8th January Kenneth George ADDISON (90) at St. John’s, Wolverley

14th January Glyn Thomas WILLIAMS (81) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

15th January Raymond SHEPHERD at Wyre Forest Crematorium

19th January Clifford Thomas GRIFFIN (94) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

19th January Michael William STONE (79) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

22nd

January Walter PATRICK (69) at St. Peter’s, Cookley

22nd

January Christopher HUGHES (66) at St. John’s, Wolverley

23rd

January Philip Anthony GARBETT (56) at St. Peter’s, Upper Arley

27th January Peter James ROGERS (85) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

27th January Isabella Luna KNIGHT-HOLMES at St. Peter’s, Cookley

28th January Frederick Alan RUSSELL (74) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

4th February Dennis Clifford SOUTHWICK (86) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

8th February Marjorie Hilda FRENCH (93) at Stourbridge Crematorium

15th February Maureen Ann BIRCH (69) at St. John’s, Wolverley


15th

February Lionel Henry GUEST (60) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

19th

February Derek Charles GIBBINS (85) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

23rd

February Robert REES (64) at Wyre Forest Crematorium

25th

February Leonard Thomas GITTENS (87) at St. Barnabas

Interment of Ashes

31st January Edith Eileen SUTTON at St. Peter’s, Cookley

6th

February Kenneth George ADDISON at St. John’s, Kidderminster

17th

February Dan BODEN at St. John’s, Wolverley

18th

February Dorothy SALT at St. Peter’s, Cookley

PCC AWAY DAY

N THE 30th January the PCC (Parochial Church Council) had an Away

Day. It was held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Stourport and

was attended by the majority of the PCC members.

The Revd Canon Jonathan Kimber who is the Director of Ministry and Discipleship

in the Diocese led the day for us, which was focused on ‘Welcome’. We began

with worship led by Revd Nigel and then moved into our first session on ‘Why

Welcome’ followed by coffee and the second getting us to think about ‘Welcome -

but how?’

Following an excellent sandwich lunch we looked at welcome in our own particular

context with each individual church talking in their groups about how they welcome

now and what could be done to enhance or improve what was already happening.

We asked each church to decide on two priorities to concentrate on and after six

months they would bring back to the PCC a report on how it was going, if it was

working and whether it had made a difference.

You may already have noticed something different in your own particular church, if

not why not ask either the Churchwardens or the PCC members for your church

what was the focus for your church.

Welcome is very important, and getting it right can make all the difference to

someone new who after making the decision to come to church can result in their

decision as to whether they come again or not.

Romans 15:7

‘Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.’

Rose Team Rector

O


News & Views -

From Upper Arley

Parish Church of St. Peter

Mothering Sunday

E HAD A wonderful service on Mothering Sunday taken by the

children of Upper Arley CofE Primary school. The children told stories

of mums who made lovely meals and gavelots and lots of love. There

were many tears but plenty of laughter. Thanks to the staff of Upper Arley CofE

Primary school who gave up their morning with their own mums to bring us a very

special occasion. Thanks also to Louvain and Alex who led the service.

(See photo on page 27)

Jam and Bread

Second Tuesday of every month 3:30pm at Arley Memorial Hall

UR “JAM AND BREAD” sessions are proving a real hit. We now have 14

children coming to join us for bible stories, games, singing, craft and tea!

We have a lovely time. Anyone can join us; come and see what it’s all

about – we would love to see you.

Anita Perkins

From Trimpley

Church of The Holy Trinity

S WE GO to press Trimpley Church roof has begun its replacement. It has

been re-lathed and found to have a ton of rubble left under the former

lathing which could have come through the roof at any time. This was only

done at the turn of the century, so we hope that future generations will not have any

trouble. Of course, it all costs money; we have an ongoing appeal but not too much

has come in. If you can help, please get in touch. (See photo on page 27)

Other than that, services are going on as usual (with a little extra cleaning) – we are

praying for better weather.

A Happy Easter to you all.

Val Corfield

W

O

A


From Cookley

Parish Church of St. Peter

Cookley Parish Church 100 Club – winning numbers

January

1st Prize Number 4 £15.00

2nd

Prize Number 11 £9.00

3rd


February


2nd


3rd


Congratulations to all winners.

Envelope Scheme - St Peter's Church, Cookley

OST PEOPLE have now received the new set of envelopes for the

coming year for their church collection. If anyone does not already

contribute through the envelope scheme and would like to do so, please

let one of the churchwardens or myself know. There are two advantages from the

church's point of view, the first is that when people are on holiday or have a Sunday

'off' they can still put their contribution in the envelope and put it on the plate the

next time they come to church. It helps the church work out its budget if they have

an idea of what income it will receive, just like any household.

The second advantage is that if people are tax payers, they can Gift Aid and the

church can reclaim the tax from all their contributions, just ask me for a Gift Aid

form. Sometimes because of changing circumstances or changes in the tax system,

it may be that people who have already signed Gift Aid forms no longer pay tax, if

this is the case, again please let me know as I cannot claim a refund if you do not

pay tax.

There are some people who do not attend church regularly for one reason or another

but still like to make a contribution to the upkeep of the church. They do this by

having envelopes or making a Standing Order. All of this is a great help to us to

plan our finances and pay our bills. Everyone likes to see a well maintained church

and churchyard with heating and lighting, so please help us to achieve this. If you

would like any further information or help, please let me know.

Marlene Broomhead

(Gift Aid secretary)

Tel: 01562 824743

M


The Friends of St. Peter's Church

Y THE TIME you read this report we will have already held our Spring

Fayre which is our first event of the year held in Cookley Village Hall, I

hope that it was a success. Our knitters have been knitting bunnies and

chicks for some weeks now for the event and at this moment we have sold £100

worth of our Easter goodies and hope to sell more before Easter. Our thanks to

Westley Court who as usual are doing a grand job of selling them for us. The

gardens around the church are looking very Spring like, the 'Friends' pay for the

plants but Jean Falloon is the good lady who plants them all out for us and looks

after them and they are a welcome sight when people come to the church.

The list of future dates for your diaries is as follows:

Sat 11th

June 2pm to 4pm - Strawberry teas on church lawn, weather permitting

otherwise in the church

Sat 2nd

July 2pm to 4pm - Church Garden Party on church lawn

Sat 16th July - Coach trip to Llandudno leaving Cookley Post Office at 9am

Fri 7th

October - Harvest Supper in Cookley Village Hall

Sat 8th

Oct 2pm to 4pm - Autumn Fayre in Cookley Village Hall

Sat 26th November 2pm to 4pm - Church Christmas Bazaar in Cookley Village Hall

Sat 3rd

Dec - Christmas shopping trip to Bristol leaving Cookley Post Office at 9am

If you are interested in the coach trips please contact Pam Poxon on 01562 850971.

The cost is £11.00 per person.

Many thanks to all our supporters and I hope to see you at our events this year.

Marlene Broomhead (01562 824743)

From Broadwaters

Church of St. Oswald

B

St. Oswald’s Church Centre

For Parties, Wedding Receptions, Anniversaries, etc.

Further information from:

Mrs. Ros Page on 01562 751265


Not Many Left Now

O YOU READ obituaries in the newspapers? I wouldn't say that I 'read'

them; rather more a case of scanning through the names, when, now and

then, I come across one that I think may be of interest. This would usually

be either a sports personality or someone from show-business, and there have been

a few of those recently, Wogan and Bowie to name but two, but regularly there are

those of military personnel with distinguished Second World War service. A scan

through these can reveal some extraordinary tales of daring-do and bravery. Every

time I read such a military obituary, I find it hard to believe the age of those

concerned; most of them are in their mid-nineties. Of course, they will be; the war

ended 71 years ago! Then, I stop to consider. How many more of these war heroes

are still alive? There cannot be many left now. We need to honour their exploits

before the time comes when they have all gone.

A recent obituary that caught my eye was that of Flt Lt Eric Garland, who died on

17th

January at the age of 95. Eric's military service was unusual in that he was

initially a soldier, later joining the RAF. A thrice-decorated soldier, fighter pilot and

escapee, he saw action at Dunkirk, in Lebanon and in Italy, being awarded the

Military Cross twice for gallantry.

As a 20 year-old officer in the York and Lancaster Regiment he was awarded the

MC for conspicuous bravery for rescuing 3 men from a burning ammunition store

during an intense bombing raid during the retreat to Dunkirk. Within 12 months, he

won a Bar to his MC as a commando during the invasion of Syria-Lebanon. It was

while training as a commando in the Scottish Highlands that he learnt that an enemy

bomb had hit his home in Surrey, killing his 17-year-old sister and the family dog.

In 1942 he transferred to the RAF as a fighter reconnaissance pilot and was

immediately given the nickname 'Judy'. In May 1944 he was shot down over

Cassino in Italy, baling out from his burning Spitfire and was captured, suffering

from severe leg wounds and burns. His family were told to assume him dead, and it

was 12 months before they found out he was still alive. Despite his wounds, 'Judy'

made several escape attempts, succeeding on the fourth attempt in June 1944, by

jumping from the window of a hospital train taking him to a PoW camp in

Germany. He headed south, and, while attempting to walk from Lake Garda to

Cremona, spent 60 days hiding in a false wall of a barn while his injuries healed,

supported by friendly Italian families. Continuing south, he joined up with partisans

until, in April 1945, he managed to cross the lines in the Po valley and met up with

US forces. On 4th May he was able to re-join his RAF squadron, amidst great

celebrations. In 1947 Eric Garland was appointed MBE for his services as a PoW

and his actions with the partisans.

D


Well, what a man! What a hero! We have heard stories, read books, seen films, of

similar military exploits during World War II but there were many such characters

who did not come to prominence, Eric being one of them. How many now are still

alive? Surely, not many. We need to thank God for their deeds and say thank you to

them.

Brian Murkett

St. Oswald’s News

E CELEBRATED the New Year with our LEP Covenant Service with

Revd. Nick and Revd. Nigel.

Brian, Sue and Sheila went to the PCC Away Day at St. Michael’s –

giving us fresh ideas on being a welcoming church.

The Peruvian Pancake Evening was an entertainment with Jan, Sue and David all

cooking pancakes. This was followed by a video about the work of the Anglican

Church in Peru.

Our Patronal Festival was celebrated with Revd. Canon Rose – a joyful occasion,

followed by a meal at “The Island Pool”. Yes, more food!

Future Dates:

Saturday 14th

May Friends of Broadwaters Plant Sale in Broadwaters Park

and Coffee Morning at Broadwaters Methodist Church

(the latter to raise money for Christian Aid).

15th to 21

st May Christian Aid Week.

Sunday 15th May Pentecost LEP. Praise in the Park on St. Oswald’s Green

plus tea and cake.

Sheila Mason

W


From Wolverley

Parish Church of St. John the Baptist

The Souper Girls are at it Again!

Friday, 8th

April 2016 from 12 noon to 2:30pm at Wolverley Church Hall

ENN, JOY, JUDE AND ANITA are once again offering a soup lunch

consisting of a selection of homemade soups, fresh crusty bread, a piece of

homemade cake, a cup of tea or coffee - all for £5.

All proceeds go to Christian Aid.

In the years we have been doing these lunches, we have raised almost £4,000 for

this very worthy cause.

We do a fabulous raffle, no rubbish prizes. All we ask is that you

buy a couple of tickets.

Please come and support us. Where else would you get such a

fantastic lunch for such a small price? Anita Perkins

Oft Wondered

“Not a word”

HE GOLDEN RULE for a lecturers is “If you have nothing to say, say

nothing”. It is, however, equally true that, if the world is terrible and people

are being cruel and un- Christian and we have so much we want to say, we

also become speechless. In the face of a heartless society we can so easily be

overwhelmed and become the silent majority. There are many difficult complex

issues that people are deeply emotional about but do not feel strong enough to speak

out on their own. Hence, the evil and selfish come to power. The silent majority

suffer in silence and feel guilty about being too weak to rebel.

The old story about “The Emperor has no clothes” is far too simple but yet

describes what we do. For fear of being out of line or causing a fuss, we do not

speak out.

J

T

Wolverley Church Hall

All enquiries should be made to:

Richard Thomas on 01562 742768


The close friends of Jesus had the same problem after the terrible execution of their

leader. Their world became unsafe and unspeakably awful. They just kept their

heads down and met in secret to moan that their great movement of change and

good had stalled.

It took the massive shock of the visitation at Pentecost to get even these “holy men”

to speak out and “stick their necks out”. They had the power of the Holy Spirit to

strengthen them. They were given the skills to speak to all types of people. They

were given the courage to say what they believed.

It was like the end of the training course and the final rousing lecture with words

such as :-

“You know what needs to be done; You have the skills; From here on success is in

your own hands”

In the days of the Roman rule in the Holy Land, however, that was a very dangerous

thing to do and some were killed, but it had to be done.

There are things in today’s world that we find appalling and wrong but we keep

quiet. Perhaps it is time for the church to use its collective power to speak plainly,

strongly and directly.

Perhaps the C of E. should not be a place for the silent majority to pray but rather

for a new vocal majority to find their voice and call a halt to un-Christian laws and

behaviour. The ground swell is there with Justin Selby and the new collaborations

with the Roman and Orthodox churches. With our support, words like “Peace”

“Fairness” “Love thy neighbour” and “Us” will replace the current focus on “Me” “

My rights” “Profit” and “Power”.

David Alexander

St. John the Baptist, Wolverley

LIGHT UP THE CHURCH [See page 19]

We illuminate the Church at Wolverley every night to form a focal

point for the village. We give everyone the opportunity to sponsor the

lighting. YOU can celebrate a birthday, a wedding anniversary, or the

memory of a loved one. In fact – any reason. This is available to

everyone, even if we don’t see you in church often, although that

would be nice too!

Enquiries to Shirley 07817 731023


Wolverley Parish Church 100 Club – winning numbers

January


2nd


3rd


Congratulations to all winners.

Wolverley Ladies Fellowship

N MONDAY, 25th April, David Berry will be “Having a humorous look at

retirement”, very apt for most of us, then for our May meeting, on Monday

23rd

we shall be going out for our annual dinner.

Having a look back now, the jumble sale in February, although there were fewer

buyers, we managed to raise an amount which always helps with costs of speakers,

the Hall etc. Marlene Watson, the speaker on 22md February, with her Black

Country humour was enjoyed by everyone at the meeting, very entertaining.

The meeting in March, at the time of writing has not yet taken place, so looking

forward to that now. Come along to the meeting in the Church Hall at 7.30pm on

Monday 25th April.

Mary

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CHURCH FLOODLIGHTING SPONSORSHIP So far this year, the scheme has raised £50 for church funds

APRIL

8th Trevor Hodgson; Loved and missed

17th Bill and Sylvia Bennett's 68

th Wedding Anniversary

30th In memory of Reg Berry

MAY

1st Bill Bennett's 90

th Birthday

1st Sylvia Bennett's 87

th Birthday

14th Celebrating the marriage of Dominic Gramann and Toni-Jayne Bouncer

16th In memory of Marion Hart

16th Rachel's Birthday

28th Birthday memories of Gordon Blackham

Sincere thanks to all who have contributed (and continue to contribute).

Your support is so much appreciated, Shirley.


From Franche

Church of St. Barnabas

What’s On

N SATURDAY 2nd

April, Robert Barber is giving a talk called “Memories

are made of this”. The talk is at 7.00pm in the Community Hall, the charge

is £5 on the door, to include tea or coffee and biscuits.

Our annual Plant Sale is on Saturday 14th May at St. Barnabas’ Church from

10.00am to 2.00pm. Come along to buy this year’s bean and tomato plants plus lots

of other plants.

On Friday 20th

May at 7.00pm, in St. Barnabas Church, Nigel Gilbert is giving a

talk on “The History of Franche”. The cost will be £7.50 on the door to include a

glass of wine or fruit juice plus nibbles! The last time that Nigel did a talk for us the

place was packed, so come along early to get a good seat!

We are holding these events to raise funds to go towards the Parish Share. Please

come along to support us! Many thanks.

Janice Gillam; Treasurer of St. Barnabas Church

T. BARNABAS have started a Craft Club where everyone is welcome to

come along with any craft or hobby. The first session was held on Monday

7th

March and was extremely stimulating! If you have a craft that you love

doing and are willing to share ideas with like-minded people, then you’ve found a

new group; even if you haven't a craft or hobby please come and bring a friend and

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St. Barnabas Community Hall

is available for hire; short term or long term.

It has parking, large hall, kitchen and accessible toilets.

Telephone Polly for more details:

07505 361564 (after 6pm)

Wolverley Memorial Hall

Quiz night at Memorial Hall Wolverley on the 15th April. Doors open at

7pm for 7.30 start. £10.00 a table of four.

All welcome.


enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and biscuits; there’s no charge. Meriel and Anita were

both complete newcomers to crochet and knitting but with the help of friends, were

able to complete a passable piece of work (they were promised it would get better!)

We are holding these meetings on the 1st and 3

rd Monday of each month (except

Bank Holidays) from 2.00 to 4.00 in the Community Hall.

(See photos on page 28)

For further details contact Jill Jackson K.67922 or Margaret Lillis K.741472.

St. Barnabas Mother’s Union

N 6TH

APRIL our speaker will be Liz Green the Diocesan President and

she will be sharing with us her time spent at a Buckingham Palace Garden

Party.

4th

May we welcome Beryl Jackson sister of Rene who will be sharing her

experience of her trip to Peru which is very appropriate as we are as a team

supporting a student in Peru. Meetings take place at 14 Woodland Avenue.

Corporate communion will be on Tuesday 19th

April and Tuesday 17th May; 10

o’clock St Barnabas church followed by coffee and biscuits.

All are welcome to join us at the monthly meetings and corporate communion.

Chris Lewis

From Kidderminster

Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints

St. Mary & All Saints Church – Roof Appeal

OLLOWING THE THEFT of lead from the roof on the north of the church

last year an appeal was set up for donations towards the expected cost of up

to £50,000 needed to cover the repairs required. This includes a cost of

about £10,000 to repair part of the organ damaged by the rainwater.

We have been asked for an update as to how much has been raised.

To week-ending 6th March the sum of £9,164.91 has been received in donations and

a payment of £15,000 from the insurance company making the total of £24,164.91

just under half of what is required.

We are very grateful to all those who have given so generously and to those who

have promised financial help during this year, like the ‘On the Floor Theatre

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Company’ who are putting on a production of ‘Godspell’ in the church over three

nights in April with all proceedings going to the roof fund.

All donations are welcome, no matter how large or small. One initiative was the

giving out of tubes of Smarties to members of the congregation and others and

asking them to put £1/week in the empty tube after eating its contents first of

course. This on its own has raised almost £1,000 – amazing!

So on behalf of St Mary’s, once again may I say a big thank you to everyone, not

only for the money but also for the support and encouragement you have given us

during what has been quite a difficult time for us all.

Rose The Revd Canon Rose Lawley

Team Rector; Kidderminster Ismere Parish

Mothering Sunday

BIG “Thank You” to the four ladies who helped to assemble over 100

posies for Mothering Sunday at St. Mary’s.

Also, “Thank You” to St. Mary’s Ladies Fellowship for supplying the

Daffodils.

Barbara F. Preece

TEWARDING AT ST. MARY’S will commence on Monday 2nd

May daily

from 11am until 3pm.

We would still like to have more Stewards on our Rota. Please will you

consider this important part of our church life. It only involves 2 hours of your time

once every fortnight from May until the beginning of October.

Further details from Rev. Rose or Peggy Guest

St. Mary’s Flower Rota

10th April Mrs Peggy Guest

24th April Mr and Mrs Alan Taylor

3rd

May Mrs Iris Baggott

8th May Mrs Judy Neale

22nd

May Mrs LizRobinson

A

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St. Mary’s Ladies Fellowship

UR PROGRAMME to date has included our New Year party with one of

the best buffets yet, and talks from some very different speakers.

Our 2016 programme, which has something for everyone, continues for the

next couple of months as follows:

27th

April Harvington Hall with Pat Green

11th

May The Swinging Sixties with Ray Sturdy

25th

May Life Before Ministry with Revd Nigel Taylor

8th

June A Royal Celebration with the Committee

Besides donating used stamps for Macmillan Cancer Care, the Ladies are now also

collecting items for a couple of other very worthy charities - plastic bottle tops for

Cancer Research and foil for the Severn Valley Railway. This not only helps with

our efforts to recycle as much as we can, but is also a really good way to help others

at no cost to ourselves. If you currently throw your used stamps, plastic bottle tops

or foil away, perhaps you would consider passing them on to us? They can be

handed to myself, Kath Elliott or any member of the Fellowship, or left in a clearly

marked bag at the back of St Mary’s church.

We shall continue to meet during the year on the second and fourth Wednesday of

every month, 7.30 p.m., in The Chantry, unless otherwise notified. Entry is just £1

per evening which includes tea/coffee and biscuits - sometimes cake! If you would

like to come to any of our meetings, please do come along - you will be very

welcome.

Further information regarding St Mary’s Ladies Fellowship can be obtained from

either myself on 01384 896798 or our Programme Secretary, Ann Stephenson, on

01562 639535.

Sue Coombes; Chairman

St Mary’s Get Together Group (dates for your diary)

18th

March Hot Cross Buns in the Chantry 3pm

22nd

April Visit to Rowberry’s Nursery and Garden Centre 10:30

9th June Celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday with Afternoon Tea at 3pm

in the Chantry. Tickets £6:50

12th

August Bodenham Arboretum 10:30

20th

October Visit to a Garden Centre; Venue to be arranged

9th

December Christmas at Wharton Park 10:30am Tickets in advance

Peggy

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Friends of St. Mary’s

UR INITIATIVES to mark the 400th Anniversary of the birth of The Revd

Richard Baxter came to a conclusion at the end of January with the closure,

after a three month run, of ‘The Baxter Exhibition’ in Kidderminster

Library, master-minded by Professor Adrian Hill, on our behalf. American visitors

made an impromptu visit to Kidderminster that day, in search of Baxter connections,

together with their host from Manchester. (See photo on page 29) After a “Peggy”

tour of St. Mary’s Church, they were escorted down to the library by Sue, just in

time for a quick look at the exhibits, to take photographs, and to chat with Adrian

and Don Gilbert.

An interesting off-shoot of the Baxter events is the added impetus to be given to a

“Kidderminster Heritage Plan”, with one of the objectives being to raise the profile

of Heritage in the Kidderminster townscape. Interested parties/heritage stakeholders,

including ourselves, are to meet to generate a clear, achievable Heritage Plan.

Our programme of events for 2016 began on Tuesday, 16th

February with an

Ecumenical Coffee Morning in St Mary’s Church which brought together many

people from the three Baxter Churches of the town. It provided an opportunity for

fellowship and also discussion regarding future events that we can share. We are

actively looking at the possibility of holding occasional Ecumenical services, hosted

by each church in turn, mainly on a Thursday lunchtime.

We were given an etching, showing St Mary’s Church and the Baxter statue, on

condition that it was sold and the money donated to St Mary’s Roof Fund. Several

people felt that this portrayal of the 1980’s churchscape should be kept in St Mary’s,

particularly in view of the Town Council’s proposal to re-locate the Baxter statue to

the Bull Ring. It was therefore resolved to use the proceeds of the Coffee Morning

to purchase it, providing that we achieved a target figure of £50. Thankfully, we did,

and so £50 has gone to the Roof Fund and the etching has been secured for the

church and will be displayed in the Baxter area of the South Chancel Aisle. The

etching is in need of re-framing which is being arranged.

After a regrettable delay Skillingtons have produced their official Report on the

Lady Joyce Beauchamp tomb, which is a valuable resource for future reference on

the monument’s cultural significance, and conservation clean during our

stewardship.

The Friends have been pleased to reimburse St. Mary’s D.C.C. for all expenses

relating to the Lady Joyce Beauchamp tomb and the Sir Ralph Clare ledger slab, the

balance outstanding on the Cloister refurbishment, and 50% of the balance

outstanding on the replacement central heating boilers.

Looking ahead, our AGM for the full membership is to be held on Tuesday, 10th

May in the Narthex of St Mary’s Church. The business meeting begins at 7.00 p.m.

O


and will be followed by refreshments, at approximately 7.30 p.m. when visitors are

welcome to join us.

Members are reminded that our annual subscription is being increased in June 2016

from £7.00 to £10.00 per year for individual members and from £12.50 to £15.00 for

joint memberships. This is to bring us into line with other organisations similar to

ours.

On Saturday, 18th June, Margaret and John Bradley are hosting a Coffee Morning at

their home in aid of The Friends. Further details will be available shortly but, in the

meantime, please note the date in your diary.

Iris Baggott, Theo Mayfield, and Sue Coombes

The Cooper Memorial in St. Mary's Church

HERE ARE ONLY a few Kidderminster people who have gained an entry

in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. One who does appear

there is Robert Cooper (1650-1733), clergyman and mathematician. Cooper

had a definite connection with St. Mary's church.

On the South wall of St. Mary's is a large mural tablet with the following

inscription: "ROBERT AND ELIZABETH COOPER, with two of their Seven

Children, lye on the other side of the wall expecting a happy Resurrection. This

Remembrance is humbly made by their second Son Robert in the eighty first year of

his Age, AD 1731".

Nothing is known about Robert senior except what can be gleaned from his will

(which is at Worcester). He died in 1675, and his will was proved on 26th April of

that year. It refers to his wife Elizabeth and his children Robert, John, Mary,

Elizabeth and Rachel (to each of his children he gives £20). One of his Overseers is

"my loving kinsman Mr. Paul Henzey of Amblecote", presumably a member of the

family (originally a Huguenot one) which played a distinguished role at the

beginnings of the Stourbridge glass industry. One unusual feature of the inventory

(which totals £93-16-0) is the presence in it of a "Shovel Board Chamber", for the

game (much in vogue when I was at school) of 'shovel-board' or 'shove-halfpenny'.

Robert junior almost certainly attended the town's Grammar School, and in early

1667, when aged sixteen, he entered Pembroke College, Oxford (where the Master

was a Worcestershire man, Dr. John Hall, later to be Bishop of Bristol), taking his

BA degree in 1670. He became a Fellow of the College. He was ordained, and was

for many years Church of England Rector of Harlington, Middlesex, where he is

buried. He died in March 1733. He also became Archdeacon of Dorset in 1698.

Robert Cooper's greatest claim to such fame as he has is as an author. He may have

written the anonymous Propositions concerning Optic Glasses (Oxford, 1679).

The author of the ODNB article on him argues that the book was actually written by

the Oxford scholar Obadiah Walker, and then edited by Cooper, but her argument is

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weakened by a misdating of Walker's death. And, though Walker was interested in

many subjects, it is doubtful if he had the mathematical expertise to produce the

1679 book, which, as a Delegate, he in all probability merely saw through the

University press. Anthony Wood, the historian of the University, had no doubt that

it was Cooper's book. In addition, the attribution to Cooper of the anonymous 1680

'General Introduction to Geography' which prefaced Moses Pitt's English Atlas

seems very convincing. It deals with the problems of calculating longitudes and

latitudes and other aspects of mathematical geography.

Robert Cooper never married, but in his last years his thoughts turned, as is not

infrequently the case, to the people and institutions he had known in his earlier

days. To his sister Rachel and some nieces he left £1500 in South Sea shares (safer

than they had been a few years previously); to his Oxford college he bequeathed

£100; and, two years before he died, he paid for the wall tablet on the South side of

St. Mary's which testifies to his 'humble remembrance' of his parents and two

siblings who had died early. It is an expression of, in every sense of the word 'piety',

truly Christian piety.

Don Gilbert

and finally …

(Letter from) The Rectory, St. James the Least of All

On the perils of small study groups My dear Nephew Darren,

So, you are about to run an Alpha course in your parish; I am sure your bishop will

be delighted. I remember him from my Oxford days. He was just starting his course

as a gangly undergraduate when I was finishing my doctorate on Eusebius.

I recall him as a keen rugby player who took early morning dips in the Isis, who led

intense discussions on Saint Paul’s theology of “the body” over cups of cocoa in the

evenings in his rooms and who spent his holidays laying paths for the National

Trust in the Lake District while lodging in Youth Hostels. He’s exactly the sort of

person who will empathise with your ministry – hearty, enthusiastic and

overflowing with compassionate intensity. We were not close friends.

We tend not to go in for those sort of things here at St. James the Least of All,

preferring matters a little more relaxed and understated. If we ever do hold

discussion groups (and they are a regrettable necessity during Lent), they always

start with a good lunch, finishing with coffee and one of Mrs French’s excellent

Madeira cakes. Once we have removed from the table, those who manage to stay

awake will start to tackle the chosen topic.

(Continued on page 31)


Mothering Sunday at

St. Peter’s, Upper Arley

Trimpley church: repairs in progress


Jayne knits little jackets

for premature babies

Freda, Meriel and Jill


Photo of our American visitors ... the Baxter advocate from across the pond, Revd

Don Currin (the tall one on the left) and his friend Revd Kevin Williams, (on the

right) Pastor of Grace Fellowship, Manchester. They were attending a conference

in Manchester together with Cindy Currin, Don's wife.


Above: St. Mary’s churchyard

Right: An atmospheric image at

Worcester Cathedral


(Continued from page 26)

However, we always seem to veer off to discussing more interesting matters, such

as why Col. Chorley is never allowed to sing solos in the choir any more, or who

moved Mrs Cholmondeley’s flower arrangement from the font the previous week.

Apparently she has given notice that her weekly contributions on the plate will be

much reduced unless an appropriate apology is received.

These matters may not seem as important to you as deciding what the “white stone”

in Revelation 4 is all about, but let me assure you that to members of our

congregation, knowing why the second verse of the National Anthem is no longer

sung at our Remembrance Services is of pivotal importance.

At 2pm we wake up those who have enjoyed an hour’s slumber and totter off home,

knowing we have once again done our bit for faith in the parish.

I am sure your own group will also return home after your sessions - even if a

digestive biscuit and weak tea is all that has been offered – invigorated and braced

to tackle the heathen in the parish. We all take our pleasures in different ways.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

(Rev Dr Gary Bowness)

St George - our patron saint who isn’t English

T’S PERHAPS TYPICAL of the English that they should have a patron saint

who isn’t English, about whom next to nothing is known for sure, and who may

not have existed at all. That didn’t stop him being patriotically invoked in many

battles, notably at Agincourt and in the Crusades, and of course it is his cross that

adorns the flags of English football fans to this day.

It’s most likely that he was a soldier, a Christian who was martyred for his faith

somewhere in Palestine, possibly at Lydda, in the early fourth century. At some

point in the early centuries of the Church he became associated with wider military

concerns, being regarded as the patron saint of the Byzantine armies. There is no

doubt that he was held as an example of the ‘godly soldier’, one who served Christ

as bravely and truly as he served his king and country.

The story of George and the dragon is of much later date and no one seems to know

where it comes from. By the middle ages, when George was being honoured in

stained glass, the dragon had become an invaluable and invariable visual element,

so that for most people the two are inseparable. Pub signs have a lot to answer for

here: ‘The George and Dragon’.

I


However, it’s probably more profitable to concentrate on his role as a man who

witnessed to his faith in the difficult setting of military service, and in the end was

martyred for his faithfulness to Christ.

The idea of the ‘Christian soldier’ was, of course, much loved by the Victorian

hymn-writers - ’Onward, Christian soldiers!’ The soldier needs discipline. The heart

of his commitment is to obedience. The battle cannot be avoided nor the enemy

appeased. He marches and fights alongside others, and he is loyal to his comrades.

In the end, if the battle is won, he receives the garlands of victory, the final reward

of those who overcome evil.

St George’s Day presents a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to

distance the message of his life from the militarism and triumphalism that can easily

attach itself to anything connected to soldiers and fighting. The opportunity is to

celebrate the ideal of the ‘Christian soldier’ - one who submits to discipline, sets out

to obey God truly, does not avoid the inevitable battle with all that is unjust, wrong

and hateful in our world, and marches alongside others fighting the same noble

cause. Discipline, obedience, courage, fellowship and loyalty - they’re not the most

popular virtues today, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve our gratitude

and admiration.

David Winter

We continue our series looking at the stories BEHIND some of our favourite hymns.

The story behind the Hymn – ‘Praise my Soul the King of Heaven’

Praise my soul the King of heaven,

To His feet thy tribute bring;

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Evermore his praises sing.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for His grace and favour

To our fathers in distress;

Praise Him, still the same as ever,

Slow to chide and swift to bless.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness.

Fatherlike, He tends and spares us;

Well our feeble frame He knows;

In His hands He gently bears us,

Rescues us from all our foes.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows.


Angels in the height, adore Him,

Ye behold him face to face;

Sun and moon bow down before Him,

Dwellers all in time and space;

Praise Him! Praise him!

Praise with us the God of grace!

By Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

HIS STATELY POETIC paraphrase of Psalm 103 has been included in

probably more solemn ceremonies than any other hymn in the English

language. It was even chosen by Queen Elizabeth for her wedding to the

Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

Henry Lyte had been a brilliant theological student at university in Dublin, with a

gift for versifying. After graduation he moved to a tiny and remote parish in

County Wexford to serve his curacy. It was here, when he was about 25, that Henry

had a religious experience which would transform his life.

A close friend of his, another clergyman, had fallen ill, and was clearly dying.

Henry went to visit him. The friend was not as distressed as Henry had imagined he

would be. Instead the friend confessed that he had been re-reading the New

Testament, with an eye on eternity, and had made a great discovery. There was no

need to rely on religious duties and formalities and good deeds to gain peace with

God. Instead, we can trust completely in the mercy of Christ and his saving power.

Henry was sophisticated and had been very formal in his ministry. But this

encounter with his friend’s faith at death’s very door, made him reconsider his faith.

He wrote later that his dear friend ‘who died happy in the thought that there was

One who would atone for his delinquencies’ made him ‘study my Bible and preach

in another manner than I had previously done’. And soon after this hymn appeared,

in 1834.

Lyte rejoices in the majesty and wonder of the living God, who in turn loves us. He

captures the measure of the Psalm in enduring lyrics, which combine time, eternity,

God and man all swept up into one embrace. Its last verse summons all of the

created order to join in a great act of joyous praise – surely a preview of eternity!

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April in the Forest

OW THAT EASTER has come and gone we can say that ‘the season’ has

begun: the growing season, with days longer than the nights and trips out

into the countryside. (It’s amazingly difficult to find destinations with

refreshment facilities open in February or March and, let’s face it, what’s the point

of a walk without a cup of tea and slice of cake at the end of it?)

The hardy blackthorn has already blossomed but soon the cherries and damsons will

brighten the orchards with their boughs of white flowers. This winter we have lost a

few more of the old cherry trees at Uncllys but will keep the dead wood stacked in

the rows for the benefit of beetles and other saprophytes. The survivors have been

augmented with new plantings, now old enough to flower and fruit, and you can

visit the orchards of Tanners Hill and Ruskin Land by joining a Blossom Walk

(with tea!) on 1st May. For more information call 01299 488083 or email

[email protected].

The wild cherry, or gean, on the other hand is the one you will see in bloom at the

woodland edges in early spring. It is the inspiration for Housman’s lines from ‘A

Shropshire Lad’:

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide’

The fruits are small, ranging from yellow through red to black, and edible when

fully ripe (although birds and small mammals may not leave them this long). Flora

Britannica by Richard Mabey and Archie Miles’ Silva mention that cherry brandy

can be made from the fruits by steeping them in brandy in much the same way as

sloe gin is made. Both books also praise the wood of the cherry, with its red-brown

heartwood and pink or yellow sapwood, its fine grain and ability to take a high

polish. It is prized by wood turners and used to be made into smokers’ pipes.

Richard Mabey also mentions that the resin which oozes from the trunks and

hardens into sticky lumps was used as a country chewing gum – possibly healthier

and certainly more natural than the commercial version.

Damsons will soon follow with their blossom later in the month. They are well

known and, I hope, appreciated in these parts as a fruit for puddings, jams and

cordials. We inherited six old trees when we came to Uncllys Farm, but two of them

have since succumbed to old age. They have been succeeded by their offspring,

grown on from suckers and fruiting well, while the timber of one of the parents was

offered to a local woodturner, Steve H., who very kindly gave us back a very fine

turned vase which shows off the glowing red grain of the tree to perfection.

Linda Iles

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THE WAY I SEE IT : Stop the world, I want to get off

T MY AGE you start marveling at the pace of change. It only seems

yesterday that we started getting money from holes in the wall. Then it was

dotcom, and emails, mobile phones and ‘going online’. Now it’s smart-

phones, internet shopping and digital books. As one habitual feature of my adult life

disappears after another, I start to wonder what will eventually be left.

So I try to imagine a world without things: without the daily newspaper or printed

magazines; without clothes shops or banks; without cricket (baseball has taken over

the ‘franchise’) or football (NFL has won the hearts of the young generation).

Evensong is distant history, and so is radio. Even TV is only used by the very old,

everyone else ‘streams’ their programmes online from all over the world. No one

reads paper books, though they are stored somewhere in academic libraries. Oh,

and what were coins, banknotes and cheques?

If you think any of those things can’t possibly happen, just reflect (if you’re old

enough) on the world of fifty years ago: black and white television, gramophones,

tape recorders, Woolworths, bookshops on every high street, a nightly ‘epilogue’ on

the BBC, and five million readers a day for the Sun. It wasn’t better (actually, a lot

was worse), but it was massively different.

Only God is changeless, the same ‘yesterday, today and for ever’. Change is an

inescapable element of human life. It’s just that it’s got so fast! Could someone

please slow it down a bit?

David Winter

A

Smile Lines Two television aerials met one day and fell madly in love with each other.

Eventually they decided to get married and booked the local Church.

Apparently the service was not up to much but the reception was excellent!

Comment from a parishioner: ‘Our vicar’s sermons always have a happy

ending. The moment they’ve ended, everyone feels happy.’

A musical concert was about to be performed in a prison. The Governor was

talking to a titled lady guest, explaining that the orchestra was made up of

murderers, embezzlers and other hardened criminals. The lady then pointed to

a man in the corner, holding a trombone. ‘He looks a tough customer,’ she

whispered. “Whatever has HE done?’ The Governor paused and smiled.

‘Ah, actually, he is the chaplain.’


Crossword

April/May Crossword Clues (Answers in next edition)

Across

8 ‘He poured out his life unto

death, and was numbered with

the — ’ (Isaiah 53:12) (13)

9 ‘When they had sung a

hymn, they went — to the

Mount of Olives (Matthew

26:30) (3)

10 Comes between Galatians

and Philippians (9)

11 ‘Your heart will — and

swell with joy’ (Isaiah 60:5)

(5)

13 Muslim holy month (7)

16 Ten ears (anag.) (7)

19 Under (poetic abbrev.) (5)

22 How Abram described

himself to God when he complained that his inheritance would pass to a servant

(Genesis 15:2) (9)

24 ‘Go to the — , you sluggard’ (Proverbs 6:6) (3)

25 Debar from receiving Communion (13)

Down

1 My — for His Highest (Oswald Chambers’ best-known book) (6)

2 Festival of the resurrection (6)

3 ‘His sons will prepare for war and — a great army’ (Daniel 11:10) (8)

4 ‘Let not the — string his bow’ (Jeremiah 51:3) (6)

5 Name of the River Thames in and around Oxford (4)

6 ‘From then on Judas watched for an opportunity — — him over’ (Matthew

26:16) (2,4)

7 ‘But Christ is faithful — — — over God’s house’ (Hebrews 3:6) (2,1,3)

12 Long-handled implement used to till the soil (Isaiah 7:25) (3)

14 Order to which monks and nuns devote themselves (8)

15 Appropriate (Proverbs 15:23) (3)

16 I, uncle (anag.) (6)

17 ‘They gave him — — of broiled fish’ (Luke 24:42) (1,5)


18 ‘Weren’t there three men that we — — and threw into the fire?’ (Daniel 3:24)

(4,2)

20 Mountain where Noah’s ark came to rest (Genesis 8:4) (6)

21 ‘Don’t you know that friendship with the world is — towards God?’ (James 4:4)

(6)

23 Prominent architectural feature of large cathedrals such as St Paul’s (4)

Answers to February/March Crossword

Across

1, Prosperity. 7, Raisins. 8, Admit. 10, View. 11, Confetti. 13, Distil. 15, Groyne.

17, Navigate. 18, Whit. 21, Enoch. 22, Trodden. 23, Prophetess.

Down

1, Pride. 2, Ovid. 3, Pastor. 4, Reaffirm. 5, Timothy. 6, Providence. 9, Tridentine.

12, Kingship. 14, Saviour. 16, Statue. 19, Hades. 20, Rome.


For the Mathematically minded …

Simple

Not so simple


Organisations

St. Mary's Musical Director James Bradley; email [email protected]

St. Mary's Bellringers - David Struckett; Ringing Master

Thursdays 7.45pm St. Mary's Church; Tel. 01299 878461

St. Mary's Ladies' Fellowship; Sue Coombes

2nd

and 4th Wednesdays 7.30 pm at The Chantry; Tel. 01384 896798

Friends of St. Mary's - Mrs. Iris Baggott; Tel. 01562 66219

St. Mary's Flower Rota - Mrs. Barbara Preece; Tel. 01562 66113

St. Peter's, Upper Arley Bellringers; Mrs. C. Wood; Tel. 01299 861537

Arley Women's Institute - Third Monday; Sports & Social Club, Arley.

Contact Mrs. Louvain Beer; 01299 861847

Trimpley Green Women’s Institute – 3rd

Wednesday; 7.30pm in Village Hall

St. Barnabas' Musical Director - Miss Jessica Hignell; Tel. 01562 741510

St. Barnabas' Mothers' Union - Mrs. Christine Lewis; Tel. 01562 631616

1st Wednesday, 2.00pm; 3

rd Tuesday, Holy Communion at St. Barnabas' 10.00am.

Franche Women's Institute – 1st Tuesday; 7.30 pm at St Barnabas' Comm. Hall.

Contact Mrs. Pat Charles; Tel. 01284 396470

Broadwaters Ladies' Club - Mrs. Pam Hopkins; 3rd

Wednesday, 7.30 pm

at St Oswald's Church Centre

Baby Fellowship - Thursdays, 10.00 am to 11.30 am at St Oswald's Church Centre.

Contact Joan Lambert; 07792 724909

St. Oswald's Flower Rota - Mrs. R. Hutchinson

St. John’s, Wolverley Bellringers – Dave Andrews: Tel. 07867 977389

St. John’s, Wolverley Organist & Choir – Ian Thompson: Tel. 07855 609758

Wolverley Ladies Fellowship – Mary Waldron: Tel. 01562 851405

St. Peter’s, Cookley Bellringers – Andy Gray: Tel. 01562 850130

St. Peter’s, Cookley Organist & Choir - Paul Blackham: Tel. 01562 829352

Friends of St. Peter’s, Cookley – Marlene Broomhead: 01562 824743

Parish Web Site www.ismere.co.uk – email: [email protected]


The Ismere Messenger is published by Kidderminster Ismere Parochial Church Council

Printed by Imprint Colour Limited, Aldershot, Hampshire 01252 330683

2016 04 05 (web version) apr may

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