From Reverend Janet - DSJ
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1 From Reverend Janet Dear Friends, Some time ago I was hanging around Liverpool Street Station waiting for a train, and I wandered into W.H.Smith to browse amongst the books and magazines just to pass the time. As my eyes wandered along the colourful shelves, a little black book caught my eye, entitled “It’s only a Story”. What’s this?” I thought. I wondered what it was about. I picked it up and looked through it. To my surprise I discovered that it was a book completely belittling the Bible, and in particular the four Gospel books containing the life of Jesus. It contained some references which came from research founded upon the writings left out of Scripture: mainly because they were written a long time after the life of Christ, or because they were considered fanciful. These documents are numerous, and they are the foundation of many popular novels such as “The DaVinci Code”, “The Last Templar” and the scores of other mystery stories in a similar style produced over the last decade or so. Many of these books do have an underlying point which implies that parts of the Biblical narrative are not true. I am writing in mid-November. This morning on radio 4 I heard a discussion of historians who were about to attend a seminar at the Institute of Historical Research in London. They are deeply concerned that so much historical fiction is written nowadays which comes close to distorting the historical facts, and this means that amongst the young in particular, concepts of history are close to becoming inaccurate. This is what popular fiction is doing, and it is worrying that the boundary between fiction and non-fiction is becoming very blurred. The narratives about the birth of Christ are wondrous: supernatural in places; coincidental in others, homely too, and they provide us with a lot to think about. They are the first details about the life of this special person, the Son of God. Are they fiction? Some, even academic Christian theologians of significant status have thought so. I’ve never had a problem, because I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. If I can believe in this, which I do, then I am also able to believe in the series of special events surrounding the birth of Christ as well. In Churches across the land we will be telling the Christmas story once more through our many special Christmas services. In infant/junior schools, the nativity will be enacted pretty accurately in the various versions available for schools. Never mind if the donkey has lines to say, and there are endless sheep and scores of angels! The details of the story present the truth according to the four gospels. My favourite is “The Wriggly Nativity” written with fidgety children in mind! I recently took up the invitation to become a Governor of the County Primary School in Hereward Way, and I am hoping to be invited to some Nativity events. I am looking forward to my first Christmastide in the Priory Church, as I will discover the unique ways of Christmas worship here. Alistair and I join together in wishing you and your families a very Happy Christmas, and a Blessed New Year. With all good wishes, Revd Janet
Transcript of From Reverend Janet - DSJ
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From Reverend Janet
Dear Friends,
Some time ago I was hanging around Liverpool Street Station waiting for a train, and I wandered into W.H.Smith to browse amongst the books and magazines just to pass the time. As my eyes wandered along the colourful shelves, a little black book caught my eye, entitled “It’s only a Story”.
What’s this?” I thought. I wondered what it was about. I picked it up and looked through it. To my surprise I discovered that it was a book completely belittling the Bible, and in particular the four Gospel books containing the life of Jesus. It contained some references which came from research founded upon the writings left out of Scripture: mainly because they were written a long time after the life of Christ, or because they were considered fanciful. These documents are numerous, and they are the foundation of many popular novels such as “The DaVinci Code”, “The Last Templar” and the scores of other mystery stories in a similar style produced over the last decade or so. Many of these books do have an underlying point which implies that parts of the Biblical narrative are not true.
I am writing in mid-November. This morning on radio 4 I heard a discussion of historians who were about to attend a seminar at the Institute of Historical Research in London. They are deeply concerned that so much historical fiction is written nowadays which comes close to distorting the historical facts, and this means that amongst the young in particular, concepts of history are close to becoming inaccurate. This is what popular fiction is doing, and it is worrying that the boundary between fiction and non-fiction is becoming very blurred.
The narratives about the birth of Christ are wondrous: supernatural in places; coincidental in others, homely too, and they provide us with a lot to think about. They are the first details about the life of this special person, the Son of God. Are they fiction? Some, even academic Christian theologians of significant status have thought so. I’ve never had a problem, because I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. If I can believe in this, which I do, then I am also able to believe in the series of special events surrounding the birth of Christ as well.
In Churches across the land we will be telling the Christmas story once more through our many special Christmas services. In infant/junior schools, the nativity will be enacted pretty accurately in the various versions available for schools. Never mind if the donkey has lines to say, and there are endless sheep and scores of angels! The details of the story present the truth according to the four gospels. My favourite is “The Wriggly Nativity” written with fidgety children in mind!
I recently took up the invitation to become a Governor of the County Primary School in Hereward Way, and I am hoping to be invited to some Nativity events. I am looking forward to my first Christmastide in the Priory Church, as I will discover the unique ways of Christmas worship here.
Alistair and I join together in wishing you and your families a very Happy Christmas, and a Blessed New Year. With all good wishes,
Revd Janet
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Parish Directory
Priest in Charge The Revd Janet Donaldson [email protected]
Curate The Reverend Sonia Marshall [email protected]
Churchwardens [email protected] Adrian Hallam Liz Spratley
Assistant Churchwardens Doris Bellairs
John Worthington
Parochial Church Council
Chairman The Revd Janet Donaldson
Vice-Chairman Adrian Hallam Hon. Secretary Roger Bridgeman Hon. Treasurer Simon Marshall [email protected] Covenant Secretary Peter Wilde Electoral Roll Officer Kim Hallam
Synod Members Diocesan Synod Canon Niccy Fisher
Deanery Synod The above plus The Reverend Sonia Marshall Simon Marshall
Choir Master John Worthington [email protected]
Organist Philip Spratley
Organisations Bellringers Richard Muspratt [email protected] Church Hall Bookings Tony Masters [email protected] Church Ladies’ Fellowship Anthea Wray
Church Coffee Group Carole Mills Margaret Flegg
Church Flowers Pauline Brooksbank Christine Masters
House Group Doris Warner Rose & Sweet Pea Show TBA [email protected]
Just People Richard Gamman [email protected] Junior Church Andrea Gamman [email protected]
Priory News
Editors Caroline Herron John Worthington
Advertising John Marsh Printing John Worthington Distribution Doris Bellairs
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In this Month’s Priory News …
Dear All, First of all an apology to all our contributors to last month’s magazine: owing to my ineptitude the titles of their articles and,
more seriously, their names were invisible (unless you happened to know what they were, which Caroline and I did!). The trouble is that we use beautiful colours for the website copy but our photocopier can only produce black and shades of grey. I now know that yellow is not a good colour to choose, especially when the toner is also about to run out! This month sees the first letter from our new Bishop who was enthroned in Lincoln on November 12th. Finally, we should like to say a very big “thankyou” to all our contributors and to wish you all a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please keep sending your items for inclusion and note the early deadline for January because of Christmas. Kind regards,
Caroline and John.
Meet our new Bishop on page 12 This month’s cover picture was taken by John Marsh.
Clergy Duty Days: Revd Janet Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Revd Sonia Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Sunday Either can be available on a Friday
Letter from the Vicar 1
Parish Directory 2
In this Month’s Priory News 3
Clergy Duty Days 3
Church Calendar for December 4
Registers for October 6
Cooking with Margaret 6
House Group 6
Deeping in Bloom Update 7
Colouring Pages 8
Mission Matters 10
Forthcoming Events 10
Thanks You from the Children 11
News from the Tower 11
Thank You 13
Priory Coffee Group 12
Junior Church News 13
Rotas for December 15
Readings and Readers for
December 15
Letter from the Bishop 16
Thank you to those who have sent in articles for Priory News. Contributions and suggestions are very welcome. Please let us have your prayers, poems,
pictures, comments, reminiscences and anything else you’d like to share. NB: pictures containing recognisable children must be accompanied by authorisation to publish from their parents or guardians. We will not
publish the names of children pictured unless specifically requested to do so by their parents or guardians.
John Worthington, Cranmore Farmhouse, DSJ - Tel: 01778-343860 [email protected]
Please let us have your contributions for the December edition of Priory News
BEFORE the deadline, Friday 16th December. Thank you for your help.
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Church Calendar for December
1st Thursday
Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916
9:30am Holy Communion
10:30am Home Communions
7:30pm PCC Meeting
7:45pm Church Ladies’ Fellowship
2nd Friday
Practice Night:
6:45pm Choir Practice
7:30pm Ringers
4th SUNDAY SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
10:00am Sung Eucharist
6th Tuesday Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c326
7th Wednesday Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, 397
8th Thursday Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9:30am Holy Communion
9th Friday
Practice Night:
6:45pm Choir Practice
7:30pm Ringers
11th SUNDAY
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00am Holy Communion (said)
(Followed by Junior Church party)
10:00am Sung Eucharist
3:00pm Christingle Service
13th Tuesday Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304
11:00am Clergy Chapter, Spalding
14th Wednesday John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith , 1591
6:30pm Community Primary School Concert
15th Thursday 9:30am Holy Communion
7:45pm Church Ladies’ Fellowship Party Night
16th Friday
O Sapientia (First of seven days of prayer before Christmas)
Practice Night:
6:45pm Extended Choir Practice at Cranmore Farmhouse
7:30pm Ringers
17th Saturday O Sapientia
4:30pm Choir singing at The Bell
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18th SUNDAY FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
10:00am Sung Eucharist
6:00pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
19th Monday O Root of Jesse!
20th Tuesday O Key of David!
21st Wednesday O Dayspring! Thomas the Apostle
22nd Thursday O King of the nations!
9:30am Holy Communion
23rd Friday
O Emmanuel!
Practice Night:
6:45pm Choir Practice
7:30pm Ringers
24th Saturday CHRISTMAS EVE
11:30pm Midnight Mass
25th SUNDAY CHRISTMAS DAY
10:00am Sung Eucharist
26th Monday Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr, 35
27th Tuesday John, Apostle and Evangelist
28th Wednesday The Holy Innocents
29th Thursday Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170
(No Communion Services this week)
30th Friday (No practice for Choir or Ringers this week)
31st Saturday John Wycliffe, Theologian, Reformer, 1384
JANUARY 2012
1st Sunday
SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
10:00am Sung Eucharist
Registers for October
Baptisms: we welcome into the Lord’s family:
Interrments: we commend to God’s keeping:
9th Chloe Lacey Stafford 8th Ken Joynson Samuel Luke Webb 21st Tony Peters
Alice Elizabeth Webb
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Cooking with Margaret
Pecan Pie
Ingredients: 115g Self-raising flour Pinch of salt 57g Hard Margarine Water to mix. Filling: 2 Large eggs, beaten 115g light Muscovado sugar 115g Golden syrup, 1 tps vanilla essence 25g unsalted butter, melted 25g plain flour 175g pecan nuts 1tbs apricot jam, warmed and sieved.
Method:
Mix flour and salt and rub in the margarine until it feels like breadcrumbs Add water to mix to a stiff dough. (Or use pre bought pastry case.) Line a deep 20cm flan tin with the short crust pastry. Chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to Gas 6, 200°C, Fan 180°C. Put a baking sheet on the middle shelf of the oven. On the heated baking sheet, bake the pastry case blind for 15 minutes, remove the foil or paper and beans and cook for a further 10-15 minutes, until the pastry is cooked. To make the filling, combine the eggs, sugar, syrup and vanilla in a bowl. Stir in the butter and flour. Chop 115g of pecan nuts and add these to the bowl. Reduce the oven temperature to Gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Pour the filling into the pastry case and arrange the remaining pecan nuts on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the filling is set and browned. Brush with the jam and serve warm.
House Group
7:30pm Wednesdays
at 45 Crowson Way, DSJ.
All welcome!
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Deepings in Bloom Update
A donation of trees from the National Trust at Belton House kicked off a tree planting project in Deeping St James, part of the community entry into the East Midlands in Bloom competition for 2012. The Lions Club of the Deepings took delivery of the trees and planted an avenue of cherry trees underplanted with daffodil bulbs outside the Deepings School in Park Road, Deeping St James. Further planting is planned with three Field Maples at Deeping Lakes, planting at Deeping St James Community Primary School and on the verges on the periphery of the village completing a planting scheme started by Steve Fisk a number of years ago. The DSJ Bloom group were also successful in their bid for 420 shrubs from the Woodland Trust as part of their Jubilee Woods Project. The shrubs are currently being planted throughout the village by the Allotments Association, The Rotary Club of the Deepings, Dave Vandome from Lincs Wildlife Trust and Steve Fisk and the Community Payback Team. The adopt a road sign campaign also started by the DSJ in Bloom group received a boost recently from Taylors Bulbs who donated two boxes of bulbs "We have been delighted with the support we have received from this new aspect of our campaign" said Parish and District Councillor Judy Stevens, "we are looking forward to road signs throughout the village being a blaze of colour in the Spring!"
Judy Stevens
Left to right: Deeping Lions, Tony Plunkett, Roy Markham and Esther Graham and Steve Fisk
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Here are a couple of seasonal pages for the children to colour
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Mission Matters – November 2011
Christmas Shoe Boxes
A huge “thankyou” to everybody that has taken the time and trouble to fill a shoebox for a child overseas this year. We can imagine the joy these gifts bring to children who would have very little otherwise this Christmas. God bless you for your generosity.
Pat Feeke
Mission Sunday
An interesting talk was given during the morning service on Sunday 6th November by Reverend May Lloyd from the Leprosy Mission. She talked about the work of the Mission and it was surprising to hear that cases of Leprosy occur in the UK and not just overseas. After the service May joined the congregation for coffee in the hall. £108.51 is being sent to the Leprosy Mission from the sale of books, cards and cakes. Quiz sheets were also on sale and the winner of this competition was Liz Spratley – congratulations Liz. Thanks again to everyone who contributed cakes, and to the Junior Church for the lovely biscuits.
Victoria Worthington
Forthcoming Events
There will be an Advent Coffee morning in the Church Hall on 1st December, 10.00 till 11.15. Entry will cost £ 2.00 and there will be a Raffle, a Cake Stall and a Chocolate Tombola. Christingle Service will be on Sunday 11th December at 3.00pm The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday 18th December at 6.00pm
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‘Thank you’ from the Children’s’ Groups
Our annual Pudsey Bear Coffee Morning was held in the Church Hall on Sunday 20th November 2012. Run jointly between the Children's Groups and the Social Committee, the morning forms an important part of our children's Christian outreach and we are always thankful for the tremendous support from the Social Committee members which help us to achieve that. This year a Guess the Weight of the Cake was won by Paul Boswall and Guess the Name of the Teddy was won by James Goodchild. A big thank-you goes to Margaret and Bill who provided both the fabulous cake and the teddy. In addition a bring and buy cake stall was also run by the children and in all a total of £145.84 was raised for Pudsey Bear. The children would like to thank all members of the congregation who attended and contributed to this great event, making it so successful....see you next year!
Johanna
News from the Tower
The bells were half-muffled for the Service of Remembrance on Sunday 13th. It was nice to see so many young people present to remember the past. We trust the bells sounded as nice outside as the pleasure we had in ringing them. Well done to Christine Masters who rang her first quarter peal in 43 minutes on November 10th at Rippingale.
The Bell Ringing Team wish you all a Very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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.
A few words of thanks........
During the last year I have spend a number of weeks in hospital and I would like to thank all the people who enquired about me, sent Get Well cards and your prayers. I so miss coming to church and seeing you all but hopefully one of these Sundays I will make it. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a very Healthy New Year
Elsie Nicholson
Jessie Turner sends Christmas Greetings to all her many friends in Deeping St James. May you celebrate this Holy season in peace and happiness surrounded by family and friends. May 2012 be a healthy year for all. Thank you for the help and support you have given me over the past months – it’s greatly appreciated. God Bless.
Jessie
Priory Coffee Group
After the Christmas Coffee Morning on 5th December I will be standing down and hoping that someone younger will take my place. I have been with the Group for 17 years so perhaps it is time for a change! It has been a pleasure to be with the Coffee Group and I wish them all the best with the successful fund raining. The repairs to the front of the Hall stage are due to be completed shortly. The new tables are on order, which will make such a difference to the Hall; and to the benefit of the local community. Thank you all for your support in the past both the Coffee Group Committee and all who have supported our Coffee morning.
Carole Mills (Secretary)
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JUNIOR CHURCH
This years Christingle will take place on Sunday 11th at 3:00pm. The children’s’ candlelit procession around the church and then the singing of ‘Away in a Manger’ around the altar is quite magical – so please do come. The collection will go to the Church of England Children’s’ Society.
Volunteers would be very welcome on Friday 9th December between 6.30 and 8.30 to assist with making the Christingle – last year a very enjoyable evening was had by all and light refreshments (mulled wine and mince pies) will be served. Also on the 11th will be the Junior Church Christmas Party with a disco and games organised by Just People. The last meeting of Junior Church will be Sunday 18th December and we will return on Sunday 8th January. Thank you to all leaders, helpers and families who attend each week and without whose support Junior Church would not be so successful.
Andrea and Richard
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Rotas for December
Servers Sidespersons Intercessors
Sun 4th
Second Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Simon Marshall and Chris Halley
Team D: Trevor Harwood and Graham Hardy
Niccy Fisher
Sun 11th
Third Sunday of Advent
8:00 am
Geoff Armstrong
10:00 am
Paul Boswall and John Sellars
Team E: Bill Flegg, Margaret Flegg and Liz Bridgeman
John Marsh
3:00 am
John Sellars
Sun 18th
Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Paul Boswall and Chris Halley
Team F: Val Wilde, Doris Bellairs and Christine Masters
Bet Washbrooke
6:00 pm
John Sellars Team A: Kim Hallam and Doris Bellairs
Sat 24th
Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass
11.30 pm
Simon Marshall, Chris Halley and John Sellars
Team B: Joy Cunningham and Ann Meekings
Sonia Marshall
Sun 25th
Christmas Day
10:00 am
Simon Marshall and Paul Boswall
Team C: Tim Hitchbourn and Cledwyn Bennett
Janet Donaldson
Sun 1stth
Naming and Circumcision of Christ
10:00am
Chris Halley and Paul Boswall
Team D: Trevor Harwood and Graham Hardy
Martin Fisher
Bread &Wine Coffee Flowers Cleaning Brasses
Sun 4th
Second Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Peter and Val Wilde
Liz Spratley and Linda Sellars
Advent
Doris Bellairs and Christine Masters
Sun 11th
Third Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Cled and Ann Bennett
Joan Dyke and Lin Withington
Advent Josie Waghorn and Joy Cunningham
Sun 18th
Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Carole Mills and Joy Cunningham
Pat Feek and Doris Warner
Advent Janet Lill and Marion Stevens
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Sat 24th
Christmas Eve
11:00 pm
Caroline Herron and Linda Sellars
Christmas
Pat Feek and Doris Warner
Sun 25th
Christmas Day
10:00 am
Martin and Niccy Fisher
Christmas
Naming and Circumcision of Christ
Sun 1st Jan
10:00 am
Doris Bellairs and Christine Masters
John and Sue Marsh
Christmas Flowers
Readings and Readers for December
OT Reading
OT Reader NT Reading NT Reader Gospel
Sun 4th
Second Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
Isaiah 40:1-11
Peter Wilde 2 Peter 3:8-15 Bill Flegg Mark 1:1-8
Sun 11th
Third Sunday of Advent
8:00 am Isaiah 61:1-
4,8-11
1 Thessalonians
5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28 10:00
am Liz Spratley
Roger Bridgeman
Sun 18th
Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 am
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
Caroline Herron
Romans 16:25-27
John Marsh Luke 1:26-38
Sat 24th
Midnight Mass
10:00 am
Isaiah 52:7-10
Victoria Worthington
Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12)
Tony Masters
John 1:1-14
Sun 25th
Christmas Day
10:00 am
Isaiah 62:6-12
Ann Bennett Titus 3:4-7 Simon
Marshall Luke 2:1-14
January 2012
Sun 1st
Naming and Circumcision of Christ
10:00 am
Numbers 6:22-27
Jacob Boswall Galatians 4:4-7 Trevor
Harwood Luke 2: 15-21
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Letter from the
Bishop of
Lincoln
The Right Revd Christopher Lowson with the Archbishop of Canterbury, following his consecration at Westminster Abbey in September. (Photo courtesy Dean and Chapter of Westminster.)
Dear Friends, There have been a number of 'firsts' for me in the last few days. I've been to Buckingham Palace and met the Queen; I've had my first TV interview with Peter Levy on Look North; and I have received a wonderful welcome from the people of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. I am thankful for all these things. My wife, Susan, and I are busy preparing for our move to our new home in Lincoln and we are looking forward to joining you around the Diocese at your celebrations in your church, your school or community, as this first year of office progresses. On 12th November the formal part of my arrival will take place in the magnificent Cathedral, when I take the Bishop's seat among the Chapter and congregation. I hope many of you will be able to come and join in the worship. The following day is Remembrance Sunday and for many of us, this is a time of quiet reflection, but for others, it's a time of renewed sorrow. I am only too aware of the price Lincolnshire families have paid, not only in the great wars, but also in the recent conflicts. Sunday 13th November will be another first for me, as I shall be able to join you in prayer on this special day. Many of you are also coping with difficult economic circumstances, whether you live in our industrial towns or in rural areas. It is my aim to listen and learn in the coming months, so that my life and work as Bishop of Lincoln reaches out to you, wherever you are in this splendid region.
Looking forward to it! +Christopher
