Parish Church ofSaint Cuthbert Lytham

March 2018Parish Magazine £1

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The Leadership Team

Vicar: The Revd Nick Wells 01253 279676

Hon. Assistant Priests: The Revd David Hirst The Revd Helen Houston

Readers: Mr David Matthews Mr David Chapman

Mr Barrie StaceyMrs Bev Wells

Mrs Nicola Whitehead

ServicesSunday Services8.30am Holy Communion (BCP)10.00am Holy Communion (CW) 10.00am Sunday @10 - All Age Worship

Weekday ServicesFriday 11.00am Holy Communion

Bi-monthly Services on Sunday4.00pm Taize - Sunday 18th March7.00pm Contemporary Worship –

Sunday 15th April

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Church Wardens' ReportIt has been some while since we reported to the Magazine. A Happy New Year to you all. We hope that you had a joyous Christmas remembering that 'The Gift' at Christmas was Jesus Christ; the 'other' presents are a bonus!!Nick has returned home following his stem cell transplant early in the New Year. It is normal for a body to react to this treatment and that reaction is not pleasant, first for him, but also for family who were, rightly, very concerned. On the positive side, or is it? Both Nick and Bev have achieved another birthday - Happy Birthday to you both !The Christmas period was busy and St Cuthbert’s Church enjoyed many visitors, BUT that has come at a cost – the need to clean the place up. At PCC, a discussion took place about employing contract cleaners to do the job. If we follow that route, the issue then becomes two-fold of management and costs.Imagine our surprise and embarrassment to be shown photographs of OUR VESTRIES with the statement that they are untidy and dirty - from a visitor!! How many of the people using the church clean up after themselves and/or after others?? We'll throw out a challenge: How many of the congregation come to St Cuthbert’s once a week? How many come twice - and why? To pray, for services, for groups or meetings? Suppose a 'group' formed to meet once a month, for two hours, to clean the place up. We have the vacuum, duster, polish,

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kitchen cleaner and bleach. Tea, coffee, toast and cakes will be provided, background music can be played too! First WEDNESDAY in each month from 6 to 8 p.m. This is an opportunity for us to care for our Church, to express our love for the building that previous generations have created at their expense, oh, and by the way enjoy companionship, chatter, a laugh and refreshments. There is a list at the back of Church for the first eight people to sign up!! The first week we'll throw away some of the 'junk' and/or the unwanted/unused items too - more hands for that. For those who have items that are essential/vital or desperately required make sure you're there to protect them! In the way, we'll throw it away!Fiona, our Parish Administrator, has resigned as Secretary to the PCC and we thank her with gratitude for the sterling work she has done. Debbie Edwards has been appointed as PCC Secretary. We thank her for doing so and look forward to appreciating her work.We as a church will certainly miss the Dearnleys, Michael, Tracy and their sons Alex and Kieran. Through recent years, all four have involved themselves thoroughly in church life. Michael has been active in the Sea Scouts, also as a sidesperson and helper with many tasks around the church. We notice from the pew sheet that someone to fill the vacancy of Michael’s position as St Cuthbert’s Christian Aid representative is already being sought. Tracy, for her part, has been equally committed. She has served on the P.C.C., sung in the choir and, as deputy headteacher at Lytham C of E Primary School, has brought the school choir to sing in church on special occasions. Now Michael and Tracy have

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moved to Coniston to run a bed and breakfast establishment. They go with our very best wishes for success in their new business venture and their future time in the Lake District. It will no doubt happen that St Cuthbert’s folk will visit them when in the area.Unfortunately, we have two temporary closures. Youth Club, which we hope to rebrand later in the year, has been suspended for the time being. Also, the service of Sunday Evening Prayer will be ‘rested’ until the Sunday following Easter Day. Not helped by severe weather conditions and illnesses, the number attending has become very small.The Annual Parish Church Meetings will take place on Sunday, 29th April after the morning services. This occasion is open to all, but only those whose names are on the parish’s Electoral Roll are entitled to vote. [Have you considered - Are YOU on the Electoral Roll? If not, why not? Forms are available at the back of Church - FREE and NO FEE TO JOIN.] A busy and vibrant church needs workers to keep it as such. What can YOU do? Please come along, find out what is going on, and support. Colin is resigning after three years of faithful and diligent work and we need a replacement – could that be YOU?Colin and Beryl.

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In January we had an excellent slide show of the Holy Land given by Mrs Ann McCarthy which was entitled 'Following in the Steps of Jesus'. It was very much enjoyed by all the members and a vote of thanks was given by Mrs Betty McWilton.We had a good attendance for Annual General Meeting in February when reports were given by Liz Willis about the continuing success of Bertie Bear Club and by Enid Fallows of the invaluable work she does with the sending out of cards from Baptism Roll. In 2017 the total of £2800 was donated to MU funds and included £1000 to the P.C.C for upkeep of the Victory Hall. The meeting was followed by a talk and poetry in ’Lancashire Dialect' by Mrs Joyce May complete with clogs and shawl. We were all amazed by this wonderful 90 years old lady and her fantastic memory.On Thurs. 8th March we meet in the Victory Hall at 2.30pm when Mr. D. Forshaw will give a talk on the R.N.L.I. The Lady Day Service is on Mon. 9th April at 11.00am in Church and will be followed by lunch at Tiggis. A list for names will be at the March meeting.You are very welcome to join us at any of our meetings or events. Margaret Fisher

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Whitby AbbeyThe ruins of Whitby Abbey stand like a sentinel on the headland overlooking the attractive fishing port of Whitby. Some people think of Whitby in association with Dracula and Goths but to me Whitby will always be associated with St. Hilda. Hilda was a young princess in the court of Edwin of Northumberland. In 625 Edwin married Ethelburga, a princess from Kent who was a Christian, and whose chaplain, Paulinus, came with her to the court. Hilda learnt about the Christian faith and in 627, at the age of 13, she was baptised by Paulinus in York along with Edwin and most of the court.Over the next 20 years Hilda formed an association with Aidan, abbot of Lindisfarne, who recognised her potential and asked her to take charge of a small religious community on the banks of the River Wear. He was so impressed by her work at Wearmouth that he made her abbess at Hartlepool, where she restored order to the chaos left by the previous abbess. At the age of 33 she left Hartlepool to found her own double community at Streanshalch – now called Whitby.It was quite common in those days for there to be double communities where men and women each had their own quarters but worshipped together and supported each other in their religious life. Bede wrote of Hilda “She put her new community under the same regular discipline of Hartlepool and taught the strict observance of justice, piety, charity and other virtues……”Hilda’s prudence and wisdom was such that even kings and bishops went to her for advice and no less than five

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of the monks she trained went on to become bishops. It was her organising ability that led King Oswy to set up the famous synod of 663 at Whitby to resolve the growing confusion between the Christians of the north and south – Celtic v Roman. After hearing long arguments for both sides the king decided to follow the Roman way. Hilda was not entirely happy but accepted the Roman ways and continued to rule her monastery until her death, aged 66, in 680.In 1917 a new Order of the Holy Paraclete was founded and a new St. Hilda’s Priory was built. The community continues to flourish and seeks to offer fresh expressions of Hilda’s principles – a holistic way of life, simplicity, purity and obedience.Today Whitby Abbey is owned by English Heritage with a new visitor centre and exhibition plus a recorded description to take round with you in the ruins. Its position on the headland provides fantastic views but be prepared to descend 199 steps if you want to visit the town – but it’s worth it for excellent fish and chips.My own association with Hilda comes from the fact that for many years I was a member of St. Hilda’s church in Newcastle, met my husband at a youth conference staying in St. Hild’s college Durham and being married 57 years ago at St. Hilda’s church, so she is like a patron saint to me!

Rose Queen Coffee Morning The Rose Queen and her maids will be holding a fund-raising coffee morning in the Church Hall on Saturday

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24th March from 10 am. Please come along and meet them and have a cup of tea. If you would like to help on the day serving teas and coffees or would like to bake some cakes, please let the parish office now, all help very much appreciated.Meet The Rose Queen RetinueZaraZara has attended St Cuthbert’s Church since the age of 5 and was confirmed in May 2017. She has always played an active part in the Church Community.

She lives in Lytham and has attended AKS since the age of 4. At weekends Zara enjoys playing in the school Hockey Team as well as other group activities, and socialising with family and friends. Her other hobbies are musical theatre, for

which she is working toward grade 6, and piano, where she is trying for grade 4. Zara has a passion for performing and has been on stage many times. She has also attended speech and drama lessons for many years and passed LAMDA exams in all the disciplines. This has helped her on the School Council. The Rose Queen retinue represents a wonderful opportunity for Zara and is something she is looking forward to very much.

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JessicaHello, I am Jessica Pook and I am 7 years old. I go to school at Lytham Hall primary school. I love to do craft and arty things and really look forward to Club Day very much.

WillowHello, my name is Willow Pook and I am 3 years old. I go to AKS nursery and love Paw Patrol!! I love to play with my sister Jessica and we live with my Mummy. I am looking forward to wearing my nice dress at the Club Day.

EllianiHi I’m Elliani, I’m 11 and I’m delighted to be the Rose Queen’s Cushion Bearer. I’ve been coming to St Cuthbert’s with my family for

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10 years and have enjoyed all the children’s services and activities from being little at Cuthbert Bear Club and Toddlers through to Sunday Club, Step-Up and Youth Club as I’ve got older. I used to go to our Church School, Lytham CE and in September I started at St Bede’s Catholic High School with Daisie where I’m part of the Chaplaincy group. My faith is important to me because I believe all things come from God and I enjoy learning about Jesus.In 2014 and 2015 I was honoured to represent St Cuthbert’s and support Rose Queen Isobel Russell as White Maid. I made lots of new friends with the Retinue and enjoyed attending all the Rose Queen events! In my spare time I LOVE singing, dancing and drama and attend NW1 Theatre School. I also love films, trampolining, YouTube and spending time with my friends and family -especially my dog Sandy who I think looks a bit like a Teddy Bear! I’m so excited about the year ahead and feel honoured to have been chosen to represent St Cuthbert’s.

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Emilia Denison-Davies (8)Emilia enjoys reading, stage school, hockey, swimming, brownies and playing with friends. When she's grown up she would like to be either a fashion designer or geologist! She's very excited to be in the Rose Queen retinue. Georgiana Denison-Davies (4)Georgie loves colouring in, swimming, cycling and playing power rangers with her sisters! When she grows she would like to be just like Emilia!

Sophia Denison-Davies (4) Fifi enjoys riding her bike, swimming, crafts, playing with her sisters and getting up to lots of mischief! When she's older she would like to be Giraffe!!

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QUIZ for March: A rich spectrum of general knowledgeIt has been said, ‘February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.’ In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens wrote, ‘There are those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.’ Whatever the weather, brain food in the form of the forty questions that follow is always good value.Please write your answers on a separate sheet, adding your name and contact details.1. In what year did the weather forecast appear in The Times for the first time? 2. What is the only sign of the zodiac not named after a living creature? 3. What are the three primary colours of light? 4. How many centimetres make up a hand, the measurement used on horses? 5. How many counters does each player have at the start of a game of backgammon? 6. What is the lightest metal under standard conditions? 7. How many digits form an International Standard Book Number [ISBN]? 8. The condition osteoporosis weakens which parts of the body? 9. In Cluedo, which room can be accessed via the secret passageway from the Study? 10. How many surfaces does a Mobius strip have? 11. Who assassinated John Lennon? 12. Sicknote was the name of a character in which TV series? 13. Chronophobia is the fear of what? 14. Who invented the hot air balloon? 15. Which is the longest month of the year?

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16. Which is the world’s smallest country? 17. How many points are needed to win a game of Cribbage? 18. In which city did the grave robbers Burke and Hare operate? 19. Which Olympic sport has a finish line never crossed by competitors? 20. Name the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. 21. Which British port offers the shortest ferry route to Dublin? 22. Name the only penguins living in the wild and north of the Equator. 23. By what name do we better know Robyn Fenty? 24. A fuel moron rearranged is a sport. 25. A bottle of wine costs £10. If the wine costs £9 more than the bottle, how much does the bottle cost? 26. In food and drink, what are silvana, tempranillo and nebiolo? 27. What is the official language of the Flemish community? 28. Which famous figure died five days after Princess Diana? 29. What was the world’s first officially perforated postage stamp? 30. In internet chat abbreviation, what does FOAF stand for? 31. What is Hardraw Force? 32. Why did Abba wear outrageous sequined jumpsuits? 33. To the nearest 100 tonnes, how many tonnes of iron are in the structure of Blackpool Tower? 34. Name two words in the English language with the plural ending –en. 35. Pop Looks Bach is the theme music to which television programme? 36. London Bridge was the only bridge across the Thames until which year?

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37. Where is Torshavn the largest city? 38. Who said ‘Hell is other people ’? 39. Which chemical element is named after a village in Scotland? 40. Who made the first translation of the Bible into English in 1382?

Entries to David Matthews by 11th March.

Please note that the deadline for articles to be included in March’s magazine is Sunday 18th

March.

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QUIZ for January: Wintry WarmersDorothy Jones, the winner with 37/40, was again on top form. Well done! I think she is ready to move on to a television quiz show.Answers: 1. Schnorbitz, 2. Narnia, 3. Robin Cousins, 4. Christina Rossetti, 5. Sicily and Bohemia, 6. Rebecca, 7. Sylvia Plath, 8. Richard III, 9. David Essex, 10. Alexandre Dumas/The Three Musketeers, 11. Bob Dylan, 12. The Carpenters, 13. The Spice Girls, 14. U2, 15. The Walker Brothers, 16. Genesis, 17. James Blunt, 18. Diana Ross, 19. Cher, 20. Elvis Presley, 21. Mariah Carey, 22. Guns’N Roses, 23. The Kinks, 24. The Beatles, 25. The Who, 26. Bros, 27. Tina Turner, 28. Madness, 29. David Bowie, 30. Bob the Builder, 31. Duran Duran, 32. McFly, 33. Peters and Lee, 34. Queen, 35. Radiohead, 36. Slade, 37. Take That, 38. The Rolling Stones, 39. Eminem, 40. Bon Jovi.

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100 ClubTake part in the monthly draw and you could win £100! All profit goes directly towards the upkeep of the church! All you need to do is pay £5 per month by standing order. This buys you a number between 1 and 100. Each month a number is drawn, rather like a raffle, and the owner of that number receives a cheque for £100. There are standing order forms at the back of the church. Or please have a word with me, Debbie Rogerson. I am usually singing in the choir at the 10am Communion service so catch me afterwards or ring 01253 422500 / 07540284517.Congratulations to Chris Kitchener with ball number 91 and Dorothy Lochtie with ball number 29.

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March DiaryThursday 1st 10.30 am Community Craft GroupFriday 2nd 11 am Communion

1.30 pm Funeral Ernest Bartlett6 pm Alpha Weekend

Saturday 3rd 9 am Morning Prayer10 pm Alpha Weekend

Sunday 4th 8.30 am Communion 10 am Communion 10 am All Age Worship

Monday 5th 7 pm Choir PracticeTuesday 6th 7 pm Alpha CourseWednesday 7th 9 am Morning Prayer

9.45 am Bertie Bear Club7 pm Bell Ringers Practice

Thursday 8th 10.30 am Community Craft Group10.30 am Stepping Stones2.30 pm Mothers Union7pm PCC Meeting

Friday 9th 11 am CommunionSaturday 10th 9.00 am Morning PrayerSunday 11th 8.30 am Communion

10 am Communion 10 am All Age Worship

Monday 12th 7 pm Choir PracticeTuesday 13th 7 pm Alpha CourseWednesday 14th 9 am Morning Prayer

9.45 am Bertie Bear Club7 pm Bell Ringers Practice

Thursday 15th 9 am Hall Park School Rehearsal10.30 am Community Craft Group2 pm Hall Park School Service

Friday 16th 11 am CommunionSaturday 17th 9 am Morning Prayer

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1 pm WeddingSunday 18th 8.30 am Communion

10 am Communion 10 am All Age Worship4 pm Taize

Monday 19th 7 pm Choir PracticeTuesday 20th 9 am Hall Park School Rehearsal

2 pm Hall Park School Service7 pm Alpha Course

Wednesday 21st 9 am Morning Prayer9.45 am Bertie Bear Club7 pm Bell Ringers Practice

Thursday 22nd 10.30 am Community Craft GroupFriday 23rd 11 am CommunionSaturday 24th 9 am Morning Prayer

10 am Club Day Coffee MorningSunday 25th 8.30 am Communion

10 am Communion10 am All Age Worship

Monday 26th 7 pm Choir PracticeWednesday 28th 9 am Morning Prayer

9.45 am Bertie Bear Club7 pm Bell Ringers Practice

Thursday 29th 10.30 am Community Craft GroupFriday 30th 11 am CommunionSaturday 31st 9.00 am Morning Prayer

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Jews and Romans in the Trial of JesusThe account of Jesus’ trial, involving first the Jewish authorities and then the Roman, brings us face to face with the complexities of power-play within an occupied country. In a month when we hear about this hasty sequence of events, it’s useful to take a look at the historical context.The narrative is similar in all four gospels, although there is some variation in the detail. John is unique in making no reference to the involvement of the Council of the Jews (i.e. the Sanhedrin); only Luke refers to Pilate’s attempt to pass the buck by sending Jesus to be judged by Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time; and it is only John who states that Jesus was first taken to Annas, the father-in-law of the High Priest Caiaphas, before being taken to Caiaphas himself. Since Annas had been the previous High Priest, this suggests that he still exercised considerable authority and that Caiaphas deferred to him to some extent. However, neither had the last word. If what they wanted was Jesus’ death by crucifixion (the capital punishment routinely used by the Romans for common criminals), they had to bring the case to the Roman authority — and for this the backing of the Sanhedrin was needed. This was a long-established judicial body which dealt with legal matters relating to the practice of the Jewish religion. When originally founded, the High Priest presided, but after 191 BC the Sanhedrin had its own distinct President. The Romans, following their usual custom of allowing local administration to continue provided it did not conflict with the interests of the Empire, recognised the Sanhedrin as a body with which it could do business. In the case of Jesus’ trial, however, while the Jewish position

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was that Jesus deserved death because he had blasphemed, this religious violation would have cut no ice with the Romans; instead, when making the case to Pilate, the Jews adapted the way they framed the charge, insisting that Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews. By Roman standards this was treasonous, and in the context of Judaea was dangerously inflammatory because the Romans supported a family of puppet kings (the Herodians) that was not even of Jewish descent. It is worth noting also that although the Sanhedrin was ‘allowed’ by the occupying power as a way of gaining a degree of acceptance among the Jews, the High Priests had become Roman appointments. Additionally, while the Romans controlled the death penalty throughout the Empire and were not at all squeamish about using it, they did not like it when others tried to manoeuvre them into using it to serve what they saw as purely local interests. We are dealing here with thoroughly poisonous politics!Pilate, as the Procurator or Prefect of Judaea, was a middle-ranking functionary, subordinate to the Governor of Syria, so he wouldn’t have wanted to rock the boat. In any case he was temporarily in a very exposed position, being in Jerusalem with only a small auxiliary force for the duration of the Passover in order to forestall trouble on the streets at a time of year when crowds assembled, and Jewish national feeling ran high. His normal residence was in the much safer enclave of Herod’s palace on the coast at Caesarea Maritima, which was then functioning as Judaea’s Roman capital. It is here, in the 1960s, that archaeologists found what is so far the only surviving stone inscription bearing Pontius Pilate’s name. Joyce Hill

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St Cuthbert’s Uniformed Organisations

MondayCubs meet at 6.45 – 8.15pm

for more details email catherinehughes0@btinternet.com

TuesdayBeavers meet at 6 - 7pm

for more details contact Sarah Johnson 01253 739457

Sea Scouts meet at 7.15 -9 pm for more details contact

Graham Igoe 01253 734861

WednesdayRainbows meet at 6 - 7pm

for more details contact Muriel Ward 01253 738729

ThursdayBrownies meet at 6.15 - 7.30pm

for more details contact Jeannette 01253 738443

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Useful Church Contacts and Phone Numbers

Alpha Course Bev Wells01253 279 676

07742 709 994

Community Craft Group

Paula Chapman 07891371358

Churchwarden

Beryl Matthews

01253 725 552

07788 683 706

Churchwarden Colin Ballard

01253 795 081

07811 361 238

Fairtrade Julie Webb07914 926 422

Mothers’ Union

Margaret Fisher 01253 737310

Parish Coordinator

Fiona Newbold 01253 736488

Vicar Nick Wells 01253 279676Vision Champion Julie Webb

07914 926 422

Vision Champion

Marion Smyllie 01253 738099

Webpage Facebook & Twitter Bev Wells 01253 279676

07742 709 994

100 ClubDebbie Rogerson 01253 422500

07540 284 517

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Parish OfficeSt Cuthbert’s Parish OfficeSt Cuthbert’s Church Hall

Church RoadLythamFY8 5QL

Tel : 01253 736488Email: parishoffice@stcuthbertslytham.org

Usual office hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm

Website http://stcuthbertslytham.orgFacebook St Cuthbert Lytham

Twitter @cuthbertslytham

Lytham St Cuthbert is a charity registered in England and Wales | Charity Registration No. 1143673

Registered Office: - St Cuthberts Church, Church Road, Lytham St. Annes, FY8 5QL

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