No. 384 April 2011 PARISH NEWS. From the Cathedral and Parish Church of St. German, Peel Worship, teaching and service

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1 No. 384 April 2011 PARISH NEWS From the Cathedral and Parish Church of St. German, Peel Worship, teaching and service The Visit of the Royal Almoner The Editor is happy to publish articles from contributors but they do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or the Church (Suggested Donation 70p) The Royal Almoner, The Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, flew in to the Isle of Man on March 12 th to talk about The Royal Maundy. 40 people from the Isle of Man have been nominated to receive the Royal Maundy from the Queen in Westminster Abbey on Maundy Thursday (21 st April) this year. The service will be televised live. Maundy from the Latin mandatum meaning commandment the service opens with the words of John Jesus said, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

2 For the first time ever the Cathedral is linked with a Royal event. On Her Majesty's 85 th birthday, which happens to coincide with Maundy Thursday, the Queen will be distributing the Royal Maundy Money at Westminster Abbey. This service derives from Christ washing his disciples feet and indeed began in this way. The monarch would wash the feet of some of their poor subjects and dispense alms including clothing and food. There is an account of Queen Elizabeth I washing feet BUT the feet of the poor were washed three times and perfumed before the monarch ever got to do any washing. Over time the custom changed to solely giving money instead and our present Queen has personally distributed The Royal Maundy for most years of her reign, only missing it because of child birth or foreign tours. This year the Queen will distribute to people of the Diocese of Sodor and Man, The Diocese of Europe and some from London. The Diocese of Sodor and Man has never been honoured in this way before. The custom is to distribute the purses to the number of men and women coinciding with the age of the monarch and this year that means 85 women and 85 men. The custom has grown, in recent years, for the monarch to visit different Cathedrals around the UK, (there are 44 in the Church of England). However every ten years she holds the service at the Royal Peculiar of Westminster Abbey, the Queen's local church. (The Dean of the Abbey, John Hall, was my predecessor in the parish where I did my curacy at St John the Divine in Brixton.) The symbolism of the event, draws on what we understand Jesus did at the Last Supper as recorded in Chapter 13 of John's Gospel. The event makes the disciples uncomfortable and this is articulated by Peter who says: You will never wash my feet. This action by Jesus is one usually done by one of the lowliest slaves in the household, not the host of the feast, nevertheless Jesus responds: Unless I wash you, you have no share with me. Peter then gives in and asks to be washed all over, Jesus asks them if they have understood what the symbolism of the event is and then proceeds to tell them: 'If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another s feet.' It is clear that Christian Leadership is about service. As Clergy, Wardens, PCC members and members of the Cathedral Community we are called to set an example of service in our community. As we approach Holy Week and re-enact the last days of Christ s life on earth, we ask that God will help us to reflect on how Jesus asks us to live our life and serve one another. Nigel

3 Great Hymns: As the deer pants for the water my soul longs after you. This is one of the hymns we sang at the Mothers Union Festival service in March. As with many great hymns, it is based on an image from the Bible, in this case from Psalm 42 As the hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. This psalm has inspired several hymn-writers, in this case a modern composer, Martin Nystrom, who wrote both words and music. To follow the connections between these verses and Christian music, we need to go back a long way. After the Reformation, the only congregational singing in British churches was the chanting of metrical versions of the psalms there were no hymns. In 1562 the first official book of praise for the Church The Whole Booke of Psalms, collected into English metre was published. After 134 years it was replaced by a revised edition, which included the older version of this hymn that we still sing: As pants the hart for cooling streams when heated in the chase, written by Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, the compilers of that new edition. Originally it had no fewer than 12 verses (reduced to only 4 in our hymnbook they must have enjoyed singing more in those days than we do now!). Whether we sing the traditional version or the modern one, the message of this hymn is the same as that set out by the psalmist: our restless souls can only find true refreshment when we meet with the living God. The psalms were written many centuries before Jesus came to show us the way to experience God for ourselves. We have no need to say, as the psalm continues My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, Where is your God?. For me, the most memorable image about flowing water in the Bible comes from Psalm 37, where the psalmist writes of the Jews sadness at being held in captivity: By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, and hanged our harps on the willow trees... and our captors said Sing us one of the songs of Zion!. This passage struck me forcibly when, as a student, I first experienced a great choral work, singing William Walton s Belshazzer s Feast in Bristol Cathedral. Walton set these words so poignantly that the sadness and yearning of those held captive away from their homeland is palpable. Then, most significantly, in the gospels we read of the River Jordan, where Jesus was baptised by John and, in a sign from God, the divinity of Jesus was first publically revealed. So the image of flowing water links together Advent and Lent, Christmas and Easter: our sadness at our sin, our yearning for something better, the arrival of Jesus as the Son of God, and the assurance of saving grace brought through Him. We do indeed have something to sing about. Let us thank God for the freedom to praise Him. The compilers of The Whole Book of Psalms, back in 1562, would not have recognised the musical idiom of As the deer pants for the water, nor even of As pants the hart for cooling streams, but they would certainly have recognised the allegory and the underlying message. Like us they could praise God for the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. Don Roworth

4 Parish Walk 25 th June 2011 Fancy a Parish Walk? Robert Udy and Val Garrett are aiming to get to Peel in this year's Parish Walk and to raise sponsorship for the Cathedral Garden Project. If you are walking and not in a team, would you like to join them? Please let Val or Robert know as soon as possible. They would also love to hear from anyone who would be willing to sponsor them! As last year there will be a refreshment stall in the Cathedral Grounds. Volunteers to make refreshments or to help on the stall will be greatly appreciated. Above: Last year! Remember Alison and Rachel? Fundraising Car Boot Sale Thank you to all who helped in any way at the Car Boot Sale on Sunday, 20 th March was raised towards the cost of the Corrin Hall boiler. Walking Treasure Hunt It is proposed to once again hold a walking treasure hunt with supper (date still to be decided, probably June/July). Is anyone willing to help organise in any way? Could you set the route? I'm willing to help with the organisation but having set the route for the last 2 years it would be good if someone else could do it and it could be totally different. Please let me know if you would be willing to help. Val Garrett ( ) Ideas? Please let Val know if you have any different ideas for fundraisers. or Would be willing to organise a fundraising event? The main in-house project for fundraising this year is the cost of the Cathedral Servery.

5 Annual Parish Dinner The numbers attending the Annual Parish Dinner have been reduced considerably in recent years so the staff meeting would like to know what you would like. We would like to give you a say in where the Annual Parish Dinner is held this year. The date is provisionally set for Friday, 2 nd December. We are looking at Either: Peel Golf Club Or: bringing in outside caterers and having the meal in the Annex. If you are considering going, please pick up and complete the voting form which can be found at the back of the Cathedral and place in the box provided, by 17 th April. Do please encourage (a) people to come (b) vote for your preference. Volunteers Thank you, to all those who have volunteered to help with cleaning the Corrin Hall, at times to suit themselves. If anyone else has a bit of spare time, Val Garrett has the list of jobs that have not yet been allocated and would love to hear from you. Unfortunately there were no offers of help with security marking the silver. This requires 2 people to be in attendance at all times for security reasons. If anyone could help Val with this task please let her know ( ). Happy Easter to you all As I wrote last month I am going to spend Holy Week in Ireland in the diocese of Cashel and Ossory, preaching. I am then going on holiday to Canada to see my family and will be away until 24 th May. I hope you all have a very happy and blessed Easter. I will be back in time for Ascension Day, TT and Pentecost! Margaret

6 Easter on the Hill Peel Castle Saturday 23 rd April Stewards needed from 3.30pm onwards Helpers needed with setting up and clearing up. Can you help? Please contact James Or and follow the contact links. Easter on the Hill Peel Castle, Saturday 23 rd April We need lots of people to be in the crowd scenes and we would love it if you could be a part of this very special event. There are 2 rehearsal dates 2pm Sunday 10 th April and 2pm Saturday the 16 th April We ask that you attend at least one of these dates so you know what to do on the day. Contact Jackie at jackieaalin@hotmail.com or tel

7 The Bead Walk, Peel. In 1984, in a grave in Peel Castle, a remarkable item was discovered which became known as The Pagan Lady's Necklace. Inspired by the intimacy and connectedness of the necklace we have proposed the Bead Walk. It starts at the ancient Cathedral on St Patrick s Isle and leads to the new Cathedral at the top of the town. The Business Advisory Group (now known as Cathedral Quarter Project) have produced a set of 8 notelets based on the 'Bead Walk'. Local artist, Heather Hall, has painted the 8 beads. St German s ancient Cathedral, Fenella Beach, Spit Corner, Castle Street, St Peter s, Michael Street, Atholl Place, the modern Cathedral. These notelets are unique and will be shortly be available to purchase at cost of 5 for the pack of 8 with a covering sheet giving further details of the set and each card has historical details of the sites. Any profit will go to the Cathedral Gardens Project. If you would like to purchase pack/s of notelets please speak to Val Garrett and also please speak to Val if you are able to assist with selling the notelets.

8 The Deanery Building works are at last about to begin on the new Deanery in Albany Road and just in case people get the wrong end of the stick it would be helpful to lay out a few facts. Why has the Vicarage changed its name? Well a vicar has a vicarage, a rector has a rectory and by the time the house is completed Nigel will be the Dean of the Cathedral so needs a deanery! We begin with Demolition Only the single story wing which includes the garage, scullery and coal shed is to be demolished. This is partly due to subsidence, but partly due to the new arrangements. In its stead will be built a garden room, which will be the administrative centre of the house where all the business of the Cathedral will be conducted using work stations and hot desks. There will also be new toilet facilities (disabled access and with baby-change facilities) and the reerection of the garage. Enlarged Reception Room Two ground floor rooms will be knocked into one to create a dual purpose room that will be available for meetings such as Committees, gatherings like the MU, Alpha courses, just in the same way as groups use the flat on the Quayside. The old study will become an interview room. What are they doing taking off the roof? There will be a second floor created in the void of the roof space which will include a small kitchen, a shower room and two study-bedrooms. This has been paid for separately by a donor who wishes to encourage expansion of the Cathedral s staff the space will be made available to young interns. Why does he need Six Bedrooms? The current vicarage has five bedrooms on the first floor. This will be reduced to four studybedrooms with 2 en-suite shower rooms and a bathroom. This area will be used to house the Dean, other Cathedral staff and leave one space for guests. Caution The next Dean may use this house in a very different way, so there is flexibility built in to allow for changes in the way this building is used in the future. We anticipate that the work will be complete early in A big thank you to all the donors who made this possible.

9 Deanery: Front Elevation View from Albany Road Deanery: Rear Elevation View from the garden

10 From the Registers MARRIAGE 26 th March Stacey Louise Gleave with Gary John Kelly IN MEMORIAM Martha Fargher died: 19 th March funeral: 28 th March Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Oldham died: 23 rd March (Aged 101) funeral: 30 th March MOTHERS UNION On Monday 14 th March our Speaker was Mrs Jayne Platt from Graih, the charity for homeless people. Graih is completely self supporting and is based at Broadway Baptist Church in Douglas. Homeless men can have lunch there and also a light tea, then, if necessary they can stay for the night. There are no beds, but couches with bedding and some bed chairs have been ordered. The men are encouraged to look for other accommodation and not to stay for too many nights. Occasionally women go there for meals, but never stay for the night. We were very impressed by what Jayne told us and have promised to help by making a collection in church of non-perishable foods, men s toiletries, clothes etc. and anything else which would help this vulnerable group of people. There is a box at the back of church and anything which is donated will be received with grateful thanks. Thank you. EC Mothering Sunday and Simnel Cake The food item specially associated with Mothering Sunday is the Simnel cake. A Simnel cake is a fruit cake with two layers of almond paste, one on top and one in the middle. The cake is made with 11 balls of marzipan icing on top representing the 11 disciples. (Judas is not included.) Traditionally, sugar violets would also be added. Why Simnel? The name Simnel probably comes from the Latin word simila which means a fine wheat flour usually used for baking a cake. There's a legend that a man called Simon and his wife Nell argued over whether the cake for Mothering Sunday should be baked or boiled. In the end they did both, so the cake was named after both of them: SIM-NELL.

11 Regular events each week are:- CALENDAR FOR APRIL 9.30am Monday to Friday Morning Office 5.30pm Monday to Saturday Evening Office 9.30am Wed 1662 Eucharist 6.00pm Wed The Voice Youth Group The Net Loft 7.30pm Wed Choir Practice The Chantry 7.30pm Fri Bellringers Tower Practice 1 st Fri 7.30pm Stations of the Cross 3 rd Sun Fourth Sunday in Lent Mothering Sunday 8.30am 1662 Eucharist 10.30am Eucharist with Baptism 3.30pm Evening Worship 4 th Mon 6.10pm Liturgy Group Net Loft 6 th Wed 10.30am Caterpillar Club 12.15pm Lent Lunch Corrin Hall 7.30pm Wardens Meeting Net Loft 8 th Fri 7.30pm Stations of the Cross St Patrick s RC 10 th Sun Fifth Sunday in Lent Passion Sunday 8.30am 1662 Eucharist 10.30am Eucharist Focus: Salvation History 3.30pm Evening Worship 11 th Mon 7.30pm MU Communion and AGM Cathedral 7.30pm Western Mission Partnership Meeting Marown 13 th Wed 12.15pm Lent Lunch Corrin Hall Western Ministers Lunch Meeting 15 th Fri 7.30pm Stations of the Cross Cathedral 16 th Sat 12.30pm Wedding: Alison Crellin with Ray Dodd 17 th Sun Palm Sunday 8.30am 1662 Eucharist 10.00am Procession from the Old Cathedral 10.30am Eucharist 3.30pm Evening Worship 18 th Mon 10am 4pm Clergy & Readers Quiet Day 21 st Thu 7.30pm Maundy Supper with foot washing followed by Stripping of the Altars and Watch 22 nd Fri 10.30am Ecumenical Service 12 noon Stations of the Cross for young people 2.00pm The Liturgy 23 rd Sat 8.00pm The Vigil 24 rd Sun Easter Day 8.30am 1662 Eucharist 10.30am Easter Eucharist lighting the fire, marking the Candle 3.30pm Evening Office 28 th Thu 7.30pm Annual Parochial Meeting Annex

12 26 th March Mothers Union Diocesan Festival Eucharist Left: Helen Parry; Eric Quirk, MU Chaplain; Roberta McKelvey, MU Trustee and Provincial Representative for Amagh; Houston McKelvey, Dean of St Anne s Cathedral, Belfast Above: Mothers Union Banners prepare for the service. Right: 13 th February as Margaret is made Minor Canon, Cathedral Chaplain and Diocesan Training Officer