The Paper pulpit. Lent

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2 Lent The Paper pulpit As I write this we are fast heading toward Ash Wednesday and Lent. A time during which I will take a fast from Alcohol and Chocolate. Why 'fast' during Lent when in recent years we have often been encouraged more to 'take something up'? Fasting makes us dependant on God, directing our thoughts back to the giver. The point of fasting is not to punish, but to be thankful. The same could be said about sleep, a gift from God, a time for us to be quiet and for God to be heard. I recently attended a Study Day at St Albans Cathedral entitled 'I will lay down and sleep'. The average person sleeps for about 1/3 of their lives. I acknowledge this can vary enormously person to person. But what is God up to while we sleep? Sleep being the main arena of dreams; a time of loss of control; we cannot control what we dream about. Dreams can reflect what's going on in our waking lives, how often do the storms of life affect our sleep? We don't really think of sleep as being theological (a study of God); sleep is a gift to be received. In the Bible we read of Jonah, fast asleep in the lower levels of the ship during a raging storm. The crew try to throw him overboard, in an attempt to still the storm. On the Sea of Galilee, Jesus is fast asleep in the boat when the storm blows up, the disciples are terrified yet he continues to sleep. Jesus' sleep is the sleep of innocence, he wakes and restores calm. Sleep can often bring us calm. Sleep and prayer are similar in many ways. We close our eyes to sleep, and traditionally to pray. We tend to adopt a specific posture to pray, and to sleep. In closing our eyes to pray, we see. In closing our eyes to sleep we are unconscious agents of God's will. In sleep, as in prayer we can, Let Go - Let God and allow the spirit to work within us. I end with a prayer shared by our tutor Father Andrew Bishop from Guildford Cathedral: Now the busy day is done, Father bless us everyone. Keep us safely thro' the night, til we see the morning light. Rachel Thompson Our Mission Statement: In God s name we seek to be a welcoming, loving, active, Christian community, who aim, through our life and worship together, to love, serve and care for everyone. Flitwick Parish Magazine Page 3

3 Dry Lent Ok, so I'm sure everyone has heard of 'Go Sober for October' or 'Dry January', when you are expected to abstain from ALL alcoholic beverages for the ENTIRE month. How about a dry Lent or even a chocolate free lent, or perhaps both?? I am calling for any volunteers willing to join me for charity. I admit I'm an old hand at this one but it's time for charity to gain from it!! Lent runs for 40 whole days - that's Ash Wednesday, February 18th until Palm Sunday on March 29th. There's no claiming that Sundays are feast days, as our Lord didn't come out of the wilderness to quickly indulge on a Sunday. The only time you are able to break your abstinence is that you are allowed to continue the taking of communion wine. So anyone brave enough to join me? 50% of your sponsorship will be given to the church but the remaining can go to another charity of your choosing. Mine will be going to the Sue Rider Hospice at Moggerhanger. If you want to join me or just sponsor me, you can contact me by phone or (see article below). There will be sponsor forms at both churches. Rachel Thompson Maundy Thursday In previous years we have marked Maundy Thursday and the beginnings of the sharing of Bread & Wine at the Last Supper, as a remembrance of Jesus giving his life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, with a meal. In 2014 this was changed to a service remembering the origin of the Holy Communion; however this was very poorly attended. This year we will be marking this with an evening of quiet time, meditation and prayer. This will be an opportunity to just be quiet and contemplative, there will be poems, prayers and meditations available also quiet background music. A light 'grazing' style buffet supper will be available during the evening and donations toward the cost of this will be very much appreciated. This evening is intended to be a 'come & go' as you please or are able but will be 'open' from 6pm to 9pm. Maundy Thursday will be April 2nd this year. There will be lists available at both churches, an idea for catering would be appreciated but this is very much a 'come & go' event. If you require any more info please contact me, Rachel Thompson by phone on or by rachel.thompson58@ntlworld.com Page 4 Flitwick Parish Magazine

4 Cooks cavern Caramel Brownies This month s recipe by Imogen Diver is for Caramel Brownies. Ingredients Method 150g (5½oz) butter 200g (7oz) dark chocolate 2 eggs, beaten 175g (6oz) soft light brown sugar 55g (2oz) plain flour 1tsp baking powder 55g (2oz) walnut pieces (optional) 4-6tbsp caramel, plus extra to serve 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC, 350º F, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm (8in) square baking tin. 2. Melt the butter with 55g (2oz) of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water. 3. Beat the eggs with the sugar in a large bowl, then sift in the flour, and baking powder. Stir in the melted chocolate mixture, and beat together until well blended. 4. Chop the remaining chocolate into rough chunks and stir into the brownie mixture, with the walnuts. Spoon into the tin and spread evenly. 5. Beat the caramel in a small bowl and swirl into the mix. Bake for about 30 mins, the cake should begin to shrink slightly from the sides of the tin. 6. When cool cut the brownie cake into squares Prayer Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. Flitwick Parish Magazine Page 25

5 Children s corner Jokes Q. If two s company and three s a crowd, Q. Why should you never tell secrets in a what s four and five? Greengrocer s? A. Nine. A. Cos potatoes have eyes and beanstalk. Q. What goes putt, putt, putt, putt, putt, putt? Q. Why did the fly, fly? A. A bad golfer. A. Because the spider spied er. Q. What do you call a fly with no wings? Q. Why did the owl owl? A. A walk. A. Cos the woodpecker would peck er. Q. Why didn t the viper vipe er nose? Q. What did the ear ear? A. Because the adder ad er andkerchief. A. Only the nose knows. Q. What did the carpet say to the floor? Q. What flower grows on your face? A. You go ahead I'll cover you. A. Tulips. Maze See if you can get from the top to the bottom of the maze below. Page 22 Flitwick Parish Magazine

6 Flitwick Scouts Learn How to Preserve Life Flitwick Beaver Scouts recently learnt first aid skills including how to preserve life by practising mouth to mouth resuscitation on manikins provided free by the British Heart Foundation. They also learnt how to treat cuts and grazes, burns and scalds. This resulted in all of the Beaver Scouts achieving their Emergency Aid Stage 1 badge. Adult volunteer Nicky Taylor said The children will have learnt some skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. Hopefully they will never have to use mouth to mouth resuscitation, but if they do, they will know what to do. Beaver Scout Ewan said It was a really fun evening being given the chance to practice different bits of first aid. I ve only been in Beavers for a few months but I ve already been on a sleepover, a trip to the space centre, an evening where we tasted Japanese food, a walk in the dark across a muddy Flitwick Moor, and learning about home and personal safety. It s a real adventure being in Beavers as we do something different every week. I m really looking forward to camping and going in the caving system and on the bouldering wall. Flitwick Scout Group provides activities for almost 200 young people. They are currently planning their summer camp where the children will be able to try several activities including grass sledging, high ropes, kayaking, raft building and a zip wire. Flitwick Scout Group is open to boys and girls aged 6 to 14. information, please visit Nigel Taylor Deanery Evensong For more There will be a Deanery Evensong at Silsoe Parish Church on Sunday 8th March at 6pm. Theme: "Temptation" Preacher: The Revd Canon Dennis Stamps, Rector, St Nicholas, Harpenden with a joint Deanery Choir from local churches. All welcome. Flitwick Parish Magazine Page 11

7 The Print Cellar Print Cellar is a social enterprise based in Woburn Sands, operating under the auspices of Churches Together and based in the cellar of the Methodist Church. CHRISTIAN NEWS is one of the best local ecumenical magazines in the country, and would become the basis for growing a small business. The growth in circulation of CHRISTIAN NEWS, plus an upsurge in orders for other printing work meant the volunteers operating the service were giving up an increasing amount of their time. This presented an opportunity to grow this service as a social enterprise, providing a service to local Christian and community groups and employers and at the same time providing local employment and training facilities. The business is run on a not for profit basis, with any surplus put into local community projects. We can print high quality flyers, posters, and promotional material for local businesses, invites, orders of service and thank you cards for weddings, funerals and baptisms; newsletters, minutes and leaflets for community groups and much more. This is already becoming a successful enterprise giving valuable experience and confidence to be able to take up other similar local initiatives. Already in August last year it produced a small surplus of 400 and demand for printing work is growing. It is looking for ways of collaborating with other organisations and agencies, including the Milton Keynes Christian Foundation and the ecumenical networks across Bedfordshire. We look forward to being of service to Ampthill & Shefford Deanery Pastoral Committee and respective parishes. If you have a printing requirement and in addition need art work or graphic design we arrange this through an enterprise which is run through MK Christian Foundation. For more information, visit the Print Cellar website: or telephone Confirmation: Thursday 14th May 2015 The next Confirmation Service in this area will be held in Maulden Church on 14th May, Ascension Day. In the absence of our own vicar, the Revd Lynda Klimas, Rector of Maulden, invites anyone interested in being confirmed to join a course in Maulden starting in March. Further details can be obtained from Ciaran Diver. Page 12 Flitwick Parish Magazine

8 FLITWICK CHURCH CHOIR Affiliated to Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) New members always welcome Flitwick Church Choir is open to boys and girls aged seven years and upwards and adults and practices are held on Friday evenings during school term times from 7.15m to 8.30pm. New members are always welcome and no previous experience is required. You are just asked to bring along your enthusiasm and commitment. The choir sings for 10.30am service on Sundays and is also asked to sing at weddings and other special services throughout the year To find out more: Visit our web page: Come to a Sunday service at 10.30am (not first Sunday of the month) Join us at one of our Friday practices: 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th March (7.15pm-8.30pm) Contact Susan, our choir master: or speak to our organist, Helen, at the end of a service Live the Challenge This year's diocese lent challenge is called Live a Difference and addresses some of the issues underlying the debates in the General Election campaign. Faith invites us to think and live a little differently. You can find reading material and sign up for daily verses on the Live the Challenge website: Quote for the Month I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. CS Lewis Page 16 Flitwick Parish Magazine