LUDLOW TOWERS. December p. The Parish Magazine for St Laurence and St John Churches

Transcription

1 LUDLOW TOWERS The Parish Magazine for St Laurence and St John Churches December p

2 LUDLOW ST LAURENCE PARISH OFFICE 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 1AN Telephone: office@stlaurences.org.uk website: The office is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between am and pm. Parish Office Shop Manager Amanda Davidson Temporary Church Administrator Peter Challenger Church Executive Manager Shaun Ward Parish Finance Manager Michael Hunt St John s parish office Grace Johnson Ashford Group office Clare Bicker-Caarten Bromfield Group office Grace Johnson CLERGY (Days off in italics) Rector Revd Kelvin Price Tue Assistant Priest Revd Prebendary Ann Barge Wed Parish Chaplain (StL) Revd Canon Jeffry Wilcox NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICES St Laurence 8.00am Holy Communion BCP 9.30am Parish Eucharist Sung Eucharist once a month 11.30am 2nd and 4th Sundays Choral Matins 3.30pm 1st and 3rd Sundays Choral Evensong (No 3rd service on the 5th Sunday of the month) St John 9.30am 1st & 3rd Sundays Holy Communion 2nd & 4th Sundays Lay-led Worship St Giles 11.15am 1st Sunday Family Service 2nd & 4th Sundays Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer 2

3 CONTENTS Regular services 4 Clergy letter - Revd Kelvin Price 5 What s on at St Laurence s in December 6 From the Registers 6 Christmas preparations - cartoon 6 Christmas Services 7 Letter from Bishop Alistair 8 Christmas book reviews 9 Introducing - Wayne Davies 10 A Refectory Prayer 11 PCC meeting summary - October Goodbye Christopher Robin 13 A Bewildering Journey 14 Ludlow Tree of Life 15 Christian Aid 16 Conservation Trust for St Laurence s 17 Caynham Christmas Tree Festival 17 Notes from St John s 18 Life & Ludlow 19 Children s Pages Magazine deadline dates and guidelines 22 Contact list - St Laurence s and St John s 23 If you would prefer to read the Ludlow Towers on your smart phone, tablet or computer please contact the Parish Office (office@stlaurences.org.uk) to put your name on the monthly mailing list. 3

4 PATTERN OF REGULAR WEEKLY SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES AT ST LAU- Monday Morning Prayer Rector s teatime (none in December) Evening Prayer Bells Practice Tuesday Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Handbells Practice Wednesday Toddler Group Holy Communion Thursday Morning Prayer Open Prayer Group (none in December) Evening Prayer Little Trebs Singing Group Practice for Junior Choristers Choir Practice Friday Holy Communion Toddler Group Compline Saturday Guided tours of church Sunday Holy Communion Parish Eucharist Matins (2nd and 4th Sundays) or Evensong (1st and 3rd Sundays 4

5 THE MESSAGE OF THE ANGELS Glory to God in the highest and Peace to his People on Earth, so sang the angels, the heralds of heaven, on the first Christmas Night. On Remembrance Sunday it occurred to me that as we approach the centenary of the end of the First World War it is possible that attendances may get bigger yet next year. It is certain that the media will focus event by event, battle by battle on the whole course of that extraordinary four years that broke an old world order and reshaped the world that followed for the rest of the last century, in ways that were both evil and good. I wonder then, what to make of that strange story of what happened in some places, but not universally, along the length of the Western Front, when on Christmas Day in 1914 local informal truces broke out, deeply disapproved of by senior officers, and British, German, and French soldiers came out of their trenches, exchanged drinks and Christmas treats, even played football, and certainly sang Christmas carols. The moment seems a curious paradox, in the midst of the greatest industrialised war up to that point in human history, when the lives of young men were being poured out in the service of national and imperial ideologies as if they were some form of economic commodity like the coal and steel that powered the war efforts of the great powers; it is as if common humanity, and yes, it has to be said, common Christianity, broke through, and the value of human life was transiently re-asserted. As we move towards the many commemorations of a world at war, and as we also consider the world of our own times, in their own way beset by war and by other forces that demean the quality of human life, dare we consider that the message of the angels might be taken seriously? Might we honour God by seeking his peace on Earth? Merry Christmas to you all, Kelvin and all at St Laurence s and St John s 5

6 FROM THE REGISTERS FUNERALS 23 November Frederick Gretton 26 November Winifred Elsie Howard WEDDINGS 11 November Lee Osborne & Zoe Ainge ST LAURENCE Events calendar DECEMBER 2017 Date Time Event Details 17th 10.45am Congregational meeting - update from the Rector 21st 2pm Wedding: Andrew Robinson & Samantha Skyrme There will be no Rector s tea time in December. Next date - Monday 8 January This CartoonChurch.com cartoon by Dave Walker originally appeared in the Church Times. 6

7 3rd CHRISTMAS SERVICES 5.30pm Advent Carol Service by candlelight 7th 11am Bedstone School Carol Service 12th 10am 13th 6pm 14th 2pm 16th 7pm Ludlow Junior School Carol Service St Laurence s School Carol Service Ludlow CE School Carol Service Ludlow Choral Society Christmas Concert - Merry Christmas from Around the World 17th 3.30pm St John s Church Carol Service (at St Laurence s) 20th 6pm 7pm 22nd 2pm 23rd 7pm 24th 4pm 25th 8am Living Nativity Castle Square Light up a Life - remember loved ones with a 7-day candle to burn throughout the Christmas services Family film The Muppet Christmas Carol 7.30pm Carols in the Ludlow Castle Chapel Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight Christingle 11.15pm Midnight Mass: Mozart Missa Brevis Holy Communion BCP 9.30am Parish Communion (said) 11.15am Carol Service with Blessing of Gifts December December, December, A month to remember, A month full of darkness and light, A month full of rushing And sharing and hoping, A month full of one special night. By Daphne Kitching 7

8 LETTER FROM THE BISHOP It was the first week in November when on a train I overheard three young men talking openly. Their conversation included the comment Christmas is already in the shops. A day or so later I watched the first of Currys/PC World s Christmas adverts. In the advert a Mum and Dad double act, as a spoof, declare a tech free Christmas. What is on offer instead is an old-fashioned Christmas with carols and singing. The trio of children are less than impressed. All changes when a new LG OLED 4Kready TV is revealed in the living room. It is a funny advert. The retailer's declared marketing strategy is to help customers get it right when making a significant purchase at this season. That is perfectly understandable. There is however in this an underlying message. Getting Christmas right is not about having an old fashioned Christmas as mentioned by the Mum and Dad in the advert but about buying the right products. This raises an interesting question. For many people coming to this season of celebration, what does it mean to get Christmas right? In Dr Seuss s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas there is a wonderful quote Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more! What all of us know but rarely 8 acknowledge is that things however clever, expensive or innovative can only give a passing pleasure and transient joy. Of course it is good to celebrate Christmas and to give gifts to one another. The heart of the Christmas story is that God gave us his greatest gift in the birth of Jesus. The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple is quoted as saying: If I had given people what they wanted they would never have got Apple. Embodied in the Christmas message is that God gave us not what we wanted but what we need. The birth of Christ was not glamorous. The gospels tell us is that God in Christ stepped into the depths of our broken, sad and troubled world to bring us what we need: peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and transformed lives. It cost him everything. Like all gifts he has to be received. This story is not old fashioned; it is timeless and his transforming presence priceless. Christmas gift suggestions: +Alistair To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. Anon

9 Hark! The biography of Christmas Paul Kerensa, Lion Hudson, 7.99 In this sleigh ride through Christmas history, Paul Kerensa answers the festive questions you never thought to ask Did Cromwell help shape the mince pie? Was St Nicholas the first to use an automatic door? And did King Herod really have a wife called Doris? Whether you re enjoying the biggest turkey, the biggest tree or the biggest credit card bill, unwrap your story through our twelve dates of Christmas past. From Roman revelry to singing Bing, via Santa, Scrooge and a snoozing saviour, this timeless tale is perfect trivia fodder for Christmas. 2 5 C r a f t s f o r Christmas Christina Goodings, Samantha Meredith, Lion Children s 5.99 Here is a craft for every day of Advent, or just to keep children entertained in the run up to Christmas. You can make decorations, your own Christmas cards, and a variety of gift boxes and trimmings. Each activity is wonderfully simple with only a few steps to each craft and will give satisfying results in minutes - or hours can be whiled away with glittery embellishments. Some Small Heaven a spiritual path through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Ian Adams, BRF, 8.99 In this Advent book, seasonal meditations with 9 various striking reflections and images combine. Advent is a time of waiting, which can occur in our lives at any time. Learning how to wait in Advent will enable us better to understand how to negotiate the waiting times whenever they come. Christmas can nurture within us an openness to new possibilities. We are helped to capture the wonder of God coming towards us, making a home in us. Epiphany is a time of revealing, and so this invites us to look up and look out and see larger patterns at work in our world, to see the holy child Jesus as a gift for all. In seeking light we discover how we too can be bearers of light. Reviews from Parish Pump

10 INTRODUCING... Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself, your background and your family. My name s Wayne Davies. I'm 46 years old and I m married to Sarah (she s amazing) and have 3 beautiful children, Megan, Evie and Noah. My previous roles have been pipefitter/ plumber, site foreman, mechanical engineer, IT engineer, IT support manager and IT accounts manager. On the personal side I have run street outreach teams, worked with youth, worked as a chaplain in prison, counselled prisoners and worked on the streets engaging with people and I have had secular roles and roles within the church. Are you 'local to Ludlow'? No, but Sarah and I had our first date in Ludlow. It s unbelievable to think we ll be moving here after all that time. What brought you to the area? Ha, that s not a short story. God bought us here as we d moved to Manchester for my job, found an amazing church and settled down there. Life was amazing, seeing lives transformed and the prison door opened up. Then, out of the blue, a rehab farm in Shropshire that we knew asked us if we d like to come and work with them to be house parents and other roles. As a family we chatted about it and decided to give it a go. We loved being on the farm and seeing lives impacted, but with the demands of growing children we decided to leave - 10 with no jobs, no house and no idea, to be honest. Then a meeting with Revd Ashley Buck changed things. We had 3 months of trusting God with finance and housing and He didn t let us down. What is your current role and how long have you been doing it? I was appointed as Intergenerational Missioner for Ludlow, operating out of St Johns, in November. This is a 5 year project to see lives transformed and to see people come into a relationship with Jesus across all age ranges. Before this I was the outreach worker for St John's initially on a pilot scheme with minimal funding but with help from Revd Kelvin Price and the team, and donations, it was extended to a year. What has been the best thing to happen to you since you started? Wow there are so many! Firstly being appointed, which was a tough interview process, then seeing people healed (broken shoulders and other things), lives opened up and the fact that we have been able to rent a house in Ludlow so we can move from Cleobury. I love the team I get to work with, from Kelvin to the other

11 church leaders around Ludlow, to the wider team of the Diocese. What do you find most challenging about the job? The most challenging thing about the role is seeing a continuation in people s lives being transformed, but it's a welcome challenge, not something I find frustrating. I don t look at life in what would be classed as a normal way; I wake up excited every morning for what lies ahead. I just chat to God and thank Him for what we re about to see and who we ll get to chat to. My passion is my faith and love for Jesus and my heart s desire is for people to encounter Jesus, know that he loves them and paid a price to restore their created value, that no matter how far life has drifted for them they too can have a loving relationship with him. I m working for a transformed town and churches. How do you like to spend your spare time (if you have any)? I love being with my family. Just to spend time with them is such a blessing and I also like to be with my friends. I love riding my motorbike and mountain bike. I like to cook (not as often as I d like) and love to watch films; sci-fi is my thing much to the annoyance of my wonderful wife. Which is your most memorable holiday experience? Ooooooooooh hmmm, that s a tough one, there are so many. This year at Llangrannog was wonderful as my children got into body boarding which meant I had a go as well. What might we be surprised to know about you? I cry at children s films - a real embarrassment in the cinema with my family. A Refectory Prayer The prayer, to which the Dean referred in his letter in November s issue, has been traced and we reproduce it here. The author, Basil Webb, is believed to have written it when 12 years old. Tragically he was killed in action on the Somme on 1 December 1917, exactly one hundred years ago. A Refectory Prayer Give me a good digestion, Lord And also something to digest. Give me a healthy body, Lord, With sense to keep it at its best. Give me a healthy mind, good Lord, To keep the good and pure in sight Which, seeing sin, is not appalled But finds a way to set it right. Give me a mind that is not bored. That does not whimper, whine or sigh, Don t let me worry overmuch About the funny thing called I Give me a sense of humour, Lord Give me the grace to see a joke; To get some happiness from life And pass it on to other folk. 11

12 PCC MEETING 23 OCTOber 2017 Summary of main points 8 members of the PCC attended Rector s report: Wayne Davies appointed Intergenerational Missioner for Ludlow based at St John's; St John's working towards bishop's Mission Order for partnership with Living Waters church; Alpha courses booked for early 2018 with participation of St John's, Elim, Baptist, Methodist and Living Waters churches; PCC Away Day booked for 4 November; Rector to be chaplain to High Sheriff of Shropshire in 2018 Safeguarding: diocesan training for key volunteers to be delivered on 29 October Fabric: agreed to proceed with removal of pews in south aisle as soon as faculty granted; if funding could be raised in time south aisle also to be levelled at same time as north aisle (late Nov/early Dec) Churchwardens' report: team of volunteers in place in Parish Office for 2 hours on some weekday mornings (currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) to answer telephones and assist callers thus minimising disruption to staff work Planned giving: agreed to form a short-term working group to look at planned giving Volunteer network: approved draft Volunteer Handbook and Volunteer Charter for consultation with lead volunteers; volunteer role descriptions approved for Event House Manager, Event Steward, Safeguarding Coordinator, Flower Arranger Policies: adopted on Procurement and Guide for new PCC members Events: accepted Standard Operating Procedures for running a bar at parish events; agreed to purchase sashes for event stewards Committees: received reports from Parish Safeguarding Officer and from Standing, Arts@StLaurence's, Children & Young People, Fabric, Liturgy & Worship, Parish Events and Vision committees as well as Deanery Synod Date of next meeting: Monday 20 November A copy of the two latest confirmed PCC minutes is available on the PCC noticeboard above the pigeonholes at the back of the church. All confirmed minutes can be viewed in the parish office. 12

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14 A bewildering journey Many friends from St Laurence's and the wider community of Ludlow are aware of the cruel dementia which June has borne over recent years but she is now wonderfully cared for in Four Rivers Nursing Home. We are very conscious of the prayerful support of so many in the church and are truly grateful for the love we have been shown. It is all very distressing but as with all suffering has revealed the profound kindness of people and the compassionate care of those who work in the Nursing Home. There have been times when I wondered whether the commitment to public service and concern for those in need is waning. Not on the evidence of Four Rivers and doubtless of other Homes in the area. Failings make the headlines, not the continuous dedication of those who work in this demanding field. As the life span extends it is likely that about a third of us will suffer some form of dementia in old age. That represents a mighty challenge for the health and welfare services but also for an inclusive church where there is a heavy representation of elderly people. How can it adapt to meet the spiritual needs of those who have lost much of their ability to communicate and are confused by formal acts of worship? Members of our own church play an important part with CTAL in arranging accessible services at the Home but perhaps we should look for more ways in which the hundreds of residents in 14 local Homes might benefit from our ministry. We ourselves are fortunate in having friends and family to ensure that June is not neglected but many residents have few visitors and may feel abandoned. It is so important that those in Care Homes maintain contact with the world beyond. Without that, those living with dementia become totally isolated and retreat into themselves. Evidence suggests that retaining a social network slows the progress of dementia. The loss of cognitive skills does not mean that someone's essential personality and spirit have gone. It is surely the Christian belief that what makes us human is not extinguished by the ravages of physical or mental illness and that the soul of the person endures. It is also important that members of the church community have some involvement with Care Homes. It has always been the easier option to commit to institutions those who fail to conform, whether they be offenders or the mentally ill. Over recent years there has been much rhetoric about Care in the Community but little commitment of resources to give the necessary support. Local services of mental health are meagre and those who struggle find it hard to access such services as there are. Mental distress calls for immediate relief not placement on a waiting list. Churches may not be sensitive enough in making those with disabilities feel

15 welcome. We are uncomfortable if people who suffer mental illness cry out and disturb our devotions. June herself was beginning to worry that she might break down in a service and the physical layout of the church means that the less mobile have difficulty in moving from pew to altar rail. It is not easy for those like June who have led active lives attending to the needs of others to find themselves at the receiving end and having to cope with the indignities that go with physical dependence. In some ways life has come full circle and in old age the needs of a young child return. It is painful to see a gifted artist as June was reduced to colouring a children s book and returning to the world of Beatrix Potter. The personality you have loved disintegrates, memory evaporates and the overlap between her world and ours shrinks a sad emptiness where there was once a shared store of treasured memories. Dementia is a bewildering condition. There can be no complaint that it has hit us who have enjoyed fulfilling and happy lives. I write this to share a little of my experience and perhaps encourage a better understanding and a readiness to address a growing challenge for us all. Michael Day Celebrate this Christmas with a dedication to a loved one, commemorate an anniversary or a grandchild or send greetings to friends and family by making a dedication and donation to the Ludlow Tree of Light. All profits this year will go to the Hope House Children's Hospice. The Ludlow Rotary Tree of Light is located in the Castle Gardens on the Castle Square and the lights will be on from 25 November till 5 January A final list of all the dedications will be published in the Ludlow Advertiser, in a Book of Celebration & Remembrance held in St Laurence's Church and on-line at On-line dedications and donations can be made at events/ludlowrotarytreeoflight/ For more details collect a dedication form from the shop at St Laurence s. or from the Nock Deighton office on the Bull Ring. Nine out of ten say that mission is for all According to a Church Mission Society survey nine out of ten Christians believe everyone is called to mission and the job of spreading God s message should not be left to professional Christians like vicars and full time Christian workers. The survey also revealed that Christians are being held back from getting involved in mission, by fear (27%) or a lack of training and preparation (17%). 15

16 CHRISTIAN AID Hunger: enough is enough As I read the winter edition of the Christian Aid magazine, it was extremely difficult to decide which article to focus on - the mudslide survivors of Sierra Leone, the Rohingya crisis, the South Asia flood victims - the list goes on. As stewards of our world's wealth, we are responsible for attempting, in however small a way, to make a difference. DATE FOR YOUR DIARY SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER Carol singing at the Buttercross followed by the street collection. Please participate, and make your contribution, if you possibly can - your most important Christmas gift. Here's why - Christian Aid's Christmas Appeal focuses on the fight against hunger and malnutrition in Burkina Faso and South Sudan. Hunger is driven by problems such as climate change and conflict The number of hungry people worldwide has increased for the first time since the turn of the century, according to UN reports, yet we know there is enough food in the world. Christian Aid tackles the complexities of hunger through life saving aid and longer term solutions. Our support is needed to continue this work in countries such as South Sudan. To give this work a "face", here is Aluel's story. She is the sole provider for her children - she runs a small business selling tea and bread at a 16 market, and on bad days the family has eaten just one meal consisting of wild leaves. Her family now receives food vouchers from Christian Aid, enabling her to buy healthy ingredients to cook nutritious meals for her family Many more in sub-saharan Africa are in equally urgent need. In Burkina Faso, malnutrition is a constant threat. In the hottest months farming is near-impossible. To tackle the resultant poverty and hunger, Christian Aid has set up many projects including market gardening. Meet Colette who was forced to walk for miles in 45 C to search for gold in the country's mines, carrying the baby on her back. She hardly made any money, and was often unable to pay her health care costs Having been allocated a market plot Colette never returned to the mines. She was trained to grow vegetables, and provided with a watering can, tools and seeds, She grew enough to feed her family and sell the excess at market to buy all she needs for her family. We can all help to make this happen to the Aluels and the Colettes of sub- Saharan Africa, as we come together to recognise that in a world of plenty, there shouldn't be any hunger REMEMBER 16 DECEMBER. Claire Wilcox

17 Conservation Trust for St Laurence Ludlow Palmers 2018 Year of Pilgrimage includes talks and an art exhibition and will culminate on the weekend of May 2018, with a modern pilgrimage to Hereford Cathedral. The Pilgrims and Pilgrimage 2018 Lecture Series comprises: On the Road with the Three Kings 15 January 2018 Sacred Spaces, Sacred Places 29 January 2018 Cycling to Rome 7 February 2018 The Road to Healing and Wellbeing 19 February 2018 The Singing Pilgrim 17 April 2018 Saints and Sinners 8 May 2018 A brochure describing the lectures is available from the Ludlow Palmers. The cost to attend all 6 lectures in the series is 35 for Ludlow Palmers and 40 for non-palmers. Individual tickets to the talks are available from the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 1 Mill Street, Ludlow SY8 1AZ ( ), from the Parish Office, 2 College Street, Ludlow, SY8 1AN or via the website: events-calendar-page/ Christmas Tree Festival St Mary s Church, Caynham Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December 10am - 4pm Admission free Hot drinks, mince pies & cakes Christmas stall, raffle and tombola. 17 Christmas Concert St Mary s Church, Caynham Sunday 3 December 7.30 pm Little Hereford Voices Choir Tickets 6 adults, 3 children Call Jill or Chris

18 NOTES FROM ST JOHN S PARISH Although to some it may seem that not much progress has been made regarding building works at St John s, in fact we are moving forward. We are at the stage of advertising for tenders to do the high-level ceiling work, which will include much needed insulation, and other minor interior repairs. This we hope to have put in place by Christmas. Bishop Alistair has made an appraisal of the contents of the building and has given permission for certain non-permanent, non-historic objects to be disposed of, so we are working on this. We are fortunate not to have pews, as our old wooden chairs are still functional and we can dispose of them piecemeal when we have suitable replacements. There are some which we can dispose of immediately, those previously treated for woodworm, which would make excellent firewood! Please contact Brian Childs or Sheila French if you are interested. Personnel-wise, we already have our intergenerational missioner, Wayne Davies, working not only in the parish, but ecumenically throughout Ludlow, and we are pleased that he and his family will shortly be moving to Ludlow from Cleobury. At the beginning of November an advertisement was placed in the Church Times for a house-for-duty priest to act as curate for St John s, working two days per week and weekends. We are much blest that the bishops have placed such trust in St John s as to make available to us a missioner and a priest to move forward as a church in partnership with Living Waters, focusing on mission in the community. We are also very blest in having with us, retired priest Revd Tom Leary who has built up our congregation and given us the stability and sense of identity which we lacked over many years. Our Rector, Kelvin, despite his onerous duties, has also found time to be with us on a regular basis and, we know, has worked hard on our behalf. So thank you to both of them. These are indeed exciting - and challenging - times. We continue to fund-raise, albeit on a small scale. Recently money has been raised through a sponsored walk and an Autumn Lunch and we are holding a Christmas table-top sale in the church on the afternoon of 2 December. Please come and support us. Individuals have also made generous donations both to the buildings fund 18

19 and to support the missioner. If you feel moved to support us, please contact Peter Phelps our treasurer ( ]). Every little helps! A major fund-raising drive is being planned for the near future by Mike Beazley. Finally, we would draw your attention to St John s Christmas Celebration which, due to restricted space, will have to take place in St Laurence s Church again as it has done for the last 4 years. We are grateful to them for their welcome. Our Carol Service will take place at 3.30pm on Sunday 17 December, with refreshments afterwards,. Accompanying the congregation and choir will be Glyn Williams, one of the organists of Shrewsbury Abbey, and The Ludlow Concert Band with Colin Reeves, Director of Music, performing some exciting Christmas pieces. Please join us in our celebration which will be led by Revd Tom Leary. We wish you all a very happy Christmas and we send to Revd Brigitte Malik and her family our love, thanks and best wishes for the future. Sheila French (876142) LIFE & LUDLOW Our Life & Ludlow adult learning programme continues in January with two lectures. On 18 January the Revd Canon Jonathan Boardman, Chaplain at All Saints Anglican Church in Rome, 19 lectures on the theme Religious or Spiritual: An Investigation of two national souls. Jonathan writes, Italy and the UK have shared strong ties since before the Reformation which have been strengthened in the period of their joint membership of the EU. However, an analysis of their attitudes to Christianity reveals important cultural differences. In this lecture we shall examine ways in which a consideration of this cultural divergence might be helpful in renewing the Church's ability to speak to a post modern and globalised context, with a particular emphasis on current ecumenical trends. Then on 25 January the Revd Dr Chris Moore will speak on the topic The Holocaust and Human Nature. Chris writes, The buildings and the ruins of Auschwitz are bleak, and to visit the site and understand what occurred is sobering. It is to look at evil, but it is also to remember that this was done by humans to humans. It raises questions about human nature, our bearing of the image of God, and our treatment of the other. It questions the notion of progress. This lecture will address these issues, their enduring lessons and quite how Nazi theologians managed to present a non-jewish Jesus. Full details and the booking form for these and future Life & Learning events can be downloaded from the website Copies of the programme can also be obtained from the display by the church door or by contacting Barry Forrester on

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22 Thank you to all our contributors. PLEASE SEND ALL COPY FOR THE JANUARY TOWERS TO THE PARISH OFFICE BY TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER The deadline for submission of material will normally fall in the first week of the month preceding the month of issue. There is no guarantee that all material received by that date will be included in the next issue. Material arriving after the deadline will not be included. Please send articles by to office@stlaurences.org.uk We are happy to receive contributions and suggestions for inclusion in the magazine. Please limit items to no more 600 words. Editor s Note Opinions expressed in contributed articles in this magazine are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the position or opinions of the PCC or the Editorial Committee. Towers Editorial Committee The current members of the Towers editorial committee are: John Burley Lesley Gosbee-Harper Lesley Harling (Editor) If you would like to join us please contact the editor. LARGE PRINT Copies in large print are available from the St Laurence Parish Office

23 CONTACT US LUDLOW ST LAURENCE Parish Office 2 College Street, Ludlow SY8 1AN Churchwardens Val Hardwick, Sparchford Cottage, Culmington SY8 2DE Jim Hooper, 37 Beech Close, Ludlow SY8 2PD Deputy Churchwarden Michael Davies, 5 Hosyers Almshouses, College St PCC Secretary Lesley Harling, Ottie s Lodge, Steventon Electoral Roll Officer Dick Franks 7 Angel Bank, Bitterley, Ludlow Bible Reading F ship Penelope Bridstrup, 4 The Vineyard, Lower Broad St Children s Church c/o Parish Office Communion Rota Fay Carson, Fairfield, Linney, Ludlow Conservation Trust Rory Chase, c/o Parish Office Custodian Matthew Lenthall c/o Parish Office Director of Music Shaun Ward, c/o Parish Office Flowers Mary Loewenthal, 58 Julian Road, Ludlow Parish Safeguarding Officer Angela Aycliffe, c/o Parish Office Pastoral Links c/o Parish Office Sidesmen s Rota (8am) Barbara Burns, 8 Poyner Road, Ludlow Sidesmen s Rota (other) Fay Carson, Fairfield, Linney, Ludlow Stewards Rota Fay Carson, Fairfield, Linney, Ludlow St Laurence s Shop Amanda Davidson, c/o Parish Office Tower Captain Tony Greatrex, Church House, Bell Lane, Orleton Tower Floodlighting Forms at St Laurence s Shop Towers Editor Lesley Harling, Ottie s Lodge, Steventon LUDLOW ST JOHN Church Wardens Mrs Sheila French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Rd Dr Brian Childs, 12 Vashon Close, Ludlow Treasurer Mr Peter Phelps, Hill Crest, Gravel Hill, Ludlow Secretary Mr John French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Road Electoral Roll Mr John French, 4 Coach House Fields, Livesey Road Organist Mr Colin Reeves

24 Parish of Ludlow Saint Laurence Registered Charity No