Rector, St Mary Magdalene, Langridge.

Transcription

1 St Mary Magdalene Langridge Langridge Parish Newsletter 2016 March to May Langridge Newsletter Lent 2016 I am writing this on a truly beautiful day, perhaps the most lovely of the winter so far: the day after St Valentine s day. It is cold and sunny. It is also the first full week of Lent. Lent takes its name from the lengthening days at this time of year, as sunrise gets earlier and sunset later. It also marks the six weeks leading up to Easter, traditionally a time of fasting and preparation. In the early church those who were to be baptised would have their preparation and training in these weeks, culminating in a great service of Baptism at Easter. We can use these weeks of Lent with three things in mind. We can use Lent for Reflection. It is a truism nowadays to say that we are all very busy, and it is probably true. So to give time to pause and reflect on the course our life is taking is a good thing. We might give up something, not just chocolate or biscuits but some part of our life which is squeezing out other things eg using social media or some other pursuit which is crowding out our time for creative reflection. We could use Lent for Re-orientation; the old biblical word is repentance, which means being willing to change direction from an activity which is damaging our life to something else which will give fresh hope and energy. Orientation is a popular pastime in which people have to discover and follow a prescribed route in as quick a time as possible. Christ has given us a route to follow in his teaching, as in the Sermon on the Mount, but we need his energy and motivation to follow it. This could involve healthy change. Lastly there is Renewal. In Britain we are fortunate to see all around us the renewal of the earth at springtime. In a few weeks with the arrival of warmer weather and more sunshine, trees and flowers will burst into leaf and bloom, growth will occur quite naturally around us. Our lives can be renewed too, through prayer and centring them on Christ, receiving forgiveness and his empowerment for life. As St Paul himself said, The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives, while we wait for the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us. (Titus 2:11-13). Why not pop into St Mary Magdalene Langridge church for a few minutes and ask for that renewal of your life too. It has been there for nearly a thousand years for that purpose: a place of sanctuary, hope and renewal. Have a rewarding Lent and a very happy Easter, when it comes. Patrick Whitworth, Rector, St Mary Magdalene, Langridge.

2 FRIENDS OF LANGRIDGE Valley Carol Singing A wonderful evening, arranged by Jane MacIntyre & the Friends in Christmas week, was enjoyed when an enthusiastic crowd progressed from Upper Langridge to Lower Langridge and Tadwick singing Carols and welcomed along the way. 10 March Talk on Charmy Down Airfield during WW2 at 7.30pm We shall be having a talk by Howard Burton in the Langridge Village Hall. Tickets on the door ( 6.50), BYO drinks. 20 March Family Service & Soup on Sunday Lunch After the Family Service (new time 11am) you are invited to stay for soup, cheese & bread in the church. We do hope you will bring your family & friends. This spring we shall not be holding a Plant Sale but we do have plans for a later event. More details to follow Judy Rippin PAST SERVICES Our Advent Service of Evensong was taken by Revd Nigel Rawlinson on 29 November. We had a wonderful congregation for our Carol Service on 13 December and then held a Christingle Service on the 20 December, with Revd Patrick Whitworth taking the Service on Christmas Day. Christmas decoration 2 nd SATURDAY - each month from 10am noon. (opposite the Lansdown Racecourse) The monthly gathering in the Village Hall continues to be a popular event, with visitors coming from a very wide radius as well as locally. On the 13 February we were delighted to have about forty people joining us for delicious coffee and buns, bring & buy, swapping books and, judging from the general buzz, obviously enjoying each other s company. LW Two of our local visitors enjoying their coffee.

3 LOCAL NEWS We were very sad to learn that Kevin Wilson had died in December. A beautiful funeral service took place on 16 December in All Saints Weston, taken by the Revd Neville Pearce, and the church was filled with the family and very many friends. Kevin and Rosemary, who were married at Langridge, had been active supporters of St Mary Magdalene Church for many years and made generous contributions to the church as well, and he will be greatly missed. FUTURE SERVICES The Maundy Thursday will be 6pm Evensong on 24 March with Revd Robert Webb. The Easter Day Service will be 9.30 with Revd Preb Patrick Whitworth. We welcome Bishop Richard Fenwick of St Helena back on 24 th April, who will take Evensong at 3pm, with members of North Stoke and Kelston churches. Our fifth Sunday in May the 29th will be Evensong at 6pm followed by refreshments. A new service time at 11am is to be introduced from March for the Third Sunday Family Service, taken by the Weston Team. It is hoped that the new time might be more convenient for young families. As a rural church in a farming community we also like to celebrate the role played by the local people, and so we remember Plough Sunday in January and Rogation in May as well as Lammas in August. FUTURE EVENTS Quiet Day Saturday 23 April 10 am 4pm You are invited to join Revd Nigel Rawlinson who will be leading a day of reflection and prayer at the church. Please bring a packed lunch so that we can meet together for discussion before a short service in the afternoon. APCM Tuesday 26 April in the Village Hall You are welcome to attend the PCC s AGM at 7.30pm. Annual Churchyard Tidy &Springclean 7 May at 10am You may have noticed the churchyard trees have had a recent trim. We will welcome helpers in and outside the church & coffee will be provided. Organ Recital by Bishop Richard Fenwick 18 June 7.30 Following the wonderful concert last year we are delighted to be welcoming the Bishop of St Helena here again this summer. Details of events will be posted later on our website. Tree trimming in churchyard

4 EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WATER CONTINUED Readers may remember my article in the September 2015 newsletter, in which I described our plan to link the church to the mains water system. I explained that the work would cost about 3500, of which we thought that 2,500 could be covered, and I invited donations towards the remaining 1,000. I am amazed and delighted to let you know that (so far!) we have been given 1,450, which will also attract another 300 of Gift Aid tax relief. This is an extraordinary response, for which we are truly grateful. To me it shows the amazing depth of support for Langridge Church amongst our congregation and friends. Getting started on this project is a very slow task, but we will keep you informed as progress is made. Tony Davies ps: Some members of our congregation went to the splendid Pantomime, Dame Flatula, written, directed and performed by members of the All Saints Church congregation in Weston. It was outstanding entertainment and we were very moved to learn that a donation was to be made from the proceeds to the Langridge Water Project. This is in addition to the above generous donations. LW Letter from Bishop Ruth Bishop Peter reminded us last month of the hope we have in the God of promises as we look to uncertain futures. We can trust God to remain faithful and immoveable whatever our circumstances. Easter has always been a moveable feast although the Archbishop is now taking soundings from other church leaders to see whether we can fix a date for Easter. I wonder how easy that will be! We are now part way through Lent and the first Sunday of this March is Mothering Sunday which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This was traditionally the day when people would gather to worship, to rejoice ( laetare ), at their mother church, a large local church or often the Cathedral. As this practice developed so those in service would have the opportunity for a short holiday, to return to their homes, to their mothers, often bringing small presents or gifts. It was a welcome moment of festivity in the season of abstinence and austerity. A sign of things to come However for some of us, Mothering Sunday can be the most painful day of the year as we remember the loss of a loving parent, whether known or not; or the bereavement of never having been able to be a parent oneself; or the death of a child we have loved and longed for. It can mean that some find it too difficult to be in church that week. Perhaps as we approach Good Friday it gives us a small insight of what it might mean to have been Mary watching her Son die on that cross. So how about a different take on Mothering Sunday this year? We might focus on remembering those who have given birth to us by inspiring our faith or where we ourselves have played a part in someone else s discovery of Jesus as a friend and Saviour. Who might you remember, give thanks for and pray for? + Ruth Taunton

5 The Venerable John Reed has announced he will retire from his post as Archdeacon of Taunton on 30 June John and his wife Gill came to the Diocese in 1986, when he was called back to his sending diocese by Bishop John Bickersteth to be Rector of the parishes of Timsbury and Priston, adding after a year the work of Chaplain for Rural Affairs in the Bath Archdeaconry. In 1993 Bishop Jim Thompson appointed John as Rector of the Ilminster and District Team Ministry and then, in 1999 as John says did the dirty again by asking him to become Archdeacon of Taunton. John may be one of the last clergy never to have been interviewed for a post and has wondered if he would ever have got past a curacy if he had been. John says Since 1999 I have always been aware of the unique position of an archdeacon, being close to the groundwork of clergy and churchwardens, parishes and chaplaincies whilst engaged in diocesan oversight and policy through the Bishop s Staff and diocesan central services. I have greatly relished serving our Readers as Diocesan Warden. The Bath & Wells diocese is very blessed by thousands of dedicated and faithful Christians who make the diocese especially warm and loving. At all times I have striven to support and encourage all those who seek to be a lively and effective part of what I always refer to as that Offering of Love, which is the Church. I have greatly enjoyed the friendship and love of wonderful colleagues around the diocese, on the Bishop s Staff, in the Diocesan Office and Registry and the Cathedral; and will be sad not to be working longer with our Bishops, Peter and Ruth. John, who will be 65 in May, feels that, even though he has the passion and health to carry on in full time ministry, Gill and he will welcome a new way of life after 37 years of six-day weeks and thousands of nights out. Strange as it appears to John, Gill seems to look forward to having more of him. And, John believes it will be good for his archdeaconry and the diocese to have a change of archdeacon. They will be moving in July to their new home at Morwellham Quay, south of Tavistock. The Bishop of Bath of Wells said: I speak for all of us from across the whole diocese when I say that John and Gill are going to be greatly missed when John retires. The contribution that John has made to the lives of many of us as colleagues, clergy, churchwardens and parishes is immeasurable. He has given outstanding service throughout his whole ministry and his friendship, humour and faithful service have touched us all. He has made a particular impact in South and West Somerset, where I know he will be long remembered. There will be opportunities later in the year for us as a diocese to celebrate and mark John s ministry, but at this stage I simply wish to express my deep appreciation for John and Gill s friendship and service and to wish them the Lord s blessing when retirement arrives.

6 MEMORY CORNER The first in a series of your reminiscences - MY WATERWAYS From Mike Smallwood It All Started With Gas In the late Forties my father had a wonderful idea, he wanted to have a family boat to use on the many Midlands waterways. As a young teenager, I was very excited with the new project. Every month when the list of naval craft for disposal came in the post, it was earnestly scrutinized for any suitable small craft. We all ventured once to Caernarfon, to see Expedition, a twin-engined 50 ft coastal boat complete with a walk in engine room. I got more excited when Dad put in a sealed bid for the vessel, which was the practice with war surplus boats in those days. Fortunately, in a way, our bid was not successful, as I am sure we would have lost our lives in such a large and old boat. This procedure was repeated a number of times and various family trips were taken to see other surplus bargain boats. This surplus list described some craft as in need of some repairs or the craft filled and emptying with the tide! War surplus boats were given up and instead Dad purchased a converted ex ship s lifeboat which was being re-fitted by Bailey's, a caravan company, venturing into a new field. Why gas you may ask. Well, Dad had bought some shares in a new company before the war called Calor Gas which had done rather well, because Joe public was fed up with coal fires, and so he sold them at a great profit to buy the boat. Bailey's said the boat was ready, so the family, plus all our new boat gear, were packed into the car and we drove to Worcester to start our first holiday on Mermaid, a 28ft very basic four berth gaff rigged motor sailor. We arrived at Diglis basin to find the stern under water and a boat hardly ready for two weeks' holiday as promised by the boatyard. My Mum was not pleased and Dad was worried. After a day's delay we loaded gear on board and set out on our first boat trip, down into the River Severn. It was exciting as in those days the river was blighted with big petrol tankers plying up to Stourport from Avonmouth causing much wash to small craft, resulting in any loose plates etcetera going flying. Most of us learnt our boating skills very quickly but it became obvious that the river had limitations. Mooring on the river was difficult because of the continuous heavy wash from the tankers and the high banks. We could find calmer waters, by going into one of the canal connection basins, but not venture on the canals, as Mermaid was too wide,. Thus we were limited. The boat was by present standards very basic, since there was no galley or proper bathroom. She had a sea toilet stuffed in the bow. It was so small that all had to be dropped before reversing in to sit down, and then close the doors around oneself and consider the two strange pumps on each side. The engine was shall we say, temperamental, it was a so called marinised old Morris car engine. Cooking was carried out on either a Primus or a wick paraffin stove mounted in a metal box, used in the open cockpit if it wasn't raining. Not a very convenient arrangement!

7 In reality, the scene was being gradually set for my mother to wish she was on dry land. My younger brother Peter, I and my Dad accepted the limitation as really it was like camping on water and quite challenging. During our second summer on the River Severn, it was decided that a more adventurous cruise should be undertaken. Our destination was Barry harbour in South Wales where the boat originally came from. A pilot was booked to guide us from Sharpness to Portishead as the first leg of our passage. Mermaid was made ready for the planned twoweek summer cruise, starting from Worcester. We sailed and motored down the river Severn, through the various large tanker size locks. Below Tewkesbury lock we were into the semi-tidal stretch of the river to Gloucester, where you hoped the lock gates would be open to allow your entry before being swept past the lock entrance by the strong river current. Once through the lock we were into a large complex of commercial Docks at the start of the Gloucester Sharpness Ship Canal. We cruised along avoiding the tankers and were only held up by the numerous swing bridges. We passed under the Severn Railway Bridge which was swung for higher vessels. On arriving at Sharpness, we were told to moor up and wait for our pilot to arrive. I can remember some lads had left their bicycles lying across the dock railway near our boat and seeing them crushed by a tank engine which suddenly appeared. The whole dock area was humming with activity as large coasters were loaded. Our pilot arrived and duly took us through the sea lock at high tide when the River Severn was slack. As the pilot was used to tankers, he wanted, for a change, to sail down the estuary. This he did, but after some time he realised that our progress was not as rapid as with his usual boats. Thus it was decided to motor but, on arriving at Portishead, we were unable to stem the tide as our engine was not powerful enough. At this point, the situation changed to an emergency. The pilot beckoned a small cutter to come to our assistance from the dock. The parents were starting to get anxious. My brother and I were stuffed down below in the cabin where we stupidly shared some sickly chocolate. Due to the motions of the boat and various bumping as our tow tried to get a line aboard, we unfortunately lost the chocolate. By now it was getting dark and the tide was running faster with the result that the cutter lacked the power to get us both back to Portishead. The larger pilot cutter then came to assist both of us and towed all of us safely into the Portishead harbour. We moored up for the night opposite the coaling wharf for the power station. Some members of the family felt they had had enough seamanship experience for one holiday. I think my mother and Peter left for home by train the next day. This epic voyage marked the end of longer family cruises. --Some time later Dad booked a pilot for a return to Sharpness and hence back to Worcester where Mermaid was moored. I suspect there were some parental discussions as next year the boat was moved to more friendly waters further away, but that is another story. MS

8 As you will have noted we have introduced a MEMORY CORNER. We would be very interested to hear some stories/anecdotes/poems/impressions/local history amusing or serious. So do let us share a special memory. Liz White LANGRIDGE SERVICES March to May 2016 Date Time Type of Service Preacher March Holy Communion BCP Revd A Claridge March Morning Prayer BCP Mr C Maggs March 20 11am Family Service CW Revd N Rawlinson March 24 6pm Maundy Evensong BCP Revd R Webb March Easter Day CW Revd P Whitworth April Holy Communion BCP Revd R Lockhart April Morning Prayer BCP Mr G Craine April 17 11am Family Service CW Revd N Rawlinson April 24 3pm Evensong BCP Bishop R Fenwick May 1st 9.30 Holy Communion BCP Revd J Harries May Morning Prayer BCP Revd N Pearce May Family Service CW Revd N Rawlinson May Holy Communion CW Revd P Whitworth May 29 6pm Evensong Revd N Rawlinson If you have contributions for the next Newsletter ( June to August ) please contact Liz White regarding Church matters, and Judy Rippin for the Friends news. We would like to hear about all items of interest comments, events or special occasions by 16 May. USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Revd Patrick Whitworth Rector Church Warden Liz White Treasurer Tony Davies Langridge Friends Judy Rippin Newsletter editor Liz White You can follow current news over the next three months on our website: or let us have your address if you would like to receive the e-newsletter. If you prefer to read the Newsletter on the website instead of by Post please let us know and we will amend our mailing list. LW