The Spirit of Scartho

Transcription

1 The Spirit of Scartho Contact us at Our Minister Rev. Susan Chambers Tel:

2 CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL S FOR GOOD NEIGHBOURS. As Christians around the world mark Lent, Christian Aid is asking the British public to support people seeking a safe place to call home. Based on the hymn When I Needed A Neighbour, Were You There, Christian Aid is asking its supporters to follow Christian Aid s Lent calendar, and reflect each day on the good things in their lives, thinking about daily opportunities to give, act and pray for communities around the world, and helping them to find a safe place to call home. This Lent, Christian Aid is working with local partners in South Sudan, to provide much-needed food, safe water to drink and sanitation facilities to desperate communities. The charity says that 15 can provide fishing gear for a family; 8.50 could provide two cooking pots so they can eat a hot meal; and 3 could pay for two plastic jerry cans so they can store safe drinking water. 2

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5 Editor: The Rev Paul Hardingham continues his study of Nehemiah NEHEMIAH: GOD'S WORD FOR HIS PEOPLE Nehemiah s work in Jerusalem was not simply rebuilding the city walls. As Governor, he was also tasked with rebuilding the people of God. At the heart of the city was a renewed relationship with God, founded on the word of God: Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8: 2,3). In order for the people to understand, the Levites explained the law, giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. (8). The people responded first with weeping and then celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, as they remembered how God provided for them in the wilderness. As a result, they found the joy of the Lord was their strength (8:10). This story demonstrates that when God s people listen attentively, understand clearly, and respond obediently to God s word through Scripture, it will make a difference to how they live for God. It will also result in a renewed understanding of what it means to be the people of God today. It reminds us, too, that God wants to address the whole community through His word: both men and women, as well as children and young people. Where are the opportunities for this to happen within our family and church life? The Bible is a high explosive. But it works in strange ways and no living man can tell all how that book works, in its journey through the world, has startled the individual soul in 10,000 different places into a new life, a new world, a new belief, a new conception, a new faith. (Stanley Baldwin). 5

6 Editor: Here Norma Murrain of Silverfishjewellery pays a loving tribute to her mum. You might use it as the basis of an article inviting people to write a loving tribute to THEIR mothers. Her children rise up and call her blessed (Proverbs 31:28) I find it difficult to write this as it is only the second Mothering Sunday since my Mum was promoted to glory. Still Mothering Sunday is a great opportunity to appreciate and give God thanks for our beloved Mothers. My mum s name was Edith Nancy Burrell, her first sun rise was on 27th October 1927 and her final sun set on 20th May 2015; she was 88 years young. I was the youngest of her nine surviving children. She emigrated to England in the 1950's from Jamaica and persevered to build a home for her children with selfless dedication. She was passionate about her family and close friends. Her kindness was legendary, and many hungry friends were fed whilst those who found themselves homeless and outcast by their own family found safety and shelter in our home. Her kindness and gentleness were completely natural offered with a humble, 'down to earth' humour, she always made us smile, even in difficult situations. It was wonderful to watch her grow in faith in her later years. I loved our family meetings at her home on Sunday afternoons where we would eat, pray and laugh together. She radiated faith, joy, peace, wit and wisdom even in her final moments. 6

7 Today I thank God for my Mother and for the gift of Motherhood. As Mary was chosen by God to incubate, nurture and raise up the saviour of mankind, so you and I are called and chosen to play our part in the continuing circle of life. Those without natural children are also invited to play a part, as in Psalm 113:9: He settles the barren woman in her home as the joyful mother of children. We should be grateful for all our adoptive, fostering and spiritual mothers! If you want a gift for your mum this Spring, has lots of possibilities. Spring Another winter finished; Our hearts are full of joy! The icy frosts diminish And summer sun s ahoy! Last summer seems so distant The autumn leaves long gone; But now, each passing instant Is full of sunny song. The seasons flow reminds us The climbing, sinking sun; That death s dread cords won t bind us Our time with Christ will come! by Nigel Beeton 7

8 On the perils of the Plough Service and the Lamb The Rectory St. James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren, Just as undertakers rub their hands in glee at the coming of Winter frosts, so hoteliers with banqueting suites become animated at the first signs of Spring. We have arrived at the first phase of the marriage season. As the days begin to lengthen and trees start to bud, young men find it irresistible not to propose to potential brides. Some people wait to hear the first cuckoo to let them know Spring is on its way; I wait to hear the first knock on the Rectory door from couples wanting to book their wedding. Naturally, my first job is to try to put them off; it would save them a great deal of money and give me many more free Saturdays. But I always fail, and so the big day is booked. Nowadays, there is such a time lag between booking a marriage service and it taking place, I sometimes think it would be easier to book the service first and then look for someone to marry at a later, more convenient, time. Last year, it was somewhat different with one couple. They were both in their late eighties (a good time to contemplate a first marriage, in my opinion) and asked if they could arrange to get married as soon as possible. The usual reason for a hurried marriage seemed unlikely at their age and so I asked why. Their answer was charming: At our age, we might not still be here if the great day is much delayed. 8

9 Of course, booking a marriage is the simplest part of the whole procedure. There are florists to negotiate with - made even more complex should there be more than one marriage that day. One bride wants all white, the other red, and so one set of priceless flowers is trundled out of church by one set of florists while a competitor barrows in the next confection. Photographers are inclined to think aisles are racetracks, pews for standing on and that all church furniture is moveable - generally once the service has started. I place all photographers in the west gallery before the service and lock them in - apologising for my fit of absentmindedness afterwards. Courses should be offered at theological colleges on placating irate bell-ringers when the bride is half-an-hour late, cooling down organists when the happy couple ask to come in to an organ arrangement of a Led Zepplin number, and re-assuring the choir that the guests meant no disrespect as they made mobile phone calls in church while the choir sang Ave Maria, once we had disappeared to sign the registers. However, nothing will ever calm down a verger who has been left to sweep up several hundredweights of confetti once everyone else has gone home. Personally, I find a restorative sherry back at the rectory works wonders. Your loving uncle, Eustace 9

10 Still lost in translation When it s English, but not as we know it (Seen in a Korean hotel in Seoul) Measles not included in room charge. (Qatar hotel welcome notes) Please do not use the lift when it is not working. (French hotel in Paris) Please leave your values at the front desk. (Indonesian hotel menu in Bali) Toes with butter and jam. (Street sign in Japan) Waiting will be prosecuted (Private school in Nairobi, Kenya) No trespassing without permission (Road sign in Malaysia) Caution: Water on road during rain (Restaurant in Acapulco, Mexico) The manager has personally passed all the water served here (Luggage trolley at Singapore airport) Not to be removed from Crewe Station Car Stickers - all popular with women 1. My mother is a travel agent for guilt trips. 2. Princess, having had sufficient experience with princes, seeks frog. 3. Coffee, chocolate, men. Some things are just better rich. 4. Don t treat me any differently than you would the Queen. 5. If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen. 10

11 Why you get road rage Do you get road-rage? Do you tend to speed? Well, the good news is that you may be able to blame both bad habits on your parents. It seems that 75% of the drivers who admit to incidents of road rage have parents who also hurled insults and threats at other drivers. 77% of drivers who ignore speed limits say that their parents did likewise. And 72% of motorists, who do not stop even for people trying to cross the road in front of them, admit that their parents never stopped either. The survey was carried out by Ipsos. Proverbs knew nothing of cars, but it did know human nature. It warns: A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. (Prov 25:28) 11

12 How many words does it take? Pythagorean Theorem:.. 24 words. Lord s Prayer:. 66 words. Archimedes Principle:. 67 words. Ten Commandments:. 179 words. Gettysburg address:. 286 words. US Declaration of Independence :... 1,300 words. US Constitution with all 27 Amendments:..7,818 words. EU regulations on the sale of cabbage:.26,911 words. Puts things into proper perspective, doesn t it? Who d be a mother? Constant nagging didn't seem to provide any relief from having to clean up the bathroom after each of my three teenage children. After I cleaned it one day, I resorted to posting a sign that read: "Please leave the bathroom as you found it." I noticed the bathroom was in the usual mess after my son used it, so I called, "Brian, how did you find the bathroom?" After a brief pause, he replied, "Straight down the hall, first door on the right." 12

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14 Editor: David Pickup, a solicitor, considers the problems of gardens and neighbours When your neighbour intrudes on your garden Spring is a good time to tackle the garden, but what if a neighbour s tree or hedge is growing over your garden? Or perhaps you are worried that tree roots are damaging your property? The first thing to do with any problem is to talk to the neighbour in a friendly way. Do not just put a note through their door. They may not realise there is a problem or might not be able to do anything about it. Councils and other organisations offer advice about how to deal with such problems. You can cut back an overhanging branch to the boundary line. Technically you should return the branches and any fruit to your neighbour. If the tree is subject to a Preservation Order you cannot lop or cut the branches at all without permission. If the tree roots are damaging your property, you can cut them back on your side. You may need advice from a water or electricity company if pipes or wires are affected. Your neighbour may be responsible for damage their tree causes to your property. Sometimes the local authority can help with problem, high hedges. These are hedges which are more than two metres tall and are wholly or predominantly of evergreens or semi-evergreens. You will be expected to try to resolve any problems amicably. There is a fee for making a complaint so check first. The council can order the hedge to be cut back not cut down. The council will take into account if the hedge blocks too much light, if the hedge is on a slope, or if the hedge blocks a view. This is only a very rough guide, and there is a lot of information and guidance on the internet about this. And, as always, get advice first from a professional. 14

15 Tombstone and lasting love The words on the tombstone say, They ll never be forgotten. The flower bowl s though empty, The writing has gone rotten. So nothing lasts forever, In a world that s run by man. Wrong to claim another way, to think that we ever can. With our God we do believe, In the promise of his word. Said to people everywhere, It is open to be heard. That belief will change your life Like it did the Saints of old, It s not easy to stand out, But for Jesus we ll be bold. Tim Mickleburgh 15

16 ASH WEDNESDAY mourning our sins Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. But why 'Ash' Wednesday? The reason has to do with getting things right between you and God, and the tradition goes right back to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the Israelites often sinned. When they finally came to their senses, and saw their evil ways as God saw them, they could do nothing but repent in sorrow. They mourned for the damage and evil they had done. As part of this repentance, they covered their heads with ashes. For the Israelites, putting ashes on your head, and even rending your clothes, was an outward sign of their heart-felt repentance and acknowledgement of sin. (See Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 30:19; Isaiah 58:5; Jeremiah 6:26; Jonah 3:6) In the very early Christian Church, the yearly 'class' of penitents had ashes sprinkled over them at the beginning of Lent. They were turning to God for the first time, and mourning their sins. But soon many other Christians wanted to take part in the custom, and to do so at the very start of Lent. They heeded Joel's call to 'rend your hearts and not your garments' (Joel 2:12-19). Ash Wednesday became known as either the 'beginning of the fast' or the day of the ashes. The collect for today goes back to the Prayer Book, and stresses the penitential character of the day. It encourages us with the reminder of the readiness of God to forgive us and to renew us. The Bible readings for today are often Joel 2:1-2, 12 18, Matthew 6: 1-6,16 21 and Paul s moving catalogue of suffering, "as having nothing and yet possessing everything." (2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10) The actual custom of 'ashing' was abolished at the Reformation, though the old name for the day remained. Today, throughout the Church of England, receiving the mark of ashes on one s forehead is optional. Certainly the mark of ashes on the forehead reminds people of their mortality: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return..." (Genesis 3:19) The late medieval custom was to burn the branches used on Palm Sunday in the previous year in order to create the ashes for today. 16

17 The Collect for Ash Wednesday is: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. God in the Arts Samson s tragedy Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves : that is how John Milton expresses the tragedy of Samson s life in his poem Samson Agonistes. There is an irony in his blindness and powerlessness, for Samson means sunshine. As we read the story in Judges 13-17, he was called to be God s agent in bringing the dawn of a new day to the Israelites and freedom from the Philistines. But he breaks his vows as a Nazirite, and leads a life of sex and violence: the stuff of film and opera, of art and poetry. Then he falls in love with Delilah, who uses her feminine wiles and intelligence to find out the secret of his strength. That moment is depicted in this painting of 1537 by the German artist, Lucas Cranach the Younger. We see Samson clad in armour, but barefoot a sign of vulnerability for Delilah is ready to cut off his hair and so deprive him of his power, symbolised by the jawbone of an earlier victory. The Philistines wait in the background, ready to capture him, while the partridges and fruitful trees are signs of temptation. The artist is telling us how easy it is to turn away from God s purpose, and the sleeping Samson is once again oblivious to that calling. The book of Judges tells us how the tragedy unfolds: the Philistines imprison him and set him to grind corn. Called to bring light to Israel, Samson has been blinded. The world is a dark place for him, but then at the Philistines festival celebrations he remembers his God. With renewed strength he brings down the temple and the people within it. That is why we find Samson s name in the list of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. It is a reminder that we can all only too easily make a mess of life and God s calling, but God can still use us and work through us to bring new life and hope. 17

18 Samaritan s Purse opens emergency field hospital in Iraq Samaritan s Purse has airlifted into Iraq a brand new state-of-the-art trauma facility, which has been treating many people injured as Iraqi and coalition forces fight ISIS militants. Lise Grande, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, welcomed the new field hospital. Because Samaritan s Purse is now here, thousands - tens of thousands - of people will survive. The emergency field hospital was airlifted to the country late last year, and will be open for a minimum of six months before being handed over to the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Dozens of Samaritan s Purse medical professionals are serving at the hospital, offering urgently needed trauma care. The hospital includes two operating theatres, an intensive care unit and 54 in-patient beds. In partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Health, the hospital will provide immediate medical care for people injured by gunfire, mines and other explosives. The nearest permanent hospital is many miles away. Taxes There will always be death and taxes; however, death doesn't get worse every year. 18

19 Middle-aged people are dangerously unfit More than eight in ten middle-aged people are in trouble. Desk-bound by day, with family pressures by night, they are drinking too much, are overweight, and they are not taking enough exercise. The Health Survey for England has found that 77 per cent of men and 63 per cent of women are either overweight or obese, and more and more of us have diabetes. It says that more than 15 million Britons are living with a long-term medical condition. 19

20 Services: See you there! 5th March - Rev Susan Chambers 1030am Holy Communion 12th March Stuart Watts 1030 am Myra Wood 6pm 19th March Rev Susan Chambers 9am Early morning Holy Communion Chris Norman Holy Habits 26th March Andrew Hornsby 1030 All Age Worship Kathy Lancaster 6pm We would like to welcome you to Scartho Methodist Church if you are a visitor or newcomer. Below is some information which might prove helpful. HOUSEGROUPS We have a range of housegroups meeting during the week. Please feel free to contact the person responsible for any group for more details of venue etc. You are welcome to try any group, or move if you choose to Monday 2pm contact Kathy Lancaster tel Tuesday 10.00am contact Sue Burton tel pm contact Gill Thomas tel Wednesday 10.00am contact Patrick Mickleburgh tel Wednesday 8.00pm contact Richard Melling tel Richard.melling@hotmail.co.uk Thursday 10.00am contact Heather Corry tel Sunday 7.30pm contact Inga Greet tel Prayer meeting in Church 1st & 3rd Saturday Morning 9 10am Christian Meditation Meeting 2nd Friday of the month 10-11am (in crèche) 20