www.stjamesthegreat.wordpress.com or find us on

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Church information 4

Parish Mass times 5

Prayer calendar 14-15

Sponsorship in Church 13

St James C of E Primary School & Nursery News 30-31

Deadline for Magazine articles 40

Regular contents:

...from the Editor

As the church prepares for Lent I was contemplating what we all could ‘give up’ or strive to ‘better ourselves’ by doing. After much thought it presented to me that life would be

richer if we all gave up overused words: words that have be-come banal with their overutilisation. I have realised for

sometime that I overuse the word ‘awesome’, and have been too lazy to rectify the situation. So for Lent I am giving up the word ‘awesome’. I would appreciate any suggestions as

to what word I can employ instead! There are some unusual words in the English language; let’s wield them.

This months words:

lavabo: ceremony in which priest washes his hands; basin for the ceremony. nave: largest part of church where the congregation sits.

prie-dieu: prayer stool or kneeling bench in a church. requiem: lament or mass for the dead.

requiescat: prayer for the dead.

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Statue of Eudo on the south facade of Colchester Town Hall.

to honour

6th

March

2020

6.30

pm

Eudo Dapifer (1063 – 1120) was the most important person in Norman

Colchester. His name is linked to the construction of Colchester Castle and

he founded St John’s Abbey and the leper hospital of St Mary Magdalen in

the town. An article on Eudo appeared in January’s Parish Magazine

to be held in

St.James the Great Church East Hill, Colchester

Bishop of Colchester, Roger Morris to preach Mayor of Colchester, Nick Cope to attend

Members of the Bach Choir to sing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester#Colchester_Town_Hall

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RECTOR:

Fr James McCluskey SSC The Rectory, 50B Priory St.

Colchester, CO12QB 01206 860419 CHURCHWARDEN:

Mrs Lucy Mason 01206 386766

CHURCHWARDEN:

Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443 DEPUTY

CHURCH WARDEN:

Mrs Jean Hecker PARISH SECRETARY:

Mrs Clare Moles TREASURER:

vacant ELECTORAL ROLL:

Mrs Sheila Sansom PARISH SAFEGUARDING:

Mrs Clare Moles 07751329314

clarereklaw@hotmail.com HEALTH & SAFETY:

Mrs Janet Walker

INTERCESSIONS:

Mrs Kate Thurston PARISH MAGAZINE EDITOR:

Mrs Susan Brandeis magazinestjames@

btinternet.com GIFT AID:

Mrs Diana Londal SACRISTAN TEAM:

Mr Paul Bareham CHILDREN’S LITURGY:

Mrs Diana Irven

FLOWERS: Mrs Susan Brandeis

READERS: Mrs Janet Walker

SIDESMEN:

Mrs Lucy Mason PARISH EMAIL: officestjamescolchester@

btinternet.com

CHURCH INFORMATION

HON Associate Priests at

St. James Church: Fr Alan Cross SSC,

01206 790984

Fr.Richard Costin SSC 01787 829118

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Sundays Said Mass 8a.m

Sung Mass 10a.m

Monday No Mass

Tuesday No Mass

Wednesday Mass 7p.m

Thursday Mass 12:30

Friday Mass in School (Term time) 9a.m

Rosary Prayers 12 midday

Saturday Holy Hour & Confessions 10a.m

PARISH MASS TIMES

The Divine Office 7:45am Tuesday - Thursday,

9am Saturday Morning Prayer 7:45a.m Friday

Evening Prayer 6p.m Tuesday - Friday

Alderwood Care Home Mass 11a.m 4th March

Colonia Court (Blomfield House) Mass 11a.m 11th March(Paxman House) Mass at Noon

Weddings and Funerals please contact the Clergy. Confession

by appointment. Holy Baptism by arrangement after preparation. Ministry to the Sick, names of the sick to the

Clergy. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved for the communion

of the Sick, and the Oil of the Sick for Anointing.

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Dewi Sant -Saint David

Patron Saint of Wales The exact date of his birth is unknown, but Da-vid is said to have been born around the year 520 – some 1,500 years ago. He was reputedly born on the Pembrokeshire cliffs during a wild thunderstorm.

He had unlikely parentage Story has it that David was the son of Sandde, Prince of Powys, who raped David’s mother, the daughter of a chieftan of Menevia, and a nun, named Nonnita (St Non).

As a young man, David became a monk. He is said to have founded a monastery in around the year 560, close to the place where he was born. The surrounding area (in Pembroke-shire, west Wales) is now known simply as ‘St David’s’. It’s believed that St David’s Cathedral and St David’s Bishop’s Palace are built on the site of the original monastery.

He was a teetotal vegetarian St David and his monks followed a simple, austere life. They ploughed the fields by hand, rather than using oxen, and refrained from eating meat or drinking beer. St David himself was reputed to have consumed only leeks and water – which is perhaps why the leek became a national symbol of Wales.

He performed miracle The most famous miracle associated with St David took place when he was preaching to a large crowd in Llanddewi Brefi. When people at the back complained that they could not hear him, the ground on which he stood rose up to form a hill. A white dove, sent by God, settled on his shoulder.

Britain’s smallest city is named after him The existence of the Cathedral means that St.David is Britain’s small-est city, with a population of approx 1,600. The tenor Dewi Sant bell in the cathedral weighs 2,700lbs!

Edward I took St.David’s remains back to London After his 1284 military campaign in Wales, English King Edward I took

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the head and arm of St.David and displayed the remains in London.

A common Welsh term The nickname ‘Taffy’ for a Welshman links back to St.David as the original, ultimate Welshman—the term dates back to the 17th century and derives from ‘Dafydd’, the Welsh for David.

David is mentioned in Shakespeare In ‘Henry V’ when Fluellen’s English colleague, Pistol, insults the hum-ble leek on St. David’s Day, Fluellen insists he eat the national emblem as punishment: ‘If you can mock a leek, you can eat a leek.’ (Act V, Scene 1)

He has his own flag Many people mark St.David’s Day, 1st March, by wearing a leek or a daffodil, or by displaying the flag of St.David.

His legacy lives on

St David died on 1 March – St David’s Day - in 589. He was bur-ied at the site of St David’s Cathedral, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages.

His last words to his followers came from a sermon he gave on the previous Sunday: ‘Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.’ The phrase ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn

bywyd’ - ‘Do the little things in life’ - is still a well-known maxim in Wales.

‘Swords clashed as the men of Wales fought to protect their land from the Saxon in-vaders. But despite their efforts, the Welsh were slowly losing. In the heat of the battle it was difficult to tell friend from foe. A monk noticed that this was becoming a grave problem. As the Welsh lost more and more ground, the monk cried out to them, "Welshmen, you must mark yourselves so that you can better tell who is Saxon and who is Welsh. The monk plucked a leek plant from the ground and continued, "Here, wear these so you will know that any soldier who does not have a leek is your ene-my." The soldiers thought this was a rather odd idea, but the monk was one of God's men so they went along with it. Soon every Welsh soldier was wearing a leek on his helmet. They attacked the invaders and before long, the Welsh had won the battle.’ The monk who came up with the idea of wearing a leek was named David. The welsh leek has a flower much like a daffodil (which is easier to find around the world in March), so many use daffodils instead.

https://www.visitwales.com/product/509444

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The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also

known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his cru-

cifixion and accompanying prayers. The stations grew out of imitations of the Via Dolorosa in

Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The object of the stations is to help the Christian faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through

contemplation of the Passion of Christ. It has become one of the most popular devotions and the stations can be found in

many Western Christian churches, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic.

Commonly, a series of fourteen images will be arranged in numbered order along a path and the faithful travel from

image to image, in order, stopping at each station to say the selected prayers and reflections. This will be done individually or in a procession most commonly during Lent, especially on

Good Friday, in a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during his passion.

Sundays during Lent 2020:

1st March 8th March 15th March 22nd March 29th March

5th April Palm Sunday 12th April Easter Sunday

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Following the Stations of the Cross, in church with

friends, is a beautiful, emotive way of contemplating the Passion of Christ.

Everyone is welcome to join us in

St.James the Great Church every Sunday during Lent, 4:30 p.m

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A word from our Warden...

On Saturday March 28th at 7.30pm Amoroso, the singing group from Mersea will be putting on an evening of music for

your entertainment.

The concert is linked in with Mothering Sunday and the music will be a ‘Celebration of Love’.

We hope, of course, it will be an enjoyable evening but also

remember that this is an event where you can support YOUR

church.

You can support the event in many ways: buy a ticket.

sell some tickets. distribute posters.

post the event on your facebook page. donate a raffle prize.

help with serving refreshments.

make some refreshments.

We hope that events such as these will become a frequent occurrence at St James as they are not only enjoyable but

they encourage people into our church and also raise much needed funds.

It would be a wonderful thing if we could have some new faces supporting them. There is, in comparison to the congregation,

a small team who respond to the call of help every single time and work really hard to make the social events of the church successful and to them we offer huge thanks, but there are

more of you out there! So think about it and please offer your help, it can make a real

difference.

Thank you, Lucy Mason.

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Th

Amoroso sing songs of ‘Love Divine’

Amoroso will be singing in St James the Great Church

on Saturday 28th

March at 7.30pm

Local Mersea Island singing group, Amoroso, have put together an eclectic programme of music to celebrate love.

Come and enjoy a concert of both sacred and secular pieces from Bach, Mozart and Elgar as well as contemporary pieces from

Ennio Morricone, Bob Chilcott, John Rutter and Eric Whitacre. Sit back and hear songs of love made famous by the likes of

Nat King Cole, Simon and Garfunkel, Il Divo and Eva Cassidy.

Accompanied by the Amoroso musicians, this promises to be a delightful evening of choral and solo performances.

Tickets £10

Donations welcome for ‘drinks and nibbles’, There will be a raffle. All proceeds will go to help the restoration and repair of our

beautiful church.

Tickets available from Lucy Mason, St.James Church and on www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Sponsorship in the Church

To sponsor the lamp: look at the board at the back

of church or talk to a Churchwarden or Fr. James. To sponsor the flowers: talk to Susan Brandeis.

The Sanctuary

Lamp, also called a Chancel lamp, is placed

before the tabernacle or aumbry in Old Catholic, and Anglican churches

as a sign that the Lord is present and that the

Blessed Sacrament is reserved or stored.

Sanctuary Lamp sponsored

in memory of:

1st March

John and Hazel Howdego

R.I.P

22nd March

George Bareham R.I.P

Why no flowers in church during Lent?

Lent is a penitential season and a time of the ’desert’. Lent is a celebration of both the fast of our Lord for forty days and nights (Matthew 4:1-11), and the

arduous forty year journey of the chosen people to the promised land. For this reason the liturgical tradition has to visibly create the austerity of the time,

removing flowers from the church. Flowers are usually associated with rejoicing.

Flowers: The use of fresh flowers is encouraged as a way of engaging in the beauty and dignity of celebration. Discerning use of flowers can indicate the relative importance of particular occasions, and signify the keeping of partic-ular seasons.

During Lent the church is not to be decorated with flowers. Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), is an exception to this rule. Flowers used on this day should be removed after Evening Prayer II.

https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/

https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/

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March Diary & Prayer Calendar

1 1st Sunday of Lent - Pray - for the Parish. 8a.m Said Mass/10a.m Parish Sung Mass

4.30p.m Stations of the Cross

2 Monday - St.David. Pray for the Church in Wales. 3 Tuesday - Feria. Pray for the Colchester Deanery. 4 Wednesday - St.Casmir. Pray for St.James Parochial Church

Council. 11a.m Mass Alderwood Care Home 6.45p.m Mass 7.30p.m P.C.C Meeting at The Pilgrim Centre

5 Thursday - St.Piran. Pray for the Bishop of Colchester.

6 Friday - Feria. World Day of Prayer. 9a.m Mass at St.James School - all welcome. 6.30p.m ‘Requiem Mass of the Royal Steward Eudo’. Guest

preacher the Rt.Reverend Roger Morris. Celebrant Fr.James 7 Saturday - Perpetua, Felicity. Pray for The Shrine of Our Lady

of Walsingham. 9.30a.m Mass - Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham 9.45a.m ‘Singing the faith’

8 2nd Sunday of Lent - Pray for the Church and Parish. 8a.m Said Mass/10a.m Parish Sung Mass 4.30p.m Stations of the Cross

9 Monday - St.Telio. Pray for religious life in Wales. 10 Tuesday - St.John Ogilgivie. Pray for the reading of the

Bible. Bible Study(1) 2.30p.m ‘Care of God’s Creation’ 7p.m House Mass at Sheila & Peter Sansom’s house.

11 Wedesday - Feria of Lent. Pray for ‘The Churchwardens’ 11a.m Mass at Blomfield Midday Mass at Paxman House; both at Colonia Court

12 Thursday - Feria of Lent. Pray for the Emergency Services. 7p.m - 8.30p.m Bible Study(1) ‘Care of God’s Creation’

13 Friday- Feria of Lent. Children’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham 9a.m Mass at St.James School - all welcome.

14 Saturday– Feria of Lent. Pray for Colchester Soup Run.

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15 3rd Sunday of Lent - Pray for Church and Parish. 8a.m Said Mass/10a.m Sung Mass

4.30p.m Stations of the Cross

16 Monday - Feria. Pray for Evangelists. 17 Tuesday– Feria of Lent. Pray for St.Patrick. 2.30p.m Bible Course(2)

18 Wednesday - Feria of Lent. Pray for Matt Austen and family at Seminary. 19 Thursday - St.Joseph. Pray Foster fathers. 7p.m Bible Course(2)

20 Friday - St.Cuthbert. Pray for the Society of the Holy

Cross. 9a.m Mass at St.James School - all welcome. 21 Saturday - Feria of Lent. Pray for the hungry and home-

less. 10a.m Holy Hour

22 4th Sunday of Lent – Pray for Church and Parish. 8a.m Said Mass/10a.m Sung Mass 4.30 Stations of the Cross

23 Monday - St.Turbius of Mogrovejo. Pray for the Church in Peru. 24 Tuesday - Oscar Romero. Pray for Martyrs. 2.30p.m Bible Course(3)

25 Wednesday - The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

26 Thursday - Feria of Lent. Pray for the Additional Curates Society. 7p.m Bible Course(3)

27 Friday– Feria of Lent. Pray for Church Schools. 9a.m Mass at St.James School - all welcome.

28 Saturday – Feria of Lent. Pray for Mission and outreach of the Church. 7p.m Amoroso Concert in Church

29 5th Sunday in Lent - Pray for Church and Parish. 8a.m Said Mass/10a.m Sung Mass 4.30p.m Stations of the Cross

30 Monday - Feria of Lent. Pray for Church Artists.

31 Tuesday - John Donne. Pray for Writers of Poetry. 2.30p.m Bible Course(4)

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St.Joseph Feastdays: March 19th and 1st May.

Patron: Of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travellers, immi-grants, and a happy death, craftsmen, engineers, Mexico, Canada, Belgium. First appearing in the gospel of Matthew and Luke, Saint Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus Christ and the husband of the Virgin Mary. Joseph’s lineage is traced back to King David. According to the Bible, Joseph was born circa 100 B.C and later married the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. He died in Israel circa 1 A.D.

There are not many mentions of Joseph in the Bible. St.Paul and St.Mark make no mention of Joseph in their writings.

After marrying Mary, Joseph found that she was already pregnant, and being "a just man and unwilling to put her to shame" (Matt. 1:19), he decided to divorce her quietly, knowing that if he did so publicly, she could be stoned to death. An angel, however, came to Joseph and told him that the child Mary carried was the son of God and was conceived by the Holy Spirit, so Joseph kept Mary as his wife.

After Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, an angel came to Joseph again, this time to warn him and Mary about King Herod of Judaea and the vio-lence he would bring down upon the child. Joseph then fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, and the angel appeared again, telling Joseph that Herod had died and instructing him to return to the Holy Land. Avoiding Bethlehem and possible actions by Herod's successor, Jo-seph, Mary and Jesus settled in Nazareth, in Galilee.

The Gospels describe Joseph as a ‘tekton,’ which traditionally has meant ‘carpenter,’ and it is assumed that Joseph taught his craft to Jesus in Nazareth. At this point, however, Joseph is never mentioned again by name in the Bible—although the story of Jesus in the temple includes a reference to "both his parents."

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Joseph has no recorded words in scripture. He protected the immaculate Mother of God and helped raise the Lord of the Uni-verse...but doesn’t get even one quote! Joseph is a silent, humble servant of God who does his task well, and no more.

The circumstances of Joseph’s death are not known, but it is likely that he died before Jesus’ ministry began, and it is implied that he is dead before the crucifixion (John 19:26-27)

Veneration of St.Joseph goes back to at least the 9th Century. An early title used to honour him was ‘nutritor Domini’ (guardian of the Lord). In 1870, Joseph was declared patron saint of the universal church by Pope Pius IX, and in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1st as the ‘feast of St.Joseph the worker’.

St.Joseph has two feastdays: The Solemnity of St.Joseph is March 19th; if this falls on a weekday during Lent, you can break your fast! And the feast of St.Joseph the worker is May 1st.

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Need to contact Essex Police ? Please always dial 999 in an EMERGENCY.

If you have hearing loss or a speech impairment and are unable to make a voice call, you can use the emergencySMS service. Find

out more and register on the emergencySMS website.

To report a non-emergency crime you can:

Use our do it online service Call our non-emergency number 101 or alternatively

01245 491491 Call in at a police station

Use our minicom service on 01245 452828. The minicom service is a typewriter device that allows people

certified deaf or with hearing or speech problems to contact us.

If you or someone you know is vulnerable and has been a

victim of fraud, please call Essex Police on 101. Report fraud or attempted fraud by contacting

Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

https://www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online/https://www.essex.police.uk/contact-us/police-stations/https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.actionfraud.police.uk&data=02%7C01%7CTerry.Fowles%40essex.police.uk%7C89141f3645cb4101a7b308d7aaed0ef4%7Cf31b07f09cf940db964d6ff986a97e3d%7C0%7C0%7C637165807616513396&sdata=RQJL6PfOxDyyHl9TY

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Meeting at: The Rectory, 50B Priory Street. Tuesdays 2.30p.m - 4p.m Dates: 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March and 7th, 14th April. Thursdays 7p.m - 8.30p.m Dates: 12th, 19th, 26th March and 2nd, 16th, 30th April. You will need to purchase a copy of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book 2020; ‘Saying yes to life’. Author Ruth Valerio. ISBN 9780281083770. Please read the chapter ahead of each session.

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Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere from Prevention to Detection and Equitable Access to Care

Burden of kidney disease Kidney disease is a non-communicable disease and currently affects around 850 million people worldwide. One in ten adults has chronic kidney disease. The global burden of CKD is increasing, and is projected to become the 5th most common cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. Chronic kidney disease is a major cause of catastrophic health ex-penditure. The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume 2–3% of the an-nual healthcare budget in high-income countries; spent on less than 0.03% of the total population of these countries. In low-income and middle-income countries, most people with kidney failure have insufficient access to

©World Kidney Day 2006-2020 www.worldkidneyday.org

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lifesaving dialysis and kidney transplantation. Crucially, kidney disease can be prevented and progression to end-stage kid-ney disease can be delayed with appropriate access to basic diagnostics and early treatment. However, while national policies and strategies for NCDs in general are present in many countries, specific policies directed toward education and awareness about kidney dis-ease as well as CKD screening, management and treatment are often lacking. There is a need to increase the awareness of the importance of preventive measures throughout populations, professionals and policy makers.

What we call for This year World Kidney Day continues to raise awareness of the

increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide and to strive for kidney health for everyone, everywhere. Specifically, the 2020

campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions to avert the onset and progression of kidney disease.

Your Amazing Kidneys The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that do many essential tasks to keep us healthy. The main job of your kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from your blood. Kidneys also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep your bones healthy. Each roughly the size of your fist, kidneys are located deep in the abdomen, beneath the rib cage. Your kidneys control blood stream levels of many minerals and molecules including sodium and potassium, and help to control blood acidity. Every day your kidneys carefully control the salt and water in your body so that your blood pressure remains the same.

Did You Know? Your Kidneys:

Make urine

Remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood

Control your body’s chemical balance

Help control your blood pressure

Help keep your bones healthy

Help you make red blood cell

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March was named after the

Roman god of war, Mars.

Middle English - March or Marche

Latin name -

Martius mensis, Month of Mars Old English -

Martius

History of March

March was originally the first month of the year in older versions of the Roman calendar because of its association with the first day of spring. The vernal or March equinox occurs during this

month, falling on the 19th, 20th, or 21st day. March also marked a time when war would resume after the winter months.

Although January 1st is New Year’s Day, many cultures and religions still celebrate the beginning of the new year in March.

Third Month in the Year March is the third month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian

calendar that consists of 31 days. It was the first month of the year in the 10-month Roman calendar. It is considered the sea-

sonal equivalent of September in the opposite hemisphere. March starts on the same day of the week as February and November and ends on the same day of the week as June in

common years. Birth Flower and Stone

March’s birth flower is the daffodil. The birthstones for March are aquamarine

and bloodstone which symbolize courage.

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/roman-calendar.htmlhttps://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html

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World Book Day is a registered charity on a mission to give every child and young person a book of their own. It’s also a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.

This is the 23rd year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 5th March 2020, children of all ages will come together to appre-ciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. That’s why schools will be sent packs of Book Tokens and age-ranged World Book Day Resource Packs full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day. Famous people born in March

David Niven, Alexander Graham Bell, Dame Vera Lynn, William Morris, Eric Clapton, Prince Edward, Edwin Lutyens, George I,

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Daniel Craig, Bruce Willis. In History

1969 Maiden flight of Concorde, travelling at twice the speed of sound. 1876 Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. 1886 Cruft’s Dog show first held in London. 1904 Britain’s first

mainline electric train ran from Liverpool to Southport. 44BC Julius Caesar is stabbed by Marcus Brutus. 1855 Charlotte

Bronte died.

http://www.unesco.org.uk/

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House Mass to be held at

Sheila & Peter

Sansom’s home.

All are welcome

Please talk to Sheila or Peter for address and contact details.

The role of a sidesperson is to greet people as they arrive for the

service and ensure they have the necessary books etc. They are especially concerned that newcomers and visitors are made to

feel welcome. This ministry of welcome is important, and when it is done well it helps to ‘promote the cause of true religion in the parish.’ (Canon E2) You need to be on the church electoral

role. Training is given.

Please talk to a Churchwarden or Father James.

YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS

we need more sidespeople...

‘Use your God-given

gifts to serve

others.’ 1 Peter 4:10

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How blessed we are at St. James the Great Church. The Church of St. James the Great has been gifted a beautiful, elaborately stitched 'Lectern Fall' in Venetian tapestry and All Season pattern.

A lectern fall or a Pulpit Fall is a length of material that hangs before some-thing. An antependium (from Latin ante- and pendēre "to hang before"; pl: antependia). The Lectern Fall will add a dash of beauty to the Lady Chap-el. As such, it also emphasises the beautiful word of God read from the Lec-tern or Legilium.

Also, we have been gifted a Pulpit Fall in the style of the Sacrificial Lamb with a cross laying down life on the Altar. It has been hand-stitched with gold and silver metal thread. The skill of the needlework is incredible! The backing ma-terial is in colour green, 'Ordinary' season colour.

We thank God for the donation of these two precious gifts to the Church. One of which from God's word, the Bible reading will be read. The other, the Pul-pit Fall, from which God's Word will be broken, expounded and taught.

Bible Readings in Church

Where is the Bible read in Church?

On a Sunday and Holy Days, the Bible is read from the Lectern. The lectern is a reading desk on which the Bible rests. It is usually made from brass or wood and is moveable (if not too heavy). Often they are made of Brass. Brass lecterns are generally in the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle often stands on a ball which represents the world, while the Bible on the eagle's back symbolises the gospel being carried to the corners of the earth. What is a folding legilium. These are lightweight collapsible quickly moved 'lectern' type reading desks called legili-um for ease of their use. There is one in the Lady Chapel and one at the West End of the Church used for Intercessions.

Who reads the Bible in Church?

Almost anyone could do the readings, either read them badly or carelessly. However, with a little determination, nearly all people could read them well.

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you haven't practised then, please don't expect, miraculously in doing it well. Don't mistake me, and I do believe in a God who provides miracles when a problem is beyond human solution. A faithful Priest once said 'put in the spadework'. Don't just stride in on Sunday morning, then to the front and begin reading. Prepare. Open your Bible, turn up the first passage you are due to read. But before any of this you should, repeat SHOULD pray. A simple prayer, that that you will under-stand the passages. The readings are distributed to you a few weeks in advance.

Amateur dramatics on a Sunday.

There are no reading BAFTA-winning performances required on a Sunday, so keep the dramatics down. However, the most inspiring and significant passages will be frightfully dull if read in a flat monotone. The word of God is active. Read through again, consider the emphasis and the tone re-quired. Read the scriptures you have either at home or once you have arrived at Church in sufficiently good time. Pray.

Practicalities

Get ahead. By the time the priest has finished praying the Collect, you ought to be standing at the lectern, ready to begin to read. By the end of each reading, the next person should be prepared to take over almost without a pause. Don't worry about the microphone. You don't have to do anything to it as it will be on! That is not your responsibility. If there is a problem, someone will step in to assist you. What you need to do is speak clearly, not shouting, but do life your voice, then the microphone is there to support your voice, not replace it. You need to speak loudly enough to be heard over half the Church.

What do I say to introduce the prayers?

The service sheet indicates how the reading should be introduced in italics at the top. It usually takes the form "A reading from the Book of X" or "A reading from the letter of Paul to Y". Do not read out the references. This will only be required during other Church House groups or Bible Study.

Continued...

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’ 1 Chronicles 16:34

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Summary

· Pray first. · Prepare thoughtfully

· Practice carefully · Position in good time · Pronounce noticeably

by Father James McCluskey

Lady Chapel fall in situ.

Pulpit fall in situ and in detail.

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We are the longest established Thai Restaurant in Colchester, Essex, Britain’s oldest recorded town. We pride ourselves on serving only the best in truly authentic Thai dishes, all freshly prepared and cooked from locally sourced suppliers by our highly experienced Bangkok trained Thai chef’s. Thai 1 Colchester can be found just a few hundred yards on the right hand side travelling up East Hill Colchester, going towards the Town and Castle Park. For those not familiar with Thai 1 or Colchester, please take a look at our website for directions, www.thai-1.co.uk. We hire out our restaurant for private functions and offer an excellent outside catering service. We also offer our same Thai 1 menu to takeaway. We deliver to anywhere within the Colchester area, free. We also offer a 10% discount on all takeaway collections.

http://www.thai-1.co.uk/find-us/

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News

www.st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk

This half-term seems to have flown by, but nevertheless it has been very busy.

Towards the end of January, the whole school were entertained with the pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’; paid for by The Friends of St.James School. The children were enthralled for over an hour by the actors and days later children could still be heard saying ‘He’s behind you’.

As part of year five’s R.E Curriculum, they recently visited the local Jewish Synagogue. The children were given a very informative talk allowing them to discover Jewish worship traditions.

‘The Rotary Club’ recently visited the school and gave a talk to the whole school on the importance of eradicating Polio. On Thursday 27th February, in aid of this worthwhile cause, the whole school will dress in pink, purple or both in place of their school uniform for a donation of £1. This is always well supported and I look forward to seeing the children’s creations.

At the time of writing this article, the school is awaiting ‘SIAMs’ inspec-tion which will be carried out by Mr Iain Gunn. Next month, we will let you know how the school performed.

http://www.st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk

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Begins 22nd March Ends 5th April

Any queries talk to Sheila Sansom St.James Church, Colchester.

St James' C of E Primary School | Guildford Road | Colchester | Essex | CO1 2RA

Tel: 01206 865747 | email: admin@st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk

Copyright 2017, St James C of E Primary School. All rights reserved.

Headteacher: Belynda Fellows

This term our Nursery has had a change of staff with Kate O’Sullivan going on to pastures new as a Child Councillor and Joung-Suk returning to South Korea. We wish them both well. Ms Laura Egan will be working in the Nurse-ry on a Monday and Friday until July.

And finally, after twenty-seven years of employment at the school, Jackie Wilkinson has finally decided to hang-up the apron and retire. Please join us in wishing her well.

mailto:admin@st-james-colchester.essex.sch.ukmailto:admin@st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk

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The original ‘Mothering Sunday’. Mothering Sunday began as

an explicitly religious event of the 16th Century, with no con-nection to mothers at all. The word "mothering" referred to the

"mother church", which is to say the main church or cathedral of the region. It became a tradition that, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, people would return to their mother church for a spe-

cial service. This pilgrimage was apparently known as "going a-mothering", and became something of a holiday event, with domestic servants traditionally given the day off to visit their

own families as well as their mother church. Simnel Cake. One of the tastiest traditions of Mothering Sun-

day was the baking of Simnel cake. Often regarded as purely Easter-related this rich fruit cake is also tied to Mothering Sunday, as a indulgence to make up for the general austerity of

Lent. Consisting of layers of cake and marzipan, a traditional Simnel cake also reflects the religious overtones of the event by

being adorned with 11 balls of marzipan, representing all the disciples of Jesus, minus Judas. 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 is a legend that a man called Simon and his wife Nell argued over whether the cake for Mothering Sun-

day should be baked or boiled. In the end they did both, so the cake was named after both of them: Sim-Nell.

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Saving Mothering Sunday. Despite its long existence in Brit-ish culture, Mothering Sunday fell out of fashion at the dawn of the 20th Century. Constance Penswick-Smith enters the

picture. The daughter of a vicar, she thought the loss of Moth-ering Sunday was a great shame, and worked to rekindle interest, even writing a book - ‘The Revival of Mothering Sun-

day.’ She also founded the Society for the Observance of Mothering Sunday. Her determination paid off, and the fading

festival was restored to the country, only with more of a focus on celebrating motherhood. And this was due to an American influence...

‘Mother’s Day’. So if our event is properly called Mothering Sunday, what is "Mother's Day"? Technically speaking it's a completely unrelated American event, invented by a woman

called Anna Jarvis in 1908. Her initial inspiration was a desire to honour her own mother, who had been a militant peace ac-

tivist during the US Civil War. Anna Jarvis's growing ambition to create a formal "Mother's Day" for all American mothers was literally laughed out of the room at first, with officials jokingly

saying that it might lead to a "Mother-in-Law's Day". Anna Jarvis wasn't easily put off, though, and in 1914 US President

Woodrow Wilson officially signed Mother's Day into existence. The revolt against ‘Mother’s Day’ It was Anna Jarvis who inspired our own Constance Penswick-Smith to revive the

more religiously-flavoured Mothering Sunday over here, although the two separate events have since become conflated in most people's minds. Interestingly, Anna Jarvis herself was

the first person to condemn the growing commercialisation of Mother's Day, and started organising boycotts of the event she

herself created. One of her anti-Mother's Day protests even led to her arrest for disturbing the peace, and she was particularly appalled by ready-made Mother's Day cards, saying "A printed

card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world." ‘Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be

made worthy of the promises of Christ.’

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35

Ron is a member of our extended congregation and a resident of Blomfield House, Colonia Court Care Home.

Ron, who's 90 years young, was invited to Waitrose to join their team and to work along side them on the fruit and vege-table section. Matt Banks is in charge of the fruit and veg and

took Ron around Waitrose with Linda. They showed him the whole store, also going out the back looking at the cool fridges

and freezers. Ron used to work for Sainsbury for 33 years and started work in the Sainsbury on Colchester High Street. So going to Wait-

rose today has brought back a lot of memories and reminiscing for him. Ron has learnt how things are done so

differently now to when he did it. Also how there is so many different types of fruit and veg now. A very big thank you to all of the Waitrose team for all you

have done but especially to Linda for making this happen and to Matt for your time. It was an amazing time . Thank you for all the goodies you gave to Ron and he's shared this with all

the other Care Home residents.

‘In all things, give thanks.’

1 Thessolonians

5:18

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A Sermon by Father Richard Costin

‘Work and Discipleship with the Light of the World’ (Based on Matthew 4)

O sing a new song to the Lord, Sing to the Lord all the earth,

In his presence are majesty and splendour, Strength and honour in his holy place.

Throughout your working career have you always had the same job, or has it been necessary to change to another area of work where your skills and experi-ence could be utilised? In earlier generations in British society you went to school, followed, if the opportunity arose, by an apprenticeship, college or uni-versity, or some other form of training. You then set about finding work or applying for positions, and hopefully you had the opportunity to gain employ-ment. Generally speaking, you then hoped that, all being well, you continued that work until you reached retirement age at 60 or 65 in most areas of work. In recent years things have changed, especially in how companies, services, and the country, and also internationally, commerce is run. I remember attending a special church council meeting some 45 years ago to discuss the future of employment. The Protestant work ethic, prevalent since the 18th century and during the Industrial Revolution was seen to be obsolete, because with technol-ogy and the approaching digital age automation would mean that jobs would begin to disappear in certain walks of life and redundancy would become an issue. What could the church do to support those made redundant and perhaps lose their self-esteem. People would need to retrain, if possible, for the changes that would take place. At the time it was estimated that 25% of the workforce would lose their livelihood by the end of the 20th century. Well we know that many areas of work did disappear, and that still pertains into the future, but education and retraining has reduced the impact. Into the bargain we live longer and our working years are being extended. Society now says that many of us must expect to have changes and one job throughout our working life may not be there, and we will need to find alternative employment and, with help, not the lose self-esteem or personal value in society. It is a task that, as disciples of our Lord and Saviour, we may have a role to play in society in this area. Back in the late 1970’s I sat on a panel in Essex to find alternative employ-ment for teachers who became redundant because of the drop in the birth rate which meant that fewer children were being born and entering school. Of

37

course, we know that changes are being accommodated and employment is holding up, even if all forms of employment are not guaranteed long term. In-deed, I am on my third profession! Not that I became redundant, but society changes meant that other opportunities arose and that with God’s love and sup-port I discerned my calling to the priesthood. For 15 years or so Jesus followed in Joseph’s footsteps. He had been appren-ticed to Joseph and been trained as a carpenter. To follow your father into his profession was expected and Jesus did just that. Later his experience would be clearly seen in his teaching, an attribute so useful for any teacher in engaging their listeners today. At about the age of 30 Jesus was called by God his heaven-ly father into his ministry to fulfil the role for which he was sent into the world. And so, Jesus left the hillside village of Nazareth in which had been brought up and practised his trade. He settled down in the lakeside town of Capernaum, where we believe, he made his new home in a house not far from a fisherman called Peter. He was never again to handle a hammer or ply his trade as a car-penter. Thereafter his principal occupation would be preaching, teaching, heal-ing, calling people to repentance, and training others to follow in his footsteps. Up and down Galilee, in synagogues, on hillsides, by the lakeshore, wherever he found a group to listen. Jesus moved among people healing the sick, comforting the distressed and tirelessly proclaiming the Good News. In a world torn apart at every level by strife, greed and pride, his words brought hope and were an urgent message directed towards conversion and salvation. In Galilee people were drawn by his presence, travelled for miles to hear his mes-sage, and sat enhanced for hours as he explained the deepest mysteries of heav-en in the simplest imagery of household, field and lake. No doubt fuelled by his own life experiences and knowing that his listeners would be able to follow what he had to say. He was a healer who could place his hand on a fevered forehead and, in an instant, bring refreshing coolness. His enthusiasm for preaching, and his insistence on repentance never faded, even at times when he was seen as just the carpenter from Nazareth. Small wonder that sinners were among his most fervent fans. They desperately wanted what he promised – a fresh start and a new beginning. Above all he restored damaged souls, offered forgiveness and comfort to sinners, and dispelled their doubt and despair.

Having worked in some of the poorest areas in Africa and experienced unrest and foreboding through revolution in the Middle East, I can see that Christians have an urgent role in following in our Lord’s footsteps. Regrettably the world

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has not changed significantly and we still have strife, greed and pride to fight against in Jesus’ name. Of course, we may not be in a position or have an opportunity to do anything spectacular, but with humility, prayer and doing that of which we can as practising Christians, we can make a difference. There are over a billion practising Christians in the world, and the number is growing. If we all pull together, we can make a difference. Those who are fortunate to visit Galilee today as pilgrims can realise more fully why Christ’s ministry was begun here. Nazareth at the time of Jesus was a small and fairly innocuous hillside town resting in a hollow above the plain of Jezreel, not far from Tel Megiddo, what we call ‘Armageddon’. People there were not well-off, probably living in caves to work during the hot summers and living above ground in the cooler equitable weather for the rest of the year. Excavation of some of these caves have provided evidence that some were used as carpenter workshops, one of which may well have been used by Jesus in his trade. The shores of Galilee pro-vide little amphitheatre style inlets and would explain why Jesus would enter into a boat slightly adrift of the shore before teaching the people. Large gather-ings would have heard him more clearly. His home in Capernaum would have meant that, as a devout Jew, he would have attended the local synagogue not far from Peter’s house. Today Capernaum is a heritage site and an open-air museum. On my first visit in 1983 I had to borrow the vicar’s trousers! I had arrived wearing shorts – it was a hot day. Not a good idea. My entry was forbid-den because I was improperly dressed. The priest who was leading had not advised me accordingly. So, I waited outside while he escorted the other pilgrims around. He then came back to the gate and we exchanged shorts for trousers so that I could make my visit. Over the site of the synagogue where Jesus would have read from the Torah and preached a Roman temple had been erected. However, part of the synagogue floor is now exposed by the ruins of the Temple and I was able to set foot on it – the same floor that Jesus would have trod. Alas now such opportunities are forbidden – no doubt the problem of human erosion. The launching of Jesus into his public ministry involved the forming of a com-munity that would not only keep his teachings intact, but would continue the work he had begun, by being his living presence among humankind.His mission was to be accomplished through a group who believed, accepted and experi-enced salvation through him. That applies to us in today’s world as it did then for his followers. It has often been said that God moves in mysterious ways and uses the weak to confront the strong. When he set about selecting his Apostles he looked for them among the run of the mill people who lived ordinary,

39

everyday lives. Peter, James, Andrew and John were chosen, with no special training or without any merit on their part. They became the core members of that community. Up to that moment the world of boats, nets and fish was their place of belonging. It provided a decent living and they never dreamed of a different lifestyle. Now their mission was to bring the knowledge and love of Christ to the whole world. Their response was immediate and a complete act of willing cooperation. As a group they had little to recommend them apart from their hearts being in the right place, and having an inner awareness of the good-ness of Jesus and a desire to remain in his company. They did not know what they were letting themselves in for, but when Jesus called, they were ready to take risks and became a God driven force that would change the world. Bearing in mind what I said earlier about us as today’s disciples, how do we fit into that mode as the first disciples did. After all we fit the basis of the task to be done as far as we can in this world. And so, like the Apostles we have a great task on our hands. We are called to be servants of God, bearers of the Good News and builders of his Kingdom of peace and joy. If the word of God is to reach everyone then all who hear it must make it known. There is simply no one who is not called to be a disciple. We don’t need to go looking in far-off places to carry out God’s will. The opportunity to respond to it is most likely to be present in the nearest and dear-est and shows up more often than we think. A mother teaching her child to pray is a messenger of the gospel, fulfilling the responsibility of her baptismal calling. If we live the life of Christ in our homes our words will surely mirror something of the face of God and bring compassion and comfort to the sick. The Friday before last I celebrated the weekly Eucharist in St James’ primary school. The chosen theme was gentleness. Last Friday it was followed by kindness. This is to followed on through Lent by patience, joy, self-control, serving others, saying thank you and love. This, I may say, is a church school living up to values we need to live by as Christian disciples and provides a basis for that Christian living. In a world of darkness, where people are living lives of quiet desperation, fearful of the future and searching to make sense of it all, our presence can brighten up the road ahead with reassurance and peace. We are reminded that as members of the Body of Christ we have a role to play and a job to do. If we take our personal call seriously and have courage to respond, then the kingdom of God will be in our midst. Fr Richard Costin

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Please mark all material- “Parish Magazine”

To be held in St.James the Great Church

on every first Saturday of the month at 10:45 a.m.

Everybody is welcome to join us in practicing the music that we will be singing in church now

and in the future.

If you want to be more confident in the music we sing or

just because you love to sing then please come along .