the parishioner april 2014
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
THE PARISHIONER
Ockham with Hatchford and Downside Newsletter
APRIL 2014
Dear Friends,
I write this in glorious sunshine after a record breaking wet winter with
all its floods and misery. Our roadsides boast early daffodils and the
promise of what the 12th century mystic Hildegard of Bingen (1098 –
1179) described as “the greening of all creation”.
We all get warn down by the dreariness of winter after a while. It was
George Herbert who wrote that “every mile is two in winter”.
I spent the first thirty six years of my life living in various parts of Africa,
a continent of stark contrasts, majestic scenery and vast distances. I
have wonderful memories of holidaying with my sister on her farm
which lay in the foothills of the Drakensburg mountains in a part known
as the ‘eastern escarpment’, a region of summer rainfall and dry cold
winters. We occasionally took game safari trips into the veld. Being out
on safari during winter opened out miles of bleached grasslands with
animals bathing in weak sunshine impatiently flicking flies with their
tails. They too waited for this “greening” and with it the replenishment
of their watering holes and vegetation. Finally, when the rains did come
they were invariably heavy and torrential.
An African winter is of course quite different to those of the northern
hemisphere; with its icy temperatures, hard frosts and snow storms or
even our own recent storms and floods. And yet winter, whether in
England or Africa reminds me of the thirst at the heart of creation
awaiting the promise of refreshment and new life.
It is wonderful to me Spring coincides with Easter in this part of the
world; where the truth of the resurrection, which is written into all
creation is made manifest in Jesus’ risen and glorified life; and where
death is defeated in the glory of the empty tomb on Easter morning.
Trudging back from Golgotha, the disciples of Jesus who had journeyed
with him through the unfolding events of his passion, trial and
crucifixion seriously doubted their future until Easter morning, when
the will and purpose of God was revealed in the mystery of the
Resurrection.
God still transforms our doubt into dynamic possibilities; doubts about
our value, doubts about the relevance of faith today, doubts about the
wisdom of trying to stand for the things of God and uphold a different
ethic and truth. And yet if new life can be found in the barren earth of
the African escarpment or in the determined clumps of daffodils at our
roadsides how much more is it expressed in the defeat of Christ’s death
and with it the promise to us all that we too through faith become
partakers in his resurrection.
All are welcome at our Easter program of services which you’ll find
details of in this magazine.
With every blessing for a happy Easter
Parish Clergy
Rev’d Elizabeth Bussmann
(01483 283713)
Rev’d Kerry Tucker
(01483 210167)*
Rev’d Elisabeth Burke
(01932 863886)
Church Wardens
Mrs Sally Pound
(01932 863279)
Mr Richard Peters
(01483 568837)
*Kerry’s Parish days are Mondays and Wednesdays
Don’t forget to keep up to date with everything happening
in our Parish by going to www.ockhamchurch.org.uk
Please send articles for the next edition to Andrew Jackson
by the 19th of the month preceding publication to
MU4ALL Is Just That! For ALL THE BEEHIVE The Beehive meets once a month on the 4th Thursday at 2.00 p.m. at St. Martin’s Court. Coffee, cake and a time to share, whilst making a difference to others in need. We meet together to work at MU projects, such as neonatal supplies, knitting, making blankets and quilts and any particular needs which arise.
APRIL 10th My life with flowers
Speaker: Ruth Bryans (includes a demonstration) 2.00 p.m. Community Hall
(Jane Lines)
National Garden Scheme Open Day We are opening on Sunday June 1st from 11am to 5pm for the National Gardens Scheme, www.ngs.org.uk, at Rose Cottage , Elm Corner, Ockham Since its inception in 1927 the NGS has raised over £40 million for nursing and caring charities, the current list of beneficiaries is Macmillian Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices, Carers Trust, The Queens Nursing Institute, Perennial and the National Trust. The guest charity for 2013 is Parkinsons UK. The variety of gardens that open for the NGS is breathtaking: from village openings to roof gardens, tiny cottage gardens to rolling acres, allotments to barges. Rose Cottage is a one acre cottage garden with deep borders, a large pond and topiary knot garden for extra interest. Do look on the NGS website for more details. Our local charity that we will donate all the tea monies to is Disability Challengers, a local childrens charity where Helen worked for 10 years, having retired last year there is so much more time for gardening and hence the decision to open again for the NGS.
Helen Cowell
FORTHCOMING SERVICES Sunday 6th April - Passion Sunday 9.00 am Downside Songs of Praise 10.30 am All Saints’ Parish Communion Sunday 13th April - Palm Sunday 9.00 am Downside Holy Communion 10.30 am All Saints’ Parish Communion Monday 14th April 7.30 pm Downside Holy Week Reflection Tuesday 15th April 7.30 pm St Martin’s Holy Week Reflection Wednesday 16th April 7.30 pm Holy Week Reflection Community Hall Effingham Junction Thursday 17th April - Maundy Thursday 8.00 pm All Saints’ Holy Communion followed by Stripping of Altars Friday 18th April - Good Friday 12 noon to St Martin’s 3 hour service 3.00 pm Sunday 20th April - EASTER SUNDAY 9.00 am Downside Holy Communion 10.30 am All Saints’ Parish Communion
Sunday 27th April - Second Sunday in Easter 9.30 am Downside Holy Communion 10.30 am All Saints’ Family Service Sunday 4th May - Third Sunday in Easter 9.00 am Downside Songs of Praise 10.30 am All Saints’ Parish Communion Sunday 11th May - Fourth Sunday in Easter 9.00 am Downside Holy Communion 10.30 am All Saints’ Parish Communion
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Sunday 6th April, 11.30am
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting of the Parish of Ockham with
Hatchford & Downside will take place on Sunday 6th of April
immediately after morning service (about 11.30am). This is an occasion
when we review what we have achieved in the past year and discuss
plans and ideas for the future. Please come and join us. A copy of our
Report and Accounts can be downloaded from the church website:
www.ockhamchurch.org.uk.
All are welcome, but only those who are on the electoral roll are
entitled to vote. Electoral roll forms are available on the noticeboard at
All Saints’ and can also be downloaded from the church website.
Richard Peters and Sally Pound
Churchwardens
The Prayer of Stillness Bible Verse for April
"BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE!" (Revelation 1 v 18.)
Ockham Cricket Club
It’s been all change at committee level for Ockham CC, with new people in almost every position. The duties of the committee are numerous throughout the close season, and we’ve busied ourselves arranging net sessions, organising work parties, attending various meetings and conferences, and planning the golf day and presentation evening – which, by the time you read this, will have been a huge success. But that all pales into insignificance when the clocks go forward, the evenings get lighter and the new season hoves into view. This year Ash Doherty formally takes charge of the 1st XI after deputising admirably in 2012 and 2013, and I have full confidence that under his leadership our 1st XI will have an excellent year. Saji Francis resumes control of the 2nd XI and despite being the quiet man of the club; I know he will continue to lead the side in the innovative and creative ways he demonstrated in 2013. I have also lain down a challenge to both Ash and Saji – to get their respective sides promoted. That must be our target. As for the Sunday XI? I look forward with interest to Graeme Wilcockson’s first season as an Ockham skipper. I have no doubts that Graeme will lead us in the true Ockham spirit. Personally I hope he still gives me a game! I may have to pull rank and demand a slot in the batting order. After all, what’s the point in having power if you can’t misuse it occasionally? I have a feeling that we are entering into a new era for Ockham CC, one that promises to be full of excitement. As the saying goes ‘may you live in interesting times’ I think those times are right around the corner.
Paul Watson Chairman - Ockham Cricket Club
Charity Concert Seven young people all under 17 performed in a short concert of mixed classical and popular music to an audience of 52 people, who were a most appreciative audience .Afterwards the concert team of Mike and Carol Binney, Maureen and David Pappin, and Nick and Sheila Mellstrom with other helpers served Winter Pimms and wine and delicious nibbles made by many other helpers. The magnificent sum of over £300 was raised for the 3 church charities, The Canterbury Trust, The Smile Train, and tHe Salvation Army.
Keeping in touch with the Parish There are times when it would be useful to be in touch with you all at short notice - for example "no heating", there is a service of thanksgiving at the Cathedral etc etc and for a lot of people the most convenient way to do that is through email. To that end I would be grateful if as many of you as possible could send me an email ([email protected]) so that we may add your email address to our list, which we started after the completion of the recent Electoral Roll. We would always send any general email "blind" so that individual email addresses did NOT appear and preserve your privacy. We undertake to use your contact information only in relation to church, parish or diocesan matters and to keep that information secure. You retain the right to change your mind at any time and we would not disclose your email address to any third parties. We know that not everyone has email or wishes to join the Parish email list. Once we have as many email addresses we can then look at ways of communicating with other members of the Parish. [email protected]
