St. Mary's March 2016 Magazine

Church of St. Mary the Virgin,
Finedon.
Parish Magazine
March 2016
50p

Vicar:
Finedon Parish Church: St Mary The Virgin
The Revd Richard Coles,
St Mary the Virgin Finedon, The Vicarage,
Church Hill, Finedon, Northants, NN9 5NR
01933 681 786, Mobile 07885 967 960
email: revdrichardcoles@yahoo.co.uk
Assistant Honorary Priest Fr Peter Baden,01832 733186
email: p.baden36@btinternet.com
Reader Mr Michael Duncombe, 01536 723457
email: michaelbex@talktalk.net
Parish Clerk
Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364 (To whom first
contact for Baptisms and weddings must be
made).
Churchwardens: Mrs Jane Read Tel: 680522
Mr Neil Forster Tel: 682177
PCC Secretary: Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364
Treasurer: Mr Andrew Weatherill Tel: 682212
Magazine Editor: Mrs Janet Millington, Tel: 681161.
email: millingtonjanet@aol.com
(to whom all copy should addressed by
the 15 th of the month prior to publication)
Director of Music Mr Jonathan Harris Tel: 01933 779059,
Mobile 07791 664507
Email: Hjonathan83@aol.com
Deputy Organists
Mrs. Kathy Roberts
Mr Oliver Grigg
Choirmaster: Mr. Bryan Chapman Tel: 398818
Tower Captain Mr Bryan Chapman, Tel 398818
Web Site
www.finedonphotographs.org.uk/
bellringers.html
Archivist Mr John Bailey MBE, Tel 680747
St Michael’s Mission Room:
Bryan & Christine Chapman
Tel: 01933 398818
Times Of Services:
Sundays
8.00 am Holy Eucharist
9.30 am Parish Eucharist.
6.00 pm Evensong (1st Sunday of the Month)
Visit us on the Web at www.stmarysfinedon.co.uk

From the Vicarage.
March 2016.
An early Easter this year, so an early Lent, which was upon us almost as
soon as we’d put away the Nativity. For some it comes too soon, a
jarring gear change, but for others – not least middle-aged Vicars with
middle-aged spread – the timing is just right. Giving something up is just
what I need to do, as my tightening waistline and volatile blood
pressure both tell me.
Normally the art of a successful Lenten fast is finding the balance
between a real sacrifice that costs you, and one you can actually
sustain. A friend of mine used to give up semi-Pelagianism, a forgotten
heresy that had never troubled him over much, so giving it up was a
piece of cake. I once or twice have given up meat, which required a
superhuman effort alleviated by Sundays off (every Sunday is a feast, or
so I told myself). Normally now it is alcohol, but the punctiliousness of
religious observance these days is moderated by… well, moderation, a
lesson I have learned from trying to diet. The object is not to abstain
completely like a Puritan but to achieve manageable change. So the
odd glass of beer, or even a whisky, may not derail you, but actually
work for you, softening the rigour to make the goal achievable.
I suppose this accords with my view of how people really are: most of us
are not cut out for the heroic sacrifices of the saints and martyrs
(wouldn’t life be easier, in a way, if we were?) Most of us are in it for the
long haul, taking two steps forward and a step back, wandering off
sometimes, getting distracted, missing the point. But we must keep in
mind the destination to which we travel, not as personal
accomplishment, like completing a marathon, but to allow ourselves to
be transformed by the journey, conformed to the will of God by walking
his way, not ours.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Richard.
3

Our Readings in March
Year C
6th – 4th Sunday of Lent (Mothering
Sunday)
Joshua 5. 9 -12
Psalm 32
Corinthians 1. 3–7
Luke 15. 1–3, 11 b to end
Hymns
238 For Mary, Mother of our Lord
519 Make me a channel of your peace
375 Amazing grace (how sweet the
sound)
Anthem: Turn thy face from my sins by
Thomas Attwood
Kyrie by William Byrd from Mass for 3
voices
507 Lord of all hopefulness
6th – 4th Sunday of Lent Evensong
98 Lord, teach us how to pray aright
Responses: Tallis
Psalm 30
109 It is a thing most wonderful
Canticles: Plainchant with fauxbourdons
(Tallis)
Anthem: Ubi Caritas by Maurice Duruflé
477 In Christ there is no east or west
13th – 5th Sunday of Lent (Passiontide)
Isaiah 43. 16 -21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3.4b–14
John 12. 1-8
Hymns
121 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
123 There is a green hill far away
105 Beneath the cross of Jesus
Anthem: Agnus Dei by William Byrd from
Mass for 3 voices
118 O love, how deep, how broad, how
high!
20th – Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50. 4 9a
Psalm 31. 9–16
Philippians 2. 5–11
Luke 22. 14.- end
Hymns
123 There is a green hill far away
Processional 128 All glory, laud and
honour
127 (T. Rockingham) When I survey the
wondrous cross
109 It is a thing most wonderful
Anthem: O sacred head surrounded (121)
and Psalm 22 v1-18
129 (Winchester New) Ride on, ride on
in majesty
27th – Easter Day
Acts 10. 34 – 43
Psalm 118 1 -2
Corinthians 15. 19 – 26
John 20. 1-18
Hymns
147 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia
Processional: 136 Alleluia, alleluia give
thanks to the risen Lord
157 The day of resurrection
150 Love’s redeeming work is done
Anthem: Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
162 Ye choirs of new Jerusalem
27th – Easter Day Evensong
140 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing
Responses: Ayleward
Psalm 105
159 The strife is o’er, the battle done
Canticles: Brewer in D
Anthem: Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
148 Jesus lives! Thy terrors now
Organ Voluntaries following the 9.30am
services
6th March – Anon.: Con lacrime M.C.C.
from the Buxheimer Orgelbuch
13th March – J.S.Bach: Chorale Prelude
O Mensch, bewein’ dien’ Sunde gross
20th March – J.S. Bach: Fugue in B minor
BWV 544
27th March – Messiaen: Joie et Clarté
Organ Voluntaries following 6.00pm
evensong
6th March – Couperin: Kyrie III from Mass
for the Convents
27 th March – J.S. Bach: Piéce d’Orgue
BWV 572
27th March – J.S. Bach: Piéce d’Orgue
BWV 572

From the Registers
Funerals
29th January
Rosemary King, aged 71
4th February
Harry Kenneth Brooks, aged 84
Floodlight Sponsorship
7th February
Gordon & Ann Swann - to their
children and grandchildren with a
birthday this month.
The family - in memory of Louisa
Love (on the anniversary of her
death)
14th February
An anonymous donation
21st February
Judy & family - in memory of Richard
Stocks (on what would have been his
birthday)
Madge Toop & family - in memory of
Ken (on the 3rd anniversary of his
death).
Lent & Easter Services
Wednesday 2nd March
Taize Service 7.00 pm
Friday 4th March
Woman's World Day of Prayer
2.00 pm St Mary’s Church
Sunday 6th March
Mothering Sunday
Lent Services
March 9th, 16th, 21st , 22nd, 23rd at
7.00 pm, St Mary’s Church
Sunday 13th March
PCC 11.00 am in church
Sunday 20th March
Palm Sunday
March 24th
Maundy Thursday Service 7.00 pm
5
St Mary’s Church
Friday 25th March
10.30 Good Friday Procession of
Witness from the Bowls Club Car
Park
11.15 am Stations of the Cross at St
Mary’s Church
2.00 pm Service of music, readings
and contemplation, St Mary’s Church
7.00pm Holy Communion at the
Independent Wesleyan Chapel with
Fr Richard
Saturday 26th March
Lighting of the Easter Candle at
8.00 pm, St Mary’s Church
Sunday 27th March
Easter Day, services at 8.00 am and
9.30 am.
Taize Service
The next Taize service will be held in
St Mary’s Church at 7.00 pm on
Wednesday 2nd March.
The Taize worship is in the style of
short musical chants, some we
already use in church services, and
reflective prayer.
January Collections at St
Mary’s Church
3.1.16 - £366.75, 10.1.16 - £472.98,
17.1.16 - £192.28, 23.1.16 - £460.53,
31.1.16 - £338.26, Total: £1830.80
Evensong
Evensong will be held in St Mary’s
Church on Sunday 6th March.
Evensong will be followed by light
refreshments.

‘O Happy Band of
Pilgrims’
The ‘happy band of Pilgrims’
happened to be the choir and
supporters from St Mary’s Church,
Finedon on a pilgrimage to Canterbury
Cathedral to sing and take part in
Evensong on Saturday 13th February .
No one had heard of Finedon when
we arrived and it rained most of the
day but that did not dishearten the
pilgrims. Most took part in the various
tours of the Cathedral. The question
on most people’s minds was where
was the spot where Archbishop
Thomas O ‘Becket was murdered?
Not in front of the Altar as many
thought but in the North West
Transept in a what is now called ‘ The
place of Martyrdom’. After his murder
his remains where were laid to rest in
a tomb from 1170 to 1220. Miracles
began to happen and his tomb
became a place of Pilgrimage.
Eventually the King ordered that his
remains be burnt and the ashes
thrown into the river. Fortunately the
monks anticipated the King’s actions
and removed the Archbishop’s
remains. No one to this day knows
where he was finally put to rest.
After the very interesting tour of the
Cathedral and a quick bite to eat it
was time for Evensong. When the
choir started to sing it made everyone
so proud; absolutely beautiful. Oliver
Grigg sang a solo in part of the
magnificat and the children sang a
piece in one of the choral sections.
Evensong was concluded by Bach’s
'Andante from the Trio Sonata in IV in
E minor'. a voluntary played by
Shanna Hart on the cathedral organ.
Evensong was attended by
approximately 150 people.
No one had heard of Finedon on
Saturday when we arrived but they
certainly will remember Finedon and
the ‘Happy Band of Pilgrims’ (which
was the only hymn we sang) when we
left. Well done Jonathan Harris, the
choir and Shanna and thank you.
Great day out and they asked us back.

Bell Ringers Outing to
Salisbury
items you won’t find on every High
Street.
If you would like to book a seat on the
coach, please put your name on the
contact details on the list at the back
of the church or telephone Pat Parker
on 01933 680841.
This
year the
ringers outing will be to the city of
Salisbury on Saturday 9th April.
The coach fare will be £12.00 (which
remains the same as out last year's
trip to Oxford).
There will be ample opportunity for
exploring the city, shopping and
visiting the Cathedral and we have
arranged for the coach to leave
Salisbury after Evensong to allow you
time to attend the service.
Salisbury Cathedral is situated in the
centre of this picturesque and historic
city and has the tallest spire in
England. The best preserved of the
four original Magna Carta
manuscripts (1215) is on permanent
display in the Chapter House with a
new interactive exhibition celebrating
its 800th anniversary year in
2015.With its timbered buildings, a
thriving market, museums and some
of England's finest historic houses
there are many things to be explored.
Within the Cathedral Close you will
find Arundells, Mompesson House,
The Rifles Military Museum and the
award winning Salisbury Museum
with its Wessex Gallery.
Salisbury is also great for shopping.
Its historic streets are home to all your
favourite stores as well as
independent retailers offering unusual
Ad Parnassum
Presents
Bocchernrini - Stabat Mater
Conductor
Riccardo Parravicini
Saturday 12th March
3.15 pm Cream Tea
4.00 pm Concert
at
St Mary’s Church, Church Hill,
Finedon, NN9 5NR
Tickets £12.00
on the door or in advance at
http:/bit.ly/BocceriniFinedon
Facebook.com/
asparnassumproduction
@adparnrassum_uk
7

St Mary’s Thursday
Club
Thursday Club will be 55 years old on
the 25th March 2016. To celebrate we
will be sponsoring the Church
Floodlights.
This months meeting will be on 24th
March and will be a meal out. Our
members should already be aware of
the venue and times.
If you are interested in becoming a
member please call Louise on 07581
556417 for further details. We usually
meet once a month on the 4th
Thursday (evening).
We also run a mums and tots group
during school term time. The group
meets on a Thursday afternoon at the
Mission Room from 1.30pm - 2.30pm.
Anyone wishing to join us will be
made very welcome.
Annual Pancake Races, 9th
February 2016
Thank you to everybody concerned
who helped with the Annual Pancake
Races. We managed to raise £90.37
and a cheque for this amount will be
sent to The Children's Society.
This is a charity that the Thursday
Club strongly supports.
Well done to all the children and
grown ups that participated in the
races.
The winners were Claire, Hayley,
William, Oriche, Alena, Vince, Henry,
Daniel and Freddie.
Our next event will be in May and is
our annual box opening. If you have a
box our collectors will be coming to
collect them from you nearer the time.
Thank you for your continued support
and generosity.
Finedon Over 60’s
Why not make a resolution to join us
on Wednesday afternoons at the
Bowls Club, Wellingborough Road.
We start at 1.45 pm until 3.30 pm.
Varied programme of speakers -
entertainment - bingo and trips out.
No membership payment. You only
pay £1.00 per week plus we do have
a raffle - you only pay if you come.
March Programme
2nd Buds & Blooms
9th Quiz & Bring & Buy
16th Kevin Varty ‘A Very
Entertaining Talk’
23rd EGGciting Bingo
30th Terry Goodman - Music
Finedon Community
Centre
is holding
An Evening with
Revd Richard Coles
on
Saturday 12th March 2016
at 7.30pm
From pop star to pulpit, join us
and our celebrity Parish Priest to
hear about his latest book and
life choices.
Tickets £10 including a glass of
wine, cheese & biscuits.
Early booking is advisable as this
will also prove very popular.
Tel: 01933 398377
Mob: 07972 192266

Mothers Union
At our meeting in March we will be
welcoming the Diocesan Action and
Outreach leader Jill Kearns as our
speaker, to give us an insight into the
Mothers Union’s 140th Anniversary
events.
This meeting will be held at the
Mission Room on Tuesday 1st March
at 2-30pm. Anyone wishing to come
along will be made most welcome.
Collection for Refugees
Update
Charlotte Lait
Many of you were very generous in
September of last year to donate
clothing, food and innumerable other
items to a local group taking said
donations to help the refugees fleeing
an appalling situation in Syria. This
local group, now going by the name
Helpful Humans East Midlands
(formerly Wellingborough and East
Northants Aid to Calais), took some of
your donations to the distribution
centre in Calais and also further into
Europe. Lots of the clothing items
were distributed by the charity
Caravan of Mercy who were able to
offer space in their lorry to take them.
Many thanks to those who donated
and showed their support to this
worthy cause. I hope that this
support will continue for as long as it
is needed. Helpful Humans have
been overwhelmed by the generosity
shown by the people living in the local
area and are now taking donations to
the Calais and Dunkirk camps
fortnightly.
Garry Edmead is one of the key
leaders of Helpful Humans East
Midlands and was part of a group
taking aid to the Dunkirk camp. The
following was written by him on his
return on 27th January.
This is where all your donated aid is
going, to this camp in Dunkirk, a
camp which is knee deep in mud and
rats. We were there yesterday and
were caught up in people smugglers
shooting refugees, one of our team
had to hide in a campervan, fearing
for her life as bullets flew by.
But we are the lucky ones who get to
return home to a warm house and our
families. The people, the families, the
children had to go back to that
disgusting camp last night, terrified of
being attacked, not knowing where
their next meal is coming from, not
knowing what future they have.
We had people coming up to us,
begging for our help, hoping that we
have a pair of shoes for them, or a
blanket, or some food for their
children. They are so grateful to
receive something that most of us
take for granted.
Our team at Helpful Humans are ALL
volunteers, we are trying to help the
refugees lives by housing as many
families as we can for weekend
respites in hotels, we try to get as
much aid to them as possible as often
as we can, try to show them that
there are people here who care about
them.
We are so grateful for all the help and
donations we have received so far
and can assure you the people in the
camps are touched by your support.
We will keep going back as often as
we can for as long as is needed so
please keep supporting us, thank you
so much
Garry
9

Finedon Local History
Society
The March meeting of the society will
be on Monday 21st of March
(Please note the change of Monday
from the fourth to the third due to the
Bank Holiday) at 7-30pm in the
Mission Room Well Street Finedon.
The speaker will be Roy Smart
“Another Icarus’- the rise and fall of
Percy Pilcher and the art of Flight”
Orpheus Choir presents
Elijah
Wesley Biggs, who wowed choir and
audience alike with his magnificent
bass voice at our ‘Magic of Mozart’
concert last year, returns to sing the
part of Elijah on Saturday 19 March at
St Barnabas Church. He will be joined
by our Musical Director’s daughter,
soprano Hannah Moodie (another
welcome returnee), Freya Jacklin
(alto) and Sheridan Edward (tenor).
The concert will be conducted by
Andrew Moodie, with Stephen Ostler
at the organ.
Mendelssohn’s dramatic oratorio tells
the story of the prophet Elijah during
the reign of Ahab and Jezebel,
including his challenge to the priests
of Baal to bring down fire to consume
a sacrificial bull, the coming of the
earthquake, wind and fire, and how
finally “there came a fiery chariot, with
fiery, fiery horses, and he went by a
whirlwind to Heaven”! It is a very
exciting piece with some stirring
choruses. If you haven’t heard it
before, you will be in for a treat!
The concert starts at 7.30 pm and
tickets, priced £12 (students £5 and
under 12s free) can be obtained from
Irvin’s House of Flavour, High Street,
Wellingborough, ordered in advance
from the choir’s secretary on 01933
665191, or purchased at the door.
Visit www.orpheuschoir.info for more
information about the choir or follow
us on Facebook.
Church Monthly Draw
The results of the church monthly
draw are a follows:
Total receipts of £253.00 are divided
equally between the winners and the
church funds.
Winning numbers for the February
monthly draw are:
1st prize 253 £63.25
2nd prize 267 £37.95
3rd prize 244 £25.30
If you would like to join the monthly
draw (£1.00 per share per month)
which takes place in the church on
the first Sunday of the month, please
contact Kathy Hobbs
on 01933 398794.
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Finedon
Flower Festival Committee
invite you to attend the
Open meeting
regarding this year’s flower festival
to be held at
Finedon Parish Church
on
Monday 11th April
at
8.00 pm

Northamptonshire
People
Northamptonshire can boast that
George Washington, the first
President of the USA was the great,
great grandson of Lawrence
Washington who was born in
Sulgrave Manor in 1602.
Lawrence Washington was the 5th
son of Lawrence Washington senior
and Margaret nee Butler, the
co-heiress of William Butler. They
had seven sons and nine daughters,
quite a household. Lawrence
Washington senior was the Mayor of
Northampton and a successful wool
trader in the region, not tremendously
wealthy but comfortable.
In 1619, Lawrence junior went to
Oxford University where he obtained
a BA in 1623. Soon afterwards he
was elected a Fellow of the
College. A Master of Arts followed in
1626 and he was appointed Lector in
1627. During this period of teaching
he would have taken Holy Orders and
become The Reverend Lawrence
Washington.
The Reverend became Proctor in
1631 and was probably chosen to
suppress the puritan clergy in Oxford
but only held this position for one
year. It is thought the reason being
that he had been courting Amphilis
Trigden secretly against University
rules and in order to marry the lady he
took up the appointment of rector of
the rich Parish of Purleigh in Essex.
They married in 1633 and John, the
Great Grandfather of George
Washington, was born in 1633/4.
Ten years later the Parliamentarians
wanted to reform the Clergy of the
Anglican Church especially those who
maintained allegiance to the old
Church and/or King. Various charges
were brought about these
11
clergymen including the Reverend
Lawrence Washington. His Benefice
was sequested by the
Parliamentarians on a charge of,
‘being a common frequenter of an ale
house’. He was forced to move to the
poor parish of Little Braxford where
he died in poverty in 1653. A sad end
for the great, great Grandfather of the
future first president of the USA,
George Washington.
Townswomen's Guild
Our AGM will take place this month
on Thursday 3rd March at 7.30pm in
the Town Hall.
After all the reports, our speaker
Mr Neil Mcmahon will tell us about the
wildlife of the Scottish Highlands and
Islands. The competition is Made in
Scotland and there will be the usual
coffee break.
Parish Church of St Mary
the Virgin
is very please to host
a
Boobs & Brass
Concert
at
St. Mary’s Church,
Finedon
on
Saturday 16th April
at 7.30pm
Tickets £10.00
Tel: 01933 680522 or
01933 681161

Road Harm Article
In the summer of 2015 the Police and
Crime Commissioner, Adam
Simmonds, visited 100 different
villages and parishes across
Northamptonshire and the number
one concern raised throughout
conversations with residents was
road related problems.
To help tackle this issue, Adam has
recently announced the launch of a
brand new service for victims; Voice:
Road Harm.
The new service offers support for
victims of serious road traffic
collisions, an area which the Victims
Code until recently did not support.
Voice; Road Harm will give support
to both victims and their families who
have suffered distressing roadrelated
trauma, such as face-to-face
therapy, and a telephone helpline
offering emotional and practical
support.
Talking about the new service, Adam
said: “Putting victims at the heart of
the criminal justice system has been
one of my main aims since being
voted in to office and I’m delighted
that we can offer further specialist
support to victims with the launch of
Voice: Road Harm. With the creation
of the Voice: Road Harm service we
have significantly improved the
support we are able to offer victims,
witnesses and those affected by
crime, and Voice: Road Harm is
another strand to this that will see
people receive a better standard of
care when they need it. Too often
road victims have been ignored and
this service aims to address this
imbalance”
The key objectives of Voice; Road
Harm is to ensure that all victims and
witnesses of serious road traffic
collisions receive a service that is
tailored to their needs and
preferences; that they receive
appropriate information, advice and
support to enable them to cope,
recover and thrive; are treated in a
respectful, sensitive, professional
and non-discriminatory manner; and
are supported, where appropriate,
through their participation in criminal
proceedings.
Further information regarding this
service can be found on the Voice
website: www.voicenorthants.org
Dog’s Bedtime Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king size bed is soft and deep.
I sleep right in the centre groove,
My human beings can hardly move.
I've trapped their legs, they're
tucked in tight,
And here is where I pass the night
No one disturbs me or dares intrude,
Till morning comes and ‘I want food!’
I sneak up slowly to begin,
And nibble on my human's chin.
For morning's here, it's time to play,
I always seem to get my way.
So thank you Lord, for giving me,
This human person that I see.
The one who hugs me and holds me
tight,
And shares their bed with me at
night.
Amen!

In My Day
the ramblings of Hubert Jame
In my day it was about this time of
year that the fields would begin to fill
up with lambs. Cheeky little balls of
fluff bouncing around not a care in the
world and totally unaware of mint
sauce.
Course, farms were very different in
my day. It wasn’t just sheep you’d see
over the hedge. There’d be herds of
Friesians, you might see a few pigs
and once you got near a farmhouse,
there’d be chickens ranging free and
a few scary geese squawking and
flapping at strangers. Then you’d
have a few fields of wheat or barley.
Mixed farms I think the called them,
smallish affairs. The landscape was a
lot more interesting than all those
great swaths of yellow you get
nowadays.
I reckon being a farmer must have
been a joy back then. Certainly, a
farmer by the name of Donald Mackie
enjoyed himself. You often see him
over indulging in The Prince. He’d be
at the Bar at lunchtime, his wellies
caked with mud and a faint aroma of
silage about him. And there he’d
stand until evening milking.
This time of year you’d see less of
him. He’d collect a take out and
wander back to the lambing shed, “for
a bit of peace and quiet,” he said. His
13
wife, Mary was very house proud and
this was the time she started a spring
clean; top to bottom.
One particular year she decided to
throw out all the tatty old carpets and
get some of that new wooden
flooring. She reckoned it was easier
to clean the muck off.
She had the downstairs done just
before Christmas and folk reckoned it
looked lovely. Lovely that is until
lambing. I expect you know that you
sometimes have to hand rear a lamb.
You know the sort of thing; where the
ewe has twins or isn’t particularly
motherly.
So, of course, Donald would bring the
new born lambs in to keep warm by
the fire. One night the tired old farmer
got into his pyjamas before their
evening feed and dropped off
surrounded by 3 or 4 excited orphans.
Mary woke him next morning by
belting him with a rolled up
newspaper. The lambs had got bored
and chewed a big hole in the floor
boards. Mary chased her old man all
round Finedon with a rolling pin; him
in his jammies and her in a flannelette
nightie. Course, the ET got hold of the
story and came up with the
nonsensical headline; Lambing ate
flooring. Polished off.
Church Chuckles
My car broke down outside the
church on Sunday so I brought it in
for a service
What did the Vicar say when he found
the church on fire - Holy smoke!

The Bishop of Peterborough writes
A
s a boy I was taught that 21
March was The First Day of
Spring, a day to be noted and
celebrated. Nobody told me why
spring began then, and until I got into
amateur astronomy in my teens that
remained a mystery. When I learnt
about the Spring Equinox, that 21
March was the day when sunrise and
sunset were 12 hours apart, the hinge
between winter and summer, it began
to make sense.
Of course that day wasn't and isn't
the first day of spring by any sensible
reckoning; these days the Met Office
defines spring as the months of
March, April and May, which makes
good sense. But 21 March has, since
the earliest days of humans looking at
the sky and thinking about the
seasons, been a significant date in
the calendar.
Sadly, with industrialisation, the
mass movement into towns and
cities, and the proliferation of light
pollution at night, most of us have
stopped looking at the night sky. And,
even though we are seeing more
extreme weather, we continue to
regulate our lives more by the clock
than by the sun and moon and stars.
God has made, and placed us in, a
wonderful world. And the seasons,
caused by the tilt and movement of
My dear friends
the earth
relative to the
sun, are key to
much of the
wonder. No
seasons would
mean no
harvest. No
autumn and
winter would
mean no pattern of slowing down and
speeding up. No winter and summer
would mean no alternation of
hibernation or rest with vigorous fullon
living.
These patterns and rhythms of Iife
matter. They are part of how we were
made, who we are. And they picture
for us how God works in the world
and in our lives. This spring look for
the renewal of life which God gives to
the world. Look for his renewal in
your life. Ask him for green shoots,
new hope, dreams of a brighter
future.
May this hinge in the year be a
hinge in our lives. May we move from
sleep to wakefulness, from darkness
into light.
With best wishes
Diocese of Peterborough - Magazine Resource - March 2016
Produced by the Diocesan Office, The Palace, Peterborough PE1 1YB
01733 887000 www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk

Town Diary
March
1st
2nd
3rd
6th
4th
7th
9th
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls club
2.00 Mothers Union Mission Room.
1.45 Over 60’s, Bowls Club, Buds & Blooms
7.00 pm Taize Service, St Mary’s Church
7.30 TG AGM Town Hall.
6.00 pm Evensong, St Mary’s church
2pm Women's World Day of Prayer,
St Mary’s Church
BL Meeting/cheese & wine/quiz
1.45 Over 60’s, Bowls club, Quiz Bring & buy
12th 3.15 St Mary’s Church, Cream Teas 4.00
Stabat Mater, Ad Parnassum
7.30 Community Centre - An evening with
Richard Coles
15th
16th
21st
23rd
25th
27th
29th
30th
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls Club
1.45 Over 60’s, Kevin Varty
7.30 History Society Mission Room, Roy
Smart - Another Icarus.
1.45 Over 60’s Eggciting Bingo
10.30 Good Friday, Procession of
Witness
11.15 Stations of the Cross, St Mary’s
Church
2pm Quiet Hour St Mary’s Church
7.00 pm Holy Communion, Independent
Wesleyan Chapel
Easter Day services 8.00 am & 9.30 , St
Mary’s Church
6.00 Evensong, St Mary’s Church
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls Club
1.45 Over 60’s Terry Goodman, music
April
4th
9th
11th
16th
25th
May
9th
14th
16th
21st
June
2/9/16
/23/30
5th &
26th
6th
12th
22nd-
25th
25th
23rd/
26th
27th
December
3rd
BL Susan Copperwhite (Dunromin)
Bell Ringers outing to Salisbury
8.00 Flower Festival Open Meeting, St
Mary’s Church
7.30 Boobs & Brass, St Mary’s Church
7.30 History Society Mission Room,
Sarah Wilson - Flag Fen
BL Bowls Club - Meeting/meat raffle
11am-2pm FIWC May Fayre
6pm History Society outing to Canons
Ashby
St Mary’s Church, Voices Aloud
Open garden at 67-69 High Street only
from 5.00 - 8.30 pm
All Open Gardens open from
2.00-6.00 pm
BL Bowls Club Pauline Ellis - Clowning
RSCM Festal Evensong to mark the
Queen’s 90th birthday
Tingdene Entertainers, Billy the
Musical, Star Hall
St Mary’s Church Summer Fete
FIWC Flower Festival
7.30 History Society Mission Room,
Malcolm Deacon - the Jurassic Way
11am-2pm FIWC Christmas Bazaar
7.00 t Mary’ Church Wassail Evening
St Michael’s Mission Room, Well Street, Finedon
Available for hire weekdays and Saturdays.
Suitable for most social functions, charitable events, children's parties (no late
discos)
For all enquiries and information contact
Bryan & Christine Chapman Tel: 01933 398818
Email: bryanchapman2@aol.com
15