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Parish <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2016</strong><br />
Digital Edition<br />
HEADLINES<br />
Advent Services<br />
Santa is Coming<br />
to Finedon<br />
10th/11th <strong>December</strong><br />
Candles for<br />
Christmas<br />
Food Bank<br />
Remembrance Day<br />
And much more
Vicar:<br />
Finedon Parish Church: <strong>St</strong> Mary The Virgin<br />
The Revd Richard Coles,<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary the Virgin Finedon, The Vicarage,<br />
Church Hill, Finedon, Northants, NN9 5NR<br />
01933 681 786, Mobile 07885 967 960<br />
email: revdrichardcoles@yahoo.co.uk<br />
Assistant Honorary Priest Fr Peter Baden,01832 733186<br />
email: p.baden36@btinternet.com<br />
Reader Mr Michael Duncombe, 01536 483935<br />
email: michaelbex@talktalk.net<br />
Parish Clerk<br />
Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364 (To whom first<br />
contact for Baptisms and weddings must be<br />
made).<br />
Churchwardens: Mrs Jane Read Tel: 680522<br />
Mr Neil Forster Tel: 682177<br />
PCC Secretary: Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364<br />
Treasurer: Mr Andrew Weatherill Tel: 682212<br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> Editor: Mrs Janet Millington, Tel: 681161.<br />
email: millingtonjanet@aol.com<br />
(to whom all copy should addressed by<br />
the 15 th of the month prior to publication)<br />
Director of Music Mr Jonathan Harris Tel: 01933 779059,<br />
Mobile 07791 664507<br />
Email: Hjonathan83@aol.com<br />
Deputy Organists<br />
Mrs. Kathy Roberts<br />
Mr Oliver Grigg<br />
Choirmaster: Mr. Bryan Chapman Tel: 398818<br />
Tower Captain Mr Bryan Chapman, Tel 398818<br />
Web Site<br />
www.finedonphotographs.org.uk/<br />
bellringers.html<br />
Archivist<br />
<strong>St</strong> Michael’s Mission Room:<br />
Bryan & Christine Chapman<br />
Tel: 01933 398818<br />
Times Of Services:<br />
Sundays<br />
8.00 am Holy Eucharist<br />
9.30 am Parish Eucharist.<br />
6.00 pm Evensong (1st Sunday of the Month)<br />
Visit us on the Web at www.stmarysfinedon.co.uk
From the Vicarage<br />
Christmas <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Well, what a year <strong>2016</strong> turned out to be. As we head out of it I<br />
look back on a time of crisis – of judgment – the most definitive<br />
of my lifetime, I think. Brexit has opened the door for Britain’s<br />
departure from the European Union; the election of Donald<br />
Trump to the presidency of the United <strong>St</strong>ates inaugurates a new<br />
era in the life of the north Atlantic nations, and perhaps you, like<br />
me, keep waking up and thinking it’s all a dream. Maybe for you<br />
a nightmare? Whatever you make of it, the prospect of<br />
profound change is always a challenge, but a challenge we<br />
have to face. Challenging because it creates uncertainty. and<br />
you may think we’ve had more than enough of that to be<br />
getting on with so far in the 21st century, but necessary for ,<br />
without it, we cease to live fully and that means living with a<br />
willingness to take risks. And of course for all the surprises of the<br />
past six months, some things don’t change, reminding us that<br />
stability and the assurance its brings is no less essential to our<br />
wellbeing than the dynamism of change.<br />
A paradox, but one that comes into focus uniquely, I believe, at<br />
Christmas when we turn with the shepherds and the wise men<br />
towards Bethlehem, and make our way through the cold and<br />
dark to a crib to the promise of our fears allayed and our hopes<br />
fulfilled. But what do we find there? A baby, tiny and vulnerable<br />
in matted straw, and yet he is he – and yet in whom that<br />
fulfilment has arrived. And, quite unexpectedly, there’s light and<br />
warmth and hope for us and for the whole world. I do hope you<br />
will come and share it with us.<br />
A very happy holy and peaceful Christmas to all.<br />
Fr Richard.
Our Worship in<br />
<strong>December</strong> Year A<br />
4 th - Advent 2<br />
Isaiah 11. 1 -10<br />
Psalm 72. 1 – 7<br />
Romans 15. 4 13<br />
Matthew 3. 1 – 12<br />
Hymns<br />
29 Hills of the North, rejoice<br />
34 On Jordan’s banks the Baptist’s<br />
cry<br />
93 When Jesus came to Jordan<br />
Anthems: Elizabeth Poston Jesus<br />
Christ The Apple Tree Creator Of The<br />
<strong>St</strong>arry Height (25)<br />
26 Hark, a thrilling voice is<br />
sounding<br />
11 th Advent 3<br />
Isaiah. 35. 1 – 10<br />
Magnificat<br />
James 5. 7 – 10<br />
Matthew 11. 2 – 11<br />
Hymns<br />
36 (Tune 391 Franconia) The<br />
advent of our King<br />
Magnificat (Plainchant)<br />
33 O Day of God, draw nigh<br />
28 Hark what a sound<br />
Anthems: The Truth From Above (arr.<br />
Vaughan Williams) John Rutter What<br />
Sweeter Music<br />
41 A great and mighty wonder<br />
18 th Advent 4<br />
Isaiah 7. 10 – 16<br />
Psalm 80. 1- 8<br />
Romans 1. 1 – 7<br />
Matthew. 18 to end.<br />
49 Come, thou Redeemer of the<br />
earth<br />
242 The Angel Gabriel from heaven<br />
came<br />
58 Long ago, prophets knew<br />
Anthems: James Macmillan O Radiant<br />
Dawn A Maiden Most Gentle (arr. A<br />
Carter)<br />
32 O come, O come, Emmanuel<br />
24 th - Midnight Mass (11.30 pm)<br />
Isaiah 52 . 7 – 10<br />
Ps 98<br />
Hebrews 1. 1 – 4<br />
John 1. 1 – 14<br />
4 Once in royal David’s city<br />
3 O little town of Bethlehem<br />
13 O Come all ye faithful<br />
Anthems: Boris Ord Adam Lay Ye<br />
Bounden John Rutter What Sweeter<br />
Music<br />
12 Hark, the herald-angels sing<br />
25 th - Christmas Day<br />
Isaiah 9. 2 – 7<br />
Ps 96<br />
Titus 2. 11 – 14<br />
Luke 2. 1 – 4, 15 – 20<br />
Hymns<br />
13 O Come all ye faithful<br />
7 Away in a manger<br />
10 While Shepherds watched<br />
Anthems: In The Bleak Mid-Winter<br />
O Little Town Of Bethlehem<br />
12 Hark, the herald-angels sing<br />
Organ Voluntaries following the<br />
9.30am services & Midnight Mass<br />
4th <strong>December</strong> – C.Balbastre: Noël<br />
Joseph est bien Marie<br />
11th <strong>December</strong> – J.S.Bach: Chorale<br />
Prelude Herr Christ, der ein’ge Gottes-<br />
Sohn BWV 601<br />
18th <strong>December</strong> – Improvisation on<br />
Veni Emmanuel<br />
24th <strong>December</strong> – Bach: Chorale<br />
Prelude In dulci jubilo<br />
25th <strong>December</strong> – Cecilia McDowall:<br />
Church Bells Beyond The <strong>St</strong>ars
From the Registers<br />
Holy Baptism<br />
6th November<br />
William Andrew Brett.<br />
Holy Matrimony<br />
22nd October<br />
Thomas Andrew Minney and Caroline<br />
Marie Coultham<br />
Funerals<br />
14th November<br />
Olive Ada Keech, age 101.<br />
Floodlight Sponsorship<br />
6th November<br />
Sponsored by Mick & Monica Webb<br />
13th November<br />
Carolyn, Jane & Roger - in memory of<br />
Andrea Neville<br />
(on what would have been her<br />
birthday)<br />
20th November<br />
Carole & Paul Mitchell - in memory of<br />
her parents Alice & Ron Smith (on<br />
what would have been their wedding<br />
anniversary)<br />
Malcolm & Linda Ward - in memory of<br />
<strong>St</strong>ella Ward (on what would have<br />
been her 99th birthday)<br />
Bryan & Christine Chapman - in<br />
memory of Doris Emily & Eric James<br />
Chapman ( on what would have been<br />
their birthdays)<br />
Bettie Carter, Lyndon, Ian & Emily - in<br />
memory of Gillian.<br />
John, Lorna & family - in memory of<br />
Liam Colin Mears (on what would<br />
have been his 14th birthday)<br />
Mary Wilson - in memory of Margaret<br />
Wilson (memory of the death of a<br />
wonderful mother-in-law).<br />
27th November<br />
Jean, Margaret & Shirley - in memory<br />
of their dad Ben Harris (on what<br />
would have been his birthday)<br />
Mary the Virgin,<br />
Christmas Services<br />
Dates<br />
Sunday 27 th November - Advent<br />
Carol Service - 6.00 pm<br />
Saturday 17 th <strong>December</strong> - ‘ Come<br />
Sing the Messiah part one with<br />
Carols’ 7.30 pm<br />
Sunday 18 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Christingle - 4.00 pm<br />
Thursday 22 nd <strong>December</strong> -<br />
Nine Lessons and Carols 7.00 pm<br />
Saturday 24 th <strong>December</strong><br />
‘Jesus' birthday party‘ come dressed<br />
as a shepherd, angel or wise man<br />
3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.<br />
Saturday 24 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Midnight Mass – 11.30 pm<br />
Sunday 25 th <strong>December</strong><br />
8.00 am Eucharist and 9.30am Sung<br />
Eucharist.<br />
Sunday 8 th January<br />
Epiphany Carol Service 6.00 pm.<br />
January <strong>Magazine</strong> copy<br />
Thank you to everyone who has<br />
provided copy for the Parish<br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> during the year, your<br />
contributions are very much<br />
appreciated.<br />
Thank you also to our readers for<br />
your continuing support.<br />
As we need to get the January<br />
magazine to the printers and printed<br />
before the Christmas holiday, could<br />
you please hand any copy for the<br />
January magazine in by the<br />
10th <strong>December</strong>. Thank you.
Thank You<br />
A special “Thank you” to Mick &<br />
Monica Webb for their most generous<br />
donation of £60 towards the floodlights<br />
from the proceeds of their<br />
“wood-craft stall” at the Church Flower<br />
Festival.<br />
Advent Services<br />
Wednesday 7th <strong>December</strong> Taize<br />
7.00 pm<br />
Wednesday 14th <strong>December</strong> Compline<br />
7.00 pm to 7.30 pm<br />
Wednesday 21st <strong>December</strong> Compline<br />
7.00 pm to 7.30 pm<br />
From the Church<br />
Wardens<br />
The Churchwardens would like to<br />
thank everyone for their hard work and<br />
support throughout the year and wish<br />
you all a very peaceful and happy<br />
Christmas.<br />
Wesleyan Chapel Dates<br />
and Christmas Services<br />
Saturday 3 rd <strong>December</strong><br />
Bazaar – 11.00 am to 2.00 pm<br />
Thursday 8 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Fireside Carol Service – 7.30pm<br />
Monday 12 th <strong>December</strong>-<br />
Christingle 6.00 pm<br />
Thursday 15 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Fellowship Carol Service – 2.30pm<br />
Sunday 18 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Family/Nativity Service - 10.30pm<br />
Nine Lessons and Carols – 4.00 pm<br />
Sunday 25 th <strong>December</strong><br />
Christmas Day – 10.30 am<br />
(part one) with Carols<br />
Come and join us at <strong>St</strong> Mary’s,<br />
Finedon on Saturday 17 <strong>December</strong>,<br />
5pm rehearsal then refreshments<br />
before our 7.30pm performance of<br />
Handel’s Messiah along with some<br />
traditional Christmas carols. We have<br />
excellent soloists coming: soprano<br />
Lauren Hollis (from Manchester), alto<br />
Joanna Arnold (London), tenor Mark<br />
Darling (Ely Cathedral) and bass<br />
Benjamin Ellis (London), accompanied<br />
by Ivan Linford. If you don’t want to<br />
sing, then you are welcome to join us<br />
at 7.30pm to listen and sing the carols.<br />
There is no cost involved; donations at<br />
the door welcome.<br />
If you would like to sing just let<br />
Jonathan (Tel: 07791 664507,<br />
hjonathan83@aol.com) or a member<br />
of <strong>St</strong> Mary’s church choir know that<br />
you’ll be coming. Let us know if you<br />
need to borrow a copy of the music.<br />
For those with their own music, we are<br />
using the Prout edition of Messiah.<br />
Christmas Wishes<br />
With Christian love, Velma would like<br />
to wish her friends a Happy and<br />
Peaceful Christmas.<br />
In lieu of sending cards, a donation<br />
has been given to <strong>St</strong> Mary the Virgin,<br />
Finedon.<br />
Christian Meditation<br />
The next Christian Meditation evening<br />
will be tomorrow night<br />
Monday 12th <strong>December</strong> at 13<br />
Rockleigh Close at 7.30 pm.<br />
If you would like to find out more about<br />
Christian Meditation or join the group,<br />
please contact Pat Peet on<br />
01933 680773 for further information.<br />
Come And Sing Messiah
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Mary's</strong> Thursday<br />
Club<br />
We will not be having our usual<br />
monthly meeting in <strong>December</strong> as we<br />
are having our annual Christmas<br />
Party. This will be held on Friday<br />
16th <strong>December</strong> at the Finedon<br />
Cricket Club and will start at 7.00 pm<br />
prompt. If you would like to join us<br />
and you are not a member then<br />
please contact Louise on 07581<br />
556417 to check availability as<br />
spaces are limited. The evening will<br />
cost £18 and will include supper and<br />
entertainment.<br />
We will be hosting our annual<br />
Christingle Service at 4.00 pm on<br />
Sunday 18th <strong>December</strong> <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
This is a special service for children.<br />
The Children's Society helps<br />
thousands of vulnerable children who<br />
feel they have no one to turn to.<br />
All donations given at this service will<br />
go to support this work.<br />
Everyone is welcome to join us.<br />
Happy Christmas to you all from<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Mary's</strong> Thursday Club.<br />
Candles for Christmas<br />
It is that time of the year again and<br />
we will be lining the church path on<br />
Christmas Eve with candles in<br />
remembrance of those friends and<br />
family who will not be with us this<br />
year to celebrate the birth of Christ.<br />
If you already have a candleholder<br />
and wish to take part once more, they<br />
are by the north door of the church on<br />
the wooden board, please pop a 50p<br />
into your candle holder.<br />
New Candleholders and candles can<br />
be ordered from Janet Harris or<br />
Bet Cheney before the end of<br />
November and cost £2.50<br />
Mothers Union<br />
The Christmas Lunch, for members<br />
only will be held at the Mission Room<br />
on Tuesday 6th <strong>December</strong> at<br />
1.00 pm.<br />
The next open meeting will be the<br />
AGM in January details of which will<br />
be announced later.<br />
Wishing everyone Peace and Joy this<br />
Christmas.<br />
Children’s Living Nativity<br />
Christmas Eve<br />
24th <strong>December</strong><br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church<br />
at 3.00 pm<br />
Dress as a Shepherd, a <strong>St</strong>ar, a<br />
Donkey, an Angel or a King<br />
(costumes can be provided)<br />
Free Party Food<br />
After a short enactment of<br />
the nativity, we shall have a<br />
Birthday Party for Jesus<br />
Everyone is Welcome-Mums<br />
and Dads as well
Food Bank<br />
Thank you to everyone who has<br />
donated so generously, and<br />
continues to donate to the Food Bank<br />
collection. On average I go to The<br />
Daylight Centre every two weeks,<br />
taking with me a car load of food that<br />
you have so generously donated.<br />
The Daylight Centre is extremely<br />
grateful for all of these donations and<br />
they enable them to continue to<br />
provide support for vulnerable adults<br />
and children in our community.<br />
The Daylight Centre has recently<br />
reported an increase in the number of<br />
people attending their centre and<br />
accessing the Food Bank and the<br />
demand continues to grow.<br />
If anyone would like to make a<br />
donation please bring them to me at<br />
1 Avenue Close, Finedon, or leave<br />
them in the box in Church.<br />
Any tined, long life or dried goods,<br />
toiletries, nappies and baby food will<br />
be gratefully received.<br />
With very many thanks.<br />
Sue Nicholls and The<br />
Daylight Centre Food bank.<br />
Church Yard<br />
Maintenance<br />
Our church yard maintenance team<br />
ends at the end of November <strong>2016</strong><br />
and will begin again March/April<br />
2017.<br />
l would like to thank Graham, <strong>St</strong>eve,<br />
Victoria, David, Colin, Jim, Phillip &<br />
Christine for their help during this<br />
year. And a big thank you to the late<br />
Malcolm Robson who spent many<br />
enjoyable hours keeping our church<br />
yard in good shape.<br />
Bryan Chapman<br />
Once again Thank you, Bryan<br />
Cb\om\n<br />
Finedon Buffs’<br />
Christmas Fayre<br />
on<br />
Saturday<br />
17th <strong>December</strong><br />
on<br />
The Green,<br />
Well <strong>St</strong>reet<br />
between<br />
2.00 pm-6.00 pm<br />
We will be having our Magical<br />
Grotto again this year and we<br />
have already been lucky enough<br />
to have a local company<br />
sponsor the<br />
FREE gift that will be<br />
GIVEN TO EVERY CHILD<br />
who visits Santa.<br />
There will be entertainment<br />
throughout the afternoon from a<br />
range of organisations, Kettering<br />
Silver Band, Jonathan and<br />
James Reynolds, plus many<br />
others and finishing off with a<br />
communal carol Sing-along.<br />
We will also be holding our<br />
Grand Draw again this year with<br />
a fantastic<br />
Wheelbarrow of Booze<br />
as first prize and<br />
Shopping Trolley Full of<br />
Christmas Goodies for second<br />
prize, plus many other great<br />
prizes.<br />
If you would like a stall please<br />
contact Graham Webb on<br />
07802 899330 or<br />
graham@mmwebb.com
1st Finedon Scouts<br />
Christmas Post<br />
The 1st Finedon Scout Group will again<br />
be delivering Christmas cards to<br />
Finedon area only (not the Sidings or<br />
General’s Corner)<br />
Scout Post Boxes are available at:<br />
NEWSAGENTS , 83 Wellingborough Rd<br />
AFFLECK BRIDGE ANTIQUES High<br />
<strong>St</strong>reet<br />
WESLYAN CHAPEL Affleck Bridge<br />
TASTERS CAFE Irthlingborough Rd<br />
HAIR RAID, Rock Rd<br />
PREMIER STORE Irthlingborough Rd<br />
From 1st <strong>December</strong> to 18th<br />
<strong>December</strong>.<br />
Cards 20p for FINEDON<br />
ONLY.<br />
All proceeds go to the Scout<br />
Group.<br />
For further enquiries ring<br />
01933 680680<br />
Scouts do a good<br />
turn for the<br />
community<br />
PLEASE ENSURE THE CORRECT<br />
ADDRESS (including the number) IS<br />
WRITTEN CLEARLY<br />
Santa is Coming to<br />
Finedon 10th/11th<br />
<strong>December</strong><br />
The 1st Finedon Scout<br />
Group’s decorated<br />
float will be touring<br />
the streets of Finedon<br />
with Official Collector<br />
ID.<br />
Saturday 10th from 3.00 pm to<br />
8.00pm A6 side and 'top end'<br />
Sunday 11th to 3.00 pm 8.00 pm.<br />
Wellingborough Rd area and 'bottom<br />
end'<br />
Keep an ear out for the music and get<br />
your wish lists ready to pass to Santa.<br />
Finedon Scout Group thank the<br />
community for all the support given and<br />
wish you all<br />
A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year<br />
Shoebox Appeal <strong>2016</strong><br />
By the time this issue of the <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
is published I hope to have delivered<br />
76 shoeboxes. All stuffed to<br />
overflowing with the generosity and<br />
kindness of Finedon. We are asked<br />
so often to help those in need and I’m<br />
always overwhelmed by the<br />
unquestioned response, thank you.<br />
I’m hopeful Finedon’s contribution will<br />
go a long way to help Operation<br />
Christmas Child reach their 1 Million<br />
target, they just missed out on the<br />
Million last year.<br />
For me, although the spare room is<br />
now empty of colourful boxes and<br />
looking less like Santa’s grotto, it’s<br />
time to start all over again ready for<br />
next year! Well, once the sales start<br />
anyway.<br />
As the Elf on the Shelf proved popular<br />
and helped to raise a healthy £30<br />
towards sending our boxes we will<br />
repeat with something similar next<br />
year. Thank you,<br />
Julie Kightley<br />
Elf on the Shelf<br />
Congratulations to Dorothy Owen<br />
who won Elf on the Shelf. Thank you<br />
to everyone. We raised £30, which<br />
covers 10 shoeboxes on their<br />
journey. Thank you again,<br />
Julie Kightley
Finedon Local History<br />
Society<br />
The <strong>December</strong> event for the History<br />
Society will be Carol Singing around<br />
the bottom end of Finedon.<br />
This is purely a social event and<br />
should anyone wish to join us they<br />
are most welcome.<br />
It will be on Monday 19th <strong>December</strong><br />
starting at 7.00pm in Regent <strong>St</strong>reet<br />
opposite the Bell Inn and then<br />
proceed to Mackworth Green<br />
gradually making our way back to the<br />
Meeting House where light<br />
refreshments will be served.<br />
Charity Coffee Morning<br />
The Tuesday morning coffee club<br />
have given away £445.00 this year.<br />
The organisations receiving<br />
donations are:<br />
The Bowls Club<br />
Over 60’s Club<br />
Church Flower Festival Committee<br />
Senior Citizens Parcels Committee.<br />
Coffee mornings start again in the<br />
new year on 3rd January at 9.45 am<br />
at the Bowls Club then every<br />
two weeks after that date. Everyone<br />
welcome.<br />
Thank you for your support<br />
Friday 11th November.<br />
May I take this opportunity to thank<br />
everyone who attended the two<br />
minutes silence with the school<br />
children and the <strong>St</strong> Michaels Play<br />
group. Special thanks must go to<br />
Jason the new chapel minister for his<br />
help on the day.<br />
Finedon Over 60’s<br />
Weekly meetings held at the Bowls<br />
Club, Wellingborough Road, from<br />
1.45 pm until 3.30 pm. Admission is<br />
only £1.00 per week plus raffle.<br />
<strong>December</strong> Programme<br />
7th<br />
Christmas Dinner, Cricket<br />
Club, Ticket only.<br />
14th Christmas Party with Bonkers<br />
Band and Secret Santa<br />
We re-open on 11th January 2017<br />
with Bingo. Everyone welcome.<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church<br />
is holding a<br />
Murder Mystery Night<br />
‘For Whom the<br />
Bell Tolled’<br />
at the<br />
Bowls Club<br />
Wellingborough Road<br />
at 6.30 pm<br />
on<br />
Saturday 14th January<br />
2017<br />
Tickets £8.00<br />
(including refreshments)<br />
Available from<br />
01933 681161
Remembrance Day<br />
A big thank you must go to all the<br />
people that attended the<br />
remembrance day service at the War<br />
Memorial.<br />
Special thanks must go to Richard,<br />
Jason and Michael for conducting the<br />
service, to the choir and Jonathon for<br />
their attendance and to Darren for<br />
playing Last Post and Reveille.<br />
Also special thanks go to Ray Ogle<br />
for putting up the flag poles and flying<br />
and lowering the flags on both days<br />
and for arranging to have a<br />
contingent of Royal Anglian service<br />
personnel in attendance.<br />
Once again thank you all for making it<br />
a memorable day.
Helpful Humans<br />
On Sunday 2nd October, I spoke at<br />
the evensong service at <strong>St</strong>. Mary the<br />
Virgin, Finedon,on the work of Helpful<br />
Humans with refugees in Northern<br />
France and further afield. I was<br />
invited by Charlotte Lait on behalf of<br />
the Reverend Richard Coles, who<br />
was due to be there but he had a bad<br />
cold and so the service was<br />
conducted by Fr. <strong>St</strong>an. After speaking<br />
I asked Fr. <strong>St</strong>an if I could do an exit<br />
collection for Helpful Humans and he<br />
gave his gracious blessing to this,<br />
telling me of some of his own<br />
experiences overseas. The collection<br />
raised £52, we spent some of this on<br />
a courier package containing aid to<br />
refugees on Samos Island, Greece,<br />
the balance going to the work of the<br />
Worldwide Tribe in Izmir, Turkey. It is<br />
better for relief organisations in<br />
Turkey to source goods locally,<br />
donations sent from EU countries are<br />
taxed upon arrival. WT purchase food<br />
and clothing locally, such as woollen<br />
hats that they pay locals to make,<br />
thus helping the local community. HH<br />
volunteers come from different walks<br />
of life, ranging from a highflying<br />
businessman to people who have<br />
experienced homelessness, poverty<br />
and drug addiction. We currently have<br />
Christians, Muslims and people of no<br />
faith.Our work has recently been<br />
extended to feeding the homeless in<br />
Northampton on Saturday nights,<br />
befriending and translation services<br />
for refugees living in hostels in<br />
Birmingham and helping local people<br />
who live on or below the breadline.<br />
Our humble thanks for your support.<br />
Christopher Clavey<br />
Fundraiser and Coordinator<br />
Wishing all our readers a<br />
Very Happy Christmas
In My Day<br />
the ramblings of Hubert James<br />
In<br />
my day<br />
it was about this time of year that<br />
Christmas began. Not just Advent but<br />
all the other stuff. There was none of<br />
this starting Christmas in September.<br />
You wouldn’t even think about buying<br />
presents and cards until <strong>December</strong>.<br />
Mind you it was a recipe for panic.<br />
Especially when it came to sending<br />
cards. If you left it too late, you could<br />
guarantee a card would turn up in the<br />
final delivery from some long lost pal<br />
who you had forgotten all about. This<br />
meant you had to nip out and try and<br />
find a Happy New Year card to<br />
reciprocate.<br />
But even cards have gone all digital<br />
now that you can choose one on line<br />
and electrically send it to every Tom,<br />
Dick or Harriet. You can even wait<br />
until Christmas Day to press ‘send’.<br />
Old Albert Prince from Regent <strong>St</strong>reet<br />
must be spinning in his grave.<br />
I expect some of you will remember<br />
Albert. For many years he was the<br />
chef at the Tudor Gate. He was the<br />
Heston Blumenthal of his day. Always<br />
trying out new flavour combinations.<br />
His beer flavoured ice cream was<br />
very popular. And his slow roasted<br />
lamb stuffed with foxgloves is to die<br />
for- literally.<br />
He moved here from Norfolk and to<br />
begin with was quite lonely because<br />
he had left his fiancée Victoria in<br />
Sandringham. Their first Christmas<br />
apart was very difficult because in<br />
those days there was no<br />
sophisticated way of keeping in touch.<br />
You relied on the post. So they<br />
carried out a long distance romance<br />
courtesy of the GPO.<br />
Albert wanted to send Victoria a<br />
special Christmas card. He found one<br />
that he really liked but still wanted to<br />
make it unique. So using his chef<br />
skills - and it being a Christmas card-,<br />
he found a way of making the card<br />
smell of cranberries. When Victoria<br />
opened the card she inhaled a burst<br />
of the sweet berry scent. It brought a<br />
tear to her eye. She treasured the<br />
card and showed it to all her friends.<br />
By the next winter Albert had a stack<br />
of orders for cards smelling of all<br />
manner of festive food.<br />
It was a very successful enterprise for<br />
a while until health and safety<br />
stepped in and insisted that the cards<br />
had to be printed with a best before<br />
date. But the venture left one lasting<br />
legacy in the name Albert gave his<br />
business. He called it Seasoned<br />
Greetings. So if you get a card with<br />
that legend printed inside this year<br />
thank Albert and inhale.<br />
Church Monthly Draw<br />
The results of the November church<br />
monthly draw are as follows:<br />
Total receipts of £257.00 are divided<br />
equally between the winners and the<br />
church funds. Winning numbers for<br />
the August monthly draw are:<br />
1st prize 139 £64.25<br />
2nd prize 154 £38.55<br />
3rd prize 262 £25.70<br />
If you would like to join the monthly<br />
draw (£1.00 per share per month)<br />
which takes place in the church on<br />
the first Sunday of the month, please<br />
contact Kathy Hobbs on 01933<br />
398794.
“O little town of Bethlehem<br />
how still we see thee lie…..<br />
The hopes and fears of all the years<br />
are met in thee tonight.”<br />
The Bishop of Brixworth writes<br />
Hopes and Fears<br />
As I write this, the US Presidential<br />
election is still finely balanced. By<br />
the time you read my words, the<br />
result will be known. It would be fair<br />
to say that “hopes and fears” could<br />
well describe the feelings of many at<br />
this time of political uncertainty.<br />
The election campaign has been<br />
one of the strangest ever and has<br />
not been a particularly edifying<br />
spectacle. Indeed, whatever the<br />
result, the quality of what could only<br />
be described with deep irony as<br />
“public debate” augurs very badly for<br />
future political co-operation.<br />
At a similar time of national<br />
uncertainty (the death of the longreigning<br />
King Uzziah) the prophet Isaiah<br />
had a vision of God enthroned in the<br />
temple. It was terrifying; “I saw the Lord,<br />
seated on a throne, high and exalted,<br />
and the train of his robe filled the temple.<br />
Above him were seraphs…. At the sound<br />
of their voices the doorposts and<br />
thresholds shook and the house was<br />
filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6.1-4)<br />
In the midst of his sheer terror, Isaiah<br />
hears the Lord saying; “Whom shall I<br />
send? And who will go for us?” and,<br />
probably even more frightening, hears<br />
himself say; “Here I am, send me”.<br />
Then, when the political situation<br />
became much worse (a threatened<br />
foreign invasion), Isaiah is given words<br />
of hope; “The Lord himself will give you a<br />
sign. A virgin will be with child and will<br />
give birth to a son and will call him<br />
Emmanuel”. (Isaiah 7.14) <strong>St</strong> Matthew<br />
later used this prophecy to describe the<br />
coming of Jesus, helpfully adding the<br />
explanation that “Emmanuel” means<br />
“God with us”. (Matthew 1.23)<br />
As we embark upon Advent and look<br />
forwards to Christmas it’s good to be<br />
reminded that our hopes and fears can<br />
best be met, not by any earthly political<br />
leader, but in Christ, the Emmanuel God<br />
who is with us.<br />
Isaiah has a powerful experience of<br />
God, says “Yes” to his call and then<br />
points towards hopeful signs of God’s<br />
active presence in the world. This Advent<br />
may we all meet the Emmanuel God<br />
afresh, rejoice in the signs of his<br />
presence and say “Yes” to his call.<br />
Diocese of Peterborough - <strong>Magazine</strong> Resource - <strong>December</strong> <strong>2016</strong><br />
Produced by the Diocesan Office, The Palace, Peterborough PE1 1YB<br />
01733 887000 www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk
Town Diarsy<br />
<strong>December</strong><br />
1st<br />
3rd<br />
5th<br />
6th<br />
10th/<br />
11th<br />
17th<br />
18th<br />
19th<br />
20th<br />
<strong>St</strong>art of the Scout Group Christmas<br />
Card delivery.<br />
11am-2pm FIWC Christmas<br />
Bazaar<br />
7.00 <strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church Wassail<br />
Evening, Bowls Club<br />
BL Meeting/quiz<br />
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls<br />
Club<br />
3-8pm Scout Group Christmas<br />
Float<br />
2-6pm Buffs Christmas Fayre on<br />
the Green.<br />
Christingle Service, <strong>St</strong> Mary’s<br />
Church<br />
Last day of the Scout Group<br />
Christmas Card Delivery<br />
7pm History Society Carol<br />
Singing.<br />
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls<br />
Club<br />
22nd 7pm Christmas Carol Service,<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church<br />
24th<br />
January<br />
3rd<br />
8th<br />
14th<br />
17th<br />
31st<br />
February<br />
11th<br />
3pm <strong>St</strong> Mary’s church, Living<br />
Nativity.<br />
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls<br />
Club<br />
6pm Epiphany Carol Service,<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church<br />
6.30 <strong>St</strong> Mary’s Church, Murder<br />
Mystery, Bowls club<br />
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls<br />
Club<br />
9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls<br />
Club<br />
February<br />
5.30 Choir singing Evensong at<br />
Peterborough Cathedral.<br />
<strong>St</strong> Michael’s Mission Room, Well <strong>St</strong>reet, Finedon<br />
Available for hire weekdays and Saturdays.<br />
Suitable for most social functions, charitable events, children's parties (no late<br />
discos)<br />
For all enquiries and information contact<br />
Bryan & Christine Chapman Tel: 01933 398818<br />
Email: bryanchapman2@aol.com