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St. Mary's December 2016 Magazine

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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

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