The monthly magazine of

Bath Central United Reformed Church—30p

CONTACT

2018

January

The Peace of God

When war did cease upon the earth,

The stars looked out, the heavens rang,The small Lord Jesus came to birth,A lilt of peace His Mother sang.

A lilt of peace ‘mid snow-clad sheen,Goodness-peace, forgiveness of sin,Confession-peace, penitent-clean,

Peace with God and the peace within.

Peace with God and goodwill to men,

The peace of triumph on the Tree,The rising peace that followed then,The peace of God for you and me.

The peace of God, lake-waters by,The peace of God, mist o’er the sea,The peace of God, ascending high,

The peace of God, unceasingly.

From Poems of the Western Highlanders

Note: These are the Revised Common Lectionary Bible passagesas published in the URC Prayer Handbook

Lectionary ReadingJanuary 6 – Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14;

Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

January 7 – Baptism of the Lord: Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11

January 14 – Epiphany 2: Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20); Psalm 139:1-6,

13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51

January 21 – Epiphany 3: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

January 28 – Epiphany 4: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28

Index

The date for contributions for the next CONTACT is16th January. It will be published on the 28th January.

Argyle Players .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8Church Diary .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7Crossword .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12Crossword Solution .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9Homelessness Sunday .. .. .. .. .. .. 2Inspiration in your inbox .. .. .. .. 6Midweek Communion Dates.. .. .. 5Minister’s Letter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1

Prayer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9Preaching .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7Real Easter Egg .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5St James the Least of All .. .. .. .. 11Study Group .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3Sudoku .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity .. .. .. .. .. 4

01/2018 Page 1

Minister’s Letter

Dear Friends,

If you had lived during the middle ages on the first of January youwould have celebrated a great religious feast – festum fatuorum,

festum stultoru, or in English, ‘The Feast of Fools’.

This was not an occasion such as the modern April Fools’ Day,

nor indeed was it an opportunity for buffoonery and joshing about.

Rather, it was a genuine religious festival.

The Feast of Fools originated in the churches of northern France

and rapidly spread throughout mainland Europe and beyond. It was

a ‘grass-roots’ religious festival originating amidst the laity and

lower ranks of the clergy. For reasons which will soon be apparent it

was never very popular with the religious hierarchy and big wigs.

On January the first there was a brief, temporary social and

religious revolution. It was a revolution where power, dignity and

impunity were briefly conferred on those in a subordinate position.

It was also an occasion where the foolishness, corruption and

abuses of an ever more powerful centralised church were aired andchallenged.

In practice amidst the commentary there was also theatre – lowly

laity and minor clergy robing as mighty bishops and cardinals,

adopting the airs and graces of those exalted personages, lampooning

them and their office in a public forum … speaking truth unto

power.

There was a solid biblical basis for this activity, the desire to model

the radical notion espoused by Jesus, that the ‘first shall be last and

the last shall be first in the kingdom of God’. The text often linked ï

Page 2 01/20187

to this feast day being 1 Corinthians 4:10 ‘We are fools for

Christ’s sake …’ speaking of the central importance of mission in

the life of the church.

As we all know, the rich, vain, and powerful do not like beingsubjected to questioning, being lampooned, and called to account.

So the senior clergy made repeated moves to bring the Feat of

Fools to an end. Officially it died – forbidden under the very

severest penalties by the Council of Basel in 1431 and a strongly

worded document issued by the theological faculty of the

University of Paris in 1444. However, festivals of this kind

continued quite openly in France as late as 1644.

In reality it has never really gone away. For example – Victor

Hugo recreated a picturesque account of a Feast of Fools in his

1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in which Quasimodo

serves as the Pope of Fools.

And the biblical basis remains as relevant as ever – ‘in the

eternal kingdom the first shall be last and last shall be first’. As

we step into 2018 let us be ‘fools for Christ’ and speak truth unto

power for the radical social and religious message of Jesus is asrelevant now as it was when first spoken. Together let us celebrate

the Feast of Fools in 2018.

Revd Helen

ï

January 28th is Homelessness Sunday.

Revd David will welcome Kathryn Lazenby to share in the worshipservice. Kathryn is Lead Worker Youth Homelessness, Youth for

Christ, Bath.

01/2018 Page 3

Study Group Spring 2018 - Guest SeriesEvery few years we host a guest series. Spring 2018 is our nextseries and we would like to extend an invitation to you to attend.

We ask our guests to lead a study of about an hour’s duration ona theme or topic which is important to them with Biblical input.

We meet on Tuesdays in the John Williams Room 10am for 10:30

start. Refreshments are available on arrival

Our Guests …

January 16th: Rev Prebendary Nigel Rawlinson –University Chaplain, University of Bath and Associate Minister,

All Saints Weston, Bath. Formerly a consultant in the NHS andon the medical staff of Dorothy House Hospice.

January 30th: Rev. Ian Souter –

Methodist Minister for Beechen Cliff, Horizon and WestonChurches

February 13th: Rev. Richard Gray –

Recently retired URC Minister, Interim Moderator FalmouthURC, and Hon Treasurer South Western Synod

February 27th: Rev. Dr. Susan Durber –Minister of Taunton and Bishop’s Hull URC. Formerly Principalof Westminster College Cambridge. Theology Co-ordinator for

Christian Aid and involved in leadership in the World Council ofChurches

March 13th: Mother Sarah –

Orthodox Nun residing at The Convent of Saint John ofKronstadt, Bath. RUH Hospital Chaplain and Chaplain to the

University of Bath

March 27th: Rev. Andy Percey –Minister of Manvers Street Baptist Church. With his wife Bex

(also a Baptist Minister) he moved to the city of Bath in 2014.

Page 4 01/20187

The Week of Prayer for Christian UnityThis year the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs from 18thto 25th January. The theme of the week this year comes from the

churches of the Caribbean, and addresses some of the problemswhich affect the people there, but also worldwide.

Thus, as abuses of human rights are found across the region, the

week will challenge us to consider our manner of welcoming thestranger into our midst. Human trafficking and modern-day

slavery continue to be huge issues. Addiction to pornographyand drugs continue to be serious challenges to all societies. Thedebt crisis has a negative impact upon the nations and upon

individuals – the economies of the nations and people havebecome precarious. Family life continues to be challenged by theeconomic restrictions which lead to migration, domestic abuse

and violence.

What are Christians to do, in the face of such vast problems? TheCaribbean Churches work together to heal the wounds in people’s

live, but also know that reconciliation demands repentance,reparation and the healing of memories. The whole Church is

called to be both a sign and an active agent of this reconciliation.

Nigel Beeton writes: It’s January, a month most people dislike. It’s cold,

Christmas is over, it’s ages till spring, what is good to say about January? Idisagree! Hence this poem.

January Charm by Nigel Beeton

The jewel-encrusted branchesAs hoar frost leaves its touch;

The snowscape that entrancesThat’s what I love so much!The starlight’s diamond splendour

The peaceful, icy calm;It’s easy to surrenderTo January charm.

01/2018 Page 5

The Egg that shares the Easter StoryThe new look 2018 Real Easter Egg range

is available to order. Out of the 80million Easter eggs sold in this part ofthe world every year, The Real Easter

Egg is the only one which has a copy ofthe Easter story in the box, is made ofFairtrade chocolate and which supports

charitable projects.

This year the Original and Dark eggs

come with an A5 Easter story activitybook which has 24 pages. The book will delight children andadults. A Hunt Box is also available with six midi eggs and a 12

page cross shaped Easter story-activity booklet.

The Real Easter Egg was launched in 2010 but the supermarketsturned down the idea at first. It was left to churches and church

schools to place orders to fund The Meaningful ChocolateCompany to make The Real Easter Egg.

To date, more than one million eggs have been sold with 750,000

of these sent through the post directly to churches and schools.The rest have been sold through independent retailers and

supermarkets.

The success of The Real Easter Egg has meant that the productionof Fairtrade chocolate has moved to the UK. Over £250,000 has

been raised from sales for charitable causes. The whole range canbe ordered online at www.realeasteregg.co.uk or from Traidcraft.

Midweek Communion Dates in 2018

March 21st September 12thJune 20th December 12th

All Wednesdays at 2.30 pm

Page 6 01/20187

So wise (Matthew 2:1-12)

So wise, those men from the East,

to search for the promised One,to follow the star.So wise and so brave

to leave their landsto follow the star.

So wise and so humbleto kneel in worshiphaving followed the star

to its and their creator,the source of wisdomand life and light and hope.

Having followed the starto Jesus.

So wise. By Daphne Kitching

Inspiration in your inboxEvery morning at 6am the United Reformed Church sends out adaily devotion – a reading, reflection and prayer – to more than

1,700 people.

With hundreds more following online and through the dedicatedFacebook page, the devotions emphasise the importance of

biblical reflection and prayer as a practice of discipleship.

Find out more here:

www.urc.org.uk/latest-news/2491-inspiration-in-your-inbox

01/2018 Page 7

Preaching at Rush Hill and Larkhall

Rush Hill 10.30am Larkhall 11.00am Larkhall 6.30pm

Jan 7 Revd Sue Henderson Revd David Pattie Mr Clive Illman

Jan 14 Revd Dr Hazel Starritt Revd Helen Pattie Sarah Shepherd

Jan 21 Revd David Pattie Mrs Denise Meyers Revd David Pattie

Jan 28 Revd Helen Pattie Revd Dr Hazel Starritt Nr Norman Parfrey

Church Diary – JanuaryEvery Friday 10.30am Friday Coffee in the Argyle Hall.

Tuesday 2nd 2.30pm Women's Guild: Members’ Afternoon

Sunday 7th 10.30am Communion Service: Revd Dr Hazel Starritt

Foodbank & Traidcraft

Tuesday 9th 2.30pm Elders’ Meeting

Sunday 14th 10.30am Family Worship: Revd David Pattie

Tuesday 16th 10.30am Study Group - John Williams room

Rev Prebendary Nigel Rawlinson

2.30pm Church Meeting

Sunday 21st 10.30am Family Worship: Revd Helen Pattie

Tuesday 23rd 2.30pm Men‘s Fellowship AGM

Sunday 28th 10.30am Homeless Sunday: Revd David Pattie & YFC

Tuesday 30th 10.30am Study Group - John Williams roomRev Ian Souter

FebruarySunday 4th 10.30am Communion Service: Revd David Pattie

Foodbank & Traidcraft

Tuesday 6th 2.30pm Women's Guild AGM

Sunday 11st 10.30am Family Worship: Revd Dr Hazel Starritt

Tuesday 13th 2.30pm Elders’ Meeting

Sunday 18th 10.30am Family Worship: Revd Sue Henderson

No matter how bad prose is, it might be verse.

Page 8 01/20187

The Argyle Players would like to thank all who patronized theAutumn production of ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’. It was great fun toperform, and much appreciated by the audiences, if the level of

applause at the end of the shows, can be conceived as a goodmarker.

Now thoughts turn to 2018, when the next offering will take tothe stage in the Tovey Hall from Wednesday to Saturday, 9th to12th May. If you would like to join The Players for this Spring

adventure, you will be made most welcome. The first playreading will take place in the William Jay Room, on Monday, 15thJanuary.

To find out more, please speak to Helen Brettell (423866) who willbe delighted to answer your questions

Michael Burgess

1954 –The Argyle Players

- 2018

Ann Green would like to thank everyone at Central URC for theirsupport over the past few weeks.

It has helped a lot! A happy and peaceful 2018 to you all.

Great writing

There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to

become a great writer. When asked to define “great,” he said, ‘I want to writestuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a trulyemotional level, stuff that will make them scream in disbelief, cry in despair,

howl in pain, and vent their anger in ways they’ve never dreamed of!’ He now

works for Microsoft, writing error messages.

01/2018 Page 9

The following is the collective prayer for thismonth. We ask you to join us in prayer on the third

Wednesday of the month—17th January. We shallpray at 7.30am and/or 7.30pm: please join us.

Last Months Crossword

Across: 1 Tabernacle 7 Absalom 8 Incas 10 Roes

11 Captured 13 Fright 15 Cavell 17 Cyclonic18 Herb 21 Sonar 22 Amazing 23 Settlement

Down: 1 Taste 2 Bold 3 Ramiah 4 Abiathar5 Lucerne 6 Sacrifices 9 Saddlebags 12 Theocrat14 Incense 16 Pilate 19 Exist 20 Save

A Prayer for JanuaryGod of justice and compassion,

as we enter a new year we pray for

the leaders of the nations,

thinking especially of lands wherethere is warfare, hunger or injustice.

May those in authority see leadership notonly as the getting and weilding of power

but as the fulfillment of a callingto serve their country andbetter the lives of their people.

Prayers

Each week we pray for:

7th JanuaryFunerals authorisedperson, Jane Bowden.

From those who use ourhalls: Pilates group.

14th January

Church Heating, LinWhipp.

From those who use our

halls: Pulteney BridgeFlower Shop.

21st JanuaryFood Bank Co-ordinator, Mildred

McArthur.

From Churches Togetherin Bath - Bath Abbey.

28th JanuaryHealth & Safety, Roy

Short.

From those who use ourhalls: Relaxercise.

Page 10 01/20187

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“Given the state of our heating system,your name seemed rather appropriate.”

01/2018 Page 11

My dear Nephew DarrenI am glad you enjoyed your post-

Christmas break from the parish,although a week of skiing in the Alpsdoes seem a little excessive. In my day,an extra hour in bed on Boxing Daywas considered quite sufficient. Curatesare clearly paid too much. While yourweek after Christmas was spent fallingdown mountains at excessive speeds,mine was used with the traditionalactivity of making apologies.

Apologies are always sent out to allthose ladies who had fur coats ruined byguttering candles at the Carol Service.But as I feel obliged to point out, at leastthey were ruined with the best beeswaxmoney can buy. Had they attendedSaint Agatha’s, our next-door parish,they would have been ruined by paraffinwax, which is most inferior.

A general apology was alsonecessary in the parish magazine. Thatour thurifer was slightly over-zealouswith the incense at the midnight Servicewas quite excusable at such animportant Service; that the organistimprovised during Communion on thetune “Smoke gets in your Eyes” wasnot.

I also felt duty-bound to apologise tothe landlord of the public house whichadjoins the church, as his customerswere blocked in the pub car park with

cars of those attending our midnightService. But since his customers wereobliged to stay in the pub for an extratwo hours, he asked if we could make thesame mistake in future years. I alsoreceived several letters of thanks fromthose who were unable to return homeuntil the early hours. One even made adonation to the church in appreciation.

Apologies were also made to the 8amChristmas morning congregation, theService having been taken by CanonRogers for the last 25 years. Now in his97th year, he is becoming somewhat for-getful. Beginning the Service by wish-ing the congregation a very happyEaster was not entirely helpful. I mayhave to think about finding him areplacement.

My final apologies were given toLady Duckworth who, havingtumbrilled her returning children tochurch, discovered that strangers weresitting in her pew. Since her family hassat there for the last 400 centuries, shehas always assumed squatters’ rights,and so being obliged to sit at the rear ofa side aisle was not at all appreciated.

And so we both begin a new year,you exhilarated from a week’s strenuousactivity and me energised by knowingthat I will not have to apologize toanyone about anything for another 12months.

Your loving uncle, Eustace

St James the Least of All by the Rev Dr Gary Bowness

On what clergy do after Christmas

The elderly Anglo-Catholic vicar, Eustace, continues his correspondence to Darren,his nephew, a low-church curate recently ordained…

Page 12 01/20187

CrosswordFrom Parish Pump

Across8 How the Abyss (NIV) is

described in theAuthorized Version(Revelation 9:1) (10,3)

9 Frozen water (Ezekiel 1:22)(3)

10 The Ten Commandments(9)

11 In Roman Catholictheology, neither heavennor hell (5)

13 Des cons (anag.) (7)16 ‘Though [your sins] are red

as — , they shall be likewool’ (Isaiah 1:18) (7)

19 Keen (Romans 1:15) (5)22 Repugnant, loathsome (Jeremiah

24:9) (9)24 Drink like an animal (Judges 7:5)

(3)25 First and last (Revelation 22:13)

(5,3,5)

Down1 Father of Ahi, a Gadite (1

Chronicles 5:15) (6)2 Where David found the stone with

which he killed Goliath (1 Samuel17:40) (6)

3 ‘Hour by hour fresh lips are makingthy — doings heard on high’ (8)

4 ‘And there were shepherds livingout in the fields near by, keepingwatch over their — at night’ (Luke2:8) (6)

5 United Society for ChristianLiterature (1,1,1,1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 1918 20

22

21

25

2423

6 ‘If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat himas you would — — or a tax collector’ (Matthew18:17) (1,5)

7 Where Paul was taken when things becamedifficult for him in Berea (Acts 17:15) (6)

12 Istituto per le Opere di Religione (Vatican Bank)(1,1,1)

14 ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new — ;the old has gone, the new has come!’ (2Corinthians 5:17) (8)

15 Used to colour ram skins red for use in thetabernacle (Exodus 25:5) (3)

16 Vat car (anag.) (6)17 ‘Be joyful — — , patient in affliction, faithful in

prayer’ (Romans 12:12) (6)18 ‘The parts that are unpresentable are treated with

special modesty, while our presentable parts — —special treatment’ (1 Corinthians 12:23) (4,2)

20 Ancient rowing boat (Isaiah 33:21) (6)21 Say again (2 Corinthians 11:16) (6)23 What Jesus did in the synagogue in Nazareth after

he stood up (Luke 4:16) (4)

ActivitiesSunday Worship: 10.30am Family Worship for all ages.

Church Meeting: Third Tuesday of alternate months at 2.30pm (Jan on)

Elders’ Meeting: Second Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm

Women’s Guild: Secretary: Mrs Gillian SwiftFirst Tuesday each month at 2.30pm

Men’s Fellowship: Programme Secretary: Mr John OsborneFourth Tuesday each month at 2.30pm

Allsorts Group: Contact: Mr Paul Swift Third Saturday each month

Argyle Players: Secretary: Mrs Helen Brettell Thursdays at 7.30pm

Argyle String Orchestra: Church Contact: Martin Cawte

Thursdays at 7.30pm

CommitteesBuildings:Convener; Mr MHH Burgess: Secretary; Mr RM Short

House: .. ..Convener; Mrs Sheena Carter Secretary; Mrs Angela Campbell

Finance: ..Convener; Mr RB Turner: .. .. ..Secretary; Mr WE Richardson

Copy in most formats is acceptable, from manuscript to email

(martin.cawte@btinternet.com).

Please note the copy and publication dates.

Editor: Martin Cawte, 6 The Chestertons, Bathampton, Bath BA2 6UJ a469807

Ministers: Revds Helen & David Pattie .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a 01225 331952

Revd Dr Hazel Starritt.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a 01373 467814Senior Elder: Jane Tollyfield .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a 01225 312871

Church Secretary (Worship): Peter Rouse .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a 01225 332760Church Treasurer: Brian Campbell .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. a 01225 463989

Published by:

Central United Reformed Church, Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA

Postal address: Central URC, Grove Street, Bath BA2 6PJ a310050

Web site: www.bathcentralurc.virb.com Registered Charity No 1130339