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All Saints’ Church, Springfield DECEMBER 2013
Note new address: www.allsaintsspringfield.org.uk
We will remember them
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1
From the RectorThe RectoryDecember 2013
Dear Friends
In Marjorie Williams’ story of “The Velveteen Rabbit” there is an exchange betweentwo toy animals.
“What is real?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side nearthe nursery fender.“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens toyou. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but reallyloves you, then you become real.”
Becoming real is central to Christmas. The Christmas festivities provide a welcomeescape from the mid-winter gloom. Yet at the heart of those festivities lies what is real.What is real is God. The Christmas story provides a window through which we glimpseGod’s reality. This glimpse gives the following insights.
Firstly, that God is. The Christmas story does not argue for a God who is another objectin a world of objects. He is not a superhuman thing who might or might not be there. Inthe Christmas story God simply is. He is within all yet beyond all. He is that presencewho is encountered in experiences of awe, mystery and wonder. He is the deepestreality of all.
Secondly, that God is with us. Christ’s coming into the world reveals that in all ourliving God is there. He is with us in the good days and the bad. He is with us in ourhopes and our fears. He is with us in our living and our dying. God is not hidden away insome distant heaven, remote from our human experience. Rather God is in the midstof that experience. He is with us through it all.
Thirdly, God is for us. The Christmas story is of a God who is on our side. Through thestory he says to us, “Look folks. You might be frightened about much in your lives andmight even be frightened of me. But truly I’m not like that. I am not a God who seeks toharm you. Rather I’m on your side. For believe it or not, I love you. Even if you crucifymy love by the wickedness you do, it will always rise again. For my love always wins inthe end.”
The Christmas story is found in the New Testament gospels. The word “gospel” means,“good news.” The gospel writers were convinced that the story of Jesus is the bestnews of all. God is, God is with us and God is for us. What better news could any of us
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Rector’s letter continued
imagine? To hear that news and respond to it is to encounter the deepest reality. Onencountering that reality things begin to happen. We begin recognising that God lovesus and has loved us for a long, long time. We begin sensing that God does not use usjust to play with, but really loves us. Then we start on the journey that makes us real.
“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse for he was always truthful. “When you are realyou don’t mind being hurt.”“Does it happen all at once?”“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a longtime. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, andyour eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these thingsdon’t matter at all, except to people who don’t understand.”
To become real is God’s promise to us all. May this Christmas help us on the journey.
Your Rector
Christmas CollectionsOur custom is to give away all Christmascollections. This year the collections willgo to the following causes:
Sunday 22nd December at 6.30pm –Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols:collection to ‘Embrace the Middle East’ aChristian charity that works in the HolyLand, Syria and middle eastern countries.
Christmas Eve3.00pm – Goodnight Service: collection tothe Children’s Society.4.30pm – Goodnight Service: collection tothe Chelmsford Y.M.C.A.11.30pm – First Communion of Christmas:collection to the Church Army.
Christmas Day services – both collectionsto the Church Mission Society.
It was a proud moment for Frank Kelley ashe represented the Merchant Navy at theRoyal British Legion Festival of Remem-brance in November. This was the 70thanniversary year of the Battle of theAtlantic – “the most complex navalconflict in history”.
Frank Kelley
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I’m not dreaming of a white Christmas –I’m dreaming of a connected Christmas, a
rainbow Christmas, where I can see andenjoy all the different colours, and wheresomewhere in the middle of it I can stopfor a moment and take it all in.
One of my best Christmas memories stemsfrom when I was a parish priest inChichester. One Christmas morning a littlegirl of about two toddled up to the crib,looked inquisitively around the scene, andthen tentatively walked into the realChristmas story and sat down.
Unbeknown to her, she became for me the best illustrative Christmas sermon. Thetimid drawing near to Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus, the weighing up of whereshe fitted into the story and, on further investigation, the desire to sit down in themiddle of Christmas.
But stopping and seeing, not just a blur of activity at Christmas but a kaleidoscope ofcolour needs us to pause.
We have to slow down, notice, and be awe-struck by Christmas.
Over the years I have found that it doesn’t work to just piggyback on Christmas. Asthough relying on good memories, attempting to re-live the best of Christmas’s,assuming that this Christmas will simply be the same as last year.
I have to come back to the outhouse in Bethlehem and get stuck in again with themessy realities of a baby being born in a cowshed.
Because it’s here that God chooses to make himself known to us in beautifulvulnerability, while at the same time making sense of all our messy realities. It’s apicture of pure love, and one which, if we let it, is able to draw us closer and elicit afresh response from us.
But it needs us to take some time out. We have to allow ourselves to be caught up inthe mystery and wonder of a rainbow Christmas. And all we have to do, to letChristmas illuminate our life, and the lives of those around us, is to spend some timesitting in the truth of the Christmas story.
Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford
Bishop Stephen’s Christmas Message
Bishop Stephen at the Operation ChristmasChild Warehouse in Chelmsford last year.
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Nine couples who are to be married at AllSaints’ spent the day with us on 26th
October for our Marriage Preparation Day.
There were a wide range of discussions,talks, and activities which gave them theopportunity to hear about the Christianunderstanding of marriage, to exploresome important aspects of married life,and to talk with the other couples abouttheir ideas and hopes for the future – aswell as getting some useful practicalinformation to help plan their weddings,and having a good time in the process!
This is some of their feedback:“Everything was lovely. Thank you for a
very informative day.”“Covered everything and more!”“Very friendly, lovely day! Very helpful!”“Thank you for a great day.”“I was slightly nervous about coming but I
really enjoyed it! Thanks!”
Please pray for Rozalynn & Mark, Natalie& Tom, Laura & Andrew, Natalia &Martyn, Keely & Chris, Louise & Joe, Emily& Gavin, Sarah & Ben, and Teresa &Andrew as they prepare for theirmarriages next year.
Chris & Roger McFarland
Preparing for Marriage
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Getting to know.....
Carol Leverett
When Robin asked me to write thisarticle I read the two previous
“victims” with admiration and wonderedwhat I could possibly say to capture yourinterest. I have had such a conventionallife, blessed by a happy marriage, twochildren, three grandchildren and astimulating, if challenging career. Beprepared for boredom!
I was born in Lancashire to Christianparents who had both served in the RAF(Bomber Command) during the war, soalthough a post-war baby I was raisedwith pre-war values and ethics.Unfortunately my father had lost his faithdue to his service experiences and henever really regained it, but my mothermaintained a simple faith all her life, awayfrom church. My Lancastriangrandparents, however, were staunchChristians, and their faith must have seenthem through the horrors of the FirstWorld War, working in the cotton mills inBlackburn, and the Depression. They werefar more interesting than I am!
We moved to South Woodford when I wastwo and in time I was dispatched off toBrownies, Guides and Sunday school,probably to give my parents a break, butthe seeds were sown.
As many teenagers do, I rebelled andfollowed my own path through school andcollege. I met Vic in 1966, whilst we wereboth working our summer holiday break inC&A in Oxford Street. I had just left schooland he had recently graduated. It was anold fashioned courtship lasting four years,and we eventually married in 1970 when Ihad completed my probationary year as a
primary schoolteacher. Wemoved toChelmsfordbecause Vicwas workingfor EEV at thetime. It wasnot until ourson Paul wasborn five yearslater that Irecognised God working in my life, and wecame to All Saints seeking Him. We arestill here!
During my break from teaching to be a fulltime mum, we were blessed with ourdaughter Vicki and I studied for an OpenUniversity degree. From here on mycareer seems to have had a life of its own,unguided by me. I was invited to work as atutor for the Home Tuition Service and forseven years I worked part-time tutoringteenagers who were out of school. Theirproblems ranged from being teenagemothers to school phobics, from excludedpupils to law breakers. You name it, Iseemed to get them. This was a meltingpot of challenge, disappointment andreward.
Next, my name was put forward (I didn’tapply) for a position on the Mid-EssexSpecial Needs Team, and I found myselfback in Primary as a peripatetic SENAdviser. This lasted two years until I feltthe “itch” to get back into the classroom,so one Head I had been working withoffered me a post. She helped me toprepare for Deputy Headship, which Iachieved a few years later. Once I was at
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Cressing Primary I felt strongly that thiswas where I was meant to be for the restof my career, but life took a distressingturn when my Head contracted leukaemia.Consequently, I was appointed ActingHead, so I applied for the Headship.Although the circumstances of mypromotion were awful, it was a thrill tocomplete my career empowered to makea difference to so many lives.
I have never taught in a Christian school
because I believed my role to be as Hiswitness and do His work in thecommunity. However, now I am agovernor at Bishops Primary School andcan contribute to that wonderful school. Ialso love spending time with mygrandchildren – photos always at theready – and I love to paint in watercolour.I am so grateful for my life and I thankGod. That is why I am still at All Saints.
Carol Leverett
Tuesday 10th December at 8.00pmEvening admission £4
Seasonal Food – FellowshipWine - Entertainment
The Princes Room, Chelmsford CollegeWednesday 5th February 2014
6.30pm for 7.00pm
Tickets £13.50 each for mealDrinks settled with waiter
Gratuities are at your discretion
Why not join and enjoy our friendly adult ballet class? All ages,all sizes and all abilities welcome. You do not have to be a primaballerina, no experience necessary, just enjoy yourselves asshown on breakfast television.
BALLET FOR ADULTS
Come and try a class on Monday evenings at 8pm in All Saints’ Church Hall.Telephone Maureen on 01245 262176 or 07929 125197.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
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The wider Mothers’ Union
The Revd Frances Drake, the Diocesanrepresentative for the world-wide
Mothers’ Union, was our speaker on 8thNovember. Chelmsford is linked to sixother Dioceses around the world forwhom members are encouraged to prayon a daily basis. They are Toungoo andHpa’an (Myanmar), New Bussa (Nigeria)Meru (Kenya), George (South Africa) andThailand.
The Mothers’ Union is relatively strongoverseas despite opposition in some areasfrom other religious groups. There arealso problems of communication withthem and often the only way to makecontact is through local Anglican bishops.
Overseas members live in some of themost inhospitable places in the world andface the problems of drought with theconsequent loss of crops including basicfoodstuffs such as maize, millet, beansand bananas not to mention precious
livestock. Famine is an ever presentproblem in some dioceses.
Frances told us of the work the Mothers’Union is doing to provide courses toimprove literacy and numerical skillsamong women and so enhance theirchances of finding work. Infant mortalityrates are high in some places and basichygiene training continues to be provided.HIV aids remains an ever present problem.
This may seem a rather gloomy picturebut Frances stressed how much overseasmembers of the Mothers’ Union weredoing for themselves and their families toimprove their standard of living andquality of life. Despite the odds there wasa pervading sense of hope amongmembers and a certainty that God waspresent in their lives helping them day byday.
Lesley Mann
Toys R UsOn Sunday 1st December at 10.30am wehold the annual toy service. During theservice new toys are collected for theAngel Tree project, which providesChristmas toys for children who have oneor both parents in prison. Any toy broughtshould be unwrapped, though anaccompanying piece of Christmaswrapping paper is helpful.
Christian Aid comesOn Thursday 5th December at 7.30pm we
are hosting, “Advent Hope”. This is acandlelit Advent Carol Service organisedby The Churches Together in ChelmsfordChristian Aid Committee on behalf of theEssex Region of Christian Aid. Speak toRobin Stevens (268042) if you would like afree ticket.
Schools comingLater in the month we welcome localschools for their Christmas carol services.Details are in the calendar on the centrepages of this magazine.
Rector’s December Notes
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10
Queen’s badgeAt our Family/Parade Service on 3rdNovember Robert Thompson was presentedby the Rector with his Queen’s Badge, thehighest award for Boys in the Brigade.
Having joined at 5 years Robert has regularlyattended during his 13 years service,obtained all the badges available to him and,during the last two years, has been helpingwith Anchors and Juniors on Mondayevenings. Although studying for his ‘A’levels, he has also attended an OfficerTraining Course at B.B. Headquarters inHertfordshire and achieved the silver awardin the Duke of Edinburgh’s Scheme. TheCompany will continue to benefit from hishelp during this ‘gap’ year and we hope thatthe knowledge gained and fellowshipexperienced during his time in 7thChelmsford will serve him well in the future.
CampOn the weekend 18/20 October nine ofour Company Section together with the
two Officers, Mark Lamb and MartinSmith, joined with a small contingent from2nd Chelmsford Company for a camp atForry’s Green, Sible Hedingham.
The weather was mostly kind to themuntil they were striking camp on Sundayafternoon when the heavens opened. Thisdid not detract from the enjoyment of aweekend under canvas during which theBoys mostly cooked their own food, apartfrom fish and chips for one meal. Theyalso practised their archery skills, had abadger hunt (NOT a cull), enjoyed a twohour country hike and the usual Saturdayevening camp fire.
These informal weekend camps provideexcellent opportunities for strengtheningfriendships and improving teamwork aswell as learning camp craft.
ChessThe Battalion Chess tournament forJuniors and Company Section were held atGreat Leighs Free Church (home of 1stGreat Leighs Company) on Saturday 9th
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November. We had six Juniors and twoCompany Section taking part and,following his success last year, Ryan Splarnagain did very well in the Junior Sectionbut this time had to share equal first placewith Harrison Tween.
In the Company Section tournamentBenjamin Splarn (11 years old) wasnarrowly beaten into second place by a
Boys’ Brigade continued
Boy five years older who had won thetournament last year. Our othercompetitors were Benjamin Powell, JamesRussell, Adam Salvo and Cameron Spencein the Junior Section and Tom Griffin inthe Company Section - all of whomenjoyed the afternoon’s sport and thehospitality of our hosts.
Ted Davis
Women’s Fellowship – harvest flowers
Chris McFarland was the speaker at ourmeeting on 10th October. She came to
demonstrate flower arrangements forharvest time. Chris began by reminding usthat the harvesting of crops has beencelebrated throughout the world from thedawn of history. Food was soimportant that a good harvestwas essential to life and it wasnatural to give thanks towhatever deity one mightworship.
The Christian Harvest Festival isa more modern institution; in 1843, theReverend Robert Hawker is said to haveinvited the people of his parish inMorwenstow, Cornwall to come to churchand give thanks to God for the harvest. Hemade bread from a new crop of wheat forthe Holy Communion Service. Today onestill sees bread made in the form of a sheaf(complete with resident mice) at harvestfestivals together with other food produce.
Having set the scene Chris demonstratedthree different harvest arrangements. Shebegan by taking a basket lined with oasis
into which she inserted different autumnfoliage and a selection of berries. It provedto be a very effective reminder of autumnand the wide variety of colours ands hueswe associate with it.
Next, Chris took three sunflowerstems and arranged them withstriped phormium leaves and aselection of ferns. The resultwas to say the least impressive.There was a fine balance ofform, colour and texture whichdrew the eye.
Finally Chris took an ordinary bunch ofsupermarket flowers and showed how theymight be enhanced with additional foliagefrom one’s garden. She brought some fromher own and the resultant arrangementwas quite striking.
Thank you Chris for your harvest reminderand skilful flower arrangements. We drewlots for the arrangements and three happyladies went home with a reminder of alovely afternoon.
Lesley Mann
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Calendar for December Su 1 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8.00am Holy Communion10.30am Family Toy Service4.30pm Holy Communion
Mo 2 10.00am Coffee Morning in support of Farleigh Hospice at YeomanLodge, Chelmer Village – £1.50 for tea/coffee andbiscuits/mince pie – various stalls (some Christmas-related)
Tu 3 2.30pm ‘Cuppa and Chat’ Club meets in the Paynter Room We 4 10.00am Holy Communion and Children-in-Church 7.30pm Meeting for Prayer in the Quiet Room Th 5 2.30pm Mothers’ Union: Advent Service with Carols 7.30pm Christian Aid’s “Advent Hope” Carol Service in the church Fr 6 Sa 7 9.30am (to noon) Please come and help to tidy up the churchyard 7.30pm Caprice present a Christmas Nowell in the Cathedral
Su 8 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COPY DATE FOR THE JANUARY MAGAZINE 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Holy Communion 10.30am ‘Sunday Special’ in the Hall
4.30pm Evening Prayer (said)Mo 9 Boswells School Carol Service with afternoon rehearsal Tu 10 8.00pm The Kinsmen Christmas Treats – seasonal food, wine,
entertainment and fellowship We 11 10.00am Holy Communion and Children-in-Church Th 12 2.30pm Women’s Fellowship: Carol Service Fr 13 Sa 14
Su 15 THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Morning Prayer 10.30am ‘Sunday Special’ in the Hall 4.30pm Holy Communion (said)
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Tu 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 3.00pm Children’s Goodnight Service 4.30pm Children’s Goodnight Service 11.30pm First Communion of Christmas
We 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Family Communion
Mo 16 Tu 17 Perryfields Junior School: carol service rehearsal in the morning
2.30pm ‘Cuppa and Chat’ Club meets in the Paynter RoomWe 18 10.00am Holy Communion and Children-in-Church Perryfields Junior School: parents’ carol service in the evening Th 19 Tyrrells School carol service: morning rehearsal, afternoon service 2.00pm ‘Chat and Do’ meets in the Hall until 4.00pm – all welcome Fr 20 Perryfields Junior School: carol service in the morning Sa 21
Su 22 THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8.00am Holy Communion10.30am Holy Communion
10.30am ‘Sunday Special’ in the Hall 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols followed by mulled wine and mince pies Mo 23
Th 26 STEPHEN, DEACON, FIRST MARTYR Fr 27 JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST Sa 28 THE HOLY INNOCENTS
Su 29 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
8.00am Holy Communion10.30am Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer
Mo 30 Tu 31
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The sun came out to greet the gardeningteam again in November, and even
tempted Robin to join us for our coffeebreak to take our photo!
We continued clearing around the graveshidden in brambles and ivy at the westend of the churchyard and also theSeabrook grave near the entrance to thechurch centre. We also started to trimback the high laurel hedge at the east end,plus general leaf gathering and flower bedtidying. In the storm we sadly lost the oldhornbeam in the corner by the wall toSpringfield Place.
Weather permitting, we will continue ourefforts over the winter months as there isstill a lot that to be cleared and thenmaintained. So do come along and join usevery first Saturday morning of the month.There are jobs for all abilities and any timeyou can spare is very much appreciated.
7 December, 4 January and 1 February arethe dates for your diaries.
Thank you
Barbara Garside
Churchyard
POSTAGE STAMPSAs Christmas approaches there’s a specialappeal for used stamps of all kindstogether with those from your Christmaspost. They will be very welcome. They aredonated to the Children’s Society andduring the year over 87,000 stamps havebeen sent to them. Grateful thanks toeveryone who helps in this way. Pleaseleave your stamps in the Post Box in thechurch porch.
WORK AIDWorkAid are very busy trying to findsomeone with a van to act as a collectorfor items they need. In the meantime,following a sale of chutney, £40 has beenraised by All Saints.
COPPER CLUBCoppers and other small change continueto beprovidedby kindparish-ioners.Duringthis yearover£100 hasbeen received. This has enabled thepurchase of a supply of purificators (usedwith the chalice) and an embroideredaltar cloth. Please continue to save yourcoppers. They may be handed in at anyservice. This is valued help to our lovelychurch and sincere thanks to everyone.
Gina Shadrack Tel. 251088
Gina’s News
16
The Kinsmen’s meeting in October sawRobin Stevens give a continuation of a talkhe gave in the previous season – this onebeing entitled ‘Slow Boat to China – Part 2’(the clue was in the title).
Robin and Elizabeth had taken a cruisestarting in Beijing and ending in Singaporebut visiting many and various places onroute. These included Hong Kong,Vietnam and Bangkok. The boat (or shouldit be a ship?) carried 2600 passengers,some of the photographs made it difficultto believe that anything that splendidwould actually float!!
Robin and Elizabeth had arranged toextend the original schedule of the trip sothat they could have additional days inBeijing before the boat left. After arrivingin Singapore they further extended thetrip by flying to the eastern part ofMalaysia where Elizabeth met her brotherwho she had not seen in 40 years.
One of the places that they eat at in HongKong was a three floor floating restaurant.Another, in Sandakan was built on stiltsover the sea – the freshness of the fishbeing highlighted by a photograph of a
boatman delivering a large bucket ofprawns that he had just caught, sea toplate – 30 minutes (see above).
Robin really does get some excellentphotographs from his Box Brownie, somegiving an impression of just how bigBeijing is and others highlighting aselection of humorous public directionand warning signs.
Thank you Robin for a most enjoyable talk.
Colin Sadler
The Kinsmen go back to the Far East
BaptismOur son, Elijah William George Webb, wasbaptised on Sunday 27th October. We would liketo say a big thank you to Raymond Brown for alovely service. We’d also like to thank Pat Otter forthe reading. Both Raymond and Pat obviouslywork very hard behind the scenes for eachchristening, including home visits. Their efforts andtime are very much appreciated.
Sally & Adam Webb
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On 24th October we welcomed DennisRensch and his wife Diane, who had
come to talk about “The Pitcairn Islands”.Some of our members knew that thePitcairns were connected to the story ofthe Mutiny on the Bounty but Dennis toldus that, although there was some truth inthe story and the mutiny certainly didtake place, Hollywood had embroideredthe tale in order to make good cinema!
Fletcher Christian was 2nd Officer onHMS Bounty, serving under the notoriousCaptain Bligh. The ship left England in1794 to sail for the South Seas to take onboard a cargo of breadfruit, and thenthey were to transport the cargo to theSouthern states of North America wherethe breadfruit would provide food for theslaves working the land.
Life on board the Bounty was not good,Captain Bligh was unpopular with a lot ofthe crew, including Fletcher Christian,and before any cargo could be taken on,the famous mutiny took place, Christianand nine other crew members took overcommand, and they set Bligh and ahandful of his loyal sailors adrift in a smallboat, and they continued on until theyfound land, the island of Pitcairn.
The island was inhabited by Polynesianpeople, and the mutineers settled here.The female population on Pitcairn werefound to be very attractive to the sailors,which upset the men of the island, andeventually some of the crew were killed.Fletcher Christian, however, was one of afew who continued to live on the island,with a Polynesian woman, who becamehis “wife”. As Pitcairn is deep in the South
Seas, some 3,400 nautical miles from NewZealand in one direction, and about 3,000nautical miles from South America in theother direction, Christian and the survivingmutineers continued to lead relativelypeaceful lives far away from England andthe wrath of the Royal Navy!
Having set the scene for us, Dennis thenshowed some beautiful slides of theisland, which is just 1½ miles long, byabout 1 mile wide, but is a place ofstunning scenery and lush vegetation, inspite of having little rainfall.
Dennis and Diane felt honoured to beinvited to stay on the island for a fewweeks, where they could learn more aboutits history, and that of its people who livethere now. Their hosts for their stay wereTom and Pat Christian, and there are manyislanders with that familiar surname. Theyare a very friendly and hospitable people,who are keen to encourage tourism, theonly problem being that, as no aircraft canland and there is no deep-water harbourfor ships, the cruise liners who do visithave to lie off-shore, whereupon theislanders will take to their long-boats andpaddle them out to meet the tourists anddo business with them there, selling theirnative wares and souvenirs. Diane showedus some of the things they had broughthome with them, which although verysimple were also very lovely.
It was such an interesting and fascinatingafternoon’s meeting, and we were allpleased to say a very heartfelt “thank you”to Dennis and Diane.
Jill Howitt
Women’s Fellowship in the Pitcairn Islands
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Name ___________________________________________________
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____________________________________________ Postcode _______________
Email _______________________ Daytime telephone _______________________
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All Saints’ Prayer CornerAdvent - WaitingAdvent, a time of waiting, a time of wishing, atime to wonder, a time to wait.Wait, for the coming winter, for the comingChristmas, for the coming child.The child of expectation, of fulfilment, of hope.Hope, in the darkness, for light to come. Forgifts and games, for family and friends, for allthat comes with joy.
As we all know Advent comes from theLatin word Adventus, which meanscoming, and it’s the time when we getready for the coming of Jesus. The themesof advent are: hope, darkness/light,repentance, watchfulness, preparationand expectation.
We are sometimes not very good atwaiting but Advent is about waiting andwatching and reflecting. For us Advent is atime of preparation and prayer and wemight choose to commit ourselves tomore regular prayer at this time. So whatare your plans? I would like to give yousome thoughts and ideas for this specialtime with the hope that you will findsomething that you can use and reflect on.
At this time of year we are reminded thatAdvent is a time of spiritual preparationfor Christmas. The first line of JohnBetjeman’s poem Christmas is: ‘The bellsof waiting Advent ring’.
PrayerLoving God, teach me to seek you,and reveal yourself to me as I seek;for unless you instruct meI cannot seek you,And unless you reveal yourselfI cannot find you.
A time to reflect on Hope - O Lord, youhave set before us the great hope thatyour kingdom shall come on earth, andhave taught us to pray for its coming; giveus grace to discern the signs of itsdawning, and to work for the perfect daywhen your will shall be done on earth as itis in heaven. Percy Dearmer (1867- 1936)
When we reflect on hope we need toturn the lights onWe don’t go short of lights at Christmas,do we? Christmas lights in every shoppingcentre, lights on the tree and candles inChurch. Christmas is the season of lightand this Advent we are preparing toreceive Jesus, who is the Light of theWorld. We have we received Christ intoour lives so we are called from darknessinto light and then, like Christ, we can tryto be like lights to the world. As Jesus saysin Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shinebefore men, that they may see your goodworks and glorify your Father in heaven.”
So Advent and Christmas have a particularpart to play in our lives. Advent gives usthe opportunity to think afresh about thefact and meaning of the birth of Jesus. It isa great mystery for us to comprehend butwe should spend Advent preparing wellfor this joyous occasion. There are lots ofmaterial things that we prepare for whencelebrating Christmas, let us not forgetour spiritual preparations too.
Expectation is a word full of hope; newadventures and new experiences of God’sgrace and His love for us. This year I amlooking forward again to spend timesharing the waiting with my grandchildrenwhen they perform in their Nativity plays.
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I am always reminded in the faces of thechildren that life is worth living; livingsimply and faithfully. Little faces full of joyand excitement; they fill me with hopeand remind me that change is possibleand we can make a difference.In children our eyes are opened again toexpectancy. There is the expectation ofSanta coming to bring joy to little faces.There is the expectation of family andfriends gathering all together. There is theexpectation of surprises filling our lives.Through the eyes of children I find myselfwondering in awe at the true Christmasstory.
The Christmas story – Preparation
A prayer of preparation before you readthe story: Lord I turn my thoughts to you.Within the whirlwind of my day I stop andthink of you. When I pause I find myselfastonished that you are still there! yoursteady love surrounding me. Hello again,Lord!
“Down through the ages the story is told.Of angels and shepherds and wise men ofold, of the child who was born on that firstChristmas Day. In a time long ago in a landfar away. The story recalls all the joy thatHe brought, the peace that he gave andthe message He taught.”
The full story of Jesus’ birth and theevents surrounding it can be found in theBible in the book of Matthew, Chapters 1and 2, with a slightly different account inLuke, Chapters 1 and 2. These two gospelstell slightly different accounts becausethey were written for a differentaudience. Matthew wrote for the Jews,
Luke wrote for the non-Jews (Gentiles), sothey emphasized different things. Weknow that ‘Nativity’ is the word often usedfor the story of Jesus’ birth and bothgospel accounts are used to piece thestory together. Why not use theseaccounts to give you the story to reflecton while you are waiting?
I pray that every act of prayer, work, giftgiving and spending time with friends andfamily, reflect the love and generosity ofthe coming of Jesus brought. May thatsame love and generosity shape ouractions in the New Year as we try andfollow Christ more faithfully. May thesame message that He brought so old yetso new be a source of true joy as youprepare to wait and reflect for Advent.
Marion Hodges
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From the Registers
Holy Burial and Cremation 30th October: Vera Westrip aged 84 years 6th November: Wren Tunbridge aged 87 years
“I am the Resurrection and the Life”
Holy Baptism 27th October: Joshua Daniel Wright Bethany Sienna Wright Elijah William George Webb Sophie Amber Knight
“We welcome you into the Lord’s family”
On the 16th of October a “select”group of 23 All Saints’ Ramblers and
Amblers met at the Princes Room,Chelmsford College, for the AnnualDinner. Unlike previous years there wasno annual general meeting preceding themeal (it will be held in January 2014) somembers were able to socialise beforetucking in to the appetising food putbefore them.
The choice of starters of Dressed CrabSalad, Roasted Red Pepper & TomatoBavarois or Cream of Sweet Potato &Butternut Squash was followed by achoice Paupiettes of Sole, Grilled MapleDuck Breast, Apricot, Sultana & PistachioStuffed Pot Roast Leg of Lamb or
Aubergine & Mozzarella Schnitzel. Dessertconsisted of Black Forest Gateau,Cappuccino Crème Brûlée or Plum, Apple& Thyme Crumble.
Inclusive of tea, coffee and a glass of winethe general consensus was of a very goodmeal, served in congenial surroundingswith a very pleasant atmosphere.
Ron Gregory
The copy date for the January 2014 edition of this magazine is Sunday 8thDecember. Please send items to Robin Stevens by e-mail [email protected] or in other forms to 3 Aldeburgh Way.
in touch – copy date
Ramblers/Amblers Annual Dinner
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RectorRevd Raymond Brown.............356720 4 Old School FieldAssociate PriestRevd Canon Carla Hampton 37 Timsons Lane.....07850 913452Assistant PriestRevd John Mann.....................259596 18 Humber RoadReadersMrs Joan Goode......................250395 102 Sandford RoadMr Roger McFarland...............263112 79 Humber RoadMr Keith OtterMrs Pat Otter..........................267093 11 Green CloseMr Robin Stevens....................268042 3 Aldeburgh WayChurchwardensMr Roger Shilling....................460786 5 Paddock DriveMrs Jane Milbank...................460306 27 Stirrup CloseAssistant Warden andPCC SecretaryMr David Gauld......................357276 28 Totnes WalkAssistant WardenMr Richard Brenchley............256724 36 Wallasea GardensPCC TreasurerMr Roy Alexander...................352307 87 Falmouth RoadOrganist & ChoirmasterEmmelia van der Walt..01376 516565 Mobile:....................07940 512407Electoral RollMrs Janet Shilling..................460786 5 Paddock Drive
Church Centre ManagerMr Andrew Britter..................257362 30 Tavistock Road
Church Flowers andChildren-in-ChurchMrs Christine McFarland.......263112 79 Humber Road
Magazine EditorMr Robin Stevens..................268042 3 Aldeburgh Way
Boys’ BrigadeMr Ted Davis.........................250278 7 Humber Road
Pre-SchoolMrs Sue Tokley......................350556 9 Peel Road
KinsmenMr Peter Hodges....................261388 63 Tees Road
Mothers’ Union andWomen’s FellowshipMrs Lesley Mann...................259596 18 Humber Road
‘Cuppa & Chat Club’ and‘Chat & Do’Mrs Elizabeth Belsham..........256792 14 Lawn Lane
Prayer Ministry TeamMrs Marion Hodges................261388 63 Tees Road
Ringing MasterMr Philip Saunders................460209 2 Shire Close
RamblersMrs Karin Seeman.................466167 21 Leybourne Drive
Planned Giving & Gift Aid RecordersTim & Angela Pearce...............465577 75 Oak Lodge Tye
The Parish Office is open at the church on Wednesday evenings from7.00pm to 8.00pm for initial enquiries about baptisms and weddings 352274
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Cover picture: The crib and Christmas tree at All Saints’ by Robin Stevens
