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St. Luke Formby
P a r i s h M a g a z i n e
Price £1
Cheaper by annual subscription
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow
with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15: 13 [NIV]
October 2020 10 issues a year
Shyira Trus t
Patron: The Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool
Hon President: Prof Allan Hobson MBE
Supporting people in North West Rwanda, Africa
re l iev ing pover ty
advancing educat ion
preserv ing and protect ing good health
Mothers Union
Aim: To support MU members in serving their communities
Achieved: Members supported with bedding and kitchen utensils
Training of 25 MU trainers from all over the Diocese.
Successful Revolving Goat Loan project.
Challenges: To extend the MU support across Kivu diocese
To work through the Gisenyi MU to help the most needy
parts of the diocese
Butaka Parish Church
Aim: To provide a church in Butaka
Achieved: Building completed
Worshipping community in church
Challenges: Fund windows, doors and flooring
Groupe Scolaire Secondary School
Continuing to support needy students in Shyira
Primary Schools
Aim: To support school ministry by providing equipment,
school materials and evangelistic outreach.
How YOU can help
See our website: http://www.shyiratrust.org.uk
Email us for further information: [email protected]
Donations may be sent to: Shyira Trust, Secretary: Ken Davies
53 Stapleton Road, Formby, Liverpool L37 2YT
Donate online: https://www.give.net/shyiratrust
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shyiratrust
Registered Charity Number 1118979
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Vicar – Rev. Dr. Matt Davis
…………………………………………………………………………………………………. READER’S LETTER
Lime Tree Way Dear Friends, When you get to read this letter the interregnum at St. Luke’s will be over. It started at about midday on 29th September 2019 as Harvie completed his final service at St. Luke’s, and ended somewhere around 8.00 pm on 22nd September 2020 when Matt was installed as our vicar. It has certainly been an eventful 12 months, and not only because of the interregnum. All was going smoothly. Services were going on normally with Canon Frances and Rev Roy taking care of Holy Communions and Baptisms. Some services had been led by guest clergy including the Dean of Liverpool and Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton and we even had an arrangement for the Bishop of Liverpool to come to St. Luke’s. A wedding had taken place and the Banns for a second were part way through their three readings. Then it happened: In mid-March covid-19 arrived and the country went into lockdown. Church services were banned, weddings were forbidden and even funerals were severely restricted. Although St. Luke’s Parish Profile had been produced the process of finding a vicar came to a halt. It was clearly difficult to think of carrying out interviews in a time of lockdown although the vacancy had been advertised. There would have to be a delay until the situation eased. Churches had to adapt to the situation, and thankfully technology came to their help. There is a problem with that, of course, because not everyone has access to the internet and we must apologise to people prevented from taking part. Some churches chose to “stream” a service, initially from a series of recordings of various component parts recorded from people’s homes and later as live events from inside churches. Others, including St. Luke’s, have used an approach using software called Zoom. Each approach has its benefits. Streaming allows anyone to watch the service so the Christian message can have an audience beyond the church while Zoom is for a limited group that have been given the password but enables all participants to see each other and to be involved with the service. As I write this we are planning for Matt’s service of collation to be live streamed. Because of social distancing the service will have a very limited number of people attending, people that are involved with the service in some way. Normally we would expect the church to be full on such an occasion with St. Luke’s congregation joined by people from other churches that Matt has served in, and by representatives of our community in Formby and Sefton. By live streaming we make the service available to people that would like to support Matt, but are prevented from doing so. ……………………………................................................................................................
Editor: Margaret Cooke (e-mail: [email protected]) Illustrator: Joan MacDonald
St. Luke's Web Site: http://www.stlukesformby.org.uk St. Luke’s Facebook Page: facebook.com/StLukesChurchFormby
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The interregnum, and even the restrictions caused by covid-19, brought out the very best in members of St. Luke’s. I hope that you will all join with me in giving thanks for what has been achieved and in praying that we are able to keep the spirit of the past few months going as we face future challenges. Matt has joined us as vicar in a situation that will restrict his work in the parish while the virus is here. He deserves and will need all the support and encouragement we are able to give him.
Allan Hobson
DATES AND NOTES
PRAYER CHAIN – Please contact Philip Lowe if you know of someone who would appreciate prayer support ([email protected]). The Grandad cartoon is by Paul Thomas
from the Daily Mail
SUNDAY SERVICES – we now have a Communion Service at 9.30 am with strict social distancing and a Zoom meeting for worship at 12 noon – but please sign in by 11.50 if possible. Details are always available on the Saturday bulletin. Please note that you can join in on your phone – again details of how to do so are always included in the Saturday bulletins. READER’S LETTER – we have another one this month because the magazine went to press before Matt’s collation. Thank you very much, Allan. CLOCKS GO BACK - I hour on Sunday October 25th.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
AND VESTRY MEETING
DATE: - MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER - 6.45pm for a punctual start at 7pm Building to be clear by 9.00pm
VENUE – THE ARTS THEATRE OF RANGE HIGH SCHOOL, STAPLETON RD., FORMBY (To be Confirmed)
This meeting, in ordinary circumstances, would have been in April of this year, but due to the restrictions placed upon us by Covid 19, it will now take place on Monday 26th October.
The venue has also altered from previous years, again due to the necessary observance of social distancing. Range High School has kindly offered us the use of their Arts Theatre, which due to its size, affords us considerably more space, and enables the required distance between chairs. Your safety is paramount, and masks should be worn except for those who are exempt, and sanitising hand wash will be offered.
If you feel able, please come along. It is an excellent opportunity to find out what the Parish Church Council (PCC), has been doing on your behalf over the past months. Also, there will be opportunities to serve the Church in the roles listed below.
We have spaces to fill on the PCC and Deanery Synod which are open to those on the Electoral Roll. If you feel you could help in these roles, or any of the other roles listed below please put your name and contact details on the Nomination forms which will be displayed at the back of the Church, or contact our secretary, Chris Payne on 01704 381053. We would be delighted to welcome you. Forms will also be attached to our daily bulletin.
Please keep an eye on the daily bulletins nearer the time just in case there are any changes.
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AGENDA FOR APCM
ELECTORAL ROLL LISTING WILL BE DISPLAYED.
ELECTION OF CHURCHWARDENS
ELECTION OF DEANERY SYNOD REPRESENTATIVES
ELECTION OF PCC MEMBERS
THE GREAT TEA ROOM TAKEAWAY
Andrew came up with the idea. I tried to ignore it but he didn’t! His plan was to do something on the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August. The main aim of the Tea Room is outreach but that was always the weekend when we pushed to get funds for the church.
So we got a plan together. Just cakes and scones, but then what would we put them in?
A trip to the Chinese supermarket and we found some lovely boxes and bags. We were off! The event was advertised in the bulletin and the orders started to come in, and in and in.
By the time we closed the order sheet we needed 109 slices of cake, 61 scones (with jam and cream of course) 18 shortbread biscuits and 24 Danish’s. A trip to Costco and a delivery from Ann Wood (44 wrapped pieces of fruit cake) and we had the goods but we realised we didn’t have enough boxes! Andrew and Sonny set of to find more but, even with the extra, charts needed to be drawn up as to how they would all be packed for each order. On top of that we had to have a plan as to how to keep everyone safe!
Saturday and we took everything to the hall (we needed space to keep our distance). Tables were wiped down, table cloths put out, aprons, gloves and masks donned. The organisation turned out to be more complex than we had thought but, with Andrew reading out the orders and everyone cutting, boxing and bagging, we started to get them made up. The deliverers turned up and set off with the ‘safe delivery’ instructions and returned with their news that people were so pleased to receive their ‘afternoon teas’.
We cleaned up, went home and counted up. Andrew dreamt of raising £1000 and we had thought we could make £800. We did well but then the total kept going up. People’s generosity was amazing and, as I write this, the total is £2000. Rachel still has to claim Gift Aid so it should go even higher.
Thank you to all who made donations and placed orders, and thank you to the great team:
Di, Gwyneth, Anne, Sara, Ann, June, Sheila, David, Steve – we couldn’t have done it without you.
Jean and Andrew Cox
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
QUOTE FOR OCTOBER
It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement. - Mabel Newcomer
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NICE TRY!
A man due to appear as the defendant in a lawsuit met a friend in the pub the night before the case came to court. After a few drinks and a great deal of discussion on the merits of the case, the friend said, 'look, you will easily get the case decided in your favour if you just send the judge a case of his favourite malt whisky which I know is 'King Grog.' ‘How do you know that?' the defendant replied. 'Well,' his friend said, 'He's often seen in the Gown and Wig drinking it. In fact mine host keeps a bottle of it behind the bar just for him.'
The next morning our friend had an early appointment with his solicitor and his barrister. He told them what he intended to do before the case came into court. They were horrified. 'On no account whatsoever must you do that!' said his solicitor; whilst the barrister put his head in his hands. 'Look,' he said, 'we have a very weak case as it is and if you even attempt to bribe the judge you will not only lose the case but you will end up with an additional stretch in gaol for perverting the course of justice.' When the case came to court our friend won
the case much to the astonishment of his legal advisors. He took them all for a drink at the nearby Whig and Gown. After they had expressed their complete astonishment at the result our man said. 'Well it worked - that case of scotch must have swung it.' In astonishment his barrister said, 'You sent it to the judge?' 'Yes indeed,' came back the reply. 'But I put on the covering label the name of the Crown Prosecution Services' barrister!' Trying to influence the judge isn't of course reserved for human courts. Men and women down the ages have tried to influence God's Court, especially that court which we are told will convene on Judgement Day when God will judge the living and the dead. If you stand on the Mount of Olives and look across the Kidron Valley to the Temple Mount you will see built into the walls the Golden Gate which is bricked up. Between your vantage point and the Gate you will see thousands of grave slabs marking the graves of Jews who are buried there in the hope that when the Shofars are blown they will be first in the rush to enter the heavenly temple across a bridge which will appear over the Kidron Valley joining the graves to the Golden Gate. Incidentally one of the first to cross will be Robert Maxwell whose grave is there. When I saw the Golden Gate for the first time I asked why it had been bricked up. The reply was that the Muslims had bricked it up to stop the Jews from getting in. So trying to influence a judge is not only to be seen in human courts. Men will even try to influence God by their faith and sometimes even with their money! Now Jesus told a lovely story about a judge who could have been influenced by being given the New Testament equivalent of our case of malt whisky. A poor widow had been given short shrift by a judge over her case and it had been thrown out of court. Instead of resigning herself to a miscarriage of justice she dug her heels in and started to pester this bent judge. How she did it we are not told. Perhaps she wrote interminable letters to the Jerusalem Times. She may have even shouted rude things through his letter box. She was probably on his heels all day long raising her voice to him on every conceivable occasion until he was thoroughly fed up with her. She was probably the original stalker! In the end he gave way and reopened the case and found in her favour. 'I may be bent,' he probably said to himself, 'and do not fear God's judgement. But since she is giving me all this aggro and ear ache, I'll find in her favour and get rid of her.' The story which Jesus told is about prayer. Although God is no unjust judge, he will right wrongs.
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Jesus bids us to keep on and he said that prayer can and does change things though perhaps not always in the way that we want. The story tells us that we must pray continually. Prayer is not a 'one off' to the 'God of the gaps' in our lives. Prayer is part of an ongoing relationship and we sometimes have to tune in to God's timing and keep on praying when we don't get instant answers. Jesus' remarks at the end of his story sums it up for me. 'Will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays. So keep on with your prayerful perseverance, even nagging perseverance. We too at times are to be like the persistent widow of Luke 18.1-8. Revd Roy Baker
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IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!
We are in the process of doing the annual revision of the electoral roll. This is done so that an up-to-date list is ready for the Annual Parochial Meeting.
You still have time to put your name forward if you are not on the list
To be eligible you have to be 16 or over baptized
and either a member of the Church of England and resident in the parish (if not living in the parish
you need to have attended regularly for 6 months) , or a member of another Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and
also declare yourself to be a member of the C. of E and have attended regularly for 6 months.
The electoral roll shows how many people feel that St. Luke’s is their church family.
It doesn’t commit you to anything at all, but it does give you the right to stand for the P.C.C., be a sides-person and to be a warden.
If you have any questions please ask
Jean Cox Electoral Roll Officer
PS The list of names has been on the church door for a few weeks now and was sent out with the bulletin. Please check to see if I have made any mistakes, and then let me know. There is a PCC meeting on the 8th October so there is time to get on the electoral roll before the APCM.
Many thanks.
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SMILE LINES – A SPIRIT GUEST
When new neighbours moved in next door, they held a House Warming party and invited the entire road. My husband and I were glad to go along, as our daughters were both five years old. But next morning I was taken aback when my daughter told me that the mother had taken her into the kitchen and given her ‘a spirit guest’, which my daughter had really enjoyed. Now she wanted me to get her ‘a spirit guest.’ I was wondering how to contact the local vicar for exorcism when I realised that my daughter meant ‘asparagus'.
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REFLECTION
2020 is racing along - despite the tedium of Covid restrictions. The summer heat is dissipating as autumn storms approach. The days grow shorter and the dark evenings are closing in. But should we feel gloomy? The seasons are changing, yes, but life goes on whatever our situation. During this Covid year, we have undoubtedly lost time in our close relationships with others but perhaps gained time for reflection, or more accurately self-reflection.
Using time to reflect upon one’s strengths and weaknesses is time well spent. Thinking of ways in which we can make life better for ourselves and for those around us is no bad thing. We do need to try and step back from the busyness of daily life on occasions, and yes, self-reflect. We all need respite at times, but we must openly acknowledge that, due to life’s circumstances, this is not always possible for many people. The luxury of time spent in self-reflection does not exist for them. “Make time”, I hear you whisper. Easier said than done for those experiencing the stresses and strains of hard and uncertain times. If of faith, time away from a hectic lifestyle affords us the opportunity to read scripture more, pray more and build upon our relationship with God. Maybe lockdown has also given people of no faith a motive to find it?
Jesus needed solitude on many occasions. Clergy need sabbaticals to recharge batteries and carers need formal periods of respite to refresh mind and body. We all need a break at times.
Cramming each day with task after task eventually creates its own pressures. However, work and accomplishing tasks satisfactorily also engenders a sense of wellbeing. Finding the right balance between ‘work and play’ is the solution, of course. My own teaching lifestyle in the 1990’s felt like 100 miles an hour seven days a week. It stopped me attending church regularly, yet in my defence I did manage to hang on to my faith through scripture and prayer. Sunday as ‘a day of rest’ never entered my head. I am here reminded of a line from a John Lennon song (Beautiful Boy): “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” How true this is!
The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of reflection relates to ‘serious thought about one’s character and actions’, and the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition refers to ‘the activity of thinking about your own feelings and behaviour’. Spending too much time thinking about oneself can risk becoming self-indulgent, of course – not a good thing.
The website https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/why-is-self-reflection-important/ is worth a glance if you have the time – not meant as a pun! It lists 11 potential benefits of self-reflection, of which, to me; developing self-awareness, creating freedom, increasing compassion, increasing inner peace and developing genuine self-confidence seemed the most significant.
Having faith – Christian Faith – as stated earlier, provides you with the opportunity to develop your relationship with God. I read in Daily Bread (Scripture Union publication) 3 September last, page 82; ‘To know God is to know self; to know self is to know God.’ Can self-reflection be a key component in coming to faith? It is worth serious consideration.
“You cannot have a meaningful life without having self-reflection.” (Oprah Winfrey).
Over the past six months I have submitted articles in our magazine on Hope, Freedom, The New Normal and Reflection. Without consciously planning it, they all seemed to have had a recurring message relating to mentally preparing for a better tomorrow. If you can find God or grow in your relationship with Him through self-reflection, then lockdown with all its imposed restrictions will have given you that opportunity and will not have been in vain.
Ken Davies
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ST. LUKE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Lamar talking about how she's found the transitions to not only a new school but also a new country: I came from Saudi Arabia to London over summer. Then, I came to Formby and I was very excited. If you asked me where I prefer most then I would say here. Why? This is just the type of place that I want to live. I felt very welcomed in St. Luke's. I was very nervous at first because I thought that no one would want to be my friend but that's when I met Ava and Joni. They were the nicest people ever and welcomed me to their school. I have enjoyed it since my first week, I also really like my teacher and I have started to enjoy maths more than I used to in my old school. I really like the feeling of being around other people again and it's very nice having lots of friends. I finally feel like I exist in other people's lives. School is more fun for me now because I used to be lazy and never wanted to go to school but now I am excited and grateful to come to school. I've liked St. Luke's ever since my first tour around the school. I loved it even though there were no other students when I first visited. I am very glad to be a part of this amazing school. Joni on how school is the same whilst also being different: It's been great coming back. I made a new friend (Lamar) and everyone's been so friendly and we all got an amazing teacher. Right now, there is a global pandemic and whilst I'm at school, I feel safe because there are new rules that keep everyone safe whilst we are learning or playing. Although things have changed, there are a lot of things that are the same: The people in my class (apart from my new friend), the school (not all the same rules) and the type of school it is and always will be.
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A LOOK AT LUKE
Sunday 18th October is the 19th Sunday after Trinity in this year’s calendar. It is also the feast day of St. Luke, known as St. Luke the Evangelist, so it is perhaps a fitting moment to review his life and work. In researching this important subject, one of the things that soon became apparent was the amount of disagreement among scholars on many aspects of St. Luke’s life (and death). Well, it
was a long time ago, and new facts emerge through the passing years, especially within the archaeological disciplines. What is not in doubt, is that he was born in Antioch, then in Syria, and part of the Roman Empire. His profession is acknowledged to be that of a physician. What seems to be in dispute, however, is whether he was a Jew, or a Gentile. Many scholars insist he was a Gentile, based on the belief that the theology of the Luke-Acts writing points to his being a Gentile Christian writing for Gentiles. Other scholars think the audience was probably Jewish and Christian Gentiles at the same time. Even so, some other scholars believe Luke was a Hellenistic Jew, or at least a God fearing man. Luke’s name appears several times in The New Testament. First, in Paul’s letter to Philemon 1. 24, where he is described as a fellow – worker. Then there are mentions in Colossians 4. 14, described as “beloved physician” and 2 Timothy 4. 11 where Paul says “only Luke is with me”. Other references appear in ancient documents, but there are discussions as to whether they were from the second or the fourth century. What is not in doubt is that Luke was an educated man. His composition and range of vocabulary is pointed out by most scholars. It is agreed that Luke’s writing in The New Testament is beautifully executed. It must be added that his contribution was, without doubt, a huge influence in the development of Christianity. The Gospel of Luke does not name the author, and there is no claim that there were direct witnesses to the reported events, unlike in Acts. Beginning at the sixteenth chapter here, the grammar changes from 3rd person “they” to the first person “we”. It then changes back and forth a few times. The two book volumes which scholars call Luke-Acts, account for 27.5% of the whole of the New Testament, and is the largest contribution; more than any other author. Both books were dedicated to Theophilus. Many of the ancients thought this to be a fictitious character, but others thought it to be a real person based on the “Most Excellent” mode of address, usually used for princes. The Gospel is, as is well known, centred on the life and teachings of Jesus, whereas the Acts follows the life and travels of Paul. Paul undertook four missionary journeys, although it is the first three which appear reported in Acts. Apparently he undertook the fourth on his own. Luke seems to have joined the second journey, and if this is so, it looks likely to have been the one which commenced at Troas, the city built on the ruins of ancient Troy. It might be appropriate to look at another area of some controversy which appeared in trying to research Luke. Was he the historian that many scholars believed? They claim to understand Luke’s works in the tradition of Greek historiography. Whilst some scholars take a critical approach, others point to his accurate descriptions of towns, cities, and even whole islands. I read that the archaeologist Sir William Mitchell Ramsay put Luke as a historian of the first rank. Others agreed, but in our modern times this statement is questioned. It is argued that narrative which includes references to angels and demons is a problem as a
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historical report. I wonder, though, whether Luke regarded himself as a historian. Was that his intent? More likely he saw his work as writing to proclaim, to persuade, and interpret. Having had a look at Luke’s second great book, which was written about AD 59/60, it is appropriate to explore his first book. The Gospel is the third of the Synoptic gospels, and we owe a great deal to the industry of Luke for he records twenty miracles, which is six more than the other gospels. Also, he alone records eighteen parables including The Good Samaritan, and The Prodigal Son. There is the account of the journeys towards Jerusalem, and he gives special prominence to the Duty of Prayer and evangelizing to the Gentiles. One other factor should be mentioned here, and that is the prominence of women in his Gospel. Unlike much Jewish writings, women have an important place in the Gospel. Not only does he follow Mary, from her visitation by the Angel to explain why she has been chosen, right through to her son’s crucifixion, but he also writes about the women who accompanied Jesus such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and Martha and Mary. Luke died in March AD 84, in Thebes Boeotia, Greece. Even here there is some controversy. Some claimed he was a martyr having been hanged from an olive tree, but this has never been substantiated. He was described as a saint from the very early days of the Church. History tells us that Luke’s remains were taken to Constantinople about 338AD. Much later they were moved to Padua in Italy, and are kept in the Basilica of Santa Giustina. Following a request from the leader of the Orthodox Church, a rib which had been closest to Luke’s heart was transferred to his original burial place in Thebes. As we approach the season of Advent, it might be apposite to refer to the excellent book by Tom Wright called ‘Advent for Everyone’. It is subtitled ‘A Journey Through Luke’. Mr Wright states Luke is an ideal guide to Advent and explains that the readings have been chosen to give a focus for prayer and meditation. Let us therefore rejoice and give thanks for Luke, the patron Saint of our church here in Formby. David Moore ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Cartoons from the
Parish Pump website
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RWANDA AND DRC (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
Last month we heard the depressing news that Paul Rusesabagina had been arrested after returning to Rwanda. He was the manager of the Hotel Mille Collines in Kigali during the genocide and had saved the lives of 1268 people by keeping them safe inside the hotel while the mobs rampaged outside. This is portrayed in the film Hotel Rwanda. After the genocide, he spent some years in Belgium. He is known to be a vociferous critic of Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, but he presumably decided it was safe to return to his native country. Several charges seem to have been made against him and we can only pray that he will not receive a lengthy prison sentence. Rwanda seems to those of us who have visited several times to be well governed but it is a well-known fact that the President does not take kindly to criticism of any kind.
So we thought you might appreciate some more cheering information about this region of Africa. Allan Hobson recently asked me to write a short piece about our visit to Goma in 2004 for the book he’s writing about St. Luke’s link with Shyira. Here it is:-
ST. LUKE’S GROUP’S VISIT TO GOMA IN FEBRUARY 2004
A patient from Shyira hospital (a young girl called Furaha) who needed a prosthetic leg was to be taken to DOCS hospital in Goma on the Congolese side of the Rwanda/DRC border (this hospital was founded jointly by Dr. Jo Lusi and his English wife Dr. Lyn Lusi) so our group decided to go along - Allan and Marion Hobson, Sarah Ferguson, Pam Arnold, Margaret and Colin Cooke and also Louise King’s cousin Samuel who had been staying with Caleb and Louise in Shyira and had been doing various projects during a gap year. He was our driver. Furaha also had a friend with her who would cook meals
for her at DOCS (most African hospitals do not provide meals) and the two of them were taking with them a large sack of potatoes – so we were all squashed into the minibus. As we set off fairly late it was just after 6pm when we reached the DRC border. The office closed at 6pm and the official was already on his bike and about to cycle home. Margaret, as a French speaker, was deputed to run after him and plead with him to come back and enable us to finish our journey. He asked us to give him our passports and leave them with him till next day – which we were rather reluctant to do. Allan whipped out his mobile phone and spoke to Dr. Lusi – the English doctor who was running DOCS Hospital together with her Congolese husband Dr. Jo and she assured him that there would be absolutely no problem so we did as requested and then drove on our way.
After dropping off Furaha, her friend and the sack of potatoes at the hospital, we drove to Dr. Lusi’s lovely home on the edge of Lake Kivu – complete with English garden – where we were to stay the night. Goma has quite a few NGO personnel so there’s a supermarket which caters for European tastes and we were treated to strawberries – though I don’t now recall what the main course was. We weren’t used to plentiful running hot water so we all took the opportunity to shower and wash our hair and I can still picture the large bedroom with an efficient mosquito net.
Breakfast was eaten outside next morning at a table with a wonderful view of the lake. We recall Dr. Jo holding forth on the advisability of a varied diet – he advocated fruit and veg of 7 different colours if possible with every meal
The Lusi’s house and garden by Lake Kivu
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2004 was not long after one of the eruptions of nearby Mount Nyiragongo – a devastating one - and Lyn and Jo Lusi told us how the lava had spilled into the lake not far from their house but luckily had missed the house and garden themselves. They had been trapped for several days until they were able to get out by boat. Before we left on our return journey we went into the centre of Goma to see the devastation the eruption had caused. We saw rows of 2 storey shops with lava filling most of the ground floor. Lava is a very tough substance – more or less impossible to break up and
remove so new buildings had to be erected on top of it.
But before that visit to the former town centre, Samuel had taken us out on the lake in a small motor-boat. I recall him doing 2 trips with me and Colin on the 2nd trip and he took us quite a distance – we did have lifejackets on – to show us an idyllic piece of land which he rather fancied buying. It was quite an experience feeling so far away from civilisation – the water was very calm and there was almost absolute silence. No sign of life on the banks whatever after the first mile or so.
The return journey was uneventful. At the DRC border post, Samuel went into the office on his own to retrieve the passports and crossing the Rwanda border involved simply a bit of form-filling. We have been to Gisenyi on the Rwanda side of the border several times since but that was our only visit to Goma. Sadly we heard a few years later that Dr. Lyn Lusi had died of cancer. A wonderful person and her husband must have missed her dreadfully. But we know that the work of DOCS – now called Heal Africa - goes on.
We knew that Dr. jo Lusi is a devout Christian who very much believes in holistic medicine but when I googled him, I found quite a lot about him and his wife.
Jo (Kasereke) Lusi did his medical training in Belgium and he met his English wife Lyn in 1974 when he had returned to the DRC (then Zaire) and she came to Congo to teach. The two worked in a hospital and in schools in the northeast of the country for many years but Dr. Jo was in Kigali at the time of the Rwanda genocide as Head of the main government hospital there. Lyn was elsewhere and he went back to Goma together with thousands of Rwandans including the Hutu perpetrators of the genocide. In 2000, the two of them founded DOCS Hospital – now HEAL Africa, which became the region’s premier teaching hospital. HEAL is an acronym - it stands for health, education, action in the community, and leadership development.
Dr. Lyn Lusi very sadly died of cancer in 2012 but she was awarded the 2011 Opus Prize, a one million dollar award given by the Minnesota-based Opus Foundation to a faith-driven social entrepreneur. She did a huge amount to help the women particularly in the villages,
We believe that Dr. Jo has been serving the Congolese people to this day. He is a very experienced orthopaedic surgeon. He is also particularly interested in women’s rights and was at one stage a senator in the Congolese government where he was able to play quite a big part in championing this cause.
Margaret Cooke
Breakfast in the Lusi’s garden
Building on top of the lava in Goma
Page 12
WHO’S WHO Vicar Rev. Dr. Matt Davis Readers Prof Allan Hobson Mrs Anne Dixon Mrs Jean Watts Readers emeritus Mr Colin Trollope Mr Chris Mulford Churchwardens Mr Peter Griffin Mrs Andrea Brown Assistant Warden Mr Steve Ginn Deputy Churchwardens Mrs Ann Wood Mr John McGibbon Treasurer Mr Hugh Dixon Deputy Treasurer Mrs Gwyneth Croft PCC Secretary Mrs Christine Payne Electoral Roll Officer Mrs Jean Cox Deanery Synod Representatives Mr James Patterson Mrs Chris Payne Mr Andrew Cox Weekly Envelope Scheme Mrs Rachel Patterson and Gift Aid Legacy Officer Mr John McGibbon Parish Hall Secretary Mrs Gwyneth Croft Meeting Room Secretary Mr Steve Ginn Newsletter Editor Mrs Irene Powell Magazine Editor Mrs Margaret Cooke (Contributions to Margaret by 10th of the month please by e-mail if possible – see Page 1) Assistant Editor Mr Ken Davies Magazine Distribution Mr Colin Cooke Magazine Adverts Mrs Margaret Cooke Church and Churchyard Maintenance Mr Alan Worthington Safeguarding Officer Mrs Joyce Eddlestone Mr Ken Davies Health & Safety Officer please see wardens Woodland Workshop Co-ordinator Mr Peter Griffin Scripture Union Bible Notes Mrs Rhona Heron and Alpha organiser Cathedral Representative Mrs Elizabeth Lowe Church Mission Society and Mrs June McGibbon Mid-Africa Mission Children’s Society Boxes Mrs Rachel Patterson
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WE CELEBRATE BIBLE SUNDAY ON OCTOBER 25TH Who authorised the Bible, anyway? Question: If it was the Church that finally decided which books should be included in the Bible, then isn’t the Church the top authority? Answer: No; the Bible produced the Church, not the Church the Bible. This is the real issue: what caused a book to be accepted within the ‘Canon’ of Scripture? (Greek: kanon, ‘standard’ or ‘rule’). As far as the Old Testament was concerned: 1. Books that were recognised by Jesus Christ as infallible ‘Scripture’ could not be broken (Matthew 5:18). In John 10:35 Jesus didn’t have to explain what He meant by ‘Scripture’, though elsewhere He did refer to its different categories (law, prophets, psalms) as pointing to Himself (Luke 24:44; Matthew 24:37). All was to be believed and obeyed. 2. Books that were recognised by God’s people because of their impact. God’s people will always recognise His voice (John 10:27). Jesus clashed with the Pharisees for adding their traditions to the Scripture; yet all were agreed that the Old Testament Scriptures were God’s word. 3. Books that were recognised by the New Testament. It is significant that the New Testament features hundreds of Old Testament allusions. Only two are from the body of books known as the Apocrypha (Jude 9, 14) – seemingly in similar style to Paul’s quotation from a Greek poet (Acts 17:28). The Apocryphal books were perceived to be on a lower level. Next, what determined inclusion in the New Testament Canon? 1. Books that are Christ-centred in their emphasis. It was inconceivable to the early Church that the Gospels, for example, which focused so much upon the life and death of Jesus, could have any lower place than that given to the Old Testament Scriptures. 2. Books that are apostolic in their teaching. It was to the apostles exclusively that Jesus promised guidance ‘into all truth’ through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration (John 16:13). The result of this was the New Testament (1 Corinthians 2:12,13). Significantly, Peter brackets Paul’s writings with what he calls ‘the other scriptures’ (2 Peter 3:15,16). 3. Books that are faith-building in their effect, and thus, to be read in the congregations (John 20:30,31; 1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16; 1 Peter 2:2; Revelation 1:3). When the Christian scriptures take hold of the thinking of masses of people, they have the effect of ‘stabilising society, without sterilising it’ (historian T. R. Glover). The books of the Old Testament were becoming largely accepted by AD 70; those of the New Testament by the end of the second century. The drawing of a line around them discouraged forgers and religious peddlers. So no one really ‘put’ the books into the Bible; they put themselves in, because of their innate quality. No council by itself could have conferred authority upon the books; this, they possessed already. It is an authority that is inherent, not imposed. If art lovers say of a Renoir painting, ‘This is a genuine Renoir’, their acclaim in no way invests the painting with authority; it was already authentic. It is the same with the Scriptures; we can only recognise them as such…. and live by them. (from the Parish Pump website)
Want a good read about a fictional bishop and church goings-on?
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Ebook Edition: £2.99 available from Amazon
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NOTES ON THE PCC MEETING HELD BY ZOOM ON
25TH AUGUST 2020
1. The meeting opened with prayer.
2. A letter of thanks was sent to Alan Worthington for his work in keeping our Churchyard
pristine.
3. Plans are being finalised for the installation of Reverend Dr. Matt Davis on the 22nd September. Due to the restrictions placed on us by Covid 19, numbers must be limited. It is hoped to live stream the service so that more people are able to take part.
4. Parish Hall Update. The search for tenants is still proceeding. In order to ensure the
highest standards of safety in the present situation, notices have been placed around the hall detailing the procedures to be followed. We will undertake a Risk Assessment ourselves and ask any prospective hirer to do one of their own.
5. Vicarage Update. The Reverend Dr. Matt Davis and his family have now moved into the
Vicarage. A vote of thanks was given to the team who undertook to ready the Vicarage for use. This included the decoration of three rooms and cleaning.
6. Church Services and Rota – The Sunday services are going well. Communion will be
reinstated on the 6th September. Thanks are due to Reverend Roy Baker and Reverend Canon Frances Briscoe.
7. Finances were discussed.
8. APCM DATE CHANGE – Range High School have kindly offered us the free use of their
Sports Hall on Monday 26th October at 7.00 pm. This is a large space which affords easier social distancing. As it is half term, there will be no children in the building.
9. A change will be made to the Gift Aid envelopes as a cheaper alternative has been
sourced, offering considerable savings.
10. An organisation called ‘’Kindliness’ based in Bootle distributes baby, children’s and adult clothes to the needy. Donations of good clothing should be given to Maggie Elkington. This is a good cause which we support with clothing only, not money.
11. The meeting closed with prayer.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
SMILE LINES – THE LANGUAGE OF CHURCHGOING HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY. KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics and Anglicans can recognise besides gyros and baklava. (it means Lord have mercy) PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of the service, consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats. RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of the service - led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the carpark. TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important – and oldest - Top Ten list.
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C of E Pensions Board helps launch a new Net Zero Investment Framework A new ‘Net Zero Investment Framework’ provides the first-ever practical blueprint for investors to maximise the contribution they make in tackling climate change and achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050. The framework has been developed with over 70 global investors, representing more than USD 16tn in assets, including the Church of England Pensions Board. The initial framework has been published for consultation. Input from a wide range of stakeholders will be sought in helping validate and strengthen the work to date by investors. Five investors will also be putting the framework to the test by modelling its impact across performance of their real-world portfolios, collectively valued at USD 1.3tn. The results of this analysis will be launched with the final framework expected before the end of 2020.
Church of England and RSCM await next steps following study into singing safety The Church of England and Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) have been awaiting updated guidance on singing in places of worship after findings of a Government-backed study were published. The research project, known as ‘PERFORM’, recently published its findings on measuring aerosol production from humans. It measured singing, speaking and breathing in a zero-background environment. Researchers reported a steep rise in aerosol mass with increase in the loudness of the singing and speaking, rising by as much as a factor of 20-30. However, it was also found that singing does not produce substantially more aerosol than speaking at a similar volume. The RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris said: “We welcome this news. Singing is of such importance in worship, and this is a really encouraging step towards its safe resumption. “It is of course vital that all choirs and singing groups follow the relevant government advice, and so we look forward to receiving the latest guidance in this important area.” The Church of England and RSCM both regularly update their advice following the publication of Government guidance. Turkey turns another church into a mosque
Just a month after converting the famous Hagia Sophia into a functioning mosque, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that another historic church has been turned into a place of Islamic worship. The historic Chora church, one of Istanbul's most recognisable Byzantine buildings, was officially commissioned as a mosque in late August. The mediaeval church contains several 14th century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes portraying scenes from biblical stories - but, much like the Hagia Sophia, the artwork was covered up during the Muslim Ottoman takeover in 1453, before being unearthed again when the building was converted to a museum 70 years ago. In a recent order signed by Erdogan and published in Turkey’s Official Gazette, the government announced that the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was now officially converted to the Kariye Mosque. It is not clear when Islamic prayers will commence at the building. Many Christians reacted with words of lament and frustration at the latest action. (All 3 items from Parish Pump website)
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CROSSWORD
Across
1 He must be ‘the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well’ (1 Timothy 3:12) (6) 4 ‘For we must all — before the judgement seat of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:10) (6) 7 ‘They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their — end’ (Psalm 107:27) (4) 8 See 19 Across 9 It concerned who among the disciples would be the greatest(Luke 9:46) (8) 13 Formed by the Jews in Thessalonica to root out Paul and Silas (Acts 17:5) (3) 16 ‘He has sent me to bind up the — ’ (Isaiah
61:1) (6-7) 17 Moved rapidly on foot (Matthew 28:8) (3) 19 and 8 ‘ — a great company of the — host appeared with the angel’ (Luke 2:13) (8,8) 24 Hindrance (Romans 14:13) (8) 25 Comes between Luke and Acts (4) 26 Empower (Acts 4:29) (6) 27 ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a — !’ (John 2:16) (6) Down 1 Sunrise (Psalm 119:147) (4) 2 The part of the day when Cornelius the Caesarean centurion had avision of an angel of God (Acts 10:3) (9) 3 He was one of those who returned with Zerubbabel from exile inBabylon to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:7) (5) 4 ‘No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born — ’(John 3:3) (5) 5 Animal hunted or killed as food (Ezekiel 22:25) (4) 6 ‘He encouraged them — — remain true to the Lord’ (Acts 11:23) (3,2) 10 Ruses (anag.) (5) 11 Jewish priestly vestment (Exodus 28:6) (5) 12 Visible sign of what had been there (Daniel 2:35) (5) 13 This was the trade of Alexander, who did Paul ‘a great deal of harm’ (2 Timothy 4:14) (9) 14 ‘This is my — , which is for you; do this in remembrance of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:24) (4) 15 One of Noah’s great-great-grandsons (Genesis 10:24) (4) 18 Traditionally the first British Christian martyr (5) 20 Relationship of Ner to Saul (1 Samuel 14:50) (5) 21 Jacob had one at a place he named Bethel while on his way to Haran, fleeing from Esau (Genesis 28:12) (5) 22 Bats (anag.) (4) 23 ‘You strain out a — but swallow a camel’ (Matthew 23:24) (4) ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, PUT IT THIS WAY…
A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking. A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative. My wife really likes to make pottery, but to me it's just kiln time. I used to work in a blanket factory, but it folded.
Page 22
SMILE LINES Moses revisited Nine-year-old Joseph was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. "Well, Mum, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." "Now, Joseph, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked, somewhat alarmed. "Well, no, Mum. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!" New York The last time we went to New York, it was incredible. We circled the airport for two hours. What made it so incredible was that we were in a bus. – Anon Home I just saw a local burglar kicking his own front door in. I asked him what he was doing. He replied, "Working from home." CROSSWORD ANSWERS FROM PAGE 21
ACROSS: 1, Deacon. 4, Appear. 7, Wits. 8, Heavenly. 9, Argument. 13, Mob. 16, Broken-hearted. 17, Ran. 19, Suddenly. 24, Obstacle. 25, John. 26, Enable. 27, Market. DOWN: 1, Dawn. 2, Afternoon. 3, Nehum. 4, Again. 5, Prey. 6, All to. 10, Users. 11, Ephod. 12, Trace. 13, Metalwork. 14, Body. 15, Eber. 18, Alban. 20, Uncle. 21, Dream. 22, Stab. 23, Gnat
Page 23
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal 5:22, 23, Ps 34:8)
Opportunities To ripen your fruit in our lives,
Lord, give us opportunities.
To grow in your Spirit, Know your warmth
And your light, Allow the segments of
Self-control, gentleness, Faithfulness, goodness,
Kindness, patience, peace and joy To be lubricated and sweetened
By love, Showing the world
Your nature transforming Our natures,
In the fruit bowl of our lives In Jesus.
Lord give opportunities For the hungry to taste Your ripening fruit in us, See that you are good
And come to you.
by Daphne Kitching
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
SMILE LINES – A FAIR COP
Before the previous Prince of Wales’ first visit to the USA in 1921, he was preceded by an English con-man who sought to cash in on New York hostesses to whose dinner parties he promised to bring His Royal Highness.. Part of his patter was that he was an Oxford rowing blue. One day, in the crowded bar of the Knickerbocker Club, he found himself talking to another Englishman who asked:- “What number did you row in the 1919 boat? No. 3? 1919 and No. 3? “Oh, yes, indeed” said the con-man. “Well, in that case, all I can say is that you were sitting on my lap!” (from an anecdote by the late Sir Martin Dowhill in the book “Pass the Port Again” pub by Oxfam)
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