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Today is the 75th Anniversary of VE Day 8th May 1945
This photo was taken of the War Memorial to remind us of all
those from Fairford who lost
their lives in WW1 and WW2.
South Cotswold Team Ministry
St, Mary’s Church Fairford
PEW SHEET
Sunday 10th May 2020
fifth Sunday of Easter
This is the link to the local Sunday services.
https://www.chqchurches.net/worship-at-home.html
https://www.chqchurches.net/worship-at-home.html
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From Caroline:
01285 712467 / [email protected]
How things have changed in such a short space of time. Just a
few short
months ago we were planning this weekend – how it would be a
great
festival and celebration over the whole three days – and so it
may feel a
little disappointing that we are where we are.
So it’s so wonderful that Heather and the army of contributors
has put
together so much great material for our pew sheet this week.
Enjoy the
history, the memories, the laughs, the poetry and prayers. Even
if we
can’t be physically together marking this special anniversary of
the end
of a terrible conflict and the coming of peace, we are still
able to be
together in a real sense as we share these things together.
Do tune into the SCTM service this weekend for a special VE
Day
celebration (see the link on the first page). The team has
pulled out all
the stops to give us something very special indeed. And just as
a heads
up, I’ll be leading and preaching for the SCTM Pentecost
service, so
Fairford is contributing to the Team services as well!
Keep an eye on the St Mary’s Fairford Facebook page as well, to
see
links, information, and our continuing live broadcasts of
morning prayer
at 9am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday,
and
10am on Sunday. As last week, our Sunday service will be BCP
matins.
May God bless you all on this special anniversary weekend, and
may
you know his peace and his presence. AMEN.
With love,
Rev Caroline
mailto:[email protected]
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From Heather:
Telephone: 01285 712428
Email address: [email protected].
Please do phone or email me if you have any queries about
anything
and I will do my best to answer them. I can also pick up office
emails
This week the VE day memories are from Pat Russell. Betty Shaw
has
contributed a letter from Dwight Eisenhower to all the allied
forces. If
there is anyone else who would like to write about their
memories of their
day do please let me have them. If you don’t have a computer
write
them out and see if you can get a kindly neighbour to put them
through
my letterbox. More memories next week.
You are all sending in the most interesting photos, poems,
prayers etc. I
am trying to include as many as possible over the weeks. I am
sorry if
you think the pew sheet is rather too long! Once the VE day
memories
are completed it shouldn’t be quite so lengthy.
Contacts:
Rev’d Caroline 01285 712467
Rev’d Canon Denise Hyde 01285 713285
Mike Godsal 01285 713101
Christine Benzie 01285 713395
Jonathan Stebbing 01285 712131
Wendy Graham 01285 711765
Parish News: [email protected]
Please remember the following in your prayers:
Those that are ill: Rev’d David Gray, Jo Williams, Helen
Foxall,
Jenny Hicks, Tom Cooper Cecil Voaden
Those that have died: Audrey Johnson, Tracey Newton
NOTICES
Sunday Blue Reading Sheet
This is attached.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Online Prayer and Worship
Caroline’s morning prayer Monday to Thursday from 9.00 am
www.facebook.com/stmarysfairford
Food bank
The Food Bank is still operating from the Community Centre
(albeit from the doors) – They are the only exception to the
closure as they are designated an essential service. The Diocese of
Gloucester together with the Long Table of Stroud have created the
5000 project in response to the coronavirus crisis. Partnering with
kitchens across the county including the Royal Agriculture college
in Cirencester they have delivered over 10,000 meals in five weeks.
This includes NHS staff in our hospitals, homeless young people in
the county and food bank referrals. If you would like to donate go
to the Diocesan website
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/12553#!/DonationDetails From
Jonathan
The union flag will remain flying for
VE Day and probably for some time afterwards as all the flags
are up in
Fairford.
Messy Church
Messy Church this week is thinking about peace. There are
suggestions
for building a bridge and making origami peace cranes (one of
my
favourites!).
This African symbol also features:
It means 'no one should bite each other'
http://www.facebook.com/stmarysfairfordhttps://cafdonate.cafonline.org/12553#!/DonationDetailshttps://messychurch.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/uploads/peace.jpg?itok=Df996U04
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If you would like more details about our Messy Church activities
during
the present time please contact Sarah Bottomley 01285712074
or
[email protected]
Daily Hope from the Church of England
It is a phone number where you have the option of the prayer for
today,
hymn for today and reflections. It was created for people that
can't
access the internet for services. But also a nice thing to
listen to for
anyone. 0800 804 8044
Sent by Andrena Miles.
Christian Aid Week May 10-16 2020 has not been cancelled!
All
online this year.
Worship and Reflection
Sunday 10 May, 1.00pm: Live-streamed Christian Aid Week service
with Dr Rowan Williams.
Monday 11 - Saturday 16 May, 11am: Live daily reflections from
our
staff and partners overseas.
Fun activities
Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm: Quiztian Aid! Hosted by some of our
exciting
famous friends, put your thinking caps on for our live-streamed
quiz.
Sunday 10 - Saturday 16 May, 7.30pm: Daily fun quizzes for the
whole family throughout Christian Aid Week.
Donations
Instead of filling an envelope you can make a donation
online.
For all of the above, go to :
www.christianaid.org.uk/christian-aid-week/virtual-fundraisers
From Ann Nicholls
These are the words of a song, sadly I don’t know who wrote the
words
or in fact the tune or I would be looking to sing it for you. If
anyone does
know the origin I would be very grateful if you could let me
know
mailto:[email protected]://www.christianaid.org.uk/christian-aid-week/virtual-fundraisers
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The Rose
Some say love it is a river that drowns the tender reed,
Some say love it is a razor that leads your soul to bleed,
Some say love it is a hunger an endless aching need,
I say love it is a flower and you it’s only seed.
It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to
dance,
It’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance,
It’s the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too
long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the
strong,
Just remember in the winter beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the son’s love in the spring becomes the
Rose.
(Courtesy of Hope Price)
Abide in the power of the Almighty
Abide in the love of the Saviour
Abide in the fellowship of the Spirit
That you may bear much fruit. AMEN
Photo taken by Ingrid Morris
We are so fortunate to have a river running through our town.
What a lovely photograph.
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From Betty Shaw:
Laughter is the best medicine:
They’re back! Those wonderful Church bulletins! Thank God for
the
church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually
appeared in
church bulletins or were announced at church services!
The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning ‘Jesus Walks on the Water’. The
sermon
tonight ‘Searching for Jesus’
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid
of those
things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your
husbands.
Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang ‘I will not pass this way again’ giving
obvious
pleasure to the congregation.
(more next week)
Photo taken by Andy Wilkinson of the Judas Tree in her
garden
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Andy’s lovely photo of her Judas Tree reminded me of the poem I
found
recently:
The Ballad of the Judas Tree by Ruth Etchells In Hell there grew
a Judas Tree Where Judas hanged and died Because he could not bear
to see Hs master crucified Our Lord descended into Hell And found
his Judas there For ever hanging on the tree Grown from his own
despair So Jesus cut his Judas down And took him in his arms ‘It
was for this I came’ he said ‘And not to do you harm My Father gave
me twelve good men And all of them I kept
Though one betrayed and one denied Some fled and others slept In
three days’ time I must return To make the others glad But first I
had to come to Hell And share the death you had My tree will grow
in place of yours Its roots lie here as well There is no final
victory Without this soul from Hell So when we all condemn him As
of every traitor worst Remember that of all his men Our Lord
forgave him first. From the Church of Scotland website for Easter
Day
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Ruth Etchells 1931-2012 was one of the most influential women in
the Church of England, a university lecturer, poet and “the best
female bishop we never had”. She had a rare compassion, intensity
and visionary quality balanced by a self-deprecating wit. And a
depth of intuition which made her a good spiritual director and
chaplain. From the obituary in The Guardian dated 27 Aug 2012.
From Betty Shaw:
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force was the
headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west
Europe,
from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General
Dwight D.
Eisenhower was the commander in SHAEF throughout its
existence
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Western+Front&filters=sid%3a7c9cc93e-4f1e-e4a6-552f-1510f330f677&form=ENTLNK
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From Pat Russell
I was ten years old when the war in Europe ended so I remember
VE
Day very well. I had lived in Walthamstow on the edges of the
East End
of London with my parents all through the war so had
experienced
bombing, dog fights (the overhead battle between German and
British
planes) ack-ack gun fire, barrage balloons in the park at the
end of our
back garden, bombed out buildings as playgrounds and all the
dangers
and annoyances of doodlebugs and V2 bombs. So the relief and
excitement when the end came was very real indeed.
A street party somewhere in the UK on 8th May 1945
An impromptu street party just happened on the day itself. As we
were
one of the only houses in the road with a piano, it was pushed
out into
the middle of the road, and because most weekends during the war
we
had musical weekends either at our house or “Auntie Dot’s” down
the
road, with Auntie playing the piano (she was a music teacher)
her
husband Uncle Ted played the accordion and my Da the drums
plus
other visiting ‘musicians’ from time to time, we had ready-made
band.
The result was a good old East End Knees-Up. Food and drink
wasn’t
too abundant, although people had been saving some goodies for
this
day in mind, and we also lit a huge bonfire in the road where
potatoes in
their profusion were baked, thanks to the “Dig for Victory”
campaign
which meant most people with gardens grew as much fruit and
vegetables as possible.
Dancing and singing went on well into the night with many
people
revealing hidden talents which was a revelation to us all,
especially us
kids as it hadn’t occurred to us that grownups could be fun. We
had a
great time of course, being mostly nuisances I imagine. I
remember a
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group of us tried to invade the “stage” and sing what was
possibly
Andrews Sisters songs but we were soon repelled as our singing
wasn’t
as good as we thought it was.
The next morning there was a huge burnt patch in the road, left
by the
bonfire, but I don’t remember any repercussions about that.
The occasion has unexpected consequences, as the “band” had
proved
so popular that it was requested to play at many subsequent
street
parties. And also in church and school halls for birthdays,
weddings etc.
It also grew, with other instruments joining in. – I recall two
saxophones,
a clarinet and even a lady singer who sang Vera Lynn and Ann
Shelton
songs, plus a few more lively ones with American influences.
After a few
years, my Dad (who didn’t have the best of health) got worn out
with
carrying his heavy drum kit and down stairs to various venues.
It was a
lot different to carrying a clarinet!
Of course, I greatly enjoyed all the musical activity because I
tagged
along to most of the events. Sad to say, although I learned to
play the
piano, I never achieved the dizzy heights of performing in a
band for
parties.
and finally…
For those who are not too savvy with their computer and would
like to be
transported back to 1945 go to youtube/veralynn and listen to
her songs!
