St Mary’s Parish Magazine – February 2003

 

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Mystery Mags

Hey, Big Spender!!!

Friendly Families

Let Beddington Bloom

I should have listened to my dad!

From the registers

Baptisms

Funerals

What’s On This Month? - February

Ringing Matters

Big Brother is watching

St Mary’s Guild

Readings for Sundays & Festivals in March

St Mary’s Ringers invite you to their QUIZ NIGHT

Churches Together In Wallington - Lent Lectures 2003

Saints in February

Daily prayer topics in February

Music at Evensong in February

Anthems

Canticles

Christmas Revisited

Fred Builds A Stairway To …

Churches Together Christmas Lunch

 

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On Sunday, 2 February we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple as a child (otherwise known as Candlemas).  The 9.30 am Sung Eucharist will begin in the Centre, as we hear the proclamation of Jesus as the Light of the World, and we then carry our lighted candles in procession into church before the Eucharist itself continues in the usual way.

 

On Sunday, 9 February the Guides and Brownies will join us once again for the celebration of the 9.30 am Sung Eucharist.

 

Our congratulations to John and Mary Tapp who celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary on Friday, 14 February and will be renewing their marriage vows during the Sung Eucharist at 9.30 am on Sunday, 16 February.

 

The annual Ringers Quiz Night on Saturday, 15 February is fast approaching and bookings need to be made by Sunday, 9 February.  Full details here.

 

Shrove Tuesday this year falls on 4 March and, as usual, pancakes will be served in the Church Centre from 7.30 pm onwards.  Betty and her helpers are looking forward to seeing you there.  As well as pancakes there will be puzzles, quizzes, a raffle and sales table.  Ticket cost £3 and will be on sale from mid-February.

 

On Ash Wednesday, 5 March, both Eucharists will include the imposition of ashes as the mark of our corporate commitment to the process of Lent.  They are (said) at 10 am and Choral at 7.30 pm.  The ashes are made by burning last year’s palm crosses, so please make sure that you have returned yours to Selwyn, either in church or through the Rectory letterbox, by lunchtime on Shrove Tuesday.

 

Friday, 7 March is the Women’s World Day of Prayer.  Services will be held at 10.30 am at Bandon Hill Methodist Church where the invited speaker will be Mrs Maureen Kyle, MU Southwark Diocesan President; and at 7.30 pm at St Michael’s, North Beddington, where the speaker will be Miss Christine Childs.  Both services will be followed by refreshments.

 

Churches Together in Wallington have drawn up a list of Lent Lectures for 2003. Full information here.

 

Details of the Bishop’s Lent Appeal and Selwyn’s Lent Lunches will appear in the March magazine.

 

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Mystery Mags

Some of you may be wondering why there are copies of many different church magazines on a sort of washing line affair under the notice board in the lobby between the church and the centre. Well, the reason is that it is part of the Churches Together’s aim  to increase unity and sharing of information/services. It was thought a good idea to swap mags/newsletters on a regular basis.

 

Some churches produce a monthly magazine like us, others a bi-monthly, some a weekly newsletter or whatever, and they will keep us up-to-date as and when published.

 

I’m sure you will find them useful if looking for a service, activity or group that our own church may not be able to provide at that time or, indeed, if we can offer something others cannot find at their own church.

 

It is important that we support each others functions, fundraisers and prayer  services in order that the many faces of Christianity in Beddington and Wallington are recognised as a united and friendly one.

 

Please take some time post-service on your way for coffee to have a look through them - there are some very interesting, entertaining and spiritually inspiring pieces in them.

 

Carolyn Churchyard

 

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Hey, Big Spender!!!

January/February is the main time of year for renewing advertising subscriptions.  The money raised from this is considerable and finances the magazine.  It is also a relatively painless way of raising money.

 

However, some businesses do not renew for various reasons, the main one being that they get little or no response from us.  Some of our advertisers do not have any particular connection with the Church and we must not take their support for granted, so there are various things we can do to keep our sponsors happy.

 

Firstly, try and make use of them and, when you do, mention St Mary’s.  (I bought an excellent Christmas Tree from Laura, the florist.)  Secondly, recommend their services to others.

 

I have a couple of potential new advertisers in mind for this year, but more often than not it is the personal touch that counts.  If there is a local shop or business that you use, maybe you could persuade them to place an advertisement with us.  However, if you would prefer me to make the approach I will gladly do so.  A small advert costs just £25 a year.

 

If you can help, speak to me after the morning service or contact me on 020 8642 8199.

 

THE MORE ADVERTISEMENTS, THE MORE MONEY WE RAISE!

 

Bob Pedrick

 

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Friendly Families

Just a quick note from the families team (Carolyn, Anne and Helena).  We are working hard to ensure that families who worship at St Mary's are well catered for: adding toddler loo facilities, emergency requirements to go alongside the already provided changing mat in the disabled loo, keeping toys up-to-date, etc.

 

We hope to produce a leaflet to tell families what's available to make visiting St Mary's happy and stress-free for themselves, their children and the rest of the congregation.

 

We also now have a full calendar of events organised for 2003:

 

February - carry in curry night

April - Easter party

June - Family Funday

August - families outing

October - alternative to Halloween party

December - Christmas celebrations

 

If you are a St Mary's family - through services, Toddler Club, Sunday School or choir - please ask either myself, Anne or Helena to go on our mailing list, or to find out what's going on.

 

We hope to open our events with a Families at St Mary's Prayer:

 

Lord we thank you for the gift of friendship.

For the blessing of children and the challenges and rewards they bring.

Help us support and encourage each other.

Thank you for the shared times, laughter and happiness.

Help us use the wisdom and experience here at St Mary's

to nurture the next generation with dedication, fellowship and love.

Amen.

 

Carolyn Churchyard

 

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Let Beddington Bloom

Last summer my neighbour commented that he had never seen my garden look so good - a backhanded compliment, I thought, considering the work I'd put in each year. But what he was seeing was the result of over-indulgence in Sutton Seeds Fundraising Scheme.

 

Under Sutton's scheme 20 per cent of the cost of their seeds and plants goes towards a nominated charity, in my case the Tower and Bells Fund. I now have a good supply of the 2003 catalogue ready for you to browse through. Those who used the system last year were full of praise for the plants they received so why not give it a go yourself this year.

 

It works very simply. Make your choice from the wide range in the catalogue, fill in the order form, make out a cheque for the full sum to Jean Kimber and hand it over to her to process, and Sutton's does the rest. Your plants will be sent direct to you by post, ready for growing on or planting out.

 

Whatever you choose keep an eye on the last date for placing an order as shown in the catalogue.

 

I'll have the catalogues with me in church, there will be some on the table under the tower, or in desperation you can give me a ring on 8660 4254.

 

Stewart Kimber

 

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I should have listened to my dad!

My old dad always used to say (jokingly): “Never volunteer”.  I think it was a left-over from his army days.  But I didn’t listen, and I volunteered, and that’s how I find myself editor of this magazine. 

 

My qualifications for the job: very few.  But I can recognise a computer from a photocopier and that seemed a good enough starting point.  I have NEVER done anything like this before, which makes stepping into Stewart’s shoes an even greater challenge, but he has promised to hold my hand (that swung it!) for a couple of months so I hope to keep smiling.

 

My thanks to all who have been so helpful and sympathetic - it’s exactly what I’m going to need for the next few months. Oh, and I’ll apologise in advance for any errors and omissions that might sneak in whilst I’m looking the other way.

 

The very fact that you are reading this means that the magazine was produced and was recognisable though, as I write, it remains to be seen whether I will meet that all-important deadline.

 

Chris Morgan

 

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From the registers

Baptisms

Jan 12: William Paul James Willoughby and Christopher Sean Michael Willoughby, both of 27 Russell Court, Ross Road, Wallington

Funerals

Dec 16 Winnifred Maud Bridge, aged 103, of 1a Lavington Road.

Dec 30 Dolly Ethel May Smith, aged 84, of 42 Crispin Crescent.

 

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What’s On This Month? - February

SUN

2

 

CANDLEMAS

 

Mon

3

 

Magazine Panel meets, 35 Vanguard Way

6.00 pm

Mon

3

 

Bible Study group meets, 23 Mortlake Close

8.00 pm

Tues

4

 

Parents and Toddlers meet in Church

10.00 am

Wed

5

 

St Mary’s Guild meets, St Mary’s Court

2.30 pm

Thu

6

 

MU&OG: Tom Davis talks about the Bow Street Runners, Church Centre

8.00 pm

SUN

9

 

EPIPHANY 5 Guides and Brownies attend 9.30 am Eucharist

 

Mon

10

 

Bible Study group meets, 23 Mortlake Close

8.00 pm

Tue

11

 

Social Committee meets, 2 Caraway Place

8.00 pm

Wed

12

 

Deanery Synod meets, St Paul’s, Roundshaw

7.45 pm

Thu

13

 

Churches Together meets, Church Centre

7.45 pm

Sat

15

 

Ringers’ Quiz Night, Church Centre

7.00-7.30 pm

SUN

16

 

THIRD BEFORE LENT

 

Mon

17

 

Bible Study group meets, 23 Mortlake Close

8.00 pm

Wed

19

 

MU corporate Eucharist

10.00 am

Thu

20

 

MU&OG:  Mandy Campbell, MU Deanery Rep, visits.  Church Centre

8.00 pm

SUN

23

 

SECOND BEFORE LENT

 

Mon

24

 

Bible Study group meets, 23 Mortlake Close

8.00 pm

Tue

25

 

PCC meets, Church Centre

8.00 pm

 

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Ringing Matters

A night off from ringing was probably just what the band needed. Christmas and New Year had produced the usual busy schedule at the end of a pretty hectic year.  The AGM was held on 2 January at 2 Peaks Hill and provided the opportunity for looking back over the year's events.

 

The fundraising activities had been many and varied.  Our allocated church events had included the Quiz Night, the Jubilee weekend celebrations, the Tramps Supper, the Chimes Concert and the Christmas Fair. We had opened the tower to visitors, provided refreshments, sold plants and had a photographic display.

 

Outside events had included an Auction held in St Patrick's hall and a stall at the Sutton Environmental Fair.  We had sold goods on various occasions and received donations from many sources. A most welcome grant of £15,000 from the Surrey Association of Bellringers has given us a real boost and now begging letters are being sent to many other grant-making trusts.  Here's hoping!

 

Aside from fundraising, there were many other activities to hold the ringers' attention.  The Association holds meetings, where ringing affairs are discussed as well as bells being rung, and social activities such as the Association Quiz, barn dances and dinners.  We entered all the competitions with varying degrees of success (usually 2nd to Croydon!) and had a most successful outing, which included Canterbury Cathedral, at the end of August.  (This year's outing date - August 30).  We also had a Tower Christmas Dinner at TGI Friday's.

 

On the home front, the band continues to flourish.  We generally manage to ring all 10 bells twice on Sundays but it needs just about everyone there.  We lost two ringers during the year - Nigel Thomson, who moved with his family to East Grinstead, and Angela Collins, who returned "up North" to work. We did, however, gain another young lady, Sonya Murray, who came as a ready-made ringer from Kent. She is a great asset to us.

 

We work hard to improve our standards and it was gratifying to hear a local resident remark on an Open Day that they could tell the difference between our Sunday service ringing and the ringing on our practice nights!

 

We started a new recruit in the summer and she would be delighted if anyone felt they would like to join her. How about a New Year Resolution? Try a new challenge. Thursday evenings, 7.45 pm. See you there.

 

The Society's officers remain the same: Master - Stewart Kimber, Steeplekeeper - Stan Coleman, and Secretary - Jean Kimber.

 

I should like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported our Project in the past year, whether by donating money from their own events or by actively supporting ours. Our total is creeping up. We've nearly reached £45,000 and if we can get to £50,000 soon, we will be able to start putting in bids for the work to begin next year. Please help us reach our target.

 

Jean Kimber

 

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Big Brother is watching

Have you ever had that feeling that someone is looking at you? If you felt like that during the last three months of 2002, and the someone was a church-warden, then you were right, we were looking at you.

 

Sundays in October, November and the beginning of December were the days for the Annual Congregational Count. The figures collected are sent to the Archdeaconry and thence to the Archbishop’s Council for compiling the ‘Statistics for Mission’ - a national programme. On the way, they provide the Diocese with information for the Fairer Shares Assessments (our Treasurer can tell you all about those) and for all sorts of other useful projects.

 

So why were we looking at you? To fill in the form correctly, we had to remind ourselves whether you had been to church more than once that day - or that week, and assess whether you are under or over 16 - this last not as easy as you may think. We also had to make up our minds whether each Sunday was ‘normal’ or whether there was some local event to affect the figures - half-term for instance. We always hoped we would not have such wide fluctuations that we would have to start calculating averages. Fortunately not so this year.

 

We were pleased that our final figures showed a small increase on last year’s. That is good news and very interesting at this particular time when so much is written and spoken about the decline in churchgoing.

 

Pat Kingsbury

 

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St Mary’s Guild

When the Rector gave his annual talk to the Guild in 2002, he recalled its foundation and early history:  how originally it was a communicants’ guild intended to promote regular attendance at the Eucharist, but had since developed social and recreational activities.  One of the highlights of the church calendar used to be the supper the Guild arranged at Candlemas.

 

At the Guild AGM, the Rector put forward his proposals to make clear the present purpose of the Guild.  He drew up a new constitution based on present practice, but looking forward to revived or new practices which could help the Guild - despite its small membership - to contribute to the mission of St Mary’s.  The members agreed that they would try to attend, as a group, on the five following occasions in the church year:

 

Candlemas

Sunday, 2 February 2003, 10 am

The Stations of the Cross

Wednesday, 16 April 2003, 2.30 pm

Sunday of Thanksgiving for the Gift of the Eucharist

Sunday, 22 June 2003, 9.30 am

Harvest Thanksgiving

Sunday, 21 September 2003, 9.30 am

All Souls

Saturday, 1 November 2003, 7.30 pm

 

We would like to remind everyone that the Guild is open to all parishioners and to residents of St Mary’s Court, where it meets at 2.30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month.

 

Margaret Freeman

 

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Readings for Sundays & Festivals in March

 

Sun 2 Mar

Next Before Lent

2 Kings 2: 1-12 (page 500)

2 Corinthians 4: 3-6 (page 502)

Mark 9: 2-9 (page 503)

 

Wed 5 Mar

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2: 102, 12-17 (page 97)

2 Corinthians 5: 20b 6: 10(page 101)

Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 (page 102)

 

Sun  9 Mar

Lent 1

Genesis 9: 8-17 (page 507)

1 Peter 3: 18-22 (page 508)

Mark 1: 9-15 (page 509)

 

Sun 16 Mar

Lent 2

Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 (page 510)

Romans 4: 13-25 (page 511)

Mark 8: 31-38 (page 513)

 

Sun 23 Mar

Lent 3

Exodus 20: 10-17 (page 514)

1 Corinthians 1: 18-25 (page 517)

John 2: 13-22 (page 518)

 

Sun 30 Mar

Lent 4

Numbers 21: 4-9 (page 519)

Ephesians 2: 1-10 (page 520)

John 3: 14-21 (page 521)

 

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St Mary’s Ringers invite you to their QUIZ NIGHT

Church Centre

Saturday,  February 15

First question - 7.30 pm

 

Teams of  six needed.  No team?  Contact Pat Kingsbury.

£6 per head. Ring 8660 4254 to book.

Fish & Chips etc., tea & coffee

Bring your own extras!

 

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Churches Together In Wallington - Lent Lectures 2003

8.00 PM AT ST ELPHEGE’S CHURCH, STAFFORD ROAD

 

‘SPIRITUALITY AND …’

 

TUESDAY 11 MARCH 2003

 

SPIRITUALITY AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

         WITH STEVE CHALKE of the Oasis Trust

 

WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH 2003

 

SPIRITUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE

         WITH JILL GARRETT former MD of Gallop and Head Teacher

 

WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2003

 

SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION

         WITH CANON PHILIP KING Past General Secretary of the C of E Synod Board of Mission

 

WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2003

 

SPIRITUALITY AND SCIENCE

         WITH DR DENIS ALEXANDER   Research Scientist & Broadcaster, author of ‘Rebuilding the Matrix’

 

WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2003

 

SPIRITUALITY AND SUFFERING

         WITH DR MARIE JOSEPH of St Raphael’s Hospice

 

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Saints in February

Mon     3      Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865

Fri      14      Cyril and Methodius, missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885

Mon   17      Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, martyr, 1977

 

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Daily prayer topics in February

 

Sat       1               Readers re-dedication services today

Sun       2               Give thanks for the Province of the Indian Ocean

Mon     3               Anglican sponsored AIDS programme

Tue      4               Our Parents & Toddlers group

Wed      5               Clergy working with young people in schools and colleges

Thu      6               The work of the Mothers Union overseas

Fri        7               Local businesses and shops

Sat       8               Our Guides and Brownies

Sun       9               Give thanks for the Church of the Province of Burundi

Mon   10               The Spires Centre for the homeless in Streatham

Tue    11               Lasting solutions to housing and homelessness

Wed    12               The Deanery Synod meeting tonight

Thu    13               The Bishops Council meeting tonight

Fri      14               Doctors, dentists, nurses and healthcare workers

Sat     15               The Ringers Quiz Night and all attending

Sun     16               Give thanks for the Province of Hong Kong

Mon   17               Local hospitals and clinics

Tue    18               All who work in the industries and on the estates in the parish

Wed    19               All involved in preparing couples for marriage

Thu    20               An end to all racism

Fri      21               Zimbabwe and its people

Sat     22               All who serve on Diocesan and Provincial missions

Sun     23               Give thanks for the Church of the Province of Central Africa

Mon   24               General Synod meeting, 24-26 February

Tue    25               Our PCC meeting tonight

Wed    26               The Board for Church in Society meeting tonight

Thu    27               All PTOs in the diocese

Fri      28               All churchwardens in the diocese

 

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Music at Evensong in February

Anthems

Battishill       O Lord Look Down

Harris           Holy Is The True Light

Matthias       As Truly As God

Bairstow       Save Us O Lord

Canticles

Purcell in G Minor

Arnold in A

Wood in G atb

Holman in F Minor

 

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Christmas Revisited

I know it's February and it's way past Christmas, but when a friend asks a favour you have to do your best.

 

A couple of weeks ago a dear old grey-haired man (sorry Stan) came up to me in the tower and stuffed a couple of bits of paper in my hand.  My immediate thoughts were that he had found the compromising photographs of me shopping in ASDA at midnight.  As anyone who knows me would realise, these would have to have been computerised fakes, as I am a Fortnum & Mason man through and through.

 

Getting back to the incident in the tower and the two bits of paper, Stan said to me: "Have a read of these and I guarantee you will have a laugh."  What they turned out to be were a couple of Christmas cracker jokes with a topical slant which I must admit did make me chuckle. 

 

"Can you do an old friend a favour?" said Stan.  “Get your missus to put these in the magazine.”  I had to explain to him at some length that although the new editor was my nearest and dearest, I would have to do penance just to get a look in.

 

After a week of washing up and doing the shopping, I managed to obtain an audience and put my case.  Luckily the dear old thing was short of a few words and graciously granted me some space.

 

You must be absolutely dying to find out what these two excruciatingly funny cracker jokes are, so here is the first one:

 

         Q.      How many weeks belong to the year?

         A.       46.  The others are only lent!

 

OK, so I was lying and it's a really bad joke but I suggest after a couple of drinks you may find it mildly amusing.  What I've done is kept the best one to last and here it is:

 

         Q.      What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?

         A.       "It's Christmas Eve!"

 

Now you must admit this one is really funny, isn't it?

 

Dear Stan – please don't ask me any more favours as I now have to do the washing and ironing as well.

 

Mike Morgan

 

(Guess why he's right at the back ...editor)

 

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Fred Builds A Stairway To …

In last month’s magazine, Mary Tapp wrote a very good article on the renewal of the door to the roof of the tower.  The door had rotted and was allowing cold and rain to come in.  After completing this task some wood was left over and was surplus to requirements.  As the only ladder to the roof was an old unsupported builders ladder, it was felt that this timber could be used to make a proper staircase.

 

I am pleased to say that this has now been constructed and installed, is fixed securely to the walls and floor, and has a support handle at high level to allow safe access to the roof.

 

Fred Dibnah protégé

 

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Churches Together Christmas Lunch

I know Christmas seems a long time ago, but the Churches Together Christmas Lunch deserves a mention.

 

Nineteen drivers ferried some 70 guests to a festively decorated St Patrick's Church hall where they were settled in with a free raffle ticket and a glass of sherry or punch.  Then they were served with a turkey lunch followed by Christmas pudding or trifle. They were entertained by a magician and some young musicians who, after they got over their initial nervousness, said it was an honour to be there. The son of one of the helpers became Father Christmas.  Brownies and Cubs had made cards for each person which especially thrilled one lady who said: "Somebody has made this just for me.  I shall keep it."  Tears were shed, but they were happy ones.  Every guest was given a box of biscuits and some bath beads to take home and there were over 50 raffle prizes.

 

Six members of St Mary's were amongst those who helped on the day or Christmas Eve.  All the helpers, and certainly the guests, enjoyed themselves immensely.  One young Guide helper worked very hard on both days, but said her friend was jealous of her as she was having such a good time!

 

We met this week to review the day and several workers were talking with enthusiasm about how they would do things next year - so book the date and come along. You will have a great time and help many people who would probably otherwise be all alone on Christmas Day.

 

Pam Vernon

 

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