Justine Writes

Saints and Commemorations in April

Snippets

Praying for you in April

Readings in April

Mothers’ Union Meetings

From the Registers

Origins of Easter

The Secret of the Shower Gel

The Corgi Controversy ends

Christian Aid

Now you know how to set the date of Easter

Twenty years ago

Thirty Years On

Deanery Synod Future Dates

Praying in April

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Commemorations in April

St Mark  April 25

Frederick Denison Maurice

Beat the credit crunch - book a church wedding, says bishop

Things to do at Easter

Services and Events in Holy Week

Easter Quiz

Whistling carrots

 

Justine Writes

As those of you who have read the magazine regularly  will know I’m a far from good gardener.  But we have been trying with the rectory garden.  Last year we spent what seemed to be a fortune putting plants into the new flowerbed, and to start to create what I am optimistically calling the ’hot bed’ full of oranges, blues and purples. Most of the plants were perennials, the theory being that they would last and last. But I wasn’t convinced.  I am sure that I’d manage to kill them first time round.

 

So imagine my surprise when I discovered on a recent wander round the garden that they’d all come back again.  So far I have seen what I think are the right plants everywhere I expected to see them, and I’m absolutely thrilled and feeling a bit proud.

 

Of course I know that, in reality I had almost nothing to do with it, that it was simply nature taking its course.  But doesn’t it feel amazing every spring to watch the garden and the park come back to life, to see new life where everything looked dead, as if life had seeped out forever.

 

That’s why in the Church’s year I look forward so much to the Easter Vigil service at 5:30 on Easter morning.  After the long drag through Lent, when the church building has looked so bare without flowers, the stark unbleached linen hangings and robes, when it seems as if we’re never going to get out of feeling low—suddenly the joy of Easter fills the air.  The church is full of the sight and smell of flowers, candles are burning filling the church with new light, the choir sings joyful anthems, we rejoice to say, sing and shout the word Alleluia! As often as possible.  The hangings are white and gold, even the service sheets are bright yellow.  New life has really come back into the church, we are filled with new passion, new hope, new joy.

 

And that’s what it should be like, because we are celebrating the life that is the power of God and the power of God’s love.  We are celebrating the hope and the joy of the Resurrection, resurrection to new life that doesn't depend on our abilities, our worthiness, our goodness.  New life that is ours this year and every year, that allows us to blossom and grow into God’s image as we grow closer to Jesus.

 

Now that’s a real source of perennial hope.

 

Saints and Commemorations in April

1       Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher of the Faith, 1872

9       Dietrich Bonheoffer, Lutheran Pastor, Martyr, 1945

10     William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761

10     William of Ockham, Friar, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1347

11     George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, 1878

16     Isabella Gilmore, Deaconess, 1923

19     Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1012

21     Anselm, Abbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith,   1109

23     George, Martyr, Patron of England, c.304

24     Mellitus, Bishop of London, first Bishop at St Paul's, 624

25     Mark the Evangelist

27     Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894

28     Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841

29     Catherine of Siena, Teacher of the Faith, 1380

30     Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922


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Snippets

Another Springfield Ding-dong

The Ringers' Quiz Night was once more an enjoyable occasion. The Augmented 4ths - the Rector's team - tried really hard to gain the Trophy and nearly made it. But once again, the team from Springfield emerged the winners. Well done, everyone who came along, especially the newcomers, and we'll hope to see you all again next year.
£226 was raised for Zimbabwe and the heating.

 

New Neighbours?

Do you have new neighbours in your road or in your block of flats?

If so, please put one of the ‘Welcome to the Neighbourhood’ cards through their letter box. These can be found on the table under the tower in the church.  Thank you.

 

Mothering  Sunday

‘Bon Bons Por Maman’ or, as it is translated, Sweet Treats for Mothering Sunday – was indeed a treat.  Guy Middlemiss on the piano and David Tabbat with his cello entertained us for an hour with music by Schumann, Fauve, Ravel and Cassado. And for their encore, because it was Mothering Sunday, what else but ‘Are you Sitting Comfortably…?’ Then followed the other Sweet Treats; tea with scones, jam and cream, cake, and a platter of fresh fruit.  The audience showed their appreciation by asking for more, not only tea but music.  The Fundraising Committee took note and consulted their diaries.  Watch this space.


 

Praying for you in April

Every Sunday we pray for people living and working in two or three roads in the parish.

5 April

Bond Gardens & The Holt

12 April

Berkeley Court & Bampfylde Close

19 April

Paston Close & Bloxworth Close

26 April

Croydon Road & West Lodge


 

Readings in April

5th April (Palm Sunday)

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Philippians 2:5-11

The Passion Narrative

12th April Easter Day

Isaiah 25:6-9

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 

John 20:1-18

19th April

Acts 4:32-35

1 John 1:1-2:2

John 20:19-31

26th April

Acts 3:12-19

1 John 3:1-7

Luke 24:36b-48

 

Mothers’ Union Meetings

In any organisation it is easy to see only our own small part.  It is always good to meet with members of other branches and indeed countries to be reminded of all the work done in the name of Mothers’ Union worldwide.

 

At Mary Sumner House this month, we were told of a new book, ‘A Good Childhood’ which is a report on childhood today which was very disturbing.  A few days later, we were at a Roadshow at Croydon Parish Church.  Here, we heard about the Social Policy, the report of which is printed in ‘Policy Watch’.  Three Mothers’ Union members are in New York discussing the Status of women and gender equality in families.  We are encouraging to write to our MP about new bills.

 

Next we heard about the beginning of parenting courses.  They were originally based on a scheme based in Surbiton, together with Barnardos.  The course of facilitators is comparable with an A-Level course with written work to complete between classes.  They are based on ‘London Open College Network’ and are in three age groups.

 

Southwark Mothers’ Union has trained, qualified people to run courses.  Training courses cost about £350.  A course is in progress at the moment at Holy Trinity Church, Redhill.  All details learned about the families involved is totally confidential.  The leader needs to be aware of anybody feeling uncomfortable.  She does not tell parents how to run their families but encourages them to discuss together, sharing information as to how each has coped with various problems. They are taught to appreciate the importance of encouragement, listening with eye contact, talking with children and spending quality time together, maybe round the meal table.  Each parent needs to make time for him/herself as well.

 

After the coffee break, we were each given a coloured bead, red, green or blue and asked to stand in a straight line. The reds could read and were therefore aware of training programmes, numerate so could earn money for projects.  They finally had a stand pipe for water.  As each advantage was announced, they stepped forward.  The greens were not far behind but we poor blues, being illiterate did not know of courses.  They were miles from where we lived and the men were unable to leave their lands and the women their children.  At each stage, we took a step backwards.  It was a visual example of the gaps in the haves and have nots in the world.

 

There is a programme with a DVD illustrating these facts, called ‘Home’.  The Relief Fund deals with emergency needs and in January alone, £20,000 was sent to Sudan, Uganda and Congo.

 

Many branches have links with others abroad with whom they correspond.  A recent letter from Aba was read, the first of a very long time.  Our link is now with the Congo thanks to Judy and details are on our board.

 

Zimbabwe

Paul Goodridge has been asked and has accepted to serve on the  Croydon Area Zimbabwe Link Group.  Paul visited Zimbabwe with the Area Group in 2007 and has kept in constant contact since.

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From the Registers

Wedding

Lewis Whitehall and Zoe Tegg

28th March 2009

 

Origins of Easter

Easter is perhaps nowadays seen as a mostly Christian festival but in fact its origins lie in three religious faiths - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian.

 

Pagan tradition suggests that the name Easter is derived from Ostara or Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring to whom the month of April was dedicated.

 

Another Pagan tradition that can coincide with Easter is the vernal equinox or the Festival of Spring in March, which symbolises the rebirth of nature following the cold days of winter.

 

Even today Pagan symbols live on in the celebration of Easter with the hare, a symbol of fertility, becoming the Easter Bunny and brightly decorated eggs which were originally used to represent the colours of the new spring. Eggs were also an important fertility symbol.

 

Easter is also connected to the Hebrew "pesach" (Passover) festival that is an important date in the Jewish calendar commemorating the flight and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt and slavery when the angel of death "passed over" their dwellings offering them protection.

 

Passover is celebrated over eight days and many of the early Christians, who were of Jewish origin, regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival.

 

According to Christian tradition Easter is a major celebration marking the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was crucified on what is known to Christians as Good Friday and was resurrected three days later on Easter Sunday. Rolling decorated Easter Eggs is seen to represent the rolling away of the rock from the tomb of Jesus.

 

Easter marks the end of the period of Lent that begins on Ash Wednesday and is a time of penitence in preparation for the highest festival of the church. Although there are 46 days from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday Lent itself only lasts 40 days as Sundays are excluded.

 

The last week of Lent is celebrated as Holy Week and begins with Palm Sunday that marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as the crowds laid palms at his feet. Maundy Thursday marks the Last Supper before the anniversary of the crucifixion on Good Friday., and the Resurrection on Easter Sunday

 

The Secret of the Shower Gel

You may recall the recent mysterious notices about shower gel and fund raising, with Paul encouraging you to pass on any unwanted bottles of the stuff to me, Jane Gates.

 

I have been asked by more than one or two, (not surprisingly!) “What are you going to do with them?”   So please allow me to clarify!

 

It’s not shower gel in particular that I need; that was just an example.  I need donations of all manner of things, from unwanted gifts (I think that’s where the shower gel came in) to things such as ornaments, gadgets, DVD's.  glass, in fact anything you can think of that you don’t need or want but that somebody else might. 

 

The items are needed for a ‘Silent Auction’ which we will be holding in church during May. The items will be displayed in the Centre during coffee time over a number of Sunday mornings, so you will all have a chance to browse and bid on anything that takes your fancy. In order to bid, you will enter your name and the amount you are willing to pay for that item, on a sheet. Others may then come along and outbid you! I have seen a pair of iconic ‘Coronation Street’ socks raise about ten quid in this way, with two parties in good-natured rivalry trying to outbid one another!

 

On the last morning of the auction, the person who has placed the last bid on the sheet is the successful purchaser and takes the items away.

 

So, thank you to all those who have already given things to me and I look forward to receiving more items. Please be having a think about whether you have anything at home that may be useful, have a sort-out and place anything you have, in the labelled plastic container under the table at the back of church. Anything we do not use this time WILL be recycled for use at a later time in order to raise funds for St. Mary’s, so nothing will be wasted.

 

One other request – as well as items, it would also be lovely to include some offers of service to others ( often referred to as ‘Promises’) This might include an offer of a trip to the airport, driving someone to Sainsbury’s, a trip round a garden centre, baking a cake, cooking a meal, an hour’s housework !! -  You get the idea. If anyone has an idea for offering a service, please have a chat to myself or Justine about it.

Jane Gates.

 

The Corgi Controversy ends

A reliable source close to the Editorial Panel has confirmed that it was the grandmother, not the grandfather, who was saved by the actions of the family dog during the war.  This is memorialised in our South Window.  Please look for the Corgi.  All correspondence in this matter is now at an end.  Thank you to all who took part.

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Christian Aid

There’s more to Christian Aid than the annual May house to house collection

 

Last year Christian Aid supporters joined the campaign for a Stronger UK Climate Change Bill.  In October 2008, the government accepted virtually all of the campaigner’s demands for the Bill.  These included cutting UK carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and requiring FTSE listed British companies to report their emissions, so helping the poorest of the poor who suffer the worst effects of climate change.

 

Christian Aid campaigners have supported Fairtrade products, campaigned for trade justice and were among the many behind the ‘Make Poverty History’ movement.

 

The house to house collections throughout Christian Aid week every May are an important part of Christian Aid’s publicity as well as an efficient way of bringing in money for Christian Aid projects.

 

Last year only eight people from St Mary’s congregation helped collected from roads in the Parish.  Please do think NOW whether you can help next month to increase this number to 16 or even 32.  We could then make a significant contribution to this really worthwhile charity whose aim is to help the poorest of the poor in the world.

 

Now you know how to set the date of Easter

The Council of Nicea in 325 AD set the date of Easter as the first Sunday after Passover. That is, if Passover was on a Sunday, then Easter was delayed by seven days. Thus, it was observed on a date between the fifteenth and twenty-first day of the Jewish month of Nisan.  Eventually, the date of Easter was set as the first Sunday after the first full moon (the Paschal Moon) on or after the nominal date of the vernal (spring) equinox.

 


Twenty years ago

- April 1989

 

A good many interesting articles in the 1989 April magazine, means some rich pickings for 20 years later.

 

Not all the articles were credited and one of those was a comment on the BBC 2 Sunday evening series "Sword or Spirit". Charles Elliott, one time Director of Christian Aid, had been visiting various countries to see how Christianity was received and its impact on daily life. It's rather a long time ago for any of us to remember the programme.

 

There was a write-up from Hazel West about the Sunday School and Junior Church party. It had been held in the Rectory Lane Hall and had apparently gone with a swing. Anyone remember being there?

 

The MU was advertising a Barn Dance to be held in May. Among their activities for April was a talk on the History of Carshalton to be given by Doug Cluett.

 

The Boys' Brigade had been busy and were preparing for a Display at Carew Manor on April 22. There was a waiting list for the Anchor Section, which was obviously good news. Company Section had had a local policeman teaching them First Aid and they had also developed some skills in "string art". Their Cross Country runners had taken both Junior and Intermediate trophies. Their drummers and buglers were progressing well - a reassuring piece of news!

 

There was a page about the change of ownership for the Church Times. The Council of the Canterbury Press were to take over in the autumn.

 

A letter to the Church Times had been reproduced. It was stating that readers of the lessons in churches should ensure they make sense of what they are reading. There could be those listening for whom it was all new.

 

An article headed "Mince Pies" was a comment on Radio 4's Sunday night "Open Mind" programme. It had contained a discussion on the church's role in politics. Opposite that was a personal view from Dudley Taylor on the Official Secrets Bill. He deplored the invasion of privacy and the so-called rights and freedoms of various groups in society. Oh dear - things seem to have only got worse!

 

In Stewart Kimber's 20 years ago, he had spotted that Harold Hore was the Parish Personality for April 1969. (We note that Harold has been unwell lately and we wish him a speedy recovery)

 

Following on from the 20 years ago, was a piece entitled "Halfway There". It was a congratulatory article on Chris Kimber's 10 years in the choir. Reading back over it, I can't help but be amazed at all the things he did in those days - I would never have believed he had the energy! (See page xx for the continuing story)

 

Carousel reminded us that, just like March 15th this year, England were impressing France at Twickenham at the same time as the Handbell ringers - just a little further along the road - were impressing the judges at the Richmond Music Festival. They received Highly Commended!

 

Nicholas Kimber had just been elected Ringing Master of the Southampton University Guild. Although not doing as much ringing as he used to, Nick still rings with the City Centre ringers, many of whom are past students too.

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Thirty Years On

Thirty years ago on Easter Day, Chris Kimber, aged 7 years and one month, processed up the aisle for the first time as a member of St Mary's choir. The article in the 1989 magazine described his early years and how choral singing had so influenced his life that he was aiming for a career in music.

 

For anyone who doesn't know, Chris graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in 1993, where he had studied mainly percussion but also composing, conducting and Music Technology. He runs an impressive recording studio, writes music for magazines, teaches at some local schools (including his mother's old school - Croydon High), tutors in Sutton borough bands, runs the Cantate Rhythm Group, accompanies the Cantate Voices and assists his wife with the Cantate Theatre School.

 

 He does, also, do a lot of freelance playing and has played at many well-known venues around the country. He has backed Cliff Richard (once on TV!), played before royalty and been seen with the Collingwood School choir on GMTV at Christmas!

 

During the past 30 years, Chris has served on the PCC and Halls Committee, helped run the choir during a difficult choirmaster interregnum, been known to play the organ at the 9.30 service, acted as Choir Treasurer, helped organise choir trips.

 

Although he says he's lucky to have a job he so enjoys, it's very hard work being mainly self-employed. Very often his only day off is Monday, as musicians are required to entertain at weekends. Unfortunately this means he can rarely get to choir on Sundays at the moment. Work and family commitments (he has a two-year-old son) eat into his time. He still loves his singing and if life quietens down a bit, he'll be back more regularly.

 

Chris's father and brother were both St Mary's choristers, so who knows, five years from now, another little 7-year-old Kimber might be taking his place among the Trebles!

 

Deanery Synod Future Dates

Wednesday 3rd June at St John's Belmont "Regeneration in the Diocese of
Southwark" Terry Drummond

Thursday 12th November at Christchurch, Worcester Park "Publicity & Press"
(Probably unless there is a more pressing topic by then Canon Wendy Robins

Tuesday 2nd March 2010 St Alban's Cheam "Understanding Islam"Rev'd Younis Francis

 


Praying in April


A few ideas that might be useful in your prayers in April as we think about our community, our World and our church

 

On Palm Sunday, 5th April, we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal arrival into Jerusalem. He was greeted with smiles, cheers and the waving of palms. Let us pray that we welcome visitors to Beddington with enthusiasm and friendship.

 

On Maundy Thursday, 9th April, we remember Jesus’ last supper with his friends. He cared for them and he served them as he washed their feet. Let us pray that we share food with our friends and neighbours and with people across the world. May we offer friendship and help where we can.

 

The next day is Good Friday, the day we remember how Jesus was hanged on a cross. His disciples scattered, confused, scared and feeling sad and lost. They then gathered together in a room away from the crowd, let us pray that we are alongside others who are confused, scared and sad and lost.

 

On Easter Sunday the disciples and friends of Jesus find an empty tomb, they realise that something very special has happened. They did not fully understand that morning but in time they realised that Jesus had risen. They rejoiced and began to spread the word. Let us give thanks for the many people who have spread The Word and let us pray that we may continue to use our special gifts to spread The Word in our individual ways.

 

On the 23rd April we celebrate St George’s Day, the patron saint of England. Let us give thanks to God for our beautiful country and may we care for it and all the people who have built up our society. May we seek to let it be a country of friendship, of tolerance, of justice and of peace.

 

Let us pray that God is with us, walking and dancing along our path.

 

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Annual Parochial Church Meeting

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in St Mary’s Church Centre

on the Nineteenth day of April, 2009 at around 11 am.

 

For the election of Parochial representatives of the laity as follows:

The Election of 1 Churchwarden

To the Parochial Church Council 6 representatives.

For the appointment of Sidesmen and the Independent Examiner or Auditor.

 

For the consideration of:

a) A Report on changes in the roll since the annual parochial church meeting;

b) An Annual Report of the proceedings of the parochial church council and  the activities of the parish generally;

c) The Financial Statements of the Council for the year ending on the 31st December immediately preceding the meeting audited or independently examined;

d) A Report on the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church or churches of  the parish;

e) A Report on the proceedings of the Deanery Synod;

 and other matters of parochial or general Church interest.

 

You may now vote by post for the PCC members and Churchwarden, please contact Pam Akhurst PCC Secretary for details.


 

Commemorations in April

St Mark  April 25

Mark is traditionally believed to be the author of St Mark's Gospel and to have accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. He is also believed to be the founder of the church in Alexandria and therefore of Christianity in North Africa, round which the Coptic church grew.

 

According to the Coptic church, Mark was born in North Africa, possibly Libya, and was a cousin of Bartholomew. Many traditions have grown up round him. It is suggested he was one of the servants at the marriage at Cana, who poured out the water that Jesus turned into wine. He is also considered to be the young man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested. It is also probable that it was in Mark's house that Jesus appeared to the assembled disciples after his resurrection.

 

When Mark returned to Alexandria, the people there are said to have resented his efforts to turn them away from worshipping their gods to follow Christianity. In AD 68 they tied him to several horses and dragged him through the streets until he was dead.

 

He is commemorated on the day he died and his symbol is a lion. This is because his Gospel starts with the story of John the Baptist in the wilderness, roaring like a lion in the desert.

 

A prayer for St Mark's day:

Almighty God, who by the hand of Mark the evangelist has given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: we thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

There will be a Eucharist at St Mary’s on 25/4/2009, 12 Noon, to celebrate St Mark.  All welcome

Frederick Denison Maurice

– 1805 – 1872

F. D. Maurice was born into a large Unitarian family living in Suffolk.  His relationship with ‘organised religion’ got off to a shaky start when after the early death of two of his cousins, the family was divided in its views and members dispersed to different churches and different denominations.

 

Maurice’s second brush with the church establishment came when he refused to subscribe to the Thirty Nine Articles.  As a student at Cambridge, where he was at the time, this precluded him from graduating, though he later changed his mind, went to Oxford and prepared for ordination.

 

After a short spell as Chaplain to Guy’s Hospital where he lectured to the medical students on moral philosophy, Maurice went back to Cambridge.  There, at Kings College, he was Professor of English Literature and Modern History and of Divinity.  While at Kings, he published the ‘Kingdom of Christ’, a book which enhanced his reputation as a writer but also led to another brush with the ‘establishment’.  His view that the church is a united body which transcends the diversity of individual men, factions and sects was regarded with suspicion by orthodox Anglicans, though now it is seen as sowing the seeds of the twentieth century ecumenical movement.

 

Worse was to come when Maurice revealed his disbelief in the eternity of Hell (still a subject of speculation as members of Mary’s Theology Book Club will have discovered).  This lost him his job at Cambridge.

 

It is Maurice’s next two ventures which have earned him his fame.  He planned and became principal of the Working Men’s College, a serious contribution to education.  He also became one of the founder members of the Christian Socialist Movement.  It was the idealist preaching of the Christian Socialists which alongside the practical activities of the cooperative movement contributed to understanding the need, in the late nineteenth century, to eliminate excessive retail profit at the expense of the consumer and enabled the consensus to have a democratic interest in the management of the companies from whom they buy.  No small achievement for a man reputed to be both shy and retiring – and in its day – quite simply revolutionary.

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Beat the credit crunch - book a church wedding, says bishop

The Bishop of Birmingham, Rt Revd David Urquhart,  said engaged couples could slice a huge chunk off the cost of their wedding, at the National Wedding Show in Birmingham (NEC, March 13th-15th), when he introduced them to the 'three V's' for choosing a church wedding: venue, vicar and vows.

 

With regard to venue, Bishop David  explained that all you need for a legal church wedding - in one of the Church of England's 16,000 places of worship - costs as little as £350, and revealed that couples can save even more by holding their reception at a church.

 

The other two V's, vicar and vows, refer to how the Church is in a unique position to offer support up to and beyond the big day, and give couples the meaningful vows ("for richer for poorer...") that are the ideal way to begin married life.

 

"The credit crunch has left us all reassessing our values and priorities, not just our financial situation," said Rt Revd David Urquhart. "A church wedding reminds us that love is a priceless gift from God. That's why I'm encouraging people to 'think church' when they are planning their wedding."

 

Bishop David  joined the team the Church of England stand, on the afternoon of Sunday, March 15th, where the show's visitors were able to plan their wedding online using the interactive website www.yourchurchwedding.org. Around 1,000 couples a month are using the website, which contains 25 choices of popular hymns for weddings and 12 readings from the Bible; the planner merges the names of the bride and groom into the marriage service, which can be used as a discussion-starter when meeting the vicar to plan a church wedding.

 

The Church of England's Marriage Measure gives couples a greater choice of marrying churches. For more details, visit www.yourchurchwedding.org or  www.cofe.anglican.org/marriagemeasure.

 


Things to do at Easter

Easter Nests

You will need

Shredded Wheat (or similar cereal)

Cooking chocolate

Mini eggs

Combine crushed Shredded Wheat with melted chocolate and shape into nest shapes in bun cases. Once the chocolate has set, place 2-3 mini eggs into your chocolate nests.


 

A recipe for Easter

At Easter, it is traditional to serve biscuits tied in threes to represent the Trinity.

Here is a traditional recipe: that’s why the ingredients are measured in ounces.

 3 oz butter   1½ oz currants

 2 ½ oz caster sugar  ½ oz cut mixed peel

 1 egg, separated   1 – 2 tablespoons of milk

 6 oz self-raising flour 

 a sprinkling of caster sugar for the top of the biscuits

 a pinch of salt  

Oven temperature – moderate 350 F, 180 C, Mark 4

Cream the butter and sugar and beat in the egg yolk

Soft the flour with the salt, and fold into the creamed mixture

Add the currants and peel

Add enough milk to give a soft dough

Kneed lightly and roll out to about ½ inch thick

Cut into circles about 2 ½ inches diameter

Bake on greased baking tray for 10 minutes

Then brush the biscuits with the egg white, sprinkle with sugar and bake for another 10 minutes

Cool on a wire rack

 

Services and Events in Holy Week


5 April

Palm Sunday

8 am Eucharist9.30 am Eucharist with procession6.30pm Passover Supper

6 April

Holy Monday

9 am Eucharist9.30 pm Meditation7.30 pm Meditation followed by Compline

7 April

Holy Tuesday

9 am Eucharist9.30 pm Meditation7.30 pm Meditation followed by Compline

8 April

Holy Wednesday

9.30 am Station of the Cross10 am Eucharist7.30 Stations of the Cross

9 April

Maundy Thursday

9 am Morning Prayer7.30 pm Eucharist of the Last Supper followed by Vigil through the night

10 April

Good Friday

9 am         Morning Prayer10.30am   Children’s WorkshopNoon        Churches Together Walk of
                 Witness1pm          Service of music and
                 words2pm          The last hour by the Cross

11 April

Holy Saturday

8.30 am Morning Prayer

12 April

Easter Day

5.30 am Vigil followed by First Eucharist
               of Easter

8 am       Eucharist

9.30 am Parish Eucharist

6.30 pm  Choral Evensong

Easter Quiz

1: At Christ's crucifixion what did the soldiers place on his head?

2: For what of Christ's did the soldiers cast lots?

3: For how many pieces of silver did Judas betray Christ?

4: How did Judas betray Christ?

5: Christ was led away to which high priest first?

6: What was inscribed above the cross?

7: When Jesus died, for how long was there darkness over the land?

8: What was the name of the man who requested Jesus' body for burial?

9: Who of these was first on the scene after resurrection of Christ?

10: Pilate offered to release one prisoner - which prisoner did the Jews request to be released?

11: What was the colour of the robe placed on Jesus?

12: After Pilate found no guilt in Christ, for what reason did the Jews say that Jesus should die?

13: With what was Jesus' side pierced?

14: In what was Jesus wrapped before he was buried?

15: Which disciple wanted to see the imprint of the nails before he would believe?

16: Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection beside which sea?

17: Who did Pilate send Jesus to after he had interrogated him?

18: Who carried the cross for Christ?

19: Who rolled away the tomb stone?

20: For how long did Jesus remain after his resurrection before he ascended into heaven?


 


Whistling carrots

Fancy something different for dinner? Have you ever tasted the genetically modified whistling carrot? Specially engineered to grow with air-holes in their side, the carrots begin to whistle when they are fully cooked.  They will be in the shops particularly branches of  Folpariol, a new Italian organic store.


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