St. Faith and St. Laurence Harborne

2020 USEFUL NUMBERS (See also back page)

Task Group Chairs Finance and General Purposes REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410 Worship and SALLY GRIFFITHS 429 9436 Education: RACHEL LUCKMAN 445 1965 Mission: PAULINE SITFORD Email: [email protected] 427 7005 Socials: DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360 Children and Young People : RUTH JEAVONS Giving REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410

Parish Safeguarding Team Vicar: Rev’d Canon Priscilla White Mobile: 07896 935798 Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Children’s Co-ordinator: Ruth Jeavons Mobile: 07870 703304 Vulnerable Adults Coordinator: Sue Glanvill Domestic Violence Coordinator: Alison Keepax Mobile: 07726524256 Members: George Reeves, Ruth Jeavons and Christine Terry The safeguarding group have a watching brief over safeguarding in the church. The policy pack is available in the hall, as are posters with contact details of emergency numbers. If you have concerns about the safety of a child, young person or vulnerable adult, please speak to the relevant member of the safeguarding team or one of the other team members, or to the Vicar. Concerns may have then to be passed to the Bishop’s Safeguarding adviser in confidence. In an emergency contact Police or Social Services.

Activities Choir Practice: Thursdays 6pm. (see back cover for Organist and Choirmaster) Women’s Fellowship: HELEN HAYWARD 422 5724 Stay and Play: Thursdays 9.30am- 11am HILARY SHAYLOR 454 0451 Lesson Readers Secretaries: (10am) PETER STOKES 422 6843 (6.30pm) DIANA LEADBEATER 427 1930 Servers Secretary: ALISON KEEPAX Planned Giving: JACKIE TAYLOR 422 2930 Flower Rota: ANITA TIPPIN 454 7586 Transport DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360 Co-ordinator: (Please contact David if you need, or can offer lifts to church )

Uniformed Organisations Scout Association Ring 0345 300 1818 and ask for 293rd Birmingham Scout Group GSL Leader: TOM McARDLE Beavers: Monday, 6pm MALCOLM ADEY Cub Scouts: Wednesday, 6pm MATT CAWSEY or RICHARD PAINTER Scouts: Tuesday, 7.15pm Leader: KEVIN PAYNE

Guides: Wednesday, 7.30pm Guider: AMANDA JONES 01384 636928

Brownies: Wednesday, 6pm-7.30pm Brown Owl: JANET JONES 429 8167

Rainbow Unit: Wednesday, 4.45pm-5.45pm Leader: JANET JONES 429 8167

Dear Friends, I am writing this early in the month as I am about to go on two weeks leave which will be very welcome. By the time you read this I will be back, and we will be ready for Advent. All the Advent plans are outlined elsewhere in the magazine. It has been quite a week. The American Election has ground out its result, though again at the time of writing the current President is not yet recognising that result. Alongside the political events in the USA we have had news of a possible vaccine which has the potential to change the pandemic for the better. We hear too news that children who are eligible for free School meals will be able to receive some sort of help over Christmas. A lot has gone on and anyone with an eye on the news agenda can risk feeling somewhat overwhelmed and the pace and trajectory of change. So with all that in mind, let us focus on a small town just to the South of Jerusalem. A place with an illustrious history as the birthplace of King David, but a place of less importance at the time. As we take our own journey, through Advent to the Christmas season, let us remember the journey taken by Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Let us remember the difficulties and dangers of the time: a land under occupation by a foreign power, a place where local leadership was despotic and self-seeking, a place which due to the calling of a census, was too full to offer more than the animal room to a family who had journeyed from afar. In the middle of a time of crisis such as most of us have not encountered in our life-times, let us remember that the coming into the world of the Christ-child was, among many other things, about God’s demonstration that there is and always will be hope, about a God who sides with creation and with humanity and a God who offers something new. Our Advent Journey takes us through the Bible Story from creation to the birth of Christ. It reminds us of some of the characters who engaged with God through history and offers us models of encounter. When we talk of Advent Hope, may we be ready to share that hope with others, in whatever ways we can.

Priscilla

1 Aspects of life at St Faith and St Laurence

Morning Prayer – is normally said Monday to Thursday and Saturday at 8.15 am in the Lady Chapel. We use Common Worship Daily Prayer, all are welcome to come and join in. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Task Groups – The church has a number of task groups enabling areas of church life. These are listed in the magazine with the contact details of the chairs. If you would like to be a part of a groups please contact the relevant chair or Priscilla. All are welcome to join.

Stay and Play meets on Thursday between 9.30 and 11am in the Hall to give a chance for people with young children to meet and the children to play. All are welcome. Cost £2 per family. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Sunday Club meets on the first, third and fourth Sundays of each month except during the holidays. We hold an extra Sunday Club on days when there is a baptism. All are welcome to join in hearing and experiencing a Bible Story and learning together about what it means for our daily lives. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Messy Church takes place on the first Saturday of each month, most months. A chance for children and parents/ carers to have an informal time of worship, and discovering about a Bible story through song, craft, listening, cooking and so much more. Dates are published in advance and all are welcome to come along. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Planned Giving helps people make giving regular. You decide how much you can afford to give. You can join the envelope scheme weekly or monthly or pay by Standing Order or annually by cheque. Income tax payers are asked to Gift Aid their giving, so the Church can reclaim the tax on their donations at no extra cost to the donors. For details, contact Jackie Taylor.

The Parish Giving Scheme is another way that you can give at no extra cost to yourself. It reduces paperwork and increases cash flow for us. Details are available from Geoff Bennett or Priscilla.

We support Recycling. We have a special collection on the first Sunday of every month when we collect ALUMINIUM cans and foil which can be sold and the money raised is donated to our Mission Partners in Chile (through USPG) Local supermarkets have battery recycling facilities in this area. WILL RESUME WHEN THE CHURCH IS OPEN.

2 Home Communion We have a team of lay people trained and able to bring Home Communion usually on a monthly basis. This is for those who are unable to come to church long term. If the situation is more temporary for example after an operation you can also receive communion, usually from Priscilla. In either case please contact Priscilla. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Traidcraft Traidcraft sells a range of fairly traded food, cards, clothes and accessories. We use Traidcraft tea and coffee and everything we buy helps fight poverty and supports our church. You can order seasonal gifts through the church at Christmas time when catalogues will be available. Any questions, please ask Ruth Jeavons or Bronwen Jones.

'easyfundraising’ Next time you shop online, think of St Faith and St Laurence and raise free donations with 3,000+ retailers: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stfaithandstlaurence

Women’s Fellowship meets on the first Monday of the month from March to December. Meetings are held in the Committee Room at 7.30pm. We have talks on a variety of subjects. See Programme of the Month for details. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Prayer Ministry Team Prayer ministry is offered during the 10am Communion on Sundays. People can receive prayer for themselves or for any situation that is important to them. It takes place in the Lady Chapel during the distribution of communion. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Foodbank We collect food for the Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank. There is a box in church and food can be placed there at any time. The list of things that are needed is in church and in the hall. Food is distributed from St Boniface Church on Wednesdays and Paul and Barney's place on Fridays. Vouchers are required to receive food.

Choir and Music. Choir Practice takes place weekly, normally on Thursdays 6-7pm. Anyone interested in singing in the choir should contact Simon Palmer, Organist & Choirmaster. (Contact details on page cover) We also like to encourage instrumentalists to perform in church, either in services or in concerts. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Call in for Coffee time together over a cuppa on a Wednesday morning from 10.30 -12.00. if needed we can arrange for someone to collect you and then take you home. If you are passing, do call in, or bring a friend, all are welcome. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

3 If Lockdown finishes as planned in early December the following is true

The Church is still open. Wednesday private prayer is operating between 1 and 3pm, all are welcome to drop in. Sunday services are at 10 am in Church. The booking line number is The phone number is 07942 221573. The bookings line will be open from 9am on Monday till 12 noon on Friday. Please text (preferred where possible) with contact name and number of people and a phone number or leave a message on the phone with the same information Please remember to stagger arrivals on Sunday between 9.30 and 9.55ish and to wear your face covering throughout unless exempt.

If Lockdown continues into December the Zoom Link for 10am worship is Meeting ID: 840 1709 9029 Passcode: worship

These Zoom events are independent of Lockdown and will continue as planned Activities on Zoom

Wednesdays (Coffee) and Chat meets at 11am. A chance to meet up and chat about anything and everything, bring your own coffee. Zoom ID 953 7644 6364 Password coffee

Saturdays Family gathering meets at 10am 1st Saturday of each month Bible story and craft and fun together. Zoom ID 827 8902 7469 Password family December 5th Advent Do encourage people to come along. If they do not receive our emails with the sheets on the details will be on the website each month.

Sunday 4pm Zoom evening service ID: 833 3854 7339 Passcode: evening

Sermonline (normal rate call) for the sermon for the Sunday 0121 270 6364

WhatsApp For those that have it WhatsApp is a handy way to keep in touch. The church has three groups, a “Virtual Church” group, a general chat one and one to pick up requests for or offers of help. If you would like to join any or all then please contact Priscilla as above.

4 Advent at St Faith and St Laurence

During Advent we will focus on themes of Lamentation, Waiting and Hope. The worship will follow these themes and the Advent Course (see below) is based on the theme of hope. There is a separate leaflet with the resources for and explanation of building a Jesse tree at home. Please do consider doing this as we link with what is going on in church whether face-to-face or on Zoom.

The Advent Course This year we will be using a course devised by John Birch who runs a Faith and Worship website. The course focusses on themes of Hope.

This is taken from his introduction to the course

“Our definition of ‘hope’ will depend on our situation, and whether we are in a stable place emotionally or facing difficulties and anguish. At its simplest, hope can be the wish for something we desire to happen, and as diverse as hoping to see a long-lost friend later in the year, hoping the next bus will arrive on time, a dear friend who is ill will recover, the country votes for our choice of government, or that the police catch the thief who recently broke into our car. It can relate to the small world we inhabit as individuals or reach out to touch all people. For those of us who call ourselves Christians, hope takes on a different dimension. It is still about our day-to-day existence and seeing hope within it, but it is also about a future hope for ‘salvation’, ‘resurrection’, ‘eternal life’ and how these strands intertwine and influence our relationship with God and the world.”

There will be two sittings of this course each week. Thursday mornings at 11am and Thursday evenings 7.30pm

The dates will be 26th November, 3rd, 10th 17th December. We need to start before Advent in order to get four sessions in as the fourth Thursday in Advent is Christmas Eve. The Zoom IDs are 11am Meeting ID: 878 6587 5651 Passcode: morning

7.30pm Meeting ID: 885 6596 4677 Passcode: study

5 Sunday Themes and readings for Advent and Christmas November 29th Lament over fallen Jerusalem 10am Lamentations 1.1-7 Luke 13.31-35 4pm Lamentations 1.1-7 Luke 13.31-35

December 6th The water of life 10am Lamentations 3.1-3,22-33 Mark 1.1-8 4pm Isaiah 12 Revelation 22.1-7

December 13th Light in darkness 10am Isaiah 60.1-3 John 1.1-8 4pm Malachi 3.1-4.4 Philippians 4.4-7

December 20th The Birth of a Child 10am Isaiah 11.1-9 Luke 1.26-38 4pm The recorded Carol Service will be broadcast on Zoom

December 24th Christmas Eve 4pm Zoom nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion Isaiah 9.2,6-7 John 1.1-14 December 25th Christmas Day 10am Isaiah 9.2,6-7 John 1.1-14

December 27th Christmas 1 10am Isaiah 61.10-62.3 Luke 2.15-21 4pm Isaiah 61.10-62.3 Luke 2.15-21

6 Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank

We continue our support for the Foodbank. In a time where food is becoming increasingly controversial, feeding people becomes ever more important. If you are able to help with Food Donations please do. Money can be donated via the website https://quintonoldbury.foodbank.org.uk/ or direct via money transfer sort-code 30-16-84 account number 19424568

Annual Meetings

The Annual Meeting of Parishioners and the Annual Parochial Church meeting took place on Tuesday 27th October at 7.30pm and 7.45pm respectively At the AMP Corinne Treacy and Malcolm Adey were elected to serve for a further year. At the APCM Loleta Atkinson, Alan Jones, Gill Hubble, and Caroline Mosley were elected for the term ending in 2023. Ruth Jeavons was elected to Deanery Synod. There is space for co-options to the PCC to fill spaces which exist until the APCM in 2021 and there are three further slots on Deanery Synod to fill. Anyone interested in Deanery Synod in particular, please contact Priscilla. Thanks to all who attended or contributed to the Annual Report.

Funerals at the Crematorium

12th October Marjorie Smith 4th November Ernest Ball

7 PCC November 10th Just a few highlights from PCC The safeguarding policies were reviewed and accepted and new policies, less about the vulnerable but more about how we all live and work together were accepted. These are Complaints and Grievance, Bullying and Harassment and Whistle-blowing. The policy booklet with everything in will be available in due course. As part of this we agreed a Statement of Intent which can be found after this report. This is a reminder of how we can be together. We looked at the current issue with the boiler and a plan to fix it but also resolved to move forward to a more major project of a thorough look at our heating systems to make them more efficient, greener and resilient. This is a longer-term effort and initially will be an analysis by a professional to survey our option. We looked at our future cleaning and caretaking options. Helen and Tim Hayward have taken this role for a long time and are giving up formally at the end of the year. Plans are afoot for the future. We are grateful for all Tim and Helen have done and more will be said elsewhere. We looked at plans for Advent outlined elsewhere in this magazine.

Remember who we're waiting for...

At the advent of Advent, it's worth remembering who we're waiting for... not a child in a manger, ail swaddling clothes and innocence, but a man on a mission - with an uncompromising agenda - one that gives the whole world to the meek; one that asks us to give up all that the world tells us is important; one that says that true power can be found housed in the frailly of forgiveness, the virtue of vulnerability - that says there is freedom in saddling ourselves to the needs of others. We are waiting for a rebel. So get ready. Because if you acknowledge his birth, if you are on your guard, if you lay a stake in his claim that God can burst through and change the world, then he'll have no choice but to begin that change in you. Remember who we're waiting for.

8 Statement of Intent agreed by the Parish of St Faith and St Laurence Church, Harborne, Birmingham Signed by Incumbent: Priscilla White Dated: 11th November 2020 The Church is required by God to foster relationships of the utmost integrity, truthfulness and trustworthiness. The Vicar, Wardens and Parochial Church Council (PCC) of this parish will seek to ensure that the working environments within their sphere of control are supportive towards all our clergy, Readers, employed staff, volunteers and laity. This includes adoption and implementation of this statement of intent anding be prepared to challenge inappropriate behaviour and to take action if such behaviour is evidenced or observed. The following are examples of behaviour that are acceptable and unacceptable in our church community.

St Faith and St Laurence Church expects the highest standards of behaviour from all those who participate in any way in leading or supporting its activities, whether in a salaried, stipendiary or voluntary position. In particular, it expects everyone to avoid behaviour that could lead to allegations of bullying or harassment. We have signed up to Behave in ways which support a non-hostile environment for ourselves and those around us Be supportive of others Challenge inappropriate behaviour and to speak up for others Take action where we observe or have evidence that someone is being bullied or harassed. If you would like information on how to address a concern about bullying or harassment please speak to the Vicar or one of the Churchwardens. Contact details are in the magazine, on the notice board and on our website http://saintfaithandsaintlaurence.co.uk

9 BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL An unusual dedication-The small cathedral in a large city.

Birmingham, England's second largest city, has one of its smallest cathedrals - moreover Birmingham is unique among English cathedrals in being named after St Philip. Indeed very few churches of any kind are dedicated to that rather neglected apostle. Like many cathedrals, St Philip's began life in the eighteenth century as a parish church for the small town of Birmingham. It was consecrated in 1715, its unusual dedication due to the fact that a local benefactor named Robert Philips had donated the land on which it was built. The cathedral also enjoys the surely unique distinction of having been constructed for a quarter of its estimated price - £5,012 against the original estimate of about£ 20,000. Much of the shortfall was due to the fact that pious local townsfolk donated many of the materials, and of course the land. The Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones (1833-98) was born in Birmingham and donated three windows to the cathedral, which are located at its eastern end, and he also designed the west window. Birmingham Cathedral has a history almost twice as long as that of the diocese. At the beginning of the 18th century the town was beginning to grow rapidly and the population was too great to be accommodated in St Martin's parish church. It was therefore decided to build a new parish church in the 'High Town'. This was a complicated business requiring a private Act of Parliament. In 1708 the townspeople presented a Bill to Parliament, which was passed in the same year. It required the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, within whose diocese Birmingham was then situated, to appoint 20 Commissioners to take possession of the land called the 'horse close', about four acres in size, which had been offered by the Philips family as the site of the new church. There they were to build a new church, dedicated to St Philip, a house for the rector 'with a backside, garden and orchard', lay out a new churchyard, and establish a new parish, the boundaries of which were carefully specified, from the parish of St Martin's. As a parish church, it was a rare provincial example of England's flirtation with baroque during the reign of Queen Anne. The church's architect in 1709 was Thomas Archer, Birmingham-born and best known for St John's, Smith Square in London. Whilst in Rome, Archer studied not classical ruins but the works of Borromini and Bernini. His design for a new church for his home town was to be worthy, if not of Rome,, then at least of the emerging capital of the Midlands. Almost as important as the new church was the new churchyard, since the tiny churchyard around St Martin's was already very full indeed with the deceased remains of Birmingham's citizens.

10 Given the rapid increase in the population of the town in the 18th century, it was not long before St Philip's churchyard also began to fill up. It may be difficult to believe, but something over 60,000 bodies were interred before the churchyard was closed. An interesting grave is that of Nanetta Stocker, who when she died in 1819, was England’s shortest woman at a height of 33 inches. Buried at Bartley Green is the tallest woman at 7ft 9in Jane Bunford who died in 1922. Strange that they were contemporaries. The cathedral was badly damaged by incendiary bombs in the Second World War (the Burne-Jones windows had been removed for safe-keeping). It was restored in 1947-48 and a major restoration appeal for£ 10,000 was launched. New oak doors to the clergy vestry were added as a memorial to Bishop Barnes in the 1950s and the stonework of the tower was refaced in Hollington stone in 1958-59, by P.B. and A.B. Chatwin. The Victorian reredos was replaced by new work in 1963, centred on a modern cross in silver gilt and crystal by John Donald. The cathedral was extensively restored again in 1980 for the 75th anniversary of the diocese by Michael Reardon. The vaults below the church were cleared and a new undercroft constructed with kitchen, toilets and choir vestry/meeting room. The church was redecorated, the most notable change being the marble painting of the great Corinthian columns of the chancel giving the whole interior a much more Baroque feel. Bishop Montefiore had fixed the date for reopening before the work had begun, but all was well and the building was formally reopened by Princess Alexandra on 1stNovember 1980, in time for it to be part of the 75th anniversary celebrations. In 1989, as part of the centenary celebrations of the City of Birmingham, the cathedral was chosen for the distribution of the Royal Maundy by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2001-3 a Heritage Lottery grant enabled the churchyard to be completely refurbished with new York stone paving; the railings, which had been removed during the war, to be replaced by modern equivalents; new trees to be planted to recreate the formal layout of the churchyard 300 years previously, and new soil, turf and seating to be established. A few years previously two new memorials had been added to the churchyard, one deliberately and one accidentally. The 25th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974, was the occasion for a proper memorial to the victims to be established for the first time, whilst a tree planted by Diana, Princess of Wales, became the centre of the city's outpouring of mourning on her death, with a huge carpet of flowers surrounding the tree for weeks afterwards. Peter Stokes

11 ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S QUIZ

1 Butterflies 2 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? 3 Derry Girls 4 The Royle Family 5 Outnumbered 38 Hi-di-Hi 6 'Allo ‘Allo! 39 The Thick of It 7 Absolutely Fabulous 40 Desmond's 8 The Vicar of Dibley 41 Yes Minister 9 Miranda 42 The Good Life 10 The Office 43 Dinner ladies 11 Steptoe and Son 44 Fawlty Towers 12 Citizen Smith 45 Red Dwarf 13 Dad's Army 46 Only Fools and Horses 14 Blackadder 47 Peep Show 15 Fleabag 48 Gimme Gimme Gimme 16 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em 49 Black Books 17 Bottom 50 I'm Alan Partridge 18 Keeping Up Appearances 19 One Foot in the Grave 20 Spaced 21 The League of Gentlemen 22 Peter Kay's Car Share 23 Open All Hours 24 Bread 25 Last of the Summer Wine 26 Father Ted 27 The Fail and Rise of Reginald Perm 28 The IT Crowd 29 Detectorists 30 Porridge 31 Are You Being Served? 32 Motherland 33 Hancock 34 2 Point 4 Children 35 Gavin and Stacey 36 The Young Ones 37 Birds of a Feather

12 ADVENT QUIZ

1 Who said. “Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour”? 2 Why did the child leap in Elizabeth’s womb? 3 What was the name of that child? 4 What name did the neighbors want to give Elizabeth’s son? 5 Why did they want that name? 6 Who was the Roman Emperor who decreed a census should be taken? 7 Complete the sentence: “Today in the town of David a saviour…” 8 To whom did the angel speak that sentence? 9 Who said “My soul magnifies the Lord”? 10 To whom was it said? 11 Which of the 4 Gospels gives details about the shepherds at Bethlehem? 12 Which of the Gospels tells us about the wise men? 13 Who was the King who interviewed the wise men? 14 Which of the Gospels begins: “A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham”? 15 Who was the father of Joseph? 16 Which great Prophet is quoted with the words: “A virgin will conceive…”? 17 Which of the Gospels gives us that quotation? 18 Can you name the great feast of Mary on December 8th? 19 What has the feast got to do with the South of France? 20 Who is the brother of St. Peter whose feast we celebrate on November 30th? 21 Of which country is the brother of St. Peter patron Saint? 22 December 6th is the feast of someone closely associated with Christmas. Who is it? 23 Who said: “For there is a child born for us, a son given to us”? 24 What sign were the shepherds to look for? 25 What was a great throng of the heavenly host singing?

13 Much loved Southwark Cathedral cat Doorkins Magnificat laid to rest.

She started out as a street cat, stealing scraps from market traders. Then, 12 years ago, the small tabby made her home in Southwark Cathedral where she reached celebrity status: meeting the Queen, starring in a children’s book and having her own social media accounts. The extraordinary journey of Doorkins Magnificat from mangy moggie to cherished feline ended recently, a month after her death, when a thanksgiving service was held under the cathedral’s Gothic arches before she was laid to rest in the churchyard. Doorkins arrived at Southwark Cathedral in 2008, a hungry stray in search of a bowl of food and a stroke. The vergers, who open the cathedral doors each morning, obliged with both. Soon Doorkins was making herself at home with a series of favoured spots: next to a warm pipe beneath the stone seats of the chancel, on a cushion in the consistory court, stretched across a grate wafting hot air into the cathedral’s vast interior. Each Christmas, she snoozed in the straw of the cathedral’s nativity scene. She had no truck with status or occasion. The bishop was regarded with disdain. She indulged in long, intimate washes during solemn prayers; she sauntered through the nave at Evensong. When the Queen visited, she opened her eyes a fraction, assessed the significance of the occasion, and went back to sleep. It was a contented life, but Doorkins did not escape the trauma of the London Bridge terror attack in June 2017, when the cathedral was locked down for several days. As usual, she had been put out for the night, and there was no way back through locked doors and armed police. “When we eventually got back into the cathedral, she ran in and wouldn’t go out again,” said Dean Andrew Nunn. In line with Covid regulations, a maximum of 30 people were permitted to attend the thanksgiving service, though it was streamed for Doorkins’ many admirers. Andrew, who confessed he was “not a cat person usually”, said Doorkins had been “a godsend”. He added: “She did more to bring people to this place than I will ever do.” Harriet Sherwood

14 COPING With all the challenges surrounding COVID we might be encouraged by some musings by Terry Waite with regard to the troubles we are currently facing. You will remember, he spent 1763 days as a hostage in Beirut during which time he was socially isolated and held in appalling conditions where he was tortured, chained to a wall and deprived of most of the basic human niceties which you and I take for granted.

He commented: Make the most of now. “Remember that you have life now. Learn to live for the day, make that day as full as possible. Because this is your life now. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now.” Avoid the news. “Get on with other things. There’s more to life than hearing 12 times a day how terrible this is. It is terrible. We know it’s terrible, we don’t need to be told 12 times a day it’s terrible.” Get perspective.“Shift your mindset because you’re not STUCK at home, you’re SAFE at home.” Become more self-aware. "Use the opportunity which solitude gives you to be more introspective than you’d normally be, because now you’ve got the time to get to know yourself better." Uncover your strengths. Says Terry, “I discovered I had gifts and abilities that I didn’t know I had and they were brought out in solitude. That can be exactly the same experience for people today; you can discover you have abilities you didn’t know you had.” Do what you’ve been meaning to and savour it. "Use the time to do what you’ve always said you wanted to do: pick up that book you’ve never got round to reading, listen to music. But instead of just listening to it as background music, really listen to it.” Count your blessings one by one. “I used to say to myself when I was in captivity: ‘Oh, if only I was surrounded by my books, it wouldn’t be so bad. Well now I consider myself today, here in self-isolation, to be extremely fortunate. I’m surrounded by my books; I can talk to people as I’m talking to you. I’m not cut off. And there are people around who will do my shopping. Being in the vulnerable category I’m not going out. So, I’m extremely fortunate."

15 A Modern Advent calendar

1 Learn again the season’s lessons: 2 Darkness. Tiredness. Tears. 3 Tenderness and memory. 4 Adult, driven by compulsive needs, let go. 5 Learn failure, self-acceptance. 6 Welcome laughter where it mingles with all things troubled and trembling. 7 Decide to do it differently. 8 Practise simplicity. 9 Make your choices with single-minded sincerity. 10 Rip up the round robin. 11 Declare a fast on enforced jollity. 12 Choose justice in place of sadness. 13 Clothe yourself in loving kindness. 14 Welcome the stranger – in yourself as well as in your neighbour. 15 Look for a neighbour where you’re not expecting. 16 Unwrap Christmas presents in the greetings of strangers: shoppers jostling you on the high street. 17 Let the TV news rouse you to tears. 18 Let tears take you to action for goodness. 19 Turn down the tinsel. 20 Put on silence. 21 Let the season drive you to chasteness. 22 Let darkness sow seeds of contemplation where they may blossom: a single flower of compassion. 23 Cynic in you, become a child again. 24 Teach yourself starry-eyed wonder. 25 Become pregnant with hope and longing. 26 Child in you, looking for the perfect gift, learn disappointment. 27 Find treasure the other side of discarded wrappers. 28 Walk the days and nights of December you’ve forgotten and now remember. 29 Welcome winter’s joys, its unspeakable sadnesses, God in straitened circumstances. 30 Bear the heart’s chill, sudden lurchings and unsettlings. 31 Let your prayer be for the ones who live in that place always.

Nicola Slee

16 Prayer of the month

As we enter the season of advent and Christmas, we are reminded that this time of year evokes mixed emotions for many; this year particularly, some of us may be struggling with the heaviness of life and our hearts may not be feeling as happy or joyful like they have in previous years. Everything still feels very much all up in the air whilst we’re all still living with several restrictions and guidelines; not knowing what arrangements can be made. I’m sure some of you will have heard the expression flying around recently in the media that ‘Christmas is cancelled’. But despite all the uncertainty of unknown plans, Iet us cling on to the hope that the Christmas story reminds us of each year. That as we wait for more progress in the fight against coronavirus, as we wait for hope that soon we may all be reunited with family or friends and regain a sense of normality, that we will wait in the presence of God, knowing God will be with us all every step of the way. Just as Mary and Joseph became refugee’s on that first Christmas and could make no plans of their own, ahead of time to be in a precise, warm and safe home for Mary to give labour, when we can’t see what lies ahead for people across the world or ourselves in what would be a usual time of celebration; I hope we can wait with trust in God and that everyone will have all that they need over the coming weeks, if at times, all we can do, is believe.

Almighty God, We ask that you be with us always, in this time of waiting and uncertainty. May we and all those across your world find patience, as we wait with hope in celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus. May we and all those across your world find calm, as we wait with hope for the Prince of Peace. May we and all those across your world find comfort, as we wait with hope in the healer. May we and all those across your world find companionship, as we wait with hope for the most faithful friend. May we and all those across your world find compassion, as we wait with hope in your eternal love. May we and all those across your world find joy, as we wait with hope to praise you forever more. Amen.

Lauren Bell

17 Magnificat of Acceptance

My soul trembles in the presence of the loving Creator and my spirit prepares itself to walk hand in hand with the God who saves Israel because I have been accepted by God as a simple helpmate. Yes, forever in the life of humankind people will sing of this loving encounter; through remembering this moment, the faithful will know all things are possible in God. Holy is the place within me where God lives. God’s tender fingers reach out from age to age to touch the softened inner spaces of those who open their souls in hope. I have experienced the creative power of God’s embracing arms and I know the cleansing fire of unconditional love. I am freed from all earthly authority and know my bonding to the Author of all earthly things.

I am filled with the news of good things; my favour with God, faithful trust in the gentle shadow of the Most High, the mystery or my son, Jesus, the gift of companionship with my beloved kinswoman, Elizabeth. who believes as I believe. The place in my heart that I had filled with thoughts of fear and inadequacy has been emptied and I am quiet within. God comes to save Israel, our holy family, remembering that we are the ones who remember, according to the kinship we have known... remembering that we are the ones who remember and that where God and people trust each other there is home.

Mary Johnson

18 THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT PARISH MAGAZINE IS SUNDAY DECEMBER 20th

Advent

Season when dual citizenship holds us in awkward tension. The world, intent on spending Christmas, Eats and drinks its way to oblivion after dinner. The kingdom sounds insistent warnings: Repent, be ready, keep awake, He comes.

Like some great fugue, the themes entwine; The Christmas carols, demanding our attention, in shops and pubs, Bore their insistent way through noise of traffic; Underneath, almost unheard, The steady solemn theme of Advent.

With growing complexity, clashing, blending, Rivals for our attention, themes mingle and separate, Pulling us with increasing urgency, Until in final resolution, the end attained, Harmony rests in aweful stillness, And the child is born. He comes, both Child and Judge. And will he find us Watching? Ann Lewin (from Watching for the Kingfisher: Poems and Prayers )

A time to Delve deeper into The loVe of God - Emmanuel Not spending Too much money

19

THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT FAITH AND SAINT LAURENCE HARBORNE B17 8RD At the junction of Balden and Croftdown Road

SERVICES

SUNDAY 8am HOLY COMMUNION 10am FAMILY COMMUNION 2nd SUNDAY– MORNING PRAISE 6.30pm EVENSONG and SERMON (2nd SUNDAY-SUNG EUCHARIST) WEDNESDAY- 11am HOLY COMMUNION

SUNDAY CLUB and Crèche run alongside Family Communion on 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays

MINISTRY TEAM

Vicar: The REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE M.A. 427 2410 115 Balden Road, B32 2EL Mobile: 07896 935798 E-mail: [email protected]

Licensed Readers: SALLY GRIFFITHS Ed.D., M.Ed. 429 9436 E-mail: [email protected] RACHEL LUCKMAN Dip. BA Mphil PhD 445 1965 Mobile: 07500 680 838 Email:[email protected] OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH:

Churchwardens: MALCOLM ADEY 421 1099 CORINNE TREACY Mobile: 07752640151 E-mail:[email protected] P.C.C. Secretary: GILL HUBBLE 426 4152 P.C.C. Treasurer: Electoral Roll: JUDITH BENNETT 427 8154 Organist and SIMON PALMER B.Mus.,L.T.C.L.,A.B.S.M. 440 6519 Choirmaster: Assistant Organist: MARK LAWRENCE 475 3951 Bell Ringers: JACKIE TAYLOR 422 2930 Sunday Club Co-ordinators: Church Hall Bookings: Please contact 07896 935798 BOOKINGS NOT CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN Church Hall: Church Hall may be contacted in an emergency on: 428 2406

PARISH MAGAZINE

Editor: Revd. Canon Priscilla White

Advertising Manager: Corinne Treacy Mobile: 07752640151 Email: [email protected] Produced by Peter Stokes Tele: 0121 422 6843 E-mail: [email protected]

PARISH WEBSITE:- www.saintfaithandsaintlaurence.co.uk