Parish Maga Zine All Sa Ints Be Lved

PARISH MAGAZINE

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ALLBELVEDERE SAINTS PARISHMAGAZINE

REGULAR SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS EVERY SUNDAY 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) 1ST, 3RD, 4TH & 5TH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.00 am Holy Communion (CW) 2ND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.00 am Family Parade Service (CW) 6.30 pm Holy Communion

4TH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 6.30 pm Evensong EVERY THURSDAY 10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)

CHILDRENS SUNDAY CLUB

1ST & 3RD SUNDAY OF MONTH* 9.45 am Children 4-11Yrs. . (Starts in Church)

PARISH DIRECTORY

VICAR Revd. Simon F Archer GENERAL INFORMATION Address: All Saints Vicarage, Nuxley Road, Belvedere, DA17 5JE We’re always pleased to know when a Telephone: 01322 432169 visit would be appreciated, especially in Email: [email protected] the case of sickness or those who are ASSISTANT CLERGY new to the Parish or Church.

Revd. Canon Barry Wright For pastoral matters please contact address: 54 Elmbourne Drive, Belvedere, DA17 6JF Revd Simon Archer - Please note his Telephone: 01322 463564 day off is normally a Monday Email: [email protected] Enquiries for Baptisms and Marriages to LICENSED LAY MINISTER Cheryl in the Parish Office, any notices Ernie Feasey for pew sheet by Wednesday evening. Telephone 07971684902 ADVERTISEMENTS Email: [email protected] advertisements placed in this magazine and reserve the right to refuse or edit any advert as appropriate. The inclusion of an advert is not an endorsement nor do we recommend, represent, CHURCH WARDENS warrant, undertake or guarantee that the information in any ad- Yemi Ilumoka vert is correct, accurate, complete or is not misleading and we will not be liable in respect of any special, indirect or conse- [email protected] quential loss or damage.

6 months 12 months Ian Blower Full Page £56 £100 [email protected] 1/2 Page £28 £50.

1/4 Page £14 £28

PARISH OFFICE Administrator 1/8 Page £7 £14

Cheryl Westlotorn Telephone: 01322 446050 Email: [email protected] PARISH MAGAZINE EDITOR Ernie Feasey Website: www.allsaintsbelvedere.com Email: [email protected] or HALL BOOKING SECRETARY [email protected]

Tasha Archer Cover Picture Stained Glass at Bewdley Email: [email protected] Contributions for the June edition of the Parish Magazine to GIFT AID SECRETARY be with the editor by 26 May 2021 Contributions by email or left in the PM Slot at the back of church. Val George Address: 68 Woolwich Road, We are on Facebook Belvedere DA17 5EN https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsBelvedere/ Telephone: 01322 439837 Twitter @allsaintsbelvedere

Treasurer Subscription material from “the Parish Pump”are included in this edition Sarah Bowes & Paul Arkle Subscription material from @DaveWalker and Cartoon Church are included in this magazine. Email: [email protected]

#####2 PARISH MAGAZINE

Voice from the Vicarage—Rev Simon F Archer Dear Friends,

So, it would seem the busy days of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity are over, and we enter into a quieter time in the church. Ordinary Time is here and sometimes this is seen as a period rest and restoration. Ordinary Time doesn’t mean that the period is “ordinary” by any means. It simply means that it is a period of numbered Sunday, they are “ordered”. It’s important to have rest and restoration but actually there is a great deal happening in the parish and across the Diocese. We have quite a number of baptisms happening, another 9 in the diary as I write and more will come. Many weddings were delayed beyond 2021as couples were cautious or having to save up after losing thousands in cancelled plans, but we still have a few. We are also being asked to take a number of funerals at the moment. This may not seem like something to celebrate but perhaps people deciding on a Christian service over a secular service is something to at least be encouraged by as it gives us the opportunity to support and serve our community when they are at their greatest need of love and care from the Church. We also have our Diocesan Bishop retiring, someone who I greatly respect and have enjoyed some inspiring talks from and conversations with. +James will always be the Bishop who ordained me as Deacon and Priest, and I will never forget that. He is also incredibly approachable and down-to-earth. I and the Diocese will miss his oversight as much as we look forward to welcoming our new Diocesan Bishop in due course. We have also heard very recently that the Archdeacon of Tonbridge, The Venerable Julie Conalty is to become Bishop of Birkenhead, a suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Chester. Reverend Julie has been instrumental in safeguarding changes in the Diocese but importantly not simply method and structure but also theologically. Her advocacy for abuse survivors has been public and powerful. She was my training incumbent for my first year as curate and even in that short time I learnt a lot from her. Volunteering – It’s clear that we are having some trouble finding volunteers for some roles and responsibilities around the church. I completely understand that people who have served the church for many years need a break or some who just do not have the capacity, be it time, gift or physical ability to carry on doing the jobs they once did. However, if certain responsibilities are not covered the church as whole suffers and if no one volunteers then some activities will just have to stop. Current vacancies are; Sunday Club – We need at least one other person to help for when this returns. Tasha cannot run it on her own safely or legally. This person will be DBS checked and will need to do safeguarding training. Church Cleaning – This is usually done on a Thursday morning before the service. Currently Ernie is hoovering but cannot be expected to do it all and also volunteers in a number of other roles. PCC – We meet just 4 times a year including the away day. It is an opportunity to shape the church and play an important part in it’s mission and growth as well as all the practical decisions. We still need a couple more people to join. I would love to see some new people volunteering rather than the same people who already have other responsibilities simply taking up more. If you feel you can help, then please drop me an email or call me to discuss. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 Every blessing,

Simon PARISH MAGAZINE

Editorial

June is the mid-summer portant community fund come you coming, but ask month, and this year will be raising event. that you stick to the proce- auspicious for lifting many Funds for our Mission and dures in place, including so- virus restrictions according Ministry remain tight, even cial distancing, hand saniti- to the Government though we are back in sation and only sitting at ta- Roadmap. It is an important Church, our services remain bles in family groups or so- moment to be marked, nor- necessarily restricted, but we cial bubbles. Hopefully the mally in June we would hold are working on additional layout will allow for this our Summer Fayre, but we ways that people can donate from the outset. are having assessed the safely without cash chang- This isn’t a return to the old safety of holding such a ing hands. So, if a touch normal, but hopefully a new large event with the crowds free terminal with giving safer start to social activities that it draws into close prox- choices, including gift aid which allow us to meet and imity had reluctantly decided appears in Church or enjoy each others fellowship that it would not be safe to Church run events, we will which is so central to us go ahead with it. Other low- be grateful for your generos- flourishing as a church and er level events are planned, ity for any donation you feel local community. perhaps a Table Top Sale in able to make. the Church Hall, the organ- Please don’t feel compelled izers will publicise this sepa- You many have noticed that to return just yet, but wait rately on the notice boards we have restored our ever until you feel ready to return and facebook pages and the popular Friday Coffee with confidence. I would Whatsapp Group. Morning and Charity Sale. love to see you all, soon. You will have noticed that we edf We do hope to have our are doing things differently Christmas Fayre, which has to ensure everyone’s safety been a huge draw in past and to preclude the risk of years and a central and im- spreading the virus. We wel-

Formed in 2015 The Erith And Thamesmead (CAP) Debt Centre provides advocacy advice and information for the prevention or relief of poverty. It is a local charity at Belvedere Baptist Church ,50 Nuxley Road and will be a regular feature for donations to support this work all year around as the need is all year around. . They are providing a vital service which is much needed by many in these very difficult times before during the Pandemic and after it. To summarise, Christians Against Poverty aim for the relief of financial hardship through the provision of support and access to free financial advice and assistance to people with debt-related problems living in the postcode areas ( DA6, DA7, DA8, , DA16, DA17, DA18, SE2, SE28 and parts of DA1, DA5 and SE18 ) who, through lack of means, would otherwise be unable to obtain such support and advice. Any financial help we can give therefore will be very much appreciated and enable this valuable assistance to continue for members of our community. Donations can be made online https://capuk.org/get-involved/donate or in cash via Belvedere Baptist Church or All Saints Church in an envelope marked “For CAP Erith and Thamesmead”.

PARISH MAGAZINE

If you prefer, you can also share you views by emailing: [email protected]

All Saints Church Belvedere Pentecost 2021

Features Trinity Sunday 30 May 2021

FUNDRAISING APPEAL ALL SAINTS CHURCH BELVEDERE

All Saints Church Fundraising Appeal The costs (averaged out over a month) are £108 per day increasing to £133 in winter (including utilities) to run the church. Average daily income is £92 (with gift aid) so a daily shortfall of £16 with full income streams. These are not normal times and that income shortfall will have stretched out to around £41 per day. Some income is still derived from Regular Giving by members of the parish, which is gift aided, but this reduced income is not sufficient to pay the ongoing bills. Our building is old and requires ongoing maintenance and utility bills, in common with everyone continually increase, albeit offset during the summer months by the warmth meaning heating isn’t re- quired. But given the age of the building, now we are in the winter the building needs min- imal heating to be on to prevent the fabric of the building going down hill through changes in temperature which cause damp in a large building with a high vaulted roof without any way to insulate.

Some very generous people have made donations which has managed to keep us going, but we are still running at a loss, of £41 per day, which cannot be sustained for ever, and the likelihood of our streams of income being restored to previous levels in the short to medi- um term are unlikely. So while we know that many people reading this are also struggling financially, we ask those who consider All Saints to be part of their life, whether you attend or not, could you give a little? As a large business slogan goes “Every Penny Helps”.

If you feel that you can help, there are ways of giving: where any sum donated will be used to sustain the ministry, mission and outreach of All Saints, if you are able to gift aid, that would also help as it adds an additional 25 percent from HMRC to your donation.

Our Bank Details are; Lloyds Bank PLC Account name - PCC all Saints Belvedere Account No— 56749468 Sort Code 30-90-76

We have a giving option on our facebook Pub- Our preferred method of payment as there is no cost to the lic and Group pages. Via “Give a Little” donor or to the Church is via a Bank Credit Transfer (BCT) which can be done simply through online banking or https://givealittle.co/campaigns/e136828c- by telephone to your bank branch 27b7-4a38-8eab-

If you would prefer to pay by cheque, Cheques should be made out to All Saints Church, PCC and put in an envelope addressed to Treasure, All Saints Church, Nuxley Road, DA7 7JE. It you would like to gift Aid it, included a Slip of Paper, with your name and address and saying that you are a UK Tax Payer and signed and dated. Envelopes can be posted or put through the vicarage letterbox. If you would like a receipt or acknowledgement of your donation, please indicate as such on the note with your cheque. All donations will be used for the Mission and Ministry of All Saints Church, Belvedere. Thank you in advance.

Features Fr Michel Quoist Thank you Lord, thank you. Thank you for all the gifts that you have given me today, Thank you for all I have seen, heard, received. Thank you for the water that woke me up, the soap that smells good, the toothpaste that refreshes. Thank you for the clothes that protect me, for their color and their cut. Thank you for the newspaper so faithfully there, for the comics (my morning smile), for the report of useful meetings, for justice done and for big games won. Thank you for the street-cleaning truck and the men who run it, for their morning shouts and all the early noises. Thank you for my work, my tools, my efforts. Thank you for the metal in my hands, for the whine of the steel biting into it, for the satisfied look of the supervisor and the load of finished pieces. Thank you for Jim who lent me his file, for Danny who gave me a cigarette, for Charlie who held the door for me. Thank you for the welcoming street that led me there, for the shop windows, for the cars, for the passers-by, for all the life that flowed swiftly between the windowed walls of the houses. Thank you for the food that sustained me, for the glass of beer that refreshed me. Thank you for the car that meekly took me where I wanted to be, for the gas that made it go, for the wind that ca- ressed my face and for the trees that nodded to me on the way. Thank you for the boy I watched playing on the sidewalk opposite. Thank you for his roller-skates and for his comical face when he fell. Thank you for the morning greetings I received, and for all the smiles. Thank you for the mother who welcomes me at home, for her tactful affection, for her silent presence. Thank you for the roof that shelters me, for the lamp that lights me, for the radio that plays, for the news, for music and singing. Thank you for the bunch of flowers, so pretty on my table. Thank you for the tranquil night. Thank you for the stars. Thank you for the silence. Thank you for the time you have given me. Thank you for life. Thank you for grace. Thank you for being there, Lord. Thank you for listening to me, for taking me seriously, for gathering my gifts in your hands to offer them to your Father. Thank you, Lord. Thank you. -Michel Quoist, from Prayers Rowman & Littlefield, 1963

Michel Quoist, (18 June 1918 – 18 December 1997) was a French Catholic priest, theologian and writer, most known for his bestselling book, Prayers of Life, first published in French in 1954. He was born in Le Havre, his working-class Catholic family was also involved with Jeunesse Ouvrière Chré- tienne (Young Christian Workers). However, his father had died when he was 14. Therefore Michel began to work. He sought meaning of life and entered the seminary at St Jean in 1938. Thereafter he went to seminary of Rouen in 1942, and finally he was ordained as priest in July 1947 at the abbey at St Ouen. In 1947 he became a priest. His work as a youth chaplain for the town and a writer was focused on young people. After Advanced Studies at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences, as a researcher and practitioner, he developed a method of inquiry which will later be known as an urban classic. He wrote a thesis on a sociology of the old Rouen City. Afterwards he returned to Le Havre as vicar, later becoming a parish priest from 1949 to 1953. As a post-war chaplain of Catholic Action in conjunction with major religious initiatives he published in 1954 Prayers of life which he wrote as young priest at age 33, brought him a huge success: 2,500,000 copies have been sold throughout the world, and he often appeared on French television and radio. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 1996, but decided to forgo chemotherapy fearing it would make him too weak to work, and instead devoted the rest of time completing his last book, which he did before in death in Le Havre on December 18, 1997. His books are still being published and millions of copies have been translated into 27 languages up to now. His literary work is particularly well known in Latin America. It is likely that Michel Qouist’s poetry might feature occasionally as I have his book, gifted to me by my SD.

Features God in the Arts

The Revd Michael Burgess continues his series on God in the Arts with ‘Christ before the High Priest and the Denial of Peter’. This painting, done in tempera on wood, now hangs in the Museo dell'Opera del Duo- mo, Siena.

Our picture of it is in the public domain, and can be found at: See Be- low.

‘I do not know the man’, the fearful Peter said

At the end of this month, on 28th June, we celebrate two of the great saints of the early church: Peter and Paul. We might relate more easily to Peter because his humanity and vulnerability spill out of the pages of the New Testament in everything he said and did. Peter was a fisher- man, who was impetuous and headstrong, not once, but over and over again, saying one thing, and doing another. And yet our Lord chose Peter as the rock on which He would build His church, and at Caesarea Philippi Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Then, when Jesus is arrested, the same Peter in the High Priest’s courtyard declares with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’

That denial is in all four Gospels. We might have expected the evange- lists would have had greater respect for this follower of Jesus. But they are not intimidated by his later fame and importance, and they record the episode in vivid detail.

That episode is recorded by Duccio in this month’s painting, ‘Christ before the High Priest and the Denial of Peter.’ Duccio worked in Siena in the late 13th and 14th centuries. In his paintings Jesus and the saints are no longer remote, austere figures: he portrays them in a natural, simple way. His greatest work was a series of 45 panels called the Maesta.

This month’s picture is the first painting to depict Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial together. The scene is a two- storey building: the figures above, apart from the High Priest, are all on their feet. Below, the figures are all seated, with the exception of the serving girl. Notice the wonderful array of hair styles and beards that are typi- cal of Duccio’s work.

In the painting Peter is recognisable by his halo, like Jesus above. He is in a direct line below Jesus, but just look at the contrast between the two. Jesus is standing with His hands bound in front of Him and His head to one side. Peter below is seated, looking straight at the girl, raising his hand to protest his ignorance and warming his feet by the fire. It needed courage for Peter to be there, but the Gospels tell us how quickly his vulnerability is exposed. As he answers the questions and reveals his Galilean accent, he starts to curse. He denies Jesus three times, and the scene ends in bitter tears. For all the bravado, a human, broken figure leaves the scene.

On his feast day we rejoice in that humanity of Peter, which brought him low, but encouraged him to try again. In Duccio’s painting his denial takes place by the fire of the courtyard. It will be by another fire lit on the shore of the sea of Tiberias that Peter will be asked another three questions – not by a serving girl, but by Jesus. This time he will respond with affirmation, knowing that his Lord has come in resurrection glory to bring a new way forward for him and for everyone as He offers life in abundance. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_- _Christ_before_Annas_and_Peter_Denying_Jesus_-_WGA06796.jpg

PEOPLE FROM THE PAST

Company Sergeant Major George Beer DCM, MM, MiD, was born on 15 November 1878 in Ca- terham, Surrey, his father, John, was 33 and his mother, Sarah, was 36. He married Elizabeth An- nie Pennell (1895-1922) on 25 December 1900 in Wilmington, Kent. They had 3 girls during their marriage. He died on 10 November 1918 at the Wooler District War Hospital in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, at the age of 39. He is on the All Saints War Memorial. In 1914 he was living at 5 Ebeneezer Terrace. Gilbert Road, Belvedere with Elizabeth his wife. At his death in 1918 his wife was living at 39 Poplar Mount Belvedere. She died living at the same address on 3 Aug 1922. She is buried in Erith (Brook Street Cemetery with George). Family Background and History Georges Father John Henry Beer (1845-1906) came from Yealmpton Devon from a farming family. By 1861 he was working in Surrey as a Gardner. He married George’s mother Sarah Bird (1842-1883) on 8 Apr 1866 at St John’s Church, Wotton, Surrey. (Sarah died on 18 Aug 1883 at Godstone. John remarried Catherine Fuller (1853-1918) in 1884 in Surrey and had two more Children. By 1891 John was living at Danson Farm, Bexley with the family where he was a Farm Bailiff. John lived there in the same job until his death on 7 Jun 1906 He was buried at Bexley; Catherine died on 20 Sep 1918 and was buried with her husband at Bexley.

Georges Military Career George was living in Belvedere by 1895, at 1 Persevence Cottage, Belvedere before his marriage. He appears to have enlisted originally into the Rifle Brigade as a Private . However, he served in the Boer War as he was serving in South Africa he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for Gallantry on operations against the Boer’s on on 26 Sep 1899 for South Africa while serving with the Natal Field Force Regiment/ Rifle Brigade.London Gazette 6815 26/9/01

He was subsequently wounded in operations on 15 Feb 1900 serving with the same unit at the Battle of Potgeiter's Drift.

He was back in England for his wedding to Elizabeth Ann Pennell at Wilmington, Kent on 25 Dec 1900.

His military service would have ended as he was awarded a war pension sometime after 1904. At the 1911 Census he was living with his family at Enfield Middlesex employed as a Game- keeper his wife Elizabeth was working as a Laundress. Subsequently in 1914 he was reenlisted into the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry with his previous rank of Colour Sergeant at Woolwich.

He was awarded the Military Medal and a mention in despatches on 13 March 1918 for Galantry on operations during WW1 for actions before that date; London Gazette, 3427 13/3/18

He was later in the War transferred to the Labour Corps as a Warrant Officer Class 2 (CSM) to see out the War. George died at District, War, Hospital, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. He left £145 to his wife. Whether this was due to the flue epidemic is unknown.

Articles of interest The Kelham Rood

The Kelham Rood is a beautiful life-size bronze sculp- ger's sculpture was restored by Rupert Harris in 2003-4 ture of Christ on the Cross together with free-standing and today it is on permanent loan to the church of St figures of St John and the Virgin Mary, and is the work John the Divine, Kennington. of the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885- 1934). The sculptor The sculpture is on permanent loan to St John the Di- vine from the Society of the Sacred Mission. It Charles Sargeant Jagger saw action in the First World stands on the south side of the nave and is a focus for War, serving in the Artists' Rifles and in the Worcester- Christian devotion and prayer, particularly during Holy shire Regiment at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. Week. The suffering of Jesus and his love for St John He was wounded three times and was awarded the Mil- and Mary is quite affecting in this work; Jagger's skill itary Cross for gallantry. as a sculptor, which he normally applied to war memo- The Kelham Rood is one of Jagger's finest works. His rials, emphasises the humanity of Jesus. depiction of the Crucifixion is especially moving and About the sculpture some think that the Rood reveals his preoccupation with the problem of suffering. The Kelham Rood was originally commissioned by the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM) for its chapel at Jagger sculpted a number of war memorials in Britain Kelham Hall in Nottinghamshire and completed in and around the world. His works convey the tragedy of 1929. It was designed to stand at the top of a brick arch war with his statues of young soldiers who have faced over the chapel sanctuary. loneliness and death. When the SSM moved out of Kelham, the Rood was You can see some of his public sculpture around Lon- moved to the Society's Priory in Willen, near Milton don today: Keynes, where it stood in the garden. By the early 2000s the Rood had become weathered § the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner and was in need of restoration, and it became apparent that the sculpture deserved an indoor setting. The SSM was originally founded in the parish of Kennington in § the Great Western War Memorial on platform 1 at 1891, and seemed appropriate to install the Kelham Paddington Station Rood inside St John the Divine where it would offer a public focus of prayer at the Society's birthplace. Jag- 12

News From the National Church

Churches to launch nature count within the ‘National Park’ of churchyards

Hundreds of churches have signed up to a week-long ‘nature count’ occurring this month (June), which will encourage people to visit churchyards and record what they see. Churches Count on Nature, to run between 5th-13th June, is a citizen-science event covering churchyards across England and Wales. Communities and visitors will be asked to make a note of the animals, birds, insects, or fungi in their local churchyard. Their data will then be collated on the National Biodiversity Network. (https://nbn.org.uk/news/burial-grounds-portal-launch/ It is being jointly run by the conservation charities Caring for God’s Acre, A Rocha UK, the Church of England, and the Church in Wales. Church land, often uniquely unploughed and undeveloped, can be a habitat for precious, endangered plants and wildlife. Together, churchyards cover a huge area –estimated to be equivalent to a small national park. The week is open to anyone with a love of nature, and churches are seeking links with local schools and local wildlife groups. Various online guidance about getting to know fauna and flora is being shared with the churches who are partici- pating. A similar national event Love Your Burial Ground Week will be combined with this project. Registration for the webinars is on the Church of England’s website and also at Churches Count on Nature

From Lament to Action: Anti-Racism Taskforce provide “valid, publishable reasons” for failure to in- calls for urgent change clude UKME candidates on shortlists. The Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce recently The General Synod co-opting 10 UKME candidates published its report, From Lament to Action, which (five clergy and five laity) for its next five-year term, proposes a suite of changes designed alter the culture which begins this year. of the Church of England. The House of Bishops inviting UKME clergy to be- It issues a warning to the Archbishops that a failure to come participant observers until there are at least six act could be a “last straw” for many people of UK Mi- UKME bishops in the House. nority Ethnic (UKME) or Global Majority Heritage 30% of new intakes on the Strategic Leadership De- (GMH) backgrounds, with “devastating effects” on the velopment Programme – a scheme to support clergy future of the Church. identified as having potential for taking on wider re- The report sets out 47 specific actions for the Church sponsibilities – should come from UKME back- of England to implement across five priority areas: grounds, approximately 20 people from a group of 60. participation, governance, training, education and young people. The appointment of full-time Racial Justice Officers The Taskforce says that without these changes, the (RJOs) in every diocese - for a five-year term, funded Church “risks denying and disregarding the gifts of a centrally, alongside a new Racial Justice Directorate, significant part of the nation.” within the National Church Institutions. It adds: “Decades of inaction carry consequences and Meanwhile the report suggests a range of work for the this inaction must be owned by the whole Church. A new Racial Justice Commission, including considering failure to act now will be seen as another indication, how complaints of discrimination and racism could be potentially a last straw for many, that the Church is not handled in the future, as well as how churches should serious about racial sin.” respond to historic monuments and buildings of The proposals in the report include: “contested heritage” such as links to slavery. An expectation that shortlists for jobs in the Church Rather than attempting to erase the past or rewrite his- will include at least one appointable UKME candidate. tory, the report calls for a “healthy revision of memory and history in a way that will provide scope for educa- New approaches to shortlisting and interviewing tion and formation.” which place a duty on the employer to improve participation on an “action or explain” basis. Recruitment bodies including the Crown Nominations Commission, which nominates diocesan bishops, to

FEATURES HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR JUNE

1 Justin Martyr - first ever Christian philosopher 15 Evelyn Underhill – mystical writer of the 2 Erasmus - a good saint for when you’re all 20th century at sea 16 Richard of Chichester - wanting God more 3 The Martyrs of Uganda clearly, dearly and nearly 4 Petroc – the abbot of Padstow 20 Father’s Day – time to celebrate male role models 6 Gudwal – the first Christian in Brittany? 21 Summer Solstice – longest day of the year 8 William of York – victim of injustice 22 St Alban – helping a stranger in need 9 Columba of Iona – missionary to Scotland 22 St Alban – British martyr under the Ro- *NEW 9 Ephrem of Syria – hymn writer mans 11 Barnabas – Paul’s first missionary companion 22 Alban – Britain’s first Christian martyr 13 Antony of Padua – friend of St Francis of 24 John the Baptist – preparing the way for the Assisi Messiah 14 Richard Baxter – Puritan Divine 29 Feast of SS Peter & Paul - the two most famous apostles

9th June Ephrem all of eastern Christianity. His hundreds of hymns influ- the Syriac, prolif- enced the later development of hymn-writing in both Syriac ic hymn writer# and Greek Christianity. Ephrem was also a well-respected Christian theologian and Here is a saint for writer, always keen to defend orthodoxy from the wide- you, if you have spread heresies of the time. Ephrem stressed that Christ's ever been touched perfect unity of humanity and divinity represented peace, by the words of a perfection and salvation. song. After Nisibis fell to the Turks in 363, Ephrem fled to Edes- Ephrem the Syriac sa, where he continued to work. But plague struck the city in was born 306AD 373, and while nursing others with the plague Ephrem final- in Nisibis, Turkey. ly died of it himself on 9th June. But his music lives on - Baptised in 324, more than 500 of his hymns still survive today. he joined the ca- The most complete, critical text of authentic Ephrem was thedral school in compiled between 1955 and 1979 by Dom Edmund Beck, Nisibis, where it OSB, as part of the Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Ori- was soon obvious entalium. that he had an out- standing gift for https://www.worldcat.org/title/corpus-scriptorum- writing both music christianorum-orientalium-subsidia/oclc/3636470 and lyrics. Ephrem is attributed with writing hagiographies such as The Ephrem would Life of Saint Mary the Harlot, though this credit is called have agreed with into question. St Paul about the One of works attributed to Ephrem was the Cave of Treas- value of using music to express our faith in God. In an age ures, written by a much later but unknown author, who lived of widespread illiteracy, he saw that hymns could be power- at the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 7th century. ful carriers of orthodox Christianity, even when sung by un- educated people. Ephrem's writings contain a rich variety of symbols and metaphors. Christopher Buck gives a summary of analysis And so Ephrem wrote – and wrote. His poetry was so pow- of a selection of six key scenarios (the way, robe of glo- erful, and his melodies so evocative, that soon his hymns ry, sons and daughters of the Covenant, wedding were spreading far and wide across the Roman Empire. And feast, harrowing of hell, Noah’s Ark/Mariner) and six root wherever they went, his hymns took the Christian gospel metaphors (physician, medicine of life, mirror, pearl, Tree of along with them. life, paradise). Some of Ephrem’s hymns were written to refute heretical Buck, Christopher, 1950– Paradise and paradigm: key sym- ideas, while others praised the beauty of the life of Christ. bols in Persian Christianity and the Baha’i Faith/ 1999, To Ephrem, everything around us could become a reminder p77-109. Available as a free download at of the presence of God, and thus an aid to worship. https://bahai- Ephrem became the most prolific and gifted hymn-writer in library.com/pdf/b/buck_paradise_paradigm.pdf

Christian Aid 2021 Appeal—All Saints Belvedere Contribution

“ASANTE SANA” (Thank you very much in Kiswahili)

SO FAR YOU HAVE HELPED TO RAISE £ 734.50 which includes over £60 from Gift Aid at no extra cost to yourselves.

But don’t worry if you have not yet made your donation as there is still time. You can do it through All Saints E envelope Or by cash/cheque and drop it into Church or Vicarage

To let you know how well your money is spent the following has been taken from information I have been sent. “In Africa many riverbeds are bone dry and water sources have dried up. Women and children are forced to make long and dangerous journeys to find water as much as 8km(5miles). In the past, pupils at Masue Primary School often arrived very late because they had to start the day by walking miles to fetch water, which affected their perfor- mance and they were often dirty because they didn’t have water to spare for washing. In 2017 Christian Aid’s partner ADSE built a rock catchment, which harvests water that runs off rocky outcrops and stores it in large tanks. This supplies water for 150 families and the school.” The Deputy Head Teacher asks all of us “to minimise if not abolish the pollution of our environment to reduce climate change - because pollution impacts the weather and therefore it affects us”. If you would like to get involved with the justice campaigning side of Christian Aid call Central Engagement Team on 01925 573 769 or email [email protected]

I would like to thank Rev Simon Archer who set up an e-envelope on the Church Facebook page(s), for supporting the appeal actively in Church and Preaching and Praying the Christian Aid Collect and using their Blessing during services on the first Sunday of Christian Aid Week. A particular thanks goes to Sharon Daly who assisted by counting all cash donations.

Thank you all.

Pamela Nowell All Saints co ordinator for Christian Aid

Trees for life In Kenya churches encourage Christians to plant a tree to mark significant events and to give thanks after births, baptisms, graduations and weddings. What a lovely idea to copy in UK? There is plenty of information on line but if you don’t have a computer you could try the Woodland Trust on Tel: 0330 333 3300

Public Consultation London Borough of Bexley

Feature God in the Sciences

This series is written by Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Re- ligion in Cambridge. Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith.

Wonders of the Living World

What are the best metaphors we could use to describe biological things? You might be used to hearing phrases like “your genetic blueprint” or “survival of the fittest”, but are they helpful or even accurate? Some of these words fail to capture the wonder and joy of understanding something new about the nature of living organisms.

I learned that one researcher was using the phrase ‘The Snuggle for Existence’ as a way to convey the idea, familiar to biologists, that cooperation is at the heart of the living world. For example, every cell more complex than a bacterium contains minute energy factories, each one con- taining their own piece of DNA – which makes them a sort of miniature cell, hidden away inside the larger host cell. These ‘mitochondria’, as biologists call them, turn raw materials from the host into chemical energy. In this way, everyone benefits: the mitochondria now have a safe a place to live, and the host receives the energy it needs. There are many more examples of organisms working together to produce something that is more than the sum of its parts, where often the individual parts could not survive on their own.

‘The Map of Life’ is a way of describing the regularities we see in biological processes. Eyes, legs and wings have emerged in the living world again and again, and why not? If the properties of light and gravity remain constant, we should expect living things to find the same solutions to seeing or getting around. When we look at these organisms’ family trees, we see they share a common ancestor that had no eyes, or no wings. These structures have developed completely in- dependently, or you could say that the paths of the living world have converged on the same solution. That’s not to say they had a conscious goal, but that the world has certain properties, and those properties have channelled biological processes in certain directions. None of these stories give us definite evidence for God. Sci- ence simply provides data, which can often be interpreted in several different ways. Perhaps the world just happens to be full of mathematical regularities, maybe there’s an overarching physical law we don’t yet understand, or perhaps there are multiple universes and ours happens to be the one in which life has arisen. But I believe that the observations scientists make about the living world are compatible with the existence of the God described by Christian faith.

More at wondersofthelivingworld.org.

Features Story of the Hymn O Jesus I have Promised

O Jesus I have promised - this hymn was written by Rev John Ern- Another Perspective: est Bode, Rector of All Saints, Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire, for the confirmation of his daughter and two sons in 1866. It began O INTRO.: A hymn which asks Jesus to help us keep the promise to Jesus we have promised, and had 6 verses which he said “include follow Him so that we can be with Him is "O Jesus, I Have Prom- all the important truths I want you to remember.” The hymn was ised" (#132 in Hymns for Worship Revised). The text was written published in the revised edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern in by John Ernest Bode, who was born at St. Pancras, London, Eng- 1875. It became very popular and was included in the main land, on Feb. 23, 1816, the son of William Bode. Educated at Eton, hymnbooks of most denominations. This hymn about Christian Charterhouse, and Christ Church in Oxford, where he was the first commitment has been paired with a variety of tunes, with later winner of the Hertford Scholarship in 1835, he received his B. A. editions of Ancient and Modern using Wolvercote. This stirring in 1837, followed by his M. A. For six plus years after his gradua- tune was written for the boys at Lancing College by their organist tion, he was a tutor and classical examiner at Christ Church and W H Ferguson and published in 1919. The key change mid-way in then became a minister for the Anglican Church in 1841. each verse gives an emphasis to the words at that point. During his life, Bode served three churches, the second of References: “And we desire that each one of you show the same which was at Westwell in Oxfordshire, where he began in 1847. In diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.” 1855 he was honored by being asked to deliver the Brampton Lec- Hebrews 6:11 tures at Oxford. In addition, he published three volumes of verse: Ballads from Herodotus in 1853, Short Occasional Poems in "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there 1858, and Hymns from the Gospel of the Day for Each Sunday and shall also My servant be" (Jn. 12.26) Festivals of Our Lord in 1860. Also in 1860, he moved to Castle Camps, where he spent the last fifteen years of his life. This hymn LYRICS: was produced around 1866, originally beginning, "O Jesus, we have promised," for the confirmation of his daughter and two sons O Jesus, I have promised in the Church of England. To serve Thee to the end; At that time Bode told his children, "I have written a hymn con- Be Thou forever near me, taining all the important truths I want you to remember." It was My Master and my Friend; first printed as a leaflet in 1868 by the Society for the Propagation I shall not fear the battle of Christian Knowledge, and then published in the 1869 appendix If Thou art by my side, to this organization’s Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship of Nor wander from the pathway 1869. Just five years later, Bode died at Castle Camps, Cambridge- If Thou wilt be my Guide. shire, England, on Oct. 6, 1874, at the age of 58. The tune (Angel’s Oh, let me feel Thee near me; Story) was composed by Arthur Henry Mann (1850-1929). A well- The world is ever near; respected English musician, he originally provided this music for I see the sights that dazzle, Emily H. Miller’s "I love to hear the story that angel voices tell." It The tempting sounds I hear; was first included in The Methodist Sunday School Tune Book of My foes are ever near me, 1881. Around me and within; Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, And shield my soul from the song was used in the 1921 Great Songs of the Church (No. 1) sin. and the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 both edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater; O Jesus, Thou hast promised and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 edited by L. O. Sanderson. It To all who follow Thee can be found today in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the That where Thou art in glory 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith There shall Thy servant be; and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1978/1983 (Church) And Jesus, I have promised Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; the 1986 Great To serve Thee to the end; Songs Revised edited by Forrest M. McCann; and the 1992 Praise Oh, give me grace to follow, for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand, in addition to Hymns for My Master and my Friend. Worship. The hymn expresses the desire for the constant presence of Musician: Arthur Mann’s Take on the story: Christ in our lives John Ernest Bode was an Anglican clergyman serving a small par- In stanza 1 we learn the we need Christ to face the battle and keep ish near Cambridge, England when his three children, a daughter us from wandering. and two sons, were ready for confirmation. Bode not only presid- ed over their confirmation, but also wrote this hymn especially for In stanza 2 we learn that we need Christ to overcome the danger of the occasion –– telling the children that the hymn included "all the worldliness important truths I want you to remember." In stanza 3 we learn that we need Christ to withstand the storms of The hymn was originally, "O Jesus, We Have Promised" –– in life. view of the fact that more than one child was involved in the confirmation. Changed to "O Jesus, I Have Promised," it serves as a In stanza 4, we learn that we need Christ as our example fitting hymn of commitment for every Christian. It not only re- n stanza 5, we learn that we need Jesus to help us keep our promise minds us of the promises that we have made to Jesus, but it also asks Jesus to protect us from the dangers and temptations posed by https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/quoto-jesus- the world –– and it reminds us that Jesus has made promises too – i-have-promisedquot/ – that Jesus promised that we will live with him in glory. http://hishymnhistory.blogspot.com/2012/10/o-jesus-i-have- prom- sed_31.html#:~:text=HYMN%20HISTORY%3A%20John%20Ernest%20Bode,son s%2C%20were%20ready%20for%20confirmation.&text=Changed%20to%20%22 O%20Jesus%2C%20I,of%20commitment%20for%20every%20Christian.

Features Cartoons

Poems by Cliff Wedgebury

shoulder to shoulder wich" not knowing the years ahead, you fight for footing on damp (1950's) yet every tear holds a silver cobbles gleam, I knew the slope to the Cutty in the saturday afternoon scrum Sark, as we seek our daily bread.

yet to this you happily come As I wandered down through (God Bless and may you rest in

Greenwich Park, peace.) familiar voices raised

With all the Thames below me. seafood savoured and praised Skiffle in Belvedere" Stood astride the meridian line, then you catch the 99 to belvedere (1958) Longitude, the dividing line, "Belvedere Smog 1950's" shopping bags bursting Mum bought me a washboard for East and West to guide me. (visibility six feet) Christmas, painful corns cursing"Belvedere to Eynsford" Schoolboy shoes to pace the Dressed in my school uniform, Steel thimbles she had in a draw- world, er. My late mother, with a terrified As river boats with sails unfurled, I wanted to be Lonnie Donegan, Belvedere to Eynsford expression, Tacked the ebbing tide. Skiffle, I began to adore. (1970) Tied one of dad's large white Sun on high over Nine Elms handkerchiefs, My schoolmates and I tried to A Saturday deep in Kent, Reach, practice, Around my nose and mouth, Spring sunshine, warm and In my domain of cockney speech, Each Sunday in Bedonwell Road, bright. For the eight-thirty walk, And cherished London pride. At the 14th Erith Scout's Hall, The Darenth gently flowing, From our house in Orchard Av- Carefree walks under ancient enue, We sang "Cumberland Gap," very By that Roman Villa site. trees, loud! To Picardy. We viewed an ancient mosaic, Worsted shorts and dirty knees, We drove the caretaker crazy! Down along the avenue, Then a pot of tea and cake. Childhood soon forsaken. As he dusted and stacked many Left into Bedonwell, chairs. An afternoon together, Buoyant gulls above me, With your photograph to take. Up Nuxley to All Saints He listened and shook his head All the Thames below me, Church, sadly, Sitting by the river, One life of navigation. To Cross the Zebra over Wool- With fingers stuck in his ears. A moment caught in time. Nostalgic years have sailed away, wich Road, I wanted to be on the Telly! Your gentle smile captured, Yet familiar scenes return today, Where a Policeman held high a Singing "Rock Island Line," on In the cheerful Eynsford sun- burning flare. the screen. In an old mans imagination. shine. Down Picardy Hill, A naive schoolboy day dreaming, Right into Halt Robin, To hear a thousand fans scream! The Cost of Love" "Belvedere Boy's first date" To arrive at the old back gate, I wanted to be Lonnie Donegan, (for Prince Philip) We took the ferry to Silvertown, Just as the hand-bell rang. Bereavement is the cost of love, But the caretaker spoilt my Diving gulls kept you amused. dream. and love, it breaks the heart, My white handkerchief became, Ran the echoing foot-tunnel back, "Your talents would be much when sickness or long years lay Filthy, sooty and black, Lustily singing the blues. better suited, claim, In the foul and poisoned air, To help me to SWEEP THE To the percussion of your stiletto as dearest ones depart. FLOOR CLEAN!" heels, As I remembered mum's anx- A lifetime or a brief short span, ious words, "nana at woolwich market" My winkle-picker shoes. our way is not to know, "Take care son...Take care!" (1950) Cuddled close in the dark back row, the mystery of each journeys plan you hover hungrily before the cockle stalls Acting a romantic scene. stray pilgrims we must go. whelks and winkles to be chewed Oblivious to the picture show, Remembering his service, gritty taste of tide On The Regal cinema screen. before this day is lost, in widows black the market stalls Writing our own love story, in a life of love and duty, engulf your beckoning coin In Woolwich S.E.18. where sorrow weighs the cost. white dishes of joy "Picardy Boy Visits Green- But we are born to carry on,

Cliff Wedgebury is a Native of Belvedere, who is a noted, Published, Performing Artist, Broadcaster Poet, Musician and raconteur. His poems particularly of living and growing up in Belvedere, of his family and life experiences finds a wider audience outside the Village. He has an active facebook presence https://www.facebook.com/cliffwedgburypoet/ and a web page https://cliffwedgbury.bandcamp.com/ He says “I was christened at All Saint’s Church in 1946 and for many years have been writing nostalgic poems about my home village”

Features The London Prayer Marathon & Rochester Diocesan Synod

The London Prayer Marathon, organised by the London Network of Parent and Toddler Groups, takes place during June 1st – July 2nd every year. To pray for all the toddler groups in Bexley Borough, we are inviting all toddler group leaders and helpers (and those who like to pray for toddler groups) to join us: Date: Tuesday 8th June Time: 11am-12noon Venue: Bexley Christian Life Centre, 17 Upland Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4NR

Copy the URL to your search box or Click it to book via our Eventbrite page or search Eventbrite for Bexley Christian Life Centre. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-toddler-groups-prayer-marathon-bexley-borough-tickets- 155947658645?fbclid=IwAR3lPHhGPEIuWP-A3LYeg2pooxbEZdggYAlJai5kH7eEqLaAOD0372dFDRU

For more information please email me or visit 1277 Facebook page (a national group for people who are passionate about Church based toddler groups and provides the opportunity for people to share ideas, good practice and support one another through chat and prayer).

We look forward to seeing you there. Fiona Fiona Davis

Who can stand for election? The elections for the next term of office for Diocesan Synod are taking place this year, and anyone

can stand for election, as long as they are:

a lay person who is a communicant member of the Church Make a of England aged 16 or over and on the Electoral Roll of a Difference – Stand for Diocesan Synod parish in the deanery, or Are you interested in how the Church responds to the needs are a Clerk in Holy Orders who is a member of the Dean- of the local community? ery Synod. Want to make sure we’re working effectively as a family of Up for the Challenge? faith on important issues like the environment, safeguarding, justice, children and young people, our finances? If you would like to help shape our shared future, then please use the attached nomination form, seek a proposer Concerned about how we move forward out of the pandem- and seconder, and stand for election. ic around our shared Called Together vision? Nominations forms can be completed electronically and Then now is your chance. Get involved and contribute to emailed to: [email protected] by 12 the shaping of the work of the Diocese. noon on Wednesday 16 June 2021. Stand for Diocesan Synod! ·Nominees, proposers and seconders will be contacted by What is Diocesan Synod? email or phone to verify nominations that do not have hand- written signatures. Diocesan Synod is the elected decision-making body for the Diocese which considers matters referred from Gen- As part of your application, you can if you wish, set out in eral Synod, deaneries, PCCs and from individu- no more than 100 words a factual statement for circulation al Synod members and formulates diocesan policy on a with the voting papers of your professional qualifications, wide range of issues. present office, and relevant past experience. It can make a real difference to how we live out our mis- If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in sion and ministry here in Medway, north and west Kent and touch. the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley. Suzanne Rogers It is vital that the Synod reflects the range of views and (Mrs) opinions present in our churches, and we can only do that Pastoral & Synodical Administrator with your help.

Find out more about Diocesan Synod here: https://rochester.anglican.org/diocese/diocesansynod/

Features All in the Month of June

It was: river, then several times narrowly escaped poisoning from sleeping in a room where varnished furniture was drying. 175 years ago, on 28th June 1846 that Belgian musical instrument maker Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone. He also contracted lip cancer in the 1850s but made a full recovery. 125 years ago, on 4th June 1896 that Henry Ford completed his first It was surprising then, that he lived until his 80th year, dying in pov- automobile, the Ford Quadricycle, and gave it a test run around De- erty in Paris despite his many musical instrument inventions, which troit Michigan. It was a simple frame with an engine, two gears, a did not bring him wealth because they were copied by others, despite tiller for steering and four bicycle wheels. It had a top speed of his patent. 20mph. Its success led him to establish the Ford Motor Company. As well as the saxophone, which received huge support from classi- 100 years ago on 10th June 1921 that Prince Philip, Duke of Edin- cal composer Berlioz, he also invented the saxatromba, saxhorn and burgh, was born on a dining room table in Corfu. He was the husband saxtuba. He himself played flute and clarinet. His parents were also of Queen Elizabeth II. instrument designers. 90 years ago, on 13th June 1931 that Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent, **The beginnings of Boots the Chemist British pharmacist and philanthropist, died. He had turned his father’s Boots Company into a national chain of chemists. Jesse Boot, the British pharmacist and philanthropist, died 90 years ago, on 13th June 1931. He turned the Boots Company started by his 80 years ago, from 22nd June to 5th December 1941 that Operation father John – a former agricultural worker – into a chain of chemists Barbarossa took place. It was the German invasion of the Soviet Un- branded ‘Chemists to the Nation’. ion, the largest military operation in history. In the end, it was a Sovi- et victory, for the German invaders were repelled when they reached The 1st Baron Trent, as Jesse became in 1929, sold his controlling Moscow, and then driven out of Russia by a Soviet counter-attack. interest to American investors in 1920, but Boots continues to be a familiar name to all Britons. Ironically John Boot had offered his 75 years ago, on 26th June 1946 that Field Marshall Bernard Mont- close friend and business associate John Harston the opportunity of gomery became Chief of the Imperial General Staff (head of the Brit- going into business with him, but Harston had felt it was not a good ish army). investment. 65 years ago, on 13th June 1956 that the first European Cup final Jesse Boot was a great benefactor to the City of Nottingham. He gave (soccer) was held, in Paris. Real Madrid (Spain) beat Stade de Reims land for what is now the University of Nottingham and was presented (France) 4-3. The European Cup is now known as the UEFA Champi- with the Freedom of the City of Nottingham in 1920. ons League. He met his wife, Florence Rowe, in a Wesleyan Chapel in Jersey 60 years ago, on 6th June 1961 that Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and while he was recuperating from illness. She was also an astute busi- psychologist, died. He was the founder of analytical psychology. nesswoman, who helped to develop the Boots business, and her home island of Jersey benefited from the couple’s generosity. After her hus- 50 years ago, on 16th June 1971 that John Reith (Lord Reith), 1st band’s death she commissioned the glass artist René Lalique to refit Baron Reith, Scottish business executive and politician, died. He was the Anglican church of St Matthew there as a memorial to him. Manager and Director General of the BBC in its formative years. He also formed BOAC (now British Airways). Remembering Carl Jung 40 years ago, on 5th June 1981 that the first report of AIDS took It was 60 years ago, on 6th June 1961, that Carl Jung, the Swiss psy- place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA chiatrist and psychologist, died. He was the founder of analytical psy- reported that five homosexual men in Los Angeles were suffering chology. from a rare form of pneumonia found in patients with weakened im- mune systems. These were later recognised as the first official AIDS Today he is thought of as a countercultural icon and an advocate of cases. spirituality outside religion, associated more with New Age thinking than mainstream psychology. But he came from a traditionally Chris- Also 40 years ago, on 22nd June 1981 that American tennis player tian family, being the son of an impoverished rural pastor. Early on, John McEnroe earned the press nickname ‘Superbrat’ when he threw he had ambitions to go into the ministry himself. a tantrum during his first-round match against Tom Gullikson at Wimbledon. He hurled abuse at the umpire, swore at the referee, and Instead, he created some of the most widely known psychological popularised the phrase ‘you cannot be serious’ when he disputed a ideas, including synchronicity and the collective unconscious. Both he line call. Nevertheless, he went on to win the men’s singles champi- and his mother – Emilie Preiswerk – experienced disturbing paranor- onship that year. mal phenomena, which he was determined to explore and explain. 25 years ago, on 4th June 1996 that the Second Severn Crossing was Early in his career he was championed and encouraged by the pio- officially opened. The bridge spans the River Severn and links Eng- neering Sigmund Freud, who secured his appointment as president of land and Wales via the M4 motorway. his newly founded International Psychoanalytical Association, but they soon went their separate ways, because their ideas were incom- 20 years ago, on 22nd June 2001 that two British schoolboys who patible. Jung was disappointed at the schism, but it resulted eventually murdered two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool in 1993 were re- in the establishment of his own analytical psychology as an all- leased from secret custody after 8 years. They were given new identi- encompassing system separate from psychoanalysis. ties and moved to secret locations. He published many books, including the highly controversial Answer to Job; some of his work, such as his mysterious Red Book, remains unpublished. **The man who invented the saxophone “It is like driving on the moon” Some of our British roads are be- It was 175 years ago, on 28th June 1846, that Belgian musical instru- ginning to resemble “the surface of the moon”, according to the RAC. ment maker Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone. It has recently reported that an average of 52 drivers a day are break- Born Antoine-Joseph in 1814, Sax quickly became known for his ing their cars on potholes and needing to be rescued. More than 4,000 brilliant inventiveness and his abrasive personality, but also – to the drivers have needed assistance since January, despite the fact that despair of his mother – for his brushes with death as a child. He fell lockdown has meant many fewer cars on the road. After years of un- from a height of three floors and was believed dead, drank a bowl of derfunding and patch-up repair jobs, and despite the fact that councils dilute sulphuric acid thinking it was milk, swallowed a pin, and re- are currently filling a pothole every 19 seconds, the RAC says that the ceived serious burns from a gunpowder explosion. He also fell on to a Government and local councils face an ‘enormous task’ to get our hot cast-iron frying pan, was struck by a cobblestone and fell into a roads “anything like reasonable” again. 22

Features Looking at God Looking at You

Canon Paul Hardingham considers our priorities in life. The Parable of the Great Banquet One thing that we’ve probably missed over the past year is parties. Well, this month should enable us to party again! Lots of Jesus’ parables focus on parties, as they are a picture of the joy, hope and life of the kingdom of God. The parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14: 15-24) challenges us not to miss out on this. In Jesus’ day, when people accepted an invitation to a banquet, they were only told the actual time on the day: ‘Come, for everything is now ready’ (17). Jesus’ invites each one of us to share in the life of His kingdom. However, the guests made excuses for not coming. At the time, this would have been extremely insulting to the host. They said: ‘I have just bought a field; I must try out my new team of oxen; I have just got married’ (18-20). These are all good things in themselves, however they reveal their priorities were elsewhere. We too can be pre-occupied with our own routines of work, family, retirement, holidays, friends, home, social media, that we forget God’s priorities for our lives. Jesus calls for total commitment from His disciples. What priority in my life is holding me back from accepting His invitation? How did the host respond? He ordered His servants to ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ (21). He invited the unexpected and unacceptable people to His banquet. Jesus makes the point that God’s kingdom is open to all! Thinking about our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, even if they’re not like us or show little interest in God: Are we willing to offer them God’s invitation to share His love and life

Barnabas the Encourager This month we remember the life of St Barnabas. His real name was Joseph, a wealthy Levite from Cyprus. However, he is known by his nickname ‘Son of Encouragement’ (Acts 4:36). Throughout Acts we see him encouraging others in different ways. He was an example of generous giving (Acts 4:36-7), when he sold property and offered the money to the church for those in need. In the midst of a caring and sharing community, he was singled out as a symbol of generosity. Are we prepared to be generous to those in need around us? He later encouraged a new Christian in the person of Paul (Acts 9:27). After Paul’s conversion and aware of his reputation, Barnabas came alongside him and brought him into the fellowship of the church. Are we ready to help those who are new in the faith to find a place in our church? Finally, Barnabas was sent to the church in Antioch where he ‘saw the evidence of the grace of God’ (Acts 11:23). It was a church which brought Jewish and Gentile believers together for the first time. Like Barnabas, do we rejoice when we see God doing new things in people’s lives? Are we also willing to embrace these things and facilitate change? Encouragement is one of the spiritual gifts in the New Testament (Romans 12:8). It can be greatly underval- ued, but it is still crucial in growing the church. Like Barnabas, will we nurture gifting; strengthen the doubt- ers and those tempted to give up; show generosity to God’s people and beyond and will we strengthen people to move beyond their own comfort zones to help those in need? Be prepared to ask the following questions: ‘Are there people alongside us who will encourage us?’ and ‘How can we be encouragers to others?’

Grace - God’s kindness towards us Luke records that as Jesus grew up ‘the grace of God was upon Him’ (2:40), and that the people wondered at the ‘gracious The word ‘grace’ is one of the most important words found in words’ that He spoke (4:22). John says that Jesus was ‘full of the New Testament. It means God’s loving disposition towards grace and truth’ (1:14). The most common benediction be- us as sinners. God’s ‘grace’ is almost another word for God’s stowed on Christians in the letters of the New Testament is ‘the love. This grace is the foundation of our salvation. So Paul can grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (eg Romans 16:20; 1 Cor. say that ‘we are justified freely by His grace’ (Romans 3:24); 16:23). ‘where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more’ (Romans 5:20); ‘by grace you are saved through faith’ (Ephesians 2:8). From this understanding of grace comes the reminder and the exhortation that all of us as Christians are ‘to grow in grace’ (2 But the word ‘grace’ is also used in another way in the New Peter 3:18). Our lives should manifest the grace of God in love Testament. It means the godly character being reproduced in and compassion and kindness. But grace is not something we Christians; Christ living in His people by His Spirit and making can achieve on our own. True grace is only found in close com- them like Himself – gracious. munion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Book Reviews

Exiles on Mission: How Christians Can Thrive in a Post-Christian World By Paul Williams, Bible Society, £13.99

Paul Williams, the CEO of Bible Society, explores the experience of living as Christians in the 21st century, including the dissonance with culture that is often felt.

He calls for a truly missional understanding of post-Christendom Christianity, providing constructive tools to help readers understand culture and form a missional response. Williams invites us to reimagine local churches as embassies of the kingdom of God and Christians as ambassadors in all spheres of life and work. This book encourages readers to embrace the language of exile for the scattered and gathered Church in the post-Christian West, and to imagine ways to engage in missional living. It helps Christians to integrate their faith with everyday life, and see how their efforts can align with God's missional purpose for the world.

Time Well Spent – a practical guide to developing your daily devotions By Colin Webster, 10Publishing, £2.99

When it comes to growing our devotional life, we may not know where to begin. Perhaps we feel so busy that we can’t possibly add yet another thing to our ‘to-do list’. Or maybe Bible study time feels more like a strain on the brain rather than fuel for the soul, and we wonder if it’s worth keeping going.

This book tackles these concerns head-on. It explains what a daily devotional time should involve, provides tips as to how to set aside the common distractions of life, and explains why time with God really is time well spent.

Review by Eden Christian Book Shops: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-devotional-books/time-well-

“When it comes to devotional life, we can struggle to get started for all kinds of different reasons. We may have heard that a regular devotional time is important, but we don’t know where to begin. Perhaps we feel so busy that we can’t possibly add yet another thing to our ‘to-do list’. Or maybe Bible study time feels more like a strain on the brain rather than fuel for the soul, and we wonder if it’s worth keeping going”. In Time Well Spent, Colin Webster takes on these concerns, tackling them head-on. This short book will not be a magic wand that sets you up with a great devotional life, but it will show you what a devotional involves, how to set aside common distractions, and why our time with God really is time well spent. Let this book spur you on with gentle encouragement and practical advice and fuel your desire to set aside time with God.

Prayer and Poetry

29 June is St Peter’s day, so this At this time of year, we remem- By Megan Carter So many lives have come, then may be of interest…. ber Barnabas, a good man, full flown of the Holy Spirit and faith, who Nigel Beeton writes: ‘We’re Peter encouraged people to stay true still having to listen to the choir Within this ancient house of to you - and others to trust you singing hymns rather than join- stone. (Mt 26:71-75, John21:15-18) ing in with them. Ironically, we for the first time. So, as I sit and wonder how I don’t know the man. heard ‘The King of Love’ this Lord, we have gone through morning: Such history should guide me I don’t know Him. difficult days. The pandemic has And so through all the length of now? I don’t know Him. taught us that we are not in control. We don’t know what each days Thy goodness faileth Such faithful worship through But I did. new day might bring. As we never; Good Shepherd, may I the years move into June and the hope of sing thy praise Within thy house From the moment I turned to for ever. I suppose ‘Within thy May move me to shed humble Him, more normality after the re- tears. strictions of Lockdown, we too house except during global pan- That day by the Sea, need encouragement. demics’ wouldn’t scan....?! But These ghosts bring me joy, not when you go to an old church fear I knew Him, Help us to have courage to step like ours (St Mary, Bury St Ed- forward with confidence and munds) you do become acutely I know I’m just a tenant here Knew He was the Lord. common sense. Most of all help conscious of that legacy of faith- And in one way they are my I so wanted to serve Him, us to stay true to you and to trust ful prayer and praise down the guide – you, knowing that you are the centuries: Speak for Him, security we need, knowing that They keep me free from pomp- The Ancient Church Follow Him, you will never leave us or for- ous pride! sake us. Help us to be en- Sometimes I sit within my pew By Nigel Beeton Fish for Him couraged! And gaze upon an ancient view Nigel Beeton writes: ‘June! Live and give my life for Him In Jesus name, Amen. Of stones, which, set by ma- And maybe, just maybe, we’ll No matter what. By Daphne Kitching son’s line be able to get out on our holi- He is the Lord days this summer! I wonder if June is traditionally a favourite Have stood through centuries of you’ll send any post cards? Or And I let Him down month for weddings. As lock- time; will a quick post on Facebook or down rules are gradually being Instagram get you off the hook? Again and again and again. relaxed, couples may now be Of glass, whose colours, vivid, bright Anyway, post cards or not, let’s I go on letting Him down. able to plan their special day. hope we can enjoy the summer! This is based on the famous Have told their wondrous tales But Jesus, reading in 1 Corinthians 13. of light The Post Card Who knows the best and worst And filtered sunshine’s timeless A post card from you sent to me of me, Charity rays Causes me to smile with glee! Who knows how I rush in and Charity or love what’s in a To countless eyes through I can’t have the blues blurt out, name? countless days. As I read the news Mix and mess things, The King James Bible translates The pulpit where, through long Of your time with the sun and Fail and fall asleep, them the same. past years the sea! Who feels the agony of the de- Corinthians 13 tells the great God’s servants preached to I love how it lands on the mat nied one, theme faithful ears; So it’s there when I hang up my Understands the agony of the Of love everlasting, everyone’s The lectern and its Bible read hat; one who denies. dream. Aloud to both the quick and And no more time passes He is the Lord Loved by all brides on their dead; wedding day Ere I reach for my glasses And He forgives The feet, which down that aisle The verses they all want the have trod And happily read all your chat! Again and again and again. preacher to pray To worship everlasting God; A message by text’s not the He goes on forgiving. The wonders of love that over- The angels, as they downward same. Feed my lambs, rules all, gaze And Facebook is all just a game. Take care of my sheep That holds on believing whatev- Have heard ten thousand songs er befalls. I know some will say Feed my sheep. of praise! Love always trusting always It’s the new modern way, By Daphne Kitching Songs of joy, and infant cries prevails But the lack of a card? It’s a As they gathered to baptize, Enduring, protecting, love never shame! Prayer for Encouragement in fails. Songs of love and celebrations By Nigel Beeton June Faith hope and charity, virtues In marriages and confirmations, all three Songs of sadness and of loss ** Father, But love is the greatest and ever Sung before the Saviour’s cross. will be.

Features You have heard of Academic Rivalry….

Features Update from the House of Bishops Of the Church of England

Update on the Sacrament of Holy Communion

https://anglican.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b375b1912f2d9f546f580f63&id=e4c334c7a1&e=263671a6ef

Editor Comment. While we would all love to be receiving Holy Communion in both kinds, we need to accept that until it is safe to do so, there will be no change in this interim policy. I can recall that in my Catholic upbringing, we only received Holy Communion in one kind, the “Consecrated Host” only after the Vatican Two reforms was the Chalice made available to the laity. We never doubted that the “Consecrated Host” was enough to be in full spiritual communion with each other. Only when I became an Angli- can, did I appreciate the different historic tradition that had persisted within the Church of England down the generations. I look forward to that day, which I know will be welcomed and celebrated, but for now we need to be content that one element is sufficient to be receiving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in our current situation.

Features Dave Walker Cartoons Dave Walker cartoons are used under a paid subscription annually

Asking for Volunteers

Features Smile Lines

Neighbourhood Watch On leaving the local Churches Together phone and said proudly, "The Lord is my lunch, the Catholic priest was heard to say to Shepherd, and .... that's all I need to know." In one small rural village the local vet also the Methodist minister: “Well, at the end of led the local Neighbourhood Watch group. the day, we’re all doing the Lord’s work: you Late one night the phone rang, and his wife in your way, and I in His.” Thankful answered. An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?" Out to graze A minister said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says a prayer over you "He is, but tell me, do you need him as the A group of elderly British tourists were tour- each night? That's very commendable. What vet or the Neighbourhood Watch?" the wife ing Holland by bus. They stopped at a cheese does she say?" asked. farm where a young guide led them through the process of making cheese from goat's The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in "Both!" was the reply. "We can't get our milk. She showed the group a lovely hillside bed!" dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it!" where many goats were grazing. Don’t forget the other half Jump "These," she explained, "are the older goats When my daughter said her bedtime prayers, A minister invited to preach at a local prison put out to pasture when they no longer pro- she would bless every family member, every regretfully chose the text: ‘With the help of duce." She then asked, "What do you do in friend, and every animal (current and past). my God, I will leap over the wall.’ Britain with your old goats?" Then one night, after we had finished the nightly prayer, she added: "And all girls." Talking A spry old gentleman answered: "They send us on bus tours!" This soon became part of her nightly routine. Egyptian this and that Bishop Douglas Feaver, the notoriously out- Finally, my curiosity got the best of me and I spoken former Bishop of Peterborough, was A group of tourists was watching the re- asked her why she had begun adding the part presiding at his first Diocesan Synod and a enactment of an ancient Egyptian religious about all girls. Her response? "Because at man at the back had been droning on and on ritual. One pointed to the statue that was being church the minister only ever says ‘all men!’” praised, and asked a nearby local for the name for some length of time. Finally, a lady called Old and alone and needing help... out to protest that she could not hear what he of the god. "Why do you ask?" the local man was saying. Bishop Douglas replied: “You replied. An old Italian priest lived alone. He wanted should thank God and sit down.” The tourist shrugged. "Oh, just idol curiosi- to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was ty!" very difficult work, as the ground was so For sale hard. A member of his church, Vincent, who An estate agent’s board outside a redun- Ground used to help him, was in prison. So the old dant church: priest wrote a letter to his parishioner and Long ago when men cursed and beat the described his predicament: FOR SALE. ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Suitable for conversion. Today, it's called golf. Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my toma- On a church notice board: Great religious truths to garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you Visitors welcome. During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these four were here my troubles would be over. I know Members expected. great religious truths: you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. I remember you in my Friend? 1. Muslims do not recognise Jews as God's prayers! Arriving at church to attend a wedding, a Chosen People. Fr Louis formidable looking lady in a large hat was 2. Jews do not recognise Jesus as the Messiah. A few days later he received a letter from his greeted by the usher. “Are you a friend of the parishioner. groom?” he ventured. 3. Protestants do not recognise the Pope as the Dear Fr Louis, whatever you do, don't dig up “Certainly not,” she said indignantly. “I’m leader of the Christian world. that garden. That's where the bodies are bur- the bride’s mother.” ied. Thanks for your prayers. Vinnie 4. Methodists do not recognise each other in At 4 am the next morning, the local police Curate the pub. arrived and dug up the entire area, without finding any bodies. They apologised to the old As the enthusiastic curate was preparing to Good Samaritan priest and left. That same day the old priest move on to his first church as a vicar, a pa- A Sunday school teacher was telling her class received another letter. rishioner asked him what he thought had been the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked Dear Fr Louis, You can go ahead and plant his main contribution to the life of the church. the class, "If you saw a person lying on the your tomatoes now. That's the best I could do He replied: “People here didn’t know what sin roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what under the circumstances. Vinnie was until I came.” would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke When the sermons clash with the music… the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up." There was a feud between the minister and Belief The Lord is my Shepherd the choir director of a church. The first trouble Our elderly vicar was very devout, but some- A Sunday School teacher decided to have her came when the minister preached on times lost his place during the service. One young class memorize one of the most quoted ‘Dedicating Yourselves to Service’, and the Sunday as we reached the Creed there was a passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the choir director chose to sing: ‘I Shall Not Be long silence, so the curate went across to him youngsters a month to memorise the short Moved’. and gently touched his arm. “I believe in Psalm. Little Richard was excited about the Trying to believe it was a coincidence, the God,” she whispered. task - but he just couldn't memorise things very well. minister put the incident behind him. The next The vicar smiled back happily. “Oh so do I, Sunday he preached on ‘Giving’. Afterwards, so do I!” On the day that the children were scheduled the choir squirmed as the director led them in to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congrega- the hymn: ‘Jesus Paid It All’. The Lord’s work tion, Richard was very nervous. When it was finally his turn, he stepped up to the micro-

Features From the Parish All Saints Weekly Coffee Morning and Charity Sale and Willow Club This is held in the Church Hall, every Friday between 0930 to 1130 am. All are welcome. Meet us in a relaxed friendly atmosphere and enjoy pleasant company, coffee, tea and a range of cakes or toast are available. A reasonable donation is requested. The Charity sale of used clothing and bric a brac, including books, DVDs CD’s all donated and in good condition. In season, there may be fresh vegetables grown in parishioners gardens available.

On the last Friday of each month, except for December The Willow Lunch Club for those alone or needy meets at 1 pm. 2 course meal available with refreshments for a recommended donation of £2.50; Food allergies are catered for as are vegetarian and vegan diets.

Dates Ahead for the Diary

Limited streamed Sunday and mid-week services will continue for the time being, alt- hough we hope to resume more once more restrictions are lifted.

A schedule for Online streamed worship via facebook will be published on the Church Public Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/AllSaintsBelvedere/events/?ref=page_internal A full list planned in Church of services is on the last page of this magazine.

Other Events: Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals can now take place observing restrictions in the Regulations. All events will also be announced on the above page or the All Saints Belvedere Group page or Church notice boards

A decision to reopen the Church Hall has been made and the weekly Coffee Morning re- started on 21st May. Risk Assessment by each activity leader has to be completed and social distancing, hand cleansing and Mask Wearing (unless seated at tables) will be re- quired as part of it for the time being.

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