JUNE 2020

The Parish of Kidmore End & Sonning Common

The Lamb and Flag

The parish magazine of

St John the Baptist Church, Kidmore End and Christ the King Church, Sonning Common

50p

CONTACTING THE CLERGY OR CHURCH OFFICERS Rector

Revd James Stickings Telephone 0118 972 1459 Email [email protected].

James will normally take Monday as a ‘day off’ so if you need advice or support that day, please leave a message, or contact one of the churchwardens.

Associate Priest

Revd Sheila Walker Telephone 0118 972 4861 Email [email protected]

Churchwardens

Robert Lynch Telephone 0118 972 4699 Email [email protected]

Karen Broadbent Telephone 0118 972 4606 Email [email protected]

Musical Director – St. John’s

Frances Brewitt-Taylor Telephone 0118 948 2743 Email [email protected] PCC Treasurer

Nick Room Telephone 0118 972 2258 Email [email protected] PCC Secretary

Jenny MacGregor Telephone 0118 947 2855 Email [email protected] Parish website: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/166/

FROM THE RECTORY Dear Friends There are several possible ways of describing what’s going on at the moment. A scientific term is “[global] pandemic”. But other phrases are in use, such as “unprecedented situation”; “difficult/strange/extraordinary times”; “current crisis”.

Each of these is true to an extent. And yet, somehow, they don’t fully describe things. Yes, what we’re living through is unprecedented – but isn’t that true of every single moment, in that it’s unique and has not happened before? Sure, times are difficult and strange, but does that really capture the essence of current events? Admittedly, it is a crisis – but we’ve got used to those (political, environmental, social, educational, health, religious – take your pick).

There comes a point when language fails us. As the expression has it, we are “lost for words”. Our collective concern and anxiety at the suffering caused by the virus and its wider impact on our nation, and the world, can’t be summed up adequately in a single term or phrase.

The Bible, despite being full of words – unsurprisingly for a whole library of books – offers us an insight into the way that words in the end fall short. St Paul in Romans talks about every mouth being stopped when confronted with the righteousness of God. And in the Old Testament we hear of the prophet Elijah encountering the Lord in a “still small voice” – another translation being, a “sound of sheer silence”. Much later, the sixteenth century writer St John of the Cross talked paradoxically of silence being God’s “first language”.

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the vocation of the Church in this present moment. Clearly, we are called to pray. But that needn’t be with words. We can let go of trying to define and describe, and just “be” in the presence of God, in silence and stillness. Try it – it requires no special aptitude, equipment, or training. All it needs is a willingness to seek God, who is beyond all words and phrases.

In these “difficult times”, it may be just what is needed.

God bless James 1

DAILY HOPE – 0800 804 8044 The has launched a free telephone service which offers listeners hymns, reflections and prayers. The service recognises that there are many online services and prayer groups whilst public worship remains suspended there are many unable to access this provision. The Office for National Statistics believes that there are at least 2.5 million elderly people who have never accessed the internet. Moreover, many people suffer from loneliness during social distancing and self-isolation measures. In the first 48 hours of the service there were over 6000 callers and this should gather momentum as awareness of this service is made known more widely.

The Archbishop of Canterbury speaking at the launch of this service said, “With many in our country on lockdown, it’s important that we support those who are feeling lonely and isolated, whatever age they are. The Daily Hope service will allow people to hear hymns, prayers and words that offer comfort and hope, especially in this Easter season. I want to urge people to spread the news about this service. If there is someone you know who is particularly struggling, give them a call and let them know about the Daily Hope. I’m going to phone a friend; will you join me?”

Callers to the telephone service hear a greeting from the Archbishop and can then select several options to hear the resources which include the weekly national online service, hymns and prayers as well as Coronavirus advice.

Those with online access can find the national weekly service on the Church of England website - https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church- online. It is streamed at 9am.

CHOIR MAKES HYMNS AVAILABLE EACH WEEK FOR DIGITAL SERVICES Clergy and other users of the A Church Near You website can now download a selection of hymns for use with digital services. The pieces are being made available by 10 Choral Scholars of St Martin’s-in-the-Fields. The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is supporting the venture with assistance over the choice of hymns. A prerequisite for churches who use these works is a ‘streaming addition’ to their Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) licence.

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Hugh Morris of RSCM said, “We are delighted to be able to resource this project, supporting the church through these challenging times. We know that our Sunday by Sunday planning resource is used by thousands of churches to shape and select the music and hymns used in services across the country each week, and it is good to nourish that sense of shared approach even in our current dispersal. Music is such an important way of enriching and developing worship, and this contribution will surely help to sustain all those who look forward to experiencing live music and worship in church again in the future.”

THE BIGGEST SCHOOL ASSEMBLY ADDRESSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY On 30 April the Archbishop gave a short address to what is believed to be the biggest ever school assembly. His audience was the Oak National Academy, a free online school set up to support youngsters studying at home. Lessons were accessed by two million viewers during its first week.

The Archbishop’s theme was hope. "Hope means the certain expectation of something you don't have yet, but you will have in the future because it's been promised by God," said the archbishop. "Hope is hope of life, hope of purpose, hope of peace, hope of justice, equality and a good future," he said, talking from his kitchen, as he did when he delivered his sermon on Easter Sunday.

This was echoed by two of the pupils who introduced the archbishop, Eternity Carter and Marvellous Matthew-Okoromi. "Hope is something that's in my heart to let me have strength," said Eternity from Sneinton primary school in Nottingham. So what examples do you use in a modern assembly, to an audience of many faiths and none? There were not going to be any clunky sporting metaphors, nothing along the lines of "in a way Jesus is like a goalkeeper".

Instead there was a big visual clue in the book standing beside him on the kitchen table, Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. "May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears," said Archbishop Welby, quoting the former South African president and drawing on his perseverance through long years of imprisonment.

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50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT SONNING COMMON HEALTH CENTRE Unsurprisingly we are sadly postponing this special event on the 28 June. We hope it may be possible to rearrange this for Sunday 13 September when we will hopefully be able to celebrate the end of social isolation as well as 50th Anniversary. If that is not possible we will organise a double celebration in June/July 2021 to celebrate the end of COVID too. Please save the date for September; we will give more information when the situation with Covid-19 becomes clear.

Take care, stay well from the SCHC team.

TWO NEW SUFFRAGAN BISHOPS IN THE On 29 April the was pleased to announce that Downing Street had approved the nominations of the next bishops of Horsham and Lewes. Taking on the Horsham area is the Revd Ruth Bushyager. Ruth is a married with two children and she is currently vicar of St Paul’s, Dorking and Area Dean, Dorking. Ruth was ordained in 2006 and after serving in the Southwell and Oxford dioceses, she became Area Missioner in Kensington, London. Her incumbency in Dorking started in 2014.

The Lewes area will be headed by the Revd William Hazlewood, currently the incumbent of the Dartmouth and Dittisham benefice in Devon. He has been a priest since 2002. He served his curacy in Bristol before moving to Iver Heath near Slough. In 2011 he took on his current benefice and in 2017 was made a Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral. He is married with two children.

BARNABAS – ST PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY COMPANION – 11 JUNE Would you have liked to go to Cyprus on holiday this year? If so, spare a thought for the Cypriot who played such a key role in the New Testament.

He was Joseph, a Jewish Cypriot and a Levite, who is first mentioned in Acts 4:36, when the Early Church was sharing a communal lifestyle. Joseph sold a field and gave the money to the apostles. His support so touched them that they gave him the nickname of Barnabas, ‘Son of Encouragement’.

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Barnabas has two great claims to fame. Firstly, it was Barnabas who made the journey to go and fetch the converted Paul out of Tarsus, and persuade him to go with him to Antioch, where there were many new believers with no one to help them. For a year the two men ministered there, establishing a church. It was here that the believers were first called Christians.

It was also in Antioch (Acts 13) that the Holy Spirit led the church to ‘set aside’ Barnabas and Paul, and to send them out on the church’s first ever ‘missionary journey’. The Bible tells us that they went to Cyprus, and then travelled throughout the island. It was at Lystra that the locals mistook Barnabas for Zeus and Paul for Hermes, much to their dismay.

Much later, back in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul decided to part company. While Paul travelled on to Syria, Barnabas did what he could do best: return to Cyprus and continue to evangelise it. So, if you go to Cyprus and see churches, remember that Christianity on that beautiful island goes right back to Acts 13, when Barnabas and Paul first arrived.

In England there are 13 ancient church dedications and not a few modern ones. Barnabas the generous, the encourager, the apostle who loved his own people – no wonder he should be remembered with love.

ST ALBAN FIRST MARTYR OF BRITAIN C.250 – 22 JUNE There is very little certainty about Alban, the date of his martyrdom, and its location. The account of his martyrdom is that he gave shelter to a priest who was hunted by the Romans. Alban put on the priest’s clothes when the Romans arrived. He refused to make a sacrifice to the emperor and was condemned to death, his execution taking place in the fields below the site of St Alban’s Abbey.

Bede wrote about him in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People but this was c. 730 and it is possible that Bede’s account was influenced by an earlier work by Gildas written around 570. Bede refers to a shrine having been established in Verulamium by 429 as noted by Germanus of Auxerre during a visit to Britain. However, there are no contemporary accounts of Alban and various scholars have ventured their opinions leading to the dates of his martyrdom ranging from 209 to 313. Bede suggests 305 referring to ‘when cruel emperors were first publishing their edicts against Christians.’ In this he was probably referring to Diocletian whose edicts date from 303. The English 5 historian John Morris (1913–1977) doubted this and believed that the persecutions against Christians came from Emperor Septimus Severus in 209 and Alban’s martyrdom took place around this time. Yet, other historians suggest that a single martyrdom in Britain at this time is improbable and believe that a martyrdom during the reign of Emperors Decius or Valerian is more likely – putting the date sometime between 251 and 259. We don’t know and may never know! Fortunately, the history of the wonderful St Alban’s Abbey is a little more certain. A Benedictine abbey and monastery was established on the site by c 793 and destroyed by the Danes in c 890. The Normans reestablished the abbey from 1077, completed in 1115 and by the Middle Ages it ranked as the premier abbey in England. The abbey was closed in 1539 and many of the precious contents discarded. However, the people of St Albans bought the abbey building in 1553 but by the 1800s it was in a sorry state. But wealthy Victorian benefactors financed the remedial work. And today it is now the splendid cathedral of the St Alban’s Diocese established in 1877.

DR FRANK ELMS ROBSON OBE 1931 – 2020 Dr Robson who held positions in the Oxford Diocese during a 40-year spell from 1958 to his retirement in 1998 died on 22 April at St Luke’s Hospital, Oxford. His posts included registrar and secretary of the Diocesan Synod. He received an honorary civil law doctorate from Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury for his work as Archbishop’s registrar in the .

He was a founding member of the Ecclesiastical Law Society and for many years its chairman. He qualified as a solicitor with a family firm in Morpeth in the early 1950’s but took a break to read theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he met, among others, Peter Winckworth. Frank went on to become the lead partner in the firm Winckworth Sherwood in the 1990s. He was awarded an OBE in 1991 the same year as his honorary doctorate award

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TONY HORSFALL ON LEARNING TO TRUST IN TIMES OF TROUBLE A friend, writing about the challenges she is facing, says: “We never cease to have invitations to trust, do we?” I tend to agree. Almost every day we face circumstances that we cannot control, and for which the only way to find peace is to trust in the loving wisdom of our faithful God.

Yet trust is never easy. It seems easier – and more natural – to worry or to be afraid. It’s as if we feel we ought to be anxious, as if we really must fret about things. Not to do so would be to not care. It’s our duty to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.

But is it?

Jesus seems to offer us an alternative. He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” (John 14:1) He offers Himself to us as someone who is trust worthy, one who is absolutely reliable and who will see us through. We are invited to entrust Him with our concerns, and to hand over to His care the things that trouble us.

In his book Ruthless Trust, the writer Brennan Manning says: “Sometimes it may mean more to God when we say, ‘I trust you’ than it does when we say ‘I love you.’” When things are going well, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, it is easy to love God. But when the storms are blowing, and the clouds are dark, it takes a very special kind of faith to say, “I don’t understand God, but I do trust you.” This kind of faith delights the heart of God. Every trouble we face presents us with another invitation to place our trust in Him.

REFUGEE WEEK – 15 – 21 JUNE As the annual ‘Refugee Week’ approaches, various Christian relief agencies and campaign groups warn that coronavirus could have a catastrophic impact on the refugees whom they are trying to help.

First, the big picture: according to the UNHCR, “we are currently witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.”

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Refugees are especially vulnerable, as their usual homes of makeshift tents or flimsy shelters are over-crowded and without clean water or sanitation, making social distancing and isolation impossible. Also, many refugees are already suffering under-lying health conditions and mental health issues.

As the head of the Humanitarian Division at Christian Aid, Nick Guttman, also points out: “Refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Access to medical facilities is limited and the destabilisation of the global economy is likely to have an impact on their livelihoods and the flow of humanitarian aid.” He warns that it is only a “matter of time” before it reaches the countries with a high number of refugees: Bangladesh, Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Tearfund has highlighted the problem of warning the one million Rohingya people, crowded in camps in Bangladesh. “There is no internet provision in the camps and the mobile network is currently suspended, so getting the message out about the dangers of the virus relies on word of mouth.”

Meanwhile, Open Doors is concerned for the plight of the Pygmy people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many fled their rainforest after persecution by Islamist rebels, and are now living in camps, where they are extremely vulnerable to the virus.

Leprosy Mission has warned that India “faces a human timebomb, waiting to explode.” Communities affected by leprosy, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions and poor sanitation, make “ideal breeding ground for the spread of coronavirus. Social distancing and isolation are impossible in the densely populated areas.”

COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS Many churches have moved to ‘streaming’ services via You Tube or Facebook. As a result Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) has made available a new streaming licence to those churches holding the normal CCLI licence permitting lyrics to be copied. The streaming licence permits the inclusion of live music in the streamed service. Where churches stream services on their own website they also need a PRS for Music Limited Online Music Licence in addition to the CCLI streaming licence. The licences permit recorded services to be stored on the parish’s websites. However, neither licence permits 8 the use of commercially produced music e.g. on CDs where the specific permission of the copyright holder is needed.

The moral is, as it has always been: everyone has to tread carefully where matters of copyright are concerned!

THE COUNCIL OF NICEA 325 – AND THE NICENE CREED During the eucharist we often join in saying the Nicene Creed and, as the name suggests, it originated in the work of the First Council of Nicea in 325. This event seems truly remarkable at this distance in time. Here was what can be described as the very first ecumenical gathering of the Church and, all this in an age when there was certainly not much in the way of technological support. So how did it come about and what did it achieve?

The motivation for the Council seems to have come from Roman Emperor Constantine and the location, Nicea, is part of modern day Turkey. The Council sought to establish consensus around some matters then unresolved in parts of the Church. Accounts record uncertainty over the exact attendance but over 300 bishops are claimed to have been present. At the time there were over 1800 bishops – 1000 in the east and 800 in the west. Delegates came from most parts of the Roman empire including Britain. It convened on 20 May, and concluded on 25 August.

The Council had a purposeful agenda and four main achievements resulted. The first was settled agreement about the divine nature of the Son of God and his relationship to God the Father. In turn, and secondly, this contributed to the construction of the first part of the Nicene Creed. The third achievement of the Council was the settlement of the date of the great festival of Easter. And fourthly, and again at this distance in time rather remarkably, the Council took the first step towards creating Canons – twenty in number. These covered things like the structural organisation of the Church, dignity in the standards for clergy, reconciliation of the ‘lapsed’, readmission to the Church for those lapsed, and liturgical practice.

Creeds had developed as statements of faith that designated those as Christians. The Nicene Creed sought to provide a substantive declaration and summary of the Christian faith. And the wording introduced some concepts with which, in contemporary language, we are now familiar. Jesus’ divinity is proclaimed by 9 his being, eternally begotten of the Father The resurrection is recited, On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; and his ascension, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

The doctrine of the Trinity is affirmed in the words, We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Council established the doctrine of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being three persons but one substance. And the creed confirms the beliefs in one holy catholic and apostolic church, one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

In summary, the Council of Nicea was a very significant event. The doctrinal statement was settled by an almost unanimous agreement of all bishops present and for the first time the authority of the Council was given added force by the participation of the Roman Emperor and the state’s endorsement of the Council’s outcomes. In his verbal address to the Council, Constantine said how he wanted the Church to live in harmony and peace and by letter after the event praised the unity of the Church in settling the date of Easter. The second and final Council of Nicea took place in 787.

NEW SUB DEAN AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL The Revd Richard Peers, currently Director of Education for the Liverpool Diocese and CEO of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust has been appointed Sub Dean in succession to Canon Edmund Newey who is taking up the post of Rector of Rugby in the Diocese of Coventry. Father Richard is 54, and trained and worked as a teacher before being ordained in 1993. Before going to Liverpool in 2016 he was headteacher of Trinity All Through School, Lewisham. He has served as a priest in parishes in the Dioceses of York, Portsmouth and Southwark.

The Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Martyn Percy said, “Richard’s combined expertise and experience in education and the Church will prove to be a rich resource for us all at Christ Church, and for the many and varied constituencies that we serve more widely. “His broad spirituality – involvement in New Wine, a minister and priest in his local rural group of churches, and the Superior of a company of priests in the Anglican Catholic tradition – will bring us considerable depth and breadth. We look forward to welcoming Richard and his partner Jim to the life of our community here.”

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CHURCH OF ENGLAND CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO LIFT THE ‘TWO CHILD’ LIMIT ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT With the very significant rise in claims for universal credit the Church of England called on government in early May to relax the two-child limit on benefits. Recent surveys indicate that some 230,000 families and 860,000 children have been affected by this rule and in the new claim cohort a further 60,000 families will also be affected.

The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler commented, “Whilst acknowledging the significant decisions made to improve support through Universal Credit in the wake of the coronavirus, we must highlight that families affected by the two-child limit are among the worst affected by the economic fallout of this pandemic – denied support for their children when they need it most. At a time like this, we understand more than ever that life is unpredictable, and that it is important to help one another through difficult times. The Government should lift the two-child limit and protect all children.”

NEW CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OF CLERGY ON THE DIOCESAN SYNOD The Revd Geoff Bayliss, Rector of Cowley and Area Dean becomes the new head of the House of Clergy on the Diocesan Synod in succession to the Revd Sue Booys. Geoff grew up in North London and was a teacher for over 20 years. He was unsuccessful in his application to pursue ministry training and continued teaching until he joined a self-supporting ministry training scheme in East Anglia Ministerial Training. He served his curacy in Essex and developed his ministry in the Chelmsford Diocese. His familiarity with urban priorities in north London and his teaching background convinced him that Cowley was an ideal job when it was advertised. During his time at Cowley he has been involved in many local initiatives aimed at better support for some of the least well off in the community and church planting.

THE REVISED ENGLISH HYMNAL This new hymnal is due to be published at the end of June, somewhat later than was originally envisaged but an eagerly awaited update. The original English Hymnal was produced in 1906. The first book is recognised for its musical quality and the work of Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) as its musical editor.

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The Revd Canon Martin Draper, chair of the English Hymnal Company says that the latest revision contains more hymns derived from the works of poets than any other. And he is a firm believer that everyone should have a hymn book on their book shelf so as to be able to explore and reflect on the huge range of works contained within it.

‘A hymn book is not only for use in church services. In an age where many people no longer possess a printed prayer book of any kind, a hymnal is a rich source of prayer and an invitation to meditation and contemplation. The variety of the seasonal hymns, well-known and much-loved texts, centuries-old compositions, and classic and near contemporary poetry of depth and beauty can provide an almost inexhaustible treasury of prayer and devotion.’

The book contains about 680 items of which 185 will be new to users of the 1986 New English Hymnal. About a half of the contents provide for the Church’s liturgical year, with choices for all the principal feast days, and there are eight settings of the eucharist. The book also includes an essay by the former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who is president of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Besides Martin Draper, others who have been instrumental in the production of this new hymnal are Gordon Giles, Jonathan Goodall, Simon Lindley, Michael Stoddart and Huw Williams.

GENERAL SYNOD – JULY SESSIONS Synod officers have written to all members to tell them that the residential meeting in York will not take place. They are looking at ways in which some matters can be considered in virtual and less formal meetings. However, under current rules Synod can only pass legislation and key business in person. So whilst this is a constraint it may be possible for matters to be scrutinised in virtual meetings. Parliament has been asked to approve a proposal under which Synod elections are postponed to enable the current Synod to meet in November. Were that not to be possible it is hoped that Parliament will approve a change in law to permit official business of Synod to be passed in a virtual meeting. Views of Synod members are being sought.

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VE75 – KIDMORE END Flowers on the well in calm, peaceful evening sunlight on Saturday 9 May – the day after the 75th anniversary of VE day in 1945.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY’S REFLECTION ON VE75 – 8 MAY 2020 At the end of May 1940 in the United Kingdom hope lived and grew although there was every reason for bleak despair. On 26 May that year a national day of prayer was called by King George VI on the advice of the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The evacuation of Dunkirk was imminent and expected to be a disaster without precedent. Yet hope lived as people prayed. Within a month, as Churchill wrote after the war, we were to find ourselves alone almost disarmed with triumphant Germany and Italy at our throats, with the whole of Europe open to Hitler’s power.

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Almost exactly five years later on VE day the war in Europe had ended although in the Far East the 14th army and vast American forces had to fight on until August to achieve final victory. Five years – years of courage and sacrifice.

My grandfather fought in the army, his brother was in the RAF, another in the Navy, both very senior officers. Another great uncle was killed whilst serving in the RAF. My father in law was one of those who landed on D Day and my father as a very new pilot flew bombing raids in Burma in 1945. All of them knew the burden of war in common with millions of other people around the world. Almost everyone on a myriad of home fronts also served. There were few people who could avoid the struggle and pain in which 70 million died and hundreds of millions suffered. Go on 75 years from that 8 May 1945.

I suggest that there are two great tributes we can pay to the 1945 generation. The first tribute is to remember reconciliation. From 1945 until this day we have improved our relationship with our former enemies and they are now friends. Jesus’ hardest commands were to forgive one another and to love our enemies. We have loved our former enemies by seeking their good. Yet, the horror of war persists. In these last weeks the United Nations Secretary General has called for a global ceasefire and to many people’s surprise in many places that has been followed. To establish forgiveness and reconciliation is a salute to those who by their hope-filled service made our today possible.

The second tribute is to hold onto hope. Hope kept courage alive from 1940 to 1945. Hope was expressed in the national day of prayer. Hope shows in our determination to build a better, fairer more Christ-like world and country. A country built in justice, peace and generosity as we are united before the threat of the virus and united by the courage of the medical staff and carers as well as so many more essential workers.

Nelson Mandela said that we should make our decisions out of our hopes, not our fears. Today we can honour the sacrifice that gave us victory in 1945 by deciding for reconciliation to widen and deepen and by embracing hope to flow like a river carrying us to a brighter future.

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ST JOHN THE BAPTIST - FLOWERS DEMONSTRATE OUR FAITH At the end of March, as lockdown was imposed, I realised that we would not be able to enter our lovely church for Easter. Like most people, I found this profoundly sad but wondered if we could celebrate in another way. As one of the “flower ladies” who decorate the church for the festivals and provide flowers for the rest of the year, I asked James if he would mind if I put a small basket of flowers outside the door of St John the Baptist, on Easter Saturday, to signal that, although the building was closed, the church was still alive and celebrating the Resurrection.

A few days later, I asked Moira Lawrie (who heads the flower arranging team) if she would like to do something as well. As Easter approached, we realised that most of our own daffodils were over, so we asked the Kidmore End WhatsApp group if they had any spare flowers we could use.

On Good Friday they responded in style by leaving buckets of flowers and blossom by the church gate. Instead of one small basket, Moira and I were able to make two wreaths for the well, three large baskets and two vases of blossom! As we worked, people stopped to ask what was going on – and the results, judging from the number of emails, were much appreciated. One person wrote “Don’t underestimate what you have done to lift our spirits”.

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After Easter, we decided that we should continue to leave flowers by the church gate, so two baskets of tulips were hung on the pillars by the entrance.

Faced with the challenge of VE Day, my husband Robert suggested we use poppies within the decorations. We asked two more team members who live in the village, Caroline McAslan and Elizabeth Chandler, to help out.

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Moira came up with a wonderful idea using a Union Flag by the well, Caroline decorated the wheel of the well, Elizabeth did the flower baskets on the pillars and I did the War Memorial wreath and the flowers around the church door. Poppies were also used around the top of the well. The residents of Kidmore End took their cue from this and joined in with bunting everywhere and we all had a truly memorable day as neighbours met (with suitable distancing of course), drank tea (and later, something a little stronger!), sang, and danced through the day!

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We hope you enjoy the results! It is our intention to continue to have flowers by the church until it reopens, and because people can now travel and the front pillars are a useful 2m apart, the whole team of flower ladies can now be involved - so watch this space! Joss Lynch "A huge thank you must go to the Flower Ladies from St John's, who, despite the trials of lockdown over the past two months, have provided the village with such beautiful floral displays outside the church and round the well. Their creative displays for both Easter and for VE Day have been a real joy to see and we are very grateful to all who helped with such lovely artwork."

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WHERE DID HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! LORD GOD ALMIGHTY COME FROM? This is one of the most frequently sung hymns on Trinity Sunday. The lyrics were written by Reginald Heber (1783 – 1826) and draw on scripture found in Isaiah 6. 3 and Revelation 4.8. In the Book of Common Prayer the opening line is part of the Sanctus in the Holy Communion Rite save for Lord God of hosts rather than Lord God Almighty. Reginald Heber has been mentioned before in this magazine in respect of the Epiphany hymn, Brightest and best of the sons of the morning so it suffices to say that he died in tragic circumstances whilst Bishop of Calcutta. Holy, holy, holy! has proved remarkably popular. For example, Bing Crosby included it in his Beloved hymns album of 1951.

The tune is Nicea composed by The Revd Dr John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) and the hymn in this setting appeared in the first Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1861. Dykes was a friend and contemporary of Sir Henry Williams Baker, the editor of the hymnal and Dykes contributed several tunes for the book to the music editor, William Henry Monk. Some of these remain strong favourites in contemporary hymnals, for example, Melita, (Eternal Father, strong to save) Dominus Regit me, (The King of love my Shepherd is) Strength and stay, and of course, Nicea. The name of the tune recognises the First Council of Nicea’s establishment of the doctrine of the Trinity in 325.

GIFT DAY 2020 – DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS THIS YEAR In normal times, we would have had our Parish Gift Day around the time of the Patronal Festival for St John the Baptist, which is on 24 June. However, because of the ongoing situation with COVID-19, this will not be possible this year, at least in the way we’ve normally done it.

It must be said that the Parish is in a challenging financial situation. Some of these challenges predate the present crisis, but the lack of church services, fundraising opportunities (such as concerts), as well as the volatility of the global economy, compound the issues for us.

Therefore, during June we will be sending out a letter via e-mail to those on our Parish contact list, laying out the challenges in a bit more detail. Hopefully, this will encourage existing regular givers to consider increasing the amount they give, and those who don’t currently give on a regular basis to think about 19 doing so via the Parish Giving Scheme: www.parishgivingscheme.org.uk. (Do write to Nick Room, PCC Treasurer, for more information about this: [email protected].)

Also, irrespective of regular giving, we do hope all would consider making a one-off gift to help with parish finances.

So, instead of a Gift Day, think of it more as a “Gift Month”. We are not a business, and our purpose is obviously not to maximise income, but rather to serve God by witnessing to Christ in the power of the Spirit. At the same time, our ability to carry out this core mission depends in part on the generosity of regular and occasional giving.

A prayer: Loving Father, you have made us your people, richly provided us with good gifts, and called us to live for you; may gratitude be in our hearts; may generosity be in our hands; may justice and righteousness guide our feet and may the life of your kingdom and the joy of heaven be found among us. Amen

A NEW BISHOP OF CHESTER The Rt Revd Mark Tanner, currently of Berwick is to be the next and 41st Bishop of Chester. He succeeds the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster who retired in September 2019. Mark has been in Berwick since 2016 but he knows Chester well having been ordained there. With his wife Lindsay they have two children both of whom were born in Chester. As is the norm at the moment Mark and his wife will introduce themselves to the people of the Diocese and beyond via Facebook and Zoom.

Talking of his appointment, Mark said, “It is an honour and a joy to be appointed to the Diocese of Chester at such a key time in the life of our communities, nation, and Church. In Christ, God offers a gift of hope beyond our imagining; there is 20 no greater joy or privilege than enabling others to step into this freedom and life, whether in deeply practical service or beautiful wonder and worship. God is here for all."

BRITAIN - A NATION OF GARDENERS An article in the Economist – 2 May 2020 edition noted that our gardens have never been in ‘better nick.’ Many people have found time and inclination during the lockdown to tend their gardens. The article quotes a statistic of 45% of us are doing gardening, more than are cooking or reading.

The article goes on to note that gardening is an excellent pursuit to combat the ill effects of isolation and anxiety. Two new books—“The Natural Health Service” by Isabel Hardman, a political journalist who has suffered mental health problems, and “A Well-Gardened Mind” by Sue Stuart-Smith, a psychiatrist— highlight the mental-health benefits of gardening. Studies suggest it is associated with significant reductions in depression and anxiety. Dr Stuart-Smith sees it as a fundamentally optimistic activity. Imagining that a bunch of dull-looking seeds will transform into bright blooming flowers or wholesome vegetables requires faith in the future. So please keep gardening.

PLANTS FROM GREENSHOOTS NURSERY As you probably know Greenshoots Nursery, Peppard is part of the Ways and Means Trust which provides training for adults with learning difficulties. The nursery had to close with lockdown in March and is unlikely to reopen for some time due to the difficulties of managing social distancing with their trainees. In the meantime plants from the nursery are for sale outside our house at 17, Stoke Row Road, Peppard, RG9 5EJ. Everything is priced and payment by cash or cheque to 'Greenshoots' can be popped through our letterbox. We have a range of perennials, summer bedding plants, vegetable plants, herbs and bags of compost. Our 'pop up shop' is open 9 - 6 everyday so please do come and take a look and help to support this great charity! Sue Nickson

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CENTRE SPOT FOR CHILDREN

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SEASONAL COOKING BY FELICITY COOPER Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty God in three persons Blessed Trinity!

England was the first country to observe Trinity Sunday as a special day. Bishop Stephen of Liège (Bishop from 903-920) had written an Office of the Holy Trinity that was being used in some places on the Sunday after Pentecost and in others on the last Sunday before Advent. But it was St Thomas à Becket (1118- 1170) who obtained for us the special feast in England and later this was extended by Pope John XXII (Pope from 1316-1334) to the worldwide Church. This year Trinity Sunday falls on 7 June.

Soffritto is known as the Holy Trinity of Italian food, it is a combination of onions, celery and carrot in a 2:1:1 ratio. Soffritto is the Italian word for “fried slowly” as after the vegetables have been chopped with a mezzaluna (a knife with a curved blade) they are cooked slowly in olive oil until “dorata” (golden brown) This releases all the flavours from the vegetables resulting in a rich base for many Italian dishes.

Soffritto

Ingredients 2 medium sized onions 1 carrot 1 celery stick 1 tbsp olive oil + 15g/½ oz butter

Peel the vegetables and cut into a fine dice roughly 5mm square.

Heat a heavy based saucepan over a gentle heat and cook the vegetables in the olive oil for around ten minutes until they are softened and golden.

The soffritto can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days after cooking or you could make a large batch and freeze it.

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Minestrone soup

Ingredients Soffritto (as above) 1 leek sliced 200g small dried pasta 200g/7oz cavolo nero or savoy cabbage 400g/14oz tin of beans such as borlotti or cannellini 400g /14oz tin tomatoes 2 pints/1 litre of vegetable stock Chopped herbs such as thyme, parsley, oregano and basil Olive oil Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper.

Shred and cook the cabbage until just soft.

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until “al dente”

Add the tomatoes and stock to the soffritto, then add the beans, cabbage, leek and pasta.

Cook for five minutes, add the herbs and cook for another five minutes.

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Take care not to overcook the soup. Remember, boiled soup is spoiled soup.

Season to taste

Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

SUMMER SOLSTICE This occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt towards the Sun and it happens twice a year, once in each hemisphere. As a result, the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and the day brings the maximum amount of daylight. In the Arctic circle that means continuous daylight.

With the shift of the calendar the exact day moves. So this year the solstice is on 20 June. Also, the dates of earliest sunrise and latest sunset do not always coincide with the solstice. This is because the Earth’s rotation varies in speed slightly during the year.

CHURCH BUILDINGS As the notices published by James for the 10 May indicated, the Church of England has adjusted the position with regard to locked churches. The new guidance was issued on 5 May and this indicates a phased approach. Discretion has been delegated to the Diocesan bishops over whether or not to permit the 26 adjustments. The changes have been agreed by the House of Bishops following discussions within a group chaired by the , Dame .

Bishop Steven has authorised clergy to re-enter church buildings for the purpose of private prayer and live streaming or pre-recording of worship. In relation to the latter, Bishop Steven acknowledges that clergy may wish to continue with streaming worship from home in solidarity with worshippers. This small step is contingent on established hygiene and social distancing measures being undertaken. More detailed advice was issued a few days later about precautions to be taken when churches hitherto locked are re-entered. Further adjustments to the use of church buildings are possible but the process will be gradual and there is no set timetable for any changes. However the Bishop of London’s working group is discussing practical steps that anticipate future adjustments.

THE DAY THEY FIRST CLIMBED ANNAPURNA The first successful ascent of a mountain over 8,000 metres high was achieved just 70 years ago this month, on 3 June 1950, when Annapurna in the Himalayas was climbed by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog. Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world.

It was just three years before the first ascent of Everest. Annapurna was a largely unknown mountain, and the team first had to find a way to reach it, and then survey a possible ascent route before doing the actual climb – an amazing achievement in one season.

The team had originally intended to climb the slightly higher Dhaulagiri, but when they saw it, they decided it was impractical. They went on to climb Annapurna without oxygen and survived extreme conditions which resulted in the two summiting climbers, Herzog and Louis Lachenal, suffering severe frostbite and surviving an avalanche on the descent. At the summit the excitable Herzog said: “Never have I felt happiness like this, so intense and pure.” Lachenal, who had been reluctant to make the final attempt, said he felt “a painful sense of emptiness.”

This was the first mountain summit attempt that Nepal had permitted: afterwards the Maharajah of Nepal greeted the climbers as national heroes.

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CHARLES DICKENS – PROLIFIC WRITER WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE Popular Victorian novelist Charles Dickens died 150 years ago, on 9 June 1870. His books include The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield.

He died of a stroke in Gad’s Hill Place, his country home in Kent, when halfway through writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The last novel he completed – most of them were written in regularly released parts – was Our Mutual Friend, in 1865.

He had been born in Portsmouth in 1812, the second of eight children. His family were relatively poor, and his mother wanted him out at work, so he never received a formal education. Nevertheless, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years and wrote 15 novels, as well as many other stories, articles and letters. He was also a staunch social campaigner, particularly for children’s rights and education.

As could be deduced from one of his most loved works, A Christmas Carol, he was a firm believer in Christian elements such as compassion and redemption, and he loved the New Testament, while having little time for the Old or for organised religion. His parents were nominal Anglicans. He is said to have wanted his stories to be seen as ‘parables’ emphasising the teaching of Jesus.

TERRY WAITE ON COPING WITH LOCKDOWN Terry Waite spent four years in solitary confinement in Beirut. He says: “In isolation, it is easy to become introspective and depressed. All of us, when we are honest and examine ourselves critically, will discover things about ourselves of which we are not especially proud. I had to learn how to grow a greater acceptance of myself and work towards a deeper inner harmony.

“…. Today in lockdown, it’s important to keep yourself well. Don’t slob around all day in pyjamas and a dressing gown. Dress properly and develop a routine. It’s important to have a structure – get up at a certain time, eat regular meals and so on. If you have faith, then that will give you resources to draw on, especially if you know some hymns, psalms and prayers by heart. When I was captured, they were there to call on.”

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WE CAN CLAIM THE GIFT OF SLEEP Many of us have had our sleep patterns disturbed in recent weeks. After all, a pandemic, lockdown and growing financial crisis are hardly conducive to relaxation.

But the fact is that, whatever is happening out there, we desperately need our sleep. It is vital for the proper functioning of our brain and heart. Anyone who has ever been deprived of sleep for a period will remember their ever-diminishing ability to perform complicated tasks. Sleep can also help us solve problems. We go to bed struggling with a decision to make or a relationship to resolve, and we wake up to find a solution presenting itself. The old advice to ‘sleep on it’ is true: we see things more clearly after sleep.

The Bible considers our sleep as a blessing from God. As Christians, we can calmly commit ourselves to His loving care, secure that He who watches over us “will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps 121:4). Knowing that God is with us, we can let ourselves go. If you are having trouble sleeping, why not memorise one of the verses below, and repeat it to yourself as you lie in bed tonight?

‘I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.’ (Ps 3:5) ‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.’ (Ps 4:8) ‘In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He grants sleep to those He loves.’ (Ps 127:2) ‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.’ (Prov. 3:24) ‘I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.’ (Jer. 31:25)

As the writer George MacDonald so aptly put it: “Sleep is God’s contrivance for giving man the help He cannot get into him when he is awake.”

FEAST DAYS IN JULY Principal feasts occurring next month are St Thomas, the Apostle – 3 July (if not celebrated on 21 December), Mary Magdalene on 22 July and St James, the Apostle on 25 July.

Lesser festivals include, 6 July, Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation martyrs (1535), 14 July, John Keble, Tractarian poet, 29

(1866), 15 July, St Swithin Bishop of Winchester, (c 862), 29 July, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, companions of our Lord, and 30 July, William Wilberforce, social reformer, Olaudah Equiano, and Thomas Clarkson, anti-slavery campaigners, (1833, 1797 and 1846).

ST SOFA’S BY NIGEL AND CAROL BEETON We worship at St Sofa’s now Since Covid came to stay We don’t dress up or do our hair But still we come to pray!

Our rector is a clever chap A Zoom with his IT And so we sit down ev’ry week And meet up virtually!

Our Parish Church stands empty With praise she does not ring; But still her people gather round To pray, and praise, and sing!

The virus is a nasty thing Yet it has helped us see The church is NOT a building But folk like you and me!

DISCOVERING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF THE HARD WAY It was 250 years ago, on 11 June 1770, that English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, when his ship ran aground on it. While the aborigines and the Chinese may have found the Reef – the largest structure in the world made of living organisms – before him, Cook made more of an impact. His ship, the Endeavour, unloaded ballast and was re-floated at high tide, but extensive repairs were necessary, as well as skill at navigating a way out through the labyrinthine coral.

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Cook made extensive journeys to unexplored waters, particularly in the Pacific. At an earlier stage, when he was charting Newfoundland, he said he intended to go “not only further than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go.”

Born in Yorkshire, he worked for a Quaker ship-owning family at Whitby and started his sea life as a merchant seaman before joining the Royal Navy. Later he attended St Paul’s Church, Shadwell, in East London. Although he had six children, he has no direct descendants. He was killed aged 50 in 1779, during a scuffle with some natives in Hawaii, but left a huge legacy of scientific and geographical knowledge.

And just in case you want to note some details for your next quiz night here are some facts about the Reef. It is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It can be seen from outer space. It is made up of nearly 3000 separate reefs, 900 islands stretching for 2300 kilometers and encompassing an area of nearly 345,000 square kilometers.

FATHER’S DAY – 21 JUNE This celebration reached us as a result of events in the USA back in 1909 and it finds favour there, the UK and Canada. President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972 declaring the third Sunday in June, ‘Father’s Day’ and it’s a public holiday there.

In Spokane, Washington in 1909 there was a woman named Sonora Louise Smart Dodd. That year she heard a church sermon about the merits of setting aside a day to honour one’s mother. Mother’s Day was just beginning to gather widespread attention in the United States at this time. But Sonora Louise Smart Dodd knew that it was her father who had selflessly raised herself and her five siblings by himself after their mother had died in childbirth. So the sermon on mothers gave Sonora Louise the idea to petition for a day to honour fathers, and in particular, her own father, William Jackson Smart.

Sonora Louise soon set about planning the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane in 1910. With support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, her efforts paid off, and a ‘Father’s Day’ was appointed. Sonora Louise had wanted Father’s Day to be on the first Sunday in June (since that was 31 her father’s birthday), but the city council didn’t have time to approve it until later in the month. And so on 19 June 1910, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane.

Gradually, other people in other cities caught on and started celebrating their fathers, too. The rose was selected as the official Father’s Day flower. Some people began to wear a white rose to honour a father who was dead, and a red one to honour a father who was living.

The day was already being celebrated in the UK before President Nixon’s proclamation but he settled the date. And as is often said, the rest is history. But it’s quite a nice story.

BISHOP STEPHEN COTTRELL – GOD IS AT WORK EVEN WHEN OUR CHURCHES ARE CLOSED Bishop Stephen’s article from 12 May.

On the first Easter day, Jesus wasn’t recognised. Mary Magdalene famously mistook him for the Gardener. Cleopas and his companion didn’t know the identity of the stranger who walked at their side. Not being able to recognise things as they are, nor see where God is at work, is a common theme at Easter. As we approach Pentecost, it is still happening today.

During the coronavirus crisis, the Church of England has been accused of vacating the public square or of being absent. It was even implied that the decision to close churches for public worship was made by the Church, not the Government. Of course it wasn’t. The church is following Government guidance. Since we are in the middle of the biggest public health crisis in a century it is incumbent on all of us to do the same. With regard to the main charge – the church’s absence – I simply do not recognise it. The Church of England has been astonishingly present, albeit in many new and remarkable ways.

To test my hypothesis, I contacted a handful of clergy in the Chelmsford diocese where, until recently, I was the bishop. I asked them what they had been doing during the lockdown. Within moments I heard stories of a church in Ilford that has set up a daily food distribution point in the pub car park. This church is also working with refugees and asylum seekers. In Coggeshall, 32 in rural North Essex, a telephone visiting service has been set up as well as telephone sermon and prayer lines. They have put baskets of home-made butterflies – a symbol of the resurrection – in the churchyard so that those taking their daily walk could attach them to a large wooden cross erected outside the porch. In Chelmsford, a brand new church that doesn’t even have a building yet, has started a Zoom Bible study group. The local foodbank wouldn’t exist without them. In Colchester, the parish priest has produced YouTube assemblies. The choir rehearses on Zoom and they run children and youth events online. Many frazzled parents and stir-crazy kids are benefiting from this ministry. I’ve even joined in myself.

These stories are being replicated up and down the country. Most astonishing of all, plenty of churches report very large numbers of people joining their streamed services. One bishop, who used to pray on his own each morning, now tells me he is joined online by many others every day.

Then there are the funerals we are taking – I have one this week – and the amazing work of healthcare chaplains. Is all this a shocking absence? With the greatest respect to those who are saying otherwise, I wonder whether they are making that most basic of all mistakes in the Easter season. They are looking for Jesus in the wrong place.

Of course, we long for our church buildings to reopen. But when they do, it won’t be business as usual – partly because we are discovering new ways of serving our communities. Even when we do return to the sacred, beautiful space of our church buildings, with all their vital and much-missed resonances of continuity, I believe the Church of England will emerge from this stronger than it has been for a long while.

It is not one thing or the other. It is not in a building or online. We want to do both. When it is safe, we will. From this week, clergy will again be streaming services from their churches. But we learned ages ago that the best way to proclaim the gospel is to live it out. Those who see it are those who have eyes to see it.

As usual, this is most likely to be the poor, the sick, the isolated and the vulnerable. They are well aware of the church’s presence with them at the moment. Ask the woman whose only contact with the outside world is a 33 telephone call from the Vicar. Or the family who are kept afloat by YouTube posts. Or those whose only food this week comes from the foodbank run by the local church. Or the bereaved whose loved ones’ funeral is being taken this week. Or the two million listeners to Radio 4, or the 600,000 people online who listened to the Archbishop of Canterbury on Easter morning.

All these people recognise Jesus in what they receive. What they are hearing and receiving is a prophetic message about how we can become a better, fairer nation, and the practical expression of that vision through the care of God’s Church. Of course we could do more. Of course we’ve probably made some mistakes. But to sneer that we are doing nothing, or have vacated the territory is just wrong.

Finally, might it be better if, as well as being a little kinder to each other, we also looked a little harder to see where God is actually at work through his Church. Then we might see a stronger and more servant-hearted church emerging from this global crisis. Fortunately, the very first message of Easter is as relevant as ever: He is not here. He is risen.

CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTION OF BISHOP STEPHEN COTTRELL AS THE 98TH ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ON 9 JULY Bishop Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York at 11am on Thursday 9 July 2020, in a service broadcast entirely via video conference due to the Coronavirus restrictions. As Presiding Judge, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, has granted permission for the virtual service to take place.

The service, which had been due to take place in York Minster, will be in two parts: a legal ceremony with readings, prayers and music; and a film marking the start of Bishop Stephen’s ministry as Archbishop of York. The service will also include music from York Minster Choir and Manor Church of England Academy School (York). Young people from across the North of England, will read a letter written by the medieval religious scholar Alcuin of York. Bishop Stephen will offer his first address as Archbishop of York. Prayers will be offered for the Archbishop, the Diocese of York and the Northern Province of the Church of England as well as for the wider world in these difficult times.

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NATIONAL TRUST TO DISPENSE WITH PLASTIC MEMBERSHIP CARDS AND REDUCE OTHER PLASTIC USE The National Trust is going to get rid of its plastic membership cards. Replacing the five million membership cards with a paper alternative will save 12.5 tons of plastic each year. The new cards will be made from a strong and durable paper, with a water-based coating. The cards will be recyclable and compostable. The National Trust also has plans to almost completely remove single-use plastics from its sites by 2022. It has already replaced all disposable food packaging with compostable products. Next, it wants to remove plastic drinks bottles and eliminate plastic packaging from its shops.

ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY ON STREAMED SERVICES “I think one of the big effects is there’s a renewal of the sense that we all belong to Christ… I’ve been deeply moved by the services I’ve participated in; they’ve reached out in a way that surprised me and that is, I think, a sign of the work of the Spirit… We’re finding this all over the country. There are so many clergy streaming from really basic facilities, finding huge numbers of people online with them, and making a huge impact.”

ALMOST FINALLY – OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE The good thing about prayer is that there’s only one way to go wrong, and that’s not to do it. If prayer at its simplest level is listening to God and talking to Him, you don’t need long books to tell you how to do it. – Anon

Are you someone from whom God wants to hear? The message of the Bible is that however unworthy, sinful and useless we may feel as human beings, God can’t wait to hear from us. – Anon

AND REALLY FINALLY – A REAL CALL CENTRE CONVERSATION Customer – “I have been calling 0700 1900 all morning and no one answers the telephone.” Adviser – Where did you get that number from? Customer – “It’s on the door to your travel centre.” Adviser – “Sir, they are our weekday opening hours.”

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CHURCH FABRIC FUNDS ------CHRIST THE KING ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Are you making a will? Have you had a windfall? Wish to show gratitude for a special event? Want to see the church building preserved? Or just feeling generous? ------Then make a contribution to one or other of these Funds. Your money will be used ONLY for the preservation of the buildings. Contact the churchwardens Karen Broadbent – 972 4606 or Robert Lynch – 972 4699

Advertising in this Contact for anyone interested in Neil Scott – 0118 972 magazine advertising in this magazine 3890 Church Fabric Funds Help preserve our churches for Karen Broadbent - 0118 future generations 972 4606 or Robert Lynch - 0118 972 4699 Hiring Christ the King Lettings by arrangement – may Rosemary House – 0118 Hall be hired for moderate charges 972 2632

Hiring the Parish Room For hire at reasonable rates – Guy Johnson – 07920 children’s parties, small 100065 meetings/functions, baptism parties etc. Magazine articles Please send to Jenny MacGregor [email protected] – the deadline is 22nd monthly. Magazine delivery To arrange delivery of this Please contact one of the magazine to your home churchwardens.

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. BENEFICE SERVICE Each Sunday you can now follow the benefice service on video. You will find a link on the website pages on the ‘A Church Near You’ platform.

St John the Baptist: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/166/ Christ the King: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/252/

You can also access a text copy of the service order. If you are not able to watch the service as it takes place you can always catch up later.

LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS For those able to access online services the has a dedicated page on their website giving details of services at various times on a Sunday. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/

Principal Diocesan services are usually streamed at 10am and the service order is posted on a Friday.

For those without internet access the Diocesan service can be heard by telephoning 01865 920 930. Select 0 for the whole service or 1 for a shorter version. Standard call rates apply.

However, there are otherservices throughout the Diocese by parishes at other times of the day.

Do take a look at what’s available.

PARISH DIRECTORY

As this magazine is being delivered principally through on-line channels the directory has been removed to comply with data protection regulations. The benefice office is closed until further notice

COMMON WORSHIP LECTIONARY - JUNE

Date Lessons 7 June – Trinity Isaiah 40. 12 – 17, 27 - end Sunday 2 Corinthians 13. 11 - end Matthew 28. 16 - 20

14 June – First Exodus 19. 2 – 8a Sunday after Romans 5. 1 - 8 Trinity Matthew 9. 35 – 10. 8

21 June – Jeremiah 20. 7 - 13 Second Sunday Romans 6. 1b - 11 after Trinity Matthew 10. 24 – 39

24 June – The Isaiah 40. 1 – 11 birth of John Acts 13. 14b – 26 or the Baptist Galatians 3. 23 - end Luke 1. 57 – 66 & 80

28 June – Third Jeremiah 28. 5 – 9 Sunday after Romans 6. 12 – end Trinity Matthew 10. 40 – end