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April 2020 Dear Friends We are living in unprecedented and remarkable times. We have been locked out of our church building, we have been confined to our homes and we are facing a serious pandemic which is uniting the world in shock and grief. Around us the prevailing narrative is one of fear and panic and hopelessness. We are witnessing the worst and the best of society. The worst in the form of people not taking seriously the need for social isolation, and the best by seeing hundreds of thousands of people volunteering to help the NHS and Civic initiatives: seeking to care well and allocate resources to those most in need. So the question we must now ask is what this means for the church in the nation. What does this mean for St Bognor? Without four walls to hold us together, what will unite us? Without the opportunity to share the Lord’s Supper together, what will feed us spirituality? How will we play our part in caring well for our society? What will be our narrative? Some of these we do not yet know the answer to. They will emerge as time goes by. We do not yet know how long this will go on for. Yet Continued page 3 Parish Church of St Wilfrid Ellasdale Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 2SG website: https://wilfrid.com Parish office 01243 841275 [email protected] SaintWilfridBognor Registered Charity No. 1142723 Magazine & Pewsheet articles/ pictures; please email or leave in the Parish office with your name, date submitted and phone number. Thank you. Deadline for May edition - Monday April 20th 2020

1 Contents Pastoral Letter from Joel...... 3 CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ...... 4 WAYS TO KEEP ENGAGED WITH US FROM HOME...... 5 Holy Week ...... 9 Cherry Jacqueline Ward ...... 10 17th May 1944 - 21st February 2020 ...... 10 HE IS RISEN! THE EASTER TRIDUUM ...... 12 Rhythm and Rhymes for Relaxation - The Poems of Fr Cecil Champneys Burnham 1914 - 2002...... 16 Parish Giving Scheme...... 19 St Wilfrid's Church 100 Club...... 19 Legacy Policy...... 19 Gift Aid Envelopes...... 19 Parish Pump - News...... 20 April Maze...... 29 Bible Bite - ...... 30 Word Search ...... 31 Crossword...... 32 Word Search for April...... 34 Mouse Makes...... 35 Answers for Word Search p34...... 36 Crossword (on p32) Solution...... 36 Answers - Word Search for p31...... 37 PCC Members...... 38 Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, Hall Bookings...... 38 Honorary Assistant Clergy...... 38 Contacts...... 39

Our First Paperless Parish Magazine during COVID-19 A huge thank you to Parish Pump For allowing us to use their puzzles and artwork In our magazine during the Coronavirus Pandemic

2 Continued from page 1 Pastoral Letter from Joel Christians have a head-start in knowing how to be present and make the most of times of waiting. Notably, Advent and Lent are significant times of waiting, as are the times of spiritual retreat, which I know are precious to some of us. Whilst we love our church building, its fabric does not provide the biblical definition for what a church is. We are the Church – the Body of Christ. We must understand our ontology this way. We must be untied by this truth. In its earliest days, the church in the Book of Acts was dispersed in homes because of persecution – it could not gather centrally – and it was during these times that the Church grew the fastest. Then we must consider the question of how we receive spiritual nourishment – how we might grow as disciples of Jesus. May I suggest through ; through reading of God’s Word; through reflection on a piece of Christian poetry, or art, or music; through the comfort of Christian companionship. We must each learn to develop spiritual rhythms that will sustain us through this long haul. We also have a responsibility to ask how we might play our part in caring for our society. This too will emerge as the weeks go on, and I anticipate the church will be at the forefront of signposting people to ways in which they can help. Right now there is an immediate need locally for food to be donated to the Foodbank – donations have gone down and demand has gone up. There is also the need to help serve at the foodbank. Please contact me if you would like to help in this way. More locally, St Wilfrid Church is beginning to compile a list of individuals who could do with someone to call them regularly on the phone. In some cases, to cook and deliver food to them. Again, please contact me if you feel that you could help. Finally, there is the question of what story we will tell – what will be our narrative. Will we participate in communicating hopelessness or will ours be a story of hope? For those of you who have walked past the vicarage recently, you will have seen two huge signs that our children decided to make. This is what they wanted to say to our neighbourhood. I think these sum up the 3 primary message that the church needs to be communicating right now, why not join them in telling this story? If you need anything, would like some prayer, or would simply appreciate someone to talk to, please do contact me by email ([email protected]) or by telephone (01243 930183). In Christ, with love, Joel and Lella.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC WORSHIP SUSPENDED AT ST WILFRID PARISH CHURCH BOGNOR UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Following the press statement by our Prime Minister and further statements made by the Health Minister to the House of Commons, and after having received clear guidance from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and Martin of , we regret to inform you that all public acts of worship at St Wilfrid Bognor have been suspended until further notice. All other church related meetings have also been postponed. We have closed the Church Office for the fore-seeable future and all enquiries are to be directed via email to [email protected] or [email protected], or by phone to the Vicarage—01243 930183. We recognise that this is a very unusual and painful time and we invite you to be in touch if you require assistance, prayer, or simply a listening ear. 4 May you know our at this time and may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Revd. Joel Mennie CHURCH HALL Please note in view of the social distancing and ban on gatherings all regular hirers of our church hall have cancelled all hire of the hall until further notice and the church hall is also closed until further notice. For future hall requirements please email [email protected] or phone 07540 799346 WAYS TO KEEP ENGAGED WITH US FROM ST. WILFRID’s PARISH MAGAZINE The office is now closed until further notice which means all the colour printing facilities (with the ability to create stapled A5 booklets) are presently not available. So printing paper editions of the magazine for this April edition and future editions will not be possible until all the restrictions are lifted. However, for several years we have had to supply each month to the our magazine in PDF format and what we are going to do during the present pandemic is make this PDF a free download from our church website https://wilfrid.com This would not have been possible without the most generous support of Parish Pump who provide all our puzzles and many articles. We asked and have their very kind permission in the present COVID-19 pandemic to use whatever of their material we need both for our magazine and website to keep you all engaged in the present crisis. There are over 30 of you who paid the £10 annual subscription for the magazine and so far only received 3 months magazines in printed form so you are entitled to a partial refund - please email me at [email protected] if you require a refund. Though we hope many of you will just accept for now the PDF version and we will have a facility for visitors downloading the PDF to make a donation.

5 With the temporary closing of the office, Helen Woods has decided to retire from her monthly participation with the creation of the Parish Magazine. Helen has given us wonderful support on the magazine and helped to staff the office one day each week (sometimes more) for over ten years. Dear Helen you have been a tremendous support to me and your church doing behind the scenes but so valuable work. When everything is back to normal I am sure we will give you a very public and well deserved THANK YOU. Peter Green SaintWilfridBognor FaceBook Group Our SaintWilfridBognor FaceBook Group is going from strength to strength. As at this publication date we have now 110 members and it is a really important communication channel for our church, particularly when the office and church are closed during the COVID- 19 pandemic. It is very heartening that Joel has really taken to using it several times a week and your posts are much appreciated. If you are not already a member then do sign up. Also if you would like to become more involved as a contributor or on the admin of Social Media for the church please let us know!

6 https://wilfrid.com Church Website

Our website was created nearly 22 years ago in December 1998 and now completely upgraded to the latest cloud-based Wordpress Design. Presently over 60 pages of web pages including a page of regular blogs from Joel and others. The website can now be viewed equally well on a smart phone as on a laptop or a desktop PC (screen opposite on an iPhone) which is a must have facility these days. Another advantage of Wordpress is that the website can be updated anywhere that has a PC and browser - so it you would like to help with the web publishing or updating please contact me. Peter Green [email protected]

7 ZOOM - VIDEO CONFERENCING With the need for so many people to stay and work from home you are going to hear a lot about ZOOM and similar products! If your smartphone, laptop or desktop PC has a video camera and microphone (nearly all modern devices have these) then you can start using zoom to keep in touch with your family or friends, church family contacts and working from home. The attractive thing is that it is free for up to 100 people to share together up to a 40min duration meeting and unlimited if you take the Pro version if you want to host a longer meeting. We have a number of the PCC and congregation using zoom in just the last few days since the movement restrictions, and have tested running a full 8:00 am service with a number of participants which can quickly be converted into a video and downloadable from our church website. It will be invaluable for things like CW, PCC Meetings - yes eve Elaine has it already! Some lovely features like shown left (not the host the background!) Where you can have a background from your own photos - shown here two different ones of mine - inside our closed church and a favourite walk in Pagham. If you want to get connected install the zoom app on your smartphone, iPad, from the apps store or for a laptop, PC from https://zoom.us/ and give me a ring Peter 07540 799346 if help needed to get connected.

8 Holy Week

What we can do in Holy Week with a closed church is going to be limited but what we propose to do privately by Zoom (and some of this is still being worked out) will be made available as streamed video from our church website. Sunday 5th April Palm Sunday: Eucharist with Short Matthew Passion Gospel. Thursday 9th April Holy (Maundy) Thursday Eucharist. Friday 10th April: Good Friday The John Passion Gospel with Solemn Prayers. Saturday 11th April Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) Eucharist with readings. Sunday 12th April Easter Sunday - Eucharist

What we can do is still being planned so keep in touch via our SaintWilfridBognor Facebook Group and our wilfrid.com website to see actual times.

9 Cherry Jacqueline Ward 17th May 1944 - 21st February 2020

EUOLOGY Words written by Cherry before she died. Cherry was born on the 17th May 1944. She was the third of four siblings, her sister Dawn was five and her brother Nicky was three, younger brother Jeremy arrived 3 years later. She was born in a village called Binley on the outskirts of Coventry. Aged eleven the family moved to Carshalton, then to Wallington. Both sets of grandparents lived nearby. Cherry attended Collingwood Girls School and at thirteen went to Pitman’s College to take a secretarial course which she attended for three years, afterwards working at Lloyd’s Bank Architects Department in London. In 1966 her parents took over the White Hart Pub in Petersfield. There she met the love of her life Martin. They married and had three children, Kai, Kirsty and Russell. Martin worked for Victoria Wine for thirty six years and he was transferred to the Nyewood Lane branch here in Bognor Regis in 1979. Cherry attended keep fit classes in Petersfield three times a week. She moved from Hampshire Keep Fit Association to West , taking part in many displays and rallies. Whilst in Petersfield she was an active member of St. Peter’s Church and was confirmed there. She also ran her own playgroup for thirty children three mornings a week. The first day she moved to Bognor she went to St. Wilfrid’s wives group as she’d been a member at St. Peter’s.

10 All three children went to Sunday School at St. Wilfrid’s. Kai (a scout) and Kirsty (a brownie) went to be on parade once a month. Also Cherry was a keen member of WAM (Working Association of Mothers) which provided a baby sitting circle and activities for families such as coffee mornings, tea parties, lunches etc. After Martin’s sudden death in 1995, Cherry’s keep fit teacher suggested she did a Teacher’s Training Course. She did and she passed The League of Health and Beauty Course. She started running classes for the Adult Education Department in September 1997. Prior to this she started going to Belly Dance classes and attended a teaching course in London. Martin used to scoff, but was proud when she set up her own belly dance classes, which she ran for many years. Cherry’s biggest regret is not seeing all her lovely grandchildren grow up. She looks forward to being reunited with her Martin and other family members. God bless you all. The funeral service was conducted by Fr Ray Whelan at St. Wilfrid’s Church on Friday the 20th March. Below is Cherry with her children from left to right Kai, Kirsty and Russell.

On Mothering Sunday Kirsty was admitted to St Richards hospital. Kai has asked us to say Kirsty has bacterial pneumonia and the coronavirus, she is stable and making small steps every day. Our Prayers for the whole family at this so difficult time.

11 HE IS RISEN! THE EASTER TRIDUUM Thursday 9th April - Sunday 12th April 2020 Literally The Sacred Three Days within Holy Week which has roots back to Apostolic times and the Gospels. The word '' is used in this article as it is convenient shorthand and dates from the Seventh century in the days of the undivided church. The Triduum (Holy Three Days - Thursday Friday and Saturday Vigil Ceremonies and First Mass of Easter leading on to Sunday) is the most sacred time of the Church and the liturgies in that holy time are: Holy Thursday Mass of the Chrism - The Renewal of Commitment to Priestly and Diaconal Service, the clergy (and the people) gathered round their Bishop, at the Cathedral; including the Blessing of the Three Holy Oils by the Bishop - Oil of Baptism (Catechumens - Oleum Catechumenorum), Oil of the Sick (Healing - Oleum Infirmorum) and the Consecration of the Sacred Chrism (Sanctum Chrisma). Oil is a product of great utility the symbolic signification of which harmonizes with its natural uses. It serves to sweeten, to strengthen, to render supple; and the Church employs it for these purposes in its rites. The liturgical blessing of oil is very ancient. It is met with in the fourth century in the "Prayer Book of Serapion", and in the Apostolic Constitutions, also in a Syriac document of the fifth or sixth century entitles "Testamentum Domini Nostri Jesu Christi." In Apostolic times St. James directed the priests or ancients of the community to pray for the sick man and to anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus (James 5:14). All are normally welcome! Although it should be held on Holy Thursday morning it would normally be held at on the Tuesday in Holy Week (14 April 2020 at 12 noon) as the clergy are usually frenetically busy over the Triduum. Because of the Pandemic lockdown, it will not happen this year. However, the Bishop will be Blessing/consecrating Oils for use in the diocese and they will be made available.

12 Holy Thursday Evening Mass of The Lord's Supper. This not only celebrates the institution by the Lord of the Eucharist but also His Agony in the Garden and the 'Watch' with The Lord in His Eucharistic presence until midnight, the dawning of the day of his killing on Friday. The Lord gave the Apostles His Body & Blood in miraculous sacrifice while He was still with them and then said "Do this in anamnesis of me…" [anamnesis is more than 'remembrance'] forming them as priests/. At the Gloria in the Eucharist, the organ firstly 'roars' and all available bells are joyfully and vigorously rung - firstly to acknowledge the grandeur of the celebration but also to mark there will be no bells sounded in the Church (during Good Friday) until the Lord has Risen from the dead as we celebrate the First Mass of Easter on Holy Saturday night, when they will be rung even more rigorously! The washing of the disciples' feet (a tremendous privilege as the people asked are standing in for the Apostles!) emphasizes the institution of the Ministerial Priesthood with its Eucharistic reality, but also the priestly and diaconal service of each and every Christian stemming from the Lord's sacred Passion and Resurrection. We are celebrating this on Thursday 16th April 2020 at 7.00pm. Priestly Ministry is 'servanthood' not hierarchical privilege or rights. Due to the paschal overtones of this celebration, the main celebration for the Lord's giving the Eucharist to us, is held on the Feast or Solemnity of 'Corpus Christi', after Trinity Sunday. (This year Thursday 11th June but most Churches of our Tradition would transfer it to Sunday 14th June). We do not know whether that may or may not be a public occasion due to the pandemic. Good Friday Why 'Good?' From the earliest times the Christians kept every Friday as a feast day; and the obvious reasons for those usages explain why Easter is the Sunday par excellence, and why the Friday which marks the anniversary of Christ's death came to be called the Great or the Holy or the Good Friday. The origin of the term Good is not clear. Some say it is from "God's Friday" (Gottes Freitag); others maintain that it is from the

13 German Gute Freitag, and not specially English. Sometimes, too, the day was called Long Friday by the Anglo-Saxons; so today in Denmark. The liturgy of the day is held normally after 3 PM as it was an extension of, or addition to, the office of None (the ninth hour i.e. 3 PM). Jesus died at the ninth hour. The liturgy stems from the ancient and undivided church and is full of ancient symbolism and sacramental reality. The ministers prostrate themselves before the altar in quiet prayer. The Ministry of the Word including a recitation of the Passion according to St John is followed by Solemn Prayers from which our present day '' derive. Then follows the Veneration of the Cross. This is not idolatry, but a worship of Jesus Christ who died thereon. Then follows Holy Communion, which stems from the ancient rite of the Mass of the Presanctified - in other words there is no consecration of the Eucharist (which was celebrated the night before on Maundy Thursday), and reserved on the Altar of Repose, (in the olden days in the Easter Sepulchre - see the parish church in Cocking) sacramentally re-enacting the events leading to the Crucifixion. At St Wilfrid's this year it may or may not take place due to the pandemic. The Three Hours Devotion, or Three Hours Agony is not the Liturgy of the Day but is an act of devotion held in some churches from noon to 3 o'clock and can include meditation on the seven last words of Jesus from the Cross . This originated in the Roman in the 18th century. Holy Saturday There is a surreal feeling about this day! On Holy Saturday the Church lives through the death of Jesus now in His grave. Then the Church gathers to celebrate the Easter Vigil and First Mass of the Resurrection. Vigils are preparations for a greater event. (not to be confused with the Holy Thursday Watch until Midnight). Following the Hebrew custom, a day ends at Sunset, and preparations, even celebration of the following day begins. The Liturgy is in four parts:

14 1. The Service of Light (The New Fire is kindled and blessed as Christ The Light of the World and the Resurrection - Easter (Paschal) Candle, The Pillar of Fire - is blessed and lit. 2. The Liturgy of the Word, Our Salvation History is recalled by (at least four Old Testament Readings), the Risen Christ is proclaimed. 3. The Liturgy of Baptism and we renew our own baptismal promises (and catechumens are baptised). 4. The Liturgy of the Eucharist when the Risen Jesus comes to us in His Resurrected Body - so the organ and the bells roar out again in overwhelming joy. This is all preceded by singing of the beautiful Exultet (Rejoice all you Heavens) stemming from the fourth century. The First Eucharist on Holy Saturday night is the principal Service of Easter for all Christians. This would under normal conditions, be celebrated at St. Wiflrid's on Saturday 11th April at 8.00pm - it would finish at about 9.45pm, just over an hour and a half. Some 'muscular' parishes hold the Vigil and First Eucharist as dawn breaks on Sunday (5.40am this year!), but many of us at St Wilfrid's are a bit too 'senior' to do that, good though it is. The Sunday morning Parish or Sung Eucharist at 10.30am is lovely, but the principal Eucharist of the Day would be the First Eucharist Saturday 11th at 8.00pm following the fairly brief Vigil ceremonies. Sadly it can not happen this year. Fr Ray Whelan

15 Rhythm and Rhymes for Relaxation - The Poems of Fr Cecil Champneys Burnham 1914 - 2002 Fr Cecil had a great love of the parish of St Wilfrid and made it his home for many years. He always said it was one of the most friendly churches he had ever had the privilege of knowing. We all loved him and his legacy is a veritable store of poems he gladly let us brighten our Parish Magazine with each month. It is a long time since we last used any and in these very dark times it seems very appropriate to put that right. PG A HORSE CALLED TERESA. Bird song thrilled the drowsy air While cats lay sleeping in the Square. IN OLD PROVENCE The old church clock's long ceased to Our story happened long ago strike In Old Provence where life was slow. For and sinner both alike. From open doors the old men gaze So now please come. It's time no doubt And gossip through the sunlit days. To meet the man our tale's about. Each recalls - with advantage too - THE VILLAGE PRIEST Success and failure that he knew. He's never very hard to find - "The grapes we grew one would observe, A gentle priest, white haired and kind; "Made wine for connoisseurs to serve An ageing man, though active yet, They'd nod and shake their heads and Who'll absent-mindedly forget. swear, His people see him as their friend "The young are not the men we were. Whose goodness to them knows no end. Their arms and backs are not so strong; The hours we worked they'd think too long."

16 They learned his sixtieth birthday date "She's kind and gentle is Teresa. And said, "This feast we'll celebrate. A splendid horse, a novice pleaser. We'll ask him in what special way It is most fitting she'd should go We can mark his natal day". To serve a priest, for you should know They said, "Dear Father, it is meet Her owner was a holy friar That you should have a birthday treat" Who joined last week the heavenly choir." "Choose something special, something TERESA PROMISES TO OBEY which The priest, delighted, took his horse, You'd give yourself if you were rich. But would not have a riding course. The old priest thought. He hemmed and He firmly grasped Teresa's trace. hawed. Each looked the other in the face. Said he, "I'd like but can't afford Teresa thought, "He'll ride, alack, To buy a horse on which to ride Just like a sack upon my back." Across our lovely countryside" "Still as a servant of the Church. "How greatly it would help of course I'll never leave him in the lurch. To do my visits on a horse. I'll gallop, canter, walk or trot. My legs aren't good. They make me To do his will shall be my lot. frown. One word from him and I will do I'd do my rounds whilst sitting down". Whatever thing he asks me to." The Sexton's voice was heard to ask, "Is riding far too hard a task?" TERESA FEARS THE WORST The priest replied, "I rode aged ten, To mount his horse the priest then tried, But haven't been astride since then. But tumbled down the other side. I'll have to learn some horsey talk. Teresa gave a doleful hum To make them move, you just say, 'WALK!' And thought, "Dear me! There's worse to To stop a horse, you must cry 'WHOA!' come!" There's nothing else I need to know". She gently nudged him with her nose. Assisted thus, the priest arose. THE HORSE Next time to mount he did not fail The Sexton said, "A horse we'll buy, But now he faced Teresa's tail. Well trained and calm that will not shy" "We should have bought", the Sexton They asked an ostler, "Please be kind said, And help us such a horse to find. "A wooden rocking horse instead!" We need a mare that's not too old, A dozen helpers now were found But equally one that's not too bold". To turn the Curé right way round. "It's for our faithful parish priest, Now it was time the ride to start, Whose riding skills - to say the least - And trepidation filled each heart. Are out of date and very small, "Walk on, walk on" the priest did call. If they indeed exist at all." Teresa failed to move at all. The ostler said, "No further stray. The stable ostler then explained, We've one for sale, a docile bay." "A holy horse, she's Prayer Book trained."

17 INSTRUCTIONS At last he knew where he was going "Go forth in peace" you have to say Without the slightest sign of slowing. Before the horse will walk away. Thought he, "A cliff edge that I know A phrase that should not be forgot Has yawning chasm far below. Is "Praise the Lord." It makes her trot. Unless our progress quickly ceases, But if to canter you would do, We'll both be dashed to little pieces". Say loud and clear, "God be with you." He breathed a prayer for help and then "Thanks be to God" then loudly cry In resignation cried, "AMEN". And she will leap toward the sky The faithful horse at once obeyed And gallop with breathtaking speed. And with a mighty effort stayed. These pious words she'll always heed." Both horse and man stood trembling now The Sexton said, "If I'm not at fault, Upon the precipice's brow. You haven't told him how to halt." Both, gazing on that awful scene, The ostler said, Here's the answer then. Reflected on what might have been. To stop the horse, just say AMEN. The priest, so grateful they were saved, This vital phrase the priest, I fear, In reverent manner now behaved. In haste to go quite failed to hear. For as upon his horse he sat, And when he spoke as he'd been told, He shouted, "Thanks be to God for that!" The horse responded good as gold. I hear you sigh and catch your breath THE RIDE As priest and horse plunge to their death. Your tension I will now relieve. Walk, trot and canter. All went right. What happened next you won't believe. Increasing speed bore both from sight. The horse had promised she'd obey The priest so liked the clip, clop. clop, The priest's commands without delay. Not once did he attempt to stop. This meant he never knew of course This most truly she had done He had no phrase to stop the horse. Except that fatal final one. That order she had disobeyed Exhilaration filled his mind. And safely on the cliff had stayed. To all discretion he was blind. She prayed, "Dear God, my fault forgive, "Thanks be to God". The words were right But I must help my priest to live". To make her leap with all her might. She rushed along at such a lick, So really there's no more to tell. He found it hard astride to stick. Everything had turned out well. The shaken priest sat like a sack. Much faster still, much faster yet; Teresa quietly trotted back No faster surely could he get. And as on finest oats she fed But now the truth was clear indeed - The priest sincere thanksgiving said. He had no word to stop his steed. Panic seized his scattered senses Copyright © 2000 [Rev. C. Champneys As they sped o'er fields and fences. Burnham]. All rights reserved.

18 Parish GivingCarol Scheme Concert th Have You Joined Yet? 5 December Please contact John Wood or Denis Sheppard 01243 865465 about joining St. Wilfrid’s Parish Giving Scheme.

St Wilfrid's Church 100 Club Membership for 2019/20 commencing with the month of June 2019 is now 50 members: Monthly Draw 1st Prize £50 2nd Prize £25. Twice Yearly Bonus Prize £300 (April and October) The draws take place on the third Sunday of each month, with the remaining funds going to help church funds. Please contact Malcolm Vernone should you wish to join the 100 Club in June 2020.

The March 2020 winners: 1st Prize £50 (7) Margaret Richards 2nd Prize £25 (23) Jonathan Tamblyn Bonus Ball £300 (32) David Thomsett

Gift Aid Envelopes If you are making a donation and pay Income Tax please do use one of the gift aid envelopes as this will increase your donation to the church by 25% at no cost to yourself. Thank You.

Legacy Policy The PCC have agreed a Legacy Policy, and a copy has been placed on the main notice board. Please read it, and if you have any queries, please contact Denis Sheppard or John Wood.

19 NewsParish Pump - News

The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Your decision to place a notice board outside your church seems a good one – and its design in blue plastic with luminous red detachable letters seems entirely in keeping with the aesthetics of your building. Make sure that it is lockable, however, as an innocent notice saying ‘all are welcome’ may be modified by a devotee of anagrams to say something far less polite by the following day. We recently replaced ours, which had disappeared shortly before last bonfire night. That the Scouts’ bonfire had a board which closely resembled our old one in its centre was, I am sure, a complete coincidence. The Venture Scouts’ collective smirk during the following week’s Parade Service did give one pause for thought, and the Cubs’ collapse into helpless laughter at the chorus ‘So light up the fire and let the flames burn’ only increased suspicion. On reflection, you may not have been wise to use your notice board to tell everyone your holiday dates. Certainly, various local burglars were tripping over each other inside the vicarage while you were away. However, the note the last one left you, saying that next time he broke in, he would bring you something, since you had so little left, was quite touching. Inevitably, now that your church has a notice board, there will be open warfare over who is allowed to display notices on it. Will the Slimmers Club be seen as biblical? Why is the Ladies Guild notice twice as large as all the others? And do remember that while

20 everyone will want space to display their notices, no one will ever remove them once the event is over. Plaintive announcements of Christmas parties in April or of Summer Fetes in November only serve to take people down memory lane. Here’s the best way to manage a notice board: create that panacea for all problems: a sub-committee. These poor people only ever exist in order to get the clergy out of tight corners and to make sure that matters are discussed at such inordinate length that every issue eventually dies a natural death. And if even that fails, you could have a quiet word with our Scouts before next year’s bonfire night. Your loving uncle, Eustace *** God in the Arts: Murillo’s St John The Baptist with lamb The nursery rhymes we learnt as children often focused on lambs: Mary had a little lamb, Baa baa black sheep, Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy Blue. They come to mind in springtime when we see lambs in the field jumping for joy or bleating as they run to the ewes for warmth and safety.

Murillo, a 17th century artist from Seville, had that world of childhood in mind when he painted ‘St John the Baptist with the Lamb.’ He looks back to the little child of Isaiah 11 leading the animals, but also we are called to think of the adult John the Baptist, who sees Jesus walking by and exclaims, “Look, here is the Lamb of God.” In the painting, St John

21 is a child with his arms around the lamb. He stands on rocky ground with a reed cross at his feet that has the words ‘Behold the Lamb of God’ on the ribbon. The painting hangs in the National Gallery, and it certainly lacks the strength and brilliance of other Spanish artists. But Murillo is telling us how the drama of salvation is played out by children and lambs. He is inviting us to look from that world of childhood to another part of Isaiah’s prophecy, where he talks of the Messiah led like a lamb to the slaughter. We enter that drama of salvation in Holy Week this month. On Good Friday Jesus was led to His crucifixion, just as the lambs were being killed for the Passover. We think of the world of Old Testament sacrifice, where the high priest on the day of Atonement would enter the Holy of Holies and sacrifice a ram. And we focus on Jesus who is for us both priest and sacrifice, and realise that there is a divine chemistry at work that leads us from Good Friday to Easter Day. The writer of Hebrews meditates on this theme and proclaims that in Jesus we have a high priest of the good things that have come – eternal redemption. We are invited to appropriate that great gift for ourselves in this Holy Week of our salvation. So, we journey from the childhood days of Murillo’s painting to Calvary and the Easter garden. And we can also journey beyond to the heavenly city, where Revelation tells us that all the nations walk by the light of that Lamb – the Lamb of God. *** Church minister was inspiration behind 'Great Escape' A Church of Scotland minister nicknamed 'Padre Mac' has been named as the inspiration behind the Great Escape. The Revd Professor Murdo Ewen Macdonald's "fiery sermons" motivated the famous breakout of a German Prisoner of War camp in March 1944, according to an author.

22 Dr Linda Barker said the Great Escape is often heralded as a plan masterminded by English officers, and the theme tune to the 1963 film of the same name is sung by football fans. The theologian has been given credit for a minor role in hiding tunnel sand in the famous break-out over the course of a year. However, the historian claims his influence was possibly far more significant, as he had previously made his own escape while in transit to a PoW camp. He was a chaplain for the men of Stalag Luft III, including RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who has always been known as the mastermind of the Great Escape. Dr Parker is the author of "Nearer My God to Thee: Airborne Chaplains in the Second World War," which examines the full story of padres who accompanied the airborne forces to all theatres of war between 1942-1945. "Murdo Ewen Macdonald, known as Padre Mac, may have been the 'inspiration that led to many great escapes' during the Second World War," she said. "He was moved to Stalag Luft III, where the Great Escape would take place in March 1944. Here, he befriended Roger Bushell, and Harry 'Wings' Day, both instigators and organisers of the Great Escape. "As a chaplain, he would have had access to all the troops and would have been able to speak with them, in confidence, to motivate them with the story of his own escape attempt."

High Days and Holy Days in April 1 April - Fooling Around by Canon David Winter I was about six when I began to enjoy April Fool's Day. My older brother was very clever at appropriate hoaxes, not only deceiving me but also mum and dad. On the whole my childish efforts were encouraged. The day was full of laughs, even at school, where the teachers would try to trick us and all day long no one quite believed anything they were told. So it went on, year after year, though I think it all seems as a bit unsophisticated for the modern generation.

23 You couldn't say that, though, about probably the most famous April Fool's effort of all time. In the 1960's BBC TV broadcast a feature on the spaghetti farms of Italy. Even those of us who bought our spaghetti in the supermarket from the pasta shelves began to wonder if we'd been wrong. Italian farmers explained their work and the progress of the spaghetti plants was carefully filmed, from planting to reaping. And all in the BBC's most serious documentary manner. It took a while to appreciate that this was Aunty playing games. Whatever next! The odd thing is that no one is quite sure of the origin of this very British tradition. Most attribute it to changes in Britain's calendar in the 1700s, when New Year's Day moved from March 25th to January 1st. Not surprisingly, the change caused a lot of confusion and mistakes around the start of April. Others look further back, to the ancient Roman feast of Hilaria, when the goddess Cybele was celebrated with pranks and jokes around the spring equinox, March 25th. Either way a touch of hilarity at the end of Lent does not seem amiss. Go to Greece, where the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated with fireworks and parties to see how it might work. All Fools’ Day In years gone by, the rules surrounding April Fool were this: between midnight and noon on 1st April, everyone is 'fair game' to be made a fool of. It is the morning of the practical joke. But the aim is not just to discomfort the victim: he must be tricked into taking action himself, sent on a 'fool's errand'. And so children would be sent to the dairy for a pint of dove's milk, or to the bookseller for The Life of Eve's Mother. Practical jokes on a bigger scale were played: in 1860 a vast number of people received an official looking invitation to the that read: 'Admit the Bearer and Friends to view the Annual Ceremony of Washing the White Lions.' Precisely the same trick had been played in 1698. Then, on the stroke of noon, tradition decrees, April Fools is finished. If anyone attempts devilry thereafter, even while the clock is still striking, it recoils on his own head. A child would then

24 race through the sing-song formula: 'April-Fool-Day's-past-and- gone-you're-the-fool-and-I-am-none!' *** 3 April - Richard of Chichester: more clearly, dearly and nearly Ever wonder where the prayer … 'May I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day' comes from? Richard of Chichester, a bishop in the 13th century, wrote it. He began life as Richard de Wych of Droitwich, the son of a yeoman farmer. But Richard was a studious boy, and after helping his father on the farm for several years, refused an advantageous offer of marriage, and instead made his way to Oxford, and later to Paris and Bologna to study canon law. In 1235 he returned to Oxford, and was soon appointed Chancellor, where he supported Edmund, , in his struggles against King Henry III's misuse of Church funds. After further study to become a priest, Richard was in due course made a bishop himself. He was greatly loved. He was charitable and accessible, both stern and merciful to sinners, extraordinarily generous to those stricken by famine, and a brilliant legislator of his diocese. He decreed that the sacraments were to be administered without payment, Mass celebrated in dignified conditions, the clergy to be chaste, to practise residence, and to wear clerical dress. The laity was obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, and to know by heart the Hail Mary as well as the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. Richard was also prominent in preaching the Crusade, which he saw as a call to reopen the Holy Land to pilgrims, not as a political expedition. He died at on 3 April 1253. In art, Richard of

25 Chichester is represented with a at his feet, in memory of his having once dropped the chalice at Mass! One ancient English church is dedicated to him. And, of course, he is author of that famous prayer, now set to popular music, which runs in full: "Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly, day by day." Note in the COE as 3rd April often falls into Lent, the Feast Day is kept on 16th June - the day in 1276 his remains were translated in the presence of king Edward I from the nave to a behind the high altar. *** 23 April - St George and Hiccup and the dragon Have you seen the film How to Train your Dragon? It's set in a Viking village under attack from dragons, who steal livestock and burn down houses. Hiccup, the village Chief's son, invents a machine to capture dragons. However, when he catches one of the most dangerous dragons, he cannot kill it, when he sees that the dragon is just as frightened as he is. Through this friendship, the people and dragons eventually live in harmony. This month we celebrate St. George, the of England. He is famous for slaying a dragon, a tradition which became popular in the Middle Ages. Whether he killed an actual dragon is open to question! However, we do know that the original George was a Roman soldier at the time of Emperor Diocletian. He refused to renounce his faith, as commanded by the Emperor, resulting in his death on 23 April 303 AD.

26 The contrast is clear: St. George slayed the evil dragon, while Hiccup refused to kill one. However, they also have something important in common. Both acted according to their conscience, defying the popular understanding of those around them and not worrying about the personal cost to themselves. St. George was martyred for standing up for his faith in Jesus before a pagan emperor, while Hiccup risked rejection by his father and village because of his compassion. Today, we are still called to stand for Christ against wrongs and injustice in daily life, whatever the personal cost. However, we also need to be ready to look our enemies in the eye and meet their hostility with love and compassion. This is why we also remember this month that Jesus died and rose again, so that we might have God's power to do this in our lives. *** Passionflower Why is the passionflower called the passionflower? This beautiful climbing plant that grows in many of our gardens, was discovered in South America by Spanish missionaries centuries ago. Drawings were sent back to Europe and in 1609 an Italian priest interpreted the flower to represent the crucifixion, otherwise known as the Passion. The five petals and five sepals represent the 10 disciples who remained steadfast (Judas and Peter both abandoned Jesus). The corona is the crown of thorns. The stigma is the cross or nails, and the five stamens are the number of wounds Jesus received. *** The big surprise lurking in your Granny's chicken soup Granny always knew her chicken soup was good for you when you were poorly, but she did not realise quite how good. Now research has found that the traditional hot broths used in many cultures to

27 battle flu and fevers pack a bigger punch than even the cooks realised. A range of soups, ranging from vegetable to beef and chicken, were discovered to have the power to interrupt the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, which causes 99 per cent of deaths from malaria. Some of them were actually as effective as a leading antimalarial drug, dihydroartemisinin, in fighting malaria. No one particular ingredient was found to be common to the broths, but there certainly seems to be "evidence that they contain antibiotic properties", according to one doctor. The study was carried out at the Imperial College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital. *** God's Word is Nourishment! Ezekiel thought it quite droll When God said to eat up a scroll! But, though this sounds funny It tasted like honey! He swallowed that old scroll down whole! *** Smile Lines An infants teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. One little girl was working away furiously, and so she asked her what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, the little girl replied, "They will in a minute." *** There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk. The lady paused for a moment. "Only the Ten Commandments," she said politely.

28 April Maze

29 Bible Bite -

30 Word Search

31 Crossword

Across 1 Relating to the whole universe (6) 4 The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20:24) (6) 8 ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands, I will not believe it’ (John 20:25) (2,3) 9 He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 36:25) (7) 10 Baptist minister and controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7) 11 ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8:36) (5) 12 Repossessed (Genesis 14:16) (9) 17 Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome (Acts

32 27:3–4) (5) 19 ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — because he had spoken with the Lord’ (Exodus 34:29) (7) 21 Roonwit, C.S. Lewis’s half-man, half-horse (7) 22 Grill (Luke 24:42) (5) 23 ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1:26) (6) 24 ‘I was sick and you looked after me, I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25:36) (6)

Down 1 Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141:6) (6) 2 Academic (1 Corinthians 1:20) (7) 3 Publish (Daniel 6:26) (5) 5 For example, the (4,3) 6 11 Across is certainly this (5) 7 He reps (anag.) (6) 9 Liberator (Psalm 18:2) (9) 13 Man who asked the question in 11 Across was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8:27) (7) 14 They must be ‘worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 Timothy 3:8) (7) 15 The human mind or soul (6) 16 ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, the tools of war increase; their bread is — ’ (Graham Kendrick) (6) 18 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not — ’ (Matthew 11:17) (5) 20 Bared (anag.) (5)

33 Word Search for April

Even as Jesus ate that last Passover meal with His disciples, He warned them He was about to be betrayed. He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them; He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them to drink. The Old Covenant, based on Law, was ticking away its final hours; the New Covenant, based on Christ’s body and His blood, was about to be ushered in. Jesus prayed in Gethesame that this fearful cup might be removed from Him, but even more, that God’s will might be done. And it was. From Easter onwards we can only approach God through His Son, Jesus Christ, not on our own merit.

34 Mouse Makes

35 Jesus Answers for Word Search p34 Ate Last Passover Meal Disciples Warned Betrayed Bread Blessed Wine Thanks Drink Covenant Law Old New Body Blood Gethsemane Cup Removed Will Easter Approach God Crossword (on p32) Solution

ACROSS: 1, Cosmic. 4, Thomas. 8, In his. 9, Delaiah. 10, Falwell. 11, Water. 12, Recovered. 17, Sidon. 19, Radiant. 21, Centaur. 22, Broil. 23, Eleven. 24, Prison. DOWN: 1, Cliffs. 2, Scholar. 3, Issue. 5, Holy war. 6, Moist. 7, Sphere. 9, Deliverer. 13, Candace. 14, . 15, Psyche. 16, Stolen. 18, Dance. 20, Debar. 36 Answers - Word Search for p31

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