The Bridge 70 pence Number 539 Feb 21 A monthly view of community life in the parishes of and South Baddesley

2020 BENEFICE DIRECTORY All telephone numbers prefixed by 01590 unless stated Please note new Benefice email address ; [email protected]

For all enquiries please contact:- ST MARY’S SOUTH BADDESLEY PCC St Nicholas Benefice Office Lord Teynham, Patron Telephone 673484 Richard Elliott Parish Priest 07836 760150 Benefice Administrator Karen Ashurst Andy Ward, Churchwarden 626329 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-11am Emma Stevens, Secretary 07570 563449 [email protected] Messages picked up at other times. Joss Covell 677314 Emails: [email protected] Leo Gibb 626603 Or Google any of the church names— Deanery synod Rep. for details of the pew sheet, how to arrange Ted Cantrell 672388 weddings, etc. Andrew Marten 07836 345148 For Benefice Diary/Calendar log on to the website Lynda Leen 07894564175 and look for the link Derek Smith 674079 WEBSITE : www.bsbb.org.uk Rachel Smith 674079 Leo Gibb – Church Organist 626603 Simon Newham Vicar Pat Mennie - Treasurer 07776 216580 [email protected] [email protected] Richard Elliott, Parish Priest , South Baddesley (not available Fridays) 07836 760150 Samantha Peters Safeguarding 03005551373 Beth Cantrell, LLM, South Baddesley 672388 [email protected] Andrew Neaum, Parish Priest Boldre 01590 718439 Mob : 07808057168 PARISH VISITING [email protected] If you would like a Visitor to come and see you, Felicity Boot, Hon. Assistant Priest Boldre please contact any member of the PCC. Mob: 07900382749 [email protected] THE BRIDGE Timothy Rice, Church Organist Boldre Editor: Derek Tilley 642837 01425615147 [email protected] [email protected] sub-editors: ST JOHN’S BOLDRE PCC Leo Gibb 626603 [email protected] Graham Edmiston Churchwarden 678550 Penny Dent 626326 Sally James Churchwarden 671607 Tim Macaire Liz Rolf Secretary 681376 [email protected] Richard Tolkien Treasurer 0786672785 Pim Farquhar, Distribution Secretary 673744 Ruth Liley Deanery synod Rep. 672109 [email protected] Nicholas Walford Safeguarding. 672176 Felicity Pellow, Advertising 676179 Deanery Synod Rep. [email protected] Jennifer Dixon-Clegg 683636 Jill Mathew 623013 DISCLAIMER Roger Liley 672109 Any view expressed by contributors or James Brushwood 07815 050102 advertisers to The Bridge should not Richard Pickance 672 927 necessarily be taken to reflect the opinions of the Editorial Committee or the PCCs, and we do not hold responsibility for any of the contents. On copy—the Editor’s decision is final

Copy for the Bridge We welcome copy from all sources to help promote the parish and the community. Please be aware that copy should be with your Editor or a sub-editor by the 14th of the previous month. Your article should be in Word format or a compatible alternative (not Apple ‘Pages’) and sent electronically by email as an attachment. If you are unable to word-process your article yourself, perhaps a friend could type it up for you and email it to The Bridge? [email protected] . Publication cannot be guaranteed if material is received after the deadline or is in an unacceptable format. Ed.

Annual Subscriptions are £6.60 are now due , payable to your distributor. Postal subscriptions are £15.00 and should be sent to the Distribution Secretary, Coachman’s Cottage, St Austin’s, Boldre, SO41 8ND. All cheques should be made payable to: “Boldre PCC, Bridge Account”

2 Simon Says ….. The Vicar’s Letter

I write this letter at the end of a tumultuous week in American politics and national life – the Capitol Building was stormed by Trump supporters! It was a shocking event - even viewed from this side of the Atlantic – highlighting a deeply divided nation and rais- ing the question how will healing and reconciliation ever be brought about? Divisions and inequalities of one kind or another across the world have also been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Such divisions and inequalities can be dangerous and toxic things and particularly when people or groups of people are sought to blame for them. There is a saying that goes like this, ‘We can live without God but not without a devil’, meaning that as human beings we are always seeking to find a scapegoat – someone or some group of people that we can make the ‘other’ - an individual or group that we can hate so that we can feel better about ourselves and the group to which we believe we belong. This is not the Christian way. We believe in a God who in Christ gave his life for all, out of love for all, and that we are called to show that same quality of love to all. We currently live in a world where there are many loud voices calling us to label, divide, separate, and hate. Brian Bilston’s poem, Refugee, shows us another way if we are just willing to see things differently:-

REFUGEES They have no need of our help So do not tell me These haggard faces could belong to you or me Should life have dealt a different hand We need to see them for who they really are Chancers and scroungers Layabouts and loungers With bombs up their sleeves Cut-throats and thieves They are not Welcome here We should make them Go back to where they came from They cannot Share our food Share our homes Share our countries Instead let us Build a wall to keep them out It is not okay to say These are people just like us A place should only belong to those who are born there Do not be so stupid to think that The world can be looked at another way (now re-read this time from bottom to top)

On the 17th February Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time when we above all else seek to see things from a different perspective – God’s! As we journey through Lent in this most challenging of years my prayer is that each one of us better learns that we can’t live without God and the reality of His view of the world – the other way round, upside down view.

Yours in Christ

Simon

3 4 BOLDRE WAR MEMORIAL HALL Letter from the editor 'Most of the activities listed below are currently

suspended'

Ballet dance fitness AM Mondays and Fridays

07973 388801 Happy New Year to our readers. Over 60’s Lunch Club Monday’s fortnightly

673213 or 673744 Welcome to February and the first for 2021, Its another Children’s mini-athletics AM Tuesdays digital copy this month as we are still 07739 394385 confined to barracks. I hope that you are able to Pilley Bridge Club PM Tuesdays 623543 access this through the email links and the Parish Web Yoga Tuesday evenings 07789 689649 site. Singing in Harmony for dementia AM Wednesday As the mornings get lighter we should be able to see fortnightly 718749 some light at the end of the tunnel. I have had my first Ballroom and Latin American dancing 3 times per jab of vaccine and looking forward to the day when week 645061 the second one arrives. Scrabble Wednesday evening Sep to March

675708 Regards Pilates Thursday mornings 07973 892235

Parkinson’s Society Third Thursdays Derek South Baddesley W I Second Thurs aft monthly Editor 675313

Boldre W I First Thurs aft. monthly 673858 Yoga Friday morning 626237 PERKINS YOUTH HALL Pat Tanner Card Making First Wed of month 7.30 – 9.30 pm and next day 10 – 12 Pat Tanner was a much valued parishioner of Pilley Contact Sally Bowman 673910 who has recently passed away. For many years she Sewing Class Second and Fourth Mon monthly ran the Boldre War Memorial Hall and the Perkins 674210 Youth Hall and organised all the meetings and lettings. Yoga Tuesday morning weekly Sewing Class Third Wednesday monthly She was in charge of teas for the hard of hearing in 689087 the Hall and the participants certainly had a delicious Pilates Friday morning weekly tea. 01425 674813 Due to current restrictions villagers could not attend

her funeral service so on 27th January her hearse was Everyone is welcome to join in these activities. To find out more please ring the telephone number slowly driven through the village to crowded streets of listed. people come to say their last goodbyes.

PD For all Hall Booking Enquiries Contact : Sarah Wallbridge 672913 [email protected]

Cover Story

Snow covered fields, this is winter in Woodenhouse Lane, Pilley. A reminder of what Update we can expect in the coming days. Boldre War Memorial Hall and Pilley Community Shop

The proposed plans to enable the re-location of the shop to the site of BWMH are now with the National Park for Planning Permission. We do not know what their answer will be. The plans will appear on their website shortly but a copy is posted at the entrance door to the Hall for reference.

Tim Farquhar

5 “Bridgett’s “ Recipe Corner

Bridgett’s Brunch Casserole

Ingredients 2 oz butter 5 oz grated cheddar 1 oz flour 6 hard boiled eggs 1/4 pt cream 6 oz bacon, cooked & diced 1/4 pt milk 4 oz breadcrumbs 1 tspn of mixed thyme, marjoram, basil, 1 tspn parsley

Method Melt 1oz butter. Add the flour. Gradually add the milk and cream. Beat well. Stir in the thyme, marjoram and basil and 3 oz of the cheese. Make sure the cheese is melted. Cut the eggs in half and place in the bottom of the casserole. Layer the bacon, sauce and the breadcrumbs mixed with the last 2 oz cheese and parsley on top of the eggs. Dot with the remaining ounce of butter. Refrigerate for an hour. Bake 20 minutes covered at 350 degrees, then remove the cover for a further 10 minutes until golden brown. Serves 4

NB - recipes are always welcome , for me to publish. Bridgett

6 A Missive from South Baddesley Book Review

The beginning of the year always tends to provoke two A collection of good things; a reflection on the past year and a brave proph- short stories always ecy for the next. I think I can say, without contradiction makes an accessible that this current year holds better prospects than the and relaxing read at year just ended! any time, but particu- larly I think, in our cur- But, and I say this with certainty, Christmas last year was rent rather limited dai- as different from normal as it was possible to be and I ly lives, when the joys of reading are truly having their enjoyed it for its stripping away of so much. At St Mary’s heyday. we had the leanest of months, with the only December services held in the church being the carol service on NOTWITHSTANDING by Louis de Bernieres, (published Christmas Eve (held outside) and the two services on by Harvill Secker, London) Christmas Day (inside). I hasten to add that online ser- vices were sent out for the other weeks and I wasn’t The book is a treasury of tales centred in and around a having a prolonged holiday! country village in a vanished . A mix of unusu- al characters roam through the book, their lives touch- ‘The Light shines in the darkness…….’ Goes the reading ing at various times and in different places. Humour, from chapter 1 of St John’s Gospel, and we looked out intrigue and nostalgia are portrayed against a coun- on Christmas Eve to look at the starry night in a biting tryside backdrop of natural beauty. An entire commu- north wind, to view the conjunction of Jupiter and Sat- nity is painted in the stories which are all about people urn. The light was shining in the dark and it was a clear worth remembering and whose lives are worth cele- and strong message to us all that the Magi were not just brating. The author following a figment of their imagination. They were fol- shares his affection for and interest in ways of life we lowing ‘The Star’ or bright light in the sky, just as we were should not forget. that night in December. The author dedicates his book to his children: ‘May We who were gathered outside the church felt in some they take their village with them wherever they go’ way that same message was being given to us as to the I think most of us can relate to that sentiment? Enjoy Magi – follow the Star. The number who responded to this delightful read. our invitation to sing some carols exceeded my most optimistic expectations, which clearly show that I was LG thinking too small! The ‘Star’, the donkey, two braziers and over 100 people (socially distanced) made for a very special time.

Christmas Day was unlike any other; but the eighteen people who came to the first service were able to celebrate just as well as if there had been 70, and I have never felt closer to my congregation (again socially distanced!). I was then privileged to conduct a service for Lord and Lady Teynham and their family where, once again, there was an atmosphere that I shall remember for many a year.

Parish ministry is all but impossible during lockdown, but I look forward. Just as the sanctuary candle provides a constant reminder that ‘Christ the light of the world, The Light, shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it’, so will the bright light of hope shine out and refuse to be dimmed by Covid and other depressing things.

As we move through from the depths of winter into spring, I pray that we can soon move forward out of the shadow of Covid into the brighter fresher prospects for 2021, return to a life more normal in all ways, and meet again inside St Mary’s

God Bless, Richard Donna Dockey and Alan Maher managed to marry at St Johns on December 22nd. What a great Christmas present. 7 USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS WOMEN’S INSTITUTE BOLDRE AGISTERS Secretary: Janet Anderson 673858 Head Mr Jonathan Gerelli 07836602163 [email protected] Local Mr Robert Maton 612195 SOUTH BADDESLEY

Secretary: Mrs Janet Corbin 675313 BOLDRE PARISH COUNCILLORS [email protected] Chairman Mr Oliver Moore 07736285488 Mrs Alison Bolton 674607 PLEASE NOTE Mr James Eden BOOKING FOR SOUTH BADDESLEY Mrs Pamela Keen 626654 SCHOOL HALL FOR CHURCH EVENTS Mr Patrick Kempe 675854 MUST GO VIA LEO GIBB Mrs Jacque England 689446 FOR FORMS TO BE COMPLETED Jo Humphreys 01590 622131 01590 626603 Caroline Trotter [email protected] Christina Carroll 07799130442 Mr Lester Mortimer 623742 HELP OFFERED Parish Clerk Do you need transport to get to church on Peter Lock 07751497597 Sundays or Wednesday mornings? [email protected] c/o Pilley Community Shop, Pilley, , SO41 5QP Phone Groundsman Adrian Drodge FELICITY PELLOW 01590 676179 District Councillor AND SHE WILL TRY TO HELP Mrs Jannette Duke 01590719579

Village Agent: Age Concern REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, Nicholas Walford 07776594997 DEATHS AND MARRIAGES

BOLDRE PARISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT Ian Wild 01590 673247 LYMINGTON LIBRARY BOLDRE WAR MEMORIAL HALL PHONE REGISTRAR ON 0845 6035637 Bookings: Mrs Sarah Wallbridge 762913 OR VISIT Secretary: Mrs Frances Mason 679921 www3.hants.gov.uk/registration

BOLDRE LUNCH CLUB Mrs Pim Farquhar 673744 BOLDRE CHURCH TRUST Registered Charity FORESTRY COMMISSION No 1040210 The Queen’s House Lyndhurst 023 8028 3141 YOUR GIFTS AND LEGACIES WILL HELP TO Local Forest Keeper: Mr J Cook 623698 SECURE THE FUTURE OF OUR PARISH CHURCHES

The Boldre Church Trust was set up in the late 1990s to

NORLEYWOOD AND DISTRICT SOCIETY establish an endowment to contribute to the costs of major projects. Secretary: George Clitter 626464 Trustees: Bill Madden (Chairman) PILLEY YOUTH CLUB “THE DEN” Tim Farquhar, Robert Jackson, Leader: Kelvin Drake 718361 Nigel Henley (Treasurer)

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

WILLIAM GILPIN Head Teacher Mr Simon Croutear 673460

SOUTH BADDESLEY Head Teacher Mrs Anne Moir 626243

Power Cuts call SSE on 105 from a mobile and press option 2

BOLDRE CLUB, PILLEY www.boldreclub.com 673616

8 SIMPLICITY, BEAUTY, INNOCENCE Update on the St Nicholas Singers Canon Andrew Neaum On King Island, in Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania, I once lay on a Sadly there was no Spring concert last year as Covid pebble beach with two of my children. The sea gently struck and shut everything down. Undeterred, two sighed. Occasional waves crashed. Dusk fell. Monday meetings, with a maximum of 20 singers safely Fairy Penguins situated in St John’s church, were held in October. I Beneath low scrub and bushes behind us were hesitate to call them rehearsals, we just enjoyed passages and burrows. As darkness deepened small singing together after a long gap! We then moved to penguins emerged from them to stand like miniature the warmth and space of the War Memorial Hall with a guardsmen, occasionally barking and churring. different group each week as numbers allowed, On the lip of the steep part of the beach in front hoping to prepare for our annual Christmas Carol of us we became aware of company. A row of fairy concert or an outdoor community singalong from the penguins, fresh from the sea, crops bulging with village hall with mulled wine to keep everyone warm. mangled fish, stood silent and still, leaning forward and eyeing us. Then slowly, quietly, they shuffled Two weeks later Lockdown 2 was declared. forward. Several had to go round us, we were in their There had to be a way to bring some Christmas cheer way. to our loyal supporters or at least to a few of them. The joy of pets Andrew and Diana Neaum were approached and I remember with joy many pets and animals. A asked if they knew of any folk who were shielding, pet penguin, on the island of Tristan da Cunha. A pet isolating or basically stuck at home. A list of twenty mole snake at my bush school in Africa. A pied crow, parishioners was produced spanning Pennington, a succession of budgerigars, cats and dogs. I have Lymington, , Pilley, Portmore and Norley kept chameleon eggs in damp soil in a little tub in my Wood. Diana contacted them all to make sure they study until they hatched into exquisite, tiny baby were happy to receive carolers. chameleons to be released. School holidays were spent walking the African bush with binoculars, bird watching. In game parks I have rejoiced in lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs and once, on horseback, almost bumped into a great rhinoceros. Even today one of the most thrilling of experiences is to discover a bird’s nest containing a clutch of bright, neat, crisp-shelled eggs. A paradox Why do we love nature so? Why do we love animals, either wild or as pets? Humankind uses them and abuses them. They are made to work for us and are killed to feed us. Yet we love them, are inspired and awed by them, consider cruelty to them a heinous crime. There is a contradiction, a paradox to our relationship with animals. It parallels one within ourselves. We are materialists to some degree or other. Our lives are busied, muddied, cluttered with activities to do with earning a living, acquiring sufficient money We had decided on the Monday and Tuesday before and possessions to ensure our own and our family’s Christmas and there were more than enough security and well being. It is part of the human volunteer singers. This was just as well when we realized condition. Yet at our best we do not wish to become that 6 was the maximum allowed in a group and we obsessively materialistic, to lose sight of different, had quite a large area to cover. altogether necessary, complementary values. So each evening two small groups were formed and The natural world, in its uncomplicated beauty, each visited 5 houses. The weather was appalling, “the lilies of the field that neither toil nor spin, the birds cold and wet, but the reception we received was so of the air that neither sow nor reap, nor gather in to heartwarming we didn’t really notice the conditions. It barns”, remind us that there is more to life than was so lovely to share a bit of Christmas joy –I fear we security. There is simplicity, beauty, innocence, and may not be able to resist repeating this in future years! perhaps above all, simply being. Why do we love a daft little dog, a goldfinch, or HW even a house sparrow? For being simply what or who they are. To acknowledge a creature’s beauty and its Groan of the month right simply to be, is the beginning of reverence and awe, and so too of worship. Q: Why did the 3 wise men cancel their meeting?

A; There was no Zoom at the inn.

9 Our side of the Crossroads Some brave daffodils are nodding their heads and early spring flowers seem to have weathered the frosts. All is very quiet on the social front this side of the junction, but not so much on another front. If you are not extending your living space, or re-landscaping your property, you’re not in the ‘loop’! Daily life’s backdrop is the sound of heavy machinery, hammering and the beeps from pantechnicons reversing. One bit of re-structuring we can all be proud of is the filling-in of a treacherous pothole in the main road near the school. We reported it 24hrs ago as a dangerous hazard, and lo! - this morning it had been given a temporary repair.

A traditional crib service in the church was not possible this year. Instead, an outdoor short carol service was held on Christmas Eve at 4.30pm. Amazingly, over 100 people attended, in family groups or ‘bubbles’. Music from the organ was audible outside as many favourite carols were sung. As it grew darker, Richard Elliott paused the proceedings to draw our attention to the conjunction of the planets, Saturn and Jupiter, drawing a parallel to the ‘bright star in the East’ that the Magi followed to reach Bethlehem. All eyes turned to look at the spectacle, which seemed even more significant because it was Christmas Eve. The sense of being clos- er than usual to the events of that far-off starry night were emphasised by the presence of the donkey, happily munching its way through everything it was As we write decisions are being made regarding the given! printing and distribution of this issue. Should we decide on a digital publication we do get the benefit Our thanks go to everyone who made the event of colour throughout – ‘every cloud etc…….’ You possible, with lighting, braziers and all the behind- may not see your distributer in person, so please don’t the- scenes precautions necessary to keep us safe. forget it is annual subscription time. Put aside your £6.60 before spending it on yet another bottle of wine Returning along the footpath from a (socially from our life saving Community shop! distanced) walk to Tanner’s Lane we heard shots com- ing from the Pylewell Estate woods and assumed it was PD/LG/RE a pheasant shoot. A few minutes later we saw a large herd of Sika deer running across the field on the other side of the path. They must have been frightened by the noise. Only one of them had antlers and they were a magnificent set. The herd then continued over the road to the far woods.

This winter I have put up some more bird nesting boxes. The online information said to make sure they were in a position that would not get too hot in summer and with a clear flight path. I became worried that one of them might not be shaded enough and decided to move it. I took it down only to find heaps of bird’s droppings inside it so I put it back as I have heard that wrens snuggle together in nest boxes in the winter to keep warm. I would not like to remove their cosy bedroom!

Christmas may be over but some cheerful reminders remain, or have been modified in order to raise our village morale. At the entrance to a large tree welcomes us with its twinkling lights, and further on a special display of blue lighting in topiary planters is giving its own version of applause to our NHS. Jill’s Ponies

10 Boldre Parish Council January 2021 THE VIEW FROM JUNE’S BENCH The Council agreed the precept levels for the 2021/22 A sidelong glance financial year along with the annual budget. Due to conservative spending in 2020/21, the Council has from a Friend of sufficient reserves to run at a slight budgetary deficit in St John's the next financial year. As such, it was agreed that there will be no precept increase in 2021/22 at a time I wonder if I can write something interesting that does when Parishioners are feeling an increased level of fi- not mention the virus? Media can make us quake at nancial pressure from COVID-19 and the associated what may be coming next… economic instability. The requested precept from NFC will remain at £28,466. Well, here it is, anecdotes of life back in the 1950’s The play area relocation project continues to progress, when the local boys were fascinated by tales of dis- with meetings scheduled with play ground equipment tant lands, of the ships, trains and even planes, bring- inspectors to assess what equipment could safely be ing strange spices from distant shores. The Great Lin- reused rather than replaced. The Council is continuing ers were plying the Atlantic, Queen Mary, Queen Elis- to evaluate responses from play equipment vendors abeth, they were even racing with other Liners for the and has reviewed the data gathered from our recent fastest crossing from Southampton to New York, the survey. Thank you to all those who contributed. Work Blue Riband. Not forgetting the petrol tankers that will continue on this project in parallel with activities led carried liquid petroleum to and from the refinery. The by the War Memorial Hall to progress planning local business was maritime. permission. And what of our Ships Cats? Well ships just like houses Councillors noted a lot of highways signs being dis- need cats, they keep down the mice or even rats carded following road works and are coordinating a and this was true back to Nelson’s time, they were on list to have Hampshire Highways recover them. A num- the ship’s manifest. Those cats were large moggies ber of Parishioners have been clearing ditches and who thought they owned their ships. A big white tom making repairs which is welcome to reduce the risk of was often seen on the dockside at Fawley, probably flooding. The Council is still waiting for a final response visiting the local pussy cat fraternity. One day howev- from Southern Gas Networks via Hampshire County er Whitey went ashore and missed the boat, he was Council with regard to damage due to recent diver- the cook’s cat and was greatly missed. It was a small sions. oil tanker the ESSO Hull, she sailed from the oil termi- The date for the next Parish Council meeting is Febru- nal. The local dockers fed him, and reported he ary 8th. This will be an online meeting and details will be checked out every ship that came in, until his ship made available for the public to join. came back, then up the gangplank like a flash, no hesitation. As I said, he owned that ship. From December meeting December 2020 More tales of those merchant ships and their crews, we called them the Boat Boys and they kept the lo- The Council was pleased to approve a payment to cal shops and businesses going in town. One lad restore the footbridge that used to be next to the brought home a monkey, he was quite well behaved cattle grid between Portmore and Norley Wood. This at first, until left alone at home, he pulled down all will allow the footpath that runs from the forest gate up the curtains, I think he was bound for Whipsnade Zoo towards Portmore to be used to cross the stream of somewhere similar. without having to walk along the busy B3054.

The Council approved a grant to St. Johns at Boldre Well now, how were the local mum dads and chil- towards the upkeep of the graveyard there. With dren of Lymo Town entertained before TV was even COVID this year, income to the church has been imagined? A little variety company put on shows, it significantly impacted. was called “The Sunny Show”. Located above the There have been vacancies on the Council for some Angel Hotel, with Singers and dancers to brighten up time. Recently, there have been a number of Saturday afternoons. As a young 8 year old, I was a interested applicants. The Council was pleased to bit shocked at some of the entertainment, but my co-opt Debbie Ware into one of the vacant positions mum laughed and laughed, so I’m sure it was alright. and look forward to welcoming her to our next meeting. We didn’t have antibiotics in those days or the NHS. A bruise might be treated with vinegar and brown paper. We are all healthier now and must thank OM those health care professionals for their tireless dedi- cation to others. Many, many, many grateful thanks.

I will finish as I began, we must all look forward to beating the virus with the help of vaccination, hope- fully to be free, optimistically, perhaps even by the end of this year? Jack Gittoes

11 12 BLOWING THE DUST OFF THE BIBLE ah who would come. But we read of his actual words 2021 is ’s Year of the Bible – an opportunity and actions mainly in the Gospels, written by Mat- for us to think about why and how we should be read- thew, Mark, Luke and ing our Bibles. So why should we blow the dust off our John. They are found at the beginning of the New Tes- Bibles? tament.

What is the Bible? Has the Bible changed with time? Most of what we know about Jesus comes from four Some mistakenly think that because the Bible was writ- accounts of his life called the Gospels, written close to ten so long ago, lots of errors must his lifetime. The Gospels are set in the context of a larg- have crept in over the years, so that the Bible we have er volume - a now might be very different from the collection of 66 'books' called the Bible. original. The first 39 books make up the Old Testament and When faced with these questions, historians would ask, mainly record the story of God's dealings 'How old are our oldest copies of the with the people of ancient Israel. Here we read of their text? ' 'How many of these ancient copies do we leaders and laws, kings and battles, have?' 'Are the oldest copies similar to the Bible we prophets and poets. We encounter life with all its high have today?' points and darkest depths: love, hatred, sex, suffering, death, courage, betrayal, suc- The Bible passes these tests with an A*. cess and failure. We see God's intimate For the New Testament, around 24,000 ancient manu- involvement in the lives of the Jewish people, even scripts and fragments of manuscripts exist. This out- when they turned their backs on him. shines other ancient documents, for which only a The second part of the Bible - the New Testament - tells handful of manuscripts are available. That's because of the life of Jesus - what he said every small group of Christians was eager to have their and did, and the exploits of his first followers. It also own copy of the writings being circulated, so they brings together letters of encouragement and instruc- copied them faithfully as they were handed around. tion which were circulated by followers of Jesus. We have a number of manuscripts which were copied

very early in the history of the Church. The Bible is unique... Comparing these plentiful ancient copies with each It was written by 40 different authors - including sol- • other and with the New Testament we diers and statesmen, poets and princes, fishermen and have in our hands, we can see that it's remained es- philosophers. They lived on three different continents sentially the same throughout and wrote in three languages, Hebrew, Greek and Ara- its history. maic. The accuracy of the Old Testament was demonstrat- • They wrote using various forms of literature: history, ed by the discovery of the Dead Sea law, biography, letters, essays, prophetic writings, poet- Scrolls in 1947. These parchment copies had been hid- ry. den in a cave, undisturbed for • The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years. centuries. They were about a thousand years older Far from being a miscellaneous collection of thoughts than any other copies of the Old about God, it presents a unified view of who God is Testament in existence - yet their words were almost and how we can get to know him. It deals with hun- exactly the same. Again, this dreds of controversial topics in a harmonious way. confirms that the Bible has not changed over the cen- turies. What did Jesus think of the Bible? Jesus had the highest regard for the Old Testament - Does archaeology back up what the Bible says? the only part of the Bible available in his day. He quot- When the Bible is checked against sources outside of ed from it frequently, referred to events mentioned in it, itself, to see if the people and places and related to it in a way that showed he believed it and dates it mentions are real or mere inventions, it was God's word. For example: passes with flying colours. For example: • In his teaching he drew on almost every book in the Time and time again, archaeology has revealed the Old Testament. existence of towns mentioned in the first five books of • He predicted his own death using prophecies from the Bible. Places like Sodom and Gomorrah, once thought fictitious, are now known to exist - exactly in the Old Testament. the location the Bible places them. He used the phrases 'the Scriptures say' and 'God • says' interchangeably. The ‘Cyrus cylinder’ in the British Museum contains the He said he did not come to do away with the Old Tes- account of how Cyrus the Mede overthrew Babylon in tament, but to fulfil it. 539 BC and returned the Jewish exiles to their home- land, just as the Bible describes. Where is Jesus in the Bible? The Gospels are not the only place you'll find Jesus in the Bible. He's referred to often, from Continued next page the very first book of the Bible to the last. Over 200 times in the Old Testament, prophets pointed towards him as the promised Saviour or Messi- 13 Continued from previous page Great utterly demolished what was left of Tyre and scraped its ruins into the • Luke, author of a Gospel and of the book of Acts, sea. For centuries fishermen dried their nets there on the was a painstaking researcher. Archaeologists found bare rock. that he got no less than fifteen subtly different titles for There are hundreds of other prophecies in the Old Tes- Roman officials of the day exactly right. tament, all of which came true to the letter. This in- Five covered colonnades at the pool of Bethesda cludes those regarding the coming Messiah, which mentioned in John's Gospel (John 5:2) were thought to were fulfilled in the be fictional embroidery until uncovered by archaeolo- birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. gists. These are just four among hundreds of examples. The The Bible and you Bible record is well authenticated by To begin the adventure of reading God's message, you what we know from sources outside the Bible. could start with one of the four records of Jesus' life. Use a modern translation such as How were the various books of the New Testament the New International Version. The Gospel of Mark chosen? would be a good place to start. Or order some Bible Most of what is now the New Testament had been writ- Reading notes; use a Bible Reading Plan – there are lots ten by 60 AD and had been copied and circulated of ways to make reading the Bible interesting and excit- widely. Those books written by people who had been ing. actual witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus received Throughout history those who have read the Bible with special status, as well as those by writers like an open mind have found its Luke and Paul, who were early followers of Jesus. message to be life-changing. Their experience has In time, other writings began to circulate with fanciful been that God has spoken to them as ideas about Jesus or additions from they have considered what they have read. The proof other religions and philosophies. To stop people being of that will be down to you. Throughout 2021 – Year of confused the leaders of the Church the Bible - there will be lots of resources on offer at drew up a list of the books recognised as authentic Brockenhurst Parish to help you better understand and from the beginning. In this way they engage with the Bible – do ask at the Church Office for confirmed what had been accepted for many dec- the leaflet 2021 Year of the Bible and see for yourself all ades. The lists were finally ratified at a the ways in which you can engage with a book that major assembly of Christian leaders in 325 AD. might just change your life.

More than just a book Simon The Bible is not just a book of words about God. The Bible speaks of itself as The Word of God. As such, it claims God's special authority be- A poem in the style of Li Bai. c 750,Tang Dynasty. cause God is the Author behind the human authors. God brought it into being - not by dictating each word but by infusing the writers with his own thoughts ex- The River Bend pressed through their personalities. I sit by the river bend where I love to be The Bible also refers to itself as being a 'lamp for our The sun is lowering out of the reddening sky feet and a light for our path'. lt is God's written com- The last of the day’s doves fly away to their resting munication to his people, one of the ways by which he homes expresses his character and intentions, and draws Here flows the river so peaceful and silent, dimming all them to himself. He wants us to listen to what he’s say- the while ing in his written word, and act upon it. My thoughts meander to memories of times long past Of some frantic moments but also grateful solitude Were predictions made in the Bible accurate? I remember friends who have shared special times The Bible's claim to have supernatural origin is under- And family who have given so much care and love scored by the fact that not some, but all And people who have so oft made me laugh of its prophecies have come true - except those con- I hear the call of those long gone cerning the final days of the history of My senses mellow with the growing dusk the earth. For example around 600 BC a prophet Home beckons where I know named Ezekiel predicted about the Mediterranean I’ll find city of Tyre that: Comforts to see me safe • King Nebuchadnezzer would destroy it. through the coming night • Many nations would rise up against it. I will return again to this place • It would be flattened like a bare rock. where I love to be • The debris would be thrown in the water.

• It would never be rebuilt. John Graves 21/11/2020 Fishermen would spread their nets over the site. These predictions became reality in every detail, the climax being 300 years later when Alexander the

16 14 15 Emma Smalls, nee Guckian, crochet work

bringing a smile to the village.

16 iTalk service and mental health

The festive period can be a really difficult time for people and general feelings of loneliness and isolation are enhanced. 2020 has been a difficult year for many people, but there is help available for anyone struggling with their mental health.

What is iTalk? • iTalk, our local talking therapy service, is the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for most of Hampshire, which is a partnership between Solent Mind and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust • iTalk supports people to improve their mental wellbeing through education, guided self-help tools and • talking therapies • All treatments are available free on the NHS for people aged 16 and over and have a registered GP and live within the Hampshire area

What services does iTalk offer? • Wellbeing Classes – Currently on hold due to Covid-19, however there are a wealth of wellbeing videos and resources available online • Support – If you are feeling down or overwhelmed, they offer guided self-help options to help you get back on track • Managing Moods Webinars – A six-week online course, to help you to learn proactive ways to get your motivation back, manage stress and think more clearly • SilverCloud – Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme available 24/7 • Telephone Guided Self-Help – A pack is sent in the post and then you will received a call every two weeks to offer support and help you to move forward • Therapy – Talking therapies to help with depressions, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias How do I get help from iTalk? There are several ways to get a referral for help from iTalk: • Self-refer by phone – call 02380 383920 • Self-refer online https://www.italk.org.uk/self-referral/ • Your GP or health care provider can refer you

Even if you don’t feel that you need support from iTalk, the website contains some useful resources, such as videos to promote mindfulness, which are useful to everyone in these busy and stressful times – visit https://www.italk.org.uk

FROM OUR CHURCH REGISTERS November/ December 2020 BAPTISM Marriage St John’s 4 December Tariq ARIS & Emma FORSYTH St John’s 22 December Alan MAHER & Donna DICKEY

FUNERALS/SERVICES OF THANKSGIVING & ASHES INTERMENTS St John’s 14 December Richard HAMPTON St John’s 17 December Roy DAVIS St John’s 18 December Anthony WATSON St John’s 10 November Eric BRADY St John’s 26 November Sonia NOLAN St Mary’s 27 November Jonathan ROGERS

17 St John’s Boldre & St Mary’s South Baddesley Services February 2021 Every Wednesday at 10.30 am Holy Communion at St Nicholas’ Chapel, Pilley. SO41 5QG, next to the Boldre War Memorial Hall

SERVICES & TIMES ARE PROVISIONAL, DEPENDENT ON LOCK-DOWN RESTRICTIONS. CONTACT US TO CHECK, IF IN DOUBT

Sunday 7 Feb Sexagesima St John’s Boldre St Mary the Virgin St. Nicholas’s Pilley

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

9.30am

10.30am Morning Prayer and Recorded Service Evensong Recorded Service only Sunday 14 Feb Quinquagesima St John’s Boldre St Mary the Virgin St. Nicholas’s Pilley

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

9.30am Family Recorded Service only 10.30am Morning Prayer and Recorded Service

ASH WEDNESDAY 17 Feb Imposition of Ashes and 10.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 21 Feb Lent One St John’s Boldre St Mary the Virgin St. Nicholas’s Pilley

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

9.30am Holy Communion CW Recorded Service only 10.30am Morning Prayer and Recorded Service

Sunday 28 Feb Lent Two St John’s Boldre St Mary the Virgin St. Nicholas’s Pilley

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

9.30am Matins Recorded Service only 10.30am Morning Prayer and Recorded Service

Sunday 7 March Lent Three St John’s Boldre St Mary the Virgin St. Nicholas’s Pilley

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

9.30am

10.30am Morning Prayer and Recorded Service Evensong recorded service

18