Rushen Parish Magazine

June 2016

2 Contact Details for Parish Vicar:

Rev’d Joe Heaton ([email protected]) 832275

Rushen Vicarage, Barracks Road, Readers: Mrs Margaret Galloway, Cumbrae, Athol Park, Mrs June Harper, The Barns, Strawberry Fields, Colby 834466 Mr Richard Clague, 4 Eagle Mews, Port Erin 834606 Mr Harry Dawson, Thalloo Reagh, 478050/835770

Mr Adam Kelly, Berwyn, Beach Rd, Port St Mary 833850

Active Clergy Rev Roger Harper, The Barns, Strawberry Fields, Colby 834466 Rev John Gulland, 3 Snaefell House, Port Erin 834548 Rev Brian Shephard, Keayn Ard, Queens Rd, Pt. St Mary 833315

Retired Clergy: Canon John Sheen, Kentraugh Mill, Colby

Church Wardens: Mr Gerry Callister, 60 Ballamaddrell, Port Erin 474924/834627 Mr Arthur Cregeen, 23 Close Famman, Port Erin 832488 Mr Harry Dawson, Thalloo Reagh, Cregneash 478050/835770 Mr Peter Hayhurst, Fois Fraon, Fistard 832974

PCC Secretary: Mr David Bowman, The Old Bakery, Qualtroughs Lane, 837117/260539 Port Erin

PCC Treasurer: Mr Stephen Curtis, Clybane Cottage, Phildraw Road, 823475 Ballasalla

Parish Administrator and Safeguarding Officer for Children and Vulnerable People:

Mrs Claire Jennings, [email protected] 830850

3 She is a world leader,

surrounded by media attention and scrutiny.

She works in a multi-cultural, multi-faith, politically correct

landscape.

And yet Queen Elizabeth II is incredibly and unashamedly open about her faith.

There are some very inspirational nature of a mere mortal like us, and figures that I have been able to look became a servant. It’s about serving. It to as part of my training for always has been and it always will be. ordination. I am always especially struck by those who are much older The Bible tells us that actually the than myself and have managed to same is true with us! Humanity keep their faith and zeal together. shouldn’t need to strive to gain recognition, because God already holds

Queen Elizabeth II is certainly not us in the palm of his hand. We don’t fizzling out. She isn’t slowly winding need to strive for money, because God things up, taking a back seat or gives us all we need. We don’t need to slowing the pace. No, she has paced strive for power—God holds the herself so incredibly well that even power. So what do we need to aim for? now she has the energy, drive and passion to lead. Simply this—to love one another, and to live to serve both God and But she isn’t leading to gain status— humanity. Let’s dream of what Rushen she already has status. She isn’t Parish could be like if those of us who leading to achieve wealth or fame— call ourselves Jesus’ disciples truly she doesn’t need those. She isn’t served each other and the community leading in order to make a point, in which we live, boldly living out a promote a cause, or be voted in to faith like the Queen. power. Instead, she simply serves. This is leadership as outlined by Jesus. Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus Alex Brown didn’t need to look for equality with God, but instead he took on the

4

Celebrating 150 years of Reader Ministry

It is 150 years since the Reader Movement began in the . It was born out of a need to connect the proclamation of the Word with an increasingly secular world, a world in which the Church had lost direct contact with millions.

The founding archbishops and bishops realised that people were becoming biblically-illiterate and that there was a need to bring the Bible back into the home and the workplace. They founded a ministry to bring the voice of God back into the conversation.

What was so important in this episcopal initiative in 1866, as with the founding of the Mothers’ Union nine years later and the Church Army 16 years later, is that they were all lay initiatives in mission. All, of course, were encouraged and supported by the ordained, but proud to be overwhelmingly lay. That emphasis on lay-ness was not a form of anti-clericalism, but founded on a concept of teamwork in which lay and ordained would work together to pray for and bring in God’s kingdom.

Present leaders of the Reader movement use the example of the past to point to the future. The past matters and informs the future: we cannot do anything about the past but we can help to be ‘prophets of a future not our own’, in the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s famous prayer-poem:

We cannot do everything. And there is a sense of liberation in realising that this enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete but it’s a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master-builder and worker. We are workers, not master-builders. We are ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

I’ve made the point often that one aspect of Eucharistic liturgy in the last 45 years has undermined a decent theology of the Church as the body of Christ. It seemed like a good idea at the time to preface sharing the Peace at the Eucharist by saying, ‘We are the body of Christ ...’ (Saint Paul’s own words); but what it did to Anglicans was to give us the idea, subliminally, that the body of Christ exists only when we are together enjoying one another’s company in church.

Whereas, if the image of the body that the Apostle uses three times (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4) means anything, it must teach us that we remain the body of Christ even when we are dispersed: one is shopping, another in the office, one looking for a job, another is teaching, and so on.

That’s the essence of what we mean by lay-ness (and in a very true sense it includes clergy): we are literally the laos, the people of God, dispersed and active as His disciples in the world. To be a Reader is to emphasise the fact that your primary ministry is not in holy buildings with coloured-glass windows and pointed arches, but being a disciple, a member of the dispersed people of God, bringing Him into the conversation.

To be concluded next month

The Right Rev Robert Paterson,

5

Ladies Working Party – St Mary’s

The ladies continue to meet each Tuesday and will do for the foreseeable future. Our Friendly Lunch, on 27th May, was enjoyed by everyone who came. However, we are going to have to review whether or not we will be able to arrange a Friendly Lunch every month. So many of our members have other commitments, perhaps the most demanding being the looking after grandchildren so that their now grown up children can return to work. Our main

concern is that we are dependent on these people to make soups and pies, and if they are unable to do so, we cannot provide the excellent food that we have over many years. We will of course discuss this again and eventually make a decision as to whether we can continue.

Perhaps a major factor is change. We live in a different world than when we were children. Many of our members are growing older, and I include myself in this, and cannot do the same, nor work as hard, as perhaps we were once able to do. Life today is so different, perhaps the technological age is playing its part. Everything seems to be much faster now, and whereas in the past we had time to plan and prepare for events,

nowadays these have to be completed in an instant. Our congregations at church too are no longer static. In the past you could rely on roughly the same number of people attending week by week. Now the numbers vary, one factor being that people leave the island at weekend for a break, something that never happened in the past. ‘Change’ is sometimes hard to take, but nevertheless does and has to happen.

We send our love and prayers to everyone, especially those of you who are unable to get about quite so frequently as once you could. We think about you all constantly and you are always in our prayers. Let’s hope that we get a sustained period of good weather and that our spirits are uplifted by the sights and sounds of this wonderful island on which we are privileged to live.

With Love and Prayers

Brenda Watterson

Our next hymn

A visiting minister, seeing the list of hymns chosen for the Sunday service, sent a message to the organist to say that the last hymn (519) did not suit his sermon, and so he wanted it replaced by 213. The organist’s message replied: ‘In this church the organist chooses the hymns and I will play 519.’ The minister shot back: ‘At this service I announce the hymns and I shall announce 213.’

6 ‘He gave us eyes to see them’ – Church Monuments

St Bartholomew’s – Much Marcle

This month as we continue our walk through the church building, we focus on monuments. George Herbert has a poem on this theme which contrasts the body we see represented in marble, but now consigned to dust, with the soul released to perform its eternal devotions. Such monuments are often a reminder of the frailty of life and the certainty of death, symbolised by an hour-glass or a skull or classical urns.

In St Cuby’s Church, Duloe in Cornwall there is a fine slate memorial of an Elizabethan lady, Anna Coffyn, depicted in a richly embroidered dress with gloves and a prayer book, ready for church. Underneath are the skull and crossbones, a memento mori, a reminder that death has visited even this elegant lady. That sign of death can come as a shock to us when we are committed so much to living and getting the most out of life today. Death intrudes violently into the world we would like.

But in St Bartholomew’s Church, Much Marcle in Herefordshire, there is a monument that tells us something of the serenity of death. It is the effigy of Blanche Mortimer, who died in 1347. The church is filled with superb monuments, but this one has its own distinct and moving beauty. The carving of her dress shows buttoned sleeves and a wimple, while one hand holds a rosary. She impresses us with her loveliness, even in the midst of death.

Leonardo da Vinci wrote, ‘While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.’ As we dedicate ourselves to God in this life, we can trust with Blanche Mortimer in the 14th century that His will is for us to be with him forever. This life is not just our preparation for death: it is our schooling for heaven, and life in heaven means life with God.

The Rev Michael Burgess

7

St Mary’s Sunday School & Junior Church

This month we have continued our lessons on Jeremiah, these will be followed by two sessions from the book of Ruth.

Our All Age service on the 8th May included a baptism – Riley was joined by a large group of family and friends and he was beautifully behaved throughout the service. Joe led the service and Alex Brown led the Learning Together section. section. This was based on Acts 16 – Paul and Silas in prison. Alex and his daughter had made the “longest ever” paper chain – each link containing words such as anger, greed, jealousy, lying – all the things which prevent us from living as Jesus would wish. The chain went all the way to the back of the church on one side, across the back and all the way to the front on the other side! Alex then collected it in and wrapped it around himself. He then struggled and managed to break the chains which were binding him, he explained that Jesus is able to break these chains if we pray for forgiveness. The children sang Our God is a great big God (with actions) and also led the prayers.

Our service on the 15th – Pentecost – was followed by our annual Faith Lunch. We didn't have a barbecue this year as our barbecue chefs – Michal and Dorothy – were off the island. During the service the children heard about the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. They made head bands and streamers to represent the fire and blew up a balloon and bubbles to represent the wind. We were then joined by the congregation to enjoy a delicious lunch. Thank you to everyone who provided the food and all those who helped in any way.

We will have Sunday School on the 22nd and 29th May, then will have a week off on 5th June – the start of the TT week school holiday – and will come together again for our All th Age service on the 12 June.

With love from St. Mary's Sunday School and Junior Church

Carole Coole

Sweets

I gave my four-year-old grand-daughter money for sweets and the church collection plate. Later, seeing her enormous pile of sweets, I got suspicious and asked if she hadn’t also given some money to God in church that morning. “No,” she replied sweetly, “He wasn’t there.”

8

News from St Catherine’s

May started with a very successful coffee morning in St Catherine's Church Hall on Friday 6th May. On 12thMay we were entertained by Scoill Purt Le Moirrey and the Manx Children's Choir at the monthly concert held in St Catherine’s Church Hall. For everyone involved it was a wonderful evening of musical entertainment. On behalf of the parish I would like to thank the children and Mrs Parsons, the musical director, for all their hard work.

The All-Age Service occurred on the Feast of Pentecost and there was a good attendance.

It is pleasing to see that there have been a good number of visitors to the church this year.

There is to be a Tourism Exhibition in St Catherine’s Church Hall from 28th May until 17th June. This is being organised by the Rushen Heritage Trust Committee. It is hoped that many visitors will be attracted to the event, especially as it is running throughout the TT race period.

Another exhibition runs from 28th July until 25th August. This is a second exhibition entitled ‘Friend or Foe’ and is based on Woman's Internment. It is hoped that many of our parishioners from the Parish of Rushen will be able to help serving the refreshments as the Rushen Heritage Trust splits the proceeds from the sale of refreshments with the parish. Hopefully we will be able to match the man-power provided by the trust in the kitchen. Rotas can be found at the back of the churches. If you can help please fill in your name in a blank space or contact me on 474924. Gerry Callister

Notices in a church news-sheet:

- Organist required: to work with small but trying priest and congregation.

- The Low Self Esteem Support Group meets Thursday. Please use the back door.

- Weight Watchers to meet at 7pm in the church hall. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

- There will be a shared supper at church this Sunday – with prayer and medication to follow.

- The minister would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

- The students will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

9 June Crossword

Across Down

1 Military tactic used by Joshua to attack 1 Fasten (Exodus 28:37) (6) and destroy the city of Ai (Joshua 8:2) (6) 2 Art bite (anag.) (7) 4 Place of learning (6) 3 ‘The people of the city were divided; 8 ‘When Moses’ hands grew —, they took a some — with the Jews, others with the stone and put it under him and he sat on apostles’ (Acts 14:4) (5) it’ (Exodus 17:12) (5) 5 Contend (Jeremiah 12:5) (7) 9 Unpleasant auguries of the end of the 6 Possessed (Job 1:3) (5) age, as forecast by Jesus 7 Sheen (Lamentations 4:1) (6) (Matthew 24:7) (7) 9 ‘You love evil rather than good, — 10 Stronghold to which girls in King Xerxes’ rather than speaking the truth’ harem (including Esther) were taken (Psalm 52:3) (9) (Esther 2:8) (7) 13 Large flightless bird (Job 39:13) (7) 11 Where Saul went to consult a medium 14 They were worth several hundred before fighting the Philistines pounds each (Matthew 25:15) (7) (1 Samuel 28:7) (5) 15 ‘A — went out to sow his seed’ 12 Propitiation (Hebrews 2:17) (9) (Matthew 13:3) (6) 17 Turn away (Jeremiah 11:15) (5) 16 How Jesus described Jairus’ daughter 19 So clear (anag.) (7) when he went into the room where 21 ‘I have just got —, so I can’t come’: one she lay (Mark 5:39) (6) excuse to be absent from the great 18 The part of the day when the women banquet (Luke 14:20) (7) went to the tomb on the first Easter 22 Long weapon with a pointed head used by morning (John 20:1) (5) horsemen (Job 39:23) (5) 20 Narrow passageway between buildings 23 Musical beat (6) (Luke 14:21) (5) 24 What the Israelites were told to use to daub blood on their door-frames at the first Passover (Exodus 12:22) (6)

10

May Crossword Solution

May Sudoku Solution

I am pleased to inform you that from the five correct entries I received Graham McFarlane was chosen as the winner of the May Sudoku competition. Pat Thomson chose the envelope which included Graham’s name at the 11am morning service at St Mary’s Church on 1st May. Graham was informed by post of his success. Editor

The PCC Member’s Essential Guide - Mark Tanner, £6.99

Are you a new PCC member? Or perhaps would like to brush up on all it entails? This essential guide offers a crash course on all aspects of being on the PCC. It answers questions that range from: * How do the meetings run? * Who decides the agenda?

What does a PCC member's year look like? What will my role be and how should I prepare? What about legal aspects: money, faculties, administration,money, and other technical things? Although focused on responsible business, it keeps the focus throughout on mission and Christian living. (This is a gem of a book – Archbishop John Sentamu)

(This little booklet might interest new members of our PCC as well as those who have been members for a while – Editor)

11

The Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.

They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.' The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?' There was silence... Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.' But the auctioneer persisted 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? £100, £200?' Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!' But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?' Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give £10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. 'We have £10, who will bid £ 20?' 'Give it to him for £10. Let's see the masters.' The crowd was becoming angry They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the worthier investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for £10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!' The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.' 'What about the paintings?' 'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in

Continued on page 12

12 the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!

'God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?' Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything! For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, who so ever believeth, shall have eternal life...that's love.

Author Unknown

Dear Children's Society Box Holders

It is time to open your boxes again!

The Children's Society is a national charity that runs projects helping children and young people when they are at their most vulnerable and have now where left to turn. They also campaign to change the law to protect children and young people, to stop the mistakes of the past being repeated in the future. It's thanks to amazing supporters like you that they are able to continue their vital work.

The funds raised through your collection boxes enable the National Society to invest over £1.6 million in services which directly impact children's lives, showing them that we are on their side and won't give up being there when they need us most.

Your box collections help change lives every day by providing the funding needed to maintain drop-in centres for young runaways, and those on the streets who are at risk of drug abuse and exploitation.

If you could, please give your boxes to Gerald or to me. Alternatively, if you would prefer it, we can collect them from you. Just call me on 487784, or e-mail me on [email protected]. Thank you all so much

Doreen Callister

13

Holy Wells – Buxton in Derbyshire

Editor: Ted Harrison visits more Holy Wells, this time in Derbyshire. This is the third and final article in the series.

Derbyshire is the English county celebrated around the world for its wells. The annual tradition followed in many villages of decorating the village wells, or ‘well dressing’, attracts sight-seers from miles away. Tissington is at the heart of Well Dressing country, and Ascension Day is when the largest crowds gather to see the wells blessed. After a service in the church, a procession wends its way around the village and at each well a hymn is sung and a prayer of blessing given.

By ancient, centuries old tradition, five wells are decorated. Boards are set up around each one which is then covered in clay. The clay is then impressed with thousands of colourful flower petals to create pictures and tableaux. Often the stories illustrated are from the Bible. It is thought the practice may date back to the 14th century and may have started as an act of thanksgiving when the community escaped the devastation of the Black Death. Over the years, and before piped water became available, it also became an act of thanksgiving for the village’s supply of clean, clear water.

Today Tissington is one of over 100 villages to follow the tradition. The season extends all through the summer and while some communities decorate a single well others dress several in amazing and elaborate designs. Many have a Biblical theme, but often topical references to royal occasions or sporting events provide inspiration.

Generally, the Derbyshire wells are not considered holy, or named after saints with miraculous cures attributed to them. Most were just the original village water tap. However, the Derbyshire town of Buxton not only enjoys a well dressing festival but also has a celebrated holy well where people regularly line up to collect its special waters.

Buxton mineral water is bottled and available in supermarkets, but in the town itself, at St Anne’s well, it is free. Through medieval times there was a chapel on the spot and pilgrims came seeking cures and to leave offerings. Henry VIII put an end to the practice, but later the town became a spa and patients heard of the therapeutic reputation of the waters and came to bathe and drink, much as the ancient Romans had done in pre- Christian times. Today the free Buxton water emerges from a pipe set in a modern plinth containing a statuette of St Anne, the mother of Mary and Jesus’s grandmother.

The nicest place is in someone’s thoughts The safest place is in someone’s prayers Submitted by Inez Joughin And the best place to be is in God’s hand

14

Our Servant Queen The whole country will this month be celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday. She has splendidly fulfilled the promise made on the day when her father, King George VI, died and she came to the throne at the age of 27. On that day she dedicated ‘the rest of my life, whether it be long or short’ to the service of the nation and the Commonwealth. She has certainly proved that she meant what she said. Hers is already the longest reign of any British monarch.

Those years have seen huge changes in the world: the end of apartheid in South Africa, the transition of scores of countries to independence within the Commonwealth, the advent of space exploration and men on the moon, the arrival of the computer and the internet, social media, Twitter and so on. Through it all she has remained a calm, reassuring figure, head of state to 12 different prime ministers and leader of a resilient and growing Commonwealth of Nations.

The Queen has quietly moved with the times. Her rather tortured ‘royal’ accent of the forties and fifties has broadened into a quietly spoken Received English. Uneasy about it at first, she has made herself an effective performer on television. And through it all she has openly acknowledged that her own Christian faith is the bedrock of all that she is and has done. In recent years she has been more willing to talk about that faith, notably in her Christmas messages.

To mark her 90th birthday, the Bible Society has published an attractive illustrated book The Servant Queen, setting out largely in her own words the essential heart of that faith. The Queen herself has written a Foreword. The aim of the publishers is that the book should be widely distributed, so that people up and down her kingdom can share her evident enjoyment of a committed Christian faith. Its subtitle is ‘And the King she serves ‘. As advertisers say, ‘every home should have one’.

The Rev Canon David Winter

(Copies of the book ‘The Servant Queen’ can be found at the back of each of the four churches in the parish)

Get a grip

It was said that Archbishop Tench of Dublin, in his later years, had a fear of sudden crippling paralysis. One night at a formal dinner he sat looking more and more forlorn. Finally, he confided to the guests around him: ‘Well, it’s come at last – total lack of feeling in my right leg.’ Whereupon the lady sitting next to him said soothingly: ‘Not at all, your Grace. It will comfort you to know that during the whole of this meal it has been my leg that you have been pinching!’

15

All in the month of June

125 years ago on 9th June 1891 Cole Porter was born. This American composer and lyricist was one of the most successful Broadway songwriters of the 1930s. Noted for: Anything Goes, I Get a Kick Out of You, Begin the Beguine, etc.

100 years ago: on 5th June 1916 Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener (Lord Kitchener), British Army officer, field marshal and colonial administrator, died. He was Secretary of State for War 1914-16 and is best known today for his appearance on the iconic posters which encouraged men to sign up for army service. Also from 10th June to 4th July, the Arab Revolt took place in the Battle of Mecca. The Arab victory resulted in the establishment of the Kingdom of Hejaz (later became part of Saudi Arabia).

90 years ago on 1st June 1926 Marilyn Monroe was born. The iconic film actress, model, singer and sex symbol starred in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop, Some Like It Hot, etc.

80 years ago on 14th June 1936 G K Chesterton died. This British novelist, short story writer, journalist, essayist and theologian was known for his stories about the priest- detective Father Brown.

75 years ago on 8th June 1941 British, Commonwealth and Free French forces invaded Syria to prevent Axis forces from establishing bases there. Also from 22nd June to 5th December 1941 Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union took place. This largest military operation in history ended in a Soviet victory – the German invaders were repelled when they reached Moscow and then driven out of the country by a Soviet counter-attack.

60 years ago on 16th June 1956 British poet Ted Hughes married American poet and writer Sylvia Plath.

50 years ago on 2nd June 1966 NASA’s space probe Surveyor 1 landed on the Moon to collect data for the Apollo programme. It was the first U.S. craft to soft-land on another extra-terrestrial body.

40 years ago on 16th June 1976 the Soweto uprising took place in South Africa when up to 20,000 black high school students held a protest rally in the streets of Soweto. Police opened fire, killing between 176 and 700 of them. More than 1000 were injured.

30 years ago on 22nd June 1986 the ‘Hand of God’ goal took place when Argentine football player Diego Maradona scored a goal against England using his hand in the quarter-final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City. (The referee mistakenly thought he had used his head, and so allowed the goal. England was knocked out of the World Cup as a result and Argentina went on to win.) Continued on Page 16

16 25 years ago on 12th June 1991 Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected President of Russia.

20 years ago on 15th June 1996 the centre of Manchester was devastated by an IRA bomb. 200 people were injured and the city centre had to be redeveloped because of the immense amount of damage.

15 years ago on 7th June 2001 Tony Blair won a second consecutive landslide victory in the British general election.

Iced off with the wedding cake?

The wedding season is upon us, but how many brides will choose the traditional decorated tiered wedding cake? In recent years, the sheer cost of one (which can reach £1000) has meant that many couples now opt for alternatives. These include cupcakes, cake pops, cheese cake, doughnut towers, croquembouche and even ‘naked cake’ (no frosting at all).

The great traditional tiered wedding cake has been traced back to the 18th century, when a lovelorn baker’s apprentice, William Rich of Ludgate, was desperate to catch the eye – and heart – of his master’s daughter. He looked round for inspiration for a cake, saw the spire of St ’s Church… and the rest is history.

Queen Victoria’s wedding cake in 1840 was three yards in circumference, and weighed 300 pounds. Her daughter, who married in 1858, had something more modern: three tiers – though it was nearly seven feet high. In the 1940s, with rationing in force, people kept up the ‘glamour’ by displaying beautiful cardboard cakes, made or rented, hiding (for eating) a very modest cake nearby.

From the Registers

Funerals (April 2016):

Monday 14th April 2016 Carol King Kirk Christ @ 11.45am (Apologies – this entry was incorrectly included in the May edition of the magazine – Editor)

Baptisms (April 2016):

Sunday 10th April 2016 Seth Bilham and Kerenza Ivy Emmett Kirk Christ @ the 9.30am service

Sunday 10th April 2016 Samuel Keggen St Peter’s Church @ the 3.15pm service

17 Rushen Mothers’ Union

In 1876 Mary Sumner founded Mothers’ Union and so 2016 is a special year as we celebrate 140 years of faithful service to families and communities, given by members past and present.

Our Festival Service of Holy Communion at the Cathedral, Isle th of Man, on 29 April was a lovely occasion. Our guest preacher was the Right Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport, and the service was led by our own Bishop Robert and our MU Chaplain, Nigel Cretney. It was a wonderful celebration of faith and love, our praise led by the Cathedral Choir who also treated us to Bevan’s “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”. All the branch banners paraded together with our Diocesan banner, our President and the Trustee members were recommissioned, and long service certificates were presented.

At the conclusion of the Service, a delicious afternoon tea (provided by the South and West Joint Mission partnership members) was served in the Cathedral, during which we were able to enjoy the company of members from other branches, and also with Bishop Libby who spent time chatting at each table.

The sun was shining for our annual coffee morning on Friday 20th May in St Catherine’s Church Hall. On each of the tables, Valerie had placed a beautiful little vase of flowers, and as well as enjoying lots of conversation over Jane’s tasty coffee, there was a cake and also a bric -a-brac stall to visit, and a raffle with a good assortment of tempting prizes. The total raised was £312.40, for which we thank all those who contributed, attended, or helped in any way.

th Our next event will be on Monday 13 June at 7.30pm, in St Mary’s Hall when we shall be entertained by Kath Cooil and Friends.

An Evening of Stillness, a guided retreat from the busyness of the day, will be held at St st James Church, Dalby, on Tuesday 21 June from 6.30pm – 8.30pm. (Please feel free to bring a packed tea from 5pm, drinks provided)

With love and best wishes Pat Thomson

Good Quote

A certain bishop had a fondness for using Bible quotations whenever he visited a function. When he arrived to open a new Maternity Home the organisers thought: “Now we have him stumped.” However, after a few well-chosen words, the bishop smiled and said: “I know you are waiting for a quotation, so here it is: ‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed!’”

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The Top Ten Must Know Bible Stories

Number 3: Noah

A little boy was listening to the story of Noah’s Ark. Suddenly he interrupted: “Where were you in the ark, Grandpa?’ His grandfather replied, with some astonishment, that he had not been in the ark at all. That did not satisfy his grandson: “Then why weren’t you drowned?”

This month we consider Noah, an example of faith in Hebrews 11:7 ‘By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.’ So - what does Noah teach us about faith?

Faith believes God’s Word: Noah believed God’s warning of judgment on the people of the earth for their violence and wickedness, despite the lack of rain! Are we prepared to trust God’s word, even when we can’t see the evidence of his working?

Faith loves and serves God: Noah was moved by ‘holy fear’, like a child who does not want to displease his father. Do we seek to love God with all of our lives?

Faith obeys God in the face of opposition: ‘The construction of the ark is the longest, most drawn out test of faith recorded in the Bible’ (Oswald Sanders). Noah built a boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, hundreds of miles from water to the amazement of the people. Is God calling us to step out in faith in a particular area of our lives?

Faith witnesses for God in spite of rejection: Noah was described as a righteous and blameless man who ‘walked with God’. As one who lived right with God, he can be called a ‘preacher of righteousness’ (2 Peter 2:5). What is the witness of our faith to others? Where were the Noah jokes when it started raining?

Paul Hardingham

St Theresa’s Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of Faith. May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let His presence settle in your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Amen Submitted by Inez Joughin

19 Children’s Page

20 The Story Behind the Hymn

This well-loved hymn was written in 1967 by the Rev Timothy Dudley Smith, who later became Bishop of Thetford. He later confessed: “I wrote it on a train when I was Lord, for very pressed for time. I’m thankful if something I write gets picked up, but I suspect the years anyone who does something in a rush later regrets that they didn’t find time to apply the sandpaper a bit more!”

Dudley Smith had been asked to write a hymn for the centenary service of the Children’s Special Service Mission, now Scripture Union, in St Paul’s Cathedral. His commission was to Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, write words that could be fitted to Jean urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, Sibelius’s Finlandia, as it was to be sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: accompanied by an orchestra with this tune in Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today. their repertoire. And so – ‘Lord for the years’ was written.

Dudley Smith need not have worried about lack Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us, of time – his lyrics were a ‘hit’ in the cathedral speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, on the day, and went on to become so well- teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: loved that George Carey chose the hymn to be sung at his consecration as Bishop of Bath and Lord of the word, receive your people's praise. Wells, and then again later, in 1991, or his consecration as Archbishop in Canterbury Cathedral.

Lord, for our land in this our generation, The hymn continued to be widely sung and spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care: loved, until in 2002 Timothy Dudley Smith was for young and old, for commonwealth and nation, asked to write an extra verse for it so that it Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer. could even be sung around the time of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Many of the words in the hymn are true for the

Queen herself, as she celebrates her 90th Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt you, birthday this month. She does indeed thank loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain, God ‘for the years your love has kept and hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you: guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign. our way’…

And so indeed the ‘extra’ verse added for the Queen has also held true:

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us- self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne, Lord for our hopes, the dreams of all our living, past put behind us, for the future take us: Christ and his kingdom one united aim, Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone. Rulers and peoples bound in high thanksgiving, Lord of our hopes, our trust is in your Name.

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Rushen Parish Prayer Diary

Lord Jesus, open our ears and hearts today to Your message so that through the power of Your death and resurrection we may walk in newness of life in accord with the teachings of Your Gospel Amen

June 2016 This is your invitation to pray day by day for:

1st ‘Play and Praise’ meeting at 2pm today in St Mary’s Church and Hall 2 nd The work of the Church Army 3 rd The Prayer Group meeting this morning at 15 Close Cam 4 th Our families, friends and neighbours, and those we know living far away from us 5 th The works of agencies such as the Samaritans and Alcoholics Anonymous 6 th All who seek to relieve hunger and suffering 7 th The children attending Rushen School and Scoill Purt le Moirrey th 8 Everyone living in Port Erin and Port St Mary 9th All volunteers prepared to work with young people as they grow up

10th The police on the and the work they do to maintain law and order 11 th Those who entertain us through sport and artistic talent 12 th Doctors, nurses and all people helping to look after people who are ill 13 th The Mothers’ Union meeting this evening with Kath Cooil and Friends 14 th Those who give of their time to keep both churches clean and tidy 15 th Those who minister in the Southern Mission Partnership th 16 People who are homeless, poor and starving and in need of help th 17 Those responsible for maintaining the highways on the island 19th That we may be gracious and loving in our relationships with each other 20 th Families preparing to come to the island for their holidays during July and August 21 st Places in the world where live have been lost and communities destroyed 22 nd Those in financial difficulty 23 rd Preparations for the Olympic Games taking place in Rio this year 24 th Young single mothers having to bring up their children in difficult circumstances 25 th Guidance for leaders in industry and commerce 26th Actors and Actresses who provide such pleasure to theatregoers th 27 The sidespersons who carry out their duties in our church week by week 28th Those living daily with domestic violence and the people who try to help them 29 th All who work in dangerous and poor conditions 30 th Volunteers prepared to work with young people as they grow up

22 Services June 2016

1st June 11.45am Southlands Holy Communion (CW) 2pm St Mary’s Play & Praise

5th June 8am St Catherine’s Holy Communion (BCP) (Trinity 2) 9.30am Kirk Christ Morning Prayer 11am St Mary’s Holy Communion (CW) 11am St Catherine’s Morning Prayer (CW) 3.15pm St Peter’s Evening Prayer (BCP)

12th June 9.30am Kirk Christ Holy Communion (CW) (Trinity 3) 11am St Mary’s All-Age Service 11am St Catherine’s Holy Communion (CW) 3.15pm St Peter’s Evening Prayer (BCP)

th 19 June 8am St Catherine’s Holy Communion (BCP) (Trinity 4) 9.30am Kirk Christ Morning Prayer (CW) 11am St Mary’s Holy Communion (CW) 11am St Catherine’s All-Age Service + Baptism (CW) 3.15pm St Peter’s Holy Communion (BCP)

th 26 June 9.30am Kirk Christ Holy Communion (CW) (Trinity 5) 11am St Mary’s Morning Prayer (CW) 11am St Catherine’s Holy Communion + Dedication (CW) 3.15pm St Peter’s Evening Prayer (BCP)

3rd July 8am St Catherine’s Holy Communion (BCP) (Trinity 6) 9.30am Kirk Christ Morning Prayer + Baptism 11am St Mary’s Holy Communion (CW) 11am St Catherine’s Morning Prayer (CW) 3.15pm St Peter’s Evening Prayer (BCP)

(CW) Common Worship (BCP) Book of Common Prayer

23 Contact Details for Rushen Parish St Mary’s Sunday School Leader:

Carole Coole, Cronk-NyGreiney, Fisher’s Hill, 827545

St Mary’s Ladies Working Party & St Mary’s Friendly Lunches

Mrs Brenda Watterson, Cair Vie, Linden Ave. Port St Mary 833618

St Mary’s Hall Bookings: Mrs Brenda Watterson, Cair Vie, Linden Ave. Port St Mary 833618

St Catherine’s Morning Coffee

Mrs Suzanne Ali, 25 Sunnydale Avenue, Port Erin 834456

St Catherine’s Hall Bookings:

Mr & Mrs G Callister, 60 Ballamaddrell, Port Erin 474924/834627

Web Site/E-mail:

www.rushenparish.org.uk [email protected]

Magazine Editor

Mr David Bowman, The Old Bakery, Qualtroughs Lane, 837117/260539

Ballafesson, Port Erin

e-mail: [email protected]

Articles for the magazine should be submitted to the editor no later than 20th of each month. This arrangement is subject to change.

Parish Director of Music: Mr M D Porter, 10 Fairway Drive, Rowany, Port Erin 832143

Churchyard Enquiries:

Please contact Mr Harry Dawson: 478050/835770 or Mr G Callister: 474924/834627

24 June Sudoku Competition

Welcome to June’s Sudoku competition. The rules are the same as usual. See if you can solve the puzzle. If you can, and you would like to enter, submit your entry to me either by hand, through the post, or by email. All my details are printed in the magazine.

I would still love more of you to enter. If you find it hard to solve the puzzle, and I have had someone tell me that they had difficulty in April, I can make the puzzles easier. Just let me know and I will oblige.

As usual the prize money is £5. The draw normally takes place on the last Sunday of the month at the 11am service at St Mary’s Church. The last date for entries for this competition will be Friday 24th June.

Do please have a go. I would love to have more than 10 entries each month. Good luck!

David Bowman (Editor)