Curate's Considerations
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FROM THE VICARAGE A Vision for the Future n May 6th, as we all me with a vision for our know, it‘s the General country. They seem so OElection. It has been focussed on dealing with many years since there has immediate problems, that been such a closely fought they have forgotten the bigger election, or at a time when the picture, forgotten to paint us a country faced such huge picture of the kind of Britain challenges as the economic they would like to see. Give crisis has left us with. And so us the vision, then work out I have been listening carefully how it can be achieved. to what each of the parties have to say, trying to grasp the philosophy that underpins their policies. Policies can change, but the broad viewpoint generally doesn‘t. I have to say that I‘m not very inspired. I will vote, I always vote, it is a privilege hard won, especially for women, and a privilege that many On May 13 we celebrate the people across the world don‘t ascension, when Jesus Christ have. I believe it is our duty returned to heaven. Jesus left to use our vote. And yet it his disciples with a very clear will not be with a sense of vision of the world he wanted excitement or anticipation to see. At the very beginning about what could be. There of his earthly ministry he will not be long lines of people quoted the prophet Isaiah, at the polling stations, as we saying: have seen in places such as South Africa, as people wait “The Spirit of the Lord patiently for hours to cast is on me, their vote. because he has anointed me The trouble is, none of the to preach good news to political parties have inspired the poor. 1 He has sent me to that each of us, as a disciple proclaim freedom for of Christ, receives the gift of the prisoners the Holy Spirit of God. It is the and recovery of sight Holy Spirit who helps us to for the blind, carry out Christ‘s work. We to release the don‘t work in our own oppressed, strength but in the strength of to proclaim the year of God. That‘s why so many the Lord’s favour.” Christians all over the world are busy helping the poor, This is Jesus‘ manifesto. A healing the sick and working manifesto promising healing for justice. We do it in the and freedom and restoration strength of God‘s spirit. for all those who suffer - in body, mind or spirit. This is We may not be very inspired Jesus‘ manifesto and we are right now by our politicians, his party. We are the people but this May, let‘s be inspired entrusted with making this afresh by the Holy Spirit and vision a reality. work hard to fulfil Christ‘s vision for our country and our But we are not left without the world. resources to do this. On May 23rd we celebrate Pentecost. Rev Charlotte Gale This is when we remember FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS BAPTISMS 7th March Katy Amy JAMES Georgia Grace SEAMER 28th March Bethany May ROSS WEDDING 20th March Colin TILLCOCK and Victoria MARSHALL FUNERALS 1st March Ruby CRIDDLE (80), Pine Court, Cubbington Road 16th March Mary HUNT (79), Gresham Place 30th March Edmund WILSON (79), Lillington Road 2 GARDEN OPEN FOR CHARITY Judy and David Hirst are opening their garden at 19 Church Lane, Lillington, Leamington Spa for charity as part of the National Gardens Scheme (Yellow Book) on Sunday 6th June from 2 – 5.30 p.m. Admission £2 each EASTER IN CROWN WAY n a bright Easter chatting and distributing eggs Saturday morning a small and were introduced to Trudi, O band of people the owner of the local Spar and representing the local Churches others who lived and worked in in Lillington met at Crown Way the area. shops. We were struck by the excellent result of a recent major clean up operation, with cleaned pavements and paviors, new lighting, hedge trimming, graffiti removal and repainting of all areas - there has been a transformation. With balloons and baskets of Easter eggs, and more importantly, details of all church services over the Easter period, we were able to chat informally with local residents and invite them to attend any of the services and wish them a Happy Despite the Easter Wave March Easter, spreading the Good organized by the Churches News. Anne Furze and I Together in Leamington, on the seemed to know an awful lot of same morning, it was nice to be people and were soon gossiping out in our own parish. and catching up on 10 or 20 years of news! Rev Charlotte Gail Copping and Rev Graham were busy 3 PARISH PROFILE Christine and John Nutt everal decades The couple married of unassuming in 1970, shortly S and constant after John had taken service to our church a new post at and community lie Cubbington‘s church behind our guests primary school and this month - and we Chris had gone to have a small East Coten End Junior Midlands town to thank for this. school in Warwick. They moved Chris(-tine) was a quiet, to Lillington, where the late happy girl who enjoyed ―Major Dom‖ (remembered by historical matters and attended so many church people), who church with her older sister. An was then their neighbour, ambition to be an occupational introduced them to St Mary therapist turned into one to Magdalene‘s. They joined the work with children, and she YACs (the church‘s club for trained as primary school young adults to which your teacher at Madeley in interviewer also belonged at the Staffordshire. Her first job took time). Along came their her to Finedon in children: David (now a Northamptonshire, where she computer systems analyst) and met John. then Claire (married; a PA to an events organiser) - and last John was a grammar school year their first grandchild. John boy who joined a church choir rose to deputy headship before aged ten but was lured after he retired. Chris has worked three years to the other end of more recently as a supply the building, conscious of a teacher and classroom support. strong family record in bellringing. He also decided to One highlight of their lives has qualify as a teacher, been a series of week-long trips concentrating on the top end of to the Isle of Wight for the top the primary years. It was a two years of John‘s school (and dinner-dance to which both Chris went along to help). The were invited that set the varied programme included a romance on its way - and not hovercraft ride; visits to a too long after the pupils noticed lighthouse, submarine museum, that Miss Jones was wearing a castle and mansion; and ring! exploring the island. 4 With their long experience of At various times both have schools, John remarks on the served on church committees vast changes in teaching - but John decided that he techniques and says pupils are preferred to ―do something‖. less ―deferential‖ these days but Presumably that includes not necessarily less respectful. editing this parish magazine for Chris emphasises the way over twelve years before his pupils with special needs have final edition last month. Chris been integrated into enjoys serving at the altar and mainstream schools - and also helping to administer the the increase in the numbers of Eucharistic wine in church. She ―difficult‖ children. also takes ―home‖ Communions - a privilege for her, she says, Chris was ―only going to do it and a much appreciated link for a short time‖ when she first with the church for those now took on the role of church unable to attend. Both enjoy caretaker - in 1984. She is still the social occasions which in post today. The job is much sustain their faith. more than dusting and sweeping; it involves duties at They have also observed the weddings and funerals and effects of different vicars over checking on such things as altar the decades, from the frontals, vestments and ―experimental‖ Joe Humble, candles. For a while she also through the Revds Philpott and looked after the Octagon church Boyns, who involved laypeople hall. in various tasks and groups, to our current priest-in-charge, John took up bellringing who has ―brought the again and moved on to Tower congregation along with the Captain for a full twenty years changes, sensitive to people‘s (he is still in the team). At one feelings‖. But then it needs stage a resident at the nearby laypeople like Christine and polygonal (‗threepenny-bit‘) John Nutt to provide the houses took exception to the support and hard work! bells. The environmental health department became involved - Roderick Clark and then the police, when word of an ambush spread and heavy rock music was played at full volume from a protester‘s loudspeaker. 5 There are two sides to every question, and a politician usually takes both. 6 PASTORAL LINK OPEN EVENING f you happen to have read our report for the Parochial Church Meeting you will know that the Pastoral Link continues to be very I busy with care in the Parish, including visits to people who are no longer able to visit Church regularly, or who are housebound; sick visiting; sending cards to people who are ill or bereaved; and arranging lifts to church to our popular monthly Tea & Chat meetings. Inevitably over the years faithful and hardworking members of our group have had to drop out because of health problems, other commitments or increasing age and we have this year decided to hold an open meeting on Thursday 20th May at 7.30 pm in the Octagon so that anyone who is interested can come along, hear more about what we do, give us some new ideas or even offer us some help either regularly or just from time to time.