PARISH MAGAZINE Lowdham with Caythorpe and Gunthorpe
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The PARISH MAGAZINE for Lowdham with Caythorpe and Gunthorpe MAY 2020 No: 1060 Price 60p Parish Directory All non-prefixed numbers are Nottingham (0115) Lowdham with Caythorpe and Gunthorpe Vicar Revd. Anna Alls 07535 017591 [email protected] Curate Revd. Simon Jones 07484 635886 [email protected] Reader David Moore 9664938 [email protected] Churchwardens Julian Banks 9664959 [email protected] Jan Hewitt 9664096 [email protected] PCC Secretary Jo Simson 9663223 [email protected] PCC Treasurer David Moore 9664938 [email protected] Church Flowers C Baggaley 9663734 Bell Ringers Frank Berridge 9663209 Parish Administrator Tracey Akehurst 9652114 [email protected] For all enquiries, including weddings, baptisms and funerals please contact the Parish Administrator Tracey Akehurst, shown above. Lowdham Village Website: www.lowdham-pc.gov.uk Indep. Primitive Methodist www.lowdhamchapel.com Richard White-Watts 9665404 Parish Council Clerk Bill Banner 9335921 [email protected] Community Room bookings Bill Banner 9335921 [email protected] Village Hall bookings Jacky Hoare 9663596 [email protected] Headteacher, CofE School Ben Waldram 9663358 www.lowdhamprimaryschool.co.uk District Councillors Roger Jackson 9665355 [email protected] Tim Wendels 07866 733605 Caythorpe Village Website: www.caythorpenottspc.org.uk Parish Council Clerk Kathryn Price 01949 850637 [email protected] Memorial Hall bookings David Burder 9664383 [email protected] Gunthorpe Village Website: www.gunthorpenottspc.org.uk Parish Council Clerk Yvonne Greenfield 07788 435857 [email protected] Village Hall bookings Paul Jeffery 07966910201 [email protected] Headteacher, CofE School Mrs Claire Bills 9663481 www.gunthorpeschool.co.uk Magazine Team Chair Julian Banks 9664959 [email protected] Treasurer / Advertising Brian Livermore 9663964 Lowdham Main Distributor Rodney Savage 07986 006254 [email protected] Gunthorpe Main Distributor Brian Livermore 9663964 Caythorpe Main Distributor Marian Potter 9663648 Editor Dawn Fearn Wood 07904 983892 [email protected] DEADLINE DATE FOR THE JUNE ISSUE: SUNDAY 17TH MAY. Please send contributions to Dawn Fearn Wood: [email protected] or hand in to a member of the magazine team, or telephone 07904 983892. Views & opinions of contributors to this magazine are not necessarily those of the editorial team. PARISH LETTER These are some of the strangest times I’ve ever known. They are also some of the most worrying and saddest. But, bizarrely, they are also times of great encouragement and possibly even joy! What I am certain of, is that we will all have the opportunity to grow from this unparalleled situation. And I, for one, think it is really important that we take the time to reflect on all we are experiencing, now and in the weeks to come. There is no disputing that these are uncomfortable times, when the safe and secure aspects of our lives get shaken. While these situations do not necessarily happen for a reason, they can teach us important lessons about ourselves. They can also teach us important lessons about God and about the world we inhabit. But we have to let God in, if this is to happen. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11.28-30). In other words, when we find ourselves struggling, we should turn to Jesus, who will teach, refresh and lead us through to the other side. We turn to Jesus through prayer (and from what I have seen these past weeks, there is a lot of that going on) and by reading Scripture. But we must remember when we do so, it is also important to listen. We must take the time to be still, to be silent. We must slow down, reduce the noise, and tune in. This current crisis seems to be custom-made for this doesn’t it? ‘Lockdown’ really does give us a great opportunity to take some time to be alone with God, with our thoughts and reflections, to listen and learn. We can also learn from others. We can learn from people who have listened themselves and now have something to share with us. There are many, many books out there from great spiritual writers that can help us. A favourite author of mine is the American Pastor, John Ortberg, and quite frankly I would recommend practically anything he has written. Imagine how pleased I was when I discovered one of the books I am currently reading turned out to be written by someone who counts Ortberg as a personal mentor and it shows in his writing. The book is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer (I’m guessing many of you will understand why I have chosen to read this book now). One thing that has stood out for me in these past weeks is that we have been forced to slow down. From what I have experienced, this has had many positive benefits, not least the time people have for conversation when out for their daily exercise (obviously from across the other side of the street) or on leisurely telephone calls (or Zoom if you’re that way inclined). There must be learnings to be had here. So I am reading this book, praying, reading my Bible and listening. Perhaps in a later article I might share some of what I discern, but already my prayer is that we don’t simply go back to our full-on busyness when all this is behind us. God Bless, Simon. Page 1 Please stay at home, wash your hands and love one another. The Benefice of Burton Joyce, Bulcote and Stoke Bardolph with Lowdham, Caythorpe and Gunthorpe Coronavirus update Currently all our church buildings are closed for public worship, private prayer and all other meetings and activities until further notice. We are aware that this is a very difficult time. To keep you updated as much as possible, as well as enable you to worship and pray at home, we are providing a number of online/ email resources and information. A Church Near You/ St. Mary’s, Lowdham Anna is on Facebook Live to broadcast mid-day prayers and a simple Bible reflection. Find her at Revd Anna St. Mary’s Church, Lowdham The Benefice Newsletter. A weekly update with information and resources. This is on the above sites, but if you would like to be included on the email distribution list please contact Tracey, the Parish Administrator. Prayer Meeting. Anna is hosting a prayer meeting via Zoom at 8.00p.m on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Please contact Anna for more information Reach Out. Would you value a regular chat with someone on the phone or by email? Or could you volunteer to talk to someone? Please contact Tracey, the Parish Administrator for more information. Page 2 Sundays in May 2020 • 3rd May: Easter 4 • 10th May: Easter 5 • 17th May: Easter 6 • 24th May: Easter 7 (Sunday after Ascension day • 31st May: Pentecost (Whit Sunday) Congratulations to the April word search prize winner: Janet Wakefield of Lowdham. Notable Dates in May 2020 • Friday 1st: Philip and James, apostles. • Monday 4th: English saints and martyrs of the Reformation era. • Friday 8th: Julian of Norwich, spiritual writer, 1417. • Tuesday 12th: Saint Pancras. • Thursday 14th: Matthias the apostle. • Saturday 18th: Rogation day. • Tuesday 19th: Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury, restorer of the monastic life. • Thursday 21st: Ascension day. • Monday 25th: The Venerable Bede, scholar and historian at Jarrow, 735 • Tuesday 26th: Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605. • Thursday 28th: Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1089. • Saturday 30th: Josephine Butler, social reformer, 1906. Page 3 THINE BE THE GLORY! How special was Easter for you this year? It was certainly different. For a virtual congregation throughout the Benefice there was a very special opportunity to join together on ‘the day’ to sing that most rousing of Easter hymns, Thine be the Glory. Thanks so much to the two Davids, Machell and Moore, for their very special musical and technical talents in making it happen. You can hear the results of everybody’s labours, and view a photo montage of Easter pictures, on St. Mary’s Facebook page. Prisoners in Lowdham Grange have been in their cells for 23 hours a day during lockdown. The local Prison Fellowship group was able to use money donated by Lowdham, Caythorpe and Gunthorpe Parish to buy them puzzle and colouring books, coloured pencils and card-making packs to help alleviate the long hours of isolation. MAGAZINE NOTES To All Local Groups and Contributors: We welcome all submissions for inclusion in our magazine. Please keep sending your reports, articles, points of interest or notices as early in the month as possible but no later than our Copy Deadline Date, of SUNDAY 17TH MAY for the JUNE EDITION, as shown on the inside front cover. Please send articles to Dawn Fearn Wood, email: [email protected]. We are following Government and Church of England guidance and advice with regard to the deliveries of paper/ magazines representing a transmission risk of COVID 19 to both our volunteers and those receiving magazines. We have therefore stopped deliveries until further notice, but it is now available online for those who can view it or download it. Julian Banks - Chair of The Magazine Team Page 4 CAYTHORPE EXTRA Greetings to you all from Caythorpe in lock down, a little ditty that I wrote inspired by reading the poems of John Betjeman over coffee.