JUNE 2019 50P 1 SERVICES ALL SAINTS’ Sundays EAST CLEVEDON 8.00 A.M
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Diocese of Bath and Wells THE UNITED BENEFICE OF EAST CLEVEDON www.eastclevedonchurches.co.uk JUNE 2019 50P 1 SERVICES ALL SAINTS’ Sundays EAST CLEVEDON 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Parish Communion (Sunday Club in the Parish Rooms) 10.30 a.m. Family Communion (1st) Sundays ST MARY’S, WALTON 10.00 a.m. Sung Eucharist Wednesdays 10.00 am Holy Communion Sundays ST PAUL’S, 11.15 a.m. Morning Service (1st) WALTON-IN-GORDANO 11.15 a.m. Holy Communion (2nd & 4th) 11.15 a.m. Morning Prayer (3rd & 5th) ST PETER & ST PAUL Sundays WESTON-IN-GORDANO 10.00 am Family Communion (1st & 3rd) 6.00 pm Choral Evensong (2nd & 4th) 6.00 pm Holy Communion (5th) Wednesdays 9.30 am Holy Communion WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE? Cost £6.00 per year. Would you like (please tick box) to pick up your magazine from church have¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ it delivered to your door (no charge for delivery) Name………………………………………………………………………….. Address……………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………… ………………………… Tel No……………………………………………………… Please hand this slip to a Churchwarden or send to: The Parish Office, The Rectory, All Saints’ Lane, Clevedon, BS21 6AU. 2 FIRST WORD…from The Rector I appear to be getting more “young manned” as time goes on. When I was about 10 I was called young man all the time – a sort of compliment. I was gathering myself together and becoming a grown up person. I enjoyed the title as it promised me adulthood and respect. The young man occasions then waned in the intervening years as I became “sir”. Now – it appears it’s back – not so much a compliment as a humorous comment on my seniority. Frankly I find it patronising and tedious, but I seldom rise to the bait. But even this is only a pale reflection on the times I am now addressed as “buddy”. An Americanism, I assume, I am often deemed a buddy of someone behind a counter. I feel like saying, “I fear that I have never met you before and therefore cannot be reasonably described either wholly or in part as your buddy, friend or even acquaintance. Sir will do.” I don’t, of course. I smile, thank the kind person and move on. “Cheers bud…” I hear behind me. But at least I feel seen. At least I feel noticed. Some women (rather than men) my age(ish) begin to feel sort of invisible which must be very difficult indeed. No easy one-liners for them, “young lady” not sounding right, nor the matey “buddy”, and too young for the over loud, “you alright, my love”. Just “thank you” and forgotten. Being seen for who we are is incredibly important. Or should I say, being understood for who we are is incredibly important. This generation, with its obsession with individual choice, is wrestling with numerous questions about gender and identity which until recently would have been thought impossible. So for instance, the South African women’s double Olympic Champion Caster Semenya, has been ordered to artificially reduce her natural testosterone levels to a more “normal” female range if she wants to compete in women’s sport. She has refused to do so. She has lived as a woman all her life and has no intention of compromising her identity. She is who she is. Simple as that. But what of all those others whose identity is also ambiguous? In this country there are estimated to be 660,000 people who are deemed to be one gender but feel more identified with another. That’s a lot of people, considerably bigger than the population of Bristol. And the chilling reality is that of these some 88% have suffered depression and many attempt suicide, or at least feel 3 so desperate that they consider it – as many as 45%. Over half of these people will hide their feelings for fear of prejudice, they will hide who they are for fear of being misunderstood. Many will make mistakes in life and relationships trying to maintain a life they feel simply isn’t honest. Individual choice brings its own pressure, of course, and my concern rests mainly with the pressure put onto the young, before life’s experience has equipped them to see a wider perspective. Too many choices too soon is not always a healthy thing and these matters are hugely sensitive and complex. But if that is so, having no choice at all isn’t either. We’re fortunate in many ways to live when we do as many of us have the opportunity to live longer, healthier and more prosperous lives. But whatever our choices and opportunities it is a great gift to be happy in one’s own skin – to be ordinarily happy and content. What a precious thing this is. St Paul has a wonderful phrase in Corinthians, in his famous passage about love – “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known.” I like this because it’s ultimately about honesty. To have the confidence simply to be known and understood fully is a divine gift and is something the church should deeply desire. As Cardinal Basil Hume said, “judgement is whispering into the ear of a merciful and compassionate God the story of your life you have never been able to tell.” I have never had an issue with my gender personally, but as I reflect on church life it seems to me that accepting people honestly as they are, and not as they might pretend to be, should be a hallmark of spirituality. Church should be an attempt to allow oneself to be fully known free from fear. It seldom is. Church has for too long been slow to accept difference whether that be race, colour, background, gender or orientation but I hope this is now changing and we’re increasingly allowing ourselves to be a Corinthians people – fully known and fully loved. Fr Noël Copy for the July Magazine by Monday 17th June 2019 The magazine is in church on Sunday 30th June 2019 4 MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP We all have something to offer There is a story told about Sir Michael Costa who was an Italian- born conductor and composer who became well known and popular in England during the nineteenth century. It is said that one day he was conducting a rehearsal in which the orchestra was joined by a great chorus. About halfway through the rehearsal, with trumpets blaring, drums rolling, and violins singing, the piccolo player muttered to himself, "What good am I doing? I might just as well not be playing. Nobody can hear me anyway." So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but he made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, "Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo?" Michael Costa could tell that the piccolo was not playing. Something was missing and because of that the performance was incomplete. I am sure there are times when we can all identify with that piccolo player. There are times when we may feel insignificant and useless. Whatever age we are there is the temptation to look at other people who seem to have more talent than we have, who are better at things than we are, who are more confident or skilled than we are - and to think we don’t matter or that our contribution doesn’t count. Perhaps we are tempted sometimes just to settle back and let somebody else do the work. We reason that what we have to offer won’t make much difference anyway, or that because other people can do it much better than we can, that there is no point in us joining in. I take heart from the story of the feeding of the five thousand. In the middle of that story we read of Andrew, Peter’s brother saying: ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’ (John 6:9). This is a story of someone giving what he has to the Lord and about Jesus then using what is offered to feed a multitude of hungry people (John 6:1-14). What do we learn from that? Surely one thing we learn is that each of us has something important to offer which God can take and bless and use. Whether our talent is great or small, the performance isn’t complete until we do our best with what we have and until we offer our lives and our gifts to God and ask him to use us for his glory and to serve others. With warm greetings, The Right Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells 5 Relaxation, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy time to talk, unwind, understand, solve and resolve Fiona Slade – DipSFH, HPD, ASFH, DipNCH, CNHC Clinical Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist, enhanced DBS 01275 810200 [email protected] healthandhypnotherapy.co.uk 21A Somerset Square, Nailsea. BS48 1RQ 118 Redland Road, Bristol. BS6 6QT 26 Old Church Road, Clevedon. BS21 6LY other locations by arrangement Talking therapies really do help resolve so many things. Hypnotherapy is highly effective at putting solutions into practice and achieving personal, sports or business goals. STEPPING STONES ‘Living with Loss’ Drop in support in times of change . Have you had a bereavement or other significant change in life? Would you like to meet others in a similar situation? You are welcome to come along to: OPEN DOOR - DROP IN 2 - 4 pm fourth Friday each month at St Mary’s Church Hall Next meeting 28th June Tea always available! Members of the team are able to give information and one-to-one support if wished.