1 St. Peter’s Church, Edensor, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PH Tel: 01246 582130 (Church website - www.stpetersedensor.org) January 2013 Reflections by Revd Clive Thrower She stood in the natural light of the doorway twisting to view herself from different angles – “Do you think I look alright in this colour, I can wear white?” she asked the nearby stallholder. She was wearing a cream coloured, fitted cassock alb supplied by the clergy vestment tailors inside the hall at the Swanwick Conference Centre last month. It reminded me of the ordination in Peterborough Cathedral at Petertide of my niece by marriage, Cathy. She had made her own multi-coloured clerical blouse and matching clerical collar – “You don’t have to wear just black and white” she declared to me as I sat watching in my conventional black suit, shirt and white dog collar, and feeling no longer ‘with it’. It is six years since I last attended one of the Derby Diocese annual clergy conferences and what I found most striking was the proportion of women now in ministry, and most of them young. About a third of clergy are female so the number in incumbent posts will be rising over the coming few years. Having been for a short while joint-secretary of the Derby branch of the Movement for the Ordination of Women it was a delight for me to see the gender balance in the clergy becoming a reality after so many years. What, of course, was not visible was any of them wearing purple. The defeat of the measure to admit women to the episcopate had been devastating for many and Bishop Alastair made time for the women to express their feelings and ask questions in a separate women-only session. In his opening address Bishop Alastair had emphasised the need to build trust between the opposing parties on this issue, he advocated a simpler pair of motions for synod – first, that women be allowed to become bishops, and second that provision be made for the oversight of individuals and parishes that could not accept women in leadership. The detail of the latter to be worked out in a spirit of love, trust and respect. This should not delay the first and not be made in highly legalistic regulation as had been enshrined in the defeated measure. A second observation about the shape of the church of the future was 2 the increased number of clergy with physical disabilities, being more reflective of the proportion in the general population. In Christian art Jesus has been depicted as a fine upright specimen of humanity, and in Western European art as a white Caucasian whereas we know he was a middle-eastern Jew. Nowhere in the New Testament is there a description of Jesus, is this because he was not tall and handsome? Perhaps so, since in Luke 4.23 Jesus says ‘Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself’ maybe not referring to the proverb but directly to himself. Some scholars have taken other contemporary writings to suggest that Jesus may have had scoliosis of the spine. We are becoming more inclusive as a Church but there still much to be done. What should we be doing to make our church more inclusive so that we reach out to everyone? I offer you a New Year resolution - let the love of Christ be known to everyone you meet this year. Clive A letter from Filey We arrived at Filey amidst snow and blizzards which our furniture loved! That was Wednesday and now on Thursday evening our new house is beginning to look like home. Tim, our youngest son, has been absolutely brilliant opening endless boxes and storing stuff away. The Partridge Wyandotte bantams have settled into their posh new quarters and have blessed us with half a dozen eggs. We go to church on Sunday to learn who will be the new vicar of Filey. The bishop of Hull is coming to make the announcement. We were archdeacons together and his brother Chris was vicar of St. Thomas, Brampton when I was archdeacon of Chesterfield. So it is good to have connections! The main reason for writing to you all is to say a HUGE thank you for all for all your friendship and care and it was wonderful to have so many of you at my farewell service on Advent Sunday. I was astonished to receive a present for £1,250 and the lovely gift for Susanne. Also thanks for all the beautiful music. But above all for all the love and friendship and prayer. David 3 The United Benefice of St. Anne’s, Beeley & St. Peter’s, Edensor Thank you to everyone who filled in and returned the questionnaire ‘What do you expect from your Parish Church’ & ‘What would you like to see from your new vicar and expect from him or her?’ Having read them all and noted your comments and suggestions we found them both useful and interesting. We have used them where appropriate in the Role & Personal Profile for the new vicar. The process of selecting a new vicar has now begun. We have to follow Diocesan protocol so the post will be advertised on the Diocesan website in January 2013 and the job description will be for 3 days plus Sunday; it is!intended for the post to include!some work on ministry to tourism and!in exploring the opportunities that the considerable footfall into our sacred spaces affords. Although this is a part-time post, thanks to the generosity of the Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust, we are very fortunate to have the services of one vicar between our two parishes; other local churches may have one vicar covering as many as seven parishes. We would greatly appreciate your support during the coming months so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the wardens at either church. Why not come along to our services and meet our visiting preachers? If you come to a service at St. Peter’s then do stay and join us for coffee and biscuits afterwards. Fiona Swain & Rupert Turner Liz Bradshaw & David Jackson Churchwardens of St. Anne’s Churchwardens of St. Peter’s Telephone Numbers St. Anne’s ! Wardens:- Rupert Turner!! 01629 732794 !!!! Fiona Swain!! ex directory !!Treasurer:-! Gloria Sherwood! 01629 732983 St. Peter’s! Wardens:-! Elizabeth Bradshaw! 01246 582421 ! !!! David Jackson!! 01246 583452 !!Treasurer:-! Mark Titterton!! 01246 582245 ! e-mail: [email protected] !!Lay Reader:-! Vernon Mather M.B.E.! 01629 732317 4 Dates for your Diary - January HAPPY NEW YEAR! 8 BEELEY WI Monthly Meeting - 7.30pm Village Hall or a members house 16 CHATSWORTH WI Monthly Meeting. 7pm Edensor Tea Cottage Speaker: Nigel Madin-Davies - ‘Relationships’ 21 BEELEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 7.30pm Beeley Village Hall Meetings are open to everyone. From the Registers St. Peter’s, Edensor Baptisms - 18 November 2012 Rupert James Beeston William Rowan Samuel Stephens The magazine for January 1983 begins: ‘If any man or woman should say of themselves and their family “We keep ourselves to ourselves” (and it has often been said to me), I am always tempted to reply “I hope your doctor and milkman do not think the same way!” For, whatever the legitimate claims of privacy, they are not so important as, nor can they be dissociated from, the claims of mutual dependence and concern. The fabric of our society is woven from the warp of private life and the weft of public good’. It goes on to say that those who live in the Estate villages, and of course, other villages, are fortunate in a secure privacy and in a firm dependence on each other. That anyone ill or in trouble is surrounded by the prayers, affection and practical help of so many people. it ends ‘We have still to reach out to the true depths of our humanity and also our understanding of each other - a humanity which we know to exist among ourselves but which desperately needs its extension into the world. The means are there; kindness, friendship, love, concern and care and work well done - an open mind and heart, not only to the vision, but to the reality of the unity of the peoples of the world and their dependence on each other’. Written by The Very Rev’d. R A Beddoes (Still true 30 years later). I have old, bound copies of the Magazine going back to September 1980, Canon Honner’s last letter as Vicar of Edensor, up to December 1984, which were given to me by Ian Else. Very little has changed - we’re still fundraising for the same things! 5 ‘The Bridge’ Magazine Subscription Your magazine subscription for 2013 is now due - £7.20, please give the money to the person who delivers your magazine. If I post the magazine to you please include a book of 12 stamps with your subscription. Thank you for your continued support and remember we welcome any suitable items for possible inclusion in ‘The Bridge’. Cheques should be made payable to Edensor P.C.C. St. Peter’s Church 100 Club ‘SPICE’ Sunday November Draw 2012 1st Prize £30 - no. 91 Barbara Hawksworth The next ‘SPICE’ Sunday 2nd Prize £20 - no. 95 Margaret Jackson will be on 13th January Funds to church this month - £50 Remember to bring your Subscriptions for 2013 are due in January at 5 pence pieces or give £12 per number held. Please make out cheques to:- them to someone else to bring for you. Let’s have St.