DECEMBER 2020 — JANUARY 2021 60p Parish News

Lymington Parish News IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO IMPROVE YOUR St Thomas’ and All Saints’ Churches

St Thomas’ Church All Saints’ Church

St Thomas Street All Saints Road Lymington Lymington We welcome Jenny Foster our Leprosy Mission speaker SO41 9ND SO41 8FD on Sunday 4 February following her recent visit to CSL Danja Hospital in Niger, the project we help to support. Services Smile For details of Sunday and midweek services, please see the Diary inside.

We look forward to a first-hand update of the situation - both the successes of, and challenges to, the dedicated staff who work to Enquiries There is a great deal of information to be found on our website: transform the many leprosy-affected people of that region. www.lymingtonchurch.org To enquire about weddings, baptisms, funerals, church and hall bookings please contact our Parish Office which is open at St Thomas’ Church, Interested in hosting our International Monday to Friday, 9.30a.m.—11.30a.m. Summer School Students? You can ‘Meet the Vicar’ by appointment on Tuesday evenings. Administrator: Mrs Gill Maunder: Local volunteersOur Lymington support professional Summer staff to provideSchool a home-from-homeruns from 25 atmosphere June to in 27 our July12 houses 2018 across Dorset [email protected] 01590 676194 andExcellent , rates including paid Lymington, ˖ tax Newfree Milton (up andto Milford-on-Sea.£7,500) ˖ flexibility Our residents to maintain host for their some independence or all in of a safe, comfortable and secure environment while enjoying the home cooked meals each day. Contacts the duration - hosts welcome from Lymington, Pennington and Brockenhurst. Our fully inclusive charges range from £205 to £325 a week for the year ending 31st March 2010. We have Vicar: The Revd Canon Peter Salisbury (day off Friday) limited vacancies for both permanent and holiday accomodation to rent. Please contact us today on [email protected] 01590 673847 [email protected] or 01962 859700 Churchwardens: Mr David Bridges, 01590 678732 For more information telephone 01590 675060, e-mailYou can [email protected] also register your details here: Mrs Maureen Harris, 01590 674458 Registered office: 31 West Street, Wimborne BH21 1JS. Registered Charity 230902 www.english-naturally.com/host-families Licensed Lay Minister: Mr Malcolm Ward, 01590 679651 Organist & Choir Director: Mr Martin Penrose, ARCO, LTCL, A UNIQUE BLEND • High-quality General • Advanced Restorative Care [email protected] 02380 864439 OF HIGH-QUALITY Dental Care • Gum Treatments • Teeth Straightening Verger & Sacristan: Amanda Dawson 07743 719044 GENERAL AND Peter M. Cooper• Hygienist Services • Dental Implants • Teeth Whitening [email protected] SPECIALISTAntiques • Restoration • Removals • Storage INSERT EXISTING• Oral Surgery B&W ADVERT• Private, Denplan FOR & Tower Secretary: Mr Larry Stace, 01590 682417 DENTAL CARE Quality• Root Canal Removals Treatments - Insured Patients National and International Magazine PETER M. COOPER Publication date: 1st of each month. Please submit copy to the editor by the • Modern warehouse for containerised storage th • Free quotations • Family run company 6 of the previous month. 01590 672986 Editor and Advertising: WWW.SOLENT-DENTAL.CO.UK Nigel Mussett, [email protected] 07531 179544 or 01590 718438 CANNON TelSTREET 01590 | LYMINGTON 683616 | HAMPSHIRE SO41Fax 9BR 01590 683830 PRACTICEe-mail: OWNERS: [email protected] DR ANISH BADAMI & DR SUSAN BUSH Web: www.petercooperltd.co.uk Subscriptions: Susan Canter-Visscher 01590 679666

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PARISH DIARY Regular Services and Events The normal pattern for services on a Sunday is: ST THOMAS’ 8.00 a.m. Prayer Book Communion (BCP) 9.15 a.m. Choral Communion (CW) 10.15 a.m. Shared refreshments 11.00 a.m. Life & Soul Informal Service WEEKDAY SERVICES ST THOMAS’ OTHER LOCATIONS Wed. (CW) 11.00 a.m. 1st & 3rd Thurs. 10.30 a.m. Solent Mead Thurs. (BCP) 11.00 a.m. 2nd Friday 11.00 a.m. Court Lodge Friday (CW) 8.00 a.m. 3rd Wednesday 11.00 a.m. Farringford Monthly 11.00 a.m. Linden Ho.

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS Monday 10-12noon Vistas Café - STH Tuesday 10.00 a.m. Toddler Group - STH (term-time) 6.00 p.m. Meet the Vicar (by appointment) - STC Wednesday 11.00 a.m. Holy Communion - STC 10.15 a.m. Vistas Café; Soup & Sandwich Lunch - STH 7.30 p.m. Bell Ringers’ Practice - STC Thursday 10.00 a.m. Stitch and Knit - STH 10.15 a.m. Vistas Café - STH Friday 9.45 a.m. Friday Fellowship - STH 10.15 a.m. Vistas Café - STH 7.00 p.m. Full Choir Practice - STC Saturday 9.00 a.m. Prayers for the work of the Parish - STC CORONAVIRUS ALERT! - CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS

* We are committed to following the latest directions and guidance. * The church is open daily for private prayer 10.00 - 16.00. * Please check the Weekly News Sheet or the church website: www.lymingtonchurch.org * All events listed above are temporarily suspended apart from those in bold type. * For details of services in December and January, please see overleaf . This diary lists the events which we understand will be permitted under new regulations coming into force within Tier 2 areas on 2 December. Please see the Weekly JANUARY EVENTS News Sheet/website for up-to-date information. Tickets will be available at Sunday Sun 3 EPIPHANY services during December for the Christmas services marked (ticketed). 8.00am Early Communion The weekly Joint Service with St Mark’s Church Pennington is available on line on 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington Sundays at 10.00am. It is streamed from our shared YouTube channel: 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service www.youtube.com/channel/UCKRF1l-cpB5-rn1o5tUNWUw 11.00am Choral Communion

Sun 10 BAPTISM OF CHRIST DECEMBER EVENTS 8.00am Early Communion 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s Pennington Wed 2 Dec 11.00am Regular mid-week Holy Communion (CW) resumes 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service 11.00am Life & Soul Informal Service Sun 6 ADVENT 2 Mon 11 10.00am Vistas Café and Traidcraft Stall - STH 8.00am Early Communion 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington Sun 17 EPIPHANY 2 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service 8.00am Early Communion 11.00am Choral Communion 9.00am Messy Church - see website for details Mon 7 10.00am Vistas Café and Traidcraft Stall - STH 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service Sun 13 ADVENT 3 11.00am Choral Communion 8.00am Early Communion Mon 18 10.00am Vistas Café - STH 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service Sun 24 EPIPHANY 3 11.00am Life & Soul Informal Service 8.00am Early Communion Mon 14 10.00am Vistas Café and Traidcraft Stall - STH 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service

Sun 20 ADVENT 4 11.00am Life & Soul Informal Service 8.00am Early Communion Mon 25 10.00am Vistas Café and Traidcraft Stall - STH 9.00am Messy Church - see website for details Thu 28 7.30pm PCC Meeting - STC 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service Sun 31 CANDLEMAS 11.00am Choral Communion 8.00am Early Communion 2.00pm Christmas Carol Service (ticketed) 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 4.00pm Christmas Carol Service (ticketed) 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service Thu 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 11.00am Choral Communion 4.00pm On-line Crib Service 11.30pm Midnight Mass (ticketed) Fri 25 CHRISTMAS DAY FEBRUARY EVENTS 8.00am Christmas Communion (ticketed) 11.00am Christmas Communion (ticketed) Mon 1 10.00am Vistas Café - STH Sun 27 CHRISTMAS 1 SUN 7 Sun 6 2 BEFORE LENT 8.00am Early Communion 8.00am Early Communion 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service 9.00am Communion, St Mark’s, Pennington 11.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Lymington and Pennington Joint On-line Service 11.00am Choral Communion Dear Friends, Fortunately we could hold our All Souls’ service on All Saints’ Day, just before Lockdown-2 began. It had extra significance this year and was particularly “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great appreciated by those who attended. Soon after, we resumed being a church light.” (Isaiah 9.2). When the news of the various vaccine ‘Open daily for Prayer’. During the preceding eight weeks, increasing numbers of successes came through it really did seem like a ray of light in us had gradually adapted to distanced seating and other requirements. For many a dark situation. Certainly stock markets around the world the opportunity of worshiping together, often with the organ and choir or the Life agreed and leapt up to record levels. Of course, now the & Soul music group, was ‘real’ and became valued more than perhaps could have mood is more sombre as people begin to take in the fact that been imagined. the light is still a little way off; there is further hardship ahead. We look forward to the possibility of more shared worship in December, Similarly, this time of Advent and Christmas is a celebration of good news but meanwhile feel truly grateful for our weekly on-line inspirational shared and also of the necessity of waiting in hope. The promise of Advent and Christmas services with St Mark’s, so ably arranged and presented by Peter and Rachel, is that God has come among us and that we shall be God's people. The flashing technically assisted by Paul and others. lights and Christmas trees, the presents, cards and fancy food all speak of the victory of light over darkness and the turning of the year. Messy church is also on line with the children participating. Thought- provoking for all ages, it really is not to be missed. November’s final ‘Fruit of the Yet even as we sing the carols of Emmanuel and share the bread and wine Spirit: Self Control,’ entitled ‘Stop! Think! Pray!’, is a message for us all. together in remembrance of Christ's eternal identification with humanity, we are nonetheless aware of the fact that the light is dawning, not yet dawned. There is Many parishioners without use of the internet have also been linked, on still the great work of the Kingdom, God's calling on our lives, to be the ones who paper at least, by a ‘Lockdown Letter’ with some spiritual encouragement, along share that Advent hope with the world, and live in love with God and neighbour. with main church news. Rosie and Malcolm Ward have given enormous support to this; their combined expertise and experience has been invaluable. One of the “things now hidden in darkness” that the pandemic has uncovered is the desperate inequality between people in the , While still permitted, our Vistas Café team arranged a safe meeting space arising primarily from the simple fact of where they live. The pandemic thrives in as well as good refreshments and we look forward to resuming that welcome over-crowded, poor housing, and its influence has been unequally felt as a result. when permissible. The last session on 2 November hosted Ron Swan’s sale of cards for the Children’s Society as well as a very successful Traidcraft stall, the As we work with hope and joy for the Kingdom we see the world through first one we have been able to hold since February. I am both delighted and God's eyes. That means we see with clarity the things which are amiss, and also grateful that Brian and Annette Cox have taken on the responsibility of managing we know with certainty that these things can be redeemed and made whole. this stall. Until now Denise Dibb has given huge support with the ordering and If the Advent of our Lord remains a once-long-ago event remembered finance. The stall will continue to flourish while continuing to promote good ‘eco’ fondly today, it is of little worth. Rather, we should bring that experience of standards, trading fairly in support of Fairtrade producer communities. longing, with hope, into action. Countless events have been cancelled this year and sadly the Christmas My favourite symbol of this in our church this year is the Prayer Tree. Tree Festival is another casualty. As disappointing as that is, we and the wider Despite the necessary cancellation of the Christmas Tree Festival, this one tree will community will nevertheless appreciate the simplicity of just having two trees be stationed by the door of St Thomas’ inviting people to entrust it with their which will have been safely decorated; we look forward to a festival next year. comments and prayers for a better future. After a challenging year we now look towards marking the wonder of Not all is yet bathed in light, but God hears and answers prayer, and the Christ’s birth. In their recent letter the Archbishops remind us that Emmanuel Lord is coming soon. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22.20). means ‘God with us’, the source of our hope and a light which cannot be over- come. They encourage us to ‘shine in the dark this winter’. Wishing you every blessing this Advent and Christmas, Peter Maureen Harris We should like to wish Happy December Birthday to ...

Sophie Strehlan + Harmony Lavis Henry Dore + Charles Tucker . THE ORGANIST PIPES UP! Odette van der Kreen-Locke Martin Penrose Rory Townsend

Until relatively recently, transcriptions of famous compositions – once a very popular practice – were rather looked down upon by many musicians. Back in the 1980s and ‘90s I can clearly remember colleagues saying things This month's cover: Christmas at St Thomas’ Church, Lymington. such as ‘Why would I want to play an organ transcription of Wagner? It would be Photo: Deborah Overton much better to listen to a recording of it played by the Berlin Philharmonic’. In an age of easy access to recorded music, they of course forgot that years ago the average person was unlikely to be able to attend orchestral concerts and might only hear such music played by their church organist or at a civic organ recital. Join us on Sunday 20 December

However, my first experience of some of the great classics came in a rather different way – through Anglican chant, of all things. We can’t meet face to face so join us on line to celebrate the joy of Christmas and As a boy we regularly used to sing a chant written by John Stainer which share love together with hope for our was based on the theme of the slow movement of Beethoven’s famous St Thomas’ Church troubled world. Pathétique piano sonata. And I was able to play the chant long before I was a good Lymington enough pianist to learn Beethoven’s original. James Turle, organist of Westminster Abbey from 1831 until his death in 1882, wrote two chants on themes by Henry Purcell. My favourite, in F minor, is A collection of Christmas verses, songs based on part of Purcell’s verse anthem ‘My beloved spake’, where he sets the and shared messages from 9.00a.m. at words ‘and the voice of the turtle was heard in our land’. www.lymingtonchurch.org/messy-church/ However, Anglican chant has not always been appreciated by all. The Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, on hearing a cathedral choir singing a psalm to chant on one of his visits to Britain, is reputed to have remarked: ‘Why do they keep on singing that bad tune?’! To find out more about Messy Church visit: www.messychurch.org.uk Martin Penrose

We should like to wish Some Recent

Happy January Birthday Events Before the second national lock- to ... down began last month, we were fortunate in being able to hold the annual All Souls’ service on Sunday 1 November, supported by the Choir. It Olivia MacAlister was much appreciated by the seventy- five people who attended. The follow- Thomas Gates + Amelia Hill ing day at Vistas Café Annette and Brian Cox set up the Christmas Traidcraft Esmay Thistleton stall. Numerous customers arrived throughout the morning and between them purchased stock totaling £784. This great support is much appreciated by our new stallholders and the Sunday 17 January Fairtrade Producer Communities. We look forward to the next possible stall date. Join us on line from 9:00a.m. at: Maureen Harris www.lymingtonchurch.org/messy-church/

St Thomas’ Church Lymington

GET READY FOR 2021 WITH THE ARMOUR OF GOD

To find out more about Messy Church visit: www.messychurch.org.uk Traidcraft stall

Calling for old pictures!

A Carol for Mary — Advent 2020 Funny thing, but as I get older I seem to find myself spending more and more time attending Lymington Hospital! One of the things which always makes my trip more pleasurable is the gallery of black and white photographs along the Lady, round your face we see main ground floor corridor. A number of them show scenes from the life of the Hover humility and grace; former Lymington hospitals over the ages. For me, the smartly uniformed staff and Shame our grasping wills that we the various other people looking out from the pictures evoke a feeling of proud May share your peace. service and community, and convey a sense of both the history and continuity of the local NHS. Homeless once, a refugee I am a member of the PMAP working group ‘Telling the Christian story’ From insane infanticide, whose objective is to tell the Christian story through our land and buildings. At our Turn our hearts from cruelty — last meeting, conducted over Zoom like all meetings at the moment, the pictures Stay by our side. from the hospital came to mind when we were thinking of new ways in which we might use the church building to share our message with the community. We are Lady, you who saw him die, already intending to put up some pictures of current church activities, full of Watched in depths of Hell’s despair, friendly smiling faces. I wondered if this might be complemented by some pictures Helpless, his last agony — from the past, though I am aware that smiling didn’t seem to be the done thing in Teach us to care. old photographs! I know that many people are fascinated by old photographs of Lymington in Look on our deluded kind former days and, if displayed nicely, this could be something which attracts visitors Closed in hypocrisies and lies; and gives them a sense of the church’s place and value within our community. The Gently touch the bitter, blind — group agreed and hence this little item for the magazine. Now, we need some Open our eyes. pictures! Christ you bore who lived in you, I have it on my ‘To-Do’ list to contact the Lymington Times and the St Barbe Museum. If anyone has ideas for other sources, can you please let me know? Best Crown of creation, hawk and dove; of all, do you, or someone you know, have old pictures of activities taking place at May we know him as you knew — St Thomas’ or All Saints’ Churches?. If so, I should love to hear from you. I can be Move us to love. contacted at [email protected] I look forward to seeing what arrives in my inbox! Ron Swan Andy Clapper On behalf of the ‘Telling the Christian Story’ PMAP working group Those countries which have done the least to cause all these problems are suffering the most. In the first five days of this year the average person in the UK emitted as much carbon dioxide through their lifestyle as did someone in Rwanda Gearing up towards Gold throughout a whole year. Climate change is deeply unjust. Jesus’ words in Luke 12.48 remind us that ‘From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be We are slowly gaining points to take us towards our Gold award. Our required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be communal Christmas card will earn us enough points for gold in the ‘Lifestyle’ demanded.’ category. We have been assessing progress on reducing our carbon footprint and looking at ensuring that all the cleaning products we use on the church premises are environmentally friendly. Nationally, interest in Eco Church has been growing fast. Across and Wales there are now over 3000 registered churches; th the 14 Gold award has been awarded recently. Annette Cox and I recently ‘attended’ (via Zoom and Facebook) a virtual conference attended by over 200 people, full of material to inspire and equip. Annette is currently working towards a BCM (Bishop’s Commission for Mission) in Creation Care. Photos: Christian Aid

Global Justice But why is all this eco activity so important? Because God made our world and loves his creation. Because he’s created us to look after it. Because the creation has gone wrong because of us. And because God has a future for his whole creation. Creation care is central to the Bible’s big picture. And it’s also a central part of how we love God and love our neighbour. In these days when our TV and radio news has been dominated by the coronavirus, it may be easy to overlook what is going on in other parts of the world. Our own country has experienced more extreme floods and heatwaves in the last few years, but that is nothing compared to what is happening elsewhere. Climate change is deeply unjust. Those least able to cope with it are suffering the most. In parts of Africa earlier this year there was widespread flooding. In northern Kenya there was hardly any rain. Communities in Bolivia which rely on melt water have seen their water supply dwindling because the glaciers are steadily We can’t do everything, but we can all do something, from reducing our own receding. In Afghanistan the usual rhythm of rain, snow and hail has been inter- carbon footprint (see https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ ), to joining in campaigns such as rupted, meaning the rains cause flooding, and lack of water at the right time has led Christian Aid’s Climate Change campaign or Tearfund’s Reboot. to failed agriculture and displaced people. In western Niger, hotspots in the Sahel have led to aridification and three years of unprofitable harvests. In some places We can all play our part to make life better for our global neighbours. the sea level is rising, threatening the homes of communities living near sea level. Rosie Ward

The Bishop’s Commission for Mission – Creation Care The Visitors — a Christmas story There was nothing to suggest that the day was special. The tang of winter was It is now two years since I retired from working in architecture and moved in the air. The sun streamed between clouds to brighten the damp leaves of trees to Lymington and the beautiful New Forest. Much of my work involved aspects of and grass. Some stayed in their beds; others welcomed the day. It was Sunday. The sustainable design and its impact on the natural environment and ecology. Since church with the large dark door was coming to life. Tom greeted Sarah and asked coming to St Thomas’ I have been helping Rosie on the Eco Church group but I had about Megan. Ben dropped the books about to be handed out. The shiny oak seats never taken the time to think deeply about how this all related to my Christian were covered with bottoms assorted and various; spectacles were uncased. Some faith. caught the prayers of the ancients in this holy place, while others pursued ques- So when I heard about the new BCM course on Caring for God’s Creation, it tions known only to their souls and to God. The people gathered for it was nearly seemed the perfect opportunity to explore further. Due to the current pandemic, time. Shafts of sunlight speckled by the disturbed dust illuminated hidden corners. the Winchester BCM courses this year are being run on line which, although this And then they came, the young family. The three-year-old with the lively misses something of the personal contact, has proved to be a blessing for me as I smile, the man with the loose wrapped long coat, and the young woman with the do not drive. So what does the course consist of? shawl the colour of the blue of the sea. Will, fearing for the peace and quiet of the An introductory session combining all of the four BCM courses currently running, to morning, mumbled his discontent to Sophie. Rita smiled them a welcome as she explain the general aims and objectives of BCM. edged along the pew. The child, with the curiosity of the young, gazed intently at faces and feet, hats and halos, the coloured glass in the windows, and spiders. The Six fortnightly seminar/discussion sessions with pre-work to complete beforehand and follow-up material to enlarge on the subject matter. young woman with the shawl the colour of the blue of the sea smiled at the child, the man hugged him to his knee. Old Hannah smiled at the child and the child’s The six sessions cover the following areas of interest: smile warmed the depths of her soul. Tom was aware of the presence of love 1. To consider the wonder of God’s creation. To understand and explain our belief behind his back. in a created universe and to appreciate that a scientific approach can be compatible with Christian belief. As the child babbled and sang his own praises – not always in tune with the 2. To consider God’s call to care for his creation. To understand and explain the others – the glances began to be exchanged. There was a timelessness in that need to care for creation and understand the sources of environmental crises. To moment when the hearts of these gathered people of God reached out to the child appreciate that the physical world is important to God and that he has an and the man and the young woman with the shawl the colour of the blue of the ultimate plan for creation. sea. It was as if… But no, it couldn’t be, could it? But just in case, all reached out 3. To consider resource use and understand that God is actively involved in his world. To appreciate the way ecosystems work, the impact humans have had on with welcome and love, just in case… Childish disturbances were seen again as the planet and understand the concept of the “greenhouse effect” and its role in joyful playfulness, part of the creativity of God in the life of his child. As the family climate change. came to the altar, the speckled beam of sunshine just happened to illuminate them. 4. The Church’s priorities and why creation care is an imperative for all Christians. There were many answers to many questions, it was as if… 5. In God’s Image. 6. Actions Stations. And afterwards the congregation gathered round them. Tom gave the child a sweet, the women wrapped the mother around with familiar tales of family and the The course will close with another combined session with the other BCM men sought contact in the doings of life. There was love in the holy place, could it groups. be that… So I shall be keeping busy during the latest lockdown! As they walked into the warmth of the day, Mary let slip the shawl the colour of the blue of the sea; the man took off the loose-wrapped long coat; the child wrote with his finger in the earth. BCM courses on a range of subjects will be starting again on line in January. If you think you might be interested, do have a look at the website for Winchester “Will we see you next time?” asked Sophie and Will. “Watch out for us”, was the reply. Diocese for more information, and then speak to Peter. Annette Cox Original Anon. Malcolm Ward Prayer support continued and each day showed a measurable improvement. The hospital gave intensive medical, nursing, physio, occupational, speech and A MIRACLE IN LOCKDOWN language therapy. We made seven trips to London, which were vitally important for our granddaughter to see her mother. Lockdown enabled us to drive through almost empty London streets, with no Congestion or hospital parking charges. On 23 April we were relaxing in the garden when we received a phone call After three weeks, Ezra was really ready for discharge. The tremor had from our son-in-law Paul which was potentially going to change our lives for ever. disappeared and he was walking, running and talking normally. He was still From what he told us, we knew that we had to drop everything, throw a few things experiencing frequent seizures which were to continue for several months yet, but into bags and drive to Brighton immediately to be with our family. importantly, he was home! Ezra, our two-year-old grandson, had choked. Worse than that, despite first What happens following a miracle? There is little insight in the Gospels of aid from our daughter, he had stopped breathing: the situation was terrifying and how people adjust to normal life. life-threatening. As we packed up, ready to leave, we prayed constantly for God’s intervention and mercy. We also managed to contact some close friends and family For our family, the adjustments have and to keep in touch with Paul. We learnt that, following Ezra choking, our daughter been our response to the post-traumatic shock and a wonderful neighbour had performed chest compressions and mouth-to- experienced by our daughter and her husband mouth breathing to try to keep his heart pumping until the ambulance arrived. and the intense support they have needed from us to help them recover. Accordingly, we Events became more dramatic: in A&E spent six unbroken weeks staying in Brighton, he was put on a ventilator, then airlifted to and then over the rest of the summer we came London for children’s intensive care. By this to Lymington for short breaks but were still time there was a ‘tidal wave’ of prayer from based in Sussex. many friends and friends of friends. On reflection, we have suffered great The next 48 hours took us from the trauma. We have also experienced an depths of despair to the heights of thankful- incredible miracle, as Ezra’s recovery has ness and joy and then back to despair. This exceeded medical expectations. One of the was because Ezra was removed quickly from neurologists treating him said she feared he the ventilator and he woke and spoke would always need a wheelchair. So much “Mama, Mama”. By the next day he was support from friends and family was given, running, playing and eating almost as if from the friend who kept an eye on the house and watered the garden, the ‘dog nothing had happened save for a small B&B’ provided by my brother, to the family friend who gave free, unlimited use of tremor. He was discharged but during the her flat in Brighton. We will always be indebted to the neighbour who performed night began to suffer seizures. So he returned Ezra in the Air Ambulance the resuscitation with our daughter and saved Ezra’s life, and also to the one who to A&E, was put back on a ventilator and called the ambulance. returned to the Intensive Care Unit in London, leaving us all wondering what had happened to the miracle. The skill and expertise of all in the NHS have made us feel privileged and humbled; they have been channels of divine love and mercy. The constant prayers This time, he was on the ventilator for five days and was much weaker and from those at St Thomas’, friends and family from far and as wide as Sierra Leone, more sedated when it was removed. Over the next three weeks he began his slow and from people we have not even met: all have made us immensely grateful. but steady recovery. The trauma Ezra had received during the 19 minutes when he was not breathing had injured his brain and several scans showed possible damage. Most of all, we are thankful to our loving Heavenly Father for showing us his This explained the seizures and also, by now, a severe tremor. He was unable to sit great love, grace and mercy. Ezra has not only survived, he has made an astounding unaided or to feed himself without help; just a week before he had been a normal recovery. active toddler. Bronwen and David Bridges Nature Notes Such was its popularity, especially coming into ‘flower’ in mid-winter, that its use as a decoration at Christmas increased to such an extent that it Poinsettia has apparently become the world’s most economically valuable potted plant. On several occasions in this series we have encountered bracts— Use is made of the fact that it is a ‘short-day plant’, meaning that it will only leaves in whose axil there develops a flower or cluster of flowers. In many flower when subjected to long periods of uninterrupted darkness. Under cases, bracts look identical to, and function as, normal foliage leaves. There commercial cultivation, this is rigorously regulated but it is a regime not are, however, instances when they become highly modified and serve other easily replicated at home, resulting in the fact that most plants bought for purposes. Christmas are disposed of after only a few months. However, dedicated horticulturalists do manage to keep their plants ready to bloom a second For example, in those trees producing catkins, we saw how the ‘cups’ time. In recent years use has been made of a phytoplasmal bacterial infection of acorns are composed of numerous small bracts, or how the protective to stimulate the formation of more buds and therefore greater flowering cases are developed from bracts around the nuts of beech and sweet- potential. chestnuts. In hornbean, they form an effective three-lobed wing attached to the nuts and so afford a ready means of wind dispersal. In Poinsettia, Just because we focus our attention on the red bracts does not mean Euphorbia pulcherrima, the upper bracts take on the appearance of bright that the plant does not produce flowers. It does, albeit rather small ones, scarlet leaf-like structures which, with the regular dark green foliage leaves, clustered together at the top of the shoot. They share a common design with provide an attractive decorative indoor plant around Christmas. all other species of spurge or Euphorbia, several types of which we have in our native British flora or maybe amongst the exotic species in our gardens. A feature of considerable interest is the cyathium, a unique cup-like structure representing a flowering shoot so condensed as to look like a single flower. Each cyathium has peculiar swollen glands around its rim and contains separate male and female flowers. The female flowers grow on a short stalk bearing a 3-celled ovary with three stigmas on top. They ripen before the male flowers, each one of which consists of a single stamen only. There are no petals. Like other spurge species, Poinsettias produce a white latex, visible if any part of the plant is bruised or broken apart. It has been known to cause Poinsettias specially propagated Close-up of a group irritation to the skin or, in the unlikely event of it being swallowed, is for the Christmas market. of flowers. recorded as inducing nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Across the world, Poinsettia revels in a plethora of common names such as Crown of the Andes (Chile and Peru), Christmas Eve Plant (Mexico), Native to Central America, the plants were cultivated by the Aztecs Easter Flower (Spain), Star of Bethlehem or the Mexican Flame Flower or for use in rituals and in traditional medicine for treating fevers. A useful red Painted Leaf Shrub. In the USA 12 December is celebrated as National dye could be made from the brightly-coloured bracts. The plant first came to Poinsettia Day, the anniversary of Joel Poinsett’s death in 1851. NJM the attention of western travellers at the beginning of the 19th century and was not scientifically described until 1834, being named after Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851), the first US ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s who, Correction being something of a botanist, had found the shrub growing by the roadside In last month’s ‘Nature Notes’, Sir John Falstaff was stated to be a in Taxco and subsequently introduced it for cultivation into America. close companion to the young Prince Hal, the future King Henry VIII. This should, of course, have read King Henry V. Many apologies.

Canon William Cummings concludes his series on the Sermon on the Mount Heraldry in St Thomas’ Church

No Self-contradiction 23. Sir Harry Burrard Neale 1840 Jesus began the Sermon of the Mount with the arresting declaration We have every reason to believe that “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. If he Sir Harry Burrard Neale, GCB, GCMG, were to complete the Sermon with some sort of peremptory command, “Do 2nd Baronet of , is buried in what you have heard” or “Do what I say”, he could be accused of some the family vault at the eastern end of St violent or flagrant self-contradiction. He achieves consistency by simply Thomas’ Church. On the north wall of the shaping his conclusion around a series of choices. Sanctuary, beneath the memorial to his great uncle Paul Burrard, is memorial to Like the repeated use of the word “Blessed” in the Beatitudes at the Sir Harry and the inscription reads: beginning of the Sermon, the Parable of the Two Ways (Matthew 7.13-14) looks back to Psalm 1 where the psalmist presents in the first two verses a Sacred to the memory of Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Baronet, of Walhampton, Admiral of the contrast between “the way of sinners” and “exercise in the Law of the Lord White, Knight Grand Cross of the Bath and of day and night”. At its conclusion, Psalm 1 opposes the Two Ways directly: the Order of St Michael and St George. He “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly represented the Borough of Lymington in shall perish” (Psalm 1.7). Parliament for the space of 40 [sic] years and died at Brighton on the 7th day of February Just as the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon run contrary to 1840 in the 75th year of his age, whose mortal human instinct or inclination, so the “better way” in this Parable towards remains rest blessedly near this marble under the sure and certain promise of the restoration the end of the Sermon is the narrow, uphill path which guides against to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, human inclination; and the path which favours natural human instinct is the who shall change our vile body that it may be broad and wide downhill way that leads to destruction. like unto his glorious body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue A succession of other choices then follows in the form of parables all things to himself. with nature similes. Do you prefer the company of wolves or sheep? Do you “I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto prefer grapes and figs or thorns and thistles? me, Write, from henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the LORD, even so saith the Spirit, for they These choices then run up to the final climactic Parable of the Rock rest from their labours and their works do follow and the Sand (Matthew 7.24-27). them.” Rev. c.14 v.13

By the end, it is both the disciples (Matthew 5.1) and whole On top of the memorial is Sir multitudes of the people (Matthew 5.1 and 7.28) who are listening to Jesus. Harry’s coat of arms carved in white Their reaction (Matthew 7.28-29) proves that he has taken their breath marble. From below it is difficult to make away. out much detail but fortunately Sir Harry’s four-foot-square hatchment survives in the William Cummings church’s unique collection. Despite the For 2021, the Vicar and Editor have kindly agreed to an offer of mine discoloration of the varnish and pigments, to write a series entitled ‘Reflections on certain Psalms’. one can discern the details of all the elements making up this elaborate heraldic achievement. Notice that all the hands are shown erect, palms facing the viewer and Hatchment for Harry Burrard Neale. Photo: William Payne, cut off cleanly at the wrist (couped). A left hand appears in the Baronet’s from the church archives. badge and the fess, while the two in the top corners of the shield are right hands (as, incidentally, is the red hand in the Badge of Ulster).

The circlet on the left side, for Sir Harry’s wife, is a simple ornamented

affair. The arms, displayed on a shield and not on a lozenge as is usual for a lady, are those of her husband but charged with a replica of her husband’s arms but without the Baronet’s badge, as a mark of difference. The open steel helmet without bars on top of Sir Harry’s side is that of both a Knight and a Baronet, appropriate to his rank; helmets are not used for ladies in heraldry. The supporters of the shields on both sides are lions standing on a blue anchor, each lion regaled with a naval collar in blue and chain, and holding a gold trident, all symbols alluding to Sir Harry’s naval career. Above the helmet on the right side is a naval crown with a cubit arm (one cut off below the elbow) issuing from it and with the hand grasping a sprig of oak and trident pointing downwards to the right, described as in bend sinister, meaning that it stretches from top left to bottom right. The crest on the left side comprises a flexed arm in armour, the hand grasping the broken butt of a spear; it rests on a red and white wreath. The motto inscribed on the scroll below is Persevere, the family motto of the Burrards of Walhampton. The background is half black, half white, Sir Harry was born in September 1765, indicating that the hatchment one of four children of Col. William Burrard pertains to a man who is and his second wife Mary, née Pearce, of survived by his wife. Walhampton. He was baptised Harry James Burrard at Lymington on 19 October 1765 and In the centre are two shields rather than one. This is because the arms at the age of 13 joined the Navy, later being on the (heraldic) right are displayed within the gold collar of a Knight Grand appointed a Lord of the Admiralty and C-in-C Cross of the , an honour bestowed upon Sir Harry but not of the Mediterranean Fleet. On 15 April 1795 he his wife, whose arms have to be displayed separately alongside those of her married Grace Elizabeth Neale, daughter and husband. The motto of the Order—TRIA JUNCTA UNO (‘Three joined into co-heir of Robert Neale of Shaw House, one’) appears on a red circlet surrounded by a thin green wreath. The badge Malmesbury, when he took the name and arms of the Military Division of the Order is suspended from the collar chain. of Neale. The couple had no children and on his Superimposed on the circlet is a white shield charged with Sir Harry’s arms death the baronetcy, which he had inherited comprising elements from both the Burrard and Neale arms: a large lion from his uncle in 1791, passed to his brother, rampant, above which are two hands (the Neale arms had three!) and the Sir Harry (Burrard) Neale. the Revd Sir George Burrard. He served as MP badge of a Baronet in the centre, all in red. The shield has laid upon it Photo, courtesy of St Barbe for Lymington for many years and played an (debruised) a part of the Burrard arms—a fess or central band (in yellow), with Museum and Art Gallery, active part in local affairs. He was a generous two red lions facing each other (rampant respectant) supporting a red hand. Lymington. benefactor both of the town and the church. Nigel Mussett PRAYER THOUGHTS

1 Corinthians 13 - for Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely red bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another decorator. If I slave in the kitchen, baking dozens of mince pies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned dining table, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - I gain nothing. If I trim the tree with shimmering angels and plastic snowflakes, attend a myriad of parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata, but do not focus on Christ - I have completely missed the point! A DELIVERY SERVICE Love stops the cooking to hug the child. IS AVAILABLE DURING THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the loved one. Contact us for a copy of the Love is kind, though harried and tired. full menu and prices. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated 01590 672777 Christmas china and table linens. [email protected] Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but especially rejoices in giving to those who can’t. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, shiny new toys will gather dust, golf clubs will rust. But the gift of the love of God will endure.

Original anon. Malcolm Ward THE WRONG END OF THE STICK? Residential, Nursing and Dementia Care At the Renewal Service at the beginning of a new year the Vicar assured members of his congregation that he was their servant and that they should feel free to call him any time they had a problem on their minds. That night his telephone rang at 3.a.m. and on the other end of the line was a dear elderly lady from his congregation who said, “Vicar, I can’t get to sleep.” * “Oh!” said the Vicar, “I’m very sorry to hear that, but what can I do to help?” “Just preach to me for a while, would you please, Vicar” the lady HAPPY & replied. RELAXED! On behalf of the Church... Come and stay with the Editor would like to thank all those who have been concerned with the production and distribution of the magazine during the past year. It has, of us and enjoy two course, been dominated by the pandemic of Covid-19 which has severely affected the lives of everybody throughout the nation. Reports suggest that the weeks FREE* availability of the monthly Parish News, now also on the St Thomas’ Church web- site, has been particularly welcome during this period, and so we record our grateful thanks especially to those who have made this possible: “I am so grateful to know that she is in the best possible * Susan Canter-Visscher and the enlarged team of distributors who have delivered the magazine, especially when the church was locked during environment. This has been the the spring months; case ever since she moved in, * all our contributors who have submitted news and features of interest to but especially so now.” engage our readers; Daughter of Resident * the proof readers whose eagle eyes have detected the errors which have slipped past, or even been made by, the Editor; * Gill Maunder in the Church Office whose efficiency has ensured that we were supplied with up-to-date information and news when the situation seemed to change almost daily; * the production staff at Hampshire Printing Services who kept going under difficult conditions throughout the pandemic and ensured that we continued to receive an attractive publication each month. * our advertisers for supporting LPN. Without them we would not have had magazine! Please support them, especially in these difficult times. This year we were sad to say good-bye to several of our team of loyal Distributors — Jill Gregory, Edgar Harris, Helen Hyde, Caroline Johnson, Marion Lewis and Elizabeth Thorn — all of whom have ’retired’, and 01425 460985 we thank them most warmly for the valuable service they have given over † many years; we wish them well in the months and years ahead. We welcomed Call in their place William Cummings, Allan and Mary Hill, Kate Mussett, Sylvia ColtenCare Pepin, Amanda Dawson and Rosie Ward who have kindly stepped in and .co.uk Minimum booking required. Terms and conditions apply. † Correct at time of print helped on a temporary or permanent basis. * With all good wishes to our readers for a very Happy Christmas!

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