THE LANCE JULY 2021
www.stgeorgesjesmond.org.uk
In The Lance this month: (ctrl-click to follow a link)
Editorial 3 The Reverend Stephanie Writes 4 Petertide: Reflections on Ordination 6 A New Face at St George’s 7 KYCKYN Prayer Walks 8 Caption Competition Winner 8 Lighten Our Darkness - a Celebration of Choral Evensong 9 These Were the Hands of the Word Made Flesh - a Sermon from Bethlehem 12 Volunteering 14 Corporate Volunteering - An Example From Our City 14 On Being a Volunteer 17 Eco Filed Trip - a practical day in 20 Reports from Committees and Groups 21 Whole Site Plan Update 21 A Quick Update on Livestreaming 22 St George’s Book Group 23 St George’s Cycling Club 24 St George’s Walking Group 25 Letters Column 26 Recipe - Summer Beetroot Risotto 27 Brent’s Home Covid Test 28 Swaps and Giveaways 29 Orthodoxy: Two Russian Cathedrals in London 30 Liturgical Calendar 35 Who is Who at St Georges and how to contact them 38 The Back Page 40
2 Editorial
As the linking hands on our cover symbolise, the pandemic has encouraged many people new to volunteering to step forward and offer to help others. We have both a personal account of what it is to volunteer and also a new kind of corporate re- sponse. These were the hands of the Word made flesh. We give thanks for those who are ordained and welcome a new Parish Placement. The KYCKYN (Know Your Church, Know Your Neighbourhood) meetings continue and there will be a series of Prayer Walks to support the process. Our lively committees and groups grow a pace, and we will all be potentially on-camera as live-streaming begins. And we celebrate choral singing, even in its absence, and look forward to its return. The Russian theme continues with a visit to two Russian Orthodox Cathedrals in London, and at last we learn what was in Brent’s bottle.
Have a very happy and sunny Summer, and see you again in September. Margaret Vane
News from The Lance
During the pandemic, we have endeavoured to keep producing interesting monthly copies for the congregation, albeit on-line, and to reach as many people as possible. We have continued to publish the advertisements, which fund the hard copy of the paper, but because they were on-line only, we have not charged anyone.
Happily, the situation is improving. We plan for the July edition to be the last online- only version. We will be ‘on holiday’ in August [no edition] but will return in Septem- ber with a full and exciting hard copy edition [price £1.00]. The online version will be available later in each month at no cost. We hold lists of former subscribers and will contact you to see if you wish to continue with your subscription. If you did not previ- ously subscribe but would like to start, please contact the Parish Office
We are also contacting all our advertisers to appraise them of the situation. We would kindly ask the congregation, whenever they use any of the folk who advertise with us, to help us by telling them where they saw the advert! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US return to contents 3 Rev. Stephanie writes…..
Dear friends,
I’m doing it again… going on a long walk, well, hike. This time, it’s the ‘Macmillan Mighty Hike’ from Alnwick to Bamburgh, rather than the Camino, and thankfully, it’ll all be done and dusted within a day rather than a month! But it’s been a while since the Camino, with winter and a new puppy in between... No long training walks like I did in the weeks before I traversed the length of northern Spain.
So what have I done to prepare? Well, Aggie is now able to walk for 40mins, but that’s not exactly going to help me re-build my stamina for 26 miles up the northern coast. But I noticed, about twelve weeks before the big day, Jesmond Pool had put up an advert for Personal Training with one of their trainers. It was just the impetus I needed to get on with training for the hike. I now go for a training session once a week, and for someone who deeply disliked PE at school, I’m really enjoying it!
One of the things I’ve found in my training, is that I’m stronger and fitter than I think I am. Although my walking and running took a dip, and swimming had been counted out too for a time, I made it through the first session even though I was put through my paces! And in the subsequent sessions, I’ve noticed in myself how well I’m pro- gressing and more inclined to exercise in my own time, specifically to go running again. It’s also shown me in real time what I’ve known to be true in myself and heard from other places: that our bodies hold our memories, our unfinished things, things we push to one side and things we don’t always acknowledge… and in moving our bodies, getting our blood pumping through our veins and building our stamina, we can help ourselves move through some of those diffi- cult pieces and process what is brought to the surface.
It got me wondering. Why? Partly, I think it’s down to making the de- cision to just get on with it. There will always be any number of ex- 4 cuses and distractions and impediments, even if we enjoy what we’re putting off. But partly, I think it’s also because we need someone to see us “from the outside”, to see what we’re capable of and encourage us to go a little further than we think we’ll manage.
On the ‘Couch to 5K’ app which I’ve been using on and off for about a year, Sarah Millican tells me that getting to the end of the programme is about distance rather than speed. It’s more about maintaining consistency and sustainability in our prac- tice, building stamina: when we reach the end of a walk or run that takes us to the edge of what we can manage, not only can we celebrate our achievement, but also build on our progress. Sure, some days will be better than others and some days will be harder, but on the whole the curve will head up rather than down. It’s one of the reasons I signed up for the Hike in the first place, give me a goal, keep me accounta- ble, and to build on my sense of achievement and awareness of my capacity which came from walking the Camino. And I’m sure one of the reasons I’m taking to the training so well is due to the Camino itself.
So, what needs to be “worked out” and “worked through”, and who is encouraging you in it? You may well be doing better than you think, and you may well be helping more than you know. Stephanie.
If you’d like to contribute to Stephanie’s fundraising for the Macmillan Mighty Hike, you can do so on her Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ stephaniekeates
God of the ages, you are the beginning of our journey and our strength as we pause along the way. Hold us by the hand as we grow, show us where to seek you, and guide our steps that we may find you. return to contents Give us devoted hearts that we may love you, and your peace when we reach our journey's end.
A prayer for growing up and the passage of time from: https:// www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-life-events 5 Petertide: Reflections on Ordination
Although St George’s is not directly connected to any of the ordinations this year (with the exception of Ollie Dempsey who is to be ordained priest), having seen Stephanie and Derek ordained priest in 2019 & 2020 respectively and continuing to hold Helen Young in our prayers as she moves toward ordination in 2022, we are nonetheless involved, in that the Cathedral, which is closed for building work, will move en masse to St George’s for the ordination services this Petertide.
Petertide, the end of June beginning of July, is an opportunity for us not only to give thanks for those are being ordained, but also a time when we can all reflect on our own calling and ministry. God calls each and every one of us to be the person we are meant to be. For Christians, our primary calling is through the sacrament of baptism. As members of the Body of Christ we are all called to discipleship, ministry and mis- sion (discipleship in our daily everyday life, ministry in our service to our church and congregation, mission in our relating the Gospel to the wider world).
Within this primary, baptismal, vocation – being the person we are called to be – we exercise different, God-given, gifts, talents, and abilities; some are called to be ad- ministrators, some doctors, some musicians, some encouragers, some teachers, and some preachers. There is here an interdependence, our gifts of discipleship - freely given and freely shared within the church and the wider world - are of equal im- portance.
From this community of mutuality, God calls out some people to specific authorised ministry: as worship leaders, licensed Readers, deacons, and priests: each called, discerned, and commissioned.
Such calling to authorised ministry comes in different ways: sometimes it is in a blinding flash of light or realisation, more often it is a gradual dawning, and much more often it is through the gentle nudging of family members, friends, and fellow worshippers.
Petertide is a perfect opportunity for us to remember: All are called to discipleship Some are called to authorised ministries 6 Some are called to ordained ministry Petertide is an opportunity to reflect on whether we are being true to our calling, and to think about who we can encourage and nudge in their calling, vocation, and minis- try. Brian Hurst
A New Face at St George’s………
MICHAEL BALDWIN, who will be on a month’s placement during July, introduces himself.
I am an Ordinand currently training at Cranmer Hall. I have just finished my second year of what will be three years of training. My faith in God and prayer life have al- ways been a big part of my identity.
My earliest memories of attending church were with my grandma, who is a Roman Catholic. When I was at secondary school I started to respond and take more owner- ship of my faith and journey with God. In 2015, I began attending an Anglican church and in 2016 got confirmed. Before starting training for Ordination, I was on the Church of England Ministry Experience Scheme at St Nicolas’s in Durham.
In my free time I love to pursue playing different sports, which includes going for long walks in the countryside, going on bike rides, swimming in the sea, boxing, surf- ing, and Jiu jitsu. During normal times, one of my passions is to travel. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel around much of Eastern Europe, which I love, due to the impressive landscape, history and delicious food and warm-hearted peo- ple. I also have been fortunate enough to visit some church history sites such as Wit- tenberg, Worms and the Jvari monastery in Georgia. It is my dream to one day visit the Holy Land.
During the summer I will be living in Gosforth, and am excited for my placement here. I hope to make new friends and get to know this community of faith better. I hope I can grow in my own faith and deepen my understanding around my vocation. Michael return to contents 7 KYCKYN Prayer Walks
While we discern how God is calling us at St George’s to respond to the needs and hopes of our community, and to discern how we can use our resources, the Know Your Church Know Your Neighbourhood group have organised some Prayer Walks.
This is to get us out and about in our Parish, to consciously hold our Parish in prayer, and to pay attention to what is going on in the community around us.
If you’d like to know more about it, please speak to Stephanie, Donald or an- other of the Know Your Church Know Your Neighbourhood group.
The walks will take place from the Church Green on:
Wednesday 30th June at 7pm
Wednesday 7th July at 2pm
Saturday 10th July at 11am
Last Month’s Caption Competition Winner What has this man got in his bottle?
“Artisanal, non-alcoholic, gooseberry moonshine. Eh???”
Hilary P
8 return to contents Lighten our Darkness: A Celebration of Choral Evensong
By Simon Reynolds [an edited extract courte- sy of The Church Times]
The photographs of St George’s Choir courte- sy of Derek Nicholson were taken pre-Covid)
I have often been most acutely aware of this on a Friday, when the service is sparser in feel (and traditionally sung without organ accompaniment) to recall the day of the crucifixion. It is a day when much of the music tends to come from the medieval and Tudor periods, and may also include plainsong — one of the earliest known forms of music used in Christian worship. It seems to amplify the architectural space in which the worship takes place (in a cathe- dral dating from the Middle Ages, or earlier), where the music, as well as aspects of the worshipping environment, may be contemporaneous.
Even in a 20th-century cathedral, such as Coventry or Liverpool, there is a keen sense that music from an earlier period is gently challenging the tendency to imagine that Christian worship is purely of the present moment (or within living memory). Similarly, the presence of contemporary music in an ancient cathedral, especially its more angular dissonance, serves as a reminder that the worship being offered, alt- hough in beautiful and ancient surroundings, is not remote from the anguished and urgent realities of the present day.
ONE of the ways music works its mysterious power in worship is to insist that reality is much more than what we may know or understand at this moment. Not only can it invite us to ponder the essential truth about our place in this vast and complex uni- verse; it also opens a window through which we can glimpse the endless possibilities of eternity.
Understood in this way, music in Christian worship performs, in Keats’s words, a “priestlike task”. If we will let it, music can hold up an undistorted mirror to the hu- man condition. Harmony and dissonance, rhythm and stillness, as well as major and minor keys, provide their own commentary on the exigencies of life. It challenges us 9 to embrace the whole world with all its dazzling beauty, all its devastating pain, and all its horrific injustice.
When words, architecture, and music come together in a large worshipping space like a cathedral, it can invite worshippers to inhabit a place, to face reality at its most intense, and to be drawn more deeply into the orbit of God’s redeeming and healing love.
Choral evensong is not a modern invention designed to attract more people into church and stem the momentum of decline; it has evolved over many centuries. Alt- hough several elements take us back to the worshipping experience of Jesus in the Jewish faith, the current framework of the service was largely fixed in the mid-16th century (with some minor revisions over the course of the next century or so).
After the great religious and political upheaval of the Reformation, which gave birth to new forms of Christian worship across Europe during the 16th century, evensong was one of the services that adapted the worship of the monasteries for ordinary people and their clergy to use together. In that sense, it simply perpetuates what the Church has always done, without any attempt to make it more relevant, to adapt it to meet today’s cultural expectations, or to overlay it with endless explanation that may diminish its impact. Its language belongs more to the world of Shakespeare than to Twitter.
SOME of the music may not be “easy listening”. The readings from Jewish and Chris- tian scriptures expose us to “another country” in the ancient Near East and parts of the Mediterranean. This is a world we cannot easily know, where human rights, anti- biotics, and air travel were unimaginable.
Notwithstanding its rooting in the past, choral evensong seems to attract and invite today precisely because it is a gift — and a gift that demands little or nothing in re- 10 turn. As part of the diverse “mixed economy” of worship in the Church of England, people can stumble on it unexpectedly, or grow in familiarity after an initial and hesi- tant encounter. Anyone attending evensong in a cathedral or large church can be confident that they will not be quizzed about their motives and beliefs, or pressured to leave their contact details. The fact that it is possible to worship with a large de- gree of anonymity, and not be expected to conform to a pre-determined view of what it means to belong to the Church, is part of the attraction for many people.
Another aspect of choral evensong which makes it attractive is that, on the whole, it happens on most days of the week rather than being a Sunday-only occasion. Whilst the “traditional” Sunday may persist in many countries across the European main- land, it tends to be much more fragmented in the Anglo-Saxon world.
Not only do many (especially younger) people feel they must work on Sun- days, but the competing demands of sporting activities, as well as the com- plexities that surround life for divorced or separated parents, or the relentless demands of working in the gig economy with zero-hours contracts, means that worship on Sundays can be problematic — if not impossible — for many people. Being able to slip into worship, as the working or learning day is ending, can be as liberating as it is convenient.
This is an edited extract from Lighten our Darkness: Discovering and celebrating choral evensong by Simon Reynolds, published by Darton, Longman & Todd at £16.99 (Church Times Bookshop £15.29)
return to contents
11 These Were the Hands of the Word Made Flesh
- a Sermon in Bethlehem
So here in Bethlehem we are challenged to think about the significance of what it means to say that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”, that “for us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man”. Let’s get beyond the cute Christmas card scenes and think of what this really means.
I think one of the most wonderful sights on this earth must be that of a new-born baby’s hand. (Maybe some will get to see such a sight in the Maternity hospital later today). Palms no bigger than a ten pence piece - fingers perfectly and minutely formed, with such delicate nails and dimpled knuckles. Tiny hands; curled motionless in sleep, yet capable of a surprisingly strong grip. It was a pair of hands such as these that Mary and Joseph must have gazed at in wonder that first Christmas morning.
A pair of hands such as these that must have waved without co-ordination at the Shepherds, and clutched the air in front of the visitors from the East.
These were the hands of the Word made flesh.
And these same hands were probably nail-bitten and fidgety, mucky and inquisitive in childhood. Then they would have become scarred or scabbed from the unskilled use of sharp tools in adolescence.
These were the hands of the Word made flesh.
As time went on these hands would have become strong and muscular, callused and worn, capable of both tenderness and toughness. But this was no ordinary pair of hands. They were hands that touched the revolting and the hated, hands that brought wholeness to those who were broken or maimed, hands that beckoned followers, 12 broke bread, and were held up in prayer.
These were the hands of the Word made flesh.
It was also these hands that grabbed the tables to overturn them in the temple, that worked on the Sabbath, that reached out and touched the unclean.
So challenging were these hands seen to be, that ultimately, they were taken with force, tied up, battered, and impaled with crude nails to a wooden beam.
These were the hands of the Word made flesh.
But this isn’t where the story ends: those same hands were seen three days later – bruised, torn, bloodied and scarred – and yet there to be seen, to be touched, hands which had defeated evil and death, which continued to bring life, hope and whole- ness to all they touched.
These were the hands of the Word made flesh.
These were the hands of God incarnate.
And God continues to reach out his hands to us today; to reach out in welcome, to reach out in hope, to reach out in encouragement. Whether we come with fear or with reluctance, overflowing with happiness or with sorrow. Whether we come seek- ing a new start, the reassurance of being loved, or simply the strength to go on.
These hands are reached out to us, hands into which we can place our own hands, each day, as we trust the God who came to earth as a tiny new-born baby. Rev. Audrey Elkington
Bethlehem Eucharist Readings: 1 John 1.1-4 and Luke 2.4-14. From heaven you came……
return to contents 13 Volunteering
Nearly five million people volunteered for the first time in their lives last year, a wide- ranging report on community spirit in the UK has found. Of the estimated 12.4 million people who volunteered during the pandemic, 4.6 million people were volunteering for the first time. Of these, 770,000 were aged between 18 and 24 years old; 360,000 had a disability or long-term illness; and 740,000 lived in the poorest fifth of neighbourhoods in the UK — all groups of people who were previously less likely to volunteer, it says.
The report, Our Chance to Reconnect, was published on Monday 8th March 2021 by the Talk/Together project, whose steering group is chaired by the Archbishop of Can- terbury.
Here are two approaches to volunteering: one, a new, corporate idea borne of the times we live in, and one, a personal contemplation of the place of volunteering in one's life.
Corporate Volunteering: an example from our city
Newcastle Building Society is the North East’s largest building society and has been committed to serving its communities for the past 150 years. As well as providing mortgages, savings, and face to face financial advice on the high street through its network of 30 branches, the Society is committed to supporting its local communities through grant-giving and volunteering. The Society provides colleagues with two paid days each year to volunteer for any community cause close to their heart. And over the past few years, this volunteer effort has made a huge impact to people and or- ganisations across the North East.
One of the most heart- warming things about the pandemic has been the way people across the country have stepped up to help their neighbours and those in need. So with passionate colleagues and commitment to its communities, the Society looked for new and innovative ways colleagues could safely offer help through volunteering. 14 Working with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (itself based in Newcastle), the Society helped to introduce a new type of volunteering to the North East. The onHand mobile app – already popular in London - was introduced in our region in June 2020, enabling Newcastle Building Society colleagues to find and accept simple volunteering ‘missions’ requested by members of the community. During lockdown, people who needed a little extra support with tasks such as shopping, gardening, prescription collection or even a companionship phone call had somewhere to go to ask for help.
Colleagues loved the new way of flexible volunteering, and provided help across the region and even carried out companionship calls with people in London. The initiative wasn’t picked up just by Society colleagues; people within the region loved the app and started to help their own local area — now over 1,000 missions have been com- pleted across the North East.
The feedback from local people has proved how important even a small amount of volunteering can be for an individual. One resident calls a volunteer her ‘guardian angel’, and another said he was so happy to receive a simple companionship call, he was left with tears in his eyes.
Volunteering through the onHand app is not the only way colleagues have volun- teered to help out their local communities. Many provide coaching and mentoring support to younger people through the Society’s partnership with the Prince’s Trust, whilst others help out at their local food banks, volunteer at charity shops and give them time through sports coaching and trusteeship.
Figure 1 Iain - Branch Proposition Develop- ment Manager volunteers to collect shop- ping
As well as volunteering, the Society has continued to support its communities through community grants given via its Community Fund at the Community Foun- dation. Since 2016 the financial support through grants and donations from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund at the Community Foundation which benefits local causes has surpassed £2.1m. 15 Figure 2 The Community Fund surpassed £2m in 2019 (Pre-Covid)
This fund supports a huge number of charities, projects and partnerships across the region, and recent grants have helped the Gosforth-based charity Smile for Life and Newcastle-based Smart Works who support women looking for work. In 2021 the Society is directing its support to a range of projects tackling issues linked to em- ployability and food poverty charities, as part of helping its communities manage, mitigate and recover from the impacts of Covid-19.
Figure 3 Gosforth Based charity Smile for Life
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, in March the Society also made a £100,000 contribution to help launch the Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund set up by the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. This fund has now surpassed £3m. Community means everything to Newcastle Building Society, and the pandemic has shown that even more than before, it’s important to help out if you can.
If you’d like to get involved with onHand, visit https://www.beonhand.co.uk/. Or if you’d like to speak to someone, Newcastle Building Society’s branch team on Gosforth High Street is ‘on hand’ to help with any questions you may have.
Christopher’s Why I Like Retirement! continued Question: Why do retirees count pennies? Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.
16 return to contents On Being a Volunteer
You don’t have to be retired to be a volunteer, but it cer- tainly helps. Some people with jobs, families and busy lives find time to help out a charity or other cause (there are many examples at St. George’s), but it isn’t easy. Con- versely, you don’t have to be a volunteer to be retired, but, in my view, that certainly helps, too. Sure, there are plenty of other things to do, and it is a question of balance, but doing something different, interesting and, above all, worthwhile, is a good use of anyone’s time and talents.
The range and extent of organisations relying on volunteers is immense. What do you fancy? Helping out at Beamish or a National Trust property? Being a hospital visitor or helping in the hospital shop? Driving a minibus transporting hospital pa- tients? Conservation groups need help with landscape maintenance and improve- ment, such as tree planting. There are so many groups needing support with all sorts of worthwhile projects.
One retired friend found great satisfaction sorting books at the Oxfam bookshop. Another loves meeting people and chatting to them in a charity shop. A less socia- ble soul spends many hours sorting, collating and digitising photographs and films at the Side Photographic Gallery. Yet another has developed his practical skills re- storing, maintaining and sailing traditional boats at the NE Maritime Trust. A musi- cian friend, now sadly moved away, played the piano to visitors at Wallington Hall.
Some utilise their professional experience and skills as volunteers. Their expertise continues to develop, and they make important contributions to the voluntary sec- tor. When I retired, I wanted to do something completely different. Being both sad- dened and appalled that our society, so much more affluent than when I grew up, has so many people who are in real need, I applied to the People’s Kitchen. I knew a little of their work feeding the homeless. Only during the induction process did I learn how much they do, not only feeding, but supporting in all sorts of ways those needing help.
The Kitchen is run entirely by volunteers: there are no paid staff. All have their al- lotted roles. Many prepare or serve food, of course. Others are counsellors, advis- 17 ing and helping our clients (we call them “friends”) with practical, emotional or other problems. Others are in the background, undertaking organisational or admin tasks. They raise funds, recruit and support the volunteers, keep the properties in good or- der, maintain vehicles, sort goods in the warehouse, etc. There are gardeners work- ing at the allotment, supplying fresh fruit and veg. By pure accident, my role is as a van driver.
I am one of a team of drivers, working throughout the week. We collect from those many organisations who donate food and other supplies. Each round has its regular calls, but also visits those making one-off donations, such as a restaurant that has had a function cancelled or a factory clearing stock, etc.
Stocks of non-perishable goods are stored at the warehouse, to be sorted into type and date order, and where orders for each day’s meals are assembled. Part of the drivers’ routine is moving goods between the warehouse and the kitchen, and vice versa.
Harvest Festival and the pre-Christmas periods are the busiest times. Many schools and churches support the Kitchen with Harvest Festival collections, and so many gen- erous people make collections before Christmas. This is extra work for the drivers. It can be interesting and great fun, especially when school kids bring their proudly col- lected goods out to the van, to get their photos taken for the school website.
I enjoy and benefit from the physical work, lifting and moving loads during a non- stop, active day. I have learnt some new skills, including how to secure stacks of trays so they don’t fall over when the van is moving. (Clearing up cream cakes from the van floor reinforced that lesson.) I visit interesting places like behind the scenes in supermarkets and factories. I have got to know some really lovely people among the other volunteers, and met and learnt about some of the friends and their stories. Working every Friday adds structure to the week. I get home after a hard day’s work and the week- end starts here!
Delivering Easter Eggs during Covid
18 return to contents FUNERAL DIRECTORS
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19 Eco Field Trip – a practical day in!
In mid-May, the Eco group organised a practical field trip to our very own buildings, looking for opportunities to save energy with simple housekeeping or minor maintenance tasks. The Church of England advises that, before starting in on major projects to replace the heating or insulate the building, it makes sense to do the ‘quick fixes’ first. A number of us had attended the Church’s webinar called ‘Housekeeping and Quick Fixes’. We used that advice to create a checklist of tasks specif- ic to St. George’s.
Along with the Eco group members, Ian Spencer joined us to provide expert advice on the Church boiler and on everything to do with lighting. We split into groups of 2 to do checks in both the Church and the Hall on:
a. The boilers, frost stats and lagging b. The heating timers c. Radiators, fan convectors and other heating d. Draughts e. Lighting – opportunities to move to LEDs.
Hilary checking the windows for draughts
We had access to a thermal infra-red imaging camera, so we could see whether the radiators had a build-up of sludge inside as well as the location of draughts (cold spots under doors, for example). Many of us now know considerably more about the heating and lighting of our buildings!
The findings were summarised into a list of projects. Most of them are simple actions such as using a draft excluder under the door on the north side of the Church. The Tuesday Group are seeing which of the smaller projects they can help with. There are also some larger projects, which the Eco group will need to tackle. For example, the Hall boiler is old and inefficient - we can save quite some money if we could re- place it with a modern condensing boiler. The next step is to specify what we need and get some quotes in. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the enormous gaps around 20 the main door to the Hall – that door provides really no effective barrier to heat loss to the outside. Unfortunately, it is also very difficult to see what we can do about this, short of replacing the doors completely, or providing another set of well-sealed internal doors to keep the cold out of the building.
It was a fun session and will keep a number of us busy over the next few months! Kay Plumley return to contents
Whole Site Plan Update
Good news: At their meeting on Monday 7th June, the PCC voted to support The Whole Site Plan, which amongst other things, aims to provide a ‘Reflection Room’ to the north of the church and to remodel and refurbish the Church Hall. The vote was 8 in favour and 1 against with 2 ab- stentions.
Great efforts to raise sufficient funds will be required. But, for the moment, the deci- sion entails:
*Support for the Whole Site Plan *Work to seek approval for the external surfaces of the ‘Reflection Room’ and for a ‘tree management plan’ [final requirements of the planning permission] *The submission of details on large-scale plans for the approval of works to windows and window mullions in the Church Hall with the aim of securing the 21 consent and fitting secondary glazing, the latter in line with a project pursued by the Eco Group’ to reduce the carbon footprint of the Hall
We will update as the scheme progresses. David Cullingford, Derek Nicholson and Graham Hatt
Here’s a quick update on Livestreaming…
After much research and discussion, I am pleased to say that we have now installed our livestreaming system at St George’s. We ran a test recording for internal review at the 20th June 9.30 service and with a few adjustments we expect that we will be good to livestream our first service next Sunday, at 9.30 on 27th June. By the time you read this, I guess you may have already seen it!
This new system gives us a number of great opportunities. Members of the congre- gation will be able to take part in worship when they can’t physically get to church, for whatever reason. The system will also enable us to broadcast weddings and fu- nerals, and to enhance commercial offerings by having the ability to stream concerts, rehearsals, lectures and other occasions. It gives us the opportunity to connect with a much wider audience of all sorts, and will support our efforts to better engage with the outside world, and to use the church more fully.
The system consists of a ‘broadcast quality’ motorised camera which is mounted on a pole just below the central arch to the baptistry – see if you can spot it next time you are in church. This gives a great sight line for the nave. The camera has a 20x opti- cal zoom which allows very close up images for when people are speaking at the pul- 22 pit and lectern. It is connected directly to the sound system, so it picks up the same signal as the loudspeaker and in the trial, this worked well. We have installed hidden connection points for future cameras at both ends of the church, should we wish to expand the system in future.
To start livestreaming it is as simple as pressing a button. During the service, a hand -held remote control is used to move the camera between various pre-set posi- tions. This takes a bit of concentration. We will need a rota of people willing to oper- ate the camera because, as Church Warden, I should be engaged in other duties during the service. Anyone willing to take part in a rota to run the system should con- tact either myself or Jonathan in the Church Office, please.
For those of your worried about inadvertently starring on the St George’s YouTube channel, the camera angles have been set such that no members of the congregation will be filmed during the service. The only slight exception to this is for those people sitting in the first few rows of the centre aisle - we will see the back of your heads when you stand up.
To ensure that we comply with our safeguarding obligations, we will only livestream images of adults who have given consent for filming. During communion and at times where children are involved in the service, we will move the camera up to a high level view of the church, whilst still transmitting sound. Graham Hatt return to contents
St George’s Book Group
Our next book group meeting is on Wednesday 21 July at 8pm We will announce the name of the book chosen in the next Pew Sheet, with joining instructions. We will not have a meeting in August but will reconvene in early September.
Looking forward to seeing you
Anne Clark
23 St George's Cycling Group
Cyclists old, cyclists new, cyclists bold, cyclists blue, we asked for. Any ability level, we said. It’s not a race or competition, we stipulated. Routes on tarmac or compact- ed gravel, but not main roads we promised.
So, what did we get?
Well, we got most of the above - a mixed ability group happy to trundle along, glori- ous sunshine, a route as promised - but definitely no blue cyclists! We also set a precedent of having a coffee towards the end of the ride. Well, something needed to power us back up the hill from the Quayside. We also set a sixth rule: what happens on a ride stays on a ride, which means I cannot tell you who fell off, who kissed a nettle or who won the most talkative cyclist award. What I can tell you was that we cycled approximately 17 miles (+ the distance from home to the church and back), had some fun, a few giggles, and felt better off for the experience. So why not come and join us next time?
A moment of peace to set us on our way
Where we went
Evidence it was enjoyable!
If you are interested, either contact [email protected] or just turn up out- side the church hall on Wednesday 7th July at 10am and join us. Bring as many friends / children as you want. 24 The only rules are: • we go at the pace of the slowest, or at least stop regularly for them to catch up • it is not a race or competition of any kind • stops to look at the view / drink coffee / chat are de rigeur • you should at least have working brakes on your bike and a helmet if you wish to join us • we obey the Highway Code
Why? Fun, Fitness Friendship, and Fresh Air!
Any advice for beginners (and others)? Yes - • If you have never ridden a bike before, email me now to discuss how to learn the basics: [email protected] • If you have a serviceable bike of any kind and used to know how to ride it: just turn up and we will help you get re-started! • If you want to do some prep, visit: https://www.cyclinguk.org/advice-beginners • Will we spurn people on electric bikes? - No, they would be welcome • Can children join in? - yes • Do you need to be all lycra’d up? Absolutely not. Graham Rutt return to contents
St George’s Walking Group
Our next walk is on Saturday 3rd July. Please meet at 9.30am at Church. We plan to walk to Segedunum along Hadrian’s Way and then catch the Metro back. We may continue to the Pedestrian Tunnel and catch the Metro back from Jarrow. [It is about 6.5 miles to Segedunum]
Please contact me if you have any other ideas for walks starting at St George’s. Hilary Pitkethly 25
Sirs,
When so described, one is led to see the problem as rural. It is not. In urban parish- es, too, the weight of a diocesan, bishop leaning bias is creating a centralised hierar- chy of little relevance to parish life. Here in Newcastle upon Tyne, for example, the cathedral is having millions spent upon it, while parishes, struggling to raise their “share” , see church after church struggling to maintain both service and fabric. The Church of England needs, if I may borrow a London phrase, “levelling up”.
Yours faithfully Dr Jon Gower Davies
26 Recipe - Summer Beetroot Risotto
Ingredients 1 vacuum pack of cooked beetroot (No vinegar) 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 3 shallots or ½ large onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, finely diced 200g arborio rice 1 largish glass of white wine 250 ml beetroot juice (You can get this in Waitrose and Sainsburys long life juice shelf) a few tablespoons of chopped fresh tarragon, leaves picked 1 vegan stock cube dissolved in 750 ml boiling water vegan ricotta, to garnish (optional) (If not vegan then some grilled goats cheese goes brilliantly as a garnish)
Method Heat the oil in a wide, heavy, based saucepan. Add the onion, garlic, a pinch of salt and some black pepper and cook gently for 5 mins until softened. Add the rice to the pan and cook for 5 mins, until the rice starts to turn translucent. Add the wine and boil rapidly, stirring continuously, until the liquid has evaporated. Meanwhile, pour the beetroot juice and vegetable stock into a saucepan and set over a low heat. Add a ladleful of the hot beetroot stock to the rice and stir until the liquid is almost absorbed. Continue adding the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly until it has all been incorporated. This will take about 30 – 35 mins. The rice should be soft but still have a little bite in the centre. Stir in the chunks of beetroot and then the tarragon. Spoon into bowls Finish with the vegan ricotta or grilled goat’s cheese and garnish with the tarragon.
Enjoy: this is best served warm rather than piping hot.
return to contents 27 Brent’s Home Covid Test.
1. Open a can of beer and try to smell it. 2. If you can smell the beer, drink it to see if you can taste it. 3. If you can taste and smell it, you don’t have covid….
Last night I did the test 15 times to make sure, and all were negative. Tonight I’m go-
Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire? Answer: NUTS! CS
28 Large, wheeled black suitcase for offer
Large, wheeled, 'wardrobe' type, black suitcase for of- fer. [Suitable for Easyjet trips to reduce luggage charg- es, for example].
Dimensions roughly: 70 x 30 x 50cm. Used only once.
Please contact Sue by email at suegoldiek- [email protected] to view
A donation to St George’s would be very welcome
return to contents 29 Orthodoxy: Two Russian Cathedrals in London
London Russian Orthodox Cathedral And now for something completely different for those of you used to the comfort of sit- ting in a pew - at the Russian Orthodox ca- thedral in London, a church without pews, and one where the weak really still do go to the walls, where there are a few seats. Beautiful, but so different. The visitor is almost hit by a wall of a rather sweet- smelling variety of incense. Here I discov- ered that incense is not a single entity. The use of incense dates back to pre-historic Egypt and Neolithic China, if not beyond. It was used to overcome the bad smells of human habitation, repel insects and for aromatherapy, as well as for the ceremonies of religion, spirituality, meditation, and, later, for simple pleasure. Its constituents vary according to what is locally available. Frankincense is but one variety, a resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. However, some areas’ raw materials were clearly deemed better than others’, and trading in incense materials comprised a major part of commerce along the Silk Road. The Incense Road of Antiquity stretched from Mediterranean ports across the Levant and Egypt through Northeastern Africa and Arabia to India and flourished between the 7th cen- tury BC and the 2nd century AD. The variety in use here just before I arrived was a heady brew.
The parish originated in 1716 in the chapel of the Russian Embassy. The cathedral itself is newer. Built in 1849 as the Anglican Church of All Saints, in 1955 it was given to the use of the Russian Orthodox parish and has developed a multinational pan- Orthodox tradition. It is built in the form of a basilica in the Lombard style, and mod- elled on the eleventh century basilica of San Zeno Maggiore in Verona, instead of the then conventional Gothic style. During the reconstruction in 1891-1892, the western facade acquired its current appearance as a copy of that basilica. Inside it has balco- nies on two sides and the most highly polished wooden floor that I have ever seen. In the middle is a strip of exquisite marble inlayed floor. I could almost see my reflec- tion in it. In two lines leading up to the screen of icons were a series of what ap- 30 peared to be lecterns. Closer inspection revealed that on their upper sloping surface was an icon covered with glass. The reason for the glass became apparent when a series of visitors approached the “lecterns” and touched the image beneath the glass as they prayed, then crossed themselves. In the body of the apparent lecterns are relics of the saints portrayed in the icons.
Particularly noteworthy is the decoration above the tall arches executed by Heywood Sumner in sgraffito, a technique in which a superficial layer of plaster is cut away to reveal underlying colours. Above the arch over the east end of the cathedral is the figure of Christ on the Cross, with the four evangelists represented by their symbols. At the west end are six circular designs indicating the six days of Creation. The mu- rals along the upper parts of the walls of the nave depict biblical scenes and saints, among them St Mar- garet, the patron saint of the original mother parish church. There is of course no visible altar, the icon screen behind which all the action takes place being impenetrable Although you can see over the Royal Doors, you cannot see at a height that shows you anything. The doors were rescued from the chapel of the Russian embassy in London after the revolution of 1917. The icons on the screen were painted at vari- ous times by three students of the celebrated Russian iconographer Leonid Ouspensky. Many of the other icons around the cathedral are the gifts of local fami- lies.
I was approached by the lady who was sweeping the non-existent dust from the floor, and by sign language was asked to move a table and place it elsewhere. The lecterns were rearranged and then another passerby was asked, in Russian, to erect two collapsible tables for the cleaner. There being no signs in English, I could only guess what was to happen next. It seemed an unlikely place for a bring-and-buy stall, and an even less likely one for a refreshment point. Here the cathedral shop was “open” but closed. The history of the Orthodox Church is complex. This cathedral is now the cathedral church of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh, Moscow Patriarchate’s Diocese for Great Britain and Ireland. However, there exists in Chiswick another cathedral that my research at the time had missed. The Holy Dormition Ca- thedral in Chiswick is the cathedral church of the deanery of Great Britain and Ire- 31 land, part of the Episcopal Vicariate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. ROCOR was formed as a jurisdiction of Eastern Orthodoxy in response to the policy of the Bolsheviks on religion in the Soviet Union soon after the Russian Revolution of 1917. It separated from the Russian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in 1927 after the imprisoned Metropolitan Sergius Stragorodsky pledged the Church’s qualified loy- alty to the Bolshevik state. After decades of separation, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia officially signed the Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate on May 17, 2007, restoring the canonical link between the churches. Here in London, a substantial part of the clergy and laity promptly voted to leave the Moscow Patriarchate and join the Episcopal Vicariate. This was challenged by the Moscow Patriarchate and in 2009 the High Court decided, according to its Trust Deeds, it should remain with the adherents of the Moscow Patriarchate. The moves towards restoration of canonical relations between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriar- chate also saw the departure in January 2007 of a number of missions elsewhere in Britain for the Greek Orthodox Synod in Resistance. However understandable in origin, the “sin” of disunity was becoming overwhelming.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Royal Martyrs This cathedral is hidden round a corner in a quiet secluded back street. It too is beautiful, with a clean, white exterior. When I visited, I found a very dark, scaffolded interior, with voices coming from above in Russian - one deep and male with an oc- casional young, female interjection. There was no immediate sense of where they were coming from or how one could get there. The voice sounded friendly enough though. At the back on either side was a bench against the wall. One side was occu- pied by a man with a mobile phone and earphones who kept standing up and leaping forward two paces for no apparent reason, staring from side to side, as if looking for something, before sitting down again. The other side was empty. I took the empty one.
Gradually, my eyes accustomed to the gloom. Such windows as there are, are so small and high that they could never let enough warmth or light inside to be effec- tive. That did not stop it being beautiful be- Only the dome is light - tween the scaffolding. Above the white low- the rest is in darkness 32 er walls there are multiple scenes from the bible painted against a gentle blue back- ground which makes sure that the huge figures are not overbearing in such a small building. Similarly, there is an extensive golden background to the numerous icons on the iconostasis. A massive but skeletal candelabra hangs from chains fixed at three points inside the dome, the only bright part of the building. A cleaning lady went about her work despite the scaffolding, conscientiously polishing every square inch of every surface.
The cathedral parish was the mother parish of the diocese, having grown out of the original Russian Parish in London. It remained faithful to The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in 1926 and worshipped in St Philip’s Buckingham Palace Road until 1956 before moving to Emperors Gate. In 1986 it had to find a new home when notice was served on its lease. Initially using a hall attached to a house in Gunnersbury, a new cathedral was built in Pskov Style and opened in 1999. The moves towards restoration of canonical relations between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate in January 2007 resulted in the monastic Brotherhood of St Edward in Brookwood, who ran the place, leaving to join the Greek Orthodox Synod in Re- sistance. The diocese had been reconstituted not long before my visit in 2017, and officers appointed for the first time for many years. The beautiful cathedral was al- most complete and was currently being frescoed in preparation for its full consecra- tion. Returning to admire the outside, I looked up and noticed the bright, blue, star speckled dome. It turned out that the voices had been coming from a balcony behind where I had been sitting. Lesson over, some sixteen extremely small Russian people left happily chatting to each other and disappeared into the adjoining house.
Although the camera can hide everything, including the dark- ness it seems.
Blink, and you might miss this little gem
33 References: www.sourozh.org/ and www.russianchurchlondon.org/en/ Wikipedia articles: Russian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland, Russian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland#Relations_with_other_local_Orthodox_churches Russian_Orthodox_Church_Outside_Russia, Archdiocese_of_Russian_Orthodox_churches_in_Western_Europe#Deanery_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland
Can you spot HF?
return to contents 34 Church Calendar - Year B - July 2021
Henry, John, and Henry Venn the younger, Priests, Evangelical Divines, 1 1797, 1813 and 1873
3 Thomas the Apostle
Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation 6 Martyrs, 1535
Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, 11 c.550
14 John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866
Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862. 15 Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
16 Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099
Elizabeth Ferard, first Deaconess of the Church of England, Founder of the 18 Community of St Andrew, 1883 Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, Teachers of the 19 Faith, c.394 and c.379
Margaret of Antioch, Martyr, 4th century 20 Bartolomé de las Casas, Apostle to the Indies, 1566
22 Mary Magdalene
23 Bridget of Sweden, Abbess of Vadstena, 1373
25 James the Apostle
26 Anne and Joachim, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
27 Brooke Foss Westcott, Bishop of Durham, Teacher of the Faith, 1901
29 Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Companions of Our Lord
William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clark- 30 son, Anti-Slavery Campaigners, 1833, 1797 and 1846
31 Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556 35 August 2021
4 Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d’Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859
5 Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642
6 The Transfiguration of Our Lord
7 John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866
8 Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221
9 Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers’ Union, 1921
10 Laurence, Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258
Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253 11 John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890
Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667 13 Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social Reformer, 1910 Octavia Hill, Social Reformer, 1912
14 Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941
15 The Blessed Virgin Mary
Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153 20 William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890
24 Bartholomew the Apostle
27 Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430
29 The Beheading of John the Baptist
30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688
31 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651
36 Understanding the Calendar: ‘Principal Feasts’ and other ‘Principal Holy Days’ are printed in Red Bold type. ‘Festivals’ are printed in Red typeface; Other Sundays & ‘Lesser Festivals’ in ordinary Black. ‘Commemorations’ are printed in italics.
EVANS of jesmond opticians
William R. McCall BSc Hons GOC 01-15082
28 Acorn Road, Jesmond Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2DJ Telephone: 0191 281 4145
Lance Publication Dates
Articles, etc for The Lance to be received no later than the 15th of each month Send to: [email protected] Thank you, Margaret
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The Diocese of Newcastle upon Tyne Parish of St George, Jesmond
We are a Church of England (Anglican) church in the Diocese of Newcastle with an inclusive, catholic tradition of Christian worship. We welcome all in Christ’s name.
Vicar: Revd Canon Brian Hurst tel: 0191 281 1628 email: [email protected]
Curate: Revd Stephanie Keates tel: 0191 281 5018 email: [email protected]
Curate: Revd Derek Avery (SSM) tel: 07803 590542 email: [email protected]
Reader and Mrs Joan Grenfell email: [email protected] Anna Chaplain:
Safeguarding Officer: Dr Sue Vernon tel: 07411 099690 email: [email protected]
Children and Emily Gibson email: [email protected] Young People:
Churchwardens: Mrs Louise Chapman email: [email protected] Mr Graham Hatt tel: 07739 324717 email: [email protected]
Organist Emeritus: Mr Frederick Peacock BEM tel: 0191 281 4755 email: [email protected]
Bell Tower Captain: Mr Geoff White tel: 0191 285 1405 email: [email protected]
Parish Secretary: Jonathan Richards tel: 0191 281 1659 07422693727 email: [email protected]
PASTORAL CARE - Any Pastoral concerns or commendations should be made to Joan Grenfell or a member of the clergy.
38 ENQUIRIES CONCERNING BAPTISMS MARRIAGES FUNERALS Initial enquiries should be directed to the Parish Office, which is open Monday to Fri- day, 9.30am to 12.30pm. tel: 0191 281 1659 or 07422693727 or
The Parish Office, St George’s Close, Jesmond NE2 2TF email: [email protected] ______Find out more about St George’s Church: Website: www.stgeorgesjesmond.org.uk Facebook: St-Georges-Church-Jesmond Twitter: @stgeorgejesmond return to contents
And what happened to Kevin?
Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage? Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.
Question: What do retirees call a long lunch? Answer: Normal.
CS
39 Welcome to St. George’s To arrange a Church Jesmond subscription to THE LANCE, We are a Church of England (Anglican) please ring the Parish Office church, part of Jesmond life since 1888, on 2811659 with a congregation from the locality, the city and the region. We aim to be friendly,
diverse and to welcome all in Christ’s name. Our worship is inclusive and in the catholic SUNDAY SERVICES tradition, with high quality music. If you are 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 PARISH COMMUNION with new to this area, or would like to find out Sunday School (age 3-7) more, please get in touch. Smarties (age 8-12) Website: Children’s corner available in church www.stgeorgesjesmond.org.uk 11.30 Holy Communion Facebook: St-Georges-Church-Jesmond 18.00 Taize (2nd Sunday of month) 18.00 Choral Evensong (3rd Sunday) Twitter: @stgeorgejesmond email: [email protected] WEEKDAY SERVICES 08.45 Daily: Morning Prayer Articles for publication to: 09.30 Thursday: Holy Communion [email protected] 08.00 Friday: Holy Communion by 15th of every month Saints’ Days as announced
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