ASTON TIRROLD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ASTON TIRROLD UNITED SPRING LANE, ASTON TIRROLD, DIDCOT, OXFORDSHIRE OX11 9EJ
REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Revd Ulrike Bell 26 Rectory Road, Great Haseley, OX44 7JQ 01844 279772 [email protected]
Secretary: Julian Gallop 16a New Road, East Hagbourne OX11 9JU 01235 813599 [email protected]
Treasurer John Spencer (until mid-December 2012) Springdale House, Springdale, Wallingford 01491 839193 OX10 0HQ. [email protected]
Serving Elders John Garvey 01235 771027 Ann Morton 01491 832350 John Spencer 01491 839193 Sheila Conacher 01491 598307 Elke Asmus 01189 665557 NEWSLETTER Ruth Smith 01235 210359 Julie Young 01189 722097 Please feel free to contact any Elder at any time AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2012 Centre Co-ordinator & Bookings Secretary Hester Wilk 01235 850423 [email protected]
-1- Dear friends, In June, the congregation here experienced a service led by Andrew McBirnie and James Shearer and supported by the music group. James reflected on the Welcome to the Aston Tirrold URC newsletter for August to October. Reformed tradition that led us to where we are today and Andrew described the background and people behind the words and music that we sang. On 2 I write this at about halfway point in the Olympic Games in London. Margaret September, in the afternoon, there will be a service of celebration followed by and I have been at the roadside for one of the events and seen the men's a party, which Ulrike Bell, Elke Asmus and Tessa Mayhew have been planning. peloton ride by. Because this is a time when the sports come together, I find myself absorbing the mysteries of sports I was previously only aware of. I appreciate the respectful bows that the competitors make before they begin to As I believe all readers of this newsletter now know, our friend and minister attempt to throw each other on the floor and hold each other in an impossible for 28 years (1967 to 1995) Gordon Harris died in June. At the service of grip. Competitors have talked about their dreams and what has happened to thanksgiving in Oxford, there were moving recollections from colleague those dreams. Stephen Haine, from his son John and from Rev Ulrike Bell. I recall his talents, his insight, his power and his vulnerability. I am sure that the prayers of our If you are observant, you will have noticed that this newsletter is for 3 months readers are with Jean and the family at this time. instead of the previous practice of every two. A small group has met to plan how we do our publicity within the church and it realised that, when planned Your friend and church secretary, events change, the newsletter has not been issued often enough to reflect that change. We are also concerned about posting and printing costs. So the Julian Gallop church is starting a monthly bulletin, single sided with the events for the coming month. This will be distributed electronically where possible and printed for those regular attenders who do not use email. Doing this will allow the newsletter to be every three months; it will continue to be reflective and I am sure you are noticing a few changes in this issue. We would also like to distribute the newsletter electronically where possible. The editor Julie Young Four-day fencing competition – en garde ! Or in garden! does appreciate hearing from you about the newsletter, whether in praise or telling her of something that could be improved, and I do encourage you to give The wooden fence running from the wall beside the vestry to the end of the her feedback. children's playground has been completely replaced, over three days in late This year Aston Tirrold URC is reflecting on its origins in the upheaval in June, inevitably dodging in and out of rain showers. political and religious life in 1662. Where the C of E is commemorating the Book of Common Prayer in that same year, the URC commemorates the Church volunteers did the initial site preparation, involving: • founding of a network of congregations, gathering in response to Acts of taking apart a compost heap adjacent to the existing fence and piling the Parliament that made activities of religious dissent illegal and welcoming compost on a couple of ground sheets, for later reinstatement. This kept ministers who had been ejected from their living. It is a time for reflecting on John Roddan and James happy for hours, John reverting to his earlier that tradition and for thinking more deeply where we are now. farming life with gusto. -3- -2- removing the old fence panels – which proved to be much easier than expected, since in many cases it just meant leaning against them, after a Following advice, James demolished the upper part of the Leaning Pillar and bit of preliminary work with a jemmy. Peg and Julian led the way on this then cleared fallen material from the edge of the remaining wall and leaned one, and soon had a substantial pile of redundant material ready for two flagstones against it to give it support. Later Charlton and Alan added removal to the tip. This included a considerable quantity of ivy, for it some concrete to keep it in place. transpired that the easiest way to remove ivy from a fence was by taking • The real work of the day, fence erection, now proceeded apace, with post the fence panel down! holes dug, fence posts inserted and concreted in, stringers inserted, and • Removing the fence panels revealed the rather sorry state of the end of the gravel boards installed. Then a start was made on fastening the overlapping wall behind the fence – the Leaning Pillar of Aston, very unstable. James panel strips. made plans to stabilise it the next day. Finally came Friday, again with a 7am start. • removing the old fence posts followed – again an easier than expected task, • Charlton used the chain saw to remove some old stumps and branches that except that some of the posts were attached to very substantial concrete we had not been able to get at from the Centre side of the fence. posts, and it was quite difficult to separate them. But John and Julian with • Charlton and Alan fixed the remaining panels to the fence, and then added jemmy, heavy hammer and enthusiasm got them apart and soon more the capping rails, providing a firm and solid structure. waste wood had joined the pile. • James worked further on the Centre side of the wall, installing two more • carrying the new fence materials – posts, stringers, panel strips, capping flagstones to hold the bank back beside the shed. rails, gravel boards, support strips etc – down to the site filled in the rest of • Gerald and Georgina worked tirelessly with their chain saw to cut up the the day. branches in the car park. In the end they had two trailer-loads for fuel to Then we were ready for the contractor. dispose of! • John and James rebuilt the compost heap container, and added the top half Contractors start early – at 7am - This was the beginning of a full and very busy of the compost to it so it could rot further. The rest is available for use by day. The contractors (Charlton and Alan) began by checking the site with us, Sue as it is well rotted already. and discussing with our neighbour Sue Wilcox about overhanging tree issues • John and James had a smashing time demolishing the remaining old and other matters. Then to work: concrete fence post supports, and cutting out the reinforcing rods. • Charlton and Alan started removing overhanging branches from some of the After a clean up, all that could be done then had been done, and everyone trees, and then cutting down completely one very rotten cedar tree and one congratulated themselves and each other on a job well done. misshapen and fence-nudging leylandi. • Meantime all sorts of people arrived and started trundling the old fence And a surprise: in tidying up by the damson tree and shed, we unearthed a debris to the contractor's trailer. We also added the cut-off branches, while previously unknown sewage inspection cover! A labelled flagstone is now placed removing the substantial parts of the cut-down trees to the car park. By the over it and there is a note pinned to the shed. We hope we never need to get end of the day the trailer was piled about 2 metres high with waste material. access, but now at least we can.
Many thanks to all concerned. James & Peg Shearer -4- -5- The Three Hares In this country there are numerous examples, dating mainly from the 15 th century. It is known from floor tiles in Chester Cathedral and from bosses in St David’s Cathedral and Selby Abbey. I have seen another example of a roof-boss in the little parish church of St Pancras at Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Devon. Some link it with the tin-miners of the West Country, but it is found in many other places, not least in Fareham. My own favourite is in a mediaeval glass window above the north door of the Great Church of the Holy Trinity at Long Melford in Suffolk, one of the finest parish churches in the country. This dates In the June/July edition of the newsletter, the Minister wrote of the Three Hares from the late 15 th century. as a symbol of the Trinity, not knowing its origin. I offer some information. The origin of this symbol of Three Hares cannot be precisely defined, as it could The earliest known example is in a Buddhist cage temple near Dunhuang in be from a number of different sources. It begs the question as to whether it China, dating from about the 7 th century. Dunhuang stands where the Silk Road might have a deeper meaning that we have not yet found. I do hope we can go crosses the Great Wall of China. The symbol is believed to have come from on searching for it. Mongol culture, from where it spread along the great trade routes. It is also found in ancient Egyptian, as well as Islamic and Jewish settings. Coins from The Revd David Bunney. ancient Persia display it, as does a Russian reliquary casket preserved in Trier cathedral in Germany. One particularly fine example is carved in stone in a cloister window in the cathedral of Paderborn, others are known in Alsace and the Vosges. This suggests that its origins lie in northern Europe rather than in eastern society. Such a symbol was included in a woodcut of the Virgin Mary by Albrecht Dürer dating from 1498. It was also used in textiles, among oriental patterns that moved east after the Crusaders reached Constantinople in 1204.
As a symbol of the Holy Trinity it is both amusing and meaningful. Each hare (or Is there silence at the centre of sound? rabbit) has two ears, but there are only three between them. So each one has to or is there sound at the centre of silence, be shared with others if it is to be effective. Its meaning is by no means an OM restricted to Christian thought. Some regard it as a symbol of fertility, or of to which we are attuned femininity. Some link it with the lunar cycle. The hare is included in the legend or to which we strive to attune ourselves, of the Budha, who made friends with all animals. When he was about to depart an I AM his life he called them all to bid farewell. Only twelve animals came, among in whom our being is them the hare. Chinese society has a cycle of twelve years, named after each of and no Other – them. Peg Shearer
-6- -7- Large and small stones (representing the living stones of community) are in Quiet Gardens and around a small pool, – the surface of the water reflecting light- A stream of water, bubbling out of the top of a large rock (Moses striking the rock) – , a conversation seat where individuals can reflect together – a stone disk Recently the Quiet Garden Movement celebrated their 20 th sculpture, cut through at an angle, on the theme of light and dark, called anniversary at Worth Abbey in Sussex (where ‘The Big Silence’ TV ‘Glimpses’-, a quotation from Isaiah 58 carved in slate ‘ You will be like a series was filmed). Esther de Waal (a patron of the Movement) was well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail’;- a summer the main speaker together with the founder and director Rev Philip house, which has become a poustinia for listening in the silence;- many plants Roderick. More than 250 QG hosts and supporters came in the and bushes, some changing colour through the seasons. pouring rain to share the special occasion. The first Quiet Garden to open 20 years ago was at Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire and our It was such an encouragement meeting so many friends from different Quiet Quiet Garden at Aston Tirrold joined the Movement 14 years ago. Gardens. Some even braved the rain to visit the Worth Abbey Quiet Garden. Since the celebrations coincided with my retirement from the QG chaplaincy after 9 years, I was asked to share a few reflections, In the week following Worth Abbey, I led a day at Burghfield Quiet Garden, during which I talked about our Quiet Garden in Aston Tirrold:- spending time reflecting on that story of Moses in Exodus 3, and exploring the possibilities of conversation with God through his creation. Hence a poem;- ….We began with a grassed space about 15 ft wide, surrounding the Centre for Reflection. We chose a theme ‘Outer Landscape, Inner Journey’. This connection between our spiritual journey and creation around us is, I believe, so significant. Deep red acer against a grey sky promising much, revealing so little. Coming into a Quiet Garden can be, for many, similar to a Moses Can this Quiet Garden answer why experience. Like Moses, we turn aside from what we are doing, find the stillness moves my world to tears? something significant to us in the landscape, reflect on its meaning and connection for us with God the Creator. The invitation is to Deep red acer against a grey sky burning a desire within my soul recognise that we are on holy ground, to hear a voice in our hearts, Can this one tree inspire a sigh that may speak to our personal situation – maybe a reassurance or a for space, for silence in a desert place? possible change of direction.
-8- -9- Deep red acer against a grey sky draw me in and speak my name Can just one leaf bring tongues of fire and turn my life upside down?
Deep red acer against a grey sky embracing my heart with joyous love Can all creation sing on high and touch this sacred ground with holy grace?
Although it is ten years since I let go of Aston Tirrold Centre for Reflection and its Quiet Garden, the garden still offers a fresh inspiration to me and to many others, who continue to come and sit in the stillness.
As we get older, there always seems so many losses and letting go’s, restrictions and limitations, yet the Quiet Garden is one of the few places, where imagination and creativity are celebrated. The connection between the waiting in stillness and the seeing of gifts in creation remains, to draw me on to another step in my spiritual journey.
So this is my chance to thank all of you, who have travelled with me, in whatever way through Aston Tirrold Quiet Garden. To Bill Bradshaw for the wonderful gift of his time and expertise to garden for us. To both Peg and James Shearer, for being able to participate in our Quiet Garden days and at the same time lay on excellent lunches for visiting friends – a double thank you! May our shared journey together in the Quiet Garden at Aston Tirrold, long continue.
Grace and Love Keith
-10- CHURCH CALENDAR – AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2012
August Sun 5 10.30 Morning Worship with Communion led by Revd David Bunney Wallingford Food Bank collection Sun 12 10.30 Morning Worship led by Revd Bruce Keeble Sun 19 10.30 Morning Worship led by Most Revd Trevor Twentyman Sun 26 10.30 Morning Worship led by Revd John Sturney
September Sun 2 2pm Afternoon Service led by Revd Ulrike Bell followed by our party to celebrate 1662 and 1972/2012 Anniversaries Sun 9 10.30 Morning Worship led by Mr Robert Lewis followed by Church Meeting Film Group 2pm Sun 16 10.30 Morning Worship led by Miss Jean Stolton Mon 17 7.15pm Centre Management Meeting Fri 21 7pm Elders Meeting in the Centre for Reflection Sun 23 10.30 Morning Worship led by Mr Keith Whyte Sun 30 6pm Evening Worship led by Mrs Joanna Tulloch
October Sun 7 10.30 Morning Worship with Communion led by Revd Bruce Keeble Wallingford Food Bank collection Sun 14 10.30 HARVEST FESTIVAL - Morning Worship led by Ulrike Bell Film Group 2pm Sun 21 10.30 Morning Worship led by Revd John Sturney Sun 28 10.30 Morning Worship led by Revd David Bunney
November Sun 4 10.30 Morning Worship with Communion led by Revd Margaret Yee Walling ford Food Bank collection Tribute to Gordon
It seems extraordinary that Gordon has now walked out of our lives and the life of Aston Tirrold URC. He has been for so many years – before and after his retirement – so much a part of the fabric of the Church and community and, although in his later years he was a member of St. Columba’s Church in Oxford, his attachment to our little Church remained and was always important to him.
Gordon was, of course, a man of extraordinary creativity – in his music, singing, writing, preaching, linguistic, technological and other skills and his therapeutic work, but I want to say a bit especially about his ministry at Aston Tirrold. I, like many people, joined the Church partly out of dissatisfaction with experiences in previous churches. Personally, I had a longing to discover the relevance to me of the Gospels and I had a great hunger for the preaching of the word. I discovered that this longing was met in huge measure in the services Gordon provided, and in particular his sermons. I have seldom, before or since the time of his ministry, encountered sermons so rich in insights that we, in the pews could immediately apply them to our own lives. For me, the Gospels began to live and I know this experience was shared by many others. One would often hear comments after the services such as “That sermon seemed to have been addressed to me”.
The central core of Gordon’s preaching was, I believe, encapsulated in the words “You are accepted by God unconditionally. You are accepted without any need or ability to justify yourself”. He didn’t mean that we should rest on our laurels and not try to change in any way. He meant, I believe, that we did not need to justify our existence or carry large burdens of guilt (so often felt by Christians) which seem to indicate that we are unworthy in our own being and unacceptable to God so that we need to keep on justifying ourselves, or forever trying to do better as we are never good enough. This core message of Gordon’s was, I know having spoken to many people, experienced as an amazing relief and sense of release.
-11- -12- This message of unconditional love by God leads of course to an unconditional acceptance of each other and I think, at Aston Tirrold, our community has OXFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST tended to be an open and accepting group of people where people are not expected all to have similar belief systems but are accepted as pilgrims on our RIDE & STRIDE own journeys, being true to ourselves as we journey, hopefully, towards the same God. So I think Gordon’s core message did indeed create the ethos of acceptance which still imbues our congregation today.
I think all of us who are members of this Church will probably agree that since Gordon’s ministry ended we have attracted, and called, ministers of exceptional quality and I believe this is, at any rate in part, due to the ethos of the Church and the fact that ministers feel they can pursue their ministry and also pursue their own spiritual journey with us in an accepting environment. I hope that has been the case but certainly we have been very blessed, and continue to be so, as The Oxfordshire sponsored Ride and Stride (St/Ride) event will take place we journey with those, such as Ulrike now, who have chosen to pray and work on Saturday, 8 th September 2012, 10.00 am to 6.00 pm with us. This is an opportunity for cyclists and walkers to raise money for the So, thank you Gordon for working so hard and in so dedicated a way to shape Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (www.ohct.org.uk/bike.htm), which the direction in which the Church’s ministry developed and through your insight over the years has given several million pounds in grants to churches of and foresight to bring the Bible alive as an accepting, and challenging many denominations within the county. About half of this money has been experience for many people. I hope that your message will live on in the hearts raised by the annual St/Rides. of those who continue to hear and experience it. The Ride and Stride is also an effective way of raising funds for Aston Ann Morton Tirrold URC, as 50% of the sponsorship money (excluding Gift Aid) comes back to the churches designated by the participants.
Last year we received notice and details of the event rather late in the year, and only Peg & James Shearer were able to take part, but they raised £140 in sponsorship, of which the half share of £70 came to ATURC. This year Peg and James will be away in September, but as we now have the Ride and Stride date for 2012, perhaps other members of the congregation would like to think about taking part.
-13- -14- Cyclists (Riders) and walkers (Striders) visit as many churches as they wish, United Reformed Church 350 years in the Astons selecting their own route from the list of local historic churches which will be provided, and obtaining sponsorship for the number of churches they visit. When they arrive at a church they will be greeted by a Welcomer who will sign Please come to our celebration! their sponsorship form, showing that they have visited the church. (Welcomers can also be sponsored and will have their own special sponsorship form, so this is an ideal role for those of us who feel that our riding and striding days are over!)
Further publicity is now available in the Centre. Please contact me by telephone or email if you would like sponsorship forms or need any more information.
Sheila ([email protected])
Traditional Punch and Judy Show CAKES PLEASE FOR OUR PARTY ON Beginners Barn Dance with Caller and Live Music 2ND SEPTEMBER LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES IF 2:00pm Festive Service (optional) POSSIBLE FRUIT, SPONGE, GERMAN, FRENCH, 3:00 – 5:15pm Tea Party in the garden of The Old Manse, RUSSIAN, (TO CONTINUE THE OLYMPIC THEME) CREAM, CUP CAKES, CHOCOLATE ETC... Baker Street PLEASE LET JULIE YOUNG KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE if wet in the Village Hall – WE NEED APPROX 40! HAPPY BAKING! Sunday, 2 September 2012
All free! All Welcome!
-15- -16- Dear Friends We thought it was time for the newsletter to have a makeover and so here it is! As Julian has explained in his letter, it will be produced quarterly from now on, partly in order to reduce the cost of printing/postage etc, but, as a monthly SATURDAY EVENTS: CENTRE FOR REFLECTION bulletin is now being produced, you will obtain more up to date information regarding Church and C4R activities from that. We are aiming to send as many The seventh in the series on “The Quiet Garden” copies of the newsletter as possible by email, but understand that some readers Poustinia – praying ways still prefer to receive it by post. We have continued over the years to subsidise the cost of producing the newsletter through church funds. However should you wish to make a donation towards the cost of printing and postage, we would be very grateful to receive one. (This can be Gift Aided if you are a UK tax payer and sent to John Spencer as acting treasurer). With the rising cost of postage the overall cost per newsletter is running at between £7 - £10 per annum. Please let me know, if you have not already notified us, whether you Saturday October 13 10am – 4pm would prefer to receive your newsletter by email. LEADER : Revd Keith Green Cost : £10 includes light lunch As always, I look forward to receiving any correspondence or articles you may wish to contribute and especially any feedback on the contents of the Love Bade me Welcome: newsletter. I was very pleased to receive from Revd David Bunney his insights George Herbert’s poem continues “yet my soul drew back”, Why? Why and research into the “Three Hares”. do we find the challenges to recognise and embody love so difficult? We It is especially good to have Ann Morton’s thoughts and memories of shall explore this mystery. Gordon’s life. We shall dearly miss him. Thank you to everyone who has Saturday November 3 rd 10am – 4pm contributed to this issue. I hope you continue to enjoy reading the newsletter in its slightly new LEADER : Trish Lyth Cost : £20 includes a light lunch format. All good wishes, WEEKDAY EVENING SPECIAL: Julie. Ferrying aircraft after WW2: Jacques Trainer will talk about his I am a UK tax payer and wish to make a Gift Aid donation to Aston Tirrold experiences, mainly whilst based at RAF Benson in the early 1960s, United Reformed Church. ferrying RAF Medium Range Transport aircraft, to and from the Far and Name: Post Code: Middle East. Friday September 14 at 7.30pm Cost: Donation Date:
-17- -18- Second Half of Life REGULAR OPEN GROUPS: Drop-in Art Days : Open art sessions giving the opportunity to be A day workshop at the Centre for Reflection creative in the widest sense. Themed days with the introduction of basic September 29th 2012 10am-4pm. techniques for you to explore in your own way. Small children welcome A day of stillness to consider your place on life’s journey, to find but there is no crèche. what is lost and experience the wonder of being held in grace: a day to find Sept 27: Printing. Oct 25: Basic design. Nov 22: Paper art. personal meaning in company with others. LEADERS : Rosemary Mader-Grayson and Anna Milloy TIME : 10 - 3.30pm Cost : Donation
Film Group We are indebted to Ken Clarke for taking on the role of Convenor of the Film Group. Our next film will be shown on September 9, and following that October 14. TIME : 2pm – 5pm. Break for Tea and Discussion. Cakes gratefully received. CONVENOR : Ken Clarke Cost : Suggested donation £5
Writing Group Come and use the quietness of the Centre to write and share your writing. New members welcome First Thursdays 2 – 4pm Cost : Donation CONVENOR : Margaret Gallop (or contact via the Centre Coordinator) A simple lunch is included. The day will be led by Elke Asmus Meditation Group and Margaret Gallop. Affiliated to the World Community for Christian Meditation. Cost: £20.00 for the day including a light lunch. We listen to a recording, meditate for 25 mins and then have a short Further Information: discussion relating to the recording. [email protected] First and Third Mondays from 5 – 6pm Venue: Aston Tirrold Centre for Reflection, OX11 9EJ CONVENOR : Ann Morton Cost : Donation Free parking. Nearest station Didcot Parkway
-19- -20- C HURC H OUTING TO HUGHENDEN