St Anne’s Church St Paul’s & St Augustine’s Worship Centre

June 2021 60p Who’s Who in the Benefice

Priest in Charge: Rev. Liz Wilson Tel: 07591 697380 e-mail: [email protected]

Readers: Margaret Gillespie 284 8684 [email protected]

Deaconess: Jan Gough: Tel: 0116 332 6617 . E-Mail: [email protected]

St. Anne’s St. Paul’s & St. Augustine’s

Churchwarden: Churchwardens: Alan Headley 0116 2858316 Sharon Bird 07914118648 [email protected] [email protected] Eunice Lowe 0116 2852317 Mary Lord 0116 285 5168 [email protected] [email protected]

PCC Secretary: PCC Secretary: Justin Webber Sharon Bird 07914118648 [email protected] [email protected]

PCC Treasurer: PCC Treasurer: Jonathan Varley 0116 285 8519 Dave King 07800746121 [email protected] [email protected]

Hall Booking Team: Hall Booking Secretary: St Anne’s Hall Booking 07405 924 330 Dave King 07800746121 [email protected]

For more information go to the web site at www.stanneschurchleicester.wordpress.com or www.stpaulswithstaugustineschurchleicester.com 2 Pastoral Letter Page 4 Services for June Page 5 Gardening with God Page 6 Readings for June Page 7 Pram Club Page 8 The Blessed Trinity Page 9 Sidespersons Rota Page 10 Sudoku Page 10 Puzzle Page 11 High Days and Holy Days Page 12 My Favourite Hymns Page 13 Greetings from St James the Least Page 14 Parable of the Month Page 15 Friday Coffee Morning Page 16 Please Help Page 16 St Paul and St Augustine’s Summer Fayre Page 17 Western Park Open Gardens Page 18 How to Fill in a Form Page 19 Smile Lines Page 20 Puzzle Answers Page 21 Cartoons Page 22 St Anne’s Mothers Union Page 23 He Gave us Eyes to See Them Page 24 Deadlines Page 25 Finding the Magazine on the Website Page 25 God in the Sciences Page 26 Christians and the Bubonic Plague in London Page 27 We Could Make so much More of Cathedral Tours Page 28 The Feast of Corpus Christi Page 29 Classifieds Pages 30-31

PASTORAL LETTER

Dear Friends

I want to begin my letter with a poem.

An ode to the table top sales Sun, rain or wind, the punters are returning, to the table top sale.

After a summer of closure, and a winter of regret, the regulars are back to see what bargains they can find, at the table top sale.

Bread baskets of brick-a-brack, win-every-time tombola, the unfolding and refolding of clothes, and free cups of tea help to make a table top sale.

This is how the Kingdom of God is built, friendships renewed and five books for a pound at our table top sale.

I am not sure if the St Paul’s and St Augustine’s table top sale have been immortalised in poetry before. But if not it was about time! Last month, on a very rainy Saturday it was a joy and a relief to attend our first table top sale since before Christmas. These events are an important missional event for St Paul’s as they are warmly anticipated by the wider community and raise funds for both the church and a monthly nominated charity. The next table top will be on Saturday 12 June, followed by a rummage sale on Saturday 26 June.

What has been interesting to observe, as we have begun to emerge out of pandemic lockdown is where the energy has been at both St Paul and St Augustine’s and St Anne’s Church. While I was a theological college we studied a practice called Missio Dei, which literally means the mission of God. At its most basic it means looking at where God is already at work in the world and joining in. Thus is has been interesting to see what activities have been first to restart (other than worship) at both of my churches. Where God is already at work in the congregations, with no prompting from the Vicar!

As we continue to enjoy post pandemic freedoms, I do want to just add a note of caution. After 15 months of being stuck in our own homes it is going to take a while to get used to each other again. Our physical, mental and spiritual health has had a battering and we need time to heal. So please do not feel that you have to rush into anything (let alone hunting for bargains at the next table top sale). Some of the things we used to do as churches will not be part of the ‘new normal’, and it is OK to let them fade away.

As it says in Psalm 91; ‘he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithful- ness is a shield and buckler.’ God will keep faith with us, even if we need to spend a bit longer hiding under his wings.

Rev’d Liz Wilson. 4 SERVICES FOR JUNE 2021 Please Note: Services in our buildings may change at short notice due to Covid 19

Thursday 3 June (Corpus Christi) 9.30am Eucharist, St Paul and St Augustine’s

Sunday 6 June (1st Sunday after Trinity) 9.30am Eucharist, St Anne’s 11.00am Eucharist, St Paul and St Augustine’s 11.00am Benefice Telephone Church, Tel. 033 3113 3356, Room no. 72775483#, Pin no. 1459# 6.00pm Evensong led by Leicester University Chamber Choir

Saturday 12 June Open Garden’s Children’s Trail available for families (no Children’s Church)

Sunday 13 May (2nd Sunday after Trinity) 9.30am Service of the Word, St Anne’s 11.00am Communion by Extension, St Paul and St Augustine’s 11.00am Benefice Telephone Church, Tel. 033 3113 3356, Room no. 72775483#, Pin no. 1459# 5.00pm Open Garden Songs of Praise, St Anne’s

Sunday 20 June (3rd Sunday after Trinity) 9.30am Eucharist, St Anne’s 11.00am Eucharist, St Paul and St Augustine’s 11.00am Benefice Telephone Church, Tel. 033 3113 3356, Room no. 72775483#, Pin no. 1459#

Saturday 22 May 1.00pm Wedding, St Anne’s 4.00pm Children’s Church, St Anne’s Hall

Sunday 27 May (4th Sunday after Trinity) 9.30am Eucharist, St Anne’s 11.00am Eucharist, St Paul and St Augustine’s 11.00am Benefice Telephone Church, Tel. 033 3113 3356, Room no. 72775483#, Pin no. 1459#

Daily on Facebook (subject to availability) 9.30am Morning Prayer

Tuesday on Zoom 2pm and 7pm, Bible Study

Wednesdays 9.30am Eucharist or Morning Prayer, St Anne’s 4.00pm Trinity Meditation, St Paul and St Augustine’s Gardening with God

This month will see the welcome return of Western Park Open Gardens (12 and 13 June, 2-5pm) in aid of St Anne’s Church, Project Hive and the local Neighbourhood Watch. I am looking forward to being able to nose around some of the gardens in the neighbourhood and show off the amazing work that has been taking place in the church yard at St Anne’s.

This year the vicarage garden will NOT be part of the Open Garden’s trail. Although I enjoy gardening when I am doing it, it takes me a long time to get around to it. In the meant time the weeds are having a field day! Yet, I often feel closest to God when I am outside and have finally gotten my tools out.

For many Christians they feel closest to God when they are pottering around the garden. Creation is sometimes called ‘God’s second book’ and is a visible reminder of God’s generosity, power and beauty. But perhaps this closeness to God also has something to do with the process of gardening itself. In the hand-on, getting soil under the fingernails, waiting and watching, planting, watering and weeding, harvesting of the fruit and veg practicality of it.

Two poems for reflection The kiss of the sun for a pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s Heart in the garden, Than anywhere else on earth. Dorothy Frances Gurney

The best place to seek God is in a garden You can dig for him there. George Bernard Shaw

What is it about Gurney or Shaw’s words that touches your heart? Surprises you? Or resonates in your mind?

Read Psalm 92: 12-15 Read the above psalm several times slowly. Think about how it might apply to your life. Talk to God or Jesus about your thoughts, feelings, questions or situation.

Garden with God Seedlings or Weeding Either transplant a seedling that you have grown very S-L-O-W-L-Y. As you put the seedling into its new pot, pay attention to the process. What did it feel like to do this activity slowly instead at your usual pace? What did you notice? What did you feel? Or do some weeding S-L-O-W-L-Y. Imagine Jesus kneeling beside you as you turn the soil over, gently loosen the roots and remove the plant.

Another poem Your family need the seeds called ‘you matter’. Your friends need the seeds called ‘compassion’. Your community need the seeds called ‘hope’. Now is the time for planting, for courteous daily watering, for compost of encouragement, and forgiveness-fertiliser, dug in with the respect and reverence due the growing soul as it reached for the light of the Son. Now is the time for planting the seeds of love. Sue Pickering A Prayer Lord, as you send rain and flowers even to the wilderness, renew us by your Holy Spirit, help us to sow good seed in time of adversity and to live to rejoice in your good harvest of all creation; through Jesus Christ out Lord, Amen. from A Time for Creation Rev’d Liz Wilson READINGS FOR JUNE 2021

3 June Old Testament Psalm New Testament Gospel Eucharist 1 Cor 11:23-26 John 6:51-58

6 June Eucharist Genesis 3:8-15 130 2 Cor 4:13 – 5:1 Mark 3:20-end

13 June Service of Word Ezekiel 17: 92:1-4, 2 Cor 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-43 Communion Extn 22-end 11-14

20 June Eucharist Job 38:1-11 107:1-3, 2 Cor 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-end 23-32

27 June

Service of Word Wisdom of Sol 30 2 Cor 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 1:13-15, Communion Extn 2:23-24

4 July

Eucharist Ezekiel 2:1-5 123 2 Cor 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 The reference underlined are the readings for St Anne’s and Benefice Telephone Church

SIDESPERSON’S ROTA

Date Morning Service Evening Service June 6th Rachel Spiers Theresa Morton June 13th Ellen Bateman Gail Inskip

June 20th Judith Knox Leslie Orris

June 27th Ann Bing Sheila Skertchley

3 2 2 8 1 6 4 3 7 3 9 4 6 1 2 7 3 6 5 8 2 7 3 8 6 4 7 Across 1 Military tactic used by Joshua to attack and destroy the city of Ai (Joshua 8:2) (6) 4 Place of learning (6) 8 ‘When Moses’ hands grew — , they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it’ (Exodus 17:12) (5) 9 Unpleasant auguries of the end of the age, as forecast by Jesus Matthew 24:7) (7) 10 Stronghold to which girls in King Xerxes’ harem (including Esther) were taken (Esther 2:8) (7) 11 Where Saul went to consult a medium before fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 28:7) (5) 12 Propitiation (Hebrews 2:17) (9) 17 Turn away (Jeremiah 11:15) (5) 19 So clear (anag.) (7) 21 ‘I have just got — , so I can’t come’: one excuse to be absent from the great banquet (Luke 14:20) (7) 22 Long weapon with a pointed head used by horsemen (Job 39:23) (5) 23 Musical beat (6) 24 What the Israelites were told to use to daub blood on their door-frames at the first Passover (Exodus 12:22) (6)

Down 1 Fasten (Exodus 28:37) (6) 2 Art bite (anag.) (7) 3 ‘The people of the city were divided; some — with the Jews, others with the apostles’ (Acts 14:4) (5) 5 Contend (Jeremiah 12:5) (7) 6 Possessed (Job 1:3) (5) 7 Sheen (Lamentations 4:1) (6) 9 ‘You love evil rather than good, — rather than speaking the truth’ (Psalm 52:3) (9) 13 Large flightless bird (Job 39:13) (7) 14 They were worth several hundred pounds each (Matthew 25:15) (7) 15 ‘A — went out to sow his seed’ (Matthew 13:3) (6) 16 How Jesus described Jairus’s daughter when he went into the room where she lay (Mark 5:39) (6) 18 The part of the day when the women went to the tomb on the first Easter morning (John 20:1) (5) 20 Narrow passageway between buildings (Luke 14:21) (5)

High Days and Holy Days for June

1 Justin Martyr - first ever Christian philosopher 3 The Martyrs of Uganda 4 Petroc – the abbot of 8 William of York – victim of injustice 9 Columba of Iona – missionary to Scotland 11 Barnabas – Paul’s first missionary companion 13 Antony of Padua – friend of St Francis of Assisi 14 Richard Baxter – Puritan Divine 16 Richard of Chichester - wanting God more clearly, dearly and nearly 22 St Alban – helping a stranger in need 22 St Alban – British martyr under the Romans 22 Alban – Britain’s first Christian martyr 24 John the Baptist – preparing the way for the Messiah 29 Feast of SS Peter & Paul - the two most famous apostles

4th June St Petroc, the Founder of Padstow

If you would like to be in this summer in search of peace and quiet, Petroc is the saint for you. Especially if you ever find Padstow a bit too crowded for your liking! He would have sympathised.

This 6th century abbot is Cornwall’s most famous saint. Petroc set sail from South , landed at Haylemouth, and founded a monastery at Lanwethinoc – now called Padstow, after him (Petroc’s Stow).

Padstow must have been popular even in those days, because about 30 years later Petroc, in search of some peace and quiet, moved on to build another monastery at Little Petherick (Nanceventon). Here he must have decided to try some 6th century equivalent of ‘Fresh Expressions’, because he engaged with his local community by building a mill and a chapel.

In time, Petroc began feeling crowded again. So, he tramped off to the remote wilds of Moor, where he lived as a hermit – until some 12 monks turned up to join him. Firmly, Petroc kept them all housed in a monastery on a hilltop, while he enjoyed his private space in a cell by the river.

But even here Petroc was not alone. One day a terrified stag came rushing through the woods, pursued by the hunt. Petroc flung open the door of his cell, and the panting animal took refuge. When the huntsmen arrived on the scene, they did not dare to argue with the famous holy man, and instead went their way. The stag’s gratitude made him tame, and Petroc would come to be portrayed with a stag as his special emblem.

Petroc was buried in the monastery in Padstow but in c.1000 his shrine and relics, including his staff and bell, were translated to Bodmin. Here they have stayed ever since, except for a short, unplanned trip to in 1177, when they were stolen and carted off by a naughty Canon of the Church. Henry II intervened, and everything but a rib of Petroc was eventually returned. Excelling.’ In all, he wrote more than 6,000 hymns.

The legacy of the two brothers lives on. As well as Methodism, their teaching has widely impacted the holiness movement, the Pentecostal movement, and the charismatic movement. My Favourite Hymn from Mary Lord

It is a thing Most Wonderful

I remember singing this hymn as a young teenager. My parish priest at the time was Fr Quarterman. In lent he encouraged the young people of the parish to meet on Thursday evenings after school and Saturday morning for Children’s Church. This is one of the hymns we would regularly sing as it was in the Catechism section of the English Hymnal.

As I grew older I leaned toward the modern hymns because the tunes were more lively and the words more meaningful.

More recently I have thought about this hymn again especially when reading it. During the Autumn tem at St Paul's we would sing a hymn we said it instead and I found the words of this hymn when speaking them very powerful.

It is a thing most wonderful reflects on Jesus love and the cross from a child's point of view. It was written as a poem for children by the English Anglican Priest William Walsham How 1823-1897 when he was rector of Whittingham in Shropshire (he later became Bishop of Wakefield.

The hymn wasn’t published until 1872. It is usually sung to the tune Herongate. This tune is one of folk song melodies collected by Vaughn Williams. It was first used with this hymn in the first edition of the English Hymnal.

1 It is a thing most wonderful, 4 I sometimes think about the cross, almost too wonderful to be, and shut my eyes, and try to see that God's own Son should come from heav'n, the cruel nails and crown of thorns, and die to save a child like me. and Jesus crucified for me. 2 And yet I know that it is true: 5 But even could I see Him die, He chose a poor and humble lot, I could but see a little part and wept and toiled and mourned and died of that great love which, like a fire, for love of those who loved Him not. is always burning in His heart. 3 I cannot tell how He could love 6 It is most wonderful to know a child so weak and full of sin; His love for me so free and sure; His love must be most wonderful but 'tis more wonderful to see if He could die my love to win. my love for Him so faint and poor.

7 And yet I want to love Thee, Lord; O light the flame within my heart, and I will love Thee more and more, until I see Thee as Thou art. Please send me your favourite hymns and I’ll find a little bit about it and publish one each month. ST JAMES THE LEAST OF ALL

On getting to church at a social distance

The Rectory St James the Least of All

My dear Nephew Darren

Since your parishioners mostly live in an area of half a square mile, where their only concern in getting to church is whether to take the underpass, or to risk a dash across the ring road, you may have little understanding of the problems our folk have in travelling our long country lanes to church, especially as we are keeping our social distance from each other.

Several parishioners have decided that they can’t possibly share cars even with their own spouses, as in their 15-room homes they have successfully (and in some cases, happily) avoided each other for months. So the lane outside the church has filled up each week with Mercedes nudging Audis, and Land Rovers easing in between Bentleys.

Others arrive on horseback. But they are careless about leaving their horses to graze in the churchyard, and I have had to remind them twice that flowers in memorial vases are not fodder. The horses do help to keep the grass down, but unfortunately our verger now objects to standing outside during Mattins, holding the reins of half a dozen horses. He says it is not part of his job description, which only confirms my view that there is entirely too much fuss these days about having job descriptions at all.

Major Crompton’s devotion to his new sit-on lawnmower has inspired him to travel to church on it. Since he is unable to uncouple the mowing apparatus, the tarmac on his two-mile drive is acquiring interesting patterns. His drive at two miles per hour along narrow lanes means he arrives leading a procession of cars with drivers given the opportunity to exercise the Christian virtue of patience.

Mrs Pendleton, on the other hand, leads a small but select group from the Mothers’ Union who are all keen cyclists. They all arrive on a whoosh of fresh air, their hair in total disarray, but with pink cheeks glowing with health. Nobody in church minds sitting near them, as anyone who can manage to peddle an old three-gear bicycle up the hill to our church is most unlikely to be sickening for anything.

Finally, of course, the majority arrive on foot, having negotiated fields, stiles and assorted cattle on the way. The countryside may well praise God, but one does wish they wouldn’t bring quite so much of it into church.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

FRIDAY COFFEE MORNING

Providing that the planned opening up of venues set out by the government, in their “road map” to a more normal life, it is hoped that the regular Friday coffee mornings will resume on From 10.00am We look forward to welcoming everyone back to St Anne's community hall. Precautions will still need to be taken to keep us safe.

Ann and Jonathan

HELP PLEASE

Do you like to see the church gardens looking smart, neat and tidy?

Could you give an hour of your time to help the folks who are tending it already?

Most of the helpers are old age pensioners, and are not getting any younger, so any help would be very much appreciated.

Contact Alan or Eunice, Churchwardens. St Paul's and St Augustine's Saturday 13th June 10.00am to 2.00pm

Summer Fayre & Table Top Stalls In The Worship Centre and Weather permitting out-side in the Car Park

All proceeds raised are for the Worship Centre to keep your building in good condition.

Please support us with our work in the community and our mission on the wider world.

Records — Books — Clothes — Bric-a-Brac Tombola — Home Made Stall. 12th and 13th June from 2pm to 5pm. There will be around 10 or more gardens open each day with refreshments and stalls at the Church Hall. Tickets are £5 for one day or £8 for both days. Tickets are available on the days at St Anne’s Church Hall.

Any profits made will go to St Anne’s Church, Letchworth Neighbourhood Watch and The Hive Project. How to Fill in a Form

Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills… (2 Chronicles 2:17-18)

We can spend much of our working life filling in forms of one sort or another. Sometimes we struggle to complete an online form and have to use the telephone help-line. The young people who help us on the end of the line can leave us feeling that we are obviously idiots.

Do you like filling in forms? No, of course not! No-one does. There are a few censuses in the Bible, which are a type of form. The above quotation is about authorities getting information to use for their benefit to get people in work.

Do you always have to give the details they ask for? No! If you just bought an electric iron does the manufacturer really need to know your name, address, date of birth, number of people in your house and cat’s mother’s name? If not, then why are they asking for such details? Always be careful about what information you give out, and to whom.

Sometimes if you are in debt you are asked to fill in a budget form. Again, be careful. Do they really need to know your employer’s name and address and your bank details? On the other hand, do not forget to include every item of expenditure. If you just put down your earnings and the amount you spend at the supermarket it may look as you have plenty of money. Remember bus fares, school meals, rent, council tax, telephones and all the rest.

There is never enough space on most forms, thought they must know email addresses are usually long. Then there are questionnaires asking you to rate the experience. Was the webpage helpful? Why was it helpful…. and suddenly you may be asked to give away yet more information about yourself… be careful. As a general rule, try and give as little as possible, just sufficient for the task in hand.

I hope you have enjoyed this article. Now please complete the 18-page satisfaction survey and include your bank account number, inside trouser leg measurement and bank card. Oh, and don’t forget the name of your cat’s mother! SMILE LINES

Neighbourhood Watch

In one small rural village the local vet also led the local Neighbourhood Watch group. Late one night the phone rang, and his wife answered. An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?"

"He is, but tell me, do you need him as the vet or the Neighbourhood Watch?" the wife asked.

"Both!" was the reply. "We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it!"

Out to graze

A group of elderly British tourists were touring Holland by bus. They stopped at a cheese farm where a young guide led them through the process of making cheese from goat's milk. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.

"These," she explained, "are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce." She then asked, "What do you do in Britain with your old goats?"

A spry old gentleman answered: "They send us on bus tours!"

Old and alone and needing help...

An old Italian priest lived alone. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was so hard. A member of his church, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. So the old priest wrote a letter to his parishioner and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. I remember you in my prayers! Fr Louis

A few days later he received a letter from his parishioner.

Dear Fr Louis, whatever you do, don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried. Thanks for your prayers. Vinnie

At 4 am the next morning, the local police arrived and dug up the entire area, without finding any bodies. They apologised to the old priest and left. That same day the old priest received another letter.

Dear Fr Louis, You can go ahead and plant your tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances. Vinnie 1 3 6 9 8 5 7 2 4 9 5 2 4 7 3 8 1 6 7 8 4 1 2 6 5 3 9 4 2 8 5 9 7 1 6 3 5 7 3 6 1 2 9 4 8 6 9 1 8 3 4 2 5 7 3 6 9 7 5 1 4 8 2 2 1 7 3 4 8 6 9 5 8 4 5 2 6 9 3 7 1

ST. ANNE’S MOTHERS’ UNION

DIARY NOTES FOR JUNE

Hello again, Everybody

Well, yes - I can definitely report that our long awaited first Meeting together can definitely go ahead as planned. So on the afternoon of Tuesday, 8th June we shall be having a Garden Meeting at 17, West Hill Road (thank you Robert and Ann,) starting at 2-30. Tea and cakes will be served, and there is no limit to the amount of chattering allowed! I suppose, this being the UK, I ought to add that if the weather is inclement, “rain will certainly NOT stop play” - we shall meet in the Hall, (with tables and chairs still socially spaced). If this is to be the case, your MU Committee member contacts will be in touch with you to advise.

We have a Committee Meeting next week, when we shall be discussing the plans for the rest of the year, so hopefully Ann will be able to tell you something of these on the 8th June. Just one date I will draw your attention to - Revd. Liz has agreed to take our Annual service on September, 14th. Something else to look forward to!

In the meantime, enjoy your new found freedoms, take care, and let’s all look forward to our meeting on the 8th June when we can do a lot of catch-ups!

Mavis Walker [email protected] He Gave us Eyes to See Them: ‘I do not know the man’, the fearful Peter said

At the end of this month, on 28th June, we celebrate two of the great saints of the early church: Peter and Paul. We might relate more easily to Peter because his humanity and vulnerability spill out of the pages of the New Testament in everything he said and did. Peter was a fisher- man, who was impetuous and headstrong, not once, but over and over again, saying one thing, and doing another. And yet our Lord chose Peter as the rock on which He would build His church, and at Caesarea Philippi Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Then, when Jesus is arrested, the same Peter in the High Priest’s courtyard declares with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’

That denial is in all four Gospels. We might have expected the evange- lists would have had greater respect for this follower of Jesus. But they are not intimidated by his later fame and importance, and they record the episode in vivid detail.

That episode is recorded by Duccio in this month’s painting, ‘Christ before the High Priest and the Denial of Peter.’ Duccio worked in Siena in the late 13th and 14th centuries. In his paintings Jesus and the saints are no longer remote, austere figures: he portrays them in a natural, simple way. His greatest work was a series of 45 panels called the Maesta.

This month’s picture is the first painting to depict Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial together. The scene is a two-storey building: the figures above, apart from the High Priest, are all on their feet. Below, the figures are all seated, with the exception of the serving girl. Notice the wonderful array of hair styles and beards that are typical of Duccio’s work.

In the painting Peter is recognisable by his halo, like Jesus above. He is in a direct line below Jesus, but just look at the contrast between the two. Jesus is standing with His hands bound in front of Him and His head to one side. Peter below is seated, looking straight at the girl, raising his hand to protest his ignorance and warming his feet by the fire. It needed courage for Peter to be there, but the Gospels tell us how quickly his vulnerability is exposed. As he answers the questions and reveals his Galilean accent, he starts to curse. He denies Jesus three times, and the scene ends in bitter tears. For all the bravado, a human, broken figure leaves the scene.

On his feast day we rejoice in that humanity of Peter, which brought him low, but encouraged him to try again. In Duccio’s painting his denial takes place by the fire of the courtyard. It will be by another fire lit on the shore of the sea of Tiberias that Peter will be asked another three questions – not by a serving girl, but by Jesus. This time he will respond with affirmation, knowing that his Lord has come in resurrection glory to bring a new way forward for him and for everyone as He offers life in abundance.

Deadlines The deadlines for the next three issues are: June Issue Wednesday 12th May 2021 July and August Issue Wednesday 9th June 2021 September Issue Wednesday 11th August 2021 Contributions accepted in person, by post or by email.

Contact details Paul Henry Address 24 Clarefield Road E-mail [email protected]

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GOD IN THE SCIENCES Finding Expression – and God’s Response – in La- mentWonders of the Living World

TheWhat question are the of best suffering metaphors comes we up could regularly use toin describediscussions about science and faith. I oncebiological visited things? a school You to mightspeak be to usedsome to of hearing the older phrases teenagers. One of the pupils had sadlylike “ yourpassed genetic away blueprint from cancer” or “ survivala few weeks of the before fittest ”,and but his classmates asked, “Howare they God helpful could letor eventhis happen? accurate?” Of Some course, of thesethese wordsyoung people’s questions aboutfail to where capture God the was wonder in this and situation joy of understanding were important. But the chaplain also gently remindedsomething the new class about that the their nature friend of’s livingfamily organisms. were Christians, and that they were find- ing that their experience of loss had brought them even closer to God than before. I learned that one researcher was using the phrase ‘The Snuggle for Existence’ Oneas a way way that to convey grief can the bring idea, us familiar near to to God biologists, is when that we cooperationshare it with is Him, at the telling heart Him exactlyof the livinghow we world. feel. For The example, biblical writersevery cellhad more no scruples complex about than expressing a bacterium themselvescontains minute to God, energy giving factories, vent to emotions each one we containing often hold their back own in piecea church of DNA context. – Aswhich my colleaguemakes them Roger a sort Abbott of miniature has written cell, in hidden his book away on inside‘Unanswered the larger’ Prayer host ,cell. “Let usThese not confuse ‘mitochondria reverence’, as withbiologists spiritual call prudishness. them, turn raw Perhaps materials honesty, from thethe hostway intoit feels,chemical is precisely energy. what In this God way, is waitingeveryone to hearbenefits: from the us. mitochondria” now have a safe a place to live, and the host receives the energy it needs. There are many Aboutmore oneexamples third of of the organisms Psalms expressworking sometogether form to ofproduce grief. The something book of thatJob isis morea series ofthan responses the sum to of one its parts,man’s where suffering often as the he individualloses his children,parts could property not survive and health on in quicktheir succession.own. Lamentations is also one long outpouring of sadness at what happened to Israel under the Babylonians. Some of the prophets, especially Jeremiah,‘The Map alsoof Life express’ is a way their of pain describing at these the sorts regularities of events we – seewhich in reflectbiological something ofprocesses. God’s own Eyes, feelings legs at and the wingssuffering have of emergedHis people. in the living world again and again, and why not? If the properties of light and gravity remain constant, we Mostshould of theseexpect biblical living thingsauthors to would find the have same had solutions access toto Scripturesseeing or gettingthat encouraged around. themWhen to weturn look to God at these whatever organisms the circumstances.’ family trees, weEmboldened see they share by their a common knowledge of Hisancestor character that and had promises, no eyes, orthese no wings. divinely These inspired structures writers haveeven developedexpress their anger tocompletely God about independently, the things He letsor you happen, could orsay complain that the thatpaths He of seems the living to act world unfairly have or ignoreconverged them onin theirthe same plight. solution. Not only That do these’s not peopleto say they let out had all a their conscious feelings goal, without but fearthat of the reprisal, world hasbut theycertain also properties, clearly expectand those a helpful properties answer. have Some channelled record a reso- lutionbiological to their processes troubles in– oftencertain simply directions. because God speaks to and comforts them, en- a bling them to keep going. None of these stories give us definite evidence for God. Science simply provides Thedata, biblical which writers can often demonstrated be interpreted that inGod several can handledifferent pretty ways. much Perhaps anything the world– anger, blame,just happens bitterness to be – iffull we of are mathematical actively looking regularities, to Him formaybe help. there As Pete’s an Greigoverarching of the 24 -7physical prayer movementlaw we don has’t yet written, understand, “pain thator perhaps is not expressed there are canmultiple never universes be trans- and formedours happens”. to be the one in which life has arisen. But I believe that the observations scientists make about the living world are compatible with the existence of the God described by Christian faith.

More at wondersofthelivingworld.org.

All in the Month of May Christians and the Bubonic Plague of London 200 years ago, on 5th May 1821 that Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France (1804 – 1815) died of stomach cancer. TheHe was Reverend in exile Richard on the islandPeirson of wasSaint one Helena of the in exceptions. the South Atlantic, Most of agedthe other 51. clergy in the City of London had fled the Great Plague in 1665, but Peirson stayed behind to look after the parishioners 150 yearsof Stago, Bride on ’11s Church,th May 1871 Fleet that Street, John where Herschel, he was British Rector. astronomer, The parish mathematician, was densely populatedchemist and and the pioneeringpandemic photographer was catastrophic. died. Amongst The churchother things,’s register he named records seven 636 burials of Saturn that’s yearmoons in theand month investigated of colour blindness.September He alone, was withalso 43President interred of in the one Royal day. Astronomical Society three times.

Also 100Houses years ago,of infected on 15th people May, that were the marked British withLegion a red was cross founded. on the door, with occupants kept inside for 40 days. Handcarts were pulled along the city streets to cart away the bodies; the drivers’ cries of 80 years“Bring ago, onout 1 yourst–7th dead May”, 1941 became that etchedthe German in the Blitz memories on Liverpool of subsequent left nearly generations. 3,000 dead Relatives and 70,000 were homeless.banned Liverpool from attendingwas the second funerals. most heavily targeted British city, after London.

Also 80 Theyears official ago, oncount 10 thnumbered May 1941 68,596 that the deaths last major in London attack alone, on London but other during estimates the Blitz suggested caused heavy two or damagethree to many times important that number. buildings, Bubonic including plague the – Housesfor that isof what Parliament, it was – Westminster was incurable. Abbey, Poor Stpeople James were Palace andfatalistic Lambeth about Palace, it but complained several railway that evenstations their and ‘spiritual hospitals, physicians the British’ had Museum abandoned and thethem. Old Clergy Bailey. of More thanthe 1,300 Church people of were killed were on often one supplanted night. At one by pointnon-conformist during the preachers.Blitz, London was bombed for 57 nights in a row. It wasn’t just the St Bride’s Rector who put his life in jeopardy by staying at his post. While most 70 yearswealthy ago, on people, 3rd May along 1951 with that King the Festival Charles of II Britainand his and court, the escaped Royal Festival the plague Hall -inridden London city, were opened.Churchwarden The aim of the Henry Festival Clarke was toalso lift chosethe nation to remain’s spirits at theby celebratingchurch. When British he succumbedindustry, arts to and the science.illness, his brother William took over. William survived for a fortnight. 65 years ago, on 24th May 1956 that the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland. It was wonPlague by Switzerland. cases continued to occur sporadically at a modest rate until mid-1666. That year the Great Fire of London destroyed St Bride’s Church and much of the City of London. It was rebuilt to a 60 yearsdesign ago, on by 1 Christopherst May 1961 Wren, that betting but almost away obliterated from racecourses once more was in legalised 1940 during in the World UK and War the II beforefirst betting shopsbeing restoredopened. yet again.

Also 60 years ago, on 28th May 1961Today that’s AmnestyRector, Canon International Alison wasJoyce, founded says that in London. compared with her predecessor Richard Peirson, she has it easy. Like everyone else, she is 40 years ago, on 13th May 1981 thatconfined Pope Johnby the Paul lockdown II was shotrules and to her seriously Rectory wounded next to the by church.a Turkish But her gunman in an assassination attemptpastoral in St Peterwork ’scontinues, Square, Vatican and she City. collates sermons and archive music to create a Sunday webcast service. Alison writes, “these days it is a ministry 30 years ago, on 16th May 1991 thatof telephoneQueen Elizabeth calls, emails II became and Facetime.the first British I offer monarch such practical to address help theand US Congress. support to the vulnerable as I can . . . I keep a candle burning before our main altar and continue a ministry of prayer.” 20 years ago, on 7th May 2001 that Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs returned to the UK from Brazil where he had lived as a fugitive for 36 years.Alison He says was she immediately is surprised arrested when peopleand sent regard to prison the faithto complete as a kind his of sentence. Released on compassionatecelestial grounds insurance in 2009, policy he against died in 2013.bad things happening to them. The first followers of Jesus knew that in dedicating their lives to following the 10 years ago, on 2nd May 2011 thatcrucified Osama and bin risenLaden, Christ, Saudi their Arabian discipleship-born terrorist, would takedied. them Founder into theof very al-Qaeda, he was thought to haveheart masterminded of darkness, the not 9/11 away attacks from on it. the USA. Shot dead by US forces in Pakistan. She adds, “Hope is no hope at all unless it can engage with utter despair and meaninglessness.” We Could Make so Much More of Cathedral Tours…

Visits to Cathedrals are growing in popularity. According to the ’s Cathedral Statistics there were 9.4 million visitors to cathedrals in 2015.

Why should this be so? Perhaps it is because, as the sociologist Grace Davie believes, cathedrals make “no demands” on the visitor as a church would do. Instead, a cathedral offers you the option to come and go without explanation or commitment.

But while it is good that millions of people want to visit cathedrals and enjoy a low-key entrance point, what are these visitors actually encountering? Do we introduce them to genuine forms of the Christian faith, or merely the sight of an old building? How could our guided tours help visitors towards an encounter with spiritual reality?

In a cathedral tour we could present the presence of God, using the stories and objects that others created in their worship of Him down the ages. The guided tour ought not to shut out any opportunity to further God’s mission in the very place we ought to find Him.

As one review in TripAdvisor for Norwich Cathedral says: "Me and my friend come from different religious traditions - I am Muslim and she is Christian (Anglican) - but while touring the Cathedral - we were able to explore the commonalities of our faith traditions.”

So, what if we began to think of guided tours as missional opportunities? Just as Public Theology looks to provide new platforms in which the church can engage in ways that are acceptable within the public domain, I believe guided tours ought to include some aspect of education, elaboration and story upon a topic from Christian theology.

In Acts 17 we’re told Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are… as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, He who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands..."

This is public theology at its most blatant. If Paul can make a statement in the context of a building dedicated to foreign gods then would he not also say to us, as he did to the Colossians: "Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time (or opportunity)!"

In other words, when they visit your cathedral, tell them about the Person whom Christians worship there! The Feast of Corpus Christi

The feast of Corpus Christi was proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, to Pope Urban IV, in order to create a feast focused solely on the Holy Eucharist, emphasizing the joy of the Eucharist being the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Having recognized the authenticity of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena on input of Aquinas, in 1264, the pontiff, then living in Orvieto, established the feast of Corpus Christi as a Solemnity and extended it to the whole Roman .

The feast is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or, "where the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a holy day of obligation, it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity as its proper day".

At the end of Holy Mass, there is often a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, generally displayed in a monstrance. The procession is followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. A notable Eucharistic procession is that presided over by the Pope each year in Rome, where it begins at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and passes to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where it concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The celebration of the feast was suppressed in Protestant churches during the Reformation for theological reasons: outside Lutheranism, which maintained the confession of the Real Presence, many Protestants denied the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist other than as a merely symbolic or spiritual presence. Today, most Protestants recognise the feast day. The Church of England abolished it in 1548 as the progressed, but later reintroduced it. Most Anglican churches now observe Corpus Christi, sometimes under the name "Thanksgiving for Holy Communion". WESTCOTES POST OFFICE “In 2019, I applied for 5 jobs, I was shortlisted Vehicle Licences, Phone Bills, for 5 interviews and offered 4 jobs. I can help Gas and Electricity Bills, you do the same” Bibi

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