MAY 2021 60P

R i n g w o o d L i n k

T h e C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d i n R i n g w o o d , P o u l n e r , B i s t e r n e , E l l i n g h a m , & H a r b r i d g e w w w . r i n g w o o d b e n e f i c e . o r g . u k A B O U T The Parish of with Ellingham and lies on U S the western edge of the and the south-western border of . It is part of the Diocese of Winchester, in the Deanery of Christchurch, within the Church of .

R i n g w o o d P a r i s h i s p r o u d t o b e p a r t o f R i n g w o o d B e n e f i c e

What is Ringwood Benefice? Goal 1 Ringwood Benefice is a family of six Church of England churches, covering Family the communities of Ringwood, , Have a toddler group, Messy Ellingham, Harbridge, Bisterne, and Church, and All Age service in St Leonards and St Ives. Ringwood, Poulner and St Leonards & St Ives. We share a common vision to Goal 2 ' D i s c o v e r L i f e & Worship M a k e a D i f f e r e n c e ’ Grow three new worshipping communities. This vision seeks to deepen our life together in Christ and our own Goal 3 personal discipleship, and then to share Community this life across our communities, Launch two social enterprises in homes, and workplaces. Ringwood and Poulner that foster community. We have four ‘big’ goals to live out our vision: Goal 3 Ministry Revitalise, reimagine, and re-establish rural ministry.

FACEBOOK.COM/RINGWOODBENEFICE TWITTER.COM/RINGWOODCOFE INSTAGRAM.COM/RINGWOODBENEFICE YOUTUBE.COM - SEARCH RINGWOOD BENEFICE WWW.RINGWOODBENEFICE.ORG.UK O U R T H E C H U R C H O F C H U R C H E S S T P E T E R A N D S T P A U L Market Place Ringwood Hampshire BH24 1AW

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P A G E 3 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 CONTACT US

VICAR - THE REVD MATTHEW TRICK THE VICARAGE, 65 SOUTHAMPTON ROAD, RINGWOOD, BH24 1HE 01425 489898 / [email protected]

ASSOCIATE MINISTER - THE REVD IAN WHITHAM THE VICARAGE, 30 PINE DRIVE, ST IVES, RINGWOOD, BH24 2LN 01425 552180 / [email protected]

CURATE – THE REVD KAY PEAD 01425 489898 / [email protected]

MINISTER-IN-TRAINING - SANDRA MATTHEWS 01425 489898 / [email protected]

CHURCHWARDEN - JACQUELINE BROWN 07894 106402 / [email protected]

CHURCHWARDEN - MATTHEW STEELE 07976 381133 / [email protected]

BENEFICE OFFICE CONTACT SAMANTHA SWYER RINGWOOD BENEFICE OFFICE, CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL, MARKET PLACE, RINGWOOD, BH24 1AW 01425 489898 / [email protected]

The office is currently closed to visitors however please call or email us, all messages will be answered

WWW.RINGWOODBENEFICE.ORG.UK M I N I S T E R ' S L E T T E R

Revd Matthew Trick

RESILIENCE Most of us are aware of the ‘Footprints’ poem, right? The poem tells us that during times of adversity or stress, God carries us in ways we might not immediately perceive. It is during such times that our resilience is tested and we discover, sometimes refreshingly, sometimes painfully, but always formatively, how well we can respond to run but then had the resilience to such times of stress or adversity. respond to God’s call to lead the liberation of an enslaved Israel from The adversity we are facing might be Egypt. Or think of the faith of the widow physical, emotional, spiritual or more of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 where she likely all three as we are holistic gives away her last stores of oil and creatures where events or issues flour to the prophet Elijah and then goes affecting our bodies also affect our on to see her son die, but has the minds and souls. The pandemic has resilience of faith to trust in Elijah, the brought this into sharp focus. The prophet’s promises. adversity of lockdown may have caused the ‘lockdown pounds’ to increase, In all these events of stress and affecting our mood and potentially even adversity, have you noticed that the impacting how we define ourselves as ability of an individual to be resilient is healthy individuals or otherwise. not just dependent on their own Resilience is about how we respond to physical, emotional and spiritual these events and we see resilient resources, but those of other around individuals throughout the Bible. them? So, would Joseph have been so resilient when re-meeting his brothers Resilient Bible Characters years later, had he not enjoyed the Think of Joseph, sold into slavery by his affirmation and status experienced in brothers, being imprisoned and yet Egypt? years later having the resilience to forgive his brothers and provide them Moses’s Resilience Upheld by Others with food during famine. Think about When we think of biblical greats, you Moses, who whilst being brought up in would have to include Moses on the list, Egypt, killed an Egyptian, went on the right? For four decades he led an entire run but then had the resilience to people through the P A G E 5 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 respond st few people through the barren wilderness whose funerals I take, that one of the towards the Promised Land. Throughout hardest realities of bereavement is that those long decades of adversity, Moses life for those who are mourning had to provide physically for the people, continues. Someone we love dies and it to prevent them starving or dehydrating. leaves a gaping hole, but we get up the He had to mediate between competing next morning with breath and blood in Israelite groups and he, like all leaders, our bodies and have to carry on. In these had to keep the people of Israel spiritually circumstances life teaches us a rather focused on the promise of God. That God painful lesson that life doesn’t end would provide them with their own land. because life changes, rather we must determine how we respond to those That four decades, demanded bucket changes which might have been loads of resilience from Moses. However unpredictable and undesired but have in Exodus 17 we discover a rather bloody nonetheless now happened. It is this but in many ways beautiful scene where reality that goes to the very heart of Moses is enabled in his resilience by the resilience: from the day we are born to physical support of others: the day we die, life continues, the only thing we can determine is how we So Joshua fought the Amalekites as respond. Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As The analogy of bereavement is helpful, long as Moses held up his hands, the because while bereavement is always Israelites were winning, but whenever he deeply individual, in my experience it is lowered his hands, the Amalekites were quite rare for people to carry grief alone. winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, Family, friends, Church members, they took a stone and put it under him colleagues, neighbours, support services and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his tend to play a part in helping us respond hands up, one on one side, one on the resiliently to loss, just as Aaron and Hur other, so that his hands remained steady stood shoulder to shoulder with Moses till sunset. (Exodus 17.10-12) helping me keep going in order to do what was required. Granted this verse in set in the context of a bloody battle between two armies, just The now circa 400 year old poem ‘No Man as our lives are set at the moment in the is an Island’ by John Donne encourages context of a battle with COVID, but our awareness of our relationships with imagine in your mind this image of Moses our fellow human beings, Our lives and growing weary from holding his hands our adversities and our ability to respond aloft and then having companions come to them well, are greatly affected by the alongside him to keep his arms held high. strength and quality of our relationships Resilience in battle was called for on the with those around us. Is it any wonder part of Moses but in order to be resilient that God used the metaphor of the he drew on the strength of Aaron and interconnected parts of the body (1 Hur who kept him going. Corinthians 12) to describe the family of the Church as mutually interdependent Drawing on Another’s Strength I often share with the loved ones of those whose funerals I take, that one of thd Hur the Church as a mutually interdependent pain and suffering. In this respect leaning community under God? into our faith in God is not only about experiencing God’s presence in periods of Tools for Resilience adversity, but in those periods of Resilience starts with awareness. We adversity recognising that nothing is need to be aware of how we are coping beyond the ‘hope’ of God’s redeeming and not attempt to deceive ourselves by work in all creation. We can be resilient telling ourselves, let alone others, that we because God is “making all things new” are fine when we are not. We also need to (Isaiah 43.18). be aware of those around us who are Revd Matthew able and willing to help us cope, to be like Aaron and Hur to Moses. Many, thanks to Jean for your kind Then there’s the moving beyond words, which made ‘awareness’ and some might say harder a bad day better for stage of allowing ourselves to be the Parish helped. In this stage fear of being Administrator. perceived as a failure (aka the deadly sin of ‘pride’) or believing those we might call on to be too busy are common barriers to a resilient response to adversity. Resilience is a muscle that is strengthened when flexed, and we often need others to help us flex our resilience muscle.

After allowing ourselves to be helped there’s the holding onto the reality that most adversities and challenges are temporary. In many ways I think the pithy phrase ‘time heals’ is a little too pithy and nuanced, but it does point us to the reality that as we respond to life’s challenges, time re-frames the ways we perceive a challenge, because we have had more time to assess its impact, to normalise the challenge, to work out how we feel, or identify the support we need to get through it.

Finally, holding onto faith, not as a tool which some might somewhat disparagingly describe as ‘a crutch’ but as a reality, helps us see temporary adversities within the eternal, and good work of God to redeem all that causes pain and suffering. In this respect leaning P A G E 7 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY MAY 01 Philip the Apostle/James the Less Pg11 01 May Day 02 Phillip and James, Apostles 03 Bank holiday O N L I N E C H U R C H 08 Julian of Norwich Pg17 WATCH ON FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE 08 VE Day Every Sunday: 09 Rogation Sunday Pg18 09.30 Sunday Live 11 Mothers' Union service, including 10.30 King's Kids: The Sunday School prayers for Thy Kingdom Come. (during term time) 2pm in the Parish Church of Zoom Meeting ID: 849 9640 5813 St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood Pg20 Passcode: 489898 12 Mothers' Union Diocesan Quiet Day 11.00 Live-streamed service of via Zoom from 11am - 1pm Pg20 Holy Communion - Watch online 13-23 Thy Kingdom Come https://cutt.ly/GkhjiDa 13 Ascension Day or call 01425 543304 and press 1 to 16 The Sunday after Ascension Day listen live 23 Day of Pentecost (Whit Sunday) Pg12 Every Tuesday 30 Trinity Sunday 2pm Thought for the Day 30 Whole Benefice service 10.30am in the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood. Guest speaker from Compassion 31 Bank holiday

MAY READINGS 02 - Isaiah 30:15-21 02 - John 14:1-14 09 - Acts 10:44-end 09 - John 15:9-17 16 - Acts 1. 15-17, 21-end 16 - John 17:6-19 23 - Acts 2:1-21 & It is a legal requirement to wear a 23 - John 15: 26-27; 16:4b-15 face covering in church buildings 30 - Isaiah 6:1-8 unless you are exempt. 30 - John 3:1-17

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REGULAR SERVICE PATTERN S T P E T E R & S T M A R Y & 09:30 S T P A U L prayer on A L L S A I N T S RINGWOOD May 9th & ELLINGHAM 23rd 1st Sunday: 1st Sunday: 11:00 Morning Prayer 11:15 Holy Communion 2nd Sunday: 2nd Sunday: 11:00 Holy Communion 17:30 Evensong 3rd Sunday: 3rd Sunday: 11:00 Morning Prayer with Baptism 11:15 Matins 4th Sunday: 4th Sunday: 11:00 Holy Communion No service S T P A U L ' S A L L S A I N T S BISTERNE HARBRIDGE 1st Sunday 4th Sunday: 18:00 Evensong with Holy 10:00 Matins Communion 3rd Sunday: 5 T H S U N D A Y 10:30 Matins JAN, MAY, AUG & OCT 2021 Where a month has a fifth Sunday a S T J O H N T H E whole Benefice service usually takes place in one of churches - Details will B A P T I S T be made available nearer the time. POULNER 1st Sunday: 8 A M B C P H O L Y 10:30 Morning Worship 2nd Sunday: C O M M U N I O N 10:30 Morning Worship 1st Sunday: 3rd Sunday: St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood 10:30 Holy Communion 2nd Sunday: 4th Sunday: All Saints, St Leonards & St Ives 10:30 Morning Worship 3rd Sunday: St John the Baptist, Poulner W E E K D A Y H O L Y 4th Sunday: C O M M U N I O N St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood 5th Sunday: ST PETER & ST PAUL, RINGWOOD St John the Baptist, Poulner Every Wednesday at 10:30 just a few more personal details about themselves in the New Testament. James the Less is an excellent example.

This is the name we give to James the son of Alphaeus, but beyond that, who was he? Sometimes he is identified as the 1ST MAY: PHILIP James whose mother stood by Christ on THE APOSTLE WITH COMMON SENSE the cross. Sometimes he is thought to be Is there someone in church whom you the James who was ‘brother of the Lord’. respect for their spirituality and common Sometimes he is thought to be the James sense combined? Someone you feel easy who saw the risen Christ. He has also, about approaching to ask questions? and often, been called the first bishop of That person’s patron saint should be Jerusalem. And finally, sometimes James Philip. the Less has been thought of as the author of the Epistle of James. Philip came from Bethsaida and was a disciple of Jesus from early on. He knew But who really knows? If none of these how to lead others to Jesus; he brought identifications are correct, we know Nathanael (or Bartholomew) to Him in a practically nothing about James the Less. calm, kindly way. He knew how to do So perhaps on this day we can simply some financial forecasting: at the feeding recall ‘all’ of the James’ above, and thank of the 5,000 it was he who pointed out God for the mother who stood by the that without divine help, even 200 cross, the brother that supported Jesus, pennyworth of bread wasn’t going to the apostle who saw his risen Lord and feed that crowd. He was the one whom gave his life to proclaiming the truth, the the Greeks approached when they first bishop of Jerusalem, and the author wanted to ask Jesus to show them the of the marvellous Epistle of James. Father, but didn’t quite have the nerve to Whether it was one James or several, approach Jesus directly. People had they were all faithful to Jesus, and confidence in Philip’s spirituality, proclaimed Him as the Messiah. So common sense and kindliness. Such a perhaps that should make them James person is a gift to any church! In art, the the More! Apostle Philip has been represented either with a cross, or with loaves of James the Less has been given an bread. unusual iconographic emblem: a fuller’s club. Tradition has it that he was beaten 1ST MAY: JAMES THE LESS. to death with one, after being sentenced QUIET SON OF ALPHAEUS by the Sanhedrin in AD62. In England One thing for sure: the apostles were not there are only 26 churches which are self-obsessed. In fact, many a church dedicated to James the Less. historian has wished that they had left us sam sam sam P A G E 1 1 | R I N G W O O D L I N K A P R I L 2 0 2 1 which last P E N T E C O S T The celebration of Pentecost this month could be described as a birthday party for the Church, as we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit to the first disciples (Acts 2:1-13). What are we celebrating?

God’s Promise: The disciples obeyed Jesus’ instructions as they gathered in the Upper Room: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised’ (1:4). They met expectantly in prayer for God’s promised gift. Just as we look forward to birthday presents, how eager are we to receive more of the Spirit in our lives?

God’s Power: ‘All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit’ (4). The disciples needed the power of the Spirit to be different: not fearfully gathered behind locked doors, but energised to make Christ known. The Spirit can transform our lives into the likeness of Jesus and give gifts to equip our witness. Although the disciples’ experience of this power was overwhelming, it was essentially an encounter with God’s love. For us, this can be equally emotional or quiet, but all are included, and nobody is excluded from this experience.

God’s Purpose: The disciples ‘began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ (4). The Spirit empowered their witness, so that everyone heard them speaking in their own ‘native language’ (8). We all have a story to tell of God’s activity in our lives and it’s the Spirit who translates our words and actions into a language that those around can understand! At Pentecost, 3,000 people were added to the church in one day! What do we expect of the Spirit in our day?

‘Let the Church return to Pentecost, and Pentecost will return to her. The Spirit of God cannot take possession of believers beyond their capacity of receiving Him’ (Andrew Murray). REFLECTED FAITH: HIDING, WAITING, HOPING – It is the story of those ’simple’ men who FREE! were scared and hiding one day and the By The Revd Dr Jo White next day bold and outspoken that speaks After many long months during the Covid to me of something outstanding pandemic we are at last beginning to be happening. able to come together again. Some countries and some areas of some As I received my anti-Covid vaccination I countries will be more open than others felt that same freedom from fear. Not and we can only hope, pray and wait for that I would be 100% safe and never ill all of us to be able to be ‘free’ again. again, but rather that whatever happened now would be manageable. May, in the Church’s calendar, is supremely the month of freedom. This month: Have a think this month about fears that you may have held inside During the first few weeks we continue to you in this past year and how you have celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and been able to manage them. Have you reflect on the Bible stories of those who known the Spirit of Our Lord by your side met Him after His crucifixion and as you have walked these roads? I hope resurrection. so, and I hope also that together we can help others to know His reassurance from Then we celebrate His Ascension – Jesus’ fear. Freedom indeed. return to His Father. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of all people And finally, we celebrate Pentecost, the and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and all those locked in that Upper Room – and you shall renew the face of the earth. with the subsequent birth of His Church.

Freedom indeed!ination I

This last year has for most of us felt like a waiting time to see and hold friends and family again. We have some understanding of fear and the hope within us. What a celebration there must have been when Jesus returned to His Father – and what a celebration also when the Holy Spirit so powerfully descended.

P A G E 1 3 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 CHURCH DOORS OPEN AGAIN

Last month our churches opened their doors once again, after a long period of lockdown. Find out more from three of our churches. 25th April, which last ST PAUL'S, BISTERNE With the advent of Spring and before the bird nesting season, St Paul's Bisterne was quite literally "opened up" from the road by the substantial and long overdue trimming of the roadside yew hedge. The church can now be seen in its full glory and is no longer hidden by the dark and somewhat foreboding very overgrown boundary hedge.

So by Easter Day it was looking its best with Lenten Lilies abundant in the adjoining woodland and blossom appearing on the trees in the car park. After the busiest week of the year, Revd Matthew Trick nobly commandeered to take the Evensong Service with Communion which was attended by about 15 people. The candles in the new wall sconces were lit and with the works on the Chancel roof complete there was plenty to celebrate and it was a joy to be back in the church again. Allelujah!"

Lal Mills HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT THE PARISH CHURCH We were so happy to open the church for Holy Week and Easter. St Peter & St Paul re-opened for prayer on Palm Sunday and was open all through Holy Week. The Stations of the Cross were up in the church with prayer cards and palm crosses, and we had three large wooden crosses – one at the churchyard entrance, one in the Garden of Remembrance and a huge one in the Crossing inside the church. Through Holy Week these were veiled. We put up notices next to each of the benches in the churchyard to explain what Holy Week is and why it is important, so that the coffee drinkers could see and understand. ALL SAINTS CHURCH, On Good Friday we held a three-hour HARBRIDGE meditation with music, poetry and Bible How lovely it was to be able to open the readings every half hour. Some people doors of our beloved All Saints Church, stayed for the whole time, others for a Harbridge on Easter Day after such a long shorter period. On Easter Eve, we held a closure. Perfect timing too being such an joyous Easter Vigil in the churchyard, important and special date in the church gathered around a fire as we lit the calendar. Paschal Candle, each held lit candles ourselves and cried, ‘Alleluia, Christ is It has seemed such a long time since we Risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!’ were able to worship together and it was definitely a wonderful and emotional The veils were removed and crosses experience. Richard Powell conducted a decorated in joyful bright colours. Easter .. beautiful service which was well attended. Day saw a very The church was decorated with an well attended abundance of magnificent yellow morning service daffodils placed in pottery and glass vases with several giving the church a real country feel to couples and which it is renown for. families who were new to us. Thank Hopefully this will be the start of you to everyone resuming regular monthly services that who made the have been so greatly missed. We Easter journey at welcome you all to join us. the Parish Church Vanessa Linda so very special.

Jacqueline Brown P A G E 1 5 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 Ascension prayer A prayer of Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153). He was the main inspiration of the Cistercian Order of Monks.

To complete Your seamless robe, and so to complete our faith, You ascended through the air into the heavens, before the very eyes of the apostles. In this way You showed that You are Lord of all, and are the fulfilment of all creation. Thus from that moment every human and every living creature should bow at Your name. And, in the eyes of faith, we can see that all creation proclaims Your greatness.

Ascension poem Prayer for Pentecost (Luke 24:44-53) By Daphne Kitching By Daphne Kitching Loving Father God, Scriptures fulfilled, Thank you for sending your Holy Minds opened, Spirit; We followed Him to Bethany. Your Spirit who knows no And there was joy in the blessing restrictions or barriers; Of our risen Lord, Your Spirit who can reach us and be Jesus, God on earth. with us and in us, wherever we are, whatever our circumstances; And in the blessing Your Spirit who comforts and heals Was the leaving, and empowers us to live with And in the leaving confidence that, ultimately, all shall Was the blessing – be well; His Spirit of life and power Your Spirit who connects us, To witness to the world through the life, death, resurrection Of our ascended Lord, and ascension of Jesus. Jesus, man in heaven. Because of Jesus’ victory over death we have hope and life forever. Thank you, loving Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. There are parallels between Julian’s time and the present day: She lived through the Black Death which affected Norwich badly in 1349. In 1361 & 1369 the Plague was present in Norwich. In 1381 there was a big uprising in East Anglia, known as the Peasant’s Revolt. The Battle of Agincourt was in 1415

So, like us, she lived through times of war, famine, and pestilence.

Julian had a vision of holding a hazelnut in the palm of her hand and thinking, ‘what is this?” She realised that it represented the Earth ans ‘all that is 8TH MAY: MOTHER JULIAN DAY made’. And that ‘It exists both now and On 8 May 1980 Mother Julian was forever because God loves it’. This seems commemorated by the Church of to run parallel with our present day England. Julian was born in 1342 in concerns for our green planet and our Norwich, an important port at that time. fight to avoid its destruction. She died in 1416 or later. On the 8 May 1373 during severe illness, she received Mother Julian Day is May 8th. Maybe you sixteen visions of our Lord. She became will want to pray for the health of out an anchoress and lived alone in a cell planet and ways to overcome our attached to St Julian’s Church in Norwich. pandemic and give thanks for Julian of Norwich, our English Saint? For twenty years she meditated on her Ann Long visions and then wrote ‘The Revelations of Divine Love’. This is the first book written by a woman in English and is now considered a great classic of spiritual literature. In her book she taught that God was all loving and that “Love was his meaning”. Probably her most well-known saying is “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

which last

P A G E 1 7 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 9TH MAY: ROGATION SUNDAY roots and boughs in good health, and (SUNDAY BEFORE ASCENSION) bring them to an ample harvest. At some Rogation means an asking of God - for point beer and cheese would be waiting. blessing on the seed and land for the year ahead. It is appropriate in any emergency, In the days when maps were neither war, plague, drought or foul weather. common nor accurate, there was much to be said for ‘beating the bounds.’ It was The practice began with the Romans, who still very common as late as the reign of invoked the help of the gods Terminus Queen Victoria. Certainly, parish and Ambarvalia. In those days a crowd boundaries rarely came into dispute, for moved in procession around the everyone knew them. (Do you know cornfields, singing and dancing, sacrificing yours today?) animals, and driving away Winter with sticks. They wanted to rid the cornfields of evil. Pure prayers have pure blessings. Thomas Goodwin In about 465 the Western world was suffering from earthquake, storm and If your troubles are deep-seated or long- epidemic. So Mamertius, Bishop of standing, try kneeling. Vienne, aware of the popular pagan Anon custom, ordered that prayers should be said in the ruined or neglected fields on Prayer is not an argument with God to the days leading up to Ascension. With his persuade Him to move things our way, but decision, ‘beating the bounds’ became a an exercise by which we are enabled by the Christian ceremonial. Holy Spirit to move ourselves His way. Leonard Ravenshill Rogation-tide arrived in England early in so he the eighth century and became a fixed and perennial asking for help of the Christian God. On Rogation-tide, a little party would set out to trace the boundaries of the parish. At the head marched the bishop or the priest, with a minor official bearing a Cross, and after them the people of the parish, with schoolboys and their master trailing along. Most of them held slender wands of willow.

At certain points along the route - at well- known landmarks like a bridge or stile or ancient tree, the Cross halted, the party gathered about the priest, and a litany or rogation is said, imploring God to send seasonable wealth, keep the corn and icensed Ministry and curacy df CORONAVIRUS – VACCINE STORY This happened recently and is an important lesson for our friends and family in the older age group. A friend had his second doze of vaccine at the vaccination centre. Shortly afterwards he began to have blurred vision and struggled to get home.

He rang the vaccination centre and asked if he should go straight to the hospital for help. He was told NOT to go to the hospital, but instead to return at once to the vaccination centre and pick up his glasses...

P A G E 1 9 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 M A Y N E W S

The Mothers' Union members are looking forward to recommencing our monthly meetings in Church, following the Government rules and regulations, from May onwards.

Tuesday 11th May at 2pm we will hold a service to include prayers for the ten days of "Thy Kingdom Come" from 13th May - 23rd May.

The Diocesan Quiet Day on 12th May will be held on Zoom from 11am - 1pm led by the Diocesan Chaplain the Rev Lynda Mead. She will be asking the question "Where is Jesus"? Information will be sent to all members.

The MU Diocesan Festival Service will be held in Winchester Cathedral on Thursday 10th June. at 11am. The Dean of Winchester Cathedral the Very Reverend Catherine Ogle will be the Celebrant and Preacher at the service. We will need names of those wishing to attend for the Cathedral to arrange seating social distanced. Stella Roberts

For more information about the Mothers' Union please see www.mothersunion.org or contact Sue Brinkman on 01425 474982 Hi to all the Messy Church fans out there!

Well, Easter was really different this year, wasn't it? But hey, some things never change; so chocolate eggs, bunnies and frogs were still everywhere, but much more importantly, the message of JESUS was too!! After all, without JESUS there'd be no Easter at all. We hope you watched the Easter Special Messy Church and enjoyed the fun, but if you missed it tune into the Ringwood Benefice You Tube channel at any time.

We still can’t hold Messy Church at St Peter & St Paul in Ringwood or at St John's in Poulner, "boo-hoo". But, no need to be sad because we’ve produced another fun ONLINE Messy Church. So, enjoy April's Messy and look out for the following episode at the end of May. You see, we're still spoiling you, aren't we?

Bye for now and stay safe.

The Messy Church Team

Pentecost Mice to colour

P A G E 2 1 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1 COFFEE BREAK

Shiloh head Israel Dagon God cart sores chest Gath Ekron safe pulling hands Ark Ashdod cows Moses statue Philistines celebrated temple respect keeping peopleo he CROSSWORD CLUES Across 1 Sense of right and wrong (1 Corinthians 8:7) (10) 7 Coming (John 11:17) (7) 8 ‘All I have is — , and all you have is mine’ (John 17:10) (5) 10 Smarten (Acts 9:34) (4) 11 Hold back (Job 9:13) (8) 13 Member of the Society of Friends (6) 15 At ague (anag.) (6) 17 Citizen of the Greek capital (8) 18 So be it (Galatians 6:18) (4) 21 Twentieth-century poet and dramatist who wrote Murder in the Cathedral, T.S. — (5) 22 Empowers (Philippians 3:21) (7) 23 Imposing (1 Samuel 9:2) (10)

Down 1 Healed (Luke 7:21) (5) 2 Central space in a church (4) 3 Co-founder of Spring Harvest and General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance 1983– 97, Clive — (6) 4 Moses killed one when he saw him beating a Hebrew labourer (Exodus 2:12) (8) 5 Bravery (Acts 4:13) (7) 6 It interrupted Paul and Silas singing hymns in a Philippian jail (Acts 16:26) (10) 9 Transgression (Psalm 36:1) (10) 12 Irish province in which Dublin is situated (8) 14 Same hit (anag.) (7) 16 ‘The Spirit of God was hovering over the — ’ (Genesis 1:2) (6) 19 Author of the immortal stories of Winnie the Pooh, A.A. — (5) 20 Cab (4)

ANSWERS ON PAGE 25 P A G E 2 3 | R I N G W O O D L I N K M A Y 2 0 2 1

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

F R I E N D S O F R I N G W O O D T H E C H U R C H I N T H E P A R I S H C H U R C H M A R K E T P L A Y S ! Help raise funds through social Snacks, stories and lots of events activities for 0-5's and their I M P A C T Y O U T H Parish Church - Peter G 402028 parents at our fun toddler G R O U P group. Revd Kay Pead St Peter & St Paul 489898 Office - 489898

C H U R C H C H O I R S J U L I A N M E E T I N G Join in and worship in Share a time of silence song! M O T H E R S ' U N I O N and peace M E S S Y C H U R C H F O R A L L T H E F A M I L Y Parish Church - 489898 Supporting family life Parish Church: Crafts, songs, bible stories worldwide Gill Tybjerg [email protected] and food! www.mothersunion.org Ellingham: Barbara 54071 Peter J - 477433 2nd Tuesday of the month - Sue - 474982 B E L L R I N G I N G F L O W E R A R R A N G I N G Learn the excitement of Help keep our churches ringing the big tower bells!. beautiful

Wednesday evenings in St John's - Eve - 470651 the Parish Church Parish Church - 489898 D I D D Y D U N K E R S Ellingham - Patricia 473873 Emma - 478217 Toddler group with soft play.

St John's Church Peter - 477433 N O T A L L G R O U P S A R E C U R R E N T L Y R U N N I N G D U E T O C O V I D R E S T R I C T I O N S P L E A S E C A L L F O R I N F O

P A G E 2 5 | R I N G W O O D L I N K A P R I L 2 0 2 1 FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS

FUNERALS We commend into God’s hands Almighty and eternal God, April 2021 from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, Miss Lucy Pearson, aged 21 either by death or life: Miss Thelma Wagstaff, aged 82 hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; The Parish held no baptisms or fulfil in them the purpose of your love; marriages during April 2021 and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WHO'S Retired Ministers & Licensed Lay Ministers Revd Terry Roberts WHO* Revd Canon Michael Anderson Clergy, Churchwardens, and Benefice Office Revd Richard Emblin listed on page 4 Revd Canon Peter Vargeson Mrs Elizabeth Halford Deputy and Assistant Churchwardens Mr Peter Jackson Mr Kevin Jones (St Peter & St Paul) Mr Derick Potter Miss Jan Pankhurst (St Peter & St Paul) Mr Richard Powell Mr Michael Lingam-Wilgoss (Ellingham) Mr Stephen Wood Mrs Diana White (Ellingham) Mrs Ruth Freeman Mr Michael Thomas (Harbridge)

PCC Treasurer Roger Dewar 01425 483622 PCC Secretary Sam Swyer 01425 489898 Parish Safeguarding Officer Elizabeth Halford 01425 489898 Parish Stewardship Adviser Matthew Steele 07976 381133 Parish Electoral Roll Officer L in Lloyd 01425 489898 Parish Health & Safety Officer Paul Gray 01425 461341 Parish Data Controller Sam Swyer 01425 489898 Mothers’ Union Sue Brinkman 01425 474982 The Friends of Ringwood Parish Church P e ter Goodwin 01425 402028 Organist & Choir Leader St Peter & St Paul Gill Tyberg 01425 489898 Ellingham & Harbridge Barbara Strong 01425 654071 Verger St Peter & St Paul Colin Hale 01425 476235 Verger St Mary & All Saints Lindsay Burtenshaw 01202 814698 Tower Captain Emma McNally 01425 478217 St John’s Hall Bookings: [email protected] Ellingham Hall Bookings: [email protected]

Ringwood Link © Ringwood Parochial Church Council Editor: Sam Swyer 01425 489898 Advertising and distribution Vacant - Please contact us if you can help Proofreader: J.N. Swyer *Details may Front cover: Photo provided with permission from Canva change at the APCM held after Copy deadline 15th of the month preceding publication. publishing date Additional material by subscription to ‘Parish Pump’ & ‘CartoonChurch’ Legal liability is not accepted for any misstatements, errors, or omissions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or Editor. Wednesday 8.15am