PARISH MAGAZINE Bell Ringers St John's: Liz Merritt 726767 St Mary's: Barry Osborn 725389
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Contacts (01380 unless stated) Rector Vacant Curate The Rev. Gerry Lynch 07521 440 622 Parish Administrator Catherine Brown 724389 Licensed Lay Ministers Chris Cox 728716 Churchwardens Peter Crofts 725740 Jane Scorer 720168 Bob Simpson 725728 Hon. Treasurer Becky Edgington 722680 PCC Secretary Liz Overthrow 722404 Electoral Roll Officer Catherine Brown 724389 Organist Chris Totney 01672 562886 PARISH MAGAZINE Bell Ringers St John's: Liz Merritt 726767 St Mary's: Barry Osborn 725389 Flower Guild Heather Blyth 724347 Parish Magazine Distribution Peter Crofts 725740 Parish Magazine Editor Catherine Brown 724389 Mothers' Union Juliet Bazeley 829610 Children’s Church Catherine Brown 739253 Parish Safeguarding Officer Jerry King 723830 Health and Safety Officer Alan Martin 0755 7790 363 Representatives on Churches Together in Devizes David Evans 721527 Parish Rooms: hire and information 724389 [email protected] 50p 20 Bible readings for November Contents 1 Rev. 7.9-end, 16 Rev. 1.1-4, 2.1-5 All Saints 1 John 3.1-3, Luke 18.35-end 3 The Bishop of Ramsbury writes…... Matt.51-12 17 Rev. 3.1-6, 14-end 4 Remembrance 2 Phil. 2.1-4, Luke 19.1-10 All Souls Luke 14.12-14 5 Cartoons 18 Rev. 4 3 Phil. 2.5-11 Luke 19.11-28 6 Chris Totney’s other interests….. Luke 14.15-24 19 Rev. 5.1-10 7 The Well on Wednesdays 4 Phil. 2.12-18 Luke 19.41-44 8 Always Hope ! Luke 14.25-33 20 Rev. 10.8-11 5 Phil. 3.3-8a Luke 19.45-48 9 Ride and Stride Luke 15.1-10 21 Rev. 11.4-12 10 & 11 Briggs Lodge 6 Phil. 3.17-4.1 Luke 20.27-40 Luke 16.1-8 22 Ezek. 34.11-16, 20-24 12 & 13 Chris Cox …… My Spiritual Journey 7 Phil. 4.10-19 Eph. 1.15-end 14 & 15 How do you become a Saint….. Luke 16.9-15 Matt. 25-31 16 Science and Religion 8 Wisd. 6.12-16 1 Thes. 4.13-end 23 Rev. 14.1-5 17 Book Review Matt. 25.1-13 Luke 21.1-4 9 Titus 1.1-9 24 Rev. 14.4-19 18 Psalms for November Luke 17.1-6 Luke 21.5-11 19 Bible readings for November 10 Titus 2.1-8, 11-14 25 Rev. 15.1-4 Luke 17.7-10 Luke 21.12-19 20 Parish Contacts 11 Titus 3.1-7 26 Rev. 18.1-2, 21-23, 19.1-3,9 Luke 17.11-19 If you would like to read this magazine electronically, please Luke 21.20-28 go to this page on our website: 12 Philem. 7-20 27 Rev. 20.1-4, 11-21.2 Luke 17.20-25 http://www.stjohnwithstmary.org.uk/about-us/church-life/ Luke 21.29-33 overview-of-church-life 13 2 John 4-9 28 Rev. 22.1-7 Luke 17.26-end Luke 21.34-36 and follow the link. 14 3 John 5-8 29 Isa. 64.1-9 Luke 18.1-8 Advent 1Cor. 1.3-9 15 Zeph. 1.7,12-end Sunday Mark 13.24-end 1 Thess.5.1-11 30 Isa. 52.7-10 Matt. 25.14-30 2 19 St Andrew Rom. 10.12-18 Matt. 4.18-22 Psalms for November The Bishop of Ramsbury, Andrew Rumsey 1. 34.1-10 2. 131 Though the grass may wither 3. 22.22-27 4. 27.1-5 Autumn arrives and, with it, Creationtide - as our extended harvest 5. 105.1-7 6. 122 season is now known. The lawn’s still growing, though – a job I’ll miss 7. 112 8. 70 when things turn colder. For such a noisy task, I have always found 9. 24.1-6 10. 37.3-5, 30-32 mowing the grass an ideal aid to reflection. This is partly because 11. 23 12. 146.4-end doing so brings me close to my late father, with whom I shared 13. 119.1-8 14. 112 mowing duties at home. The smell of four-star slugging into an old 15. 90.1-8,12 16. 1 Mountfield, its snarling start-up (after several sweaty tugs on the recoil 17. 15 18. 150 cord) and a gardening jacket itched with clippings: these things 19. 149.1-5 20. 119.65-72 ground me, somehow. 21. 144.1-9 22. 95.1-7 23. 24.1-6 24. 96 Our years, we are reminded by the Psalmist, ‘fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green and groweth up, but in the evening it is cut down, dried up and withered’. I have read these lines – with their evergreen hook, “the days of our age are threescore years and ten” - at untold funerals over the years, placing the seasons of life into the hands of our creator. And there is comfort indeed in knowing the Lord’s great faithfulness in all things. A simple task, close to the soil, is a great opportunity to pray. The physical exercise keeps us just occupied enough to divert the usual distractions, leaving the mind and heart free to ascend a little. Being with God at such times – in quiet awareness of his company, or in ordinary conversation - is a settling thing and I commend it to you, while the weeks allow us still to be outside. Thus grounded, we shall be able to face whatever the winter brings. +Andrew Ramsbury 18 3 Remembrance Book Review This year we’ve been remembering the Battle of Britain, described Journey to Contentment: Pilgrimage Principles for by Winston Churchill in August 1940 as ‘one of the decisive bat- Everyday life By Sally Welch, BRF, £8.99 tles of the war… never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ It was a dramatic turning point in the Using the metaphor of pilgrimage, Sally Welch history of the Second World War. The occasions for Remem- explores how we can understand this biblical principle brance this month will provide us times of gratitude for what was and make it our own. achieved in the darkest moments of war. This book is divided into sections of a journey, beginning with the preparations necessary before However, this year we are very aware of our own struggles with setting out, exploring the obstacles which might be put the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. We face an unseen enemy, in our path and sharing ways in which the journey can but the effects on our lives and society are as almost as devastat- be made easier and more productive. ing as world war. At the end of each reflection there is a suggestion for an activity or prayer to enable the reader to apply the learning to their Remembering is not just about focusing on past events. It is also own life. about making present past events, as we give thanks for all that took place. The Battle of Britain was fought by the Few and won in the skies over the Channel. In our battle with the virus, we can call ……………………………………………………………………….. to mind the victory of Jesus: ‘Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.’ (2 Timothy 2:8). Jesus secured One True Light – Daily Advent Readings the victory of death by His cross and resurrection, so that we don’t from The Gospel of John By Tim need to fear death, but trust in His loving purposes for our lives. Chester, The Good Book Company /10ofThose, £4.24 ‘They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun We may be familiar with the baby in the manger, but and in the morning we will remember them.’ have you met the Word who was in the beginning with God? Have you met the One True Light who is full of grace and truth? Or the Cosmic Lord who won the right for people to become Children of God? They are one and the same person. Join Tim Chester as he guides us through the opening verses of the Gospel of John, and enjoy a Christmas infused with new meaning and light. 4 17 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone … The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment… Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Job 38:4–7, 14, 16 (NIV) These verses from the biblical book of Job focus on the Earth, from the top of the highest mountains to the deepest valleys of the sea floor. Job used to have a very comfortable life, but lost everything: health, children, and much of his property. He can see no obvious reason for this terrible turn of events, so he demands an answer from God, asking “What have I done to you…? Why have you made me your target?” There is no direct reply to Job’s question, but instead a long conversation with his friends who assume (wrongly) that he must be being punished for doing something very bad. When God finally speaks, He draws Job’s attention to his surroundings.