PARISH NEWS June 2020 50P
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HERSTMONCEUX AND WARTLING PARISH NEWS June 2020 50p This Month Reverend Richard writes the letter from the Rectory; Rev Peter’s Green Page; Melinda’s Famous Hymns column covers " St Patrick’s Breastplate (“I bind unto myself today”) ", plus the regular columns and news from around the parishes 1 From the Rectory Dear Friends, On the front of this magazine is a photo taken at 8pm on Thursday evening the 30th April as David Harding (Church Warden) was on his way to ring the bell at Wartling Church in thankfulness for the NHS and all care workers. The rainbow at that time was noticed by a number of people in the parishes and I have received a comment regarding how special it was to look at. And of course, the timing was particularly amazing as the rainbow is being used as a sign of hope at this time as we seek to do all we can in order to get back to a better time than this. Indeed, a rainbow image is being displayed in many of our windows at the moment. Sighting a rainbow has long been believed to be a sign of good things to come. This commonly stems from God’s promise in the first book of the Bible. Genesis 12v3ff “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life”. When we are surrounded by rain and flooding, thunder and lightning and dark clouds, a rainbow speaks powerfully to us of a bright new beginning available to us physically and also spiritually that will come, the rainbow is a physical and a spiritual promise. A rainbow is also often seen as a bridge. It has been used to represent a bridge from earth (from humans) to a brighter, happier place. For instance, Judy Garland’s song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the Wizard of Oz represents connecting to a happier place. Used again in the more recent film ‘Australia’ to powerful effect in a second world war setting, I recommend this film to you. Thirdly rainbows, or a heavenly equivalent of them, appear more than once in the last book of the Bible. The book of Revelation records rainbows in heaven, both around the throne of God and on Jesus, the theme must be about hope in order to tie in with the rest of scripture. The rainbow colours could represent Jesus who is full of many aspects of love and truth (1Cor 13), the rainbow itself on his head could represent the peace and reconciliation that he offers us all, in all our imperfection with a perfect God, and the rainbow around the throne could be to show us that the way is open to the very heart of heaven for us because of what Jesus has done for us all by his death and resurrection. (See Revelation 4v3 and 10v1). Of course, a promise of hope is of no real value unless it is accepted by the one it is offered too. We need to believe the message of the rainbow for it to do us any good. Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you 2 will find rest for your souls”(Matt 26v28-9). We must each come to him in order to receive the true and living hope that he and his rainbows offer us. God Bless Richard Steven Prayer of the Month Planted in the love of the Father Planted in the love of the Father You can grow, dear one, You can grow. Watered by the spring of the Spirit His fruit you’ll show, His fruit you’ll show. And when the sun scorches, And the thorns threaten, And the storms around life’s garden blow – Your roots will hold, And hold secure, Because you’re planted in the love of the Father. By Daphne Kitching For many other prayers to help us in this time of Coronavirus see: www.crosswalk .com June 2020 Services Please contact Rev. Richard Steven if you would like to take part in our interactive church services on Sunday's. These will run while our Church buildings are closed due to restrictions because of the Corona Virus pandemic. Telephone 01323 833124 or e mail [email protected] Many thanks Richard 3 Wartling Church Spire Re-Shingling Update We were hoping to re-start the Spire works in May/June but have hit a new problem! As it is nesting season, and getting towards a peak in bat activity too, we are advised to leave the Spire works until the autumn. So, the plan is now to re-start in September. Please bear with us as the Church will have its decorous cover for a while longer! Unfortunately, the Church remains locked. Richard will advise us when the Diocese gives the ‘all clear’. Do hope everyone is keeping safe and well. David and Paul Wartling Church Spire Re-Shingling Update An excellent Horseshoe rainbow sculpture that is on display in Herstmonceux High Street created by Stephen Dean to thank the NHS and all key workers. 4 Rev Peter’s Green Page One Act of Random Kindness at a Time Love and Compassion are necessities, Not Luxuries. Without them Humanity Cannot Survive.” (The Dalai Lama) The Dalai Lama was describing a conversation with a friend of his, Father Leonel Narváez who was very involved with the issues of political forgiveness especially in the strife ridden country of Colombia, his home. He asked him what was the inspiration for his tireless work in forgiveness, and Farther Narváez said the following: “The importance of forgiveness came to me when riding my bike through a cemetery. I was thinking about death and our finite life. If you are able to understand that your life will end you would understand why you should not hold on to hate and realise that anger and hate are such a burden.” We have seen the results of anger and hate only too often in our world today, and yet everyone on earth has a true purpose, which is to learn how to love unconditionally to forgive and to be kind, as kindness is the exact opposite of anger and hate. Kindness is Love, care, forgiveness and compassion all rolled into one. The fact is that kindness raises the level of humanity and spiritual growth for all of us here on earth. A favourite quote of mine is this, by Amelia Earhart: “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees” This was amended and used by the actor, Morgan Freeman, who played God in the film, “Evan Almighty.” At one point in the film, he tells newly elected congressman Evan Baxter that to ‘change the world,’ simply takes “One act of random kindness at a time” There have been a lot of these random acts lately, the present Coronavirus situation may have brought out the worst in some people, but it has also brought out the very best in many, many other people. People that have made the most of the opportunities by acting upon the needs of others. It is the duty of us all, to do these acts of random kindness, to act on the opportunity to be kind to and to care for others. When we do so we have both the heart and the mind of God. Love and kindness are both words that can only be expressed in actions, so if you want to get closer to god, then just add one act of random kindness to another, and another, and so on. Rev Peter 5 Recipes to Try During the lock down, it seems that a lot of us are cooking more, even though getting things like flour, eggs etc. is harder. I found a copy of the Herstmonceux Guides Cook book compiled in about 2000-2001. Below are a couple of the recipes which you may like to try. Hope you enjoy. No Bake Square 150g mixed digestive and sweet biscuits. 50g raisins 50g plain chocolate 30ml golden syrup 75g butter. Grease a 19cm square tine. Crush the biscuits but do not make them too fine. Add the raisins to the biscuits. Break up the chocolate and melt it with the syrup and butter. When it is smooth, stir the liquid into the biscuit crumbs and mix thoroughly. Press into the tin and leave to harden Two Layer Lemon Mousse A very quick and easy store cupboard recipe. 1pk Lemon Jelly 1 tin evaporated milk. Serves 4-6 Make Jelly as packet instructions using 3/4pt water. Leave to get cold- not set. Whip up milk until thick- combine with jelly and leave to set. This recipe generally settles into 2 layers when left to set. Vegetable Layer Bake. 2 medium potatoes 1 medium carrot. 4oz mushrooms 2oz cheese 1 oz butter 1/4pt milk. 1 egg. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. Arrange half the veg in layers in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over half of the cheese. Arrange remaining vegetables on top. Mix together the egg, milk and salt and pepper.