The Greatham Beck

Parish of St John The Baptist, Greatham, Hartlepool

October 2020

£3.00 per annum Or 35p each

3636 1 From the Editors………

Autumn is upon us- the season of mists and mellow fruitful- ness. The nights are closing in, the leaves are changing their colours, and we all admit it’s finally okay to put the heating on! (well, okay, for most of us!).

At the time of writing, we are still unable to print copies of The Beck and continue to email to as many people as possi- ble. With government restrictions changing on a regular ba- sis and the increase in Covid cases it seems likely that printing will not be possible anytime soon, but we continue to explore options for providing copies to those who do not have access to on line copies.

In the meantime we hope you enjoy our October edition.

Stay safe, Linda and Justine

Parish Council Meetings

Please note any remaining meetings for this will be held in Greatham Community Centre NOT The Heron Centre as previously notified. Also meetings may be cancelled due to the Covid regulations in operation at the time.

22 35 A message from Philip……..

Love it or loathe it, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” is one of the best-known hymns in the English language. It was written in 1848 by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexan-

der to help Sunday School children better understand the story of creation in Gen- esis when God created the World and everything in and on it. All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

October 4th sees the start of Francistide in honour of St Francis of Assisi who fa- mously loved nature and all of God’s creatures. It is for this reason that the Church also celebrates Creationtide at this time when we are called to pay special atten- tion to the responsibility of humanity for the and for all that lives upon it.

A few months ago my fifteen year old spaniel suffered a severe stroke and alt- hough he has thankfully made a remarkable recovery, our daily walk now is not what it used to be. Instead of him running everywhere, he now loiters and plods, stopping frequently to sniff and “catch up on the “wee mails”. At first I found this new pace quite frustrating but now I have got into the routine as well and notice far more around me than I did before. The beautiful views over the countryside around Greatham, the tiny perfectly formed flowers hiding in the hedgerows, the wildlife and the birdsong, the beautiful orange appearing above the hori- zon at sunrise. The other day I watched in awe as a pod of about ten dolphins swam effortlessly across the bay, something I would not have even noticed before in our route march along the beach.

With the exceptionally low tide recently the very rare and extraordinary sight of We would like to acknowledge the kind contribution the petrified forest at Seaton Carew became visible, dating from 2000BC and made by the 5000BC before the great flood that created the North Sea when Britain was joined to mainland Europe in a single land mass. Hospital of God Trust Greatham, for their continuing support which allows for the printing 2020 will be seen by future generations as a year when the World changed. I like to of this magazine. We hope we will be able to print again think that it will be a change for the better, when we realise what a beautiful but soon. fragile and short thing life can be and what a precious world we have been given to care for. That the time has come to look around us and see the miracle of creation that surrounds us and change the way we view and treat the World before it is too late- and it is nearly too late.

“He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Al-

mighty, who has made all things well.” 3434 3 Philip

St John the Baptist, Greatham Just for Laughs... Visit our website at: www.stjohnthebaptistgreatham.org.uk

We are pleased to announce that we are now able to hold a Sunday ser- vice in Church at 9.30am. Everyone is required to wear a face mask and provide contact details on entry. In addition we are still holding an online prayer service via Zoom on Wednesday morning at 11.00am for a said service of worship and prayer. If you would like to join us please contact Daniel David on: [email protected]

There is also a video of prayer on the website which can be accessed, if you so wish, by following the link below: https://www.holytrinityseaton.org.uk/holytriniyandstjohnthebaptistnews

With thanks and best wishes, Philip Keep your distance! Why singing in church is the same as shouting at the pub I never thought the comment, "I wouldn't touch

How dangerous is it to sing in church, when it comes to spreading you with a six-foot pole" would become national policy, but here we are! coronavirus? About the same as it is to speak loudly in a pub.

So say researchers at the University of Bristol. They have found that speaking loudly and singing generate about the same amounts of aerosol droplet – tiny particles of liquid– which are thought to carry Covid-19

Of course, the louder you sing or speak, the more the aerosol droplets.

Bereavements: Pat Brotherton (nee Liver) 28th September 2020

Rest in peace.

Any omissions will be included next month 44 33

Answers to Music Quiz

From page 30 Church Bells

10. The Flamingos The 10. For hundreds of the bells of this grade II

Spiders from , e. The Wall The e. Mars, from Spiders listed church have rung out over the surrounding

Quadrophenia, d. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the the and Stardust Ziggy of Fall and Rise The d. Quadrophenia, village and countryside, however in recent years

9. Five answers: a. Jesus Christ Superstar, b. Tommy, c. c. Tommy, b. Superstar, Christ Jesus a. answers: Five 9. they have fallen into disrepair and are in urgent

gees) need of aid both to sustain their majestic chorus

8. Killing Me Softly with His Song (Roberta Flack and The Fu- The and Flack (Roberta Song His with Softly Me Killing 8. but also to prevent serious structural damage to Simon) (Carly vain so You're 7.

6. Jeff Wayne's 'War of the Worlds' the of 'War Wayne's Jeff 6. the bell tower.

Leppard Def d. Mac,

5. Four answers: a. Bruce Springsteen, b. Sting, c. Fleetwood Fleetwood c. Sting, b. Springsteen, Bruce a. answers: Four 5. The priority of the church has always been to serve

4. Gloria (Van Morrison, Them) Morrison, (Van Gloria 4. the community and as such it does not have the

3. The Concert for Bangladesh for Concert The 3. financial reserves to provide this much needed res-

2. El Condor Pasa Condor El 2. toration. Due to the current COVID-19 situation our usual methods of

just wanna tell her goodbye") her tell wanna just fundraising are not practical, as it would be unsafe to gather people for

. Sylvia (from the song Sylvia's Mother, "please Mrs Avery I I Avery Mrs "please Mother, Sylvia's song the (from Sylvia .

1 coffee mornings and fetes, it is also unsafe for our older congregation to raise money in the community. So with the help of the younger members of our congregation we have turned to social media and Just- Giving to help raise the funds necessary to sustain our church.

Answers to Prime Minister Anagrams from Restoration of the church bells is estimated to almost £30,000 of which page 31 the church has to contribute £20,000, however without our typical

fundraising methods we are asking for your support to keep our church

MacDonald Ramsay (James)

10. bells ringing!

Macmillan Harold

9.

Baldwin Stanley

8. Thank you for any help and support you could give during these

Home - Douglas Alec

7. tough times.

Chamberlain Neville

6. Heath (Ted) Edward

5. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/greathamchurch

Attlee Clement

4. Wilson Harold 3.

Eden Anthony 2. At the time of printing £360 has been donated.

Callaghan James 1.

3232 5 British prime ministers Historical Treasures Discovered by Accident Anagrams

Can you name these PM’s? The Xian Terra Cotta Army In 1974, a group of Chinese farmers chanced 1. Mjsea aaallnhcg 2. Yotnnha need upon the discovery of a lifetime: the tomb of 3. Dlhoar slnowl the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. The sev- 4. Eetcnlm teealt en-man team was digging a well near the city 5. Ddaewr hhate of Xian when one of their shovels struck the 6. Eellinv aailbhrencml head of a buried statue. The men initially thought they had discovered a 7. Cale auosdgl-eomh bronze bust or an ancient Buddha sculpture, but when archeologists con- 8. Ytlneas iawbdln ducted further excavations, they found it was one of some 8,000 life- 9. Dlhoar llaainmmc sized terra cotta soldiers, horses and chariots constructed to guard the 10. Mjsea yaasmr ddaalmnoc 3rd century B.C. Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. The tomb and its Answers on page 32 highly detailed soldiers—each has its own unique face—are now regard- ed as some of the most important archeological treasures in all of China.

The de Milo Before it became one of world’s most beloved sculptures, the Venus de Some miscellaneous observations on daily life and other Milo spent several centuries buried on the people... Greek island of Melos. The armless statue was only recovered in 1820, when a peasant He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others. - named Yorgos Kentrotas accidentally discov- Samuel Johnson ered its top half while trying to salvage marble building blocks from a pile of ancient ruins. He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up. - Paul Keating The find immediately caught the attention of Olivier Voutier, a French naval officer who hap- The easiest way to find more time to do all the things you want to pened to be digging for antiquities nearby. After bribing Kentrotas to help do is to turn off the TV. - O A Battista him, Voutier unearthed the bottom half containing the Venus’s draped legs. He later persuaded the French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire to purchase the statue, and in 1821 it was presented to King Louis XVIII Following the lines of least resistance is what makes men and and donated to the Louvre. Art historians have since speculated that the river crooked. – Napoleon Hill Venus is meant to represent the Greek goddess Aphrodite, yet to this day they remain uncertain about what it may have once held in its missing If you can hold your tongue, you can hold anything. E Stanley arms. 66 31 Historical Treasures Discovered by Accident Contd.

The Dead Sea Scrolls A part of the Isaiah Scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, is seen inside the vault of the Shrine of the Book building at the Israel Museum. (Credit: Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

quiz The Dead Sea Scrolls contain some of the earliest known pieces of the 1. In a popular hit song, what is the first name of the young woman Bible, but they might never have been found if not for a group of Arab teenagers. In 1947, a band of young Bedouin goat and sheepherders with the surname Avery? were tending their flock near the ancient city of Jericho. While looking 2. Which song, written in 1913, was a number one hit in Australia and for a lost goat, one of the boys tossed a stone into a nearby cave and all over Europe for Simon and Garfunkel? was shocked to hear what sounded like a shattering clay pot. When he 3. What was the name of the first large benefit concert organised by went in the cave to investigate, he found several jars containing a col- George Harrison and Ravi Shankar in 1971? lection of ancient papyrus scrolls. Tiny scraps of the scrolls would later 4. In song, what is the name of the woman who is "just about five feet sell for millions, but the Bedouins were unaware of their value and sold four"? the entire lot to a Bethlehem antiquities dealer for less than $50. Schol- 5. Who released the following UK number one albums in 1987? a. ars eventually confirmed the texts’ importance, sparking a frenzy of rel- ic hunting that led to the recovery of several thousand other bits of pa- Tunnel Of Love, b. Nothing Like The Sun, c. Tango In The Night, d. pyrus from nearby caves. Taken together, these artifacts are now con- Hysteria sidered to be among the most significant archeological discoveries of 6. The fictional ship HMS Thunderchild is depicted on the cover of the 20th century. which 1978 concept album? 7. Using the song title, complete the following lyrics. "I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee, and ...." 8.Which song, a major hit in both the 1970s and 1990s, was about lis- tening to a Don McLean song in concert? 9. Name the Rock Opera or Concept Album in which each of the fol- Multiply lowing songs appear. a. What's the buzz, b. Cousin Kevin, c. 5. 15, d.

Five Years, e. Goodbye Blue Sky Noah opened up the ark and let all the animals out, telling them to 10. Which vocal group with a bird name are credited with establishing "Go forth and multiply!" He began to close the great doors of the the 'doo-wop' sound? ark when he noticed that there were two snakes still sitting in a Answers on page 32 dark corner. Concerned, he said to them: "Didn't you hear me? You can go now. Go forth and multiply."

3030 7 Greatham Post Office Update Richie’s Village Shop

Richard is undergoing treatment at the Freeman Hospital on a regular basis. Deep fried Apple Pies/Turnovers It will not be possible for him to re-open the shop. However, we are doing all we can to make sure the post office service is not lost in Greatham. Look- ing forward to more settled times. Stay safe all. This recipe is a copy cat of the Apple pies which are available at a well known quick food chain Anita (Richard’s mum) and is ideal for using the glut of apples currently available in gardens and allotments. I am sure we along with all our readers and Greatham residents have Richie and his family in our thoughts and prayers as he continues with Ingredients: his ongoing treatment. We also would like to take this opportunity to 25g butter thank Richie and his family for the service they have provided to the 4 apples (peeled and chopped)

village. Our best wishes to you all. 30g sugar Linda & Justine 1tsp cinnamon Puff pastry sheet

Method: 1. Mix the butter, apple sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan and let it bubble and caramelise. 2. Roll the puff pastry out and cut into strips, about the size of a Greatham Residents Association pasty, depending on how big you want each turnover. www.greathamvillage.co.uk 3. Spoon the apple mixture on one half of each piece of pastry, don’t overfill as the pastry needs to be folded in half. We have been unable to meet since February for obvious reasons and 4. Use a fork to crimp the sides together and stop the apple seeping planning for the future is still uncertain. As a result, there will be no out. Christmas Market this year. However, we hope things will get back to 5. Fry them in a deep fat fryer for a few minutes or for a healthier normal as soon as possible. option bake in the oven. We currently have £1400 in our bank account, most of which came from last years’ Christmas market and we hope to put this to good use in the We would love to hear about your favourite recipes so that we can pass near future. on to others to enjoy. Get in touch at [email protected]

We have a selection of Christmas cards from last year which will be avail- able at a reduced price from Whitfield’s General dealers in the coming weeks.

88 29 Pumpkin and Pineapple Muffins Hi Folks,

An interesting update for those of you who are interested in astronomy. A moist and delicious muffin recipe to use up your pumpkins this month, Some time ago I informed you that the largest known was one and they don’t taste at all like pumpkin! (makes 11-12.) called UY Scuti, which if placed where our sun is it’s atmosphere Ingredients: would reach the orbit of . I have now learnt that a new star has 7oz/ 200g Pumpkin, peeled and finely grated been discovered whose atmosphere would reach the orbit of , 4fl oz/120ml well drained, crushed pineapple (or 4 slices, chopped) it’s called -18 and lies in the of . 9oz/250g plain flour* Stephenson 2-18 has a radius 2,150 times greater than our sun and is 1tsp/5ml baking powder classified as a ‘supergiant’. One can only imagine that in the millions of galaxies that make up the universe there will be even larger ones we 1tsp/5ml bicarbonate of soda will never discover. 1/2tsp/ 2.5ml salt 2 tsp/10ml ground cinnamon Interestingly the Bible mentions the of the zodiac 1 egg (Mazzaroth) a number of times, in Job 38 v 31-32 (the Pleiades in 4oz/110g white granulated sugar or soft brown sugar Tauras, Orion, Mazzaroth, the Bear), in Job 9 v 9 (the Bear, Orion, the 3-4 fl oz/90-120ml milk or water (amount can vary depending on how much Pleiades and the constellations of the south). So, astronomy is not a juice is left in pineapple) modern science but rather stretches back to ancient times. 4fl oz/120ml vegetable oil or corn oil I’m sure that at some time you must have experienced seeing the Icing: so bright and bountiful in the night sky that you felt you could almost 2oz/60g cream cheese, at room temperature reach out and touch them, I experienced this during a holiday in Roth- 4oz/110g icing sugar bury and at other times. One is faced with only 2 possibilities, either 1/4tsp/1.2ml vanilla essence one believes in the so called Big Bang ( that something came from Method: nothing ) or that there was a Creator who made it all. Most people to- 1. Prepare muffin tins. Preheat oven to -190 200C. day opt for the scientific explanation, which makes no demands on them, but if the creationist explanation is accepted then this invariably 2. Prepare grated pumpkin and crushed pineapple. Set aside. demands further investigation as it opens up numerous additional is- 3. In a large bowl, sift together: flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of so- sues that need to be faced. da , salt and cinnamon. 4. In a medium sized bowl, beat egg with a fork. Add sugar, milk/water, In the Book of Genesis we read that God created all the heavens and and oil. Stir in grated pumpkin and crushed pineapple. the earth, in Psalm 147 verse 4 we read, “ He ( God ) has decided the 5. Pour all of wet ingredients into dry. Stir until fully combined. number of the stars and calls each one by name.” In Matthew 10 vers- 6. Spoon into muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 mins, until tops feel quite firm. es 29 & 30 we read that not even a sparrow falls to the ground that Allow to cool before icing. God does not know about and He knows even the number of hairs on 7. For icing, use the back of a spoon to blend together softened cream your head! cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. (add 1/2 tsp milk if need- ed.) spread on cooled muffins. Roydon *If using self-raising flour, omit baking powder. Do not omit bicarbonate of soda. 2828 9 What’s the history behind some of the sayings we use everyday?

The third degree There are several tales about the origin of “the third degree,” a saying common- ly used for long or arduous interrogations. One theory argues the phrase relates All plants using cutting methods should be ideally placed in a to the various degrees of murder in the criminal code; yet another credits it to Thomas F. Byrnes, a 19th-century New York City policeman who used the pun propagator but if you don’t have one, all is not lost. Place three “Third Degree Byrnes” when describing his hardnosed questioning style. In small sticks in the pot with your cuttings and place a clear poly- truth, the saying is most likely derived from the Freemasons, a centuries-old thene bag over the top of the pot and fasten with an elastic band fraternal organization whose members undergo rigorous questioning and exam- or tape and place on a windowsill. inations before becoming “third degree” members, or “master masons.” Hope you find these tips useful! Running amok Happy Gardening! “Running amok” is commonly used to describe wild or erratic behavior, but the phrase actually began its life as a medical term. The saying was popularized in the 18th and P.S: Don’t forget our usual Charity Pumpkin Fest at the nursery 19th centuries, when European visitors to Malaysia learned of a peculiar mental afflic- tion that caused otherwise normal tribesmen to go on brutal and seemingly random from mid-late October. More details can be found during Octo- killing sprees. Amok—derived from the “Amuco,” a band of Javanese and Malay warri- ber on our Facebook page: ors who were known for their penchant for indiscriminate violence—was initially a Grove House Plants. source of morbid fascination for Westerners. Writing in 1772, the famed explorer Cap- tain James Cook noted that “to run amok is to … sally forth from the house, kill the per- son or persons supposed to have injured the Amock, and any other person that attempts to impede his passage.” Once thought to be the result of possession by evil spirits, the phenomenon later found its way into psychiatric manuals. It remains a diag- nosable mental condition to this day.

By and large Many everyday phrases are nautical in origin— “taken aback,” “loose cannon” and “high and dry” all originated at sea—but perhaps the most surprising exam- ple is the common saying “by and large.” As far back as the 16th century, the word “large” was used to mean that a ship was sailing with the wind at its back. Meanwhile, the much less desirable “by,” or “full and by,” meant the vessel was traveling into the wind. Thus, for mariners, “by and large” referred to trawling the seas in any and all directions relative to the wind. Today, sailors and land- lubbers alike now use the phrase as a synonym for “all things considered” or “for the most part.”

1010 27 Average debt fell by £2,000 during lockdown

Covid-19 has brought one good thing to some of us: the aver- age amount of personal debt has reduced by nearly £2,000, Autumn has arrived! Most plants are dying back in the garden and now according to a recent study by Experian. It recently stood at is a good time to lift and divide some of them while the soil is moist and £9,681 (without mortgage), as opposed to £11,615 (without not too wet. Division not only increases your stock but also reinvigor- mortgage) in March. ates the original plant at the same time. Tubers such as Dahlias, can be As a spokesman for the credit-checking agency explained: “For lifted and dried before boxing up and storing in a frost-free environ- some people, a reduction in spending on living costs ment. The same can be done with Chrysanthemums. Both will pro- and commuting have enabled the repayment of existing bor- duce cutting material in the spring. A dusting with sulphur powder will rowing.” And he urged that as the UK returns to something like help minimise fungal infection. normal, people should try and continue with the good financial habits picked up during lockdown. Bulbs and corms can be lifted and small bulblets removed and potted But Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizen’s Advice, said on whilst the main bulb or corm can be replanted. A general fertiliser that while some people have been able to pay off some of their such as Fish, Blood & Bone will help to re-establish them. debts in the pandemic, many others have not. Instead, they “are behind on essential bills, building up arrears they may Some perennials can be propagated by planting sections of fleshy root, struggle to ever pay back.” including Oriental Poppy, Phlox, Geranium and Hoytunnia. Use 1 - 2inch pieces and place vertically in a pot using good quality seed and cutting compost. Water well and be patient. New growth will differ depending on variety. Smile Amazon.co.uk

You can still take stem tip cuttings of between 2- 4 inches. Cut just be- Now that more and more households are making on line purchases it’s a great opportunity to support our local charities. When pur- fore a leaf joint and remove the bottom leaves. Dip in hormone chasing goods from Amazon simply log into smileamazon.co.uk rooting powder and place 6 cuttings in a 5 inch pot. instead of the usual Amazon and all purchases will benefit a local charity. You can chose from the list of charities which are partici- A heel cutting can be used on woody-stemmed plants. This entails pull- pating such as Hartlepool Hospice. There is no cost to the consum- ing off plant shoot with the heel of the old stem attached. This method er, it’s the same products, same prices and same service. To date is more difficult to master but can be used on plants that are more ma- £4.6 million has already been donated to charity via this site. ture.

2626 11 Oppressed Christians struggling under Covid-19

Oppression and discrimination against Christians has increased dur- ing Covid, says Release International, which has launched an appeal to help Christians suffering during the pandemic.

Many Christians have been denied food and relief aid and excluded from support systems during lockdown. They have been abandoned by families because of their faith and refused re- lief by governments and NGOs.

At the same time, several countries have stepped up persecution against Christians. One of the worst offenders is China, where Christians have been arrested for simply holding prayer meetings online.

“The situation has got much worse for many Christians during lock- down,” says Release International CEO Paul Robinson.

“Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on the lives of many poor Christians. In places hostile to the faith Christians are experiencing increased hardship. 9 –11am

“Food is now in short supply. They are unable to work and can’t earn, and support is being withheld because of their faith. Their cries for help are being ignored by local charities who are distrib- uting food packages only to families of other faiths. We can’t afford Put it this way… to delay. These Christians need our help.” ~ A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking. In Algeria, many Christians have had to stop work because of the ~ A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative. lockdown, and so lost their income. They have been rejected by ~ My wife really likes to make pottery, but to me it's just kiln time. society and their families as a result of their faith. There is no social ~ A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. security in the country or government support. ~ I used to work in a blanket factory, but it folded. ~ Marriage is the mourning after the knot before. Eritrean Christians fleeing persecution have been barred from refu- ~ Sea captains don't like crew cuts. gee camps and are unable to get support from UNHCR. And they refuse to resort to crime to get the money and supplies they need.

1212 25 Oppressed Christians struggling under Covid-19 contd.

Answers to Last month’s Sudoku In Pakistan the situation is especially hard for converts from a Muslim background. The only form of social security is family support, and Muslim families often withdraw support for family members who change their religion.

Paul Robinson of Release International says: “Right now, it’s up to us in the family of faith to give them our support.” Partners of Release International are providing food parcels to impoverished Christians in Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nige- ria, Pakistan and Turkey. If you can help, go to: www.releaseinternational.org/covid

In several countries, lockdown has led to an increase in per- secution.

In Upper Egypt, where Christians face discrimination for their faith, some organisations are allegedly refusing food and support to Christian families. Release partners report: “The authorities are helping Muslims but not Christians. And churches that try to help are being closed by police order.” Please send us anything you would like included in The Beck, ideally 250 words or less. In China, Release partners say the government is using the pandemic to step up its crackdown against Christians. They We aim to have The Beck delivered by 1st of each month, and have accelerated campaigns such as the forced demolition of the cut off date for the next issue is: crosses. Pastors have been rounded up for sharing the gos- th 15 of October pel and distributing facemasks on the street. The authorities Please use this address for all contributions have “totally prohibited” online church services and prayer meetings, as “nothing constituting a religious service is al- [email protected] lowed.”

Alternatively take your article into Whitfield’s General Store In Nigeria, the lockdown deepened the insecurity facing We reserve the right to refuse or alter any item submitted for many Christian villagers, who face attacks by Fulani militia. inclusion.

2424 13 24 Easy Self Care Ideas

1. Give yourself a pedicure or a manicure. 2. Read a book or magazine for an hour. 3. Take a bubble bath—complete with candles and calming music. 4. Pick or buy a bouquet of fresh flowers. 5. Take a leisurely walk without a goal. 6. Take a nap. 31st October: All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening 7. Do something crafty: colouring, knitting, sewing. 8. Look at the stars. Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots with the 9. Have a dance party to your favourite music. Celtic peoples of pre-Christian times. 10. Sing at the top of your lungs. Preferably in the car and with the windows down. In those long-ago days, on the last night of October, the 11. Go for a drive—no destination required. Celts celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or ‘Summer’s 12. Have a 20 minute stretching session. End’. The priests, or Druids, performed ceremonies to 13. Go to the park and play on the playground. Be a kid again! thank and honour the sun. For there was a very dark side 14. Wear an outfit that makes you feel great. Even if you have no rea- to all this: Samhain also signalled the onset of winter, a son to (YOU ARE the reason!). time when it was feared that unfriendly ghosts, nature- 15. Declutter a spot in your house that’s been bugging you. spirits, and witches roamed the earth, creating mischief. 16. Write a list of “annoying tasks” that have been weighing on you So the Druid priests lit great bonfires and performed and knock them out in an hour. magic rites to ward off or appease these dark supernatu- 17. Watch the sun rise or set. Don’t take any pictures or post about it ral powers. on social media. Just watch. 18. Go to bed early or sleep in late. Then the Romans arrived, and brought their Harvest Fes- 19. Edit who you follow on social media (if they don’t bring joy, they tival which honoured the Goddess Pomona with gifts of gotta go—no matter how nice, inspiring, or cool they are). apples and nuts. The two festivals slowly merged. 20. Spend time out in the garden. 21. Take the time to do your hair and makeup, for no other reason When Christianity arrived still later, it began to replace than it makes you feel put together. the Roman and Druid religions. 1st November - All 22. Write a list of 10 things you are grateful for and why. Saints’ Day - was dedicated to all Christian Martyrs and 23. Write a letter (or an email) to an old friend. Saints who had died. It was called ‘All Hallows’ Day’. The 24. Say “no” to someone. evening before became an evening of prayer and prepa- ration and was called ‘All Hallows’ Eve’, The Holy Even- ing, later shortened to ‘Halloween’.

1414 23 One in five of us suffer depression

We can certainly say that 2020 has been eventful! This year has been full of up- For many centuries, however, fear of the supernatural heaval, and stress for everyone, the pandemic has doubled our rates of depres- remained strong. During the Middle Ages, animal cos- sion. Now one in five adults are struggling with the symptoms. And yet the peak tumes and frightening masks were worn to ward off the of the Covid-19 mental health crisis is ‘yet to come’, according to NHS bosses. evil spirits of darkness on Halloween. Magic words and charms were used to keep away bad luck, and every- In June the Office for National Statistics released data showing that 19.2 percent body believed that witches ride about on broomsticks. of adults were experiencing some form of depression. This figure had almost Fortune telling was popular, and predicting the future by doubled, from around one in 10 (9.7 per cent), before the pandemic. But NHS the use of nuts and apples was so popular that Hallow- bosses warn that up to half a million more patients are expected to enter the een is still sometimes known as Nutcrack Night or Snap- system in coming months. Apple Night.

Those most vulnerable to depression are women aged 16 to 29 who are unable Today, Christians have learned to turn to prayer instead to afford an unexpected expense, or who are disabled. of charms to overcome the powers of darkness. And the deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, should not be A spokeswoman for Mind, the mental health charity, says, “It’s crucial that men- forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to Christ tal health is put at the centre of the government’s ongoing recovery plans.” when we remember and give thanks for our loved ones

A report from the NHS Confederation echoes this, saying that mental health bod- ies will need “intensive support and investment.”

If you are feeling that your emotional health or wellbeing are suffering, you should seek professional help. Go to www.NHS.UK/mental health and well being for advice. Greatham Feast

Unfortunately, due to Covid, the But there are things we can do to help us get through those tough mental health days. The term “Self Care” is commonly used to describe individuals taking charge of their own health. This includes making healthy lifestyle choices, and Halloween Feast Disco taking time to make sure our own needs are met. This can mean nourishing your social life, making time for therapeutic activities or looking after your physical is cancelled this year. health. On the next page, we’ve put together a list of easy self care ideas that you can choose from to fit into each day. Why not make your own list and do something just for you today?

2222 15 A teenage boy had just passed his driving test … Edith Cavell, continued ... and asked his father as to when they could discuss his use Sadly, in 1915, when the Germans began their occupation of of the car. Brussels, they took a dim view of Edith’s work. But they would have been even more unhappy had they known she was help- His father said he'd make a deal with his son, "You bring your grades up from a C ing to smuggle 200 British soldiers across the border into the to a B average, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut. Then we'll talk about Netherlands! the car" The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the Finally, the Germans arrested Edith in August 1915, and put offer and they agreed on it. her into solitary confinement. They tricked her into confessing After about six weeks his father said, "Son, you've brought your grades up and I've to a charge which carried the death penalty. But Edith refused observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't to show either regret at what she had done, or any fear or had your hair cut." bitterness towards her captors. After the war her body was exhumed and buried in Norwich The boy said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my Cathedral. Her memorial service in Westminster Abbey studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Mo- attracted thousands. A commemorative statue of her stands ses had long hair, and there's even strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.” near Trafalgar Square. th The father responded, "Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they On 11 October 1915, the night before her execution, Edith went?" was visited by the Anglican chaplain to Brussels, the Revd Stir- ling Gahan. Together they said the words of Abide with Me, and Edith received her last Holy Communion. She told Gahan: “I am thankful to have had these ten weeks of quiet to get ready. Now I have had them and have been kindly treated here. I expected my sentence and I believe it was just. Standing, as I do, in view of God and eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness Why didn’t Noah ever go fishing? to anyone.” He only had 2 worms Edith was shot by a firing squad next day, on 12th October 1915. Did Eve ever have a date with Adam?

No; just an apple.

1616 21 Fly Tipping One good thing about coronavirus has been the re- 4 December 1865 – 12 October duction of litter on the roads. When the burger shops Edith Cavell - were shut, people did not buy a snack, eat it on the 1915 way home and then throw the plastic container and the milkshake mug and straw out the car window. Edith Cavell is a good saint for NHS workers this year: she cared What possesses people to do this? For another type for the sick despite the danger to her own safety. of anti-social behaviour has increased: fly-tipping. Council tips have Edith was a vicar’s daughter from Swardeston in Norfolk, where been closed, so irresponsible people have decided to turn a field en- she was born in 1865. She became a governess, but her heart trance or a pathway into another tip. Fly-tipping costs money to deal was for nursing, so she went on to train at the London Hospital, with and it is also dangerous to people and wildlife. before nursing in various hospitals such as St Pancras and Man- The government is tackling this problem and there are heavy fines and chester. even imprisonment for the offenders. Quite right, but it is not only the tipper who is responsible. You have an old settee and some bags of When Edith was 42, she decided to go abroad, and was ap- rubbish and need someone to dump it. A man with a van offers to do pointed matron of a large training centre for nurses in Brussels. it for £20 in cash. A week later you get an email from the council to She was still there seven years later, when the First World War say that you are going to be investigated for fly-tipping as the man broke out and German troops invaded Belgium on their way to simply dumped your stuff on a roadside, and someone recognised the Paris and the Channel Ports. sofa and there were letters to your home address in the bags. Edith’s nursing school became a Red Cross hospital, and she Or here is another scenario: you are going on holiday and decide to turned down the opportunity to return to the safety of England. leave some rubbish at the back of your house. You phone a mate to Instead, her nurses tended wounded soldiers from both Ger- come and collect it, but they forget. Both of these scenarios could re- man and Allied armies. sult in a heavy fine. In the 2018/19 year, local authorities in England dealt with over one million fly-tipping incidents, nearly two thirds of which involved house- hold waste. But fly-tipping is acriminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £50,000, or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a Magis- trates’ Court. The offence can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment if convicted in a Crown Court. What can we do as responsible people? We can report fly-tipping to the local authority and if there is a serious problem, we can ask our local and parish councillors what is being done about it.

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