Lillington Parish Magazine St Mary Magdalene’s Church

DECEMBER 2018

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FROM THE VICAR Dear Friends, In the run up to Christmas last year I read that the average household expects to spend £174 on food and drink for December 25th alone. Over the course of our lives it is estimated that we will each spend around £54,000 on Christmas! People prepare for Christmas in different ways but the trend towards consumerism seems to be ever on the increase. Christmas is certainly a time for giving presents, after all it has its origins in God giving us Jesus. God’s gift to us is himself. But God’s present to us is not something that we can measure financially and it isn’t something that is gift wrapped with lots of glitter and glitz. Each year the decorations and the displays seem to come a little earlier and the survey certainly suggested that each year we spend more and more on purchasing Christmas. When God gave himself to us in Jesus he could have done it in the most spectacular and glorious way. Had he come according to earthly standards the cash registers would have been ringing well in advance. God’s ways, however, are so often different from our own. Yet while they are often different they are, nevertheless, perfectly in tune with our needs. And our need is not so much presents but presence. The incarnation is the gift of God’s presence, Emmanuel – God with us. It’s not always possible to be with our friends and loved ones at Christmas. And sometimes a gift or a card can help bridge this gap. But sometimes we can be misled into believing presents are a substitute for our presence. Yet it is the latter that can make all the difference as the real Christmas story reminds us. At Christmas we see God giving himself to us. Let’s hope that the next survey of spending at Christmas finds that actually we are spending more time with each other, giving ourselves more freely to each other and giving our presence to those we love. When the baby that came at Christmas grew up one of the last things he said to his followers was: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” William Smith

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WARDEN’S WORDS On a recent visit to Norwich I stood before the very large and impressive Debenhams store in the centre and contemplated the vulnerability of even the most solid looking buildings and institutions in this time of austerity and Brexit insecurity. Later, walking around Norwich I noted that many of the over fifty medieval churches in the city had long since ceased to operate as churches, some closing to services hundreds of years ago. Many had been ingeniously converted to furniture sales rooms, cafes, or were providing venues for events such as beer and craft festivals. The difference between a large department store and a church, however, is that a church houses or has housed a community of worshippers with a particular identity. Their buildings survive because the citizens of Norwich recognize that they incorporate vital elements of the history of the city. There are, for instance, churches used by Dutch immigrants dealing in cloth, and by French speaking Huguenots. They have gradually been absorbed into the wider life of the city, but the names and the buildings are a visible testimony to the rich and varied past of Norwich. Back in Lillington and looking at our own church a question arises. Do we really need to preserve an old church building in order to bear witness to the teaching of Jesus? It cannot be essential as the very earliest Christian worship took place in converts’ houses. But the existence of an old church like ours adds an extra dimension to our lives as Christians here by connecting us to at least a thousand years of worship on the site and to all that has happened in and around Lillington over those years. How many Christmases have been celebrated with how much excitement and rejoicing? How many carols have been sung and in what versions? How often have our bells tolled to express celebration or mourning? An old church provides a unique focal point for remembrance as we have just seen. Unlike a department store it is an ongoing community of the dead and the living

3 who have looked for and still look for a better future based not on more material goods but on the love of God and of one another. The impact of that worshipping community on the surrounding area over the years is incalculable and now is perhaps a good time to consider what it might mean if it were to disappear. Imagine St Mary Magdalene closed for worship and converted to a bric-à-brac store open nine until five except on Sundays. Clearly for members of the congregation it would represent a huge loss, but the sense of loss and of a gap in our midst would probably extend to a surprisingly large number of our fellow Lillingtonians. Godfrey Carr

Welcome to our new Tower Captain The Bell Ringers are pleased to announce that their new Tower Captain, after the retirement of Richard Taulbut, is Barbara Howes. The ringers and the whole congregation wish her well in the post.

CROWN ROUTES is the name for the latest Voluntary Group, funded by District Council, to provide services in Lillington. One of the new projects it is running is a drop-in café at Acorn Court, Stockton Grove (off Pound Lane), Lillington. It is open three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am-1.30 pm. You are invited to drop-in and enjoy a chat, tea, coffee, snacks or a light lunch. All are very welcome. We look forward to seeing you.

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Alan Wright writes: The Advent charity for this year is, once more, Friends of the Holy Land, an organisation based locally in . Who they are and the work that they do is summarised in the following words from their website: In 2007 a group of returning pilgrims were so moved by the plight of Holy Land Christians they wanted to make an immediate improvement to their lives, to demonstrate their Christian family had not forgotten them. The result was ‘Friends of the Holy Land’ (FHL), launched by Michael Whelan and with the personal support of the Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, now Cardinal, Archbishop of Westminster. FHL works closely with churches in the UK and in the Holy Land. Its work is ecumenical and has the backing and blessing of Anglican and Catholic Bishops in England, Wales, and Scotland. FHL is apolitical; it doesn’t campaign, not even for peace; leaving that to other better qualified organisations. Instead, FHL focuses on encouraging Christians to remain in the land of their birth by supporting them to build resilient and self-sufficient communities, in what can often be a challenging environment. FHL fund a mixture of sustainable and immediate relief work in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan. Many international agencies are active in the Holy Land supporting major initiatives. FHL concentrates instead on smaller, sustainable work. FHL has a team of locally based lay and clerical professionals who identify and verify each case. Please give generously –as always – to this work of sustaining Christians in the Holy Land. Thank you.

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CROSSWORD

23 Vine hen (anag.) (Jonah 1:2) (7) 24 Precious stone decorating the twelfth foundation of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20) (8) 25 ‘Will you keep to the old path that evil men have — ?’ (Job 22:15) (4) Down 1 ‘Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with — — ’ (Numbers 20:11) (3,5) 2 ‘You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “ — — murder”’ (Matthew 5:21) Across (2,3) 1 ‘How long will you — your face 4 One of Paul’s many hardships from me?’ (Psalm 13:1) (4) endured as a servant of God (2 3 ‘Let us, then, go to him outside Corinthians 6:5) (13) the camp, bearing the — he bore’ 5 ‘We ourselves, who have the (Hebrews 13:13) (8) firstfruits of the Spirit, — inwardly’ 9 Posh sin (anag.) (Romans 8:15) (Romans 8:23) (5) (7) 6 Changed (Daniel 6:8) (7) 10 Solemn pledges (Matthew 7 ‘My yoke is — and my burden is 5:33) (5) light’ (Matthew 11:30) (4) 11 Italian term for full orchestra 8 Recoil (Revelation 12:11) (6) (5) 13 ‘O Lord, you have — me and 12 ‘For he who avenges blood you know me’ (Psalm 139:1) (8) remembers; he does not — the 15 ‘ — to me the joy of your cry of the afflicted’ (Psalm 9:12) salvation’ (Psalm 51:12) (7) (6) 16 Express sorrow (Isaiah 16:7) 14 Prescience (1 Peter 1:2) (13) (6) 17 Where a Hindu holy man lives 18 ‘Then he said to Thomas, “ — (6) out your hand and put it into my 19 ‘If he found any... who side”’ (John 20:27) (5) belonged to the Way, whether — 20 ‘God has said, “ — will I leave — women, he might take them as you; — will I forsake you”’ prisoners’ (Acts 9:3) (3, 2) (Hebrews 13:5) (5) 22 Fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:15) 21 Son of Onam and brother of (5) Shammai (1 Chronicles 2:28) (4) Solution on page 8

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REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR 2018 We are supporting the Leamington Night Shelter and our local Lillington branch of the Leamington and Warwick Food Bank. Here are the details. We will launch Reverse Advent at our 9.30am service of Morning Praise on Sunday 2nd Dec when we will be distributing boxes and baskets for you to take home and fill up, ready for Christmas. (There will also be baskets/boxes available at the 8.00am service). Filled boxes and baskets will be received back into church at our 9.30am Communion Service on Sunday 16th Dec. How it works Lots of us now have an Advent calendar with a chocolate or little toy for each day. With the Reverse Advent Calendar, you GIVE a little something for each day. You could fill a box or basket for the Night Shelter, or our local Food Bank and at the same time your help will support what "Love Lillington" is doing in our Community. For the Night Shelter, the little gifts can be hand- warmers, new socks, hats, gloves, scarves, underwear, toiletries, toothbrushes & toothpaste, chocolates or biscuits and other luxury foods, and for the Foodbank, tins of food, little Christmassy goodies and stocking fillers, or even a supermarket gift card. At the end of Advent these will be fantastic boxes and baskets of little gifts for us to distribute to Leamington and Lillington people in need. Perhaps think about writing a short prayer and enclose it with your gifts, or tie it on with a ribbon? If filling a whole box or basket is not for you, there will be a ‘whole church’ Reverse Advent box, available in church, where your contribution may be made.

******************************************************* WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE WITH US? Advertising can be for one month only or for the whole year. Page size Width x Length Price for one Price for one year(11 issues) month Quarter page 6cm x 9cm £56 £7 Half page: 12cm x 9cm £96 £12 Full page: 12cm x 18cm £160 £20

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************************************************* Crossword solution. ACROSS: 1, Hide. 3, Disgrace. 9, Sonship. 10, Oaths. 11, Tutti. 12, Ignore. 14, Foreknowledge. 17, Ashram. 19, Men or. 22, Aroma. 23, Nineveh. 24, Amethyst. 25, Trod. DOWN: 1, His staff. 2, Do not. 4, Imprisonments. 5, Groan. 6, Altered. 7, Easy. 8, Shrink. 13, Searched. 15, Restore. 16, Lament. 18, Reach. 20, Never. 21, Jada. 8

Through a different pair of eyes. Kate Baker shares her thoughts following a recent experience. Having spent the last three months in a leg brace I have been forced (but perhaps privileged) to look at the world from a different perspective. It has been an exercise in mindfulness, defined by the NHS website as an ‘exercise in paying attention to the present moment, our own thoughts and feelings and the world around us.’ This has had its practical application in the necessity to work out how to move from one place to another and how to do simple everyday tasks while balancing on crutches. In addition it has made me think about my own actions. Am I guilty of assuming that someone with an obvious physical disability is incapable of understanding? As I listen to someone carefully enunciating their words to me so that I might understand, confident that both my hearing and mental capacity are impaired because I walk with crutches, I wonder. The current buzzword is “mindfulness” and a change in circumstance does make you Am I guilty of assuming that more aware of your someone with an obvious surroundings and of your own physical disability is incapable of response to them. While I have understanding? been heartened by the kindness of so many people, friends, family and in particular, strangers, all keen to do what they can to help in so many ways, the seeming obliviousness of others to my plight has been puzzling, Were the couple chatting about winter flowering plants while clearly watching me struggle to pick up a dropped crutch for several minutes (till the checkout girl came to my rescue!) really selfish? However perhaps there is another explanation. I suspect, like many of us in our busy lives, they were just totally engaged in the minutiae of their day, looking at things as through the lens of a cellphone camera, the antithesis of mindfulness? Romans 12 verse 2 encourages us to think more carefully about things within the moment. It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice our surroundings and thus miss the opportunity to practise our Christian faith and help others. The NHS website suggests mindfulness is good for our own

9 mental health too, to help avoid stress and depression. We could all do worse than begin with reading the poem by W.H.Davies. What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

****************************************************** FROM THE ARCHIVE

The edition of Crosstalk you are reading hit the streets at about the time of our Christmas Fair. There is a long tradition of churches raising money through fund-raising activities of all sorts. Ninety odd years ago it was no different and our archive article reports on the Garden Fete of 1927. This was the last year of the Revd Ronald Irwin’s incumbency; Revd John Carter was to take over later that year and serve St Mary Magdalene’s for 31 years. The list of stalls and how much they each raised is of particular interest. Some stalls are still with us today; the Produce Stall and Refreshments. But many are a mystery. What was The King’s Messenger Stall? It was a big earner. And New College Stall? Perhaps readers can enlighten me. I 10 note too that tickets were sold for the fete unlike the free events which we tend to provide today. The most remarkable fact which the archived magazine throws up is the total amount raised: £189 9s 6d (young readers may need to ask an oldie to explain the pounds, shilling and pence). In today’s money this is the equivalent of £10,000. Really; I’ve checked it several times. Today, we consider it an achievement if such an event adds £2,000 to our coffers. Maybe the church in the early 20th Century received less in direct giving from the congregation and relied more on fund-raising. No doubt that can be discovered from old annual financial reports. This is the trouble with researching history, one thing leads on to another!

Do you enjoy spending time with babies and toddlers? Could you offer a couple of hours on a Thursday morning to help us at Octotots? We need two types of helpers on our team:  People to set up, chat to Mums and play with little ones, and clear up at the end.  People to lead a fun singing session with nursery rhymes and some Christian songs, and also tell a simple Bible story (training provided). More details from Revd Rosemary (07581 107363) or Abby Rhodes (07779 499640).

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Great War Armistice centenary The centenary was marked by several events in Lillington. The Diatonic Chamber Choir performed an “In Remembrance” concert in church on 9th November. The next day The Friends of Midland Oak Park organised a service to remember those who served in The Royal Horse Artillery, both men and horses. This was a very fitting location for a remembrance service because it was on The Midland Oak Field that the regiment mustered before going to Flanders in 1914. Our own Gary Timlin was instrumental in organising the service and prayers were led by Revd William Smith. On Armistice Day itself, prayers were said around the memorial in the churchyard and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by a bugler. The picture touchingly shows the silhouetted figure of a First World War soldier alongside Revd William. Readers will have seen many of these figures in this special centenary year. There were many other events in Leamington and throughout the country showing that, indeed, “we will remember them”.

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God’s Special Gift For those of us about to spend Christmas with a new child or grandchild, we will know how very special the arrival of a baby is! This Christmas we celebrate again God’s gift of Jesus: ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’ (2 Corinthians 9:15). What can we say about this baby? He is God Himself: The unthinkable has happened: God has become a human being! The eternal, creator God enters the world of time and space, both fully human and fully divine. This divine baby can bring hope to our messy world, because He has fully become part of it. He doesn’t stand apart, but demonstrates a commitment to be with us and on our side in the midst of sin and suffering. He is human like us: Jesus fully engaged with the jungle of human experience. By His cross and resurrection, He can release us from the power of wrong, hurt and shame to secure for us a life of love, peace and forgiveness. Remember, the crib and cross are made of the same wood! He is one with us: In the coming of Jesus, God doesn’t draw us simply into a cosmic event, but into a relationship. Just as you or I can hold and hug our children and grandchildren, so we have a God who wants to be intimately involved in our lives. As Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’ (Matt 1:23). Therefore, the question is: Are we with Him? Are we ready to make space for Him at the centre of our Christmas Celebrations this year? ‘At Christmas time, when we receive presents we don’t really need, God offers us a gift we cannot do without.’ (J John).

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Christmas Services Sunday 16th 6.30 pm Carol Service Sunday 23rd 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Holy Communion with Sunday Club Nativity Christmas Eve 3.00 pm Christingle 4.30 pm Christingle 11.30 pm Midnight Communion Christmas Day 10.00 am Holy Communion Christmas Tree Festival Daily from 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm from Saturday 8th until Sunday 23rd December

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SERVICE DETAILS WORSHIP IN DECEMBER

8:00 am Holy Communion The 1st 9:30 am Morning Praise Sun 2 Sunday Advent Service – Darkness to of Advent 6.30 pm Light Wed 5 10.00 am Midweek Communion Service 8:00 am Holy Communion The 2nd Holy Communion with Sunday Sun 9 Sunday 10.00 am Club of Advent 6:30 pm Youth Group – no service Wed 10.00 am Midweek Communion Service 12 Sun The 3rd 8:00 am Holy Communion 16 Sunday 9:30 am Holy Communion & Sunday Club of Advent 6:30 pm Carol Service Wed 10.00 am Midweek Communion Service 19 The 4th 8.00 am Holy Communion Sun Sunday Holy Communion with Sunday 23 9.30 am of Advent Club Nativity 3.00 pm Christingle Mon Christmas 4.30 pm Christingle 24 Eve 11.30 pm Midnight Communion Tue Christmas 10.00 am Family Communion 25 Day 1st 8.00 am Holy Communion Sun Sunday 30 of 9.30 am Holy Communion Christmas

A Time for Quiet and Prayer Mon–Thurs, 12.00–1.00 pm

SUNDAY CLUB For children of all ages up to 10 years during school term time. Children join the main 9:30 am service at the beginning and the end, and leave for a 30 minute Sunday Club session which has a range of age appropriate activities.

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WHAT’S ON

December 2018 Tue 4 Dec 6.30 pm Knit & Natter in the Octagon 7.30 pm Rosemary’s Home Group Thu 6 Dec 7.30 pm PCC meeting Fri 7 Dec Christmas tree decorating 4.30 pm Lillington Local History Group meet in The Free Church Sat 8 Dec 2 pm Christmas Tree Festival launch party Tue 11 Dec 3.00 pm Poetry Group meets at Carol Innes’s 6.30 pm Knit and Natter in The Octagon Thur 13 Dec 6.00 pm Dawson’s Memorial Service in church followed by refreshments in The Octagon Fri 14 Dec 9.00 am Telford School in church Sat 15 Dec 9.45 am CTL Walkers meet at (Christmas lunch afterwards) Thu 20 Dec 10.30 am Thursday Home Group at Delia’s

For any events you wish to publicise please contact the Editor or email [email protected]

Soup & Lucky Dip at Lillington Primary School Bonfire Display. Christine Butler reports: We had a great evening on Friday at the Lillington School Firework Event. From 3.00 pm in the light on a dry and bright day, a team of helpers unloaded the cars and set up our stalls with two gazebos. William,

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Carol and Gaynor had a busy time selling two flavours of soup to keep people warm and various flavours of muffins (delicious!). John and I were kept busy on the Lucky Dip and it was great to see children enjoying a good dig around in our bins – to retrieve their prizes. 50p a go, kept our queues long and lots of smiles from parents. We are very grateful to Diana Taulbut and her team who organised the event for agreeing that we could keep our profits for the Love Lillington Fund – the figure achieved is £90.00 after expenses. More thanks to Diana for donating lots of gift items at the back of church in the previous week, after having a clear out of a store cupboard at school. We used many of these lovely things for the Lucky Dip and that has increased our profit. The best thing for the team is that we are amongst the Lillington community enjoying a great atmosphere and speaking to lots of people during the evening. The fireworks were great too! Carol, Robin, Christine, John, William, Gaynor, Godfrey and Caroline. ********************************************************** WALKERS’ GROUP On the 3rd November nine walkers met in the Octagon for the AGM. Everything went smoothly and most months were covered for our walks. It was agreed that we would like to meet in January at the Angel for a Christmas meal. The nine of us then drove to the car park off the Radford Road. We walked across the road onto the canal and along the old 17

railway to . Had a coffee stop at the church which was decorating for Remembrance Sunday. Leaving the church, we walked across the fields towards Offchurch Bury. Crossed the white bridge and headed towards the golf course and back along the river to the car park. Lunch was enjoyed, not at the White Lion (they couldn't cope with us!!), but at the Cricketers’ Arms by the bowling green.

Editor’s note: I know that it only takes a mistaken hit of the space bar to cause havoc; “The meeting will be gin with prayer”. I’ll go to that one and make mine a double!

Christmas Cards Each year at St Mary Magdalene’s we have a Christmas card board at church. Instead of sending cards individually to friends in the congregation, we invite you to place one card on the board to send Christmas wishes to all. Everyone can read the greetings which have been sent. Not only does this save paper but we invite a donation of the money you have saved on buying cards and postage. This year your donations will go the “Friends of The Holy Land” which you can read about in elsewhere in these pages. The Christmas card board will be in place from Sunday 2nd December.

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Lillington Pays Its Dues. Graham Cooper, Hon. Secretary of Lillington Local History Society reports: On Martinmas Eve, Saturday 10th November 2018, members of Lillington Local History Society presented themselves at Knightlow Hill near the A45 at 6.45 in the morning. They joined a group of about one hundred which had found its way through the darkness of the countryside to gather round the Hill which could be the burial tumulus of some early British chieftain and on top of which is a stone, once the base of a cross. The party was there to enact an almost- thousand year old ceremony, and maybe older than that, to pay tribute of the parishes to the Lord of the Manor of Knightlow, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. Although the purpose of the tribute is now lost within the pages of history, it is thought to have paid for safe- passage through the area for those on law-abiding purposes, and is recognised as one of the oldest ceremonies in Britain, and, perhaps the oldest. There were such Wroth Silver Ceremonies all over the country, but Warwickshire’s is the only one to survive. As the names of the parishes were called out its representatives came forward to place their money on the stone - perhaps a half- penny or a penny - exclaiming "Wroth Silver" which a representative of the Duke recorded, with His Worship the Town Mayor of Rugby presiding in full regalia. Lillington had not participated for many years and, to make up for it, a bag of pennies was offered, which caused interested comment. By this time, the gold of the dawn was showing through the winter- bare trees and soon the surrounding ghostly silhouettes started to take on colours and participants started to be recognised. 19

When the ceremony was completed, most made their way to The Queen's Arms Inn at Wolston where breakfast was served from about 7.15 am. It started with fruit juice and then a grand English-style plate of breakfast food was served to each person, including all the essential eggs, bacon, sausages, fried tomato and mushrooms together with fatted bread and there followed toast and marmalade. Soon afterwards, When the ceremony was glasses of milk (which, some completed, most made their way to said, included rum) were The Queen's Arms Inn at Wolston served to enable all to drink the Loyal Toast followed by one to His Grace the Duke. Some, though, avoided the milk and drank the healths in fruit juice! There then followed a cup of tea and each in attendance was given a white clay pipe, for which tobacco was available. To accord with current legislation an area outside was made available for those who wished to smoke the pipes. Most, however, just retained theirs as souvenirs, after asking the Mayor of Rugby to sign them. By this time it was time to come home; the day was only just beginning and one could imagine many people only at the stage of starting their breakfasts. This land abounds with fascinating ceremonies, though few as ancient as this one, and it would be a shame if they were allowed to fade away. Our traditions are in the land and they help to ensure the continuing character of this country with its customs, ceremonies and mysteries just below the surface of our modern way of life. There is a footnote. The Daily Mail issued a facsimile of its edition of 12th November 1918 to commemorate the Great War Armistice and on the back it was noted that "The thousand-year-old annual ceremony of collecting the Duke of Buccleuch's 'Wroth Silver' was observed at Knightlow Hill, Warwickshire, before sunrise yesterday".

FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS

Baptism Sunday 28th October Jacob Hewison, Violet Carey and Beatrice Carey

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WHAT I LOVE ABOUT…. Marc Gadsby tells us of his enthusiasm for a second of Isaac Watts’ hymns What does Christmas mean to you? Each will answer this question in a different way and amongst the answers there will be talk of mince pies, turkey, Brussels sprouts, tinsel, Christmas trees, gifts given, gifts received, snow, reindeer, and mulled wine. We love all these things that make a ‘traditional Christmas’ such fun and rightly so. One of the other great traditions for many people is singing carols, including this one by Isaac Watts, Joy to the world, the Lord is come! What I love about this carol is the way it gets directly to the true meaning of Christmas in the first line: The Lord is come! The second line reminds us that this Lord, our Lord, is King of the whole world, while the following line urges us to make room for him – not just room in a Bethlehem inn but room in our hearts. In Watts’ day most of the congregational singing was limited to It gets directly to the true chanting the psalms and so when he wrote his hymns he drew heavily on meaning of Christmas in the that tradition. This carol is no first line: The Lord is come! exception and is based on Psalm 96 vv. 4-9. It avoids the sentimentality of some carols and in the third verse gets directly to the heart of Christ’s message of truth, grace and love. Like all good hymns, it starts in one place and takes us beyond it to a greater place: it starts with his coming into the world and ends with echoes of his final act of love for us on the cross. This carol was neglected for many years in this country but remained popular in America. It has undergone a revival in recent years and has been included in newer hymn books, such as our blue book, Anglican Hymns Old and New. The tune Antioch, written in a major key, is uplifting and fits the words well. Its origin is unclear but is often ascribed to G. F. Handel. The name commemorates the church in the city of Antioch where Christ’s followers were first called ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26). Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing. 21

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Following your recent article regarding C.F. McLeod, you may be interested in a little additional information, my mother being the Evelyn McLeod mentioned. At their marriage in 1916, he is recorded as a soldier, having enlisted fairly early, and on leave at the time. Charles McLeod, known as Mac, was previously a booking clerk at the LMS railway station in Leamington. He volunteered for the army, and considered educated, was offered a clerical job behind lines. He declined, saying that he had not joined up to sit behind a desk, but to fight. It is further interesting to note that alongside the Evelyn and William spent their Lillington memorial there is honeymoon in France and visited the a plaque to the memory of then incomplete Thiepval memorial the Rev Mr Irwin. It appears that he was a family friend, perhaps a chaplain to the regiment, as he returned from Surrey to conduct the marriage of Evelyn McLeod and William Winterburn in 1928 at Holy Trinity Church. Evelyn and William spent their honeymoon in France and visited the then incomplete Thiepval memorial on the Somme, to see the name of Charles Frederick McLeod inscribed. In 1949 Evelyn was again widowed, and died in 1975. Both she and her second husband are buried in the churchyard at St. Mary Magdalene’s. Yours, Alan Winterburn Editor’s note: Revd. Ronald Irwin was vicar of St Mary Magdalene church until 1927.

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The Conversion of Ebenezer Scrooge A new look at Dickens’ Christmas Carol by Canon David Winter We think of the traditional British Christmas as a few days off work, a family get-together and a big meal. In fact, that only goes back to Victorian times. Before that it was a religious event, with church services and carols, but not a great community event. Among important influences on the change was a single story by Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’, first published 175 years ago this December. It is in effect a morality fable, with a memorable anti- hero, Scrooge, and a splendid happy ending. Ebenezer Scrooge ran his business with single-minded dedication to profit. His former partner, Marley, had died, and now in sole charge he decided to impose a more rigorous regime. There would be no Christmas Day off for his assistant Bob Cratchit, which ruled out the family’s hopes of a celebration meal together. Bob’s wife Martha was shocked, but Bob valued his job and said nothing. Scrooge, who regarded all such fanciful stuff as ‘humbug’ remained immovable, despite pleas to the contrary. That was, until Christmas Eve. That night he had a series of dream- like visions. The first was of his late partner, Marley, begging him to reconsider his attitude. There then followed three ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past’ was a vision of his own unhappy childhood. Then came the ‘Ghost of Christmas Present’ about the disappointment and tears his decision had brought to the Cratchit family. The third was the most powerful – the ‘Ghost of Christmas Future’, in which he saw his own grave. Was this how he wanted to be remembered? When he awoke on Christmas morning, Ebenezer Scrooge was a changed man. Bob need not work on Christmas day, and Scrooge himself would furnish a sumptuous meal for them all. The whole day was transformed – tears of joy (Dickens knew all about tears) and finally the junior of the family, Tiny Tim rounded off the whole experience with a cry of ‘Merry Christmas, everybody.’ The story captured not only the public mood but also the public’s heart. This was the sort of Christmas they wanted. And gradually it began to take shape – holidays for workers, charity for the poor, warmth and love in the family. Eventually the law and the work of trade unions gave the new tradition a feeling of permanence, but there’s no doubt Dickens’ ‘Christmas Carol’ story started it all.

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JUNIOR CROSSTALK

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Come and try our friendly non-auditioned choir Practise for live performances of Handel’s Messiah Come & Sing Evening: Monday 3rd December 7.30 pm at Coten End School, Warwick. “Buddies” are on hand to help those who normally only sing in the bath! Singing boosts your health and lightens the spirit Come and try us! Young and old welcome. For more information you can email Marion at [email protected] or phone her on 07825321440 We will have the music ready for you! Handel’s Messiah performance date: 11th Dec in Kenilworth

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COOKING WITH CROSSTALK

ST NICHOLAS FAIR, YORK. 15 NOV - 23 DEC 2018 At the very heart of Christmas activities within the city of York over 100 traditional style chalets with twinkling fairy lights selling inspired gifts and stocking fillers. Sample festive food and drink at the St Sampson’s Square rustic Yorkshire Barn with delicious treats including hot chestnuts and glasses of warming mulled wine YORKSHIRE PARKIN Parkin is essentially the Northern English form of gingerbread. Different parkins are characterized by where they are made and Yorkshire Parkin, one the most famous, is made using oats. Yorkshire Parkin is eaten on Bonfire Night, November 5th, celebrating the famous failure of Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses on Parliament in 1605. Guy Fawkes was a Yorkshire man.

4 oz/110g soft butter 4 oz/ 110g all-purpose/plain 4 oz/110g soft dark brown flour sugar 2 tsp baking powder 2oz / 55g black 2 tsp ground ginger treacle/molasses 1 very large, or 2 medium 7oz / 200g golden syrup/ corn eggs, beaten syrup 1 tbsp milk 8 oz / 225g medium oatmeal 1. Heat the oven to 275°/140°C/gas 1. Grease an 8" x 8"/ 20cm x 20cm square cake tin. 2. In a large heavy-based saucepan over a gentle heat melt together the butter, sugar, treacle, golden syrup. Do not allow the mixture to get hot. 3. In a large spacious baking bowl stir together all the dry ingredients. Gradually add the melted butter mixture stirring to coat all the dry ingredients. Add the beaten egg/s and mix thoroughly. Finally add the milk. 4. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and cook for 1 ½ hours until firm and set. 5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. Once cool store the Parkin in an airtight tin for a minimum of 3 days up to a week 27

before eating; this allows the flavours to develop and the mixture to soften and become moist and sticky. The Parkin will keep up to two weeks in an airtight container. YORKSHIRE CHRISTMAS PIE First make a good standing crust, let the wall and bottom be very thick; bone a turkey, a goose, a fowl, a partridge, and a pigeon, Season them all very well, take half an ounce of mace, half an ounce of nutmegs, a quarter of an ounce of cloves, and half an ounce of black-pepper, all beat fine together, two large spoonfuls of salt, and then mix them together. Open the fowls all down the back, and bone them; first the pigeon, then the partridge; cover them; A very grand Yorkshire then the fowls then the goose, and Christmas Pie was served at then the turkey, which must be Windsor Castle in 1858 large; season them all well first, and lay them in the crust, so as it, will look only like a whole turkey; then have a hare ready cased, and wiped with a clean cloth. Cut it to pieces, that is, joint it; season it, and lay it as close as you can on one side; on the other side woodcocks, moor game, and what sort of wild-fowl you can get. Season them well, and lay them close; put at least four pounds of butter into the pie, then lay on your lid, which must be a very thick one, and let it be well baked. It must have a very hot oven, and will take at least four hours. This crust will take a bushel of flour. In this chapter you will see how to make it. These pies are often sent to London in a box, as presents; therefore, the walls must be well built. From : ‘The Art of Cookery’, by Hannah Glasse, Published 1740 ‘To Make a Yorkshire Christmas-Pie’ I hope you have enjoyed our virtual travels around the British Isles Food Festivals during 2018. Carol Innes

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JEFF’S JOTTINGS I was delighted to receive the letter you see reproduced on page 22. It is from Alan Winterburn, the son of Evelyn McLeod, whose first husband was Charles McLeod. I wrote about Pt. McLeod in the series on three of the Great War soldiers named on our war memorial. Alan refers to Revd Ronald Irwin, and if any readers can throw further light on that connection, I would be pleased to hear from you. My thanks to Marc Gadsby for telling us about another of Isaac Watts’ hymns. The tune Antioch is about the only one for which I can confidently sing the tenor line. For that reason, it is a firm favourite of mine! It is good, also, to have a contributions in this edition from Kate Baker and Graham Cooper. It would be a foolish editor who expressed a political opinion in these pages. However, looking ahead to The New Year, and in particularly to 29th March, it is difficult to ignore the momentous times in which we live. We can but pray that our leaders will be given wisdom, skill and stamina to bring the Brexit negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. On a wider stage, let us pray that nations may turn from the prevalent “me first” mentality. We need more of the truth, grace and love which Marc writes about on page 21. We all share the same fragile planet and cooperation between nations is essential. Ever mindful of the need to save Santa a few air-miles, Ruth and I will be spending Christmas with our daughter’s partner’s family in Oslo. With a high likelihood of snow, we are sure it will look very festive. But think of me as you tuck in to your traditional British Christmas lunch. The Norwegians celebrate with belly pork, mashed potato and cabbage! All of us involved with the production and distribution of Crosstalk wish our readers a very happy Christmas and peace and good health in The New Year. Jeff Burgess, Editor Deadline for our January edition: Wednesday 19th December

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CONTACTS

Church Office Wendy Driscoll ...... 470449 [email protected] Vicar Rev William Smith ...... 316475 Associate Ministers Rev Rosemary Pantling ...... 316597 Rev Sue Fairhurst ...... 735254 Reader Roderick Clark ...... 422994 Churchwardens Godfrey Carr ...... 422916 Carol Innes ...... 831649 PCC Secretary Bob Cooke 315890 [email protected] PCC Treasurer Alan Wright 773786 [email protected] Stewardship Mike Hyslop ...... 883808 Secretary Dir Music/Youth Abby Rhodes 07779 Worker [email protected], 499640 [email protected] Organist Mike King ...... 409062 Bell Ringers Barbara Howes barohowes@gmail,com . 315074 Servers Jamie Hughes ...... 315538 Flower Guild Wendy Shear ...... 330825 Octagon Bookings Church Office 470449 Safeguarding Carol Innes ...... 831649 Officers Maureen Reynolds ...... 831005 Sunday Club Church Office ...... 470449 Walkers Group Bob Cooke [email protected] .... 315890 Website Manager Diana Taulbut ...... 450977 [email protected] Crosstalk Editor Jeff Burgess ...... 335129 [email protected] Crosstalk Jeff Arnold ...... 632330 Distribution Guides Diana Flower 289124 [email protected] ...... Brownies Bryony Smith 330691

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