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PRIEST in CHARGE – Revd Dr Naomi Wormell, The Rectory, 132 High Street, , CB8 9DG 01638 730857 [email protected]

AUTHORISED LAY MINISTERS (ALM) Tracy Grimster, 6 Walton Close, Fordham (Pastoral for Children, Families & Baptism) 01638 721150

READER-IN-TRAINING Dr Tony White, Wayside, Fordham Rd, Newmarket CB8 7AQ 01638 662044

CHURCHWARDENS

Ashley with Silverley Mrs Sam Bowker-Laing 17, the Green Ashley CB8 9EB 07483 959722 [email protected] Mrs Michelle Boss 16 Silverley Way, Ashley CB8 9DY 07908 421918 [email protected] Cheveley Mr James Hadlow, St Swithins, Church Lane, Cheveley, CB8 9DJ 07908 224866 [email protected] Mrs Celia Bruce 34 Newmarket Road Cheveley CB8 9EQ 01638 731601

Kirtling with Upend Lord Fairhaven, Tower, Kirtling CB8 9PA (pa) 01638 732250 Mrs Veronica Aspland, 35 The Street, Kirtling, CB8 9PB 01638 730405

Woodditton and Saxon Street Mrs Sheila Bailey, 3 Park Cottage, Kirtling Road, 01638 730815 Mrs Gillian White, Wayside, Fordham Rd. Newmarket CB8 7AQ 01638 662044

ORGANIST - Vacancy

GROUP WEB PAGE: www.cheveleygroup.org

Items for inclusion in 'THE LINK' should be emailed to; [email protected] by the tenth (10th) day of the month before the month of publication. ~ ~ ~ Whilst every effort is made to exclude unsuitable material from this, a parish magazine, responsibility for content remains with the author of any submissions published This magazine is printed and published monthly by; THE LINK – Cheveley Group of Parish churches: Ashley, Cheveley, Kirtling and Woodditton Page updated Oct 20

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The LINK Contents: December 2020

2 Group Contacts 3 Index 4 From the Rectory 5 Praying in Our Community 5 Advent Calendar Walk 7 Cheveley 200 Club Merry 9 Cheveley PC 15 Matilda 16 Shoebox Record Christmas 17 A Page of Prayer 19 Uncle Eustace to all our 21 CWI, Charities 22 Service Diary and Readings readers 24 Opening our Churches

25 What’s On (maybe)

28 Ashley Events Safeguarding 30 Woodditton & Saxon Street in our Group.

34 All Saint’s Kirtling More details from Anne Mary 37 Welcome back to church 01638 730771 from Cheveley Group 41 The Funny Page website - cheveleygroup.org 42 Useful Information or from the Ely Diocese website - elydiocese.org Cover picture

by Alison Booth

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CHRISTMAS comes but once a year, when it comes it brings good cheer!

I am writing this in early November, as we settle into our second national lock- down. If ever we needed good cheer, we need it now. We can scarcely remember those pre-Covid days when we had office parties, friends round for drinks and all the family sat at one table for Christmas; when we had Carol Services, Crib Services and Christingle Services in real live churches with real live people.

We will celebrate Christmas this year – please look at the centre pages for full details of all the services, timings and locations of events, and at the enclosed Christmas card to see what’s happening – but it will be different. Although we’ve planned what we’re going to do, we know that Covid restrictions can change with very little notice, so our plans may come to naught. Please keep checking the website and posters outside the churches to keep up with any changes.

All we usually do is slimmed down or cut entirely. All the usual Christmas events are stripped away: no trip to the panto or the ballet; no visit to see the lights switched on; no queuing to see Father Christmas; no jam-packed Boxing Day sales to look forward to you. With all that is missing, what is left as the heart of Christmas for you? What is the one thing you will hang onto even if you have to give up everything else?

I wonder what God would say if I asked him that same thing? I think he’d say “you are the one thing I’m hanging onto. You, and you, and you. All the people of the world” because that’s really what happened at the first Christmas. The world was out of control, careering into despair and disaster, and yet God the Son was born on earth to hold on to us so that we could be brought back to God.

When the parties and the gatherings, the services and the shopping, the families and friends, the turkey and tinsel, the singing and the music, when all these joyous things are stripped away, all that is left is the people. We are the people for whom God the Son came to earth, the people whom God the Son wants to lead to heaven. We celebrate Jesus’ birth for us and among us with the Midnight Mass of the Nativity, this year at 10pm because it happens to be midnight in Bethlehem, the time of Jesus’ birth.

It won’t be easy doing Christmas this year, but you will still be here and so will I, and we can know that God came to earth for each of us, so even if we can’t be together with our people, we can know that God will hold us and our people together.

May God bless you, and all whom you love and all who love you this Christmastide and this New Year and all your days. Revd Naomi.

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Praying in Our Community Every Sunday we pray for the residents of two streets in the group.

Dec 6 Cowlinge Road, Kirtling Dalham Road, Ashley 13 Ditton Green, Woodditton Gazeley Road, Ashley 20 Hamlet of Upend, Kirtling High Street, Ashley 27 High Street, Cheveley Holland Park, Cheveley

CHEVELEY LIVING ADVENT CALENDAR WALK DECEMBER 2020

Hi everyone, Just an update about the first Living Advent Calendar Walk. Our 24 volunteers are busy with gathering ideas for creating their advent window, garden, window-box, and I am really looking forward to December when they reveal their displays. For those who are not able to do the evening walk, a picture will be put on social media, the Church website and in the LINK. With the Coronavirus still prevalent in the country, I hope, on Christmas Eve, we will be able to come together in the churchyard for mulled wine, mince pie, listen to carols and see the Christmas trees. Don’t forget social distancing rules in place at the time You can vote for the best display by completing the voting form and drop into the box in church or via our website. All entries must be received by 1st January. You never know, you might win a small prize as well as the winning window creator. Don’t forget to check out the Christmas edition of The LINK or the Church website, where you will also find the list of windows and how to vote. cont/

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To All Cheveley 200 Club Subscribers.

As another successful year comes to an end, on behalf of the Parochial Church Council a very heartfelt thank you for your help and support in raising money for the church.

Little did we know in 2013 when the lottery was set up, how much money you would raise. It has been a lifeline in getting the long-awaited toilet project started and more importantly finished. In March 2020 we hoped to celebrate this achievement with a service of dedication and thanks, but due to Covid19 this was cancelled.

If you like statistics here is how your monthly subscription was spent. In the seven years you have raised £21,945 including Gift Aid and donations. We payed out £6,600 in winnings so we were able to add to the appeal a total of £15,345.

What comes next you may ask?

Now the current project has been completed, we have decided to continue to fundraise to improve the appearance of the South Transept. It is no good having a wonderful new kitchen if its surroundings need repair. We have a quote of £12,000 to repair and restore the walls, redecorate, and install better lighting and heating.

We hope you will continue to support our effort. If you are not yet a member, but would like to support our appeal, you can find details on our website. www.cheveleygroup.org Merry Christmas. Celia

St Mary’s Church, Cheveley - Christmas Craft Fair Results A fundraising event in aid of the church.

Sunday 25th October dawned bright and clear. Nine stalls ranging from glass and felting to metalwork and jams opened for business to 40 adults plus children. Even the one way social distancing system worked.

No refreshments this year ,but everyone took away a biscuit to nibble. The new loo was christened and every stallholder gave a donation in support of the church. Over £900 was raised.

Watch out for the next one. www.cheveleygroup.org and The LINK

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Cheveley Parish Council - Tuesday 10h November 2020

On Tuesday 10th November meetings of Cheveley Parish Council and Cheveley Pavilion and Recreation Ground Charity were again held via an online meeting platform. Parish Councillors, District Councillor Alan Sharp, County Councillor Mathew Shuter, and members of the public were in attendance.

At the Parish Council meeting it was reported that areas of the Parish had been brightened up with barrels of flowers planted by Matilda Malagueira-Cockman and the group of child volunteers that had undertaken this scheme. Parish Councillors thanked them for their wonderful efforts and it was hoped that they would continue with the good work and extend the planting into next year.

Seed for the remaining area of the wildflower meadow had been received and would be sown shortly in the designated areas of the cemetery.

Overgrown hedges along Coach Lane had been cut back and the landowners were thanked for their prompt attention to this issue once they were made aware of it.

It was reported that the Bridle Path/Footpath section of the Icknield Way from the British Legion building in Cheveley High Street to Saxon Street would be closed from 8th to 11th December due to drainage work.

The recent inspection of assets throughout the Parish had only revealed a few minor problems which would be dealt with.

County Councillor Mathew Shuter reported that the booking system at recycling centres introduced because of the Covid-19 pandemic was still working well. Instances of infection throughout the area still remained fairly low in comparison with other parts of the country. It was anticipated that vaccinations could start as early as December if the vaccine is given the go-ahead. District Councillor Alan Sharp added that waste collections would continue as normal. He confirmed that there had been very few cases of the virus in the district schools.

Work on the Parish Hall renovations started on 2nd November. The application to apply for a loan of £120,000 to pay for these was in process. Further income should also be available from s106 applications. Councillors were updated on the progress of the work which had uncovered a problem with the retaining wall on the boundary of the property and a woodworm issue which would be rectified.

The inaugural meeting of the Management Team of the Hall had taken place on 29th October. Richard Jackson was nominated as Chairman and accepted the position. The Treasurer would be Philip Nutt and Jaquilyn Hascombe-Brook would cont/

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undertake the role of Secretary. The next meeting was arranged for Thursday 12th November and would again be held on-line.

Church minute books and a Bible from the United Reform Church had been left in the hall following the purchase and these would be safely stored.

Speed reduction measures in the North Ward had been completed but speed detectors were yet to be installed. There was still a problem with a drain cover on Cheveley High Street at the junction of Park Road which would be followed up with the Highways Department of Cambs.C.C. Correspondence had been received from a resident of Park Road complaining about school parking there. As this was a matter that could not be dealt with under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council it would be suggested that he should contact the school.

Newmarket Town Council had asked that CPC pay a 5% (£1000) contribution towards the cost of the Weatherby Crossing inquiry. However, as it was not clear whether the Parish Council has a statutory power to pay for work undertaken outside its area, the matter would be deferred until the next meeting.

Cheveley Sports Club had proposed that a young Volunteer of the Year Award should be presented to a young person aged 24 and under living in the Parish for voluntary contribution to the community. It was agreed that this should go ahead and that the same timetable as for the McCalmont Cup would be applied.

A complaint against two Parish Councillors was discussed confidentially at the end of the meeting.

At the meeting of Cheveley Pavilion & Recreation Ground that followed the Parish Council meeting a proposal from Richard Fullerton to beautify the Recreation Ground with daffodils was considered. As it was considered a little late in the year to successfully plant them for a display in the spring of 2021 it was agreed that a smaller trial planting would take place now and, depending on the success of that, more could be planted in following years.

Council Chairman, Claire Elbrow, unexpectedly announced to the Council that she had decided to resign as Chairman with immediate effect. Following the meeting she also resigned as a Parish Councillor.

The next meetings will be held on-line on Tuesday 8th December at 7.30 p.m. For information on Council matters please consult the CPC website.

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Matilda’s Cheveley in Colour

I was inspired by a feature on Countryfile about a local village Risby becoming a Wildlife friendly village - I thought we could do that with Cheveley while at the same time bringing in lots more colour to make everyone smile. I also thought it'd be great to get all us children involved in looking after our plants, gets us outside and all the time appreciating where we live as well as trying to make it even better.

We have started off small with a few colourful barrels which you can now see around the village, then in Spring we'll be planting out more hopefully.

We got help from the Parish Council to buy the barrels and compost, we also had a very kind donation from Blue Lizard Marketing and Simpsons donated all the pansies. Alan Seager will also be donating some handmade bird and bat nesting boxes for the rec and the cemetery - he also prepped all the barrels! So a big thank you to them as well as all the

villagers that donated bulbs, plants (some of which will go out in Spring), seeds and compost! Us Cheveley children really appreciate all the support and kind comments! Lastly thank you to everyone who came out to help me plant!

Thank you everyone!

Matilda Malagueira-Cockman aged 10. Little Green, Cheveley.

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Congratulations! Another Shoebox Record Broken.

Because of the difficult conditions surrounding Covid-19 we were not able to have our usual fund-raising and Shoebox packing sessions this year. We fully expected that we would not be as successful this year as last. But thanks to all our helpers and supporters, including a number of Newmarket businesses (all of whom want to take part again next year) we were able to pack a fantastic 323 boxes. These will go with our love and best wishes to Eastern Europe, praying that they will bring joy to the recipients. This year is the second year that we have supported the UK based ‘Teams for You’ (T4U) charity.

So once again, thank you all for your generous support and demonstration of kindness and loving concern to those who have so much less than us.

The photograph shows our boxes ready to be collected by the T4U team from Norwich for onward distribution. Sharon Gale and Gillian White

25th December: The story of mince pies

Did you know that mince pies have been traditional English Christmas fare since the Middle Ages, when meat was a key ingredient? The addition of spices, suet and alcohol to meat came about because it was an alternative to salting and smoking in order to preserve the food. Mince pies used to be a different shape - cradle-shaped with a pastry baby Jesus on top.

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On the best ways for a vicar to disrupt Christmas The Rectory, St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren,

I am sorry I was not alive during that wonderful four-year period when Oliver Cromwell abolished Christmas; no Christmas parties, no carol services, no cards to send and no frantic last-minute shopping. That man was a hero.

Planning for Christmas at St James’ normally starts on 2nd January. By Easter, the flowers for church have been carefully chosen to be colour coordinated, and the seating plans and table decorations for the Christmas party have been allocated (with nominated reserves in case someone should inconveniently die in the intervening eight months). Long before Summer is over, the tree lights have been tested, music for the 9 Lessons and Carols Service has been chosen and the service sheets printed. Way before the dark nights set in, car parking attendants will have been found, those who are to light all the candles will have been rehearsed to perfection, and the brass lectern has had its annual polish.

We do not do spontaneity at St James the Least of All. If ever there was a service when time for something unexpected had to be allowed, its place would be announced in the order of service, how long the unexpected thing would happen for would have been decided by a committee, and who was to be spontaneous would have been allocated on a rota.

But the one person none of these well-meaning, efficient, committed organisers can control is the Rector. You could call it a staff perk. Carols will (accidentally, of course) be announced in the wrong order; if verse 3 was to be omitted, I announce it will be verse 4. This keeps the organist on his toes while the choir hovers on the point of a collective nervous breakdown. At the Christmas supper, my introductory welcome speech and extensive grace make those in the kitchen wonder if the vegetables being boiled should better be served as thick soup.

I offer the helpful suggestion that the tree, having been installed and decorated in the chancel, may perhaps look better in the sanctuary and I turn all the heating off throughout the season, explaining that it will help the flowers to last. All Services will start five minutes early (was my watch rather fast?) so I can look disapprovingly at those still coming in while we are singing the first carol and making it clear that I think they had spent too long in the pub next door.

And so we all reach Christmas morning, with 12 months of planning having gone yet again slightly awry, with parishioners exhausted and I exhilarated at the chaos that has been created with such ease. Mr Cromwell, your spirit lives on.

Your loving uncle, Eustace

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Cheveley Women’s Institute

I report with great sadness that one of our members, Katey Auty, passed away peacefully in West Hospital on Thursday, 5th November. Katey was a long standing member of Cheveley W.I., stood on our committee for many years and will be sorely missed. We send our deepest sympathy to Katey’s family at this most difficult time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like to meet people and to know more about the village and local issues? We meet at 7:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month Please contact Jenny Jermyn on 01638 663658 if you are interested in joining the W.I.

Voluntary Network - Befriending

During this worrying time, especially with the run up to Christmas, our volunteers are doing a fantastic job in keeping in touch with our elderly and lonely residents by visits when allowed or telephone calls to stay in touch and have a much needed chat. The Befriending Service are still short of volunteers to carry on this fantastic work, and we know that there are many elderly and lonely people out there who would love to have someone to talk to.

Could YOU be a befriender and make someone’s life a bit less lonely and a lot more pleasant, or indeed do you know of anyone who would benefit from being befriended by one of our volunteers. If so, give us a call and our lovely ladies, Laura and Nicky will be only too happy to help you. All training and DBS checks are free. Please consider helping us to make someone's life a little bit less lonely as we approach Christmas. Contact Nicky 01638 608049 [email protected] Or Laura 01638 608048 [email protected] and they will be only too pleased to help. Many thanks. www.thevoluntarynetwork.org

Newmarket Open Door – Food bank

Open Door began as a Churches Together initiative in 1997 and now supports several houses for the homeless, emergency help, a food bank and runs a charity superstore in Craven Way www.newmarketopendoor.org.uk/foodbank

Please help improve other’s lives at Christmas with your donations.

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Note – all the above links are available for simple selection on the CG website

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Opening our Churches

Updated Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Subject to change

From Thursday 5th November all four churches will be shut on Sundays.

These churches are open for individual prayer Ashley Monday and Friday 9am-6pm Cheveley Monday and Thursday 10am-4pm Kirtling Tuesday and Saturday 10am-4pm

Please remember to wear a mask, use the hand sanitiser and sprays and maintain social distancing.

We anticipate that Sunday services will resume on Sunday 6th December, but please check the website before turning up for church!

If you are unable to come to church for Sunday worship, please continue to use the resources available on the website, and/or tune in to radio, television or internet services.

Revd Naomi continues to provide Home Services for use at home: (look for ‘Home Service’ on the Cheveley Group website) You may also join Revd Naomi in prayer daily at 9am and at 5pm in your own home.

25th December: Why begin at midnight with Holy Communion?

The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fifth century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mystical idea in no way hindered by historical evidence! No one knows the real hour of His birth.

Certainly, in recent times, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with modern families. One British writer pointed out its “domestic convenience” in 1947: “for where there are children and no servants, husband and wife may be unable to communicate at any other time.” (So things don’t change, then!)

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Date Locality Venue What may be on – Please check

1st -24th Cheveley Village Living Advent Calendar Walk ** Dec

11th – 17th Cheveley Church Christmas Tree Festival Dec 13th Dec Woodditton Church Christingle **

20th Dec Kirtling Church Gift Service ** 20th Dec Cheveley Online Live Crib Service on Zoom **

19th &20th Ashley Church Christmas Tree Festival ** (NEW DATES) Dec

First Tue Cheveley URC Hall Time Out SUSPENDED ** Tue & Fri Kirtling Village Hall Bowls Club: Tue 2-4pm and Fri 7.30-9pm Tue & Thu Cheveley Somerset Ct. Arts and Craft (Tue 10am & Thu 1pm) Second & Cheveley URC Hall Little Angels SUSPENDED ** Fourth Wed Wed & Fri Cheveley Rec.ground Cheveley Sports Club – Multi Sports First Thu Kirtling Village Hall The Thursday Care Group SUSPENDED Third Thu Kirtling Village Hall Coffee Morning – all welcome - 10.45am Fourth Thu Kirtling Village Hall Craft Group £3 – 1.45pm Saxon Methodist Saxon Street Camera Club at 7pm Last Thu Street Hall £2 each incl. Refreshments Third Sat Cheveley Church Saturday Special SUSPENDED ** ** more details can be found in event notices PUBLICISE YOUR EVENT ON THIS PAGE – AT NO CHARGE to include your event please forward the details by the 10th day of month prior to publication. Email: [email protected]

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ALL EVENTS ABOVE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

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All Souls Service at St Mary's Ashley.

Sunday November 1st was All Souls, and this year St Mary's Ashley had the privilege holding the festival to remember and pray for all those who have departed from the four parishes within the Group.

A small flower arrangement was displayed for each loved one. Many, many candles of every size from votive to pillar were grouped and spread around the church. The atmosphere was relaxed, warm and welcoming.

Reverend Naomi read prayers and the names of the deceased, with Philip Tweedie playing St Mary's mellow Little organ gently in the background it was a wonderful way to sit, reflect, pray and remember your loved ones. Michelle

Ashley Christmas Tree Festival - Update

As I was writing this article about our annual Christmas Tree Festival here at St Mary’s in Ashley the news broke we are to enter a second lockdown until 2nd December. My first reaction wasn't worry about the pandemic, upheaval of a lockdown or even 'should I grab extra toilet rolls' but "what about the Christmas tree festival".

To put things into perspective our Christmas tree festival takes a huge amount of organisation and work, just delivering, erecting, fluffing up and putting them in their eventual position takes a week (we have a lot of trees) The actual dressing of the trees, each one being individually dressed to reflect its sponsors business, can take upwards of two weeks. There are only a very few of us to do this work and we can only do it between our working lives. cont/

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So after a glass of red wine and a quiet lie down with a cold flannel I consulted with the powers that be, i.e. the Revd Naomi, who then consulted with even higher powers and it was decided that although the church was to be open for private prayer and reflection, this couldn't, no matter how we tried, include the church wardens erecting and dressing over 30 Christmas trees. So, another glass of red and another cold flannel later, and a socially distanced chat with church warden No1, Samantha, it has been decided we will move the festival to a later date, the 19th and 20th December in fact, so from the 2nd December you can expect a hive of (socially distanced) activity at St Mary's.

We will have 16 days to deliver, erect, fluff up (yes it is a real thing) the trees, position them and then dress them in their individual designs. It's a mammoth task, an immense amount of work but a pleasure and joy to help create and be a part of. So check out the St Mary's site on Facebook and all the local village sites and we will keep you posted on everything we are doing and God willing all will be well and we can open our doors on the 19th and 20th December for the spectacle that is the Ashley Christmas Tree Festival

Michelle

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THE LINK MAGAZINE - Subscriptions

The LINK is a monthly magazine produced by the Cheveley Group of Churches. If you would like to subscribe on a regular basis, full details, including cost and methods of payment, can be found here…. www.cheveleygroup.org and navigate to The Link … Subscription Form 2021

Alternatively speak to your distributor or supply your name and contact details to: Mrs Celia Bruce, 34 Newmarket Road, Cheveley CB8 9EQ.

St Mary’s, Woodditton - Cleaning and Flower Rota The rota is an 8 week rolling rota.

6th Dec, 13th Dec, 20th Dec Sue Street and Margie Bellamy 27th Dec, 3th Jan, 10th Jan Jill Steggles & Sheila Bailey 17th Jan, 24th Jan Gillian and Tony White

Saxon Street Methodist Preachers for December 2020. (subject to changes in Covid regulations…)

6th Mrs Teresa Ely 13th Rev Seo Sangwoo 20th Christmas Service 25th Christmas Day - Mrs Marina Baldock 27th No Service

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Woodditton and Saxon Street Women’s Institute

Another month of amended plans for our members. We are now hoping that we can hold a Christmas lunch in Newmarket on Wednesday 9th December if the current lock down ends on 2nd December. All our members have received the latest information, and we look forward to having prices and menu choices confirmed by The New Wellington soon.

During these unsettling times we have taken our mind off the problems and baked, written poetry, done multiple crosswords and word searches, knitted and stitched, worked in our gardens and tried to make the best of a strange year. We all hope 2021 will be better for all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at Saxon Street Methodist Church at 7.30pm For further information, please contact Mrs Sandie Harris on 01638 730956 or email [email protected], or visit our website: http://www.wooddittonwi.org.uk/

Quotes – With Christmas in mind...

Human nature is like a stable inhabited by the ox of passion and the ass of prejudice – animals which take up a lot of room and which I suppose most of us are feeding on the quiet. And it is there between them, pushing them out, that Christ must be born, and in their very manger He must be laid. - Evelyn Underhill

God became man to turn creatures into sons; not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. - C S Lewis

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All Saints Church, Kirtling

Service Duty Rota - December 2020

Sunday 6th Sidesman Mrs W Mendham Lesson 1 Mrs B Marks Lesson 2 Mrs W Mendham No prayer readers

Sunday 13th Sidesman Mrs B Marks Lesson 1 Mrs W Mendham Lesson 2 Mr D Foister State prayers Mrs B Marks Intercessions Mrs W Mendham

Sunday December 20th Gift Service at 3pm Sidesman Mrs W Mendham Lesson 1 Mrs W Mendham Lesson 2 Mrs B Marks Christmas Readings and Music

Sunday 25th - Christmas Day Group service at Kirtling 10am Sidesman Mrs B Marks Lesson 1 Mrs S Foister Lesson 2 Mrs B Marks No prayer readers

Sunday 27th Sidesman Mr D Foister Lesson 1 Mr D Foister Lesson 2 Mrs B Marks State prayers Mr D Foister Intercessions Mrs B Marks

(subject to changes in Covid regulations…)

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Ellesmere Garden Club

Unfortunately the Club still has no dates arranged for meetings or visits, much like most other organisations. But the committee is currently investigating other ways of keeping in touch, so we hope to have more positive news before too long. In the meantime - your garden still needs you, whatever the weather, so you can get out there and enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful colours of the season!

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Welcome back to your church! (updated 14/9)

It’s been a long time, but at last we can come into church for Sunday service. However, church isn’t going to look quite the same as when we were last here. Please read and follow these new ways of doing church.

Please attend only your habitual (village/parish/electoral roll) church – socially distanced space is limited in all buildings, so please help us welcome everyone.

General information. Entry: please queue two metres apart from the household in front of you to enter the church. We will note your presence and keep a record that you attended the service for 3 weeks to assist with “track and trace” if necessary. Seating: please sit in an “open” pew, one household to a pew (households may be just one person). “Open pews” are all two metres apart. Please do not move chairs or pews to sit with friends; all our seating is arranged to permit social distancing of two metres. Service sheet: please use the service sheet on your seat and take it home with you (in churches which use a projector, service sheets can be provided if necessary). Posture: please remain seated during the service unless you are specifically asked to stand. Readings and prayers: if you are doing the readings or the prayers please bring your own Bible/prayer-book with you. Please sit at the back of church and remain in your pew to read or pray. You may stand to assist projecting your voice across the backs of the heads of the congregation. Singing: singing is not permitted at the moment. The Peace: will be exchanged with nods and smiles, not physical contact.

Receiving Communion: please remain in your pew and the priest will come to you. Communion is in one kind only (bread only). Please sanitise your hands before receiving communion (please bring your own hand-sanitiser with you). Masks: Masks are compulsory unless wearer is exempt. Please remember not to pull your mask up and down but to keep it on, or, if you take it off, to leave it off. Collection: please place your collection on the plate on the way out after the service (Cheveley has also a card-reader for contactless giving). Refreshments: no refreshments will be served before or after the services. Toilets: are now open for essential use. Please do not queue or block lobby area. Exit: please queue two metres apart from the household in front of you. to leave the church. Please leave through the “exit” door. cont/.

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/cont. Information for particular groups Children: we cannot provide resources for children in church; please encourage your children to bring their own aids to worship. If you would like ideas please contact Naomi in good time before the service so that she can send you ideas for things to bring with you. Sacristans: please lay up the altar and clear up wearing gloves. Sidesmen: please put single use service sheets on open seats/pews. Please encourage people/households to stay two metres apart. Please sanitise your hands frequently. Housebound: resources for worship at home will continue to be available.

Thursday Care Group suspended until further notice

If anybody would like to make contact via email or the telephone I am available. Wendy Mendham 01638 730242 [email protected]

CHEVELEY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

The club bar is available within our usual opening hours. (we have social distancing in place) Until further notice we are unable to stage our usual music events. We hope to return to normal later in the year.

Pastoral Care

We have a flourishing Pastoral Care Group which serves our four parishes: Cheveley, Ashley, Woodditton and Kirtling. We visit the bereaved, people who are ill, either in hospital or at home, and help in any way we can.

Please telephone me – Revd. Naomi Wormell 01638 730857

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26th December: On the Feast of Stephen

Everyone knows that it was on the feast of Stephen that ‘good king Wenceslas looked on’. After all, it’s in a Christmas carol - but why? There’s nothing about Christmas in it: a splendid young page who rustled up some flesh, wine and logs, an old man out in the snow (’deep and crisp and even’) and a kindly monarch. But Christmas?

The clue is in ‘the feast of Stephen’, which falls on 26th December, or ‘Boxing Day’, as we know it. That, too, has nothing to do with Christmas, beyond the fact that in the past people put a contribution in tradesmen’s boxes as a kind of Christmas present for their services during the year.

The Stephen whose feast day falls on the day after Christmas was the first Christian martyr. (You can read his story in the book of Acts). He was a member of the church in Jerusalem in its very early days, and soon found himself involved with six others in administering the allocation of food to those in need. The apostles, who were the leaders of the church, felt that it wasn’t appropriate for them to abandon preaching and ‘serve tables’, so they selected these seven to do the job for them. Stephen, however, quickly revealed hidden gifts as an eloquent spokesman for the Christian cause.

The Temple authorities, who had already had trouble with the apostles, were soon alerted to this new and hitherto unknown evangelist. They decided to make an example of him, thus firing a warning shot, as it were, across the bows of the apostles themselves. So, they arrested Stephen and accused him of speaking against the two central elements of their religion - the ‘holy place’ (the Temple) and ‘the customs Moses handed down to us’ (the Law). It’s always dangerous to criticise a monument or a custom!

Given the right to defend himself, Stephen instead launched into an eloquent and at times biting account of Jewish history, culminating in the accusation that they had committed the worst possible sin by killing the Messiah. Inflamed by his words, his hearers abandoned any pretence of legal impartiality, rushing towards him and dragging him out of the city to a place where they began to stone him to death. Stephen, the rank and file Christian, died under a hail of rocks for claiming that Mary’s Son was the promised Messiah.

That is most probably the reason why the first martyr is honoured on the day after we celebrate the birth of the Saviour. It’s a bit like the myrrh in the gifts of the Wise Men - a reminder, as we celebrate, that the bitter shadow of a cross is never far away from this story.

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Funny page

Angels?

Two daughters had been given parts in a Christmas pageant at their Church. At dinner that night, they got into an argument as to who had the most important role.

Finally, the 14 year-old said to her 8 year-old younger sister, ‘Well, you just ask Mum. She'll tell you it's much harder to be a virgin than it is to be an angel.’

Present

First man: ‘My wife doesn’t know what she wants for Christmas.’ Second man: ‘You’re lucky. Mine does.’

Miscellaneous observations during the Christmas season…

Putting on weight is the penalty for exceeding the feed limit.

Christmas: The time when everyone gets Santamental.

This is the season when your neighbour keeps you awake playing ‘Silent Night’.

You might as well do your Christmas hinting early this year.

Father to three-year old: "No, a reindeer is not a horse with TV antenna.”

Every year, Christmas becomes less a birthday and more a Clearance Sale.

Some of these new toys are so creative and inventive. This year they have a Neurotic Doll. It's wound up already.

Christmas is a time when people get emotional over family ties, particularly if they have to wear one.

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USEFUL INFORMATION MEDICAL Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, 01223 245151 Defibrillator CHT-10-518 (Cheveley pavilion CB8 9DQ) 999 NHS Direct 0845 46 47 NHS Choices www.nhs.uk Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road, Newmarket (no A&E) 01638 558400 Oakfield Surgery, Newmarket Hospital, Exning Rd. Newmarket 01638 662018 Orchard House Surgery, Fred Archer Way, Newmarket 01638 666887 Pregnancy Support Centre, Newmarket 0772 407 9484 Rookery Medical Centre, Newmarket 01638 664338 Rosie Maternity Hospital, Robinson Way, Cambridge 01223 245151 The Surgery, Wickhambrook - for appointments only 01440 820140 West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury St. Edmunds 01284 713000

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Cambs. County Council, Shire Hall, Cambridge 0345 045 5200 East Cambs. District Council, Nutholt Lane, Ely 01353 665555 Ashley Parish Council Chair Sarah Howell 01638 730459 Clerk Kevin Dadds ([email protected]) 01638 731043 Cheveley Parish Council Clerk Marilyn Strand ([email protected]) 01638 780835 Kirtling Parish Council Chair John Kiteley 01638 730549 Clerk Sandra Dwan ([email protected]) 01638 552325 Woodditton Parish Council Chair Cliff Pettitt 01638 664921 Clerk John Theobald 01638 507675 District Councillors (Woodditton Ward) Amy Starkey (con) 07901 716233 Alan Sharp (con) 07794 292941 County Councillor Mathew Shuter (con) 01638 508729

TRAVEL Newmarket Tourist Information Centre (Palace House) 01638 667314 Railtrack Enquiries (Central Trains) 0845 748 4950 Stagecoach Cambus 01223 423578

POLICE PCSO - Annie Austin – (Police Community Support Officer) 101 Police (Newmarket) 01473 613500 Cambs. Police – for Non-Emergency calls 101

List updated Feb 2020

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EDUCATION and RECREATION Ashley Art Group – Mr Keith Hill 01284 735544 Ashley Pavilion - Debbie Garrity [email protected] 01638 730263 Village College 01223 811250 Brownies and Guides - Claire Matthews 01953 861361 Cheveley Community Room - 01638 730273 or Jan Jones. 01638 730786 Cheveley School - Primary (Infants & Juniors from age 4 to 11) 01638 730273 Cheveley Sports Club (Ian Jackson) [email protected] 01638 730760 Cheveley Women’s Institute - Mrs Jenny Jermyn 01638 663658 Ellesmere Centre, 01638 508212 Ellesmere Gardening Club - Mrs Sandie Wilson 01638 507542

Five Parishes Walks (local) www.fiveparisheswalks.com Kirtling Village Hall - Bookings - Mrs Ann Bailey 01638 730253 www.kirtlingvillagehall.org.uk Kirtling Carpet Bowls - Mrs Ann Bailey (Secretary) 01638 730253 Kirtling Cricket Club - Mr James Godman - [email protected] 07816 172190 Little Angels (Baby & Toddler Group) - Tracy Grimster 01638 721150 Mobile Library 0345 045 5225 Newmarket Adult Centre, Foley House, Newmarket 01638 565520 Newmarket Day Centre, Fred Archer Way, Newmarket 01638 664262 Newmarket Library, The Rookery, Newmarket 01638 661216 Newmarket Leisure Centre, Exning Road, Newmarket 01638 782500 Ramblers Association 01353 723529 URC Hall, Cheveley. [email protected] 01638 780385 Woodditton & Saxon Street WI - Mrs Sandie Harris 01638 730956

SHOPS and SERVICES Ashley Stores, High Street, Ashley (deliveries daily) 01638 730255 Cambridge Evening News / Weekly News. 01638 662581 Cheveley General Stores & Post Office 01638 730341 Citizens Advice Bureau, Newmarket 01638 665999 Milkman - Dairy Crest, Bury St. Edmunds 08456 063606 Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

SAXON STREET METHODIST CHURCH Rev Seo Sangwoo, 4 Exning Road, Newmarket 01638 662837 OUR LADY & ST. PHILLIP CATHOLIC CHURCH, KIRTLlNG Fr Michael Griffin, The Presbytery, Newmarket Rd., Kirtling 01638 730603 STETCHWORTH & CHEVELEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Rev Nigel Uden [email protected] 01223 314589 Pat Stevens (Secretary) [email protected] 01638 507932 List updated May 2020

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