Village Voices November 2010 Village Voices is produced by the parish churches for the local community providing news and information for: Gorefield- Guyhirn-Harold’s Bridge Murrow-Parson Drove-Rings End-Tholomas Drove-Thorney Toll- Wisbech St Mary A warm welcome to all newcomers&visitors to our villages! All Souls Services “They shall grow not old, All Souls Services as we that are left grow old” **Please note amended date** SERVICES FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Wisbech St Mary & Guyhirn th NOVEMBER 14 IN FLANDERS FIELDS Church The annual All Souls service will be held on Saturday October 30th at In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, 6pm. All are welcome. The service St Paul’s, Gorefield: 10.00am. That m ark our place; and in the sky is a time when we remember in prayer and meditation departed The larks, still bravely singing, fly Emmanuel, Parson Drove: 10.45am loved ones; those who have died Scarce heard am id the guns below. recently and those who passed WSM & Guyhirn: 10.55am. away in former years. The service W e are the Dead. Short days ago lasts about forty minutes, is quiet Murrow War Memorial: 12 noon. W e lived, felt dawn, saw sunset and undemanding, and is suitable glow, for those who do not attend church Guyhirn War Memorial: 12.30pm. Loved and were loved, and we lie very often, as well as for regular All residents, particularly ex-service In Flanders fields. worshippers. men and women, are invited to join the congregations at these services. Take up our quarrel with the foe: Guyhirn Chapel of Ease Whilst mindful of past sacrifices, we To you from failing hands we throw A similar, but shorter, service will be will remember our armed forces The torch; be yours to hold it high. held in the quiet atmosphere of currently engaged in conflict in If ye break faith with us who die Guyhirn’s Puritan Chapel on Afghanistan and the sacrifices they W e shall not sleep, though poppies Saturday October 30th at 2.30pm. have made. grow If you have lost someone dear and In Flanders fields. would like to remember them with “At the going down of the us, then please join us at one of Lieutenant Colonel John M cCrae M D these services. If you are unable to sun, and in the morning, Canadian Arm y, attend and would like a person We will remember them” Born 1872, died from pneumonia whilst remembered, please contact the on active duty in 1918. vicar on 410814. A MESSAGE FROM THE VICAR It was Benjamin Franklin who wrote ’there never was a good war, or a bad peace’. When we remember our fallen and wounded heroes this month it would be well to reflect upon those words and remind ourselves that even the wars we consider to be ‘just’ were fought because of the failure of good people somewhere to speak out against evil. Every time I read the names on the village war memorials or look at the faded photos of the fallen which remain where they were pinned nearly one hundred years ago behind the organ in St Paul’s, Gorefield, I think about the rich lives those young men (and of course now women) might have had, the children they might have raised and all the beautiful things they would have brought their loved ones in the years which they sacrificed for our safety. I wear my poppy with pride but also with profound humility; for every flash of red is a dead son or daughter, every paper flower is an unspoken word of protest against greed, militarism and hatred, every wreath is the scar which each community still bears, both for its losses and for its failures. The young men who came back from the battlefields of Flanders demanded of us that theirs would be the war to end all wars. We failed them, and still do. Matthew HARVEST SERVICE AND SUPPER AT ST. PAUL’S The Annual Harvest Festival was held at St Paul’s Church Gorefield on Sunday October 10th. Revd. Janet Philips conducted the morning service and thanked everyone who had prepared and decorated the church so beautifully. During the service Janet was assisted by Roy Cott, Bill Peggs, David Newling, server Nathan and acolyte Elizabeth. Approximately 70 persons attended the Harvest Supper on the Sunday evening in the Village Hall. They enjoyed spicy chicken casserole followed by apple crumble which were prepared and served by Joy Andrew, Rosemary Peggs and their helpers. After supper Bill Peggs led a very entertaining auction of produce which had been generously donated, to raise funds for the church. Bill thanked Joy, Rosemary and helpers and everyone for their support. It was a very enjoyable evening and over £600 was raised. Brenda Stamp The Register W e w elcom e Ava Sophia Williams, who was baptised in Emmanuel church, Parson Drove on Sunday August 1st Harvey Smith, who was baptised in St Paul’s church, Gorefield, on Sunday September 26th. W e w ish every happiness to Tony Connor and Suzanne Jansen, who were married in Wisbech Sy Mary & Guyhirn church on Saturday September 18th. Daniel Penniston and Elizabeth Lowndes, who were married in Emmanuel church, Parson Drove, on Saturday September 25th. W e say goodbye to. June Turner, whose funeral service was at St Paul’s, Gorefield, followed by cremation at Fenland Crematorium, on Tuesday September 21st. Malcolm Bliss, whose funeral was at Mintlyn on Tuesday September 21st, and whose ashes were laid in Wisbech St Mary Garden of Remembrance on Sunday October 10th. Margaret Julia Smith, whose funeral service was at Wisbech St Mary & Guyhirn church, followed by burial in Wisbech St Mary cemetery, on Thursday September 23rd. Ann Bell, whose funeral service was at St Paul’s, Gorefield, followed by cremation at Mintlyn Crematorium on Wednesday September 29th. Barry Summers, whose funeral service was in Emmanuel church, Parson Drove, followed by cremation at Mintlyn, on Wednesday September 29th. Bill Smith, whose funeral service was at Wisbech St Mary & Guyhirn church, followed by burial in Wisbech St Mary cemetery, on Monday October 4th. Doreen Long, whose funeral service was at Wisbech St Mary & Guyhirn church, followed by burial in Wisbech St Mary cemetery, on Tuesday October 5th Vera May Ashton, whose funeral service was at Wisbech St Mary & Guyhirn church, followed by cremation at Fenland Crematorium, on Tuesday October 12th. In m em oriam Betty Turner, whose ashes were laid in Wisbech St Mary Garden of Remembrance on Sunday September 26th. George Frederick Bailey, whose ashes were laid in Gorefield churchyard on Thursday October 14th. “Stir-up Sunday” Stir-up Sunday is an informal term in Anglican churches for the last Sunday before the season of Advent, this year November 21st. The term comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer of 1549: Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Through an association of ideas, the day subsequently became connected, especially in England, with the preparation of Christmas puddings. The ingredients of the pudding were stirred whilst making a wish by individual members of the family on this day. Recent research shows that today’s children are now missing out on these Christmas rites of passage. Almost half of children never get involved with making the Christmas dinner, and six in ten have no experience of stirring up a Christmas pudding. Alarmingly, many children, even those living in rural areas, currently have no practical experience of the countryside, which in turn makes them far less likely to venture into the kitchen. This could be a recipe for disaster when it comes to health prospects and “agricultural literacy” of the next generation. THE WORK OF A CELEBRANT TEAS, TOOLS and SCARECROWS at HARVEST FESTIVAL WEEKEND The September meeting of Gorefield Ladies Group was held in the Village Hall. Glenys Grimm, welcomed Emmanuel Church, Parson Drove, was decorated with the everyone back after the summer break, and the new theme ‘Farm and Garden Tools’. Several displays of farm programme for 2011 was distributed and discussed. The implements, garden tools, logging equipment and guest speaker was Ann Balls who works for Lincolnshire spinning wheel were set up and scarecrows from County Council as a Celebrant. Ann explained how Gorefield were seated in the pews. An abundance of fruit, fulfilling her work is, as she has the authority to conduct flowers and vegetables added to the weekend civil weddings and funerals also baby naming and the decorations. On Saturday a tractor parked outside the renewal of marriage vows ceremonies. church advertised ‘Teas amongst the Tools’ and Refreshments were served by Jean Mill and Margaret refreshments were served during the day with many folk Tibbs. Celebrating birthdays were Chris Ashton and calling in for ‘a cuppa and a chat’. A Family Harvest Brenda Frost. Service amongst all the displays was held on Sunday and The next meeting will be held on Wednesday October on Monday the produce was donated to the Parson Drove 27th when the speaker will be Les Warren introducing his Day Care Centre. An imaginative and interesting village hobby of genealogy. event – why not put it in your diary for next year! W S M WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP MEETS THE MOTHERS UNION TO HOST THE MART th EEL MAN The WSM Mart will be held on Saturday November 13 in At our October meeting the last remaining Eel Man, Peter the Church House, opposite the church gate, from 8.45 to Carter of Outwell, gave a most interesting and humorous 10.00.