0 Letter from the Vicarage Dear Friends, I am writing this before the start of Advent, and already the Christmas decorations are up in shops and in house windows, and the Christmas lights adorn Market Deeping. We have had Black Friday, closely followed by Cyber Monday, and I am delighted to tell you that I have saved an absolute fortune! I have done this, of course, simply by not buying anything!! However, across the country (and the world) many people will have plunged into debt straight away, resolutely closing their eyes to the harsh realities of January and the even harsher realities of the interest they will be charged on the extravagant spending. And then it will all be over, and life will continue. This isn’t meant to be a rant about commercialism – after all, we all like giving and receiving presents, don’t we? – but a reminder that Christmas isn’t supposed to be a season that divides rich from poor, but a season that shows the total self-giving commitment and love of God to humanity. Jesus came from unimaginable glory to the squalor of a stable and the terror of being a refugee. The nearest he came to wealth was in the legendary gifts of the wise men. The good news he brought was of the love of God to all people, bringing hope beyond hope to those in the greatest need. So how might we best prepare to celebrate the Christmas season? Surely it is by preparing our own hearts to receive him, by making life just that bit better for other people, maybe by being a “Secret Santa” or maybe simply by guarding our tongues from negativity and focussing instead on the good qualities of our neighbours. Despite the meteorological inaccuracy of carols such as In the Bleak Midwinter (they wouldn’t have had snow, it wouldn’t have been freezing, maybe it wasn’t even winter!) – the last verse of that carol gets it right: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part – Yet what I can I give him: Give my heart. Revd Sue 1 Parish Directory The Revd Susan Paterson Vicar [email protected] 341856 50 Spalding Road, DSJ The Revd Sonia Marshall Curate [email protected] 346420 135c Eastgate, DSJ Caroline Herron, 6 Waterton Close, DSJ 344027 [email protected] Churchwardens Nick Drewett, 18 Rycroft Close, DSJ 348107 [email protected] Assistant Churchwarden Doris Bellairs, 119 Eastgate, DSJ 343201 Parochial Church Council Chairman The Vicar [email protected] 341856 Vice-Chairman Canon Niccy Fisher, 7 Northorpe Lane, Thurlby 423959 Hon. Secretary Sue Marsh, 66a Eastgate, DSJ 347330 Simon Marshall, Hon. Treasurer [email protected] 346420 135c Eastgate, DSJ Covenant Secretary Vivien Hamilton, 65 Black Prince Ave, Market Deeping 348914 Electoral Roll Officer Barry Fisher, Old Waterton Chapel, Church Street, DSJ 347312 Synod Members The Revd Sue Paterson, 50, Spalding Road 341856 Diocesan Synod Canon Niccy Fisher, 7 Northorpe Lane, Thurlby 423959 Deanery Synod The Revd Sonia Marshall, 135c Eastgate, DSJ 346420 The above plus Simon Marshall, 135c Eastgate, DSJ 346420 07825 Organist Jeremy Jepson, 2, Fryers Callis, Stamford, PE9 2JS 585712 Assistant Organist Philip Spratley, 33, Park Road, DSJ 342401 Choirmaster Charles Paterson, 50, Spalding Road [email protected] 341856 Organisations Hilary Gentle, Bellringers [email protected] 345478 83 Hereward Way, DSJ 07957 Church Hall Bookings Tony Gibbs [email protected] 188004 Church Ladies’ Christine Masters, 1 Deeping St James Road, Deeping Gate 345368 Fellowship Church Coffee Group Jane Thompson, 63 Hereward Way, DSJ 341089 Margaret Flegg, 23 Locks Close, DSJ 347197 Pauline Brooksbank, 134 Eastgate, DSJ 343829 Church Flowers Christine Masters, 1 DSJ Rd, Deeping Gate 345368 House Group Doris Warner, 45 Crowson Way, DSJ 348110 Junior Church Vicki Billyard [email protected] Priory News [email protected] Caroline Herron, 6 Waterton Close, DSJ 344027 Editors John Worthington, Cranmore Farmhouse, DSJ 343860 Advertising John Marsh, 66a Eastgate, DSJ 347330 Printing John Worthington, Cranmore Farmhouse, DSJ 343860 Distribution Doris Bellairs, 119 Eastgate, DSJ 343201 Webmaster John Worthington [email protected] 343860 Have you visited our website yet? You will find it at: www.dsj.org.uk 2 In this Month’s Priory News … A Mystery at Aswarby 8 Children in Need 6 Christingle Service 4 Dear All, Church Calendar for November 10 Cooking with Margaret 14 On looking through the pages of this month’s Dancing Shoes 7 magazine I notice the large number of items December: additional Services 19 which are concerned with music of one sort or Directory 2 another. As a musician myself, I welcome this, House Group 15 but at the same time it is a little sad that to an In This Month’s Priory News 3 ‘outsider’ it might appear as though music is the Leprosy Mission 7 only thing we do! I assure you all that we do do Letter from the Bishop of Grantham 18 other things as well and there have been some Letter From the Vicarage 1 excellent contributions during the past year for Mission Matters 6 which we are grateful. Then, of course, with Music at the Priory (1): Stars of Heaven 4 Advent now upon us, and Christmas shortly to Music at the Priory (2): Gloria in Excelsis 5 follow on, the main thing which we do comes Music for a While 6 sharply into focus – please take time to see the News from the Tower 4 list of additional services (p.19) due to take place Pre-Advent Coffee Morning 13 over the coming weeks and, more importantly, Readings and Readers 16 come and join us to celebrate this most exciting Registers for October 14 and joyful time in the Christian calendar. Reports, News & Dates for your Diary 4 Rotas for December 16 The magazine ‘team’ join me in Saint of the month: St Ambrose of Milan 15 wishing all our readers a very The Church Chandelier 7 happy and special Christmas and a “U” is for “Unction” 9 happy New Year. We opened a coffee shop 12 John Our thanks to John Marsh for the picture on the Margaret has given us a recipe which is welcome any cover. It must have been taken a few years ago as time of year! Can you imagine – a piece of we haven’t seen snow like that near Stowgate for shortbread and a cup of Yorkshire tea? Ah, bliss! some time! Thanks to those who have sent in articles for Priory News. Please keep them coming. Please note: pictures containing recognisable children must be accompanied by authorisation to publish from their parents or guardians. We will not publish the names of children pictured unless specifically requested to do so by their parents or guardians. John Worthington, Cranmore Farmhouse, DSJ - Tel: 343860 [email protected] Please let us have your contributions for the January issue of Priory News BEFORE the earlier deadline of Monday December 18th. Thank you. 3 Reports, News & Dates For Your Diary News from the Tower On November 11th from 10.45 to 11.00 the bells were rung half muffled in remembrance of all the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who gave their lives in the past to protect our future. Also the many who suffered injury and depression and those who reported from behind enemy lines and were caught and suffered torture prior to being put to death. After a two minute silence with our own thoughts and memories, the bells were rung again for a short while. Many thanks to David, Joyce, Richard, Susan, Mike and Hilary for ringing. Once again on Sunday the half muffled bells were rung for both the morning and the Remembrance Service in the afternoon. We ring at West Deeping church once a month as and when enough ringers are available. On the 14th November, we enjoyed another evening of ringing there. The ringers wish all a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. Mike Christingle Service The Christingle Service will be held at 3pm on Sunday 10th December; please do invite your friends and family to come along to this lovely service in aid of the Children's Society. Lisa Music at the Priory (1) – Stars of Heaven The concert on Sunday 5 November was given by Divers Voyces under their Music Director, our own Jeremy Jepson, who also played some organ pieces. A neatly planned, seasonal programme of music mainly from the 16th Century began with motets for All Saints (by the Italian composer Gioseffo Zarlino) and All Souls (by William Byrd) and an organ voluntary by Thomas Weelkes. A group of pieces by Thomas Tallis was then complemented by Jeremy playing Herbert Howells’ Master Tallis’s Testament, a 20th century tribute to a 16th Century master. Two pieces of mourning followed, a motet by the Spanish composer Alonso Lobo written for the funeral of King Philip of Spain, and from France Nicolas Gombert’s Lugebat David Absalon, setting King David’s lament over his dead son from the Old Testament. To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation we then heard the four verses of Martin Luther’s hymn Ein feste Burg, each one set by a different German composer, and J.S. Bach’s 4 organ fantasia on the theme to which the Magnificat is customarily sung in Lutheran churches. The final group of pieces was themed around fireworks: as well as parts of Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks played on the organ there were Shooting Stars from Walter Lambe (15th Century) and John Jenkins (17th), a Catherine Wheel from Gombert (a lovely prayer to St Catherine for upper voices only), and Roman Candles from Palestrina.