ST HILDA’S CHURCH WARLEY WOODS PARISH NEWS

2021 50p CONTENTS Article Page Jenni writes 1-2 Sea Sunday and Children’s Society Boxes 3 Notable Days in July 4 Young Christians march 5 Spotlight on the Environment 6-7 Bristol Cathedral 8-9 St. James, Patron Saint of Spain 10-11 Gardening Tips for July 12 TV Programmes Quiz 13 A Summer Blessings and Sanctuary Flowers Rota 14 You didn’t do the green thing 15 Moveable Feast? 16 Marking Time 17 Ramble to Seisdon 18 Ramble to Wrottesley Park 19 Bishop’s Message 20 Finally, and the Outdoor Service 21 Organisations 24

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Our Church is now open for worship on Sundays at 10.30am and for private prayer on Wednesdays 2-3pm.

Dear friends, On 7th July I will be celebrating a whole year with you! Anniversaries can be such good opportunities to look back and see what God has been doing and rejoice. My first year here has been an unusual one – I came to you as restrictions were beginning to ease and we started to reopen. I still have very fond memories of the garden pilgrimage on 1st August last year where I was able to meet some of you and we had opportunities to reflectand pray. It was a joy to be able to marry a couple who’d had their wedding postponed because of lockdown later in August and then another in December. Having services on zoom was a new adventure but a really wonderful way to gather some of us to be able to worship together. Our outdoor Easter Sunday was a joyous occasion – being able to worship together physically and sing again after such a long time! Having members of the choir back to services these last few months has been awesome – what a talented group of people we have! It has been a joy to see the gifts of many people used during this past year. My biggest highlight has been meeting you – in person, on zoom, over the phone, in the park… I am looking forward to continuing to meet more of you! Of course there have been some moments of sadness too, including the many deaths this past year. I’ve been so thankful to Richard Haynes for his ministry especially in the sharing of funerals. It’s been hard to hear so little noise over the winter months from a once energetic and well used church hall. Looking ahead I am working with the PCC on what happens next and we shared a sunny afternoon facilitated by the diocese to help usstart to think through these things. We’ll be working on an action plan forthe next five years which will include setting the vision with wider parishconsolidation – watch this space and do be in touch if there are things on your mind and we look ahead. Jesus said ‘I am with you always’ (Matthew 28:20) to his disciples before he ascended. As we look back and look forward it’s a good reminder that God is with us through the highs and lows, the hopes and the uncertainties. One of my favourite poets Malcom Guite has written a beautiful poembased on this verse and I’ll leave it here with you this month; (Concluded on next page)

1 I will be with you

Your final words fulfill your ancient name, A promise hidden in Emmanuel,

A promise that can never fade or fail:

I will be with you till the end of time;

I will be with you when you scale the height

And with you when you fall to earth again,

With you when you flourish in the light,

And with you through the shadow and the pain.

Our God with us, you leave and yet remain

Risen and hidden with us everywhere;

Hidden and flowing in the wine we share,

Broken and hidden in the growing grain.

Be with us till we know we are forgiven

Be with us here till we’re with you in heaven.

https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/i-am-with-you-always/

2 Front Cover – Sea Sunday and the Mission to Seafarers

On Sunday July 4th we will be remembering the work of the Mission to Seafarers in our Sunday morning service. Those of you who have supported this service in the past will know that the life of seafarers is not easy and during the pandemic it has been even more challenging. As lockdowns were implemented across the world many seafarers were required to work beyond the end of their contracts with many having to spend a second Christmas away from home and sometimes not even having stepped on land. Some seafarers’tres cen have been closed and restrictions have made it difficult for chaplains to go on board. One of the ways the Mission to Seafarers has responded is through ‘Chat to a Chaplain’, a 24/7 digital chaplaincy for seafarers and their families across the globe. Chaplains offer one-to-one pastoral counselling, spiritual support and advice. Also, seafarer centres and minibuses have been adapted to ensure COVID-19 free and safe environments. By providing global provision of PPE for chaplains and volunteers has enabled them to continue to minister to the needs of seafarers. Closer to home I know some of you have continued to faithfully knit. I am happy to collect any knitting, if you could ring me (5504027). I plan to store what I am given and to send it to the charity when it is convenient for them to receive it. As always I am very grateful for the continued support I receive from so many in helping to keep seafarers warm. Please continue to remember the Mission to Seafarers and the people they minister to in your prayers. Judith Gibbens

Will those of you who have collecting boxes, please try and bring them to church in the next few weeks. The church is open for services on Sunday mornings and on Wednesdays between 2-3pm. If you cannot get to church, please let me know. Will those who have made a donation directly to the Society also let me know. As always, on behalf of the Society, thank you for your continuing support. Dianne Eades

3 Notable Days in July

As always, a quick online search is a good starting place to findout what special days are being held each month. July: Sweet Food for Thought Now is the time to dig out the picnic hampers and clean the BBQs! July is officially National Picnic Month, and on 2 July BBQ week begins – if taking a BBQ on a picnic beware, many picnic locations ban fires and BBQs for safety reasons. And while planning your picnic remember that July is also the World Plastics Free Month so avoid using plastic wrappers, utensils, etc.There are lots of ideas about how you can support this worldwide effort –including plastic free picnic ideas –on https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ By 7 July you may fancy a sweet break because it is World Chocolate Day! It was on this day in 1550 that chocolate was first brought to Europe. The cocoa bean, from which chocolate was first made in Mexico about 4,000 years ago, was said by the Aztecs to be a gift of the god who gave them light and drink – in came in the form of chocolate! Christians will know that they were correct in chocolate being a gift from god, only they were not aware who the true God is! After spending a whole day of eating chocolate without feeling guilty, you can then take a break for three days as you prepare to enjoy National Doughnut Week from 10-18 July. By the end of doughnut week, you can take a slightly longer break to recover before celebrating Vanilla Ice Cream Day on 23 July. By coincidence, vanilla, like the cocoa bean, originally came from Mexico and it is said to be the second most expensive spice after saffron. Also, like chocolate, the best way to celebrate Vanilla Ice Cream Day, is to eat it either on its own or with one or more of your favourite foods – maybe you could even add a chocolate flake! To round off a glorious month for food lovers, 30 July is National Cheesecake Day. Cheesecake is believed to have originated in Ancient Greece, and the earliest evidence is in a book by the Greek physician Aegimus (5th Century BCE), who wrote a book on the art of making cheesecakes. By the first century BCE it was established in Rome as evidenced by the oldest known Roman cheesecake recipe credited to a politician, Marcus Cato.

4 Young Christians to march from Cornwall to Glasgow to campaign for Climate Justice.

Hundreds of young Christians are to lead a pilgrimage which spans the length of the country – from the G7 to COP26. Marching from Cornwall to Glasgow, the pilgrims will call on world leaders to address the Climate Emergency. The Young Christian Climate Network has organised a relay route where young activists will each complete a stage. Instead of a physical baton, each relay group will carry the same message of crucial action needed to reverse climate change. The relay moved from Truro Cathedral, near to where the G7 met, to Glasgow where COP26 will be begin on October 31. World leaders will be meeting in both places and young Christians are hoping nations will take tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The relay is expected to see a number of young people opting to do small walks or cycle rides between the stopping points. Rachel Mander, a young Christian and the relay co-leader, said: “We stand in solidarity with people and places that are being plunged into debt and poverty because of climate change. “More carbon emissions mean more disease, more food insecurity and more poverty. “We will not let the UK government host summits on our doorstep only to hear more talk and no action.” Volunteers are encouraged to sign-up to support walkers, cyclists, and other pilgrims as the relay passes their diocese. Launching in Truro Cathedral, the relay began after a service of blessing led by Bishop HughNelson. A replica boat which displays messages from young people around the world was placed outside Truro Cathedral following the service. Truro recently launched an initiative which encouraged young people to sing to world leaders, asking for them to tackle the climate emergency. The song known as Sing2G7 was written by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs and garnered thousands of views and participation from across the world. The route goes through several Church of England Dioceses on the route to Glasgow. It will be coming through our Diocese between 23-28 August. Later, the route will leave Berwick-upon-Tweed and enter Scotland. It concludes on 31 October in Glasgow. Parishioners, clergy, and bishops are supporting efforts for the world leaders to tackle the climate emergency. The Church of England has made an ambitious pledge to achievecarbon net-zero by 2030.

5 Spotlight on the Environment

A Plastic Revolution The Blue Planet II series exposed just how much plastic waste si an issue in our seas. The Prime Minister has called plastic waste ‘oneof the great environmental scourges of our time.’ The best estimates suggest 10 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans, contaminating and killing sea life. How should we view this issue from a Christian perspective? When God created the universe, He saw ‘everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good.’ (Genesis 1:31). He calls us to share in His care of creation: ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earthd an subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds of the air andover every living thing that moves on the ground.’ (Genesis 1:28). Our rule over living creatures is not an excuse to exploit them in a selfish way. As those who made in the image of God, we are entrusted to care for them with responsibility and trustworthiness. Why do the sea creatures being killed by plastic matter? Becauseof human rebellion against God (see Genesis 3), our relationship with God and His creation was damaged. No longer do we live with living creatures in harmony and interdependence. Yet after the flood, when Noah rescued the animals in the ark, they are included in God’s everlasting promise to protect the earth: ‘I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after ou,y and with every living creature that was with you.’ (Genesis 9:9,10). This also points to God’s cosmic plan to restore all creation to Himself. What is our response to be? Where is God calling us, as His people in this time and place, to akem a stand in protecting His creation? Time for a plastic revolution? Rev Paul Hardingham

Every year the world throws away 1.3 billion tons of food which rots and pumps out huge volumes of greenhouse gases. A solution beckons, says Japan's Society of Materials Science. Tokyo University has made building materials three times stronger than concrete from Chinese cabbage leaves.

Plastic is putting wildlife at risk before it is even born. Thirteen herring gull eggs from Cornwall were checked by Exeter University - and each one was found to contain phthalates, a chemical additive that makes plastic flexible. Up to six different phthalates per egg were found, reports Marine Pollution Bulletin. Phthalates have been linked to health problems ncludingi cancer and reproductive issues.

6 Plastic, Plastic, Everywhere

Did you know that you are eating plastic? On average, each oneof us now ingests about five grams of plastic each week – or the equivalent of eating a credit card. Such is the rather startling news from WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Research at the University of Newcastle in Australia has found that we are consuming up to 102,000 tiny pieces of plastic less than 1mm – around 250 grams – each year. Nearly 90 per cent of that is coming from our water, both bottled and tap. Other foods with high lasticp levels are shellfish, beer and salt. Alec Taylor, Head of Marine Policy at WWF, said, “Plastic is polluting our planet… and now we know it’s also polluting our own bodies.” The long- term effects of plastic ingestion on the human body are not yet known. In the meantime, Britain has taken 15 billion plastic bags out of circulation, and recently banned microbeads in cosmetics. The Government is also considering a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles. At present, Britons use 7.7 billion single-use plastic water bottles a year, less than half of which are recycled. This means that 16 million bottles are binned every day in the UK. Glastonbury Festival banned the sale of plastic bottles of water. Water Stations across the site were provided so people could refill eirth own containers. Look at the Raw Foundation web site http://rawfoundation.org for more information about avoiding using plastic.

Planes could soon be powered by your rubbish. Johnson Mattheyand Bp have won a Royal Society of Chemistry prize for turning household waste into sustainable aviation fuel. A US plant will use this British breakthrough to turn 175,000 tons of trash into enough fuel for more than 180 transatlantic return flights a year.

A grey whale needs to get its sat-nav fixed. One from the North Pacific was found 16,000 miles off course in the South Atlantic off ibia,Nam Durham University tells a Royal Society Journal. It probably swapped oceans by swimming round northern Canada.

GREEN TIP Mix peat-free compost into your flowerbeds to boost soil health and water retention.

7 Bristol Cathedral—Unique among its peers

Those of you who are travelling down to the West Country for a holiday, might like to take a break, and visit the many attractions thatBristol has to offer including the cathedral. Founded as St Augustine's Abbey in 1140, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity gained cathedral status in 1542. After the dissolution of the monastery three years earlier, King Henry VIII created the new Diocese of Bristol after, it is said, much lobbying by the citizens ofhat w was by then the most important trading city in England after London. The discovery of a large Anglo-Saxon carved stone during 19th-century rebuilding work, now placed in the south transept, indicates that this had been a Christian sitebefore the Conquest. There are remains today of the Norman abbey, notably the Abbey Gatehouse on the south side of College Green and the remarkable chapter house, reached from the cathedral cloister, which is a Romanesque gem. With its walls, arches, arcading and vaults so richly carved and intricately patterned in complex geometric designs, it resembles a vast tapestry in stone. The monastery for Augustinian Canons was founded by a wealthy Bristol merchant and landowner, Robert Fitzharding, the first Lord Berkeley. For the next four centuries the Berkeley family continued their patronage, with most of Fitzharding's successors being buried there. Look for the effigies of Berkeley Lords Thomas and Maurice who were implicated in the rebellion against King Edward II, murdered at their castle. Built in the early 14th century to replace the Norman abbey, the east end of the cathedral is glorious. The vaulted ceilings of the nave, quire and aisles are all the same height, making it one of the finest examples ofa medieval hall church to be seen anywhere. Spacious and light, it was a style favoured in German cathedrals but not often seen in this country. In the quire aisles, the innovative vaulting, its sinuous lines springing from little dges,bri is unique to Bristol. The cathedral has two Lady Chapels. The first, known as the Elder Lady Chapel, was built around 1220 and the carving was the work of masons 'on loan' from Wells Cathedral. There are interesting little figures in the spandrels, including a fox carrying a goose, sheep musicians and numerous little monkeys. Originally standing apart from the church, it was incorporated into the north quire aisle during the late 13th-and early 14th-century rebuilding, when the red sandstone Eastern Lady Chapel was designed, at the same time and in the same style as the quire. The chapel was given its Gothic colours by the art historian E.W. Tristram in 1935, in a revival of its original splendour.

8 Off the south quire aisle, the little sacristy is full of decorative stonework and one of its niches once held an oven for baking communion bread. An unusual doorway leads to the Berkeley Chapel, which has the finest of all the starburst tomb niches. Here you'll find a cathedral treasure, a medieval candelabrum from 1460 crowned by the Virgin Mary and Child. Beneath her St George, clad in the armour of the period, slays the dragon. It came from Bristol's Temple Church, bombed in 1940. The nave was being rebuilt when the abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII's commissioners in 1539 and left in ruins, its stone used to build houses right up to the church. It wasn't until the 1860s that a new nave was constructed and the cathedral restored to its original size. This was the work of the Victorian ecclesiastical architect G. E.Street, in the Gothic Revival style. Partly using the original plans, he wished to marry up the nave with the architecture of the east end, so only the sharp-eyed will discern the Victorian from the medieval. The result is long vistas and a beautiful, light-filled cathedral. The west front and twin bell towers were added in 1888 by another renowned ecclesiastical architect, John Loughborough Pearson, how designed Truro Cathedral. He also added the elegant stone-carved quire screen, the fine stone reredos behind the high altar and the pulpit, all perfectly in keeping with the original medieval setting. New windows were added in the 20th century, some commemorating the roles local people played during the Bristol blitz of 1941. The first 32 women priests in the Church of England were ordained at Bristol Cathedral in March 1994. Peter Stokes

9 Saint James-Patron Saint of Spain July 25th is the Feast Day of St. James the Apostle. For a little more than a thousand years, his mortal remains have rested in a crypt behind the high altar of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain. He is now the patron saint of Spain, and Santiago has been a well-travelled pilgrimage destination since then. St James was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, and thought to be the cousin of Jesus himself, as the son of the sister of the Virgin Mary and the brother of St. Jude Thaddeus. He worked as a fisherman with his rother,b John, his father, Zebedee, and his partner, Simon. John and James were followers of John the Baptist and later, Jesus. James, along with his brother John, left life as a fisherman whenJesus called him to be a “fisher of men”. He followed Jesus as one ofhis disciples until Jesus was crucified by the Romans. Following the crucifixion of Jesus, James made a pilgrimage to the Iberian Peninsula to spread the word of Jesus. When he returned to Judea, he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44AD. The remains, or relics, of St James, were then transported by his followers to the Iberian Peninsula (today’s Galicia in Spain) and are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela, which is why St James is now the patron saint of Spain. The Feast Day of St James is widely celebrated in Spain, especially in Santiago de Compostela. Each year, a firework display concludes the end of a two-week celebration. When the Feast of St James falls on a Sunday, (which it does this year) that year becomes a Camino Holy Year, also known as a Year of Compostela, or Jacobean Year. During these years, visitors to the Cathedral in Santiago can receive a plenary indulgence. It is the only time that the Door of Mercy (also known as the Porta Santa) is available to enter the cathedral, as seen below.

10 This door is located on the east side of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (facing the Quintana Plaza). It is normally prevented from public access with wrought iron gates and is opened with a ceremony on 31 December prior to the first day of the Holy Year. The opening ceremony involves the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela striking a temporary wall (erected the day before the ceremony) three times with a ceremonial silver hammer. When the wall collapses and reveals the door the Archbishop cleanses the area with holy water and olive branches and is the first person to walk through. On 13 November at the end of the pilgrim season, the door is sealed until the next holy year with a similar ceremony which replaces the temporary wall and blesses the stones laid with incense. A Camino Holy Year is significant for many Catholics as it provides an opportunity to have their sins to date forgiven and pardoned by decree of the Pope, which is only available in Holy Years. It is a religious rite called a plenary indulgence. If you complete a pilgrimage to Santiago in a olyH Year and participate in certain sacraments (religious observances) you are granted the plenary indulgence. In layperson’s terms, this means your sins to date are forgiven and any punishment relating to them in this life,or eternal life is pardoned. Pope Francis has now responded to Santiago Cathedral's call for an extension of the Holy Year to 2022. An emissary from Rome delivered the good news shortly before the opening ceremonies began in the last days of 2020. This will be the second such occurrence in 9 centuries of Jacobean Holy Years, the first being in 1937-8 due to the ramifications of the Spanish Civil War. It is hoped that this decision will allow for a greater recovery period and celebration following the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2006, I joined a group and walked the final 100 miles fo the classic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage to raise funds for The Children’s Society. In so doing, we followed in the footsteps of innumerable other pilgrims who have trod that route across northern Spain for more than a millennium. The notion of pilgrimage is common to many religions and cultures, and it certainly enjoys a secure place in the tradition of Christian spiritual practice. We all come from God, and the fulfilment of our human destiny and purpose lies in our return to God. I had planned to meet up with fellow pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela on July 25th, but due to the ongoing travel restrictions, this will have to wait until hopefully next year.

Peter Stokes

11 Gardening tips for July

At the beginning of June, I look back at the disappointing Spring, with its cold and wet which has put many plants a month behind, though most are catching up. Looking back, I noticed in my comments for July 2005, I complained about a cold Spring! My plants too are way behind – Ho, the joys of gardening! One consequence of this is that the Summer Solstice happens at the same time each year, regardless of the weather. The shortening days signal to later flowering plants that it is meti to switch from growth to flowering mode, so smaller plants. I am also reminded that while we live life “in the fast lane”, plants do not. Changes take place in weeks not days. Transplanted things take at least a fortnight to settle in. We just have to be patient! We are well into the seed sowing season, particularly with respect to successional sowings, although there is just time to sow next years’ biennials such as wallflower and bellis daisy. One secret of any seed sowing is tomaintain moisture, particularly in the open ground. Ideally, sow just before or during unsettled periods of weather. If this is not possible, then steps must be taken to keep the soil moist. A plank of wood, laid over the seed row will help, but must be removed as soon as the seeds germinate. Strips of opaque plastic will also do the trick. Do aterw regularly underneath. If my trees are anything to go by, we had an excellent fruit set this year, but don’t let your trees carry too heavy a crop. Last summer was very dry, and this one could be the same. This can affect next years’ fruit crop because flower budformation is initiated in the previous summer. Trees grown on dwarfing stock, like minarets, are particularly susceptible, so ensure they are given at least 2 gallons of water each week. Most trees and shrubs flower best if kept a little hungry, but notoses. r These are hungry plants which need a fairly regular feed; July is the latest time for feeding otherwise they make a lot of late growth which does not ripen before winter. Apart from dead-heading, weeding and (I expect) watering, things are pretty easy in July – a chance to enjoy the fruits of earlier labours. Oh yes, I forgot cutting the lawn, unless the weather is dry, but it is worth it. Having said that, it is the soft fruit season which means picking and preserving. I have the Kilner jars and jam kettle at the ready. House plants enjoy a summer holiday outside until early September when the nights start to get chilly. If you put yours out, there are a couple of rules to remember. First, glass cuts out a lot of the Sun’s rays. Like us, plants need time to adjust to the more intense light. Help them by putting them out for only a couple of hours on the first day, increasing the time each day for about a week – then they can stay out. Secondly, think of the natural habitat of the plants. Forrest plants tend to be shade-loving and will not cope well with long periods of direct sun, unlike desert dwellers like cacti. Try to give them a suitable environment to enjoy. OK – off to your garden now: weeding, hoeing, deadheading, pruning, watering, fruit picking, lawn mowing – and then you can relax! Who said concrete has no virtues? Martin Hadlington

12 TV PROGRAMMES QUIZ 1 ANCIENT STREET ACT 2 5,4,3,2,1 3 THE PO1N TS OF A COMPASS 4 THOUSAND (COLLOQUIALLY) PLANS 5 FIRELIGHTER OF THE TWENTY FOUR HOURS 6 OH PET SHOP FOB (ANAGRAM) 7 RURAL RASP 8 DOCTORS NOT IN FRONT OF SHUT ENTRANCE WAY 9 ALL LIVING BEINGS OF EVERY SIZE 10 THE SINGLE REVEAL 11 INTERIOR OF THE PLANT 12 COCKNEYS 13 THE MENDING STORE 14 HORTICULTURISTS PLANET 15 HIGHEST COGWHEEL 16 FUTILE 17 SLACK FEMALES 18 THE DEPRESSED ASTRONOMICAL BODY 19 QUEUE OF OBLIGATION 20 HI BOB TAKE FREE STAR FIGHT (ANAGRAM) 21 VOCALISATIONS OF REVEREMENT 22 CROWNING CEREMONY ROAD 23 JUST IDIOTS AND EQUINES 24 NEVER CLOSED 25 JUST JOIN 26 A PLACE TO GRADUATE A DARE 27 AILING OBSTRUCTIONS TO SIGHT 28 STAYING IN 29 WOULD I TELL A MISTRUTH TO A FEMALE SHEEP SAY 30 FATALITY IN AN IDYLLIC PLACE 31 CAVITY NEAR LARGE TOWN 32 PAPA’S MILITARY 33 AREA SITE PLACE 34 MALE TEACHER COOK 35 THE PURSUIT 36 BREAK FREE TO THE NATION 37 INFORMAL HOT BEVERAGE, SAY 38 A FLAT FISH SAY, IN A TABLOID NEWSPAPER

13 A SUMMER BLESSING May you walk with God this summer, in whatever you do, wherever you go. Walking with God means walking with honesty and with courage, walking with love and respect, and concern for the feelings of others. May you talk to God this summer, every day and in every situation. Talking with God means praying words of praise for the beauty of creation, saying prayers of thanks for friends and good times, asking God's help in all your decisions, expressing sorrow when you have failed. May you talk with God every. Amen.

AUGUST PARISH NEWS

Articles for next month’s Magazine to be with the Editor by Sunday, July 11th please. [email protected]

SANCTUARY FLOWERS IN JULY

4th D and W. Dyke

11th Mrs C. Hadlington

18th Family Eades and Hickman

25th Mrs. J.Davies

14 You didn’t do the green thing!

The girl on the checkout suggested to an elderly lady that she should bring her own shopping bags in future because their plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The lady apologised and said "We didn't have this green thing in my day." The girl responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation didn’t care enough to save the environment for future generations." The lady reflected on this when she got home dan put pen to paper, using the title “Did we have the green thing in my day?” These are her thoughts. Back then, we returned milk bottles so that they could be washed, sterilized, refilled and recycled. Didn’t have the green thing back in our day? We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the shops and didn't use a car every time we had to make a short journey. And we didn't have the green thing in our day? We washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We used a washing line and relied on wind and solar power to dry our clothes, not an energy-gobbling spin drier. And our children wore things passed down the line because they didn’t get brand new clothes at the drop of a hat. We didn't have the green thing back in our day? Back then, we had a small TV or radio in the house, not a TV in every room, half the size of the wall. In the kitchen, we stirred yb hand because we didn't have electric machines to do every simple task. We didn't use a petrol mower in the garden; we used a push mower, which helped to keep us fit. We didn't need to go to a health club to run on electrically-operated treadmills. We didn't have the green thing back then! We drank water from a tap, not from plastic bottles. We refilled pens with ink instead of buying a new one each time it ran dry.We replaced razor blades instead of throwing away the whole razor when it got blunt. But we didn't have the green thing back then. We used the bus to get around. The children walked to school, or rode their bikes. They didn’t expect mum to be a taxi driver. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not three on each wall to provide power for a host of gadgets. And we didn't need an i-phone to receive a signal beamed from a satellite to order a pizza.

And did that girl say our generation didn’t care enough aboutthe environment? Bob Peters

15 Moveable Feast?

(In the Book of Common Prayer, the Feast of St. Thomas was December 21st. It is now July 3rd)

How do you feel, Thomas, Your day being moved From winter solstice To high holiday?

Perhaps you rejoice in More attention, away from The tinselled run-up to The Christmas Feast.

For me, reflection on Faith emerging from doubt, The stirring of meaning, Needs darker symbols:

Has more to do with The almost imperceptible Shift of the earth on its axis, A flicker of light

On the shortest Day, Than a blaze of certainty In midsummer’s sun.

Ann Lewin (From ‘Watching for the Kingfisher’)

16 Marking time Some of the months of the year on our island are damp and gloomy, so warmth and sunshine are an exciting novelty. When summer comes, itbrings about a pleasant kind of national madness: it is the silly season.We endure traffic queues to get to our beaches, obsess about our gardens, andrelish the chance to leave our layers firmly in the wardrobe. Summer is atime for healthy disengagement from some of life's routine, as schools and parliamentgo into recess and the long evenings alter our internal clock. The haziness of summer can seem to have parallel in the cycle of the Church's year. After Trinity Sunday, (which this year, fell no May 30th) we move into 'Ordinary Time', which marches far into the distance, until the year begins again in Advent. We can lose count of the weeks, as the 'teens' after Trinity meld into one long, drowsy stretch. But counting is the essenceof these weeks: 'Ordinary' Time doesn't mean mundane time, but time which iscounted, in order, from beginning to end. This is different from the two, almost equally long, periods of the liturgical year, which focus on the events of Christ's life. Advent to Epiphany concentrates on his coming and infancy; Ash Wednesday to Pentecost pivots on his death and resurrection. But in Ordinary Time there is no overarching focus, no festive high or solemn low. Instead we must count, and mark the time from start to finish. Marking time sounds dull, something we could easily disengage from; but it is vitally important. We need to remind ourselves of the value of each present moment, which is a gift from God waiting to be filled withour free response of praise and love. Keeping an eye on the longer span ahead raises the possibility of plans and projects. For each of us, Ordinary Time invites a gradual, consistent and deep engagement in something that will be good news to us and others. That might be through spiritual reading, or going on a retreat; in giving time and effort to church and community in a new way, or by investing in relationships more consciously and attentively. The possibilities are many. Summerdisengagement beckons us into the richer engagement of Ordinary Time, through which God may work something extraordinary in us. Dominic Keech ,Chaplain of Brasenose College, Oxford.

17 A glorious yellow: Ramble to Seisdon

With the holiday season approaching our ramblers were still ableto muster a respectable turnout in our second outing for May. The weather turned out to be damp, if nothing more dramatic, and we left Lower Penn on you've– guessed it – the Monarch's Way. This time it took the form of the bed of the old Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, now turned into a nice smooth track for the benefit of walkers and cyclists and fringed with trees.

Leaving this to make our way to the canal we picked up a path running parallel to it and past The Pool, a stretch of still water beloved of fishermen. There were few visible signs of birds on this occasion but some could be heard busy in the trees at the waterside. Now taking to the fields for a time we then came to Trescott Ford. This hits the local headlines from time to time when the Smestow Brook rises and traps adventurous motorists but we ramblers had the benefit of a footbridge. The group then passed through the tiny hamlet of Trescott and outnto o the Smestow plain where we found a beautiful field of rape in full bloom.he T signpost pointed diagonally across it, but by a brilliant feat of navigation our leader managed to direct us around two sides of a square to avoid the wrath of any lurking farmer.

The route now led to a section of the Way which continued into Seisdon which (for anyone who really wants to know) a local told us is pronounced it Sayzdon. At the other side of the village a green lane led to the edge of Trysull. This section is a traditional route known as Church Lane, presumablyafter the church at the other end. Into fields once more and we encountered Canada geese which rested, quite unconcerned, on the ground as we passed close by. A good number of swallows or swifts - we badly need to recruit a twitcher - darting around as they do, were well worth a temporary halt. The various earnest map readers were then upstaged by the lady who proclaimed "There's a stile over there" (but modestly conceded that she owed it all to her new glasses) and we joined a curious short stretch of path of record shortness to emerge onto the closest we had come to a climb uphill. A little of the inevitable tarmac and we soon regained the Staffs and Birmingham canal. General opinion was to return via its towpath rather than by the railway route.

No sunglasses yet, but still free of bug problems and a pleasant day in which we walked upwards of seven and half miles.

Peter Tyson

18 Only a repeat: A round of Wrottesley Park

So yes, this route was a repeat of the traditional post-Christmas ramble which had been hurriedly rearranged to take place before the festive period and potential bug problems. On that occasion there were only fourus who took part, this time nine - or ten if you are dividing legs by two. Work that one out.

Strong sunshine throughout was tempered by a light breeze and the major difference from the December jaunt was that we didn't spend any time at all floundering through long stretches of mud and water. The route was substantially one popular with ramblers, just outside Wergs. It is no flat agricultural land lying on a plain which is part of the watershed of the English river system.

Two industrious map readers, one path spotter and one lost-adjuster rendered the Boss pretty much redundant. Joking apart, it is encouraging to see that, when we are all there, the collective expertise of half the group can now contribute to putting him out of a job if the need arises.

There is little to say about the countryside not said in the earlier account: Fields of crops and small woods dotted about, a wander in the elegancesurrounding Wrottesley Hall (with the odd navigational teaser), a short distance ongal the inevitable long distance footpath and a good view of the Wrekin. The occasional buzzard and crow flew overhead but otherwise animals – and indeed other ramblers - seemed to have kept well away from the noisy bunch from St. Hilda's Church.

Passing the site of some rather smart mobile homes near the end of the walk we spent a long time chatting to a couple who didn't need to convince us of its virtues and views, and returned to our cars, which had been nicely shaded by the woods, after an enjoyable six and a half miles of walking. Definitely, as one of our number put it, worth putting off the housework.

It is worth mentioning to readers with access to the internet that photos from all our walks appear on the Church website, and it is also possible to reminisce over Derek's later rambles. Any apparent ageing of the participants is entirely due to the technology employed by the web manager.

Peter Tyson

19 Bishop's Message: A Game of Two Halves

The obvious sports comment, above, applies as much to the Commonwealth Games as to a football match.

There is growing excitement across the in anticipation of 28 July- 8 August 2022. Preparations are well underway and I encourage close attention to the invitation to Volunteer, now widely adver- tised www.birmingham2022.com

For over 18 months an ecumenical, diverse group of Christians has been meeting to consider the opportunities for service that CG 2022 offers.

We have thought of these in five themes: Bringing people together; Improving health and well-being; Helping the Region to grow and succeed; Being a catalyst for change; Putting Birmingham, West Midlands and the Commonwealth on the map.

Work streams in each of these areas are underway involving specific sports initi- atives; chaplaincy; local welcome; mental health; physical activity; modern slav- ery.

These are designed to link all the excitement and planning with a lasting legacy for the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands. If you would like to know more visit the Birmingham Churches Together website or contact Helena Moss.

The first half of CG2022 will be played in just over a year’s time. Will you be part of the preparations and of the second half, as the inspiration of over 5000 ath- letes from some 72 countries bears fruit across our Region for years to come?

20 Finally

A new Up To Date Bible is being drawn up, as some favourite Bible stories do not meet contemporary Health and Safety Standards. For example, Moses leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea is highly inappropriate in view of current regulations, which require a government-regulated adult-to-child ratio for organised outings. Nor would he have had time to complete the feedback questionnaire, the risk-assessment forms nor obtained the parental permission slips. In the feeding of the 5,000, did Jesus have a permit to hold such a large gathering? It also appears that bread and fish were being assedp round without being individually wrapped. In changing the water into wine, there is no mention of the requisite anti-bacterial preservative sulphur dioxide being added, nor any report of the water jars being sterilised. In walking on water, Jesus also showed no regard for the fact that children might copy his example.

Thanks to Dave Walker

21

18 COMPUTER\LAPTOP REPAIR SERVICE Experienced Computer Technician & IT Tutor Over 35 years’ experience in the IT Industry

Computer Repairs\Laptop Repairs Data Recovery\Data Transfer Computer Upgrades\Services Slow Computers\Laptops Setup of New Computers and Laptops Virus / Spyware Removal Internet, Networking and Wireless Networking setup / troubleshooting Virus Removal No power, No Sound, Email problems Hard Drive Failures Software Installs & Fixes Printer Problems Website Design Contact: Marilyn Taylor Tel: 0121 423 3248 Mobile: 07814 086802 Email: [email protected]

During this time with restrictions in place for everyone, itas h been very concerning re: the lack of selling Traidcraft goods in church. If this is happening throughout, and sales falling then the support of those people who rely on the charity will be greater. I don’t have the answer, but maybe I could encourage you to buy from the local supermarkets. Meanwhile, what stock is still at church could be sold off (if out of sell by date). If it helps I could be at church during the open hour on Wednesday. Please get in touch, Wendy Email: [email protected]

ORGANISATIONS

Monday Brownies in the Church Hall Guides in the Church Hall

Wednesday Mothers & Toddlers in the Church Hall 9-30– 11-30 am Rainbows in the Church Hall Beavers Age 6 – 8 years. Boys and girls

Thursday Scouts in the Scout Hut 10 –14 years (boys and girls) Rainbows in the Church Hall Brownies in the Church Hall Cubs in the Scout Hut 8-10 years (boys and girls) Guide Group Leader: Pat Crofts 0121 544 3275 Group Scout Leader: Diane Walker 0121 429 5260

Friday Choir Practice in Church 7-15 pm

If you would like more information about any of the above Organisations, Email : [email protected]

Please be aware that we are not currently able to offerany of our usual weekly meetings as outlined above.

24 ST.HILDA’S CHURCH ABBEY ROAD, B67 5NQ

VICAR: Revd Jenni Crewes Tele: 0121 429 1384 Mobile: 07377363915 Email: [email protected]

CHURCHWARDEN: Mrs. Sue Round Tel: 572 9752

DEPUTY CHURCHWARDEN Mrs. Pat Allen Email: [email protected]

READER: Mrs. Fran Ellis Tel: 429 6267

READER AND PASTORAL MINISTER (Mon/Tues and Wed ) Mr. Richard Haynes Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07972 530 161

ORGANIST & CHOIRMASTER: Vacant

CHURCH COUNCIL SECRETARY: Mr. Andrew M. Email: [email protected]

CHURCH COUNCIL TREASURER: Mr. Terry Daniels Tel: 558 9100 Email: [email protected]

MAGAZINE TREASURER: Mr. Alan Gibbens Tel: 550 4027

MAGAZINE EDITOR: Mrs. Wendy Dyke Email: [email protected] Tel: 552 1003

CHURCH WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.sainthildawarleywoods.co.uk WEBSITE ENQUIRIES: [email protected]

We are a Registered Charity and our Number is: 1181258 Please quote this number on all church correspondence.

SAFEGUARDING CONTACT 07946 147 703 or Email: [email protected]

The Vicar, Readers and Wardens are always pleased to receive the names of the sick and housebound who wish to be remembered in our prayers.