Marown, foxdale and Baldwin Parish magazine March 2019

Clergy Revd Janice Ward Marown Vicarage, Main Road, Crosby. IM4 4BH Tel: 01624 851378, e-mail: [email protected] (usual day off Thursday)

Readers Nancy Clague 01624 851877 [email protected] Doug Chalk 07624 451827 Heather Paisley 07624 467158 [email protected] or by post to 30 Ballatessan Meadow, Peel, IM5 1DU

Churchwardens Foxdale Sue Waring, Malcolm Clague Marown Ann Williams [email protected] Tel 852721 Nick Poole Wilson [email protected] Baldwin Sue Sayle and Chris Williamson

Synod representatives Sue Waring [email protected] Charles Wilson Rosemary Gibson

PCC Elected Members Sue Sharples (secretary to PCC and Electoral Roll Officer) [email protected] - tel 662076 Peter Speers Rae Poole-Wilson Sue Salt Rosemary Gibson David Ward

For Contributions to the newsletter, send to Heather as above.

Dear Friends We are not all expected to go to Spring is almost upon us and as the such a college, but if we profess to earth comes to life once again, so be followers of then we are we look to our spiritual renewal as expected to closely observe, and we approach then imitate, His teaching and . A ‘buzz example of living. Jesus was a man word’ in Church who put God at the centre of His circles these life, who prayed regularly and days is frequently, who read the Holy ‘discipleship’ but Scriptures and thought about their what does this word mean for us? meaning. Jesus showed Two thousand years ago it was compassion for the outcast and associated with the ten closest disadvantaged in society and followers of Jesus (Peter, James, forgave those who persecuted (and John etc). The word ‘disciple’ executed) him. comes from the Greek ‘mathetes’ meaning ‘a learner’, someone who accepts the views and practices of a teacher, thus, the New Testament refers to the disciples of John the Baptist, the Pharisees and Moses besides referring to those who gathered around Jesus and shared most intimately in His ministry.

Revd William Sykes, former chaplain of Society today is quick to lay blame University College on someone or some organisation Oxford, recalls when things go wrong, fast to offer some advice given to him as a a response to ‘breaking news’, curate at Bradford cathedral, which rapidly jumping to conclusions was to observe closely the provost. about situations without hearing all He later described this time of as the facts and has an under-current one of valuable discipleship of negativity. Jesus rarely directly because it showed him how to put blamed anyone for anything; he into practice all he had learned at offered great insights and wisdom theological college. into the lives of those he met getting to the heart of what really into action, it is about taking the ailed them. Jesus inspired hope example and teaching of Jesus and and expectation, lifting people from making them visible in the world their predicaments to brighter through our words and behaviour. futures. All of these teachings are It is easy to fall into step with the based upon the love rest of society of God for us, the but as Christians human family, and we should be for all creation. focused upon Godly values. As disciples of Jesus we are called to do Lent is an something similar. excellent time to To share this Good shake off the News of God’s love, negativity of this to be slow to blame age and replace and quick to console, to be it with the hopeful expectation of thoughtful and prayerful, angry at the kingdom of God, the Good injustice and prepared to do News that Jesus proclaimed. something about it as best we can. Happy Lent everyone Over the next few weeks try this exercise: when you hear a piece of Canon Janice news, either on TV, radio, internet or word of mouth, think about your During the past months we response. have commended to God’s

eternal keeping

Stanley Skinner, Victor

Howe and Alfie Moore

Were you quick to judge and Revised Electoral Roll condemn? Did you try to get all This year we have to do a complete the facts? Did you rush to an revision of the Parish Roll so opinion? Was your reaction hopeful everyone will have to fill in a and positive? registration slip. Don’t get left off the Church Roll! Opening date for th Being a disciple of Jesus is putting registrations is 10 March and will th our Bible knowledge and prayers run until 14 April.

Flowers and Cleaning at Quiet Day 6th April St Luke’s 10am to 4pm at the Cathedral. Led There will be no flowers in any of by Bishop Michael Burrows from the our Churches during Lent, so please Church of Ireland. Bishop Peter bear that in mind if you would extends an invitation to all lay normally do those dates. We plan people as well as Clergy and to decorate the church for Readers. Please let Canon Janice Day on Saturday 20th April, from know if you will be attending before 10am onwards, so we would really 2nd April for catering purposes. appreciate your help. We will need: Solutions to last month’s  Helpers to spring clean the puzzles church;  Helpers to decorate the church with flowers;  Daffodils, and other flowers, as well as greenery.

News about Foxdale

Church Unfortunately, we still do not have the go ahead to do the repairs at St Paul’s in Foxdale, so it remains closed for all use including worship and occasional offices and for other uses such as the Soup Lunches. The churchyard is not affected and remains open for Newsletter Contributions visitors and burials etc. Do you have any news items that you would like to include in the Parish Newsletter? Please send them to Heather if you do. Items for Lent Course 2019 inclusion in the following month’s newsletter Lent is almost upon us and our Lent must be received by no later than the second Sunday of the month if emailed - earlier if hand course will run on Monday evenings written. We reserve the right to edit all copy in Lent at Marown Church. Please and cannot accept anything which is not in line let Canon Janice know if you want with our Christian beliefs and values. The Vicar a free booklet. will have the final decision on this if a problem arises.

Tom Cowell writes: Your Garden in March We have had work done on the You can still prune rose trees and front windows to try to keep out butterfly the damp and rain. Unfortunately, bushes if we found that when the windows there is no were fitted a few years ago, the hard frost bottom base had been fitted with about, and do give them some sand, which allowed the dampness fertiliser. Roses love some good to penetrate under the concrete. farmyard manure around their When you approach St Luke’s of a base. Beware of late night frost dark winter’s evening and see all of and protect tender young plants the windows glowing with light with straw. Divide and replant from the glass vases filled with perennials into your flower borders. candles, it really is a wonderful Now is the time to sow tomato sight to see. Sue always takes care seeds in a heated propagator or on of these and, of course, when we a warm windowsill in the house to see the light of the candles, we grow on out of doors when all always think of Jesus, the Light of danger of frost is over, but keep the World. some plants to grow in the

greenhouse later on. Take As spring approaches, the daffodils chrysanthemum cuttings when they appear to welcome the new season are about two inches tall and you from their pots and flower beds by can start to plant out your summer the gate. The more there are, the flowering bulbs this month. Add a more they make people smile and little fertiliser to the top of your capture the hearts of the passers- flower beds. Sow grass seeds to by. They’re shooting up and cover bare spots in the lawn and budding even now; it’s still cold, keep pulling up as many weeds as but they’ll survive. I can’t wait to possible, otherwise they will soon see them – they’re my favourite seed all over the place. Annual flower. flowers and vegetable seeds can be

sown in a warm greenhouse, if you Cleaning the church is often taken have one. Don’t forget to start for granted, but we’d soon notice if looking through your catalogues to it wasn’t done. We are very order your summer flowering grateful to those who do it. Can plants. you spare an hour or two to help? Thomas S. J. Cowell, MBE Many hands make light work!

Date Time Location Details Sunday 3rd 10.00 Marown Morning Prayer (BCP) Sunday next before 11.30 Marown Messy Church (relocated) Lent 18.30 Baldwin Evening Prayer (BCP) Wednesday 6th 19.00 Crosby Ash Wednesday Service Ash Wednesday Methodist Sunday 10th 10.00 Marown Holy Communion (BCP) 1st Sunday of Lent 11.30 Marown Family Service (Child Groups)

Holy Communion (BCP) 18.30 Baldwin Monday 11th 19.30 Marown Lent Course #1 Sunday 17th 10.00 Marown Holy Communion (CW) Choir 2nd Sunday of Lent 11.30 Marown Celtic Communion (Child Groups) 18.30 Baldwin Healing Service Monday 18th 19.30 Marown Lent Course #2 Sunday 24th 10.00 Marown Morning Prayer (CW) 3rd Sunday of Lent 11.30 Marown Family Service (Child Groups) 18.30 Baldwin Holy Communion (CW) Monday 25th 19.30 Marown Lent Course #3 Sunday 31st 11.15 Marown Family Communion for Mothering Sunday/ Mothering Sunday 4th Sunday of Lent 18.30 Baldwin Guest Service Monday 1st April 19.30 Marown Lent Course #4

Flowers Rota – St Luke’s Date Sunday 3rd Vacant Sunday 10th No flowers - Lent Sunday 17th No flowers – Lent

Sunday 24th No flowers - Lent

Dates for March 1st 2pm Union Mills Chapel Mothers Union World Day of Prayer. Service by Christian Women of Slovenia 6th 7pm Ash Wednesday Service at the Crosby Chapel. For the first time in several years we are sharing with our brothers and sisters in Crosby; do come and join us on this important day in the Church year. 9th 10.30am Marown Vicarage Rose Queen meeting. Please come if you are able to help on the day or if you have any ideas for this year’s event. 11th 7.30pm Marown. Lent Study Course begins. Please let Canon Janice know if you would like a free booklet. 22nd 7pm Quiz night social event. Marown. £2 to include refreshments.

Is your event in our Diary? Send the details to Heather if you want it to be included. If you send it by email, it must be in by the second Sunday of the month before. If it is hand written, it must be in before that. All events and other diary dates included must be in line with our Christian beliefs and values.

All events published in the newsletter will automatically be advertised on the Parish Facebook page unless you specifically indicate that you do not want this. Don’t forget to check out the Facebook page regularly too!

The celebration of Mothers’ Day celebrations have now been mixed began in the United States in the up, and are largely considered to early 20th century; and it was not, be the same thing. There are many originally, related in any way to the traditions and customs connected Christian celebration Mothering with the celebrations on this day. Sunday. Mothering Sunday was the For example, in some churches, it is day when domestic servants were the only day in Lent when given a day off to visit their home marriages can be celebrated. And church, usually with their own of course, the widely shared mothers and other family members. custom of the children in the It was often the only time that congregation giving out bunches of whole families could gather spring flowers comes from those together, since on other days they long ago servants picking flowers were usually prevented by on their way to Church. There conflicting working hours, and used to be a tradition on this day servants were not given free days called "clipping the church", very often. whereby the congregation form a ring around the outside of their So Mothering Sunday grew to church building and, holding hands, become a very important day for they embrace it. the family. Traditionally, as they went to their mother church, the And then, of course, there is the domestic servants would pick wild food. In the middle ages, the flowers along the way to place in celebration food of choice for the the church or give to their mothers. day was, in , the By the 1920s the custom of keeping "Mothering Bun" which was a sweet Mothering Sunday had tended to bun topped with pink or white icing lapse in many places. Its wide and "hundreds and thousands". scale revival was through the That’s one worth reviving, but influence of American and Canadian maybe not the custom in Northern soldiers during World War II. By England and Scotland though, the 1950s, all across the UK people where apparently they preferred started celebrating Mother's Day on "Carlings", which were nothing to the same day that Mothering do with lager, but actually pancakes Sunday was celebrated, the fourth made of steeped peas fried in Sunday in Lent. The two butter. Yum. It seems that Mother’s day is given well believe that her grief was such a far higher status than Father’s that, as Simeon foretold, a sword Day. Maybe this is because in the pierced through her soul and cut Bible, there is a wealth of detail of her to the heart. mothers doing amazing things for their children, with far more But even had she known what emphasis on those than on the would happen, Mary undoubtedly things fathers did. Not counting wouldn’t have changed her choice, our Heavenly Father, of course. when she gave her agreement to But there are many courageous and God’s plan to become the mother of faithful stories about mothers in the the Messiah. Because that’s the Bible. There’s the mother who mothers’ job description isn’t it? gave up her right to her child in the They are there for us, no matter judgement of Solomon and, of what. They bind up our wounds course, there’s also the story of when we stumble; they listen to our what Moses’ mother did to protect hopes and dreams; they love us, no her child. Hannah, the mother of matter what we do, and they would the prophet Samuel, was barren go to hell and back to save their and she was deeply distressed by children. Someone once said that her barrenness. So she prayed to the moment a child is born, the God to give her a child and vowed mother is also born. She never that if he did so, she would existed before. The woman dedicate the child to God. To give existed, but the mother, never. But up such a precious and wanted God knew us intimately, even child must have taken an incredible before our Mothers did. As the act of faith and strength. But of Psalmist says in Psalm 139: ‘For it course, faith and strength for their was you who formed my inward children is what mothers are all parts; you knit me together in my about. Simeon, when Jesus was mother’s womb. I praise you, for I just a babe in arms, warns Mary am fearfully and wonderfully made.’ and Joseph that Jesus will be a suffering Saviour, and, especially to There’s a Jewish proverb that goes: Mary, he prophesies that she will God could not be everywhere, So suffer with him, more than any he created mothers. It’s a great other of his companions, because sentiment, but it’s wrong. God can of her strength of affection for him. be everywhere. But somehow, But as we know, it came to pass as mothers embody God’s love for us. it was written, and Mary found They learnt it all from Him. How herself standing by the cross, else could they know all this stuff? watching her son die, and we may

Just as we set aside time to The Lenten season begins with Ash spiritually prepare for Christmas Wednesday on March 6, 2019 and, Day, it makes sense to set aside if you are following the 40 days time to prepare for the two most tradition, ends on , important days of the Christian year April 20, 2019. However, some - Easter. Lent is a time that offers Christians consider that Lent ends us an opportunity to come to terms on or Holy with the human condition we may Thursday. Ash Wednesday is the spend the rest of the year running first day of Lent, and is always from and it brings our need for a celebrated 46 days before Easter Saviour to the forefront. Like Sunday. There is usually a special Advent, Lent is a time to open the service for Ash Wednesday in which doors of our hearts a little wider a cross is marked on the forehead and understand our Lord a little with ashes prepared by burning deeper, so that when palm branches from the previous and eventually Easter comes, it is . The ashes symbolize not just another day at church but death and repentance. When we an opportunity to receive the come forward to receive ashes on overflowing of graces God has to Ash Wednesday, we are saying that offer. we are sorry for our sins, and that we want to use the season of Lent Lent is an intensely penitential time to correct our faults. You may be as we examine our sinful natures wondering how Lent can be 40 and return to the God we have, days if Ash Wednesday is 46 days through our own rebelliousness, before Easter? That is because the hurt time and again. Lent is also an Lenten fast does not include opportunity to contemplate what Sundays, which are considered to our Lord really did for us on the be a celebration of the resurrection, Cross - and it wasn't pretty. But so the six Sundays before Easter ultimately, the purpose of Lent are omitted from the 40-day does not stop at sadness and observance of fasting. despair - it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when The last week of Lent is called Holy every tear will be dried. Week and includes Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Friday, and Holy Saturday or wearing of ashes on Ash Black Saturday. Unlike Advent, Wednesday and abstinence of which is a time of celebration and meat, fish, eggs and fats until excitement looking forward to an Easter Sunday. Others will choose arrival, Lent is observed in a more to give up just one item for Lent, solemn way preparing for and more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as reflecting on Jesus’ sacrificial death. chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is But at the end of Lent is Easter also becoming increasingly common Sunday, and that is the most joyous celebration because our Saviour for people to give up other things in Jesus Christ was resurrected and order to refocus their faith during lives on. this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social ‘Lent’ is a shortened version of the media. Many Christians also use Old English word ‘lencten’, a word Lent to study their Bibles and pray which simply means spring (in more intensively, making use of the relation to the season). It is many devotional books and courses thought to have Germanic roots now available. Or you could sign and seems likely to have been used up for the 40 Acts challenge, see to describe the season when the details further down. Fasting in days began to lengthen, signifying Lent is meant to symbolize Jesus’ new life and renewal. Over time, sacrifice and his withdrawal into the the word Lent came to be linked specifically to the Christian tradition desert to be tempted for 40 days. of fasting before Easter, which There is nothing in Scripture that always coincided with the spring. requires a 40-day fast before you can celebrate the resurrection on What Do People Give Up? Easter Sunday. The Bible is clear In the early centuries fasting rules that the resurrection and the were strict, as they still are in promise of salvation are to be Eastern churches. One meal a day celebrated every day not just on was allowed in the evening, and Easter Sunday. If giving something meat, fish, eggs, and butter were up for Lent causes you to focus too forbidden. These days, Christians much on your own sacrifice rather around the world observe Lent in than that of Christ, then don’t fall many ways. Many from more into that trap! Instead, do orthodox and traditional something that will help you to denominations will still observe the focus on God, like start a special fast strictly, beginning with the devotional in your prayer time or read through the gospels each week. It’s more important to have solid daily habits that involve time with the Lord and prayers of thanks than it is to complete a 40-day fast successfully. These days, it has 40acts is the generosity challenge for become a bit trendy to ‘give Lent, created by UK Christian charity, something up’ for Lent. Here are Stewardship. For eight years, 40acts has asked a question: what if Lent could be five reasons not to observe Lent: about more than just giving stuff up?  To slim your waistline What if it could be a time of radical  To make God happy generosity as well as spiritual discipline?  To cure an addiction

 To showcase your spirituality or Over the years, 40acts has become a virtue movement of over 100,000 people on a  Because it’s the cool trend mission to impact their communities with We should always make sure we’re generosity – during Lent and beyond. fasting for the right reasons and Every day throughout Lent (not including motives. Lent is not about our Sundays) wake up to a new generosity challenge and short Bible-based blog sacrifice after all; it is about straight to your inbox with reflections focusing on the one sacrifice made provided by a wonderful mix of church for us that we would never have and ministry leaders, writers and been able to make for ourselves. teachers.

Each act is designed to sharpen your awareness and give you practical ways to stretch your faith as well as your generosity, with three challenge levels. The daily challenges cover an accessible range of generosity-related themes. Some days are about giving time, others about giving practical help, while some deal with generosity of our finances, our influence and much more. During 2018, 100,000+ individuals and thousands of groups took the 40acts challenge, creating a wave of more than 4 million generous acts in 180 countries around the world. Find out more and sign up for free at www.40acts.org.uk

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25 years of ordaining women 25 years ago, on 12th March 1994, the first 32 women

- priests in the Church of England were ordained. It happened

versedin it? in Bristol Cathedral, and Bishop Barry Rogerson ordained them in alphabetical order; so Angela Berners-Wilson was considered the very first woman to be ordained. Ten years later, one in five priests was a woman. Of the 542

candidates entering training this year, more than half (274) are women, which is 19 per cent more than last year. Father, You are always loving, always generous and Years Ordained Bristol Cathedral kind to your children. Please have mercy on us as March Rogerson Alphabetical Angela a nation at this time of turmoil and division. Help First Chaplain University Karen us to be tolerant and understanding of those who Thirty Spiritual Care Hospital have different, sincerely-held opinions. And guide our leaders so that your will be done in our country Two Candidates Women Priests and in our relationships with each other and with Europe and the rest of the world. Lord, have mercy on us, forgive us and heal us. In Jesus name, Amen.