Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Parish Magazine
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The NIB Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Parish Magazine THE BENEFICE OF St BENEDICT The Parishes of Ashmanhaugh, Barton Turf, Beeston St Lawrence, Horning, Irstead and Neatishead Rector: The Rev’d David Smith 01692 630216 [email protected] From your Parish Priest This year we have been celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the grant of lands by King Cnut which enabled the founding of St Benet’s Abbey, on this hallowed site in our own benefice. However, that new community which gathered in the year 1019 was Benedictine in character, following the Rule of St Benedict which even at that time was already 500 years old, having been first written down in the early 6th century by Benedict himself. Today, of course, The Rule of Benedict still flourishes and is the basis of many religious institutions across the world, both monasteries and convents. There are closed, contemplative orders with only limited contact with the outside world, and then there are working orders – teaching, nursing, and those assisting in parish ministry. There are also lay Benedictines – so called oblates – usually associated with a monastery or convent, living in their local community but also following the principles of Benedict’s Rule. St Benet’s Abbey flourished as a Benedictine foundation for some 500 years before being dismantled. Many other medieval abbeys are now ruins or tourist attractions, but others have survived as major churches, such as our own Norwich Cathedral. Elsewhere, Benedictine communities have formed new institutions with modern facilities enabling them to follow The Rule whilst working with and contributing to our modern world. Although these various communities and buildings have come and gone, or transformed themselves over the centuries, the Rule of St Benedict has endured across those 1500 years, with each succeeding generation finding in it inspiration and guidance as to a way of living which embraces the Christian faith but also encourages the individual to engage productively with both their local community and the wider world. Whilst setting out many detailed rules for those living together in a monastic institution, so that community life is ordered and regulated, the Rule also emphasises the need for a balanced life for both individuals and for the community as a whole. The work of God, the regular meeting for prayer and praise is balanced with times for necessary manual work, for eating together, for rest, for study, and for relaxation. Now where have we heard that before? Modern day life coaches can charge eye-watering fees simply encouraging individuals to get a better work/life/leisure balance in their lives. Benedict knew this 1500 years ago, and the principle is as good now as it was then. You don’t have to become a monk or a nun to benefit from some of the basic advice of Benedict’s Rule. Look to find balance in your life and allow God and his community to be part of that balanced way of living. With every blessing, David ISSUE NO: 496 AUGUST 2019 St Michael and All Angels, Barton Turf It was good to see so many people at the Friends evening and good to welcome some newcomers. Two parties were able to go up the tower as it was a fine evening. The August coffee morning will be on Saturday 17th August from 10am to 12 noon. Do come and join others for a chat and a cup of coffee. The big event for August will be our Hatch, Match and Dispatch display from 8th to 11th August. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm each day and on Sunday 11th August we will be having our annual ecumenical Songs of Praise service to bring the exhibition to a close. Entry is free and refreshments will be available. We have been promised a wonderful number of outfits and other memorabilia so the exhibition promises to be very interesting. Do come along and bring all your friends and help to make it a successful event. Thank you all who are contributing anything for the exhibition, without your help we could not mount such a show. A final plea, if anyone has a tailor’s dummy I would be very grateful if they could loan it to us, we need a number. If you can help please phone me on 536132. Many thanks. Barbara Pilcher Barton and Irstead Churches Fete on Saturday 1st June This was a lovely Fete on a truly wonderful afternoon of sunshine. The high degree of commitment, imagination and thoughtful preparation of the Organisers, the Stall Holders and the Teas and Games Providers were inspirational to the success and happiness of the afternoon - many, many thanks to them. Our thanks to the crowd that came, too, you make the Fete special with your enjoyment! (BIG apologies for the lack of the usual blue garden seats round the house). The most important job of all is the putting up of the Fete with all the tables, tents and pergolas on the lawn....and the clearing of them all away again. It is also the hardest job physically, but there are now only 8 men in the team. We would dearly love to draft in another half dozen younger ones to help with this, welcoming especially our newer friends in Barton and Irstead. You already help so much in the villages and need not be at all shy about coming forward, church goers or no. The more the merrier, and the already lively and friendly atmosphere of the team would make helping a pleasure! If you feel you could help next year, do get in touch. Ring Vincent and Yvonne Kendrick on 630261 and they will be happy to hear from you. Jeanie Peel St Benet’s coffee morning The usual coffee morning in St Benet's Hall was held in the Church on 6th July at the start of a week of celebrating the founding of St Benet's Abbey 1,000 years ago. There were many people there and £195.08 was raised for the upkeep of the Church. The next one will be back in St. Benet's Hall on Saturday 3rd August at the usual time of 10am to 11.30ish. Do come to meet old friends and make new ones. There will be the usual homemade cakes etc; books, raffle and of course coffee and scones. Gillian Jeckells St Peter’s Church Fete on Saturday 29th June Many thanks to so many people who contributed to making our Fete such a success, resulting in approximately £1700 being raised for church funds. The weather was unbelievably hot and extra marquees were very welcome to keep our stallholders and visitors in the shade. The atmosphere provided by the Norfolk Wherry Brass made the afternoon all the more enjoyable. In particular thanks to all those who so kindly helped the night before setting everything up and after an exhausting day staying on to dismantle everything. We were very grateful to the Head of the Primary School for allowing us to use the school’s premises. Thank you for the numerous donations of items for all the stalls, but especially for the incredible generosity of those businesses and individuals who contributed to the Grand Draw. It was the best ever! Pauline Simpson 2 Friends and Neighbours On the 13th June Sue Seeley hosted a coffee morning at the New Victory Hall. There was coffee, tea and a selection of delectable snacks. We had an exceptionally interesting talk by Zoe Smith from the Hawk and Owl Trust. We saw pictures of the peregrines nesting on Norwich Cathedral from the birth of the chicks to their first flight. We also celebrated the Ruby anniversary of John and Pat Lynn with cake and wine. We wish them many more years together. On the 27th June we had the return of Pam Warren and Friends singing some of our old favourite songs. Everybody joined in and we had a good old sing-a-long. Forthcoming events for club members - On Thursday 8th August Carol Palfrey will be giving a talk about Happisburgh Lighthouse and on Thursday 22nd August there will be a garden meeting hosted by Mr and Mrs Harmer of Bizley Farm. Jean Barber, Chairperson St Benet’s Abbey Annual Ecumenical Service - Sunday 4th August at 3.30pm Everyone is most welcome to join us on this special occasion when we will, in addition to the other events planned, celebrate in worship the spiritual significance of St Benet’s Abbey today and in the period since its foundation 1000 years ago. The Preacher this year will be The Rt Revd Dr Alan Winton, Bishop of Thetford, acting Bishop of Norwich and Abbot of St Benet’s. Visitors are advised that parking is in fields and therefore on an uneven surface. Only cars carrying demonstrably disabled passengers will be allowed onto the Abbey site. Directions to the Abbey site: By road - Off the A1062 at Johnsons Street, Ludham, signposted St Benet’s. By water - Just downstream from Ant mouth on the River Bure. On foot - Along the Three Rivers Way from either Ludham or Horning. Alternatively enjoy a trip on the ‘Southern Comfort’ to the Abbey site departing from and returning to Horning Green. Tickets costing £10 are available from Horning Post Office. For further details please contact the Prior of St Benet’s (The Revd. David Smith) on 630216. David Murrells The St Benet’s 1000 years continue with two events well worth a look and both free! Until mid August larger-than-life willow monks and a dog will be standing tall at the Abbey site.