St. Faith and St. Laurence Harborne

2021 USEFUL NUMBERS (See also back page)

Task Group Chairs Finance and General Purposes REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410 Worship and SALLY GRIFFITHS 429 9436 Education: RACHEL LUCKMAN 445 1965 Mission: PAULINE SITFORD Email: [email protected] 427 7005 Socials: DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360 Children and Young People : RUTH JEAVONS Giving REVD. CANON PRISCILLA WHITE 427 2410

Parish Safeguarding Team Vicar: Rev’d Canon Priscilla White Mobile: 07896 935798 Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Children’s Co-ordinator: Ruth Jeavons Mobile: 07870 703304 Vulnerable Adults Coordinator: Sue Glanvill Domestic Violence Coordinator: Alison Keepax Mobile: 07726524256 Members: George Reeves, Ruth Jeavons and Christine Terry The safeguarding group have a watching brief over safeguarding in the church. The policy pack is available in the hall, as are posters with contact details of emergency numbers. If you have concerns about the safety of a child, young person or vulnerable adult, please speak to the relevant member of the safeguarding team or one of the other team members, or to the Vicar. Concerns may have then to be passed to the Bishop’s Safeguarding adviser in confidence. In an emergency contact Police or Social Services.

Activities Choir Practice: Thursdays 6pm. (see back cover for Organist and Choirmaster) Women’s Fellowship: HELEN HAYWARD 422 5724 Stay and Play: Thursdays 9.30am- 11am HILARY SHAYLOR 454 0451 Lesson Readers Secretaries: (10am) PETER STOKES 422 6843 (6.30pm) DIANA LEADBEATER 427 1930 Servers Secretary: ALISON KEEPAX Planned Giving: JACKIE TAYLOR 422 2930 Flower Rota: ANITA TIPPIN 454 7586 Transport DAVID GLANVILL 682 8360 Co-ordinator: (Please contact David if you need, or can offer lifts to church )

Uniformed Organisations Scout Association Ring 0345 300 1818 and ask for 293rd Birmingham Scout Group GSL Leader: TOM McARDLE Beavers: Monday, 6pm MALCOLM ADEY Cub Scouts: Wednesday, 6pm MATT CAWSEY or RICHARD PAINTER Scouts: Tuesday, 7.15pm Leader: KEVIN PAYNE

Guides: Wednesday, 7.30pm Guider: AMANDA JONES 01384 636928

Brownies: Wednesday, 6pm-7.30pm Brown Owl: JANET JONES 429 8167

Rainbow Unit: Wednesday, 4.45pm-5.45pm Leader: JANET JONES 429 8167

Dear Friends, In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we read, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ Isaiah 52.7

So a question for a Lenten journey. “How beautiful are your feet.?

Here some thoughts on feet, feet feeling sore, living with deprivation, but travelling in the right direction.

My feet are sore. My feet are sore, broken skin, blisters, rubbed by ill-fitting sandals and dusty, rocky roads, My feet are sore A long slow journey in the heat Stopping at night times to find shelter under a hedge, curled up with the foxes, hearing the birds of the air sing their wake up call in the early morning, only dew to wash in. My feet are sore Travelling back Travelling to my place of origin Back from distant country, From bright lights and fancy living From excitement and delight. © Priscilla White 2010

Even when sore, our feet can be beautiful. Even when our lives feel limited, they can be beautiful. Even when we don’t feel worth it, God declares that we are.

Priscilla

1 Aspects of life at St Faith and St Laurence

Morning Prayer – is normally said Monday to Thursday and Saturday at 8.15 am in the Lady Chapel. We use Common Worship Daily Prayer, all are welcome to come and join in. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Task Groups – The church has a number of task groups enabling areas of church life. These are listed in the magazine with the contact details of the chairs. If you would like to be a part of a groups please contact the relevant chair or Priscilla. All are welcome to join.

Stay and Play meets on Thursday between 9.30 and 11am in the Hall to give a chance for people with young children to meet and the children to play. All are welcome. Cost £2 per family. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Sunday Club meets on the first, third and fourth Sundays of each month except during the holidays. We hold an extra Sunday Club on days when there is a baptism. All are welcome to join in hearing and experiencing a Bible Story and learning together about what it means for our daily lives. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Messy Church takes place on the first Saturday of each month, most months. A chance for children and parents/ carers to have an informal time of worship, and discovering about a Bible story through song, craft, listening, cooking and so much more. Dates are published in advance and all are welcome to come along. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Planned Giving helps people make giving regular. You decide how much you can afford to give. You can join the envelope scheme weekly or monthly or pay by Standing Order or annually by cheque. Income tax payers are asked to Gift Aid their giving, so the Church can reclaim the tax on their donations at no extra cost to the donors. For details, contact Jackie Taylor.

The Parish Giving Scheme is another way that you can give at no extra cost to yourself. It reduces paperwork and increases cash flow for us. Details are available from Loleta Atkinson or Priscilla.

We support Recycling. We have a special collection on the first Sunday of every month when we collect ALUMINIUM cans and foil which can be sold and the money raised is donated to our Mission Partners in Chile (through USPG) Local supermarkets have battery recycling facilities in this area. WILL RESUME WHEN THE CHURCH IS OPEN.

2 Home Communion We have a team of lay people trained and able to bring Home Communion usually on a monthly basis. This is for those who are unable to come to church long term. If the situation is more temporary for example after an operation you can also receive communion, usually from Priscilla. In either case please contact Priscilla. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

'easyfundraising’ Next time you shop online, think of St Faith and St Laurence and raise free donations with 3,000+ retailers: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stfaithandstlaurence

Women’s Fellowship meets on the first Monday of the month from March to December. Meetings are held in the Committee Room at 7.30pm. We have talks on a variety of subjects. See Programme of the Month for details. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Prayer Ministry Team Prayer ministry is offered during the 10am Communion on Sundays. People can receive prayer for themselves or for any situation that is important to them. It takes place in the Lady Chapel during the distribution of communion. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Foodbank We collect food for the Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank. There is a box in church and food can be placed there at any time. The list of things that are needed is in church and in the hall. Food is distributed from St Boniface Church on Wednesdays and Paul and Barney's place on Fridays. Vouchers are required to receive food.

Choir and Music. Choir Practice takes place weekly, normally on Thursdays 6-7pm. Anyone interested in singing in the choir should contact Simon Palmer, Organist & Choirmaster. (Contact details on page cover) We also like to encourage instrumentalists to perform in church, either in services or in concerts. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Call in for Coffee time together over a cuppa on a Wednesday morning from 10.30 -12.00. if needed we can arrange for someone to collect you and then take you home. If you are passing, do call in, or bring a friend, all are welcome. SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

3 Zoom Activities using the phone It is possible to dial into a zoom activity without using a computer. You use a telephone and would be able to hear and speak but not see what is going on. If this would suit anyone there is a range of numbers you can use 0203 901 7895 0131 460 1196 0203 051 2874 0203 481 5237 0203 481 5240 The cost of this will be dependant on how you pay for your phone-calls so please be aware that a service or meeting could be an hour or so. Procedure 1 Dial the number 2 A voice will say something like welcome to zoom, enter your meeting ID followed by hash. 3 You enter as asked. The meeting IDs are later in the magazine. 4 The voice will then ask for the passcode followed by hash. 5 These are different to the passcodes that are words. The passcodes are later in the magazine for the various activities. 6 You should them be in the meeting and will be able to participate. Activities on Zoom Wednesdays (Coffee) and Chat meets at 11am. A chance to meet up and chat about anything and everything, bring your own coffee Zoom ID 953 7644 6364 Passcode coffee (telephone 420236) Saturdays This is on the first Saturday of the month Bible story and craft and fun together. Zoom ID 827 8902 7469 ring or message Priscilla for the password. The March theme is Jesus and the children and focusses on Lent. Do encourage people to come along. If they do not receive our emails with the sheets on the details will be on the website each month Sunday 10am Zoom Morning service ID: 840 1709 9029 Passcode: worship (telephone 8752391) Sunday 4pm Zoom evening service ID: 833 3854 7339 Passcode: evening (telephone 7619038) Sermonline (normal rate call) for the sermon for the Sunday 0121 270 6364 WhatsApp For those that have it WhatsApp is a handy way to keep in touch. The church has three groups, a “Virtual Church” group, a general chat one and one to pick up requests for or offers of help. If you would like to join any or all then please contact Priscilla as above. Need help? If people need help with shopping or other needs the WhatsApp help group may be able to do something. If you are not on the group, please contact Priscilla who will pass the need on.

4 Lent Holy Week and Easter There will continue to be as much provision as we can manage. While in lockdown zoom services are at 10am and 4pm on Sunday, if the Church opens we revert to Face-to-face and live-streamed worship at 10am and zoom at 4pm. A video version of the 10am worship will continue to be placed on the website and the reflection on the sermonline whatever the circumstances. The “Worship at home in Lent” leaflet is on the Website and has been sent out to those without email access. One for Palm Sunday Holy Week and Easter will be produced later on. The current intention is to have an order of Night prayer for Holy Week for people to do at home or on zoom and to have a service at 2pm on Good Friday, hopefully in Church and live-streamed otherwise via zoom. Easter Morning is hoped to be in Church. These arrangements remain tentative at present. Lent Course. Our Lent Course this year is on Julian of Norwich and can be done on your own or as part of one of two zoom groups Thursday evenings at 7.30 from 18th February to 25th March Tuesday mornings at 11am from 23rd February to the 30th March The link for both courses is the same; Meeting ID: 880 9807 9428 Passcode: study For telephone access Meeting ID: 880 9807 9428 Passcode: 970880 The leaflet has been sent out on the weekly email and to those without internet access. If you would like one, please contact Priscilla.

World Day of Prayer 2021 Despite the pandemic Churches Together in Harborne are still going ahead with this service on Friday 5th March at 13.45, and 19.30. Our prayers this year are focussed on Vanuatu, a country of around 80 islands in the South Pacific. The vision has been to hold two services, so those who are at work during the day can also attend. Both services will be followed by Zoom virtual coffee. The service will be on Zoom. Meeting ID 835 1056 8678 Pass code 371137. Please join us for this inspiring and creative service, put together by Christian women in Vanuatu. World Day of Prayer is celebrated all around the world on the first Friday in March-it’s a world wide wave of prayer, circling the globe. Next year we will be praying for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so it will be great to have major effort for Vanuatu this year. If you would like a copy of the order of service booklet, or have any further questions about the service, please contact Brenda Stott. Email: [email protected] She will be very happy to hear from you.

5 Readings for March 7th March Third Sunday of Lent 10am Exodus 20.1-17 John 2.13-22 4pm Psalm 12 Exodus 5.1 - 6.1 Philippians 3.4b-14

14th March Mothering Sunday am 4th Sunday of Lent pm 10am Exodus 2.1-10 Colossians 3.12-17 4pm Psalm 14 Exodus 6.2-13 Romans 5.1-11

21st March Fifth Sunday of Lent 10am Jeremiah 31.31-34 John 12.20-33 4pm Psalm 34 Exodus 7.8-24 Romans 5.12-21

28th March Palm Sunday

For Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter information will be available nearer the time.

6 Prayer of the Month

My precious and crucified Lord, I offer You this Lent. I offer it to You with total abandonment and trust. I offer You my prayers, sacrifices and my very life this day. Do with me, Lord, as You will. I pray that this Lent will be fruitful. I know You have much to say to me and much to do in my life. May this Lent be a time through which Your mercy is poured in abundance into my soul, and into the souls of all Your faithful. Dearest Lord, help me to especially see opportunities, this Lent. Humble me so that I may see clearly. Give me courage and strength to embrace change and renewal, and to turn to them with all my heart. Enlighten me with Your Holy Word, dear Lord. Help me to come to know You and to deepen the gift of faith in my life. Show me the plan You have for me, and place my feet upon the path You have chosen. My suffering Lord, I thank You for the fullness of Your perfect Sacrifice. I thank You for holding nothing back, giving Your life for us. May I offer You myself as a sacrifice, trusting in Your mercy with every offering. Keep me faithful to my Lenten promises, and bring forth new life through these sacrifices of love. Strengthen my prayer and make me holy. Help me to turn to You, each day, seeking Your sacred Heart. Blessed Mother, you submitted in obedience to the will of the Father, stand by me, I pray, as I journey through this Lent. Pray for me and offer me to Your Son, that He may take me into His loving embrace. Lord, Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Mother Mary, Mother of our Crucified Lord, pray for those of us who have recourse to you. Amen Rachel Luckman

7 Will you be walking or shopping?

Good Friday has always meant going to what was, in the old days, "The Three Hour Service". To a young child in a packed church, often with no seat available, it seemed interminable and yet it was such a part of our Lenten observance that we would miss it on pain of severe retribution (whether from God or our parents was never made clear). In more recent times, I became aware of the walk in our local town around mid-day on a Good Friday. That was fine by me as long as I didn't have to get involved. I felt a little uncomfortable about walking round the town following a chap carrying a large wooden Cross. Eventually, though, I found myself joining in and not only was it not embarrassing, it was quite uplifting. It was a way of joining Christians from other denominations in making a public statement about our faith. In this day and age when everyone is busy running around, there is something very moving about a crowd of people walking slowly in silence around the town, stopping a few times and gently saying a few prayers to remember the whole meaning of the Crucifixion.

In 2019 (pre -Covid), about seventy people gathered together and members from each denomination took it in turns to carry the Cross between seven pre-arranged stations and each denomination took a turn to lead the readings and prayers. It is a lot easier to slip into church for a service than to walk around the streets in silence and then pray in the open air, but in some ways it feels closer to the reality of Good Friday than any other experience.

Afterwards we were invited to a cup of coffee and perhaps a hot cross bun as a way of cementing further friendships amongst fellow Christians. This brings to mind the gathering of beleaguered Christians in the early church and possibly in parts of the world today.

Gathering outside the supermarket as everyone is scurrying in with their trolleys is a quite odd experience. If you meet a non-church going friend as I did, do you admit that you are just about to join the crowd, standing with all the clergy and the big Cross, or do you pretend you are just popping into the shop too? It can be a test of faith if nothing else. There is something rather special about affirming one’s commitment to Christ in front of the world and in the company of our fellow Christians. It certainly helps to highlight our similarities rather than our differences which, in itself is surely no bad thing.

Deidre Morris

8 Eight hundred acts of kindness

A village in North Somerset has undertaken 800 individual acts of kindness to celebrate its local church. The village of Congresbury has exceeded its challenge of more than 800 good deeds to celebrate 800 years of its local parish church, St Andrews. The 3,500 villagers have been taking part in the anonymous Love Congresbury project, where the good deed is written on a small note and posted at the church. Becci North, one of the organisers of Love Congresbury and an active member of the church told Premier Radio that the deeds "range from somebody mowing somebody's lawn, giving somebody a lift to hospital, delivering people’s shopping." She said she was "absolutely amazed; it's been wonderful to think that so many people have embraced it, of all ages, all backgrounds of faith, of no faith." Becci said that it was a way of enforcing community and "spreading God's love through the community."

DIAMOND WEDDING

On April 1st, Beryl and I will be celebrating our 60th Wedding Anniversary. Unfortunately, if our church remains closed, we will not be able to join with all our friends in a service. It was on Saturday, the Eve of Easter Day on 1st April 1961 when we were married at St Michael and All Angels Church in Smethwick. That brings wonderful memories to both of us. So, we both wait for Saturday the 1st April 2021 to celebrate our Diamond Wedding with you all.

Beryl and Len Myers

We send our sincere congratulations to Len and Beryl, as they celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

9

A new coalition describing itself as a “movement of supporting Anglicans for an inclusive Church” — and to be know by the acronym Mosaic — is to bring together campaigns on issues of race, ability, sexuality, gender, and gender identity. One of its two co-chairs, Canon Tim Goode, a newly elected member of the Archbishops’ Council, said that Mosaic represented “the full range of marginalised groups within the Church of England. We stand far stronger together — for you cannot be a little bit inclusive.” The coalition draws together leaders from the Campaign for Equal Marriage, Disability and Jesus, Inclusive Church, Modern Church, One Body One Faith, and the Ozanne Foundation. It hopes to grow to include other organisations. Each of these bodies will continue to function independently, but the coalition is an attempt to co-ordinate their efforts to eradicate discrimination from church statements, policies, appointments, and actions. The other co-chair is Mosaic’s founder, the Revd Trevor Wyatt, Vicar of Christ Church Bexleyheath, in the diocese of Rochester. The new group plans to work in dioceses “to give voice to the silent majority”, and currently has conveners in 23 of them. The Archdeacon of Sarum, the Ven. Alan Jeans, who is the convener in Salisbury diocese, said: “There are many clergy and laity who have an interest or need for our campaigning group. Mosaic offers those who are marginalised or subject to discrimination a listening ear. We also aim to be a point of contact for the bishop’s staff with regards to inclusivity issues within the diocese.” Jayne Ozanne, one of eight patrons, said that one of the group’s early objectives was to ensure that LGBTI+ people could engage safely in debates about Living in Love and Faith. The other patrons are: the Dean of Guildford, the Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams, who chairs Inclusive Church; the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, the Ven. Peter Leonard, who chairs One Body One Faith; the Revd Bill Braviner, Priest-in-Charge of St Peter’s, Stockton-on-Tees, and of Elton, and Durham Diocesan Disability Adviser, from Disability and Jesus; the Dean of Manchester, the Very Revd Rogers Govender, one of the C of E’s BAME clergy; the Deans of Bristol (the Very Revd Mandy Ford) and St Edmundsbury (the the Very Revd Joe Hawes), both of whom have civil partners; and the Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham, the Ven. Malcolm Chamberlain. Archdeacon Chamberlain recently helped to set up the Evangelical Forum at the General Synod. Church Times

10 LENT QUIZ

1 How many days are counted in Lent? 2 What colour is traditionally associated with the Lent season? 3 How is ash for Ash Wednesday made? 4 Which day of the week is NOT included in the Lent season? 5 The main reason Christians give up coffee, chocolate or Facebook during Lent is: 6 Some Catholic countries give up eating what during Lent? 7 Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday commemorates what? 8 What food is often eaten on Shrove Tuesday? 9 What is traditionally done on Ash Wednesday? 10 On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what? 11 What word is not meant to be said or sung during Lent? 12 The Wednesday before Easter is called Holy Wednesday, but is also some- times called: 13 What is the original meaning of Lent? 14 Which is the last Sunday of Lent? 15 Which feast day always comes during Lent?

Book of the month

Dear England– Stephen Cottrell

The Rather Amazing and Surprisingly Reasonable Story of how Christianity Can Change the World. Inspired by a conversation with a barrister who asked him why he became a priest, this is the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell's extended answer to that question - as well as the letter he'd like to write to a divided country that no longer sees the relevance or value of the Christian narrative. A short, beautiful book, this is at once both contemplative and deeply practical, which will speak to both Christians and those on the edges of faith. Archbishop Stephen is a much-admired voice within the church, but in this book he writes for a more general audience, and those who might call themselves spiritual seekers - as well as anyone who is concerned about the life and unity of the UK. A short, beautiful book, this is at once both contemplative and deeply practical, which will speak to both Christians and those on the edges of faith.

11 MOTHERING SUNDAY IS ON MARCH 14th

Things my Mother taught me...

1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. 'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I've just finished cleaning'. 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. 'You'd better pray that this will come out of the carpet'. 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. 'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week'. 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. 'Because I said so, that's why'. 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. 'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the shops with me'. 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. 'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident'. 7. My mother taught me IRONY. 'Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about. 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. 'Shut your mouth and eat your supper'. 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. 'Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck'. 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. 'You'll sit there until all that soup is gone'. 11. My mother taught me about the WEATHER. 'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it'. 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. 'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'. 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. 'I brought you into this world and I can take you out'. 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION. 'Stop acting like your father!'. 15. My mother taught me about ENVY. 'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do'. 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. 'Just wait until we get home'. 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. 'You are going to get it when you get home!'. 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way'.

12 19. My mother taught me EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION 'Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?' 20. My mother taught me HUMOUR. 'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me' 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. 'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up'. 22. My mother taught me GENETICS. 'You're just like your father'. 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. 'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a field?'. 24. My mother taught me WISDOM. 'When you get to be my age, you’ll under- stand'. 25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. 'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you'.

WHY GOD MADE MUMS.

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions: Why did God make mothers? 1. She’s the only one who knows where the sticky tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born. Who’s the boss at your house? 1. Mum doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because Dad’s such an idiot. 2. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad. If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be? 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that. 2. I’d make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me. 3. I would like her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

What's the difference between Mums and Dads? 1. Mums work at work and work at home and Dads just go to work at work. 2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller and stronger, but Mums have all the real power because that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s. 4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

13 ELY CATHEDRAL

Ship of the Fens on the island of eels.

Seen from a far distance across the flat Cambridgeshire fenland, Ely's Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity seems almost ephemeral. Up close it is triumphant. The beautiful simplicity of the nave, the dizzying fan vaulting of the Octagon and Lantern Tower (one of the world's great architectural marvels), the sumptuous painted ceiling, glorious woodcarving and exquisite stone tracing make it a joy to visit. The original abbey was founded in the 7th century by England's first female saint, Etheldreda. She was a local princess who fled from not one but two arranged marriages, then founded both a monastery and a nunnery. She died, it is said, a virgin and was duly the object of veneration and pilgrimage. Ely Cathedral is by far the most conspicuous feature of the Fenland north of Cambridge. It rises high above the watery landscape and is particularly striking when seen from the railway line, which runs from the East Coast main line to its junction at Ely. Known as the Ship of the Fens, the cathedral sits on what is still known as the Isle of Ely, although since the drainage works of the seventeenth century it is no longer as isolated as it was in the period after the Norman Conquest, when it provided a refuge for Hereward the Wake in his rebellion. In Old English, the Isle of Ely means island of eels, these long being a staple food harvested from the surrounding peat-brown streams and for many years taken in water-filled barrels to London markets for sale. Some are still caught to this day by traditional methods and served as a delicacy.

14 Ely's interior is the only one I know that can be seen from the seat of a car, the result of the local council judging the west door needed a road a few feet in front of it. From whatever standpoint, the view of the nave is awesome. The construction of the present cathedral, initially built as an abbey, was begun in 1083 under the Norman Abbot Simeon, who was then 90 years old and the brother of Walkelin who, as Bishop of Winchester, was engaged in building the Norman cathedral in that city. The Norman abbey was built of limestone from Peterborough Abbey's quarries at Barnack, purchased by Ely for the price of 8,000 eels per year. When Simeon died in 1093, probably at the age of 100, his work was continued by his successors, Abbot Richard and later, in 1107, by Abbot Herve de Breton, a third Norman. After a long campaign, Breton became the first Bishop of Ely in 1109 when the diocese was carved out of the huge diocese of Lincoln — Ely Abbey thus became a cathedral. There had been an earlier abbey at Ely, founded in 672 by St Etheldreda, daughter of King Anna of East Anglia. After destructive raids by Vikings this older abbey was rebuilt close to the later site of the Norman building. The establishment of the diocese, and its cathedral prompted Bishop Hervey to place a shrine to St Etheldreda with its relics in the new building, where they remained. Construction of the cathedral continued for almost three centuries thereafter, incorporating Early English and decorated Gothic styles in its design. When St Etheldreda's relics and shrine were moved to a new site near the high altar, the cathedral was re-consecrated in the presence of Henry III (1207- 72) and his son, the future Edward I. In 1321 construction of Ely Cathedral's huge and dramatic Lady Chapel, the largest England, was begun to the north of the high altar. It is one of the most distinctive features of the cathedral and would alone make a magnificent church. However its creation was probably responsible for the existence of a unique feature for which the cathedral is most famous - the lantern. Shortly after building began on the Lady Chapel, the Norman crossing tower collapsed, probably as the excavation for the foundations of the chapel had weakened its own foundations. Instead of replacing the tower the stonemason, Alan de Walsingham, took the opportunity to design a unique octagonal tower in its place with timber vaulting supporting a glazed timber lantern, also octagonal. No other cathedral has anything like it. In 1539 Thomas Cromwell's commissioners took possession of the monastery at Ely and the last prior, Robert Steward, became the dean of the cathedral, upon which more than the usual destruction was then wrought. Anglo- Saxon shrines were destroyed, stained glass was smashed, and statues were either broken up or decapitated. (Concluded on next page)

15 Many of these statues remain in that condition, especially in the Lady Chapel, a testament to the vengeful iconoclasm of the Tudor vandals. The monastic buildings, emptied of monks, were converted for use as a grammar school, which continues to flourish to this day. It may be because of this destruction, that the cathedral escaped fairly lightly from the attention of Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War (1642-51). East Anglia largely supported Parliament during the conflict, although this fact alone did not spare nearby Cambridge. But at Ely most of the destruction had already been done by the Tudors so there wasn't much left to offend the Puritans. Even so, Parliament suggested that the remaining buildings be demolished and the materials sold to pay for 'relief of sick and maimed soldiers, widows and children'. Fortunately the buildings were simply neglected and left to decay for a century. The fact that the Parliamentary orders were never carried out may owe something to the fact that Oliver Cromwell, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, lived in Ely (where his house may still be visited) and wished to protect it. However it did not prevent Cromwell from putting the Bishop of Ely, Matthew Wren, in the Tower of London in 1642 where he remained for 18 years. In the following centuries the cathedral was carefully restored by several architects, including the ubiquitous Sir George Gilbert Scott, it was his first major commission. One was less fortunate: George Basevi, architect of much of Belgravia and of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, fell to his death while inspecting one of the towers and is buried in the cathedral. Cambridge University falls within the diocese of Ely and it is therefore interesting to discover that many figures associated with the university are buried within it. Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely from 1256 to 1286, was the founder of Cambridge's first college, Peterhouse. John Alcock, Bishop of Ely, Lord Chancellor of England and founder of Jesus College, is buried in his own chantry chapel — the Jesus College crest, consisting of three cockerels, commemorates the name of its founder there. Ely Cathedral has been used as a location for several major films. Elizabeth: The Golden Age, starring Gate Blanchett as Elizabeth I, was filmed there in 2006. In 2007 The Other Boleyn Girl followed, an account of the life of Anne Boleyn's sister Mary that featured future stars such as Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch. In November 2009 the cathedral became Westminster Abbey for The King's Speech, which starred Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as the king's speech therapist, Lionel Logue. More improbably, the cathedral featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's 1994 album The Division Bell. Peter Stokes

16 “I simply argue that the cross be raised again, at the centre of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek … and at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died, And that is what He died about. And that is where Christ’s own ought to be, And that is what church people ought to be about.”

George MacLeod, Founder of the Iona Community.

That daffodil time of year O how I love, as poets do That time when skies turn deeper blue, And all can know the vernal thrills Of landscapes filled with daffodils. I love to spend a pleasing hour Admiring nature’s golden flower; That trumpet shape, enhanced by dew That vibrant, cheering yellow hue! No better herald of the spring No flower can more pleasure bring; And spirits crushed by winter’s ills Are lifted by the daffodils!

Nigel Beeton

17 21 March is World Poetry Day World Poetry Day is a UNESCO initiative to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, all are invited to join in. For more background to the day see: https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-poetry-day Time out It had to come This time of plague We were too vague On global warming Ignored the warning Nor did enough To rebuff The profiteers Too many fears. What’s there for me our constant plea? No thought of others, our sisters, brothers. We’re in disgrace our human race! What must we do when this is through? Be more caring Be more sharing This time of testing and of resting Reassessing A time to think Back from the brink A second chance To join the dance Leave selfish ways. These precious days We’ll volunteer to do our most For those who can’t we’ll shop and post Keep our distance, smile and wave That is the new way to behave Keep our chins up as we say “With luck we’ll live another day”. And when at last this trouble ends We’ll know the value of true friends. Shirley Fry

18 ECO CHURCH COMMUNITY

I know the Climate Crisis as well as Fair Trade are big things although there are little things we can all do. If we all do something this adds to quite a lot.

A few things are, Borrowing or re- using or recycling items. This would help the environment if less items are necessary. Ask your local Council where or if you can recycle items if you are not sure. Donating old clothes to charity if they accept them such as the British Heart Foundation who may accept old clothes ( wearable or not as they could be possibly recycled. This may help avoid landfill which may help the world environment ). Birmingham City Mission is another organisation as at Birmingham City Mission | get involved - Birmingham City Mission.

Ordering fairly traded goods online such as The Real Easter Egg at www.eden.co.uk Supermarkets sell Fairly traded goods. The Co op shop is quite a good shop as regards Fairly traded goods. Buying Fairly traded bananas or chocolate or coffee or sugar. Fairtrade Fortnight is 22 February till 7 March. Search the web. Re. Media Centre, Fairtrade Foundation Taking reusable cups to coffee shops instead of buying single use cups. They may give you a small discount. You can browse the web. An example is at the Fair Trade Product website https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/ ( You can search the site regarding reusable coffee cups or clothes or food ). Buying L. E. D. Light bulbs or switching supplier to greener energy suppliers such as Octopus Energy as at https://octopus.energy/ Switching to Ecover Washing up liquid or Ecover laundry liquid. Morrison's sell these. Considering opening an ethical bank account example at www.triodos.co.ukInviting young people to plant trees explaining the reason is to help the climate. Together we can help God's creation. I am not saying I've got this all right although if we all do something this can help the Climate Crisis.

God Bless you all, Laurie Deimel

19 March is for daffodils, leeks, shamrocks, salt, music, and woodbines!

Most people will be aware that March begins with St David's Day on the first day of the month when the Welsh wear daffodils, and some still proudly pin leeks to their chest — leeks were the traditional emblem but today the daffodil seems more popular. Then 17 days later the Irish wear shamrocks to celebrate St Patrick's Day, and, of course, there’s Mothering Sunday. But March is also the time the Church has 14 other special days, some well-known, others not so. Among the other well-known saints celebrated by the Church this month is Joseph of Nazareth (19 March). Often overlooked in the early Church, Joseph has become an icon of the working man. There are many churches dedicated to ‘Joseph the Worker’. He stands in the Church calendar for the ’ordinary’ person, a straight-forward craftsman who never expected or chose to be in the spotlight of history. He did what he could, and he was obedient to everything that he believed God required of him. To do the ‘ordinary’ thing well, to be was visited by the Angel Gabriel who announced that she was to become the mother of God's son. Closely linked with Joseph is another special day in the Church calendar— The Annunciation on 25 March. It celebrates the conception of Jesus exactly nine months before his birth on 25 December. One of the lesser known saints of March is Chad, sometimes known as the recycled bishop (2 March). He died kind, caring and open to guidance: these are great gifts, and Chad seems to have had them in abundance. It was when in 664AD, after being consecrated as bishop, deposed, and then re-consecrated again. The two bishops who consecrated him first time around were, it is said, 'dubious'. Chad took his dismissal with good heart, and peacefully retired. But then Pope Theodore had second thoughts: Chad was of excellent character: humble, devout, and zealous. So, he re-consecrated him as the first bishop of the Mercians. Second time around, Chad was a great success — again. When Chad died, he was quickly venerated. People took a great fancy to his bones, believing that they would bring healing. Even today, four large, recycled bones, dating from the 7th century, and believed to be Chad’s, are in the Roman Catholic cathedral in Birmingham. Another less well known saint from the same era is Rupert (27 March). He is the saint for those who like The Sound of Music — or salt with your food! Rupert was bishop of Worms and Salzburg, and he founded the great monastery of St Peter in Salzburg in the 8th century, firmly establishing Christianity there.

20 True, it would be another 11 centuries before a certain young Julie Andrews wandered about singing of her Favourite Things and Something Good, but today Salzburg is the 'Sound of Music City'! Not only did the real Trapp family once live there, the movie was filmed in and around it. Rupert helped the people by developing the local salt mines and his emblem is a barrel of salt. Although not venerated as a 'Saint', the Church of England remembers on 8 March a WWI hero best known today as 'Woodbine Willie'. He was the Rev Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy MC, a much-loved army chaplain who served on the Western Front in WWI. When the war broke out, he was vicar of St Paul’s, Worcester and he volunteered to go to the Western Front as a chaplain. Life on the front line in the trenches was a desperate affair, but he hit on a way of bringing a few moments of relief to the stressed soldiers — as well as good cheer he handed out ‘Woodbines’, the most popular cheap cigarette of the time. He once described his chaplain’s ministry as taking 'a box of fags in your haversack, and a great deal of love in your heart.' March is the month to remember God's extraordinary work in our world with simple 'Favourite Things' such as daffodils, leeks, shamrocks, salt, music and even Woodbines – but not on 10 March which is No Smoking Day! Bob Peters

The sun slowly rises……………..

The sun slowly rises on city streets where saints trail and spread God’s light. The sun slowly rises in Glasgow classrooms where folk teach English as a second language to refugees and asylum seekers. The sun slowly rises at islands for world peace and over Iona Abbey. It rises on farms in Palestine where folk plant olive trees and work to grow peace from the ground up. It rises where street pastors hand out bandages and love. It rises in houses of hospitality, in the work of organisations like Church Action on Poverty, in Spirit-filled churches everywhere from Taipei to Orkney, at demos in solidarity with those suffering unjust taxation and benefit cuts. The sun slowly rises at climate marches around the globe. The sun slowly rises at Faslane submarine base where protesters sing and waltz the dance of life and blockade death and pray for the day when all nuclear weapons will be abolished … The sun slowly rises … Feel it on your face and hands and in your heart. Spring is coming.

Neil Paynter (Iona Community)

21 The ancient date for now and the future The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel' (John 12 NIV) It can be no coincidence that the crowds welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem 'took palm branches' to greet their king. The date palm is one of the most ancient of trees and was one of the earliest to be cultivated — archaeologists have found many examples of its existence and, indeed, the Bible mentions them regularly throughout the Old and New Testaments. The palm tree has even been suggested as a possibility for the 'Tree of Life' in the Garden of Eden. Today, there are more than 2,600 species of palm tree, of which only 13 — known as Phoenix — produce edible fruit and qualify to be called ‘true date palms’. Four of these are single trunk trees that can grow to 60 feet high and live for more than 150 years, while the others have their ferns growing from the base of the tree. They grow best in sub-tropical climates such as the Middle East, Pakistan, India, Mexico, California, and the Canary Islands, but you can also grow them in the UK. The Bible tells us that date palms flourished in Israel — 'The righteous man will flourish like the palm' (Psalm 92:12) —and in Deuteronomy 34:3 we are told that Jericho was 'the city of palm trees'. The main route to Jerusalem by road is from Jericho and it was this way that Jesus travelled just before the events of Easter. His journey through Jericho is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke when he gave sight to a blind beggar. It was as Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover festivities and the crowd fulfilled the prophetic words found in Leviticus 23: 40: 'you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God ...'. Clearly, the palm branches outside Jerusalem that John mentions (see above) must have been in easy reach and were either young single trunk trees or those with ferns at the base. Dates (sometimes translated in the Bible as ‘honey’) are one of the seven foods that God promised the Israelites (Deuteronomy 8:8) would be plentiful when they arrived in the Promised Land — the others being, wheat, barley, grape, olive, pomegranate and fig. I have great expectations for Palm Sunday (March 28th), which I believe will still be an important date on the Christian calendar — a date in which the ancient date palm will still have an important part to play in the celebrations! Bob Peters

22 A selection of special days and events in March

22 February – 7 March: Fair Trade Fortnight 1-31 March: Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal (see next page) 1 -7 March: Eating Disorders Awareness Week 1 – 31 March: Ovarian Cancer month 1-6 March: National Carers Week - contact your local care homes! 1 – 7 March: British Pie Week! 1 – 31 March: Brain Tumour Awareness Month 2 March: National Old Stuff Day - getting rid of the old and trying something new. 4 March: World Book Day 8 March: International Women's Day 8 – 14 March: The official UK SPAM Appreciation Week! 10 March: No Smoking Day 14 March: Mothering Sunday 17 March: St Patrick’s Day 18 March: Global Recycling Day 19 March: Comic Relief 20 March: The Spring or Vernal Equinox 21 March: World Poetry Day 26 March: Wear A Hat Day! 28 March: Palm Sunday 29 March – 4 April: World Autism Awareness As you can see from the above list, March is a popular month for awareness and fund raising campaigns, as well Christian celebrations. The list is just a small sam- ple, and you will find online plenty of information for these and other good causes – although you could argue that pies, hats and Spam are not ‘good’ causes, but they can be fun .

For those who love the philosophy of ambiguity, as well as the idiosyncrasies of English: Please enjoy and understand the following: 1. Atheism is a non-prophet organization. 2. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "where's the self- help section?" she said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. 3. What if there were no hypothetical questions? 4. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs? 5. What was the best thing before sliced bread? 6. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

23 The Great Daffodil Appeal is more important than ever! By March throughout the UK, daffodils will be reaching their peak in parks, gardens, and woodlands. In the past, some parts of the UK, Devon for example, daffodils in bloom have been spotted on New Year's Day but as with all flowers they depend on the climate. While daffodils are a popular choice for St David's Day (1 March) and Mothering Sunday (14 March), you can wear a daffodil every day of the month by supporting the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2021 (1 - 31 March) which this year is more important than ever. Marie Curie nurses help more than 40,000 terminally ill people every year and recently this demand has increased enormously because of the pandemic. Marie Curie nurses are working on the 'front line' providing their huge wealth of experience developed over 73 years. The Marie Curie Charity was founded in 1948, the same year that the National Health Service began. Its roots, however, go back to the 1930's when a hospital was opened for 'the radiological treatment of women suffering from cancer and allied diseases.' In 1944 an air raid destroyed the hospital and four years later five members of the hospital team set about rebuilding it as a separate concern from the National Health Service. They also decided to perpetuate the name of Marie Curie, the Polish-born physicist and chemist who was one of the most famous scientists of her time. Marie, working with her husband Prof Pierre Curie, who was also a leading scientist, became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903. Together, the Curies investigated radioactivity and discovered new chemical elements such as polonium and radium. Following Pierre's death in 1906 — he was knocked down by a carriage — Marie continued their work and received a second Nobel Prize in 1911. Their work led to the development of x-rays and during the First World War Marie drove to the front-line in an ambulance equipped with an x-ray machine. She went on to work with The International Red Cross, training medical orderlies and doctors in the new techniques. Sadly, Marie Curie died on 4 July 1934 from leukaemia, caused by exposure to high-energy radiation from her research. Marie Curie nurses are continuing in their namesake's tradition of working on the front-line of the pandemic providing care for the terminally ill. The demand for their work has, like most charities, created a huge drain on their financial resources making the annual Great Daffodil Appeal which began in 1986 more important than ever! Please support Marie Curie nurses by donating or organising fund raising events to help them help not only those dying from the pandemic, but those living with other terminally illnesses that are being overshadowed by Covid. Fund raising resources and information about donating can be found at: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

24 Recipe of the month: Mothering Sunday Buns

Traditionally these buns were made in Bristol the day before Mothering Sunday (14 March) when the Lent fast was relaxed. Share them with your neighbours to brighten up their lockdown.

Ingredients - makes 12 buns — 500g strong white bread flour — 1 tsp salt— 50g caster sugar — 7g sachet instant yeast — 50g unsalted softened butter, diced — 300ml water for the dough plus 2-3 tbsp for the icing — 200g icing sugar and hundreds & thousands

Method Place the flour in a bowl. Add the salt and sugar on one side, the yeast on the other. Add the butter and three-quarters of the water, then turn the mixture round with the fingers of one hand. Add the remaining water a little at a time as required, mixing until it is soft and slightly sticky. Turn out the dough on to an oiled work surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth and no longer sticky. Lightly oil the bowl, return the dough to it and cover with cling film. Leave to rise for at least an hour, until doubled in size. Line two baking trays with baking parchment. Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and fold it inwards repeatedly to knock out the air until the dough is smooth. Divide into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball moving your hand in a circular motion, rotating the ball rapidly. Place them, slightly apart, on the prepared baking trays. Place each tray in a clean plastic bag and leave to prove for about 40 mins, until the rolls have doubled in size. They should just touch each other when they have risen. Heat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C. Bake for 10–12 mins until the buns are golden and sound hollow when tapped underneath. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. For the icing, mix the icing sugar with enough water to give a thick but pourable consistency. Dip each bun into the icing and then into the hundreds and thousands. Bob Peters

25 ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S QUIZ 1 . AMSTERDAM 2. MUSCAT 3. ROME 4. BANGKOK 5. DUBLIN 6. BERN 7. BRATISLAVA 8. SINGAPORE 9. BERLIN 10. SEOUL 11. AMMAN 12. PARIS 13. BUCHAREST 14. NEW DELHI 15. WELLINGTON 16. LIMA 17. KINGSTON 18. COLOMBO 19. BELGRADE 20. BAGHDAD 21. ALGIERS 22 BRUSSELS 23. WARSAW 24. DAMASCUS 25. BRIDGETOWN 26. HANOI 27. MONTEVIDEO 28. MOSCOW 29. KIEV 30. MADRID 31. MANILA 32. QUITO 33. VICTORIA 34. BUENOS AIRES 35. SANTIAGO 36 ATHENS 37. BUDAPEST 38. SOFIA 39. BELFAST 40. OSLO QUESTIONS 13, 34 and 35 were anagrams.

26 THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT PARISH MAGAZINE IS SUNDAY MARCH 21st

It was Palm Sunday, but because of a sore throat, 5 year-old Sammy stayed home from church with a babysitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Sammy inquired as to what they were for. “People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by”, his father responded. “Wouldn't you just know it?” Sammy complained, “the one Sunday I don't go and he shows up.”

PALM SUNDAY MARCH 28th

Thanks to Dave Walker 27

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