St. Luke Formby November Parish Magazine 2020 Price £1 Cheaper by annual subscription

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13 [NIV] Shyira Trus t Registered Charity Number 1118979

Patron: The Rt Revd , Bishop of Hon President: Prof Allan Hobson MBE

Supporting people in North West Rwanda, Africa relieving poverty advancing education preserving and protecting good health

Mothers Union Aim: To support MU members in serving their communities Achieved:  Members supported with bedding and kitchen utensils  Training of 25 MU trainers from all over the Diocese.  Successful Revolving Goat Loan project. Challenges:  To extend the MU support across Kivu diocese  To work through the Gisenyi MU to help the most needy parts of the diocese

Butaka Parish Church

Aim: To provide a church in Butaka

Achieved:  Building completed  Worshipping community in church

Challenges:  Fund windows, doors and flooring

Groupe Scolaire Secondary School

 Continuing to support needy students in Shyira

Primary Schools Aim:  To support school ministry by providing equipment, school materials and evangelistic outreach.

How YOU can help

See our website: http://www.shyiratrust.org.uk

Email us for further information: [email protected]

Donations may be sent to: Shyira Trust, Secretary: Ken Davies 53 Stapleton Road, Formby, Liverpool L37 2YT

Donate online: https://www.give.net/shyiratrust

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shyiratrust

Vicar – Rev. Dr. Matt Davis

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The Vicarage Dear Friends, As I write this, I’ve been Vicar of St Luke’s Church for nearly a month, but everything still feels very new: a new area, new house, new school, new nursery and of course a new church building and congregation too. Add to that the ‘new’ Covid-19 restrictions for Merseyside and life can feel bewildering at times. As I’ve been settling in and getting used to the various changes, I’ve been reminded of Donald Rumsfeld. He was President George W. Bush’s Defence Secretary who famously said: … as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know. Thankfully a lot of useful and important things are beginning to move into the known category as I chat with people and find things out: bin collections are on a Friday; St Luke’s services start at 9.30am and midday on a Sunday. I could have got into a bit of bother if I had forgotten to ask about that second one! But there are so many unknowns over the coming months. What will Christmas be like this year? Will St Luke’s be able to have a Christingle Service? Will we be able to see our loved ones? Will we have to do everything online? What about people with no internet access? How long will this last? And what about all the questions we haven’t even thought to ask yet? I can feel the anxiety increase as I type this! Where do you turn when life is uncertain and confusing? You’ll probably not be surprised to hear that I turn to God and his Word, the Bible. But why do I do that? Well, it’s down to what I know to be true about God. Isaiah 40:28 says this: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. God created everything we can see and everything we can’t. He’s not limited by the world the way we are. His understanding isn’t limited the way ours is. He knows everything about ……………………………...... Editor: Margaret Cooke (e-mail: [email protected]) Illustrator: Joan MacDonald St. Luke's Web Site: http://www.stlukesformby.org.uk St. Luke’s Facebook Page: facebook.com/StLukesChurchFormby

Page 1 everything. And because of all that, the very next verse encourages us: “He gives strength to the weary.” I wonder, do you know this strength? If not, I’d love to tell you more … with every blessing, Matt DATES AND NOTES

PRAYER CHAIN – Please contact Philip Lowe if you know of someone who would appreciate prayer support ([email protected]).

SUNDAY SERVICES – we now have a Communion Service at 9.30 am with strict social distancing and a Zoom meeting for worship at 12 noon – but please sign in by 11.50 if possible. Details are always available on the Saturday bulletin. Please note that you can join in on your phone – again details of how to do so are always included in the Saturday bulletins.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8TH will have the 9.30 Holy Communion service which will be remembrance themed and will incorporate an act of Remembrance within it. There will then be a short outdoor service in the graveyard afterwards (10:50–11:10) with a minute’s silence at 11am. This will allow more people to join, but they will be asked to socially distance with face coverings.

MEMORIAL SERVICE – for those who have lost loved ones during the last 12 months - will be held on Sunday November 15th at 4pm and invitations will be sent to those families who have held funerals at St. Luke’s. Numbers will be limited because of virus restrictions so please let the Vicar know (871439 or email [email protected]) if you wish to attend. This also applies to other people who would like to come to the service.

WHO’S WHO – on Page 12 – please note that the magazine was printed before the APCM took place so there may well be some changes to this page in the December issue.

Joan Rimmer’s Scrapbook Memories of Formby VE Day is still available from Derbyshire’s and Formby Post Office. Price £5

USED POSTAGE STAMPS – please may we remind you that Irene and Alan Powell’s son Graham collects these for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. Please contact Margaret Cooke for their phone number.

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INDEX

Page 3 – photo of Matt’s collation Page 12 – Who’s Who at St. Luke’s Pages 4 and 5 – Roy’s piece – Déjà Vu Page 15 and 16 – Parish Pump News Page 6 - Churches Together Page 17 – October PCC meeting Page 7 – Book Reviews Page 18 – Crossword Page 8 – Nativity Art Competition Page 21 – Crossword Answers Page 9 – Poppy appeal Page 22 and 23 – Holy Days in November Page 10 – God in the Sciences Page 24 – Mouse Makes for children Page 11 – A new memorial stone

Page 2

Our new Vicar, Rev. Dr. Matt Davis, on the occasion of his collation on September 22nd with Rev. Anne Taylor, Vicar of St Peters and Area Dean, Bishop and Archdeacon Pete Spiers. We all wish him well for his ministry among us.

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NOVEMBER – THE MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE

This is the month we remember soldiers and war. So, here is a prayer written by an anonymous confederate soldier in the American Civil War. What he says applies to all of us fighting our own private battles in life.

The Soldier’s Prayer I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for – But everything that I had hoped for, Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men most richly blessed.

Editor: see also Page 9

Page 3 DEJA VU

Some years ago I had a desire to return to the village which over the years has meant a great deal to me. I was in Tamworth Staffs at the time visiting some long lost family members. So whilst there I drove with Barbara to the little village of Dordon some ten miles away along the Watling Street. My mother, elder brother and I had returned from India by sea at the outbreak of war. Dad I never saw again until 1946 when I was taken to the Military Hospital at Dudley and saw a man lying in bed who I was told was my father! So for ten years that village was my home until ‘invalided out’ dad came to Formby, the regimental depot of The Kings Regt where he resumed army life.

So with some trepidation we drove up the long gravel path to our old house. It hadn’t changed in all those years even with its odd name 'Bissmari.' ‘I’m going to knock on the door,’ I said. So before Barbara could say anything I got out, opened the gate and rang the bell. The door was opened by an elderly lady and I gave out my name and prepared reason for knocking. The lady smiled and said ‘Welcome back Roy.’ It was the same Mrs Brown from whom mother had rented the house. So cups of tea and a good look round. Then I asked her who was the Vicar now. The Vicarage was just over the wall at the back of the house with its orchard just to one side. Don Wrapson, she said. I nearly choked on my tea, given that I had been with Don at St Aidan's theological college. There he is on the college photo of 1962 - the year I was ordained. I did no more than do what I had done as a kid and jumped the garden wall into the vicarage back garden. There was Don washing up at the kitchen window. I knocked on the window and he almost dropped the plate he was wiping! There was the usual, ‘what the heck’ and we were able to go in and it was ‘catch up’ time! Mrs Brown (the gravel path was Brown’s Lane!) was delighted at the result of my visit. They say that you can never step into the same river twice. Well, I did that day.

There is another reason why my seeing Don again was important to me for his lovely village church of St Leonard’s was where my faith was born. I was able to tell Don my story about one of his predecessors. When we came to Dordon the elderly vicar was the Rev E. H. Dight. As a family at that time we didn’t have any real church connections. Army families have difficulty putting down roots. No dad at home and with Mum catching the coach for Birmingham, working on supplies for munitions workers five days a week, and big brother evacuated, I was foot loose and fancy free. So I got up to what lads get up to in the countryside and became good at scrumping. That is until one day I hopped over the wall and went scrumping in the vicarage orchard. It was there that the vicar caught me and instead of giving me the rounds of the orchard he told me to put all the apples back on the ground, went inside the vicarage and came back with a large brown paper bag into which he put ripe ones from the trees. ‘Better than all those maggoty ones on the ground,’ he said. He then led me to the vicarage gate, patted me on the head and told me to take them to my mother with his compliments. You can guess what mother said! Then on the next Sunday morning there was a knock at the front door and there was the vicar who asked if he could take me to Sunday School.

So early in 1946, with Dad back with us, we moved to Formby and his new role in the regiment. The vicar had signed and given me a prayer book in 1941 and on growing up, such was his

Page 4 friendship that I always wanted to be like him. And in the fullness of time I did just that! I have that small Prayer Book in front of me now as I write and I carried it in my pocket at ordination and it was with me during the time at Durham and St Aidan’s. So I have always maintained that faith is caught not taught! The teaching comes later. Thank you Edward Dight and Don whose death I read about in the College Old Boys’ Magazine recently and which has saddened me. And so I ruminate and think of Annie Lennox’s song, ‘Into the West,’ sung during the titles at the end of The Lord of the Rings, with its lines, ‘White shores are calling. You and I will meet again’.

Revd Roy Baker

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Shyira Trust Registered Charity Number 1118979 Patron: The Rt. Revd Paul Bayes, . Honorary President: Prof Clifford Allan Hobson MBE

Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Trust will be held Tuesday 3rd November, commencing at 7:30pm. The meeting will be held online, due to the current coronavirus restrictions.

For Zoom log-in details – please see email from Ken Davis and the bulletin.

If you are a member, you should have received the agenda and minutes of last year’s AGM by email – or by post if you do not have internet access.

The annual subscription of £5.00 normally becomes due at the AGM. In view of the current situation, this has been deferred until the next regular AGM, when £10 will be requested. If any member has already paid, or pays before the next AGM, the fees requested next time will be adjusted accordingly.

Please note – we urgently need a member of St. Luke’s to replace a retiring trustee. If you think you might be able to consider this role, please contact Ken Davies. There are usually fewer Trust meetings than PCC meetings and the role of an ordinary trustee is not particularly onerous.

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SMILE LINES – WITH A CERTAIN ELECTION IN MIND:-

A local council official said that he ran for office again because he thought his possible opponent, if successful, might be even more ineffective than he was.

Admirer to political candidate: “Great speech, sir! I really like the straightforward way you dodged those issues.”

OBSERVATIONS ON DAILY LIFE

Political campaign: a war in which everybody shoots from the lip. - Anon

A clear conscience is the sign of a bad memory. – Mark Twain Page 5 CHURCHES TOGETHER IN FORMBY, ALTCAR AND HIGHTOWN

Nothing prepared me for what to expect when I first saw the dramatisation of the Passion and Resurrection story in the grounds of Formby Pool, organized by Churches Together in Formby, Altcar and Hightown (CTiFAH), eighteen months ago, soon after our move to Formby. I had previously experienced the powerful impact of dramatising the Easter story, in a community café in the middle of a housing estate, with actors who attended the café and who didn’t go to church. But what I saw in Formby was on a different scale: a powerful retelling on a grand scale with lavish costumes, actors from local churches and, key for me, taking place in the public space and not inside church. So this was my introduction to CTiFAH and I was curious to find out more. Little did I expect a call to be its ‘Chair’ for 2020/21.

It was with some apprehension that I chaired my first meeting in a time of Covid restrictions and a dawning recognition that everything would have to be different from previous years. We needed a new imagination to perceive new possibilities to be creative working together as local churches. Our meetings now take place in digital space including our monthly prayer meeting where we pray for our community and local churches. We still hope to work with local shops being creative with advent themed shop windows again this year. It is unlikely we can work with local schools for the outdoor dramatisation of the Christmas story, Open the Book, and Transforming Lives for Good this year but we are exploring the possibility of an outdoor carol concert or online nativity. Perhaps our ecumenical fellowship during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January will take place outdoors...

What is God calling CTiFAH to in this season of Covid-19, with all its obstacles and restrictions and at a time when many have seen loss of income along with a dramatic rise in unemployment? Many more families will have to claim Universal Credit and will need support from food banks especially during the school holidays when free school meals are not available. How can we step into what God wants us to do, listening to the wind of the Spirit and partnering with God for releasing his Kingdom in Formby? In a time when we have witnessed a renewed commitment to our communities across the nation I am discerning an opportunity to work together for the flourishing of our communities with the new CTiFAH ‘Cook and Eat’ project, which will be piloted in the October half term. It aims to work in partnership with churches, schools (initially Redgate Primary School) and community stakeholders to help support families who may experience food insecurity and holiday hunger in Formby. Specifically we will provide and deliver ingredients and recipe cards to make a hot meal for up to 20 families where children are entitled to free school meals or who are in need.

And finally a prayer for CTiFAH - we thank you for the beauty of our diverse group of churches united around the presence of Christ. Help us to grow in love for God, each other, our communities and the world.

Geraldine Foster – Chair of Churches Together in Formby, Altcar and Hightown

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The Church is the only society in the world that never loses any of its members, even by death. – John Blanchard

Page 6 BOOK REVIEWS

IN THE SHADOW OF THE SHAHS – FINDING UNEXPECTED GRACE

BY FARIFTEH V. ROBB, LION HUDSON, £9.99

Have you ever wondered what it is like to survive a revolution? To be a religious convert, adopting a different nationality and starting afresh in a new discipline? To fall deeply in love, despite some major obstacles to your growing relationship? All of these things, and more, happened to Farifteh Robb. This is the fascinating and moving story of a woman’s journey between two cultures – her Persian Muslim heritage and her Christian life in Scotland. It describes the challenges she faced in an Iran torn apart by political turmoil, and in her new life in the UK. Written with passion, candid reflection, and a gentle wit, hers is the story of a life lived in faith in a multicultural world.

WHERE DO I COME FROM?

BY BOB HARTMAN, LION CHILDREN, £7.99

This would good for children. It will help them understand “how you are created by God through the clever set of instructions, DNA, and how this connects you with the big family of living things through God's imaginative and creative plan.” The children will learn about the passing on of DNA, starting from them, back to the beginning of God's creation of the universe. They will be encouraged to discover and wonder at their place in the world, and reflect on the responsibility of looking after God's creation.

WHAT GOOD IS GOD? – CRISES, FAITH AND RESILIENCE

BY ROGER ABBOTT AND ROBERT WHITE FRS, MONARCH, £9.99

The world’s natural disasters are increasingly impacting upon our lives. This book explores how we might respond practically and faithfully to such tragedies. The perspectives of survivors, responders, and academics are brought together, providing a multi-layered and compassionate examination of a difficult subject. Making sense of earthquakes, tsunamis, and pandemics, is not easy, but readers may find this book an inspiring resource for thought, prayer, and action. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

HUMOROUS QUOTE

He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts; for support rather than illumination. - Andrew Lang Page 7 ST LUKE’S SCHOOL NATIVITY ART COMPETITION 2020

Age categories 4 years and under 5 – 7 years 8 – 11 years To pupils at St Luke’s School – You can either draw/colour/paint your own picture (A4 size) of a scene from the Nativity (birth of Jesus) or you can colour in the drawing provided – available at school from early November. Your completed picture (with your name, age, year/class group CLEARLY written on the back) should be handed in to your teacher on/by Friday 27th November. The winner in each age category will receive a small gift voucher for purchase in a local store, presented in church or school by senior teachers at the end of term. In addition, the overall winner will receive the Barbara Mossop Award for 2020. This will be the fifth presentation of The Barbara Mossop Award – in memory of Barbara Mossop, a local accomplished artist and St Luke’s church member, who judged the competition for many years before her passing in 2015. Good luck!

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LORD, PROP US UP!

There is a story of an old farmer who always prayed the same prayer at his church meeting. 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side’. After hearing this many times, his minister asked him one day quite what he meant. The famer replied: “Well, it's like this... I’ve got an old barn out in one of my fields. It's been there a long time, and gone through a lot of storms. One day a few years ago I noticed that it was leaning to one side a bit. So, I went and got some poles and propped it up on its leaning side, so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time, and seen plenty of storms in life. I was still standing, but I was also leaning a bit. So, I decided to ask the Lord to prop me up, too, on my leaning side. Our ‘leaning side’ is where we are weakest in ourselves. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, bitterness, bleakness in life. Then we too need to pray for God to prop us up, especially on that leaning side. He wants us to stand tall and free, in Him.

Page 8 POPPY APPEAL 2020

Look out for the Poppy Appeal again this year, but not so much via street collections. Instead, the Royal British Legion will focus on contactless donations, as a safer way forward during the pandemic.

One such method will be ‘point of sale donations’. This means that when you shop at your supermarket and reach the till or online, you may be invited to round up your total to the nearest pound to help the Poppy Appeal.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: “The Poppy Appeal 2020 is very much still going ahead”, but that “the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff and members is paramount.

This means that collectors who fall into the vulnerable category have been advised “not to take part in activity on behalf of the Poppy Appeal that would expose them to any additional risks while coronavirus is still present.”

And yet the need is still huge: “Members of the Armed Forces Community are suffering significant hardship as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and we at the Royal British Legion will do everything we possibly can to support them.”

80 YEARS ON, WE STILL NEED COURAGE AND ENDURANCE

This year is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – when the horrors of the Luftwaffe bombs were heavy over British skies. On this Remembrance Day we can only imagine the terror of living in Coventry, in Liverpool, in London during those months, 80 years ago. It must have seemed like the beginning of the end of the world.

It is a good time to stop and thank God that in the end, evil did not prevail. Hitler did not win the battle to dominate Europe. His expected ‘rule of a 1000 years’ lasted a mere 12 years (1933 to 1945). And we can thank God for the courage and endurance of our fathers and grandfathers, our mothers and grandmothers, in the midst of such towering darkness and destruction.

Sadly, 80 years on, the world is still at war. Man’s greed, arrogance and desire for domination have not gone away. There are still battles to be fought for our land, major problems to be solved. Coronavirus, economic uncertainty, terrorism, climate warming… the threats are different from Hitler, but our need for courage, endurance and perseverance is the same.

It is a good time to pray for our nation and ourselves, to turn to God in repentance and in faith, to ‘walk more nearly’ and ‘follow Him more clearly’. It is a good time to be ready to serve our God and serve our neighbour in whatever ways lie open before us.

Revd. John Crew (on the Parish Pump website)

Page 9 GOD OF THE MOUNTAINS, GOD OF THE VALLEYS

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone ... The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment… Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Job 38:4–7, 14, 16 (NIV)

These verses from the biblical book of Job focus on the Earth, from the top of the highest mountains to the deepest valleys of the sea floor. Job used to have a very comfortable life, but lost everything: health, children, and much of his property. He can see no obvious reason for this terrible turn of events, so he demands an answer from God, asking “What have I done to you…? Why have you made me your target?”

There is no direct reply to Job’s question, but instead a long conversation with his friends who assume (wrongly) that he must be being punished for doing something very bad. When God finally speaks, He draws Job’s attention to his surroundings. The sun, moon and stars, the immensity of land and sea, the creatures that inhabit them, and the processes that produce weather are a wonderful display of God’s creative power. God is the origin and sustainer of all these things, and they are far beyond anything humankind could produce, fully understand or imagine – even today.

The things we do know about the processes described in Job can help us appreciate how marvellous they are. Mountains are produced by the movement of the Earth’s rocky crust over great periods of time. Erosion by weathering or glaciers then grinds down those rocks to produce the mineral component of soil.

Considering the wider perspective of creation can help restore our sense of who we are, who God is, and where we fit into His purposes. God speaks to Job in the midst of his suffering, lifting his eyes to the power and creativity of his Maker. Only after this theology lesson are Job’s practical needs addressed. What will life be like for us over the coming months? A constant check on our own thinking – reminding ourselves of the bigger picture of God’s plans and purposes – might be just what we need to help us keep going.

This article drew very directly on the writing of Prof Bob White in New Daylight (BRF, Sept- Dec 2020), and the input of a Bible study group based in Cambridge.

This series called “God of the Sciences” is written by Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith.

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QUOTE FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY

The greatest saints have always shown the perfect combination of nearness to our Lord on the one hand, and a deep sense of their own unworthiness and weakness on the other. – Abbé de Tourville

Page 10 MEMORIAL STONE TO RECOGNISE LIVERPOOL’S FIRST BLACK RESIDENT

The diverse heritage of Liverpool was recognised by the installation of a memorial stone at Liverpool Parish Church on Saturday 3 October, commemorating the first recorded black resident of the City.

Historian Laurence Westgaph has traced the presence of a black community in Liverpool over the centuries, and the first recorded resident has been identified as Abell, an enslaved African, who was buried in the churchyard of Our Lady and St Nicholas on 1 October 1717.

A memorial stone was unveiled by Cllr Anna Rothery, the first black Lord Mayor of Liverpool, who said, “Long before the Liverpool landmarks, the famous buildings and the icons, black people were playing a role in the development of our city, a role which continues to this day.”

As well as highlighting the contribution that the black community has made to the City, the unveiling also drew attention to the societal collusion with the slave trade, which affected Liverpool Parish Church and all institutions in the 18th Century. The Rector of Liverpool, the Revd Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, said: “We cannot hide from our past, and there is no institution from this era of our history which is free from the taint of this horrific trade.

We cannot give justice to Abell and other enslaved Africans, but we can give them the dignity of naming them when we can, and we can give them status within the history of our city.”

Another speaker at the unveiling was Tracey Gore, who was appointed by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, as Chair of the city’s own Race Equality Taskforce. The council and its partners have also launched a project to ensure city streets named after affluent slavers were to be given special plaques to explain their links to the trade.

Liverpool historian Laurence Westgaph said: “This gesture by St Nicholas’ Church records in stone the presence of black people in this town for more than 300 years and at a time when Liverpool’s population was less than 10,000 people.

"Since then there has been a black presence in this great city, demonstrating that people of African descent have been resident and contributing to Liverpool life since the beginnings of the town’s rise from a struggling seaport to the second city of the British Empire and beyond.”

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SMILE LINES - with a certain election in mind

A candidate came home in the small hours and gave his wife the wonderful news: “Darling, I’ve been elected!” She was delighted. “Honestly?” she demanded. He laughed in an embarrassed sort of way. “Oh, why bring that up?”

A local council official said that he ran for office again because he thought his possible opponent, if successful, might be even more ineffective than he was.

Page 11 WHO’S WHO

Vicar Rev. Dr. Matt Davis

Readers Prof Allan Hobson Mrs Anne Dixon Mrs Jean Watts Readers emeritus Mr Colin Trollope Mr Chris Mulford

Churchwardens Mr Peter Griffin Mrs Andrea Brown Assistant Warden Mr Steve Ginn Deputy Churchwardens Mrs Ann Wood Mr John McGibbon

Treasurer Mr Hugh Dixon Deputy Treasurer Mrs Gwyneth Croft

PCC Secretary Mrs Christine Payne Electoral Roll Officer Mrs Jean Cox

Deanery Synod Representatives Mr James Patterson Mrs Chris Payne Mr Andrew Cox

Weekly Envelope Scheme Mrs Rachel Patterson and Gift Aid Legacy Officer Mr John McGibbon

Parish Hall Secretary Mrs Gwyneth Croft Meeting Room Secretary Mr Steve Ginn

Newsletter Editor Mrs Irene Powell

Magazine Editor Mrs Margaret Cooke (Contributions to Margaret by 10th of the month please by e-mail if possible – see Page 1) Assistant Editor Mr Ken Davies Magazine Distribution Mr Colin Cooke Magazine Adverts Mrs Margaret Cooke

Church and Churchyard Maintenance Mr Alan Worthington

Safeguarding Officer Mrs Joyce Eddlestone Mr Ken Davies

Health & Safety Officer please see wardens

Woodland Workshop Co-ordinator Mr Peter Griffin

Scripture Union Bible Notes Mrs Rhona Heron and Alpha organiser

Cathedral Representative Mrs Elizabeth Lowe

Church Mission Society and Mrs June McGibbon Mid-Africa Mission

Children’s Society Boxes Mrs Rachel Patterson

Page 12

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Page 13

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Page 14

NEWS ITEMS

REFUGEE BAKERS FEED PEOPLE IN NEED FROM CHURCH KITCHEN

A bakery set up in a church kitchen to train refugee women in bread-making skills is now supplying its local food bank with more than 200 loaves a week following the coronavirus lockdown.

Proof Bakery in Coventry, founded two years ago in conjunction with the Church Urban Fund, is sending 250 loaves a week to Coventry Food Bank, paid for by regular customers – and increasingly donors from as far afield as Scotland and Singapore.

The bakery, specialising in sourdough but teaching a range of baking skills, meets in St Catherine’s Church in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry. So far 11 refugee women have graduated from the bakery’s training programme, with three currently employed at the bakery. Two of its bakers are refugees from the conflict in Syria.

The bakery is aiming for 500 donated loaves a week for the food bank and people in need. “We are expecting demand to keep increasing as more people lose employment. And with the bakery restarting its training programme for refugees this month, there is no better time to support it.”

CHURCHES REPORT RISING FOOD BANK DEMAND AS A RESULT OF PANDEMIC

Nearly 100,000 households sought food aid from the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks for the first time earlier this year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Demand is surging further this autumn, as a result of the economic fallout from the virus.

The research comes after food banks run or supported by Church of England churches reported rocketing demand during lockdown with some opening food banks for the first time while some opened new food banks after lockdown.

Just two examples:

Hackney Church in East London was distributing parcels with enough food for 1,000 meals a week at start of lockdown. This figure rose to 8,000 and 9,000 meals a week in June, after the church opened a second food bank. It has since served 120,000 meals.

In Co. Durham, the Shildon Alive food bank, founded by St John’s Church, has seen demand surge by 500 percent during lockdown.

UK NEEDS A NEW SPECIAL ENVOY FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

Following Rehman Chishti’s recent resignation as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Open Doors, who work with the Persecuted Church, have called for another Special Envoy to be appointed as quickly as possible, “to continue this important work”.

It was in September that Rehman Chishti MP resigned his position. He had been a “tireless advocate”, said Open Doors, on the important issue of freedom of religion or belief, and during his time, 17 of the 22 Truro Report recommendations had been progressed or implemented.

The Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review was produced in 2019 for the UK Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians.

Page 15 It examined how the UK Government was responding to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world, and what it could do.

Open Doors urges that it is vital that a new Special Envoy is appointed soon. Izzy, from the Open Doors Advocacy team, says: “As persecution has been exacerbated as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is vital that the baton is picked up as rapidly as possible and the post is fully resourced to ensure maximum effectiveness.

“It would be great if a new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief were already up to speed on this vital task by the time of the Open Doors World Watch List launch event on Wednesday 13th January 2021 – and making a difference for those made so vulnerable to persecution by the failure to uphold freedom of religion or belief.”

EGYPT TOPS LIST AS 3.7 MILLION SCRIPTURES GIVEN TO CHILDREN LAST YEAR

Bible Society teams worldwide provided almost 3.7 million Scripture items for children last year. More than 1.1 million children’s Scriptures were distributed in Egypt alone. This is the largest number for one nation, in a place where ministry with young people is a top priority.

Through festivals, competitions and quizzes, the Bible Society of Egypt engages with hundreds of thousands of children each year.

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with acknowledgment to the Oldie magazine

Page 16 REPORT ON THE PCC ZOOM MEETING OF 8TH OCTOBER 2020

1 The meeting opened with prayer.

2 A letter of thanks was sent to Canon Anne Taylor for all her help during our interregnum. A letter was received from Amazon Smile which describes a scheme run by Amazon which will donate to any nominated charity at no cost to the nominee. It was felt that St. Luke’s Church could benefit from this scheme.

3 Reverend Dr. Matt Davis thanked everyone for the warm welcome he has received and for the work done by everyone necessary for the smooth running of the church and in particular, Peter Griffin and Steve Ginn. He also thanked all those involved in preparing the Vicarage for him and his family.

4 Parish Hall Update – we have had one prospective full time hirer, and we continue to receive ad hoc enquiries for hire of the hall.

5 The Annual Parochial Church Meeting which was originally planned to take place on the 26th October at Range School, due to the restrictions placed on us by Covid, will now be a Zoom meeting starting at 7.30. We have four vacancies on the Parochial Church Council, and those who wish to put themselves forward for election, can obtain the necessary forms from Chris Payne and Andrew Cox. James Patterson and Andrew Cox will stand as proposer and seconder.

6 Finances – Due to the absence of our normal fund raising activities, by the end of the year, we will probably be showing a deficit of £22,000. The Tea Room take-away which initially sought to raise £700-£800, was a resounding success - raising £2000! Thanks are due to all those who contributed in any way

7 Diversity Group – Maggie Elkington has agreed to join a new Deanery committee which will be looking at how churches reflect diversity, and at ways of improving it through the Diocese. Maggie reported that the food from the Harvest Festival was gratefully received by the Soup Kitchen and reminded everyone that donations of food are always needed.

8 Shyira Trust – Hugh Dixon is resigning as Treasurer of the Trust after its AGM on the 3rd November. Ken Davies asked for a volunteer to take over the role of trustee – this person does not have to be a PCC member. The post will be advertised in the Bulletin.

9 Churches Together – During Half term pupils at Redgate School who normally receive free school dinners, will be offered a box which contains all the elements necessary to make a meal.

10 Nativity Art Competition – The prize money of £40 (ten pounds for the winner of each age group with a further ten pounds for the overall winner), was funded by the PCC Last year, but due to church finances will now be financed by individual members of the PCC .

11 The meeting closed with prayer.

Date of Annual Parochial Church Meeting by Zoom – Monday 26th October 2020 at 7.30 pm

Date of next meeting of the PCC by Zoom – Tuesday 10th November 2020

Page 17 CROSSWORD

Across 1 ‘The Lord Jesus... took bread, and when He had given — , he broke it’ (1 Corinthians 11:24) (6) 4 ‘He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His — over me is love’ (Song of Songs 2:4) (6) 8 Surrey town that hosts the National Christian Resources Exhibition (5) 9 Also known as Abednego (Daniel 1:7) (7) 10 Liken (Isaiah 40:18) (7) 11 A son of Etam, descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:3) (5) 12 A part of the temple where the blood of a young bull was to be smeared (Ezekiel 45:19) (9) 17 ‘They make many promises, take false — and make agreements’ (Hosea 10:4) (5) 19 Roman province to which Paul returned after evangelizing it on his first missionary journey (Acts 16:6) (7) 21 Material used to make baby Moses’ basket (Exodus 2:3) (7) 22 ‘And feeble as — , in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail’ (5) 23 ‘The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep — to his voice’ (John10:3) (6) 24 Stalk carrying the sponge of wine vinegar given to Christ on the cross (John 19:29) (6)

Down 1 Elijah dug one round the altar he built on Mount Carmel and filled it with water (1 Kings 18:32) (6) 2 ‘I am not — of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16) (7) 3 Buddhist term relating to belief in reincarnation (5) 5 Damascus disciple who, at God’s command, restored the sight of the blinded Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:12) (7) 6 and 16 Horses: their sound (Jeremiah 50:11) (5) and their gait (Joel 2:4) (6) 7 A three (anag.) (6) 9 Athenian council addressed memorably by Paul (Acts 17:22) (9) 13 Abide by (Galatians 3:5) (7) 14 Persian princes (Daniel 3:2) (7) 15 Force (Galatians 6:12) (6) 16 See 6 Down (6) 18 Paste (anag.) (5) 20 How the cedars of Lebanon are described (Isaiah 2:13) (5)

Page 18

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Page 20 CROSSWORD ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1, Thanks. 4, Banner. 8, Esher. 9, Azariah. 10, Compare. 11, Ishma. 12, Doorposts. 17, Oaths. 19, Galatia. 21, Papyrus. 22, Frail. 23, Listen. 24, Hyssop.

DOWN: 1, Trench. 2, Ashamed. 3, Karma. 5, Ananias. 6, Neigh. 7, Reheat. 9, Areopagus. 13, Observe. 14, Satraps. 15, Compel. 16, Gallop. 18, Tapes. 20, Lofty.

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SMILE LINES

Family tree - At a drinks party at a wealthy golf club, the conversation turned to the subject of ancestry. "Of course, we trace our family back to coming over with William the Conqueror,” observed one lady with satisfaction. She turned to a second woman, who was new to the club, and asked, "What about you dear? Can you go back very far?”

"Not very far,” came the reply. “You see, all the early family records were lost in the Flood."

Don’t worry - A little boy was told that he should try and be good, and that he could ask God for help with this. So he prayed: “Lord, please make me good, if you can. But if you can’t, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

Page 21 HOLY DAYS IN NOVEMBER

18TH NOVEMBER: ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY

Here is a saint for any young person who has a generous heart and a desire to please God, but who gets rather badly used by adults who should know better. Elizabeth was born in 1207, a princess in the kingdom of Hungary. When she was four, she was sent to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in central Germany, to be betrothed to Louis IV. At 14 she was married to Louis, and in 1223, when she was 16, some Franciscan friars arrived at the court. Elizabeth was inspired by them, and she became known for her many acts of charity. When flood, famine and plague hit Thuringia in 1226, Elizabeth distributed alms to the starving, and personally nursed many of the ill. Elizabeth is best known for the miracle of the roses. She was taking bread to the poor one day when she met her husband out on a hunting party. The gentry were suspicious that she was stealing treasure from the castle, and so her husband asked her to reveal what was hidden under her cloak. Her cloak fell open, and a vision of white and red roses could be seen, which proved to her husband that God’s protecting hand was over his wife. Hers was the first of many miracles that associate Christian saints with roses. So far, so good, but then Konrad von Marburg, a priest and later inquisitor, was appointed Elizabeth’s confessor, and began to gain considerable influence over her. When in 1227 Louis was sent off to join the Sixth Crusade, Konrad’s power over Elizabeth grew. Then in September of that year, news came that Louis had died of a fever in Italy, just a few weeks before the birth of another child. Elizabeth reportedly said: ‘He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today.’ Certainly Elizabeth’s world changed. She left the court and moved to Marburg. By now she had made solemn vows to Konrad, similar to those of a nun, promising him total obedience. He then treated her very harshly, setting severe restrictions on what she could eat, ordering physical beatings, and sending her three children away. Elizabeth used her dowry money to build another hospital, this time at Marburg, and to personally care for the poor and sick. But not for long. Worn down by the harshness of Konrad’s regime over her, and exposed to the many diseases of the poor, she died in 1231, aged only 24. But she left behind many poor people who loved her, and who owed their lives to her.

19TH NOVEMBER: HILDA - ABBESS OF WHITBY

Hilda played a key role in the early English Christian church, and she may even have been the first to encourage the writing of Christian poetry. She was born a princess, into the Deiran (Northumbrian) dynasty, and her sister became Queen of the East Angles, with whom the Deiran had connections. In those days East Anglia had close ties with the Gallic Church, and because of her sister, Hilda came under that influence. She was actually on her way

Page 22 to take her monastic vows near Paris when the Bishop of Lindisfarne, Aidan, called her back to Northumbria. Back home, she went into seclusion for a time, before being sent to be abbess of a religious house in Hartlepool in 649. Eight years later, Hilda felt moved to establish a religious community at Streasnaeshalch (later renamed Whitby). Her community was a royal establishment, a double monastery (both men and women) and became famous for its learning, with even five bishops trained there. Whitby was also, of course, the venue for the famous Synod of Whitby in 664. With Hilda acting as hostess, the Synod met to decide upon the date of Easter. The issue at stake was greater than that, though, for the decision would sway the Church in Britain to adopt either the Celtic or Roman traditions. Although Hilda defended the Celtic church customs, she accepted with grace the decision of the Synod to accept the Roman date for Easter, and she then worked to unite the Church throughout the land.

10TH NOVEMBER: JUSTUS LEADING THE CHURCH IN TROUBLED TIMES

Does this sound familiar? An Archbishop of Canterbury tries to bring unity and calm to a Church split down the middle over seemingly irreconcilable differences, and all the while to promote the Gospel to the wider non-Christian society, in the face of widespread ignorance and even hostility towards Christianity. This isn’t Justin Welby, though. It was Justus, a 7th century Archbishop of Canterbury. Like Justin Welby, he had a passion for mission – he began as one of the Roman missionaries sent in 601 by Pope Gregory the Great – to reinforce Augustine. Once in England, he was quickly put to work – becoming the first ever Bishop of Rochester, in 604. It was then that he joined with other church leaders to urge the Irish and British (Celtic) Christians to repair the great church divide of the time – to conform their customs to those of Rome. (They were largely ignored.) In 616 things got worse. There was a pagan reaction in Kent and Essex, and without any support from the pagan King Edbald, Justus and Mellitus knew it was time to get out – quick. They escaped to France, and the whole English mission seemed in peril. Then – an unexpected breakthrough occurred – the king was converted. So back came Justus, to become Archbishop of Canterbury in 624. Pope Boniface V had faith in his ability and courage – he bestowed on him both the pallium and the power to consecrate bishops in England. When Justus died in 627, he was buried at St Augustine’s monastery. Then, in the 11th century, Justus was moved to a site in Canterbury Cathedral, behind the high altar.

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SMILE LINES

Exam howlers – explanations of foreign language phrases Honi soit qui mal y pense – he may be honest who thinks badly. Hors de combat – war horse. Coup de grace –lawnmower Joie de vivre - whisky Hors d’oeuvre – out of work Volte-face – made a horrible face Sotto voce – in a drunken voice Page 23

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