Inside this issue: Flying High! - a Story to tell A Musical Biography Aquitaine@ Prayer 2012 Ste. Nathalène revealed!
Cooking in February
St Avit Riberac Report from the Week of Christian
Unity Pontours
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine is part of the Church of England Diocese in Europe, working in partnership with The Intercontinental Church Society, in ministry to people who speak English. It covers Gironde, Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne.
CHURCH SERVICES, FEBRUARY 2012 (see Around the Chaplaincy for location details)
SUNDAY 05 FEBRUARY 10.30 Holy Communion Bordeaux 10.30 Morning Worship Limeuil 10.30 Service of the Word Bertric Burée 11.00 Holy Communion Ste. Nathalène 11.00 Holy Communion Doudrac 11.00 Family Worship Negrondes 16.00 Evensong Bertric Burée
TUESDAY 07 FEBRUARY Limeuil 10.30 Memorial Service for Colin Pratt Monteton
WEDNESDAY 08 FEBRUARY TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 11.00 Holy Communion Bertric Burée 11.30 Holy Communion Envals
SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY 10.30 Morning Prayer Monteton 10.30 Holy Communion Bordeaux 10.30 Holy Communion Limeuil 10.30 All Age Worship Bertric Burée 10.30 Holy Communion Bertric Burée 10.30 Morning Worship Limeuil 10.30 Morning Prayer Bordeaux 10.30 Holy Communion Chancelade 10.30 Holy Communion Dondas 10.30 Prayer & Praise Monteton 11.00 Service of the Word Ste. Nathalène
WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 10.30 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Limeuil 11.00 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Bertric Burée 18.30 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Doudrac 18.30 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Bordeaux
SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 10.30 Holy Communion Monteton 10.30 Holy Communion Bordeaux 10.30 Holy Communion Limeuil 10.30 Holy Communion Bertric Burée Doudrac TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 11.00 Holy Communion Negrondes
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 2 Clerical Here we now stand near the place of baptism. From darkness to light Corner Help us, who are marked with the cross, to share the Lord’s death and resurrection.
Cebruary is not most people’s favourite month in this Here we turn from Christ’s birth to his passion. Fpart of the world. The days are short and the weather Help us, for whom Lent is near, to enter deeply into is often unpleasant. We have a recession to cope with as the Easter mystery. well and many of us may be finding things difficult. Here we bless one another in your name. The joy of Christmas is behind us – and what joy there Help us, who now go in peace, to shine with your light was in seeing so many people at our services and events in the world. Thanks be to God! Amen. during Advent and Christmas. Thanks must go to all the singers, musicians, worship leaders, church wardens, We have the Easter hope inside us – we are children flower arrangers, compilers of service sheets, cooks, of the light – in the dark days of February let us never mulled wine preparers and all who helped in any way. forget that. Happy New Year! Candlemas falls on February 2nd and marks the official Liz end to the Christmas season. It is the day when we remember Jesus being taken to the temple. Each Jewish VVVVVVV firstborn son was dedicated to God’s service. While they were there they met Simeon and Anna. They had been waiting all their lives in patient hope for the coming of the Messiah and when they saw the young Jesus they From your Editor knew their wait had been rewarded. rather belated Happy New There is a lovely Candlemas service which involves, as A Year to you and may I also take the name suggests, the lighting of candles. As well as this opportunity to thank so many acknowledging the end of Christmas it also marks a of you who have complimented me turning point where we begin to look towards Lent and on the newsletter. Your comments Easter. are very much appreciated.
I would like to quote some of the liturgy from the very My thanks must go though to those of you who so end of that service as I find it helps me to focus beyond willingly send me contributions - without them there the dark days towards the light of Easter. During the last would be no ‘Spreading the Word’! I’m so pleased we hymn, the candles are relit and the ministers process to have such a wide variety of items and so do please keep the font and everyone turns to face them. sending them. They may not appear immediately - but I The minister says: never throw anything away! Father, here we bring to an end our celebration of the Saviour’s birth. Hoping you enjoy this issue too. All: Help us, in whom he has been born to live his life Gill that has no end.
Here we have offered the Church’s sacrifice of praise. Help us, who have received the bread of life, to be thankful for your gift.
Here we have rejoiced with faithful Simeon and Anna. Help us, who have found the Lord in his temple, to trust in your eternal promises.
Here we have greeted the Light of the world. Help us, who now extinguish these candles, never to forsake the light of Christ. (All extinguish their candles)
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 3 already had his eye on several other areas where he felt Obituary the church needed to make its presence known. Colin Pratt 1948-2011 The carol service at Doudrac on Tuesday evening was organised by Colin and we missed his presence there dreadfully. Colin has been involved with Doudrac since its very early days and there seemed, despite the church This is a transcript of the being full, to be an empty space. But I thought as I euolgy the Rev Bramwell heard the choir sing the words to ‘The Infant King’ that Bearcroft gave at Colin’s it was appropriate that we should not have cancelled the funeral. service. For in that Christmas carol we hear the words... he temperature Sing lullaby outside was a T Hush, do not stir the infant King sweltering 32 degrees on Dreaming of Easter the day I received my first e-mail from Colin regarding Gladsome morning this year’s Carol Services. It was August. For those of us Conquering death who worked with Colin this was nothing new. He was Its bondage breaking everything I am not, organised, efficient and meticulous but he knew this about me and was prepared to work And, if we take time to think about it, there in the with what he had. I loved him for it. manger is the Saviour of The World. The story does not end there. For there in the manger is the One who will I knew without a moment’s hesitation that if I turned up conquer death. And the truth of the matter is we can to Doudrac or to any other church where he was involved dress Christmas up any way we like but if we lose the that everything would be organised to perfection. I reason for the birth of that baby in the manger then knew as well, that if I asked him to preach at one of the Christmas can be just a hollow show. services where I was celebrating Holy Communion that he would prepare and deliver a challenging, inspiring Colin’s faith that Christ was born, that Christ was truly and well-argued sermon. He would never cut corners. God and truly man, that he was crucified, dead and buried and that he rose again on the third day was behind Colin had strong opinions and sometimes a strong everything he did. That was what made him what he dislike for certain types of hymns. He was not above was. That was what drove him. And Colin believed in telling me that my choice of hymn for the forthcoming Easter morning. He believed that Jesus’ resurrection Sunday was not, to his way of thinking, suitable. His meant the conquering of death and the breaking of the e-mail confirmation of receipt of my hymn choices bonds of death. would often contain comments such as, ‘Do you really want that melodramatic drivel?’ Or, ‘If you really want Like you, I will miss him dreadfully and I mourn his loss that hymn at least can we use a decent tune!’ Janet Tarr but we can be comforted to know that Colin loved his was often copied into these e-mails so she knows this to Creator and, for sure, the angels in glory will certainly be the case. At first, I confess, it annoyed me. Then it be a well organised lot. amused me and sometimes I would just give in and take Amen his suggestion as to an alternative. It was just easier.
Colin was not an evangelical Christian in the normal VVVVVVV sense of the word but he was a keen evangelist. He was driven by the desire to get the Christian message The Memorial Service to as many people as possible. It concerned him that with Eucharist sometimes we in the Chaplaincy of Aquitaine can be guilty of congregationalism ...... we consider our own for Colin Pratt church centres to be the most important aspect of our will take place on: worship whereas he argued that we should always be Tuesday 7th February 2012 at 10.30h looking outside our walls to those who, unless we take in Monteton it there, will never hear the Gospel message. It was this conviction that led him to be the driving force behind followed by a Bring & Share Lunch the outreach at places like Dondas and Allez and he in the local Salle de Fete
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 4 in the mirror I could see the fear that she was fighting down. On reaching the hospital his Mother was there A Time of waiting for him and they embraced and entered the Prayer hospital while his Grandma and I sat in the back of the Mini and waited.
ur year of prayer is an exciting and scary adventure I marvelled at the time I had spent resting in God, not OI think and it is good to be upfront and honest always speaking very coherently I confess, but bringing about it – don’t you agree? When we are vulnerable and all these people to him for protection, for healing and open we learn so much from each other. comfort, for courage and for peace for them and their families. Sometimes I was not at all sure of my words I would just like to share a piece from Henri Nouwen’s but had an ongoing conversation with God about his book ‘With Open Hands’ (his book about prayer) and people. I guess I felt it was what I was there to do – see the similarity that we discovered when we read John no-one knew – it was just the most useful and necessary Pritchard’s book ‘God Lost and Found’…… thing I could do. We do love these people we pray for. The same as praying for the people we see when waiting ‘When you pray with hope, you may still ask for many for a train, a bus, or a passing ambulance. I confess one concrete things, like nice weather or a better salary. This is kept very busy in London with so many sirens going… concreteness can be a sign of authenticity. For if you ask only for faith, hope, love, freedom, happiness, modesty, By Monday, when it was time for me to leave, we had humility, etc., without making them concrete in the nitty- received good news of Oly, after visiting a large major gritty of daily life, you probably haven’t involved God hospital for tests, and slowly his memory of the match in your real life. If you pray in hope, all those concrete was coming back – he texted and then phoned his Gran requests are ways of expressing your unlimited trust to say do not worry and to thank her for all her help. in God who fulfils all promises, who holds out for you nothing but good, and who wants to share goodness and What I found funny was that as Oly had entered the love with you.’ hospital, he had turned to his Gran and said, ‘Who was that woman in the back of the car?’ (probably hoping Whilst in the UK I spent a week-end with an old friend, against hope that it was not an apparition!!? caught out Sylvia. She had many plans for our week-end together, of the corner of his eye!) but her daughter-in-law had a fearful migraine and so Madeleine December 2011 Sylvia had to bake cookies for the school fair and make a dessert – fine. Then her daughter had a back injury and could not move. She has three young daughters, so shopping, cooking and ironing ensued. However, on the Sunday we were due to see Sylvia’s grandson play in a cup match for his rugby club. Bitter cold wind blowing and it does blow across rugby pitches doesn’t it?? Eventually, not having a hat, I slipped into the clubhouse and looked out of the large plate glass windows and had an excellent view. Suddenly Oly (Oliver), Sylvia’s grandson was being led off the pitch and sat with his head in his hands and the coach (who happened to be his father!) came and spent time talking and piling on warm clothing. As I watched I saw a lady all dressed in red and pinks (she had an air of authority about her – I later learned she was a nurse) came and smiled at Oly and moved her hands over his head and looked deep into his face and it was agreed, we had to take him to the hospital. His speech was slurred and he had lost his immediate memory of what had happened to him. Crammed in the back of Sylvia’s Mini I sat silently whilst we whizzed through the country roads to the hospital… I wanted to stay invisible as she spoke quiet questions to Oly and he replied; she was not allowing him to fall asleep. Watching her eyes
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 5 Lent Course 2012: Life Sources: a 5-session the church we – and the traditions to which we belong course on prayer for Lent – will be changed, transformed and conformed to the likeness of Christ. n a few weeks, Lent will be upon us! With our focus on Iprayer in 2012....it seems logical to focus in Lent on..... Aquitaine’s week of prayer was certainly busy, with you guessed it....prayer. services in St Avit Sénieur, Pontours, Périgueux, Riberac, Bordeaux, Pessac and Bergerac. Like with a box of This year we plan to use the ‘Life Source’ course. The chocolates, it is lovely to have such varied choices, as each authors write: celebration takes on the flavour of the communities who Learning to pray is so simple it takes a lifetime to achieve... have come together for the time of worship. Most services here is a book about praying which is rooted in God and include a bit of English sprinkled throughout, some are in our humanity, full of good sense, encouragement and completely bilingual, and most include singing in both joy. I commend it most warmly.’ English and French, which is lovely! Christopher Herbert, former Bishop of St Albans As Anglicans worshipping in France, we are deeply At times prayer can seem like hard work or a bit of a touched by the warm welcome we receive from our mystery. At other times, it’s an encounter with the Christian neighbours. Indeed this week of prayer is a Living God. Wherever you are on the journey of faith, wonderful opportunity to reflect upon our faith, share Life Source will encourage a discovery of new-found joy fellowship and take advantage of the opportunity to help and delight in prayer for novices and old hands alike. others to better understand the Anglican church, and The course combines Bible study and discussion with even to make new friends. a creative, hands-on exploration of five prayer patterns drawn from our rich Christian heritage. The interactive When family and friends come to visit, it can be easy to sessions explore: explain the history of this area without really absorbing o Source of life - prayer as relationship the reality of what it must have been like to live in o Source of joy - prayer as enjoying God Aquitaine during the Wars of Religion. We are blessed o Source of light - prayer as listening with such peace and hospitality in this region, and o Source of wholeness - prayer as honesty these services remind us that we must never take it for o Source of love - prayer as care granted. It is our Christian duty to not only pray for, but to strive for unity in the name of Christ. Each group member will need a copy of the book (£3.99). We hope that many groups will use this material....and Amy Owensmith and Sheila Marshall that many, who are normally not part of a home-group, will join one, or form one.... just for Lent. VVVVVVV
We encourage people to order the material locally Chaplaincy AGM through Church House Publishing. Other suppliers might be available as well. See our website for further he Chaplaincy AGM will be held on April 21st this year, at Negrondes near Sorges. Every year we elect Chaplaincy details. TWardens and Treasurer and will need to do so again. Jennifer Paul (January 2012) Lord, John Ralph and I are all willing to stand again but other VVVVVVV nominations will be welcome from those on the electoral roll. If you wish to find out more, please ask Jennifer, John or me and we can also guide you to the nomination form. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Nominations must be received by the Chaplain on or before “We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Saturday 31st March 2012. Jesus Christ.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15.51-58) Our Archdeaconry Synod representatives were elected last year and their appointments last for 3 years. Chaplaincy he theme comes to us this year from the churches Council representatives from each sector will be elected at in Poland, who have reflected upon their own local meetings and their position confirmed at the AGM. T experience as a nation, and how they have been changed We also need to appoint a Child Protection Officer. If you by the many upheavals of their history, and sustained by would like to find out more, please contact Jennifer or me. their faith. Change is at the heart of our Christian faith and also at the heart of the ecumenical movement and Jennifer Lord and David Tervet as we pray for and strive towards the full visible unity of Chaplaincy Wardens
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 6 Cooking in February Frances Pengelly Lamb shoulder is marvellous cooked for a long time in a slow oven. You can use what you like to season ebruary is the month I think about all the articles I it, plenty of rosemary, garlic bulbs cut in half, cumin, F shall write during the year and I also think back to ground coriander seeds, pomegranate molasses. Place the many subjects I’ve written about in the past, and also the lamb in a roasting tin on a couple of sliced onions, I review my successes in the kitchen last year and what add salt and 350ml water. Add your chosen seasoning I cooked for people, and of course nice things I’ve eaten and completely cover the lamb in the roasting tin with at the houses of friends. foil, making sure it is sealed. Put into a preheated oven 220C/200Cfan/gas7. Turn the oven down immediately One of our favourite to 160C/140Cfan/gas3 and leave for 3½-4hrs, but it will soups, and there are sit there for longer, and the longer the better. This is many good ones, is delicious food. beetroot soup. You wouldn’t actually call The French, it seems, have it borscht because gone mad about Les Verrines. this beetroot soup is A small glass containing made very simply and layers of savoury or sweet quickly. Before I give you the recipe my eye was caught items made to tempt the eye by the fantastic medical results of eating this vegetable. and in fact tasting and looking It has tumour resisting enhancing properties. It has fabulous. These are served been known for hundreds of years that it is good for during your pre-meal drinks, blood disorders and it normalises the ph balance of your the sweet concoctions would blood. Beetroot increases the intake of oxygen by 400%. do well as a pudding. There’s It is used in conjunction with treatment for liver, kidney no doubt about it that they are fiddly to make, and you are and spleen disorders. It has been successful in helping eating an extra rich course that might dull your appetite, treatment for leukaemia, jaundice, cancer, diverticulitis but the Verrines gleam like jewels in their shiny glass to name but a few illnesses. It is a great blood pressure casings. Try avocado blitzed with a little cream cheese, reducer and of great benefit to the heart. topped with large prawns, finish off with a bright green Cut finely an onion and a couple of sticks of celery flurry of coriander. For the sweet Verrine use orange and soften in oil or butter. Add two packs of cooked and lemon jelly topped with cubed mango and finish beetroot cut up (I don’t use raw beetroot as it takes with a cream whorl decorated with a nasturtium flower! longer to cook) and quite honestly I don’t think it makes Gauguin in a glass! any difference, then add a good stock, or water and a couple of stock cubes. Heat for a short time and blitz. I serve it with Wasabi paste mixed with either cream or VVVVVVV yogurt. It is a bold, brave colourful winter soup. Interesting information...… One of the nicest main dishes last year was Coronation Chicken. I wrote an article about this last year. Being If you have a problem with your electricity or with a chicken keeper I’m not overfond of eating the poor the phone, did you know there are English speaking things, but I must say that this dish appeared at a party numbers you can contact? of a friend decorated with mangoes, and the colour was fabulous. Chicken in this wonderful pink curry sauce EDF 05 62 16 49 08 with orange fruit and parsley on top was quite lovely, France Telecom 09 69 36 39 00 (new number!) so that is going into my menu for next summer. So is fish pie, I made this throughout the summer but only and more Interesting information...… using coloured fish, salmon, large prawns and smoked For the singers out there, I’m sure you’ll be pleased to haddock, in a light sauce of parsley: it really was good. hear that Veronica Dare-Bryan is organising another A starter I thought interesting, but I think needed Scratch Messiah this year. It will be on the weekend tweaking, was Serrano Ham with roast tomatoes, black of 27th October so do put the date in your diary now! olives, scattered with parsley and a dressing made up of More details will follow later. the juices from the tin the tomatoes were roasted in, this included garlic and a small amount of olive oil. For this recipe you really do need a good fruity olive oil. I might VVVVVVV use basil instead of parsley in the height of summer.
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 7 This month we are starting a series of articles about two services a month, with a holy communion on the the history of each sector in our Chaplaincy and many first Sunday of the month. We also became incorporated thanks to Ste Nathalene who have agreed to kick-start into the “Dordogne Valley Churches” grouping with us... Ste Catherine’s at Limeuil, with members of both congregations on the committee. In 2009 our Chaplain, A short history of Ste Nathalène so Paul, gave permission for us to have a steering group far...... and a “responsable” under the kind guidance of Jennifer ur story starts in 1994 when Colin and Sheila Lord. OCampbell moved to Archignac; both keen church- goers they found a place to worship at St André d’Allas, 2009 was also the last year that ICS held a summer church a summer church run by ICS for tourists. at Ste Nathalène. We asked to take it on as a church as it was felt that we In 1995 they found the Limeuil Church, then were stable enough worshipping at L’Eglise St Martin, and, on their first visit to support weekly a close friend who happened to be on vacation in the services during the region. This led to their regular attendance at Limeuil. summer holiday period and this also In 1998 ICS moved their summer church to Ste Nathalène gave the possibility and the Campbells started helping with their services. for ICS to start a Over the next few years, and because of their increasing mission elsewhere involvement, some members in our Chaplaincy, a Ste Nathalène congregation of the Limeuil congregation win-win. also became involved; helping set up the services and by There came a time when it was clear that it would be providing music. These ICS better for us to become a new centre in the Chaplaincy services introduced us to some and we became independent in 2010. very good and enthusiastic preachers, and many equally We are looking to see how weekly services might be Summer church committed worshippers. We sustainable, and are hoping to have two home groups met Christians of all types, many with young families, meeting soon. We try to have an open style of worship and a high proportion of evangelical worshippers. and we are blessed with a music group with Robin Jones It was more than interesting to meet people who had leading the singing, and by the grace of technology never heard of hymns that we regarded as standard, and we can easily cater for hymns more suited to organ worship leaders who asked for songs we’d never heard accompaniment. of as they were so recent. The simplicity of the ICS service sheets also helped to bring us together, high and Prayer and Prayer Ministry are very important to us and low! These friendly and spirit-filled services served to this blossomed recently in our 24 hour Prayer focus. We develop the character of our way of worship. were very blessed by the response and also by the way it has brought us closer as a church family. We were given permission to hold our first service by We give grateful thanks to everyone who has been with Rev Michael Selman; it was us on our journey so far, particularly for the Chaplain’s a bilingual candle-lit Carol support, and we pray that we can accept any change that Service on the 20th of December God’s purpose might ask of us, and that our Lord will 2004; Abbé Zanette was present, always be at the centre of the life of our church at Ste (and still comes every year) to Nathalène. assist. Interestingly, half of the Kevin 50-strong congregation were VVVVVVV French. This encouraged us to ask Michael to allow us to hold a monthly service at Ste Nathalène and he agreed to a Service of the Word led by Where did Noah keep the Sheila. We were under the aegis of the church at Limeuil bees? at this time. In the Ark Hives!
As we became more established in 2007 we were allowed Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 8 Grow old along with Chris’s love of musical theatre began to develop, to take me..... shape in the form of writing, directing and performing in major productions. ‘The Gershwin Show’ (1993) o celebrate one’s 70th – Chris’s particular favourite - told the life story of a Tbirthday by putting family of Jewish immigrants with songs from Swannee on a concert is one thing; and Porgy and Bess. Then there was a Concert of Lerner simultaneously to unlock the et Loewe songs, entitled ‘On Our Way’. Shows often had talents of umpteen English- a cast of 40 to 50, including a few professionals; there speaking people in the Dordogne is quite another... was a tight rehearsal schedule of six or seven weeks, they But that’s what happened twenty years ago when Chris ran for three nights to full houses, and always concluded Crowest began staging musical shows in the Salle des with celebratory suppers! Fêtes at Le Coux. Actually this love of entertaining started even before that when Sunday morning concerts This dynamism must surely have been curbed, at least drew appreciative audiences to the Crowests’ home; briefly, by a major heart attack requiring a triple bypass, Joyce and Denny Henderson would mastermind the but with that inconvenience firmly out of the way, Chris classical half; Chris would follow with music hall songs was back to work, researching, writing and producing and cabaret. The Noel Coward Story was one early show, ‘C’est Magnifique’, the life story of Cole Porter, with with songs such as ‘Mrs Worthington’ and ‘Mad Dogs’. At Chris as Cole, singing ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ that time, there was, Chris says, no competition; people - and Olivia Simms as his wealthy wife. Then in 1995 were bound to come; but might it not have been the came ‘Tous Ensemble’, a musical comedy. sheer quality of such events that ensured their success? Is it an idea to be resurrected? Sounds great, but at the Musical theatre may have been Chris’s first love, but end of July, we celebrated Chris’s ninetieth birthday; he he was ready to move into pastures new, and a more may be happy to hand on the baton, though I’m not so reflective phase, though still with musical scores, sure.... began, in 1996, with ‘Murder in the Cathedral’. This was performed in the Chapelle St Martin in Limeuil, and But when did it all really begin, this love of musical combined the great musical talent of Barrie Simms, with theatre, this penchant for directing large casts of mainly Chris’s skills in casting and producing. amateur, if enthusiastic, participants? The seeds must have been sown when Chris was a boy, when his parents A year or so later, Chris was asked for help in preparing encouraged his predilection for all things musical, when for a public reading of John Donne’s poem ‘The Good belonging to a Christian community offered plenty Morrow’. The spark of interest was ignited! Letters, papers of experience of the structured ‘theatre’ that was an and books were pored over, and thus the life of John essential part of ‘going to church’ – Chris was a server. Donne - the reluctant cleric who finally became Dean And when the war came and Chris was called up, Uncle of St Paul’s – became the stuff of Chris’s next theatrical Frederick immediately advised him to make it known piece, ‘The Good that he had some skill at playing the piano ‘by ear’ – ‘Just Morrow’, again at go in and play’, he was told. And so it was that Chris’s St Martin. war-time experience was in the Royal Ordnance Corps, spending his off-duty time in entertaining the troops. ’The Best of Sounds good to me! Friends’ by Hugh Whitemore After the war, Chris transferred to the Army Educational was presented Corps. The early career path, though, was into speech in 1999. With and drama, lecturing and teaching; school headships a fine cast of followed, and then the inspectorate, and maybe those Michael Mills as musical interests were put on hold for a while although Sir John Cockcroft, Michael Jacobson as Bernard Shaw he wrote numerous pantomimes, pageants and stories and Maureen Griffith-Jones as Dame Laurentia, this for children. fascinating play focused on the long friendship, and exchange of letters, between an agnostic, an atheist and Perhaps it was retirement to south-west France which a Roman Catholic nun. afforded a new launch pad for all that intuitive creativity, but it was certainly a real blessing for the people of the Perhaps it was in his eightieth decade that some of Dordogne (well, the ex-patriate British at least!) when Chris’s best work was achieved. The Story of Ruth had long been a source of great interest for him, and
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 9 a moving adaptation of the biblical story was crafted. A Story to tell..... Then came ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’, when Thomas Hardy’s novel was put to music in the most delightful This month Tess Smith describes her exhilarating way. Yet more recently, Chris’s interest in the life of parachute jump. Charles Darwin took flight. The story of Darwin’s family life through the eyes and mind of their daughter Annie, hen I was about 7 years old, I insisted on going required detailed research into family records and letters Wdown the highest slide at Chessington Zoo. When to reveal how Darwin was not only a great scientist but I reached the top of the steps, I screamed and refused to a very tolerant father. On Annie’s death, he turned away slide down. My father had to ask all the people behind from the Church. ‘Annie’s Jonquil’ (2010) was the result to get down while he rescued me! of Chris’s research, and here we were able to appreciate the sensitivity of writing and production techniques. It So why did I decide to do a tandem parachute jump at was a beautiful and moving play. 4,500 metres? I didn’t have any nerves beforehand, no So, dear readers, we have been, and are, privileged to sleepless nights and was incredibly calm on the day. have had West End theatre here in south west France for more than twenty years! So much pleasure has The fear started when the instructor gave me five minutes been given to so many; so much hidden talent has instruction in a very tiny plane, so tiny we sat on the been brought to light - and it so happens that funds for floor opposite each other with legs extended. At the Church and charities have been boosted as a result! required height I had to turn round, shuffle over to the instructor and sit myself on his crotch. He then hooked Yet as you are reading these few words, who knows what me up and together we moved to the open door. I was the pen is shaping...? To which new territory is that hanging into infinity by this time, completely terrified. creative and gifted imagination being led...? Amazing though it may seem, in his ninetieth year, Chris has Out we went head first. I couldn’t found the inspiration and the energy to write his even describe that 45 second free- second novel, ‘Shining Moment’, which concerns three fall: everything was numb! British men who become entwined in the affairs of their neighbours through their combined efforts to form a choir. Now we are really on home territory! The first novel was also about the Dordogne. His latest work is a play called ‘Ask Jill’ a light comedy.
And meanwhile, blessings and thanks to you both, Chris and Joyce, for all that you have given us over so many years! I.M.S. When at last the chute opened, the instructor kindly started showing me all the beauty spots around but my whole being was focused on the ground coming closer. When we landed, Advertising rates per my husband, John, rushed over and asked,”Do you want edition to do it again?” “NO, NO, NO!!” Full page 60€ Ed: I just love the smile on Tess’s face that appeared once the chute Half page 40€ was open! Quarter page 20€ VVVVVVV 7cm x 5cm 15€
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Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 10 round the Though we are many, we are one body AChaplaincy
(24) Chapelle de Saint Jean, opp. The Abbey Chancelade CW Liz Oaten 05 53 05 42 76 NE of Périgueux Elizabeth Brook 05 53 52 50 91 Negrondes Church (until May 2012 as and Sorges NL Elizabeth Brook 05 53 52 50 91 Sorges Church closed for repairs) PC Alexandra Billing 05 53 62 86 11 February Services Chancelade 19th Feb 10.30 Holy Communion Rev Brian Davies. Negrondes Sunday 12th Feb 11.00 Family Service Patrick Sturges Tuesday 28th Feb 11.00 Holy Communion
News Carol Service he Carol Service took place, in the 12th Century Abbey of Chancelade at 16.00 on Sunday 11th December, with TVariations Choir singing traditional carols. The Festive Season was celebrated with traditional mulled wine and mince pies after the service. The Christmas Communion service for the Sorges centre was held in the church in Negrondes on Wednesday 21st December and was followed by Christmas lunch at the Auberge de la Truffe in Sorges. The meal was very well attended and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
Forthcoming Events House Group The Thursday lunchtime house group meetings have started again as of the 19th January at the home of Patrick Sturges.
Annual Centre Meeting The Sorges/Chancelade ACM will be held on Tuesday 27th March 2012 after the Negrondes Service. Venue to be advised.
Chaplaincy AGM The Chaplaincy AGM will be held at the Negrondes Salle de Fetes by kind permission of the Negrondes Maire on Saturday 21st April 2012. There will be a bring and share lunch.
Changed Service Dates at Negrondes The Sorges centre services are all at Negrondes until further notice, due to renovation work at Sorges church. The Catholic community will be using the church at Negrondes on the first Sunday of each month; so our Family Service will be moved to the second Sunday of each month until further notice (instead of the first Sunday as at present ). The first February service is on the 12th February.
Easter Concert Variations Choir will be presenting their Easter Concert in the Eglise de St Astier on the 13th and 14th April 2012. The concert will include sacred works by Bach and Handel and will feature Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis (Nelson Mass).
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February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 11 Ste. Nathalène (24) East of Sarlat, Parish Church, on D27 CW Kevin Sullivan 05 53 61 81 61 NL Robert Topp 05 55 29 22 39 PC Charlotte Sullivan 05 53 61 81 61
February Services 5th February Holy Communion Rev Gill Strachan 19th February Morning Worship Jean Dix The Fellowship Group will meet on the 12th and 26th, venue not yet fixed.
Ste Natters Matters ur bilingual Carol Service was held on Sunday 18th December. Many thanks to all Othose who helped to organise and who took part in our Carol service. It was a very moving and special event for all who were there, including these two angels! The church looked amazing in the candle light and this year was warm and comfortable thanks to our new heaters. It was fantastic to see all our regular friends and many new faces. Père Zanette was in particularly fine vocal form! As usual the tableau was a delight and added a special «something» to the proceedings !! Following the service there was a great time of fellowship with mulled wine and mince pies and the chatter and laughter went on until the early evening.
Our new infrared electric heaters were greatly appreciated at both the Carol service and Christmas morning services. The committee would like to thank Don Gardner who has tirelessly worked to raise money for Ste Nats by selling Christmas cards. It is this money that we have used to buy the heaters. We now have 6 which should make a real difference to our worship this winter now that we no longer have regular access to the Salle de Fêtes.
Finally - The annual meeting is approaching rapidly. We really need some new people to join the committee and help our church family to keep moving forward. Please think about whether this is something that you would like to be part of. If you are interested please talk to Kevin, our warden.
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CW Janis Adams 05 53 91 32 89 Dronne Valley Church, Steve Long 05 53 91 96 48 Bertric Burée (24): Parish Church, (D708 between NL Di Harris-Evans 05 45 98 05 31 Ribérac and Verteillac) PC Sheila Marshall 05 53 90 95 69
February Services Sunday 05 February 10:30 Service of the Word and Holy Communion Rev B Davies and Richard Shreeve Sunday 05 February 16:00 Evensong Sheila Marshall Wed 8 February 11:00 BCP Holy Communion Rev Brian Davies Sunday 12 February 10:30 Holy Communion Rev Brian Davies Sunday 19 February 10:30 All Age Worship Janis Adams Wed 22 February 11:00 Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Rev Brian Davies Sunday 26 February 10:30 Holy Communion Rev Brian Davies
Everyone is welcome to stay for hospitality after the services A Bring and Share lunch will be held after the service on 12th February at the home of Jan and Roger Adams. For directions or further information please call 05 53 91 32 89
Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday 2 March 5.00 pm in the Hospital Chapel, Ribérac his is an Ecumenical service (in English and French) and prepared by the Christian women of Malaysia on the Ttheme ‘Let Justice Prevail’. We shall be sharing the service with our Roman Catholic and Eglise Reformée friends
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 12 and welcome you all (men, women and children) to come and celebrate this special service of worship and prayer. For further details please contact Sheila Marshall (05 53 90 95 69)
A GOOD IDEA! - We’ve had a suggestion from Chris Hodgkiss that we ask people to donate any unwanted Christmas presents (sort of recycling) so that they could be raffled or used in a tombola to raise money for church charities. If you have anything to donate please have a word with a member of the committee.
Craft Group The Christmas Market table at Longeveau in early December was overflowing with handmade items from the Group and Shirley’s knitted toys, mincemeat, puddings and cakes. Overall close on 600€ was made for the church. Thank you to all those who contributed and supported us. We shall be having another table on 16th May, at a coffee morning to be held at the home of Pam and Mike Duncan to raise money for Christian Aid. In the meantime we are re-furbishing and adding to the seat cushions in church and working on two new wall hangings. Our next meeting is at the home of Pam and Brain Davies, Fontaine, on Thursday February 9th at 2pm. Everyone is welcome so do come and join us.
Church giving by envelope system For the past 18 months BB has made use of the French government’s 60% tax refund on charitable giving. The benefits of this scheme have been dramatic, allowing far more accurate estimates in the annual budget for our church and much less need for fundraising events.
The Dronne Valley Church committee has now been considering regular giving via the envelope system which involves persuading the members of the church to agree to give a set amount each week, whether they are present in church on any given Sunday or not. Every week/month, regardless of whether or not the member has attended church, the agreed amount is placed in the envelope. When next at church the envelope/s are placed in the collection. Please contact Roger Flambert, Janis Adams or other committee member if you wish to discuss this further.
A diary date for March - ‘The Prayer Group will be resuming meetings at the church in Bertric Burée on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Starting on the 7th March. We meet between 5.00 and 6.00 and all are welcome.’
HOME GROUPS: There are a number of existing Groups meeting in the Dronne Valley: Fortnightly on a Tuesday morning near Verteillac, contact Mike Duncan 05 53 91 30 64. On the other Tuesday at Susanna Isaac’s home, near Ribérac, contact Brian Cook on 05 45 98 43 00. Tuesday evenings near Riberac contact Karla Flambert 05 53 90 99 52.
Randonnée Wednesday 15 February 10.30 at Gout Rossignol – please phone Roger Adams on 06 02 38 56 79 For February only the Randonnée will place on the third Wednesday. Ash Wednesday falls on the fourth Wednesday (22 February) and many walkers will be taking part in the service.
Pastoral Care We can provide company, hospital visits, a phone call, a shoulder to cry on and hopefully much more. We really would appreciate being informed of perceived needs so that where possible we can be of help. If you know of anyone who would welcome a visit or call, please ring me (Pam Duncan) on 05 53 91 30 64 so we can arrange for a member of the team to help out.
Caring for our church family and our friends and neighbours outside the church is an important discipleship role for us as Christians. Pam Duncan, as our Pastoral Care coordinator, would like to organise our Pastoral Care into two types, people who like to ‘do’; help in the garden, drive someone to an appointment or take them shopping; and people who ‘listen’, visit at home or hospital. Please gives this some thought and prayer and decide how your gifts fit into the Pastoral Care for our community. Then let Pam know what you can offer. VVVVVVV
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 13 Limeuil (24) near le Bugue, Eglise de CW David Albrecht 05 53 36 55 97 Sainte Catherine in Limeuil Haut Gill Sweetman 05 53 73 13 59 NL Barry Borsberry 05 53 74 95 67 PC Charlotte Sullivan 05 53 61 81 61
February Services Sunday 5th February 10.30 Morning Worship David Albrecht Sunday 12th February 10.30 Holy Communion Rev. Paul Vrolijk Sunday 19th February 10.30 Morning Worship Sheila Marshal Wed 22nd Feb (Ash Wednesday) 10.30 Holy Communion Rev. Caroline Gordon-Walker Sunday 26th February 10.30 Holy Communion Rev. Gill Strachan
This month’s “Bring and Share” will be held in the Marie at Limeuil Port and will follow the service held on Sunday the 26th of February. Don’t forget to bring a little something to share with friends and also your “couverts”.
Warm at last! he gas heating is now installed and tested and a warm welcome Twas given to the new heating on Christmas Day! New heating also brought with it new lighting, and unfortunately a few minor problems: the electricity supply at St Catherine’s was, to say the least, minimalist, and we soon had to make a choice between the organ and the lighting. We didn’t have any trouble before - perhaps because there was so little light you could barely see! There were also two power cuts throughout Limeuil, of some duration, including one the Sunday after Christmas, during the service, which we have never experienced before. Happily the supply was very quickly upgraded so we can now enjoy organ music, heating, lighting and coffee all at the same time!
Resto du Coeur We recently received a note of thanks from the local organisers of Resto de Coeur, one of our locally adopted charities, in recognition of our recent past donations. However there is still much we can do to support this very worthy charitable organisation. Its work to help the needy amongst the local population in these very difficult times is just so important. Jean and John Dix are our local liaison and will be grateful to receive gifts of non-perishable goods and/ or foodstuffs to pass on. Alternatively, anyone wishing to make a cash donation can do so by contacting John or Jean on 05 53 54 54 48.
Annual Centre meeting This year’s Annual Meeting will be held after the service on March 11th. We are looking for volunteers to stand for the committee as there will be some vacancies. Do please give it some serious consideration - we know there are people out there who have much to offer for the future of our church life. Please speak to a Warden if you would be willing to put your name forward.
Events The music night at the restaurant in Badfols notified in the last issue of the newsletter has had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The next fund raising event will therefore be a Quiz Night to be held on Wednesday 7th of March. For tickets or more information contact Jill Little on 05 53 59 00 51 or [email protected]. VVVVVVV
Only a light bulb can go out every night and still be bright in the morning
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 14 CW Pamela Prior 05 56 59 67 34 (33) Chapelle de l’Assomption, Bordeaux Christine Rychlewski 05 56 48 18 77 370 bd Président Wilson, (opposite Lindsay Megraud 05 56 96 44 17 the British Consulate). NL Lindsay Megraud 05 56 96 44 17 PC Jerome Rychlewski 05 56 52 98 28
February Services Sunday 5th 10.30 Holy Communion* Revd Dr. Paul Vrolijk Sunday 12th 10.30 Family Communion Revd Liz Morris Sunday 19th 10.30 Holy Communion* Revd Bramwell Bearcroft Wednesday 22nd 18.30 Ash Wednesday Service Revd Bramwell Bearcroft Sunday 26th 10.30 Family Communion Revd Bramwell Bearcroft
*Sunday School and Youth Discussion Group. For information about Sunday School or the Youth Group which is held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month (except sometimes during school holidays), please contact Kit Seguin (05 57 64 82 41) or Jennifer Bearcroft (05 56 40 05 12).
Family Communion services have an element of active participation by our young people. Sunday School/Youth Discussion Group and Family Communion will take place on alternate Sundays. So there’s always something for everyone each week!
APPY & BLESSED NEW YEAR 2012 TO YOU ALL. In France, some customs shouldn’t be looked down upon. HLike New Year wishes which can be offered up until January 31st. So to all of our current readers, may 2012 bring you much happiness, many blessings, and above all, Love. BONNE ANNEE!
Our local charity, the Foyer Fraternel Gouffrand, and practical ways of helping. Winter has descended upon us! Please bring any small personal-care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, comb, toothbrush, packets of tissues, etc.), gloves or warm hats to church for distribution to the homeless and those in need. “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11
Ecumenical Corner – Get involved in the Lord’s Church, with a capital “C” Thursday, February 23rd at 8.30 pm. Groupe Oecuménique Bordeaux-Sud gathering. Theme: “Nos différences, pour une fécondité”. Led by Père Arnaud de Vaujuas, Salle Notre Dame de Talence, Place de l’Eglise, Talence. Journée Mondiale de Prière: March 2nd, Temple de Mérignac. “Let justice prevail”, prepared by an ecumenical group of women in Malaysia. The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can come to know how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and pray with and for them. In this way, we can to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression.
Saturday, May 12th: Chrétiens Ensemble Pour une Europe de la Fraternité (EPE). Otherwise known as “Together for Europe”. Mark your diaries now for this important get-together! Bordeaux Centre-Ville 2 pm: march; various theatrical and musical events; 5 pm: satellite liaison with Brussels; 6.30 pm: ecumenical celebration + concert. Looking for help in the planning! For more information, contact Lindsay Mégraud.
Farewells in December Blessings and Bon Vent to the Razafindratsima family heading to Nantes. The Bordeaux Church is so fortunate to have people arrive from afar – from different places, different walks of life, and with different talents to share. We have been most privileged to have Holi and Steph and their beautiful children be an important part of our church life over the past year and then some. Their musical talents have added a special element to our services – and Timothé and Grace have charmed more than one Sunday School teacher. We wish them
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 15 well in their new surroundings (see address below) and we pray that the good Lord will provide them with a place to worship. God bless! To keep in touch with them, their address is: Stephen & Holi Razafindratsima, 10 rue Nicolas Copernic, Appt 16, 44470 Carquefou, Tel. 09 54 96 24 48.
When Irish eyes are smiling … the Chaplaincy smiles! Thank you, Julie. Many thanks to Julie Curran who spent three months in Bordeaux working with great enthusiasm and skill on the communications side of the Bordeaux Church (publicity, website, photography, articles, etc.). It was a fabulous opportunity to befriend her and have her as part of our team. Please pray that she finds a new job quickly. If you’d like to send her a little message, you can write to: [email protected]
News of Past Events JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME! A meaningful and busy Advent period led to the great celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Saviour. Here’s what took place throughout that time frame, in chronological order: A beautiful evening Advent Candlelight Service on Sunday, November 27th. Bramwell Bearcroft and Richard Hunt led the congregation in preparing for the birth of the Christ child with bible readings, favourite carols, praise and prayer, all enhanced by the new organ.
Christmas Bazaar in December As the expression goes, a photo is worth a thousand words! Organiser Anne Sharp and her team outdid themselves as usual. With reinforcement behind the stands from new faces at Sunday services, a continuous trail of people happily milled about and filled the Assomption refectory with Christmas merriment! The children had a great time painting Christmas ornaments and using Decopatch. A nail painting stand was also a huge success – certain men even held out their hands to have their nails varnished (no names mentionned). Teas and cakes complete with lively conversation were enjoyed. And the wine, cakes and homemade delights, books, bric-a-brac and tombola prizes filled bags and boxes as people headed home after a pleasant afternoon. Donations to the Chaplaincy were abundant – THANK YOU.
The Carol Service and the Baptism of baby Mathieu on Saturday, December 10th A record number of people (320!) joined in the beautifully candle-lit chapel for the Carols and Readings Service. Choir mistress Marion Lapadu, organist Richard Hunt and a choir of 30+ embellished the service with several anthems. The Assomption School choir sang “Il est né le divin enfant” to the delight of parents and the congregation. The Sunday School and Youth Group children amazed everyone with the presentation “Come and see what’s happenin’” (yee haw!) under the able orchestration of Anne Sharp. And a very moving moment during the service was the baptism of baby Mathieu, whose Malgache family had travelled to Bordeaux to be present. Generous donations were received for the organ fund – thank you! Mulled wine, nibbles and a beautiful baptism cake were shared afterwards in the refectory.
The Christmas Day Holy Communion Service Christmas Day and praise to the newborn King! A congregation of 60 – both old and young – welcomed the birth of Jesus at the 10.30 Holy Communion service led by the Revd Bearcroft. Our thanks to Marion Lapadu for playing the organ at this service.
Newsletter contributions. If you have any ideas, thoughts, projects or events that you would like to share, please send your contribution to Lindsay Mégraud ([email protected]) before the 18th of the month. VVVVVVV
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 16 Lot et Garonne: (47) Allez West of Villeneuve-sur-Lot WE Paddy Atkinson 05 53 94 76 37 CW Peter Walton 05 53 89 63 03 Dondas just off the D215, north east of Agen Roger Verrall 05 53 64 08 14 NL Vanda Walton 05 53 89 63 03 on D50 between Castillonès and Villeréal. Doudrac PC Chris Train 05 53 64 31 76 Envals to the north of Montflanquin. Monteton east of Duras, (notre Dame Parish Church) February Services Sunday 5th 11.00 Holy Communion Doudrac Revd Liz Morris Tuesday 7th 10.30 Memorial Eucharist for Colin Pratt Monteton The Chaplain Sunday 12th 10.30 Morning Prayer Monteton Revd Gill Strachan Tuesday 14th 11.30 Holy Communion Envals Revd Gill Strachan Sunday 19th 10.30 Holy Communion Dondas Revd David Jones Sunday 19th 10.30 Prayer and Praise Monteton (Leader to be announced) Ash Wednesday 22nd 18.30 Holy Communion Doudrac Revd David Jones Sunday 26th 10.30 Holy Communion Monteton The Chaplain
Monteton Memorial Eucharist to celebrate the life of Lay Reader Colin Pratt, who died on 6 December 2011, will be held on A Tuesday 7 February at Monteton, led by the Chaplain. It will be followed by refreshments in the Salle des Fetes. The 24 Hour Prayer Focus, organised by Chris Train, will take place from 21 to 22 February. Please sign up for ‘a slot’ on the church Notice Board at Monteton, where there are also further details about it.
News of Past Events: The Carol Service was a great success and attracted a congregation of 170 people! A new format for the Carol Service was devised in order to incorporate ideas both modern and traditional and the many children in the congregation took part in the readings. The Seventh Reading: ‘The Friendly Beasts’, performed by a group of the young people, was particularly emotive and was followed aptly by the ‘Calypso Carol’. The Monteton Choir led the singing, which, so we are told, positively resounded through the village! We were reminded by Rev Gill Strachan who led the service that the occasion was especially poignant because the bi-lingual service booklet we used, had been written by Colin Pratt just before his untimely death. We were very pleased to welcome French and German visitors, and many gave very favourable comments about the service which had been a new experience for them. It was good that the Maire of Monteton’s Adjointe and her husband were able to join nearly fifty of us afterwards for the traditional and very convivial Monteton Christmas Supper.
Our heartfelt thanks to all those who planned and prepared such a spiritual experience and to all those who took part: to Gill, to the choir under Marjorie Etschmann’s leadership, to the splendid organist, Jonathan Smalley, who joined us for the first time, (not the last, we hope), and to the readers, including the delightful children – especially those who came in costume! Then there were the people who had decorated the church so beautifully beforehand and those who performed the hazardous task of bringing chairs down from the balcony! Last but not least, thanks to Paddy Atkinson for arranging yet another splendid meal for us afterwards. This was certainly an evening to remember in its commemorating of the birth of Our Lord, and one which we hope has set us on a new and united path towards the celebration of Christmas at Monteton.
On Saturday, 10th December, Rev. Liz Morris organised a successful Christingles Workshop for children at St Colombe de Lauzan, followed by a Christingles Service. Liz writes, ‘We told the story of the first Christmas and learnt a Christingle song. At the end of the day there was a short carol service, attended by the families, at which the Christingles were lit and the children sang their song beautifully (thanks to Sue Blomley’s tutoring and Janie Tervet’s keyboard skills). So encouraged were we by the numbers of children present, that we hope to organise some kind of nativity play or tableau next year, so don’t throw away your old velvet curtains or striped tea towels just yet as we may be looking for costumes soon!’
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 17 The Carol Service at Eymet on 14th December also involved local children and their parents and was led jointly by our Chaplain, by Revd Liz Morris and by the Roman Catholic priest, Pere Andre Peryga, the latter welcoming us most warmly to the church in Eymet. The service followed the traditional ‘Lessons and Carols’ with a bi-lingual element and with the children bringing the figures to the Crib, the singing led by the Monteton Choir. There was further carol singing in the town square after the service, this time led by the ACCFA choir, with Father Christmas in his golf-buggy, mulled wine and mince pies, and greatly enjoyed by all!
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Agen, Mgr. Hubert Herbreteau, included the church at Monteton in his recent parochial visit. The Maire of Monteton, Mme Genevieve Le Lannic, and the parish priest, Pere Jean-Pierre Thibaud were keen for the Anglican congregation to be represented at this visitation, ‘since you use the church the most’ – Mme Le Lannic’s words! Thus our Chaplain Paul duly attended plus Monteton’s two Wardens. The Bishop obviously enjoyed visiting the church which is very much the jewel of the area and which the Commune has lovingly restored – with considerable input from our congregation as well! He also greatly appreciated meeting Paul and hearing about the work of the Anglican Chaplaincy in Aquitaine. Whilst we enjoy a very amical relationship with the Maire and with Pere Jean-Pierre Thibaud, it was good to have made contact with the Bishop and with Mme Marie Blanchard, the local lay Deleguee pastorale.
Future social events at Monteton: The first event this year will be the visit of the Leeds University Union Swing Band on Saturday 7 April at 19h00, in the Salle des Fetes at Duras. This could be the last time that the band comes our way, so let’s make it a grand effort! Tickets will be 10 euros and are available from Lynne Staunton on 05 56 61 93 07 or [email protected] and Leslie Eckett on 05 53 93 53 86 or [email protected]
Allez It is with much sadness that we say farewell to Meryl Gregory who is returning to live in North Wales, following the sale of her house in Ste Livrade. Apart from all her work in setting up the church in Allez, Meryl has been one of the most faithful and valued members of Monteton Choir where she also undertook the role of Music Librarian; she will be greatly missed by all choir members. In her usual well-organised fashion, Meryl has seen to it that worship at Allez will continue, under the supervision of Roger Verrall and with Mr and Mrs Paul Mizzotti. Part of her work in Allez was also the establishing of a choir there, ‘Chant’Allez’, who not only enhanced worship at the church in Allez but at Meryl’s behest took it out to other places, often travelling considerable distances in winter to sing at various carol services, usually in freezing cold country churches and following protracted negociations with local communes and Roman Catholic clergy – certainly no mean feat! The choir will continue now in the hands of Marilyn Morrow. Who will forget Meryl’s hospitality and the warm welcome always received at Blanc following a service at Allez, or her unfailing enthusiasm for events such as the ‘Scratch Choir’! Meryl tells us that she is retaining her bungalow here and hopes to see us from time to time, ‘and if I don’t like life in the UK and especially the weather in North Wales, I might even return!’ Now that is a threat to hang onto! The next service at Allez will be Holy Communion on Tuesday 6th March at 11h30, celebrated by Revd David Jones.
Dondas Our bi-lingual Carol Service was tinged with sadness as several of us had been earlier to Colin Pratt’s funeral in Rives. Colin was to have taken it, as he had done every year since 2006, and we are extremely grateful to Roger Verrall for coming at short notice in his place. As a mark of respect to Colin we did not have the usual mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. We are most grateful to Chant’Allez and to Marilyn for leading our singing, and particularly to Meryl for all she has done in organising the music since our first Carol Service in 2006. We shall miss her very much and wish her well in her new life in Wales. The following Sunday, 18th December, a rather smaller group than usual met for our last service of 2011, when we welcomed Revd Liz Morris to celebrate Holy Communion. It was strange not to have Colin there as he always had been since our first service four years ago. His welcoming presence and wise advice will be much missed.
Doudrac Colin’s Funeral: As was to be expected, there was an excellent turnout at church at Rives for us to say our farewells to Colin. All our clergy and those who lead our services were there to remember all Colin did to ensure that our services ran so smoothly. The Mayor of Paranquet and many French neighbours and friends were there too to mourn the loss of someone they valued. And many of us who have been inspired by his obvious commitment, helped by his pragmatism
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 18 and guided when we needed guidance were there, still in a state of shock, to thank God for sending us such a man. Last summer, the Doudrac congregation found itself worshipping in the lovely old church at Rives. After the service, Colin remarked that he very much hoped that we would gather there again. We did, and the sun came out. The Chaplain, Bramwell Bearcroft and Caroline Gordon Walker paid heartfelt tributes. It was touching to realize just how much they all valued Colin’s wisdom and intellect. They all gave examples of how he had helped them personally and how much he contributed to the overall running of the Chaplaincy. Their tributes will, it is hoped, be assembled and distributed later. The choir were simply magnificent; I know that Colin’s family were deeply moved by it. Afterwards we moved to the cemetery in Colin’s home village of Paranquet where his body now lies. Many noticed that, from the graveside, one has an excellent view of the Dropt valley. Colin loved his valley and, on his daily brisk walks, got to know and appreciate not only his neighbours but also the seasons as they came and went. It is a very beautiful place. It was good to see that, in spite of our sadness, in the Salle des Fetes afterwards many found cheerful reminiscences to share and all tucked into the various refreshments offered. Just as Colin would have done. Goodbye Friend.
Envals The next service at The Old School House will be Holy Communion on Tuesday 14 February at 11h30, led by Revd Gill Strachan. As usual, the Rolfes would like to know if you wish to attend and if you wish to stay for lunch afterwards. Please contact them on 05 53 01 78 76.
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Beyond Our Borders Alms and the Man
Kate Spicer writes for the Sunday Times Style and I saw this piece by her in the Eurostar Magazine – interesting..
rumpy Old ‘Charity’ sounds so last century, and dates back to a time when people were modest about their Fcharity work, or at least pretended to be, as in the classic, ‘I do a lot of work for charity, but I don’t like to talk about it’. The rise of the high net worth individual (HNWI) and the Americanisation of everything has reintroduced the Victorian-sounding work philanthropy into the London lexicon. Philanthropy is more noble than rattling a tin outside the supermarket or giving the odd £20 to charity. The word is epic, deriving from the Ancient Greek, meaning ‘for the love of mankind’. The doing of philanthropy involves changing the world, as well as just giving away all your money. It brings out the philosophical wannabe God in a person. No wonder everyone wants a piece of it. I say this after a year in which every American of even modest fame or fortune I have interviewed has come with an eponymous charitable foundation attached. Just check out www.looktothestars.org, a website dedicated to the fawning approval of ‘the world of celebrity giving’ where ‘fans can learn about their favourite star’s good deeds’. Apparently things are changing right here in the City of London, where young people ask prospective employees about their giving and volunteering schemes, where the generation before asked about pension and company car allowances. Largely, though, it is still considered a wee bit vulgar to talk about money, and, according to a report by Barclays Wealth, our HNWIs are amongst the stingiest in the world. Despite having 53 billionaires, we rank 14th in the giving charts, behind countries like India, Ireland, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. When the great French cynic, La Rochefoucauld said, ‘Plenty of people despise money, but few know how to give it away’, he might have been talking about 21st-century London.
Footnote: Perhaps - ‘don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing’!! Matthew 6:1-4 Madeleine Holmes
February 2012 Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter 19 Useful Numbers Chaplain: Revd. Dr Paul Vrolijk 05 53 23 40 73 8 Chemin de Garonna, 24240 Sigoules. [email protected]
Assistant Chaplains: Revd. Caroline Gordon-Walker, 05 53 29 36 03 La Veille Ferme, 24170 St Germain de Belvès [email protected] Revd. Gillian Strachan 05 53 58 12 58 La Gravette, 24150 Bayac [email protected] Revd. Elizabeth Morris 05 53 58 71 90 Maison Neuve, Plaisance, 24560 Issigeac [email protected] Revd. Bramwell Bearcroft 05 56 40 05 12 1 Lotissement de la Caussade, 33270 Floirac [email protected] Revd. Brian Davies 05 53 91 19 90 La Petite Maison, Le Bourg Fontaines, 24320 Champagne et Fontaines [email protected]
Clergy with permission to officiate: Revd. David Jones 05 53 94 71 81 Le Bourg, 47120 Loubès-Bernac [email protected] Revd. Roger Watts 05 53 81 82 16 Vedelle, 24610 Villefranche de Lonchat [email protected] Revd. Ann & Revd. Michael Wooderson 05 53 06 39 76 15 rue des Ecoles, 24750 Trélissac [email protected] mg.wooderson@gmail. com Revd. Canon Tim Thompson UK: 01526 320 171 FR: 05 53 91 47 21 [email protected] Revd. Stephen Traves [email protected] Revd. John Morgan 05 53 54 18 90 [email protected]
Chaplaincy Wardens: David Tervet 05 53 20 86 69 [email protected] Jennifer Lord 05 53 31 18 04 [email protected]
Chaplaincy Administration: Amy Owensmith 06 07 04 07 77 [email protected]
Prayer Chain Co-ordinator Madeleine Holmes 05 53 04 85 44 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Gill Sweetman 05 53 73 13 59 [email protected]
Neighbouring Chaplaincies: Poitou-Charentes: Revd. Hazel Door [email protected] Midi-Pyrenées & Aude: Revd Canon Andrew Hawken 05 63 81 87 44 [email protected]
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine: [email protected] Chaplaincy website: www.churchinaquitaine.org Chap-Aid Website: www.chap-aid.com
Contributions to the Newsletter are always very welcome and should be received no later than the 20th of the month. Please send to: Gill Sweetman, Champ de Riviere, 24480, Bouillac. e-mail: [email protected]
If you wish to subscribe to the Newsletter, you may do it in two ways: Either: send your name and address, with a cheque for 24 Euros made payable to: ‘The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine’ to the above address, OR: send me your e-mail address and you can receive it without charge though donations to the Chaplaincy would be most welcome.
Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Newsletter February 2012 20