ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SHEDFIELD 1850 copies of the Parish Magazine are distributed free of charge 10 times a year Vicar: The Revd Jane Isaac ‘Drawing people closer to God and to each other’ ϐ ǣ 01329 832 162 March a̷ϐǤ ǤϐǤǤ 2020 ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SHEDFIELD www.stjohnthebaptistshedfield.org.uk Church Office St John the Baptist Church, PARISH ADMINISTRATOR - Church Office Church Road Shedfield SO32 2HY Chris Cannadine. 01329 832 162 (open Mon, Wed, Fri 9am–12pm) [email protected] The Rectory Southwick Road Wickham PO17 6HR VICAR The Revd Jane Isaac 01329 835 295 Email: [email protected] [email protected] ASSISTANT CURATE Revd Dr Ruth Howlett- 01329 280905 Shipley 52 Brooklynn Close Waltham Chase SO32 2RZ ASSOCIATE PRIEST The Revd Juliet Montague 01489 895 012 Email: [email protected] LAY MINISTER Mr Stephen Campion 4 Palace Mews Bishops Waltham 01489 893 369 PERMISSION The Revd Brian McHugh 28 Siskin Close Bishops Waltham 01489 896 658 TO OFFICIATE CHURCHWARDENS Carol Hotchkiss 3 Meadow View Church Road Shedfield 01329 832 738 Adrian Jordan 32 Chase Grove Waltham Chase 01489 890 007 VERGER/SACRISTAN Julia Jordan 32 Chase Grove Waltham Chase 01489 890007 PCC SECRETARY Rosemary Yeoman The Laurels Winters Road Shirrell Heath 01329 832 595 PCC TREASURER David Hillier Laburnam House Solomons Lane Shirrell Heath SO32 2HU 01329 833 896 ORGANIST/CHOIR Julia Burgess 19 Wickham Croft Wickham 01329 832 441 DIRECTOR/MUSIC GROUP MOTHERS’ UNION Susan Rogers 01329 832529 MEN’S GROUP Ian Treveil 14 Ashley Gardens Waltham Chase Hants 01489 896 184 CHURCH FLOWERS Anthea Benham Ashwood Clubhouse Lane Waltham Chase 01489 894 840 BELLRINGERS’ CAPTAIN Betty Daysh Woodmans Cottage Winchester Rd Waltham Chase 01489 892 216 Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church Bishops ROMAN CATHOLIC Canon Alan Griffiths Waltham Email: 01489 890 947 PRIEST [email protected] METHODIST MINISTER The Revd Joseph Tembo Treetops Smiths Lane Shirrell Heath 01329 833 518 [email protected] CEMETERY CLERK Brenda Byrne Dalecote Farm Winchester Road Waltham Chase 01329 833 592 ST JOHN THE BAPTIST C OR E PRIMARY SCHOOL Solomons Lane, Waltham Chase SO32 2LX 01329 833141 FAIRLANDS NURSERY SCHOOL Church Road Shedfield SO32 2HY 01329 834 848 WALTHAM CHASE PRE-SCHOOL Village Hall Waltham Chase SO32 2LX 07913 640 795 PARISH MAGAZINE Editor Dr Danny Dubois Email: [email protected] 01329 833073 Advertising Manager To be filled Email: [email protected] 01329 832286 Treasurer Mr Brian Southon Email: [email protected] 01329 832286 Distribution Manager Mrs Deborah Casper Email: [email protected] 01489 896397 THE STUDY CENTRE St John the Baptist Church, Bookings: Lynn Hayward Lynn Hayward Church Road Tel: 07789 391530 and 01329 835134 (Bookings Shedfield SO32 2HY Email : [email protected] Manager) Web site : www.shedfieldstudycentre.org.uk PARISH MAGAZINE ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SHEDFIELD SHEDFIELD - SHIRRELL HEATH - WALTHAM CHASE From the Vicar, the Revd Jane Isaac I’m feeling like an old-fashioned parish priest today! I’ve had a whole day away from emails and paperwork, properly concentrating on spending time with 3-year-olds at a local pre-school, sitting quietly with some very poorly people in hospital, taking home communion to a member of the congregation who can’t get to church very easily, getting to know a family whose new baby will soon be coming to us for baptism, leading a funeral this afternoon at the crematorium and meeting a couple in church for their wedding rehearsal. All day long, one way or another, I’ve been listening to people talking. And here – in no particular order – are some of the things that all those people at all those different stages on their life journeys have said to me: Share everything…have a nap every afternoon…make sure there’s time in every day to think and play and work and learn something new (I learnt to re-string a guitar)…put things back where you found them…when you go out, it’s important to hold hands and stick together…biscuits are good for you!...facing reality, howev- er painful and bumpy, is far healthier than deluding yourself…there’s a big difference between growing old and growing up: we all grow old but we don’t all grow up…sharing together in worship deepens your faith…ordinary people can do extra-ordinary things…don’t forget to wash your hands…I’m so glad I was able to tell him I loved him…Thanks be to God…It may be a cliché but it works for us: never let the sun go down on your anger. So – today’s been a day full of extraordinary wisdom and learning, for which ‘Thanks be to God’ indeed. And it’s true, no matter how old you are – when you go out into the world, it really is best to hold hands and stick together! With warmest good wishes Jane In March we move on from the Christmas season into Lent and towards Holy Week and Easter. Here’s Revd Jane’s description of what happened in church on Ash Wednesday – the irst day of Lent: ‘Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return’: those are the words Revd Juliet and I said as we made the sign of the cross on the foreheads of those who came to the Ash Wednesday services in Wickham and Shedield. Where does the ash come from? It’s made by burning last year’s palm crosses and then mixing the ash with a little olive oil. Why? Because ashes are an ancient sign of penitence. Since the Middle Ages it’s been the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. It’s an expression of our regret for our wrongdoing and a vivid reminder of our mortality. The words ‘Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return’ strip us of all our pretensions – because without God we are no more than dust and ashes. What happened next? We prayed a special prayer for Ash Wednesday, as ancient as the tradition of ashing. It’s a good prayer for the rest of Lent as well. God our Father, the strength of all who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers: and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, grant us the help of your grace, that, in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. For details of Lent, Holy Week and Easter services in the United Beneice, see the church websites: www.stnicholaswickham.org.uk and www.stjohnthebaptistshedield.org.uk Church Diary for the Beneϐice of Shedϐield & Wickham March 2020 St John the Baptist, Shedϐeld St Nicholas, Wickham Sunday 8.00am 8.00am 1st March HC BCP HC CW Trad Lent 1 10.00am 10.00am Parish Communion Family Communion 6.00pm Sung Evensong Sunday 8.00am 8.00am 8th March HC BCP HC CW Trad Lent 2 10.00am 10.00am Café Church Parish Communion Sunday 8.00am 8.00am 15th March HC BCP HC CW Trad Lent 3 10.00am 10.00am Parish Communion Quiet Time 6.00pm Sung Evensong Sunday 8.00am 8.00am 22nd March HC BCP HC CW Trad Mothering Sunday 10.00am 10.00am Family Service Family Communion Lent 4 4.00pm Healing and Wholeness Sunday 8.00am 8.00am 29th March HC BCP HC CW Trad Passion Sunday 10.00am 10.00am Family Communion MaƟns Lent 5 Date Time St John the Baptist Tuesday 3rd 12.30pm Parish Lunch Club Study Centre Tuesday 17th 10.00 – Tuesdays at 10 Study Centre 12.00 am Every Thursday 10 – Holy Communion Morrell Room 11am Eco Tips xGarden Composting – an important resource for a healthy garden – some food waste not suitable for the Council Garden Waste collection can go into your garden compost heap including paper and carboard if torn or shredded – useful for conϐidential items which is better not burnt. xPlastic plant pots – some garden centres will re-use / recycle clean pots – consider buying from them. COPY DATE for the x‘Silver Linings’ – my tips seem like extra hassle – and they APRIL issue is are, but there is always an additional effect – riding a bicycle (or walking) gives needed exercise; sharing transport adds 16th MARCH 2020 company; ϐilling the kettle with less water means it boils quicker! Please email all ARTICLES to: PARISH REGISTER Please email all ADVERTISING enquiries to: Funerals 31st January – Richard Davenport; Please email all DISTRIBUTION enquiries to: 12th February – Audrey Apps [email protected] Interments of ashes Please also see inside front cover for further 10th February - Dudley Williams contact details METHODIST CHURCH SERVICES BISHOP’S WALTHAM UNITED FREE CHURCH SERVICES SHIRRELL HEATH: Sunday 10.30am; morning worship with Junior Church Sunday 10.30am (aged 3 upwards) and crèche. Evening worship 6.00pm Breakfast Church 9.00-9.45am (bi- monthly - please see website for full details). BISHOP’S WALTHAM ROMAN WALTHAM CHASE: Sundays 10.30am except 1st Sunday in the month: CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICES 9.30am Family Breakfast followed by worship from 10.00-10.40 am and Wor- First Mass of Sunday: ship & Word from 11.00 am-12 noon. There are pre-school, primary and Saturday 6.00pm secondary age bible class groups at the 10.30am services. Sunday Mass 9.30am I WOULDN’T LIE TO YOU Victoria or Paddington Train Station? Nearly 30 years ago, I arrived in London at Gatwick such a relief to buy my bus ticket, board the bus and be Airport on British Airways.