In this issue December 2001 Little town of Bethlehem Berkhamsted information centre The Giving Tree Creative American finance All creatures here below This month’s Notes & Events The Parish Magazine of St Peter’s with All Saints’ Welcome to the December issue of the Berkhamsted Review. In this month’s issue... Contrasts. If there is one word which sums up a theme to this month’s issue, it is Little town of Bethlehem that. We’re at a time of year where Fr Mark Bonney ponders on the dangers contrasts are brought into sharp focus. As I faced by Christians who live in today’s write Remembrance Sunday draws to a Holy Land. close, and ‘remembrance’ is picked up by several writers this month. But by the time A Berkhamsted information centre? you read this Advent will be upon us, and Does Berkhamsted need an information with it the Christian hope it brings (not to centre, asks local councillor Ian Reay. mention more secular ways of enjoying the Christmas season). The Giving Tree But here again there are stark contrasts. Janet Foo introduces a new fundraising The gulf between the riches we claim in initiative at Victoria First School. this part of the world and the abject poverty which overshadows populations Creative American finance elsewhere on the planet; the spiritual Stephen Halliday describes more divide between those who have come to questionable financing schemes for the know Christ and those for whom the Underground in the 20th century. Christian message falls on deaf ears. The All creatures here below contrast between those for whom the Gerry and Shirley Morrish want us to aftermath of 11th September will mean be less anthropocentric in our Christian that Christmas rings somewhat hollow, outlook. and those us of for whom a traditional Christmas surrounded by family is in What sort of world? prospect. Rev. Peter Hart wonders what we are So, however you may be preparing to building for Christ to rule over. celebrate the Christmas season, may I and the Review team wish you a peaceful, ... plus our regular features, readers’ enjoyable – and a thoughtful – time. letters, notes & notices and diary dates. Chris Smalley Editorial Team: David Woodward, 3 Murray Road, Berkhamsted HP4 1JD (862723) Chris Smalley, 18 Osmington Place, Tring HP23 4EG (826821) email: [email protected] fax: 01753 855021 (attn: Chris Smalley) Advertising: David Woodward, 3 Murray Road, Berkhamsted HP4 1JD (862723) Circulation: Daphne Montague, 27 Hill View, Berkhamsted HP4 1SA (875320) Treasurer: Miles Nicholas, 46 Fieldway, Berkhamsted HP4 2NY (871598) Parish office: The Court House, Berkhamsted HP4 2AX Sec: Jean Green (878227) email: [email protected] Responsibility for opinions expressed in articles and letters published in this Review and for the accuracy of any statements in them rests solely with the individual contributor Next copy dates (all Fridays): 30 November 4 January 1 February (Note early copy date for Jan issue) 2 review leader No doubt one of struck by its urging those who go on Fr Mark Bonney the carols that pilgrimage to the Holy Land to continue to will be sung do so, but to do so in an ethical way: ‘Too ponders on the many times over often pilgrimages explore the landscape of dangers faced by the next few the Bible and see ancient archaeological weeks will be O sites, but never take steps to engage with Christians in the little town of indigenous Christian communities… To Holy Land today. Bethlehem, how many people the Middle East is a land of still we see thee Muslims and Israel a land of Jews. Yet this lie. Nothing could be further from the truth area is the birthplace of Jesus and of in our world at the moment. Bethlehem Christianity and ever since Pentecost there has witnessed many scenes of violence have been Christians in the Middle East. over recent months and years. The town Too often Christians from the western in which the Prince of Peace was born world travel in the Holy Land as tourists knows no peace; the city of Jerusalem and sightseers. They may run where Jesus outside which he was killed is a place of walked, explore the landscape and see the enormous tension. The situation between ancient stones – but never meet any of the Israel and Palestine is incredibly community of Christians, which has for complicated, as we all know. The whys centuries welcomed pilgrims and visitors.’ and wherefores of Israel taking no notice Just the other day someone told me with a of over 200 UN resolutions against its lovely smile that they’d just come back settling in Palestinian territory, the whys from a wonderful trip to the Holy Land and wherefores of the fanatical activity of (going in September and October this Palestinian groups and the lack of control year). I asked whether they’d met any over them are beyond the unravelling of local Christians – the answer was ‘no’, and most of us (so some rush for simplistic a look as if that was something of an answers – beware!). A group that is extraordinary question to ask. suffering enormously and often gets Just as pilgrimages to the Holy Land so forgotten is the Palestinian Christians - easily sentimentalise, so can our Christians in the Holy Land are getting celebrations of Christmas. ‘The Word fewer and fewer day by day. became flesh and dwelt among us’ is a There’s a real danger that faced with deep mystery and truth – it’s earthy, the anguish of our world at the moment materialistic, rooted in reality, deeply we’ll use the sentimentality of Victorian human and deeply divine. We Christmas carols to anaesthetize ourselves sentimentalise Christmas and the from the present pain and agonies of the Incarnation if we simply see it as a past world, and not least that part of it where event. It is that, but equally it’s a present Jesus was born, lived, preached, was killed reality – the Word is enfleshed in every and was raised from the dead. As I write person who follows Christ today. Let’s this I’m preparing for the forthcoming pray that by God’s grace each and meeting of General Synod at which there’s everyone of us who follow Christ may be going to be a debate about the channels of his peace – as we pray for the international situation. One of the peace of Jerusalem, for the peace of background papers is about the Israel / Bethlehem and for the peace of the world. Palestine situation, and I was particularly 3 Sarah Davey MSTAT, RCST Teacher of the Alexander WOODS OF B ERKHAMSTED Technique A Capital Gift & Garden Centre Cranio Sacral The Old Iron Works, High Street, Berkhamsted Therapist Hertfordshire HP4 1BJ Tel: (01442) 250712 Tel: (01442) 863159 email: ‘The Natural Place for Gardeners’ [email protected] Will Kimberley SUPPLI ERS OF FI NE HAND MADE CHOCOLATES 01442 255784 Grass cutting Hedge trimming Patios cleaned Gutters cleared All cuttings and SOCIAL FUNCTIONS, clippings removed CORPORATE HOSPI TALITY References available ALSO TRADITIONAL BOMBONIERE Why not phone FOR WEDDI NGS for a quote? 01442 865679 4 College and King’s College, Cambridge - a fact we are reminded of every Christmas in the bidding prayer in the broadcast of the Nine Lessons and Carols service from King’s. This and other good works earned him the title of ‘royal saint’, although he was never properly canonised. The local connection is that he resided in Berkhamsted Castle for some of the most important years of his reign. So perhaps he took to the grave with him, and beyond, fond memories of the Town and an inclination to keep a watchful eye on the place, for a while at any rate Vermin Canon Basil Jones tells me that he enjoys working his allotment off New Road, Northchurch, although the greatest beneficiaries of his labour are the rabbits. Bean Roasting in Berkhamsted There are hundreds of them there. Further Gerry Morrish has sent me an extract from afield, on a walk over Castle Hill farm you an article in History Today on children’s are likely to see them there too in larger games in mediaeval England, which numbers than ever before. contained the following: Then this year there must be a record A further autumn custom, roasting number of grey squirrels: they are beans, occurs in a unique reference among everywhere, in the country and in the the miracles of Henry VI, relating to the Town. I counted seven in St Peter’s late 15th century. A house in Berkhamsted churchyard the other day and five under was nearly burnt by a bonfire in the horse chestnut trees on the Moor. At September before being saved by the dead least two have been squashed under the king’s intervention. This fire, says the wheels of speeding traffic in Castle Street miracle recorder, was the result of a (understandably, as it is difficult enough ‘children’s game’, ‘for children are for people to cross this road safely, let accustomed in the autumn to burn beans alone rodents), and they even get into our or peas in their stalks, so that they may eat high walled little garden. them half burnt.’ Of course there is plenty to nourish Gerry says he has never come across them these days: quantities of discarded any reference to this incident and half-eaten kebabs and pizzas for example; wondered if I had, commenting that but that doesn’t stop them digging up the roasting beans doesn’t sound a particularly crocus bulbs in the churchyard.