THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST PETER’S, EDGMOND WITH ST CHAD’S, KYNNERSLEY AND ST LAWRENCE PRESTON WEALD MOORS including VILLAGE NEWS JULY 2013 Visit us at www.stpeterschurchedgmond.org and www.edgmondparishcouncil.co.uk RECTOR (usual day off: Monday) The Revd Prebendary Edward Ward, Edgmond Rectory 820217 RESIDENT MINISTER (part time; usual day off: Saturday) The Revd David Stokes-Harrison, Tibberton Rectory 551117 LICENSED READER Paul Benton 603071 CHURCHWARDENS John Ingram, Lovatt Cottage, 5 Turners Lane, Edgmond 810337 Chris Taylor, Provost’s House, High Street, Edgmond 810880 PCC SECRETARY Jane Gill 811201 TREASURER AND STEWARDSHIP RECORDER Rodney Bunyan 810957 ORGANIST AND CHOIRMASTER Dr Colin Brown 550164 TOWER CAPTAIN and RINGING MASTER Edric Broom 825851 TOWER SECRETARY Mark Adams 810471 PUBLICITY c/o Penny Westgate 812920 MOTHERS’ UNION Margaret Matthews 825976 MAGAZINE EDITOR Sara Taylor, Provost’s House, Edgmond, TF10 8JY 810880 Email: [email protected] MAGAZINE ADVERTISING Chris Taylor, Provost’s House, Edgmond, TF10 8JY 810880 Email: [email protected] MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION Penny Hughes 813017 2 Dear Friends, “Well, it takes all sorts” is the sort thing we say when someone has done something unusual, something unexpected. We can’t think how they’ve done it. Let’s be honest – we can’t think why they’ve done it! But there you are, it takes all sorts. We have to be prepared to accept that people are all different, and that other people may fulfil a place in God’s plan which we could never fill, because we aren’t like that. How boring the world would be if we were all the same, if there wasn’t this colourful variety in human nature. People may say “comparisons are odious”, meaning offensive or repulsive. Shakespeare in ‘Much Ado About Nothing” has a character who misquotes and says “comparisons are odorous” meaning smelly. I expect the Elizabethan audiences roared at that. One of my wife’s brothers in law would find that highly amusing while I would remain silent, but there you are, it takes all sorts. The Church is built in the real world where there are different challenges, requiring many people with different gifts. No one type of person is a typical church member. The Apostles were all different. We probably think that they were all much the same. But they weren’t. For instance, our patron saint in Edgmond, St Peter, was impetuous, hot headed, impulsive; he always spoke from his heart, never with his head. But without his enthusiasm the Church might never have grown as quickly as it did in those first years. Coming a few days after St Peter’s day is St Thomas’ day. Thomas appears to have been a quiet thinker, who wanted to reason everything out to his own satisfaction before coming to a decision. He was a loner. He wouldn’t accept the other disciples’ claims to have seen the risen Jesus, and he wouldn’t believe until he had seen for himself. And when he did see the risen Jesus he reached a level of faith the others hadn’t then reached. But then they were all different. It takes all sorts to make a world. Each one of us is different. Probably most of us are mixtures of Peter and Thomas. You can’t ask who’s the best Christian on a scale of one to ten; we’re all different because we’ve all got different jobs to do in God’s plan for the world. One important lesson we learn from all of this is tolerance. When we meet someone who is different from us, we should say “Alleluia”. Thank goodness there are people who can do things we could never do. The other important lesson is to value our own gifts. It would have been of no use if Peter had tried to be a Thomas, or if Thomas had tried to be a Peter. Don’t waste time envying someone who is different from you. Instead, look to see what potential God has given you, and try to use it in the service of God and others. After all, it takes all sorts to make a world, and even God’s kingdom. May God bless you all. Your priest and friend, Edward Ward 3 SERVICES IN THE JULY DATE EDGMOND KYNNERSLEY PRESTON Wednesday 3rd 9.30 am St Thomas Holy Communion Thursday 4th 9.30 am Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 7th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Trinity 6 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am Family Communion Thursday 11th 9.30 am Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 14th 7.45 am 3.00 pm 10.15 am Trinity 7 Holy Communion Pet Service at Wall Family Service 10.30 am Farm Sung Eucharist 6.30 pm Healing Service Thursday 18th 9.30 am Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 21st 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Trinity 8 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am United Open Air Service at the Methodist Chapel Monday 22nd 9.30 am Mary Magdalene Holy Communion Thursday 25th 9.30 am James the Apostle Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 28th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Trinity 9 Holy Communion Family Service Holy Communion 10.30 am Sung Eucharist 4 SIX PARISHES 2013 DATE TIBBERTON GREAT BOLAS WATERS UPTON Wednesday 3rd St Thomas Thursday 4th SUNDAY 7th 10 . 30 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Trinity 6 Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Thursday 11th SUNDAY 14th 9.00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Trinity 7 Holy Communion Holy Communion Said Communion Thursday 18th SUNDAY 21st 6.30 pm 10.30 am 9.15 am Trinity 8 Evensong Holy Communion Holy Communion Monday 22nd Mary Magdalene Thursday 25th James the Apostle SUNDAY 28th 9.00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Trinity 9 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 5 FROM THE REGISTERS HOLY BAPTISM 19th May (Whitsunday) at St Lawrence’s, Preston – Noah Graeme, son of Jonathan and Amanda Wickstead. FUNERALS 16th May at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Richard (Dick) Andrew. The service was followed by interment in the churchyard. 22nd May at Newport Cemetery Chapel – Edwin John Jones. 5th June at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Lawrence Barber. The service was followed by cremation at Telford Crematorium. 6th June at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Susan Bowen. The service was followed by cremation at Telford Crematorium. CREMATIONS 17th May at Telford Crematorium – David Boag. BURIAL OF ASHES 23rd May at Caynton Manor – Barbara Furniss. FROM THE EDITOR Edgmond recently lost two of its best-known and much loved characters: Lawrence L Barber and Dr Dick Andrew. Our front cover this month pays tribute to these two fine men who will be sorely missed. Edric Broom writes about Lawrence the Bellringer on page 7 and Dick’s obituary can be found on page 8. More about Lawrence and his significant contribution to village life will appear in next month’s magazine. The next edition of the Parish Magazine and Village News will be a double issue covering the two months of August and September. The deadline for contributions is Sunday, 7th July. Please remember that your articles need to cover both months and should be delivered in good time to me at the address on the inside front cover – or you can email them to me at [email protected]. I’m always especially pleased to receive your photos (preferably by email), especially ones of people, places and events which take place in and around our villages. 6 FESTIVAL OF CHURCHES - 14/15TH SEPTEMBER The Shropshire Churches Tourism group and Shropshire Historic Churches Trust have joined with the Dioceses of Lichfield, Hereford and Worcester for a regional Churches Festival Weekend. All churches are being encouraged to open their doors and hold various events (large or small) of whatever nature the parish chooses. The objectives of the festival are: Encouragement to make greater community use of the church building Closer community cohesion and sense of identity Wider understanding of the needs and values of parish life Getting people through a church door they have never been through before Provide an opportunity to tell the Christian story Raise funds for the Historic Churches Trust. The Festival Weekend will also include the annual Ride & Stride (previously the sponsored Bike Ride) for the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. It is hoped that these two events will raise funds so that more money can be allocated to church buildings requiring repair and restoration. Don’t forget that all monies for repair of churches come from the parishes. The Government gives NOTHING towards the repair or maintenance of these ancient buildings, and many small congregations are finding it difficult to raise the necessary funds. If anyone is interested in joining a small working party to organise events, or if you have an idea for an event, please tell the Churchwardens or the Rector. If you are willing to be the Parish Organiser for the Ride & Stride again please give your name to either the Churchwardens or the Rector. In the past St Peter’s has received several thousand pounds from this fund, but if we don’t take part there’ll be less to allocate. NEW MAYOR OF TELFORD AND WREKIN Councillor Leon Murray was elected as Mayor for Telford and Wrekin for 2013/14 at the annual ceremony on May 23rd. Councillor Murray was born in Jamaica and came to Telford in 1961. He was raised a Methodist and is a member of the New Street Methodist Church, Wellington, and is a Vice President of British Methodism.