JANUARY 2021 The Parish of Kidmore End & Sonning Common The Lamb and Flag The parish magazine of St John the Baptist Church, Kidmore End and Christ the King Church, Sonning Common 50p CONTACTING THE CLERGY AND CHURCH OFFICERS Rector Revd James Stickings Telephone 0118 972 1459 Email [email protected] For the time being, please contact one of the churchwardens if you need advice or support. Associate Priest Revd Sheila Walker Telephone 0118 972 4861 Email [email protected] Churchwardens Nick Room Telephone 0118 972 2258 Email [email protected] Richard Walker Telephone 0118 327 6107 Email [email protected] Musical Director St John’s Frances Brewitt - Telephone 0118 948 2743 Taylor Email [email protected] PCC Treasurer Nick Room Telephone 0118 972 2258 Email [email protected] PCC Secretary Jenny MacGregor Telephone 0118 947 2855 Email [email protected] The parish website can be found on https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/166 A NEW YEAR REFLECTION 2020 was probably a year to which more downbeat adjectives than normal can be applied. The scale of suffering and misery brought about by the Covid 19 virus has been, and continues to be, large and widespread. We have been forced to set aside many normal ways of living. When football teams lose a match, managers, though disappointed, are often heard to say, ‘we’ll take the positives and move on.’ And perhaps that is a philosophy we can all try to embrace as we move through 2021. One of the products of the very difficult times through which we have lived in 2020 is that we have found new ways of living or doing things. In the lockdown that took place from 23 March many found more time to devote to domestic chores like gardening and cookery; or take on healthy leisure pursuits like walking or cycling. Being required to remain at home meant that where possible we had to contact family and friends via technology beit the telephone or ‘Zoom’ but perhaps more frequently than normal. We may have taken extra care to enquire about elderly neighbours and ensure that help was on hand to them if needed. Lockdown may have given us the opportunity to take up something new. Was a more restrained Christmas celebration an opportunity to focus on the most important aspects of the season? Was it more peaceful and a little less stressful? Possibly not given the restrictions. Many say, ‘I don’t make new year’s resolutions,’ but it might do no harm for each of us to reflect on 2020. What ‘positives’ can we take into this new year? Because a collective effort may make a significant difference for good in our families, our friendships and our communities. We read in Matthew’s Gospel, ‘Let your light so shine, that others may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ Let us do all we can to ensure lots of brightly shining light in 2021. 1 ‘HABEMUS EPISCOPUS’ – THE NEW BISHOP OF DORCHESTER Towards the end of November the Ven Gavin Collins was named as the next Bishop of Dorchester. He will be consecreated on 28 January. Gavin, 53, was educated in Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He then worked as a solicitor in the City of London before training for ministry at Trinity College Bristol. Having grown up in Sussex, Gavin is a life-long and active supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion FC, which he says, proves he is a person of great faith. At present he is Archdeacon of The Meon in the Diocese of Portsmouth. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft said; “I am delighted that Gavin has accepted the invitation to be the next Bishop of Dorchester. Gavin is known for his warmth and approachability, and he is passionate about the mission of the church. He’s experienced in bringing churches, local authorities and civil society organisations together for the good of all, and is clear about the issues rural communities and towns face. I am very excited about what Gavin’s appointment means for the Diocese of Oxford.” 2 SEASONAL COOKING – FELICITY COOPER Some hae meat, and cannae eat, And some wad eat that want it, but we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit. Selkirk grace attributed to Robert Burns born 25 January 1759 The baptism of Christ is the feast day celebrating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Originally celebrated on 6 January it is now a distinct feast celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Pope John Paul II started the tradition of baptising babies in the Sistine chapel during the Mass celebrating the Baptism of Christ. In the Ukraine craft fairs are held with traditional food, drinks, and entertainment. Across southern and eastern Europe Orthodox Christians jump into freezing cold lake water to retrieve a wooden crucifix! practising Catholics often re-affirm their faith on this day. In the city church of St Magnus the Martyr the feast of the baptism of Christ is celebrated in a rather unusual fashion. On a freezing January day, clergy, and members of the congregation process onto London Bridge to meet with the clergy and congregation of Southwark Cathedral. A service is held on the bridge and a wooden cross is dropped into the Thames. The Port of London Authority and City police are pre warned so there is no risk of the cross causing a concussion to occupants of passing boats. You might recognise a familiar face in the photograph alongside. 3 Vegetarian Scotch Eggs Ingredients 5 large eggs (at room temperature) 8 vegetarian sausages (Cumberland or Lincolnshire work well) 1 tbsp chopped parsley 1 clove of garlic (crushed) A pinch of chilli flakes (optional) Plain flour Panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tbsp of finely grated parmesan cheese Vegetable cooking oil (I use rapeseed oil) Instructions Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and carefully lower four eggs into it. Boil for 6½ minutes. This results in a soft yolk and set white. Add extra time if you like your yolk well cooked. Remove the eggs and place in a bowl of iced water. When completely cool remove the shells and set aside. Break up the sausages and mix with the parsley, garlic, and chilli flakes. Beat the remaining egg and if the sausage meat is too dry add a little to the mixture to bind. Mix thoroughly and divide into four balls. Flatten a ball of sausage meat onto a piece of cling film and wrap one of the hardboiled eggs ensuring an even, smooth covering with no gaps. Roll into the flour, then the beaten egg and finally the breadcrumbs and parmesan Repeat with the other eggs Put into the fridge for at least 2 hours to set. Heat about 5 cm of oil in a wok or deep frying pan to 160°C/320°F and fry the scotch eggs for 6-7 minutes until the breadcrumbs are light golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and put into a hot oven for 2 minutes to finish cooking. Serve hot or cold with mayonnaise. Pork sausages may be substituted. A substantial meal to enjoy after your dip in an ice-cold lake! 4 FEAST DAYS AND OTHER COMMEMORATIONS IN FEBRUARY The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, often referred to as Candlemas, falls on 2 February but it may be marked on Sunday 31 January. As previously mentioned, Ash Wednesday falls on 17 February marking the start of Lent. The Book of Common Prayer has a feast day for St Mathias on 24 February although the Common Worship Lectionary marks the event on 14 May. The Queen’s Accession may be marked on 6 February and George Herbert, poet and priest, 1633 is marked on 27 February. ARCHBISHOP OF YORK’S SUNDAY REFLECTION ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT In this liturgical year, which has just started, most of our gospel readings through the year will be from St Mark’s Gospel. And today we get the very opening and you’ll notice straight away that unlike Matthew and Luke and to a certain extent John there’s no real mention of the birth of Jesus, the story 5 of the incarnation, at all. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus arrives on the scene of human history being as a grown man. And we get straight into the action of the story. Mark’s Gospel is an action-packed gospel. It’s the shortest of all the gospels, probably the earliest and we begin with Jesus’ baptism. Which is a bit odd in a way because we might think that Jesus is the one person who doesn’t need to be baptized. But straight away what Mark is demonstrating is that God has come to us in Jesus Christ first of all to show complete solidarity with us. The one person who doesn’t need to be baptized is baptized and that person is Jesus who is on our side. But in this Advent season the other person who ‘carols’ across this part of the story is John the Baptist himself, the forerunner of Jesus. John the Baptist is like the last character in the old testament and the first character in the new testament, the last of the prophets the one who directly points us to Jesus. So what I have been thinking about as I read this passage is what to share with you in this Diocese. There is two things; first of all, who was it that pointed you to Jesus, and, how can you point others? And let me just tell you a quick story from my own experience in life.