THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST PETER’S, EDGMOND WITH ST CHAD’S, KYNNERSLEY AND ST LAWRENCE PRESTON WEALD MOORS including VILLAGE NEWS MAY 2014 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 Paul Lewis 820135 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, “When I use a word” said Humpty Dumpty in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I want it to mean – neither more nor less.” I feel that we’ve got into that position over marriage with the new equal marriages coming into force. Who defines marriage: the state, the Church, or who else? However the state has frequently intervened over the centuries to define aspects of marriage and divorce. For instance it has decreed how old people must be before they can be married; bigamy and polygamy are forbidden; marriage between people who have a certain relationship with each other is forbidden; it has made it more difficult for people outside the EU to marry (you should see the amount of paperwork this involves for the parish priest; a degree in Law is required!). The state has said that adultery is not the only reason for divorce. It has added many more. So the state has often intervened, and by and large, the Church has accepted these decisions. Marriage for all major Christian Churches is a relationship between a man and a woman. It is a sacrament performed and lived by a man and a woman, through which “husband and wife may know the grace of God” and that “… they shall be united with one another…as Christ is united with his bride, the Church”. And it is not homophobic to argue that marriage is undertaken by a man and a woman. The recent legislation distinguishes between the new equal marriage and the Church’s understanding of marriage, although you wouldn’t know that from the attacks upon the Church from the secular world. Perhaps it would have been better if the Church had declared that gay relationships can be God-given and God-blessed but that they are intrinsically different to the Christian understanding of marriage. So where do we go from here? One suggestion which I have seen recently is for the Church to withdraw from the legal business of solemnizing and registering marriages, and adopt the continental system where everyone has to have a civil marriage and those who want to can have an additional religious service in a church. This doesn’t sort out the problem of exactly which couple, and what kind of relationship can be blessed, but it may sort out part of the problem. Or another solution could be the adoption of a form of service of blessing and dedication after a civil marriage which would include a same-sex relationship. This would affirm the relationship but not necessarily name it as a Christian marriage. Whichever way the Church goes, it must at all times show love and respect to all the people who come to her for guidance seeking a blessing upon their relationships. For where love is, there is God. God bless you. Your priest and friend, Edward Ward 3 SERVICES IN THE MAY DATE EDGMOND KYNNERSLEY PRESTON Thursday 1st 9.30 am St Philip & St James Holy Communion SUNDAY 4th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 3 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am Family Communion Thursday 8th 9.30 am Holy Communion SUNDAY 11th 7.45 am 10.30 am 10.15 am Easter 4 Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service 10.30 am Sung Eucharist 6.30 pm Healing Service Wednesday 14th 9.30 am St Matthias Holy Communion Thursday 15th 9.30 am Holy Communion 8.30 pm Compline SUNDAY 18th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 5 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion 10.30 am Family Service Thursday 22nd 9.30 am Holy Communion SUNDAY 25th 7.45 am 10.30 am 9.00 am Easter 6 Holy Communion Family Service Holy Communion 10.30 am Sung Eucharist Thursday 29th 7 .00 am Ascension Day Holy Communion and Hymns from the Tower 9.30 am Holy Communion 4 SIX PARISHES 2014 DATE TIBBERTON GREAT BOLAS WATERS UPTON Thursday 1st St Philip & St James SUNDAY 4th 10 . 30 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 3 Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Thursday 8th SUNDAY 11th 9.00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 4 Holy Communion Holy Communion Said Communion Wednesday 14th St Matthias Thursday 15th SUNDAY 18th 6 . 30 pm 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 5 Evensong Holy Communion Holy Communion Thursday 22nd SUNDAY 25th 9 . 00 am 10.30 am 9.15 am Easter 6 Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Thursday 29th Ascension Day 5 FROM THE REGISTERS HOLY BAPTISM 29th March at St Michael & All Angels, Waters Upton – Ella Rebecca-Rose, daughter of Nathan Cieciora and Samantha Corbett. FUNERALS 4th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Margaret (Peggy) Denton. The service was followed by cremation at Telford Crematorium. 29th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Suzanne Bruce. The service was followed by interment in the churchyard. 2nd April at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Stuart Locklin. The service was followed by interment in the churchyard. BURIAL OF ASHES 6th March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Margaret (Peggy) Denton. 22nd March at St Peter’s, Edgmond – Phyllis Edwards. 26th March at St Lawrence’s, Preston upon the Wealdmoors – Joyce Brayne. ASCENSION DAY Ascension Day this year falls on Thursday May 29th. As is the tradition at St Peter’s, Edgmond there will be two celebrations of Holy Communion that morning: the first at 7.00 am according to Common Worship and the second at 9.30 am according to the Book of Common Prayer. For the more energetic the early morning service (7.00 am) will be followed by hymn singing from the roof of the church tower, which symbolises Jesus’ return to heaven. All are welcome at these services. ARCHDEACON’S VISITATION The Archdeacon’s Visitation this year will be held on Tuesday, May 20th at St Andrew’s, Shifnal. It is at this meeting that the recently elected Churchwardens are officially and legally admitted to their Office. This year the Bishop of Shrewsbury will be at the Visitation, and the meeting is entitled “All Together Now”, and is a follow-up to the “Streams in the Desert” discussions each PCC has had. The meeting will include some teaching, sharing of ideas, and is open to all members of the congregation. The Bishop is hoping that 20% from every congregation will attend. 6 FROM THE EDITOR Many festivals and celebrations take place during the month of May, some of which are illustrated on our front cover. May Day (May 1st) traditionally features Maypole dancing (top left) – a community activity which became very popular in England following the Restoration of 1660. The photograph of Jerusalem (centre left) reminds us of the Jewish celebration of Jerusalem Day, 28th May, which was declared a holiday in 1968 to commemorate the liberation of Jerusalem resulting from the Six-Day War the preceding year. On 29th May this year Christians celebrate Ascension Day to mark Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Here in Edgmond the doughty among us climb to the top of St Peter’s Church tower after the 7.00 am Communion Service and enjoy some lusty hymn-singing over the village (see page 4) – last year’s singers are pictured bottom left. Lastly, on the right we see the image of St Bede the Venerable, the immensely scholarly monk who most famously wrote “An Ecclesiastical History of the English People” and whose Saint’s Day falls on May 25th. St Bede died on Ascension Day in 735 AD and was buried in Jarrow; his tomb is now in Durham Cathedral. The next edition of the Parish Magazine and Village News will cover the month of June and the deadline for contributions is Sunday, 4th May. Please deliver your contributions in good time to me at the address on the inside front cover – or you can email them to me at [email protected]. This is your magazine and depends entirely on your reports, news, articles and comments! Do remember too that I’m always delighted to receive your photos (preferably by email), especially ones of people, places and events which take place in and around our villages. Don’t forget that you can also read this magazine online on both the village and church websites (addresses on the front cover). HEALING SERVICE TIME The monthly Healing Service at St Peter’s, Edgmond reverts to the usual time of 6.30 pm during Spring and Summer. This is a short, quiet, reflective service which includes the laying on of hands.