EAST MARSHLAND BENEFICE GOOD NEWS PARISH MAGAZINE Terrington St John * Tilney St Lawrence * Tilney All Saints Wiggenhall St Germans * Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene April 2019 ALL ENQUIRIES ON CHURCH MATTERS (including weddings, baptisms and funerals) to Revd Martin Dale 01945 880259 or by e-mail to [email protected] Home Communion If you, or someone you know, cannot get to church and would like to receive communion at home, please contact either Rev. Martin Dale (01945 880259) or Rev. Barbara Pearman (01553 828808) Prayer Chain If anyone would like prayers said for anyone or have any concerns, please contact Angie Yeoman on 01553 617518 Please forward all items for May 2019 newsletter to [email protected] no later than Friday 12th April 2019 Clergy and Readers East Marshland Benefice Revd Martin Dale The Vicarage, 37 Church Rd, Tilney St Lawrence, 01945-880 259- PE34 4QQ Revd Barbara Pearman 8 School Rd, Tilney All Saints, PE34 4SJ 01553-810808 Mr. Mark Wright 2 Lynn Road, Wiggenhall St Germans, PE34 3DW 01553-617 689 Dr Cyril Dodd Somerville House, Church Road, Terrington St 01945 739069 John, Wisbech, PE14 7RY. Mrs Stevie Brooks 4 Clement Close, Outwell, Wisbech, 01945 592762 Cambridgeshire PE14 8QY Churchwardens Terrington St John Mrs Christine Chaffe 10 King John Avenue, Kings Lynn, 01553-691 613 PE30 4QA Mr Tim Clayton Silverton House, Church Road 01945-880 406 Terrington St John, PE14 7RY Tilney St Lawrence Mr Geoffrey Place Woodstock, Workhouse Lane, Tilney St Lawrence, PE34 4QH 01945-881 126 Mrs Wendy Shattock 5 Aylmer Dr. Tilney St Lawrence 01945 881 285 PE34 4RQ Tilney All Saints Mr David Cook 11 Pullover Road, Tiley All Saints 01553 760303 Kings Lynn PE34 4SG Mrs Audrey Wootton Clearview, Shepherdsgate Road, Tiley All Saints 01553 829603 Kings Lynn PE34 4RP Wiggenhall St Germans Mrs Angela Yeoman 84 High Road, Tilney Cum Islington Kings Lynn 01553 617 518 PE34 3BN Mrs Carolyn Cast 7 Foxglove Walk, Wiggenhall St Germans Kings 01553 617986 Lynn PE34 3FL Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene Mr Alan Sherfield Toll Bar Cottage, Toll Bar Corner, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene, PE34 3BE 01553 810 796 Mrs Christine Hale Low Roofs, 26, Church Road, Wiggenhall St Mary 01553 810385 Magdalen, Kings Lynn Mr Peter Gagen 73 Stow Rd, Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalene, (Churchwarden Emeritus) Kings Lynn PE34 3DJ 01553-810509 1 East Marshland Benefice Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Tilney All Saints, Wiggenhall St Germans, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Rev’d Martin Dale (Vicar) The Vicarage 37 Church Rd Tilney St Lawrence PE34 4QQ Tel: 01945 880259 e-mail:[email protected] Rev’d Barbara Pearm’an (Associate Minister) Rambles 8 School Rd Tilney All Saints PE34 4RS Tel: 01553 828808 e-mail: [email protected] EMB Benefice Council The Benefice Council came into effect on 4th March 2011 and co- ordinates all activities regarding Mission and Ministry for the Benefice. It is made up of the Clergy, the Readers, Churchwardens and Treasurers of the parishes and up to two co-opted members. 2 Letter from the Vicarage A young man applied for a job as a farm hand. When asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The farm implements had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn had been properly locked. All was well. Even the animals were calm. It was then that the farmer grasped the meaning of the young man’s words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." Because the farm hand had performed his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. Consequently, when the wind blew, he had no fear. He was able to sleep in peace. As I write this, we are in Lent, a time of reflection. And so I am challenged to ask the question of myself: “Have I done what God has called me to do to the best of my ability?” As a Christian, I don’t follow Christ to please others but to please God. Indeed the apostles and early church leaders didn’t top the popularity polls. Many of them were martyred for their faith in cruel and painful deaths. 3 And so I ask the question of myself: Would God say of me – as he does to the faithful servant in Matthew 25 - “Well done thou good and faithful servant”? For being a Christian is not simply “believing in God” or going to Church on Sunday. That’s a good start but that isn’t the end of the story. We are called to follow Jesus in a life of service – of service to God and of service to others. We are called to share our faith with others, not because we are killjoys but rather because it is a source of joy and fulfilment in our lives. Maddy and I wish you all a wonderful and blessed time over Easter and look forward to seeing you at our Easter services. 4 Come with us to Switzerland! Maddy is organising a trip to Switzerland from 30th July till 6th August 2019 at Hotel Athos in Interlaken. Price around £1000 per person 2 sharing (all inclusive of flights, meals in the hotel and the outings on railways, gondolas and boats). Please call Maddy at 01945-880 259 if you want to find out more 5 Tilney All Saints Church News I love the spring and the promise it offers. Spring flowers fill the garden, birds are busy raising this year’s first batch of chicks, and trees are greening as buds put out tender green leaves. Insects are quietly buzzing as the land shakes itself out of its winter sleep. It reminds me of how the teachings of Jesus often wake people from their mental somnolence. It may be a slow thaw that helps them to a deep understanding of ideas that are only familiar in a superficial sense; or it may be a sudden and overwhelming burst of warmth that fills the heart and mind with an unexpected truth, just like a flower that suddenly opens in the warmth of the sun. This understanding can arrive when least expected. The great John Wesley, an Anglican clergyman, was sitting in church when he was moved by what he described as a ‘great light’. Suddenly he understood the truth of Christ’s teaching and knew what he must do. He began to travel the length and breadth of the country, preaching the Christian message. Thousands of people came to listen to him and many were moved to change their life. Sadly, he and his brother Charles were considered too controversial for the established church 6 and were rejected. They, along with some others, founded the Methodist movement. (‘Methodist’ came from derogatory name-calling because they had ‘odd methods’). We may not all experience a ‘great light’, or go on to become a famous preacher but God calls us just as we are to do what we can, in the way that we can. We may not be able to change the world, but we can change our small corner of it. We can make a difference by showing a tolerance for those who are different from us; by listening to them, valuing them and respecting them. We can save intolerance for mindless cruelty and violence; for meanness and spitefulness; for dishonesty and fraud. This month we celebrate Easter, that great festival that marks the very beginning of the Christian Church. Jesus suffered a violent and cruel execution on Friday (‘Good Friday’) and as he had promised, he came back to reveal himself to his friends on the third day (Sunday) to show them that our earthly life is not all there is. Our bodies may die but the soul that is ‘us’ lives on. Jesus gently lifted the veil between earth and heaven to show us that there is no need for us to be fearful or despondent. Our quietly growing group at Tilney All Saints understands that we need to learn as much as we can from Jesus’ teaching. There’s normally an opportunity to ask questions and share experiences. Newcomers are always welcome, as are children – who can either join in the service or explore the children’s corner. 7 Come along and try us. You will always be welcome, and you could meet some new friends. You may also get to meet God if you are especially blessed. We meet at 11am each week, except for the second Sunday of the month which is a 10am united service circulating round the four churches. Mid-week service: Every Wednesday morning at 9.30am, I perform a mid-week service of Holy Communion in the Lady Chapel of Tilney All Saints Church. It’s a wonderful opportunity to take some time away from the demands of day to day life and draw closer to God in this gentle service of thankfulness. Please consider coming if you are able to. Dates for you Diary: Jars of Tears At Tilney All Saints we are collecting for Water Aid during Lent using their ‘Jars of Tears’ campaign.