The Parish Magazine for Burton Joyce, Bulcote & Stoke Bardolph Freya Rowe, cadmiumirisdesigns.co.uk LAST EDITION DECEMBER 2020 This is the Parish Magazine for Burton Joyce, Bulcote and Stoke Bardolph. It is published by St Helen’s Parochial Church Council IN THIS FINAL EDITION Letter from the Vicar 2/3 Cheer from the Library 24 Anna’s Newsletter 4 In our Garden 25/26 Church Year & the People 6/7 BJ Primary School 28/29 Eulogies/Tributes for: December Gardening 30/31 Jean Truswell 8 BJ Community Brass 32 Dick Powell 9 Business Support Grants 33 Joyce Lee 9 Gedling BCC Policy 34 Ian Hichens 10 Christmas Cyber Crime 35/36 Lynn Turner 11 Biodiversity Group 37/38 Good wishes 12 & 14 Listen Carefully 39 BJ & Bulcote Calendar 15 How to print the Mag 40 Parish Councillors 16 Train Timetable 41 BJ Parish Council 18/20 Useful Names/Contacts 42 Bulcote Parish Council 21/22 Sally’s front cover drawings 43 “The Magazine” 23 Many thanks to Freya Rowe who Many thanks to Anne Tate provided the front cover picture. Photography for providing the front cover photo for the adverts section. cadmiumirisdesigns.co.uk https://www.annetatephotography.co.uk/ 2020 Parish Magazine Page 1 DECEMBER LETTER Despite what you might have heard, Christmas has not been cancelled this year! Whether or not we are able to gather for worship, Christians in Nottingham and all over the world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, God with us. We are in lockdown once again as I write this, although hopefully it will end as intended early in December. But the restrictions do make planning for Christmas quite difficult, for churches as much as for everyone else. As I begin to think about the next few weeks, the great Advent themes of darkness and light seem especially relevant this year. 2020 has felt particularly dark. Most of us have had moments of anxiety and uncertainty about the future. For some there has been fear and sorrow. Others have experienced illness and loss. All of us have endured unprecedented restrictions, limiting our physical contact with those we love and forcing us to keep our distance from each other. But despite all this, there have also been moments of light in the darkness. Many of us have been spending more time with our families. We have become more aware of what is really important to us. There has been great humour and forbearance. We have risen to the challenges that have confronted us. As a community, we have been looking out for those in particular need. We have been wearing masks, not for our own benefit, but to keep other people safe. The great Christmas Gospel tells us that ‘the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it’ (John 1.5). Jesus comes as the light of the world (John 8.12). In him, the ancient prophecy has been fulfilled: ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined’ (Isaiah 9.2; Matthew 4.16). We do not know the actual date on which Jesus was born. It is just possible that early Christians co-opted the pagan festival of Sol Invictus. It is more likely that they believed – strange though it may seem to us – that Jesus was conceived and died on the same date, which they calculated to be 25 March. But whatever the reason, it is very appropriate that we celebrate Christmas in the middle of winter, when the weather is coldest and the nights are longest. By a cosmic coincidence, on the longest night of this year, 21 December, here will be a rare ‘great conjunction’ between Jupiter and Saturn. Viewed from Earth, the two planets will appear very close together: just a tenth of a degree apart, or a fifth of the diameter of the moon. It will be their closest conjunction since 1623. The two heavenly lights will almost converge, becoming a single light shining with exceptional brightness. Many people think that the ‘star’ the Magi followed to Bethlehem might have been a planetary conjunction, or else perhaps a comet. Men and women in ancient times studied the night skies Continued ... 2020 Parish Magazine Page 2 … Continued and were familiar with its patterns and movements. Abraham, the ancestor of God’s chosen people, was promised descendants as many as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15.1-6). The familiar lights in the heavens became for him a sign of hope and trust in God. When you look up at the night sky on 21 December, the light from Jupiter will have taken about 50 minutes to reach you, and the light from Saturn about 85 minutes. The starlight of Sirius has travelled for over eight years. The three stars of Orion’s belt are over 1200 light years away. The Andromeda galaxy, the furthest object visible with the naked eye, is 2.5 million light years distant. Celestial distances are mind-boggling. Space is very dark. But the light of the stars still reaches us, bringing hope and joy to those who look up and see it. The light shines in the darkness. We may be socially distanced, but God, ‘through whom all things came into being’ (John 1.3) is with us. The American theologian and civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, wrote this poem about lights in the darkness: I will light Candles this Christmas, Candles of joy despite all the sadness, Candles of hope where despair keeps watch, Candles of courage for fears ever present, Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days, Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens, Candles of love to inspire all my living, Candles that will burn all year long. When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among others, To make music in the heart. Love Anna Unfortunately at the time of writing we don’t know how the reopening of church will work out, but we will communicate through the newsletter and on the Facebook pages 2020 Parish Magazine Page 3 Anna’a Newsletter As we reach the half way point of November, I’m sure your thoughts are turning towards Christmas and how our celebrations might look this year. Who would have guessed that, in this topsy-turvy world, the possibility of seeing our loved ones in person might not be an option. Nevertheless I’m determined to make it as special an occasion as I can, in whatever shape or form it might be. We sent three large boxes of toys off to the Bags of Blessings charity for vulnerable children across Nottingham and had a couple of larger toys donated which will go to the Great Notts Toy Collection: On that note, please remember that we’re supporting the Great Notts Christmas Toy Appeal and all toys need to be dropped off on 28th November at Lowdham church ( all details on the newsletter) Anna Sims, our mission partner will be joining us via Zoom from Lima in Peru at 11am on Saturday 28th of November. We cant hold our usual fundraiser but Anna can provide a link to online giving and via the wonders of technology will be able to join us to talk about her life and ministry in Peru. Please get in touch if you'd like to receive the Zoom link. You'll also find Anna's latest newsletter on my newsletter post. Thank you to everyone who’s sent contributions to the ‘joy in the small things’ collection. Keep sending them through, anything that has resonated or continues to resonate during lockdown. As well as needing a Safeguarding Officer for BJBSB, we’re also changing the Administration across the Benefice. Attached is the job advert for a Vicar’s PA. If you’d like to be considered for the role, please send your CV and covering letter to Anna. There won’t be a newsletter next week as Tracey is on holiday. Originally this was to be a few days away, but will now be in the garden. Do join us online if you can. All the details are on the newsletter, and the order of service for this Sunday is attached. For your prayers · For Anna and Simon as they prepare and plan for Advent and Christmas, whilst being uncertain as to whether the churches will be allowed to open. Hold them in God’s love and surround them with his refreshing Spirit. · For us as we begin to think about Christmas and what it will look like this year. May it be motivated by acts of kindness, love and acceptance - for our families , friends and communities. · For all those struggling with illness, crises, big decisions and major changes in their lives. Let us show them our love and concern in our prayers. Make your prayer simple, as simple as you can. Reason little, love much, and you will pray well. Willie Doyle Love Anna 2020 Parish Magazine Page 4 REVEREND ANNA ALLS - VICAR OF UNITED BENEFICE OF BURTON JOYCE, BULCOTE AND STOKE BARDOLPH WITH LOWDHAM, CAYTHORPE AND GUNTHORPE. TELEPHONE 07535017591 EMAIL [email protected] ST HELEN’S Parish Wardens Jo Foster 8417143 Paul Smith 9312766 Assistant Churchwarden Sue Rennie 9404458 PCC Secretary Rachel Bowser 9312357 PCC Treasurer David Sheath 9313260 Music & Organist vacancy Mothers’ Union Mary Fearn 9312842 Children’s recorders Sylvia Johnson 9312247 Worship Music Group Nataly Stevens 9313588 Parish Administrator Vacant HOLY TRINITY Assistant Churchwarden Mary Crosby 9312073 ST LUKE’S Assistant Churchwarden Pat Hewett 9871159 The Village Lunch The Heritage Brought Alive project secured the Outstanding Community Project Award.