The Chaplain Writes Our New Bishop Next month we will welcome the bishop for the Confirmation Service. It will be his first visit as our new bishop and it is an event to look forward to, because we will be given the opportunity to get to know him. Our archdeaconry representatives will know him from the times they attended Synod. It is the first time a chaplain from within the Diocese has been appointed bishop, and I think it will be very beneficial because he is acquainted with the different circumstances regarding dioceses in the UK. I have just received the invitation to be present at his installation service in Brussels on 22nd November and, as I am writing now, I intend to attend the service, because it is an important event and, with the distances, we are not always able to be present on important occasions. Just to give an example: his consecration was in Canterbury and his enthronement happened in Gibraltar − not impossible to reach these days, but still not around the corner. Bishop Robert Innes is our fourth bishop: he succeeded Bishop Geoffrey Rowell, who retired last year after serving the diocese for 12 years. The first bishop, +John Satterthwaite, became Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe in 1993, after ten years of service as Bishop of Gibraltar. The development of the diocese represents a growth in the Anglican Church. Stijn Fens, a reporter specializing in Vatican affairs, recently remarked in a newspaper that he admires Anglicans for their joy and lightness in worship combined with a profound devotion. It may well be the reason why not only English-speaking people, or those with a link somehow with the Church of England, are attracted to become full members of our Church. We may reflect on this and wonder what we have to offer to newcomers and how we can accommodate their needs. How we can be loving chaplaincies where people feel welcome and cared for. We rejoice over newcomers, but we also have the responsibility to let newcomers rejoice over the chaplaincy we are. Page 24 Alja Tollefsen, Chaplain of St Mary’s Twente Page 1 Key Dates The poem was written in 1932, when Mary Frye was living in 23rd November: Shoebox Action Twente News 2014 Baltimore. She was inspired by the plight of a friend who had just The decorated and filled shoeboxes lost her mother and, such was the political climate at that time, had can be handed in (at the Hut) until 23rd November. This allows time for been unable to return to Germany to even visit her mother’s grave. onward transportation to the various In 2004 the Times wrote: "The verse demonstrated a remarkable destinations. For further details of the shoebox action, please see St power to soothe loss. It became popular, crossing national Paddy and Mick Mary’s website. get a pilot to fly boundaries for use on bereavement cards and at funerals regardless them to Canada to 30th November: Celtic Eucharist of race, religion or social status.” hunt moose. They bag six. As they A Celtic Eucharist will be held on 30th November. As start loading the this is the fifth Sunday of the month, there will also be Major Art Installation plane for the return a healing service. 5th August to 11th November 2014 trip, the pilot says, “The plane can only 7th December: Confirmation Service The remarkable art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London marks one hundred take four.” The two On 7th December Bishop Robert will be at St Mary's lads object strongly. years since the first full day of Britain's involvement in the for a Confirmation Service. The Bestman family and “Last year we shot First World War. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, Fred Schonewille are to be confirmed at this service. six, and the pilot let with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 Confirmation classes are being held on Friday us put them all on ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower's famous moat over evenings in the intervening weeks. If anyone else is board; he had the the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during interested in being confirmed, or would like to join the same plane as the war. The poppies will encircle the iconic landmark, creating not confirmation classes (which are focusing on the yours.” only a spectacular display visible from all around the Tower but also various aspects of the Anglican Church), please Reluctantly, the a location for personal reflection. The scale of the installation intends contact Alja. pilot gives in and all to reflect the magnitude of such an important centenary, creating a six are loaded. But powerful visual commemoration. even with full power 13th December: Festival of Nine Lessons and the plane can’t Carols It is hoped to sell all of the poppies that make up the installation handle the load and in the Lebuïnus Church in Deventer (see page 9) and, in doing so, raise millions of pounds which will be shared equally down it crashes in amongst six service charities the middle of 14th December: Carol Service at St Mary’s nowhere. Climbing Source: Parish Pump November 2014 out of the wreckage, Paddy asks Mick, Key Notices Intercessions “Any idea where we Proceeds from Harvest Festival Sale If you wish to have someone included in the are?” “Not sure,” The produce used to decorate the chapel for the intercession, please contact the Chaplain or one of the says Mick, “but I Churchwardens before the Service. Harvest Festival on 5th October was sold after the think we’re pretty If you know of anyone who is sick or in need of close to where we service. This raised the sum of €131 for the Flower pastoral care, please contact the Chaplain or one of the crashed last year.” Guild. Churchwardens. Page 2 Page 23 Books One Day … Some books that belonged to Stephanie Prins, A husband took his Poetry who sadly passed away at the beginning of this wife to play her first and Do Not Stand At My Grave year, have been donated to St Mary’s by her game of golf. Of course, the wife Prose husband Joop. The books are on sale in the Hut And Weep and the proceeds are for the benefit of the promptly hacked her Flower Guild. first shot right through the window Do not stand at my grave and weep of the biggest house I am not there; I do not sleep. adjacent to the From the Iona Sessions course. The husband I am a thousand winds that blow, Once, the Bishop of Liverpool was on a plane cringed, “I warned I am the diamond glints on snow, back from Belfast to Liverpool. All of a sudden you to be careful! Now we’ll have to go I am the sun on ripened grain, they found themselves in severe turbulence. A big storm buffeted the plane about and to his up there, apologize I am the gentle autumn rain. horror, the Bishop saw that the composure of the and see how much your lousy drive is When you awaken in the morning’s hush crew had been replaced by very worried looks. going to cost us.” So Approaching John Lennon Airport, the storm I am the swift uplifting rush the couple walked up abated and the man next to him said: “I knew it Of quiet birds in circled flight. to the house and would be bad – you see, I’m a pilot but I didn’t knocked on the door. I am the soft stars that shine at night. want to tell you that.” “Well,” the Bishop replied, A warm voice said, Do not stand at my grave and cry, “I’m a priest and I thought I had better not say.” “Come on in.” When *** they opened the door I am not there; I did not die. they saw the damage: Captain McIntosh, airline pilot by profession, was glass all over the an old relative of Alastair McIntosh. The man place, and a broken Mary Elizabeth Frye loved a prank and the story goes that (1905-2004) antique bottle lying occasionally when the passengers had already nearby on its side. A been seated, he entered the plane wearing a man reclining on the This remarkable poem was introduced to many in the very shabby raincoat and sat himself down in a couch asked, “Are passenger seat up front. It was on one of these you the people that United Kingdom when it was read on BBC radio in 1995 small piston-engined planes used in the Western broke my window?” by the father of a soldier killed by a bomb in Northern Isles in those days and everyone on board was “Uh ... yes, sir! anxiously waiting for the pilot to arrive. Finally, We’re sure sorry Ireland. The poem was among the soldier’s personal Captain McIntosh got up, turned around to the about that,” replied effects. Listener response was amazing − all the more so twenty or so passengers, who to their dismay the husband. heard him say: “If no one else is going to fly this “Oh, no apology because the identity of the poet was unknown. It was not plane, I will.” necessary. Actually I want to thank you. until 1998, after much research, that Mary Frye’s Everhard Ottens You see, I’m a genie, authorship was confirmed by Abigail Van Buren, a (Everhard’s article on the trip to Iona can be found and I’ve been trapped on St Mary’s website (link Past Events & Activities) newspaper columnist.