1 St.John’s Newsleer Charity: 1162162 hp://www.stjohnschurchbroadstone.org.uk/ November 2015 From the Vicar It is interesting to see how festivals and seasons come and go in different generations. In a largely rural society, such occasions as Rogation Sunday (asking God’s blessing on the crops), Lammas Day (marking the start of harvest on 1 st August) and Harvest Festival (celebrating the harvest gathered in) were all key moments that the community shared together. Even in a much less rural-centred society, Harvest Festivals retained their nostalgic charm and we still enjoy our annual Harvest Supper, this year to the accompaniment of a marvelous saxophone quartet. There are still communities where celebrating the harvest is a riotous and exuberant occasion. I think, for example, of some of the great vineyards of the world, in which whether or not there will be a good harvest is a pretty hit or miss affair and there is real thanksgiving if a harvest of good fruit is achieved. How much more is harvest celebrated in those parts of the world in which no harvest would mean no food and to be able to gather in the harvest means the chance of life for another year. As we reflect on the sight of so many tens of thousands of refugees seeking a home with us in Europe, at least for some the places from which they flee have become places where no sowing or reaping is possible any more. Their war battered lands are no longer places where life can be sustained. At the same time, other festivals become more significant. The celebration of All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, is an old one. Some say that it predates Christianity, whilst others say it was born out of the celebration of All Saints, which traditionally is kept on 1 st November. Keeping Halloween is an ancient custom, but it seems to have taken on a much more popular and commercialised character in modern times. The shops are full of masks, costumes and other equipment, all designed to accompany the ever popular Halloween parties. Some blame the Americans for such practices as ‘trick or treat’, but there is at least some evidence that such things go back a very long way in time. In popular observance, Halloween seems to have become much more observed than celebrating the harvest. Indeed, for many inner city children celebrating Halloween, the idea that food comes out of the ground and meat comes from animals would come as something of a shock to them. There is a danger if we lose the connection between the food we eat and a reverence for the earth, from which that food came. Perhaps there is also a danger in the divorce between Halloween and the celebration of All Saints. For most, Halloween will be a time for parties and dressing up with joke costumes that seem to have some connection with rather third- rate horror films. The divorce lies in engaging in such activities without any realisation that there is here a real connection with death. Indeed death itself can be as remote to people’s lives as a sheep might seem to be to shepherd’s pie. For Christians, All Hallows is the celebration of the Saints in heaven and the joyful perception that, although life must end, something of our existence is lifted up into the very life of God. Death is a reality we can face with sadness, but also with hope. The hope comes from the belief that God does not abandon us to the grave, but life in its fullness transcends death and takes us onwards into eternity. On All Saints Day we celebrate all those heroes of the Christian life who have gone before us and whose prayers continue to sustain us. All Saints Day goes hand in hand with All Souls’ Day, which is a much more personal time of remembering lost loved ones and giving thanks for their lives. This year we will keep All Saints Day on Sunday 1 st November, including our usual Breakfast Church at 9.00am. We will continue our custom of keeping All Souls’ Day the day before (31 st October) and there will be a special service in church at 10am at which names of the departed will be read out and there will be the opportunity to come up and light a candle in memory of a loved one. That evening there will also be a concert in church, which will include a performance of Fauré’s Requiem. Our Remembering loved ones
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St.John’s Newsletter
Charity: 1162162 http://www.stjohnschurchbroadstone.org.uk/ November 2015
From the Vicar
It is interesting to see how festivals and seasons come and go in different generations. In a largely rural society, such occasions as Rogation Sunday (asking God’s blessing on the crops), Lammas Day (marking the start of harvest on 1st August) and Harvest Festival (celebrating the harvest gathered in) were all key moments that the community shared together. Even in a much less rural-centred society, Harvest Festivals retained their nostalgic charm and we still enjoy our annual Harvest Supper, this year to the accompaniment of a marvelous saxophone quartet. There are still communities where celebrating the harvest is a riotous and exuberant occasion. I think, for example, of some of the great vineyards of the world, in which whether or not there will be a good harvest is a pretty hit or miss affair and there is real thanksgiving if a harvest of good fruit is achieved. How much more is harvest celebrated in those parts of the world in which no harvest would mean no food and to be able to gather in the harvest means the chance of life for another year. As we reflect on the sight of so many tens of thousands of refugees seeking a home with us in Europe, at least for some the places from which they flee have become places where no sowing or reaping is possible any more. Their war battered lands are no longer places where life can be sustained.
At the same time, other festivals become more significant. The celebration of All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, is an old one. Some say that it predates Christianity, whilst others say it was born out of the celebration of All Saints, which traditionally is kept on 1st November. Keeping Halloween is an ancient custom, but it seems to have taken on a much more popular and commercialised character in modern times. The shops are full of masks, costumes and other equipment, all designed to accompany the ever popular Halloween parties. Some blame the Americans for such practices as ‘trick or treat’, but there is at least some evidence that such things go back a very long way in time. In popular observance, Halloween seems to have become much more observed than celebrating the harvest. Indeed, for many inner city children celebrating Halloween, the idea that food comes out of the ground and meat comes from animals would come as something of a shock to them. There is a danger if we lose the connection between the food
we eat and a reverence for the earth, from which that food came.
Perhaps there is also a danger in the divorce between Halloween and the celebration of All Saints. For most, Halloween will be a time for parties and dressing up with joke costumes that seem to have some connection with rather third-rate horror films. The divorce lies in engaging in such activities without any realisation that there is here a real connection with death. Indeed death itself can be as remote to people’s lives as a sheep might seem to be to shepherd’s pie.
For Christians, All Hallows is the celebration of the Saints in heaven and the joyful perception that, although life must end, something of our existence is lifted up into the very life of God. Death is a reality we can face with sadness, but also with hope. The hope comes from the belief that God does not abandon us to the grave, but life in its fullness transcends death and takes us onwards into eternity. On All Saints Day we celebrate all those heroes of the Christian life who have gone before us and whose prayers continue to sustain us. All Saints Day goes hand in hand with All Souls’ Day, which is a much more personal time of remembering lost loved ones and giving thanks for their lives. This year we will keep All Saints Day on Sunday 1st November, including our usual Breakfast Church at 9.00am. We will continue our custom of keeping All Souls’ Day the day before (31st October) and there will be a special service in church at 10am at which names of the departed will be read out and there will be the opportunity to come up and light a candle in memory of a loved one. That evening there will also be a concert in church, which will include a performance of Fauré’s Requiem. Our
Remembering loved ones
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remembering will continue the following Sunday, when we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom in the great conflicts of our time. Please remember that our main Sunday service on 8th November will be earlier at 9.30am, so that we can go on to be at the War Memorial at 11am. For those who cannot get up the hill, two minutes silence will also be kept in church at 11am.
Nigel LLoyd
Sunday Evening Worship
Our decision to discontinue the 3.30pm Sunday afternoon service has come only after the experience of having no congregation present. Rather than trying to encourage people to come to services they do not want to attend, we are seeking to introduce new Sunday evening services which will attract a worshipping congregation. This represents an increased commitment, in terms of time and energy, to providing alternative forms of worship on some Sunday evenings. The first of a regular series of 6.30pm Praise services was held in September. We met in the church hall, so as to use the new projector. Some 30 people attended for what was a special time of praise and reflection on the theme of the Water of Life.
On the first Sunday in October we had a service of thanksgiving for Harvest, which focussed on our care of the environment and used the Parable of the Sower as its main reading. Our singing group led the singing and all 50 people present joined in with Psalm 150 to end the service.
We will be holding another service in the church hall at 6.30pm on Sunday 22nd November with the theme of Christ the King. All are most welcome to join us for this. Looking ahead, we will have our Christmas Carol Service in church at 6.30pm on Sunday 20th December. There will be a 6.30pm service in the church hall to celebrate Candlemas on Sunday 31st January/
Mothers’ Union
Corporate Communion, Wednesday 4th November in Church at 10.30am.
Prayer and Fellowship, Tuesday 17th November in the Small Hall at 2.30pm. Our theme will be ‘Woman Saints’. Any poems and prayers will be very welcome.
St John’s Rambling Group Walk
The Sunday 1st November walk starts from Cannon Hill Road, Colehill, at 1.300pm. It is a
four mile walk in and around Cannon Hill Wood. From Broadstone either join the Wimborne bypass and travel to the Canford roundabout where you turn left and up the hill. Just before the silly reverse chicane turn right then first left. OR go into Wimborne over Poole Bridge then keep right at the roundabout and on to the traffic lights by a church. Turn left up the hill straight over the mini roundabout, no fork lefts and on to a T junction (Coop shop opposite). Turn right then at fifth left turn left down by the library. If we get lots of rain there will be mud and puddles (and maybe even pud and muddles!!!)
Ken Wood 01202 887322 or on the day 07975666191.
St John's Fellowship
At our meeting on Thursday, 12th November Howard Nichols is going to give us a talk entitled 'The Life of Titanic Survivor – Walter Henry'. This should be a very interesting evening so come and enjoy it at 7.45pm in the hall.
Our Stall at the St Nicholas Fayre is to be a 'Christmas Table' as we usually do. Please bring your donations to the meeting or give them to a committee member.
Magazine
Deadline for copy for the December 2015 magazine is Thursday 19th November. If possible please send any articles or items of interest to fellow parishioners, by e-mail to [email protected] or leave at the Parish Office addressed to Sheila Zimmerman.
St Nicholas Fayre,
One of our major fund raising events of the year will soon be here. This is the popular St Nicholas Fayre which will be at 10.00am on Saturday 21st November in St John’s Church Hall. Please make a note in your diary and tell friends and family all about it and make sure you don't miss it!
I would be most grateful for your help please because without you this event would not be possible. You can help by supplying goods and start making preserves, marmalade and chutney, taking some flyers to give away to friends, neighbors, and relatives and donate items for the Christmas Hamper and raffle prize please. The following stalls will need produce and items please:
Christmas Table and Decorations
Raffle Prizes Tombola Prizes Books Preserves
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Marmalade Jams and Pickles Plants
Flowers and Bulbs Bottles for the Bottle Stall
Mince Pies for Catering and the Stall Toiletries
Biscuits and Shortbread Cakes
Spin the Wheel prizes Jewellery
NO BRIC-A-BRAC OR CHINA & GLASS THIS YEAR
Please make a date now and don't miss the fun, We look forward to seeing you there. Thank you
Chris Wilson
Church Grounds Maintenance Rota
There are now several months when there is no one on the Rota to help to keep the Church and Hall garden areas tidy. This only involves a few hours during one month of the year to keep the flower beds tidy and free of weeds, deadhead flowers as necessary, and cut down foliage, ferns etc when finished.
You will have noticed the leaves and pine needles have begun to fall and therefore the paths and car park needs to be swept fairly often to make this safe particularly before it rains and they cause the ground to become slippery. If you cannot help with the garden beds but could sweep occasionally this would be a great help. There is a compost bin near the shed on the north side of Church but if this becomes full then put them in bags alongside the bin.
Due to illness, various folk may not be able to help on their usual month so we may not have anyone available to do anything in the garden until May! You can see the urgency particularly for sweeping up the leaves etc.
There is a wonderful team who come on Monday evenings during the lighter summer months, and occasionally earlier in the winter if a particular job needs doing, who keep the hedges and trees neat and tidy and do any other larger jobs and they would always welcome extra help so if you are able to do that please speak to either Robert Sumpner, Ken Wood or Mike Webber.
Someone else keeps the grass and edges cut and Peter Searle looks after the memorial garden and we thank all those who do help in making the grounds look attractive.
If you feel you can help in any way or would like to know more about any of the work needed, please have a word with me.
Marion Marsh
Thanks
Thank you to everyone who has so kindly expressed their condolences on the death of my mother, Pamela LLoyd. She had a splendid send-off at Canterbury Cathedral and we have laid her ashes to rest in the grave of my father, Robert, at Denton church in Kent, where both of them worked for some years. Nigel
Music for Remembrance
The Broadstone Choir, Saturday 7th November, 7.30pm
'An hour of beautiful music for Remembrance will be performed in the magnificent St Peter's Church in Parkstone by The Broadstone Choir on Saturday 7th November. The choir, which comprises over 70 singers, will be performing The Armed Man Choral Suite by Karl Jenkins and other beautiful pieces of music. The evening begins with The Last Post, 2 minutes' Silence and the Reveille. The National Anthem is sung by the choir and everyone later joins in singing Parry's stirring setting of 'Jerusalem'. Trumpeter Nathaniel Roff joins the choir for the concert, which is conducted by David Everett.
Tickets for the concert, which begins at 7.30pm cost £7 (children £3.50) on the door, or £6 (children £3) if bought in advance from the choir box office – 01202 848127, or choir members.
Chris Wilson
Flowers in Church
I am sure everyone enjoys seeing the beautiful flowers in Church every week and especially when there is a Festival Service like the wonderful display recently for Harvest. Unfortunately, several people have recently had to come off the list of helpers for various reasons and we need a few more folk to fill in the gaps. If you have had any experience in making a pedestal arrangement we would love to hear from you, but even if you have not done this before but would like to have a go, several people can help you to do this. You might like to start by watching one of the arrangers when they do the flowers in time for Sunday. If the thought of a pedestal arrangement is too daunting to begin with, could you have a go at something for one of the windowsills in time for Christmas. There are several windowsills that may be empty this year if a few people do not offer to do something seasonal, and again, several of the arrangers would be willing to help you. Do have a word with either Anne Williams, Denise Miller, Jean Rigler or myself if you would like to know more of what is involved.
Marion Marsh
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God’s hand at work
A report from Gary Ion, CMS mission partner and building consultant in Uganda.
I recently visited my former home in Kajo-Keji, South Sudan, where I’m helping the diocese plan for more schools and a new health centre. It is wonderful to meet old and new friends and to see well-used buildings, some that I helped design and build12 years ago, including my former home. The house is now part of a secondary school.
The region sadly still experiences insecurity due mainly to tribal and political in-fighting, so the local church is stepping in and making a huge difference in the community. It’s a pleasure to me to serve alongside. I remember the diocese centre was located in a minefield. Now with no mines the site has a multipurpose cathedral, offices, school and college. It shows what is possible.
As well as the planned health centre and future schools, on the drawing board is a radio studio, which I helped to design a couple of years ago. Currently installed at the cathedral, Hope FM has been broadcasting to the region since November 2014. Manager and presenter Julius Iga explained: “The radio signal knows no boundaries and the programmes are very popular”. Most household possess a radio, and a mobile phone. Listeners regularly phone in with music and prayer requests. One lady contemplating suicide happened to hear a programme and phoned in to ask for prayer. Church members were able to visit her
I have just celebrated 20 years in Africa. I receive great encouragement through the people I live and work with here and I see God’s hand at work sometimes in ways I didn’t expect. Thank you too for being part of this mission.
Readings for November 2015
8am: use the NT Reading, Psalm & Gospel
Sunday 1st All Saints Sunday: Page 730
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 Psalm 24:1-6
Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44
Sunday 8th Remembrance Sunday: Page 739
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:6-14
Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 1:14-20
Sunday 15th Second before Advent: Page 745
Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25 Mark 13:1-8
Sunday 22nd Christ the King: Page 751
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33b-37
Sunday 29th Advent Sunday: Page 755
In Advent at 8am: use the OT Reading
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-35
BAPTISM
13th September
15th November – Connie May Griffin,
Finley George Ross, Ewan Kosuke Matthews
We welcome them into the Lord’s family
FUNERALS
29th September – Jean Elizabeth Doris Ayley
8th October—Pamela Valpy LLoyd May they rest in peace and rise in glory
Sunday Lunch: If you would like to join us for our Sunday Lunch on the 15th November please sign up on the list at
the back of the Church. We meet in the Hall at 12 noon for 12.45pm. Enquiries to
Penny Leach, on 01202 885866
Elaine on 01202 604245
The giving figures for September are shown below:
2015 2014 September Cumulative September Cumulative
Bank Receipts £3,537.00 £32,127.00 £3,745.00 £31,484.00
