The WestgateThe Westgate ChronicleChronicle

Issue 451: February 2016Issue 451: February 2016

Moving into LentMoving into Lent

2

Westgate Church, Peterborough

United Reformed/Methodist

Minister: The Revd Lesley Moseley

Church Phone/Fax: 01733 311043

Minister: 01733 751681

http://www.westgatechurch.org.uk/

Greetings,

As you collect this magazine there will

only be a few days remaining before Lent.

In the past it has not been traditional

to observe Lent in our denominations as

it has in some others. There are many

reasons for this, many of them very good,

but like much of tradition, used well,

observing Lent can be a very great help

on our journey with Jesus. Anything

which encourages us to do things which

grow our gifts and build us up as

witnesses to the Good News of God’s

kingdom is useful.

When I was chaplain in a primary

school, children used to tell me that they

were giving up chocolate or Coca-cola

for Lent. One cunning boy said he was

giving up cabbage! What follows I found

recently and wonder if we each need to

take seriously the suggestions. I wonder if

we did, might we find life less stressful

and be enabled to grow closer to Jesus

and shine as light, and season like salt as

we were asked in the recent Week of

Prayer for Christian Unity.

Give Up

GIVE UP grumbling!

Instead, ‘In everything give thanks.’

Constructive criticism is OK, but ‘moaning,

groaning and complaining’ are not

Christian disciplines.

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed!

Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible

study and personal devotion.

GIVE UP looking at other people's worst

points.

Instead concentrate on their best

points. We all have faults. It is a lot easier

to have people overlook our shortcomings

Our Mission Statement

We at Westgate are called by God to highlight Jesus Christ’s love

for the people of Peterborough.

We pass on this good news by worship, fellowship, mission,

education, personal life and social service.

Lesley

3

when we overlook theirs first.

GIVE UP speaking unkindly.

Instead, let your speech be generous

and understanding. It costs so little to say

something kind and uplifting. Why not

check that sharp tongue at the door?

GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or

anything!

Instead, learn the discipline of love.

"Love covers a multitude of sins."

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties!

Instead, trust God with them.

Anxiety is spending emotional energy

on something we can do nothing about:

like tomorrow! Live today and let God's

grace be sufficient.

GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead,

visit some lonely or sick person.

There are those who are isolated by

illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front

of the "tube?" Give someone a precious

gift: your time!

GIVE UP buying anything but essentials

for yourself!

Instead, give the money to God. The

money you would spend on the luxuries

could help someone meet basic needs.

We are called to be stewards of God's

riches, not consumers.

GIVE UP judging by appearances and by

the standard of the world!

Instead, learn to give up yourself to

God. There is only one who has the right

to judge, Jesus Christ.

Rev. Craig Gates, Jackson, MS,

"WHAT TO GIVE UP FOR LENT"

Dear Readers,

There have been questions

raised about the financial

viability of the Chronicle. I

am not happy that the

figures on which these were

based are correct – it seems

to me that some of the

Chronicle’s income has been

wrongly allocated.

If you wish to keep

the Chronicle, you can

help in the following ways:-

Put in a donation every

time you take a copy. We strongly

suggest donations of at least £1

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Make sure that all of

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Let us know whether

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Comments or suggestions for changes

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(see p5). Many thanks for your help.

Editor

Your Chronicle Questioned

?

4

Lent and Easter at Westgate

Lent Study Group: Monday evenings at 7.30 on February 22nd and 29th and March 7th

and 21st. Newcomers Welcome! Please contact Lesley to book your place.

Open Air Palm Sunday Service: March 20th, 3pm in the Garden of all Souls RC

Church, Geneva St. Churches Together in Central Peterborough Event.

Maundy Thursday Communion Service: March 24th, 7.30pm in Centre 68 Hall,

Westgate, led by Rev’d Lesley Moseley.

Good Friday Walk of Witness and City Centre Service: March 25th, 10:00 am Walk

of Witness from Stanley Recreation Ground to Cathedral Square. About 10:30 am,

Service in Cathedral Square (preacher David Whitlock from Bretton Baptist Church).

Churches Together in Central Peterborough Event.

Easter Morning Sunrise Service: March 27th, 6.30 am in Central Park. Churches

Together in Central Peterborough Event.

Easter Breakfast Communion: March 27th, 8am, in the Church Hall. Led by Rev’d

Lesley Moseley.

Easter Sunday Morning Worship with Holy Communion: March 27th, 10.30am at

Westgate, led by Rev’d Lesley Moseley.

Special Early warning! British Summer Time begins on Easter Sunday. Take care

to adjust your clocks and watches the previous evening.

Church Action on Poverty Sunday is 7th

February, the theme 'Bread Broken for

All'. Here's the prayer for the day, by the

director of Katherine House retreat centre:

Creator God, you made this good earth

and gave us enough that all could delight

in bread and wine, milk and honey, story

and song.

As Jesus sat by lakeside and table

and shared bread, and said that his body

was broken for all, he showed us a

glimpse of your Kingdom.

Inspire us with a vision of a society

beyond the scandal of poverty

where bread is the birthright of all

your children.

Give us hearts that yearn for it,

voices to call for it, strong hands to build

it together.

More prayer points: the Archbishop of

Canterbury Justin Welby said hunger in

the UK today is a "tragedy". Pray

that more church leaders and politicians

may speak out about the injustice of

poverty in a rich country. The Chancellor

backtracked on cuts to tax credits, but the

poorest and most vulnerable still bear the

brunt of cuts in spending. Pray for people

who struggle to cope as cuts bite even

deeper in the coming year.

You can share your prayers and see

those others have posted by joining

the Close the Gap prayer community

Facebook group – or email them to me.

With best wishes,

Liam Purcell, Church Action on Poverty

Church Action on Poverty

5

Stories within the Story:

Decision Time for the

People of God

On reflecting after our

annual Covenant service

(held in church on January 10th) I recalled

another covenant service held 3000 years

ago. It was shortly after the Israelites

had come out of the desert and invaded

Canaan, the country they believed God

had given them. Their leader, Joshua,

called them together at Shechem (Joshua

ch 24).

For this month’s story I offer you a

short drama starting with Joshua and the

ancient Israelites at Shechem and then

moving forward to modern times – the

Drama of Covenant.

Cast List:

Joshua; Ancient Israelites (“People”); a

modern Minister; a modern Congregation

Joshua: People of Israel – God has been

truly good to you, giving you this land of

Canaan for your dwelling place. It’s time

to decide how you will respond to God’s

goodness.

Will you fear the LORDi and always be

faithful to him?

Will you forget the gods you served in

the past – gods worshipped by people

before the time of our father Abraham,

and gods worshipped in Egypt, where you

were slaves?

Will you have nothing to do with the

gods people worship in Canaan, where

you now live?

Will you instead serve the LORD? – as

I and my family certainly will.

People: It was the LORD who brought us

up out of slavery in Egypt, bringing us

safely to where we are today. So we too

will serve the LORD.

Joshua: Be quite sure you mean that –

the LORD is a holy, jealous God. If you

set out to serve Him it must be for all time

– if you turn away from Him and serve

other gods it will go badly for you; it will

spell disaster in your life as a nation.

People: We are sure; we will serve only

the LORD.

Joshua: Never forget the commitment

you have made; you are witnesses of a

covenant that will last for all time.

With help from a few strong men, Joshua

sets up a standing stone beside the oak

tree in the holy place at Shechem, and

says: This stone will be a mute witness to

our everlasting commitment to the LORD.

Three thousand years later:

Minister: God made a covenant with

Israel; that covenant was renewed in the

life, death and resurrection of Jesus our

Lord. God offers us new life in Jesus; in

return God asks us to live no longer for

ourselves, but for God.

So will you be faithful to God, in a new

and difficult age? Or will you serve the

“gods” of the society you live in, putting

Remains of stone at Shechem

6

You have just lived through 2015. Here

are some facts about 1915!

The average life expectancy for men

was 47 years. Fuel for cars was sold

in chemists only. Only 14% of the homes

had a bath. Only 8% of the homes

had a telephone. The maximum speed

limit in most cities was ten mph. The

tallest structure in the world was the

Eiffel Tower.

The average British wage was £15

per year! A competent accountant could

expect to earn £800 per year, a dentist

£900 per year, a vet between £600 and

£900 per year and, a mechanical engineer

about £2000 per year.

More than 95% of all births took

place at home. 90% of all Doctors had

no university education! Instead, they

attended so-called medical schools, many

of which were condemned in the press

AND the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost two pence a pound, eggs

were ten pence a dozen and coffee was

five pence a pound.

More 1915 facts on later pages.

1915

prosperity, material welfare, ambition and

pleasure first, as so many do? Or putting

your faith in scientific understanding,

thinking there is no place left for God?

For myself, I will continue to follow

Jesus Christ, who came to us in humility,

suffering, and love.

Congregation: We will follow Jesus

because of all God has done for us. Since

the time of the Wesleysii, and before,

we have known faith and assurance,

forgiveness and hope. We have known

God’s Love in Jesus, who taught and

healed and died on Calvary, and was

raised by God, so we might enjoy the

fullest and deepest of living. How can we

refuse such Love?.

Minister: Will you commit yourselves to

God in a perpetual covenant, to serve God

and offer God’s love to all the world?

Will you live no longer as your own,

but God’s; content in whatever role God

assigns you, active or suffering, doing

what you enjoy or bending yourselves to

what God asks of you?

Congregation: We will live in this world

as the people of God, hearts secured

above with the Lord of all hopefulness.

God has been good to us, and even if the

last few years have seen some decline,

faith has been nourished. We will live as

God’s people, servants to the world Christ

died to save.

Minister: As we meet we face the Cross

at the front of our church – the cross on

which our Saviour died. That cross is a

continuing mute witness to our ever-

lasting commitment to God.

Congregation: The Cross is a witness to

us and the world; we are God’s people,

disciples of a crucified and risen Lord.

In those three thousand years much has

changed; but now as then God our

Saviour asks us to make covenant vows in

response to God’s great gifts to us. The

parallel between standing stone and Cross

may slightly stretch the symbolism of

the modern covenant service, but I think

it is apt.

Ian

iLORD – The Hebrew Bible uses a four-

letter code to represent the personal

name of God, which was considered too

sacred to be pronounced by human lips.

Many English Bibles replace that code

by “LORD”. iiJohn Wesley introduced the Covenant

service to Methodists in or before 1755,

and it has ever since been a key aspect of

their life as Christ’s disciples.

7

Traditionally, Christmas is “turkey time”,

but I have already had mine. . . twice this

year. In November I returned to the

fascinating land of history and exoticism,

archeological remains, whirling dervishes,

fairy castles and magic carpets (not that

I found one). We arrived at Istanbul’s

European airport and gazed across the

Bosphorus to Asia; Istanbul is the only

capital in the world which has a foot in

two continents. Once Chalcedon, later

morphed into Byzantium before the

Roman emperor Constantine named it

Nova Roma (can you guess?), built a

defensive wall, a great palace, baths,

forums and several Christian churches. He

later renamed it Constantinople. In 1453

Turks from the north invaded the city;

their sultan turned St. Sophia’s church

into a mosque, beginning the rise of Islam

in Turkey.

Turkey sided with Germany (whom

they saw as a possible trading partner)

during World War One, but by the

war’s end Turkey had lost all mid-eastern

possessions. Mustapha Kemal, Turkish

commander at Gallipoli, abolished the

sultanate and became president of the

new republic (1923). He gained the title

‘Ataturk’, father of the nation; the country

abounds with his statues and pictures.

He realised how hard it was to defend

Istanbul (the capital’s new name) and

transferred the seat of government to

Ankara in the centre of the country.

Why did I return to Turkey? An

opportunity arose, as part of a guided

coach tour, to visit several centres

of historical and architectural antiquity,

whilst luxuriating in five-star hotels and

eating high-quality Turkish and European

cuisine. We flew from Birmingham, arrived

in the late evening and were whisked

along busy, brightly-lit roads to our hotel.

Turkey is a peaceful and prosperous

Muslim country, an ideal destination for

tourists. Its climate in our winter is mild

and pleasant, and to promote tourism the

government subsidises, in an otherwise

dead season, hotels and tourist activities.

Although not yet in the European Union, it

accepts euros alongside Turkish lira, and

most establishments accept credit cards.

Next day, in Istanbul’s Old City, we

visited Sultan Ahmed square, once the

site of a Roman Hippodrome. We passed

the German fountain and the Egyptian

obelisk before walking into the complex

housing the Blue Mosque, with six

minarets, decorated internally with 20,000

blue ceramic tiles. We inspected the

Topkapi Palace, which was once home

to the Ottoman sultanate, before coming

to the Hagia Sophia mosque, now a

museum. In addition to four minarets, it

boasts an impressive interior and a great

cupola with surrounding galleries where

women used to pray. We lunched on the

café terrace, with views up the Bosphorus

and along the Golden Horn towards the

Black Sea. Later, we took a river trip

to and under the bridges joining Europe

to Asia. That evening we visited the

bazaar, with myriad spices, confectionery,

jewellery and, unusually, gaily-plumaged

cage-birds.

To cross into Asia one either drives

over the bridges, through the new road

tunnel or, as we did next morning, drive

past the battle areas of the Gallipoli

peninsula to the ferry at Canakkele. In

Asia we made for Troy, city devastated

in the 12th century by a series of

earthquakes. The city, scene of the 10-

year Trojan war and setting for Homer’s

Iliad, was rediscovered and excavated

Second Helping of Turkey (1)

8

More Turkey

by the German archaeologist

Heinrich Schliemann.

Outside the city is a

huge reproduction wooden

horse, into which we were

able to climb. We toured the

remains before heading to

our hotel at Ayvalik and

an enticing buffet.

Brian Davies

To be continued in the

next issue.

Pictures:

Top left: Hagia (St.)

Sophia Mosque

Centre Left: The view up

the Bosphorus

Bottom: Marketplace at

Istanbul

Top Right: Reproduction

Wooden Horse outside

Troy

9

Advent into Christmas

Following on from our

report of the first two

weeks of Advent in the last

issue, December 13th was

our Annual Toy and Gift

Service. This year the

service was led by Lesley,

our own minister, and the

many gifts for children in

hospital at Christmas were

received by Jackie, one of

the playleaders from the

hospital. As it so often

happens, Jackie had to leave before

the end of the service as the ward was

short staffed, so the brightly wrapped

parcels were delivered to the hospital at

lunchtime. Sadly, your editor was unwell

on that day and no photographs of the

gifts are available.

On the following Sunday, after the four

advent candles were lit, Peter Jupp, a

former minister of Westgate, led our

Carol Service with Communion. We were

treated to an interesting selection of

readings, poetry and carols.

On Christmas morning Megan once

again led the lighting of the candles on

the Advent ring, this time including the

white Christ-candle in the

centre. Lesley had also

brought for us a lighted

candle, which had been lit

from a live flame which

had travelled all the way

from Bethlehem. There

was an opportunity during

worship for people of all

ages to share with the

whole congregation what

they had received as

presents. Several carols

were duly sung, God was

praised, and everybody present was

wished a very Happy Christmas.

On December 27th the Advent Ring

was lit for the final time and the

Bethlehem flame was with us again.

As we were few in number and the

weather was cold, we sat together as a

tighly-knit community just in front of

the Christmas tree. We were given an

extended opportunity to greet every other

member of the congregation as a fellow

child of God, which, judging from the

movement, the hugs and the constant

buzz of conversation, was appreciated by

everyone. This was our very last chance

to sing carols until next year.

Advent Ring

2015

Flame from

Bethlehem

10

Greetings Received

We have received the following news

from Mary and (Rev’d) Alan Raine, who

are remembered by many of us.

‘Just after we had sent last year's

letter, Mary had a stroke resulting in a

short stay in hospital, but we are pleased

that she has made a good recovery.

Since then Mary has been diagnosed with

vascular dementia. Alan has had a few

hiccups with his diabetes but keeps going.

Alan's mam, who will be 96 in January,

seems to have no such problems and

keeps quietly plodding along. Steve and

Penny moved to Honley and are now

settled in nearer to his work. Nicola has

graduated in nursing and is now working

at Leeds General Infirmary on a children's

ward. Matthew and Katie have recently

moved to a house nearby which they

are now busy renovating. Hazel and

Caroline continue working and enjoying

life in London. Karen and Philip continue

to make the best of their health problems

and are looking forward to Rebecca

and Darryl providing them with another

grandchild in the new year to add to

a lively two year old George. Louise is

now divorced from Paul and is enjoying

the company of a friend called Paul.

Laura, who celebrated her eighteenth

birthday in October, has passed her

driving test and Katie is now a teenager.

Tim and Helen continue improving their

mansion and Helen has moved to a

school at Colne. They spent their summer

holidays caravanning in Italy. Our holidays

consisted of a caravanning holiday in

Belgium with Tim and Helen, a fortnight in

Mallorca with eight other members of the

family and a few days in Wales with some

good friends. We also enjoyed breaks in

Durham, Southport and Kendal as well as

the Church weekend at Lytham St Annes.

We continue a good social life and we

are still involved in the life of an active

church. Life is good and we count our

blessings each and every day. We hope

and pray that all is well with you and

yours and we wish you every blessing this

Christmas time and into the New Year.

Good to keep hearing of the news at

Westgate!’

Once again this year, Christmas cards

sent to all church friends were displayed

on the church windowsills, looking very

attractive. We received cards from: Terry,

Vi and Des, Bill and Tonia, Linda and Ian,

Manny, Paula and Stan, Christine and

Martin (Lyn Rowley’s family) Jo and Iain,

Olive (Dewsbury), ‘The Kings’ (with a

suitable picture), Middleton Primary

School, Philip and Monica, Lesley and

Roger, Ewan and Carmen, and Doug,

Rick, Kai, George and Christian.

11

Joan is 90

I believe there are still nine or

ten of us who will remember

Joan (Berill) and her husband

Gill who worshipped with us

at Westgate many years ago.

Joan was a talented potter

who taught at Peterborough

Technical College until she

retired.

I became Joan’s Pastoral

Visitor some time after Gill

died and we always got on

well. Later Joan moved to a

retirement home in Yorkshire to

be nearer her daughter, Jill,

and other family members.

Recently she has moved in with

Jill and has her own bed-sit

with a shower room. Stan and

I will be in her area later this year and hope

to call in to see her. I send Joan a copy of our

Chronicle, as she is always very interested in

what is going on at Westgate.

On the 9th December she celebrated her

90th birthday; here a few photographs of this

happy occasion, sent to me by Jill. We wish

Joan a (belated)

very Happy 90th

Birthday from us

all at Westgate.

Paula

Our thanks go to

Jill and Paula for

passing on to us

all Joan’s news.

Photo Bonus

An interesting example of how

you can cheer up a blank super-

market wall, taken in Billom,

Auvergne, France.

From the editor’s collection.

12

A Day in the Retirement of. . .

Some time ago, the

Chronicle ran a series

called ‘A Day in the Life

of. . .’ and we all wrote

about a day at work.

As many of you know,

retirement is just as busy,

so we’ve started a new

series.

Saturday 9th January

It’s an early start. Ian has

to drive up to Retford to deliver the large

bureau we have bought the younger

granddaughter for Christmas and help

move furniture and clear rubbish in order

to get it in. Our older granddaughter

and her husband have been staying with

us for a few days, so Ian is going

to drop the rest of us at the station.

Just before we leave at 8.45 I declare

Christmas over and disconnect the tree

lights. We’d extended it because of Amy

and Steven’s visit, to make up for what

nurse Amy had missed by working over

the holiday.

I wait with our visitors until their train

is almost due and wave them off. It’s

pouring, but an item Ian collected for

me was faulty and it seemed sensible to

return it while I was in town. I find the

driest route across town and get my

refund. Because of the early hour and the

rain, town is quiet, so I buy a few more

things I need. The car is now miles away,

so I use my bus pass. Fortunately, there

is a bus in the station as I arrive; it leaves

immediately and I am home soon after

half past ten.

I wander into my study and wonder

how to re-organise it, as my piano left

yesterday to go to Amy, who plays far

better than I ever did. (I can’t play

properly any more.) Then I do the small

computer jobs I do each

morning, such as catching

up with the news. Then I

do more computer work,

looking at what is wanted

for submitting to the URC

prayer handbook, making

rough plans – something

Lesley encouraged me to

do and must be in by

Friday. I then carefully put

together the basic framework of the

February Chronicle – right Ads, and the

routine updating of dates and headings,

birthdays etc.

The next job is filling the dishwasher

and starting it, then I decide it’s time for

the shower and hairwash I couldn’t fit in

before going out. By this time it’s after

one, so I make myself lunch and, as

I’m on my own, I watch television while I

eat. Suddenly I realise the programme

has ended and I’ve been asleep – a long

day yesterday – so I wind back and watch

the last section again, just keeping awake.

I need an afternoon rest almost every

day, so go to lie down. The phone wakes

me somewhat later – Ian is on his way

home. I finish waking up, a slow process,

then start cooking dinner.

Ian arrives with Christmas presents

from Retford, so we open ours, I finish

cooking and we eat. In conversation I

remember that I am due to lead the

Circuit Intercessions on Wednesday week,

so I prepare a first draft of that. Next I

strip the Christmas tree as Ian takes cards

down. Finally I write the first draft of this.

Now it’s 9.30 and I’m really tired again, so

I shall watch an hour’s television before

going to bed.

Each day is different, but they're all

pretty busy. Linda

13

We started the season’s

entertainment on Friday

December 18th, when we

sang with the Yaxley Singers

in a ‘Christmas Sing-along’

for about 50 adults and one

younger person.

We started with a solo,

‘It’s beginning to look like

Christmas’, then sang various

carols and Christmassy songs such as

‘Winter Bird’, ‘Christmas Alphabet’ and

‘Shepherds’ Calypso’. At the interval tea,

coffee and mince pies were served and a

free raffle was drawn for four prizes of

hampers donated by the choir members.

After the interval we continued with

other carols, including ‘Silent Night’ with

words different from the usual version,

‘Away in the Manger’ with the first verse

being sung very well by the younger

person (about six or seven). We also sang

one called ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a

Reindeer’, which some of the choir had

difficulty singing because they were trying

to stop laughing.

We finished in our usual way with ‘Let

There Be Peace on Earth’, before wishing

everyone a Happy Christmas and a safe

journey home.

Next came the Male Voice Choir

Christmas Magic Concert at the packed

Broadway Theatre on Sunday 20th.

We were treated to a programme

of festive music accompanied by the

Peterborough Festival Orchestra. There

were the Male Voice Choir, Peterborough

Voices (Ladies Choir) and the Youth

Choir augmented by children from

Thorpe Primary School, Longthorpe

Primary School and Heritage Park Primary

School. The programme started with the

‘Christmas Overture’ by Nigel Hess, ‘Jingle

Bells’, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’,

and the ‘Radetzky March’

with audience participation,

and various others.

After the interval the

concert continued with items

such as ‘Winter Wonderland’,

‘Santa Baby’, and ‘We Three

Kings’, then ended with ‘O

Holy Night’.

On the way home we met several

people we know who had been at the

concert and we all agreed it was the best

we had been to.

Next came the Christmas Eve Carol

Service at the Cathedral, which we have

attended over the years that we have

been coming to Peterborough, with a

full Cathedral (all seats filled) and the

Salvation Army Band to accompany the

lusty singing. It was introduced by the

Dean and there was much friendship

within the congregation.

Finally we were again at the Broadway

Theatre on December 29th to see Tommy

Steele in The Glen Miller Story.

Tommy Steele was given a rousing

welcome, and as he was playing Glen

Miller, he was on stage for most of the

performance – not bad for the age of 79.

The play covered more of the life story

than the music of Glen Miller and was

accompanied by a full band with scenery

of the time. There were the tear jerking

moments when Glen met his wife, and

when he went missing on a flight to Paris

to perform for the forces. Many dances

were performed with lots of energy.

At the end there was rousing applause

and at least two encores.

Roll on next Christmas for some more

of the same.

June and Trevor

Christmas Entertainment 2015

14

This month’s hymn writer

is the author of the much

loved “O Jesus, I have

promised”. John Ernest

Bode (February 13, 1816

– October 6, 1874), was

an Anglican priest, educator, poet, and

hymnist. Born in London, he had a public

school education (Eton and Charterhouse)

and then went to Oxford (Christ Church).

On graduating, he was appointed as

Tutor to the College. He was ordained

in 1841 and became Rector of Westwell

in Oxfordshire. Thirteen years later he

moved to Castle Camps, a village in

Cambridgeshire, whose patrons were the

Governors of Charterhouse School, where

he spent the rest of his ministerial life.

(The article Sue sent says Castle Camps

no longer exists as a village, but there is

a Castle Camps in Cambridgeshire which

has a church, a school and a website and

is obviously very much alive, which seems

to be the same village.) A previous Rector

in this Parish was Thomas Hall, who had

problems with the authorities (he was

a non-juror) in the troubled seventeenth

century. Bode gave lectures at Oxford and

published several books of hymns and

poems but, like so many others, he is only

remembered for the one hymn, “O Jesus,

I have promised”. Despite the traditional

language, the content is as apt today

as when it was written in 1869 and first

performed at the confirmation service of

Bode’s daughter and two sons at Castle

Camps. It was published as part of a

hymn book in the same year by the

society for the Propagation of Christian

Knowledge.

His hymn appears in ‘Singing the Faith’

at no. 563, with two tunes, one of which

was written as late as 1960, which attests

to the hymn’s enduring popularity and

possibly gave it a new lease of life.

Our thanks to Sue and to the unknown

writer of the article she sent in. Sadly, I

have been unable to find a reproducible

photograph of this author. Editor

John Ernest Bode

7th February, 6:30pm: The President of

the Methodist Conference, Rev Steve

Wild, will preach at a service at Trinity

Methodist Church, Barn Hill, Stamford.

25th March, 10am – 2pm: EASTER

Family Fun Day and Craft Fair in aid of

local charity, Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall

Hospice. Peterborough based family firm,

Rose Landscapes, is supporting the local

charity with Good Friday fun for all at

Rose Landscapes Indoor Superstore (next

to Activity World, opposite JTF discount

store) Padholme Road East, Fengate,

Peterborough PE1 5XL.

11th March, 9.30am to 3.30pm: Hope

into Action conference: Helping the

Church house the homeless and

refugees. Dr Rowan Williams, former

Archbishop of Canterbury: “Why the

church should engage with the homeless.”

Mandy Marshall, co-founder and Co-

Director of ‘Restored’, an international

Christian alliance which aims to transform

relationships and end violence against

women: “Women and Violence on

Women.” Dr Theo Stickley, Associate

Professor of Mental Health, University

of Nottingham: seminar on “How do

you support those with mental health?”

Events Elsewhere

15

With Easter being early this year, Lent begins on Wednesday 10th February and so most

of the readings during February are Lent based. On the first Sunday in February the

gospel reading is ‘The Transfiguration’ (Luke 9 v 28-36).

Puzzle 1: Luke 4 v 1-13

On the first Sunday of Lent the text is ‘The Temptations of Christ.’ During Lent we

remember this passage and try to be like Jesus and refrain from doing something we

enjoy. Satan tried very hard to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God but he resisted

temptation and responded with a passage from Scripture. In real life we should do what

the Bible tells us, but like Jesus, Satan will try to trick us into doing what he wants us to

do just like he did with Jesus. How good are you at resisting temptation?

Read the account of The Temptations of Christ in Luke and see if you can answer

these questions.

1. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for ___________ days.

2. When Jesus was hungry, Satan told him to command the ____________ to become

____________.

3. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by ___________alone, but by every __________

that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

4. Satan told Jesus that he had the authority to give him all the __________ of the

____________.

5. Jesus said, "You shall worship the __________ your ____________ and Him only

you shall ______________.”

6. Satan told Jesus to throw himself from the top of the _____________ and

_______________ would rescue him.

7. Jesus answered, "You shall not ____________ the Lord your God.”

8. When Satan left, ___________ came and ministered to Jesus.

(Use these words to help with the spelling. You will use some words more than once.)

God forty word world Lord kingdoms

stones serve angels bread tempt temple

Westgate Puzzle Pages

Most women only washed their hair once

a month, and, used Borax or egg yolks for

shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited

poor people from entering into their

country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death in

1915 were: pneumonia and influenza,

tuberculosis, diarrhoea, heart disease and

stroke.

The American flag had 45 stars and

the population of Las Vegas, Nevada was

only 30.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and

iced tea hadn't been invented. There was

no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of ten adults couldn't read or

write and, only 6% of British pupils went

to university.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were

all available over the counter at local

corner chemists. (continued next page)

More 1915

16

Puzzle 2: Luke 13 v 6-9

On the third Sunday of Lent, the Scripture reading is ‘The Parable of the Fig Tree’ which

reminds us how patient God can be. Jesus teaches people that they need to repent and

turn to God so that they will be prepared for whatever happens.

Back then chemists said, "Heroin clears

the complexion, gives buoyancy to the

mind, regulates the stomach, bowels, and

is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health!"

18% of households had at least one

full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported

murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A! In 2014 this

figure had risen to 14,249.

In the UK the murder rate in 1915 was

1420. In 2015 it was 537. (Perhaps we

are doing something right!)

I am now going to forward this to

someone else without typing it myself.

From there, it will be sent to others

all over the WORLD all in a matter of

seconds! Can you imagine what it may be

like in another 100 years?

What a difference a century makes!

Slightly adapted version of an email

forwarded by Ewan.

Cars are slightly different too!

17

You are possibly familiar with the term

‘Shrove Tuesday’ – or maybe you know it

simply as Pancake Day. But do you know

what it means?

Shrovetide comes for the verb ‘to

shrive’, meaning to confess your sins, or

to be given forgiveness from them from a

priest.

The period of Shrovetide is a time for

Christians to prepare for Lent. It is

traditionally a period to spring clean our

houses and also clean our souls through

confession and prayer. It is mostly

celebrated now on the Monday and

Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but

depending on where you live and your

faith, it can be spread over four days.

Quinquagesima Sunday: the fiftieth day

before Easter

Collop Monday: Traditionally the day of

eating up meat before the Lent period

(when meat was forbidden) to ensure

that no food went to waste. In Cornwall

it is called Peasen Monday and Nickanan

Night, when Pea and Ham Soup is

served. Nickanan Night is not now

widely observed, but in former times

youths in Cornwall would go round the

neighbours and play practical jokes

Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, a day for

using up sugar, eggs and fat before

undertaking 40 days of fasting. With our

modern diet and food cupboards, items

such as cake, biscuits and chocolate

are sometimes given up. The pancake

ingredients can be seen to symbolise four

points of significance at this time of year:

eggs for creation, flour for the staff of life,

salt for wholesomeness, and milk for

purity. Pancake races are commonly held;

a very famous one is held at Olney. The

Royal Shrovetide Football Match is held

at Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, on Shrove

Tuesday and Ash Wednesday; although

over the centuries this tradition has been

carried out in various locations, it

continues to this day in Ashbourne.

When you sit down to enjoy your

pancake or collop, do remember that the

main reason for Shrovetide is to prepare

ourselves for the period of Lent. As the

well-known advert says ‘How do you eat

yours?’ – lemon and sugar, brown sugar

and butter, jam, plain, or even savoury –

enjoy it with a prayer and give thanks.

Shrovetide: 6th – 9th February

Civic Award

A woman living on ‘our patch’,

Janet Cox of Percival Street, has

been given an Environmental Civic

Award by the council. Each day,

including even Christmas Day,

Janet spends at least half an hour litter-

picking in her street, regardless of the

weather. She boasts that it is the

cleanest street in the area. She

has lived there for 37 years and

wants the area to stay nice. Her

efforts are much appreciated by

her local community.

Well done Janet, well done the

person who nominated her, and well done

the council for recognising her efforts!

18

1st–7th February

Churches: St. John’s (CofE),

Whittlesey (URC and Methodist)

Countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland,

Norway, Sweden

People: Everyone who leads worship

at Westgate and the people who do

other duties before, during and after

the services

Organisations: Church Action on

Poverty (use prayer on p7)*, Clubs

and Societies our members belong to

8th–14th February

Churches: Peterborough Cathedral

(CofE), Yarwell (CofE and Methodist)

Countries: Ireland, United Kingdom

Events: Our regular services at

Westgate, the Methodist Circuit

Services**, services at other churches

in our area

People: those working near our church

for less than the living wage, clients

of our Foodbank** and Foodbanks

around Peterborough

15th–21st February

Churches: Peterborough Quakers,

Yaxley (Methodist)

Countries: Belgium, Luxembourg,

Netherlands

Events: Lent Study Group starting this

week*

People: Past and present ministers of

Westgate and their families*

Organisations: Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall

Hospice*, Firms operating close to our

building

22nd–29th February

Churches: Castle Square Wisbech

(URC), Ailsworth (Methodist)

Countries: Portugal, Spain, Italy,

Malta,

People: Staff of our Foodbank* and

Foodbanks around Peterborough,

Ourselves as we decide on how best

to use our buildings, Members of our

Junior Church

Organisations: Hope into Action*

Febuary

Prayer Prompts

The Churches mentioned are taken from the Methodist Circuit and from a list of Churches in CTiCP and other churches with whom we have a close association. The countries are from the Ecumenical Prayer Calendar. * Further information elsewhere in the magazine ** See Diary on next page

19

F

E

B

R

U

A

R

Y

D

I

A

R

Y

Tuesdays, 10.30, in the Prayer Place at Church: Pause for Prayer

Tuesdays, 2.30, at Park Road Baptist Church: Women’s Fellowship

Wednesdays, 10.30, in the Church Vestibule: Circuit Intercessions Service

Saturdays, 10.15-11.45, in the Church Vestibule: Morning coffee

Saturdays, 12.30-2.30, in the Church Vestibule: Food Bank open

* * *

Tues 2 7:30 Chronicle editorial meeting

Sat 6 8:00am At All Souls: CTiCP Prayer Breakfast

Sun 7 10:30 Morning worship, led by Mrs Ann Tooth

5:00 At St Marks: CTiCP Themed Service Celebrating Youth

6:30 In the Church Vestibule: Service of Holy Communion,

led by Revd Lesley Moseley

Tues 9 Shrove Tuesday

Wed 10 Ash Wednesday: Lent begins

Sun 14 10:30 Morning worship, led by Revd Raymond Garfoot

Sun 21 10:30 Morning worship with Holy Communion,

led by Revd Lesley Moseley

6:30 At Southside: Circuit healing service

Mon 22 7.30 Lent Study Group

Wed 24 7:30 At the Friends Meeting House: Peterborough

Theological Society Montgomery Lecture, Revd. Canon

Prof. Vernon White, Canon Theologian, Westminster

Abbey. Providence and Progress, with reference to

Thomas Hardy.

Sun 28 10:30 Morning All Age worship, led by Revd Doug Stevens

6:00 At Southside: united youth service led by Mrs Helen

Crofts and Mrs Janet Rich

Mon 29 7.30 Lent Study Group

Sat 5 8:00am At Westgate: CTiCP Prayer Breakfast

Sun 6 10:30 Morning worship

6:30 In the Church Vestibule: Service of Holy Communion,

led by Revd Lesley Moseley

Wednesday at One: this has been suspended because of building work at the Cathedral.

It is hoped that it will re-start on February 10th. Please check with the Cathedral nearer

the time to get up-to-date details.

For Lent Study Group see p7.

March

Quotation Spot – February January is always a good month for behavioural economics: few

things illustrate self-control as vividly as New Year's resolutions.

February is even better, though, because it lets us study why so

many of those resolutions are broken. Sendhil Mullainathan