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
http://www.e-activist.com/ea-action/broadcast.record.message.click.do?ea.url.id=510523&ea.campaigner.email=EaUZCffq1kuOz2hc8yuQzlESkN1MQhKC&ea.campaigner.id=%2FocY5mtM3%2Bk=&ea_broadcast_target_id=0http://www.e-activist.com/ea-action/broadcast.record.message.click.do?ea.url.id=510523&ea.campaigner.email=EaUZCffq1kuOz2hc8yuQzlESkN1MQhKC&ea.campaigner.id=%2FocY5mtM3%2Bk=&ea_broadcast_target_id=0http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_170287366315524http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_170287366315524
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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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican
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
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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
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sendhil_mullainathan.html