Wishing you peace on the 5th Sunday of Easter

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each

new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been

given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love.

Dear friends,

This opening blessing is by Reverend Dr. Vienna Cobb Anderson, who served in the ministry at a time when women clergy were rare and was ordained as one of the first women priests in the Episcopal Church. I had read this earlier in the week and then, when the Queen gave her wonderful speech on VE

Day, reminding us that our streets are filled with the love and care we have for each other, I decided to share it with you all.

The streets in our neighbourhood are indeed filled with friendship and I hope that we do all feel encircled by God‟s love and love for each other ...although from a „social distance‟!

The celebrations for VE Day were not as planned, but it was a splendid day and the wonderful display at Dunscar War Memorial was stunning! (Thank you to our Councillors.)

Sam Connah shared on Facebook the image of two of our Egerton residents (and Penny Farthing Luncheon Club friends): Gilbert looking splendid in his medal bedecked blazer with his lovely wife, Brenda.

I visited Marjorie earlier in the week, resplendent in her red, white and blue...

and John Evans had decked his house out in full regalia for the special day:

Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Ruth Dover who recalls clearly the events of that first VE Day. As a girl of 18, studying for her „A levels‟, Ruth shared with me some of her memories of that time:

“People were beside themselves with utter joy, relief and thankfulness. There was a tremendous feeling of „At last!!‟ ...and that you could relax again as Churchill gave his message. Everyone had worked so hard and gone through so many privations. Bonfires were lit in the village and people were „all together‟. There were parties where everyone brought something, even though they didn‟t have very much. There were many jollifications; it was such a relief that we‟d come through it all. People were pulling together, as they are doing now.”

Ruth also recalls walks to Dunscar War Memorial with her late husband, Tom, when he would comment on all the names inscribed on the stone for those who had fallen in the Second World War; among them the names of friends with whom he had grown up. Thank you to Ruth for choosing the Psalm (27) on the Prayer leaflet this week.

Despite our relative inactivity, the weeks seem to pass incredibly quickly and we again arrive at the end of another week of „Lockdown‟: the EIGHTH Sunday of churches being closed for public worship. You will see, however, from our Team Rector‟s message on the next page that there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

As I have spoken to those friends without internet these last few weeks, I have been recommending a free phone service which has been put into action by the Church of

England called „DAILY HOPE‟. It is free to call:

0800 804 8044 to listen to hymns, reflections

and prayers.

I tried it a few days ago and ended up listening to all the options, I was so fascinated and intrigued to know what was on offer.

First, you hear the welcoming voice of Archbishop Justin Welby and, by pressing the * key on your phone, you can listen to his full message, which is about 3 minutes long. The next time you call, you can just press 0 for the full menu, which is as follows:

1. Hymns we love: short talks based on the words of well-known hymns;

2. Recordings of hymns with a different one each day; 3. A relevant prayer each day; 4. Pressing this then offers you more options… 5. A weekly service provided by the Church of England; 6. You can listen to traditional morning or evening prayers; 7. Gives the latest government advice on Coronavirus; 8. Listen to The Mothers‟ Union midday and evening prayer.

Our Team Rector, Canon Peter Reiss’s message to us:

On Friday 8th May we celebrated/remembered VE Day: the end of the war in Europe 75 years ago. Some will remember the celebrations on the actual day, both the rejoicing and the context – a worn-out country, many grieving, an ongoing war in the Far-East and people in other parts of the world in far worse straits. It was a moment to rejoice – how can you not when five years and more of war in Europe is over – but it was not the end of the war and certainly not the end of the difficulties, nor of the mental, physical and emotional scars. Those of us who were not alive then remember with humility the suffering and courage of others.

Churchill’s words that first VE Day - "we may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead" - seem somehow quite fitting to 2020. We are beginning to see the easing of lock-downs and the reduction in cases in some countries. On Friday, the Bishop of Manchester gave permission for clergy to go (back) inside the church buildings to pray in them and to stream services from them. It is the first sign that we will at some point be able to gather in our churches – and as we hope for that we hope too to gather in our schools and our community buildings, and our pubs and restaurants and the homes of friends and neighbours.

It is going to be difficult and almost certainly we will have to restrict or limit again. Initially, we will still be “distancing” – some of us find the idea of masks disturbing even though we know they are helpful. I find it sad to think that gathering and sharing will still pose greater risks than staying away. Older people will remain more vulnerable, and we need to find a way forward which does not leave some behind. We may have to learn how to be church differently.

The theme for this next week is Jesus the Way the Truth the Life. How do we follow on the Way today and in the coming days and weeks?

And each day there are short, powerful verses posted on the St Anne‟s with St James‟ Facebook page (and re-posted on our Walmsley Facebook page, which I encourage you to visit if you have internet access). Here are two from last week:

Attached is the Sunday pew sheet with Liturgy for this 5th Sunday of Easter. Here, Canon Peter Reiss shares guidance with us on the

Readings and Reflections for the Easter Season

Here is a suggested way to get more from the Bible reading. Give yourself about 15 minutes. 1. Read the passage through once – noting whatever strikes you as

interesting / important /challenging 2. Read it again, thinking what it might have been like for you to be there,

“in” the story, or at least close to it. 3. Then read the comments below for each Sunday – they are only brief

comments - and after a brief time to reflect, read the passage for a third time.

Pray each week for the church, for the ministers and PCC, for the congregation members

Pray for the community; your neighbours, friends, the school and our community resources

Pray for the hospitals, hospices, Care Homes and GP surgeries and all who work in them

Pray for those whose work is made more difficult in these circumstances, but who make life better for others

Pray for our leaders and government, local, regional and national Pray for our world and particularly those parts most affected by war,

poverty and sickness

May 10th Fifth Sunday of Easter Reading – John 14: 1-14

This is another passage where Thomas is mentioned. Two weeks ago we

found him disbelieving; in this conversation he is willing to express his lack of knowledge. “We do not know ..” two weeks ago we were thinking about doubt – not being sure if God is really there for us; last week we reflected on the two disciples walking away from Jerusalem in despair and despondency. Thomas – in today‟s reading – is a third type of person to struggle, because he does not know enough. I suppose the challenging question is “how hard do we try to find out more?” Sometimes “We don’t know” is a cover for “We haven’t tried to find out”.

The promise from Jesus is of a spacious heaven, and that he has gone to prepare for us. He is the one who has broken the chains of death, opened

the way to new life, invited us to believe and follow.

And then there is the conversation with Philip – Philip was introduced in chapter 1 as a person who understood Jesus to be the fulfilment of the prophets, but as yet he has not understood that Jesus and the Father are “one”. Jesus is both the fulfilment of the OT prophets and prophecies and the embodiment of God, the Word made Flesh, the Word who was there in the beginning. It is deep theology but amazing

What do you notice from this passage?

Here are more thoughtful quotes shared for us from Lesley Smith: Quotes whilst isolating

It's not about going out and doing more right now.

“The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you brought to other people‟s lives that you will from the times that you outdid and defeated them.” - Harold Kushner

Do the right thing and make a real difference in the world around you, just by staying home. "Stay away from people with tiny minds and tiny thoughts and start hanging out with people who see limitless possibility as the reality. Surround yourself with people who act on their big ideas, who take action on making positive change in the world and who see nothing as out of their reach.” - Jen Sincero

The daily tableaux created by Jo & Stephen Woods continue to be a wonderful attraction as people pass on their walks. Here is a selection from last week: „May Day‟ „Thank you to the NHS‟

„VE Day Celebrations‟ „Tour d‟Egerton‟

Conversations with you this week have often touched on the kindness being shown between friends and neighbours during these difficult times. Our Treasurer, Dan, has shared that his children have continued to perform Random Acts of Kindness to others, following our Family Service in March when we talked about the importance of kindness ...and how it costs nothing but means so much.

As a reminder, I have attached the „KINDNESS CALENDAR‟ which Geseth Todd, our „FOCUS‟ Parish Magazine Editor & Website co-ordinator created for Lent. Geseth then adapted it and printed it in the latest magazine for use during the global crisis, entitled „KEEP CALM - STAY WISE - BE KIND‟ but, as we were not able to deliver the magazines, you have yet to see it.

A resident of Bromley Cross - Sharon Shuttleworth – posted the following on our local Facebook Page. I am sharing this with its reminder about the need to be kind to one another. Yes, we are all different, with different views ...but kindness costs us nothing.

I wonder if you have come across the work of CHARLIE MACKESY, who wrote a book entitled: „The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse‟. He is a brilliant illustrator who creates wonderfully inspiring and motivating messages which can be interpreted on many levels and he has recently been posting new drawings with messages.

Two of Charlie Mackesy‟s quotes about kindness are: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Kind, said the boy.”

“We often wait for kindness...but being kind to yourself can start now.” So, to those of you who feel you are not achieving enough at this time, please take this to heart ...and be kind to yourself as well as to others.

And here are a few examples of his wonderfully simple, yet clever illustrations...

I chatted with Frank Millhouse (aka „the Boy soprano‟) during the week, and shared with him the positive feedback received from his article „When the war is over...‟ I‟m delighted that he has again put pen to paper to share more of his wisdom, entitled: „...But did we win the peace?‟

Frank has cleverly questioned and reflected upon (or rambled about, according to him) our interpretation - or total ignoring - of the TEN COMMANDMENTS and ends with a pledge that he will remember only the good times with all their joy, and forget the sad times with all their sorrow.

He commends that we re-awake our faith.

And I end by sharing these beautiful and reaffirming words to carry us through the day from Bill Braviner, one of my favourite writers of thoughtful and inspiring morning prayers:

“He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb”. Lord, thank you that you know each of us even before we are formed in the womb; that we are wonderfully made; created in love, called to live love, whoever and wherever we are.”

We hope you find this „newsletter‟ with its reflections, prayers and suggestions helpful to you whilst worshipping at home. If anyone wishes to add anything that would be of interest to other church friends in future mailings, we would LOVE to hear from you. And if you know of anyone who might like to receive this weekly newsletter during this time when our worship is in the home rather than in our churches, please contact me. Please know that you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and keep well. Love and blessings, Dawn Hitchen - Church Warden + Authorised Lay Minister for Pastoral Care

An important message to you from Keith Lewis, Assistant Warden and Deanery Lay Chair: Just a reminder that, although our church buildings are closed, our running costs and activities as a Parish, a Deanery, a Diocese and a Church continue. So, if you normally have an envelope for your Collection, or if you put money on 'the Plate' at the Service you normally attend, please put the money aside each week, for when we are able to receive your contributions again. Alternatively, it would help with our day to day expenses and cashflow if you could consider donating electronically, either as a one-off payment, or by regular standing order/direct debit, please contact your bank for a monthly standing order or a one off payment to be made to: Walmsley Parochial Church ~ Acc no.10251161 ~ Sort code: 16 – 00 – 06

Thank you for helping to keep our Church working, to serve us all and our God.

And thank you to those of you who have already been in touch with me to say how easy it was to set up a standing order for their offertory giving. Thank you for making a difference.

For those of you who wish to continue with your stewardship using the weekly offertory envelopes, as we were discouraged from collecting and delivering to each-others' doors unless it is essential, we realise that you do not have your own personalised envelopes for the new church year. We don't know for how long this „lockdown‟ will continue, but it looks like it will be at least a few more weeks. You might like to write a cheque - if you are still using a chequebook – and combine the number of weeks into one cheque to put it in the final week envelope that you have and bring it into church when we re-open. Thank you for thinking of us.

Again thank you for your contributions; and if there is anything we can do for you or anything you need please do get in touch.

Switching to Standing Order is easy and, if you pay tax, Gift Aid

adds an extra 25%. If you wish to contact your bank for a monthly

standing order to be made payable to:

Walmsley Parochial Church - Acc no.10251161 –

Sort code: 16 – 00 – 06, we can send you a Gift Aid form.

GRUB TUB for URBAN OUTREACH Please do continue to remember those who rely on food donations. As a church we have supported Urban Outreach in a number of ways, including donating to the Grub Tubs in each church. Whilst our churches are closed, you can place your food donations in the GRUB TUBs in our local supermarkets. URBAN OUTREACH rely on the generosity of food donors to provide food parcels to those in need across the borough. Thank you to those who have given recently.

If you need to make contact with a church representative, please e-mail Church Warden: Dawn Hitchen

dawn@walmsleyparish.org or telephone 304142. Thank you.