1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

St. Marwenne’s, Marhamchurch
OCTOBER
2014
Please contact any of the following for information or enquiries about
Anglican Church life in the Benefice:
Our Parish Priest:
Father David Barnes, The Rectory, 8 Falcon Terrace, Bude
EX23 8LJ Tel: 01288 352254 [email protected]
Our Curate:
Rev Alison Hardy, Newfield, Brook Drive, Bude EX23 8NY
Tel: 01288 488308
[email protected]
Our Churchwardens:
St Andrew’s, Stratton:
Yvonne Bishop: 01288 352762 Andrew Davey: 01288 353998
St Marwenne’s, Marhamchurch:
Rob Corney: 01288 359754
Angela Grills: 01288 361247
St Michael’s, Bude Haven:
Di McDougall: 01288 353513
Christine Willey: 01288 354959
St Swithin’s, Launcells:
Margaret Dunn: 07743 731173
Stratton Deanery website: www.strattondeanery.co.uk/
Regular Sunday Service Schedule
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8.00 am
9.30 am
11.15 am
6.00 pm
Stratton
Marhamchurch
Bude Haven
Launcells
Stratton &
Bude Haven
Bude Haven &
Family Service
at Stratton
Stratton &
Launcells
Marhamchurch
Marhamchurch
& Launcells
Stratton
Launcells &
Family Service
at Bude Haven
Benefice
Bude Haven
2
3
4
Marhamchurch
5
Benefice
Eucharist
Evensong
Editor of 1 Voice: Clare Hicks, Trelowen, Lynstone, Bude EX23 0LR
01288 352726; [email protected]
Copy date for November 2014 issue - by Fri 17 Oct please
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PARISH NEWSLETTER
Greetings to one and all!
Thank you to all those who have taken me at my word and invited
me to spend time with them over a cuppa these last few weeks. I
am beginning to get to know the parishes a little, and even
remember some names!
When I last wrote, I was anticipating the arrival of my Indian
friends: Brother Samuel-John and his son, Azariah. Since then,
they have spent five days with me in and around the parishes,
sharing their stories and showing their DVD which Azariah made
shortly before leaving India. For those who did not meet them, they
are both church pastors who preach the gospel with a passion reaching out to tribal peoples and to the Dalits (untouchables) and
seeing churches grow village by village. They meet many
malnourished children which they take into their orphanages and
provide food and clothing to a colony of 120 lepers, besides working in AIDS awareness, adult literacy, youth retreats and much
else. I have a copy of the DVD available to anyone who would like
to see it.
Here is just one of the many stories they have to tell about
the difficulties of sharing their faith: Azariah travelled to the Punjab
last year with his youth team by invitation to address a large youth
retreat. Whilst at the retreat, a group of men armed with
sticks disrupted it and began to beat Azariah and his group. Two of
Azariah’s friends were killed: one, a talented musician and the
other, a gifted preacher. Azariah, himself, thought he would die, but
whilst being beaten he cried out in a loud voice, ‘If I die, I know
where I am going. But do you know where you will go when you
die?’ When the men heard him speaking to them in Punjab, they
stopped to listen to what he had to say, firstly, because they had
respect for someone who could speak their language, and,
secondly, because they had a fear of what would happen to them
after death. Afterwards, the retreat organisers wanted to know how
Azariah knew how to speak in perfect Punjab, especially as they
had been providing an interpreter for him. Azariah said he did not
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know the language - he had cried out and not known what he had
said. He knows that God must have protected him, and yet he still
grieves for the loss of his friends.
What amazes me is that the persecution does not dampen their
enthusiasm for the gospel. Instead, it makes them all the more
keen to share their faith. Daily they pray for us, and ask that we
would pray for them. Please pray that:



God would protect them and provide for them.
That they would be able to continue to provide food, shelter
and schooling to the orphans and children whose parents are
too poor to be able to care for them adequately.
That they would be able to continue training up and
supporting new church leaders to lead their multiplying
congregations.
The day before they travelled back to India, they rang me to say
‘thank you’ for the time they had spent with us. They were
encouraged by our warm welcome towards them, and our willingness to listen to the stories they had to tell. They asked me to
thank everyone for their friendliness and generosity shown towards
them. Brother Samuel-John says that their time with us had been a
‘time of refreshing.’
Yours in Christ,
Sister Alison.
OUR DEANERY PRAYER
O generous God,
You invite your people to discover the Kingdom
And grow the church;
Give us, then, the courage, the strength and the vision
To share in the mission and ministry
Of your Son
That with the Lord of the Church
We may be, truly, the Church of the Lord.
Amen
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Dates for your Diary:
Saturday 27 September:
Gift Day, St Michael’s 3—5 pm
A Classical Extravaganza, Concert by Bude
Concert Orchestra, Parkhouse Centre 7.30 pm
Wednesday 1 October:
MU Cluster meeting, St Michael’s 2 pm Speaker: Jean Jefferies: MU in Africa
Saturday 4 October:
Cornwall Organists’ Association Meeting. Open
to all. Guest artist John Hobbs of Duchy Opera,
St Michael’s 3.30 pm
Sunday 5 October:
Tuesday 7 October:
Harvest Festival, St Michael’s 11.15 am
CBS, St Michael’s 4.00 pm
Wednesday 8 October:
Saturday 11 October:
Bishop Chris’ Pastoral Visit St Michael’s
Diocesan Choral Union Festival, Truro
Cathedral 3.30 pm All invited
Sunday 12 October:
Bude Music Society: Astaria String Quartet, St
Martin’s, Killerton Road, Bude 3.00 pm
Harvest Festival Songs of Praise, St Marwenne’s
6.30 pm
Cluster Standing Committee Meeting,
St Michael’s 7.30 pm
WW1 Exhibition, St Michael’s 10 am—5 pm
& on Sunday, Commemorative Service at 9.30
am, Trafalgar Day Service at 2.30 pm
Monday 13 October:
Thursday 16 October:
Friday 17—Sunday 19:
Saturday 18 October:
Tuesday 21 October:
MU Coffee Morning & AGM, 24 Bede Haven
Close, Bude 10.30 am
Jumble Sale, Stratton Community Hall 2 pm
Lunch at St Andrew’s 12.30 onwards
Wednesday 29 October:
Messy Church, St Michael’s 10.30—12.30
Tuesday 4 November:
PCC Meeting, St Andrew’s 7.30 pm
Thursday 6 November:
Saturday 8 November:
Tuesday 11 November:
PCC Meeting, St Michael’s 7.30 pm
Flights of Fancy Gift Day & Exhibition,
St Marwenne’s 11 am—4 pm
PCC Meeting St Marwenne’s 7.30 pm
Thursday 13 November:
PCC Meeting, St Swithin’s 7.00 pm
Saturday 15 November:
Cadon Choir Concert, St Swithin’s
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WORLD WAR 1 EXHIBITION
ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS’ CHURCH
BUDEHAVEN
17th, 18th & 19th OCTOBER
Daily 10 am—5 pm
SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER
COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE 9.30 am
&
TRAFALGAR DAY SERVICE 2.30 pm
Light Refreshments
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GREENFINGERS — OCTOBER in the garden
The planting of hardy shrubs and flowers in October
is to be recommended, as the soil is still warm and
they will acclimatise to the colder conditions as winter approaches.
Still a favourite in cottage gardens are ASTERS, often referred to exclusively as Michaelmas Daisies, which term is applicable only to one
Aster in the novi-belgii group but we must not be too pedantic. There
are several varieties of Aster and many tend to suffer from mildew.
Being highly bred, the most affected is novi-belgii. Aster novaeangliae seems to be ninety per cent reliable in this regard and superb
choices would be Harrington's Pink or Rosa Sieger. In Greenfingers' experience, although not in the latter group, Little Carlow (Aster
cordifolius )has remained mildew-free for several years and is a little
beauty, especially when planted close to the cheerful yellow of Rudbeckia Goldsturm. Buy both and plant them this month - not just one,
but at least three of each which will give a good show.
Shed no tear - O shed no tear!
The flower will bloom another year
Keats
at St Michael’s Church, Bude on Weds 29th October 2014
10.30
- 12.30
Theme: ‘Love Your Neighbour’
Come and enjoy a morning of hospitality, craft and celebration with lunch
provided
Adults – bring a child
Children – bring an adult
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JESUS WEARS A HAT IN NORWICH!
Norwich is reputed to have more medieval churches than any other city
north of the Alps. St Peter Mancroft, one of Britain’s largest churches, is
by far the finest. One of its many treasures is the tapestry of 1573,
quaintly depicting Christ, with hat and spade, as the gardener, for whom
Mary of Magdala mistook him. This is possibly the only place where Jesus
has been portrayed wearing a hat.
It was in the cathedral though, that I spent
10 days recently—once again on a summer
tour with Schola Aquae Sulis, the Bathbased choir. This was my twenty-first
consecutive tour and the singing, friendship and fellowship were better than ever.
Practices were held in the splendid new
Song School and in the choir stalls. We led
the week’s Evensongs in the choir stalls and
twice we sang in the nave—for Sunday Eucharist and for a special World War One
commemoration service at 9.30 pm at
which there was a congregation of about
300. On one of the days, we sang 186 verses of psalms and on another, we sang, on
and off, for 13 hours. It was very demanding, but so enjoyable.
There can be few places more magnificent
in which to sing than Norwich Cathedral.
The sense of length and height is
breathtaking. The sheer scale of the building is almost startling. England’s highest
Norman tower is surmounted by a spire
which reaches 315 feet — second only to
Salisbury. There are massive supporting piers and soaring Romanesque
arches. It is spectacular how the medieval work springs from older
architecture rather than conflicting with it. Among the beautiful stained
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glass windows, I was charmed by a scene showing Mother Julian at prayer—with her ginger cat.
The cloisters at Norwich are the largest monastic cloisters in medieval
England. Here and in the nave, there is a dazzling array of roof bosses.
There are 1,106 in total and they are unparalleled in Christendom in
their range, quantity, and theological comprehensiveness. Some of them
are highly amusing and all of them are very human. I particularly liked
the representation of Noah in his ark, with the animals. The bosses, gargoyles and choir stall misericords offer remarkable insights into
life in earlier times. Singing in the choir is like that too, giving the feeling
of continuity throughout the ages. Now I am looking forward to singing
at Exeter Cathedral next year—virtually a home base after recent choir
tours to Durham; Lincoln; Norwich; York; St Paul’s and Canterbury.
David T Williams
JUMBLE SALE
in aid of St Andrew’s church
Stratton Community Hall
Saturday October 18th at 2 pm
Jumble ~ Good as New ~ Cake stall
Raffle
Entry 20 pence
Please take goods to the Hall from 10 am on the day
NO GLASS OR CHINA PLEASE
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News from the Tower
Our recent submission to the DAC for a faculty to restore our bell
frame at St Marwenne’s foundered when the committee’s bell
adviser revealed that our preferred contractor was no longer on the
Diocese’s list of approved contractors. We are now looking to the
company which installed the frame in 1938 to do the work, at a
cost of some £10,000. Our request for the faculty will be resubmitted at the October meeting.
While we have some possibilities of grants, for instance from the
Truro Guild of Ringers, we will largely have to raise the money ourselves. As I write we are meeting to plan a range of fund-raising
events which will be advertised in your favourite cluster magazine.
RJC
ST MARWENNE'S HARVEST FESTIVAL
MONDAY OCTOBER 13th AT 6.30 pm
SONGS OF PRAISE
followed by supper in the Bray at 7.30 pm
Adults £8 Children £4
Tickets from Peter & Mary at Sharland House
Everyone welcome
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Bude Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society
WW1 IN BUDE BAY
New material at St Michael’s October exhibition
While many of our local seamen were engaged in the big sea battles, a
lesser known sinister aspect of the war was lurking close to our home
shores. U boats were an ever present threat as they endeavoured
to torpedo shipping as they approached home ports bringing vital
supplies.
An airship base for the purpose of locating the submarines was set up at
Langford, Marhamchurch. (Details included in the exhibition).
The subs were a menace to the local fishing fleet which provided an
important food source and were a vulnerable target. The method
employed was for a sub to surface, take off the crew, sometimes as
prisoners or alternatively to set them adrift in their dinghy. Then bombs
would be put into the ship to sink it.
Andrew MacDougall has kindly used his expertise to plot the location of
some of these unfortunate craft which were the victims of the U boats.
Thanks are also extended to John Stedwill for his valuable assistance
regarding the local ships and other maritime information.
Alan McIntosh Chairman
Audrey Aylmer Archivist
More cleaners needed!
The cleaning team at St Michael’s really needs
more people to help. We meet on Friday morning
at 9.30am and work for an hour then have a cup
of tea/coffee. However cleaning is not
restricted to this time, one of our team cleans on another day.
All offers of help would be appreciated however small.
Please contact the churchwardens if you can help.
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Notes from St Andrew’s for October 2014
Our PCC has a Fabric Committee who oversee the management of our
Grade 1 listed church building and the churchyard. At their recent
meeting they arranged for a small group of volunteers to tidy up the
paths and trim adjacent overhanging bushes this autumn. The
churchyard however is in need of a much greater quantity of work by
professionals to limit the growth of the lower branches of all the
trees, and some hedges, that were planted in a scheme in 1992 when
the churchyard was extended. After 22 years these branches are
drooping onto the gravestones and inconveniencing access to the
graves themselves by relatives and friends as well as by our
professional grass cutter. It is in a Conservation Area and some of the
larger trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders so permission
has to be obtained from Cornwall County Council. Fortunately their
County Forester has links with Stratton and designed the original
scheme so his recent recommendations should be accepted. However
the work is likely to take a week and may cost up to £1000. If anyone
would like to help with this cost that the PCC has the responsibility of
funding, then donations for this purpose can be arranged with our
treasurer Rob Varley on 01288 355737.
St Andrew’s Patronal Festival 2014. This year St Andrew’s Day falls
on Sunday 30th November, a 5th Sunday, and a Benefice Parish Mass
will be held at 10.30 am. (n.b. not 9.30 am). Our Gift Day and Fayre
will be held the day before, Saturday the 29th November 10 am to
4pm in church so please highlight these dates in your diaries and
spread the word about both these celebrations.
Dr Ian A H Barker. PCC Secretary
Cornwall Carers Service: in August One Voice we mentioned that there
is a monthly drop-in session in Bude run by Kirsty Luxton. The venue for
this is now Neetside Community Centre and the sessions are on the
1st Wednesday of each month from 2.30—4 pm
Editor
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“Tails” from Stratton Tower
Hello!
There is a smell of Autumn in the air now. Lots
of summer visitors came to look at the church; we even had
two gentlemen from a place called India which sounded a long way
away. They were friends of Alison.
I went for a walk in the churchyard the other day and the chestnut
trees are so full of nuts that the branches are bending down. I hope
they don’t get too low or the nuts won’t split when they fall and I do
like to get at those shiny brown centres.
When I was out there I heard two ladies talking and one said she was
going to a murder at the cross roads. My ears pricked up. The other
one said, “I hope you have a good time. The food is always nice
there.” Then I thought Oh! It must be some daft game folks play.
While I was out I met my friend the old churchyard mouse. He said
it must be getting near Harvest Festival time, and he was telling me
about the fancy bread they used to bake in the old days. All golden
and crusty and in the shape of a wheat sheaf.
I think he was pulling my leg, but he said he remembered when the
church up the road had mice, made out of bread, running up the
wooden rails each side of their altar and with real sheaves of ripe
corn. I bet that looked grand and tasted nice.
To think they remembered us mice! If we get anything like that I will
let you know next time.
Church Mouse
There will be a ST ANDREW’S LUNCH
in church on Tuesday 21 October
from 12.30 pm onwards
Everyone is welcome
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MU members, busier than ever!
Some organisations take a breather during the holiday season, but our
cluster’s MU members seem to do quite the opposite! After the splendid
Summer Lunch that Mary and Peter hosted, we moved right on to our
annual Wave of Prayer Service. This is an annual event uniting members as a worldwide community as it focuses members' prayers on particular aspects of Mothers' Union's work abroad.
Then came our Coffee Morning and Cake Stall for the Wheels Appeal,
which raised the goodly sum of £110. This funding is used to help provide transport for community workers overseas as they reach out to
those living in the most isolated areas by organising self-help initiatives,
health education and literacy projects.
At our September Branch meeting we welcomed as our speaker Liz
Digweed who is a Family Support Practitioner working for Kernow Young
Carers. As our 2014 countywide project MU is providing some extra
funding – the “Self Esteem Fund” - to extend the work of this organisation that helps to support children who have taken on a carer’s role for a
family member. We reported last month that the Summer Lunch had
raised over £300 for this work.
Liz was a most engaging speaker who gave us a clear insight into her
work. She is one of a team of just four, who cover the whole county between them, so her case load is heavy and involves extensive travelling.
She outlined the way they function, which is by taking a flexible approach
to each young person's individual needs. The main aim is identifying and
overcoming the barriers in their lives. The team tries to enable these
young folk to get where they want to be in life and not be overwhelmed
by the demands of their caring role. In often small but always significant
ways they are key in building self-confidence and self-esteem for these
children, many of whom are sacrificing much of what childhood usually
holds – especially the fun and freedom elements. We were shocked to
know that, despite over 400 young carers in Cornwall being registered
with Kernow Young Carers, Liz estimates that there are several hundred
more about whom they know nothing. Our MU “Self Esteem Fund” helps
provide things that the County Council’s statutory funding will not stretch
to – like wallpaper for a drab bedroom, new brakes for a dangerous bike,
replacements for out-grown football boots or a season ticket for the
swimming pool. Respite days, full of lively fun, are the highlight of what is
regularly organised. They are much enjoyed by the young carers who
can relax and socialise with others whose lives are similar.
Please join with us in remembering this hidden band of dedicated
children and the work of Kernow Young Carers in your prayers.
Susan Cotton Branch Leader
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Small Group Facilitation Training
Small groups can be great places to learn, share and
grow together as disciples of Christ, but we often lack
people in our church or Parish who have the confidence to draw a few people together regularly to discuss the Bible and
pray.
The Small Group Facilitation Training being offered will equip and inspire
individuals who would like to facilitate growth and learning in a small
group setting. You don’t need previous ’leadership’ experience and you
certainly don’t need to be a Bible scholar.
If you like the idea of meeting regularly with people you know, having
the Bible and prayer as your focus and would like the skills to make it
happen…. this training is for you.
If enough people are interested (8 or more) then I would happily run
this course in the local area.
For further details, contact Pauline Burdett, The Meadows, Sharlands
Road, Marhamchurch, EX23 0HW; [email protected] or
07733 443786
ST MARWENNE'S
GIFT DAY & EXHIBITION
'FLIGHTS OF FANCY'
Saturday 8th November
11am—4 pm
Light Refreshments available
Everyone welcome
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EXCITING YEAR OF MUSIC AHEAD FOR BUDE CHORAL SOCIETY
Bude Choral Society welcomed members old and new to the first rehearsal of
its 63rd season on Wednesday 10 September.
Philip Uglow, chairman, said that the choir has some varied and exciting works
lined up for the next year. The first concert, “The Spirit of Peace” will be
on Saturday 6 December at 7.30 pm at St Michael’s Church, Bude. The
programme includes Elgar’s “Spirit of England” with words from the poem “For
the Fallen” written by Laurence Binyon while sitting on the coast of
North Cornwall. This poem includes the words commonly read at memorial
services: “They shall not grow old, as we are left to grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.”
The focus for April’s concert will be entirely different and much closer to home
with a programme of music associated with the sea. By special request there
will be a return appearance by the ever-popular Bude-based Bencoolen
Wreckers with their own inimitable programme of Cornish songs and sea
shanties. This will be in aid of Friends of Bude Sea Pool and Cornwall Air
Ambulance.
The Society is always keen to welcome new members; any voice, young or older, so if you like music, enjoy singing and want to have some fun and meet new
people, then why not consider joining this friendly and enthusiastic choir?
For more information about the choir, telephone the Chairman, Philip Uglow,
on 01566 781651 or visit the website at www.budechoral.org.uk, where you’ll
find lots of details about past concerts, membership, advertising opportunities
and fundraising activities.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing
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Psalm 100.1
Book Review
The Hitch-hiker’s guide to Heaven
By John Blanchard
Jesus said that we should not store up for ourselves treasures on earth – which
we will surely lose through decay or theft; but rather that we should store up
‘treasures in Heaven’.
Jesus said to the thief dying next to Him: “This day you will be with me
in Paradise.” Is heaven paradise? Will we go to paradise?
We could multiply questions, and perhaps we could come up with some
answers. John Blanchard has done the work for us in his book which he rather
whimsically entitled ‘The Hitch-hiker’s guide to Heaven.’
The book is serious, but easy to read, it’s thorough but not boring or heavy, it is
thoroughly Bible-based. There is no speculation, just a searching to see what
God has told us, and a determination not to try and fill in the gaps. His Bible
references stretch through all of Scripture. His conclusions are good and satisfying.
John Blanchard has also read widely outside of the Scriptures, and he quotes a
wide variety of authors, some with differing points of view. In the book he has
addressed all the hard questions I could think of and many more. He can’t, of
course, give full answers to every question, because God has not told us everything – and we couldn’t understand many things anyway.
It is a heart-warming book that exalts God and His Son, through whom we have
the Christian’s great hope of Heaven.
The book is practical and down to earth. Having talked about heaven from
many angles, he has a section entitled ‘What now?’ which contains challenges
to our living and thinking right now, and this is followed by a final
section entitled ‘Onward and Upward’ which challenges us about what we value and even how we view death.
Who is this book for? All of us! Don’t think ‘I’m young, I don’t need to bother
about heaven yet’. For one thing, we should all be ‘setting our minds on things
above’. For another, we don’t know how long our time here will be. If you’re
not a Christian, this book could also be for you, I believe it could speak to you in
ways you may not have considered before.
Available from the Ark Angel Christian Bookshop, 4 Lansdown Mews, Bude
01288 356886
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The FOOD BANK is designed to help
individuals and families in crisis, through
the provision of emergency food
supplies. Local professional careworkers in the Bude area refer them,
with a food voucher, to the Food Bank.
The Food bank allows the general
public to contribute to and support the
local community in a simple practical
way. Please continue to support the
work of Bude Food Bank with your
donations
and
prayers.
In
particularly short supply at the
moment are: tinned tomatoes, pasta
sauces and sugar (500g).
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SOLACE
Bereavement Support Group
We are
a group of ordinary, friendly and supportive people
from your community
trained to listen
to your experience of bereavement
in confidence
over a cup of tea
informally
on the first Tuesday afternoon of each month
at the Parkhouse Centre, Bude
no matter what your religious faith or none
just come along 2.30 – 4.30
and share your grief
recent or a long time ago
we are here to listen
For further information call Rob
on 01566 781570
or email: [email protected]
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Service Schedule for October 2014 for the Bude
Cluster: Bude Haven, Launcells, Marhamchurch and Stratton
Sunday 5th:
8.00 am:
9.30 am:
11.15 am:
6.00 pm:
Sunday 12th:
9.30 am:
9.30 am:
11.15 am:
6.00 pm:
16th Sunday after Trinity
Parish Mass (Stratton)
Holy Communion (Marhamchurch)
Parish Mass & Harvest Festival (Bude Haven)
Evensong (Launcells)
17th Sunday after Trinity
Parish Mass (Bude Haven)
Parish Mass (Stratton)
Holy Communion (Launcells)
Evensong (Marhamchurch)
Monday 13th:
6.30 pm:
Sunday 19th:
9.30 am:
9.30 am:
11.15 am:
11.15 am:
6.00 pm:
Sunday 26th:
9.30 am:
9.30 am:
11.15 am:
11.15 am:
6.00 pm:
Harvest Festival Songs of Praise (Marhamchurch)
18th Sunday after Trinity
Parish Mass (Bude Haven)
Family Service for All Ages (Stratton)
Family Service (Marhamchurch)
Holy Communion (Launcells)
Evensong (Stratton)
Last Sunday after Trinity
Holy Communion (Marhamchurch)
Parish Mass (Stratton)
Family Service (Bude Haven)
Holy Communion (Launcells)
Parish Mass (Bude Haven)
In the normal course of events, weekday services are:
Wednesdays at 8.45 am
Wednesdays at 9.30 am
Thursdays at 8.45 am
Thursdays at 9.30 am
Morning Prayer, St Andrew’s, Stratton
Mass at St Andrew’s, Stratton
Morning Prayer, St Michael’s, Bude Haven
Quiet Mass, St Michael’s, Bude Haven
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