Well, the run up to the festive season is in full swing. All the shops and web sites are doing their best to persuade us to part with our cash to make sure those we love have the perfect Christmas or at least the one they have always dreamed of. I’ve often wondered how it is possible to have the perfect dream Christmas every single year. Does each Christmas have to be even more perfect than last year or is it that we have had a whole year to dream of a something even better? In recent years the big statement has been the John Lewis advert. We’ve had snowmen and hares as well as the usual cute children to show us the true meaning of Christmas. This year the meaning of Christmas is finding a mate for your battered and well-loved soft toy penguin so he can find love at Christmas. So far so good. But battle lines have, literally, been drawn this year by a new rival to the long meaningful advert – Sainsburys. As we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the famous 1914 Christmas Truce in the WW1 trenches, the message of goodwill is shown as a gift of a chocolate bar to a young German soldier who was all too briefly a friend and colleague. There has been a high level of debate about whether a sanitised version of life in the trenches is appropriate to advertise a supermarket – given the terrible loss of life, graphically highlighted at the Tower of London by the hundreds of thousands of blood red pottery poppies. But the message is clear – Christmas is the time for love and goodwill. So are either if these short films right or wrong? I think in their own ways they have clear messages which transcends the handing over of cash in shops. The very reason that you are reading this magazine, a magazine of a Christian church, is because 2000 years ago we were all loved so much that God sent his only son to die for our sakes so that we might have eternal life. 1 That is real love and is certainly worth celebrating. The shepherds and the wise men started it by giving gifts – which they must have bought from someone – to the Christ child in gratitude and adoration. So whether we show our love by finding a mate for a penguin or by sharing chocolate with someone we are meant to dislike, or by giving gifts to anyone at all – we are showing our love and thanks to God for his son Jesus – the greatest gift we could possibly have been given. Where we choose to get our gifts from is entirely up to us – the love they come with is so much more important than where they came from – whatever the TV adverts might suggest! Father Chrichton Limbert The annual subscription to the magazine of £5 is now due. If you collect your magazine from church, please put your money in an envelope and hand it to a Church Warden. If your magazine is delivered, please hand the money to your distributor. If you are not a regular subscriber and would like to become one, please complete the details below and return to the Parish Office, The Church Hall, Leighton Road, Heath & Reach LU7 0AA with the annual subscription of £5.00 (cheques payable to St Leonard’s PCC) Name………………………………………………………. Address……………………………………………………. I would like to : Collect the magazine from Church each month: or 2 Yes/No The Parish Registers Baptisms 19th October Thomas George Montague 16th November William Philip Ballantine Funeral 12th November Meizhen Luo Memorial Service 17th October Joy Dorothy Halstead The editorial team of ‘People and Parish would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the magazine for their support over the past year, in particular those who regularly write articles, poems and information on the activities of the parish, together with those unsung heroes - our loyal band of distributors. This magazine would not appear without their help and we are immensely grateful for it. We wish everyone a very joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Midweek services at St Leonard’s In addition to the two Sunday service at St Leonard’s, the church will now be open during the week for the following services: Mondays at 8.30am Morning Prayer Tuesdays at 8.30am Morning Prayer Tuesdays at 7.30pm Holy Communion Wednesdays at 5.30pm Evening Prayer Thursdays at 8.30am Morning Prayer 3 Clipstone Meats Badminton Club Established over 30 years Home and Locally Produced Friday evenings (8 - 10 pm) Meat & Poultry Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre Sold in small quantities Fresh & Frozen 01525 381337 01525 261552 Ring Jane 01525 210308 friendly or mixed abilities Tom 07855414088 non-league Free trial Clipstone Farm Leighton Buzzard LU7 9NZ computer support for business and home comput@mation KEEP FIT ~ ENJOY LIFE Services: After-sales for PC, Mac & Linux IT support Wired and wireless network installations Internet & email assistance Troubleshooting: Windows, Mac & Linux troubleshooting Virus & Spyware removal Fault diagnostics, repairs & upgrades Sales: Branded or custom PCs & Laptops Computer hardware & peripherals Software On-site visits - office hours or evenings by appointment Computamation Services Ltd Est: 1999 with over 25years experience Contact: John Wallace on 01525 261381 or 07968 536068 email: [email protected] web: www.computamation.co.uk 9a Lower Way, Great Brickhill, Bucks. MK17 9AG 4 The Villager I guess you are all now getting into the Christmas panic period. The children and grandchildren, when asked the simple question ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ reply with something technical from this modern computer age, which sounds good until you realise that the cost could go into three figures (and I don’t mean the Wise Men). I always looked forward to Christmas in my youth as I worked on the post round and tips from the Aspley Guise gentry were generous. Carol singing with the church choir was fun and I remember one evening we stopped at the doctor’s house for refreshments. We never started again as after several glasses of rum punch, the Rector, churchwardens and one maiden lady were too full of the Christmas spirit and had to go home! Some of us boys would go carol singing on our own and one lady would come out and stand on the step and sing with us. She was known to be generous and so had lots of carol singers but she disliked ‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’. My elder sister used to go carol singing on her own and asked where we boys thought a good person to visit. We recommended the generous lady but said that her favourite carol was........’Hark the Herald Angels’. My sister duly sang it, knocked on the door and was surprised to see it opened by a rather cross lady and to be greeted by “I am sick of Angels and of you! Good night!”. On Christmas morning , when I was eighteen, I was up at 7am, not to open my stocking but to run down the hill to the Post Office in time to start delivering the Christmas post between 8am and 9.30am. I took my hymn book with me so I could go straight into church in time for the morning service. When the service was over and after a dallying with the local girls for a Christmas kiss, I was late home for Christmas dinner and incurred my mother’s wrath. As soon as dinner was finished, another mad rush down the hill to the church for bellringing at 3.15pm (my uncle was the Tower Captain) and singing at the crib service 5 From 3.45 to 4.30pm. Then, after a quick walk with the girls, it was time to run home and sit in a chair, read magazines, listen to the wireless and go to bed ‘late’ at 11pm. Christmas was a prosperous period as tips on the post round amounted to nearly £1.00 and I received the equivalent of 25p from my uncle and a hand-knitted pullover from my mother. On Boxing Day, I listened to ‘Top of the Pops’ and Arsenal beating Manchester United 5-2. I walked to Wavendon to make up a foursome with my old uncles and aunt and lost to both at cribbage and whist. I enjoyed the cold chicken for late lunch though! Looking back at those times makes me realise that life seemed less hectic then but was very enjoyable. Possessions did not seem as important as they do now. Our cottage did not have electricity so a battery wireless and card games provided the chief forms of amusement and church activities and sport occupied much of the time. A happy home, good friends and no worries about TVs and motor cars gave one time to enjoy and appreciate the lovely countryside around. So this Christmas, try and be glad that there are so many things we should be thankful for and pray thatb the millions who cannot have all the pleasures we take for granted will find some peace and happiness. A very happy Christmas to you all and a peaceful and healthy 2015! Geoff White Out of the mouths..... After a church service one Sunday morning, a young boy announced to his mother, “Mum, I’ve decided to be a vicar when I grow up.” “Well, that’s all right with us but what made you decide that?” “Well, “ said the boy “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway and I think it would be much more fun to stand up and yell than to sit and listen.” 6 The Axe & Compass Heath & Reach ‘Your local pub in the heart of the community’ STEWKLEY STORAGE LTD FOR ALL YOUR STORAGE NEEDS COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC STEEL CONTAINER UNITS FROM 60 to 160sqft STORAGE ROOMS FROM 50 to 150sqft 7 DAYS A WEEK ACCESS 24HR CCTV SECURITY Homemade Food Famous Sunday Roasts Four Real Ales Special Events & Themed Nights Perfect for Private Functions Larkshill Farm Stewkley Road Soulbury Leighton Buzzard Beds, LU7 0DF Parties for all Occasions 01525 237394 www.theaxeandcompass.co.uk Tel: 01525 240297 www.stewkleystorage.co.uk KINGSWOOD FARM BOARDING KENNELS AND CATTERY BRICKHILL ROAD HEATH AND REACH Telephone: 01525 237 777 Proprietors: Anne & Bob Reeve 7 NIMBY MOLE Pest Control For all your Pest Solutions (covering London, Herts, Beds and Bucks) Call Peter: Email: Website: 07958 669 706 01525 220 653 [email protected] www.ptpestcontrol.co.uk |Wasps | Rats | Mice | Squirrels | Rabbits | All Flying & Crawling Insects | |Moles a Speciality| 8 9 COTTAGE STORES R & M Shah 297 HEATH ROAD (corner Sandy Lane) OPEN MON to SAT 6am-6pm SUN 6am-1pm NEWSAGENTS, OFF-LICENCE CONFECTIONARY, CARDS, GROCERIES, TOBACCO, PATENT MEDICINES, WALLS ICE CREAM, GENERAL STORES We also sell BUNKERS HOME-MADE SAUSAGES HOT BREAD ~ Sunday mornings 7 day Week News & Magazine Delivery Tel. 01525 371808 For all your painting and decorating needs … J.M.Wyatt Painter and Decorator 4 St Leonard’s Close Leighton Buzzard Beds LU7 3DF The most competitive prices in Tel. (01525) 379520 the area Tel: 01525 237687 Call for free quotation and advice Mrs Emma Smith 10 Thursday 11th December COFFEE MORNING At the Church Hall 10am to 12 noon Sunday 14th December CHRISTMAS LUNCH in the Church Hall at 1pm See advert and menu on page 14 Saturdays 31st January and 7th February PUSS IN BOOTS Traditional family pantomime See advert on page 15 for full details Saturday 7th March at 1pm in the Church Hall 50/50 AUCTION For more information on any of these events, phone 01525 377047 11 Spiritual Growth As a Parochial Church Council at St. Leonard's Church we are working towards a Vision for parish growth. The process involves introducing a parish prayer, a draft is available on the pews, to be prayed daily by each of us. Next is to have Personal Gospel sharing groups, twice monthly, not only for the PCC members but for everyone. We are using the seven stop model using the Gospel for the following Sunday. The emphasis is on SHARING rather than a bible study. As we get used to meeting and sharing at a deeper level we move on to the next stage which is for me to send a spiritual MOT check-list to everyone, followed by an opportunity for each person to meet me or another spiritual director for a one to one using the spiritual MOT as the basis for the discussion. All of us have a theology that underpins our attitudes, whether we are conscious of it or not. My role as a spiritual leader is to provide opportunities for spiritual growth. To help name the theologies we are working out of and to evaluate where growth is necessary. The ideal is for everyone to meet with a spiritual director on a regular basis, in lieu of that we try to provide opportunities for shared prayer, bible study and focussed seminars for spiritual growth. Our parish is well run with every kind of committee with committed and hard working members. By and large our Sunday services followed by a cuppa are really good. Like any organisation we work towards growth by welcoming new members. As a church community we focus on the spiritual growth of each member, young and not so young! We have been experimenting with moving the Altar and rails, or if you prefer Communion Table depending on your theology, to see if that might facilitate a more community feel to our assembly. It really does not matter, as long as we can say 'welcome to the building, we are the Church'. 12 The actual structure of where we meet to worship, and indeed how we worship is secondary to an awareness that we are Church, we are the body of Christ. St. Paul says, if you want to out-do one another then do so in generosity, welcoming, concern and care for one another. Our form of worship is secondary to our formation in spiritual growth and maturity. The major blocks to spiritual growth are having a distorted image of God, UN-forgiveness and unwillingness to reconcile, shame, guilt and addictions of any kind. We need help and healing to move beyond them. Working on a spiritual growth MOT will go a long way in spiritual awareness. Yours faithfully, Noel Our thanks to St Leonard’s Church Kathleen and Trevor send our grateful thanks for all the prayers and support that the congregation of St Leonard’s has given us over the past six months. Thankfully the chemotherapy has worked once again and Trevor is now in remission. It would be a hard road to travel without the love and friendship of those around us and we think fondly of the time spent with you all. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year. Best wishes to you all, Kathleen and Trevor Tibbett 13 St Leonard's Christmas Lunch Sunday 14th December 1.00pm for 1.15pm St Leonard’s Church Hall Menu Starter Duo of Smoked Salmon or Home Made Carrot and Parsnip Soup (v) Main Course Roast Beef Roast Potatoes Vegetables Yorkshire Pudding Vegetarian Option Leek & Mushroom Pie (v) Dessert Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce or Apple Strudel with Custard or Stilton Cheese with Biscuits PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINK BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL Sign up on the list in St Leonard’s Church Porch or contact the Parish Office on 07502 320025 or email [email protected] before 12 14 noon on Thursday 11th December T i c k e t s o n s a l e n o w. . . ! PUSS IN BOOTS A traditional family pantomime by Ben Crocker and performed by St Leonard’s Amateur Players Saturday 31st January 2014 at 2pm and 7.30pm Saturday 7th February 2014 at 2pm and 7.30pm St. Leonard’s Church Hall, Heath and Reach Box office: 01525 377047 or book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/slap 15 The Complete Cleaning and Maintenance Service Contact us for a FREE no obligation quote for all your cleaning & maintenance requirements On 01525 234113 Office Cleaning Floor Maintenance Industrial Cleaning Carpet Cleaning Window Cleaning General Property Maintenance Ground Maintenance Domestic carpet cleaning and pressure washing !!! www.cleanamotion.co.uk 15 Ropa Court, Friday Street Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 1DU Email:[email protected] 17 Ropa Court Friday Street Leighton Buzzard (Opposite Waitrose carpark) 01525 237939 Open Monday – Saturday 9.00 – 5.00 Visit us for all your fresh flower requirements and planted gifts for all occasions. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Funerals, New baby, New home, Weddings etc. Free Local delivery (On all orders over £20.00) Free parking behind shop 16 Remembering World War 1 Over the next four years St Leonard’s is remembering each person on the Heath & Reach War Memorial on or around the 100th anniversary of their death. If you know of others who died during the First World War and you would like them to be remembered on our pew sheet, please sign the list in church - which is open during every day during the day so please feel free just to drop in. If you have more information or photographs about those on the War Memorial which you would be willing to share please email [email protected] Frederick Arthur PARAGREEN (RMA 10860) Died on 1st November 1914 aged 28 years. He was a gunner killed in action whilst serving on HMS Good Hope in the Pacific Ocean off Chile in the Battle of Coronel and when the ship and its complement of 900 officers and enlisted men were lost; he was awarded the 1914-15 Star. His parents Hezekiah and Harriet lived in Gig Lane. George HOLMES (13577) Died on 20th November 1914 aged 22 years. He was a Private in the 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and died at Harwich where his Battalion was based. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and is buried in All Saints’ Church, Dovercourt in Essex. His parents John and Sarah Ann lived in Lanes End. 17 CHURCH COFFEE MORNING CHURCH HALL Thursday 11th December 10.00am to 12 noon ALL WELCOME TRANSPORT AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED PLEASE TELEPHONE 07502 320025 TO ARRANGE Coffee mornings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month Next one on 11th December 18 The United Charities of Heath and Reach (Charity number 200098) Known locally as The Allotment Trustees Way back in the history of our village two pieces of land were given to the parishioners, which are Old Chapel Close and Copt Hill Poor’s Land. These charities were ‘united’ in 1911, hence the title United Charities. Five United Charities Trustees are appointed by the Parish Council every four years to coincide with the tenure of Parish Councillors. Their task is to manage the land which has been granted to parishioners over the centuries to generate an income which they are then to use to alleviate poverty in the parish. The Trustees can use their judgement to maximise their income from the land. In accordance with the Act which underlies their Deed, they may (but don’t have to) provide allotments for cottagers and labourers. At the present, annual income of about £2,000 is generated from allotment rents and a Government grant for maintaining the bulk of Copt Hill as open space. In accordance with the 1911 Deed the money must be used for “The benefit either of the poor of the Rural Parish of Heath & Reach generally, or of such deserving & necessitous persons resident therein as the Trustees select for this purpose”. The Trustees have built up a balance and wish to distribute much of this to parishioners genuinely in need of financial help. Support could go to individual parishioners of any age group, but would be a one-off payment rather than continuous sponsorship. It is not possible to make grants to businesses, groups or organisations. The United Charities is our parish charity and there for each of us when in need. If you would like to apply, or know of anyone who might benefit from this parish fund, please write to: The United Charities Trustees C/O Mrs A Inns 19 Grange Gardens Heath & Reach LU7 0BH 19 News from St. Leonard’s Lower School SPORTS NEWS Our year 4's have played in the Leighton-Linslade Tag Rugby Tournament. We drew 2 games, won 1 and lost 2 but only by one try in each game. The whole team played really well, particularly as it is quite a new sport for most of them. St Leonard's played in the Leighton Linslade School Sports Partnership High 5 Netball Tournament. The team made it through to the finals after beating Hockliffe, Heathwood and St. George’s, and finished in 1st place after beating Dovery Down. The team worked really well together, having not played on a marked out pitch, and represented St Leonard's with great sporting skills. VISITS Year 2 enjoyed a visit to Tesco as part of the Tesco Farm to Fork scheme. They enjoyed a tour of the bakery and made bread. They got to taste different fruits and vegetables and looked at different fish on the fish counter. They came away with a goody bag too. Year 3 visited Pizza Express where they made their own pizza’s, as part of their Italian adventure. EVENTS It has been a busy month with a successful Spellathon, Rememberance activities and Children in Need when we all dressed as Super Heros for the day. Many thanks to all of our families for their support. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday 22nd November Saturday 6th December Sunday 7th December Monday 8th December Wednesday 10th December Monday 16 th December Wednesday 17th December Friday 19th December Choir singing at St Leonard’s Church Christmas Bazaar PTA Christmas Fayre 11.00 – 2.00pm Christingle Service at St Leonard’s Church – 4.30pm Christmas Concert 4+ & Y1 2.00pm – Christmas Concert Y2, Y3 &Y4 2.00pm Reach Out 10.30am *CANCELLED* Nativity at St Leonard’s Church – 11.00am End of Term 20 A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally, she spoke, “Grandad, did God make you?” “Yes, sweetheart, “ he answered, ”God made me a long time ago.” “Oh,” she paused, thoughtfully, “Grandad, did God make me too?” “Yes, indeed, sweetheart,” he said, “God made you just a little while ago.” Feeling their respective faces again, she observed. “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?” 21 All Saints Coffee Shop STOKES CHIMNEYS AND GARDENS Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10am till 3.30pm All homemade cakes and freshly made sandwiches All Saints Parish Church Leighton Buzzard LU7 1AE Qualified lady chimney sweep All types of stoves and chimneys carefully swept. Birds’ nests cleared Member of the Institute of Chimney Sweeps Garden maintenance service. Grass cutting, weeding, leaf clearing, pruning and planting etc. RHS qualification (pending) Friendly local service. Public liability insurance and DBS checked. Call Sue Stokes on 01 525 850622 [email protected] St Leonard’s Visiting Team We are a small group who enjoy meeting people and having a chat (maybe over a cup of tea!). If you or anyone you know is housebound, or might enjoy some company occasionally, please call Kelly on 07502 320025 and she will put us in touch. We look forward to hearing from you. Anne Chapman 22 23 24 The Christmas Stocking The custom of hanging a stocking on the hearth or bedpost on Christmas Eve in the hope that it will be filled with presents the next morning started about 400 years ago. It originated in Holland, where children placed wooden shoes next to the hearth on December 5th, the night traditionally associated with St Nicholas or Sinterklass. The children would fill their shoes with straw (for the white horse that carried the gifts) and food for St Nicholas. Stockings, pillow cases or shop-bought ‘Santa sacks’ were substituted for the shoes in Britain and most of Europe and in North America with the popularisation of Father Christmas or Santa Claus during the 20th century. More...Out of the mouths.....! Dear God, Christmas should be earlier because kids can only be good for so long. Beth. Dear God, Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Ginny Church Hall For Hire St. Leonard’s Church Hall is available for hire for private functions or regular bookings. Fully renovated, with state of the art kitchen, stage and small meeting room. For more information, including hiring charges, please call the Parish Office on 07502 320025. 25 Better together: the power of three! The sibling group of Fr. Noel’s churches has jointly made a conscious decision to try to develop ways of working together to transform our communities and make new disciples. The complete package should provide for all age groups, patterns of working life, and styles and tastes in churchmanship. Some provision is formal and structured; some informal, and fluid in the form it may take. For small people, there is Messy Church. This will be at St Leonard’s Church Hall on the second Saturday of each month at 4pm. For 4-9 year olds, Fr. Noel also delivers regular assemblies in the district’s lower schools. New on the menu are Eggington’s Parish Prayer and Praise evenings. These are particularly aimed at teens and young people, will have an evangelical flavour, and will be held once a fortnight on the 2 nd and 4th Sundays of the month, at 7pm. Less structured in format, with guitars and songs, readings and poetry, these will offer a period of reflective prayer and bible reading. There are weekly prayer meetings in Hockliffe on Thursdays at 6.15pm, based round a bible reading and again with time for shared and personal prayer. These have been held in St. Nicholas during the summer, but as it becomes too cold to be comfortable in the church, they will move to participants’ homes. Contact Nerissa on 371615 for details. Mid-week Communion is held in St. Leonard’s on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm; and Morning Prayer on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 8.30am. All this is in addition to the middle-of-the-road, traditional Parish Communions held in all 3 churches Sunday by Sunday. And as well as this full schedule, there are all the occasional events such as Harvest Suppers, carol services and quiz nights through which we socialise, get to know each other, and try to support each other where we can. The 3 churches are very different, and serve very varied communities, but through this pattern of sharing and working together, we hope we can build a diversity which meets all the needs, without becoming a single homogenous mass. Three in one, and one in three. Julia Dickens 26 CHRISTMAS WEATHER Christmas time, it’s chilly out, The winter weather holding true. Daring us to venture forth, whilst waiting to test us. Waking to frost, the windows turned into showcases of diamonds. Starched blades of grass crumble and crack under footsteps. Bare branches, covered in furry white Stark against the pale blue sky Beseech the pale sun to bring a little warming relief. Whilst the snow, rounding off the angles as it gently falls Turns to tyre-marks by the side of the road, Like brown, frozen, cough candy. And out we go, muffled and wool’ied, safe and sound against the cold. Thinking only of Christmas time, so smug in our weather beaters. But Christmas weather rises to the challenge. Probing necklines and cuffs with icy fingers, seeking the gaps in clothing To leave its frozen print. Itchy strands of wool, once tickling the nose from snuggled scarf Now turned stiff by icy breathing, cold against the mouth and chin. Toes turning numb, fingers too Nose turned red and ears so cold they crumble at a touch Freezing defeat yet again. The cold, the damp, the frost, the snow Are here to tell us, ask us, test us On what we really ought to know. It’s Christmas weather. Derek Hardman 27 Diocesan pilgrimages – the trip of a lifetime! Have you ever considered joining a St Albans Pilgrimage? The Diocese has been running pilgrimages for fifteen years, covering the Holy Land and other destinations of Christian interest such as the Seven Churches of Asia, Jordan & Sinai, New Testament Greece and Santiago de Compostela. The tours are run in association with McCabe Travel, the top Christian Travel agent on the UK. In 2015 an exciting programme of no less than three pilgrimages has been laid on. From 23 May - 1 June 2015 Canon Dennis Stamps, Rector of St Nicholas Harpenden, will lead a pilgrimage to New Testament Greece. This will follow the narrative of St Paul’s journeys, visiting Philippi, Lydia, Thessalonika and the amazing monasteries at Meteora in the mountains. The pilgrimage will follow a north to south route and will also visit Delphi and Thermopylae before arriving for a three night stay in Athens. The final day will be spent visiting the remarkable ruins of Corinth and Cenchreae, which involved crossing the spectacular Corinth Canal. In August, from 18 – 27th, the Archdeacon of Hertford the Venerable Dr Trevor Jones and Mrs Sue Jones will be the leaders for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. With years of experience, we have honed a programme which we justly proud of. As well as the key sites in Jerusalem such as the Mount of Olives, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of and the Holy Sepulchre, visits will be made to Bethlehem, Nazareth and the Dead Sea. The last part of the pilgrimage will be spent at Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A new destination for St Albans Diocese will be explored from 2 – 11 September when the Bishop of Bedford the Rt Revd Richard Atkinson and Professor Helen Atkinson take a group to Andalusia in southern Spain. This tour will cover the rich and history of Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the region, and will visit Granada, Cordoba and Seville All of the pilgrimages have the services of a professional English speaking guide and full board accommodation. The cost includes all entrance fees. Daily worship will be led by the pilgrimage leaders, and all the itineraries offer some free time for personal exploration. The tours are an excellent choice for those travelling alone, providing a safe, supportive and friendly setting and an opportunity to see major sites with fellow Christians. Full details and booking forms can be found at www.stalbanspilgrimages.org.uk, or call 01727 853305 28 On or For Sun Coffee (after 11am service) Cleaning 7th December C Fagan V Roberts 14th December M Lutt & M Cliffe 21st December A Chapman & J Thomas 28th December H&R Ramsbotham 4th January J&T Mellodey 11th January S Darms 18th January F&J Richards 25th January J Oxley 29 J Thomas & A Gomersall G&M White V Roberts 30 THE SILVER LINE A helpline for older people 0800 4 70 80 90 “Like child abuse, loneliness carries a stigma, especially for an older generation too proud to ask for help. I hope by creating a helpline for older people The Silver Line will enable them to break through the stigma of loneliness, and thus save lives and comfort and protect older people in need.” Esther Rantzen. The Silver Line is a free confidential helpline which provides; information and signposting to services, community and voluntary support across the country; a friendship service to combat loneliness; and a means of empowering those who may be suffering abuse. If you are feeling isolated or lonely, there is not only the helpline, but a telephone befriending service, where you are matched to a trained volunteer, who will phone on a weekly basis for friendship at a time convenient to you. So if you feel that you would benefit from the services of The Silver Line, please do not hesitate to call our 24/7 helpline on 0800 4 70 80 90. ‘If you think it is for you, it is for you’. St. Leonard’s Parish Prayer Living God, help us to know in our hearts the love that you have for us all. In becoming aware of your love for us, let us reach out in love and genuine empathy to those in our community who are lonely, lost, or feel separated from others, irrespective of reason. Let us be ever mindful of those who are sick and may your love and concern prompt us to action. You have given us the patronage of St. Leonard, so by sharing in his spirit may we free those in our community who are overwhelmed by affliction, sorrow, poverty or by any other means, and let us grow together as a people united in love and concern for each other, and of love for you. Amen. 31 ONYX - The dynamic six piece band for your special event, wedding reception, anniversary celebration, dinner dance or corporate function. Choose your favourite songs from our extensive playlist for those magical moments to make your special occasion simply the best. ONYX will ensure you and your guests dance all night to celebrated hits from the last five decades. [email protected] 01525 211019 Facebook.com/on77yx www.heatsafegasandplumbing.co.uk 32 The Village Show will be re-launched at St. Leonard’s Church May Fayre on Saturday 16th May 2015. Classes will include preserves – chutney, jam etc. and a knitting section - Any size child’s jumper, patterns available from contacts below. There is an option to donate the completed jumper to LEOT, an educational charity in Laos. There will be further categories – details will be in copies of Parish and People or from contacts below:Rosemary Young (01525) 237345 or Vera Paul 375095 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------ENTRY FORM – to be returned to St. Leonard’s Church Parish Office, Leighton Road, Heath and Reach LU7 0AA / Rosemary or Vera by Tuesday 28th April at the latest. CLASS NO. 1 2 DESCRIPTION FEE 50P PER CLASS. TO BE INCLUDED WITH ENTRY FORM PRESERVES KNITTED CHILD’S JUMPER NAME……………………………………………………………………………… ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………………………….. TELEPHONE NUMBER……………………………………………………. 33 34 35 CALLING ALL RETIRED MEN! St Leonard’s Old Boys (otherwise known as the SLOBs) are a group of retired folk who meet once a month to help keep the church and hall surrounds tidy We meet normally on the first Monday of each month and tackle whatever light work is needed at that time followed by a “planning lunch” at the Axe & Compass. There is no commitment to come every month but only as and when you can and only for two hours. We meet at the church hall at 10.00am. The next meeting is on January 5th. Everyone welcome! And finally........ “As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind. Every part of this rocket had been supplied by the lowest bidder.” John Glenn 36
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