THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT MARY PENWORTHAM
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MARCH 2015
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From the Editors
Welcome to March edition St. Mary’s magazine. This month we give thanks for all
mothers on Mothering Sunday. Why not come along to Mother Church on the
15th March and celebrate mothers everywhere.
The season of Lent is well and truly with us and on Sunday 29th March we celebrate
Palm Sunday, Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
“The sun is brilliant in the sky but its warmth does
not reach my face.
The breeze stirs the trees but leaves my hair
unmoved.
The cooling rain will feed the grass but will not
slake my thirst.
It is all inches away but further from me than my
dreams."
- M. Romeo LaFlamme, The First of March
SAINT MARY’S NEWS
Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO) – Emergency Appeal
FOMO is a locally run charity and many of our parishioners support it. FOMO aims
to help orphaned children in Mulanje in Malawi. Recently the country has been devastated by floods and the orphanage itself has been severely damaged. Please help
these children if you can.
You can find more details at our website (www.penwortham-stmary.co.uk) or the
FOMO webpage (http://www.fomo.co.uk/). You can also telephone FOMO on
01772 619409. FOMO is a registered UK charity (UK charity No 1090727)
Frontline - Soup Lunch - Sunday 1st March
As we come towards the end of the Frontline series, we will be marking the end of
the series with a Soup Lunch. If you would like to stay
after the service on 1st March for lunch please sign the Contents:
list at the back of church. There’s no need to bring From the Editors
Page 1
anything, all food will be provided, but feel free to Church News
Page 3
leave a donation.
All in the month of
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Lent Lunches at the Church Hall
Organisations
Calendar
These are held every Tuesday from 12.00 noon until Charities
1.00 pm until the 31st March.
Parish Thanks
A word of encouragement can sometimes make the
difference between giving up and going on.
History Corner
Matters of Faith
Miscellaneous
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Page 1
From the Editors
1915 - PENWORTHAM SOLDIERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
THE GREAT WAR
The first soldier to fall in the year 1915 was Sergeant Archibald Taylor (L7919)
of 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. He died on the 29th January 1915 at
the age of 28. He is the son of Frederick and Sarah Gertrude Taylor of 22 Lark
Avenue Penwortham. He was almost certainly a career soldier who had been in the
army for some time at the outbreak of war. His service number indicates that he
joined the colours in 1904. The 2nd Battalion was a regular service battalion and at
the outbreak of war was stationed at Woking. It arrived in France in August 1914 as
part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division and took part in the 1st Battle of Ypres in
October and November of that year. It was involved in the defence of Givenchy on
the 20th and 21st December 1914 and in a further action at Givenchy on the 25th
January 1915. On the 29th January it was involved in the line slightly further south at
Cuinchy but the official history refers to this as “affairs” in that sector and I have no
information as to whether this involvement lead to Archibald’s death. He is
remembered at the Le Touret Memorial in northern France, which is situated in the
general area of Fromelles.
Private Rowland Tattersall (28313) of the 10t h (Prince of Wales Own
Royal) Hussars died on the 12th February 1915. He is remembered on the Menin
Gate Memorial at Ypres. That date places his death as a couple of months before the
start of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. The 10th Hussars arrived on the western front on the
8th October 1914 (landing at Ostende) as part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade, later joining
the 8th Brigade but still as part of the 3rd Division. The tactical formula that soon
evolved in the fighting rendered cavalry almost defunct after the first few weeks of
the campaign and the vast majority of soldiers in cavalry regiments soon found
themselves serving with infantry in the trenches. By February 1915 the 10th Hussars
were clearly based in the sector around Ypres. From the information I have, the line
in that sector was relatively quiet at that time and, to date, I have no information
about the circumstances in which Rowland fell.
PENWORTHAM FOODBANK
The food bank currently have a need for:
Tinned rice pudding
Tinned Carrots
Cuppa soup
Tinned Peas
Corned beef
Tinned Potatoes
At the moment we have more than adequate supplies of rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes,
baked beans and left over christmas chocolates!
Thank you for giving generously.
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 17th May 10.15 am Confirmation Service with the Bishop of Blackburn
Friday 22nd May and Saturday 23rd May – Penwortham Live at the Church and Church
Hall
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From the Editors
Christian Aid week 2015 10th- 16th May.
Christian Aid week is the biggest single fund raising effort made by Christian Aid. It
brings in a high proportion of the total income for the charity. Although door to
door collection using envelopes may seem outdated in this day and age with so many
opportunities for people to give instantly, it is still an effective means of collecting
donations. Using envelopes does allow people time to decide whether or not to
make a donation although not everyone uses the chance provided. It also allows
individuals should they wish to, to return the envelope without making a donation-as
the envelope is returned sealed, the collector will not know if there is anything in it
or not.
Willing volunteers from St Mary’s and other churches in Penwortham will be
undertaking door to door collections in many roads within the parish, but there is
still room for more volunteers to join in and give even more people the opportunity
to make a donation as not every road I currently covered. If you would be able to
give just a few hours in this week to deliver and or collect please let me know. You
may find it easier to work an area with someone else, if so let me know and I can
arrange it. Please consider carefully if you are able to help and ensure that the
excellent work undertaken by Christian Aid, which is increasing rather than
decreasing, can continue both to respond to emergencies and to improve long term
prospects for many in less developed countries.
If you can help please contact me on 01772 460142 or [email protected].
Church News
A million sold and voted the UKs favourite Fairtrade Egg!
Introduced in 2010, The Real Easter Egg was initially turned down by supermarkets
as they were unsure that a ‘faith egg’ would sell. How wrong they were. Last year, in
a national poll, the Real Easter Egg was voted the UK’s favourite Fairtrade egg and
now more than a million Real Easter Eggs have been sold!
The Real Easter Egg is still the only Fairtrade egg with a copy of the Easter story in
each box. There is also a charitable donation for every 150g egg sold. More than
£140,000 has been donated from sales. It also supports farmers and producers in the
developing world by using Fairtrade chocolate.
David Marshall, who heads up the Meaningful Chocolate Company, said; “The Real
Easter Egg campaign aims to establish giving a Real Easter Egg as a tradition. We can
be found in Tesco, Waitrose and Morrison’s. However, we make very little from
supermarket sales, so we do rely on direct sales from churches and schools. Last
year we sent more than 400,000 eggs through the post. This is a very positive
example of putting our faith into practice so I hope churches will support this year’s
Real Easter Egg campaign by visiting www.realeasteregg.co.uk and ordering.
Each year the content of the Real Easter Egg changes. This year blue egg has a unique
3ft storybook/banner, the Premium Peace Edition contains an olive wood key ring
made in Bethlehem and there is a dairy free dark chocolate egg.
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Church News
Helping youngsters learn good financial habits
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has welcomed the announcement that
the government will fund a pilot programme to help children develop good financial
habits at a young age by setting up savings clubs in primary schools in partnership
with credit unions.
Research indicates that children develop their attitudes towards money long before
they reach secondary school age, with the Money Advice Service suggesting that
most children have formed their financial habits by the age of seven.
The ‘LifeSavers’ project, which is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group
on Responsible Credit and Savings, will seek to equip children with good financial
habits by educating them about the benefits of saving at an early age. It will also
introduce children to credit unions, which play a key role in providing financial
services to more than a million customers across Britain. The project will pilot in six
schools before rolling out to up to 100 schools over the next four years, benefitting
up to 30,000 pupils.
Find out more about the Archbishop’s initiative to create a fairer financial system at:
www.toyourcredit.org.uk
Pray for our dairy farmers
A Christian charity has urged churches to pray for and support British dairy farmers.
They are struggling to survive amid falling milk prices.
The Arthur Rank Centre (ARC), a charity supported by rural churches, made its call
to rally the churches after First Milk recently announced it would delay payments to
1,200 farmer members because of a financial crisis at the farming co-operative.
The number of dairy farmers has halved over little more than a decade. ARC chief
executive Jerry Marshall adds: “Prices are at their lowest since 2007 while costs have
risen 36%.”
Therefore, the ARC called on Christians to pray for dairy farmers who are suffering
from financial hardship.
Canon Dr Jill Hopkinson, national rural officer for the Church of England, said church
members and the public could also show their support for the British dairy industry
by looking out for the Red Tractor logo when buying dairy products, such as milk,
butter, cheese and yoghurt. “Church members could also show their support
through choosing to buy milk from supermarkets that pay a fair price to farmers,”
added Dr Hopkinson.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Institute (WI) said consumers have “real power” to bring
about change to support British dairy farmers. “Ninety-six percent of us consume
fresh milk but few of us recognise its real value. By backing British farmers we can
ensure that the British dairy industry remains strong and that we can access highquality, high-welfare, locally produced dairy for years to come.”
Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who tread on their toes.
Chinese Proverb
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Church News
Help the thirsty on World Water Day, Sunday 22nd March
The relief charity Samaritan’s Purse is appealing for help in its efforts to provide clean
drinking water to a community in Karamoja, northern Uganda. “People there
drink dirty water because they have no choice. There are no functioning
wells nearby. Every sip of water they drink is a potential killer,” explains
Simon Barrington, UK head of Samaritan’s Purse.
And so it is that Samaritan’s Purse is appealing to people to remember Karamoja on
World Water Day on 22nd March by supporting their TurnOnTheTap initiative.
More details at: www.TurnOnTheTap.org.uk
All in the Month of March
It was:500 years ago, on 28th March 1515 that Saint Teresa of Avila was born. This
Spanish Carmelite nun was a writer and mystic who reformed the Carmelite Order.
She was also the first woman to be made a doctor of the Roman Catholic Church.
200 years ago, on 20th March 1815 that Napoleon returned to Paris as Emperor of
France after escaping from exile. (On 18th June he was defeated at the Battle of
Waterloo.)
150 years ago, on 4th March 1865 that Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as
President of the United States for a second term. (He was assassinated a month
later.)
125 years ago, on 4th March 1890 that the Forth Bridge in Scotland was officially
opened. It was the first major steel structure in Britain.
100 years ago, on 18th March 1915 that the Battle of Gallipoli began when the Allies
launched their main attack on Ottoman forts along the strait.
80 years ago, on 21 March 1935 that Persia was renamed Iran.
70 years ago, in March 1945 that Anne Frank, the Dutch Jewish diarist and
Holocaust victim died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, probably from typhus.
50 years ago, on 8th March 1965 that 3,500 US Marines landed in South Vietnam –
the first US combat troops to take part in the war.
40 years ago, on 5th March 1975 that The Homebrew Computer Club held its first
meeting in Menlo Park, California. It started the personal computer revolution.
Several notable computer pioneers were members, including the founders of Apple.
30 years ago, on 3rd March 1985 that British miners voted to return to work after a
year-long strike over pit closures and job losses.
25 years ago, on 15th March 1990 that Mikhail Gorbachev became the first (and
only) President of the Soviet Union. (He resigned in Dec 1991.)
15 years ago, on 26th March 2000 that Vladimir Putin was elected President of the
Russian Federation.
10 years ago, on 26th March 2005, that the British science fiction TV series Doctor
Who returned after a 16-year break.
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Organisations
Mother’s Union
The next meeting will take place at 2pm on Tuesday 3rd March at St. Mary’s Church
Hall. David Hanks willm talk about “Gullible Travels”. ANYBODY is well come to
attend.
P.M.Wootton
Guild of St. Mary
At our AGM in January Judith Kirby, Ann Yates and Barbara Richards agreed to
remain as our President, Secretary and Treasurer. The rest of the committee agreed
to serve for a further year and were elected en-bloc.
Ann Hall is our Card/Flower Secretary so please ring her on 746834 to let her know
if any member is ill or celebrating a special occasion.
New members from ladies of the parish are always welcome so please feel free to
join us, especially at our open evenings.
If you hear of any good speakers or trips out for our Guild please let us know.
On March 23rd Win Dawson will give us her talk entitled “ A little bit extra”. This is
about her experiences looking after young children on TV at the Granada Studios in
Manchester.
Ann Yates
Dramatic Society
We hope you all enjoyed our February play “Out of Focus” – we certainly had fun
rehearsing through the depths of winter and once more bravely chipping the ice off
the radiators!!!
This being the Lent period, we would like to invite all our patrons, friends and fellow
parishioners to come and join us in our Easter dramatic offering, which this year will
be a surprise dramatic endeavour aimed at providing a thought-provoking and
interesting piece, being presented as part of a service during the week prior to Good
Friday.
The services will be held at –
St Leonard’s Church, Higher Walton : Sunday March 29th 2015 (Palm Sunday)
Leyland Road Methodists Church,
Leyland Road, Lower Penwortham : Monday March 30th 2015
St Mary’s Church, Higher Penwortham : Tuesday March 31st 2015
Please can we ask you all for a strong turnout at our own, newly-renovated Church
– it will be only the second time we have performed in this interesting space.
All services will start at 7pm and a closing collection will be taken in aid of our
chosen charity for this year. For further details about any of these services, please
contact our Secretary, Philip McLaughlin (01772 748941).
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Organisations
Once again we would like to apologise to all our regulars who support the Dramatic
Society for the lack of a Tuesday night performance this season. Unfortunately with
times as they are and the strictures that places on everyone, we cannot see Tuesday
night performances being restored in the foreseeable future. Sad, but falling audience
numbers and membership is severely hampering our ability to produce the same level
of performance we were all used to some years past...
Now a heartfelt plea. Please, if you do enjoy our plays, come and join us. Even if you
haven’t seen our plays, come along anyway. There are many ways of getting involved
– onstage, backstage (building sets, organising props, running lights or sound) or
welcoming the audience, there’s no time like the present, please contact our
Secretary, Philip McLaughlin (01772 748941) – or come along to our next meeting in
St Mary's Church Hall Cop Lane Penwortham on Wednesday March 18th 2015 at
7:30pm.
These are tough times and in order to keep live theatre in Penwortham we need the
help of all our friends. Please come and join us – you will be given a warm and
friendly welcome – and you don’t need any special skills as there really is something
in the Society that anyone can turn their hand to. Without more help we will be in
serious danger of closing and then there will be no regular theatre at St Mary’s,
which after almost 60 years would be a tragedy indeed.
Speaking of which, next season is our 60th anniversary and the plays chosen are –
“Daisy Pulls it Off” in September 2015; “Trap for a Lonely Man” in November 2015
and “Fools Paradise” in February 2016. A great choice of past favourites to whet
your appetite! More news to come about our 60th celebrations as we have them!
If you can’t spare the time to be a member, perhaps you would consider helping us
by becoming a patron – for a small fixed fee paid at or near the annual Patron’s
Evening (at which our members perform some eclectic entertainment), you will
receive your regular ticket for the same seat for each play, delivered through your
letter box. You will be supporting the work of the Dramatic Society in the Parish by
helping us float our new Season’s plays and keeping drama alive in Penwortham for
another year. Without our Patrons we would be unable to keep live theatre at St
Mary’s. For all our Patrons we are truly grateful. For more details about becoming a
Patron, please contact Ian Parkinson on 01772 742148.
Spring is well and truly here, with the Spring Equinox this month, so until next
month, may life treat you and yours kindly. Time to go and watch the lambs in the
daffodils!
Brightest blessings.
Graham Blackhurst
Those that take Christ for their King must lay their all under his feet. Hosanna signifies, “Save
now, we beseech thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!” But of how little
value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude joins the cry of the day, whether
it be ‘Hosanna’ or ‘Crucify Him’. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but few
become consistent disciples. Matthew Henry
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Calendar
1st
7th
SUNDAY OF LENT
Holy Communion (Order 2)
Holy Communion (Order 1) with Junior Church
(The Frontline Commitment) Soup Lunch
12.00—1.00 pm
Lent Lunches (Hall)
2.00 pm
Mothers’ Union
6.30 pm
Christian Meditation
9.30 am
Holy Communion
10.00-12.00 noon Churchyard Maintenance
10.00 –3.00 pm
Open Church
9.00-1.00 pm
Farmers’ Market
8th
THE THIRD
THE SECOND
8.15 am
10.15 am
3rd
4th
5th
10th
11th
12th
15th
SUNDAY OF LENT
8.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 2)
10.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 1 (Parade)
12.00-1.00 pm
Lent Lunches (Hall)
6.30 pm
Christian Meditation
9.30 am
Holy Communion
10.00-12.00 noon Churchyard Maintenance
10.00-3.00 pm
Open Church
7.30 pm
P.C.C. (Church Hall)
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
MOTHERING SUNDAY
17th
18th
19th
8.15 am
10.15 am
12.00-1.00 pm
6.30 pm
9.30 am
10.00-12.00 noon
10.00-3.00 pm
22nd
THE FIFTH
23rd
24th
25th
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Holy Communion (Order 2)
Holy Communion (Order 1) with Junior Church
Lent Lunches (Hall)
Christian Meditation
Holy Communion
Churchyard Maintenance
Open Church
SUNDAY OF LENT
8.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 2)
10.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 1)
3.00 pm
FAB Faith and Belonging
7.30 pm
Guild of St Mary (Hall)
12.00-1.00 pm
Lent Lunches (Hall)
6.30 pm
Christian Meditation
10.00-12.00 noon Churchyard Maintenance
10.00-3.00 pm
Open Church
Calendar
29th
31st
PALM SUNDAY
(Palm Sunday Liturgy and Distribution of Palms)
8.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 2)
10.15 am
Holy Communion (Order 1)
12.00-1.00 pm
Lent Lunches (Hall)
LEYLAND DEANERY LENT TALKS
SPIRITUAL RE-FORMATION
As Bishop Julian sets out his vision for the diocese he invites you to a series of Lent
Talks exploring the challenge of Spiritual Re-formation. The talks continue—
5th March
The guide in re-formation
19th March
The road of re-formation
7.00 pm at St John’s Leyland—finish by 9.00 pm
Charities
Children’s Society
As mentioned in last month's magazine I am taking over Adrienne Nelson's responsibility for collecting the Children's Society boxes. As it is now time for the boxes to
be opened for the half yearly collection it would be helpful if they could be brought
to our house at 44, Central Drive, Penwortham.
I am looking forward to continuing Adrienne's work.
Linda Glaister
The Parish Thanks
ALTAR FLOWERS
Note: during Lent, flowers are not displayed at the altar but may be displayed at the Memorial window.
1st (Lent 2)
David & Maureen Thornton In memory of their parents
8th (Lent 3)
Vacancy
15th (Lent 4)
Guild (MOTHERING SUNDAY)
22nd (Lent 5)
Vacancy
29th (Lent 6)
Vacancy (PALM SUNDAY)
ALTAR LINEN
March – Mrs Barbara Collins
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History Corner
FROM THE ARCHIVES : MARCH 1915
The Vicar’s Notes
Once more we are passing through the Season of Lent with its many opportunities
and possibilities. Lent always brings with it the central idea of discipline and surely
this year much of the discipline of Lent is settled for us by the circumstances in
which we find ourselves. Already self-denial is being exercised by many, so that they
may be able to help others less favoured than themselves. Amusements are being
curtailed, may be through personal sorrow, or through the feeling of enjoyment
being incongruous, while so much sorrow and axiety is everywhere around, and in
some cases our devotions have been increased in frequency and earnestness,
because the call for our prayers has come with an insistence and imperiousness that
brook no denial. …………
The Confirmation
On February 24th (S. Matthias’ Day) eighty-seven Candidates from our Parish and 51
from Farington were Confirmed by the Bishop of Burnley, the Bishop of Whalleyh,
who was also present acting at Chaplain. The serviced was a very beautiful one, and
was a particularly reverent one; …….
Sunday, March 14th has been set apart as the Sunday on which the newly-confirmed
will make their first Communion. …..
Penwortham Church Girls’ and men’s Clubs
As advertised the Rev. T. Pearson gave his long-looked-for Lecture on “Roses” in
the Penwortham End Sunday School on February 18th. ………
Lancashire Association of Change Bell Ringers
A successful meeting of the Preston Branch of the above County Association was
held at Penwortham St Mary’s, on Saturday February 13th. About 40 visiting
members attended. ……
It may be interesting to record here that for more than three years the six Bells at
Penwortham have been fully rung for morning and evening Service on Sundays. Since
the outbreak of war, six members have joint His Majesty’s Forces. Owing to this,
coupled with cases of unavoidable sickness, on February 21st only five ringers were
available. Every effort will be made to maintain the standard of attendance lin the
future as in the past.
Mothers’ Union
Thursday, March 25th is the Festival of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This is the special Festival which the Members of the Mothers’ Union always keep,
and it is hoped that all Members of the Mothers’ Bible Class will do their utmost to
the present at the Celebration of the Holy Commnion on that day. The Celebration
will be at the Parish Church at 10.30 am.
Penwortham Sewing Party
Up to the present tyime the following is the list of Articles made and sent to our
Sailors and Soldiers—272 shirts, 422 pairs of socks, 264 helmets, 142 belts, 169 pairs
of mittens, 24 pairs of gloves, 39 nightingales, pyjamas, jackets, 26 pairs of gloves.
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Matters of Faith
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED
For those recently baptized
15th February
Chloe Annabel Caslake, the daughter of Philip James Caslake
and Rebecca Caslake
Luke George Pennyfather, the son of Adam Bryan Pennyfather
and Claire Pennyfather
Francesca Jean Allen, the daughter of Gareth James Allen and
Emma Michelle Allen
For those who have recently died
Neil Michael Berry
Stanley Fenton
Alan Linton
Annie Shuttleworth
HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS
2nd March Chad (d 672) – the recycled bishop
Chad should be the patron saint of any modern bishop whose consecration is
questioned by another bishop. Chad was consecrated a bishop, then deposed - and
then re-consecrated!
It all began when Oswiu, king of Northumbria, made him bishop of the
Northumbrian see. But due to a scarcity of appropriate bishops, two dubious
bishops did the job of consecrating him. This led to Theodore, Archbishop of
Canterbury, deciding to depose him about three years later.
Chad took his dismissal with good heart, and peacefully retired. But then Theodore
had second thoughts: Chad was of excellent character: humble, devout, and zealous.
So Theodore re-consecrated him – to be the first bishop of the Mercians. Second
time around, Chad was a great success - again.
When Chad died he was quickly venerated as a saint. People took a great fancy to his
bones, believing that they would bring healing. Even today, four large bones, dating
from the 7th century, and believed to be Chad’s, are in the R.C. cathedral in
Birmingham.
Bishops today may still argue about consecration, but they are unlikely to have their
bones disturbed.
7th March Perpetua and Felicitas – joyful martyrs of Africa
This story could come straight out of modern Africa. Perpetua was a young married
woman of 22 who had recently become a Christian. But the authorities had
forbidden any new conversions, and soon she and some other catechumens were
arrested and sentenced to death. This was not under Islamic State, nor Boko Haram,
but under the emperor Septimius Severus in Carthage, in the year 203.
All true knowledge of God is born of obedience. John Calvin
The best mathematical equation I’ve ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given
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Matters of Faith
Imprisoned with Perpetua was a pregnant slave, Felicitas, and seven men. Perpetua’s
family were frantic with worry for her, so she sent a message to reassure them: “My
prison became a palace for me, and I would rather have been there than anywhere
else.” As the days passed Perpetua devoted herself to prayer, and experienced
various visions depicting the spiritual battle storming around her.
Soon Felicitas gave birth to a girl in the prison, and she and Perpetua enjoyed a last
agape meal together. On the day of the Games they left the prison for the
amphitheatre ‘joyfully as though they were on their way to heaven’. Perpetua sang a
hymn of praise as animals were prepared for killing the prisoners: leopards and
bears for the men, and a maddened heifer for the women. The heifer did not
succeed in killing them, and after the young women exchanged one final kiss of peace,
Perpetua herself guided the gladiator’s knife to her throat: “It was as though so great
a woman…could not be despatched unless she herself were willing.”
Perpetua and Felicitas’s joyful witness and unflinching courage went on to inspire
many other early Christian martyrs. Down the centuries, the feast day of Perpetua
and Felicitas became widely observed. In 1907 an inscription in their honour was
discovered at Carthage in the Basilica Majorum, where they had been buried
centuries before. Their memory still lives on: eight episodes of Perpetua’s life are
represented on a 14th century altar frontal at Barcelona.
25th March Lady Day - the Annunciation
This beautiful event (Luke 1.26-38) took place in Nazareth, when Mary is already
betrothed to Joseph. The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary, greets her as highly
favoured, tells her not to be afraid, that she will bear a son Jesus, and that her elderly
cousin Elizabeth is already pregnant (with John the Baptist).
The church calendar is never quite as neat as some would like it. To celebrate the
Annunciation on 25 March does indeed place the conception of Jesus exactly nine
months from his birth on 25 December, but the latter part of March almost
inevitably falls during Lent. But the birth and death of Jesus are intrinsically linked he was born to die, and thus fulfil God’s purposes.
The Annunciation is a significant date in the Christian calendar - it is one of the most
frequent depicted in Christian art. Gabriel’s gracious strength and Mary’s humble
dignity have inspired many artists. Certainly Mary’s response to the angel has for
centuries been an example of good faith in practice - humility, enquiry of God, and
trusting acceptance in his will for her life.
Editor: Paul Hardingham looks forward to Lent.
29th March Palm Sunday: Jesus at the gates of Jerusalem
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when the Church remembers how Jesus
arrived at the gates of Jerusalem just a few days before the Passover was due to be
held. He was the Messiah come to his own people in their capital city, and yet he
came in humility, riding on a young donkey, not in triumph, riding on a war-horse.
As Jesus entered the city, the crowds gave him a rapturous welcome, throwing palm
fronds into his path. They knew his reputation as a healer, and welcomed him.
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Matters of Faith
But sadly the welcome was short-lived and shallow, for Jerusalem would soon reject
her Messiah, and put him to death. On this day churches worldwide will distribute
little crosses made from palm fronds in memory of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.
Editor: David Winter looks forward to Lent…
The Way I See It: FIVE GOOD THINGS ABOUT LENT
In case you’re thinking at this time of the year that Lent is (as one writer recently
described it) ‘all purple and prohibitions’, here are five good things about it.
1. It only lasts 40 days. Fasts, by their very nature, can’t last forever, but Lent has a
very manageable forty days. (If you’re thinking at six weeks and a bit it’s longer than
that, see Item 2)). New Year Resolutions simply stretch off into some impossibly
distant horizon, but our Lenten attempts at discipline (chocolate, cigarettes, daily
prayers, being kind to the cat) have an end date to them.
2. Sundays in Lent are ‘as oases’. Sunday is never a day of fasting, but a weekly
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. So - and this is official! - Sundays don’t count
in Lent.
3. A bit of self-denial is better than a lot of self-indulgence. We live in a very selfindulgent society. Just for forty days it’s no bad thing to deny ourselves something
that is a minor luxury or a bit of self-pampering - especially if it saves some money
which could go to people in the world who have no ‘little luxuries’.
4. It’s a journey towards Easter. Lent goes somewhere, and that somewhere is the
empty tomb of Easter morning. It’s daffodils in the churchyard and new life all around
us.
5. The days get longer. The English word for this season is the only one that has no
religious significance at all. ‘Lent’ is simply an abbreviation of the Old English word
‘lencten’, which means ‘lengthen’. On these islands, where weather is always a major
topic of conversation, it’s not surprising that what people noted about the days of
Lent was that they got longer - no more of those ghastly dark tea-times. But the
‘lengthening’ is all part of Item 4, really - moving towards new life. (Sadly, Items 4 and
5 don’t apply in Australia and New Zealand. Doubtless they have compensations.)
Given those five splendidly positive things about Lent, which covers the whole of
March this year, I trust readers will approach its rigours with joyful hearts.
Miscellaneous
Shopping habits change
How often do you shop for food? These days, chances are that you are buying ‘little
and often’, popping into your mini-supermarket several times a week, and buying
only what you need for the next couple of days. It is a thrifty way of living; the
trend has helped to reduce food wastage by as much as a fifth, compared with seven
years ago.
According to a survey by Waitrose, one in four of us is visiting a
‘convenience’ store at least once a day. Perhaps it gives a whole new insight into
‘Give us today our daily bread…’ (Luke 11:3)
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Miscellaneous
Start a fire
A fire crackling away in the hearth has often been thought of as the ‘heart of a
home,’ and now it seems that it is demonstrably good for your own heart, too.
A recent study has found that the flickering flames, combined with the crackle of
burning logs and warmth, possess a hypnotic calming effect on people, and lower
blood pressure. Fires can also ‘cement’ the bond between people, according to a
biological anthropologist writing in Evolutionary Psychology.
Why I don’t want my dog
Why do people get rid of their pets? You would be surprised. So was the Dogs
Trust charity, when they began to ask for explanations.
One man handed in his dog to the charity explaining he couldn’t keep him because
“he looked different after we had walked him in the rain.” Another family
complained: “he wags its tail too much”; another that “he chases frogs”; while for
another it was because “he was scared of the cat next door.” Energy levels came
into it: one owner gave up because “all he did was sleep; we wanted a dog to play
with”, while another had the opposite reason: “Too playful; we haven’t sat down
since we got him.” (Shame those two families didn’t just swop dogs.)
The Dogs Trust continues to stress that people should not buy dogs on a whim. The
rise of internet sales and puppy farms means that abandoned pets are still a big
problem.
Moses and climate change
When Moses went up the mountain one day to meet with God, the Lord said he had
both good news and bad news for him. Moses asked, "What's the good news?"
God replies, "Moses, I shall visit plagues upon the Egyptians. I shall cause their rivers
to run red with blood. I shall cause frogs to infest their houses, and lice to infest
their bodies. I shall cause flies to swarm upon them. Their cattle shall die; boils will
infect both man and beast. I shall cause hail to destroy their crops; and locusts shall
devour anything green that is left in their land. Darkness will cover their land for
three days and nights. I shall then lead you through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud
by day, and pillar of fire by night. I shall split the waters of the sea. I shall feed you
with Manna that forms upon the ground until the children of Israel reach the Land
flowing with milk and honey."
oses replied, "That's GREAT, Lord! What could possibly be the bad news?"
"You, Moses, shall write the Environmental Impact Statement."
Mothers and teenagers
A woman was confiding in her neighbour just how hard it was for her to get her
teenagers out of bed in the morning. The neighbour replied that she never had any
trouble at all with her son. “I just open the door and throw the cat on the bed,” she
explained. The woman was puzzled, and asked how that might help. “Easy. My son
sleeps with the dog.”
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Miscellaneous
Mother’s reward
A man was decorating his new den and decided it was a good place to display all the
awards he and his two sons had won at various athletic competitions. When he had
filled two whole walls, he remarked to his wife that it was a shame she had no
awards to contribute.
The following day, she produced, neatly framed, the birth certificates of their two
sons, and added them to the display.
Editor: Here are some broader reflections on our Christian pilgrimage
God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given for those who seek it.
Max Lucado
Evil is one of the ways we learn that we ourselves are a mystery; for we are not in
full control of ourselves and cannot find any method of gaining control. Diogenes
Allen
Revenge, at first, though sweet – bitter ere long, back on itself recoils. John Milton
Someone has tabulated that we have put 35 million laws on the books, trying to
enforce the Ten Commandments. Bert Masterson, in the Wall Street Journal.
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Miscellaneous
Easy
A bit harder
Last months hub wheel words
9 -letter word - PARACHUTE
Some other words of five letters or more containing
the hub letter H:
chart, cheap, cheat, chert, chute, earth, hater, heart,
parch, patch, peach, perch, ratch, reach, retch, teach,
theca, preach, chapeau, chapter, chateau, trachea.
Solution to last month’s Sudoku
Easy
The
important
thing
about
your lot
in life is
whether
you use it
for
building
or
parking
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A bit harder