THIS AND THAT (88)
On Monday, as is our wont in fine weather, we took
lunch on the Vicarage forecourt.
Red in tooth and claw
The ancient Bramley apple tree on the lawn below us
gladdened our hearts, a large slanting cloudbank of breeze trembling blossom. Two busy parent blue tits darted in undulating swoops back and forth to their nesting box by the
kitchen window. A bright-eyed robin made a dash for the
cover of dense jasmine near the kitchen window. Then a
sudden, muffled thump and a sparrow-hawk flew lazily out
and away from the house. In one of its talons a sad, fluffed
bundle of doomed robin. Somewhere in our vicinity there
is now a single-parented brood of hungry baby robins.
A footling little tragedy compared to that in Nepal, but
saddening to me none the less. The natural world, for all its
grandeur and beauty, is a brutal one. Everything preys upon
everything. That we human beings, as much a part of that
natural world as anything else, should sometimes be saddened by its brutality is a sign of grace. That we can transcend such brutality to lead loving and compassionate lives
is astonishing. That out of the cruel, vengeful, tit for tat
Old Testament world should arise a New Testament world
of turning the other cheek, love, compassion and forgiveness defies belief. Better still, it defies unbelief.
Pork barrelling
By the time this little article is printed we will know the
outcome of the General Election. Before the Civil War in
America, slaves were encouraged to compete against each
other with the promise of a barrel of salt pork as a reward
for success. A barrel of salt pork was also a staple of many
larders in ordinary American households of the nineteenth
century. James Fenimore Cooper, in one of his novels
writes: I hold a family to be in a desperate way, when the
mother can see the bottom of the pork barrel. Hence the term
“pork-barrelling” for reward-offering politicians. I am more
inclined to belt-tightening than pork-barrelling. Oh for a
politician who is able successfully to popularise less not
more as a moral necessity. Dream on.
One of my favourite pieces of political verse, well
worth airing after months of electioneering and televised
vapidity, is by the eleventh century Chinese poet Su Tung
P’o. It was written after the birth of his son:
Families when a child is born,
Want it to be intelligent.
I through intelligence
Having wrecked my whole life
Only hope the baby will prove
Ignorant and stupid.
Then he will crown a tranquil life
By becoming a Cabinet Minister.
Holding up falling trousers
George Orwell, in his essay: Looking Back on the Spanish Civil War wrote of encountering an enemy running away
while trying to hold up his falling trousers. I had come here
to shoot at ‘Fascists’ he wrote, but a man who is holding up
his trousers isn’t a ‘Fascist’ he is visibly a fellow creature,
similar to yourself…...
Wise words. To hate effectively it is necessary to see
enemies as objects not subjects, as impersonal categories
not fellow human beings. Racism, homophobia and snobbery breakdown in us when we allow into our fellowship
those we impersonalise and so begin to identify with them.
A church congregation that is a rag tag and bobtail social mix of sinner and saint and of rich and poor encourages and allows this.
Being ribbed
At Children’s Club I was expatiating upon the Creation
stories in my usual round about way. A young visiting child
called Timothy seemed especially intent when told about
Adam's wife, Eve, being created out of one of Adam’s ribs.
Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as
though he were ill. She said, “Timothy, what is the matter?”
He responded, “I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to
have a wife.”
St John the Baptist, Boldre
St Nicholas, Pilley
Parish Priest: The Reverend Canon Andrew Neaum
Phone: 01590 718439 Mobile 07808057168
Email: [email protected]
St Mary the Virgin, South Baddesley
Parish Priest: The Reverend Lynda Mead
Phone: 023 8084 8901 Email: [email protected]
Benefice Office (at St Nicholas Pilley)
Office hours: Mon, Wed & Thurs: 9am-11am
Phone: 01590 673484 Email: [email protected]
Benefice Website: www.boldrechurches.co.uk
TODAY: 10 May 2015 6th SUNDAY of EASTER
St Mary’s South Baddesley:
8.00am Holy Communion BCP
9.30 Family Service
St John’s Boldre 10.30am Holy Communion & Children’s Club
Activities This Week .
Mon 11 May - 7.00pm St Nicholas’ Pilley PCC Meeting
Wed 13 May - 10.30am Holy Communion St Nicholas’ Pilley
Thu 14 May - 7.00pm Fete Committee Meeting — Boldre Club
For Prayer This Week
Abroad: Diocese of Nike (Nigeria) Bishop Evans Ibeagha. Diocese of Björgvin (Norway) Bishop Halvor Nordhaug. Diocese of
Southwark, Bishops Christopher Chessun, Richard Cheetham,
Jonathan Clark, Michael Ipgrave; , their clergy and people.
Diocese of Winchester: Bishops Timothy and Jonathan. The
Benefice of Popley with Limes Park and Rooksdown St Gabriel,
Arthur Botham, vicar and all its people.
Benefice and District: Annette Ridout and the Flower Guild.
The PCC meeting on Monday. Toby and Davina married yesterday and Caspar Quarrie to be christened today.
Those for whom prayers are asked: David Balme, Colin Erne,
Lucy Osborne Peter Watson, Janet, Robyn, Patricia, Bill, Pete.
Rest in Peace: Martin Neville.
Next Sunday 17 May: 7th SUNDAY of EASTER
St Nicholas’ Chapel Pilley:
8.00am Holy Communion BCP
St Mary’s South Baddesley: 9.30am Holy Communion CW
St John’s Boldre
11.00am Annual Hood Memorial Service
St Luke’s Sway
6.30pm Group Evensong
Dates for the Diary 2015
Sat 30 May - Wedding, St John’s, Chris & Sophie, 2.00pm
Sun 31 May - St Mary’s Celtic Liturgy Holy Communion
Fri 5 Jun - Wedding, St Mary’s Nick and Barbel, 4.00pm
Sat 6 Jun - William Gilpin School Fete, 12 noon till 3.00pm
Sat 6 Jun - Wedding, St John’s, Giles & Rebecca, 2.00pm
Sat 13 Jun - St Mary’s Church Fete, 2.00pm-5.00pm
Sat 20 Jun - Wedding, St John’s, Nicholas & Alice, 1.00pm
Sat 27 Jun - Wedding, St John’s, , Daniel & Amy, 12 noon
Sat 27 Jun - Wedding, St John’s, Luke & Helen, 2.00pm
Sun 28 Jun - St John’s Patronal Festival Evensong 6.30pm
Sat 4 July - St John’s Church Village Fete 1.00pm-5.00pm
Sun 5 July - St John’s: Farewell to Organist and family
Sat 11 July - Boldre Produce Show
Thu 16 July - St John’s Quinquennial Church Inspection
Fri 17 July - St John’s Quinquennial morning only
Retiring Collection for Nepal: Today & Next Sunday
There is a retiring collection for the earthquake victims in Nepal
today if anyone would like to make a donation.
Cakes and Preserves Stall
Many thanks to all those who contributed to and helped!
Deanery Discipleship Week
1 June to 5 June, Mon to Fri an opportunity to be inspired, nourished and challenged. Join other ‘followers’ as our Deanery family
comes together to share teaching, wisdom and a wealth of life
experiences in the joyful challenge of following Jesus today. Venues across the Deanery (daytime and evening sessions) Put it in
your diary now… full programme arriving soon!
Invitation to Tea with Bishop Tim and Sally Dakin
Bishop Tim and Sally invite you to tea in the garden of Wolvesey
Palace, Winchester on Saturday 20 June from 3.pm. To support
the work of Church Army Africa with children and families in
Kenya. Tickets. £10. (See the Notice board for more details).
Our Village Agent
Village Agents are volunteers who can help older people to find
information and services. Ours is Nick Walford (07806 659452)