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When writing a week or two before publication it is hard to comment on current affairs, but from the look of what is happening in Iraq I would guess that the conflict will still be going on when you read this, so I'll have a go! Whether there will have been a major catastrophe on either side we cannot know, but we can be certain that there will be major destruction of Iraqi buildings, some destruction of other infrastructure and some injuries and loss of life on both sides. There will have been a great deal of money spent and environmental damage done.
Will it have been worth it?
Well, Mr Blair presumably hopes so, and there is no doubt that without the war there would have been much suffering for the Iraqi people in any case, and, if you believe Mr Bush, the possibility of suffering elsewhere at the hands of terrorists. I cannot comment on this other than to say that if the war can be kept short and limited in its damage then it may just do more good than harm, but that is not necessarily enough justification. For as with all decision-making, we have to decide where to deploy limited resources, and I would want to raise the question of whether the money spent and the lives risked in this campaign could have brought a more effective peace to the world if they had been spent and risked on something else.
For example, the Palestinian people have suffered a long time, and have in their turn inflicted suffering on the Israeli people. It is not too fanciful to say that much of the hatred held for the West in the Middle East is based upon the perception that the West turns a blind eye to Palestinian suffering while sympathising with Israeli suffering. To address this issue in some way might go much further to defusing the potential for terrorism than launching this huge attack on Iraq. Further, if we truly are worried about weapons of mass destruction falling into "the wrong hands" (whose are the right ones?), then to help Russia and other former Soviet states to dispose of theirs safely might be more effective, for the insecurity there is a real difficulty.
Let us hope that at this time when we celebrate New Life in Christ there may be a new beginning for the Middle East and for the world out of the suffering of this controversial war, and let us continue to pray for all involved, whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation in which they are all caught up.
(For latest news see left-hand column on this page)
Services for Holy Week follow the pattern of the last week of our Lord's earthly life and I recommend everyone to take part in the Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services so as to enter into the full celebration of new life at Easter.
On Palm Sunday 13th April the services are at their usual Sunday times, and the 10am Sung Eucharist and Children's Groups begin with a palm procession into church from the Vicarage lawn if the weather is fine. A selection of suitable hymns will be sung in the procession.
On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, 14th and 15th, Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7.30pm, and on Wednesday 16th at 9.30am. The Bishop of Grantham will preside at a Blessing of Oils service at Sleaford on the Wednesday evening at 7.30pm.
On Maundy Thursday 17th the usual Sung Eucharist with Washing of Feet and Watch of Prayer will take place at 7.30pm, commemorating the Last Supper and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Good Friday services are an adapted Way of the Cross for children at 9am (after which those who have booked go to their activities), and the Good Friday Liturgy at 10.30am, which this year will include Holy Communion for those who would find it helpful, with the sacrament reserved from the night before. Children and adults come together for refreshments after the service and activities, and the Pathfinders are planning to present their open air passion play again at about noon.
Easter services are different this year: there is one morning celebration at 9am rather than an Easter Eve service and then the usual 8am and 10am services on the Sunday morning. Choral Evensong follows as usual at 6pm. The 9am service will be an opportunity for us all to worship together on this central feast of the Christian faith and will include the lighting of the Easter Candle on renewal of Baptismal Vows.
Come along and take part in the discussion about the mission and ministry of the Church in this parish. Do use the leaflet distributed with last month's magazine to help you in your preparation.
All parishioners are welcome at the meeting to elect wardens, but only those on the Electoral Roll of the parish church may attend the Annual Parochial Church Meeting which immediately follows it. The Roll is on display in the church so that you check your entry, but no names may be added now until after the annual meeting.
Greetings to all the members of the East Midland Churches of England. Last year was a very fruitful one and we had achieved more than the projected targets for which we thank God for all his blessings,
The TLM Belgaum family would like to thank the East Midland Churches of England and YOU Mr. Bryan in particular for all your prayers which is the only reason for our success. The new year has started off with a bang, we have just finished our annual review and are busy charting out the strategies for the year.
To start off we have opened a satellite clinic in the village nearby and the work is very promising. We are also planning to extend our services to the neighbouring areas which can be quite challenging as these are jungle areas with difficult terrain, we would like you to pray for the success of the project. The Agriculture project was delayed because of the water problem, so we started digging a well and again we were fortunate that we have struck water quite early, the work is in progress. This would mean that we would be able to implement the shelved project this year. Shiva Manel's son has started his B.Sc nursing course and he is being financed by the TLM.
Please thank Mr. & Ms. Anthea Hill (I presume I have spelt it right as I have picked the name from the signature.) and the members of the WEST HUMBERSTONE GOSPEL MISSION for their prayers and all the effort in to stamp out Leprosy and in the upliftment of the marginalised. The TLM Belgaum family uphold all of you in our prayers everyday.
God bless you all. With warm regards Dr.Suresh Verghese Superintendent 08-02-03
A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway to life.
Celia Luce
At a recent 'Churches Together' committee meeting one of its members inspired by the Holy Spirit suggested that it was a suitable time during the 'Week of Christian Unity' to hold a combined prayer meeting of all the churches in the Deepings as a forerunner to regular meetings.
The meeting took place at the Open Door church and the occasion was unusual and unique in that it was the first of its kind and those taking part did not know what to expect.
The evening took the form of songs, readings and praying collectively and in groups and finally standing and praying just like the early Christians as if in their own tongues then ending with saying the Grace together.
There was a fair cross-section of all denominations taking part and we all felt inspired and uplifted. Now that the seed has been sown "Lord please help it to grow with positive results in the future".
Bernard Babb
The Glebe Singers will be returning to the Priory Church to perform their first concert of 2003 on Saturday, 12th April, at 7.3Opm. The concert, entitled 'An Evening of Magnificent Music', will include a performance of John Rutter's Magnficat, in which the soloist will be Anna Woolhouse, who is currently studying Music at Leeds University.
Glebe Singers was formed in 1999 and is based in Market Deeping. The choir now has almost 60 members, including a number of younger and teenage singers. The aims of Chairman David Scoffield and Musical Director Sara Woolhouse are for choir members to enjoy their singing and to achieve high standards of performance, and to increase access to choral music in all sections of the community. During the years since it was formed the choir has received two Lottery grants to help it achieve these aims: to buy a portable keyboard for concerts, and to buy recording equipment to record concerts for the elderly and housebound. In the last three years the choir has performed at numerous local venues in Lincoinshire and Cambridgeshire, and has concert bookings throughout 2003 and into 2004.
Glebe Singers has a wide repertoire of sacred and secular music, from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Rachmaninov from Lerner and Loewe to Brahms, Vaughan Williams to Elgar. As this concert will be held the night before Palm Sunday, the choir will perform a number of items especially for the Easter season.
Tickets for the concert (£5 and £1 for children) will be available from Bet Washbrook (01778 341982) or, in Market Deeping, from NCC Chemist, Godsey Lane, from Mr Cobbler, Rainbow Precinct, or from choir members.
With Good Friday in Mind
Set oven to 350°F or gas mark 4.
To make the crumble, rub the butter and flour together, then add remaining ingredients. Set mixture aside.
To make sauce, melt butter and add flour, then add milk stir well and bring to boil, season to taste. Mix the fish with the chopped eggs and whole prawns. Blend this mixture with the sauce and turn into an ovenproof dish.
Cover mixture with crumble topping and put in the pre-set oven for about 20-30 minutes to brown.
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.
Copyright © 2003 Deeping St James PCC