| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
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"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history," goes the song, but he won't, of course. In history has gone down the birth of Christ, though. Little is known about Jesus' birth except what we read in the New Testament, but that he lived (and therefore that he was born!) is recorded in many places in history besides the New Testament. You need faith to believe that Jesus is Lord, but you do not need faith to believe that Jesus was born!
In the northern hemisphere we celebrate Christmas in winter, not because we know when Jesus' birthday is but because there was a convenient pagan festival to take over and Christianize, but it does help us to celebrate that by his intervention in the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, God has done something to interrupt the "bleak midwinter" of which we also sing, the midwinter of our sin and consequent separation from God and from each other. By bringing us back to himself in Christ God has warmed our hearts and started a springtime thaw in our relationships: this we celebrate, again at an appropriate time, at Easter.
As you prepare to celebrate this Christmas in the traditional ways, do take some time to thank God for the good news of the defeat of sin and death in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Many thanks for the support and donations received on the evening of Saturday 19th Ocotober. The Musical Evening raised £60 towards the Organ Fund
Bernard Babb
If you would like to receive the sacrament at Christmas but are unable to attend Church through infirmity, please let either the Vicar or Sonia know as soon as possible.
Application forms are now available in church for this payment. The Closing date for applications is 12th December 2002. The payment is available to widows over 60 years of age who have been resident in Deeping St. James for the last three years.
Eve, Janet and Terry would like to say thank you for all the messages of sympathy received after Don's death.
Also thank you to Mark for all his help and support.
Janet Lill
Many thanks to all who continue to save used stamps for Mission funds. Also a big thank you to Dave Washbrooke for making us a new collection box.
Over the last fifteen years I have found all sorts of objects in the box, earings, photos, coins and shopping lists etc.!
However the supply of stamps is diminishing owing to the various means of communication now available, so do save all you can.
Brenda Peters
During the summer, the superintendent, Dr Joseph, retired, and was replaced by Dr Varghese. Dr Sujata Charles has also left the Mission on marriage, and has gone to live with her husband in the USA.
The funding required for the development of the hospital farm was raised by churches in the Midlands in 2001. However, the project has been postponed due to shortage of water, as the planned extension of the Belgaum city water mains out to the hospital has not yet taken place. The acquisition of much of the proposed livestock is therefore impractical at the moment. In the short term, some water buffalo are about to be purchased for milking, and the staff is considering adding mushrooms to the other fruit and vegetables that are grown in the hospital compound (I thought mushrooms needed wet soil, but never mind). Once the water mains reach the village in which the hospital is located, the funding necessary to effect a connection has been donated.
Thanks to the support given through the partnership project, the hospital has recently acquired a resuscitator, a much-needed incinerator and a new computer. They are also heavily involved in training Indian Health Authority leprosy control staff, as the plan is that the Indian government will take over leprosy control activities over the next couple of years, leaving the hospital as a referral centre and a centre of excellence. Its priority will be care after cure activities such as rehabilitation, prevention and care of disabilities, provision of low-cost housing and education sponsorship.
The main project at the moment is to raise sufficient money to acquire some mopeds for the paramedical teams at a cost of £300 each. This is to compensate for the acute shortage of transport in the hospital, currently a jeep and a minibus. Some donations have already been received for this purpose.
The hospital staff and patients are most grateful for the prayers and wonderful support given by so many churches, organisations and individuals over the past year. This has enabled an improved quality of medical care to be given, more patients to be reached, and a higher quality of life to be achieved within the hospital.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered to make kneelers for the choir last year. Unfortunately, we ran into difficulties and could not take up your kind offers. However, we are now relaunching this initiative and are glad to say that we are well underway in collating designs and materials, thanks to Liz Spratley and Kim and Rachel Hallam.
I do hope you will still be able to help us; it would be wonderful to have the kneelers ready for Easter, when our organ's restoration should be complete.
Please look out for further details in January's magazine. Many thanks.
Bet and Bernard.
This being the month of Christmas and the time for children I have chosen to investigate St Nicholas whose feast day is 6th December. The celebration of his feast day is one thing that sticks in my memory from the days when Margaret and I lived in Holland and the excitement as the childrens' gifts were distributed on this day.
Dave
St. Nicholas was probably a native of Patara in Lycia, Asia Minor. There are far more legends about his miraculous good deeds than there are clear details about his life.
This much is known for sure:
Nicholas was first a monk in the monastery of Holy Zion near Myra. Eventually he was made Abbot by the Archbishop, its founder. When the See of Myra, the capital of Lycia, fell vacant, St. Nicholas was appointed its Archbishop. It is said that he suffered for the Faith under Diocletian, and that he was present at the Council of Nice as an opponent of Arianism. His death occurred at Myra, in the year 342.
The characteristic virtue of St. Nicholas appears to have been his love and charity for the poor. Because of this and of the many legends of his works, St. Nicholas is regarded as the special patron of children. The Emperor Justinian built a church in his honour at Constantinople in the suburb of Blacharnae, about the year 340.
He has always been honoured with great veneration in the Latin and Greek Churches. The Russian Church seems to honour him more than any other saint after the Apostles.
During November we rang, as usual, with half muffled bells in memory of all who perished in the wars.
Our learners are progressing nicely and are getting into ringing various methods.
Just a little reminder that anyone interested in wanting to learn to ring will be made very welcome any Friday evening from 7.30pm to 9.00 pm.
We take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
These delicious spicy fruit tarts make a change from the usual mince pies.
Set oven to 375°F or Mark 5. Mix the apricots and raisins with the rum and leave to stand for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile roll out the pastry thinly on a floured surface and cut into 12-15 rounds with a pastry cutter. Line 3 inch greased patty or bun tins with the pastry rounds. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg, ground almonds and spices. Stir in the rum-soaked fruit. Place a spoonful of the filling in each pastry case and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool the tarts in the tins for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack until cold. Serve warm or cold dusted with a little icing sugar.
from Sonia, Dave and every one of the Magazine Team.
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Copyright © 2002 Deeping St James PCC