Priory News, January 2005

Deepings St James Parish Church Magazine

Photographs of some parish events are available in our Photograph Album elsewhere on the site

To:
Scripture readings for Sunday
Archive of past editions of Priory News
Cooking with Margaret

Sonia Marshall

Thank You......................

Margaret Smith and Pauline Brooksbank would like to thank Reinhard Beihler from Baytree for the generous donation of three Christmas Trees for the Sanctuary

The Social Committee trust that you enjoyed the wonderful display of Christmas Trees provided by local organisations connected with the Church and Church Hall, we are indebted to the support given to this venture.

Plough Supper

A supper will be held on January 9th 2005 after the Plough service in Church, see Bill for tickets.

The Season of Revelation

At the end of the Christmas celebration comes the season of Epiphany. Traditionally in England we have associated this celebration with the visit of the wise men, the magi, to the young Jesus as described by St Matthew, but although this story is a good symbol of what Epiphany is about, there is much more to Epiphany than just that one significant story.

"Epiphany" means showing forth, revealing, and the season is about the way in which Jesus' divine nature and divine mission are shown forth in his human life. In the church calendar we think about this as we look, among other things, at the Bible stories of the magi, the wedding feast at Cana and the baptism of Jesus. Like all seasons, though, what Epiphany does is to remind us once a year of an aspect of the Christian faith that should be with us all through the year. When we are sent out from church we are sent out to reveal Christ in our lives, for when we are christened we become part of him and he of us, and as we share in the body of Christ in Holy Communion, so we build up our own membership of, as the Book fo Common Prayer puts it, that mystical body which is the Church.

We show forth Christ in our lives and in the world both when we are together at his Holy Table, sharing in that expression of solidarity with him and with each other, and when we are out in the world as individuals behaving and speaking as those who love the creator and who therefore value all that he has made and loves. It is all too easy to think of these ways of showing forth Christ as alternatives - that either worship or good works will do on its own - but in truth they are complementary, and for a rounded Christian life in which our relationship with our creator will bring us the greatest joy we need both, not just at Epiphany but all the year through.

News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers

Our Children were busier than ever this Advent in their preparations for Christmas.

Rehearsing for the Annual Nativity Play and practising Carols were dovetailed with making and decorating various Christmas shapes to hang on our trees for the Christmas Tree Festival. At the same time the children explored various aspects of the Christmas Story and remembered those for whom Christmas Day is as difficult a time as any other day of the year for various reasons.

The Sunday School party went really well and over 40 children (not to mention quite a few others!) had a wonderful time. Many thanks to all those who provided the delicious refreshements and others who worked behind the scenes putting up decorations, helping Santa by wrapping presents, serving the food and tidying up afterwards. Spectrum disco were really good and special thanks go to DJ Mark who worked hard to ensure that everyone had a super time. The children were brilliantly behaved and it was most rewarding when the DJ mentioned afterwards how impressed he was by the way they all joined in, regardless of their age, and how politely they approached him for requests. Well done, children!

Explorers (7 - 11), Climbers (5 - 7) and Scramblers (under 5) meet every Sunday morning (except during the Summer holiday period) at 9.50am in the Church Hall. They join older worshippers in Church for their blessing, final hymn and refreshments. New members are always welcome. Please contact Andrea (Climbers and Scramblers) on 344926 or Alison (Explorers) on 345890 for more details.

Letters to the Editor

To Priory News:

I must agree with Celia, they certainly did pull it off. Those of you who were unable to join the young people in their service at 7.30pm on Sunday, 21 November missed a rare treat. The church came alive - the rafters must have been ringing and the old grey stones singing with the sounds of their music and praise -1 know a few grey heads were.

It was a joy to witness such a whole-hearted celebration of our Lord. It was refreshing to hear the story of the prodigal son as told by Russell (he talks as well as he writes), and Ed's reminder of the lost sheep both reminding us of how much we need our heavenly Father; of how Jesus cares for and shepherds us, and how we too must shepherd each other.

Heartfelt, conscience nudging witness, music that sends you out with a smile in your heart and a church full of love - what more could we ask; except for all the pews to be filled next time. These young people are the Church's future.

Thank you Mark for encouraging them. We look forward to next time.

P.S. Re the music - I love plainsong and 'all that jazz' which makes the spirit soar - but this was a reminder of the diverse ways in which we can praise and thank our Lord.

To Priory News:

Three cheers and a very well done for the service the young people from Crossfire put on for Churches Together at the Priory.

What a lovely way to bring us together. Fun, laughter, great music and song plus a strong message from the Word by our talented young people.

It was delightful, thank you and God bless you all.

Keep Warm, Keep Well.

The national Keep Warm, Keep Well campaign aims to keep older people safe this winter by reducing cold-related illnesses and deaths. If offers a freephone Winter Warmth Advice Line on 0800 085 7000 (Sam - 8pm Monday to Friday) and a free Winter Guide that contains practical tips on keeping warm and staying healthy during the cold months.

The leaflet also outlines financial help available to people to heat and insulate their homes during winter. For more information about this campaign, log onto www.doh.gov.uk/socialcare.

Be prepared for winter

Keep Warm, Keep Well.

??A Sign of the Times??

I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord's Prayer for several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word right up to the end of the prayer: "Lead us not into temptation," she prayed, "but deliver us some E-mail.

Week of Prayer For Christian Unity
18 - 25 January 2005

Why pray for unity? Because Jesus himself prayed for the unity of his followers at the Last Supper, "that they may be one" a phrase he spoke four times in John 17.

The theme for 2005 is "Christ, the One Foundation of the Church", from 1 Corinthians 3. Chosen by the Churches of Slovakia, it is a theme they wish to share with Christians around the world. The Week of Prayer is always 18 to 25 January. The dates were chosen many years ago to begin with the Feast Day of St. Peter, and end with the Conversion Day of St. Paul.

What are the aims of the Week of Prayer? The Week of Prayer offers opportunities to meet and pray with fellow-Christians of different denominations in your locality:

• To pray that Christian unity may come "in Christ's way"
• To pray for the unity of humanity. Often new local initiatives emerge

How can we encourage church members to pray for unity during the 'eight days' of the Week? You need to order pamphlets and prayer cards for the congregation to use during the main ecumenical service of the Week, and for use at home or in church or prayer groups on other days.

• The pamphlet outlines eight days of daily prayer and Bible readings.
• The pamphlet includes a single ecumenical order of service which you may hold during the week -on Sunday or on a weekday or evening during the Week. This may be adapted to local use.
• The prayer cards are a perfect size to keep in a Bible or prayer book.

For more information, see the CTBI web site
www.ctbi.org.uk.
e-mail us at chlife@ctbi.org.uk
or tel 020 7654 7223/4.

World Disarmament Campaign

Around the world people of faith are working for peace and reconciliation. Over January 28-30 Churches around UK will be holding services to support peacemaking.

Will You Join Us? In our world broken by war and armed conflict, all people and communities of faith are called to be peacemakers. The 2005 'Weekend of Services for Peace and Disarmament' focuses on need for a strong, informed and prayerful peace witness. Around the world many individuals, faith communities and peace organisations are working for peace and reconciliation: locally, nationally and globally. Let us come together locally around the UK to support them in prayer and reflect on our own peacemaking task.

For more information on this campaign please call: Revd Brian Cooper 0131 447 4004.

Did You Know?

In Rome the doors of the temple of Janus, the pagan deity from which the first month of the year takes its name were to be open in times of war and closed in times of peace.

Open since the earlier days of Rome's history they were closed for the first time at the time of Christ's birth, the Prince of Peace.

A Sunday school teacher asked her children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

3-year-old, Reese: "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Amen."

Registers for November 2004

Baptism

we welcome to the Lord's family:

November 14th

• Luke Thomas Burton 35 Towning Close
• Mia Goldsmith 21 Beech Close, Market Deeping
• Emilie Lauren Tarrant 31 Church Street

Funerals

we commend to God's keeping:

November 5th

• Tracey Ann Jackson (21)

This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.