Deeping St James Parish Church Magazine
| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
Photographs of some parish events are available in our Photograph Album elsewhere on the site
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From the Curate
Dear Friends,
The First of January tends to be rather a quiet day. While many will have stayed up to 'see the New Year in', and even opened their windows or ventured outside to appreciate the dedication and skill of our band of ringers. Now that the millennium celebrations have passed into history, New Year's Day is for many an anticlimax.
500 years ago the parish would have been a hive of activity; for this is the day on which we remember the 'Naming of Jesus', the giving to Our Lord eight days after birth, as was the custom, his first name 'Jesus', the name given to his mother by the angel Gabriel. In the Bible names are given because of their meaning; the meaning of Jesus is 'God saves'. Calling upon the name of Jesus, his power to save is recognised throughout the New Testament. For lay people five hundred years ago, the 'name of Jesus' was the theme of special devotion, especially in Deeping St. James where a guild was formed to honour the Lord's Prayer, holy communion and celebrations.
Today, how many would know that 'IHS' stands for the name of Jesus? Have you noticed how on many publications 'C.E.' or 'Common Era' is gradually replacing 'A.D.' or 'Anno Domini' - the Year of our Lord? So let us on some point on the 1st January kneel in prayer and name the new year for the Lord Jesus, 'at whose name every knee shall bow'.
Readings for January
1st January, Naming and Circumcision of Jesus:
- Morning: Numbers 6: 22-end; Galatians 4: 4-7; Luke 2: 15-21
8th January, Epiphany, Plough Sunday:
- Morning: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 1-12; Matthew 2: 1-12
- Special readings for Plough Sunday celebration
15th January, 2nd Sunday of Epiphany:
- Morning: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10; Revelation 5: 1-10; John 1: 43-end
- Evening: Isaiah 60: 9-end; Matthew 8: 5-13
22nd January, 3rd Sunday of Epiphany:
- Morning: Genesis 14: 17-20; Revelation 19: 6-10; John 2: 1-11
29th January, Presentation of Christ in the Temple:
- Morning: Malachi 3: 1-5; Hebrews 2: 14-end; Luke 2: 22-40
House Groups
- Bible Study: Fridays at 10am at the Vicarage
- Priory Prayer Group: 12th and 26th January at 19 Ascendale
- Prayer & Study Group: Every Wednesday, 7.30 pm at 45 Crowson Way, Everyone welcome
N o t i c e s
Plough Sunday will be observed on 8th January this year, the same day that we celebrate the Epiphany of Our Lord. The evening service will be the traditional Blessing of the Plough and this will be followed by a Plough Supper, details and booking form will be available in church.
On the day of Epiphany and throughout the season of Epiphany, we celebrate God revealed in Christ, the way that Jesus' divinity was manifested in his Baptism, in the visit of the Magi and in the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana among other things. Watch out for allusions to these events in the readings, hymns and prayers all through January!
January ends with the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas, which wraps up the Epiphany clebration with Simeon's proclamation that the child Jesus is the Light to lighten the pagans.
Because of the special occasions in January, the monthly celebration of the Eucharist for Healing will be held on the third Sunday, 15th January, not the second as usual.
Children in Need
Coffee Morning and Christmas Bookstall
Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make this such a success. We raised £175 for Children in Need.
Thanks to everyone who supported us. We hope to see you again next year!
Bet Washbrooke.
The WEA (Workers Educational Association)
Deepings Branch
The Deepings Branch was formed in June of this year and ran the first courses during the winter term 2005. Courses planned for the spring term 2006 are:
Tai Chi, Rethinking your Garden, Genealogy, Painting & Drawing for All,
Communication Skills- Speaking to others, (This is a one off two hour session to introduce you to some of the techniques in public speaking)
Digital Photography, Superstitions, Traditions & Celebrations.
All these proposed courses would be held within the Deepings, The Digital Photography course is planned for the evening, all other courses are planned for the morning or afternoon.
Further information will be available from John Bloomfield a little later in December/early January 2006. I can be contacted on 01778 345080 or e-mail john@bloomfield5045.fsnet.co.uk. The branch needs a treasurer, anyone prepared to volunteer?
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Along with 350 prayer groups and other churches on Sunday 6th November a small number of the congregation met after the 10 am. Eucharist in the Corpus Christi chapel for prayers, a Bible reading and open session of prayers.
In Psalm 142:4 the author cried out, "no one is concerned for me". We should not be included as a "no one" but to try always remember to pray on a daily basis for the persecuted church.
Forty five countries are now ruled by Islamic Sha'ria law, making it very difficult for our fellow Christians to hold onto their faith, and if found out, are often put to death for changing from the Islamic way of life to being a Christian.
Bernard Babb
News From The Tower
Mike Gentle
The bell ringers were very upset to hear of the tragic death of David Willott, as he was one of our past ringers. David, nick-named Boris, was a very likeable character. He was always available to assist in routine maintenance and any other tasks that arose within the tower. Therefore it felt fitting to be able to assist in the act of helping to send him to his maker, by ringing the bells half muffled. In many ways we are pleased he was brought back home to Deeping St James for his last resting place within in the sound of the bells that he loved and spoke of so much.
The window depicting St James that is situated in the bell tower was illuminated again for the Christmas period, and we sincerely hope that those who saw the illumination appreciated it.
We hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and trust that the New Year brings forth many new and enjoyable times.
News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers
The 'BBC Children in Need' Coffee morning, organised and run jointly by the Social Committee and Children's Groups, was again a very successful occasion and raised £150. Pudsey Bear biscuits accompanied after-Church refreshments and there was also an opportunity to 'Guess the Weight of the Cake' and to give in to temptation at the cake stall. The Christmas Bookstall was also popular. Many thanks to all those who baked biscuits, served, donated cakes and made cash donations.
Our Children were very busy this Advent preparing for the Annual Nativity Play - with a difference - 'Rock around the Flock' with live music from our Yound People's band and advanced choreography. However, they still had time to fit the annual Christmas Disco into their hectic schedule and had a wonderful time. The children would like to thank all those who provided the delicious refreshments, worked behind the scenes putting up decorations, helped Santa by wrapping presents, served the food and tidied up afterwards. They thought Spectrum disco were really good and appreciated how hard DJ Mark who worked to ensure that everyone had a super time. The children were brilliantas they all joined in enthusiastically and the older ones took special care to ensure that their younger friends and guests were having a good time, too.
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.
Showing Forth God's Glory
The few weeks after new year , the Epiphany Season, are given greater prominence in the Common Worship calendar than we have known before. For a start we are now given permission to celebrate the Epiphany itself on a Sunday, rather than with the meagre congregation that might turn out on 6th January itself when it falls on any other day, and then the season ends emphatically at Candlemas, the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, also permitted to be celebrated on a Sunday.
The Epiphany season is about the way that God's nature is demonstrated in the life of Jesus, and at the same time about the way Jesus is shown to be the Son of God. The word "Epiphany" means, roughly, "showing forth". It is a fascinating season, all too short! There are three main Gospel events which point to the Glory of God in the life of Jesus Christ, although you can find plenty of others if you look! The three are the visit of the Magi, the "wise men"; the baptism of Jesus by his relative, John the Baptist; the miracle at the wedding feast at Cana. In each of these is a clue to who Jesus really is and what his life shows us about God.
The visit of the Magi is one of those mysterious stories that we cannot fully understand in this world, and it demonstrates supremely that the child Jesus is for all the world and not just for the chosen people into whom he was born. Magicians, pagan "priests" if you like, come to worship him and to offer to him the symbols of their lives. At Jesus's baptism we hear him proclaimed "lamb of God" (the sacrificial victim, without blemish), we see the Holy Spirit descend upon him and we hear the voice of the Father - an exposition of the Holy Trinity. At Cana we see an acted parable of what God is doing in the incarnation - Jesus is brought into the situation by his human mother and transforms a situation that has dried out (what use is a party without wine?) into one overflowing with life: the party with more good wine than enough is the world filled with the glory of God.
Rounded off with Simeon's declaration at Candlemas that the child Jesus is a light not just for his own people but for all of us, this season sums up much of what God is doing in Jesus and both continues and accents the celebrations of his birth at Christmas and prepares the ground for the observances and Lent, Holy Week and Easter which follow soon afterwards.
Mark Warrick
COOKING WITH MARGARET
PARSNIP & APPLE SOUP.
- 1 oz Butter,
- 1½ lbs Parsnips, peeled & roughly chopped,
- 1 Bramley cooking apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped, 2 pints Chicken stock,
- 4 Fresh sage leaves,
- 2 Cloves,
- Small carton fresh single cream,
- Salt & Pepper,
- Fresh sage leaves to garnish.
Melt butter in saucepan. Add parsnips and apple, cook gently for 10 minutes. Pour in the stock, add the sage and cloves. Bring to boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove sage leaves and cloves. Cool slightly and blend. Return to saucepan and re-heat. Season to taste. Add the cream and garnish before serving.
Registers for November 2005
HOLY BAPTISM: We welcome to the Lord's Family:
- 13th
- Dannielle Kent 28 Austerby Close, Bourne
- Alexander Jamie Dunmore 28 Austerby Close, Bourne
- Aaron Lee Jakins 29 Burchnall Close
- Zach Reginald Jakins 29 Burchnall Close
FUNERALS: We commend to God's keeping:
- 1st: Irene Cynthia Ruby Golder (78)
- 11th: Wayne Booth (29)
- 16th at Peterborough Crematorium: Miriam Irene Fletcher (90) - Cedar Falls Nursing Home, Little London, Spalding
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