| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
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Sometimes when we think about God, or about his Church and its work, our ideas can be far too small. God is to be seen in the great sweep of history here on earth but also in the millions of galaxies of unimaginable size which comprise the universe he has created by his might. Any notion that, for example, evolution cannot be part of his work and therefore somehow "disproves" God's existence both takes far too small a view of God and takes the bold step of faith that the theory of evolution is itself proven. Rather God works through all sorts of processes to bring the universe to what he is intending it to be, and creation really needs to be discussed in the present and not just in the past: "the universe he is creating," not "has created"!
But we also have to be careful about the way we think of this big God. He is not so preoccupied with making stars and developing species that he does not consider the little things too. He cares infinitely for each and every one of us, and I find that quite awesome and shattering. The only reaction to that thought has to be humility and repentance, like St. Peter who on first seeing a miracle of Jesus asked Jesus to leave him because he was a sinner and not fit to be in the presence of the Lord. That the creator of all that exists in the vast reaches of space and time wants to have a loving relationship with me and with you is such good news that it would be unbelievable if he had not demonstrated it in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
But, thank God, he has demonstrated it, and so we can confidently approach him knowing that, in spite of our sin, yet he accepts us warmly into his presence and calls us his children, inviting us to call him our Father. What a God!
Ted and Sylvia Anderson would like to thank all of their friends from church for their prayers and good wishes following Ted's illness.
It is amazing and so gratifying to realise how many friends one has and their concern really helps to overcome the worries of a serious illness.
Thank you all.
Ted and Sylvia Anderson
The Bell ringers offer their congratulations to Sonia on her ordination to Deacon and we will, at the earliest opportunity, take great pleasure in ringing a quarter peal in her honour. We wish her every success in her role as Deacon and in her planned future.
Ringing practice for learners and experienced ringers on Friday evenings at 7.30.
This month I have selected a 'local lass' who is celebrated by our diocese on 16th July.
Anne Askew was born in Lincolnshire in 1521. When she was fifteen her family forced her to marry Thomas Kyme. Anne rebelled against her husband by refusing to adopt his surname. The couple also argued about religion. Anne was a supporter of Martin Luther, while her husband was a Catholic.
Eventually Anne left her husband and went to London where she gave sermons and distributed Protestant books. These books had been banned and so she was arrested. Her husband was sent for and ordered to take her home to Lincolnshire. Anne soon escaped and it was not long before she was back preaching in London.
Anne was arrested again. This time. Sir Anthony Kingston, the Constable of the Tower of London, was ordered to torture Anne in an attempt to force her to name other Protestants. Anne was put on the rack. Kingston was so impressed with the way Anne behaved that he refused to carry on torturing her, and Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor had to take over.
After a long period of torture Anne still refused to give names or to recant. Her body was so badly damaged that she had to be carried to her trial. Found guilty of being a Protestant, Anne was condemned to death and burnt at the stake.
Bring your own picnic, comfortable chair and candelabra
Licenced bar available
£5 Adults; £3 Concessions and Children; Family Ticket £12 (Two adults ,Two children)
If wet the concert will take place in Church
You may have heard a rumour that after a gap of many years another Flower Festival is to be held in our Church during the weekend of October 3rd., 4th. and 5th. which is our Harvest Festival weekend. The theme will be "With Music in Mind". Pauline Brooksbank and Sue Lee are masterminding the displays with the aid of flower arrangers from the church. In keeping with the theme there will be live music at certain times during the weekend with the newly-refurbished organ as a focal point. Proceeds from the Festival will be donated to the Organ Fund.
We have already formed a committee but with the numerous tasks involved we are appealing to everyone for their help to ensure a spectacular event. Nearer the time we shall be asking for more specific help but it would be very useful at this stage to know that we have the full support of the church and preliminary offers of assistance would be welcome . The main aim at present is to find funding and anyone with contacts in local businesses is asked to speak to either Johanna Jones or John Worthington. Please join us in helping to make this a weekend to remember.
Hilda was known to many in Deeping St. James as the quiet but friendly lady who lived in the house near the bridge noted for its oriel window overlooking the river, the house now bearing the legend 'Jackson's Yard'.
A native of East Ham, she married her husband Claud in the vestry of a bomb-damaged church; together they moved north to Peterborough, finally settling in Bridge St. where for many years they ran a small shop.
In the Priory Church, however, Hilda was known as a regular communicant, both on Sundays and at the Thursday midweek service. She was an avid reader of Holy Scripture and each Friday saw her slowly but determinedly making her way up the vicarage steps for the Friday morning and Lenten study groups; she also had a talent for lesson-reading, joining the rota for the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist.
Although quiet in demeanour, Hilda was nevertheless an enthusiastic supporter of many activities at the Priory Church; a member of Mothers' Union and Ready Call, she was frequently among the first to sign up for social events and to give practical help where she was able.
In her later years Hilda was challenged both by failing health and disaster, notably the day when a sudden storm left water pouring through the ground floor of her home. Hilda's faith supported her throughout and after a time away while her home was refurbished, she returned to Deeping St. James. Her health however continued to decline; after a spell in Peterborough hospital earlier in the year she was transferred to Stamford where she died the day after the Spring Bank Holiday. She was a faithful member of our congregation and will be greatly missed.
A few more historical facts (?) and origins of everyday sayings from the 1500's. I promised to continue this from last November; thank you for your patience.
Dave
In those days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables. Eating meat on special occasions. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot overnight and adding to it the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been there for a while! Yuck! Remember the rhyme "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."
Sometimes a pig or wild boar would be killed offering the household a rare treat of pork. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They would cut off a portion to share with their guests. Nothing was wasted. They would sit around their table and "chew the fat."
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content caused the lead to leak into the food, causing lead poisoning and often death. This happened most often with tomatoes because they're so acidic. For the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Most people did not have pewter plates, but trenchers, a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Or if one was poor the trenchers were made from stale bread which was old and hard. The bread trenchers could not be washed and were used as long as possible. The trencher was often wormy and moldy by the time it was disposed of. After eating off wormy, moldy trenchers, one would get trench mouth.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
Over the last few year Margaret Flegg has contributed a lot of recipes to this magazine, all of them very attractive. Whether you have carefully filed them or not, it is possible to find Margaret's recipes using the archived Internet edition of Priory News and searching for a recipe name or an ingredient. If you look at the left-hand side of this page you will see the Priory News Archive with a simple search engine: type in what you're looking for and click "Go". You will be presented with a list of the issues that mention that word, with the context in which it is mentioned. For example, searching for "beef" yields recipes in April 2001 and 2002 as well as two articles on farming and on food in Malaysia!
(There are rumours that, in time, we may publish a Recipe Book containing Margaret's recipes)
Base line the Swiss roll tin with baking parchment. Whisk egg whites with 2 drops of Vanilla Essence until fluffy. Add sugar 2 oz at a time whilst whisking until mixture looks glossy. Place in lined tin and level off top, Cook in oven at Reg 4 middle shelf for about 15 mins. but check after 10 mins the surface should be lightly brown and springy to the touch. Have ready a piece of cling film to turn it out on, BUT allow to cool for about 5 mins in the tin before turning out. Peel back the parchment carefully, having whipped ½ pint of cream, when meringue is cold spread half of the cream over surface, scatter fruit over cream. With help of cling film roll out length wise and roll on to long plate. Decorate with fruit and serve with remaining cream.
Note: If required sprinkle 2 oz flaked almonds over surface prior to cooking.
Like many busy people, most of my reading is done in bed. When it comes to spiritual guidance, I like to think I have an eclectic taste but, in truth, I always return to a few old friends, like Mother Julian and Henri Nouwen. Now and again I hear or read about a book that captures my interest but I never seem to have time to track it down and widen my reading horizons. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
So, it seemed to me a good idea to have a church bookstall as we once had years ago; the PCC have agreed. We are going to have a selection of books available for two or three consecutive Sundays before the summer holidays, in the late autumn (with Christmas in mind), and just before Lent.
If you have any requests for the kind of books you'd like or, indeed, any particular book, please let me know. Also, if you'd like to lend a hand in running the stall, I'd be glad to hear from you. I hope this venture will help us to deepen our Christian commitment and grow in faith and love.
Bet Washbrooke
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Copyright © 2003 Deeping St James PCC