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
To:
| Information Centre | Trades & Services | Notices |
| Diary | Groups & Societies | For Sale |
From the Vicar
June is an even more exciting month than usual this year! There is the Rose & Sweet Pea Show and Garden Fete, of course, on Saturday 24th June, and the Class Lists for it are enclosed with this issue of Priory News. This year we are including a barbecue once more, and we have more arena performances than we've had for many years, so we are opening an hour earlier at 1pm: do come along and have a barbecue lunch while you enjoy the extended entertainment. The crowning of the Rose Queen will take place at 2.15pm as usual, and the children's games will open after that.
On Saturday 10th June our choir and organist and supporters will perform a Mozart concert to mark Mozart's 250th Anniversary, and the following day, Trinity Sunday, the 10am service will be sung to a Mass Setting by Mozart rather than one of our four usual settings. It is a long time since we have celebrated a Choral Eucharist and this should be a real treat to those who love this sort of music. John Worthington is writing more about these two Mozart ventures elsewhere in the magazine.
Finally, I have been working hard on the garden whenever I have had the opportunity since last summer and I hope that for all our summer events this year it will be in better condition than ever, largely due to the perennials given to me by the late Jean Mitchell when I appealed for plants in the autumn. If the rain will stay away on my days off so that I can keep the work going, you should be able to enjoy the Rose & Sweet Pea Show, the Musical Concert and the St Jamestide celebrations without so much fear of the stinging nettle and the deadly nightshade!
Readings for June
4th June, Pentecost Sunday:
- Morning: Acts 2: 1-21; Romans 8: 22-27; John 15: 26-27; 16: 4b-15
11th June, Trinity Sunday:
- Morning: Isaiah 6: 1-8; Romans 8: 12-17; John 3: 1-17
- Evening: Revelation 4; Mark 1: 1-13
18th June, 1st Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Ezekiel 17: 22-end (08:00 only); 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10, 14-17; Mark 4: 26-34
25th June, 2nd Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Job 38: 1-11; 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13; Mark 4: 35-end
Home Groups
- Bible Study: Fridays at 10am at the Vicarage
- Priory Prayer Group: 1st, 15th and 29th June at 19 Ascendale
- House Group: Every Wednesday, 7.30 pm at 45 Crowson Way; Everyone welcome
Corpus Christi
Feast to Commemorate the Institution and Gift of the Holy Eucharist
Celebrated on the first Thursday after Trinity, 15th June, this year. Its origin was at the instigation of Juliana of Liege (died 1258) who pressed for the observance in response to a vision. In 1264 its observance was authorised by Pope Urban IV and by the 14th century was universally observed.
In the fourteenth century religious (as opposed to trade) guilds were formed to promote particular devotions (e.g. for a saint or a festival, or an aspect of Christ's nature - i.e.. the 'name of Jesus'). Deeping St. James had at least four and possibly six guilds.. One of them was the Corpus Christi Guild. formed to observe this festival. Its members paid an annual subscription, the Guild processed, celebrated the Eucharist and held a feast afterwards in the property owned by the Guild. On the death of a member a requiem mass would be said and the departed would also be remembered on two other occasions after his death.
The Corpus Christi Guild was the largest at Deeping St. James and owned land as well as a guild house. Apart from the celebrations of the festival and the commemoration of its departed members it also financed some of the cost of repairs to the church, vestments and hangings and public works such as repairs to the bridge. Account books survive for the 1530's which have now been removed to the Archives Office for safekeeping. They are written in 'secretary hand' (late medieval / early Tudor script) with variable spelling and several words of local dialect but with perseverance it could be followed; they certainly gave a good flavour of everyday life in the late Middle Ages. Deeping St. James had a group of between four and six priests in the later Middle Ages - these would be appointed from the monks of Thorney Abbey, one of whom was also vicar. Hence the very large sanctuary (extended in 14th / 15th century). The other priests would look after the devotions of the various guilds, using one of the side altars. The area now forming the Corpus Christi Chapel had prior to 1971 been used as a clergy vestry but when the present organ was installed, the vestry was moved to the back of the church and the newly formed area set aside as a chapel. Since 1997 the daily office has been said here and the Eucharist celebrated from time to time. It is also the area set aside for the Watch of Prayer on Maundy Thursday. The Last Supper tapestry was placed here to reflect the dedication. The Priory Prayer Group also on occasions uses the chapel to hold a prayer group session especially if a private house is not available.
Richard, Bishop of Chichester
Richard of Wyche was born in 1197 at Droitwyche, the son of a prosperous yeoman farmer. He and his brother were orphaned at an early age, and an incompetent guardian wasted the inheritance. Richard worked long and hard to restore the family property, and when he had succeeded, he turned it over to his brother and went off to Oxford to become a scholar. He was too poor to afford a gown or a fire in winter, but he did very well at his studies, with Robert Grosseteste among his teachers, and he established what would be a lifelong friendship with his tutor, Edmund Rich (Edmund of Abingdon). He studied canon law at Oxford (and probably also at Paris and Bologna) and, having acquired a doctorate, he became Chancellor of Oxford in 1235.
In 1244 he was elected Bishop of Chichester, but Henry would not recognize the election, locked him out of the bishop's residence, and pocketed the revenues. Richard accepted shelter with a village priest, and spent the next two years walking barefoot through his diocese, preaching to fishermen and farmers, and correcting abuses. He held synods to legislate, and insisted that the sacraments must be administered without payment, and the Liturgy celebrated with reverence and order. The clergy were required to be celibate, to wear clerical dress, and to live in the parishes they were assigned to and carry out their duties in person. The laity were required to attend services on all Sundays and holy days, and to know by heart the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed. After two years, Henry was pressured into recognizing Richard as Bishop, but Richard continued to live as he had before.
One of his concerns was that the moslems then in control of Jerusalem would not admit Christian pilgrims. In 1253 he travelled about appealing for a new Crusade, aimed solely at pressuring the moslems into permitting pilgrimages. He caught a fever and died in 1253. A well-known prayer written by him reads in part as follows:
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly, day by day
The Social Committee would like to thank those who attended the lunch, when £ 130-00 was raised for Christian Aid.
Pentecost Sunday - 4th June 2006
2.00 pm to 4.30 pm
Lincolnshire Showground
On 15 May 2005, at the invitation of Africa, Christians from a!! denominations in more than 156 countries united in prayer to ask God to bless the nations . . , so that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Hab.2:14). This event marked the greatest Christian gathering in the world with more than 220 million Christians praying together.
Responding to the call Lincolnshire joined with the rest of the world and over 2500 people from the East Midlands and beyond gathered at Sincil Bank Football Stadium, Lincoln for a glorious day of worship and prayer for our region and nation as we!! as the world.
This year is the second phase of a 5 year vision to have all 245 countries in the world participating in prayer for revival and transformation on Pentecost Sunday of each year until 2010.
We believe that, once again, God is calling Lincolnshire and the East Midlands part in the Global Day of Prayer on Sunday 4th June, 2006.
Lincolnshire Showground is located adjacent to the A15 about 5 miles north of Lincoln. Admission is free and there is ample free parking on site. Gates will be open at !2.30pm and we would encourage you to bring a picnic lunch (with rugs and/or folding chairs) and make it a family day out.
The 250th. Anniversary of Mozart's birth.
A Weekend of Mozart
Last month's Priory News mentioned that we are planning two musical events for the weekend of June 10th. and 11th. and if members of the Choir appear a little bleary-eyed at present, it is because of all the extra rehearsal time they are putting in! From the posters and flyers which many of you will already have seen, you will know that Saturday evening will consist of a mixed programme of vocal, choral and instrumental items, some of which will already be familiar to many, but we are also including some lesser known works. Please do come and support the Choir and friends who will be performing with us - I think I can guarantee that the T.V. will have nothing to rival our programme for that evening!
For the Sung Eucharist on Trinity Sunday, June 11th., the musical setting will be the 'Little Credo Mass' in F (K192) which is a delightful work and will, I feel sure, serve to enrich our worship on that day. It is a rare thing indeed to find such a setting used in a service in any church or even cathedral these days. Naturally we shall not be charging for the Service but there will be a charge for the concert, although accompanied children will be free.
If you want to know more, please don't hesitate to ring me on 343860.
Music on the Lawn
On Saturday 15th July we see the return of the Springfield Jazz Group and the first ever performance from "The Cranmore Singers". See the posters for more details. Tickets are available from Bill Flegg.
Priory Church Coffee Group
At the Coffee morning on 18th May the Group distributed £850 to the following charities and local organisations.
- £100 Age Concern (Bus)
- £100 Spire Lighting
- £100 Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance
- £100 Deeping Mens Group
- £100 Chernobyl Appeal
- £350 Church Hall Refurbishment
News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers
For our May sessions we looked at the life of Samuel with a view to following his good example of living God's way. Like Samuel we learnt that we should listen and obey as we grow in our Christian lives.
We have a busy month ahead as we prepare for the Rose and Sweet Pea Show. Our theme is 'Sea, Sun and Sand' and as well as producing individual collages for the exhibition we shall be making models of fish. These will complement the wall display in the Children's Corner which illustrates the second line of the song 'Who's the King of the Jungle, Who's the King of the Sea?'
On Sunday 7th May the children ran a Cake Stall after the 10am service, in aid of Sunday School Funds. It was very well received and we would like to thank all those who provided cakes and/or bought them.
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.
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SENSES
Touch
'Touch me not' said Jesus to Mary Magdalene in the garden of the Resurrection. Quite a mysterious comment when you come to examine it, because Jesus used touch a great deal himself, especially in the work of healing. There is the woman with the haemorrhage who 'touched his garment'. And there is the occasion when the crowd 'brought children for him to touch'. There is the loving disciple John who 'reclined close to Jesus at the last supper, and there is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane. We do not know very much about the use of touch in general behaviour at that time but the probability is that it was less buttoned up than its English counterpart today. Touch is a very important 'sense' because it calls for an immediate response. It can express warmth and friendship in the hand-shake and the kiss- actions which should characterise Christian behaviour at all times. Selfish touch can be the preamble to a predatory relationship, and for those who allow sexual temptation to overwhelm them it can be a way into a physical relationship that destroys. If we can get touch right in the marriage relationship it can cement a lasting partnership.
Touch is primitive like taste and smell. It can establish immediately the possibility of love or hate and as such it can influence any assignation. In his healing ministry Jesus uses his hands to touch the sick, sometimes making a salve to act as a healing agent. On the occasion of the first healing recorded in St Mark's gospel when the man with an unclean spirit is healed, it is followed up by the visit to Peter's home where his mother-in-law is ill and Jesus is brought to her. 'Jesus went and took hold of her hand and raised her to her feet. The fever left her and she attended to their needs.'
Looking once again at the Lord's word to Mary Magdalene in the garden of the Resurrection we can now study the second half of the text; 'I have not yet ascended to the Father, to my God and your God.' I think this suggests that in the fuller life beyond the grave the Christian may experience the continual Presence and feel the touch and power of Jesus freely.
N.W.G
COOKING WITH MARGARET
CHICKEN & BACON CAESAR
Ingredients
- 4 Rindless smoked streaky bacon rashers
- 255g bag ready to eat Caesar salad (which includes croutons, dressing and parmesan)
- 1 ripe Avocado
- 2 cooked Chicken Breasts, skin & bones removed.
Stir-fry the bacon in a frying pan for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove, then sprinkle the croutons into the fat into the pan and toss over a medium heat for a minute or two to crisp them up.
Divide the leaves between two plates. Halve the avocado and dig out the stone, then peel. Cut into chunks and scatter over the leaves. Tear the chicken into pieces and scatter on top. Snap the bacon into chunky pieces over the chicken and top with the croutons.
Drizzle the dressing over the whole salad and finish with a good dusting of Parmesan and a grind of pepper.
Registers for April 2006
HOLY BAPTISM: We welcome to the Lord's Family:
- 23rd: Katie Rebecca Marsh 48 Burchnall Close
FUNERALS: We commend to God's keeping:
- 27th: Ernest Edwin Thirkettle (87)
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.