| The Village | Church | Children's Activities | Other Churches |
Contact |
The Priory and Parish Church of St James, Deeping
To:
Scripture readings for Sunday
Our home page
While away this summer, I have had the privilege to worship with two very different congregations on the two Sundays I have been absent from home. First, our five family members swamped the regular congregation of two at a large church in a small village in Devon. A “said” Rite B celebration of the Eucharist with one hymn at eleven o’clock, and we bumped into the churchwarden at the North Devonshire Show a few days later, manning a WI stand! How such a small band keeps such a large and ancient building standing up, let alone conducting an effective Christian ministry I dread to think. No doubt there are more of them outside the holiday period, but in a tiny village it cannot ever be many.
The second week we were staying in Harpenden and I went to the church where we were married. The worship was in the church hall because the church building was being extended and it was closed during the work. Although it was August, there were many children in the junior church and their work was shown off to the rest of the people. The hall was packed and it was clear that a great deal of worthwhile work was being done here, especially among young families, and there was enough of a choir (though not the regular robed one) for a decent sound to be produced and even a modest anthem. Two or three people engaged me in conversation over the coffee after the service.
Back home there is a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks and months. Our new organist, David Green, will take up his post on the first Sunday in September, as the choir holiday ends, and so begins a new era in the musical life of the Priory Church. The repairs to the tower louvres are already in hand, and the faculty for the work to the chancel roof is being considered with a view to work starting soon.
In addition new and revised pastoral work with the bereaved, the housebound and those preparing for marriage is beginning, and our forms of worship are under review as the ASB’s authorisation nears its end. Meanwhile, families continue to trickle into our fellowship and a welcome is extended to all who seek to join us on our pilgrimage to eternity.
5th September, 14th after Trinity:
10am: Romans 13: 8-14; Matthew 18: 15-20
12th September, 15th after Trinity:
10am: Romans 14: 1-12 Matthew 18: 21-35
6pm: Acts 9: 36-42 Luke 8: 40-42, 49-56
19th September, 16th after Trinity:
10am: Philippians 1: 21-30 Matthew 20: 1-16
26th September, 17th after Trinity:
10am: Philippians 2: 1-13 Matthew 21: 23-32
Dear Mark,
It is a bright and sunny Sunday morning here in Singapore and having just had breakfast after returning from St. Andrew's Cathedral, it seems appropriate that I should turn my thoughts towards the Priory Church in Deeping. You will all be asleep as I write so I'll try not to make too much noise and I shan't transmit until later! I remember five years ago when I was in Hong Kong being very affected by the idea of a worldwide fellowship of Christians and as you know I really felt part of the local church there as I sang regularly in St. John's Cathedral Choir. Here in Singapore the set-up is a little different and I don't see myself becoming involved in the same way. Nevertheless it was wonderful to be able to attend the said Eucharist (BCP) at 7 a.m. There must have been at least 200 communicants - and this is not at the centre of a residential area!
The Service was not quite as we have it at home; there was extempore prayer and the Queen was not referred to in the intercessions! The preacher was Dr. Joseph Paul Ozawa whose subject was "The faith of the Gospel". He actually spoke mainly about our attitude towards people and evil"; how we are to love people but hate evil. He gave an intriguing example of a Christian couple whom he counselled a few years ago when their marriage was about to break up. Each said to him of the other, "He/she makes me so angry: he/she is always shouting at me. We just don't get on any more." Dr. Ozawa's response to the husband was to enquire what had happened to his prayer life and his Bible reading? The reply came that they had increased. So Dr. Ozawa went on to tell him to thank his wife for being angry and shouting at him because his Christian life had benefited. When he did, she immediately stopped shouting at him, and one assumes that the counselling worked! I wonder whether this technique would work in the UK?
The whole outlook of the sermon and the Service was what we in England would call 'evangelical'. I was invited to breakfast outside the cathedral afterwards but I declined on this occasion because, although I'm happy to eat Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, Indian etc. food, I really can't face that kind of food at that time of day! My Christian love to all at the Priory. You are daily in my thoughts and prayers and I look forward to being with you in the middle of September. As things have turned out, I shall next be off to Hong Kong again in early November. But, that's another story .....
On the matter of work, which, I have to keep reminding myself, is the real reason I'm here, things seem to be going well. The greatest number of candidates so far have been pianists but I have come across one singer, three violinists and a viola player. Woodwind and brass players seem few and far between.
Singapore in general? Well, it's quite warm and humid and we've had a lot of grey skies and rain. But short sleeve shirts and no jacket is the order of the day (evenings too) and it's an exciting place with a wonderful transport system and, more importantly, wonderful food!
With love in Christ,
John
Although in Deeping St James we have only a few minority ethnic groups, in the wake of issues highlighted by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry it is vital that we remind ourselves that campaigning for racial justice is part of the Christian pilgrimage an discipline.
Jesus' ministry broke down the barriers of race, class, gender, age , power and wealth; the good news he proclaimed has liberating power to bring about spiritual and social change. Our commitment to strive or racial justice must be more than an observance on this one Sunday - rather, a commitment to work and pray that all our fellow human beings may live without fear, intimidation or discrimination.
The Lincolnshire Old Churches Trust Sponsored Cycle Ride will take place this year on Saturday 11th September. If you would like to take part or can help with stewarding, sponsor forms and a list of stewarding shifts will be available in Church shortly.
At the end of July we were saddened to lose two members of our congregation, Margaret Aldridge and Annie ('Nancy') Morgan.
Margaret had, apart from a time in training and shortly afterwards, been a lifelong resident of Deeping St James and well known to all during her thirty years as district nurse during which time she delivered over a thousand babies!
Nancy, whose lilting voice reminded us of her Welsh origins, came more recently but became a much loved member of the Manor House Court community. Both of them were loyal worshippers at the Priory Church and when illness prevented them from attending the Sunday Eucharist or the midweek Parish Communion they remained faithful to the Lord by receiving Holy Communion at home. For their service, encouragement and devotion, thanks be to God.
Cuts into 20 slices
Ingredients:
Method:
Preheat a moderate oven (350oF, 180oC, Gas 4).
Grease a tin 9 x 13 x 2 in deep. (eg a meat tin).
Peel and coarsely grate the carrots without making them too wet. Roughly chop the pineapple. Put the oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla flavouring into a bowl and beat together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the carrots, pineapple and walnuts. Add the sifted dry ingredients. Mix well then pour into the tin.
Cook in the centre of the oven for one hour or until the cake feels firm to touch. Cool in tin for 5 minutes. Turn out and leave to cool.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream the cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar. Add the lemon juice drop by drop until frosting has a soft spreading consistency. Spread over the top of the cake.
We congratulate:
We commend to God's keeping:
and also at Peterborough Crematorium on 29th July Annie Morgan
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.
Back issues are available on line as follows:
November 1997;
December 1997;
January 1998;
February 1998;
March 1998;
April 1998;
May 1998;
June 1998;
July 1998;
August 1998;
September 1998;
October 1998;
November 1998;
December 1998;
January 1999;
February 1999;
March 1999;
April 1999;
May 1999;
July 1999;
August 1999.