The V en. Davi d Garne tt The Vicarage, Edensor, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PH T el: 01246 582130 (Church website - www.stpetersedensor.org ) September 2008 Dear Friends One of the best kept secre ts is Filey in Y orksh ire. It is a wond erful Edwardian seaside resort. Many of us may have childhoo d memories of it. It was there that Rupert Tu rner learned to ride his first donkey! Recen tly I walked our dogs on the wond erful stret ch of sand. Jess, the Sprin ger , unf ortun ately manag ed to take a sand wich out of a child’ s hand. Afte r the walkwe settled down into a deckchair with a windbreaker ( as you do in En gland!). The tide was going ou t. The sea reflected the blueness of the sky . The family near us wer e all occupying themselves. Dad was reading a newspaper . Mum was re ading a book. Th e li ttl e da ught er was ru nning ba ckwards and for wards wit h a bucket to the sea. The tide had go ne a long way out sin ce she built her sandcas tle and the moat was empty . She was tryin g to fill it with waterfrom her bucket. Backwards and forwards she w ent, bucketful after bu cketful, all to no avail. Each journey took longer and became harder. Y ou could sense the mounting frustration, of empti ness, bu ilding up in th e little lass. Sudd enly it brok e out with tears and waili ng. Dad be came ag itated a nd pr etend ed not to no tice. Mum p ut do wn he rbook now fe eling the same as her little girl. And the frustration an d irritation was reaching out to others on the beach. I felt f or that family . As I too have felt the fru stration of emptiness. I know how impossible it is to fill certain holes that happen in our lives. And that emp tiness within can no more be filled with things than a hole in the sand can be filled with buckets of water. Y et, so often we rush abou t trying to fill our empti nes s. Tryi ng to fill every moment in case the v oid returns. As T S Eliot wrote: The endless cycle of idea and action Endless invention, endless experiment… Where is Life we have lost in living? Where is Wisdom we have lost in knowledge? 1
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One of the best kept secrets is Filey in Yorkshire. It is a wonderful Edwardian
seaside resort. Many of us may have childhood memories of it. It was there that
Rupert Turner learned to ride his first donkey!
Recently I walked our dogs on the wonderful stretch of sand. Jess, the Springer,
unfortunately managed to take a sandwich out of a child’s hand. After the walk
we settled down into a deckchair with a windbreaker (as you do in England!). Thetide was going out. The sea reflected the blueness of the sky.
The family near us were all occupying themselves. Dad was reading a newspaper.
Mum was reading a book. The little daughter was running backwards and
forwards with a bucket to the sea. The tide had gone a long way out since she
built her sandcastle and the moat was empty. She was trying to fill it with water
from her bucket.
Backwards and forwards she went, bucketful after bucketful, all to no avail. Each journey took longer and became harder. You could sense the mounting frustration,
of emptiness, building up in the little lass. Suddenly it broke out with tears and
wailing. Dad became agitated and pretended not to notice. Mum put down her
book now feeling the same as her little girl. And the frustration and irritation was
reaching out to others on the beach.
I felt for that family. As I too have felt the frustration of emptiness. I know how
impossible it is to fill certain holes that happen in our lives. And that emptiness
within can no more be filled with things than a hole in the sand can be filled with
buckets of water.
Yet, so often we rush about trying to fill our emptiness. Trying to fill every
moment in case the void returns. As T S Eliot wrote:
The endless cycle of idea and action
Endless invention, endless experiment…
Where is Life we have lost in living?Where is Wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
‘SPICE’ SUNDAY The last ‘SPICE’ Sunday, held on 13th July, raised £70 for the
Roof Fund
Marriage and mirthCan you laugh with your spouse? Psychologists have found that a sharedsense of humour goes a long way in cementing the bonds of a marriage.
From the Registers
St. Peter’s
WeddingsFriday 1st August Emma Suzanne Neale & Edward Douglas Bond
Friday 8th August Katie Tasker & James Barrett
Saturday 9th August Alexandra Louise Fairclough & Luke Kenneth Cooper
Helen McGee & Mark Stanley
Funeral Service followed by burial
Monday 4th AugustMary Blakey aged 74years
Lord, shall we delay any longer our offering to you of all that we have and allthat we are? Shall we keep back any longer the complete gift of our freewill, which we cling too so stubbornly? Shall we refuse to stretch out our willon the wood of your cross, to transfix it with the thorns and lance thatpierced you? Let our will be swallowed up in the fire of your perfect, lovingwill! Let our will burn for all eternity as a sacrifice to you.
You may have noticed that over the past few months there have been morepages in your magazine. We hope to continue to do this so that we can giveyou more to read and enjoy and hopefully encourage our readers tocontribute articles. However, we also feel that the time has come when the
price of the magazine must reflect this increase in size and from the January2009 issue the price will be 60p per copy (£7.20 per year) instead of the 50pnow charged (£6 per year). We do hope that all our present readers willcontinue to give us their support by carrying on with their subscriptions/monthly payments and of course we welcome any newreaders.
HOUSEKEEPING SUNDAY
SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 10.30am St. Peter’s, Edensor
Like any other household, we as a church have to be practical and realistic
about our income and expenditure. Therefore, the PCC has agreed that once a
year (in the autumn) we explain the running costs of our church, and how
much is required in the budget for the coming year. Just as we all require a
regular income, so we as a church family need a regular income. Each of us
will be asked to review our giving for the new financial year.
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY
ADVENT SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER
10.30am St. Peter’s, Edensor
We all need to be recognised and to realise that we are VIPs in God’s sight.Back to Church Sunday provides you with an opportunity to show a friend or
neighbour that he or she is a VIP. At the same time it is a reminder to those of
us already in church that we are all VIPs in God’s sight.
On Back to Church Sunday you welcome people back to church who used to
go to church but have not been for a while. It provides your guest with a way
back into belonging to church.
Back to Church Sunday works on the principle “each one reach one”. Pray for
someone you know and invite them to come with you on 30 November. There
On Holy Cross Day the Church celebrates the Cross as a symbol of triumph, as thesign of Christ’s victory over death. Holy Cross Day goes right back to 14th
September 335 and we have the mother of a Roman Emperor to thank for it.
Helena was a devout Christian, and after her son, Constantine, was converted,
they agreed that she should travel from Rome to Israel, and seek out the places of
special significance to Christians.
Of course, much of Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans around 135 AD.
But even so, Helena finally located what she believed to be the sites of the
Crucifixion and of the Burial (and modern archaeologists think she may well be
correct). The sites were so close together that she built one large church over
them - the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
That church, built in honour of the Cross, was dedicated on 14 September 335.
The sign of the Cross has been used by Christians since early times. Tertullian,
writing his De Corona (3:2) around AD 211, noted that Christians seldom didanything significant without making the sign of the cross.
What is its significance? Well, people often put their initials or some sort of
personal mark on something to show that it belongs to them. The Cross is the
personal mark of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we mark it on ourselves as a sign that
we belong to him. Even in the book of Revelation, we read that the servants of
God are ‘sealed’ or ‘marked’ on their foreheads as a sign that they are his.
A preacher once put it this way: if you were explaining to someone how to make
a cross, you would say: "Draw an I.” That is you standing before the Lord,
saying, ‘here I am’. Then cancel that vertical stroke with a horizontal stroke – as
if to say: “Lord, I abandon my self-will and make you the centre of my life
instead. I abandon myself to your love and service.”
On Holy Cross Day, we recall Jesus’ wonderful promise: “And when I am lifted
up, I will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
Holy Cross Acrostic (John 1:12 and 3:16)
Heaven’s love gift
Outpoured,
Lifted high for
You and you and you…
Christ, Creator,
R escuer, makes
Outrageous, once only
S pecial offer:
Salvation – free to all who come,
to all who will
receive…
by Daphne Kitching
Christian Basics: What about Heaven?
The vicar was visiting a man whowas very ill. At the foot of thestairs the sick man’s wifewhispered apprehensively, ‘Saysomething hopeful to him – notabout heaven and all that’. Wetend to imagine heaven as
something remote and less realthan this life. However, C S Lewisin The Great Divorce describes aheaven where everything is moresolid than on earth, with flowerslike diamonds and leaves heavier than sacks of coal. So what arethe important questions to ask
about the reality of heaven?
What is heaven like?Importantly, heaven is being inthe presence of God and his SonJesus Christ. ‘Now the dwellingof God is with men, and he willlive with them. They will be hispeople, and God himself will be
with them and be their God’ (Rev21:3). This also means an end of
all insecurity, pain, suffering, sin,death and evil (Rev 21:4). As aresult we will worship and beunited with all God’s people; thisis what we were created for – ‘toglorify God and to enjoy himforever’!
What will we be like?When sharing in the communityof heaven, how will we recogniseeach other? Just as Jesus’followers were able to recognisehim after his resurrection, so weshall know one another. We will
have ‘spiritual bodies’appropriate to the life of heaven.But it will be knowledge on adeeper level, with fuller love andunderstanding than we have ever known before.
Where is heaven?Is heaven simply ‘pie in the sky
when you die’? As a sphere of existence outside of time and
space, it is better to think of it as‘a dimension of present reality’(Bishop Tom Wright). Indeed, theHoly Spirit is the ‘depositguaranteeing our inheritance’(Eph 1:14), giving us a foretaste
of heaven in the present.
Who will be there?Jesus is clear about heaven, ‘For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, thatwhoever believes in him shall notperish but have eternal life.’(John 3:16). If we enjoy arelationship with God today, wecan look forward to the fuller
experience in heaven. However,God simply underlines our choiceif we reject him now! We live in areal world with real choices; whatwe choose today affects our livesnow and in eternity!
The kingdom of God is not for the well meaning, but for the desperate. J Denney
“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23v4Shepherds used to use a tall staff with a crook at the neck for caringfor their sheep. They could slip thecrook end around a lamb that hadwandered off and fallen into aditch, and lift it out to safety andcomfort. At other times theshepherd would use his staff to
deftly prod a wayward sheep backonto the right path. Then again,there were always the reluctantsheep who were simply afraid togo forward.
Many a Christian has found thatour Good Shepherd uses hisheavenly staff in much the same
way. Sometimes we fall into
circumstances beyond our control,and need rescuing and comfort.Other times, we are stubborn andgoing our own way – and need afirm hand to prevent us causingeven more trouble. And finally,there are those times when we aretoo timid to move forward and
grasp what God has given us for the next stage in our lives. Then,we need a firm, loving push!
Either way, the Bible assures usthat our Good Shepherd will takegood care of us. As long as weare following him, nothing can getat us without first coming past him.
Why sleeping with your cars keys under your pillow may be a good ideaWhen car security gets too good to steal the car, what do you do? You steal the car
keys!
Nowadays, thieves sneak into porches, halls and kitchens in broad daylight to grab
keys hanging on hooks near doors. Handbags and pockets give easy opportunities,
while keys left briefly on shop counters, on tables in bars or even in the ignition of
vehicles are all clear invitations to the car thief.
As cars have become harder to steal with their sophisticated immobilisers and security
systems, so thieves have concentrated on the easy option – taking the keys. When
after one spate of burglaries in West Yorkshire, 720 cars were stolen, police suggested
worried drivers take their car keys to bed with them.
That little piece of metal and plastic is often the only thing between the criminal and
your investment. So here are some tips of how to hang on to it! treat car keys the same as you would cash or credit cards
make sure keys are always in a secure place at home or work
keep house doors locked at all times – thieves can sneak in while you are in
another room
ensure that car keys are not kept close to doors and windows
never leave keys in an unattended car –even if you are just paying for petrol
keep the car garaged and locked if possible
never leave any form of identification with your keys
PILGRIM PLACES: Historic Christian Sites in Britain:WHITBY – part one
The Christian faith in England has long been associated with places likeGlastonbury, Canterbury, York and London. But the town of Whitby, on thenorth Yorkshire coast, can also lay claim to its own historic Christian roots.
Overlooking a vast expanse of the North Sea, and with its rocky headland
and high cliffs, Whitby is one of the favourite seaside attractions in thenorth east of England. With some narrow winding streets and itsassociations with Captain James Cook, Whitby has an olde-world feelingabout it. More recently it has been the location for the TV hospital dramaThe Royal.
High on the headland stand the ruins of St Hilda’s Abbey and that’s theclue to its link with early British Christianity. Hilda was connected by birthto King Edwin of Northumbria and sometime around 627 AD she wasconverted to the Christian faith. After missionary work in County Durham,she was appointed by the Christian King Oswy of Northumbria as the firstAbbess of the newly founded Abbey at the place later named Whitby.
The Abbey soon had a reputation as a great centre of Christian missionaryand learning but it was a gathering of royalty, bishops and monks that wasto give Whitby lasting fame. The occasion was the Synod of Whitby in664AD, a gathering of Britain’s Christian leaders that would determine the
shape of Christianity in these islands until the Reformation. That story,however, begins much earlier.
It would be exciting to know exactly when the Christian faith arrived inthese islands and who brought it to us. There have been manysuggestions but a very probable answer is that Christian missionaries fromGaul (now France) crossed the English Channel to bring the Good Newsto our pagan ancestors. A probable date is sometime in the early third
century, between 200 and 250AD, though it might have been considerablyearlier.
A hundred years later the faith had spread widely and there were Christiansettlements in many parts of England and Wales. Ireland was evangelisedin the 5th century and, in turn, Irish missionaries took the gospel toScotland. If we take the year 600AD as our starting point, then we have apicture which we will consider next month...
WOMAN ALIVE - celebrating 25 years
Woman Alive is the onlyinterdenominational Christianwomen's magazine on themarket, and it is doing well. In2006 it won 'best nationalreligious periodical' at theAndrew Cross Awards. This year
it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The WOMAN ALIVE successstory began in the same year asPrince William was born, theFalkland Islands were invaded byArgentina, the Young Ones firstappeared on TV, and legwarmerswere the latest fashionaccessory. It was 1982, andChristian Woman, as it was thenknown, was launched in order tooffer a positive alternative to thegossip and glamour that were thestuff of ordinary women'smagazines.
And so there are profiles of various Christian women living
out their faith, as well as themore usual articles on fashion,cookery, health, and leisure.Gail Lawther, the first editor,recalls: "We wanted themagazine to be a thought-provoking forum for discussion
on Christian attitudes to theworld we live in.”
Twenty-five years on, the worldhas changed a lot. For onething, leg warmers are gone! Butthe magazine lives on, and itscore values remain the same: toproduce a good read that willhelp and inspire women as they
juggle their various roles in anincreasingly fast-paced and ever-changing world.
So if you enjoy the occasionalwoman’s magazine, why not giveWOMAN ALIVE a try? The
magazine offers real life storiesof women living out their faith in
the face of various challenges, aswell as practical ideas to helpChristians ‘go deeper’ with God.Also included are various lifestyleissues from a Christianperspective, book reviews, and
various competitions.
Says the current editor, JackieStead: “We want to ensure thatWoman Alive remains relevant toChristian women and continuesto provide practical and spiritualsupport, as well as a challenge. It
is our continuing prayer that themagazine will see many morewomen come alive to Christ inthe years to come.”
For more details visit
www.womanalive.co.uk or send asae (A4 size) to Wendy Steele,Woman Alive/Parish Pump, CPO,Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road,Worthing, West Sussex, BN131BW to receive a free samplecopy.
Home & Family becomes Families First Here’s an article on another popular Christian magazine, this one aimed at familiesBritain’s biggest selling Christian
magazine, Home & Family, has just
re-launched itself as Families First.
Produced by Mothers’ Union to
promote good parenting, encourage
loving and lasting marriages, and to
support people in an active, Christianfaith, Families First will be a lifestyle
magazine for people who care about
family life in their own communities
and around the world.
With a focus on relationship – with
real people facing real issues - each
edition will include interviews and
articles on marriage, family life,
parenting, Christian faith in action,
stories of lives changed, community
action ideas, campaign issues and
reviews of books, music, films, DVDs,
and websites for children.
The existing readership is over 44,000,
so Families First inherits not only the
title of biggest selling Christian
magazine, but will also exceed the
circulation of the UK’s top parenting
magazine.
“Families First will appeal not just toMothers’ Union members but to all
people who want to support a positive,
supportive approach to families and
communities,” says editor Catherine
Butcher. “Politicians and statisticians
paint a gloomy picture of family life in
the UK, but working through churches
Mothers’ Union and many other
Christians are making a tangible
difference to family life in
communities.”
To subscribe, or view a sample copy
of Families First visit
www.familiesfirstmagazine.com
Sing your heart outHolidays may be over, and the nights closing in, but why not sing yourself
Recent research by Heart Research UK has found that singing can be goodfor you, relieving stress (for you, if not for your listeners), imparting positivefeelings, and even raising your immune system. If combined with someexercise, you can even sing your way through a good cardiovascular workout!
So this autumn why not try:
playing your favourite music and devising an energetic dance routinethat would startle even Madonna.
stamp the ground as fast as possible while singing your favourite rocktune – the faster the tempo, the faster your heart beat!
join a local choral or singing group
sing in the shower
try and persuade your children to sing with you on the way to school
if you or any of your friends can play a musical instrument, plan anevening that includes a good old-fashioned singsong – it’s fun!
SERVICES & ROTAS FOR SEPTEMBER 2008
St. Anne’s, Beeley
Flowers & Brasses7 Sep 9.30am Holy Communion Mrs K Reeve
14 Sep 9.30am Holy Communion 6pm Evensong " "
21 Sep 9.30am Holy Communion Mrs P Mather
28 Sep 9.30am Holy Communion 6pm Evensong " "
5 Oct 9.30am Holy Communion Mrs Swain
St. Peter’s, EdensorSidesmen
7 Sep 10.30am Holy Communion Mr & Mrs Machin
14 Sep 10.30am Holy Communion Mr & Mrs Wardle
21 Sep 10.30am Holy Communion R S Sherwood/Diana Walters
28 Sep 10.30am Harvest Thanksgiving Service Mr & Mrs Flemming
14 Sep Genesis 50.15-21 Matthew 18.21-35 Roger Wardle
Trinity 17
21 Sep Jonah 3.10 - 4.11 Matthew 20.1-16 Molly Marshall
Trinity 18
28 Sep Psalm 24 2 Corinthians 9.6-15 Joan Davies
Harvest Preacher: Michael Gowdey
“The Bridge” Parish Magazine – Yearly subscription £6 (50p per month)
Items for inclusion in the October magazine should reach me byMonday 15th September e-mail: [email protected] A burglar had entered a poor minister’s house at midnight, and was confrontedby the minister. Drawing his gun, he threatened: “If you move, you’re dead. Iam looking for money.”“Let me put on a light, and help you,” said the minister, “I’ve been looking for money around here for ages, and not had any success.”