worth, pound hill & maidenbower parish magazineoct 10, 2013 · shared. the harvest gifts...
TRANSCRIPT
Worth, Pound Hill
& Maidenbower
PARISH MAGAZINE St Barnabas, Pound Hill St Nicholas, Worth
October / November 2013
£1.00
PARISH CONTACTS
Baptism, Wedding and general enquiries should be made to the Parish Office:
: 0300 111 8150 :
Worth Parish Web site:
CLERGY SERVING THE PARISH
Revd Canon Anthony Ball (Rector) 01293 882229
Revd Angela Martin (Assistant Rector) 01293 404127
Revd Canon Roger Brown 01293 520454
Revd Gordon Parry 07802 432398
Revd Canon Meurig Williams 01293 883051
www.facebook.com/WorthParish
Reg. Charity No. 1131090
REGULAR SERVICES AT St NICHOLAS AND S
t BARNABAS
St Nicholas,
Worth
St Barnabas,
Pound Hill
Sunday
08.00 Holy Communion
(Book of Common Prayer, 1662)
09.45 Sung Eucharist
(Common Worship)
11.30 Nic’s
(All Age Prayer & Praise) (30 mins -1
st Sun of each month)
10.00 The Eucharist
(Common Worship)
10.00 Family Service
(Informal, Common Worship)
3rd
Sunday of every month
Monday 07.30 Morning Prayer 17.00 Evening Prayer
Tuesday 07.30 Morning Prayer 10.30 Eucharist
17.00 Evening Prayer
Wednesday 07.30 Morning Prayer 17.00 Evening Prayer
Thursday 07.30 Morning Prayer
10.30 Eucharist 17.00 Evening Prayer
Friday 07.30 Morning Prayer 17.00 Evening Prayer
Saturday 08.30 Morning Prayer 17.00 Evening Prayer
Contributions for the December 13 / January 14
By 12 November 13 to Sue Perry
(or by hand)
by Sunday 9 September 2012
My to do list for today Count my Blessings Practise Kindness Let go of what I can’t control Listen to my heart Be productive, yet calm Just breathe
God grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I
can, and the wisdom to know the
difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr
Good morning
When the time comes to put together the mag I sometimes start with writing this
page, but more often it is one of the last pages to go in. It is interesting that Ange
has written her page on what I am about to say – a huge and heartfelt Thank You
to all of you who have given prayers, kind thoughts and words to our family
during my father’s decline across the summer and for the cards that have been sent since he passed
away. My mother joins me in thanking you all for helping to make this sad time bearable. My dad
was a ‘rock’ - always loving, kind, helpful and dependable – may he rest in peace and rise in glory.
What a wonderful summer we have had weather-wise this year. I hope everyone has managed to
enjoy some of the warm days and are refreshed as now the evenings draw in and we start to put
away the tee-shirts and bring out the jumpers. Although we hesitate to mention that word which
begins with a capital C, we know that for events to be successful, some careful planning is involved.
So please forgive the odd reference to the next season, make a note of the dates and pass on.
Some changes are afoot in the parish. I like change, it keeps
things fresh and vibrant. Sometimes I move the furniture
around at home even if it is not always so convenient - just
for a change and then when I’ve had enough of it I change it
back. (My name’s Max. I’m married to Sue. I don’t like
change. Sometimes I sit down in my favourite chair and it’s
not there!){My name’s Sue. Sometimes when I move the
chair for a long time somebody complains when I move it
back again!} Any way on a more serious note for those who weren’t at the
meeting in St B the other Sunday you will find a very informative piece on the whys and wherefores
of the alterations afoot down at St Barnabas.
Finally, there is one further piece of sad news from ‘old’ Ant
‘Just to let you know that Morley Dog was put to sleep yesterday at the
vicarage - he developed bad arthritis, and couldn't eat, or move, or pee or
anything. I'm pleased Julie was there for him after having looked after
him so brilliantly for the last few years.
He was a great dog, and I've lots of silly memories!’
So without more ado read on....
Sue x
A thank you to our Mums & Toddler Group
Dear One and All,
I thought I’d write a few words about ‘Saying THANK YOU’
This month marks the beginning of the autumn and already the signs of the
colder weather are sneaking in; the fresher mornings, the nip in the air, I haven’t
quite noticed the sight of my breath as we walk along the path at St Nicholas to
Morning Prayer yet! This is the time of year when farmers and gardeners alike
have all but gathered in their harvest from the fields, and from their gardens and
allotments. As we all pause before the next cycle of growing begins, before the
digging and ploughing starts in readiness for the sowing to be followed this time
next year the harvesting, we pause to say THANK-YOU. It’s such a simple thing to say and yet it
can be often overlooked, especially when we live in such relatively comfortable surroundings.
We often go down to Cornwall for our family holiday, a county of many narrow lanes where it is
customary to thank passing cars with a wave or a thumbs up as each of you pass by as close as you
dare to the hedge, or in some cases the very edge, along the road. A couple of years ago I noticed a
difference. There were fewer ‘THANK YOUs’. It was as if even this small thing of pulling over to
allow each to pass by is expected and therefore there is no need for this polite exchange. When I
was a child I often heard the phrase, ‘it doesn’t cost anything to be polite’ - in other words there is
no excuse not to be!
At this time of year many of us will gather in church to say THANK YOU to God for providing all
we need. We give thanks not just for the food we have on the table and in the cupboard but for
everything; for our health, our families, our loved ones and all those things in life that bring us joy
and happiness. We also remember particularly those who are not as fortunate, it’s a time to move
over and make room for others so that they too can enjoy life. God provides for each and every one
of us the only reason why some have more than others is not because it is not there but that it is not
shared. The harvest gifts collected by the all of us will once again be going to Open House and the
Easter Team (Thank you Malcolm for collecting and delivering these gifts from us all year round).
These are projects within our area which provide food, shelter and hope to so many people who find
themselves in need. Having now visited Open House and seen the extent of their work not just for
those lucky enough to be living there but to the countless number of people who benefit from their
work, I can tell you that it is truly humbling to be thanked by them. People who know what it is to
go without, people who live daily with the worry of not knowing where their next meal will come
from or where they will be sleeping at night.
THANK YOU is not an insignificant thing to say, it’s uplifting, encouraging, warming. So the next
time someone does anything for you no matter how small remember to keep those two little words
alive, THANK YOU!
As George Herbert once said “Lord, you have given me so much; I ask for one more thing – a
grateful heart”.
THANK YOU for reading this and I hope you enjoy the rest of this edition of the Parish
mag
(thank you, Sue, our editor),
With every Blessing,
Revd Angela
St. Nicholas Circle
We enjoyed a supper evening in June before
the summer break, with good food (and a
good natter).
Refreshed after the break we returned in
September for an interesting talk by Mrs
Margaret Nicolle about ‘William Allen - the
Quaker Friend of Lindfield’. The founder of
the Quaker faith was George Fox from Fenny
Drayton in Leicestershire. Born in the late
18th
century, William was greatly influenced
by his mother. Interested in science, he
became a member of the Pharmaceutical
Society and was its first president. He was
very much opposed to the adulteration of
medicine that was prevalent at the time. He
was a Founding Father of the Geological
Society in 1807. He married Mary Hamilton
in 1796, but she sadly died giving birth to
their daughter.
William was anti slavery
and worked with William
Wilberforce to end the
trade. He was very
interested in prison work
and made several visits to
Newgate Prison. He also
accompanied Elizabeth
Fry on trips to Europe, visiting several prisons
and schools in Russia. Educational Reform
was another interest and he campaigned for
non-denominational schools and set up a
school in Lindfield which mainly prepared
boys for farm work. These schools came
under an Education Board and were known as
Board Schools. My own Junior school in
Fareham was one of these. Religion was not
forgotten and scripture prizes were awarded
annually. Several places in Lindfield bear his
name. Truly he was a scientist, businessman
and philanthropist.
We welcome the return of Canon Roger
Brown on October 3rd
to speak about
‘Butterflies’
On November 7th
we hear of the wonderful
work of the RNLI from Mr David Richmond-
Cogan from Leatherhead. Everyone is
welcome to our meetings
R.W. .
MOTHERS UNION
Our outing this year was to Nutfield Farm,
where members browsed round the farm shop
and garden centre, followed by a scrumptious
cream tea. On 9th
August (Mary Sumner Day -
our founder) we joined with other branches
for a Eucharist at Slinfold. We returned after
the summer break in September when Myrtle
Taylor spoke about Prayer.
Brenda Booker is creating a flower
arrangement for the M.U. for the Harvest in
Flowers Festival.
A Coffee morning and Market will be held on
Saturday 12th
October from 10am – 12 noon
in the Pastoral Centre, with the proceeds
going to M.U. projects.
October 24th
is our 26th
birthday and we meet
at 7.30p.m.for a Eucharist followed by
refreshments.
Some of our members are singing Faure’s
Requiem with the Festival Choir on
November 2nd
.
A service of Preparation for Advent will take
place at 8p.m.on Thursday 28th
November at
St. Barnabas to which everyone is invited.
There will be refreshments and a ‘Christmas’
Bring and Buy stall. R.W.
********************************************************************************
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one
that is the most adaptable to change.
Charles Darwin
The story of the Bangladeshi cross
A member of the Church of Bangladesh congregation in Jobarpur had the original idea
to generate income by using the leaves of the bamboo trees which grew everywhere in
the region, to make bamboo crosses. With some advice from her husband she also
devised the process of cutting the leaves into strips, boiling and drying them, using an
iron cutting mould to cut out the two axes of the cross, then interlocking them and
sewing on coloured thread. About 40 crosses can be made
from one leaf and a woman making around 30 a day will earn
2.5 taka per cross.
A group in a nearby village also took up making the crosses. A Christian leader of a
group of mainly Hindu women said that at first the husbands ridiculed them for
making these whilst they were hard at work in the fields, but when they saw that
they were able to sell them and they were going abroad, their attitude changed and
they gave their wives more respect.
The women also understand something of the meaning of the cross as revealing
God’s love in Christ, so they realise that their work has special value. These
women’s groups are part of the NOK (from the initials of 3 villages in the Barisal
district) women’s empowerment programme of the Church of Bangladesh. The
crosses are sold as part of a credit and income-generating scheme. Many such
schemes have been set up by the church. They target landless labourers, small and marginal farmers,
malnourished mothers, widows and poor families. Sadly, present high interest rates create a seemingly
unavoidable trap of debt-dependency for these groups.
A typical scheme begins with a savings group run by local women. The amount saved creates a fund from
which interest-free loans can be taken in rotation. Each woman or family then puts what is borrowed into
projects such as the cultivation of a small piece of land, opening a small shop or starting the production of
craft items. The aim is to transform lives by making independence a truly achievable goal. Alongside these
schemes, the church has encouraged the growth of small literacy programmes. The vision of the Church of
Bangladesh is to find ways to share and to show God’s love and help people to express and experience the
fullness of life that Jesus promised. **********************************************************************************************
......our new Curate, Steve Burston
I am married to Liz and have 3 wonderful daughters;
Grace (13), Alice (11) and Lily (7). To equal out the
house I have a male! English Pointer called Digger. Liz
and I both grew up in South London where we met
whilst serving as police officers and then moved to
Ashington, West Sussex 7 years ago. In our Church we
were involved in the Children’s & Youth work, Alpha,
Home Groups, Men’s outreach and running Holiday
Clubs. Liz left the police 3 years ago to concentrate on
working for a charity delivering Christian school
assemblies and Holiday Clubs in Sussex, while I left last
August to take up my training place at Ridley Hall
College, Cambridge. The move to Cambridge has been
amazing for all of us. God has looked after us all and he
has continued to do so in connecting us with Worth,
Pound Hill and Maidenbower. We are so excited at the
prospect of joining you all in serving others and sharing
the Gospel. It is amazing for us that we know there is a
loving Church community there ready to help us along
the next stage of our journey. You are in our prayers
already. As we look at schools for the girls please ask for
God’s wisdom for which to apply for and spaces to
appear. We look forward to meeting you all. The Burstons.
Wednesday, September 11th
was the 25th
anniversary of the re-opening of Worth Church following
the fire two years earlier. To mark the occasion the ringers rang a quarter peal consisting of 1,260
changes of Plain Bob Minor which took 41 minutes. Twenty five years ago the Ringing World (“the
weekly journal for church bell ringers”) covered the re-opening in a front page article (attached)
written by Gerald Sandwell. You will see that, not only did we ring a quarter peal on the day of the
re-opening, we also rang a full peal (taking 2 hours 34 minutes of continuous ringing) the previous
day.”
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change
anything. George Bernard Shaw
From the Bell Tower
Many of you will know that we get a lot of weddings at Worth. Not as
many as we used to; we did 81 in 1999, but now it has dropped to
between 40 and 50 a year. In order to cope with this number, our Rector
and Assistant Rector have instituted quarterly wedding preparation
meetings. These are effectively one-day seminars in which the couples
meet various people who will be involved in their wedding day and the
lead up to it and they are given a series of talks in the morning about the
legal side of marriage, how to get on with the mother-in-law and other such topics. After lunch,
they travel from St Barnabas to St Nicholas, arriving to the sound of the bells being rung. Our
chance to advertise our wares! They then get a short talk from me in the church about the bells,
their history and how they are rung and that there are six people working hard to achieve a sound
that should seem as if it was produced mechanically (but isn’t). This also gives me the opportunity
to tell them that there are six people waiting to ring as they leave the church so (a) don’t be late (b)
let me know if the service is going to be longer than usual (for example, if they have a favourite
uncle who is going to deliver a thirty minute homily) and (c) let me know if their exit music is
something out of the ordinary so that we know when to start (last Saturday, a couple left to a CD
playing “Let’s face the music and dance” even though we had been expecting Handel’s Water
Music). We even have a colourful hand-out in the form of an A4 leaflet (“Bells for your Wedding”)
to reinforce the points in an informative way. Needless to say, none of this has much effect, but
they are also warned that their ringing may be curtailed if we are unable to start when we would
normally expect to (which is 40 – 45 minutes after the scheduled start of the ceremony).
After my bit, the couples get a talk from our organist about music and hymns, with examples,
including our singers, as they get a choice of a quartet or soloist or both, to provide music during
the signing of the register (they don’t get the full choir as such). I’m not the only person
encouraging them to be on time! If there is more than one wedding on a particular day, our location
can result in carnage at the changeover with wedding parties and guests intermingling. I’m not
looking forward to September, when we have two Saturdays each with four weddings (but no
funeral as far as I am aware).
Of course not every wedding has bells, but most do. And, as far as I can recall from my time at
Worth, we have only failed to provide wedding bells when requested on one occasion and that was
a couple of years ago just before Christmas when the snow was a foot deep – I didn’t think anyone
would get to the church, but apparently the bride lived close by and arrived in wellington boots!
This number of weddings puts quite a strain on our resources (and is possibly why you don’t see
many Worth ringers at Divisional Meetings). So thank you to those who have helped us out in the
past (we’ve already rung for 9 weddings this year as of 1 June) and those who may be called upon
in future.
Neil Dobson
The Martins Family Funeral Directors
Truly Independent
Under the personal supervision of
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THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
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IF YOU WISH ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE
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Pre-paid funeral plans available
MONUMENTAL MASONS
A FACULTY
Q: What is a faculty?
A: A faculty is the equivalent of listed building consent for CofE churches. Churches, like all other buildings, are subject to planning law, and planning permission is required for operational development or change of use. However, church buildings have exemption from listed building consent and conservation area consent because a recognised alternative (faculty jurisdiction) is in place. In essence, it is the church rather than the local authority that grants permission for any internal changes to the fabric, furnishings or fittings of the building. We still have to seek planning permission, where that is required, for external changes in addition to obtaining the church “faculty”. The decision about whether or not to grant permission for any change (the faculty) rests with the Chancellor of the Diocese (the senior legal officer). He is advised by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), whose members have knowledge of the history, development and use of church buildings. Applying for a faculty involves submitting a detailed description of what is proposed (including architect’s plans/comment) with costs and evidence that the parish can afford it. If granted the works have to be carried out within a specified time. Q: Why bother?
A: In short, because it is the law and flouting it renders you liable to prosecution (civil and criminal). The main advantage, from a parish perspective, is that the church authorities will always regard the church as “living” centre of worship rather than a “static” heritage site, with decisions being taken by people who understand the complexities of issues around different church traditions and theology. So it does guard against any sense that we can “do what we like” with the building without regard to its heritage and the interests of future generations. The disadvantage is that buildings that are not listed are under a more restrictive regime than would otherwise be the case. For example, before 1995 (when Bishop Lindsay brought the St Barnabas site under faculty jurisdiction) we would not have needed permission to paint the hall toilets a different colour, or change the curtains. We do now. Q: So, I need a faculty to change a light bulb?
A: Although absolutely any change comes under faculty jurisdiction, in practice the system is quite flexible, so the following are the sorts of things which do not require an application (with current or hypothetical examples in italics afterwards).
There are exemptions for minor repair, maintenance and like-for-like replacement costing under £3,000. Also exempt are redecoration using the same colours and introducing or disposing of furniture in a church hall. Also for bringing in altar linen, cushions, service books, etc. into a church and the maintenance and cleaning of the churchyard or introducing tablets and headstones (within carefully defined limits). For example, we can introduce cushions for the pews in St Nicholas without a faculty. However, if we want to replace them or remove them a faculty will be required.
Archdeacon’s permission can be granted, in writing, for minor or emergency work costing between £3,000 and £7,500. He can also give his permission for introduction and disposal of certain items from the church (eg internal notice boards). The Archdeacon can give permission for the upgrade to the St Nicholas sound system provided it does not cost more than £7,500 or the planting (but not removal) of a tree from the churchyard. He could not authorise changing the notice board outside the church for one of a different style (a faculty would be required).
Chancellor’s dispensation from a full application can be granted for works “of a similarly minor nature”. So, for the recent works on the St Barnabas exterior, a dispensation was granted once we’d explained that the repairs were necessary maintenance but cost more than the Archdeacon could authorise. He declined to grant a dispensation in the 1980s when we were seeking to create a ‘baptistry’ in the south porch at St Nicholas and move the font there. In the end an application wasn’t made as we knew it would be opposed by the DAC.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
including PARISH EVENTS AND FUND RAISING 2013
October
Tuesday 1 Emmaus Course 3 Pastoral Centre 12.30-14.00
Thursday 3 St. Nicholas Circle - Butterflies Pastoral Centre 20.00
Friday 4 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 5 Coffee morning/ Saturday Market Pastoral Centre 10.00
Sat/Sun 5/6 Celebration of Harvest in Flowers St Nicholas 10.30-16.00
12.30-15.30
Tuesday 8 Emmaus Course 4 Pastoral Centre 12.30-14.00
Friday 11 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 12 MU Coffee Morning & Market Pastoral Centre 10.00
Tuesday 15 Emmaus Course 5 Pastoral Centre 12.30-14.00
Friday 18 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 19 Quiz Night Church Hall 19.30
Saturday 26 Jumble Sale Church Hall 09.30-11.30
Thursday 31 COS/Annie Hawth 19.30
November
Friday 1 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 2 Coffee morning/ Saturday Market Pastoral Centre 10.00
Saturday 2 Faure Requiem St Nicholas 18.30
Thursday 7 St. Nicholas Circle - RNLI Pastoral Centre 20.00
Wednesday 13 Advent Course 1 Pastoral Centre 19.30
Friday 15 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 16 Christmas Fair Church Hall 12.00-15.00
Wednesday 20 Advent Course 2 Pastoral Centre 19.30
Wednesday 27 Advent Course 3 Pastoral Centre 19.30
Friday 29 Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30 Saturday 30 Wintershall Play on DVD Pastoral Centre 10.45 – 16.15
December
Wednesday 4 Advent Course 4 Pastoral Centre 19.30
Thursday 5 St. Nicholas Circle Cheese & Wine Pastoral Centre 20.00
Friday 6 Christmas Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 7 Coffee morning/Saturday Market Pastoral Centre 10.00
Friday 13 Christmas Lunch Pastoral Centre 12.30
Saturday 14 Christmas Tea Pastoral Centre 15.00
Christmas Services – see P22
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE ST BARNABAS COMPLEX
At its meeting in July the PCC considered, and agreed in principle, a “proposal for better use of
space at St Barnabas” that had been developed by the Parish Buildings and Facilities Committee
(PFBC) over the preceding months and endorsed by the St Barnabas Committee. There was some
uncertainty in the parish about what was being proposed and an open meeting was held on 15
September to learn more about and discuss the proposals. Here we seek to summarise what was
covered at the meeting and look at where we go from here.
THE PROPOSALS
The rationale for the proposals the PFBC put forward was “to redefine the use of the space which
we have to create the following;
Better working environment for our parish Bursar
Universal working space for all who need access to the photocopying facilities
A second secure area in which to store vestments, vestry items/ books/ registers, sacristy linen, plus
files from the inner office which need to be kept secure.
A second meeting area and improved storage.”
DOWNSTAIRs, The Narthex (or Baptistry as it is designated in the plans) would be used instead of
the Chapel as it is more accessible for anyone wanting to use it for private prayer. The door is
always open during daylight hours and it is easier to get access for those with reduced mobility.
Evening Prayer is already said in the Narthex and, under the proposal, Tuesday Eucharist services
would be held there out of school term times and in the Church during school terms (to avoid
disturbance from the Toddler Group). The Narthex would become “the primary mid-week space
for the worshipping community”.
A new meeting room would be created in the room to the north (left) of the chancel - with the
partition wall being removed and the space reverting to a single room. “This would create a general
meeting room for all enquiry interviews as well as various parish committees and groups (it could
provide a quiet and comfortable space for the Julian group to meet).” A built in cupboard would
enclose the chest freezer and the two safes and there would be other cupboards to provide much-
need storage space for parish groups. There would not be space for storing as much bric-a-brac for
Saturday Markets.
UPSTAIRS the space would be reconfigured with the room currently used as the Chapel providing
secure storage and a Vestry area. Vestments, registers, service books, sacristy items and some
furniture from the outer and inner offices along with files of a sensitive nature (the room can be
locked) would be moved to this area making a more spacious (inner) office area for the Parish
Bursar and more space in the outer office (where the photocopier is). The photocopier room - with
pigeon holes, a desk and some storage - would become “a universal space for other members of the
parish to work, especially those preparing for parish activities such as wedding preparation sessions;
Sunday school sessions; weekly pew sheet and the parish magazine.” The proposals do not include
any structural changes upstairs.
SOME HISTORY
Before the Second World War a plot of land was given to the Parish of Worth by Sir Francis
Montefiore. The idea was to build a new church close to the housing development being built to the
east of the railway station at Three Bridges. The church was to be called St. Mary’s and the road on
which is would stand would be called St Mary’s Drive. Then followed the War.
After the War the growth of Crawley New Town started to boom and the neighbourhood of Pound
Hill was born, one of the first of the New Town neighbourhoods. The way the New Town
neighbourhoods were planned placed the community facilities in the middle. Shops, pub,
community halls etc would all in one place. It was at this point that the parish felt that perhaps St
Mary’s Drive would not be the best place to build the new church. So the parish sold the land in St
Mary’s Drive and bought a plot of land from the New Town Council in the centre of the Pound Hill
neighbourhood. Hence, there is still a codecil on the use of the land, if we were ever to sell the land
it must revert back to the New Town council. With the money left over from the sale of the original
plot after buying the land in Pound Hill, the new church was built.
The curate at this time was Revd Rudolf Eppingstone, there may even be some of you who may
remember Fr Rudolf? Fr Rudolf as he was known had already begun to build a small congregation
in Pound Hill who met in the community centre near the charity shop.
Work began on the new church and on October 8th 1955 the then Bishop of
Chichester, The Rt Revd George Bell came to Pound Hill to Dedicate the
new St Barnabas Chapel and Hall. (see pics)
St Barnabas, over the years, has seen a number of changes each one adding
to the mission of the church within the growing community - first Pound
Hill and Worth, then Maidenbower and soon to include the new
neighbourhood in the North East Sector. Originally there was no hall where we have one now, the
first hall was what we now use as the body of St Barnabas church and there was a stage at the
Sanctuary end. The stage was the setting for many performances by local groups including the
Brownies and Guilds in those early years. Before the Pastoral Centre was added there was only a
'cloakroom' with toilet facilities and there was a kitchen on the opposite side, this became a vestry
and a storeroom. The original Chapel, which we now call the Narthex, was closed off from the 'hall'
during the week and opened up to become 'the church' on a Sunday. In the 1970’s the parish felt it
was time to build a dedicated hall so that the then hall could become a permanent space for worship
and the chapel became known as the baptistry and so the church was turned around. A wall was
built across the front of the stage which created a space behind, a small room that became the
chapel.
In the 1980’s the parish felt that there was a growing need to provide a
‘drop-in’ centre, a place of warmth and fellowship for people to meet
for a chat and a coffee and the Pastoral Centre was born. The
Cloakroom was extended and the new kitchen added.
The complex at St Barnabas has been serving the community faithfully
for almost 60 years and it has achieved this by being the ‘church’ in this place for each generation.
As the current worshiping community it’s our task to continue the brave work and mission of all
those who have gone before by continuing the vision of being the ‘church’ afresh for this
generation. All members of the PCC and its sub-committees are working hard to maintain what we
have been charged with by caring for both St Barnabas and St Nicholas and our vision is to take us
further into the 21st century, passing the baton on to the next generation. The re-ordering of the
space at St Barnabas is all part of this vision. Our hope is that in the years to come we will also be
able to improve our carbon footprint with the addition of insulation by adding double glazing,
cavity wall insulation and roof insulation possibly even contributing to the National Grid with solar
panels!
The open meeting
Following Rev’d Angela’s introduction a number of questions were raised:
Q. Clarify what exactly is going to happen and when?
A. As described above. The timing is not set, neither is the detail of exactly which bits of furniture
or equipment will move where. There would need to be further consultation with those affected
(eg parish groups, office users, etc.). Ideas from parishioners on such detail would be welcome.
No further permissions are required for the changes upstairs. The removal of the dividing wall in
the downstairs meeting room would require a Faculty (see separate article on p. x, Ed.) with
detailed plans being submitted to the Diocese.
Q. What will happen to the present Chapel?
A. As described above. The altar in the Chapel would remain. The chairs (donated in memory)
would be used in the narthex and church.
Q. Where would the Julian Group meet (currently in the Chapel)?
A. Wherever there was a quiet, warm, comfortable area to reflect and pray. Chairs could be put in
the sanctuary area (around the altar) in the main church. The new meeting room and the narthex
were other alternatives.
Q. How much will it cost?
A. The upstairs changes should not cost anything in the first instance – they involve moving
furniture and equipment. The same was true for the Narthex. The painting and new floor in the
downstairs meeting room would be met by our insurers as part of the repair following the flood.
We expect this to be done after the removal of the partition wall. The cost of a Faculty is £180.
The main expense would be the cupboards and furnishing of the room, although work on the
electrics may be required. The PCC would need to allocate funds, taking into account other
priorities in the parish.
Q. What is the priority for starting the work?
A. The upstairs re-ordering. This would provide immediate benefits in terms of the working
environment for the Bursar and other office users. This could be implemented in the coming weeks
when people were available to move furniture.
There was some discussion about the use of worship space, with encouragement of further
consideration being given to using the main church for all worship – however large or small the
group. The increased accessibility of a place of prayer and worship during the week (both in times
of opening and for those with restricted mobility) was viewed as a positive development.
What next?
As indicated, the moving of the furniture upstairs will take place when a group of volunteers can be
assembled. To prepare for this there will be a final service in the Chapel on 1 October to give
thanks for the years of its use as a chapel and the lives that have been touched through it.
Further work in preparation for a Faculty application for the new meeting room will need to be
carried out. With an outline ‘in principle’ plan in place further consultation and ideas about the
detail are needed – whether in terms of potential needs/uses, practicalities of furnishing and funding
of the refurbishment. Since the meeting, for example, the PFBC has considered suggestions that the
window looking onto the Jubilee Garden be made into a (double-glazed) door to give greater
flexibility of use and connectivity to the Hall.
These proposed changes fit into a wider opportunity for considering further upgrade work to the St
Barnabas site. In May the PCC asked David Fry to lead a ‘sub-group’ to undertake a project
looking at the potential (including information about grants that could be applied for!) with a view
to drawing up plans that might form part of the commemoration of St Barnabas’ 60th
anniversary in
2015. If you would like to volunteer to be part of the group, or have ideas to contribute, please
contact David (in person or via the Parish Office) or one of the clergy. There’s an exciting new
chapter in St Barnabas site history to be written ….
Addendum
The meeting also indicated an appetite for more such ‘general meetings’ for information and
feedback, to supplement the more formal role of the PCC. It was suggested that they might be held
in advance of parish social events, as had happened in the past. Canon Anthony and Revd Angela
welcomed this and stressed that parishioners could approach either of them or the
churchwardens/PCC members at any time if there was anything about the parish they wanted to
know (or suggestions they wanted to offer).
Across 1 Tertullus, who presented the high priest’s case against Paul in his trial before Felix, was one (Acts 24:1) (6) 4 As balm (anag.) (6) 8 Having explored Canaan, he and Joshua urged the Israelites to take possession of it (Numbers 13:30) (5) 9 On becoming king of Judah, he had all six of his brothers killed (2 Chronicles 21:4) (7) 10 ‘Even the — has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself’ (Psalm 84:3) (7)
11 Banishment (Jeremiah29:1)(5) 12 ‘And now I will show you the most — way’(1Corinthians12:31) (9) 17 ‘Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not —— the same spirit and follow the same course?’ (2 Corinthians 12:18) (3,2) 19 Mice den(anag.)(7) 21 How Egypt is often described in the Old Testament: ‘the land of — ’ (Exodus 13:3) (7) 22 One of the first Levites to resettle in Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:15) (5) 23 ‘As a sheep before her shearers is —,so he did not open his mouth’ (Isaiah 53:7) (6) 24 Paul’s birthplace(Acts22:3)(6) Down 1 Ravenous insect inflicted on Egypt in vast numbers as the eighth plague (Exodus 10:14) (6) 2 Well-being (Philippians 2:20) (7) 3 Small piece of live coal or wood in a dying fire (Psalm 102:3) (5) 5 Sportsman or woman (2 Timothy 2:5) (7) 6 The original name of Abraham’s wife (Genesis 17:15) (5) 7 ‘So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each — belongs to all the others’ (Romans 12:5) (6) 9 According to Peter, a wife’s beauty should not come from wearing this (1 Peter 3:3) (9) 13 ‘For God did not send his Son into the world to — the world’ (John 3:17) (7) 14 ‘The Lord of heaven and earth...does not live in — built by hands’ (Acts 17:24) (7) 15 ‘If your hand — you to sin,cut it off’(Mark9:43)(6) 16 Something like these fell from Saul’s eyes as soon as Ananias placed his hands on him (Acts 9:18) (6) 18 Track(Job41:30)(5) 20 Religious doctrine(5)
Memorial for Karl Schrade
Karl or ‘Charlie’ was born in Waldenbuch a rural area near Stuttgart in 1924 to Bertha and
Frederich he was the 4th
child of 4 boys and 3 girls.
He was a born survivor:
Surviving the German depression of the late 1920s and 30s where the family struggled to have
enough food because of the lack of work
Surviving unconscious for 6 weeks after being kicked by a horse when playing in the streets
Surviving being sent to the Russian Front on two occasions when he was 18 serving as a medical
orderly with the German Army.
Surviving Cancer scares twice
He ultimately was sent to Holland to defend the Atlantic coast in June 1944 where he showed his
kind ,caring and humanistic nature by helping Dutch Farmers collect their harvest in with an
impending storm coming despite their reluctance to have help from a German making him the only
German that the locals would speak to. When asked by his Commander why they spoke to him and
no other troops he said he didn’t know!! He also showed his bravery in Holland when realising
local people were starving to death he told some people where they could find hidden food supplies
left underground by Germans in case their supplies were cut off from the impending allied invasion.
Captured in October 1944 he was originally sent to a POW Camp in Lincolnshire where at 20 he
quickly picked up English. He had to be moved from this camp notifying the camp Commander that
his Sergeant Major was incorrectly translating requests from the Germans.
This sense of standing up for what is right and wrong prevailed throughout his life
Ending up in a POW camp near Launceston in Cornwall it was here that he fell in love with a
Cornish Land Army girl driving a diesel engine taking POWs to the forest. Despite initially being
rebuked he showed his determination and perseverance qualities, using his cheeky personality to
marry Mildred or Edith Bartlett in 1952, a marriage that lasted for 48 happy years until Edith died
in December 2000.
It was these early years of courtship and marriage in Cornwall that Charlie regularly talked about
working as a Farm Labourer for Dick and Gladys who treated him like a son and then working as
Head Gardener for Miss Leathbridge on a big country estate at Tregear where he won the 100m
race held as part of the celebration of the Queen’s Coronation in 1952
Charlie and Edith had 2 children Dianne and Paul. It was soon after the birth of Dianne that Charlie
had to earn more money so he started working for the railways in 1957 in the Engineers Department
at Launceston working on the track. Charlie went on to study at night school, winning the top award
in the country for an exam paper. It was here where he met Dennis Hester and they became lifelong
friends as did their wives and families.
The family moved from Cornwall due to the Beecham cutbacks to Yeovil and then to Three Bridges
where they set up home in Amberley Close in 1964 until Charlie moved in to Balcombe Place Care
Home last September.
Amberley Close is like an extended family with people here today who have lived in the Close for
numerous years each one having memories of Charlie’s willingness to help neighbours, hospitality
in handing out homemade beer or wine or honey from his bees and who have joined him on his
regular trips across to the Pub right up until last year.
On the railways Charlie went from strength to strength ending up as Chief Civil Engineer on
Southern Region by the time he retired- something he was very proud of.
At work he had a fiery temperament at times. So much so that one of his colleagues not realising
Charlie was in the office said ‘ where is Adolf today’ to which my dad surprised him and said ‘His
not here but his deputy is’ laughing the incident off
He was not what would now be classified as politically correct and in the swinging 60s Dianne and
Paul can recall regularly going out on family trips with Mum and Dad on the train with their father
sticking his head out of the window giving girls in miniskirts with nice legs a wolf whistle!!
The happiness of Edith along with his children was paramount to Charlie and the love he displayed
was extended to Diane and Paul’s partners, David and Debbie and their families.
Although there were only 2 children, there are people mourning Charlie today who view him as a
2nd
father since 8 Amberley Close regularly had people staying there who needed a bed and support
of a family environment over the years . David in fact became a son in law and Erwin became like a
son knowing my father for over 40 years and his daughter Julia calling Charlie Opah or
Grandad.Charlie loved children and their innocence and got great joy from his grandchildren
Russell Patricia and Donna and great grandchildren Jake, Benjamin and Hannah.
He led a full life even having time to be a film star in a film about the Battle of The Shelt made by
the Dutch Government in 2005 and an Author writing his own life story.
Part of Nick’s Memorial For Karl Schrade
People will remember Charlie as a larger than life person who loved a drink preferably in a pub
and loved the company of people, a great sense of humour cheeky and a great husband ,father
grandfather ,neighbour friend and resident at Balcombe nursing home.
The day before he died at Balcombe he asked for a small bottle of German wine to drink and feeling
cold asked the carer to either get him another blanket or jump in to bed with him – typical Charlie!
POVERTY . . . NOT GOOD
Hungry is what they are
Every day they are closer to death
Why? Why does this happen?
We have all the new technologies
All the luxuries
They have nothing
They just work, care for their family
And sleep.
Some people dedicate themselves
To charity
But some just don’t care.
They live in a world
Of hot wind and dirty water
Their water is their murderer
Killing every day.
Poor people are like ants
They don’t have much
But they cope with what they have got
But die every day.
Do you now see why they need help?
I hope you do
They need your help now!
Just show me that you have a golden heart.
Ellie Thorn (12)
Lunches in the Pastoral Centre
Fridays 12.30pm on the following dates
4th
, 11th
& 18th October
1st, 15
th & 29
th November.
Main course,
dessert,
tea or coffee
Tickets £5.50 from
the Pastoral Centre
Advent Course, for everyone!
“Expecting Christ” is a four week
Course for open discussion within a
group to prepare ourselves for the
coming of the birth of Christ.
There are Bible readings, questions &
answers and time for discussion as we
look at several moments in our faith and lives ‘where a
door opens and lets Christ in’.
Sign-up sheets will be available in both churches during
October and early November to enable us to ensure we
have enough Course Booklets.
Wednesdays November 13th
to December 4th
at
7.30pm – 9.00pm in the Pastoral Centre, St
Barnabas.
The Course will be led by Canon Anthony and
supported by the Disciple & Fellowship Group.
Parish Christmas Fair
Saturday 16 November at St. Barnabas Church Hall
and Pastoral Centre
Worth Road, Pound Hill
Stalls 12.00 – 15.00
Christmas shopping sorted!
New Parish Christmas Cards From an original painting
by our very own
the Revd Canon Roger
Brown
10 For £5.00
Available now at St Barnabas, St Nicholas and
the Pastoral Centre from Ian or Joan Pallett or
by order from the Parish Office.
In the Pastoral Centre
6 & 13 December
12.30 pm
Traditional Christmas Dinner
Turkey, accompaniments,
Christmas pudding,
mince pies
Glass of wine, tea/coffee, etc
Tickets £10 (must be bought in
advance)
Saturday 14 December
3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
In the Pastoral Centre
Festive Fayre, Entertainment & Raffle
Tickets to be bought in advance
Adults £5 under 16’s £3.50
Saturday 19th
October
7.30 pm
Autumn Quiz Night At St Barnabas Church Hall
Worth Rd, Pound Hill, RH10 3AF
£ Me
Bring a team of 6 or join a team on the night
Tickets £5.00 each (01293 883362)
Bring your own nibbles and drinks
(glasses provided)
Raffle
In aid of Church Projects
Saturday Markets
Pastoral Centre
St Barnabas Church,
Pound Hill
10am - 12noon
FREE ADMISSION
Home Produce Toys & Games Bric-a-brac
Books Refreshments Clothes
The Life of Christ D.V.D. Day Filmed at Wintershall
Saturday November 30th
The dark, damp days of winter will be kept at bay with
a day out, relaxing with friends !
It will begin with Jesus’ birth and continue with all
the important teaching, miracles and happenings in
His life.
Starting at 10.45 in the Pastoral Centre with a cup
of coffee then proceed in to the church to sit
comfortably, relax and watch the first part of
Christ’s life at 11.00.
A break for a ploughman’s lunch at 1.00pm
(payment by donation)
At 1.45 we resume our viewing and conclude at
4.15pm in time to get home before it gets dark.
This production is designed for all ages and brings to
life the remarkable events surrounding the life of
Christ. Sign-up sheets in both churches.
No entry fee !
Further details from Joan Tick
or Stuart Sharpe.
Parish Jumble Sale
St BARNABAS CHURCH HALL
Worth Road, Pound Hill
In aid of Church Funds
09.30
SATURDAY 26th October
Refreshments available
Entrance 30p Children free
5October, 2 November,
7 December, 11 January
Special Services for 2013 OCTOBER
Trinity XIX Sunday 6th
09:45 Harvest Festival Eucharist
St Nicholas
10:00 St Barnabas
11:30 Nic's – Creation St Nicholas
16.00
Songs of Praise Celebrating Creation
concluding with -
-16:30 Blessing of pets & animals St Nicholas
Trinity XX Sunday 13th
18:30
normal services plus
Choral Evensong St Nicholas
Thursday 17th 10:30 no service at St Nicholas
Luke Friday 18th 12:00 Eucharist & Healing Service St Nicholas
Wednesday 23rd 15:00 Messy Church - Saints & Sinners St Barnabas Hall
Simon & Jude Monday 28th 19.30 Eucharist St Nicholas
NOVEMBER
All Saints Day Friday 1st 07:30 Eucharist St Nicholas
All Souls Saturday 2nd 10:00 All Souls Service St Barnabas
18:30 Festival Choir - Requiems St Nicholas
All Saints Sunday 3rd 09.45 Sung Eucharist (All Saints & Souls) St Nicholas
11:30 Nic's (All Saints) St Nicholas
Remembrance
Sunday Sunday 10th 09:45
Sung Eucharist with Act of
Remembrance St Nicholas
10:00 Eucharist with Act of Remembrance St Barnabas
Armistice Day Monday 11th 10:30 (British Legion) Remembrance Service St Nicholas
Christ the King Sunday 24th
09:45 no service at St Nicholas
10:00 Parish Eucharist St Barnabas
Wednesday 27th 15:30 Messy Church - Waiting … St Barnabas Hall
Andrew Saturday 30th 08:30 Holy Communion St Nicholas
DECEMBER
Advent Sunday Sunday 1st
normal services plus
11:30 Nic's (Christingle) St Nicholas
15:00 Christingle St Barnabas
18:30 Advent Carols St Nicholas
St Nicholas (t/f) Sunday 8th 09:45 Patronal Festival Eucharist (Family) St Nicholas
Advent III Sunday 15th
normal services plus
16:00 Celebration of Christmas / Carols for
All
St Barnabas
Wednesday 18th 15:00 Messy Church - Nativity, Let's
decorate!
St Barnabas Hall
Advent IV Sunday 22nd 18:30 Nine Lessons & Carols St Nicholas
Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th
16:00 Crib Service St Nicholas
16:00 Crib Service St Barnabas
23:00 Carols followed by Midnight Mass St Nicholas
23:30 Midnight Mass St Barnabas
Christmas Day Wednesday 25th
08:00 Holy Communion St Nicholas
09:45 Sung Eucharist St Nicholas
10:00 Family Eucharist St Barnabas
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Wayne Dyer
Weddings @ Worth
June
Wayne Richardson & Melissa Hussey
Xavier Labelle & Maria Thompson
Adam Jenkins & Gemma Thomas
Gareth Jones & Catherine Brent
Joseph Burns & Jemma Gadd
Carl Williams & Louise Carraher
July
Mark O'Dwyer & Victoria Vaughan
Ryan Hughes & Sarah Ward
Michael Moore & Nicola Campbell
Christopher Andrews & Terri-Ann Defeo
Luke Yaghmoorali & Kimberly Nicholls
August
James Butcher & Michelle Hunter
Stuart Smith & Maria Bond
Samuel Clark & Jeanette Whitson
Paul Merrett & Zoe Swatridge
September
Owen Brooks &Kate Goodson
David Carling & Kara Davey
George Bowden & Gemma Gould
Paul Gait & Elaine Kirk
Phillip Hester & Valerie Evans
Ashley Fly & Arraminta Tewkesbury
Ian Flynn & Emma Hodgson
Gary Pegram & Samantha Chamberlain
James Russell & Elizabeth Groom
Tyrone Nelson & Hayley Moore
Thomas Grimshaw & Lisa-Marie Holloway
Daniel Dobson & Karen Rogers
Terry Skeet & Anna Willeter
Summer Baptisms
June
Alexander Luke Gadsden
Kim Jade Denton
Holly Amelia Duke
Lydia Rose Tubb
Sebastian Henry Michael Hills
Rhys Lawson Taylor
July
Rhys Daniel Payne
Hope Ava Tippett
Eleanor Rose Brown
Thomas Charles Wright
Elizabeth Mary Powell
August
Elise Anais Taylor
Isabel Davis
Hope Grace Edgerton
Madison Katie Howe
Jessica Jane Howe
September
Oscar John Moulder
Miles Sidney Beau Brindley
Harry Martyn Donaldson
Louie Joseph Donaldson
Daniel Matthew French
LIONS in the BIBLE
Not just in the arena in
Rome, there are quite a few
lions mentioned in the
Bible...
1. An angel shut the lions’
mouths so that they
couldn’t eat him (Daniel,
chapter 6)
2. Who will lead the lion,
wolf, lamb, goat and calf?
(Isaiah, chapter 11)
3. He killed the lions or
bears that threatened his
father’s flocks (1 Samuel,
chapter 17)
4. Who is like a roaring lion
looking for someone to
eat?
(1 Peter, chapter 5)
5. He killed a lion on a day
when it had snowed (2
Samuel, chapter 23)
6. The first creature was like
a lion, what were the 2nd
,
3rd
and 4th
creatures like?
(Revelation, chapter 4)
On which day do lions eat
people?
Chewsday.
What did the lioness say to
her cubs when she taught
them to hunt?
'Don't go over the road till
you see the zebra crossing.'
St IGNATIUS
feast day October 17th
Born in Syria, Ignatius converted to Christianity at an early age and eventually became
bishop of Antioch. A tradition arose that he was one of the children whom Jesus had taken in his
arms and blessed. Ignatius called himself ‘God Bearer’.
Ignatius is responsible for the first known use of the Greek word ’katholikos’ meaning universal
and whole to describe the church, he wrote: “Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be;
as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.
In the year 107, the Roman Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians living there to
choose between death and denying Christ. Ignatius would not deny his Lord and so was condemned
to be put to death in Rome.
Ignatius bravely met the lions in the Circus Maximus in Rome; dying and living as a witness to his
belief.
at St Barnabas
We have just celebrated our first birthday!
During the last twelve months we have been visited by as many as 20 adults and 37 children, not all
at the same time. We have:
1. Been baptised in the River Jordan.
2. Danced our way through the fiery furnace.
3. Helped in the feeding of five thousand.
4. Joined St Peter and the others who followed Jesus.
and done lots of other things!
In the next few months we will be:
Putting on the armour of God.
Making Christmas decorations.
Welcoming a King on a donkey.
Knocking down the walls of Jericho!
We will find Zacchaeus up a tree (my favourite!!).
and learn about other exciting stories from the bible.
Angela leads Messy Church, while Joan Tick together with Marys Fry and Sharpe are the more than
able helpers. Other helpers come on an occasional basis. My own role is to make the tea and
distribute it with squash, biscuits and sometimes cake.
Messy church is a way of being church for families involving fun. It is found around the world and
its values are Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. Nine
years on from its start in 2004 at St Wilfrid’s, Cowplain, near Portsmouth, it has spread to at least
twelve countries across the world. Those who come along to Messy Church are from a wide variety
of backgrounds, for some this is their main church activity for others it is an additional church
activity. Our prayer is that through their monthly experience of Christian community in Messy
Church, they will receive God’s blessing, and that they feel that they belong to God’s worldwide
family all the while growing together spiritually. One family already regularly attends St B’s on a
Sunday morning and another at the monthly ‘Nic’s’ service.
What we have found is that there has been a great deal of joy at each session and only a few tears
when a little person has fallen over. The parents have told us that they have enjoyed the activities as
much (and sometimes more) than the children. I think it is fair to say that all involved have worked
as a team and it has been a great pleasure to be involved in this mission activity.
Stuart
PS We normally meet on the 4th
Wednesday of the month at 3pm at St Barnabas Hall. Watch out for
the notice in the pewsheet.
Holy Trinity Parish Church, Forest Row
Recital in aid of
The Royal British Legion
‘Poppy Appeal’ Claire Watkins - Soprano
Gareth Dafydd Morris, Tenor
Simon P. Morris, Piano
Saturday 2nd
November, 13.00
Retiring Collection Refreshments
Fauré’s
Requiem
Saturday 2 November 13
St Nicholas Church, Worth
Performance 18.30 Tickets available beforehand or on the day.
POSADA
Hello, remember us?
We are a group of special travellers who make our
way around your parish during Advent until we find
our resting place on Christmas Eve in time for the
birth of a very special babe.
Our travels began in Guatemala, in South America, a few years ago where some street people
created us from wood and painted us but our story began in the Holy Land over 2,000 years ago.
Each Advent we move from house to house and eventually arrive, with a little help from you, at
either St Barnabas or St Nicholas church. All we ask of you is a room, table, shelf or similar for the
night and conveyance to our next lodging, where we hope to be greeted with love and prayers and
friendly company until our next move. We will bring with us the story of our travels, how with the
guidance of a star and the protection of an angel sent by God we prepare the way for the birth of
Jesus, Christ our Lord and Saviour. We can not do it without your help.
Our little group of Mary, Joseph, a donkey, oxen, sheep, an angel and three wise men are known as
a Travelling Crib or POSADA, which is a Spanish word meaning “inn” or place of rest. All
travellers look for a place to spend the night and most will stay at an Inn or in modern times perhaps
a bed & breakfast house, an hotel or in our case we hope, with friends, which would be a very
“Premier Inn”.
In some countries, yes, even today, Advent is celebrated in a special way to remind people about the
journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and especially in Mexican villages.
Two young people may be chosen to dress up as Mary and Joseph, travelling from house to house
in their village telling people about the imminent arrival of Jesus and asking if they could be given
food and shelter. On Christmas Eve a re-enactment of the Nativity takes place, usually in a church
or village square and either figures of Mary and Joseph are placed in the crib or people dress up and
tell the nativity story.
Our POSADA is not made up of real people but of little wooden ones.
Apart from Mary & Joseph and some animals, which were necessary for them, there are also three
Wise Men because, although they did not travel with Mary and Joseph, they were travelling! Of
course, an angel watches over them all because they are ALL very important to God’s plan for the
world and to help spread the Good News of His Son’s birth and why He came to the earth, not just
for the Jews but for us, the Gentiles too. Before you ask, no, baby Jesus is not travelling with the
group – He is not born until Christmas!
Why not help us spread the Good News and Fellowship within our Parish this coming Advent by
giving a home for the night to our travellers and meet up with some old and hopefully new friends
at the same time?
A list will be placed at the back of both St Barnabas and St Nicholas at the end of October so that
you can add your name, then we will contact you to arrange a convenient date for you to go on to
our Rota. Do not worry if you are housebound we will arrange delivery and collection of the
travellers and then you too can be part of the POSADA’s journey and not be left out or feel you are
alone.
Advent is a time of preparation both within the church and our homes, preparing for Christmas and
making room in our homes and our hearts for Jesus. It also encourages people to think about the
meaning of Christmas and to share the wonderful message with others.
Come and join us and spread the Gospel, the Good News.
Thank you. Joan Tick
Some extracts from the Travellers’ Diary 2012
Weddings @Worth
June Melvin Palmer & Janine Jenkins ********************************************************************************
The Parrot
A young man named Joe received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad
attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth
was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. Joe tried and tried to change
the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft
music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's
vocabulary.
Finally, Joe was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back.
Eventually Joe, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put
him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed
then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, Joe quickly opened the door to the freezer. The
parrot calmly stepped out onto Joe's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may
have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for
my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct
my rude and unforgivable behaviour."
Joe was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.
As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his
behaviour, the bird spoke-up, very softly, "May I ask what the turkey did?"
N.B. It is lovely to begin the journey with
the light of Christ
“As always the arrival of the
special travellers brought a
welcome interlude of quiet
reflection and prayers”
“We were given pride of place on the hearth, at the
centre of their Christmas scene. We were
surrounded by many candles & stars of gold, shining
brightly…..it was good to see two Christian families
brought together by virtue of our presence.”
“We were unpacked and settled in next to a
traditional Spanish nativity scene – complete
with ‘Posada’ and coloured lights. The family
gathered to welcome us with prayer and we
then rested in front of the fire.”
N.B. It must have felt like home for our travellers from Guatemala !
“The travellers spent the evening
with the McClaren family. It
helped us to explain the story of
the nativity to 2 year old Anna,
who was fascinated.”
Cecil arrived with the Holy Family on
a blustery evening…..we prayed for all
families, for our families and especially
for those who would not be meeting up
this Christmas.”
“The simplicity of the scene made us
all think about all the things
we have that are not necessary.”
“We arrived at Ann’s home, along
with her Christingle orange. After
Ann had set us in our cosy place
in front of the fire she read the
prayers.”
Joan collected us from Isobel after a
Carol Concert, she was still singing
One as we drove to her home!”
