The Green Spire
The Parish Magazine of
St Andrew, Orford with Longford
April 2016
School News
2
The Bishop of Warrington’s Easter message
3
Christian Aid Week 15-21 May
4
What’s on in April
5
Who’s On in April
7
A Tale of Two Teddies
8
The Empty Tomb – a reflection by Bishop Paul
9
From the Vicar
12
Notice Board
14
The Annual Meeting
15
What the PCC decided...
16
Snippets from the Church Times
18
As I see it – by Churchmouse
19
Praying for the world-wide Church
21
From the Registers
25
Easter word search
27
Prayer Intentions for April
28
The Green Spire is published monthly. Copies are 35p per month, or £3.50 for a year’s
subscription – normally payable in January. Enquiries about advertisements welcome.
1
School News
This month, we have been focusing on Lent
and our preparations for Easter. Children from
years 4 and 6 attended the Thursday morning
Eucharist and Fr Michael met with Year 5 to
think about Easter (though the children were
well prepared and had most of the answers in
advance!) In Holy Week, the junior children
took part in a labyrinth, experiencing some of
the events of the passion. The next day, they took part in a dance workshop on
the story of Joseph.
Fr Michael also spent some time with the infant classes (who don’t take part in
Eucharists) telling them some of his favourite Bible stories. He used the Lion
Storyteller Bible which is ideal for class stories and the sheep in the parable of
the Lost Sheep is even given a name – Bramble. They won’t forget in a hurry!
We held another successful afternoon tea, this time for children of Year 1 and
their parents. The children did an impressive piece of group drumming followed
by a poem about Meerkats which they’d learned inside a week. Both church
members and parents were impressed!
Last week, three classes went to Blackpool Zoo for a day. Year 1 children were
looking forward to the dinosaur exhibition. Some of the children were hoping to
meet live dinosaurs but hopefully they realised they were models rather than
the real thing! Year 5, who have been doing a project on the rain forest, were
going to see animals that live in that environment.
In connection with Year 5’s project this term, it was hoped to link up with
Christian Aid to pilot a project on sustainability. Unfortunately, the modules
were not quite ready and will be postponed until next term.
Years 5 and Reception are practising their Easter Worship which will take place
in church on Friday 1st April at 9.15am. They would appreciate your support.
Children started bringing in decorated eggs for the Easter egg competition last
week. Some of them showed great imagination and there was generally a very
high standard. Our thanks to everyone who took part.
2
Bishop of Warrington's Easter Message
Our lives, our culture our thinking are
often built around the notion of how do
we achieve a better future. We may have
different visions of what that future
might be but it is important to dream
that dream. It gives us hope.
It works on so many levels. A vision for a better
future for us as individuals, for our families and for
the ones we love. We all want our children to live in
a better world, to have a better education, to
achieve more than we have. I have recently become
a grandfather for the first time. Holding my
granddaughter in my arms is a stark reminder that I
want hope not just for myself but for her and the world she will be growing into.
In his life, death and resurrection Jesus offers us that hope. The story we read in
the gospels offers us a challenge to how we live our lives – the call to look after
the poor, to stand Full Square against injustice, to protect the whole of creation
and to do this with the utmost humility. That is a challenge that all should be
able to accept whether you are a believer or not.
But the profound message contained within the Easter story is that because of
his sacrifice and because of God’s love and forgiveness we have the hope of a
new kingdom. Not a far off hope that seems unreachable, or is only unreachable
when we die. But a living, active hope that affects how I and millions of
Christians around the globe view the world and the challenges that we face.
I believe we can make a difference. I believe the church can, and does make a
big difference. In parishes and schools in and around our diocese we have
Christians helping others and serving communities because they believe in that
same hope. A hope that will last far longer than any chocolate egg I give my
granddaughter. A hope I would want the whole town to share.
Happy Easter.
3
Christian Aid Week: the week we love every neighbour
15th – 21st May 2016
Morsheda is a young mother of four living in Bangladesh. She has no land, few
assets and no savings.
For Morsheda’s family living on low-lying islands in the Brahmaputra River,
floods are a terrifying part of everyday life. Morsheda can’t even count on
having a safe place to call home: the single-room, corrugated-iron house she
shares with her children has been flooded four times.
‘I feel very scared of the river. When I look at it I keep thinking “it is coming”.’
Dangers all around
One year, her humble house filled up to her knees with floodwater. To stay dry,
and keep away from the dangerous snakes that now swam through her home
she raised her bed up on bricks. But during the night she was woken by a loud
splash. In the pitch black, her baby son had fallen into the inky water. He could
have drowned in moments.
Race against time
In a bad year, huge waves crashed against her house, giving her less than an
hour to uproot her home and scramble to safety. Racing against time, she
gathered her terrified children together and hastily made a raft from a banana
tree.
4
At any moment, it could have tipped and plunged them into the swirling waters,
but it was their only hope. She put her youngest daughter in a cooking pot and
clung to it as it floated in the current.
‘My children were so scared. My sister was holding them very tightly and we
were panicking because my neighbour’s child was washed away.’
The floods are coming
Morsheda and her children live a precarious life. They know that the floods will
come again, and soon. But we can lift our neighbours like Morsheda to safety.
Just £250 is enough for a Christian Aid Home Safety Package. It could flood-proof
Morsheda’s home, raising it eight foot on an earth plinth, so that she has a safe
place to rebuild, keep livestock and grow crops. It could also buy a goat, seeds
and a wormery to help produce compost – all of which will give her a long-term
income and a solid foundation for a new life.
‘If I could raise my house then I would feel much safer living here with my
children.’
What’s on in April...
Sunday 27th
March
EASTER DAY
10.00am Festal Eucharist of the Resurrection
Thursday 31st
8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meets at the vicarage
(transferred from Maundy Thursday)
Friday 1st April
9.15am School Easter service in church
Sunday 3rd
April
The Second Sunday of Easter
10.00am Sung Eucharist
5
Sunday 10th
Thursday 14th
Sunday 17th
Tuesday 19th
Sunday 24th
Thursday 28th
Friday 29th
Sunday 1st
May
The Third Sunday of Easter
10.00am Sung Eucharist
12 noon Holy Baptism
8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meet at the vicarage
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
10.00am Sung Eucharist followed by the
Annual Parochial Church Meeting in church
5.00pm Curriculum and Data meeting in school
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
10.00am Sung Eucharist Preacher: David Rose, Christian Aid
8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meet at the vicarage
Cub sleepover in the Hall
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
10.00am Sung Eucharist
12 noon Holy Baptism
There are regular weekly celebrations of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) on
Wednesday evening at 7.00pm and Thursday morning at 10.30am. Celebrations
on Saint’s Days are published on the Sunday sheet. All are welcome.
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6
Who’s on in April…
2016
SIDES-PEOPLE
READER
INTERCESSOR
OFFERTORY
L. Giblin
P. Smith
M. Brown
Sunday School
B. Boscoe
B. Glover
3 Apr
Easter 2
F. Greatorex
O. Vowles
A. Gorman
J. Raynor
C. Worrall
R. Worrall
10 Apr
Easter 3
B. Boscoe
B. Glover
W. Reddish
K. Rowan
I. Appleton
M. Harrington
17 Apr
Easter 4
M. Greatorex
H. Smythe
W. McKinnon
M. Brown
E. Chorley
J. Stamp
24 Apr
Easter 5
I. Appleton
M. Harrington
K. Rowan
W. McKinnon
Sunday School
1 May
Easter 6
L. Giblin
P. Smith
J. Raynor
F. Greatorex
M. Ellison
Z. Zahorcova
Thu 5 May
Ascension
Volunteers
please
D. Kirk
N. Lee
Volunteers please
8 May
Easter 7
J. Devereux
M. Ellison
B. Glover
Sunday School
M. Greatorex
H. Smythe
27 Mar
Easter
Day
2016
TEA ROTA
COUNTING COLLECTIONS
M. Ellison / P. Smith
B. Boscoe / B. Glover
10 Apr
F. Greatorex / L. Giblin
Awaiting APCM
17 Apr
M. Harrington / Lucia
I. Appleton / M. Ellison
24 Apr
M. Ellison / P. Smith
V. Carter / J. Raynor
1 May
B. Boscoe / B. Glover
B. Boscoe / B. Glover
8 May
F. Greatorex / L. Giblin
Awaiting APCM
READ ON WEDS EVE
HALL CLEANING
3 Apr
2016
N. Lee (6 Apr)
Fr Michael
10 Apr
3 Apr
D. Kirk (13 Apr)
J. Devereux
17 Apr
Fr Michael (20 Apr)
C. Worrall
24 Apr
N. Lee (27 Apr)
Fr Michael
1 May
D. Kirk (4 May)
J. Devereux
8 May
Fr Michael (11 May)
C. Worrall
7
A Tale of Two Teddies
By now, you are probably all aware that the Scouts have been collecting teddy
bears to sell to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care (Macmillan Nurses). It
came about soon after the death of a lovely lady, Ann Moran, the wife of our
Group Chairman, Derek, who had worked hard for the Scouting Movement over
many years.
When we first suggested “A Thousand Teddies for Cancer”, quite a few people
were sceptical. “You’ll never get that to work,” they said.
Wrong! Thanks to the Warrington Guardian, Tesco Extra on Winwick Road and
the internet and social media, it went viral. Not only have we been given bags of
teddy bears, but we have also been given loads of other, equally cuddly, soft
toys. We have also been helped by two knitted teddies which we named Mac
and Mille who started off the campaign.
Many have been donated locally though two huge boxes arrived just before
Easter from a Brownie pack near Bristol. (We also had an email from a lady
whose email address ended “au”, the domain code for Australia though she later
pointed out that she’d moved to the UK but kept her Australian address!)
We haven’t quite reached the thousand teddies yet, though we are well on the
way with more than half safely bagged and stored. Do please spread the word –
it couldn’t be for a better cause. When we have found somewhere to sell them,
we’ll let you know all the arrangements.
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8
The empty tomb
A central image from the Easter story is the empty tomb. The
stone rolled away, the body gone. Jesus is not contained in the
prison of the stone-cold cave; he is not imprisoned by death. He
is free, alive and unpredictably present in the world.
As we grasp that, we are freed to grasp the central hope and
promise of Easter.
The kingdom does not end in
defeat. Jesus’ story reaches a
climax as he bursts through
the barrier of life and death.
The tomb is vacated because
Jesus is alive and present in
the world. And then the
energy, the ‘dunamis’ as the
apostle Paul says, the dynamic
power that God used to raise
Jesus from the dead, becomes available to us in the outpouring of the Spirit at
Pentecost. An outpouring that reminds us that God cannot be contained. Not by
a tomb, not by a temple, not by a church building. He is alive and present in the
lives of those who are working to make a bigger difference; alive, present and
recognised in the lives of those who make a bigger difference in His name.
The image of the empty tomb presents a challenge for me and for all who are
actively seeking for and praying for the renewal of the church. We see in it the
certainty that God is working in the world, that his mission – as Jesus
commanded in Matthew 28 – “go make disciples of all” – calls all to be “out
there”.
So how does this speak to our efforts, our desire, our belief under God that in
9
this Diocese we are called to be a bigger church making a bigger difference? We
believe that the Church is ordained by God as the best way to learn more about
what it is to be a disciple. We know Jesus is the Lord of the church and we are
called to worship Him and to come to the Father through Him in the Spirit’s
power. And so we commit ourselves to worship in the fullest sense, offering our
whole beings to be that living sacrifice of service that follows the model of Jesus.
And over the centuries we have shaped buildings to help us in this. Some
beautiful. Some less so. Some functional. Some that have become difficult to use
in any meaningful sense. These are vessels of love - not empty tombs - but sadly
they have the potential to be a place that Jesus has left, where we don’t feel the
presence of the living Lord, where people endure a sterile, unattractive and
joyless expression of their faith.
But of course they also have the potential to be much more. To be houses of the
bigger church, bursting with energy, hope and presence. Full of those loving the
Lord, seeking to love him more, taking risks, falling down and being picked up
again. Doing it all in the strength of the Lord. The building not an empty tomb,
but a vibrant hub for the community. A place of love and service where people
recognise the risen Lord in the Christians that worship there.
Jesus broke free of the tomb once for all, so that God’s kingdom would not be
contained but would grow through the world. This Easter our joy and our calling
in our turn is to release the great news of Jesus’ resurrection, sharing His love in
all places with all people.
Christ is risen: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
10
Long and gloomy
Lent is over.
Christ alive,
Eternal Lover.
Saved from sin,
we dare to say,
Christ is risen –
It’s Easter Day.
The Good News of the Resurrection is not primarily concerned with life after
death. It is concerned with victory of sin and evil. Christ is the conqueror, and
his followers share in his victory.
When Liverpool won the European Cup in 1977, the players returned to the city
in a triumphant procession. Half a million people lined the streets and thronged
the city centre. As the captain held the coveted prize aloft, thousands of voices
chanted in unison: “We won the cup.”
Every man and woman in the crowd felt in some way that they had a share in
the victory which eleven footballers had won on their behalf. “They did it for us;
and we share in their triumph.”
This is the kind of experience which boosts the morale of a city and even (so it is
said) increases production in the factories! Here is a parable of Christ’s
resurrection triumph! “We have complete victory through him who loved us.”
Edward Patey, Dean of Liverpool 1964 - 1982
11
From the Vicar:
Bishops’ letters are, it would appear,
a bit like buses. You wait for one for
ages ... and then two come along
together!
know about him is coloured by the
resurrection. It shapes not only our
understanding of life after death (the
promise of eternal life) but helps us
to live from day to day with
confidence and hope in God. If he
can raise Jesus to new life, just think
what he can do for us!
You will have already noticed an
Easter message from Bishop Richard
and a reflection by Bishop Paul; that
is, unless you are one of those
people who start reading from the
back and work forward.
But it wasn’t always the case. Jesus
lived at a time when death was seen
to be the end; there was nothing to
look forward to after death. Indeed,
that marked the end of us as beings.
When I was involved at Liverpool
Prison, it was often said that inmates
can read upside down as well as the
right way up. Presumably this was to
do with members of staff writing
reports about them at the other side
of the desk. And there are people
who really do start reading from the
back.
The disciples were under the same
illusion. There may have been times
when they caught a glimpse of what
Jesus was saying to them, but it was
so far removed from their
experience that it was unthinkable.
And despite all that, there was
something charismatic about Jesus
that compelled them to follow him in
huge
numbers. Imagine
five
thousand people trying to hang on
his every word!
It might not sound as silly as you
think. There was a time when
scientific papers had their conclusion
at the end (they now come at the
beginning).
So
reading
the
conclusion often meant a lot less
work if you could understand what it
was about from reading a few
paragraphs.
It was only after the resurrection
that the truth of what Jesus had
been trying to teach them started to
make sense; and even then only
after many years.
Our faith, I believe, is formed by
‘reading from the back cover first’.
At the heart of that faith is the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus from
the dead. Everything else we read or
St Mark, whose gospel was the first
to be written, describes the disciples
fleeing in terror from the empty
12
tomb, and Luke, who writes twenty
years later, still describes feelings of
puzzlement, terror, disbelief and
amazement in the people who came
to the tomb early that Easter
morning. It was only St John, writing
thirty years or more after Mark (and
nearly sixty after the resurrection)
who started to describe the
resurrection as we understand it
today.
god, turning him from a distant,
often vengeful God, to a God who
loves each one of us intimately and
wants the best for us at all times.
It changed our perception of life on
earth, and helped us to see that God
has prepared something even more
wonderful for us in his presence
after death. Lives which appeared to
end at death suddenly opened out
onto a new and infinite horizon.
When Michael Henshall was Bishop
of Warrington (I believe he retired in
the later 1990s), he often spoke at
this time of the year of comparing
the passion and resurrection
passages in the four gospels to see
what each of them emphasised, and
what they left out, before asking
why they had done so.
And it changed the way we live our
lives today. Recognising that eternal
life begins today helps us to live
responsibly in the light and joy of the
Spirit’s presence. God is with us; and
will never leave us.
So rejoice with Christians around the
world for the joy and the freedom
that the resurrection brings. Give
thanks for the love that God lavishes
upon each one of us and pray that
we might successfully communicate
that love to others.
Over the next few weeks, you might
like to read the final chapters in each
of the gospels and see which you like
most. When you’ve done that, ask
yourself why you like that particular
passage.
Live in the present with the full
knowledge of the resurrection.
Interpret everything with the
knowledge that God has power over
all things yet knows each one of us
individually. Have a happy Easter.
Of course, living after the event
informs every fibre of our being, and
you can’t undo that knowledge, even
if you wanted to.
The resurrection is the most
wonderful thing that could have ever
happened to the people of this
world. It changed the way we look at
Michael Raynor
13
Thank you...
to everyone who donated towards the Easter flowers
and those who arranged them; to those who cleaned
and prepared church, and set up for Easter; to the
choir and Peter for the glorious music; to the servers
and to everyone who came along during Holy Week
and Easter.
Electoral Roll
Time is running short to check and update your entry on the Electoral Roll. If
you’ve not already done so, please check the list on the notice board in church
and speak to Kathy Rowan if your details are incorrect. New applications are also
welcome, though sadly you will not qualify to vote at this year’s Annual Meeting.
School Easter Service
You are invited to the service to be held in church on Friday 1st April at 9.15.
Phoenix Club
The final draw for this year’s Phoenix Club will take place on Easter Day and
subscriptions for 2016-17 are now invited. The annual cost is £15 per entry, half
of which goes to church funds and the balance is distributed as prizes. If you’d
like a form to join this year, please speak to Don Miller or Fr Michael.
Andrew Mercer
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14
The Annual Parochial Meeting
... will be held in church on Sunday 17th April following the Sung Eucharist at
10.00am. Please make every effort to attend – it’s really important to the life of
the parish.
Nomination forms are now available in church. There are vacancies for two
church wardens as we elect to the post each year. We are also looking to elect
fifteen members to the Parochial Church Council who will also serve for twelve
months. Sidespeople for the next twelve months will be elected, too.
At the meeting, the accounts will be formally proposed. There will be reports on
the Electoral Roll, the Fabric (buildings and contents of both church and hall) and
the proceedings of Deanery Synod.
The meeting usually lasts somewhere between 30 and 40 minutes so there will
still be time to make the Sunday roast!
St Andrew’s Charity Shop
every Wednesday
from 10.00am to 3.00pm in the Hall
Drop-in for tea and toast.
Carer’s advice desk on second Wednesday
A man went to visit a friend and was amazed to find him
playing chess with his dog. He watched the game in
astonishment for a while. “I can hardly believe my eyes!” he
exclaimed. “That’s the cleverest dog I’ve ever seen.”
“Nah. He’s not so smart,” the friend replied.
“I’ve beaten him three games out of five!”
15
What the PCC decided...
Legacies and Giving was the main item of business for the recent meeting of the
PCC. Ruth Tormey, who works for Christian Aid in Warrington and advises them
on legacies, came to the meeting. She is helping the diocese with her employer’s
blessing.
Ruth described her journey to faith and her passion for Christian Aid, which
began when she was just six months old and her mother took her out in the
pram to collect from door to door. Ruth then showed a short video which
described some of the things that a legacy had achieved in various parishes. It
made ‘church’ accessible with the provision of ramps and so on; it provided the
start for major fund-raising initiatives and helped serve both the church and the
local community.
Ruth then told the meeting how the Church of England compares with the five
biggest charities (Cancer Research, RNLI, RSPCA, BHF and National Trust). In
terms of voluntary income, the C of E outstrips all the others nut in terms of
legacy giving, receives only a fraction of the other others. This seems strange as
most church-goers spend their lives, or a good proportion of them, supporting
the church, yet don’t leave anything in their will. She finished her talk by saying
that the church has a responsibility to open up conversations with people in ‘the
family’.
Ruth offered the PCC help to formulate its own legacy policy and encourage
those conversations in a variety of imaginative ways. She left the meeting to
consider whether what she was offering would be helpful, and if so, to form a
steering group to progress it. The PCC agreed that this would be helpful and a
couple of people offered at the meeting. Others may follow...
The meeting returned to ‘routine business’ with apologies for absence, minutes
and matters arising. It was reported that the PCC’s approval was sufficient for lay
people to administer the sacrament. Wendy updated the PCC on the Church
School Partnership and listed a whole host of things that had been achieved sine
the last meeting. Fr Michael encouraged members to support events that were
being shared with school. The confirmation will take place at St Margaret’s on
16
8th May at 4pm and some consideration will be given to a special service for the
newly confirmed at St Andrew’s the following Sunday. The treasurer gave a
financial update which includes an increase since the last report, largely due to
the Charity Shop.
The vicar gave a brief update on the Church Growth programme, having given a
more detailed account in the magazine earlier that month. A draft welcome
leaflet was circulated and approved with thanks to Faith who had drafted it. A
speaker has been booked from Christian Aid for April 24th.
There were a number of items under Any Other Business. The budget for 2016
will be set next time, along with a calendar of events for the coming year.
Following a visit by the insurance surveyor, new levels of cover and excesses
were agreed to take effect from August. It was agreed to support an advert in
the Midweek Guardian, shared with our ecumenical partners, advertising our
Easter Services. Even though it’s not widely available locally, it was felt that
people across town might see it and some might respond. The meeting
welcomed a new Mums and Tots group to be set up after Easter. A grant has
been received to help with start-up costs. A possible repair or replacement to
the photocopier was mentioned. Wendy reminded the PCC that Safeguarding
was due for review, with parishes being ‘checked’ by the Archdeacon later in the
year. Aaron raised Walking Day and the question of marshalling as the Council
had decided not to marshal or police the St George’s Day parade this year.
There was a discussion about the number of elected members to the PCC. The
Representation Rules say that a parish with and electoral roll of 50-100 should
have nine representatives. The question was asked whether these rules are
mandatory or can be fixed by the PCC. Fr Michael agreed to investigate. If the
PCC can set the number, a motion will be put to the APCM in April that the
number be reduced to 12, but if the rules are fixed, the motion will recommend
nine.
The net meeting will be the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on Sunday
17th April following the Sung Eucharist. A date for the next PCC will be set once
the steering group have met and liaise with Ruth Tormey. The meeting covered a
lot of ground – and still finished in good time!
17
Snippets from the Church Times
The Church Times has run an excellent ‘Lent course’ this year, looking at modern
theology in six key areas of faith, finishing on Easter Day with a section devoted
to resurrection, having looked at creation, Christology (the study of Jesus), the
Holy Spirit and salvation. Contributions from a range of theologians were well
written, the only criticism being that they were mostly men!
Clergy seem to move less frequently these days, but the Rev James Cocke is still
vicar of All Saints’ Highfield at the age of 89, having served the same parish for
fifty-nine years! He is thought to be the longest serving incumbent in the Church
of England. It is also a record unlikely to be matched in the future as current
legislation only allows clergy to work until they are seventy, except in
exceptional circumstances.
The registers of the Archbishop of York dating from 1125 to 1650 have been
digitised and can now be viewed online [www.archbishopsregisters.york.ac.uk]
thanks to conservators at the University of York. They predate the registers of
the Archbishop of Canterbury by some fifty years and include gems such as
evidence given by Henry VIII for the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves
in 1540. There’s also a letter from Thomas Cromwell, and a document dating
back to 1289 which describes the behaviour of the Abbot of Selby which led to
his excommunication.
Also online is an aerial view of St Paul’s cathedral. It allows a close up view of the
mosaic dome and other ‘inaccessible’ parts of the building along with pictures
and views 148 artefacts connected with the history of the building. It can be
found at www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home
When the Military Service Act came into force a hundred years ago, many
church people welcomed it. The Act introduced conscription for men between
the ages of 18 and 41 unless they were married, widowed, had children, were
ministers of religion or in reserved occupations. Two months later, those who
were married were included and in 1918, the upper age limit increased to 51.
The real benefit, though, was in the system of appeals which other countries did
not offer. Surprisingly, of over 2,000 appeals from Colchester, only fourteen
were on religious grounds. Conscription had a spin-off effect in that men called
up attended compulsory church parades!
18
As I see it …by Church Mouse
If I’d been Chaucer, I think I might
have added an extra chapter to my
Canterbury Tales. I suppose I could
offer an addendum – I could call it
Orford Tails.
We were all quite sorry when it
finished.”
“Perhaps you could persuade Fr M to
do it again so a few more of us could
enjoy the fun,” I said.
It all started a few weeks back when
Grandpa was heard to complain. He
seems to be doing a lot of that lately.
“It’s not that I don’t like Lent,” he
said, “in fact, it’s a good time to have
a long think.”
“It’s not only getting to know the
Bible; it helped us get to know one
another better, too,” said Granny
Mouse.
One the first really sunny days of
Easter weekend, I heard some of the
young mice singing:
“It’s not just about thinking,” said
Granny Mouse; “you have to do
something as well.”
“The flowers that bloom in the
spring tra-la-la. | We greet them
with merry sunshine.”
“You mean like helping people,” the
young mice squeaked. Ever since
they’d been scouts, they’d been
trying to be really helpful – and most
of the older mice wish they hadn’t!
I don’t know where they get it from.
We never learned anything like that
at school. I blame t’internet, myself.
Anyway, they went out to play and
Millicent, my wife, said, “It’s nice to
get them from under my paws for a
while. The winter seems to have
gone on for ever.”
“No; not being annoyingly helpful,”
said Granny Mouse. “I’ve had a great
time this Lent doing Fun with the
Bible.
“FUN! FUN!, - the Bible is to be
taken seriously,” said Grandpa
Mouse.
Then Grandpa piped up, “The
weather didn’t stop the spring
flowers.” (I realised this might be
something to add to my Orford
Tails.)
“I don’t mean being silly,” said
Granny Mouse, “but it’s amazing
what talking about it and asking
questions can turn up. There were
things I’d long since forgotten, and
things I’d never understood before.
19
“Have you ever noticed that spring
always starts her display with
mouse-sized flowers?”
gold to begin with; then slightly
brighter colours. Pinks and mauves.
By the time summer comes, the hot
colours can be seen everywhere; lots
of reds and orange, leading to a fine
display in the autumn leaves.”
“The first to flower are the
snowdrops, quickly followed by
crocuses. And they’re all silver and
gold. . Goes to show there’s a plan
behind it!”
I was just about to point out a few
‘facts of nature’ when Millicent
crept up to me and pointed out that
discretion was the better part of
valour – her way of telling me to
shut up!
“What about primulas?” I asked,
feeling he shouldn’t have it all his
own way. “They come in all shades
and colours.”
“I’m sure you are right, Grandpa,” I
said, He chuckled. “I was always a
good one for winning an argument,”
he said, “except when it’s with your
Grandmother!”
“Well, gardeners have fiddled with
them to change them to reds and
mauves,” said Grandpa grumpily.
“Can’t leave anything alone.”
“Bluebells?” I tentatively asked.
Churchmouse
“Rubbish – they come later. You look
at the seasons properly. Silver and
A New York City stockbroker moved to the country and bought a piece of land.
He went to the local feed and livestock store and talked to the proprietor about
how he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy a hundred
chicks.
“That’s a lot of chicks,” commented the proprietor.
“I mean business,” the city slicker replied.
A week later, he was back again. “I need another hundred chicks, he said.
“Boy, you are serious about this chicken farming,” the man told him.
“Yeah,” the broker replied. “If I can just iron out a few problems.”
“Problems?” asked the proprietor.
“Yeah,” replied the New Yorker. “I think I planted that last batch too close
together.”
20
Praying for the world-wide Church
Sunday by Sunday (and day by
day), Anglicans around the
world take it in turn to pray for
one another, following a two
year cycle. In our worship in
church, we join with fellow
Anglicans in praying for the
people of those dioceses. The Anglican Communion has 70 million members
spread across 164 countries. Here are the Churches and dioceses that will be
mentioned on the Sundays in April:
Sunday 3rd April: The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Province of the Indian Ocean is made
up of islands located off the eastern coast
of Tanzania and Mozambique. Faith came
to the region through the missionary work
of the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel. The province, founded in 1973,
covers the countries of Madagascar,
Mauritius, and the Seychelles. There are
seven dioceses in the province: five are on
Madagascar, Mauritius is another, and the
Seychelles forms the last diocese. The
Anglican Communion reports 120,000
Anglicans among the nearly 7 million Christians in this province. Not surprisingly,
the Anglican Church in this province is committed to ecumenical and interfaith
dialogue. The church in Madagascar runs schools, orphanages, and health
centres. The church in Mauritius runs centres for the care of the elderly, blind
people, and unwanted children, plus two secondary schools. Also, the Mothers'
Union is present and active in the dioceses of Seychelles and Mauritius.
In 2013, the region suffered immense flooding. Over 100,000 people were
displaced and crops destroyed on a huge scale. Stagnant pools led to water
borne insects and disease.
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In July 2014, Archbishop Justin Welby visited the Province. He encouraged the
Church there in prayer, the ministry of reconciliation, and witness and
evangelism.
Sunday 10th April:
The Church of Ireland describes itself as “that part of the Irish Church which was
influenced by the Reformation, and has its origins in the early Celtic Church of St
Patrick.”
The Church of Ireland considers itself Catholic because it is in possession of a
continuous tradition of faith and practice, based on scripture and early
traditions, enshrined in the Catholic creeds, together with the sacraments and
apostolic ministry. However, the Church of Ireland is also Protestant, or
Reformed, since it opposes doctrines and ways of worshipping that it considers
contrary to scripture and which led to the Reformation.
There is no ‘north-south’ divide though it is stronger numerically in the north
(where 65% of its members live). The Church of Ireland experienced major
decline during the 20th century. However, the Church of Ireland in the Republic
has shown substantial growth in the last two national censuses; its membership
is now back to the levels of sixty years ago (albeit with fewer churches as many
have been closed). Church membership increased by 8.7% in the period 2002–
2006. This may be due to a relaxation of regulations dating back more than a
century which said that children of ‘mixed’ marriages should be brought up
22
Roman Catholic, though the influx of Anglican immigrants for the UK and
colonies also accounts for a proportion of the increase.
Sunday 17th April:
The Anglican Communion in Japan: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai
St Francis Xavier, together with Portuguese missionaries and explorers, first
brought Christianity to Japan in the sixteenth century. However, Christianity was
outlawed in 1587 and there followed a period of persecution which is still
commemorated today on 5th February. In 1859, the American Episcopal Church
sent two missionaries to Japan, followed some years later by representatives of
the Church of England and the Church of Canada. The first Anglican Synod
occurred in 1887. The first Japanese Bishops were consecrated in 1923. The
Church remained underground during World War II and assumed all Church
leadership after the war.
Today the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK) continues its traditions of ministry and
Christian witness in Japan through church congregational life, hospitals, schools,
social advocacy and support for non-profit organizations. The church, at both a
national and local level, works to support disadvantaged, marginalized or
discriminated against communities in Japan, as well as communities in
Tohoku affected by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami and
subsequent crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear generating plant. They have
recently called on the government to dispense with nuclear generating activity
nationally.
There are eleven dioceses in NSKK, eight of whom ordain women to the
diaconate and priesthood. Two of the eleven cathedrals are dedicated to St
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Andrew – Tokyo and Yokohama! There is a seminary (where clergy are trained
for ministry), a religious order (The Community of Nazareth), eight universities
and colleges and two hospitals.
Sunday 24th April:
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and The Middle East
The Church covers Jerusalem, Iran, Egypt, Cyprus, and the Gulf. The Jerusalem
bishopric was founded in 1841 and became an archbishopric in 1957.
Reorganization in January 1976 ended the archbishopric and combined the
Diocese of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria with the Jerusalem bishopric after a
nineteen-year separation. Around the same time, the new Diocese of Cyprus and
the Gulf was formed and the Diocese of Egypt was revived. The Cathedral
Church of St George the Martyr in Jerusalem is known for its ministry to pilgrims.
St George's College, Jerusalem, is in partnership with the Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is huge, stretching
from Iran in the east to Algeria in the west, and Cyprus in the north to Somalia in
the south. It is the largest and the most diverse Anglican province. The Central
Synod of the church is its deliberative and legislative organ. The province is
divided into four dioceses: Jerusalem, Cyprus and the Gulf, Egypt and Iran. The
province estimates that it has around 35,000 baptized members in 55
congregations. The province has around 40 educational or medical
establishments and 90 clergy. Today, in Jerusalem, Anglicans constitute a large
portion of the Christian community.
Photos in this article from http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
24
From the Registers
Funerals:
1st March
4th March
4th March
14th March
22nd March
Jean Ratcliffe
Ian Hillman Farmer
Ann Downey
Ronald Clements
Julie Newman
Communicants and Collections:
2016
Sunday
Communicants
Midweek
Communicants
Loose
Collections £
Planned
Giving £
6th March
13th March
20th March
33
35
34
9
8
12
46.34
4.80
9.00
260.53
285.00
110.20
Donations
We would like to thank everyone who has made a gift or donation to our
various funds recently. Our special thanks go to:
General Fund
 With thanks for prayers throughout 2015 from Doris Jepson (omitted in
error from earlier edition – with apologies)
 Jenny Raynor
 In memory of Ronnie Clements from the Crozier family
 Collection of £2 coins from Joyce Hetherington
 Remembering our dear parents, Nellie and Bill Shaw, Elsie and Robert Baird
snr., with love at Easter, from Susan and Robert
 In loving memory of my dear Dad, Bill Shaw, on his Year’s Mind (21st April)
from Susan and Robert
 Verger’s fee
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Easter lilies
 In loving memory of William Boardman, Florance Boardman and Tommy
Crozier
 Easter flowers in loving memory of Shaun Mullen from Mum and Dad
 Easter lilies from Margaret Hatton
 Anon
 In loving memory of family and friends from Joyce Blyth
Winners of the Phoenix Club Draw
First prize:
Second prize:
Third prize:
Sunday 27th March
117
C. Jones
116
S. Miller
142
P. Jones
Easter Special
128
S. Charlton
132
R. Crozier
114
Dot Miller
Elle and Esse
Hair and Beauty Lodge
Unisex Hair Salon
LYNETTE and SUE
Lodge Lane, Bewsey
Warrington
Tel: 01925 232282
A man is driving down a country lane when he spots a farmer standing in the
middle of a huge field of grass. He pulls the car over to the side of the road and
notices that the farmer is just standing there, , doing nothing, looking at
nothing, The man gets out of his car, walks all the way out to the farmer and
asks him, “Ah, excuse me, but what are you doing?”
The farmer replies, “I’m trying to win a Nobel Prize.”
“How,” asks the man, puzzled.
“Well, I heard they give the Nobel Prize to people who are out standing in their
field.”
26
Easter word search
27
Prayer Intentions for April
Fri
Sat
1st
2nd
Clough Avenue
Chiltern Crescent
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Patterdale Avenue
The Children’s Society
Newhaven Road
Hollins Park Hospital
Cotswold Road
Haiti
Windermere Avenue Bishop Paul
Ambleside Crescent
St Paul, Penketh
Pentland Avenue
Warrington Collegiate
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Buttermere Crescent The Bible Society
Bowness Avenue
Social workers
Borrowdale Avenue
North and South Korea
Brathay Close
Archbishop Justin
Currans Road
The Forge (local church in Chapelford)
Horseshoe Crescent
The Diocese of Akure in Nigeria
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
Sat
23rd
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Harvey Court
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Keswick Avenue
Local residents’ groups
Sandy Lane West
China and Japan
Bexhill Avenue
Our Scout Group
Those living outside St Margaret and All Hallows, Orford
the parish
Achilles Avenue
Bible translators
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
24th
25th
26th
27th
28th
29th
30th
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Kirkstone Avenue
Mersey Mission to Seafarers
Statham Avenue
St Rocco’s Hospice
Chiltern Road
Israel and Gaza
Honister Avenue
Staff at St James’ House
Swindale Avenue
Christ Church, Padgate
Cooper Avenue
Professional drivers
St Mary, Great Sankey
Our Sunday School
28