Apr 2015 Magazine - Diocese of Lincoln: parish and church websites
Transcription
Apr 2015 Magazine - Diocese of Lincoln: parish and church websites
St. Guthlacs Church Market Deeping Parish Magazine Registered Charity no.1133754 April Magazine The Day is Thine Price 50p PARISH DIRECTORY ********************************************** Removed from online version. Please see paper copy Front cover photography ~ Churchyard by Jill Gibb The View from the Rectory Holy Week is the most important week in the Church’s calendar and a time when we reflect on some of the deepest mysteries of our faith. The final three days of Holy Week are particularly intense and focussed, reminding us of being on a journey. We are helped on that journey through the services we hold which all link together and enable us to think deeply about what was happening to Jesus and his followers and how that affects us now. We start on Maundy Thursday: Maundy means commandment and reminds us that at the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples that he was giving them a New Commandment that they should love one another as he has loved us. The service re-enacts certain elements of Jesus final evening with his friends. Firstly, the Priest leading the service washes the feet of twelve volunteers, reminding us that Jesus washed the feet of his friends, the Disciples. In so doing Jesus showed that his way of leading was one of service (in Jesus' time a servant, not the master, would wash people’s feet). The second thing we do is share communion, remembering that The Last Supper is where Jesus commanded us to do what he did in remembrance of him. Following communion two things happen: the remaining Host (bread) is carried to the chapel of repose where it remains for the duration of the Watch; then the hangings are removed from the altars (they are “stripped” bare) and other decorative items removed, reminding us that Jesus is about to go on a journey into trial, suffering and death. His humanity and his very being are stripped bare of all decency. The Watch, which follows the end of the service, enables us to sit with Jesus through the agony he is enduring. Good Friday itself continues with that Watch until the Liturgy of the Day starts. In that service our focus is truly on the Cross which Jesus endures. Through the Passion Gospel we hear of his suffering and death; through the bringing forth of the Cross we focus on that suffering. Through the words of the service we realise that Jesus' death was not just for 2000 years ago, it is for now and ever, and that we have in our part nailed Jesus to the cross through our actions. The service climaxes with the Host returning from the chapel of repose so that we 1 can receive once more communion with Jesus. We receive this in one kind, the Host, because we are remembering that Jesus suffering and death isn't the complete “act” there is more to come; so we receive the imperfection of the day, the sadness of the occasion. Like the Disciples we leave the Church in solemnity and grief. On Holy Saturday we gather at dusk to do what the Disciples themselves would have done, search the Old Testament Scriptures to try and make sense of Jesus' death. So we hear readings telling us stories of God's saving love. We then gather near the porch to light the Easter Fire and from that we light the Pascal Candle. This is brought in to the dark Church and proclaimed as “the Light of Christ” and we then begin the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. Part of that celebration is to renew our Baptismal promises and then to receive Holy Communion for the First time at Easter. Join us on this journey, and, if you are able, come to all of these services and feel part of that movement, from light to dark and back to glorious light. Use this time to reflect properly on the mystery of our faith and through the darkness come to the joy that the Light of Christ brings through his mighty resurrection. Finally remember that Easter is a Season, not a day, and it lasts for 50 days...50 days to celebrate God's love and the joy of His Presence. May God be with you and grant you a blessed Holy Week and a Glorious and Joyful Easter. Philip Brent, Rector. Service Times during Holy Week Maundy Thursday: 7.30pm, Eucharist of the Last Supper with Foot-washing; followed by Watch until Midnight. Good Friday: 7am, recommencement of the Watch; 1.30pm Children's Good Friday Workshop in the Green School; 1.45pm Liturgy of the Day followed by Hot Cross buns in the Green School and an opportunity to share with the Children in what they've been doing. Holy Saturday: 8pm, Vigil, Service of Light and First Eucharist of Easter including renewal of Baptismal vows. 2 Easter Day...come and Celebrate with us! Celebrate the Easter Joy in our AllAge Eucharist at 10am. Please bring any Easter Gift you have received with you, whether that be an Easter Egg, Easter Bunny, Flowers or anything else...all will be revealed during the service! Let's make this day what it should be – a great celebration! Children’s Activity Bags We have some lovely blue bags, provided by the Mothers Union, which are there for use by children during the services. These bags have some quiet activities eg story book, crayons, paper, a small toy. Gwen has often taken the bags home to replenish and tidy. It would be great to revitalise these bags and provide some new books and toys linked to bible stories. Please consider sponsoring a bag at a cost of £10- .....this would enable us to buy interesting story books and props to engage the children, eg a Noah’s Ark bag, Jonah and the Whale, Feeding the Five Thousand etc. A list will be placed at the back of church for sponsors to sign - you may choose a title for your bag if you wish, or leave it to Kate and myself!. Kate is still busy knitting bible characters but she hasn’t had many offers to assist...some people , like me, can’t knit but we could give a little money for books and toys. Families are often concerned that their children have some activities that help them sit relatively quietly during the services. As a congregation we love having the children with us, they are very much part of the present and future worshipping community. These blue bags are a fun way to provide themed amusements and perhaps mean less baggage for families as they pack up toys, books and snacks to get their child through the service! Thank you: Anne Guthrie, Kate Brown 3 Church wardens’ Notes Dorothy has been continuing to email the diocese in a quest to gain approval for various repairs to the roof and stonework. All was going well until a reminder about the bat survey re-emerged! There is a small hole in the porch roof where bats like to go and roost.....however approval has been gained from the bat people provided an access hole is left for our bat residents. Now it is a case of getting the building quotes and repairs completed before the end of April and start of bat breeding. The roof and interior alarm systems have been checked. Thanks go to Lyall, Kevin and the bell ringers for preparing the roof access. Although the gas pipe work has now been completed, a diocesan heating adviser will be returning to carry out a full evaluation of our system and the number of radiators. The clock is now working again – a question in the recent Ladies Guild quiz was ‘how many clocks are on the tower’, have a look as some of us failed to answer correctly! We hope to add decorative moulding to the Clergy vestry screen – to match the moulding on the tower screen - again approval must be given from on high. Attempts to persuade the diocese that a lovely new oak door to replace the tower door, in keeping with the other doors in church ,is being met with some reluctance. The tower door is seen clearly by all passers-by as they walk or drive along Church Street and we feel it would be more appropriate to have a new door than repair the rather tatty old one. Please remember to make yourselves known to us and we are very happy to try and assist people with queries, ideas or just a friendly chat. We hope that many people will be thinking about the coming Church AGM and elections to the Parish Church Council. Dorothy Harriss, Anne Guthrie *************************************************************** PIANO / KEYBOARD TUITION Learn in the comfort of your own home All ages, beginner to intermediate Learn for grades or just for fun Deepings and beyond Call Sharon on 07999 272612 4 Chester’s Restaurant ~ Fine English Cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere Open Thursday Friday & Saturday evenings 102 Church Street Market Deeping & Tearoom Open 9 ‘til 4 TuesdaySaturday Breakfasts Light Snacks and Lunches Homemade Cakes and a range of speciality food Luxury En-suite Accommodation also available Reservations: Tel - 01778 344719 ANDREW WOODHOUSE INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR Sandon Barn Casterton Road – Stamford – Lincolnshire PE9 4BP Tel 01780 751719 Email: woodhouse.andrew@sky.com Pre-paid Funeral Plans available 24 hour personal attention and private chapel of rest 5 Woodcroft Joinery Specialised Joinery BUILDING CONTRACTORS HOME CHOOSE CARPETS The carpet shop that comes to you Personal & Friendly Service in the comfort of your own home All types of flooring supplied 12 Woodcroft Close Market Deeping 01778 380904 Carpets at a price to suit you Tel: Bill Woods On 01778 346918 Mobile: 07808184345 m.anthony68@btinternet.com + P.B. Plumbing. Plumbing & 178689 Heating Engineer Est.1994 For All Your Plumbing Repairs. Service & Repairs To gas Boilers, Cookers, Fires, Heating Systems. Also Cooker & Hob connections Approved installer for Water softeners & drinking water filters. We now also accept most major debit / credit cards Paul Badstevener 46 The Grove, Market Deeping Tel: 01778 348861 Mobile: 07801585486 1. mobile: 07808 184345 2. m.anthony68@btinternet.co m 6 The Bishops Letter In Christian tradition the Five Holy Wounds, or Five Sacred Wounds, are the five piercing wounds that Jesus suffered during the Crucifixion. We can see the way in which they have been a particular focus for devotion by the way in which they have often been depicted in art – most famously in depictions of Doubting Thomas, or in music, like Bach’s St Matthew Passion, or Handel’s Messiah, as well as some of our well-known Passiontide hymns. In these first days of Easter, when we experience the joy of the resurrection afresh in our lives, the image of our risen Lord walking the earth yet still carrying the wounds of the crucifixion is powerful and poignant. I was struck recently by the text of a contemporary hymn whose first line speaks of the risen Christ ‘walking with wounded feet’. That image, of Jesus walking with wounded feet, reminds us that, through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, God knows what it is to carry pain in this human life. Through Jesus, God has experienced the reality of searing physical pain, as well as the anguish that comes from rejection and betrayal. And yet, God does not allow it to contain or define Jesus, nor does it crush his spirit. Instead, the experience of it becomes part of who he is and shapes him for the work he has to do. So, too, our experiences as human beings and children of God shape us and become part of who we are; but they need not contain or define us. The work of resurrection is ours to share, and God calls each one of us, wounded as we are, to play our part in proclaiming the wonder of the resurrection to our broken world. Bishop Christopher 7 CREATIVE TOUCH PROVIDING A MADE TO MEASURE SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR SOFT FURNISHING NEEDS. WE DO CONSULTATION, MEASURING, AND A FULL FITTING SERVICE WE CARRY AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF FABRICS, POLES TRIMS AND ACCESSORIES Please call for FREE ADVICE OR A COMPLIMENTRY HOME VISIT BENTLEY BUISINESS PARK, NORTHFIELDS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE MARKET DEEPING PE6 8LD 01778345777 email creative.touch@fsmail.net OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE creativetouchinteriors.co.uk Deepings Carpet Centre REG HOWARD *************************** Invites you to consult him on any Town or District problems you may have. Unit K, Bentley Business Park Blenheim Way Northfields Industrial Estate Market Deeping, PE68ED Your contact Bill Woods Carpets ~ Vinyls ~ Rugs Your Independent Town & District Councillor 01778 – 346918 We can deliver to your home Phone & Fax: 346813 E-mail: reghoward@surfree.com Underlays - Grippers - Doorbars Stickytapes - Spray Adhesive Reg does not hold surgeries, but will be pleased to visit you in your own home at a time convenient to you. Opening Times ~ Monday to Saturday 9.00 am - 4.45pm Sunday closed 8 HUSTINGS MEETING Churches Together in Deeping are organising a Hustings Meeting at the Deepings School on Tuesday 21st April starting at 7.30pm. This could be your chance to put your question to the candidates that are seeking our votes at the General Election in May. The candidates from all five major parties have agreed to attend: John Hayes Conservative Matthew Mahabadi Labour Daniel Wilshire Greens George Smid David Parsons Liberal Democrats UKIP ******************************************************************************************* Parish Electoral Roll - Annual Revision 2015 The Electoral Roll is open for 50 weeks a year. The Parish AGM has been set for Wednesday 29th April 2015, therefore the Electoral Roll will need to be closed for two weeks prior to that date, on Wednesday 15th April. The current list will be at the rear of the Church from Wednesday 4th March. For anybody wishing to add their name or amend their details, forms are available, together with a box for collection, marked 'Electoral Roll Forms'. The roll is open to anybody aged 16 or over (as a member of the Church of England or as listed under 2c on the form). It is necessary for anybody wishing to stand for the PCC to have been on the Parish Electoral Roll for six months or more at the time of election. There is one exception: those under 18 years old at the time of the election. All sidespeople must also be on the Parish Electoral Roll at the time of their election at the Parish AGM. Any queries please contact the Electoral Roll Officer Julie Bacon (342737). 9 This month’s recipe is especially for The Rector, as it contains any real ale of your choice. Wicked Bitter Chocolate Cake with Real Ale Ice Cream For the real ale ice cream 568ml (1 pint) real ale (such as Woodforde’s Wherry) 568ml (1 pint) double cream 250g caster sugar 12 egg yolks For the wicked chocolate cake 250g unsalted butter 300g soft dark brown sugar 80ml cold water 250g dark chocolate (75% cocoa solids), roughly chopped 6 eggs, separated 25ml whisky (optional) Pinch of salt Bitter cocoa powder, for dusting Serves 10 First, make the ice cream. Rinse a saucepan with cold water, then pour the ale and cream into the pan and bring gently to the boil over a low heat. Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat. In a bowl, whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks together, then add a ladleful of the warm cream mixture and stir until combined. Pour the egg mixture into the remaining warm cream mixture in the pan, return to a low heat and stir continuously for 8–10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of the wooden spoon; do not allow the mixture to boil, otherwise it may curdle. Remove from the heat, pass the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl and then leave it to cool over ice. Pour the cold mixture into an ice-cream maker and churn until frozen (following the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular model). Alternatively, pour the cold mixture into a shallow, freezer proof container, cover with a lid and freeze until firm, whisking the mixture 3 or 4 times during freezing (every hour or so) to break down the ice crystals and ensure an even-textured result. Keep the ice cream frozen until needed. The ice cream can be made up to 1 week in advance and kept in the freezer. Allow the ice cream to soften slightly at room temperature or in the fridge before serving. To make the cake, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/Gas Mark 6. Grease and line a 28 x 18cm loose-bottomed oblong cake frame or tin with non-stick baking paper and set aside. Put the butter, brown sugar and water into a saucepan and heat together over a medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once the ingredients are melted and combined, bring to a gentle simmer and simmer for 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate and stir until melted, then add the egg yolks, the whisky (if using), and the salt and stir until the mixture is smooth and combined. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they form stiff peaks (do not over whip), then using a large slotted spoon, fold the whisked whites into the chocolate mixture until evenly combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake frame or tin and spread evenly. Bake in the oven for 22–24 minutes or until the cake is cooked, but the centre is still gooey with a slight wobble. The cake will rise (soufflé) slightly during baking, but it will sink back down and firm up once it has cooled. Remove from the oven and leave the cake in the cake frame or tin to cool and set for about 1 hour before serving. Once you are ready to serve, carefully remove the cake from the frame or tin. Heavily dust the top of the cake with cocoa powder and then cut it into 10 slices. Serve warm (or cold) with the ice cream. Cook’s Tip: Any leftover ice cream will keep in an airtight, freezer proof container in the freezer for up to 1 week. Serve with chocolate sauce drizzled over. 10 Mothers’ Union The Mothers’ Union theme for 2015 is “United in Prayer” and this is being picked up in both the March and April meetings. On March 19th at 7:30pm we experienced “Praying through all our senses”, looking at different approaches to prayer, using visual stimuli, music, scents and so on to help us. I hope that everyone found something new that struck a chord with them even if not all the approaches were to their taste. On April 16th at 7:30 we will meet in the church to look at pilgrimage and will follow the St Guthlac Mini Pilgrimage which some of you may remember from our St Guthlac celebrations last year. This takes us round the interior of the church while hearing about St Guthlac’s life and includes pauses for reflection and worship at different points. You do not have to be a member of the Mothers’ Union to attend this (or indeed any other meeting) and this meeting might appeal to anyone who would like to learn more about our patron saint. Our meetings always begin with a short act of prayer and worship and as part of our support for family and community life I would like to start a cycle of prayer that, over the course of the year, will specifically mention all the groups locally that work with people at every stage of life from nurseries to retirement homes. If you would like such a group added to our prayer list please let me know. Kate Brown: kabstg@btinternet.com Pram and Buggy The children went on an Easter Journey around church at our last session in March....from the cheering and excitement of Palm Sunday through the Last Supper of Ribena and Pitta bread into the sadness of Jesus death and the amazement at his Resurrection. Some of them may like to join the Good Friday workshop in the Green school during the holiday. After Easter we will be looking at some of the events in Jesus life, the stories he told and miracles performed. This will give the children an awareness of the traditional background to the Christian Faith through music, craft, story and food! Please join us on Thursday 16th April, 2-3pm in church. 11 CREATURES 2 Can you work out the name of each animal, mammal, reptile, fish, bird or insect from the following anagrams? Word lengths are shown in brackets. ANT HEAPS (8) EMANATE (7) ONE PIG (6) SOME TRAM (7) OWL LAWS (7) COP OUTS (7) IS TORCH (7) RAPT HEN (7) WAR PROS (7) A DEN SIR (7) BAGEL DEAL (4,5) TRAIL PLACER (11) PAID FOR AIR BEDS (4,2,8) CLEAN HOME (9) IS ALONE (3,4) KEEP A RAT (8) CHOIR SNORE (10) A TRIP (5) CHILDREN’S CORNER Can you correctly pair up the brothers? Abel Andrew James Joseph Moses Aaron Cain Benjamin John Simon Peter Answers to last month’s questions: Lamb, lion and pig, raven, ostrich and dove How quickly were you able to complete them? LAST MONTH’S ANAGRAM SOLUTIONS GOLDEN EAGLE HIPPOPOTAMUS ALBATROSS ANTELOPE CANARY MOUSE FALCON ALLIGATOR FLAMINGO BARRACUDA PARROT DOLPHIN PARTRIDGE LLAMA PELICAN LOBSTER LEOPARD GIRAFFE 12 CREATIVE TOUCH PROVIDING A MADE TO MEASURE SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR SOFT FURNISHING NEEDS. WE DO CONSULTATION, MEASURING, AND A FULL FITTING SERVICE WE CARRY AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF FABRICS, POLES TRIMS AND ACCESSORIES Please call for FREE ADVICE OR A COMPLIMENTRY HOME VISIT BENTLEY BUISINESS PARK, NORTHFIELDS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE MARKET DEEPING PE6 8LD 01778345777 email creative.touch@fsmail.net OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE creativetouchinteriors.co.uk Deepings Carpet Centre REG HOWARD *************************** Invites you to consult him on any Town or District problems you may have. Unit K, Bentley Business Park Blenheim Way Northfields Industrial Estate Market Deeping, PE68ED Your contact Bill Woods Carpets ~ Vinyls ~ Rugs Your Independent Town & District Councillor 01778 – 346918 We can deliver to your home Phone & Fax: 346813 E-mail: reghoward@surfree.com Underlays - Grippers - Doorbars Stickytapes - Spray Adhesive Reg does not hold surgeries, but will be pleased to visit you in your own home at a time convenient to you. Opening Times ~ Monday to Saturday 9.00 am - 4.45pm Sunday closed 13 April Calendar of Services & Activities Thu 1st 10.30am 7.30pm nd 2 6.30pm 7.30pm Fri 3rd Sat 4th Sun 5th Wed Wed 8th Thu 9th Fri 10th Sat 11th Sun 12th Mon Tue Wed Thu 13th 14th 15th 16th Holy Communion Gospel of the Day followed by Compline Maundy Thursday Choir Practice Sung Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altars followed by Watch till Midnight Good Friday 7.00am Continuation of Watch till noon 9.00am Morning Prayer 10.30am Start of Churches Together Walk of Witness 12noon End of the Walk at the Methodist Church 1.30pm Guthlac’s Young Explorers: Good Friday Workshop, Green School 1.45pm Liturgy of the Day 3.00pm Hot Cross Buns, Green School Easter Eve 8.00pm Vigil, Service of Light and First Eucharist of Easter Easter Day Acts 10.34-43; John 20.1-18 8.00 am Said Eucharist 10.00am All Age Eucharist with Baptism 6.30pm Said Evening Prayer: Ezekiel 37.1-14; Luke 24.13-35 10.30am Holy Communion 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice 6.30pm Choir Practice 10.30am Coffee Morning, Green School 2nd Sunday of Easter Acts 4.32-35; John 20.19-end 8.00am Said Eucharist 9.50am Guthlac’s Young Explorers & Crèche, Green School 10.00am Parish Eucharist 6.30pm Evensong: Isaiah 26.1-9, 19; Luke 24.1-12 7.30pm Home Group, 32 Bridge Street, DSJ 6.15pm Church Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade, Green School 10.30am Holy Communion 2.00pm Pram & Buggy Meeting in Church 7.30pm Mothers’ Union, Green School 14 th Fri 17 Sun 19th Tue 21st Wed Thu Fri Sat 22nd 23rd 24th 25th Sun 26th th 7.30pm 6.30pm Bell Ringing Practice Choir Practice 3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 3.12-19; Luke 24.36b-48 8.00 am Said Eucharist 9.50am Guthlac’s Young Explorers & Crèche, Green School 10.00am Parish Eucharist 6.30pm Evensong: Deuteronomy 7.7-13; Revelation 2.1-11 6.15pm Church Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade, Green School 8.00pm Ladies Guild, Green School 10.30am Holy Communion 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice 6.30pm Choir Practice 12noon Saturday Soup & Social, Green School 4th Sunday of Easter Acts 4.5-12; John 10.11-18 8.00am Said Eucharist 10.00am All Age Eucharist 6.00pm Mark’s Licensing to the Uffington Group at Braceborough Church Tue 28 6.15pm th Wed 29 10.30am 7.30pm th Thu 30 7.30pm NB No Evensong at St Guthlac’s Church Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade, Green School Holy Communion Annual Parish Meeting in Church Bell Ringing Practice Mark’s Licensing as Assistant Curate to the Uffington Group will take place at Braceborough Church on Sunday 26th April at 6pm. Anyone wishing to attend the service who needs a lift, please put your name on the list at the back of Church or contact the Rector. Envelopes are also available for those who wish to contribute to his leaving gift. Dates for your Diary Sat 9th May: Christian Aid Coffee Morning, 10.30am, followed by simple Lunch, 12noon, Green School th Sun 10 – Christian Aid Week: Collectors needed for the House to th Sat 16 May House Collection – please speak to Dorothy Harriss Sat 4th July: Neil’s Priesting at Lincoln Cathedral, 5.30pm Sun 5th July: Aran’s Ordination as Deacon, Lincoln Cathedral, 10.30am 15 Sidespersons’ and Lesson Readers’ Rota If you have any queries or need a swap and can’t find one, please contact Janis Hewitt, 341946, convenor of Sidespeople. Thanks. DATE 2nd Apr 8.00AM Maundy Thursday 10.00AM 7.30pm 3rd Apr Good Friday 1.45pm 4th Apr Easter Eve 8.00pm 5th Apr Anne Guthrie Readers 12th Apr Anne Guthrie Roger Stokoe Readers 19th Apr The Rector Kevin Dawson Readers 26th Apr Kevin Dawson Sarah Page Readers 3rd May Sarah Page Anne Guthrie Readers Anne Guthrie Joy Elliman Roger Clarke Brian Holdich Di Wheatley All Age Alison Bannerjee Deborah Harbour Helen Douglass Lyall Seale Kathryn Andrew Jan Adron-Walk Mick Brown Richard Piper Kay Bunn Liz Knox Carol Cooper Janis Hewitt Joan Meadows Liz Gray All Age Joy Elliman Roger Clarke Brian Holdich Di Wheatley Brian Holdich 16 6.30PM Jan Adron-Walk Janis Hewitt Dorothy Harriss Joan Meadows Chris Pearce Janis Hewitt Lyall Seale Joan Meadows Anne Guthrie Debbie Harbour Jan Adron-Walk Lyall Seale Kate Brown Joy Elliman Dave Betts Jim Pringle Andrew Bowell Kate Brown No Evensong: Mark’s Installation At Braceborough Kate Brown Ted Roberts A visit to beautiful Buckfast Abbey. Photo; Buckfast Abbey by Necrothesp Buckfast Abbey is situated in the heart of Devon near to Dartmoor, in a beautiful wooded valley beside the river Dart. It has offered visitors a tranquil refuge from the hectic pace of everyday life for nearly a thousand years. To this day the Abbey is a working monastery, where the monks live self-sufficiently creating goods for sale, producing their own electricity, engaging in various forms of pastoral work and welcoming visitors from all around the world. The Abbey was founded in the reign of King Cnut in 1018. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, the Abbey fell into ruin until 1882 when exiled French Benedictine monks settled in Buckfast. Over thirty years a group of between four and six monks painstakingly rebuilt the Abbey church, manually hoisting the stones to platforms 150 feet above the ground, without helmets or handrails and exposed to the elements. The church stands as testament to their dedication and today visitors can wonder at their incredible feat, including the stunning lantern tower ceiling, sculptures in stone and metal, the vaulted tower ceiling and stained glass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The Abbey has been the centre of creativity and hard work; the gift shop contains gifts made by monks and nuns from across Europe, including Buckfast Tonic Wine. In the summer, the sensory garden is alive with colour 17 and the Physic garden is busy with bees and butterflies working tirelessly amongst the rosemary and thyme. There is also a lavender garden. Photo: The Monastery shop Thanks to Joan Meadows for sharing information from her visit to the Abbey this year. ********************************** MENORCA HOLIDAY RENTAL: STUNNING SEA VIEWS WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY Why can’t we live in harmony? Why do we have to fight? Why are people still living in poverty? And sleeping rough at night. This is the twenty-first Century And everyone’s in a hurry Food Banks are opening everywhere From Scotland down to Surrey The Council are cutting services And the money is running dry They can’t afford to mend the roads No matter how they try Our schools are full, our prisons too NHS finance is in a mess People are working more and more But the money is getting less 2 UNITS EACH SLEEP THREE - RENT TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY NEWLY REFURBISHED POOL, AIRCON, QUIET LOCATION 5 MINS WALK TO BEACH & CENTRE 07952867083 Our children cannot afford a house The prices are too high The sky high rents are crippling It makes you want to cry We need to find another way How much more can we stand? Before the people cry “enough” “We’re taking back our land” Andrew Bowell 18 Gardening Tips for April In the flower garden • Dig in a 5cm (or more) layer of compost or wellrotted manure into your beds to prepare for the growing season. You can also work in a general purpose fertiliser such as pelleted chicken manure or fish, blood and bone. • Apply a layer of mulch around your perennials, trees and shrubs before the hot weather arrives. Use organic matter such as well- rotted manure. • Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser by lightly forking it into the soil surface. Roses are greedy plants and will greatly benefit from feeding as they come into growth. • Lift and divide perennial plants now to improve their vigour and create new plants for your garden. • Divide Hostas before they come into leaf. • Divide Primroses after they have finished flowering. • You can start to move evergreen shrubs and trees now provided the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged. • Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as Lilies, Gladiolus and Ranunculus into beds, borders and containers. • Continue to plant herbaceous perennials. • Forced flower bulbs such as hyacinths and daffodils, which have now finished flowering, can be planted outdoors in garden borders.. • Tie in climbing and rambling roses to their supports. • Honeysuckle and Clematis will now be putting on growth, tie in new stems to train the plant along its support. • Check any tree ties to make sure the tie is not cutting into the trunk. Loosen any that are tight to allow the trunk room to expand. • If you haven't done so already, finish cutting back any dead foliage left on your perennials and ornamental grasses to make way for new growth. • Prune Forsythia as soon as they have finished flowering, cutting back to strong young shoots. • Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent the plants becoming leggy. • Continue to remove any faded flowers from your winter pansies to stop setting seed. This will encourage flushes of new flowers throughout the spring. • Deadhead daffodils and tulips as the flowers finish but leave the foliage intact allowing it to die back naturally. • Direct sow hardy annuals outside or in pots or modules. 19 • Check that your container plants are not drying out - warm weather will quickly affect soil moisture levels. In the vegetable garden • Dig in a 5cm (or more) layer of compost, well-rotted manure or green waste into your beds to prepare for the growing season. • Plant your chitted potatoes outside in the ground or in potato grow bags. To find out more about growing potatoes in bags or in the ground, take a look at our potato growing guides • Harvest asparagus spears when they are no more than 18cm tall. • For quick and easy pea supports push some twiggy sticks around your pea plants now. • Thin your carrot seedlings to achieve good-size carrots - do this in the evening when fewer carrot flies are around. • Prepare vegetable seed beds by removing all weeds and forking in plenty of compost. Cover prepared soil with sheets of black plastic to keep it drier and warmer in preparation for planting. • Many crops can be direct sown into the ground now including parsnips, cabbages and radishes • Build raised beds to take the bending out of growing vegetables. In the fruit garden • Mulch fruit trees with well-rotted manure or garden compost taking care not to mound mulch up around the trunk. Top-dress patio dwarf fruit trees with fresh compost and a slow-release fertiliser • Apply a slow-release fertiliser around the base of your raspberry canes, fruit bushes and fruit trees to encourage good crops this season. • Try hand-pollinating your peaches and nectarines with a soft-bristled paint brush for better crops this year. In the greenhouse • If you haven't already, give your greenhouse a thorough scrub with hot soapy water to get rid of pests and diseases and to let more light in. • Start to sow tomato seeds indoors, ready to plant out after all risk of frost has passed. If you're struggling for growing space buy ready-grown tomato plants. Take a look at our tomato selector guide for inspiration. • Continue to sow half-hardy annual seeds under cover - take care not to expose them to frost. • Keep an eye on your seedlings - as soon as they have their first true leaves, prick them out into pots or modules for growing on. • If your greenhouse is heated, plant up your summer hanging baskets with plug plants now and keep them under cover until all risk of frost has passed. • Pinch out the tips of fuchsia shoots and sweet pea plants to encourage bushy plants this summer. 20 The Parish Registers Baptisms: Flynn Edson East Leo William Canham Funerals: Kevin John Cuffe David Whittingham Rotas Servers: Apr 2nd 7.30pm A Bowell, J Bowell, G Gray Apr 3rd 1.45pm R Gray, B Clark, A Gray Apr 4th 8.00pm S Harbour, G Gray, A Gray, N Bacon, R Gray th Apr 5 J Hamilton, A Gray, T Waters th Apr 12 A Brent, B Clark, S M-Walters Apr 19th Bacon, G Gray, A Muspratt Apr 26th A Bowell, J Bowell, T Waters May 3rd R Gray, A Gray, S M-Walters Offertory: Apr 5th Mr & Mrs A McCormack Apr 12th Mrs R Brown & Mrs B Manktelow Apr 19th Mrs A Guthrie & Mrs G Wass Apr 26th The Waters Family May 3rd Mrs J Bloodworth & Mrs H Barnes Coffee: Apr 5th Mr & Mrs S Rouse Apr 12th Mr J & Miss H Jones Apr 19th Mrs M Brown & Mrs E Withers Apr 26th Mrs C Pearce & Ms L Parkinson May 3rd Mothers’ Union Flowers: Apr 5th Mrs Pearson Apr 12th Mrs Pearson Apr 19th Mrs Meadows Apr 26th Mrs Meadows May 3rd Mrs Guthrie Remembrance Garden the 2 weeks beginning Monday Apr 13th Roger Stokoe Apr 27 th Peter Newson May 11th Paul Grundy Cleaning: the week beginning Monday Apr 6th Mr & Mrs B Meadows Apr 13th The Pape Family Apr 20th Mrs C Harrold & Mrs K Roberts Apr 27th The Stokoe Family May 4th Mrs C Brent & Mrs I Newson Prayer of the Month Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (Concluding Prayer of the Good Friday Liturgy from Common Worship “Times and Seasons”). Sunday Services 8.00am Said Eucharist (Traditional) 9.50am St Guthlac’s Young Explorers & Crèche (start in Green School then to Church) (except 4th Sunday) 10.00am Parish Eucharist (Modern – Sung) (except 4th Sunday) 10.00am All Age Eucharist : 4th Sunday (with/without baptism) 3.00pm Holy Baptism (third Sunday, as arranged) 6.30pm Evensong (Traditional) 6.30pm Special Evening Service (as announced- see calendar on p.14) ************************************************************* Contact for articles caron.romaine@talktalk.net ; for rotas dorothy@harriss.me.uk during the second week of the month for next magazine. Thank you.