| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
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The Friday morning Bible Study Group has been looking at the Book of Exodus for a few weeks and we have recently been reminded of the Commandments and some of the reasoning behind them. The injunctions of the Commandments do not appear out of nowhere but are clearly part of the whole history of God's dealings with his chosen people and their vocation to be different from the pagan nations around them.
Their one day off per week - the Sabbath - may have become abused by Jesus' day, but in its essence it was a foundation of this essentially different way of life the people were called to follow, and God reveals via Moses that it was important, for the working animals and the slaves as much as for the people, that there should be a time of rest. The seventh day off is portrayed as a part of what God did in creation: it is not a human invention but a real part of nature.
In Christ we have moved the weekly day off to Sunday as a weekly celebration of Christ's resurrection, but with our economic freedom we have also recognised the desirability for human beings occasionally to do more than work on the remaining six days, and it is at this time of year that most of us will take time away from our daily work to go away for a while, usually with family or friends, for a holiday.
We need to be thankful for this opportunity: it was not so long ago that the chance to get away was very much more restricted than it is today. How many summers do we have in this life? And how many have already been used up? How will you spend the valuable time you have left? We have been given a huge world in which to work, rest and play and many (though not all) of us have the freedom to enjoy it. Take and use this precious gift in gratitude and your reward will be to understand ever more of what God has created in his universe and to take part more enthusiastically in life on your return to normality. Or, in simpler words, "If you can get away this summer, have a good and blessed holiday!"
Please note that during August there will be no celebration of the Eucharist at 8 o'clock on Sunday mornings, and no Choral Evensong or Eucharist for Healing in the evening. There will be no regular Thursday morning service and feast days will be as announced in the weekly news sheet and on the website. Normal services will be resumed on 7th September.
Following a long and moving service on Sunday 29th June in Lincoln Cathedral, Sonia Marshall has been ordained Deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln. After being our parish's Reader for some years she undertook a grueling course of study and preparation on her journey to ordination.
After a short holiday from her books she will resume her studies and take up her duties as curate then, with God's will, be ordained priest next year.
Our prayers and good wishes and love continue to be with Sonia and also her family, Simon and Richard, from whom she receives considerable support and patience.
May God bless Sonia in her vocation
I have been deeply touched by the love and support I have received from you all in so many ways: The presence of many of you at the ordination service, the many cards and good wishes, the gift towards my stoles, and most of all, your support and prayers, not only on the day itself but over the past years of study and preparation.
As those who were present at the service will confirm it was a truly spiritual and uplifting occasion.
I look forward to joining Mark in serving God in an ordained capacity among you and we will both be grateful for your continuing prayers in the way ahead.
With sincere thanks,
Sonia
Born daughter of a count and countess on 16th July 1194. Her father died young. After hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, she confided to him her desire to live for God, the two became close friends. On Palm Sunday 1212 the bishop presented her with a palm, which she apparently took as a sign. Clare and her cousin Pacifica ran away from her mother's palace during the night. She eventually took the veil of religious profession from Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi.
Founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano, and led it for 40 years. Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves throughout Europe, there also went the Poor Clares, depending solely on alms, forced to have complete faith on God to provide through people; a lack of land-based revenues was a new idea at the time. Clare's mother and sisters later joined the order, and there are still thousands of members living lives of prayer in silence.
Clare loved music and well-composed sermons. She was humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. She would get up late at night to tuck in her sisters who'd kicked off their covers. She daily meditated on the Passion. When she learned of the Franciscan Martyrs in Morrocco in 1212, she tried to go there to give her own life for God, but was restrained. Once when her convent was about to be attacked, she displayed the Sacrament in a monstrace at the convent gates, and prayed before it; the attackers left.
Toward the end of her life, when the was too ill to attend Mass, an image of the service would display on the wall of her cell; thus her patronage of television. She was ever the close friend and spiritual student of Francis, who apparently led her soul into the light. She died of natural causes on 11th August 1253.
You may have heard a rumour that after a gap of many years another Flower Festival is to be held in our Church during the weekend of October 3rd., 4th. and 5th. which is our Harvest Festival weekend. The theme will be "With Music in Mind". Pauline Brooksbank and Sue Lee are masterminding the displays with the aid of flower arrangers from the church. In keeping with the theme there will be live music at certain times during the weekend with the newly-refurbished organ as a focal point. Proceeds from the Festival will be donated to the Organ Fund.
We have already formed a committee but with the numerous tasks involved we are appealing to everyone for their help to ensure a spectacular event. Nearer the time we shall be asking for more specific help but it would be very useful at this stage to know that we have the full support of the church and preliminary offers of assistance would be welcome . The main aim at present is to find funding and anyone with contacts in local businesses is asked to speak to either Johanna Jones or John Worthington. Please join us in helping to make this a weekend to remember.
Over the last few year Margaret Flegg has contributed a lot of recipes to this magazine, all of them very attractive. Whether you have carefully filed them or not, it is possible to find Margaret's recipes using the archived Internet edition of Priory News and searching for a recipe name or an ingredient. If you look at the left-hand side of this page you will see the Priory News Archive with a simple search engine: type in what you're looking for and click "Go". You will be presented with a list of the issues that mention that word, with the context in which it is mentioned. For example, searching for "beef" yields recipes in April 2001 and 2002 as well as two articles on farming and on food in Malaysia!
(There are rumours that, in time, we may publish a Recipe Book containing Margaret's recipes)
I wonder what these scones would taste like with strawberry jam and clotted cream? D
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Copyright © 2003 Deeping St James PCC