Priory News, December 2005

Deepings St James Parish Church Magazine

Photographs of some parish events are available in our Photograph Album elsewhere on the site

To:

• Scripture readings for Sunday
• Archive of past editions of Priory News
• Cooking with Margaret

Mark Warrick

Christingle Celebration (See article)

The Christingle Celebration this year is on 11th December at 3pm. Members of our children's groups will already have received their invitations and Children's Society collecting boxes. Everyone is welcome and you can bring a cash gift for the Children's Society on the day to exchange for your Christingle - a decorated orange with a candle which will be lit for the climax of the service, a procession of children carrying lighted Christingles to the Holy Table and singing a favourite children's Christmas carol.

We thank Joy Cunningham for the work she has done to make the Christingle Celebration a success over the last few years, and Diane Templeton who has enthusiastiaclly agreed to take on its organization for this year. Without their effort it would not be possible to mount this celebration which brings joy to those who participate and raises vital funds for children and young people at risk in our own country.

Question for John Worthington???

Q: How many choir directors does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Nobody knows. Nobody ever watches the choir director

News From The Tower

The bell ringers carried out their annual "Tower clean up" on November 12th. No volunteers took up the challenge to assist. Thanks to the ten members of the ringing band who turned plus one 7 year old helper.

We hope to have the "St James" window in the ringing chamber illuminated again for the Christmas period.

The ringers wish all "A very merry Christmas" and hope you enjoy the sound of the lovely bells of St James.

The ringers have had their hand bells refurbished and hope to be able to demonstrate them at a later time.

News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers

The second part of our module 'Jesus the Healer' focused on the various ways in which Jesus healed. No one who was in Church when Explorers retold the story of the man with the withered arm will forget the props of yellow rubber gloves and clear plastic tubing to illustrate the miracle!

The new topic of 'Moses the Leader' looked at the difficult times God's people had as they journeyed through the wilderness and how God looked after them. This all happened a long time ago. However, Explorers read Exodus 16 and then looked at what the Bible has to say about moaning, particularly in the New Testament! The guidance we found is very important for us today. Climbers and Scramblers decorated biscuits with tiny marshmallows to remind them of the Manna which God sent every day as he cared for his people.

With Christmas just round the corner the children are busy preparing for the Annual Nativity Play - with a difference! Rehearsals are in full swing (literally) for 'Rock around the Flock' with live music from our Yound People's band. Do come and enjoy their performance on Sunday 18th December at 11.30am in the Church Hall. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served.

Explorers (7 - 11), Climbers (5 - 7) and Scramblers (under 5) meet every Sunday morning (except during the Summer holiday period) at 9.50am in the Church Hall. They join older worshippers in Church for their blessing, final hymn and refreshments. New members are always welcome. Please contact Andrea (Climbers and Scramblers) on 344926 or Alison (Explorers) on 345890 for more details.

Christingle- meaning Christ Light- brings together family and friends of all ages. Held from Advent to Epiphany, this festive celebration communicates the Christian message in an inspiring way to adults and children alike. Its wide appeal makes it an ideal way to encourage newcomers to church and extend your congregation.

The Children's Society holds its special Christingle appeal each year to raise vital funds for the children facing life's harshest challenges. Children who, this winter, find themselves sleeping rough in parks, bus shelters and shop doorways. The funds raised from Christingle help us to shine light into the darkness of their lives.

The Symbolism of Christingle

The Christingle itself is made up of a lighted candle (symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World), mounted on an orange (representing the world), and a red ribbon or tape around the orange (indicating the blood of Christ). Four cocktail sticks bearing dried fruit or sweets are also stuck into the orange to signify the four seasons and the fruits of the earth.

The history of Christingle began with the Moravian Church in 1747 as a symbol of Christ's light and love. The Children's Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968 and it has since become a popular family and community event. Most Christingle celebrations take the form of a church service, but they can also take place at schools or other community venues.

A REPLY TO INCOGNITO
(From October Priory News)

Dear Sir,

I feel bound to mount a defence to the reply from 'Incognito' in October's magazine.

With all due respect it seems to me that the writer is overlooking the salient point which was made earlier in my original article. That point being that the prayers and worship offered to God at any service, Eucharist, Christening, Wedding, whichever, are being offered for the right reasons. If that is the case, and one can only assume that the people there are attending with the right intention, the type of apparel being worn is surely immaterial (no pun intended) in relation to that intent. One will see all kinds of dress standard at Midnight Mass, and since many of those attendees are on their way home from an evening carousing in a pub first, their style of dress (particularly the females) is almost certainly going to be of a style more suitable for fun and giving an impression of attractiveness than that for a sombre church service. Does that make them any less welcome? Are we to turn people away at the church doors unless they have a skirt of a suitable length? And if so, who is to set the rules? The local vicar may have a totally different opinion on what is suitably modest to that of say, The Bishop of Lincoln. But if that person is coming to our Church in order to worship, which is more important – their clothing or their beliefs?

One is tempted to say that if the 'poor bloke' behind is suitably absorbed in the service and giving full attention to his worship, then he may not even notice that the girl in front is wearing a mini skirt at first. And if he does notice, so what? I do not believe that it is a sin to admire an attractive figure, either male or female. I also know from personal observation that not every mini skirted or 'scantily clad' woman could be classified as an 'angel'. But that is one of my main arguments. What they are wearing does not matter, any more than it matters what they look like - it is the person inside that we seek to join us at God's Table. I know of at least one local parishioner who has regularly participated in Eucharist and other services as part of a nudist congregation – suitably undressed. Are the prayers of that person any less worthy or welcome because of that? What opinion would 'poor bloke in the pew behind' have of a service such as that? After all, that is how we come into this world, and sin-free at that stage also. Where is the difference between worship and prayer offered naked, scantily clad or in full robes and headdress? The feeling, the love, the faith – those are the important parts of the make up of the religious human being. Not the shell from which it is being offered from – the body which we clothe is merely a tool for transporting the soul from one place to another – it is what is inside we need to concern ourselves with. Dress it up in as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, but please bring it to Church and offer it up as a living sacrifice to the Power and Glory of the Lord.

And what if 'poor bloke' has trouble with his concentration sitting behind Miss mini skirt without contemplating sin? Well, he is given ample opportunity to repent while he is there. Or he could change to another pew. But let us not allow our concern about his thoughts to invade our minds to such an extent that we even consider alienating people who we need to keep the Church alive. We are not so awash with new worshippers that we can contemplate turning them away, merely because their standard of dress is different to ours.

The Church has tried to modernise at various points in it's history, and mostly I think with success. I cannot see that style of dress would be an area that it needs to keep in the darker ages of it's past.

Paul Atkinson

Elijah the Prophet

The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the bull in pieces and laid it upon the altar. (1 Kings 18)

And then Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times.

"Now, said the teacher, "can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the bull on the altar?"

A little girl in the back of the room raised her hand with great enthusiasm. "To make the gravy!"

SOME SEASONAL HUMOUR

(Well, I found them amusing!!.....Dave)

• What do you have in December that you don't have in any other month?
• The letter "D".

• What did Adam told his girlfriend on December 24th ?
• It's Christmas! Eve.

• What did the guest sing at Eskimo's Christmas party?
• ...Freeze a jolly good fellow.

• What do you call a polar bear wearing ear muffs?
• Anything you want. He can't hear you!

• What do reindeer have that no other animals on earth have?
• Baby reindeer.

• What do you call a chicken at the North Pole?
• Lost.

• What kind of pine has the sharpest needles?
• A porcupine.

• What do you get when you cross a penguin and an alligator?
• I don't know, but don't try to fix its bow tie!

• How does Mickey Mouse get around during the winter?
• Mice skates.

• Where does Frosty the Snowman keep his money?
• In a snow bank.

• Did you know that all the angels in Jesus' heavenly choir had the same name?
• Sure, haven't you ever heard the song, "Hark, the Harold Angels Sing"?

• What is Santa's favorite breakfast cereal?
• Frosted Flakes.

• How does Santa Claus take pictures?
• With a North Pole-aroid camera.

... and I found them groan-inducing, every one! Mark

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