Deeping St James Parish Church Magazine
Photographs of some parish events are available in our Photograph Album elsewhere on the site
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From the Curate
On 25th July we gather to celebrate the Feast Day of our Church and the village named after it, our Patronal and Dedication Festival. Patronal, dedication, is there a difference? Actually, there is. A dedication festival relates to the church building, to its consecration as a place of worship. A patronal festival is held on the feast day of the saint after whom the church is named. In the case of Deeping St James they happen to fall on the same day, one big celebration!
The custom of having patron saints is thought to have originated from the building of churches over the tombs of martyrs. James' the Great' (the son of Zebedee and brother of John) was a popular choice at the time our Church was founded as it echoed the completion of the great church at Compostela and the popularity of the pilgrimage there.
During the Middle Ages many questionable superstitions and customs grew up around the saints; James, for example was associated with equestrians, tanners and physicians…and cures for rheumatism! However turning more reliably to the New Testament, we find James being one of Jesus' earliest and closest followers, despite his failings, noted for his zeal and courage – the first, in fact, to win a martyr's crown. A 'great choice' for what was in 1139 a small and humble settlement.
May our Church and village continue to grow in spirit and fellowship as we meet on 25th July to worship God, honour our saint, and marvel at the work of successive generations at present in our care and keeping.
Readings for July
To see your reading in advance without having to mark your bible pages, you can select and copy your reference and paste it into oremus Bible Browser (or type in your reference) and print out the reading. The translation used in church is the New Revised Standard Version, which is the default version on oremus.
6th July, 7th Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Zechariah 9: 9-12; Romans 7: 15-25a; Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-end
- 18:00: 2 Samuel 2: 1-11; 3: 1; Luke 18: 31 - 19: 10
13th July, 8th Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Isaiah 55: 10-13; Romans 8: 1-11; Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
20th July, 9th Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19; Romans 8: 12-25; Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43
Friday 25th July, James the Apostle, Patronal and Dedication Festival:
- 7.30pm: Acts 11: 27 - 12: 2; 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15; Matthew 20: 20-28
27th July, 10th Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: 1 Kings 3: 5-12; Romans 8: 26-end; Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
3rd August, 11th Sunday after Trinity:
- Morning: Isaiah 55: 1-5; Romans 9: 1-5; Matthew 14: 13-21
Home Groups
- The Bible Study Group: Fridays at 10 am at 91 Manor Way
- House Group: Every Wednesday, 7.30 pm at 45 Crowson Way - Everyone welcome
News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers
Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers, as active members of The Priory Church, spent a lot of time preparing for the Rose and Sweet Pea Show. Imaginations were running rife as they constructed small containers, cards and bookmarks for the various displays in Church. Outside, the popular Activity Passports on the Vicarage lawn had a theme which reflected our support of the housebuilding project in Nepal.
There have been a few changes to our Sunday morning children's activities recently. Up until now we have run two groups - Explorers for Keystage 2 children, and Climbers and Scramblers for the younger ones. We are now in the fortunate position of being able to split the latter group so that our very youngest children - and their parents - can meet separately as Scramblers and enjoy activities which are more tailored to their interests and needs. Play-doh and rice (uncooked!) play have proved very popular, and foam-fun was such a winner that the Climbers joined in too!
Now that the number of groups has increased we find we are a little short of one or two things, especially something to sit on. If anyone has a hearthrug which they no longer need and which could be rolled up for storage we would be very grateful for this. Thank you.
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.
The Lambeth Conference 2008
As a student at the University of Kent in Canterbury I have been given an opportunity that not many others will ever experience – I am one of sixty volunteer stewards at this year's Lambeth Conference, to be hosted on our campus from July 16th to August 4th. The Conference is a major event for those who are in senior positions with in the worldwide Anglican Church, for it is a meeting of over 800 bishops and their spouses that happens once every 10 years and is used to help clarify issues most relevant to the Church today. For me, wishing to follow my father into ministry, it is an invaluable piece of work experience and future career-building.
This summer's Conference, unfolding amidst the recent and ongoing controversy concerning same-sex weddings and ordination of openly homosexual members of the clergy – as well as the media's hounding of the Archbishop of Canterbury over Sharia law, promises to be fairly pivotal in deciding how the Anglican Church will be perceived in the future and how unified we will continue to be. It's been difficult to miss the reports of bishops shunning the Conference to attend 'GAFCon' instead, as a protest to the current stance on a wide range of issues. I am extremely excited to be attending such an important event, and feel very privileged to be a part of it.
However, it isn't all Church politics – there is to be a day in London where my fellow stewards and I will join the guests not only at Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but also a garden party at Buckingham Palace! As well as this there are services in Canterbury Cathedral to look forward to, lots of new people to meet and, after the main Conference, a stewards' retreat of a couple of days, led by the Archbishop himself. I'm sure I will enjoy myself, though I have been told it is very hard work that I will find it a very fulfilling experience and a memory I will cherish.
Celia Warrick
BISHOP'S LETTER
The World comes to Canterbury
To spend nearly three weeks in the company of more than 600 Bishops may not be everyone's idea of a good time. But it is an opportunity not to be missed. Why?
Quite simply, because the Bishops' gathering for this year's Lambeth Conference on 16th July will bring with them stories of troubles and triumphs from all parts of our world. We know that the Anglican Church has a global presence and, day by day, we try to remember our fellow-Anglicans around the world in our Cycle of Prayer. But every ten years we have this chance to meet together in order to deepen our fellowship, broaden our horizons and enrich our awareness of how God is at work in places very different from where we live and work and worship. We will do this through daily Worship, Bible Study and task groups concentrating each day on a different challenge facing us, as we seek to further our ministry and mission into the 21st Century.
But I guess the times spent in one-to-one conversations over meal tables and walking around the University of Kent campus will be at least as valuable as the programmed activities. For example, at the last Lambeth Conference I got to know the Bishop of Belize really well. Sylvestre knew first hand about the impact of guerrilla warfare, international drug-dealing and grinding poverty on his land and people. Suddenly what the news media had to tell me about life in these small Central American republics came vividly into focus, and there was the Anglican Church making a difference to the lives of growing numbers of new Christians in the name of the living God. No doubt my experience was replicated over and over again as the Conference progressed, and we all came away challenged and changed by that experience.
So along with Bishops David and Tim, I will be taking with me stories of Church life and witness here in the Diocese of Lincoln, and no doubt we will return with many stories and much food for thought to share with you all. Please pray for the Conference, and especially for Archbishop Rowan as he seeks to guide us into God's future where we can be ever more aware of His presence, open to His word and obedient to His will. Some have chosen not to attend this time. That will be their loss – and ours. But the Spirit of God will be moving amongst us and who knows where that might lead …?
ARCHDEACON ARTHUR HAWES
After more than 13 years as Archdeacon of Lincoln, Arthur Hawes is retiring and opportunities will be taken during June and July to pay tribute to his ministry amongst us, give thanks for all he has done for us and with us, and pray God's blessing on him and Melanie as they look to the future.
Arthur came to Lincoln from the Diocese of Norwich after 25 years in parochial ministry and hospital chaplaincy, and his experience gained in these two spheres has served us well. Not only has he been a good friend and mentor to Clergy and Lay Leaders in our Parishes, he has also ensured that the work of Hospital Chaplains has been supported and strengthened across the Diocese. His particular interest and expertise in matters relating to mental health has been recognised locally and nationally, and it is typical of Arthur to have developed a care for what is sometimes seen as the Cinderella sector of the NHS.
He will be missed by a whole host of people for all sorts of reasons, and not least by those of us who have enjoyed his good company and the generous hospitality afforded by Arthur and Melanie to guests at Archdeacon's House. Of course, he will also leave a gap in the Diocesan Clergy Golf Team which will be difficult to fill!
We thank God for all the good things we have shared with Arthur and Melanie over the years, and may they be blessed with health and happiness for many years to come.
+ John Lincoln
The Social Committee
Many of you might be wondering why there is no concert on the lawn this year, well, the answer is simple the calendar did not have sufficient space to fit it in at the appropriate time. Last year we were asked by the Stamford Arts Council to host " Music in Quiet Places" in the Priory Church, this performance proved so popular that we were asked to host another event this year BUT the only date available was Thursday 10th July. We had set aside the Saturday 12th for our lawn concert BUT, than we found that this clashed with Burghley.
Reluctantly we realised that the concert by the Arts Council would have to take precedence over our plans and it would provide a super evening of music for all tastes.
Watch out for next year when we hope to be able to hold our annual concert on the lawn.
The Priory Community Hall Regeneration Project:
Planning Application Submitted
An application has now been submitted for Planning Consent for the first phase of the Church Hall improvement scheme, and a grant application has been made to WREN, with some funding also promised from Deeping St James United Charities if the WREN bid succeeds. (The WREN grants are funded by landfill tax - an environmental payback system.)
The first phase consists of the work to rebuild and improve the kitchen and toilet area both to provide fresh modern facilities and also to create a corridor behind the main hall so that access to these facilities will not involve entering the hall. A new, larger, entrance lobby would also be provided and new electrical and plumbing installations.
The decision to split the work into phases followed the earlier unsuccessful bid for National Lottery funding for the entire project. It was felt that two or three smaller funding applications might be more successful, even though the total cost would necessarily be higher, and that an earlier start might therefore be possible. If all goes according to plan, work should begin on these improvements next summer.
Meanwhile the Church Hall Trustees will begin to address the essential repairs to those parts of the building not included in this major rebuilding exercise, and will also provide damp-proofing to the main hall in order to protect the décor against further degradation due to water ingress. Income from lettings, together with donations already received towards the improvement project, will finance these repairs and improvements.
Taken together, all of this work will represent a major improvement in the appearance and usefulness of the Church Hall. The overall plan for improvement remains the same but taking the project in phases means that a substantial part of the scheme can be finished and in use without waiting until all the funding is available. Future phases will see the stage replaced by a better one with proper dressing facilities, and a corridor and storage area created beside the main hall, and finally, the option to build an additional meeting/dressing room behind the stage if that can be funded.
The regeneration group hopes to update their information board in the hall shortly so that you can how plans are progressing. The Priory Community Hall Regeneration Project Group is grateful to all those who have donated towards the project and to those who have organized the various fund- raising events which have given us the finance needed to make this important start to what is a very expensive but worthwhile rebuilding scheme which will benefit the whole community.
Mark Warrick
COOKING WITH MARGARET
RASPBERRY ICED MOUSSE
- 2 x 250g tubs quark (low fat cream cheese),
- 50g Icing sugar,
- Squeeze or two of lemon juice,
- 250g pack of frozen raspberries.
Tip the quark and sugar into a large bowl, add lemon juice and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy. Gently stir in raspberries until they begin to break up and mixture is streaked pink; taste and add a little more lemon juice if required. Spoon into glasses and serve.
Registers for May
To follow next month, with apologies for the disappointment.
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