| Editor: Sonia Marshall | Layout: Dave Merchant | Web version: Mark Warrick |
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There has been a trend in recent years to see humanity in "holistic" terms. That is, to see our lives in mental and spiritual terms as well as simply physical. Hence there has been a huge growth in "alternative" and "complementary" therapies to sit alongside the physical therapies long represented by our medical professions. In broad terms this holistic approach is to be welcomed: God made us body, mind and spirit and longs for us to be healthy in all three ways. The Church has always had spiritual welfare at the top of its priorities, of course, and, as is clear from even the simplest reading of the gospels, mental and physical health are our concern, too.
Many people are seeking mental and even spiritual welfare without looking at their relationship with God, and in this there is great danger. How can one be healed spiritually unless one is reconciled with the creator? And if one is not spiritually whole, then it is hard to be well mentally, too, or physically. For the Christian, healing must start with God. Indeed it must start with a desire to remove all that stands in the way of a proper relationship with God, and the traditional emphasis on the need to be penitent is at the heart of Christian healing.
Jesus knew that unresolved guilt lay at the heart of many disorders, and in many of the healing stories of the Gospel he began with forgiving the sins of those he was helping. When we approach God for healing today, whether of body, mind or spirit, it is first of all forgiveness we must seek for our own part in the sin of the world. Whether our part is large or small it must be confessed, for know that none of us is perfect, and yet perfection is what we seek when we ask for health.
There are many in the world today who will sell you a crystal or an oil or some sort of treatment or other, but the Church has been in the healing business for two millennia and will not charge you a penny. On the other hand, putting yourself into the hands of Almighty God could just change your whole life. It did mine!
The grand sum of £308 was raised following the Lunch & Auction on Sunday 6th October towards the Organ Fund. The amount includes donations from those unable to attend. The social committee thank those who supported the event, especially the washers up.
Bill Flegg.
Following the success of last year's All Saints Sunday memorial service we shall be holding a similar service this year at which we can each commemorate our departed loved ones on Sunday afternoon 3rd November. This will be in addition to the Requiem Eucharist on 2nd November at which the departed will be remembered by name on request.
If you have lost a loved one recently, or not so recently, and would like to take time out to remember them before God, then this service may meet your needs. There is no need to book: simply turn up and take part as much or as little as you wish in this simple service of hymns, readings and prayers.
The PCC has agreed to the Misson Committee's recommendations for the outreach giving for 2002.
1,400 people being placed and supported in mission with CMS.
Homelessness in the 21st century is not just having nowhere to live, it also about losing your independence and purpose in life, being isolated, humiliated and ignored. EMMAUS tackles these problems through a network of self-supporting communities, where people gain not only a home but also meaningful work and a sense of belonging.
Desmond Tutu asked us to support Farm-Africa and help communities of Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. Schemes include the dairy goat project, the farm bean project and many other schemes to help them avoid a famine.
Helping to restore many clergy back to good health by free treatment at St. Luke's hospital under NHS hospitals.
In the land that our Lord knew so well, children blind and disabled are helped and educated by staff working for Bible Lands, especially amid the troubles in Israel and Palestine.
Next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.... Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June But just in case the bride would carry a bouquet of flowers to hide any body odor.
Yearly baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water. Then all the sons and men in the household would bathe. Then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs. Thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was often the only place for animals to get warm, so the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.........It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice "clean" bed. A bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. The canopy bed was born!
The wealthy had stone floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on he floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more thresh. When the door was opened the thresh would blow around. A large piece of wood was placed in the entry way................a "thresh hold."
(to be continued)
A new student at college was on a tour of the library, when they reached the reference section and the encyclopaedias. The student looked at them in amazement and asked 'What are all those?' 'Those are the encyclopaedias,' replied the professor. 'What,' gasped the student, 'someone bothered to print them all out?' (This is a true story!)
I try and take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.
As I type the Church Calendar I use the new service book, Common Worship, and as I am sure you may have noticed there are many in the monthly listings, that I personally class, as little known saints or notables. I thought that it might be an idea to pick one of them at random and try to find something about them. This is my choice for this month and If it is popular I will continue with the 'Saint of the Month'.
Dave
When Charles Simeon first went to Cambridge in 1783, the gospel had not been preached there for over 40 years. As Vicar of Holy Trinity church, he declared the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ courageously and clearly against fierce opposition from both the University and the townspeople.
His own parishioners refused to come, and locked their pews so that no one else could either; and his church officers not infrequently locked him out of his own church on Sunday mornings.
During the early years of his ministry, his sermons were punctuated by the sound of breaking glass as University students threw bricks through the church windows.
He was pointedly ignored on the streets and privately ridiculed by both citizens of the town and scholars.
Thus began the astonishing career of this remarkable and solitary man, who was considered by Lord Macaulay to have had a greater influence upon the life of the church than any Primate.
The great Evangelical Awakening of the following century sprang directly from Simeon's ministry and had a tremendous impact around the world through its accompanying revival in missionary outreach. Highly unpopular at first both because of his message and his manner, scorned and abused for many years, he carried on regardless until, in the end, he had become one of the most highly-regarded and warmly-loved men in England.
Hot-tempered but generous, impetuous but infinitely patient, a man of imposing appearance, he was also an individualist about who the most entertaining stories were, and still are, eagerly recounted.
Throughout his long and immensely fruitful ministry he was determined to declare no other message but that of "Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners", and he upheld unswervingly the inspired Scriptures that faithfully testify of Him.
As a man of independent mind and strong convictions, he found his spiritual strength in a lifetime of deep devotion and strict personal discipline. As a Biblical teacher, he was the first for many generations to see again the necessity and importance of teaching men how to expound and preach the Scriptures. As a pastor and evangelist, his work was marked by a rare faithfulness and zeal.
As word of this remarkable man's ministry began to spread, young men travelled into Cambridge from the surrounding towns to sit under his ministry. Many of them became great ministers themselves to the next generation; and some, like Henry Martyn, who was later to die bringing the Gospel to Persia, gave up everything to answer the missionary call.
The accumulating fruit of this single faithful man's ministry transformed England during the next century, and had an incalculable effect upon the world thereafter.
Now that the organ has been dismantled a large number of parts of various size are lying around in the south aisle waiting to be reinstalled when the reassembly takes place in the new year. For reasons both of security and of safety it is necessary for the church building to remain locked at all times when it is unattended until the work to the organ has been completed.
This is a matter for great regret and we all look forward to next Easter when the organ will be better than we have ever known it and we can keep our building open to visitors once again.
Meanwhile work continues on raising the necessary funds to pay for the work. Thanks to a generous loan, we have been able to get the work started before all the money has been assembled, and we are now just some £6000 short of the total needed. Thanks are due to the Deeping St James United Charities who have contributed large sums to the organ fund, but also to all those who have given in what ever way to bring us to where we are. Please continue to be generous and we hope that by the time the work is complete we shall also be able to pay off the loan and so close this chapter and move on in our work for Christ's kingdom.
We held another successful open evening on the 4th October when we had seven visitors to the tower. Two of the visitors showed a great deal of interest. Further open evenings are planned for the future, but in the meantime, anyone interested will be welcome to attend any Friday evening between 7.30 and 9.00 pm.
On Tuesday 8 October some twenty local Cub Scouts and their leaders visited the tower as part of a local history project. They climbed the tower to the bell chamber and saw the bells and also the method in which we ring them. Handouts on the known history of the bells were then distributed to them. Many interesting questions came from these young boys, and we hope they enjoyed the experience.
As they say; the old ones are the best!
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Copyright © 2002 Deeping St James PCC