Deeping St James Parish Church Magazine
Photographs of some parish events are available in our Photograph Album elsewhere on the site
To:
| Information Centre | Trades & Services | Notices |
| Diary | Groups & Societies | For Sale |
The Fig Tree in Context!
The Bible never ceases to surprise me: it often seems to have something new to say, even though I must by now have read every word in the New Testament many, many times. I had always wondered about Jesus cursing the fig tree when it failed to provide for his hunger out of season, but reading the passage at Morning Prayer one day the point hit me like sunlight at the exit from a tunnel: this was an acted parable emphasising the point of the story which is sandwiched between the cursing and the disciples' observing of the effect of the curse, which is the so-called cleansing of the Temple, and it contains a very important lesson for Christ's Church here in England the twenty-first century!
The stall-holders in the Temple may have been swindling cheats, they may have made fat profits out of the worshippers, they may have made the place noisy and dirty, but the main point that seems to have bothered Jesus is that they spoilt what the Temple was supposed to be: a place of worship for the Jewish nation and the whole world. By concentration on the minutiae of Jewish law and custom they prevented the world from seeing God and responding to him: no gentile was going to get past the noisy, smelly market full of rogue traders and see the glory of God! So, to Jesus as to his Father, this people was bearing no fruit and as useless to him as an out-of-season fig tree. As the tree is cursed and withers, so the Temple (not its institution, but what it had become) is cursed as a den of thieves and by the time Mark is writing his account has been destroyed by the Roman army.
Any large organisation needs administration and its buildings have to be maintained and its paid staff paid and the Church is no exception, but it is useless to be good at doing those things unless the aim of the whole enterprise is kept firmly upon the goal set for it by Christ himself, that is the building of his Kingdom on earth by making disciples and by serving the needs of all God's people. This is the fruit we are called to bear and if we fail to provide it, then the lesson of the fig tree a very appropriate lesson indeed. We do need to get the buildings and the money right, but only insofar as they are instrumental in bringing good news and service to the world: anything that gets in the way of that should be expelled as surely as the Temple traders, whether honest or not!
Readings for October
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.
7th October, 18th after Trinity, Harvest Thanksgiving:
- Morning: Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 1-4; 2 Timothy 1: 1-14; Luke 17: 5-10
- 18:00: Readings for Harvest
14th October, 19th after Trinity:
- Morning: 2 Kings 5: 1-3, 7-15c (08:00 only); 2 Timothy 2: 8-15; Luke 17: 11-19
- 18:00 Nehemiah 6: 1-16; John 15: 12-end
21st October, 20th after Trinity:
- Morning: Genesis 32: 22-31; 2 Timothy 3: 14 - 4: 5; Luke 18: 1-8
28th October, Simon and Jude, Apostles:
- Morning: Ecclesiasticus 35: 12-17; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18; Luke 18: 9-14
Home Groups
- The Bible Study Group meets on Fridays at 10:00, at the Vicarage for the time being.
- House Group: Every Wednesday, 7.30 pm at 45 Crowson Way - Everyone welcome
Priory Prayer Group
Owing to circumstances, the Priory Prayer Group has, for the time being,
ceased its regular fortnightly meetings.
We must pray to our Lord that a way will be found for it to again provide
the parish with a power house of prayer.
Bernard Babb
Notices
Weekday Worship
Please note that because the clergy are at an in-service training course on selected Thursday mornings, the weekday celebration of the Eucharist will be held at 09:30 on Fridays 12th, 19th and 26th October instead of Thursdays 11th, 18th and 25th October. There will also be no Morning Prayer on these Thursdays. The start of the Bible Study Group meeting may be slightly delayed on the Fridays.
Christmas Tree Festival
The Church Social Committee with help from members of the Deepings Flower Club are staging a Festival of Christmas Trees in Church during the festive season. If any organisation, group or family would like to supply and decorate a tree would they please contact any member of the committee for details.
Remembering Our Loved Ones
A memorial service for
All Saints Sunday
4th November 2007
3pm at the Priory Church,
Deeping St James
Hymns, prayers and readings to commemorate the departed
Light refreshments will be
available after the service.
All are welcome
MISSION COMMITTEE CRAFT FAIR
The Church Social Committee with help from members of the Deepings Flower Club are staging a Festival of Christmas Trees in Church during the festive season. If any organisation, group or family would like to supply and decorate a tree would they please contact any member of the committee for details. The Mission Committee are holding another fund-raising Craft Fair in the Church Hall on Saturday 27 October 10am-4pm. Admission is free.
There will be a good selection of crafts from all around the area - an ideal opportunity to buy an early Christmas present (or two).
Georgio`s Bistro will be serving all-day refreshments (including lunch) and, of course, his famous bacon butties should be available - he is increasing the order so is hoping this time he won`t sell out too early and thus risk disappointing Mark!
Please put this date in your diaries and support the event. All money raised will be going to charity.
If you are interested in having a table please contact me on 01778-342047 but be quick! Space is limited - Anne
THE CINNAMON TRUST
The Cinnamon Trust is the only national charity for elderly and terminally ill people and their much loved pets.
Founded in 1982 by Averil Jarvis, the primary aims of the Trust are to give peace of mind to the owners, love care safety to their pets. In the late seventies and early eighties, the value of companion animals was recognized and generally advocated, particularly for elderly people, but the drawbacks and anxieties generated were not and this led to the most unsatisfactory state of affairs imaginable with older pets being put down because they could not be cared for and frail owners suffering great distress.
Cinnamon Trust addresses and negates any problems owners encounter in the day to day care of their pets in addition to taking life time care of bereaved pets.
A national network of 10,000 registered volunteers provides service in the community, for example with walking the dog ,grooming, taking a pet to the vets ,cleaning out the budgies cage and short tem fostering when an owner faces a spell in hospital or hospice .And for bereaved pets, there is either life long fostering where the pets are placed within the community, often with an older person whose own pet has died, and the Trust pays all veterinary bills, keeps in touch and generally acts as a safety net to ensure each pet receives love and care for the rest of his or her natural life ; or there is sanctuary. Details on how you can make those long term arrangements for your pets are available on request by writing or telephoning the Trust.
The Trust has established two unique home from home sanctuaries where there are no kennels or cages but instead large, warm rooms to share, with armchairs, sofas, carpets and TV and constant human company and care.
We need volunteers in virtually every village and town and appeal through you to anyone with even an hour a week to spare to register as a volunteer with us. By the same token, do you know someone who needs help? Do you know a nursing or residential home that accepts pets? Let us know- we also have a Pet Friendly Care Homes Register!
(words by Averil Jarvis MBE, Chief Executive and Founder)
Thanks for your help
Kind Regards
Moira Butler
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Phone 01736 757900
E mail moira@cinnamon.org.uk
News from Explorers, Climbers and Scramblers
We began the new term by learning about God's plan for the spread of the Good News about Jesus, based on Paul's journeys.
Explorers learnt that God's plan is best carried out when his people work together as a team and participated in a few team activities to emphasise the point. Climbers and Scramblers enjoy being with friends just like Paul liked being with his friends so they iced biscuits to look like one of their special friends.
The children also learnt that we shouldn't be surprised when God chooses the most unlikely people to help carry out his plan. We looked in the Bible and found out about people like Paul's nephew who overheard about a plot to kill his uncle and by reporting it saved his life, and the boy David who killed the enemy Goliath. Explorers also looked at a scene from the Disney film 'Finding Nemo' where, much to everyone's surprise, a whale comes along and helps in order for father and son to be re-united. Climbers and Scramblers painted some wonderful self-portraits as a reminder that God uses the most unlikely people - like us (!) - to make things happen.
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.
A Call to Pray
Last year a friend gave me some prayer cards from her visit to Lindisfarne. The immediacy of their words and images made me feel they were written for me. One of them is now on our prayer board. They were taken from a unique book, 'Life Journey', by Mary Fleeson. She is a Christian artist, poet and writer who has made her home in Lindisfarne with her husband and daughter. Her work is in the ages-old creative Celtic tradition.
Anxious to read this book, I ordered a copy for Christmas. It was sold out, but I finally got a copy a few months ago. Reading 'Life Journey' was a revelation to me; it has become a source of great inspiration and comfort, giving a fresh impetus to my flagging prayer life.
In the words of a reviewer 'In this beautiful book we are invited into a journey where timeless scribe, Celtic saint and contemporary Christian pilgrim join hand in hand to guide us to a deeper commitment and greater love.'
For more information about Mary Fleeson and her work please refer to: http://www.lindisfarne-scriptorium.co.uk
I hope this book will help many others, as it has helped me.
Bet Washbrooke
COOKING WITH MARGARET
LAMB & DATE CASSEROLE ( Serves 4 )
- 1 lb 4 oz Diced Lamb,
- 1 tbsp plain flour,
- 2 tbsp Olive oil,
- 2 Onions chopped,
- 3 Large carrots cut into chunks,
- 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped,
- 1 pint chicken/lamb or vegetable stock,
- 1 tbsp cranberry sauce,
- 2 tsp tomato puree,
- 12 pitted ready to eat dates,
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
Put the lamb and flour in a plastic bag and shake well until coated. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Remove the lamb from the bag and shake off any excess flour, then add to the pan with the onions and carrots. Cook over a medium to high heat for 8 – 10 minutes stirring often until golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes, until thickened slightly.
Stir in the cranberry sauce, puree, dates and parsley. Season to taste.
Serve with steamed rice or couscous
Registers for August
BAPTISMS: We welcome to the Lord's family:
- 12th Sophie Anne Hodges 9 Foxgloves
- and Casey Thomas Knights 20 Foxgloves
- and Jessica Scarlett Knights 20 Foxgloves
- 26th Toby Andrew Markley 8 Main Street, Barholm
MARRIAGE: We congratulate:
- 4th Christopher David Neal and Elaine Campbell
- 5th Matthew James Billyard and Joanna Victoria Tattersall
- 11th Scott Lance Bayley amd Kim ashleight Taute
This is only an extract from some of our magazine. Residents of Deeping St James can subscribe to the printed version.