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Stedham with Iping Fund Raising events.
The Stedham with Iping Fund Raising Committee will be holding a pre-Christmas drinks party by kind invitation of James and Rosie Glancy at Quaggs Corner, Minsted. The party will be on Saturday 3rd December and tickets will be £15 each from Vanessa on 01730 817547 or Rosie on 01730 813745. 11th February J umble sale in Iping Chur ch (Fund Raising Committee) 11/12 March – Art Exhibition in Iping Church (Fund Raising Committee) Early July – Golf Tournament and Hog Roast at Chiddingfold Golf Club Tickets £28 each.
CONGRATULATIONS to Reverend Trish on being awarded Master of Arts (M.A.) with Merit, in Christian Spirituality . www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk St Luke’s Benefice website is now up and running. Services for the whole of the Benefice are added to the Calendar section very well in advance. If there are any changes to the services made after the magazine has gone to print - they will appear on the website calendar. We will also print the latest schedule of Readers/Lessons and Sidesmen on the website If you have been unable to attend church for any reason, you will find the pewsheet for previous Sundays’ with information for the coming week on the website. (With the exception of the pewsheets in October) Please let Alison know details of any upcoming church events and she will put them on the website
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From the Rector… An Intriguing Story
Has anyone been watching the Missing on BBC1? It is intriguing and every week the plot thickens, and what happens is never quite what you think will happen. It is quite unbelievable, but it is truly plausible. Perhaps like the Christmas Story. The virgin birth is probably the only part that we struggle to find plausible because we think only in human terms and not in the wider sense of what is plausible with God. Yet the rest of the story we don’t have to struggle with so much. It is the story of human nature. A young pregnant girl, expecting a child that isn’t her intended’s. Coping with all that that brings with it. Then with the birth imminent, the couple having to make a journey, for political reasons… At the end of a gruelling journey they find no welcome at the local Inn, which indeed, parallels many lives today. Though this part of the story is more intriguing than we may think. Even if there was room in the Inn, at that time a woman about to give birth would not have been allowed to stay inside because of making the establishment unclean for the ritually clean Jews. Then we have the birth in a lowly cave where animals were kept. We have angels and a great light marking the spot, encouraging pilgrims to the holy place. First came the shepherds, who were the lowest of the low, but it was to the lowest that the angels appeared. And why not, this is about God, not our human hierarchical system. And why not angels? The Bible speaks so much about angels, why would we resist believing in them. Then later came the kings, not first but last, sent by Herod to find the Christ child so he could then destroy the one who was to become the true king. They took presents as anyone would visiting a mother and her new baby, but these were different, no rattle or teething ring or bunch of flowers. No these were to foretell the destiny of this small baby boy. Gold was given for the great king he would become, though not a king as we think of in our human interpretation. Then frankincense which is the gift for a priest, and was used in temple worship. The function of a priest is to open the way to God and this is exactly what Jesus did. He made it possible for us to enter into the very presence of God. And lastly, Myrrh is the gift for the one who is to die. Myrrh being used to embalm
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www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk the dead. Jesus came into the world to live for us and, in the end, to die for us. He came to give us his life and death. Gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for one who was to die – these were the gifts of the wise men, and even at the cradle of Christ, they foretold that he was to be the true king, the perfect high priest, and in the end the supreme Saviour of the world. Yes, the Christmas story is quite unbelievable, to our narrow, human minds but it is truly plausible. It is the greatest story ever to be told, the story of the day God came to earth to live and die for those he loves. Wishing you the peace and joy that this amazingly intriguing story brings. Christmas blessings Rev Trish
DIARY DATES DECEMBER Fri 2 Sat 3
Rake School Christmas Fair Stedham with Iping Fund-raising committee pre– Christmas Drinks Party (More details in the magazine) Redford Christmas Party Redford Village Hall Hollycombe School Christmas Fair Hollycombe School Stedham Village Hall Stedham Village Tea and Carols Party Hall
Sat
3
6pm
Fri
9
6pm
Sat
10
3.30pm
Sat
10
7pm-11pm
Linch Christmas Party
Milland Memorial Hall
Tues
13
Sat
17
5.30pm
Stedham Village Christmas Luncheon Carol Singing
Stedham Memorial Hall Rising Sun
10.30am
Linch Benefice Epiphany Service
JANUARY Sun
8
NO SERVICES ELSEWHERE IN THE BENEFICE
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Jottings from St Lukes Milland PCC Meeting 2nd November: 1. 2.
2. 1.
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1.
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1.
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6. 1.
7.
The Rector confirmed that there would be a Messy Church on Friday 25th Nov with themes of Advent and the Jesse Tree, help was requested from anyone who could. It is hoped that The Christmas tree (9ft) will be erected on 3rd December, lights will be added on 3rd, for the school services and full decorating done on 17th Dec. There was discussion about the form of worship used at Milland for joint Benefice Services, and whilst the Rector and others felt that more inclusive forms of worship should be used at Benefice services, many on the PCC would prefer that BCP format was used at Milland as this was the normal service format. The Rector agreed to try to use BCP whenever possible and appropriate at Milland. The Rector confirmed that at present in 2017 she has 12 weddings in the Benefice, 8 of which are to be at Milland. Finances: It was confir med that letter s of thanks had been sent to several recent donators to the church. The proposed sponsorship of a child/student at the Kathryn’s Mercy Home Trust in TamilNadu, was discussed and the PCC after debate, for a variety of reasons, decided to make an initial donation of £150 rather than commit to an 8 year support programme at £150 per year. The Treasurer reported that John Dawes’ son had now raised £3280 at the LIBDA bike ride with additional funds arriving. The Christian Aid service raised over£150. Church building: Elizabeth Car twr ight was congr atulated on arranging a church-cleaning rota. John Dawes asked that the people Involved informed him of any repairs that were identified as being necessary. A report from John had been circulated with a summary of the options for the repair of the coping stones (ridge tiles) and the Churchwardens will discuss these, and detailed costs, with the architect. The tower waterproofing has been done and the door repairs are in hand. The acquisition and installation of sound system is moving forward, subject to a grant from the George Street Trust and it is hoped that it can be made available in the church during December. The new insurance premium has been agr eed and the insur er s had submitted a short list of which will be addressed within a H&S Policy Document, drafted by John Dawes Churchyard: Lynne Collar d confir med that the chur chyar d expenses would be over budget (between £600 & £1000) due to the amount of work required on the hedges which had not been attended to in previous years,
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8. 9. 10.
also an invoice had been received for work done in 2014. All this work is required to ensure that the churchyard was available as a community facility. The removal of the Leylandi is schedule for the first week in November; there have been some small donations to cover the costs of the beech hedge plants being planted as replacement, however further funding is required to continue with this work. Lynne will be receiving a detailed report on regular work required in the churchyard in order to construct a budget for the following year. Churchyard flowerbeds: Maureen Keel and Sheila Pim have done work in the beds and will address the Memorial Garden as well; thanks were expressed to them both. Safeguarding: The Diocesan pr oposed for ms wer e passed to Tr ish for signature by her and the Churchwardens and displaying on the noticeboards. Communication:The ser vices schedule, including the Rake and Hollycombe Schools Christmas Services, is available on the Benefice web site. Next Meeting: Wednesday 11th January at 8.00pm
For those who like more traditional poems, here is a famous one by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in 1863.
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th'unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head: 'There is no peace on earth, ' I said 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.' Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.' Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men.
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From the St Luke’s Milland Church Wardens Sadly, this month, we have said goodbye to two of our congregation. Firstly to Romany Dunham. She was a stalwart of our church for many years with her husband John who was her constant companion and great supporter of our church. However it was a wonderful send off to a lovely lady, provided by the members of the family. They also gave the church a beautiful display of flowers for which we would like to say a big thank you. Secondly, to Major J ulian Lawr ie who died on September 7. By the time you read this – Julian’s Memorial Service will have taken place at Milland, our thoughts and prayers are with Sue and all the family. On a happier note - I hope you have all noticed that the leylandii between the new graveyard and Tuxlith Green have been removed. We now have a wonderful view back across Tuxlith Green to the church. It will be delightful in the summer or even on clement winter days to be able to sit on the bench and look across at the church and the churchyard. Thank you so much to Sam Pope for organising the work and to Tony and Debi Salter and their team for providing their services for this mammoth task. We must also thank Mark Greef for his contributions towards clearing the trees. Can I also add a vote of thanks to Mark and David for their valiant efforts in cutting back the hedging on the north side of the church. It was a major job, as nothing had been done for at least 7 years, so - no mean feat. Very many thanks. We will now endeavour to keep the hedging maintained on an annual basis. Also in the next few weeks Andy and Simon Brennan will be strimming around all the old graves and restoring this part of the graveyard to its former glory. I really hope everyone who visits our church and churchyard will benefit from all the work that has been done over the last two months and to that end I would like to extend a big vote of thanks to Sam Pope who has been responsible for organising all the remedial work. He is now going to bow out graciously and hand the reins over to me, however I am sure I will be asking for his advice on more than one occasion in the future. Sorry Sam!
Lynne
MAGAZINE DEADLINE 28th December 2016 All copy please to stlukesbenefice@aol.com contact Alison Ireland on 01428 713392 The magazine will be in the Church for January 8 2017
St Luke’s Milland 200 Club This month’s winners
1st Cynthia Dawes 2nd B T Howell 3rd Ken Negus Please contact Julian Wells if you would like to join the 200 club.
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Fred Parker - Chelsea Football Club
The grave of the Founder of Chelsea Football Club, Fred Parker, is in the churchyard of St Luke’s Milland. About five years ago the Supporters Club had the grave cleaned and then visited with Parker's great grandson. There are three photos taken during the visit on 8 October 2016 by Chelsea Football Club Supporters Trust. They carefully cleaned the grave of Fred Parker and his wife Rosabelle. Fred was co-founder of Chelsea Football Club, in 1905. In the group photo wearing the black jacket from Rogate is Chris Robinson, head of recruitment, and training in the club's academy for young players. At right is Rick Glanville, Historian for Chelsea FC, who arranged the first cleaning by the Supporters, in 2010.
Before and after the clean up of Fred and Rosabelle Parker’s grave.
Wednesday Eucharist 8.45am Bettesworth Room This takes place on most Wednesdays. Please check the weekly pew sheet for the latest details
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From the St Luke’s Linch Church Wardens My (Carol’s) Mum and Rev Trish have something in common – they love(d) moving furniture around. I would often come home from school, especially in the Spring, to find my bed had done a 180 degree turn or the sideboard was on a different wall. In case you hadn’t noticed, that has happened at Linch, admittedly in a very minor way but we think it makes for a more attractive and hopefully more welcoming entrance. This was done following the cleaning of the windows and cills, washing of skirting boards, tidying of choir stalls and polishing of floors that took place recently. So, the church is now in waiting mode in the season of Advent, a peaceful and reflective time before the wonder of Christmas Day. Do remember it is always open for everyone and for a retreat from the frenetic pace of the world. Our Christmas services are also open to all and are set out in this magazine and on our website. With tidings of comfort and joy. Carol and David PARKING AT LINCH: Could EVERY ONE m ak e sure that they DO NOT park in a place on the road that could endanger others. There will be bollards keeping people from parking near the bend. The field will be open for additional parking.
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Thought for the Month
by William Alcock
Advent and the Future As we approach the end of 2016 with its vote for Brexit on our side of the Atlantic and it's vote for Donald Trump as President on the other, we must be conscious that there is a lot of change in the political air. Neither of these outcomes was expected when we entered the year, and the political undercurrents which have given rise to them are still doubtless developing: they have certainly combined to make our political future look pretty uncertain. In the perspective of history of course there have been many such changes of mood and direction - for example, a person born in the early 1500s would have experienced the Reformation, and later the invasion threat of the Spanish Armada; similarly, the parents of the oldest members of our congregations would probably have lived through both WWI and WWII, with their tremendous upheavals. No surprise therefore that things were much the same in Jesus’ day in the Middle East. We read in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, that when asked about the future, Jesus told his disciples that there would be war and rumour of war and that nation would rise against nation. He did add “ See that you be not troubled, for such things must needs be”. It was a very realistic answer. We are now getting into Advent, which has a tendency to be regarded as a prelude (dare one say an hor’s d’oeuvre) for Christmas. But Advent has its own message and a very important one; for it reminds us of God's ultimate purpose, as the recovery and restoration of God's creation. It is true that neither Jesus nor the Apostles gave any detailed description of exactly how this is to be accomplished: but in addition to being told of the coming of Jesus Christ (which we celebrate Christmas) and of Jesus’ resurrection (which we remember at Easter) the New Testament refers again and again to the ultimate sovereignty of Christ and the future is in God’s hands. The First Collect of Advent goes so far as to say that there is a “last day”. Our task is to live our lives believing in God through His son Jesus Christ, and that he has opened up a future (an eternal future) for us and although we are not told the detail apart from Jesus’ words that we shall not know the time, (“the day nor the hour,”) we are assured by St John in his first epistle that by faith “we are the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2)
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News from Stedham with Iping Harvest Supper This year’s harvest supper took place in the Memorial Hall on Sunday 2nd October, and rounded off the two Harvest Festival Sundays in St James Stedham and St Mary Iping. 50 people came and had a delicious supper of Lasagne with salad followed by Apple Pie and Cream or Summer Pudding. All the catering was done by Sue Brown and her friend Janice, who were to be congratulated on a well thought out , sensible and delicious menu. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and we were delighted to welcome Rev Trish with her husband Steve to their first Stedham event. Our Harvest Festival was never set up to be a “fund raising” event and with ticket prices at just £5, it broke even. However, the raffle raised well over £100 which will be sent to two charities – the Bishop’s Harvest Charity (mentioned in last month’s Magazine) and the Indian Charity we heard about in church during September. Many thanks to all who supported this event. WI Report for October 2017 Our Evening Meeting at the Memorial Hall on Thursday 20th October was well attended and we all enjoyed the talk from Tony Hale describing his “Lifetime in Radio” He brought with him the most amazing digital clock. He explained that every radio studio has one – the hour and minutes are displayed in large figures in the centre of a screen, and the seconds are shown as red dots, appearing second by second round the screen until at the 60th second they all disappear and the sequence re-starts. This is how announcers time their words to finish at the right time for the programme’s end, and it is a real skill which has to be learned. We heard many colourful stories about his time as a Radio Producer, the people he worked with and the times when things did not go according to plan. We were all enthralled, and would have been happy to keep him there answering questions all night. However, in the end we let him go and adjourned for tea and cake served by Janet Bristow and Penny Caulfeild before moving on to the rest of our evening’s business. Our next meeting will be earlier in the month than usual, and will take place on Thursday 10th November. This will be our Annual Meeting when elections are held for The President and Officers of the Institute. We will also be holding a Sales Table at this meeting. Our Knit and Natter group will meet on Wednesday 30th November at 2.30. If you would like to know more about joining our group please contact V anessa Blaber on 01730 817547 – I look forward to hearing from you
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That coin in your Christmas pudding
There is a tradition, which dates from the Middle Ages, of putting silver coins into Christmas puddings. The first coins used were a silver farthing or penny. After World War One, it became a threepenny bit and then a sixpence. Finding one was supposed to bring you good fortune, but probably more likely to break a tooth as you bit into the pudding. We now pay for most things with plastic or by tapping a mobile telephone. In future will people put old credit cards or phones in their Christmas pudding? Hope not. Other coins ‘appear’ at this time of year. Chocolate coins are traditionally given to children at Christmas time, and in Jewish tradition during Hanukkah. It is said that one night Saint Nicholas climbed on a roof and threw a purse of money down a chimney, which landed in a pair of stockings that a little girl had hung up to dry. Good throw!
Crossword for December 2016 p.16(Answers) ACROSS: 1, Lame. 3, Obtained. 8, Omit. 9, Mer chant. 11, Bur densome. 14, Crafty. 15, Please. 17, Blacksmith. 20, Splendid. 21, Tier. 22, Singeing. 23, Hand. DOWN: 1, Look back. 2, Main r oad. 4, Br east. 5, Accomplish. 6, Near . 7, Date. 10, Pestilence. 12, Basilica. 13, Tethered. 16, Action. 18, Asa’s. 19, Clan.
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SERVICES FOR DECEMBER 2016
SUNDAY 4 December 2nd Sunday of Advent Iping 9.30 am Said Eucharist Readings Isaiah 11:1 – 10; Romans 15: 4 – 13; Matthew 3:1 – 12 Linch 9.30 am Matins Readings Isaiah 11:1 – 10; Romans 15: 4 – 13; Matthew 3: 1 - 12 Sidesmen David Angela and Lorraine Grocott Milland 11.00am Communion Service with Baptism Lessons Isaiah 11:1 – 10; Romans 15: 4 – 13; Matthew 3:1 - 12 Readers Julian Wells and Michael Cartwright Sidesman Michael Cartwright Linch 4.00pm Christingle Sidesman Mary Turton Stedham No service Wednesday 7 December Milland 6.00 pm Rake School Nine Lessons and Carols Thursday 8 December Milland 6.00 pm Rake School Nine Lessons and Carols SUNDAY 11 December 3rd Sunday of Advent Stedham 9.30 am Holy Communion Readings Isaiah 35: 1 – 10; James 5: 7 – 10; Matthew 11: 2 – 11 Milland 11.00am Matins Lessons Isaiah 35: 1 – 10; James 5: 7 – 10; Sidesman Bob Ireland Readers Peter Anson and Janet Price Linch 6.00 pm Carol Service Readings Various Sidesmen Nigel and Juliet Cartwright Iping No service Friday
16 December 9.00 am Hollycombe School Christmas Service
SUNDAY 18 December 4th Sunday of Advent Linch 9.30 am Holy Communion and Junior Church Readings Isaiah 7:10 – 16; Romans 1:1 – 7; Matthew 1:18 - end Sidesmen Olive Fleming and Gina van Dyke
www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk Iping
11.00 am Readings
Matins Isaiah 7: 10 – 16; Matthew 1: 18 – end
Milland
11.00am Lessons Readers Sidesman
Carol Service Various Various Harry Scott
Stedham
4.00 pm Readings
Carol Service Various
Friday Iping
23 December 6.00 pm Carol Service (and Wassail!)
Saturday Linch
24 December Christmas Eve 3.00 pm Crib Service Sidesman Olive Fleming
Stedham
4.00 pm 11.30 pm Readings
Christingle Midnight Communion Isaiah 52: 7 – 10; Hebrews1: 1 – 12; John 1: 1 – 14
Linch
11.30 pm Readings Sidesman
Midnight Communion Isaiah 52: 7 – 10; Hebrews1: 1 – 12; John 1: 1 - 14 Mu Bullingham and David Alderman
Milland
11.30 pm Lessons Readers Sidesman
Midnight Communion Isaiah 52: 7 – 10; Hebrews1: 1 – 12; John 1: 1 – 14 Leslie Lloyd and Michael Cartwright Michael Cartwright
SUNDAY 25th December Christmas Day Linch 9.30 am Family Communion Readings Isaiah 9: 2 – 7; Titus 2: 11 – 14; Luke 2: 1 - 14 Sidesmen Greg Carter and Steve Bancroft Stedham
9.30 am Readings
Holy Communion Isaiah 9: 2 – 7; Titus 2: 11 – 14; Luke 2: 1 – 14
Milland
11.00am Lessons Readers Sidesman
Holy Communion Isaiah 9: 2 – 7; Titus 2: 11 – 14; Luke 2: 1 - 14 Harry Scott and Sam Pope Harry Scott
Iping
No service
www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk SUNDAY 1st January 2nd Sunday of Christmas Iping 9.30 am Said Communion Readings Numbers 6:22 – end; Galatians 4:4 – 7; Luke 2:15 – 21 Linch
9.30 am Readings Sidesmen
Matins Numbers 6: 22 – end; Galatians 4: 4 – 7; Luke 2: 15 – 21 Madeleine Oram and Greg Carter
Milland
11.00am Lessons Readers Sidesman
Choral Eucharist Numbers 6: 22 – end; Galatians 4: 4 – 7; Luke 2: 15 – 21 Janet Farnes and Julia Hughes Julia Hughes
Stedham
No service
SUNDAY 8 January Epiphany Linch 10.30 am Benefice Epiphany Carol Service Readings Various Sidesmen James Caulfeild and Mary Turton There will be no services at Milland, Stedham or Iping Churches
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Dear Friends, December is the season of school Christmas productions, some of them Nativity plays, that tell the familiar Christmas story....or at least a story put together from various parts of the Bible. Just two of the four Gospel writers, Matthew and Luke, give us an account of the Christmas story. John tells us about the Word made flesh in a prologue to his Gospel and Mark presents us with an adult Jesus ready to be baptised. Luke tells us about the Archangel Gabriel, Mary's visit to Elizabeth, the journey to Bethlehem, Jesus' birth and the laying of the baby in a manger because there was room at the inn. Then we hear about the shepherds. In Matthew's shorter story, it is Joseph who is visited by an angel and there's nothing about Elizabeth, a manger or shepherds. What Matthew does tell us about, is the visit of wise foreigners and their gifts, a story of terrible brutality towards children, the distress of their grieving parents and how the saviour of the world became a refugee. Stories of equally callous brutality in Syria and Iraq have stained 2016 with fresh blood and the airwaves carry the cries of contemporary agony. Matthew's saviour-refugee will speak of judgement on the behaviour of those who respond to the needs of the stranger, the hungry, the homeless, the detained prisoner and the sick. Our care for the homeless, the hungry, the prisoner and the refugee, is the welcome we offer to the one born in Bethlehem at Christmas. May this Christmas be a joy to you and to everyone. With every good wish, +Mark Bishop of Horsham
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Christingle: a generous present from the Moravians to the Churches It is the Moravians whom we have to thank for bringing us the Christingle. Especially one Moravian clergyman: John de Watteville. On 20th December, 1747, John de Watteville was taking a children’s service in his Moravian church in Marienborn, Germany. He led the children in some hymns, and read out verses which the children themselves had written to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Then he explained to the children that true happiness only comes through knowing Jesus. Jesus, said John de Watteville, “has kindled in each little heart a flame which keeps burning to their joy and our happiness”. John de Watteville then went on to illustrate that ‘flame’. He gave each child a little lighted wax candle, tied around with a red ribbon. He ended his service with a little prayer: “Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children’s hearts, that theirs like Thine become”. The visual aid was a great success with the children; for the Marienborn Diary for that day concludes: “hereupon the children went full of joy with their lighted candles to their rooms and so went glad and happy to bed”. The candle and red ribbon were remembered the following year, and the following after that.... The years came and went, and as the Moravians began to travel beyond Germany, so they took the custom with them: to Labrador, to Pennsylvania, to Tibet and Suriname, to the Caribbean and South Africa. In each country the Christians adapted it for their own use. No one knows for certain when the word ‘Christingle’ was first used with regard to the custom. No one even knows where the word ‘Christingle’ comes from. Some people say it is from the old Saxon word ‘ingle’ (fire), meaning ‘Christfire or light’. Another theory is that it derives from the German ‘engel’ (angel), meaning ‘Christ-angel’. In any event, the symbolism of Christingle gradually developed, until today the Moravians in the British Province use an orange, representing the world, with a lighted candle to represent Christ, the Light of the World. Nuts, raisins and sweets on cocktail sticks around the candle represent God’s bounty and goodness in providing the fruits of the earth. Red paper, forming a frill around the base of the candle, reminds us of the blood of Christ shed for all people on the cross at Calvary. In Moravian churches, the Christingle Service is usually held on the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve. The website for the Moravian Church says: “We are glad that the Moravian Church has been able to make this contribution to the wider Christian world.”
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26 December St Stephen – the first martyr (died c 35 AD) Have you ever stopped to consider that the very first martyr of the Christian Church was a deacon? (But no, he wasn’t worked to death by his church.) It was Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the Christian Church. He’d been appointed by the apostles to look after the distribution of alms to the faithful poor, and to help in the ministry of preaching.
Acts 6 and 7 tells us all that we know of his life, and the passages seem to suggest that he was an educated Hellenistic Jew. Certainly Stephen’s famous challenge to the Jews reveals him to have been learned in the Scriptures and the history of Judaism, besides being eloquent and forceful. Stephen's proclamation on the day of his martyrdom pulled no punches. He told the Jews that God did not depend on the Temple. The Temple was but a temporary institution destined to be fulfilled and superseded by Christ, who was the prophet foreseen by Moses as the Messiah for whom the Jewish race had so long awaited. Stephen then challenged his hearers for resisting the Spirit and for killing the Christ, as their fathers before them had killed the prophets. The Jews were so outraged by this that they stoned Stephen on the spot for blasphemy. As he died, Stephen saw a vision of Christ on God's right hand. The men who were witness to the stoning placed their clothes at the feet of Saul (afterwards Paul), who (to his deep regret later) consented to Stephen's death. By the fourth century Stephen had his own feast day in both East and West Churches. When his supposed tomb was discovered in 415, his popularity soared. His (supposed) relics were taken to Constantinople and then Rome, along with some stones (allegedly) used at his martyrdom. Early on the Church made Stephen the patron saint of deacons. In the late Middle Ages he was also invoked against headaches (?!). In England, 46 ancient churches are dedicated to him, most of them built after the Norman Conquest. In art Stephen is usually given a book of the Gospels and a stone, and sometimes the palm of martyrdom.
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Crossword for December 2016
Across 1 ‘The blind receive sight, the — walk’ (Luke 7:22) (4) 3 Got (Philippians 3:12) (8) 8 Leave out (Jeremiah 26:2) (4) 9 Castigated for using dishonest scales (Hosea 12:7) (8) 11 Weighty (1 John 5:3) (10) 14 ‘Now the serpent was more — than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made’ (Genesis 3:1) (6) 15 ‘Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot — God’ (Romans 8:8) (6)
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17 Because Israel lacked one of these, tools had to be sharpened by the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:19) (10) 20 In his vision of the two eagles and the vine, this is how Ezekiel described the latter (Ezekiel 17:8) (8) 21 Rite (anag.) (4) 22 Nine gigs (anag.) (8) 23 ‘The eye cannot say to the — , “I don’t need you”’ (1 Corinthians 12:21) (4) Down 1 ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t — — , and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!’ (Genesis 19:17) (4,4) 2 Principal thoroughfare (Numbers 20:19) (4,4) 4 ‘The tax collector... beat his — and said, “God have mercy on me, a sinner”’ (Luke 18:13) (6) 5 ‘The zeal of the Lord Almighty will — this’ (2 Kings 19:31) (10) 6 ‘The day of the Lord is — for all nations’ (Obadiah 15) (4) 7 Specified day (Acts 21:26) (4) 10 Deadly epidemic (Deuteronomy 32:24) (10) 12 Roman Catholic church which has special ceremonial rights (8) 13 Tied up (2 Kings 7:10) (8) 16 In his speech to the Sanhedrin, Stephen described Moses as ‘powerful in speech and — ’ (Acts 7:22) (6) 18 ‘Although he did not remove the high places, — heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life’ (1 Kings 15:14) (4) 19 Tribe (Deuteronomy 29:18) (4) (Answers p.19)
Everington Physiotherapy Margaret Everington MCSP Your local chartered Physiotherapist
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Christmas carols as mis-heard by children
Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly We three kings of porridge and tar On the first day of Christmas my tulip gave to me Later on we'll perspire, as we dream by the fire. He's makin a list, chicken and rice. Noel, Noel, Barney's the king of Israel. With the jelly toast proclaim Olive, the other reindeer Frosty the Snowman is a ferret elf, I say Sleep in heavenly peas In the meadow we can build a snowman, Then pretend that he is sparse and brown You'll go down in listerine … Oh, what fun it is to ride with one horse, soap and hay
Thanks
“Thanks very much for the beautiful jumper,” said Charles, kissing his grandmother dutifully on the cheek. “Oh, there’s nothing to thank me for,” she murmured. “That’s what I thought, but Mum said I had to.”
The Rising Sun, Milland
Village Pub & Dining "Great fresh and seasonal pub food, well kept Fullers' ales, extensive wine list, great atmosphere, large secure garden, ample parking" Children, dogs and ramblers very welcome Takeaway Fish & Chips and Pizzas NEWLY REFURBISHED DINING ROOM Open 12-3ish & 5.30-12 Mon - Fri & 12-12 Sat & Sun Iping Road, Milland, Nr Liphook, GU30 7NA 01428 741 347 - www.risingsunmilland.com
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s Print Centre
EST. 1979
For All Your Printing & Copying Needs
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36 Newtown Road, Liphook, Hants. GU30 7DX
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www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk Harvest Supper at Stedham
Below: the Iping Poppy Day Collector, Andy Cottrell with his dog in Iping. Side and bottom photos: Before and after the felling of the trees at St Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Milland. See p.5