ÉVÉNEMENTS The Newsletter of the Anglican Chaplaincy of Aude Midi-Pyrenees
CHRISTMAS 2014 EDITION www.churchinmidipa.org
www.issuu.com/churchinmidipa
WELCOME TO ÉVÉNEMENTS The Midi PA Chaplaincy Newsletter is back in a new format, which we hope you will like. Designed to be read online or downloaded and either read on your own PC or tablet or simply printed out onto paper, we hope you will find it accessible as well as informative. Événements will contain reports on past events as well as information on forthcoming ones from all the worshipping communities within our Chaplaincy. Each edition will also feature a reflection by one of the Clergy Team as well as some general news and articles which might be of interest to a Christian Community such as ours. We also welcome news and photographs directly from our readers which you can send by e-mail to newsletter@churchinmidipa.org The latest date for submissions for the next edition will always appear in the current one. Événements is looking for local parish correspondents who will contribute material to our magazine for each edition. If you would like to help us, please contact Clive Billenness at the above email address. Now please read on.....
This remarkable nativity scene was carved from the trunk of a single tree, and is displayed in the Church of Our Lady, Bruges, Belgium. Please note the star carved in the trunk above the figures.
Inside this edition of Événements Welcome to the Newsletter······· Front Page A Message from our Chaplain ·················· 2 News about New Arrivals ························· 3 News from Alet-Les Bains ························ 4 Sing A Song of Christmas ························· 5 News from Cahors ···································· 6 First Woman Bishop Appointed ················ 6 News from Toulouse ··························· 7 - 8 Christmas Panto······································· 9 The True Meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas ······························································ 10 Junior Page ············································ 11
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAPLAIN
the C of E! Many parents feel that this is an important part of Christmas and that it is important for children to learn about the origins of the Christian Story in a country whose Queen is the Head of State and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. In Primary Schools there is a variety in the way the story is portrayed as made popular in the “Nativity’ movies! Often there are ‘creatures’ or even ‘aliens from other planets’ who arrive to see the baby Jesus but does that really matter? What is important is that our young people learn about the birth of Jesus and take part in the story in some way. If you ask most of the parents why it is important for schools to continue with nativity plays they will tell you that it is something that they did themselves and it has stayed with them. And by introducing them to the story there is always the possibility that they might be open to listening to, or asking questions about the rest of Jesus’ story?
Rev Canon Andrew Hawken chaplainmpa@churchinmidipa.org
MaryKristmas, Nativity Plays an’ all that jazz …. Here in my commune I received publicity about an event that is going to take place in the week before Christmas, “An evening with MaryKristmas” who is, of course, the wife of Father Kristmas!! Living in a country where there is full separation between the State and Religion does open our eyes to what happens when you separate the two entities entirely. As Christians we know that Father Christmas is really St Nicholas the fourth century bishop of Myra who, so the legend goes, helped out a poor family anonymously and saved the children from inevitable slavery by giving them gifts.
‘an all that jazz…’ rings in our ears everywhere we go. In todays world of shopping centres and towns with speaker systems in the street it is inevitable that the strains of music are never very far from our ears. It floods our lives so much so that the silence, when we do achieve it, is almost deafening! And in among the secular jazz there are still hints of a religious note. A proper Christmas Carol can still be heard once in a while. As it is the season of Carol Services there are very many English=speaking people who come and join us to sing these traditional songs that ‘make it Christmas’.
In the Low Countries and in the Orthodox Christian Tradition St Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th December and this is the day when presents are exchanged. On a recent visit to Brussels to welcome our new bishop Sylvia and I saw some wonderful window displays of chocolate effigies of St Nicholas in just about every chocolatier. Here in France Père Noël, AKA Father Kristmas, is someone who gives presents with little or no connotation between him and St Nicholas. Watch out for the PN’s precariously balanced on walls or hanging around on some houses! At church in Toulouse we recently had our Nativity Play as has been done for a number of years. This year the tableau included the children and members of the congregation reminiscent of the first Nativity Scene created by St Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century. He invited people from his village to act out the story of Jesus’ birth. From then the tradition of creating the scene for ourselves was born. But it would seem that in secular Britain some schools are no longer putting on a Nativity Play at Christmas! Not just ‘no room at the inn’, but no room for the Christian Story!
In Puritan England in the 17th century there was a time when carol singing was suppressed as seen to be a catholic invention! Thankfully the tradition was fully recovered and today there are so many delights to listen to including our own personal favourites and Carols from Kings College Cambridge. One of the important parts of the Carol Service is surely coming together and sharing the fellowship that is ‘the Peace of the Christ child in the manger,’ that wonderful way in which God opens up the way for us to come near to Him. We sing the carols and hear the familiar readings from the bible culminating in St John’s great words, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” God, the Word made flesh, is among us filling us with his grace and his truth now and every Christmastide, so let us sing, rejoice and make merry together.
This has led to a protest from parents, and not necessarily those who are paid up members of
May I wish you all a very Happy and Blessed Christmas. 2
WELCOME (BACK)
JACQUELINE RODWELL
We are delighted to welcome back to our Chaplaincy two members of Clergy. One on a brief visit and one more permanently
Rev Jacqueline Rodwell will be joining us on a more permanent basis as she comes to live in our Chaplaincy area, and has a Permission to Officiate from Bishop Robert.
KATE CULLINANE Rev Canon Kate Cullinane will be coming to join us for 3 months starting in January 2015. She will be living in Alet-Les-Bains while Rev Tony Jewiss is away on an extended break.
Jacqueline has been a regular visitor to this area in the past, and we now delighted to welcome her more permanently.
Kate is a Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of San Joaquin, California. In this role, she serves as lead member of diocesan staff, supervises aided parishes and missions, as a resource for congregational development, and as transitional and ordination officer.
She writes: “The last couple of months have been a time of adjustment, of meeting up with 'old' friends, making new acquaintances, and settling into our new life-style. “My husband, Paul, is now working part-time so he will be joining me in France for two weeks out of every five.
Kate writes: “I was in France in February of 2012 when I came to visit Fr. Tony, so I know something of your winter weather and just a little bit about your region.
“We've been holidaying in the Razés since 2003 and were ex-pats in the French-speaking part of Belgium in the1990s, so many aspects of life here are familiar.
“I am excited to be able to be with all of you for approximately three months. I am looking forward to learning more about the both the congregation and the Chaplaincy. I have only been to France twice, once in 1987 and once again in 2012, and both visits were much too short.
“A couple of weeks ago I drove past a football pitch where two teams of small boys were playing and I was immediately transported back to cold winter mornings watching our son playing for the local village team. “I'm enjoying long walks with our dog Treacle (a two year old black lab), I'm brushing up on my French and have even joined a local French choir!
“I am really hoping that by living there a few months I will have a greater appreciation of life for English speakers in France and of French culture itself.
“Having spent part of my curacy in the Chaplaincy back in 2006, it was lovely to join the Chaplaincy Council for their meeting last month and learn more about what's happening across the Chaplaincy today.
“I am hoping to learn some French cooking while I am here as well.” Since Kate has already been to cooking schools in Thailand and Bali, and has India and Italy in her sights for the future, French cuisine should be a breeze !
“I can honestly say that it's good to be back and I look forward to catching up with more of you over the coming months”
Kate is rostered to join us at Alet, Cahors, Tarn and Toulouse during her stay, so we look forward to welcoming her.
Welcome back Jacqueline !
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NEWS FROM ALET-LES-BAINS
SOME DATES FOR YOUR DIARY MIDNIGHT MASS Rev Robin Fairbrother will celebrate the First Mass of Christmas with Eucharist at L’Eglise St André at 23h30 on Christmas Eve CHRISTMAS MORNING Tony Jewiss will celebrate a said Communion at St André at 10h00 on Christmas Morning. SOMEWHAT FURTHER IN THE FUTURE CHAPLAINCY AGM
We will shortly be saying a temporary au revoir to Rev Canon Tony Jewiss, who is going off on his travels for a while after retiring from ministry or at least ’downsizing’
In 2015, the full Chaplaincy Annual General Meeting will be held in Alet on 12 April. People will be travelling from all over the Chaplaincy to join us, and some have already started to book hotel rooms.
There has been some discussion about whether there should be a collection for a gift to mark this moment, but in his self-effacing way Tony insists that he has no need of anything (!) but that there are very many needy folk, not least in our own Chaplaincy.
If anyone could host visiting congregation members for the night of 11th April, and provide Bed, Breakfast and an Evening Meal, this would be greatly appreciated. If you would be willing to help, would you please contact Henry Bott as soon as possible at
There is never a warning before disaster strikes (within our own Church we will recall the fire that destroyed the home of a family in the village of Pauligne earlier this year) and to be able to respond rapidly and with some effect in such situations is not easy.
henry@churchinmidipa.org so that we can save people the expense of making hotel bookings wherever possible.
So, rather than seeking contributions for a gift, Tony invites us all to contribute towards an 'Emergency Aid Fund' to be made available to meet those emergencies that may arise somewhere in our Chaplaincy. We can donate: In Cash (in sealed envelope marked ' TJ Retirement') this Sunday, or placed in the Collection bag at any Sunday Service at any service throughout the Chaplaincy until 25th January 2015. By either Euro cheques (payable to Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrenees & Aude) or Sterling cheques (payable to Diocese in Europe), marked "Tony Jewiss" and posted direct to our Chaplaincy Treasurer, James Cox at 47 rue des Noyers, 46220 Prayssac, France Because these gifts are for charitable purposes, both may be made under Gift Aid or Virement rules. 4
SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW YOUR CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND SONGS ? WHY NOT PRINT OUT THIS PAGE AND TRY THIS QUIZ ? (PS - NO GOOGLING !!)
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NEWS FROM CAHORS
FIRST C of E WOMAN BISHOP APPOINTED As we went to Press, news has come through that the Church of England has appointed its first woman bishop.
Our Carol Service in Gourdon was well-attended.....
As we go to Press, our Carol Service will be taking place in the Eglise de Saint Barthelemy, and on Sunday 21 December, we will be holding our Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols at Terre Rouge
The Revd Libby Lane (pictured above) has been appointed as new Suffragan (assistant) Bishop of Stockport, just a month after Canon Law was changed to enable women to hold the office of Bishop.
A Christmas Day Communion Service will be celebrated by Revd June Hutchinson at 10h00.
Libby was ordained into the priesthood in 1994 and was one of the 8 women clergy who was appointed as a Participant Observer in the House of Bishops.
On Sunday 11 January 2015, there will be a special Farewell Service for Mgr Turini, Bishop of Cahors in the Cathedral at 14h30. All are welcome.
She will assist the Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster who said “Libby has had a varied and distinguished ministry, and is currently a first-rate parish priest. She has already demonstrated her ability to contribute nationally through her representative role in the House of Bishops, on behalf of the north-west England dioceses. “As the first woman bishop in the Church of England she will face many challenges as well as enjoying many opportunities to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that she has the gifts and determination to be an outstanding bishop. "I am delighted at her designation as Bishop of Stockport after a lengthy process of discernment across the Church of England and beyond." She will be formally consecrated into this post in York Minster on 26 January 2015. Libby is married to George Lane, who is also a priest and was ordained with her - one of the first married couples to do this.
....as was our Christingle Service on 7 December
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NEWS FROM TOULOUSE
minute silence following the blowing of the Last Post and remembered the fallen of the many wars which have occurred since 1914.
We welcomed both English and French visitors to the exhibition. One French lady told us the poignant story that she was the daughter of the only brother from a large family who returned alive from the War.
REFLECTIONS ON THE BATTLEFIELDS On the weekend of Remembrance Sunday, as part of the centenary commemoration of the 1st World War, we co-hosted with the Roman Catholic Congregation of Notre Dame De L’Assomption a special exhibition by the students of the Toulouse International School entitled “Reflections on the Battlefields”
For some of our French visitors, this was also their first encounter with the wearing of the commemorative Poppy, and many of them made sure to wear one away from the event.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDA BILLENNESS
Articles, posters, poems and paintings, all prepared by the Students were
Also in November, we congratulated Linda Billenness on the award of her MA in Theology.
displayed both on the Saturday as an open exhibition, and then again on the Sunday, when we were joined by the Scouts and Guides for a Parade Service as we observed the 2-
The day was made extra special for her when the certificate was presented to her in York Minster by Archbishop John Sentamu, who had set aside the time to present the awards to the Theology students. The four stages of life: 1) You believe in Santa Claus. 2) You don't believe in Santa Claus. 3) You are Santa Claus. 4) You look like Santa Claus. 7
NATIVITY PLAY
NEWS FROM TOULOUSE CONTINUED...
The Toulouse Nativity Play is something of a tradition, and great efforts are taken to change the format and innovate every year.
TWIG FAIR This year, the Toulouse Women’s International Group (TWIG) invited the Chaplaincy to attend their Grand Christmas Fair. And Grand it was, with stands selling a wide variety of English Christmas treats such as Mince Pies and Christmas Puddings.
2014 was no different, when it appeared that more than half the congregation (adults and children) had parts in the play. Shepherds, angels, stars and sheep all vied for space around the crib, where the teddy bear cast in the role of the infant Jesus reclined wrapped in swaddling bands.
In one corner, Santa’s Grotto was doing a roaring trade while people queued outside for bacon butties and fish’n’chips.
Members of the Junior Church acted as narrators for the story, the congregation sang excerpts from Christmas Carols with strong voice.
The Church stand busied itself with selling our wonderful Chaplaincy Christmas Cards and Real Advent Calendars, packed with Fairtrade Chocolate, as well as simply introducing ourselves to the sizeable British community who turned up to join in the festivities.
Their efforts were well-rewarded afterwards as we all adjourned to a nearby auberge to enjoy a delicious Christmas lunch. (Modest amounts of) wine flowed, as we tucked into delicious Confit de Canard or Cabillaud
The day was rated a great success and we have already been invited to come back next year when we hope to be given a great deal more space to work in.
It then emerged that the grand hamper, which was the first prize in the Raffle (which raised over €100 for church funds), contained several boxes of chocolates, which were then substituted for After Eights and were enjoyed by both diners and also the restaurant’s waiting staff.
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THE TOULOUSE SECRET PANTO SOCIETY INVITE YOU TO THEIR JANUARY 2015 PANTO PRODUCTION OF
CINDERELLA AT THE
THEATRE MUSICAL DE PIBRAC Come with us and let our pantomime transport you to a land of magic and fairy tales in this timeless classic tale.... if only dreams could come true... Poor Cinderella is in the kitchen of Casa Harduppo preparing breakfast for her two nasty step sisters. Baron Hardup has spent all his money on a 'winning' racehorse and the Baroness is using Cinderella as the house maid. Can Buttons convince Cinders he's the boy for her? Will Tutti and Frutti convince the Prince that they are the 'girls' for him? And who is the old lady gathering firewood in the forest? This is a story of love, laughter and wishes made true. This timeless story of rags to romance is transported to the sunlit canals and carnivals of Venice. SPS invite you all to come along to the Royal Ball. Where you will be entertained and amazed by the colourful costumes, spectacular scenery, delightful dances and sizzling slapstick. Tickets are available for all performances, between 24 January and 31 January 2015. Discounts for students, unwaged, pensioners and children More details at the website
http://www.secretpantosociety.com/ 9
THE TRUE MEANING OF THE WORDS OF
The 12 Days of Christmas seems at first just to be a simple, nonsensical Christmas song.
Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed.
The real background to the song is, however, more complex and also more sinister, and it is filled with hidden symbolism.
The “eleven pipers piping” are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas.
The song was written by unknown Jesuit priests in the 16th Century after Catholicism was outlawed by King Henry VIII after he broke away from Rome over the Pope’s refusal to allow him to divorce Catherine of Aragon.
The “ten ladies dancing” are the Ten Commandments. The “nine drummers drumming” are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important.
Priests were exiled and forbidden from returning to England under pain of death. The Celebration of the Catholic Communion was forbidden, as was the sacrament of Catholic baptism.
The “eight maids a milking” are the Eight Beatitudes. The “seven swans a swimming” are the Seven Sacraments.
Against this background of persecution, many devout families remained committed to their faith and continued to worship in secret.
The “six geese a laying” are the Six Commandments of the Church or the six days of creation.
“The 12 Days” was written as a simple song to allow people to remember the tenets of their faith without it being obvious to the King’s agents and spies.
The “five golden rings” are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” celebrates the official Christmas season which starts liturgically on Christmas Day and ends twelve days later on the Feast of the Epiphany. “
The “four calling birds” are the Four Gospels. The “three French hens” are the Three Persons in God or the three gifts of the Wise Men. The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine or the two Testaments, Old and New.
My true love” refers to God, “me” is the individual Catholic. The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs of the
The “partridge” is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.
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AND THAT’S IT FOR OUR FIRST EDITION OF EVENEMENTS YOU CAN FIND US ON THE CHAPLAINCY WEBSITE AND ALL EDITIONS ARE ALSO PUBLISHED AT http://issuu.com/churchinmidipa IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT ANY ITEM FOR OUR NEXT EDITION, PLEASE SEND IT TO newsletter@churchinmidipa.org
BY SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2015 11