May 2014 Magazine

Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Finedon.

Parish Magazine

May 2014

50p

Finedon Parish Church: St Mary The Virgin Vicar:

The Revd Richard Coles, Parish Priest, St Mary the Virgin Finedon, The Vicarage, Church Hill, Finedon, Northants, NN9 5NR 01933 681 786, Mobile 07885 967 960 email: revdrichardcoles@yahoo.co.uk

Assistant Honorary Priest

Fr Peter Baden,01832 733186 email: p.baden36@btinternet.com

Parish Clerk

Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364 (To whom first contact for Baptisms and weddings must be made).

Churchwardens:

Mrs Jane Read Tel: 680522 Mr Neil Forster Tel: 682177

PCC Secretary: Treasurer:

Mrs Gill Foster Tel: 680364 Mr Andrew Weatherill Tel: 682212

Magazine Editor:

Mrs Janet Millington, Tel: 681161.

E-mail: millingtonjanet@aol.com (to whom all copy should addressed by the 15th of the month prior to publication)

Director of Music

Mr Jonathan Harris Tel: 01604 881182 Email: Hjonathan83@aol.com

Deputy Organists

Mrs. Kathy Roberts Mr Oliver Grigg

Choirmaster:

Mr. Bryan Chapman Tel: 398818

Tower Captain Web Site

Mr Bryan Chapman, Tel 398818 www.finedonphotographs.org.uk/ bellringers.html

Archivist

Mr John Bailey Tel 680747

St Michael’s Mission Room:

Bryan & Christine Chapman Tel: 01933 398818

Times Of Services:

Sundays 8.00 am Holy Eucharist 9.30 am Parish Eucharist.

6.00 pm Evensong (1st Sunday of the Month)

From The Vicarage May 2014.

I feel I’m caught in a some sort of time lapse at the moment, the spring having sprung early and Easter being late. I step out of church and find things more advanced than I expected them to be, the horse chestnuts in full leaf, daisies underfoot, and the dispelling of the darkness of the grave by the Easter Candle anticipated by the switch to British Summer Time.

For our post-Easter break we’re in Scotland, not the Kintyre Peninsula, as usual, but for a change in Galloway, the south western corner of, staying not far from Whithorn, a tiny place with a long history. It is one of the cradles of Christianity in these islands, site of St Ninian’s Cave, where archaeologists in the 19th century discovered ancient carved crosses that are associated with the communities established here by St Ninian in the 5th century, long before St Columba settled on Iona and took the credit for evangelising Scotland. It’s a fascinating story, the missionary expansion to Britain, and one of the reasons we’re here is to recce a Parish Pilgrimage next year, not to the Holy Land this time, but to our own land, to visit some of the places where Christianity first flourished. We plan to visit Durham, and its mighty cathedral (I’m mates with the Dean so we might get the Deluxe Tour and Tea); then to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where St Cuthbert and St Aidan lived and preached and won souls for Christ in the 7th century; then over the border – who knows perhaps next year we’ll need passports? – and on to Whithorn and St Ninian; and finally to the tiny island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides, where the community at the Abbey there today continues the tradition of St Columba who arrived in the 6th century from Ireland. The journey into the ancient origins of the church in Britain will also be a journey into the Gospels themselves, a chance not only to visit some of the loveliest and wildest parts of Britain, but to enrich our lives of faith also. A ten day trip in either late spring or early autumn?

Do let me know if you might be interested in this.

Yours in Christ, Fr Richard.

3

Our Worship in May Year A 4th – 3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 2. 14a, 36 -41 Psalm 116. 1 - 3 1 Peter 1. 17 - 23 Luke 24. 13 - 35 Hymns 160 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son 468 I danced in the morning (Children’s Choir) 136 Alleluia, alleluia Anthem: Kum ba ya & Amazing Grace 612 We have a gospel to proclaim 4th – Evensong 387 Before Jehovah’s aweful throne Responses: Ferial Psalm 48 158 The Lord is risen indeed Canticles: Ouseley/MacFarren (Set C) Anthem: C. Hylton Stewart The Lord is my Shepherd 429 Forth in the peace of Christ we go 11th – 4th Sunday of Easter Acts 2. 42 -47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2. 19 - end John 10. 1 - 10 Hymns 150 Love’s redeeming work is done 140 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing 594 (Tune Brother James’s Air) The Lord’s my Shepherd Anthem: C. Hylton Stewart The Lord is my Shepherd 409 Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem

18th - 5th Sunday of Easter Acts 7. 55 - 60 Psalm 31. 1 - 5 1 Peter 2. 2 -10 John 14. 1 - 14 Hymns 157 The day of resurrection 155 Paschal Feast! Upon the cross 278 Alleluia, sing to Jesus Anthem: Handel I know that my redeemer lives 162 Ye choirs of new Jerusalem * 25th – 6th Sunday of Easter Acts 17. 22 - 31 Psalm 66. 7 - 18 1 Peter 3. 13 -22 John 14. 15 - 21.

Hymns 362 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord 359 Rejoice, O Land, in God thy might 250 All creatures of our God and King Anthem: Tallis If ye love me 166 Crown him with many crowns • Descant Organ Voluntaries following the 9.30am services 4th May C.S.Lang: Tuba Tune 11th May J S.Bach : Toccata from Dorian Toccata & Fugue BWV 538 18th May Boëllmann: Menuet gothique - 1st & 2nd movement Organ Voluntaries following the 6.00pm evensong 4th May Richard Proulx: Fanfare for Organ

From the Registers Holy Baptism 30th March Joanna Elizabeth Davies

Floodlight Sponsorship 23rd March Harry Nicholls - in memory of his mother Olive Nicholls (on what would have been her 100th birthday) 30th March Rod & Jan Lawman - to celebrate Elliot's 21st birthday Pamela Knight - in memory of her mum, Marjorie Knight Sally Brown & Family - in memory of Irene Cole.

Carolyn, Jane & Roger - in memory of their dear mum, Phyllis Neville (on what would have been her 98th Birthday) 13th April Jean Pidcock - in memory of Jack Pidcock (on what would have been his birthday) Joyce & Bryan Williams - to celebrate the return to Finedon of the other Williams family Mark, Lisa, Emily & Sarina Georgie Grigg - in memory of her husband Peter Brian Grigg (on what would have been his birthday)

Mother’s Union "Christian care for families This months meeting will be held on Tuesday 6th May at 2.30 pm in the Mission Room.

Our speaker this afternoon will be Sue Tringham a Diocesan Unit coordinator of Worldwide Mother's Union.

Anyone wishing to come along and find out more about the Mother's Union will be made most welcome.

Easter Flowers Thank you to everyone who so generously donated towards the cost of the Easter Flowers, donations totalled £150.

As the cost increases each year, this is much appreciated

Musical Afternoon Velma would like to extend sincere thanks to everyone who helped in any way to make the Afternoon Tea held on the 8th April at the Finedon Bowling Club such a huge success.

We have been able to donate the sum of £300.00 towards renewing the bell ropes.

Such a lovely ‘family’ atmosphere prevailed and as always it was a sheer delight to work with the willing team. Thanks also to those who came to support us.

Our entertainers have said how much they enjoyed coming and hadn’t had so much audience participation for years.

The donation we gave them of £50 they have forwarded to their own charity ‘Action for Children’. All in all, a very happy afternoon

Thank You Philip and Ruth Sibley thank all of you for your sympathy, kind thoughts, cards, flowers, and prayers in our time of sorrow over the passing of our daughter Barbara.

5They are greatly appreciated and bring us strength and comfort.

May God’s blessing be with you all.

Evensong There will be a Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Church on Sunday 4th May at 6.00 pm.

This will be followed by light refreshments.

Christian Aid Week 11-17 May 2014 War tears lives apart Love can help piece them back together ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer… in whom I take refuge.’

2 Samuel 22:2-3 For a growing number of people across the world, the horror of war is a part of daily life.

Right now, fuelled by the devastating violence in both Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the numbers of people driven from their homes by war is on the rise.

It stands at 42 million people – an appalling statistic and a stain on the conscience of humanity. We can’t turn our backs. We must act now.

The good news is that our church can make a real difference.

Last year, a magnificent 20,000 churches across the country helped raise over £12m for Christian Aid Week. Here at St Mary’s Finedon we helped raise £1200, thanks to the support of 36 collectors and money counters.

Together we can send people living in fear this message: you are not alone.

We’re with you, helping you to rebuild your lives, and working for peace.

Imagine what such an expression of love would mean to people searching for the strength to cope with the devastation of war, and how it could help to drive out their fear.

Demonstrate God’s love for those living in poverty and show how much good the church is doing in the world this Christian Aid Week. Together we can reach the 42 million people caught up in conflict and help them live a life free from fear.

Could you provide the gift of hope? £15 could provide blankets for refugee children to protect them from bitter night-time temperatures. £40 could provide enough good quality and nutritious food for two refugee children for a month. £150 could help us provide specialist emotional support for a child deeply traumatised by the horror of war that they’ve witnessed or experienced.

Be an instrument of God’s peace.

Give, act and pray this Christian Aid Week. caweek.org Our organisers at St Mary’s Church are Gill Dunn and Gill Foster who will be distributing envelopes to those collectors already signed up, in church on the weekends of 26-27 April & 3-4 May 2014.

If anyone wishes to sign up please contact us on 01933 398700/07952 195816 (Gill Dunn) / 01933 680364 (Gill Foster)

The ‘Wheely’ Big Push Ben Talbot is a 14 year old Finedon boy who has Global Development Delays.

Finedon Buffs are organising a 3 day event on 24, 25 & 26th May to raise money to help him have a much needed operation in St Louis, America.

The object is to cover 4,200 miles pushing wheel chairs, prams, wheelbarrows and shopping trolleys around the Green in Well Street. One circuit of the Green is ¼ mile.

Therefore, 16,800 laps will be needed to achieve this aim.

We have the wheelchairs. Anyone wishing to organize a team and sponsorship speak to Jane Read 680522 who has the paperwork. We could have a relay team and pledge a number of miles on one of the days – anyone up for it. It is a good cause for the community. (I volunteer to sit in a wheelchair.)

For further information contact Michael Shipton on 681697 or Malcolm Peet on 680773

Townswomen’s Guild Our speaker this month will be Steven Bruce who will talk about Women's Rights in Iraq.There will be a sales table of tins and bottles and the competition is for a scarf. The meeting will take place on Thursday May1st at 7.30pm in the Town Hall.

Visitors will be most welcome.

Finedon Local History Society The May meeting of the Finedon Local History Society will be an afternoon outing to Lyveden New Bield on 26th May 2014.

Unfortunately this will be restricted to members and friends. The cost will £5 -00 per head which is normal National Trust entrance fee. National Trust members will be admitted free and terms and conditions for them will apply. There may be additional cost if we have a group tour.

7 Final details will be given when members book for the event.

St Mary’s Church, Finedon is very pleased to welcome back the

Mynx Soul Band who will be playing at

St Mary’s Church on

Saturday 10th May 2014 at 7.45 pm 'This is our own Jonathan George from Church and his colleagues playing Soul music .

This is a return concert after many requests'.

Tickets priced £8.00 are now available from Jonathan George 01933 680062 (07860 957582) Chris Butts 01933 680268 (07786 602722) and Jane Read 01933 680522.

St Mary the Virgin, Finedon - Music Report April 2014 Children’s Choir The Children’s Choir was launched in February 2013, rehearsing at school every Friday morning during term time at 8.15am. They now sing the second hymn and communion anthems at the morning service on the first Sunday of most months. Nine children attend practises regularly, most of whom have passed their RSCM Voice for Life White & Light Blue singing awards. The Children’s Choir received a grant from the Brereton Memorial Fund in February 2014 to purchase ten melody copies of Common Praise.

Anthem Book and Carols for Choirs, the choir has increased its repertoire of anthems.

The choir sings regularly at Rosewood Court in Wellingborough, at Deanery services and at the annual Diocesan Choral Festival in Peterborough Cathedral.

Joanne Needle (alto) has passed the RSCM Voice for Life Silver Award in January 2014 and six members of the choir are currently preparing for Bronze and Silver exams in June 2014.

The choir & bell ringers annual dinner held at Wadenhoe was notably well attended.

Rehearsals have continued to be accompanied by Karen Carr, and services directed by Bryan Chapman.

Finedon Festival Chorus Our enlarged choir sang Stainer’s Crucifixion on Good Friday with soloists from the main choir.

For the RSCM 50:50 Sunday on 23rd June 2013 we held a ‘Come & Sing Choral Evensong’ service; music included Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Wood’s Hail Gladdening Light.

Nearly 50 singers sang at the Festal Evensong during the Flower Festival weekend in September; music includes James Macmillan’s O Radiant Dawn and Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens.

Organ Thanks to fundraising by many people in the church and grants from Church Care and Heritage Lottery, work to the restoration of the organ began in November 2013. The work is progressing on schedule and the post -restoration organ recital has been arranged for during the Flower Festival, Saturday 13th September 2014. The organ restoration project is being followed by many people across the world, and a lot of interest has also been shown in the transcription work to the two anthems written for Finedon by William Croft, which is part of the project.

Main Choir Our main choir continues to go from strength to strength, with an average of 20 singers attending services and rehearsals from the 26 members of the choir. Thanks to investing in new books such as the New Church

Organists Our Junior Organ Scholar, Michael Needle, began lessons in February 2013 and has played several times during services for hymns, service music and voluntaries.

d) to celebrate the completion of the Organ Restoration with an Organ Recital and include article in local and national music journals.

Before the restoration work began, the organ attracted a large number of visiting organists from across the country; in July 2013, 14 different organists played the organ.

Since July 2013, Shanna Hart has played regularly as our visiting organ scholar and her experience of playing for services at Finedon helped her gain the experience needed to become Organ Scholar-Elect of Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Choir a) increase numbers within each part for regular Sunday morning services (target: one additional adult per part each year i.e. minimum 4 new adult members per year); b) increase amount of singers who will join us on occasion e.g. for monthly Choral Evensongs or Carol services c) Finedon Festival Chorus – aim for 2 major services each year 1. Flower Festival Choral Evensong 2. One other service during the year d) Cathedral Visit – establish singing ‘Choral Evensong’ as an annual occasion at Peterborough Cathedral

5 year Music Plan The 5 year plan created at the start of 2013 (copied below) is progressing well. Arrangements for the tercentenary concert to celebrate the installation of the organ are well underway (May 2017). The choir has been invited to sing choral evensong as a Visiting Choir at Peterborough Cathedral again in February 2015 and then at Canterbury Cathedral in February 2016. Further developments to the Children’s Choir are scheduled for September 2014.

Concerts a) continue to be open to visiting choirs or musicians to use the church as a performance venue b) to arrange two major concerts with a visiting choir and/or visiting organist – one concert for the completion of the restoration of the organ; one for the 300th anniversary of the installation of the organ (17th May 1717)

Jonathan Harris Director of Music 6th April 2014 Music Vision 2013-2017 Organ a) complete restoration of the organ

Children a) to increase the number of children in the choir, both Junior School and Secondary School age b) to start a children’s choir aimed at Junior School age children (when too old children join main choir)

b) promote learning the organ by being open to organists to practise or learn the organ; offer organ scholarship and lessons on the organ. c) to welcome any visiting organists or Organ Associations to try the organ.

9

Lyra We are very lucky to have Lyra, the singers from St Petersburg, visiting St Mary’s Church again on Thursday 22nd May, for a concert of traditional, sacred and secular vocal music.

All the singers are professional musicians singing in different churches of St Petersburg.

Tickets priced ÂŁ5.00 are now available from Jane Read (680552) and Janet Millington (681161) or you can pay at the door on the night.

'Come and Sing' RSCM 'Come and Sing' Vivaldi's Gloria, St Peter's Irthlingborough NN9 5SE, directed by Kathryn Haworth. Rehearsal at 15:45. performance at 19:00. Please contact kathrynhaworth@hotmail.com to book a place, alternately come along at 19:00 to the free concert (retiring collection) www.rscmpeterboroughandnortha mpton.com

Summer Choral Evensongs at Canons Ashby Priory Church sung by Fiori Musicali Choir The Fiori Musicali Choir, directed by Dr Penelope Rapson, sing traditional Sunday choral evensong during the summer months as part of their residency at the National Trust, Canons Ashby. BCP evensongs with readings from the King James Bible are at 5pm.

Sun 27 April 2014 Revd Chevalier Dr Graham St John-Willey, Grand Chaplain General of the Knights Templar Music to include Smith Responses, Gibbons Short Service & Tye Sing unto the Lord Sun 18 May 2014 Music to include Mundy O Lord, the maker of all things Sun 15 June 2014 Rt Revd John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth music to include Gibbons O clap your hands Sun 27 July 2014 Music to include Mudd O God, who hast prepared Sun 17 August 2014 Revd Canon Peter Moger, Precentor of York Minster, music to include Tallis I call and cry to thee, O Lord The venue: Canons Ashby, Priory Church, Banbury Road, Canons Ashby NN11 3SD, a 13th century grand church, all that is left of the Augustinian priory that once dominated a flourishing medieval village Further information at www.fiori-musicali.com

TINGDENE ENTERTAINERS Present the Musical Fable of Broadway

GUYS & DOLLS Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th June at

7:30 pm at The Star Hall Finedon Tickets available on 01933 680680

Church of St Mary the Virgin Finedon

Summer Fete Saturday 21st June The Green, Well Street 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm Various stalls and activities including Bottle, teddy, children’s tombolas, bric-a-brac, plants, Decoupage, pick a duck, cakes, books, woodwork & raffle Jazz Band, Reptile Exhibition & Maypole dancing

Archivist’s Report for 2013 for Church AGM

books comprising the Monk’s Cell library to be valued by Mr Roger Strangwick of Bedford. The task is not yet complete, but Mr Strangwick advises me that he should have finished his work within a couple of months.

John Bailey (13th April 2014)

Search fees of £34 were paid into the Church Funds. £11.50 was taken in admission fees to the Monk’s Cell at the Flower Festival. As usual, I was assisted by Jamie Smith.

On 28th October 2013 I gave a talk to A Musical Miscellany the Finedon Local History Society on A Musical Miscellany will be our church records. This involved performed by Soprano Anna Burgon taking along several volumes and LGMS, accompanied by Tony documents to the Mission Room in Edwards, on Saturday 10th May at which I was assisted by Barbara my 7.30 pm at the church of St Mary the wife, Jamie Smith and Beatrix Virgin, Burton Latimer.

Weatherill. I believe I amazed the 55 Tickets are £7.50 (including people present with the sheer volume and variety of the contents of the 11refreshments) available from Margaret Burgon 01536 722193 and Monk’s Cell. At the instigation of our Helen Smith 01536 722901. insurers, I have arranged for the

A little touch of Norfolk On a recent visit to Norfolk I picked up a booklet published by the Diocese of Norfolk called ‘Open Churches in Norfolk’.

The Diocese has 495 Churches open to the public from dawn to dusk, usually in the week, all over Norfolk.

The booklet also provides maps, postcodes and addresses to find the Churches.

Each Church tells a story pertaining to the local community and, not only that, it gives the explorer the chance of discovering lovely settlements tucked away in the Norfolk countryside that otherwise you would not have normally visited.

In Norfolk there are 120 Churches with’ Rapunzel’ type round towers.

The Round Tower Churches Society actually helps struggling communities preserve the fabric of these Churches. One such Church is in a hamlet of East Walton which is off the beaten track in a beautiful setting.

Inside are 4 large good quality 18thC box pews that fill the nave of the Church. Once inside the box pew you disappeared from view on the four benches surrounding the edge. Only the Vicar giving a sermon rising above in the pulpit could see what was going on in the pews. The altar was completely out of sight.

Snettisham church is worth a mention having one of the only five spires in Norfolk. Inside on the left of the west door sits a small fireplace embedded into the Church wall which has replaced the oven where communion wafers were cooked in the past.

St James the Great, at Castle Acre has a splendid example of a hexagonal wine glass pulpit.

Coloured paintings adorn the panels of the pulpit depicting the four Latin doctors of the Church, St. Augustine, Gregory, Jerome and Ambrose. Close by the Church is the Castle Acre monastic site which is well preserved by English Heritage.

The Church gate tea rooms where freshly baked homemade scones and cakes are served with a variety of teas is next to the Church and worth a stopover. There are hundreds more gems to discover using the Open Churches booklet which can be found on line to plan your visit.

Norfolkopenchurches.com. Try it and see what you can uncover.

Hardwich May Fayre Hardwick May Fayre is being held on Satuday 17th May commencing at 2.00pm. Stalls include plants, cakes, bric a- brac, some games, photographic competition, with teas and cake in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Church of St Mary the Virgin

Meat Bingo on

Friday 9th May at the

Mission Room Well Street at 7.30

pm

Admission Free Refreshments available Raffle Everyone Welcome Transport is available.

For details please telephone Andrew Weatherill on 682212

In My Day the ramblings of Hubert James

You could always tell the Burton lads because they all wore jackets with velvet collars and matched them with check shirts. When I say ‘match’, I’m stretching it. Most of them would have got arrested by the fashion police.

So every night for a week Finedon would carouse. It was very popular to do marathons where folk kept going until they dropped. So there might be a marathon Beetle Drive, or 24 hour jumble sale. Saturday there’d be an all-night Barn Dance at the Star Hall.

One year they had a competition to win a bicycle. Everyone had to gather round touching the bike and see how long they could keep in contact with it.

Over a couple of days folk would drop out or pass out until only one person remained, and the bike was theirs.

A chap called Dean James from Regent Street won, but he was good at all the competitions. He didn’t seem to need sleep. Five years in a row he carried off the carousing crown for being Revel without a Pause.

In my day it was about this time of year that spring revels would begin.

Now when I say revels I don’t mean those nondescript chocolates you get nowadays. You know the ones; every time you bite into one you run the risk of getting the orange fondant when actually you just like the toffees.

No these revels were merrymaking, carousing, that sort of thing. In my day there was nothing better than a touch of carousing. And of course it Church Monthly Draw was all legal.

Life was a lot simpler then, with none Total receipts of £272.00 are divided of this namby-pamby Health & Safety equally between the winners and the you get nowadays where you have to church funds. Winning numbers for have a risk assessment just to get the April monthly draw are: permission to breath. And definitely, 1st prize 81 £68.00 definitely politics didn’t have to be 2nd prize 139 £40.80 correct. Folk could be trusted to be 3rd prize 218 £27.20 naturally polite.

I digress.

If you would like to join the monthly Finedon revels got a proper draw (£1.00 per share per month) reputation for fun and laughter and which takes place in the church on attracted young people from as far the first Sunday of the month, please away as Wilby and Raunds. And of 13contact Kathy Hobbs on 01933 course, Burton.

398794.

Rt Revd John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth writes

Easter Joy In the beautiful old Cathedral of Florence, San Lorenzo, left unfinished when they started work on the new Church, there are not one but two pulpits!

They are decorated with bronze mouldings by Donattello. One has images of Jesus’ passion, his trial, suffering and death. The other has pictures of Jesus’ glory, his resurrection and ascension. As Christians we need both of those pulpits and both their messages, and we need to hold them together. We need to walk the way of the cross and to share in the joy of the resurrection. We need both Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

It’s very easy to become unbalanced, to make this “either/or” instead of “both/ and”.

There is a very deep spirituality centred on the cross, with a strong emphasis on our desperate situation without God, upon the passionate love of Christ expressed through his death and upon the grace of forgiveness. Its fruit is a

deep thankfulness.

There is an equally deep spirituality centred upon the resurrection, with a focus upon new life, on God-given opportunities, upon the transforming joyful power of God. Its fruit too is a deep thankfulness.

We need both. Spiritual life with only the cross can become rather heavy, needing to be surprised by joy. Spiritual life with only the resurrection can become rather fizzy, needing to be rooted and grounded in love.

Healthy Churches have always had to live with the contrast between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

A few years ago on a visit to the Sudan, I preached at a confirmation service in a refugee camp. 300 worshippers squeezed into a temporary mud Church to rejoice with the 45 candidates.

Humanly speaking, this was a community with little to celebrate, but celebrate they did. It was 40 degrees in the shade and warmer still in the Church, as we sang and danced and danced, even during the collection! This was a community that knows much about suffering, much about living through Good Friday, but without doubt they are Easter people. Their favourite word was “Alleluia!”

Some of you will have been walking through periods of personal tragedy, time spent in the valley of the shadow of death, where every day feels like Good Friday. I pray that this Easter season may bring you joy, as you hear the voice of Jesus speak our name, as he did to Mary, grieving in the garden.

Town Diary May

July

3rd

11-2pm May Fayre Wesleyan Chapel

6th

9.45 Coffee morning, Bowls Club 2.30 Mother’s Union, Mission Room

9th

7.30 Church Meat Bingo, Mission Room

10th

7.45 Minx Band, St Mary’s Church

12th

9.30-12 Coffee Morning, 39 Millers Close British Legion, Canine Partners, David Day

13th

10.00 Coffee Morning, Football Club

20th

9.45 Coffee Morning, Bowls Club

22nd

Lyra Vocal Ensemble, St Mary’s Church

24/25/ 26th

Buffs 3 day event on the Green

25th

Crowning of the May Queen

26th

History Society, visit to Lyvedon New Bield

27th

10.00 Coffee Morning, Football Club

7th

British :Legion Quiz Night

12th

Wine Walkabout, St Mary’s Church

22nd

Song Cycle concert, St Mary’s Church,

August 4th

British :Legion Chat night

September 1st

British Legion, Every Picture Tells Two Stories, Michael Leonards

21st

Harvest, Wesleyan Chapel

June October 1st

2-6pm Open Gardens

2nd

British Legion, Revd Richard Coles

5th/12/ 19/26

Open Garden, 67-69 High Street, Finedon

7th

Music from the Heart, Community Centre.

11/14th

7.30 Guys & Dolls Star Hall, Laws Lane

21st

1-4pm, St Mary’s Church Summer Fair on the Green

28th

7.30 Northampton Philharmonic Choir, St Mary’s Church

28/28th

FIWC Flower Festival

29th

2-6pm Open Gardens Hymns on the Green

4th

9-12 noon Table top sale, Wesleyan Chapel

6th

British Legion, Fish & Chip night

November 3rd

British Legion AGM

December 5th

8pm St Mary’s Church Wassail Evening British Legion, Entertainment

St Michael’s Mission Room, Well Street, Finedon Available for hire weekdays and Saturdays.

Suitable for most social functions, charitable events, children's parties (no late discos)

For all enquiries and information contact 15 Bryan & Christine Chapman Tel: 01933 398818 Email: bryanchapman2@aol.com