Trinity Magazine Jan Feb 2013

The magazine of Holy Trinity Parish Church Sutton Coldfield Jan/Feb 2013 60p

Holy Trinity’s first pet service October 2012

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From the Editors ...

to the Trinity magazine for the New Year in 2013.

It is sad to be preparing this in the wake (good term) of the General Synod’s decision not to enable women priests to be ordained bishops. John wrote his piece immediately following that decision and it benefits from being recorded here, even though the situation might be different by the time you read the magazine.

There are tributes to two longstanding members of our congregation - Don Smith and David Perry, and we learn about two new young families at Holy Trinity.

May all our readers have a healthy, happy and blessed year.

Stella

Contents John Routh writes……………………...2 Through a glass darkly………………..4 Parish Profiles: Craig and Anna Collinge ……………..5 Steve and Teresa Smith……………….6 From the inside…………..……………...8 Book corner……………………………. .10 What’s been happening……………..15 Good Friday 1613 riding westward… .16

Tribute to David Perry……………….17 Youth matters ...…………………….19 Tribute to Don Smith………………...20 From the registers…………………....22 Winter wordsearch ..………………..23 Bible verse……………………..………..24

Stella-329 2101 s_thebridge@yahoo.com Louise—240 6366 louisejharden@hotmail.com Roger—308 1185 roger.smallwood@hotmail.com

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John Routh writes ...

A shameful result I was planning an upbeat piece about Holy Trinity because, actually, we're a pretty good bunch of people who are doing okay as a church and ... we deserve it! But I'm afraid events have overtaken me. As I write, the Church of England has hit the news headlines ... for all the wrong reasons. General Synod had rejected legislation that would make it possible to appoint women as bishops. It was a shocking result ... shameful, even.

The problem isn't what the Church of England believes. A huge majority of us want to have women bishops, and the principle has been officially accepted. The problem is the Church of England's system of governance. It has a built-in set of checks and balances and in this case they were abused!

General Synod is made up of three different 'houses': Bishops, Clergy and Laity. Any legislation has to be passed by each of the three houses; and in this case a 2/3 majority was needed in each house.

That majority was achieved easily in the Houses of Bishops and Clergy. But not in the House of Laity - they rejected the legislation by a very narrow margin.

It wouldn't be so bad if this outcome were truly representative of the Church of England. But it isn't. There are 44 dioceses in the Church of England, each with its own Diocesan Synod structured into three houses in the same way. The legislation was supported in all three houses in 42 of the 44 dioceses!

Sadly, General Synod isn't bound by Diocesan Synods, it can make up its own mind. So an organised, unrepresentative group of laity, strongly opposed to women as bishops, blocked the legislation ... and made the whole church look foolish, outdated and irrelevant.

As I say, it was a shocking, shameful result.

I've had to ask myself whether I really want to be a part of a church which has, for now, rejected something I believe in so strongly.

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Having thought about it, I think my answer is that that isn't the church I know.

General Synod's vote did not reflect the majority wish of church members across the country. And it certainly doesn't reflect the wishes of us here at Holy Trinity. We are a church which is open and welcoming to all, regardless of race, gender or sexuality. And we see no theologically defensible reason why church officers, lay or ordained, shouldn't be drawn from that same full breadth of our membership.

Women's ministry in leadership is every bit as valid as men's.

The lack of women bishops is a great inequality, an injustice. So I would rather stay and fight for something I believe to be, unquestionably, right ... than leave and allow the church to be taken over by people I believe to be profoundly wrong.

I hope that those of you who have been asking yourself the same questions about your future as part of the Church of England have reached the same conclusion as me. The House of Laity of General Synod has tarnished the name of the Church of England, and every parish that it is part of it. It is our duty to stay and put this right ... and to ensure women bishops in the Church of England become a reality sooner rather than later.

John There has been lots of comment in the national press which many of you will have seen. Some may like to read Lucy Winkett’s comment the day after the failed vote in The Guardian. It is called: The vote against women bishops is a disaster for the church I love Many will remember Lucy preaching at Paul’s ordination to the priesthood.

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/) [Use Search button].

“Behold, I make all things new” Rev. 21: 5

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Through a Glass Darkly Five for the Symbols at Your Door The readings of this period of time are full of signs telling us about Jesus : when he is born the astrologers seek him in response to signs in the heavens, God sends a dove upon him when he speaks of him at his baptism, as a baby he is recognised for who he is by Simeon. Later he turns water into wine, is tempted with symbols of power and mystery in the desert, is strangely transfigured on the top of a mountain and foreshadows for his disciples his entry into and death in Jerusalem.

We have just experienced Christmas and the New Year which also abound with signs and symbols : presents, trees, candles, stars and midnight chimes. Similarly modern life has its own symbols such as logos, badges, flags, click-on icons, scarves and shirts and the Christian cross.

These enable us to recognise products, loyalties or activities and help us to navigate the Internet, the underground or the road system.

In the same way the signs or symbols in the gospels teach us about Jesus and point us in the right direction to follow him. The star and the dove show how special he is to God. The wine at Cana and the temptations in the wilderness indicate how truly he became one of us when he came to earth and how closely he empathises with our joys, our sorrows and our problems. His recognition by people who have searched the scriptures for him for years and his transfiguration show his importance for us and for our salvation. His explanation to his disciples of how the fulfilment of his life will be brought about shows to us the fullness of God’s plan for the world.

One of the alternative readings for January speaks of Jerusalem being married. I love this idea of God’s city being fed, clothed, housed and looked after by him. This is what marriage has been for me. Praise God for all carers!

Jean Schneider

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The illustration is a case for a Jewish mezuzah, itself a parchment of holy texts pinned to the front door of a house as a blessing to those who enter.

It is thought to be one origin of Jean’s title in the famous song. There is one at the door of the Jewish family home in Birmingham’s “back-to-backs”!

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Craig and Anna Collinge

Parish Profile

Craig and Anna have been attending Holy Trinity for some time now and both Anna and their daughter Francesca were baptized in church on 8th July 2012. Here they give a little of their background and the moving story of Francesca’s arrival.

The miracle of our daughter Francesca Grace Craig was born in Sutton Coldfield and I am originally from Hong Kong. Craig's parents married at Holy Trinity. He and his brother were page boys at both their aunties’ weddings also at Holy Trinity. (see the inside cover of this magazine!) Craig and I met at the University of Bristol when we both studied there.

We married in 2005 and a few years later decided to have a baby. We tried for a while and there was no luck! We visited the doctor for a check up and results came back all fine. So we kept on trying until one day I was admitted to A&E due to abdominal pain. After a series of checkups I was diagnosed to have a medical condition which requires key hole surgery. After the surgery the consultant told me that I would not be able to conceive naturally. The only option presented to us was IVF. We decided to give it a try. It was quite unpleasant, I had to self administer fifty injections over a 4 week period. I prayed for God to give me strength to get through. Unfortunately, the IVF treatment was not successful. The second cycle was to cost many thousands of pounds. Apart from having faith in God I did my best to prepare myself mentally and physically. I found particular strength from James 2:26 - 'As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead'. I jogged several times a week and saw a Traditional Chinese Medical doctor and Acupuncturist! I prayed every day. …….Continued overleaf

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Well, Craig and I did not give up, and the month after that first failed IVF cycle one morning I woke Craig up with a loud cheer as I discovered I was pregnant with baby Francesca! Our doctor also said this is a miracle. The pregnancy itself also threw plenty of challenges at us but it all worked out better than we could have even hoped for. Francesca was due on 1 January 2012, however after the Carol service at Holy Trinity on the evening of 18 December, soon after returning home I went into labour.

Francesca gives us much happiness and is truly an angel (most of the time!)

Craig and Anna Parish Profile

Steve and Teresa Smith

Steve and Teresa Smith moved to Sutton Coldfield in April this year, where they joined us at Holy Trinity and began singing in the choir. Steve works in Logistics Management at Aldi headquarters in Atherstone and Teresa is a researcher and lecturer in Environmental Politics. They met in London four years ago and married two years ago in St. James the Great, Dursley, where Teresa's Grandad was a chorister and church warden.

Their first baby, Isaac John, was born this August and is currently having fun at Open House Toddler Group on Wednesdays at the Trinity Centre. Steve enjoys pub quizzes, real ale and watching most sports. Teresa enjoys knitting, detective stories and learning German & Russian. Isaac enjoys his birdy mobile, long walks in the pram and the hokey cokey. They live next to Sutton Coldfield station with their two cats, Catullus and Loki.

See photos on inside right hand cover of the Collinges and the Smiths!

Isaac’s baptism is recorded on page 22 Page

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From the inside Betty Hunter volunteers at Swinfen Hall Prison. She sent this copy of a

speech from an inmate who asked for it to be published in parish magazines. It is the text of a speech made on 30th September 2012, and links to National Prisons Week, which in 2012 was the week beginning 18th November. The original was a handwritten document, and the writer gave his name at the speech, but the document has to remain anonymous in print.

We are grateful to him for sharing his experience and celebrate with him his acceptance of and growth in the faith of Christ.

My name is xxxxxx, I am 22 years old and I came to this prison just short of 3 years ago when I was just 19 years young. Swinfen Hall has had a very positive impact on me and has allowed me to grow into the determined, confident and ambitious young man who stands before you today.

Before coming here I was like a bird with a broken wing, but with the help of my faith and offending behaviour programmes, I feel I have now fixed that wing and I’m ready to fly toward a bright future.

Upon arrival at this prison I didn’t fully understand my sentence which is an indefinite one of 5 years and 10 months. However, within a month of being here I was taken into the office and given a wake up call by one of the senior officers. He told me what I had to do, that it wouldn’t be easy but if I did want to get out I would have it to do. He spoke so straight, man to man, and I listened.

I am genuinely sorry for the crime I committed. It was a violent crime which deeply affected my victim both physically and mentally.

However, I needed to express this the proper way, and to do this I decided to complete the victim awareness course which included writing a letter to my victim.

I do many positive things with my time within the prison. I am a qualified listener which includes helping other prisoners in their time of need. I am also a Diversity and Race Equality Representative for Travellers and Gypsys. I regularly attend meetings and go to the training and awareness courses.

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I have made real progress with this getting a monthly meeting set up for the Travellers where they can raise any concerns they have.

I am also the Red Band Visits Orderly which I have done for above a year now. This is one of the more trustworthy jobs within the prison. Even though I take my job very serious I still enjoy what I do.

And last but by no means least I regularly attend Catholic services.

I have a close relationship with the Lord and my faith has grown strong whilst being here. I was confirmed in March 2011 which was a very special day for me which I will hold dear to me for the rest of my life. I recently wrote an article titled “My journey in faith� which featured in Catholic Today and Faith Alive.

The speech concludes with a statement that the writer would read a poem of Shakespeare’s, but this is not identified.

Nothing has been corrected or altered in the above.

Image of part of the original document:

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Book corner by Stella Thebridge

VIII by HM Castor It is my privilege to recommend a book with a curious title.

Remember your Roman numerals and ‘8’ immediately links you to Henry VIII, about whom you might think it is not possible to write (or learn) any more.

Harriet Castor has a sister Helen who also writes, so she uses her initials in this book, maybe better to distinguish herself from her sister and maybe also to look like a male writer à la JK Rowling, though surely the need for this can be dispensed with now?

But back to the book…

VIII is utterly compelling. It takes the reader through Henry’s boyhood, his relationship with both his parents and his brother Arthur, and his sense of destiny, that he will be the one to lead England.

His occasional ghostly vision leads to something of a change in character as he becomes increasingly obsessed with what he sees as its message.

The book is fiction, it develops at a cracking pace and creates suspense in a story we thought we knew, yet here is a fresh and believable insight into the mind of this young monarch. I assumed it would stop with his first marriage, but no, it takes us through all the reasoning leading to the disastrous trail of failed marriages, his relationship with the church, his friends, his courtiers and those who become enemies. The quality of writing and characterisation is immense.

Don’t dismiss it as a book for teenagers, it’s another one of those that really is for adults too and has already gripped a lot of sceptical reviewers!

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THE SUTTON COLDFIELD AREA FOR OVER 26 YEARS

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What’s been happening…

All creatures (not so) great and small One of the highlights of the autumn was our first pet service in October to coincide with our Harvest thanksgiving.

After some tension as to whether there would be any very large creatures and John’s strict instructions not to bring tarantulas, the animals that did turn up were a very sociable bunch. Some good-natured dogs, eminently stroke-able rabbits, hamsters and the like, and even the rats were not as scary as some had feared.

The service was kept short(!) and none of the harvest displays of fruit and vegetables was eaten in error, so generally agreed as a Good Thing, (in the tradition of 1066 and all that).

See cover photo of some seasonal animals which were definitely NOT pets, and also the inside front cover.

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A Harvest supper (with entertainment) in the Trinity Centre was much enjoyed the night before the pet service (Oct 13th).

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A Concert was given by Sutton Coldfield Chamber Choir in church on 3rd November.

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A Big Breakfast was held between the 8am and 10am services on 18th November.

Both the concert and the breakfast contributed large sums to Birmingham Crisis Centre, our charity for 2012.

In October and November a number of our congregation attended house groups, together with friends from our group at St Peter’s and St Chad’s, studying a 5-week course on the prayers of Jesus. These in turn followed a successful ‘awayday’ at Canwell on prayer at the end of October.

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LET man's soul be a sphere, and then, in this, Th' intelligence that moves, devotion is ; And as the other spheres, by being grown Subject to foreign motion, lose their own, And being by others hurried every day, Scarce in a year their natural form obey ; Pleasure or business, so, our souls admit For their first mover, and are whirl'd by it.

Hence is't, that I am carried towards the west, This day, when my soul's form bends to the East.

There I should see a Sun by rising set, And by that setting endless day beget.

But that Christ on His cross did rise and fall, Sin had eternally benighted all.

Yet dare I almost be glad, I do not see That spectacle of too much weight for me.

Who sees Gods face, that is self-life, must die ; What a death were it then to see God die ?

It made His own lieutenant, Nature, shrink, It made His footstool crack, and the sun wink.

Could I behold those hands, which span the poles And tune all spheres at once, pierced with those holes ?

Could I behold that endless height, which is Zenith to us and our antipodes, Humbled below us ? or that blood, which is The seat of all our soul's, if not of His, Made dirt of dust, or that flesh which was worn

By God for His apparel, ragg'd and torn ?

If on these things I durst not look, durst I On His distressed Mother cast mine eye, Who was God's partner here, and furnish'd thus Half of that sacrifice which ransom'd us ?

Though these things as I ride be from mine eye, They're present yet unto my memory, For that looks towards them; and Thou look'st towards me, O Saviour, as Thou hang'st upon the tree.

I turn my back to thee but to receive Corrections till Thy mercies bid Thee leave.

O think me worth Thine anger, punish me, Burn off my rust, and my deformity ; Restore Thine image, so much, by Thy grace, That Thou mayst know me, and I'll turn my face.

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Good Friday 1613 Riding Westward

By John Donne It is the quatercentenary of Donne’s poem in 2013, and there will be commemorations, not least in Polesworth I gather.

Donne stayed there the night before he went off on the journey to Montgomery which led him to compose this poem.

Polesworth has a poetry trail and is worth a visit for a wealth of local history including the Abbey, if you get the chance!

Donne reflects on the perversity of travelling in the ‘wrong’ direction on a day when his thoughts should turn to the East.

David Benjamin Perry 1927-2012

We were all so sorry to lose a much-loved member of our congregation who had until very recently been worshipping with us on Sundays and in the week. John Routh spoke at David’s funeral about his faithful commitment to Holy Trinity.

David, and of course Enid, worshipped here at Holy Trinity for 30 years, and right from the beginning they were actively involved in our communal life. David became a Sunday school teacher - a much needed male role model to the children. Several of the children kept in touch with him down the years - his guidance and support meant a lot to them. He was a member of the PCC, and represented us at Deanery Synod. With Enid he organised the Christian Aid street collection for several years.

David was involved in worship as part of the team who read lessons and led intercessions in the main Sunday services. He was amongst the very first lay members to be commissioned to assist at communion with the chalice, something he did on Sundays and at the midweek service, and which he particularly valued. He loved being able to serve both clergy and congregation on Thursdays in setting up, assisting and clearing away at communion almost every week.

David was involved in pastoral matters too. He was part of a funeral follow-up team and he assisted the chaplaincy team at Good Hope Hospital for many years - visiting patients and providing Holy Communion. He and Enid joined the coffee rota, providing refreshments after the main service, and they both enjoyed being part of the flower arranging team at Easter. They were both in the Church Fellowship and David became their Treasurer. For many years David took weekly responsibility for counting and banking the money given through the church's envelope scheme. Supporting us, his local church, in all of these ways was seen by David as his Christian duty and joy.

Our sympathy extends to Enid, herself in a care home, and to Anthony and Theresa, in their sad loss. We, the church family, miss David too.

Note: it is hoped that Anthony’s tribute to his father can be printed in the next magazine.

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If You would like to Advertise in this space Please contact our Parish Administrator for details Email: admin@htsc.org.uk Page 20

YOUTH MATTERS I once played an April Fool’s Day joke on an elderly nun who was extremely intelligent and had an indomitable spirit. I wrote her a letter asking her if she knew certain people. There was William, who has no friends; Nora, who had a history of pyromania; Jane, whose looks are nothing to write home about; Jack who could probably enter the Olympics as he is very nippy; Steven, who is a nice, normal chap – not odd at all; Tom, who has trust issues; Peter, who is important enough that he has to be considered when decisions are made; Elizabeth, whose life is very full; Larry, who is always cheerful and is a contented man and Nellie, who is in therapy with anxiety issues.

There was another chap too; Adam, but I didn’t think she would really know him.

Maybe you will think I have lost the plot or maybe you will get the point of what I have written, but either way names are important. I imagine most parents spend a very long time trying to choose names for their children and I know I did, when choosing a name for my cat! Names are important and they say something about a person. They conjure up images in our minds (rightly or wrongly) of what that person must be like.

So it is probably a good thing that God has lots of different names because they show us different aspects of him, help us to get to know him and to know how to relate to him; something for everyone to relate to whatever their circumstances and background. Pity some people have to use his name as a swear word!

Another youth worker who has young children says he is quite careful not to tease his children using plays on their names because he wants them to feel validated and hear positive comments. How many of us associate hearing our full name spoken with being told off or officialdom? Then there is the child I heard of who grew up thinking his name was ‘Oy.’ So there is a lot to think about when we use names.

My elderly nun friend DID work out what I was writing about in my April Fool’s Day letter and wrote an extremely witty reply back. Do let me know if YOU need it explaining!

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Don Smith 1923-2012

tribute by Carol Hoare

Don was born in Nechells on 9th March 1923, a much loved only child. After the 1st World War, his father had opened up a business as a tyre distributor, and Don learned the ethics of commitment and hard work from a very early age. He went to school in Birmingham, and his early childhood was very happy, but his father died tragically when Don was only ten years old, and his mother became responsible for keeping the business going.

When Don left school he became an apprentice at Dunlop’s, but all regular plans had to be shelved when war with Germany again broke out, and Don volunteered. Initially he wanted to join the RAF, but failed an eye test, so at only 19 he enlisted in the army, and was sent to the Middle East.

It seems that Don’s war service resulted in a great and lasting blessing.

When making a phone call one day out in Tel el Kebir in Egypt, Don was attracted by the soft Scottish voice of the ATS operator whose job it was to connect him, and he began to talk to her. He seems to have been a quick worker, for he invited Ann out, and even though they established the fact that he was tall, while she was quite short, they made a date for a meal together. And that was it. Their postings kept them in the same area for the rest of the war, and the relationship flourished.

When war ended, Don returned to Birmingham, while Ann had initially to go back to Scotland, but it wasn’t long before she found a job on the Birmingham GPO switchboard, and came down to join him. On 30th August 1947, Don and Anne were married. It was their 65th wedding anniversary the week before he died.

Ann and Don’s first home together was in Solihull, then they moved to Wylde Green, where their first two children, Peter and Margie were born. Tragically, their joy in their family soon turned to grief, and it must have been an unimaginable sorrow for them, when Margie died of pneumonia, aged just two years and 9 months old.

But happiness returned after a move to Somerville Drive, when Paul and Vicky arrived, and the family was complete. It has always been a very close family group, and Don was devoted to Ann and his children. Their happiness and well-being lay at the very heart of Don’s life, and he was very proud of them all.

After he came out of the Services, Don took over the family Tyre Distribution business, and maintained it as a flourishing concern. In everything he did, Don was direct, straightforward and totally dedicated to the task in hand, and this stood him in good stead in the business world. He was always reliPage able, and didn’t suffer fools gladly, for he believed that if you took something

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on, you should do it to the very best of your ability. Don loved his work, and really didn’t want to give up. In fact he didn’t agree to retire completely until about 8 years ago, but at least he knew his beloved firm was in his sons’ safe hands.

It is often said that if you want something done, you should ask a busy person, and Don’s life was always busy. As well as running the business and looking after the family, Don was for some time President of the National Tyre Distributors’ Association, and of the Birmingham Branch of Rotary, fulfilling his commitments with his customary dedication.

Don had an unshakeable faith in God’s goodness, and the reality of his presence with him. Nothing shook his faith, not even the loss of his father and Margie, and he gave the Church he loved his total loyalty and commitment.

Don was brought up as a Methodist, going to chapel in Nechells, but towards the end of the 1960s, he and Ann started to attend Holy Trinity. In 1971, he was confirmed here on the same day that Vicky was baptised, a double, joyful celebration for the family, and Don began to invest his time and energy in the work of the parish, including serving as a Church Warden in the 1980s.

Paul Duckers notes that Don attended the Thursday morning services, and would always help set up, doing what was needed quietly, unobtrusively but efficiently.

The family recall how much he loved sport, both on TV and also racing Jaguar cars when he was younger. He would drag Ann out of bed at 5am in order to watch him performing on ‘the club circuit’. He went to football games with Vicky, supporting Birmingham City, but having a brief flirtation with the Villa, which caused some lively discussions!

Don played the organ, and was especially fond of big band music and swing, and he and Ann had many great holidays together, at first around England, and then on cruises in the Mediterranean, for Don was also very interested in ships.

He loved Sutton Park, particularly walking his beloved dog, Tammy. Don’s life was always full and busy, but never so occupied that he forgot about others.

‘Love’ is such an easy word to say, but the love that filled Don was the love that comes from God, and lights up the world. In everything he did, Don tried to live out his Christian faith, and to put into practice Christian love. He was a man of wisdom, dedication, energy and generosity of spirit. He represents those described in the book of Revelation: ‘Happy are they who die in the faith of Christ! … They may rest from their

labours; for they take with them the record of their deeds.’

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FROM THE REGISTERS ...

Baptisms 21st October Isaac John Smith 4th November Amelia Paintain Dylan Robert Jones Orla-Anais Grace Leeson

We welcome these children into new life with God, as part of our church family

Funerals November 1st 8th 9th 14th 20th 22nd 27th 28th

Neville Allen Charles Lionel Griffiths Mark Paul Clive Stephen Charles Cavill David Benjamin Perry Jonathan Michael Prescott Ronald Henry Stanley Gladys Edith Betton

We remember all who have died and ask for God’s comfort to sustain all who are bereaved.

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Ready for the bad weather?

What happened when the snowgirl fell out with the snowboy ?

She gave him the cold shoulder !

What do snowmen wear on their heads ?

Ice caps !

What do snowmen eat for lunch ?

Icebergers !

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Trinity Arrangements for 2013 The cost per issue is still 60p, and an annual subscription £3-50.

If you are a casual reader who would like to subscribe regularly or advertise, or if you have any other queries relating to the magazine, please contact the Trinity Centre in the first instance on 321 1144 or admin@htsc.org.uk

Publication schedule Cover date

Copy deadline

Publication date

March/April 2013

3rd February

17th Feb

May/June 2013

7th April

21st April

July/Aug 2013

2nd June

16th June

Sept/Oct 2013

4th August

18th August

Nov/Dec 2013

6th October

20th October

Jan/Feb 2014

30th November

14th December

Please submit material for the next issue by the deadline above to : Louise Chubb 240 6366 louisejharden@hotmail.com

Bible verse January 6th marks the feast of the Epiphany, a Sunday this year, and the season of light ends with Candlemas—the presentation of Christ in the temple—on 2nd February.

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1: 5

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Craig Collinge’s parents’ wedding at Holy Trinity.

Craig, Anna and Francesca

Craig as page boy (2nd R) also at Holy Trinity.

Steve, Teresa and Isaac Smith

(see

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