The Green Spire

The Parish Magazine ofSt Andrew, Orford with Longford

April 2016

School News 2The Bishop of Warrington’s Easter message 3Christian Aid Week 15-21 May 4What’s on in April 5 Who’s On in April 7A Tale of Two Teddies 8The Empty Tomb – a reflection by Bishop Paul 9From the Vicar 12Notice Board 14The Annual Meeting 15What the PCC decided... 16Snippets from the Church Times 18As I see it – by Churchmouse 19Praying for the world-wide Church 21From the Registers 25Easter word search 27Prayer Intentions for April 28

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The Green Spire is published monthly. Copies are 35p per month, or £3.50 for a year’s subscription – normally payable in January. Enquiries about advertisements welcome.

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School NewsThis month, we have been focusing on Lent and our preparations for Easter. Children from years 4 and 6 attended the Thursday morning Eucharist and Fr Michael met with Year 5 to think about Easter (though the children were well prepared and had most of the answers in advance!) In Holy Week, the junior children took part in a labyrinth, experiencing some of the events of the passion. The next day, they took part in a dance workshop on the story of Joseph.

Fr Michael also spent some time with the infant classes (who don’t take part in Eucharists) telling them some of his favourite Bible stories. He used the Lion Storyteller Bible which is ideal for class stories and the sheep in the parable of the Lost Sheep is even given a name – Bramble. They won’t forget in a hurry!

We held another successful afternoon tea, this time for children of Year 1 and their parents. The children did an impressive piece of group drumming followed by a poem about Meerkats which they’d learned inside a week. Both church members and parents were impressed!

Last week, three classes went to Blackpool Zoo for a day. Year 1 children were looking forward to the dinosaur exhibition. Some of the children were hoping to meet live dinosaurs but hopefully they realised they were models rather than the real thing! Year 5, who have been doing a project on the rain forest, were going to see animals that live in that environment.

In connection with Year 5’s project this term, it was hoped to link up with Christian Aid to pilot a project on sustainability. Unfortunately, the modules were not quite ready and will be postponed until next term.

Years 5 and Reception are practising their Easter Worship which will take place in church on Friday 1st April at 9.15am. They would appreciate your support.

Children started bringing in decorated eggs for the Easter egg competition last week. Some of them showed great imagination and there was generally a very high standard. Our thanks to everyone who took part.

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Bishop of Warrington's Easter Message Our lives, our culture our thinking are often built around the notion of how do we achieve a better future. We may have different visions of what that future might be but it is important to dream that dream. It gives us hope.

It works on so many levels. A vision for a better future for us as individuals, for our families and for the ones we love. We all want our children to live in a better world, to have a better education, to achieve more than we have. I have recently become a grandfather for the first time. Holding my granddaughter in my arms is a stark reminder that I want hope not just for myself but for her and the world she will be growing into.

In his life, death and resurrection Jesus offers us that hope. The story we read in the gospels offers us a challenge to how we live our lives – the call to look after the poor, to stand Full Square against injustice, to protect the whole of creation and to do this with the utmost humility. That is a challenge that all should be able to accept whether you are a believer or not.

But the profound message contained within the Easter story is that because of his sacrifice and because of God’s love and forgiveness we have the hope of a new kingdom. Not a far off hope that seems unreachable, or is only unreachable when we die. But a living, active hope that affects how I and millions of Christians around the globe view the world and the challenges that we face.

I believe we can make a difference. I believe the church can, and does make a big difference. In parishes and schools in and around our diocese we have Christians helping others and serving communities because they believe in that same hope. A hope that will last far longer than any chocolate egg I give my granddaughter. A hope I would want the whole town to share.

Happy Easter.

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Christian Aid Week: the week we love every neighbour

15th – 21st May 2016Morsheda is a young mother of four living in Bangladesh. She has no land, few assets and no savings.

For Morsheda’s family living on low-lying islands in the Brahmaputra River, floods are a terrifying part of everyday life. Morsheda can’t even count on having a safe place to call home: the single-room, corrugated-iron house she shares with her children has been flooded four times.

‘I feel very scared of the river. When I look at it I keep thinking “it is coming”.’

Dangers all aroundOne year, her humble house filled up to her knees with floodwater. To stay dry, and keep away from the dangerous snakes that now swam through her home she raised her bed up on bricks. But during the night she was woken by a loud splash. In the pitch black, her baby son had fallen into the inky water. He could have drowned in moments.

Race against timeIn a bad year, huge waves crashed against her house, giving her less than an hour to uproot her home and scramble to safety. Racing against time, she gathered her terrified children together and hastily made a raft from a banana tree.

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At any moment, it could have tipped and plunged them into the swirling waters, but it was their only hope. She put her youngest daughter in a cooking pot and clung to it as it floated in the current.

‘My children were so scared. My sister was holding them very tightly and we were panicking because my neighbour’s child was washed away.’

The floods are comingMorsheda and her children live a precarious life. They know that the floods will come again, and soon. But we can lift our neighbours like Morsheda to safety.

Just £250 is enough for a Christian Aid Home Safety Package. It could flood-proof Morsheda’s home, raising it eight foot on an earth plinth, so that she has a safe place to rebuild, keep livestock and grow crops. It could also buy a goat, seeds and a wormery to help produce compost – all of which will give her a long-term income and a solid foundation for a new life.

‘If I could raise my house then I would feel much safer living here with my children.’

What’s on in April...

Sunday 27th EASTER DAYMarch 10.00am Festal Eucharist of the Resurrection

Thursday 31st 8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meets at the vicarage (transferred from Maundy Thursday)

Friday 1st April 9.15am School Easter service in church

Sunday 3rd The Second Sunday of EasterApril 10.00am Sung Eucharist

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Sunday 10th The Third Sunday of Easter10.00am Sung Eucharist12 noon Holy Baptism

Thursday 14th 8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meet at the vicarage

Sunday 17th The Fourth Sunday of Easter10.00am Sung Eucharist followed by the

Annual Parochial Church Meeting in church

Tuesday 19th 5.00pm Curriculum and Data meeting in school

Sunday 24th The Fifth Sunday of Easter10.00am Sung Eucharist Preacher: David Rose, Christian Aid

Thursday 28th 8.00pm Thursday Ladies' Club meet at the vicarage

Friday 29th Cub sleepover in the Hall

Sunday 1st The Sixth Sunday of EasterMay 10.00am Sung Eucharist

12 noon Holy Baptism

There are regular weekly celebrations of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) on Wednesday evening at 7.00pm and Thursday morning at 10.30am. Celebrations on Saint’s Days are published on the Sunday sheet. All are welcome.

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MISS DAISY’S

Who’s on in April…2016 SIDES-PEOPLE READER INTERCESSOR OFFERTORY27 Mar

Easter Day

L. GiblinP. Smith M. Brown Sunday School B. Boscoe

B. Glover

3 AprEaster 2

F. GreatorexO. Vowles A. Gorman J. Raynor C. Worrall

R. Worrall10 Apr

Easter 3B. BoscoeB. Glover W. Reddish K. Rowan I. Appleton

M. Harrington17 Apr

Easter 4M. GreatorexH. Smythe W. McKinnon M. Brown E. Chorley

J. Stamp24 Apr

Easter 5I. AppletonM. Harrington K. Rowan W. McKinnon Sunday School

1 MayEaster 6

L. GiblinP. Smith J. Raynor F. Greatorex M. Ellison

Z. ZahorcovaThu 5 MayAscension

Volunteers please D. Kirk N. Lee Volunteers please

8 MayEaster 7

J. DevereuxM. Ellison B. Glover Sunday School M. Greatorex

H. Smythe

2016 TEA ROTA COUNTING COLLECTIONS

3 Apr M. Ellison / P. Smith B. Boscoe / B. Glover10 Apr F. Greatorex / L. Giblin Awaiting APCM17 Apr M. Harrington / Lucia I. Appleton / M. Ellison24 Apr M. Ellison / P. Smith V. Carter / J. Raynor1 May B. Boscoe / B. Glover B. Boscoe / B. Glover8 May F. Greatorex / L. Giblin Awaiting APCM

2016 READ ON WEDS EVE HALL CLEANING

3 Apr N. Lee (6 Apr) Fr Michael10 Apr D. Kirk (13 Apr) J. Devereux17 Apr Fr Michael (20 Apr) C. Worrall24 Apr N. Lee (27 Apr) Fr Michael1 May D. Kirk (4 May) J. Devereux8 May Fr Michael (11 May) C. Worrall

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A Tale of Two Teddies

By now, you are probably all aware that the Scouts have been collecting teddy bears to sell to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care (Macmillan Nurses). It came about soon after the death of a lovely lady, Ann Moran, the wife of our Group Chairman, Derek, who had worked hard for the Scouting Movement over many years.

When we first suggested “A Thousand Teddies for Cancer”, quite a few people were sceptical. “You’ll never get that to work,” they said.

Wrong! Thanks to the Warrington Guardian, Tesco Extra on Winwick Road and the internet and social media, it went viral. Not only have we been given bags of teddy bears, but we have also been given loads of other, equally cuddly, soft toys. We have also been helped by two knitted teddies which we named Mac and Mille who started off the campaign.

Many have been donated locally though two huge boxes arrived just before Easter from a Brownie pack near Bristol. (We also had an email from a lady whose email address ended “au”, the domain code for Australia though she later pointed out that she’d moved to the UK but kept her Australian address!)

We haven’t quite reached the thousand teddies yet, though we are well on the way with more than half safely bagged and stored. Do please spread the word – it couldn’t be for a better cause. When we have found somewhere to sell them, we’ll let you know all the arrangements.

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The empty tomb

A central image from the Easter story is the empty tomb. The stone rolled away, the body gone. Jesus is not contained in the prison of the stone-cold cave; he is not imprisoned by death. He is free, alive and unpredictably present in the world.

As we grasp that, we are freed to grasp the central hope and promise of Easter.

The kingdom does not end in defeat. Jesus’ story reaches a climax as he bursts through the barrier of life and death. The tomb is vacated because Jesus is alive and present in the world. And then the energy, the ‘dunamis’ as the apostle Paul says, the dynamic power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead, becomes available to us in the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. An outpouring that reminds us that God cannot be contained. Not by a tomb, not by a temple, not by a church building. He is alive and present in the lives of those who are working to make a bigger difference; alive, present and recognised in the lives of those who make a bigger difference in His name. The image of the empty tomb presents a challenge for me and for all who are actively seeking for and praying for the renewal of the church. We see in it the certainty that God is working in the world, that his mission – as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28 – “go make disciples of all” – calls all to be “out there”.

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So how does this speak to our efforts, our desire, our belief under God that in this Diocese we are called to be a bigger church making a bigger difference? We believe that the Church is ordained by God as the best way to learn more about what it is to be a disciple. We know Jesus is the Lord of the church and we are called to worship Him and to come to the Father through Him in the Spirit’s power. And so we commit ourselves to worship in the fullest sense, offering our whole beings to be that living sacrifice of service that follows the model of Jesus. And over the centuries we have shaped buildings to help us in this. Some beautiful. Some less so. Some functional. Some that have become difficult to use in any meaningful sense. These are vessels of love - not empty tombs - but sadly they have the potential to be a place that Jesus has left, where we don’t feel the presence of the living Lord, where people endure a sterile, unattractive and joyless expression of their faith. But of course they also have the potential to be much more. To be houses of the bigger church, bursting with energy, hope and presence. Full of those loving the Lord, seeking to love him more, taking risks, falling down and being picked up again. Doing it all in the strength of the Lord. The building not an empty tomb, but a vibrant hub for the community. A place of love and service where people recognise the risen Lord in the Christians that worship there. Jesus broke free of the tomb once for all, so that God’s kingdom would not be contained but would grow through the world. This Easter our joy and our calling in our turn is to release the great news of Jesus’ resurrection, sharing His love in all places with all people.

Christ is risen: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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Long and gloomy Lent is over.

Christ alive, Eternal Lover.

Saved from sin, we dare to say,

Christ is risen – It’s Easter Day.

The Good News of the Resurrection is not primarily concerned with life after death. It is concerned with victory of sin and evil. Christ is the conqueror, and his followers share in his victory.

When Liverpool won the European Cup in 1977, the players returned to the city in a triumphant procession. Half a million people lined the streets and thronged the city centre. As the captain held the coveted prize aloft, thousands of voices chanted in unison: “We won the cup.”

Every man and woman in the crowd felt in some way that they had a share in the victory which eleven footballers had won on their behalf. “They did it for us; and we share in their triumph.”

This is the kind of experience which boosts the morale of a city and even (so it is said) increases production in the factories! Here is a parable of Christ’s resurrection triumph! “We have complete victory through him who loved us.”

Edward Patey, Dean of Liverpool 1964 - 1982

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From the Vicar:Bishops’ letters are, it would appear, a bit like buses. You wait for one for ages ... and then two come along together!

You will have already noticed an Easter message from Bishop Richard and a reflection by Bishop Paul; that is, unless you are one of those people who start reading from the back and work forward.

When I was involved at Liverpool Prison, it was often said that inmates can read upside down as well as the right way up. Presumably this was to do with members of staff writing reports about them at the other side of the desk. And there are people who really do start reading from the back.

It might not sound as silly as you think. There was a time when scientific papers had their conclusion at the end (they now come at the beginning). So reading the conclusion often meant a lot less work if you could understand what it was about from reading a few paragraphs.

Our faith, I believe, is formed by ‘reading from the back cover first’. At the heart of that faith is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead. Everything else we read or

know about him is coloured by the resurrection. It shapes not only our understanding of life after death (the promise of eternal life) but helps us to live from day to day with confidence and hope in God. If he can raise Jesus to new life, just think what he can do for us!

But it wasn’t always the case. Jesus lived at a time when death was seen to be the end; there was nothing to look forward to after death. Indeed, that marked the end of us as beings.

The disciples were under the same illusion. There may have been times when they caught a glimpse of what Jesus was saying to them, but it was so far removed from their experience that it was unthinkable. And despite all that, there was something charismatic about Jesus that compelled them to follow him in huge numbers. Imagine five thousand people trying to hang on his every word!

It was only after the resurrection that the truth of what Jesus had been trying to teach them started to make sense; and even then only after many years.

St Mark, whose gospel was the first to be written, describes the disciples fleeing in terror from the empty

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tomb, and Luke, who writes twenty years later, still describes feelings of puzzlement, terror, disbelief and amazement in the people who came to the tomb early that Easter morning. It was only St John, writing thirty years or more after Mark (and nearly sixty after the resurrection) who started to describe the resurrection as we understand it today.

When Michael Henshall was Bishop of Warrington (I believe he retired in the later 1990s), he often spoke at this time of the year of comparing the passion and resurrection passages in the four gospels to see what each of them emphasised, and what they left out, before asking why they had done so.

Over the next few weeks, you might like to read the final chapters in each of the gospels and see which you like most. When you’ve done that, ask yourself why you like that particular passage.

Of course, living after the event informs every fibre of our being, and you can’t undo that knowledge, even if you wanted to.

The resurrection is the most wonderful thing that could have ever happened to the people of this world. It changed the way we look at

god, turning him from a distant, often vengeful God, to a God who loves each one of us intimately and wants the best for us at all times.

It changed our perception of life on earth, and helped us to see that God has prepared something even more wonderful for us in his presence after death. Lives which appeared to end at death suddenly opened out onto a new and infinite horizon.

And it changed the way we live our lives today. Recognising that eternal life begins today helps us to live responsibly in the light and joy of the Spirit’s presence. God is with us; and will never leave us.

So rejoice with Christians around the world for the joy and the freedom that the resurrection brings. Give thanks for the love that God lavishes upon each one of us and pray that we might successfully communicate that love to others.

Live in the present with the full knowledge of the resurrection. Interpret everything with the knowledge that God has power over all things yet knows each one of us individually. Have a happy Easter.

Michael Raynor14

Fridge and Freezers Washing Machines

Dishwashers Cookers etc

Thank you...to everyone who donated towards the Easter flowers and those who arranged them; to those who cleaned and prepared church, and set up for Easter; to the choir and Peter for the glorious music; to the servers and to everyone who came along during Holy Week and Easter.

Electoral RollTime is running short to check and update your entry on the Electoral Roll. If you’ve not already done so, please check the list on the notice board in church and speak to Kathy Rowan if your details are incorrect. New applications are also welcome, though sadly you will not qualify to vote at this year’s Annual Meeting.

School Easter ServiceYou are invited to the service to be held in church on Friday 1st April at 9.15.

Phoenix Club The final draw for this year’s Phoenix Club will take place on Easter Day and subscriptions for 2016-17 are now invited. The annual cost is £15 per entry, half of which goes to church funds and the balance is distributed as prizes. If you’d like a form to join this year, please speak to Don Miller or Fr Michael.

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The Annual Parochial Meeting... will be held in church on Sunday 17 th April following the Sung Eucharist at 10.00am. Please make every effort to attend – it’s really important to the life of the parish.

Nomination forms are now available in church. There are vacancies for two church wardens as we elect to the post each year. We are also looking to elect fifteen members to the Parochial Church Council who will also serve for twelve months. Sidespeople for the next twelve months will be elected, too.

At the meeting, the accounts will be formally proposed. There will be reports on the Electoral Roll, the Fabric (buildings and contents of both church and hall) and the proceedings of Deanery Synod.

The meeting usually lasts somewhere between 30 and 40 minutes so there will still be time to make the Sunday roast!

St Andrew’s Charity Shop

every Wednesdayfrom 10.00am to 3.00pm in the Hall

Drop-in for tea and toast. Carer’s advice desk on second Wednesday

A man went to visit a friend and was amazed to find himplaying chess with his dog. He watched the game in

astonishment for a while. “I can hardly believe my eyes!” heexclaimed. “That’s the cleverest dog I’ve ever seen.”

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“Nah. He’s not so smart,” the friend replied. “I’ve beaten him three games out of five!”

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What the PCC decided...

Legacies and Giving was the main item of business for the recent meeting of the PCC. Ruth Tormey, who works for Christian Aid in Warrington and advises them on legacies, came to the meeting. She is helping the diocese with her employer’s blessing.

Ruth described her journey to faith and her passion for Christian Aid, which began when she was just six months old and her mother took her out in the pram to collect from door to door. Ruth then showed a short video which described some of the things that a legacy had achieved in various parishes. It made ‘church’ accessible with the provision of ramps and so on; it provided the start for major fund-raising initiatives and helped serve both the church and the local community.

Ruth then told the meeting how the Church of England compares with the five biggest charities (Cancer Research, RNLI, RSPCA, BHF and National Trust). In terms of voluntary income, the C of E outstrips all the others nut in terms of legacy giving, receives only a fraction of the other others. This seems strange as most church-goers spend their lives, or a good proportion of them, supporting the church, yet don’t leave anything in their will. She finished her talk by saying that the church has a responsibility to open up conversations with people in ‘the family’.

Ruth offered the PCC help to formulate its own legacy policy and encourage those conversations in a variety of imaginative ways. She left the meeting to consider whether what she was offering would be helpful, and if so, to form a steering group to progress it. The PCC agreed that this would be helpful and a couple of people offered at the meeting. Others may follow...

The meeting returned to ‘routine business’ with apologies for absence, minutes and matters arising. It was reported that the PCC’s approval was sufficient for lay people to administer the sacrament. Wendy updated the PCC on the Church School Partnership and listed a whole host of things that had been achieved sine the last meeting. Fr Michael encouraged members to support events that were being shared with school. The confirmation will take place at St Margaret’s on

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8th May at 4pm and some consideration will be given to a special service for the newly confirmed at St Andrew’s the following Sunday. The treasurer gave a financial update which includes an increase since the last report, largely due to the Charity Shop.

The vicar gave a brief update on the Church Growth programme, having given a more detailed account in the magazine earlier that month. A draft welcome leaflet was circulated and approved with thanks to Faith who had drafted it. A speaker has been booked from Christian Aid for April 24th.

There were a number of items under Any Other Business. The budget for 2016 will be set next time, along with a calendar of events for the coming year. Following a visit by the insurance surveyor, new levels of cover and excesses were agreed to take effect from August. It was agreed to support an advert in the Midweek Guardian, shared with our ecumenical partners, advertising our Easter Services. Even though it’s not widely available locally, it was felt that people across town might see it and some might respond. The meeting welcomed a new Mums and Tots group to be set up after Easter. A grant has been received to help with start-up costs. A possible repair or replacement to the photocopier was mentioned. Wendy reminded the PCC that Safeguarding was due for review, with parishes being ‘checked’ by the Archdeacon later in the year. Aaron raised Walking Day and the question of marshalling as the Council had decided not to marshal or police the St George’s Day parade this year.

There was a discussion about the number of elected members to the PCC. The Representation Rules say that a parish with and electoral roll of 50-100 should have nine representatives. The question was asked whether these rules are mandatory or can be fixed by the PCC. Fr Michael agreed to investigate. If the PCC can set the number, a motion will be put to the APCM in April that the number be reduced to 12, but if the rules are fixed, the motion will recommend nine.

The net meeting will be the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on Sunday 17th April following the Sung Eucharist. A date for the next PCC will be set once the steering group have met and liaise with Ruth Tormey. The meeting covered a lot of ground – and still finished in good time!

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Snippets from the Church Times

The Church Times has run an excellent ‘Lent course’ this year, looking at modern theology in six key areas of faith, finishing on Easter Day with a section devoted to resurrection, having looked at creation, Christology (the study of Jesus), the Holy Spirit and salvation. Contributions from a range of theologians were well written, the only criticism being that they were mostly men!

Clergy seem to move less frequently these days, but the Rev James Cocke is still vicar of All Saints’ Highfield at the age of 89, having served the same parish for fifty-nine years! He is thought to be the longest serving incumbent in the Church of England. It is also a record unlikely to be matched in the future as current legislation only allows clergy to work until they are seventy, except in exceptional circumstances.

The registers of the Archbishop of York dating from 1125 to 1650 have been digitised and can now be viewed online [www.archbishopsregisters.york.ac.uk] thanks to conservators at the University of York. They predate the registers of the Archbishop of Canterbury by some fifty years and include gems such as evidence given by Henry VIII for the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves in 1540. There’s also a letter from Thomas Cromwell, and a document dating back to 1289 which describes the behaviour of the Abbot of Selby which led to his excommunication.

Also online is an aerial view of St Paul’s cathedral. It allows a close up view of the mosaic dome and other ‘inaccessible’ parts of the building along with pictures and views 148 artefacts connected with the history of the building. It can be found at www.google.com/culturalinstitute/home

When the Military Service Act came into force a hundred years ago, many church people welcomed it. The Act introduced conscription for men between the ages of 18 and 41 unless they were married, widowed, had children, were ministers of religion or in reserved occupations. Two months later, those who were married were included and in 1918, the upper age limit increased to 51. The real benefit, though, was in the system of appeals which other countries did not offer. Surprisingly, of over 2,000 appeals from Colchester, only fourteen were on religious grounds. Conscription had a spin-off effect in that men called up attended compulsory church parades!

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As I see it …by Church MouseIf I’d been Chaucer, I think I might have added an extra chapter to my Canterbury Tales. I suppose I could offer an addendum – I could call it Orford Tails.

It all started a few weeks back when Grandpa was heard to complain. He seems to be doing a lot of that lately. “It’s not that I don’t like Lent,” he said, “in fact, it’s a good time to have a long think.”

“It’s not just about thinking,” said Granny Mouse; “you have to do something as well.”

“You mean like helping people,” the young mice squeaked. Ever since they’d been scouts, they’d been trying to be really helpful – and most of the older mice wish they hadn’t!

“No; not being annoyingly helpful,” said Granny Mouse. “I’ve had a great time this Lent doing Fun with the Bible.

“FUN! FUN!, - the Bible is to be taken seriously,” said Grandpa Mouse.

“I don’t mean being silly,” said Granny Mouse, “but it’s amazing what talking about it and asking questions can turn up. There were things I’d long since forgotten, and things I’d never understood before.

We were all quite sorry when it finished.”

“Perhaps you could persuade Fr M to do it again so a few more of us could enjoy the fun,” I said.

“It’s not only getting to know the Bible; it helped us get to know one another better, too,” said Granny Mouse.

One the first really sunny days of Easter weekend, I heard some of the young mice singing:

“The flowers that bloom in the spring tra-la-la. | We greet them with merry sunshine.”

I don’t know where they get it from. We never learned anything like that at school. I blame t’internet, myself.

Anyway, they went out to play and Millicent, my wife, said, “It’s nice to get them from under my paws for a while. The winter seems to have gone on for ever.”

Then Grandpa piped up, “The weather didn’t stop the spring flowers.” (I realised this might be something to add to my Orford Tails.)

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“Have you ever noticed that spring always starts her display with mouse-sized flowers?”

“The first to flower are the snowdrops, quickly followed by crocuses. And they’re all silver and gold. . Goes to show there’s a plan behind it!”

“What about primulas?” I asked, feeling he shouldn’t have it all his own way. “They come in all shades and colours.”

“Well, gardeners have fiddled with them to change them to reds and mauves,” said Grandpa grumpily. “Can’t leave anything alone.”

“Bluebells?” I tentatively asked.

“Rubbish – they come later. You look at the seasons properly. Silver and

gold to begin with; then slightly brighter colours. Pinks and mauves. By the time summer comes, the hot colours can be seen everywhere; lots of reds and orange, leading to a fine display in the autumn leaves.”

I was just about to point out a few ‘facts of nature’ when Millicent crept up to me and pointed out that discretion was the better part of valour – her way of telling me to shut up!

“I’m sure you are right, Grandpa,” I said, He chuckled. “I was always a good one for winning an argument,” he said, “except when it’s with your Grandmother!”

Churchmouse

A New York City stockbroker moved to the country and bought a piece of land. He went to the local feed and livestock store and talked to the proprietor about how he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy a hundred chicks.

“That’s a lot of chicks,” commented the proprietor.“I mean business,” the city slicker replied.

A week later, he was back again. “I need another hundred chicks, he said.“Boy, you are serious about this chicken farming,” the man told him.

“Yeah,” the broker replied. “If I can just iron out a few problems.”“Problems?” asked the proprietor.

“Yeah,” replied the New Yorker. “I think I planted that last batch too close together.”

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Praying for the world-wide Church

Sunday by Sunday (and day by day), Anglicans around the world take it in turn to pray for one another, following a two year cycle. In our worship in church, we join with fellow Anglicans in praying for the people of those dioceses. The Anglican Communion has 70 million members spread across 164 countries. Here are the Churches and dioceses that will be mentioned on the Sundays in April:

Sunday 3rd April: The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean

The Province of the Indian Ocean is made up of islands located off the eastern coast of Tanzania and Mozambique. Faith came to the region through the missionary work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The province, founded in 1973, covers the countries of Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. There are seven dioceses in the province: five are on Madagascar, Mauritius is another, and the Seychelles forms the last diocese. The Anglican Communion reports 120,000

Anglicans among the nearly 7 million Christians in this province. Not surprisingly, the Anglican Church in this province is committed to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. The church in Madagascar runs schools, orphanages, and health centres. The church in Mauritius runs centres for the care of the elderly, blind people, and unwanted children, plus two secondary schools. Also, the Mothers' Union is present and active in the dioceses of Seychelles and Mauritius.

In 2013, the region suffered immense flooding. Over 100,000 people were displaced and crops destroyed on a huge scale. Stagnant pools led to water borne insects and disease.

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In July 2014, Archbishop Justin Welby visited the Province. He encouraged the Church there in prayer, the ministry of reconciliation, and witness and evangelism.

Sunday 10th April:

The Church of Ireland describes itself as “that part of the Irish Church which was influenced by the Reformation, and has its origins in the early Celtic Church of St Patrick.”

The Church of Ireland considers itself Catholic because it is in possession of a continuous tradition of faith and practice, based on scripture and early traditions, enshrined in the Catholic creeds, together with the sacraments and apostolic ministry. However, the Church of Ireland is also Protestant, or Reformed, since it opposes doctrines and ways of worshipping that it considers contrary to scripture and which led to the Reformation.

There is no ‘north-south’ divide though it is stronger numerically in the north (where 65% of its members live). The Church of Ireland experienced major decline during the 20th century. However, the Church of Ireland in the Republic has shown substantial growth in the last two national censuses; its membership is now back to the levels of sixty years ago (albeit with fewer churches as many have been closed). Church membership increased by 8.7% in the period 2002–2006. This may be due to a relaxation of regulations dating back more than a century which said that children of ‘mixed’ marriages should be brought up

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Roman Catholic, though the influx of Anglican immigrants for the UK and colonies also accounts for a proportion of the increase.

Sunday 17th April: The Anglican Communion in Japan: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai

St Francis Xavier, together with Portuguese missionaries and explorers, first brought Christianity to Japan in the sixteenth century. However, Christianity was outlawed in 1587 and there followed a period of persecution which is still commemorated today on 5th February. In 1859, the American Episcopal Church sent two missionaries to Japan, followed some years later by representatives of the Church of England and the Church of Canada. The first Anglican Synod occurred in 1887. The first Japanese Bishops were consecrated in 1923. The Church remained underground during World War II and assumed all Church leadership after the war.

Today the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK) continues its traditions of ministry and Christian witness in Japan through church congregational life, hospitals, schools, social advocacy and support for non-profit organizations. The church, at both a national and local level, works to support disadvantaged, marginalized or discriminated against communities in Japan, as well as communities in Tohoku affected by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami and subsequent crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear generating plant. They have recently called on the government to dispense with nuclear generating activity nationally.

There are eleven dioceses in NSKK, eight of whom ordain women to the diaconate and priesthood. Two of the eleven cathedrals are dedicated to St

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Andrew – Tokyo and Yokohama! There is a seminary (where clergy are trained for ministry), a religious order (The Community of Nazareth), eight universities and colleges and two hospitals.

Sunday 24th April: The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and The Middle East

The Church covers Jerusalem, Iran, Egypt, Cyprus, and the Gulf. The Jerusalem bishopric was founded in 1841 and became an archbishopric in 1957. Reorganization in January 1976 ended the archbishopric and combined the Diocese of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria with the Jerusalem bishopric after a nineteen-year separation. Around the same time, the new Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf was formed and the Diocese of Egypt was revived. The Cathedral Church of St George the Martyr in Jerusalem is known for its ministry to pilgrims. St George's College, Jerusalem, is in partnership with the Anglican Communion.

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is huge, stretching from Iran in the east to Algeria in the west, and Cyprus in the north to Somalia in the south. It is the largest and the most diverse Anglican province. The Central Synod of the church is its deliberative and legislative organ. The province is divided into four dioceses: Jerusalem, Cyprus and the Gulf, Egypt and Iran. The province estimates that it has around 35,000 baptized members in 55 congregations. The province has around 40 educational or medical establishments and 90 clergy. Today, in Jerusalem, Anglicans constitute a large portion of the Christian community.

Photos in this article from http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ 26

Funerals:

1st March Jean Ratcliffe 4th March Ian Hillman Farmer 4th March Ann Downey14th March Ronald Clements22nd March Julie Newman

Communicants and Collections: 2016 Sunday

CommunicantsMidweek

CommunicantsLoose

Collections £PlannedGiving £

6th March 33 9 46.34 260.53 13th March 35 8 4.80 285.00 20th March 34 12 9.00 110.20

Donations

We would like to thank everyone who has made a gift or donation to our various funds recently. Our special thanks go to:

General Fund With thanks for prayers throughout 2015 from Doris Jepson (omitted in

error from earlier edition – with apologies) Jenny Raynor In memory of Ronnie Clements from the Crozier family Collection of £2 coins from Joyce Hetherington Remembering our dear parents, Nellie and Bill Shaw, Elsie and Robert Baird

snr., with love at Easter, from Susan and Robert In loving memory of my dear Dad, Bill Shaw, on his Year’s Mind (21st April)

from Susan and Robert Verger’s fee

Easter lilies In loving memory of William Boardman, Florance Boardman and Tommy

Crozier

From the Registers

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Easter flowers in loving memory of Shaun Mullen from Mum and Dad Easter lilies from Margaret Hatton Anon In loving memory of family and friends from Joyce Blyth

Winners of the Phoenix Club Draw Sunday 27th March Easter Special

First prize: 117 C. Jones 128 S. CharltonSecond prize: 116 S. Miller 132 R. CrozierThird prize: 142 P. Jones 114 Dot Miller

Elle and EsseHair and Beauty Lodge

Unisex Hair Salon

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Tel: 01925 232282

A man is driving down a country lane when he spots a farmer standing in the middle of a huge field of grass. He pulls the car over to the side of the road and notices that the farmer is just standing there, , doing nothing, looking at nothing, The man gets out of his car, walks all the way out to the farmer and asks him, “Ah, excuse me, but what are you doing?”The farmer replies, “I’m trying to win a Nobel Prize.”“How,” asks the man, puzzled.“Well, I heard they give the Nobel Prize to people who are out standing in their field.”

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Easter word search

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Prayer Intentions for April

Fri 1st Clough Avenue St Mary, Great SankeySat 2nd Chiltern Crescent Our Sunday School

Sun 3rd THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTERMon 4th Patterdale Avenue The Children’s SocietyTue 5th Newhaven Road Hollins Park HospitalWed 6th Cotswold Road HaitiThu 7th Windermere Avenue Bishop PaulFri 8th Ambleside Crescent St Paul, PenkethSat 9th Pentland Avenue Warrington Collegiate

Sun 10th THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTERMon 11th Buttermere Crescent The Bible SocietyTue 12th Bowness Avenue Social workersWed 13th Borrowdale Avenue North and South KoreaThu 14th Brathay Close Archbishop JustinFri 15th Currans Road The Forge (local church in Chapelford)Sat 16th Horseshoe Crescent The Diocese of Akure in Nigeria

Sun 17th THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTERMon 18th Harvey Court Mission Aviation FellowshipTue 19th Keswick Avenue Local residents’ groupsWed 20th Sandy Lane West China and JapanThu 21st Bexhill Avenue Our Scout GroupFri 22nd Those living outside

the parishSt Margaret and All Hallows, Orford

Sat 23rd Achilles Avenue Bible translators

Sun 24th THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTERMon 25th Kirkstone Avenue Mersey Mission to SeafarersTue 26th Statham Avenue St Rocco’s HospiceWed 27th Chiltern Road Israel and GazaThu 28th Honister Avenue Staff at St James’ HouseFri 29th Swindale Avenue Christ Church, PadgateSat 30th Cooper Avenue Professional drivers

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