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QUARTET

The Newsletter of the benefice of The Paxtons with Diddington and Southoe

January 2017

Who’s Who Vicar: Revd Canon Annette Reed, The Vicarage, 24 St James Road, Little Paxton, PE19 6QW Tel: 01480 211048 Email: canonannettereed@gmail.com (Day off: Friday)

Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) Dr Peter Dunn, 18 London Lane Mrs Barbara Evans, 4 Willow Close Great Paxton Tel: 01480 477051 Little Paxton Tel: 01480 532882

Melanie Eyeons meleyeons@hotmail.com

Church Army Evangelist (Retired) Authorised Lay Minister (ALM) Capt. Leslie Tennant Nick Gellatly 6 Church Close, Little Paxton, PE19 6EU 11 Hayling Avenue, Little Paxton Tel: 01480 212601 Tel: 01480 219022 Email: leslieandjean@ntlworld.com Email: nick.gellatly@gmail.com

Church Wardens Diddington: Toby Angel, Stirtloe House, Stirtloe Polly Carpenter-O’Driscoll, St Neots Tel: 0777 083 3212 9 Lincoln Close, Buckden, PE19 5UE Tel: 01480 811629

Great Paxton: Dr Peter Dunn, 18 London Lane, Bob Hacking, 1 Mint Lane Great Paxton, PE19 6RH Great Paxton, PE19 6RT Tel: 01480 477051 Tel: 01480 219846

Little Paxton: Lyn Harris, 17 Park Avenue, Nicola Jones, 36 Gordon Close, Little Paxton, PE19 6PB Little Paxton, PE19 6PF Tel: 01480 476374 Tel: 01480 403212 Email: lyn@humieres.net

Southoe Andy Saw, 33 Rectory Lane, Southoe Lorraine Barlow, 6 Lees Lane PE19 5YA Tel: 01480 472947 Southoe, PE19 5YG Email: andysaw95@gmail.com Tel: 01480 219995 Email: lollybarlow@aol.co.uk

Benefice Administrator and Editor: Alison Mannas Tel: 01480 216640 Email: alisonmannas@yahoo.co.uk

Tower Captain Little Paxton: Debbie Ellis T: 01480 214421 Email: lpbellringers@gmail.com

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Readings:

Sunday 8th January - The Epiphany (transferred from 6th January)

Isa. 60 v 1-6

Ephesians 3 v 1-12

Matthew 2 v 1-12

Sunday 15th January - The Second Sunday of Epiphany – White

Isa. 49 v 1-7

1 Cor 1 v 1-9

John 1 v 29-42

Sunday 22nd January - The Third Sunday of Epiphany – White

Isa 9 v 1-4

1 Cor 1 v 10-18

Matthew 4 v 12-23

Sunday 29th January - The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany – White

1 Kings 17 v 8-16

1 Cor. 1 v 18-end

John 2 v 1-11

A Collect for The Feast of the Epiphany which will be celebrated on 8th January

O God,

who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen.

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In 2016, we have had a record number of 34 baptisms in our benefice since Annette has been Vicar. Of these, 20 have been at Little Paxton, 13 at Great Paxton and 1 at Southoe, 2 of these have been adults. A big thank you to those who help to prepare our churches and act as verger for these very important occasions.

If anyone families are looking to have their children baptised in 2017 please do contact Annette as soon as possible as summer Sundays in particular get booked up very quickly.

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From the Parish Registers

Funerals David Anthony Brennan aged 75 years

30th November Funeral Service at Cambridge Crematorium

John David Smith aged 73 years 5th December

Funeral Service at Bedford Crematorium

June Barbara Langham aged 83 years 9th December

Funeral Service at Cambridge Crematorium

Norah Winifred Taylor aged 106 years 19th December

Funeral Service at St Mary’s Church, Eynesbury

Steven Anthony Holbrook aged 37 years 20th December

Funeral service at Great Paxton Church Followed by Cremation at Bedford

Reginald Cecil Knight aged 89 years 30th December

Funeral Service at Bedford Crematorium

Baptism

Buddy Bleu Goodliffe Sunday 4th December at Great Paxton Church

We extend our sympathy to the many local families who have been

bereaved over the Christmas and New Year period.

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Services across the Benefice

Every Wednesday there is a Service of Holy Communion at 10 am lasting about 30 minutes at Little Paxton Church.

Sunday 8th January – The Epiphany (transferred from 6th January)

9.15 am Sung Eucharist - Little Paxton

10.45 am All Age Worship - Great Paxton School 4 pm Evening Service of hymns and readings - Southoe Church

(Bring along an object special to you)

Sunday 15th January – The Second Sunday of Epiphany

9.15 am Sung Eucharist - Little Paxton 10.45 am Holy Communion - Great Paxton Church

10.45 am – Forty Minutes - Little Paxton.

Sunday 22nd January – The Third Sunday of Epiphany

9.15 am Sung Eucharist - Little Paxton 10.45 am Morning Prayer - Great Paxton School

Sunday 29th January – The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

10.30 am Benefice Songs of Praise - Southoe

Sunday 5th February Candlemas – The Fifth Sunday before Lent

9.00 am Prayer Book Communion - Great Paxton

10.45 am Forty Minutes - Little Paxton 12 noon- Short Holy Communion - Little Paxton

4 pm – A Service of Light for Candlemas - Southoe

Copy date for February 2017 Quartet is Friday 6th January

Please send material to The Editor Email: alisonmannas@yahoo.co.uk

Diary Dates

Tuesday 10th January at 7.30 pm Southoe PCC meet in church

Monday 16th January at 7.30 pm

Great Paxton History Group meet at The Bell

Wednesday 18th January at 7.30 pm Great Paxton PCC in Mint Lane

Monday 23rd January at 1.30 pm

Little Paxton History Group meet in church

Monday 23rd January at 7.30 pm Little Paxton PCC in church

Sunday 29th January at 10.30 am

Benefice Songs of Praise at Southoe Church

Thoughts on Time by Steven Cloud Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is

not a bad idea - especially at the beginning of the new year.

As we look into 2017 we look at a block of time. We see 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8,760 hours

525,600 minutes 31,536,000 seconds

And all is a gift from God.

Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as part of life. The gift of time is not ours alone.

It is given equally to each person.

Every man, woman and child has the same 24 hours every day Another important thing about time is that we cannot stop it. There is no way

to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on.

Obviously time is one of the most precious aspects of our lives. We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it all on ourselves. Or,

as good stewards, we can invest it in the Kingdom of God.

The new year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will we be tossing

time out of the window, or will we make every minute count?

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Diddington News

Looking back:

Thanks to everyone who put up a tree for the Christmas Tree

Festival. The church looked very pretty and tasty cakes and

drinks added to the occasion. Although we didn’t have a lot of

visitors, a total of £100 was raised towards church funds.

On Christmas Eve the Vicar arrived to find an amazing number

of people in the church for the Christingle service – some 45

adults and children enjoyed input from a cow, turkey and other

rather unusual characters who each had a tale to tell. Thanks to

everyone who came along and made it a very special celebration.

Over Christmas the two stars shone out from the top of the tower

and a new lamppost near to the footpath gate gave light to those

who came along. A private donation of £200 was a most welcome

gift.

January Service

The next service at Diddington will be on Sunday 22nd January

at 11.15 am. Everyone welcome!

Tribute to Norah Winifred Taylor aged 106 years

Annette writes:

I had the privilege to lead the funeral service at St Marys Church

Eynesbury of the late Norah Taylor who died at Paxton Hall aged

106 years. This was by far the oldest person whose funeral I have

taken in my time as a minister.

Norah was born in September 1910 (4 years before the beginning

of WW1!) but spent most of her life in St Neots, being confirmed

and married in St Neots Parish Church to Bob Taylor. She had

one daughter Janet and descendants spanning three generations.

Norah loved singing and there was a wonderful choir from

London present at her funeral singing classical choral music. It

was truly sublime and one could imagine her being transported to

heaven by angels and archangels. A dear soul who had graced this

earth for so many years. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

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Southoe 100 Club draw winners

November: 1st 33 John Ramply £20

2nd 95 David Felce £15 3rd 83 Vicky Brookes £10 4th 6 Dawn Kiley £5

December: 1st 8 Kay Lightfoot £100 2nd 45 Kate Ramply £60

3rd 33 John Ramply £25 4th 73 Clem Proietti £15

Thanks to George and Wendy for running the 100 club and to everyone who supports it. It is an invaluable source of funds for St Leonard’s Church.

The Monthly Open Church Tea, coffee and cake mornings

Will be on:

Tuesday 17th January 10 am to 12 noon Tuesday 21st February 10 am to 12 noon

Tuesday 21st March 10 am to 12 noon

Thanks to everyone who comes along

to these friendly sessions and to Kay who organises them.

They also raise useful funds for Southoe Church. There is usually a Bring and Buy Stall as well and donation always appreciated on the day!

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Annette Writes:

May I first of all wish all our readers a very happy and peaceful 2017.

On 6th January every year we remember the Christian feast of The Epiphany meaning literally “The manifestation or showing forth of light.; in the Christian context the showing of the light of the infant Christ to the Magi. Matthew’s gospel tells of the familiar story of the visit of the Kings or Magi, to the Holy Family with their symbolic gifts. It narrates how Mary, Joseph and Jesus then had to flee as refugees to Egypt to escape from the threatening King Herod. Sometimes we may use the word Epiphany to mean “a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization”.

By chance just after Christmas Day I came across the web-site of Christian author Godfrey Rust: www.wordsout.co.uk. He is based in a London Church and if you have time and use the internet have a look at some of his writings. I particularly like his humorous take on the story of the “Three Wise Men” and what would have happened if they missed the sign to Bethlehem and ended up in contemporary London.

The Journey of the Magi Coming as they did from the first century

they had a few problems with London traffic and were seriously misled by signs

to the Angel and Kings Cross. Inquiring diligently about the star

they were referred to Professor Brian Cox, who thought it was amazing

while smiling in a constant and strangely unsettling way.

In Harrods the camels made a mess all over Soft Furnishings.

On the Underground commuters glared at No Smoking signs

as incense wafted gently through the carriages, and when the great day came

they saw the entire voting population slumped on sofas by four o'clock, rendered senseless by too much

dead poultry and the Queen, while over Liberty's and Hamley's

the flickering angels sang Glory to God in the High St.

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And they found him, with the inns full up again,

in the old familiar place, bringing their unregarded gifts

to the empty stable of the human heart

where the infant Christ is born again and again and again

The visit of the Kings to the Holy Family must have made a deep impression on them and Matthew makes it clear in his gospel that Jesus was born not just for the salvation of the Jewish people but for the salvation of all peoples of every race and culture, as represented by The Magi.

It is important not to leave the Christ child in the stable of course. “His spirit is with us” is the great acclamation made very time bread is broken and wine drunk in Jesus’ memory. He longs to be born in our hearts anew every day of our lives, every second that our hearts beat and our eyes behold his glory in the details of creation. Christ longs to be our constant companion and the star that lights our way in an often confusing and complex world.

May your journey through 2017 be graced with His presence and moments too of realisation of just how much He loves and cherishes each one of us. Amen. Annette

Little Paxton - St James’ Church

Little Paxton 100 Club - December Winners

1st Prize £500.00 No. 20 D Peppler 2nd Prize £250.00 No. 60 I King 3rd Prize £125.00 No. 87 A Standbrook 4th Prize £75.00 No. 40 P Herlihy 5th Prize £25.00 No. 30 A Reed 6th Prize £25.00 No. 2 D Thomas

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Christmas Eve was as full as it has ever been for the Christmas Eve carols round the crib. It was heartening to see so many village families enjoy the Christmas story again and sing lots of carols.

Thanks to the brave folk who dressed up in various outfits and thanks to everyone who kept the church clean and tidy during this week, offering hospitality to our many visitors. 100 Club Winners - December £100 Number 24 Patricia Kevan-Wale £50 Number 200 Peter Arnold £25 Number 32 Pamela Arnott PLEASE NOTE that our services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays will be in Great Paxton School at 10.45 am to provide more warmth than we can generate in church. This will be the case for January and February. Please keep an eye on notices to tell us where we will be in March!

Southoe & Midloe News

Services in January at Southoe Church

Sunday 8th January at 4 pm

A service of readings and hymns led by Annette on the theme of the Epiphany.

Bring along an object special to you if you would like

Sunday 29th January

Benefice Songs of Praise at 10.30 am Enjoy some favourite hymns and cake afterwards.

Sunday 5th February

A service by candlelight for Candlemas at 4 pm

Little Paxton Parish Council Winter gritting Programme - Areas to be gritted

1. Entrance from the Queen Elizabeth II Playing Field, High Street to Doctors Surgery 2. The Rookery Steps & Ramp

3. Footpath through St. James’ Churchyard

Gritting will only take place on the days the Council’s Groundsman works i.e. (Mon– Fri).

There will no gritting carried out at weekends.

Great Paxton News

Great Paxton Local History Group

The Great Paxton Local History group will meet again at The Bell Inn on Monday 16th January at 7.30 pm. Anyone interested in local history is very welcome to come along to this very informal gathering.

Looking back to December

Great Paxton Church hosted a variety of services during the last week in December, all very different and each special in its own way. On Monday 19th December the school end of term service was its usual fun and happy occasion.

Bob Hacking, who has served as a Foundation Governor for well over 20 years (no one was quite sure when he started), was presented with a very blue T-shirt with the words “Amazingness Award” emblazoned on it and a large yellow star.

Current chair of Governors, Guy Fairbairn, thanked Bob warmly for all the years he had supported the school, not least going on numerous school trips and being a friend to many of the staff.

The next day, Tuesday 20th December, an estimated 300 people were present at the funeral service for Steve Holbrook who had lived with his family in Rectory Close. Steve had been a serving Police Officer with Bedfordshire Police and despite a diagnosis of a brain tumour in April 2015 he and his family fought his illness with great bravery and set to work to raise money for Brainstrust and Brain Tumour Research. You can read about their funding raising work at the website which Steve set up: www.hillsandheadwinds.com. We continue to send love and prayers to his wife Carrie, their children Emma and Mason and their families.

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Regular activities at St James’ Church

Little Paxton Village News

Little Paxton History Group

The Little Paxton Local History Group will meet again on 23rd January at 1.30 pm in St James’ church. The group is part of the St Neots U3A , but anyone is welcome to a one off meeting for £1 entrance.

Gardening Club

The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the village hall. Please contact Jane Hill for further information on email: riverhill@tiscali.co.uk New members are always very welcome.

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Wednesday Mornings

Open Church 10.30 am to 12 noon

Tots, Tea & Chat group 10.50 am to 12 noon

For further information please contact Annette:

Tel: 01480 211048

Friday Mornings

Open Church 10.30 am to 12 noon

Please do come along for a cup of tea or coffee and a

friendly chat

June’s Quilting Group

Second and fourth Wednesday of the month

1.30 pm to 3.30 pm

£2 a session includes tea and coffee

For any queries please contact June Griffin

Tel: 01480 399773

Jubilee Knitters

A group of machine knitters who meet on the second

Monday of the month From 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Any queries please contact

Cynthia Tel: 01480 384520 or Angela Tel: 01480 350589

Women's Institute

The group meets on the third Monday of the month at 7.45 pm at St James’ Church. Visitors are very welcome - please contact Angela Browne 07767 385 885 for further information.

Little Paxton Friendship Club and Indoor Skittles

The Friendship Club meets every other Wednesday in the afternoon in the village hall at 2 pm to 4 pm. It costs just £4 per quarter to join and the club also has outings during the year and a Christmas meal. Alternating with the other Wednesday is an opportunity to play skittles in the village hall back room from 2-4 pm. Details from Val Tillcock (chairperson) 01480 393560, or Mick Ross (hon. treasurer): thelonelyfrog2@gmail.com Stay Calm Using The Defibrillators Saturday 14th January 2pm Little Paxton Village Hall

This is the 9th session the Parish Council has organised over the last 18 months.

Do you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? They are not the same. Would you know what to do? Would you panic? Stay calm as this is a great opportunity to learn how to recognise sudden cardiac arrest, use the defibrillator and do CPR. It takes only 5 minutes to save a life.

As part of the The Big Lottery grant funding for the CPADs, Little Paxton Parish Council is arranging a further awareness session to demonstrate how the defibrillators work and how to use them. The sessions will be run by the Community HeartBeat Trust in the village hall.

The Council would like to invite residents to the following session: Saturday 14th January 2 pm – 4 pm

The Parish Council defibrillators are top of the range and they not only talk to you but have a video animation to demonstrate each step of CPR as you do it. The awareness sessions are informal, there is no audience participation- you won’t be asked to take part in a role play - and after the end of the session you can try ‘CPR’ on the dummy if you wish. No need to book. Refreshments will be available including chocolate biscuits.

Contact Jenny Gellatly, Parish Clerk Tel 01480 470193 for more information.

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Mill Lane Bridge, Little Paxton - Road Closure 26th January 8 am – 6 pm Due to signs of deterioration, reported to Cambridgeshire County Council by the Environment Agency on their recent inspection of the area, it is necessary to carry out a full Principal Inspection of the bridge structure to ensure its structural integrity. The gate to the bridge will be closed.

Protecting older or more vulnerable residents in Little Paxton

Do you know that Little Paxton has a No Cold Calling Zone (NCCZ) in Lakeside Close and Wantage Gardens? These zones were set up to discourage cold callers and to give residents the confidence to say ‘no’ to uninvited sales people – helping to prevent people falling victim to distraction burglars and rogue traders. Whilst the zones were originally introduced by Cambridgeshire Trading Standards, it is recognised that community-led action is much more effective in protecting local people from unscrupulous tradespeople. Indeed, the best prevention and support for residents comes from within their own community. We can offer a range of materials for your residents including door stickers, advice on how to spot a rogue trader and tips to prevent unwanted mail and phone calls. We invite a local coordinator to disseminate this information and look after a NCCZ on behalf of its residents. This would preferably be someone living within the zone but could also be someone residing close by. Could that be you? If you feel you can help, even if your time and ability is limited, we would love to hear from you. A NCCZ can really be reinvigorated with a little community action; just a good neighbour keeping an eye out makes all the difference. For more information please contact Elaine Mountfort, Community Protection Officer at elaine.mountfort@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or Tel: 01954 286006 or 07810 153604.