From the Registers

Wedding Saturday November 17th. St.Wilfrid, Kirby Knowle. Robert William Elenor, eldest son of John and Grace, of Borrowby, and Beverley Jane Woodhouse. Both of Kirby Knowle.

Burial (see also December H.P.M.) November 22nd. All Saints, Nether Silton. Lilian Hounslea, 84. Burial of ashes in her mother's grave. Aunt and adoptive mother of Beryl Berg.

Baptism Advent Sunday, December 2nd. Leake St Mary. Kate Victoria Dennis, daughter of Paul and Vicky.

It is the Pantomime and Circus Season. I’ve not been to either for years. Maybe such delights are eclipsed by the stunts and wizardry of Harry Potter, but at least they are live entertainment and prompt interaction between player and audience. My favourites were always the clowns, and my least favourite the horses going round in endless circles. (In fact the size of the ring is dictated by the floor area required by the horses.) I preferred the ponderous pachyderms performing pirouettes, or the excitement of tigers doing their hula hoops - though I envied neither their conditions of service. Christians and clowns have to be thick-skinned. I used to drive past the summer quarters of lions outside Malton not so many years ago. However, I still have the badge given to me by Coco the Clown.

The auguste clown like Coco is a reminder of the failure and foolishness of the Christian story and the Cross. Again and again the auguste clown is tricked or driven to failure or lands in a heap - but as often again he rises. It is a resurrection. We might also consider that often he is as helpless as the Christ child, but still seems to triumph and "gain the last laugh" in the end. The clown comes in from the touch line, steals centre stage and bows out again having made his point, having tipped the mighty from their seats and generally turned the world upside down. Yet we laugh with the clown, not AT him or his culprit - and, yes, we may cry with the clown too.

Perhaps after all God does not have a big white shock of hair and a Bin Laden beard - perhaps he has a red wig that stands on end, large painted eyebrows, and spectacles that squirt water. Often the Holy Spirit seems nearer the Lord of Misrule than a pompous procession. Many credit God with a sense of humour for he turns the world and its values upside down and many would anticipate laughter in heaven. And what is laughter? Surely something to enjoy, to share, to pass on. Marriage is about weeping and laughing together, not alone. Laughter abounds in hospitals because it is part of the healing process. How often do we chide the recipient of a broken bone for "not having put enough water with it"!

Laughter often drives home the point. I wish I could do it more and better. Harold Macmillan often reduced the House to convulsions - and then drove his point home. Too often we read the Scriptures and remain po-faced. Humour, and especially puns which were often the key words of the oral tradition, are lost in translation - but Jesus was a story-teller who certainly roused interest the obvious way. He made people laugh, he made his point, he made it memorable - and infinitely better than the puerile crap that creeps round computer networks because someone has nothing better to do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A date for your diary is June 20th when Roly Bain will visit us again - and help us to find and regain that humour and delight.

May 2002 see you all land on your feet!

Best wishes  TH

Leake P.C.C. were very pleased to elect Tony Curson as Honorary Special Reader in appreciation of the dedication and commitment with which he prepares and leads Matins on the various occasions when the need arises. He has been pleased to accept, and will carry on. Special note was taken of his care in finding a suitable article or commentary to read in lieu of an address. T.H.

Material that requires typing to fit A5, single-sided, should be with The Editor by Monday January 14th, ideally through our letter-box. Contributions always welcome, but deadlines need to be met. All other material, single-sided A5, by 10 a.m. Monday January 21st, please! Curtiss Cottage, South Kilvington, Thirsk        01845 - 522739

“The Parishes Churches in the Ancient Vale of Mowbray”

by Keith Surgey and W.David Trotman.

This informative and beautifully illustrated book was on sale a number of years ago and some people may own a copy. Mr Surgey, who is at present a resident in Sowerby, has kindly donated a number of books to St.Oswald’s P.C.C. They have very kindly offered to share their good fortune through “Churches Together Thirsk District”.

I have been able to acquire 70 books for the Hillside Parishes and these have been distributed to Churchwardens. Please contact them if you wish to purchase a copy. St.Oswald’s P.C.C. have donated these books to us, to sell at £10 each - the money raised will be for each individual church. Our grateful thanks have been expressed to St.Oswald’s P.C.C. for their most generous gift. L.J.Gibbon.