From the Registers

Funerals

20th December. St Mary, Leake. Barbara Blackburn, 56, of Cruck Cottage, Knayton. Beloved wife of Malcolm and mother of Arthur and Ann. After a brave struggle with cancer. Our best wishes to all the family

24th December. Swainby Parish Church. Beth Fairburn, 81, wife of Sid Fairburn of Knayton. Ever active, despite recent illness, her death was sudden and unexpected. Our best wishes to all her extended family.

Wedding

Wedding 27th December (St John’s Day) St.Mary, Leake. Andrew Holt and Angela Baldwin, mother of Oliver and Rebecca; both of Knayton. Our best wishes to them all for the future ……………..

February 2003 - Us and The United States of America

Mary spent much time pondering many things in her heart after the birth of Jesus. We, too, need to recapture the ability to ponder. Epiphanytide should give us much to ponder over. It means to “weigh up the symbolism/think about the meaning of” things or events. As such it must be central to the working out of our faith. The Wise Men are a good example, with their 3 gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Part and parcel of pondering is balancing the facts with any symbolic meaning derived from them. The Magi in Matthew 2 are readily hijacked into Three Kings on our Christmas cards, and then given different ethnic origins. There is good reason for this from the Psalms. As prophecy, Psalm 72 gives a background account. Subsequently we allow our original Astronomer/Astrologers to represent the uniting of the nations before the Christ Child as well as Wisdom pointing to the Word. Certainly Mary had much to ponder! And the gifts …………….?

Gold, symbol of Kingship and wealth, should make us ponder today. In our instant material world, liquid gold, that is Oil, is probably a most precious commodity - although it will not last like Gold. Alongside that, the Plastic Card makes a great deal of money for business - billions are owed. This is the market state that has replaced the nation state (Dr Rowan Williams in his Dimbleby Lecture). It is all the more essential, as people make up their own rules for business, for the Church to prompt people’s faith to consider proper moral and ethical parameters within their dealings among their faith. And for the Church to prompt Govt. to consider proper protection, now that defence of geographical and territorial boundaries is largely obsolete. That brings us to Frankincense.

Frankincense is the symbol of priestly prayer, “of prayers rising as a pleasing smell to God”. The Wise Men had their finger on the pulse. Christ would restore religion and faith, and the process needs to continue ………………… Faith is the foundation by which we serve and accept Rule, or make up rules. Only by being grounded in our own faith can we seek real and meaningful dialogue with other faiths. Only by being grounded in our own faith can we be seen and trusted as people of integrity. In their own way and in their own times, amongst different peoples and religions, both Ghandi and Glubb commanded a great deal of respect. From such a base, Peace, involving forgiveness and reconciliation, can be worked out. The Archbishop is trying to say that there is an even greater need for the Church in this day and age than many, who dismiss the Church as obsolete, would suppose.

Myrrh, symbol of death, and, for Christians, Resurrection, also has a potent part to play. We cannot rationalise Resurrection any more than we can Virgin Birth, which balances it. Instead we can only wonder at it. There’s plenty to wonder at, so let us enjoy a sense of wonder: somehow God always teases us that He is behind just another veil as we strip one away.

Lastly, behind all the symbols as a whole, we should consider the Church and our own shape tomorrow. Some say that what the United States of America does today we will do tomorrow. I would thoroughly disagree - too many of their bad habits have already begun to take root: litigation and “blame on others for our own faults and mistakes” being the worst. We need to consider our own History and the evolution of our respective churches to check this out ………….. The U.S. does not have an established church - we do! Their history was the opportunity to find new freedom to worship, from which starting point they have evolved. We still have a Supreme Governor, in the form of our own Monarch, they do not! The U.S.churches have taken many different directions. The Episcopal Church may best claim Anglican roots, but they too have evolved. It goes against the grain for “the parent” to follow in the wake of the “offspring”. We must work on our own future by pondering our own actions and their meanings, and talk them through. Dialogue is the Key, similar to discussing Scripture.

Dr. Rowan Williams seems to have started on a good lead. May we follow from more than idle curiosity!

PROPOSAL FOR UNITED BENEFICE

ONE P.C.C.
ONE ACCOUNTANT
ONE SECRETARY

EACH CHURCH (less KEPWICK): 2 CHURCHWARDENS (2 for O.S./N.S.)
EACH CHURCH: ONE TREASURER (each treasurer to pay in collection and raise Covenants)

Each Church needs two accounts: 1 * fabric, 1 * quota/expenses.

One ChurchWarden to attend quarterly Meeting with Vicar.
One ChurchWarden to head up local fabric committee for fundraising activities etc.
This group could include one other P.C.C. member and any they co-opt or
are elected locally. There would be a vestry meeting per church before each Annual General Meeting.

Two Deanery synod representatives for whole group - group pays only one subscription for them. If the Archbishop lifts patronage suspension, then vicar could be collated, otherwise renewable / regular licence.

The above  is from the sheets already handed out at Church services. These sheets also had “hit points”.

Look Ahead to Lent - “Food for Thought”

We have three speakers during Lent (all meetings start 7.30 p.m.):

Clarissa Dickson-Wright Wednesday 12th March Borrowby V.H.

Abbot of Ampleforth Wednesday 26th March Knayton V.H.

Judge Harry Walker Wednesday 9th April Upsall V.H.

Proper tickets are required - we are aiming to seat 80 people each evening, so please book early! Tickets, at £10 per person per evening, available from The Vicarage by Wednesday 5th March (Ash Wednesday). The price includes a simple wholesome meal, to precede the talk - please bring your own liquid refreshment!

New Postcards of Nether Silton (i) picture of Nativity - should be available for Christmas (ii) picture of Scaife Memorial Window (a reprint of Over Silton with bluebells) 20p. each available at Leake church etc.