From the Registers

Burials and Funerals

19^th February St Wilfrid, Kirby Knowle. Baby Hoare. Funeral service and burial, in her grandmother’s grave, of a baby girl stillborn prematurely to Toddy and Liz Hoare. Our thanks for all your support and prayers at the time - especially from those who shared their own grief, at the service, from similar experiences.

28th February. St.Wilfrid, Kirby Knowle. Susan and Adrian Baldwin, buried together after a service at Scruton. Both were tragically killed in a motor accident - our warmest wishes go out to all their family, especially Susan’s parents, Howard and Sally Leas, in Kirby Knowle. Susan and Adrian were married at Kirby Knowle only last summer.

2nd March. St.Felix, Felixkirk. Paul Latham, ashes interred. Paul, 41, died after a struggle with cancer at Lions Hospice in Northfleet, Kent. He was well supported by his parents, Peter and Eve, from Felixkirk. Again, our heartfelt sympathy is extended to all the family.

24th March. Darlington Crematorium. Lilian Driver, 97, formerly of Knayton and a staunch supporter of Leake Church during her 30 years or so in Knayton, where she and her late husband had retired. For many years she was joined by her sister Rikki, who died a few years ago.

April 2003 - IRAQ (see also “Easter Meditation” )

Christians have to learn to disagree. The challenge is to be constructive with the difference. Thus The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Prime Minister view the causes for just war differently. The Archbishop is keen to maintain dialogue as the bottom line. When asked whether anti-war supporters should march he replied: “No. I think all good Christians should ask themselves why they are going or why they are not going and have a Christian answer to give.” Let us hope the true Christian is big enough to bridge the difference, using his inner peace.

I realise as I write this (St. Patrick’s Day, in time for going to press) that what you read may be obsolete. A roadmap for the Israeli/Palestinian problem has been raised and quickly put in a drawer. Indeed, the media were keen to present it as a non-runner. The issue is very important and too often media spin presents an issue as it feels or judges but does not follow through with conviction or openness. At other times, reporting is very bland, from on the fence.

So where are we? The Prime Minister is prepared to lead from the front and temper his diplomacy but he may have to go over the parapet alone, especially as the old balance of power in Europe kicks in. No one has assessed the repercussions as other issues also kick in. So a free-for-all ensues, as others use the fact that bullets are flying to fire their own for their own cause - in other words, a World War III.

Already there is a humanitarian crisis in Iraq. War will make it worse. We should not underestimate Saddam putting civilians in places where there will be casualties, and using loyal troops to coerce or shoot the rest who have no urge to fight. Even having been a soldier myself, I find there is little justification for aggression - and there are no exceptional circumstances for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq. It will do us no good to abandon our traditional role of self-defence. More time, more inspectors in Iraq can only help: their technology is not very sophisticated.

Manipulating or forcing the hand of the U.N. is a dangerous principle for the future. Here is a world organisation to help keep the world a better place, so its resolutions should be heeded. The U.S. has a bad track record as policemen abroad and marshall at home. Russia and France will, of course, use their veto if they have to prevent the U.S. from barging into Iraq to run their oil sources. (There’s no saying how successful the U.S. would be in preventing a scorched earth policy by Saddam who seems prepared, like a small boy, to destroy what he cannot have.) There are many Christians in Iraq - bombing could well destroy the archaeological evidence of our own Christian roots in Abraham.

Christians will view the situation differently, perceiving other angles to be important. There is no doubt Saddam is evil, but such men are not easily removed. We did nothing about Idi Amin and have done nothing about Mugabe - in places where we, as a country, have a moral obligation and a military capability to do so. Starvation is the most terrible weapon of mass destruction ………… As the Christian is answerable to higher authority, the end can never justify the means. If we are to justify the means we must be very clear about the end, which in a world view can be very elusive. I think more prayer, more talk, more time gives God the opportunity we need to act. Cultivate inner peace. Keep praying. Best wishes,

TH

An Easter Meditation

In the garden of Eden stood the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. In a sense we eat of that tree through Holy Communion, and so imbibe true wisdom or knowledge. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” says Proverbs. How true, as we wait on God and search out that inner peace. The wood of the tree is the shaft of the Cross. The juice of the fruit is Jesus’ blood. The fruit itself is new life in ourselves, able to discern between good and bad. And yes, through Christ, we have eternal life with God. So the tree transforms us.

The Resurrection is not just some sort of virtual reality. It is about bringing new life into situations we would like to change. Jesus, by loving us to the uttermost (Charity) injects something of the Resurrection into us for it to bear fruit. The empty tomb suggests Jesus is not confined, but that out of Mother Earth comes new life in the form of being Christ-like.

Nor should we let Easter be silent. The Word we celebrated at Christmas is active, declaring the “Good News”, the Gospel story, Jesus risen just as Mother Nature proclaims new life in the fields about us. Creation completes its process as we reject the bad to live and proclaim the good.

“Sculpture, Scripture, Soul-searching”

A quiet day with sculpture and a Bible.

At: The Vicarage, Knayton

When: Tuesday 24^th June, 10.00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: £15 (includes lunch.)

The Reverends Toddy and Liz HOARE

Please send SAE with payment to Leake Vicarage, Knayton, THIRSK, YO7 4AZ

by Friday 13th June.

Notes from combined PCC - an encouraging attendance. Decisions. 

1. Meet twice a year, probably Spring and Autumn.

2. Aspects of worship. People generally happy with status quo. Fifth Sundays could explore other liturgy but are booked up for 2 years.

3. Money. Lotteries, Leake and Felixkirk, expanded to whole group.

4. Lent 2003. Funds raised should go to Cowesby to kick start their fab-ric appeal for tower roof etc.

5. Parish magazine. We should publish minutes of PCCs, also deanery and diocesan synod pages. There should be a list of Sunday readings (see this mag.!). There should be occasional distributions to all households including an information pack relevant to each village and including Vital Village funding requirements. Encouragement for people to share transport, ask for lifts, to events.

AOB also covered a wide ranging ground of opportunity.