From the Registers

Burial
Monday 22nd March. Leake St Mary.
Tommy Bosomworth, 99. Sadly 3½ months short of his 100th Birthday. A real native of Borrowby, 13th of 15 children. Our best wishes to his daughter.

Ashes Interred Sunday 18th April. St Felix, Felixkirk. Isobel Alton, late of Thirlby.

May 2004 - Reconciliation

How does reconciliation work in reality and how do we know it has taken place or, rather, taken to heart? Part of the grace of God and the saving act of Christ is that the painful side has been removed for us. The danger remains that we may take it all too lightly. The OED describes Atonement as "reconciliation or restoration of friendly relations between God and sinners"; it also uses all those old words found in the BCP: "expiation", "propitiation" which are more easily translated as "making amends". It is the condition of being at one with others. What a gorgeous state to be in! But do we take advantage of it and reap the benefits?

Many relationships within families, communities and society in general need mending. One has only to look at family rows - many sadly after bereavement - and quarrels over fences between neighbours, or grudges borne by majorities against minorities, to see much evidence of this need. The extraordinary fact is that so many people swim in the opposite direction - away from making up and restoring friendships to an isolation driven by pride or to placebos through the medical profession or counselling. Yet Jesus has done it for us and taken the sting out of it! How often do we teach our children to say "sorry"? We should! Why is it harder for the adult who should know better? When the anticipated response to a "sorry" is forgiveness it should be easier still. If money is at stake, is it worth it? Sadly, too, much litigation, which drives a wedge between parties needing reconciliation, seems to be catching on from the U.S.

Is not marriage full of little reconciliations and resurrection? Now there is an example within the ken of most people; forgiveness has to be given and received. Too often, many situations see only a one-sided attempt so the message is never taken to heart and made an advantage. No new start is possible. Instead, parties go their own way, insistent on their being right, and indulging a stance of pride. The opportunity is missed and new life cannot blossom. Even the general confession can be used constructively, for, if we can admit our mistakes to God it means we have at least recognised the problem. The next step is not impossible.

We need redemption to make sense of the world - and Jesus is a key example for all to draw on. "Sorry" involves a death unto the self (a common theme in Paul's writings). As Andrew Marshall suggests as an example, in a good Easter Saturday article in The Times, some sins may call for a symbolic sacrifice by way of atonement before redemption can be real, as it is a way of accepting forgiveness. It becomes an Easter experience. Easter thus is a real story to satisfy our human needs. Perhaps because death is so removed from our everyday experience - and become clinical at home or totally outrageous at the hands of terrorists - people cannot conceive the idiom of dying to self or making a sacrifice to complete the process. (The same lack of experience of death is another reason why many cannot hack hunting or seal culling.) Yet Christ did suffer, did die, rose again - and we benefit and can find new life. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. May resurrection be a real experience for you.

APCMs across the Hillsides
Re-elections of Church Officers and PCCs, with the addition of Mike Cowton for Leake. This was to succeed Major David Dinwiddie who stood down after 12 years - to him go our thanks from all the parishes. No Tourist Officer to represent all the parishes has been found, yet one is needed in view of available grants and the national emphasis on tourism - this may add a few coppers to our coffers. For those interested, copies of the parish accounts can be obtained from me or the respective parish treasurers or secretaries. All are solvent, we have paid quotas in full and various fabric repairs will swallow reserves at Nether Silton, Leake (churchyard wall and pointing) and Cowesby (reclad spire roof).

PCCs

All the parishes had brief PCCs after their AGMs. Most of the business centred on appointing a Child Protection Representative, and we are grateful to Mrs Linda Gibbon for taking this on on behalf of all the parishes. We also have sorted a Mission Action Plan which will be forwarded to the Archbishop. Again this idea of "Engaging, Encouragin, Exploring and Extending" has been adopted by all the component parishes. It thus follows to decide on some fundraising activities to involve the wider community (see Parishes Meeting).

Food For Thought was deemed a success and made £895 for Parish funds. Our thanks (i) to Bishop John and Sister Agatha for rewarding evenings and (ii) to our food sponsors for two such pleasant meals!

Kirby Knowle will have to undertake some rewiring. Leake is considering a loo, and Felixkirk will introduce sound reinforcement. Nether Silton has to face a bill of £34 - £41k to repair belfry and roof.

"The young idea"? Would any young like to join the PCC and, therefore, would a PCC Introduction Day, or Evening, be appropriate?

In 2005 a parish pilgrimage is being explored. All the parishes, save Leake and KK, are short of churchwardens and other PCC Officers - have some of you some time to serve your local church, please?

Maundy Thursday Walk
 made £195 for Afghanistan (Tim's Fund). Many thanks to all who participated/contributed. As we go to press it is London Marathon Day, April 18th - please see Cosmopolitan, April 2004, p.91/3 for update on Nicky West and her struggle with Cystic Fibrosis - Running for Ella - did you see interview wirh a Mark Davies on BBC TV, 12.30?!