april magazine 2016

22
St Lukes Magazine April 2016 £1

Upload: benefice-of-st-lukes-milland-and-linch

Post on 30-Jul-2016

235 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

 

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: April Magazine  2016

St Luke’s Magazine

April 2016 £1

Page 2: April Magazine  2016

MILLAND PICTURE FRAMING

Est 1991 A professional job at reasonable prices

Discount given to Villagers

Telephone DAVID GODFREY

Milland 01428 741386

Roger Poat & Partners

Independant Funeral Directors & Memorial Consultants

Duck Lane Midhurst GU29 9DE

Telephone: 01730 812094

24 Hour Personal Service

Email: [email protected]

The Annual Art and Craft Exhibition at Tuxlith Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June

Once again, Jean Mallows, is organising this event to raise funds for the care and upkeep of Tuxlith. If you would like to exhibit please contact Jean on 01730 263116 [email protected]. This year there will be a Plant and Produce stall in aid of the Benefice, so please will you think about your St Luke’s when sewing your seeds this spring. We would welcome help with meeting and greeting in Tuxlith, selling on the stall and putting up some posters. Please put the dates in your diary.

Magazine Subscriptions Magazine subscriptions for 2016 are now due. The cost for the year are as follows: £10 for the year for those who have their magazine delivered or collect

them. For those who receive the magazine by post we are having to increase the

subscription to £16 to cover the increase in postage. St Luke’s Milland: cheques made payable to Milland PCC to be sent to: Sheila Pim, Standford End, Whitehill Road. Standford. Hants. GU35 8QS St Luke’s Linch: Where possible, please pay your distr ibutor directly-cheques made payable to :Linch PCC and sent to Anne Alderman, 13 Mill Vale Meadows, Milland. GU30 7LZ

Every year we revise the Church Electoral Roll, if you are

already on the Roll there is no need to do anything. For

those who would like to join there are forms at the back of

both churches.

Page 3: April Magazine  2016

From the Rector…

Counting our Blessings We all have times in life when something happens that make us count our blessings. When this happens some of us may carry on counting blessings and actually look for blessings. Some will use this positivity for good, giving something back after having received so much. Yet it is proba-bly more likely that when things get back to normal, we forget the blessing be-stowed. With so many around the world living under and in appalling conditions we should count our blessings every day. Yet strangely it is often those who strug-gle daily that see God’s blessings more clearly, perhaps they have a heightened sensitivity to them. Those struggling with drought and famine give thanks for rain as they watch their wells fill with water and their crops start to grow. Those who have little give thanks for just managing to put food on the table. It’s so normal for us to see a supermarket full of food, and when we have so much we often forget to say thank you because we take it for granted. Sadly, it would seem we moan and complain about small things because we haven’t the big things to occupy us…which in itself is a blessing. Of course there are many who have very real and worrying problems, all around us, but the basic things to sustain life we have in abundance: peace, clean water, plenty of food, medical supplies and skilled practitioners and for the majority of us shelter. Yet these things can end so quickly, we only need to look at Syria. Looking at the plight of those in Syria and the refugees, is a reminder to us that life is fragile and that all we have cannot be taken for granted. We’ve just celebrated Easter, looking at both death and life. Good Friday is a difficult day, but it is the most holy of days and this year we shared that last hour of Jesus’ life as a united benefice. Acknowledging together that Jesus’ suffering was for us, we gave an hour of our day to do something for God instead of ask-ing God to do something for us. In that hour we showed God our love and devo-tion. Good Friday as with all Good Fridays we count our blessings. We count our blessings that we are loved so much that Jesus died for us. On Good Friday we also have the blessing of hindsight, we know that Easter Sunday is coming and that all is not lost. How different it was on that very first Good Friday… So Easter is about new life, new beginnings and it moves us into spring. New buds are sprouting and we pray that crops will start growing strongly. As I write this the sun is shining, the birds are singing and after a long dark wet winter the sunshine truly feels like a blessing, just as Easter Sunday did after a dark Good Friday. So let’s remember to count blessings while we can and you never know we may well count so many that we might be tempted to give some away.

All blessings

Rev Trish

Page 4: April Magazine  2016

To be a person of faith

is to believe that you can make a difference

and to work at making that happen.

It’s about turning the ideal into the real.

And we get to do that in small things that happen every day.

We have a choice about those thoughtless comments,

destructive put-downs, sarcastic rejoinders,

times when we walk past a needy neighbour without offering help,

times when we say nothing to challenge an injustice.

These are in our own power to change.

Just as surely, we can choose to offer an encouraging comment

when we might have said nothing, to give time and a listening ear

when someone close to us is hurting,

to take some small step to do what we can;

to slow climate change, to live more simply,

to speak a word of tolerance and understanding where there is strife.

There are opportunities for these things every day,

and they are ours to use or not to use.

The currency of change is in our own back pockets.

A person of faith is one who chooses to spend that currency,

moment by moment, by making ordinary choices

that tip the scales toward greater good.

Moving Beyond Religion as you Know It

To Grow in Your Relationship with God

Margaret Sif

Page 5: April Magazine  2016

SERVICES FOR APRIL

SUNDAY 3 April 2nd Sunday of Easter

Linch 9.30 am Family Communion

Readings Acts 5: 27 – 32; Revelations 1: 4 – 8; John 20: 19 - end

Sidesmen Joe and Mary Gallagher and David Angela

Milland 11.00am Eucharist

Lessons Acts 5: 27 – 32; Revelations 1: 4 – 8; John 20: 19 - end

Sidesman Julia Hughes

Readers Janet Price and Julia Hughes

SUNDAY 10 April 3rd Sunday of Easter

Linch 9.30 am Holy Communion

Readings Acts 9: 1 – 20; Revelations 5: 11 – end; John 21: 1 - 19

Sidesmen Juliet and Nigel Cartwright

Milland 11.00am Matins

Lessons Acts 9: 1 – 20; John 21: 1 - 19

Sidesman Harry Scott

Readers Harry Scott and Peter Anson

SUNDAY 17 April 4th Sunday of Easter

Linch 9.30 am Matins

Readings Acts 9: 36 – end; Revelations 7: 9 – end; John 10: 22 - 30

Sidesmen Olive Fleming and Gina Dyke

Milland 11.00am Holy Communion

Lessons Acts 9: 36 – end; Revelations 7: 9 – end; John 10: 22 - 30

Sidesman Bob Ireland

Readers Janet Farnes and Sam Pope

SUNDAY 24 April 5th Sunday of Easter

Linch 9.30 am Holy Communion

Readings Acts 11: 1 – 18; Revelations 21: 1 – 6; John 13: 31 - 35

Sidesmen Mu Bullingham and David Alderman

Milland 11.00am Matins

Lessons Acts 11: 1 – 18; John 13: 31 - 35

Sidesman Harry Scott

Readers Harry Scott and Julia Hughes

Page 6: April Magazine  2016

SUNDAY 1 May 6th Sunday of Easter

Linch 9.30 am Family Communion

Readings Acts 16: 9 – 15; Revelations 21: 10, 22 – 22.5;

John 14: 23 - 29

Sidesmen Madeleine Oram and Greg Carter

Milland 11.00am Eucharist

Lessons Acts 16: 9 – 15; Revelations 21: 10, 22 – 22.5;

John 14: 23 - 29

Sidesman Julia Hughes

Readers Flick Langley and Jean Mallows

DIARY DATES

APRIL

Sun 17 5pm Evensong St Luke’s Milland

6pm APCM St Luke’s Milland

Fri 29 Wedding St Luke’s Milland

Mon 16 8pm PCC St Luke’s Milland

Fri 20 3pm Messy Church St Luke’s Milland

MAY

Weds 4 7.30pm PCC Bettesworth Room

Everington Physiotherapy

Margaret Everington MCSP

Your local chartered Physiotherapist

01730 821006

Page 7: April Magazine  2016

Wasp Nests !!!

Rates more competitive than your local council

All other pests dealt with including Rats, Mice, Ants, Moles, Fleas, Squirrels etc.

Call PestBusters Office 01428 741438

Mobile 07831431 465 Email:[email protected]

VALES

GARAGE LTD.

MILLAND

Tel: 01428 741274 & 741650

MoT TESTING

SERVICING ALL MAKES

TYRES

EXHAUSTS

From the St Luke’s Milland Church Warden

We have had a bit of a nasty surprise this month, as those of you who have been

to the church will have seen. The memorial garden has been sealed off and is

covered with red tape and "keep out" notices, because a relatively small piece of

coping stone had fallen off the south chancel roof on 26th February into the gar-

den, and embedded itself in the ground. This was probably caused by frost and

damp. The church architect has inspected it and is preparing a report, which may

well suggest that other stones are loose and very expensive repairs may need to

be carried out. This is most unfortunate, as the cost will be out of all proportion

to the likelihood of anyone being injured by falling debris because they happen

to be underneath when and if it occurs, the chances against that are of course mil-

lions-to-one! However, "elf “n' safety" and the insurance companies rule the

world these days, and we have already incurred several hundred pounds of costs,

for the architect's fees and hire of a "cherry picker "to inspect the damage. For-

give the rant, but I am very unhappy that something like this should have the po-

tential to inflict such harm on our finances, when we struggle to keep our lovely

church going for the benefit of us all.

By the time you read this Easter will have come and gone, and I hope you have

had a happy one (without TOO much chocolate!) ,I will have got a new hip,

which will keep me out of action for a week or two in the meantime .However, I

am hoping it will give me a new lease of life, as I go into my fourth year as sole

church warden.

Michael Cartwright

Annual Parish Church Meeting

Milland will hold Evensong at 5pm Sunday 17th April, followed by

the APCM in church at 6pm on Sunday 17th April.

All those who are writing reports please send them to Bob Ireland.

Page 8: April Magazine  2016

Jottings from St Lukes Milland PCC Meeting on 14th March The Parish and Benefice Mission Action Plan continues to be a priority,

unfortunately, to date, no responses have been received to the Talents Questionnaire.

Michael Cartwright thanked members for their successful work over Christmas, especially for Rake School functions.

Michael also confirmed that the Churchyard would now be overseen by Sam Pope who had prepared an initial budget. Michael thanked Sam for taking on this role and also expressed his thanks to Robin Quinnell for all she had done while working with us. He also drew attention to the need for some ‘gardening’ of the flower-beds on the South side of the church and it was hoped that volunteers would come forward.

Ensuring access to the War Memorial at Rake Village Hall - Bob Ireland continues to be in communication with a lawyer who is conducting a search of relevant documents.

With regard to the fabric of the church, John Dawes advised the meeting that 2016 was likely to see some heavy costs for three main reasons:

i. following some tiles falling from the roof an initial inspection has shown that there are problems with some coping tiles – the ’no-go’ area by the Memorial Garden has been extended. And further investigations are planned. ii. repairs to the windows is planned and a contractor has been appointed to work on 48 ferramenta (window sections) at the west end of the nave/tower which have corroded plus 4 new windows in the South Porch where the present glass was cracked or bowed and needs renewal. iii. The flagpole and metal ladder will be removed from the tower as they are now in an unacceptable state and a source of potential injury.

APCM on Sunday April 17th and Electoral Roll was discussed it was confirmed that Application Forms for inclusion in the Electoral Roll would be placed in the church.

The Treasurer, Ann Alderman, presented the 2015 accounts and the 2016 budget for approval prior to the APCM. The deficit for 2015 was smaller than budgeted; however, finances for 2016 were expected to result in a deficit of over £2,000. The meeting discussed possible ways of increasing income including stewardship, as collections and donations are now at a lower level than used to be the case.

A vote of thanks to Anne for her efficient stewardship of the accounts was adopted unanimously.

The Tuxlith Art Festival on 17th-19th June 2016 was confirmed and the church will

be well-decorated.

The theme for the Church presence at the Milland Rural Fair on 17th June will be to

show what the church offers, especially for children, the cake stall would be there as

usual.

John Dawes advised that his son, Jeremy, would be riding in the 2016 LIDBA cycle

ride and he had agreed to raise funds for the church thereby. Jeremy was thanked for

this and sponsors should contact John.

Betty Way drew attention to the film “Open Bethlehem” and it was agreed that a

viewing in St Lukes Milland to further raise funds would be explored

The next meeting of the PCC is scheduled for 8.00 p.m 17th April in the church

Page 9: April Magazine  2016

MAGAZINE DEADLINE

20th April 2016

All copy please to

[email protected]

contact Alison Ireland on

01428 713392

The magazine will be in the Church

on the first Sunday of the month.

St Luke’s Milland

200 Club

This month’s winners

1st Janet Price 2nd Michael Cartwright 3rd Flick Langley Please contact Julian Wells if you would like to join the 200 club.

From the St Luke’s Linch Church Wardens As Rev Trish says, although Lent should be a time for quiet contempla-tion, these last four weeks have been very busy with Lent lunches (many thanks to all those who hosted and attended these) and the Lent Course, although the latter has been a time for peace and reflection on the theme of 'Opening Doors' where the different studies covered doors of prayer, mercy, witness, service and the future. During the first study, Trish blessed the ever open door of our little church. In terms of quiet contemplation, we also enjoyed a Taize service on the 21st Feb-ruary. As with the Lent course, the Women's World Day of Prayer on 4th March was also a Benefice event and the ladies of Milland entered fully into the spirit of the theme which was prepared by the women of Cuba and arrived in very colourful and pretty summer dresses. Linch Church is not renowned for its tropical tem-peratures and, consequently, they were probably not at their most comfortable but certainly added to the atmosphere created by Tricia Macgeorge and her team, in a church decked out with colourful scarves and flowers. Mothering Sunday was another colourful occasion with a church full of beautiful posies which were distributed by the children to everyone in church, the children having previously assisted Rev Trish in distributing the Eucharist. On the rather unpleasant note of the wall at Iping Marsh, quotes have been ob-tained for the re-building of this and work there should start when the ground there has dried out a bit more. We look forward to seeing many of you at our Easter services which will be re-ported on in the next magazine.

David and Carol

PS Many thanks to all who helped out with the great church pre-Easter clean, we hope the results have been noticed!"

Linch APCM will be held in church at 4pm on Sunday 10th April. All

those writing reports please send them to Rev Trish.

Page 10: April Magazine  2016

PACT Petworth Walk Through the New Testament

Friday April 22nd/Sat 23rd

Petworth Churches Together (PACT) is holding a 6 hour teaching on the Big Picture of the New Testament, and we will leave equipped and able to share the whole story line in just a few minutes. Learn more in 6 hours than 30 years of sermons! It is being held at the URC Church in Golden Square, Petworth GU28 0AR £14 to include manual. Lavatories available. Information from Gerald Gresham Cooke 01798 342151 & www. Bible.org.uk

Bob Ireland

Bob is delighted to be back attending church and working on his recovery and

would like to thank everyone for their prayers, good wishes and messages to

both him, Alison and the family;

God Bless you all.

Rake School (see photos back page)

On Mothering Sunday about twenty five pupils of Rake School joined

the regular congregation for our service and gave a sp;endid presen-

tation which could be easily heard at the back of the church. All went

home happily with posies of daffodils for their mothers. We also, wel-

comed the children of Rake School to the church on two consecutive

mornings in mid-March, accompanied by staff and assorted sib-

lings, parents and grandparents. On the Thursday Classes 1 and 2

came and on the Friday the three more senior classes arrived, clad in

all sorts of sporting

gear as it was Sport Relief Day, the highlight being Mr Bertwis-

tle, Headteacher, resplendent in gleamingly white cricket pads. At

both services

children read lessons and prayers beautifully as always, Rev Trish

told some of the Easter story from the point of view of Saint Peter,

Leslie Lloyd played for

the four hymns, and good listening was rewarded by squash and bis-

cuits (or coffee) kindly provided by Maureen Keel and Betty Way

Page 11: April Magazine  2016

Wednesday Eucharist 8.45am Bettesworth Room

This takes place on most Wednesdays. Please check the weekly pew sheet for the latest details

St George - our patron saint who

isn’t English by David Winter

It’s perhaps typical of the English that they should have a patron saint who isn’t English, about whom next to nothing is known for sure, and who may not have existed at all. That didn’t stop him being patriotically invoked in many battles, notably at Agincourt and in the Crusades, and of course it is his cross that adorns the flags of English football fans to this day. It’s most likely that he was a soldier, a Christian who was martyred for his faith somewhere in Palestine, possibly at Lydda, in the early fourth century. At some point in the early centuries of the Church he became associated with wider military concerns, being regarded as the patron saint of the Byzantine armies. There is no doubt that he was held as an example of the ‘godly soldier’, one who served Christ as bravely and truly as he served his king and country. The story of George and the dragon is of much later date and no one seems to know where it comes from. By the middle ages, when George was being honoured in stained glass, the dragon had become an invaluable and invariable visual element, so that for most people the two are inseparable. Pub signs have a lot to answer for here: ‘The George and Dragon’. However, it’s probably more profitable to concentrate on his role as a man who witnessed to his faith in the difficult setting of military service, and in the end was martyred for his faithfulness to Christ. The idea of the ‘Christian soldier’ was, of course, much loved by the Victorian hymn-writers - ’Onward, Christian soldiers!’ The soldier needs discipline. The heart of his commitment is to obedience. The battle cannot be avoided nor the enemy appeased. He marches and fights alongside others, and he is loyal to his comrades. In the end, if the battle is won, he receives the garlands of victory, the final reward of those who overcome evil. St George’s Day presents a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to distance the message of his life from the militarism and triumphalism that can easily attach itself to anything connected to soldiers and fighting. The opportunity is to celebrate the ideal of the ‘Christian soldier’ - one who submits to discipline, sets out to obey God truly, does not avoid the inevitable battle with all that is unjust, wrong and hateful in our world, and marches alongside others fighting the same noble cause. Discipline, obedience, courage, fellowship and loyalty - they’re not the most popular virtues today, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve our gratitude and admiration.

Page 12: April Magazine  2016

Prayer for every day after Easter

Living, Almighty God, Thank you that by your Spirit living in me, made possible by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, you give me all I need. Like Peter, you forgive and re-commission me. Like Thomas, you meet me in ways tailor-made for me. Lord, thank you for the daily personal “nudges” that assure me of your reali-ty, your presence in my life, just when I need so much to know you are here. Thank you that we are Easter People every day, because of Jesus, and in His name we pray. Amen. By Daphne Kitching

WEDGLEN GARAGE

MOT Testing Centre - Petrol or Diesel Service Centre -To All New Vehicles

Latest Makes and Models Light Commercials and 4x4

Latest Diagnostic Equipment

Engine - ABS - Air Bag Car Sales: New and Used

MOT TESTING STATION

MOT TESTING STATION

Air Conditioning

Accident Repairs

Free Collection and Delivery

Services and repairs

Tyres: Free Fitting

Free Courtesy Car

Wedglen Park, Midhurst, Sussex. GU29 9RE

Tel: 01730 815001 - Gary Bray www.wedglengarage.co.uk

email: [email protected]

M D Woodger

Oil Fired Boiler

Maintenance

(Servicing,

Commissioning,

Repairs)

OFTEC Registered

Primrose Patch,

Primrose Lane, Rake

GU33 7HG

Telephone 01730 894211

Mobile: 07795 831589

Page 13: April Magazine  2016

Thy Kingdom Come - a week of prayer is called for May

Churches across the country have been invited to spend the week before Pente-cost, 8th to 15th May, in praying together. Writing to all the Anglican church leaders in England, the Archbishops of Can-terbury and York explain: ‘Throughout history any movement of the Holy Spirit to draw increasing numbers of people to faith in Christ has always begun with prayer…. “Christ’s love compels us” to offer … hope, joy and salvation to others, that the world maybe transformed by God’s love. In prayer we are reminded that the “God of mission has a Church, not the Church of Mission has a God”. In prayer we are reminded that when we pray for new and renewed life in others, so it must first be sparked and kindled in us.’ And so it is that the Archbishops, in partnership with 24-7 Prayer, HOPE, the World Prayer Centre, the Neighbourhood Prayer Network, the National Day of Prayer & Worship and others, are inviting the Church of England to spend fo-cused and dedicated time in prayer in the week running up to Pentecost Sunday, 8th -15th May, as part of a united effort to see more of the Kingdom of God come in our day. The focus for our prayer during this time will be for “all Christians to deepen their relationship with Jesus, so that we may have confidence to share our faith, that all may respond to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him.” All serving clergy have been invited to be involved, together with their parish churches, Fresh Expressions of church, and chaplaincies. The week of prayer will be different in every context. For some places it might be a focused single event, perhaps adapting or building on an existing group or meeting, or holding something special. The hope is that in many places Chris-tians across denominations and streams can pray together, as the unity of the whole Body of Christ is a powerful reality and symbol to the world. Beacon Events are to be held in five or six cathedrals (or neighbouring venues) over the Pentecost weekend, celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and praying for the renewal of the Spirit, and for Christians to deepen their rela-tionship with Jesus and to have the confidence to share their faith. The hope is to inspire worship and intercession for a generation to rise up with a fresh pas-sion and confidence for the proclamation of the Gospel. The locations for 'beacon events' are to be Canterbury, St. Paul's, York, Durham, Winchester, and Coventry (in the final stages of confirmation), with Canterbury, York, Durham and St Paul’s being intentionally aimed at the younger generation.

Page 14: April Magazine  2016

The Rising Sun, Milland

Village Pub & Dining

"Great fresh and seasonal pub food, well kept Fullers' ales, extensive wine list, great atmosphere, large secure garden, ample parking"

Children, dogs and ramblers very welcome Takeaway Fish & Chips and Pizzas

NEWLY REFURBISHED DINING ROOM Open 12-3ish & 5.30-12 Mon - Fri & 12-12 Sat & Sun

Iping Road, Milland, Nr Liphook, GU30 7NA 01428 741 347 - www.risingsunmilland.com

The Queen is ‘very grateful’ for the nation’s prayers

In a strong statement of faith, the Queen has said that she is ‘very grateful’ to the nation for its prayers for her and that she has felt God’s ‘faithfulness’ during 64 years on the throne. The comments – rare insights into the Queen’s personal thoughts and Christian faith – came in the forward to a new book, The Servant Queen and the King She Serves, published by Bible Society, HOPE and LICC. Her Majesty said, ‘I have been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for His steadfast love. I have indeed seen His faithfulness.’ The book was published to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. In her comments, the Queen referred to the changes she has seen in her life, which has made her the longest-reigning monarch in British history. ‘The extent and pace of change has been truly remarkable,’ she said. ‘We have witnessed triumphs and tragedies.’ And she alluded to the current problems in the Middle East saying that the world is now experiencing ‘terrible suffering on an unprecedented scale’. The Queen’s Christian faith is well-known. In recent years, Her Majesty has referred to her beliefs in public statements, including Christmas broadcasts. The Servant Queen and the King She Serves highlights the Queen’s faith and how it has shaped her personal life and service to the nation. A 12-page schools version has been published by Scripture Union. Copies of The Servant Queen and the King She Serves are available in packs of 10 at £1 a copy (plus p&p). Visit www.hopetogether.org.uk/thequeen to order copies and for ideas on how to hold a street party and Thanksgiving service.

Page 15: April Magazine  2016

D Findlay Tree Services

We are a fully insured and NPTC certified tree surgery company

For further details and a FREE quotation please call or email

Duncan Findlay Tel: 01428 724968 Mob: 07780 607126

Email: [email protected]

The story behind the Hymn – ‘Praise my Soul the King of Heaven’

Praise my soul the King of heaven, To His feet thy tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore his praises sing. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. Praise him for His grace and favour To our fathers in distress; Praise Him, still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness.

This stately poetic paraphrase of Psalm 103 has been included in probably more solemn ceremonies than any other hymn in the English language. It was even chosen by Queen Elizabeth for her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

Fatherlike, He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows; In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows. Angels in the height, adore Him, Ye behold him face to face; Sun and moon bow down before Him, Dwellers all in time and space; Praise Him! Praise him! Praise with us the God of grace!

By Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Page 16: April Magazine  2016

Henry Lyte had been a brilliant theological student at university in Dublin, with a gift for versifying. After graduation he moved to a tiny and remote parish in County Wexford to serve his curacy. It was here, when he was about 25, that Henry had a religious experi-ence which would transform his life. A close friend of his, another clergyman, had fallen ill, and was clearly dying. Henry went to visit him. The friend was not as distressed as Henry had imagined he would be. In-stead the friend confessed that he had been re-reading the New Testament, with an eye on eternity, and had made a great discovery. There was no need to rely on religious du-ties and formalities and good deeds to gain peace with God. Instead, we can trust com-pletely in the mercy of Christ and his saving power. Henry was sophisticated and had been very formal in his ministry. But this encounter with his friend’s faith at death’s very door, made him reconsider his faith. He wrote later that his dear friend ‘who died happy in the thought that there was One who would atone for his delinquencies’ made him ‘study my Bible and preach in another manner than I had previously done’. And soon after this hymn appeared, in 1834. Lyte rejoices in the majesty and wonder of the living God, who in turn loves us. He cap-tures the measure of the Psalm in enduring lyrics, which combine time, eternity, God and man all swept up into one embrace. Its last verse summons all of the created order to

join in a great act of joyous praise – surely a preview of eternity!

Page 17: April Magazine  2016

Thought for the Month by William Alcock

The Resurrection - an Easter Reflection We may well wonder, centuries after the event, about the resurrection of Jesus Christ; after all, resurrection is not part of our life experience, indeed for that matter it is not a common experience in the Bible. Belief in it therefore, not least belief that Jesus rose to life again after his gruelling crucifixion, must always be a matter of faith. Never the less, if it is true, it does confer a unique importance on Jesus Christ, which, added to Christian teaching, gives us hope both for our own and the world’s future. Within the overall message of the Bible - that in some way humanity fell out of kilter with God and needed forgiveness and reconciliation, the resurrection is absolutely pivotal. The whole Bible message lacks credibility and conviction without it. It represents the climax of the underlying theme of the Old Testament, and brings to completion of the reconstruction of direct human relations with God. In the New Testament the four Gospels give the accounts of Jesus’ deeds and teaching culminating with the details of His crucifixion and resurrection (His Ascension is recounted in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles). However we do not find the full meaning of the resurrection set out until the Epistles, mainly those of St Paul. Paul, as the thirteenth Apostle, states that his special mission was primarily to the Gentiles (the non-Jewish peoples), and that God had commissioned him to proclaim the Gospel concerning His Son, whose unique position as the Son of God was confirmed by His resurrection. Thus St. Paul proclaimed to the

Roman world what God had done for humanity in Christ: and in so doing he brought together the Jewish traditions set out in the Hebrew Scriptures, and many spiritual dimensions of the classical, in particular the Hellenistic (Greek) world. In this way the proclaimer of the Gospel, Jesus, has become the one proclaimed in the Epistles. In the Epistles, especially to the Romans, Galatians, and Corinthians, Paul emphasizes that the message of the Gospels tells us that God always responds to personal faith in Him, and that such faith is the operative factor which gives us strength to overcome the problems which so often confront us in life. For Paul the resurrection is the evidence of the beginning of a new era where our personal faith connects us directly with God.As he wrote in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, (creation); old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. (2 Corinthians,5.17).

s P r i n t C e n t r e

Quality Printing Service

Colour / Black Copying

Design Service

Digital Printing

Plan Copying & Printing < A0

Office Stationery

Ink Cartridges

36 Newtown Road, Liphook, Hants. GU30 7DX

EST. 1979

E-Mail: [email protected]

Canon Copy

Centre

For All Your Printing & Copying Needs

Page 18: April Magazine  2016

ROBERT MOODIE

Is your Sofa or perhaps a favourite Chair, In need of a little loving care,

Don’t push it aside or take it to the ‘tip’ Just give us a ring and we’ll mend it.

Master Upholsterer Since 1973

Antique Restoration

The Old Milking Parlour Mellow Farm

Heath Hill Dockenfield, Farnham

Surrey. GU10 4HH 01428 712886

Page 19: April Magazine  2016
Page 20: April Magazine  2016
Page 22: April Magazine  2016

A very Happy 90th Birthday to Betty Horlock from all her friends in the Benefice.

See Rake School article