visit us at www.dealstandrews.org.uk

TheLanternThe Parish Magazine of S. Andrew’s, Deal

MARCH, 2012

Who’s Who in the Parish

Parish Priest:

The parish is in an interregnum

Honorary Assistant Clergy:

Father Ian Shackleton SSC 01304 379773 Father Roger Marsh SSC 01304 362851

Churchwardens:

Peter Gibson 01304 380860Waveney Brooks 01304 367961

PCC Officers

PCC Secretary: Ali RobertsonPCC Treasurer: Mike CareyElectoral Roll: Bryan Evans

Director of Music: Tim Woodhead

Lantern editor: Peter Gibson

The Parish Office:

S. Andrew’s Church, West Street, Deal CT14 6DY

(01304) 381131 - Email: Office@dealstandrews.org.uk

The Parish Office is not manned full-time but mail and telephone messages are checked every day.

The Parish of S. Andrew, North Deal is in the Diocese of Canterbury in the Church of England.

Cover picture: The Raising of Lazarus by John Linnell (1792-1882)

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In Church each week at S. Andrew’s

Matins is said at 8 am on Saturdays; otherwise at 9 am. on weekdays. Evensong is said at 6 pm.

Sunday 8.00 am Low Mass (Book of Common Prayer)10.00 am Parish Mass (Common Worship)6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction (BCP)

Monday 10.00 am Low Mass

Tuesday 9.30 am Low Mass

Wednesday 10.00 am Low Mass

Thursday 12.00 noon Low Mass

Friday 6.30 pm Low Mass (a priest is normally available

before and after the service for spiritual counsel)

Saturday 8.30 am Low Mass

On Festivals and Holy Days, service times may vary - please see our Notice Board or website

Holy Baptism, Weddings and Funerals

Please contact Father Ian Shackleton on 01304 379773 for inquiries about any of these services.Baptisms are usually on the second Sunday in each month.

The Vestry and Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Thurs-day 15 March at 6.30pm (NOT 7.30pm as announced in February’s Lantern). All residents within the parish over the age of 16 are eligible to attend. Only those on the electoral roll may vote.

Father Ian writes …………

Austerity has been the subject of much media coverage in recent years. The current economic climate at home and abroad has necessitated ‘austerity measures’ at national and local level which have affected many of us. The closure of some of our best-loved local businesses reflects the sad reality. On a personal level, most of us about how much we spend and on what. It is all relative, of course; those who experienced the depression in the 1930’s tell us ‘we ain’t seen nothing yet.’ In comparison with those times, we still have a great deal to be thankful for.

Which leads us into a consideration of the season of Lent. This too is seen in the Church as a period of austerity; the difference being that it is self-imposed - voluntary - and is manifested in different ways and on different levels.

In church the altar hangings and vestments of the priest are a sombre purple reflecting the more austere ‘tone’ of the services themselves. People often use this season to come to Confession and to take on extra devotions such as The Stations of the Cross, extra times of prayer or Bible reading.

For most of us Lent is popularly associated with ‘giving up something’ which only has a point if what we give up is something that we like and will miss. It acknowledges our Lord’s temptations in the wilderness - temptations that are common to all of us - to power, celebrity, and self-indulgence. We know from experience that these very human propensities, unchecked usually result in intolerance or corruption, fragmentation of society or even wars.

Continuous self-indulgence makes the individual soft and flabby, and likely to cave in at the first difficulty or challenge that we are faced with. Converse-ly, an exercise in self-restraint makes us stronger and consequently better able to cope with what life inevitably throws at us. For the Christian there is an added dimension; that of identifying with Christ’s suffering and death, evoking penitence for wrong-doing, warning us to beware of self-importance, and to walk humbly before our God.

Lent this year began on 22nd February, Ash Wednesday. It is so called be-cause at the beginning of the Masses on this day priest and people are marked with ashes upon the forehead with the stark words ‘Remember O man, that

dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.’ A simple acted statement of unvarnished truth reminding us that we ‘brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can take nothing out’. (Book of Job) It certainly helps us to have a sense of proportion.

But Easter lies on the horizon - not about eggs but exaltation, not about bunny-rabbits but Resurrection. Easter Day is on Sunday April 8th, and I shall write about it in the next issue.

Mums and Toddlers

at St. Andrew’severy Wednesday

(during school term-time)

9.30 to 11.30 am

Confirmation

On 5th February (the day of the snow) we were delighted to welcome the Rt Revd Norman Banks, the (fairly) new and third Bishop of Richborough to celebrate and preach at the Parish Mass. And what a lovely and genuine man he is. He was thrilled by the warmth of S. Andrew’s people and the welcome we gave him; we were likewise overjoyed to have him amongst us. That he will give us every support and encouragement is greatly appreciated by every-one and we look forward to many years of pastoral and sacramental ministry under his special care.

He will visit us again in late spring or early summer to conduct a Confirma-tion Service. We now have some adults and children in our congregation who would like to be confirmed this year. An invitation is also warmly extended to any readers of The Lantern who have children who are considering confirma-tion or who themselves are wish to receive this sacrament. Please let me know as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for appropriate preparation. (Contact details on the inside front cover.)

Fr Ian

In church, October 2011 to February 2012Baptisms

1 October May Gardiner-Comer6 November Ellen Irene Reeves

Esmie Amelia KillipNancy Valerie Walker

16 November Thomas Adam Kinch20 November Carley Carol-Ann Kinch

Lily Jade Bolt-Taylor11 December Sophia Elizabeth Lockwood19 February Lily-Anne Constance Windsor

Funerals3 October John Garside28 October Leslie Roberts2 December Ellen Jane Smith

Are we just dust?

When we began Lent it was on Ash Wednesday. We each received on our foreheads the sign of the cross in ash accompanied by the words “Remember that you but dust and to dust you will return.” These are sombre words indeed. They recall the words used at a funeral, whether it is a burial or cremation: “earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” These words are a stark reminder to us all, regardless of what we be-lieve about the afterlife, that as far as our mortal remains are concerned they will end up as dust and ashes. The ashes used for this ceremony are made from the burnt palm crosses given out on Palm Sunday the year before.

Why does Lent begin like this? In the Creation story in Genesis, God makes Adam (man) from the dust of the ground and breathes life into him. He is made in God’s image and given the responsibility of the stewardship of the earth. Following the cre-ation of Eve the pattern is set for the life of all humanity and the rest of creation. Wedo not have to see this as a scientific explanation for our existence, but a spiritual one about the relationship between us and the Creator. It explains the meaning and pur-pose of life. Like all creatures we have a the strong will to reproduce and to make sense of how we live together. The Bible suggests that we have about seventy years in which to work this out, some have longer and others have fewer years. If we have but a short time to live, what should we do about it?

Lent is the time in the year when Christians should examine their lives, make amends and try to do better. We are told to remember we are dust, but we are also told, “To turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.” To turn means to say sorry and turn our backs on the things of which we are ashamed. We are asked to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ, for that is what makes us Christians.

Lent is a journey in faith, a pilgrimage, along the way of sorry conflict and bewilder-ment. At the beginning of the last week of Lent we re-enact the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when the people cheered, took hold of branches of palm and greeted him as king. On that Sunday we shall process together with palms and enter the Church singing hosannas! But the palms we have been given are plaited into crosses which remind us that by Friday Jesus has been stretched out and nailed to a cross. There it can end for some. There is nothing more to be said, but for others there is hope. By the Sunday death has been conquered and Christ has risen! For him the story does not end in a pile of ashes or dust, but in new, eternal life. If we are faithful, we believed this is also for us. We move on from the dust and ashes and become the Easter people because if Christianity is nothing else, it is the religion of faith in the Resurrection. For me belief in that is the only way to make sense of the dust and the years between. A simple palm cross on the wall throughout the year is a daily re-minder of this faith, hope and love.

Fr. Roger

What’s On in March and April

Wednesday 22nd February Ash Wednesday 10.00am Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes

7.00pm Solemn Mass with Imposition of AshesSaturday 3rd March

Parish Quiet Day 9.30am to 4.00pm led by Fr Anthony Moore, Chaplain of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge

Thursday 15th MarchVestry and Annual Parochial Church Meeting 6.30pm - all who livein the parish are welcome to attend this.

Sunday 18th MarchMothering Sunday 10.00am - Parish Mass with Blessing and Distribution of Posies

Sunday 1st April Palm Sunday 10.00am Union Street Car Park - Blessing and Distribution of Palms, Procession followed by Parish Mass

Tuesday 3rd AprilChrism Mass at Canterbury Cathedral - 12 noon

Maundy Thursday 5th AprilMass of The Lord’s Supper - 7.00pm

Good Friday 6th AprilChildren’s Liturgy followed by Hot Cross Bubs - 10.30amThe Stations of the Cross - 1.00pmThe Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion - 2.00pm

Holy Saturday 7th AprilPaschal Vigil and First Mass of Easter - 8.00pm

Easter Day 8th AprilLow Mass - 8.00pmSolemn Parish Mass - 10.00amEvensong and Benediction - 6.00pm

Saturday 21st AprilConcert by Deal Parochial School Choir

Saturday 28th AprilBlessing of the Sea - 2.00pm

Justin and HelgaSome time ago, before I came to Deal, I spent a week's holiday at Lee Abbey. This is a Christian community and is staffed by seventy practising Christians of all ages from all parts of the world.

From the moment you arrive you feel that not only are the doors open to welcome you, but hearts and arms also. Every week is special at Lee Abbey, but the week that I was there we had a bonus - Justin.

Eleven years previously he was inoperably brain-damaged in a car accident and lay in a coma for a long time. When he regained consciousness his parents were unable to cope with their speechless, shuffling, aggressive son and he was put into a long-term mental hospital. He was there eleven years and given sixty four tablets a day to keep him motionless on his bed most of the time.

One day, Helga, an Austrian music therapist who worked at the hospital, felt that given the opportunity Justin would be capable of a much fuller life. Four months later she literally kidnapped him and he has lived with her ever since. Denied his medication, he began to read and to respond to her loving kindness. His greatest problem was still his lack of speech, and the aggression which was barely concealed in his unsmiling face.

At the end of our stay at Lee Abbey there was a service for the laying-on of hands which we all attended - some two hundred people. As Justin had been receiving counselling he was encouraged to go forward and receive the Sacrament of Healing. Helga took him up last. Hitherto we had heard only a whispered 'Thank you' or 'Amen' from the recipients. When Justin stood up, he turned to us all and his face was radiant. He lifted his eyes and shouted 'Thank you! Thank you!'

There are countless people imprisoned like Justin, but so few Helgas, and I thank God for the privilege of having met them both and being able to witness her great act of faith.

On our last night at the Abbey, Helga sang to us, accompanying herself on her zither, with Justin at her feet - it would be hard to find two people more fulfilled.

Wenda Telfer

Shrove Tuesday

Pancake Day is how most people know the day before Lent begins. But when you ask why we have pancakes that day and why it is called Shrove Tuesday it is usual, for a glazed look to come over the eyes.

Shrove is an old English word which refers to being shriven, that is to being absolved and forgiven our sins. Custom was that the day before the long fast before Easter, Lent, you confessed your sins to the priest and thus were shriv-en. You also ate up those items of food you were not allowed during the forty days of Lent and made among others things pancakes.

That Tuesday was also seen as a time to have one last fling before all the so-lemnity of Lent. In French it is called Mardi Gras, that is Fat Tuesday. In many Catholic countries it is a day of carnival. It has become so again, in a few places like Brighton, and in other paces the tradition of a pancake races remains.

Shrove Tuesday is a time to confess sins. “I have not sinned”, someone might say and that is of course the first sin: pride! Who of us has never told a lie, taken something that we should not have done, wanted someone else’s possessions, envied them their good fortune, drunk or eaten too much, got angry and been idle. Herein lie the seven deadly sins. None perhaps is great in itself, but the sum total makes up our personality. That is, we are who we are, because of our failings and our strengths.

Lent is a time we can give up for six weeks one excess or another. We could give up alcohol and then decide what we do with the money we save. On the other hand we can take on something extra for six weeks. There are of course the six virtues to balance the sins. Faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude are characteristics we can aim at during Lent. It is often called the springtime of the Church when we struggle into the light to emerge as a better person.

Lastly, shrove means to confess you faults and receive forgiveness. The Prayer Book says that if we cannot quieten our own consciences we should seek out a priest and confess our sins to God before him and he will then, as

(Continued overleaf.)

(Continued from previous page.)

a fellow sinner, give us God’s forgiveness and some advice.

“Bless me Father for I have sinned”, we say. “Your sins are no more,” says the priest. “Don’t sin again and pray for me, also a sinner.”

The Church of England has never been heavy about confession, but it is there to be used.

Some do. Some should. None must.Fr Roger

(Members of the congregation might like to take a USPG globe in which to place the money saved through self-denial during Lent.)

Grumpy Old Man

That is the title that James Chesterman from Cambridge gives to a short collection of verse. ‘My poetry and its grumbles are straightforward and easily understood,’ he writes. ‘My poems mostly rhyme and scan. In this I am probably old fashioned.’ From time to time the editor will print select examples of his work to amuse our older readers.

Sporting hugs

Grown men, at least Englishmen,Used to be wary of showing emotionAnd would embarrassed be whenShown extreme devotion.

Now our manly supermen hug each other without restraint

When, if they’ve scored a goal orbowled a winner,

They’ll leap on their hero of the hourAnd appear the hero to devour.

Gesticulation

The English way used motionless to be When talking,Deeming it degrading to seeUs flinging arms aboutWhen speaking.

Let those Latin people shoutAnd storm, from Benidorm,Whilst we continue always to conform.

Grace before meals.

For those of us of a certain age, say those who endured school dinners prior to the 1980's, the following words will surely be familiar: For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly grateful, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

This uninspired and uninspiring utterance is enough to give the saying of grace before meals a bad name but, in any case, since the decline in the take-up of school dinners, together with the introduction of a cafeteria system in most schools, the saying of a grace before the main meal of the day has fallen into disuse. We read in the media that few families ever dine together these days so there is no call, even if there were the desire, to ask for a blessing or offer thanks to God as was customary in many households in the nineteenth century.

A grace is still said at formal meals in the Armed Services, in universities, in reli-gious institutions, at legal and Masonic dinners and so on. But if it is right to offer God thanks and to ask for His blessing in these circumstances then might it not be equally right for individuals and families to do so. An individual can say a short grace sotto voce, not making a great meal of it - as it were (sorry); members of families can take turns in offering a short prayer, either relying on the inspiration of the moment or reciting one learned by heart.

If, as Christians, we believe that all things come from God, then it is only right that we should give thanks to Him and seek his blessing. As an aid to reintroducing grace before meals, I will be printing a short selection in the next few issues of The Lantern. Here are four to start off with.

The editor.

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts,which we're about to receive from your bounty.Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Merciful Father, whose will it isThat none of thy children suffer want,Grant that we, as we enjoy thy gifts,May be ever mindful of those who are in need,Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Lord bless the food upon these dishes,As thou didst with the loaves and fishes,And like the sugar in the tea,May all of us be stirred by thee. Amen

The eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord,And thou givest them meat in due season.Thou openest thine hand, and fillest All things living with plenteousness. Amen

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Disjecta membra - oddments from East Sussex

1. I am pleased to say how successful the Easter Service was, especially when Mrs Brown came up and laid an egg on the altar.

2. Some may know, but for those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery.

3. Carol Service - domestic details: Stand near edge; Come up during previous item; Steps (Health and Safety) Colin Holden will be flashing; Also needs some large dice.

4. In the veterans’ section of this year’s horticultural show James Peabody was congratulated on his remarkable display of leeks.

5. The Junior Church will be presenting a modern version of Shake-speare’s Hamlet next Friday in the church hall. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

6. Eight new choir robes are needed due to the addition of several new members and the deterioration of some older ones.

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