ST JAMES THE GREAT

HAYDOCK

June 2020

50p

Registered Charity Number 1153937

www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2849

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THE PARISH OF ST JAMES THE GREAT

HAYDOCK

Vicar:

Assistant Priest:

Fr Andrew Welsby CMP The Vicarage, 169 Church Road, Haydock, WA11 ONJ. t: 01942 727956 e: andrew.welsby@hotmail.co.uk

Fr Ian Wynne m: 07885 823786 e: ian_cw@hotmail.com

Churchwardens: Mr Philip Peplow, t: 01744 614937 Mrs Nancy Holloway, t: 01942 712328

Organist: Mr Gordon Gerrard

Sunday Worship: 8.00am Said Eucharist 10.00am Sung Eucharist 12 noon Said Eucharist

Weekday Worship: Each day Morning and Evening Prayer are said in St Alban's chapel at the times displayed each week on the small notice board outside the main door of the church. If you would like to attend any of these brief acts of worship, you are most welcome to do so.

Holy Hour: 6.30pm Thursday Evening Prayer Rosary group Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

The Holy Eucharist: 7.30pm Tuesday

9.30am Wednesday 9.00am Friday - School Eucharist in church On Holy Days as announced in the church magazine

Confessions: Holy Communion:

Holy Baptism:

Holy Matrimony: Funerals:

By appointment. to those who are sick or housebound – on request Baptisms - to arrange, please contact the Vicar or send a message via the church website.

Initial enquiries to the Vicarage or via the church website The Funeral Director will usually make all the arrangements

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KALENDAR for May 2020

All Public and Private use of the Church building is discontinued during this

period of global pandemic. Please, if you can, monitor our website and

Facebook page for announcements about when Devotions will be broadcast,

and also when we can resume our regular pattern of worship in church. Monday 1st THE VISIT of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY to ELIZABETH

Justin, Martyr, c 165 Tuesday 2nd

Wednesday 3rd Martyrs of Uganda 1886 & 1978

Ember Day Thursday 4th Petroc , Abbot, 6th ct

Friday 5th Boniface, Bp, Martyr, 754

Ember Day Saturday 6th Ini Kopuria, 1945

Ember Day Sunday 7th TRINITY SUNDAY

Monday 8th Thomas Ken, Bp, Hymn Writer, 1711

Tuesday 9th Columba, Abbot, 597

Ephraim of Syria, Deacon, Teacher, 373 Wednesday 10th Ember Day

Thursday 11th CORPUS et SANGUIS CHRISTI

Friday 12th ST BARNABAS the APAOSTLE (transferred)

Ember Day Saturday 13th Ember Day

Sunday 14th THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Monday 15th Evelyn Underhill, 1941

Tuesday 16th Richard, Bp of Chichester, 1253

Joseph Butler, Bp, 1752

Wednesday 17th Alban, Martyr

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Thursday 18th Bernard Mizeki, Martyr, 1896

Friday 19th Sundar Singh. Teacher, 1929

Saturday 20th

Translation of Edward, King of the West Saxons

Sunday 21st THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Monday 22nd Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c, 250

Tuesday 23rd Etheldreda, Abbess, c. 678

Wednesday 24th THE NATIVITY of St JOHN THE BAPTIST Ember Day

Thursday 25th

Friday 26th Ember Day

Saturday 27th Cyril of Alexandria, Bp, Teacher, 444 Ember Day

Sunday 28th THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Irenaeus, Bp, Teacher, c. 200

Monday 29th St PETER and St PAUL, APOSTLES

Tuesday 30th

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From the Vicar Dear Friends, I hope that you will forgive this letter being a bit long and more rambling. So much is going on in the world around us, and as I am not constrained by the printing machine to keep to 16 pages, I can be a little more expansive than usual!

In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who laid his hands on the sick that they might be healed, we lay our hands upon you. May Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make you whole in body, mind and spirit; give you light and peace, and keep you in life eternal. Amen These words will be very familiar to most of you; they are the words used at the laying on of hands as part of the Guild of Health and St Raphael Healing Eucharist that normally takes place on the last Tuesday of each month, but which we have not been able to do since February. As each week passes, these words become more poignant as I reflect on them in my prayers for those who are sick and dis-eased. The three pictures on the cover of this magazine are paintings by the artist Carmel Cauchi (b. 1927) and form a triptych in the Chapel of the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton:

and are titled (from l to r) ‘The Touch of Comfort’, ‘Jesus Heals the Blind

Bartimaeus’ and ‘Surgeons at Work’.

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During my first incumbency at the Abbey Church in Nuneaton, I was an honorary Chaplain at the hospital and spent many hours in that chapel, praying alone and with others. The triptych speaks powerfully of the healing power of ‘touch’ – whether it be a comforting arm around the shoulder, the skilled work of a surgeon’s nimble fingers, or the healing touch of our Lord himself. And yet, today, most of us find ourselves - as individuals and as a society – terrified of ‘touch’. With the exception of those who live as parts of family / couples households, most of us have not physically touched another human being for the last 3 months, and when we have to touch something that has been touched by another person, we try to sterilize our hands; to remove all trace of them and the potential contamination they carry. I’m a single person, living alone (like many of you), and thinking back to ‘normal ‘ times and the number of handshakes, pats on the back, hugs, pecks-on-cheeks and all the simple, innocent ways in which we humans communicate our thoughts and feelings in a non-verbal way every day, I grieve for the loss of such basic human contact. We have no choice, of course, if we want to eliminate the risk of catching the dreaded COVID19, but it nevertheless forces us to behave in a way that is completely alien to all our human instincts. Last month I ended my letter with a plea to you all to take ‘self-care’ seriously, especially for mental health, and I want to underline that call. Throughout the period since lockdown began, I have tried to keep ‘in touch’ with as many people as possible by telephone, and latterly by some ‘social distanced’ visiting on doorsteps. I have noticed that most conversations begin with the usual “How are you keeping?”, and the equally predictable replies… “not too bad, considering” and so on. I’ve noticed, in the course of many conversations, over the last couple of weeks that the ‘cracks are beginning to show’; my own included! In the course of one conversation, I confessed to the other person that there have been some days in the last 3 months when it has felt like an achievement to be out of bed, washed and dressed by mid-day, and then to get through the rest of the day without bursting into tears. I was utterly

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humbled by the response – “O I am glad that you’ve told me that. I’ve been exactly the same, and now I know it’s not just me”. As we move, slowly, towards the time when some of the lockdown restrictions will be easing, we will all react differently: fear, apprehension, gladness, caution, relief, and a host of other emotions will be forming a cocktail in each of us, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. But it is important to acknowledge our fears and to be able to express them. All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, put on our ‘brave face’ to get though the day; and that’s important too – it’s a coping mechanism that helps us with daily life – but the ‘brave face’ is only a part of the story. I’m fairly confident that, in normal times, such frankness with each other about our emotional state would elicit a response that as well as kind words, would include touch: a clasp of the hand, an arm around a shoulder – ‘touch’ that has the potential to be as healing as a surgeon’s hands. But we can’t ‘touch’ – we can listen, and we can speak words of kindness… All the above could, of course, might be a load of tripe – psychobabble and cod-psychology – except for one thing: THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH. The heart of our faith is this: the Incarnation, the death and Resurrection, and the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ – the Word who was from before all time became a human being as we are, he died, as we too will one day die, he rose to New Life, opening for us the gateway to heaven, he returned to the Father leaving the Church as His body on earth, and He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us - until the end of time. And so, we know that we who are now deprived of the comfort of physical contact can turn in confidence to the God who is our Father, our brother, and our comforter. God will never leave us comfortless (John 14: 18). Last month I asked you all to talk – with one another – anyone – and be honest about your feelings. Today I urge everyone, including me, to talk to and be honest with God. Don’t be concerned if your prayer seems halting or even incoherent, God already knows what you need (Matt 6:8), and our prayers will be answered. It doesn’t matter either that we aren’t “in church” when we pray: you can talk to God anywhere!

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Should have gone to specsavers…? Hanging behind my front door and facing the crucifix opposite, is an engraving of the beautiful church of St John the Baptist, Our Lady and St Laurence in Thaxted, Essex. Thaxted is the village where the composer Gustav Holst lived and worked (he wrote the well-known hymn tune ‘Thaxted’ which we sing to ‘I vow to thee, my country’). Holst was a close friend of the Vicar (1910 to 1942), the Rev’d Conrad Noel. Fr Noel was a famous (some might say infamous!) Christian Socialist sometimes known as the ‘Red Vicar’. I invite you to so some further research on the Rev’d Conrad Noel. I write this simply to illustrate that clergy commentating on matters of social justice* / meddling in politics* (*delete as appropriate) is nothing new. Concern for the poor, the oppressed and for justice is deeply rooted in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and to ignore this element of our faith is literally to eviscerate Christianity of any practical purpose or mission. At the beginning of this letter I quoted from the liturgy of the Healing Eucharist – it begins with the well-known words of our Patron, St James: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (Jas. 5: 13-16) In the same letter, St James also writes: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” (Jas. 5: 1-15) Well, it’s hard to pick’n’mix isn’t it? I thank God and rejoice that we live in a country and society where, for the time being at least, it is possible for Christians and for all people to hold, express, share and debate differing points of view. That is the world that

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those forbears we remembered and celebrated on the 75th anniversary of VE day believed in and fought for, and it is a world that we should guard and cherish. Holding to account those who bear the responsibility for making decisions which affect all our lives - our political masters – is not disloyal, it is not partisan, it is not ‘meddling’ or ‘scoring points’, it is not presumptuous, it is not moaning. It IS the Christian duty of every one of us… and it is also our duty to pray for them. This quote is from the Church Times at the time of the 2017 General Election:- “Too many churches do not encourage an ongoing discussion about the political implications of the gospel. Refugees, war, oppression, and inequality are not issues for Christians to talk about only when elections come round: they are found on every page of the Bible — yet we frequently airbrush them out, or shy away from the controversies that they provoke. Churches should be places where difficult questions are asked, not simple solutions offered. Anyone who believes that any of the party manifestos on offer represent the fullness of the Kingdom of God has an alarmingly impov-erished theological vision. The paucity of today’s political discourse is one thing that the Church needs to name. But the Church should be having ongoing debates about how the Kingdom of justice and peace is realised in the structures of society, and how Christians can exercise their responsibility to vote for the common good. That is neither politicisation nor spiritualisation: it is good Christian citizenship, in which clergy can indeed take a lead.” Knocking the Bishops… In the last few weeks, some of our Bishops have received death threats for insisting high moral standards in public life. Predictably, this has brought down a torrent of charges of hypocrisy upon their mitred heads. But consider this: is there a single one of us who hasn’t, at some stage, been ever so slightly elastic with the truth? We are all capable of concealing the truth and stretching the truth. We are all guilty of having an inconsistent and erratic

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relationship with the truth. In the face of anxiety, difficulty, danger and stress we can all, like Simon Peter, deny the truth. We are all capable of scripting an alternative reality - spinning a story. If this is true, and I hold it to be so, then who should hold the spinners to account when truth is stretched within an open and essentially political system? Should the bishops, who stand in Peter’s line? My answer to this is a resounding ‘yes.’ Because the bishops stand in Peter’s line they fully understand the reality that ‘everybody lies,’ and they know that lies, distorted truths, narratives retro fitted to render the implausible plausible, go viral and the result may well be death. The bishops, in criticising the masters of spin aren’t doing so from a place of moral superiority, still less perfection, but as those who stand in the shoes of the fisherman, Peter, who three times lied; as those who fully know the consequences of sacrificing truth, real truth, public truth, on the flimsy altar of political expediency; as those (even though ‘everybody lies’) who have been consecrated into the truth, to speak the truth and especially to those who exercise viral power. ‘Having a go’ at Bishops is nothing new in the C of E (I’m not entirely blameless myself…) but, death threats???!!! It’s a thankless job, and like our politicians, our Bishops, all of them, needs our prayers too. I can’t breathe… What a horrible, cruel irony there is in these words now echoing around the globe. The words of George Floyd murdered by a racist policeman in Minnesota. But also, the words of those dying of COVID19 as their respiratory systems fail. Every single one of us on this planet owes our existence to God who has “breathed into our nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7) and the shocking murder of one man in the USA as well as the hundreds of thousands of deaths from a disease which steals our breath, remind us that ALL human life is sacred and has inherent dignity. Please pray for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and for all who have been and continue to be victims of hatred and inhumanity.

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Eileen Lee I am sure that most of you will know by now that very sadly, Eileen passed away on Thursday 28th May. The funeral will be held on Friday 12th June in the graveyard; please pray for Eileen and remember Susan and Janet in your prayers on the day. Eileen was a lifelong and devoted servant of the Lord here at St James and there will be a fuller tribute to her in the next issue of the Magazine. If you have any memories of Eileen that you would like to contribute, please let me know. May she Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory. Looking into the crystal ball… “When are we coming back to church?…” I’m asked frequently. The simple answer is “I don’t know”. I hope that it will be as soon as it’s safe to do so. One thing of which I am sure though, is that it will be ‘different’ when we are eventually allowed to meet again for Worship. I don’t know how different, but we will have to be prepared for the fact that, at least to start with, things won’t be what they used to be. After this letter, I’ve included a piece written by the Rev Erik Parker, a Canadian Lutheran Pastor in response to the ‘guidelines’ issued by the Synod of Alberta and the Territories (the Lutheran equivalent of a Diocese) on 22nd May 2020. The essay is an attempt to envision what a ‘new normal’ Sunday morning will look like in his church once the guidelines are implemented. It paints a startling and uncomfortable picture, and I hope and pray that it’s a long way from the mark when it comes the Church of England, and St James’ in particular. But, it’s included to give us all something to think about as we look forward to the day we can ‘come back’. At the start of the lockdown, I said very publicly that “when we come back, we will keep Easter Day – whenever it is”. I hope that we can still do that, but I recognise now that it’s not going to be anything like the Easter we normally keep.

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Thank-you to those of you who have responded generously to the appeal for financial assistance during the lockdown period. I will write more about this in the next issue of the Magazine when I hope that I will be able to announce news about alternative ways of giving to the church. In the meantime – can I please anyone who is currently using envelopes to consider regular giving through the Parish Giving Scheme. It’s very easy to set up – all you need is to phone 0333 002 1271 and they will guide you through the process. Every penny you give will come directly to St James, and if you pay tax it will come to us with the Gift Aid refund automatically included on a monthly basis- making it so much easier for the Treasurer and PCC to budget properly. For more details visit https://www.parishgivingscheme.org.uk/ Finally… another huge thank-you to everyone for all your prayers, thoughts and love given to me – yesterday I celebrated (very low-key!) 2 years as Vicar of St James, and last week , 21 years since I was ordained priest. I hope that those of you who were able to see it viewed the recording the Barry Beesley made at St John’s, Tuebrook on the day, which is now on YouTube. It was wonderful to see so many faces from St James there! Please continue to Stay Safe, looking after yourselves and each other. God Bless you, With my love and prayers,

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Guidelines and public health orders for opening up churches are sometimes

hard to follow as the long lists can make your mind go numb. The following is

a way of trying to put the guidelines in narrative context, to help picture what

“going back to church” might look like in these COVID-19 days.

It’s been months of isolation, months of mostly staying home to stop the

spread of COVID-19. But active cases are going down (or maybe not), and

politicians and business leaders are worried about the economic impact of

social distancing. And so, for a few weeks now, things have been opening up.

Playgrounds and hair salons, dentists and restaurant patios are letting people

come back.

And things seem to be going well enough, so the government announces the

next phase of opening, which includes increased gathering sizes. And one of

the places you have been missing the most, your church, sends out an email

telling you that they are going to re-open for an in-person service on Sunday.

You heard from a friend that your Pastor was against it, but enough folks

were pressuring the council because of freedom of religion, people are

getting tired of staying home and surely church should be a safe place, right?

Plus, you are missing your friends, the folks you love to see on Sunday

mornings, the other couples that you often go for brunch with following

worship.

Finally, the big day comes, you wake up excited to get back to this important

part of your life, to something that feels little bit like normal, seeing familiar

faces, hearing familiar music, being in familiar community.

You hop in the car with your spouse and make the well-worn drive to church.

You notice that the streets are even deader than usual for a Sunday morning.

When you arrive at church there are few cars parked around building. You go

to your normal parking spot, just down a side street, half a block from the

church.

You start walking up to the building, but before you get too close, a masked

volunteer stops you. They are standing on the sidewalk.

“Please stay there.” they stop you about 6 feet away from where they are

standing.

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Okay… you think you know who this is, but they have a mask on their face

and you aren’t totally sure.

“Have you had any of the following symptoms recently: Cough, fever, body

aches, difficulty breathing?”

“No, not that I know of,” you say.

“Are you over the age of 65 or have underlying health conditions?”

“No,” you say.

Technically, you and your spouse are 67 and you take blood pressure meds.

But it’s no big deal.

“Have you been travelling recently, or spent any time with someone who has

travelled recently?”

“No,” you answer again.

You don’t mention the socially distanced backyard BBQ you had with your

neighbours the other night, including one neighbour who is a long-haul

trucker.

“Have you been in contact with anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19,

such as health-care workers?”

“I don’t think so,” you murmur.

The babysitting you do for your son and daughter-in-law, who is a care-home

nurse, doesn’t count. Family doesn’t count, right?

“Please maintain social distance while you wait in line here.”

The volunteer gestures ahead, where you see a few dozen folks lined up – all

space out according to markers along the sidewalk.

Usually when you arrive at church, you come early to visit with folks before

the service, but as you stand in line, people just whisper amongst

households. Even though you can see many familiar faces ahead, you cannot

help but feel suspicion and fear when you look at the others. You try to shake

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the feeling, but this pandemic world has affected you more than you want to

admit.

Another couple lines up behind you and then you hear the masked volunteer

turn another family away.

“Sorry, we are at the max group size we are allowed. Maybe try again next

week.”

The church stays closed right up until the time of the service. Then finally

with 5 minutes to go, the door opens, and households begin entering, one at

a time. Another masked volunteer is letting people in.

Slowly, you shuffle up to the door. When it gets to your turn, the volunteer

waves you in. There are two surgical masks and some hand sanitizer laid out

on a table.

“Please clean your hands and then put these masks on.”

You comply.

“Please follow the taped line to pew number 23 and take your seat. Please

don’t stop to talk to anyone, and please remain seated for the duration of

the service.”

You follow the taped line into the sanctuary, everyone is sitting down in

space-out pews by household. The church is eerily quiet, kind of a like a

funeral with a masked pianist playing quietly.

Finally, when everyone is inside, the doors to the church are closed.

Instead of processing in from the back, where the pastor is usually visiting

with people before church, the pastor slips in from the front of the church

through a side door. The pastor then greets you from behind a mask… which

makes them hard to understand. The pastor then explains that there will be

no singing in worship, and no praying together or communal responses to the

liturgy. You then notice there are no hymnbooks, offering envelopes or

welcome cards in the pews. They are just empty. You also didn’t get a

bulletin on the way in.

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Listening to the pastor, they don’t sound like their normal self… forced,

stressed, tense? You can’t quite put your finger on it.

The pastor then goes and stands in front of a phone on a tripod at the front

of church and starts talking to it, welcoming all the people worshipping

online. The pastor explains where the bulletin can be found on the Facebook

page, how to share the peace and greet others also watching online. Then

the pastor picks up the tripod turns it around and asks you to wave at the

phone… which feels pretty silly and weird.

Worship begins.

The pianist plays the hymns, but no one can sing. So you just sit and listen. It

felt awkward to sing along with the hymns at home, but this feels even more

strange.

The pastor then begins worship, and every time you want to say “And also

with you” or “Amen” you have to stop yourself. Instead, there is just silence

while the pastor imagines how long it would take the folks watching online to

give the responses.

The first masked volunteer goes to a mic and music stand on the other side of

chancel to read the lessons. You can’t say join in the psalm responsively, so

again you just sit quietly and listen.

Finally, it comes time for the sermon. The pastor preaches about Pentecost

and the coming of the Holy Spirit, encouraging you (but mostly the folks at

home) to keep the faith. The pastor says that the time will come when the

spirit will send us out into the world – but that time isn’t quite yet. And that

even though we are apart, the spirit ties us together into one.

It doesn’t really feel like the pastor is preaching to you, but mostly to the

those still at home.

After listening to the hymn of the day, the creed and the prayers, it comes

time for the peace. The pastor offers the peace but tells you that today it has

to be virtual sharing only. The pastor uses their iPad to share with the folks

online, and talks a bit to the phone again saying hello to people watching at

home and commenting.

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Then it comes time for communion. Something you have missed for months

now. The pastor puts on a face shield and changes their mask before the

Thanksgiving at the Table. You notice that they don’t lift the bread or the

wine. After the Lord’s prayer, which you say along with the pastor in your

head, one of the masked volunteers steps up to the mic to instruct you on

how to receive communion.

And household by household you go forward. There is only bread to receive

today. You have to hand sanitize again at the front. The pastor is using a set

of kitchen tongs to put the wafers in the hands of each person.

“The body of Christ given for you.” you hear from behind mask and shield.

This is not like communion you have ever received before. You aren’t allowed

to eat until the pastor has moved away, and then after you put the wafer in

your mouth, you have to hand sanitize again (also knowing that pulling off

your mask has compromised it, because your daughter-in-law gave you a

lecture in mask wearing).

The service concludes with another hymn that you listen to, a blessing and

some announcements.

And then just like you came in, you have to follow the tape straight out of the

building, one household at a time. The pastor isn’t greeting people on the

way out, in fact there is no one. Just the voice of the masked volunteer in the

PA system announcing pew numbers. There are signs that tell you to leave

the church straight away, no lingering.

You walk back to your car with your spouse. You get in for the drive home.

You have no idea what you just experienced. You were at church, there were

other people there, there were hymns and prayers, the pastor preached, you

received communion (kind of)… but that wasn’t church, and it certainly

wasn’t what you imagined when you thought of things opening back up

again….

You drive home in silence… realizing that just maybe the world has changed

more than you figured before now.

It might take some time to get used to this.

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+++

Three days later you get a text from your neighbour, one of the ones you

have had a few socially distant BBQs with.

“You are going to get a call from the public health nurse,” it reads.

“I am so sorry.”

A few minutes later the phone rings.

“Hi, I am calling from your local public health agency. I am calling you today

as a part of COVID-19 contact tracing.”

Your heart drops and the nurse’s voice starts to sound like the teacher from

Charlie Brown. You make out something about a testing appointment, the

nurse gives you a time, date and address.

Then the nurse says, “I am going to need to you to tell me all the people you

might have come into contact with in the past two weeks. Especially, any

groups in indoor spaces for prolonged periods of time, like doctor’s offices or

someone else’s home, or maybe a church…”

+++

Source:

https://millennialpastor.ca/2020/05/26/so-your-church-is-opening-up-after-

covid-19-closures-it-wont-be-what-you-are-hoping-

for/?fbclid=IwAR3OSXfenk6bIYFbgQ3QsK-

L5ynvTnvV85XHIA4YJCWPdoj9NJdFdTjntuw

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A simple Act of Spiritual Communion Take some time to sit quietly, gather your thoughts and prayers, and ask God to come to you.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name;

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we

forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and

ever. Amen

Act of Contrition

I love you, Jesus, my love above all things, and I repent with my

whole heart of having offended you.

Never permit me to separate myself from you again, grant that I

may love you always, and then do with me what you will.

Act of Spiritual Reception

In union, dear Father, with Christian people across the world and

across the centuries gathered to make Eucharist, hearing your holy

Word and receiving the Precious Body and Blood, I offer you praise

and thanksgiving. Even though I am exiled from tasting the Bread

of Heaven and drinking the Cup of Life I pray that you will unite me

with all the baptised and with your Son who gave His life for us.

Come, Lord Jesus, dwell in me, and send your Holy Spirit that I

may be filled with your presence.

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants, having in remembrance

the precious death and passion of thy dear Son, his mighty resurrection and

glorious ascension entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept

this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;

most humbly beseeching thee to grant that

by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ,

and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain

remission of our sins,

and all benefits of his passion. Amen

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NOTICES The usual Notices from our organisations: The Guild of Heath and St Raphael, The Mothers Union and the Women’s Guild are suspended for the time being. Once we are able to re-commence activities, the ‘Notices’ will be published as soon as possible. The Cell of Our lady of Walsingham has sent the following: It has been announced from Walsingham that Fr Ben Bradshaw is to become the new Shrine Priest when Fr Andreas leaves after the lockdown is lifted. Fr Andreas is to become Vice Principle and Director of Pastoral Studies at St. Stephens house, Oxford. Fr Ben is the local cell superior in the Isle of Man and a regular visitor to Walsingham. He trained for the priesthood at the college of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He was priest at St. Matthews, church, Little Lever in the diocese of Manchester before going to the Isle of Man. Fr Ben is studying for a Masters degree in African Christianity. Up to date, we have had no news when pilgrims will be allowed to return to Walsingham for pilgrimages, but we will keep you all informed. Please pray for all at the shrine. Our Lady of Walsingham, intercede for us. Please take care and all stay safe. Dot Beesley Cell secretary

Offertory The offertory procession is suspended for the present but I will make sure no-one is missed off the list. Nancy

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LOCKDOWN KITCHEN Un sabor de españa Sherry Cocktail with salted almonds (courtesy of Kara Newman) Cava from Catalonia 4 ounces rye whiskey 2 ounces Amontillado sherry 1 ounce orange liqueur 2 dashes Angostura Bitters Orange peel for garnish Stir all ingredients in mixing glass, strain into 4 coupe glasses with plenty of ice. Garnish with orange peel. Serve with salted almonds. Gambas al Ajillo (garlic prawns) (Floyd on Spain) Serves 4 as a starter 450g prawns , shells on 6 tablespoons olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons dry sherry 2 tablespoons lemon juice sea salt Pat the prawn dry with kitchen paper. Heat oil in frying pan and sauté the garlic for a minutes then sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Cook quite gently for 2-3 minutes, then spoon in the sherry and lemon juice. Stir through and serve at once sprinkled with salt. Pollo Chilindron (chicken with red peppers) (Keith Floyd) (Serves 4 to 6) 4 tablespoons olive oil 1.5 kg corn fed chicken jointed into small pieces

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3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 chopped onion 3 oz Serrano ham (or lean bacon) 2-3 red peppers, cored seeded and sliced into half inch strips 397 g can chopped tomatoes, drained 1 sprig of thyme 1 bay leaf Salt and freshly ground pepper Chopped fresh parsley or coriander to garnish Heat the oil in a large shallow casserole or heavy-based pan that has a lid. Fry together chicken pieces, garlic and onion 3 -5 minutes. Push to one side and add ham or bacon and peppers and fry until softened slightly, stir everything in the pot.Stir in tomatoes, thyme and bay leaf. Cover with lid and simmer over low heat for about one and a half hours. Add season in to taste. Remove bay leaf. Service with rice or mashed potatoes and garnish with parsley or coriander. Pijama or Knickerbocker Glory (Keith Floyd) For each serving: 1 caramel custard (bought from local supermarket if feeling lazy) Several scoops ice cream (best to ask grandchildren their favourites) Lots of summer fruits Whirl of fresh whipped cream Cherry on top Remove caramel custard and put on serving plate or bowl. Cover with scoops of ice cream to order, pile on some fruit, smother with cream and pop cherry on tip Drinks: non-alcoholic Sangria, Rioja red or white (found in most supermarkets) I hope you enjoy one or more of these dishes If you would like to submit your own favourites please contact Geoff Lightfoot gcl@rapid.co.uk who will endeavour to publish them in the Parish Magazine over the next few months.

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LOCKDOWN WITH A VICAR TWO DOGS AND A TEENAGER Many years ago I worked for Relate. It was very obvious that referrals were greatly increased after Christmas and after the summer holiday period. Obviously couples could get along perfectly well when they only saw each other at weekends and in the evenings, but put them together for days at a time and the balloon went up! Therefore it was worrying when, two or three days after Lockdown was introduced, a woman's body was found in Vulcan Village and a man arrested. Was this the beginning of Lockdown Massacre? Thankfully it seems it was merely a blip, as no more incidents have been reported. Denis and I don't seem to be prepared to kill each other - yet, although the lip biting has been more in evidence. No Church and no football have made a huge impact on our lives, especially at the weekends. Denis has taken to watching Saturday Kitchen on TV instead of Football Focus. I asked why as he can't cook. He said, "I can't play football either...." The format of the show has had to change, with participants now zoomed from their own kitchens. One poor lady who was trying to talk viewers through a recipe, was interrupted by her sister phoning her. She gave her short shrift, apologised and then had to repeat the apology as her dog was barking furiously in the background. She explained that she had to let him into the garden as there was a squirrel sitting on the patio and taunting him as he hated squirrels. Just as an afterthought she asked the chef in the studio "Do you have a recipe for squirrel?" We weren't sure if it was just an idle query or if the squirrel had come to an untimely end! Apart from watching cookery programmes Denis has taken a funeral or two, such unhelpful events with few mourners and no hugging or personal contact. One of the funerals was at Walton Lea, with chairs set out at suitable distances from each other. After the Service one of the eight people present came to apologise to Denis. He said he'd actually come for the next funeral but hadn't realised that he didn't know anybody else in the chapel as they were too far away for him to recognise! Poor man only realised his mistake when Denis began the Eulogy.

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I, not watching cookery programmes have been baking almost every day. That was when we came up against the Great All Bran Famine. Denis, Arfon, Mark, Caroline and I tried in vain to source a box. It was obvious that the moving qualities of All Bran are well known, as we were offered variously; syrup of figs, Sennacot , Milk of Magnesia, Andrews Liver Salts, etc. none of which are very palatable in cakes I have found. I happened to mention this online and eventually had FIVE boxes stowed away in my larder. I am contemplating selling it on the Black Market and worried in case I am arrested for stockpiling. I should have known better after this experience than to mention the difficulty I was having finding shower spray. (Yes, we do have hot water occasionally now,) Caroline brought me FOUR, I found one at the back of a shelf in Tesco, Denis bought one from ASDA and my next door neighbour ordered two on her home delivery shop as a thanks for all the cakes I have provided. The Shower Spray Shortage is down to me. I have been taking the dogs walking behind the cemetery instead of to the local park. Doesn't sound very salubrious, certainly not if I am overheard telling Matthew" I'll call you when I am in the cemetery!", but it has the added attraction (for Libby) that there are rabbits. Unlike the squirrels in our park, rabbits don't cheat by running up trees. Libby reckons she has a much better chance of a prize down a rabbit hole! Deprived of this one morning, she found (and rolled in) a dead hedgehog. Sophie was disgusted and refused even to walk beside her, mind you Sophie is a diva. Libby was bound for the dreaded bath, or she would have been if we had been blessed with a hot water supply. I discovered the lack when I got into the shower that morning. Dave O'Neil asked if the air was blue. Yes, and it wasn't the only thing that was blue! The plumbers have been here so long and so often that my neighbour asked if we were putting them on the Electoral Roll! Scarlett (how we miss her) has been at school during lockdown as Mark works for BT and is counted an essential worker, but a neighbours two daughters, being home-schooled were overheard to remark "I hope we don't get this teacher next year! “Matthew thinks teaching standards have fallen after a telephone call where he needed to know the caller's postcode. He asked the man to use the code the police use, O for Oscar, etc. as he wasn't sure if he was saying M or N. The caller said "N, N, you know N for knife!" I think this caller must have been related to the lady who walked past my

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friend's garden wearing a mask. Nothing wrong with that, you might think, but said lady was smoking a cigarette at the time! I have been more blessed than most during this withdrawal of Services, as Denis is still allowed to Consecrate. We can still enjoy our Eucharist-at- Home. However, we commune in our living room furtively, in semi-darkness because the blinds are closed, rather as if we were committing an act in questionable taste! This has the advantage of illustrating to us how members of the early Church and those who are persecuted for their faith must feel, even though there is no danger to us, just the desire to not be exposed to the eyes of our neighbours. They think we are odd enough already! And now we have this inferno in Earlestown. We have plague, now fire, we are praying that flood, when it comes, doesn't start in this house, although that is looking increasingly possible given that the plumbers say there is a leak somewhere...... Watch this space! Joyce Hall

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From the Ninth Pew I am writing this just as the 'lockdown' appears to be slowly lifting. Although our priests are now back in church there is still a long way to go before we can gather as a congregation or even enter for private prayer.

It has been and is still a long hard slog and although relationships via telephone and social media have kept us in touch with each other it is not the same.

We have been denied each other’s company and perhaps more important access to the sacraments especially the Body and Blood of our Lord at Mass. Although we have been blessed through the hard work of Matthew and Fr Norman to take part in the Eucharist with Fr Andrew each Sunday and of course Fr Denis’ Golden Jubilee as I have already said, 'it is not the same'. Yet the question must be asked. 'Where has the larger Church been in all this'?

Our two Archbishops decreed that not only churches should be locked even for private prayer but our priests could not celebrate the Eucharist at the altar even though in the case of St. James' the vicar has ready access. This decree went out at the same time as they were advocating the relaxation of Sunday trading laws allowing people to shop more flexibly!

It was, they said, to show solidarity with the people. I for one did not feel much solidarity for 'the flock' coming from the Bench of Bishops.

Following on from this, where was the Church's visible presence amongst the vast majority of the population especially the disadvantaged. I am sure many individual Christians were and still are working hard to help those in most need but the silence from 'The Establishment' has been 'deafening'.

To give an illustration from a letter a few weeks ago in the Daily Telegraph. A church member organised a network of about 40 volunteers in a rural parish in Derbyshire thinking this is the Church in Action. Far from it as the Bishop of Derby abruptly stopped it by edict. "You may volunteer on an individual basis," he said, "but churches must not organise groups as this could make things difficult for the secular (my italics) authorities." Needless to say, the volunteers have continued but not as The Church in Action.

The Archbishop designate of York Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell believes that when all this is over the Church will come out even stronger, whilst a spokesman

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for the RC Bishops thought that mass attendance is more than likely to drop. I hope the former is right, but I suspect that will not be the case.

This of course leads onto what the Church will be like when it decides to put its head above the parapet.

I have been reading a series of essays about the former Warden of Keble College Oxford, Austin Farrer, theologian and scholar, and he makes some very interesting points concerning the Church of England. Although Farrer's leanings were towards the Catholic wing of the Church his Catholicism was more in keeping with the Caroline Divines rather than the Tractarians of the Oxford Movement whom he viewed with a certain papalist suspicion! Yet, writing before his sudden death in 1968, he believed the Church of England had lost its way and real sense of mission in face of secular society. Relevance had become the key word and instead of pastors in the Church hierarchy we had managers, and this became the criterion for the appointment of Bishops, Deans of Cathedrals, Archdeacons etc. Bear in mind this was over 40 years ago!

So if Farrer were alive today I believe he would be aghast at the trivialisation of worship in a vain attempt to attract people. He would despair at the fact the church as a body has not engaged at this time with a public which is crying out for a message of hope.

Hubs, church planting, exciting contemporary worship is not the answer. Is it however with churches locked and services online an excuse, as Catherine Pepinster former editor of The Tablet suggests for closing churches on a more permanent basis.

Yet if our leaders were bothered to look the answer is already here in the quiet but pastoral and sacramental ministry of priests together with their people in parishes throughout this land. If only The Right Reverends' etc would see it.

Geoff Lightfoot

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DONATIONS

The churchwardens gratefully acknowledge the

following donations to Church funds

General fund £50 in loving memory of Warren and loved ones from Pauline and family £10 in loving memory of Eileen Lee from Nancy and Richard £10 in loving memory of Eileen Lee from Pauline and family

From the Registers Funerals 14th May John Raynes (aged 84 years) 14th May Muriel Jones (aged 82 years) 21st May Norman Mills (aged 81 years)

May they Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory

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Intercessions June 2020

Intentions and Observance Anglican Communion and Parish

Mon 1st

In honour of Our Lady Nebraska USA

Bradbury Close

Tue 2nd Winwick Deanery Nelson NZ

Balharry Avenue

Wed 3rd

Christians in Africa Nevada USA

Beech Avenue

Thu 4th Church in Cornwall and Diocese of

Truro

New Busa Nigeria

Beilby Road

Fri 5th Our School Papua New Guinea

Birch Road

Sat 6th Expats in Europe, Fr Rodney and

Robin

New Hampshire USA

Bishop Reeves Road

Sun 7th People of the Parish Church in Mexico

Bluebell Avenue

Mon 8th Bp Glynn and The Society of

SS Wilfrid and Hilda

New Jersey USA

Branchway

Tue 9th Mothers Union New Westminster Canada

Buckfast Avenue

Wed 10th Former Clergy at St. James’ New York USA

Canon Wilson Close

Thu 11th The Confraternity of the Blessed

Sacrament

Newala Tanzania

Case Road

Fri 12th

Our School Newark USA

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Sat 13th Friends at English Martyrs Newcastel Australia

Cedar Grove

Sun 14th People of the Parish Church in Burma

Chapel Street

Mon 15th All Spiritual Writers Ngbo Nigeria

Chirton Close

Tue 16th Teachers and all who work in

education

Niagara Canada

Chisledon Close

Wed 17th Most disadvantaged in society Niassa South Africa

Church Road

Thu 18th All involved in social care Nicaragua Central America

Clipsley Lane

Fri 19th For out priests Niger Delta Nigeria

Compton Close

Sat 20t The Free churches Nike nigeria

Cook Avenue

Sun 21st People of the Parish Church in Nigeria

Cooper Lane

Mon 22nd Our Country, Queen and

Parliament

Nimule Sudan

Coronation Drive

Tues 23rd For all religious orders Nnewi Nigeria

Dunsmore Close

Wed 24th For refugees and displaced

persons

Nord Kivu Congo

Elizabeth Close

Thu 25th For all the sick of the Parish North Ankole Uganda

Evans Close

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Fri 26th Vocations to the Priesthood North Dakota USA

Finney Grove

Sat 27th For those preparing for ordination Church in Philippines

Fountains Ave

Sun 28th People of the Parish Church of North India

Gaynor Ave

Mon 29th For Pope Francis Blackburn England

Gordon Ave

Tue 30th For the Orthodox Churches Church in North East India

Grange Rd

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