Letter from the Vicarage – June 2011

Dear Friends,

We have some important celebrations this month.  On Sunday 12th June it is Whitsunday or Pentecost as it is being called more and more these days.  I much prefer the rather more English term “Whitsunday” or White Sunday.  It refers to the practice of having baptisms particularly on that day and dressing  babies in white.  Whatever name we give it is an important day in the life of the church.  It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit initially on the disciples.  It is when it all began.  It is regarded as the birthday of the Church.  Fleur Bradley, our Reader will be presenting a special service on Radio Hereford and Worcester.  Do listen in.

We also celebrate our Patronal Festivals this month.  24th June is the east of the Nativity of John the Baptist.  It is rather interesting that this saint’s major festival is a commemoration of his birth, whereas it is a general rule to remember saints on the day of their death when it is known.  I suppose this is because the birth of John the Baptist is so closely linked with that of Jesus.  John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus and his festival therefore comes exactly six months after Christmas.  The depressing thought is that we are then halfway through the year.  It’s all downhill after that!

This year we are celebrating it with a Flower Festival done for us by the Floral Art Club.  It will be open from Friday 24th until Sunday 26th, which we keep as our Patronal Festival.  There will be a special Songs of Praise service at 6.30pm that evening.

Saint Peter, the Patron Saint of Cookley comes very close.  His day is increasingly linked with Saint Paul. Partly because it is our Patronal Festival, I prefer to celebrate Saint Peter on his own.  After all Saint Paul has his own celebration in January, so why should an important saint like Peter not be given a day to himself?  Also they didn’t see eye to eye if we’re completely honest.  There were tensions between personalities even in the Church in its early days.  The Feast of Saint Peter is 29th June, although because of where it comes in the week we shall celebrate it as our Patronal Festival on Sunday 3rd July.  With all good wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Geoffrey

From the Parish Registers
          
Christenings
Ava Lily Alice Hackett at Wolverley - 24th April
Victoria Susan Allen, Georgia Susan Thomson, Francesca Lilian Thomas and Alfie Paul Harvey at Cookley - 1st May
Eve Frankie Jones at Wolverley - 7th May
George Leonera Philip Paxton at Cookley - 21st May

Weddings
Lee Hazelwood and Charlotte Stroud at Wolverley - 7th May
Joshua Yarnell and Katie Shuker at Wolverley - 28th May

Funerals
Roger Matthew of Kidderminster (Service at Cookley) - 10th May
Derek Lavelle of Cookley (Service at Stourbridge) - 10th May