Letter from Jan - December & January 2013-2014

Letter from Jan

December 2013 / January 2014

Dear Friends,

Every day for Anglicans throughout the world, there is an Old Testament and a New Testament passage set along with Psalms. These readings are on the back of our “Worship Notes” we will soon get in church every Sunday.

Reading the Bible is one of the ways we listen to God speaking to us personally especially about the worries we have.

So let’s test this out. What answers did I get this morning? Well, it is 10.58am and I read my Bible around 7.30am. I have some worries: I’m concerned about a couple of parishioners, St Barnabas’ church roof and money. I’m also worried about my grandson who is not behaving himself well and my daughter is wanting help.

So I read the passages set for today. Well, I must admit I can’t remember the Old Testament reading. It might have been from Isaiah. The start of New Testament reading was about Jesus being baptized by John. I’m not sure about the ending.

Well, that wasn’t a good advertisement for daily Bible reading, was it? No help at all when I can’t even remember what I read!

Sometimes I do get flashes of inspiration whilst reading the Bible and answers to problems come.

But what about the majority of days. What are we doing when we read the Bible? What else are we doing apart from seeking answers to the immediate problems we have?

Reading the Bible is not like reading our “stars” for the day where we are told what will happen and what we should do. Reading the Bible is like looking into another world and seeing how people thought about God in their lives; how they argued with God; how Jesus lived, died and rose again and what that means for us. For those minutes as we read we enter that world, God’s world.

As we read and try to listen to what is being said, we become changed people. It’s like a sun tan bed; when we leave you can tell - we have a sun tan. St Paul says,

And all of us... seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The more we read and are absorbed by God’s spirit, so in our lives we will see our world more and more through God’s eyes. But this is a lifetime’s job and needs the discipline of daily reading.

If we don’t have much Bible knowledge and knowing the background of what we read is so helpful, there are daily Bible reading notes you can buy. Contact Sue Bullock (contact details inside front cover) who will order them for you.

Knowing spending time with God’s word does change us to be more Godly people, the next time my daughter phones wanting advice, I will give it, cautiously and humbly, with some confidence; knowing I’ve spent time today with God.

Revd. Jan Ashton

From the Parish Registers

Christenings

Archie Tyler Hopcutt; 29^th September at St. John’s, Wolverley

Scarlet Sanger; 29^th September at St. John’s, Wolverley

Edward Richard Henry Grainger; 6^th October at St. John’s, Wolverley

Isabella Martha Piazza-Walsh; 13^th October at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Rose Elizabeth Newbury; 20^th October at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Alice-May Felicity Bacon; 20^th October at St. John’s, Wolverley

Isabelle Mary Jacqueline Clarke; 27^th October at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Erin Laura Thompson; 17^th November at St. John’s, Wolverley

Weddings

Anthony Geoffrey Andrews and Sharron Louise Newell; 12^th October at Cookley

Colin John Douglas McDonnell and Mary Clive Morgan; 9^th November at Wolverley

Funerals

Philip George Barrett of Wolverley; 3^rd October at Stourbridge Crematorium

Kathleen Anglin; 11^th October at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Kidderminster Cemetery

Raymond Wilson; 17^th October at St. John’s, Wolverley & Stourbridge Crematorium

Shirley Ann Heseltine; 30^th October at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

Margaret Green of Cookley; 31^st October at Stourbridge Crematorium

Michal Kollar; 1^st November at St. John’s, Wolverley

Irene Barbara Woodward; 7^th November at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

David Charles Bishop; 11^th November at St. John’s, Wolverley followed by interment at St. Peter’s, Upper Arley

Meg Pritchard of Cookley; 15^th November at Stourbridge Crematorium

Patricia Gladys Lewis; 19^th November at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Stourbridge Crematorium

Howard James Fox; 22^nd November at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Stourbridge Crematorium

David Stanley Watson; 25^th November at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

Letter from Alex - August & September 2013

Dear Friends,

At around 5.30pm on a hot July Sunday afternoon you could probably hear one of two things; most of Great Britain cheering at full volume for its new Wimbledon Men’s’ Singles Champion – or the sound of a national collective sigh of relief that the waiting was finally over. As the national press made sure we knew, it was 77 year since our last British men’s champion, and boy were we going to make the most of this one. Like many other people, I watched the match hardly daring to hope that this might be Murray’s year. Like many other people, I could hardly bear to watch at all when things seemed most in the balance. But when it was all over, I was left with one or two thoughts that seemed worth looking at more closely.

Andy Murray is just 26 years old and first played at Wimbledon in 2005. He’s done amazingly well in those last 8 years, holding his own against some of the greatest names in tennis. In 2009 and again this year, he reached number two in the players’ world rankings. And yet, it’s never been enough for us, the British public. We’ve always hankered after that elusive Wimbledon win, always somehow resigned ourselves with typical British stoicism to the fact that it might never happen….. But having the world number two player, the US Open Champion wasn’t enough – we all had our own agenda as to what would make Murray a truly great player.

And perhaps it did seem that the Wimbledon title would never be his. When he lost to Roger Federer last year, Murray was openly devastated. And he could have given up then, admitted defeat, settled for being the eternal runner-up. But he didn’t. There has been a lot of rather snide talk in recent days about tennis being a middle-class sport for those with money; but money can’t buy the sort of talent and dedication that are the only things capable of getting someone to the pinnacle of their sport. To achieve his goal of that Wimbledon title will have taken Murray years of complete commitment, thousands of hours of practice, the sacrifice of his personal and private life and an enviable single-mindedness. Without those things, millions of pounds would have made no difference at all.

And then we complain because he doesn’t smile and isn’t handsome enough! Because someone takes their career seriously, because they feel that they owe it to the team behind them to put all that they possibly can into what they do and are blessed with pure talent and dedication rather than film-star looks and a sparkling wit, we feel that they somehow fall short of being true hero material. What a truly superficial lot we can be.

But achievements like Murray’s are hard-won. They are not part of the X-Factor culture of instant fame for minimal talent and very little effort. Perhaps we have become too used to instant stardom, and to the airbrushed good looks of TV and pop stars. We are no longer used to ordinary people waiting and working for success – and it’s good to know that old fashioned effort, time and dedication are still the things that pay off in the long term. That’s something we might want to remember when we’re tempted to give up because there seems no quick and easy fix for the situation where we find ourselves, when it seems that the only solution might be hard graft and patience.

And perhaps too we need to rethink our own expectations of others. In effect, we were giving the message to Murray that if he couldn’t achieve what we wanted – that Wimbledon Championship - then he just wasn’t good enough. Second place wouldn’t do. What does that say to those who will never quite make the top grade, no matter how hard they try? Other people will always judge us by their expectations; but we can be thankful that God’s love is unconditional and doesn’t depend on whether we are “the best” or not. How would we feel if God were to say to us – “You will never be the best (insert singer / writer / gardener / golfer / cook as applicable) in the world, so I will never truly love you”? We cannot all be “the best” but we can be the best that we can be. If we strive to use the talents that we have been given – whatever they are and at whatever level – then we will be pleasing God. I believe that is what we owe to ourselves and to God; and that true dedication, effort and commitment will be rewarded, in God’s time. And Andy Murray – many congratulations. You truly deserve it.

Alex

Revd. Alex Vaccaro

From the Parish Registers         

Christenings

Iris Olivia Rose Cutts; 26th May at St. John’s, Wolverley

Tyler John Robert Brown; 26th May at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Deon Brandon Gallagher; 9th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Brooke MJ Gallagher; 9th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Michael Thomas Palfrey-Holland; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Alexia Kirsty Gemma Palfrey-Lines; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

John-Jake Palfrey-Lines; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Harrison Emile Small; 23rd June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Isla Sophia Nock; 30th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Harvey Lee Braznell; 30th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Jodie Henderson; 6th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Tammy Louise Henderson; 6th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Marcus Anthony Wormington; 7th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Imogen Beau Seymour; 14th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Alana-Rae Nancy Watkins; 14th July at St. John’s, Wolverley

Weddings

James Oliver Harrison and Danielle Katie Emery; 29th June at Wolverley

James Richard Coleman and Nicola Jayne Rollason; 30th June at Cookley

Our congratulations and best wishes for the future go to Claire Shilvock and Ali Martin who were married on 25th May 2013 at The Church of The Holy Spirit, Clapham.

Funerals

Mark Thomas Burkett; 24th May at St. John’s, Wolverley

John David Binnian of Wolverley; 28th May at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Martha Elizabeth Mahoney of Wolverley; 31st May at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Janet Green; 11th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Mildred Joan Etwell; 17th June at St. John’s, Wolverley

Sylvia Ashdown of Cookley; 8th July at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Ena Wooley of Cookley; 18th July at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Harry Geoffrey Perks; 26th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Murial “Mac” Palfrey; 30th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley

We are sad to report the death of Mr. Phillip Greenfield who will be remembered by many old pupils of Sebright Endowed School during the years 1950s to 1980s. He was renowned for football activities, puppet plays and lots of other things and had a great sense of humour.

We shall miss him.

“The Coven”

Letter from Rose - June & July 2013

Dear Friends,

RECENTLY OWAIN AND I found ourselves on the fifteenth floor of the Citi Bank building on Canary Wharf, London which was quite an experience not only because of the height we were at, but also the situation we found ourselves in too.

If you have ever been to Canary Wharf you may understand what I mean with the sky scraper buildings, the pace of what is happening there and the age range of the workers too, most of whom looked extremely young, and when you are told that 105,000 people work within that square mile, it seems even more amazing!

Along with some other colleagues from the Kidderminster Deanery, we went to visit the Canary Wharf Chaplaincy and to hear about how they are involved within the working community there. One of their aims is to ‘provide opportunities for those on the Estate to engage with spiritual, social and ethical questions which arise in the complexities of their working environment, in particular in the financial, retail and professional advisory sectors.’ The Chaplaincy being there to support people of faith, work with integrity towards the core business for which they are being paid. Although the main Chaplain, the Revd Fiona Stewart-Darling is an Anglican and the Bishop’s Chaplain for the Docklands, there are other Chaplains drawn from other faiths and denominations too including a Jewish Chaplain who has recently joined the Team.

Both in Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn we have Associate Chaplains visiting retail outlets as well as the companies I personally visit as the Industrial/Workplace Chaplain for Kidderminster and Wyre Forest including a company in Cookley. All of us are also involved in what Fiona and the other Chaplain’s provide on Canary Wharf, because we believe in a God who cares - we try to do the same, to be a presence for everyone particularly at a time when the pressure of the current world-wide financial situation continues to affect our towns and the businesses that trade within them.

When we look at scripture, Jesus went out into all the situations of the time, both the marketplace as well as the synagogues and that is where the church of today should be too.

Julian Reindorp in his book ‘Equipping Christians at Work’ states that ‘The Gospel is always waiting to be discovered, it is those who immerse themselves in secular situations, who stand with people at the points of suffering, change and opportunity who are in the best position to discover what God is up to now, to articulate ad authentic message of the Gospel for the present generation. At the centre of the Christian faith is the belief that God in Christ is redeeming the world, healing, rescuing and liberating. God initiated this mission by entering the world in Christ to bring in the Kingdom of God, and our task is to join in that mission and to follow and obey where we can see God at work. This involves discerning God’s purpose in events and results in practical action.’

Our Associate Chaplains are involved in this work, but we desperately need more chaplains, not only to visit the retail sector of our towns and villages, but other places of work too, particularly as people continue to be made redundant even within companies that have been part of our lives for many years. Please contact me if you feel you may be interested in being part of this ministry in God’s church.

To end; a prayer from the Rt. Revd. David Sheppard –
The factory at the end of this road has closed, so the shops locally lose their business. The local schools give more free dinners, ‘For Sale’ signs abound. Youngsters loiter aimlessly, and the elderly are frightened to pass them, despite more police on the beat. People eat less well, so the doctor’s surgery is full, and everything is interconnected despite the fact that closing this factory was thought to be an isolated event taken by those whose homes are elsewhere.

Lord, in my bleaker moments it feels as if society is being dismantled because people do not realise that society is designed to reflect you who is Trinity – Three persons - Interrelated and interdependent, and every person affects the rest. Amen.

Yours in Christ’s work together

Rose
Revd. Rose Lawley



From the Parish Registers

Christenings

Edward John Goode; 30th March at St. John’s, Wolverley
William James Simpson; 7th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Sophie Rose Howitt; 7th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Grace Benita Norcott; 7th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Adele Emma Harvey; 13th April at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Ellis James Utting; 21st April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Imarni Violet Grace Lawrence; 28th April at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Gracie-Mai Lily Williams; 12th May at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Harry Lawrence Macklin; 12th May at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Weddings
Thomas Andrew Deakin and Claire Lauren Collins; 13th April at Wolverley
David Thomas Manser and Emma Elizabeth Link; 18th May at Wolverley
Graham Whitburn and Katie Louise Lancaster; 25th May at Cookley
Steven John Trelfa and Rachel Louise Hall; 25th May at Wolverley

Funerals

John Arthur Yull; 2nd April at St. John’s, Wolverley
William Terrence Hoggins of Cookley; 4th April at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Sheila Voce; 5th April at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium
Roma Patricia Rowe; 8th April at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Wyre Forest Crematorium
Peter James Aldred; 11th April at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium
Colin Charles Forester-Morgan; 16th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Muriel Handy; 17th April at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Mildred Kathleen Harrison of Wolverley; 18th April at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Royston Saunders of Wolverley; 24th April at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Charles Henry Cottrell; 25th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Harold Joseph Rogers; 30th April at St. John’s, Wolverley
Ivy Elizabeth Brooks; 7th May at St. Peter’s, Cookley & Wyre Forest Crematorium
Violet Wicks; 8th May at St. John’s, Wolverley
Doris Cooper of Wolverley; 8th May at Wyre Forest Crematorium
John Tulloch; 20th May at St. John’s, Wolverley
Jean Olive Small; 20th May at St. John’s, Wolverley & Stourbridge Crematorium
Florence “Iris” Betson; 22nd May at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

Letter from Owain - April & May 2013

Dear Friends,

I woke up this morning to blue skies, bright sunshine and euphoria surrounding the election of a new Pope. The adoption by the new pontiff of the name Francis promises so much good for the future.

But before his predecessor disappears from sight altogether I would like to share with you some reflections prompted by his retirement.

I was at Bec in France for (the late) Revd. Jim Samuel's welcome as an oblate eight years ago when news came that a new Pope had been appointed. The bell of the abbey rang out and groups gathered outside the church eager to hear the news.

"Its Ratzinger" said the Abbot rather gravely "What you call a hard-liner I think - not good news for ecumenism I'm afraid."

In the event Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict 16^th was indeed a conservative pontiff as we knew he would be, but also a man of surprises. Surprisingly willing, for example, to admit mistakes and to apologise. Surprising us too with his first encyclical "Deus Caratas Est - God is love". It is a beautiful piece of writing.

Here's a short extract

"Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the Light of God to enter into the world - this is the invitation I would like to extend."

But most surprising of all the manner of his departure. His decision to stand down must have taken enormous moral courage as well as clarity of judgment. Of course, he had seen at first hand the plight of John Paul II in the 'winter of his life' and the impact John Paul's disabilities had made on the life of the Church. Perhaps this helped him to find the courage to acknowledge his own frailty mental and physical; to acknowledge the 'diminishment' that comes with age to all of us; to recognise when it is time to 'pass the baton' on. I have been very moved by the courage he showed in honestly facing his diminishment. Perhaps his example will help us all when the time comes to do the same and to find God in it.

Equally, I was surprisingly moved by the words Benedict spoke from the Balcony of Castel Gandolfo when he said farewell to the crowd below. "I am no longer the Pope but I am still in the Church. I am just a pilgrim who is starting the last part of his pilgrimage on this earth." Then he turned away to begin a new life of prayer and contemplation.

People ask me "What are you going to do when you retire?" Deep in my heart, to be honest, I have felt God prompting me not to go on doing 'much the same as before' or just to 'fill gaps' or to fill my days as quickly as possible with as much as possible in order to keep boredom and restlessness at bay but to undertake a similar Camina or journey: a journey not so much about 'doing' as an inner journey and perhaps one deeper into God.

Oddly enough, though, I have been invited to join two old friends from Germany as they continue their pilgrimage across France towards Santiago de Compostela next spring. "Are you up for it?" they have written, Oh, I do hope so!!

Wishing you all a very joyful Easter.

Revd. Canon Owain Bell

From the Parish Registers

Christenings

Molly Elizabeth Denise Kinnon; 25^th November at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Zach Philip Garbett; 15^th December at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Sebastian Elliot Beaumont; 16^th December 2012 at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Megan Emma Setchell; 9^th February at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Cameron Joshua Beech; 10^th February at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Scarlett Juno Jackson; 17^th February at St. John’s, Wolverley

Lucinda Christina Burton; 2^nd March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Beth Evelyn Copson; 16^th March at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Mason Harry Addison; 17^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Myles Christopher Yarsley; 17^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Harrie Lee Graham Healey; 24^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Weddings

Ricky John Griffiths and Samantha Clare Dallow; 9^th March at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Warrick Jon Pannell and Katrina Louise Porter; 30^th March at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Funerals

Ivy Maud (Irene) Heath of Cookley; 29^th November at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Julia Kathleen Smith; 19^th December at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Michael Terrance Andrews of Cookley; 21^st December at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Raymond Francis (Chuck) Dixon; 17^th January at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Charles William David Jones of Cookley; 18^th January at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Carolyn Evans of Wolverley; 18^th January at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Kathleen Beatrice Davies of Cookley; 5^th February at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Muriel Nixon Fenn; 11^th February at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

Cathleen Mary Jennings; 12^th February at St. John’s, Wolverley

Ronald Davies; 18^th February at St. John’s, Wolverley & Wyre Forest Crematorium

Tony Brooks of Cookley; 20^th February at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Alan Joseph Timmins of Cookley; 21^st February at Stourbridge Crematorium

Pamela Ann Smith; 21^st February at St. John’s, Wolverley

Florence Irene Nicholls; 26^th February at St. Peter’s, Cookley

Harry Dunstan of Cookley; 26^th February at Wyre Forest Crematorium

Nina Rose Court; 6^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Clifford Howe; 8^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

Jean Stafford Preece; 13^th March at St. John’s, Wolverley

John Edwin Glover of Cookley; 17^th March at Wyre Forest Crematorium